2012 06 14 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
June 14, 2012
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Regular Work Session
on Thursday, June 14, 2012, at 5:02 P.M., in the Council Chamber of the Baytown City
Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance:
Brandon Capetillo
Robert Hoskins
David McCartney
Mercedes Renteria
Terry Sain
Scott Sheley
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Stephen DonCarlos Mayor
Robert D. Leiper
Ron Bottoms
Kevin Troller
Ignacio Ramirez
Leticia Brysch
Keith Dougherty
City Manager
Deputy City Manager
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
Sergeant at Arms
Mayor DonCarlos convened the June 14, 2012, City Council Regular Work Session with
a quorum present at 5:00 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Council
Member Mercedes Renteria III who arrived at 5:06 P.M.
Mayor DonCarlos stated that the agenda would be taken out of order and consider item
l.b. before La.
1. DISCUSSIONS
b. Grant Application for U.S. Department of HUD 2012 -13 Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds - Planning and Development Services.
City Manager Leiper presented the agenda item and stated that the Community
Development Advisory Committee ( "CDAC "), comprised of ten (10) citizens appointed
by City Council, is charged with preparing a Community Development Block Grant
( "CDBG ") budget recommendation for City Council's consideration.
Senior Program Manager of the Planning and Development Services Department, Ms.
June Tyler stated that staff solicited funding proposals from local organizations for
programs designed to benefit low to moderate income persons and areas in Baytown. Ms.
Tyler stated that there were 20 proposals submitted totaling $1,522,326 in requested
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June 14, 2012
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funding and that the CDAC held two (2) public hearings to hear the requests and ask
questions of applicants, as well as, a second meeting to discuss the proposals and prepare
a budget recommendation. She introduced some of the CDAC members: Chairman,
Norman Barnett, Jerry Smith, Donna Terpening, Simmie Robinson, and Randy Casey.
Chairman, Norman Barnett presented the CDAC's process for the applicants and stated
that they received 20 applications and held two public hearings, held two deliberation
budget meetings, one public hearing regarding budget recommendations, and are
requesting 15 projects of the CDBF funds.
Ms. Tyler stated that the Amount Budgeted and Source of Funding were FYI 2 CDBG
Annual Entitlement $612,718, Anticipated FY12 Program Income of $63,272, and
previous Years and FYI 1 Anticipated Unexpended Funds of $419,638 with an estimated
total available of $1,095,628.
Ms. Tyler stated that the anticipated FY 12 program income is in line with the previous
year and presented the 2012 -2013 proposals as follows:
Central Heights Park Splash Deck $154,235
Pelly Park Lighting for Basketball Court $ 5,000
Lincoln Cedars Park Playground $ 7,400
Substandard Structures Abatement $ 84,636
Bay Area Homeless - March Forward (Demolition for this site) $ 5,500
Housing Rehabilitation $478,875
Residential Sewer Line $ 16,950
Homebuyers' Assistance $102,264
Senior/Disabled Transportation $ 66,870
Baytown YMCA - Swim Safe $ 3,000
Baytown YMCA - Youth Sports $ 6,000
Communities in Schools - A+ Splash (Incentive for at risk youth)$ 5,000
Baytown Resource - Clothing/Shoes $ 12,000
Baytown Optimist - Youth Football $ 7,500
Bay Area Homeless - Level Start (childcare assistance) $ 5,200
CDBG Administration $135,198
Total $1,095,628
Ms. Tyler stated that the budget was published in the Baytown Sun and posted on the
City's website in May 2012, with the public comments open till June. She stated that as
of July 02, 2012, there were no public comments received and proposed for the budget
recommendation to be adopted at the July 12, 2012 meeting. Ms. Tyler stated that the
action plan is due to HUD by August 15, 2012 and funds would be available for use
October 01, 2012.
Council Member Sain inquired of the amount spent on the youth sports for the YMCA
and Optimist being that they are seasonal sports. Ms. Tyler stated that both programs
funding supports the registration for the participants as well as their uniforms. She also
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June 14, 2012
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stated that the Baytown Optimist targets to assist about 100 participants in their
program and the YMCA provided assisted 66 participants in the prior year.
Council Member McCartney stated that the funds for the rehabilitation of houses would
be more beneficial if it was shared among more houses instead of putting a lump sum
into one house in which would prevent it from getting to a worst stated.
a. Discuss the Results of the Fire /EMS Merger Study - Administration.
City Manager Leiper presented the agenda item and stated that on July 14, 2011, the City
Council discussed the possible transfer of the EMS Division from the Health Department
to the Fire Department. However, the discussion at the meeting was limited and it was
decided that the City Manager's Office would facilitate a study of the different
organizational options for the City's EMS Division and report back to Council. He stated
that an agreement was made for the study to begin after the adoption of the FY2011 -2012
budget. City Manager Leiper stated that the study committee was comprised of members
representing: Fire, EMS, Human Resources, Legal, the Professional Firefighter's
Association, the Paramedic's Association, and the City Manager's Office, with City
Manager Bob Lciper serving as the meeting moderator.
An initial organizational meeting was held on August 23, 2011, where the format and
standard meeting dates /times were established. The first official committee meeting was
held on September 21, 2011, followed by meetings on October 05, October 19,
November 16, December 07 and January 18th. It was decided, at the January 18th
meeting, that enough information had been compiled to present Council with an initial
report, in order to obtain further direction if needed. This report, developed at meetings
on February 1st and 15th, is a presentation of the organizational structures developed
within the limitation of State and Federal statutes (such as State Civil Service and Federal
Wage and Hour laws), as well as, comments /concerns identified by the participants.
City Manager Leiper stated that one of the recommendations was to do "plug in play"
which moves the civilian EMS Division from under the Health Department to the Fire
Department. With this plan there would be no costs and the division would continue to
operate much the same but within the structure of the Fire Department, as opposed to
being under the Health Department. City Manager Leiper stated that in researching this
option, it was determined that under the Civil Service rules, plug in play can not be done
in Baytown, Texas. He further stated that if the civilian employees were moved under the
Fire Department, they would be become eligible for Civil Service, and because they
would not have been hired in conformance with the Civil Service laws, their
actual positions would be at risk. City Manager Leiper further stated that he agreed that
plug in play was not a viable option, but presented another option which is to make the
EMS a fire based EMS, which would provide Civil Service protection for the current
EMS staff and it would provide for the eventual staffing of all ambulance units by
firefighters. City Manager Leiper stated that the transfer is not as straight forward as the
plug in play, but it is doable. However, this option will take some work and require to be
processed through the collective bargaining agreement.
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June 14, 2012
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City Manager Leiper stated that if Council's desire was to explore a fire base EMS
further, he recommended having this committee do further research and bring back a
transitional plan and budget for the Council's review.
Council Member McCartney stated that in order to determine whether or not to move
forward with the fire based EMS option, further research was required and a detailed cost
estimate needed to be submitted to the Council for further review. City Manager Leifer
stated that the dollars are important in terms of impact to the City's budget, but that the
details are also important in terms of the employee's careers.
Mayor DonCarlos inquired if the cost of the phased in plan would be the difference of
paying more for a firefighter /paramedic only. City Manager Leiper stated that in addition
the firefighter /paramedic cost, there would also be training costs and overhead costs in
terms of uniforms and equipment that needed to be taken into consideration. City
Manager Leiper stated that a Firefighter/Paramedic makes more money than a
Firefighter/ EMT and most cities do this through an assignment or education pay.
Mayor DonCarlos stated that he is supportive of doing further research and obtaining the
budgetary impact this would have, but stated that if there was no urgency to the
transition, then it should wait until such a time when it was affordable for the budget.
Council Member Capetillo recommended including a fourth ambulance and EMD's.
Council Member Renteria inquired if other cities have the EMS division under the Fire
Department. City Manage Leiper stated that he estimates that about 90% of cities use the
model where EMS is provided by a fire based EMS, which is paid through tax dollars.
2. ADJOURN
With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor DonCarlos adjourned the June 14,
2012, City Council Regular Work Session at 5:32 P.M.