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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMInutes 01-14-99I s City of La Porte Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee Minutes of January 14, 1999 Members Present: David Brady, Deotis Gay, Peter Griffiths, Martha Love, Pat Muston, Chester Pool, Imogene Pulleine, John Tomerlin, Betty Waters, Gary Wigginton Members Absent: Roy Baldwin, Barbara Jenks, Brian Moore, Steve Valerius, John Paul Zemanek City Staff Present: John Joems, Joe Sease, Buddy Jacobs, Doug Kneupper, Masood Malik, Peggy Lee I. Call to Order. Meeting called to order at 7:08 PM by Vice -Chairperson Betty Waters. It. Administer Oath of Office to Committee Members Barbara Jenks and John Paul Zemanek. Not present. III. Consider Approval of December 7, 1998, Minutes. Motion by Pat Muston to approve the December 7, 1998, Minutes corrected to reflect attendance by David Brady at the meeting. Second by Peter Griffiths. All were in favor and the motion passed. IV. Receive Citizen Comments Regarding Assets, Issues, Improvements and Priorities. Bret Keast distributed copies to the Committee of 1) a preliminary draft of the Transportation Thoroughfare System for the committee to use as a guide once discussions on the subject begin; 2) a project schedule; and 3) a tentative schedule of meetings and deliverables. Vice -Chairperson Waters asked for citizen input and requested comments be limited to three minutes. Bill Scott, 1802 Lomax School Rd., distributed notes he followed while addressing the Committee. Mr. Scott is one of 19 coordinators for a group Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee Minutes of January 14, 1999 Page 2 of 4 called "Common Sense Government". Mr. Scott noted that a petition with over 576 signatures has been generated in an attempt to have Phases 1, 2, & 3 for extending Farrington to SH 225 removed from consideration as a project in the Comprehensive Plan. He denied rumors that he has been spreading misinformation regarding this project. Mr. Scott also referred to the second sentence on Page 7 of the Steering Committee Project Notebook under the section titled Community Workshops/Public Meetings; "The purpose of the first meeting will be to involve a large number of citizens in the identification of issues and needs, development of goals and objectives, and the "visioning" process." Mr. Scott asked the Committee why they were preparing goals and objectives and not the citizens present at the first meeting as noted in the project notebook. Evelyn Kennedy, 122 S. 7'h St., impressed upon the Committee the difficulty Sr. Citizens have with transportation In our City. She asked the Committee to consider City responsibility for a small fee taxi service as an affordable means of transportation for our seniors. Additionally, she noted there is a great need for transportation out of our area, into Houston, for example. Sharon Tally, 10706 N. "H", explained her reasons for opposing the extension of Farrington to SH 225. Bernard Legrand, Layne Court, works downtown and would like consideration of a park and ride facility for La Porte and surrounding communities. James Adams, 1606 Lomax School Rd., was under the impression that the extension of Farrington to SH 225 was no longer an issue. During discussions, Mr. Scott noted that even though the extension was repealed from our current Comprehensive Plan there is the possibility that it could be reinstated in the new Plan. Mr. Adams explained his reasons for opposing the extension of Farrington to SH 225. Dean Fontenot, 2214 Lomax School Rd., explained his reasons for opposing the Farrington extension. Evelyn Kennedy described what she perceives as a lack of communication between the Steering Committee and citizens. The Committee explained to Ms. Kennedy that they were working through the difficult part of preparing a preliminary draft that will be used as a basis for citizen review and comment. Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee Minutes of January 14, 1999 Page 3 of Bernard Legrand expressed his concerns with the increased traffic on SH 146 as a result of future port expansion. Patricia Wright, 2038 Lomax School Rd., is opposed to Farrington being extended to SH 225. Evelyn Kennedy asked to be involved with future meetings so that she can address issues regarding the Neighborhood Center and the health clinic. Councilperson Guy Sutherland, 10200 North "L" St., wanted to assure everyone that Council has repealed reference to extension of Farrington to SH 225 in existing plans and is no longer an issue. Vice -Chairperson Waters apologized for any misunderstanding regarding how the Steering Committee would be structured and what individuals would be chosen to serve on the committee. John Joems, Assistant City Manager, helped with preparation of the current Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Joems noted that in 1985, property owners in the Lomax area were selling acreage for the development of subdivisions. Greater population densities that were predicted for that area are what prompted the idea for the extension of Farrington as a means to get people around. Subsequently, more people began purchasing acreage so the densities did not become as great as was expected. Vice -Chairperson Waters declared the citizen comment portion of the meeting to be over and called for a short break at 8:20 PM. V. Discuss Preparation of Goals and Objectives. Goals and objectives were not assigned due to time constraints. Bret Keast reviewed the tentative schedule of meetings and deliverables. The existing land use inventory and transportation will be discussed at the next meeting. Mr. Keast gave a brief overview of the preliminary draft the Committee will use as a guide to create the transportation thoroughfare system plan. The Committee divided into two groups and made draft revisions to the current thoroughfare plan. Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee Minutes of January 14, 1999 Page 4 of 4 VI. DISCUSS UPCOMING MEETING DATES. The next meeting is scheduled for January 25, 1999. VII. ADJOURN Vice -Chairperson Waters adjourned the meeting at 9:55 PM. Respectfully submitted, Peggy Lee Secretary Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee Approved on this 25' day of January, 1999. Betty Waters Vice -Chairperson Comprehensive Plan Update Steering Committee