HomeMy WebLinkAbout093006S CC Min
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2006
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD.
8:30 A.M.
The City Council convened in Special Session in the Bill Watson Conference Room
(3800 University Blvd.) on September 30, 2006, with the following members present:
Mayor Ballanfant presiding, Council Members Segal, Woods and Yehle. The City
Manager, City Secretary, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director, Finance
Director, Parks and Recreation Director, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Human Resource
Manager and Assistant to the City Manager were also present. Council Member Cohen
was absent.
The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code,
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Chapter 551, on the 26 day of September 2006 at 5:15 p.m.
City finances, facilities, programs, 2006 tax rate and the 2007 Budget.
Matters related to city finances, facilities, programs, 2006 tax rate and the 2007 Budget
including revenues and expenditures for current and future years for all funds, and capital
improvements, priorities and related programs and expenditures, including recreation
facilities, parkland and other park projects, police and public works facilities, street
lighting, sidewalks, drainage and flood control, traffic and parking and other public
improvements.
The City Council and Staff discussed the proposed 2007 budget.
Mayor Ballanfant expressed a desire to reduce the operating budget from 19.4 cents to 19
cents.
City Manager Michael Ross stated that the proposed operating budget is at 19.4 cents
down from 20.4 cents for 2006.
Council Member Segal addressed salary and benefits. He commented that he just
recently learned that the salary ranges that the Council sets could be exceeded by some
one-time payments, which are in effect bonuses. A 3% overall raise was developed that
the Council understood would be between 3% and 5%. Some employees who got 5% and
a one-time bonus would have more actual cash compensation in that year and exceed the
range specified.
Mr. Ross stated that this year the Staff has framed, for Council?s approval, the one-time
pay adjustments as an incentive, $15,000 lump sum budget for extraordinary efforts by
employees during that evaluation period.
City Council Special Session, September 30, 2006
Council Member Segal stated that the current pay-grades did not give the Council enough
flexibility and that the ER-1, 2, and 3 should be restricted to the Department Heads. He
suggested that the Council consider setting up a new pay-grade called ER and should start
just below ER 1, so that ER-1, 2, and 3 would remain with the Department Heads and the
new grade ER would bridge the gap between grade 43 and the Department Heads. This
new pay-grade for mid-level executives could be a range from $65,000-$80,000.
Mr. Ross commented that the Staff could set up the new pay-grade however the Council
would like. He stated that one of the things that the Staff was proposing for 2007 was
creating a new position of IT Manager that might be at the level similar to the new one.
The City Council agreed that the new pay-grade for ER-1 should be changed for mid-
level executives with an adjustment to the pay range. ER-4 would be created for the top-
level position.
The Staff and Council reviewed each Department?s proposed budget and staffing
changes. In the Parks and Recreation Department, the Council agreed that the
Maintenance Worker I should be transferred from the vacant Public Works position and
the Administrative Assistant should be reclassified to Administrative Manager. They also
agreed that the Recreation Specialist should be budgeted for mid-year with a review of
the position at that time and approved by Council prior to hiring to fill the position.
The City Council approved the transfer of the IT/Communication Manager from the Fire
Department to Administration.
The City Council addressed the proposed Capital Projects including the public safety
improvements and emergency operation center, College area improvements,
infrastructure program, sidewalks and contingencies.
The City Council requested an update on the sidewalk projects, including an explanation
of how much work will be completed under current contracts, how much is planned with
available funds under future contracts (or amendments) and how much might remain
undone. The location of work falling in the latter two categories was also requested.
There were also questions about how much funding had been committed, was available
from earmarked funds and might be needed from future funding to finish the current
Sidewalk Master Plan.
The Staff will provide this information in the next few weeks.
Council Member Woods left the meeting at 1:15 p.m.
Adjournment.
With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made
by Council Member Segal, seconded by Council Member Yehle, to adjourn.
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City Council Special Session, September 30, 2006
A vote was taken on the motion with the following result:
Voting Aye: Mayor Ballanfant, Council Members Segal and Yehle
Voting Nay: None
Absent: Council Members Cohen and Woods
The Council meeting adjourned at 1:52 p.m.
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