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Min 09/11/2018 City of Wichita Falls City Council Meeting Minutes September 11, 2018 Item 1 - Call to Order The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas met in special session on the above date in the Council Chambers of the Memorial with the following members present. Stephen L. Santellana - Mayor DeAndra Chenault - Councilors Mitesh Desai - Eric West - Bobby Whiteley - Darron Leiker - City Manager Kinley Hegglund - City Attorney Marie Balthrop - City Clerk Absent: Jesse Brown Jeff Browning - - - - - - - - Mayor Santellana called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. - - - - - - - - Item 2a Invocation Jim Bindel, Deacon, Our Lady Queen of Peace, gave the invocation. - - - - - - - - Item 2b Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Santellana led the Pledge of Allegiance. - - - - - - - - Item 3 Consent Items 8:34 a.m. City Manager Darron Leiker gave a briefing on the items listed under the Consent Agenda. Moved by Councilor Chenault that the consent items be approved. Motion seconded by Councilor Desai and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Chenault, Desai, West and Whiteley Nays: None - - - - - - - Item 3 Approval of minutes of the September 4, 2018 Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council. - - - - - - - Item 4 Public Hearing on Proposed Property Tax Rate for the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year 8:35 a.m. Jim Dockery, Deputy City Manager, reviewed the proposed property tax rate and preliminary budget. Mr. Dockery stated that this is the final public hearing on the tax rate and there will be a public hearing on the budget on September 18, 2018 and the budget and tax rate being will be adopted at the conclusion of the public hearing. Mayor Santellana opened the Public Hearing at 8:37 a.m. Officer John Spraggins, President of the Wichita Falls Police Officers Association, addressed the council and stated that he has learned quite a bit about how the city works during this process, and that the staff has been outstanding educating him through the process. He discussed the proposed raise of 3% cost of living and with additional step increases and stated that we are just pushing this problem down the road. The salary problem will continue to create shortages in applicants as we compete against other cities. Officer Spraggins stated that he appreciates all that has been done, and that he believes every city employee needs a raise. With Public Safety salary is an important factor to get the most qualified applicants for our city staff. Officer Spraggins asked that salaries be looked at during the next strategic planning meeting and that it is made a priority. Paul Hillman, 3616 Alexandria, asked for clarification on what the actual tax rate will be since there was conflicting information with one rate in the budget and different rate City Council Minutes September 11, 2018 Page 2 advertised. The rate of $0.72988 was listed in the preliminary budget, and the notice was sent out as $0.75000. Mayor Santellana stated that the rate of $.072988 is the rate that is needed to cover the bond proposal that was passed in May, and the $0.75000 was advertised to allow room for adjustment if needed. Darron Leiker reminded the council and audience that next Tuesday, September 18, 2018, the council will adopt the budget, tax rate, capital improvement plan and fee ordinance. Mr. Leiker suggested that anyone with questions about the budget to please ask them this week. Mayor Santellana closed the Public Hearing at 8:42 a.m. - - - - - - - Item 5 Items of Concern to Members of the City Council 8:43 a.m. Members of the City Council presented the following matters: Councilor Whiteley thanked Officer John Spraggins for speaking on behalf of the Police Officers and other city employees and stated that he will make this salary issue a priority. Mayor Remembering 9/11 this morning. Participating in a 5K at the base today in remembrance of this event. Town Hall Meeting September 18, 2018 at 6:30 at the Ray Clymer Exhibit Hall, Seminar Room to give the public an opportunity to address council and staff about any concerns they have. - - - - - - - Item 6 Comments from the Public to Members of the City Council Concerning Items That Are Not on the City Council Agenda. 8:47 a.m. Margie Reese, 1712 Rockridge Drive, Director of the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture, addressed the council in reference to the exciting work artists are doing in our community, support for the Arts in Wichita Falls, and the importance of arts in our community. Ms. Reese thanked the council on behalf of all of the arts organizations that receive funding through the city. As the council considers the tough decisions on the budget, she thanked the council for their support and asked that they consider further funding to help these programs grow. - - - - - - - Item 7 Executive Session City Council Minutes September 11, 2018 Page 3 City Council went into Executive Session at 8:57 a.m. in accordance with Texas Government Code §551.074 to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, dismissal of a public officer or employee (including, but not limited to, City Manager, City Attorney, Judge of the Municipal Court, and City Clerk.) City Council reconvened at 11:53 a.m. Councilor Chenault announced that no votes or polls were taken. - - - - - - - Item 8 Adjourn Councilor Chenault adjourned the meeting at 11:54 a.m. th PASSED AND APPROVED this 18 day of September, 2018. ________________________________ Stephen L. Santellana, Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________________ Marie Balthrop, TRMC, CMC City Clerk City Council Minutes September 11, 2018 Page 4