2016 08 11 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
AUGUST 11, 2016
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Regular Work Session on Thursday,
August 11, 2016, at 5:32 P.M., in the Hullum Conference Room of the Baytown City Hall, 2401
Market Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance:
Brandon Capetillo
Council Member
David McCartney
Council Member
Chris Presley
Council Member
Mercedes Renteria
Council Member
Terry Sain
Council Member
Stephen DonCarlos Mayor
Rick Davis
City Manager
Karen Horner
Assistant City Attorney
Leticia Brysch
City Clerk
Keith Dougherty
Sergeant at Arms
Mayor DonCarlos convened the August 11, 2016, City Council Regular Work Session with a
quorum present at 5:32 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Council Member
Presley who arrived at 5:33 P.M., Council Member McCartney who arrived at 5:35 P.M. and
Council Member Hoskins who was absent.
1. DISCUSSIONS
a. Discuss potential redevelopment project at 204 W. Texas Avenue and the use of
public property.
This item was not taken.
b. Receive an update regarding the City of Baytown Animal Control Division.
Animal Control Manager, Kevin Cummings presented the update and stated that the City of
Baytown Animal Control Division is located at 705 N. Lanier Drive, westbound of Highway
146, and additionally invited all to visit the facility and adopt a pet. He stated that the entire
division is comprised of nine (9) positions: one (1) manager, two (2) senior animal control
officers, and six (6) animal control officers, which is small considering the work and
responsibilities they undertake every day; therefore, everyone does everything.
Mr. Cummings stated that the 2016 budget is $715,000 of which $544,000 is personnel cost,
leaving only $171,000 for all other operational and capital expenditures. He stated that the
City Council Regular Work Session Minutes
August 11, 2016
Page 2 of 4
Animal Control Facility is operated seven (7) days a week which includes holidays and 24 hours
a day on call service for animal control officers to attend to emergencies. He stated that on
average staff handles 7,000 field calls for service in a year, which results in the facility taking in
5,000 animals in one (1) year. He presented the following graph to the Council:
Monthly Summary as of July 31st
Current
Month
Last
Year
Month
Last
Year
YTD
Current
Year
YTD
YTD %
Change
Impounded by Animal Control (strays)
229
127
1385
1887
36%
Surrendered by Public (unwanted)
170
254
2562
1684
35%
Reclaimed Animals
41
23
295
363
23%
Adopted Animals
143
107
1 640
891
39%
Released to Rescue
45
24
249
267
7%
Euthanized Animals
191
261
2810
1819
35%
Live Releases
229
154
30%
43%
13%
After a brief discussion regarding the presented statistics, Health Director, Mike Lester stated
that the statistics presented to the Council are mostly for dogs and cats and do not include wild
animals. He stated that the number of impounded animals increased, the number of unwanted
animals decreased, the adopted numbers increased, the rescue numbers are static, and the
euthanasia numbers decreased, all while using the same resources as those from a year ago. He
further stated that with the additional resources being provided in the 2016 -17 budget; such as
Senior Animal Control OfficerNolunteer/Multi -Media position and the extra monies for the
spade and neuter events to occur on a monthly basis instead of quarterly, they hoped to make
those numbers even better, particularly as it relates to the number of live releases, which we
would like to see at 50 %.
Mr. Cummings noted that the Animal Control Division has completed the Animal Control Panel
recommendations as follows:
1) Increased hours that the shelter is open to the public - Reopened on Thursdays.
2) Expanded social media outreach via Facebook.
3) Incorporated new Rescue Group Application as a best practice.
4) Established a standardized "New Owner" contract.
5) Provided Adoption venues and participated in `major City events'.
6) Increased SNAP events providing low -cost Spay and Neuter clinics for our citizens.
7) Utilized previously obtained USAF kennels providing for overflow housing and quarantine
facilities.
8) Produced "I Like Those Mutts" music outreach video, in conjunction with the Public Affairs
office, to promote adoption, spay and neuter of mixed breed animals.
He further noted the following ongoing panel recommendations /projects that are being worked
on:
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August 11, 2016
Page 3 of 4
1) Currently reviewing and revising Chapter 14 `Animals' of the Code of
Ordinances:
A) Add requirement for pet animals to be micro - chipped based on San
Antonio's current practice.
B) Update to meet current state law /guidelines.
2) Expand social media outreach via Facebook to include `stray animal'
awareness efforts.
3) Design and Install Low - Impact Parking and Driveway at shelter.
4) Complete a quartz epoxy floor resurfacing of the Quarantine Kennel to ease
cleaning and reduce illness transmission.
5) Complete the installation of an emergency generator to completely power the
shelter and a sewer lift station in the event of a power outage.
6) Develop relationships with national rescue groups, investigating the possibility
of providing Baytown animals to out -of -state shelters that are in need of adoptable
animals.
Mayor DonCarlos and the Council voiced their appreciation of the work being conducted on this
item in the last year.
C. Discuss and provide direction to City staff regarding the proposed City of Baytown
2016 -17 Fiscal Year Budget.
City Manager Davis presented the agenda item to follow -up on some of Council's concerns from
the August 4th budget discussion. He stated that one of the biggest items discussed was the
Police Department facilities and repairs. He noted that he and two chiefs met the following
morning to discuss their facilities, needs and steps moving forward. He stated that in the
proposed budget a facilities plan was being funded in order to create a facilities master plan for
the 40 plus buildings owned by the City and that he would provide the Council with a more in
depth plan for improvements to the Police and Fire Administration buildings in the next 30 days.
He noted that the plan will support detail steps to be taken that can remedy issues short and long
term, and that he did not rule out the possibility of a bond election in the near future.
City Manager Davis stated that the second item discussed at the budget meeting related to the
issue of substandard buildings. He noted that in the upcoming budget a full time administrative
assistant is being funded to help with the paperwork related to the code enforcement case
work. He further noted that with the administrative support being handled by someone else, the
current neighborhood protection officers will spend more time on the streets doing pro- active
code enforcement. He reminded the Council that per their request, code enforcement was no
longer on a complaint basis but was now pro - actively being enforced. The Council briefly
discussed code enforcement with Health Director Mike Lester.
City Manager Davis stated that the third item reviewed, related to the Green Center and the need
to extend the hours of operation. He stated that one (1) full time employee was being placed in
the Green Center in order to extend the operating hours and this was being accomplished by
eliminating the over time needed for other employees to help cover the Green Center's time, on
top of their regular duties.
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August 11, 2016
Page 4 of 4
City Manager Davis stated that the last item to discuss related to the creation of a tree
ordinance. He noted that staff will be working on bringing something for the Council's review
sometime in October, and also noted that there were other ordinances that staff was going to
work on updating.
City Manager Davis stated that he would have a similar item to discuss the proposed budget at
the next Council meeting to continue the communication and ensure that the Council's questions
and concerns are being dealt with appropriately.
d. Present an update on the Fire Training Field.
City Manager Davis presented the agenda item and stated that staff is working with the Baytown
Fire Control and Prevention District (the "District ") in order to create a subcommittee of the
District that will serve as an advisory group to the building and operations of the fire training
field. He noted that the District was in full agreement with the subcommittee and felt it was a
good next step to ensuring the success of the fire training field. He further noted that the
subcommittee would be composed of public and private professionals that will help give the City
good insight and direction into the needs of our partners and future customers.
Fire Chief Shon Blake stated that they reached out to a number of industrial partners and other
key figures, such as Maurice Watts to participate in this subcommittee. He noted that they
wanted to be able to begin meeting soon, in order to be ready for the kickoff of the design
portion of the project in October 2016. Additionally, he stated that he estimates that the design
portion of the project will take 6 -8 months.
City Manager Davis stated that as the subcommittee moves forward, he would continue to
communicate relevant information to the Council. Additionally, he stated that the next steps in
the creation of this subcommittee are to recruit interested participants, in order for the District to
appoint them in an upcoming meeting.
e. Discuss any or all of the agenda items on the City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
for August 11, 2016, which is attached below.
This item was not taken.
2. ADJOURN
With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor DonCarlos adjourned the August 11,
2016, City Council Regular Work Session at 6:27 P.M.
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Leticia Brysch, City ���'
City of Baytown O 4
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