CITY OF HUNTERS CREEK VILLAGE, TEXAS

MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING

JUNE 20, 2006

 

The City Council of the City of Hunters Creek Village, Texas convened in regular session at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20, 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

                                                            Peggy Burck

                                                            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 7:35 p.m.  

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Public comments were received from:

 

            Joe Colangelo, 8311 Cheshire Vale, requesting additional signage for Hickory Hollow, sound barrier between subdivision and Earthman Funeral Home, street repairs on Hickory Hollow, and closing off one of the entrances on Hickory Hollow.

 

            Winnie Ngan, 539 Three Corners Drive, requested that Council consider a wider street for Three Corners because parking on the street during the day has presented problems in the past especially for school bus traffic and to consider safety and well being of all residents first.

           

REPORTS

 

Fire Commissioner.  Tod Dimitry, alternate Fire Commissioner, reported that expenditures are still under budget by 3%, briefly explained the proposed budget for 2007, looking at hurricane emergency responses services as a new line item in the budget.  Funding will be required for the purchase of a new pumper this year but believe revenues will cover the cost.

 

Police Commissioner.  Benny Hruzek and Police Chief Gary Brye reported on the activities of the Memorial Villages Police Department.   Distribution list of email notifications to residents of the police report is increasing.  The mini-substation is occupied and functioning with directional signs to be placed throughout the city.  Personnel policies are being updated.  There has been a noticeable decrease in false alarms in the city.  Chief Brye provided information on pole mounted radar speed displays for a cost between $6500-$8500 to be considered on Voss Road at the curve where too many accidents have occurred.  The Commission has not finalized the budget as of yet, but could expect a possible 4-4-1/2% increase.  Chief Brye also thanked the Mayor for his letter to the Medical Examiner’s office in response to their fees for services to municipalities.

 

City Treasurer’s Report.  Bob Dodson, City Treasurer, reported that the City has received on an average of 4.99% in interest on money market accounts.   The sales tax audit contract has been executed and the contractor is gathering information from the state and will identify businesses in Hunters Creek Village.  Hal Gordon, delinquent tax attorney, has received the executed agreed judgment with Mr. Paul Licata and also received the first installment payment.  Mr. Dodson presented a treasurer’s estimate report comparing budget vs. actual and reported that the City could expect to receive an additional $500,000 in revenues than budgeted for 2006.

 

City Engineer’s Report.  Bobby Deden, City Engineer, reported:

 

  1. Pifer Road Drainage Improvements – A recent rain caused several days of delays in the project, but was able to report that no flooding was reported.  Concrete pouring has continued on the west side and started now on the east side.  Anticipate the project could be completed by the end of August or at least by Labor Day.  Councilmember Burck asked that the contractor be monitored and counseled about picking up trash and debris on the project site and that the temporary plates covering the driveways seem to be inadequate and we need to provide better access for the residents.

 

  1. Memorial Drive Phase III and IV – the topographical survey work is now complete on Phase IV.

 

  1. Piney Point Village’s Soldier’s Creek Relief Project – resodding grass on the east side of Voss Road is complete.  The connection to the drainage system at Bryn Mawr is in place.

 

  1. SBC Construction on Voss Road – will be confirming when SBC has completed their project and they will be resodding.

 

  1. Drainage ditches in Bryn Mawr subdivision need to be checked.  Doug Williams will get with several of the residents and report back at the July meeting.

 

PUBLIC HEARING.  A public hearing was held to receive testimony for or against the following proposed amendment to Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances of City of Hunters Creek Village, the same being the City’s comprehensive zoning ordinance by adding a new sub-paragraph to Sub-Section 6-4 b. thereof; providing for an exception to the minimum required yards for conforming lots legally created and lying within a subdivision which were in existence on March 25, 1955, where yard requirements/building lines were established by recorded deed restrictions or a recorded plat.

 

The public hearing was opened for comments.  Comments were received from Jim Frankel in favor of the proposed amendments.  Hearing no further comments, the public hearing was closed.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

Upon a motion made by Councilmember Shannon and a second by Councilmember Burck, the motion carried unanimously.  The Council voted five (5) for and none (0) opposed to approve and adopt the consent agenda as follows:

  1. Approval of the Minutes of the May 16, 2006 meeting.
  2. Approval of a correction to the Minutes of the March 21, 2006 council meeting.
  3. Approval of a 2005 Intra-Budgetary Transfers for the Village Fire Department in the amount of $3,110 for capital expenditures and $12,490 for maintenance of equipment.
  4. Approval of Ordinance No. 669 adopting amendment #4 to the budget for fiscal year 2006 allocating additional funds for legal services.

REGULAR AGENDA

 

Discussion and possible action to consider approval of a proposal with Third Alarm Designs to provide web site hosting services for the City’s web site.

 

Councilmember Shannon requested that the item be removed from the Consent Agenda from the general order of business and considered in the normal sequence on the agenda. 

 

The City Attorney recommended some minor technical changes to the proposal.  A motion was made by Councilmember Shannon with a second by Councilmember Cokinos to approve the proposal subject to making the technical corrections and authorize the Mayor to execute the revised agreement.  The motion carried unanimously with Council voting five (5) for and none (0) opposed.

 

Discussion and possible action to consider contracting for storm debris removal services and authorize the solicitation for proposals.

 

Shaun Hodge, with DRC Emergency Services which specializes in debris management and recovery assistance in the event of an emergency, made a presentation of the services they provide after a disaster. 

 

There was discussion with no formal action taken.

 

Discussion and possible action regarding CenterPoint Energy Houston electric rate case settlement and proposal to extend the franchise agreement.

 

The City Attorney advised that the franchise agreement is being negotiated to modify some provisions regarding rights-of-ways and public easements.

 

There was no formal action taken.

 

Discussion and possible action to consider contracting for tree maintenance services.

 

A motion was made by Councilmember Burck with a second by Councilmember Shannon to authorize a contract with Trees Plus to provide deep root stimulation and pruning for trees in the right-of-way on Pifer Road that have been impacted by the construction in an amount not to exceed $4,000.  The motion carried unanimously with Council voting five (5) for and none (0) opposed.

 

Discussion and possible action to consider an ordinance amending Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Hunters Creek Village, Texas, the same being the Zoning Ordinance of the City, by adding a new sub-paragraph to sub-section 6-4 b. providing an exception to the minimum required yards for conforming lots legally created and lying within a subdivision which were in existence on March 25, 1955, where yard requirements/building lines were established by recorded deed restrictions or a recorded plat.

 

A motion was made by Councilmember Burck with a second by Councilmember Cokinos to table this item.  The motion carried unanimously with Council voting five (5) for and none (0) opposed.

 

Discussion and possible action to adopt a resolution creating a finance committee, establishing the membership, providing for appointment and terms of members, establishing duties and responsibilities, and providing for other related matters.

 

A motion was made by Councilmember Cokinos with a second by Councilmember Burck to approve Resolution No. 06-07 creating and establishing a Finance Committee.  The motion carried unanimously with Council voting five (5) for and none (0) opposed. 

A motion was made by Councilmember Burck with a second by Councilmember Cokinos to formally appointment Councilmember Shannon, Larry Kellner and Brad Conrad as members of the Finance Committee for a term that runs concurrently with that of the Mayor.  The motion carried unanimously with Council voting five (5) for and none (0) opposed.

 

Discussion and possible action to consider the following action related to Memorial Drive Phase III improvement project (Kuhlman to W. Creekside and Three Corners Drive):

  1. authorize an independent survey to be conducted of the residents on Three Corners Drive for preferences of the width of the street;

There was no action taken, item died as there was no motion made.

  1. determine the design and specifications for the improvements on Three Corners Drive; and

A motion was made by Councilmember Shannon with a second by Councilmember Cokinos to authorize the City Engineer to redesign Three Corners Drive to the following specifications:  concrete curb and gutter at 25’ back to back/23’ inside to inside with 1’ rollover curbs on each side. 

Councilmember Stark offered an amendment to the motion with a second by Councilmember Burck to table for further consideration.  The motion failed with Council voting

            two (2) for – Burck, Stark

            three (3) opposed – Cokinos, Casper, Shannon

Councilmember Stark offered a second amendment to the motion with a second by Councilmember Burck to design the street at 26’ back to back/24’ inside to inside.  The motion failed with Council voting:

            two (2) for – Burck, Stark

            three (3) opposed – Cokinos, Casper, Shannon

Calling for a vote on the original motion, the motion carried with Council voting:

            three (3) for – Cokinos, Casper, Shannon

            two (2) opposed – Burck, Stark

  1. authorize the solicitation of bids for the project.

 

A motion was made by Councilmember Shannon with a second by Councilmember Cokinos to authorize the City Engineer to modify the design of Phase III to include Phase IV together as one project, stopping drainage at the Lindenwood right-of-way and to not include in the plans the removal of the pipeline.  The motion carried unanimously with Council voting five (5) for and none (0) opposed.

 

Discussion and possible action to consider submitting to Planning and Zoning Commission for their review and recommendation additional amendments to the sign regulations as applicable to District B (Business District) relating to sign area and electronic messages.

 

A motion was made by Councilmember Burck with a second by Councilmember Shannon to resubmit to Planning and Zoning Commission for their review and recommendation further consideration of the sign regulations in its entirety.  The motion carried unanimously with Council voting five (5) for and none (0) opposed.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

A Closed Meeting was convened at 9:47 p.m. in accordance with the authority contained in Section 551.071 (2) of the Texas Government Code to consult with and receive advice from the City Attorney on a confidential legal matter.  The Closed Meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m.

 

RECONVENE OPEN MEETING

 

The Open Meeting reconvened at 10:05 p.m.

ADJOURN OPEN MEETING

A motion was made by Councilmember Stark with a second by Councilmember Cokinos to adjourn the meeting.  The motion carried unanimously with Council voting five (5) for and none (0) opposed.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:06 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Deborah L. Loesch, TRMC

City Secretary

 

 

These minutes approved on the          18th                  day of             July                  , 2006.

 

Ordinance No. 669 and Resolution No. 06-07 are on file in the City Secretary’s office and are made a part of these minutes by reference.