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Home My WebLink AboutCC 2001-07-27 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 - JULY 27-28, 2001 Present: City Council: Charles Scoma Lyle E. Welch Russell Mitchell Frank Metts, Jr. JoAnn Johnson David Whitson Joe D. Tolbert T. Oscar Trevino, Jr. Mayor Mayor Pro Tern Councilmember Councilmember Councilmember 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 Clay Caruthers Andy Jones Tom Shockley John Pistick Jim Wilkins Jenny Kratz Patrick Hillis Mike Curtis 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 Internal Auditor/Financial Analyst Fire Chief Police Chief Community Services Director Court Administrator Public Information Director Human Resources Director Public Works Director Park and Recreation Director Library Director Environmental Services Director Information Services Director Support Services Director Council Budget Work Session Minutes July 27-28, 2001 Page 2 of6 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Scoma called the Council Budget Work Session to order July 27,2001 at 1 :00 p.m. All Council Members were present except for Councilman Mitchell. Councilman Mitchell was present at 3:55 p.m. Mayor Scoma announced that the Crime Control and Prevention District Board would be convening during the Budget Work Session. The City Manager introduced the 2001/02 proposed budget and outlined the presentations to be given by Staff. The Council was presented a video presentation that highlighted the accomplishments and activities of the current fiscal year. Following the video, Mr. Cunningham presented the economic outlook of the City for the upcoming fiscal year and some of the challenges facing the City. Council was advised that sales taxes were projected to be "flat" for the coming year. This is a result of a slight slowing of the economy and the relocation of several businesses to other cities. The City is also faced with increases in the cost of doing business in the areas of electricity, natural gas, postage, uniforms, water/sewer and gasoline. With new construction and business projects currently underway or that will be under construction in 2002, it is anticipated that the economic outlook for 2002/03 will be improved. Ms. Karen Bostic presented the financial overview of the revised current year budget and the proposed 2001/02 operating budget. The proposed budget maintains the current tax rate of 57¢ per $100 valuation. Highlights of the proposed budget include: · No increase projected in amount of sales tax revenue to be received next year · Increase in citywide revenues projected at 8.8% over current year adopted · Increase in citywide expenditures projected at 8.1 % over current year adopted · Increase reserve for pay as you go capital projects making next year's contribution $681,619 · Operating Budget includes service enhancements totaling over $730,000 · Inclusion of a 5 cent pass through water and sewer rate increase in the Utility Fund Reserves · A proposed 3% increase in licenses, permits and charges for service in accordance with the fee study conducted last year and in accordance with the CPI. Mr. Cunningham presented the highlights of the 2000/01 revised budget and highlighted additional service enhancements to be funded through cost savings. Enhancements in the revised budget include: · Increase funding for annual street overlay program · Funding for the City's share of the matching cost to participate in the Job Access and Reverse Commuter Grant through the North Central Texas Council of Governments · Technology upgrade - funding to enter into a joint purchasing agreement with the State of Texas to upgrade desktops. · Involvement in transportation issues - funding to continue participation in TEX-21 · Pentab computers for Environmental Services' Health Inspectors. · Editing software for Citicable Council Budget Work Session Minutes July 27-28,2001 Page 3 of 6 · Replace computer image projector for Council Chambers · Start collection for Branch Library · Professional Auditing Services to assist Staff in implementing new financial auditing requirements (GASB 34). The proposed new service and program enhancements for next fiscal year were identified and discussed by the City Manager. Proposed service enhancements recommended in the 2001/02 proposed budget include: Council Goal #1: Safety & Security · Implementation of Fire Study (ladder truck staffing, mechanic's assistant, ambulance stipend) · Improvements to Police Services (detention officer, 2 patrol vehicles, Crime Stoppers, Women's Haven & Challenge donations) Council Goal #3: Quality Redevelopment & Reinvestment · Revitalizing South Hwy. 26 (comprehensive plan) · Conserving Smithfield Area (comprehensive plan) Council Goal #4: Financially Responsible City Government · Increase "Pay As You Go" · CCD Transition Fund 10 year goal Council Goal #5: Quality of Life Amenities for the Community · Enhance customer service at Animal Shelter · Sports and tourism in NRH (Games of Texas) · Enhanced park maintenance (purchase of additional equipment) Council Goal #6: Effective Transportation System · Commuter Rail Service in Northeast Tarrant (Trinity Railway Express) Mr. Patrick Hillis gave an overview of the proposed enhancements in Human Resources. Enhancements consist of: · Implementation of 20 year retirement benefit · Conduct extensive compensation and classification study · Continue support for the annual market adjustments for all positions · Initiate a new employee appreciation program. Mayor Scoma recessed the work session at 2:30 p.m. and called the meeting back to order at 2:45 p.m. The Council reviewed and discussed the departmental budgets and the non-departmental budgets. Items discussed by the Council in the departmental budgets included: · Communications - Question by Council on Citicable equipment rental versus buying. Staff was asked to explore the lease/purchase of some of the equipment. Mayor Council Budget Work Session Minutes July 27-28, 2001 Page 4 of 6 asked that Citicable goals be revised to include providing weekly press releases on a monthly or bimonthly basis and to place a high priority on the number of news releases issued. · City Secretary - status of the imaging program. · Finance - discussion on ambulance billing expenses and the collection of ambulance bills - increase in fees due to increase in collections. · Budget - discussion on increase in tax attorney's fees for collecting delinquent taxes - increase due to increase in collections resulting in fee increases. Council also discussed sales tax monies not being credited to the proper city. Staff explained the procedures in place to audit sales tax revenues and ensure that the City is receiving proper credit. · Municipal Court - discussed the feasibility of expanding hours of operation. City Manager advised that management was exploring this idea with the Court Administrator. Mr. Wilkins also advised that state legislation was passed the last legislative session that allows for court customers to transact business over the internet. Once this is implemented customers will be able to transact business 24n. · Library - discussion on subscription cost for on-line services. Library Director explained that a third party owns on-line services and back files. The cost for all subscriptions is $13,000. · Public Works - discussion on whether there was a need to outside contract the signal light maintenance of the State highway signals. · Parks - discussion on the removal of graffiti within 24 hours and the reduction in after school programs. Council was advised that Staff was restructuring and reformatting the after school programs to improve services to the youth. The Mayor recessed the work session at 4:45 p.m. and called the meeting back to order at 5:00 p.m. The Council continued their review and discussion of the debt service fund, internal service funds and special revenue funds. Staff was asked to add to the Park goals the evaluation of the image study. 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 2000/01 budget or the proposed service enhancements as outlined in the budget transmittal letter. The Council was given an overview of the City's new website. Mayor Scoma announced at 6:30 p.m. that the work session would adjourn to Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters as authorized by Section 551.074 of the Local Government Code. The Executive Session adjourned at 6:52 p.m. with no action needed. Mayor Scoma called the work session back to order on July 28 at 8:05 a.m. with the same members present as recorded. Council Budget Work Session Minutes July 27-28,2001 Page 5 of6 The Council reviewed and discussed the Enterprise Funds - Utility, Aquatic Park and Golf. There was discussion on the anticipated rate increases from the City of Fort Worth for water and sewer. Mayor Scoma asked the Public Works Director to add to one of the goals for the Utility Fund a continuing focus on customer services. The Parks Director was asked to add a customer service goal to Aquatic Park Administration. Mayor Scoma felt that all departments in the City that deal with customer service should include customer service in their department goals. Mr. Shiflet reported on the Golf Course budget. There was discussion on the Donation Fund and consideration of increasing the voluntary donation from $1.00 to $1.50. The $1.50 would be split between the Library and Animal Shelter. The general public improvements donation would be eliminated and the budgeted amount of $16,000 would be incorporated back into the regular budget. The consensus of the Council was not to revise the proposed operating budget at this time, but to include it in next year's revised budget. Council further agreed to proceed with the implementation of the additional 50 cent donation and split 50/50 between the Library and Animal Shelter. Mayor Scoma recessed the budget work session at 9:45 a.m. Mayor Scoma called the work session back to order at 10:00 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 11: 10 a.m. All Council members were present and the following staff members present: Larry J. Cunningham, Randy Shiflet, Steve Norwood, Greg Vick, Patricia Hutson, Paulette Hartman, Karen Bostic, Margaret Ragus, Clay Caruthers, Larry Koonce, Thomas Powell, Mike Curtis, Jim Browne, Steve Brown, Andy Jones, Patrick Hillis and Terry Kinzie. Mike Curtis presented a power point presentation of the proposed Public Works Capital Improvement budget. Highlights were given of street and sidewalk capital projects, which included continuing projects, new projects and future projects. There was some discussion on the Susan Lee improvements as they relate to the expansion plans of Huggins Honda. Council discussed whether the street should continue to IH 820 frontage road as concrete or whether there should be a transition of asphalt. The consensus of the Council was for the Public Works Director to work with the contractor and at the point of the new property line for Huggins Honda begin a transition of concrete to asphalt. Consensus was to also stop the sidewalks at Huggins Honda's new property line (north property line of Wilson house). The Council reviewed the permanent street and sidewalk maintenance funds. Highlights were also given of the Drainage Capital Projects, which included continuing projects, new projects, future projects and sources of funds. Mayor Scoma recessed the work session at 11 :50 a.m. and called the work session back to order at 12:25 p.m. The Public Works Director highlighted the 2001/02 Utility Capital Projects, which included continuing projects, new projects and future projects. Council Budget Work Session Minutes July 27-28,2001 Page 6 of 6 Mr. Thomas Powell briefed the Council on the 2001/02 Municipal Facility Projects budget. There was a brief discussion on the Major Capital Equipment program. Mr. Kinzie briefly discussed with the Council the proposal for a citywide document imaging system. Mr. Jim Browne presented a power point presentation of the Park and Recreation Facility program. The presentation included a summary of revenue and expenditures 1992-2001, projects completed in 2001, active projects, and highlights of the 2001/02 CIP budget for parks. There was considerable discussion by the Council on improvements to the Dan Echols Senior Adult Center. The Council supported the expansion of the Dan Echols Senior Center and discussed their desire for the expansion to be included in the 2001/02 budget. The consensus of the Council was to increase the allocation for the Dan Echols Senior Center expansion to $50,000; the additional $25,000 to be funded from the Parks Supplemental Projects fund Mr. Browne highlighted the Capital Improvement program for NRH20 including the continuing projects, new projects and summarized the revenues, expenditures and reserves. Mr. Koonce briefed the Council on future CIP considerations. Council was advised that consideration needed to be given to project selection and funding. Mr. Koonce suggested that Council might want to consider the establishment of a Citizen Committee to receive citizen input on priorities. The consensus of the Council was to appoint a citizens committee to present a list of priorities to the Council. Councilman Trevino inquired if a date had been set with Mr. Lyle Sumek for a follow-up to the Goals Work Session for the purpose of expanding on the core organizational values and City Manager and City Secretary evaluations. Mr. Cunningham advised that Staff was waiting for a confirmation from Mr. Sumek for a date in late August. City Council will be advised of the date as soon as Mr. Sumek confirms. Mayor Scoma adjourned the budget work session at 2:20 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: ~~ .~~ (;/ {Ji/¿( (!/a,. Patricia Hutson - City Secretary