Loading...
Min 08/19/2014 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 19, 2014 Page 1 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Wichita Falls, Texas Memorial Auditorium Building August 19, 2014 Item 1 - Call to Order 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. Glenn Barham - Mayor Ben Hoover - Councilors Annetta Dotson - Brian Hooker - Michael Smith - Tim Ingle - Tom Quintero - Darron Leiker - City Manager Miles Risley - City Attorney Tracy Norr - City Clerk - - - - - - - - Mayor Barham called the meeting to order. - - - - - - - - Item 2a - Invocation Pastor Gene Holley, Life Tabernacle, gave the invocation. - - - - - - - - Item 2b - Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Barham led in the Pledge of Allegiance. - - - - - - - - Item 3 – Presentations – Public Works Recognition of Water and Wastewater Employees for Their Efforts and Implementation of the Direct Potable Reuse Project Russell Schreiber recognized the employees who made the Direct Potable Reuse project successful. He noted their 18-hour days, weekend work, and personal time given that was given during the past two years while the project was being done. Mayor Barham added his thanks. - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 19, 2014 Page 2 Item 4 - Comments from the Public to Members of the City Council Concerning Items That Are Not on the City Council Agenda. Sean Kriger, 719 Scott, said the elevators in Big Blue are running and work is continuing on getting the building ready. He said they would like to create retail, restaurants, and bars on the main floor and in the basement to expand the area entertainment district, offices on the second through sixth floors, and residential units above that. He asked for city support and grants. He offered to meet with each councilmember to discuss options. - - - - - - - - Item 5 – 6c– Consent Items City Manager Darrin Leiker gave a briefing on the item listed under the Consent Agenda. Moved by Councilor Smith that the Consent Agenda be approved. Motion seconded by Councilor Ingle and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Hoover, Dotson, Hooker, Smith, Ingle, and Quintero. Nays: None Item 5- Approval of Minutes of the August 5, 2014 Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council Item 6a-c –Receive Minutes Minutes of the following boards and commissions were received: (a) The Wichita Falls Traffic Safety Commission, June 4, 2014 (b) Lake Wichita Study Committee, June 10, 2014 (c) Wichita Falls 4B Sales Tax Corporation, July 9, 2014 - - - - - - - - Item 7a – Resolution #89-2014 RESOLUTION NO. 89-2014 Resolution Appointing Julia Vasquez as Acting City Attorney Moved by Councilor Ingle that Resolution No. 89-2014 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Dotson and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Hoover, Dotson, Hooker, Quintero, Ingle, and Smith. Nays: None - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 19, 2014 Page 3 Item 7b – Resolution #90-2014 RESOLUTION NO. 90-2014 Resolution Selecting the Proposal of Trinity Hughes Construction for the New Water Slide and Pump House for Castaway Cove Water Park and Authorizing Execution of an Agreement for Construction in an Amount Not to Exceed $496,000 Moved by Councilor Hooker that Resolution No. 90-2014 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Hoover and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Hoover, Dotson, Hooker, Quintero, Ingle, and Smith. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 7c – Resolution #91-2014 RESOLUTION NO. 91-2014 Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of One 35-Foot Low-Floor Bus from Gillig Corporation in the Amount of $371,641, Plus Selected Options, for a Total Bid Price of $385,534 Moved by Councilor Hooker that Resolution No. 91-2014 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Ingle and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Hoover, Dotson, Hooker, Quintero, Ingle, and Smith. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8a – Staff Reports There were no staff reports. Item 8b – Items of Concern to Members of the City Council Councilor Hoover said he and his family attended the Ranch Rodeo and had a good time. He said the new screen at the Coliseum enhanced the experience. He said he is excited to see the new turf. He encouraged support of the Night Hawk team. Councilor Smith noted it is time for Hotter than Hell race and welcomed the thousands of guests. He discussed the Chain-Off program for animals and said the group who gave assistance to those who needed help has built or repaired 48 fences. He noted that yards need to be cared for in spite of the drought. Lou Kreidler gave a report on mosquito spraying and one case of West Nile that has been reported in the city. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 19, 2014 Page 4 Councilor Ingle noted school starts next week. He asked the media to highlight the work of the Public Works crew for the water project. Councilor Dotson said there have been a lot of complaints in District 2 about tall grass. She asked that the phone number for code enforcement and for mosquito abatement be given. Kevin Hugman said the code enforcement department is actively working on the areas with tall grass. Councilor Quintero added his thanks to the Public Works employees. He also thanked the staff for allowing the use of the council chambers for the neighborhood meeting for the Missile Road clean-up project. Mayor Barham said the crowd at Ranch Roundup was larger than the past five years. The scoreboard was fantastic. He said he knows staff is working on the high grass because he had received a letter about grass in his alley. - - - - - - - - Item 9 – Work Session to Consider Proposed FY 2014-2015 Budget Darron Leiker said the proposed budget has been under development since April. He said the resolution stating the intent on the tax rate would need action following the work session. Jim Dockery gave an overview of the budget process. He highlight the annual operating budget total expenditures as $164.6 million, which is 1 percent above last year. The total revenue balances with the expenditures. General fund revenues increase 2.42 percent, mostly through slight property and sales tax growth. General fund expenditures increase 2.54 percent. The pay and benefit survey was reviewed. Specific areas of concern were discussed. Reserve fund balances and high priority one-time expenditures were noted. The water/sewer fund was reviewed. For 2013- 24, budget revenues are about $7 million lower due to the drought restrictions and expenditures have been cut $3.2 million. The fund balance is nearly depleted and needs to be replenished. A recess was held for lunch. Councilor Hooker left the meeting. Mr. Dockery said the sanitation fund revenue is almost unchanged and there are no changes recommended in fees. The expenditures are down 4.56 percent. Budget changes were noted. The fleet maintenance, regional airport, Kickapoo airport, transit, golf course, water park, storm water utility project, hotel/motel, MPEC/CVB, and information technology funds were highlighted. The Capital Improvement Plan was defined and reviewed. Major projects and funding sources were listed. Councilor Smith asked about funding for the wild bird rescue group in the animal control budget. He was told the annual contract with the Humane Society may be reduced in order to provide funding for the wild bird rescue. Mayor Barham asked about funding for the Johnson Road housing project. He was told the project probably will not get state funding. He also asked about catastrophe recovery of information. Blake Juracek said there are several back-up techniques being used. Mayor Barham said he attended the East Side Development Corporation meeting and there is a lot of concern about the water rate increase. He asked if the city can collect money for those with hardships. Jim Dockery said there are organizations that can help in those situations. The city could accept donations through the utility billing to help fund those organizations. - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 19, 2014 Page 5 Item 7d – Resolution #92-2014 RESOLUTION NO. 92-2014 Resolution Expressing the City Council’s Intent to Place a Proposal on a Future Council Agenda Approving a Property Tax Rate that Exceeds the Notice and Public Hearing Limit; Scheduling Two Public Hearings, and Establishing the Date to Vote on Same Moved by Councilor Hoover that Resolution No. 92-2014 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Dotson. Motion to amend the resolution to set the intent for a tax rate to $.65526 was made by Mayor Barham. Amendment was seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Hoover, Dotson, Quintero, and Smith. Nays: Councilor Ingle The motion as amended carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Hoover, Dotson, Quintero, and Smith. Nays: Councilor Ingle - - - - - - - - Item 10 – Executive Session There was no executive session. - - - - - - - - Item 13 - Adjourn City Council adjourned at 2:10 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED this 2nd day of September, 2014. __________________________________ Glenn Barham, Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________________ Tracy B. Norr, MMC, City Clerk