Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-21 Special Called Regular Meeting and Workshop MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CALLED REGULAR MEETING AND WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE LA PORTE CITY COUNCIL JiJLY 21, 2003 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Nonman Malone at 6:00 p.m. Members of City Council Present: Councilmembers Peter Griffiths, Barry Beasley, Howard Ebow, Chuck Engelken, Bruce Meismer, James Wan:en, Chazlie Young, Mike Mosteit and Norman Malone Council Member Bruce Meismer arrived at the meeting at 7:03 p.m. during item number six. Council Member Howazd Ebow left the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Members of Council Absent: None Members of City Executive .Staff and City Employees Present: City Manager Debra Feazelle, Director of Emergency Services Joe Sease, City Attorney Knox Askins, Assistant City Manager John Joerns, City Secretary Martha Gillett, Police Chief Richard Reff, Assistant to City Manager Crystal Scott, Assistant City Attorney Clazke Askins, Human Resources Specialist Kendra Williams, Director of Administrative Services Cazol Buttler, Director of Public Works Steve Gillett, and Accounting Technician Cindy Gates. Others Present: Ana Griffiths, Peter Andrew Griffiths, Nick Barrera, Gilbert Montemayor, Spero Pomonis, Charlie Doug Boyle, Tommy Moser Chamber of Commerce President Colleen Hicks, Tom Campbell and a number of citizens. 2. Council Member Peter Griffiths delivered the invocation. 3. Mayor Malone led the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Knox Askins presented Council with a report and discussed "Robert's Rules of Order" and Open Meetings Act. Discussions were held on Roberts Rules of Order, tabled motions, and various meeting items. City Attorney requested City Secretary to order the simplified version of Roberts Rules of Order. He advised City Council to let Ms. Gillett know if they would like a copy. 5. Knox Askins presented Council with a report and discussed Council Procedure Ordinance. Discussion was held on the City Council Meetings Ordinance. Ms. Gillett informed Council it would be on the July 28, Meeting for adoption. 6. City Manager Debra Feazelle presented Council with a report on Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Project. Alisa Max, P.E. of TSARP (Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Project) provided City Council with information regazding Tropical Storm Allison Recovery Program. Provided City Council with handouts and answered City Council's questions. Council Member Chuck Engelken requested handouts and information be placed on the City's Channe116 and the Website. City Council Meeting - ~y 21, 2003 -Page 2 7. City Manager Debra Feazelle presented Council with a report from Chamber of Commerce on Hotel Tax. Chamber of Commerce President Colleen Hicks provided City Council with a report on Hotel Motel Tax expenditures. Ms. Hicks noted there was a typo on the Subway Sandwich sales increased by 175% rather than 75% as shown on the handout. Ms. Hicks noted the Chamber will be requesting an increase from the City in the upcoming budget year. 8. Emergency Services Director Joe Sease provided Mayor and City Council with an overview on the use of property valuations in calculating fees for fire protection services. A revised calculations spreadsheet was placed at the table. It replaces the original spreadsheet provided in the packet. Mayor and City Council directed Mr. Sease to visit with other City's and bring to a future meeting for action. 9. Steve Gillett presented Council with a presentation on proposed revision to Industrial Waste Ordinance and proposed Funding Resolution. Mr. Gillett noted this item will be placed on the July 28, 2003 City Council Agenda for approval. 10. Mayor Norman Malone discussed Boards and Commission Appointments and provided staff with direction. Council discussed the following reappointments, changes and future discussions: Airport Advisory Committee - It was the consensus of Council to reappoint Hector Villarreal and Tucker Grant for an additional term. Board of Adjustment - It was the consensus of Council not to reappoint Willie Walker or Ruben L. Salinas to conflicts preventing their attendance at meetings. It was the consensus of Council to move Charles Shoppe and George Maltsberger in Positions 4 and 5. It was the consensus of Council to appoint Barbara Norwine and Bernard Legrand to the Alternate 1 and 2 positions. Mr. Warren will contact Willie Walker. The City Secretary was directed to contact the others. Civil Service Commission -The City Manager had no recommendations at this time. This item will be•discussed at a future meeting. Fire Code Review Committee - It was the consensus of City Council to reappoint Richard Browder, Tom Hayes, Floyd Craft, Rick Luna, Bryan Moore and Sam Brechtel for another term. City Council Meeting - ~y 21, 2003 -Page 3 • La Porte Development Corporation Board - It was the consensus of City Council to reappoint Chuck Engelken, Peter Griffiths, Ed Matuszak and Deborah Johnson for an additional term. Health Authority - It was the consensus of City Council to reappoint Abdul R. Moosa, M.D. and Robert D. Johnson, M.D. for an additional term. La Porte Area Water Authority -Council requested this Authority be brought back to a future meeting for additional discussion. Planning and Zoning Commission - It was the consensus of Council to reappoint Betty Waters as Chairman. It was the consensus of City Council to appoint Nick Barrera to District 2, Kirby Lipscomb to District 3, Dottie Kaminski to District 4, and Paul Berner to District 5. Council wants to create two alternate positions and appoint Hal Lawler and Ross Morris to the Alternate positions. Southeast Texas Housing Finance - It was the consensus of City Council to reappoint Pat Muston for an additional term. Chapter 172 -This board will be discussed at a future meeting. City of La Porte Reinvestment Zone Number One and La Porte Redevelopment Authority- It was the consensus of City Council to reappoint Peggy Antone, Alton Porter, Chairman and Norman Cook for an additional term. Staff is waiting on confirmations from the La Porte Independent School District and Harris County on the reappointment of David Webb and John Black. The City Secretary was directed to confirm if these individuals are willing to serve an additional term. 11. Councilmember Mosteit, Councilmember Engelken, and Councilmember Beasley presented Council with a report from the Fill Dirt Review Committee. Mike Mosteit provided City Council with a report on the activities of the Fill Dirt Committee. Mayor Malone requested Barry Beasley serve as Chairman at the July 24, 2003 Meeting due to the absence of Mike Mosteit. 12. City Manager provided the City Council a report on hiring contract individuals to serve as Interim Planning Director and Human Resources Manager. City Manager noted these appointments fall within the budgeted salaries for the full-time positions. The Council directed staff to move forward with plan. Bruce Meismer noted for the official records that he is concerned about these areas due to concerns in these two areas. He wants to ensure that qualified individuals are hired to prevent further concerns. 13. Mayor Norman Malone discussed the feasibility of having a Board for the Codes. It was the consensus of Council that a board of this type is needed. 14. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS City Manager Debra Feazelle reminded Council the AMCC Conference will be held July 25- 26 in Austin, TX, the TML Region 14 will be held August 8-9 in Galveston, TX, and the City Council Meeting - ~y 21, 2003 -Page 4 • City's Birthday Party will be held August 11, from 4:00 p.m. unti15:00 p.m. at the Original City Hall. In addition, the City Manager reported staff continues to work on the budget. 15. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmembers Engelken, Mosteit, Meismer, Warren, Young, Beasley, Griffiths and Malone 16. EXECUTIVE SESSION -PURSUANT TO PROVISION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, CHAPTER 551.071 THROUGH 551.076, 551.086, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, (CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY, DELIBERATION REGARDING PROSPECTIVE GIFT OR DONATION, PERSONNEL MATTERS, DELIBERATION REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES, OR EXCLUDING A WITNESS DURING EXAMINATION OF ANOTHER WITNESS IN AN INVESTIGATION, DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS) 551.074 - (PERSONNEL.MATTER) -DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS WITH CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER The City Manager informed the Mayor there was no need to meet in Executive Session. 17. CONSIDERATIONS AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ITEMS CONSIDERED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION Due to no Executive Session, there was no action taken. 18. There being no further business to come before Council, the Regular Meeting was duly adjourned at 8:37 p.m. If during the course of the meeting covered by this agenda the Council should determine that a closed or executive meeting or session of the Council should be held or is required in relation to an item noticed in this agenda, then such closed or executive meeting or sessions authorized by the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code; will be held by the Council at that date, hour and place given in the meeting notice or as soon after the commencement of the meeting covered by the meeting notice as the Council may conveniently meet in such closed or executive meeting or session concerning any and all subjects and for any and all purposes permitted by Sections 551.071 through 551.086 of said Open Meetings Law, including, but not limited to: Section 551.071 -For the purpose of a private consultation with the Council's attorney on any subject matter authorized by law. Section 551.072-For the purpose of deliberating the purohase, exchange, lease or value of real property. Section 551.073-For the purpose of deliberation a negotiated contract for a prospective gift or donation to the City. Section 551.074-For the purpose of deliberating the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear complaints or City Council Meeting - ~y 21, 2003 -Page 5 charges against a public officer or employee, unless the officer or employee requests a public hearing. Section 551.075-For the purpose of conferring with an employee or employees of the City, only for the purpose of receiving information from the employee or employees or to ask questions of the employee or employees; provided, however, that no discussion of public business or City policy that affects public business shall take place between the members of the City Council during the . conference. Section 551.076-To consider deployment, or specific occasions for implementation, of security personnel or devices. Section 551.086-To discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received form a business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; or to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described by Subdivision (1). THIS FACILITY HAS DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS AVAILABLE. REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS OR INTERPRETIVE SERVICES AT MEETINGS SHOULD BE MADE 48 HOURS PRIOR TO THIS MEETING. PLEASE CONTACT CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE AT 281-471-5020 OR TDD LINE 281-471-5030 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. Respectfully submitted, Martha Gillett City Secretary Passe and approved on this 28th day of July 2003 Norman Malone, Mayor