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HomeMy WebLinkAbout230925 CC MinThe City of West University Place A Neighborhood City CITY COUNCIL STAFF Susan Sample, Mayor David J. Beach, City Manager John Montgomery, Mayor Pro Tem Scott Bounds, Olson and Olson, City Attorney Shannon Carroll, Councilmember Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary Clay Brett, Councilmember Matt Hart, Councilmember CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES The City Council of the City of West University Place, Texas, met on Monday, September 25, 2023, at 6:30 p.m., in the Municipal Building at 3800 University Boulevard, for the purpose of considering the agenda of items listed. The meeting was held in person and via Zoom. Agenda items were as follows: 1. Call Meeting to Order Mayor Sample called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Council in attendance were Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery and Councilmembers, Carroll, Brett, and Hart. Staff in attendance were City Manager Beach, City Secretary Gilliam, City Attorney Bounds, Fire Chief Maxwell, Assistant to the City Manager Bishop, Public Works Director Cameron, Finance Director Kalka, Parks and Recreation Director White, HR Director Urban, IT Director Brown, and Police Chief Walker. Dale Clark, Landscape Architect with Burditt, was also present. 2. Pledge of Allegiance Councilmember Carroll led the Pledge. 3. Public Comments This is an opportunity for citizens to speak to the Council relating to agenda and non-agenda items. Speakers are required to register in advance and must limit their presentations to three minutes each. Alida Drewes, a resident who preferred not to provide address, spoke regarding line items in the proposed budget, seniors, and dog parks. 4. Wier Park Landscape Architecture Services Matters related to architecture services related to Wier Park landscaping. Recommended Action: Approve Friends of West University Park Fund expenditure in an amount not to exceed $75,000 for landscape architecture services and authorize the city manager to execute the professional services contract with Burditt Consultants, LLC, for $72,000. Ms. Susan White, Parks and Recreation Director After Parks and Recreation Director White presented this item, Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to approve the Friends of West University Park Fund expenditure in an amount not to exceed $75,000 for landscape architecture services and authorize the city manager to execute the professional services contract, after amending the contract to state “not to exceed $75,000, with Burditt Consultants, LLC, for $72,000. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None City Council Meeting Minutes, September 25, 2023 2 of 5 5. Professional Auditing Services Matters related to a contract for professional auditing services. Recommended Action: Approve a contract with Weaver and Tidwell, LLP, to provide professional audit services for fiscal year end 2023 with four optional one-year renewals and authorize the City Manager to execute a contract. Ms. Marie Kalka, Finance Director \ After Finance Director Kalka presented, Councilmember Hart moved to approve a contract with Weaver and Tidwell, LP, to provide professional audit services for fiscal year end 2023 with four optional one- year renewals and authorize the City Manager to execute the contract. Councilmember Brett seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None 6. Adoption of the 2024 Budget Matters related to adopting the 2024 Budget. Recommended Action (two separate actions): (1) Approve, by record vote, the ordinance adopting the 2024 Budget on first and final reading and (2) Ratify the property tax increase reflected in the Budget. Ms. Marie Kalka, Finance Director After discussion regarding the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) and the request by Mayor Sample to have a scale for the COLA so that people with lower salaries in the organization will get more than those higher in the organization, City Manager Beach said he and staff will work on options and bring back to Council. Finance Director Kalka confirmed that the budget could still be approved tonight as long as any changes made with COLA stays within the approved budgeted amount. A record vote was then made on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery and seconded by Councilmember Hart to approve the ordinance adopting the 2024 Budget on first and final reading. MOTION PASSED. Matt Hart Approve John Montgomery Approve Susan Sample Approve Shannon Carroll Approve Clay Brett Approve A record vote was then made on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery and second by Councilmember Brett to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the Budget. MOTION PASSED. Matt Hart Approve John Montgomery Approve Susan Sample Approve Shannon Carroll Approve Clay Brett Approve 7. Adoption of the 2023 Tax Rate Matters related to adopting the 2023 Tax Rate. Recommended Action (must be made in the following form in three separate actions): (a) I move that the tax rate of $0.182446 per $100 valuation be approved by Record Vote for the purposes of maintenance and operations. The tax rate will effectively be raised by 3.50 percent and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home by approximately $-10.22; (b) I move that the debt property tax rate of $0.078394 per $100 valuation be approved by Record Vote for the purposes of debt service; (c) I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.260840, which is effectively 2.81 percent increase in the tax rate. Ms. Marie Kalka, Finance Director City Council Meeting Minutes, September 25, 2023 3 of 5 After Finance Director Kalka presented. Councilmember Hart confirmed with Finance Director Kalka that the tax rate is decreasing, but the total amount of taxes being collected is increasing. Finance Director Kalka said she knows it is confusing, but that the city is required by law to use that language. The record votes were made with three motions as required by law: Councilmember Hart moved that the tax rate of $0.182446 per $100 valuation be approved by Record Vote for the purposes of maintenance and operations. The tax rate will effectively be raised by 3.50 percent and will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home by approximately $- 10.22. Councilmember Montgomery seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Clay Brett Approve Shannon Carroll Approve Susan Sample Approve John Montgomery Approve Matt Hart Approve Councilmember Hart moved that the debt property tax rate of $0.078394 per $100 valuation be approved by Record Vote for the purposes of debt service. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Clay Brett Approve Shannon Carroll Approve Susan Sample Approve John Montgomery Approve Matt Hart Approve Councilmember Carroll moved that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.260840, which is effectively a 2.81 percent increase in the tax rate and adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Brett seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Clay Brett Approve Shannon Carroll Approve Susan Sample Approve John Montgomery Approve Matt Hart Approve 8. Capital Improvement Plan – FY 2024-2028 Matters related to adoption of the FY 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Plan. Recommended Action: Accept the Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2024-2028. Ms. Marie Kalka, Finance Director After Finance Director Kalka presented, Councilmember Carroll moved to accept the Capital Improvement Plan for FY 2024-2028. Councilmember Hart seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None City Council Meeting Minutes, September 25, 2023 4 of 5 9. Resolution Adopting the 2024 Fee Schedule Matters related to a resolution adopting the 2024 Fee Schedule. Recommended Action: Approve resolution adopting the 2024 Fee Schedule. Ms. Marie Kalka, Finance Director After Finance Director Kalka presented, Mayor Pro Tem Montgomery moved to approve the resolution adopting the 2024 Fee Schedule. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None 10. November and December City Council Meeting Dates Matters related to changing the second Monday meeting dates in November and December to the first Monday in November and December due to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for 2023 and until changed by Council. Recommended Action: Reschedule the meeting on November 27, 2023, to November 6, 2023, reschedule the meeting on December 25 to December 4, 2023, and reschedule all future November and December meetings held the fourth Monday to the first Monday, until changed by Council. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager After City Manager Beach presented, Councilmember Brett moved to reschedule the meeting on November 27, 2023, to November 6, 2023, reschedule the meeting on December 25 to December 4, 2023, and reschedule all future November and December meetings held the fourth Monday to the first Monday, until changed by Council. Councilmember Carroll seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None 11. Consent Agenda All Consent Agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Councilmember requests an item be removed from the Consent Agenda and be considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. A. City Council Meeting Minutes Matters related to approving the City Council Minutes of August 14, 2023. Recommended Action: Approve City Council Minutes of August 14, 2023. Ms. Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary B. City Council Meeting Minutes Matters related to approving the City Council Minutes of September 11, 2023, Special Meeting of September 15, 2023, Special Meeting of September 18, 2023, and Special Meeting of September 20, 2023. Recommended Action: Approve all sets of Minutes as presented Ms. Thelma Gilliam, City Secretary C. Microsoft Licensing Renewal Matters related to renewal of the city’s licensing agreement with Microsoft. Recommended Action: Approve the Microsoft licensing renewal agreement for a period of one year and authorize the city manager to make payment to SHI Government Solutions, Inc., in the amount of $66,977.74. Mr. Russell Brown, IT Director City Council Meeting Minutes, September 25, 2023 5 of 5 D. Harris County Appraisal District (HCAD) Board Member Nomination Matters related to the appointment of a member to the HCAD Board of Directors. Recommended Action: Approve the nomination of Mike Sullivan to represent cities other than Houston on the HCAD Board of Directors. Mr. Dave Beach, City Manager Councilmember Carroll moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Councilmember Brett seconded the motion. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Sample, Montgomery, Brett, Carroll, Hart Noes: None Absent: None 12. Recess Meeting and Convene Executive Session City Council will recess to conduct a private consultation with its attorney in a closed meeting permitted by Section 551.071, Tex. Gov’t Code about: 1. City of West University Place v. DV1, LLC and Brent Franklin, Cause No. 2023-63640, Harris County, Texas; and 2. City of West University Place v. Thomas Tran Park, Cause No. 2023-08661, Harris County, Texas. At 6:55 Mayor Sample recessed the regular meeting and convened an executive session. 13. Adjourn Executive Session and Reconvene Meeting Matters related to any action resulting from Executive Session deliberation. At approximately 7:40 p.m., Mayor Sample adjourned the executive session and reconvened the regular meeting. No action was taken. 14. Adjourn Meeting With no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 7:40 p.m. Audio of the meeting is temporarily on the City’s website. If the audio is no longer on the website, you can obtain a copy, and any presentation, from the City Secretary’s office. Prepared by: Thelma A. Gilliam, TRMC, City Secretary Council Approved: October 9, 2023