2012-01-04 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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LOUIS RIGBY 0� ,p DARYL LEONARD Mayor 0 Councilmember District 3 JOHN ZEMANEK IL 4 TOMMY MOSER Councilmember at Large A n7 Councilmember District 4 DOTTIE KAMINSKI JAY MARTIN Councilmember at Large B Councilmember District 5 MIKE MOSTEIT MIKE CLAUSEN Councilmember District 1 Councilmember District 6 CHUCK ENGELKEN Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember District 2 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE JANUARY 4, 2012 The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the following items of business: 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Rigby called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Members of Council present: Councilmembers Zemanek, Engelken, Martin and Clausen. Absent: Councilmembers Mosteit, Leonard, Kaminski and Moser. Also present were City Secretary Patrice Fogarty and Interim City Manager Steve Gillett. 2. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to five minutes per person.) Ted Powell, 1700 Roscoe, La Porte, addressed Council and commented the future City Manager should focus on the community's interest, stand "toe to toe" working with the Port of Houston, respect and promote La Porte's rich history and tourism, concentrate on infrastructure, drainage issues, truck traffic impeding the city, the need for synchronized lights for better flow of traffic, and be cautious of the cost when pursuing economic development projects. Phillip Hoot, 927 Seabreeze, La Porte, addressed Council and commented the future City Manager should maintain citizens' needs ahead of special interests, develop ideas on improving the quality of life for the citizens, understand the manager works for the citizens, and possess good team building skills. Kathryn Aguilar, 3119 Fondren, La Porte, addressed Council and commented the future City Manager should be financially conservative, endorse transparency in government, and have a vision for the city to make it more attractive, while allowing community input. Ms. Aguilar also thanked Council for allowing citizen input on the recruitment process for selecting and hiring a City Manager. Norma Elliott, 11621 North D Street, La Porte, addressed Council and commented the future City Manager should have the ability to manage the various departments and know the function of the departments, be a good budget person and have knowledge of state laws, work with the goals and objectives of the Mayor and Council and not be a political tool for Mayor and Council. 3. DISCUSSION OR OTHER ACTION (a) Discussion or other action regarding recruitment process for selection and hiring for position of City Manager — Mayor Rigby Senior Vice President Alan Taylor, with SGR (Strategic Governmental Resources), provided an overview of the plan and process for selection and hiring for the position of a City Manager. Page 1 of 3 January 4, 2012, Special City Council Meeting Minutes