HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-11 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council LOUIS RIGBY 4..04 A BILL BENTLEY
Mayor 0 Councilmember District 3
JOHN ZEMANEK #. 9 KRISTIN MARTIN
Councilmember At Large A v , m Councilmember District 4
STEVE GILLETT JAY MARTIN
Councilmember At Large B Councilmember District 5
DANNY EARP � NANCY OJEDA
Councilmember District 1 / Councilmember District 6
CHUCK ENGELKEN Mayor Pro-Tern
Councilmember District 2
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE
MARCH 11, 2019
The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the City Hall
Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte,Texas, at 6:00 p.m.,with the following in attendance:
Councilmembers present: Louis Rigby, Steve Gillett, Danny Earp, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Kristin Martin, Jay
Martin, John Zemanek, Nancy Ojeda
Councilmembers absent: None
Council-appointed officers present: Corby Alexander, City Manager; Lee Woodward, City Secretary; Clark Askins,
Assistant City Attorney
1. CALL TO ORDER—Mayor Rigby called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION—The invocation was given by Councilmember Nancy Ojeda.
PLEDGES—The pledges of allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags were led by Councilmember Steve Gillett
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to five minutes per person.) — Mike Patterson, Michael Urich, Patricia Harkins,
Paula Wohnoutka, Linda Poye, Thomas Garza, and Jacqueline Fowler offered public comment.
4. CONSENT AGENDA (Approval of Consent Agenda items authorizes each to be implemented in accordance with
staff recommendations provided. An item may be removed from the Consent Agenda and added to the Statutory
Agenda for full discussion upon request by a member of the Council present at this meeting)
(a) Approve the minutes of the City Council meeting held on February 25, 2019. [Lee Woodward, City
Secretary]
(b) Adopt Ordinance 2019-3735, for the purpose of vacating, abandoning, and closing a portion of two
separate alleys located in Block 715, Town of La Porte. [Ian Clowes, City Planner]
(c) Receive the 2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial (CAFR) Report. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director]
(d) Award Bid #19009 for replacement of a Ground Storage Tank at Collegeview Water Plant. [Don
Pennell, Public Works Director]
(e) Authorize the La Porte Area Water Authority Manager to negotiate a contract between the La Porte
Area Water Authority and the City of Shoreacres for the design and construction of an additional La
Porte Area Water Authority waterline and metering station. [Don Pennell, Public Works Director]
Councilmember Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
5. PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION
(a) Discussion and possible action regarding appointment to the vacant position on the Chapter 172
Employee, Retiree Insurance& Benefits Board. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary]
Councilmember Gillett nominated Donna O'Conner to the vacant Citizen 1 Position on the Chapter 172
Employee, Retiree Insurance and Benefits Board: the motion was adopted 5-4, Councilmembers Earp,
Zemanek, and Kristin Martin, and Mayor Rigby voting against,
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March 11, 2019 Council Meeting Minutes
(b) Discussion and possible action regarding update of the La Porte Parks, Recreation, and Open
Space Master Plan. [Roz Epting, Park and Recreation Director]
Aaron Tuley and Kate White of Halff Associates shared the work they have done to begin the master plan
update process.
(c) Discussion and possible action authorizing the City Manager to execute a two-year lease
agreement with the Fairmont Park West Homeowners Association for the use of Fairmont West
Park and swimming pool. [Jason Weeks, Assistant City Manager]
Asst. City Manager Jason Weeks reminded the Council of the background of the prior agreement and
noted state law requires an accompanying ordinance or resolution, so no action would be taken at this
meeting. The Council permitted Mr. Patterson and staff to answer questions from the Councilmembers.
Councilmember Zemanek moved to direct the staff to finalize the agreement with items discussed tonight
and to bring the item back for a future agenda with an ordinance or resolution. The motion was adopted,
7-2, Councilmembers Bentley and Ojeda voting against.
6. REPORTS
(a) Receive a report on the Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting. [Councilmember Engelken]
Councilmember Engelken reported on the meeting items and confirmed City's CAFR showed the City in
"good shape."
7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS — City Manager Corby Alexander addressed items brought up during Public
Comments.
8. 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 supported the discussion of the pool issue; thanked the City Manager and staff for remediating
drainage issues at La Porte Cemetery; thanked Public Works Director Pennell for the Solid Waste staff and new
parking at the Depot; thanked Parks Director Epting for the condition of the fields for the opening of Girls Softball;
congratulated Donna O'Conner on her appointment; supported the comments against campaign signs on City
property; and shared the good times had at the San Jacinto Monument Fun Run and the City's Chili Cook-off.
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION — The City Council reserves the right to meet in closed session on any agenda
item, should the need arise, and if applicable pursuant to authorization by Title 5, Chapter 551, of the
Texas Government Code, in in accordance with the authority contained in:
Texas Government Code — Section 551.072 — Deliberation regarding purchase, exchange, lease, or value
of real property: Meet with City Manager and City Attorney to discuss value of real property in industrial
districts, concerning negotiations with industry representatives for terms of new Industrial District
Agreements.
(Councilmember Earp has a Conflict of Interest affidavit on file for this item, did not participate in the deliberations,
and left the meeting as the Council adjourned into executive session.) The Council adjourned into executive
session at 7:43 p.m.
11. RECONVENE into regular session and consider action, if any, on item(s) discussed in executive session.
The Council reconvened into open session at 8:22 p.m. No action was taken.
10. ADJOURN —Without objection, Mayor Rigby adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m.
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March 11, 2019 Council Meeting Minutes
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March 11, 2019 Council Meeting Minutes