CITY OF LAREDO

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

A-2003-R-023

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1110 HOUSTON STREET

LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

DECEMBER 1, 2003

5:30 P.M.

DISABILITY ACCESS STATEMENT

Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aid or services are requested to contact Gustavo Guevara, City Secretary at (956) 791-7308 at least two working days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made. The accessible entrance and accessible parking spaces are located at City Hall, 1100 Victoria Ave.

Out of consideration for all attendees of the City Council meetings, please turn off all cellular phones and pagers, or place on inaudible signal. Thank you for your consideration.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. ROLL CALL

IV. MINUTES

Approval of the minutes of October 6, 2003 and October 20, 2003.

V. COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

Announcements

Invitations

a. Invitation by United High School Choir to their 16^th Annual Madrigal Dinner on December 6 and 7, 2003 at United High School.

Recognitions

Communiqués

VI. APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

a. Laredo Convention & Visitors Bureau Advisory Committee

Macario Garcia - Hotel/Motel Representative (Term ending January 2005)

Clema Owen - Hotel/Motel Representative (Term ending December 2006)

David Roukey - Restaurant Representative (Term ending January 2005)

Rene Arriaga - Business Representative (Term ending January 2005)

VII. PUBLIC HEARINGS

1. Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the 2003-2004 annual budget in the amount of $79,294.00 for the Laredo Multi-Agency Narcotics Task Force. Funds will be used from generated program income to pay for overtime and benefits for twenty (20) task force officers for the period of October 1, 2003 through March 30, 2004. The use of program income was previously approved by the Office of the Governor Criminal Justice Division through a grant adjustment dated September 8, 2003.

2. Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to enter into an agreement with the Texas Forest Service to accept a grant in the amount of $20,000.00 with a 50% local match for the hiring of a City forester with the Parks and Recreation Department and amend the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 full time equivalent positions of the General Fund Park Maintenance Division from 69 to 70 and amend the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 General Fund budget by appropriating revenues of $20,000.00 in the form of a grant from the Texas Forest Service and appropriating expenditures in the amount of $20,000.00. Local match of $20,000.00 will be appropriated from General Fund reserves.

3. Public hearing and introductory ordinance concerning an application by Home Mart, Inc. and East Royal Land, LC, Vinateria Ranch Company, Ltd. and Brothers Materials, Ltd., altering and extending the boundary limits of the City of Laredo, annexing additional territory of 419.1608 acres, more or less, located north of Highway 359 and approximately 3.2 miles east of the municipal landfill, as further described by metes and bounds in Attachment "A", specifically the Las Blancas Tract, providing for the effective date of the ordinance, authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract adopting a service plan for the annexed territory, and establishing the initial zoning of R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District) for 66.8351 acres, B-3 (Community Business District) for 10.7918 acres, B-4 (Highway Commercial District) for 247.5606 acres, and M-1 (Light Manufacturing District) for 93.9733 acres.

4. Public hearing and introductory ordinance concerning an application by Las Misiones General Partnership and Mr. A.R. Sanchez, altering and extending the boundary limits of the City of Laredo, annexing additional territory of 83.0116 acres, more or less, located south of Highway 359 and west of the municipal landfill, as further described by metes and bounds in Attachment "A", specifically the Las Misiones Tract, providing for the effective date of the ordinance, authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract adopting a service plan for the annexed territory, and establishing the initial zoning of R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District).

5. Public hearing and introductory ordinance concerning an application by Laredo Four Winds and Mrs. Elaine Calk, altering and extending the boundary limits of the City of Laredo, annexing additional territory of 70.42 acres, more or less, located northeast of Eistetter Rd., as further described by metes and bounds in Attachment "A", specifically the McNary and Calk Tract, providing for the effective date of the ordinance, authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract adopting a service plan for the annexed territory, and establishing the initial zoning of R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District).

6. Public hearing and introductory ordinance concerning an application by H.B. Zachry Company and Wyer Family Trust, altering and extending the boundary limits of the City of Laredo, annexing additional territory of 256.66 acres, more or less, located east of Ejido Ave. and south of Eistetter Rd., as further described by metes and bounds in Attachment "A", specifically the Zachry Tract, providing for the effective date of the ordinance, authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract adopting a service plan for the annexed territory, and establishing the initial zoning of R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District).

7. Public hearing and introductory ordinance concerning an application by the City of Laredo, altering and extending the boundary limits of the City of Laredo, annexing additional territory of 617.8277 acres, more or less, located along Highway 359 from the municipal landfill to approximately 4.5 miles east, as further described by metes and bounds in Attachment "A", specifically the Highway 359 Tract, providing for the effective date of the ordinance, adopting a service plan for the annexed territory, and establishing the initial zoning of R-1 (Single Family Residential District).

8. Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of Laredo's 2003-2004 annual budget to reflect an appropriation for the development of the Bartlett Avenue railroad crossing. The appropriation of $63,000.00 comes from a Texas Department of Transportation reimbursement grant in the amount of $40,000.00 and from a Texas-Mexican Railway Company reimbursement in the amount of $23,000.00.

9. Public hearing amending the 29^th Action Year 2003 consolidated one year action plan to reprogram a total of $350,000.00 of the 2003 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds as follows: delete the South Laredo Cross Street Park and the Inner City Park Phase II projects and create the Mario Tijerina Park lighting project totaling $75,000.00, the El Eden Recreation Center swimming pool totaling $225,000.00 and the Inner City Technology Instruction Program totaling $50,000.00.

10. Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 annual budget by increasing expenditures and revenues by $5,000.00 which represents a state grant from the Texas Department of Health for the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the contract period beginning November 1, 2003, through August 31, 2004.

11. Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 annual budget by increasing expenditures and revenues by $22,735.00 which represents a state grant from the Texas Department of Health for the Binational TB Card Pilot Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the contract period beginning December 1, 2003, through September 30, 2004; and amend the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 FTEs by .20.

12. Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 annual budget by decreasing expenditures and revenues by $67,234.00 to reflect the actual grant amount of $43,946.00 from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Outreach Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the contract period beginning November 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004 and amend the FY 2003-2004 full time equivalent positions from 2.44 to 1.

13. Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 full time equivalent positions for the Laredo Obesity Prevention and Control Project (LOPAC) of the City of Laredo Health Department from 1.51 to .90.

14. Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing the City Manager to amend the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 full-time equivalent positions of the Border Vision Fronteriza (BVF) two (2) Community Health Workers for Children’s Health Project from .96 to .70.

VIII. GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

15.

A. Request by Council Member Hector J. Garcia

1. Status report on all CIP park projects in District II for FY 03-04 and 04-05.

2. Status report on vacant homes owned by City of Laredo in District II.

B. Request by Council Member Eliseo Valdez, Jr.

1. Status report on the infrastructure for the Casa Verde Road.

C. Request by Council Member Gene Belmares

1. Discussion with possible action regarding traffic calming on Chris and Kimberly Lanes.

D. Request by Council Member Juan Ramirez

1. Discussion with possible action regarding odor at El Metro facility on Scott Street.

2. Discussion with possible action regarding construction of sidewalks by Public Works crews on north and south side of 2200 Hidalgo. Funding for this project is available in District VIII discretionary funds.

3. Discussion with possible action to alleviate the congestion for pedestrians crossing International Bridge I by making modifications and adding more immigration stations.

(Recess)

(Press Availability)

IX. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES

16. Approving the public sale of one tract of airport non-aeronautical use of land located at the southwest corner of Foster Avenue and Pappas Street at the Laredo International Airport to Gateway Community Health Center, Inc., sole bidder, meeting all bid specifications being Tract “C” consisting of approximately 3.808 acres in the amount of $1,077,954.00 and authorizing the City Manager to execute all necessary conveyance documents; providing for an effective date.

17. Authorizing the City Manager to execute a lease with the Laredo Independent School District for approximately 5.75 acres located on Block 19 of the Laredo Airport Subdivision plat at the Laredo International Airport. Lease term is for two (2) years commencing on November 1, 2003 and ending October 31, 2005. However, the lease may be terminated by either party upon giving a ninety (90) day written notice from the party terminating to the other. Monthly rent shall be $4,425.00 commencing on November 1, 2003 and ending on August 31, 2004 and monthly rent shall be $6,650.00 commencing on September 1, 2004 and ending on October 31, 2005; providing for an effective date.

X. FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

18.

2003-O-286 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lots 1 & 3, Block 889, Western Division, located at 1101 Lafayette Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to B-1 (Limited Commercial District), providing for publication and effective date.

2003-O-287 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 1, Block 1825, Eastern Division, located at 2201 Lyon Street, from R-1 (Single Family Residential District) to B-3 (Community Business District); providing for publication and effective date.

2003-O-288 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 7, Block 667, Eastern Division, located at 1208 E. San Pedro Street from R-2 (Multi-Family Residential District) to B-3 (Community Business District); providing for publication and effective date.

2003-O-289 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 1.73 acres, as further described by metes and bounds on attached Exhibit “A” located at approximately 23008 Mines Road from AG (Agricultural District) to B-4 (Highway Commercial District); providing for publication and effective date. (As amended)

2003-O-290 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning 4.198 acres, as further described by metes and bounds on attached Exhibit “A” located approximately east of Mines Road and south of World Trade Center Loop, from AG (Agricultural District) to M-1 (Light Manufacturing District); providing for publication and effective date.

2003-O-291 Amending the Zoning Ordinance Map of the City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 6, Block 1413, Eastern Division, located at 2419 Market Street, from R-3 (Mixed Residential District) to B-1 (Limited Commercial District); providing for publication and effective date.

2003-O-292 Amending the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 annual budget for the following funds: Hotel-Motel Fund annual budget by appropriating expenditures in the amount of $441,270.00 for third party agency contract funding, Parking Meters Fund annual budget by appropriating expenditures in the amount of $63,427.00 for the FY 2003-2004 Debt Service payment, and Capital Improvements Fund (CIF) annual budget by appropriating revenues and expenditures in the amount of $400,000.00 in order to fund various capital improvement projects in each City Council district, and authorizing the City Manager to implement such budget.

2003-O-293 Repealing Ordinance 2003-O-253 and amending Ordinance 2000-O-254, Chapter 5.5, Ambulances Article I-In General, of the Code of Ordinances, by specifically amending Section 5.5-28 (a) and (c)(2) so as to standardize basic rates, and providing for publication and effective date of January 1, 2004. The increase in rates are primarily to recover from insurance carriers and were compiled from a rate review survey of 32 cities in Texas.

2003-O-294 Amending the City of Laredo FY 2003-2004 Colonias Project Fund, Water Fund, and Sewer Fund annual budget by appropriating revenues in the amount of $275,213.00 from the Colonias landowners participating in oversizing and appropriating the transfer in an expenditure in the amount of $275,213.00 for the construction of SH 359 work order no. 4 Water Transmission Line Extension Project and SH 359 work order no. 1 Wastewater Trunk Line Project in the Colonias Fund.

2003-O-295 Closing as a public easement that section of the 300 block of Texas Avenue between Chacon and Piedra China Streets situated in the Eastern Division, City of Laredo, County of Webb, Texas, and providing for an effective date.

2003-O-296 Closing as a public easement the North one-half section of the 2300 block of Canada Avenue between O’kane and Clark Streets situated in the Eastern Division, City of Laredo, County of Webb, Texas, and providing for an effective date.

2003-O-297 Closing as a public easement that section of the North 346.66 feet of Naranjo Avenue between Pappas and the North property line of Block 32-A as per the Laredo Airport Subdivision Replat recorded in Volume 16, pages 49-51 of the Webb County Plat Records, situated in the Laredo Airport Subdivision, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas; being generally described on the attached Exhibit “A,” provided that the Laredo International Airport retains all existing easements located on said section of Naranjo Avenue and providing for an effective date for the closure and reversion of the public’s interest in said street to the Laredo International Airport.

2003-O-298 Amending Chapter 19, Motor Vehicle and Traffic, Article VIII, Stopping, Standing or Parking, of the Code of Ordinances, City of Laredo: specifically Section 19-364 (5), Restricted Parking Areas, to extend the existing permit parking only/tow away zone boundaries to include Longhorn Drive, Yale Drive, and Alameda Drive; providing for effective date and publication.

2003-O-299 Amending Section 28-100 of the Code of Ordinances which makes it unlawful to use public property for private commercial purposes, in order to increase the penalty for a violation of the section from two hundred dollars to five hundred dollars; and providing for publication and effective date.

XI. RESOLUTIONS

19. 2003-R-141 Authorizing the City Manager to submit a community wide assessment grant application to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for a Brownfield grant in the amount of $200,000.00, with no matching funds. This grant will allow for the Phase I & Phase II environmental assessment of certain properties and make recommendations for future land use based on risk based assessment.

20. 2003-R-156 Accepting the donation of the “Surface Only” of a 0.0312 of an acre parcel of land, more or less, from Roberto Reyna, Elsa Reyna Gonzalez, Florencio Reyna, Jr., and Israel Reyna, as a fifteen-foot Utility Easement, for the extension of water service lines to the Tanquecitos South Acres Subdivision. Said parcel of land being situated in Porcion 32, Abstract 296, City of Laredo, and Webb County, Texas.

21. 2003-R-157 Accepting a grant in the amount of $43,946.00 from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Outreach Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the contract period beginning November 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004.

22. 2003-R-158 Accepting a grant in the amount of $5,000.00 from the Texas Department of Health for the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the period beginning November 1, 2003 through August 31, 2004.

23. 2003-R-159 Accepting a grant in the amount of $22,735.00 from the Texas Department Health for the Binational TB Card Pilot Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the contract period beginning December 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004.

24. 2003-R-160 Authorizing the City Manager to execute a grant agreement CSJ Number M422LREDO with the Texas Department of Transportation under the Routine Airport Maintenance Program in the amount of $30,000.00 for the purpose of airport maintenance at the Laredo International Airport. The City’s fifty (50%) percent local match for this project in the amount of $30,000.00 is available in the Airport Construction Fund under the 2004 Routine Airport Maintenance Account.

25. 2003-R-163 Accepting a grant in the amount of $112,280.00 from the Texas Department of Health for the Prevention of Services for HIV Infected Persons Project (PSHIP) of the City of Laredo Health Department for the contract beginning January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.

26. 2003-R-164 Accepting a grant in the amount of $199,854.00 from the Texas Department of Health of the HIV Prevention Project of the City of Laredo Health Department for the contract period beginning January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004.

XII. MOTIONS

27. Consideration to approve regular City Council meetings to be held on December 1, 2003, December 8, 2003 and January 12, 2004.

28. Consideration for approval to rescind change order no. 2 an increase of $44,777.75 to the construction contract with R. Aguero Trucking, Laredo, Texas, for the South Laredo Park Project in the vicinity of Kawas Elementary School for a parking lot (23 spaces) approximately 1,100 linear feet of a 10 ft. wide walking trail and accessible ramps for failure to execute a contract change order, and authorization for staff to re-bid the project. Funding is available in the South Laredo Park Phase II 28^th Action Year 2002 Grant.

29. Consideration for approval of final change order no. 3 a decrease of $12,018.00 for the balance of quantities actually constructed in place, acceptance of the Zacate Creek Linear Park Phases III, IV, V Scope of Work I Sidewalks and approval of final payment in the amount of $63,115.81 to Pete Gallegos Paving, Inc., Laredo, Texas. Final contract amount is $613,219.00. Funding is available in the Zacate Creek Park Phase III, IV & V-28^th Action Year 2002 Grant CDBG.

30. Consideration for approval to award a professional services contract to Killis Almond & Associates, Inc., San Antonio, Texas, for an amount not to exceed $103,785.00 for the Laredo Convention Center feasibility study. Funding is available in the Civic Center renovation project-Capital Improvement Fund.

31. Consideration to approve a payment of $17,657.60 to Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition as the City’s annual assessment for the period of October 2003 through September 2004. These dues are the City’s contribution to support the efforts of the Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition. The Coalition’s mission is to make Legislative recommendation to help the Texas Border Region grow and prosper economically.

XIII. STAFF REPORTS

32.

a. Presentation on early childhood awareness and educational efforts in local daycares and elementary schools by the Environmental Services Department regarding pollution.

b. Update report related to the on-going Airport Part 150 Noise and Land Use Compatibility Study and the Airport Master Plan Study.

XIV. 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.

33. Request for Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code 551.071 (1)(A) to discuss with City Attorney the two pending cases of Gilbert L. Leyendecker and wife June G. Leyendecker, vs. City of Laredo which is Civil No. L-01-174, in the United States District Court, Southern District, Laredo Division, and the City of Laredo v. Leyendecker Properties, Ltd. which is Cause No. 2003 CVQ 001462-C1 in the County Court at Law No. 1; and return to open session for possible action.

XV. ADJOURNMENT

This notice was posted at the Municipal Government Offices, 1110 Houston Street, Laredo, Texas, at a place convenient and readily accessible to the public at all times. Said notice was posted on November 26, 2003 at 4:00 p.m.

Gustavo Guevara, Jr.

City Secretary