The City Council of the City of Shoreacres, Texas met in Regular Session on
Monday, September 24, 2007 at 7:00
p.m.
in the City Council
Chambers of City Hall, 601 Shoreacres Blvd.,
Shoreacres, Texas, with the following present constituting a quorum:
Mayor Jayo Washington
Mayor pro tem Tom Revak
Alderman Joe Gomer
Alderman Gerry Victor
Alderwoman Dolly Arons
Alderman Richard Adams
City Administrator / City Secretary David Stall
1.0 CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL:
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jayo Washington at 7:00pm.
2.0 PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & COMMENTS
2.1 Citizen’s Comments
Stan Krauhs, 1103 Shoreacres Blvd: Addressed the council and inquired about the sound of bells that woke him up at 3:00am. They were described as sounding like railroad crossing bells and that they have become noticeable between the hours of 2:00am and 3:00am.
Nylia Stevens, 122 Forest: Addressed the council about shrubs in the road at Forest and Miramar and that on Saturday morning she found that they had been cut back; she questioned the City allowing the house at 115 Forest to receive an Occupancy Permit without enclosing the open piers below; she asked why the City did not offer an over 65 tax exemption; questioned the 10% cost of living adjustment noted in the new budget; and, asked if the commercial vehicle enforcement program was paying for itself.
Staff noted that the City does offer a $40,000 over 65 homestead tax exemption; that the majority of the City’s employees will receive a 5% cost of living adjustment; and, that the 10% adjustment applied only to the Police Department and that it included a market adjustment in addition to cost of living.
Patrick Stanton, 128 Shadylawn: Advised Council that the topic for the next two Citizen’s Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings will be transportation; that the CAC meets each month on the first Tuesday at the DuPont Recreation Center; that the playground equipment has not been suitably repaired and perhaps the City should hire a firm that performs that type of work; inquired as to the status of park regulation and rules signs; and, inquired about the status of the tennis court backstops.
Staff noted that the park regulation signs are being held until an ordinance can be presented to Council for approval and that the tennis court backstops are to have installation beginning by the end of the week.
Sabrina Howe, 865 South Country Club: Asked Council when street repairs were going to be made on South Country Club.
Shar Lynch, Port of Houston Authority: Addressed the council about a port-wide job fair to be held on October 11.
2.2 Public Hearing: Proposed FY-2007/2008 Budgets.
Mayor Washington opened the Public Hearing at 7:25pm.
No public testimony was offered or heard.
Mayor Washington Closed the Public Hearing at 7:27pm.
6.4 Public Hearing: Proposed 2007 property tax rate.
Mayor Washington opened the Public Hearing at 7:27pm.
No public testimony was offered or heard.
Mayor Washington Closed the Public Hearing at 7:28pm.
3.0 APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3.1 Regular Council Meeting: August 27, 2007
Alderman Adams moved to approve the city council meeting minutes for August 27, with one grammatical correction. Alderman Gomer seconded.
The vote was as follows:
AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.
NAYS: None.
3.3 Regular Council Meeting: September 10, 2007
Alderwoman Arons moved to approve the city council meeting minutes for September 10, as presented. Mayor pro tem Revak seconded.
The vote was as follows:
AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.
NAYS: None.
4.0 REPORTS
4.1 Council Reports
Revak: No report.
Gomer: Reported on attending a SETH meeting and that there is an increased demand for affordable housing as well as senior housing; that he attended the Heritage Society roast of Sylvia Garcia and that it generated funds that may be used to level the depot building; that the Fall Back Festival was a success; and, that he attended the dedication of Heritage Elementary School.
Arons: Reported on a meeting with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s air quality personnel about the high levels of Benzene previously recorded and discussed a Benzene monitor on Old Highway 146 and the ongoing process of deciding on their recommendation while waiting on new monitoring data; and, said that the emitter source of the high level of Benzene has been identified but not yet publicly disclosed.
Adams: Thanked the Mayor and administrator for settling the Yahoo Group; and, reported progress in seeking more Shoreacres city information in the Pasadena/Baytown section coverage.
Victor: Reported that graffiti is still visible at Heron Park; and, the subsidence district is still waiting on the new subsidence detection system evaluation.
Washington: Reported on another meeting with the Port of Houston Authority to discuss sound mitigation and that they are moving forward with a plan; the port has hired a company to manage the project; twelve candidate homes will be identified and narrowed to five that will receive sound insulation; the consulting firm will attempt to identify the source of noise and take sound measurements inside and outside home; a meeting with the engineers is pending. He also reported on participating in the Fall Back Fest.
4.2 Staff Reports
4.2.1 City Administrator’s Report
David Stall: Reported that the City has an opportunity to participate with Harris County for storm water drainage planning and non-point source regulatory compliance activities; and, reported that a part-time clerk has been hired at City Hall.
5.0 BUSINESS
5.1 Consideration and approval of invoices.
Alderman Gomer moved approve the payment of invoices as presented. Alderman Adams seconded.
The vote was as follows:
AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.
NAYS: None.
5.2 Consideration and action by Ordinance to adopt the operating budget for the fiscal year 2007/2008.
Mayor pro tem Revak moved to discuss the budget presented for approval. Alderman Victor seconded.
Mayor pro tem Revak asked if there had been any changes to the budget since it was last presented to council. City Administrator Stall told council that the budget has remained unchanged since filed by the Mayor 30 days earlier.
Mayor pro tem Revak moved to adopt by Ordinance 2007-05 the operating budget for the fiscal year 2007/2008. Alderman Gomer seconded.
The vote was as follows:
AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.
NAYS: None.
5.3 Consideration and action to adopt an Ordinance establishing the 2007 property tax rate for the City of Shoreacres.
Alderwoman Arons moved to discuss the proposed tax rate. Alderman Victor seconded.
There were no questions.
Alderman Gomer moved to adopt by Ordinance 2007-06 the 2007 property tax rate of $0.726891 for the City of Shoreacres. Alderman Victor seconded.
The vote was as follows:
AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.
NAYS: None.
5.4 Consideration and action to adopt a Resolution designating a representative and alternate to the Houston-Galveston Area Council 2008 General Assembly.
Alderman Adams moved to discuss the representative positions. Alderman Victor seconded.
Council discussed which members had an interest in the positions.
Alderman Gomer moved to designate Gerry Victor as the representative and Richard Adams as the alternate representative to H-GAC. Alderwoman Arons seconded.
The vote was as follows:
AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.
NAYS: None.
6.0 ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Washington declared the meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS _____ DAY OF ______________________ 2007.
________________________________
Jayo Washington, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________________
David K. Stall, City Administrator / City Secretary