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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/09/1999 City Council 007259 MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION OF COUNCIL HELD ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1999 The WORK SESSION of the CITY COUNCIL of the City of The Colony, Texas was called to order at 7:15 P.M. on the 9t~ day of September 1999, at City Hall, with the following roll call: Bill Manning, Mayor Present John Gordon, Councilmember Present Lewis Jue, Councilmember Present David Stanwick, Councilmember Present A1 Garcia, Councilmember Absent (personal) John Dillard, Councilmember Present Jeff Meyers, Councilmember Present A quorum was established and the following items were addressed: ITEM DESCRIPTION SOURCE STATUS 1.1 Work Session to discuss the 1999-2000 municipal budget Council Mayor Manning opened the meeting stating he hopes to "flush" out the total available funds for new staff, equipment, etc. Mr. Lambert explained the number of days in reserve for operating in an emergency in both the General and Utility funds. In the General Fund, Finance is projecting ending the 98-99 year with 71 days and projecting ending the 99-00 year with 78 days. In the Utility Fund, Finance is projecting ending the 98-99 year with 93 days and the 99-00 year with 93 days. The city has been working for five years to increase the number of days in reserve. The goal was to reach 60 days. Mr. Lambert said it would be good to eventually reach 90 days in reserve. Mayor Manning stated that we do not have to reach the optimum in one year and suggested that lowering the days in reserve in both funds would free up some money to provide people and/or equipment and repair of existing facilities. A lengthy discussion followed regarding how many days should be left in reserve in both funds and how any excess funds might be used. One suggestion was to use some of the excess funds in the Utility Fund to purchase more Dallas water next year. -' Mr. Johnston had prepared a list of all 44 funds for review 007269 by the Council. Mr. Lambert explained each fund to the council and fielded questions. There are four old revenue funds that should be eliminated. Staff is to research and appropriate action to the council for eliminating these funds. One of the funds is the Bill Allen Memorial Park Graut fund and the council directed Mr. Lambert to have the Parks and Recreation Department bring a plan to use all those funds. After more discussion, the council agreed to reduce the number of days in the General and Utility Funds as follows: G.F. - 98-99 - 62 days; 99-00 - 64 days U.F. - 98-99 - 80 days; 99-00 - 82 days These changes free up about $228,000 this year in the General Fund and about $127,000 next year. In the Utility Fund about $180,000 is available this year and next year there probably won't be any excess. After the council agrees on how to use the excess funds for this year and in the 99-00 budget the amount not used will be placed in a reserve account (possibly the "Land Fund") to be used as needed. The Finance Director is to provide a clean list of the capitals he has proposed to purchase with the 1998 Limited Tax Notes ($850,000). They also asked that Finance remove any deleted requests and any items, which are already on the Capital List, and clean up the Enhancement List presented in the budget. Mayor Manning asked each Councilmember to take those lists and come up with their own priorities for personnel and equipment, using the amount of money they now know is available. This information will be compiled at the September 14, 1999 Budget Work Session and used to finalize the budget for adoption on September 20, 1999. With no further business to address, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. APPROVED: William W. Manning, Mayor ATTEST: Patti A. Hicks, TRMC/CMC/AAE