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 Good
morning everyone. Here's my brief summary of
last night's City Council meeting. As always,
let me know if you have any questions or
comments.
We began with
a proclamation designating March as
Communities in Schools month. Communities in
Schools is a drop-out prevention program,
active in the Bay Area, including within
several schools in DISD.
A resolution
was approved authorizing the publication of a
notice of intent to issue certificates of
obligation for planned projects. This is the
first formal step in financing the remodeling
of the City Hall and Library, including the
renovation of the old police station. It will
also include a new fire station, the location
of which will help in getting homeowners
insurance rates reduced within the City. There
will also be an addition to the Public Works
Facility and funds to complete the restoration
of the Historic Railroad Depots. With the
growth of the City, these projects are
necessary and called for in my opinion. We
will see an enlarged Courtroom and Council
Chambers, as well as an enlarged Library. The
new fire station will provide better
protection to the community, and the Public
Works Facility expansion will help that
department in keeping up with the demands of a
growing city. The Depots will give us a badly
needed meeting place as well as a means to
display items of historical value and
significance.
The projects
will be handled under a Construction Manager
at Risk approach. Therefore, we approved a
committee to evaluate proposals, including
interviewing and scoring the proposals. The
committee will then make a recommendation to
the City Council for final approval. The
members of the committee are Ivan Langford,
Keith Kiplinger, Jasper Liggio, Joe Hoover,
Bill Hora, Walter Wilson and Greg Rapp.
We next
approved a resolution concerning a funding
agreement with TXDOT for drainage improvements
under the Gum Bayou bridge. In March of 2004,
a developer agreed to fund those improvements,
which the Council accepted. The bridge is now
under construction, so we need to approve the
agreement with TXDOT and send the funds. Those
funds, in the amount of $6,879.60, have been
received from Mr. Boyd, the developer.
A request had
been received from Mr. Wallace Mayad asking
the City to abandon a right of way on a
portion of Minnesota Avenue. Mr. Wallace owns
two separate tracts on both sides of
Minnesota, and the right of way which he
wanted us to abandon would allow them to be
connected. At this time, the Council declined
to approve the request or close that portion
of the street.
Chief Ron
Morales asked the Council to approve two
reserve patrol officers, Craig Ferrell and
Janice Nepute. He pointed out that the
ordinance allowing reserve officers required
Council approval for such appointments, but he
requested that requirement be changed so that
he did not have to seek such approval every
time an officer was appointed. We agreed with
that, and directed our City Attorney to
prepare an amendment to the ordinance, which
was initially adopted many years ago.
Contracts for
plumbing inspection services, plans review and
planning/zoning were approved. We generally
use contract inspectors for plumbing and large
commercial projects.
The Dickinson
Economic Development Corporation recently
purchased the Reasoner property on Highway 3.
The property will be subdivided and sold for
commercial purposes, but we desire to keep the
structure in appearance as a house for some
time. Therefore, we approved an Architectural
Facade Agreement with the DEDC, which will
require the house to appear as a house for at
least the next 10 years.
We then
approved a replat of the Reasoner property, so
that the house and garage can be sold, keeping
the remainder of the property as green space.
There is a
house on the property on which the new Fire
Station will be built which needs to be moved
or demolished. The only proposal received
after advertising was from the Greater New
Hope Missionary Baptist Church, which desires
to move the house to 2107 22nd Street. The
church will be required to bring the house
into compliance with all applicable codes and
ordinances. Council approved the proposal
received form the church.
Several
members of Council thanked everyone who turned
out for the Trash Bash on March 12. A lot of
trash was removed form the Bayou and
surrounding areas, greatly enhancing the
beautification of the City.
Make sure you
have marked your calendars for Friday, April
1, for the third annual Night of Wine and
Roses wine tasting sponsored by the Dickinson
Historical Society. The event will begin at
7:00 PM in the lobby of Amegy Bank. Lots of
wine to taste, great New Orleans style jazz,
tempting silent auction items and some good
food await you. Tickets are available now for
$10 for DHS members, and $12 for non-members.
Tickets at the door will be $15. Contact any
member of the DHS for tickets, or contact the
DHS office at City Hall or by phone at
281-337-6251.
The
groundbreaking for the Historic Railroad
Depots will be held on April 7 at 4:00 PM, at
the Depots on FM 517 West. Please join us for
this important milestone in the Project.
The next City
Council meeting will be April 8, at 7:00 PM.
You are invited to attend and participate.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any
comments about this summary or the City in
general.
Kerry
Neves
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