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CITY OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING M-2004-R-012 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.
Garcia For: 8
Against: 0 Abstain: 0 V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS Announcements None. Invitations None. Recognitions a.
Recognition
of the winners of the 2004 Distinguished Business Awards: Hugo Gutierrez, Hugo Gutierrez, Jr.,
Adolfo Gutierrez, Robert Gutierrez and Hugo Gutierrez, III. The
Mayor and City Council presented a Seven Flags Certificate of Recognition to
Hugo Gutierrez, Hugo Gutierrez, Jr., Adolfo Gutierrez, Robert Gutierrez,
Richard Gutierrez, and Hugo Gutierrez, III for receiving the 2004 Chamber of
Commerce Distinguished Business Award. (Hugo Gutierrez, III and Roberto
Gutierrez were not present) Jorge
Cedillo, First Vice President of Commerce Bank, expressed his thanks for
being nominated Distinguished Business Award by the Small Business
Administration. He also thanked the
Chamber of Commerce and the Laredo Development Foundation for allowing him to
participate in the program for 2004.
He added that it was a distinguished honor to be part of the program
with the Gutierrez Family. He also
expressed his thanks to the small business owners by acknowledging that they
are the backbone of the community. b.
Recognition
of “This individual is self-motivated,
talented and most definitely deserves the employee of the month for May. First and
foremost, she possesses excellent customer service skills that she exhibits
to both her internal and her external customers. On a daily basis she handles media
inquiries that she then must relay to department heads, managers and elected
officials to obtain an appointment or information. She does this in a very professional and
efficient manner. This month, she
spent extra time helping an internal customer with a request for a phone
number for an external customer. The
call came in at the end of the day and she saw the task through and then
wrapped up her own day to head home.
This is not uncommon, but her dedication to the task was evident. Secondly,
any task that is delegated to her she completes. This month she took the initiative, as she
has in the past, and coordinated or co-coordinated various events. On May 4, the City kicked off a joint phone
book recycling project with SBC. She coordinated
media interview spots on radio and television to promote the contest. For the finale of the recycling campaign,
she coordinated all the participants and award recipients in a culmination
event on May 24 where several schools were presented cash awards for their
participation in the contest. In
addition to this task, she also co-coordinated a groundbreaking event
together with the Utilities Department that was held on May 26, 2004. She coordinated with participants and took
charge of the on-site set-up, program and media material. In
addition to these tasks, this individual has also been a huge advocate for
the American Cancer Society, assisting in every aspect of the City Manager’s
team fundraising efforts. During May,
when most of the fundraising activities took place, she spent much of her
extra time buying items to contribute to plate sales, making sales and
keeping the rest of her team motivated by example. She took over certain tasks when she was
needed and stood by to help in the trenches when that was necessary, as well. This
employee should also be commended for the one-year anniversary of an
informative, effective campaign entitled Trash Tips. For a little over one year, this employee
has been coordinating with the Solid Waste Department Sanitation division and
several others to obtain helpful tips to pass on to the City’s trash
collection customers. The campaign has
contributed to reducing the amount of complaints to the Customer Service
Trackwise system, improved working conditions for Sanitation employees, and
enhanced customer response. Communiqués a.
Presentation
by Sylvia Bruni, Motion
to postpone for July. Moved: Cm.
Agredano Second: Cm.
J. Valdez, Jr. For: 8 Abstain: 0 Abstain: 0 Richard
Perez, Program Manager for VI. APPOINTMENTS
TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES Motion
to approve the following appointments: Audit/Insurance
Committee Mayor
Elizabeth G. Flores Cm. Garcia Cm. Galo Cm. Valdez Nominating Committee to CVB
Advisory Board Mayor
Elizabeth G. Flores Cm. Garcia Cm. Ramirez Community Action Agency
Advisory Board Cm. Agredano Cm. Garcia Cm. Ramirez El Metro Transit System
Committee Cm. Agredano Cm. Amaya Cm. Rendon Engineering Review
Committee Cm. Galo Cm. Valdez Cm. Amaya Health &
Benefits/Issues Committee Cm. Garcia Cm. Amaya Cm. Rendon Legislative Liaison
Committee Cm. Agredano Cm. Garcia Cm. Belmares Metro Government Committee Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores Cm. Agredano Cm. Galo Cm. Rendon Cm. Belmares Oil
& Gas Review Committee Cm. Galo Cm. Amaya Cm. Valdez Protocol,
Procedures & Customer Service Mayor Elizabeth G
Flores Cm. Galo Cm. Garcia Rail
Policy Committee Cm. Galo Cm. Valdez Cm. Ramirez Mayor
Flores Cm. Amaya Cm. Street
Committee Cm. Amaya Cm. Belmares Cm. Ramirez Veteran
Affairs Committee Cm. Agredano Cm. Belmares Cm. Water
issues Committee Cm. Galo Cm. Amaya Cm. Belmares Metro
Planning Organization – already assigned last Council meeting by resolution. TAMIU
Scholarship Advisory Committee Cm. Garcia VII.
PUBLIC HEARINGS 1.
Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending
the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lots 4, 5, and the
eastern 11.56 feet of Lot 3, Block 117, Western Division, located at 502
Houston Street, from B-1 (Limited Commercial District) to B-3 (Community
Business District); providing for publication and effective date. The Planning and Zoning Commission has
recommended denial of the proposed zone change. Motion to open the public hearing. Moved: Mayor Pro
Tempore Galo Second: Cm. Amaya For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Louis Lavaude, attorney for the Jacaman Family, spoke in
favor of the zone change by noting it would
not impair any of the surrounding businesses or properties. Marina Ramirez spoke against the zone change to B-3. Motion to close the public hearing and deny the zone
change request. Moved: Cm. Ramirez Second: Cm.
Belmares For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2.
Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending
the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by authorizing the issuance of
a Conditional Use Permit for a tattoo parlor on Lots 3 and 4, Block 61,
Calton Gardens Subdivision, located at 5216 Springfield Avenue; providing for
publication and effective date. The
Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the Conditional
Use Permit. Motion
to open the public hearing. Moved: Mayor Pro Tem 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. Rendon For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Ordinance
Introduction: Cm. Rendon 3.
Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending
the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by authorizing a Conditional
Use Permit for a tattoo parlor on Lot 12, Block 988, Eastern Division,
located at 1802 Corpus Christi Street; providing for publication and
effective date. The Planning and
Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the Conditional Use Permit. Motion
to open the public hearing. Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Mayor Pro Tem Galo For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Denise
and David Rodriguez, applicants, spoke in favor of the Conditional Use
Permit. They asked Council to consider
changing the hours of operation from Keith
Selman, City Planner, explained that staff recommended the Historic District
Landmark Board’s approved color palette because there are 300 colors to
choose from. He continued by
explaining that staff suggests a single color for the entire structure with
the exceptions of the roof and trim because murals fall under the definition
of signage. He reminded Council about
the mural on the Pro 8 News structure which had to be reduced because it was
considered to be signage. Denise
Rodriguez, applicant, explained that the Land Development Code defines a
mural as “art work that is applied
directly to a wall, ceiling, or floor surface where forms and or figures are the dominate element. Any
form of wording or logo shall be secondary
nature to a mural.” She added that
signs are not generally construed as works of art; therefore, a wall sign is
not a mural. Keith
Selman, City Planner, said the difference is that their design is painted
with the intentions of attracting attention to the business. Denise
Rodriguez, applicant, described the mural. Keith
Selman, City Planner, said that Council cannot grant variances to the signage
provision under the Conditional Use Permit.
The applicant would need to appeal to the Administrative Board of
Adjustment. Motion
to close the public hearing and introduce with the following amendments: 1.) The Conditional Use Permit shall be issued
to David and Denise Rodriguez and is nontransferable. 2.) Parking and Paving for the entire site
shall at all times comply with all applicable City
of 3.) The parking lot shall be paved and
configured for commercial purposes. 4.) Signage shall be limited to that which is
allowed under the B-1 designation. 5.)
A seven foot opaque fence shall be placed around the parking lot area
and shall be open where the site abuts a
residential use. 6.)
Hours of operation shall be limited from Mondays through Saturdays
from 7.) Speakers or music are prohibited in front
of the building at all times, during business hours. 8.) The Conditional Use Permit shall be issued
for a one year term. Moved: Mayor Pro Tem Galo Second: Cm. Garcia For: 8 Against: |