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2002 07 11 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN July 11, 2002 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on July 11, 2002, at 5:00 p.m. in the Hullum Conference Room of Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas, with the following in attendance: Coleman Godwin Calvin Mundinger Don Murray Mercedes Renteria III Scott Sheley Pete C. Alfaro Gary M. Jackson Ignacio Ramirez Gary W. Smith Absent: Ronnie Anderson Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Mayor Interim City Manager City Attorney City Clerk Council Member The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was conducted: Receive the 2001 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) for the City of Baytown. Armando Martinez, Laboratory Supervisor, Baytown Area Water Authority, reported that the CCR annually reports the results of tests on the drinking water. The report gives the maximum contaminate levels permitted in drinking water. There were no violations of regulated or unregulated substances in Baytown's drinking water. The quality of the water is very good. The Baytown Area Water Authority is the recipient of the TOP award (Texas Optimization Program). The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission rates Baytown's water Superior. Baytown has an ample supply of water. An expansion project is underway to assure ample water supply into the future. The expansion project includes security for the water treatment plant and system. Discuss the proposed amendments to the Landscape Ordinance. Gary Jackson, interim City Manager, reported that the Long Range Planning Commission, the Growth Management Commission and the Building Ordinance Review Committee reached consensus on the proposed amendments to the Landscape Ordinance. Gregory Stubbs, Director of Planning and Community Development, commended Bob Leiper, Assistant City Manager, and the members of the Long Range Planning Commission, the Growth Management Commission and the Building Ordinance Review Page 2 of 4 Minutes of the Work Session —July 11, 2002 Committee for their hard work in reaching an agreement concerning the Landscape Ordinance. Mr. Stubbs outlined the proposed changes. Under the proposed ordinance, a small business with a parking lot of less than 5,000 square feet will not be required to comply with the ordinance. The streetscape is reduced from 8' to 6' in width. Mr. Stubbs commented that it would be rare to have a right -of -way and streetscape of only 6' width. Due to concern over large trees growing into the power lines, the ordinance now provides for the use of smaller trees that will not affect the power lines. Concern had been expressed about the amount of landscaping required within the parking area. The proposed amendments will require 50% of the landscaping within the parking area and the other 50% forward of the rear building line. Four shrubs will be required per tree. The tree height was reduced from 6' to 5' with the expectation that smaller trees have a better chance of establishing their root system. Credit for existing trees is changed from 4" caliper to 2" caliper. The work of BORC was used to obtain the comments and views of the business community. The changes should be cost - effective for the small business community, as it exempts the small businesses with 20 parking spaces or less from compliance with the ordinance. Discuss proposed amendment to the water rate ordinance relating to Recreational Vehicle Parks. Mr. Jackson related that the owners of Recreational Vehicle (RV) parks had requested a review of the ordinance. Under the current ordinance RV parks are billed under the multi- unit schedule, as are mobile home parks and apartments. They are billed as though there is a separate meter for each space, even if there is only one meter for the park. Other cities use different approaches. Some bill as a single meter, some as multi -unit, some have a multi -rate, but with a lower rate for the lots within the RV Park. The RV park owners insist that their operation is more like a motel and that motels are billed from a single meter. The proposed ordinance will separate RV parks from mobile home parks and will bill the park on a single meter. This will cause a reduction in revenue. RV parks are different from manufactured home parks in that their tenants tend to be more transient. Council Member Renteria supported the proposed amendment and commented that they should not be charged for water that they are not using. Mayor Alfaro expressed concern that the fee structure is necessary to pay for the improvements needed to serve the park. Mr. Jackson stated that in the budget he would request a rate study. The City must know the cost of service to each class of customer. The fixed costs and the variable costs must be determined and properly assigned to the proper classes of customers. Page 3 of 4 Minutes of the Work Session —July 11, 2002 Council Member Murray stated his support for the rate study and related that each customer class should pay the fair share of its costs for the infrastructure required to meet the needs of the class. Discuss plans and specifications for Duke Hill Park and Carver School Park. Scott Johnson, Director of Parks and Recreation, told Council that Duke Hill Park was constructed in the 1970's as a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project. The improvements include 2200 feet of trail from the Riggs Street parking lot through the park to Barrymore and West Main. An alternate bid item will continue the trail along West Main, across Goose Creek and connecting to the Goose Creek Trail. The improvements include an overlay of the parking lot, an outline for a playground, foundations for two shelters, lighting improvements, and a water fountain. Council Member Godwin expressed a belief that there is an excess of parks. Duke Hill Park is across West Main from the Central District Wastewater Plant. Oil storage facilities are located within the park, power lines cross the park, the tennis courts are not used, and the park is eight blocks from the well- equipped Johnson Street Park. He expressed concern over the amount of equipment that will be provided to the Carver School Park based on the City's experience with a joint venture at Ashbel Smith School. Mr. Johnson explained that the School District will usually hire a contractor to install the equipment, while the City uses its personnel to install the equipment. By hiring a contractor, one -third of the funds are spent on the labor of installing the equipment. The proposed trail is intended to link the neighborhood and park to the Goose Creek Trail. Council Member Mundinger observed that the funding for the Carver School Park is from bond proceeds and that the School District will pay the maintenance on the park. Discuss the city manager profile and recruitment process. Alison Smith, Director of Human Resources, reported that a form profile and questionnaire had been provided to Council. Mayor Alfaro stated that Council needed to give guidance to staff on how Council wished to proceed. Ms. Smith responded to an inquiry from Council Member Sheley by stating that the method used should be the method that best fits the City. She recommended the creation of a profile and a front -end search. Council Member Murray inquired about the cost of a front -end search and the increase in quality of the search. Ms. Smith responded that the recruiter would cost $8,000 (depending on how many meetings were held with the recruiter) plus travel time at $3,700. The benefit would be persons that the recruiter knows that might be willing to relocate, but might not respond to an advertisement in a journal. Page 4 of 4 Minutes of the Work Session —July 11, 2002 00� Mayor Alfaro stated that the profile must be completed first. Each council member must complete the questionnaire to form the profile. Then the City should do the normal advertising. If no candidate responds that meets the profile, then seek help from a recruiter. Ms. Smith reported that advertising could range from $2,000 to $10,000. Mayor Alfaro continued that Council should complete the budget process and see where the City is headed. The questionnaires are due back by July 17. Mr. Jackson said that the profile will be prepared and included in the next packet. Council Member Renteria stated that it would be prudent to forego the process, save the time and trouble, and pick someone who is available internally. Discuss appointments. Baytown Area Community Long Range Planning Commission. Mayor Alfaro suggested that the appointment be delayed until the next Council meeting to allow Council time to review the applications being received. Baytown Municipal Development District. Mr. Leonard Stasney has expressed his willingness to serve another term if reappointed. Council Member Sheley stated that he would move the reappointment of Leonard Stasney. Industrial Appraisal Review Board. Messers. Haddox, Muller and Sherron have agreed to serve if reappointed. Council Member Mundinger stated that he would move their reappointment. Adjourn. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m. �j `cn G W Smith 7/ \( City Clerk