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CITY OF CITY COUNCIL
MEETING A-2008-R-03 CITY
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
FEBRUARY 4, 2008 5:30 P.M.
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, 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 minutes of August
1, 2007, November 26, 2007 and December 10, 2007. V.
COMMUNICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS Recognitions a.
Recognition of the 2008 ·
Nora R. Garza,
Ph.D.-Education ·
·
Rosaura “Wawi” Tijerina-Legal ·
Judith Y. Sepulveda-Law Enforcement ·
Julia
Muller Ruhlman-Business/Professional b.
Recognition by the Mayor and City Council Members
of public safety employees that retired from the City of Laredo with 20 or
more years of service. Communiqués Citizen comments Citizens are required to fill out a witness card
and identify themselves at the microphone.
Comments should be relevant to City business and delivered in a
professional manner. No derogatory
remarks will be permitted. There is a
time limit of three minutes per speaker. VI.
APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES VII.
GENERAL COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND
PRESENTATIONS 1.
a. A.
Request by Council Member Mike Garza 1.
Discussion with possible action on installing a sidewalk
on the west side of North Ejido
between Colombia and Lomas del Sur by using District I Discretionary Funds. B.
Request by Council Member Dr. Michael
Landeck 1.
Discussion and possible action on
implementing approved City council meetings dates, and possible amendments to
procedures for accepting agenda Items from the Mayor, Councilman and the
administration as well as latest posting Dates prior to meetings. 2.
Discussion with possible action on continuation of
the process for the appointments to the Water and Sewage impact fee committee
and all relevant issues. 3.
Discussion with possible action on “rain cloud
seeding” project with a presentation by Mr. Ed Walker. 4.
Discussion with possible action on the City/UISD
proposed interlocal facility sharing agreement as recommended by the park
board advisory committee. C.
Request by Council Member Johnny Rendon 1.
Discussion with possible action on installing a
signal light at Loop 20 and 2.
Discussion with possible action on providing
$2,500.00 from District V Discretionary Funds for the construction of a
Purple Heart monument to be placed at the D.
Request by Mayor Pro-Tempore Gene Belmares 1.
Discussion with possible action on creating a
public relations image campaign. 2.
Discussion with possible action on adding more
streets to the District VI 2008 Recycling Program. 3.
Discussion with possible action on closing E.
Request by Council Member Juan Ramirez 1.
Discussion with possible action on installing speed
humps on 2.
Discussion with possible action on having police
presence at International Bridges I and II. 3.
Discussion with possible action on installing
sidewalks by using District VIII Discretionary Funds on the following
streets: ·
2500 block of Salinas-east side ·
1300 block of Jefferson-south side ·
2800 block of Flores-west side ·
3000 block of Convent-east side ·
2900 block of Salinas-east side ·
3200 block of Salinas-east side ·
1800 block of Anna- west side ·
1800 block of Convent- west side ·
1600 block of Salinas-west side ·
2500 block of Flores-west side 4.
Discussion with possible action on installing
street lights by using District VIII Discretionary Funds at the following
streets: ·
2000 block of Santa Rita-east side ·
1000 block San Enrique-east side ·
100 block of ·
1200 block of Monterrey-west side VIII.
PUBLIC HEARINGS 2.
Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing
the issuance of the City of Laredo, Texas, Texas Public Property Finance
Contractual Obligations, Series 2008, in the principal amount of
$3,555,000.00 for the purchase of municipal buses for the Mass Transit
System; authorizing amendment to the City’s budget to appropriate such
proceeds for the purposes authorized herein; approving sale of contractual
obligations; making provisions for security thereof; authorizing the
execution of private placement letter; and ordaining other matters relating
to the subject. 3.
Public hearing and introductory ordinance amending the City of 4.
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 $300,000.00 over a twenty-four
(24) month term from the Environmental Protection Agency grant under the
Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) for the Health Department’s
Laredo Environmental Action on the Texas-Mexico Border Project, a partnership
with the Environmental Services Department for the term of October 1, 2007
through September 30, 2009; amending FY 2007-2008 full time equivalent
positions, by creating one (1) Epidemiologist and (1) Program Coordinator positions;
and authorizing the City Manager to execute the contract. 5.
Public hearing and introductory ordinance authorizing
the City Manager to execute a lease agreement with Laredo Equities, LLC, for
the use of Veteran’s Field. The lease
term is for one (1) season beginning on May 10, 2008 and ending on September
10, 2008 at a lease rate of $45,000.00 per season, ($1,000 per game) plus
$1,000.00 per playoff game. Laredo
Equities will also be responsible for 50% of utility costs and repairs to
Veterans Field during the term of the lease as outlined in the lease
agreement terms. (Recess) (Press Availability) IX.
INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES 6.
Authorizing the City Manager to convey to South
Texas Financial Group, Inc. fee simple title, to the “Surface Only” at its market
value of $21,340.00, for certain property described as a 6,097 sq. ft. (0.14
of an acre) tract of land, more or less being a portion of South Buena Vista
Avenue between the Old Zapata Road and Barrios Street, situated in the
Eastern Division, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas being generally
described on attached Exhibit “A” and providing for an effective date. 7.
Reflecting an increase in salary and benefits of
$31,446.00 for Municipal Court Judge X.
FINAL 8.
2008-O-016
Amending
the City of Laredo Health Department Fiscal Year 2007-2008 annual budget by
appropriating revenues and expenses in the amount of $33,882.00 from the
Serving Children and Adolescents in Need (SCAN), Inc., a partnership for
services to be provided by the Department’s HIV Program of HIV outreach, HIV
testing, pre and post test counseling and pre-treatment services for the term
from January 1, 2008 through September 30, 2008; and amending the Fiscal Year
2007-2008 full time equivalent positions, by creating one (1) Health Educator
position contingent upon availability of grant funds, and authorizing the
City Manager to execute the contract. 2008-O-017
Amending
the City of 2008-O-018
Authorizing
the City Manager to accept and execute a funding agreement with the Texas
Department of Transportation in the amount of $19,050,000.00 with a local
match of $1,496,480.00 and to amend the FY 2007-2008 Capital Grants fund by
appropriating said funds for the proposed reconstruction of streets located
within the truck route and various industrial parks. 2008-O-019
Authorizing
the City Manager to accept and execute a funding agreement with the Texas
Department of Transportation in the amount of $4,091,400.00 with a local
match of $359,626.39 and to amend the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Capital Grant
Fund by appropriating said funds for the proposed construction of seven (7)
new toll/inspection booths, to be located at the World Trade Bridge. 2008-O-020
Setting
the new speed limit on the .236 miles section of FM 3338 located within the
City limits of Laredo, Webb County, Texas, as defined in the Texas Department
of Transportation Control Section Map 3532-02, as 60 MPH from 50 MPH,
providing for the installation of appropriate signs to indicate new speed
changes in the designated areas and providing for publication and effective
date. 2008-O-021
Amending
the Community Development Department Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Full-Time
Equivalent positions by creating one (1) full-time Noise Abatement Specialist
position with benefits, in the Community Development Department, Real Estate
Division, Noise Abatement Program.
Funding is available through monetary grants received from the Federal
Aviation Administration through its XI.
RESOLUTIONS 9.
2008-R-005 Authorizing
the City Manager to execute a release of paving lien in the form and content
of Exhibit A, to confirm release of paving liens made or attempted to be
under pre-paving Ordinance dated July 29, 1958 and a post-paving Ordinance of
July 2, 1959 in the absence of any record of the paving liens having been
actually imposed and passage of almost 50 years. 10. 2008-R-007 Declaring the public necessity to acquire
the “Surface Only” of two parcels of land for the Dryden Park Expansion
Project. Said parcels being Lots 7
& 8, Block 1719, Eastern Division, and being situated on the 2700 Block of
Diaz Street, City of Laredo, Webb County, Texas; as delineated on attached
copy of City Plat; and authorizing staff to negotiate with the owners for the
acquisition of said parcels by purchase by market values to be established by
a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser, and further authorizing the City
Attorney to initiate condemnation proceedings to acquire said parcels if
staff is unable to acquire due to inability to agree to a purchase price,
conflict of ownership, owner refusal to sell, and/or inability to locate the
listed owner(s). Funding is available
in the 33rd Action Year Community Development Block Grant
Fund-Dryden Park Expansion Project. 11. 2008-R-008 Accepting the donation of a (20) twenty-foot wide
utility easement from Francisco Guerra, Sr. for the extension of utility
services lines to the Laredo Ranchettes Subdivision. This being a strip of land containing 0.25
of an acre, more or less, and being situated in Porcion 32, Abstract 296,
Webb County, Texas, being partly out of lot 47, Ranchitos 359 East
Subdivision, owned by Francisco Guerra, Sr. as per deed recorded in Volume
1140, Page 639 of the Webb County Deed Records, Texas, and partly out of a
39.24 acre tract, Parcel 2, recorded in Volume 565, Page 106, Webb County
Deed Records, Texas and described by metes and bounds and survey attached as Exhibits
A and B. 12. 2008-R-009 Authorizing the City Manager to execute
an initial affiliation agreement between the City of 13. 2008-R-010 Endorsing the Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve by promoting an understanding of Guard and Reserve Service and
encouraging employers to develop Human Resource Policies that support and
encourage employee participation in Guard and Reserve Programs. 14. 2007-R-011 Declaring the public necessity to utilize
the area under IH-35 between Park Street and Sanchez Street as a parking area
on February 21, 2008 for the Annual Youth Parade and on February 23, 2008 for
the Washington’s Birthday Parade and authorizing the City Manager to enter
into an agreement with Texas Department of Transportation for the use of said
property. XII.
MOTIONS 15.
Prioritizing and adopting the 2008 Federal Legislative
Agenda. 16. Ratifying
the City Manager’s approval of a public fireworks display permit issued to
the 17.
Consideration to grant the Washington’s Birthday Celebration
a permit for a pyrotechnic ground display during the air show on February 17,
2008. The technician for this display
is Chris Rainey. Also authorizing a
public fireworks display permit for February 24, 2008 at Life 18. Approving
monthly adjustments to the tax roll.
The amounts to be adjusted for the month of December 2007, represent
an increase of $95,699.68. These
adjustments are determined by Webb County Appraisal District and by court
orders. 19. Refund
of property tax in the amount of $2,696.67 to the following taxpayers: 1.
A refund in the amount of $590.05 payable to Juan
A. Cantu due to an erroneous payment.
Account #812-02000-196. 2.
A refund in the amount of $600.04 payable to Frank
Sisters Rentals, Inc. due to an overpayment.
Account #324-00033-010. 3.
A refund in the amount of $809.35 payable to the
Laredo National Bank due to an erroneous payment. Account#332-00401-120. 4.
A refund in the amount of $697.23 payable to the
Laredo National Bank due to an erroneous payment. Account#938-50001-020. 20. Authorizing
the City Manager to approve payment from the City’s Arena Renewal and
Replacement Account for the purchase of additional equipment required for the
telephone system in a total amount not to exceed $5,300.00. Funding is available in the Sports and
Community Venue Account. 21. Ratifying
the action taken by the City Manager to authorize the replacement of an 8”
sewer line at Milmo and Saunders (US HWY 59) by MTZ Construction of Laredo,
Texas, in the amount of $88,500.00 due to a collapsing sewer collector. Funding is available in the Utilities 2006
Revenue Bond. 22. Authorizing
the City Manager to award an Engineering Services Contract in the amount of $3,662,000.00
to Carollo Engineers of Austin, Texas. This contract will provide for the final
design and bid phase services for the 15 MGD expansion of the Jefferson Upper
Plant and the Electrical back-up power projects, and the construction management
services for the new disinfection facility.
Funding is available in the 2006 and 2007 Utilities Revenue Bond. 23. Award of
a contract to Blanton & Associates, Inc., 24. Authorizing
the City Manager to execute a contract for the purchase of 200 ac/ft per
annum of municipal water rights from Valley Municipal Utility District #2, at
a cost of $2,250.00 per ac/ft for the sum of $450,000.00. Funding is available in the Water
Availability Fund Water Rights. 25. Consideration
for approval of acceptance of the Plaza Theater Marquee and Blade Sign and
approval of final payment in the amount of $30,054.36 to Zertuche Construction,
Laredo, Texas. Final construction
contract amount is $300,544.15.
Funding is available in the Capital Grant Fund and Community
Development Fund. 26. Consideration
to exercise the renewal option of annual supply contracts FY07-006 awarded to
the low bidders, Patria Office Supply, 27. Consideration
to authorize the purchase of 4,620 garbage/refuse carts and 800 replacement
lids from Toter, Inc. Statesville, NC., through the State of Texas
cooperative purchasing program’s contract pricing in the total amount of
$224,672.60. Funding is available in
the Solid Waste Services Department. 28. Consideration
to authorize the purchase of practice and duty ammunition for the Police
Department in the estimated amount of $51,250.00 from G.T. Distributing,
Austin, Texas through the Buy Board Cooperative Purchasing Program’s contract
pricing. Funding is available in the
Police Department budget. 29. Consideration
to authorize the purchase and installation of a sports lighting system at the
Market Street Tennis Complex, 1300 Market Street, from Musco Sports Lighting,
LLC; in the total amount of $176,132.00 through the Buy Board Cooperative
Purchasing Program’s contract pricing.
Funding is available in the 2007 Certificate of Obligation Bond Proceeds
Parks Project Market Street Courts budget. 30. Consideration
to award Phase I of service contract
FY08-024 to the lowest bidder, Camino Agave, Laredo, Texas, in the
estimated amount of $455,000.00 for the hauling of approximately 130,000 tons
of dirt from the construction site of the Upper Zacate Creek detention pond
to the City’s Solid Waste facility.
The Solid Waste Department will use this fill dirt to cover the
landfill cells on a weekly basis in accordance to TCEQ requirements. Funding is available in the Solid Waste
Department Fund. 31. Consideration
for approval to award a construction contract to the sole bidder Rhino
Builders, Ltd., in the amount of $1,009,531.00 for the McPherson Road
Widening North of Del Mar Blvd., Phase II, Step “C” (Mahogany Dr. to Shiloh
Dr.). Contract time is two hundred
(200) working days. Funding is
available in the 2004 Transit C.O. Project #TRMAHO. 32. Consideration
for approval to annul the construction contract awarded to sole bidder, Amberland
Development, Ltd., 33. Consideration
for approval to award a construction contract to the lowest bidder Jerry
Resendez Enterprises, Inc., 34. Consideration
for approval to award a construction contract for the El Eden Recreational
Facility Park Project to the lowest bidder Leyendecker Construction, Inc.,
Laredo, Texas, in the amount of $4,161,500.00 for Base Bid No. 1 - Main
Building, Deductive Alternate No. 4 - Wrought Iron Fence, and Deductive
Alternate No. 7 - Landscaping.
Contract time is two hundred fifty (250) working days. Funding is available in the 2006 C.O. Bond
and 2007 C.O. Bond. 35. Approval
of Change Order No. 1 for the balance of quantities actually constructed in
place; acceptance of the Laredo Colombia International Bridge for removal and
replacement of deteriorated concrete pavement and erosion controls and
approval of final payment in the amount of $122,550.00 to Restek, Inc.,
Austin, Texas. Final contract amount
is $122,550.00. Funding is available
in the Bridge System – Revenue Bond Series 2005A. 36. Consideration
to authorize the purchase of: 1. one (1)
tandem drum vibratory roller in the amount of $135,719.50; 2. one (1)
pneumatic roller in the amount of $100,035.00 from
Nueces Power Equipment, 37. Consideration
to award annual contract number FY08-032 for vacuum truck equipment parts and
service to the following bidders: 1. Kinloch
Equipment & Supply, 2. Balar
Equipment, for
the purchase of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) vacuum truck equipment
parts and service for the Fleet Department.
This contract establishes discount percentage pricing for vacuum truck
equipment parts and services for the Fleet Department. Parts and services will be purchased on an
as needed basis and funding is available in the Fleet Management budget. 38. Consideration
to award an annual contract FY08-033 to the following bidders: 1. Kinloch
Equipment & Supply, 2. Industrial
Disposal Supply, 3. Nueces
Equipment Supply, for
the purchase of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and services for
the City’s 39. Consideration
to exercise the renewal option for one (1) additional year for contract
FY07-052 Tire Repair Services for: 1. 2. Beltran’s
Road Service, This
contract is based on the lowest cost format utilizing service call rate,
after hour rate, holiday rates, and tire repair rate. Departments are able to contact these
vendors for vehicle, heavy trucks and construction equipment tire repairs. Funding is available in the Fleet budget. 40. Consideration
to authorize a contract with Kraftsman Playground and Park Equipment c/o Play
and Park Equipment, through the Buy Board Cooperative Purchasing Program’s
contract pricing, in the total amount of $156,210.00 for the purchase and
installation of a track surface around Ryan Elementary School. Funding is available in the 2007
Contractual Obligation Bond Proceeds-City Council District II and City
Council District IV, Ryan Elementary Walking Trail. 41. Authorizing
the City Manager to provide office space within City Hall for the City of 42. Consideration
for approval of change order no. 4 a decrease of $1,665.00 for the balance of
quantities actually constructed in place, acceptance of the Bartlett Avenue
Extension Straightening, Widening, Paving, Utilities and Drainage
Improvements from Hillside to Sandman and approval of final payment in the
amount of $33,481.86 to Amberland Development, Ltd., Laredo, Texas. Final construction contract amount is
$687,972.20. Funding is available in
the Project TRSAND – Transit 2004 C.O. 43. Authorizing
the City Manager to contract with Mario A. Martinez for intergovernmental,
informational, and advocacy services to be provided to the City of 44. Authorizing
the purchase of approximately 14.79 acres of land near Clarks Crossing
Subdivision from Haynes, Ltd., for the sum of $1,000,000.00 for the location
of a community center and park and authorizing the City Manager to execute
the earnest money contract a copy of which is attached and in which said
14.79 acres is shown on Exhibit 1 of the contract; and in which the seller
agrees to donate three parcels of land, of 3.51, 1.73 and 2.74 acres,
respectively, shown on Exhibit 2 of the contract, to the City for drainage
and park purposes; paragraph 14 of the contract contains a request by seller
for City Council to name the community center and park which will be made orally
at the time it is being presented for approval of Council. 45. Consideration for approval to award a professional
services contract to Brinkley Sargent Architects, Dallas, Texas, for an
amount not to exceed $330,500.00 for Phase I – Development
of program and master plans for Northwest Center Park Site and Phase II –
Design and Construction of Recreation Center for the Northwest Recreation Center Park to be located on a 7.027 acre
site in Villas San Agustin Subdivision, Unit 3. Design work is to be on a fast
track basis. Funding is available in the 2005 CO Bond –
Northwest Recreation Center/Pool. 46. Consideration
to authorize the purchase of one, American La XIII.
STAFF REPORT 47. Presentation
regarding the selection of a firm to provide billing and collection services
for the Fire Department’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS), with possible
action. A City staff committee
reviewed all proposals submitted and a report is being presented on the
results of the staff evaluations. 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. 48. Request
for executive session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section
551.071(1)(A)& (B) for consultation with the City Attorney regarding
pending litigation and possible settlement of Anthony Stahl, et al. v. City
of Laredo, Texas, Cause No. 5:07-cv-00093; in the United States District
Court Southern District, Laredo Division; and return to open session for
possible action. 49. Request
for Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 (1)
(B) to consult with attorney on the pending case of Lassen, Inc., v. City of XV.
RECESS AS THE 50. Authorizing
the City Manager to execute a management contract with First Transit, Inc., a
Delaware Corporation, for management of the City’s Transit System for a five
(5) year term beginning February 1, 2008, in accordance with the terms of the
negotiated contract. XVI.
RECESS AS THE LARED MASS TRANSIT BOARD AND RECONVENE AND ADJOURN AS
THE This notice was posted at the Municipal Government
Offices,
Gustavo
Guevara, Jr. City
Secretary |
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