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Min 08/18/2015 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 18, 2015 Page 1 CITY COUNCIL MINUTES Wichita Falls, Texas Memorial Auditorium Building August 18, 2015 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 DeAndra Chenault - Councilors Michael Smith - Tim Ingle - Tom Quintero - Brian Hooker - Stephen Santellana - Darron Leiker - City Manager Kinley Hegglund - City Attorney Tracy Norr - City Clerk - - - - - - - - Mayor Barham called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. - - - - - - - - Item 2a - Invocation Pastor Gene Holley, Life Tabernacle Church, gave the invocation. - - - - - - - - Item 2b - Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Barham led in the Pledge of Allegiance. - - - - - - - - Item 3 – Proclamation – ENJJPT 7000th Graduate Day, SAFB 8:31 AM Mayor Barham read a proclamation establishing August 14, 2015 as ENJJPT 7000 th Graduate Day in Wichita Falls and urged citizens to applaud the graduates as a historic achievement to the city of Wichita Falls and to recognize the Fl ying Wing and participating nations in this milestone. He presented the proclamation to Colonel Gregory Keeton. - - - - - - - - CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 18, 2015 Page 2 Item 4 - Comments from the Public to Members of the City Council Concerning Items That Are Not on the City Council Agenda. 8:34 AM Keith Gregory, 11 Colonial Drive, spoke about the use of the MLK Center for the Eastside Community Coalition. He said the use of the facility has not been allowed since the passing of Larry Nash. City Manager Darron Leiker said he would check i nto the situation. Mr. Gregory welcomed attendance at a Community Training session. - - - - - - - - Item 5 - Consent Items 8:37 AM City Manager Darron Leiker gave a briefing on the items 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 Smith, Quintero, Hooker, Ingle, Santellana and Chenault. Nays: None Item 5 - Approval of Minutes of the August 4, 2015 Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City Council - - - - - - - - Item 6 – Public Hearing for Ordinance Continuing in Effect Sections 78-61 through 78-80 of the Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances, Which Provide a Juvenile Curfew Mayor Barham opened the public hearing at 8:38 AM. Kinley Hegglund explained that the curfew sunsets every thre e years unless the city council renews it. He reviewed the terms and exceptions of the curfew. There were no other comments and the public hearing was closed at 8:40 AM. - - - - - - - - Item 7a – Ordinance #36-2015 8:40 AM Ordinance No. 36-2015 Ordinance Continuing in Effect Sections 78-61 through 78-80 of the Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances, Which Provide a Juvenile Curfew Moved by Councilor Ingle that Ordinance No. 36-2015 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote: CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 18, 2015 Page 3 Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Quintero, Hooker, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8a – Resolution #79-2015 8:41 AM RESOLUTION NO. 79-2015 Resolution Declaring the City-Owned Property Located at 4415 Miller Road, Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas as Excess Real Property and Authorizing Permission to Advertise the Property to be Offered for Sale at Sealed Bid Moved by Councilor Hooker that Resolution No. 79-2015 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Smith and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Quintero, Santellana, Hooker, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8b – Resolution #80-2015 8:45 AM RESOLUTION NO. 80-2015 Resolution Adopting the 2015 Mitigation Action Plan of the City of Wichita Falls Moved by Councilor Ingle that Resolution No. 80-2015 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Hooker and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Quintero, Hooker, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8c – Resolution #81-2015 8:47 AM RESOLUTION NO. 81-2015 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Engineering Services Agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc. for the Wichita River Floodplain Study for a Total Fee Not to Exceed $70,000, and to Execute an Inter-local Agreement with Wichita County for Reimbursement Moved by Councilor Ho oker that Resolution No. 81-2015 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Santellana and motion carried by the following vote: CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 18, 2015 Page 4 Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Hooker, Quintero, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 8d – Resolution #82-2015 8:55 AM RESOLUTION NO. 82-2015 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Raw Water Purchase Contract with the City of Olney, Texas Moved by Councilor Ingle that Resolution No. 82-2015 be passed. Motion seconded by Councilor Santellana and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Ingle, Smith, Hooker, Quintero, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: None - - - - - - - - Item 10 was held out of order. - - - - - - - - Item 10 – Work Session to Consider Proposed FY 2015-2016 Budget 9:27 AM City Manager Darron Leiker noted the preliminary budget had been submitted to the council. He reviewed the process for adopting the budget and ta x rate. Jim Dockery gave an overview of the proposed budget. He listed the major expenditures. He said revenues are less than expenditures, so reserve funds must be used in some places. Details of the general fund were discussed. History of the pro perty tax base and values, sales tax, and the city’s tax rate were highlighted. Revenue sources were reviewed. The general fund was discussed in depth, particularly personnel expenses. Mr. Leiker said he reviewed seven years of general fund expenditu res. During that time, the average annual change in expenditures is just over one percent per year. There are fewer employees in the general fund now than there were eight years ago. The water, sewer, storm water, and sanitation funds were highlighted. No change for water retail rates is proposed but an increase in wholesale rates is proposed . A proposed rate change for the storm water fee was noted. Other funds noted were the fleet maintenance fund, grant funds, general debt service fund, regional a irport fund, Kickapoo airport fund, transit fund, golf course fund, water park fund, MPEC fund, and technology fund. William Hasting spoke representing the Wichita Falls Police Association. Information regarding salaries was distributed to each councilo r. He said salaries and benefits have fallen CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 18, 2015 Page 5 behind and recruiting is more difficult. He noted that the national negative perspective of police officers has had an impact on the applicant pool. He discussed retention of officers, noting many have left because of pay and benefits. Mr. Hasting said training and recruiting officers are very proactive. Chief Borrego said the process for hiring has been shortened and standards are being revised to allow for better recruitment. The department also works clo sely with the human resources department and social media to attract applicants. He said the vacancies in officer positions affects patrol the most. He said he also loses veteran officers. Bobby Whitely spoke representing the Firefighters Association , which has the same needs as the police department. He said salary surveys are done and the goal of the association is for average salaries. The survey was not done this year and the association decided to use the city’s numbers. About 26 firefighters have left in the past year, all for more money. He said applicant numbers are down. He discussed EMT certifications, increased duties, and the coordination being done with Chief Reese as well as the police department. He noted there are issues besides salaries that need to be addressed. He said the firefighters are being trained here but are going to other agencies. He added that firefighters are also leaving as soon as they are eligible for retirement in the system. He thanked the staff for putting the numbers together for this discussion. Councilor Quintero and Councilor Hooker left the meeting during the lunch recess. Councilor Santellana said that he would like to see the council state their intent to set the rate at the highest rate so there is room to work without shooting ourselves in the foot. Councilor Smith said the budget is appropriate and has no service cuts. He said he would like to set the tax rate so salaries could be addressed for all employees, especially the police and fire. The increase last year was intended to be beginning of bringing salaries back in line. Councilor Ingle thanked the staff for the work on the budget. He said he would like to push for the storm water fee increase. He expressed concern about the sales tax. He said priorities need to be considered. He said the number of employees needs to be considered as we add new programs. He said he thinks we could reduce some services or programs. We need to know how to evaluate the programs. We need a long te rm strategy to take care of the employees. He said the median income in the city is below $50,000. We need to be able to provide a level of service but cannot do everything. He said he would like to find cuts in 10-15 jobs so salaries could be built in without a tax increase. Mr. Leiker noted that in the last year, the general fund has increased .8 6 percent, which is less than inflation. There are fewer employees in the general fund than eight years ago. The city has tried to live within their means. Mayor Barham added that several of the programs are not in the general fund, and the tax increase goes to the general fund. He said additional cuts will harm the organization. Program cuts need to be addressed during the planning session, not during the budget session. Councilor Ingle said he appreciates the lean budget, but there needs to be evaluation of programs and priorities for employees. Mr. Leiker said review can be done but needs to be done earlier in the year. He added that if we cut staff, we also need to reduce responsibilities because we operate very leanly. Councilor Chenault asked what it would take to get the pay increases for the police and fire. Mr. Leiker said a spreadsheet was provided to the council that showed different scena rios. It would take a 4.66 percent tax increase to reach market average. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES August 18, 2015 Page 6 Mayor Barham said there is a lot to think about during the next few weeks. The budget must be balanced. Item 8e – Resolution #83-2015 1:35 PM RESOLUTION NO. 83-2015 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 Smith to set the proposed tax rate of $.705998 and adopting the resolution. Motion seconded by Councilor Santellana and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Barham, Councilors Smith, Santellana, and Chenault. Nays: Ingle - - - - - - - - Item 9a – Staff Reports There were no staff reports. - - - - - - - - Item 9b – Items of Concern to Members of the City Council 1:39 PM There were no other items presented. - - - - - - - - Item 11 – Adjourn City Council adjourned at 1:40 PM. PASSED AND APPROVED this 1st day of September, 2015. __________________________________ Glenn Barham, Mayor ATTEST: ____________________________________ Tracy B. Norr, MMC, City Clerk