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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: City Council Regular Work Session Minutes 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. City Council Regular Work Session Minutes 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. I /Z�yS * C /1),0 Leticia Brysch, City ���' City of Baytown O 4 F, .4 �a A