MIN CC 09/15/1992CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 BOOK "R" 113
ivBNtff'ES Of? THE 3VItt ,
THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LOCATED AT 1212 AVENUE M IN THE CITY OF HUNTSVILLE� COUNTY
OF WALKER, TEXAS AT 5:15 P.M.
The Council met in a regular session with the following members present:
W. H. Hodges, Mayor Officers:
Dan S. Davis William H. Knotts, Jr. Gene Pipes, City Manager
Ronald L. Lange
Gary Bell
William B. Green
James L. Carter
Charles Robinson
Ila G. Gaines
Scott Bounds, City Attorney
Melba Byers, City Secretary
CITIZENS INPUTANQUIRY
None. Mayor Hodges stated the next order of business would stmt specifically at 5:30 since it is a public hearing. We
will recess until 5:30 P.M.
REGULAR SESSION - CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hodges called the regular session to order. Invocation by City Attorney Scott Bounds.
CONSIDER MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER S, 1992
Councilmember Davis made a motion to approve the minutes of September 8, 1992, and Councilmember Knotts
seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed unanimously.
Public Hearine. Mayor Hodges stated. It is 5:30 and a public hearing is open for comments from citizens on the fiscal
year 1992 -1993 Budget, Tax Rate, Utility and Sanitation Rate. No citizens present. Mayor Hodges closed the public hearing.
ATTENDING CITIZENS
None.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 92.9.15.1
This Ordinance is to consider approving and adopting the Operating and Capital Improvements Budget for the City of
Huntsville, Texas, for the period of October 1, 1992 through September 30, 1993. The General Fund is $6,724,466; the General
Debt Service Fund is $857,406; the Water and Sewer Fund is $5,911,367; and the Sanitation Fund is $1,866,321. Total Operations
Budget is $15,359,560. Also, the Capital Improvements Budget is as follows: Street Improvements $688,007; Water & Sewer
Projects $2,377,426; Downtown Revitalization $75,481; and the Transfer to the Debt Service is $173,094. The Total Capital
Improvements is $3,314,008. Councilmember Green made a motion to approve this ordinance with a second by Councilmember
Gaines. The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Hodges commented that he was very proud of Council, staff, and all of the people who helped put this budget
together. If you look at the net budget, last year's budget was $14,891,440 and this year's is $14,420.173 which is a decrease in
this year's city budget by 3.2%.
Councilmember Green voiced a concern of amending the budget after approval. City Manager Pipes stated that the
budget could be amended at any time. Quarterly budget adjustments are routinely done, Additionally, Council has granted the
City Manager authority to do adjustments up to certain limits, and all adjustments are brought back to council for consideration
and approval.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 92.9.15.2
This Ordinance is to consider adopting the 'Tax Rate and Levying Taxes. I am pleased to report again that it will remain
at .3844, stated Mayor Hodges. Again, I thank the city staff and council for their hard work. Councilmember Knotts made a
motion to approve this ordinance with a second by Councilmember Gaines. The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 92 -9.15.3
This Ordinance is to consider amending Chapter 17, Water and Sewers, increasing the rates for sewer service provided
by the City. Councilmember Green stated. Given the amount of work that has got to be done to upgrade our sewer plant, we
me recommending that the sewer rates for residential users be increased from a minimum charge of $8.15 to $9.15 and the usage
charge be increased from $1.60 to $1.80, which would represent a maximum increase for a residential user from $19.35 to $21.75.
This is an increase of a maximum by $2.40 a month. For the commercial users, we are recommending the same rates but there
is no maximum usage charge. For industrial users, we are recommending the rate go from $1.60 to $1.80 per 1,000 gallons of
water. Councilmember Green then stated, this is a motion to approve this ordinance. Councilmember Davis seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 92 -9 -15.4
This Ordinance is to consider amending Chapter 9, Garbage, Refuse and Rubbish, increasing rates for collection and
CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 1992
BOOK 'B"
114
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in the residential pickup charge of .40 per month, from $9.50 to $9.90 and likewise an increase in the basic fee at the landfill from
i� $2.30 per cubic yard to $3.40 per cubic yard, and all the other charges have been prorated on these recommendations. This is
j a motion to approve this ordinance, stated Councilmember Green which was followed by a second by Councilmember Robinson.
The motion passed unanimously.
Councilmember Bell voiced concerns about fees charged to non city residents, specifically Elkins Lake and Westridge
Subdivisions. I am requesting that a review be done on all rates in the immediate future.
CONSIDER ORDINANCE NO. 92.9.15.5
This Ordinance is to consider authorizing "Updated Service Credits" under the Texas Municipal Retirement System Act.
Councilmember Green stated, as you will recall, in the past we had chosen not to adopt an ordinance to give automatic updated
service credits. We have done this on a one year basis at Council's discretion. We are recommending that we do give updated '..
service credits, if for no other reason than it gives us a lower rate. If we do not give the updated service credits, our contribution'.:
rate would be 8.47% and by giving updated service credits, it drops to 8.41%. This is a motion to approve this ordinance stated
Councilmember Green, with a second by Councilmember Gaines. The motion passed unanimously.
Councilmember Bell stated he would like a more detailed explanation of "Updated Service Credits ". Patricia Allen,
Director of Finance, explained the calculation process in detail. Councilmember Bell than stated, so there is a short term rate
decrease but a long term expense. In talking with TMRS, as people retire and as people join the system and leave the system, "
that money stays in there and over the long term, the rate remains approximately the same rather than increase, stated Patricia
Allen. What we have seen since we have been in the plan is actually a decrease in annual rates that we are paying. This rate will j
fund the liability. This rate may not decrease but it should not increase,
CONSIDER MONTHLY TAX COLLECTION SUMMARY REPORT
This is consideration of ad valorem tax collection for the month of August, as adjusted, and needs Council action.
Councilmember Knotts made a motion to approve this report, with a second by Councilmember Bell. The motion passed
unanimously.
CONSIDER TAX SALE TRUST PROPERTIES
City Manager Pipes stated. There are two trustee sales on property for delinquent taxes. The first bid is for $800.00.
This is a half acre tract. Staff recommends your approval. Item number two staff recommends rejection because the size of the
property does not meet our lot standards and therefore would create permitting problems. It is also at the end of Crooks Road
and is adjacent to the City's 10th Street right -of -way, and for the $100 bid we should purchase this property and add to our street
inventory.
Mayor Hodges stated. Item No. 1 staff recommends approval. Councilmember Green made a motion to approve this
consideration with a secend by Councilmember Gaines. The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Hodges stated. Item No. 2 staff recommends rejection. Councilmember Green made a motion to reject this
consideration with a second by Councilmember Davis. The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER BID #92 -21
This is consideration of overhead doors for the Fire Station to Overhead Doors of Huntsville in the amount of $7,697.50,
as budgeted. Staff recommends acceptance of this bid. Councilmember Carter made a motion to approve this bid with a second 4
by Councilmember Gaines. The motion passed unanimously.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
City Manager Pipes brought to Council's attention the Schedule of Fall Meetings and Events outlining the expected
schedule through December. Also, an analysis of the critical dates and deadlines for the January election of officers is attached
for your consideration and information. Also, placed at your seats is a notice of appointment of Glenn Isbell as acting Director
of Planning due to the departure of Dale Brown. Also, placed at your seats is a comparison of last year's sales tax receipts to the
current year's receipts. This reflects a 5.9% increase over the same time period as last year. We are doing very well in the retail
sales area. Councilmember Bell pointed out that we only budgeted a 2% increase for next year and it looks good.
MAYOR'S ACTIVI'T'Y REPORT
CITY COUNCILMEMBER ACTION
Councilmember Carter stated, with the budget basically behind us, there are still some impending things that I don't -
think we devoted all the attention they deserve -- one being the management study. Not too long ago, I turned in what I
considered to be a personal statement which was intended to alert Council with questions I had. If anybody has a response to
it, I am still waiting to get those responses. Ninety-five questions occurred to me in the process of reading the management study.
Some of them are very specific in detail and probably wouldn't take a great deal of time and some of you might not care about
CITY COUNCIL MEEIYNG OF SEPTEMBER 15, 1992
some of Those q� esfious: "-$uTa some t m
'j what is in he management study [hat deserves further attention. I would ask the Council and the Mayor at some point to schedule
a meeting so we can talk about what we think ought to be done and even some of the changes we have made, including the
organization.
Councilmember Carter stated the Cultural Planning Commission brought in a report and in the near future Council
needs to sit down and talk about what we want to do on it.
Councilmember Cuter stated he felt an Engineer should not be a City Planner, no reflection on Glenn Isbell. At some
point in the near future, I think we need to give some serious thought to hiring a Planner. It took a long time for the planning
profession to remove architects and engineers from the position of planners and I don't want us to slip into the idea that an
engineer should be the planner for the city. Councilmember Knotts agreed.
Councilmember Davis stated he personally would like to echo the comments about both the management study and the
cultural plan. These are two important events that were undertaken this year and are still unfinished business, and I do agree that
we need to review both of those plans. Mayor Hodges stated, on the Cultural Plan, they will present their final document to us
within the next two or three weeks, and at that time each member of Council will need to spend two or three weeks studying it
and then get back together on their recommendations.
Councilmember Robinson wanted an update on the results of the tests given last Saturday by the Police Department.
City Manager Pipes stated that tests were given last Saturday by the Police Department for vacancies, which is the first step in
f; the procedure of employing police officers. The test is given at a certain date. All applicants are required to take the test, which
.i is a basic literacy, competence type exam. Chief Eckhardt stated they had a real good response. We had the highest pass ratio
that we have every had, about 80 %. I think after the test and the physicals there are still 59 people involved in the process. There
is a background packet, about 16 pages, that they have to fill out and we are waiting for those to start to come in. We allow them
about two weeks to turn in this packet. We'll probably do our process slightly different this time since so many applicants passed
the test. We will have an interview board first, and use that as a screening to screen down to about twenty applicants. There is
a polygraph examination and background investigation to do also.
BOOK "R" 115
' Councilmember Green stated, you said 80 %. Chief Eckhardt stated, there was an 80% pass on the examination. We
had around 100 applicants. In fact, the test before this one, over ninety applicants showed up for the exam. We are now using
a test by the International Personnel Manager's Association which has been upgraded and includes a study guide.
Councilmember Green made mention that on the Hotel/Motel Occupancy Report one motel reflected "zero" dollar
collection. He felt that should be pursued.
Councilmember Bell stated Nobel Prize Winner Betty Williams had requested to address council. I am requesting
consideration for an appropriate date for this to be an agenda item. Mayor Hodges stated that was fine and suggested September
22nd since there is a relatively short agenda.
Councilmember Bell stated that an executive session would follow the regular session with evaluations of Charter Officers
in the following order: City Attorney, Scott Bounds; City Secretary, Melba Byers; and City Manager, Gene Pipes.
Councilmember Gaines stated she would like to invite council to be sure and be present at some of the meetings with
P.G.A.L. architects on the 28th and 29th for the purpose of evolving conceptual plans for the Cultural Facility. I recognize the
fact that your schedules will probably not permit you to be there the entire time, but I think it is extremely important that you
try to make some of these meetings. This is the time when we are going to extend an invitation to all of the interested parties
that we know of by way of letter to invite them to come and be with us at that time. We will be sharing our concepts and ideas,
and the professionals will take that and come up with a rendering and feasibility study for us. So, I think it is extremely important
that you make a point to attend some of that period of time. Also, I would like to point out to you that there will be a budget
reconciliation period that is listed on the schedule, both Monday and Tuesday, and it is very important that Council be there at
that particular time. We need your ideas and concepts. This will be an intensive two days. We are hoping to get a great deal
of community input so that they can come up with a visual for us of what they perceive this building to be. Councilmember Lange
stated, in reading the cultural plan report, one of the comments was that the "cultural center" was being done behind closed doors.
It has never been intended that way. The planning of this is the responsibility of the community and also the City Council, and
we have a very big responsibility for the finances of this. It is very important that all members of city council be involved in this.
' Councilmember Carter noted that day one, Monday, 9:30 - 10:30, side issues are scheduled. I have particular interest in this but
have a conflict with classes and was wondering if the side issues session could be rescheduled. All of the sessions are important,
but I feel the side issues are possibly the most important. Councilmember Gaines stated that possibly he could meet with them
at another time. Since the schedule has already been developed and mailed out, I will make a special effort to try to get you
together with them if that's acceptable. Councilmember Lange suggested that possibly Councilmember Carter have a meeting with
CITY COUNCIL MEFIYNG OF SEPTEMBER 15, 1992 - BOOK "R" 116
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a present to the voters. Whatever we do is extremely important as we do have the responsibility to present the very best possible
i plan we can. It is important that each of you have input in this because this is "your" project. Councilmember Lange and I are ,
simply giving our time to work on it to bring it to you.
Councilmember Gaines presented each councilmember with a packet of information regarding solid waste management.
-I She reported that she had been to an HGAC meeting today and the subject came up on the recent solid waste program. As you
recall, back in 1989 a solid waste disposal fee was created in the amount of .50 per ton which was a fee collected by the landfills
themselves and this was sent to the Texas Department of Health at that particular time. A portion of that was retained in the
Health Department and a portion was earmarked to be given back to the collectors of the fee. In 1991, two significant changes
were made. One of them was in House Bill (1113) 11. They changed the calculation to $1.50 from .50 per ton and the increase
was borne by local governments. At that time, the administration of this was changed from the Texas Department of Health to
i'
the Texas Water Commission. Also, there has been a group that has been set up, the Texas Association of Regional Councils,
that has been working on a Solid Waste Program that could be ready to put into action at the time this legislation becomes''
effective. It has been a very intensive study. Twenty -four groups have been working together on this. It was their proposal that
the funds that were generated would be given back to the regional areas in a very equitable way. They have a program worked
out and have presented it to the Texas Water Commission. The Texas Water Commission did their budget in June and they found
that they had a 50% shortfall less than anticipated funds. So, they are proposing that six million dollars be returned back to the
regions. The plan was to do that on an equal basis with a formula that would be worked out. It looks now as if the Texas Water
Commission has decided to do this on a "discretionary" basis which means that some areas may not get any. HGAC is very
concerned about this for several reasons. These are our funds which we may not get at all if this is done in a "discretionary' way.
The information that I have handed out to you has on it a list of things of some of the programs that have been started. These
are projects for implementation that the Texas (24) Councils of Government have completed in a long range plan. What HGAC
is asking is that we bring this information home to our Council, to our various Commissioners, etc. and ask that you call the Texas
Water Commission and express your desire for them not to go with the "discretionary" method, but go with the plan that is in place
and has been presented to them of the equalization of division of funds. For your information, in the packet is the name of John ,
'.' Hall, who is the Chairman of the Texas Water Commission, with his address and phone number as well as the two commissioners'.
They are also asking that we contact our State Senator(s) and Representative(s) and urge them to call the Texas Water
Commission Chairman. So that you might understand what we are trying to do, there are presentation points to look at, and
additional information included in your packet that might be helpful to you. They indicated the best thing would be a phone call
first and a follow -up with a letter. This is something that is very important that we participate in and I think it will be very vital
for us because this legislature when it goes into session is going to be very costly. It is something we have to do, we don't have
a choice, but we are going to have to have funds to pay for it. The question is, are we going to get a fair share of the money that
has already been put up there or are we going to have to generate all of the money.
MEDIA INQUIRIES
None.
i
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hodges recessed the regular session to an executive session to conduct annual evaluations of Charter Officers:
City Attorney, Scott Bounds; City Secretary, Melba Byers; and City Manager, Gene Pipes.
Melba B ers, C, Secretary