HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-30-03 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council LOUIS RIGBY
0 A BILL BENTLEY
Mayor 09 Councilperson District 3
BRANDON LUNSFORD Mayor Pro-Tem
Councilperson At Large A VTHOMAS GARZA
STEVE GILLETT
Councilperson At Large B `, 00041411` Councilperson District 4
DANNY EARP JAY MARTIN
,:4
Councilperson District 5
Councilperson District 1
NANCY OJEDA
CHUCK ENGELKEN Councilperson District 6
Councilperson District 2
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE
MARCH 30, 2020
The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a special meeting on Monday, March 30, 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, Steve Gillett, Thomas Garza
Councilperson attending remotely: Danny Earp, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Jay Martin, Nancy Ojeda
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 by Clark Askins, Assistant City Attorney, and the
pledges of allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags were led by Councilperson Danny Earp.
3. 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 spoke in opposition to the extension of the disaster declaration and some provisions of the juvenile
curfew and in support of a May election date. Ti O'Daniel thanked the Council for their service and inquired if the
City had implemented its emergency pay plan.
4. STATUTORY AGENDA
(a) Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve an extension of the disaster of declaration
issued by the Mayor on March 13, 2020, in connection with COVID-19. [Corby Alexander, City Manager]
Councilperson Ojeda moved to approve an extension of Disaster Declaration issued by the Mayor on March
13, 2020, and any orders, rules, and regulations issued by the Mayor pursuant thereto [to continue in effect
until such time as the COVID-19 Disaster Declaration issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott on March 13,
2020, expires or is withdrawn, unless sooner terminated by executive order of the Mayor or by the City Council',
Councilperson Garza moved to amend to require that the Bay Forest Golf Course be closed while the City's
Disaster Declaration is in effect. The motion to amend was not seconded and was not considered. The main
motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilperson Garza voting against.
(b) Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2020-3785, extending the City's
Juvenile Curfew Ordinance, as amended, for an additional three-year term. [Steve Deardorff, Chief of
Police]
Councilperson Garza moved to adopt Ordinance 2020-3785 for a Juvenile Curfew as amended, with an
amendment to insert [in Section 42-74 (13)] a defense to prosecution to be that a business must receive a
warning letter before being ticketed for an offense, for an additional three-year term,
Councilperson Gillett moved to amend by striking Section 3 of the ordinance. The motion to amend was not
adopted, 3-6, Councilpersons Lunsford, Gillett, and Garza voting in support.
The main motion with amendment [by Councilperson Garza] was not adopted, 3-6. Councilpersons Lunsford,
Gillett, and Garza voting in support.
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Councilperson Engelken moved to adopt Ordinance 2020-3785 for a Juvenile Curfew as amended, for an
additional three-year term; the motion was adopted, 7-2, Councilpersons Lunsford and Garza voting against.
5. ELECTION MATTERS
(a) Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2020-3787, revising the order of
election for the May 2, 2020, general election, to consolidate polling locations or to move the election
date. [Mayor Rigby]
Councilperson Bentley moved to maintain the polling locations as they exist [two for early voting, three on
election davl. The motion was ruled out of order in that it was not a change to the order of election ordinance
as it exists now.
Councilperson Ojeda moved to adopt Ordinance 2020-3787 amending the order of election for the May 2, 2020,
General Election in order to postpone to November 3, 2020, or a date made available by the state before that
date; the motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilperson Martin voting against.
6. 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 thanked the Council for their work tonight; supported protecting the citizens of La Porte; encouraged
the protection of the City's employees with necessary precautions and personal protective equipment; shared the
sentiment behind #StayStrongLaPorte; reminded all that the difficult decisions made tonight were health decisions;
offered encouragement to the Council candidates and commended them for their behavior thus far; and wished for
safety for all.
ADJ•URN —WA\ATM t objection Mayor Rigby adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m.
.
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