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Home My WebLink About04-27-2026 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, 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 met in a regular meeting on April 27, 2026, 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 6:02 p.m. 2. Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance Pastor Joey Whitener provided an invocation and Erin Cervantes led the pledges. 3. Recognitions a. Recognition of Municipal Clerks Week, May 3-9 b. Recognition of Employees for Years of Service Christopher Forsythe - Police (10 years) Barry Groaning - Police (15 years) c. Recognition of Kayla Baez, Johnny Morales, Jauslynn Sanchez, and Amber Castro -Beltran for their work on the inaugural Fleet Week Houston. 4. Citizen Comment Aaron -Daniel O'Neal shared information on the Ray of Light Lutheran Church Food Pantry and asked for additional engagement ideas. 5. Presentations a. Presentation by Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) in celebration of their HEROES Weekend, April 26 and 27, 2026. b. Graduation cord presentation to LPISD senior Isaac Daigle, for participation in the City of La Porte Municipal Court's Teen Court [Judge Janikka Bratton]] c. Port Houston Presentation - Presentation by Callie Barnes, Director of Seaport Connectivity of Port Houston, on the Port of Houston Authority's roadway needs and priorities. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development Manager] 6. Consent Agenda a. Approve the minutes of the regular City Council meeting held on April 13, 2026. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO] b. Laptop and Equipment purchase for Police Department - Approve the purchase of laptops for $129,149.10 through Dell under OMNIA Partners Region 14 ESC-TC Contract No. 01-143 and printers and related computer peripherals for $44,957.10 through CDW-G under TIPS 230105 Tech Solutions, for a total authorization of $174,106.20 to replace aging infrastructure on thirty (30) patrol vehicles. [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police] c. Approve Interlocal Agreement with Harris County - Authorize the City Manager to a execute an interlocal agreement between the City of La Porte, Texas, and Harris County to receive partnership funds in the amount of $300,000.00 for the Northside Neighborhood Drainage Improvements Phase III Project. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda items; Councilperson Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0. 7. Public Hearings and Associated Ordinances a. Ordinance 2025-4036 Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) #SCUP-2026- 0001 - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to adopt Ordinance 2025-4036 for Special Conditional Use Permit #SCUP-2026- 0001, a request by Mario Lanza, applicant, on behalf of 92 FAIRMONT LAKES INC, property owner, to allow for a residential subdivision including 205 lots, generally located at the northeast corner of Wharton Weems Blvd and State Highway 146, La Porte; Harris County, Texas; followed by discussion and possible action to approve or deny Ordinance 2025-4036 for Special Conditional Use Permit #SCUP-2026-0001 to allow for a residential subdivision including 205 lots, generally located at the northeast corner of Wharton Weems Blvd and State Highway 146, La Porte; Harris County, Texas. [Ryan Hvitlmk, Director of Planning & Development] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:57 p.m. Mr. Hvitlok provided a report. Mario Lanza, applicant, answered questions about the proposal. Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works, clarified the lift station is for sanitary sewer and not stormwater. Delaine Rightman spoke in support of a sound wall in excess of 8'. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 7:35 p.m. Councilperson Martin moved to approve Ordinance 2025-4036 for Special Conditional Use Permit #SCUP-2026-0001 to allow for a residential subdivision 2 including 205 lots, generally located at the northeast corner of Wharton Weems Boulevard and State Highway 146, with the following SCUP updates items 6 and 7 will be combined and require a 12' sound wall on Highway 146 and a 6' sound wall on Wharton Weems; and insert sanitary sewer between subdivision and lift station in item 23; and ensure that the current TXDoT approval documents discussed with relation to item 18 be provided to the City Council; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley; the motion was not adopted, 3-6, Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley and Councilpersons Martin and Engelken voting in favor. Mayor Helton moved that Ordinance 2025-4036 and Special Conditional Use Permit #SCUP-2026-0001 to allow for a residential subdivision including 205 lots, generally located at the northeast corner of Wharton Weems Boulevard and State Highway 146, be postponed to the May 11, 2026, City Council agenda, with the following SCUP updates: items 6 and 7 will be combined and require a 12' sound wall on Highway 146; and insert sanitary sewer between subdivision and lift station in item 23; and ensure that the current TXDoT approval documents discussed with relation to item 18 be provided to the City Council; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Williams; the motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilperson Martin voting against. 8. Statutory Agenda a. Public Works Facility Improvements - Change Order — Generator - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve a change order to incorporate both generators into the first phase of the project, with a cost of $497,456.89, utilizing the construction contingency. [Jameson Appel, Assistant Director of Public Works] Mr. Appel provided an overview. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve a change order to incorporate both generators into the first phase of the project, with a cost of $497,456.89, utilizing the construction contingency; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Williams; the motion was adopted, 9-0. 9. Reports a. Presentation on the Avera Special Conditional Use Permit [Ryan Hvitlok, Director of Planning and Development] Mr. Hvitlok provided a report. b. City of La Porte, Texas, Fund Balance Report [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] 3 Mr. Dolby provided a report, saying that, at the end of February, the general fund has 612 days of working capital and is expected to end the fiscal year with 380 days of working capital. He said the utility fund has 157 days of working capital now, which could fall to about 88 days by the end of the fiscal year. c. Report of the Fiscal Affairs Committee meeting held on April 27, 2026 [Councilperson Engelken] Councilperson Engelken said the committee met, received the investment and purchasing card reports, and set the next meeting for July 27. d. Report of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors meeting held on April 27, 2026 [Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley] Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley said the Board met and held an executive session on possible litigation. e. Administrative Reports [Corby Alexander, City Manager] Mr. Alexander said the City would follow up with Mr. O'Neal to assist with the food bank concerns. 10.Items of Community Interest Councilpersons thanked the Police Department on behalf of the Lomax area congratulated the City Secretary's Office; thanked the team that worked on the Fleet Week events for the incredible City -sponsored events; thanked the Chamber for the success of the Sylvan Beach Festival and acknowledged the hard work of the uniformed services at the events; celebrated Judge Bratton for the cemetery cleanup for youth earning service credits; congratulated Isaac Daigle for his commitment to Teen Court; thanked Aaron O'Neal for highlighting the food pantry's services; and applauded Assistant Police Chief Bennie Boles for being selected as the new Morgan's Point Chief of Police. 11. Executive Session a. Consultation with Attorney - Texas Government Code Sec. 551.071(2)- Consultation with Attorney: The City Council will meet in closed session with the City Attorney and City Manager to discuss legal issues in connection with existing airport lease agreement between the City of La Porte, Texas, and Tri-Star Aviation, Inc. Mayor Helton convened the Council in executive session at 8:18 p.m. 12. Reconvene 4 Mayor Helton reconvened the Council into open session at 9:01 p.m. No action was taken. 13.Adjourn -without objection, Mayor Helton adjourned the meeting at 9:01 p.m. —.7,..7...N..Ntx ‘b 4011 I 1 • odward, - ' Secre +. •'••. II e ti.14(110, ' 0 ie* •: , y .. s 1 •••• ��o� 5