2003 06 09 CC Minutes, SpecialMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
June 9, 2003
8:00 a.m.
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in special session on June 9, 2003, at 8:00 a.m. in
the Council Chamber of the Baytown City Hall with the following in attendance:
Ronnie Anderson
Coleman Godwin
Calvin Mundinger
Pete C. Alfaro
Gary Jackson
Ignacio Ramirez, Sr.
Gary W. Smith
The following Council Members were absent:
Don Murray
Mercedes Renteria III
Scott Sheley
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Mayor
City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was conducted:
Consider Proposed Resolution No. 030609 -1, authorizing the City Manager to accept a Homeland
Security grant for establishing a Regional Hazardous Materials Response Program and to take of
the necessary actions related thereto.
City Manager Gary Jackson explained that the City has been notified that it is eligible to accept $749,000
in grant funding to provide for homeland security and hazardous materials response. The funding is from
the federal government, through the state, with the Houston - Galveston Area Council recommending the
award. No local match funding is required.
The grant is in two categories. The first is jurisdictional and involves only the Baytown city limits. This
grant award is in the amount of $249,000. This will allow for homeland security and hazardous material
response within the city. The other category is for regional response. The funding is $500,000 to provide
a motorized Hazardous Materials Response vehicle ($400,000) and related equipment ($100,000).
The grant award results from a threat and vulnerability assessment survey that was delivered by April 11,
2003. The City asked for the jurisdictional funding. The assessment reflected a high need for hazardous
materials response. Staff does not have any questions related to the jurisdictional grant, but does have
questions related to the regional grant.
From staff's inquiries related to the regional grant, not all questions related to the expectations for the City
have been answered. However, it appears that, if the grant is accepted, Baytown will be the first
responder for hazardous material responses for Baytown, Mont Belvieu, Anahuac and Winnie. Baytown
will be a second -level mutual aid responder for Houston, Texas City, Liberty and Dayton.
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Minutes of the Special Meeting —June 9, 2003
Texas City has expressed its desire to accept the regional grant if Baytown does not accept it. HGAC has
requested that Baytown provide them an indication of interim acceptance by the end of the day. If an
interim acceptance is approved, an award notice will be forwarded and final acceptance will be expected
between June 16 and 20.
Fire Chief Dale Palmer explained that costs incurred in responding to hazardous material situations are
recovered either from a responsible party or from a special fund through the Environmental Protection
Agency. Other departments have experienced a 95% collection rate for hazardous material responses.
The City has a hazardous materials response program and the grants will enhance the program. All
firefighters have been trained as hazardous material technicians. Annual refresher training will be
provided at no charge to the City. This level covers hazardous material responses.
A time period must be established in which to provide for filling of on -duty positions when personnel are
called to respond to hazardous material incidents. The method of filling the positions may be by using
office personnel or by calling off -duty personnel in on overtime.
Mr. Jackson stated that concern exists over the costs associated with acceptance of the grant.
Chief Palmer responded to a question about the impact of accepting the grant on the mandatory staffing
by saying that no agreement has been reached with the union, but a memorandum of understanding could
be negotiated. The acceptance of the grant will have a positive impact on the ISO rating. Chief Palmer
further explained that two other vehicles will be provided in the HGAC area and smaller communities will
be provided with trailers of a cache of hazardous response materials. The smaller communities would
provide the initial response from the cache of equipment. If assistance is required, then they would call
for a motorized vehicle. Based on Houston's experience, the number of calls anticipated was provided in
a memorandum. The City's current hazardous materials response will be merged with the grant - funded
operation, if the grant is approved.
Mayor Alfaro requested that staff continue to compile information concerning the costs related to the
grant and the impact on staffing.
Chief Palmer recommended acceptance of the grants.
Mr. Jackson explained that a new version of the proposed resolution was prepared this morning to
authorize the City Manager to notify Houston - Galveston Area Council of Baytown's interim acceptance
of the grant, subject to the City's review and acceptance of its conditions.
Council Member Godwin moved adoption of the proposed resolution as most recently proposed. Council
Member Mundinger seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Council Member Anderson, Godwin, and Mundinger
Mayor Alfaro.
Nays: None.
The motion carried.
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Minutes of the Special Meeting —June 9, 2003
RESOLUTION NO. 1589
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO NOTIFY HOUSTON - GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
BAYTOWN'S INTERIM ACCEPTANCE OF A HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE OF DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS IN THE AMOUNT OF
SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY -NINE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED FORTY -FIVE AND NO 1100
DOLLARS ($749,945.00), SUBJECT TO THE CITY OF BAYTOWN'S REVIEW AND APPROVAL
OF THE CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THE AWARD NOTICE FOR REGIONAL FUNDING;
DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER AS THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE FOR ALL
PURPOSES UNDER THE GRANT; AND PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE THEREOF.
Adjourn.
There being no further business, Council Member Anderson moved adjournment of the meeting. Council
Member Mundinger seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Council Member Anderson, Godwin, and Mundinger
Mayor Alfaro.
Nays: None.
The meeting adjourned at 8:38 a.m.
t
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Gihy W. Smith
City Clerk