Jabczy  MINUTES  Aransas Pass City Council Regular Meeting Monday, October 21, 2024 at 6:00 pm City Hall - Council Chambers 600 W. Cleveland Blvd., Aransas Pass, Texas 78336  1. Call to Order and Certification of a Quorum  Mayor Ram Gomez called the Aransas Pass City Council Regular Meeting to order at 6:00 Council Members present: Mayor Pro-Tem Carrie Scruggs, Council Members Jason Knight, Staff present: Incoming Interim City Manager Mary Juarez, City Secretary Kandice Garrett, Finance Director Sandra Garcia, Planning Director Brenda Joyas, Public Works Director David Flores, Police Chief Eric Blanchard, Interim Fire Chief Jason Padron, Municipal Court  p.m. With Council Members present, a quorum was established. J.R. Haskins, Joe Dominguez, and Mayor Gomez.  Judge Henrie Morales. Invocation Pledges  2. 3.  Donald Volz delivered the invocation.  Mayor Gomez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S.A. flag and the Texas flag. Incoming Interim City Manager Mary Juarez made a statement to the Council that in the absence of City Manager Gary Edwards her presence is to facilitate the Council meeting, and she is not acting in the capacity of City Manager or Interim City Manager at this time.  8.  Action Items  b. Consideration of approving an Employment Contract with Carlos Valdez as Mayor Gomez moved this item up in the agenda for the purpose of first consideration of approving Mr. Valdez as Interim City Attorney and the possible appointment in this meeting. Council Member Knight made a motion to approve Item 8.b., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, and City Secretary Kandice Garrett did the swearing in of Carlos' Valdez as Interim City Attorney.  Interim City Attorney effective Oct. 21st.  Dominguez voting Aye, and Haskins voted Nay.  4.  Announcements  a) MayorsAmmouncements There were no announcements.  Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - October 21, 2024  Page 1 of 4    b) City ManagersAnouncemens  Trunk-or-Treat = October 31, 2024 at Harbor Point Park - 6:30 pm to  8:30 pm  ii. October 28,2024- City Council Workshop meeting: a. Affordable Housing Plan (Planning Director)  b. Proposed RV Park outside the city limits with City water/sewer provisions and possible development agreement (Planning . Administrative waiver for people following the comprehensive plan d. Painting ofwater storage tank with panther image (Council Member  Director) (Planning Director) Knight)  Incoming Interim City Manager Mary. Juarezi informed the council oft the announcements. Councilmember Haskins requested to make an announcement. He spoke on the matter of the outgoing City Attorney and other issues and followed up with a lengthy discussion on items that were not on the agenda. Councimember Haskins and Councimember Dominquez had a back-and-forth discussion regarding matters that were not on the City Attorney Carlos Valdez interrupted the discussion to notify Council that they were in violation of the Open Meetings Act and submitted his verbal resignation effective immediately. He explained to the Council that by law a resignation is automatically accepted after eight days, and they cannot refuse to accept a resignation from thet former There was further disruption from an audience member who spoke out loud addressing the room and the Mayor spoke on a matter that was not on the agenda. Incoming City Manager Mary Juarez spoke up to remind the Council that they are discussing items not on the agenda and to get back to the order of business on the  c) City Council Member Announcements  agenda.  City Attorney and left the meeting.  agenda.  5.  Citizen Communication  Mayor Gomez called up the following citizens who signed up to address Council:  Will Garner spoke about Robert's Rule of Order.  Stephanie Diaz addressed the council regarding a complaint against an elected official. Jason Followell spoke about playing recordings of elected officials and staff at Council meetings and hisi intent to runt for the upcoming Council election and personal attacks against Andy Davila spoke about commending and warning Councilmember Dominguez and personally attacked Councilmember Scruggs and Mayor Gomez and his intent to runt for the  Councilmembers.  upcoming Council election.  Elise Chacon spoke about the outgoing City Attorney. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - October 21, 2024  Page 2 of4    LuAna Martin spoke about Jason Followell's speech and delivery and the outgoing City Herb Lancaster spoke about Rockport Terminals and the broader picture of contamination coming into our city from industries and the lack of interaction between cities and counties Richard Titus spoke about the code enforcement issues at Buck's Tire Shop across the street Mayor Gomez invited Code Enforcement Officer Tito Villareal to make at factual statement. Mr. Villareal provided an update on the owner's actions to resolve the issue of cleaning up  Attorney and board appointments.  to address the issue.  from the Civic Center as being a serious fire hazard.  the property to come into compliance. Staff Reports and other Discussion Items  6.  a. 4th Quarter Investment Report for FY 2023-2024 (October - December) b. Monthly Departmental Reports submitted and provided in the Agenda Packet Incoming Interim City Manager Mary Juarez informed the Council that these items were  presented in their packets. Consent Agenda  7.  a. Approve the October 7, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes (City Secretary) b. Approve the October 16, 2024 Special Meeting Minutes (City Secretary) Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve the October 7, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes and October 16, 2024 Special Meeting Minutes, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with thet following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez,  and Haskins voted Aye.  8. Action Items  a. Consideration of approving the contract renewal for Geographical Information System (GIS) Mapping with Gulf Coast Geographical Services, LLC from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025, for a total amount of $18,360. Planning Director Brenda Joyas presented this item for the renewal of the annual contract. Councilmember Knight spoke regarding concerns for street markers prior to the Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.a., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with thet following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, C. ( Consideration of approving Interim City Manager Mary Juarez for an Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to table Item 8.c., seconded by Council Member  (Planning Director)  implementation of maps. There was further discussion.  and Haskins voted Aye.  appointment to the San Patricio EDC Board of Directors.  Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - October 21, 2024  Page 3 of4    Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, d. Consideration of approving Interim City Manager Mary Juarez for an appointment to the Coastal Bend Council of Governments Board of Directors. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made ar motion to approve Item 8.d., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez,  and Haskins voted Aye.  and Haskins voted. Aye. Executive Session  9.  The was no Executive Session due to the resignation oft the City Attorney.  11. Adjournment  There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs  adjourned the meetingate 6:51 p.m. Ramiro Gomez I5 Mayor  Homlavhartt  Kandice Garrett City Secretary  Approved on: 11.4.204  PASS.  Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - October 21, 2024  Page 4 of 4