HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-04-22 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council LOUIS RIGBY OF A BILL BENTLEY
Mayor A. O Councilmember District 3
JOHN ZEMANEK IL KRISTIN MARTIN
Councilmember At Large A V \-/ m Councilmember District 4
STEVE GILLETT JAY MARTIN
Councilmember At Large B Councilmember District 5
DANNY EARP
; _k,6 NANCY OJEDA
Councilmember District 1
/ Councilmember District 6
CHUCK ENGELKEN Mayor Pro-Tem
Councilmember District 2
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE
APRIL 22, 2019
The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Monday, April 22, 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, John Zemanek, Steve Gillett, Danny Earp, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley,
Kristin Martin, Jay Martin, Nancy Ojeda
Councilmembers absent: None
Council-appointed officers present: Corby Alexander, City Manager; Lee Woodward, City Secretary; Clark Askins,
Assistant City Attorney
CALL TO ORDER—Mayor Rigby called the meeting to order at 6: 00 p.m.
INVOCATION —The invocation was given by Rev. Brian Christen, La Porte Community Church.
PLEDGES—The pledges of allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags were led by Councilmember Danny Earp.
3. PRESENTATIONS, PROCLMATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS
(a) Proclamation in recognition of Municipal Clerk's Week. [Mayor Rigby]
(b) Proclamation in recognition of Parliamentary Law Month. [Mayor Rigby]
(c) Proclamation in recognition of Whitney K. Lane, Don't Mess with Texas Song Search Winner. [Mayor
Rigby]
(d) Recognition of the Employee of the First Quarter 2019 — Deputy Court Clerk, Theresa Hernandez,
City of La Porte Municipal Court, [Mayor Rigby]
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to five minutes per person.) Chuck Rosa and Abe Rosa spoke against item
6b. Michael and Mary Hanks expressed support for the City's EMS. Genesis Sanchez, Genesis M. Sanchez,
Cie Cie Sanchez, Robert Guy, and Charles Crittenden requested City support for the Fairmont Park West
park and pool. Thomas Garza spoke on local events, urged the Council to reject the bid in item 5c, expressed
his support of the proposed EMS and Fire Department salary increases and recommended a higher raise,
and said he did not approve of the sign ordinance discussion.
5. 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 meeting held on April 8, 2019. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary]
(b) Award Bid #19008 for Asphalt Black Base & Type D Hot Asphalt Mix. [Don Pennell, Public Works
Director]
(c) Reject Bid #19011 for the Hillridge Water Plant Improvements Phase II. [Don Pennell, Public
Works Director]
Councilmember Zemanek moved to approve the consent agenda; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
6. PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION
(a) Presentation, discussion and possible action regarding a salary increase for EMS and Fire
personnel. [Ray Nolen, EMS Chief; Donald Ladd, Assistant Fire Chief]
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April 22, 2019, Council Meeting Minutes
Councilmember Engelken moved that the City move forward with the 20% increase for EMS effective
June 1, 2019; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
Councilmember Zemanek moved to provide for a June 1, 2019, 25% increase for the Fire Department.
Councilmember Earp moved to amend the motion by striking 25% and inserting 20%. Without objection,
the amendment was withdrawn. The motion was adopted, 7-2, Councilmembers Gillett and J. Martin
voting against.
(b) Presentation and discussion on a draft resolution to establish a policy addressing the placement
of campaign signs on City property. [Councilmembers K. Martin, Gillett, and Ojeda]
The Mayor asked the City Manager to bring back another proposal including enforcement.
Councilmember Gillett requested staff and the City Attorney also do research into creative solutions to
permit social activities to place signs.
7. REPORTS
(a) Receive a report on the La Porte Development Board Meeting. [Councilmember Ojeda]
Councilmember Nancy Ojeda reported on the La Porte Development Board meeting held at 5 p.m.,
saying the Board had approved a $21,505 façade enhancement grant for Coastal Extermination and
denied a façade enhancement grant to Texas Snowbirds Daiquiris and Grill.
8. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
• City Council Meeting, Monday, May 13, 2019
• Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, Thursday, May 16, 2019
•Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting, Thursday, May 23, 2019
City Manager Corby Alexander said the draft IDAs have reached businesses and were being well received,
noting their first meetings with the City would be April 29. He said he has spoken with the president of the
Fairmont Park West HOA and would meet with him and return with feedback.
9. 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 praised those acknowledged during the recognition portion of the meeting, discussed
enjoying a number of local events including the Civic Club's Spaghetti Dinner and the Easter Sunrise Service,
remembered and praised former Mayor J. J. Meza, congratulated Ray Nolen and Donald Ladd on their
departments' increases, thanked all who gave public comments, encouraged annual compensation studies,
urged all to attend the Sylvan Beach Festival, and thanked and congratulated Councilmember Kristin Martin
on her ears of service.
ADJ• '� —Without objec - or Rigby adjourned the meeting at 9:01 p.m.
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April 22, 2019, Council Meeting Minutes