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HomeMy WebLinkAbout88 0220 minCITY COUNCIL MEETING SPECIAL SESSION AMARILLO SHERATON INN FEBRUARY 20 - 21, 1988 M I N U T E S The Plainview City Council met in Special Session on Saturday, February 20, 1988, from 9:30 a.m., until 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday, February 21, 1988, from 8:30 a.m., until 12:00 noon, in the Brazos Room of the Sheraton Inn, in Amarillo, Texas, with Mayor E.V. Ridlehuber presiding. The following Councilmembers were present: Alton Jackson, Terry Clements, Don Dickson, Bobby James, Barbara Dorman, Junior Brown and Tom Aday. Staff present: City Manager James P. Jeffers and Assistant City Attorney David BlackbUrn. Guest present were: Representing Hunter & Associates, Travis Roberts, Jim Robertson and Lee Lawrence; representing SMC, Inc., were J. Pat Stephens and Bill Stephens; and two members of the Plainview Fire/EMS Department, Gerald White and Albert Perez. PERSONNEL AUDIT. J. Pat Stephens of Stephens Management Consultants, Inc., presented the following information to the City Council on the Personnel Audit: classification and pay plan; employee attitude survey; organization; and appendix. The implementation of the recommended salary adjustments would cost approximately $169,000.00 annually. Councilman James inquired as to whether or not the salary adjustments would be made retroactive. It was the consensus of the Council that retroactivity would be decided at a later date. Councilman Aday noted that in recent high inflationary periods, employees had gotten use to a 10% to 15% increase, and it was difficult for the employee to understand when inflation rates lowered, that the salary increases did not stay in the double digits. In briefly addressing the proposed organization structure, Pat Stephens stated that the Fire Marshal is more a function of Code Enforcement, and that fire investigation was more a function of Law Enforcement, therefore, it was quite logical that the Fire Marshal's position should be relocated to the Code Enforcement Department. Councilman James, inquired as to how much it would cost to pick up the cost associated with providing dependent care on the health insurance. The City Manager advised that he would produce those figures at a later date. Councilman Clements, questioned as to whether or not the City, in the current fiscal year, should have reduced its tax rate and wanted to know if the City were subject to a roll back, how far the taxes could be rolled back. The City Manager advised he would provide a report on this in the near future. Councilman Aday, stated that the proposed Budget, in the future, should include political issues identified by the City Manager. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. Hunter & Associates presented a status report on the Comprehensive Plan which included: transportation; land use; water; sewer; drainage; solid waste; central business district; public buildings; economic development; 1 of 4 community development; park and school plan; growth and annexation regulatory ordinances; general information and census data. FINANCE. The City Council was presented with a five year multiple year budget through fiscal year 1991-92. The City Manager stated he was not pleased with the projections and they would require more "fine tuning" over the next few years. The City Manager indicated that a formal written policy will be developed concerning the completion and submission of the five year projection, with said policy being approved by the City Council at a later date. In addressing pay as you go versus a bond issue, the City Council indicated no preference other than to continue with the pay as you go concept until Hunter & Associates completed their Comprehensive Plan, whiCh should give the Council a better idea as to whether or not the City should consider a bond issue. In reviewing user fees versus taxes, the City Council~ indicated that-the existing policy calling for the implementation of user fees to cover as many expenses as possible should be continued. In reviewing the need for rate and tax adjustments, the City CoUncil indicated that all areas should be reviewed very carefully during the upcoming fiscal year. In reviewing required budget reserves, the City Council expressed an interest to see a formal policy developed and adopted. In reviewing the one-half percent optional sales tax, the City Council deferred any discussions until a firm projection could be provided. In reviewing the budget process, the City Council expressed an interest to expedite the process so that the Council would have more time to review the budget. The Council expressed an interest in seeing a written policy on the budget process. In addressing purchasing, the City Council expressed an interest in seeing a formal purchasing policy manual developed. In discussing the insurance program, the Council expressed an interest to continue as is, with the partially self-insured program, but also indicated that steps needed to be taken to reinforce safety among the employees. In discussing the risk manager, the Council expressed interest in continuing with the contract for the final year of a three year contract. In reviewing the need for a depository agreement, the Council expressed a desire to know what the law said, and then assurance that the City was in compliance with the law. PUBLIC RELATIONS. The City Council discussed apathy, monthly news articles, neighborhood groups and the Citizen Participation Survey, and other than a comment that the Citizen Participation Survey "did no good", the Council had no additional input. GO~ INTERACTION. In reviewing government interaction, the Council expressed a desire to continue to develop a better relationship with the Plainview Independent School District, but provided no specific direction. The Council did agree that the City needed to continue to boost its efforts in monitoring the legislative activities of the State and Federal Government. In discussing governmental interaction with the County, it was the consensus of the City Council to continue to publicly challenge 2 of 4 the County in areas in which there were disagreements. The City Council instructed the City Manager to contact the Plainview Daily Herald in order to ascertain as to whether or not the Herald was planning on doing a news story on the various positions that County candidates had on a given issue. The contacting of the newspaper on such was prompted by the Chamber of Commerces' failure to provide a public forum prior to the primary election. Councilman Clements did note that the personnel audit, if implemented, could have an additional impact on the current fire contract, that the City has with the County. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. The City Council briefly discussed industrial development, dOwntown revitalization, tourism and conventions, infrastructure, quality of life, tax abatement, tax increment financing, the Plainview Industrial Foundation, Plainview Chamber of Commerce, and water and sewer capacities and had no instructions for a change in direction in these areas. In addressing water conservation, the Council expressed an interest to do long range planing which would identify and conserve water resources. MISCELLANEOUS. Councilman Jackson, expressed concern about the air pollution being created by the moat mill in Austin Heights and the failure of any governmental entity to provide adequate assistance to address the problem. Councilman James, inquired as to whether or not any of the cleaned water lines had burst during the recent cold weather. No information was available at the Retreat, but the City Manager advised such would be forthcoming. IMPLE~TTATION 1987. The City Council reviewed the implementation of the priorities from the 1987 Retreat, which were as follows: the Council established as the number one priority the review of the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance, and instructed the City Manager to be prepared to make a decision concerning recommending the consultant within six months. (Consultant has been hired) The second priority of the City Council was the development of a five year operational and capital improvements budget, and instructed the City Manager to complete such within twelve months. (Completed) The third priority was the review of the City Charter with said proposal being submitted to the City Council for review within twenty four months. The primary purpose of the revision would be simplification and clarification of the existing document. (Still pending) The fourth priority was completion of a personnel audit which was to be done as soon as possible so that it could be considered during the upcoming fiscal year preparations. The Council did instruct the City Manager to have the personnel audit done by an outside consultant. (Underway) 1988 IMPLE~TATION. The City Council established the following as goals with timetables to be assigned by the Council at a later date: 3 of 4 O0 028 1. Resolve mote mill pollution problem. 1. (a) Complete an analysis of a possible public safety unit which would consolidate police and fire operations. 2. Completion and implementation of the personnel audit. Submission of a proposal which would adequately identify water reserves and make recommendations for future development. e Development and implementation of a depository agreement with the banks. e Development of a formal policy on required reserves for the City Budget. 6e Completion of a study and recommendations concerning the City vehicle fleet with emphasis on reducing the fleet. 7. Development of a formal policy on the budgetary process. Be Completion of a cost analysis on the operation of the Service Center. 9. Completion of a written purchasing manual. Miscellaneous items which are to be addressed are: review of the one-half percent optional sales tax., and what should be done with the money generated during the 1987-88 fiscal year; a continuing review of the Health Department operations, and duplication of efforts with South Plains Health Provider Organization; upon the completion of the Comprehensive Plan the review of the need for a bond issue; development of a formal employee orientation system; conduct the employee attitude survey, as recently completed by SMC, Inc., on an annual basis. ADJO~NT: There being no further business the Meeting was adjourned by Mayor Ridlehuber at 11:30 a.m., on Sunday, February E.V. Ridlehuber, Mayor 4 of 4