CITY OF LAREDO SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1110 HOUSTON STREET
LAREDO, TEXAS
5:30 P.M.
MINUTES
M97-S-13 APRIL 8, 1997
I. CALL TO ORDER
With a quorum present Mayor Saul N. Ramirez, Jr. called the meeting to order.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Saul N. Ramirez led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
IN ATTENDANCE:
SAUL N. RAMIREZ, JR. MAYOR
JOSE R. PEREZ, COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT I
LOUIS H. BRUNI " , DISTRICT II
CECILIA MAY MORENO " , DISTRICT IV
ELISEO VALDEZ " , DISTRICT V
JOE A. GUERRA " , DISTRICT VI
CONSUELO "CHELO" MONTALVO " , DISTRICT VIII
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR. CITY SECRETARY
FLORENCIO PENA CITY MANAGER
JAIME FLORES CITY ATTORNEY
ABSENCES:
Motion to excuse Cm. Casso and Cm. Alvarado.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 4 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
(Cm. Perez, Cm. Bruni, Cm. Valdez, and Cw. Montalvo)
(Cw. Moreno and Cm. Guerra were not present at this time.)
IV. FINAL READINGS
Motion to waive the final reading of ordinance #97-O-091.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Mayor voting in the affirmative.
2. 97-O-091 Ordinance amending the City of Laredo's 1996-1997 Annual Budget
in the amount of $3,338,041.00, for a grant award from the
Economic Development Administration (EDA) of $2,000,000.00,
including a private contribution by Mercy Regional Medical Center
of $1,054,602.00, of which $430,000.00, are attributable through
off-site and on-site improvements constructed by Mercy Regional
Medical Center, and $283,439.00, as a local match from the
Airport Fund, and amending the Airport Fund to appropriate
$283,439.00, from fund balance to the Economic Development
Administration Grant for the development of the Airport Medical
Infrastructure Improvements Project.
Motion to approve ordinance #97-O-091.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
(Mayor voting in the affirmative.)
V. MOTIONS
3. Award of a construction contract to the LOWEST BIDDER, BRH Garver, Inc.,
Houston, Texas in the amount of $742,983.00 for the 18 inch diameter
sanitary sewer main along Bustamante Street from Meadow Avenue to East San
Francisco at Zacate Creek. This project is part of a grant application
package submitted to EDA. Six (6) bids were received March 13, 1997.
Funding is available in the Airport/Medical Park Project Fund.
Motion to approve.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 5 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
(Mayor voting in the affirmative.)
VI. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
4. Presentation relating to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development's (HUD) Grantee Management System and the 1997 Consolidated
Planning Process as requested by the HUD San Antonio Area Office Staff to
discuss relevant planning, performance, and compliance issues pertaining to
the administration of HUD program funds by the City of Laredo, to identify
the direction where the City's Consolidated Planning Vision is moving
towards, and to solicit areas in which HUD assistance is needed. This
meeting further serves to inform City Council of the consolidated planning
process and initiate discussions regarding the specific projects Council
wishes to see funded in the next program year through the Community
Development Block Grant, the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and the
Emergency Shelter Grant.
Cindy Collazo, CD Director, introduced Mr. John Maldonado, CPD Director and
our CPD Representative Mr. Nathan Rathner from the HUD Office.
(Note: Cw. Moreno arrived at this time. 5:40 p.m.)
(Note: Cm. Guerra arrived at this time. 5:44 p.m.)
Mr. John Maldonado, Director of the Community Planning and Element Division
of HUD, set the stage on what this is all about and explained that a year
ago council adopted a Consolidated Plan. The plan was a basic 3-5 year
plan that listed the needs within the city and the priorities within the
city in using federal funds to accomplish those needs. A year later staff
submitted to them what they called an Annual Action Plan which was the
action taken as a result of the Consolidated Plan. Basically what they
were here for, which is what they do for all the entitlement communities in
South Texas, is to say:
(1) This is what you said you were going to do with the Consolidated Plan.
(2) This is what you told us you did.
(3) This is what we think you did.
He added that in a sense this is a report card on what staff and council
have done, but it is more than a report card, it really is to take a look
at the gaps within the city to find out what resources they could bring to
the city and to assist in any way they can to achieve the goals identified
in the Consolidated Plan. Then to prepare the process that the staff is
currently going through, which is going through the public hearings for
next's year funding, establishing the priorities that the citizens say
should be the priorities.
He emphasized the fact that the Consolidated Plan is a bottoms up approach
getting the input from local citizens, having them tell what they see their
needs are and then council looking at the Consolidated Plan prioritizing
those needs as council feels appropriate. He reported that our overall
report card in performance is an "A" and commended staff and has
recommended that the housing program in Laredo be highlighted and
classified as one of the best practices to recommend to be implemented in
other communities.
Mrs. Collazo stated that on the Concord Hills issue she recommended that
council approve the resolution subject to HUD's approval. They did request
a letter from them and they receive it yesterday. She asked that Mr.
Maldonado explain the contents of that letter.
Cm. Bruni stated that Mrs. Collazo passed a memo of several projects and of
these 8 or 9 projects listed how many are in the city and how many are in
the county?
Mrs. Collazo answered that most of them are in the city and the only one in
the county is River Valley.
Cm. Bruni had concerns on River Valley, how are they going to address their
solid waste, how is the county is going to provide the necessary
infrastructure for water/wastewater and wants to address those concerns
sometime with staff and P&Z. He wants to know if this is an issue that
will be presented to P&Z.
Mr. Pe¤a stated that the project has been approved as a preliminary plat at
this point. They are preparing the final plat for approval, there are
still concerns about street lights, drainage, and solid waste has been
mentioned. At this point, it is still being reviewed by Planning & Zoning
Commission.
Mayor Ramirez suggested that it is important that we focus on three things
on this subdivision (1) drainage plans for the subdivision and what impact
it would have, (2) the solid waste management of that subdivision, and (3)
the water and sewer question.
Cm. Bruni was also concerned about the interlocal agreement with the county
to provide EMS and fire protection, if we are going to have additional
units to provide these services, council might have to revisit the
interlocal agreement for that particular subdivision.
Mr. Maldonado emphasized that staff had asked their input because it was a
unique situation with three different sources of funding and it was the
first time that the state had put money into a participating jurisdiction.
He stated that the activity itself is eligible, their comment is that there
may be some families within the subdivision that might not need the full
$9,000.00 subsidy so what the city should is submit in the contract to say
that the city will provide "up to $3,000.00" so for example, if a family
that qualifies for a $50,000.00 house and only needs $3,000.00 there is no
need to put the $9,000.00 and get caught in some kind of a question cost
finding later on.
Mayor Ramirez stated that the figures would be prorated and explained that
our participation under the HOME Program would be up to $3,000.00, but
would be only proportionate to whatever assistance is necessary on the
qualified buyer.
Rogelio Rivera, City Engineer, pointed several drainage concerns and they
have addressed them with phase I which is ready to go. The concerns
pending would be addressed at a later date.
Cm. Bruni addressed the retention ponds, asked if these retention ponds
will have the safety features that were addressed in previous council
meetings, that as a safety issue, that ponds are built properly to ensure
the integrity of the retention pond and the safety in mind.
Mr. Rivera stated if those recommendations go thru in the form of an
ordinance or an amendments to the ordinance and any standards that they
would have to meet they would have to be met.
Mrs. Collazo stated went thru the CIP projects that are scheduled for next
year, there are approximately $2 million that will remain, and it will be
up to council what priorities they would like to see in there.
Cw. Moreno expressed her opinion that every district should get something
in project monies.
Mayor Ramirez suggested that they schedule a meeting with Councilmembers to
discuss and talk about priorities and then fill in the gaps in time and tie
them together within the $2 million window. He added that for areas that
do not have sidewalks that we look at entire blocks and do them in squares.
Mrs. Collazo stated that they will start the public meetings on the 22nd,
they will be confirming the sites for these meetings.
Cm. Valdez wanted to go on record stating that he concurred with Cw.
Moreno, that they be treated the same way in reference to having project
monies distributed equally in the districts or in a fair share.
Evan Quiroz stated that since this project has been approved subject to
HUD's approval, that the contract be expedited as soon as possible.
Cw. Moreno wants that this project be put in a fast track.
Cm. Bruni wants that the items that he mentioned for River Valley project
be incorporated in the motion.
Motion to instruct staff to do everything within our powers in expediting
the construction of these homes under the Community Development
presentation, the Home Investment Partnership and prioritize it as a fast
track within the legal constraints that we have as a city government. That
the recent requirements regarding drainage, platting, and building permits
required under this motion, that it be understood that these kind of things
need to move quickly.
Second to the motion concurred in amending that the motion include the
River Valley Subdivision Project which is under the Consolidated Planning.
Moved : Cw. Moreno
Second: Cm. Perez
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn.
Moved : Cm. Perez
Second: Cm. Bruni
For: 6 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
Adjournment time: 6:20 p.m.
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE MINUTES CONTAINED IN PAGES 01 TO 06
ARE TRUE, COMPLETE, AND CORRECT PROCEEDINGS OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING HELD ON APRIL 8, 1997. A CERTIFIED COPY IS ON FILE AT THE CITY
SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
________________________
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.
CITY SECRETARY