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
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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
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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.
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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
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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