Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-22-2025 CC minutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE Councilpersons Present: Rick Helton, Brent McCaulley, Mandi Williams, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Robert Guerra, Jay Martin, Robbie McLarrin Councilpersons Attending Remotely: None Councilpersons Absent: Brandon Lunsford 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 22, 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 Pastor Brandon Brewer gave the invocation and Faith Carrizal led the pledges. 3. Citizen Comment Phillip Hoot expressed his feeling that the Council increases tax bills by approving the HCAD roll of property values. 4. Consent Agenda a. Approve the minutes of the regular City Council meeting held on September 8, 2025. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary] b. Ordinance 2025-4098 for Street and Alley Closure (SAC) Request#SAC -2024- 0003 - Adopt Ordinance 2025-4098 for approval of Street and Alley Closure (SAC) Request #SAC-2024-0003 for the purpose of vacating, abandoning, and closing an approximately 2,000 square foot portion of an undeveloped sixteen (16) foot alleyway between Lots 1-5 and Lots 28-32 in Block 981 of the Town of La Porte, Harris County, Texas, and authorizing the execution and delivery of a deed to the adjoining landowner. [Ryan Hvitlok, Planning Director, Planning and Development Department] c. Adopt Ordinance 2025-4097 - Adopt Ordinance 2025-4097, amending La Porte City Ordinance No. 1285 by changing the number of authorized positions for police civil service personnel by decreasing Patrolman classification positions from sixty-three (63) to sixty-two (62) and increasing Sergeant classification positions from eleven (11) to twelve (12). [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police] d. Interlocal Agreement - Harris County Housing Community Development - Authorize the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement between Harris County and City of La Porte for construction of sidewalk improvements and a commitment of La Porte to fund the project at $1,588,616.19, which will be reimbursed by Harris County at 100%. [Jameson Appel, Assistant Director of Public Works] e. Alliance Water and Sewer Service Agreements - Adopt Ordinance 2020-IDA- 142 and authorize the City Manager to execute one Water Service Agreement and one Sanitary Sewer Service Agreement between the City of La Porte, Texas, and Alliance, LP for its proposed development at 13200 Baypark Rd. in the Bayport Industrial District. [Andrew Brady, Assistant Director of Public Works] f. Award Bid #25018 for Paving Materials - Award Bid 25018 "Asphalt: Type D and Black Base" to Vulcan Materials, Inc. and authorize the City Manager to execute a purchasing contract for $136,400.00 to supply paving materials to the City of La Porte, Texas, not to exceed contract amounts. [Andrew Brady, Assistant Director of Public Works] g. Adopt Resolution 2025-24 for STEP Comprehensive Grant - Adopt Resolution 2025-24, authorizing the City Manager to sign the Texas Dept. of Transportation S.T.E.P. Comprehensive Grant Award for the TXDOT S.T.E.P. Comprehensive Grant. [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police] h. Adopt Resolution 2025-25 for the STEP TXDOT Commercial Vehicle Grant - Adopt Resolution 2025-25, authorizing the City Manager to sign the Texas Dept. of Transportation Commercial Motor Vehicle S.T.E.P. Grant Award for the TXDOT Commercial Motor Vehicle S.T.E.P. grant. [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police] i. 2025 Certified Appraisal Roll - Adopt Resolution 2025-26 accepting the 2025 Harris County Appraisal District's certified appraisal roll for property situated within the City of La Porte, Texas. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] j. Cancel the November24 and December 22, 2025, City Council meetings. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary] k. Interlocal Agreement — TIRZ - Authorize the City Manager to execute an Interlocal Agreement between the City of La Porte and the Reinvestment Zone Number One, City of La Porte, to bid, construct and manage renovations and improvements to the wave pool located at 600 Little Cedar Bayou Dr., La Porte, TX. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] Councilperson Williams asked that item i receive separate consideration. Councilperson Enqelken moved to approve all the consent agenda items except item i; Councilperson Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 8-0. Councilperson Williams requested that the HCAD valuations be reviewed timely next year and that additional options be offered. Mr. Alexander agreed to bring items for consideration to the budget retreat in the spring. 2 Councilperson Williams moved to deny the roll; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Guerra; the motion was withdrawn without objection. Councilperson Engelken moved to adopt Resolution 2025-26 accepting the 2025 Harris County Appraisal Districts certified appraisal roll for property situated within the City of La Porte, Texas; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 5-3, Mayor Helton and Councilpersons Williams and Guerra voting against. 5. Public Hearings and Associated Ordinances a. Ordinance 2025-5000 Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) #SCUP-2025- 0024 - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to approve Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP)#SCUP-2025-0024to allow a gasoline with convenience store (NAICS Code 44711) within the General Commercial (GC) zoning district on approximately 0.3 acres of land located at 922 S. Broadway St., La Porte, Harris County, Texas; followed by discussion and possible action to approve or deny Ordinance 2025-5000 for Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP)#SCUP-2025-0024to allow a gasoline with convenience store (NAICS Code 44711) within the General Commercial (GC) zoning district on approximately 0.3 acres of land located at 922 S. Broadway St., La Porte, Harris County, Texas. [Ryan Hvitlok, Planning Director, Planning and Development Department] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:19 p.m. Mr. Hvitlok provided a presentation. Darrell Herrin and Phillip Hoot expressed agreement with concerns about tobacco sales near schools, while also noting that this may offer the advantage of bringing an occupied business location back to the area. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Councilperson Martin moved to approve Ordinance 2025-5000 for Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) #SCUP-2025-0024 to allow a gasoline with convenience store (NAICS Code 44711) within the General Commercial (GC) zoning district on approximately 0.3 acres of land located at 922 S. Broadway St., La Porte, Harris County, Texas; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 7-1, Councilperson Guerra voting against. b. Ordinance 2025-5001 Chapter 106 (Zoning) Amendment - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to approve amendments to Chapter 106 "Zoning" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, by adding a definition for "administratively approved," revising timing requirements for public hearings, clarifying application and hearing procedures, aligning criteria with state law, updating screening and parking standards, and correcting references to ensure consistency with current practices; followed by discussion and possible action to approve or deny Ordinance 2025-5001 amending Chapter 106 "Zoning" of the Code of 3 Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, by adding a definition for "administratively approved," revising timing requirements for public hearings, clarifying application and hearing procedures, aligning criteria with state law, updating screening and parking standards, and correcting references to ensure consistency with current practices. [Ryan Hvitlok, Planning Director, Planning and Development Department] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:40 p.m. Mr. Hvitlok provided a presentation. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 6:59 p.m. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve Ordinance 2025-5001 amending Chapter 106 "Zoning" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, by adding a definition for "administratively approved," revising timing requirement for public hearings, clarifying application and hearing procedures, aligning criteria with state law, updating screening and parking standards, and correcting references to ensure consistency with current practices; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 8-0. 6. Statutory Agenda a. Property Tax Rate - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2025-5002, setting the City of La Porte, Texas' ad valorem tax rate and levying taxes on taxable property located in the City of La Porte, Texas, for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Mr. Dolby offered a presentation. Councilperson Engelken moved to adopt Ordinance 2025-5002, setting the City of La Porte, Texas' ad valorem tax rate and levying taxes on taxable property located in the City of La Porte, Texas, for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year, at the rate of $0.71 per $100 valuation, based on component rates of $0.597 per $100 valuation for support, maintenance and improvement of the city government and $0.113 per $100 valuation to pay interest on bonds and CO's and for one-year sinking fund; Councilperson Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was approved, 8-0, by roll call vote. b. Planning and Zoning Commission Rules Amendments - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to adopt revisions to the Rules, Regulations, and Bylaws of the City of La Porte, Texas, Planning and Zoning Commission, by adding new section regarding decorum of commissioners and the public during meetings, and revisions incorporating changes in state law regarding notice of meetings and conflicts of interest. [Ryan Hvitlok, Director of Planning and Development] Mr. Hvitlok provided a presentation. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to adopt revisions to the Rules, Regulations, and Bylaws of the City of La Porte, Texas, Planning and Zoning Commission, by adding new section regarding decorum of commissioners and the public during meetings, and revisions incorporating changes in state law 4 regarding notice of meetings and conflicts of interest; Councilperson Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was approved, 8-0. c. Employee Handbook Revision - Physical Report Status and Nepotism - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve proposed updates to the City of La Porte Employee Policies Handbook section 7.08 - Physical Report Status and section 2.09 Nepotism. [Matt Hartleib, HR Manager] Mr. Hartleib offered a presentation. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the proposed updates to the City of La Porte Employee Policies Handbook section 7.08 - Physical Report Status and section 2.09 Nepotism; Councilperson Guerra seconded the motion; the motion was approved, 8-0. d. Meet and Confer Agreement - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the proposed Meet and Confer Agreement between the City of La Porte and the La Porte Police Officers Association. [Matt Hartleib, HR Manager] Mr. Alexander asked that the item be pulled and it was not considered. e. Post-65 Medicare Advantage Plan - Presentation, discussion, and possible action approve the selection of the City's post-65 Medicare Advantage Plan. [Matt Hartleib, HR Manager] Mr. Hartleib offered a presentation. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the selection of the City's post-65 Medicare Advantage Plan; Councilperson Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was approved, 8-0. f. LP Rotary Foundation Sponsorship Request - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the request for sponsorship to the La Porte Rotary Foundation for the 2025 La Porte Rotary Reverse Draw in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] g• Mr. Daeumer recounted the request. Councilperson McLarrin moved to approve the request for sponsorshjp to the La Porte Rotary Foundation for the 2025 La Porte Rotary Reverse Draw in an amount not to exceed $5,000; Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley seconded the motion; the motion was approved, 8-0. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to select a candidate for the Texas Municipal League (TML) Region 14 Director election. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary] Ms. Woodward provided an overview. Councilperson Engelken moved to cast the City ballot for Sally Branson for the Texas Municipal League (TML) Region 14 Director election; Councilperson Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was approved, 8-0. 5 7. Reports a. City of La Porte Fund Balance Report [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Mr. Dolby provided a report, noting that the General Fund, at the end of July, had a balance of 515 days of working capital and the Utility Fund with 172 days of working capital. b. Report of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors meeting held on September 22 [Councilperson Engelken] Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley said the Board met, voted to terminate an incentive agreement for cause; approved funds for 3-year, $150,000 retail recruitment services contract; and set its next meeting for October 27. c. Administrative Reports [Corby Alexander, City Manager] Mr. Alexander noted the City's Internet and phone service has been out for much of the day and that IT is working with AT&T, but that 911 has been working. 8. Items of Community Interest Councilpersons noted the City's finances were in good shape and the budget process will begin again in a few months and thanked the staff for their work on it; reminded all of the 10/8 meeting at Sylvan Beach on proposed improvements to the park and urged attendance; thanked Mr. Hartleib for his work for retiree benefits; and reported how professionally the LPPD had handled a difficult situation Thursday evening. 9. Executive Session a. Real Property - Texas Government Code 551.072 - Deliberation regarding purchase, exchange, lease, or values of real property: The City Council will meet in closed session with the City Manager and the City Attorney to discuss purchase of real property located in the City of La Porte, Texas. Mayor Helton convened the Council in executive session at 7:30 p.m. 10. Reconvene Mayor Helton reconvened the Council in open session at 7:38 p.m. Councilperson Engelken moved to direct staff to proceed as instructed in executive session; Councilperson seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 8-0. 11.Adjourn - ( L Woodward ut objection, May -Iton adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m.