CITY OF
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
M2003-R-07
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
I. CALL TO ORDER
With a quorum present, Mayor Flores
called the meeting to order.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor 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
Juan Ramirez, Council
Member, District VIII
Gustavo Guevara, Jr., City
Secretary
Jaime Flores, City
Attorney
Motion to excuse
Cm. Jose A. Valdez Jr. and Cm.
John C. Galo.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
Second: Cm. Amaya
For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Cm. Garcia was not present.
IV. MINUTES
None.
Cm. Garcia joined meeting at
V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
Announcements
Invitations
a.
Presentation by
Norma Treviño on the HEB #
open
house on
Norma Trevino, representing H.E.B., personally invited Mayor
Flores and Council Members to join them in the ribbon cutting ceremony on their
new 78,000 square foot store located on
b.
Presentation by
Marta Stineff, Lado Lado, on the Annual Diabetes 5K Walk on
Martha Stineff,
representing Lado Lado,
stated that
of diabetes. In order
to raise awareness of this disease, they will be organizing
this walk and raise some funds in order to provide medical
services to those
afflicted with this disease as well as to increase
awareness. She invited Mayor
Flores, City Council Members, and the general public to this event.
Recognitions
a.
Recognition of
the Laredo Bucks for advancing in the playoffs of the Southern
Conference
of the CHL; and approval of Resolution 2003-R-038.
Mayor
Flores and City Council presented Kiki de Ayala with a
Resolution for the outstanding record maintained by the Laredo Bucks within the
Central Hockey League and for bringing additional tourism and commerce to the City of
b.
Recognition of
their outstanding performance at the City of
Mayor Flores presented a copy of the Resolution to each of the
members of the TAMIU Mariachi group.
c.
Recognition of
the 2002-2003 United High School Varsity Basketball Team for
their
outstanding season.
Mayor
Flores and City Council Members publicly recognized the team for their hard
work and accomplishments throughout this basketball season.
d.
Recognition of
Fernando Sotelo and Alex Quintanilla of the Environmental
Services Department's Hazardous Materials Division for receiving a
Certificate of Appreciation by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Customs
Service, for their outstanding support and contribution to the Office of the
Resident Agent in Charge.
Mayor Flores presented Fernando Sotelo and Alex Quintanilla,
Environmental Investigators, with Certificates of Appreciation for their quick
action and contribution to the U.S. Customs Service.
e.
Recognition of
Juan R. Garza of the Parks & Recreation Department for
providing
first aid assistance to an injured child.
Mayor
Flores presented Juan R. Garza with a Seven Flags Certificate in recognition of
his forethought and immediate response to an injured child.
f. Recognition of Eulogio
"Chacho" Gonzalez, of Engineering/Public
Works
Department, for being selected March Employee of the Month.
Mayor Flores publicly recognized Eulogio
“Chacho” Gonzalez for his dedicated service and contribution to the City
of
Communiqués
a. UTSA presentation
by President Dr. Ricardo Romo.
Dr.
Romo publicly thanked Mayor Flores and Council Members
for allowing UTSA’s delegation to come into our
community and meet with students from the local high schools to inform them of
the opportunities that UTSA has to offer and to provide an exchange of
information and ideas.
Mayor Flores reminded the general public that the City’s
Environmental Services Department is holding a Household Hazardous Waste
Collection Event and Tire Roundup this weekend at the El Metro Park and
Ride. Also, the City will be hosting its Second
Small Business Hazardous Waste Collection Event on April 11th at
6912 Hwy. 359 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Mayor Flores also publicly read a portion of a resolution drafted by the
District and County Court at Law judges of
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the
opportunity to serve the citizens of
The purpose of this letter is to share with the City Council our
displeasure and concern with the status of ongoing constructions projects under
the oversight and responsibility of the Texas Department of
Transportation. Our committee receives
regular updates from TxDOT and to this date not a
single project has been completed on schedule.
To name a few projects which directly impact the mobility and
safety of our citizens are the Loop 20 and McPherson Interchange, Loop 20 and
University Boulevard, Loop 20 vicinity of the Arena, Loop 20 and IH 35
Interchange and Hwy 83 and Rio Bravo Interchange to name a few. Month after month we receive reports of
projected project completion dates only to see those dates come and go. Some of the reasons given were lack of the
necessary construction materials, failure to obtain the necessary utility
easements, failure to identify additional work required and a lack of
coordination between contractors and other agencies.
Failure to complete these and other projects on time not only is
frustrating to the citizens of
Sincerely,”
Hilario Cavazos, III; Calixto Sandoval; Felix Canales; Amber Yeary; Greg Ebe; Tomas M.
Rodriguez, Jr.; Pedro Alegria; Rolando G. Ortiz; and
Henry D. Alexander – Members of the Transportation & Traffic Safety
Advisory Committee
Cm.
Agredano mentioned that he was honored to be present
at the City’s Health Department this past week to proclaim Health Week. He also thanked the Public Works Department
for the blinking lights that were installed by an elementary school on
Cm.
Amaya thanked
Cm.
E. Valdez, Jr. commented on the soldiers serving our country in
Cm.
Belmares mentioned that there were some members of
the Environmental Advisory Committee who were out this past Saturday touring
the unique green spaces that we are trying to preserve. He thanked
VI. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND
COMMITTEES
a. Appointment by Council Member Jose A. Valdez,
Jr. of Virginia Mueller to the Board of Adjustments Committee.
Motion
to approve the appointment of Virginia Muller to the Board of Adjustments.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
Second: Cm. Amaya
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
b.
Appointment by
Council Member Juan Ramirez of Diana Rodriguez to the
Commission
for Women.
Motion to approve the appointment of Diana
Rodriguez to the Laredo Commission for Women.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
Second: Cm. Amaya
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003
annual budget by decreasing revenues and expenditures in the
amount of $8,190.00 from the Texas Department of Health for the Tuberculosis
Prevention/Control Federal Project 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. Amaya
Second: Cm. Garcia
For: 6 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: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction:
City Council
2. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance amending an ordinance and allowing, under
the act governing the Texas Municipal Retirement System, updated
service credits: in said system on an
annual basis for service performed by qualifying members of such system who at
the effective date of the allowance are in the employment of the City of Laredo;
providing for an increased prior and current service annuities for retirees and
beneficiaries of decease retirees of the City; to increase the rate of deposits
to the Texas Municipal Retirement system by the employees of the City from 5%
to 7%; and establishing an effective date for the ordinance. This Ordinance will allow the City to
increase the City contribution rate from approximately 10% to 14% which will
improve the City employee pension plan.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved: Cm. Belmares
Second: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
Second: Cm. Garcia
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction:
City Council
3. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to accept a
grant in the amount of $65,000.00 from the Texas Department of
Transportation for the enforcement of the seat belt law and amending the City
of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget in the amount of $65,000.00. This grant is for overtime salaries and is
funded 100% by the Texas Department of Transportation.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
Second: Cm. Amaya
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce.
Moved:
Cm. Belmares
Second: Cm. Garcia
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction:
City Council
4. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance authorizing the approval of overweight
penalty fees to be considered as part of the
International Bridges toll receipts and follow the flow of funds as described
in Resolution # 98-R-164 and hereby repealing all conflicting sections in all
ordinances currently in effect.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved:
Cm. Belmares
Second: Cm. Amaya
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain:
0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce.
Moved:
Cm. Belmares
Second: Cm. Amaya
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction:
City Council
5. Public hearing and
introductory ordinance amending the Laredo Municipal Housing FY
2003 budget by drawing down and appropriating $865,000.00 from the
opening balance to the City’s Capital Improvement Fund. This transfer will be set up to carry out
necessary repairs associated with the owner-occupied units constructed by the
Laredo Affordable Housing Corporation as part of Los Obispos
Affordable Housing Project. The
amendment is authorized by the Laredo Municipal Housing Corporation’s Article’s
of Incorporation.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
Second: Cm. Garcia
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
Second: Cm. Amaya
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
VIII. GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND
PRESENTATIONS
6. A. Request by Mayor Pro-Tempore Alfredo Agredano
1.
Discussion with possible action on an ordinance regarding
non-smoking.
(Co-sponsored by Council Member Hector J. Garcia)
Ms. Adriana Aguirre Craddock, Director of Coalitions and
Initiatives for Serving Children and Adolescents in Need, spoke in favor of a
non-smoking ordinance and submitted for consideration by City Council a
proposed clean air/non-smoking ordinance for the City. She submitted a preparation packet for Mayor
Flores and Council Members. She
mentioned that
Motion to amend the existing ordinance to
incorporate the additional public places.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
Second: Cm. E. Valdez, Jr.
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain:
0
B. Request by Council Member Hector J. Garcia
1.
Update on violations of car sales lots in District II.
Keith
Selman, City Planner, stated that what they try to do is get compliance rather
than issue citations. He stated that
they issued written warnings shortly after the list was presented to staff by
Cm. Garcia. He added that they typically
give the violators four to six weeks for compliance and if compliance has not
occurred within this period of time, then they issue citations. What they are preparing to do is get into a
process of looking at the used car lots for code enforcement under the existing
ordinances. If they should happen to
determine that these ordinances are inadequate they would come back to submit
an amendment to the ordinances.
C. Request by Council Member Johnny Amaya
1. Status report on the traffic study for
John
Orfila, from Public Works Department, reported that they have completed two of
the intersections:
D. Request by Council Member Gene Belmares
1.
Presentation by the Major Indoor Soccer League with discussion and
possible action.
(Co-Sponsored By Council Member Jose A. Valdez, Jr. and
Council Member Hector J. Garcia)
Steve Ryan, Commissioner of the Indoor Soccer League, spoke on expanding
its 2003/2004 season to include
2. Discussion on Storm water and Flood Plain
management issues along the
Manadas Creek area from IH 35 east to Loop 20, with possible action.
Riazul Mia, Environmental Services Director, reported that Manadas Creek is a 10,000 acre watershed up to the
river. He explained that the area along
the
Larry Dovalina, City Manager, mentioned that there have been two
major developments that have occurred since the last storm issue. Number One, on the issue of the box culvert
that TxDOT installed, there is an agreement signed
with the developer of the tract and they have taken a box culvert that now
feeds into an upper detention area.
Number Two, the large detention area will see some pipe at the base of
that particular structure to allow for drainage during normal dry weather. Consequently, when a rain event occurs there
is no water in the detention area and it will, therefore, be able to hold more
water.
3. Discussion on developing access from IH 35 to
possible action.
Keith
Selman, City Planner, stated that this is a proposal that has been seen in the
San Isidro Master Plan. He added that
the technical committee for LUTS is also the technical committee for the
Metropolitan Policy Organization committee which recommended that this project
be incorporated into next year’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan.
4. Discussion with possible action regarding
progress on the Development
Standard
Specification Book.
Keith
Selman, City Planner, reported that they have a draft document that is near
completion. He stated that they have met
with developers, contractors, and engineers in the community to work out the details
of a specification book. He expects to
bring a draft document for presentation before City Council within 30 days and
then go before the Planning and Zoning Commission. Following that action, they will bring the
final product before City Council for adoption.
Cm.
Belmares recommended that they set a time frame for
the first meeting in June for presentation of the final document.
E. Request by Council Member Juan Ramirez
1.
Discussion with possible action on striping parking spaces at the north
entrance of Dovalina Elementary.