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CITY OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING M2003-R-017 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. III. ROLL CALL In attendance: Elizabeth G. Flores, Mayor Alfredo Agredano, Council
Member, 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., Jaime Flores, Motion to excuse Cm. Garcia, Mayor
Pro Tem Galo, and Cm. J. Valdez, Jr. Moved: Cm. Amaya Second: Cm. Belmares For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 *Note: Cm. Garcia joined the meeting at Motion to excuse Cm. Garcia and Mayor Pro Tem
Galo from the Special Call City Council meeting of Moved:
Cm. Amaya Second:
Cm. Ramirez For:
5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion to excuse Cm. Garcia from the Budget
Workshop of Moved:
Cm. Amaya Second:
Cm. Ramirez For:
5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 IV. MINUTES Approval
of the minutes of Motion to approve. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS Announcements Invitations Recognitions a. Recognition of Sergeant Jorge Luis
Lugo, Jr., for serving our country in the US Army in Mayor Flores and the City
Council Members presented Sergeant Lugo with a Certificate of Recognition for
his service to our country in the U.S. Army Reserves in b.
Recognition of the Del Mar Little League for winning District Champs
and State Finalists. Mayor Flores and the City
Council Members recognized the team for winning the district championship and
for its recognition as state finalists. c.
Recognizing Manuel "Blinker" Perez as the only Coach and
Manager to have taken five teams to the Little League State
Tournament in 1978, 1981-1983 and again in 1993 and for over 25
years of dedicated volunteer service to the advancement of Little League players in Laredo. Mayor Flores and the City
Council Members presented Mr. Perez with a Certificate of Appreciation for
his dedication to the youth of Communiqués Mayor Flores read from Psalm 22 before City
Council and offered her condolences to the family of Cm. Jose A. Valdez, Jr.
for their recent loss. Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. led the City Council in
prayer for the Cm. Amaya stated that his Special Projects
Committee members will be distributing school supplies to needy students in
District IV in order to help out their families. He added that these students were selected
by their respective schools. He gave a
special thanks to the many businesses that donated the supplies and to the
committee members: Manuel Reyna,
Rogelio Rodriguez, Aurora Rendon, Alfredo Juarez, Juan Calderon, Margarito Benavides, Manuel Romo,
and Jose Chavarria. Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. thanked all his committee
members, his constituents, and the inner circle of District V for their
advice and feedback provided prior to the budget workshops. He thanked them for input provided in order
to have projects addressed during the workshops. Cm. Ramirez mentioned the “Guanajuato
en VI. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND
COMMITTEES a. Appointment by Council Member Jose
A. Valdez, Jr., of Jose Gamez to the Motion to approve. Moved:
Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. Second:
Cm. Agredano For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 b. Appointment by Council Member Jose
A. Valdez, Jr., of Esterina Pulido
to the Motion to approve. Moved:
Cm. Agredano Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending Laredo Land Development Code, Section 24.77.1, entitled Dimensional
Standards, by revising the maximum building height requirements in certain
zoning districts; 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. Belmares Second:
Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Agredano Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 2. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance of an ordinance amending Chapter 3: Subdivision Design Standards, Section
3-6: Lots and Lot Arrangements,
Paragraph J. Laboratory Testing, of the Subdivision Ordinance of the City of
Laredo by allowing a developer to select the testing laboratory for ordinance
compliance, providing for publication and effective date. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: Abstain: There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Agredano Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 3. Public
hearing for the adoption of a tax rate of $0.641761 per $100.00 value. This is to provide revenue for the
General Fund for the Maintenance and Operation and for the payment on the
Debt Service. This rate includes
$0.500648 per $100.00 value of the Maintenance and Operation and $0.141113
per $100.00 value for the Interest and Sinking Fund of the Debt Service and
will produce a tax levy of $38,455,159.00. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Agredano Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 City Manager, Patricio Canavati, stated that he has been seeing an increase in taxes year
after year. He notices that some
property owners are not paying property taxes, which is an injustice to all
those other property owners who do pay taxes. He stated that there are numerous deficiencies
when it comes to public services in the community. He
is asking that an explanation be provided from where the taxes are derived,
who are the taxpayers, and where are those revenues
going. Mayor Flores replied that there is an
Appraisal District that follows a process and a formula in order to arrive at
a valuation over land and improvements.
Motion to close the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Agredano Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion to reflect a transfer of $400,000.00
from the General Fund to the Capital Improvements Fund (CIF) for
discretionary funding of $50,000.00 per Council District. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. For:
5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 4. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of General Fund annual budget to increase
revenues and expenditures in the amount of $175,000.00 for attorney fees paid
to De Anda Law Firm. Expenditures will only be incurred and
disbursed if the revenue is collected by the Tax Department. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Amaya Second:
Cm. Agredano For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 5. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Ordinances, Section 2-9 to provide access to
database in order to inspect City property tax records via the internet;
adding definitions and basic terms of the access agreement; changing term to
be for one (1) year with an automatic renewal for one (1) year unless
otherwise indicated by either party; deleting the equipment fee; deleting the
reference to exhibit A, “The Standard Agreement,” providing for severability
and effective date. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Agredano Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 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 $346,993.00 in funds from the Texas Department
Health and $57,012.00 in program income for the Maternal and Child Health
(MCH-Title V) Program of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period
beginning September 1, 2003, through August 31, 2004; and amending the City
of Laredo’s full-time equivalent positions.
Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Agredano For: 5
Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Agredano For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 7. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget by appropriating revenues and
expenditures in the amount $21,657.00 in funds from the Texas Department of
Health for the Laredo Obesity Prevention and Control Project (LOPAC) of the
City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning September 1, 2003
through August 31, 2004. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Agredano For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Agredano Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 8. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City of Laredo FY
2002-2003 annual budget by appropriating revenues and
expenditures in the amount of $69,464.00 in funds from the Texas Department
of Health and $16,600.00 in program income for the La Familia
Health Care Program of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period
beginning September 1, 2003 through February 29, 2004. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Agredano For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 9. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 annual budget by appropriating revenues and
expenditures in the amount of $81,751.00 in funds from the Texas Department
of Health in the Family Planning Services of the City of Laredo Health
Department for the period beginning September 2003, through August 31, 2004;
and amending the 2002-2003 full time equivalent positions. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Agredano Second:
Cm. Amaya For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Agredano For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 10. Public hearing and introductory ordinance
amending the City of Ordinances as follows: Chapter 2, Article II, Division 6 (Pay
Administration), Section 2-87.7 (12)(a) except as otherwise stated
in any collective bargaining agreement and providing for publication and effective
date of increase of 1.6%. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Agredano For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and
introduce. Moved:
Cm. Belmares Second:
Cm. Agredano For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council VIII. GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND
PRESENTATIONS A.
Request by Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores 1. Discussion with possible action on request
to consider conversion of Palo Blanco Street to a one way west from by Council Member Alfredo Agredano) Mayor
Flores stated that she received a letter from Ms. Yolanda Perez, B. Request by Council Member Alfredo Agredano 1. Presentation by former gang member
regarding UISD Gang Intervention Program.
(Co-sponsored by Council Member Eliseo Valdez, Jr.) Cm. Agredano made a correction to the
item caption. Joe Espinoza, Gang Intervention Facilitator,
introduced the team assigned to the different high schools: Jose Jasso, Hector Garcia, David Volpe. He
also introduced a reformed gang member, Jose Luis Hernandez, and mentioned
that he is making a difference in our community today. He explained that a criminal street gang
is defined as three or more people with an identifiable sign, symbol, or
leadership who continuously or regularly associate in the commission of
criminal activity. He pointed out some
of the characteristics of gang involvement and the organizational levels of
gangs. He also provided some tips for
parents and educators to discourage children and teenagers from becoming gang
members. Sergeant Armando Elizondo with the
Laredo Police Department Juvenile Enforcement Team stated that mostly the
officers do work with the students and gangs.
He stated that it is against the law for a minor to have a
tattoo. He mentioned that some of
these gang members are doing the tattoos themselves. Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. mentioned that some
adults are exposing our minors to criminal activity. He suggested to the City’s legislative
liaison, Rene Gonzalez, to revive a previous House bill that never made its
way to the House floor. He would like
to see some legislation passed where you can double the penalty on the adults
who are exposing the children to drugs, crime, etc. Cm. Garcia joined the City Council meeting at C. Request
by Council Member Gene Belmares 1. Discussion with possible action regarding
City of accounts
receivable policies. Jose Castillo,
Assistant Cm. Belmares inquired
as to which accounts the City currently collects fees on. Jose Castillo stated
that there are ambulance fees, alarm permit fees, lot lien fees, rentals fees
from municipal housing, solid waste fees, etc. He said he would like
to learn how the City collects on fuel flowage fees. Jose Flores, Jose Castillo,
Assistant On accounts payable, Jose Castillo explained
that the Accounts Payable Division is responsible for reviewing all invoices
and processing payments on behalf of the City. The staff processes invoices, debit memos,
credit memos and they are processed online through the Purchasing Accounts
Payable subsystem. He added that a
purchase order must be obtained before securing any goods or services from a
vendor. The Accounts Payable Division
will not process a payment unless it is in receipt of a proper invoice. The departments must also acknowledge
receipt of services or goods before processing for payment. Cm. Belmares stated that the only issue that
he would like to address is the Accounts Receivable issue. He instructed the City Manager to provide a
report to City Council regarding the standardization of the receivables
policy. 2. Discussion with possible action regarding
the placement of “No Parking” signs and other safety
concerns at Borchers Elementary. Cm. Belmares inquired whether there is
something that the City could do about enclosing the area by the drainage
canal. He mentioned that one side of
the canal is private property but the other side with a sidewalk belongs to
the City. Keith Selman, City Planner, mentioned that the
property owner to the South has come in to be master planned but said
development would take some time. D. Request
by Council Member Jose A. Valdez, Jr. 1. Discussion
with possible action requesting the City Manager to have Public Works
crews to construct sidewalks on east side of Motion to instruct the
City Manager to have Public Works crews construct sidewalks on east
side of Moved: Cm. E. Valdez, Jr. Second: Cm. Amaya For: 6 Against:
0 Abstain:
0 IX. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES 12. Authorizing
the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to effectively convey a 0.0835 of an acre
(twelve-foot), more or less, parcel of land, as a Utility Easement to AEP
Texas Central Company, for the extension of an overhead 3-phase primary line
to serve a proposed wastewater lift station in the Wyndum
Terrace Subdivision. Said 0.0835 of an
acre (twelve-foot) easement being out of tract of land previously conveyed to
the City of Ordinance Introduction: City Council 13. Authorizing
the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to effectively convey two parcels of land to
the Texas Mexican Railway Company, said parcels being: Tract 1 – a 3,272 square foot parcel of
land and Tract 2 – an 868 square foot parcel of land, in exchange for two
other parcels of land: Tract 3 – a 10,640 square foot parcel of land, and
Tract 4 – a 653 square foot parcel of land.
All four parcels are situated in that section of Salinas Avenue that
lies between Washington Street and Moctezuma
Street, Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas; and providing
for an effective date. Ordinance Introduction: City Council 14. Authorizing
the City Manager to execute a lease agreement between the City of Laredo, as Lessor
and Clemente M. Bedia, as
Lessee for approximately 624.77 sq. ft. of building space to be used as a
(WIC) Woman, Infant and Children Food Store at the area commonly known as
2300 Saltillo part of the Mario Tijerina Park site,
for a term of one year at a monthly rate of $300.00 per month and will be
adjusted annually according to Consumer Price Index; providing for an
effective. Mayor Flores noted a correction as to the term
of the lease agreement which is for a term of one year at a monthly rate of
$350.00 per month. Ordinance Introduction: City Council 15. Adopting
a new health and dental benefits rate structure by increasing all medical contribution amounts by five percent (5%) and all dental contributions by ten p |