CITY OF LAREDO COUNCIL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1110 HOUSTON STREET
LAREDO, TEXAS
5:30 P.M.
AGENDA
A97-R-28 AUGUST 18, 1997
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. ROLL CALL
IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
2. City Council Meeting of July 7, 1997
City Council Workshop COPS of July 10, 1997
Aid to other Agencies Workshop of July 19, 1997
City Council Meeting of July 21, 1997
V. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES
3. Authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with Dynair CFE
Services, Inc., for approximately 416 square feet constituting
Building #168.
1. Lease term is for one (1) year commencing May 1, 1997 and ending
April 30, 1998 and be extended for one (1) year ending April 30,
1999.
2. Monthly rent shall be $425.00 and will be adjusted annually during
the primary and extension term of this lease according to changes
in the Consumer Price Index. Previous monthly rent was $369.51.
Leased premises are used for air freight operations
4. Closing as a public easement a 513.1 square foot parcel of land, more
or less, out of the 1000 Block of Baltimore Street between Flores and
San Agustin Avenues and the 3500 Block of Flores Avenue between
Baltimore and Lafayette Streets, said parcel of land being encroached
by the improvements of the abutting property being Lot 2, Block 901,
Western Division, being more particularly described by metes and
bounds, and authorizing the sale of the "surface only" of said parcel
of land at the adjusted fair market value of $1,026.20, and
authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to
effectively convey fee simple title to Victor Alvarez and wife Sara
A. Alvarez and Irene R. Sanchez, a single woman.
5. Closing as a public easement a 465.28 square foot parcel of land,
more or less, out of the 1800 Block of Logan Avenue between Guerrero
and Lane Streets, said parcel of land being encroached by the
improvements of the abutting property being Lot 7, Block 250, Eastern
Division, being more particularly described by metes and bounds, and
authorizing the sale of the "surface only" of said parcel of land at
the adjusted fair market value of $697.92, and authorizing the City
Manager to execute all necessary documents to effectively convey fee
simple title to Adelina de Leon and Virginia A. Gonzalez.
6. Authorizing the establishment of a limited-time deferred payment plan
for delinquent customers of the utilities department who declare
themselves willing but unable to pay the full balance on their
account, citing hardship, or extraordinary circumstances.
7. Authorizing the Utilities Department to refuse service to individuals
or business entities who owe prior balances for services received and
who attempt to open an account under a different name or location for
the purpose of avoiding payment of said rendered services; providing
for effective date and publication.
VI. FINAL READINGS
8. 97-O-179 Amending Section 2 of Ordinance No. 90-O-101, to clarify and
set forth the voting powers of the Mayor Pro Tem of the
City of Laredo, and for other purposes. (City Council) 9.
97-O-180 Authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with Border
Maintenance Service, Inc., for approximately 2,304 square
feet constituting Building #1421 located at 1817 Pappas
Street at the Laredo International Airport. Lease premises
are used for office space and a maintenance service
workshop.
1. Lease term is for one (1) year commencing July 1, 1997
and ending June 30, 1998.
2. Monthly rent shall be $550.00. Previous monthly rent was
$500.00. (City Council)
10. 97-O-181 Authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with Loomis,
Fargo & Co., for approximately 1,380 square feet
constituting Building #S-3 located at 1703 Sandman Street.
Lease premises are used for armored car security services.
1. Lease term is for one (1) year commencing July 1, 1997
and ending June 30, 1998 and may be extended for one (1)
year ending June 30, 1999.
2. Monthly rent shall be $1,104.00 and will be adjusted
annually during the primary and extension term of this
lease according to changes in the Consumer Price Index.
Previous monthly rent was $992.41.
(City Council)
11. 97-O-182 Authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with Bowden
Medical, Inc., for approximately 3,588 square feet
constituting Building #1432, #1438 and #1439. Building #1432
is located at 1803 Pappas Street, and Building #1438 & #1439
are located at 1719 Pappas Street at the Laredo
International Airport. Lease premises are used to store
medical equipment and supplies.
1. Lease term is for one (1) year commencing May 1, 1997 and
ending April 30, 1998.
2. Monthly rent shall be $630.00. Previous monthly rent was
$600.00. (City Council)
12. 97-O-183 Amending the provisions o the City of Laredo's Code of
Ordinances Chapter 2, Article II, Sec. 2-16, which sets
forth the Departments of the City; and 2017 which sets forth
the division in each department; thereby deleting the
Educational and Recreational Services Department and the
Developmental Services Department and adding four
departments being the Parks and Recreation Department, the
Building Inspections Department, the Library Department, and
the Convention and Visitors' Bureau; and modifying the
divisions within the applicable Departments; providing for
publication and providing for effective date.
(City Council)
13. 97-O-184 Authorizing the execution of an interim loan agreement
between the City of Laredo and NBC Bank -Laredo, N.A., in
the amount of $1,350,000.00, payable from surplus revenues
of the City's International Toll Bridge System, and other
matters related to this subject. (City Council)
14. 97-O-185 Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of
Laredo by authorizing the issuance of a Conditional Use
Permit for a child education/day care center on Lots 1 and
2, Block 1697, Eastern Division, located at 2801 and 2807
East Fremont; providing for an effective date and
publication. (Louis H. Bruni)
15. 97-O-186 Ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of
Laredo by rezoning 22 acres, as further described by metes
and bounds, located on the south side of Del Mar Boulevard,
south of Bermuda Dunes Subdivision, from R-1 (Single Family
Residential District), R-2 (Multi-Family Residential
District) and B-3 (Community Business District) to B-4
(Highway Commercial District); providing for an effective
date and publication. (Alfonso I. Casso)
16. 97-O-187 Ordinance amending the City of Laredo's 1996-1997, annual
budget in the amount of $55,721.00 for funding of supplies
and direct operating expenses for a Multi-Agency Narcotics
Task Force for the period of June 1, 1997 through May 31,
1998. (As Amended) (City Council)
17. 97-O-188 Amending the City of Laredo's 1996-1997, Annual Budget in
the amount of $24,000.00, for a grant from the Texas
Department of Public Safety Division of Emergency Management
in order to complete a Hazard Vulnerability Analysis.
(City Council)
VII. RESOLUTIONS
18. 97-R-085 Opposing the proposed Nuclear Waste Dump to be located in
Sierra Blanca, Hudspeth County, Texas. (Sponsored By Mayor
Saul N. Ramirez, Jr.)
19. 97-R-088 Authorizing the City of Laredo to participate in the
following investment pools: LOGIC (Local Government
Investment Cooperative) and Lone Star Investment Pool. The
City of Laredo Investment Policy requires approval by City
Council in order to join any investment pool. LOGIC and Lone
Star Investment pools are both in compliance with the Public
Funds Investment Act; both offer safety of principal; both
offer diversification of the City Portfolio; both offer
liquidity and higher yields.
VIII. MOTIONS
20. Approval of bid specifications and authorization to advertise for bids
for the following:
a) Computer Equipment - Police Department, Engineering, Tax
Department, Utilities Department, Bridge System. A tentative bid
award date is set for September 15, 1997. Funding is available in
the Police Department Trust Fund -Capital Outlay, Engineering
Department Design, Drafting, Capital Outlay, Bridge System -Capital
Outlay.
21. Authorizing the City Manager to solicit request for proposals from
qualified environmental services for drilling 4 additional Groundwater
Monitoring Wells at the City's Municipal Landfill in compliance with
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) Chapter 330
Subchapter I (Groundwater Sampling and Monitoring) and Subchapter J
(Closure).
22. Approval of construction plans and authorization to advertise for bids
for the Telecommunications Offices and Public Access Facility, and
authorization to bid the project with tentative award on September 22,
1997. The facility is to be located in the Civic Center on the 900
block of garden Street. Funding is available in the Public Access
Channel Account.
23. Authorizing the City Manager to pursue a planning grant from the
Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) for the preparation
of a water master plan; authorizing the issuance of Request for
Qualifications from engineering firms for said project.
24. Approval of a contract with RWL Group, Dallas, Texas, for an amount
not to exceed $9,500.00, to conduct a funding study with respect to
the surplus or deficit position of the Health and Benefits Fund in
order validate the recommended pension upgrade approved by the City
Council at the budget workshop, to become effective January 1, 1998.
25. Approval of a contract with RWL Group, Dallas, Texas, for an amount
not to exceed $8,000.00, to conduct a rate study of the City's health
benefits plan.
26. Authorizing the use of monies located in the City Council's Reserve
For Capital Improvement account to facilitate the purchase of a marble
monument to be placed at Veterans Field in the amount of $2,075.00,
from Joe Jackson Heights, Laredo, Texas.
27. Authorize the purchase of seven portable radio for the Police
Department through the Houston Galveston Area Council of Governments
(HGAC) - Cooperative Purchasing Program, in the total amount of
$13,370.00. These voice secure radios will be purchased through the
cooperative purchasing contract vendor Motorola. This equipment is
needed for the implementation of the Community Oriented Policing
Program. Delivery of these radios is expected within sixty days.
28. Authorizing the City Manager to request bids and to purchase street
lights to be placed on trees and around light poles in the Downtown
area bounded by IH 35 on the East, Moctezuma on the North, Zaragoza
Street on the South, and Santa Maria Avenue on the West. This project
will provide increased illumination and enhance the area's safety and
aesthetics. To fund this project, staff further seeks authorization to
transfer $170,000.00, of 22nd Action Year Community Development Block
Grant funds from the Economic Development Loan Account No. 211-9640-
535-1189 to the Street Light Account No. 211-9640-535-1158.
29. Acceptance of the Construction of Cells No. 7 and No. 8 per Subtitle
D Requirements of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
(TNRCC) for the City of Laredo Landfill located at Texas Highway 359
and approval of final payment in the amount of $25,201.39 to Big D
Lining Systems Company, Midland, Texas. Funding is available in
account No. 666-2760-353-1200.
30. Acceptance of the 36 Inch Diameter Water Line Project from the
Jefferson Street Water Treatment Plant to FM 1472 Water Tower at Mines
Road, and approval of total release of the retainage in the amount of
$112,621.05 to McLean Construction Company, Inc., Killeen, Texas. A
deduction of $2,360.00, for contact clips not placed is recommended,
therefore final payment is $110,261.05. Funding is available in the
Retainage Payable Account.
31. Approval of change order no. 2, a decrease of $1,356.35, acceptance of
the Malinche Avenue Re-Alignment Street Improvements from
Bartlett/Locust to Frost Street Project, and approval of final payment
in the amount of $24,251.05 to Ramex Construction Company, Inc.,
Houston, Texas. Funding is available in the Capital Improvement Fund
Malinche Re-Alignment Project and Retainage Payable Account.
32. Approval to reject the sole bid received from Leyendecker Construction
Company in the amount of $2,198,000.00 for the construction of the
Father Charles McNaboe Recreational Complex and authorizing City Staff
to work on a plan whereby some of the construction work can be done
in-house and portions to be subcontracted out, with the concurrence of
the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife and United Independent
School District (UISD).
33. Award of a construction contract to the LOWEST BIDDER, A.E.
Construction Company, Inc., San Antonio, Texas, in the amount of
$263,930.86, for the Construction of 68 accessible ramps at 17
intersections at San Agustin Plaza, Bruni Plaza and Saint Peters Plaza
and related access routes. A total of three bids were received for
this project. Contract time is 130 working days. Funding is available
in the Community Development Curb Construction ADA and Capital
Improvement ADA Improvements.
34. Award of an asbestos abatement contract to the LOWEST BIDDER, Bexar
Environmental San Antonio, Texas in the amount of $23,598.00 for the
Asbestos Abatement of Laredo International Airport Buildings 1324 &
1425. This project is part of the Economic Development Administration
Airport/Medical Infrastructure Improvement Project. The City received
a total of seven (7) bids. Funding is available in the Airport/Medical
Infrastructure Improvement Project Fund.
35. Award of an engineering contract to G.G. Salinas Engineering, Laredo,
Texas, in the amount of $38,600.00 to provide surveys, design and
prepare plans and specifications for the construction of sidewalks
along Community Development lock Grant (CDBG) residential
neighborhoods to provide safe walkways to connect neighborhoods to
local schools. Funding is available in the Community Development CD
Projects/Sidewalks Account.
36. Approval of amendment no. 2, an increase of $45,000.00 to the
engineering contract with NRS Consulting Engineers, Harlingen, Texas,
for additional Resident Project Representative (inspection services)
due to construction delays for the Milmo Avenue, East Corridor and
Other Booster Pump Station Project and for the 5 Million Gallon Water
Storage Tank and High Service Pump for the sierra Vista Booster
Station in South Laredo. Staff recommends seeking reimbursement for
these additional inspection costs from the contractor by assessing
liquidated damages for delays. Original contract amount was for
$175,400.00. This amendment brings the total to $243,400.00. Funding
is available in the Waterworks System Fund.
37. Authorizing the City Manager to amend the City's contract with Parsons
Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas, Inc., for Environmental Assessment
Services (EA) associated with the Laredo Northwest International
Bridge (Fourth Bridge) and connecting roadways to extend the contract
period to January 15, 1997.
38. Referring proposed amendments of the City of Laredo Comprehensive Land
Use Plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission and requiring said
amendments to be brought back before the City Council no later than
September 15, 1997, in accordance with Article IX, Section 9.03 of the
Charter of the City of Laredo.
39. Motion to (1) accept the Webb County Appraisal District Property
Appraisal Roll, (2) accept the Effective Tax Rate Calculation, (3)
setting a Public Hearing for August 25, 1997, to adopt the proposed
Tax Year 1997 tax rate, and (4) authorizing the Tax Assessor/Collector
to begin publication of notices.
IX. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
40. Discussion and possible action regarding implementing Section 4, of
the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Laredo and the County of
Webb for the provision of fire protection, emergency medical and
rescue services for all unincorporated areas of the County outside the
incorporated limits of the City as it relates the terms of this
section. Section 4 provides that a 365 day notice be given to
renegotiate or cancel said agreement.
41. Authorize the City Manager to proceed with the permanent closure of
the 1100 Block of Zaragoza Street. This section of street, between
Convent Avenue and Flores Avenue, has been temporarily closed since
March 12, 1997 when Bridge I was closed to vehicular traffic for
emergency repairs. The permanent closure of Zaragoza Street is being
recommended to remove traffic backups that occur in the San Agustin
Historic District by prohibiting access to Bridge I from Zaragoza
Street, to reduce vehicular and pedestrian conflicts at the
intersection of Convent Avenue/Zaragoza Street, and to improve
pedestrian access to Bridge I.
42. Requesting the City Council conduct an evaluation of performance of
the City Manager as per Section 6 of the Employment Agreement between
the City of Laredo and Mr. Florencio Pena, III, with possible
Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.074 of the Texas Government
Code to deliberate said evaluation.
43. Request for Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.071 of the Texas
Government Code to discuss pending litigation to-wit: City of Laredo
vs. Texas Mexican Railway Company and Missouri Pacific Railroad
Company, d.b.a. Union Pacific Railroad Company, Cause No. 96CVQ-00193-
D2, in the 111th Judicial District Court of Webb County, Texas.
7:00 RECESS
X. COMMUNICATIONS
XI. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION
44. Requests by Mayor and City Councilmembers for discussion and
presentation.
A. Requests by Councilmember Jose R. Perez, Jr.
1. Discussion and possible action regarding the naming of a Police Chief,
and additionally requesting that the City Manager submit the name(s)
of individuals to be considered for the position of Police Chief.
B. Requests by Councilmember Louis H. Bruni
1. Presentation by Efrain Gutierrez regarding the use of the public
access channel.
C. Requests by Councilmember Cecilia May Moreno
1. Status report regarding the painting of the Lyon Street water tanks.
D. Requests by Councilmember Joe A. Guerra
1. Presentation by Ale Arreguin regarding the elimination of the building
inspectors from the Fiscal Year 1997-1998 Annual Budget thereby saving
millions of dollars for the city.
E. Requests by Councilmember Mario G. Alvarado
1. Request to traffic department staff to work with the Texas Department
of Transportation on placing street name signs going into the
Industrial Parks on Mines Road with possible action.
F. Requests by Councilmember Consuelo "Chelo" Montalvo
1. Instructing staff to meet with the Hamilton Hotel developers and aid
them in preparing a Section 108 Loan package and bring back to the
City Council for approval.
2. Nominating Roberto Luis Trevino, 1422 Wingfoot, to be my
representative on the Airport Advisory Board.
XII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
45. Public hearing regarding an ordinance amending the Capital Grant TX-
90-X374 budget line item Bus Purchases; from $900,000.00, to
$983,481.00; appropriating unused FY 95-96 federal operating funds in
the amount of $66,785.00 and applying previously appropriated transit
sales tax funds for bus purchases, in the amount of $16,696.00, to
serve as the 20% match.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Ordinance amending the Capital Grant TX-90-X374 budget line item Bus
Purchases; from $900,000.00 to $983,481.00; appropriating unused FY
95-96 federal operating funds in the amount of $66,785.00 and applying
previously appropriated transit sales tax funds for bus purchases, in
the amount of $16,696.00, to serve as the 20% match.
XIII. RECESS AND CONVENE AS THE MASS TRANSIT BOARD
46. 97-RT-086 Resolution authorizing the City Manager to accept and
execute a grant from the Texas Department of Transportation
for the State Urbanized Transportation Fund for the 1998-99
biennium in the amount of $909,887.00; and providing for
grant funds to be deposited in the Transit Department
Accounts.
47. Motion to authorize staff to sell surplus vehicles, miscellaneous bus
parts, and steel bus wheels to the highest bidder. Said vehicles have
exhausted their useful lives; and parts are obsolete. All items are
being offered "as is" with no implied or express warranties or claims
of serviceability.
Model Unit
1982 Gillig 8216
1982 Gillig 8221 1982 Gillig 8224
1982 Gillig 8215 1982 Gillig 8220
SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
IX. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
A. Discussion and possible action regarding the assessment of the U.S.
Marine Corps Corp-of-Engineers Capital Improvement Projects.
XIV. 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 FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1997 AT 5:30 P.M.
________________________
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.
CITY SECRETARY