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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/24/1990 City Council00376J MINUTES OF THE CITY (X)UNCIL MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 24, 1990 The Special Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on the 24th day of September, 1990 at. City Hall with the following Council roll call: William W. Manning, Mayor Present Mike Lynch, Councilman Absent Steve Withers, Councilman Present Mike Aliane]l, Councilman Present Rob Burchard, Councilman Present Lou Gomez, Councilman Present Joel Marks, Councilman Present and with six present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS LEVYING THE AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE YEAR 1990 AT A RATE OF $.74 PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) ASSESSED VALUATION OF ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY AS OF JANUARY 1, 1990 Mayor Manning read the caption of the ordinance as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS, LEVYING THE AD VALOREM TAXES FOR THE YEAR 1990 AT A RATE OF $.74 PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) ASSESSED VALUATION OF ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY AS OF JANUARY 1, 1990; TO PROVIDE REVENUES FOR THE PAYMENT OF CURRENT EXPENSES AND TO PROVIDE AN INTEREST AND SINKING FUND ON ALL OUTSTANDING DEBTS OF THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR DUE AND DELINQUENT DATES TOGETHER WITH PENALTIES AND INTEREST; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Councilman Gomez pointed out that the rate is the same as last year and Councilman Marks noted there is no loss of service due to the lack of a tax increase. Mr. Hall agreed stating that. all the directives received from Council have been addressed, including some capital projects and thanked the Council and Staff for input into the budget process. Mr. Dick Weaver, 4940 Hackney asked if it was possible to keep the tax rate at $.74 due to the increase in the water and sewer rates, and how much is the total budget. Mr. Hall stated the total budget is $12,479,880, a 7% increase from last year. ---- Mr. Weaver asked where the additional funds came from, if not 2 0037 from the water and sewer increase. Councilman Alianell stated that some of the money had come from contingency and there had been some cuts to the capital requests. Councilman Withers clarified that the contingency last year had been around $225,000 and this year it. is only $71,000. Mr. Weaver continued to asked where the money came from. After a brief discussion, Councilman Alianell moved to approve the ordinance levying the tax rate for 1990 at $.74 and Councilman Withers seconded the motion which carried with a unanimous roll call vote. 3. CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1990 Mayor Manning read the caption of the ordinance as follows: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF THE COLONY, TEXAS APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE CITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1990, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1991; PROVIDING FOR THE INTRA AND INTER-DEPARTMENT FUND TRANSFERS; PROVIDING FOR THE INVESTMENT OF CERTAIN FUNDS; PROVIDING THAT EXPENDITURES FOR SAID FISCAL YEAR SHALL BE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SAID BUDGET; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Bill Hall informed the Council that Version 4 of the budget is ready for their review and subsequent adoption. Mr. England handed out Version 4 to ~he Council, as Mr. Hall read a memorandum to the Council in which he explained that staff had addressed certain directives received from the Council and that a working document has been prepared that will maintain the level of service that the Council has set for the residents. (See Attachment "A") Mr. Hall then commented on three items the Council had addressed early in the budget process and had at that. time, said those items would be looked at after the final figures were prepared and addressed if there was money available. Those items are: 1. Beautification - General Government Account of $7000.00 (down from $10,000) is for economic development, brochures, etc. and if Council desires to allot money for Beautification this would be an appropriate line item from which to take the money. 2. Public Works - Contract Services - $36,900. Early Council had been concerned if this was sufficient to handle contracted work on streets. 3. Public Works - Street. Maintenance - $35,000. Council had also expressed concern over this amount being insufficient to address the in-house repairs of streets, alleys, etc. Mr. Hall also noted that in the Water and Wastewater Budgets combined there had been a $10,000 reduction due to the withdrawal 3 003771 from U.T.R.W.A. At. this time, Mr. England, using overheads, explained how the revenues are estimated, stated that conservative figures are used. He also showed a summary noting that revenues are coming in over expectations and expenditures are coming in under the project, ions. Mr. Weaver again addressed the council, stating that taxes are anything charged to the citizens, no matter where it. comes from. He noted that fees have been raised and the water and sewer rates have been raised and said that costs can't get much higher, that the people can't afford to pay anymore. Mayor Manning then asked the Council to address the three items Mr. Hall mentioned; Beautification, Contract. Services for street repair and In-house street, repair. Councilman Withers said the Council had also talked about an intoxilyzer. Mr. Hall stated that we will be using either Lewisville's or Denton County's machine and will be training our own people to do so. The Council then had a lengthy discussion regarding the amount of money in contract services for street repair, with Mr. Hall noting that the money will have to come from the contingency. Hall also said that the $36,900 would be sufficient. for this year, but more could always be used, since this is an on-going expense. Councilman Gomez expressed concern over taking money out. of contingency at this point.. Council discussed the alternatives, such as waiting until the need arises, then transferring funds, and the condition of ---. the streets. Mr. Ken Wood, 5000 N. Colony said it, seems the Council is here to vote and the budget, and they still don't know what, the budget, will be. Mr. Wood went on to say he was of the impression the budget, would be grim, but that does not seem to be the case. Mayor Manning said the Council has reviewed these figures several times and they all are aware and agreed upon the basic budget, but. the question now is if there is money available to address these other three areas. The Mayor went on to say that. he is comfortable with the budget as it. stands now and that at, some time, the Council must trust the staff to do the job for which they are hired, and stated that he has that trust, and that he thinks the staff has done a good job. Councilman Gomez said he feels the Council has questioned a lot of things in the budget and that. it should be left as is. Mayor Manning suggested allotting $15,000 to Street Maintenance and $10,000 to Beautification. There followed a lengthy discussion regarding the feasibility of allotting money for beautification, with comments being made regarding the maintenance of what has already been done. Councilman Marks pointed out. that the city must. not. have the people to maintain these areas, because most. of the plants at the intersections have died. Councilman Gomez said the budget has been cut in some --- important areas and he can't see spending money on 4 beautification. Mayor Manning said the budget could be adopted as is and then the two amendments voted on separately. Councilman Marks moved to adopt, budget as presented and Councilman Gomez seconded the motion. Councilman Burchard then moved to amend the budget by allotting $10,000 for beautification. There was some discussion regarding two motions on the floor at one time. Councilman Withers then made a substitute motion to adopt. the budget with amendments to allot. $15,000 to Street Maintenance and $10,000 to beautification. There was no second, this motion died for lack thereof. Councilman Burchard withdrew his motion at this time. Councilman Alianell called the question and all council voted Aye. The motion to adopt, the budget as presented then passed with the following vote: Withers - No; Alianell - Aye; Burchard - Aye; Gomez - Aye; Marks - Aye; Manning - Aye. Councilman Withers then moved to amend the adopted budget by allotting $15,000 to Street Maintenance and $10,000 to Beautification. Councilman Alianell seconded the motion which carried with the following vote: Withers - Aye; Alianell - Aye; Burchard - Aye; Gomez - No; Marks - Aye; Manning - Aye. 8:45 p.m. At this time the Council recessed 8:55 p.m. Reconvene 4. WORK SESSION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LITTLE ELM, TEXAS Mayor Charles Boatright and Mayor Pro-rem Jim Pelley of Little Elm, Texas met with the council to discuss the feasibility of a regional wastewater facility. Mr. Hall explained that The Colony has been trying to help Little Elm for some time in the area of wastewater treatment, noting that as of now, both cities have pulled out, of U.T.R.W.A. Mr. Boatright said that they feel a regional facility is not. feasibility, due to high costs and that, they are looking into other options. There was a general discussion regarding alternatives and future needs of both cities. Mr. Boatright said he appreciated the opportunity to meet with the Council and to discuss the issues at hand and the assistance Little had received from The Colony. He went on to say if both communities work together the whole area can be made better. With no further business to address, Councilman Alianell 5 00377 moved to adjourn, and Gouncilman Gomez seconded the motion, which carried with all members voting Aye. Mayor Manning adjourned the .--, meeting at 9:15 p.m. APPROVED: · ' . . i g, . y)r~_.~ ATTEST: P~t.t.i A. Hicks, City Secretary [SEAL ] 6 ATTACHMENT "A" MEMORANDUM Mayor Manning and Members of the Council Bill Hall, City Manager James England, Director of Finance DA: September 24, 1990 RE: 1990/91 Municipal Budget Presented for your review and consideration on passage by ordinance, is [he annual budget for the 1990/91 fiscal year. In keeping with the Council directives we have prepared a working document that will maintain the level of service t. hat you set, for The Colony residents. Within Version 4 of this budget, we have included those Capital Expenditures and the Personnel Package as discussed. Following your review, Mr. England and/or I will be prepared to address any questions you may have. In presenting t. his document we have retained a revenue surplus to allow changes or upgrades to line item expenditures you may desire. Additionally, you will note a new line item in the presentation directed to "Depreciation" in the amount of $100,000.00. While this amount does no.t approach that figure that has been noted as "shortfall" by our auditors, we feel that. to establish the line item will indicate the direct, ion of the City in future years. In achieving these goals, we also present for adoption the tax rate for the budget year of the present 0.74 per one hundred dollars of valuation.