CITY OF LAREDO
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1110 HOUSTON STREET
LAREDO, TEXAS
5:30 P.M.
AGENDA
M98-R-15 MARCH 23, 1998
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. ROLL CALL
IV. INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCES
2. Amending Ordinance No. 92-O-113 granting Southwestern Bell
Telephone Company the non-exclusive right to use the rights-of-
way in the City for its telecommunications business, by
amending Section 4 to extend the franchise term for a period of
two months from the date of expiration of March 31, 1998 until
May 30, 1998; providing for publication and effective date.
V. FINAL READINGS
3. 98-O-076 Establishing a 15% penalty on delinquent tax accounts
as of July 1, 1998, to defray cost of collection
pursuant to Section 33.07 (a) of the Property Tax
Code.
4. 98-O-083 Amending Chapter 2, Article II, Division 6, of the
Code of Ordinances of the City of Laredo, entitled
pay administration, by amending Sections 2.87.7(d)
(15)(b), thereby adopting a revised pay schedule
increasing all steps in all grades in the pay
schedule from two and one half percent (2 1/2%) to
three and one-half percent (3 1/2%) with an effective
date of implementation of April 1, 1998; and
Amending Section 2.87.7(d)(15)(c), thereby adopting a
revised pay schedule decreasing all steps in all
grades in the pay schedule from two and one half
percent (2 1/2%) to one and one half percent (1
1/2%), with an effective date of implementation of
September 30, 1998. (City Council)
5. 98-O-084 Ordering and proclaiming a general city election to
be held on Saturday, May 2, 1998, designating polling
places, designating the run-off date, and providing
for publication. (City Council)
6. 98-O-085 Amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 annual budget
by increasing estimated revenues and appropriations
in the General Fund by $3,500.00 to fund the
production of a Laredo Area Cemetery Preservation
Plan; and authorizing the City Manager to implement
said budget, providing for publication and effective
date. (City Council)
7. 98-O-086 Amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 annual budget
drawing down $500,000.00, from fund balance and
$209,048.00, from salary savings reserve and
transferring same to the Bridge Fund to appropriate
said funds for amendment no. 3 on the engineering
contract with Structural Engineering Company (SEA)
and authorizing the City Manager to implement said
budget. (City Council)
8. 98-O-087 Amending the City of Laredo's 1997-1998 U.S. Customs
Service Fund budget in the amount of $5,000.00, and
authorizing the City Manager to enter into an
agreement with the Department of Treasury/U.S.
Customs Service for the reimbursement of $5,000.00
for funding the Laredo Border Violence Task Force to
assist U.S. Customs Agents in conducting official
Treasury investigations. These monies will be used to
pay overtime wages for Laredo Police Narcotics
officers involved in this Task Force. This will be
the first year the City has entered into this
agreement and is at no cost to the City; providing
for publication and effective date. (City Council)
9. 98-O-088 Altering and extending the boundary limits of the
City of Laredo, for the voluntary annexation
additional territory of 400.5859 acres, located in
Porciones 12, 13, and 14 as further described by
metes and bounds, specifically the Unitec Industrial
Park Tract, providing for the effective date of the
ordinance, adopting a Service Plan for the annexed
territory, and establishing the initial zoning.
(City Council)
10. 98-O-089 Approving an amendment to the contract with the Texas
Department of Health and budget revision in the
amount of $4,233.00 for the HIV/AIDS Housing
Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Project
of the City of Laredo Health Department for the
period beginning February 1, 1998, through January
31, 1999. (City Council)
11. 98-O-090 Authorizing the City Manager to amend the 1997-98
Airport Fund Budget to appropriate $1,491,897.00,
being the proceeds from the sale of Airport non-
aeronautical use land and to increase by $245,000.00,
the new airport passenger terminal construction line
item to provide funding for a food sanitizer,
restaurant and to finish out airline office space and
ticket counters and to provide contingency funding;
providing for publication and effective date.
(City Council)
VI. RESOLUTIONS
12. 98-R-037 Authorizing the City Manager to amend the City's
application to the Texas Department of Transportation
for a State Infrastructure Bank loan to reflect a
request for financing in the amount of $27,000,000.00
in support of the construction of the Laredo
Northwest International Bridge (Fourth Bridge) and
related improvements and to execute any and all
contracts resulting from this application amendment.
13. 98-R-046 Appointing the nominee of Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores
to the Historic
District/Landmark Board.
14. 98-R-048 Expressing the City of Laredo's appreciation to the
Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), and
especially recognizing Mr. Robert Cuellar, P.E., in
his previous capacity as Acting Director, for working
in true partnership with the City in helping to
secure necessary state financing for the construction
of the Laredo Northwest International Bridge, related
facilities, and major improvements to the connecting
roadway system.
15. 98-R-049 Authorizing the City Manager to accept a donation
from the Friends of the Library, Laredo, Texas, Inc.,
in the amount of $90,000 for the purchase of books to
augment the collection at the Laredo Public Library.
16. 98-R-050 Authorizing the City Manager to accept a proposal and
gift from H.E. Butt Grocery Company, estimated value
of approximately $150,000 for the automation and
equipping of the Multi-Purpose Programming Room at
the Laredo Public Library, as presented by H.E.B.'s
consultants, Adamson Services.
VII. MOTIONS
17. Award of an engineering services contract to Traffic Engineers,
Inc., Houston, Texas, for an amount not to exceed $28,460.00
for surveying, design, and preparation of plans and
specifications for the Farias Elementary School Access
Improvements (school drop-off), a cost-sharing project with the
City participating with $108,837.50, and the Laredo Independent
School District contributing $128,325.00, for a total estimated
project cost of $237,162.50. The funding will be taken form
1998 C.O. bonds and LISD participation.
VIII. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
18. Informing the Laredo City Council of the status of the future
sewer assessment on the north side of Highway 59 from Ejido to
the Casa Blanca golf course, with possible action.
19. Discussion and possible action regarding a recommendation from
the Airport Advisory Board to City Council regarding methods of
funding passenger jet service at the Laredo International
Airport being (a) continue to pursue the Economic Development
Corporation sales tax election, (b) actively support the
private sector initiative by joining with the Board's members
to meet with community leaders, (c) consider a finding that the
provision of jet service is a legitimate public purpose in
relation to the legal opinion, and/or (d) explore other options
for funding jet service.
20. Request for Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code
Section 551.071 (1)(a)(b) to discuss pending litigation and a
settlement offer in Cause No. L-97-13, Luis Rodriguez, Santos
Ayala, Ruben Alvarez, Francisco Alvarez, and Juan Lopez, v.
City of Laredo, Texas, in the United States District Court for
the Southern District of Texas Laredo Division, and return to
open session for possible action.
21. Request for Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code
Section 551.071 (1)(a) to discuss contemplated litigation
regarding Highland Subdivision Unit III and the North Laredo
Wastewater Reclamation Plant, and return to open session for
possible action thereon.
7:00 RECESS
IX. COMMUNICATIONS
X. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION
22. Requests by Mayor and City Councilmembers for discussion and
presentation.
A. Requests by Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores
1. Recognizing the accomplishments of the Laredo All-American
Cheerleaders which consists of 26 school girls ranging in ages
from nine to 14. These outstanding young ladies represented
the City of Laredo at the National Cheerleaders Association
competition held in Dallas on February 27-28, and placed fourth
nationally.
2. Status report regarding the Market Street Tennis Courts
Project, with possible action.
B. Requests by Councilmember Louis H. Bruni
1. Status report on the following long-term water supply projects
with possible action:
a. San Isabel Water Well
b. Aquifer Storage and Recovery
c. USGS Well Survey
d. Effluent Reuse
e. Weather Modification
f. Regional Water Management Plan
2. Discussion and possible action regarding the use of water
rights in payment of water availability fees and connection
charges.
3. Discussion and possible action regarding the history of the
renaming of Gust Street to Hillside Road.
4. Status report on the Ropa Usada establishment located at 2601
Ash Street.
C. Requests by Councilmember Alfonso "Poncho" Casso, Jr.
1. Discussion and possible action regarding the requirement of an
application fee upon filing for city public office.
2. Discussion and possible action regarding the creation of a Tree
Board with possible appointees.
3. Discussion and possible action regarding the distribution of
police officers throughout the various city council districts.
4. Discussion and possible action regarding the Laredo Emergency
Planning Committee.
D. Requests by Councilmember Cecilia May Moreno
1. Status report on the painting of the Lyon Street water tanks.
E. Requests by Councilmember Eliseo Valdez, Jr.
1. Discussion and possible action on the increasing problem with
vagrants/transients in the City of Laredo, in particular, the
incident which occurred on Sunday, March 15, 1998.
(Co-sponsored by Councilmembers Joe A. Guerra and Mario G.
Alvarado)
2. Status report on community parks improvements.
3. Status report on the sidewalk program on Bustamante Street.
F. Requests by Councilmember Joe A. Guerra
1. Discussion and possible action regarding the request by the EMS
Division of the Laredo Fire Department to split the EMS
District in two in order to have three additional EMS
supervisors. This action would guarantee the presence of one
supervisor per division at all times.
2. Discussion and possible action on the proposed South Texas
Regional Waste Management Project/Facility and a declaration of
continued interest for the possible participation by the Laredo
City Council.
3. Discussion and public action on certain issues concerning the
city cemetery.
G. Requests by Councilmember Mario G. Alvarado
1. Discussion and possible action on formulating an international
trade advisory committee.
XI. PUBLIC HEARINGS
23. Public hearing rescinding Section 5-4: No Permits Required for
Agricultural Buildings, of the Subdivision Ordinance Handbook;
and providing for publication and effective date. The Planning
and Zoning Commission recommends approval of this amendment.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Rescinding Section 5-4: No Permits Required for Agricultural
Buildings, of the Subdivision Ordinance Handbook; and providing
for publication and effective date.
24. Public hearing concerning the application by Hector Cabello
amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by
authorizing the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for auto
wrecker service and impound lot on all of Block 1559, Eastern
Division, located at 2601 Guadalupe St. The Planning and
Zoning Commission recommends approval of this conditional use
permit.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by
authorizing the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit for auto
wrecker service and impound lot on all of Block 1559, Eastern
Division, located at 2601 Guadalupe St.
25. Public hearing concerning the application by Steve A. Snow,
East House Ltd., amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the
City of Laredo by rezoning 0.755 acres as further described by
metes and bounds located on Remington Dr., from R-1 (Single
Family Residential District) to R-1A (Single Family Reduced
Area District). The Planning and Zoning Commission recommends
approval of this zone change.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Application by Steve A. Snow, East House Ltd., amending the
Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by rezoning 0.755
acres as further described by metes and bounds located on
Remington Dr., from R-1 (Single Family Residential District) to
R-1A (Single Family Reduced Area District).
26. Public hearing amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City
of Laredo by rezoning Lots 1 and 2, Block 1537, Eastern
Division, located on the northeast corner of the intersection
of Ash St., and Texas Ave., from M-1 (Light Manufacturing
District) to R-1 (Single Family Residential District. The
Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval of this zone
change.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by
rezoning Lots 1 and 2, Block 1537, Eastern Division, located on
the northeast corner of the intersection of Ash St., and Texas
Ave., from M-1 (Light Manufacturing District) to R-1 (Single
Family Residential District).
27. Public hearing concerning the application by Domingo Salinas
and Alejandro Ocampo amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the
City of Laredo by rezoning Lot 7A, Block 906, Western Division,
located at 3502 Santa Maria Ave., from B-1 (Limited Business
District) to B-3 (Community Business District). The Planning
and Zoning Commission recommends approval of this zone change.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the Zoning Ordinance (Map) of the City of Laredo by
rezoning Lot 7A, Block 906, Western Division, located at 3502
Santa Maria Ave., from B-1 (Limited Business District) to B-3
(Community Business District).
28. Public hearing and introduction of an ordinance amending
provisions of Section 24.73 of the Laredo Land Development Code
relating to permits for the drilling, re-entry, or recompletion
of oil and ga wells, specifically Section 24.73.1 (4)(a),
providing distance restrictions for future development,
24.73.3, providing enforcement for ordinance violations, and
Section 24.73.4 (12), requiring a fee for re-entry and
recompletion operations, and Appendix "A" amending the
definition of "Recompletion Operations".
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending provisions of Section 24.73 of the Laredo Land
Development Code relating to permits for the drilling, re-
entry, or recompletion of oil and gas wells, specifically
Section 24.73.1 (4)(a), providing distance restrictions for
future development, 24.73.3, providing enforcement for
ordinance violations, and Section 24.73.4 (12), requiring a fee
for re-entry and recompletion operations, and Appendix "A"
amending the definition of "Recompletion Operations".
29. Public hearing creating a special restricted revenue fund in
accordance with the Canseco Foundation's Endowment in the
amount of $50,000 to the Laredo Public Library for children's
programming and amending the City of Laredo FY 1997-98 Annual
Budget to reflect the creation of this fund. The fund will be
named the Canseco Foundation's Children Endowment Fund.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Creating a special restricted revenue fund in accordance with
the Canseco Foundation's Endowment in the amount of $50,000 to
the Laredo Public Library for children's programming and
amending the City of Laredo FY 1997-98 Annual Budget to reflect
the creation of this fund. The fund will be named the Canseco
Foundation's Children Endowment Fund.
30. Public hearing amending the City of Laredo FY 1997-98 Annual
Budget by reclassifying ten fire fighters to ten assistant
driver positions authorized by City Council to be effective
upon adoption, and authorizing the City Manager to implement
said budget.
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE
Amending the City of Laredo FY 1997-98 Annual Budget by
reclassifying ten fire fighters to ten assistant driver
positions authorized by City Council to be effective upon
adoption, and authorizing the City Manager to implement said
budget.
XII. 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 FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1998
AT 5:30 P.M.
________________________
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.
CITY SECRETARY