Seabrook City Council on Tuesday voted 6-0, with Mayor Glenn Royal recusing himself from discussion and the vote, to authorize the city’s bond attorney to prepare an ordinance for placing a bond referendum on the November 6 election ballot.

The city council is considering two central bond proposals for November, one a general obligation bond, which is repaid through the city’s property taxes, and a second bond to be repaid through water and sewer utility revenues.  The revenue bonds could be split up further into separate proposals on the ballot.

While no amount has been set yet, council is considering an issue of $6 million in general obligation bonds for the construction of a new public works facility.  The cost would include the purchase of land, design, and final construction of the new building.

The water and sewer revenue bonds would fund various water and sewer infrastructure projects, such as pipe rehabilitation through pipe bursting, and relocation of an underground storage tank.

A meeting has been tentatively scheduled for August 14 to vote on ordering the election.

The city council voted unanimously to approve hours and fees for the Pine Gully Park and the swimming pool in 2013. The changes would allow hotel guests to pay the same rate as residents for use of the swimming pool and Pine Gully Park.   The pool will also be open on July 4 next year, and will be open on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The city council directed staff to work on changes to hours at Carothers Gardens and to bring the changes back to council for consideration.

The city council voted unanimously to approve continued participation in the Gulf Coast Coalition of Cities and authorized a payment of $0.15 per capita to the coalition.  The assessment will total approximately $1,792 for the city.

The Gulf Coast Coalition of Cities is a 35-member city coalition that represents residential and small business customers of natural gas and electric utility providers.  The coalition’s legal counsel reviews rates and intervenes in rate change requests by utilities.

The city council voted unanimously to reappoint Sally Antrobus, Helen Burton, Heather Cable, John Coggeshall, Debra Harper, Jackie Tingle and Karen Tisdel to the Open Space, Beautification and Preservation Committee.

The city council voted unanimously to award a bid to Belt Harris Pechacek, LLLP for auditing services associated with the city’s financial statements for the fiscal years 2012-2014 with two optional one-year extensions.

All other items were approved by unanimous vote.  All members were present.  Agenda