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CITY OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING M-2004-R-11 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 Johnny Rendon 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, IV. MINUTES Approval
of the minutes of Motion
to approve. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Ramirez For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Mayor
Pro Tem Galo was not present. V. COMMUNICATIONS
AND RECOGNITIONS Announcements Cm. Agredano congratulated Council Members Jose A.
Valdez, Jr. and Juan Ramirez as they begin their second term and welcomed Cm.
Johnny Rendon to the City Council. On
Sunday, they placed flags for all the departed Veterans at the Cm. Garcia congratulated Dr. Cecilia Moreno on her
retirement from Cm. Amaya commented on the press conference held
at Cm. Rendon thanked all the voters of Cm. Belmares recognized Judge Oscar Martinez for
his hard work and participation with the St. Patrick’s Church Youth Group at
their fundraiser. He stated that Judge
Martinez has always been a pillar of the community and is always willing to help
the youth of Cm. J. Valdez, Jr. mentioned the Memorial Day
ceremony held at the Cm. Ramirez thanked all the constituents in
District VIII for their hard work and their vote. He stated that in spite of the recount
petition, the election results showed that the voters place their trust in
him to continue to do good work for the district. Mayor Flores mentioned that there is an article in
the Laredo Morning Times Business Journal regarding the City’s bond
rating. She encouraged everyone to
read the news article which mentions that Invitations None. Recognitions a. Recognition
of Malia Watson from the Laredo Public Library on her selection as April
Employee of the Month. Maria Soliz,
Assistant Library Director, stated that Malia Watson is the Manager of the
Technical Services Department. She
mentioned that Ms. Watson not only makes the most of her tremendous technical
services skills, but she also looks for the best way to serve the community
with new library programs and services.
She added that Ms. Watson approaches each task with a caring passion
and recently worked closely with her co-workers to make National Library Week
activities a big success. b. Recognition
of Mayor Flores
and City Council publicly recognized c. Recognition
of Red Raiders football team. Mayor Flores
and City Council presented the players for an outstanding undefeated 2004
winning season and recognizing them as the Champions of the South Valley
Division of the Texas United Football League.
d. Recognizing
Police Investigators Jorge Luna, Jr. and Martin J. Guerra for their
completion of training from the United States Department of Justice/Federal
Bureau of Investigation Basic Bomb Technician Accreditation Course.
Both officers are now fully qualified as certified bomb technicians and will
now be able to respond to any bomb threats received in the city. Mayor Flores and City Council
recognized and congratulated Jorge Luna, Jr. and Martin J. Guerra for their achievement. These officers have gone through 16 weeks
of extensive training in bomb detection and disposal and are qualified as
certified bomb technicians. e. Recognition of City of
Laredo employees and R.E.A.C.H. Committee members for their commitment to
volunteerism in the community by supporting the American Cancer Society and
in promoting awareness, prevention, education, and support in research to
find a cure for cancer. Dan Migura,
Administrative Services Director, reported that the City was recognized by
the American Cancer Society for the fine efforts of the City’s
employees. Pedro Soto, past president
of the American Cancer Society reported that the Relay for Life is the most
important fundraising event for the organization. He mentioned that the City of Communiqués VI. APPOINTMENTS
TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES a.
Appointment
by Mayor Pro Tempore John C. Galo of Mary B. Wyers
to the Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee. Motion to approve. Moved: Cm.
Agredano Second: Cm.
Belmares For: 7 Against: 0
Abstain: 0 b.
Appointment
by Council Member Juan Ramirez of Dr. Michael Yoder to the Parks and
Recreation Committee. Motion to approve. Moved: Cm.
Ramirez Second: Cm.
Belmares For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 VII.
PUBLIC HEARINGS 1.
Public
hearing regarding the proposed substantial amendment
of the 24th, 25th, and 28th Action Year
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) One-Year Action Plans for the
reprogramming of CDBG fund balances totaling $132,000.00. The reprogrammed funds will be used for the
acquisition of an open space/green-space recreational land. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Ramirez Second: Cm. Belmares For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City
Council 2. Public hearing concerning
an appeal of the denial order issued on Location: Lot 8 E N ½ of 9-10
Block 70 W. D. Commonly known as: 1219 Petitioner: Jorge O. Gutierrez Locally significant historic landmark Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Mayor Pro Tem Galo joined the meeting at Sally V. Zuck, resident of St. Peter’s Historic
District, spoke against the request denial of this petition. The historical buildings are part of John Keck, Chairperson of the Historic District/Landmark Board stated
that the prime responsibility of the board is to be involved in the requests
for design and review for demolition or alterations of structures in the
three historic districts in Keith Selman, City Planner, mentioned that the request was
two-fold. He stated that the initial
part of the request, which was ultimately approved, was the re-facing of the
windows by detailing the window frames.
The applicant requested to replace the current window frames with a
metal-type material and it would be the same color, and the Landmark Board
did approve that. He provided images
for the City Council to see what the window units would look like. He added that in the department’s e-mail to
the Texas Historical Commission, they did outline to the applicants what was
suitable and the owners stated that the units would not protrude outside the
windows. Tomas Yzaquirre, one of the building owners,
distributed photographs of the window units they want to install in order to
explain how the façade would look. Elsa Ibarra Valdez, a resident of St. Peter’s Historical District,
spoke against the appeal approval. She stated that there is a nationwide drive
and a renewed interest in restoring Motion to permit the building owners to modify the windows as shown on
the photographs provided to City Council. Moved: Cm. Ramirez Second: Cm. Belmares For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Ramirez Second: Cm. Belmares For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City
Council 3.
Public
hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to execute two (2)
year lease agreements for retail space at
“El Mercado” located on Hidalgo and Lincoln Street with the following
retail Lessors; Chez Mauricette,
Helados La Playa and Hot Dog Express; copies of
which are provided as Exhibits “A” through “C”; and providing for effective
date. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares 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. Ramirez Second: Cm. Belmares For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City
Council 4.
Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending
the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 annual budget by decreasing revenues and
expenditures in the amount $20,000.00 in funds from the Texas Department of
Health for the Maternal and Child
Health (MCH-Title V) Program of the City of Laredo Health Department
for the period beginning Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Garcia For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Garcia For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 5.
Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending
the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 annual budget by increasing revenues and
expenditures in the amount $20,000.00 in funds from the Texas Department of
Health for the Family Planning Services of the City of Laredo Health
Department for the period beginning Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm.
Agredano For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 There was no public input. Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm.
Agredano Second: Cm. Garcia For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance Introduction: City Council 6.
Public hearing and introductory ordinance adding new
Article II [regulation of private premises vendors] to Chapter 18 of the Code
of Ordinances; said Article II defining “private premises vendors”,
regulating them, requiring permits, setting duration of permit, setting fee
of $100.00 for a permit on land owned by permittee
and of $500.00 for a permit on land not owned by permittee,
and providing for penalty for violation of any provision of the regulations;
providing for publication and effective date. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Agredano For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain:
0 Carlos Blanco, Jr. asked whether this would affect the minimum wage
earners in the community by requiring that they pay a fee to require a permit
from them. Cm. Belmares stated that this ordinance is not meant to drive the
individuals out of business but it is meant to protect them. He
stated that they created an ordinance that would allow these types of
businesses to prosper. Motion to close the public hearing and introduce. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Garcia For: 6 Against: 2 Abstain: 0 Cm.
J. Valdez, Jr. Cm.
Ramirez Ordinance Introduction: City
Council 7. Public
hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to accept $600.00
in donations and amending the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 General Fund Annual
Budget by appropriating revenues in the amount of $600.00 in the form of a
donation from Westwind Homes and appropriating
expenditures in the amount of $600.00 for the purchase of food and beverages
for the Indian Sunset Pond Clean Up Campaign that was held Saturday, May 22,
2004. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Mayor Pro Tem 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. J. Valdez, Jr. Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 1 Cm.
Belmares Ordinance Introduction: City
Council (Recess) (Press Availability) VIII. INTRODUCTORY
ORDINANCES 8.
Authorizing City Manager to convey on
behalf of City of Laredo, as Trustee, Lots 7 and 8, Block 1299, Eastern
Division, to City of Laredo, for its appraised fair market value of $9,578.00
of which the net proceeds shall be disbursed to the creditor taxing entities
in the proportion each entity holds of the tax judgment; and providing for
effective date. Ordinance
Introduction: City Council 9.
Authorizing City Manager to convey on
behalf of City of Laredo, as trustee, Lots 4 and 5, Block 1299, Eastern
Division, to City of Laredo, for its appraised fair market value of $9,578.00
of which the net proceeds shall be disbursed to the creditor taxing entities
in the proportion each entity holds of the tax judgment; and providing
for effective date. Ordinance
Introduction: City Council 10.
Authorizing
the City Manager execute Easement Document WR# 2137814 with American Electric
Power (AEP) for a 12’ x 750’ easement (9,000 square feet) and right-of-way
out of the 1,259.09 acre tract of the Laredo International Ordinance Introduction: City Council 11.
Authorizing the City Manager to execute all
necessary documents to effectively convey fee simple title to the “Surface
Only”, at its market value of $7,583.18, for certain property described as a
5,924.36 sq. ft. (0.1360 of an acre)
tract of land, more or less, out of that former section of the 2200 block of
Lincoln Street between Eagle Pass Avenue and the Laredo Community College
property line to Millco International, Inc.; said
tract being situated in the Western Division, City of Laredo, Webb County,
Texas being generally described in attached Exhibit “A”; and providing for an
effective date. Ordinance
Introduction: City Council IX. FINAL
Motion to waive the final reading of ordinances #
2004-O-113; # 2004-O-114; # 2004-O-115; # 2004-O-116; # 2004-O-117; #
2004-O-118; # 2004-O-119; # 2004-O-120; # 2004-O-121; # 2004-O-122; #
2004-O-123; # 2004-O-124; # 2004-O-125; # 2004-O-126; # 2004-O-127; #
2004-O-128; # 2004-O-129; # 2004-O-130; # 2004-O-131; and # 2004-O-132. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. J. Valdez, Jr. For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 12.
2004-O-113
Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of
Laredo by authorizing the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for
condominiums on 1.00 acres, as further described by metes and bounds on
attached Exhibit “A” located north of the proposed Shiloh extension and east
of Stone Creek Subdivision; providing for publication and effective
date. Motion to
adopt Ordinance # 2004-O-113. Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. J. Valdez, Jr. For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain:
0 2004-O-114 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by authorizing the amendment of Ordinance 99-O-039, which authorized a Conditional Use Permit for major auto repair, on the south ½ of Lot 3 and Lots 4, 5 and 6, Block 197, Eastern Division, located at 4115 Sanders Avenue, by including tire repair as an additional allowed condition |