Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/26/2011 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CITY OF COLLEGE STATION MAY 26, 2011 STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: Nancy Berry, Mayor Council: Blanche Brick Jess Fields Karl Mooney Katy-Marie Lyles Julie Schultz Dave Ruesink City Staff: David Neeley, City Manager Kathy Merrill, Assistant City Manager Carla Robinson, City Attorney Sherry Mashburn, City Secretary Tanya McNutt, Deputy City Secretary Call to Order and Announce a Quorum is Present With a quorum present, the Workshop of the College Station City Council was called to order by Mayor Nancy Berry at 3:03 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011 in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77842. 1. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda. No items were pulled. 2. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of City Council appointments to various Boards, Committees, and Commissions. Shelley Major, Records Management Coordinator, briefed the Council on the application process for Boards and Commissions. Openings, as well as the new application, are located on the City website. Applicants must be College Station residents and registered voters. Some boards have additional specific requirements. Board members eligible for re-appointment are required to re- WKSHP052611 Minutes Page 1 apply if they wish to remain on the Board. Board appointments will be made once a year. In the past, appointments have been made when terms expire, and the expectation is to get all boards on the same schedule. This new process will be more efficient and will help us get information out to the public faster. The key word with this new process is consistency. Council directed staff to proceed with Board appointments to be brought back to Council at the second meeting in July. 3. Presentation, possible action, and discussion of appointments to the Citizens' Charter Review Advisory Commission. Mayor Berry announced that Jim Maness submitted his Letter of Resignation, which she has accepted. He does not live within the city limits. Council consensus was that Lynn McIlhaney be moved from Vice Chair to Chair, with the Commission appointing a Vice Chair. 4. Presentation, possible action, and discussion regarding update to the existing ordinance regulating taxicabs operating within the city limits of College Station. This item was pulled from the agenda. 5. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on the FY 12 Budget process. Jeff Kersten, Chief Financial Officer, updated the Council on the FY 12 budget process. Budget objectives include: 1) prepare a balanced budget that meets basic service levels, within available resources; and 2) position city to meet future needs with limited resources. He briefly reviewed the budget calendar with the proposed budget presented to the Council in late July or early August. He expects a Budget Public Hearing on August 25; however, additional Public Hearings may be required for the tax rate. The budget and the tax rate will be adopted either September 8 or 22. The budget must be adopted by September 27, per our City Charter. If Council does not meet that deadline, the City Manager's budget is adopted by default. The new fiscal year begins on October 1. Current conditions that will impact our budget include the state legislative session, with it impacts on education; modest economic growth; slow growth in sales tax; and property value growth projected to be minimal (1% - 2%). Key General Fund revenue streams include: 1) sales tax at 35%; 2) property tax at 23%; 3) Return on Investments (utility transfers) at 22%; and 4) all other revenues at 19%. Sales tax for FY 11 to date is slightly above estimate. The FY 12 forecast has slow to moderate growth. The City has reduced its budget $5.3 million from FY 09 - FYI 1. In FY 11, fifteen vacant positions were eliminated, and four positions were held vacant for part of FY 11. Mowing services were also contracted out. Other reductions include travel and training, overtime, employee benefits (long term disability), etc. FY 11 budget additions include four additional police positions and the first phase of Fire Station #6 operations and maintenance (nine positions added to the budget, and positions to remain vacant until April 2012. The budget policies provide parameters for the budget preparation. Key policies include Revenue Policies for the tax rate and enterprise rates; capital maintenance and replacements; and Fund Balance policies. The budget is prepared using the existing tax rate. As for Enterprise WKSHP052611 Minutes Page 2 Rates, the Return on Investment Policy has the Electric Fund at 10.5% and the Water/Wastewater and Sanitation Fund at 10%. Staff is considering changing the policy to reduce the transfer in one or more funds. Capital Maintenance and Replacement is for funds set aside for street maintenance, parking lots, technology, etc. These are significant investments of the City. Our Fund Balance is our reserve for emergency types of situations. Currently, we have 15% in the General Fund, as well as the Utility Funds. The Council may wish to make some changes in these policies. FY 12 budget issues include: 1) minimal revenue increases; 2) Return on Investment Policy (reduction in the Electric ROI over the next two years - the Electric Fund cannot sustain the current levels); consider further reductions in budgets to address further economic slowdown. Staff is looking at the impacts on services. The demand for services continues, and staff is looking at permanent reductions in the General Fund of $1.5 million to stay balanced. While identifying potential budget reductions, staff will be evaluating service level impacts, and proposals will be made in the FY 12 proposed budget. Budget reductions can be realized through reorganization, outsourcing, program reductions/eliminations, and staffing considerations. Beyond FY 12, the financial forecast impacts the General Fund with moderate revenue increases, reductions in the ROI, in public safety, and additional service level demands. Additional revenue and/or reductions will be needed in FY 13 and future years. Our next steps will be to monitor the economic conditions, monitor revenues, identify service priorities, and reduce expenditures as necessary. Consensus was to have the budget workshops close together instead of spread out over several weeks. 6. Council Calendar • May 30 City Offices Closed - HOLIDAY • June 2 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting in Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m. • June 8 Council Orientation at 8:30 a.m. • June 9 City Council Workshop/Regular Meeting at 3:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. There was no discussion. 7. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on future agenda items: a Council Member may inquire about a subiect for which notice has not been given. A statement of specific factual information or the recitation of existing policy may be given. Any deliberation shall be limited to a proposal to place the subiect on an agenda for a subsequent meeting. Council requested items for the retreat and future workshops and meetings. Councilmember Lyles wants to address political material on City property and in City Hall and formalizing the policy. WKSHP052611 Minutes Page 3 Councilmember Mooney asked to have the Comprehensive Plan and the Unified Design Ordinance. Councilmember Fields wants to discuss the possibility of ETJ residents and other non-citizen appointees to boards and commissions. He also wants an update on a rental property specific code enforcement program and a review of recent economic development programs and events such as Duck Jam. Another agenda item is an update on staffing levels for the police and fire. He also asked for a discussion on form-based zoning and incorporating that into the comprehensive plan. Councilmember Brick asked for a discussion on the Biocorridor. 8. Discussion, review and possible action regarding the following meetings: Animal Shelter Board, Arts Council of the Brazos Valley, Audit Committee, Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board, Brazos County Health Dept., Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications Task Force, BVSWMA, BVWACS, Cemetery Committee, Code Review Committee, Design Review Board, Historic Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Intergovernmental Committee, Joint Relief Funding Review Committee, Landmark Commission, Library Board, Mayor's Council on Physical Fitness, Mayor's Development Forum, Metropolitan Planning Organization, National League of Cities, Outside Agency Funding Review, Parks and Recreation Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Research Valley Partnership, Regional Transportation Committee for Council of Governments, Signature Event Task Force, Sister City Association, TAMU Student Senate, Texas Municipal League, Transportation Committee, Wolf Pen Creek Oversight Committee, Zoning Board of Adjustments. Mayor Berry reported that the BVSWMA grand opening will be June 24. They also discussed the conversion of methane gas. She also reported on the meeting with the Health Department and noted they received a clean audit. Funding will be reduced by $25,000 for the City. The RVP discussed various prospective companies and the recruiting process. Councilmember Ruesink reported that the Salamanca delegation was unable to come as scheduled. Also, the CVB Retreat was yesterday. They are expecting the report on the most effective use of HOT tax at the end of June. They also want the affiliates to have better and more restrictive guidelines for use of the HOT tax. The Intergovernmental Committee also discussed the best use of HOT tax. Councilmember Lyles provided an update on the Arts Council and noted two upcoming events, one being an Art Camp. 9. Executive Session In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.071-Consultation with Attorney, §551.072-Deliberation Regarding Real Property, and §551.074-Personnel, the College Station WKSHP052611 Minutes Page 4 City Council convened into Executive Session at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011 in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to: A. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation; to wit: • City of Bryan's application with TCEQ for water & sewer permits in Westside/Highway 60 area, near Brushy Water Supply Corporation to decertify City of College Station and certify City of Bryan • Clancey v. College Station, Glenn Brown, and Kathy Merrill • Rachel Rahn v. Alma Martinez, The Arkitex Studio, Inc. et al, cause No. 09-000656- CV361 • Chavers et al v. Tyrone Morrow, Michael Ikner, City of Bryan, City of College Station, et al B. Consultation with Attorney to seek legal advice; to wit: • Legal issues regarding the interlocal agreement related to the bio-corridor. C. Deliberation Regarding Real Property; to wit: • 701 University Drive • Holleman Tract - which includes 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 and 220 Holleman • 6810 Appomattox • 1123 Phoenix D. Deliberation Regarding Personnel; to wit: • Council Self Evaluation The Council recessed at 7:00 p.m. and reconvened at 7:30 p.m. The Executive Session adjourned at 9:29 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011. No action was required from Executive Session. 10. Adjournment There being no further business, Mayor Berry adjourned the workshop of the College Station City Council at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011. Nancy Ben Mayor ATTEST: Sherry Mas urn, City Secretary WKSHP052611 Minutes Page 5