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Home My WebLink About08-23-11 Meeting of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors minutes RICHARD WARREN, PRESIDENT MIKE CLAUSEN Councilmember District 6 BOB PIZZITOLA, VICE PRESIDENT O* RANDY WOODARD JOHN ZEMANEK � p Board member Councilmember At -Large A % v m NANCY OJEDA CHUCK ENGELKEN Board member Councilmember District 2 MINUTES OF LA PORTE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 23, 2011 The City of La Porte Development Corporation Board met on Tuesday, August 23, 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 5:00 p.m. Members of the La Porte Development Corporation Board present: Vice President Pizzitola; Board members Clausen, Engelken, Zemanek, Woodard, and Ojeda. Board member Clausen arrived at 5:02 p.m.; and Board member Engelken arrived at 5:23 p.m. Councilmembers present: Councilmember Kaminski Staff Present: City Manager's Office: Ron Bottoms, Traci Leach and Stacey Osborne City Secretary's Office: Sharon Harris Legal: City Attorney Knox Askins Finance: Michael Dolby Parks Dept: Stephen Barr 2. Consider approval of Minutes of the La Porte Development Corporation Board Meeting held on August 1, 2011 - P. Fogarty. Board member Zemanek moved to approve the minutes as presented. Board member Ojeda seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Vice President Pizzitola, Board members Zemanek, Clausen, Ojeda and Woodard Nays: None Absent: Engelken 3. Discussion regarding future direction and objectives of the La Porte Development Corporation — R. Woodard. Board member Woodard discussed quality of life and economic development issues relating to the Five Points Town Plaza, ball fields, the library, the extension of Bay Area Blvd., and the need to have a workshop meeting to educate new board members by defining economic development and quality of life issues, and by discussing proposals being considered by board members, and the future direction and objectives of the La Porte Development Corporation. Page 1 of 5 August 23, 2011, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes Board member Woodard moved to hold a Workshop Meeting of the La Porte Development Corporation on a Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. as soon as possible. Board member Pizzitola seconded. The motion was not put to a vote, and discussion continued. The board discussed posting requirements, preparation and deadlines of agenda items, meeting dates and a possible Joint Workshop meeting with the full City Council. Board member Woodard commented a list of questions could be prepared by the board and addressed by staff at a workshop meeting in addition to receiving guidance from City Council. City Manager Ron Bottoms questioned Board member Woodard if there was more of a need for Council input rather than staff input. Board member Woodard responded yes. Committee member Zemanek commented the issue and confusion to new members is the name of the board, and that the board is dealing with quality of life issues which are all approved expenditures by the rules. City Manager Ron Bottoms commented board members had been presented with economic development ideas in the past and that funds are spent on projects when they become available. Mr. Bottoms also commented City Council had requested the board fund Lomax Improvements and the Dog Park at the Council Retreat in April, which he considered a form of direction by Council. Councilmember Clausen agreed the board should work on economic development and commented funds that are legally spent on quality of life issues contribute to economic development by people wanting to live and work in the city. Board member Woodard moved to schedule a Workshop Meeting on Monday. The motion died for lack of a second. The board continued discussion. City Manager Ron Bottoms questioned how a Workshop Meeting would be held without any direction from City Council as previously mentioned. Mr. Bottoms also informed the La Porte Development Corporation Board 2011 -2012 proposed budget required approval by board members. Committee member Woodard questioned if City Council had directed staff to bring the Lomax Improvements to the La Porte Development Corporation for consideration of funding. Committee member Clausen responded yes and added that the City of La Porte 2011 -2012 budget has not yet been approved by City Council. Committee member Zemanek informed at the Budget Workshop Meeting he recommended the La Porte Development Corporation and Hotel /Motel tax collections fund all improvements to the Lomax Rodeo Arena because it would bring tourism and economic development to the city. Board member Woodard moved to hold a workshop meeting whenever City Council could join. Board member Pizzitola seconded. There was no vote taken, and the board continued discussion. City Manager Ron Bottoms suggested staff adding an agenda item for the September 12 City Council Meeting advising Council the La Porte Development Corporation requested input and direction from City Council. Mr. Bottoms also suggested board members be in attendance at the meeting to hear discussion. Page 2 of 5 August 23, 2011, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes Board members agreed a list of questions requesting input and direction would be generated and forwarded to staff by September 1, 2011, for the September 12 City Council Meeting. Board member Woodard amended his motion to provide staff with a list of questions requesting input and direction from City Council at the September 12 City Council Meeting. Board member Pizzitola seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Vice President Pizzitola, Board members Zemanek, Clausen, Engelken, Ojeda and Woodard Nays: None 4. Discussion regarding job training for workforce development — S. Osborne Board member Ojeda discussed campaign literature she observed from a neighboring city advertising job training for workforce development. In addition she had a conversation with a person at the other city in regards to quality of life issues and working with existing businesses on creating jobs. Board member Ojeda suggested the possibility of this person speaking at a future meeting to board members. 5. 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 presented the proposed budget for the 2011 -2012 La Porte Development Corporation Board. Board member Woodard questioned which items were added to the proposed budget since the last meeting. Economic Development Coordinator Stacey Osborne and City Manager Ron Bottoms advised the Dog Park, Playground Renovations and the Golf Course Bathroom had been added since the last meeting and funding amount had been changed regarding Bulkheads. City Manager Ron Bottoms also provided clarification to board members on Hotel /Motel funds and revenues. Parks and Recreation Director Stephen Barr provided a detailed description of cost estimates for Lomax Park Improvements. Board member Woodard questioned if the old Lomax City Hall was included in the demolition. Parks and Recreation Director Stephen Barr responded yes. Board member Zemanek moved to approve the Lomax Rodeo Arena Improvements with a maximum expenditure of $1,200,000 with the La Porte Development Corporation to fund 50 percent and the Hotel /Motel Tax revenues to fund the remaining 50 percent. Board member Ojeda seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Vice President Pizzitola, Board members Zemanek, Clausen, Engelken, Ojeda and Woodard Nays: None Page 3of5 August 23, 2011, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes City Manager Ron Bottoms presented the La Porte Dog Park project for funding by the La Porte Development Corporation. Board member Zemanek moved to approve the La Porte Dog Park expenditure of $45,000.00 Board member Ojeda seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Vice President Pizzitola, Board members Zemanek, Clausen, Engelken, and Ojeda Nays: Woodard City Manager Ron Bottoms presented the Playground Renovations project for funding by the La Porte Development Corporation. Board member Engelken moved to approve the Playground Renovations expenditure of $105,000.00. Board member Zemanek seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Board members Zemanek, Clausen, Engelken, and Ojeda Nays: Vice President Pizzitola and Woodard City Manager Ron Bottoms presented the Golf Course Bathroom project for funding by the La Porte Development Corporation. Board member Engelken commented he did not have a concern with the expenditure but had concerns with the location of the facility at the Golf Course. Board member Ojeda questioned if the Golf Course is self sustaining. City Manager Ron Bottoms responded no. Board member Clausen moved to approve the Golf Course Bathroom expenditure of $40,000.00 Board member Pizzitola seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Board members Zemanek, Clausen, Engelken, and Ojeda Nays: Vice President Pizzitola and Woodard City Manager Ron Bottoms presented the Bulkheads project for funding by the La Porte Development Corporation. Board member Engelken moved to approve the Bulkheads expenditure of $180,000.00. Board member Pizzitola seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Vice President Pizzitola Board members Woodard, Zemanek, Clausen, Engelken, and Ojeda Nays: None Board member Zemanek moved to approve the budget for the 2011 -2012 La Porte Development Corporation Board and to reduce the contingency from $25,000.00 to $1,000.00. Board member Ojeda seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: President Warren, Vice President Pizzitola Board members Woodard, Zemanek, Clausen, Engelken, and Ojeda Nays: None Page 4 of 5 August 23, 2011, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes 6. Set date for next meeting — S. Osborne Board members set the next meeting date for September 13, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. 7. 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. Texas Government Code, Section 551.071(2) — Consultation with attorney on any subject or matter authorized by law - Meet with City Attorney to discuss the status of agreement between the La Porte Development Corporation and East "A" Developments, L.L. C. The La Porte Development Corporation Board recessed the regular meeting to convene an executive session at 6:12 p.m. to discuss the status of the agreement between the La Porte Development Corporation and East "A" Developments, L.L.C. 8. RECONVENE into regular session and consider action, if any, on items discussed in executive session. The meeting reconvened at 7:00 p.m., and no action was taken in executive session. 9. Board Comments: Board members Woodard, Clausen, Engelken, Zemanek, Ojeda, Vice President Pizzitola and President Warren. Regarding the minutes of the August 1, 2011, meeting, Board member Woodard noted he left the meeting early, and should not have been reflected as voting on agenda Item 7. Assistant City Secretary advised the minutes would be corrected. 10. Adjournment There being no further business, Board member Engelken moved to adjourn the meeting. Board member Woodard seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 7:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted, . o t_AAPt Sharon Harris, Assistant City Secretary Passed and approved on this 13 day of September, 2011. f President Richard Warren Page 5 of 5 August 23, 2011, La Porte Development Corporation Board Minutes