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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 0813 min226 The Plainview City Council met on August 13, 2013 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 4:00 p.m. on August 9, 2013. Mayor Wendell Dunlap presided. Councilmembers present were: Charles Starnes - District 1, Cathy Waggoner - District 2, David Garcia - District 3, Lionel Garcia - District 6 and Eric Hastey- District 7. Councilmembers V. O. Ortega- District 4 was absent. Staff members present were: Greg Ingham -City Manager, Jeffrey Snyder- Assistant City Manager, Leslie Pearce -City Attorney, Todd Kennemer- Community Development Manager, William Mull - Police Chief, Mike Gilliland- Director of Public Works, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief, and Belinda Hinojosa -City Secretary. News Media Present: Homer Marquez - Plainview Herald Guests Present: Linda Morris Councilmember Charles Starnes delivered the invocation and led in the pledge of allegiance. Mayor Pro Tem 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 approval of the minutes of July 23, 2013 and August 8, 2013; and the granting of an excused absence to Councilmember V. O. Ortega- District 4. Mr. Greg Ingham, City Manager presented to vote to consider a proposal to increase taxes for the City of Plainview. The proposed general fund budget is based upon using a tax rate of $.06185. The effective tax rate for 2013 -2014 is $0.5800 which would generate the same amount of revenues as last year. The proposed rate is an increase and will require a record vote and tax hearings. The Council is establishing the maximum tax rate you will consider. Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner moved to consider the adoption of the proposed tax rate of $0.6185 at the meeting of the City Council on first reading on September 19, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. in the City Councilmember Chambers at City Hall, 901 Broadway and on second reading on September 24, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 901 Broadway. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember David Garcia. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Lionel Garcia stated that he is afraid that we built the budget on this amount and this barely covers what is in the budget. He would like to move to the rollback rate where we could include things we desperately need. One thing that is needed is downtown; there is no money in the budget that is dedicated to the downtown area. We are spending $91,000 on promotion of downtown but we don't do anything to improve the downtown area. We are having an increase in water and sewer rates. He stated he does not agree on massive increase. He is hoping to go to rollback rate and then adjust down. City Council Minutes August 13, 2013 Page 1 of 3 Councilmember Hastey asked how much revenue would be realized if we raised the tax rate up to the rollback rate. Mr. Ingham stated it would be about $270,000 with this particular increase; $.01 increase is about $72,000. Councilmember Hastey stated he is a little worried as property owners already feel overtaxed. Concessions have to be made, but now is not the right time. Belinda Hinojosa, City Secretary asked for a record vote of the Council with the Council voting as follows: Mayor Dunlap — Yes Councilmember Starnes — Yes Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner — Yes Councilmember David Garcia — Yes Councilmember Ortega — Absent District 5 position - Vacant Councilmember Lionel Garcia — No Councilmember Hastey — Yes The motion carried with a vote of 5 "for" the motion and 1 "against." Mr. Ingham presented for consideration to schedule public hearings on the tax rate and the budget. He stated the Council is adopting the schedule of the public hearings. This schedule will include public hearings on September 5 and September 10, 2013; with the actual adoption of the tax rate and budget occurring with a first reading of the Ordinances on September 19, 2013 and a second and final reading September 24, 2013. Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner moved to schedule two public hearings on the tax rate and budget on September 5, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at City Hall, 901 Broadway and September 10, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 901 Broadway. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Hastey and carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Ingham presented for consideration to consider and take necessary action to authorize Mayor to sign Agreement for Promotion of Main Street and Tourism Services between the City of Plainview and the Plainview Chamber of Commerce. The national main street program for revitalization was formed several years ago. We are one of the first cities to become a main street city. We believe the main street program is an important part. The paid professional manager position has been in City Hall. One option is to consider putting program with the Chamber of Commerce. The focus can be better if working under same program. Basically the main street budget of $84,000 would be transferred to Chamber of Commerce. $7,500 of hotel motel tax would be transferred and the rest would be maintained at City Hall. The Council would still appoint the Main Street tourism board that oversees the main street coordinator. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. City Council Minutes August 13, 2013 Page 2 of 3 227 228 Councilmember Starnes moved to authorize Mayor to sign Agreement for Promotion of Main Street and Tourism Services between the City of Plainview and the Plainview Chamber of Commerce. The motion was duly seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner. Councilmember Lionel Garcia asked about the $91,500. He was advised this was the same amount as would have been spent. It is actually a little less. The total budget is about $100,000. The CVB budget is $200,000 and the $7,500 is coming out of that. Councilmember Starnes stated that the Mayor is a voting member of the Chamber of Commerce board. The City would maintain oversight of the board. He expressed concern that the chamber board is made up of dues paying members with no open representation. He was advised that the open meetings act would apply to the Main Street board. Councilmember Lionel Garcia stated he did not agree with what we are doing here. Until we commit to provide additional funds for the downtown area, he does not see us spending $100,000 and not do any of the other things that need to be done. Even cutting weeds on the street would help. Mayor Dunlap asked for a vote on the matter. Mayor Dunlap, Councilmembers Starnes, Waggoner, David Garcia and Eric Hastey voted "for" the motion. Councilmember Lionel Garcia voted "against" the motion. The motion carried. Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner moved to go into closed meeting to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee, or to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or employee. [Tex. Gov't. Code, Section 551.074]. Police Chief Hiring Process. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Lionel Garcia and carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Dunlap recessed the meeting at 7:31 p.m. Mayor Dunlap called the meeting back in open session at 7:55 p.m. He announced that no action would be taken on the police chief hiring process. There being no further business, Mayor Dunlap adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m. .tic, -/_il Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary City Council Minutes August 13, 2013 Page 3 of 3