2021 07 08 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
July 8, 2021
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Regular Work Session on
Thursday, July 8, 2021, at 5:30 P.M., in the Council Chamber of the Baytown City Hall, 2401
Market Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance:
Laura Alvarado
Mayor Pro Tem
Jacob Powell
Council Member
Mike Lester
Council Member
Heather Betancourth
Council Member
Rick Davis City Manager
Karen Horner City Attomey
Angela Jackson Acting City Clerk
Mayor Brandon Capetillo convened the July 8, 2021, City Council Regular Work Session with a
quorum present at 5:34 P.M., all members were present, with the exception of Council Member
Chris Presley and Council Member Charles Johnson who were absent.
1. DISCUSSIONS
a. Receive and discuss a presentation from the Harris -Galveston Subsidence District
on their 2020 Groundwater Report.
Assistant City Manager Nick Woolery presented the item and noted that typically staff emails the
2020 Groundwater Report to Council, but they decided to present the report for the new council
members. He stated that the representatives from Harris -Galveston Subsidence District would
present the report and talk about the Subsidence District and provide a brief history. Mr.
Woolery introduced Mr. Pete Cote, the City of Baytown's Representative on the Board of
Directors.
Mr. Pete Cote then introduced Mr. Mike Turco, General Manager, and Dr. Tina Petersen, Deputy
General Manager, of the Harris -Galveston Subsidence District.
Mr. Turco provided a brief overview of the current state of subsidence for the district, as well as
in the region, which is really important since Baytown is the epicenter of where subsidence
occurred historically. He stated that the Harris -Galveston Subsidence District was created in
1975 by Texas Legislature in order help prevent subsidence, which contributes to flooding,
infrastructure damage, faulting, and really threatens the economic health of the area. He
indicated that efforts to prevent subsidence by the regulated community and the District really
create a more resilient infrastructure to mitigate flooding and securing reliable water resources
for the future. He further noted that they are required by Statute annually to provide an annual
report that they present at a public hearing at their office typically in the Springtime and then
City Council Work Session Minutes
July 8, 2021
Page 2 of 2
present it to the Board shortly thereafter. He explained how they look at climate, at groundwater
levels in the aquifer, groundwater uses in the aquifer, and of course, at the subside state.
As it pertains to the Baytown area on the map shown, Mr. Turco noted that there were several
sites with a significant amount of data associated with them, but there was not much going on
because Baytown did not use a lot of groundwater and that's how one gets to that point. He
stated that this area is a success story when it comes to how you stop subsidence and is really a
model for how they're dealing with the issue elsewhere in Harris County.
In regards to water conservation, Mr. Turco noted that it becomes an important part of the puzzle
as they deal with the water supply challenges that will occur with the growing area; therefore,
water conservation is a bit of a mission of the District since its inception to educate and inform
and try to get more people to understand the value of thinking about how efficiently they utilize
water resources. He stated that the district created a Smarter About Water website that really
encapsulates all of their water conservation education, but is fully designed to be a one -stop -shop
for the region to get additional water conservation information. Mr. Turco noted there was
information about their education program regarding current incentives that they were putting
out or projects that they were looking into, such as the "Water My Yard" program, which can be
found online at WaterMyYard.org, and someone can download an application on a phone.
Additionally, he stated that they have grants in which they work with entities interested in doing
water conservation on the groundwater conservation projects that include a cost -matching ability.
Lastly, he noted that an application would be available later on this fall.
Mr. Turco proceeded to answer questions that Council had as it pertained to the Groundwater
Report and statistics, and Council expressed some concerns related to subsidence.
b. Discuss any or all of the agenda items on the City Council Regular Meeting Agenda
for July 8, 2021.
There was no discussion for this item.
2. ADJOURN
With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor Capetillo adjourned the July 8, 2021, City
Council Regular Work Session at 5:56 P.M.
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