The City Council of the City of Shoreacres, Texas met in Special Session on

Monday, June 25, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 601 Shoreacres Blvd.,

Shoreacres, Texas, with the following present constituting a quorum:

                                                           Mayor      Jayo Washington

                                              Mayor pro tem      Tom Revak

                                                      Alderman      Joe Gomer

                                                      Alderman      Gerry Victor

                                                 Alderwoman      Dolly Arons              

                                                      Alderman      Richard Adams                   

              City Administrator / City Secretary      David Stall

1.0       CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL:

The meeting was called to order by Mayor Jayo Washington at 7:01pm.

2.0       PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & COMMENTS

2.1       Citizen’s Comments

Patrick Stanton, 128 Shady Lawn: Informed council that the Parks & Recreation Board has approved an American Volksport Association (AVA) walk for February 2008. No specific date has been set although it would be conducted on a Saturday. He asked for city support to open restrooms at City Hall and Circle Park. He also inquired about the status of stripes on the tennis court.

Anita Willis, 1009 Forest: Asked council to provide a notice in the utility bills letting residents know that no soliciting signs have been put up in the city and providing a number that should be called if there are solicitors in the neighborhood.

Cynthia Montgomery, 110 Shoreacres Circle: Told council that citizens need to be ready if there is an emergency because there is no protection from the port such as a levee or barrier to keep flood water and floating containers out of the city. She recommends the creation of a levee board like they have in Louisiana to address the deep water surge risk of the Bayport channel.

Charlotte Wells, 3342 Miramar: Suggested to council that they have soil testing done now to establish baseline numbers (pollution) and conduct pre-storm monitoring. She pointed to Louisiana as an example of where dredge material has been washed up and is now being built on.

2.2 Introduction of Police Officer John Ryan

Chief French introduced Officer Ryan as a new part-time officer joining the Shoreacres Police Department.

[Mayor Washington took up Agenda Item 5.3 at this point in the meeting and thereafter returned to the published order of business.]

3.0       APPROVAL OF MINUTES

3.1       Regular Council Meeting: April 23, 2007

            Alderman Revak moved to approve the minutes as presented. Alderman Gomer seconded.

            The vote was as follows:

            AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.

            NAYS: None.

3.2       Regular Council Meeting: May 14, 2007

            Alderman Gomer moved to approve the minutes as presented. Alderman Victor seconded.

            The vote was as follows:

            AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.

            NAYS: None.

3.3       Regular Council Meeting: June 11, 2007

            Alderwoman Arons moved to approve the minutes as presented. Alderman Adams seconded.

            The vote was as follows:

            AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.

            NAYS: None.

4.0       REPORTS

4.1       Council Reports

Revak:  No report.

Gomer:  Reported that he had attended Two Bayport forums, one with Shady Oaks and La Porte; and, the Sylvan Beach forum. He also reported that he will be attending a SETH meeting on Thursday.

Arons: Reported she had attended the Bayport forum at Sylvan Beach. She also reported an unsatisfactory discussion with the Port’s consulting acoustic engineer Ron Spillman whom she says flatly dismissed the consideration of using sound absorbing walls.

Adams: Reported continued concern among Bayou Forest citizens about speeding vehicles and that he was working to get a consensus of the neighbors about lowering the speed limit. He also raised the issue of vehicles driving on the shoulder of Shoreacres Blvd to make right turns onto Highway 146 at the traffic light. He asked that something be put in the utility bills to make citizens aware that passing and turning on the shoulder is illegal.

Victor: Reported he had attended the Bayport forum at Sylvan Beach.

Washington:  Reported he had received a call from Commissioner Burke who left a voice mail message about the next steps in addressing port concerns. He also reported that he met with the Upper Galveston Bay Task Force. And reported that the Helping Hands open house at the Mitchell project home was successful.

4.2       Staff Reports

4.2.1    City Administrator’s Report

David Stall: Reported that the maintenance shed roof repair has been completed and that the Circle Park tennis court will be painted when the weather permits. .

4.2.2    Police Department Report

Chief French: Reported on his attending the SEACAP and LEPC meetings; La Porte has offered space for Shoreacres police officers in their new police department facility in the event of a tropical storm noting that the new building is rated for a Category 4 storm; SEACAP has funded a study of silt in Pine Gully Park; and, Officers Tanner and Findley presented a safety program at the elementary school that was well received.

5.0       BUSINESS

5.1       Consideration and approval of invoices. (Stall)

            Alderman Gomer moved to approve the payment of invoices as presented. Alderman Revak seconded.

            The vote was as follows:

            AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.

            NAYS: None.

5.2       Consideration and possible action in regard to community concerns and/or issues with the Bayport facility of the Port of Houston Authority. (Washington)

            Alderman Revak moved to discuss. Alderman Gomer seconded.

            Mayor Washington discussed the status of continued dialogue with the Port of Houston Authority. Mayor pro tem Revak urged the city to press for responses to all reasonable questions.

            Port of Houston representative Shar Lynch also addressed council and provided additional information.

            No action taken.

5.3       Consideration and possible action to establish rules regulating activities within city parks. (Washington)

            Mayor pro tem Revak moved to discuss. Gomer seconded.

            Mayor Washington explained that the Parks and Recreation Board would like to post park rules and that he would like to get a sense of the council’s direction.

            Council discussed the need for a new, updated or expanded ordinance and received input from Parks and Recreation Board Chair Ann Apel.

            Mayor Washington concluded that he would work with the City Administrator to draft a proposed ordinance that would be sent to the Parks and Recreation Board for their review before bringing the issue back to council.

            No action was taken.

5.4       Consideration and approval to replace a city water well pump. (Stall)

            Alderman Victor moved to approve the proposal from Layne to replace the well motor and rebuild the pump as presented, with the City performing the water tests. Alderman Gomer seconded.

            The vote was as follows:

            AYES: Revak, Gomer, Victor, Arons, Adams.

            NAYS: None.

6.0       ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, Mayor Washington declared the meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.

PASSED AND APPROVED THIS  _____  DAY OF ______________________      2007.

                                                                        ________________________________

                                                                        Jayo Washington, Mayor

ATTEST:

_______________________________________

David K. Stall, City Administrator / City Secretary