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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 1997-08-02 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, ROUTE 2, PARADISE, TEXAS - AUGUST 2-3, 1997 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Brown called the Budget Work Session to order August 2, 1997 at 8:00 a.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Tommy Brown Byron Sibbet Lyle E. Welch Mack Garvin Frank Metts, Jr. JoAnn Johnson Don Phifer Cheryl Cowen Lyman Staff: Larry Cunningham Randy Shiflet Patricia Hutson Rex McEntire James D. Saint Larry Koonce Debbie Durko Margaret Ragus Stan Gertz Jerry McGlasson Marty Wieder Jim Wilkins Melani Fragge Greg Dickens Jim Browne Steve Brown Pam Burney Barry LeBaron Terry Kinzie Thomas Powell Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Councilman Councilman Councilman Councilwoman Councilman Councilwoman City Manager Assistant City Manager City Secretary Attorney Assistant to the City Manager Finance Director Budget Coordinator Budget Analyst Fire Chief Police Chief Director of Economic Development Court Administrator Human Resources Director Public Works Director Parks and Recreation Director Library Director Environmental Services Director Planning & Inspections Director Information Services Director Support Services Director The City Manager introduced the 1997/98 proposed budget. The Council was presented a video presentation that reviewed the accomplishments for the 1996/97 City Council Work Session Minutes August 2-3, 1997 Page 2 budget year. Mr. Koonce presented an overview of the 1997-98 budget and the proposed new service enhancements and programs for next fiscal year. Mr. Koonce advised the proposed budget maintained the current tax rate of 57 cents. Mayor Brown recognized the representatives present from the Police and Fire Associations. Mayor Brown recessed the work session at 9:10 a.m. and called the meeting back to order at 9:33 a.m. with the same members present. Mayor Brown announced that the Crime Control Board would meet later in the day in conjunction with the City Council Budget Work Session. The City Council Members discussed their priorities and goals for the 1997/98 budget year. Councilwoman Lyman wanted the staff to continue presenting to Council items in an automated format. Councilwoman Johnson expressed appreciation for the funding of the history project in the proposed budget. She expressed concerns about what the City has done in the area of history preservation in comparison with what other cities have done. She will be bringing this up for discussion at a future Council meeting. Councilman Garvin expressed concerns about the Council letting future needs go unattended in order to keep from raising taxes. He felt Council needed to consider fiscal responsibilities. Councilman Welch agreed with Councilman Garvin. The Council began the review of the departmental budgets and Staff answered their questions. The Council discussed the City Secretary's Decision Package request for an imaging system. Mayor Pro Tem Sibbet advised he would like to see this program incorporated into the budget. Councilman Garvin advised that they could fund it from savings in the Council's Hospitalization Insurance Account. Councilwoman Johnson felt that the imaging system could also be utilized in the preservation of records for the City's history. The consensus of the Council was to include the imaging system for the City Secretary's Office in the budget and to fund it from savings in the Council Insurance account. Councilwoman Johnson wanted Council to consider adding an additional position in Citicable next budget year. The City Manager advised that a reorganization of the department was under consideration and the proposed changes would provide additional support to Citicable. City Council Work Session Minutes August 2-3, 1997 Page 3 Mayor Pro Tem Sibbet questioned whether the franchise fees from Marcus Cable was continuing to decrease. The City Manager advised of the plans that Marcus had to market their services. Mayor Pro Tem Sibbet expressed concerns about Marcus not performing as they had promised the Council. The City Manager advised he could request them to submit a report to the Council. The Council discussed the citizen complaints being received on Marcus and how Marcus was handling those complaints. Councilman Welch questioned Judge's Oujesky's request for an additional position in the Court. Mr. Cunningham advised that Judge Oujesky felt an additional person was needed in Court. The Council discussed where they could fund the position. They discussed the possibility of funding it from the anticipated decrease in overtime and the increase in revenues. Councilman Welch questioned whether the Court was considered part of the police function and if crime tax money could be applied to the Court. Mayor Brown suggested cross-training people from other departments to help in Court. Council discussed the need for checks and balances to keep the Court function separate from the Police function. Mayor Pro Tem Sibbet expressed concerns about the appearance of the City and advised he would like to see Code Enforcement become a seven-day operation. In response to Council questions about the enforcement of code violations, Staff advised that because the two Code Enforcement Officers are busy from April through August with high grass and weed complaints, junk cars and other code violations take a lower priority. Councilwoman Johnson asked for a report on how many complaints are received. The Council discussed different methods of enforcing and handling complaints and looking at the methods other cities are using. The Council discussed that some ordinances do not address the area of the complaints being received. There was discussion concerning what was public record in the area of complaints. The Council wanted Staff to maintain as much confidentially as possible when handling complaints. Mayor Brown called a recess at 10:45 a.m. The meeting was called back to order at 11 :05 a.m. with the same members present. The Council continued their discussion of the general fund revenues and expenditures. Mayor Brown recessed the meeting at 11 :41 a.m. and called the meeting back to order at 1 :12 p.m. with the same members present. The Council reviewed and discussed the Enterprise Funds and Internal Service Funds. There was discussion concerning the progress on the installation of the electronic meters. Mr. Koonce discussed with the Council the proposed plan for building services City Council Work Session Minutes August 2-3, 1997 Page 4 and equipment replacement. He advised this was included in the Capital Projects Budget. He presented the objectives of the plan and explained how it was developed. The Council discussed the Self-Insurance Fund. In response to Council questions concerning reserves, the City Manager advised an actuarial analysis needed to be done to determine if there were adequate reserves. Mayor Brown recessed the meeting at 2:04 p.m. and called the meeting back to order at 2:24 p.m. with the same members present. The Council discussed the Information Services Fund. Staff advised they would be bringing recommendations to the Council for the General Services Finance Computer and the Public Safety Computer. Staff advised they were doing requests for proposals for the Library Computer. The Council discussed the Park and Recreation Facilities Development Fund. Mayor Brown advised he would like for the completion of the park by the Mall to coincide with the Hospital opening. The Council discussed the funding of the history project in the Promotional Fund. The Council did not have any questions concerning the Donations Fund, Drainage Utility Fund or Special Investigation Fund. Mayor Brown announced at 2:26 p.m. that he was recessing the Budget Work Session and calling the Crime Control and Prevention District Budget Work Session to order. Mayor Brown called the Budget Work Session back to order at 3:58 p.m. Councilwoman Lyman moved, seconded by Councilman Phifer, to approve the 57¢ tax rate and to accept the Operating Budget as presented with the following additions: 1) funding of the imaging system requested by the City Secretary in the amount of $16,000, funded by decreasing the City Council Insurance account and 2) funding of an additional administrative clerk position for Municipal Court. Motion carried 7-0. The Public Works Director presented the Capital Projects Budget. Mr. Dickens discussed the CIP program with the Council. He presented the street, drainage and utility projects, their status and a summary of their costs. Mayor Brown requested that Staff stay abreast of the CDBG program and be prepared to recommend streets for the program. City Council Work Session Minutes August 2-3, 1997 Page 5 Mayor Brown recessed the work session at 4:20 p.m. Mayor Brown called the work session back to order on August 3, 1997 at 8:05 a.m. The following Council Members were present: Mayor Brown, Mayor Pro Tem Sibbet, Councilmen Welch, Garvin, Metts, and Phifer, and Councilwomen Johnson and Lyman. The following staff members were present: Larry Cunningham, Randy Shiflet, Patricia Hutson, Larry Koonce, James Saint, Debbie Durko, Margaret Ragus, Jim Browne and Steve Brown. The Library Director presented the need for a long range plan for the Library and the need to expand shelf capacity. He discussed the need to replace existing carpet and lighting and to plan for the continued growth of the library. He discussed the Library's collections and advised of the Library Board's goal of 2.5 volumes per capita by fiscal year 2003. He presented the collection growth plan for the next five years. He felt to meet short term needs, the existing shelving could be rearranged to use the space more efficiently and an additional 40 shelf unit could be added. He discussed the Library facility being too small to meet the long-term goals and discussed possible options. He advised that funds are being requested for professional fees for facility planners, architects and engineers to study and make recommendations. Staff answered Council's questions. Mayor Brown called a break at 8:41 a.m. and called the work session back to order at 8:50 a.m. with the same members present. The Parks Director presented the Capital Projects for the Parks and Recreation Development Corporation Budget. Mr. Browne presented a video presentation of the accomplishments for the preceding five years, a summary of the revenues and expenses, discussed the grants received, highlights of the 1997/98 CIP Budget and presented each capital improvement project. Staff answered Council's questions. There being no further business, Mayor Brown adjourned the work session at 9:35 a.m. ~~ Tommy Br;~aYOr ATTEST: ~;JlzpvNti ~ Patricia Hutson - City Secretary