CITY OF LAREDO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
A98-R-36
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1110 HOUSTON STREET
LAREDO, TEXAS 78040
AUGUST 17, 1998
5:30 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. ROLL CALL
IV. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCE
2. Ordinance amending Chapter 28, of the City of Laredo Code of
Ordinances by deleting the provisions for noncommercial solicitation
permits and adding provisions for certificates of registration for
noncommercial street solicitation campaigns thereby requiring persons
to submit a registration statement of such campaigns with a $20.00
registration fee and submit financial statements when the campaigns
are complete; amending Chapter 21, offenses and miscellaneous.
provisions, thereby adding the following prohibitions against:
aggressive solicitations including time, place, and manner
restrictions, false or misleading solicitations and manner of street
and highway solicitations; urinating or defecating in public; entering
portions of public buildings without consent; entering motor vehicles
without consent; public camping including a declaration that public
camps are nuisances subject to abatement; providing for severability
and an effective date.
3. Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to make application to the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a Section 108
Loan in the amount of $1,700,000 to facilitate a second lien mortgage
note payable to the Hamilton Hotel Partners Limited for the renovation
and conversion of the Hamilton Hotel to include 165 low income rental
units and first floor commercial office space and further authorizing
the City Manager to execute any and all document resulting from this
submission.
4. Ordinance to waive parking fees at the Laredo Transit Center for
patrons at the Garage between 5:00P.M. and 10:00P.M. on Wednesday,
October 7, 1998, subject to a $100.00 contribution by the Centro
Iturbide Street Association. The parking fees will be waived in order
to support the association's "Streets of Laredo" Mall Opening
Festival, a community event in Downtown Laredo.
5. Ordinance to grant a permit to Southwestern Bell Telephone to use a
City-owned twenty-foot-wide Utility Easement for the installation of
an underground telecommunications cable, upon the condition that
Southwestern Bell Telephone will at all times after doing any works
within said Utility Easement, restore said premises to the condition
in which same was found before such work was undertaken. Said easement
being situated in Porcion 22, Abstract 277, Webb County, Texas; being
more particularly described by metes and bounds; and providing for an
effective date.
V. FINAL READINGS
6. 98-O-208 Ordinance amending Chapter 31, Article II, regarding sewers
and sewage disposal by deleting the provisions in Section 31-
23 titled "Notice of Violations" of the Code of Ordinances or
the City of Laredo; thereby eliminating the notice
requirement when an infraction is detected and allowing a
compliant to be filed immediately in Municipal Court.
(City Council)
7. 98-O-209 Ordinance amending Article IV, titled "Liquid Waste
Transportation," of Chapter 31, of the City of Laredo Code of
Ordinances, thereby correcting minor language problems in the
article expanding the ordinance to include its application of
secondary transporters; and adding a Section 31-170 regarding
the requirements of a generator and disposal site operator;
providing for severability and effective date and
publication. (City Council)
8. 98-O-210 Ordinance closing as a public easement a 666.10 square feet
parcel of land more or less (2' x 333.05') out of the 4200
block of Santa Cleotilde Avenue between the north right-of-
way lines of Tacuba and Chicago Streets, said parcel of land,
being encroached by the improvements situated on Lot 1, Block
1048-A, and Lot 1, Block 1091-A, both situated in the Western
Division, City of Laredo, County of Webb, and authorizing the
sale of "The Surface Only" of said parcel of land at the
adjusted fair market value of $1,225.62 and authorizing the
City Manager to execute all necessary documents to
effectively convey fee simple title to Eduardo Diaz and
providing for an effective date. (City Council)
9. 98-O-211 Ordinance closing as a public easement a 17.7 feet wide alley
dedicated for public use in Block 894, Eastern Division, City
of Laredo, Webb County, Texas, which traverses the middle of
said block from east to west through its entire length, and
abuts the north side of Lots 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12, and abuts
the south side of Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6; providing for the
reversion of the public's interest in said alley to the
abutting owners, and providing for an effective date.
(City Council)
10. 98-O-212 Ordinance amending the Laredo Police Departments FY 1997-98
budget in the amount of $92,100.00 to pay for the salaries
and fringe benefits for six police officers that will be
transferred from the COPS "Ahead" grant to the general fund
due to the expiration of the grant. These police officers
were hired under the COPS "Ahead" grant for a period of three
years. (City Council)
11. 98-O-213 Ordinance amending the City of Laredo Police Departments FY
1997-98 budget in the amount of $3,000.00, to purchase a
treadmill for the Police GYM. (City Council)
12. 98-O-214 Ordinance amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 Annual
Budget in the amount of $3,000.00, and appropriate these
funds to the Laredo Convention and Bureau regular salary line
item to establish the position of a part-time information
clerk for the information center at the Laredo International
Airport Terminal. (City Council)
VI. RESOLUTIONS
13. 98-R-131 Authorizing the City Manager to accept a supplemental award
to the COPS Ahead grant from the United States Department of
Justice in the amount of $1,500,000 with the City designating
$1,105,247 in matching funds for a total of $2,605,247 for a
three year funding of the " Universal Hiring" Program
beginning May 1, 1998 through April 30, 2001.
14. 98-R-137 Approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to
submit an application to the South Texas Development Council
of Governments for a grant in the amount of $100,000.00 with
the City designating $120,000.00 in matching funds and/or in-
kind services for a total of $220,000.00 to construct a
permanent household hazardous waste collection facility.
15. 98-R-138 Accepting a grant from the Texas Department of Health in the
amount of $40,000 for the Chronic Disease Prevention Program,
Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Project (BCCCP), for the
City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning
September 1, 1998, through August 31, 1999.
16. 98-R-139 Accepting a grant entitlement from the Texas Department of
Health in the amount of $542,000 ($492,000 of Title V funding
through TDH and $50,000 in other program fee income) for the
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) of the City of Laredo Health
Department for the period September 1, 1998, through August
31, 1999.
17. 98-R-140 Authorizing the acceptance of a donation of $25,000.00 from
La Posada Hotel/Suites for the closing of Zaragoza Street
between Flores and Convent Street.
18. 98-R-141 Authorizing the City Manager of the City of Laredo to submit
a grant application to the Texas Preservation Trust Fund of
the Texas Historical Commission in the amount of $100,000 for
the preservation of the Benavides-Herrera Home, located at
802 Grant Street; and authorizing the City Manager to execute
the necessary documents.
19. 98-R-143 Authorizing the City Manager to execute a Clinical
Affiliation Agreement between the City of Laredo Fire
Department and Mercy Regional Medical Center.
20. 98-R-144 Authorizing the use of surplus proceeds from the contractual
obligation series 1997-B in the amount of $92,831 for the
purchase and installation of a complete emergency medical
service (EMS) pen-based data collection system. This system
will allow the Fire Department's Ambulance Crews to collect
all necessary medical data on hand-held collections devices.
The data collected during the shift will then be downloaded
to an ambulance billing software. The automation will
eliminate the manual systems currently utilized.
21. 98-R-145 City Council confirmation of appointment of John E.
Fitzgibbon to the Airport Advisory Committee.
22. 98-R-146 Confirming the appointment of Gene Belmares to the Airport
Advisory Board by Council member Joe A. Guerra.
23. 98-R-147 Confirming the appointment of John Carlos Volpe to the
Transportation/Traffic Study Advisory Board and Sigifredo
Perez Jr. to the Ordinance Review Committee.
VII. MOTIONS
24. Approval of bid specifications and authorization to advertise for bids
for the following:
a) Service Truck - Utilities Department
b) Rubber Couplings/PVC Pipe, Annual Contract - Utilities Department
c) Vacuum Truck Services, Annual Contract - Utilities Department d)
Auditorium Carpet Replacement - Civic Center
e) Two extended cab trucks - Parks and Recreation Department
A tentative award contract date is scheduled for
September 21, 1998.
25. Authorizing the City Manager to solicit proposals from qualified
engineering firms to develop and implement the Risk Management Plan to
comply with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) 40 CPR Part 68 Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk
Management Program under the Clean Air Act Section 112r(7) with site
specific risk management plan will be prepared by the Engineer for all
city Facilities requiring compliance with referenced section. Funding
is available in the Waterworks '97 Bond Issue EPA Clean Air Act
Program.
26. Approval of selection of consultant and authorization an engineering
contract with Brown & Root Company to develop a Storm Water Management
Master Plan for the Zacate Creek Watershed. The scope of the work
includes but is not limited to:
a. Updating the FEMA flood insurance map
b. Inventory of drainage structures and drainage ways
c. Developing hydrologic and hydraulic models
d. Identifying and recommending the location of the regional detention
pond and for the floatable control devices
e. Developing and evaluating improvement alternatives and the funding
mechanism
The Engineering Contract Review Committee concurs with the
recommendation.
27. Award of contract to the SOLE PROPOSER, Zoll Medical Corporation,
Burlington, MA., in the amount of $87,831.00, for the purchase and
installation of a complete Emergency Medical Services (EMS) pen-based
data collection system. This system will allow the Fire Department's
ambulance crews to collect all necessary medical data on hand-held
collection devices. The data collected during the shift will then be
downloaded to an ambulance billing software. This automation will
eliminate the manual systems currently being utilized by the Fire
Department's EMS Division and the Health Department's Ambulance
Billing Division.
28. Award of a two-year contract to the LOWEST PROPOSER, Norwest Bank of
Texas N.A. for banking services to the City of Laredo for fiscal year
ending September 30, 1999 and September 30, 2000 at an estimated cost
of $69,533.28 per year.
29. Award of contract to the SOLE BIDDER, Holmes and Shaw, Inc., San
Antonio, Texas, in the amount of $18,332.00, for services to print and
mail the 1998 tax statements and tax rolls. The contract vendor is
provided the tax statement data in electronic format and they are
responsible for preparing the mail addresses with the ZIP + 4 format
in order to qualify for postage savings. The tax statements are then
mailed by the contract vendor with a return envelope. Approximately
60,000 tax statements are mailed to land owners and 20,000 duplicate
tax statements are mailed to mortgage companies. The total contract
pricing is approximately 20% higher than last year.
30. Award of contract to the LOW BIDDER, Reynaldo Barraza dba Jobs
Materials, Laredo, Texas, in the estimated amount of $76,500.00, for
providing asphalt/concrete repairs and water taps/T connections as
required by the Utilities Department. Mr. Barraza submitted the
lowest bid pricing on a per square foot cost basis to repair asphalt
and concrete cuts required to repair distribution lines and is the low
bidder on a unit cost for water tap and T connection installation
service. This type of service will be requested on a per need basis
and all work is inspected by the Utilities Department for compliance
with City requirements. A total of three bids were received for this
contract. The bid pricing is approximately 24% less than previous
contract pricing.
31. Award of six month supply contracts for the purchase of footwear for
maintenance personnel, to the following LOW BIDDERS:
a) Iron Age Corp., San Antonio, Texas
(five safety footwear styles) $ 24,135.50
b) Skaggs-R&R Uniforms, San Antonio,
Texas (three safety footwear styles) $ 13,024.25
c) Mary's Boots, McAllen, Texas,
(two safety footwear styles) $ 9,798.60
Contract pricing has been secured for the ten safety boot styles.
Department personnel will have the option to choose the type of boot
best suited for the work environment. All safety footwear is purchased
on an as need basis. A total of four bids were received for this
purchase.
32. Award of contract to the LOW BIDDERS MEETING SPECIFICATIONS, Reliable
Emergency Vehicles, Comanche, Texas, in the amount of $89,775.00, for
the purchase of a replacement ambulance. The City received lower bids
from Taylor Made Ambulance and Professional Ambulance Sales and
Service. The bid submitted by Taylor Made Ambulance was not signed and
the bid from Professional Ambulance contained important exceptions to
the City's requirements. Due to these omissions, both bids are
considered non responsive. The new ambulance will be delivered within
one hundred and twenty days.
33. Award of a construction contract to the LOWEST BIDDER, Pete Gallegos
Paving, Inc., Laredo, Texas in the amount of $303,694.00 for the
Calton Road Widening and Signalization from IH-35 (San Dario) to
halfway between San Francisco Avenue to Yeary Street. Funding is
available in the Capital Improvements Calton Road Widening and
Signalization.
34. Approval of change order no. 1, a net increase of $5,381.13, for
balance of quantities actually constructed in place, acceptance of
construction of an approximately seven (7) acre composite landfill
liner for Type I Cells 9 and 10 at the City of Laredo Landfill located
at Highway 359, and approval of final payment in the amount of
$31,922.13 to BNC Environmental Services, Inc., Houston, Texas. The
original contract amount was $530,820.00. This change order brings the
total contract amount to $536,201.13. Funding is available in the
Landfill Improvements Other Than Buildings.
35. Approval of change order no. 2, a net increase of $5,289.20, for the
balance of quantities actually constructed in place, acceptance of the
Manadas Creek 24 Inch Wastewater Interceptor as part of the North
Laredo/Webb County Infrastructure Improvements Project (McPherson Road
Extension) Economic Development Administration (EDA) Project No. 08-
01-02878, and approval of final payment in the amount of $134,993.11
to Ramex Construction Company, Inc., Houston, Texas. The original
contract amount was $2,229,445.11. This change order brings the total
contract amount to $2,304,734.31. Funding is available in the Sewer
System '94 Bond Construction Manadas Creek Interceptor.
36. Refund of property tax to the following individual:
a. Santiago Reyes in the amount of $1,391.37
37. In accordance with Article IX, Section 9.03 of the Charter of the City
of Laredo referring the proposed City of Laredo Comprehensive Plan to
the Planning and Zoning Commission on any recommendations to be
brought back before the City Council no later than September 21, 1998.
38. Approval of change order no. 3, an increase of $14,718.00, for
additional drainage improvements at the intersection of Cortez Street
and Ejido Avenue, and acceptance of Street Paving Assessment Project
50 (46 Blocks) constructed by the City's Department of Public Works
and the Utilities Department. The original contract amount was
$1,469,926.98. This change order brings the total contract amount to
$1,602,074.98. Funding is available in the Street Fund 1993 Water
Bond, and 1992A Sewer Bond.
39. Acceptance of Street Paving Assessment Project 57 (34 Blocks)
constructed by the City's Department of Public Works and the Utilities
Department. Funding is available in the Street Fund, 1994 Water Bond,
and 1994 Sewer Bond.
40. Acceptance of the Bond Issue Street Paving Assessment Project 58-I (12
Blocks) constructed by the City's Department of Public Works and the
Utilities Department. Funding is available in Street Fund, 1994 Water
Bond, and 1994 Sewer Bond.
41. Calling for a public hearing to consider the proposed 1999-2003
Capital Improvement Program on September 8, 1998 and notifying the
public of said hearing by advertising ten consecutive days in the
newspaper and informing the public that three copies of the proposed
capital program are available at the City Secretary's office and the
City Library in accordance with Article VI, Section 6.07 of the
Charter of the City of Laredo.
42. Authorizing the City Manager to opt out of the Federal Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA),
effective October 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999, as a result of
the City currently meeting or exceeding minimum HIPAA benefit
provisions,
43. Authorizing the City Manager to negotiate an interlocal cooperation
agreement with the County of Webb for Fire Protection, Emergency
Medical and Rescue Services.
44. Authorization to enter into a contract with an engineering company to
provide research and surveying services for 19 tracts of land for
unilateral annexation.
VIII. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
45. Presentation on the status of the Laredo Northwest International
Bridge (Fourth Bridge).
46. Providing an update on the upcoming annexation and requesting Council
to consider inclusion of an additional tract along Highway 83 south.
47. Request for Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code
Section 551.071(1)(A)(B) to discuss pending litigation and settlement
offer regarding Southwestern Bell Telephone Company v. City of Laredo,
Cause No. CA-L-98-47 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern
District of Texas Laredo Division, and return to open session for
possible action thereon.
IX. COMMUNICATIONS
48. Recognition by the Mayor and City Council members of employees that
retired from the City of Laredo with 20 years or more of service for
the period April 1998 thru June 1998.
1. Alejandro E. Quintanilla (20 years), Fire Department, April 3, 1998
2. Juan Palacios (23 years), Utilities Department, May 31, 1998
3. Jesus Robles Jr. (24 years), Utilities Department, May 31, 1998
4. Jesus R. Gonzalez (26 years), Health Department, June 30, 1998
5. Dora Rodriguez (25 years), City Manager's Office, June 30, 1998
X. CITY COUNCIL PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION
49. Requests by Mayor and City Council members for presentation and
discussion.
A. Requests by Council member Alfredo Agredano
1. Request by Maria Elena Guzman for City Council consideration of
extending the hours of the Buena Vida Program at Cigarroa High
School.
B. Requests by Council member Louis H. Bruni
1. Status report on the proposed Aviation Fuel Farm (Petroleum Oil
Lubricants) at the Laredo International Airport, with possible
action.
2. Discussion and possible action on conducting a Traffic Flow Study
for the purpose of installing a traffic control device at the
entrance of J.B. Alexander High School. (Co-sponsored by
Councilman Joe A. Guerra)
3. Status report on the lack of wastewater infrastructure on the
north side of HWY 59 between Ejido Street and the old entrance of
Casa Blanca State Park, with possible action
4. Status report on the Brown and Root drainage study at the Laredo
International Airport with possible action.
C. Requests by Council member Joe A. Guerra
1. Presentation by the Laredo United Veterans Coalition of their
request of an appointment by the City Council of a Veterans
Affairs Committee to make recommendation on veterans issues.
D. Requests by Council member Consuelo "Chelo" Montalvo
1. Presentation by Raul Perales representing La Posada Hotel/Suites
of the plans for the Zaragoza Street Improvement Project and their
additional contribution of $25,000.00.
XI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
50. Public hearing amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 annual budget
in the amount of $109,869 for a supplemental grant to the COPS Ahead
Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The U. S. Department of
Justice is contributing $63,724 with the City designating $46,145 in
matching funds for the remaining fiscal year. The Universal Hiring
Grant period will be from May 1, 1998 through April 30, 2001.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Ordinance amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 annual budget in the
amount of $109,869 for a supplemental grant to the COPS Ahead Grant
from the U.S. Department of Justice. The U. S. Department of Justice
is contributing $63,724 with the City designating $46,145 in matching
funds for the remaining fiscal year. The Universal Hiring Grant period
will be from May 1, 1998 through April 30, 2001.
51. Public hearing amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 annual budget
in the amount of $4,000.00 for the purchase of three canine cages to
be installed in task force vehicles for the Financial Disruption Task
Force for the period of January 1, 1998 and ending December 31, 1998.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Ordinance amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 annual budget in the
amount of $4,000.00 for the purchase of three canine cages to be
installed in task force vehicles for the Financial Disruption Task
Force for the period of January 1, 1998 and ending December 31, 1998.
52. Public hearing amending Ordinance 97-O-022, Section 2-3(b) of Chapter
2 of the Code of Ordinance of the City of Laredo providing for an
additional charge of $1.83 for birth certificates issued locally for
births occurring in other cities and counties within the State of
Texas.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Ordinance amending Ordinance 97-O-022, Section 2-3(b) of Chapter 2 of
the Code of Ordinance of the City of Laredo providing for an
additional charge of $1.83 for birth certificates issued locally for
births occurring in other cities and counties within the State of
Texas.
53. Public hearing amending the contract with the Texas Department of
Health and budget in the amount of $40,000 for the Chronic Disease
Prevention Program, Breast and cervical Cancer Control Project
(BCCCP), of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period
beginning September 1, 1998, through August 31, 1999.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Ordinance amending the contract with the Texas Department of Health
and budget in the amount of $40,000 for the Chronic Disease Prevention
Program, Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Project (BCCCP), of the
City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning September 1,
1998, through August 31, 1999.
54. Public hearing amending the contract with the Texas Department of
Health and budget in the amount of $542,000 ($492,000 of Title V
funding through TDH and $50,000 in other program fee income) for the
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) of the City of Laredo Health
Department for the period beginning September 1, 1998 through August
31, 1999.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Ordinance amending the contract with the Texas Department of Health
and budget in the amount of $542,000 ($492,000 of Title V funding
through TDH and $50,000 in other program fee income) for the Maternal
and Child Health (MCH) of the City of Laredo Health Department for the
period beginning September 1, 1998 through August 31, 1999.
XII. MOTION TO RECESS AND CONVENE AS THE LAREDO MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM
55. 98-RT-142 Authorizing the City Manager to accept and execute
a Texas Department of Transportation Grant in the
amount of $311,690 from the State Public
Transportation Fund for the 1998-99 Biennium: and
providing for grant funds to be deposited in the
City Transit Department Accounts.
56. Award of five year service agreement to the LOW BIDDER,
Montgomery KONE, Inc., San Antonio, Texas, in the amount of
$29,640.00, for providing elevator maintenance at the Laredo
Intermodal Transit Center. This contract will provide for
monthly maintenance on the three elevators operating at this
location. These elevator where previously maintained by the
general contractor under the one year building maintenance
warranty.
57. To authorize negotiation of a contract with Bonanza
Consultants and Investments, Inc., for bus bench and shelter
advertising sales and service.
XIII. 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 14, 1998, at 5:30 p.m.
_________________________
Gustavo Guevara, Jr.
City Secretary