Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2000-08-04 Minutes MINUTES OF THE BUDGET WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, HELD AT GARRETT CREEK RANCH CONFERENCE CENTER, 270 PRIVATE ROAD 3475, PARADISE, TEXAS - AUGUST 4-5, 2000 Present: City Council: Charles Scoma Lyle E. Welch Russell Mitchell Frank Metts, Jr. JoAnn Johnson Don Phifer Joe D. Tolbert 1. Oscar Trevino, Jr. Mayor Mayor Pro T em Cou ncilmember Cou ncilmember Cou ncilmember Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember Staff: Larry J. Cunningham Randy Shiflet Steve Norwood Greg Vick Patricia Hutson Rex McEntire Paulette Hartman Karen Bostic Larry Koonce Margaret Ragus Andy Jones Tom Shockley John Pistick Jim Wilkins Jenny Kratz Jonita Morrow Greg Dickens Jim Browne Steve Brown Pam Burney Terry Kinzie Thomas Powell City Manager Deputy City Manager Assistant City Manager Managing Director Community Services City Secretary Attorney Assistant to City Manager Budget Director Finance Director Budget Analyst Fire Chief Police Chief Community Services Director Court Administrator Public Information Director Acting Human Resources Director Public Works Director Park and Recreation Director Library Director Environmental Services Director Information Services Director Support Services Director CALL TO ORDER Mayor Scoma called the Council Budget Work Session to order August 4,2000 at 3:07 p.m. All Council Members were present except for Councilmen Metts and Mitchell. Councilman Mitchell was present at 3:30 p.m. and Councilman Metts was present at 5:50 p.m. The City Council Budget Work Session Minutes August 4-5, 2000 Page 2 of 5 Manager introduced the 2000/01 proposed budget and outlined the presentations to be given by Staff. The Council was presented a video presentation that highlighted the accomplishments of the current fiscal budget year. Mr. Norwood addressed the Council goals and highlighted the accomplishments made by the City departments to reach the goals set by the Council. Ms. Bostic presented a financial overview of the proposed 2000/01 budget. The proposed budget maintains the current tax rate of 57 cents per $100 taxable property value, increases the senior/disabled exemption to $35,000, increases NRH20 gate admission by 50 cents and contains a budget increase of 3.7% for all funds. The City Manager presented the highlights of the 1999/2000 revised budget and highlighted additional 1999/2000 proposed service enhancements to be funded through the Incentive Cost Savings Program. The additional enhancements included the allocation of additional funds to the Equipment Replacement Reserve, the purchase of software for Planning & Inspections to improve customer service and departmental operations, purchase of security cameras for the Library to provide surveillance and deter theft, purchase of additional library materials, and purchase of wastewater camera system for the Public Works Department to replace an outdated system. The proposed new service enhancements and programs for next fiscal year were identified and discussed by the City Manager. Proposed service enhancements highlighted included: 1) Expansion of Crime Control District and police services to include one detention officer, four police officers with vehicles, and a police sergeant with a vehicle - contingent upon CCD renewal; 2) Expansion of Consumer Health Inspection Program to include an additional consumer health inspector; 3) Improve safety of fire services by adding disinfect rooms to fire stations one, two and four, installation of Jake Brake Systems in 5 engines and 1 aerial apparatus; 4) building a community identity by adding 50 additional NRH Christmas banners to be placed along Highway 26 during the holiday season and entryway signs to be placed at the major corridors into the City; 5) expansion of utility inspection program to meet increased demand for services by the addition of a full time Utility/Right-of- Way Inspector; 6) Continuation of "Pay As You Go" projects with the addition of $550,000 to the fund to increase the balance to $1,250,000 and the approval of $50,000 from this fund into the Capital Improvements Project Budget to establish the sidewalk fund approved by the City Council with the adoption of the Sidewalk Policy in June; 7) Continuation of Funding for 10 Year Major Capital Replacement Plan and add funding to the Equipment Replacement Fund as originally projected for the 2000/01 fiscal year in the amount of $125,000 from the General Fund and $62,500 from the Utility Fund for a total of $187,500; 8) enhance customer service in the Municipal Court by adding a full time Court Records Clerk for half of the fiscal year; 9) enhance administrative operations with the addition of a part-time secretary; 10) expand park maintenance services by upgrading 3 part-time maintenance workers and providing additional maintenance equipment; 11) support cultural arts program by providing resources to assist in the development of partnerships in the community and providing a mobile sound shell stage for outdoor events; 12) enhance senior services by adding a second part-time Senior Center Attendant to help provide adequate staffing at both senior centers; 13) expansion of traffic control program (due to TxDOT turning over the maintenance and repair of all traffic control Council Budget Work Session Minutes August 4-5, 2000 Page 3 of 5 signal lights located on state highway systems within city limits) by adding a full time traffic technician to meet the increased workload. Mr. Shiflet presented the personnel improvements for 2000/01, which included the continuation of the annual market pay range adjustment and the addition of orthodontics to the dental plan. Mayor Scoma recessed the work session at 4:20 p.m. and called the meeting back to order at 4:35 p.m. Mayor Scoma announced that the Crime Control Board and Prevention District would be convening during the Budget Work Session. The Council reviewed the Budget Summaries for the General Fund and Staff responded to their questions. Councilwoman Johnson requested that in the future budget work sessions, the Council be provided with a sheet summarizing all of the reserves. The Council then reviewed and discussed the departmental budgets and the non-departmental budget. There was some discussion on the City being required by TxDOT to take over the maintenance of the traffic signals on the state highways in the city limits. Council felt that efforts should be made to initiate legislation that would prevent cities from being required to take over an unfunded mandate imposed by the State. Mayor Scoma recessed the work session at 6:37 p.m. and called it back to order at 7:30 p.m. The Council continued their review and discussion of the funds. There was discussion on the possibility of the City taking over the operations and maintenance of the Golf Course. Staff advised the Council that they were in the process of evaluating and analyzing private management versus city management and would be presenting their findings to the Council at a later date. The Council reached a consensus of maintaining the current tax rate of 57¢ per $100 valuation and had no objections or additions to the recommended additions to the revised 1999/2000 budget or the proposed service enhancements as outlined in the budget transmittal letter. Mayor Scoma recessed the meeting at 8:09 p.m. Mayor Scoma called the work session back to order on August 5 at 8:03 a.m. with the same members present as recorded. The Council continued their discussion from the previous day of the budget summaries for the remaining funds. The Mayor questioned whether the outsourcing of custodial services had been considered. Council was advised that Staff was evaluating the cost effectiveness of the city's custodial services, but had not yet completed the evaluation. The Mayor questioned whether the City had considered bringing in to the Service Center vehicles from other entities for service. Staff advised that the Service Center would be unable to handle the servicing of other entities' vehicles without additional personnel and enlarging the current facilities. Councilwoman Johnson asked that before the sound stage is purchased, that it be evaluated to ensure that it will be sufficient to meet the needs of the city. Council Budget Work Session Minutes August 4-5, 2000 Page 4 of 5 Mayor Scoma recessed the budget work session at 9:55 a.m. Mayor Scoma called the work session back to order at 10:17 a.m. and announced that he was calling the Crime Control and Prevention District Budget Work Session to order. Mayor Scoma called the Budget Work Session back to order at 10:46 a.m. Mr. Jim Browne, Park and Recreation Director, presented an overview of the Park's Capital Improvements Program and the accomplishments of the program. He presented a summary of the revenues and expenditures from 1992/2000 and summarized the grants received by Parks. An overview was presented of the active projects approved and currently funded by the Council. Mr. Browne reviewed the program for NRH20. Mr. Vick presented the Miscellaneous Capital Improvement Projects for fiscal year 2000-01. The permanent capital maintenance projects consisted of the following building projects 1) hvac system replacement program; 2) Police Department interior renovation; 3) Parks and Recreation interior renovation; 4) Public Works Service Center interior renovation; 5) Fire Administration interior renovation; and 6) miscellaneous building improvements. Also included were Fire Station 5 land acquisition and design costs and Fire Station 1 Land acquisition costs. Major capital equipment programs consisted of NRH20 computer system replacement, 1987 E- One Engine Unit 33 replacement. Mr. Vick reviewed the Library and Recreation Center projects being funded by the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #2. Unfinanced capital projects were presented to the Council as informational items. Mayor Scoma recessed the meeting at 11 :43 a.m. and called the meeting back to order at 12:45 p.m. with the Council Members, City Manager's Administrative Staff and the Public Works Director present. The Public Works Director presented the Street/Drainage/Utility Capital Improvements Program for fiscal year 2000-01. The Council was briefed on the continuing street projects, new street projects, continuing drainage projects, new drainage projects, continuing utility projects and new utility projects. It was suggested that consideration be given to starting projects in the summer months rather than the winter months; it was felt cost savings could be realized by starting in the winter months rather than the summer months. It was also suggested that the Traffic Study Ordinance be reviewed to ensure that it did not contain any loopholes. The City Manager also advised that over the next several months Staff will be developing a capital projects plan. Staff will be bringing forward to the Council a plan for all of the projects that are anticipated in the next five years and financing options. The Council agreed to the capital project items as presented by Staff. Mayor Scoma announced at 1 :40 p.m. that the work session would adjourn to Executive Council Budget Work Session Minutes August 4-5, 2000 Page 5 of 5 Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters as authorized by Section 551.074 of the Local Government Code. The executive session adjourned at 2:40 p.m, with no action needed. APPROVED: ATTEST: aæát&¿¿ ~ Patricia Hutson - City Secretary