03-11-03 Town Hall Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e Minutes of the Town Meeting - March 11, 2003 - Page 6 The future development is for Driftwood Park and Spenwick Civic Club. Parks is also looking into access to Hogg Island/Atkinson's Island; this may provide some real possibilities and opportunities. Chamber Chairman Bonnie Natole states how the Chamber of Commerce is involved with the economic development of the City. They are meeting on a monthly basis. Their first goal is to create an information notebook and website for potential businesses, developers and new residents. This goal is almost completed. The attitude is for all to work together. All 3 cities are included, Shoreacres, Morgan's Point and La Porte, as one community. Ms. Natole gave a brief history of her involvement in La Porte. City Secretary Martha Gillett refers to the Comprehensive Plan from 1984 and 2000 regarding beautification for the City. The 1984 Plan stating "a beautifully landscaped, well-kept and maintained City is a source of pride for its citizens and a major attraction..." The 2000 Vision Plan stated "a City that conserves its natural resources...". Ms. Gillett'Iisted the objectives from both plans: beautification of existing thoroughfares..., development and beautification...., etc. The landscaping and buffering beautification projects have been a very positive part of the beautification for the community. An ordinance has been adopted to take care of vigil blinds or graffiti, to remove it quickly. Dangerous buildings are actively looked at and destroyed, if necessary. There are recent restrictions on stacking containers. In area Industrial District Agreements, we have added additional requirements on those for landscaping and screening. City improvements include the library, the schools, the San Jacinto Pool, the golf course, Sylvan Beach Pavilion, Main Street improvements, Highway 225 beautification project; tree donations in memory ofloved ones. Betty Waters stated the Planning and Zoning Commission serves at the will of the City Council, working closely with the Planning Department. Six members are appointed to the Commission, each appointed by the Councilmember of each district, the chairman is appointed by the Mayor and the At-Large Councilmembers, and agreed upon by the remaining members of Council. The Board serves for projects that are brought to their attention; deal with access in and out of the projects, from industrial complexes to residential districts; they look at the Parks and Recreation department and try to facilitate enhancements for them; they touch on the Public Works department; also, police, fire and ambulance service to ensure every citizen and employee has the best public protection; planning for the future of the community, attempting to make life more comfortable for citizens; attempt to plan for the upcoming 5-10 years, and amending necessary errors; preparation of a land use map showing how the land is utilized today, and how it will be used in the future. At a future meeting they will have a Public Hearing for citizens to review the maps and voice their opinions. Upon the finish of a final map, they have to be approved by Council. Councilmember Chuck Engelken-District 2 was assigned by to the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC); at their last meeting, the board of directors appointed a committee to for the whole region for trauma care evaluation of a 14 county area. Mr. Engelken pointed out the need for trauma care due to the new era we live in; post 911, Tropical Storm Allison, etc. Looking at the hospitals in our area, there's a void in La Porte for a hospital, health care system. This would