HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-24-2026 CC minutes MINUTES 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 OfFcers Present_ Corby Alexander, City Manager; Clark T_ ^skins,
City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary
The City Council of the City of La Porte held a regular meeting on
August 24, 2026, at the City Hall Council Chambers,
604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 6=00 p_m_
'1_ Call to Order - Mavor Helton called the meetinci to order at 6:00 o.m_
2_ Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance
Pastor Joey Whitener provided an invocation and Adam Holland, Communications
[Director, LPISF-), led the pledges_
3_ Recognitions
a_ LPISID update from nr_ Walter Jackson, Superintendent
b_ Recognition of Employees for Years of Service
Heather Boznango - Lead Telecommunicator (10 years)
[David Hefner - Facilities Maintenance Superintendent (15 years)
Brett Salter - Patrol Officer (20 years)
Lindsey Campuzano - Senior HR Generalist (20 years)
c_ Recognition of Matt Hartleib earning an Executive Master of Public Service
Si Administration degree through Texas A8M University's Bush School [Matt
E>aeumer, Assistant City Manager]
4_ Citizen Comment
Gilbert Moreno spoke in favor of the street and alley closure in item 7_d_ John Cook
asked the City to look into flashing yellow lights at several intersections along Spencer
Highway and also made note of foliage at an additional intersection.
5. Presentations
a. Community Cat program within the City of La Porte, Texas. [Mitch Turner-
Beasley, Animal Control Supervisor]
Mitchell Turner-Beasley and Lakeisha Shaw of Best Friends Animal Society
presented information on a grant-funded Shelter-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release
program.
6. Consent Agenda
a. Approve the minutes of the August 10, 2026, City Council meeting. [Lee
Woodward, City Secretary/PlO]
b. Approve moving September 14, 2026, La Porte City Council meeting from 6
p.m. start to 7 p.m. start. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary]
c. La Porte Baseball Contract - Authorize the City Manager to execute a
facilities lease agreement between the City of La Porte, Texas, and the La
Porte Baseball Association for the use of Pecan Park and Fairmont Park
Ballfields with term expiring December 31, 2031. [Tim Miller, Director of Parks
and Recreation]
d. Memorandum of Agreement- Point of Distribution (POD) -Authorize the City
Manager to execute a Memorandum of Agreement between the City of La
Porte, Texas, and Underwood Baptist Church for the use of church property
at 2104 Underwood Rd., La Porte, Texas, to support emergency response
and recovery operations. [Amber Castro-Beltran, Deputy Emergency
Management Coordinator]
Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda; Councilperson
Bentley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
7. Statutory Agenda
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action on the appointments to the
Redistricting Advisory Committee. [Rick Helton, Mayor]
Councilperson Engelken moved appointment of the following to the Redistricting
Advisory Committee; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Williams; the
motion was adopted, 9-0.
Barry Beasley, Mayoral appointee
Mercy Estrada, At-Large Position A appointee
Victor Peres, At-Large Position B appointee
Terri Hayes, District 1 appointee
Mary Hanks, District 2 appointee
Mike Cooksley, District 3 appointee
Paul Larson, District 4 appointee
Alex Osmond, District 5 appointee
Chad Holley, District 6 appointee
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b. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to determine the charge to the
ad hoc Redistricting Advisory Committee. [Rick Helton, Mayor]
Councilperson Williams moved to approve the following charge to the Redistricting
Advisory Committee; Councilperson Engelken seconded the motion: the motion
was adopted, 9-0.
- Review redistricting criteria, proposals, and possible maps.
- Provide recommendations to the City Council that do not remove currently
serving district Councilpersons from their districts.
- Provide recommendations to the City Council that maintains the large lot areas
of the city in a single district.
c. Truck Route Amendment - West M Street - Presentation, discussion, and
possible action to adopt Ordinance 2026-5055 amending Chapter 70 "Traffic
and Vehicles"of the Code of Ordinances to add West M Street between South
16th Street and the rail line as an authorized truck route in the City of La
Porte and correcting the name of West Main Street to Spencer Highway for
existing truck route between Underwood Road and the west corporate limits.
[Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager]
Councilperson Engelken moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-5055 amending Chapter
70 "Traffic and Vehicles" of the Code of Ordinances to add West M Street between
South 16th Street and the rail line as an authorized truck route in the City of
Porte and correcting the name of West Main Street to Spencer Highway for existing
truck route between Underwood Road and the west corporate limits; the motion
was seconded by Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
d. 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. [Matt
Daeumer, Assistant City Manager]
Mr. Daeumer provided a presentation. Councilperson Guerra moved 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,
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La Porte, Harris County, Texas; the motion was seconded by Councilperson
Williams; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
e. Lift Station #31 Rehabilitation—Construction - Presentation, discussion, and
possible action to award construction bid #26016 for the Lift Station #31
Rehabilitation project and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract
with Texas Dewatering, LLC, awarding a total bid of $1,960,649.08 with a
construction contingency of$239,350.92 for a total amount of$2,200,000.00.
[Jameson Appel, Assistant Director of Public Works]
Councilperson Engelken moved to award construction bid #26016 for the Lift
Station #31 Rehabilitation project and authorize the City Manager to execute a
contract with Texas Dewatering, LLC, awarding a total bid of$1,960,649.08 with a
construction contingency of $239,350.92 for a total amount of$2,200,000.00; the
motion was seconded by Councilperson Williams; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
f. Chapter 380 Agreement - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to
approve a Local Government Code Chapter 380 incentive grant agreement
with Spencer Highway Center LLC. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development
Manager]
Mr. Daeumer offered a presentation. Councilperson Guerra moved to approve a
Local Government Code Chapter 380 incentive grant agreement with Spencer
Highway Center LLC; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Martin; the
motion was adopted, 8-1, Councilperson Williams voting against
8. Reports
a. City of La Porte, Texas, Fund Balance Report [Michael Dolby, Finance
Director]
Mr. Dolby said the General Fund currently has 541 days of working capital and a
$144M fund balance and the Utility Fund has 181 days of working capital and has
a $4.92M fund balance.
b. Report of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors meeting
held on August 24, 2026 [Councilperson Engelken]
Councilperson Engelken said the Board met, approved an extension of an
enhancement grant, approved an amended and restated agreement, and set its
next meeting.
c. Administrative reports [Corby Alexander, City Manager]
• Open Positions Update
• Animal Shelter Update
• Consolidation Update
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Mr. Alexander addressed open positions, gave an animal shelter update,
discussed the progress on several fronts resulting from the consolidation.
9. Items of Community Interest
Councilpersons thanked Dr. Walter Jackson, LPISD Superintendent, for his report on
the district; congratulated those recognized at the beginning of the meeting;
acknowledged that tonight was the last meeting in this Council chamber; shared a
positive story from a resident about Public Works team members; shared participation
in the Chamber of Commerce's annual fishing tournament and thanked the Houston
Yacht Club for hosting the event; noted the positive feedback from Shoreacres
residents; and thanked EMS and Fire for an incident with a local resident.
Councilperson Engelken shared his experiences speaking before Texas Legislative
committees regarding efforts to expedite the Highway 146 and Highway 225
transportation projects and noting he will also be speaking before TXDoT on the same.
10.Executive Session
a. Texas Government Code Section 551.074 - Personnel Matters - Texas
Government Code Section 551.074 - Personnel Matters - Deliberation
regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties,
discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee. City Council will meet
in closed session with City Manager Corby Alexander.
Mayor Helton convened the Council into executive session at 7:21 p.m.
11. Reconvene
Mayor Helton reconvened the Council into open session at 8:40 p.m. Councilperson
Engelken moved to increase the City Manager's salary by 4% and provide a one-time
contribution of$7500.00 to the City Manager's 457 plan; the motion was seconded by
Councilperson Bentley; the motion was adopted, 9-0.
1 . journ - ithout ob'ection May r Helton adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Le oodwar , ity
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