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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13 0924 min248 The Plainview City Council met on September 24, 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 11:50 a.m. on September 20, 2013. Mayor Wendell Dunlap presided. Councilmembers present were: Charles Starnes - District 1, Cathy Waggoner - District 2, David Garcia - District 3, V. O. Ortega- District 4, 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, William Mull - Police Chief, Mike Gilliland- Director of Public Works, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief, Tammy Adams - Accounting Coordinator; Vanessa Rincon- Accounting Coordinator; Sarianne Beversdorf- Director of Finance; Isauro Gutierrez - Information Technology Specialist and Belinda Hinojosa -City Secretary. News Media Present: Ryan Crowe - Plainview Herald Guests Present: Susan Blackerby, Teressa King, Becky Summers, Larry Williams and Louis Flores Councilmember David Garcia delivered the invocation and led in the pledge of allegiance. Councilmember Starnes moved to adopt the consent calendar. The motion was duly seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner and carried by unanimous vote. Items approved on the consent calendar included approval of the minutes of September 5, 2013 and September 10, 2013; the approval of the financial reports; approval to authorize use of funds for additional renovation work to civic center lobby; approval to authorize Mayor to sign Agreement for Day Care Program between the City of Plainview and Wee Care Child Center, Inc.; and authorize Mayor Dunlap to sign Refurnish Agreement between the James and Eva Mayer Foundation, Plainview Municipal Country Club and the City of Plainview, Texas. Greg Ingham, City Manager presented for consideration on second reading, Ordinance No. 13 -3598, an Ordinance Of The City Of Plainview, Texas, Adopting And Approving The Budget For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2013 And Terminating September 30, 2014, And Making Such Appropriations For Each Department, Project And Account; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Severability Clause; And Effective Date. This budget includes the $850 flay pay increase for all city employees instead of the 2% across the board pay raise. The total budgeted expenditures for all funds for fiscal year ending September 30, 2014 are $28,965,495. The budgeted revenues for the major operating funds are $22,444,435 and the budgeted expenditures are $23,839,560. Some of the major issues going forward are increased investment in industrial and community development; health insurance costs have been climbing; we are increasing rates on what city charges itself and its employees; and retention of qualified work force in competitive market and infrastructure. The budgeted amount for general fund expenditures are $13,369,075 and the general City Council Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 1 of 6 fund revenues are $12,149,790. The tax rate included in the budget is $0.6185. The effective tax rate for 2013 -2014 is $0.5800. The Solid Waste Management Fund Revenues for fiscal year ending September 30, 2014 are $3,045,745. The Solid Waste Management Fund Expenditures are $3,670,835. The budget has a proposed 2% increase in refuse collection fees from $19.08 to $19.46. The Water & Sewer Fund revenues for fiscal year ending September 30, 2014 are $7,225,900 and expenditures are $7,396,650. There is a property increase in the base rate from $21.50 to $31.00 and an increase in the cost per thousand from $1.70 to $1.87. As we move forward, we want to continue to move forward and to encourage growth in our community. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. Teresa King of 409 Mesa Circle asked for clarification on the $1 million economic development. Mr. Ingham explained the process. Larry Williams of 124 SE 9 stated that increases affect everything. It together. Bill Nelson of 1106 Floydada addressed each of the Councilmembers and to vote no against the budget. line item for all goes up asked them Councilmember Ortega moved to adopt Ordinance No. 13 -3598 on second reading, the motion was duly seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner. Councilmember Lionel Garcia asked if we have a project already and asked how the money would be dispensed. He was advised that we did not have a detailed plan for the development of an industrial park. He was advised that none of these funds would be moved without council approval. Councilmember Starnes stated that last week he ran though numbers. The City has been run efficiently and collects about an additional $1.7 million a year. He said that is why he opposes the budget. He thinks the budget could be squeezed and that would avert the need for a tax increase. Councilmember Lionel Garcia stated the budget process needs to be changed. He suggested pushing it up about three weeks; because the way it is does not allow any time to make adjustments. Mayor Dunlap stated the City cannot sit around waiting for somebody else to start work. We have to do it ourselves. We have to look beyond next year and we have to move forward. The only way to move forward is to get competitive industry to Plainview. He believes that steps have been taken to get us started in the right direction. City Council Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 2 of 6 249 250 Belinda Hinojosa, City Secretary asked for a record vote of the Council with the Council voting as follows: Mayor Dunlap — Yes Councilmember Starnes — No Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner — Yes Councilmember David Garcia — Yes Councilmember Ortega — Yes District 5 position - Vacant Councilmember Lionel Garcia — No Councilmember Hastey — No The motion carried with a vote of 4 "for" the motion and 3 "against." Mr. Ingham presented for consideration an action to ratify the Property Tax Increase reflected in the FY 2013 -2014 Budget. This is a prior legislative requirement that requires the Council to ratify that there is a property tax increase in the budget and that tax rate is $0.6185. There was no public comment. Councilmember Starnes moved to ratify the property tax increase reflected in budget for fiscal year 2013 -2014 budget. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Ortega and carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Ingham presented for consideration on second reading, Ordinance No. 13 -3599, an Ordinance Levying Municipal Ad Valorem Taxes For The City Of Plainview, Texas, For The Year 2013, And Directing The Assessment And Collection Thereof; Severability Clause; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Repealer; And Effective Date. This is the ordinance adopting the tax rate. It is set at $0.6185 which is the amount that is included in the budget. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner moved that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of sixty - one and eighty - five hundredths cents ($.6185), which is effectively a 6.637931 percent increase in the tax rate. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember David Garcia. Councilmember Starnes stated that on observation that the budget has passed; he will reluctantly support this tax increase. 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 — Yes District 5 position - Vacant Councilmember Lionel Garcia — No Councilmember Hastey — Yes City Council Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 3 of 6 The motion carried with a vote of 6 "for" the motion and 1 "against." Mr. Ingham presented for consideration on second reading, Ordinance No. 13 -3600, An Ordinance Of The City Of Plainview, Texas, Amending Chapter 13, "Utilities" Of The Code Of Ordinances Of The City Of Plainview, Texas; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Severability Clause; And Effective Date. This ordinance amends the water rates and solid waste disposal fees as set forth in the budget. The impact on a 5,000 gallon water bill would take the base rate from $21.50 to $31.00 and the cost per thousand would go from $1.70 to $1.87. The Solid Waste collection fees would go up 2% from $19.08 up to $19.46. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember David Garcia moved to adopt Ordinance No. 13 -3600 on second reading. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Ortega. Councilmember Lionel Garcia stated that there are many things we use these funds for. We increase fees so we can cover other things such economic development. He said we are collecting more than what these funds need. He stated if we are going to do it, it needs to be done in the general fund. Mayor Dunlap stated that we have people on the payroll that are in these funds that have to be equally responsible for employee insurance; the same as the other funds. Mayor Dunlap asked for a vote. The motion carried with Mayor Dunlap, Councilmember Starnes, Waggoner, David Garcia, Ortega and Hastey voting "for" the motion and Councilmember Lionel Garcia voting "against" the motion. Mr. Ingham presented for consideration on second reading, Ordinance No. 13 -3601, an Ordinance Of The City Of Plainview Amending Ordinance No. 12 -3578 To Appropriate Funds In The General Fund And Various Revenue And Capital Funds Pursuant To Section 5.07 (A) And (D) Of The Plainview City Charter Allowing For Supplemental Appropriations In The 2012 -2013 Budget; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Severability Clause; And Effective Date. During the course of this Fiscal Year we encountered some projects and opportunities that caused expenditures in some areas to exceed budgeted funds. The biggest adjustments that are being made in these amendments are the transfers from the General Fund, Solid Waste Management Fund, and the Utility Fund to the Health Insurance Fund. If the City had not been able to make these transfers in most part from budget savings, we would have had to reach into and pull these funds directly from the various funds reserves which would decrease our overall financial position. We feel fortunate that we have been able to put ourselves in that position. a) City Hall repairs — boiler work, heating and air issues; security costs at old Chamber building; these will not bust our general fund but these departments were going over; b) Capital Improvement Fund - The Humane Society applied to the Mayer Foundation for funds to expand and improve the kennel upgrade and was funded in the amount of $35,000. This support from the Mayer Foundation enabled the City to do more work to improve the conditions at the Animal Shelter. City Council Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 4 of 6 251 252 c) Hotel motel tax - did not anticipate $385,000 in water repairs; d) Unemployment Compensation Fund got caught in some extended unemployment benefits; e) Property and auto equipment insurance — scope of roof repairs; f) Solid Waste Management — Health Insurance Fund transfers; g) Transfer from Solid Waste Management fund to system improvement fund to fund landfill pit and service center and repairs to truck in recycling; h) Solid Waste Management - $79,000 into system improvement fund; i) Health Insurance Fund — transfers from other funds for health insurance; j) Water & Sewer Utility — small match on a grant fund; k) Rental of equipment to help with moving water out of wastewater treatment plant and other problems related to wastewater plant — lost some fairly expensive equipment; I) Water & system improvement grant we did last December, the City went out for bids for the grant funded water line project in the northeast part of town. Since there had been a question as to whether or not we would have enough in the grant project to complete the project, it was bid out with a couple of alternates. When the bids came in, the total bid price did exceed the grant and required matching funds. Since it was a competitive price and the odds of getting the rest of the work done cheaper in a separate smaller project at a later date did not seem to be very good, the Council awarded the bid including the Alternates, which meant the City would add about $50,000 to complete the project. Those funds are coming out of the Utility fund reserves. m) Service Center — funds coming in. n) HOME grant — doing some work in -house and these are some expenditures associated with that. o) TDRA Grant — additional grant revenue and professional services. p) Economic Development — we are doing some preliminary engineering work in terms of determining where we are going. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Starnes moved to adopt Ordinance No. 13 -3601 on second reading. The motion was duly seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner and carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Ingham presented for consideration to Authorize Mayor to sign Texas Department of Transportation Grant for Routine Airport Maintenance Program. The RAMP program is designed to assist the airport sponsor (City and County) in doing basic maintenance at its airport. It is a 50/50 State and local grant. This maintenance can include things such as routine pavement maintenance, drainage, approach aids, lighting systems, herbicide application, etc. The Plainview Hale County RAMP grant is for $23,720 total with the City and County's potential share being up to $11,860. At this time the Council is approving the City's portion of the AWOS Maintenance agreement which would be $930.00. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Mayor Pro Tem Waggoner moved to authorize Mayor to sign Texas Department of Transportation Grant for Routine Airport Maintenance Program Texas Project Plainview. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Ortega and carried by unanimous vote. City Council Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 5 of 6 There being no further business, Mayor Dunlap adjourned the meeting at 7:59 p.m. ( Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary City Council Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 6 of 6 253