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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-22 Minutes for Special Called City Council Retreat Meeting of La Porte City Council MINUTES OF ECIAL CALLED CITY COUNCIL RI ~EAT MEETING OF LA PORTE CITY COUNCIL January 22, 2004 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Mayor Alton Porter at 8:30 a.m. Mayor Porter provided the group with opening remarks. Members of City Council Present: Councilmembers Chuck Engelken, Barry Beasley, Tommy Moser, Louis Rigby, Howard Ebow, Peter Griffiths, Mike Clausen, Mike Mosteit and Mayor Alton Porter Members of Council Absent: None Members of City Executive Staff and City Employees Present: City Manager Debra Feazelle, Assistant City Manager John Joems, Assistant City Manager Cynthia Alexander, Assistant City Secretary Sharon Harris, Public Works Director Steve Gillett, Parks and Recreation Director Stephen Barr, Director of Planning & Community Development Wayne Sabo, Assistant to the City Manager Crystal Scott, EMS Chief Ray Nolen, Fire Chief Mike Boaze and Assistant Fire Chief Champ Dunham Others Present: None 2. City Manager Debra Feazelle introduced facilitator, Tony Privett, who provided City Council with an overview of the agenda. 3. The attached handouts were distributed to City Council by Mr. Privett before they considered a list of long term goals and provide staff with policy direction. As an icebreaker, Attachment A allowed Mayor and Council to introduce the group to issues of personal importance. Attachments B, C and D were distributed throughout the day, encouraging discussion trust, consensus and leadership. After lunch, Attachment E was distributed to all as a work product of the morning. All were ranked by a Councilmember, both goals and policy issues. Attachment F is the final rankings or prioritization. Discussions continue and summary comments were made. 4. The following items were discussed. . Budget Retreat/Date/Issues for Budget FY 2005-2006 City Manager Debra Feazelle distributed (see attached) a calendar to confirm a date to hold the Budget Retreat Workshop. The Pre-Budget Retreat will be held on March 19,2005. . City Council Meetings - March Meeting Conflict with National League of Cities The regular scheduled City Council Meeting will remain March 14, 2005 there will be a quorum available. Only Mayor and one Councilmember stated their intention of attending NLC. . Meeting Scheduling/City Council Pollings Mayor Porter suggested staff to choose three dates when polling City Council for attendance to events such as Groundbreakings, Retreats, etc. This will attempt to enable all of City Council to attend an event. City Council discussed polling procedures of Council for future conferences. The City Secretary's Office was directed to update procedures to reflect only registering of Councilmembers that are attending City Council Retreat Meeting - Jan-'"-y 21, 2005 - Page 2 conferences. The office will no longer register for conferences in advance. This will avoid additional cost to the City for refunds. . City Manager Debra Feazelle reminded Assistant City Secretary to post the February 14,2005 City Council Meeting for 7:00 p.m. . News Media - Communications, Press Releases and Council Notification Policy Mayor Porter requested City Council be notified in the event of any media issues. Mayor requested the City Manager review the policy practice and advise the City Secretary's Office to be available to contact Council if a situation arises. . Value of Town Hall Meetings in Districts Mayor Porter encouraged Town Hall Meetings in districts to involve citizen participation. Mayor Porter and Councilman Barry Beasley suggested to have combined Town Hall Meetings at least once a year with a speaker and breakout sessions. These will be done at Mayor's and Council's request. Councilman Tommy Moser commented the District 4 Town Hall Meeting held on January 6, 2005 was very beneficial for both him and the citizens. Councilman Mike Mosteit also commented the Rural Large Lot Single-Family Residential District Meetings held in District 1 have also been beneficial to the district. Mayor Porter complimented Councilmembers for attending various Home Owners Association Meetings. . Boards and Commissions Duplicate Appointments Mayor Porter requested Council to consider appointing new members to the boards thus avoiding duplicate appointments. Mr. Porter commented there are willing citizens out in the community eager to be appointed to boards, commissions, and committees. Mayor Porter stated some appointees are on more than one committee. Mayor Porter also advised City Council he would be resigning his position from the TIRZ Board and encouraged Councilmembers to consider serving as Council position. . Tax Credit Property/Fairmont Ranch Limited Located at Fairmont Park and Canada Road Mayor Porter distributed a handout on tax credit properties for City Council to discuss and possibly consider affordable housing in La Porte. A resolution would have to be passed by Council for tax credit properties to be considered in La Porte. Mr. Porter would obtain a list of other projects done by the developer for City Council to review for future discussion. Concern was expressed about only receiving 50% of the tax revenue. Mayor Porte will call the County to follow-up. . Legislation City Manager Debra Feazelle briefed new Councilmembers on the process in which the City addresses Legislative issues concerning the city. Ms. Feazelle also inquired if City Council was comfortable with the process as last year for responding to items, and direction to move forward. Consensus received. . Hotel Project Mayor Porter and Councilman Beasley inquired if the developers they had previously met with were considering providing financing for a potential hotel project. Assistant City Manager John Joerns City Council Retreat Meeting - Jan.-")' 21, 2005 - Page 3 informed all groups do provide financing alternatives for such projects. Mayor Porter requested John Joerns to provide list of the TIRZ packets to the developer. This is expected to be a public/private partnership. 5. Council comments were made by Mayor Porter, Mike Mosteit, Chuck Engelken, Howard Ebow, Peter Griffiths, Barry Beasley, Tommy Moser, Mike Clausen and Louis Rigby. 6. There was no executive session. 7. There being no further business to come before Council, the Special Called City Council Retreat Meeting was duly adjourned at 4:20 p.m. Respectfully yours, JJtoJOJt\!JaAM rtmc ~ , I l/' Martha Gillett, TRMC City Secretary Passed and approved on this the 14th day of February 2005 (\,. t'i~--\- ~~ l tn.-.~ Mayor Alton E. Porter