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The Plainview City Council met on September 14, 2004 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 5:00 p.m. on September 10, 2004. Mayor John C. Anderson
presided. Councilmembers present were: Kelvin Tipton-Distdct 1, Mary Jane Shanes-
District 2, Belinda Pena-District 3, John N. Bertsch-District 4, Ron Trusler-District 5 and
Roland Nash-District 7. Councilmember Wendell Dunlap-District 6 was absent.
Staff members present were: Greg Ingham-City Manager, John Castro-Director of
Community Services, John Berry-Director of Public Works, Wally Hatch-City Attorney,
Dale Simpson-Director of Civil Service, Will Mull-Police Chief, Gary Glass-Fire Chief,
Brice Clements-Engineer, Jack Keller-Budget Manager and Belinda Hinojosa-City
Secretary.
News Media Representative: Richard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald
Guests present: Drury Roberts, Kay Harris, Paula Baker, Vickie Gray, Rusty Gray and
Helen Fields
Rev. Ron Brunson of Piainview New Covenant Church delivered the invocation,
Brownie Troop #82 led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Councilmember Trusler moved to adopt the consent calendar. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Tipton and carried by unanimous vote. Items approved
on the Consent Calendar included: approval of minutes of August 24, 2004 and
September 9, 2004 and the granting of an excused absence to Councilmember
Wendell Dunlap. The Council approved upon first reading Ordinance No. 04-3428, an
Ordinance of the City of Plainview Amending Ordinance No. 03-3399 to Appropriate
Funds in the General Fund and Various Revenue and Capital Funds Pursuant to
Section 5.07 (A) of the Plainview City Charter Allowing For Supplemental Appropriations
in the 2003-2004 Budget; Cumulativeness Clause; Conflicts Clause; Severability
Clause; And Effective Date. The Council voted for Mary Gauer-Place 6, Larry Dovalina-
Place 7, Leo Montalvo-Place 8 and Andres Garza-Place 9 for Texas Municipal League
Intergovernmental Risk Pool Board of Trustees Election.
John Castro, Director of Community Services advised the Council would hold a public
hearing regarding the annexation of a 1.52 acre tract out of Mesa Verde Addition, Unit
No. 7 and a 213.225 acre tract out of the West One-half of Section 27, Block JK-2. Hale
County, Texas. This is the second of two public hearings for the property located north
of the Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Councilmember Shanes moved to open the public hearing. The motion wad duly
seconded by Councilmember Nash and carried by unanimous vote.
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Trusler moved to close the public hearing. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Tipton and carried by unanimous vote. The public
hearing was closed at 7:07 p.m.
Mayor Anderson advised that no action would be required on this item at this time.
City of Plainview Minutes
September 14, 2004
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Brice Clements, Engineer presented for consideration the .approval of the final plat of
Wilcox Addition, Unit No. 5, Plainview, Hale County, Texas. The plat is located north
of Highway 70 and Ennis Road. He advised that the necessary corrections have been
made. The Planning & Zoning Commission approved the final plat on September 9th.
He advised the connection fees are $5,869.40 for water and $11,044.10 for the sewer.
Submission and filing fees have been paid. He advised that staff has reviewed and
determined the plat is in compliance with city ordinances and recommends this plat for
your approval pending submission of the connection fees and the dedication deed.
There was no public comment.
Councilmember Trusler moved ~to approve subject to conditions mentioned by Mr.
Clements. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Nash and carried by
unanimous vote.
Greg Ingham, City Manager stated the City Council has voted to consider increasing our
property tax rate in Plainview. The tax rate is 2.74¢ over last years tax rate, an increase
of 5.74%. Compared to the effective rate that amounts to a 7.13% increase.' He
advised the tax rate is in our general fund budget. Last year the City was unable to fund
the capital equipment fund, not increase health insurance rate and not increase
employee pay. This year the City is trying to address those issues and take steps in the
right direction. We are transferring out of the 2003-2004 budget $250,000 into the
equiPment replacement fund and we will come in under a very tight budget through the
assistance of our staff and our employees.
Mr. Ingham advised that property tax and sales tax make up 70% of the total revenues
in the general fund. The City is seeing a slight increase in our sales taX, but is seeing
an offsetting loss in our interest earnings.
Over 50% of this fund is public safety - fire, EMS and police. There are no revenue
generating departments. Funding for contracts with Senior citizens group, Parents
Place, and Hale County Crisis Center is funded out of the general fund. 77% of the
overall general fund is made up of personnel costs.
On the expenditure side of the 2004-2005 budget, the City has gone two years without
replacing money in the equipment replacement fund. This year the City is making a
transfer of $250,000 into this fund. He stated in the coming year we are going on an as
you go basis; we're financing equipment as if it were a financial deal. $90,000 in
payments will be made to this fund. The City is replacing vehicles such as police, street
sweeper, and patch trucks. The City is paying more into our self-insurance fund. The
City saw an increase of about 7 to 8% and are increasing about 4% what we are~ paying
in this year. The City also saw a 21% increase in our fuel costs. The City is also
looking at a 3% increase in personnel costs.
Mr. Ingham stated the proposed 2.74¢ increase, would increase property taxes $13.70
annually or $1.14 monthly on a $50,000 home. A $100,000 home woUld have an
annual increase of $27.40 or $2.28 per month. He stated the City is taking significant
steps in the right direction in terms of strengthening the organization.
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September 14, 2004
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Councilmember Shanes moved to open the Public Hearing on Proposed Tax
Increase. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Pena and carried by
unanimous vote.
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Trusler moved to close the public hearing. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Shanes and carried by unanimous vote. The public
hearing was closed at 7:18 p.m.
Mayor Anderson advised a vote on the tax rate would be held on September 28, 2004.
Mr. Ingham presented information on the 2004-2005 City of Piainview Budget. He
advised that as you look at the overall budget, we are up a little over 4%. The total
budget comes up to $17,133,550, which includes all of our capital improvement funds.
He stated in the solid waste management fund, the City is seeing an increase in fuel
costs. The City is trying to have funds available so that when it has to build a new
landfill cell, it will have the cash available. The City is creating a system improvement
fund for this and are buying four pieces of equipment for a total of $250,00. This fund
also includes the mosquito control program such as vector spraying and vector mowing.
The recycling program is also included in the solid waste management fund.
The water and sewer fund funds the basic operations of water production, water
distribution, wastewater treatment and collection. The system improvement will pay for
larger projects such as $200,000 to put in a new water well, $55,000 for lift station
refurbishment and $100,000 for any additional developments. The debt service fund is
used to pay out debt on treatment plants.
He advised the City is looking at a slight increase in the waste water rate from $1.20 to
$1.30 per 1,000. When the treatment plant came Online, the power costs went from
$65,000 to $180,000. The City has an excellent plant that is in full compliance with the
EPA and TCEQ. He stated the City is trying to be responsible and ease our rate
structure up as we go along.
The expenditures in the water and sewer fund are made up production, distribution,
collection and also our debt service and system improvement service.
The special revenue funds consists of:
· Theater arts fund which is funded partially through hotel/motel tax revenue and
its own revenue through use of the theatre.
· The hotel/motel tax contract with Chamber of Commerce to work with the City on
the convention and visitors bureau.
· $25,000 is included for assistance to the Convention Center
· $20,000 to Llano Estacado Museum
City of Plainview Minutes
September 14, 2004
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Economic development fund with $25,000 to the Industrial Foundation and
membership in High Ground.
Internal service fund, which includes the city garage.
Equipment replacement fund - this year we buying over $500,000 in equipment
and paying in about $100,000. $250,000 was transferred in from the 2003-2004
budget.
· Capital improvement fund, which funds the hike/bike trail.
He advised that representatives from the Senior Citizens Center, Hale County Crisis
Center and Parent's Place are present in case you have questions of them later.
Councilmember Ronald Nash moved to open the public hearing regarding the 2004-
2005 City of Plainview Budget. The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember
Pena and carried by unanimous vote.
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment. There was no public comment.
Councilmember Tipton moved to close the public hearing. The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Trusler and carried by unanimous vote. The public
hearing was closed at 7:29 pm.
Mr. Ingham presented for consideration upon first reading, Ordinance No. 04-3425, an
Ordinance adopting and approving the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1,
2004 and terminating September 30, 2005, and making such appropriations for each
department, project and account.
There was no public comment.
Councilmember Shanes moved to adopt upon first reading Ordinance No. 04-3425.
The motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Trusler and carried by unanimous
vote.
Greg Ingham, City Manager presented for consideratiOn upon first reading Ordinance
No. 04-3426, an Ordinance of the City of Plainview, amending Section 25-42, entitled
"Monthly Sewer Rates" of the Code of the City of Plainview, Texas; severability clause;
cumulativeness clause; conflicts clause; effective date. This proposes a .10¢ increase
in the sewer rates from $1.20 to $1.30 per 1,000 gallons. The base rate will remain
$7.00. The average homeowner will see a .60¢ increase in their winter bill. He stated
the proposed rate is well below rates for other cities.
There was no pubic comment.
Councilmember Nash moved to adopt upon first reading Ordinance No. 04-3426. The
motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Trusler and carried by unanimous vote.
Greg Ingham, City Manager presented for consideration upon first reading, Ordinance
No. 04-3427, an Ordinance of the City of Plainview, Texas, amending Section 22-32
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September 14, 2004
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entitled "Refuse Collection Fees; Water Termination" of the Code of Ordinances of the
City of Plainview, Texas. He stated this is a slight increase in the solid waste fees with
an increase in the rate from $14.75 to $14.95.
There was no public comment.
Councilmember Pena moved to adopt upon first reading, Ordinance No. 04-3427. The
motion was duly seconded by Councilmember Shanes and carried by unanimous vote.
Mayor Anderson moved to go into Closed Session for discussion of pending or
contemplated litigation. {EPA/ Wastewater Treatment Plant} This meeting is
authorized by TEX. GOV. CODE ANN. 551.07'1 (Vernon 1994). The motion was duly
seconded by Councilmember Shanes and carried by unanimous vote.
The meeting was recessed at 7:35 p.m.
The Council reconvened in open session at 7:51 p.m.
Wally Hatch presented for consideration action on closed session regarding pending or
contemplated litigation {EPA/VVastewater Treatment Plant}. This meeting is
authorized by TEX. GOV. CODE ANN. 551.071 (Vernon 1994}. He asked for a motion
to authorize the City Manager to enter into consent agreement between the United
State Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Texas with regard to the
wastewater treatment plant pursuant to parameters established in the closed meeting.
The motion was made by Councilmember Tipton and seconded by Councilmember
Trusler.
Mayor Anderson asked for public comment.
There was no public comment.
The motion carried unanimously.
Councilmember Shanes moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was duly seconded
by Councilmember Nash and carried by unanimous vote.
There being no further business, Mayor Anderson adjourned the meeting at 7:53 p.m.
Belinda Hinojosa
City Secretary
City of Plainview Minutes
September 14, 2004
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