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HomeMy WebLinkAbout101915 CC MinThe City of West University Place A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL Susan Sample, Mayor Bob Kelly, Mayor Pro Tern Burt Ballanfant, Councilmember Brennan Reilly, Councilmember Mardi Turner, Councilmember STAFF M. Chris Peifer, Interim City Manager Alan Petrov, City Attorney Thelma Lenz, City Secretary CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met in Budget Workshop on Monday, October 19, 2015, in the Municipal Building, 3800 University, West University Place, Texas beginning at 6:30 p.m. Agenda Items were as follows: Call to Order. Mayor Sample called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Council and Staff in attendance were: Mayor Pro Tern Kelly, Councilmembers Ballanfant, Reilly and Turner, Interim City Manager Peifer, City Secretary Lenz, Finance Director Daugherty, Police Chief Walker, and Public Works Director Dave Beach. City Attorney Petrov was absent. Councilmember Ballanfant led the Pledge of Allegiance. City Secretary Lenz confirmed that the notice of this meeting was duly posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. 1. Public Comments This was an opportunity for citizens to speak to Council relating to agenda and non - agenda items. Alicia Drewes, 6112 Fordham Street, spoke regarding the Friends Board and said she attended one of their recent meetings and said she wasn't allowed to speak during their meetings. She said Tim O'Connor has the plan already laid out and and there is no discussion or vote. She said the committee is just rubber stamping everything and said the public doesn't have any input, which is wrong because the parks are for all the residents and decisions should not be decided by a few people that are asleep at the wheel or who don't seem to care. Ms. Drewes said the committee was instructed not to let any member of the public see any of the numbers, which is wrong and not transparent. 2. Adoption of the 2016 Budget Matters related to an ordinance adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2016 appropriating funds for such budget; containing findings and provisions relating to the subject; and declaring an emergency. Public Hearing has been closed. Recommended Action: Adopt ordinance adopting the 2016 Budget on first and final reading. Finance Director Daugherty presented and said this budget appropriates $41,719,573 for operations, debt service, special revenue, internal service and capital for the year beginning January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2016. She said the details of the budget appropriations were discussed in the Council budget workshop held on October 3, 2015; and, as required by State City Council Meeting Minutes, October 19, 2015 law, a public hearing was held on October 12, 2015, giving the citizens of West University Place the opportunity to participate in the budget process. Ms. Daugherty said there was an error to the total budgeted amount. She said in Section 5 (Water and Sewer) of the ordinance, the sum should be $7,862,160, which is a $130,000 difference from the amount stated on the agenda memo. Councilmember Turner moved to adopt the ordinance approving and adopting a budget for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2016, appropriating funds for such budget, containing findings and provisions relating to the subject, and including the change mentioned in the total and in the Water and Sewer Fund in Section 5 of the ordinance. Mayor Pro Tern Kelly seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Kelly, Ballanfant, Turner Noes: Reilly Absent: None 3. Adoption of the 2015 Tax Rate Matters related to an ordinance approving and adopting the 2015 Tax Rate, and declaring an emergency. Both Public Hearings have been closed. Recommended Action: Adopt ordinance reducing the 2015 tax rate to 0.33179 on first and final reading. Mayor Pro Tem Kelly moved that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.33179, which is effectively a 2.44 percent increase in the tax rate. Councilmember Turner seconded the motion. Councilmember Reilly said if the City is going to increase taxes Council should be able to explain why its doing so but it can't, which is why he is going to vote against this. A vote was made on the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Kelly, Ballanfant, Turner Noes: Reilly Absent: None 4. First Reading of Ordinance Revising Fee Schedule Matters related to an ordinance adopting revisions to the City's Fee Schedule. Recommended Action: Approve ordinance adopting revisions to the City's Fee Schedule on the first of two reading. Finance Director Daugherty presented and said there are some minor changes to fees and the ambulance service section of the fee schedule. She said the proposed changes reflect recent medication and equipment changes as well as a fee increase for the solid waste collection, of which 20 percent is due to the reduction in recycling revenue and 10 percent is due to the addition of green waste recycling. Ms. Daugherty said staff is requesting that Council increase the deposit amount for water and sewer services. Councilmember Ballanfant pointed out that Council spent approximately 5 hours discussing the budget and tax rate on Saturday, October 3`d, in a workshop that was open to the public. 2 of 3 City Council Meeting Minutes, October 19, 2015 Councilmember Reilly moved to accept the fee schedule including the change fees for ambulance services, garbage services, and water and sewer services on the first reading. Councilmember Turner seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Kelly, Ballanfant, Reilly, Turner Noes: None Absent: None 5. Adjourn With no further discussion, Mayor Pro Tern Kelly moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:44 p.m. Councilmember Ballanfant seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Kelly, Ballanfant, Reilly, Turner Noes: None Absent: None Prepared B S uPotlVF9�A q � r a m Thelma A. Lenz, City Secretary e / 3 of 3 l61!9-4 lS- Date A'