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2022 01 13 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN January 13, 2022 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in a Regular Work Session on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at 5:31 P.M., in the Hullum Conference Room of the Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas with the following in attendance: Laura Alvarado Chris Presley Charles Johnson Heather Betancourth Jacob Powell Mike Lester Brandon Capetillo Rick Davis Trevor Fanning Angela Jackson Council Member Mayor Pro Tern Council Member Council Member Council Member Council Member Mayor City Manager Interim City Attorney City Clerk Mayor Capetillo convened the January 13, 2022, City Council Regular Work Session with a quorum present at 5:31 P.M., all members were present with the exception of Council Member Heather Betancourth who arrived at 5:33 P.M. 1. DISCUSSIONS a. Receive an overview and discuss major unfunded Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects. Public Works & Engineering Director Frank Simoneaux presented the item to Council. Mr. Simoneaux explained before they proceeded with implementation, they needed to receive feedback from Council concerning priorities. His presentation first entailed a summary of each project previously discussed at the City Council Retreat on December 12, 2021. Mr. Simoneaux would then present a proposed priority list which he would open up to input and discussion. The top seven projects were as followed: 1. West Baker Road Reconstruction • Mr. Simoneaux noted this had previously been reviewed • Reconstruction from Garth to Decker and included adjusting the median for better sight distances/overall better functionality of the road and conditions 2. Fire Station 2 Reconstruction • The reconstruction and possible relocation of Fire Station 2 • Included a completely new building City Council Regular Work Session Minutes January 13, 2022 Page 2 of 6 3. Multipurpose Arena • Surfaced during Council's Retreat discussion • Possible Functions: Host sporting/tournament, entertainment events, and large graduations events Mr. Simoneaux noted no cost association with any listed project as they were mostly seeking Council's priority. Once attained, he stated they would then start preliminary engineering, allocate resources, and determine funding. 4. Bayway Reconfiguration • Had been in planning, however, there were no identified funding sources • The project addressed two needs: The replacement of the waterline that ran along Bayway, and to enhance the corridor for pedestrian and cyclists use • The reconfiguration and replacement of the lot 5. City Hall Campus Expansion • Surfaced during the discussion of the facility's master plan • The reconstruction and expansion of the city hall campus to the community center next door • Would allow better utilization of space, enhance the Council Chambers, training rooms for Human Resources, relocation of the wellness center, and staff growth 6. Lee Drive Reconfiguration • Not previously discussed, yet Mr. Simoneaux noted Council may have already been aware of • Would be the entry way of a newly developed area, those new developments being: the new master plan for Evergreen and the area South of I-10; residential development; and possible amenities to compliment the new hotel convention center • Could emulate what the city was doing on Market Street where they had enhanced pedestrian and cyclist facilities and created a better cross-section 7. Community/Recreation Center • Mr. Simoneaux gave no further description on this project as they had previously discussed it in detail at the past Retreat Mr. Simoneaux relayed the priorities were in the order he previously listed the projects and then opened the floor to feedback from Council. He added they had also applied for the Harris County Partnership Project and received funding for Market Street through that program at a 50% match. Mr. Simoneaux proposed to submit Bayway and Lee Drive in to that partnership. In seeing if they are approved, he noted that may affect the priority list. Council Member Laura Alvarado asked if there could be a partnership with Lee College on the Lee Drive reconfiguration, and Mr. Simoneaux agreed that could be a potential source of funding. In attaining those partnerships, Council Member Alvarado stated that would move them up in priority. On the Fire Station, Council Member Alvarado queried if they had found a location. Mr. Simoneaux responded they had not as that would be determined in the preliminary engineering. City Manager Rick Davis did note; however, they were looking at a property owned by the school district. City Council Regular Work Session Minutes January 13, 2022 Page 3 of 6 Council Member Charles Johnson mentioned he did not see a project related to water and sewer. Mr. Simoneaux replied that was due to that project already being funded and went in to further details of that non -listed project. Council Member Johnson additionally inquired about certain neighborhood streets to which Mr. Simoneaux answered those were a part of the already funded neighborhood street reconstruction. There was then further discussion about residential streets, and Mayor Capetillo recommended creating a 5-year plan. Mr. Davis further suggested segregating those by Council District and PCI scores. Council Member Heather Betancourth commented it was difficult for her to determine priority without knowing the cost and funding. Without knowing the funding sources, Council Member Betancourth favored Baker, Bayway, and Lee while everything else she labeled as just nice to have. Mayor Capetillo agreed on the sentiment of determining priority without knowing the cost and funding. Mr. Davis, in regards to the Multipurpose Arena, reaffinned it was previously discussed to be a public -private partnership where they would synergize with Goose Creek ISD. Mayor Pro Tem Chris Presley noted the Community/Recreation Center and Fire Station 2 preceded all other initiatives, yet they were at the bottom. He recommended establishing a protocol where dates were implemented because he was disappointed to see the oldest idea be listed at the bottom. Mayor Pro Tem Presley also echoed both of Council Member Betancourth's points about the prioritization without knowledge of funding and of the street reconstructions. He commented they had been working on the hotel conference center for decades and were a long way away from generating any income. Mayor Pro Tem Presley leaned towards voter approval in regards to the Multipurpose Arena and the Community/Recreation Center. Moreover, Mayor Pro Tem Presley voiced his liking of the TIRZ assistance on the Lee Drive Reconfiguration and leveraging costs with grants. Mayor Pro Tem Presley advocated for non -essential expenditures and expressed he would be more vocal about that in 2022. Council Member Jacob Powell agreed with everything previously stated. The street reconstructions had safety aspects to theta, so he believed those were important. As far as the Fire Station, Council Member Powell noted if it was in the condition where it was needed, then they would need to make that happen. In regards to the Multipurpose Arena, he believed that would have the most support in the community from what he had heard. Mayor Capetillo echoed wanting to see funding sources and more information as well. He recommended having the list of the projects sent to Council to score and at least have them choose the top three. Mr. Simoneaux relayed his original thought was to take the input —since they were drafting their CIP for FY23 to FY27—and put that in their draft. Then, have their CIP presented to Council and where they would get additional input. Council Member Mike Lester then relayed his own priorities. He reiterated the safety issues of Baker Road and that it should be high priority. Council Member Lester likewise agreed that Fire Station 2 had lived its life. He imparted that his constituents did not talk about a Multipurpose Arena, but that they did talk about a Recreation Center. Council Member Lester commented he would have a hard time selling the City Hall Expansion, but Bayway and Lee Drive made sense to him. He lastly also echoed the sentiment of wanting more information in regards to the costs. City Council Regular Work Session Minutes January 13, 2022 Page 4 of 6 Concerning the City Hall Expansion, Mayor Pro Tern Presley commented it may not be needed due to the great resignation and the trend of working from home. Council Member Johnson expanded on the point that the price tag would trigger the project's priority, and also of the number of projects they had which in turn was a lot of money. Mr. Davis explained on behalf of prioritization, they should not be discouraged if something was listed at number seven due to there being a hundred below. These were the top tier projects they had heard through their strategic planning, conversations with youth, and surveys. Mayor Pro Tern Presley then questioned if there could be any synergies with the Multipurpose Arena and the Community/Recreation Center as they had relatively similar functional ities. Mr. Davis replied that was an interesting idea and that they had done something similar with their Public Safety Building. Council Member Lester believed there were a lot of potentials below number seven that he would argue were top five. In response, Mr. Simoneaux explained their FY22 CIP and that their "plus five" was their unfunded area. They did not place a project in their five-year CIP until funding had been identified. Mr. Simoneaux reiterated wanting Council's input on that CIP draft. Mr. Davis concluded this discussion would continue for the next year and that they were talking about it now so they could start realizing their projects. b. Discuss the restoration of the Baytown Fire Department 1947 Mack fire truck. City Manger Rick Davis introduced the item and relayed he brought the discussion forth due to the 1947 Mack fire truck being a significant expense. He noted it had been approved some time ago and that their ambition was to create a venue at the Public Safety Building to display the engine. As a result of other factors, that feature of the building had been eliminated. Mr. Davis did note, nonetheless, they could create a place for the engine's public viewing. Fire Chief Kenneth Dobson conversed about their previous efforts about whether the fire truck could be refurbished. He added, they later learn about someone who could refurbished the truck in New York, and Mr. Dobson mention that part of cost was the transportation of the truck to and from. Assistant Fire Chief Ronald Roberts gave the presentation that exhibited the work of the person they found to refurbish their fire truck. Mr. Roberts did mention the only thing they would not do on the truck was to make the water pump work. The presentation listed all the services they provided, such as: mechanical, paint, epoxy, redo the chrome, nickel, new windshields, etc. Mr. Roberts also discussed a bit about the fire truck's history. It was delivered on December 24th, 1947, for Christmas to Goose Creek Fire Department. It was then a few weeks later when all the cities merged together to create Baytown. The 1947 Mack fire truck was currently at Station 6 and not running. There was also further discussion on its history and of the pricing of the truck back then. Mr. Roberts then opened to questions. Mayor Pro Tern Presley inquired about the cost —to which Mr. Roberts replied $82,000. Council Member Lester further questioned if no one in Texas could refurbish the truck. Mr. Roberts City Council Regular Work Session Minutes January 13, 2022 Page 5 of 6 responded that one of the issues with going local was that the Texas Fire Museum charged by the hour. The reason why their choice could give them a price was because they had done the same truck two and half years back and knew the costs. Mr. Roberts noted another issue was that the Texas Fire Museum had a waitlist that extended to three years. Mr. Davis commented his beliefs on how important the fire truck was to Baytown's heritage and history. Council Member Betancourth asked if their proposal was to showcase the truck at a fire station or have public tours? Mr. Roberts answered, people came by the Fire Stations all the time and he further discussed how Fire Station 2 would be a prime location as they were looking to redo it. Council Member Betancourth commented she liked the idea of the public viewing, but that she did not know a lot of people that would tour fire stations. Council Member Johnson countered that based on a past conversation he had with a gentleman from the fire school, the city was getting a good deal. As far as the future location, he noted the city had another memorabilia dear to Texas that they still did not know where it was going nor the bottom line costs. Council Member Johnson additionally opined the importance of the 1947 Mack fire truck to Baytown's history and recommended Council consider investing. It was further noted that the citizens also deemed the fire truck as important. The 1947 Mack fire truck had been in Baytown parades for nineteen years until that 4"' of July and Christmas because it was completely done. Mayor Pro Tem Presley commented that Mr. Davis had gotten a phone call about why the truck was missing. People did notice. Council Member Johnson inquired about the time limit on getting the fire truck back from being refurbished, and Mr. Roberts answered about eight months. Mr. Davis ended on the matter that they would then relocate this under their consent agenda in the future, possibly January 27"'. C. Discuss the continuation of the Ad Hoc Committee for Animal Control Advisory Committee. Interim City Attorney Trevor Fanning introduced the item and stated they had open positions because the appointees could not finish their term. In turn, the future of the Ad Hoc Committee was not entirely clear. Mayor Capetillo relayed his understanding on the matter to which Mayor Pro Tern Presley asked for further clarification because he presumed that once the appointments were made, the Ad Hoc Committee would then be disbanded. City Clerk Angela Jackson explained that while that was typical, in the present situation all the members were appointed but they were later informed that a member of the board was parting. The Ad Hoc Committee would have continued to look to replace that person, but it was unclear if the committee would be dismantled. Council Member Alvarado confirmed they had sent their recommendation, so moving forward after the appointment it would be business as usual. Council Member Lester elaborated that the committee did not appoint, but just made recommendations. He believed Council did not want to create a standing Ad Hoc Committee— City Council Regular Work Session Minutes January 13, 2022 Page 6 of 6 which Mrs. Jackson confirmed —despite having expanded their duties. Council Member Lester then added his understanding of the Ad Hoc Committee's duties in regards to future vacancies which were deliberated to be their normal duties. d. Discuss any or all of the agenda items on the City Council Regular Meeting Agenda for January 13, 2022, which is attached below. Council had no further discussions on any agenda items on the City Council Regular Meeting Agenda for January 13, 2022. 2. ADJOURN With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor Capetillo adjourned the January 13, 2022, City Council Regular Work Session at 6:13 P.M. Angela Jadkson, City Clerk City of Baytown