10-28-19 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council

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6. STATUTORY AGENDA (a) Presentation and discussion on adoption of Ordinance 2019-3758, to amend the Council Rules of Procedure and Ethics Policy. [Mayor Rigby] Councilpersons worked from the Section 5 through the end of the Rules of Procedure proposal and chose to review the Ethics Policy at the next meeting. (b) Presentation, discussion, and possible action on a report from the compensation work group. [Matt Hartleib, HR Manager] Matt Hartleib, HR Manager, thanked Councilpersons Engelken, Bentley, and Lunsford for their work and reviewed the compensation aspects that had been considered. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the compensation workgroup recommendations to: 1. Make adjustments to roughly 91 employees to bring them to at least the same position in their range that they held before ranges were adjusted; 2. Adjust ten employees of a current 56 employees across 29 positions who will be reassigned to different grades on the La Porte salary structure; 3. Add a standard of living adjustment of $1 per hour for each eligible employee; and 4. Establish compensation philosophies/practices beginning fiscal year 2019-2020 and the Council clarified that this would apply only to employees who have been here at least six months as of today. Councilperson Garza moved to amend that all those employed as of today receive the dollar per hour raise; the motion did not receive a second and was not considered by the Council. The original motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilperson Garza voting against. During Council Comments, Councilperson Garza requested he be permitted to make a formal request for a record of his dissent on the vote for merit raises, saying he felt it was unfair and incompatible with the statement that the City's philosophy is to improve the standard of living of the City of La Porte's employees if a group of employees are arbitrarily left out, adding that he did not believe it to be an issue of money but rather of "arbitrary distinction" and that he didn't feel he could vote for something that he felt discriminates against 20 employees. 7. REPORTS (a) Receive a report of the Drainage and Flooding Committee Meeting. [Councilperson Jay Martin] Councilperson Martin reported on the Drainage and Flooding Committee meeting, relaying that it received reports from staff but that the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) representative did not attend the meeting. He added that the Committee had a considerable level of frustration with project progress and that the next meeting was set for November 11. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS • Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, Thursday, October 17, 2019 • Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting, Thursday, October 24, 2019 • City Council Meeting, Monday, October 28, 2019 City Manager Corby Alexander thanked the compensation work group and invited the Council to the employee Family Fun Day this Saturday at Lomax Arena beginning at 3 p.m. 9. COUNCIL COMMENTS regarding matters appearing on the agenda; recognition of community members, city employees, and upcoming events; inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policies. Councilpersons thanked the compensation work group and expressed hopes for employee care with the initiatives going forward; applauded all the City departments that participated in National Night Out; gave kudos to the City Manager and staff for getting the Somerton Road project completed and opened; acknowledged how much is going on in the city in parks and with new recycling bins; warned the public about credit cards being skimmed; recognized Charlie Perry, who will be named an LPISD Distinguished Citizen this week; shared how much fun local families had at Fright Night; noted the Civic Club and the Court participated in the Northside cleanup; and recounted Council and staff attendance at the Page 2 of 3 October 14, 2019, Council Meeting Minutes