1992 06 04 CC Minutes, SpecialMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
June 4, 1992
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in
special session on Thursday, June 4, 1992, at 6:00 p.m. in the
Council Chamber, 2401 Market Street, with the following in
attendance:
Eva Benavides
Don M. Hullum
Ray Swofford
Pete C. Alfaro
Rolland J. Pruett
Bobby J. Credille
Bobby Rountree
Norman Dykes
Ignacio Ramirez
Eileen P. Hall
The meeting was called to order
Council member Hullum offered the
following business was conducted:
Citizen's Communications:
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Mayor
City Manager
Asst. City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
with a quorum present, and
invocation, after which the
a. H.E. Wilbanks, Attorney at Law, 5223 Garth, will
discuss Williams Brothers Tax Rebate and Tax
Certificates. He will also ask council to consider Tax
Rebates in general, and he will ask that Tax
Certificates be issued in accordance to the Tax Code.
Mr. Wilbanks explained that his client was the owner of
the property on which Williams Brothers received a tax
rebate for 1989. His client has recently received a
bill from the City of Baytown for the amount originally
rebated to Williams Brothers. Mr. Wilbanks stated that
he realized there would be an item on the next agenda
to rebate approximately $2,900 to Williams Brothers for
which his client would be billed.
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Minutes of the Special Session - June 4, 1992
Since his client has recently received the tax
statement, he requested deferment of penalty to July.
Also, Mr. Wilbanks objected to the addition of the
verbiage on the tax certificate which makes an
exception to the payment specified on the certificate
when there is a change in land use, a change in
exemption status, or supplemental certification. The
certificate does not cover those exceptions.
Mr. Wilbanks felt this to be in violation of the Texas
Property Tax Code. However, the attorneys for the City
of Baytown, felt the addition of the verbiage was
proper and provided protection to the city.
In response to Mr. Wilbanks' request for deferment of
penalty and interest, Ignacio Ramirez, City Attorney,
stated that a revised tax bill would be mailed next
week. Once Mr. Wilbanks' client receives the tax bill,
his client would have twenty -one days before penalty or
interest is charged.
Council referred the matter to the administration for
proper handling.
Discuss the Procedure for the Election of the Mayor Pro Tempore
The city manager noted that Page 6, Section 15 of the City
Charter, provides "the council shall elect a mayor pro tempore
who shall act as mayor during the absence or disability of the
mayor and if a vacancy shall occur, shall become mayor until the
next regular election, at which election a mayor shall be elected
to fill the unexpired term."
Also, council had been provided with minutes from 1989 when
the mayor pro tempore was elected on seniority basis, and from
1990 when the mayor pro tempore was not elected on seniority
basis. Therefore, it is entirely up to council to decide how to
proceed.
Council member Hullum felt that it would be good if council
could wait until the June 25 council meeting to place an item on
the agenda for the election of a mayor pro tempore since June 11
would be the first council meeting for one or possibly two
council members.
Council member Swofford stated that he favored the selection
of mayor pro tempore on the basis of seniority and that he does
not wish to be considered for mayor pro tempore if he is re-
elected.
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Minutes of the Special Session - June 4, 1992
Council member Benavides felt that council should ask for an
indication of willingness to serve.
Council member Alfaro felt that the selection should be made
on the basis of who could best work with council at this time.
He also favored placing an item on the next agenda for election
of a mayor pro tempore. That way if council wished to proceed
they could, if not, the matter could be discussed further.
Council member Pruett favored postponing the election of the
mayor pro tempore to the June 25 council meeting. He too
remembered having to make a very critical decision at his first
council meeting.
Council member Alfaro inquired if seniority is to be
considered, what seniority would be taken into account?
It appeared to be the consensus of council that the matter
should be postponed for one council meeting.
In response to an inquiry from council, Mayor Credille
indicated that he would be available from June 11 through June
25.
City Manager's Report
Appointments - Council had been provided with a memorandum
setting forth appointments for June - August. The city manager
asked that they review the appointments.
Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation - The
meeting with Milton Dietert of the highway department did not go
well. Rick Peebles, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce
Transportation Committee; Bobby Rountree, City Manager, and
representatives from Exxon met with Mr. Dietert and his staff.
They are still without criteria for the use of approximately $90
million in allocated funds for this area. It is possible that
the projects may be broken up and funded over a six -year period.
The highway department will meet on June 24 and at that meeting
the criteria should be discussed. Currently, Spur 330 and Loop
201 are not on the department's list for funding.
The administration feels that after the June 24 meeting of
the highway department, the city will be in a better position to
know what to expect. Even though Mr. Dietert is aware of the
tremendous amount of traffic that will be utilizing Loop 201 when
the Fred Hartman Bridge opens, at this time he is unable to
provide any assistance.
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Minutes of the Special Session - June 4, 1992
Council also expressed concerns that with the opening of the
Fred Hartman Bridge, more trucks with hazardous materials would
be traveling through the city on feeder roads.
Questions /Comments from Council
Council member Pruett announced that on June 15 in the
Bluebonnet Room at the Community Building at 7:00 p.m., Council
District No. 2 would hold its first Town Hall Meeting. He
invited all the council members to attend.
Adjourn
There being no further business to be transacted, the
meeting was adjourned.
t�J�
Eileen P. Hall
City Clerk
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