The City Council of the City of Columbus, Texas met in special session on Monday, May 14, 2007 at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 605 Spring Street, Columbus, Texas, with the following present:
Mayor - Richard Heffley
Councilman - Brian Berger
Councilwoman - Lori Sprague
Councilman Curtiss Schonenberg
Councilman - Milton Wavra
City Manager - David Meisell
City Secretary - Patti Glaeser
And the following absent:
Mayor Pro Tem - Chuck Rankin
1. Call to Order.
Mayor Heffley called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.
2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation.
Mayor Heffley led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Invocation.
3. Introduction and Administer Oath of Office to New Police Patrolmen –Gary Ashford and William Raabe.
Mayor Heffley introduced Officer Gary Ashford and Officer William Raabe and administered each the Oath of Office.
4. Consent Agenda:
a. Approval of invoices.
b. Approval of Minutes of April 23, 2007 Regular Meeting.
Councilman Berger asked if the invoice from Andrus was for the water and sewer project. David Meisell, City Manager, responded it was for preparation of the streets for seal coating the City will be doing in the summer. Councilman Berger then also asked what was done to the Fire Department’s grass truck. Mr. Meisell said that new mounting hardware was put on the side of the truck. Councilman Schonenberg asked if the old fire truck had been totally converted to the lift truck. Mr. Meisell said the truck will be picked up tomorrow. Councilman Berger asked if this was the second month for the gas discount. Mr. Meisell responded that this was the third month for the discounts.
Councilman Wavra moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilman Schonenberg seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
Mayor Heffley announced that Councilman Rankin was absent from the meeting because of a
business engagement and had notified the mayor of his absence.
5. Consideration and Action to approve an invoice from Curtiss Automotive.
Councilman Berger moved to approve the invoice from Curtiss Automotive. Councilwoman Sprague seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Abstain: Councilman Schonenberg
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
6. Citizen’s presentations and comments.[i]
There were no citizen’s presentations or comments.
Mayor Heffley then moved to Item #10.
10. Consideration and action to adopt a resolution requesting an Agreement between the State of Texas and the City for the closure of the 1100 Block of Milam Street (Spur 52) between Spring Street and Walnut Street from noon to Midnight Saturday, May 19, 2007 and from 6:00am to 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2007.
Mr. Meisell explained that Resolution 46-07 was to request The State of Texas close Spur 52 for the annual Live Oak Festival. Councilman Berger moved to adopt Resolution 46-07 requesting an agreement between the State of Texas and the City for the closure of the 1100 Block of Milam Street (Spur 52) between Spring Street and Walnut Street from noon to Midnight Saturday, May 19, 2007 and from 6:00am to 5:00 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2007. Councilwoman Sprague seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
11. Consideration and action to approve the closure of the entire 400 Block of Spring Street and approximately 75 ft into the 300 block of Spring St. up to entrance of Old Jail Parking Lot from 12:00 noon on Friday, May 18, 2007 until 5:00p.m on Sunday, May 20, 2007; and, 1100 Block of Travis Street between Spring Street and Walnut Street; from 5:00pm Friday, May 18, 2007 to 5:00pm Sunday, May 20, 2007.
Councilwoman Sprague moved to approve closure of the entire 400 Block of Spring Street and approximately 75 ft into the 300 block of Spring St. up to entrance of Old Jail Parking Lot from 12:00 noon on Friday, May 18, 2007 until 5:00p.m on Sunday, May 20, 2007; and, 1100 Block of Travis Street between Spring Street and Walnut Street; from 5:00pm Friday, May 18, 2007 to 5:00pm Sunday, May 20, 2007. Councilman Berger seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
12. Consideration and Action to Approve a Bicycle Ride on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 7:00pm.
Mayor Heffley explained that this ride of silence was requested to be in honor of the bicycler killed outside of town last week. Mr. Meisell showed his understanding of the route the ride will undertake. It will begin at Beason’s Park and continue through various streets throughout town. Councilman Schonenberg asked if they asked for any assistance. Mr. Meisell said they had contacted the police to hire off duty police. Councilwoman Sprague moved to approve a bicycle ride on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 7:00 pm. Councilman Wavra seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
13. Consideration and Action to Accept Bids for Street Seal Coating, award Contract to Successful Bidder, and Authorize the City Manager to Execute any Agreement Necessary to Accomplish Such Contract.
Mr. Meisell said one bid was received from H&C Construction Co, Inc. for the seal coat bid. Several other contractors sent in letters declining to bid. Mr. Meisell said that the area to be seal coated was the northern part of town, including Milam, Travis, and Front Streets. Councilman Schonenberg said the study that was just received suggested doing more. Mr. Meisell said that during the budget process, we should know more about where the sewer line upgrading should be. We will then be able to determine what additional areas can be seal coated. Councilman Berger moved to accept the bid from H& C for $57,878.43 or $1.29 per foot and authorize the City Manager to execute any agreement necessary to accomplish such contract. Councilman Schonenberg seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
7. 7:00 P.M. Recess: Firemen’s Memorial Service.
Mayor Heffley adjourned the meeting at 6:55 pm. to attend the Firemen’s Memorial Service.
Mayor Heffley reconvened the meeting at 7:35pm, with all returning except Councilman Berger.
8. Discussion of City Manager’s Report including Water Delivery Project, Drying Bed Construction, Water Well, Swimming Pool, Meeting with TXDOT and Union Pacific, Revenue Updates, Bucket Truck, River Status, TMRS Rate for 2008, Auction Results, Groundwater District Progress.
Mr. Meisell presented his City Manager’s report which is attached to these minutes. He discussed the Water Delivery Project, stating that all the pipe is in the ground. He said that the project is approximately $177,846 over budget. He explained that the bulk of that overage is due to the bore at Schobels’ Restaurant. It was over $42, 510. The Valero and McDonald’s driveways, south of town, were over $32, 717. He said that extra fire hydrants were also installed along with additional pipe on Montezuma. Mayor Heffley mentioned that the water well came in under budget. Councilman Schonenberg requested a copy of the water delivery project report.
Mr. Meisell said they would drain the digester at the drying bed. Councilman Wavra said the last time it was cleaned out was in1996.
Mr. Meisell said that the new water well tested a 3.4 capacity which is a good experience. Councilman Schonenberg asked if the drainage problem at the drying bed had been worked out. Mr. Meisell responded that the City Engineer, Donald Warschak has designed a plan so that the rain water runoff will not run into the drying bed.
Councilman Berger arrived back at 7:45 pm.
Mayor Heffley asked what the progress of the annexation of the property is south of town. Mr. Meisell said that Donald Warschak’s drawings were forwarded to legal on Friday.
Mr. Meisell said sales tax revenue continues to increase.
Mr. Meisell explained that the Sewer revenue was continuing to decline as expected. Water also is continuing to decline. Combined Water and Sewer revenue is slightly above budget. Net gas revenue jumped back up.
9. Consideration and Action to Approve the 2006 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
Mr. Meisell discussed his recap of the audit. He said the City had an overall profit of $377,000. He would like to pay off the debt of the Incode capital lease with part of the excess. He would also like to pay down some of the TMRS unfunded liability. Mayor Heffley asked if the CCIDC had thought about paying down some of their debt. Mr. Meisell said that he is looking into refinancing.
Councilwoman Sprague moved to approve the 2006 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Councilman Wavra seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
14. Consideration and Action to Assign Regency Gas Utility LP and/or Regency FS LP (‘Regency”) Agreement to Texana Pipeline Company, LLC.
Mr. Meisell said that Regency Gas was sold to Texana Pipeline Company. Councilwoman Sprague moved to assign Regency Gas Utility LP and/or Regency FS LP (‘Regency”) Agreement to Texana Pipeline Company, LLC. Councilman Berger seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
15. Consideration and Action to Approve Budget Amendment to suspend Lease Agreement with Lubbock National Bank – Incode Software Program.
Mr. Meisell said the accounting was the lease agreement was very cumberson. Councilman Berger moved to approve the budget amendment to suspend the lease agreement with Lubbock National Bank. Councilwoman Sprague seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
16. Consideration and Action to Approve Purchase of Incode Software – Building Projects.
Mr. Meisell explained that we did not spend the entire original amount allocated to the Incode Software program. He said we would like to spend some of the money on the Building projects module. This would allow us to manage the inspection and permitting package. He also said it would allow us to give support to the inspection process, which the Council requested, by printing lists to give to the field people. Councilman Schonenberg said he agrees that we need this, but is concerned with implementing a program that is going to be hard with Jerry (Krenek) and Rudy (Schmidt). Mr. Meisell explained that this module would be managed internally. Councilman Schonenberg asked if the field people would take the list out, gather information, and then give it to the inside people to record. Mr. Meisell said yes this is the way it would happen. Councilman Schonenberg went on to say that he contacted James (Shane) Cleveland at Tyler Technology. Councilman Schonenberg said that he was confused with how this program would work. He asked if we could get someone here to demonstrate the program. Councilman Schonenberg said that we had some frustrated employees with the implemented of this latest Incode program and he did not want this new program to frustrate anyone. Mr. Meisell said he could not guarantee there wouldn’t be any frustrations because he has higher expectations. He said that with higher expectations, some people make it and some people don’t. If the Council has higher expectations for inspections, etc., the City will need tools to achieve the higher expectations.
The Council requested this item be tabled until a demonstration of the Incode Building Projects Software could be shown.
17. Consideration and Action to Approve Budget Amendment to Purchase Incode Software – Building Projects.
This item was also tabled.
18. Discussion and Action to Approve a Proposed Subdivision of a .7018 Acre Tract located in the E. Tumlinson Survey, Abstract No.44, 1210 Montezuma; Such Application Requesting Said Tract be Subdivided into Two (2) Lots (.3496 Acres and .3522 Acres), As Recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Mr. Meisell explained that this proposed subdivision had been to Planning and Zoning and was approved and recommended. Councilwoman Sprague moved to approve a proposed subdivision of a .7018 Acre Tract located in the E. Tumlinson Survey, Abstract No.44, 1210 Montezuma; Such Application Requesting Said Tract be Subdivided into Two (2) Lots (.3496 Acres and .3522 Acres), As Recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilman Berger seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
19. Discussion and Action to Schedule A Special Meeting on May 21, 2007 @ 6:30pm to Canvass the May 12, 2007 Election and Administer Oath of Office to Newly Elected City Officials.
Councilman Schonenberg moved to approve a special meeting on May 21, 2007 @ 6:30pm to Canvass the May 12, 2007 Election and Administer Oath of Office to Newly Elected City Officials. Councilman Berger seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
20. Items from Councilmembers.2
Councilman Wavra – no comment
Councilman Schonenberg congratulated the two newly elected council representatives
Councilwoman Sprague – no comment.
Councilman Berger – no comment.
21. Announcements.
There were no additional announcements.
22. Adjournment.
There being no further business, the mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:35 pm.
____________________________
Richard Heffley, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________
Patti Glaeser, City Secretary