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Home My WebLink About1998-09-15 - Special City CouncilMINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING City of Stephenville - City Council TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15,1998 - 5:30 P.M. The City Council of the City of Stephenville, Texas, convened in special session on Tuesday, September 15, 1998, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 298 West Washington Street, with the meeting being open to the public and notice of said meeting, giving the date, time, place and subject thereof, having been posted as prescribed by Chapter 551, Government Code, Vernon's Texas Codes Annotated, with the following members present, to wit: Mayor: Councilmembers: Others Attending: I. CALL TO ORDER. John Moser Marshall Shelton Joel Hillin K. H. Conatser Bea Marin Barbara Terrell Jerry B. Madkins Wm. H. (Bill) Stanley Rusty Jergins Don Davis, City Administrator Cindy L. Stafford, City Secretary Randy Thomas, City Attorney Mayor Moser called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and declared a quorum present. II. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE LEVYING A TAX RATE Councilmember Jergins moved to adopt Ordinance No. 1998 -17 levying a tax rate for the City of Stephenville, for the tax year 1998. Councihnember Conatser seconded the motion. Mayor Moser then read the following statement, representing his opinion on the subject: "Today we will vote to set the tax rate to fund next year's budget. The proposed rate should achieve our goal of a balanced budget. I regret this tax rate is an increase from last year's rate. This is an unavoidable result of our taxpayers' vote in May to pass the $2.7 million bond issue. This bond issue will pay for needed roads and utilities to support the new junior high school. Without this bond, we would actually September 15, 1998 - Minutes of Special Meeting have a decrease in our tax rate. The increase caused by this bond more than offsets our efforts to curb expenses and reduce taxes." The motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Madkins, Terrell, Hillin, Stanley, Conatser, Jergins, Marin, and Mayor Moser. Noes: Councilmember Shelton. III. FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT A. Depository Contract Proposals Councilmember Shelton reported that the committee received four very competitive bids from Town and Country Bank, NationsBank, Texas Bank, and Stephenville Bank and Trust Co. Recommendation was solicited from the City's investment advisor, Linda Patterson, who recommends Stephenville Bank and Trust. Councilmember Shelton moved to award the annual depository contract to Stephenville Bank and Trust Company. Councilmember Conatser seconded the motion. Councilmember Terrell abstained from voting, having filed a conflict of interest affidavit with the City Secretary. The motion passed as follows: Ayes: Councilmembers Madkins, Shelton, Hillin, Stanley, Conatser, Jergins, Marin, and Mayor Moser. Noes: None Abstentions: Councilmember Terrell. B. Strategic Planning Funding Request Shelton then explained that the Chamber of Commerce has recently initiated a strategic planning project and has contracted with the Texas Rural Development Council (TRDC) to assist in this endeavor. The TRDC has engaged volunteers to help facilitate a community needs analysis. The volunteers will work free of charge; however the chamber has agreed to provide room and board for them. The cost is estimated to be approximately $4,000.00. Shelton informed the council that this is not included in the FY98 -99 budget. City Administrator Don Davis further explained that several years ago, the City received a settlement payment from Sprint/United Telephone Company from a rate case. The amount of the settlement was $15,000.00, and there was a stipulation in the settlement that this money would be used for economic development. The City has since expended only $2,000.00 of these monies. September 15, 1998 - Minutes of Special Meeting Councilmember Shelton moved to authorize the expenditure of not more than $4,000.00 for the funding of room and board for the volunteers who will conduct the Chamber of Commerce Strategic Planning Project. Councilmember Hillin seconded the motion, which passed by unanimous vote. C. Hotel Occupancy Tax Policy Councilmember Shelton moved to fund the following programs from the Hotel Occupancy Tax discretionary funds: July 4" Family Fun Fair $20,000 Athletic Tournaments 5,500 Western Heritage Events 5,700 Historical Museum Utilities and Maintenance 10,000 and that the TAAF travel and Christmas in the Park be funded in the amount of $8,800 from the General Fund. Councilmember Hillin seconded the motion, which passed by unanimous vote. IV. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE REPORT Councilmember Madkins presented the following procedures for filling the position of Police Chief: Applications close at 5:00 p.m. on September 15, 1998. All applications will be available for review by Council members in the Human Resources Department. All applications will be reviewed and screened for minimum requirements by September 25, 1998. All Councilmembers are encouraged to submit to Don Davis the characteristics and traits they would like to see in a Police Chief by September 25. (leadership ability, communication skills, personality traits, etc.) In -put will also be encouraged by the employees of the Police Department. All applications meeting the minimum requirements will be reviewed by Dr. Jerry Madkins, Don Davis, Chief Hoherz, and Joyce Goodman (other members of the Personnel Committee may also attend) and narrowed to around ten by October 16, 1998. Background checks will be conducted on these applicants by October 23. At that time, a short list (3 -5 applicants) will be determined. A set of questions will be developed based on the council members' and police department personnel's input. These structured questions will be used by the September 15, 1998 - Minutes of Special Meeting Interview Committee with the final 3 -5 applicants. All interviews by the committee will consist of the same questions. The Interview Committee, consisting of the Council Personnel Committee, Chief Hoherz, and Steve Austin, will interview the final applicants between October 26 and November 6. The City Administrator will review the Committee members' individual ratings on each of the finalists and interview with some or all of the finalists. The City Administrator will take a recommendation to the City Council for their consideration at a November 17'h Special Council meeting V. WATER PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT Councilmember Terrell reported that the committee has conducted interviews with two firms that had submitted proposals for the repair and repainting of the Garfield and Highway 377 ground storage tanks. Terrell introduced Bahrain Niknam of Deltatek Engineering who discussed the procedure involved in this repair. Councilmember Terrell moved to authorize the Mayor to execute an agreement (attached) with Deltatek Engineering for engineering services for repainting and renovation of ground storage tanks. Councilmember Stanley seconded the motion, which passed by unanimous vote. VI. ORDINANCE CONSIDERING BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1997 -98 Councilmember Hillin moved to adopt Ordinance No. 1998 -18 providing for budget amendments for the remainder of the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1997 and ending September 30, 1998. Motion was made to Councilmember Madkins, second by Conatser, to amend the motion by substituting the word "contract" for "donations" under "Increase Revenue ". Motion to amend passed by unanimous vote. Hillin's motion as amended passed by unanimous vote. VII. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REGULATING PARKING ON OVERHILL AND DALE STREETS This item was removed from the agenda. September 15, 1998 - Minutes of Special Meeting VIII. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:13 p.m. C�Zrgo--�� Jo Moser, Mayor ATTEST: it 06 Mv September 15, 1998 - Minutes of Special Meeting ORDINANCE NO. 1998 -17 i - AN ORDINANCE LEVYING A TAX RATE FOR THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, FOR THE TAX YEAR 1998. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS: That we, the City Council of the City of Stephenville, Texas, do hereby levy or adopt the tax rate of $100.00 valuation for this city for tax year 1998, as follows: $ .3377 for the purpose of maintenance and operation. 134 for the payment of principal and interest on bonds. $ .4724 Total Tax Rate The Tax Assessor /Collector is hereby authorized to assess and collect the taxes of the City of Stephenville, Texas, employing the above tax rate. PASSED and APPROVED this the 15th day of September, 1998. itooser, Mayor ATTEST: FA hug-51"' - Reviewed by Donald B. Davis, City Administrator C Approved as to form and legality Randy Thomas, City Attorney ORDINANCE NO. 1998 -18 l_ AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1997 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1998. WHEREAS, the budget amendment of: Increase Revenue Interest Income $ 26,130 Grants 8,815 Contract - SB &T Plaza Participation 11,000 $ 45,945 Increase Expenditures Emergency Medical Service $ 8,815 Legal 7,500 Recreation Administration 18,630 Special Revenue Fund Historical Museum 5.000 $ 39,945 Net Budget Increase (Decrease) $ 6,000 for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1997 and ending September 30, 1998 was duly presented to the City Council by the City Administrator and a public notice was posted in the Stephenville City Hall. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS: SECTION 1. That the amended appropriations and anticipated revenues for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 1997 and ending September 30, 1998 for the support of the general government of the City of Stephenville, Texas, be amended and fixed for the remainder of the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998 with the revenues and expenditures shown. SECTION 2. That the amended budget is hereby approved in all respects and adopted as the City's budget for the remainder of the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998 PASSED and APPROVED this the 15th day of September, 1998. o Moser, Mayor ATTEST: Reviewed by Donald B. Davis, City Administrator Approved as to form and legality Randy Thomas, City Attorney