HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-06-23 Regular Meeting of La Porte City Council minutesLOUIS RIGBY
Mayor
JOHN ZEMANEK
Councilmember At Large A
DOTTIE KAMINSKI
Mayor Pro Tem
Councilmember At Large B
DANNY EARP
Councilmember District 1
CHUCK ENGELKEN
Councilmember District 2
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE
JUNE 23, 2014
DARYL LEONARD
Councilmember District 3
TOMMY MOSER
Councilmember District 4
JAY MARTIN
Councilmember District 5
MIKE CLAUSEN
Councilmember District 6
The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Monday, June 23, 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, Engelken, Earp, Zemanek, Moser and Martin. Absent:
Councilmember Leonard. Also present were City Secretary Patrice Fogarty, City Manager Corby
Alexander, and Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins.
2. INVOCATION - The invocation was given by Brian Christen, La Porte Community Church.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Danny Earp.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to five minutes per person.)
There were no public comments.
5. 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 on June 9, 2014. — P. Fogarty
(b) Consider approval or other action awarding Bid No. 14024 for Ready Mix Concrete to
Dorsett in the amount of $79,610 with a total authorization of $87,510, including a 10%
contingency — D. Mick
Regarding Item B, Councilmember Earp asked if the City should be concerned with Dorsett's note
in the bid that they do not guarantee temperature. Public Works Director Dave Mick responded that
staff will check into Dorsett not guaranteeing the temperature and report back to Council.
Councilmember Zemanek remarked that if the temperature is a concern of the City and the contract
has already been awarded, what is the next step. Mr. Mick responded if a change is required in the
bid price, the City would seek to rebid.
Mayor Rigby asked City Manager Corby Alexander if they would like to table Item B until the
July 14, 2014, meeting, and bring back the answers. City Manager Corby Alexander responded,
yes.
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June 23, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes
Councilmember Engelken moved to approve the Consent Item A pursuant to staff
recommendations. Councilmember Zemanek seconded. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Clausen, Engelken, Zemanek,
Kaminski, Earp, Moser and Martin
Nays: None
Absent: Councilmember Leonard
Councilmember Clausen moved to postpone Consent Item 5(b) until the July 14, 2014, meeting.
Councilmember Kaminski seconded. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Clausen, Engelken, Zemanek,
Kaminski, Earp, Moser and Martin
Nays: None
Absent: Councilmember Leonard
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ASSOCIATED ORDINANCES
(a) Public Hearing to receive comments regarding La Porte Fire Control, Prevention and
Emergency Medical Services District's proposed budget for the fiscal year which begins
October 1, 2014 — D. Ladd
The public hearing was opened at 6:06 p.m.
Assistant Fire Chief Donald Ladd presented a summary.
Public Comments: Chuck Rosa, 812 S. Virginia, addressed Council with inquires of the account for
personnel in the Fire Department. Mayor Rigby advised the public hearing is for the La Porte Fire
Control, Prevention and Emergency Medical Services District's budget; and the funding of
personnel for the Fire Department and other emergency services departments will be discussed at
the City's annual budget meeting coming up in August.
There being no other public comments, the public hearing closed at 6:21 p.m.
(b) Consider approval or other action regarding the La Porte Fire Control, Prevention and
Emergency Medical Services District's proposed budget for the fiscal year which begins
October 1, 2014 — D. Ladd
Councilmember Engelken moved to approve the La Porte Fire Control, Prevention and Emergency
Medical Services District's proposed budget for the fiscal year which begins October 1, 2014.
Councilmember Kaminski seconded. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Moser, Clausen, Kaminski,
Engelken, Zemanek, Earp and Martin
Nays: None
Absent: Councilmember Leonard
7. AUTHORIZATIONS
(a) Consider approval or other action repealing Ordinance 2010-33 and designating the Bay
Area Observer as the City's official newspaper for legal advertisement — T. Leach
City Manager Corby Alexander requested Council to postpone the item until the July 14, 2014,
meeting due to questions on items submitted to staff. Staff will bring responses to Council at the
next meeting.
Councilmember Engelken moved to postpone the item until the July 14, 2014, meeting.
Councilmember Kaminski seconded.
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June 23, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes
Councilmember Zemanek questioned what information was requested, and who requested the
information. City Manager Corby Alexander responded there were questions from a conversation
he had this morning with Mayor Rigby regarding the accuracy of the stated numbers of circulation
and distribution. Mr. Alexander advised staff will verify the numbers submitted are correct.
Action on the motion was taken. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Moser, Clausen, Kaminski,
Engelken, Earp and Martin
Nays: Councilmember Zemanek
Absent: Councilmember Leonard
8. DISCUSSION OR OTHER ACTION
(a) Discussion or other action regarding an appointment to fill the vacancy for the alternate
position of the Drainage and Flooding Committee — P. Fogarty
City Secretary Patrice Fogarty presented a summary.
Councilmember Kaminski moved to volunteer to fill the vacancy for the alternate position on the
Drainage and Flooding Committee. Councilmember Moser seconded. MOTION PASSED.
Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Moser, Clausen, Kaminski,
Engelken, Zemanek, Earp, and Martin
Nays: None
Absent: Councilmember Leonard
9. REPORTS
(a) Receive Drainage Report — B. Eng
City Engineer Bob Eng provided the Drainage Report.
Councilmember Martin requested City Engineer Bob Eng to elaborate on the issues Harris County
Flood Control District has with the pedestrian bridge at the Lakes at Fairmont Green. Mr. Eng
responded he understands the issue to be getting their equipment to maintain the ditch around or
under the pedestrian bridge and looking at the right-of-way and maintenance of the ditch he
believes the issue can be resolved after he verifies the equipment being used. Councilmember
Martin asked if it is Harris County Flood Control District's responsibility to maintain the area beneath
the ditch. Mr. Eng responded that is his understanding. Councilmember Martin then commented he
had been contacted by a citizen in regards to the Corps of Engineers' dredging permit at the
Bayport Channel. The citizen's concern is the need to dredge the west end of the channel where
there is a natural flow of water to upper Taylor Lake that has been blocked resulting in flooding on
S. Shady Lane and the permit not addressing the issue. Councilmember Martin requested City
Engineer Bob Eng investigate the concern with the Corps of Engineer. Mr. Eng said he would.
(b) Receive the Planning and Department Audit Report — T. Tietjens
Planning and Development Director Tim Tietjens provided the Planning Department Quarterly Audit
Report.
10. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
(a) Receive report from City Manager
• July 4, 2014, Friday, Holiday
• La Porte Development Corporation Board Meeting, Monday, July 14, 2014
• City Council Meeting, Monday, July 14, 2014
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June 23, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes
• Fiscal Affairs Committee Meeting, Monday, July 28, 2014
• City Council Meeting, Monday, July 28, 2014
There were no additional reports from City Manager Corby Alexander.
11. 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, Earp, Clausen, Martin, Moser, Kaminski,
Zemanek, Leonard, Engelken and Mayor Rigby.
Councilmember Moser commented there was a nice turnout for the Juneteenth festivities, thanked
Council for attending the event and sent Hats off to the La Porte Community Civic Club for their
hard work every year. Councilmember Moser also asked the Mayor if someone from his office
would send a letter to La Porte Independent School District Board regarding alleged reports from
the Board of the City of La Porte being unethical.
Mayor Rigby commented the Juneteenth festivities were well attended and reported the Triathlon
had its first Youth Triathlon last Saturday and the adults held their Triathlon the following Sunday
and it was a great event.
13. ADJOURN
There being no further business, Councilmember Engelken moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:36
p.m. Councilmember Zemanek seconded. MOTION PASSED.
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Patrice Fogarty, V Secr ry
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