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Home My WebLink About06-08-2026 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 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 June 8, 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 6:00 p.m. 2. Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance Pastor Brandon Brewer provided an invocation and Abraham Tevault led the pledges. 3. Recognitions a. Recognition of Employees for Years of Service Victor Delgado Martinez - Equipment Operator (15 years) Jerald Jenkins - Utility Supervisor (20 years) b. Recognition of Graduates of the La Porte Leadership Academy c. Thomes Galindo Neil Courtney Amber Castro -Beltran Malik Michel Shaun Lundy Elexis Palacios Lindsay French Alex Maldonado Santiago Ruiz Phillip Sonnier Mitchel Turner -Beasley Stephanie Meekins Ashley Lovercheck Shelley Wolny Recognition of the Employee of the Quarter (2026 Q1) Chris Finto of the IT Division was recognized as the Employee of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2026. 4. Citizen Comment Phillip Hoot spoke about the City's development code. Barry Plante shared his appreciation for the consolidation of Shoreacres and La Porte. Without objection, item 7.c. was handled after this item. Councilperson Williams nominated Councilperson Guerra. Councilperson Guerra nominated Councilperson McCaulley. Councilperson Bentley nominated Councilperson Engelken. Ordinance 2026-5040 was adopted and Councilperson Guerra elected as the 2026-2027 mayor pro tem, 5-4. 5. Consent Agenda a. Approval of the minutes of the May 11, 2026, City Council meeting. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary!PIO] b. Professional Services Agreement with Geosyntec Consultants - Authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services agreement with Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. to perform a feasibility study and needs assessment for a future solid waste transfer station, with a total authorization of $243,200.00. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] c. Keep La Porte Beautiful Committee appointments - Approve the reordering of the alternate members on the Keep La Porte Beautiful Committee and new appointments of Connie Ramirez and Colleen Row to positions on the Keep La Porte Beautiful Committee. [Rick Helton, Mayor] d. Reject Bids - Reject all bids for Bid #26011 "Repairs to Existing Concrete Fire Training Building". [Cherell Daeumer, Purchasing Manager] e. Hazard Mitigation Plan - Adopt a resolution accepting the 2025 Harris County Multi -Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. [Johnny Morales, Emergency Management Coordinator] f. Guardify Agreement for Cloud Storage - Authorize the City Manager to execute a 6-year contract with Guardify, Inc. for the implementation of a cloud -based storage solution for La Porte Police Department, year one zero expense, year two $23,005.85, year three $25,144.85, year four $25,354.85, year five $25,564.85, year six $25,774.85, for a total expenditure of $124,845.25. [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police] Item 5e. was pulled before the meeting and not considered. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda items; Councilperson Willams seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0. 6. Public Hearings and Associated Ordinances a. Ordinance 2026-5042 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 Ordinance 2026-5042 amending Section 106-741(i) "General Provisions" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, to establish a minimum 1-foot side setback for permanent standby generators; followed by discussion and 2 possible action to approve or deny Ordinance 2026-5042 amending Section 106-741(i) "General Provisions" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, to establish a minimum 1-foot side setback for permanent standby generators. [Ryan Hvitlok, Director of Planning and Development] Manor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. Mr. Hvitlok provided a report. Randall Hayes gave public comment on permitting, generators, the pier, and a kayak launch, an accessible park, traffic signals, the rodeo arena, and flooding, and thanked Mayor Helton, Councilperson Williams, and City Manager Alexander. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 6:50 p.m. Councilperson Williams moved to approve Ordinance 2026-5042 amending Section 106-741(i) "General Provisions" of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, Texas, to establish a minimum 1-foot side setback for permanent standby generators, with an amendment to the proposed ordinance as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission to remove the screening requirement for equipment in side yards abutting streets by striking the words but all such equipment shall be fully screened from view from the abutting street, from item (i); the motion was seconded by Councilperson Engelken; the motion was adopted, 9- 0. 7. Statutory Agenda a. Ordinance 2026-5044 - FY2026 Budget Amendment - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2026-5044 approving an amendment to the City's Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget in the cumulative amount of $1,479,042.00 in the General Fund, Utility Fund, and Utility CIP Fund to cover costs and expenses necessitated by the consolidation of the City of Shoreacres, Texas, with the City of La Porte, Texas. [Shelley Wolny, Assistant Finance Director] Mrs. Wolny provided an overview. Councilperson Engelken moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-5044 approving an amendment to the City's Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget in the cumulative amount of $1,479,042.00 in the General Fund, Utility Fund, and Utility CIP Fund to cover costs and expenses necessitated by the consolidation of the City of Shoreacres, Texas, with the City of La Porte, Texas; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Williams; the motion was adopted, 9-0. b. Airport Lease for TailWorks LLC - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize the Mayor to execute a lease agreement between the City of La Porte, Texas, and TailWorks, LLC for rental of space at the La Porte Municipal Airport for an initial twenty- (20-) year term and two five- (5-) year extensions. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works] Councilperson Lunsford signed a conflict -of -interest affidavit prior to the meeting and did not participate in discussion or the vote on this item. 3 Mr. Mayo provided an overview. Without objection, Councilperson Williams asked that the record reflect that the City Council had a care for the businesses at the airport and that they be able to continue to contribute to the local economy. TailWorks, LLC co-owner Blake Boyd spoke about his business's evolution and plans for the property. Councilperson Engelken moved to authorize the Mayor to execute a lease agreement between the City of La Porte, Texas, and TailWorks, LLC for rental of space at the La Porte Municipal Airport for an initial twenty- (20-) year term and two five- (5-) year extensions; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 8-0. c. Nominations and adoption of Ordinance 2026-5040 for the election of a mayor pro tem for 2026-2027. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO] Without objection, this item was handled after item 4. d. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to provide administrative staff direction regarding regulation of placement of signs on City of La Porte property. [Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley and Councilpersons Martin and McLarrin] Councilpersons debated sign restrictions on City property with relation to free speech, community beautification efforts, timeliness, expense, effect on voter turnout, and perceived benefits to incumbent candidates. Councilperson McCaulley will work with the City Secretary's Office on options to present to the Council at an upcoming Council meeting. • 8. Reports a. Report of the Facilities Naming Committee meeting held on June 8, 2026. [Mayor Pro Tem McCaulley] Chair McCaulley said the committee met and voted on a recommendation for the Council for property adjacent to the Original City Hall. b. Report of the Drainage and Flooding Committee meeting held on June 8, 2026. [Councilperson Martin] Councilperson Martin said the committee met, received updates on Harris County Flood Control and City projects, and set the next meeting for July 13. c. Administrative Reports [Corby Alexander] • Update on open staff positions • Animal Shelter statistics • Consolidation update 4 Mr. Alexander said all positions added this budget cycle have been filled and announced vacancies. He shared the Animal Shelter statistics and gave an update on the consolidation with the City of Shoreacres. 9. Items of Community Interest Councilpersons thanked Parks and Recreation for the preparations for the Brookglen groundbreaking; expressed appreciation to Public Works for taking care of recent flooding issues; congratulated the employees recognized at the beginning of the evening; thanked Finance for working with Shoreacres residents; thanked LPPD for the crawfish boil; and expressed gratitude to all of the leadership team for attending the Shoreacres Town Hall. 10. Executive Session a. Pending or Contemplated Litigation - Texas Government Code Sec. 551.071(1)(A)-Pending or Contemplated Litigation - The City Council will meet in closed session with the City Attorney and City Manager to discuss the case of Walter Gant, 111 vs. City of Shoreacres, Texas, Cause No. 202631321, 333rd District Court. Mayor Helton convened the Council into executive session at 8:09 p.m. 11. Reconvene - Mayor Helton reconvened the Council into open session at 8:31 p.m. No action was taken. 12.Adjourn -Without objection, a or Helton adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m. C) v• t Lee Vo dward,� it efy ••., 5