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2005 05 26 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN May 26, 2005 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on May 26, 2005, at 5:20 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas, with the following in attendance: Ronnie Anderson Council Member Sammy Mahan Council Member Don Murray Council Member Scott Sheley Council Member Sheryl G. Ward Council Member Calvin Mundinger Mayor Gary M. Jackson City Manager Bob Leiper Deputy City Manager Ignacio Ramirez, Sr. City Attorney Gary W. Smith City Clerk. The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was conducted: Receive report and discuss Street Bond Program update. Gary Jackson, City Manager, stated that the costs of the street bond program during the development of the plans for the project. City staff and Pate Engineering have worked to refine the costs without harming the project. An additional $217,000 in savings has been found. To fully fund the Year 3 program, it will be necessary to use some funds that had been originally earmarked for the Year 4 program. Approximately $1,400,000 will remain for Year 4. Funding from the Utility reserve is available to perform utility work related to the Street Bond Program. Approximately $790,000 in utility work has been identified. $1,000,000 was set aside in the budget. Approximately $250,000 will remain in reserve and may be used for the private property sanitary sewer repair pilot program. The streets in Phase I have been finished. On July 1 the cost of Phase H should be known. There may be additional savings to assist with Year 3. The Utility staff and Engineering staff, as well as Pate Engineering, are commended for their work in identifying the savings. Bob Leiper, Deputy City Manager, stated that with the work in the Year 3 program, each Council District would have had at least $1,500,000 in residential street work. Council Member Anderson stated, for the record, that the engineering work for the Raccoon Road improvements has begun. The project should be bid in the first quarter of 2004. Page 2 of 3 Minutes of the Work Session — May 26, 2005 Mayor Mundinger asked that the engineering firm preparing the plans for Raccoon Road provide the City with the preliminary cost estimates. With the minimum expenditures for residential streets met in each District, City Council has the discretion to appropriate the remaining bond funds. Council Member Mahan reminded Council of the poor condition of Kilgore Road and that the need for reconstruction is greater than Raccoon. Council Member Murray stated his support for moving forward with the Year 3 project. Discuss privatization of the wood chipper operation. Mr. Jackson reported that City forces have operated the chipper at the East District Plant. The chipper disposes of the brush picked up through each month. It is not in good shape. The replacement cost is $700,000. Pasadena has hired a private firm to chip its brush. Through an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Pasadena, Baytown can use the same firm. The chipping operation provides an excellent opportunity for privatization. Staff believes that there can be savings to the City by privatizing the operation. Mayor Mundinger noted that the projecting savings are recurring. Mr. Leiper stated that the company has a mobile chipping unit. They will bring their equipment on our location and chip the brush. They will also buy what they chip. City forces will still run the brush routes each month. Council Member Murray suggested that the potential savings are greater than projected by staff. The projected savings did not include the purchase of new equipment. Mr. Jackson replied that the savings were based on the savings in maintenance. Mr. Leiper noted that the two employees in the operation will be moved to vacant positions and the chipping positions will be eliminated. Fred Pack, Director of Public Works, stated that the loader would be returned to the maintenance yard and assigned as needed. Mr. Jackson commended Mr. Pack and his staff for putting together the privatization proposal. Discuss the proposed Baker Road extension and concerns expressed by Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District. Mr. Jackson explained that the property owners along the proposed route of the Baker Road extension donated the property for the right -of -way. The route was surveyed. One parcel that is needed for the extension is owned by Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District. When the District was approached, they expressed concerns about the roadway and its proximity to Crocket Elementary School. The route of the proposed roadway was determined by the property donated and the traffic engineer's recommendation. No funding has been identified for the design or construction of the roadway. If the roadway is not constructed within ten years, the donors may request return of their donated property. Page 3 of 3 Minutes of the Work Session — May 26, 2005 Mr. Leiper stated that the route was aligned with the property owners' boundaries to leave as much developable property as possible. Environmental concerns prohibit alignment along the southern property lines. Pete Cote, Goose Creek Consolidated Independent School District, responding to a query slated that the area between the school building and the proposed roadway is a playground. Mayor Mundinger stated that he believed that through joint discussions and creative thought, appropriate safety features could be developed to protect the children and address the concerns of the District. Mr. Leiper stated that the current proposal included a six -foot chain link fence along the District property. Council Member Renteria arrived at 6:07 p.m. Council Member Sheley questioned the viability of retail development on property with environmental problems. Discuss appointments. Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. Council Member Sheley stated that he would move the reappointment of Randy Strong to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. Adjourn. Council Member Anderson moved that the meeting adjourn. Council Member Renteria seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Mahan, Murray, Renteria, Sheley, and Ward Mayor Mundinger. Nays: None. The motion carried. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:12 p.m. F7WROM _ ' MAN i^