CITY OF LAREDO
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1110 HOUSTON STREET
LAREDO, TEXAS
6:00 P.M.
MINUTES
M98-S-05 FEBRUARY 9, 1998
I. CALL TO ORDER
With a quorum present Mayor Protem Jose R. Perez, Jr. called the meeting
to order.
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Protem Jose R. Perez, Jr. led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. ROLL CALL
IN ATTENDANCE:
JOSE R. PEREZ, JR., COUNCILMEMBER, DISTRICT I
LOUIS H. BRUNI, " , DISTRICT II
ALFONSO I. "PONCHO" CASSO, " , DISTRICT III
CECILIA MAY MORENO, " , DISTRICT IV
ELISEO VALDEZ, " , DISTRICT V
JOE A. GUERRA, " , DISTRICT VI
MARIO G. ALVARADO, " , DISTRICT VII
CONSUELO "CHELO" MONTALVO, " , DISTRICT VIII
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR., CITY SECRETARY
FLORENCIO PENA, CITY MANAGER
JAIME L. FLORES, CITY ATTORNEY
IV. CITY MANAGERS REPORT
2. Discussion and possible action regarding various ideas and/or
strategies that can be implemented in order to deal with the traffic
congestion on I.H. 35.
Robert Murillo, Traffic Engineer, gave a summary of what transpired in
the last two meetings of November 17, 1997 and
November 24, 1997. He stated that the preliminary recommen-dations
were given at the council meeting of December 1, 1998. The six
recommendations made were:
(1) - Open Bridge I with the same hours as Bridge II, from 8:00 a.m.
to 12 midnight.
(2) - Extension of Lafayette to connect to Anna Truck Route
and designate it as a truck route.
(3) - Providing funding for personnel for additional police to provide
enforcement on IH-35.
(4) - Deletion of Scott Street as a Truck Route.
(5) - Implementation of a staging area at River Drive Mall area with
the necessary personnel to man the holding truck area.
(6) - Initiate a dialogue with Nuevo Laredo authorities to create a
remote staging area to reduce congestion at the Nuevo Laredo
Import Lot.
Mr. Murillo reported that both bridges are now open until midnight.
Rafael Garcia, Bridge Manager, reported that freight crossing
statistics on a 13 month time span. Bridge I handles approximately
33% of all the freight that goes into Mexico and Bridge II handles
about 57%. Colombia is now handling more freight south bound than
Bridge I. The different ratios Garcia had to show were 23% for Bridge
I, 49% for Bridge II, and 28% for Columbia.
Cm. Casso stated that he would like to transfer IH-35 traffic and
route them through Calton Road onto Anna Truck Route and Santa Isabel.
This would be the 90 day relief solution. The 90 day solution is to
look for staging areas and another solution is Colombia. He proposed
to shut the bridge to commercial truck traffic Bridge II after 4:00 or
5:00 p.m. This would force them to use Bridge I. If the mechanism
didn't work, they could play with the hours until it worked.
Florencio Pena, City Manager, stated that changing the hours from 8:00
p.m. to midnight did not work because we were supposed to see a shift
in cargo to Bridge I and it did not happened. The difference was in
the opening of 3 lanes. When the three lanes were opened, they
reduced the amount of congestion.
Luis Landin, Traffic Manager, gave the following costs for
a staging area:
Public Works resurfacing $38,421
fixed costs 38,421
2 traffic personnel from Traffic 32,000/yr.
2 traffic personnel from Bridge 35,000/yr.
--------
Total personnel cost per year: 67,000/yr.
Total overall cost ..........: $105,421
He added that this does not include the cost of additional police
officers needed to maintain order. The project would take from 2 to 3
weeks to implement it.
Cm. Bruni stated the possibility of allowing the trucks using Bridge
II not to be charged the $12.00 fee from the morning hours to 12:00
p.m., and from 1:00 to 4:00 charge them the $12.00 fee, and after
4:00 p.m. charge them double or triple. He said to play around with
this on a temporary basis. He proposed to advise the incoming traffic
that the middle lane is not really a freeway anymore, it is a down
ramp from Del Mar to the International Bridge. He also stated that
there should be a strip painted solid from Del Mar all the way to the
bridge and by the Tourist Center where the TxDOT sign would state
"Extreme Danger Be Prepared to Stop" and that there is always police
presence. Enforcement is the key issue.
Police Chief Agustin Dovalina reported that the enforcement issue
would involve funding from 6 to 11 police officers to be able to
adequately handle the situation on IH35, as well as the stationary
area is that is being proposed for a total cost of $200,000 per year.
They are looking to assigning officers up and down IH35. The officer
will be assigned to patrol IH35 either on a bicycle or patrol marcher.
Another officer position towards the end of the truck line, advising
other drivers that the line is to the end and to be careful. Another
officer assigned to direct traffic and clear the intersection at
Houston and Santa Ursula. Another officer assigned to Matamoros and
Farragut and/or Farragut and Santa Ursula. Two officers assigned to
direct traffic and clear the intersection at Victoria and Santa
Ursula. They would also need to assign several officers from the
regular time on duty to assistance particularly in debit for
$200,000.00. At this time there are seven officers working at IH35.
One officer on IH35 from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., another at the end of the
line from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., one on Houston and Santa Ursula from
4:00 to 6:00 p.m., and one on Matamoros and Santa Ursula from 4:00 to
6:00 p.m. Three other officers will be assigned to the staging area
from 3:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Mr. Mercado, Texas Department of Transportation Director of
Operations, introduced the issues of the IH35 project and US59
project. On the IH35 project, for the exception of the topping layer
on top of the interstate and a few landscaping things that are still
pending, the project itself is pretty much completed with 3 lanes
open. They are in the process of modifying the design due to road
degradation by the trucks. Right now they are in the point where the
only thing they are missing is to put the final blacktop. They have 3
months before completing the blacktop but the three lanes are still
open. The only thing that would happen is that there would be another
layer on top of what is there. As far as additional things that are
out there, there are signs that are being put up and will take a month
or so to be finished. There are sensors on the pavement on three
locations that identify when any of the trailers start building up on
the interstate. Basically, they start flashing on the electronic
board to electronic boards. One is north of Milo and the other one is
right in front of the mall. When any of the trailers stand more than
five minutes on top of that sensor, it sets of the alarm and it
flashes the lights and warns the trailers where to move. Delay is on
modification of type of pavement and all markers having to be the
same.
Juan Garza, Webb County Sheriff, offered support and manpower stating
that we should work together and coordinate a plan for an immediate
solution and safety.
Rudy Williams, Department of Public Safety Representative, stated that
manpower is the issue. They have 5 troopers assigned to the entire
Webb County. Their main objective is the rural traffic problems,
though the department is willing to assist they do not have the
manpower to help out. He concluded by stating that he would have to
adjust the hours in order to commit to inside as opposed to rural.
Jorge Trevino spoke against routing the trucks from IH35 to the right
part of town, through Calton, Santa Maria, Santa Isabel, and Anna
Truck Route.
Tom Wade, Vice President of the Laredo Transportation Association,
stated that they support the original proposal with IH35. They don't
consider IH-35 a parking lot, it is an entrance to a toll bridge. He
added that the decision that they had to make was one that would
balance the economic growth of this community in the transportation
and trade industry vs. the safety aspect vs. monetary cost. They have
always looked at this as a short term solution. The fluctuation of
tolls makes sense since it offers an incentive to cross earlier and a
penalty for crossing later. It still allows you to make that later
crossing because the bottom line shipper demands for that material to
get there at a certain time and he is willing to pay that cost.
Whether the cost ends up off-setting, how the cost would come up, and
where the money would be made, if there is money left over would that
would require some study by the city.
C.Y. Benavides III, representing Colombia Toll Road, stated that the
Colombia Toll Road is the solution, Colombia is the answer now. He
said that the Colombia Toll Road doors will be open by 1999.
Jesus Ponce spoke about various options of not moving the trucks away
from IH35. One option was to move the trucks to the access roads
starting at the 18-mile marker. Another alternative was to use the
mid-section of IH35 to place the trucks.
Segio Lujan, President of the Nuevo Laredo Agentes Aduanales and the
Laredo Freight Forwarders, stated that there were 157 accidents along
the road from Colombia to Nuevo Laredo in 1997. Of the 157 accidents,
there were 8 deaths and 158 injuries and that this is not the answer
to route trucks through Colombia due to the high safety issues. He
also said that reduced hours at Bridge II is not the answer either.
They want to solve the IH35 problem and cross through Bridge II,
because Bridge I has no modulos on the Mexican side for expediting
cargo. He added that another problem seen on bridge II was when there
was no cargo nor passengers on the bridge but still there was line in
the collecting booths. One solution is to allow empties through
regular booths or customs assign another booth exclusive for empties.
Fidel Ramirez asked about a temporary road to connect to Anna Truck
Route behind CPL for the Mines Road trucks.
Florencio Pena, City Manager, replied that staff has looked at it.
It's a major project and Mr. Alvarado is keeping up with it. Orilla
would connect to Industrial Boulevard.
Cecilia Moreno asked if it was possible to connect beyond that line.
This issue was brought before the Councilmembers which is part of the
RFP study, three meetings ago. This study will not take a long time
once they get an engineer or a consultant. This study will not take
more than 3 months to be put together. This project was funded by MPO
and is a to be done by this fiscal year.
Motion to instruct staff to shut down Bridge II to truck cargo traffic
from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; close as soon as possible; review this
motion after ten days or two weeks and then change it. At 8:00 Bridge
II will be opened again. Trucks will be charged regular fees. The
intention is to change the hours of operation, not necessary to use
the other bridge.
Moved : Cm. Casso
Second: Cw. Moreno
For: 3 Against: 4 Abstain: 0
Cm. Bruni Cm. Valdez
Cm. Casso Cm. Guerra
Cw. Moreno Cm. Alvarado
Cw. Montalvo
Motion to keep the truck traffic on the left lane on IH35; increase
enforcement; and that all trucks getting on IH35 need to go to the
very back even if it means going to the Del Mar entrance or further
back to the Tourist Bureau entrance and no cutting in.
Moved : Cm. Alvarado
Second: Cw. Montalvo
For: 4 Against: 3 Abstain: 0
Cm. Valdez Cm. Bruni
Cm. Guerra Cm. Casso
Cm. Alvarado Cw. Moreno
Cw. Montalvo
V. COMMUNICATIONS
None.
VI. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATION
3. Requests by Mayor and City Councilmembers for discussion and
presentation.
A. Requests by Councilmember Louis H. Bruni
1. Approval of change order no. 1, a decrease of $8,635.75 to the
construction contract with McLean Construction Company, Inc., Killeen,
Texas, for the Montgomery India Drainage Improvements. This change
order no. 1 is a credit amount to the City for implementation of an
alternative construction method for re-surfacing the project streets
by utilizing the existing pavement to reduce down time to traffic
accessibility, and this action will expedite the work. This
alternative method will not compromise the integrity of the street
pavement quality. Funding is available in the Capital Improvement
Fund Montgomery/India Drainage Project.
Motion to instruct staff for the next meeting that the decrease to
come back and be funded for the sidewalks.
The amount of money be appropriated for a sidewalk on one side of the
street adjacent to the Lara School and following the 6 blocks where
this project took place.
Moved : Cm. Bruni
Second: Cm. Guerra
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
B. Requests by Councilmember Alfonso "Poncho" Casso
1. Discussion and possible action regarding the construction of Highway
59. (Co-sponsored by Cm. Louis H. Bruni and
Cm. Eliseo Valdez, Jr.)
Cm. Casso stated that the concern on this issue were the
angry citizens and businesses along Sanders. He said that some
businesses are down about 40% in sales and asked why did they
barricade more than 10 blocks, why not just 1 block at a time.
Cm. Valdez reported that he has a list of recommendations from the
meeting held last week.
Mr. Hector Alvarado stated that they need a firm commitment from
Council to help with the traffic due to construction.
Tony Gutierrez, from Kimberly's Flower Box, stated that the
construction is hurting most of the businesses and that there is a
drop of 45-50% drop in a month and that in 2 years they'll be out of
business. He asked what kind of relief from Council can they get and
that maybe they can meet with staff or Council to find a solution.
John Vidaurri, Assistant City Manager, reported on the meeting held.
There were some concerns that were brought up by some of the merchants
and residents along Sanders. They are working with TxDOT to address
some of these concerns. One of the things that was talked about at
the meeting was going ahead and working through the TxDot Public
Information Office so that merchants and residents along Sanders were
aware of the status of the project. They could express their concerns
through the Public Information Office regarding anything related to
the project. Another issue was the speeding up the project. The
Utilities Department has identified a source of funding which they
will be able to use to contract out portions of the utilities
relocation. It is estimated by the utilities director that this will
save approximately 3 months of time. TxDOT agreed to meet with price
construction and look at ways to fast track the project. They will
eliminate as much as the inconvenience as possible.
Cm. Valdez asked that staff do all that is possible to expedite the
City's part of the work on this project.
Another thing that we have to look at is temporary exceptions to our
signs ordinance to help the business people do all possible to post
the temporary signs to attract more business and minimize some of
their loses. After this is done, he wants the staff to provide some
ideas put up a report bi-weekly at the city council meetings to make
sure they monitor the project and keep track of progress.
Cm. Bruni asked to keep track of the contractor, Price Construction,
to see that they're at there working on the project every day since he
is also working on IH 35, Hwy 359, and now Hwy 59. He asked that we
providing enforcement on parking of buildings on public property.
Salvador Mercado, from TxDOT, reported on what was discussed with the
businesses attending the meeting and explained the project process and
scheduling. The project postponed for 18 months will now be for a lot
less. What they are doing now will take 8 to 9 months, then they
shift the traffic over to a wider and completed section that is going
to be three lanes. They will work with city on scheduling and work
out some of the problems facing the businesses. They have made a
commitment not to close the entrances. The property owners will have
access throughout the project. The problem is that they are
restricting the access, but they are eliminating the traffic. They
can't have both, but they are trying everything to improve.
Keith Selman, City Planner, stated that it is all a matter of how we
structure it. Whether or not we want to allow for people to place
temporary signs on public right-of-way or to allow for increase
signage on premises. We will explore the recommendations of the
council.
Florencio Pena, City Manager, stated that on the meeting on the 17th
they will evaluate the concerns and recommendations. The funding
became available February 2nd. If they feel their money is there, and
in line with the other projects that are coming down for TxDot if they
can do them all, they will present something on the 17th. They will
issue a change order and they will it approved by council to pay TxDot
so that price can do the relocation opposed to themselves. There is a
18" water line that is in that area and is a very difficult project.
They might need outside help to do that problem. The assistant
director for the utilities said that for the 18" waste water line they
have proposed to put up some specs and announce and go up for bids for
the next two weeks to see how much it is going to cost them. They are
estimating it is going to cost them about $200,000.
Cm. Valdez requested that a report be provided to Council once a month
by TxDOT on its progress.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn. Time: 9:40 p.m.
Moved : Cm. Alvarado
Second: Cm. Valdez
For: 7 Against: 0 Abstain: 0
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE MINUTES CONTAINED IN PAGES O1 TO 09
ARE TRUE, COMPLETE, AND CORRECT PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1998. A CERTIFIED COPY IS ON FILE AT THE
CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.
________________________
GUSTAVO GUEVARA, JR.
CITY SECRETARY