HomeMy WebLinkAboutMn. 2011.12.06
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MINUTES
AGENDA #2826
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK, TEXAS
COUNCIL CHAMBER - CITY HALL
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2011,5:00 P.M.
2:45 - 3:00 P.M. UNIVERSITY PARK CIVIC FOUNDATION ANNUAL BOARD OF
DIRECTORS MEETING, COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, CITY
HALL.
3:00 - 4:00 P.M. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS BUD SMALLWOOD PROVIDED
DRAINAGE DETAILS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL WILLIAMS PARK / GOAR
P ARK RENOVATIONS AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED BY PARK ADVISORY
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN BILL PARDOE. COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM, SECOND
FLOOR, CITY HALL.
Mr. Smallwood discussed several issues that could be addressed if the Council found the need
was great enough. He detailed the current flood plain in the areas surrounding Williams Park
and pond. Smallwood said the potential upgrades could greatly reduce the boundaries of the
100-year flood plain at that site and would involve improvements to McElvaney Dam, and the
box culverts under McFarlin Blvd. and University Blvd. Mr. Smallwood also mentioned that
the dam improvements would reduce the current pond level. He said the contractor included
with their bid an option to retain the current pond level by installing a spillway at the McFarlin
bridge. He said this would substantially increase the scope of work. Note: several residents
attending the meeting whose homes surround the pond stated they wanted the pond to be kept
at its current level. They also mentioned that they would like the city to dredge the pond and
creek areas and remove detritusfrom the water as quickly asfeasible.
Mr. Smallwood said that all the drainage and landscape improvements he discussed would
cost approximately $8.7 million and with the additional spillway at McFarlin, costs would
increase by over $4 million. Mayor Davis said in this financial climate, he did not
think spending that much would be advisable. He asked staff to find a way to compromise and
reduce the project's scope. He suggested that staff assign study of this problem to various
departments and committees and to keep the area homeowners advised.
3:57 - 4:16 P.M. THE COUNCIL CONVENED INTO CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION
UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.071(2) TO RECEIVE
CONFIDENTIAL LEGAL ADVICE FROM THE CITY A TTORNEY REGARDING
PENDING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT CASES. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. EXECUTIVE
CONFERENCE ROOM, FIRST FLOOR, CITY HALL.
4:20 - 5:00 P.M. WORK SESSION FOR AGENDA REVIEW COUNCIL CONFERENCE
ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, CITY HALL.
I. CALL TO ORDER
The Regular City Council Meeting was called into sessIOn at 5:00 p.m. III the Council
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Chamber at City Hall. Present were Councilmember Stewart, Mayor Pro Tem Grable, Mayor
Davis, Councilmember Clark, and Councilmember Begert. Also in attendance were City
Manager Livingston, and City Attorney Dillard.
A. INVOCA TlON: Councilmember Tommy Stcwart
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Councilmember Tommy Stewart / Boy Scouts
There were sevcral Boy Scouts in attendance at the meeting. Mayor Davis asked them
to assist in leading the Pledge of Allegiance and introduce themselves afterwards. The
scouts included: 1. T. Graass, Troop 730, Citizenship in the Community; Will Hardage,
Troop 730, Citizenship in the Community; Daniel Chavez, Troop 730, Citizenship in the
Community; Colton Barber, Troop 730, Citizenship in the Community; and, Mahesh
Ramgopal, Troop 577, Communications.
Mayor Davis thanked the scouts for attending the meeting.
C. INTRODUCTION OF COUNCIL: Mayor W. Richard Davis
D. INTRODUCTION OF STAFF: City Manager Bob Livingston
Staff in attendance included: Fire Chief Randy Howell, Director of Parks Gerry
Bradley, Director of Human Resources Luanne Hanford, Administrative Assistant
George Ertle, Director of Community Development Robbie Corder, Assistant Director
of Public Works Jacob Speer, Director of Finance Kent Austin, City Secretary Liz
Spector, Director of Public Works Bud Smallwood, Police Chief Gary Adams, Director
of Information Services Jim Criswell and Community Information Officer Steve Mace.
II. CONSENT AGENDA
A. CONSIDER AND ACT: on a contract with Freese & Nichols to provide engineering
services associated with the Germany Park booster pumping station
Approval of the contract for $39,900 with Freese and Nichols providcs engineering
scrvices to evaluate pumping systems, electrical impacts, and system pressures at the
Germany Park Booster Pumping Station.
B. CONSIDER AND ACT: on an agrcement with the Highland Park Prcsbyterian Church
for Sunday use of thc City Hall parking lot
Approval of this agreement between the City and Highland Park Presbyterian Church
allows for the Church's use of 30 of the 45 spaces in the City Hall Friendship parking
lot during Sunday church services.
C. CONSIDER AND ACT: on minutes of the November 15,2011 City Council Mecting
Councilmember Stewart made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda. Councilmcmber
Clark seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
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III. MAIN AGENDA
A. DISCUSS: request to change parking limits in certain retail shopping areas
Bud Smallwood addressed the Council. He said he was asked by the Police Department
to create uniform parking time limits in two of the City's commercial centers, Snider
Plaza and the area known as the Miracle Mile. He said this would make enforcement
easier for the police department as well as for patrons of the shopping centers. Mr.
Smallwood said he proposed to make the time limit 2 Hour Parking Anytime. He said
the majority of the parking is currently 2 Hour Parking, Monday through Friday from 9 -
5, with some Monday through Saturday, 8 - 4.
Mr. Smallwood said notices were sent to all property owners and establishments of this
possible change. He said he received four phone calls from Snider Plaza business
owners that were supportive of this change and no negative feedback.
Mr. Smallwood said several emails were reccived from business owners and
customers of the Miracle Mile, the area on Lovers Lane between the tollway and
Douglas. He said most of these emails were not supportive of the change to the parking
time limits.
Mr. Brad Pashby, the manager of the Firestone in the Miracle Mile shopping centcr,
addressed the Council. Mr. Pashby said the Miracle Mile essentially has one parking
time limit so there should be no confusion for traffic enforcement personnel. He said
the parking limits are already vcry restrictive for his business. He said he paid over
$500 in parking tickets last month due to having nowhere to park his customers
vehicles. He said Firestone almost didn't re-sign their current lease due to the parking
restrictions.
Mr. Pashby said that 90% of his customers live within a 2-mile radius and the
customers would lose the only full-service car repair business in the neighborhood.
Mr. Grant Gamster, 4406 Emerson, addressed the Council. Mr. Gamster said he and his
brother own Chip's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers located in the Miracle Mile. He said
there is no confusion with parking limits. He said most of the businesses there close
about 6 p.m. and there is not a weekend parking problem. He said this time limit change
will directly impact his restaurant by limiting customers to 2 hours in his establishment.
He said he understands the need for uniformity, but he said it already exists.
Dr. Karl Black, co-owner of Park Cities Animal Hospital, addressed the Council. He
said he also opposes more restrictive parking limits. He said there is no conflict in the
Miracle Mile area. He said any parking problem is due to employees of businesses in
that area. Dr. Black asked that rather than make parking more restrictive, the Council try
to provide relief for the business owners on the Miracle Mile. He asked that the Council
consider the Miracle Mile area separately from Snider Plaza.
Mayor Davis said this is a discussion item to instruct staff whether or not to bring an
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enacting ordinance and no decision is currently on the table. He asked the Council if
they had anything to add.
Councilmember Begert said he approves the change for Snider Plaza, but he would like
more information regarding the Miracle Mile area.
Councilmember Begert made a motion to request staff to plaee an amending ordinance
changing parking limits Snider Plaza to 2 Hour Anytime on a future agenda.
Councilmember Clark seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Begert made a motion to table discussion of changes to parking limits
in the Miracle Mile shopping area. Councilmember Stewart seconded, and the motion
carried unanimously.
B. CONSIDER AND ACT: on revisions to the current sidewalk replacemcnt program
Bud Smallwood addressed the Council regarding a request by staff to revise the
sidewalk replacement program. He said after discussion of this item at the October 18,
2011 Council meeting, the Council referred this request to the Public Works Advisory
Committee (PW AC) for their recommendation.
Mr. Smallwood said at their November 7, 2011 meeting, PW AC unanimously
recommended implementing a 100% City-funded sidewalk repair and replacement
program and cnding the cost-sharing program.
Mr. Smallwood said staff would modify the program to annually bid out the sidewalk
replacement program at the City's cost, budgeted at the same annual expenditure of \
$65,000. Smallwood said Code Enforcement will identify defective sidewalk secions,
and curb and gutter contractors will replace the identified sections during scheduled
replacement contracts. He said resident requests for repairs will be handled internally
by Infrastructure Maintenance staff.
Councilmember Clark asked whether Mr. Smallwood anticipated the costs for the City
will incrcase. Mr. Smallwood said that over the past 5 years, there has only becn one
year where expenditures have exceeded budgeted amounts of $65,000. He expects this
trend to continue.
Councilmember Clark made a motion to approve reVISIOns to the current sidewalk
replacement program as recommended by PW AC and staff. Mayor Pro Tem Grable
seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
C. CONSIDER AND ACT: on approval of a Construction Manager - Agent contract with
Rogers-O'Brien Construetion for finish-out of University Park Public Librarv
City Manager Livingston reviewed the request to contract with Rogers-O'Brien for
finish-out of the University Park Public Library in its new Preston Center location. He
said that a committee comprised of Purchasing Agent Christine Green, Director of
Finance Kent Austin, Mayor Davis, and Councilmember Stewart interviewed
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representatives of three companies who submitted bids to finish out the library. Mr.
Livingston said all three bids were very competitive and each company had good
reputations, but ultimately, he said the committee unanimously decided selcct Rogers-
O'Brien because they already had the contract to construct the office building in Preston
Ccnter that will house the library and could complete the finish-out much sooner than
the other companies.
Mr. Livingston stated that the fee proposed by Rogcrs-O'Brien is $75,000 plus $91,000
in expendable costs. He mentioned that there is a clause in the contract for cost-sharing
of savings if the final costs come in under budget. Mr. Livingston said that the total cost
to complete the library, including finish-out, architecture fees and furniture is estimated
at $2.4 million.
Councilmember Stewart said all three of the firms interviewed by the committee
are equally qualified, but the selection of Rogers-O'Brien will be advantageous for the
City because of the firm's presence at the site during the building's construction.
Councilmember Stewart made a motion to approve a Construction Manager - Agent
contract with Rogers-O'Brien Construction for finish-out of University Park
Public Library. Councilmember Begert seconded, and the motion carricd unanimously.
IV. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
There werc no requests to address thc Council from the floor, and Mayor Davis adjourned the
meeting.
Considered and approved this 20th day of December, 2011.
U/h~
W. Richard Davis, Mayor