CITY OF LAREDO

CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP

M2004-W-005

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1110 HOUSTON STREET

LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

SEPTEMBER 1, 2004

12:00 P.M.

I.          CALL TO ORDER

            With a quorum present, Mayor Elizabeth G.  Flores called the meeting to order.

II.        ROLL CALL

            In attendance:

            Elizabeth G.  Flores,                                                                 Mayor

            Alfredo Agredano,                                                                    Council Member, District I

            John C.  Galo,                                                                          Council Member, District III

Johnny Rendon                                                                         Council Member, District V

            Gene Belmares,                                                                        Council Member, District VI

            Jose A.  Valdez, Jr.,                                                                 Council Member, District VII

            Gustavo Guevara, Jr.,                                                               City Secretary

Larry Dovalina,                                                                         City Manager

Cynthia Collazo,                                                                       Deputy City Manager

            Jaime Flores,                                                                            City Attorney

            Motion to excuse Mayor Pro Tempore Amaya, Cm.  Ramirez, and Cm.  Garcia.

            Moved:  Cm.  Agredano

Second:  Cm.  Galo

            For:     5                                               Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

III.       PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

            Mayor Flores led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

IV.       DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CIVIC             CENTER/CONVENTION CENTER FEASIBILITY STUDY.     

Horacio de Leon, Parks Director, noted that the current forum was provided to give Council an opportunity to discuss the feasibility study that is being prepared by Killis Almond and Associates.  He advised that Council had directed staff to return to Council once Phase I of the feasibility study was complete. 

Killis Almond, FAIA representing Killis Almond & Associate, Inc., added that Phase I is complete and his staff would like to administer disinterested third party analysis of sites and budgets for the civic center/convention center so Council could handle terms of making appropriate decisions. 

Mario Jasso, representing Architects Plus, Inc, thanked the private sector for their part in disseminating information about the civic center/convention center.  He advised that his priority would be to provide City Council with information that would provide the best alternative for the City of Laredo. 

David Greusel, Principal AIA from HOK Sport Venue, briefly outlined Phase II of the feasibility study.  He said that Phase I included an extensive analysis within the Laredo market with cataloged available sites within the Laredo area.  He added that Phase II will essentially document facts about sites and construct an evaluation of sites based on criteria.  The consultants will take inventory of the top candidate sites depending on terms of scoring.  At that time, the consultants will develop a conceptual design which is a very simple diagrammatic approach to each site along with a conceptual cost estimate.  Once the consultants have a series of conceptual diagrams and a series of conceptual cost estimates ranking in various sites within the City, they will return to Council with recommendations. 

Horacio De Leon, Parks Director, said that the total contract cost for the City of Laredo for the feasibility study is $103,000 of which $60,000 represents Phase II.

Cm.  Galo asked for an estimate on the construction cost for civic center/convention center. 

David Greusel, AIA from HOK Sport Venue Event, noted that the construction price will vary because of the recent construction activity in China which has caused the price of steel and concrete to inflate.  He said that the estimated cost for construction will be $220,000 a square foot and added that the cost does not include acquisition cost. 

Motion to continue with Phase II of the feasibility study regarding the Civic Center/Convention Center.    

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:  Cm.  Agredano

For:     5                                               Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

V.        EXECUTIVE SESSION

            The City Council hereby reserves the right to go into executive session at any time during             this public meeting, if such is requested by the City Attorney or other legal counsel for the             City, pursuant to his or her duty under Section 551.071(2) of the Government Code, to             consult privately with his or her client on an item on the agenda, or on a matter arising out           of such item.

VI.       ADJOURNMENT

            Motion to adjourn.                                                                                Time:  12:30 p.m.

            Moved:  Cm. Agredano

            Second:  Cm. Rendon

            For:      5                                              Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0   

I, Gustavo Guevara, Jr., City Secretary do hereby  certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes contained in pages 01 to 02 are true, complete, and correct proceedings of the City Council meeting held on September 1, 2004.

                                                            _________________________________________

                                                            Gustavo Guevara, Jr.

City Secretary