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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2015 Council minutes400 The Plainview City Council met on January 13, 2015 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 4:10 p.m. on January 9, 2015. 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, Lionel Garcia -District 6 and Eric Hastey-District 7. Staff members present were: Jeffrey Snyder -City Manager, Leslie Spear Schmidt -City Attorney, Andrew Freeman -Assistant City Manager, Mike Gilliland -Director of Public Works, Sarianne Beversdorf-Director of Finance, Ken Coughlin -Police Chief, Rusty Powers -Fire Chief, Isauro Gutierrez -Information Technology Specialist and Belinda Hinojosa-City Secretary. News Media Present: Homer Marquez -Plainview Herald and Caleb Hatch - Plainview Radio Guests Present: Beverly McCaskill Councilmember Susan Blackerby delivered the invocation and led in the pledge of allegiance. Councilmember Williams moved to approve the consent calendar. The motion was duly seconded by Mayor Pro Tem King and carried by unanimous vote. Items approved on the consent calendar included the approval of the minutes of November 20, 2014, November 25, 2014 and December 18, 2014; and approval of Financial Reports. Jeffrey Snyder, City Manager presented for consideration to authorize Mayor to sign Skate Park Construction Contract. In October, the Council awarded the bid to Spohn Ranch to construct skate park. The cost is not to exceed $310,050. Construction is set to begin in the spring and will take 5 to 6 weeks to complete. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Starnes moved to authorize Mayor to sign Skate Park Construction Contract. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Juarez and carried by unanimous vote. Mrs. Sarianne Beversdorf, Director of Finance presented for consideration Resolution R15-331, a Resolution of the City of Plainview, Texas, Stating that the City Council has Reviewed and Adopted an Investment Policy in Compliance With the Public Funds Investment Act Located at Texas Government Code Annotated, Chapter 2256 (Vernon's 2013). The Investment Policy is presented to the Council for approval. The policy is the framework for what the City does in its investment. The policy must be written and address methods, procedures and practices to ensure effective and judicious fiscal management of City funds. The investment objectives are safety and preservation of principal; liquidity to meet operating needs; public trust from prudent investments; and yield — secondary to safety and liquidity. Authorized investments are obligations of the United States of America, its agencies and instrumentalities; certificates of deposit; FDIC insured or fully collateralized interest bearing accounts; fully collateralized direct repurchase City Council Minutes January 13, 2015 Page 1 of 3 agreements; money market mutual funds; and local government investment pools. The investment policy also stipulates the depository selection criteria, safekeeping and custodian requirements, acceptable collateral types and reporting requirements. Mayor Dunlap asked for public comment. There was no public comment. Councilmember Blackerby moved to accept Resolution R15-331. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Starnes. Councilmember Garcia asked about internal controls. He asked if there were written controls. They receive a questionnaire from auditors asking if Council is involved in oversight of assessments of risk and fraud. Mrs. Beversdorf states it basically goes over basic structure. In department, they have internal controls and they all intertwine. They have financial policies in place and they send a copy to City Manager and auditors for review. Council is furnished with copies of financial reports. This is all a part of internal control. Mayor Pro Tem King asked if the Council could be further educated on how internal controls come about so they can answer questions sincerely. Mayor Dunlap asked if this could be gone over during the budget workshop. Councilmember Garcia stated he does not ask questions to inquire about your job or anybody's job. He has full confidence in staff because they have been doing a super job all these years. Every City does the same thing, but then you read that stuff happens in other cities. Councilmember Hastey asked if we have ever had any out of compliance issues with our controls. Mrs. Beversdorf stated we have some issues the auditors want to bring to Council such as OPED liability and retirement liability, but the auditors present those to you. Councilmember Starnes asked if she felt confident that if someone steals they would get caught. Ms. Beversdorf stated she feels confident that her staff will do everything in their power to catch you and that our directors and their department heads will do everything in their power to catch you but she can't say that 100%. Councilmember Starnes asked again if she felt confident that the controls in place provide sufficient protection for the funds that the citizens of Plainview have put in place. Ms. Beversdorf stated she guarantees on investments 110% and on our day to day transactions we have the controls in place. Mayor Dunlap asked for a vote on the matter. The motion carried by unanimous vote. Councilmember Starnes moved to go into closed session 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. City Council Minutes January 13, 2015 Page 2 of 3 401 402 Gov't. Code, Section 551.074]. Appointments to the following boards and commissions: Plainview Housing Authority, Main Street Program/Tourism Board and Runningwater Draw Retired & Senior Volunteer Program Community Advisory Group. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Hastey and carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Dunlap recessed the meeting at 7:28 p.m. Mayor Dunlap called the meeting back in open session at 8:00 p.m. Councilmember Starnes moved to appoint the following: • Runningwater Draw Retired & Senior Volunteer Program Community Advisory Group for terms ending December 2017 the following: Bobbye Dennis, Rosie Rendon, Alice Rey, Gail Thrasher and Mary Parrish. • Plainview Housing Authority Board for terms ending January 1, 2017 the following: Jorge Sanchez and Joel Steed • Main Street Program/Tourism Coordinating Board for two years terms ending January 1, 2017 the following: Phil Shackelford, Paul Drager, Chris LeFevre and Beverly McCaskill and for one year terms ending January 1, 2016 the following: Michael Graves, Diane Book, Frances Barrera and Debbie McPherson. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Juarez and carried by unanimous vote. There being no further business, Mayor Dunlap adjourned the meeting at 8:03 p.m. Belinda Hinojosa City Secretary City Council Minutes January 13, 2015 Page 3 of 3