COUNCIL MEETING CITY COUNCIL MARCH 10, 2025 A regular meeting of the Groves City Council was held on March 10, 2025, in the Groves City Council Chamber, with Mayor Chris Borne, Councilmember Mark McAdams, Councilmember Brandon Holmes, and Councilmember Rae Shauna Gay in attendance. Mayor Pro Tem Pete Konidis was not present. Mayor Borne called the meeting to order and welcomed the attendees. A representative from VFW 4820 then led the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Borne then asked for reports, and City Manager Kevin Carruth said he had sent an email about a possible workshop on April 8th, but that date would not work. Mr. Carruth then asked the Council if April 25th or 26th would work, and Mayor Borne asked Mr. Carruth to send another email with those dates. Marshal Christopher Robin then informed the Council about the upcoming National Night Out and the next Neighborhood Watch meeting. Marshal Robin stated that the next Neighborhood Watch meeting will be Thursday, March 20th, at 6 p.m. Marshal Robin also said that National Night Out is always the first Tuesday in October, and it just SO happens that it is also the same time for the Fire Department's Open House. The Police and Fire would like to have a joint event blocking off Doyle in front of the two stations and that particular section of Washington. More information will be forthcoming closer to the date of the event. Mr. Ken Lofton from VFW 4820 then gave a report regarding Operation Desert Storm. On January 17, 1991, Operation Desert Shield ended when the air campaign of Operation Desert Storm began. Then, on February 24, 1991, the ground war began. There were over 3,000 tanks, 1400 armored personnel carriers, and 2200 artillery pieces destroyed, with 96 U.S. soldiers killed in action. There were no further reports. Mayor Borne then asked for citizen comments, but there were none. DELIBERATE AND ACT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 24, 2025, CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Councilmember McAdams made a motion to deliberate and act to approve the minutes of the February 24, 2025, City Council Meeting and Councilmember Gay seconded. There were no questions, and the motion passed unanimously. DELIBERATE AND ACT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 28, 2025, SPECIAL MEETING: Councilmember Gay made a motion to deliberate and act to approve the minutes of the February 28, 2025, Special Meeting and City Council Meeting March 10, 2025 Page 2 Councilmember McAdams seconded. There were no questions, and the motion passed unanimously. RECEIVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 3, 2025, PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING: Mayor Borne stated that the Council has all received the minutes from the March 3, 2025, Planning and Zoning Meeting. HEAR AND DELIBERATE ON A PRESENTATION PROCLAIMING MARCH 2025 AS AMERICAN RED CROSS MONTH: Mayor Borne presented the proclamation declaring March 2025 as American Red Cross Month to Red Cross representatives Taylor Shelton and Eloy Vega. DELIBERATE AND ACT ON HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDING REQUEST BY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FOR THE 19TH ANNUAL ESTELLE AND ALLAN FETTERS CENTER GOLF TOURNAMENT: Councilmember McAdams made a motion to deliberate and act on Hotel Occupancy Tax funding request by Knights of Columbus for the 19th Annual Estelle and Allan Fetters Center Golf Tournament and Councilmember Holmes seconded. Mr. Leroy Falcon then spoke to the Council, stating that for the past 17 years, the Knights of Columbus have hosted a golf tournament to raise money for the Fetters Center. Mr. Falcon then introduced the Director of the Fetter's Center, Roxanne Somerville. Mrs. Somerville stated that the Fetter's Center started in 1967 at Lion's Park until the property at 4601 Main Avenue was purchased. Mrs. Somerville then stated that without the help of the KCs, the doors would not have stayed open. Mayor Borne then asked how many years the city has been helping with this golf tournament, and Mr. Falcon stated he believed it is about 15 years. Mayor Borne noted how it usually works if the Council agrees on an amount not to exceed, and then the KCs bring back their spending with receipts. Everything has to be approved by Lamar and Mr. Monk as far as what can be used for Hotel Occupancy Tax spending. Mayor Borne asked Mr. Falcon if it would be okay to keep the same amount given last year, $4,000, and Mr. Falcon stated that they would appreciate anything provided. Mr. Falcon then informed the Council that last year, the KC's were able to present the Fetter's Center with a check for $18,500. Councilmember McAdams amended his previous motion to include not exceeding $4,000, and Councimember Holmes seconded. Councilmember Holmes then asked if we should bump it to $5,000, and Mr. Carruth stated that there were only certain eligible expenses. There were no further questions, and the motion passed unanimously. City Council Meeting March 10, 2025 Page 3 DELIBERATE AND ACT ON APPROVAL OF A REPLAT OF 6420 GARNER STREET, AKA TR 25-A-1 & 25-A-2, 1.919 ACRES OF LAND REPLAT OF ALL OF TR 25-A, REPLAT OF PART LOTS 25&26, WARREN ADDITION NO.2: Councilmember Holmes made a motion to deliberate and act on approval of a replat of 6420 Garner Street, AKA TR 25-A-1 & 25-A-2, 1.919 ACRES OF LAND REPLAT OF ALL OF TR 25-A, REPLAT OF PART LOTS 25&26, WARREN ADDITION NO.2, and Councilmember Gay seconded. Mayor Borne stated that this was in the Planning and Zoning minutes, and they are parts of two lots that are making a subplot. City Manager Kevin Carruth stated that these lots have been combined and subdivided multiple times in the last few years. There were no further questions and the motion passed unanimously. DELIBERATE AND ACT ON ORDINANCE 2025-06 AUTHORIZING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR EDHJ & PHILODENDRON ENTERPRISES, LLC FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THEIR LADY LUCK RV RESORT AT LT 4 TRS 5&6 LT 4 TR B BLK 4 RG C PALCO 6.00 AC, A.K.A. 6579 GULFWAY DRIVE: Councilmember McAdams made a motion to deliberate and act on Ordinance 2025-06 authorizing a specific use permit for EDHJ & Philodendron Enterprises, LLC for the second phase of their Lady Luck RV Resort at LT4 TRS 5&6 LT 4 TR B BLK 4 RG C PALCO 6.00 AC, A.K.A. 6579 Gulfway Drive. Councilmember Gay seconded. City Manager Kevin Carruth stated that this is a follow-up to the agreement the Council approved at the last meeting. This ordinance will allow them to install their on-site sewage system at the RV Resort while the City upgrades the sewage collection system SO that Lady Luck can connect to our system. Mayor Borne stated that once this ordinance is approved, Lady Luck will be allowed to take out the permits to start their on-site a system, and City Manager Kevin Carruth noted that this is correct. There were no y: further questions, and the motion passed unanimously. DELIBERATE AND ACT ON ORDINANCE 2025-08 AMENDING PART III = APPENDICES, APPENDIX A - ZONING, ARTICLE VIII - ZONING DISTRICT REGULATIONS, SECTIONS 8-206(B) = 8-306(B) BY INCREASING THE MAXIMUM ACCESSORY BUILDING EAVE HEIGHT TO SIXTEEN FEET: Councilmember Gay made a motion to deliberate and act on Ordinance 2025-08 amending Part III = Appendices, Appendix A - Zoning, Article VIII - Zoning District regulations, Sections 8-206(B) and 8-306(B) by increasing the maximum accessory building eave height to sixteen feet and Councilmember McAdams seconded. Mayor Borne stated that he asked for this item to be on the agenda because this is something that is asked for a variance by the Zoning Board of Adjustment regularly. The Zoning Board of Adjustment has not turned anyone down for this type of variance in the last 10 years, "g City Council Meeting March 10, 2025 Page 4 sO this will make the process faster and less expensive for the citizens. There were no questions, and the motion passed unanimously. DELIBERATE AND ACT ON AWARDING THE BID FOR EMPLOYEE BASIC LIFE AND AD&D INSURANCE AND RETIREE LIFE INSURANCE AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS: Councimember Holmes made a motion to deliberate and act on awarding the bid for employee basic life and AD&D insurance and retiree life insurance and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute all necessary documents. Councilmember Gay seconded. HR Director Elizabeth Diaz informed the Council that the City offers basic life and AD&D for all full-time employees and retirees. For retirees, the basic life is $10,000 for individuals who retired before October 1, 2012; retirees who retire after that date have an AD&D attached to the basic life. Mrs. Diaz then explained to Council that when our insurance consultant Higginbotham reached out to us for the renewal, they provided us with the renewal for The Standard. It was approximately an 8% increase, sO we asked them to go out for quotes to see what other bids we could receive. Only one other insurance company, SunLife, provided us with a quote, but they could not provide us with son coverage for our retirees. Therefore, the staff suggests The Standard because they are the only carrier offering the full package we were looking for. City Manager Kevin Carruth also stated that The Standard offers a two-year guaranteed rate. Mayor Borne asked if we budgeted for an increase for this, and City Manager Kevin Carruth noted that we did. Councilmember Holmes amended his previous motion to award The Standard for the insurance coverages, and Councilmember Gay seconded. DELIBERATE AND ACT ON ORDINANCE 2025-07 SUSPENDING THE RATES PROPOSED BY TEXAS GAS SERVICE COMPANY'S GAS RELIABILITY NFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FILING OF FEBRUARY 11, 2025: Councilmember McAdams made a motion to deliberate and act on Ordinance 2025-07 suspending the rates proposed by Texas Gas Service Company's Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program filing of February 11, 2025, and Councimember Gay seconded. City Attorney Brandon P. Monk stated that this ordinance will suspend the increase sO our attorneys have more time to review it. City Manager Kevin Carruth noted that the city has no expense for this. The lawyer fees will be charged back to Texas Gas Service. There were no further questions, and the motion passed unanimously. INVOICES: City Manager Kevin Carruth presented invoices for payment totaling $92,895.95 as follows: City Council Meeting March 10, 2025 Page 5 1. Chemtex Environmental Final effluent sampling. $7,365.00 2. Citibank, N.A. Credit card payment. $10,908.70 3. City of Port Arthur Landfill fees for 112624-122324. $15,752.50 4. Enterprise January fleet management. $17,861.34 5. Heil of Texas Paddle kit for garbage truck. $12,871.31 6. Motorola Solutions Radios from JAG Grant. $28,137.10 Councilmember Holmes made a motion to deliberate and act on the March 10, 2025 invoice list, and Councilmember Gay seconded. Mayor Borne asked if the radios were reimbursable, and Marshal Robin stated they were. There were no further questions, and the motion passed unanimously. DELIBERATE AND ACT ON A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE CITY'S APPLICATION FOR FY2026 COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS: Councilmember Gay made a motion to deliberate and act on a resolution supporting the City's application for FY 2026 Community Project Funding and authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute all necessary documents. Councilmember Holmes seconded. City Manager Kevin Carruth informed. the Council that the Community Project Funding is a new name for Congressional Earmarks. Mr. Carruth stated that we applied for this last year but * reçeived n nothing. Mr. Carruth also noted that it was not promoted this year, sO we E. at thel last minute that these are due It would be the same à found out Friday. project as lasttime, including pipe bursting and manhole replacement, which would have à beerapproximately 6.8 million dollars. Mr. Carruth then stated that he is having the numbers reran-to get an updated cost and that there is no match. There were no Murtherguéstigns, and the motion passed unanimously. MenIS as a s MPe 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: City Council Meeting March 10, 2025 Page 6 A. SECTION 551.01 (1) (A) - CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY WHEN THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY SEEKS THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY ABOUT PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION. B. SECTION 551.071 (2) - CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY ON A MATTER IN WHICH THE DUTY OF THE ATTORNEY TO THE GOVERNMENTAL BODY UNDER THE TEXAS DISCIPLINARY RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE STATE BAR OF TEXAS CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THIS CHAPTER. The Council went into Executive Session at 5:45 p.m. The Council reconvened into an Open Session at 6:34 p.m. Mayor Borne asked for council comments, but there were none. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Mayor Borne / ATTEST: * - - ? - of : - : - - 5 City Clerk 5