10-22-18 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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Councilmember Engelken made a motion to approve Consent Agenda Item C pursuant to staff recommendation. Councilmember Zemanek seconded. MOTION PASSED 6/2. Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers K. Martin, Bentley, Zemanek, Earp, and Engelken Nays: Councilmembers Ojeda and J. Martin Absent: None Prior to council action, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins read the caption of Ordinance 2018-3725 AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM OF COUNCILPERSON-AT-LARGE-POSITION B; DESIGNATING ELECTION PRECINCTS AND POLLING PLACES; PROVIDING FOR THE USE OF VOTING MACHINES; APPOINTING ELECTION OFFICIALS; PROVIDING FOR FILING DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES, PROVIDING FOR METHOD AND DATES OF EARLY VOTING; PROVIDING FOR AN EARLY VOTING BALLOT BOARD; PROVIDING FOR RETURN AND CANVASS OF VOTES OF SAID ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE; PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. Prior to council action, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins read the caption of Ordinance 2018-3726 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 50 "PARKS AND RECREATION" APPENDIX -A "FEES" OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, BY ADJUSTING VARIOUS GREEN USER FEES; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; CONTAINING A SEVERABLITY CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. 7. DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION (a) Discussion and possible action to provide direction to the City Manager regarding implementation of the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year employee merit pay increases — Mayor Rigby Mayor Rigby spoke in regards to 2018-2019 Fiscal Year employee merit pay increases Councilmember Earp commented it was not his recommendation to reduce the amount budgeted for merit pay increases, it was actually City Manager Corby Alexander's recommendation. Councilmember Earp commented he challenged the City Manager to look at and make budget cuts, and he only asked for an understanding and justification on the budgeted and percentage amounts presented by Staff for merit increases. Councilmember Engelken asked Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins if the City can have an EEOC claim filed for budgeting for merit raises for employees for half of the year and not have funding for merit increases for the other half of the year for employees. Mr. Askins responded he does not think there is a risk if there is justification. In addition, Councilmember Engelken also commented he is in favor of all merit increases moving to one time a year instead of being staggered throughout the year. Councilmember Ojeda made a motion to return $186,000.00 back to the merit program. Councilmember K. Martin seconded. MOTION PASSED 8/0. Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Ojeda, J. Martin, K. Martin, Bentley, Zemanek, Earp, and Engelken Nays: None Absent: None (b) Discussion and possible action regarding a new recreation and fitness facility — Mayor Rigby Mayor Rigby spoke in regards to a new recreation and fitness facility. Councilmember Zemanek commented he wants a new facility and to revamp the Senior Center in order to keep people in the City and to showcase the water on the bay. Page 4 of 6 October 8, 2018 Council Meeting Minutes