2008-09-15 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2008, AT 6:30 P.M., IN
THE TEMPORARY MUNICIPAL COURT ROOM LOCATED AT THE CITY OF
PEARLAND COMMUNITY CENTER, 3523 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. with the following present:
Mayor
Tom Reid
Mayor Pro -Tem
Helen Beckman
Councilmember
Woody Owens
Councilmember
Steve Saboe
Councilmember
Felicia Kyle
Councilmember
Kevin Cole
City Manager
Bill Eisen
Deputy City Attorney
Nghiem Doan
City Secretary
Young Lorfing
Others in attendance: Jon Branson Parks and Recreation Director; Danny Cameron
Public Works Director; Jack Colbath Director of Fire Services; J.C. Doyle Police Chief;
Trent Epperson Project Director; Nick Finan Assistant City Manager; Roland Garcia Fire
Marshal; Mike Hodge Assistant City Manager; Narciso Lira City Engineer; Claire Bogard
Finance Director; Jeff Sundseth EMS Operations Director; Fred Welch Executive
Director of Economic Development Corporation; June Ellis Budget Officer; Johnny
Spires Assistant Police Chief.
NEW BUSINESS
COUNCIL ACTION — REGARDING AN UPDATE AND MUNICIPAL EXPENDITURES
ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE IKE. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager.
City Manager Bill Eisen stated he is not positive if members of Council have had a
chance to survey the City for the type of damage that was sustained from Hurricane Ike.
Staff has been performing damage estimates within the City to report estimates to
FEMA. Approximately 70% of the City has sustained some kind of damage with 48% of
residential properties sustaining some type of damage. The City has been distributing
informative documents to residents to provide information that may help during the initial
recovery period such as water quality and supply distribution locations. Mr. Eisen
continued to provide Council with an update of the situation in the City after Hurricane
Ike.
Police Chief J.C. Doyle stated the current state of the City is that 80% of residents do
not have power and because of this, the City has adopted a curfew to limit the
opportunity to steal or cause mayhem. There are specific exemptions built into the
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Curfew Order that allow citizens to perform measures for the Emergency Operations
Center and citizens on private property. The Police Officers have been instructed to
use their own discretion for each individual circumstance.
Councilmember Beckman stated she has witnessed circumstances where citizens have
been checking on other people or sharing resources and have been out after the curfew
trying to get back home and asked if this would be something that would be a problem
for citizens in this situation.
Police Chief J.C. Doyle stated that situation should not be a problem, but the Police will
stop citizens out after curfew to ask who they are and what they are doing. He stated
the last few nights in the City have not been bad and there has been a lot of good will
among citizens.
Councilmember Cole asked if gas stations have been having difficulty getting fuel.
City Manager Bill Eisen stated there has not been a problem getting fuel, but they have
been having difficulty dispensing it because of the lack of power.
Councilmember Cole stated there will be a lot of vendors traveling the streets soliciting
business and he would like to see this activity be monitored closely and verified that all
of these people are following proper procedures and obtaining a Peddler's Permit from
the City.
Discussion ensued between Council, City Manager Bill Eisen, and Police Chief J.C.
Doyle regarding the Hurricane Ike Update.
City Manager Bill Eisen started there were no storm -related fatalities. He stated City
Hall and the Library sustained significant damage and there is no definite date for the
repairs to be completed.
Discussion ensued between Council, City Manager Bill Eisen, Director of Parks and
Recreation Jon Branson, and Director of Finance Claire Bogard regarding the Hurricane
Ike Update.
City Manager Bill Eisen stated he has always taken great pride in working with the Staff
in this Community. He always had respect for the supervisors and their Staff, but after
witnessing the efforts from all City Staff today, he has never had more respect for the
employees of the City.
Mayor Reid stated it is great to have a City with this many quality employees.
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City Manager Bill Eisen stated people do not realize many of the employees of the City
were up the night of the storm and then worked the entire day to stabilize the state of
the City without being able to see what state their own homes were in and he
appreciates the work they do.
Councilmember Saboe stated he has heard a lot of sirens and he is curious if there
have been any major fires due to the power coming back on.
Director of Fire Services Jack Colbath stated there was one where a citizen lost their
house due to fire.
Councilmember Cole made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Kyle, to authorize
all necessary expenditures for storm recovery including repairs to City buildings and
temporary rent to house displaced City Departments.
Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Owens, Saboe, Beckman, Kyle, and Cole
Voting "No" None.
Motion Passed 5 to 0.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 27th day of October, A.D.,
2008.
ATTEST:
tA Se&(etary
Tom— Reid R,64e_
Mayor
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