The agenda seems to have settled into a more normal length, now that the major budget resolutions have passed. This time, I managed to lay hands on the RCA and backup before the weekend, so I’m posting the agenda and comments based on the backup all at once.

Readers are cautioned that I delete what I judge to be extraneous text, and often paraphrase in order to make the legalese a lot more readable; also that comments added are a mix of my own opinions, best guesses, snarking, and judgements, and therefore may not be entirely accurate. Such deletions may accidentally result in a key omission; if you wish to read the original text, please follow the link in the sidebar to the posted agenda. For a permanent link to the backup, go here.

Public Comment, 7/11 2-5 pm: Citizens desiring to address the council must register in advance with the City Secretary. (Thanks to Kevin for the idea of using Archive.org.

The usual suspects will be present for this, but I note that more people have signed up than usual, and several of them have chosen to speak on the same topic. Five people are speaking on trash services (one specifically mentions Calumet, which is not the one of the solid waste collectors up for approval—I checked). Two are on the “Leaders of Tomorrow,� while the rest are a hodgepodge of causes. One is actually checking up on the city government, to see how much the housing program for the elderly is going to cost. You go, Mr. Trent Winters…we need all the help we can get in this job.

5:00 P. M. – RECESS

RECONVENE

Action Meeting, 7/12, 9:00 am: COUNCIL CHAMBER – SECOND FLOOR – CITY HALL – 901 BAGBY

Special Public Hearing:
1. City Council will conduct a hearing regarding the Juvenile Curfew Ordinance (Ch. 28, Art. V, City of Houston Code of Ordinances) to determine whether the Curfew Ordinance should be modified. To reserve time to appear and testify call the Office of the City Secretary (713) 247-1840 prior to the commencement of the hearing. Alternatively written comments may be submitted to the Office of the City Secretary.
The statistics and data supplied by HPD to support this is in the backup. I strongly recommend downloading and looking at it because the data, to my eye, does not support the expanded curfew. Data may exist to support the idea, but my contention is this data does not. The biggest problem I have is that the data is broken down into 3 periods: 3-10pm, 10pm-midnight, midnight-6am. The numbers are then used to contend that there is a peak of crimes committed by or against juvies in the 10pm to midnight period. I would much prefer to have the figures broken down hourly for the full 24 hours and/or graphed, so that it’s self-evident. By artificially bracketing the selected period, we have no way of knowing the truth of this assertation, or if an 11pm curfew would do just as well. Worse, the spike, while it’s there, is hardly the massive crime wave they make it sound like. Take the 424 aggravated assaults by juveniles between 3-1opm in CY 2005. That’s 61 an hour. How many happen during 10pm to midnight? A whopping 77. That’s uh, 39. (So I rounded. Bite me.) Well, what about robbery? Try 431 (62/hour) vs. 161 (81/hr). More violent crimes clime a bit: Murders go from 5 in six hours to 3 in two. And rapes! Wow do those horny, violent teenagers get serious after 10pm: 26 rapes between 3-10pm and 1 between 10pm and midnight. Wait? One? Uh… why do I think the real reason is the last graph: Graffiti.
2001 — 397
2002 — 491
2003 — 513
2004 — 553
2005 — 955

Not previously mentioned that I’ve seen is that the curfew age is being dropped from 17 to 16.

Mayor’s Report:
Nothing listed.

CONSENT AGENDA

Items 2 & 3: ACCEPT WORK

2. RECOMMENDATION from Director Building Services Department for approval of final contract amount of $1,587,255.00 and acceptance of work on contract with STEWART BUILDERS, LTD., for Parks Master Plan – Bid Package No. 5 Settegast Park and Swiney Park, 04.98% over the original contract amount.
Contractor did not meet MWBE goals, and receieved an unsatisfactory rating. Increase in cost was due to a change order for additional work.

3. RECOMMENDATION from Director Building Services Department for approval of final contract amount of $86,832.42 and acceptance of work on contract with FOUR SEASONS DEVELOPMENT CO., INC for Parks Master Plan – Forest West Park Renovations, 02.91% over the original contract amount.

Item 4: Property

4. RECOMMENDATION from Director Department of Public Works & Engineering to purchase Parcel AY3-473, located at 5353 DeSoto Street along West White Oak Bayou, owned by Oakbrook Gardens, Ltd., a Texas limited partnership, Dinesh Shukla, President, for the WEST WHITE OAK BAYOU HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL EXTENSION PROJECT from Pinemont to Victory.
Total cost $48,203 for 13,996 sq.ft.

PURCHASING AND TABULATION OF BIDS – NUMBERS 5 and 6

5. GT DISTRIBUTORS, INC – $364,499.76, BAILEY’S HOUSE OF GUNS, INC – $85,308.39 and C & G POLICE SUPPLY, d/b/a C & G WHOLESALE – $62,457.15 for Ammunition, Accessories and Supplies for Various Departments – General and Asset Forfeiture Funds
Ammunition, including smoke and tear gas grenades, and targets for training. MWBE waived because no minority manufacturers exist, nor are any minority shippers certified by the federal government.

6. AMEND MOTION #2003-1394, 11/19/03, TO EXTEND expiration date from November 19, 2006 to November 18, 2008, for Auto GM Car/Truck, OEM Replacement Parts and Repair Contract for Various Departments, awarded to DAVIS CHEVROLET, INC
Extension of an existing contract. “A recent market survey of the most high-use items for GM car/truck, OEM replacement parts revealed that the present contract prices for these items are approximately 79% lower than the current market price.” That sentence constructed so incoherently, I gist it, but sure of the exact meaning? Anyway the original contract was for up to $2.66 million and we’ve only used $1.02 million of that (plus $0.69 million for labor), so it’s being extended.

Items 7 – 22: Ordinances

7. ORDINANCE establishing the north and south sides of the 2300 block of Swift Boulevard within the City of Houston as a special minimum lot size requirement area pursuant to Chapter 42 of the Code of Ordinances, Houston, Texas.

Twelve of the eighteen owners on both sides of the street signed the petition and there were no protests. But remember, Houston does not have zoning!

8. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing Lease Agreement between the City of Houston and ABCO LEASING, LLC, for certain premises at William P. Hobby Airport.
They pay the City $97k per year, and have to put up six months rent for a deposit.

9. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing Amendment No. 1 to Lease Agreement between the City of Houston and TRAMMELL CROW COMPANY IAH INTERNATIONAL AIR CARGOCENTRE II, L.P. for certain premises at George Bush Intercontinental Airport/Houston.
Trammel Crow is putting in a refrigerated cargo facility, and discovered that they already need to expand it. The city and TC are cutting a deal to reduce the rent for four years to a nominal amount (about $1k/month), in return for which, TC is constructing permanent improvements worth about $200k. Their first proposal had some issues with placement, which are being worked out. I have one concern; which is that the rent break kicks in as soon as they start construction but nothing says they have to finish it…. The original lease was approved 4/27/05; the original amount is not listed as part of this item.

10. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing contract between the City of Houston and GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP for Professional Services; providing a maximum contract amount 1 Year – $762,200.00 – Enterprise Funds
Guess what? More subsidized marketing! “The contract requires GHP to identify new business opportunities, secure economic incentives and increase outreach and recruitment activities to the region’s targeted key industries to strengthen Houston as a competitive place to do business.” It goes on to say that GHP will develop a marketing/development plan as well as a public policy plan “to sustain a regional infrastructure that will support business development activities….” and that GHP will make it’s research capabilities available to the Convention and Entertainment Facilities department,the Airport System, and Jody Tollett the GHCVB for the purpose of creating some slick sales tools to promote the city And don’t forget the Minority Business Counci!

11. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing contract between the City and C. H. WILKINSON PHYSICIAN NETWORK, d/b/a CHRISTUS MEDICAL GROUP for Health Care Services in Southwest Houston; providing a maximum contract amount – 4 Years, 6 months – $4,050,000.00 – General Fund
Four and a half years worth of immunizations, TB and other tests, plus prenatal care for the southwest portion of the city.

12. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing agreement between the City of Houston and MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION AND COUNSELING THROUGH THE ARTS, to provide $500,000.00 in Community Development Block Grant Funds for Assistance with the Renovation of a facility located at 1900 Kane Street, Houston, Texas, formerly known as the Dow School Building
Half a million dollars in fedeal money forked over to repair and upgrade a facility for the Multicultural Indoctrination Center Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA). “MECA is a community based non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the social, cultural and academic development of at-risk inner-city youth thrugh education in the arts.” Remember boys and girls, OPM* saves lives!

*Other People’s Money.

13. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing first amendment to contract between the City of Houston and JUSTEX SYSTEMS, INC for Assessment Center Process (Rank of Police Lieutenant) for the Houston Police Department.
This looks peculiar. Supposedly, it’s to fix two mistakes in one part of the prior contract: It said “Captain” instead of “Lieutenant”, and stated a cost of $30,000 instead of $89.831.52. The original contract was passed in February, 2005. Yeah…peculiar.

14. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing Professional Artist Services Agreement between the City of Houston and ELENA CUSI WORTHAM for design and creation of a work of art to be sited at the Ronald E. McNair Police Station; accepting the artwork into the City’s permanent art collection $48,600.00 – Police Department Civic Art Fund
Management at the city pound must be so jealous. “We’ll see your $2,000 statues and raise you another $46k!”

15. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing interlocal agreement between the City of Houston and HARRIS COUNTY TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY (HCTRA) for Park Row Road between Eldridge Parkway and State Highway 6.
Westside road construction, adding a link to the HOV from a joint city/TXDOT project. The HCTRA is handling the property acquisition and the city will reimburse them; the city pays 20% of the construction cost and the HCTRA does the other 80%. Previously funded (but i can’t read a handwritten note over that part of the form.)

16. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing Utility Functions and Services Allocation Agreement between the City of Houston and BGM LAND INVESTMENTS, LTD. on behalf of proposed Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 439 –
The backup for this item is missing.

17. ORDINANCE awarding construction contract to BIG STATE, EXCAVATION, INC for Water, Sanitary Sewer and Storm Drainage Systems to serve Section One of the Wayside Village Subdivision, approving and authorizing an assignment of the construction contract to the WOODMERE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
$430k already appropriated, bid awarded to consstruct water distribution, sewer collection, and storm drains in develpment around the area of North Wayside and East Little York.

18. ORDINANCE appropriating $117,454.37 out of Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund and approving and authorizing Developer Participation Contract between the City of Houston and WOODMERE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LTD. for Construction of Water and Sanitary Sewer lines to serve development on Wayside Drive.
Additional funds encumbered for the above? The backup for this item is missing.

19. ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2005-699, which awarded a contract to GREYSTAR EIG, LP for Kingwood Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements to correct the engineering services contract number.
Oopsie! Our bad, there was a clerical error!

20. ORDINANCE No. 2006-766, passed first reading July 5, 2006
ORDINANCE granting to UNITED WASTE SERVICES, INC, a Texas corporation, the right, privilege and franchise to collect, haul and transport Solid Waste and Industrial Waste from commercial properties located within the City of Houston, Texas. – SECOND READING

21. ORDINANCE No. 2006-755, passed first reading July 5, 2006
ORDINANCE granting to SURE DISPOSAL SERVICES, INC a Texas corporation, the right, privilege and franchise to collect, haul and transport Solid Waste and Industrial Waste from commercial properties located within the City of Houston, Texas. -SECOND READING

22. ORDINANCE No. 2006-756, passed first reading July 5, 2006
ORDINANCE granting to QUICK SILVER HAULING, LLC, a Texas corporation, the right, privilege and franchise to collect, haul and transport Solid Waste and Industrial Waste from commercial properties located within the City of Houston, Texas. – SECOND READING
These three items are back for review.

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA

Items 22-25: MATTERS HELD

23. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing the submittal of an application to the U. S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL for Network Implementation of the National Environmental Public Heath Tracking Program (The “Grantâ€?); declaring the City’s eligibility for such grant; authorizing the Director of the Health and Human Services Department to act as the City’s representative in the application process; authorizing the Director of Health and Human Services Department to accept the grant and the grant funds, if awarded, and to apply for and accept all subsequent awards, if any, pertaining to the grant – $3,800,000.00 – Grant Fund – TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SEKULA-GIBBS
This was Item 17 on Agenda of July 5, 2006
To develop a database on people treated, immunizations, etc., for real-time data mining. This sort of information is probably on paper currently; as I’ve noted before, the Health Department is one of the biggest holders of personal data on citizens, aside from HPD.

24. ORDINANCE approving and authorizing compromise and settlement agreement with ADVENTURES IN BIRDS & PETS, INC and BETTY JEAN JORDAN to settle a lawsuit and appropriating $65,000.00 out of Water & Sewer System Consolidated Construction Fund No. 755, which lawsuit arose out of activities financed by the Fund
TAGGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER LAWRENCE
This was Item 21 on Agenda of July 5, 2006
Backup was missing last week, but it’s there this time. Ms. Jordan’s business was located at the corner of westview and woodvine. It breeds and sells exotic birds, supplies for the same, and offers pet boarding. The city put in a 54-inch water main on Westview, which affected her property for six months. Ms. Jordan sued for $1,000,000; alleging denial of access to the property and damage to the birds. Her ruffled feathers and the lawsuit were both settled for $65k.

25. ORDINANCE amending Ordinance No. 2004-0495 to increase the maximum contract amount to Contract C56063 between the City of Houston and ARCH WIRELESS OPERATING COMPANY, INC for Pager Rental Services for Various Departments – $143,429.16 – General, Enterprise, Grant and Other Funds
POSTPONED BY MOTION #2006-628, 7/5/06
This was Item 33 on Agenda of July 5, 2006
Extending an existing contract through 2007. Council pressure to justify use resulted in a reduction from 3,883 to 2,197 pagers.

MATTERS TO BE PRESENTED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS – Council Member Lawrence first

And that, folks, is that, for another weekly installment of “What the Hell is My Government Doing This Time?” Be sure to tune in tomorrow evening when I spend a few minutes discussing some committee information a reader forwarded to me. Seems some more things have been slipping by under the radar in the Housing department.