CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA

Monday, July 22, 2024 at 6:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

City Hall Council Chamber

604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, 77571

Notice is hereby given of a regular meeting of the La Porte City Council to be held on July 22, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chamber, 604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, for the purpose of considering the following agenda items. All agenda items are subject to action. 

Remote participation is available. Attend via a screen using the link.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88425769778?pwd=YOs2FsasnIgW4w7yRamMeND6cf3pz2.1

Join by phone at 877-853-5257 or 888-475-4499. The meeting ID is 884 2576 9778 and the passcode is 144395. 

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

2.

INVOCATION/PLEDGES

INVOCATION - The invocation will be given by Lanier Young of St. John's Episcopal Church.
PLEDGES - Will be led by Abigail “Abby” Large.

U.S. Flag

Texas Flag: Honor the Texas Flag.  I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state, under God, one and indivisible.

3.

PRESENTATIONS, PROCLAMATIONS, AND RECOGNITIONS

3.a

Employee Service Awards

- Recognition of Walter Lee for 15 Years of Service [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works]

- Recognition of Jan Beard for 25 Years of Service [Lindsay French, Recreation Superintendent]

3.b

Presentation from Southeast Texas Housing Finance Corporation (SETH) [Matt Daeumer, Assistant City Manager]

3.c

Presentation on Bayport Barge Terminal by Rick Couch and Gordon Westergren. [Rick Helton, Mayor]

4.

CITIZEN COMMENT

(Generally limited to five minutes per person; in accordance with state law, the time may be reduced if there is a high number of speakers or other considerations.)

5.

CONSENT AGENDA

(Approval of Consent Agenda items authorizes each to be implemented in accordance with staff recommendations provided. An item may be removed from the Consent Agenda and added to the Statutory Agenda for full discussion upon request by a member of the Council present at this meeting.)

5.a

Approve the minutes of the July 10, 2024, regular and the July 13, 2024, special City Council meetings. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary]

5.b

Set Date for Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Proposed Budget

Approve the recommended date of September 9, 2024, for the Public Hearing on the City’s FY 2024-2025 Proposed Budget. [Shelley Wolny, Assistant Finance Director]

5.c

Annual Firefighter Physicals

Authorize the City Manager to execute a three-year term agreement, for unit pricing of $649.00 per firefighter for an initial expenditure of $42,176.00 and authorize an expenditure up to the budgeted amount in year two and three of the agreement, with On-Duty Health to perform firefighter physicals for fire department personnel. [Chris Pettis, Fire Chief]

6.

PUBLIC HEARINGS AND ASSOCIATED ORDINANCES

6.a

Public Hearing on the Emergency Services District Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Adopted Budget

The City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the budget of the La Porte Fire Control, Prevention, and Emergency Medical Service District for Fiscal Year 2024 – 2025, as adopted by the La Porte Fire Control, Prevention, and Emergency Services District Board of Directors at its meeting of June 18, 2024; following by discussion and possible action to approve or deny the Fiscal Year 2024–2025 budget adopted by the La Porte Fire Control, Prevention, and Emergency Services District. [Chris Pettis, Fire Chief]

7.

STATUTORY AGENDA

7.a

Firing Range Naming

Presentation, discussion, and possible action to adopt Ordinance 2024-4000 naming the La Porte Police Department Firing Range as the Douglas J. Ditrich Firearms Training Center. [Scott Pullig, Chief of Police]  

7.b

Public Works Facility

Presentation, discussion, and possible action to provide direction to administrative staff on budgeting preferences and information required for the Public Works Facility Capital Improvement Project budget discussions. [Ray Mayo, Director of Public Works]

7.c

Presentation, discussion, and possible action to appoint/reappoint members of boards, committees, and commissions. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary]

7.d

Food Trucks

Presentation, discussion, and possible action to provide administrative staff with direction on policy to allow food trucks to operate at Five Points Plaza. [Corby Alexander, City Manager]

7.e

Residential Generator Grant Program

Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the Residential Generator Grant Program Policy and Application and to authorize the re-allocation of previously budgeted amount of $186,372.00 from the Community Fences (PR0025) to the Residential Generator Grant Program. [Mayor Helton, Councilperson Lunsford, and Councilperson McCaulley]

8.

REPORTS

8.a

Report of the La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors meeting [Mayor Pro Tem Engelken]

9.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

• Drainage and Flooding Committee, August 12
• City Council, August 12
• Planning and Zoning Commission, August 1, special meeting
• Planning and Zoning Commission, August 15

9.a

Monthly Fund Balance Report. [Michael Dolby, Director of Finance]

10.

COUNCIL COMMENT

Hear announcements concerning matters appearing on the agenda; items of community interest; and/or inquiries of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy from the Mayor, Councilpersons, and City staff, for which no formal action will be discussed.

11.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Council will adjourn into executive session without vote unless an objection is raised.

11.a

Employee Matter

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 Secretary Lee Woodward.

11.b

Employee Matter

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.

12.

RECONVENE into open session and consider action, if any, on item(s) discussed in executive session.

13.

ADJOURN

 

If, during the course of the meeting and discussion of any items covered by this notice, City Council determines that a Closed or Executive Session of the Council is required, then such closed meeting will be held as authorized by Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Section 551.071 consultation with counsel on legal matters; Section 551.072 - deliberation regarding purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property; Section 551.073 - deliberation regarding a prospective gift; Section 551.074 - personnel matters regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee; Section 551.076 - implementation of security personnel or devices; Section 551.087 - deliberation regarding economic development negotiation; Section 551.089 - deliberation regarding security devices or security audits, and/or other matters as authorized under the Texas Government Code. If a Closed or Executive Session is held in accordance with the Texas Government Code as set out above, the City Council will reconvene in Open Session in order to take action, if necessary, on the items addressed during Executive Session.

Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aids or services are requested to contact the City Secretary's office (281-470-5019), two working days prior to the meeting for appropriate arrangements.

Pursuant to Texas Government Code Sec. 551.127, on a regular, non-emergency basis, members may attend and participate in the meeting remotely by video conference. Should that occur, a quorum of the members will be physically present at the location noted above on this agenda.

CERTIFICATE

I, Lee Woodward, City Secretary, do hereby certify that a copy of the July 22, 2024, City Council agenda was posted on the City Hall bulletin board, a place convenient and readily accessible to the general public at all times, and to the City's website, www.LaPorteTX.gov, in compliance with Chapter 551, Texas Government Code.

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