ccswks 08-21-1996
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
August 21, 1996
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Workshop
Session on Wednesday, August 21, 1996 at 7:00 p.m. in the
Conference Room of the Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz
Parkway, Schertz, Texas. The following members were
present: Mayor Hal Baldwin, presiding; Councilmembers
Charles McDonald; Joe Potempa; Earl sawyer; Timothy
Swinney and Ken Greenwald. Staff present were City Manager
Kerry Sweatt and City Secretary Norma Althouse.
#1 BUDGET WORKSHOP
Mr. Sweatt advised the recommended tax rate is $0.3819 per
$100 valuation compared to this year's tax rate ,of $0.4072
per $100 valuation. Last year a cent in the tax rate was
equivalent to roughly $32,551 and this year one cent is
equivalent to approximately $36,757. Because of the change
in assessed value and growth, this year's rollback rate is
lower than our current tax rate. The rollback rate would
be $0.4028 per $100 valuation.
Regarding sales tax, Mr. Sweatt reported that with the
exception of one year in the past eight years, the sales
tax revenue has been underestimated anywhere from 5% to
12%. He believes that's good and accounts for the City's
ability to accumulate a reserve.
Mr. Swinney asked what the reserve balance is and Mr.
Sweatt replied $730,000 to $740,000 uncommitted funds. Mr.
Swinney then asked what the reserve goal is and Mr. SWeatt
answered a 3-4 month minimum. Mr. Swinney inquired what
the ultimate goal would be and Mr. Sweatt responded if you
could build up to 1.2 million dollars in reserve you would
not be overfunded.
Mr. Sweatt then listed some of the changes in the budget
revenues as follows:
(a) An increase in inspection fees;
(b) An increase in plan check fees;
(c) Under the truancy program, funds for the furnishing of
an attorney even though the person may choose not have an
attorney - it is a new State law; and,
(d) An estimate of loan proceeds for police vehicle
purchase; Going out for bids prior to end of this fiscal
year and will pay for purchase with reserve funds and then
pay back the reserve fund from the FY 96/97 budget and
finance the remainder.
Mr. Swinney inquired
Department forfeiture
about
funds.
the amount of the Police
Mr. Sweatt stated that in
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years past they had been a member of the Alamo Area Drug
Task Force and that has been rearranged so their officer is
now assigned to the DEA program. Forfeiture funds are
required to be set aside in a special fund. Mr. Potempa
asked if there's any money in the fund and Mr. Sweatt
replied approximately $4000.
Mr. McDonald asked where they're going to end up this
year. Last year they ended up with nearly $400,000 over.
Mr. Sweatt estimated approximately $250,000 over. Mr.
McDonald then suggested they lower the tax rate a penny and
put $36,000 in revenue from the sales tax. Mr. Sweatt's
opinion was that would be disastrous. When Mr. Potempa
asked why, Mr. Sweatt explained it is very difficult to
pin that much hope on sales tax when anyone thing could
happen to it and they could find themselves in dire
straits. If City Council's intention is to use the reserve
fund for operating budgets, next year they will have to go
back to it again or raise taxes. Mr. McDonald felt the
sales tax revenue will be there to cover it.
This prompted discussion about the sales tax figure with
Mr. Swinney also being in favor of lowering the tax rate
by a penny. Mr. Sweatt emphasized he thought Council
should review all of the budget first and then decide if
they want to lower the tax rate. Mayor Baldwin agreed with
Mr. Sweatt.
Mr. Swinney asked where the reimbursement money they get
from the railroad goes. Doesn't it help pay employees
salaries? Mr. Sweatt replied it is paying for their time.
It would show up as a reimbursement in income. It's income
on one side and outgoing on the other side.
Mr. Potempa asked, in addition to those mentioned by Mr.
Swinney, what other reimbursements does the City get. Mr.
Sweatt answered any item the City has spent money on or
assessed a fee against that's not a specific revenue source
for example, insurance collection. Mr. Potempa asked
why it has gone down. Mr. Sweatt replied it's just a
guess.
Discussion then changed to review
expenditures as follows:
of some of
the
(a) An increase
four tenths of
before Council
employees.
in
one
to
the retirement account by
percent; Will be bringing an
adopt prior service credit
less than
ordinance
for all
Mr. Potempa asked what's being recommended for employees'
salary increases this year and Mr. Sweatt replied they're
not recommending any. Employees will get their merit
increases, but an overall cost of living increase is not
recommended. It will be reviewed again at mid-year.
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Mr. Potempa asked why raises
recommended in this budget and Mr.
the City doesn't have the money.
for employees are not
Sweatt replied because
There was a lengthy discussion about salaries, step
increases and evaluations, about salaries being competitive
with other entities, about the need for changing the pay
structure again so the City can compete, about salaries in
a certain service grade being topped out, and about the
need to keep moving forward to achieve the goal of being
competitive.
Several Councilmembers thought there should be raises now
instead of waiting until mid-year and they asked Mr.
Sweatt to come up with some numbers for various percentages
of increases. Mr. Sweatt agreed to do that and bring it
to Council so they can tell him what they want to do.
(b) At City Council level, anticipating two elections
during the year - the regular municipal election and then
a charter and/or bond issue election.
Mr. Potempa suggested they be tied together in one
election. Mr. Sweatt admitted that's a possibility.
(c) New chair for the City Manager.
(d) Purchase of a fixed assets program in the finance
office.
Mr. Swinney asked if motor vehicle fuel is adequate with
the rise in gas prices. Mr. Sweatt answered, that based
on past activity, gasoline prices have fluctuated up and
down.
Mr. Potempa asked if the City still uses Diamond Shamrock
and how much discount do they get. Mr. Sweatt replied yes
they do still use them and they get a 2% discount. Mr.
Potempa wondered why they don't use the Diamond Shamrock on
FM 78 because a lot of times it's cheaper. Mr. Sweatt
said sometimes they do use that one. It all depends on
where in the City they are when they need gas. It's not
cheaper to drive down to FM 78 from IH-35 if that's where
they are at the time.
Mr. Swinney wanted to know if it's ever cheaper for the
City to run its own fuel yard. Mr. Sweatt replied no.
Mr. McDonald
reimbursement
affirmed they
wondered if
on the tax
do.
the City has to
on gasoline and
file
Mr.
for a
Sweatt
(e) Court and
for juvenile
purchased.
jury cost is up;
hearings; New
An attorney is being added
computer equipment is being
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(f) Tax Department is purchasing new file storage units.
(g) Planning Department is purchasing
equipment, and an Internet connection
telephone line.
a PC and support
and the necessary
Mr. Sweatt noted one of the things not in the budget this
year is a PC and a connection for him to get into the
Internet. He's on the Board of Directors of the TCMA and
they pay the subscription. He's foregone that and will try
to use it for Mark Marquez and Steve Simonson so the City
can connect to that.
Mr. Swinney observed there are a lot of magazines on the
Internet. Is there any way the City can cut its
publications budget by taking advantage of the, Internet?
Mr. Sweatt informed Mr. Swinney that magazines are not a
large part of the City budget. Those employees who belong
to a professional affiliation usually get a magazine as
part of that membership.
(h) Police Department will be purchasing 4 vehicles, 4
radios, a light bar and siren, 2 radar units, a cage,
reflector light bar kits, 2 additional chairs and a filing
cabinet. There is a new supervisor position and a change
in supervisor. They currently have a Chief, one Sergeant
and a Captain. The Chief has requested 2 Lieutenant
positions, changing the position of Captain to that of
Lieutenant and creating another Lieutenant position. They
will also add a new patrolman and a new dispatcher.
Mr. Potempa asked if the Lieutenant will be an
investigator or a patrolman. Mr. Sweatt explained the
Chief's recommendation includes rearranging of the
department in such a way that one Lieutenant is in charge
of operations and the other will be in charge of support
services.
Mr. Potempa inquired what will happen to the Captain and
Mr. Sweatt replied the Captain will become a Lieutenant
position. There will be two Lieutenant positions under the
Chief. In the Chief's absence, one of the Lieutenants will
be designated the next in command. Currently each shift
has a Sergeant in charge. When the Sergeant is gone, the
next senior officer on that particular shift is out there
making command decisions. This arrangement is meant to
provide a good deal more unity of command.
(i) The Fire Department will add 3 additional firemen and
reclassify the Lieutenant position from an 11 to a 13.
Mr. Potempa asked if this will have any effect on
decreasing the fire insurance. Mr. Sweatt reported they
will get some credit toward the key rate. There are some
other things, however, that will probably drive it up when
they look at our territory and our response time. The
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further the growth away from the central station, the
longer the response time. They need to be looking at a
substation and additional personnel. The problem today is
getting people to man the vehicles. Volunteers are
becoming a thing of the past. Bodies are needed around the
clock. These additional three are not the answer, but they
will provide some assistance.
Mr. Sweatt stated that under vehicle expenditures for the
Fire Department is half the cost of a tanker truck (the
current tanker is not operative and has been a shared truck
between the Fire and Water Departments) and replacement of
the 1980 van with a crew cab diesel pickup.
Other items in the capital budget are the purchase of some
EMS equipment, a second rescue tool, a power unit, a rescue
cutter, and some hose so they are able to operate two
rescue units. .
There was
Department
year.
a brief discussion on equipment which the
decided they could do without purchasing
Fire
this
Mr. Potempa asked where in the budget is the money that's
supposed to be set aside each year to replace the aging
vehicle in the Fire Department. Mr. Sweatt replied there
is no reserve fund.
Mr.
the
next
Potempa then inquired how many more years are left on
truck before it goes down and Mr. Sweatt answered the
one goes out of service in four or five years.
Mr. Sweatt
expenditure
vehicles.
also mentioned
for repainting
that in this
one of the
budget is an
Fire Department
(j) Moving on to the Inspection Department, they will add
an additional inspector, raise the assistant from a step
grade 8 to a step grade 10 and purchase a permit tracking
program for the computer.
(k) The Street Department expenditure will be the first
year's lease payment on a street sweeper.
(1) The
purchase
people in
Parks Department will replace 2 scooters
some sunscreen type covers to provide shade
the stands at the ballfields.
and
for
(m) The Building Services Department will add an additional
10 hours to bring a part-time position up to a full-time
position. Also, the name of the department will be changed
to Facility Maintenance. They will be purchasing a buffer,
a water vac and a vacuum cleaner.
Mr. Greenwald mentioned the main recorder in the Council
Chambers needs to be replaced. Mr. Sweatt indicated they
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will look into it and check some prices.
(n) After being questioned about it by Mr. Swinney,
Sweatt explained line item 61332 is an expenditure
additional landscaping at City Hall, the Library and
Public Works.
Mr.
for
at
Merwin Willman commented the City needs to purchase
new American flags.
some
(0) The major expenditures in the Animal Control Department
are a water softener in the hosing down area to eliminate
lime, a cold storage unit for euthanized bodies, and a
stretcher for injured animals.
Mayor Baldwin asked if there was any consideration about
animal control expanding to a 24 hour day. Mr. Sweatt
replied they had looked into the possibility of adding an
additional person so they would have enough manpower for
two eight hour shifts four days a week (it still wouldn't
be 24 hours a day), but it would cost approximately
$17,000. He's not sure a 24 hour a day operation could be
justified.
#2 ADJOURNMENT: On a motion by
seconded by Mr. Swinney and unanimously
meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
Mr. Potempa,
approved, the
~~
Mayor, City of Schertz, Texas
ATTEST:
~ ~'~P.J
City Secretary, City of Schertz
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