Weatherford
Weatherford City Council, Aug. 26, 2014: 9 items; Budget Work Session for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15). Kyle Lester, Budget and Strategic
0 consent items, 9 regular items, 1 public hearing, 2 executive-session topics; 7 recorded votes, all unanimous. Written from the minutes.
Action on executive session items: To take action, if necessary, pursuant to Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, VTCS, (Open Meetings Law): In accordance with the authority contained in: section 551.072 - to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property: A. Section 551.071 - Consult with and provide direction to City's attorneys regarding legal issues associated with annexation of territory generally described as properties along and adjacent to the Ric Williamson Memorial
Budget Work Session for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15). Kyle Lester, Budget and Strategic Planning Manager, presented this item. He spoke about modifications that have been made since the last work session: included a $433,000 down payment to finance a pumper truck and a quint for the Fire Department; included $70,000 for General Fund grants as one-time expenses; and removed the $40,000 in storm water fund administration charges. The proposed property tax break down is as follows: CC082614 Page 1 of 9 Because the $40,000 in Transfer Revenues from the storm water fund was removed from the proposal, and in order to continue to fund that portion of the $140,000 in health insurance costs, staff has taken that out of the proposed street maintenance funds. This change puts the street maintenance budget at $1.16 million. General Fund Overview The projected ending fund balance for FY15 is now at 124 Days. This decrease resulted from the $433,000 down payment for Fire apparatus financing and $70,000 in one-time general fund grant requests. This overview incorporates the City billing the Chamber of Commerce for overtime costs, estimated at $25,000, associated with the Peach Festival. This results in increased ongoing capacity of $25,000. The current increase of $25,000 could be allocated to market adjustments reducing the gap for the remaining market adjustments from $150,000 to $125,000. [...]
Presentation of City Manager awards. Assistant City Manager Sharon Hayes presented City Manager's Awards to the following employees: Randy Law, Chief Building Official; Randy Vaughn, Building Inspector; Angel Rudolph, Consumer Health Inspector; and Bob Hopkins, Fire Marshal.
Hold a PUBLIC HEARING on the proposed ad valorem tax rate of $0.4866 per $100 valuation, including $0.3150 per $100 valuation for operations and maintenance and $0.1716 per $100 valuation for interest and sinking (debt service). Kyle Lester, Budget and Strategic Planning Manager, stated that the Texas Truth in Taxation laws require two Public Hearings on the proposed tax rate. This is the first of those hearings; the second hearing will be held on September 9. Mayor Hooks opened the Public Hearing at 6:42 p.m. Bobbie Narramore, 209 West First Street; Teri Hubbard, 1317 South Lamar; and Kathleen Wildwood, 602 South Waco spoke in favor of the proposed tax increase. As there were no other speakers, Mayor Hooks closed the Public Hearing at 6:46 p.m.
Review, consider and/or act upon accepting the final report of Holland Lake Watershed Study. Terry Hughes, Director of Capital Transportation Projects, presented this item. Mr. Hughes introduced Kelly Dillard with Freese and Nichols, Inc. (FNI). Ms. Dillard provided background information on the process to develop the study. She spoke about the erosion assessment and mentioned erosion concerns on Timber Creek Drive. A flooding assessment was also conducted and Ms. Dillard stated that a fully developed 100-year floodplain exists behind Timber Creek Drive. Ms. Dillard spoke about the sediment assessment and noted that Holland Lake is half full of sediment and will be completely full in 40 years if erosion is not addressed. Potential watershed flood hazards exist in Holland Lake Creek and South Holland Lake Creek. Potential capital improvements include: Riparian Corridor Protection; Pool/Riffle Structures; Channel Improvements; Storm water Retention/Water Feature; Roadway/Culvert Improvements; Trail Improvements; Trash/Debris Collection; Holland Lake Dredging; Holland Lake Dam/Spillway Improvements; Timber Creek Floodplain Reclamation; and Briarwood Erosion Protection. FNI met with Staff to develop criteria and a scoring system to allow for fair comparisons to help ensure that storm water utility dollars are spent fairly throughout the community. The criteria were: life [...]
Consider ordinance 693-2014-38 to allow an exemption to the City's smokefree ordinance for "veterans organizations" as defined by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code. Mayor Hooks presented this item stating that the VFW conducted a survey of their membership and this is important to the future of their organization. Mayor Hooks provided the following results from their survey: 326 surveys were sent out; 158 were completed and returned; 124 want to allow smoking; 19 do not want smoking; 15 do not care; and they want to be able to govern themselves. This item was important enough for the viability of the organization that Mayor Hooks asked the Council to reconsider it. Mayor Hooks moved to approve Ordinance 693-2014-38. David Calhoun, 220 Crockett Road, spoke about conducting the survey, that 78.5 percent said they would like to smoke and that 99 percent said they would like to govern themselves. He asked the council to reconsider. After discussion, Mayor Hooks announced that the motion died for lack of a second. Discuss and consider authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) for a TexTreasures grant in the amount of $24,941.00. This grant will fund continuing work on the library's public digital database of historic documents found in Weatherford, Azle, Aledo, Springtown, Millsap and other sites in Parker [...]
Consider and/or act upon authorizing the City Manager to apply for a co-op grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Shannon Goodman, Director of Parks and Recreation, presented this request to apply for a $400,000 matching grant. If awarded, the City's match will be covered with the $500,000 in landfill royalties that have been allocated in FY15. Mr. Goodman noted that the amphitheater has not yet been funded. If the City is not awarded the grant, then staff will reprioritize the projects using only the dollars allocated from landfill royalties. If awarded, this grant will help accomplish goals such as the food court, Heritage Plaza, the recreational vehicle (RV) park, the all-inclusive playground, and the amphitheater. Funds must be expended within a three-year period. Staff is researching the resources to manage the amphitheater. This request is to allow staff to apply for the grant. If awarded, staff will come before the Council to request permission to accept the grant. Staff can bring back maintenance costs if the Council desires. Kathy Daniel, Grants Manager for the City of Weatherford, spoke about the grant. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will award approximately 20 of these grants throughout the state. Ms. Daniel stated that everything that is being proposed is on the state's priority list and therefore, it is anticipated the application will rank [...]
Discuss and consider the official ballot for the election of places 1-4 of the Board of Trustees for the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool. On the motion of Dennis Hooks, second by Craig Swancy, the Council voted unanimously to cast the City's ballot for the following persons: Place 1 Robert Herrera, Place 2 John Fullen, Place 3 George Shackelford, and Place 4 Peter Vargas. Motion carried 5 - 0.
Provide staff direction regarding the start time for City Council meetings. City Secretary Malinda Nowell presented this item. After discussion, Council consensus was to continue with meetings beginning at 6:30 p.m. with work sessions and executive sessions being held after the regular session. If staff anticipates a long meeting, then that can be communicated to the Council in advance so that it can be determined if an earlier start time is necessary and/or possible.
2 residents 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 Financial Report for July 2014. Kyle Lester, Budget and Strategic Planning Manager, presented this item. No action was required or taken on this item.
Executive session topics, as posted: A. Section 551.071 - Consult with and provide direction to City's attorneys regarding legal issues; B. Section 551.072 - to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property: 0.172.
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. 26, 2014 (Granicus); Agenda for this meeting (Granicus); Meeting video (Granicus)