HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-13-04 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council LOUIS RIGBYOF A BILL BENTLEY
Mayor 09 Councilperson District 3
BRANDON LUNSFORD
Councilperson At Large A 1 -1 Mayor Pro-Tem THOMAS GARZA
STEVE GILLETT
/
Councilperson At Large B Councilperson District 4
DANNY EARP JAY MARTIN
Councilperson District 5
Councilperson District 1
4./ 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
APRIL 13, 2020
The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Monday, April 13, 2020, 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, Bill Bentley, Steve Gillett, Thomas Garza
Councilpersons attending remotely: Danny Earp, Chuck Engelken, Nancy Ojeda, Jay Martin
Councilpersons 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 AND PLEDGES — The invocation was given remotely by Pastor Christen of La Porte
Community Church, and the pledges of allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags were led by Councilperson
Nancy Ojeda.
3. PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS
(a) Proclamation in recognition of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. [Mayor Rigby]
(b) Proclamation in recognition of National Volunteer Week. [Mayor Rigby]
(c) Proclamation in recognition of National Animal Control Officers Appreciation Week. [Mayor
Rigby]
4. CITIZEN COMMENT (Generally limited to five minutes per person; in accordance with state law, the time
may be reduced if there is a high number of speakers or other considerations.)
Chuck Rosa asked that the Council meetings be held in person as he said is done in Allen, Texas.
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 special meetings on March 20 and March 30, 2020, and the regular
meeting on March 23, 2020. [Mayor Rigby]
b. Approve Ordinance 2020-3788 to adopt proposed updates to the City of La Porte Water
Conservation Plan. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works]
c. Adopt Resolution 2020-07 authorizing the resale of tax delinquent property described at Tract
1, Lot 38, Block 10 of Battleground Estates, Section 2, a Subdivision of Harris County,
Texas. [Shelley Wolny, Treasurer]
d. Adopt Resolution 2020-08 authorizing the resale of tax delinquent property described as Tract
1, Lots 20 & 21, Block 1 of Pinegrove Valley, a Subdivision of Harris County, Texas. [Shelley
Wolny, Treasurer]
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e. Adopt Resolution 2020-09 authorizing the resale of tax delinquent property described as Tract
1, Lots 24, 25 & 26, Block 88 of Bay Front Addition to the Town of La Porte. [Shelley Wolny,
Treasurer]
f. Approve the issuance of a pipeline permit to Baymark Pipeline LLC for the construction of a
12" ethylene pipeline within the City of La Porte. [Lorenzo Wingate, Assistant Director of
Public Works]
Without objection, Councilperson Gillett amended the minutes of March 23 to include the City
Secretary's PowerPoint presentation for the election item. Without objection, Councilperson Earp
asked that the Baymark Pipeline LLC pipeline permit be amended to include the wording for the 4'
minimum depth.
Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda as amended; the motion was
adopted, 9-0.
6. STATUTORY AGENDA
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve a temporary water service
agreement with Enterprise Products, LLC. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works]
Councilperson Ojeda moved to deny the execution of a temporary water supply agreement with
Enterprise Products; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to provide direction concerning the recently
passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). [Matt Hartleib, HR Manager]
Councilperson Garza moved to direct staff to implement the Families First Corona Response Act
(FFCRA) according to option 1, which excludes no employees from either Extended Sick Leave or
expanded provisions of the FMLA, with the ability for the Council to come back and revisit the
decision; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
c. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2020-3783, for the purpose
of vacating, abandoning, and closing a portion of the N. 8th Street right-of-way situated in
Block 12, Nebraska Syndicate, and reserving an easement for City utilities. [Corby Alexander,
City Manager]
Councilperson Bentley moved that the Council adopt Ordinance 2020-3783 for street and alley
closure request #19-25000007, vacating and abandoning a portion of the N 8th St. right-of way,
adjacent to the property legally described as Tracts 12, 12B, 12C, and 12D. Blockl2, Nebraska
Syndicate, and authorize the City Manager to execute a deed to the adjacent property owner for the
subject right of way.
Councilperson Earp moved to require language in the deed to require the developer to pay for
removal and replacement of any improvements, even if built with a City permit, should the City need
to make any repairs or access the lines; the motion to amend was adopted, 9-0.
The main motion, as amended, was adopted, 7-2, Councilpersons Earp and Gillett voting against.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
• City Council meeting, April 27
• City Council meeting, May 11
• City Council meeting, May 25
City Manager Alexander noted Harris County Precinct 2 began today a study phase on the widening and
improvements of Fairmont Parkway to a six-lane roadway.
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April 13, 2020, Council Meeting Minutes
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.
Councilpersons shared their pleasure over the work on the Spencer Highway fencing; thanked Public
Works for reopening the Recycling Center this week and for additional heavy trash pick-up; noted the
reopening of parks following the Easter weekend and requested the golf course be considered for
reopening; acknowledged recipients of tonight's proclamations; thanked City volunteers and those who
volunteer across the community; expressed pleasure over the closure of the golf course; recognized
Animal Control for clearing the shelter; offered sympathy over the continued social distancing restrictions;
thanked the Mayor for his communication and updates that went out to the public on social media and
by mass phone call; offered kudos to Emergency Management Coordinator Kristin Gauthier and the
Emergency Operations Center staff; requested weekly updates from the Mayor to the community;
reminded everyone to stick together and remember that there are untruths on social media.
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION
(a) City Council will meet in a closed session pursuant to Texas Government Code Section
551.074 — personnel matters — for deliberation related to the appointment, employment,
evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee,
unless the officer requests a public hearing: Denise Mitrano, Municipal Court Judge.
The Council adjourned into executive session at 8:00 p.m.
10. RECONVENE into regular session and consider action, if any, on item(s) discussed in executive
session.
The Council reconvened into open session at 8:41 p.m. Councilperson Gillett moved to approve a 4.5%
increase for Judge Mitrano. The motion was adopted, 9-0.
AD OURN 'thout objection, Mayor Rigby adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m.
Le oodwa , ity Secr
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