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Home My WebLink About09-08-2025 CC minutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE Councilpersons Present: Rick Helton, Brandon Lunsford, Brent McCaulley, Mandi Williams, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Robert Guerra, Jay Martin, Robbie McLarrin Councilpersons Attending Remotely: None Councilpersons Absent: None 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 met in a regular meeting on September 8, 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 6:00 p.m. 2. Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance Reverend Brian Christen gave the invocation and Helen Canizarez led the pledges. 3. Citizen Comment Randall Cernosek spoke about two properties he owns and his plans for completion, These items will be addressed as items 6.b. and c. D. Paul Larson spoke about his experience trying to get a whole home generator permitted and the City's generator grant program. 4. Presentations - Recognition of the participants in the first iMi Ciudad! event [Maria Lawler, Deputy City Secretary] Participants recognized included Gladys Castillo, Enrique Guajardo, Luisiana Rivera. Marisol Rojas, Jasmin Aguirre, Victor Garcia, and Maria Vasquez. 5. Consent Agenda a. Approve the minutes of the August 25, 2025, City Council meeting. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO] b. Interlocal Agreement - Authorize the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Pearland, Texas, to cooperatively purchase various goods and services from existing contracts which are determined to be fiscally advantageous to either entity. [Cherell Daeumer, Purchasing Manager] Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda; Councilperson Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0. 6. Public Hearings and Associated Ordinances a. Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2025-26 Proposed Budget - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding their consideration of the Proposed Budget of the City of La Porte, Texas, for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year; followed by discussion and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2025- 4099, approving the City of La Porte, Texas, Fiscal Year 2025-26 Proposed Budget. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Taxpayer Impact Statement This statement shows the estimated annual property tax bill for a median -valued homestead in La Porte, Texas ($191,253.00), comparing the current tax rate, the no -new -revenue rate, and the proposed tax rate. Tax Rate Tax Rate per $100 Valuation Estimated Annual Tax Bill Difference from Current FY Current FY 2024-25 $0.71000 $1,357.90 --- No New Revenue Rate $0.72236 $1,381.54 +$23.64 Proposed Rate $0.71000 $1,357.90 No change Proposed Budget - A physical copy of the Proposed Budget of the City of La Porte, Texas, for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year is available at La Porte City Hall, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte,. Texas, and online at https://www.laportetx.gov/DocumentCenterNiew/11646/FY26-Proposed-Budget. Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:15 p.m. Mr. Dolby noted there was no tax increase nor increase in water or wastewater rates and provided an overview of the proposed budget. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 6:26 p.m. Without objection, the Council postponed further consideration of the proposed budget until after consideration of Items 6b through 6e and associated public hearings and returned after Item 6.e. Councilperson Martin moved to remove the proposed compliance officer position in the City Secretary's Office from the proposed budget; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley, 9-0. Councilperson Martin moved to remove the repositioning of the Deputy City Secretary from the proposed budget; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem 2 McCaulley; the motion was adopted, 7-2, Councilpersons Bentley and Guerra voting against. Councilperson Martin moved to remove the repositioning of the Open Government Analyst from the proposed budget; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley; the motion was adopted, 6-3, Councilpersons Lunsford, Bentley, and Guerra voting against. Councilperson Martin signed a conflict -of -interest affidavit prior to the meeting and did not participate in the discussion or vote on the line item in the proposed budget that allocates funds for the contract between the City of La Porte and the La Porte- Bayshore Chamber of Commerce. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the line item in the proposed budget that allocates funds for the contract between the City of La Porte and the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley; the motion was adopted, 8-0. Councilperson Engelken moved to adopt Ordinance 2025-4099, approving the City of La Porte Fiscal Year 2025-26 Proposed Budget with the changes specified in the three (3) votes taken immediately before to remove from the proposed budget 1) compliance officer position in the City Secretary's Office, 2) repositioning of the Deputy City Secretary, and 3) repositioning of the Open Government Analyst; Councilperson Williams seconded the motion; the motion was adopted with a.roll call vote, 9-0. b. Dangerous Building - 303 S. Iowa St. - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comment on the adoption of Ordinance 2025-4076 ordering the condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 303 S. Iowa St., La Porte, Texas; followed by discussion and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2025-4076 ordering the condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 303 S. Iowa St. [Richard Glass, Chief Building Official] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:28 p.m. Richard Glass provided a presentation. There were no comments. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Councilperson Guerra moved to approve Ordinance 2025-4076 for the condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 303 S. Iowa Street; Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted; 9-0. c. Dangerous Building - 514 S. Blackwell St. - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comment on the adoption of Ordinance 2025-4079 ordering the condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 514 S. Blackwell St., La Porte, Texas; followed by discussion and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2025-4079 ordering the condemnation of 3 dangerous/substandard structures located at 514 S. Blackwell St. [Richard Glass, Chief Building Official] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:38 p.m. Richard Glass provided a presentation. There were no comments. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 6:38 p.m. Councilperson Guerra moved to approve Ordinance 2025-4079 for the condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 514 S. Blackwell St.; Councilperson Williams seconded the motion; the motion was adopted; 9-0. d. Dangerous Building - 914 S. Broadway St. - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comment on the adoption of Ordinance 2025-4084 ordering the condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 914 S. Broadway St., La Porte, Texas; followed by discussion and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2025-4084 ordering the condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 914 S. Broadway St. [Richard Glass, Chief Building Official] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:41 p.m. Richard Glass provided a presentation. Owners Billy and Shelley Green of Anchored Restorations spoke of the work she has had done. Matt Daeumer noted Economic Development had worked with Mrs. Green on an adjacent property. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 6:47 p.m. Councilperson Martin moved to postpone further consideration of Ordinance 2025- 4084 for an additional 90 days regarding the proposed condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 914S. Broadway St.; Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted; 9-0. e. Dangerous Building - 1211 N. Bayshore Dr. - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comment on the adoption of Ordinance 2025-4082 ordering the condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 1211 N. Bayshore Dr., La Porte, Texas; followed by discussion and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2025-4082 ordering the condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 1211 N. Bayshore Dr. [Richard Glass, Chief Building Official] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:48 p.m. Richard Glass provided a presentation. The Greens spoke as the contractors for this property. Phillip Hoot spoke of the work he had done on the property previously and asked the windows be secured against trespassers. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 6:54 P.M. Councilperson Martin moved to postpone further consideration of Ordinance 2025- 4082 for an additional 90 days regarding the proposed condemnation of dangerous/substandard structures located at 1211 N. Bayshore Drive; Councilperson Guerra seconded the motion; the motion was adopted; 9-0. 4 Following this item, the Council returned to consideration of Item 6.a. 7. Statutory Agenda a. Proposed Ad Valorem Tax Rate - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the City of La Porte, Texas' proposed ad valorem tax rate for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Mr. Dolby noted there was no increase to the ad valorem tax rate and a public hearing was not required. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the City of La Porte, Texas' proposed ad valorem tax rate of $0.71 for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year; Councilperson Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0. b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Resolution 2025-23, supporting a legislative change to allow voters polling location choice on election day. [Lee Woodward, City SecretarylPlO] Councilperson Martin moved to approve Resolution 2025-23, supporting a legislative change to allow voters polling location choice on election day; Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0. 8. Reports — Mr. Alexander said there were no reports. 9. Items of Community Interest 10. Councilpersons thanked staff for their work on the budget; expressed concerns about the permitting process; urged attendance at the October 8 meeting at the Sylvan Beach Pavilion concerning Harris County Precinct 2's plans for a promenade and feedback to Harris County; thanked first responders and staff; congratulated the Mayor on a new grandchild; congratulated LPHS on beating Deer Park; and Mr. Alexander said staff would reach out to Harris County for a Sylvan Beach presentation and one on the permitting system. hout objection, Mayor Helton adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m. —''Q,IVY Of 1 .�,... . ,off tl oodwar• rty'ecr . rq�• '. �'' Flo lo, e i �� /'`` # 7, j 5