06-25-12 Regular Meeting of La Porte City Council

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Councilmember Zemanek moved to appoint Doug Martin to serve in the vacant position on the LaPorte Area Water Authority. Councilmember Kaminski seconded. Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Leonard, Engelken, Kaminski, Zemanek, Mosteit, Martin, Clausen, and Moser Nays: None Absent:None Discussion or other action regardingtheBayport Deepening and Widening Projectby the Port of Houston –S. Gillett Interim City Manager Steve Gillett presented a summary. Councilmembers Leonard and Martin commented they are against the location of the proposed spoilarea. Councilmember Zemanek commented he was not opposed to the dredging but opposes the spoil site. Councilmember Leonard moved to direct staff to prepare a resolution for consideration at the June25, 2012, City Council Meeting supporting the Port of Houston’s plan to deepen and widen the Bayport Ship Channel; support the placement of dredged spoil in the already existing placement area; and opposing the creation of a new open bay marsh without a formal Environmental Impact Statement. Councilmember Moser seconded. Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Leonard, Engelken, Kaminski, Zemanek, Mosteit, Martin, Clausen, and Moser Nays: None Absent:None Receive report regarding Port of Houston acoustical report – T. Leach Assistant CityManager Traci Leach and Robert Bruce with Collaboration in Science and Technology, Inc. (CSTI) provided an update on the Port of Houston acoustical report. Councilmembers Engelken, Zemanek, and Leonard commented it is time to proceed and go to court. Assistant City Attorney Clark Askinsadvised the City is still in mediation and could not go to court onissued citations. Councilmember Zemanek commented the noise levels in the report are not correct. Councilmember Moser questioned Interim City ManagerSteve Gillettwhether the Port of Houston would possibly consider placing the spoil from the deepening and widening project into their already existing area and drop the desire to place it in Upper Galveston Bay if the City stopped pursuing the noise issue. Interim City Manager responded it is possible. Council directed staff to meet with the Port of Houston and requestinformation on what has been done to reduce the noise and what documentation they have to demonstrate it has been doneand to provide an update at the June 25, 2012, City Council Meeting.