Habay MINUTES Aransas Pass City Council Regular Meeting Monday, May 5, 2025 at 6:00 pm City Hall - Council Chambers 600 W. Cleveland Blvd., Aransas Pass, Texas 78336 enn Phne 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 Scruggs, Council Members Jason Knight, Joe Dominguez, J. R. Haskins, and Mayor Gomez. Staff present: City Manager Mary Juarez, City Secretary Kandice Garrett, Finance Director Sandra Garcia, Planning Director Brenda Joyas, Judge Henrie Morales, Police Chief David Perkins, Public Works Director David Flores, Fire Chief Michael Neujahr, and Community Enrichment Director Kaylynn Paxson. 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. Special Consideration Items a. Discussion of projects using the Accrued Interest from the 2024 Certificates of Obligation Issuance. (City Manager) b. Consideration of approving an Ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. (City Manager) City Manager Mary Juarez requested that Special Consideration tems be moved further down the agenda just before the Action Items. City Manager Mary Juarez presented Item 4.a. and reminded the Council that the consensus at the April 23, 2025 meeting was to move forward with the purchase of an engine truck, a brush truck, and bunker gear for the fire department. She further explained that after a thorough review of the bunker gear inventory and the life span remaining, staff now recommends purchasing seven sets of structural gear and twenty-four sets of wildland gear in the amount of $57,036.10 and reallocating the remaining funds from the original amount of $204,000 for street paving and aging fire hydrant replacement. City Manager Juarez stated the revised recommendation for projects using the Accrued Interest from 2024 Certificates of Obligation as follows and approving the subsequent agenda item for the budget amendment: Engine Truck $ 960,000.00 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - May 5, 2025 Page 1 of 6 Brush Truck $ 265,000.00 Bunker Gear Structuralwildland) 57,036.10 Fire Hydrants (4) $ 11,104.00 Paving Project - Wilson $ 110,000.00 Total Project Cost $1,403,140.10 Total Accrued Interest (as of 04-30-25) $ 908,981.81 Addt'l Funds to Draw from Bond $ 494,158.29 Council Member Haskins made a motion to table item 4.a., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion failed with the following vote: Haskins and Knight voted Aye, and Gomez, Scruggs, and Dominguez voted Nay. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve an Ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, seconded by Council Member Dominguez and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, and Dominguez voted. Aye, and Knight and Haskins voted Nay. 5. Announcements a. City Manager's Announcements i. Swim lessons grant from Phillips 66 for Aransas Pass ISD second and third grade students ii. Tire Collection Event = Saturday, May 10, 2025, 9 am to 1 pm at 533 W. Cleveland (across from Dairy Queen) ili. Special Council Meeting = May 14, 2025 at 6:00 pm a. Canvass General and Special Election Returns Community Enrichment Director Kalynn Paxson informed the Council that the Aquatics Center received a grant in the amount of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) from Phillips 66 Swim Safety Program. She stated this will allow for free swim lessons for all the second grade students at Aransas Pass ISD and possibly also the third grade students. There will be a commemorative ceremony on May 19 with more details provided in the future. City Manager Mary Juarez informed the Council of the announcements and stated the Special Council Meeting has been moved to May 13, 2025 at 4:30 pm. 6. Citizen Comments Mayor Gomez called on the following citizens who signed up to address Council: Hector Rios thanked the outgoing Council Members for their service and time they have given to the community. 7. Consent Agenda a. Consideration of approving the April 21, 2025 Regular Meeting Minutes (City Secretary) b. Consideration of approving the April 23, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes (City Secretary) Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 7.b., seconded by Council Member Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - May 5, 2025 Page 2 of 6 Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. 8. Action Items a. Consideration of approving an Ordinance amending the City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 24 Platting and Services, Article IIn General, Sec. 24-27 Development Service Fees by removing the base fees for variances and conditional use permit providing for ai flat fee of $200 each. (City Manager) Planning Director Brenda Joyas presented this item stating it is the result of decisions made at the last workshop meeting to remove the base fees for variances and conditional use permits. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.a., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. b. Consideration of approving an Ordinance reinstating MH-Manufactured Home District Rezoning approved on September 24, 2020 for Thomas Furlow and granting a time extension for a Recreational Vehicle Park (RV Park) being 12,083 acres at the southwest corner of N. Commercial Street and W. Gile Ave. (City Manager) There was a correction to the acreage being 12. .083 acres by Council Member Scruggs. Planning Director Brenda Joyas presented this item along with Tom Furlow and Real Estate Broker Brent Conlin and went over the timeline of past events. There was further discussion. Council Member Knight made a motion to table Item 8.b., seconded by Council Member Haskins and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. C. Consideration of approving the renewal of a License Training Provider Agreement for thirty-six months with the American Red Cross to continue providing CPR and related training for the Police Department and Fire Department. (City Manager) Police Chief David Perkins presented this item noting that it is a renewal agreement. Council Member Knight made a motion to approve Item 8.c., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. d. Consideration of approving the renewal of an agreement with the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services, which allows the police department to participate in the excess Department of Defense (DOD) property transfer program (formerly known as the 1033 program). (City Manager) Police Chief David Perkins requested this item be tabled until after the newly elected mayor gets sworn in to updated signatures on the agreement. Council Member Knight made a motion to table Item 8.d., seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. Regular City Council Meeting Minutes = May 5, 2025 Page 3 of 6 e. Consideration of approving an Ordinance amending the City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 25.7 Solid Waste, Article 2 - Refuse Collection, Sec. 25.7-43, Disposal Of Natural Debris And Bulk Items at City Citizen Collection Station, Transfer Station Fees. (City Manager) Public Works Director David Flores presented this item and provided an update regarding the scale at the transfer station which will weigh items now instead of charging per load. He discussed the fees in the ordinance and days of operation to be Tuesday through Saturday. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.e., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. f. Consideration of approving to award the bid to Derrick Construction, Co. for RFP 2025- 003 Lighthouse Lakes Kayak Ramp Project for the construction of the kayak ramp at Lighthouse Lakes for $120,909.00. (City Manager) Public Works Director David Flores presented this item and stated that the Port of Corpus Christi is funding $72,000 for the project and $50,000 is also being allocated towards iti from accrued interest. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.f., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. g. Consideration of approving to negotiate with K. Friese + Associates for the engineering services for RFQ 2025-002 Sherwood Forest Water and Wastewater Phase 3. (City Manager) Public Works Director David Flores presented this item and requested the City negotiate with K. Friese + Associates for this project. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.g., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. h. Consideration of awarding Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) Funds for Year 2025 to organizations who submitted applications through the filing deadline of March 31, 2025. (City Manager) City Manager Juarez presented this item and informed the Council that one of the three applications submitted by Hector Rios was ineligible due to the location being outside city limits. There was discussion regarding his applications and Mr. Rios spoke on behalf of his events. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to allow Hector Rios to reapply for HOT Funds and to submit the receipts for his two events, seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. i. Consideration of approving a request from the Aransas Pass for Youth organization for sponsorship of the. Aquatic Center during their 7-week program for student summertime activities on Tuesdays from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm from June 10, 2025 - July 22, 2025. (City Manager) Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - May 5, 2025 Page 4 of 6 Community Enrichment Director Kalynn Paxson presented this item. Hector Rios spoke in favor of the program and the possibility of providing a free swim day for children in Aransas Pass that are not a part of this program. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.i., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. j. Consideration of approving a location change for the July 5th Firework show to Conn Brown Harbor, and temporary road closure on Allen Blvd. from Aransas Marine Way to Turnbough Ave., for the execution of the fireworks show on July 5, 2025 from 7 pm to 10 pm. (City Manager) Community Enrichment Director Kalynn Paxson presented this item and noted that they have worked with our public safety teams and the pyrotechnician to ensure traffic and safety plans are in place. She also discussed the expansion of the event through a partnership with the Aransas Pass Visitors Center and Chamber of Commerce with the addition of adding a festival. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion to approve Item 8.j., seconded by Council Member Knight and the motion passed with the following vote: Gomez, Scruggs, Knight, Dominguez, and Haskins voted Aye. 9. Executive Session The meeting was recessed into Executive Session at 7:20 p.m., under the provision of Section 551, Texas Government Code to discuss the authority of: a. 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. Conn Brown Harbor Lease - Aransas Marine Ways b. Texas Government Code Section 551.087 Deliberation Regarding Economic Development Negotiations Relating To: i. JMMN, LLP 10. Action on Executive Session Items Council will reconvene in open session and may take action on any item listed in the Executive Session section of this Agenda. The council reconvened the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Scruggs made a motion for Item 9.a.i. to approve a lease term with Aransas Marine Ways for a twenty-five year term with an additional twenty-five year term effective July 1, 2025 pursuant to the terms and conditions agreed upon, 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 - May 5, 2025 Page 5 of 6 11. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Gomez adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m. bo AL hanlisauitt Jasen Knight Kandice Garrett Mayor City Secretary Approved on: 5/1912025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes - May 5, 2025 Page 6 of 6