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2001-09-10 CC MinutesCity of Farmers Branch City Council Special Meeting Agenda City Hall Plaza Council Chambers 13000 William Dodson Parkway Farmers Branch, Texas Tuesday, August 28, 2001 6:00 p.m. Members of the City Council present were: Mayor Bob Phelps Mayor Pro Tem Calla Davis Charlie Bird Bill Moses Jim Robbs Member of the City Council absent was: Councilman Paul Walden Members of the City staff present were: City Manager Richard Escalante Assistant City Manager John Burke Assistant City Manager Linda Groomer City Attorney Matthew Boyle Assistant to City Manager Margaret Somereve Assistant to City Manager John Roach City Secretary Cindee Peters Communications Director Tom Bryson Director of Community Services Michael Spicer City Engineer Jerry Murawski Director of Parks & Recreation Jeff Fuller Asst. Director of Parks & Recreation Jeff Harting Library Director Mary Jane Stevenson Police Chief Jim Fawcett Fire Chief Kyle King Director of Public Works Mark Pavageaux Director of Equipment Services Don Moore A.1 OPEN MEETING. Mayor Phelps called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Volume 87, page 26 PUBLIC HEARING: 2001-02 OPERATING AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM BUDGET. Mayor Phelps opened the public hearing. Ruth Alhilali stated on August 17th she called City Hall to verify that the public would be allowed to speak at the August 22" d budget workshop. Ms. Alhilali was told to contact the Mayor as to the format of the meeting. Ms. Alhilali explained the Mayor stated citizens would have 3 minutes to speak at that meeting. Ms. Alhilali submitted a list of questions to the staff concerning the budget in hopes of limiting the time she would need to speak at the budget workshop. Ms. Alhilali stated there was no time for her or any citizen to ask questions because the budget workshop went past the 9:00 p.m. scheduled conclusion of that meeting. Ms. Ruth Alhilali read her questions concerning the budget. Ms. Beth Crockett asked what major businesses have moved out of the City and what their sales tax revenues were for the City. Ms. Crockett asked why the City is continuing to make payments on the bonds when monies are available to pay these bonds in full. Ms. Crockett also had questions regarding the workers compensation figures. A motion by Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bird, a second by Councilman Moses, all voting "aye", closed the public hearing. DISCUSS 2001-02 PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET. Mr. Richard Escalante answered each of the questions from Ms. Ruth Alhilali and Ms. Crockett concerning the budget. Mayor Phelps noted for the record that Councilman Walden was not in attendance at this meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Calla Davis asked if the City Council meetings could be replayed more frequently on the cable channel for the public. Mr. Escalante stated that Councilman Walden had previously asked what the highest obligation debt the City has ever had. Mr. Charles Cox showed a chart from 1986 to 2012 that showed the highest amount of debt owed by the City to have been $48,000,000. Mr. Cox also showed a chart that indicated the amount the debt declines each year. Mr. Cox also presented a chart showing interest payments. Mr. Cox stated in 1986 the City paid $3.8 million in interest, and this budget year that amount has declined to only Volume 87, page 27 $1 million in interest. Mr. Cox also explained there is a federal arbitrage law prohibiting a city from earning more interest on bond proceeds than a city pays in interest on bond proceeds. Mr. Escalante also stated at the budget workshop there was interest from the City Council to start a tree planting program. Mr. Escalante explained the City completed a successful hands-on tree planting program in Branch Crossing. Mr. Escalante stated there are no grants available at this time and staff would like to investigation grants for these type programs. Mr. Escalante explained if the City added this same type hands-on program now, it would require additional staff. Mr. Escalante stated if City Council is interested, staff could offer a more immediate program for Arbor Day. Mr. Escalante stated staff could look for a grant to obtain sapling trees and work in conjunction with the school children to distribute and plant those trees. Mr. Escalante stated $5,000 would be needed for printed materials and perhaps the purchase of those trees. Mr. Escalante stated at mid-year budget review a more specific program could be explored. Mr. Escalante explained staff is involved with TEX 21, a transportation group. There are members from Congress involved to help secure more funding for transportation issues in this area. The group will begin charging membership dues of $5,000. Mr. Escalante asked if Council wanted to include this expenditure in the budget. Mayor Phelps stated there are people from all over Texas involved with this group. Mayor Phelps stated he would like to see the membership dues included in the budget. Mr. Tom Bryson explained the regular Council meetings are replayed six times per week. Mr. Bryson stated staff could advertise the times more often. Mayor Pro Tem Davis asked if the City is continuing to sell daffodils. Mr. Jeff Fuller stated that program was discussed in the City community meetings two years ago, but was discontinued because local vendors could supply the bulbs at a cheaper price than the City. Mr. Escalante stated some citizens in Branch Crossing did not think the tree planting program was a good deal because they could purchase cheaper trees at Wal-Mart. Mr. Escalante explained the Wal-Mart trees did not come with a guarantee, and the trees planted by the City did come with a guarantee. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bird stated he would volunteer to help with this tree planting program. Mr. Escalante suggested $5,000 be put in the Parks budget along with an objective to develop a tree planting program for 2001-02 and that staff continue to research grants for a more extensive program next year. Volume 87, page 28 City Council indicated they would like to see $5,000 allocated for TEX 21 and $5,000 allocated for the tree planting program. Mayor Phelps stated City Council would adopt the budget on September 10, 2001. Mayor Phelps read the organizational funding requests from Metrocrest Social Service Center, Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Family Outreach Senior Adult Services, Texas Chamber Orchestra, Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce, Brookhaven College Arts Program, Dallas/Fort Worth Regional Film Commission, Special Care & Career Center, Metrocrest Family Medical Clinic, The Family Place, Communities in Schools, and AVANCE. Mayor Phelps stated the City Council needed to let City staff know how much money should be budgeted for the organizational requests. Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Bird stated he would still like to see $15,000 approved for the Texas Chamber Orchestra. Mayor Pro Tem Davis asked that $10,000 be budgeted for the Texas Chamber Orchestra, and if the current contract is not fulfilled an undetermined amount should be deducted from the new contract for concerts not performed this year. Mayor Phelps discussed the allocation to the Texas Chamber Orchestra with the Council. It was discussed that $10,000 should be allocated to Texas Chamber Orchestra. Mayor read the organizations that the City Council has agreed not to fund. Mayor Phelps stated the Council is trying to keep total funding below $250,000. ADJOURNMENT. A motion by Councilman Moses, a second by Mayor Pro Tem Davis, all voting "aye", adjourned the meeting at 7:20 p.m. - 4 Mayor Lr ~ ~ } City Secretary L Volume 87, page 29