CITY OF LAREDO

                                             CITY COUNCIL MEETING

                                                          M-2003-R-05

                                           CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

                                                1110 HOUSTON STREET

                                                 LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

                                                        MARCH 3, 2003

                                                              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,                                                        Mayor Pro Tempore, District I 

Hector Garcia,                                                              Council Member, District II

            John C.  Galo,                                                              Council Member, District III

            Johnny Amaya,                                                             Council Member, District IV

            Eliseo Valdez, Jr.,                                                         Council Member, District V

            Gene Belmares,                                                            Council Member, 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 December 16, 2002 and January 13, 2003.

 

Motion to approve.

 

Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano

Second:  Cm.  Amaya

For:     7                                               Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

 

Cm.  Ramirez not present.

 

 

 

V.        COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

 

Announcements

 

Invitations

 

Recognitions

 

a.   Recognizing the Laredo International Airport Air Traffic Controllers for reaching a milestone of ten (10) consecutive years without a single operational error.

 

Jose Flores, Airport Director, stated that this award was presented to the traffic controllers at the airport.  He mentioned that the Federal Aviation Administration stated that the business of air traffic brings different challenges in the form of complex traffic conditions.  He added that the personnel assigned to this airport rise to these challenges each and every day.   The employees who were recognized for their outstanding performance are: 

 

Robert Arredondo              Tower Chief                             6 years, 1 month of service

Angel Santiago, Jr.              Air Traffic Controller                18 years, 9 months of service

William Bowes                   Air Traffic Controller                8 years, 3 months of service

Laura Pena                         Air Traffic Controller                3 years, 10 months of service

Joe Corder                         Air Traffic Controller                1 year, 9 months of service      

 

b.   Recognition of Raul "Roy" Garcia, Community Development Department Code Enforcement Supervisor, on being selected as January 2003 City of Laredo Employee of the Month.

 

Larry Dovalina, City Manager, presented Roy Garcia with a Certificate of Recognition  for the dedicated work in his position with Community Development as well as the volunteer work that he performs year round for the City. 

 

Communiqués

 

Cm. Galo publicly thanked Mayor Flores, colleagues, friends, and everyone for their prayers, donations, and thoughtfulness following the death of his mother. He especially thanked the EMS crew who responded so quickly and handled her with great care and attention and also the physicians at Mercy Hospital for their treatment of his mother on her trips to the hospital.  He also wanted to congratulate Ms. Pantoja for being named Laredo’s Big Twelve Indoor Champion in the 1000 meter run held in Nebraska last weekend. 

 

Cm. Garcia congratulated the United Longhorns for their successful basketball season this year.  He acknowledged the hard work of the outstanding coaching staff at United High School.  He also thanked Traffic Director Roberto Murillo and his staff for the assistance in improving traffic flow at the subdivisions off of Hwy. 59.  He mentioned that the police department maintained control of the traffic in the area as well.  He thanked City Manager Larry Dovalina for the presentation made before several government classes at Alexander High School.   He also thanked the City of Laredo for its support provided to the Border Olympics two-week long events. 

 

Mayor Pro Tem Agredano stated that he attended the groundbreaking ceremony of Garcia Elementary.  He expressed his thanks to the Garcia Family for inviting him to speak at the ceremony.  He further stated that he hopes to see more public schools built in South Laredo in the future.

 

Mayor Flores commented on a news article that columnist Carlos Guerra from the San Antonio Express wrote on the Texas economy.  She stated that most Laredoans who have worked with federal and state governments have come to realize that there is a bigger picture to look at when considering our taxing system and budget shortfalls.  She read from the article which states that if we want Texas out of the bottom of the national rankings in economic, educational, environmental and related quality of life considerations, we need a taxing system that is efficient and fair. 

 

Cm. Ramirez joined the meeting at 6:05 p.m.

 

VI.       APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

 

            None.

           

VII.     PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

1.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement between the City of Laredo and U.S. Customs Service, Special Agent in Charge, San Antonio, Texas for the purpose of receiving reimbursable costs for overtime resources for joint operational task forces.  The term of this agreement is from October 1, 2002, through September 30, 2005.  These funds will be reimbursed to the City.  The total reimbursable overtime amount allowed is $13,000.00 per officer per fiscal year for seven narcotic officers (October-September).  Authorizing the City Manager to amend the 2002-2003 annual budget in the amount of $91,000.00.

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo 

Second:  Cm.  Amaya

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Belmares

Second:  Cm.  Garcia

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

 

 

 

 

2.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the 2002-2003 annual budget in the amount of $47,458.00 for the Laredo Multi-Agency Narcotics Task Force.  Funding is available in the opening balance of the Narcotics Task Force Fund 224 and will be used to pay overtime benefits for the period beginning March 1, 2003 through May 31, 2003.

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo 

Second:  Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Garcia

Second:  Cm.  Galo

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

3.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending Chapter 19, Motor Vehicle and Traffic, Article VIII, Stopping, Standing or Parking and Article X, impoundment of vehicles of the Code of Ordinances, City of Laredo; specifically Section 19-360, Parking Meters to extend the northern parking meter boundary from Moctezuma to Scott Street and providing for publication and effective date.

     

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:  Cm.  Garcia

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:   Cm.  Garcia

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

4.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute a Transit System budget amendment reducing the State operating grant transfer in the amount of $541,781.00 by $11,872.00 to $529,909.00 and increasing the transfer in sales tax amount from $3,825,955.00 by $11,872.00 to $3,837,827.00 for FY 2002-2003.

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:  Cm.  J.  Valdez, Jr.

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Garcia 

Second:  Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council 

 

5.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo’s FY 2002-2003 General Fund annual budget by appropriating expenditures in the amount of $189,888.00 from the Technology Fund fees collected by the Municipal Court.  Funds are being appropriated from the restricted opening fund balance and will be used to purchase the new software system for the Municipal Court.

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:  Cm.  Belmares

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Belmares

Second:  Cm.  Garcia

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

6.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of $45,000.00 from the Texas Association of Local Health Officials (TALHO) for Bio-terrorism Consequence Management/Automated Disease Surveillance Pilot Project for the City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning January 1, 2003 through August 31, 2003.

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:  Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Belmares 

Second:  Cm.  Galo

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

7.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 Water Availability Fund Annual Budget by appropriating revenues of $2,900,000.00 from the opening balance and appropriating expenditures in the amount of $2,900,000.00 for the Water Rights Acquisition.

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo 

Second:  Cm.  J.  Valdez, Jr.

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano

Second:  Cm.  Belmares

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

8.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s Full-Time Equivalent Positions by creating two (2) part-time with no benefits (.96 FTE) Community Service Aides positions at 19.21 hours each per week for the HIV Hepatitis C Screening Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period from September 1, 2002, through August 31, 2003.

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo 

Second:  Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Garcia

Second:  Cm.  Amaya

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

9.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s Full-Time Equivalent Positions by creating three (3) part-time with no benefits (1.44 FTE) Community Service Aides positions at 19.21 hours each per week in the HIV Prevention Project of the City of Laredo Health Department, funded by the Texas Department of Health.

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo 

Second:  Cm.  Amaya

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Bruni

Second:  Cm.  Amaya

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

 10.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s Full-Time Equivalent Positions by creating one (1) part-time with no benefits (.48 FTE) Community Service Aid position at 19.21 hours per week for HIV-Infected Persons Project (PSHIP) of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003.

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo 

Second:  Cm.  Amaya

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

There was no public input.

 

Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

Moved:  Cm.  J.  Valdez, Jr.

Second:  Cm.  Amaya

For:     8                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

 11.   Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo’s Full-Time Equivalent Positions by allocating one (.05 FTE) Chief of Public Health Education Division position and deleting one (.05 FTE) Public Health Technician position for the Mi Futuro (My Future) Abstinence Education Program of the City of Laredo Health Department from the October 1, 2002, through September 30, 2003. 

 

      Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo 

Second:  Cm.  Amaya

For:     8                                         Against: