2001 10 11 WS MInutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
October 11, 2001
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on October 11, 2001,
at 5:45 p.m. in the Hullum Conference Room of Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street,
Baytown, Texas, with the following in attendance:
Ronnie Anderson
Coleman Godwin
Calvin Mundinger
Don Murray
Mercedes Renteria III
Scott Sheley
Pete C. Alfaro
Monte Mercer
Karen Horner
Gary W. Smith
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Mayor
City Manager
First Assistant City Attorney
City Clerk
The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was
conducted:
Discuss creation and authority of the Baytown Redevelopment Authority.
City Manager, Monte Mercer, introduced the City's consultant for the tax increment
reinvestment zone, David Hawes. Mr. Hawes reviewed the actions taken related to the
reinvestment zone. City Council created the zone and appointed the Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors have held their first meeting and business is being conducted. The
next step is to create the Redevelopment Authority.
The Authority will act on behalf of the City and Board. To explain the relationship
between the City Council, Board and Authority, the duties of the Council and Board were
reviewed. The Council and Board develop and approve the zone plans. The Authority
implements the plans. The City's policies are still in place related to developments.
A Tri-Party Agreement will be developed to spell out the responsibilities of the Council,
Board and Authority. The Agreement will contain safeguards to assure that Council
maintains control. The Agreement will give the Authority power to act on behalf of the
Board to manage the zone, negotiate contracts and purchase and deal in property.
The Authority will be a local government corporation. It will be able to issue bonds with
approval of City Council.
Page 2 of 2
Minutes of the Work Session — October 11, 2001
The Authority Directors will be the same persons as the Zone Directors. The Authority
will operate under City contract policies. The Council will approve all development
contracts. All property acquired by the Authority, at the dissolution of the Authority, will
become property of the City. The Authority will be subject to the same accounting and
audit rules as the City. The annual audit will be delivered to the Council, Board and City
Manager. All records will be kept under the same rules as the City maintains records.
The Authority will dissolve when the projects are completed or at the direction of City
Council.
In response to an inquiry about the issuance of bonds, Mr. Hawes replied that the zone
must have revenue prior to bond being issued. The bonds must meet the same ratios as
municipal bonds to be rated and be sold. Council Member Murray stated that bond
issuance would be done only if it is financially advantageous for the zone. The developers
must fund all the improvements and will be repaid only from the incremental taxes. Bonds
will not be used to construct improvements.
Mayor Alfaro, Council Member Murray, and the City Manager stated that final authority
remained with City Council and reviewed appointments and compliance with the adopted
plans as means of control of activities in the zone.
Discuss Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan.
City Manager, Monte Mercer, introduced Bob Dukes, consultant in development of the
Master Plan. Mr. Dukes reviewed the work done since 1995 in development of the Master
Plan. Mr. Dukes called Council's attention to the seven priorities listed in the executive
summary of the Plan. Parks & Wildlife evaluates grant applications on the project's
application to the priorities set forth in the Master Plan. The priorities are developed to
assist in grant applications. The priorities were developed from the review of the needs
assessment, information received at public meetings and from staff discussions.
City Manager Mercer reviewed the changes that staff will be making to the draft of the
Master Plan. The goal is to have the Master Plan adopted by the end of October, 2001.
Council Member Sheley expressed concern that the Master Plan did not include cost
estimates to achieve the goals stated, and whether the plan could be changed as situations
change. Mercer responded that the plan is a concept document. Council Member Murray
reminded Council that the Plan establishes the process for Council endorsing and orienting
priorities for the Parks Department.
In further explanation of the priority rankings, Mr. Duke explained that if specific projects
are listed in the priorities, grant review will rate the application based on how the project
will meet the specific project listed at the top of the priority list. The design of the priority
list in the Master Plan allows each grant application to meet all of the priorities.
Page 3 of 3
Minutes of the Work Session — October 11, 2001
Adjourn.
Council Member Mundinger moved adjournment. Council Member Murray seconded the
motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Godwin, Mundinger, Murray, Renteria and
Sheley
Mayor Alfaro
Nays: None.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
l�
G W. S ith, City Clerk