CITY OF LAREDO

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

M-2003-SC-06

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1110 HOUSTON STREET

LAREDO, TEXAS 78040

SEPTEMBER 22, 2003

12:00 NOON

 

  I.        CALL TO ORDER

 

            With a quorum present, Mayor Elizabeth G. Flores called the meeting to order.

 

 II.       ROLL CALL

 

            In attendance:

 

            Elizabeth G. Flores,                                          Mayor

            Alfredo Agredano,                                            Council Member, District I

            Hector Garcia,                                                  Council Member, District II

            John C. Galo,                                                   Mayor Pro Tempore, District III

            Johnny Amaya,                                                 Council Member, District IV

            Gene Belmares,                                                Council Member, District VI

            Jose A. Valdez, Jr.,                                          Council Member, District VII

            Juan Ramirez,                                                   Council Member, District VIII

            Gustavo Guevara, Jr.,                                       City Secretary

            Larry Dovalina,                                                 City Manager

            Cynthia Collazo,                                               Assistant City Manager

            Jaime Flores,                                                    City Attorney

 

            Motion to excuse Cm.  E.  Valdez.

 

            Moved:  Cm.  Agredano

            Second:  Cm.  Amaya

            For:     7                                               Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

 

III.       PUBLIC HEARING

 

1.      Public hearing and adoption of Resolution 2003-R-116 adopting the 2004-2008 Capital Improvement Program of the City of Laredo.

 

Motion to open the public hearing.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Agredano

Second:  Cm.  Ramirez

For:     7                                         Against:  0                                Abstain:  0 

                 

There was no public input.

 

                  Motion to close the public hearing and adopt Resolution # 2003-R-116.

 

                  Moved:  Cm.  Belmares

                  Second:  Cm.  Amaya

                  For:     7                                         Against:  0                                Abstain:  0 

 

IV.       FINAL READINGS

 

Motion to waive the final reading of Ordinance # 2003-O-230.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:   Cm.  Amaya

For:     7                                               Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

2.
 
 

2003-O-230               Adoption of the annual budget for fiscal year 2003-2004; appropriating the estimated revenues, expenditures and balances reported therein for the year beginning October 1, 2003 and ending September 30, 2004, consistent with the financial plan described in said annual budget; and authorizing the City Manager to implement said annual budget.  (As amended)

 

Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2003-O-230 as amended to

appropriate $769,000 as a revenue and expenditure within the

police trust fund in order to record the full value of capital lease

proceeds for the lease purchase of 37 administrative vehicles.

 

Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Galo

Second:  Cm.  Agredano

For:     7                        Against:  0                                Abstain:  0 

 

      Motion to waive the final reading of Ordinance 2003-O-231. 

 

      Moved:  Cm.  Agredano

      Second:  Cm.  Amaya

      For:     7                                            Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0

     

2003-O-231               Providing for the adoption of a tax rate of 0.641761 per $100.00 value with a Maintenance and Operation rate of $0.500648 per $100.00 and an Interest and Sinking rate of $0.141113 per $100.00 value and for the levy and the collection of General and Special Ad Valorem for the City of Laredo for the tax year 2003 and FY 2003-2004. 

 

Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2003-O-231.

 

Moved:   Cm.  Agredano

Second:   Cm.  Amaya

For:    4                         Against: 3                            Abstain:   0

                                      Mayor Pro Tempore Galo

                                      Cm.  J.  Valdez

                                      Cm.  Ramirez

 

                Motion to waive the final reading of Ordinance # 2003-O-232.

 

                Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Galo

                Second:  Cm.  J.  Valdez

                For:     7                                              Against:  0                                Abstain:  0

 

2003-O-232               Amending the City of Laredo FY 2002-2003 Risk Management Fund by appropriating $300,000.00 for revenues and expenditures related to the Worker’s Compensation charges and claims.  The amendment will increase estimated revenues for administrative charges/workers compensation by $300,000.00 and the estimated expenditure for compensation claims by $300,000.00.

 

Motion to adopt Ordinance # 2003-O-232.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Agredano

Second:  Cm.  Amaya

For:     7                        Against:  0                                Abstain:  0 

 

V.        MOTIONS

 

3.      Authorizing the City Manager to write-off various antiquated accounts receivable that are deemed to be uncollectible by the City’s audit firm of Garza, Martinez, & Company as per their letter to Management.  The total amount of the write-off is $2,445,177.74; a summary by account type is available for review.  The financial impact to the City is an expenditure of $254.00 for the fiscal year.

 

Motion to approve.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:  Cm.  Ramirez

For:     7                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

4.      Consideration for approval to award a design/build contract for the modification to the City of Laredo Health Department 2600 Cedar Avenue to R.J. Cantu Designer/Builder, Inc., Laredo, Texas, in the amount not to exceed $165,000.00.  Funding is available in the Health Fund-WIC Grant-Building.

 

Motion to approve with correcting the amount of $165,000.00 to $125,000.00.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:  Cm.  Ramirez

For:     7                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

5.      Authorizing the City Manager to enter into a renewed Interlocal Agreement for FY 2003-2004 between the City of Laredo and County of Webb in the amount of $150,000.00 for locally supported public health services to non-Laredo residents of Webb County for the period beginning October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004.

 

Motion to approve.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Galo

Second:  Cm.  Ramirez

For:     7                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

6.      In the event that the County of Webb has not signed the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between the City of Laredo and the County of Webb by September 30, 2003, the City Manager is authorized to execute an extension for a period of thirty (30) days at a cost of $ 50,000.00 based on the new contract rate for the provision of fire protection, emergency medical and rescue services for all unincorporated areas of the County of Webb, Texas, lying outside the incorporated limits of the City of Laredo.

 

Larry Dovalina, City Manager, stated that a meeting was held with different administrators from Webb County to discuss the Council’s wish to increase the contract to $600,000.  The County expressed their concerns for not being able to reach $600,000 in the first year; however, they were comfortable with the amount for the second year.  The contract will be a two year contract.  The administrators noted that they would propose to Commissioners Court about budgeting $525,000 for the first year and $600,000 for the second year.  They would graduate the payments to be able to come up with the money.  He added that they express their concerns of not having sufficient monies in their budgets.  He went on to say that there is a clause in the contract that would allow for negotiations if El Cenizo or Rio Bravo dis-incorporated. 

 

Motion to restrict a surplus sales tax by Mayor Pro Tempore Galo.

 

There was no second to the motion.

 

Larry Dovalina, City Manager, said that the City has a restriction in the Transit Tax and staff can bring back a motion and/or an ordinance restricting the remaining sales tax. 

 

Motion to authorize to execute an extension for a period of 30 days at the cost of $50,000.00 based on the new contract rate $600,000 for the provision of fire protection, emergency medical and rescue services for all unincorporated areas of the County of Webb. 

 

 

 

Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Galo

Second:  Cm.  Ramirez

For:     6                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  1

                                                                                                                  Cm.  Amaya

 

Motion that if Webb County does agree that the City of Laredo should restrict $200,000 for reducing taxes.   

 

Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Galo

Second:  Cm.  Ramirez

For:    no vote

 

Motion to postpone restrictions until further discussion.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Belmares

Second:  Cm.  Garcia

For:    4                                                      Against:  3                                Abstain:  1 

Mayor voted in favor of the motion.            Mayor Pro Tempore  Galo       Cm.  Amaya

                                                                  Cm.  Ramirez

                                                                  Cm.  J.  Valdez

                                                                 

VI.       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.

 

7.      Request for Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.071 (1)(A) to discuss with City Attorney pending litigation, City of Laredo v. Leyendecker Properties, Ltd., Cause No. 2003EDA000001-C1, and return to open session for possible action.

 

Motion to go into Executive Session pursuant to Texas Government Code § 551.071 (1)(A) to discuss with City Attorney pending litigation, City of Laredo v. Leyendecker Properties, Ltd., Cause No. 2003EDA000001-C1, and return to open session for possible action.

 

Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Galo

Second:  Cm.  Agredano

For:     7                                         Against:   0                                           Abstain:  0 

 

After Executive Session, Mayor Flores announced that no formal action was taken.

 

Motion to instruct City Attorney to file objections to the Award of Commissioners in the eminent domain case of City of Laredo vs.  Leyendecker Properties filed in County Court at Law No. 1, on basis that the amount of damages in amount of $932,000.00 recommended by the special commissioners on September 10th was excessive, and by filing such objections, to commence civil litigation in the County Court of Law No. 1 to acquire the necessary 4.389 acres for the extension of Springfield Road. 

 

Moved:  Mayor Pro Tempore Galo

Second:  Cm.  Agredano

For:     7                                         Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 
VII.     ADJOURNMENT

 

Motion to adjourn.                                                                                Time:  1:06 p.m.

 

Moved:  Cm.  Amaya

Second:  Mayor Pro Tempore Galo

For:     7                                               Against:  0                                            Abstain:  0 

 

I, Gustavo Guevara, Jr., City Secretary do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes contained in pages 01 to 06 are true, complete, and correct proceedings of the City Council meeting held on September 22, 2003.

 

                       

                                                                        _____________________________________

                                                                        Gustavo Guevara, Jr.

                                  City Secretary