2015-08-11 CC Minutesi
FARMERS
.BRANCH
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
City of Farmers Branch
Meeting Minutes - Final
City Council
10:00 AM
Budget Work Session
Mayor Phelps called the meeting to order at 10:02 am.
Presiding: 1 - Mayor Bob Phelps
Farmers Branch City Hall
13000 Wm Dodson Pkwy
Farmers Branch, Texas
75234
Council Chambers
Present: 5 - Mayor Pro Tem Kirk Connally, Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Harold Froehlich,
Council Member Ana Reyes, Council Member John Norwood and Council
Member Mike Bomgardner
Staff: 4 - Gary D. Greer City Manager, Charles Cox Managing Director -
Administration, John Land Managing Director - Operations and Shawna
Eikenberry
A. INVOCATION & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Council Member Norwwod gave the Invocation and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
B. BUDGET WORK SESSION
B.1 Discuss the City Manager's balanced budget and organizational
funding requests related to the adoption of the Farmers Branch
2015 -2016 fiscal year budget.
Managing Director Charles Cox gave a presentation on the City's proposed
2015 -2016 fiscal year budget. The proposed balanced budget includes a property
tax rate at 60.2267 cents, improves target fund balances, increases service levels,
and includes minimal Parks & Library Fee increases. Highlights included:
City Council Strategic Planning Cycle & Implementation
Guiding Principles
Proposed Balanced Budget
Infrastructure & Equipment Emphasis
Fund Balances for General Fund, Fixed Asset Fund, Water & Sewer Fund, and
Hotel /Motel Fund
Organizational Funding Requests
Cost of Service Comparison
Tax Rate Comparison
Major Revenue Trends
Property Values
Property Tax Rate
Sales Tax Revenues
Water & Sewer Rate - includes a 15% water and sewer rate increase, no stormwater
fee increase
Major Expenditure Trends
Minor Funds
Debt Service
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C
City Council
C
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting Minutes - Final
Capital Improvement Funds and Improvements
Fixed Assets
Facility Improvement Program
Trail Improvement Funding
August 11, 2015
The City Council discussed the organizational funding requests that were submitted.
The general consensus of the Council was to leave funding for all the organizations
at the same rate as last year for Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce, Metrocrest
Chamber of Commerce, Metrocrest Services, The Family Place, Bea's Kids, and
Metrocrest Community Clinic. The City has already contractually agreed to pay
utilities for The Firehouse Theatre and their building maintenance costs, therefore the
Council did not approve The Firehouse Theatre's request for an additional $197,000.
Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Froehlich asked, based on the debt service chart, is there a
good time to go to the citizens to get bond money to acquire old apartment property?
Mr. Cox reported it could not be done with the current tax rate. He also stated that
depends on what Council wished to do with the property once it is acquired. Council
Member Reyes stated it might be good to look at putting that on a ballot in the May
election.
The City Council took a 10 minute recess at 12:05 pm.
The City Council discussed the proposed Fixed Assets items. Council Member
Norwood asked if there was a way to save some of the Fixed Asset funding and use
it towards trails. The general consensus of City Council is for City Administration to
look for opportunities to fund a trails system, or at least a portion of the system, and
how to add to the Economic Development fund.
A motion was made by Council Member Norwood, seconded by Council
Member Reyes, that this Meeting be adjourned. The motion carried by the
following vote:
Aye: 5 - Mayor Pro Tern Connally, Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Froehlich, Council
Member Reyes, Council Member Norwood and Council Member
Bomgardner
The Meeting adjourned at 1:25 pm.
Bob Phelps, Mayor
ATTEST:
Angela K y, City Secretary
City of Farmers Branch Page 2