Loading...
November 11, 2019 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEOERLANO 4:30 P_rm_ November 11, 2019 1. MEETING The meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Mayor Albanese at the Nederland City Office Building, 207 N. 12th Street, Nederland, Texas. See attached for quorum. The following statement was posted: "PIJRS IJANT TO SECTION 30_07, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY LICENSE HOLDER WITH AN OPENLY CARRIED HANOGUN), A PERSON LICENSEO UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (HANOGIJN LICENSING LAWS, MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A HANDGUN THAT IS CARRIED OPENLY." 2_ INVOCATION ANO PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The invocation and pledge of allegiance were led by Gay Ferguson, City Clerk. 3_ CONSENT ^GENOA - All consent agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a councilmember so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. A motion was made by Councilmember Austin and seconded by Councilmember Root to approve the Consent Agenda Item "a" as presented. MOTION CARRIED._ Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, and Root. Noes: None. Absent: Councilmember Hollier_ a. Minutes - October 28, 2019 regular meeting and October 28, 2019 workshop. 4_ REGULAR ^GENOA a. The regular meeting was recessed and a public hearing was called to order at 4:32 p.m. by Mayor Albanese for the purpose of considering and taking action including approval of an agreement with the law firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair 8t Sampson, LLP as special counsel to perform all legal services necessary to collect unpaid fines, fees, and court costs as provided in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 103.0031 and authorizing the execution of such agreement. Chris Duque, City Manager, stated the public hearing is being held to receive comments regarding consideration and possible action including approval of an agreement with the law firm of Linebarger, Goggan, Blair 8. Sampson, LLP as special counsel to perform all legal services necessary to collect unpaid fines, fees, and court costs as provided in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article Minutes Continued, November 11, 2019 103.0031 and authorizing the execution of such agreement. A collection fee in the amount of 30% in certain cases would compensate collection attorneys. Bryan Groce, Director of Operations, and Danielle Nettles, Attorney; for Linebarger, Goggan, Blair&Sampson, LLP; made a presentation to City Council. They reported they are the leading collection vendor for municipalities and justices of the peace for unpaid fines, fees, and court costs. They have over 1,200 employees in more than 40 offices throughout the United States. They do not charge jurisdictions for their service but include a 30% add-on fee, which is passed to the debtor. They discussed some of their strategies for locating/contacting clients and being able to collect outstanding debts. Mr. Duque stated no action was necessary and the contract for services will be considered at the next council meeting. There being no further questions and/or comments the public hearing was adjourned and the regular meeting was reconvened at 4:50 p.m. by Mayor Albanese. b. A motion was made by Councilmember Austin and seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Neal to approve Resolution No. 2019-16, casting votes for Terry Schwertner as a candidate for the Board of Directors of the Jefferson County Appraisal District. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, and Root. Noes: None. Absent: Councilmember Hollier. c. A motion was made by Councilmember Root and seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Neal to authorize the purchase of six turbidimeters for the Public Works Department via a sole-source vendor. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, and Root. Noes: None. Absent: Councilmember Hollier. d. A motion was made by Councilmember Austin and seconded by Councilmember Root to approve Ordinance No. 2019-33, amending the Plumbing Code for the purpose of establishing and managing an effective cross-connection control program. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, and Root. Noes: None. Absent: Councilmember Hollier. e. Chris Duque, City Manager, reported after staff reviewing food truck regulations of the cities of Port Neches, Groves, Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Lumberton, as well as discussing the Jefferson County Health Department's food truck procedures, a public meeting was held on October 21st to gather input from local businesses/restaurants, food truck vendors, and citizens. Only food truck vendors were in attendance. Following this research and discussion, staff developed a draft ordinance to amend the existing regulations to fit the request. The proposal would establish a Food Truck Pilot Program for 12 months. During this period, temporary permits would be available for special events (defined as an event organized and permitted by the business establishment for the temporary promotion and Minutes Continued, November 11, 2019 advertisement for the benefit of the business establishment, whether for profit or non-profit; in which, the setup is completely on the establishment's private property); the temporary permits would be available no more than 12 times during a calendar year, no more than once a month, and for a 3-day period. The following requirements would be adopted: • Permit fee of $50, • Permits shall not be issued during the week of the Nederland Heritage Festival, • Permits will only be issued to applicants with a brick and mortar business in Nederland or a residential home with a homestead exemption in Nederland, • Documentation must be submitted confirming the businesses permission to be on the property, • Jefferson County Health Department permit is required, • Food truck/trailers only allowed in commercial and industrial zoning districts, not allowed in the public ROW and state highway ROW, shall not park overnight, cannot be within 50 feet of a residential structure, and cannot be within 100 feet of the primary entrance of an operating restaurant without written permission from the restaurant, • Properties where the food truck/trailer is stationed shall maintain the required number of parking spaces, • Food trucks/trailers shall operate from a licensed commissary, • Food trucks/trailers shall be located within 100 feet of a public restroom, • The Pilot Program will commence on January 1, 2020. If City Council is inclined to move forward with this program, the next step is to hold a Joint Public Hearing with the Planning & Zoning Commission on December 9, 2019. Planning & Zoning Commission would meet after the Joint Public Hearing to vote on their recommendation, then the item would return to the City Council for possible action on the ordinance on December 16, 2019. During this process, the proposed ordinance may change due to on-going discussion and review. Prior to taking any action, staff recommended meeting in Executive Session for discussion with the City Attorney. 5. EXECUTIVE SESSION The regular meeting was recessed at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Albanese for the purpose of conducting an Executive Session as authorized by Texas Government Code, Chapter 551.071, Consultation with City Attorney. 6. RECONVENE The regular meeting was reconvened at 5:21 p.m. by Mayor Albanese. A motion was made by Councilmember Root and seconded by Councilmember Austin to set a Joint Public Hearing for December 9, 2019 at 4:30 p.m. to discuss revising regulations regarding mobile vendors (food trucks). MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, and Root. Noes: None. Absent: Councilmember Hollier. Minutes Continued, November 11, 2019 7. COMMUNICATION a. Miscellaneous: • Robert Woods, Director of Public Works gave a brief report on construction projects: a. Main sewerline project - the bore on Avenue H has been completed and carrier pipe has been installed. Working on tie-in and repaving the street. Anticipating opening the street the week of Thanksgiving. b. Concrete Street Repair - concrete panels on west side of 33rd Street have been made. The saw cutting on the east side is beginning. • Chamber Coffee tomorrow morning at Central Middle School at 8:00 a.m. • 2nd City Council Meeting this month will be November 18tH 8. ADJOURN There being no further business a motion was made by Mayor Albanese and seconded by Councilmember Austin to adjourn the meeting at 5:28 p.m. MOTION CARRIED. Ayes: Mayor Albanese, Councilmembers Austin, Neal, and Root. Noes: None. �,� N�Sent: Councilmember Hollier. \\\ fo • =0; 'IF4 >1�-1 • W= D, lbanese, Mayor Q, 4.1 City of Nederland, Texas ay Ferg on, City CI < City of Nederland, Texas CITY OF NEDERLAND COUNCIL MEETING ATTENDANCE SHEET NAME TITLE PRESENT ABSENT Don Albanese Mayor Talmadge Austin Council Member-Ward I ✓ Billy Neal Council Member-Ward II Emmett Hollier Council Member-Ward III ✓ Sylvia Root Council Member-Ward IV ✓ Chris Duque City Manager ✓ Gay Ferguson City Clerk ✓ Jesse Branick City Attorney ✓ ' Cheryl Dowden Director of Finance ✓ q-n ,,( Arnot -Gary Porter Police Chief ✓ Terry Morton Fire Chief Robert Woods Director of Public Works George Wheeler Building Official ✓ Victoria Klehn Librarian ✓ Holly Guidry Human Resources Director Joni Underwood Executive Secretary Angela Fanette Parks Director Don Albanese, Mayor 11.0 ay Ferguson, City Cler November 11, 2019 Date CITY OF NEDERLAND RESOLUTION 2019-16 WHEREAS,Senate Bill No. 621,Acts of the 66th Texas Legislature,Chapter 841, 1979, provides for establishing an Appraisal District which would concern the City of Nederland; and WHEREAS,the Act provides that the Appraisal District shall be governed by a Board of Directors to be chosen by the taxing units within the district by a voting method set out in the Act; and WHEREAS,the Act provides for nomination of candidates for the Board by the taxing units within the Appraisal District;and WHEREAS,the City of Nederland is desirous of having representation on the Board of Directors of the Appraisal District; and WHEREAS,the Act entitles each taxing unit to vote and determine its votes by resolution submitted to the Jefferson County Appraisal District before December 15,2019. NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,that the City Council of the City of Nederland, in compliance with Senate Bill No. 621, hereby casts its entire vote as follows: Allison Nathan Getz Eugene Landry Lauren Williams Mason Dr.Louis Reed Terry Schwertner 58 ‘,„,,iiiiiiiS.O RESOLVED,this the 11th day of November,2019. (2�RIAIVp do f, __Akf__•1Ailt***--- u; o 0i °/1I ,' - Don Albanese, Mayor 7". �,�? • City of Nederland,Texas %MSI �`�: I. . // at . 4i1 Gay Ferguso',City Clerk City of Nederland,Texas APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: • Jess- ity Attorney Cjoritrland,Texas ORDINANCE NO. 2019-33 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEDERLAND, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 18,ARTICLE III OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, CITY OF NEDERLAND, PROVIDING THE CROSS- CONNECTION CONTROL PROGRAM; MAKING FINDINGS OF FACT; PROVIDING A REPEAL CLAUSE AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; ESTABLISHING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION OF THESE RESTRICTIONS AND PROVISIONS FOR ENFORCEMENT; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS,the City of Nederland,Texas is a home rule municipality having authority to utilize police power regulation of health,safety,and general welfare of the public;and WHEREAS,the Nederland City Council desires to establish and manage an effective cross- connection control program;and WHEREAS,the City of Nederland determined that it is in the best interest of the health, safety,and welfare of its citizens to mandate that all backflow prevention assemblies which are installed to provide protection against non-health hazards be tested by the customer every three years by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester;and WHEREAS,the City of Nederland determined that it is in the best interest of the health, safety,and welfare of its citizens to mandate that all backflow prevention assemblies which are installed to provide protection against health hazards be tested and certified by the customer to operate within specifications at lease once a year,by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester;and WHEREAS,in order to accomplish this necessary goal and objective,the City of Nederland now finds it necessary to amend Chapter 18. Buildings and Building Regulations, Article Ill. Plumbing of the existing Code of Ordinances. NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEDERLAND, TEXAS, HEREBY ORDAINS THAT: SECTION 1. The statements set out in the preamble to this Ordinance are true and correct. SECTION 2. Chapter 18.Buildings and Building Regulations,Article Ill.Plumbing of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Nederland is hereby revised with the following revisions: A. Add Section 18-55.Cross-Connection Control Program: Section 18-55. Cross-Connection Control Program. A. DEFINITIONS (1) Manual M14: the American Water Works Association's Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Control,current edition. (2) TCEQ:Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 1 (3) 290 Rules: the TCEQ's rules and regulations for public water systems, which appear in Title 30,Texas Administration Code,Chapter 290. (4) Contamination:the presence of any foreign substance(organic,inorganic,radiological,or biological)in water,which tends to degrade its quality so as to constitute a health hazard or impair the usefulness of the water. (5) Potential Contamination Hazard: a condition which, by its location, piping, or configuration, has a reasonable probability of being used incorrectly, though carelessness, ignorance, or negligence, to create or cause to be created a backflow condition by which contamination can be introduced into the water supply. (6) Cross-connection: a physical connection between a public water system and either another supply of unknown or questionable quality, any source, which may contain contaminating or polluting substances,or any source of water treated to a lesser degree in the treatment process. (7) Health Hazard: a cross-connection, potential contamination hazard, or other situation involving any substance that can cause death, illness, spread of disease, or has a high probability of causing such effects of introduced into the potable drinking water supply. (8) Non-health Hazard: a cross-connection, potential contamination hazard, or other situation involving any substance that generally will not be a health hazard, but will constitute a nuisance, or be aesthetically objectionable, if introduced into the public water supply B. GENERAL (1) No water-service connection shall be made to any establishment where a potential or actual contamination hazard exists unless the water supply is protected in accordance with the 290 Rules and this ordinance.The water purveyor shall discontinue water service if a required air-gap or backflow prevention assembly is not installed, maintained, and tested in accordance with 290 rules and this ordinance. (2) No backflow protection at the water service meter is required where an adequate internal cross-connection control program is in place C. INSTALLATION,TESTING,AND MAINTENANCE OF BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLIES (1) All backflow prevention assemblies must be installed and tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions or Manual M14. (2) All backflow prevention assemblies must be tested upon installation by a licensed backflow prevention assembly tester and certified to be operating within specifications. Backflow prevention assemblies that are installed to protect against health hazards must also be tested and certified to be operating within specifications at least annually by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester. (3) Backflow prevention assemblies installed on fire suppression systems must be tested by a backflow prevention assembly tester permanently employed by an approved fireline contractor. (4) Gauges used for backflow prevention assembly testing must be tested for accuracy at least annually in accordance with the AWWA's Manual M14.A copy of the gauge accuracy test report must be submitted to the City of Nederland Inspection Department to demonstrate the gauge has been tested for accuracy. (5) A recognized backflow prevention assembly tester must hold a current license issued from the TCEQ. (6) Assemblies must be repaired, overhauled, or replaced whenever the assemblies are found to be defective. Original forms recording,testing, repairs, and overhaul must be kept and submitted to the City of Nederland Inspection Department within five working days of the test, repair or overhaul of each backflow prevention assembly. No backflow prevention assembly or device may be removed from use or relocated,or other assembly or device substituted for it,without the approval of the City of Nederland Building Official or the designated authority D. CUSTOMER SERVICE INSPECTIONS (1) A customer service inspection must be completed before the provision of continuous water service to all new construction,on any existing service when the water purveyor 2 has reason to believe that cross-connection or other contamination hazards exists, or after any material improvement,correction,or addition to the private water-distribution facilities. (2) Only individuals with the following credentials shall be recognized as capable of conducting a customer service inspection. a. Plumbing Inspectors and water-supply protection specialist that have been licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. b. Customer service inspectors that have been licensed by the TCEQ. (3) The customer service inspection must certify that: a. No direct connection between the public drinking water supply and a potential source of contamination exist.Potential sources of contamination must be isolated form the public water system by a properly installed air gape or an appropriate backflow prevention assembly. b. No cross-connection between the public drinking water supply and a potential source exists. Where an actual, properly installed air gape is not maintained between the public water supply and a private water supply,an approved reduced-pressure-zone backflow prevention assembly is properly installed,and a service agreement exists for annual inspection and testing by a recognized backflow prevention assembly tester. c. No connection exist that allows water to be returned to the public drinking water supply. d. No pipe or pipefitting that contains more than .8.0 percent lead is used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection that supplies water for human use. e. No solder or flux,which contains more than 2.0%lead,can be used for the installation or repair of plumbing at any connection,which provides water for human use. E. IRRIGATION SYSTEMS (1) Any irrigation system that is connected to a public or private potable water supply must be connected through a backflow prevention assembly approved by the TCEQ. (2) Backflow prevention assemblies installed on irrigation systems that are classified as health hazards must be tested at a minimum annually. F. PENALTY The City of Nederland Chief Building Official or his designee shall be the enforcer of this ordinance. The City shall have the right to seek enforcement of this ordinance through the Municipal Court. Any person or business violating this ordinance,including preventing access by the City to the backflow assemblies,when required,is guilty of a misdemeanor,and upon conviction,shall be punishable by a fine of not less than$2,000 and not more than$5,000. Each day that one or more of the provisions of this ordinance is violated shall constitute a separate offense. The fine does not limit the City of Nederland's ability to disconnect water service to the premises. Services discontinued under such circumstances shall be restored only upon payment of a reconnection charge and any other costs incurred by the city in discontinuing services. Compliance with this section may also be sought through injunctive relief in the district court. SECTION 3. All ordinances that are in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance be, and the same are hereby,repealed and all other ordinances of the City not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION 4. Should any paragraph,sentence,subdivision,clause,phrase,or section of this ordinance be adjudged or held to be unconstitutional,illegal or invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of this ordinance as a whole or any part or provision thereof, other than the part so declared to be invalid, illegal or unconstitutional. 3 SECTION 5. The meeting at which this Ordinance was approved was in all things conducted in strict compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act,Texas Government Code,Chapter 551. SECTION 6. The Ordinance shall be effective from and after its passage. PASSED AND APPROVED THE 11TH day of NOVEMBER,2019. APPROVED: n u Iiinuit,, ,' ,�NEDER = • � •z Don Albanese,Mayor '5,114 01/0' City of Nederland,Texas , c — Ce1w Gay Ferguson,City Clerk City of Nederland APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: i Awerl Jes - Bra' ,City Attorney Cit o iederland,Texas • 4