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2001 06 14 WS MinutesMINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 14, 2001 Members present: Council Member Mercedes Renteria, III Council Member Calvin Mundinger Council Member Don Murray Council Member Ronnie Anderson Council Member Coleman Godwin Pete C. Alfaro Mayor Staff present: Monte Mercer City Manager Ignacio Ramirez, Sr. City Attorney Gary W. Smith City Clerk Absent: Council Member Scott Sheley The work session was called to order by Mayor Alfaro at 5:15 p.m. Consider criteria for and appointments to the board of directors of the Baytown Municipal Development District. City Manager, Monte Mercer, reviewed the options of City Council in setting criteria for the Municipal Development District Board of Directors. He recommended that the number of directors in addition to the Council Members be limited to no more than four. Other persons could be appointed in an ex officio capacity, without the authority to vote. For possible criteria, he suggested as mandatory criteria that the person be a resident of the city and that the person have no personal interest in contracts entered by the board, as statutorily mandated, and the person have community service involvement and evaluate projects based on the impact to the community as a whole. As preferred qualifications, the person should have experience in economic development, real estate and the business community. Mayor Alfaro stated his preference for persons other than Council serving on the board, but stated that they must look at the entire community. He noted that advisory groups might be asked to bring expertise to the board. He supported an eleven- member board meeting the criteria that the City Manager outlined. Council Members Anderson, Mundinger and Murray each expressed his support for an eleven- member board. City Council Work Session June 14, 2001 Page 2 of 3 Council Member Godwin stated his opposition to adding at -large members to the board. The Council was elected to make decisions. There exist sufficient restrictions on the expenditure of funds. Input will be received from the public without additional members. Council Member Anderson related that the closeness of the vote on Proposition 7 lead him to support the at -large members. Mayor Alfaro noted that the board would have broader responsibilities than approving projects. The board would develop the policy that would diversify the economy of Baytown and meet the requirements of the state implementation plan. Council Member Renteria joined Council Member Godwin in opposing expanding the board beyond the members of City Council. Other means can be developed to obtain feedback from the citizens. Council Member Murray expressed that the approval margin likely would have been greater if the Council had been able to assure the electorate that there would be broad citizen participation on the board. Council Member Murray recommended that none of the appointees have any interest in any action taken by the board, to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest. The impact of a decision on a director must be no greater than the impact on the members of the community at large. Mayor Alfaro outlined the selection process as follows: Resumes are to be forwarded to him. He will compile them and provide them for review at the June 21 meeting, at which appointments can be made. Mayor Alfaro anticipated that the directors would spend up to four hours each week on the business of the district. Council Member Mundinger expressed support for discussion of all names, without interviews, before appointments are made to the board. Council Member Godwin asked if an advisory committee would be acceptable in lieu of the additional directors. Council Member Murray responded that the board will need the assistance from other specialists in the community other than the four additional directors. Discussion of the temporary closure of Garth Road Fire Station No. 1. Fire Chief Leiper reviewed the facts that lead to the temporary closure. A new consultant recommended the closure, therefore the action was taken. The territory assigned to the Bayway Fire Station has been adjusted to balance response times. The EMS unit is kept in the northern part of the City during the periods of high demand. Essential equipment has been removed from the building. Other equipment is being removed. The contamination is in the living quarters. The electronics have been salvaged. The bedding and furniture is being discarded and will be replaced. City Council Work Session June 14, 2001 Page 3 of 3 Mold is not a problem until it is disturbed. The air levels have not reached a level that would cause harm to an occupant, however, destructive work must be done to solve the problem. City Manager Mercer reported that it could take up to one year to solve the problems in the station and that negotiations have been begun with the old Ron Craft Chevrolet facility as a temporary location for the occupants of Fire Station No. 1. In response to questions, opportunities for legal recourse are being studied. There appears to be no insurance coverage for the loss. Consider appointments. Baytown Area Long Range Planning Commission. The appointment will be deferred until the next Council meeting. Tow Truck Committee. The appointment will be deferred until the next Council meeting. Mayor Pro Tem. City Manager Mercer reported that the appointment was made by the City Council. Council Members Godwin and Mundinger had served as Mayor Pro Tem before. Mayor Alfaro stated that the position rotated on an annual basis after the general election. Council Member Mundinger stated that he would nominate Council Member Murray for Mayor Pro Tem. Council Member Renteria asked how the selection was traditionally made. In response Mayor Alfaro stated that it was the choice of Council, but the tradition was to go with the senior member of Council who had not served as Mayor Pro Tem. Council Member Sheley is the most senior, then Council Members Anderson and Murray followed in seniority, of the members who had not served as Mayor Pro Tem. Adjourn. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:21 p.m. G k W. Smith City Clerk