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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. 920604 -2 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. 920604 -3 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. 920604 -4 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 3.3.24