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4B Sales Tax Corporation Minutes - 05/09/2001MINUTES OF THE 4B SALES TAX CORPORATION May 9, 2001 PrPCPnt- Rick Boone, President § Ray Gonzalez, Vice President § Benay Ayers, Secretary Treasurer § Leon Mallonee § Corporation Board Members Bill Altman § Arthur Bea Williams § Tommy McCulloch § Jim Berzina, City Manager § Robert Powers, Assistant City Manager § Jim Dockery, Director of Finance § Bill Sullivan, Acting City Attorney § Harold Lindsey, Acting Fire Chief § City Staff Captain Earl Foster, WFFD § Ken Coughlin, Chief of Police § Major Gerald Todd, WFPD § Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary § Monica Wolfson, Times Record News § Ronnie James, former Chief, WFFD § Visitors I. Call to Order President Rick Boone called the meeting to order at 8:33 a.m. He also expressed his congratulations to Arthur Bea Williams for her successful reelection to her seat on the Wichita Falls City Council. II. Approval of Minutes Bill Altman moved for approval of the minutes, subject to the correction of the spelling of Ray Gonzalez' surname. Tommy McCulloch seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved. 2 III. Election of Officers Mr. McCulloch made a motion that the current slate of officers be reelected to their respective positions. Leon Mallonee seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved. IV. Receive Financial Report Robert Powers provided information on the 4B Sales Tax Corporation's Preliminary Financial Statement. He informed the Board that payments for May are expected to be received May 10. He noted the projection of $2.7 million reveals an increase over last year's sales tax collection, with estimated interest earnings totaling $188,000. Total revenue is projected at $2.9 million. The remaining commitments include the debt service payment for the library improvements. This is the fourth year of that seven -year note. The sum of $500,000 has been set aside for future drainage improvements. The only other outstanding payment is the commitment to Midwestern State University for the dredging of Sikes Lake. Mr. Powers stated the Corporation looks to end this fiscal year with an unreserved balance of approximately $4.27 million. President Boone queried Mr. Powers about a $24,000 credit referenced on the statement. Mr. Powers responded that these funds were part of the $400,000 given for the Recreation Center improvements, but were not used. President Boone then asked Mr. Powers if he foresaw a continuance of growth in the sales tax revenues. Mr. Powers stated that he prepares the budget using figures of what was brought in the previous year, rather than budgeting for growth. Anything above that estimated amount is "gravy." He did note that the revenues are growing at a slower rate than they had the last couple of years; however, the fourth quarterly payments are typically the larger ones. Small businesses pay quarterly, while larger companies pay monthly. The interest earnings have dropped the last several months, with last month's earnings under 5 %. Mr. Mallonee questioned whether the $4.2 million unreserved fund balance included the $500,000 set aside for future drainage improvements. Mr. Powers stated that it does not. V. Public Hearing — Consider Funding Request for Design and Construction of a Public Safety Training Center and Related Facilities President Boone opened the public hearing to discuss the Public Safety Training Center. Robert Powers acknowledged guests in attendance at the meeting who could provide input to the Board concerning this funding request. He further stated that the public safety training center had been discussed for some time, and was one of the specific ballot projects in the January 1997 3 election. Last year, the Board authorized funding for a consulting service, and hired the Arizona firm of McLaren, Wilson & Lawrie. This firm finished their work this past fall. Their work was then integrated into a booklet of information furnished to the Board by Mr. Powers. Mr. Powers noted the proposed Public Safety Training Center consists of a three - legged stool, consisting of (1) a training center building, (2) a fire department drill field, and (3) a police firing range. These three features will not be located in the same area, however. Staff comes to the Board today to discuss the training center building and the fire drill field. The staff is not prepared to make any recommendations concerning the police firing range at this time. Training Center The concept design for the training center would consist of a 22,665 square foot building, including a fire apparatus bay, at a cost of approximately $3.1 million. Design fees, furniture and equipment, and site preparation would increase this cost to $3.8 -$4 million. This would be a joint -use facility to accommodate police and fire personnel, as well as various City personnel functions. The multi - purpose classroom, which could be subdivided into five smaller rooms, would accommodate 90 individuals. The police and fire departments would each have dedicated an additional classroom with permanent storage of training equipment. There would also be a fitness room with 24 -hour access, with a separate security system so that other City personnel may access the fitness area when not in use. In addition, there would be office space, a video room, a computer lab, and a small kitchen. Mr. Powers noted the timeline for this project sets the anticipated construction at April 2002 -March 2003. Fire Drill Field Mr. Powers pointed out that the staff is presenting two financing scenarios. When this project was first discussed approximately five years ago, the estimates were derived assuming the project would be a modification of the training field on Old Burk Road, at a cost of $475,000. In the revised scenario, the location is changed to cover an area along the south bank of Holliday Creek and north of the Washington- Jackson Math/Science Center campus. The cost is relatively the same, at $565,000. But the major difference is that any new location must have a major water supply (which is costly), roads built, and fencing installed. The cost for the field training center, including the infrastructure costs, is an estimated $1.17 million. Due to the significant cost of this project, staff prepared one scenario as a three- phased project. Rather than complete the entire project at once, at the cost of $1.17, the three - phased scenario totals $1,312,000 (Phase 1, $809,000; Phase 2 - $183,000; Phase 3 - $321,000). The phases would allow for use of the project at each stage, rather than completing the project piecemeal and being unable to use it until the entire construction was completed. The other scenario provided for completion of the project at one time. Mr. McCulloch questioned why would staff put forth a scenario to build it piecemeal, if that is not the desired method, especially considering the fact that it would cost more. Mr. Powers replied that it was just an option presented to the Board, in the event the Board is M uncomfortable with funding the entire project at one time. Mr. Powers acknowledged that it is his recommendation that the entire project be completed at one time. President Boone then addressed the training center project, and questioned Police Chief Ken Coughlin as to whether the training personnel listed were transfers or new hires. Chief Coughlin replied that the Wichita Falls Police Department currently has four employees in the training unit. Over the next 10 years, that number could possibly grow to eight, as the State continues to require additional hours for training. At present, State - mandated training calls for 40 hours every two years for police personnel. Mr. Mallonee questioned whether all of the personnel in the training unit would be located at the training center. Chief Coughlin replied that the center would house the community policing and training staff proper. President Boone then turned his attention to the fire drill field. He questioned Acting Fire Chief Harold Lindsey whether there would be any concern with smoke from the field, due to the field's close proximity to the Washington/Jackson School. Acting Chief Lindsey answered negatively, as the fires will be fueled mainly by propane and be smoke free, or fueled by diesel fuel and hay. He further stated that any smoke present would be controlled and minimal. President Boone asked what drove the $143,000 water price. Acting Chief Lindsey stated they had a requirement, at minimum, of an 8" main, and the site is a relatively long distance from the existing main. He added that this was an Engineering Department estimate. Ms. Williams questioned whether the Fire Department anticipated any problems with being located near the TXU Gas property. Acting Chief Lindsey stated that the fire drill field projects are self - contained, and he therefore expects no problems from being located near the TXU property. Mr. McCulloch questioned how long these facilities would carry the City of Wichita Falls. Acting Chief Lindsey stated that the Burk Road facility was built in 1967. He stated that, hopefully, the project would carry the City for 30 -50 years, depending upon State requirements. Mr. McCulloch then asked if the police firing range could be located on any of the property being discussed. Chief Coughlin stated it could not be located on Rosewood, as that is a residential area. He added that if the City upgrades its existing range, it could then work under former State standards. A new range requires compliance under new standards, which includes 100% capture of the lead. It might be possible to locate the range around the dump area, as long as that area is not developed into residential property. There would be a benefit to re- outfitting the existing range in that its neighbors are used to the range being in that location. The design firm stated the current range can be reworked to fit new requirements, but it will call for significant improvements. City Manager Jim Berzina added that if the police firing range is not located at its present site, it will probably be located completely out of the city limits. Ms. Williams questioned 5 whether the City owned the land adjacent to the back end of the range, and Mr. Berzina replied that the City did not. The Board then turned discussion back to the fire drill field. Mr. Powers noted the main component of this feature of the Public Safety Training Center is the burn building. All of the other projects could be designed in- house. Fire Captain Earl Foster passed out a pamphlet that showed the concept of this project. He stated the burn building needed to be completed as soon as practicable due to State requirements. In addition, it could be used in the Department's next Academy. Acting Chief Lindsey stated that in past years the Department had received the State - required training through the burning of condemned structures. Determining that this was a dangerous practice, the firefighters now to go Dallas or Texas A &M. This training has proved to be very costly and inconvenient. He added that he hoped this project could become a regional training center, and maintain itself through rental costs. Secretary Treasurer Benay Ayers questioned whether this project would add significant costs to the Fire Department's operating budget, and Acting Chief Lindsey stated the costs would be minimal, in the form of gas, diesel fuel, and hay. President Boone questioned whether there had been consideration given to recycling the water. Captain Foster stated that Public Works Director George Bonnett had spoken with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. Mr. Bonnett was told that as long as it is not a "dirty burn," TNRCC did not anticipate problems with natural drainage. Acting Chief Lindsey added that the volume of water used is not really that large. Mr. Altman questioned Chief Coughlin about comments made earlier in the meeting concerning the training staff being located at the training center. Chief Coughlin noted that, no matter what growth the City experiences in the future, the number of training staff will need to increase. He feels the City would be in an excellent position to do regional training, and draw from the Metroplex and Oklahoma City. If Wichita Falls could guarantee a certain amount of attendees, the City's employees could train for free. Mr. McCulloch pointed out that any time a cost savings is recognized, that equates to making money. President Boone closed the public hearing. He reiterated the aspects of the project before the Board this date. Mr. Altman added that the Board needed to vote on approving the expense of hiring an architect to do the design phase, to get a clearer picture on how much the project will cost. This will help the Board and Council as they look ahead at other projects that need attention. President Boone asked Mr. Powers the anticipated cost for a consultant. Mr. Powers stated that, based on the $3.1 million construction costs for the training center, the fee would be approximately $311,000. Secretary Treasurer Ayers moved to fund the entire $1.17 million for the Fire Training Field. This motion was seconded by Mr. Mallonee and approved unanimously. rel Mr. McCulloch then moved to approve the expenditure of the $311,000 for the estimated design fees of the Training Center. Ms. Williams seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved. VI. Update on Future Projects Mr. Powers stated the City looked at the cost for a new radio system in 1998. The estimated cost at that time was $3 million for police and fire, and another $500,000 for the other City departments. Not only is there a need for a new radio system, but also a new dispatch and records management system (CAD RMS). The present one has been in existence since 1985. The other component is mobile data, which would allow police and fire to transmit and receive data, and avoid dispatcher traffic. This would serve to speed up turnaround time on warrant checks, allow for the download of building plans, or the access of Hazmat databases. Recently, the City asked its consultant to determine the cost to design a radio system, review our CAD RMS needs and mobile data technology, and design Requests for Proposal for bids. The fee for this work is $276,000. The City Council has appointed a three - member subcommittee to do further study on this issue. (Ronnie James entered the room at 9:20 a.m.) The Board of Directors set their next meeting for Wednesday, June 27, 2001, beginning at 8:30 a.m., at which time they will discuss the budget to be submitted to the City Council. VII. Adjourn There being no further business, President Boone announced the meeting adjourned at 9:44 a.m. 4�m Benay Ayers Secretary Treasurer Linda Merrill Recording Secretary