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Home My WebLink About05-12-2025 CC minutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE Councilpersons Present: Rick Helton, Brandon Lunsford, Brent McCaulley, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Robert Guerra, Jay Martin, Robbie McLarrin Councilpersons Attending Remotely: None Councilpersons Absent: Mandi Williams Council -appointed Officers Present: Corby Alexander, City Manager; Clark T.Askins, City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary The City Council of the City of La Porte held a regular meeting on May 12, 2025, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 6:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order - Mayor Helton called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. 2. Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance In observance of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, the LPISD High School JROTC presented the colors. The invocation was provided by Reverend Jackie King and the pledges were led by Cale Ebersole. 3. Recognitions a. Recognition of Clarence Anderson's retirement and 40 years of service [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police] b. Recognition of National Police Week, May 15-21 [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police] c. Recognition of EMS Week, May 18-24 [Shawn Kominek, EMS Chief] d. Recognition of National Public Works Week, May 18-24 [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] e. Recognition of Municipal Clerks Week, May 4.10 [Lee Woodward, City Secretary] f. Recognition of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month by The Warriors Bikers for Charity g. Recognition of LPISD's Battlebots and Young Entrepreneurs winners and Young Entrepreneurs sponsor OxyChem La Porte VCM 4. Citizen Comment Joe Borja thanked the staff for work at the Sylvan Beach Festival and expressed his wish to be able to vote at any polling location on election day. Robert Browning asked the City to permit him to purchase the land at the west end of Elizabeth Road or to mow and remove the asbestos there. Mercy Estrada spoke of her concerns about the city and the Council prioritization of City projects. 5. Election Matters a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2025-4066 canvassing the returns of the May 3, 2025, City of La Porte, Texas, general election. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary] b. Swearing in of the newly elected Councilperson At -Large Position A, District 4, and District 5 Councilpersons Municipal Court Judge Janikka Bretton administered the statements and oaths of office and Mayor Helton presented the certificates of election. 6. Presentations a. YAC Annual Report and Major Project Mural Presentation - Presentation by Liz Olivera Fonseca, President, and Lucas Halbardier, Vice President, of the Youth Advisory Council, on the YAC annual report and the 2025 Youth Mural Project and announcement of the winning design. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] Ms. Fonseca and Mr. Halbardier presented the report and announced Riley Crawford as the mural winner. 7. Consent Agenda a. Approve the minutes of the regular City Council meeting held on April 28, 2025. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary] b. Reappointment of Mark Goodwin as Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #1 (TIRZ) Chairman through May 2026. [Rick Helton, Mayor] c. Award Bid 25007 - Repair of Water Well No. 7 - Award Bid 25007 'Repair of Water Well No. 7" to Alsay Incorporated and authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract for $152,530.00 and provide a project contingency of $50,000.00, for a total authorization of $202,530.00 [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] d. Award Bid 25008, Distribution System Hydrant Inspections, Testing, and Reporting - Award Bid 25008 "Distribution System Hydrant Inspections, Testing, and Reporting" to Data Hydrant Inc. and authorize the City Manager to execute a service contract in the amount of $55,250.00 and provide a project contingency of $5,000.00 for a total authorization of $60,250.00. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] e. Water and Sewer Service Agreements for 9509 New Century Drive, Suites 1 and 2- CJCD Partners Ltd. - Adopt Ordinances 2025-4059 and 2025-4060 and authorize the City Manager to execute two water service agreements and two sanitary sewer service agreements between the City of La Porte, Texas, and CJCD Partners, Ltd. for its proposed developments at 9509 New Century Drive, in the Bayport Industrial District. [Andrew Brady, Assistant Director Public Works] f. Water Service Agreement for 1300 McCabe Road - Ingenia Polymers - Adopt Ordinance 2025-4064 and authorize the City Manager to execute a Water Service Agreement between the City of La Porte and Ingenia Polymers, Inc. for property located at 1300 McCabe Road in the La Porte Industrial District. [Andrew Brady, Assistant Director Public Works] g. Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget Amendment - Adopt Ordinance 2025-4063, amending the City of La Porte, Texas' Fiscal Year 2024-25 Budget by appropriating a total of $54,960.00 in the general fund for fence, building, and sign repairs associated with Hurricane Beryl. [Shelley Wolny, Assistant Finance Director] h. Agreement with La Porte Baseball Association - Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with the La Porte Baseball Association for the use of Pecan Park Fields and the practice fields at Fairmont Park. [Tim Miller, Director of Parks & Recreation] L Bayside Terrace Drainage Improvements - CMT services amendment - Authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services contract amendment, to Tolunay-Wong Engineers, LLC, in the amount of $11,215.39. [Jameson Appel, Assistant Director Public Works] j. Playgrounds for Pecan Park, Ohio Street Park, and Spencer Landing - Authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with GameTime, utilizing BuyBoard Contract #679-22, for the purchase and installation of playground equipment in the amount of $161,545.43, including $12,000.00 for mulch and a contingency amount of $6,454.57, for a total in the amount of $180,000.00, for the replacement of playgrounds at Pecan Park, Ohio Park, and Spencer Landing. [Shaun Lundy, Parks Superintendent] k. SETH - No Litigation - Authorize the Mayor to sign the General and No Litigation Certificate with Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH) for the Wyndham Park Apartments in Baytown, Texas. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] I. SETH - No Litigation - Authorize the Mayor to sign the General and No Litigation Certificate with Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH) for the Bay Terrace Apartments in Baytown, Texas. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] Mayor Pro Tern Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda; Councilperson Guerra seconded the motion: the motion was adopted. 8-0. 8. Statutory Agenda a. Resolution 2025.14 opposing federal truck size or weight increases - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Resolution 2025.14, opposing any federal legislation increasing maximum allowable commercial truck size or weight. [Rick Helton, Mayor] Mayor Pro Tern Enoelken moved to adopt Resolution 2025-14 opposing any federal legislation increasing maximum allowable commercial truck size or weight; Councilperson McCaullev seconded the motion: the motion was adopted 8-0. b. Frank's Collision Repair - Enhancement Grant - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize expenditure by the La Porte Development Corporation in an amount not to exceed $75,000.00 under terms of enhancement grant incentive agreement between the La Porte Development Corporation and Kate Davis Holdings LLC for fagade enhancements to building and associated site improvements located at 2151 Underwood Road, La Porte, Texas. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development Manager] and associated site improvements located at 2151 Underwood Road La Porte Texas: Councilperson McCaullev seconded the motion: the motion was adopted 8-0. c. Proposed park - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to provide administrative staff with direction on the potential establishment of a public park on S. 2nd Street adjacent to the Original City Hall. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development Manager] 9 Texas Department of State Health Services Cancer Assessment - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize the Mayor to sign a letter requesting that the Texas Department of State Health Services provide more detailed information on its 2025 East Harris County Cancer Assessment. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] e. Resolution 2025.15 opposing HB 19 - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve Resolution 2025-15 expressing opposition to House Bill 19 and urging the Texas Legislature to reject this and similar measures in their current form. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] Mayor Pro Tem Engelken moved to adopt Resolution 2025-15, expressing opposition to House Bill 19 and urging the Texas Legislature to reject this and similar measures in their current form: Councilperson McCaullev seconded the motion: the motion was adopted 8-0. 9. Reports a. Fund Balance Report [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Mr. Dolby presented the Fund Balance Report, noting the City, as of March 25, had 614 days of working capital in the General Fund, with a projection of 378 days at the end of the fiscal year, and 169 days of working capital in the Utility Fund with a projection of ending the fiscal year at 116 days, as the General Fund annually subsidizes customer water/sewer/garbage rates. b. Report of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors meeting held on April 30 [Mayor Pro Tem Engelken] Mayor Pro Tem Engelken said the board met, approved item 8b [on tonight's Council agenda] for Frank's Collision, opened a 60-day comment period for moving funding from golf course pond remediation to golf course land improvements, and reviewed the proposed pre -budget CIP projects of the Board. c. Report of the Transfer Station Ad Hoc Committee town hall held on May 7 [Counciiperson Williams] Mr. Daeumer said the committee met and held a well -attended town hall, noting he believed the consensus was to begin looking for likely property and the hiring of an environmental consultant for a needs assessment and feasibility study, adding that the entire report for the ad hoc committee would be on the June 9 agenda. d. Report of the Drainage and Flooding Committee meeting held on May 12 [Councilperson Martin] Councilperson Martin said the committee met, received updates on projects, and set the date for the next meeting as June 9. e. Administrative Reports [Corby Alexander, City Manager] Mr. Alexander said the Council, on March 24, adopted Resolution 2025-12 opposing HB 5177, which would have taken money away from Harris County Precinct 2, which funds many partnership projects and that he was pleased to say that, as of this morning, it appeared the bill would not leave committee or move forward and was a great example of the Legislature hearing the voice of communities. 10.Items of Community Interest Councilpersons congratulated Clarence Anderson, the newly elected Councilpersons, and all the groups recognized at the beginning of the meeting; recognized first responders and all City staff; thanked the Office of Emergency Management and Public Works for a very successful Household Hazardous Waste Day Saturday; expressed a wish that all residents could vote at City Hall on election day and that election returns could be available faster; and wished for good things with the new La