2002 01 10 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
January 10, 2002
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on January 10, 2002,
at 5:40 p.m. in the Hullum Conference Room of Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street,
Baytown, Texas, with the following in attendance:
Ronnie Anderson
Council Member
Coleman Godwin
Council Member
Calvin Mundinger
Council Member
Don Murray
Council Member
Mercedes Renteria III
Council Member
Scott Sheley
Council Member
Pete C. Alfaro Mayor
Monte Mercer City Manager
Ignacio Ramirez, Sr. City Attorney
Gary W. Smith City Clerk
The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was
conducted:
Discuss the restaurant and marina in Bayland waterfront district.
City Manager Monte Mercer reported that the City, in conjunction with the Baytown/West
Chambers County Economic Development Foundation, had solicited proposals for the
restaurant operators. To assist the City and EDF, Matt Dilick was retained. The process
resulted in the proposal from Barry Terrell, operator of T -Bone Tom's in Kemah. The
proposals for the marina operator have moved to the point of final negotiations on the
contract. The settlement agreement with Ninfa's is nearly complete. A special meeting
may be called to consider these items.
Mike Shields, Executive Director of the EDF, reported the process employed by the City
and EDF to locate an operator for the restaurant. The original goal was to obtain a national
chain restaurant for the waterfront. Matt Dilick, who has been involved in the siting of
restaurants for 16 years was retained to assist in the search. Thirteen large companies were
contacted. They did not determine that the necessary market was present to support one of
their operations. The search then turned to a quality restaurant operation. The factors
considered were the experience, menu, finances and management. The search resulted in
U. S. Enterprise Ltd. The key person has experience with national restaurants and has
successfully operated an independent restaurant.
In response to a question from Mayor Alfaro concerning the data used by the national
restaurants to determine the Baytown market, Mr. Shields reported that the Ninfa's balance
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Minutes of the Work Session — January 10, 2002
sheets from the initial years were made available. Those years did not produce the
necessary demand and market in the analysis.
Matt Dilick reported that the competition with the national restaurants is with markets such
as Dallas and Austin. Baytown was not as attractive to them. The local, independent
operators find the setting more attractive than the nationals. The local operator that was
considered did not have the necessary financial backing.
Mr. Mercer responded to Council Member Sheley's questions by relating that the rent
would escalate to the rental charged Ninfa's. Once the restaurant and marina are being
operated profitably, then the City will be in a better position to market the rest of the
property on the Island.
In reply to Council Member Godwin's inquiry about experience, Mr. Shields replied that
Mr. Terrell had 9%: years experience with Landry's and 3 years with T -Bone Tom's.
Council Member Sheley expressed concern that the menu of seafood and steaks would be
in competition with existing restaurants. Barry Terrell replied that the menu would start as
half seafood and half steak. The seafood would begin as fried, but the menu would adjust,
based on the demand and market.
Mr. Mercer reported that landscaping, monumentation and signs would be installed to
attract customers to the location. The effort will be to assist the new operator to be
successful to lead to development of other pads on the waterfront.
Discuss amendment of rules of procedure to allow staff to set public hearings.
Monte Mercer, City Manager, stated that the proposed amendment will streamline the
process that involves public hearings. The proposed change will allow the matters that are
subject to a public hearing to be brought to City Council more promptly by eliminating the
Council action item calling the hearing. The change in procedure will also allow the
hearings to be scheduled in the regular course of the meetings. When a statute requires
Council to set the time, date and location of a public hearing, an action item will be
presented to Council.
Discuss appointments
Confirmation of the City Manager's appointment to the Library
Board.
Council Member Sheley stated that he would move confirmation of Karin
Dickey, Liza Walmsley, and Gene Poirot to the Library Board.
Community Development Advisory Committee.
Council Member Renteria announced that he was not ready for the
appointment.
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Minutes of the Work Session —January 10, 2002
Growth Management and Development Advisory Commission and
Planning and Zoning Commission.
Council Members Renteria and Godwin announced that they were not ready
for the appointments.
Chairman, Reinvestment Zone Number One, City of Baytown and
Redevelopment Authority.
Council Member Mundinger stated that he would move reappointment of
Don Murray as Chairman of the Reinvestment Zone and the Redevelopment
Authority.
Baytown/West Chambers County Economic Development Foundation.
Council Member Godwin, based on the practice of rotating appointments to
the Economic Development Foundation, stated that he would move
appointment of Ronnie Anderson as the City representative on the
Foundation.
Adjourn.
Council Member Murray moved adjournment. Council Member Mundinger 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 6:17 p.m.
Gary W. Smith
City Clerk
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