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CITY OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING M2003-R-011 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 Flores led in the Pledge of
Allegiance. III. ROLL CALL In attendance: Elizabeth G. Flores, Mayor Alfredo Agredano, Council
Member, District I Hector Garcia, Council
Member, District II John C. Galo, Mayor
Pro Tempore, District III 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 Jaime Flores, City
Attorney IV. MINUTES None. V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS Announcements None. Invitations Ms. Toni Gamboa, representing the March for
Jesus Committee, invited the Mayor, City Council Members, and the public to
their event. She stated that they will be hosting this
year’s march on Recognitions a. Recognition
of Winners of the Distinguished Business Awards from the Araceli Lozano, with the Laredo Chamber
of Commerce, announced the persons being recognized with Distinguished
Business Awards. Receiving an award from the Laredo
Chamber of Commerce for Laredo Business Person of the Year are: Mr. Luis Guerra Dr. Reynaldo Godinez Dr. George Garcia Receiving an award from the SBA San
Antonio District for Accountant Advocate of the Year is: Jorge R. Martinez of Garza, Martinez
& Co., P.L.L.C. Receiving an award from the local SBA
office for Small Business Person of the Year is: Ricardo X. Herrera, RX Herrera Pharmacy b. Recognizing
Connie de los Reyes, Nieto Dickey & Lopez
Funeral Home and Antonio Fox for their contributions to the production
of an impressionable and serious public service message produced in
conjunction with the Laredo Police Department and City Public Information
Office and the Public Access Channel.
This includes a viewing of the one-minute public service announcement.
Mayor Flores presented a Seven Flags
Certificate of Recognition to Connie de los Reyes
for her contribution to this public service announcement. Nieto, Dickey and Lopez Funeral Home and
Antonio Fox who were not present also received a recognition for their
contributions in the production of this public service announcement. c. Recognizing Griselda Dozal,
Erica Paez, Jaime Martinez, Jr., Juan Gamez, Lori Lisette Botello, Betzabe E.
Pena, and Brenda Janet Tristan as the recipients of the City Council District
4 scholarships for 2003. Mayor Flores recognized the recipients of
Council Member Amaya’s District IV scholarships. d. Recognizing
La Posada Hotel for their generous sponsorship and support of the Elementary
School basketball team. Mayor Pro Tempore Agredano
presented Cristina Castor of La Posada Hotel with a plaque in appreciation of
its support of the Eagles’ basketball team for 2002-2003. e. Recognition
by the Mayor and City Council Members of City Departments for their contribution and participation to the United
Way Campaign; a special recognition to Daniel E. Migura, Jr., Administrative
Services Department Director, recipient of the Dr. Billy F. Cowart Award and
the R.E.A.C.H. Committee Members recipients of the 2002 Rising Star Award. Joe Garcia, outgoing President for Highest Employee Group Contributor Award City of Laredo
employees United Way Rising Star Awards were also presented
for outstanding leadership and commitment in coordinating this year’s
The Billy F. Cowart Award
was presented to Daniel E. Migura, Administrative Services Director, for
his great example of volunteerism, commitment, and dedication in actively
participating in the community. Dan Migura, Administrative
Services Director, also recognized the Council Members, the Public Access
Channel employees. The MIS Department employees
received a special recognition for their 100% participation. A Certificate of Recognition was also
presented to Donna Magnon from the The Silver Award was
presented to the following departments:
Administrative
Services Environmental
Services Building Inspectors Health Community Development Library Convention &
Visitors Bureau Tax Office El Metro Traffic Engineering Utilities The 2002 Gold Award was
presented to the Bridge Department employees, City Manager’s Office
employees, Parks and Recreation Department employees, Public Works Department
employees. The 2002 Green Iceberg Award
was presented to the Police Department employees. The 2002 Gold Iceberg Award
was presented to the Fire Department employees. Awards were presented to the
members of the R.E.A.C.H. Committee:
Sylvia Arellano, Health Department; Jerry Leal, Public Access Channel;
f. Recognizing
the Budget Department for its achievement of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United
States and Canada on their award of the Distinguished Budget Presentation
Award to the City of Laredo, Texas for its annual budget for the fiscal year
beginning October 1, 2002. Mayor Flores presented the Budget Department
to Communiqués Cm. Ramirez stated that the City of Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. invited his fellow council
members and constituents to the March of Jesus event. He stated that it is a very positive event
for the community and an opportunity for everyone to show our gratitude for
the blessings received. Cm. Garcia congratulated all the graduates
from Cm. Agredano
congratulated all the graduates from both school districts. He mentioned that eight scholarships were
awarded to students from Mayor Flores extended good wishes to all the
fathers on the City Council and in Mayor Flores provided some comments on the Before thousands of family members and
friends, over 2,500 students of UISD and LISD received their high school
diplomas at the It was an honor for me to attend these
ceremonies and witness the joy and wonder in the faces of our graduates,
their teachers, school administrators, and board members. It was an equal honor to have been invited to
deliver the key note speech for the fifth grade graduating class at Nye
Elementary on Friday afternoon. The A lot depends on the choices they make. We are a very young city. Over half of our population is younger than
26 years of age. That presents a
challenge for city government as well as school officials. So the choices we make are equally
important. That is whey we are proud
of the spirit of cooperation that continues to guide us. Our Metro Government Committee will soon
meet as a stronger and more determined entity to make things better for our
shared constituents. It was a privilege for me to proclaim
Thursday, May 29th, as L.I.S.D. Graduation Day in Those of us involved in the concept and then
the reality of the VI. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND
COMMITTEES None.
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Public
hearing and Second Reading authorizing Aleskar
Villarreal, d/b/a Villarreal Dumps and Backhoe Service, Inc. a
non-exclusive franchise, to construct, maintain and operate a commercial
container refuse gathering and disposing service in the City of Laredo,
Texas, and providing the terms, conditions, obligations, and limitations upon
and under which such franchise shall be exercised; providing indemnity to the
City, City retains authority to regulate rates except for rate increases
resulting from increased landfill fees which are passed on to the customer;
providing for increased service rates; providing for franchise payments; and
providing for severability. 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. Galo For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 2. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending Section 2-3(D), of Article I of Chapter 2, Administration, of the Code of
Ordinances, in order to conform the schedule of charges for copies of public
information with that specified by the Public Information Act, Texas
Government Code, Subchapter F. 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 3. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget by decreasing revenues and
expenditures, as per the Texas Department of Health, in the amount of
$2,679.00 in the Tuberculosis Elimination Program budget of the City of
Laredo Health Department for the period beginning 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. Amaya For: 8 Against:
0 Abstain:
0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 4. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget by increasing expenditures and
Program Income/Revenues in the amount of $5,500.00 for the Tuberculosis
Elimination Program budget of the City of Laredo Health Department for the
period beginning 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. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 5. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget by increasing revenues and
expenditures in the amount of $111,757.00 for the Los Dos Laredos
Binational Neural Tube Defects (NTD) Pilot Project
of the City of Laredo Health Department and extending the program period from
April 1, 2002 through March 31, 2003 to April 1, 2002 through September 30,
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. Garcia Second:
Cm. Galo For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council VIII. GENERAL
COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS A. Request by Council Member Hector J. Garcia 1. Discussion with possible action on
increasing police patrol in Eastwood and Villa Police Chief Agustin Dovalina
reported that the department will start a detail this coming weekend. They will be saturating the area as much as
they can to curtail the problems in the area.
B. Request
by Council Member Johnny Amaya 1. Discussion
with possible action to request that the City Manager consider the implementation of a budget amendment in the
amount of $5,424.64 to reclassify four (4) Investigator positions to Sergeant
positions in the Police Department Budget and having the City Manager
initiate the budget amendment process.
Police Chief Agustin Dovalina reported that a
possibility does exist that a number of employees might retire as soon as the
new retirement system comes into place.
He stated that there are approximately 30 to 40 people that have
become eligible to retire so there is that opportunity for some employees to
retire. Jaime Flores, Motion to request that the City Manager
consider the implementation of a budget amendment in the amount of $5,424.64
to reclassify four investigator positions to sergeant positions and to have
the City Manager initiate the budget amendment process to reclassify the four
investigator positions to sergeant positions.
Moved:
Cm. Amaya Second:
Cm. J. Valdez, Jr. For:
7 Against: 1 Abstain: 0 Cm.
Galo C.
Request by Council Member Eliseo Valdez, Jr. 1. Request for a status report on
the buffer area between the Horacio De Leon, Parks and Recreation
Director, reported that there is a concern due to increased activity within
the park. He mentioned that the noise
problem is a concern as well as tendency of the park users of cutting through
the neighborhood. He stated that the
best way to remedy the situation would be by building a block wall. He added that the cost of setting up a
block wall would be very expensive. He
stated that whether the fence would be wrought iron fence or block fence, it
is something that is needed. He stated
that the total for the wrought iron fence and landscaping is $9,400.00. However, there is no funding within the
department’s operating budget to take on this project. Motion to move this project forward and
commit the $9,400.00 needed from Council Member Valdez’s District V
discretionary funds. Moved:
Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. Second:
Cm. J. Valdez, Jr. For:
7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2. Request that our park areas be patrolled on
a more regular basis, and the enforcement of the curfew. Police Chief Agustin Dovalina reported
that this is a task that is done daily and the department will continue to
do. He stated that he will make sure
that the parks are vigorously patrolled during these summer months. 3. Request
for a status report on the channelization of the
creek areas north of Gale and Calle Del Norte. D. Request by Council Member Jose A. Valdez,
Jr. 1. Discussion
regarding the process used by the Webb County Appraisal District to determine property taxable values. Sergio Delgado, Chief Appraiser for theWebb County Appraisal District, addressed some of the questions
regarding generally accepted methods for appraising property. The Texas Property Tax Code (TPTC) mandates
the process of appraising property for tax purposes. All taxable property is appraised at its
fair market value as of January 1st, except as otherwise allowed
by federal or state law. The market
value of the property is determined by the application of generally accepted
appraisal methods and techniques required under federal and state law. The mass appraisal standards used to
appraise property for tax purposes must comply with the Uniform Standards of
Professional Appraisal Practices established by the Appraisal Institute
regulated by the federal government.
Same and similar appraisal methods and techniques must be used to
appraise similar types of property.
However, each property shall be appraised based upon the individual
characteristics that affect the property’s market value. In determining the market value of property,
we consider the cost, income, and market data comparison methods of appraisal
and use the most appropriate method or a combination of methods for the
property being appraised. For example: ·
Residential property is appraised using a combination of
cost data and market sales data. The
residential schedules are built using construction cost data, then adjusted
using available market sales data. ·
Commercial property is appraised using the cost approach
to value from data taken out of a nationally recognized appraisal manual,
Marshall & Swift Commercial Cost Handbook, and then adjusted as necessary
based on the property’s individual characteristics and/or taking into
consideration the income and expense data (income approach to appraisal) of
the property divided by the property owner. ·
Whenever market sales data is available, the cost approach
is tested for accuracy. We gather and analyze market sales, new
building cost, and income/expense data to support or adjust land and building
schedules accordingly. We mail out
surveys annually to property buyers and business owners to collect market
data. We also are able to gather
market data from state auditors, property owners who visit our office and
other sources. The State Comptroller of Public Accounts
audits our appraisals each year. They
also gather information from the Laredo market and conduct their own market
analysis. Our appraisals are then
tested against their market findings to determine how close we are or are not
to the Laredo market. Annually they
publish and provide their audit findings to us as well as to the local school
districts. Based on the audit
findings, we determine what adjustments are necessary to our appraisals in
order to meet the State’s fair market value appraisal requirements. If the State audit determines that our
appraised values are not at or close to market value, then the local school
districts are penalized and those districts lose state funding. When State revenues are lost, school
districts must raise their local tax rate to make up those revenue losses. Therefore, it is important for the Appraisal
District to meet the State’s legal requirement of fair market value for the
appraisal of county property in order to assist school districts maximize
state revenues and minimize local tax rates and property owners’ tax
liability. 2. Discussion
with possible action regarding Ordinances requiring the charge for such city services as sewer, water, and
trash pick-up for temporary construction sites where those services will not
be provided. Motion to postpone. Moved: Cm. J. Valdez, Jr. Second: Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: Abstain: 0 IX. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES 7. Authorizing
the City Manager to execute an amendment to the lease agreement approved by Ordinance No. 98-O-053 dated February 17,
1998, between the City of Laredo, as Lessor, and
UETA of Texas, Inc., a subsidiary of Duty Free International, Inc., as
Lessee, to amend the lease area at the Laredo International Airport Passenger
Terminal and rental obligation, extend the term of the agreement by 30
months, consolidate duty free and news/gift shop merchandise, provide for
additional modifications and improvements to the new leased are and amend
hours of operation, providing for effective date. Ordinance Introduction: City Council 8. Authorizing
the City Manager to execute a lease agreement with Development Council for approximately 240
square feet constituting Suite No. 7 of Building S-1 located at Ordinance Introduction: City Council X. FINAL Motion to waive the final readings of
Ordinance # 2003-O-122; # 2003-O-123; # 2003-O-124; # 2003-O-125; #
2003-O-126; # 2003-O-127; #2003-O-128; # 2003-O-129; # 2003-O-130; #
2003-O-131; # 2003-O-132; # 2003-O-133; # 2003-O-134; and # 2003-O-135. Moved: Cm. Galo Second: Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 9.
2003-O-122 Amending the Zoning
Ordinance Map of the City of the issuance of a Conditional Use
Permit for a child daycare facility on 1.42 acres, as further described by
metes and bounds on attached Exhibit “A,” located approximately at Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2003-O-122. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2003-O-123 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the
City of 2.2882
acres, as further described by metes and bounds on attached Exhibit “A,”
located south of from
R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District) to B-3 (Community Business
District)); providing for publication and effective date. Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2003-O-123. Moved:
Cm. Galo Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2003-O-124 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the
City of 42.44
acres, as further described by metes and bounds on attached Exhibit “A,”
located approximately at the 2600 block of Del Mar Boulevard, from R-1
(Single Family Residential District) to B-3 (Community Business District);
providing for publication and effective date.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2003-O-124. |