Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-15-2004 Building and Development Meeting Minutes• r~l L MINUTES OF THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT MEETING DECEMBER 15, 2004 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Porter at 1:05 p.m. Members of Staff Present: City Manager Debra Feazelle, Assistant City Manager John Joerns, City Secretary Martha Gillett, Planning Director Wayne Sabo, City Planner Masood Malik, and Building Official Debbie Wilmore. Other Councilmember's Present: Mike Mosteit and Tommy Moser Others Present: Developer Glen Tolaz 2. Receive information from builder/developer regazding building and development permit issues within the City of La Porte. Mayor Porter opened the meeting by stating he thought this would be a good opportunity to obtain an outside opinion on how the City could improve in the development azea.. He stated the goal is to do a better job and make sure we give the perception of being business friendly in La Porte. Comments by Glen Tolar: Mr. Tolar advised the group he started developing in 1963 with lease buildings in Deer Park. He noted he was instrumental in working with the City of Deer Pazk to upgrade their building code. His lazgest development is located at Underwood Rd. near Battleground. He currently owns land on Canada Rd. Examples of items he has experienced in trying to do business in La Porte: He feels you get told no until you can prove otherwise. He noted some of the activities occurred as long as 3-4 years ago. He was trying to put together a project at Pasadena Blvd. and North L. Street near the Lomax school. He was about to purchase property and have a contract drawn up. In an effort to be cautious he sent his staff to the building department to see about building permits. They said no they could not issue a permit for his project because it included a truck wash. He noted it was not a truck wash but a single bay car wash for washing company vehicles and not a full blown truck wash. Rather than trying to work with him he felt they just thought it was easier to say no. He felt they did not try to help him to business in La Porte. 12/15/04 Meeting Page 2 He suggested La Porte have a better sales attitude to bring customers and developers to do business in the City. He noted the City does not just provide service they also have to be sales people and offer more assistance to help. Another example was working with Grisham Tolaz on a project deemed to be a truck stop. It was not a truck stop and was only a lazge service station. He was told no on the project and advised that La Porte did not want it here instead of saying lets look closer at the project and see what we can do to bring your business to our City. Suggested we train and develop staff not to use the terminology "No" but to find more positive phrases and ways of getting the business to the City. Staff mentioned some items could be caused by the policies adopted by City Council. An additional example is he suggested we do away with 25ft. lots and get rid of alleys. He suggested we do away with chazges related to alleys. He believes you should give the developer the alley rather than providing it for a fee. He stated it can take up to 3-4 months to cleaz up an alley and developers will walk away from a project due to this type of time constraint. Developers want an easier process. The main point he wanted to make is that it is all about attitude - "how can we make it work". Staff needs to be sales and customer service friendly. He states staff should not be able to say no until upper management has had the final say. Mayor Porter interjected comments that he was advised by former City Engineer Fred Beck that when he experienced a problem at the City of Deer Pazk the matter went all the way to the City Manager where it was resolved. He stated the City Manager took the attitude of what do we need to do to get this resolved and keep your business in Deer Pazk. Mayor is concerned there is a perception out there that people do not want to build in La Porte. He noted we are spending funds on economic development with Alliance and Bay Area Houston and the efforts do any good if people don't want to do business in La Porte. Additional comments by Glen Tolar: Mr. Tolar complimented our "fast track" is much better than the City of Deer Pazk. Mr. Tolaz commented the property in Deer Park is running out and this is an excellent opportunity for La Porte. Mr. Tolar gave an example where he was working on a project with Deer Pazk for a Lumber Co. and he was told he would have to put it on Center Street from Building Department. Once he met with the City Manager, they determined a different interpretation of code and it saved the project. He suggested that one person be trained to work with developers. ~ ~ 12/15/04 Meeting Page 3 Councilmember Mike Mosteit requested the zoning in District 1 be checked due to a concern from a contractor wanting to do business in that district. City Manager Debra Feazelle will further research issues. She challenged Mr. Tolar to "try us again". Mayor Porter closed the meeting an emphasized we have a great staff and these comments were not meant as a dig at them. He would just like to see improvements so La Porte can attract and attain new development ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the meeting, it was duly adjourned at 2:07 p.m. Respectfully submitted~~~ ~~i / 1~~~~Q~~~~~"y Martha A. Gillett, TRMC City Secretary Passed and approved on this day of 2004 .~~ Mayor Alton E. Porter