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La Porte council approves expanded residential generator awards, adds 30‑day notification rule
Summary
Council directed staff to pay approved residential generator applicants and to award additional applicants up to budget limits, with an amendment requiring approvals and notifications to be issued within 30 days and allowing work to begin after notification.
La Porte City Council voted to proceed with awards under the residential generator grant program and to authorize additional awards up to budgeted limits, after staff reported 168 total applications and described prioritization for medical, senior and disability needs.
Staff told the council 37 applications were medical‑priority, 34 had doctors’ letters, 63 included notarized senior/disability letters and 21 applied for tap boxes. The council previously approved $75,000 for tap boxes (21 awards totaling $9,248.44); staff said FY25 has $300,000 budgeted for continued awards.
Councilmembers raised concerns that some applicants missed the original application deadline because they could not obtain contractor estimates after the storm. "Some of them felt like they couldn't get it in in time," Councilmember Englekin said, urging leniency for medical‑priority applicants. Councilmember McCauley said the city had more than enough applicants who met the deadline and that staff could consider reopening applications if the council chose to fund additional awards.
Councilmember Martin moved to pay applicants already approved and to proceed with awarding additional applicants according to priority until the budget limit is reached; he amended the motion to require staff to notify second‑round awardees within 30 days and to permit work to begin after notification. The amendment passed on voice vote, followed by approval of the main motion.
Staff said they will contact all 168 applicants to confirm status and will process the next tranche of awards quickly if the council directs awarding the additional 60–61 applicants to reach a total of 95 awards across FY24 and FY25 funding. The council asked staff to provide clear guidance to applicants about whether they remain on a waiting list or must reapply for future funding cycles.
