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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12 0814 minThe Plainview City Council met on August 14, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Plainview City Hall at 901 Broadway. The agenda for this meeting was posted in City Hall at 4:05 p.m. on August 9, 2012. Mayor Wendell Dunlap presided. Councilmembers present were: Charles Starnes - District 1, Cathy Waggoner - District 2, David Garcia - District 3, V. O. Ortega- District 4, Shane Martinez- District 5, Lionel Garcia - District 6 and Eric Hastey- District 7. Staff members present were: Greg Ingham -City Manager, Jeffrey Snyder - Assistant City Manager, Leslie Pearce -City Attorney, Mike Gilliland- Director of Public Works, Will Mull - Police Chief, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief, Sarianne Beversdorf- Director of Finance, Eric Turner -Main Street/CVB Coordinator, Daniel Born - Information Technology Specialist and Belinda Hinojosa -City Secretary. News Media Present: Jessica Thornton - Plainview Herald Guests Present: Mike Allen, Dennis Harkins and Shane Harrell Councilmember Lionel Garcia delivered the invocation and led in the pledge of allegiance. Chief William Mull and Mayor Dunlap presented a 40 year award to Dennis Harkins for his service to the City. Councilmember Waggoner moved to adopt the consent calendar. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember David Garcia and carried by unanimous vote. Items approved on the consent calendar included the approval of the minutes of July 24, 2012 and August 9, 2012; authorize Mayor Wendell Dunlap to sign Contract "No. 2013- 041481 between the Department of State Health Services and the Plainview -Hale County Health District for Local Public Health Services and Immunization Services; and approval of Resolution R12 -274, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Plainview, Texas, Approving the Requests of the Plainview Herald and the Plainview Chamber of Commerce; Authorizing the Filing of the Agreement for the Temporary Closure of State Right -Of -Way With the Texas Department of Transportation for the Cowboy Days Annual Parade, The "Hale On Wheels" Bicycle Ride, And The "Hale On Feet" Runs; Declaring That The Events Serve A Public Purpose; And Agreeing To Comply With Regulations. Mr. Greg Ingham, City Manager presented for consideration to vote to consider a proposal to increase taxes for the City of Plainview. The proposed budget is based on a tax rate of $0.5785, which is the same tax rate that the City used last year in the 2011- 2012 Budget. However, even though the tax rate is staying the same, since there was a slight increase in appraised values, the City's Effective Tax Rate was determined to be $0.5712 so according to Texas Truth in Taxation calculations this is considered a tax increase. Therefore the Council will be required to follow the process which requires a record vote and public hearings regarding a proposed tax increase. The first step of this process requires that the Council vote to place a proposal to adopt the tax rate on the Agenda of a future meeting as an action item and this must be a record vote. The proposal must specify a desired rate. Some cities at this point are actually proposing a higher rate such as their calculated Roll -back rate or some other City Council Minutes August 14, 2012 Page 1 of 3 127 128 higher rate to allow themselves room to make an adjustment in case something comes up during the budget process, because a city can always adopt a rate lower than the specified rate, but it cannot adopt a rate higher than the specified rate. This year staff is recommending that the Council set the proposed tax rate at $0.5785, which is the tax rate included in the Proposed Budget and it is the same tax rate the City used last year. Councilmember Starnes moved to consider the adoption of the proposed tax rate of $0.5785 at the Meeting of the City Council on: First Reading - September 20, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at the Plainview Convention Center, 2902 W. 4 Street; and Second Reading - September 25, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 901 Broadway. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Ortega. Councilmember Lionel Garcia asked if there was anything built in for items that will be required for in the future; for example repair of streets. Mr. Ingham stated that were not funds directed for street improvements. Councilmember Hastey asked about capital outlay for landfill equipment. Mr. Ingham stated we are pretty heavily vested for replacement costs. We have construction of a new landfill cell that will cost roughly about $1.1 million which is bringing that fund down. Councilmember Starnes stated that in the last few years or so, we have added the cost of water from Roberts County, cost of two new water towers; and construction of new sewer and water lines. We have raised water rates in the last year. He feels it is important to hold the property tax rate where it is as a sign that we are in fact using fees for services they provide as efficiently and effectively as we can. Mayor Dunlap added that we should be proud of the infrastructure work that we have done and need to take it a step at a time and not rush into. Belinda Hinojosa, City Secretary asked for a record vote of the Council with the Council voting as follows: Mayor Dunlap — Yes Councilmember Starnes — Yes Councilmember Waggoner — Yes Councilmember David Garcia - Yes Councilmember Ortega — Yes Councilmember Martinez — Yes Councilmember Lionel Garcia — No Councilmember Hastey — Yes The motion carried with a vote of 7 "for" the motion and 1 "against." Mr. Ingham presented for consideration to schedule public hearings on tax rate and budget. He stated the Council is adopting the schedule of the public hearings. This schedule will include public hearings on September 6 and September 11, 2012; with the actual adoption of the tax rate and budget occurring with a first reading of the Ordinances on September 20, 2012 and a second and final reading September 25, 2012. City Council Minutes August 14, 2012 Page 2 of 3 Councilmember Starnes moved to schedule two public hearings on the tax rate and budget on September 6, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at the Plainview Convention Center, 2902 W. 4 Street and September 11, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 901 Broadway. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Waggoner and carried by unanimous vote. There being no further business, Mayor Dunlap adjourned the meeting at 7:34 p.m. :14 Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary City Council Minutes August 14, 2012 Page 3 of 3 129