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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMn. 2011.12.06 425 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 426 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. 427 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 428 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 429 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