HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-04-22 Special Meeting of the La Porte City Council Minutes LOUIS RIGBY DARYL LEONARD
Mayor Of A Councilmember District 3
JOHN ZEMANEK � O9 KRISTIN MARTIN
Councilmember at Large A �.
DOTTIE KAMINSKI "� Councilmember District 4
Councilmember at Large B Om JAY MARTIN
DANNY EARP � Councilmember District 5
Mayor Pro Tern MIKE CLAUSEN
Councilmember District 1 rE xr+e Councilmember District 6
CHUCK ENGELKEN
Councilmember District 2
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE
APRIL 22, 2017
The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a special meeting on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at
8:30 a.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas to
consider the following items of business:
1. Call to Order
Mayor Rigby called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. Members of Council present: Councilmembers
Engelken, Earp, K. Martin, Leonard, Zemanek, Kaminski and J. Martin. Absent: Councilmember
Clausen
Members of City Executive Staff and City Employees Present:
City Manager's Office: Corby Alexander and Traci Leach
City Secretary's Office: Patrice Fogarty
Finance: Michael Dolby, Gay Collins and Shelley Wolny
Parks: Rosalyn Epting
Planning: Richard Mancilla
Police Department: Ken Adcox, Steve Deardorff and Matt Daeumer
Fire Department: Mike Boaze
Public Works Department: Don Pennell
Human Resources: Matt Hartleib
Municipal Court: Cathy Haney
I.T.: Rene Valdez
2. Discussion and possible action—The purpose of this meeting is to discuss and formulate City Council
and staff plans, operations, policies, and future projects, including the following:
A. Financial Overview—Michael Dolby
Finance Director Michael Dolby presented a PowerPoint with a financial overview and
reported revenues have increased.
Mayor Rigby requested items B, C, and D be presented all at once and asked if the City is
authorized to spend money on private property. City Manager Corby Alexander responded
the City can if there is a public good associated with the spending.
B. La Porte Cemetery Mowing — (Councilmembers Kaminski and K. Martin)—T. Leach
Assistant City Manager Traci Leach presented a summary and advised the City contractor
estimated $25,000.00 per year to mow the La Porte Cemetery.
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Staff was directed to look for volunteers to level and mow it, and then turn it back over to the
cemetery board.
C. Property donations to La Porte Cemetery (Councilmembers Kaminski and K. Martin) —
T. Leach
Assistant City Manager Traci Leach presented a summary.
There were no objections to donating the property to the cemetery board with the
understanding that the board maintains the property.
D. La Porte Cemetery Paving —(Councilmembers Kaminski and K. Martin)—T. Leach
Assistant City Manager Traci Leach presented a summary.
Mayor Rigby commented he wants the board to contribute to the cost.
Councilmember Zemanek commented he wants to see if the La Porte Development
Corporation can provide funds.
Councilmember Kaminski made a motion to asphalt roads bearing entire cost.
Councilmember K. Martin seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED 7/1.
Ayes: Councilmembers Earp, Zemanek, Kaminski, J. Martin, Leonard,
K. Martin and Engelken
Nays: Mayor Rigby
Absent: Councilmember Clausen
E. Proposed Pedestrian and Bicycle Trail along E. Street from S. Broadway to S.
Blackwell —(Councilmembers Kaminski and K. Martin)—T. Leach
Assistant City Manager Traci Leach presented a summary.
Councilmember K. Martin commented there is a lot of traffic and students walking to school
on E. Main, and she would like a pedestrian and bicycle trail be considered in the future.
Staff was directed to earmark a 2-3 year prefunding plan for a pedestrian and bicycle trail.
F. Wave Pool Upgrades (Councilmembers Kaminski and K. Martin) — R. Epting
Parks and Recreation Director Rosalyn Epting presented a summary.
Councilmember K. Martin commented the Wave Pool needs to be upgraded and improved.
Staff was directed to begin with Option # 3: Multiple smaller improvements to add to the
aesthetics on the Wave Pool at $410,000.00, and to prefund for future improvements over
four years at $250,000.00 a year.
G. Main Street Decorations —(Councilmembers Kaminski and K. Martin) — E. Epting
Parks and Recreation Director Rosalyn Epting presented a summary.
Councilmember K. Martin commented a nice addition to Main Street would be stringing lights.
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Councilmember J. Martin commented lights can run down Main Street to Virginia Street to
include the Five Points area.
Staff was directed to get more information for lighting.
H. Tom Brown Park Improvements —(Councilmember K. Martin) — R. Epting
Parks and Recreation Director Rosalyn Epting presented a summary regarding whether to
add a Basketball Court or a Splash Park.
Councilmember K. Martin commented she would like a Basketball Court at Tom Brown Park.
Council agreed on the idea of providing a Basketball Court.
Recreation & Fitness Center Options (Councilmembers Zemanek and Kaminski) — R.
Epting
Parks and Recreation Director Rosalyn Epting presented a summary.
Councilmember Zemanek commented he would like a new facility of about 10,000 square
feet, with ability to expand in the future.
City Manager Corby Alexander suggested designing the project in the upcoming budget year.
Mayor Rigby commented he does not have an issue expanding the current location to the
west and keep the Senior Center where it is currently located.
Councilmember J. Martin agreed an expansion is a good idea.
Councilmember Earp suggested pricing the cost on a Recreation and Fitness Center on the
bay where the City owns property and include a nice smaller type of conference center.
Councilmember Leonard likes the suggestion of using the Happy Harbor/Kline Retreat
property for conventions, workouts and running.
Staff was directed to research different options for expanding the existing Recreation and
Fitness Center to the west or building a new facility on the Kline Retreat property, with
inclusion of a small convention center and the ability to expand for future use.
Mayor Rigby recessed for a break at 9:45 a.m. Mayor Rigby reconvened the workshop at 9:57 a.m.
J. Pecan Park Field Maintenance—(Councilmember Engelken) — R. Epting
Parks and Recreation Director Rosalyn Epting presented a summary.
Councilmember Engelken commented he expects the City management team to make sure
the fields and restrooms are maintained per the contract with the La Porte Boys Baseball
Association and ready for the kids in the community to use the fields and park.
Councilmember Leonard asked if there is additional training for baseball field maintenance
for employees to attend. Ms. Epting advised employees attended training a little over a month
ago and there are training classes available and employees do attend.
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Councilmember Zemanek commented the only way to help with drainage is to laser shoot the
fields and suggested Staff let Council know what is needed to help with maintaining the fields.
Council agreed to budget $63,000.00 and directed Staff to determine the best time to
reconstruct the fields.
K. Maintenance of former Happy Harbor property—(Councilmember J. Martin)—T. Leach
Assistant City Manager Traci Leach presented a summary.
Councilmember J. Martin commented the property is rutted from individuals mudding and
advised he received a complaint from a citizen regarding the mudding issues. Councilmember
J. Martin suggested grading; elevating; completing the bulk head; and adding signage
restricting motorized vehicles on the property.
Mayor Rigby asked Council if there were objections to an Ordinance restricting motorized
vehicles on the property. There were no objections from Council.
L. City of La Porte Electronic Records Management— P. Fogarty
City Secretary Patrice Fogarty presented a summary.
Council directed Staff to research the cost for a temporary employee or a temporary service
with an estimated time of completion of scanning documents and training for departments to
scan records.
M. Medical Insurance— M. Hartleib
Human Resources Manager Matt Hartleib presented a summary for employee participation in
a wellness program.
Councilmember Earp suggested establishing an employer funding limit for the Medical fund
of, perhaps, 10 percent of the prior year's total revenues.
Councilmember Leonard commented something needs to be done to control the amount of
funding that goes into the Medical Insurance Fund.
Council directed Staff to look at the cost for insurance premiums for new employees after a
specific date.
Mayor Rigby recessed for a lunch break at 11:43 a.m. Mayor Rigby reconvened the special meeting at
12:20 a.m.
N. La Porte Police Department Staffing — K. Adcox
Police Chief Ken Adcox presented a summary.
Mayor Rigby asked the Chief that if Council agreed to two new officers but wanted them
assigned to DOT, will it be possible to have the officers assigned strictly to truck traffic. Chief
Adcox responded he would like to have more DOT officers.
Councilmember Leonard asked if two officers are trained and ready for DOT duties. Chief
Adcox responded one officer is ready, and the other one needs to go to DOT school.
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Councilmember Zemanek asked how many officers take home a car. Assistant Chief
Deardorff responded 55-60 officers take home a car.
Mayor Rigby asked if two additional officers are hired as DOT officers, will they require a
vehicle. Chief Adcox responded yes.
Councilmember J. Martin asked if there are state guidelines for the number of DOT officers
per number of trucks on our roadways. Chief Adcox responded no, he is not aware of any
state guidelines.
Councilmember Leonard commented it is not a bad idea to have more officers on the street.
Councilmember Engelken commented he is fine adding officers, but the DOT issues need to
be addressed at some point.
Councilmember Zemanek commented he is convinced two officers are needed.
Councilmember Leonard left the meeting at 1:03 p.m.
Staff was directed to provide cost information for two patrol and DOT officers.
O. La Porte Police Department Fleet Vehicles — K. Adcox
Assistant Chief Deardorff presented a summary.
Councilmember J. Martin made a motion to move forward with the purchase of Ford Explorers
to give them a try as opposed to Tahoes. Councilmember Zemanek seconded the motion.
MOTION PASSED 4/3.
Ayes: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Earp, J. Martin, and Engelken
Nays: Councilmembers K. Martin, Kaminski and Zemanek
Absent: Councilmembers Clausen and Leonard
P. City-Wide Camera Project— K. Adcox/M. Daeumer
Lieutenant Matt Daeumer presented a summary.
Mayor Rigby left the table at 1:20 p.m. and returned at 1:21 p.m.
Councilmember Engelken suggested exploring grant funds and then revisit a city-wide
camera project.
Staff was directed to get cost estimates for the smaller systems where they are needed.
Q. Northwest Pool Upgrades — R. Epting
Parks and Recreation Director Rosalyn Epting presented a summary.
Councilmember Earp suggested repairing the pool and to put in a walking track.
Staff was directed to repair and update the existing pool and to come back with close to actual
numbers for a prefabricated building and no design cost.
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R. Part-time Basketball Staff— R. Epting
Parks and Recreation Director Rosalyn Epting presented a summary.
Council had no objections to utilizing seasonal workers.
3. Council Comments
Councilmembers Kaminski, Engelken, Earp, J. Martin and K. Martin thanked Staff for the Budget
Retreat Presentations;
Councilmember Zemanek thanked Staff for the Budget Retreat Presentations and Special Olympics
for the boiled shrimp lunch; and
Mayor Rigby thanked Staff for the Budget Presentations; advised and reported on three bills
(annexation; revenue caps and heavy haul) in the legislature that are being observed closely.
4. Adjourn
There being no further business, Councilmember Engelken moved to adjourn the meeting at
2:09 p.m. Councilmember Zemanek seconded. MOTION PASSED.
Respectfully submitted,
:1; ft (.6 al
Patrice Fogarty, Ci ,/ ecretary
Passed and a/ o - o ay 8, 017.
1
0 Mayor Louis R. Rigby
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