Richland Hills City Council

The Regular Session is open to the public. If Executive Session is required, it will be held in the Council Conference Room, and is closed to the public. Please note that although the Council will generally consider the items on the agenda in the order shown below, the Council may elect to re-order items in order to accommodate the needs of the Council, city staff, presenters, or the public generally. Therefore, members of the public interested in any agenda item are encouraged to be in attendance at the start of the meeting.

6:30 P.M. -- Pre-Council

1.	CALL TO ORDER
2.	INVOCATION AND PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE
3.	PUBLIC INPUT OR PUBLIC COMMENTS -- Public.
4.	BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS -- Appointments and resignations.
5.	CALL PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING APPROVAL OF FISCAL YEAR 2011-12 CRIME CONTROL AND PREVENTION DISTRICT BUDGET – Consider discussing and calling a public hearing for 7:00 PM, Tuesday, August 9, 2011 regarding the approval of the Fiscal Year 2011-12 Crime Control and Prevention District Budget as recommended by the Board of Directors.
6.	SCHEDULE TOWN HALL MEETING REGARDING FISCAL YEAR 2011- 12 PROPOSED BUDGET -- Consider discussing and scheduling a Town Hall Meeting regarding the Fiscal Year 2011-12 Proposed Budget for 7:00 P. M., Thursday, August 4, 2011.
7.	APPROVE ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 11, THE "UTILITIES" CHAPTER OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, CLARIFYING THAT THE FIRST USE OF THE $8.17 CHARGE ON THE WATER BILL SHALL FIRST BE USED TO PAY THE COMBINATION TAX AND WATER AND SEWER REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, SERIES 1998-- Consider discussing and approving an ordinance amending Chapter 11, the “UTILITIES” Chapter of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Richland Hills, Texas, by the addition of a sentence clarifying that the first use of the monthly charge mandated by an EPA Administrative Order of $8.17 upon all wastewater customers shall first be used to pay the Combination Tax and Water and Sewer Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 1998, as long as said certificates are outstanding.
	7/26/2011  Ordinance as prepared by the City Attorney.
	7/26/2011  Minutes of February 24, 1998 Regular Meeting.
8.	DISCUSS OPTIONS REGARDING FINANCING WASTEWATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS – Consider discussing options for financing wastewater system capital improvements and authorizing Southwest Securities to proceed with a plan of finance.
9.	DISCUSS CITY ATTORNEY ATTENDANCE AT BOARD MEETINGS --Consider discussing City Attorney attendance at advisory board and commission meetings and determine criteria when attendance of the City Attorney will not be required.
10.	APPROVE AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR DEMOLITION OF STRUCTURE AT 7064 DOVER LANE -- Consider discussing and approving an award of contract for Base Bid ($21,855), Alternate 1 ($5,800) and Alternate 2 ($6,509) to Garrett Demolition to demolish and dispose of a structure at 7064 Dover Lane, remove and dispose of live and dead trees and install wood and chain link fencing.
	7/15/2011  E-mail from the Director of Public Works to the City Manager.
	7/15/2011  Bid Proposal
	7/15/2011  Bid Tabulation
11.	CONSIDER DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CITY’S PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE POLICY -- Consider and discuss amending Section 2-131 of the City Code regarding previously adopted Official Correspondence Policy which was developed by a source outside the City Attorney’s Office and directing the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amendment for approval at the next City Council Meeting. This item was placed on the agenda by Mayor Ragan.
12.	CONSIDER AND DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT OF A PROPOSED ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A VACANT PROPERTY REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT FOR VACANT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERICAL STRUCTURES -- Consider and discuss developing a proposed ordinance establishing a requirement for vacant property registration, possibly including establishing standards for insurance, security and maintenance, and providing for inspections and appropriate fees. This item was placed on the agenda by Council Member Goveas.
13.	CONSIDER AND DISCUSS ESTABLISHING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE TO EVALUATE TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS FOR THE CITY -- Consider and discuss establishing an ad hoc committee to evaluate technology options for the City and advertising for applicants on the City website. This item was placed on the agenda by Council Member Head.
14.	CONSIDER DIRECTING STAFF TO EVALUATE CABLE TELEVISION FORMAT INCLUDING SOUND AND PRESENTATION -- Consider and discuss directing staff to evaluate cable television format and presentation as to enable addition of photographs and video capability to promote the City. This item was added to the agenda by Council Member DeSoto.
15.	CONSIDER INVESTIGATING OPTIONS TO RENOVATE AND REPAIR CITY-OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3280 DIANA DRIVE -- Consider and discuss directing staff to investigate options to renovate, rehabilitate and repair city-owned property located at 3280 Diana Drive. This item was added to the agenda by Council Member Goveas.
16.	CONSIDER RECOGNIZING YOUTH WHO PARTICIPATED IN CITY FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION AND PRESENT CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION -- Consider and discuss recognizing youth who participated in Richland Hills Fourth of July Celebration and present certificates of appreciation for their efforts. This item was added to the agenda by Mayor Ragan.
17.	CONSIDER DISCUSSING TEEN COURT ADVISORY BOARD BYLAWS AND FUTURE GOALS FOR YOUTH OF RICHLAND HILLS -- Consider and discuss Teen Court Advisory Board Bylaws and future goals for city youth. This item was added to the agenda by Council Member Lopez.
18.	CONSIDER REVIEWING ETHICS ORDINANCE IN CONTRAST WITH CITY CHARTER AND AMEND ORDINANCE IF REQUIRED -- Consider and discuss Ethics Ordinance in contrast with City Charter and amend subject ordinance if required. This item was added to the agenda by Council Member Lopez.
19.	CONSIDER REVIEWING TRAVEL POLICY 363-10 IN COMPARISON WITH CITY CHARTER REQUIREMENTS -- Consider and discuss reviewing Travel Policy 363-10 in comparison with City Charter requirements and amend subject policy if required. This item was added to the agenda by Council Member Lopez.
20.	CONSIDER REVIEWING POLICY 1140-09 REGARDING CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF EXPENSE FOR LEGAL OPINION -- Consider and discuss reviewing Policy 1140-09 regarding requiring City Manager to obtain prior approval from the City Council before incurring certain City Attorney expenses for legal opinions. This item was added to the agenda by Council Member Lopez.
21.	CONSIDER CEASING FUTURE FUNDING OF LEGAL EXPENSES FOR FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER MARRS -- Consider and discuss ceasing future funding of legal expenses for former Council Member Larry Marrs regarding State Ethics Commission complaint. This item was added to the agenda by Council Member Lopez.
22.	CONSIDER REVIEWING WITH CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY OPTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT TO CITY ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE -- Consider and discuss reviewing with City Manager and City Attorney options for improvement to City organizational structure. This item was added to the agenda by Council Member Goveas.
23.	REMOVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS -- Any Council Member may remove any item from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion and action at this time.
24.	CONSENT AGENDA -- A) Approval of Tuesday, July 12, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes.
	7/12/2011  Approval of Tuesday, July 12, 2011 Regular Meeting Minutes.
25.	PUBLIC INPUT OR PUBLIC COMMENTS -- Public.
26.	COUNCIL MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS/COMMENTS -- A) Mayor Ragan to report on progress being made regarding city drainage improvements.
27.	EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, executive session may be held under one or more of Sections 551.071, 551.073, 551.074, 551.076, 551.087, 413.183(f) and 418.106(d) & (e), either at the end of the Regular Session or at any time during the meeting on any item on the agenda if a need arises for the City Council to seek advice from the City Attorney or otherwise convene in closed session as permitted by such sections of the Open Meetings Act. The City Council may take action on any agenda item listed for executive session consideration upon reconvening in open session. Please refer to agenda for the items posted. The sections referenced above are generally described as follows: Section 551.071: Consultation with Attorney The City Council may conduct a private consultation with its attorney when the City Council seeks the advice of its attorney concerning any item on this agenda, about pending and contemplated litigation, or a settlement offer, or on a matter in which the duty of the attorney to the City Council under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Board of Texas clearly conflicts with Chapter 551. Section 551.072: Deliberation regarding real property: Section 551.073: Deliberation regarding Prospective Gift or Donation The City Council may conduct a closed meeting to deliberate a negotiated contract for a prospective gift or donation to the City. Section 551.074: Deliberation regarding Personnel Matters The City Council may deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of public officers, including the City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Municipal Judge and non-advisory city boards and commission members. A complete list of the city boards and commissions and the membership of those boards and commissions is on file in the City Secretary’s Office. Section 551.076: Deliberation regarding Security Devices The City Council may deliberate the deployment, or specific occasions for implementation of security personnel or devices. Section 551.087: Deliberation regarding Economic Development Negotiations The City Council may discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information received from a business prospect that the city seeks to have locate, stay or expand in or near the city and which the City is conducting economic development negotiations or to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect. Section 418.183(f): Texas Disaster Act The City Council may deliberate information: (1) for purposes of preventing, investigating, or responding to an act of terrorism or related criminal activity and involving emergency response providers, their staffing, contact information and tactical plans; (2) that relates to the risk or vulnerability of persons or property, including infrastructure, to an act of terrorism; (3) that relates to the assembly of an explosive weapon, the location of a material that may be used in a chemical, biological or radioactive weapon, or unpublished information pertaining to vaccines or devices to detect biological agents or toxins; (4) that relates to details of the encryption codes or security keys for a public communication system;(5) that relates to a terrorism-related report to an agency of the United States; (6) that relates to technical details of particular vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure to an act of terrorism; (7) that relates to information regarding security measures or security systems intended to protect public and private property from an act of terrorism; or (8) any other topic subject to discussion in closed session pursuant to the Texas Disaster Act. Section 418.106(d) & (e): Local Meetings to Discuss Emergency Management Plans regarding Pipeline Safety The City Council may discuss emergency management plans providing for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery in executive session when those plans contain sensitive information relating to critical infrastructure or facilities, and the safety or security of the infrastructures or facilities could be jeopardized by disclosure of the emergency management plan.
28.	ADJOURNMENT This facility is wheelchair accessible. If you plan to attend this meeting and you have a disability that requires special arrangements at the meeting, please notify the City 72 hours in advance of the meeting so that reasonable accommodations can be made. For sign interpretive services, please call also 72 hours in advance.