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CITY OF LAREDO CITY COUNCIL MEETING M2006-R-09 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1110 HOUSTON STREET LAREDO, TEXAS 78040 May 1, 2006 5:30 P.M.
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, Council Member, District III Johnny Amaya, Council Member, District IV Johnny Rendon Council Member, District V Gene Belmares, Council Member, District VI Juan Chavez, Council Member, District VII Juan Ramirez, Mayor Pro Tem, District VIII Gustavo Guevara, Jr., City Secretary Larry Dovalina, City Manager Cynthia Collazo, Deputy City Manager Horacio De Leon, Assistant City Manager Rafael Garcia, Assistant City Manager Jaime Flores, City Attorney
IV. MINUTES
Approval of the minutes of February 6, 2006, and March 8, 2006.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Amaya Second: Cm. Ramirez For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
Announcements
a. Inaugural radio test transmission for new 800 MHz radio system.
Francisco Meza, Purchasing Director, announced that October 2005 council showed their support for a $7 Million dollar that 2will change the way communication will be used we are please to announce that all the equipment is in and we are now in the training phase. Public will start training – All city department have been working hard with support from Motorola we are please that everything is going well and we will be able to transmit in the end of May.
b. Presentation by Dr. Dennis D. Cantu, LISD Board President and Dr. Daniel Garcia, Jr., LISD Superintendent regarding the LISD Bond election scheduled for May 13, 2006.
Dr. Daniel Garcia, Jr., said as you may be award LISD is proposing a 57million dollar bond election – we want to thank you for the support that you have provided to the local school system. To describe a couple of items we have construction that involves a parental involvement a science laboratories, expansion of pre-kinder – we have expansion early college high school – it will help us in terms of renovation – but it is an opportunity to work with the colleges. A student services center and an alternative education system as well.
Dr. Cantu reminded Council that the state will fund 80% of the bond election issue our tax payers will only pay 20% of what is sorely needed. He thanked council for their support throughout the years. We appreciate you allowing us here today to bring this issue
Invitations
None.
Recognitions
a. Presentation of the Fourth Annual Sister Cities Festival award and tribute to Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores for her devotion to the mission of “promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding, & cooperation - one individual, one community at a time”.
Patricia Taylor, said it was an honor for her unwavering support to the SSProgram to the LIF you leave us an increadible legacy and the participation and yourto express what that is in Spanish to retain a response for a call of friendships or good will. Since 2003 clearly your invitation means a lot to cities in Mexico and beyond. During the 4th annual I had the opportunity to walk with you to visit 450 individuals and welcomed the Mayors and representatives and I had the chance to witness the sincere admiration that they had for you it is no wonder that in 2003 the Mexican government recognized you – you have cleared the path and we can only try really hard to follow in your footsteps. This year during the closing dinner we had the pleasure to present you a video –
Mr. Guevara noted that the pains are limitations of spaces – we don’t have enough spaces we have a combined national Sister Cities of the United States and Sister Cities International.
b. Recognition of Council Member Alfredo Agredano for his eight years of service in the Transit Advisory Committee.
Ron, presented Alfredo Agredano with a plaque for serving eight years on the Transit Advisory Committee.
c. Recognition of the appointees for District III, by Council Member John C. Galo.
Olga Gentry, 8 years Library Advisory Board Glen Ruiz – 8 year Telecommunications Advisory Committee Javier Compean, Parks & Recreation Committee Julia Rulhman, Laredo Commission for Women
d. Recognition of the appointees for District I, by Council Member Alfredo Agredano.
Sammy Amaya, Para Transit Advisory Committee Dr. Michael Landeck, Airport Advisory Committee Juanita I Hernandez Planning and Zoning Commission
Cristobal Radriguez, BOA George Becklehymer Environmental Committee Simpson, Library Committee Daniel Donovin, Telecommunication Martha L. Commission for Women Sister Rosemary Welsch, Commsion for Women Jose L. Perez Plaza Theatorer
e. Presentation to Council Member John Galo, District III, and Council Member Alfredo Agredano, District I for eight years of service to the City of Laredo.
Mayor Flores and City Council gave special recognition to Council Member John Galo, District III, and Council Member Alfredo Agredano, District I for serving eight years to the City of Laredo.
f. Presentation by Susan Parish, The Webb County Community Coalition of SCAN, Inc., to members of the Laredo City Council for their support of the smoking ban.
Susan Parish, President Director heart felt thank you and your support for the smoking ordinance. It represents sectors in the community in the passing of the no smoking ordinance you have given a wonder prevention program for the city of Laredo. You have led Laredo to a new area. I applaud you with the standard and the legacy you have left in Laredo. She presented a pl
Communiqués
Mayor Pro Tempore Ramirez expressed his dissatisfaction with a group of Hispanic vocalist who translated the National Anthem into the Spanish language. He also commented on how well organized and nice the IHN Conference was. He congratulated Larry Dovalina for being selected as president of the IHN for next year and he congratulated City staff for doing such an outstanding job in organizing the conference.
Cm. Chavez reminded the citizens of Laredo to return to the polls to vote for the person of their choice in the City elections.
Cm. Belmares said that he had the pleasure of attending the IHN at the Lago and what an honor of welcoming attendees everyone to the IHN and a pleasure to be amongst the people that had attended the conference to discuss such important issues for to learn about our community and issues that affect Hispanics. We need to be at the forefront of the discussions because we are so involved in international trade and we have people that are expertise in the subject and we need to share the important. Edward Alvarez, Veteran, longest held pow in the Vienam War what a remarkable story of accomplishments and perserverance. The things that he talked about communication is something that things that are critical to make your organization move forward. An excellent conference and I hope that they go back and tell them how safe Laredo is and what a beautiful rich cultural that we have a better image than what is being reported.
Cm. Rendon did attend the Dia De Los Nios and it is something that we have to be proud ofand it is one of the biggest events that give los ninos an day to actually to enjoy them. It is very beautiful memories and we will cherish forever.
Cm. Amaya thank the mayor for the being the MC for a park and thanked Ramirez for ground breaking ceremony being there and H. Garcia it is a spray park great addition for the Celicia Morendo park all the kids are looking forward to it.
Cm. Galo congratulated the Texas Migrant for the Dia De Los Ninos and today they had a rally for the food bank because Congressman Cuellar was in town given an explanation abouty the cuts or the seizing to the stiffen of the food bank. We ned to make sure that the elderly are continued to be fed. Ralley for St. Aug in the protest walk in support of immigration reform and I was proud to be there. Iwant to thank MPRamirez for hosting him in a ground breaking for the Slaugther park – 50 acres down on the river on chacon and stone jogging trail with on site parking for over 300 this might be my last meeting as a Council Member so I just want to express to everyone thank you for your support and encouragement and your help – it has been a pleasure woring with each and everyone of you as long as we continue to move forward we went to 00 unemployment to less than 5%. I just want to say thank you for your committee members and I enjoyed it it is time to move on – hopefully we will have a new future soon.
Cm. Garcia – I want to thank MPT for b3eing at the oeping of the Dryden park – it was nice. It was a great event. It was a beautiful park. It is awesome. I want to ahnk the police department for helping at the Mary Help jamica. He wished his father a 75th birthday – It was a very nice gathering – Please go out and vote it is very important we have District I, III, VI, and II and thank fhte citizens for that it is crutial – The city has been going forward for eight years so I encourage you go to out and vote. IHN thank you Belmares for taking a spot for me and the secretarys a great week – Without secretary’s officies would shut down. Mayor congratulations and I hope they had a great week.
Cm. Agredano I want to thank the City Manger and staff who invited me to the breakfast of Edward Alverarez he was the r1st prisoner of war in the vietam war – his speak takes you baack. I want to thank the Texas Migrant for Diezs Ninos – a ot of people took part in the event it is the biggest event in the entire nation for the Dia de los Ninos. It is catered to the kids.
Mayor Flores thanked the Texas Migrant Council for the successful Dia de Los Ninos. She thanked Congressman Cuellar, Rick Flores, LPD, Pat Campos, Frank Sheraffa,, Danny Valdez, CY Benavides who always helps with the kids. IHN what a conference thank you very much CM Dovalina, and Cynthia Collazo. You had a committee that worked very hard and you showed the best of Laredo. They had a grand time – it was a lot of city executives from as far as California the county chief officer was from minnosota and also Commissioner Andrade that I was lucky enough to serve on and give the welcome. It was a wonderful event and they will want to come back – you can’t be El lago Del Rio. It was good music and everyone had a good time. I want to thank the for living through the. She thanked all the special events that recognized her for serving the city of Laredo. All my life I have worked for the public servants – I learned if you preservered if you get NAFTA passed with every goodbye I have learned – I took would have learned and I hope that others have learned from me -
a. Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores reports on the City of Laredo El Metro Transit System.
The public transportation is a catalyst for economic and social opportunities that help make America more efficient and productive. American families spend 18% of their household income on transportation, making it the second largest household expenditure after housing. Public transportation can significantly reduce the amount of money a family spends getting to work, school and other activities. In addition, the high cost of driving impacts the individual’s economic opportunities. Without means of transportation, access to high quality and high paying jobs becomes more difficult. Public transportation provides an affordable, and for many, necessary alternative to driving. Public transportation makes it possible for Laredoans to access work, school, medical appointments and other everyday activities. Every day transit allows people from every walk of life to make decisions that improve their quality of lives, such as shortening commute times and spending more time with their families, while improving air quality, and saving energy. Nationally, an estimated 94 percent of welfare recipients moving into the workforce rely on public transportation While transit clearly benefits those who use it, even larger benefits accrue to all citizens in the form of economic development, reduced congestion, more livable communities and cleaner air. The monetary cost of motor vehicle emissions nationally has been estimated from $10 billion to $200 billion annually. Public transportation reduces annual emissions of the pollutants that create smog — VOCs and NOx — by more than 70,000 tons and 27,000 tons respectively. In 2000, the total cost of congestion in terms of lost hours and wasted fuel was $68 billion. Currently, the nationwide annual cost may approach $100 billion in lost hours and wasted fuel. Furthermore, the public transportation is currently responding to new additional challenges. The U.S. Department of Transportation National Infrastructure Security Committee brings together the transportation industry, labor unions and the government to examine security systems, set national standards and ensure protection for transportation assets. Major public transportation systems are implementing scanners and detectors to respond to bio-terrorist attacks or chemical accidents. Enhanced safety and security measures are being implemented, including increased and greater visibility of security personnel, removal of receptacles that could hide dangerous packages, and increased public awareness through the Transit Watch program which calls to passengers to be alert for suspicious activities and packages. Currently, El Metro and the City of Laredo are promoting the Transit Watch program through bus advertisements, flyers, and through the City’s website. Lastly, the Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff plans to centralize his agency’s terror analysis, put a higher priority on bioterrorism and step up detection systems in mass transit. Ensuring this freedom requires safety and security. That is why every public transportation system in America has made the safety and security of passengers a top priority. In addition to security issues transit systems are also responding to natural threats. When hurricanes threaten the Gulf coast, Texas transit systems are activated to provide emergency evacuation and assistance to emergency systems. Recently, El Metro was mobilized when hurricane “Rita” threatened the City of Corpus Christi, transporting people from shelters to hospitals and other medical facilities for care. Lastly, considerable documentation shows that accident, injury, and fatality rates for users of public transit are lower than for users of private motor vehicles. Riding the bus is 170 times safer than automobile travel. El Metro NowThere are a total of 90 transit systems in Texas, out of which, 33 are small urban transit systems, serving populations under 200,000, including the City of Laredo. However, as the City of Laredo has grown by leaps and bounds both in population and in size, El Metro has strived to maintain or exceed the level of service provided to all the citizens of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, who are a huge percentage of El Metro’s passengers. El Metro operates city-wide bus service Monday through Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., 52 weeks of the year. The fleet is comprised of 47 buses and 2 trolleys; 32 buses run with Compressed Natural Gas and the remaining 15 are diesel operated. El Lift paratransit service operates the same operating hours as the fixed route bus service and provides curb-to-curb service to its eligible ADA certified clients. El Metro
currently has 22 bus routes servicing approximately 14,000 riders a day. El
Metro has recently announced their ridership has increased by 4.9 % in 2005,
for a total fixed route ridership of 3,939,500. According to the American
Public Transportation (APTA), the national average increase for buses was
2.5%. The ridership increase in Laredo is almost twice the national average
increase and far exceeds other small urban systems in Texas. In addition, El
Lift paratransit service also had an increase of ridership of 1.7% in ridership
for 2005, for a total of 52,697. The total ridership for El Metro in 2005
was 3,992,197, almost 4 million riders! In Texas, Laredo is ranked number
one in ridership as indicated in the American Public Transportation Ridership
Report Third Quarter 2005 under small urban systems. The comparison of El Metro to other transit system (see figure5-2 top) uses the information provided by all transit systems to the Federal Transit Administration. The information was provided to compare basic service effectiveness, cost efficiency, and passenger response to the existing service. When compared to systems that have a similar population and peak vehicle requirement, El Metro stands out in terms of the number of vehicles, revenue hours and miles of service provided. El Metro operates about twice as many hours of service and has almost twice as many miles of service as the other peer systems. Furthermore, the peer average for unlinked passengers per hour was 20 boardings versus Laredo at 33 boardings. That’s 165 % more than the peer average! Lastly, the peer average cost per passenger trip was $3.36 versus Laredo at $1.51 – 65% less than its peers. In addition to meeting the demands of its riders, El Metro has become involved in projects that improve the lives of all Laredo citizens and its visitors. Since the year 2000, El Metro has constructed 3 bus bays in areas such as McPherson Ave. and Del Mar Blvd. These bus bays allow buses to maneuver away from on-going traffic and provide a safer boarding point for passengers. With the assistance of El Metro, the city has benefited from many street resurfacing projects throughout Laredo. In 2004, a $6 million Transit Sales Tax Certificate of Obligation (C.O.) was issued to widen streets, improve intersections, and construct sidewalks for our pedestrians. In addition to the C.O., El Metro has worked with the City of Laredo to construct more than 65 blocks of sidewalks on bus routes since the year 2000. In addition, El Metro has over 1,600 bus stops and approximately 265 benches throughout the city. Finally, El Metro has 53 advertising bus shelters and 50 sun-shade bus shelters in high key boarding areas to shield our passengers from the hot sun and inclement weather. El Metro operates a maintenance and operations facility with 6 bus bays that includes paint and body shop and a covered parking lot for the fleet. El Metro’s Transit Center, centrally located in the heart of historical downtown Laredo was built in 1997 with both federal and local assistance. This facility includes a 16 space city bus terminal, an 8 space inter city bus terminal, climate controlled passenger waiting lobby, information and vending facilities, and a 405 space parking garage. The parking garage is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In order to become more automated, a new Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) was recently purchased and is located in the first floor of the lobby area for easy and fast ticket purchasing. The TVM is a self-service device that sells magnetically encoded bus fare media cards. The TVM is also ADA compliant as it provides audio assistance for the hearing impaired in both English and Spanish. The Customer Service Call Center operates from the Transit Center’s 2nd floor providing clients bus route information and scheduling El Lift appointments from 7:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. El Metro’s FutureEl Metro is currently in the process of selecting a site for building a new transit facility that will better accommodate the community and employees as well. In 2004, the City of Laredo and El Metro hired the consultants of Huitt-Zollar to assist in the selection and environmental study of a new Operations and Maintenance Facility. As a result of the tremendous growth of the city, the present maintenance facility which houses our buses, mechanic and body shop, and fueling facilities will have to be replaced to meet the future transportation needs. Fortunately since 2002, El Metro has received approximately $7.5 million in federal earmarks for the new facility. The new facility will cost around $20 million dollars and will include offices for administrations, operations and maintenance departments, driver areas, vehicle maintenance, bus parking, fuel and wash areas and parts storage to support the fleet of buses and vans. Having all the departments in one building will offer better service to the citizens of Laredo. In addition, El Metro will soon be acquiring seven new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Blue Bird buses to replace some of its aging fleet. The new buses are tentatively scheduled to be in service in early June. The City of Laredo and El Metro are asking its legislators for additional earmarks to replace half the fleet of buses that will reach their maximum life in the next few years. El Metro has been taking great strides to ensure safe and quality service to its growing number of riders in 2006. So as the city establishes new traffic corridors in and around major attractions, El Metro will be reviewing its current transit system bus routes to see how El Metro can service these areas. VI. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
a. Appointment by Council Member Johnny Amaya of Rebecca C. Sepulveda to the Historic District / Landmark Board.
Motion to approve the appointment of Rebecca C. Sepulveda to the Historic District/Landmark Board.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 8 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 Motion to excuse Cm. Galo.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Amaya For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to accept a Federal Aviation Administration Grant and amend the City of Laredo FY 2006 Airport Construction Fund Budget to recognize additional revenues from a grant received from the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program, being Grant Project No. 3-48-0136-48-06, in the amount of $1,424,968.00 to improve runway safety area, conduct a Benefit/Cost Analysis to include Environmental Assessment for a future Runway extension project, construct cargo pads, airfield electrical improvements, A&E services to rehabilitate General Aviation Apron Phases 3 and 4, complete noise study and acquire an interactive employee training system at the Laredo International Airport by appropriating said grant revenue to the appropriate expenditure accounts and authorizing the City Manager to implement said budget amendment.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Amaya For: 7 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
2. Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to accept a Federal Aviation Administration Grant and amend the City of Laredo FY 2006 Airport Construction Fund Budget in order to recognize additional revenues from the Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program, being Grant Project No. 3-48- 0136-47-06, in the amount of $2,000,000.00 for noise mitigation under FAR PART 150 Noise Abatement Program for the Laredo International Airport by appropriating said grant revenue to the appropriate expenditure accounts and authorizing the City Manager to implement said budget amendment.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.
Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Amaya For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
3. Public hearing and introductory ordinance establishing Laundromat service fees on all Multi-Family Apartment Properties where a Laundromat facility is available in the Airport Noise Compatibility Program and implementing a $1.00 fee for each washer or dryer cycle use. The Laredo Municipal Housing Corporation as authorized through the property management service contract of November 20, 2000 will manage the maintenance of all washers and dryers.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Amaya For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.
Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
4. Public hearing and introductory ordinance accepting a grant in the amount of $20,000.00 from the Texas Department of Transportation for enforcement of Vehicle Occupant Protection during the Memorial Day Holiday Crackdown and amending the City of Laredo’s Fiscal Year 2005 – 2006 Annual Budget in the amount of $20,000.00. This grant is for overtime salaries, including fringe benefits, and is funded 100% by the Texas Department of Transportation.
Motion to open the public hearing.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
There was no public input.
Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Amaya For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
VIII. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES
5. Amending Article II, Section 2-16, “Departments of the City,” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Laredo, Texas, clarifying the authority of the City Manager to appoint, suspend or remove all City Department Directors except as otherwise provided by law, the City Charter, or policies adopted in accordance with the Charter, and clarifying the authority of Department Directors to appoint, suspend or remove all employees in their respective departments, and limiting the power of each to delegate this specific authority; creating a new department of Communications and Administrative Support Services; and providing for severability and effective date.
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
6. Amending Chapter 19, “Motor Vehicles and Traffic”, Article VIII; Stopping, Standing or Parking, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Laredo: Specifically Section 19-364, restricted parking areas, by adding Subsection B “No Parking Anytime/Tow Away Zone” on Spring Road, north of Shiloh Drive; providing severability, an effective date and publication.
Ordinance Introduction: City Council
IX. FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES
Motion to waive the final readings of Ordinance #
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
7. 2006-O-085 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 4,715.02 square feet out of Lot 5, Block 1127, Western Division, further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit “A”, located at 2016 Farias Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District).
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-085.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2006-O-086 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 2,505.83 square feet out of Lots 1, 2 and 3, Block 1127, Western Division, further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit “A”, located at 2012 Farias Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District).
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-086.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2006-O-087 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by authorizing a Conditional Use Permit for a contractor’s office and warehouse on Lots 1, 2 and 3, Block 1998, Eastern Division, located at 3203 Kearney Street.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-087.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2006-O-088 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning of Lot 1, Block 1, Elizabeth Bonugli Subdivision, located at 7309 Wagner Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to R-2 (Multi-Family Residential District).
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-088.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2006-O-089 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 9.04 acres, as further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit “A”, located on North Bartlett Avenue south of Del Mar Boulevard, from R-1 (Single-Family Residential District) and R-2 (Multi-Family Residential District) to B-3 (Community Business District).
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-089.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2006-O-090 Amending Ordinance No. 2004-O-089 authorizing the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit to David Richter for a concrete batch plant on 5.00 acres, as further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit “A”, located at 4318 S. Zapata Highway, by extending the terms of the permit two (2) more years.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-090.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2006-O-091 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning of Lots 1 and 2, Block 1625, Eastern Division, located at 1003 S. Louisiana Avenue, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to R-2 (Multi-Family Residential District).
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-091.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2006-O-092 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 37.65 acres, as further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit “A”, located north of Enlace Street east of Arco Iris Street, from R-1A (Single-Family Reduced Area District) to R-1MH (Single-Family Manufactured Housing District).
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-092.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2006-O-093 Amending the City of Laredo Fiscal Year 2005 – 2006 Annual Budget for the South Texas Regional 911 System Fund by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of $336,454.00. The Commission on State Emergency Communication provided a subsequent allocation to the South Texas Region for the period of September 1, 2005 through August 31, 2006.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-093.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2006-O-094 Amending the City of Laredo 2005 – 2006 General Fund annual budget by adding one (1) full time equivalent position to address legislative matters for the City of Laredo. Funding in the estimated amount of $28,200.00 for the latter three months of this fiscal year including salary and fringe benefits is available in General Fund – City Manager’s Department.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-094.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2006-O-095 Amending the City of Laredo Fiscal Year 2006 General Fund Budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of $144,254.00 respectively for the lease purchase financing of necessary cardio and strength equipment for the recreation centers and authorizing the City Manager to implement said budget amendment. Funding for the lease will be contingent on funding availability in subsequent fiscal years.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-095.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2006-O-096 Authorizing the City Manager to amend the Fiscal Year 2006 Recreation Fund to appropriate expenditures in the amount of $130,000.00 for a professional services contract for research and development of a Request for Proposals and develop criteria for evaluating proposals to determine the suitability of the construction of a new Baseball Stadium for the City of Laredo. Funding is available in the Recreation Fund Balance.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-096.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2006-O-097 Accepting a grant awarded to the City of Laredo Fiscal Year 2005 – 2006 budget to reflect the actual grant amount of $99,916.00 awarded by the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), at no cost to the city, to fund the STX Multi-Agency Drug Related Corruption Task Force. Funds will be used to pay overtime, fringe benefits, and operational expenses from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-097.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 2006-O-098 Accepting a grant awarded and amending the City of Laredo Fiscal Year 2005 – 2006 budget by decreasing revenues and expenses in the amount of $7,260.00 to reflect the actual grant amount of $630,685.00 awarded by the Office of the National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), at no cost to the city, to fund the Laredo Financial Task Force. Funds will be used to pay personnel salaries, travel, and operational expenses from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-098.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
2006-O-099 Abandoning a utility easement described as being a 15 foot wide strip of land, containing 0.0344 acres, more or less, situated in Porcion 32, Abstract 296, Antonio Treviño, original grantee, Webb County, Texas. Said 0.0344 acre tract being out of Tract A-4, Tanquesitos II Subdivision, Webb County, Texas and being a utility easement was granted to the City of Laredo by Rafael Hernandez by conveyance instrument dated January 15, 2003, recorded in Volume 1354, pp. 645-647, Official Public Records of Webb County, Texas, and described on the attached Exhibit A. Said release of easement, being in consideration of an alternative utility easement that was conveyed to the City of Laredo on January 19, 2006 and providing for an effective date.
Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2006-O-099.
Moved: Cm. Agredano Second: Cm. Rendon For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 X. RESOLUTIONS
8. 2006-R-045 Authorizing the City Manager to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation in the amount of $6,629,500.00 for the West Laredo Multimodal Trade Corridor Phase III – Calton Road Railroad Grade Separation Project. The Federal contribution is $6,375,600.00 and the City’s contribution of $253,900.00. Funding will be available through a future bond issuance. The Federal contribution for this project is derived from $3,500,000.00 awarded through the National Corridor Planning and Development/Coordinated Border Infrastructure Program (NCPD/CBI), of which $975,600.00 is to be used for this project, $2,400,000.00 awarded through the Highway Discretionary Projects Earmarks, and $3,000,000.00 awarded through the Surface Transportation Projects Program.
Motion to approve Resolution # 2006-R-045.
Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 9. 2006-R-046 Accepting the donation of a Utility Easement from Laredo Hills, Ltd., L.L.P., and Hurd Ranch Company, Ltd., to install a waterline to serve the Larga Vista Subdivision area. Said easement being described in the document dated April 6, 2006, and recorded in Volume 2068, pp. 465-470, Official Property Records, Webb County, Texas, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1, and the location of said easement being shown on Exhibit A attached to Exhibit 1.
Motion to approve Resolution # 2006-R-046.
Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 10. 2006-R-047 Accepting the donation of one (1) Utility Easement from Javier M. Ramos for the extension of water and sewer services lines to the Tanquecitos II Subdivision. This being the North 15 feet of Tract A-6, Tanquecitos II, situated in Porcion 32, Abstract 296, Webb County, Texas; and described by metes and bounds and survey attached as Exhibits A and B.
Motion to approve Resolution # 2006-R-047.
Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 11. 2006-R-048 Amending contract with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by decreasing the grant award amount by $1,832.52 for the operation of the two (2) continuous air monitoring stations (CAMS) by the City of Laredo Health Department, changing the total amount awarded to $208,167.48, for the contract term from September 1, 2003 through August 31, 2006. The decrease in funds is due to a reduction in funding from TCEQ.
Motion to approve Resolution # 2006-R-048.
Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 12. 2006-R-051 Resolution directing publication of notice of intention to issue City of Laredo, Texas Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2006, in the principal amount of $17,370,000.00 for paying all or a portion of the City’s Contractual Obligations for the purpose of constructing and equipping Police and Fire Department improvements for substations, a training center and headquarters building, constructing, improving, repairing, and extending city streets, and providing improvements to the West Laredo Corridor Project (Road Improvements), together with drainage improvements, traffic and signal equipment and improvements, constructing and equipping improvements to the City’s health complex, branch library, and municipal parks, and for the payment of legal, fiscal and engineering fees in connection with such projects.
Motion to approve Resolution # 2006-R-051.
Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Garcia For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 XI. MOTIONS
13. Authorizing the City Manager to approve payment from the City’s Arena Renewal and Replacement Account for the purchase of folding chairs, pipe and drape, folding tables, and stage components and decking in a total amount not to exceed $50,000.00. Items purchased through the Renewal and Replacement Account are on a 50% cost basis to the City of Laredo and a 50% cost basis to Arena Ventures, L.L.C.; funding is available in the Renewal and Replacement Account.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 14. Authorizing the City Manager to amend its 2004 Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) contract with the Laredo Homeless Coalition by extending the contract deadline from June 1, 2006 to August 15, 2006. The 2004 Emergency Shelter Grant Funds are made available through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 15. Consideration to amend the existing Hosting Agreement, a multi-year contract with Crystal Group, Inc. a Texas Corporation, to increase the contract amount from $84,225.00 to $273,225.00 for Fiscal Year 2006, to include costs to meet contractual obligations of the City of Laredo, found in Schedule 2, A. Items 1, 10, and 11 of the Hosting Agreement; and to limit the financial responsibility of the City for Schedule 2, A. Items 1, 10, and 11 to $189,000.00, not including local labor costs. Funding is available in the Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau Budget.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 16. Consideration to approve a five (5) year professional service contract with Estrada – Hinojosa & Company, Inc., Dallas, Texas, for Financial Advisory Services for the City of Laredo. Financial advisory services fees are based on the size of the debt issuance sold and are paid from said proceeds. Funding for these services will be available from proceeds of the debt issuance.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 17. Authorizing the City Manager to reimburse the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) in the amount of $38,159.00 in response to the Public Health Preparedness and Women Infants and Children (WIC) Program review.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 18. Consideration to award contract FY06-057 to the sole bidder Rankin Automotive Transmission, Laredo, Texas, in the estimated amount of $65,625.00 for transmission repairs at the Fleet Maintenance Division. The bid pricing is 8% lower than last contract period and will be firm during the contract period. All repair work will be secured on as needed basis. Funding is available in the Fleet Maintenance Fund.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 19. Consideration to exercise the renewal option for one (1) additional year for contract FY04-049 for the purchase of automotive batteries from Laurel Battery, Laredo, Texas, in the estimated annual amount of $29,642.70. All batteries will be purchased on an as needed basis. Funding is available in the Fleet Maintenance Budget.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 20. Approval to appoint Dr. Maurice Click to continue to serve as the Health Department’s Health Authority under Section 121.033 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, for the period of April 1, 2006 through March 31, 2008, and authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with Dr. Click for professional services in the amount not to exceed $12,720.00 per year. Funding is available in the Health Fund – Office of Public Health Practice (OPHP) grant.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Garcia Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0 21. Consideration to authorize the City Manager to purchase vaccines in the amount of $55,990.00 for the 2006 – 2007 flu season from Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. The Health Department will utilize the Texas Department of State Health Service’s federal contract pricing with Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. to purchase these vaccines. Funding is available in the Health Department Budget.
Motion to approve.
Moved: Cm. Belmares Second: Cm. Agredano For: 7 Against: 0 |
