2005 07 14 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
July 14, 2005
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on July 14, 2005, at 4:00 p.m.
in the Council Chamber, Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas, with the
following in attendance:
Ronnie Anderson
Brandon Capetillo
Sammy Mahan
Don Murray
Mercedes Renteria III
Scott Sheley
Calvin Mundinger
Gary M. Jackson
Bob Leiper
Kelvin Knauf
Ignacio Ramirez, Sr.
Gary W. Smith
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Mayor
City Manager
Deputy City Manager
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk.
The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was conducted:
Receive and discuss the presentation from Park Lake Communities, L. P. on the Thompson
Road project.
Shay Shafie, Park Lake Communities, L. P., a division of Royce Builders, described the proposed
development on Thompson Road. The project will be a 400 -acre master planned community.
Multiple builders will be used to provide multiple products. At build -out the project will contain
1,400 single - family residences. The increased appraisal value will be $180,000,000. It will be a
deed restricted community of town homes and homes built on lots ranging in width from forty feet
to sixty feet. The market study of the Baytown area indicates that the homes being constructed are
in the $100,000 to $150,000 price range. The amenities of the development will include entry
features, landscape setbacks, a 22 -acre lake, a trail system, a recreation facility with a community
pool, and open space and pocket parks to be maintained by the homeowners association.
Council discussed the advisability for additional access other than from Thompson Road, saving
trees, and utility availability.
Mr. Shafie concluded by stating that the developer will request the following from the City:
annexation, an in -City MUD, and a zoning change to allow the mixed product proposed within the
community.
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Minutes of the Work Session — July 14, 2005
Discuss the policy for election of a Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Mundinger stated that the proposed policy had been developed by the ad hoc committee
composed of Mayor Mundinger and Council Members Murray and Sheley. The committee met
twice to develop the proposed policy.
The proposed policy begins with the Charter mandate that City Council select a Mayor Pro Tem an
continues with the following:
• The Mayor Pro Tem shall be elected from within the Council and each Council Member
shall vote for the best interests of the City.
• The position serves the entire City.
• No criteria or ground rules will prevent a Council Member from voting his or her
conscience.
• The selection shall be made by a vote of the majority of the quorum present.
• The selection will be made at the first regular Council meeting in July of each year.
• Prior to nominating a person for Mayor Pro Tem, the person must be contacted and must
agree to serve. The nominee must review the document outlining the duties of the Mayor
and Mayor Pro Tem. The nominee must state that he/she understands the duties and
commits to performing the duties.
• After election the Mayor Pro Tem must attend an orientation meeting with the Mayor and
out -going Mayor Pro Tem.
• The nominee must have served on City Council for at least one year.
• The Mayor Pro Tem must attend an elected city official training program within three
months.
• A Council Member may nominate himself/herself.
• Each Council Member should vote on the selection.
The proposed guidelines prevent selection of the Mayor Pro Tem at the July 14, 2005 regular
meeting.
Council discussed the importance of education and understanding the duties of the office. Council
discussed the obligation of each Council Member to vote on the selection of the Mayor Pro Tem.
Council Member Renteria questioned the need for the policy. Seniority had served as the policy in
the past. Council stated a general belief that the new policy will provide a benefit to the Council in
the selection of the Mayor Pro Tem.
Council Member Renteria urged that the policy contain a provision for replacing the Mayor Pro
Tem should the position become vacant. Council Member Murray and Mayor Mundinger stated
that a provision could be added to provide for filling the vacancy upon the voluntary resignation of
the Mayor Pro Tem.
Council Member Anderson thanked the committee for its work in developing the policy.
Council Member Renteria left the meeting at 5:05 p.m.
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Minutes of the Work Session — July 14, 2005
Discuss establishment of a beautification committee.
Gary Jackson, City Manager, stated that following Council's discussion of forming a beautification
committee, he asked Mike Lester to research the issue. Mr. Lester found that organizations exist
that have the formations and the structures for the committee that City Council appears to desire.
Keep America Beautiful has an established program with the support necessary to start and develop
a beautification committee. Council is urged to consider the Keep American Beautiful process.
This may make committee formation and activity better organized and more effective. Form
ordinances are available. The committee is proposed by Keep America Beautiful as a broad based,
community -wide organization. Extensive community involvement is encouraged.
Council Member Sheley supported use of the Keep America Beautiful and Keep Texas Beautiful
model.
Council Member Murray asked if the development of landscaping and entryway improvements is
within the scope of the Keep America Beautiful program. Mayor Mundinger stated that more
information on the organizational process and the scope of activities would be presented at a later
date. Mr. Jackson stated that resources are available to assist the Council in meeting its goals for
Baytown.
Receive presentation and discuss report from Public Sector Personnel Consultants on the
compensation plan market study.
Alison Smith, Director of Human Resources, stated that the City has used the same firm for many
years to assist in the development of the compensation plan. The firm is Public Sector Personnel
Consultants.
Robert Miles, Public Sector Personnel Consultants, stated that the project included looking at the
jobs to update job titles and classifications, a comprehensive salary survey, a custom benefits
survey, and updating the job titles and groups to be consistent with the survey.
Seventy employees were interviewed to see if the jobs had changed. Management was consulted to
make sure they were going in the right direction. For 91% of the jobs, there was not change. Job
titles were changed for 7% and 3% were reclassified.
The salary surveys were conducted by types of jobs, executive and senior management surveyed
cities with a population between 60,000 and 125,000. Non - management surveyed the Houston area.
Police surveyed the Houston area. Fire surveyed the collective bargaining cities.
The midpoints were compared for noncivil service jobs. The tiers in the civil service jobs were
compared. Market has been defined as plus or minus 5% of the prevailing rates. 95 benchmark
jobs were compared. In the executive and senior management, 53% were competitive and 47%
were not competitive. In nonmanagement 65% were competitive and 35% were not competitive.
The comprehensive benefit study considered all benefits. Generally, the group premiums are lower
than other cities.
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Minutes of the Work Session — July 14, 2005
When the market midpoint is higher than the current midpoint, then the job is moved to a higher pay
grade. If the current midpoint is greater than the market midpoint, no change is made.
Ms. Smith noted that if the individual is paid above the pay grade, then no adjustment will be made
to the salary. If an across the board increase I given, then a lump sum payment will be made to the
employee.
It is recommended that the evaluation to market be maintained, or market equals plus or minus 5%
of market midpoint. The proposals include bringing the noncivil service positions to market while
providing fiscal discretion (funding availability). The proposals consider time in position and
anticipate five years in position will pay the individual at midpoint. Any across the board increases
are to be considered in the budget process.
Mr. Miles reviewed the various options and costs for noncivil service employees, for police civil
service employees, and for fire civil service employees.
The plan is to be updated annually and Alison Smith is commended for conducting annual surveys.
If the proposals are approved, the plan will provide internal equity, competitiveness in the market,
and financial constraints.
Council Member Murray encouraged inclusion of a merit -based system.
Discuss appointments.
The discussion of appointments was delayed until the regular meeting.
The work session meeting was recessed at 5:56 p.m.
The work session meeting reconvened at 6:19 p.m.
Receive and discuss the Annual Water Quality Report at 6:20 p.m.
Armando Martinez, Lab Supervisor of Baytown Area Water Authority, reviewed the report. The
report describes the source of the water, how it is process, and how it is distributed. The report
notifies customers of possible contaminants. Not all possible contaminants are bad, some are
naturally occurring. A table of constituents is included, with maximum allowable concentrations
shown, and the local values. Non - regulated substances are also included, along with definitions and
total organic concentration and chlorine residual. The report is posted on the City's website and the
Baytown Area Water Authority website.
Mayor Mundinger commended the BAWA employees for providing the city with safe drinking
water.
Adjourn.
Council Member Anderson moved that the meeting adjourn. Council Member Capetillo seconded
the motion. The vote follows:
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Minutes of the Work Session — July 14, 2005
Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Capetillo, Mahan, Murray, and Sheley
Mayor Mundinger.
Nays: None.
The motion carried. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:26 p.m.
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