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2005 09 08 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN September 8, 2005 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on September 8, 2005, at 5:00 p.m. in the of Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas, with the following in attendance: Brandon Capetillo Sammy Mahan Don Murray Mercedes Renteria III Scott Sheley Calvin Mundinger Gary M. Jackson Bob Leiper Kelvin Knauf Ignacio Ramirez, Sr. Council Member Anderson was absent. Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Mayor City Manager Deputy City Manager Assistant City Manager/Interim City Clerk City Attorney The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was conducted: Discuss Union Pacific Railroad Crossing Safety Improvement Plan. Deputy City Manager Leiper informed Council that Union Pacific proposes improvements to 15 railroad crossings. The crossings located on Carnegie and W. Pearce will be closed. The remaining crossings are located on Market, Stadium, Lee, N. Pruett, E. James, W. Sterling, W. Defee, E. Texas, W. Gulf, E. Fayle, N. Main, Hafer, Ward, State Highway 146, Cedar Bayou, and Bob Smith. The crossing at N. Main will be the first project, followed by E. Fayle, and Ward Road. Since the crossing on Hafer will likely be one of the last projects, Union Pacific has agreed to make an asphalt repair to the crossing in the interim. Council discussed inactive crossings, the amount of traffic on Carnegie Street in the vicinity of the crossing proposed to be closed, damage inactive tracks are causing to automobiles; the problems caused by trains blocking intersections during peak traffic times; the annoyance of train whistles in residential neighborhoods, especially at night; and, wayside warnings (the train whistle not sounding until the train reaches the crossing) at those crossings with flashers and gates, as opposed to the train whistle beginning to sound one - quarter mile from the crossing. Mr. Leiper stated that wayside warnings and other alternative methods of warning have been approved by the Federal Railroad Administration. He noted that any changes in warning systems would be at the City's expense. He said that staff will compile a list of costs and options for Council's future consideration. Mr. Leiper explained that, regarding closing the crossings located on Carnegie and W. Pearce, Union Pacific will pay the City $7,500 per intersection, and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will match that amount toward the expenditures incurred by closing the two intersections to traffic. The funds from Union Pacific may be disbursed in any manner Council determines; the funds from TxDOT must be used for safety /traffic- related items, such as the installation of barricades, curbs, etc., which Mr. Leiper said will be needed when the crossings are closed. Page 2 of 4 Minutes of the Work Session — September 8, 2005 In answer to a question, Mr. Leiper said that the initiation of the repairs will depend on Council's consideration and adoption of ordinances closing the two crossings. Mr. Leiper assured Council that he and Dale Hill, the Union Pacific representative, will examine the problems with the inactive tracks. Council also discussed how best to make citizens aware of the proposed closing of the crossings. Mr. Hill said that there would not be a problem with postponing the closing of the crossing on Carnegie Street until necessary road repairs can be completed. Discuss Storm Water Management Plan, Minimum Control Measures, and Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination. Mike Lester, Director of Health, introduced Rory Lang, Storm Water Coordinator. Ms. Lang informed Council that on August 26, 2005, an updated draft MS4 General Permit was released by the TCEQ for public comment, which will continue until a public meeting is held on September 29, 2005. Ms. Lang reminded Council that the Storm Water Management Plan contains six minimum control measures (MCM), the best management practices (BMP) for each MCM, measurable goals, the implementation schedule, and the responsible party for each BMP. Of the six minimum control measures, public education and outreach and public involvement/participation have already been presented to Council. Ms. Lang addressed the third control measure, illicit discharge detection and elimination. Under this minimum control measure, the City is required to develop detailed information on the storm sewer system, adopt an ordinance restricting non -storm water discharges to the storm sewer system, provide public education on illicit discharges, and detect and eliminate illicit discharges. Ms. Lang said that the detailed information on the storm sewer system is essentially a map that shows the outfalls, inlets, and bodies of water affected by those discharges, a project which has already begun. Preparation consists of GIS based mapping of the storm sewer system in new developments; GIS based mapping of stone sewer system for existing developments; and the review of City records for the general location of the inlets and outfalls with field surveys to confirm inlet and outfall locations. Illicit discharges will then be prohibited by ordinance. Currently, two ordinances assist in the prevention of illicit discharges: the littering ordinance and the nuisance abatement ordinance. Unless prohibited by another ordinance, the storm water pollution prevention ordinance will address sanitary wastewater effluence from septic tanks, commercial car wastewater, laundry wastewater and proper oil disposal, and household hazardous waste. The next requirement is to develop a plan for the detection and elimination of illicit discharges, which are defined as any flow into the storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of storm water. This will allow the location of problem areas through City inspectors, code enforcement officers, and Parks and Recreation and Public Works employees who will be trained to look for pollutants to the storm water system. The source will then be located, the problem corrected or eliminated, and the action documented. There will also be a citizen complaint/illegal dumping hotline. Dry weather inspections will be conducted by trained employees. In addition, appropriate equipment for the sampling/GPS /etc. must be purchased to find the locations of illicit discharges, and a' tracking database will document each action. Public education will include brochures, a hotline, a web site, the storm drain marking program, and events such as Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. Commercial brochures will be developed specific to certain industries and problems they typically encounter. The correct disposal of lawn clippings and application of lawn chemicals will be addressed in the program through a landscaping brochure. Page 3 of 4 Minutes of the Work Session — September 8, 2005 Discuss proposed taxicab fares and the impact on the Community Development Block Grant Fund Transportation program. Mr. Jackson reported that the three taxi companies in town (Baytown Express Taxi, Pasadena Taxi, and Red Top Cab) have each requested a rate increase. He informed Council that a raise in the taxicab fares will have a direct impact on the Development Block Grant Fund Transportation program. He said that former City Clerk Gary Smith had made comparisons between Baytown's rates and those charged by the Cities of Houston and Pasadena. The latter was in the process of amending the taxicab rates to be consistent with those charged by the City of Houston. After evaluation, Mr. Smith had recommended that the fares be established at the rate requested by Pasadena Taxi, as follows: Mr. Jackson said if Council adopted the rates proposed by Pasadena Taxi, the maximum rate per ride participant in the Development Block Grant Fund Transportation program would need to be increased from $6 to $8 per ride. This increase would be within the budget of the program. City Council discussed the need to increase the fare and the potential impact on the Senior Citizen/Disabled Transportation program operated by the City. It was noted that inflation and the recent increases in the price of gasoline warrant a fare increase. Tiffany Foster, Community Development Planner, informed Council that staff had studied the impact on the Development Block Grant Fund Transportation program in relation to the rate increase requested by Pasadena Taxi, and found that it was well within the budget. She said if the program budget were substantially amended by adopting a larger rate increase, the City of Baytown Annual Action Plan would need to be amended. Mr. Leiper stated that analysis of the Redtop proposal revealed that if those rates were adopted, the Development Block Grant Fund Transportation program would need to be increased from $6 to $10 per ride, a substantial amendment to the program budget. Mayor Mundinger stated that Council would have an opportunity to further discuss this item before any action is taken during the regular meeting. 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 Committee during the regular meeting. Animal Control Advisory Committee. Council Member Sheley said he would move appointment of Mike Lester, Byron Jones, and Cynthia Lipps to the Board. CURRENT PROPOSED Minimum Charge $1.50 for the first 1 /10th mile $2.50 for the first 1 /6th mile Additional Fare $0.30 for each 1 /5th thereafter $0.30 for each 1 /6th thereafter Waiting Time S18 per hour $20 per hour Late Hours $1 additional from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. $1 additional from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Mr. Jackson said if Council adopted the rates proposed by Pasadena Taxi, the maximum rate per ride participant in the Development Block Grant Fund Transportation program would need to be increased from $6 to $8 per ride. This increase would be within the budget of the program. City Council discussed the need to increase the fare and the potential impact on the Senior Citizen/Disabled Transportation program operated by the City. It was noted that inflation and the recent increases in the price of gasoline warrant a fare increase. Tiffany Foster, Community Development Planner, informed Council that staff had studied the impact on the Development Block Grant Fund Transportation program in relation to the rate increase requested by Pasadena Taxi, and found that it was well within the budget. She said if the program budget were substantially amended by adopting a larger rate increase, the City of Baytown Annual Action Plan would need to be amended. Mr. Leiper stated that analysis of the Redtop proposal revealed that if those rates were adopted, the Development Block Grant Fund Transportation program would need to be increased from $6 to $10 per ride, a substantial amendment to the program budget. Mayor Mundinger stated that Council would have an opportunity to further discuss this item before any action is taken during the regular meeting. 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 Committee during the regular meeting. Animal Control Advisory Committee. Council Member Sheley said he would move appointment of Mike Lester, Byron Jones, and Cynthia Lipps to the Board. Page 4 of 4 Minutes of the Work Session — September 8, 2005 r. Tow Truck Committee. Council was not ready to discuss appointments to the Committee. Baytown Beautification Committee. Council will discuss appointments to the Committee during the regular meeting. Adjourn. There being no further business, Council Member Sheley moved adjournment. Council Member Murray seconded the motion. The vote follows: Aye: Council Members Capetillo, Mahan, Murray, Renteria and Sheley Mayor Mundinger. Nay: None. The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.