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CITY OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING M2003-R-09 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS I. CALL TO ORDER With a quorum present, Mayor
Elizabeth G. II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Elizabeth G. 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 Gustavo Guevara, Jr., City
Secretary Jaime Flores, City
Attorney Motion to excuse Cm. J.
Valdez, Jr. and Cm. Ramirez. Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano Second: Cm. Amaya For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 IV. MINUTES Approval of minutes for Motion to approve. Moved: Cm. Amaya Second: Cm.
Garcia For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS Announcements Invitations Recognitions a. Recognition
of American Electric Power for their donation of six personal computers for use
at the City’s Recreation Centers. Mayor Flores and City Council recognized
American Electric Power and presented a plaque of recognition to Ms. Olga
Maldonado, General Manager for AEP, for their generous donation of computers
that are being utilized at one of the recreation centers. b. Recognition
by American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) Public Administrator of the Year and Public
Administration Educator of the Year. c. Recognition of April employee of the month. Communiqués Cm. Belmares thanked
the Laredo Police Department for allowing the Council Member to ride along
with one of its officers on patrol. He
stated that he has become aware of the challenges that are faced by the
officers on a daily basis. Cm. Amaya announced
that he attended two events sponsored by Cm. Galo congratulated all those candidates
who won in the recent school board elections.
He also announced that the U.S. Professional Tennis Association will
be hosting Tennis Across America Day on May 16th at United High
and May17th at the Market
Street Tennis Courts. He stated that
the group will be handing out 500 free tennis rackets and $1,000.00 in cash
prizes. Cm. Garcia thanked the Health Department for
assisting in taking care of a mosquito problem at Villa del Sol
Subdivision. He also thanked Mayor Pro Tem Agredano
thanked Mayor Flores recognized the commitment and
dedicated service of Phyllis Colon, City Tax Assessor-Collector, to the City
of Mayor Flores introduced Dr. Jose Luis Gonzalez
from our Sister City of Monclova, Coahuila, who appeared before City Council. He stated that his visit was to bring
awareness of what Mayor read the following on behalf of Cm. Juan
Ramirez in his absence: Cm. Ramirez wishes all VI. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND
COMMITTEES 1. Appointment
by Council Member John C. Galo of Irma Deutsch to the Commission
for Women. Motion
to approve the appointment.
Moved: Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
Second: Cm. Amaya
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2. Appointment
by Council Member John C. Galo of Ricardo Godines
to the Third Party Funding. Motion
to approve the appointment.
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 annual budget by increasing Texas Department’s
Health share of program income and expenditures for the Maternal and Child
Health Program of the City of Laredo Health Department in the amount of
$42,893.00 from ($27,107.00 to $70,000.00) for the period beginning September
1, 2002 through August 31, 2003. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Second:
Cm. Garcia For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 2. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget to recognize additional revenues
from a grant amendment received from the Federal Aviation Administration
being grant offer No. 3-48-0136-33-02 increasing the amount from $41,626.00
to $63,543.00 an increase of $21,917.00 for the purpose of reimbursing the
City of Laredo for increased law enforcement services provided by the Laredo
Police Department immediately following the tragic event of September 11,
2001 and providing for an effective date.
The grant does not require a local match. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Galo 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:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Garcia For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 3. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the issuance of the City of Laredo, Texas General Obligation Refunding
Bonds, Series 2003; approving an official statement; authorizing the
execution of a purchase agreement and an escrow agreement; making provisions
for the security thereof; establishing procedures for selling and delivering
the bonds; and ordaining other matters related to the subject. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. Garcia 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 accepting a grant awarded by the Office of
the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High
Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in the amount of $688,313.00 at no
cost to the City; and amending the City of Laredo FY 2003 Financial Task
Force Budget in the amount of $83,484.00 to fund the Laredo Financial
Disruption Task Force and amend the Special Police Budget in the amount of
$5,040.00 to fund the STX Multi-Agency Drug Related Corruption Task Force.
Funds will be used to pay personnel salaries, travel and operational expenses
beginning Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Galo 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 Article XII, Chapter 19, Division
4, Section 19-601 of the Code of Ordinances; to
(1) increase monthly contract parking rate for El Metro Transit Center from
$40.00 to $50.00; (2) to increase the refundable key deposit from $10.00 to
$25.00, (3) to increase the replacement charge for damaged key from $10.00 to
$25.00; and (4) to reduce the advanced payment discount from $80.00 to $50.00
for a lump sum annual payment of $550.00, and providing for effective date
and publication. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Galo 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 6. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance setting a daily rental rate for the El
Metro Park & Ride Facility located at 4600
Daugherty for $250.00 for private entities and $180.00 for non-profit
organizations; providing for publication and effective date. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Galo 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 7. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance providing for fare increases for the fixed
route transit service as follows: from $.75 to $1.00 for adults and student
fare from $.35 to $.50 providing for publication and effective date. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ramiro Martinez stated that he was opposed to
the fare increase by El Metro. He
stated that El Metro has not demonstrated that it is consumer-oriented. Richard Sander spoke against the rate
increase. Maria Franco thanked Mayor Flores and Cm. E.
Valdez, Jr. for their respect of people with disabilities. She stated that El Metro should not be
asking City Council to increase the bus fares. She stated that the quality of the buses is
very poor and on occasion the bus riders do not get to their destination
because the buses break down. Andres Ramos, Jr., President of B.E.S.T.,
asked if the increase excluded the elderly and the disabled. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. Amaya For:
6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 8. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending Section 7 of Ordinance 89-O-122 to increase the one-way fare in the El Lift
Program from $.75 to $1.00; providing for publication and effective date. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. For:
6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Andres Ramos, Jr. mentioned that most of the
riders of El Lift are disabled and elderly people that are on fixed
incomes. As a result, those people are
hardest hit by the utility companies and government entities. For people on a fixed income, a 25% increase
in bus fare is too high. He urged the
City Council to instruct the City Manager to look into monies available in
the fund balance and alleviate this burden on this group of people who can
least afford the increase. Tom Lucek, General Manager for El Metro,
stated that they are considering a Customer Service Training for the
drivers. The Mayor Flores requested that Mr. Lucek come
back with a recommendation on how the voucher system could be applied to Mr. Lucek stated that it is used quite
frequently in other cities and could be introduced here. Motion to postpone. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. For:
6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 9. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending Chapter 15, Health and
Sanitation, Article VI “Indoor Clean Air”, of the Code of
Ordinances of the City of Laredo, Texas by amending Sections 15-78 through
15-82; “Smoking in Public Places”; thereby designating certain retail and
service establishments, public buildings, and food establishments as
nonsmoking areas; providing minimum standards for nonsmoking areas; providing
minimum standards for nonsmoking areas; providing sign requirements;
requiring the posting of signs regarding the smoking and nonsmoking areas;
requiring written policies implementing this chapter; providing for
severability; and providing for publication and effective date. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. Amaya For:
6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Jaime Flores, Dr. Hector Gonzalez, Health Department
Director, stated that the three key issues:
the protection of the children, workers, and adults. He commends the City Council and Christopher Craddock, representing SCAN,
stated he is appearing before City Council to show his support of amending
the ordinance. Adriana Craddock, representing SCAN, spoke in
favor of the smoking ordinance because it is a health issue for themselves
and their children. Dora Maria Ramirez spoke in favor of the Clean
Air Ordinance for the safety of the children. Mark Cantu stated that he was opposed to this
ordinance because of the private business owners. He feels it sends a wrong message to the
community. The real issue is violation
of individual rights. Motion to close the public hearing and
schedule a workshop. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. Amaya For:
6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 VIII. GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND
PRESENTATIONS A. Request by Council Member John C. Galo 1. Request
for presentation from Traffic Department on traffic calming devices in District
III, with possible action. 2. Request
for update on the opening of possible
action. Keith Selman, City Planner, reported that the
cut sheets are 100% complete and the water lines have been relocated and that
is complete. He added that Entex has
also relocated a gas line and there was a determination made that the fiber
optic line was not in conflict with the proposed layout. He stated that Tex-Mex Railway constructed
the concrete planking which was completed in January. What still remains pending is the funding
agreement with TxDOT. He has been in touch with the B.
Request by Council Member Eliseo Valdez, Jr. 3. Discussion
with possible action on the deteriorating conditions of from McPherson to the residential areas and a
report on the street lighting along this roadway. Cm. Valdez, Jr. stated that he would like to
know whether the standards are being met by the developers and what kind of
timeline the engineers have set. 4. Request
for a status report on the extension of water and sewer services for Casa Verde
Project. Keith Selman, City Planner, reported
that they have extended the water line around 1,000 feet but the property
still needs to be platted in order to hook up services. He added that they have just received the
first plat that will go before the Planning and Zoning Commission. He acknowledged that they have not been
able to obtain the authority from all property owners in the area that is
most dense to allow the City to go in and survey. He mentioned that those properties along C. Request by Council Member Gene Belmares 1. Commentary/Presentation of Texas Supreme
Court ruling on eight liners. Carlos Golarte,
local business owner, mentioned that these eight liners have had a tremendous
impact on his business. He stated he
had 47 full-time employees and part-time employees plus four managers prior
to the passage of the legislation.
Many of these employees had to be terminated as a result of the legislation. He stated that the business has been losing
revenue on a daily basis but he has decided to remain open. He added that he is one of the property
owners that was generating steady revenue to the City in the form of taxes. In the month of January, 2003, his business
spent $99,355.00 in gift certificates from local merchants. In the month of February, 2003, he spent
$148,000.00 in gift certificates from local merchants. This is money that is being injected into
the local economy, it is not a profit for the establishment. This recent ruling has had a negative
impact on the city as a whole not only on the local merchants. 2. Status report on the Pilot Parking Permit
Program, with possible action. IX. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES 11. Authorizing
the City Manager to execute a lease with Nextel WIP lease Corporation, d/b/a Nextel Partners, for approximately 559
square feet located at Introduction of Ordinance: City Council X. FINAL Motion to waive the Final Readings of
Ordinances # 2003-O-099; # 2003-O-100; #2003-O-101; # 2003-O-102; #
2003-O-103; # 2003-O-104; # 2003-O-105; # 2003-O-106; # 2003-O-107; #
2003-O-108; # 2003-O-109; # 2003-O-110; # 2003-O-111; # 2003-O-112; and #
2003-O-114. Moved: Cm.
Galo Second: Cm. Amaya For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2003-O-099
Establishing a 15% penalty on the 2002 delinquent tax accounts as of
July 1, 2003, to defray costs of collection
pursuant to Section 33.07 (a) of the Texas State Property Tax Code; providing
for publication and effective date. Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2003-O-099. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. Amaya For:
6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2003-O-100
Amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget by
appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount
of $5,000.00 in additional funds from the Texas Association of Local Health
Officials (TALHO) for the Bioterrorism Consequence
Management/Automated Disease Surveillance Pilot Project of the City of Laredo
Health Department for the period beginning January 1, 2003 through August 1,
2003. Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2003-O-100. |