HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-28 Regular Meeting of La Porte City Council minutesLOUIS RIGBY
Mayor
JOHN ZEMANEK
Councilmember At Large A
DOTTIE KAMINSKI
Councilmember At Large B
MIKE MOSTEIT
Councilmember District 1
CHUCK ENGELKEN
Councilmember District 2
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE
APRIL 28, 2014
DARYL LEONARD
Councilmember District 3
TOMMY MOSER
Councilmember District 4
JAY MARTIN
Mayor Pro Tem
Councilmember District 5
MIKE CLAUSEN
Councilmember District 6
The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Monday, April 28, 2014, at the City
Hall Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 6:00 p.m. to consider the
following items of business:
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rigby called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Members of Council present:
Councilmembers Kaminski, Clausen, Mosteit, Leonard, Engelken, Zemanek, Moser and Martin.
Also present were City Secretary Patrice Fogarty, City Manager Corby Alexander, and Assistant
City Attorney Clark Askins.
2. INVOCATION - The invocation was given by Dee Spears, Fairmont Park Church of
La Porte.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember John Zemanek.
4. PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, and RECOGNITIONS
(a) Proclamation — Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month — Mayor Rigby
Mayor Rigby presented the Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month Proclamation to a group of
riders. They made a few remarks of how appreciative they are for the proclamation.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to five minutes per person.)
Monty Monteith with the Pasadena Strawberry Festival addressed Council and invited the Council
and La Porte community to attend the Pasadena Strawberry Festival.
Roderick White, 327 N. 7th Street, addressed Council regarding his disappointment in actions and
content of music from Johnny Lee and the Urban Cowboy Band at the Sylvan Beach Day Festival.
6. CONSENT AGENDA (All consent agenda items are considered routine by City Council and will be enacted
by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember requests an
item be removed and considered separately.)
(a) Consider approval or other action regarding the minutes of the regular city council meeting
held April 14, 2014 — P. Fogarty
(b) Consider approval or other action authorizing the City Manager to execute a Memorandum
of Agreement with the Spencer Landing HOA for a community cooperation project
(installation of two new pumps for the detention pond) for a total City contribution of
$4,982.84. — T. Leach
(c) Consider approval or other action awarding Bid No. 14015 for Water Tank
Replacement Project at Water Plant No. 5, to Schier Construction Co. in the amount of
$204,500 and authorize an additional $20,500 allocation to be utilized as a project
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April 28, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes
contingency for a total project authorization of $225,000 and reject the bids received for the
welded steel tank alternate — D. Mick
(d) Consider approval or other action regarding an Ordinance amending the City of
La Porte FY 2013-2014 Budget — M. Dolby
(e) Consider approval or other action regarding audit contract renewal with Whitley Penn — M.
Dolby
M Consider approval or other action regarding an Ordinance vacating, abandoning, and
closing the west 110" of alley in Block 47, La Porte retaining a 16' foot wide public utility
easement within the area to be closed and authorizing the City Manager to execute a deed
to the adjacent owner for the area subject to closing — T. Tietjens
Regarding Item C, City Manager Corby Alexander clarified the location of Water Plant #5.
Mr. Alexander advised the location is at the end of 25th Street, southeast of Bay Area Blvd. and
Spencer Highway.
Regarding Item E, Councilmember Martin asked Finance Director Michael Dolby to explain why
Staff is requesting to renew the contract with Whitley Penn for an additional year. Mr. Dolby
informed council that a scheduled computer software conversion for OneSolution will be conducted
and for continuity's sake, it is a lot easier to concentrate on the conversion and not have to train
new auditors and have them review all of the City's internal controls. Councilmember Martin asked
when the interviews for new auditors will be conducted. Mr. Dolby advised this time next year.
Regarding Item D, Mayor Rigby questioned more repairs to the Whelen Tower and commented he
was under the impression the replacement last year was fine and good to go. City Manager Corby
Alexander responded there where two towers that went down recently — one tower was destroyed
by fire ants, and the other one was destroyed by lightning. Mayor Rigby questioned if the Whelen
Tower has insurance coverage. Mr. Alexander suggested the item be pulled to see if the Whelen
Tower is covered under General Liability.
Councilmember Engelken moved to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of item G from
Item D's Agenda Request. Councilmember Mosteit seconded. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Clausen, Engelken, Zemanek,
Kaminski, Leonard, Mosteit, Moser and Martin
Nays: None
Absent: None
Prior to Council vote, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins read the caption of the following ordinances:
Ordinance 2014-3516 : AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET FOR THE
CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS, FOR THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2013 THROUGH
SEPTEMBER 30, 2014; FINDING THAT ALL THINGS REQUISITE AND NECESSARY HAVE BEEN DONE
IN PREPARATION AND PRESENTMENT OF SAID BUDGET; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN
MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF.
Ordinance 2014-3517: AN ORDINANCE VACATING, ABANDONING AND CLOSING A PORTION OF THE
ALLEY IN BLOCK 47, LA PORTE; RETAINING A 16' WIDE PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT AND
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF DELIVERY OF A DEED TO THE ADJOINING LANDOWNER,
FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
HEREOF.
7. DISCUSSION OR OTHER ACTION
(a) Discussion or other action regarding the Council -appointed committee for the Truck Study —
C. Alexander
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April 28, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes
City Manager Corby Alexander and City Attorney Clark Askins informed Council the Attorney
representing Everardo Garza, who has filed a lawsuit against the City, requested an individual to be
appointed to the Council -appointed committee for the Truck Study. Mr. Alexander also informed
the committee will be having its first meeting on April 29, 2014.
Councilmember Kaminski moved to not accept the individual proposed by Mr. Garza's attorney.
Councilmember Zemanek seconded. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Moser, Leonard, Clausen,
Kaminski, Engelken, Zemanek, Mosteit and Martin
Nays: None
Absent: None
8. REPORTS
(a) Receive report of La Porte Development Corporation Board — Councilmember Engelken
Councilmember Engelken reported the La Porte Development Corporation Board met and
discussed Workforce Development Programs. The Board decided there are enough programs in
place at this time. Councilmember Engelken also advised the next meeting is scheduled for
April 28, 2014.
(b) Receive report of Fiscal Affairs Committee — Councilmember Engelken
Councilmember Engelken reported the Fiscal Affairs Committee met and received the Second
Quarter Investment Report and the Purchasing Card Expenditures. Councilmember Engelken also
advised the next meeting is scheduled for July 28, 2014.
(c) Receive Delinquent Tax Report — T. Leach
Assistant City Manager Traci Leach provided the Delinquent Tax Report. There were no questions
or comments.
(d) Receive Strategic Plan Update — T. Leach
Assistant City Manager Traci Leach provided an update on the Strategic Plan.
9. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
(a) Receive report from City Manager
• La Porte Fire Control, Prevention, and Emergency Medical Services District Meeting,
Thursday, May 1, 2014
• La Porte Development Corporation Board Meeting, Monday, May 12, 2014
• City Council Meeting, Monday, May 12, 2014
City Manager congratulated the Finance Department for receiving the Platinum Leadership Circle
Award from the Comptroller's Office.
10. 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 — Councilmembers Kaminski, Zemanek, Leonard, Engelken, Mosteit
Clausen, Martin, Moser, and Mayor Rigby.
Councilmember Zemanek provided a contribution to Jake Worthington's family for travel and
lodging; Councilmember Leonard wished Jake Worthington the best and thanked the City for the
Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month proclamation; Councilmember Engelken and Moser
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April 28, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes
congratulated the Finance Department; Councilmembers Mosteit and Clausen congratulated the
Finance Department and wished The Voice singer Jake Worthington the best; Councilmember
Martin congratulated the Finance Department and sent a shout out the La Porte Chamber of
Commerce for their hard work preparing for the Sylvan Beach Day Festival; Councilmember
Kaminski congratulated the Finance Department and thanked the City for the Motorcycle Safety
and Awareness Month proclamation and commented the Sylvan Beach Day Festival was a success
as a two day event and everyone loved Johnny Lee. Councilmember Kaminski also thanked the
City for the support and volunteers for the Sylvan Beach Day Festival and Mayor Rigby also agreed
the Sylvan Beach Day Festival was a great event and well attended, and commented the City of
La Porte is not in charge of hiring the entertainers but Johnny Lee's performance was well
attended; and he congratulated Tod Vidales, La Porte softball player, for the highest batting
average in the history of Texas.
11. ADJOURN
There being no further business, Councilmember Engelken moved to adjourn the meeting at
6:35 p.m. Councilmember Zemanek seconded. MOTION PASSED.
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Patrice Fogarty, City a retary
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April 28, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes