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Home My WebLink About2004-07-26 Regular Meeting and Workshop Meeting of La Porte City Council MINUTES.+ REGULAR MEETING AND WORK OP MEETING OF THE LA PORTE CITY COUNCIL July 26, 2004 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Barry Beasley at 6:00 p.m. Members of City Council Present: Councilmembers Chuck Engelken, Howard Ebow, Peter Griffiths, Tommy Moser, Mike Mosteit, Louis Rigby and Mayor Pro Tem Barry Beasley Members of Council Absent: None Members of City Executive Staff and City Employees Present: City Manager Debra Feazelle, Assistant City Manager John Joerns, Assistant City Manager Cynthia Alexander, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins, City Secretary Martha Gillett, Public Works Director Steve Gillett, Assistant Finance Director Michael Dolby, Interim Planning Director Nick Finan, Police Chief Richard Reff, Human Resources Manager Sherri Sampson, Emergency Management Coordinator Jeff Suggs, Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen, Purchasing Manager Susan Kelley, Building Official Debbie Wilmore, Fire Chief Mike Boaze, Assistant City Secretary Sharon Harris, Parks and Recreation Director Stephen Barr, Assistant Fire Chief John Dunham, Office Manager Marlene Rigby and EMS Chief Ray Nolen Others Present: Sue Gale Mock Kooken, Charles Underwood, Colleen Hicks, Barbara Norwine, Mike Clausen, Alton Porter, Sib Carpenter, Dave Turnquist, Carlos Martinez, Ellery LaCombe, Pete Frank, Bobbie Frank, Fred Anthony, Robin French, Ed Fendell, Donna Fendell, Ann Hayes, Ryan Gillbert, Donna Wolf, Carol Christian of the Houston Chronicle and a number of other citizens and students. 2. Reverend Wayne Spears of Fairmont Park Baptist Church delivered the invocation. 3. Mayor Pro Tem Barry Beasley led the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Mayor Pro Tem Beasley presented Bobbie Frank and a group of volunteers with a Proclamation in honor of Habitat for Humanity's 10 year anniversary. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. Council to consider approval of Regular Meeting, Public Hearing and Workshop Meeting Minutes held on July 12, 2004. B. Council to consider award of Bid #04029 for Firefighter Protective Clothing to low bidder meeting specifications, in the amount of $29,950. C. Council to consider award of Sealed Bid #04030 for Liquid Chlorine to low bidder meeting specifications, in the amount of $37,290. D. Council to consider approval of an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute an agreement with TexDOT for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of SH 146 and Wharton Weems Blvd. Councilmember Rigby requested discussions on item B. Motion was made by Councilmember Griffiths to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Second by Councilmember Mosteit. Motion carried. Ayes: Engelken, Beasley, Griffiths, Moser, Mosteit, Rigby and Ebow Nays: None Abstain: None City Council Regular Meeting and °'°`''9rkshop Meeting — July 26, 2004 - Page 2 .,... 6. PETITIONS, REMONSTRANCES, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CITIZENS AND TAX PAYERS WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON ANY ITEM POSTED ON THE AGENDA — (LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES) Mr. Ellery Lacombe of 3229 Canada Road, La Porte, Texas 77571 — Mr. LaCombe spoke on behalf of the residents living on Canada Road. Mr. LaCombe advised City Council the residents do not want the name of the street changed from Canada Road to East Boulevard due to the costs and inconvenience. 7. Council to consider approval for calling a Special Meeting on Monday, August 2, 2004, to canvass votes from the Special Election held on July 24, 2004. Motion was made by Councilmember Griffiths to approve calling a Special Meeting to canvass votes from the Special Election held on July 14, 2004 to be held on August 2, 2004. Second by Councilmember Mosteit. Motion carried. Ayes: Engelken, Beasley, Griffiths, Moser, Mosteit, Rigby and Ebow Nays: None Abstain: None 8. Council to consider taking action on recommendation for approval by Planning and Zoning for renaming Canada Road to East Boulevard. Interim Planning Director Nick Finan presented summary and recommendation and answered Council's questions. Assistant City Attorney John Armstrong read: ORDINANCE 2004 -2746 — AN ORDINANCE RENAMING CANADA ROAD TO EAST BOULEVARD IN DEER PARK; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; CONTAINING A REPEALING CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. Motion was made by Councilmember Engelken to deny Ordinance 2004 -2746 changing the name of Canada Road to East Boulevard as presented by Mr. Finan. Second by Councilmember Rigby. Motion carried. Ayes: Beasley, Mosteit, Engelken, Ebow, Moser, Rigby and Griffiths Nays: None Abstain: None 9. Council to consider approval of the recommended date of August 23, 2004, for the Public Hearing on the City's FY 2004 -2005 Proposed Budget. Assistant Manager Cynthia Alexander presented summary and recommendation and answered Council's questions. Motion was made by Councilmember Griffiths to approve the recommended date of August 23, 2004 for the Public Hearing on the FY 2004 -2005 Proposed Budget as presented by Ms. Alexander. Second by Councilmember Engelken. Motion carried. Ayes: Beasley, Mosteit, Engelken, Ebow, Moser, Rigby and Griffiths Nays: None Abstain: None Addendum Item Considered —1. Consider approval or other action regarding an ordinance approving and authorizing a contract between the City of La Porte and First Southwest Company for Financial Advisory Services — (2004 -2759) — C. Alexander Assistant City Manager Cynthia Alexander provided City Council with summary and recommendation and answered Council's questions. City Council Regular Meeting and'orkshop Meeting — July 26, 2004 - Page 3 ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY CLARK ASKINS READ: ORDINANCE 2004 -2759 — AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA PORTE AND FIRST SOUTHWEST COMPANY FOR FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES; MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT, FINDING COMPLIANCE3 WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, AND PROVIDING AND EFFECTIVE DATE HEROF. Motion was made by Councilmember Rigby to approve the Ordinance 2004 -2759 as presented. Second by Councilmember Griffiths. Motion carried unanimously. 10. The Regular Meeting closed and the Workshop Meeting opened at 6:35 p.m. A. Building Official Debbie Wilmore reviewed the findings of the Board of Inspection and requested authorization for a Public Hearing date for the ten (10) structures being reviewed. It was the consensus of City Council to move forward with scheduling a Public Hearing. Councilmember Mosteit suggested staff consider having utilities turned off on these homes in order to avoid fire and hazards. B. City Manager's Administrative Assistant Crystal Scott and La Porte Independent School District's Dave Turnquist discussed the billboard design for Phase III Display. Colleen Hicks provided City Council with an overview and showed them examples of the billboard. C. Human Resources Manager Sherri Sampson reported on Chapter 172 Medical Board. 11. The Workshop Meeting closed and the Regular Meeting reconvened at 8:14 p.m. 12. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS The tentative Special Called Meeting to canvass will be Monday, August 2, 2004 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers; the Main Street Committee Public Hearing will be held on Monday, August 2, 2004, at 7 p.m.; the Chamber of Commerce New Teachers Luncheon is Tuesday, August 3, 2004, at 11:45 a.m. at the La Porte High School Student Center; the Lomax District Meeting (rural single - family residential will be Tuesday, August 3, 2004, at 7 p.m. at the Old Lomax City Hall Building; National Night Out is Tuesday, August 3, 2004, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. at various block parties; the Summer Youth Luncheon is scheduled for Friday, August 6, 2004, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Council Chambers; TML Region 14's Fall Meeting will be held on, Friday and Saturday, August 6 -7, 2004 in Galveston, Texas; the Budget Workshop Meetings will be the week of August 9, 2004 at 6 p.m.; Breakfast with the Stars will be Wednesday, August 11, 2004, at 7 a.m. at Sylvan Beach Pavilion, and the Newly Elected City Officials' Orientation will be Saturday and Sunday, August 20 -21, 2004, in Austin, Texas. Ms. Feazelle announced that Mr. Finan the Interim Planning Director has accepted a position with another City. She thanked him for all his hard work and efforts while with the City of La Porte. 13. COUNCIL COMMENTS Councilmembers Engelken, Ebow, Mosteit, Moser, Rigby, Mosteit and Mayor Pro Tem Beasley had comments. 14. EXECUTIVE SESSION — PURSUANT TO PROVISION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, CHAPTER 551.071 THROUGH 551.076, 551 -087, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE (CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY, DELIBERATION REGARDING REAL PROPERTY, DELIBERATION REGARDING PROSPECTIVE GIFR OR DONATION, PERSONNEL MATTERS, DELIBERATION REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES, OR EXCLUDING A WITNESS DURING EXAMINATION OF City Council Regular Meeting and`'orkshop Meeting — July 26, 2004 - Page 4 — ANOTHER WITNESS IN AN INVESTIGATION, DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS) 551.071 — (Pending Litigation) — Meet with City Manager and City Attorney on Pending Litigation. 551 -074 — (Personnel Matter) — City Manager's Evaluation/Performance. There was no action taken during Executive Session. 15. CONSIDERATIONS AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ITEMS CONSIDERED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION 16. There being no further business to come before Council, the Regular Meeting was duly adjourned at p.m. Respectfully submitted, .—/Matt— .{ Martha Gillett, TRMC City Secretary Passed and approved on this 2 day of August 2004 Mayor Pro Tem Barry easley