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Home My WebLink About2014-09-22 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 SEPTEMBER 22, 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, September 22, 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, Earp, Zemanek, Moser, Engelken, and Martin. Absent: Councilmember Leonard. Also present were Assistant City Secretary Sharon Harris, City Manager Corby Alexander, and Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins. 2. INVOCATION - The invocation was given by Brian Christen of La Porte Community Church. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember John Zemanek. 4. PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, and RECOGNITIONS (a) Recognition — City of La Porte Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award for 2014 — Mayor Rigby Mayor Rigby recognized Finance Director Michael Dolby and the Purchasing Department for the City of La Porte Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award for 2014. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to five minutes per person.) There were no public comments. 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 Meeting held on September 8, 2014 — S. Harris (b) Consider approval or other action awarding RFP No. 14503 to Janitorial Services — C. Daeumer (c) Consider approval or other action regarding an Ordinance authorizing a second amendment to the agreement with Harris County for the Northside Neighborhood IV Project, Phase 11 — T. Tietjens (d) Consider approval or other action regarding a Resolution approving General Fund Commitments of Fund Balance for Fiscal Year 2013-2014 — M. Dolby Councilmember Zemanek moved to approve the Consent Agenda but with a correction to Item 6b of the September 8, 2014, minutes to reflect Councilmember Zemanek was absent instead of Councilmember Kaminski. Councilmember Martin seconded. MOTION PASSED. Page 1 of 5 September 22, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Engelken, Moser, Zemanek, Clausen, Kaminski, Earp, and Martin Nays: None Absent: Councilmember Leonard Prior to council action, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins read the caption of Ordinance 2014-3539: AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING A SECOND AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF LA PORTE AND HARRIS COUNTY TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE HOMEBUYERS FOR THREE HOMES IN PHASE II OF THE NORTHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT IV, AND TO ADD WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ACT CLAUSE TO SAID AGREEMENT, MAKING VARIOUS FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SUBJECT; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. Prior to council action, Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins read the caption of Resolution 2014-07: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS, APPROVING GENERAL FUND COMMITMENTS OF FUND BALANCE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013-2014; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF. 7. AUTHORIZATIONS (a) Consider approval or other action authorizing the City Manager to sign a letter of agreement between the City of La Porte and Gringo's Mexican Kitchen for Animal Adoption Center Sign Sponsorship — K. Adcox Police Chief Ken Adcox presented a summary. Councilmember Engelken moved to authorize the City Manager to sign a letter of agreement between the City of La Porte and Gringo's Mexican Kitchen for Animal Adoption Center Sign Sponsorship. Councilmember Clausen seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Clausen, Moser, Zemanek, Earp, Engelken, Martin and Kaminski Nays: None Absent: Councilmember Leonard (b) Consider approval or other action authorizing the La Porte Development Corporation to make expenditure of funds not to exceed $450,000 for economic incentive project benefiting ACT Independent Turbo Services, Inc. — S. Livingston Economic Development Coordinator Scott Livingston presented a summary and introduced Glen Turner, Vice -President of Engineering and IT, with ACT Independent Turbo Services, Inc. Mr. Turner introduced the executive staff team and provided a brief overview of the business. Councilmember Zemanek questioned the HCAD value of the current ACT Independent Turbo Services, Inc., facility located in Houston. Mr. Turner responded approximately $1.5 million. Councilmember Zemanek questioned the difference between the current facility and the proposed facility in the City of La Porte. Mr. Turner responded it will be a larger and improved facility. Councilmember Zemanek questioned if it will cost more to make improvements to the current facility located in Houston or to relocate to the City of La Porte. Mr. Turner responded it will be more cost effective to perform an expansion at capacity. Councilmember Earp questioned if ACT Independent Turbo Services, Inc., has plans of downsizing since there are 80,000 square feet at the Houston facility and plans of only building 48,000 square feet in La Porte. Mr. Turner responded there are no plans to downsize; there are plans to add to an existing facility in La Porte that will be a comparable facility. Page 2 of 5 September 22, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes Mayor Rigby questioned how the La Porte Development Corporation Board arrived at $426,000. Councilmember Martin responded the Return on Investment (ROI) discussed during the La Porte Development Corporation Board meeting was based on an estimate of property taxes generated from the capital investment (approximately $42,600 per year) over a 10-year period. Councilmember Zemanek commented he is not for or against the expenditure of funds for the economic incentive project; but before making a decision, he would like to view the Development Agreement to see how it is written and before it is signed by either party. Economic Development Coordinator Scott Livingston advised that staff can certainly bring a development agreement back to the October 13, 2014, meeting. Councilmember Martin commented he does not have an issue with moving forward with $426,000 since the original amount requested was $450,000. Mayor Rigby questioned Billy Coleman, Chief Executive Officer with ACT Independent Turbo Services, Inc., if the company is waiting on the City to move forward with the project. Mr. Coleman responded yes and that the company is running out of capacity and respectfully requests Council approve the expenditure of funds for the economic incentive project. Councilmember Zemanek questioned Economic Development Coordinator Scott Livingston how he arrived at $275,000 as a recommendation from staff. Mr. Livingston responded by using the La Porte Development Corporation Board Project Score Card -PRIORITIES and basing it on the amount of funds in the account, other projects and the demand for capital. Councilmember Earp questioned after the agreement is paid, what is the estimated balance in the account for funding other projects. Finance Director Michael Dolby responded $1.2 million. Councilmember Martin moved to authorize the La Porte Development Corporation to make an expenditure of $426,000 for an economic incentive project ACT Independent Turbo Services, Inc. Councilmember Moser seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Engelken, Moser, Clausen, Earp, Engelken, Martin, and Kaminski Nays: None Absent: Councilmember Leonard 8. DISCUSSION OR OTHER ACTION (a) Discussion or other action regarding dangerous buildings/structures — R. Davidson Deputy Building Official Russell Davidson presented a summary. Councilmember Moser moved to authorize a public hearing date for October 13, 2014. Councilmember Kaminski seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Engelken, Moser, Clausen, Earp, Engelken, Martin, and Kaminski Nays: None Absent: Councilmember Leonard 9. REPORTS (a) Presentation — Receive 2014 Annual Report from Bob Mitchell, President of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership — Mayor Rigby Bob Mitchell, President of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, presented the 2014 Annual Report. Page 3 of 5 September 22, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes (b) Receive report of Fiscal Affairs Committee — Councilmember Engelken Councilmember Engelken provided a report from the Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting held prior to this meeting. (c) Receive report of La Porte Development Corporation Board — Councilmember Engelken Councilmember Engelken provided a report from the La Porte Development Corporation Board meeting held prior to this meeting. 10. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS (a) Receive report from City Manager • City Council Meeting, Monday, October 13, 2014 • La Porte Development Corporation Board Meeting, Monday, October 27, 2014 • City Council Meeting, Monday, October 27, 2014 City Manager Corby Alexander reported he attended the first Sunset Sip and Stroll event and gave kudos to Marketing/Public Relations Specialist Jaree Hefner and thanked all the volunteers that made the event a success. 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 Zemanek, Leonard, Engelken, Earp, Clausen, Martin, Moser, Kaminski and Mayor Rigby. Councilmember Zemanek thanked everyone for attending the meeting; congratulated the Purchasing Department on their award; thanked Bob Mitchell for his presentation; thanked Marketing/Public Relations Specialist Jaree Hefner for her work on the Sunset Sip and Stroll event; advised of the passing of Bob McLaughlin; welcomed ACT Independent Turbo Services, Inc., and advised staff he is opposed to back-to-back meetings on the same evenings as City Council meetings where Council is expected to make decisions based on what was decided in the prior meeting. Councilmember Engelken congratulated the Purchasing Department on their award; thanked Deputy Building Official R.J. Davidson for his well -documented presentation on the dangerous buildings/structures and thanked Bob Mitchell for his presentation. Councilmember Earp congratulated the Purchasing Department on their award; advised he attended the Sunset Sip and Stroll event; commented he is also opposed to back-to-back meetings on the same evenings as City Council meetings when Council does not have time to process information before making decisions; and requested an update on the Animal and Adoption Shelter. Councilmember Clausen congratulated the Purchasing Department on their award and thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Councilmember Martin congratulated and thanked Marketing/Public Relations Specialist Jaree Hefner and Assistant City Manager Traci Leach for the Sunset Sip and Stroll event; congratulated the Purchasing Department on their award and thanked Bob Mitchell for his presentation. Councilmember Moser congratulated the Purchasing Department on their award; commented on the success of the Sunset Sip and Stroll Event and thanked Bob Mitchell for his presentation. Councilmember Kaminski congratulated the Purchasing Department on their award; thanked Marketing/Public Relations Specialist Jaree Hefner and Assistant City Manager Traci Leach for their work on the Sunset Sip and Stroll event, thanked Bob Mitchell for his presentation; congratulated Chief of Police Ken Adcox on the Animal Adoption Center Sign Sponsorship. Mayor Rigby congratulated the Purchasing Department on their award, advised he attended the Ribbon Cutting at Air Liquide along with City Manager Corby Alexander and Economic Development Coordinator Scott Livingston; thanked ACT Independent Turbo Services, Inc., for choosing the City of La Porte to relocate their business and thanked Bob Mitchell for his presentation. Page 4 of 5 September 22, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes 12. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:28 p.m. Wq1 rt 1 'SqaiVn Harris, Assistant City Secretary Passed a0d �Op`rq ye-o on October 13, 2014. M4vor Lbuis Page 5 of 5 September 22, 2014, Council Meeting Minutes