HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/13/2002 City Council MINUTES OF WORK SESSION OF COUNCIL
HELD ON
AUGUST 13, 2002
The Work Session of the City Council of the City of The Colony, Texas, was called to order at
6:40 p.m. on the 13th of August 2002 at the Police/Courts Building located at 5151 N. Colony
Blvd, with the following roll call:
Bernetta Henville-Shannon Mayor Present
John Gordon Councilmember Present
Lewis Jue Councilmember Present
Joe McCourry Councilmember Present
Lynda Bayliss Councilmember Present
Perry Schrag Councilmember Present
Joel Marks Councilmember Present
And with seven present a quorum was established and the following items were addressed:
1.0 Review and discussion of the municipal budget fy 2002-2003
Mr. Cheatham covered the details in his earlier memorandum to council regarding
several concerns they had expressed at the August 7 work session. Specific topics
addressed were:
Valuation - An increase in tax base of about $140 million. 83% from residential
and 17% from commercial development.
Hotel/Motel Tax Fund - Suggested modifying the budget by putting $250,000 of
the fund balance in contingency so the funds will be budgeted and can be used
within the legal limits if council desires to do so.
5-Star Community Complex - Staff researched several options for watering of
the new complex. Mr. Cheatham suggested that this year's budget be left as is and
that other methods of irrigation be more fully explored for implementation in the
next year. He reminded council that the start up of the fields will be the most
expensive time and after they are established the cost will be reduced.
Mr. Cheatham also told council that as far as he understood, the operation
and maintenance of 5-Star would be paid for from the General Fund, not from
CDC (4B) funds.
Senior Citizens - A question had come up at the last meeting regarding the
$5000 for SPAN. Mayor Henville-Shannon had questioned if this amount was
being deleted from the Senior budget. Mr. Cheatham explained this is the amount
paid from the Council budget for the non-profit service contract with the City.
The amount is not being deleted. He further explained that all budgetary items for
the Senior Center are shown in the P&R budget line items. He advised that Ms.
Nelson is meeting with the appropriate parties to discuss concerns about
interaction between SPAN and the Senior Citizen groups.
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Health Inspector - Council had expressed a concern about using a contractor
instead of a full-time inspector. Mr. Cheatham said the additional cost to add a
full-time inspector would be $36,000. He indicated that Mr. Persaud would
advertise again, but noted the last time an advertisement was run there were no
applicants. He said that staff does not see a major problem with the contract
inspector.
Hidden Cove Park - Mr. Cheatham explained that since the park has been
operating in a deficit, some type of corrective action should perhaps be taken. He
further explained that if the park had been rolled into the General Fund instead of
it's own fund, there would not be a deficit. He said the community has apparently
place a value on this service and it has been a service the city was willing to
subsidize.
City Attorney - Council had asked for information regarding hiring a full time
staff attorney. Mr. Cheatham said the legal expenses in 99-00 were about
$135,000 and $119,000 in 00-01. He noted these expenses came from the General
Fund, and the 4A and 4B funds for services rendered. Mr. Cheatham said he does
not believe a city our size is ready for a full time city attorney. He said a
minimum salary for the attorney would be $100,000, plus a legal secretary at a
cost of $30,000 to $50,000. Benefits for those two positions, travel, training,
office supplies, computers, etc. Mr. Cheatham also reminded council that it would
be difficult to find an attorney with expertise in all fields of municipal law and,
which would mean that there would still be a need to contract out certain legal
services.
Street Maintenance and Improvements - Mr. Cheatham gave some historical
information on the operations in the Public Works Department, noting that in
1996-97 $142,000 was spent in street maintenance. That amount was reduced in
the next two years, and then in 1999-2000 it started an increase again, with the
2002-2003 projecting an amount of $220,000.
Mr. Cheatham said from the last meeting, he realizes that council wants to
focus on street repairs in this next year. He advised the council there could
possibly be money left from the Paige Rd. funds and that some of that money
could be used to make significant repairs on N. Colony and to proceed with
engineering on some of the other residential streets.
Mr. Cheatham said staff is fairly certain the city can issue at least $4
million in debt, with which staff proposes to repair major arterials and some other
residential streets, continuing on the following year with another phase.
He said staff proposes to continue using asphalt as a temporary fix for
potholes, with a goals of repairing them with concrete within two weeks of the
time they are reported. Mr. Cheatham said he is also proposing to add a 3-man
crew, which will concentrate on street repairs. He further advised repairs would
be made on S. Colony and Paige which staff believes will help the streets last
until they can be reconstructed next year.
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Councilmember McCourry said he had identified $1.3 million of the $14
million in bonds recently issued as a possible source for funding of the renovation
at the old Library for the arts and enterprise use. Mr. Johnston is researching
whether or not that money or a portion of it can be used for that purpose. He said
that if not, there could be another $1 million, which could be available for use on
streets.
Mayor Henville-Shannon said she still wants to know how the city is
going to pay for the operation and maintenance of 5-Star. Mr. Cheatham reiterated
that 4B funds are to pay for construction and O&M are to come from the General
Fund. The mayor asked staff to research the minutes to see if that is in writing.
She also asked for a 5-year projected budget for O&M of 5-Star.
Several options for watering at 5-Star were discussed including using
effluent, drilling a new well and pumping water directly from the lake.
Mr. Cheatham summarized that the council wants to know the following
regarding the 5-Star Complex:
1. Projected revenues and expenses
2. Source of funding
3. Alternative source of watering
Mr. Cheatham suggested that council not deviate from the current budget
but that the council allow staff to pursue other options for future years. He said
the only change to the budget this year would be the addition of the 3-man crew in
Public Works, which would concentrate on streets. He further asked council if
they are all comfortable with the recommendations outlined his memorandum (as
shown below)
"To summarize, a feasible course of action to more aggressively address
street concerns would be the following:
· Plan to use the $5000k+ that we expect to have remaining from Paige
Road and use to contract out point repairs on North Colony.
· Proceed forward with engineering on residential streets and one or both of
the following: Paige Road from S. Colony to N. Colony, S. Colony from
Main to Paige. These costs could initially be paid from $14M issuance, but
would plan on doing a reimbursement resolution for funding to come from
2003 issuance.
· In 2003 plan to have a debt issuance to fund improvements to one of the
aforementioned major arterials and some residential streets depending on
the size of the issuance.
· In 2004 plan to have a debt issuance to fund other major arterial and
additional residential streets. This is a little more speculative at this point
in time since there is not a lot of development in the pipeline. May require
increasing the tax rate depending on future and council may want to
consider taking matter to voters.
· Add a street maintenance crew to be funded by the Utility Fund."
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After brief discussion, council agreed with Mr. Cheatham's recommendations.
They agreed to proceed with the repairs to S. Colony Blvd. before Paige Road.
With no further discussion, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
APPROVED:
Patti A. Hicks, TRMC, City Secretary
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