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2001 06 21 CC Minutes, SpecialMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN June 21, 2001 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in special session on June 21, 2001, at 7:00 a.m. in the Hullum Conference Room of the Baytown City Hall with the following in attendance: Mercedes Renteria, III Council Member Scott Sheley Council Member Ronnie Anderson Council Member Calvin Mundinger Council Member Don Murray Council Member Coleman Godwin Council Member Pete C. Alfaro Mayor Monte Mercer City Manager Ignacio Ramirez, Sr. City Attorney Gary W. Smith City Clerk The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was conducted: Consider City Council priorities for fiscal year 2001 -2002 municipal budget The meeting rules were reviewed and agreed to by the Council. City Manager Monte Mercer reported that the results of the Council priority survey had been compiled. The results reflected the top priorities of each Council Member; the top priorities for each Council District; the overall priorities; and those issues not reflected in the questionnaire. The four top categories are the same as last year's four top categories. District 1 priorities. Infrastructure, alleys and lighting. Sewer problems. Sidewalks, especially along Carolina Street. Traffic from ExxonMobil on Wisconsin Street. Economic Development, to revitalize the area. Development of Bayland Island. District 2 priorities. Revitalization of downtown as an Arts and Entertainment District, historic area through the Main Street Program. Hire a coordinator and seek grants. Improve the streetscape Page 2 of 5 Minutes of the Special Session —June 21, 2001 through infrastructure and sidewalks. Street, sewer and drainage improvements. Tax deferral for businesses relocating to the older parts of town. District 3 priorities. Sidewalks in Lakewood and Craigmont. Streetlights. Code enforcement along Bayway Drive and Decker Drive to protect the neighborhoods. McElroy Park improvements, walking trail and additional shelter. District 4 priorities. Image —litter abatement, landscaping, mowing. Streets and sewers, stormwater management. Decker Drive and traffic management. Additional arterial streets to relief congestion on Garth Road. District 5. Landscaping. Traffic, especially Raccoon Road improvements. Regulation of community businesses to provide used as business locations and residences. Utilities in the 146 corridor. District 6. Streets. Safety. Beautification. Kilgore Road improvements. Police protection. buffer between manufactured housing Street sweeping. Keep city money within the city. Resolution of the Conference Center development. Extend Emmett Hutto to I -10. Keep Council more informed on projects and other issues. Top budget issues. Recruitment, Annexation, Code Enforcement, Manufactured Housing infill, Economic Development, Traffic Control, Employee Retention, Traffic Enforcement, Neighborhood Protection, Mosquito control, Street construction, Employee training, Computerized community calendar. Mayor Alfaro noted that the top areas are 1) infrastructure, 2) personnel and compensation, 3) image and beautification, and 4) traffic and transportation. Council Member Murray suggested that the items be grouped under the four categories, as they apply, and ranked in order. IN Page 3 of 5 Minutes of the Special Session —June 21, 2001 Items not included in the questionnaire. Council Member Godwin asked for a report on restaurant inspections. Council Member Murray suggested creation of a position of assistant to the city manager to relieve the manager of detail work and allow him to manage and improve communication to Council. Mayor Alfaro requested that the City Manager provide a draft of the budget with no tax increase and provide the new programs reflecting the increase required for the programs. Consider appointment of the Baytown Municipal Development District directors. Mayor Alfaro reported that resumes were submitted to him. Two were received after the deadline. After discussion, Council determined to not consider the late -filed resumes. Mayor Alfaro observed that all the candidates would serve the district well. Council Members Sheley and Renteria requested a delay of the process to further review the candidates. The balance of Council desired to proceed with the appointments. At the request of Council Member Anderson, the qualifications for a director were reviewed. Mandatory requirements: residence in the city; community service /involvement; focus on the community as a whole; and no personal interest in any contract of the district. Preferred qualifications: experience in economic development, real estate and the business community. Council Member Godwin moved the appointment of Fritz Lanham to a one -year term. Council Member Mundinger seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Godwin, Mundinger, Murray, Renteria and Sheley Mayor Alfaro. Nays: None. The motion carried. Council Member Murray moved the appointment of W. N. Bill Gilbert to a two -year term. Council Member Mundinger seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Godwin, Mundinger, Murray, Renteria and Sheley Mayor Alfaro. Nays: None. The motion carried. Page 4of5 Minutes of the Special Session —June 21, 2001 Council Member Mundinger moved the appointment of Kitty Allen to a two -year term. Council Member Anderson seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Godwin, Mundinger, Murray, and Renteria Mayor Alfaro. Nays: None Abstentions: Council Member Sheley. The motion carried. Council Member Sheley moved the appointment of Leonard Stasney to a one -year term. Council Member Godwin seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Godwin, Mundinger, Murray, Renteria and Sheley Mayor Alfaro. Nays: None. The motion carried. The Baytown Municipal Development District will meet on June 26 before the City Council meeting to elect officers, determine staff support, impose the tax, establish a special account and other actions. All persons appointed as a director of the Baytown Municipal Development District must resign from any other boards to avoid any conflict of interest. Mayor Alfaro announced that he would send letters to all of the applicants thanking them for their interest. City Council returned to consideration of Council's priorities for the budget. Council Member Renteria stated a priority of making downtown more viable. Council Member Mundinger said he was opposed to the appointment of a Main Street coordinator. Council Member Murray stated that he did not support a full -time Main Street Coordinator. Council Member Godwin opposed the expenditure of tax money downtown, except to provide infrastructure. Council Member Anderson stated that there was a lack of public support for tax money being spent downtown other than for infrastructure. Mayor Alfaro noted that the Downtown Revitalization Committee had failed to provide a solid plan. Agreement on the Committee and a good plan is necessary before any commitment is made. Council Member Renteria expressed a need for public transportation, but was not sure of the solution. Council Member Anderson opposed a tax increase to support public transportation, as did Council Member Godwin. Council Member Sheley supported looking at the plan being prepared by Barbara Bunn to see if there could be support given. Council Member Murray reported that he was aware of five pilot projects through Page 5 of 5 Minutes of the Special Session —June 21, 2001 his participation at HGAC. Only one was marginally successful. The others were struggling. The model program in Clear Lake is soon to be ended. The City has made overtures to the public group, but no answers have been provided to the Council. Mayor Alfaro reported that he had met with the citizens group two times. No business plan has been presented as was requested. Council Member Anderson expressed support for a Council retreat. Council Member Godwin supported a local - off -site retreat. Council Member Sheley related that TML supports retreats and encourages participation. Council Member Murray would agree with a meeting held locally on a set agenda. Council Member Renteria urged the inclusion of social activities for a better understanding of each other. Council Member Mundinger agreed that a local, relaxed off -site meeting could be beneficial. Mayor Alfaro stated that he did not like meeting for the sake of meeting. He opposed the use of a facilitator. For the next meeting, the possibilities of an off -site meeting would be prepared, a list of potential charter amendments would be presented and changes to improve Council- Manager communications would be prepared. The next meeting will be on June 29, 2001 at 7:00 a.m. to continue discussion of the Council's budget priorities. Adjourn. Council Member Mundinger moved that the meeting adjoum. Council Member Murray seconded the motion. The vote follows. Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Godwin, Mundinger, Murray, Renteria and Sheley Mayor Alfaro. Nays: None. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:38 a.m. /, _ ,l Gdry W. Smith City Clerk