HomeMy WebLinkAboutMARCH 7, 2005 SPECIAL SPECIAL MEETING--March 7, 2005
1. ROLL CALL, ZNVOCATZON & PLEDGE
The City Council of the City of Port Arthur met in a Special Meeting on Tuesday, March
7, 2005 at 7::L0 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the following members
present: IVlayor Pro Tem John Beard, .lt.; Councilmembers Craig Hannah, Felix A.
Barker, Thomas ~1. Henderson, Martin Flood, Ronnie Thompson, Deloris "Bobble" Prince
and IVlichael "Shane' Sinegal; City Manager Steve Fitzgibbons; City Secretary Evangeline
"Van" Green and City Attorney Mark T. Sokolow.
Mayor Oscar G. Ortiz left the Joint/Special and Special Meetings at 7:08 p.m. for Official
City business.
Mayor Pro Tern Beard presided over the Special Meeting.
The invocation was given by Councilmember Flood followed by the pledge to the flag.
ITEf4S REQUIRING INDIV~LDUALACTION
A. Resolutions
(1) P.R. No. 13057 - A Resolution As It Pertains To Requesting
A Bill To Be Adopted By The Texas Legislature To Allow
Cities To Delineate The Number And Terms Of Directors For
Economic Development Corporations
The Mayor Pro Tem introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Resolution.
The motion was made by Councilmember Henderson and seconded by Councilmember
Prince that Proposed Resolution No. 13057 be adopted.
The City Attorney explained the history behind the creation of the Advisory Board and
the purpose of the proposed bill. He stated that the bill is innocuous--and it is simply
asking the Texas Legislature to let the City Council have the flexibility of deciding the
number of directors. He added that even if the Legislators pass the bill, it wouldn't go
into effect until September.
The motion was made by Councilmember Henderson and seconded by Councilmember
Barker to amend Proposed Resolution No. 13057 to delete the language pertaining to a
4B corporation and Section 2, of the proposed bill on Exhibit "A":
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to amend Proposed Resolution No.
13057:
Councilmember Barker "Yes"
Councilmember Flood "Yes"
Councilmember Hannah "Yes"
CouncJlmember Henderson "Yes"
Councilmember Prince "Yes"
Councilmember Sinegal "Yes"
Councilmember Thompson "Yes"
Mayor Pro Tem Beard "Yes"
The motion to amend Proposed Resolution No. 13057 carried.
The motion was made by Councilmember Henderson and seconded by Councilmember
Flood that Proposed Resolution No. 13057 be adopted.
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No.
13057:
Councilmember Barker "Yes"
Councilmember Flood "Yes"
Councilmember Hannah "Yes'
Councilmember Henderson "Yes"
Councilmember Prince "Yes"
Councilmember $inegal "Yes"
Councilmember Thompson "Yes"
Mayor Pro Tem Beard "Yes"
Proposed Resolution No. 13057 was adopted becoming Resolution No. 05-083.
The caption of Resolution No. 05-083 reads as follows:
Rm:$OLUTZON NO. 05-08:3
A RESOLUTtON AS ZT PERTAXNS TO
RE(~UESTXNG A BILL TO BE ADOPTED BY THE
TEXAS LEGISLATURE TO ALLOW CXTXES TO
DELINEATE THE NUMBER AND TERMS OF
DTRECTORS FOR ECONOMZC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATXONS
(2) P.R. NO. :L3058 - A Resolution As It Pertains To Requesting
A Bill To Be Adopted By The Texas Legislature To Allow A
Local Option Election To Be Called At The Request Of A City
Council Of A City Without The Necessity Of A Petition
The IVlayor Pro Tem introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Resolution.
The motion was made by Councilmember Henderson and seconded by Councilmember
Barker that Proposed Resolution No. 13058 be adopted.
Director of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce Verna Rutherford, 8138
Heatherbrook, Port Arthur, appeared before the City Council to summarize issues
making the Local Liquor Option petitioning campaign difficult and resulted in falling
short of obtaining enough signatures. She further discussed pursuing the introduction
of legislation that could reduce the percentage of the voter requirement to call a Local
Liquor Option Election. Mrs. Rutherford also stated that other options would be
examined--such as ways to clean up the list of registered voters.
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Resolution No.
13057:
Councilmember Barker "Yes"
Councilmember Flood "Yes"
Councilmember Hannah "Yes"
Councilmember Henderson "Yes"
Councilmember Prince "Yes"
Councilmember Sinegal "Yes"
Councilmember Thompson "Yes"
Mayor Pro Tern Beard "Yes"
Proposed Resolution No. 13057 was adopted becoming Resolution No. 05-083.
The caption of Resolution No. 05-083 reads as follows:
RESOLUTION NO. 05-083
A RESOLUTTON AS [T PERTAINS TO
REQUESTTNG A B]LL TO BE ADOPTED BY THE
TEXAS LEGZSLATURE TO ALLOW A LOCAL
City Council Special Meeting - March 7, 2005 Page 2
OPTlrON ELECTI'ON TO BE CALLED AT THE
RE( UEST OF A CITY COUNCIL OF A CITY
WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF A PETITION
B. _ORDINANCE
P.O. NO. 5504 - An Ordinance Providing For The Conduct Of
A Hay 7, 2005 Spec!al Election For The Purpose Of
Submitting To The (~ual,fied Voters Of The City Propositions
As To Whether Or Not The Existing Section 4A Sales Tax
Shall Be Utilized For Various Categories Of Projects As
Described In Section 4B Of Article 5190.6, Vernon's Texas
Code Annotated, Calling For A Public Hearing And Providing
For Publication Of The Election Notice
The City Manager introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Ordinance.
The motion was made by Councilmember Henderson and seconded by Councilmember
Thompson that Proposed Ordinance No. 5504 be adopted.
The City Attorney explained the Proposed Ordinance and the requirements pertaining to
public hearing and publications of the propositions, and summarized each section of the
document. There will be a public hearing for April 26, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. and
consecutive weekly notices will be posted in the newspaper for 30 days.
The City Attorney also said that the propositions broaden options for 4A projects.
The City Manager spoke on recent budgetary reductions and City infrastructure
problems.
Director of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce Verna Rutherford stated that
the Chamber is willing to educate the community and added comments regarding the
need to maintain industrial jobs to enable individuals to have ample funds to spend in
stores and restaurants.
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Ordinance No.
5504:
Councilmember Barker "Yes"
Councilmember Hannah "Yes"
Councilmember Henderson "Yes"
Councilmember Prince ~Yes'
Councilmember Sinegal "Yes"
Counciimember Thompson ~Yes"
Mayor Pro Tem Beard "Yes"
Councilmember Flood left the Special City Council Meeting at 7:44 p.m.
The caption of Ordinance No. 05-19 reads as follows:
ORDt'NANCE NO. 05-19
AN ORDI~NANCE PROVIDt'NG FOR THE
CONDUCT OF A HAY 7, 2005 SPECI'AL
ELECTI'ON FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUBMt"rr1ING
TO THE QUALt'FIED VOTERS OF THE CITY
PROPOSITIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE
EXI'STTNG SECT1;ON 4A SALES TAX SHALL BE
UTTLIZED FOR VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF
PRO.1ECTS AS DESCRTBED IN SECTIION 4B OF
ART1~CLE 5190.6, VERNON'S TEXAS CODE
ANNOTATED, CALLING FOR A PUBLIC HEARlrNG
AND PROV1~DTNG FOR PUBLICATION OF THE
ELECTION NOT[CE
City Council Special Meeting - March 7, 2005 Page 3
C, *Reports And Recommendations
Report On CDBG Applications
Director of Planning/Zoning and Grants Dale Watson presented the above-mentioned
report and reviewed the various requests and proposals for City Council input and
approval at the March 29, 2005 City Council Meeting.
A meeting was scheduled for March 22, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber
to complete the discussion of CDBG allocations.
NOTE: Councilmember Sinegal was recused from any discussion regarding the
Port Arthur Independent School District grant application.
III. AD3OURNHENT
Upon the motion of Councilmember Henderson, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Beard and
carried unanimously, the City Council adjourned their meeting at 9:08 p.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 PRO TEM ~OHN BEARD, 3R.
A~E~:
CITY SECRETARY EVANGELINE GREEN
END OF SPECIAL MEETING HELD March 7, 2005 APPROVED:
City Council Special Meeting - March 7, 2005 Page 4