2004 06 24 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
June 24, 2004
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on June 24, 2004, at 5:00
p.m. in the Council Chamber, Baytown, Texas, with the following in attendance:
Sammy Mahan
Council Member
Don Murray
Council Member
Mercedes Renteria III
Council Member
Scott Sheley
Council Member
Calvin Mundinger Mayor
Gary M. Jackson
City Manager
Ignacio Ramirez, Sr.
City Attorney
Gary W. Smith
City Clerk
Absent was: Ronnie Anderson Council Member
The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was
conducted:
Discuss Community Development Block Grant budget.
Gary Jackson, City Manager, reported that staff had evaluated the proposals for the CDBG
budget, the Community Development Advisory Committee conducted four meetings to consider
the requests for receipt of funds and worked within the limits of available funds, and that staff
and CDAC agreed on the budget.
Tiffany Foster and Eric Halverson, Chairperson, CDAC, presented the proposed budget to
Council. The funding available was not sufficient to cover all requests. The Committee tried to
preserve the status quo. They reviewed the amounts recommended for purposes and
organizations. In response to questions, they explained that the $35,000 requested for the
Promise Center was not recommended because the Promise Center has $35,000 in unexpended
funds for the purchase of property and no earnest money contract has been signed. Central
Heights requested more funding than was available within the category for street improvements.
The request highlights the neighborhood's desire for street improvements. Habitat for the
Humanities is recommended for its first funding. The funding will allow them to purchase two
lots and provide two new houses within the targeted area.
Mr. Jackson explained that the funding for private sewer line repairs was not recommended
because funding for the past year remains unexpended and the sewer repair work will not be
done in the target area until late in the next budget year. The existing funding will not be used
until then.
Gregory Stubbs, Director of Planning and Building Services, explained the funding for the
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Minutes of the Work Session — June 24, 2004
downtown design principles. The funding will allow the creation of an overlay zone. The design
principles will guide property owners in the redevelopment of the buildings. It is
implementation of the downtown master plan.
The administration funding covers salaries and costs associated with the CDBG program.
Mr. Jackson reminded Council that funds are declining; yet there are many needs competing for
the funding. City programs are competing for funds. Without CDBG funding, services in
Neighborhood Protection may be reduced.
Receive presentation and discuss Transportation Improvement Program Project Funding
through Houston Galveston Area Council.
Lynn Spencer, Houston Galveston Area Council Transportation Improvement Coordinator,
explained that HGAC is the metropolitan transportation planning organization. As the planning
organization, HGAC develops the Regional Transportation Plan. The immediate projects of the
RTP are contained in the Transportation Improvement Plan.
Funding for transportation projects comes from federal sources, user fees, local bonds and
general revenues.
The Regional Transportation Plan is a 20 -year outlook. It is a $77 billion plan, but it is not
funded. The TIP is a three -year plan. Scoring of projects is by established priorities. There
must be local government commitment to a project and the project must be ready for bidding. In
the current TIP, there are 11 projects that affect Baytown; three have investments from the City.
Growth is expected in the area. Therefore, the City must plan for growth. The Call for Projects
continues through August 18`h.
Top priorities to be included in the TIP include having the right -of -way acquired and a resolution
from the governing body supporting the project. The project should address safety factors and
environmental justice. The applications are extensive and must be complete to be considered.
Mayor Mundinger reminded Council and those present of Council Member Murray's
involvement in HGAC and that his efforts obtained $3,000,000 for the completion of the main
lanes of Spur 330.
Ms. Spencer said that the projects are funded on an 80/20 split.
Council Member Murray reminded Council that the City is proceeding on the synchronization of
the signals on North Main Street and Alexander Drive. If any CMAQ money is unused, it may
be made available for the synchronization project.
Discuss selection process for Council Member District 3.
Mayor Mundinger suggested that Robert's Rules of Order be followed as much as practicable.
The floor would be opened for nominations. He thought that each Council Member should be
restricted to nominating only one person.
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Minutes of the Work Session — June 24, 2004
Council Member Sheley agreed that Robert's Rules of Order should be followed, but that they
will not allow them to act contrary to the Charter. The past practice had been to discuss the
nomination in work session. There is an opportunity for the decision to the made on Thursday,
July 1.
Council Member Murray stated that it was imperative that all six members of Council must be
present at the meeting during which the vacancy was filled.
Mayor Mundinger stated that the Charter required that the vacancy be filled by a majority vote of
the remaining members of the Council. He suggested that Council could meet before the MDD
meeting on Thursday, July 1. Council then discussed the time for the meeting and concurred that
the meeting should start at 1 p.m.
Discuss limited purpose annexation and strategic partnership agreements.
Mr. Jackson called Council's attention to the news article from the June 14 Houston Chronicle
reporting the City of Houston's use of limited annexations and strategic partnership agreements
to annex the commercial developments in MUD's and collect a portion of the sales tax without
providing any services to the areas. Baytown has several MUD's within its ETJ and could use a
similar strategy. One MUD has expressed an intention of developing a commercial area. They
need water and the City has water. The statute allows the City to enter into a strategic
partnership with the MUD to provide water, annex the area for limited purposes, provide only
the services agreed on in the agreement, and collect the sales taxes. If the City allows the
commercial development to occur in the ETJ, there will be competition with the businesses in the
City and the sales tax will be impacted. An agreement similar to the agreement that Houston
employs can be used. Houston does not supply water. Staff is studying language in the statute
that may limit providing services for which a fee is charged. The restriction applies only in
Harris County. The original thought had been to establish a standard form of agreement, but due
to the specific restrictions peculiar to Hams County, the standard form for all agreements may
not be possible. In Chambers County, other services could be provided. The developer has only
inquired about water. This is consistent with Council's policy on utility service. The area would
request annexation. The advantage is that the City would gain the sales taxes without being
obligated to provide all services. The agreements can be entered into with MUD's and Water
Control and Improvement Districts. More information will be provided at a later meeting.
Discuss appointments.
Baytown Housing Authority.
Mayor Mundinger stated that he will announce his reappointment of Hector Meza and Wayne
Hanson to the Baytown Housing Authority Board.
Baytown Housing Finance Corporation.
This item was not discussed.
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Minutes of the Work Session — June 24, 2004
Baytown Municipal Development District.
Council Member Sheley stated that he would move the reappointment of Fritz Lanham and
Leonard Stasney to the Baytown Municipal Development District.
Adjourn.
There being no further business, Council Member Renteria moved that the meeting adjourn.
Council Member Murray seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Aye: Council Members Mahan, Murray, Renteria, and Sheley
Mayor Mundinger
Nay: None.
The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
Gary W.6§mith
City Clerk