2003-09-08 Regular Meeting, Public Hearing and Workshop Meeting

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City Council Regular Meeting, pUb.earing and Workshop Meeting - SePtemb.~ 2003 - Page 3 Jean McElvogue of 427 Bay Ridge Road, Morgan's Point, Texas - Ms. McElvogue is a Councilmember for the City of Morgan's Point and designated to appeal to La Porte City Council regarding the terms of our new fire protection contract. Morgan's Point has had a contract with the City of La Porte for the past 34 years. This year, without notice or involvement, the terms of the contract have been changed, resulting in tripling Morgan's Point's costs, which proportional to Morgan's Point's budget could be the equivalent of$1.25 million to La Porte. Morgan's Point met with La Porte's staff, being informed the revisions in the contract is what Council instructed them to do; therefore, Morgan's Point brings the appeal to Council. Morgan's Point is intimately familiar with the data and the methodology used by the La Porte staff and feel that La Porte has made some serious errors. Morgan's Point does not think the intent or spirit of La Porte's direction has been met. For that reason and because of the lack of involvement of Morgan's Point in the process, we are asking La Porte to extend our current contract 90 days while representatives of both cities meet to develop and evaluate a fair method for determining fire costs. Morgan's Point is prepared to accept any result from a process in which it participates and receives fair consideration of its views. Morgan's Point will honor the terms of the agreed contract retroactively to the expiration of the current contract. Council has been told that La Porte is subsidizing Morgan's Point on fire costs, which simply is not true. Over the past five years Morgan'~ Point has contributed approximately $100,000 to La Porte's general fund. Morgan's Point has had approximately 15 fire calls in those 5 years; 2 structure fires, 1 down power line, 2 gas leaks, 1 mosquito fogger and six grass/trash fires for an average cost of $6,666 per fire. Morgan's Point wants and insists on paying their fair share and feel they have been doing just that. La Porte's new method results in citizens of Shore Acres paying less per capita than La Porte's own . citizens, while charging Morgan's Point's citizens almost 2.5 times that rate. Morgan's Point is not a gold mine of untapped commercial wealth. We have 7 businesses, including the taco stand, which combined generate only Y2 as much in property tax revenue as you are iricreasing our fire costs. Morgan's Point has one warehouse under construction, when added to existing business property tax still will not total the increased fire cost after we eventually get our flfSt tax payment in 2005. Morgan's Point has ten acres of undeveloped commercial land and. is 82% tax exempt. Morgan's Point is a very small city that has lost up to 25% of our revenue with the announced closure of the MTBE plant last Friday. We only have 336 people and that includes Boys and Girls Harbor and they are tax exempt. Morgan's Point occupies two square miles, the Port of Houston and EOTT combined occupy one of those square miles, Boys and Girls Harbor occupies half of the remaining one square mile, leaving one-half of a mile for Morgan's Point's citizens to live in. La Porte has a separate contract for $32,000/year with the Port of Houston for secondary fire protection and EOTT is covered by CIMA. Neither of these facilities are included in the proposed Morgan's Point contract. On behalf of our City, I thank you for your attention and consideration. Our two cities have enjoyed over half a century of beneficial, mutual cooperation and hope to see this continue. Carroll Lee Pruitt of 6705 Highway 290 West, #802-299, Austin, Texas 78735-8407 - spoke in favor of a codes committee. The City needs to consider the make-up of the committee that reviews the codes; ensuring balance of interest, including architects, engineers, homebuilders, general contractors, plumbers, electricians and citizens at large, allowing them to return with a favorable recommendation. If requested, the International Code Council is willing to assist. Gary Shirley of 3815 Montrose, #123, Houston, Texas 77006 - offered his assistance in forming a codes committee.