COUNCIL MEETING CITY COUNCIL JANUARY 13, 2025 Ar regular meeting of the Groves City Council was held January 13, 2025, in the Groves City Council Chamber with Mayor Chris Borne, Mayor Pro Tem Pete Konidis, Councimember Mark McAdams, Councimember Brandon Holmes, and Councimember Rae Shauna Gay in attendance. Mayor Borne called the meeting to order and welcomed the attendees. Representatives from the local VFW then led the prayer and pledge of allegiance. Mayor Borne then asked for reports and City Manager Kevin Carruth informed everyone that beginning with calendar year 2025, on the city website agenda items are bookmarked to their materials in the meeting packet. Clicking on the hyperlinked agenda item will take you to the first page of the related documents in the meeting City Marshal Christopher Robin then gave a report reminding everyone of the Neighborhood Watch's kickoff meeting, which will be Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6 Mayor Borne then called for citizen comments and Jimmy Morein of 6921 Hansen Street asked about when the Neighborhood Watch Meeting would be and ifi itwas DELIBERATE AND ACT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 23, 2024, CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Mayor Pro Tem Konidis moved to deliberate and act to approve the minutes of the December 23, 2024, City Council meeting as written and Councilmember Holmes seconded. Mayor Borne asked for questions or comments and there were none. The motion passed unanimously. RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 6, 2025 PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING: Mayor Borne stated that all of Council has received a copy of the HEAR THE NTRODUCTION AND SWEARING-IN OF THE NEW POLICE PERSONNEL: This item did not require a motion. City Marshal Christopher Robin introduced and swore in the new officers. The new officers are as follows: Deputy George "Marcus" Solis, Deputy Kevin Howland, Deputy Michael Stansbury, and Deputy Wesley Wenger. Marshal Robin also gave a brief bio of each officer. DELIBERATE AND ACT ON GROVES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FROM HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FOR 2024 CHRISTMAS TREE TRAIL: Councilmember McAdams made a motion to deliberate and act on Groves Chamber of Commerce request for reimbursement of packet. p.m. at the Municipal Court. There were no further reports. posted on the Groves website. minutes. City Council Meeting January 13, 2025 Page 2 expenses from Hotel Occupancy Tax for 2024 Christmas Tree Trail and Councimember Gay seconded. Councilmember Holmes asked about the reimbursement amount and it was stated that the total was $8,320. Councimember Holmes also asked if Mrs. Knaus received any feedback regarding the advertisement of this event and Mrs. Kanus stated that she received a lot ofi feedback. Mrs. Knaus stated that she had people attend from Lake Charles, Jasper County, Chambers County, and San Antonio. There were no further questions and the motion passed DELIBERATE AND ACT TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE GROVES PECAN FESTIVAL FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST PECAN SCULPTURE: Mayor Pro Tem Konidis made a motion to deliberate and act to approve the agreement with the Groves Pecan Festival for the dedication of the World's Largest Pecan Sculpture and Councimember McAdams seconded. City Manager Kevin Carruth informed Council that this is the same agreement that Council saw back in November with no change to form or substance. Mr. Carruth then stated that the Pecan Festival Board has now reviewed and approved it and returned it for Council approval. Mayor Borne asked City Attorney Brandon P. Mon! ifhe agreed that everything was still the same from when the City previously sent it the Pecan Festival Board and Mr. Monk stated that it was the same. Councilmember Holmes asked ift the Pecan Festival Board would handle the maintenance of the pecan and Mr. Carruth stated that was correct. Mayor Pro Tem Konidis then asked about the insurance and Mr. Carruth stated that since it's a fixed asset it will be under the City's insurance with a minor increase to cost. There were no further questions unanimously. and the motion passed unanimously. DELIBERATE AND ACT ON ORDINANCE 2025-01 AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION WITH OTHER ENTERGY SERVICE AREA CITIES IN MATTERS CONCERNING ENTERGY AT THE PUC AND THE HIRING OF LAWYERS AND RATE EXPERTS: Councilmember McAdams made a motion to deliberate and act on Ordinance 2025-01 authorizing participation with other Entergy service area cities in matters concerning Entergy at the PUC and the hiring of lawyers and rate experts. Mayor Pro Tem Konidis seconded. City Attorney Brandon P. Monk explained that this is to retain council to participate as a coalition in the negotiations of rate expenses. City Manager Kevin Carruth stated that if you look across the state pretty much every city does this with gas and electric utilities. Mr. Carruth also explainedr that any expenses for the City that arise out of fighting a rate increase by statute ha to be reimbursed by Entergy. There were no further questions and the motion passed unanimously. wr City Council Meeting January 13, 2025 Page 3 DELIBERATE AND ACT TO APPROVE THE DATES AND TIMES FOR FUTURE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS: Councilmember Holmes made a motion to deliberate and act to approve the dates and times for future City Council Meetings and Councilmember Gay seconded. City Manager Kevin Carruth stated that every year in January council decides what their meeting schedule is going to be, and every other Monday at 5 p.m. has been the schedule for the longest. Mr. Carruth then stated that the Charter only requires that the council meet a minimum of one time a month. Mr. Carruth then explained that staff is recommending that we go to a second and fourth Monday schedule, which is 23 meetings with 1-holiday conflict. Mayor Borne asked just to be clear ifthe Council decides to change to the second and fourth Monday of every month then that doesn't take away the council's power to add meetings if necessary and Mr. Carruth stated that is correct. Councilmember Holmes amended his previous motion to include the second and fourth Monday of every month and Councilmember Gay seconded. There were no further questions and the motion DELIBERATE AND ACT ON ESTABLISHING A DATE FOR AJOINT PUBLIC HEARING WITH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FOR A SPECIFIC EUSE PERMIT FORAI FOOD TRUCK LOCATED AT 5509 E. PARKWAY DRIVE: Mayor Pro Tem Konidis made a motion to deliberate and act on establishing February 10, 2025, as the date for a Joint Public Hearing with the Planning and Zoning'Commission for a specific use permit for a food truck located at 5509 E. Parkway Drive and Councilmember McAdams seconded. There were no further HEAR AND DELIBERATE ON THE PROCESS AND APPOINTMENTS FOR GROVES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION: This is a discussion item only sO a motion is not needed. Mr. Carruth stated that we have vacancies on both the EDC and the Planning and Zoning Commission. The EDC bylaws qualifications for membership on the board is that three of the seven can't be employees or members of the City Council. There also has to be one director from each of the four wards and all directors must be residents. Mr. Carruth then stated that since the EDC was developed the way that the Council met the four-ward representation most easily was that each City Council Member from those respective wards were automatically on the EDC Board. Mr. Carruth then stated that since there are sO many vacancies this would be a good time to discuss if this is how Council wants to continue to do ito or make some changes to that proçess. Mr. Carruth also stated that the Planning and Zoning is a year past due for their appointments and there are two openings. passed unanimously. : questions and the motion passed unanimously. a) City Council Meeting January 13, 2025 Page 4 Mayor Borne stated that he would like to start with the Planning and Zoning Commission since there are only two vacancies to fill. Planning and Zoning Chairperson Rodney Pacetti noted that he would like the Council to consider moving alternate Michael Campise to be a fully active member. Mr. Pacetti then stated if that happens then we would need to fill two alternate positions. Mayor Borne noted that he would like to still receive applications from citizens who are interested in joining the Planning and Zoning Commission. City Manager Kevin Carruth agreed with Mr. Pacetti in wanting the members of the Commission to be active especially due to the legislature forcing the shot clock on development applications. Mayor Borne then called for a discussion regarding the EDC Board and the procedures for appointing members. Mayor Borne stated that if the appointments are kept as the representatives of the City Council then the necessary means of being able to separate the two entities that operate separately from each other will not be there. Mayor Borne also stated that if we do keep it to where the members of Council are the four ward representatives then he would like to make it sO that if they are voted out of Council then their seat on the EDC Board becomes open. Mayor Pro Tem Konidis, Council Member McAdams, and Council Member Holmes stated that they would rather not be on EDC and Council Member Gay stated that she would lil to serve on the Board. Mayor Borne then stated that he does not have a problem with having an Ex Officio from the Council to serve on the Board. Mayor Borne then also summarized that the Council would not be forced to sit on the EDC Board but would be offered the position. City Manager Kevin Carruth then stated that he thinks its should be more definitive on whether the Council will or will not serve or if there is a Councilmember Holmes asked Mrs. Knaus if the EDC has any business applications waiting and Mrs. Knaus stated they did. Mayor Pro Tem Konidis requested a Work Session to be able to figure out what changes are needed in the bylaws. Mayor Borne agreed with this and asked Mr. Carruth to set up a Work Session. There was DELIBERATE AND ACT TO APPROVE A PROPOSAL FROM LJA ENGINEERING, INC. FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING SERVICES; TO CONTINUE MPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY OF GROVES STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS: Councilmember Holmes made a motion to deliberate and act to approve a proposal from LJA Engineering, Inc. for environmental consulting services; to continue implementation of the City of Groves limit on the number of Council Members that will be allowed to serve. no further discussion on this item. City Council Meeting January 13, 2025 Page 5 Stormwater Management Program and authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute all necessary documents. Mayor Pro Tem Konidis seconded. City Manager Kevin Carruth informed Council that the City has participated in this coalition since 2007 and it saves us money by doing sO. Mayor Borne asked if the bill was split evenly between the other cities involved and Mr. Carruth stated it was. Mayor Borne then asked if there was an increase in payment from last year and Public Works Director Troy Foxworth stated there was a small increase. There were no further INVOICES: City Manager Kevin Carruth presented invoices for payment totaling questions and the motion passed unanimously. $60,065.91 as follows: 1. City of Port Arthur Landfill sludge disposal for November $5,200.00 $7,099.87 $6,476.34 $9,964.62 $13,495.00 $10,770.45 $7,059.63 2024. 2. Coy Development INC Sub divider rebate. '3. Gulf Coast Materials 4. Newtron Electrical Type D cold mix asphalt. New ignition module for Taft lift station High service motor replacement. Sludge disposal for November 2024. Planer and skid loader rental for streets. generator. 5. Pump Solutions 6. Republic Services . Sunbelt-Rentals, INC. C MayorPro Tem Konidis made a motion to approve the payment of the invoices totaling $60,065.91 and Councilmember McAdams seconded: Mayor Pro Tem Konidis asked how much longer we have on the sub-divider rebate and Finance DirectorLamar Ozley stated we have 16 years or until we reach the cap. There were CITY COUNCIL WILL HOLD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY CONTAINED IN SECTION 551.074 (A)(1) h PERSONNEL MATTERS TO DELIBERATE THE APPOINTMENT, EMPLOYMENT, ho-furthèr questions. Motion passed unanimously. City Council Meeting January 13, 2025 Page 6 EVALUATION, REASSIGNMENT, DUTIES, DISCIPLINE, OR DISMISSAL OF THE CITY ATTORNEY: Council convened into executive session at 6:12 p.m. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION: Council reconvened into open session at 6:42 p.m. Mayor Borne stated that no further action would be taken on the Executive Session. Mayor Borne asked for Councilmember Comments and Mayor Borne welcomed the new Police Officers. Mayor Pro Tem Konidis asked when the other two officers will start and Marshal Robin stated that they just started at the academy in January sO they will not start at the City until early May. Councimember McAdams asked where that will put us with how many more officers we still need to hire and Marshal Robin stated that we would only need one more. There were no further Councilmember comments. There was no further business and Mayor Borne adjourned the meeting at 6:43 p.m. CAR Mayor ATTEST: - City Clerk