City Council

PRE-COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF PASADENA January 6, 2025 – 5:46 p.m. MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Mayor Wagner called the Pre-Council Meeting to order. Proceeded to go over the agenda. (15) – PERSONNEL CHANGES: Item (B) – Item (B) - Mayor Wagner advised that Mayor Pro Tem Villarreal will step in for this vote. (17) – CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS REPORTS: Item (A) – Mayor Wagner advised that there would be a roll call vote on this item. Councilmember Van Houte asked if the former employee would have a chance to speak at this meeting and stated she did not receive a recording of the Appeals Board and Commissions meeting. Discussion followed between Councilmember Van Houte, Mayor Wagner, Amanda Mueller, City Secretary and Jay Dale, City Attorney. ADJOURNMENT 5:49 p.m. – Mayor Wagner adjourned the Pre-Council Meeting. RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF PASADENA January 6, 2025 – 6:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER The regular Council Meeting of the City of Pasadena, Harris County, Texas, was called to order by Mayor Jeff Wagner. ROLL CALL COUNCIL PRESENT: Jeff Wagner – Mayor COUNCIL MEMBERS RUBEN VILLARREAL - District A DOLAN DOW - District F SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 1 Minutes: 01-06-25 6:00 p.m. BIANCA VALERIO - District B ORNALDO YBARRA - District G EMMANUEL GUERRERO - District C THOMAS SCHOENBEIN - District H PAT VAN HOUTE - District D Absent – Councilmembers Jonathan Estrada. Also present at the Council table was Amanda Mueller, City Secretary. INVOCATION – Rex Lindberg, Director of Community Relations PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE – Councilmember Ornaldo Ybarra COMMUNITY INTEREST COMMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 551.0415 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE Councilmember Ybarra – Passed, no comment. Councilmember Schoenbein – Wished everyone a Happy New Year. Councilmember Valerio – Passed, no comment. Councilmember Guerrero – Passed, no comment. Councilmember Van Houte – Passed, no comment. Councilmember Dow – Wished everyone a Happy New Year. CITIZENS WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL Mayor Wagner - Noted that no citizen signed up to speak and address Council. Asked City Secretary to read the public hearing. DOCKETED CITY COUNCIL HEARINGS (A) A public hearing at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, for the purpose of hearing public comments on the extension of the Commercial Moratorium imposed by the City of Pasadena, Texas, on the issuance of permits for the placement and installation of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Facilities within the jurisdiction of the city. **NOTE** 6:01 p.m. – At this time Mayor Wagner opened the Public Hearing for Item (A), inviting comments from the audience. Mayor Wagner - Noted that no citizen signed up to speak and address Council. Asked if there was anyone there to speak at the public hearing. **NOTE** 6:02 p.m. – At this time Mayor Wagner closed the Public Hearing for Item (A) and reconvened the Council Meeting. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS, AWARDS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 2 Minutes: 01-06-25 6:00 p.m. PROPOSALS FOR CITY BUSINESS PRESENTATION OF MINUTES PRESENTATION OF MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS PROGRESS PAYMENTS FINANCE RESOLUTION - MISC. CLAIMS & INVOICES **NOTE** At this time, Mayor Wagner stated the meeting would be paused for a brief delay. **NOTE** At this time, Mayor Wagner and Councilmember Villarreal entered the council chambers. Mayor Wagner reconvened the Council Meeting. PERSONNEL CHANGES (A) REGULAR EMPLOYEES (B) FINANCE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES (C) ADMINISTRATION CHANGES IN PERSONNEL (D) INTRODUCTION OF NEW CITY EMPLOYEES **NOTE** At this time, Mayor Wagner stated he would be abstaining from the vote for Personnel Changes (B). Asked Mayor Pro Tem Villarreal to continue. Mayor Pro Tem Villarreal - Thanked Mayor Wagner and called for motions on Personnel Changes (B). Councilmember Pat Van Houte moved, seconded by Councilmember Dow that Personnel Changes (B) be APPROVED. MOTION CARRIED, UNANIMOUS. **NOTE** At this time, Mayor Wagner continued the meeting. MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS REPORTS (A) Consideration and ruling on the recommendation of the Suspension Appeals Board upholding the termination of Tamara Fransaw. Councilmember Ybarra moved, seconded by Councilmember Schoenbein that City Boards and Commissions Reports (A) be APPROVED. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 3 Minutes: 01-06-25 6:00 p.m. Mayor Wagner called for a Roll Call vote for City Boards and Commissions Reports (A); ROLL CALL VOTE CARRIED AS FOLLOWS: Councilmember Villarreal Aye Councilmember Valerio Aye Councilmember Guerrero Aye Councilmember Van Houte Aye Councilmember Estrada Absent Councilmember Dow Aye Councilmember Ybarra Aye Councilmember Schoenbein Aye Mayor Wagner Aye REPORTS OF COMMITTEES MAYOR’S REPORT ORDINANCES FINAL READINGS FIRST READINGS ORDINANCE 2025-001 - Authorizing and approving the Extension of the Commercial Moratorium imposed by the City of Pasadena, Texas, on the issuance of permits for the placement and installation of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Facilities within the jurisdiction of the city. Councilmember Schoenbein moved, seconded by Councilmember Guerrero that Ordinance 2025-001 be passed on first reading only. MOTION CARRIED, UNANIMOUS. ORDINANCE 2025-002 - Authorizing and approving a contract by and between the City of Pasadena, Texas, and Brooks Concrete, Inc. for the 2025 Annual Sidewalk Improvements Project (CIP #S143); for a total appropriation of $2,000,000.00. Councilmember Schoenbein moved, seconded by Councilmember Guerrero that Ordinance 2025-002 be passed on first reading only. MOTION CARRIED, UNANIMOUS. ORDINANCE 2025-003 - Authorizing and approving a contract by and between the City of Pasadena, Texas, and D & W Contractors, Inc. for the 2025 Annual Paving and Drainage Improvements Project (CIP #D063/S142) for a total appropriation of $4,130,649.00 from the General CIP Fund Balance Account, Athletics Operating Budget and the General Fund Balance. Councilmember Schoenbein moved, seconded by Councilmember Guerrero that Ordinance 2025-003 be passed on first reading only. MOTION CARRIED, UNANIMOUS. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 4 Minutes: 01-06-25 6:00 p.m. **NOTE** At this time, Mayor Wagner stated he would be abstaining from the vote and Mayor Pro Tem Villarreal will call for motions on First Reading item (4). Asked City Secretary to read item (4). ORDINANCE 2025-004 - Authorizing and approving the City of Pasadena, Texas, to offer an additional benefit of severance pay and health insurance benefit to the new City Controller, Lindsay Koskiniemi. The additional benefit will include ninety (90) days of compensation and health insurance benefits after the last date of employment in the event she is separated by City Council without cause. Councilmember Ybarra moved, seconded by Councilmember Guerrero that Ordinance 2025-004 be passed on first reading only. Councilmember Ybarra – Congratulated Lindsay Koskiniemi on being the new City Controller. Thanked Councilmember Villarreal for the good job he did on the search and interview process for the new City Controller. MOTION CARRIED, UNANIMOUS. **NOTE** At this time, Mayor Wagner continued the meeting. EMERGENCY READINGS ISSUANCE OF OBLIGATIONS RESOLUTIONS OTHER BUSINESS EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNMENT BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER Mayor Wagner – Thanked everyone for coming to the meeting. God bless. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 5 Minutes: 01-06-25 6:00 p.m.