CITY OF
LAREDO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
M2001-R-07
CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1110 HOUSTON STREET
LAREDO, TEXAS 78040
MARCH 05, 2001
5:30
P.M.
I. CALL
TO ORDER
With a quorum present Mayor
Elizabeth G. Flores called the meeting
to order.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
In attendance:
Elizabeth G. Flores, Mayor
Alfredo Agredano, Council
Member, District I
Louis H. Bruni, Council
Member, District II
John C. Galo, Council Member, District
III
Johnny Amaya, Council Member, District IV
Eliseo Valdez, Jr., Council
Member, District V
Joe A. Guerra, Mayor
Pro Tempore, District VI
Jose A. Valdez, Jr., Council
Member, District VII
Juan Ramirez, Council
Member, District VIII
Gustavo Guevara, Jr., City
Secretary
Larry Dovalina, City Manager
Cynthia Collazo, Assistant
City Manager
Jaime Flores, City
Attorney
IV. MINUTES
Approval of the minutes of January
2, 2001 and January 16, 2001.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Agredano
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
Announcements
None.
Invitations
Bede Leyendecker, Assistant Professor of Dance at TAMIU, reported
that the university dance troupe will be traveling to Little Rock, Arkansas, to
participate in the American College Dance Festival and will present a flamenco
master class to all participating universities.
Mayor Flores designated the dance troupe as official City of
Laredo ambassadors at this event.
Recognitions
a.
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
of January, 2001.
Mayor
Flores recognized the following employees for their commitment and service to
the City of Laredo.
Ricardo
Aguilar, 35 years of service with the Utilities Department.
Javier Garcia, 31 years of service with the Public Works
Department.
Eduardo Morales, 31 years of service with the Police Department.
Blasa
Bluhm, 26 years of service with the Police Department.
Jose
L. Villanueva, 25 years of service with the Utilities Department.
Conrado
Martinez, 25 years of service with the Public Works Department.
Trinidad Castillo, 23 years of service
with the Finance Department.
Gabriel D. Perez, 22 years of service with
the Fire Department.
Cm. Galo recognized Roy Garcia, Code Enforcement Officer, who
coordinated a graffiti cleanup campaign in District III with some individuals
who had to complete community service hours.
He also showed his appreciation to the sanitation crew on Truck #6083
who picked up some garbage that was littering the streets and made an extra
effort to help keep the city clean.
Communiqués
None.
VI. APPOINTMENTS
TO COMMISSION, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
None.
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public hearing amending
the City of Laredo FY 2000-2001 budget in the amount of
$148,672.00 for the
HIV/AIDS Ryan White Title II Project of the City of Laredo Health Department
for the period beginning April 1, 2001, through August 31, 2001. (Approval of Resolution 2001-R-027 is needed
before Public Hearing)
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the City of Laredo FY 2000-2001 budget in the amount of
$148,672.00 for the HIV/AIDS Ryan
White Title II Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period
beginning April 1, 2001, through August 31, 2001.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved: Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Galo
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.
Moved: Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. E.
Valdez, Jr.
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction:
City Council
2. Public hearing amending
the City of Laredo 2000-2001 Annual Budget in the amount of
$20,000.00 to appropriate the consideration fees paid by
proponents at the time of their proposal submittal to defray the cost of the
privatization study.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the City of Laredo 2000-2001 Annual Budget in the amount
of $20,000.00 to appropriate the consideration fees paid by proponents at the
time of their proposal submittal to defray the cost of the privatization study.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved: Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. E.
Valdez, Jr.
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction:
City Council
VIII. GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND
PRESENTATIONS
3. A. Request by Council Member John C. Galo
1.
Request for status on any open request from District III, with possible
action.
Robert
Eads, Customer Service Coordinator, reported on a number of customer service
requests.
The first item involves a paving issue at a parking lot at 807
Guatemozin St.
Benny
Salinas, Building Department Director, reported that his department cited the
Tex-Mex Railway regarding the paving issue.
He mentioned that he drove by the site and the parking lot is still
unpaved and that he will continue to issue citations to the railway.
The
next items were addressed by the Community Development Department. One involves a street encroachment by a
warehouse at Willow and Tilden. A
separate item involves a weeded lot with junked vehicles at Rosario Street.
Erasmo
Villarreal, reported that it involved the encroachment by a Tex-Mex Railway
warehouse on Tilden St. They have been
working with Tex-Mex representatives trying to get them to buy this
encroachment. He stated that there is
a separate street encroachment problem involving residential owners as
well. He has asked the Street Closing
Coordinator to address this problem and to contact the residents and Tex-Mex
and possibly get Tex-Mex to work something out with the City. On the issue of the junked vehicles on
Rosario Street, this property had been cited back in January for several nuisances. The property owners complied with removal of
the weeds, but they were cited again for the junked vehicles parked on the
property. The owners have ten days to
remove them, otherwise they will be taken to court.
On
the next item, Robert Eads reported that the request concerns the Garcia-Vela
property which would be addressed at a meeting scheduled for March 15, 2001.
On
the next item, Robert Eads reported that a dump truck had been parked for an
extended period of time on a city easement.
He stated that the vehicle has been removed from that location as of
today.
On
the next item, Robert Eads reported that it involved the traffic congestion on
Buena Vista and Market Streets.
Tony
Garcia, from the Traffic Department, reported that they are updating the timing
on the traffic signals on Market Street.
On
the final item, Robert Eads reported that the request concerns the crossing at
Monterrey and Laredo Streets. He
stated that he spoke to a Tex-Mex
representative and they are waiting on the release for the signalization
and the gates to be installed. As of
last Friday, Tex-Mex advised that the letter has already been received by them
and they will proceed with the installation.
B. Request by Mayor Pro-Tempore Joe A. Guerra
1. Resolution
2001-R-029 A resolution recognizing the
disparity of reimbursement
rates paid to Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP Border Medical
Providers, and authorizing the City Manager to send a letter to Governor Rick
Perry and the Members of the State Legislature encouraging them to support
equal reimbursement to Laredo area health providers.
Dr. Robert Martinez, a member of the local medical society, spoke
in favor of the resolution.
Dr. Judson Somerville, President of the Webb, Jim Hogg, and Zapata
County Medical Society, spoke on the disparity of economic reimbursement to the
medical professionals in the area.
Motion to approve the resolution with the amendment that it
support any bill that addresses this issue.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Guerra
Second: Cm. E. Valdez, Jr.
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
C. Request by Council Member Jose A. Valdez,
Jr.
1.
Request for expansion of bus route to La Bota Subdivision, with possible
action.
Cm.
Valdez, Jr. stated that he has received several calls from residents over this
particular issue. He is recommending
that the city conduct a study of potential ridership in the area.
Peter
Behrman, Transit Manager, reported that his department has not yet completed
the study to make a final determination regarding expanded bus service. He mentioned that his staff did look into
Indian Sunset subdivision, and they have discovered that they cannot operate a
bus through there due to the narrow streets and the difficulty in turning a bus
around. He stated that they might have
a similar problem over at La Bota Subdivision.
He believes that the main gate entrance might be moved back past the
school, and unless that takes place a city bus may have some difficulty with
entry and exit to the subdivision. He
would like to conduct a test trip with a city bus to La Bota Subdivision before
offering further suggestions.
2. Presentation by C.Y.
Benavides, III, Colombia Toll Road on a possible interface
with the City's Automated Vehicle Identification System (AVI),
with possible action.
C.
Y. Benavides, III, President of Camino Columbia Toll Road, stated that he has
been meeting with Rafael Garcia, Bridge System Director, for the last couple of
months to work through the initial stages of integration with the city’s AVI
system. He commented that with minor
adjustments, they could arrange it so that those links could be established to
allow the City of Laredo’s transponders to be read off of the Camino Colombia
Toll Road system. They had originally
looked into allowing both Camino Colombia transponders to be read on the city’s
systems and vice versa. However, they
have found that it would be cost prohibitive to allow their transponders to be
integrated into the city’s system. His
request to City Council is to be granted permission to work with Rafael Garcia
to go into the city’s AVI system and determine what it will take to integrate
the city’s system with the Camino Colombia system. In exchange, the City of Laredo would be the only transponder
merchant within the city and would also receive a percentage of the tolls
collected should the people utilize the Camino Colombia system with the city’s
transponder.
Rafael
Garcia, Bridge System Director, stated that this arrangement is something to
look into some time in the future. But
he mentioned that he is hoping that the City Council would not give him
immediate direction to begin exploring this possibility because it does require
in-depth analysis before making any sort of recommendation to the City
Council. He stated that any directive
made to the Bridge Department right now would be counterproductive because it
would diminish their efforts in getting the city’s $9,000,000.00 system in full
operation.
Motion
to instruct city staff to explore the benefits of having the City of Laredo
integrate with the Camino Colombia AVI system and report back to City Council
in a timely manner, once the Bridge Department completes the installation and
promotion of the city’s own AVI system.
Moved: Cm. J. Valdez, Jr.
Second: Mayor Pro Tempore Guerra
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
IX. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES
4. An ordinance amending
Ordinance #99-0-165 by authorizing the City Manager to
execute a Site Ground Lease Agreement Addendum to that certain
Ground Lease between the City of Laredo and Omni America Development Corp.,
dated June 21, 1999 for additional ground space of approximately 250.0 square
feet located at the City of Laredo Calton Road Fire Station. Annual Rent will be increased by $3,850.00
prorated to coincide with the anniversary of the lease commencement date and on
the first day of each year of the lease commencement anniversary date
thereafter. All other terms and
conditions of the lease remain in full force and effect.
Ordinance Introduction:
City Council
5. An ordinance
authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with Laredo Independent
School District for approximately 9,216 square feet constituting
Building No. 1325 located at 4103 Maher Avenue at the Laredo International
Airport. Lease term is for one (1) year
commencing on March 1, 2001 and ending on February 28, 2002, and may be
extended for one (1) year ending on February 28, 2003. However, it is agreed by the parties that
the lease may be terminated by either party on not less than thirty (30) days'
written notice from the party terminating to the other. Monthly rent shall be $2,305.00 and will be
adjusted annually during the primary and extension term of this lease according
to changes in the Consumer Price Index; providing for an effective date.
Ordinance Introduction:
City Council
X. FINAL
READINGS OF ORDINANCES
Internet availability: //ci.laredo.tx.us
Motion to waive the final reading of ordinances 2001-O-057,
2001-O-058, 2001-O-059 and 2001-O-060.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Agredano
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
6. 2001-O-057 Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the
City of Laredo by
authorizing the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for a sales
office of modular homes on Lot 1, Northgate Plaza Subdivision, located at 5820
San Dario Ave.; providing for publication and effective date. (As Amended)
(Mayor Pro-Tempore Joe A. Guerra)
Motion to adopt Ordinance 2001-O-057.
Moved:
Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Agredano
For:
8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2001-O-058 Amending the
Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning
11.7646 acres, as
further described by metes and bounds, located north of
Santa Martha Blvd. and
east of Organo Blvd., from AG (Agricultural
District) to R-1MH
(Single Family Manufactured Housing District);
providing for
publication and effective date.
(Council Member Alfredo
Agredano)
Motion to adopt Ordinance 2001-O-058.
Moved:
Cm. Galo
Second:
Cm. Agredano
For:
8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2001-O-059 Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by
rezoning
1.977 acres, as further described by metes and bounds, located on
the northwest corner of Atlanta Dr. and Killam Industrial Blvd., from R-1A
(Single Family Reduced Area District) to R-1A, P.U.D. (Single Family Reduced
Area District, Planned Unit Development); providing for publication and
effective date. (Council Member Jose A.
Valdez, Jr.)
Motion to adopt Ordinance 2001-O-059.
Moved:
Cm. Galo
Second:
Cm. Agredano
For:
8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2001-O-060 Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by
rezoning
Lots 1, 2, and 3, Block 204, the E 2/3 of Lot 4, Block 203, and a
0.1772 acre tract (formerly the N1/2 of Jarvis Ave., between Santa Barbara
& Santa Clara Streets), Eastern Division, located at 2219 Sta. Barbara St.,
from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) and B-4 (Highway Commercial District) to
B-3 (Community Business District); providing for publication and effective
date. (Council Member Alfredo Agredano)
Motion to adopt Ordinance 2001-O-060.
Moved:
Cm. Galo
Second:
Cm. Agredano
For:
8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
XI. RESOLUTIONS
7. 2001-R-024 Expressing the support of the City Council
towards the development of
Laredo Viejo Apartment Homes, a proposed affordable housing
community of approximately 108 affordable housing units by Atlantic Development
& Investments, Inc. and American Communities Development Company. Affordable housing will be provided to the
citizens of the City of Laredo contingent upon the approval of the submission
of a State of Texas Home Application under the Home Investments Partnership
Program and the approval of the application submitted to the Texas State
Department of Housing and Community Affairs for Housing Tax Credits under
Section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Motion to approve Resolution 2001-R-024.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
8. 2001-R-025
A resolution expressing the support of the City Council towards the
development of Hilltop
Apartments, a proposed affordable housing
community of
approximately 184 affordable housing units by AHM
Developer, Inc. Affordable housing will be provided to the
citizens of the
City of Laredo
contingent upon the approval of the submission of a State
of Texas Home
Application under the Home Investments Partnership
Program and the approval
of the application submitted to the Texas State
Department of Housing
and Community Affairs for Housing Tax Credits
under Section 42 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
Motion to approve
Resolution 2001-R-025.
Moved:
Cm. Galo
Second: Cm.
Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
9. 2001-R-027 A resolution authorizing the City Manager to
accept and execute all
documentation for a grant from the Texas Department of Health in
the amount of $148,672 for the HIV/AIDS Ryan White Title II Project of the City
of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning April 1, 2001, through
August 31, 2001.
Motion to approve
Resolution 2001-R-027.
Moved: Cm.
Galo
Second: Cm.
Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
10. 2001-R-028 A resolution authorizing the City Manager to
enter into a contract with the
Texas Department of Transportation for the Hazard Elimination /
Safety Project. The Project will
consist of interconnecting traffic signals and restriping along Santa Maria
Avenue. The Texas Transportation
Commission selected the Project
and awarded a maximum of $719,089.00.
The City's estimated contribution is $79,898.00. Funding is available from the Santa Maria
Reconstruction Bond.
Motion to approve
Resolution 2001-R-028.
Moved: Cm.
Galo
Second: Cm.
Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
XII. MOTIONS
11. Consideration to
approve the use of office space by State Representative Richard
Raymond at City Hall 3rd Floor located at 1110 Houston St. for the
purpose of a local District Office.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Agredano
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
12. Consideration to
approve a letter of intent with the Veterans Coalition for the proposed
design and
construction of a Veterans Monument at the Laredo Civic Center.
Horacio
De Leon, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager, reported that he had met
with the Veterans Coalition group. In
conversations held with the group, he learned that Mr. Luis Diaz De Leon is the
project manager for the Veterans monument and not the chair of the
Coalition. Upon that discovery, the
City Manager’s office faxed a proposed Letter of Intent to Dr. Hector Farias
for his review. He added that Dr.
Farias had faxed a letter to City Council requesting that this item be tabled
indefinitely due to the Coalition’s desire to wait for the budget workshops to
request funding for the project at that time.
Motion to table.
Moved: Cm. Agredano
Second: Cm. Amaya
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
13. Consideration to award
contract number FY01-051, to the LOW BIDDER, Record
Systems, San Antonio, Texas, in the amount of $19,162.00, for the
purchase and installation of 130 sections of record storage shelving for the
record retention warehouse. Funding is
available in the Capital Improvement Fund.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
14. Consideration to award
contract number FY01-059, to the LOW BIDDER, UTEC,
Converse, Texas, in the estimated amount of $15,000.00, for
providing aerial truck inspections and repairs on the Traffic Safety Department
vehicles. These aerial booms on these
trucks will be inspected and repaired as needed to comply with industry safety
standards. Funding is available in the
Fleet Maintenance Division.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
15. Consideration to award
contract FY01-061, to Border Maintenance, Laredo, Texas, in
the estimated amount of $80,908.00, for providing janitorial
services for the Health Department - WIC Program. The term of this contract is from March 2001 to September 2002.
The scope of work requires that the company provide all personnel, equipment,
and supplies needed to properly clean the different locations. Funding is available in the Health
Department's WIC budget.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
16. Consideration to award
contract number FY01-064, to the LOW BIDDER, PABCO
Industries, Newark, NJ, in the amount of $53,920.00, for the
purchase of one million Waste
Fund.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
17. Consideration to award
contract number FY01-066, to the LOW BIDDER, Park Place
Recreation Designs Inc., San Antonio, Texas, in the amount of
$35,062.00 for the purchase and installation of resilient safety surface (Kid
Tiles). These tiles will be installed
around the play structures at the Father McNaboe Park (102 Rancho Viejo Drive)
and Richter Park, 1500 Circle Drive.
Funding is available in the Capital Improvement Project budget.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
18. Consideration to award
contract number FY01-070, to the most responsive proposer,
for providing food and beverage concessions for all Tecolotes De
Los Dos Laredos games and other City designated special events at Veterans
Field. The successful contractor will
be required to provide a percentage of food and beverage sales and percentage
of gross receipts on all non- food items sold.
All revenues derived from this contract are included in the Veterans
Field budget.
Motion to approve the award of contract to J & H Concessions.
Moved: Cm. Galo
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
19. Consideration to award
a contract to Crane Engineering, of Laredo, Texas, for
$151,500.00 for the design and construction services of water
transmission lines to serve the Highway 359 Colonias. The contract will be paid for by the Texas Water Development
Board Colonias Grant.
Motion to appro