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Home My WebLink About11-13-23 CCLOUIS R. RIGBY Mayor BRANDON LUNSFORD Councilperson At Large A BRENT McCAULLEY Councilperson At Large B MANDI WILLIAMS Councilperson District 1 CHUCK ENGELKEN Mayor Pro Tem Councilperson District 2 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE NOVEMBER 13, 2023 BILL BENTLEY Councilperson District 3 RICK HELTON Councilperson District 4 JAY MARTIN Councilperson District 5 ROBBIE McLARRIN Councilperson District 6 The City Council of the City of La Porte met in a regular meeting on Monday, November 13, 2023, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 6:00 p.m., with the following in attendance: .ouncilpersons present: Louis Rigby, Brandon Lunsford, Brent McCaulley, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Rick Helton, Jay Martin, Robbie McLarrin, Mandi Williams Councilpersons attending remotely: None Councilpersons absent: None Council -appointed officers present: Corby Alexander, City Manager; Clark Askins, City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER — Mayor Rigby called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. INVOCATION — The invocation was given by Dr. Dee Spears, Fairmont Park Church, and the pledges were led by Councilperson Mandi Williams. 3. y'RESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS a. Recognize City employees for success in the 2023 Gulf Coast Sports Challenge [Louis R Rigby, Mayor] b. Recognition of City U. 2023 graduates. [Louis R. Rigby, Mayor] 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.) Chris Pettis, John Dunham, Joel Pena, and Calvin Gadberry spoke on behalf of the City's volunteer firefighters. 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 October 23, 2023, regular City Council meeting. [Louis R. Rigby, Mayor] b. Adopt Resolution 2024-05 that denies an increase in revenue and a change in rates proposed by CenterPoint Energy Resources Corporation, D/B/A, CenterPoint Energy Entex and CenterPoint Energy Texas Gas; authorizes continued participation in the Texas Coast Utilities Coalition of Cities; representation of the City by special counsel intervention in proceedings related to CenterPoint's Statement of Intent; and requires the reimbursement of municipal rate case expenses. [Corby Alexander, City Manager] c. Adopt Ordinance 2023-3959 amending the La Porte City Council Rules of Procedure by revising rules related to attendance of city council members at regular meetings of the City Council. [Councilpersons McCaulley and Helton and Mayor Pro Tem Engelken] d. Adopt Resolution 2024-04, casting the City's ballot for Mike Sullivan as the Harris Central Appraisal District (HCAD) board member representing cities other than the City of Houston, for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2024. [Louis R. Rigby, Mayor] e. Adopt Ordinance 2023-3960 for the purchase of real property located adjacent to the Five Points Plaza, legally described as Lot 18,19, and 20 in Block 198 of Town of La Porte, for an amount of $80,000 and miscellaneous closing cost for an amount up to $5000 for a total authorization not to exceed $85,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute any and all documents associated with this purchase. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] f. Approve rollover of the requested encumbrances from City of La Porte Fiscal Year 2023 budget to the City of La Porte Fiscal Year 2024 budget. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] g. Approve the FY 2023 audit/asset forfeiture report and associated financial records as required by Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. [Doug Ditrich, Chief of Police] h. Authorize the purchase of sixty-six (66) sets of bunker gear in the amount of $231,066.00 from Metro Fire Apparatus Specialist, Inc. utilizing Buy Board Contract 698-23. [Justin Crow, Assistant Fire Chief] i. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Unum/Stealth Partner Group to provide Stop Loss coverage in connection with the City of La Port: employee health plan for the 2024 plan year, for the amount of $862,321.00. [Matt Hartleib, HR Manager] j. Approve Fiscal Year 2023-2024 vehicle: sand equipment replacement purchases under the following cooperative purchasing contracts: TIPS #210907 and HGAC Buy contract SW04- 20, totaling $495,974.75. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] k. Authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 2 to the existing engineering services contract between the City of La Porte and HDR, Inc. for design, bid, and construction phase services for the Lomax Lift Station Consolidation Project, in the amount of $261,700.00. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] I. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) in the amount of $119,100.00, for three- (3-) year software service agreement Small Municipal and County Government Enterprise Agreement (SGEA), ESRI Quotation #Q-506952. [Teresa Evans, Director of Planning and Development] m. Award Bid #24001 'Little Cedar Bayou Wave Generator Project' to Progressive Commercial Aquatics, Inc. in the amount of $411,530.00, with a contingency of $33,470.00, for a total authorization of $445,000.00. [Tim Miller, Director of Parks & Recreation] n. Authorize purchase of Neptune Technology Group, Inc. meters and parts from Core and Main of Houston, not to exceed the budgeted amount of $342.500.00. [Michael Dolby, Finance Manager] Mayor Pro Tem Engelken signed a conflict of interest affidavit for item b, as did Councilperson Martin for item h, and they did not participate in the discussion or vote on the respective items. Mayor Pro Tem Engelken moved to adopt items a, c-g, and i-n; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley. The motion was adopted 9-0. Councilperson Bentley moved to adopt Resolution 2024-05 that denies an increase in revenue and a change in rates proposed by CenterPoint Energy Resources Corporation, D/B/A, CenterPoint Energy Entex and CenterPoint Energy Texas Gas; authorizes continued participation in the Texas Coast Utilities Coalition of Cities; representation of the City by special counsel intervention in proceedings related to CenterPoint's Statement of Intent; and requires the reimbursement of municipal rate case expenses; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Lunsford; the motion was adopted, 8-0. Mayor Pro Tem Engelken moved to authorize the purchase of sixty-six(66) sets of bunker gear in the amount of $231,066.00 from Metro Fire Apparatus Specialist, Inc. utilizing Buy Board Contract 698-21 the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentlev: the motion was adopted. 8-0. 6. STATUTORY AGENDA a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action regarding a resolution authorizing publication of a notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation for funding of wastewater improvement projects. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Councilperson Williams moved to authorize publication of a notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation for funding of wastewater improvement projects, the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Engelken; the motion was adopted, 9-0. 7. REPORTS a. Receive report of the Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting. [Mayor Pro Tem Engelken] Mayor Pro Tem Engelken noted the Committee met, reviewed the quarterly purchasing card report, received the quarterly investment report, and heard the annual update on the City's investment policy and voted to recommend it to the Council. b. Receive report of the Drainage and Flooding Committee meeting. [Councilperson Martin] Councilperson Martin reported the Committee met and received updates on drainage projects from staff, including the 100-acre-foot detention project with the City of Pasadena, and that the next meeting has been set for January 8, 2024. c. Present annual review of the City of La Porte Investment Policy. [Shelley Wolny, Assistant Finance Director] Ms. Wolny noted there had not been any legislative changes and that there were no changes recommended by staff. Mayor Pro Tem Engelken moved to accept the presentation; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 9-0. 8. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS • Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, November 16 City Manager Corby Alexander said there were no reports. 9. COUNCIL COMMENT 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, Councilpersons, and City staff, for which no formal action will be discussed or taken. Councilpersons expressed appreciation for the volunteer firefighters for their service and for speaking at the meeting; thanked Police Chief Ditrich and Police Department staff for the Junior Police Academy held over the weekend; wished all a happy Thanksgiving; thanked HR for getting the City back into the Sports Challenge, congratulated those who participated in City U. this year; and addressed misinformation on social media. 10. EXECUTIVE SESSION a. City Council will meet in closed session pursuant to Texas Government Code 551.072 - Deliberation regarding purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property: Meet with City Manager and City Attorney to discuss potential purchase of real property located in the City of La Porte, Texas. b. Texas Government Code Sec. 551.071(1)(A) - Pending or Contemplated Litigation. The City Council will meet in closed session with the City Attorney and City Manager to discuss enforcement of zoning regulations applicable to real property located at 3337 Canada Road, La Porte, Texas. c. Texas Government Code Sec. 551.071(1)(A)-Pending or Contemplated Litigation. The City Council will meet in closed session with the City Attorney and City Manager to discuss claim regarding development of real property located in La Porte, Texas. d. Texas Government Code Section 551.074 - Personnel Matters. Deliberation regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee - City Council will meet in closed session with City Manager Corby Alexander. The Council adiourned into executive session at 6:43 p.m. 11. RECONVENE into open session and consider action, if any, on item(s) discussed in executive session. The Council reconvened from executive session at 8.20 p.m. Regarding Item A, the Mayor said direction had been given to the City Manager to attempt to negotiate a reasonable price for the property. Regarding Item B, the Mayor said the Council had directed enforcement of the zoning ordinance. Regarding Item C, the Mayor said the Council had received updates and had given direction to continue to work on an agreement amenable to all. Regarding Item D, the Mayor said the Council had met with the City Manager on his duties and confirmed that the leadership structure of the Fire Department will remain as it stands now, that the City Manager would go into further detail at a Fire meeting on Tuesday, and that the F.-�icie nt will continue to have a volunteer chief and a paid assistant chief. o 12. ADJOU r ` •ithout ob' e the-neetin was adjourned at 8.23 m. Le 1/)Voodarc� its s • i QRR I S