2002 08 08 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
August 8, 2002
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on July 25, 2002, at
4:45 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
Scott Sheley
Pete C. Alfaro
Gary M. Jackson
Ignacio Ramirez, Sr.
Gary W. Smith
Absent: Mercedes Renteria III
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Mayor
Interim City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
Council Member
The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was
conducted:
Receive and discuss the recommendations of the Streets, Sidewalks and Signalization
Subcommittee.
Bill Pedersen, Director of Engineering, reviewed the report with Council and noted that the
streets were ranked in the Council Districts by their PCI rating and priority assigned by the
subcommittee. The cost of paving stated in the report is a price per square foot and did not
include any base repairs, utility replacements, driveway or drainage work, therefore the
actual cost could be larger.
Mayor Alfaro stated that the $20,000,000 available from the sale of bonds is not sufficient
to pave the streets on the list. Mr. Pedersen responded that the goal is to pave streets
below 55 PCI and to provide maintenance funding to preserve streets above 55 PCI. The
cost to get all streets to 55 PCI is $4,000,000 per year for 13 years.
Mike Wilson, co -chair of the Subcommittee, reported that the subcommittee determined
that the streets with critical PCI should be addressed first. For the first year, the
subcommittee looked at the streets each Council Member identified and used the
information from the survey to confirm the priorities given by the Council Members. The
subcommittee will continue to assist the City in the future. The $4,000,000 will pave the
top two streets in each District.
Page 2 of 3
Minutes of the Work Session — August 8, 2002
Receive and discuss EEOC /AA plan update.
Carol Flynt, Acting Human Resources Director, reported that the City improved its
diversity in five of eight categories. The review included a new category of new hires to
give a picture of the hiring practices of the City. Mr. Jackson complemented the Human
Resources Department, Alison Smith, Carol Flynt and Lionel Williams, for innovation in
recruiting minorities.
Discuss proposed revisions to the carnival ordinance.
Mr. Jackson reminded Council of the previous briefing on the proposed changes to the
ordinance. Mike Lester, Director of Health, reported that the City may not prohibit
carnivals. Staff reviewed other cities' ordinances. The costs attendant to regulating a
carnival were reviewed and the fees were adjusted. A cash bond is proposed instead of a
surety bond. This will allow the City to have funds to claim against if the carnival fails to
comply with the ordinance. An increase in insurance is proposed. In response to a
question from Council Member Anderson, additional research will be done into excluding
a carnival that fails to comply with the ordinance and into background inquiries on the
employees of the carnival.
Discuss obtaining cost estimates for the proposed convention center.
Mr. Jackson stated that the marketing study presented at the last work session only looked
at marketing issues. It is necessary to research the actual cost of the facility. The City has
$4,000,000 from the sale of certificates of obligation and the TIRZ budget includes
$2,000,000 for a convention center. There are questions to be answered concerning
property ownership. It will take 60 -90 days to complete the cost estimates. During this
time, the questions can be answered and the course determined for the convention center.
Council Member Murray requested that the report to Council include the flexibility for use
of the funds from the certificates of obligation and the political implications related to the
certificates of obligation. Mayor Alfaro replied that memorandums existed to provide the
representations that have been made concerning the certificates of obligation. He
expressed concerns over the connection to San Jacinto Mall and requested an analysis of
the legal implications and burdens associated with the location at the Mall.
Mr. Jackson stated that if the certificates of obligation were refunded, the funds would be
available for the purposes allowed under the hotel /motel tax law.
Receive and discuss the preliminary report from the Municipal Court/Judges
Committee of Council.
Council Member Murray outlined the committee the Mayor appointed and he chairs.
Council Members Anderson and Renteria are the other members. Members of the staff
will support the committee. The committee's goals include the coverage needed for the
court, whether a full -time judge is needed, whether the system is meeting the needs of the
Page 3 of 3
Minutes of the Work Session — August 8, 2002
lr citizens, development of evaluations for the Judges, and salary recommendations. The
committee will learn about the activities in other cities and seek input from the local bar
association. Recommendations will be made for filling Judge positions as terms expire
and as needed to fill vacancies. The committee will make an annual presentation to City
Council on the Court system.
Receive and discuss the timeline for city manager recruitment and advertising report.
Ms. Flynt presented the timeline developed by the Human Resources Department for the
recruiting of a city manager. The timeline is based on the process used in hiring for all
positions. Advertising was begun on July 29,
Human Resources will develop questions and screening criteria for Council's review and
comments. From Council's comments a final standardized list will be prepared and the
procedure established for screening and selecting finalists. Human Resources will assist
Council in negotiations and final selection. By following the timeline, Council will be able
to appoint a city manager by November 14.
Discuss appointments.
Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Advisory Board.
Council Member Sheley stated that he would move the reappointment of the
following to the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Advisory Board: Hon. Larry
Bailey (local court), Reverend Silverio Sanchez (religion), Al Weatheral (school),
Julie Escalante, Assistant City Attorney (prosecutor's office), Jackie E. Erikson,
Captain (police), Jerry Bliss (local community group), Reverend Richard Turner
(Alternate), and Lieutenant David Alford (Alternate).
Parks & Recreation Board.
Council Member Anderson stated that he would move the reappointment of Wayne
Gray and Douglas P. Shipley to the Parks and Recreation Board.
Adjourn.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Gafy W Smith
City Clerk
l0"