CITY OF LAREDO

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

A-2003-R-022

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1110 HOUSTON STREET

LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

NOVEMBER 17, 2003

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

 

Approval of the minutes of September 15, 2003 and September 22, 2003.

 

V.        COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

 

Announcements

 

Invitations

a.      H.E.B Feast of Sharing to be held on November 23, 2003.

 

b.      International GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Day will be celebrated locally at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) with numerous exhibitors from local agencies, companies and universities from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on November 19, 2003, in Room 111 of the Western Hemispheric Trade Center. 

 

Recognitions

a.      Recognizing the participants and sponsors of Dia del Rio opening ceremonies, Dia del Rio and Make a Difference Day.  In all, approximately 650 people volunteered their time and efforts. Cumulatively, 300 hours were spent beautifying, weeding, trail building, removing non-native vegetation and litter from the areas along the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo on October 18 and October 25, 2003.

 

b.      Recognition of Herlinda Rodriguez of the Parks and Recreation Department on her selection as October Employee of the Month.

 

c.      Presentation of the 2004 Employee Leadership Development Class.

 

Communiqués

a.                  Presentation by United Independent School District (UISD) regarding the proposed bond election to be held November 22, 2003.

 

VI.       APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

           

VII.      PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

1.               Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lots 1 & 3, Block 889, Western Division, located at 1101 Lafayette Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to B-1 (Limited Commercial District), providing for publication and effective date.  The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the proposed zone change.

 

2.               Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 1, Block 1825, Eastern Division, located at 2201 Lyon Street, from R-1 (Single Family Residential District) to B-3 (Community Business District); providing for publication and effective date.  The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended denial of the proposed zone change and approval of the extension of the previously approved Conditional Use Permit.

 

3.               Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 1, Block 432, Eastern Division, located at 301 W. Olive Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to B-3 (Community Business District); providing for publication and effective date.  The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended denial of the proposed zone change.

 

4.               Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 7, Block 667, Eastern Division, located at 1208 E. San Pedro Street from R-2 (Multi-Family Residential District) to B-3 (Community Business District); providing for publication and effective date.  The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the proposed zone change.

 

5.               Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 1.73 acres, as further described by metes and bounds on attached Exhibit “A” located at approximately 23008 Mines Road from AG (Agricultural District) to M-1 (Light Manufacturing District); providing for publication and effective date.  The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended denial of the proposed zone change.

 

6.               Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 4.198 acres, as further described by metes and bounds on attached Exhibit “A” located approximately east of Mines Road and south of World Trade Center Loop, from AG (Agricultural District) to M-1 (Light Manufacturing District); providing for publication and effective date.  The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the proposed zone change.

 

7.               Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 6, Block 1413, Eastern Division, located at 2419 Market Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to B-1 (Limited Commercial District); providing for publication and effective date.  The Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the proposed zone change.

 

8.               Individual Public Hearings for the voluntary annexation of four (4) tracts of land (Tract 1: Las Blancas Tract - 419.4591 acres, more or less; Tract 2: Las Misiones Tract - 83.0116 acres, more or less; Tract 3: McNary and Calk Tract - 70.42 acres, more or less; Tract 4: Zachry Tract - 256.66 acres, more or less) totaling 829.55 acres, more or less, and the unilateral annexation of one (1) tract of land (Tract 5: Highway 359 Tract- 622.5 acres, more or less), for a total of 1,452.05 acres, more or less, as described in the attached tract summaries as required by Section 43.063 of the Texas Local Government Code.

 

9.               Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 annual budget for the following funds:  Hotel-Motel Fund annual budget by appropriating expenditures in the amount of $441,270.00 for third party agency contract funding, Parking Meters Fund annual budget by appropriating expenditures in the amount of $63,427.00 for the FY 2003-2004 Debt Service payment, and Capital Improvements Fund (CIF) annual budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of $400,000.00 in order to fund various capital improvement projects in each City Council district, and authorizing the City Manager to implement such budget.

 

10.           Public hearing and introductory ordinance repealing Ordinance 2003-O-253 and amending Ordinance 2000-O-254, Chapter 5.5, Ambulances Article I-In General, of the Code of Ordinances, by specifically amending Section 5.5-28 (a) and (c)(2) so as to standardize basic rates, and providing for publication and effective date of January 1, 2004.  The increase in rates are primarily to recover from insurance carriers and were compiled from a rate review survey of 32 cities in Texas.

 

11.           Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 Colonias Project Fund, Water Fund, and Sewer Fund annual budget by appropriating revenues in the amount of $275,213.00 from the Colonias landowners participating in oversizing and appropriating the transfer in an expenditure in the amount of $275,213.00 for the construction of SH 359 work order no. 4 Water Transmission Line Extension Project and SH 359 work order no. 1 Wastewater Trunk Line Project in the Colonias Fund.

 

VIII.     GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

 

12.            

            A.        Request by Council Member Alfredo Agredano

                                                                        1.      Status report on the low water crossing road connecting Merida and Independence Hills.

 

B.        Request by Mayor Pro-Tempore John C. Galo

1.      Report on all CIP Park projects in District III for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 budget years, with possible action.

2.      Update on the Bartlett Street opening between Cortez and Guatemozin, with possible action.

3.      General discussion on the need for greater enforcement of property maintenance by both citizens and the City, with possible action.

           

C.        Request by Council Member Eliseo Valdez, Jr.

1.      Detailed status report, including funding, for all parks in District V.

2.      Status report on the Ryan Bridge project.

3.      Status report on the Saunders/Lafayette traffic and light study.

4.      Status report regarding possible development of locked land in the Calton Gardens area located within Hillside, Calton and Springfield Roads.

 

D.        Request by Council Member Juan Ramirez

1.      Discussion with possible action on the installation of street lights on San Francisco Road.

2.      Discussion with possible action on the repairs of the railroad crossing on Jefferson Street.

3.      Status report on the Calle Iturbide Project.

4.      Discussion with possible action on the parking lot by the riverbank.

         

(Recess)

(Press Availability)

 


IX.       INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES

 

13.           Closing as a public easement that section of the 300 block of Texas Avenue between Chacon and Piedra China Streets situated in the Eastern Division, City of Laredo, County of Webb, Texas, and providing for an effective date.

 

14.           Closing as a public easement the North one-half section of the 2300 block of Canada Avenue between O’kane and Clark Streets situated in the Eastern Division, City of Laredo, County of Webb, Texas, and providing for an effective date.

 

15.           Closing as a public easement that section of the North 346.66 feet of Naranjo Avenue between Pappas and the North property line of Block 32-A as per the Laredo Airport Subdivision Replat recorded in Volume 16, pages 49-51 of the Webb County Plat Records, situated in the Laredo Airport Subdivision, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas; being generally described on the attached Exhibit “A,” provided that the Laredo International Airport retains all existing easements located on said section of Naranjo Avenue and providing for an effective date for the closure and reversion of the public’s interest in said street to the Laredo International Airport.

 

16.           Closing as a public easement that section of Sta. Rita Avenue between Ventura and Piedregal Streets situated in the Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas, and providing for an effective date.

 

17.           Amending Chapter 19, Motor Vehicle and Traffic, Article VIII, Stopping, Standing or Parking, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Laredo:  specifically   Section 19-364 (5), Restricted Parking Areas, to extend the existing permit parking only/tow away zone boundaries to include Longhorn Drive, Yale Drive, and Alameda Drive; providing for effective date and publication.                

 

18.           Amending Section 28-100 of the Code of Ordinances which makes it unlawful to use public property for private commercial purposes, in order to increase the penalty for a violation of the section from two hundred dollars to five hundred dollars; and providing for publication and effective date.

 

X.        FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES 

           

19.            

2003-O-282             Amending the City of Laredo annual budget by decreasing revenues and expenditures in the amount of $6,300.00 to reflect the actual grant amount of $14,700.00 for Project Alcance.  The Driscoll’s Children’s Health Plans of Corpus Christi has awarded this grant to the City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004.

 

2003-O-283             Amending the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 Airport Construction and Noise Abatement budgets to recognize additional revenues from two grants received from the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program being Grant Project No. 3-48-0136-38-2003 in the amount of $1,314,480.00 for improvements to the Airport Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) Station, rehabilitation of taxiways, reconstruction of apron and construction of cargo apron pads; and Grant Project No. 3-48-0136-39-2003 in the amount of $3,000,000.00  and a local match in the amount of $333,334.00 available in the Airport Construction Fund for acquisition of residences and avigation easements and to sound insulate residential structures all in the 65 DNL noise contour of the Laredo International Airport; and authorizing the City Manager to implement said budget amendment; providing for an effective date.

 

2003-O-284             Authorizing the City Manager to accept a reimbursement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the amount of $10,720.00 for overtime expenses and amending the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 annual budget in the amount of $10,720.00 to fund the Laredo Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).  The Laredo Police Department will assign one police investigator to the task force.  Reimbursement of overtime expenses will commence on October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004.

 

2003-O-285             Authorizing the City Manager to grant a Right-of-Entry Permit to the United States of America in the area encompassed by the following City-owned blocks, for use as a work area for environmental exploration and survey, Southward and Eastward up to Tilden Avenue, including any public right-of-way abutting said blocks and any river vega land. Said blocks being delineated on attached copy of City Plat: all of Blocks 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 57, 68, 414, 415, 416, 425, 450-A 629, 630, 644, 645, 658, 659, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 680, 708, 708-B & 724; all being situated in the Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas; and providing for an effective date.


XI.       RESOLUTIONS

 

20.           2003-R-142    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.007 of an acre (310.625 sq. ft.) parcel of land, and a 0.007 of an acre (310.625 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as perpetual easements, from Mandel Family Enterprises, for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcels of land being out of the West 22.50 feet of  Lot 7, and out of Lot 8, Block 2, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

21.           2003-R-143    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.002 of an acre (105.390 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as a perpetual easement, from Laredo Coin & Gift, Inc., for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcel of land being out of the West 26.71 feet of Lot 10, Block 37, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

22.           2003-R-144    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.005 of an acre (221.804 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as a perpetual easement, from Norton Stores, Inc., for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcel of land being out of Lot 7A, Block 36, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

23.           2003-R-145    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.008 of an acre (327.711 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as a perpetual easement, from Natan Bar-Yadin, for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcel of land being out of Lot 10, Block 2, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

24.           2003-R-146    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.005 of an acre (221.804 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as a perpetual easement, from the George A. Talamas Family Limited, Partnership, for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcel of land being out of Lot 8, Block 36, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

25.           2003-R-147    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.006 of an acre (246.626 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as a perpetual easement, from The Estate of Goldie Shaffer, for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcel of land being out of Lot 9, Block 36, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

26.           2003-R-148    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.006 of an acre (253.861 sq. ft.) parcel of land, and a 0.002 of an acre (93.959 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as perpetual easements, from Yu-Ting Chiang, for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcels of land being out of Lot 10, Block 36, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

27.           2003-R-149    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.006 of an acre (256.346 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as a perpetual easement, from In Bok Yi, for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcel of land being out of Lot 6, Block 37, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

28.           2003-R-150    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.012 of an acre (537.950 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as a perpetual easement, from Minnie Dora Bunn Haynes, for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcel of land being out of Lots 7 & 8, Block 37, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

29.           2003-R-151    Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.005 of an acre (214.212 sq. ft.) parcel of land, and a 0.003 (111.772 sq. ft.) parcel of land, as perpetual easements, from Burco Realty Comapny, for the Iturbide Street Urban Mall Project.  Said parcels of land being out of Lot 9, and the East 28.85 feet of Lot 10, Block 37, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas.

 

30.           2003-R-152    Resolution of the City of Laredo suspending the effective date of AEP Texas Central Company’s requested rate changes to permit the city time to study the request and to establish reasonable rates; approving cooperation with other cities within AEP Texas Central Company’s service territory; authorizing intervention in the proceeding at the Public Utility Commission; requiring reimbursement of cities’ rate case expenses; requiring notice of this resolution to the company.

 

31.           2003-R-153    Expressing the concern of the City Council as to how the implementation of the United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Program (US-VISIT) might adversely impact the City of Laredo, Texas, and directing the City Secretary to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of Homeland Security and our U.S. Senators and Congress member.

 

32.           2003-R-154    Confirming the appointment of representatives from the City of Laredo to serve on the Board of Directors of the South Texas Development Council for the period beginning October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004.

 

33.           2003-R-155    Supporting and participating in the South Texas Development Council; and authorizing payment of $36,315.20 for City’s membership assessment for the period covering October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004.

 

XII.      MOTIONS

 

34.           Consideration to authorize the City Manager to execute renewal contracts for legislative consultant services provided to City of <