03-27-17 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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In addition to the six Council-identified goals, it was agreed that key areas of city government were not included in the goals identified by Council. Staff was tasked with discussing other areas where they would establish goals and objectives and bring them to Council for consideration and approval to include in the Strategic Plan. Several new goals were identified and are proposed for Council consideration: Toprovide and maintain superior public safety Continue to improve the quality of life through recreational amenities Create a Neighborhood Preservation Program Provide diverse and timely communications that promote and influence a positive public perception of LaPorte One critical component to ensuring that the elements of the Strategic Plan are being implemented isto provide regular status reports to the City Council. Staff prepares and presents to council quarterly written reports supplemented with oral reports or action items for implementation that may be necessary in-between written reports. In fiscal year 2014, City staff appointed key department directors to carry out the major components of the strategic plan. Staff developed a matrix that identifies target dates for completion of the components of the strategic plan. Relevant Financial Policy City staff is complying with the new GASB pronouncement 68 regarding pension reporting. Major Initiatives Public Works identified additional major infrastructure improvements needed in the upcoming years, consequently, we issued $10.65 million in certificates of obligation funded by Texas Water Development Board infiscal year 2017 for utility improvements. Long Term Planning Given the current economy and the uncertainty of the next few years, the City's existing financial position remains strong. The City has incorporated several strategies to decrease the expenses to the City over the next several years. Rising costs of personnel and the related benefits have been a challenge to the City; however, over the last few years, a healthy fund balance in the General Fund has allowed the City to weather these rising costs. The city of La Porte is experiencing significant commercial and residential development. Over the past 12 months, multiple restaurants and retail establishments have opened in the City. The Pipeline Grill opened in December 2015 with an estimated capital investment of $1.2 million. Our TIRZ board and City Council approved a large entertainment capital investment estimated to exceed $100 million. Additionally, the housing market in the Houston area, which included La Porte, has seen a 10% growth in the median price of homes over the last two years. The Panama Canal expansion is bringing about a significant growth in warehouse operations and hotels. The deepening and widening of the port is prompting expansion of outside the city limits, to allow receiving from super container ships. The low cost of natural gas continues to provide stability in the petro chemical market; consequently we are experiencing significant growth in our industrial districts. Additionally several industrial district expansion are under way worth over $600 million. Conservative revenue estimates and efforts to reduce expenditures have contributed to the City strong financial position and have allowed the City to weather the economic slump. We are especially pleased that there have been no property taxes rate increases for (27) twenty-seven years. Additional capital projects v