Habay Ei MINUTES Aransas Pass City Council Regular Meeting Monday, March 3, 2025 at 6:00 pm City Hall - Council Chambers 600 W. Cleveland Blvd., Aransas Pass, Texas 78336 eaybo 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 p.m. With Council Members present, a quorum was established. Council Members present: Mayor Pro-Tem Carrie Scruggs, Council Members Jason Knight, Joe Dominguez, J. R. Haskins, and Mayor Gomez. Staff present: City Manager Mary Juarez, Finance Director Sandra Garcia, Planning Director Brenda Joyas, Interim Police Chief Aaron Jones, and Fire Chief Michael Neujahr. Also present was City Attorney Epimenio Ysassi. 2. Invocation City Manager Mary Juarez delivered the invocation. 3. Pledges Mayor Gomez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S.A. flag and the Texas flag. 4. Announcements a. City Manager's Announcements i. Community Clean Up Day - March 8, 2025, 9 am - 1 pm City Manager Mary Juarez informed the council of the announcements. 5. Citizen Comments Mayor Gomez called on the following citizens who signed up to address Council: William Garner spoke about the water tower. Jason Followell spoke about an incident of al homeless man being jailed in 2024 and alleged there was a lack of training by the officers who handled the incident. Interim Police Chief Aaron Jones replied with a factual statement regarding officer training. Jack Chaney, County Commissioner, spoke about the need for Aransas Pass to appoint someone to the Drainage Committee. City Manager Mary Juarez informed him that Planning Director Brenda Joyas was appointed to the Stormwater Drainage Committee many months ago. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - March 3, 2025 Page 1 of 6 6. Staff Reports and other Discussion Items a. Transfer Scale Station b. Murals at Veterans Park C. Panhandling (Aggressive Solicitation) City Manager Mary Juarez stated that the Transfer Scale Station is postponed to next month. Street Maintenance Superintendent Mickey Bonner presented the item discussion for Murals at Veterans Park and estimated the project cost to be five thousand dollars ($5,000) which would come from his operating budget. City Attorney Epi Ysassi presented the item discussion for Panhandling (Aggressive Solicitation) and informed the council that there was an ordinance already approved that addresses these issues being looked at. 7. Consent Agenda a. Consideration of approving the January 27, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes (City Secretary) b. Consideration of approving the February 3, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes (City Secretary) C. Consideration of approving the February 17, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes (City Secretary) Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Items 7.a.-7.c., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. 8. Public Hearing Mayor Gomez declared the public hearing open at 6:17 p.m. and read aloud the Notice of Public Hearing. a. PZ-2025-6 = request to waive the engineered environmental assessment at a property located at 130 Sea View, Aransas Pass, TX. i. Public Hearing on PZ-2025-6 to approve a request to waive the engineered environmental assessment at a property located on 130 Sea View, more particularly described by San Patricio County Appraisal District as Property ID No. 74377, Bay Harbor Unit 2, Block 1, Lot 36, Aransas Pass, San Patricio County, Texas. Planning Director Brenda Joyas presented this item and stated that the property owner was not aware at the time he bought his property several years ago that it was in an Environmental Sensitive Area and was not informed when he took out his building permit. Due to issues with the builder the permit lapsed and upon returning recently to reapply for a building permit, he made this discovery. Due to the recent changes to ESA District 1 by Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - March 3, 2025 Page 2 of 6 ordinance, the property has been assessed by Ms. Joyas and there are no environmental issues on this property. His request has gone before the Environmental Sensitivity Area Board and they approved a waiver. Ms. Joyas also noted that letters of notification were sent out and no responses were received. Mayor Gomez closed the public hearing at 6:20 p.m. ii. Consideration of approving a request to waive the engineered environmental assessment at a property located on 130 Sea View, more particularly described by San Patricio County Appraisal District as Property ID No. 74377, Bay Harbor Unit 2, Block 1, Lot 36, Aransas Pass, San Patricio County, Texas. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve tem 8.a.i., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Mayor Gomez declared the second public hearing open at 6:20 p.m. and read aloud the Notice of Public Hearing. b. PZ-2025-8 = request to waive the engineered environmental assessment at a property located at 1 Haines Way, Aransas Pass, TX. i. Public Hearing on PZ-2025-8 to approve a request to waive the engineered environmental assessment at a property located on 1 Haines Way, more particularly described by San Patricio County Appraisal District as Property ID No. 508399, Harbor Island 24.49 acres Out of Sur 651, Aransas Pass, Nueces County, Texas. Planning Director Brenda Joyas presented this item and stated it is for Lighthouse Trails Park and the city is seeking a waiver for essentially the same reasons and that it does not go against the ordinance and notices were sent out with no responses in return. There was further discussion. Mayor Gomez closed the second public hearing at 6:24 p.m. ii. Consideration of approving a request to waive the engineered environmental assessment at a property located on 1 Haines Way, more particularly described by San Patricio County Appraisal District as Property ID No. 508399, Harbor Island 24.49 acres Out of Sur 651, Aransas Pass, Nueces County, Texas. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.b.ii., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. 9. Action Items a. Consideration of approving the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) fori the construction cost for the New Fire Station and Police Department Renovation with Weaver & Jacobs, Inc. (City Manager) City Manager Mary Juarez informed the council of the timeline for this project which started Regular City Council Meeting Minutes March 3, 2025 Page 3 of 6 about a year ago with approval of the bond ordinance on February 12, 2024. Mrs. Juarez went over the cost analysis provided by Weaver and Jacobs for consideration. There was further discussion. Fire Chief Michael Neujahr also addressed the council and answered questions. Ruth Camarillo-Smith spoke about the high cost of the project and that the streets need a lot of repairs. Jason Followell spoke about checks and balances being put in place. Chris Brzozowski with Weaver and Jacobs addressed the council and explained their role on this project and discussed their findings as the construction manager. Justin Myers with Martinez Architects came forward to answer questions from the council. There was a discussion of designing a remodel for the fire and police departments as an alternative build. Finance Director Sandra Garcia answered questions from the council. Council Member Knight made a motion to amend item 9.a. and change the wording to go back to discussion about remodeling the current fire department quarters for the police department and add new living quarters on the west side of the engine bay, seconded by Council Member Haskins and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye and Scruggs voted Nay. Council Member Knight made a motion to look into remodeling the current fire quarters for the police department and add new living quarters for the fire department on the west end ofthe engine bay for item 9.a., seconded by Council Member Haskins and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye and Scruggs voted Nay. b. Consideration of approving the Fire Chief to submit for the FY: 2024-2025 USDA Forest Service Community Wildfire Defense Grant not to exceed $655,000.00. (Fire Chief) Fire Chief Michael Neujahr presented this item and informed the council this is a grant to do some fire prevention work in the community and if awarded the cost share is waived. Council Member Knight made a motion to approve Item 9.b., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. C. Consideration of approving an update to the bank signatory by adding Valerie Garcia, Accountant, to the signature card on all City bank accounts. (Director of Finance) Finance Director Sandra Garcia presented this item and noted that this is due to personnel changes and that Ms. Garcia's position as accountant requires her signature to be added to the City bank accounts. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 9.c., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - March 3, 2025 Page 4 of 6 10. Executive Session The meeting was recessed into Executive Session at 7:46 p.m., under the provision of Section 551, Texas Government Code to discuss the authority of: a. Texas Government Code Section 551.087 - Deliberations regarding economic development negotiations relating to: i. JWD Eclipse Investments, LP - Conn Brown Harbor Lease Property b. Texas Government Code Section 551.071 - To meet with its attorney to seek legal advice on a matter in which the duty of the attorney to the city council under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the state bar of Texas clearly conflicts with the Texas Open Meetings Act relating to: i. Ruby Roberson Hall VS. The Aransas Pass Police Department, Cause No. 2024DCV-0737-B, in 117th District Court, Nueces County, Texas ii. Cause No. 22-0132, City of Aransas Pass, Texas VS. Rockport Terminals, LLC in the 36th Judicial District Court, Aransas County, Texas ii. Conn Brown Harbor Lease - Aransas Pass Seafood Packers The council reconvened the meeting at 9:22 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion for 10.a.i. directing the City Manager to negotiate with Captain Cady's to relocate to a new location within Conn Brown Harbor, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion for 10.b.ii. directing the City Manager to negotiate a settlement agreement with Rockport Terminals, LLC, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion for 10.b.li. that Aransas Pass Seafood Packers pay the delinquent rental payments in the amount of $71,850 by April 3, 2025, seconded by Council Member Dominguez and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, and Dominguez voted. Aye. Haskins voted nay. 11. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Gomez adjourned the meeting at 9:23 p.m. Sondieu Hoaact Ramiro Gomez Kandice Garrett Mayor City Secretary Approved on: 3l1/2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - March 3, 2025 Page 5 of 6 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - March 3, 2025 Page 6 of 6