HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - Special - 11/5/2003CITY OF LUBBOCK
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 5, 2003
7:45 A. M.
The City Council of the City of Lubbock, Texas met in regular session on the 5th
day of November, 2003, in Council Chambers, first floor, City Hall, 1625 13th
Street, Lubbock, Texas at 7:45 A. M.
7:50 A. M. CITY COUNCIL CONVENED
Committee Room 103, 1625 13th Street, Lubbock, Texas
Present: Mayor Marc McDougal, Mayor Pro Tem Victor Hernandez, Council
Member Gary O. Boren, Council Member Tom Martin, Council
Member Frank W. Morrison and Council Member T. J. Patterson.
Absent: Council Member Jim Gilbreath
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mayor McDougal stated: "City Council will hold an Executive Session
today for the purpose of consulting with the City Staff with respect to
pending or contemplated litigation, the purchase, exchange, lease or value
of real property, personnel, competitive matters of the public power utility,
and to review certified agenda from the prior executive session as
provided by Subchapter D of Chapter 551 of the Government Code, the
Open Meetings Law."
7:51 A. M. CITY COUNCIL RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
City Council/City Manager's Conference Room
All council members were present except Council Member Gilbreath,
who arrived at 8:50 A.M.
( 1.) Hold an executive session in accordance with V.T.C.A. Government
Code, Section 551.071(1)(A), to discuss pending or contemplated
litigation (Electric Utilities; Fire; Information Technology; Planning;
Right -of -Way; Stormwater; Water Utilities).
( 1A.) Hold an executive session in accordance with V.T.C.A. Government
Code, Section 551.072, to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or
value of real property (Water Utilities).
(2.) Hold an executive session in accordance with V.T.C.A. Government
Code, Section 551.074(a)(1), to discuss personnel matters (City
Manager; City Attorney) and take appropriate action.
(3.) Hold an executive session in accordance with V.T.C.A. Government
Code, Section 551.086, on the following competitive matters (Electric
Utilities):
to deliberate, vote and take final action on a competitive
matter regarding natural gas supply, service and
transportation contracts by the City of Lubbock;
to discuss, deliberate and take final action on a
competitive matter regarding plans or contracts related
to the status, maintenance, repair and/or upkeep of
electric generation facilities;
to deliberate, vote and take final action on electric rates
of Lubbock Power and Light;
to discuss and deliberate on a competitive matter
regarding marketing and advertising agreements
related to retail energy sales of Lubbock Power and
Light;
Special City Council Meeting
November 5, 2003
Page 474
to discuss and/or take action on a competitive matter
regarding the strategies, goals, funding and strategic
purpose of the City of Lubbock's relationship with and
membership in the West Texas Municipal Power
Agency;
to discuss and deliberate a competitive matter
regarding the operation, governance, organization, and
business plans, options and studies of the City's electric
utility, Lubbock Power and Light; and
to discuss, deliberate and take final action on a
competitive matter regarding plans or contracts related
to the acquisition and/or construction of
transmission/distribution facilities.
(4.) Hold an executive session in accordance with V.T.C.A. Government
Code, Section 551.103, to review certified agenda from the prior
executive session (City Secretary).
1:46 P. M. CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING RECONVENED
Committee Room 103
All council members were present except Mayor McDougal and
Council Members Boren and Patterson.
Mayor Pro Tem Hernandez called the meeting to order at 1:46 P. M.
Council Member Patterson arrived at 2:08 P. M.
Mayor McDougal arrived at 2:12 P. M.
(5.) Discussion of Citibus' procurement issue regarding the use of a larger
bus versus a smaller bus.
City Council requested this item be placed on the agenda, in response to
non -rider citizen concerns about big buses riding empty or with limited
ridership. Melinda Harvey, Citibus Director of Services Development,
addressed the question of whether it is cheaper to run smaller buses. The
Transit Advisory Board recommended at their September meeting that the
new bus procurement package specify the larger buses only, but prior to
requesting bids, they wanted to review the financial aspects of their
recommendation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is a $15,000 initial cost difference between the 35-foot and the 30-
foot buses, but operating costs and convenience reduces the financial
impact such that the 35-foot bus is actually more cost effective.
Staff recommended that if Council concurred, direction be given to
Citibus to put out a bid package specifying the larger 35-foot bus.
Melinda Harvey, Director of Services Development and Michael
Mangum, Chief Financial Officer, gave staff comments.
(6.) Presentation of Traffic Signal Priorities as recommended by the
Citizens Traffic Commission (per action at the October 21, 2003
Citizens Traffic Commission meeting).
The Citizens Traffic Commission (CTC) at its October 21s' meeting
recommended the approval of the signal projects and the priorities shown
in the backup material. The CTC also recommended that if any delays
occur that the Signal System 2-way synchronization (timing) be given
priority over new signals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for the projects provided in Council backup material has been
previously approved in the FY 2003-04 Capital Projects or is funded by
TxDOT or the North Overton Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment
Zone (TIFF) District. Long-term maintenance will remain essentially the
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same as six existing intersections are being transferred to TxDOT's
ownership due to the new freeways, and five signals being eliminated,
while only three new locations along the freeways are added. As each
freeway project is completed, the "Type R" agreement with TxDOT for
the City of Lubbock to maintain TxDOT's signals will be amended.
Staff requested Council's concurrence on the signal project priorities as
recommended by the Citizens Traffic Commission.
Jere Hart, City Traffic Engineer, made a presentation called "New Signals
& Signal System Upgrade Priorities".
Concerning No. 4, 191h & Toledo, Council Member Gilbreath requested
that Interim City Manager Tommy Gonzalez ask staff to call Lubbock
Independent School District and ask them to start running their school
buses to take children from south of 19th Street to Rush Elementary as a
safety issue.
Council Member Martin suggested moving 981h & Quaker from No. 6 to
No. 4 in lieu of 19th & Toldeo.
Mr. Hart stated that if one item on construction dropped out, it didn't
mean they had one ready to go on construction immediately. But it does
allow them to move some of them up a little faster than where they were
shown on the priority list.
Council Member Martin asked if it was time to outsource engineering of
these items in order to get these items done. Mr. Hart stated this was
possible, but it would triple the cost if done externally.
Council Member Martin stated Council would get the funds to them.
Craig Farmer, Managing Director of Planning & Transportation, stated
that they would get this information back to Council.
Mayor Pro Tern Hernandez stated Council would prefer that all
engineering projects are getting done and waiting for funding, versus
funding being available and projects not being done. He suggested
moving these items up and getting them done internally or externally.
Mayor Pro Tern Hernandez also stated that three Council Members serve
on the NPO, and through the NPO process, they have a number of projects
that are of high, medium or low priority, which are forecast out for a
number of years. He stated that Mr. Hart had listed 13 projects, which
have been budgeted for and Mayor Pro Tern Hernandez wanted to know
the forecasting part of this (i.e. high, medium or low). He asked Mr. Hart
to let Council know which projects should be funded and leave it to
Council to get the money. He stated Council wanted to see the entire list,
including forecasting of projects.
Interim City Manager Tommy Gonzalez stated they were seeking
guidance on this list and they would revise it and bring it back to Council.
(7.) Presentation from Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc. in regards to the
Master Plan for improvements to Vaquero Lake (Canyon Lake Dam
#4). Holly Holder, Professional Engineer.
In the 1970s, construction began on the Canyon Lakes Project, a six -mile
long regional park. Due to funding constraints at the time and the planned
construction of I-27, only four of the originally planned six lakes within
the City limits were built. Over the next twenty years, several Goals for
Lubbock documents called for the completion of the Canyon Lakes
Project, which is now known as the Jim Bertram Lake System.
In June 1999, the team of Carter & Burgess and Parkhill, Smith & Cooper,
Inc. completed the Canyon Lakes Master Plan Feasibility Study. The
study provided the plan for completing the regional park with an emphasis
on a continuous, navigable body of water and the design and location of
bridges to allow boat, vehicular, and pedestrian circulation throughout the
canyon. The study provided the basis for the September 1999 citizen
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approval of $3.25 million in G.O. Bonds for the construction of Dam #4
and the excavation of Vaquero Lake.
In November 2002, staff selected the Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc.
(PSC) design team for the next phase for the project which includes: the
site master plan, preliminary engineering and permitting and more refined
cost estimates for construction. PSC was involved in the design of the
four existing lakes and impoundment dams that were constructed in the
1970s. The PSC design team includes the professional services of Carter
& Burgess, Inc. for master plan development of Dam #4 and Vaquero
Lake; Hicks and Company to assist PSC in wetland delineation and
mitigation requirements; Dyess-Peterson Testing for geotechnical
services; and finally, The Binford Hospitality Group is preparing a
marketing plan for private development of retail and hotel facilities on
private land near Vaquero Lake.
The Master Plan for Vaquero Lake is based on a programming session
held on April 21, 2003 and a follow up meeting on June 26, 2003.
Attendees at the meeting consisted of representatives from the Parks and
Recreation Board, the Entertainment Lubbock Task Force, the North and
East Lubbock Development Commission, and the Central Business
District Tax Increment Finance District (CBD TIF). In addition, The
Binford Hospitality Group conducted interviews with representatives from
the Chamber of Commerce, the local Hotel -Motel industry, Texas Tech
University, Market Lubbock, Inc., and local financial institutions. This
information was used to form the basis for the recommended
planning/development of incentives for private retail and hotel facilities
near the lake.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The annual fiscal impact will not be realized until the improvements are
built. With current funding, the lake will be excavated and the dam will
be built. The annual impact from those will be negligible for the first five
years. Significant fiscal impacts will be related to the success of future
fund raising efforts for capital improvements related to this project.
Staff asked City Council to consider the Master Plan for improvements to
Vaquero Lake (Canyon Lake Dam #4).
Holly Holder, Professional Engineer, with Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc.
gave a presentation. Phillip Neely, Carter & Burgess, also gave
comments.
( g,) Presentation on Environmental Compliance Department and
program effectiveness. Dan Dennison and Steve Claybrook,
Environmental Compliance.
Following significant environmental agency penalties and other problems
related to non-compliance with environmental laws, the Environmental
Compliance Department was established in 1995. Among many
responsibilities, the department works with other departments and with
various environmental agencies to develop effective environmental
strategies, and apprises the City Manager's Office of important situations,
potential situations, and corrective measures.
This brief presentation will provide summary information on municipal
compliance with environmental laws, and an overview of this small
department's remarkable success.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The projected FY 03-04 organization -wide savings is approximately
$600,000.
Dan Dennison, Environmental Compliance, gave a presentation.
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(9.) Discuss the City of Lubbock's federal legislative consulting services.
Bob Goodwin, Corporate Communications Manager.
This item was deleted.
(10.) Presentation of Contract Management. Bill de Haas, Contract
Compliance.
This item was deleted.
(11.) Presentation on Customer Service Request System. Christopher
Reed, Information Technology.
This item was deleted.
3:46 P. M. COUNCIL ADJOURNED
There being no further business to come before Council, Council Member
Hernandez made a motion to adjourn; Council Member Patterson
seconded the motion. Motion carried: 6 Yeas, 0 Nays.
Read and approved this day of �' , 2005.
ATTEST:
Rebecca Garza, City Secretary
477