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Home My WebLink About03-23-2026 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 (arrived at 6:35 p.m.), Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Robert Guerra, Jay Martin, Robbie McLarrin Councilpersons Attending Remotely: 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 held a regular meeting on March 23, 2026, at the City Hall Council Chamber, 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 Walter Brumley of La Porte River of God Church provided an invocation and Emma Stakes led the pledges. 3. Recognitions a. Texas Police Best Practices Recognition Chief Greg Grigg, with Texas Police Chiefs Association Foundation, will present the La Porte Police Department with a Certificate of Accreditation for the Texas Law Enforcement Best Practices Accreditation Program. The La Porte Police Department has been accredited by this program since 2009. b. Recognition of Employees for Years of Service Christopher Nelson, Patrol Officer - 10 years Stephanie Meekins, EMS Lieutenant - 10 years Mark Roznovak, PD Sergeant - 15 years Matt Davidson, PD Sergeant - 15 years 4. Citizen Comment - There were no comments. 5. Presentations a. Port Houston Presentation - Presentation by Callie Barnes, Director of Freight Mobility of Port Houston, on the Port of Houston Authority's roadway needs and priorities. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development Manager] This item was pulled before the meeting. b. Keep La Porte Beautiful Quarterly Presentation [Virginia Pierson -Turner, Chair] Mrs. Pierson -Turner shared a presentation on the Committee's progress since establishment. (Councilperson Williams arrived during the presentation, at 6:35 p.m.) 6. Consent Agenda a. Approve the minutes of the regular City Council meeting held on March 9, 2026. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO] b. Award Bid 26006 - Award Bid 26006 "Multi -Facility Roofing Project" to South Texas BuildCon, LLC and authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract in the amount of $511,707.00 and provide a construction contingency of $60,000.00, for a total authorization of $571,707.00. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] c. Ordinance 2026-5036 - Adopt Ordinance 2026-5036 vacating, abandoning and closing the alleyway between Lots 1-16 and Lots 17-32 in Block 686 of the Town of La Porte subdivision, Harris County, Texas, and authorizing the execution and delivery of a deed to the adjoining landowner. [Ryan Hvitleik, Director of Planning & Development] d. Resolution 2026-10 - Approve Resolution 2026-10 suspending for forty-five (45) days the effective date proposed by CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., d/bla CenterPoint Energy Entex and CenterPoint Energy Texas Gas — Texas Coast Division, for an increase in gas utility rates in its application filed with the Texas Railroad Commission on or about February 17, 2026, pursuant to section 104.301 of the Gas Utility Regulatory Act. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] e. City of La Porte 2025 ACFR - Accept the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the City of La Porte, Texas, Fiscal Year ending September 30, 2025. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] f. Approve the appointment of Darrell Herrin to the Keep La Porte Beautiful Committee and reordering of positions as presented. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO] g. LPISD ITC polling location judge appointments - Approve the appointment of Joyce Hollan as the presiding judge and Beth Wheat as the alternate judge for the LPISD ITC polling location for the May 2, 2026, City of La Porte and LPISD General and Special Elections. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO] Prior to the meeting, Councilperson Engelken signed a conflict -of -interest affidavit regarding item 6.d. and did not vote on that item. Councilperson Engelken moved to 2 approve the consent agenda items a-c and a-q; Councilperson Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0. Councilperson Bentley moved to approve Resolution 2026-10 suspending for forty- five (45) days the effective date proposed by CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., dba CenterPoint Energy Entex and CenterPoint Energy Texas Gas — Texas Coast Division, for an increase in gas utility rates in its application filed with the Texas Railroad Commission on or about February 17, 2026, pursuant to section 104.301 of the Gas Utility Regulatory Act; Councilperson Guerra seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 8-0. 7. Public Hearings and Associated Ordinances a. Ordinance 2026-5033 Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) #SCUP-2025- 0031 - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to adopt Ordinance 2026-5033 for Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) #SCUP-2025-0031, for an amendment to SCUP #21-91000005 adopted on September 27, 2021, to prohibit warehouses taller than 65-feet and update architectural design requirements on a 6.94 acre portion of the 14.91 acre Reserve L, within the Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district, generally located at the southwest corner of West M Street and State Highway 146, La Porte; Harris County, Texas; followed by discussion and possible action to approve or deny Ordinance 2026-5033 for Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) #SCUP-2025-0031, for an amendment to SCUP#21-91000005 adopted on September27, 2021, to prohibit warehouses taller than 65-feet and update architectural design requirements on a 6.94 acre portion of the 14.91 acre Reserve L, within the Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district, generally located at the southwest corner of West M Street and State Highway 146, La Porte; Harris County, Texas. [Ryan Hvitlok, Director of Planning & Development] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:50 p.m. Mr. Hvitlok provided a report. John Gallaher and Ken Jackson took questions. Without objection, the Council recessed from 6:57 to 7:04 p.m. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 7:38 P.M. Councilperson Martin moved to approve Ordinance 2026-5033 for Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) #SCUP-2025-0031, for an amendment to SCUP #21-91000005 adopted on September 27, 2021, to prohibit warehouses taller than 65 feet and update architectural design requirements on a 6.94-acre portion of the 14.91-acre Reserve L, within the Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district, generally located at the southwest corner of West M Street and State Highway 146, La Porte, Hams County, Texas, and added the following conditions to the SCUP: 3 1) The Developer shall consult with staff and the Keep La Porte Beautiful Committee in the review and approval of their landscape plan to ensure that the number and density of plantings are sufficient to provide a minimum of a 25 foot - high solid vegetated screen at the time of planting; 2) The Developer shall be responsible for increasing the radius of the intersection at the State Highway 146 frontage road and M Street, based on approved plans from the City of La Porte and TXDoT. If the City and developer have approved plans and are awaiting TXDoT approval, this shall not be grounds for denying any City building permit for construction of the building site; 3) Failure to start construction of the site within 18 months after issuance shall void the permit as approved, except upon an extension of time granted after application to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilperson McLarrin seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0. 8. Statutory Agenda a. La Porte Girl Softball Field Usage - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to provide administrative staff direction regarding requirements for the La Porte Girls Softball Association contract with the City of La Porte, Texas. [Tim Miller, Director of Parks & Recreation] Lindsay French provided an update on scheduling and work with the Association. Councilperson Williams asked for a follow up report with more details on the Association. b. HYC Sponsorship Request - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to provide a sponsorship for the Houston Yacht Club's 2026 Regatta Program. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] Mr. Daeumer offered an overview. Councilperson McCaulley moved to approve a $9500.00 sponsorship for the Houston Yacht Club's 2026 Regatta Program; Councilperson Martin seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0. Mayor Helton requested that PlacerAl be used after the events to determine local fiscal impact. 9. Reports a. Report of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors meeting held on March 23, 2026. [Councilperson, Engelken] Councilperson Engelken said the Board met, approved enhancement grant policy updates, approved an enhancement grant for Houston MedSpa at 11 N. 2nd Street and an enhancement grant reimbursement for GW Group Properties, LLC, at 101 MLK, Jr. Drive for $13,500, and amended the name of a project for this year's CIP. 4 b. City of La Porte, Texas, Fund Balance Report [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Ms. Wolny provided the reports, noting the general fund had a fund balance of $125 million at the end of January and held 596 days of working capital at that point. For the Utility Fund, she said it had 156 days of working capital at the end of January and was expected to end the fiscal year with 88 days of working capital. c. FY2025-26 1st Quarter CIP Report [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] Mr. Daeumer provided the update and Mr. Mayo addressed questions on projects. d. Administrative Reports [Corby Alexander, City Manager] • Open Positions • Animal Shelter Update • Supplemental Trash Route Mr. Alexander updated the Council on open positions, activity at the animal shelter, and the supplemental garbage pickups/litter abatement, and discussed the Avera SCUP property. 10. Items of Community Interest 11. Councilpersons thanked LPPD for their increased patrols and traffic enforcement in Lomax; congratulated the service award recipients; thanked Virginia Pierson -Turner for her Keep La Porte Beautiful report; shared a visit to the opening day of La Porte Baseball Association, noting the enhancements to the park, including the mural and astroturfing mound on one of the fields; congratulated LPPD on their continued accreditation; thanked first responders for their service; applauded Mr. Herrin on his appointment; remarked on last week's successful State of the City luncheon and the City's video; thanked LPPD for their regular attention to spot issues; and celebrated Paw-Palooza over the weekend. djour - Wthout ob'e • of* ... . 1.-6. ... ‘ Wbodwar • , �► - - - tary I.I4 • ii i,414),p?.. 4-,:r °Ike. ?1.911.0_1\-----":. * f 3fri or Helton ad'ourned the meetin • at 8:20 • .m. 5