HomeMy WebLinkAbout100612B CC Min0 The City
A Neighborhood City
CITY COUNCIL
Bob Fry, Mayor
Susan Sample, Mayor Pro Tent
Ed Heathcott, Councilmember
Joan Johnson. Councilmember
Dick Yehle, Councilmember
of West University Place
STAFF
Michael Ross, City Manager
Alan Petrov, City Attorney
Thelma Lenz, City Secretary
CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES
City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in a special budget workshop meeting on
Saturday, October 6, 2011, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University Boulevard, West University
Place, Texas beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Notice of the regular meeting was duly posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code,
Chapter 551.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Fry called the special workshop meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
Council and staff in attendance: Mayor Fry, Mayor Pro Tern Sample, Councilmembers Heathcott,
Johnson and Yehle, City Manager Ross, Assistant City Manager /Public Works Director Peifer, City
Secretary Lenz, Police Chief Walker, Fire Chief Ralls, Finance Director Daugherty, Parks and
Recreation Director O'Connor, Human Resources Director Standorf, and IT Director McFarland.
Agenda was as follows:
City Finances, Facilities, Programs, 2012 Tax Rate and the 2013 Budget
Matters related to City finances, facilities, programs, 2012 tax rate and the 2013 Budget including
revenues and expenditures for current and future years for all funds, and capital improvements,
priorities and related programs and expenditures, including, but not limited to, recreation facilities,
parkland and other park projects, city facilities, drainage and flood control, traffic and parking and
other public improvements, and employee benefits.
City Manager Ross and Finance Director Daugherty provided an overview of the proposed
expenditures, operating funds, debt service, general fund resources, and proposed capital projects
for the proposed 2013 Budget.
After review of the slide presentation, Parks and Recreation Director O'Connor discussed some of
the changes being proposed for the Parks and Recreation Department fee schedule. He said the
fiscal impact on the fee schedule will be under $2,000 and that most of the changes were
housekeeping items.
Mr. O'Connor noted some of the changes are being proposed:
• Reduction in the combination membership fees.
City Council Budget Workshop Minutes, October 6, 2012
Elimination of the option for non - residents to use of the tennis courts in response to the level
of complaints received from residents indicating that there is not enough court time for
residents.
• Addition of an individual weekly house guest pass covering both facilities.
Regarding eliminating or lowering fees, Mayor Fry said he is concerned about lowering rates,
because fees fund the cost of maintaining the facilities and it will be more difficult to add or increase
the fees should higher future costs make it necessary again.
Mr. Ross said staff will review the fees again before bringing the final proposed changes to Council
for review and approval.
Finance Directory Daugherty then reviewed the proposal for the first phase of Automated Meter
Reading (AMR), which is a program to monitor real -time water usage.
In response to Councilmember Yehle's question as to whether the first phase will give staff
operable capability or if it would need subsequent phases to run, Ms. Daugherty responded that it
would be operable at some point during the first phase.
City Manager Ross added that there would be a subsequent reduction in meter reading contracts
once staff rolls out the first phase of the AMR program. He said another benefit, in addition to the
real -time aspect, is there will be a dramatic improvement in billing accuracy.
Finance Director Daugherty confirmed that 67% of the program will be funded in 2013 and the other
33% will be funded in 2014.
ACM /Public Works Director stated that the industry considers this type of program a water
conservation measure. He said it will save us on bench testing, as well as time in investigating
water leaks, over usage, etc.
City Council members were all in agreement for staff to move forward with the program.
Other Budget Highlights included:
• A 1% structure and corresponding salary adjustment for all positions effective January 1, 2013
as recommended by the City's compensation consultant.
• An average of a 2% Pay- for - Performance salary adjustment for all positions effective on
anniversary dates.
• TMRS funding rate is at 10.40% for 2013, same as in 2012.
• On average, residents will see roughly a $7 increase per month, based on the increase in
appraised values and the City holding the tax rate steady.
• No proposed increases in water and sewer rates other than the usual possible pass- through
increase from the City of Houston.
• No proposed increases in the solid waste fees, unless there is a desire for Council to look at
green waste as an option.
• Decrease in City -wide charges due to electricity expenses being allocated to applicable
divisions for better cost center budgeting (i.e., Recreation Center, Colonial Park, etc.)
Councilmember Yehle confirmed that this does not include electricity for street lights, which is
separate, and that it does include streetlight maintenance from CenterPoint.
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City Council Budget Workshop Minutes, October 6, 2012
• Tax rate for Maintenance & Operations is $0.19125 per $100 valuation, which is a slight
increase from the 2012 rate, but still below the 2011 rate.
• Tax rate for debt service is $0.18286 per $100 valuation which is slightly lower than the 2012
rate.
• Number of Direct Link customers continues to increase. Staff said the goal is to get every
household connected to Direct Link and it will continue to market Direct Link and educate the
public about the program.
• Funds have been budgeted for storm water detention in order to move immediately, if
necessary.
With no further discussion, Councilmember Heathcott moved to adjourn at 9:50 a.m.
Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED.
2rd yes: Fry, Sample , Heathcott, Johnson, Yehle
oes: None
bsent: None
Thelma A. Lenz, City Secretary
Date Approved:
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