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Home My WebLink About(1) JANUARY 28, 2003REGULAR MEET:lNG -January 28, 2003 I. ROLL CALL~ INVOCATION & PLEDGE The City Council of the City of Port Arthur met in Regular Session on Tuesday, .January 28, 2003 at 8:38 a.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Oscar G. Ortiz; Mayor Pro Tem Tom Henderson; Councilmembers Felix A. Barker, Robert A. Bowers, Rose M. Chaisson and Michael "Shane" Sinegal; City Manager Steve Fitzgibbons; City Secretary Evangeline Green and City Attorney Mark T. Sokolow. The invocation was given by Councilmember Sinegal followed by the pledge to the flag. Councilmember Tom Gillam, TI! arrived at the meeting at 87t0 a.m. II. PROCLAMATIONS & MINUTES I~linutes - Regular Meeting 3anuary 21, 2003 Upon the motion of Councilmember Bowers, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson and carried unanimously, the City Council approved the above-mentioned minutes.' III. PETITIONS & COMMUNICATIONS A. Speakers Regina Lindsey, Executive Director Of The Southeast Texas Arts Council, Regarding Announcement Of A New Southeast Texas Arts Council Publication, "Off Ramp", And A Report On Winter Odyssey Ms. Regina Lindsey, Executive Director, Southeast Texas Arts Council, 470 Orleans, Beaumont, Texas, appeared before the Council and expressed appreciation to the City Council and Staff for the assistance provided during the Winter Odyssey and introduced the new publication, O~£amp. (2) Virginia Dudley-Schoolfield Regarding Letter From Economic Development Corporation Mrs. Virginia Dudley-Schoolfield, 1835 Snyder, Port Arthur, Texas, appeared before the City Council regarding the above-mentioned item. B. Correspondence Mariner's Cove City Attorney Sokolow commented on the above-mentioned correspondence. IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 9:00AM None V. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None ITEMS REQU:[RING INDIVIDUAL ACTION--NON-CONSENT C. *Reports and Recommendations (5) Report On The Selection Process Of The City's Official Newspaper (Requested By Councilmember Henderson) The City Attorney explained the Charter and Code of Ordinance provisions regarding the above-mentioned report. Hr. David McCollum, Publisher of the Port Arthur News, appeared before the Council and explained the function of putting out a daily newspaper and the various challenges. VI. CONSENT AGENDA Upon the motion of Mayor Pro Tem Henderson, seconded by Councilmember Bowers and carried unanimously, the following Consent Agenda items were adopted with the exception of Proposed Resolution No. 12059. Consideration And Approval Of The Purchase Of 460 Ninety- Six Gallon And :125 Sixty-Four Gallon Toter Containers In The Amount Of $23,905.85 From Toter, Inc., Of Statesville, North Carolina (Through The State Of Texas Contract Bid #450-A2 Purchasing Contract) For The Public Works Department (Solid Waste Division). .B. Consideration And Approval Of PaYment To Bill Baker & Company, Inc., Of Houston, Texas For Supplemental Accident Repairs To A :1986 American :1500 GPM Pumper Truck (Equipment #644) In The Amount Of $9,889.09 For The Fire Department. C. Expense Reports City Attorney Mark T. Sokolow: Use Of Personal Auto On City Business, December 12 - 3anuary 16, 2003 25.92 Resolutions - Consent (2) P. R. No. 12069 - A Resolution Approving Sewer Adjustments To Certain Utility Accounts. Proposed Resolution No. 12069 was adopted becoming Resolution No. 03-029. Councilmember Gillam left the meeting at 8:28 a.m. and returned at 9:37 a.m. VII. ITEMS REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION--CONSENT AGENDA (1) P. R. No. 12059 - A Resolution Authorizing Designating And Establishing The Mardi Gras Entertainment Area For 2003, Designating Mardi Gras Of Southeast Texas, Inc., As The Exclusive Concessionaire And Authorizing The City Manager To Execute An Agreement With Mardi Gras Of Southeast Texas~ Inc. IVlayor Ortiz introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Resolution. The motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson and seconded by Councilmember Bowers that Proposed Resolution No. 12059 be adopted. Planning/Grants Director Dale Watson appeared before the Council and discussed the non-profit status and make-up of the Mardi Gras Board of Director. He also explained the provision of a yearly report provided by the organization. ('ity Council Minutes January 28, 2003 2 Assistant Police Chief Mark Blanton appeared before the Council and explained the selection methods for paying officers to work Mardi Gras at $25.00 per hour--cash method or off-duty overtime method. The following requests for information were made during the discussion of Proposed Resolution No. 12059: Councilmember Chaisson requested a report regarding city staff working on Mardi Gras activities. She asked that Finance Director Underhill, Water Utility Director Shepherd and Public Works Director HcIVlahen go back one year and provide information on how much the city was reimbursed by Mardi Gras for employees providing assistance during regular working hours and during overtime hours. Councilmember Sinegal asked that Planning/Grants Management Director Watson provide information to the Council on what other Texas and Louisiana IVlardi Gras projects are doing regarding charges for entrance fees. Mayor Ortiz requested information regarding the exact cost of Mardi Gras to the citizens of Port Arthur as far as man hours on the project. He stated that he would like a Council report after the closure of this year's Mardi Gras on how many man hours were put, in by city employees and how many hours the city got paid. He added that he wants to know exactly what IVlardi Gras is costing the City of Port Ar;[hut and how much the city is collecting in dollars. Councilmember Gillam requested from Assistant Police Chief Blanton inclusion in the above-mentioned requests, information regarding how overtime is calculated, including actual hours of work on-site. The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No. 12059: Councilmember Barker Councilmember Bowers Councilmember Chaisson Councilmember Gillam Mayor Pro Tem Henderson Councilmember Sinegal IVlayor Ortiz "Yes" "Yes" "No" "Yes" "Yes" "No" "Yes" The motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No. 12059 carried becoming Resolution No. 03-030. The caption of Resolution No. 03-030 reads as follows: RESOLUTION NO. 03-030 A RESOLUT!ON AUTHOR!Z!NG DES!GNATTNG AND ESTABLTSHTNG THE IVlARD! GRAS ENTERTA!NMENT AREA FOR 2003, DES!GNAT!NG MARD! GRAS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, !NC., AS THE EXCLUS!VE CONCESS!ONA!RE AND AUTHOR!Z!NG THE C!TY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT W!TH MARD! GRAS OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS, :[NC. V!!. !TEMS REQU!R!NG !ND!V!DUAL ACT!ON - NON-CONSENT A. Resolutions (1) P.R. No. 12056 - A Resolution Approving The Expenditure By The City Of Port Arthur Of $5,000 To Sponsor The BOSS ('ity Council Minutes January 28, 2003 Conference. (Requested By The Texas Association Of Minority Business Enterprises) The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Resolution. The motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson and seconded by Councilmember Bowers that Proposed Resolution No. 12056 be adopted. A motion was made by Councilmember Gillam and seconded by Councilmember Sinegal to table Proposed Resolution No. 12056 until questions could be answered. The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to table Proposed Resolution No. 12056: Councilmember Barker Councilmember Bowers Councilmember Chaisson Councilmember Gillam Mayor Pro Tem Henderson Councilmember Sinegal Mayor Ortiz "No" "No" "No" ,,yes,, "No" "Yes" "NO" The motion to table Proposed Resolution No. 12056 failed to carry. Economic Development Corporation Director [ke Mills appeared before the Council and discussed the request for the expenditure of $5,000.00 to sponsor the BOSS Conference. The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No. 12056: Councilmember Barker Councilmember Bowers Councilmember Chaisson Councilmember Gillam Mayor Pro Tem Henderson Councilmember Sinegal Mayor Ortiz "No" "Yes" "No" "Yes" "Yes" "Yes" "No" The motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No. 12056 carried becoming Resolution No. 03-031. The caption of Resolution No. 03-031 reads as follows: RESOLUTTON NO. 03-03! A RESOLUTION APPROVTNG THE EXPENDITURE BY THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR OF $5,000 TO SPONSOR THE BOSS CONFERENCE. (REQUESTED BY THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES) (2) P. R. No. 12070 - A Resolution Appointing Members To The Port Arthur Youth Advisory Council. The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Resolution. The motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Henderson and seconded by Councilmember Sinegal that Proposed Resolution No. 12070 be adopted. City Council Minutes January 28, 2003 4 The following students were nominated to serve on the Port Arthur Youth Advisory Council: Councilmember Sinegal's Nominee Lorena Sanchez 3339 Thomas Blvd. Port Arthur, Texas Councilmember Gillam's Nominees Kalena Lawrence 229 East 17th Street Port Arthur, Texas Daniel Vincent 5241 Terrace Port Arthur, Texas Proposed Resolution No. 12070 was adopted becoming Resolution No. 03-032. Councilmember Gillam left the meeting at 10:31 a.m. and returned at 10:39 a.m. Councilmember Chaisson left the meeting at 10:32 a.m. and returned at 10:36 a.m. Voting Yes: Mlayor Ortiz; Mayor Pro Tem Henderson; Councilmembers Barker, Bowers and Sinegal. Voting No: None. The caption of Resolution No. 03-032 reads as follows: RE$OLUT1'ON NO. 03-032: A RE$OLUT]:ON APPOtNT]:NG MEMBERS TO THE PORT ARTHUR YOUTH ADVI'SORY COUNCtL. City Manager Fitzgibbons introduced his new Administrative Assistant Doris Gill who will work with the Brownfields Program and the Port Arthur Youth Advisory Council. B. Ordinances None C. *Reports And Recommendations (1) Report, On Hike And Bike Trail Public Works Director Leslie McIVlahen presented the above-mentioned report. (:2) Report On Downtown Redevelopment City Manager Fitzgibbons requested that the above-mentioned report be held. (3) November, :200:2 Financial Report Finance Director Rebecca Underhill presented the above-mentioned report. (4) Report On Flood Damage Claim Process Mayor Ortiz commented on a letter from FEIMA regarding procedures for obtaining Iow interest loans from the Small Business Administration to repair property damage in the City from the recent flood damage. City Mlanager Fitzgibbons discussed the February 24, 2003 deadline to file flood damage claims. The toll free number is as follows: 1 (800) 366-6303. City Council Minutes January 28, 2003 5 (6) Report On City/PAISD Library Cooperative Program Library Director Ray Cline corrected the typographical error $30.00 per day in paragraph two of his report, to $30.00 per hour as the pay rate for the City/PAISD Library Cooperative Program, and presented the report on the status of implementing the program. VIII. REPORTS OF BOARDS & COMMII-rEES None IX. *CLOSED MEETING (EXECUTIVE SESSION) Closed Meetinq: '(2) Section 551.087 Government Code - To Discuss Incentives For Healthcare, Commercial Business, Retail And Industrial Prospects. Section 551.076 Government Code - To Discuss The Deployment Or Implementation Of Security Personnel Or Devices. The City Council recessed their meeting at 11:00 a.m. to meet in Executive Session to consider the above-mentioned topics, and reconvened their meeting at 11:42 a.m. with the following members present: Mayor Ortiz; Councilmembers Barker, Gillam, Bowers, Chaisson and Sinegal; City Manager Fitzgibbons; City Secretary Green and City Attorney Sokolow. Mayor Pro Tern Henderson left the meeting after the Executive Session. X. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS OR REQUESTED REPORTS Mayor Ortiz: Report on Trip to Washington, D.C. Councilmember Chaisson: Report on Sewer Problems (Area bounded by H. O. Hills Blvd., from 48th Street, Waco, Beaumont and Fort Worth). Find out how many calls have been made to that area and the nature of the sewer problems. A motion was made by Councilmember Bowers and seconded by Councilmember Chaisson to reconsider and amend the resolution (Proposed Resolution No. 12059/ Resolution No. 03-030) and agreement with Hardi Gras of Southeast Texas. The language in the amendment reads as follows: "That the City Manager after consultation with the Chief of Police can terminate this agreement and the Hardi Gras celebration for security concerns." The motion to amend Resolution No. 03-030 carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Ortiz; Councilmembers Barker, Gillam, Bowers, Chaisson and Sinegal. Voting No: None. Cily Council Minmcs ,lanuary 28, 2003 6 Resolution No. 03-030 was adopted as amended. IX. AD3OURNMENT OF MEETING Upon the motion of Councilmember Gillam, seconded by Councilmember Sinegal and carried unanimously, the City Council adjourned their meeting at 11:47 a.m. An audio tape of this meeting is on file in the office of the City Secretary and is made a part of the official minutes of this meeting. MAYOR Ali-EST: CITY SECRETARY END OF REGULAR MEETING HELD January 28, 2003 APPROVED: ('ity (?mmcil M inuI¢s January 28, 2003 7