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Home My WebLink About2021-08-02 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City CouncilLOUIS R. RIGBY Mayor BRANDON LUNSFORD Councilmember At Large A BRENT Mc CAULLEY Councilmember At Large B TREY KENDRICK Councilmember District 1 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE February 8, 2021 CHUCK ENGELKEN Mayor Pro Tem Councilmember District 2 BILL BENTLEY Councilmember District 3 THOMAS GARZA Councilmember District 4 JAY MARTIN Councilmember District 5 NANCY OJEDA Councilmember District 66 The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Monday, February 8, 2021, 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, Brent McCaulley, Trey Kendrick, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Thomas Garza (left at 6:01 p.m.), Jay Martin, Nancy Ojeda Councilpersons attending remotely: Brandon Lunsford Councilpersons 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. Mayor Rigby reminded Councilperson Garza that the Council's adopted Rules of Procedure required Councilpersons to wear a mask during Council meetings. The Mayor reminded Councilperson Garza that he had the opportunity to attend the meeting electronically and could go to his office in City Hall. Councilperson Garza said he was exempted from wearing a face covering for medical reasons and would not be wearing one. The Mayor asked the Sergeant -at -Arms to remove Councilperson Garza. Councilperson Garza moved that the Council oppose the Mayor's direction, which he termed as illegal. The motion did not receive a second and was not considered. Councilperson Garza was escorted from the room. 2. INVOCATION — The invocation was given by Councilperson Jay Martin, and pledges were led by Councilperson Brent McCaulley. 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.) There were no speakers. 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 January 25, 2021, City Council meeting. b. Approve Ordinance 2021-3818, amending Chapter 50-Appendix A `Fees' of the Code of Ordinance of the City of La Porte, to increase the Single Cart Rider Fee at the Bay Forest Golf Course. [Billy Stoker, General Manger] c. Approve an agreement with Hugh L. Landrum & Associates, Inc. for appraisal and related service for calendar years 2021 through 2024. [Shelley Wolny, Treasurer] Cl. Approve an election services contract and joint election agreement with La Porte ISD for the May 1, 2021 general election. [Louis R. Rigby, Mayor] e. Approve the appointment of Joe Mock to the At -Large B position on the City of La Porte's Planning and Zoning Commission. [Louis R. Rigby, Mayor] f. Approve the purchase and installation of a triplex motor control center and one Flygt submersible pump from Hahn Equipment Company Inc., as sole source provider, for a cost Page 1 of 3 February 8, 2021, Council Meeting Minutes of $71,852.00 with project contingency of $7,000.00, for a total authorization of $78,852.00. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] Mayor Pro Tem Engelken moved to approve consent aqenda the motion was seconded by Councilpersons Ojeda and Kendrick the motion was adopted 8-0. Wyatt Smith was permitted to make a public comment, he asked a question of his representatives to ask Hugh Landrum about how many industrial properties still do not have signed agreements in place for payment in lieu of taxes. 5. PUBLIC HEARING AND ASSOCIATED ORDINANCES The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding a recommendation by staff to adopt Ordinance 2021-3817 electing to participate in the Texas Enterprise Zone Program and nominating the qualified business known as "INEOS USA, LLC" operating at the business site located at 1230 Independence Parkway, to the Economic Development and Tourism Division of the Governor's Office as a Texas Enterprise Zone Project; followed by discussion and possible action to consider adopting Ordinance 2021- 3817 electing to participate on the Texas Enterprise Zone Program and nominating the qualifies business known as "INEOS USA, LLC" operating at the business site located at 1230 Independence Parkway, to the Economic Development and Tourism division of the Governor's Office as a Texas Enterprise Zone Project. [Jason Weeks, Assistant City Manager] Mayor Rigby opened the public hearing at 6:12 p.m. Eric Geisel of Economic Incentive Services, LLC provided a short presentation on behalf of INEOS USA. Jeff Martin, President, La Porte Chamber of Commerce, shared his experiences with INEOS's charitable contributions locally. Mayor Rigby closed the public hearing at 6:23 p.m. Mayor Engelken moved to uphold the staff's recommendation to adopt Ordinance 2021-3817 electing to participate in the Texas Enterprise Zone Program and nominating the qualified business known as "INEOS USA LLC" operating at the business site located at 1230 Independence Parkway, to the Economic Development and Tourism Division of the Governor's Office as a Texas Enterprise Zone Project the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 8-0. 6. STATUTORY AGENDA a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Five Points Park as a site for construction and/or placement of a Gold Star Families Monument. [Corby Alexander, City Manager] The Guyon family, Jeff Martin, President, La Porte Chamber of Commerce, and Police Chief Steve Deardorff spoke in support of the project. Mayor Pro Tem Engelken moved to approve Five Points Park as a site for construction and/or placement of a Gold Star Families Monument the motion was seconded by Councilperson Kendrick; the motion was approved. 8-0. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to appoint Election Day polling location judges and alternate judges for the March 27, 2021, Special Election and to define the number of clerk appointments permitted to be made by each presiding judge. [Louis R. Rigby, Mayor] Councilperson Bentley moved to appoint Election Day polling location judges and alternate judges for the March 27, 2021, Special Election and to limit the number of clerk appointments permitted to be made by each presiding judge to no more than six; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Engelken; the motion was adopted, 8-0. REPORTS a. Receive report on the Drainage and Flooding Committee meeting. [Councilperson Jay Martin] Councilperson Martin reported the Committee met, said the Committee had received updates on reports, and that the next meeting would be February 22. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS Page 2 of 3 February 8, 2021, Council Meeting Minutes • Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, February 18 • City Council meeting, February 22 • Zoning Board of Adjustments meeting, February 25 City Manager Corby Alexander said staff would follow up on the question from public comment. 9. COUNCIL COMMENTS Hear announcements concerning matters appearing on the agenda; items of community interest; and/or inquiries of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy from the Mayor, Councilmembers, and City staff, for which no formal action will be discussed or taken. Councilpersons thanked the Guyon family and thanked them for bringing the monument proposal forward; thanked Ray Mayo and Ros Epting on progress at Fairmont Park; noted more vaccines were becoming available and hoped the City would be able to distribute some; expressed a wish that the La Porte Development Corporation might be able to assist with the Gold Families Monument; announced the City's EMS would provide Round 2 vaccines this week; welcomed Chief Deardorff back; congratulated Ray Mayo on 32 years of employment with the City; congratulated Shelley Wolny on her promotion; and hoped the City could be involved in a ribbon cutting for the Gold Families monument. The Mayor reported from the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership (BAHEP), urging all to review bills being filed this spring and to bring forward those that need support or opposition. He also noted the annual budget retreat would be in April, reminding the Council that it is a meeting agenda and item placement guidelines would be followed. 10. EXECUTIVE SESSION (a) The City Council will meet in closed session under Texas Government Code 551.071(1)(A) — Consultation with Attorney — pending or contemplated litigation, to meet with the Assistant City Attorney to discuss enforcement of Chapter 380 Economic Development Agreement between the Cityi of La Porte and Ybarra Restaurants, Inc. [Corby Alexander, City Manager] The Council convened into executive session at 6:45 p.m. (Councilperson Lunsford left the meeting and did not attend the executive session.) 11. RECONVENE into regular session and consider action, if any, on item(s) discussed in executive session. Lee The Council reconvened in open session at 7:11 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Engelken moved that the Council direct the City Manager and Assistant City Attorney to draft a letter to the applicant to encourage continuation of their development; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 7-0. LA N r � •'sit th��S C0U at 7:12 D.M. Page 3 of 3 February 8, 2021, Council Meeting Minutes