Loading...
2005 08 25 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN August 25, 2005 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on August 25, 2005, at 4:45 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas, with the following in attendance: Ronnie Anderson Brandon Capetillo Sammy Mahan Don Murray Scott Sheley Calvin Mundinger Gary M. Jackson Bob Leiper Kelvin Knauf Ignacio Ramirez, Sr. Gary W. Smith Absent was Mercedes Renteria, Council Member. Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Mayor City Manager Deputy City Manager Assistant City Manager City Attorney City Clerk. The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was conducted: Discuss request for increased taxicab fares. Gary Smith, City Clerk, reported that the last increase in taxicab fares was approved in 1997. Don Martin, Baytown Express Taxi, Jim Callahan, Pasadena Taxi, and Brad Shirley, Red Top Cab, the three taxi companies in town, have each requested a rate increase. Inflation and the recent increases in the price of gasoline warrant a fare increase. The survey of fares of Houston -area cities was reviewed. Many of the cities do not regulate fares. The fare increase requested by each company is more similar to the fares in Houston, Pasadena, and Galveston. City Council discussed the need to increase the fare and the potential impact on the senior citizen/disabled transportation program operated by the City. Council Members Anderson and Murray and Mayor Mundinger requested staff to provide a recommendation of a fare in the "ball park" of Houston, Pasadena, and Galveston. Gary Jackson, City Manager, stated that the staff will report on the impact of a rate increase on the transportation program. Discuss the concessionaire agreement at the Wayne Gray Sports Complex. Scott Johnson, Director of Parks and Recreation, explained that the goal is to provide concession stands during league play and during tournaments. Presently, the Girls Fastpitch Softball Association operates the concession stands during their games to provide funding for umpires. Page 2 of 4 Minutes of the Work Session — August 25, 2005 A request for proposal was published. One proposal was received which offers to pay the City 15% of the gross revenues for food and drink sales and 50% of the gross revenue from the sale of promotional items. Discussions are underway with the Girls Fastpitch Softball Association for a split of revenues from fields 1, 2, 3, and 4 to provide funding for umpires. Baytown Commisary was the sole proposer. Council discussed whether the sale of non -food items would compete with national and state tournaments. Jack Adcox, Baytown Commisary, explained that the facility was not designed for a full concession stand operation. The hood needs to be extended and additional plumbing must be provided for fuel. The cook area is not sufficient for the preparation of hamburgers, pizzas, and other menu items. Mr. Jackson explained that funding limitations restricted the facilities included in the concession stands. Bob Leiper, Deputy City Manager, stated that an adequate sized stand was developed. It was not intended to provide full service. The proposal was for the building as it presently exists. The cooking equipment is the responsibility of the proposer. The proposal did not anticipate any additional costs for the City. If upgrades are made, new proposals should be sought. Mayor Mundinger expressed concern that the prices must be fair to the visitor to the Sports Complex. Mr. Jackson stated that the prices were controlled in the proposal. Mr. Adcox stated that there is a dispute in the terms of the proposal and that he would have to re- think his proposal. Mr. Leiper stated that the requested improvements would cost $20,000 to $25,000 per concession stand. Mr. Jackson state that he was not aware of any disagreement prior to the meeting and that staff will try to bring back a contract for approval at the meeting on September 8, 2005. Council Member Mahan left the meeting. Discuss the proposed Tow Truck ordinance. Prior to discussion of this item, Council Member Mahan filed a conflict of interest affidavit and did not participate in the discussion. Mr. Jackson reported that the Tow Truck Committee has met several times to discuss the proposed amendment to the ordinance. Mayor Mundinger stated that he met with several tow truck companies. He expressed that the proposed rate increase of $105 per tow might not be adequate with the recent increases in fuel costs. He also said that there were issues related to insurance. Mr. Jackson reviewed the chart comparing the insurance coverage required by other area cities. He understood that there was a concern that the proposed ordinance was too stringent. Page 3 of 4 Minutes of the Work Session — August 25, 2005 Alison Smith, Director of Human Resources, stated that the proposed insurance requirements are consistent with other contracts that the City has with other service providers. Brad Shirley, Brad's Towing, stated that the $1,000,000 commercial liability coverage costs approximately $1,500 to $2,000 per year per truck. Daniel Jackson, Police Legal Advisor, reported that the state mandates liability insurance and on- hook cargo insurance in order to get a state - mandated license to engage in the tow truck business. Mayor Mundinger requested additional information over the cost of the requested insurance and the protection the commercial liability insurance provides for the City, the citizen, and the tow truck company. Daniel Jackson stated that the ordinance was not the regulation of an industry; rather, it is the purchase of a service for non - consent tows. It is common to require commercial general liability insurance. Most of the tow truck companies carry $500,000 in commercial general liability. Council Members Sheley and Anderson stated that no wheel -lift trucks are to be allowed. Mayor Mundinger stated that the discussion would include the penalty for missing tows. Discuss the proposed Downtown Design Guidelines. Council Member Mahan returned to the meeting. Mr. Jackson stated that two public meetings have been held at Lee College to discuss the Downtown Design Guidelines. During the regular Council meeting to be held on September 8, 2005, it is staff's intention to present the guidelines for approval. This action will not make the guidelines requirements. Additional action will be necessary to implement the guidelines. The implementation may be through the Unified Land Development Code or an overlay district. That action will convert the guidelines to regulation. Gregory Stubbs, Director of Planning and Development Services, stated that the guidelines were presented at this meeting to allow Council time to review the document prior to approval. H3 Studios did a good job of empowering the public in the development of the guidelines. When approved, the guidelines will be policy. It will be difficult to enforce them until they are made regulatory and put in the Unified Land Development Code. Council Member Sheley stated that the guidelines will protect the integrity of the street. He anticipated that there will be requests to implement specific provisions in the guidelines before the entire guidelines are made regulatory. Mayor Mundinger stated that a Redevelopment Authority may be needed to assist in the development of downtown. Page 4 of 4 Minutes of the Work Session — August 25, 2005 r Discuss the creation of the beautification commission. Gary Jackson, City Manager, reminded Council of the previous meetings during which the scope and duties of the commission were discussed. As requested, a list of frequently asked questions and answers were prepared. The proposed ordinance reflects the better ideas from other cities and City Council's comments. Council Member Anderson commented that each Council Member will appoint two members and the members are not required to be residents of the district that the Council Member represents. Mayor Mundinger asked that, if a Council Member wanted to appoint a resident of another district, the Council Member contact the representative of the other district as a courtesy. Council Member Murray reminded Council of the discussion that the service clubs be asked to recommend members of the commission, in order to leverage participation by the members of the service clubs. Mayor Mundinger stated that the Mayor, City Manager, and each Council Member could appoint one member and that seven civic organizations could be asked to recommend a member. The Council discussed allowing civic organizations to make nominations to the commission. Council Member Sheley encouraged the involvement of the arts community on the commission Discuss appointments. Baytown Housing Finance Corporation. Council was not ready to discuss appointments to the Corporation. Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals. Council will discuss appointments to the Board during the regular meeting. Community Development Advisory Committee. Council will discuss the appointment to the Committee during the regular meeting. Youth Advisory Commission. Council will discuss appointments to the Commission during the regular meeting. Parks and Recreation Board. Council will discuss appointments to the Board during the regular meeting. Adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m.