Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-1991-1764 e e ORDINANCE NO. 1764 AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AN EASEMENT TO HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER COMPANY FROM THE CITY OF LA PORTE, GRANTING A FIFTY FOOT (50') RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR A l38KV ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINE, ALONG THE SOUTH EDGE OF BLOCKS 475 AND 474, TOWN OF LA PORTE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, AND A PORTION OF THE ADJOINING FORMER "H" STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY 1 MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT1 FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW1 AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE: Section 1. The City Council hereby approves and authorizes the contract, agreement or other undertaking described in the title of this ordinance, in substantially the form as shown in the document which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference. The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute such document and all related documents on behalf of the City of La Porte. The City Secretary is hereby authorized to attest to all such signatures and to affix the seal of the City to all such documents. Section 2. The City Council officially finds, determines, recites and declares that a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council was posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City for the time required by law preceding this meeting, as required by the Open Meetings Law, Article 6252-17, Texas Revised Civil Statutes Annotated1 and that this meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof has been discussed, considered and formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice and the contents and posting thereof. Section 3. This Ordinance shall be effective from and after its passage, and approval, and it is so ordered. PASSED AND APPROVED, this 24th day of June , 1991. CITY OF LA PORTE BY ~ m.r~~ ,~!?e_,t!9~a~9P~in, .May?r ~ro Tem ATTEST: ~ ~. Cherie Black City Secretary e e KNOX W. ASKINS .JOHN O. ARMSTRONG ASKINS & ARMSTRONG, P. C. AlTORNEYS AT LAW 702 W, FAIRMONT PARKWAY P. O. BOX 1218 LA PORTE. TEXAS 77572-1218 TELEPHONE 713 471-1 eee TELECOPIER 713 471-2047 June 12, 1991 Mr. Robert T. Herrera City Manager City of La Porte City Hall La Porte, Texas Dear Bob: At your request, I have examined proposed easement from the City of La Porte to Houston Lighting & Power Company, for a 138KV electrical transmission line, being a 50 foot wide electrical transmission right-of-way along the south edge of Blocks 475 and 474, Town of La Porte, Harris County, Texas, for Houston Lighting & Power Company to serve Tenneco. The terms of the easement are set out in letters dated April 4, 1991 and April 5, 1991, from Houston Lighting & Power Company to the City of La Porte. I have spoken with Mr. Clayton L. Williamson, Land Agent for Houston Lighting & Power Company, about the proposed easement. Although there have been extensive discussions between the City of La Porte, Houston Lighting & Power Company, and Southern Pacific, concerning the alignment of the Houston Lighting & Power Company easement, and Southern Pacific spurs across the easement area, the Houston Lighting & Power Company proposed easement is in standard form, and does not show, on the map attached thereto, the positioning of the Houston Lighting & Power Company poles and equipment, nor does the easement language confine Houston Lighting & Power Company in any way as to pole location. The easement does provide that the City reserves the right to "extend railroad spur tracks, roads or streets and f.nces across, but not along the easement...conveyed." City or railroad facilities cannot be closer than 12 feet to any of Houston Lighting & Power Company's "then existing structures." Further, the easement document provides that the City would have to first seek Houston Lighting & Power Company approval of plans and specifications for proposed crossing and the location thereof. There is easement language to the effect that the spurs must cross the easement, and not parallel the easement. In conversation with Mr. Williamson to obtain clarification of this language, he said this language was intended to prevent streets or railroad tracks to parallel the easement, within the 50 foot easement strip. I see no objection to this requirement. In other words, the proposed railroad spur which would go west on "H" Street, could be constructed in the remaining former right-of-way of "H" Street, without impeding the easement. e e Mr. Robert T. Herrera City Manager June 13, 1991 Page 2 In summary, the easement is in typical form, and I have no objection to the basic easement language. My preference would have been to have an easement where Houston Lighting & Power Company exactly delineates the location of its proposed facilities, and, simultaneously with the execution of the easement, have Houston Lighting & Power Company approve the plans and specifications for the exact planned Southern Pacific spur crossings. However, in conversation with Mr. Williamson, Houston Lighting & Power Company is willing to do neither. Therefore, other than the quoted language from the easement, allowing Southern Pacific spurs to cross, with approval of Houston Lighting & Power Company, there is no written agreement between the City and Houston Lighting & Power Company, on these matter. Mr. Williamson indicated that Houston Lighting & Power Company feels it must have latitude for exact placement of the facilities within its easement, and also future placement. I have enclosed proposed form of ordinance for your use in placing this easement on a City Council agenda for consideration and approval by City Council. The recent letter from Texas Parks & Wildlife to your office, indicates conditional approval to the City to enter into the easement agreement with Houston Lighting & Power Company at this time. The City should obtain the checks for the payment of the value of the easement, $36,650.00, as well as the $29,000.00 check for acquisition of substitute parkland, in exchange for delivery of the signed easement and certified copy of ordinance approving same. Please advise if I may be of any further assistance on this matter. Yours very truly, ~ Knox W. Askins City Attorney City of La Porte KWA: sw Enclosure e The Light CODlpaDY Houston Lighting & Power RECEIVED JON 1 7 1991 CITY MANAGERS P. O. Box 1700 Hou on, Texas 70J51t 713) 228-9 11 ~~ June 11, 1991 Mr. Joel H. Albrecht Director of Community Development City of La Porte P. O. Box 1115 La Porte, Texas 77572 Re: Request by' Houston Lighting & ~ower Company to the City of La Porte for a Fifty Foot Wide Electrical Transmission Right of Way along the south edge of Blocks 475 and 474 within the city limits of Morgan's Point. Dear Mr. Albrecht: This letter is to express our appreciation for the prompt resolution by the City of La Porte concerning the park site problems associated with the above referenced project. We look forward to securing the easement instrument previously submitted to you and hope this can be ,done during the month of July. Any assistance that can be provided to do so will be greatly appreciated. . Houston Lighting & Power Company will participate for one- third of the amount, not to exceed $2~"OOO, necessary for the purchase of additional park land required for the Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife to approve issuance of this easement grant; however, this participation must be concluded before the end of the 1991 calendar year. This participation is separate from the consideration agreed upon for the easement itself. If there are any questions concerning this matter, please contact me at 623-3117. Your cooperation is appreciated. Sincerely, HOUSTON LIGHTING & POWER COMPANY ~';Z Lv~ Clayton L. Williamson, Senior Agent Land & Right of Way Department Land ManagHment Division CLW:g1 A Subsidiary of Houston Industries Incorporated '~~ r ~\<,~/' ~ e e CITY OF LA PORTE PHONE 17131 471.5020 . p, 0, BOx 1115 . LA PORTE, TEXAS 77572 June 7, 1991 Jim Wyatt Houston Lighting and Power Company P.o. Box 597 Seabrook, TX 77586 Dear Mr. wyatt: Enclosed please find a letter from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to the city of La Porte dated June 4, 1991. The correspondence speaks favorably to our request to release a grant commitment from the Texas Parks and wildlife Department and has given us conditional approval from the commission so we can work with Houston Lighting and Power company's need to develop a 138 kv transmission line. As you are aware, any time a public agency requests to de- commission a park site that was enhanced with federal funds, the public agency must meet and fulfill some very complex legislation. It's refreshing to know that the Texas Parks & wildlife Department is supporting our request which we made on your behalf, and the development of property located within our northeast quadrant. As we have discussed and reached agreement on, we can only complete this transaction by replacing the'property de-commissioned (6.0 acres mini-bike park) with substituted land of like recreational value. The associated cost to complete this land conversion is estimated to be $87,000. This amount includes property acquisition, surveys, land appraisals (2) and some attorney fees. Verbally on June 3, 1991, you committed that HL&P would participate in the conversion cost up to an amount of $29,000 which is 1/3 of the estimated project. The City agrees to match an additional 1/3, and we are currently completing negotiations with the property owner to the south of the mini-bike park for a 1/3 contribution. Please keep in mind this conversion process and de-commission element is separate and above the proposal submitted by HL&P to the City on April 4, 1991, to secure a 50' easement that would run east to west across the southern edge of the mini-bike park. "'=w.. .~ . e June 7, 1991 Page 2 On behalf of the city of La Porte, we thank you for your understanding and genuine desire to service the growth needs of the city's northeast quadrant with electrical service. I will advise our city Attorney to prepare the necessary paper work on this most crucial project. Sincerely, G~ T~ ~ Robert T. Herrera' city Manager Attachment xc: City Attorney .,.... ---: ..... COMMISSIONERS CHUCK NASH Chairman, San Marcos JOHN WILSON KELSEY VICe-Chairman Houston LEE M. BASS Fl Worth HENRY C. BECK. III Dallas YGNACIO D, GARZA BlOwnsviDe TERESE TARLTON HERSHEY Houston GEORGE C. "TIM' HIXON San Antonio BEATRICE CARR PICKENS Dallas WALTER UMPHREY Beaumont e e TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 4200 Smith School Road . Austin. Texas 78744 . 512.389-4800 ANDREW SANSOM Execulive Director June 4, 1991 Mr. Robert T. Herrera City Manager P.O. Box 1115 La Porte, Texas 77572-1115 Dear M~era: Thank you for your letter of May 15 concerning the proposal to release the grant commitment to the Mini Bike Park project site. We have rev i ewed your subst i tut ion proposal and concur that it results in a greater recreation benefit to your citizens than the Mini Bike Park site. Other administrative requirements must be met to complete the conversion and substitution process, but in the interest of expediency of allowing the use of the Mini Bike site for the transmission line, we are granting conditional approval for the conversion. The staff of our Grants- In-Aid Branch will be contacting, you to request further information to complete the substitution. Approval of the conversion is conditioned upon La Porte meeting all requirements of the enclosed Guidelines for Conversion. This may mean the requirement to prove equivalence of appraised value for the substitution site when compared with the converted park. Approval is also cont i ngent upon acceptance of the subst i tut i on by the National Park Service. Please contact Tim Hogsett of th~ Grants-In-Aid Branch at 512/389- 4949 for further information on this process. Your assistance in meeting grant requirements is greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Officer AS:TH:js Enclosure e The Light CODlpaD)' Houston Lighting & Power e P. O. Box 1700 Houston, Texas 77251 (713) 228-9211 April 4, 1991 Mr. Robert Herrera City Manager City of LaPorte P. O. Box 1115 LaPorte, Texas 77572 Re: Request by Houston Lighting & Power Company to the City of LaPorte for a 50-Foot Wide Electrical Transmission Right-of-Way Along the South Edge of Blocks 475 and 474 Within the City Limits of Morgan's Point Dear Mr. Herrera: As we have previously discussed, Houston Lighting & Power Company is preparing to construct a 138KV.,electrical transmission line in the LaPorte area. This line will enable a major industry in the LaPorte area, Tenneco, to build a new manufacturing facility. Enclosed is a letter that explains the entire project in greater detail and summarizes its benefits to the LaPorte area. In order to construct this project, it will be necessary for Houston Lighting & Power Company to secure an easement from the City of LaPorte. This easement will be 50-feet wide and would contain 27, 312 square feet of land. The easement would run east to west across the southern edge of Blocks 475 and 474 within the city limits of the City of Morgan's Point. Enclosed is the proposed easement instrument for your review. This instrument contains language that addresses the City of LaPorte's desire to be able to cross the easement with improvements such as streets, rail, and utilities. This easement is off-set 15-feet north of the property line for two reasons. First, it will keep the transmission line in a straight pattern and eliminate the need of setting an additional pole in street right-of-way just to the west of the City's property. Secondly, by allowing this strip to remain unencumbered, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company will be able to work with the city of LaPorte in extending a spur track across the property and continue westerly into the City of LaPorte should rail be necessary for any future industry locating in this vicinity. Houston Lighting & Power Company has established through an independent appraisal that the value of this 27,123 square foot easement is 75 percent of the full market value of $1.35 per square foot, which amounts to $27,653.40. It has further been determined A Subsidiary of Houston Industries Incorporated e e Houston Lighting & Power Company Mr. Robert Herrera April 4, 1991 2 by the independent appraisal that the $1.35 per square foot full value of the IS-foot wide strip of City property south of the easement will be adversely impacted by 75 percent. Since this 15- foot wide strip contains 8,879 square feet of land, a compensation of $8,989.99 is the monetary figure applicable for this negative impact. Therefore, Houston Lighting & Power Company hereby offers to pay the City of LaPorte the sum of $36,650.00 as full compensation in this matter. It is requested that the City of LaPorte review this proposal, and if it is acceptable, we ask that the easement grant process be initiated by the City as soon as possible. If there are any questions concerning this request, please contact me at 623-3117. Your cooperation in this matter is appreciated. Sincerely yours, ~ ~ Lv~ Clayton L. Williamson, Sr. Agent Land & Right-of-Way Department Land Management Division CLW:sdz Enclosures t ~ OZDI CO DI -i;\-? tIJ:Yq <:U..+ 000 . :e (Jl . ......... ocq, --. tIJ:- LEGEND ~iO o = fND. 5/15' I.R. UNLESS ~~ OTHERWISE NOTED, c ::0 U'I 50 0 50 100 150 1..____1 I I SCALE IN FEET tlOl!::: THE EXTERIORS OF ALL E'ASEMDITS ARE TO INTERSECT WITH lHE EX1!:RIORS OF ALL ADJOININC EASDAENTS OR WITH ADJOINING PROPERTY UNES, REVISIONS NO. NO.2 NO, 3 JOB NO, REVISED BY: DAfE: ~ED BY: EASEMENT - UNOBSTRUCTED COUN1Y: HARRIS DATE: NOV, 19,1990 SCALE: ," ~I he' Nn. Fi? "4 n InR NO'n1 nnF.HIO-1 FiFiR = 00,' CHO:I(ED "'"f"f) "". " HOUSTON UGHTING & POWER CO SURVEYING & MAPPING DIVISION DISK NO: JLG-l1 -90 SKETCH NO. 90-043A NOTE: NORTH .. H" STREET CLOSED BY CITY OF MORGAN'S POINT ORDINANCE #264 JOHNSON HUNTER LEAGUE A-35 VOL. 83 pc. NEBRAS.KA BLK. 456 345 H. C.D.R 457 SYNDICA TE I I I J- . 60 ...... \ , N tD ::d o E; ::at ~ z o ~ ~ o o o q BLI(. 475 CllY of LA ,PORTE Vol. 7829 Pg. 263 Vo\. 7515 Pg. 455 Lots 1-32 591.92' Vo ELK. BLK. 851 Pg. 544 Lots 1-32 474 NORTH "t' ST. -" q , , ~I "'d . P:" I ~ I ~ ~ ~ ~ o o q t. . L . e 28A(10-86) TAP TO lA PORTE Grantee, 66-002 D100ET90-166 03/13/91 TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the above described . together with all and singular the rights and appurtenances thereto successors and assigns, and Gran r does hereby bind itself and its successors, irs, assigns, and legal re esentatives, to warrant and forever defend all . ngular the above rcribed easement and rights unto said Grantee, its successo sand assi7' against every person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim e or;any part thereof. EXECUTED this / day of , 19_ (Name typed or / , CITY OF lA PORTE ATTEST: BY: BY: Mayor (Name typed or printed) STATE OF TEXAS I I COUNTY OF This was acknowledged before , Mayor of corporation, on behalf of said corporation. Notary's Signature \orte. " . ,by a municipal (Name typed or printed) Commission Expires: -3-