2020 03 19 CC Minutes, SpecialMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
MARCH 19, 2020
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in a Special Meeting on Thursday, March
19, 2020, at 4:30 P.M. in the Baytown Conference Room, Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market
Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance:
Laura Alvarado
Mayor Pro Tern
Chris Presley
Council Member
Charles Johnson
Council Member
Heather Betancourth
Council Member
Robert Hoskins
Council Member
David Himsel
Council Member
Brandon Capetillo Mayor
Rick Davis City Manager
Ignacio Ramirez City Attorney
Leticia Brysch City Clerk
Mayor Capetillo convened the March 19, 2020, City Council Special Meeting with a quorum
present at 4:30 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Council Member Johnson
who arrived at 4:50 P.M.
1. PROPOSED ORDINANCES
a. Consider an ordinance extending the Declaration of Local Disaster and any orders,
rules, and regulations issued by the Mayor pursuant thereto.
Mayor Capetillo noted that this proposed ordinance extends the Declaration of Local Disaster,
which he issued on March 13, 2020. He noted that this ordinance would keep the declaration in
place until such time as it is revoked by the City Council. Mayor Capetillo noted that while there
have been many orders; such as curfews, closing of businesses, etc. that have been issued by
other entities, the City of Baytown has issued no such orders. Mayor Capetillo further clarified
that the item being approved does not include any additional orders, rules or regulations and is
simply the extension of the existing declaration of local disaster.
Mayor Capetillo asked if the City already had a juvenile curfew in place. City Attorney Ignacio
Ramirez Sr. noted that the City already has such a curfew in place and no other order related to
this item is required at this time.
In response to a question from Council Member Hoskins regarding whether or not the testing site
at Stallworth Stadium was open to everyone or just residents of Hams County, it was noted that
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March 19, 2020
Page 2 of 3
since the funding for the testing site was federal, the site should be open to everyone, but that
staff would confirm this item with the county. City Manager Rick Davis noted that the testing
site is still being set-up and staff has no confirmed date for them to begin testing.
Mayor Capetillo recommended, if they have not already done so, that all members of the council
take the NIMS, FEMA training for public officials in disasters; he found it to be very helpful as
he deals with the present situation.
The Council discussed the types of information that needs to be put out to the public, while
understanding that a lot of information pertains to the decisions of other governmental entities;
such as Harris County and City of Houston. Mayor Capetillo noted that it is important to note
that the City does not have any numbers or the locations of infected COVID-19 cases as the
County does not report that information to the City for a number of reasons. Council discussed
the type of information that should be put out to the public. Council Member Hoskins noted that
he felt it was important to let the public know what the City and its departments were doing to
take care of its community.
Council Members Johnson asked if COVID-19 could be transmitted by animals, staff noted that
at this time there are no confirmed cases of animals transmitting the virus to humans or vice
versa. Council Member Presley asked if Animal Control had changed its operations and if it was
still picking up animals. Mr. Davis noted that while the Animal Control Facility could have
limited its operations to deal with the COVID-19 disaster, staff was still picking -up animals.
A motion was made by Council Member Robert C. Hoskins, and seconded by Mayor Pro Tern
Laura Alvarado made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 14,355, related to item La. The vote
was as follows:
Ayes: Mayor Brandon Capetillo, Mayor Pro Tom Laum Alvarado, Council
Member Chris Presley, Council Member Charles Johnson, Council
Member Heather Betancourth, Council Member Robert C. Hoskins, and
Council Member David Himsel
Nays: None
Approved
ORDINANCE NO. 14,355
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, EXTENDING
AND RENEWING THE DECLARATION OF LOCAL DISASTER AS WELL
AS ALL ORDERS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS ISSUED PURSUANT
THERETO; PROVIDING NOTICE; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY; AND
PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
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March 19, 2020
Page 3 of 3
2. MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Rick Davis stated that the City's Public Affairs Department is working diligently
to ensure that accurate information related to the City is being disseminated to citizens via the
website, phone calls, Facebook and YouTubc messaging, Channel 16, etc. He noted that Council
Member Alvarado will be providing the information in Spanish for the Baytown community,
which will be most helpful to the Spanish speaking citizens. He further noted that staff will
begin looking at departmental plans in case offices are to be closed to the public for the next few
weeks. He also noted that staff is beginning to look at how this disaster is going to impact the
City's current and proposed budgets. Mr. Davis noted that he will continue to send out
situational reports to keep Council informed of what is happening, and reiterated that staff will
only send out information that it can verify and control.
3. ADJOURN
With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor Capetillo adjourned the March 19,
2020, City Council Special Meeting at 5:01 P.M.
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Leticia Brysch, City Cm.`,�
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