The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About08-01-11 Meeting of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors RICHARD WARREN, PRESIDENT MIKE CLAUSEN Councilmember District 6 BOB PIZZITOLA, VICE PRESIDENT � � RANDY WOODARD JOHN ZEMANEK Board member CouncilmemberAt- LargeA i' \ NANCY OJEDA CHUCK ENGELKEN °, Board member Councilmember District 2 ` e' MINUTES OF LA PORTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 1, 2011 The City of La Porte Development Corporation Board met on Monday, August 1, 2011, at the City Hall Council Chambers, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 5:00 p.m. to consider the following items of business: 1. Call to Order President Warren called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. Members of the La Porte Development Corporation Board present: President Warren; Board members Engelken, Clausen, Zemanek, Woodard and Ojeda. Absent: Bob Pizzitola Staff Present: City Manager's Office: Ron Bottoms, Traci Leach and Stacey Osborne City Secretary Patrice Fogarty Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins Parks Director Stephen Barr Finance Director Michael Dolby 2. Consider approval of Minutes of the La Porte Development Corporation Board Meeting held on June 27, 2011 - P. Fogarty Board member Engelken moved to approve the minutes as presented. Board member Clausen seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Board members Zemanek, Engelken, Clausen, Ojeda and Woodard Nays: None Absent: Board member Pizzitola 3. Receive presentation from Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership - S. Osborne David Braun and Paul Chavez from the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership provided Board members with a presentation. David Braun reported on the recent trips to Washington, DC, and Austin, and reported NASA was not closing but will be downsizing. Paul Chavez provided Board members with a current roster of projects. Committee member Zemanek requested a future presentation on the status of economic development specifically in La Porte. Paul Chavez informed the Board that workforce development issues are being worked on by Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. Page 1 of 4 August 1, 2011, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes 4. Consider approval or other action regarding proposed budget for the 2011 -2012 La Porte Development Corporation Board and provide staff with direction — S. Osborne Economic Development Coordinator Stacey Osborne and City Manager Ron Bottoms presented the 2011 -2012 Budget Summaries for the La Porte Development Corporation Board. City Manager Ron Bottoms reported Janitorial Services would be less expensive if done by City staff rather than being outsourced, and the electrical budget would be amended to reflect a lower cost. The item for the website will be adjusted to reflect the Corporation will pay for 25 percent of the costs of running the City website. Regarding a low- powered FM radio station in the City of La Porte, an allocation of $15,000 will be put in the budget. Board member Engelken moved to approve the 2011 -2012 proposed budget with the caveat that no funds be expended on the Lomax area until a more defined, detailed plan, with both City and Association input, is brought back for the La Porte Development Corporation Board's consideration. Board member Zemanek seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Board members Zemanek, Engelken, Clausen, Ojeda and Woodard Nays: None Absent: Board member Pizzitola 5. Consider approval or other action awarding a grant amount not to exceed $6,000 for Deb Gallington, for the Main Street Overlay District enhancement program to be awarded at the completion of the project — S. Osborne Economic Development Coordinator Stacey Osborne provided a grant amount not to exceed $6,000 for Deb Gallington, for the Main Street Overlay District enhancement program to be awarded at the completion of the project. Board members directed Economic Development Coordinator Stacey Osborne to come back with a contract from Ms. Gallington specifying in writing that the mural will be affixed on the wall, and the plants in the courtyard will be planted in the ground rather than in pots. Ms. Osborne was also directed to have the Legal Department review the contract prior to bringing it back to the next meeting. Board member Zemanek made a motion to table the grant award until documentation is received. Board member Ojeda seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Board members Engelken, Clausen, Zemanek, Ojeda and Woodard Nays: None Absent: Board member Pizzitola 6. Consider approval or other action awarding a contract for directional signage and provide staff with direction — S. Osborne Economic Development Coordinator Stacey Osborne provided a contract for an award for directional signage and reported the Purchasing Department was satisfied with the re- bidding process. Page 2 of 4 August 1, 2011, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes Board member Ojeda moved to award a contract to ADS Custom Signs, Inc., for directional signage. Board member Engelken seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Board members Engelken, Clausen, Zemanek, Ojeda and Woodard Nays: None Absent: Board member Pizzitola 7. Discussion regarding proposed Lomax Park Improvements — S. Osborne Parks and Recreation Director Stephen Barr presented proposed improvements at Lomax Park and requested the Board share the funding of the project. Board member Woodard commented on the usage of concession stands, benefits of improvements at Lomax Park, Future Farmers of America (FFA) Program and the maintenance of City park facilities. Board member Zemanek commented improvements are needed at the park, especially on the roof. President Warren commented on the need for responsibility from both the City and the Rodeo Association. Mr. Barr reported the Association's activities focus on team roping, calf racing, and barrel racing. Board members suggest Mr. Barr meet with the Rodeo Association and refine the costs and bring improvement needs back to the Board for discussion before approval of the 2011 -2012 City budget. Board member Engelken moved to place Lomax Park Improvements on hold with the contingency of approving the budget (Agenda Item 4) as presented by staff, with staff to return at a later date with a detailed agreement with the Rodeo Association as to needs at the Lomax arena. Board member Zemanek seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Board members Engelken, Clausen, Zemanek, and Ojeda Nays: None Absent: Board members Pizzitola and Woodard Board member Woodward left the meeting at 6:13 p.m. 8. Discussion regarding job training for workforce development — S. Osborne Board member Ojeda requested the item be moved to the next meeting. 9. Executive Session — The City of La Porte Development Corporation reserves the right to meet in executive session on any agenda item should the need arise and if authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Title 5, Chapter 551, of the Texas Government Code. An executive session was not convened. 10. Board Comments Board member Engelken informed the board that some of the Workforce Offices will be closing in the HGAC greater area. Board member Ojeda thanked the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership for the presentation. Board member Zemanek thanked the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership for the presentation and commented he is looking forward to the presentation on economic development in La Porte. President Warren also thanked the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership for their presentation. Page 3 of 4 August 1, 2011, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes 11. Adjournment There being no further business, Board member Engelken moved to adjourn the meeting. Board member Zemanek seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 6:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, atrice Fogarty, City Secretary Passed and ap roved on this 23 day of August, 2011. f " Presiden ichard Warren Page 4 of 4 August 1, 2011, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes