The City Council of the City of Columbus, Texas met in regular session on Monday, June 11, 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
Mayor Pro Tem - Curtiss Schonenberg
Councilman - Charles Richardson
Councilwoman - Sandra Frnka
Councilman - Milton Wavra
City Manager - David Meisell
City Secretary - Patti Glaeser
And the following absent:
Councilman - 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. Consent Agenda:
a. Approval of invoices.
b. Approval of Minutes of May 29, 2007 Regular Meeting.
Mayor Heffley suggested that the Council call City Hall on Friday or Monday before the meeting with any questions about the consent agenda. He said this will allow management to research the question before the meeting. They can then have the answer at the meeting.
Councilwoman Frnka asked what the charges were for from Gates, Stein, Prause, and Gillespie. City Manager, David Meisell, responded that this was for work Ty Prause, the City Attorney, performed on the pipeline and with help with a large open records request.
Regarding the Minutes from the May 29th meeting, Mayor Heffley asked if the public entities were doing better with retirement plans than what the City was doing with TMRS (Texas Municipal Retirement System). Mr. Meisell explained that with a regular 401K, people have an option where they want to invest their money. With TMRS, employees don’t have a choice, but there is little risk. He said this is comparing a defined contribution plan versus a defined benefit plan.
Patti Glaeser clarified a question Councilwoman Frnka asked at the previous meeting. She said the invoice from Aqua Tech was coded wrong and had been corrected as a charge to the sewer department.
Councilman Schonenberg moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilwoman Frnka seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Richardson, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Frnka
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
4. Consideration and Action to Approve Invoice from Curtiss Automotive.
Councilman Richardson moved to approve the invoice from Curtiss Automotive. Councilman Wavra seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Richardson, Wavra
Councilwoman Frnka
Absent: Councilman Rankin
Abstain: Councilman Schonenberg
The motion passed.
5. Citizen’s presentations and comments.[i]
There were no citizen’s presentations or comments.
6. Discussion of City Manager’s Report including Water Delivery Project, Drying Bed Construction, Water Well, Storm Sewer Work, Storm Damage, Drainage Right-of-Way, River Status, Groundwater District Progress, Headworks Assembly Repair, Flood Information.
City Manager, David Meisell, presented his City Manager’s report which is attached to these minutes.
In addition to #1, Mr. Meisell added that they would review the entire list of problem areas with the Water Delivery System tomorrow, June 12th.
Regarding #6, Drainage Right of Way, Councilman Schonenberg asked how much the cost would be. Mr. Meisell responded that he estimated it could go up to $50,000, but hoped it would cost $30,000 or less. Councilman Schonenberg also asked if the property owner has seen the preliminary drawings of the drainage improvements. Mr. Meisell responded that he had.
In addition to #7, Mr. Meisell showed a chart of the river height in November 2004. Councilman Schonenberg asked if there is any river level where LCRA will not pump out anymore. Mr. Meisell said that because the river is only at elevated levels for short periods of time, he believes LCRA will find other sources. He said he will include LCRA’s settlement with the City of Austin in the agenda packet next time.
In addition to #10, Mr. Meisell discussed and explained FEMA’s flood plain maps. He explained that Zone X is out of the flood plain, which is where most of downtown Columbus is. He showed the different elevations of the flood plain. He said that most of the South and East of Columbus is 191 feet elevation. South Columbus is listed at 193 feet. Highway 90, on the east side of town, is 194 feet. The north part of town, above Dewees, is 194 feet. He said the area where the subdivision, Providence Landing is located, is indicated on the flood plain map at 201 feet. He said the parts of Columbus that are known to flood which includes the golf course area, has not been identified on the FEMA flood plain maps.
In addition to #9, Mr. Meisell commented that the Council may need to look at budgeting money for repairs to the Industrial Park Sewer Plant as the plant is getting older.
Mayor Heffley asked about the status of the Safe Routes to School program. Mr. Meisell said that the application for the grant had been filed. He said he expects it will take six to nine months for Austin to respond. He also said that it is a $750,000 project.
Mayor Heffley asked about the fire at Hanover. Mr. Meisell responded that the Columbus Volunteer Fire Department was called out to Hanover about 8:30 pm on Sunday as mutual aid to Bernardo Volunteer Fire Department. He said Frelsburg and Eagle Lake Volunteer Fire Departments were also called out. He said the fire was in an area that had the potential for a very bad situation with racks of tires and drums of gasoline. He said everything worked out fine with no injuries. He said the fire department was there approximately three hours and were called out again about 5:30am on Monday. The fire department believes that the fire was accidental. Councilman Wavra asked where the water refills came from. Mr. Meisell responded that he believed the tankers were refilled in Alleyton.
Mayor Heffley asked what the status of walking bridge is to Beason’s Park. Mr. Meisell said he did not know of anything being done. Councilman Richardson voiced his concerns of the unbounded liability that would go along with a project like this.
7. Consideration and Action to Approve a Proposed Subdivision of .4250 Acre Tract located in the Original Lot 6, in Block No. 49, 1312 Live Oak; Such Application Requesting Said Tract be Subdivided into Two Lots (.2263 Acres and .1987 Acres) as requested by James Howell.
Mr. Meisell said that originally this subdivision was requested to be divided into three tracts. Mr. Meisell explained that the Planning and Zoning Commission did not recommend this subdivision as originally submitted. He said that the plans were revised into 2 tracts and then submitted to the Board of Adjustment for a variance on the front yard of one tract for a width of 52.96 feet instead of 55 feet. Councilman Richardson asked if any of the neighbors had a problem with this subdivision. Mr. Meisell explained that notices were sent to all neighbors within 200 feet. A public hearing was held at the Planning and Zoning meeting and the Board of Adjustment meeting with no objections from any citizens.
Councilman Schonenberg moved to approve the proposed subdivision of a .4250 Acre Tract located in the Original Lot 6, in Block No. 49, 1312 Live Oak; Such Application Requesting Said Tract be Subdivided into Two Lots (.2263 Acres and .1987 Acres) as requested by James Howell. Councilman Richardson seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Richardson, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Frnka
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
8. Consideration and Action to Approve Ordinance 67-07, Adopting and Enacting a New Code of Ordinances; Providing for the Repeal of Certain Ordinances Not Included Therein; Providing a Penalty for the Violation thereof; Providing for the Amendment of Such Code; and Providing when Such Code and this Ordinance Shall Become Effective.
Mr. Meisell explained that this Ordinance would bring the City’s Code of Ordinances up to date. He said he worked with the City Attorney, Ty Prause, getting this done. He said a link to the ordinances would be put on the City’s website that would allow the public to have access to the Code of Ordinances. He said this should all be completed within approximately 30 days. Councilman Schonenberg asked if this is what the invoice from Franklin Publishing was for. Mr. Meisell confirmed this.
Mr. Meisell said that updates will be done on an as needed basis. There will be additional costs at that point.
Councilman Wavra moved to Approve Ordinance 67-07, Adopting and Enacting a New Code of Ordinances; Providing for the Repeal of Certain Ordinances Not Included Therein; providing a Penalty for the Violation thereof; Providing for the Amendment of Such Code; and providing when such code and this ordinance shall become effective. Councilwoman Frnka seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Richardson, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Frnka
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
9. Consider and Act on Mayor’s Appointment for a Fire Pension Board Member for a Two-year Term Beginning June 1, 2007 and Ending May 31, 2009.
Mayor Heffley said his appointment for the Fire Pension Board would be himself. Councilman Wavra moved to appoint Mayor Richard Heffley to the Fire Pension Board for a two-year term beginning June 1, 2007 and ending May 31, 2009. Councilwoman Frnka seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Richardson, Schonenberg, Wavra
Councilwoman Frnka
Absent: Councilman Rankin
The motion passed.
Councilman Wavra left the meeting at 8:00pm.
10. Presentation and Discussion of Open Meetings Act Training.
Patti Glaeser presented the Texas Attorney General’s training DVD on the Open Meetings Act. This training session satisfies the requirement for new Councilmembers to receive this training.
11. Items from Councilmembers.2
Councilman Schonenberg asked what the speed limit on FM 806 or Cardinal Lane was. Mr. Meisell said he did not know off hand, but would check.
Councilwoman Frnka – no comment.
Councilman Richardson – no comment.
12. Announcements.
Mayor Heffley reminded everyone of the upcoming peace officers’ appreciation dinner hosted by Jerry Mikeska.
13. Adjournment.
There being no further business, Mayor Heffley adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
____________________________
Richard Heffley, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Patti Glaeser, City Secretary