2004-11-08 Regular Meeting, Public Hearing and Workshop Meeting

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City Council Regular Meeting, Public Hearing and Workshop Meeting - November 8, 2004 - Page 4 Ayes: Ebow, Griffiths, Engelken, Young, Beasley, Clausen, Rigby, Moser and Porter Nays: None Abstain: None 9. This item was tabled until after Item Number 10, the Workshop Meeting is presented. 10. The Regular Meeting was closed and the Workshop Meeting opened at 7:46 p.m. A. Council to provide guidance on possible revisions to the ordinance and/or appointments of members to the Building Codes Appeal Board. This item was asked to be brought back to Council. Mayor Porter asked Councilmember Moser if he would comment on this item. The origin of the Board is to help give the citizens and contractors a Board they can go to with any discrepancies with the inspectors, and to bring into effect products and materials to better benefit our contractors and citizens, and keep the codes current. The other issue was to determine qualifications to be a member of the Board; one of those was being a resident or having a business within the Community. There are many considerations on how to put this Board together, basically looking for a jury of peers. The appeals process was questioned. The ordinance will be brought forward with specific changes, as noted. The Board would consist of seven residents or local business owners and address the staggered terms. B. Council to provide direction to staff on the future adoption of updated front foot fees for commercial and residential development. Council requested Supervising Engineer Robert Cummings to provide a survey of other cities development. This item will be brought back at a future City Council Meeting. c. Council to provide direction regarding development of a "Tree City USA Ordinance" to meet the requirements and needs for the City of La Porte. This Ordinance will be reviewed by the City Attorney and the Planning and Zoning Commission. The "Keep La Porte Beautiful Resolution" is complete. Participation in the "Tree City, USA" program will start out with City staff. At first, "Keep the Trees Beautiful" program will use staff for the board. Councilmember Peter Griffiths suggested Planning and Zoning review the programs before bringing back to Council at the December 13, 2004 City Council Meeting. D. Council to consider a course of action and give staff direction regarding further investigation of a joint venture between the cities for a Youth Sports Complex and for a connecting north- south roadway between Genoa-Red Bluff Road in Pasadena, and Canada Road (East Boulevard) in La Porte. Council's consensus is to keep moving forward. E. Main Street Coordinator Debra Dye updated Council on the status of the Downtown Revitalization program. Ms. Dye will be looking at Committees, Boards and projects to make recommendations to Council. Some of the new items for the program are the "Texas First Lady's Tour"; and a Resource Team needs to be formed for a Texas Historical Commission Review. F. Council to provide direction to staff on potential additional funding from TxDOT for improvements at the La Porte Municipal Airport. Council consensus is to move forward. 11. The Workshop Meeting was closed at 8:22 p.m.