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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/02/1992 - Workshop Minutes City CouncilMINWrF_S crrY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP WRDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1992 1:30 P.M. COUNCII-MEMBERS PRESENT:Mayor Ringer, Councilmembers Brown, Schneider, Kennady, Gardner, McIlhaney, Crouch STAFF PRNSENT: City Manager Ragland, Assistant City Manager Bryrner, Assistant City Manager Woody, Executive Director Management Services Piwonka, Executive Director Fiscal/Human Resources Schroeder, City Secretary Hooks, Assistant Director Management Services Shear, Utility Customer Service Manager Albright, PARD Director Beachy, City Attorney Locke, Administrative Assistant Simpson, Budget Analyst Kersten, Economic Analyst Lamar, Budget Intern Coffield, Budget Director Charles Cryan Mayor Ringer called the meeting to order. ~_nda Item No. 1 - Disamion of 92-93 Annunl B-_d~t Introductory remarks were made by City Manager Ragland. He indicated that the proposed budget provides for current cost of service. He emphasized that the city has one of the lowest tax rates in the State of Texas. Budget Director Charles Cryan addressed the Council. He stated that this budget is intended to represent the council's goals and objectives. 1. Maintain a high quality of service, provided to the citizens of College Station. 2. Maintain and replace the investment of infrastructure. 3. To continue to focus on cost of service. 4. Strengthen the investment of the city's future. Councilmembers discussed these goals in terms of economic diversification. Director of Finance Glenn Schroeder discussed the current tax structure and the tax structures in other cities of similar size. The Council discussed the impact of residential growth and the impact of commercial growth on the city's tax base. Executive Director of Management Services Linda Piwonka addressed the coundl on demand for services and the desire to continue a high quality of service to our citizens. Mr. Schroeder discussed the effect of property tax revenues in the budget. Ms. Piwonka described factors which encourage good customer relations. Such as a professional staff, ongoing training, and performance based pay standards. City Council Budget Retreat Wednesday, September 2, 1992 Page 2 City Attorney Locke presented upcoming mandated costs to the city. Mr. Sehroeder discussed the 1990 bond issue package. PARD Director Steve Beachy presented an update on the Wolf Pen Creek Project. Assistant City Manager Tom Brymer reviewed the impact of funding the Economic Development Corporation, as well as the impact the city can receive if participation is pursued with Brazos County. Glenn Schroeder discussed the distribution of revenue sharing funds. Mr. Brymer discussed ways in which our resources can be jointly utilized with other entities to receive its greatest capacity. Administrative Assistant Frank Simpson reviewed grant resources such as grant internship. Discussion was held on the logistics of hiring an intern as opposed to employing full time personnel. Charles Cryan discussed the city's self-insured health plan. Assistant City Manager Brymer discussed the sanitation/collection rates, a recommended curbside collection increase to $9.50 for residential customers. He recommended collection rate changes for other customer classifications. Sanitation Superintendent Jim Smith described a program developed for the yard waste and rubbish collection. The council discussed this item at length. Mark Smith discussed drainage and stormwater issues. The council recessed for dinner at 5:50 p.m. Presentations continued at 6:15 p.m. Jim McCord of McCord Engineering stated that no changes are proposed for electric rates. A five percent rate increase in water and seven percent rate increase for wastewater rates is proposed. These funds are primarily attributed to Capital Improvements Projects for the next three years. Mr. McCord discussed the load management program. Charles Cryan presented a brief overview of the proposed budget, outlining changes in each fund. Mr. Brymer presented alternative revenue sources. Discussion began on the decision packages. First, General Fund maintenance of existing programs. Councilman Brown asked a question about Decision Package No. 6: Replacement of Pagers, $35,300. Fire Operations - City Council Budget Retreat Wednesday, September 2, 1992 Page 3 The council approved staff recommendation for funding of Decision Packages No. 1 - No. 17. Next, the council discussed General Fund new/expanded programs or equipment. Councilman Gardner made several remarks on the expansion of the Wolf Pen Creek Corridor. He suggested that several graduate students form a team to work on preliminary designs for future phases of Wolf Pen Creek. Monies could be allocated in the planning budget. He stated that funding for expansion of land acquisition is important for the project. Discussion followed. Councilman Brown moved to accept the staff recommendations for funding of Decision Packages No. 1 - No. 16. The motion was seconded by Councilman Schneider. Discussion was held on personnel positions below the staff's recommended funding level. Councilman Gardner left the meeting at 7:20 p.m. Councilman Crouch moved to amend the motion by adding Decision Packages No. 17 - No. 22. The motion failed for lack of second. Councilman Brown moved to call for question. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kennady which carried by a vote of 5-1, Councilman McIlhaney voting against this motion. The vote was taken on the motion to approve the staffs recommendation to fund Decision Packages No. 1 - No. 16. The motion carried by a vote of 5-1, Councilman McIlhaney against. Electric Fund New Programs or Equipment. Councilman Brown moved approval of staff's recommendation for funding, Decision Packages No. 1 - No. 3. The motion was seconded by Councilman McIlhaney which carried unanimously, 6-0. The following items were approved by common consent. A. Electric Fund Maintenance of Existing Programs, Decision Packages No. 1 and No. 2 B. Water Fund Maintenance of Existing Programs, Decision Packages No. 1 - No. 3 C. Water Fund, New Programs or Equipment, Decision Packages No. 1 and No. 2 D. Waste/Water Fund New Programs or Equipment, Decision Packages No. 1 - No. 6 E. Waste/Water Fund Maintenance of Existing Programs, Decision Packages No. 1 and No. 2 F. Utility Billing Fund, Decision Package No. 1. Sanitation Fund New and Expanded Programs. Councilman Brown eliminated Decision Package No. 5 from the list of recommended funding. Further discussion was held. Councilman McIlhaney moved to approve the funding as requested by staff. The motion was seconded by Councilman Crouch which failed by a tie vote of 3-3. City Council Budget Retreat Wednesday, September 2, 1992 Page 4 FOR: Mayor Ringer, Councilmembers McIlhaney and Crouch. AGAINST: Councilmembers Brown, Schneider and Kennady. Councilman Kennady made a motion to approve Decision Packages No. 1 - No. 4. The motion was seconded by Councilman Brown. Debate was exchanged on the issue of hiring additional personnel. The motion failed by a tie vote. FOR: Councilmembers Kennady, Schneider, and Brown. AGAINST: Mayor Ringer, Councilmembers Mcllhaney and Crouch. Councilman Crouch made a motion to approve funding for Decision Package No. 5, Sanitation Receptionist (part-time). The motion was seconded by Councilman Schneider which carried by a vote of 4-2. FOR: Councilmembers Kennady, Councilmembers Schneider, Mcllhaney, and Crouch. AGAINST: Mayor Ringer and Councilmember Brown Landfill Fund New/Expanded Programs. Councilman Schneider moved approval of Decision Packages No. 1 - No. 4. The motion was seconded by Councilman Mcllhaney which carried unanimously, 6-0. BVSWMA New/Expanded Programs. Councilman Brown moved approval of Decision Packages No. 1 - No. 7. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kennady which carried unanimously, 6-0. Hotel/Motel Fund. Councilman Brown moved approval of staff recommendation to fund all decision packages in the Hotel/Motel Fund. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kennady which carried unanimously, 6-0. The council referred back to General Fund New/Expanded Programs Equipment. Councilman Crouch moved to reconsider funding of General Fund Decision Packages. The motion was seconded by Councilman Schneider. The motion failed by a tie vote of 3-3. FOR: Councilmembers Crouch, Schneider, and Mcllhaney AGAINST: Mayor Ringer, Councilmembers Brown and Kennady Councilman Brown moved to fund the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center in the amount of $357,500. The motion was seconded by Councilman Schneider. Councilman Crouch moved to amend the motion by changing the amount to $373,000. The motion was seconded by Councilman Mcllhaney which carried by a vote of 6-0. The vote was taken on the amended motion which carried unanimously, 6-0. Councilman Mcllhaney made a motion to direct staff to increase the City Council budget to include funds for Region X Meeting to be held in April, receptions and meetings to conduct city business. The motion was seconded by Councilman Crouch which carried by a vote of 5-1, Councilman Kennady voting against. Councilman McIlhaney made an additional motion to increase the general fund balance to include the monies for three positions, GIS Analyst, Legal Clerk, and Public Relations Assistant. Councilman Crouch seconded this motion. Mayor Ringer overruled the motion declaring this motion out of order. City Council Budget Retreat Wednesday, September 2, 1992 Page 5 Councilman Schneider made a motion to reconsider the Sanitation Fund. The motion was seconded by Councilman Crouch which carried by a vote of 5-1, Councilman Kennady against. Councilman Schneider moved to approval all five items as presented in the Sanitation Fund. The motion was seconded by Councilman Crouch which carried by a vote 5-1, Councilman Kennady against. The council turned attention to the social service agency funding. Charles Cryan mentioned that an additional agency, Business Incubator should be included to the list in the amount of $25,000. Councilman Kennady moved approval of the proposed funding in the General Fund by outside agencies in the amount of $202,289. The motion was seconded by Councilman McIlhaney. Discussion was held to allocate funding to Business Incubator from the Electric Fund. Councilman Brown made several comments in support of funding for the Brazos Prenatal Clinic. Councilman McIlhaney remarked that she was informed the Prenatal Clinic does not have plans to move into the County Health Department. After further discussion, Councilman Brown reversed his opinion toward funding the Clinic. The council discussed at great length the funding requests from outside agencies. The motion to approve the agencies proposed for funding in the general fund carried unanimously, 6-0. Councilman Crouch made a motion to approve funding to the Brazos Incubator in the amount of $25,000 from the Electric Fund. The motion was seconded by Councilman Kennady which carried unanimously, 6-0. Councilman Crouch made a motion to instruct staff to initiate development of a proposal for a drainage district. The motion seconded by Councilman Crouch carried unanimously, 6-0. Councilman Crouch moved to instruct staff to address impact fees throughout the city. This motion was seconded by Councilman Schneider which carried unanimously, 6-0. Councilman Mcllhaney raised the issue of increasing general fund resources by a transfer from the utility fund rather than increasing the ad valorem taxes. Councilman Kennady made a motion to change the utility fund transfer policy and remove the cap from 9.5 percent to 10.5 percent, thereby eliminating the need for an increase in advalorem tax rate. The motion was seconded by Councilman Crouch. Mayor Ringer stated his opposition to the utility transfer. He indicated that voters are aware when bond propositions are approved, eventually the tax rate would increase. In that regard, he was not in favor of the transfer or remove any tax increase because it will become more difficult for the Council to confront a tax increase when it becomes necessary. City Council Budget Retreat Wednesday, September 2, 1992 Page 6 Councilman Schneider expressed his support of the motion. He amended the motion by changing the transfer to 10 percent. The motion was seconded by Councilman Brown which carried unanimously, 6-0. The motion as amended carried unanimously, 6-0. ~-~nda_ Item No. 2 - C~111r? _fo? a public h~arin? on a pm _~__d ad val__m~m tax. Councilman Crouch moved to call for a public hearing to be held on September 10th to set the maximum ad valorem tax rate at 42 cents per $100 valuation. The motion failed for a lack of second. Councilman Kennady made a motion to set the hearing for September 10th to set the maximum ad valorem tax rate at 41.25 cents per $100 valuation. The motion was seconded by Councilman Brown which carried by a vote of 5-1, Councilman Crouch voted against. Agenda Item No. 3 - Adjourn. Mayor Ringer adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m. ATTEST: uity ~ecretary Connie Hooks APPROVED: M~tyor~ar~J,,,..l~er t ~