2019 11 18 WS Minutes, SpecialMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL WORK SESSION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
NOVEMBER 18, 2019
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Special Work Session on Monday,
November 19, 2019, 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:
Laura Alvarado
Council Member
Chris Presley
Council Member
Charles Johnson
Council Member
Heather Betancourth
Council Member
David Himsel
Council Member
Robert Hoskins
Mayor Pm Tern
Brandon Capetillo Mayor
Rick Davis
City Manager
Ignacio Ramirez
City Attorney
Leticia Brysch
City Clerk
Keith Dougherty
Sergeant at Arms
Mayor Capetillo convened the November 18, 2019, City Council Special 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 5:43 P.M. and Council Member Johnson who arrived at 5:33 P.M.
1. DISCUSSIONS
a. Discuss a request for the placement of an emergency beacon to stop traffic along
Garth Road to allow for the egress of emergency vehicles from Fire Station 1.
City Manager Rick Davis presented the item and stated that this issue is one that has been
discussed with Council Member Hoskins for a number of months and related to the addition of
emergency lighting in front of Fire Station No. 1, which is located at the intersection of Garth
Road and Crosby Cedar Bayou. He noted that this beacon system that is used in other cities;
such as, Clear Lake and Atascocita, will help create a buffer and safety zone for emergency
apparatus coming in and out of station in question.
City Traffic Engineer, Matt Johnson, gave an overview of the background, peak hour volumes
and levels throughout the day. Mr. Johnson noted that this particular intersection has only one
traffic light at Garth and Cedar Bayou, and has an estimated 10 business driveways around it,
which results in a large amounts of traffic and high congestion levels for at least nine hours each
day. Mr. Johnson noted that these factors call for the installation of safety and traffic signals to
protect the safe egress of emergency personnel and apparatus from Fire Station No.l. He noted
that staff recommends the addition of two (2) new lights; a 42-inch light with arms and a 48-inch
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November 18, 2019
Page 2 of 4
light with anus that have an estimated cost of $100,000. Mr. Johnson presented the Council with
the proposed design of the intersection with the new traffic lights and detailed the system by
which the firefighters would press a button that would change the yellow flashing lights to red
lights, in order to stop traffic; thus allowing the fire and EMS apparatus to move through the
intersection quickly and safely.
The Council discussed the need for the lighting system. Council Member Hoskins stated that the
biggest concern for this item is the safety of the firefighters at this station. Fire Chief Kenneth
Dobson stated that staff has not really talked about this item in detail and he noted that while
there were some concems with stopping traffic, they were more concerned with getting stuck
around vehicles that can't move out of the way. Chief Dobson also stated that during the day at
peak hours, traffic can get congested, but emergency personnel works to get around them as
carefully as possible.
Mayor Brandon Capetillo stated if maybe striping around the fire station to not block the area
could be a place to start when looking at options to help emergency vehicle to move onto the
road. City Attorney Ignacio Ramirez, Sr., asked if there could be a mechanism by which the
firefighters could turn the lights red going south on Garth heading towards Cedar Bayou and
green on Garth going north to alleviate the traffic. Mr. Johnson stated that the options presented
by Mr. Ramirez could happen, but it is a more expensive and incredibly complicated option that
from what history has shown, it does not solve the problem.
Council discussed whether or not to move the fire station form its current location, the timing of
putting in the signal lights at this intersection when traffic will be impacted by the opening of
San Jacinto Boulevard, and upcoming widening of Garth Road, which should begin in the next
two year. Mr. Johnson noted that if Garth Road is widened, the new traffic lights could not be
re -purposed. Council Member Alvarado asked if there were other signalization options to help
this intersection, similar to those found in school zones; Mr. Johnson stated that something
similar could be done at a lesser cost that would be less intrusive.
The Council directed staff to take provide the Council with options for incremental steps for to
provide safety for this station.
b. Receive and discuss a presentation regarding the 2016 General Land Office (GLO)
Drainage Project for Texas Avenue and S. Main Street.
Mr. Davis presented the item and stated that this one of the most susceptible area for flooding
which impacts the Rooster's Restaurant significantly.
Public Works and Engineering Director Frank Simoneaux noted that this year has seen a
significant amount of rainfall, which has impacted the flooding issues in Baytown. He noted that
after the spring floods of 2016, the City applied and received a CDBG grant of about $1.8
million with a local match of $300,000; with a two-year deadline to complete the project, which
puts the City under a very tight deadline. Mr. Simoneaux noted that staff is diligently working to
expedite this project. He stated that HR Green was selected as the contractor; the design
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November 18, 2019
Page 3 of 4
component was finalized in October 2019, with staff looking at March 2020 to begin the bid
process, and the start construction in March 2021.
Mr. Simoneaux presented the Council with a map of the impacted area and the movements of
water that help create the drainage patterns issues and lack of functionality. He further detailed
how the proposed project would move some of the water off of Texas Avenue, Gulf Street, and
Republic Street, which will help alleviate the structural flooding along South Main. Mr.
Simoneaux stated that after his review of the project, he found that the entire project to fix all the
issues in this are would cost about 4.5 million, which is a pretty significant amount; therefore,
staff has decided to phase this project, in order to allow for the City tp use of the $1.8 million
grant now and hopefully help get some of the water away from the structures and into the street.
He noted that Phase 2 of the project will continue to move the water away from structures and
help create a detention area around this location, in order to detain the water as much as
possible. Mr. Simoneaux noted that staff broke up this project into two phases, and in their
discussion with Harris County, they identify $2.2 million dollars to partner with the City and
help pay for the Phase 2 of the project, which will take the improvements all the way down to
Republic Street and create the much needed detention.
C. Discuss any or all of the agenda items on the City Council Special Meeting Agenda
for November 18, 2019, which is attached below.
The Council briefly discussed the following agenda items
Items 8.a & 81 regarding an amendment to the Baytown 2025 Comprehensive
Plan's Major Thoroughfare Plan to remove a proposed collector road; a subject
area located on the west side of John Martin Road, south of East Wallisville Road
and north of Interstate Highway 10. It was the recommendation of the staff that
this road be kept; however, staff also noted that the Planning and Zoning
Commission had voted in favor of the applicant; and
Item 10.a regarding a resolution to authorize the publication of the Notice of
Intent to issue Certificates of Obligation for the convention center facilities and
related infrastructure and other advanced funding. Staff noted that the amount of
the notice of intent to issue debt had changed and was all in all 21.1 million, but
does not include any outside improvements. Mr. Davis noted that in recent talks
regarding the full development of the island to accommodate the inclusion of an
additional restaurant and other commercial uses, the utilities and lift station had to
be upgraded and hence the additional estimated costs of 1.5 million to the original
17 million, along with some wiggle room for contingency.
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November I8, 2019
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2. ADJOURN
With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor Capetillo adjourned the November 18,
2019, City Council Special Work Session at 6:30 P.M.
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