CITY OF HUNTERS CREEK VILLAGE, TEXAS
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 21, 2006
The City Council of the City of Hunters Creek Village, Texas convened in regular session at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at City Hall, #1 Hunters Creek Place, Hunters Creek Village, Texas.
Present: Mayor Steve Reichek
Council Members: George Shannon, Mayor Pro Tem
Michael Cokinos
Art Casper
Roger Stark
City Secretary: Deborah Loesch
City Attorney: Cheryl Wilson
With a quorum of the Council Members present, Mayor Reichek called the session to order at 7:30 p.m. It was noted that Councilmember Peggy Burck was not in attendance.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Public comments were received from:
Joseph Colangelo, 8311 Cheshire Vale, regarding I-10 widening project and the affect on homes.
Sharon Durr, 10903 Bridgewood, regarding the improvement of public comments at meetings, posting notices of meetings on signs placed in areas throughout the city, email notifications, improved tree ordinance. She also commented on the standard 28’ requirement for streets.
Mark Burleson, #1 Pinewood Circle, regarding the Memorial/Voss intersection merge lane, the Metro bus stop placement.
Meg Bissinger, 704 Country Lane, regarding future drainage project for Camelot and Country Lane.
John Kendall, 734 Country Lane, regarding future drainage project for Camelot and Country Lane.
Charles Durr, 10903 Bridgewood, regarding changing the surface specifications for Pifer Road.
Ruth Weber, 10822 Everwood, regarding the paving of Pifer Road and the future of streets in Hunters Creek.
Sammie L. Jakle, 10910 Melody Lane, regarding surface specifications for Pifer Road.
Randolph Henry, 640 Pifer Road, regarding surface specifications for Pifer Road.
Peter Gaw, 516 Three Corners, regarding future road improvement and expansion for Three Corners Drive.
Russell L. Holder, 555 Three Corners, regarding the widening of Three Corners Drive.
Jim Trippon, 745 Camelot, regarding the standard requirements for street width.
REPORTS
Fire Commissioner. Elwin Peacock reported that expenses are approximately 1.8% under budget. The Fire Chief has requested authorization to solicit bids for health insurance because of the unsettled affairs with the Insurance Cooperative Board to be prepared in case the board goes in a different direction. The Compensation Committee is continuing to work on the salary administration to match the City of Houston’s salary schedule and a final report could be included in the April commission meeting. Tod Dimitry is working with department personnel to develop a list of private streets and other streets where obstructions might limit accessibility for emergency vehicles. This plan will be provided to each of the mayors so that they will be aware of the inability of fire department to respond readily in case of an emergency.
City Treasurer’s Report. Bob Dodson, City Treasurer, reported that the City has approximately $9.2 million in money market accounts. He is aggressively auditing the sales tax payers to make sure the City is receiving all taxable sales revenue due. The 2005 audit is underway. Hal Gordon, delinquent tax attorney, reported on the status of the most active delinquent tax accounts, with one owing about $11,000 and may be asking council to permit an installment plan. Further action will be recommended at the April meeting.
Assistant to the Mayor and Council. Doug Williams, consultant to the Mayor and Council, reported that the building permit office was clearing the back log of permits with an issuance of about 125 new permits. Mr. Mark Kosmoski has presented a proposal to review new home and major remodeling plans on an hourly basis.
City Engineer’s Report. Bobby Deden, City Engineer, reported that the Piney Point Village’s Soldier’s Creek Relief Project is completing the paving from Voss Road to Soldier’s Creek (on Memorial Drive) and is ready to turn the corner at Greenbay.
City Secretary’s Report. Deborah Loesch, City Secretary, reviewed the current monthly budget report. In addition, Mayor Reichek announced to Council that Deborah had received notice that she will be receiving the 2006 Outstanding Municipal Clerk of the Year award from the Salt Grass Chapter of the Texas Municipal Clerks Association.
PUBLIC HEARINGS. Public hearings were held to receive testimony for or against the following proposed amendments to Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Hunters Creek Village, the same being the City’s comprehensive zoning ordinance:
a. by adding a new sentence to Sub-Section 7-7. b.; providing for electronic message centers on signs; by striking all of Sub-Section 7-7. c. and substituting therefor a new Sub-Section 7-7. c.; prohibiting signs equipped with glaring or rotating strobe or spot lights; by adding a new sentence to Sub-Section 7-7. e.; establishing the maximum height of electronic message centers; by striking all of Sub-Section 7-7. f. and substituting therefor a new Sub-Section 7-7. f.; establishing the number of sides allowed on a sign, the maximum sign area, and prohibiting free standing signs in a yard abutting district R.
The public hearing was opened for comments. Jerry Lance spoke in opposition to allowing electronic message centers on signs. Hearing no further comments, the public hearing was closed.
b. by striking all of Section 19.1 thereof and substituting therefor a new Section 19.1; providing a definition for “accessory structure”.
The public hearing was opened for comments. Hearing none, the public hearing was closed.
c. by striking all of Sub-Section 6-4.a.(4)(b); deleting the exception to regulations regarding lot size that would allow one lot in a new subdivision to be less than 22,500 square feet.
The public hearing was opened for comments. Hearing none, the public hearing was closed.
d. by striking all of Sub-Section 6-7.b. thereof and substituting therefor a new Sub-Section 6-7.b.; prohibiting fences in front of front building line unless the front yard is contiguous to Voss Road or Memorial Drive.
The public hearing was opened for comments, Comments were received from Sammi Jakle, Bill Moss, and Joe Coangelo. Hearing no further comments, the public hearing was closed.
CONSENT AGENDA
Upon a motion made by Councilmember Casper and a second by Councilmember Cokinos, the Council voted four (4) for and none (0) opposed to approve and adopt the consent agenda as follows:
a. Approval of the Minutes of the February 21, 2006 meeting.
b. Approval of a payment of $1500 to co-sponsor the 14th Annual Villages Independence Festival.
c. Approval of an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Piney Point Village for the resurfacing of Memorial Drive from San Felipe Road to the intersection of Greenbay Road allowing a portion of the project within the municipal boundaries of the City of Hunters Creek Village and authorizing the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City.
REGULAR AGENDA
Discussion and possible action to consider amending Chapter 10, Article 10.100 (b) and Section 7 A.6 of the Code of Ordinances (Subdivision Regulations) pertaining to street and road standards and specifications to allow a lesser minimum width than twenty-eight feet (28’) for streets upon which the majority of the lots have front yard building lines that are twenty-five feet (25’) or less.
A motion was made by Councilmember Cokinos with a second by Councilmember Casper to amend the subdivision regulations striking all language after twenty-eight feet (28’), authorizing the City Attorney to draft an ordinance to bring back before Council, and call for a public hearing on April 18, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. to receive comments for or against the amendment. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) for and none (0) opposed.
Discussion and possible action to approve a change order to the Pifer Road drainage and paving improvements project regarding paving surface material specifications.
A motion was made by Councilmember Shannon with a second by Councilmember Cokinos to authorize a feasibility committee to review the width and surface and report back to Council at a special meeting to avoid any delays. Eric Hall with Brown & Gay Engineering will work with the committee at $160/hour, not to exceed, $1500. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) for and none (0) opposed.
Discussion and possible action to consider proposals for tax assessor collector services beginning August 2006.
The City received a letter from Donald Roseman, a resident, offering his expertise in reviewing the proposals before Council. With that information before the Council, a motion was made by Councilmember Cokinos with a second by Councilmember Shannon to table the item to the next meeting to allow staff to meet with Mr. Roseman. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) for and none (0) opposed.
Discussion and possible action to consider outsourcing the review of building plans and permits.
A motion was made by Councilmember Shannon with a second by Councilmember Casper to accept the proposal submitted by Mark Kosmoski for the review of building plans for permits. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) for and none (0) opposed.
Discussion and possible action to request the relocation of the Metro bus shelter on Memorial Drive in front of the Houston Racquet Club.
A motion was made by Councilmember Stark with a second by Councilmember Shannon to notify Metro to replace the shelter at its original location and re-evaluate in 6 months the average usage. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) for and none (0) opposed.
Discussion and possible action to adopt a policy for invoicing for subdivision street lighting.
A motion was made by Councilmember Shannon with a second by Councilmember Cokinos to invoice subdivisions for street lighting based on actual usage of the previous year, with adjustments being made at the end of the year, either over/under. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) for and none (0) opposed.
Discussion with possible action to approve an ordinance amending Chapter 10 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Hunters Creek Village, Texas, the same being the subdivision ordinance of the City, providing a preliminary conference procedure prior to filing a preliminary plat; providing that preliminary plat applications must be filed with the City Secretary 30 days prior to the next regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission; providing for the Commission to take action on a preliminary plat within 30 days of submission of the preliminary plat to the Commission and providing notification to the owner, upon request, of the action taken; providing that final plat applications must be filed with the City Secretary 30 days prior to the next regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission; providing for the Commission to take action on a final plat within 30 days of submission of the final plat to the Commission and providing notification to the owner, upon request, of the action taken; providing that only one (1) public hearing shall be held on a replat where required and providing the notice requirements for such public hearing.
A public hearing was held to receive public comments regarding the proposed amendments to the subdivision ordinance as presented above. Hearing none, the public hearing was closed.
A motion was made by Councilmember Casper with a second by Councilmember Shannon to approve Ordinance No. 663 amending the subdivision regulations relating to preliminary and final plats. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) for and none (0) opposed.
Discussion and possible action to approve an interim agreement with Pablo’s General Yard and Landscape to provide maintenance services.
A motion was made by Councilmember Shannon with a second by Councilmember Casper to approve the interim agreement as presented subject to any technical revisions to be approved by the Mayor. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) for and none (0) opposed.
Discussion and possible action to approve an ordinance declaring the unopposed candidate for Alderman Position No. 1, the unopposed candidate for Alderman Position No. 2, the unopposed candidate for Alderman Position No. 3 duly elected; providing that the May 13, 2006 General Municipal Election shall not be held; containing other provisions relating to the subject.
Upon receipt of the Certification of the City Secretary that the candidates were unopposed for election, that there were no names to be placed on the lists of write-in candidates, and that there were no propositions to appear on the ballot, a motion was made by Councilmember Shannon with a second by Councilmember Cokinos to approve Ordinance No. 662 canceling the May 13, 2006 General Municipal Election. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) and none (0) opposed.
ADJOURN OPEN MEETING
A motion was made by Councilmember Stark with a second by Councilmember Shannon to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously with Council voting four (4) for and none (0) opposed. The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah L. Loesch, TRMC
City Secretary
These minutes approved on the 18th day of April , 2006.
Ordinance Nos. 662 and 663 are on file in the City Secretary’s office and are made a part of these minutes by reference.