2001 03 22 WS MinutesMINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
March 22, 2001
Members present: Council Member Scott Sheley
Council Member Victor Almendarez
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
The work session was called to order by Mayor Alfaro at 5:40 p.m.
Discuss guidelines and criteria for the creation of a voting plan for the City of
Baytown.
City Manager Monte Mercer reviewed the proposed guidelines and criteria. - The
proposed criteria are as follows:
• Where possible, use easily identifiable geographic boundaries as district
boundaries;
• Maintain communities of interest in a single district and avoiding splitting
neighborhoods when drawing district boundaries;
• Use whole county voting precincts when drawing districts;
• Base the new plan, to the extent possible, on the existing council districts;
• Draw districts that are relatively equal in size and that in no event exceed a ten
percent top to bottom deviation;
• Draw districts that are compact and contiguous;
• Recognize incumbent- constituency relations by keeping existing members of the
council in their districts;
•
Narrowly tailor the plan to avoid retrogression in the position of racial minorities
and language minorities as defined in the Voting Rights Act with respect to their
effective exercise of the electoral franchise.
Dr. Stein from Rice University has been retained to assist the City in the process. The
first phase will consist of collecting and assembling the relevant data to begin the process
and apply the census data when available. The fee for the first phase will be $3,500.
City Council Work Session
March 22, 2001
Page 2 of 3
In response to Council Member Murray's inquiry about citizen involvement, Mercer
explained that a representative from each of the League of Women Voters, the Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce and the Baytown Chamber of Commerce will assist Council in
reviewing the data. The information will be made available to the public with sufficient
time for public concerns and suggestions to be considered prior to final adoption of the
plan.
To answer an inquiry from Council Member Sheley concerning changes in county
precinct lines, Mercer explained that efforts will be made to adjust our plan as it develops
and as the county plan develops.
Council Member Almendarez requested that the Council be informed of the issues that
were important in the 1991 voting plan but are not important in 2001.
Mayor Alfaro suggested that a person and a telephone number be made available to the
public to receive and give information on the voting plan as it develops.
Council Member Sheley requested work sessions to keep the Council informed, to
receive information from the Committee and public and to make information available.
Receive and discuss report from the Chambers County Cedar Bayou Navigation
District.
Don Johnson, attorney for the District, delivered an update on the proposed
improvements to Cedar Bayou. The project was reauthorized by Congress.
Congressional funding is now needed to proceed. Lockwood, Andrews, Newman (LAN)
have been retained as the engineers for the project. The various proposed dredge spoil
disposal sites were reviewed and the preference was stated for upland sites.
Ty Thomas, LAN, reported that the preliminary draft of the feasibility report had been
filed with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. After the draft has been approved by the
Corps, a public meeting will be held.
Monte Mercer asked for responses to questions about the safety of recreational users of
the bayou, the impact of the increased tow speed on banks and bulkheads along the
bayou, and any potential damage to infrastructure.
In response, Thomas replied that the District's goal was to provide a channel that would
allow for barge maneuverability. It is designed for one -way traffic, with one passing
lane. The new channel would allow a tow to be maneuvered to allow use by recreational
watercraft. Barge traffic will increase with or without the project.
With the current users, barge traffic is presently at five barges per day. After the project,
the traffic is expected to decrease to three barges per day. After fifty years, without the
City Council Work Session
March 22, 2001
Page 3 of 3
project, traffic should be 12 barges per day. After ten years, with the project, traffic
should be 4 V. per day and without the project, 6 % per day.
There will be no widening of the stream. With increased tow speed, there will be an
increase in wake height, but that would be offset by the decrease in traffic. The overall
impact would be the same.
Council Member Sheley encouraged the location of the spoils in the upland locations.
Thomas replied that each location has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Don Johnson reported that the process before the Corps of Engineers will address the
environmental issues. Council Member Almendarez asked if the City would be kept
informed of the communications and negotiations with the Corps.
Thomas explained that the channel sides would be sloped. The dredging will drop the
flood plain elevation by increasing the flood carrying capacity.
Responses to inquiries about hazardous materials and affects on real estate values were
requested to be forwarded to the City Manager for distribution to Council.
Consider appointments —Tow Truck Committee.
Council Member Sheley agreed to move reappointment of Jim Seth, Lewis McRee, and
Mercedes Renteria.
Adjourn.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:27 p.m.
d tz�'",
G W. Smith
City Clerk