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Item 1 - Call to Order
City of Wichita Falls
City Council Meeting
Minutes
September 1, 2020
The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas met in regular session on the above
date in the Council Chambers of the Memorial Auditorium Building at 8.30 o'clock a.m.,
with the following members present.
Stephen L. Santellana
DeAndra Chenault
Tim Brewer
Jeff Browning
Steve Jackson
Michael Smith
Bobby Whiteley
Darron Leiker
Kinley Hegglund
Marie Balthrop
- Mayor
- Mayor Pro Tern
- Councilors
- City Manager
- City Attorney
- City Clerk
Mayor Santellana called the meeting to order at 8.30 a.m.
Item 2a — Invocation
Pastor Don Stribling, New Hope Presbyterian Church, gave the invocation.
Item 2b — Pledge of Allegiance
Mayor Santellana led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item 3 — Census Update, Pat Daughtery
8:34 a.m.
Pat Daughtery with the Census Bureau addressed the Council and thanked them and
the Complete Count Committee for their service. So far, sixty-one percent of
households have responded, and additional questionnaires are being mailed to
households that have not responded. Responses can be made online, by phone, or via
Census workers visiting households that have not responded.
Item 4-6 — Consent Agenda
8:36 a.m.
City Manager Darron Leiker gave a briefing on the items listed under the Consent
Agenda.
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve items on the consent agenda.
Motion seconded by Councilor Jackson and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Chenault, Jackson, Smith, and
Whiteley
Nays: None
Item 4 — Approval of minutes of the August 18, 2020 Regular Meeting of the Mayor
and City Council
Item 5 — Ordinance 48-2020
Ordinance making an appropriation to the Special Revenue Fund in the amount of
$57,950.78 for grant revenue from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) for
a Comprehensive Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) Grant for Fiscal Year
2021 and authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to accept
said funds
Item 6 — Receive Minutes
(a) Civil Service Commission, November 12, 2019
(b) Planning & Zoning, June 10, 2020
(c) Planning & Zoning, July 8, 2020
(d) Landmark Commission, August 5, 2020
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September 1, 2020
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Item 7 — Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Proposed Tax Rate
8.34 a.m.
Mayor Santellana opened the public hearing at 8.38 a.m. Jessica Williams, Director of
Finance/CFO, discussed the current tax rate, no -new -revenue tax rate, voter approval
rate, and the proposed tax rate. The proposed budget for fiscal year 2020-2021 is
based on the proposed tax rate of $0.763323, which is the same rate as the previous
year. Councilor Jackson stated that he would like to see the tax rate moved to the no -
new -revenue rate of $0.744422 due to the pandemic. Mayor Santellana asked where
Councilor Jackson would like to make cuts in the budget that would be needed with a
reduction in the tax rate. Councilor Jackson proposed that the top twenty employees
take a ten percent pay cut which would reduce the budget by almost a quarter of a
million dollars. Mr. Leiker discussed how a change to the lower rate would require
cutting roughly $1.4 million out of the proposed budget, which would require tabling the
remaining items concerning the budget and tax rate until a later date. Discussion was
held concerning the fact that Councilors have had since July to suggest changes and
work with staff to find feasible solutions, how the current budget has already been cut
approximately $9.7 million, and the proposed budget is approximately five percent lower
than the current fiscal year budget. Discussion was held concerning rising appraisal
values versus tax rates, and that the City only controls the tax rate, not appraisal values.
The Appraisal District sets property values and they are governed by the State of
Texas. Councilor Smith noted that staff and Council have been discussing the budget
for months and he is ready to vote. Councilor Whiteley noted that we should focus on
the services provided for the tax dollars paid, the budget has been cut by $9.7 million,
discussed revenue shortfalls, and the importance of public safety services paid by the
general fund. Councilor Jackson stated that he is against any cuts to Police and Fire.
Mr. Leiker stated that for a $100,000 home City taxes are approximately $760, or $63
per month to receive city services including twenty-four hour police and fire response,
street maintenance, parks, trails, and a variety of other services. Mr. Leiker also
explained that by moving to the lower rate citizens would only receive approximately a
$3.00 or less savings per month in taxes providing very little relief to citizens, but the
overall City budget would have to be cut $1.4 million. Mr. Leiker also discussed how
COVID-19 will cause next year's property values to plummet.
Mayor Santellana closed the public hearing at 9.02 a.m.
Item 8a — Ordinance 49-2020
9.02 a.m.
Ordinance adopting the Annual Budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020
and ending September 30, 2021.
Moved by Councilor Browning to approve Ordinance 49-2020.
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September 1, 2020
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Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following record vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Chenault, Smith, and Whiteley
Nays: Councilor Jackson
Item 8b — Ordinance 50-2020
9:06 a.m.
Ordinance ratifying the increase in property tax revenue as reflected in the Annual
Budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020 and ending September 30, 2021.
Moved by Councilor Smith to adopt this budget that will raise more total property taxes
than last year's budget by $1,456,768.72 or a 3.89% increase, and of that amount
$236,297.03 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this
year.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning and carried by the following record vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Chenault, Smith, and Whiteley
Nays: Councilor Jackson
Item 8c — Ordinance 51-2020
9:09 a.m.
Ordinance levying, assessing, and fixing the tax rate for the use and support of the
Wichita Falls Municipal Government and providing for the Interest and Sinking Fund for
the 2020-21 fiscal year; and declaring an emergency.
Moved by Councilor Smith that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a
tax rate of $0.763323, which is effectively a 2.48% increase in the tax rate. Councilor
Smith noted that this language is statutorily required by the State of Texas legislature.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning and carried by the following record vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Chenault, Smith, and Whiteley
Nays: Councilor Jackson
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September 1, 2020
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Item 8d — Ordinance 52-2020
9:14 a.m.
Ordinance adopting the Five -Year Capital Improvement Plan for the Fiscal Year
beginning October 1, 2020 and ending September 30, 2025.
Moved by Councilor Chenault to approve Ordinance 52-2020.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Chenault, Smith, and Whiteley
Nays: Councilor Jackson
Item 8e — Ordinance 53-2020
9:21 a.m.
Ordinance reappointing Mike Whalen and Diane Dockery as Substitute Judges of the
Municipal Court for terms of two years.
Moved by Councilor Chenault to approve Ordinance 53-2020.
Motion seconded by Councilor Browning and carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Chenault, Jackson, Smith, and
Whiteley
Nays: None
Item 9 — Resolution 75-2020
9:23 a.m.
Resolution authorizing the purchase of 2,700 replacement DuPont Microfiltration
Elements from FilmTec Corporation, in the amount of $2,235,000.
Moved by Councilor Brewer to approve Resolution 75-2020.
Motion seconded by Councilor Whiteley and carried by the following vote:
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September 1, 2020
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Ayes: Mayor Santellana, Councilors Brewer, Browning, Chenault, Jackson, Smith, and
Whiteley
Nays: None
Item 10a — Staff Report — COVID-19 Update, Lou Kreidler
9.28 a.m.
Mrs. Kreidler reported that in the past two weeks there have been 174 new cases at an
average of 12 cases per day, 199 recoveries, and 2 deaths. Mrs. Kreidler noted that the
number of recoveries exceeded the number of new cases, and the average number of
new cases per day is down by two. The top three types of spread continue to be
contact, close contact, and community spread. With school back in session, almost all
schools have seen cases with either a teacher or a student. Each school has a liaison
assigned to ensure proper mitigation steps are taken. We are approaching influenza
season and citizens are encouraged to receive a flu vaccination, and to continue to
wear masks, cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands, use hand sanitizer, and disinfect
surfaces often. Mayor Santellana discussed the increase of cases in school age
children, and Mrs. Kreidler stated that the biggest concern is with colleges. Mayor
Santellana stated that he has received multiple phone calls concerning capacity limits in
restaurants, and asked where people could report violations. Mrs. Kreidler stated that
the best way is to call dispatch or they could call the health department as their main
line goes to an answering service.
Item 10b — Items of concern to members of the City Council
9.30 a.m.
Councilor Brewer thanked everyone that attended and listened to the proposed budget.
He is excited that the business community is growing, and there was a press release
today regarding Panda Biotech choosing Wichita Falls for their operation. Councilor
Brewer knows there are businesses struggling from the pandemic, and he encouraged
citizens to support local business when possible. Councilor Brewer asked Mr. Leiker to
give an update on the two companies coming to Wichita Falls.
Mr. Leiker discussed that Panda Biotech will officially release today that they have
chosen Wichita Falls for their new operation, and are in the final stages of purchasing
the Delphi building. This will be the largest and most state of the art hemp processing
facility in the United States, and will provide 50 new jobs in the beginning and hope to
grow the number of jobs in the future. There is another highly respected manufacturing
company looking at the former ATCO building that could provide 150-300 new jobs.
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September 1, 2020
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Councilor Jackson thanked everyone for coming out and encouraged everyone to keep
working through the pandemic to get our community open and reopen the small
businesses that are still closed. Pray for our country, pray for Wichita Falls, and get out
and vote.
Councilor Smith reminded everyone to respond to the Census that will wrap up at the
end of the month. Get out and vote, early voting for the November election starts
October 13t". Contact the County Clerk's office with any questions. Texoma Gives is
Thursday, September 10, 2020, and Councilor Smith reminded everyone that non-
profits have taken a hit during the pandemic and have not been able to hold yearly
fundraisers. Give as much as you can to help non -profits and all of the services they
provide our citizens. There was a public hearing concerning the Lake Ringgold project
held by TCEQ last week, and the City's website has a page with information for this
project, and he encouraged citizens visit the website.
Councilor Whiteley stated there is special election on September 29t" for our senate
district. This is an important election and he encouraged citizens to vote in the special
election. Councilor Whiteley congratulated all city staff and thanked them for their
service during these tough times. He encouraged everyone to focus on the positive
information shared today, and for citizens to think about the services they receive for
city taxes they pay.
Councilor Chenault also mentioned the special election and stated that early voting
begins on September 14t". Councilor Chenault inquired about polling locations, and
mail ballots. Mrs. Balthrop discussed the polling locations and mail ballot procedures
that are handled through the County Clerk's office. Councilor Chenault discussed
evictions and agencies that may possibly have funds to assist residents facing eviction.
Mayor Santellana is excited to get through another budget season and commended
staff for their work. He understands that we have many citizens hurting from the
pandemic, and although it is not always local governments responsibility nor is it
financially feasible for local government to provide assistance, there are non -profits that
help fill the gap. It is election season and he believes that as Councilors we have an
obligation to get the correct information out and correct any misinformation being
spread. There has been misinformation concerning the number of jobs created but
including the announcement from Panda Biotech today, 1800 jobs have been created it
the last five years. He will continue to combat misinformation throughout the election
season. Mayor Santellana encouraged everyone to fill out their census, and to grab a
family member or neighbor and get them to complete their census forms. We had a
good Zoom meeting with TCEQ regarding Lake Ringgold, there are many concerned
citizens, but he reminded everyone that we are in the first stages of the process, and
trying to do the responsible thing for the future of our citizens.
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September 1, 2020
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Item 11 — Comments from the Public to Members of the City Council Concerning
Items That Are Not on the City Council Agenda
9.51 a.m.
Pamela Hughes Pak, Director of Marketing and Development for The Kitchen, thanked
the Council for their support of Meals on Wheels.
Item 12 —Adjourn
Mayor Santellana adjourned the meeting at 9.55 a.m.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 15t" day of September 2020.
ATTEST -
Marie Balthrop, T MC, MMC
City Clerk
tep en L. Santellana, Mayor
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
September 1, 2020
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