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Home My WebLink About2021-12-04 Regular Meeting of the La Porte City Council LOUIS R.RIGBY CHUCK ENGELKEN Mayor OF A Mayor Pro Tern,Councilperson District 2 BRANDON LUNSFORD -L.- G BILL BENTLEY Councilmember At Large A , �� Councilmember District 3 BRENT Mc CAULLEY V 7m THOMAS GARZA Councilmember At Large B Councilmember District 4 TREY KENDRICK I ` JAY MARTIN Councilmember District 1 Councilmember District 5 NANCY OJEDA Councilmember District 6 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE APRIL 12, 2021 The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Monday, April 12, 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, Brandon Lunsford, Brent McCaulley, Trey Kendrick, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Thomas Garza (left at 6:01 p.m.), Jay Martin, Nancy Ojeda/Robbie McLarrin Councilpersons attending remotely: None Councilpersons absent: Trey Kendrick 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. 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. 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 left the room. 2. INVOCATION —The invocation was given by Clark Askins, Assistant City Attorney, and pledges were led by Mayor Rigby. 3. PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS a. Presentation - Administer Oath of Office to newly elected Councilperson Robbie McLarrin. [Louis R. Rigby, Mayor] b. Recognition in appreciation of the service to the City of La Porte given by Councilperson Nancy Ojeda. [Louis R, Rigby, Mayor] c. Proclamation - National Volunteer Week. [Mayor Louis R. Rigby] d. Proclamation - National Animal Control Officers Week. [Mayor Louis R. Rigby] e. Proclamation - National Telecommunicators Week. [Mayor Louis R. Rigby] f. Proclamation -Crime Victim's Rights Week. [Mayor Louis R. Rigby] g. Recognition - Retirement of Sgt. Richard Ayers. [Mayor Louis R. Rigby] h. Presentation and update on the La Porte Independent School District. [Dr. Walter Jackson, Superintendent of Schools] 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.) Donna O'Connor offered her appreciation to the City Council, Officer Ayers, and the PD Dispatchers. Peggy Antone spoke regarding the PID hearing, in opposition to the proposed project. She asked that the corner commercial property be converted to a nature preserve, as there is already a commercial Page 1 of 3 April 12, 2021, Council Meeting Minutes venture across the street which not permitted for that site; she also offered concerns about light pollution. Jeff Martin invited all to come out to the upcoming Sylvan Beach Festival on April 24, thanked Nancy Ojeda for her service, welcomed Robbie McLarrin, and thanked Chief Deardorff and LPPD. 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 March 22, 2021, City Council meeting. [Mayor Louis R. Rigby] b. Approve the appointment of Brent McCaulley to an open position on the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors. c. Adopt Ordinance 2021-3821 for the purpose of vacating, abandoning, and closing a portion of the North 1st Street right-of-way situated between North J Street and Reserve A, Block 1 of La Porte Landfill, and a portion of the North J Street right-of-way situated between North 2nd Street right-of-way and an abandoned section of North J Street right-of-way, and authorizing the execution and delivery of a deed to the adjoining landowner. [Ian Clowes, City Planner] d. Adopt Resolution 2021-38 authorizing the submission of an application to the Texas General Land Office for a Texas Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation grant,for drainage infrastructure. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] e. Approval or other action to authorize execution of an interlocal agreement between Harris County and the City of La Porte for the Fairmont Parkway Signalization Project, in the amount of$1,000,000.00 [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] f. Approve Resolution 2021-39 to suspend the effective date proposed by CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., Texas Coast Division, to increase rates under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program for 45 days, and authorize the City's participation in a coalition of cities known as the "Texas Coast Utilities Coalition" ("TCUC") of cities. [Jason Weeks, Assistant City Manager] g. Award Bid #21009 to Turner Power & Construction, LLC in the amount of $390,683.00, for the Northwest Park Soccer Field Lighting Renovation Project,with a contingency amount of $39,068.00, for a total authorization of $429,751.00 [Rosalyn Epting, Director of Parks & Recreation] h. Approve the three- (3-) year contract renewal with AT&T for internet services and upgrade to existing internet system. [Grady Parker, IT Manager] (Mayor Pro Tem Engelken signed a conflict of interest affidavit and did not participate in the vote regarding item 5f.) Mayor Pro Tem Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda, less item 5f;. the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 7-0. Councilperson Bentley moved to adopt Resolution 2021-39 to suspend effective date proposed by CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., Texas Coast Division, to increase rates under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program for 45 days, and authorize the City's participation in a coalition of cities known as the "Texas Coast Utilities Coalition" ("TCUC") of cities; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Lunsford; the motion was adopted, 6-0. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ASSOCIATED ORDINANCES a. The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comment regarding the advisability of the creation of a Public Improvement District to make certain improvements over certain property located on +/- 56.7 acres at the corner of Wharton Weems Boulevard and State Highway 146 Frontage Road within the corporate limits of the City of La Porte,Texas. [Corby Alexander, City Manager] Mayor Rigby opened the public hearing at 6:44 p.m. City Manager Corby Alexander presented a summary. Paul Groman, the developer of the project, spoke in support of the project, and Dee Ann Thompson and Peggy Antone spoke in opposition to the development. Mayor Rigby closed the public hearing at 6:59 p.m. Page 2 of 3 April 12, 2021, Council Meeting Minutes 7. STATUTORY AGENDA a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on the evaluation criteria for an RFP for Delinquent Ad Valorem Tax Collection Services. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Councilperson McCaulley moved to use Option 1 as the evaluation criteria for an RFP for Delinquent Ad Valorem Tax Collection Services; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Martin; the motion was adopted, 7-0. 8. REPORTS a. Receive report on the Drainage and Flooding Committee meeting. [Councilperson Jay Martin] Councilperson Martin said the Committee met today, discussed pending drainage and flooding projects, heard an update on the agreement with the City of Pasadena, and scheduled the next meeting for May 10, 2021. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS • City Council Budget Retreat, April13 • La Porte Development Corporation Board meeting, April 26 • Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, April 15 •Zoning Board of Adjustments meeting, April 22 • City Council meeting, April 26 City Manager Corby Alexander said there were no reports. 10. 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 congratulated Sgt. Ayers; thanked Dr. Jackson and shared their hope for working together; expressed appreciation for Nancy Ojeda, the animal control officers, LPPD volunteers, Shay Lister and the work for crime victims, and the telecommunicators in Dispatch; welcomed Robbie McLarrin; gave kudos to the City Secretary's Office on the 12,000-piece charter information mailout; noted anticipation for the Sylvan Beach Festival; newly elected Councilperson McLarrin shared his gratitude and excitement about serving; thanked the LPPD for all they do all year; the Mayor announced that Councilperson Kendrick has resigned today due to work obligations, and shared that he had welcomed the Texas Municipal Clerks Salt Grass Chapter to the community last week. 11. EXECUTIVE SESSION (a) Texas Government Code Sec. 551.087 - Deliberation regarding economic development negotiations: Meet with City Manager to discuss financial information received from, and offer of financial incentive to, business prospect seeking to develop property within the City limits. The Council convened into executive session at 7:21 p.m. 11. RECONVENE into regular session and consider action, if any, on item(s) discussed in executive session. The Council reconvened in open session at 7:59 p.m. The Mayor said the Council gave the City Manager direction to continue negotiations and return with a full proposal. ADJO RN—Wi Ph.biection, the Council adiourne t 8:00 p.m. _ 1t1 Lee 1'oodward, City Secretary i t /� : i •.••�� Page 3 of 3 "'•�`l�� April 12, 2021, Council Meeting Minutes