HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-06-24 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council LOUIS RIGBY 0* A BILL BENTLEY
Mayor :,;\0 Councilperson District 3
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BRANDON LUNSFORD , Mayor Pro-Tern
Councilperson At Large A 7 \ m THOMAS GARZA
STEVE GILLETT
erson At Large B �� Councilperson District 4
Councilperson g JAY MARTIN
DANNY EARP
person District 5
Councilperson District 1 Council NANCY OJEDA
CHUCK ENGELKEN Councilperson District 6
Councilperson District 2
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE
JUNE 24, 2019
The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Monday, June 24, 2019, at the City Hall
Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 6:00 p.m., with the following in
attendance:
Councilpersons present: Louis Rigby, Brandon Lunsford, Steve Gillett, Danny Earp, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley,
Thomas Garza, Jay Martin
Councilpersons absent: Nancy Ojeda
Council-appointed officers present: Corby Alexander, City Manager; Jason Weeks,Assistant 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 Evette Naron, Family and Small Groups Minister, Fairmont Park
Church.
PLEDGES—The pledges of allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags were led by Councilpersons Thomas Garza.
3. PRESENTATIONS, PROCLMATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS
(a) Presentation of Oath of Office and Certificate of Election to newly elected Councilperson Jay Martin.
[Mayor Rigby]
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS (Limited to five minutes per person.) Reverend Philip Dunn said he was beseeching the
Council to seek a mechanism to police one another and staff on the use of social media. Chuck Rosa spoke on
the proposed changes to the building permit fees. Donna O'Connor lauded the City departments who made the
Summer Party successful but decried a Councilperson at the event who criticized City staff working on the event.
She also mentioned her concern about warehouses in the community and the rights of property owners in relation
to an item at the June 10 Council meeting.
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 June 10, 2019. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary]
Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda item; the motion was adopted, 8-0.
6. AUTHORIZATIONS
(a) Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve expenditure by the La Porte Development
Corporation in an amount not to exceed $700,000.00 in connection with Project G, an incentive
project granted to INEOS Styrolution America, LLC, for development of a styrene monomer
manufacturing facility at 1230 Independence Parkway. [Ryan Cramer, Economic Development
Coordinator]
Councilperson Garza signed a Conflict of Interest affidavit and did not participate in the discussion or vote.
Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the expenditure by the La Porte Development Corporation in an
amount not to exceed $700,000.00, in connection with Prosect G, an incentive project granted to INEOS
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June 24, 2019, Council Meeting Minutes
Styrolution America, LLC, for development of a styrene monomer manufacturing facility at 1230
Independence Parkway; the motion was adopted, 7-0.
7. STATUTORY AGENDA
(a) Presentation,discussion,and possible action regarding first reading of Ordinance 2019-3746,for the
purpose of granting franchise to CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., to locate and operate
facilities for transmission of natural gas in public rights-of-way, for term of 10 years. [Corby
Alexander, City Manager]
First reading, no action to adopt taken. Councilperson Engelken signed a Conflict of Interest affidavit and
did not participate in the discussion or vote. Councilperson Garza moved to reduce the proposed percentage
in the ordinance to 3% and to add a clause that new construction require more oversight. The motion was
lost for lack of a second. Councilperson Garza moved to reduce the proposed percentage in the ordinance
to 3%. The motion was adopted, 4-3, Mayor Rigby and Councilpersons Bentley and Martin voting against.
(b) Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding Ordinance 2019-3747, amending Chapter
82, "Buildings and Building Regulations"—Appendix A"Fees" of the Code of Ordinances of the City
of
La Porte, for the purpose of changing fees, for city residential building permits and residential
mechanical permit. [Corby Alexander, City Manager]
Mayor Rigby asked Councilpersons Earp, Bentley, and Garza to meet with appointees of the City Manager
to propose revisions to bring back to the Council for the permit fee update.
8. REPORTS
(a) Receive a report on the La Porte Development Corporation Board meeting. [Councilperson Nancy
Ojeda]
Councilperson Danny Earp reported on the La Porte Development Corporation Board meeting held at 5:00
p.m., noting the INEOS Project G was approved.
9. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
•Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting, Thursday, June 27, 2019
• City Council Meeting, Monday, July 8, 2019
• Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting, Thursday, July 18, 2019
• City Council Meeting, Thursday, July 22, 2019
•Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting, Thursday, July 25, 2019
Assistant City Manager Jason Weeks said there was no report.
10. 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.
Councilpersons congratulated Councilperson Martin for his re-election, apologized for prior comments,
discussed a disagreement among Councilpersons, congratulated the Parks Department for the Summer Party,
wished all a Happy Fourth, urged the public not to act poorly on social media, expressed appreciation of the
work of the street contractor on Somerton and pressed for more encouragement to the vendor from City staff,
thanked those who helped the family of Councilperson Martin recently, commended Chuck Rosa on his
campaign, shared the City's partnering with Fairmont Park on the ribbon cutting at their basketball court, and
urged the public to participate in the Civic Club's annual Juneteenth events.
AD Op-N— ith• ••lection, Ma •r Rigby adiour -d the meeting at 7:06 p.m.
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