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Home My WebLink About06-22-2026 CC minutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE Councilpersons Present: Rick Helton, Brandon Lunsford, Brent McCaulley, Chuck Engelken, Bill Bentley, Robert Guerra, Jay Martin, Robbie McLarrin Councilpersons Attending Remotely: None Councilpersons Absent: Mandi Williams 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 22, 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 Brandon Brewer provided an invocation and Avery Martin and Zahra Jokhan led the pledges. 3. Recognitions a. Recognition of Employees for Years of Service Rene Rodriguez - Senior Utility Maintenance Operator (35 years) b. Recognition of July as National Parks & Recreation Month [Tim Miller, Director of Parks & Recreation] 4. Citizen Comment Clayton Wright, II expressed his concerns over work on Lomax School Road; and Robert Drue Adams and Marlene McClennen spoke in opposition to the blocking of bay access from Crescent View. 5. Presentations. a. Economic Alliance Annual Report - Receive annual reportfrom the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development Manager] Chad Burke of Economic Alliance Houston Port Region provided a report. b. Clean Coast Texas - Scott Jones is the Community Outreach Specialist for the Green Infrastructure for Texas Disaster Assessment and Recovery through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, a partner in the Clean Coast Texas program of the Texas General Land Office (GLO). Clean Coast Texas works with cities and counties in the Texas Coastal Zone to help address water quality issues, localized flooding issues, and provide for outdoor recreation in green infrastructure projects, along with a host of other services. This presentation was requested for the City Council by the Keep La Porte Beautiful Committee. [Rick Helton, Mayor] Scott Jones of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service provided a presentation on the Clean Coast Texas program of the Texas General Land Office (GLO). 6. Consent Agenda a. Approve the minutes of the June 8, 2026, City Council meeting. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO] b. Fireworks Permit - Approve request submitted by Houston Yacht Club for a fireworks display to be conducted on July 4, 2026, at the Houston Yacht Club property at 3620 Miramar Dr., La Porte. [Clif Meekins, Fire Marshal] c. Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community - Authorize Mayor Helton to sign a letter of support to the Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism showing support for the City of La Porte's application to become a Tourism Friendly Texas Certified Community. [Kayla O'Bryan, Marketing and Special Events Coordinator] d. Texas General Land Office (GLO) Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program for Outdoor Warning Sirens - Adopt Resolution 2026-13 authorizing the submittal of an application to the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for funding through the Community Development Block Grant —Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program related to Hurricane Harvey, DR-4332, in the amount of $1,000,000.00 for the La Porte Outdoor Warning Sirens Project. [Johnny Morales, Emergency Management Coordinator] e. Texas General Land Office (GLO) Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program for Drainage Improvements - Adopt Resolution 2026-12 authorizing the submittal of an application to the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for funding through the Community Development Block Grant —Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program related to Hurricane Harvey, DR-4332, in an amount up to $7,000,000.00 for the Northside Neighborhood Streets and Drainage Improvements Phase 3 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, 8-0. 2 7. Public Hearings and Associated Ordinances a. Ordinance 2026-5045 for Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) SCUP-2026- 0002 The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to adopt Ordinance 2026-5045 for Special Conditional Use Permit SCUP-2026-0002, an amendment to Special Conditional Use Permit SCUP-2025-0017, request by Chris Couch, applicant, to add the following NAICS Codes as permitted uses within Reserve 3 of SCUP-2025-0017,also known as the "Avera SCUP": • 8134 - Civic and Social Organizations • 81391 - Business Associations • 81392 - Professional Organizations • 81393 - Labor Unions and Similar Labor Organizations • 81394 - Political Organizations • 813990 - Other Similar Organizations (Except Business, Professional, Labor, and Political Organizations); followed by discussion and possible action to approve Ordinance 2026-5045 for Special Conditional Use Permit 2026-0002. [Ryan Hvitlok, Director of Planning & Development] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 6:52 p.m. Mr. Hvitlok provided a report. Charles Montgomery spoke in support of Special Conditional Use Permit 2026- 0002i Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve Ordinance 2026-5045 for Special Conditional Use Permit 2026-0002; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 8-0. b. Ordinance 2026-5046 for Special Conditional Use Permit (SCUP) SCUP-2026- 0003 - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding a recommendation by the Planning and Zoning Commission to approve Ordinance 2026-5046 for Special Conditional Use Permit SCUP- 2026-0003, to allow for the development of a single-family detached home on a portion of an approximately 12-acre tract of land located at 0 Mc Cabe Rd., (south side of Mc Cabe Road, between South SH -146 to the west and South Broadway Street to the east); within the Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning district, HCAD Acc. No. 0402440010010; La Porte, Harris County, Texas, followed by discussion and possible action to approve Ordinance 2026-5046 for Special Conditional Permit 2026-0003. [Ryan Hvitlok, Director of Planning & Development] Mayor Helton opened the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. Mr. Hvitlok provided a report. Owner Michael Stone spoke in support of the SCUP. Mayor Helton closed the public hearing at 7:13 p.m. 3 Councilperson Martin moved to approve Ordinance 2026-5046 for Special Conditional Permit 2026-0003; the motion was seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Guerra; the motion was adopted, 8-0. 8. Statutory Agenda a. Golf Course facility ad hoc committee - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the mayor's appointments for an ad hoc committee to evaluate and provide recommendations regarding the feasibility, design, and implementation of a Multi -Purpose Event Center at Bay Forest Golf Course. [Rick Helton, Mayor] Councilperson EnQelken moved to approve the mayor's appointments [Councilperson Williams, Chair; Mayor Pro Tem Guerra; and Councilpersons Engelken and Martini for an ad hoc committee to evaluate and provide recommendations regarding the feasibility, design, and implementation of a Multi - Purpose Event Center at Bay Forest Golf Course; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Lunsford; the motion was adopted, 7-0 (Councilperson Bentley had stepped out of the meeting for a moment and was not present for the vote). b. Enhancement Grant - R Favorite Things, LLC - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to authorize expenditure by the La Porte Development Corporation in an amount not to exceed $26,618.79, for enhancements to business site located at 102 West Main Street, La Porte, Texas, under terms of enhancement grant incentive agreement between the La Porte Development Corporation and R. Favorite Things, LLC. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development Manager] This item was pulled and not considered due to the approval of the enhancement grant incentive agreement by the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors with a grant award under the $25,000.00 threshold requiring La Porte City Council approval, earlier in the evening. c. Ordinance 2026-5047 - Street and Alley Closure (SAC) Request SAC-2025- 0016 and SAC-2026-0003 - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2026-5047 for approval of Street and Alley Closure SAC- 2025-0016 and SAC-2026-0003 for the purpose of vacating, abandoning, and closing approximately 0.55 acres of land (24,000 square feet), known as North Iowa Street 60-foot right-of-way between Barbours Cut Boulevard and North E Street, and approximately 8,880 square feet, known as the north half of North E Street 60-foot right-of-way between North Broadway Street and center line of North Iowa Street, La Porte, Harris County, Texas. [Ryan Hvitlok, Director of Planning and Development] Mr. Hvitlok provided an overview. No action was proposed or taken. d. Dangerous Buildings - 4901 Valley View Drive - Presentation from the Dangerous Building Inspection Board on inspection results on 4901 Valley 4 View Drive, La Porte, Texas, followed by discussion and possible action authorizing administrative staff to notify the owner of 4901 Valley View Drive, La Porte, Texas, of the determination of the Dangerous Building Inspection Board that the building(s) on the subject parcel are dangerous and to schedule a public hearing. [Ryan Hvitlok, Director of Planning and Development] Item 8.d. was pulled before the meeting and not considered. 9. Reports a. Report of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors meeting held on June 22, 2026 [Councilperson Engelken] Councilperson Engelken said the Board met, approved several items the Council took action on this evening, terminated a grant for 2151 Underwood for inactivity, received an update on Main Street Station, and received the Economic Alliance presentation, b. Discuss the 4th of July Apple Pie Contest and announce the winner. [Kayla O'Bryan, Marketing and Special Events Coordinator] Mrs. O'Bryan announced the first 4th of July Apple Pie contest winner was the Garden of Eden Tearoom and shared the planned activities for the day. c. City of La Porte, Texas, Fund Balance Report [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Mr. Dolby provided a report, saying the general fund was currently expected to end this fiscal year with 380 days of working capital and that utility fund was currently expected to end the fiscal year with 88 days of working capital, which may change during the budget process. d. Administrative Reports [Corby Alexander, City Manager] Mr. Alexander introduced new Chief Building Official Chip Jerauld and new Special Projects and Communications Manager Sade McCallan. 10.Items of Community Interest Councilpersonsexpressed concern for the issue on Crescent View; thanked Mr. Burke for his presentation; announced there was a new H-GAC Director; and welcomed the new team members; and Mr. Alexander introduced Economic Development Intern Kyle Trochesett. 5. 11.A•'our oodward, .n, ;Mayor Helton adjourned the meeting at 7:32 p.m. 6