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Home My WebLink About05/14/2012 - Workshop Minutes City Council L MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP CITY OF COLLEGE STATION MAY 14, 2012 STATE OF TEXAS § § COUNTY OF BRAZOS § Present: Nancy Berry, Mayor Council: Blanche Brick Jess Fields, arrived after roll call Karl Mooney Katy -Marie Lyles Julie Schultz Dave Ruesink City Staff: c e David Neeley, City Manager Kathy Merrill, Deputy City Manager Frank Simpson, Deputy City Manager Carla Robinson, City Attorney Sherry Mashburn, City Secretary Tanya McNutt, Deputy City Secretary 1. 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 5:02 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012 in the Council Chambers of the City of College Station City Hall, 1101 Texas Avenue, College Station, Texas 77842. 2. Executive Session In accordance with the Texas Government Code §551.071- Consultation with Attorney, and §551.074 - Personnel, the College Station City Council convened into Executive Session at 5:02 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012 in order to continue discussing matters pertaining to: A. Consultation with Attorney to seek advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation; to wit: WKSHP051412 Minutes Page 1 L • 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 • Chavers et al v. Tyrone Morrow et al, No. 10- 20792; Chavers v. Randall Hall et al, Case No. 10 CV -3922 • College Station v. Star Insurance Co., Civil Action No. 4:11 -CV-02023 • Shirley Maguire and Holly Maguire vs. City of College Station, Cause No. 11 -0025 16- CV -272, in the 272nd District Court of Brazos County, Texas • Tracy Lynn Sheets, City of College Station (Intervener) v. Get Lucky. L.L.C. d/b /a Lux Nightclub and Alex Taylor Ford B. A. Consultation with Attorney to seek legal advice; to wit: • Legal Advice regarding posting for events under the Open Meetings Act • Legal issues related to the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District C. Deliberation on the appointment, employment, evaluation. reassignment, duties. discipline. or dismissal of a public officer; to wit: • Council Self - evaluation The Executive Session adjourned at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012. 3. Take action, if any, on Executive Session. No action was required from Executive Session. 4. Presentation proclaiming May as National Bike Month. Mayor Berry presented Marcy Halterman -Cox, with the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Advisory Committee with a proclamation proclaiming May as National Bike Month. 5. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on items listed on the consent agenda. Items 2b and 2c were pulled for additional clarification. 2b: Debbie Eller, Community Development Manager, explained that because we receive federal funds, we must make an effort to provide jobs to low income persons. When we contract for a construction project, we ask that contractor to make jobs available to low income persons who are qualified for that position. The contractors are not required to be Section 3 contractors; they are only required to abide by the law. We report those hires to HUD. 2c: Ben Roper, Director of Information Technology, reported no action was taken on the draft BVWACS budget because there was no super majority present. Board members were requested to take the proposed draft budget back to their respective governing bodies for consideration. The budget will still need to be approved by the governing board. WKSHP051412 Minutes Page 2 6. Pres entation, possible action, and discussion on updates to the Strategic Plan and 'Ilwi„ Budget processes. Bob Cowell, Executive Director of Planning and Development Services, provided an update on strategic plan items requiring additional council discussion, an update on the status of plan implementation, and an overview of the linkage between the strategic plan and FY13 budget development. Strategies warranting further discussion include diversification of economy, neighborhood parking issues, the capital plan, utility rates and tax rate, sustainability, street operations and maintenance, and becoming the employer of choice. In June, there will be final adjustments to the strategic plan, followed by the completion of the capital budget and the CMG proposed budget. Utility rates and tax rates will be discussed in August/September. Jeff Kersten, Executive Director of Fiscal Services, reported that staff strives to prepare a balanced budget that meets the Council's strategic priorities and meets basic service levels within our available resources. The budget is a tool to position the City to meet its future needs with limited resources. The proposed budget calendar is: • May 13 — Council Budget Process presentation • June — Council strategic planning • August 23 — Budget Public Hearing • September 13 - Budget /Tax Rate Adoption • Budget must be adopted by September 27. Our current conditions indicate a moderate economic growth, moderate growth in sales tax, and property value growth is projected to be minimal. Key general fund revenues are broken down: • Sales Tax 37.5% • Property Tax 25.1% • Utility Transfer 18.5% • All other revenues 18.9 %. Existing property values are estimated to be fairly flat, and the final values will be certified by July 25. As for sales tax, FY12 is 5.53% above our estimate, and positive growth has been seen this last year. For FY13, a 2% growth in sales tax revenue is projected. Mr. Kersten briefly discussed the budget reductions over the past few years. He stated that the budget policy will provide parameters for budget preparation. The budget will be prepared based upon the existing tax rate. He also discussed the Utility Transfer Policy and noted that future increases are based on higher electric sales. The fund balance policy has the General Fund and the Utility Fund at 15 %. FY13 budget issues include modest revenue increases, continuing electric transfer reduction, demand for services will continue, and additional General Fund reductions are needed to stay balanced. In order to identify potential budget reductions, we must evaluate service level impacts. Pay and benefits are the largest component of the operating budget. Formation of a Council Committee to review this component may be an option. glior WKSHP051412 Minutes Page 3 Our next steps are to monitor economic conditions, monitor revenues, identify service priorities, reduce expenditures as necessary, and to prepare the proposed budget and identify key budget decisions. The workshop was recessed at 7:01 p.m. so that the Regular Meeting could begin on time. Council reconvened the workshop at 8:44 p.m. Council consensus for budget meetings dates was August 16 and 17 from 2:00 — 5:00 p.m. and on the 20th and 21st from 4:00 — 7:00 p.m. August 22 or 24 could be contingent dates. 7. Council Calendar • May 15 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - Reclaimed Water Program, 10:00 a.m. • May 17 BCS Chamber of Commerce - Business After Hours at Benjamin Knox Gallery, 5:30 p.m. • May 17 P &Z Workshop/Meeting in Council Chambers at 6:00 p.m. (Blanche Brick, Liaison) • May 2 1 Intergovernmental Committee Meetings at noon. • May 22 Special Council Workshop on Transportation at Carters Creek WWTP Training Room, 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. • May 24 City Council Executive/Workshop /Regular Meeting at 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. t Council reviewed the Council calendar. 8. Presentation, possible action, and discussion on future agenda items: a Council Member may inquire about a subject 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 subject on an agenda for a subsequent meeting. There were no requests for future agenda items. 9. Discussion, review and possible action regarding the following meetings: Animal Shelter Board, Arts Council of the Brazos Valley, Arts Council Sub - committee, Audit Committee, Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Greenways Advisory Board, Brazos County Health Dept., Brazos Valley Council of Governments, Brazos Valley Wide Area Communications Task Force, Bryan /College Station Chamber of Commerce, BVSWMA, BVWACS, Cemetery Committee, Code Review Committee, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Design Review Board, Historic Preservation Committee, Interfaith Dialogue Association, Intergovernmental Committee, Joint Neighborhood Parking Taskforce, Joint Relief Funding Review Committee, Landmark Commission, Library Board, 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 WKSHP051412 Minutes Page 4 Force, Sister City Association, TAMU Student Senate, Texas Municipal League, Transportation Committee, Zoning Board of Adjustments. Councilmember Ruesink reported that four or five persons will be leaving Monday for Salamanca, our Sister City. On May 31, there will be a membership meeting. Councilmember Mooney reported on the CVB. Councilmember Brick reported on the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenways Committee. They have concerns regarding funding on the Lick Creek Trail. Mayor Berry reported on the Chamber of Commerce trip to Washington, D.C. 10. Adjournment MOTION: There being no further business, Mayor Berry adjourned the workshop of the College Station City Council at 9:04 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012. Er rnreto , c-A-d- *Aext"-y Nancy Berry, Mayor ATTEST: Cor° Sherry Mas ►� rn, City Secretary WKSHP051412 Minutes Page 5