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HomeMy WebLinkAbout14 0918 Council minutesThe City Council met on September 18, 2014, 2014 at 11:40 a.m., at the Plainview Convention Center, 2902 W. 4th Street, Plainview, Texas. The agenda for this meeting was posted in City Hall at 5:15 p.m. on September 12, 2014. Mayor Wendell Dunlap presided. Councilmembers present were: Charles Starnes -District 1, Larry Williams - District 2, Norma Juarez -District 3, Teressa King -District 4, Susan Blackerby-District 5, and Eric Hastey-District 7. Councilmember Lionel Garcia was absent. Staff members present were: Jeffrey Snyder -City Manager, Andrew Freeman - Assistant City Manager, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief, Manuel Balderas-Police Captain, Mike Gilliland -Director of Public Works, Leslie Spear -City Attorney, Sarianne Beversdorf-Director of Finance, Isauro Gutierrez -Information Technology Specialist and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary. News Media Present: Caleb Hatch, Plainview Radio and Homer Marquez, Plainview Herald Guests Present: Tom Almon, Mike Fox and Beverly McCaskill Mayor Wendell Dunlap led in the Invocation. The Council granted an excused absence to Councilmember Lionel Garcia There were no announcements. Jeffrey Snyder, City Manager presented the 2014-2015 City of Plainview Budget. The guiding principles of the budget were based on the strategic plan. The Council's pillars of vision were enhanced economic development; offer high quality of life/amenities; structured plan for improved infrastructure; increased citizen pride and community involvement; and highly trained staff with a customer service focus. The Council established strategic milestones and objectives to track the progress of reaching this vision. 1) Support the implementation of the Hale County Strategic Plan and Targeted Industry Study a. Support the development of an Industrial Park to market to potentially new primary employers to Hale County b. Support the development of a Basic Skills Education Program for employers with South Plains College 2) Plan water and sewer improvements for areas likely to grow over the next 20 years a. Plan for extension of water and sanitary sewer infrastructure along and near the south Interstate 27 corridor to accommodate new development 3) Work with the Plainview/Hale County Industrial Foundation to identify and market Hale County Airport facilities a. Support the completion of the Hale County Airport Master Plan b. Support the major Rehabilitation/Reconstruction project ($6.90 million) in improvements that will be made to the airport 4) Rehabilitate Existing Housing Stock a. Employ a pro -active code enforcement strategy; to include training of personnel in conflict management and resolution that will enable officers City Council Minutes September 18, 2014 Page 1 of 6 359 360 to give helpful assistance to property owners in complying with municipal codes rather than a punitive approach b. Develop a Property Conditions Survey for neighborhoods and a Property Inspection District Map for a more effective code enforcement program ensuring that basic standards are upheld c. Continue with the implementation of the Texas Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs HOME HRA program that will support the reconstruction of dilapidated housing 5) Implement elements of Neighborhood Enhancement Priority Improvement Project for Downtown a. Partner with Plainview Downtown Association, Main Street / Tourism Coordinating Board, Chamber of Commerce and property owners to discuss the feasibility of using Economic Development Tools as a way to improve the downtown b. Partner with Texas Tech University, College of Architecture to develop a downtown master plan utilizing the Comprehensive Plan Priority Project as a guide 6) Continue to pursue intergovernmental and public-private partnerships to leverage park and recreation investments a. Construct a skate park for the community b. Continue to seek grants, in-kind donations and sponsorships to construct recreational facilities that meet community needs 7) Improve Connectivity within the Parks, Recreation, Trails and Open Spaces a. Support the expansion of the Hike and Bike Trail to Regional Park 8) Reduce Park Maintenance requirements in order to decrease the fiscal and operational demand of the City's Parks Department a. Begin the development of a written Parks Maintenance Management Plan The budgeted expenditures for major operating funds for fiscal year ending September 30, 2015 are $23,959,365. The budgeted revenue for major operating funds for fiscal year ending September 30, 2015 are $22,468,295. There is included in the budget 2% cost of living adjustment. A concern is stabilization of employee healthcare costs. There is a transfer of additional funds into the program; TML will visit with Council in October to discuss City's health insurance program; and make changes as appropriate. The general fund revenues for fiscal year ending September 30, 2015 are $12,246,195. The tax rate included in the budget is $0.6038. The general fund expenditures for fiscal year ending September 30, 2015 are $13,660,200. In October 2012, the Plainview/Hale County Economic Development Corporation, City of Plainview and Hale County partnered together to develop an Economic Development Plan. The series of action strategies identified in this plan has served as a framework for guiding the community's investments in economic development related activities. With that in mind, the City has taken steps towards improving the local Economic Development Program and this continues to be a process. Some of the activities that have taken place over the past couple of years are: City Council Minutes September 18, 2014 Page 2 of 6 1) Last year, South Plains College received $475,000 from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support the construction of the SPC Plainview Technology Center to provide training opportunities for workers displaced by the closing of the Cargill Meat Solutions. 2) March 2014, the Plainview -Hale County EDC received notice that they are the recipient of $100,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to begin a local Revolving Loan Program. 3) May 2014 - Wayland Baptist University opened its newest venture, the Spark Business Accelerator. 4) July 2014 - partnership with Retail Coach and the Plainview Chamber of Commerce, which assists in identifying and marketing to new potential retailers and restaurants that are a good match for the community as well as providing local retail sales leakage and community demographic information to existing local businesses. 5) The Economic Development Plan identified the need for a larger, more consistent stream of revenue for the community economic development program and as a result the City started taking steps to add additional funds to the program by committing $72,500 to the Plainview -Hale County EDC in Fiscal Year 2013-2014. This funding is continued in the proposed budget. The development of a community -owned Business Park continues to be a priority. There are funds allocated in the budget to assist in the progress towards this goal. Items included in the capital improvement fund include the following: Airport Rehabilitation Project; Skate Park Project Downtown and Sidewalk Improvements through Main Street grant. During the Planning retreat, the Council wanted to find ways to engage the public. Over this next fiscal year, staff will be working on several initiatives that will reach out to our community and allow them to be a part of the process. A few of these initiatives include "Adopt a Park", Community Clean-up Days this Spring, and rolling out a new program that allows the public to report issues to City Hall regarding potholes, signs or property maintenance issues. The Solid Waste Management Fund is an enterprise fund. The Solid Waste Management Fund Revenues for fiscal year ending September 30, 2015 are $2,908,265. The proposed expenditures are $2,908,265. Major Projects and capital purchases include residential collection truck ($170,000); one 3/ ton Utility Bed Truck ($32,000), and a shredder for $8,000. In addition, there is a rebuild of a Cat Scraper ($183,000) at our Landfill included in the Solid Waste Improvement Fund. There is also included a Fleet Management/GPS System for the vehicles in the Solid Waste Department. The Water and Sewer Fund is an enterprise fund. There are no adjustments in rates in this budget. The City is moving towards replacing both clarifiers at the plant at an estimated cost of $525,250. The City is wrapping up the upgrades to its backflow prevention and CSI programs to meet the TCEQ requirements and timetable for full compliance. In the Council Strategic Planning Retreat, one of the goals identified was a structured plan for City Council Minutes September 18, 2014 Page 3 of 6 361 362 infrastructure along Interstate 27 and this budget includes $50,000 to move this initiative forward. The proposed revenues for the Water & Sewer Fund are $7,228,500. The proposed expenditures are $6,037,875. Capital projects include Milwee lift station property and Wastewater Treatment Plant clarifier project. Hotel Occupancy Fund includes replacing roof at Civic Center. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. Councilmember Williams moved to open a public hearing regarding the 2014-2015 City of Plainview budget. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Blackerby and carried by unanimous vote. Tom Almon of 1209 Amarillo Street expressed concern about the delay in transports. He stated the fire department is short on personnel. The fire department requested two additional positions and was denied this request. He urged the Council to reconsider this decision and add two fire EMS positions to the budget. There was no further comment from the public. Councilmember Hastey moved to close the public hearing. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmembers Juarez and carried by unanimous vote. The public hearing was closed at 12:08 p.m. Mayor Dunlap presented for consideration on first reading, Ordinance No. 14-3614, an Ordinance of the City of Plainview, Texas, Adopting and Approving the Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2014 and Terminating September 30, 2015, and Making Such Appropriations for Each Department, Project and Account; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Severability Clause; and Effective Date. There was no public comment. Councilmember Blackerby moved to adopt Ordinance No. 14-3614 on first reading. The motion was duly seconded by Mayor Pro Tem King. Mayor Dunlap asked for Council comment. Mayor Pro Tem King thanked Mr. Almon for coming. She feels it is an issue that has been brought before with EMS problems with transfers to Lubbock. She said one way to handle it is if we look at other cities of similar size. Councilmember Starnes asked if the $1 million for economic development is the same number carried over from last year. He was advised that it was. Councilmember Williams stated he has problems voting on a deficit budget, but feels that after last year's increases, he feel comfortable that the city is sharing the burdens. Mayor Pro Tem King asked about the Main Street grant amount. She was advised that the max is $150,000. City Council Minutes September 18, 2014 Page 4 of 6 Councilmember Starnes asked if the Main Street director position was funded in this budget. He was advised that there are funds allocated for main street which includes salary for director. 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 Williams — Yes Councilmember Juarez — Yes Mayor Pro Tem King — Yes Councilmember Blackerby — Yes Councilmember Garcia — Absent Councilmember Hastey — Yes The motion carried by unanimous vote. Mr. Snyder presented for consideration on first reading, Ordinance No. 140-3615, an Ordinance Levying Municipal Ad Valorem Taxes For The City Of Plainview, Texas, For The Year 2014, And Directing The Assessment And Collection Thereof; Severability Clause; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Repealer; And Effective Date. This is the reading of the ordinance levying the tax rate of $0.6038. This collects the same amount of revenues as last year and this is the tax rate that was discussed in the budget. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Starnes moved that the property tax rate be adopted at the effective tax rate of sixty and thirty-eight hundredths cents ($.6038), which is effectively a 2.3767 percent decrease in the tax rate. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Williams. Councilmember Hastey asked what amount of dollars would be collected if we kept the same tax rate. He was advised about $113,000. Mayor Pro Tem King asked what the rate was for 2012 — 2013. She was advised that it was $0.5785. 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 Williams — Yes Councilmember Juarez — Yes Mayor Pro Tem King — Yes Councilmember Blackerby — Yes Councilmember Garcia — Absent Councilmember Hastey — Yes The motion carried by unanimous vote. City Council Minutes September 18, 2014 Page 5 of 6 363 364 Mr. Snyder presented for consideration on first reading Ordinance No. 14-3616, an Ordinance of the City of Plainview Amending Ordinance No. 13-3598 and Ordinance No. 14-3609 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 2013-2014 Budget; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Severability Clause; And Effective Date. During the course of the fiscal year, there are projects and opportunities that may cause expenditures in some areas to exceed the budgeted funds in some of the line items. The major adjustments that are being made in these amendments are the transfers from the General Fund in the amount of $400,000 and Solid Waste Management Fund in the amount of $150,000 to the Health Insurance Fund. In addition, you will notice in the Health Insurance Fund, $671,650 in revenue from Stop Loss Proceeds because our claims continue to be running high and these are reimbursements from our Stop -Loss carrier when claims exceed $50,000 on a covered individual. In late October, we are planning to have the plan administrator visit with Council about the challenges in our Health Insurance Fund. There is an additional transfer from the General Fund in the amount of $200,000 to the Capital Improvement Fund to help cover some of the additional work to Taxiway D in the Airport Reconstruction/ Rehabilitation Project that will begin next fiscal year. In addition, there are some of the amendments that show the proposed 'budget buys' that we make at the end of the fiscal year to buy down next year's equipment costs with the savings in the current fiscal year. There are several 'budget buys' that were discussed in the Budget Workshops and you will see these reflected in the budget amendments. The other remaining amendments include the major repairs that have been made at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Williams moved to accept Ordinance No. 14-3616 on first reading. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Blackerby. Mayor Pro Tem King asked about the $100,000 for street lighting. She was advised there was an increase in fees that we are charged on street lighting thru the recent SPS rate case. Mayor Dunlap asked for a vote on the matter. The motion carried by unanimous vote. The Council and staff reviewed the agenda for the City Council meeting of September 23, 2014. There being no further business, Mayor Dunlap adjourned the meeting at 12:41 p.m. Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary City Council Minutes September 18, 2014 Page 6 of 6