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CITY OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING M2002-R-19 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 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, Mayor
Pro Tempore, District I Hector Garcia, Council
Member, District II Johnny Amaya, Council Member, District IV Eliseo Valdez, Jr., Council
Member, District V Gene Belmares, Council
Member, District VI Jose A. Juan Ramirez, Council
Member, District VIII Gustavo Guevara, Jr., City
Secretary Larry Dovalina, City Manager Cynthia Collazo, Assistant
City Manager Jaime Flores, City
Attorney Motion to excuse Cm. Galo. Moved: Cm. Amaya Second: Cm. J. Valdez,
Jr. For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 IV.
MINUTES Approval of the minutes of Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Amaya For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS Announcements Cm.
Ramirez presented a Diamond Sponsor Certificate to the Mayor and City
Council Members from a Border Trade Alliance Conference held in Cm.
Agredano thanked the staff from several City
departments for cleaning two abandoned houses in his district. Cm.
Invitations Cm. Garcia invited constituents
from Villa Del Sol to attend a neighborhood meeting. Recognitions 1. Recognition of City's
Customer Service Representatives in observance of National Customer Service Week, which will be celebrated on The following Customer Service Representatives were given a
Seven Flags Certificate from the Mayor and Council in recognition of National
Customer Service Week: Kavita Idnani, Administrative
Services Francis Perez, Airport
Department Berta Rivera, Bridge
Department Raul Flores, Jr., Building
Department San Juanita De Los Reyes, City
Attorney’s Office Donna Copeland-Magnón, City
Secretary’s Office Osbaldo Guzman, Community
Development Department Monica Vidaurri, Laredo
Convention & Visitor’s Bureau Teresa Esparza, City
Engineering Department Janie Garcia, Finance
Department Belinda D. Sanchez, Fire
Department Syvia Arrellano, Health
Department Maria G. Soliz, Library
Department Sandra Aleman, Management
Information System John Porter, Environmental
Services Gloria Garza, Parks
and Recreation Department Rosie Cantu, Planning
Department Jose Biaza, Police
Department Gerardo Leal, Public
Access Alejandra Santana, Tax
Department Rosita Martinez, Traffic
Department Diana Soliz, Transit/El
Metro Yvonne Hinojosa, Utilities
Department Federico Flores, Utilities
Department Communiqués a. Recognition of Juan
Morales, Traffic Department Employee, for his honest act in returning a bank
deposit bag containing money to its owner. Mayor Flores and Council Members presented Juan Morales a Seven
Flags Certificate for his honest act in returning a bank deposit bag to its
owner. b. Gabriela Rodriguez,
Director of Bannum Place Halfway House, submitted
the following letter for the
record. “This document is
written as a Letter of Support for The
Director of Inasmuch as we have
been a part of the community since 1998, we are requesting your support for
this facility and its program. If you
feel you can support the CCC and its program, by acknowledgement, please sign
and date this letter below. If you have any
concerns or questions, please contact the director, at the above phone or fax
number. Sincerely,
Gabriela
D. Rodriguez” C. Ricardo
Trevino, representing Mayor Pedro Garza Trevino submitted the following
letter:
“Presente. – Sirva la presente para enviarle un cordial saludo, esperando se encuentre bien. En nombre
mio y del Ayuntamiento de
esta ciudad, me permito solicitar la venta de behiculos tipo Pick-up para uso y servidio
de esta Administraction;
y seguir dando un major servicio a nuestra comunidad. Le agradecere
hacer extensivo este reconocimiento al Ayuntamiento bajo su digno cargo asi Espero tener en breve la oportunidad de saludaria personalmente, mientras tanto me es grato
reiterarme de usted fraternalmente. “Sufragio
Efectivo, no reeleccion” CD. Guadalupe, N. L. A
7 de Octubre de 2002 C. President
Municipal Ing.
Pedro Garza Trevino” D. Richard Johnson,
Director of Operations for United Water, thanked the Mayor and Council Members for having confidence in their company. He noted that the United Water staff is
working very diligently to exceed Council’s expectations. VI. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND
COMMITTEES a. Appointment by Council
Member Jose A. Valdez, Jr. of Raul Valdez to the City Charter Revision
Commission. Motion to approve. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning the east 13.89 feet of Lot 1, Lots 2
and 3, and the west 13.89 feet of Lot 4, Block 524, Eastern Division, located
at 903 and 917 East Taylor Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to
B-4 (Highway Commercial District); providing for publication and effective
date. The Planning and Zoning
Commission has recommended denial of the proposed zone change. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Amaya For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ruben Cortinas, applicant, spoke in favor of the zone
change. He assured the Council Members
that he would restrict his business to indoors activities so the neighbors
would not be disturbed. Carlos Sanchez spoke against the zone change. He stated that he was against the zone
change even if it is changed to an indoor business because of the traffic
parking problem and the devaluation of their properties. Valentin Jorge Cuellar, a resident of Retama Park area, spoke against the zone change. Jose Rodriguez, a resident of Retama
Park, spoke against the zone change. Motion to close the public hearing and deny the zone change Moved: Cm. Amaya Second: Cm. J. Valdez,
Jr. For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance amending Section 24-94, Appendix A, and Appendix B-3 of the Laredo Land Development Code, in order to
establish standards and procedures governing the issuance of Conditional Use
Permits; providing for publication and effective date. The Planning and Zoning Commission has
recommended approval of the proposed ordinance amendment. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Keith Selman, City Planner, announced the following changed to
the ordinance: 1. Section 24. 94.1 General General discussion of
conditional uses. 2. Section 24.94.2 Purpose A description of the
purpose of a conditional use permit. 3. Section 24.94.3 General Contents of a Conditional Use
Permit Application and Fees A description of the required contents of a conditional use
permit application and its accompanying fees. 4.
Section 24.94.4 Process A description of the process by
which a Conditional Use Permit may be granted. 5.
Section 24.94.5 Conditional Use
Permit Application Submittal Criteria A description of the criteria under
which a conditional use permit request may be submitted. 6.
Section 24.94.6 Conditional Use
Permit Review Standards A description of the review
standards for conditional use permit applications. 7.
Section 24.94.7 Authorization
to Impose Conditions A description of the powers of the
Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Planning and Zoning Department Director
to recommend conditions and the Council’s power to impose. Keith Selman, City Planner, also noted that under Section
24.94.5 staff needs to delete paragraph C and amend paragraph D where it says
“not denial” to “has not denied or approved.” Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. E. Valdez,
Jr. For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction:
City Council 3. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 27.7124 acres, as further described
by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit "A", located east of Los Presidentes Subdivision, Unit 7 and proposed Unit 9, from
AG (Agricultural District) and R-1 (Single Family Residential District) to
R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District); providing for publication and
effective date. The Planning and
Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the proposed zone change. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Amaya For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 1 Cm.
Garcia There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Belmares For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 1 Cm.
Garcia Ordinance Introduction:
Cm. Agredano 4. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 10.0 acres, as further described by
metes and bounds in attached Exhibit "A" located south of Cielito Lindo Blvd. and west of
St. David Lane, from R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District) to R-2
(Multi-Family Residential District); providing for publication and effective
date. The Planning and Zoning
Commission has recommended approval of the proposed zone change. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction:
Cm. Agredano 5. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the
amount of $236,298.00 from the Texas Department of Health and $118,150.00 in
in-kind funds from the Laredo Independent School District for the Mi Futuro (My Future) Abstinence Education Program of the
City of Laredo Health Department from October 1, 2002, through September 30,
2003; and authorizing the City Manager to amend the current number of
full-time equivalent positions from 0 to .5 with the addition of .5 Public
Health Technician position which will be funded by this grant. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Amaya Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. J. Valdez,
Jr. For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction:
City Council 6. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to accept and execute all documentation from the Texas Department of Health
for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program of the City of Laredo
Health Department. The City of Laredo
Health Department is expecting to be reimbursed an estimated $2,654,860.00
during FY 2002-2003. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction:
City Council 7. Public hearing and introductory ordinance
amending Ordinance 89-O-231 of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Laredo providing for an increase in
charge from $3.00 to $10.00 per client for the Influenza Immunization at the
Immunization Clinic of the City of Laredo Health Department and implementing
a charge of $16.00 for the pneumococcal vaccine;
providing for a sliding fee to persons unable to pay due to indigency; and providing for severability, effective date
and publication. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Amaya For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Agredano For: 6 Against: 1 Abstain: 0 Cm.
Ramirez Ordinance Introduction:
City Council VIII. GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND
PRESENTATIONS 8. A. Request by Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores 1. Report to Council
regarding the presentation made of Bridge V Project at the XXXII Meeting of the
US-Mexico Binational Group in San Diego, California
on October 1, 2002. The Mayor gave the
following presentation: Efforts to Insure Border Crossing Efficiency Construction of a
Fifth Bridge Utilization of the
World Trade Bridge as a Hazardous Material Crossing Placement of Truck
Safety Inspection Stations away from Border Crossing Facilities. Fifth Bridge Meet the demands of
population Growth (4.6% annually) Expedite and insure
safe border crossings. (4% annual
increase in non- commercial
crossings.) Promote economic and
educational opportunities on both sides of the border. Signs of Growth Building Permits Up Expansion of Higher
Education Facilities Opening of Laredo
Entertainment Center State of the Art
Medical Centers Security The City is the first responder in the
case of an emergency. Continued traffic
delays at our border crossings are a major security concern. Responsibility to provide the infrastructure to the facilitate the movement |