HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/12/1995 - Workshop Minutes City CouncilMayor
LARRY RINGER
Mayor ProTein
LYNN MCILHANEY
City Manager
GEORGE IC NOE
COLLEGE STATION
Council Members
BILL FOX
HUB KENNADY
LARRY I%~RIOTT
DAVID HICKSON
NANCY CROUCH
MINUTES
COLLEGE STATION CITY COUNCIL
WORKSHOP MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1995
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
4:00 P.M.
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Ringer, Mayor Protem Mcllhaney,
Councilmembers, Kennady, Crouch, Mariott,
Hickson
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Councilmember Fox
STAFF PRESENT:
City Manager Noe, City Attorney Locke, City Secretary Hooks,
Assistant City Manager Brymer, Executive Director of Management
Services Piwonka, Executive Director of Fiscal/Human Services
Schroeder, PARD Director Beachy, Asst. PARD Director Ploeger,
Administrative Assistant Kersten, Director of Economic and
Development Services Ash, MIS Director Bauer, Asst. Director of
Public Services Anthony, Police Chief Feldman, Fire Chief Kennedy,
Finance Director Cryan, Public Utilities Director Woody
VISITORS PRESENT:
Financial Advisor Fetzer, Bond Counsel Paul Martin, President of
Chamber of Commerce Harold Dean, Executive Director of
Chamber Ronnie Morrison
Mayor Protem Mcllhaney called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
City of College Station
Providing Customer Service Excellence
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 2
Agenda Item No. 1 -- Discussion of consent and statutory agenda items
listed on regular agenda for Thursday, July 13, 1995.
(C-3) Approval of an ordinance amending Chapter 10, Section 2D of the Code
of Ordinances regarding stop sign placement.
Councilman Mariott removed this item. His question related to the process for
the placement of stop signs. The area in question was the Pebble Creek
subdivision.
(C-4) Consideration of ordinance amending Chapter 4, Section 3A and 3B of
the Code of Ordinances related to parades and motorcades.
Mayor Protem Mcllhaney removed this item. She inquired about the fee for
parades. Police Lt. Mason Newton explained that the ordinance is intended to
re-define motorcades.
(C-11)Approval of revising the Sanitation Rate resolution establishing service
fees for collection of front end Ioadinq compactor container.
Councilman Crouch removed Item No. C-11. City Manager Skip Noe indicated
that the staff will withdraw this item from the regular agenda and no action will be
considered.
Agenda Item No. 2 -- Resolution authorizinq the publication of a notice of
intention to issue utility system revenue bonds in the amount of $6,000,000.
Exec. Director of Fiscal/Human Resources Glenn Schroeder explained this item.
Councilman Kennady made a motion to approve Resolution No. 7-12-95-2.
The motion was seconded by Councilman Crouch which carried unanimously,
5-0. Mayor Ringer and Councilmember Fox absent.
Agenda Item No. 3 --Consideration of an ordinance authorizing $7,125,000
City of CS Utility System Revenue Bonds, Series 1985 and authorizing the
documents.
Glenn Schroeder explained this item. Financial Advisor David Fetzer
accompanied him throughout the explanation of this item.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 3
Councilman Mariott moved approval of Ordinance No. 2134. Councilman
Crouch seconded the motion which carried unanimously, 5-0, Mayor Ringer and
Councilmember Fox absent.
Aaenda Item No. 4 -- Discussion of draft official notice of sale for the
issuance of $4,700,000 general obligation bonds and $6,000,000 utility
system revenue bonds.
Glenn Schroeder presented the draft notice of sale and requested the council
review and return comments to council. Mr. Fetzer made the council aware that
the bids will be accepted on the evening of August 24th. He also pointed out
that he will seek an upgrade of the bond rating.
Mr. Fetzer informed the City Council that municipalities across the nation will
(according to new FCC regulations) be mandated to inform the FCC of the city's
financial condition and any change in material effect on city's condition in the
near future.
Aaenda Item No. $ -- Discussion and direction on proposals contained in
the service level adjustments for FY 95-96.
City Manager Skip Noe mentioned that this item was placed on the agenda
merely to receive input from the council to ensure that the staff is on the right
track and to receive a list of issues the council felt was important to fund in next
year's budget.
The following is a transcript of the discussions held on the proposed budget.
Charles Cryan: As you can see the intent in going through this budget is similar
as we have had in the past, it is a current service level budget which will include
current positions and salaries, current funding level for operations less any one
time expenditures, included in the target budgets include reductions and
reviewed by staff since then.
$332, 000 taken from general fund, $195,000 from electric fund, $17,000 from
wastewater and $41,000 from solid waste for a total of $587,000 in savings that
will be reduced from the currant budget before it gets to the Council and before
we talk about the SL^'s.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 4
Cryan: We are here today to talk about reductions in the recommended
budget and ask for additional guidance. Approximately $900,000 available,
difference what this total provides and what revenues are anticipated to be for
next year. The other thing we have available to us is $450,000 more in fund
balance as what is anticipated, than our current policy requires.
Hickson: Three positions?
Cryan: Economic Development Services Inspector, Management Services
analyst, Fiscal/Human Resources warrant officer, all three positions are vacant.
Never filled the positions.
Crouch: When you are talking about the base budget, is this the same as
the target budget?
Cryan: Approximately the same. Because we have added back some and
deleted some other things, it won't be exactly, but it will be very close.
Crouch: So the target budget was last year's number deleting the one time
things and increasing for pay raises and that sort of thing.
Cryan: Pay raises through this year only. The other pay raises are
included as a decision package.
Cryan: The next plate shows you the priority. Again, this was in the memo
that was included in Tom's memo to city council with the service level adjustment
book. The first priority, those items that ara directly related to city council
strategic issues, and included in the action plans presented to the council. The
second priority ranking are those items that are mandated cost due to federal
and state requirements. Third priority, those items that constitute a reduction in
cost and/or services that may be eliminated without undue impact on citizens
and customers. Fourth, replacement items, just keeping things up so we can
keep everything moving. Fifth, major maintenance items. Sixth, ongoing
maintenance. Seventh, items related to implementing council strategic issues
but not necessarily included in the action plans the council has reviewed.
Eighth, items that implement or enhance city's ability to implement city council
ends statements. Ninth, anything else.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 5
Skip: As a comment, Charles and I subsequently discussed this. The
second category, perhaps it should not be a second category or maybe not on
the list at all, are things that we have to do. We are mandated by some entity
outside, it is not a substantial amount of the service level adjustment, it is about
$16,000. These are ones that we do not have much control, and we are really in
a spot where we are going to have to do those, one way or the other.
Cryan: What we will do is go through and give the Council a chance to
look at these. If you would like to address a specific item, I'm not going to go
through item by item. Looking at various categories and the way they were
presented to council,. Obviously it becomes real apparent that with $900,000, we
are not going to get to the $2 million list. Getting through the first two items,
second item is what we have to do, whether we like it or not to continue to do
some of the work we do.
Roughly, $450,000 in total expenditures in those first two groups of items. The
next one is where we took cuts and put it in here just as a matter of being able to
show you that it was being used to offset other expenses. The Parks Dept. is
actually offering that reduction in the closing of the Teen Center in order to
provide a couple of the things up higher on the list. The extended hours at
Lincoln Center, the survey at Lincoln Center are pretty much offsets of that
expense.
Hickson: Since you have been through it so many times, what do you feel
might be the best approach in tackling this. One by one, each councilmember?
Cryan: If you have a particular one you are interested in, as we go to that
group, we'd like to talk about it at that time. Rather than going one by one. For
a couple of reasons. One, I think what we would really like from the Council is
more policy direction and give us a chance to respond that way.
Noe: Let me suggest we start by having questions on any individual item
on the list. If you want an explanation about what it means, or what is being
proposed here, so you will understand what the proposals are. We redirect
those, before we discuss how to prioritize.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 6
Mayor: I got a sense in going through the general fund that there is
not a lot of decisions. For example, the federal and state mandate items. I look
down at the current service level, replacement items, and I look at the first three
at least, the fee increase for BCAD, bank fee, collection fee increase. Those are
basically have to's. Fire Dept. overtime funds and that it almost a have to.
Unless we increase manpower, it is cheaper overtime than additional personnel.
The pay increases, the radio system, the Health Dept., those are basically have
. to's. Right away, I scratch those off the list. We don°t have a lot of decision to
make on those. Right?
Kennady: We might need to talk about the 800 mghtz radio system, to see if
there are other options of collaboration that could be explored.
Mayor:
I think they have already done that.
Kennady: Have we finished that?
Mayor: This is a commitment that we made sometime back when we made
the decision.
Kennady: I don't know that in the six months since we considered that, if
there has been any other additional considerations of collaboration in that area.
I just simply don't know. I know we have made a decision on it.
Cryan: The proposal here and Chief can better address than I, the
proposal before you will work with the University and the County on the set up.
As I understand, we will be doing some backup and they will be our backup.
Kennady: Bryan is still not part of the picture?
Chief Kennedy: Not really yet. They have chosen to stay with their current radio
system and probably a pretty good decision. They just finished buying new
equipment. The thing that kind of pushed us was, that our equipment was pretty
old and dying. We were going to have to do something with it anyway. So,
Bryan is making a good decision for their community. They will get away with it
for the next five to six years. But we have not done away with the opportunity to
work with them in the future. We are putting in a system so they can buy into
their system. Their system is a closed circuit system.
The Sheriff's dept. has an interest out there. It is a matter of funding and future
budgets. The Fire Depts. want to do it too. We are keeping it open.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12,1995
Page 7
Mayor: I feel comfortable putting yes, no and ?? for strategic issues. I am
little uncomfortable doing that with replacement item stuff. I don't have a sense
for department priorities.
Mayor:
My musts are Item No. 11, 12, 13,15, 16, 17, 20, 23 24, and 25.
Hickson: On the Health Dept. is this the typical funding we give every year?.
Cryan: This is the marginal difference from what we are currently funding
them and what there request for next year is. The additional $3,000.
Mcllhaney: The reason that they are having to ask for more money is that the
state has changed the way they are allocating the money in the past. The
Health Dept., applied for the state health funds and now it is going to be based
on fee for service. So, that has changed. And, in the past depleted their fund
balance, rather than come to the different entities to ask for increases. They can
no longer do that.
Mariott:
How did they come up with the numbers on Item 25?
Cryan: The merit and scale adjustments were based upon conversations
we had with council back in March and April. The understanding we had from
you in terms of moving forward with that approximately 4% percent on average.
Pavlinski: The scale goes from 3 to 5%, depending how we give off midpoint.
We average about 4%.
Crouch:
Larry, are you saying that you had No. 25 checked as a must.
Mayor: Based upon the fact that this is based upon what staff understood
from previous council guidance.
Kennady: Maybe, the point we should take, and I don't know. Maybe we
should take the ones councilmembers have problems with.
Mayor: Like I said, the most I feel comfortable with is the strategic issues,
and I can start off with the top of those, and I have a little problem with $239,000
for TV access to city hall.
Council: I agree.
Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12,1995
Page 8
Piwonka: We have additional information to give you. We wrestled with this
too. And frankly, when we started working on this, it really was to hit the target
that you had with electronic access to government services, strategic issue no.
13. This is just one way of doing that. Also, two years we negotiated our
franchise agreement with the cable company and those of you on the council at
that time, remember that some of the capabilities that we asked for the cable
company to put in place were to give us these capabilities in 1996. Those
capabilities will be coming on line and they are going to be out there and there
will be some expense to run an institutional network to our buildings, which
would allow for these capabilities.
It is absolutely a council decision. We gave you a ten year system, with this
$239,000. Bob will briefly go through other options.
Yancy: We have three systems going from least to most expensive. Two
and three provide varying levels of live casting, the ability to televise council
meetings to TCA subscribers, citizen committee meetings, and productions. And
upgrade software upgrades only. Most cost up front. System 2 is using
conventional type hardware technologies, rather than computerized, digital
video. Also provide the ability to produce video programming.
Piwonka: It will give you the ability to use a medium that you haven't used.
We have not used TV or video. It is a powerful medium to get information to
citizens, and good way to interact remotely. Sort of like CSPAN.
Kennady: From a policy decision, 1) Do we really need it?
(2) What are the pros and cons? Pros are that councilmembers can
disseminate more information over the media. The opposite question of that,
does TV or paper do a good job of covering the city? The answer to that is yes.
I think the problems of having this kind of access, maybe for a larger city, not
anywhere close. It is a nice bell and whistle, a luxury. The negative is
councilmember's posture.
Piwonka: If the council as a body decides to talk, and never wants this. We
can go back to cable company and say we are not going to want this, and we
could talk with them about what will that defer in cost to them to not provide this.
Video conferencing, will give us the ability with the institutional network we will
be able to do training and meetings.
Mcllhaney: I don't know if you have read the recent Nation's Cities Weekly, an
article "Technology, Collaboration saves money and improves efficiency". The
Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 9
City of Austin has gone through and they have formed a Greater Austin Ama
City Telecommunications Network. The system is expected to cost about $15
million, but it is supposed to save tthe City along $14,000,000. They have
networked over 300 government services.
Piwonka: We visited Austin when we were preparing the franchise. Their
funding came from their franchise, basically free. This was before the
restrictions from cable companies. She indicated the School District approached
us and was interested, in that Bryan lSD and CSISD approached the cities
saying we would be sharing a channel with Bryan. CSlSD prefer to sham
channel with city. Peggy talked to them about participation in this. $24,000
could be cut, if we could find a place to put this. It has a lease agreement. In
kind services to put at schools. We did not get too far because of limited
access. If council wants to give us further direction, start off slower, wait,
Noe: Look at other opportunities to work with school districts, City of
Bryan, and other entities in the area to put something together on a smaller
scale to get something started.
Mayor:
some time.
I don't want to say no, we will never do it. It may be valuable at
Piwonka: There are other things, the Internet, etc.
Council: The consenus of the Council was to eliminate this from this list in
this year's budget.
Mcllhaney: I would like to see it somewhat expanded too. I know that this is a
much bigger project, but them are also meting the needs of private industry
which is going to help their economic development.
Noe: There are a number of things in the telecommunications field,
where I think there might be opportunities for us to gain access to, if not
ownership of fiber, but access to fiber, because a whole host of national policy
changes to be aware of and stay on top of.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 10
Crouch: A&M may be doing something. I know Univ. of Houston now offers
degrees over the television.
Mayor: There is concern at the Univ. of how this will impact and there is
discussion of that type of thing there.
Piwonka: Sent you a letter in supporting the school district in applying for
grant funds for fiber to make connections to the Library. We would have
connectivity to the TAMU Library and CSISD library.
Mayor: Let me suggest as a method to go. Let's take the strategic issue
action plans. Scratch the TV access, but keep in mind for future.
Mariott:
No. 4 -- School Resource Officer. Amount of money it takes.
Hickson: The resource officer is needed, obviously. The question I have is
why do we need another car? One time capital cost, but that is where Mariott is
seeing a chunk of the cost.
Chief Feldman: $28,000 is a lot of money. We could do without it.
Cryan:The problem with not taking the car is that all three officers currently
working, do use a vehicle, and what I am concerned about from the budget side,
is that we will be back where we were two years ago, and asking for two cars,
because they don't have vehicles to operate. We can operate without one car,
as we add people, if we are adding equipment to supply those people and keep
them working, we are going to come back and get it. You may not see it in this
decision package, but this decision package will contribute to that requirement.
Hickson: I understand that. I would rather see that it is in fact needed and
fund it, versus saying well, we think it might be, let's go ahead and fund it.
Mayor:
Is there consensus that the officer is important?
Council: Yes.
Noe:
Look on reducing the cost.
Mcllhaney: School district paying for some of the salary? Would they be
willing to pay a car allowance, or something?
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 11
Feldman: Yes, 50 percent. We have not discussed this. They are paying the
training and the equipment there.
Crouch: A question about the Southgate street sign replacement? What
kind of signage was planned? Will this be prepared
Brymer: Feedback from the Community Appearance Committee and
particularly Historic Preservation Committee. Historic wanted to do something in
the way of special designation of a district in Southgate area, and I don't think
there has been a firm decision on the part of what type of signage.
Mayor:
A very little piece of George Bush.
Crouch:
No. not far enough long.
Mayor:
Need more concrete information.
Kennady: Lincoln Center extended hours. Have we got any type of feeling of
needs are, more use of facility, desire expressed by citizens to keep open for
longer period?
Beachy: One of the things we have done this summer and the last few
months is have extended hours on weekends, which we have not been normally
open, we received good response. This was part of the action plan on the Youth
at risk, we weighed the response at the Lincoln Center hours as opposed to
response at current operations at Teen Center. Serving 50 families at Teen
Center, and 300 children a day at Lincoln Center.
Hickson: What was the increase?
Gerling: The extended hours were for the weekend. Now open Saturday
and Sunday. What we have noticed over a weekend period of time, about 300
vs. 50 at teen center. They are different kids. The difference between the old
supervisor's salary and new supervisor's salary savings using that to open on
the weekends. There is a need. The intent is to do this throughout the year.
We are filling the center with non student people during school hours, such as
senior citizens, Health Dept. Hot Meals program.
Crouch: No. 107 I cannot imagine why we cannot figure out a way to print
the comprehensive long range plan cheaper than $5,000.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 12
Not sure what the final product will be. This was a guess.
Mayor:
Classify this activity as a must. Council agreed.
Mayor: We have deleted signs, TV access (for the interim), and reducing
the cost of school resource officer.
Mayor: Closing the Teen Center? I realize there are structural problems
with the facility and it is a different group of kids. Is it a wise decision to close?
Beachy: The building itself is old. It is still being used. Sometime it will
need to be replaced. Part of the school building, (cafeteria) at one time. The
clientele is different, serving a certain age group, certain population there that
we don't serve at the Lincoln Center. Another thing is the fact that the Willow
Branch school will convert to a junior high school. Different students there.
Kennady: Do you think we can move those kids to the Lincoln Center?
Beachy: At the Teen Center, a lot of the children will come there after the
school hours because it is adjacent to the campus, plus they have other
programs, fashion show, dances, during school year. It is a different activity, not
based on basketball, athletics.
Gerling: We also have a Kids Klub program at Oakwood Middle Branch that
they could participate in. Teen Center is free. Kids Klub you have to pay for
which could be part of what drives to keep them.
Kennady: Could we as a council pick up the costs for Kids Klub.
Mayor: Latch key kids.
Mcllhaney: Possible to designate a room at the Community Center for a year
to see how it would work out.
Mcllhaney: The facility for Kids Klub may be a better place, rather than
creating something at the conference center. It would seem to be better use to
use Kids Klub and let's pay for the kids to go to Kids Klub if they cannot afford it.
Look into something like that. That way, we don't just lose these kids.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 13
Mayor: Let's extend hours at Lincoln Center because we are providing a
service over there. We are providing some place for kids to go to be in good
activities, keeps them from getting into potential trouble, and then we turn
around. It is a different group of children, but we are not going to do that for you
anymore. I realize there would be an option of Kids Klub, but that is a cost to
somebody they may not want to do. For the junior high, you will have a big
difference. That is the age where they would not associate with little ones.
When he talked with the high school students during youth government day.
They said there was no place for them to hang out. They wanted a place they
could go.
Beachy: The Teen Center began for high school age. Junior high kids
started using it when high school moved.
Kennady: Let's look at ways to coop.
Hickson: Need more information.'
Mayor:
I am not ready to vote to closing the Teen Center.
Noe: Part of this was the evaluation to spend money, whether to expand
the hours at Lincoln Center, or close Teen Center, where is the money best
spent?
Mcllhaney: Them is an individual in the community who is looking to providing
a facility for the youth. She talked with Steve and it would not be free unless it
was a public/private thing. Down the road project. I do not want to see us close
the center.
If our goal is to provide activities for them, there maybe other options. The place
is run down and not suitable. Kids Klub may not be the answer. No member
ship for Teen Center.
Noe:
Is it an economic or social reason?
Mayor:
It maybe mom efficient for us to have scholarships.
Beachy: Valid point. Shenanigans is mom informal than Kids Klub.
Noe: Look at this more closely.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 14
Mariott: No. 26? He asked why we would spend $600.00 per chair?. If we
can buy cheaper chairs and throw them away every three years, would be less
expensive.
Feldman: I agree with you 100%. When this came up, I questioned it also.
The chairs purchased in the past, $200-$300 would last one year. These chairs
are used in the patrol area, 24 hours, 365 days, more wear and tear.
Crouch: If we don't give them the right kind of chairs, we could pay worker
compensation problems for carpal tunnel syndrome. It may be a savings to have
the right kind of chairs.
Kennady: Are the council chairs ergonomics? Yes
Kettler:
About, $1000.00 each.
Piwonka: They have come down in price.
Mcllhaney: No. 187 Looked at the safety side for personnel.
Chief Kennedy: Life Pack 10 to replace Life Pack 9. Cannot get parts for Pack
9, obsolete.
Mcllhaney: support this.
Hickson: No. 27? Fire Station furniture.
Chief Kennedy: We will move furniture. People and equipment will go with new
fire station.
Kennady: Not in favor of merit scale adjustments.
No. 28? I have a concern about getting into CD ROMS at this time.
stated of the art, and price will go down. Not an expense we need.
They are
Locke:What we encountered as we went through the budget, was that we don't
have an adequate library right now. Because of that we rely very heavily on the
computer services system, Westlaw. As a result, we are running over budget,
part of that is that they have increased their cost, and usage tends to increase
with each year. When we put together this package, we found.
Kennady: Is there a flat rate for Lexis use?
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page15
Locke:We are experimenting with Lexis. the problem that we encountered when
we looked at Lexis over a three month trial period, is that we cannot buy a flat
rate package that is cheap enough to meet all our needs.
Kennady: How much is that?
Locke: It is going to vary depending on he services. When we put together this
package, it is a basic package for Lexis which would be $400.00 per month, but
would give us limited library access. So, we looked at it from the standpoint of
supplementing it with CD-ROM. We found that the big cost was the one time
equipment cost. The rest was pretty much "wash" from what we are spending
right now. This was a probable cost containment measure. We don't have to do
this, but we are spending the money to meet the needs of the Council and staff.
Our tools are research tools.
Kennady: I don't have a problem with CDROM.
Cryan:
Current expense on Westlaw is over $12,000 a year.
Locke: Future cost containment is what we were hoping to do.
Kennady: My feeling is, that the companies will become more competitive.
Locke:Most of the materials we are going to will not be Westlaw. We would be
going QCase and is cheaper than Westlaw.
Kennady: The prices are already going down. In two years it will be a lot
cheaper. My personal preference as a policy maker is that I don't think we need
this type of Update at this time.
Locke:We are looking at the equipment cost and CD-ROM cost. Buying the
updates are getting cheaper. The initial cost do not have a terribly high start up
cost anymore.
Bauer:We found that it was much less to have where we can actually put a
group of CD-ROM to put on the network and that way all lawyers access from
their desks, and that equipment would be usable down the line.
Locke: One of the problems that we currently run into, is that we have only one
station to utilize Lexis or Westlaw, and we are all competing for the same
station, and it has been a hindrance.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 16
Kennady: Let's look at a breakdown of the dollars.
Bauer:Three units with four quad CD-ROMS, (12 CD-ROMS), $2700.00 per unit.
Crouch: I think it is a concept thing, and I think it is difficult to their job with
one hand tied behind their back, and so ......
Mariott: No. 29?
Cryan: Monies funded were not spent. On Southwood Pool Renovation,
we were not able to get a contract before year end. The way the budgetary
process works in government, if you don't have it encumbered, the appropriation
goes away.
Crouch: All except No. 30 for Parks, could come from $450,000 in fund
balance because they are one time maintenance type expenses.
Mayor:
Leave this up to budget and Skip.
Crouch: Adamson Repair study? We had a problem because parks
facilities did not meet ADA requirements.
Beachy: The inspection earlier this year was the architectural barrier
commission, a state organization. They inspected the bath house and office
facilities. Their inspection included fixtures, ramps, signage related to
accessibility. This study is to address the structural and mechanical nature of
the pool which is 20 years old, and determine what we need to do to renovate
the pool structure. We thought about combining the actual money needed to
repair, but do to our experience with the Thomas Pool. The structure itself is in
good shape, some of the pumps have been replaced, but there are pipes and
filters to looked at. Also, the wall need resurfacing.
Mariott:
irrigate?
Question on Central Park irrigation. What are you trying to
Beachy: This is for the softball fields and three soccer fields. Systems are
hydraulic. We have trouble with reliability, flooding will occur, and hard to
repair. What w are envisioning with this system is going through and replacing
that with electrical controlled systems on Iow voltage timers, and much more
reliability. The current system has been in place since 1979-80. Over a course
of several years, replace the hydraulic systems operating throughout the city.
We will use our personnel to do the work.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 17
Kennady: Question on expansion of current service level for reconstruction of
public parking lots?
Cryan: What we anticipate is that the street dept. fixing the internal
roadways, and parking lots with the same process as they do for city streets.
Anthony: We do not currently service the parking lots, except for emergency
service. This will include routine maintenance.
Hickson: ~45 - Idea is excellent, but not be utilized within the city.
Piwonka: I agree. We wanted to give you an opportunity to look at it, you
may want to consider when the George Bush Library opens, might be a good
place. Tourist type thing. Basically, you would have to locate in strategic areas.
Your Internet will give you better access path at this point.
Crouch:
I was thinking possibly one at the mall. Tourist kind of thing.
Piwonka: Might fund under hotel/motel.
Mayor: There is a group talking about re-doing the old train station and
making it a sort of visitors center. Good place.
Council: Defer this one.
Piwonka: Laptop computers for council. Three options were displayed for
the Council. Desire by Council to reduce paperwork and streamline the agenda
packet process. There are other things you can accomplish by having this, and
enhancing communication with staff, citizens.
Bauer:
Demonstrated three types of computer systems.
Piwonka: The laptops will come with docking stations now because that
would remain at your house or business. You dock in, can go onto network
through anyway. You have the ability of having full size screen. When you go
to a meeting, you can eject your laptop and take it with you. We would be able
to download to the network your data files, and you can pick off network at
home. It is probably a better investment for the long range if you begin to look at
automating the council business. This will take more staff time involvement to
get the stuff to you and shorter range solution.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page18
Hickson: One of the reasons we were looking at this, obviously, because
some of the councilmembers want a lot more information than other
councilmembers on certain issues vs. other issues, etc. As a staff, how much
detail do we provide. This is one way. Provide all the information, and the
councilmember can pull what they want. We can set up process how you want.
We thought about it. You could have the agenda out on network, get in, and call
in what you want to look at, and download the whole things, pieces?
Hickson: Some of us have systems. May be able to accomplish without
having to acquire additional computers.
Piwonka: Need to know what kind of systems you have. If they are
compatible with what we have here. Need to do an analysis.
Hickson: Is this going to be more work for the staff than what we are
currently doing?
Crouch: I asked that question. This is the answer I got. I mistakenly took
my packet home with me one time, and unload and load the packet. Took 30
minutes. How long does it take you to prepare. 12 hours for the last packet.
Piwonka: Realize that everything in the packet now probably won't be in the
computer right away. We don't have the sophisticated scanning ware yet to
scan everything. There is a lot of stuff
Kennady: Skip, do you have an opinion on this?
Noe: Agenda information, ability to get access, go beyond any city I
have seen. There are communities that have provided basic computer
connectivity, E-Mail to councilmembers for purposes of formal-informal
communication. But, you are taking the leap, providing a packet on an
electronic basis. Most places have a variety of comfort with technology. Some
don't feel comfortable spending hours in front of a screen. To be frank, my
concern, if you are talking about putting what you have here electronically.
That's one thing. If you are talking about expanding that, some folks need more
information than what's here. Then you are talking about what effort are you
taking to access what information you might think you may need, but getting it
accessible to you that makes sense. That won't be harder than making a xerox
copy. There is no question, old world approaches, but the rest of world is
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 19
working on the approach, and breaking new ground. A challenge to do.
Certainly, this is pluses in terms of ability to communicate and ability to browse.
Piwonka: Actually, all we have talked about is expanding anymore access to
information. The only thing at this point to be automated would be the packet.
We would work towards we were currently doing?
Mayor: What I would really like the ability to do. Personally, is the ability
from at home to access my e-mail from city hall, as well as calendar. Staff
sending information to council. Maybe, if nothing else, the agenda could be
electronic. Basically, something that I can hook up to send messages back and
forth.
Hickson:
it.
A number of us have computers, training and software, we can do
Noe:
Get a modem for each of you to get E-Mail and calendaring.
Kennady: You will re-assess the amount.
No8:
Yes, will reevaluate.
Kennady: Do we really need Internet as a City?
Mayor: What kind of access now does the citizen have in terms of sending
e-mail to city? None, right.
Piwonka: Right. Passing out information on Internet. Attempting to meet
electronic access. Some cities are moving to this where they provide free net,
particularly in libraries. We looked for a way to do the Internet cost effective.
There is a lot of utilization that could come from citizens, also the staff has a
need.
Kennady: I'm comfortable with it.
Mayor:
Isn't there a fee?
Piwonka: We would need to buy the hardware that goes with it. We will be
able to exchange data from A&M. Give council opportunity to use Internet, E-
Mail worldwide! Internet boxes to send in information.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
· Page 20
Mayor:
I would like to explore this.
Mcllhaney: National League of Cities has information on Internet for policy
makers.
Piwonka: We have a presence on the Net right now established in Public
Relations. Produced a page of information about the city. Advertise on Internet,
Purchasing.
Bauer: The initial cost is $17,000. Ongoing cost by connecting with TAMU
is $3,516 a year. A&M came to us and said we will allow you to have this
access. They are paying $240,000 per year for this access. They would allow
us to have this because they would want traffic information, GIS maps, a lot of
data.
Council: Agreed to pursue.
Mariott: Referring to the Utility Billing System. He stated that the city
wastes a lot of money on him because of separate billing for same house.
Piwonka: New system will change this. Will consolidate. Will save money.
We really want to look at ways to provide the citizens access to pay their bills
remote. I have not determined the technology that is the best approach.
Internet may be something to use.
Bauer: She reminded council that this is only the first phase of Internet.
Other phases will follow. You will gain E-Mail function, gain access to data base
of Web.
Mayor: To me, the value of it in terms of councilmembers, is being able to
communicate and we can update calendars, send messages. Citizens the ability
to communicate and put information for their access. More than what we roll on
the TV.
Piwonka: Might create staff load. A ton of things coming in you need to
respond to.
Crouch: Landslide from feedback on budget survey.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 21
Cryan: We received in excess 3000 surveys returned. Tremendous
response. A lot of people wrote comments. You need this information now.
Hopefully to bring this information to council at your next meeting.
Mayor: University Drive banners. I think if I recall correctly, we gave
approval to that.
Dunn: Did go before council as preliminary proposal. Dr. Slack spoke on
behalf of it. A banner was displayed in the council chambers.
Cryan:
The budget is slightly higher, $12,500.
Kennady: Land for city services? A real concern about setting aside $40,000
for a future city facility site. A perfect example of what we don't need to be doing
with budget money, because whatever project we do on that will be a bond
election, anyway before we do it.
Crouch:
That would be debt service.
Kennady: We need to first decide where we want to go.
Crouch:
It is my understanding that we directed staff to look into this.
Kennady: Not near, in what they said was 2-3 years from now would be
looking for future facilities.
Brymer: We wanted to put this in the budget for consideration, not
necessarily advocating funding, rather offering you the opportunity at budget
time to consider as an extension of the dialogue you had when the facility study
was presented to council. This simply would allow additional funds for purchase
of five additional acres to go with the five acres budgeted for in the capital
projects for the utility service center. This would allow basically carrying out the
option recommended by HOK in the facility study to obtain a site to grow into.
Mayor: This is what I understood the council's direction from the HOK
study,' was to go out and plan over phases of developing a municipal complex,
as opposed to trying to make short term proposals.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 22
Kennady: I think HOK simple said the first thing you will be do is the Utility
Service plan. The next thing to consider two -three years from now, is
potentially a facility and then still we have not discussed nor has this council
made a policy decision on how we are going to use the Fire Dept. next to us
when that vacates. I think we are way ahead of the 8-Ball on this. Have not
given staff direction at all.
Crouch:
These were things discussed while Hub was out of the country.
Mayor:
I think you were out.
Kennady: Maybe we should look at the minutes.
Mayor: My recollection is the council decided that the optimal way to go
would be to have enough land available so that we could stage development of a
municipal complex.
Kennady: I think that's the utility center you are talking about.
Brymer: The basic option would be to initial construct the facility we have
had budgeted for the past two to three years for utility billing, but buy enough
land where ultimately where the council so chose we could more less add
additional buildings. A new city hall if we wish. The direction at the time the
report was prepared was essentially an interest on the council's part to pursue
that option at budget time. This is what you are doing right now.
Hickson: What does the $40,000 get us?
Brymer:
Buy five additional acres.
Mayor:
doing that.
Gives you the ability to buy extra land and this services the debt on
Mariott: I did not think we decided that we wanted five acres. Don't
remember that at all.
Brymer: The HOK study, it was recommended a total of ten acres. We
budgeted initially a few years ago, and continue to budget, five acres for the
utility billing and facility service center.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 23
Kennady:
study.
I think we need this back up after we get a review of the HOK
Mayor:
A final review was done.
Kennady: HOK told us their recommendation. We picked the
recommendation and within the recommendation was the utility service center
plus consideration at a point in the future two-three years from now, where we
would consider whether we would want new city facilities.
Mayor: The recommendation was to purchase enough land at this time so
that you have the land available. ^ piece in the budget that allows a decision at
budget time to include this in the budget or not. Recommendation to review
notes or minutes from those meetings.
Kennady: Please show us what HOK and minutes reflected.
Mayor:
We did not approve a site. It is a phased approach.
Mcllhaney: It was to set aside money to buy additional property. At the time
the Utility service center is built or chosen so that in the future we have the land
for expansion of city hall.
Kennady: You may have improper premises on what you purchased land
three years from now. You may make faulty decision making now. It might be
better to buy land three years from now.
Crouch:
decision.
Let's get more data, if that is what Kennady needs to help make a
Noe: At some point, we need to bring the whole issue of HOK work to
closure, funding respectively and get a resolution of it. There is additional work
going on. Secondly, assuming no other changes in priority ranking, this is down
beyond from which we have funding. Does this hierarchy make sense to you or
not in terms of approach recognizing the attempt to prioritize.
Mayor: No. 40 and 417 Are these critical at this point? The
Holleman/Dartmouth planter would be nice, but is it necessary. Are the
guardrails replacement or new?
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 24
Anthony: The guardrail upgrades are for the streetscape. On an annual
basis, we put in approximately five new guardrails on the streets. They are not
up to streetscape standards. Additional funding would allow the guardrails at
streetscape standards.
Mayor:
That helps that one.
Cryan: The planter would be an addition to the guardrail that needs to be
placed at Holleman and Dartmouth.
Mayor:
I think it would be nice. If I were ranking, it would go lower.
Council: Take the planter out.
Mariott: No. 50?? Are we trying to do another study for performance
standards?
Pavlinski: This is not a study. It is to redo the instruments by which we
currently evaluate employees. The same instruments since 1984. To bring it in
line with the pay plan in making evaluation of performance levels, not task
oriented, but more goal and objective oriented instruments. A manual, grading
sheet, a tool to go through the levels of performance of individual employee.
This whole appraisal would go through executive level. No monies budgeted for
the rest of organization.. Part of the City manager search, but we did not budget
any money to continue to the process to continue organization wide.
Mcllhaney: Goal oriented, cost of living combination.
Kennady:
thing too.
We should have the same people like Ralph Anderson to do this
Noe: Sense that we want to be consistent. But you could also provide
that consistency to whatever consultant you choose.
Crouch:
Would this be possible to do in-house?
Pavlinski: When I did the presentation, what we talked about was trying to get
done within a year. It takes about two months to work through an employee task
group to determine what are the areas to be evaluated, then having the ranking
system putting it together, editing the books, two months to do manual.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 25
In order to do the entire organization with a year's time we need some help
brought in to help a task force do the editing, help pull together the evaluation
forms, making sure they are actually on target, do the instruments, etc. Part of
supervisory academy, we go over performance appraisals and how to do them.
These instruments are old, we try to review it, needs to be enhanced but we can
provide that service. Once people have a stake in the instrument, they have had
some say in how they are graded, the evaluation process is interacted between
employee and supervisor.
Mcllhaney: I have been an advocate of the fixed asset inventory. It has been
on the auditors list since she has been on council.
Cryan: Part of the process would be to place values on the assets.
Utilities have started this. Items purchased prior to 1989, are not individually
listed on system.
Woody:
Spoke about his inventory system.
Mcllhaney: What about an internal auditor? Could they do this?
Noe:
An auditor may not have the expertise in determining value.
Mariott:
Chamber of Commerce, MHMR, and Dept. of Wildlife
Cryan: This year and last year we received a request for funding from
MHMR. Did not fund in this year's budget. A relatively small portion, but would
be important to them in total funding. TAMU Dept. of Wildlife, a new program
with a two year funding request. Total funding $75,000 over two years. Located
on TI plant.
Brymer:
Explained the purpose of the TAMU program.
Mayor: Added to the purpose of the project. Could this not be a use of
hotel/motel funds? Such as museums.
Kennady: Be nice to dovetail into the funding for the train depot.
Mayor: It might be a possibility. Talked with Tom Wilkinson, BVDC
Director. Lubbock used an economic development grant to build an interactive
science museum and IMAX theater in a donated building. At this point, we need
more detail about the TAMU wildlife program.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12,1995
Page 26
Mcllhaney: I have trouble taking money from general fund to address health
and human service issues. Don't want to have to compare municipal services to
that. Some programs from MHMR received funding from CDBG.
Crouch: Agreed.
Ronnie Morrison and Harold Dean from the Chamber of Commerce came
forward to discuss their budget.
Hickson: On the results of a study on the organization that was if a capital
campaign program would work.
Dean: It was positive. But, higher in dollar amount than what we are
looking at now. We are looking at doing the campaign on our own. $1.2 million
would be raised. In the planning stages of this. Possibility for the City of
College Station to be a part of it. Kick off for next year.
Hickson: I will be honest with you. I love the Chamber of Commerce, Board
Member, all that. But, I hate to see the City approached first for debt retirement
vs. going out to the businesses that support the Chamber of Commerce to see
what kinds of funds can be raised there before coming to the cities to ask for
dollars. I would like to see the support of the community in.terms of businesses
that support the Chamber first, and then obviously, coming to us for xx dollars.
You can see the kind of decisions we have to make in terms of lots of
organizations, both external and internal, asking for additional dollars, when
funds are not available. You all have the opportunity to go to your groups and
ask for funding. Make some of us feel a lot better.
Morrison: We intend to do that. It is a matter of timing.
Kennady: Also, on this, one of the concerns, with regard to negative debt
structure on the relocation. To me, that has got to be supported by business
community first and then, I think the capital fund raising project done first, and
any event, if it was all done, if you show a good return on that, I would not be
opposed to some time of loan at an interest rate, I think that could be something
to justify to the citizens. I have been a part of the chamber, leadership Brazos,
now I am in this position, I have to say this to you.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 27
Dean: Debt retirement is part of it. The words may not be right. It is hard
to sell brick and mortar. It is hard to overcome things that have happened in the
past. Hopefully, when you look through this. This is things your Chamber of
Commerce has done and is doing to benefit the City of CS, Bryan, and the
County, and continuing to do behind the scenes and the money is not just for
debt retirement.
Kennady: I would like to know what the debt retirement total is? How it got
there? If there is a problem? We have to have information as a council what the
facts are and we don't know them. I need to know.
Dean:
I can provide that.
Kennady: After the capital fund raising project complete, I would want to see
business support, and how much we are looking at, etc. I can justify a loan.
This is not a true city function in terms of streets, water, sewer, etc. It is the way
we should feel about our community, but that does not mean a citizen may not
feel his tax dollars are being spent. Ronnie has been a city official, so he
knows.
Crouch: The only way I would be supportive of this is to like David said, see
you go to try to solve the problem with the business sector first. Secondly, to
see a very concerted effort in terms of membership drive, because we have the
same members in the Chamber that we had ten years ago, but our population
and business population has grown tremendously. I would like to see more
effort to solve the financial problem, instead of coming to city. Very supportive of
Chamber. It may be a flawed vision of what the Chamber of Commerce is
supposed to do. A Chamber of Commerce is supposed to come with a check to
the City and what can we do to help you, instead of saying we need your help.
Mariott: Cannot support this funding right now, either. Need to see serious
efforts in raising funds.
Dean: Probably due to timing with your budget coming up. We wanted
you to know the anticipation of the kick off next year and be a part of next year's
budget. Already approximately $17,000 from businesses, there are others that
made commitments.
Hickson:
estimates?
next year?.
I noticed in recent budget report that sales tax dollars lower than
Did we lower our estimates for sales tax revenues for this year and
Charles replied yes.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 28
Mcllhaney: There are some things that are not on the list anywhere, that I think
we as a council have talked about trying to fit into the budget. And, my feeling
was that I was hoping staff would be able to go through and say, this is what we
need, and now this is how much money we are anticipating in receiving in
revenues next year, vs. expenditures for next year that council has to talk about
spending on projects.
Noe: If there are things that should have been on the list, tell us what
they are now.
Mcllhaney: Policy issues as reducing debt retirement, street replacement and
capital plan. Lincoln Center corridor concept, one stop shop concept.
Kennady: The top ten strategic issues.
Mcllhaney: Also mentioned underground utilities in existing residential
neighborhoods.
Crouch: Westside utilities. Share your frustration. Because I thought that
when we had our priority session and re did the budgeting plan, what we were
trying to say to staff was, we don't want you to put us in this position where we
have to choose between a 1/2 time secretary and bomb squad training at the
end of the year. We want you to come with all that stuff already solved and a
handful of money that the council can spend on projects different and separate
what it takes to do the normal running of the city. We did not get that. Maybe
we did not say that clearly enough.
Mayor: I think that is wrong to say you have not got it. They have given
issues they have clearly identified as issues addressing the council's strategic
issue plans and ends statement. So, I think they have tried.
Crouch: I don't think we got the cuts we asked for. I ask Charles to begin
with, is this the same target budget that we started, and it essentially is. When
all the people made presentations, we said okay, we want you to go back and
look for cuts.
Noe: $300,000 in cuts built into your numbers.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 29
Kennady: I think this is "window dressing". I'm not sure we have seen any
type of cutting of nonessential personnel or a collaboration or consolidation of
positions to better utilize personnel. I don't know how that can be done. I think
the dept. heads would have to tell you that. More efficiencies. 70% of budget is
people. I've concerned that we have hit the window dressing without hitting the
underlying concerns of how do we increase productivity and maintain service
level with less people. All of us are interested in that, and I'm not sure that we
have gotten that.
Noe: To be frank, I think that is an evolution, not a revolution. From the
time, the council said we want to see some efficiencies to this budget, that you
are going to see, massive re-engineering possible. You cannot design quickly.
Takes a long period of time to analyze, because otherwise, what you end up
doing, you seriously impairing services, seriously unhappy customers, and
nobody wants that. More efficient, but you have to take the time to do the full
work to analyze what might be possible.
Kennady: What David said earlier. I saw employees eyes light up when I
said, if we were able to reduce individual dept. budgets, we have talked about
this, but when you reduce that, you give them 1/2 whatever they saved to
perform their issues. These are things the council has talked about before. We
have not seen that.
Noe: Not as simple as that. It would be real easy to generate short term
savings and unhappy customers, unless you have the right system of
performance measures and the right system to evaluate and audit those to make
sure that folks are not doing things that are generally short term savings, or
things that net out serious reductions in service levels, that may not be
immediately obvious. You are right. There are strategies that can be
developed, that says, how can we take and provide an economic incentive to
departments to do more with less, but you can't do it overnight. You have to
have performance measures. Otherwise, you run risks I'm not sure you want to
take.
Kennady: I'm willing to give you time to develop those because I think this is
something we need to do. But, I think too, we need to express as a Council what
our joint feelings are.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 30
Noe: Two parts to your issue, how can spend less but provide same
service. The other is, where are expenditures on these twenty five items. Be
glad to spend some time, here is the status on each one of those. Here is what
might could be spent. Some of these could be very, very expensive. And. some
are not on the operating side, rather capital imProvements. Some of the items
on the list are not "have to's". There are only handful of items that we have to
do.
Kennady: As policy makers, we are interested in accomplishing X,Y, Z and
not disrupt current service levels.
Mcllhaney: I did not mean to sound negative about what has transpired
because I believe this council and this staff have gone through a lot of changes
in he last year and to get to where we are today, staff has done an excellent job.
Always going to be a lag time. We are trying to define in our own minds what it
is we want to be able to verbalize clearly. I do not want staff or council to feel
like.
From this point forward. This is where I would like to see us get too. Empower
staff to decide what monies in their budget should be spent toward service
measures. Then council has money at the end of the year, then we can say,
these are policy decisions that we value that we think are going to help the
overall organization.
Mayor: I will have to defend staff. You remember the document they
brought us in terms of service levels, there were a number of cost reductions.
They have addressed a number of our issues with some of the items proposed
here.
Crouch:
We have their action plans and these showed up on this list.
Mariott: There should be a way to do more for our people, but do with less
people. If we gave our people the incentive. For instance, eliminate one worker
from a crew of three, and pay two workers more money. Savings for city,
everybody's happier, win-win situation. I would like to see this sort of thing. It
seems like we have had good revenues and good growth. My personal feeling
we need to get back under control, because we won't always have good
revenues, and just because you have a lot of money, does not mean you need to
blow it. Maybe, everyone is doing a good job, "gut check" is needed every once
in a while. I feel like we have offended some people because we have asked for
a "gut check". Need to make everyone a little more accountable and look for
ways to save money, because I know they are out there.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 31
Parkland Dedication Fund
Central Park Improvements and Wolf Pen Creek Improvements
Beachy: These funds can be used for neighborhood park type facilities.
Within this zone, these particular parks, what we are looking at, is placing
ramps, benches, and rubber type surfaces accessible to wheelchairs. Also, add
sidewalks to existing fishing decks at Central Park and add a small gazebo at
Central Park.
Mayor: Explained the uses for Parkland dedication funds. These funds are
acquired when a developer dedicates land in a subdivision.
Hotel/Motel Fund
Kennady: What is the Swim Club?
Mayor: Youth competitive swim club. A&M received the bid for 1995
national tournament. Much revenue brought into community.
Kennady: Convention and Tourism Bureau?
Noe: Increasing their budget. Remember, the approach was taken.
That, any increase in funding would be considered.
Hickson: Public Art Program? Do not support this. Arts Council should be
supporting this.
Cryan: This is the maximum we could spend over the $155,000 we
currently pay.
Mayor: He noted that the Arts Council has organizations who asked for
funding from them.
Crouch: Could we ask them to fund the banner program? I don't see why
we can't say, we will give you money, but earmark a sum of money should be
spent specifically in College Station.
Mcllhaney: Bush Library Housing Analysis?
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 32
Beachy: There is not a qualitative analysis to the number of hotel rooms for
tourists. Use the parks and recreation groups at TAMU to help, maybe a class
project. Also, look at the possibility of recreational vehicle spaces. Is there a
potential for expanding the market for RV campsites?
The question was why the hotels could not provide that information.
Crouch: We also need to ask the convention and visitors bureau about the
credit they receive for obtaining rooms at various hotels. Need further
information on this issue.
Mayor: Stressed that the hotels think that the tax money is their money,
and this is a fallacy. It is simply money they have collected from people who
have stayed in their hotel, they collect, take a cut, and pass on to us.
Cryan: No. 65, budget amendment, will be allocated this year. Scheduled
for next council meeting for consideration.
Mayor: The Sister Cities Assoc. has two requests. They are asking for an
$18,000 increase.
Mcllhaney: B/CS are bidding for 1996-97 AMCC Conference. If we get it, we
have to spend money for the breakfast in 1996. Not budgeted.
Electrical Fund
#79, #80, #81, #82 -- looks like a must do.
Crouch: #77 -- Apparently there is a new business moving to town, an
underground radar. We may not even need this position.
Hickson: #79 -- NCR Replacement
Cryan: This is to give us six months of maintenance, until the new system
is running. IBM RISK 6000.
Kennady: I don't know why we need the Iocator position.
Woody: Explained why he needs the position. The supervisors cannot
perform their job appropriately, because they are spending time doing this type
of work.
City Council Workshop Meeting
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Page 33
Kennady: I am looking for people who can do two jobs, without hiring
additional people.
Water Fund
No comment
Wastewater Fund
Cryan: What we anticipated is that we use certificates of obligation to fund
part of this, and an internal loan to be replaced by the depts, for the other part of
the funding.
Hickson:
term?
We are running some significant deficits. What is the outlook long
Cryan: This was projected. We anticipate to increase rates over the next
five years. Fund is not in any substantial problem.
Solid Waste Collection
Hickson: Apartment recycling program?
Anthony: We would like to extend the program another year to get an idea of
its acceptance. This is due to the turnover in the apartment complexes during
the beginning of semester. There will be an education process.
Mayor: Concern from friend who stated that the aluminum can bin tends to
emptied more.
Anthony: Aware that there may be individuals who drive up and down streets
and pick up the cans.
Mayor:
Can we enforce this?
Anthony: Can use locks, but makes residents have to deal with this.
City Council Workshop Meeting Page 34
Wednesday, July 12, 1995
Agenda Item No. 6 --- City Council final review and recommendation of the
Capital Budqet for FY 95-96.
City Engineer Kent Laza presented an outlined schedule of projects proposed by
staff for FY 95-96 budget.
Agenda Item No. 7 -- ENDS STATEMENTS
No discussion on this item.
AQenda Item No. 8 -- Committee Reports
No discussion on this item.
Agenda Item No, 9 -- Council Calendars
Thursday, July 20th is the joint meeting with the Brazos County Commissioners
Court and the City of Bryan, at 7:00 p.m. Brazos Center to hear from Texas
Department of Transportation.
Tuesday, July 18th is the presentation of the final report of Brazos 2020, 6:00
p.m.
Agenda Item No. 10 -- Executive Session {LGC 551.071}
a. Staff Report - Power Supply.
Agenda Item No. 11 -- Action on executive session
The council did not convene into closed session.
Agenda Item No. 12 -- Adioum.
Mayor Ringer adjourned th~l~eeting
City Secretary Connie Ho6ks
at 8:05 p.m.
APPROVED:
~UEST REGISTER
~ORKSHOP HEET~N~ OF THE C~TY COUNCIL
WEDNESD~Y~ ~ULY ~2~ ~995
4:00 P.~
Sm
13.
8. 18.
9. 19.
10. 20.