Loading...
Min 10/09/1978 43 Wichita Falls, Texas Memorial Auditorium Building October 9, 1978 Items 1 & 2 The Board of Aldermen of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met in called session on the above date in the Council Room of the Memorial Auditorium Building at 8:30 o'clock A.M. , with the following members present. Kenneth Hill Mayor Hardy McAlister Fred E. Bassett Carol Russell Aldermen Curtis Smith Jim Thomas Raymond Adcock Gerald Fox City Manager H. P. Hodge, Jr. City Attorney Gerald Carlson Chief Accounting Officer Wilma J. Thomas City Clerk The invocation was given by Alderman Thomas. /Item 3a The public hearing was opened on the 1978-79 annual budget. The City Manager explained that the latest information provided to the Council in their agenda folders today reflects the change in the Health Department to operate the food handlers school , and the previous change was for Mental Health- Mental Retardation funding. No one desired to be heard, and the public hearing was closed. ,/'Item 3b The public hearing was opened on the 1978-79 general revenue sharing budget. Grace Shirk, Administrative Assistant at Wichita General Hospital , urged the Council to include the hospital in their allocation. Mayor Hill asked her to explain what a scanner is. She explained that it is a piece of diagnostic equipment which can diagnose certain disorders of the body much faster and more accurately than anything else. They range in price from $200,000 to $900,000. She feels the one the hospital needs is in the $400,000 category. She stated there are also many other things which are needed. She explained that their sources of income are limited. They have not received a sizeable gift from a wealthy person in the past 12 months, but have received some small ones. Both hospitals are involved in diagnostic procedures, but therapy is conducted only at General Hospital . She stated that according to the paper it seems that the County does not have support for them in their budget. Some of the people here are also going to the County for their budget hearing this morning at 11 :00. Alderman Bassett stated that their equipment needs are vast. If they do not have the latest in equipment, the young doctors will not come here. The equipment is needed to recruit them. Both these problems go together. The City Manager pointed out that on June 16 the Hospital Board furnished the City and County with equipment needs totaling $532,000. He calculated the City's portion at $90,000 a year over a three-year period. Alderman Smith stated that the hospital needs the equipment to do a better job for us. Alderman Adcock stated that he hopes there is no question in anyone 's mind about how the Council feels about the hospital and its needs. He would like to see us do all we can. The public hearing was closed. Item 4a A proposed ordinance was presented adopting the budget for the fiscal year 1978-79. 44 Item 4a, cont'd. ORDINANCE NO. 3385 AN ORDINANCE MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE, BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1 , 1978, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1979, BOTH DATES INCLUSIVE, ADOPTING THE BUDGET FIGURES AND ACCOUNTS AS PART OF SAID APPROPRIATIONS, DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Moved by Alderman Thomas that Ordinance No. 3385 be passed. Motion seconded by Alderman Smith, and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Hill , Aldermen McAlister, Bassett, Smith, Thomas, Adcock, and Alderwoman Russell Nays: None Item 4b A proposed ordinance was presented setting the tax rate for ,the fiscal year 1978-79. �J ORDINANCE NO. 3386 AN ORDINANCE LEVYING, ASSESSING AND FIXING THE TAX RATE FOR THE USE AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, AND PROVIDING FOR THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1978-79 AND APPORTIONING EACH LEVY FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE AND PROVIDING FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF ALL ANNUAL OCCUPATION TAXES PROVIDED BY LAW, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Moved by Alderman Thomas that Ordinance No. 3386 be passed. Motion seconded by Alderwoman Russell , and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Hill , Aldermen McAlister, Bassett, Smith, Thomas , Adcock, and Alderwoman Russell Nays : None Item 4c Discussion was held on sanitation rate analysis in relation to purchase and payment for sanitation containers. Alderman Thomas inquired why we should capitalize containers and pay for them out of general revenue sharing funds? Alderman McAlister stated that the whole purpose of the container system is to reduce cost and manpower in the Sanitation Department. The only reason we began funding sanitation containers three years ago from revenue sharing funds was to help promote the alley paving and containerization program. He stated that he was opposed to it at that time because the sanitation collection system should stand on its own. The people who benefit from the containers should be willing to pay their pro rata share of the cost for this system. The program has been more than satisfactory, but it started off wrong and has been continuing, and he feels it should not have started off that way. He stated that he is willing to pay his monthly fee in order to have that kind of service which is more beneficial to him than having the cans behind his house. He does not feel that revenue sharing funds should be used to give him something which it does not give others. Alderman Thomas stated that Mr. Lillard has stated that the sanitation container is subsidizing the other method of collection. The City Manager noted that the basic residential rate of $2.25 has not been raised in three or four years. Alderman McAlister stated that he does not see the need to continue funding sanitation containers by this method when it has proved so successful . Alderman Smith stated that he would lean to Proposal 3 because the people who have the containers are getting something which others are not. In ten years when it comes time to replace these containers we will be looking for a large amount of money to purchase them again. Mr. Lillard stated that it would take five years to complete the program. At the end of that period of time, 60 percent of the city would have container service. Alderman Smith stated that he felt we should have alleys in these new subdivisions. The City Manager stated that the people on paved alleys are also paying the cost of paving. Some of the Council feel that when the system is completed at the end of five years, they should look at it then. I 45 Item 4c, cont'd. Alderman McAlister stated that Proposal 2 would provide amortization for these containers. Mr. Lillard stated that the fund should be earmarked if it is their intention to do this. Alderman Thomas questioned why a person should be penalized because he did not have an alley? Mr. Lillard stated that rates are set up to recover their costs. It actually costs more for curbside service, but the container system equalizes it. Alderman Adcock stated that he feels this is an item which should carry itself. Proposal 3 should be considered. Alderman McAlister stated that the present container system is generating enough funds to amortize the capital cost. Alderman Adcock agreed that he could support Proposal 2. The City Manager stated that one way would to be to budget $150,000 of general revenue sharing funds, and use $100,000 which will be collected from the rates to purchase others during the fiscal year. Alderman Thomas felt we should be paying it back at the time of replacement. Discussion was also held on the request of the Hospital Board. Alderman McAlister stated that the hospital would need to know if the Council would commit $90,000 to the hospital each year over a three-year period. Alderman Thomas inquired about the County's support, stating that they do not have anything in their budget to fund the hospital . He feels they will not do anything if the City does it. The City Manager pointed out that the City and County have each been billed for one-half the cost of each piece of equipment. Alderman Bassett stated that the hospital serves the people in the same manner that we subsidize the transportation system. The Council also agreed on Proposal 2 in Mr. Lillard's memorandum to raise curbside sanitation collection rate from $2.25 to $3.00. ✓bRDINANCE NO. 3387 AN ORDINANCE MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FROM THE REVENUE SHARING FUND TO ACCOUNT NUMBERS LISTED BELOW, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Moved by Alderman Smith that Ordinance No. 3387 be passed. Motion seconded by Alderman Adcock, and carried by the following vote: Ayes: Mayor Hill , Aldermen McAlister, Bassett, Smith, Thomas, Adcock, and Alderwoman Russell Nays : None Moved by Alderman McAlister that the $90,000 allocated to Wichita General Hospital for its equipment needs be tentatively agreed to for a three-year commitment. Motion seconded by Alderman Bassett, and carried by the following vote: Ayes : Mayor Hill , Aldermen McAlister, Bassett, Smith, Adcock, and Alderwoman Russell Nays: Alderman Thomas Item 5a J. C. Boyd, 1625 Hursh, explained that it is very difficult for those in the back of the room to hear the Council discussion. It is especially hard to hear Aldermen Bassett, Smith, McAlister, and Alderwoman Russell . He would like something done to remedy this situation. The Board of Aldermen recessed for an executive session with the City Attorney. Following the executive session, the Council reconvened and announced that the City Attorney had discussed with them the matter of the declaratory judgment between the City and Library Board. Alderman Smith inquired if there is any interest on the Council in looking at the requirement of compulsory alleys? Moved by Alderman McAlister that the Planning Board review this matter, and bring back a recommendation to the Council . Motion seconded by Alderman Bassett, and carried unanimously. 46 Mayor Hill stated that he would like the Council to discuss discontinuing Zero Base Budgeting procedures. This is one of the biggest hassles he has ever got into. Alderman McAlister agreed that now would be a good time to evaluate it, stating that he has been on the Council two years with it and two years without it. Mayor Hill stated that he had eight years without it and one year with it. He estimated that five to ten thousand man hours had gone into it, and we did not change priorities $10,000 on the whole thing, and he cannot see any reason for it. Dane Bennett, Director of Budget and Research, stated there were 13,000 man hours involved. Angus Thompson, Community Action Corporation, requested the Council to consider ,,. the possibility at a later date to support the meals-on-wheels program. The Board of Aldermen adjourned at 11 :00 A.M. PASSED AND APPROVED this day of � _ �c�2� 1978. MAYOR ATTEST: CITY CLERK