Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/08/1994 City Council00 5271 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON August 8, 1994 The Work Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 6:28 p.m. on the 8th day of August, 1994 at City Hall with the following Council roll call: William Manning, Mayor Present Mike Lynch, Mayor Pro-Tern Present Toby Pollard, Councilman Present Kay Hardin, Councilman Present Rob Burchard, Councilman Present John Dillard, Councilman Absent Lynda Tate, Councilman Present and with six present, a quorum was established and the following items were addressed: 1. REVIEW & DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUDGET FY 94-95 A. BUDGET OVERVIEW: CITY MANAGER Johnny Smith explained the new handouts to the council and stated that a "Master Budget" book is available on the Council mail shelf for their review. He stated a copy can be prepared if necessary, but went on to say it is very lengthy and would be costly to reproduce seven copies. Councilman Lynch stated he did not want a copy of the whole book but he might ask for individual items. Mr. Smith said the council should have all they need to make decisions regarding the budget and more information will be made available if requested. The packet given to the council at this meeting contains 1) Capital Outlay Request list), 2) Five Year Capital Outlay Request Projection, 3) Five Year Capital Projects Projects, and 4) New Personnel Requests. B. REVENUE PROJECTIONS: CITY MANAGER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR At this time, James England, Finance Director, using handouts and overheads covered all aspects of revenue, including historical information and projections. It was noted that the proposed budget for 1994-95 does not reflect a tax increase. Mr. Smith noted that in the past there was no set policy on the transfer from the Utility Fund to the General Fund and that this year he has set 15%, which is conservative, as the figure to be transferred. He said most cities use a percentage or they calculate the amount each year. 2 005272 Councilman Lynch ask if the General Fund will be charged for water used from the Utility Fund, which he noted has not been done before. Mr. England said it is metered but not charged. Mr. Smith said this should be an operational charge and that he will look into it. Councilman Pollard asked that the expenses for 1993-94 for the Health Department and the Marshal be broken out, showing what was charged to Health and then to the Police Department and likewise what was charged to Police and then to Court. Councilman Lynch asked about the Vehicle Maintenance budget, noting that expenses and revenues do not match. Discussion followed. Mr. England explained that more money will be shown in the departments for repair than goes into Vehicle Maintenance as revenue because some repairs are not done in house. Councilman Lynch said this needs to be cleaned up. Councilman Pollard als() requested a break out of expenses between the Water Production and Distribution departments. Councilman Lynch asked why there is a reduction shown in Wastewater expenses and Mr. Smith said personnel is going to be reduced by attrition, transfers and retil'ement. Councihnan Lynch asked about the $58,000 fund balance in the Stewart Creek Park Fund and why it is never touched. Mr. Smith said lne has a problem with leaving money in savings accounts while equipment and facilities are deteriorating and noted the money could be used for good purposes. Councilman Lynch agreed and said we should get some use from it (money). He als() asked why the hours of the gate attendant cannot be expanded, noting that he thinks we are losing revenue by not having it manned for longer hours. Emergency Equipment Fund - Johnny Smith said the re-mount project has been delayed because Ford is not building tine chassis at the current time. He said delivery is estimated in February and advised that this item is to be brouglnt to council in the near future for review and subsequent action. Mr. Smitln said we may want to buy a new ambulance for little more than the cost of the re-mount. Councilman Lynch suggested checking the bids received for an alternate bidder. C. PERSONNEL OVERVIEW: PERSONNEL DIRECTOR, CITY MANAGER, CITY SECRETARY Margaret Burkett, Personnel Director, gave a brief history of the pay plan, stating that in 1992 the step plan had been reviewed and it was determined that this plan was not fair and not based on performance. She said the evaluation forms were re-vamped in the Spring of 1993 and that supervisors have been trained in using the forms and in conducting good performance evaluations. Ms. Burkett said the Personnel Committee met during the 1993-94 budget process and recommended doing away with the old step plan, giving an across the board 3% increase to most employees and implementing a merit plan. She went on to say the council had approved this concept last year and in January 1994 most employees received the 3% increase, while a few employees received salary adjustments to bring them in line with other equivalent positions in other cities. The recommendation from the committee and staff was to implement merit increases, based on performance from 3- 5%. She said the employees were told last year this was being implemented and now it will 3 005273 need the Council approval. She advised the new evaluations have been used this past year and have been very successful, noting that morale has been up this year. Johnny Smith said staff wants the council approval of the merit increase and a city wide pay plan. Mr. Smith noted that the proposed budget includes the maximum of 5%. He said the step plan is still in place in public safety, including a two year top out. Mr. Smith suggested that new hires after the merit plan is approved be hired on that plan, not the step plan. Lengthy discussion followed regarding the public safety pay plan. Mr. Smith reiterated, he would like to implement the 3-5% merit increase plan and phase out the public safety program over the next few months. He said the employees are the city's best resource. Further discussion regarding how the merit plan would be implemented. Councilman Pollard said that before this is approved, we need to see if funds are available. He went on to ask if the percentage will be based on the "base" salary each year or if it will be based on the increased salary each year. Lengthy discussion followed. Mayor Manning stated if increases were always based on the "base" salary, then employees would eventually be losing money, the city would start losing good employees and be left with only those who were not able to go anywhere else. Mr. Smith agreed and said the only way that would work is if there was a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) given every year. After further discussion, it was agreed that for budgetary purposes, the amount of 4% should be used, not 5%. Councilman Burchard said he thought it unlikely that everyone would get 5% or even than everyone would get any increase at all. It was agreed that including 4% in the budget would probably be a more realistic number and council also discussed including 1.9% for a COLA. Councilman Burchard said during the budget process next year (95-96) he wants to see the percentage of employees who do not receive a merit increase during this upcoming year. Councilman Pollard noted that it is hard for some employees to afford dependent insurance coverage and asked for costs to consider the city subsidizing this expense. Ms. Burkett said the cost per year for long term disability would be $16,400, noting that almost all cities have this coverage. There followed a general discussion and Ms. Burkett said she would get more information for the council to review. General discussion regarding benefits, including compensatory time, how it is accumulated and used, sick time and discretionary time. Ms. Burkett also advised council of a proposal to increase the TMRS percentage to 6%. She did state that if no pay increases are approved that it would not beneficial to the employees to increase the amount deducted from their pay for TMRS to 6%. Discussion followed regarding the city's portion of the TMRS funding. Johnny Smith said there are three items he would like to bring back figures on; 1)merit increases, 2) disability insurance for employees, and 3) TMRS to 6%. 4 005274 2. REVIEW OF DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET A. PERSONNEL Council then reviewed the departmental budget with Ms. Burkett. There were very few questions, with the understanding that questions may be asked at a later date. APPROVED: William W. Manning, Mayor ATFEST: Patti A. Hicks,TRMC City Secretary 5