CITY OF LAREDO

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

A-2002-R-07

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1110 HOUSTON STREET

LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

APRIL 1, 2002

5:30 P.M.

 

DISABILITY ACCESS STATEMENT

Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aid or services are requested to contact Gustavo Guevara, City Secretary at (956) 791-7308 at least two working days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.  The accessible entrance and accessible parking spaces are located at City Hall, 1100 Victoria Ave.

 

Out of consideration for all attendees of the City Council meetings, please turn off all cellular phones and pagers, or place on inaudible signal.  Thank you for your consideration.

 

 

 I.         CALL TO ORDER

 

II.         PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

III.        ROLL CALL

 

IV.       MINUTES

 

V.        COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

 

Announcements

 

Invitations

 

Recognitions

a.      Recognition of Firefighter Robert Tovar for his quick response in extinguishing a vehicle on fire while off-duty.

 

Communiqués

 

VI.       APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

           

a.      Appointment by City Council Member Johnny Amaya of Rolando Lopez to the Vehicles for Hire Ad Hoc Committee.

 

VII.      PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

1.         Public hearing and introductory ordinance establishing a 15% penalty on the 2001 delinquent tax accounts as of July 1, 2002 to defray costs of collection pursuant to Section 33.07 (a) of the Texas State Property Tax Code; providing for publication and effective date.

 

VIII.     GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

 

2.         A.        Request by Council Member Johnny Amaya

1.      Discussion with possible action on establishing a Police Substation at Fire Station No. 5 located at Bartlett St. and Stewart St.

 

B.        Request by Council Member Joe A. Guerra

1.      Discussion with possible action regarding speed humps on  Broadcrest Drive and Northstar Drive.

 

         (Recess)

(Press Availability)

 

IX.       INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES

 

3.         Closing the intersection at San Jorge Avenue and Moctezuma Street to vehicular traffic traveling in a northerly and southerly direction by barricading at the north and south right-of-way lines of the Texas Mexican Railway Company tracks, said intersection is situated in the Western Division, City of Laredo, County of Webb and providing for effective date.

 

4.         Closing the intersection at Juarez Avenue and Moctezuma Street to vehicular traffic traveling in a northerly and southerly direction by barricading at the north and south right-of-way lines of the Texas Mexican Railway Company tracks, said intersection is situated in the Western Division, City of Laredo, County of Webb and providing for effective date.

 

5.         Closing the intersection at Davis Avenue and Moctezuma Street to vehicular traffic traveling in a northerly and southerly direction by barricading at the north and south right-of-way lines of the Texas Mexican Railway Company tracks, said intersection is situated in the Western Division, City of Laredo, County of Webb and providing for effective date.

 

X.        FINAL READINGS OF ORDINANCES 

 

6.  2002-O-057          Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning 24.69 acres, as further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit “A”, located at the 3500 block of Del Mar Blvd., from R-1 (Single Family Residential District) and R-2 (Multifamily Residential District) to B-1 (Limited Commercial District); providing for publication and effective date. 

 

2002-O-058               Amending Ordinance No. 95-O-100 authorizing the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for a concrete batch plant on 5.00 acres, as further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit “A”, located on the west side of Hwy. 83 and north of Masterson Rd., by renewing the term of the Conditional Use Permit until April 15, 2004; providing for publication and effective date.  (As amended)

 

2002-O-059               Authorizing the issuance of a Special Use Permit to Lakeside Subdivision, L.L.C. for townhouses on Lot 2, Block 17, Lakeside Subdivision, Phase I, located north of Lake Victoria Road and east of Lakeview Blvd; providing for publication and effective date. 

           

2002-O-060               Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lots 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8, Block 215, Western Division, located at 1215 San Agustin Ave., from B-3 (Community Business District) to CBD (Central Business District); providing for publication and effective date. 

 

2002-O-061               Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning 9.00 acres, as further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit "A", located east of Bob Bullock Loop and southeast of Dorel Dr., from B-4 (Highway Commercial District) to B-3 (Community Business District); providing for publication and effective date. 

 

2002-O-062               Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning 0.9980 acres, as further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit "A", located west of Mines Rd, and south of River Bank Dr., from B-3 (Community Business District) to B-4 (Highway Commercial District); providing for publication and effective date. 

                       

2002-O-063               Authorizing the issuance of a Special Use Permit to the Raul de la Garza Testamentary Trust for a bar on Lot 5, Block 19, Western Division, located at 907 Zaragoza St.; providing for publication and effective date. 

 

2002-O-064               Amending the City of Laredo FY 2001-02 annual budget in the Fire Training Facility Fund by appropriating revenues and expenses of $125,611.00 from available interest earnings for the purchase of fire equipment and authorizing the City Manager to implement said budget.

                                     

2002-O-066               Authorizing the City Manager to amend Ordinance 2001-O-284.  The City of Laredo’s FY 2001-2002 annual budget will be amended in the amount of $943,408.00 to fund the COPS in Schools Program and amended by creating 14 full time equivalent police officer positions under the COPS in Schools Program.  The US Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) Program awarded funding to the City of Laredo for the purpose of hiring 14 new School Resource Officers (SRO) for a period of three years.  The 14 police officer positions will be transferred to the City’s general fund account (101-2310) upon termination of the grant.

 

2002-O-067               Amending the City of Laredo Fiscal Year 2002 General Fund and Fire Training Facility Fund budgets by appropriating revenues of $280,000.00 and $20,000.00 respectively as a transfer in and appropriating expenditures in the respective fund for the acquisition of machinery and equipment.  Funding is available in the Capital Improvements Fund reserve appropriation account.

           

2002-O-068               Authorizing the City Manager to accept and execute all documentation from the Texas Department of Health for the Prevention Services for HIV Positive Clients Project of the City of Laredo Health Department in the amount of $84,210.00 by amending the budget for the period beginning April 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002; and authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s full time equivalents by creating one caseworker position and one (1) Health Educator Position, which will be funded by this grant.

           

2002-O-069               Authorizing the City Manager to accept and execute all documentation from the Texas Department of Health for the Hepatitis C Virus Project of the City of Laredo Health Department in the amount of $20,000.00 and amend the City of Laredo’s FY 2001-2002 budget for the period beginning March 1, 2002, through August 31, 2002.

 

2002-O-070               Authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s 2001-2002 annual budget by creating one (1) Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Administrative Assistant II position under the Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant.  The Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division awarded funding to the City of Laredo for the purpose of hiring an Administrative Assistant II and to purchase computer equipment in support of the juvenile program from August 1, 2001 through July 31, 2002.

 

2002-O-071               Amending the City of Laredo FY 2001-2002 Annual Budget in the amount of $677,337.00 to fund the Laredo Financial Disruption Task Force from the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) at no cost to the City.  Funds will be used to pay for personnel salaries, travel and operational expenses beginning January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002; and accepting grant in the same amount.

                       

2002-O-072               Authorizing the City Manager to accept a grant in the amount of $30,000.00 from the Texas Department of Transportation for the enforcement of the seat belt law and authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s FY 2001-2002 Annual Budget in the amount of $30,000.00.  This grant is funded 100% by the Texas Department of Transportation and there is no cost to the City.

 

2002-O-073               Amending the Fiscal Year 2001-2002 annual budget of the Laredo Municipal Transit System, by appropriating $170,465.00 of sales tax opening balance in excess of Fiscal Year 2000-2001 year end estimate, and transferring said amount to transit sales tax reserve.

 

2002-O-074               Authorizing the City Manager to execute a budget amendment appropriating operations funds from the Federal Transit Administration Grant Number TX 90 X456, for Fiscal Year 1998-1999 in the amount of $234,180.00 to be used for operating expenses in fiscal year 2001-02 increasing the federal contribution from $3,511,128.00 to $3,745,308.00 and decreasing the sales tax match for operating expenses from $2,722,520.00 to $2,488,340.00 and transferring $234,180.00 into sales tax reserve appropriation.

           

2002-O-075               Authorizing the City Manager to execute a budget amendment appropriating operations funds from the Federal Transit Administration Grant Number TX 90 X526, for Fiscal Year 2000-2001 in the amount of $244,936.00 to be used for operating expenses in Fiscal Year 2001-2002 increasing the federal contribution from $3,745,308.00 to $3,990,244.00 and decreasing the sales tax match for operating expenses from $2,488,340.00 to $2,243,404.00 and transferring $244,936.00 into sales tax reserve appropriation.

 

2002-O-076               Amending the Fiscal Year 2001-2002 budget of the Laredo Municipal Transit System by transferring $62,000.00 from Transit System Sales Tax Fund and of this amount appropriating $60,885.00 in Laredo Metro Inc. Fund and $1,115.00 in Transit Center Fund.

 

2002-O-077               Amending Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinance of the City of Laredo, Texas to include Article V to establish a fee structure for trainings, seminars, lectures, labs, facility usage, and any other educational components that may be offered for use by the general public at the International Fire Fighting/Public Safety Training Facility.  (As amended)

 

2002-O-078               Amending the City of Laredo FY 2001-2002 Annual Budget in the amount of $47,208.00 to fund the FBI Public Corruption Task Force from the Office of the National Drug Control (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) at not cost to the City.  Funds will be used to pay for overtime, travel and operational expenses beginning January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002; and accepting grant in the same amount. 

 

XI.       RESOLUTIONS

           

7.  2002-R-031          Declaring the public necessity to re-acquire the lease for two tracts of land, described as Blocks “X” and “Y”, situated in the Western Division, Laredo, Webb County, Texas for a public purpose and public use, in order to provide and enhance additional downtown local, tourist, and visitor parking and shopping opportunities.

 

8.  2002-R-032          Requesting that Federal and State agencies work jointly with railroad companies to address issues that have an impact on congestion at the international rail bridge, specifically to allow brake tests to be conducted in Mexico for northbound trains and to approve an international crew.

 

9.  2002-R-033          Authorizing and approving a Tax Abatement Agreement between the City of Laredo and Lowe’s Companies, Inc. of North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, dba Lowe’s, Inc., a.k.a. Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, in accordance with Ordinance 98-O-141 for the Tax Abatement and Reinvestment Zones. This agreement will be for a five (5) year period to abate taxes on new improvements for the purpose of economic growth and development for the City, and for the creation of jobs. The amount of taxes abated depends on the number of jobs created and the amount of the investment. The guidelines and criteria for the agreement are set forth in the attached agreement and attachments.

 

10.  2002-R-034        Ratifying the City Manager’s submittal of an application to South Texas Development Council (STDC) for a grant in the amount of $27,000.00 with no matching funds. Funds will be used to purchase used oil recycling containers to be distributed to the citizens of Laredo, in order to further promote the City’s Used Oil Recycling Program.

 

XII.      MOTIONS

           

11.       Consideration to authorize the purchase and installation of an audio-visual presentation system for the lecture hall of the new Fire Fighting/Public Safety Training Facility from Schoolhouse Audio-Visual System, Plano, Texas, in the amount of $47,990.00.  This purchase will be made through the Texas Cooperative Purchasing Program (TCPN).  The City entered into an Interlocal participation agreement with TCPN allowing the City to take advantage of the Cooperative’s contract pricing.  Funding is available in the General Fund Training Facility Division-Machinery and Equipment, Capital Outlay account.

 

12.       Consideration to award construction contract number FY 02-086, to the Sole Bidder, Southern Bleacher Company of Graham, Texas, in the amount of $48,000.00.  Construction will consist of the complete installation and fabrication of a permanent steel grandstand for the Dryden/Optimist Little League Baseball Park located at 2700 Diaz Street.  Funding is available in the Community Development Block Grant – 25th Action Year.

 

13.       Consideration to award an architectural contract in the amount not to exceed $199,320.00 to Ashley Humphries & Sanchez Architects, Laredo, Texas for the Inner City Park Project to be located on Locust and Plum Streets between Barcelona Avenue and McDonnel Avenue.  Funding is available in the Inner City Park Project. 

 

14.       Consideration for approval of amendment number 3 an increase of $170,997.00 to the professional services contract with Crane Engineering Corporation, Laredo, Texas, for the West Laredo CP&L Road Extension for additional Architectural and Engineering surveying and geotechnical services due to the re-alignment of the road to connect with Flecha Lane instead of the original intersection with Mines Road.  The alignment will identify the required tracts of land needed for the right-of-way of the CP&L Road.  Total fee to date is $305,000.00.  Funding is available in the CP&L Road Extension Project.

 

15.       Consideration to award construction contract number FY 02-069, to the Sole Bidder, Diaz Construction, Inc, of Laredo, Texas, in the amount of $94,100.00, for the improvements to the Benavides Herrera Home (Phase 1) located at 802 Grant Street. The project will be funded through the Texas Department of Transportation Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program Grant fund.

 

16.       Authorizing the City Manager to execute amendment number 2 with CH2MHILL Engineers, of San Antonio, Texas, for oversight of the 60-day period of the verification process in an amount of $25,000.00 and the development of a complete Water Service Agreement in the amount of $75,000.00 for a total amount not to exceed $100,000.00.  Funding is available in the Water Availability Fund.

 

17.       Authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant application to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation for funding under the Small Community Air Service Development Pilot Program to fund the airport’s marketing plan for a three (3) year period.

 

XIII.     EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

The City Council hereby reserves the right to go into executive session at any time during this public meeting, if such is requested by the City Attorney or other legal counsel for the City, pursuant to his or her duty under Section 551.071(2) of the Government Code, to consult privately with his or her client on an item on the agenda, or on a matter arising out of such item.

 

18.       Request for Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.072 in regards to deliberating the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property for a proposed extension to the City of Laredo International Fire Training/Public Safety Facility site, because deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person; and return to Open Session for possible action.

           

XIV.     RECESS AND CONVENE AS THE LAREDO MASS TRANSIT BOARD

           

19.  2002-RT-001                 Authorizing the City Manager to accept and execute an amendment to grant agreement 51122F6041 State Project Number VCR 0107 between the Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Laredo to extend the period of the grant agreement to March 31, 2003.

 

 

XV.      ADJOURNMENT

 

This notice was posted at the Municipal Government Offices, 1110 Houston Street, Laredo, Texas, at a place convenient and readily accessible to the public at all times. Said notice was posted on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 at 5:00 p.m.

                                                                       

 

 

 

 

                                                                        Gustavo Guevara, Jr.

                                                                        City Secretary[fp1] 

 [fp1]