Weatherford
Weatherford City Council, Aug. 27, 2013: 11 items; work session on the FY14 proposed budget
0 consent items, 11 regular items, 3 public hearings; 8 recorded votes, all unanimous. Written from the minutes.
Hold a work session on the FY14 proposed budget. Topics will include proposed changes to the employee retirement plan, a walk-forward of changes made to the budget proposal since August 6, and responses to questions raised during the August 17 budget retreat. Mr. Hamilton requested a 25 minute time limit on each of the Work Session items. Chad Janicek, Director of Office of Management and Budget (OMB), presented this item. He mentioned the Council's proposal for an unchanged tax rate, and spoke about the Budget Retreat held on August 17. Mr. Janicek gave details on the following Fiscal Year 2014 (FY14) expenditure changes: Discussion included the proposed tax rate, the anticipated property tax revenue, recommendations to further reduce the budget, Library programs, organizational structure, and budgeting certain expenditures as one-time or ongoing. The Council also discussed the storm water utility fund, improvements at Heritage Park, and street maintenance. The Council decided to move on to the next item and reconvene the budget work session after the regular meeting. CC 082713 Page 1 of 8 Continue discussion regarding the joint working agreement with Emergency Service District (ESD) #3. Fire Chief Paul Rust presented this item. He provided the Council with information regarding the fire department's service. He clarified that this would be a joint working agreement instead [...]
Receive a presentation regarding Weatherford's Downtown Plan. Sharon Hayes, Assistant City Manager, introduced this item. Kim Thieme, Main Street & Special Events Manager, gave a report about the Main Street program stating that Weatherford became recertified in 2009. Ms. Thieme provided details about the organizational and fundamental groundwork that has gone into the Downtown Plan since that time. Ms. Thieme provided a comprehensive downtown work plan. She discussed the tangible/visible accomplishments of the program including more holiday decorating, downtown building placards, the demolition of the former police station at 215 York Avenue, and the future potential for green space, restrooms, and beautification aspects. She gave details about event-oriented items in Downtown Weatherford each quarter. The Chamber organizes the Peach Festival and Christmas on the Square in the summer and winter; the City organizes Weatherford Blooms and Hometown Heritage in the spring and fall. A number of partnerships have been forged and have contributed to these accomplishments. Ms. Thieme noted that a number of recommendations from the 2008 Downtown Revitalization Survey have been completed or are currently in progress. She also CC 082713 Page 2 of 8 provided statistics regarding population versus annual special event marketing funding in three communities known for their events. Ms. [...]
Hold a public hearing on the proposed ad valorem tax rate of $0.4636 per $100 valuation, including $0.2920 per $100 valuation for operations and maintenance and $0.1716 per $100 valuation for interest and sinking, for the fiscal year beginning October 1 2013, and ending September 30, 2014. Chad Janicek, Director of OMB, stated that this is the first of two public hearings to be held on the proposed tax rate. The second public hearing on the tax rate will be held on September 10, 2013. On August 13 the Council voted to propose a tax rate for FY14 of $0.4636 per $100 valuation, including $0.292 for operations and maintenance and $0.1716 for interest and sinking, which represents no change in the tax rate. Mayor Hooks opened the Public Hearing at 7:14 p.m. As there were no comments, Mayor Hooks closed the Public Hearing at 7:14 p.m.
Discuss and consider accepting a cooperation grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) to create and make available to the public a digital database of historic documents found in Weatherford, Azle, Aledo, Springtown, Millsap and other sites in Parker County. Dale Fleeger, Director of Library Services, provided information about the grant. On the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted unanimously to accept the grant. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Discuss and consider accepting an impact grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) to purchase downloadable magazine content and hardware for the Weatherford Public Library, plus its partners in the Parker County Library Association: Azle Memorial Library, East Parker County Library, Springtown Public Library, and Millsap Public Library. Mr. Fleeger stated that this is a one-time grant that would allow patrons to download magazines to their electronic devices. If this resource is popular, the Library would plan to include it in their collection in the future. It would only be available for Weatherford residents unless other entities plan to share in the cost of the subscriptions. After discussion, on the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to accept the grant. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Discuss and consider approval of Resolution R2013-16 setting two public hearings on the voluntary annexation of 1.10 acre tract of land being a portion of Block 1, Lockwood Estates, as recorded in Plat Cabinet C, Slide 339, Plat Records, Parker County, Texas. Craig Farmer, Director of Planning and Development, presented this request for voluntary annexation of four lots on Lockwood Lane. During the platting process in 2005, a gas line was discovered and the developer's engineer curved Lockwood Lane and inadvertently moved two lots and a portion of two lots out of the City limits. The City has been petitioned for annexation by the owners so that they can continue receiving City services. Bobbie Narramore, 209 West First Street, spoke about items eight and nine, stating that she hopes there is no cost to the City. Mr. Farmer stated that the City will gain approximately 150 feet of Causbie Road, but the City is already basically already maintaining it. The homeowners are already receiving City services for which they have been paying. CC 082713 Page 4 of 8 On the motion of Waymon Hamilton, second by Heidi Wilder, the Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution R2013-16. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Discuss and consider approval of Resolution R2013-17 setting two public hearings on the voluntary annexation of Lockwood Phase 3, an 11.3 acre tract situated in and being a portion of the John Rucker Survey, Abstract No. 1144, Parker County, Texas and being a tract of land deeded by Lockwood to Kenmark Homes, LLC. as recorded in volume 20120370, Real Record, Parker County, Texas. Mr. Farmer presented this item as well. This voluntary annexation request is for 11.3 acres at the other end of Lockwood Lane, sitting behind Fossil Hill Road. This addition will have approximately 50 lots. This voluntary request is on the same schedule as the previous item. The final reading of the Ordinance to accomplish both annexations will be October 25. On the motion of Heidi Wilder, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted unanimously to approve Resolution R2013-17. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Discuss and consider a request for approval of a Preliminary Plat for Aledo Estates, Lot 1, Block A; Lots 19-23, Block B; Lots 1-7, Block C; Lots 1-7 Block D; and Lots 1-7, Block F, for property located northwest of Dominique Drive in the Robert Cunningham Survey/A-283, City of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas. Mr. Farmer presented this item as well. He stated that Aledo Estates is in the City's Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). The subdivision is approximately 36 acres divided into 27 lots. Mr. Farmer helped the Council identify the location. Due to the distance from City facilities and the rural nature of the surrounding area, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the plat with the following five exceptions: 1. Weatherford Municipal Code (WMC) §11-3-1(r), to allow more than one lot per side front onto a dead-end street without providing a temporary turn-around. 2. WMC §11-3-1(w), to allow a rural street cross-section in a subdivision with lots less than three acres in size. 3. WMC §11-3-5, to waive the requirement for sidewalks on both sides of the street. The rural street cross-section requested above does not include sidewalks. 4. WMC §11-3-9(b), to allow for onsite wastewater treatment units where the lot sizes are greater than three acres. 5. WMC §11-5-1(b), to waive the requirement to extend city water and wastewater utilities "to and through" the property. [...]
Discuss and consider an appointment to the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee. On the motion of Craig Swancy, second by Jeff Robinson, the Council voted unanimously to appoint Karolina "Kay" Wlodarek to the Animal Shelter Advisory Committee. Motion carried 5 - 0.
1 resident spoke during citizen comments on non-agenda items; the minutes record the topics. The Ledger counts residents at comment and does not name them.
Monthly management report including financials for July 2013. Chad Janicek, Director of OMB, presented this item. No action was required or taken.
Mayor Hooks called the Work Session back to order at 7:55 p.m. Hold a work session on the FY14 proposed budget. Topics will include proposed changes to the employee retirement plan, a walk-forward of changes made to the budget proposal since August 6, and responses to questions raised during the August 17 budget retreat. Mr. Janicek spoke about the City's retirement plan adjustment. The City contributes to Social Security, retiree insurance, and TMRS. The rate has increased from approximately 14 percent to 17 percent over the last eight years. Mr. Janicek stated that since 2008, retirees have had annual payment increases of 2.7, 0, 1.1, 2.2, and 1.5 percent based on data from the Bureau of Labor & Statistics. He spoke about the reasons for the increase including, but not limited to: The need by TMRS to reduce assumptions for future returns on their investment vehicles; Changes to accounting rules which require more detailed reporting of the liabilities and any funding gaps associated with them; and CC 082713 Page 6 of 8 Add-ons to our plan, particularly an automatic cost of living adjustment (COLA) repeater equal to 70 percent of inflation. Mr. Janicek explained the automatic COLA repeater. Since these increases are required to adequately fund our retirement plan, they are automatically included in the budget before any other considerations are made. This will continue [...]
Compiled from the city secretary's minutes by the Ledger's extractor, in the minutes' own wording, item by item; the Ledger adds no characterization. Read the minutes for the full record.
Sources: City of Weatherford: council minutes, Aug. 27, 2013 (Granicus); Agenda for this meeting (Granicus); Meeting video (Granicus)