BAYTOWN - City Council approved a proposed ordinance that designated the 2020 Baytown Youth Fair as a City co-sponsored event for which off-premises signs on City property are permitted, contingent upon the filing of the requisite application and assumption of liability, pursuant to Chapter 118 “Signs,” Article III “Regulations,” Division 4 “Location,” Subdivision IV “Off-Premises Signs,” Section 118-358 “New Signs” of the Code of Ordinances, contingent upon the filing of the requisite application and assumption of liability. Specifically, the Baytown Youth Fair and Livestock Association desires to place one banner across Garth Road and the other across N. Main Street, beginning 14 days prior to the event and ending three days following the event. As proposed, the event begins on April 27th and ends on May 2nd, 2020.
Friday, February 28, 2020
Thursday, February 13, 2020
City Council stamped the approval on the Parameter Ordinance authorizing Certificates of Obligation for City Facilities for the Convention Center Project
The city council stamped the approval on the proposed ordinance (i) authorizes the issuance of the City of Baytown, Texas, Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2020 (the "Certificates") for City Facilities related to the Baytown Hotel/Convention Center Project; (ii) levies a tax in payment thereof and pledges a portion of City hotel occupancy tax to be collected at the hotel and $1,000 of the surplus net revenues of the City's water and wastewater system, (iii) sets certain parameters for the sale of the Certificates; and (iv) approves the preparation and distribution of an official statement.
The Certificates of Obligation will be issued in the total aggregate principal amount not to exceed $20,500,000 for the purpose of providing for the payment of contractual obligations to be incurred in connection with the planning, acquisition, construction, equipping, expansion, repair, and/or renovation of City-owned public property, including the following:
- a convention center consisting of public conference rooms and meeting space of approximately 33,600 square feet, including a ballroom of approximately 12,000 square feet (the “Convention Center”);
- public facilities and infrastructure ancillary to the conference rooms and meeting space;
- a proportionate interest in elements common to the Convention Center and the hotel that will be interconnected with the Convention Center (the “Hotel”), such as the foundation, HVAC system, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, roof, and other similar structural elements;
- areas common to the Convention Center and the Hotel;
- the completion of a water and wastewater preliminary engineering report for the design of a water line extension and replacement of an existing wastewater lift station and force main, and
- a parking lot or parking structure with approximately 320 spaces, adjacent to the Convention Center.
City Council approved the Application to the FY20 State Homeland Security Grant Program-LETPA for Police
The city council approved the proposed resolution authorizes the City to submit a grant application to the Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office, Homeland Security Grants Division’s State Homeland Security Program – LETPA Projects on behalf of the Police Department. Federal funding for these projects comes from the Homeland Security Act of 2002 through the US Department of Homeland Security. The purpose of this program is to support state and local efforts to prevent terrorism and other catastrophic events and prepare for the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to the security of Texas citizens. Per the 911 Act, at least 25% of the combined Homeland Security Grant Program funding must be used for Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Activities (LETPA).
If approved, the City Manager will submit an application for an amount not to exceed $121,500 for the purchase of night vision goggles for nine members of Baytown PD's SWAT Team. This specialized equipment will be used to sustain and enhance the interdiction, disruption and terrorist threat/incident response capabilities of this Type I team.
There is no local match required; however, the City agrees that in the event of loss or misuse of the CJD funds, the City will return such funds to the CJD. The City Manager will serve as the authorizing official with the authority to apply for, accept, reject, alter, or terminate the grant on behalf of the City. The projected period of performance is 12-months beginning between September 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021.
| Item | Unit Cost | Quantity | Totals |
| Night Vision Goggles, mount, power pack, laser designator | $13,500.00 | 9 | $121,500.00 |
| Project Total: | $121,500.00 |
City Council stamped approval of the Dredge Material Placement Agreement with Port of Houston Authority for the Bayland Marina Dredging project
The city council on Thursday, February 13, 2020, stamped the approval of the proposed ordinance authorizes a Dredge Material Placement Agreement with Port of Houston Authority (PHA) for the Bayland Marina Dredging project and payment of dredging disposal fees in the amount of $495,747.00
This ordinance approves the payments to the Port of Houston in an amount of $472,152.00 for the disposal of approximately 114,600 cubic yards of maintenance dredged material at $4.12/cubic yard. The project will use the Spilman Island disposal site located directly across the Houston Ship Channel from Bayland Marina, on the south side of the Hartman Bridge.
The Army Corps of Engineers disposal fee is $0.20/cubic yard of dredged mater placed into the placement area totaling $22,920.00.
The Port of Houston required 75% of the fee paid prior to the project.
The current estimate of the project is:
- Port of Houston, ACE Tipping Fees - $495,747.00
- Dredge Contractor $584,000.00 *
- Consultant Fees (Moffatt and Nichol) $98,900.00
- Total estimated Project $1,178,647.00
*Based on consultants 2018 estimate for dredging and “Aids to Navigation” (ATONs), with a 20% contingency.
The actual dredging project is expected to be bid later this spring.
FEMA may reimburse up to 90% of the project.
City Council stamped the approval of an Addendum to Engagement Letter with Bracewell LLP
The city council APPROVED the proposed ordinance authorizes an Addendum to Engagement Letter with Bracewell LLP, for legal services associated with the creation of one or more public improvement districts and the issuance of bonds and other debt obligations related thereto.
This is an addendum to the City's existing bond counsel agreement for the purpose of adding additional scope pertaining to public improvement districts. Services will be performed by Bracewell only as directed by the City and such services may include, but not be limited to, the following:
- assisting the City with the development of a PID Policy;
- drafting the Development Agreement and other City documents relating to the PID, including policies and procedures for the creation of a PID by the City;
- drafting documents relating to the creation of the PID and the levy of Assessments;
- attendance at all meetings of the City Council as required or requested in connection with the planning and authorization of Obligations, including consultation on federal income tax matters;
- preparation of the ordinances of the City Council authorizing the issuance of Obligations, together with all other legal documents comprising the transcript of proceedings for authorization and issuance of Obligations;
- preparation of and submission to the Attorney General of Texas of a transcript of proceedings for each series of Obligations to obtain the approval of the Attorney General and registration of Obligations by the Comptroller of Public Accounts of Texas;
- preparation and filing of legal documents required under federal income tax law for the Obligations;
- representation of the City at the closing of the sale of Obligations, including preparation of all closing documents; and
- if appropriate, the delivery at the closing of our approving opinion as to the validity of the Obligations under Texas law, and the exclusion of interest on the Obligations from gross income of the holders under federal income tax law
Friday, January 24, 2020
City Council APPROVED the reappointment of the current judges for another two-year term
The current terms of the current Associate Municipal Court Judges expire on January 31 2020. City Council APPROVED the reappointment of the current judges for another two-year term which commences on February 1, 2020, and ends on January 31, 2022. Associate Judges are only compensated upon serving in the absence of Judge Escalante. However, training costs will be incurred for each. The following is a list of the current Associate Judges along with their dates of original appointment:
Associate Judges Date of Original Appointment
Kelly Benavides March 10, 2005
Michael Marks February 10, 2005
Andy Helms March 10, 2005
The Associate Judges are not employees of the City. The Associate Judges serve on a contract basis to preside over the municipal court and jail dockets to which they have been assigned by the Municipal Court Judge, to issue warrants and court orders in the absence of the Municipal Court Judge, and to perform other duties required by the Municipal Court Judge for the operation of the Baytown Municipal Court. The appointment of each Associate Municipal Court Judge is subject to his/her execution of a contract with the City and will be for the two-year term, which commences on February 1, 2018, pursuant to Section 24 of the Charter and Chapter 60 of the Code of Ordinances.
The election for City Council Mayor Pro Tem, Alvarado next in line
Currently, Robert Hoskins, District No. 5 serves as the Mayor Pro Tem. Council Member Davis Himsel has requested not to serve this term.
According to the Council rules, the next Council Member for consideration is Council Member Laura Alvarado.
Section 15 of the Charter of the City of Baytown provides that the Council shall elect a Mayor Pro Tem, who shall act as Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor and, if a vacancy should occur, shall become Mayor until the next regular election.
On July 14, 2011, the Council adopted a new set of rules regarding the Mayor Pro Tem. The rules are as follows:
- the Mayor Pro Tem be elected for a 6 month term on a rotating basis;
- the terms will run from January 1st to June 30th and from July 1st to December 31st of each year;
- the rotation will be consecutive based on council district number;
- a Council Member must have served one year on the City Council prior to being elected Mayor Pro Tem; and
- if a Council Member does not wish to serve, cannot serve or does not qualify to serve when scheduled to be elected as Mayor Pro Tem based upon the rotation schedule, the City Council shall elect the next Council Member on the rotation list unless voted otherwise.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
The city council approved the purchase of one 2020 Ford F-450 Diesel 4X2 Reg Cab Type I 14' Frazer Ambulance
The new chassis and ambulance module will be used to replace Medic 7 ambulance and the current unit will be placed in reserve status.
This chassis and ambulance module is being funded through the Baytown Fire Control, Prevention, and Emergency Medical Services District.
The source will come out of the capital fund for the fiscal year of 2020.
City council approved purchasing of One Kenworth 14 Yard Dump Truck
This will be an additional fleet vehicle added to organization 30930 - Drainage/Stormwater Maintenance to add capacity to the ditch maintenance program. The source of funds will come out of the operating
City council authorized the fourth renewal of the annual contract for Food and Supplies for the Pirates Bay Water Park
The food and supplies will be delivered to the Pirates Bay Water Park beginning April 1 through September 30, 2020. This contract renewal will be in effect from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2020. The source of the funds will come out of the operating,
Repair and Rehabilitation sewer line project planned for the Sterling Municipal Library
- Excavate access to the building;
- Tunnel under the building 225 feet;
- Construct a wooden frame structure inside of the building and wrap structure to cover entry holes;
- Break interior floor concrete in 4 to 5 locations for egress and tunnel access;
- Remove cast iron pipe from under building;
- Provide and install new plumbing drains;
- Route new drain to building exterior;
- Install 6-inch sewer line from building to tie in with City lines;
- Provide engineered backfill letter; and
- Pour new concrete in excavated areas after completion.
| $40,000.00 will be used from the Library funds. The remaining balance will come from general overhead funds. The source of funds also varies but will come from the current fiscal year of 2020. | |||||
Final design and construction administration services for utilities to serve the Baytown Hotel and Convention Center Project
The future development of the Bayland Island Hotel and Convention Center requires the upsizing and relocation of existing utilities to meet future demands and capacity.
In November 2019, the City entered into an agreement for Preliminary Design Engineering services with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., in the amount of $48,900.00 with a Preliminary Engineering Report as the final deliverable.
That work effort determined that the new development and future expansion of that development would require the relocation and upsizing of a sanitary sewer lift station and related sanitary sewer gravity and forcemain to serve the development.
This proposed work effort will complete the design of the sanitary sewer lift station, including layout, pump sizing, wet well structural design, electrical design, and screening. The lift station will be designed to meet floodplain requirements and power redundancy. This design will then be provided to the Hotel and Convention Center contractor to construct, via future agreement. The source of funds will come out of the MDD for
| the fiscal Year 2020. |
2020 Baytown Youth Sports Expo will be held at the Baytown Community Center on January 18 and 19, 2020
The event provides a one-stop opportunity for the city's youth sports league sign-ups. Representatives from the Baytown Little League Association, Baytown Girls Fast Pitch Softball Association, Baytown Teenage Baseball Association, Optimist Football, the Baytown Summer Track Team, Baytown Stingrays Lacrosse, Baytown Broncos TIFI Football, Dirty Bay Aquatics, and the Baytown Saints Soccer Club, Baytown Tennis, Baytown Dance Company, Baytown Texas Coastal Volleyball, D.SA Gymnastics, and more.
The Baytown Parks and Recreation Department will also provide information about the city's youth programs such as karate, hip hop dance and art classes. In addition, the Department will also provide information about the city's adult sports leagues such as slow pitch softball, kickball, adult soccer, disc golf, and ultimate Frisbee.
City Council approved the purchase, installation, training and maintenance agreement with Airship Servers
This purchase will allow for server installation, device licenses, training, and a four-year service agreement. This system serves as a video evidence collection and distribution program. JDL Digital Systems, Inc., is the sole source provider of the server equipment as well as the technical and electrical support to the purchased package.
The city council approved the purchase of a SWAT-SRT Van for the Police Department
The van will be custom built on a 2020 Ford Transit chassis. This will be a replacement vehicle for the current 1997 Chevrolet SWAT-SRT van that is beyond repair and no longer serviceable. The Ford SWAT-SRT van will be purchased utilizing budgeted funds from the Police Department FY 2019-20 budget.
The source of funds will come out of the capital for the fiscal year of 2020.
The city council approved the purchase of a 2020 Ford technical investigations vehicle for the Police Dept
This technical investigations unit will be custom built on a 2020 Ford Transit 250 chassis.
It will be outfitted with the latest technology to assist officers in gathering critical intelligence as well as facilitate the detection and investigation of crime and the prosecution of criminals.
This vehicle will replace the current 2008 Ford technical investigation unit which the technology has reached the end of life.
The technologies investigations unit will be purchased utilizing funds awarded to the Police Department through forfeitures.