NOTICE OF MEETING
WEST COLUMBIA CITY COUNCIL
 

A.     The West Columbia City Council will meet as described below:

 Council Chambers
512 E. Brazos
Monday, May 12, 2008
7:00 p.m.
 

B.      The Agenda for this meeting will be as follows:
1.  Invocation & Pledge
2.  Roll Call of Council.
3.  Approval of Minutes from Previous Meetings.
4.  Mayor and City Council Comments.
     - Employee of the Month Presentation
5.  Citizens Comments on Items not on the Agenda.
6.  Department Reports:
     A.  City Manager         C.  Police Dept.          E.  Fire Dept.
     B.  City Treasurer        D.  Municipal Court    F.  Public Works
7.  Public Hearings:
     A.  Establishment of a Reinvestment Zone at 134 & 138 E. Brazos - Walgreens.
      B.  Denial of Centerpoint Rate Increase Request.
8.  Old Business:
      A.  Consider Adopting Tax Abatement Guidelines and Policy.
      B.  Consider Ordinance Establishing Reinvestment Zone.
      C.  Consider Tax Abatement Applications.
      D.  Consider Ordinance Denying Centerpoint Rate Increase Request.
9.  New Business:
      A.  Approve Change Order #1 (Final) of CDBG Sewer Line Replacement Project.
       B.  Approve Pay Requests #2 & #3(Final) of CDBG Sewer Line Replacement Project.
      D.  Consider Set-Back Variance for 527 Tall Timber - Michael Hudgeons.
      E.  Approve Chamber Request to Host 2009 San Jacinto Festival at First Capitol Park.
       F.  Approve Hotel/Motel Tax Funding Applications.
       G.  Consider Bid on Tax Property-Jim Hogg St. (Gray A))$) JH Bell Div. 5), Block 4 Lot 2 (W/2), Acres .0920 by Charles Glisch.
       H.  Consider Application for Additional Antenna at AT&T Tower Site.
       I.  Discuss Residential Protection Options.
      J.  Consider Request for Addition to Mobile Home at 309 S. Columbia - Elias Guerra.
      K.  Closed Meeting.  the City Council will convene in a closed session or a closed meeting pursuant to Chapter 551 entitled "Open Meetings" of the Texas Government Code as follows:  Pursuant to Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code to deliberate the evaluation of the City Manager.
      L.  Action as a Result of Closed Meeting.

 

I certify that I did on the 9^th day of May, 2008 post this notice of meeting at 512 E. Brazos.
                

KELLI R. KUBAN, City Secretary
 

 Newly adopted ordinance:

ORDINANCE NO. 555

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF WEST COLUMBIA, TEXAS, BY AMENDING SECTION 4-284, ENTITLED “SIGNS REQUIRING A PERMIT” OF ARTICLE VI, ENTITLED “SIGNS”, OF CHAPTER 4, ENTITLED “BUILDING AND BUILDING REGULATIONS’, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF WEST COLUMBIA BY AMENDING THE MAXIMUM SIZES OF SIGNS, BY DELETING FLAG POLE HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS AND  CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL CODE PROVISIONS, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND/OR INFORMAL POLICIES WHICH ARE IN ANY MANNER IN CONFLICT OR INCONSISTENT WITH THIS ORDINANCE CONSTITUTES A MISDEMEANOR PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF NOT TO EXCEED $500.00; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COLUMBIA, TEXAS:

Section 1          The following sections of Article VI, entitled “Signs”, of Chapter 4 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of West Columbia, Texas, entitled “Building and Building Regulations” shall be and are hereby amended to read as follows:

Chapter 4

BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS

ARTICLE VI.                        SIGNS

DIVISION 1.              GENERAL

Sec. 4-284.  Signs Requiring a Permit.

The following signs shall require a permit, issued prior to construction:

[A]             Signs on property in other than residential areas.

[1]        Single commercial building.  Signs shall be permitted as follows:

[a]       Attached or painted onto each side of a building with an allowable total sign area of 1 ½ square feet of signage for each linear foot wall length to which the sign will be attached.  Signs on canopies attached to a building shall be considered as wall signs and cannot extend beyond the canopy.

[b]       One free standing sign not larger than 128 square feet or taller than 50 feet.  Buildings with frontage along more than one street may have one free standing sign along each street with a minimum of 200 ft. of frontage.

[c]       One projecting sign not to exceed 12 square feet.

[2]        Commercial complex.  Signs shall be permitted as follows:

[a]       A sign attached to or painted onto the building identifying the complex with an allowable total sign area of 1 ½ square feet of signage for each linear foot of business frontage.

[b]       One free standing sign not larger than 64 square feet or taller than 12 feet.

           [i]          A commercial complex with a land area of two acres or more may have one freestanding sign along each street which borders the complex for a distance of 200 feet.

[ii]         If the structure of a free standing sign contains or supports more than one sign, then each sign shall be of the same construction, coloring, design and style.

[c]       One sign per business housed in the complex with an allowable total sign area of 1 ½ square feet of signage for each linear foot of business frontage.

[3]      Illuminated signs. 

[a]        Neon signs are prohibited except for signs no greater than 4.5 square feet located on or inside of a window of an establishment.  No more than two such signs are permitted per business.

[b]        No sign shall be lighted to such intensity or in such a manner as to cause glare or brightness to a degree that it constitutes a traffic hazard.  Any such sign shall constitute a nuisance.

[c]        Signs may not be illuminated by mercury arc or mercury vapor light sources.

[d]        Illuminated signs may not be installed facing adjacent or adjoining residential areas.

[4]      Inflatable Signs.  Business related inflatable signs with a volume greater than 27 cubic feet are prohibited.

Section 2

            Any and all Code provisions, rules, ordinances, police regulations, resolutions, and/or informal policies of the City of West Columbia, whether written, or otherwise, which are in any manner in conflict with or inconsistent with this article, shall be and are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict and/or inconsistency.

Section 3

            It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the several provisions of this article are severable, and if any court of competent jurisdiction enters a final order which holds that any section, sub-section, sentence, clause, phrase, or other portion of this article is invalid, illegal, or otherwise unenforceable, then any such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and any such ruling shall not affect any other provisions of this article which are not specifically designated as being illegal, invalid, or unenforceable.

Section 4

            Failure to observe and obey the article adopted above shall constitute a misdemeanor, and shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), constituting a separate offense.

Section 5

            This article shall be effective upon its passage and approval, and the publication of its caption as provided by law.

            PASSED and APPROVED this the 31^st day of March, 2008                                                                         

                                                                                         DAVID E. FOSTER, Mayor

A T T E S T:

KELLI R. KUBAN, City Secretary/Treasurer

RESULTS OF THE WEST COLUMBIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING
 

Monday, March 10, 2008
7:00 p.m.
 

Employee of the Month Presentation was made by Mayor Foster to Sgt. Larry Odom for his work in code enforcement

Police Department Presentation - Richard Garza of the Christian Center's Hispanic Mission made a presentation to Officer Calvin Cole for his help to the Rafael Rosas family.  Chief Michael Palmer presented Officer Cole a letter of commendation for going above and beyond his duties.

·        Proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month

·        Proclamation for Fair Housing Month

5.     Citizens’ Comments on Items not on the Agenda - No comments made.

6.     Department Reports:

City Manager’s Report
March 10, 2008
 

Ø      Highway 35 Widening Update - A second meeting with TxDOT and Abrams, Alderman Gilbert, a representative from Dennis Bonnen’s office and myself was  held last Friday, February 29.  Updates on work completed and planned were discussed.  The City is to develop a punch list for the contractor to address before the project is completed.  Some work has been completed on Ellis Lane, but further review will be done on the width of this street as it still seems narrower than it should be.  Another meeting will be held in about two months. 

Ø      Highway 36 Widening Update - No updated information to report at this time.

Ø      City Park
·        Pool.  We are evaluating the pool facilities to identify needed maintenance to be conducted before the new season starts.       

·        RV Park.  For the first time in a while, the park has about two spots open at the park and about three open behind City Hall.  There is some expansion projects scheduled to start soon and expect for those spaces to fill quickly.

Ø      CDBG Project.  The City Council will award the contract at tonight’s meeting. The project consists of the replacement of a sewer line in the area of E. Hamilton, N. 11^th and N. 12^th Streets to replace sewer lines.  The funding available is $137,000 for both engineering and construction.

Ø      New Construction.  Wal-Greens have their permits in hand and the contractor installed the silt fencing around the perimeter of the property.  CVS will move to their new location sometime in April.  Dollar General is near completion and should be ready to move in next month.  Jack-in-the-Box obtained their permits for the corner of Business Hwy. 35 and 36.   The house on S. 17^th located next to Jenn Furniture’s building is being renovated for offices for State Farm. 

Ø      House Demolition Program.  The house on Bell Creek Dr. has been knocked down and will be worked on as the crew has time.  A house on W. Bernard is next on the list.  

Ø      Drainage.  This continues to be a priority for the City.  An update on the list of projects is attached for Council’s information.  I have added another priority to the list and will address it with TxDOT.  City Staff will be hosting a meeting with the residents in the 200 Block of S. Mattson and S. Ringgold on Tuesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. at 208 S. Ringgold to discuss the drainage work that will be conducted in that area.   Culverts running across some of the intersections are proposed to be replaced with larger culverts, the ditch to a drainage easement located on the eastside of the subdivision will be cleaned out, possible resetting of culverts at the east end of Bernard and the replacement of culverts at the corner of Lee and S. Ringgold.  The ditch from Lee to S. 12^th Street is proposed for cleaning as well. 

Ø      Economic Development Corp.  There have been two inquiries on the Don Davis Building, but no formal proposal has been received to date.  J. D. Abrams received a copy of the asbestos report and will determine if they can assist the city in any demolition.   

Ø      Inflow and Infiltration.  As with drainage, this is another high priority for the City and an update on the list of priorities is attached for Council’s information.  We have been given permission to borrow a camera to televise the Humble Street line, but have been unable to schedule the televising due to the weather.  A preliminary estimate indicates that it will cost approximately $150,000 to slip line.  

Ø      Water Leak at 300 E. Clay, the old City Hall.  The repair to this line appears to be holding for the time being and I am proposing that we put this project off in order to concentrate on repairing the sewer line on Humble Street.  I have received a preliminary estimate of $25,000 to repair the line from Broad to S. 15^th including the repair to the asphalt.  Without the asphalt repair, the cost is $16,000.   

Ø      Columbia Heritage Foundation Jr. High Project.  The members of this organization are still pursuing the acquisition of the Jr. High property.  They have recently met with the County and will update the City on their activities in the next few months. 

Ø      Farmers’ Market.  The Chamber’s Farmers’ Market is now being held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to around noon.

Ø      Kid Fish.  Texas Parks and Wildlife will be holding Kid Fish at the City’s First Capitol Park on Saturday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

Ø      Chamber of Commerce Network Luncheon.  Joe Svrcek, HEB Store Manager, will be the guest speaker at the Network Luncheon at noon on Tuesday, March 11.  Please call the Chamber for your reservations.
 

7.     Public Hearing:
A.     Authorize Signature on Beer and Wine Retail Dealer’s Off-Premise License Application for CVS/Pharmacy #7470, 701 S. 17^th St., West Columbia – CVS ETB Holding Company, L.L.C.  - No Public comments made.

      8.   Old Business:
            A.  Award Bid for “2008 Sanitary Sewer Improvements”.  - Bid was awarded to Uticon for $118,269.50.  Project is sewer line replacement on E. Hamilton Street between N. 11th to the dead end.

9.   New Business:
      A.     Authorize Signature on Beer and Wine Retail Dealer’s Off-Premise License Application for CVS/Pharmacy #7470, 701 S. 17^th St., West Columbia – CVS ETB Holding Company, L.L.C.  - This items was tabled for further  information.

B.     Consider Natural Gas Rate Increase – Centerpoint Energy. - Rates were suspended for 90 days to be reviewed for action prior to the end of the 90 days.

C.     Consider Amending or Repealing Sign Ordinance – Kyle McDonald. - workshop to look over ordinance to be scheduled.

D.     Consider Request to Relocate Billboard Due to Highway Widening – 200 Blk. N. Columbia.  This request was approved.

E.      Consider Setting ’08 -’09 Budget Calendar.  Council adopted this calendar to use as a guide to begin the budgeting process.

City Council

Mayor - David Foster

Alderman, Position 1 - Robert Thomas

Alderman, Position 2 - Charley Tindol

Alderman, Position 3 - Randy Gilbert

Alderman, Position 4 - Jamie Walker

Alderman, Position 5 - Betty Lytle