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Home My WebLink About09-14-2026 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 September 14, 2026, in the NEW City Hall Council chamber, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 7:00 p.m. 1. Call to Order - Mayor Helton called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. 2. Invocation and Pledges of Allegiance Reverend Brian Chisten of La Porte First Church provided an invocation and Lydia Johnson, Zenia de la Fuente, and Evelyn Valero led the pledges. 3. Citizen Comment - There were no comments. 4. Consent Agenda a. Approve the minutes of the August 24, 2026, City Council meeting. [Lee Woodward, City SecretaryfPlO] b. Appoint David Turnquist to position on the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission from District 2. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO] c. Authorize the City Manager to execute a grant agreement between the City of La Porte, Texas, and the National Civic League to participate in the Local Policy Lab program, through a grant from the Houston Endowment, Inc. [Lee Woodward, City SecretaryfPlO] d. Resolution 2026-18 for STEP CMV Grant - Adopt Resolution 2026-18 authorizing the City Manager to execute the Texas Dept. of Transportation CMV Grant Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (S.T.E.P) grant award and other documents for the TXDOT Commercial Motor Vehicle STEP grant. [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police] e. Resolution 2026-17 for STEP Comprehensive Grant - Adopt Resolution 2026- 17, authorizing the City Manager to execute the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (S.T.E.P.) Comprehensive grant award and other documents for the Texas Dept. of Transportation S.T.E.P. Comprehensive Award. [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police] f. La Porte Community Civic Club Harvest Banquet Sponsorship - Approve a request from the La Porte Community Civic Club for sponsorship of the 45th Annual Harvest Banquet in an amount up to $2,500.00. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] g. Northwest Covered Bleachers - Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Kraftsman in the amount of $169,661.52 with contingency of $30,338.48 for a total authorization of $200,000, for the purchase and installation of Three (3) Covered bleachers on concrete pads for the Northwest Sports fields under confirmed Buy Board Contract #781-25. [Tim Miller, Parks and Recreation Director] h. Convergint - Phase 2 Electronic Door Access Control System - Authorize the City Manager to enter into a five- (5)- year maintenance agreement, purchase and installation of hardware for Phase II of the City's door access project. Year -one cost is $233,767.19 with a contingency of $19,010.81 for a total authorization of $252,778.00. The remaining four-year maintenance agreement paid annually up to the budgeted amount, for a combined total authorization over the life of the agreement of $360,990.00, with Convergint utilizing Sourcewell Contract Pricing #121024-CTL. [Darren Withers, IT Manager] i. Purchase of Mobile Hostile Vehicle Mitigation Barrier System - Approve the purchase of a mobile hostile vehicle mitigation barrier system from Meridian Rapid Defense Group Sales LLC for $166,259.54, utilizing GSA Contract No. 47QSWA19D001 F, with $142,631.58 reimbursed through the Houston Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Homeland Security Grant Program. [Johnny Morales, Emergency Management Coordinator] j. Emergency Services Agreement - Authorize the City Manager to execute a three (3) year agreement between the City of La Porte, Texas, and the City of Morgan's Point, Texas, to provide Emergency 9-1-1 Dispatch, Jail Services, Animal Control, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Suppression, and Fire Prevention (Fire Marshal's Office) services to the City of Morgan's Point, Texas, for the period beginning October 1, 2026, at total monthly rate of $11,614.58. [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager] k. La Porte Library Landscape Improvements -Award Bid #26017 and authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with Horticare Landscape Management in the amount of $165,900 with contingency of $34,100.00 for a total authorization of $200,000.00, for landscape improvements for the La Porte Library. [Tim Miller, Parks and Recreation Director] Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the consent agenda; Councilpersons Bentley and Williams seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 9-0. 2 5. Public Hearings and Associated Ordinances a. Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget - The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments regarding their consideration of the Proposed Budget of the City of La Porte, Texas, for the 2026-27 Fiscal Year; followed by discussion and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2026- 5057, approving the City of La Porte, Texas, Fiscal Year 2026-27 Proposed Budget. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Manor Helton opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. Mr. Dolby provided an overview of updates to the proposed FY26-27 budget. Manor Helton closed and then reopened the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. Regina Nesworthy inquired about the Big Island Slough Trail Phase 1 Project. Manor Helton closed the public hearing at 7:32 p.m. Councilperson Martin signed a conflict -of -interest affidavit and did not participate in the consideration or vote on the line item in the proposed budget that allocates funds for the contract between the City of La Porte and the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the line item in the proposed budget that allocates funds for the contract between the City of La Porte and the La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce; Councilperson McCaulley seconded the motion; the motion was adopted by roll call vote, 8-0. Councilperson Williams moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-5057, approving the City of La Porte, Texas, Fiscal Year 2026-27 proposed budget, renaming the Big Island Slough Trail Phase 1 project as Trail Improvements; the motion was seconded by Councilperson Engelken; the motion was adopted by roll call vote, 9-0. 6. Statutory Agenda a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to cast the City of La Porte, Texas' ballot for candidates in connection with election of members to the TML IRP Board of Trustees. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO] Ms. Woodward provided a presentation. Mayor Pro Tem Guerra moved to cast the City's ballot for the TML IRP Board of Trustees as recommended by staff; the motion was seconded by Councilperson McCaulley; the motion was adopted, 9-0. b. Proposed Ad Valorem Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2026-27 - Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the City of La Porte, Texas' proposed ad valorem tax rate for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year. [Michael Dolby, Finance Director] Mr. Dolby offered a presentation. Councilperson Engelken moved to approve the City of La Porte, Texas' proposed ad valorem tax rate of $0.71 for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year; the motion was seconded by Councilperson McCaulley; the motion was adopted by roll call vote, 8-1, Councilperson Williams voting against. 3 7. Reports a. Administrative Reports [Corby Alexander, City Manager] Mr. Alexander thanked the staff who got the building together and those who made everything come together for this evening. 8. Items of Community Interest Councilpersons thanked the staff for the celebration and working on the building; recognized the budget for its addition of fifteen new positions and its focus across the community and lauded those who put it together over the last six years; noted the time capsule has been relocated; and provided a shoutout to EMS for excellent service to a local elderly couple. Ijourn - !► ut ob'ection Ma or Helton ad'ourned the meetin • at 7:55 oodward, otio • 000 RIS 4