2016 11 21 WS Minutes, Special MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL WORK SESSION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
NOVEMBER 21, 2016
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Special Work Session on Monday,
November 21, 2016, at 5:35 P.M., in the Hullum Conference Room of the Baytown City
Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown,Texas with the following in attendance:
Robert Hoskins Council Member
David McCartney Council Member
Chris Presley Council Member
Terry Sain Council Member
Stephen DonCarlos Mayor
Rick Davis City Manager
Ignacio Ramirez City Attorney
Leticia Brysch City Clerk
Keith Dougherty Sergeant at Arms
Mayor DonCarlos convened the November 21, 2016, City Council Special Work Session with a
quorum present at 5:35 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Council Members
Capetillo and Renteria who were both absent.
1. DISCUSSIONS
a. Discuss proposed amendments to Chapter 98 "Utilities," Article III "Water
Service," Section 98-57 "Tapping fees" of the Code of Ordinances, Baytown, Texas, to
establish tapping fees,without regard to whether the tap is on the long or short side.
Assistant Director of Public Works, Mark LeBlanc presented the agenda item and stated that the
staff recommended some changes to the code in order to streamline the process and increase the
tap fees, which have not been updated since 2010. He stated that one of the items being
considered by the Planning Department is the base plan reviews that are currently being held up
in the process because of the way tap fees and UAs are currently conducted, as staff has to go out
and physically verify if the tap is a long or short tap; therefore, in order to move this process
along quicker, staff would like to have standard fees in place based on the cost analysis of what it
actually cost the city to make the taps. Mr. LeBlanc further stated that staff recommended the
fees be amended as follows:
City Council Regular Work Session Minutes
November 21,2016
Page 2 of 4
Inside or Outside City Size Location Current Proposed
Inside City 3/" Short Side $550 $900
Long Side $650
1" Short Side $650 $1,000
Long Side $750
Outside City 3/" Short Side $550 $1,100
Long Side $650
1" Short Side $650 $ 1,200
Long Side $750
Mr. LeBlanc further noted that the tap fees are being brought up to an average between the actual
cost for both the short and the long side, in order to reduce the amount of monies being
subsidized by the tax payers for private developments.
The Council had no questions regarding the submitted report.
b. Discuss proposed update of the land use assumptions, capital improvements plan
and impact fees.
Deputy City Manager Bottoms presented the agenda item regarding the impact fees for
surrounding cities that was requested by the Council at the last meeting. He stated that staff
recommended assessing an impact fee for the City of Baytown at $3,524 and presented the
following numbers of the surrounding cities beginning with the most costly first as follows:
Sugar Land(connection fee): $6,600
Pearland: $4,875
Rosenburg: $4,705
League City: $4,023
Webster: $2,658
Alvin: $2,500
Mont Belvieu: $1,180
Deputy City Manager Bottoms stated that as it relates to Pasadena, La Porte and Deer Park, those
systems are built out; therefore, they do not have impact fees. He noted that the recommended
fee of$3,524 is not out of line with the surrounding communities, even though, it is a jump from
the current $2,243. He again reminded council that these fees pick up 50% of the cost of the
projects identified in the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP), and staff supports the $3,524 and
hope to move forward with said fee increase if it is the desire of the council. He further noted
that there is no action related to this item on the agenda, but was simply for informational
purposes only.
Council discussed the item briefly and stated that the information provided was very helpful in
considering their decision.
c. Discuss an unmarked police fleet replacement program.
City Council Regular Work Session Minutes
November 21,2016
Page 3 of 4
Police Chief, Keith Dougherty presented the agenda item and stated that after the last retreat and
the subsequent budget process, he was tasked with finding ways to cut costs for the Police
Department. He stated that one item researched to cut costs is that of the unmarked police fleet
replacement schedule and program by leasing un-marked police vehicles. He stated that by
leasing these vehicles, the cost would move from capital expenditures to a recurring operational
cost in the budget and that the leasing plan included all the maintenance associated with the
vehicles with the exception of the tires and fuel.
Council Member McCartney asked what the average maintenance cost for a vehicle is. Finance
Director, Wade Nickerson stated that all of the costs savings and comparisons will be done at a
much more thorough level, should the council direct staff to move in that direction, as staff did
not want to put a lot of time, effort and resources behind a program that council was not willing
to consider. Mr. Nickerson further noted that they believe that a leasing program with this type of
vehicle will work, but do not recommend using it with the patrol vehicles as the numbers did not
add up to any significant cost savings, but that this program could be used with other fleet
vehicles depending on the success of this initial leasing program.
Chief Dougherty stated that what was presented to the Council is a basic overview of the
program and was more targeted towards planting the seed to change in philosophy from capital
purchases to ongoing operational cost in the general fund. He stated that once a more concrete
plan is researched and prepared,they will bring that back to the Council for consideration.
The Council and staff discussed what procedures the Police Department undertakes in dealing
with undercover assets that have been compromised.
Council Member Hoskins inquired if the leasing program that was being considered included
maintenance cost, time and miles. Mr. Nickerson stated that it did include these items and that
after so many miles the vehicle would then be considered for replacement, but further noted that
those specifics have not yet been outlined. Mr. Nickerson further noted that staff would be
working on those details to provide to Council in the near future should they consider a leasing
program a viable option. Chief Dougherty stated that for the high level analysis that they had
before them, the number are for a five year replacement program with a 12,000 miles a year
mark.
Mayor DonCarlos stated that the Council is supportive of saving money, but wants to make sure
that the staff is comfortable with having such a program. Chief Dougherty noted that the larger
organizations in the state use a similar leasingprogram; such as Beaumont, Pasadena and Harris
gp �'
County, and stated that Baytown is now also considered a large organization and that he will
continue to reach out to these types of agencies to see how these types of programs have worked
for them.
The Council discussed the maintenance process for unmarked police vehicles as it stands now
and how it would be under the leasing program. Additionally, the consensus of Council was to
receive more information about the potential of leasing unmarked police vehicles in the future.
City Council Regular Work Session Minutes
November 21,2016
Page 4 of 4
d. Discuss any or all of the agenda items on the City Council Special Meeting Agenda
for November 21, 2016, which is attached below.
Deputy City Manager Bottoms stated with regards to the agenda item 5.c. related to the
remediation of the paint for the public works tanks that the lead paint was not found, even with
multiple paint samplings,because it was at the very bottom of the bowl.
Deputy City Manager Bottoms stated that back in September, the Baytown Municipal
Development District and the City approved the funding portion related to the additional
property acquisition needed to build San Jacinto Boulevard. He stated that agenda item 3. a. is
the approval of the actual agreement between the City and Harris County in order for them to
move forward with the additional property acquisition.
Deputy City Manager Bottoms further noted that there are two pieces of property that Hams
County Right of Way (ROW) is working on getting utility easements for the Garth Road Lift
Station Expansion Project that might have to go into condemnation proceedings. He stated that
one is a 10-foot utility easement; and the other is for a 65-foot temporary construction easement.
He noted that one property has an issue regarding whose actually the owner and the other
property owners have not been very cooperative. He stated that Harris County recommended that
the City begin the condemnation proceedings in hopes that it will help bring the parties to the
negotiating table and move this process along. Additionally, Deputy City Manager Bottoms
noted that staff might, depending on the outcome of the condemnation process, have to come
back to Council and request additional monies.
2. ADJOURN
With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor DonCarlos adjourned the November 21,
2016, City Council Special Work Session at 6:09 P.M.
Leticia Brysch, City Clem ff
City of Baytown %'