2018 05 24 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
MAY 24, 2018
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Regular Work Session on Thursday,
May 24, 2018, at 5:33 P.M., in the Hullum Conference Room of the Baytown City Hall, 2401
Market Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance:
Laura Alvarado
Mayor Pro Tem
Robert Hoskins
Council Member
Charles Johnson
Council Member
David Himsel
Council Member
Chris Presley
Council Member
Heather Betancourth
Council Member
Rick Davis City Manager
Ignacio Ramirez City Attorney
Leticia Brysch City Clerk
Mayor Pro Tem Alvarado convened the May 24, 2018, City Council Regular Work Session with
a quorum present at 5:33 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Mayor
DonCarlos who was absent.
1. DISCUSSIONS
a. Receive and discuss a presentation regarding the status of the City's Emergency
Management Division.
City Manager Rick Davis presented the item and stated that Fire Chief Kenneth Dobson would
give the Council an overview of the Fire Department's Emergency Management Division
operations and activities aimed at preparing the City and its residents for another hurricane
season.
City Manager Davis noted that staff compiled information and comments from Council, staff and
citizens regarding the City's response to Hurricane Harvey and from that created an after action
plan. He noted that portions of this plan have already been put into place and some things are
either ongoing or have been included in the Fire Department's initiatives and strategies that will
be discussed tonight.
Chief Dobson stated that the Emergency Management Team is in the process of restructuring and
will now be considered another division under the control of Assistant Fire Chief Ronald
Roberts. He noted this new division will have an Emergency Management Coordinator, which is
in the process of being hired along with a Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator and an
Administrative Assistant for clerical support. Chief Dobson noted that the goal is to really build
up the City's Emergency Management team and these are the first steps in that direction.
City Council Regular Work Session Minutes
May 24, 2018
Page 2 of 4
Chief Dobson also noted that the City has purchased some high water vehicles (HWV); eight (8)
for the Fire Department; one for each fire station, four (4) for the Police Department and one (1)
for the Emergency Management Division. After some work on the HWVs they are all running
and ready for this upcoming hurricane season. He further noted that the HWVs for the Fire
Department will be painted red and black with additional bars and lighting to assist with night
rescues.
Chief Dobson stated that as it relates to shelters and hubs, staff met with the Red Cross and
identified that the Red Cross already has an interlocal agreement with Goose Creek CISD for the
use of five (5) schools as emergency shelters. He further noted that Goose Creek CISD had
reached out to the Red Cross during Hurricane Harvey asking if they needed to set up shelters,
but because of some communication issues, the shelters were never opened, and the City had to
work with alternate locations, mostly churches across the City to temporarily shelter residents.
The City is on the process of looking into a similar agreement with the Red Cross for them to
train and certify staff members, partner churches, volunteer organizations and other key
emergency management staff for shelter management, shelter volunteers, etc. Staff has
identified a number of churches, volunteer groups and agencies, some of which assisted in
sheltering residents during Hurricane Harvey that the City could partner with for future
emergency events to include support for special needs residents, food banks, animals, short terms
hubs, etc. Chief Dobson noted that locations being identified need to have a place to house
residents, along with bathrooms, showers and kitchens.
Chief Dobson noted that the Red Cross is willing to come to Baytown and provide the requested
training; there will be a shelter training class for the regular volunteers, along with some
additional training for shelter managers through an online course. He noted that this type of
training will allow the City to shelter its residents, and commented that once the new Emergency
Management Coordinator is hired, staff will update and/or create the plans needed to support
emergency management activities; such as re-entry and reunification plans.
Chief Dobson noted that staff is also working to get more hurricane readiness information out in
to the community in both English and Spanish, which can be accomplished through the City's
new Alertus system. He noted that this new messaging system will be used to send out notices to
residents and employees regarding all types of emergencies. Interim Emergency Management
Coordinator Marshall Hutton noted that Alertus is an application that can be used on cell phones,
emails and ground phones to provide emergency notices to Baytown and the greater LEPC area.
He noted that the only drawback with this program is if there is an emergency notice in the
LEPC area that does not impact Baytown, people with the app. will receive the same notice.
Chief Dobson stated that in trying to find a way to communicate with folks who may not have
access to some of these electronic devices, staff is considering some other options; such as,
finding particular locations around the City where staff can post updated information; sending
out flyers and/or training key community leaders on emergency management and preparedness,
in order for them to serve as links to their communities.
City Council Regular Work Session Minutes
May 24, 2018
Page 3 of 4
Council directed staff to look at more ways to reach out to residents in areas where there is bad
cell phone. Outreach efforts included: making contact with major grocery and lumber stores that
are heavily used during hurricane season to post and/or distribute hurricane information, placing
leaflets in mail boxes, the putting information in the City's utility bill, etc. Chief Dobson noted
that staff is looking into various ways to get information out into the public before, during and
after a storm, as there have been instances when the cell phone towers do not work during an
emergency.
Chief Dobson also noted that staff is currently working on putting together a hurricane season
preparedness seminar and will be putting out more information on those events.
Council Member Himsel stated that Council should consider changing the existing ordinance to
require all gas stations, and not just the newer ones, to have a working generator in order to
provide fuel for residents and staff as needed. Council discussed this item briefly and City
Attorney Ignacio Ramirez, Sr. that Council could consider requiring generators because it is a
public safety issues, but they could look into that more if needed.
Council also discussed requiring the hotels/motels in the city limits to accept FEMA vouchers.
City Attorney Ramirez noted that he was not aware whether or not the City could require hotels
to accept FEMA vouchers and didn't know if the City could place such a requirement, but staff
could also look into it.
Council Member Hoskins voiced concern regarding the elevation of the City's fueling station.
City Manager Davis stated that there has never been a problem with the location being
inundated, but would look into said concern.
Chief Dobson stated that the Public Works staff is identifying choke points throughout the City
that flood during rain events, in order to help mitigate these issues. He also noted that staff is
taking other steps to prepare for Hurricane season; such as: (1) updating the City's Emergency
Operations Plan, (2) identifying essential personnel and positions for the EOC, (3) adding the
TransStar cameras to the EOC's televisions, (4) updating training manuals and (5) holding at
least two tabletop exercises to keep staff knowledgeable of the EOC operations.
Council Member Betancourth requested that staff consider setting up a system or process to
receive financial donations from the public. City Manager Davis stated that the system setup
during Harvey by which the local United Way received the donations and then distributed to
people and/or other agencies seemed to work very well and kept the City in compliance with all
related financial laws and regulations.
Council Member Betancourth stated that staff should work with the agency and implement a
pay -now or donate -now link or something similar immediately after the disaster.
City Manager Davis thanked the Council for their comments and ideas and noted that said
information will be passed on to the City's new Emergency Management Coordinator.
City Council Regular Work Session Minutes
May 24, 2018
Page 4 of 4
b. Receive and discuss a presentation regarding the 2018 DirectionFinder Citizen
Survey Results.
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Nick Woolery presented the item and stated that during the
regular meeting, the City's consultant from the ETC Institute, Mr. Jason Morado will be present
to give Council an overview of this year's survey results. He stated that the City has conducted
this survey for the past six (6) years, and in the past, the survey weighed and collected a certain
number of results in order to achieve a statistical significance of plus-or-minus5%. This year,
some surveys were added, in order to increase the significance of the results, to a plus -or -minus
3.9%, which is a pretty significant increase. Therefore, tonight's results have a greater likelihood
of being almost exactly the same as if all 80,000 residents had been surveyed.
Mr. Woolery noted that the numbers presented are very valid and overall very positive.
C. Discuss any or all of the agenda items on the City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
for May 24, 2018, which is attached below.
City Clerk Leticia Brysch, in response to a question regarding the proposed charter amendment
schedule, stated that the proposed charter amendments being presented to the Council this
evening are the initial presentation. She further noted that these proposed amendments will
come back to the council in the next few meetings, in order for the Council to review and
consider which of the propositions will move forward for placement on the ballot. Mrs. Brysch
stated that the Council is scheduled to call the City's General and Special Election at its first
meeting in July
2. ADJOURN
With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor Pro Tem Alvarado adjourned the May 24,
2018, City Council Regular Work Session at 6:16 P.M.
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