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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/21/1985 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1985 4:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: STUDENT GOVT. LIAISON: VISITORS PRESENT: Mayor Halter, Councilmen Bond, Boughton, Brown, McIlhaney, Runnels Councilman Tongco City Manager Bardell, Assistant City Manager VanDever, City Attorney Locke, City Secretary Jones, Deputy Finance Director Schroeder, Utilities Office Manager Piwonka, Assistant Utilities Office Manager Albright, Purchasing Agent McCartney, Personnel Director Dickson, Administrative Assistant Magoon, Administrative Assistant Barnett, Council Coordinator Jones Mike Hachtman See guest register. Agenda Item No. 1 - Council concerns. Councilman Runnels stated that Mr. Dennis Driscoll, 213 Redmond Terrace, had called and reported that the water lines in front of his house had broken. He inquired about any plans that the city has for remedying this problem. City Engineer Pullen stated that the staff is in the process of designing replacement service for this area. Councilman Boughton stated that she had received several calls from citizens questioning why the sidewalk on Southwest Parkway was not going to be extended to Texas Avenue. She noted that she had spoken with City Engineer Pullen concerning the matter and he informed her that it would be an expensive undertaking to ex- tend the sidewalk to Texas Avenue. She further stated that she requested the staff to investigate the possibility of extending the sidewalk along the north side of Southwest Parkway to the parking lot of the Parkway Plaza Shopping Center and return cost estimates to the Council. City Engineer Pullen stated that he would bring cost estimates for the proposed project to Council for consideration sometime in September. WORKSOOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1985 PAGE 2 Councilman Boughton reported that the Administration Offices in City Hall were extremely warm and questioned the efficiency of turning the air conditioning system off in the evenings rather than raising the thermostat. Utilities Office Manager Piwonka stated that if the Administra- tion Offices are not getting cool it probably is a result of mai- functioning equipment and noted that the problem would be re- ported. Councilman Brown stated that the Emerald Forest Homeowners Asso- ciation had approached him again about the possibility of the city erecting stop signs at the intersection of all the streets in the subdivision that cross Emerald Forest Parkway. Mayor Halter requested Traffic Engineer Black to investigate the matter. Councilman McIlhaney stated that a citizen had contacted her re- questing that the city erect a street light at the intersection of Emerald Forest Parkway and the East Bypass Frontage Road. City Manager Bardell pointed out that there is no electric ser- vice at that location, but noted that he would investigate the possibility of extending electrical service to the area. Councilman McIlhaney asked if the city has any plans for striping Rio Grande Boulevard and if so would it be completed prior to the start of fall classes. She noted that striping would improve the safety in the vicinity. She reported that the speed sign erected on Sebesta Road has been completely painted over. She questioned whether the city has made any provisions for intensifying police patrol around the schools in the early mornings and the late af- ternoons. City Manager Bardell replied affirmatively. Councilman McIlhaney noted that she had received some literature on Davis, California, the bicycle capitol of the world, which she brought to share with the Council and staff. She stated that she received this information from a citizen who had written her to express thanks to the Council for consideration of the bicyclists on Southwest Parkway. Student Government Liaison Hachtman stated that there is not a street light at the intersection of FM 2818 and West Holleman. He reported a large pile of trash at the intersection of West Holleman and Wellborn near the railroad tracks. WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1985 PAGE 3 Councilman Boughton asked if Southern Pacific Railroad had con- tacted the city concerning the proposed crossing at Holleman. City Attorney Locke stated that all the contracts have been signed and they have a year from the date of signing. City Engineer Pullen stated that he had spoken with an engineer with Southern Pacific concerning the scheduling of the city's portion of the project and he informed him that they would proba- bly be available the first of February, 1986. Mayor Halter announced that the city had received the Municipal Finance Association's Certification for the audit for FY1984-85. He noted that this is the fourth year that the city has received the certification. He thanked the Ea~le and other news media for their efforts in promoting the city's Load Management Program. He further stated that the Postal Service is considering the con- struction of an additional Post Office in College Station. He urged the Council to write individual letters in support of the proposal. A~enda Item No. 2 - Discussion of feasibility of chan~in~ fiscal year date. City Manager Bardell presented the item. He pointed out that the city's current fiscal year does not parallel many other govern- mental entities and has very little uniformity as it relates to them. He stated that the primary problem relates to the fact that the municipal election occurs in April, which results in new Councilmembers having to come into the middle of the budget pro- cess. He explained that new Tax Laws of the State of Texas pre- sent another problem with the current fiscal year date. Assistant City Manager VanDever listed the advantages that might be achieved by changing the fiscal year date as follows: (1) Remedy the awkward timing in establishing the annual tax rate considering the "truth in taxation" requirements; and, (2) Allow newly elected councilmembers to become more familiar with current city matters and the procedures of the budget process. He listed the disadvantages that relate to the proposal to change the fis- cal year date as follows: (1) Additional interim audit would in- cur additional expense and staff time; (2) Distortion of the ten year trending and forecasting information due to the change over period; (3) Loss of vacation flexibility during the summer vaca- tion months for the Council and staff; (4) Production of an in- terim budget for the change over period; (5) Consideration of an- nual salary adjustments and how to administer them, in order to insure continued uniformity with each annual budget cycle; and, (6) Loss of good bargaining position regarding the selection of auditors, noting that the current fiscal year falls between the tax year and most other governmental entities audit year. WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1985 PAGE 4 Mr. David Fetzer, the city's Financial Advisor, noted that the October 1 - September 30 Fiscal Year is being considered because it most closely coincides with the tax year. He pointed out that with the changes in the state tax law the 10/1 - 9/30 fiscal year may not work as well as it used to work. He stated that College Station does not have the problem of having taxes as a primary revenue base, which most cities do, who have the 10/1 - 9/30 fis- cal year. He noted that changing the fiscal year represents a very major decision and would impact negatively the city's pre- sentation to rating agencies and bond buyers. City Manager Bardell summarized the Charter requirements for con- currently adopting the budget and tax rate, noting that they are not State requirements. He stated that if further consideration is given to changing the city's fiscal date, review of the char- ter requirements should be undertaken. He stated that the prob- lems encountered concerning new councilmembers coming into the middle of the budget process might be better addressed by chang- ing the date of the municipal election. Mayor Halter addressed the possibility of changing the election date and noted that the only other feasible date would be the third Saturday in January. He pointed out that having the elec- tion in January might possibly get national and state issues in- volved in municipal elections. After further discussion concerning the possibility of changing the date for the municipal election, Mayor Halter reiterated that the problem is one of education of newly elected councilmembers in regard to budgetary matters. He pointed out that unless the city is going to back up the budget process and begin the initial phases much earlier so that the Council has a longer time to ex- amine the budget the same problem might still be encountered. He noted that the further the budget process is backed up the less accurate the projections become. Councilman Bond questioned how the city plans to solve the prob- lem created by the new "truth in taxation" law. Deputy Finance Director Schroeder explained that in the adoption of the budget rather than adopting an ordinance levying the taxes, the ordinance could state that per the City Charter the city will adopt a resolution authorizing the issuance of tax par- ticipation notices, which would in effect fund the budget through participation notices. He noted that the tax rate could then be finalized after the tax roll is certified by the Appraisal Dis- trict. WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 1985 PAGE 5 After further discussion, the Council concurred to have discus- sion of the matter rescheduled on the Workshop City Council Meet- ing Agenda, September 11, 1985. A~enda Item No. 3 - Consideration of a resolution concernin~ Treasur~ Tax reform proposal. City Manager Bardell presented the item. He stressed that the one percent rule is particularly offensive to municipalities who own electrical systems and presented evidence in support of the statement. Mr. David Fetzer stated that the proposal will eliminate all ad- vance refundings. He expressed his opinion that municipalities should maintain the ability to refund their debt when the inter- est rates change favorably. Mayor Halter pointed out that if the proposal is approved no ad- vance refundings will be allowed after December 31, 1985. He stated that the city has asked its financial advisors to investi- gate the feasibility of authorizing an advance refunding of the city's General Obligation Bonds. He noted that the Council would be considering a resolution in September or October to indicate the Council's interest in the refunding. After further discussion, Mr. Fetzer recommended that the Council act favorably on the proposed resolution. Councilman Boughton moved approval of Resolution No. 08-21-85-03 in opposition to the President's Treasury Tax reform proposal. Councilman Runnels seconded the motion which was approved unani- mously, 6-0. A~enda Item No. 4 - ~djourn. Mayor Halter adjourned the meeting at 5.-05 P.M. Dian Jon~ Secretary . ,15 ]86