CITY OF LAREDO

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

A-2008-R-07

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1110 HOUSTON STREET

LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

APRIL 7, 2008

5:30 P.M.

 

These are preliminary minutes from the City Council Meeting of April 7, 2008.  These minutes will be approved at a later date.

 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER

 

             With a quorum present, Mayor Raul Salinas called the meeting to order.

 

II.                PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

            Mayor Salinas led in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

III.             ROLL CALL

 

            In attendance:

 

            Raul G.  Salinas,                                                                     Mayor

            Mike Garza,                                                                           Council Member, District I

            Hector Garcia,                                                                        Council Member, District II

            Michael Landeck,                                                                   Council Member, District III

            Johnny Amaya,                                                           Council Member, District IV

            Johnny Rendon,                                                                      Council Member, District V

            Gene Belmares,                                                                      Council Member, District VI

            Juan Chavez,                                                                          Mayor Pro Tem, District VII

            Juan Ramirez,                                                                         Council Member, District VIII

            Gustavo Guevara, Jr.,                                                             City Secretary

            Carlos Villarreal,                                                                     City Manager

            Cynthia Collazo,                                                                     Deputy City Manager

            Horacio De Leon,                                                                   Assistant City Manager

            Jesus Olivares,                                                            Assistant City Manager

            Raul Casso,                                                                           City Attorney

 

            Cm. Garza arrived at 5:45 p.m.

 

IV.              MINUTES

 

Approval of the minutes of February 4, 2008, March 10, 2008 and March 25, 2008.

 

            Motion to approve.

            Moved:  Cm. Amaya

            Second:  Cm. Garcia

For:  8                                                  Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

 

V.                 COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

 

Recognitions

 

a.       Recognition of Elias Bazan, ATF Resident Agent in Charge, for his support with “Buddy”.  Buddy is our new Accelerant Detection Canine with the Fire Department’s Arson Division and is currently under the supervision of Mr. Rick Treviño.

 

b.      Recognition of Raymond Soriano, 8th grade student at St. Augustine School for winning 1st place in the 2008 Regional Spelling Bee.

 

c.       Recognition of Judge Joe Lopez and Judge Adriana Arce-Flores for selection as the 2008 Law Day Chairs by the Webb County Bar Association.

 

d.      Recognition of Mayor Pro-Tempore Gene Belmares for being named the recipient of the 2008 Liberty Bell Award by the Webb County Bar Association.

 

Communiqués

 

Citizen comments

 

VI.              APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

a.       Appointments by Mayor Raul G. Salinas of Alejandro Rodriguez and Eduardo Valls to the Electrical Examining Advisory Board.

 

Motion to approve.

 

Moved:  Cm. Garcia   

Second:  Cm. Amaya

For:  8                                            Against:  0                                Abstain:  0 

 

b.      Appointment by Council Member Johnny Amaya of Jimmy Escoto to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee.

 

Motion to approve.

 

Moved:  Cm. Amaya 

Second:  Cm. Rendon

For:  8                                            Against:  0                                Abstain:  0 

 

c.       Appointment by Council Member Johnny Rendon of Rosy Gregory to the Convention and Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee.

 

Motion to approve.

 

Moved:  Cm. Garcia 

Second:  Mayo Pro-Tempore Belmares

For:  8                                            Against:  0                                Abstain:  0 

 

VII.           GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

 

1.             A.        Request by Mayor Raul G. Salinas

a.        

1.           Presentation by Dr. Gladys C. Keene regarding the Mid Rio Grande Border Area Health Education Center, with possible action.

 

2.           Status report on support services to families who have children with cancer, with possible action.

 

                        B.        Request by Council Member Mike Garza

 

1.           Discussion with possible action finishing the Century City Park and allocating no more than $35,000. 

 

2.           Discussion with possible action on instructing the City Manager to negotiate an agreement for the lease of the Joaquin Cigarroa Building located on 1502 Logan Avenue for the use of expanding the Health Department Services. 

 

C.        Request by Council Member Johnny Rendon

 

1.           Discussion on installing two (2) flashing beacons on Bartlett Street next to the baseball fields by using District V Discretionary Funds, with possible action. 

 

D.                 Request by Mayor Pro-Tempore Gene Belmares

 

1.           Discussion with possible action on reimbursing the Del Mar Little League for capital improvements to community fields.

 

2.           Status report on the Mines Road overpass with a time line for completion.

 

3.           Discussion with possible action on infrastructure improvements from Mann Road to Del Mar.  (Co-sponsored by Council Member Johnny Rendon)

 

4.           Discussion with possible action regarding the bus shelter for the bus stop at Convergy’s Call Center.

 

E.                  Request by Council Member Juan Chavez

 

1.           Request by the Laredo Housing Authority to reimburse the payment in lieu of taxes that was submitted for Fiscal Year 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, with possible action.

 

2.           Motion to conduct a traffic studying around Santa Maria Elementary School during the time when children are dropped off and picked up after school and authorizing the use of District VII discretionary funds to purchase any devices or signals necessary.

 

F.                  Request by Council Member Juan Ramirez

 

1.                Discussion with possible action regarding El Portal Pedestrian crossing.

 

2.                Discussion with possible action regarding the water park.

 

3.                Discussion with possible action regarding the 4th of July Festival.

 

4.                Discussion with possible action on installing sidewalks by using District VIII Discretionary Funds on the following streets:

·        2900 block of San Agustin-west side

·        1000 block of Alamo-north side

·        2200 block of Water-north side

·        900 block of Jefferson-south side

 

VIII.        PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

2.           Public hearing providing community residents an opportunity to comment on their housing and community needs and the projects that they wish to see funded for fiscal year 2008-2009, with funds totaling $5,003,380 to be received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and more specifically through the 34th Action Year (AY) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for $3,589,985, the 2008 HOME Investment Partnerships Grant (HOME) for $1,248,285, the 2008 Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) for $159,922, and the 2008 American Dream Downpayment Initiative Program (ADDI) for $5,188, in support of the preparation and submission of the 2008 Consolidated One Year Action Plan to HUD.   Also for discussion and comment is the Fiscal Year (FY) 2006-2007 Consolidated Annual Performance Report regarding the City’s administration of HUD Programs.

 

                      Motion to open the public hearing.

                      Moved:  Cm. Chavez 

                      Second:  Mayor Pro-Tempore Belmares

                      For:  8                                        Against:  0                                Abstain:  0

 

                      There was no public input.

 

                      Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

                      Moved:  Cm. Amaya 

                      Second:  Cm. Rendon   

                      For:  7                                       Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0  

 

                      Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

                      Mayor Salinas was out temporarily, Mayor Pro-Tempore Belmares was chairing.

 

3.           Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo Health Department Fiscal Year 2007-2008 budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of $1,300,000.00 from the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) through the University of Texas Health Science Center Dental School for dental and primary care clinic remodeling and construction.  These funds will support the CIP 2007 in the amount of $600,000.00 for construction and remodeling for a total of $1,900,000.00.  The construction will enhance coordination, personnel and operations for the clinical care in dental, maternity, primary care and Tuberculosis services.

 

                     Motion to open the public hearing.

 

                     Moved:  Cm. Amaya

                     Second:  Cm. Garza

                     For:  7                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

 

                     Mayor Salinas was not present.

 

                     There was no public input.

 

                     Motion to close the public hearing and introduce.

 

                     Moved:  Cm Garcia

                     Second:  Cm. Ramirez   

                     For:  7                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0  

 

                     Ordinance Introduction:  City Council

 

4.           Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by authorizing a Conditional Use Permit for a nationalization of vehicles enterprise on Lots 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, Block 899, Western Division, located at 3501 San Bernardo Avenue and 3502 Santa Ursula Avenue.  The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended denial of the Conditional Use Permit.  District VII     

        

                      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 as amended.

 

 Moved:  Cm. Chavez 

 Second:  Cm. Ramirez   

 For:  7                                                    Against:  0                                Abstain:  0  

 

 Ordinance Introduction:  District VII 

                                                           

5.           Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lots 1 and 2, Block 127, Eastern Division, located at 219 W. Travis Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District).  The Planning & Zoning recommended approval of the zone change.  The proposed use is single-family residential.  District V                

 

                     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. Rendon

                     Second:  Cm. Amaya   

                     For:  7                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0  

 

                     Ordinance Introduction:  District V

 

6.           Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning 5.29 acres, as further described by metes and bounds in attached Exhibit “A”, located on the east side of U.S. Highway 83 south of Cielito Lindo Boulevard, from B-1 (Limited Commercial District) to B-3 (Community Business District).  The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the zone change.  The proposed use is shopping center.  District I     

        

                     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. Garza 

                     Second:  Cm. Amaya   

                     For:  7                                        Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0  

 

                     Ordinance Introduction:  District I