2003-08-11 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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0 City Council Regular Meeting — August 11, 2003 - Page 2 Motion was made by Councilmember Warren to approve items on the Consent Agenda. Second by Councilmember Griffiths. The motion carried. Ayes: Engelken, Meismer, Mosteit, Warren, Young, Ebow, Griffiths, and Malone Nays: None Abstain: None 6. PETITIONS, REMONSTRANCES, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CITIZENS AND TAX PAYERS WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL Leonard Zlomke — 209 S. Lobit - La Porte, Texas — voiced his opposition of the pre -check facility. Mr. Zlomke was disappointed in the Mayor's previous comments to citizens regarding removing them from a Council Meeting for applauding. Charles Gilliam — 202 Nugent — La Porte, Texas 77571— is opposed to the pre -check facility for the Port of Houston. Sidney Grant —1907 Lomax Drive — La Porte, Texas 77571— feels some citizens are using the fill dirt issue to promote a personal agenda. The drainage issue in La Porte needs to be resolved; suggested Council have a bond election, allowing citizens' input. Mr. Grant complimented the Inspections Department. Chris Hudson — 3355 West Alabama — Houston, Texas — President of the American Institute of Architects — voiced his favor of the International Codes; he would like to see all cities work under the same code. Cherie Steinle —1203 Mission — La Porte, Texas 77571— concerned about the fill dirt issue and areas around her home being elevated higher than her property, causing additional flooding, plus there is concern for privacy issues. Kay Scott —1802 Lomax School Road — La Porte, Texas 77571— concerned with restrictions being placed on property owners regarding putting dirt on their property; there needs to be consideration for the citizens that cannot afford to build their property up, including the elderly. Bill Scott —1802 Lomax School Road — La Porte, Texas 77571— reviewed the City's fill dirt permits; there were large differences in the permit requirements. A large landowner repeatedly reapplied for the maximum 40 load permit; while the owner of 11306 N. L, located west of the Exxon's pipeline applied for and received a permit for 40 plus loads of dirt, which gave him unlimited loads of dirt. This was the only permit written to allow unlimited loads of dirt; when that permit expired the owner received another City permit for 700 loads, for the same property. The owner's drainage sketch, as you see, called for a swell down the middle and called for the dirt to be piled on the back half, draining from the edges down to this middle swell. What occurred was just the opposite, the dirt is built up in the back, in the middle and it drains to the edges. On walking the eastern property line, there is no swell to keep the property from draining on the neighbor, which is a direct violation of the drawn sketch. Some citizens are concerned they might flood; the Scott's did flood on a regular basis. Their homesite was flooding due to an illegal dam on the westside, by the same group the City gave a permit for unlimited number of animals for their feedlot. The fill dirt ordinance attempts to cover up for this abuse, allowing 5 truck loads of fill dirt every 6 months without any requirements. The ordinance is ambiguous and vague on this point and allows the City's "good ole' boys" system to continue to abuse property owners; the result is the insiders and special favors. Mr. Scott questioned if the property owner was given favoritism due to his friendship with Mayor.