Regular - January 25, 2010
REGULAR MEETING
LA MARQUE CITY COUNCIL
The La Marque City Council met in a duly called and announced Regular Meeting on January 25, 2010. Mayor Sam called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Pastor Carolyn Robinson of Galilee United Methodist Church led the Invocation and Councilmember Trube led the pledge to the U.S. Flag.
027-2010 ROLL CALL - Present: Mayor Geraldine Sam, Mayor Pro-Tem Keith Bell, Councilmember Larry Mann, Councilmember Connie Trube, Councilmember Deanie Barrett, City Attorney Ellis Ortego, City Manager Eric Gage and City Clerk Lydia Alcala-Garcia
Department Directors: Judicial-Janet Solis, Finance-Karen Cooper, Police-Chief Randall Aragon, Fire-Chief Todd Zacherl, EDC-Alex Getty, Public Works-Mike Morgan, Buildings-Ana Tims and Library-Kathy Nixie.
028-2010 EXECUTIVE SESSION - Closed the regular meeting at 6:03 pm
Legal Matters (Texas Government Code Section 551.071 - Consultation with Attorney) - Pending Litigation with the La Marque Firefighters Association vs. City of La Marque
029-2010 ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON EXECUTIVE SESSION - Open Regular Meeting at 6:50 pm
Consider, Discuss and Approve hiring Legal Counsel Lynn, Pham and Ross, LLP. to defend the City of La Marque in pending litigation regarding La Marque Firefighters Association vs. City of La Marque.
Councilmember Mann made a motion to approve hiring Legal Counsel Lynn, Pham and Ross, LLP. to defend the City of La Marque in pending litigation regarding La Marque Firefighters Association vs. City of La Marque. Councilmember Trube seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
030-2010 APPROVAL OF MINUTES -
Regular Meeting of January 11, 2010
Councilmember Barrett made a motion to approve the minutes as circulated, Councilmember Mann seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
031-2010 PRESENTATION
Quarterly Investment Report - Karen Cooper, Finance Director
Ms. Cooper asked Council if there were any questions with the Quarterly Investment Report ending December 2009. There were no comments from Council.
032-2010 La Marque Police Department Assessment of Operations - Chief Randall Aragon
Chief Aragon went over his assessment with Council. He stated it was in three segments and stated he has covered the assessment with Mr. Gage. He stated the staff was very excited about the assessment and the staff and citizens were on the same page as each other. He stated they wanted to gain mutual trust, problem solving, accountability and a partnership with the community. Chief stated they wanted to work smarter not harder. He stated they were geared towards success. Officer Cravens was going to be the Narcotics officer. His mission was to get the drugs and criminals out of La Marque. He stated the federal government had a federal seizing program he intended to implement. He stated the money from the sale goes to the city. Mayor Sam stated the assessment was well presented. She asked if the assessment would be made available to the public. Chief stated someone one told him the document was available on-line. Mayor Sam asked for the requirements for citizen volunteers. Chief stated the volunteers would have a written directive and they would be screened. Mayor Sam asked if the reserve officers would be bonded. Chief Aragon stated yes. Mayor Sam asked if the reserve officer would be allowed to drive City vehicles or would they ride with La Marque officers. Chief stated they would drive on fleet vehicles. Mr. Gage stated the vehicles would be clearly marked. Councilmember Barrett stated she appreciated the time Chief put into the report. Councilmember Trube stated the report was very impressive. Mayor Pro-Tem Bell commended Chief on his report and stated it was very well written and observed. He asked if there was some sort of training where officers could share experiences. Chief stated they had shift meetings where they could share experiences. He stated there would be more communication and they were shifting from random calls for service to problem solving. Mayor Pro-Tem Bell asked if the 30 officers included the new officers in the budget. Chief stated yes and he was giving up an officer to work code enforcement. Mayor Pro-Tem Bell stated he spoke of seizing property and asked if it was legally binding. Chief stated there would be letters and warning sent and if they made a case, the federal agency would decide if they wanted to adopt the case. He stated the Federal government handled the court action. Mayor Pro-Tem Bell thanked the Chief for the citizens from District A for being a target area and for working the Neighborhood Revitalization Committee.
033-2010 CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR HEARING
Earnest Baxley - 1002 Westward - Fire Department Contract
Mr. Baxley asked why a lawsuit had to be filed on order to get a fire department contract. Mayor Sam stated they could not answer questions. Mr. Ortego stated they were there to hear comments only.
034-2010 John Brasher - La Marque Fire Association - President
Mr. Brasher thanked Council for passing their contract and voting on it. He thanked Mayor Pro-Tem Keith Bell for opening up the line of communication with association and helping them move forward. He thanked the negotiating team, Mr. Gage, Councilmember Barrett and Trube.
035-2010 REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER
Councilmember Barrett made a motion to accept the City Manager's Report as presented. Councilmember Trube seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Sam asked about the stray animals in the city. Mr. Gage stated the City had an Interlocal agreement with the County Health District and the staff sent the calls to the County. Councilmember Trube stated she believed they only received calls from 9am to 5pm and not on the weekends. Mr. Gage stated he believed it was open 24 hours.
Mayor Sam stated she could not identify the streets on the maps provided by the police department. Mr. Gage stated there was a larger map in the Chief office she could use or they could get her a bigger version.
036-2010 OLD BUSINESS
Consider, Discuss and Approve Annual Boards and Commission Appointments.
Mayor Pro-Tem Bell made a motion to accept the nomination from Mayor Sam of Trina Phillips who resides at 1222 Kirsten as the Mayors appointee for the Building and Standards Commission, Jake Feigle who resides at 2712 Houston Drive South as the Mayors appointee for the Electrical Board and Michelle Washington who resides at 3012 Cedar as the Mayors appointee to the Library Board. Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Pro-Tem Bell stated he had contacted four plumbing agencies in the La Marque and Texas City areas and he asked Council to consider Mr. McGaffey's suggestion to limit the plumbing board to one master plumber. He asked to revisit the Plumbing Board issue at the next meeting. Mayor Pro-Tem Bell made a motion to postpone his appointment until further notice. Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
037-2010 Consider, Discuss and Approve the La Marque Fire Association Collective Bargaining Contract for Period Beginning October 1, 2009 and Ending on September 30, 2012.
Councilmember Barrett made a motion for the conditional approval of the Fire Collective Bargaining Agreement as originally agreed on in the fall of 2009 contingent upon the settlement discussions between the attorneys for the City and the Fire Fighter's Union. Councilmember Mann seconded the motion and motion passed unanimously.
038-2010 NEW BUSINESS
Consider, Discuss and Approve Resolution 1122, Support of the La Marque Revitalization Committee findings and the Middle Income Housing Pilot Study by Marsh Darcy Partners, Inc.
Councilmember Barrett made a motion approve Resolution 1122, support of the La Marque Revitalization Committee findings and the Middle Income Housing Pilot Study by Marsh Darcy Partners, Inc. Councilmember Mann seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
039-2010 ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMENTS AND REQUESTS FROM COUNCIL
Councilmember Barrett and Trube stated they were glad to see a good turn out.
Mayor Pro-Tem Bell introduced his pastor, Reverend Carolyn Robinson, Galilee United Methodist Church.
Mayor Sam asked any former mayors to stand and be acknowledged. She thanked all the employees for a great job and thanked everyone for coming out.
040-2010 AJOURNMENT -
Councilmember Mann made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:40p.m. Councilmember Barrett seconded the motion to adjourn. Motion passed unanimously.
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Geraldine Sam,
Mayor
ATTEST:
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Lydia Alcala-Garcia,
City Clerk