HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/18/1991 City Council MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
HELD ON.
SEPTEMBER 18, 1991
The Work Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony,
Texas was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on the ]8th day of
September, ~!99! at City Hall with the following Council roll call:
...... ~Bill Mannings, Mayor Present~
Mike Lynch, Councilman Absent
Billy Sharp, Councilman Present
Dal~ Therio, Councilman Present
Rob Burchard, Councilman Absent
Lou Gomez, Councilman Present
Joel Marks, Mayor Pro-tem Present
and with five present, a quorum was established and the following
items were addressed:
]. REVIEW OF THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUDGET FY ]99]-92
Bill Hall gave a breakdown of the personnel requests and
capital outlay requests for the 9]/92 budget which totaled
$2]8,250.00. Mr. Hall also summarized the budget, going over the
assessed value and the tax rate in the general fund and utility
fund. Bond payments were discussed along with the future expansion
of the wastewater treatment plant. Mr. Hall said expansion for the
plant would probably not be needed before 1995.
7:25 p.m. - Mayor Manning left the meeting and Mayor Pro-tem Marks
presided.
Regarding Capital Outlay, Councilman Sharp said there are
several requests for mowers still included and thought staff was to
look into contracting mowing. Councilman Gomez agreed about not
buying mowers, except the mower for the wastewater plant, going on
to say purchases for all lawn car,~ equipment should be held up
until a study is done to determine if it is more economical to
contract the mowing.
Mr. Hall said Park & Rec has said they can do away with the
mower this year, and if we do then we ca~L cut th~ trailer.
Councilman Gomez went on to ask if money can be set aside so that
if we see the need to buy this equipment we can. Mr. Hall said
yes, and explained that the money is borrowed and if it is not all
used, then the excess is applied to the payment. Both Councilmen
Sharp and Gomez agreed this should be done. Mr. Hall suggested if
we go with contracting, we should go with more than a year
contract.
Councilman Gomez questioned why the computer equipment is
still in the line items when we are probably going with the network
system. Mr. Hall said the laser printer for the City Secretary and
the P.C. for Finance are needed right away, but if the Council does
approve the networking, then those items can be put into the
network and taken out of the line item budgets.
Councilman Gomez asked if it could be done tonight, and Mr.
Hall said it can be added to the items to be financed, noting it
would change the impact to each department. Thece followed a
lengthy discussion regarding computer needs in various department.
After the discussion, the typewriter in the City Secretary budget
requests was cut.
8:]5 p.m. - Mayor Manning returned.
Council then discussed the Capital Projects, noting there is
approximately $116,000.00 in projects to be done. Mayor Manning
said we are using our savings to pay our bills and stated that soon
the Council will have to address a tax increase. The council
discussed raising the taxes 1 cent, which would add $54,000.00 in
revenue, noting part of it could be used to pay on the $]16,000.00
and the balance could be placed into contingency. Councilman Sharp
suggested a ] cent tax increase and an additional $].00 on each
water bill.
Mr. Hall recommended no more than a ] cent tax increase, and
said the council needs to take a strong look a~ the water rates as
soon as possible, going on to say that is where the problems lies.
Councilman Gomez recommended ] cent tax increase and
Councilman Sharp recommended a 2 cent increase. Mayor Manning said
the citizens will need to know why the increase and Councilman
Gomez stated that when we take money from savings to operate then
we have a problem.
After inquiry by the council, Mr. James England said we can
make it on the current tax rate, noting there is ].5 million in the
general fund contingency, going on to say however, that we need to
work on the utility fund, noting they System Fund should be self
sustained only by water rates.
Bill Hall agreed with England, saying that user fees will have
to be addressed, noting the tax increase for general fund can't be
used to pay for the above ground storage tank, (one of the capital
projects). Mr. England said the tax could be used to raise the
utility fund debt service which could be used to pay for that
project.
After a ~rief discussion, there was a consensus to raise the
taxes ] cent and to address the utility rates as soon as possible.
Mayor Manning said to increase the General Government Account
by $5000.00 for landscaping city property. Ail agreed.
2. EXECUTIVE SESSION AS AUTHORIZED BY ARTICLE 6252-]7, V.A.C.S.,
SECTION 2G, REGARDING PERSONNEL, TO-WIT:
B. PROPOSED PERSONNEL FY 1991-92
Not addressed
3. CONSIDERATION OF ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION TO BE TAKEN AS A
RESULT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION
Not addressed
4. REVIEW AN~ FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CODE OF
.ORDINANCES RELATING TO ALARM SYSTEMS
Motion to postpone - Therio; Second - Marks ~ ·
Motion carried with a unanimous roll call vote.
With no further business to address, Mayor Manning adjourned the
meeting at 9:35 p.m.
APPROVED:
~il~%'{a~ ~. Manning, Mayo~
ATTEST:
Patti A. Hicks,CMC
City Secretary