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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-03 - Regular City CouncilMINUTES OF REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING City of Stephenville - City Council Tuesday, September 3, 2013, 5:30 P.M. The City Council of the City of Stephenville, Texas, convened on September 3, 2013, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 298 West Washington Street, for the purpose of a Regular Business Meeting, 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 Jerry K. Weldon II Council members Casey Hogan Malcolm Cross Doug Svien Russ McDanel Brady Pendleton Alan Nix Martha Taylor Scott Evans Others Attending Mark A. Kaiser, City Administrator Randy Thomas, City Attorney Cindy L. Stafford, City Secretary Call to Order. The meeting of the Stephenville City Council was called to order at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2013, by Mayor Weldon. Janis Petronis, Campaign Chairman for Erath County United Way, told the council that September and October are the kick-off months for the local campaign. She stated that $275,000 was raised last year and disbursed funds to 23 non-profit organizations in Erath County. ECUW has added a new fundraiser this year, A Taste of Erath County, which will highlight many of the local restaurants. This event will take place on September 21. Mayor Weldon presented the Gold Leadership Circle Award for financial transparency from the Texas State Comptroller to City Administrator Mark Kaiser and Finance Director Walter Wood. Stephenville has received this award for four years straight. Citizens' General Discussion Beverly Yates, 1221 North Barton, addressed the council about a problem with pit bulldogs in her neighborhood. She said, "People can't even walk down the street without'em barking at you." Yates said these dogs are dangerous and "something needs to be done." III. Erath County Appraisal District Annual Report; Jerry Lee, Chief Appraiser; Mark Littleton, City Representative to ECAD Board of Directors Jerry Lee, Chief Appraiser, reported that last year the City of Stephenville has a little over $1.04B in market value, which is an increase of up to $94M over last year. Taxable value stands at $983M, which is an increase of $36M over last year. Total Freeport exemptions Regular Business Meeting September 3, 2013 Stephenville City Council were $125M; abatements, $27.5M; and pollution control exemptions, $600,000 makeup the difference. The top ten taxpayers in Stephenville are FMC, Tejas Tubular, Stephenville Campus Crest, St. Gobain, Stephenville Student Housing, WalMart (personal property), Bosque River Associates, Oncor Electric Delivery, Stephenville Real Estate Investments, and Wilmington Trust (WalMart real estate). Lee reported that Stephenville is steady in the residential market and doing well in commercial. Mark Littleton said that operations at the appraisal district are running very well. MOTION by Russ McDanel, second by Alan Nix, to accept the ECAD report of Jerry Lee. MOTION CARRIED. IV. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION Betty Chew reported that the owner is requesting this zone change to allow for light retail and utilization of the facility and access to the facility to accommodate this usage. A. PUBLIC HEARING to consider request to rezone from AG "Agricultural District" to B-2 "Retail and Commercial Business District", Lot 1, Block 170, City Addition, located at 1050 South Graham Avenue Mayor Weldon opened a public hearing. Speaking in favor of rezoning: Dori Simonton, 5487 CR 134 Morgan Mill, Texas, operates Response Product, which is a maker of joint products for horses and dogs. They are relocating the business from Nebraska to Stephenville. Speaking in opposition to rezoning: No one Mayor Weldon closed the public hearing. B. Consider Adopting Ordinance No. 2013-13 rezoning from AG "Agricultural District" to 13- 2 "Retail and Commercial Business District", Lot 1, Block 170, City Addition, located at 1050 South Graham Avenue MOTION by Brady Pendleton, second by Casey Hogan, to adopt Ordinance No. 2013-13. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous vote. V. Public Hearing on the Tax Rate for 2013 Mayor Weldon opened a public hearing. The following people spoke against the proposed tax rate: Virginia Abel, 104 Linda Lane, Stephenville. Fredie Goble, 413 Bluebonnet, Stephenville. Zena Mobley, 684 North Graham, Stephenville. Amy Miller, 936 Private Road 897, Stephenville. Matt Miller, 936 Private Road 897, Stephenville. Regular Business Meeting September 3, 2013 Stephenville City Council Kathy Shafer, 2186 County Road 423, Stephenville. Cipriano Rivera, 1050 North Paddock Street, Stephenville. Sharon Zachary, 649 West Long Street, Stephenville. Nat Wofford, 1620 West Swan Street, Stephenville. Richard Tadlock, 760 Bluebonnet Street, Stephenville. Mayor Weldon closed the public hearing. VI. Consider Approval of Child Safety Funds MOTION by Russ McDanel, second by Alan Nix, to approve the Child Safety Fund allocations as follows: STAR —Drug and Alcohol Abuse Program $2,500 SISD—Gilbert Intermediate School, security fencing 4,000 Paluxy River Children's Advocacy Center 2,500 Cross Timbers Family Services, youth conference 3,000 MOTION CARRIED by unanimous vote. VII. Consider Ordinance No. 2013-14 Adopting the Fee Schedule MOTION by Russ McDanel, second by Martha Taylor, to adopt Ordinance No. 2013-14. MOTION CARRIED by unanimous vote. Vill. Consider Ordinance No. 2013-15 Adopting the Annual Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2013 and Ending September 30, 2014 MOTION by Scott Evans, second by Alan Nix, to approve Ordinance No. 2013-15. Russ McDanel's comments are set out verbatim at his request as follows: "Edwin Feulner said 'The best way to put more money in people's wallets, is to leave it there in the first place.' "Our city tax rate has never been higher (.485) than it is currently. The proposed budget includes an almost 5% tax hike to .495, this is unprecedented. Our commitment to fair pay for our employees must be balance with NO additional tax burden on the citizens. They are already facing 3% to 7 Y2 cost increases on their water bill in the near future, for water and sewer system improvements (pg. 3 in budget). In addition to those utility rate hikes, the SISD it appears will have a 2% tax increase on their rate also. Good judgment should prevail. "I believe we should show proper restraint in 'taking' more money in taxes from property owners in the city; business owners will probably be hit harder due to their business property in town and as a result, higher costs of goods and services will be paid by all. "If this budget and 5% tax increase were on the ballot for the people to vote on, how do you think they would vote? This budget is long on taxes and short on 'economic growth Regular Business Meeting September 3, 2013 Stephenville City Council incentives'. City growth should fuel any additional expenses in the budget. 'To put it in perspective, this 5% tax increase is equal to an overnight jump in unleaded gasoline of .160 [160] per gallon (3.379 to 3.54). Thank you to all of the people that came to this budget meeting and tax rate hearing, your grassroots efforts are what make this nation great! "Abraham Lincoln said, 'Be sure to put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.' "I will not support a budget that has this tax hike in it, and I will offer budget amendments to balance the budget without increasing the tax rate." MOTION to amend the motion by Russ McDanel, second by Malcolm Cross, by removingthe 1.4% pay adjustments, which equals $116,666 from the budget; remove $98,359 from revenue [the entire penny increase that generates $98,359 from the budget, leaving $18,3071; 1 move we spend $12,307 for emergency notification system for all our city residents, also known as "Code Red", the cost of that is $10,000, the budget will allow for a $2,307 first-time set up cost; the balance remaining of $6,000, 1 propose and include in my motion that we spend for training/education for new dispatchers; we are currently advertising in the newspaper for four new police dispatchers. We're gonna hire 'em, let's train 'em. MOTION CARRIED to amend the motion by the following vote: Ayes: Council members Hogan, Cross, Svien, McDanel, and Mayor Weldon Noes: Council members Pendleton, Nix, Taylor, Evans. MOTION CARRIED on the amended motion by the following vote: Ayes: Council members Hogan, Cross, Svien, McDanel, and Mayor Weldon Noes: Council members Pendleton, Nix, Taylor, Evans IX. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION by Doug Svien, second by Russ McDanel, to approve the consent agenda. MOTION CARRIED. A. Approve Minutes a. Regular Council Meeting on August 6, 2013 b. Special Council Meeting on August 20, 2013 B. Approve Resolution No. 2013-06 Authorizing Submission of a Grant Application for Funding Assistance for Emergency Communications System Upgrade C. Approve TxDOT Grant for Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP Grant D. Approve Renewal of the Texas Department of Public Safety Interlocal Cooperation Contract for the Intoxilyzer Breath Testing Program and Laboratory Alcohol and Drug Testing Program Regular Business Meeting September 3, 2013 Stephenville City Council E. Approve Renewal of a Grazing Lease Agreement with Larry Esquell for Property Adjacent to the Landfill F. Approve the Abandonment of Sanitary Sewer Line under Lillian Avenue near Jones Street to Shirley Street G. Approve Bid Awards a. Street Renovation Materials b. Office Supplies Renewal c. Dump truck X. Comments by City Administrator Mark Kaiser reported on the following projects: • FM 988 (Northwest Loop) is a project of the Texas Department of Transportation and should be completed in November • Alexander Road project should be completed in October • Dale Street should be completed by September 15 • Mcllhaney Avenue has been completed. Commercial projects: • Washington Street Apartments, 281 S. Mcllhaney $750,000 • Pecan Street Apartments, 585 West Pecan 480,000 • Mustang Ranch, 2820 W. Frey 14,700,000 • Hardin's Apartments, 663 West Tarleton 192,000 • Summit Apartments, 1690 W. Lingleville Road 3,800,00 • Allsup's Convenience Store, 2725 W. Washington 800,000 • Central Elementary, 780 W. Washington 8,552,609 • Chamberlin Elementary, 1601 West Frey 12,184,411 • Bruner's, 1515 West South Loop 1,000,000 • Farmer's & Merchant's Bank, temp bldg., 2653 W. Washington 175,000 • Rock House Office, 2002 Good Tree 1,000,000 • Aaron's Rental, 1080 Bluebonnet 558,750 • Ranger College, 1835 W. Lingleville 1,500,000 XI. Comments by Council Members Council member Hogan thanked those people who came to the council meeting and fortheir comments. Council member Cross also thanked those people who were present and made their opinion known. Cross said that only when constituents speak can the council members know their position on certain issues. Regular Business Meeting September 3, 2013 Stephenville City Council Council member Taylor announced that she will be moving out of town; and after October 1, will no longer be a city resident; therefore, not qualified to serve on the city council. XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION. At 7:49 p.m., Mayor Weldon recessed the open portion of the meeting, and council went into executive session iln compliance with the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Law, Subchapter D, Government Code, Vernon's Texas Codes, Annotated, in accordance with Sec. 551.072 Deliberations about Real Property A. Northwest corner of Blocks 1-35, College View Addition, City of Stephenville B. Acreage in John W. Bradley, Daniel Bell, Edward Bond, James Conger, and Ira Foster Surveys, Erath County, Texas C. Hunewell Ranch, Erath County, Texas Council reconvened in open session at 8:11 p.m. XIII. Action taken on matters discussed in executive session (if necessary) MOTION by Brady Pendleton, second by Alan Nix, to authorize staff to proceed with the sale of Fire Station No. 2, 895 North Harbin Drive, to Tarleton State University at the negotiated price. MOTION CARRIED by the following vote: Ayes: Council members Svien, McDanel, Pendleton, Nix, Taylor and Evans. Noes: None Abstentions: Council members Hogan and Cross having each filed an affidavit of conflict of interest. MOTION by Alan Nix, Russ McDanel, to authorize staff to engage with HDR Engineering, Inc. to perform Phase I of the well field expansion on the Hunewell Ranch with the stipulation that Tarleton participates with the city at a 50% match. MOTION CARRIED by the following vote: Ayes: Council members Svien, McDanel, Pendleton, Nix, Taylor and Evans. Noes: None Abstentions: Council members Hogan and Cross having each filed an affidavit of conflict of interest. XIV. Adjourn MOTION by Doug Svien, second by Russ McDanel, to adjourn the meeting. MOTION CARRIED at 8:13 p.m. Jerry K. Weldon II, Mayor ATTEST: Cindy L. Stafford, City Secretary Regular Business Meeting September 3, 2013 Stephenville City Council