ccswks 08-16-1989
26B
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 16, 1989
The Schertz City Council convened in Special Session, Wednesd~,
August 16, 1989, at 7: 00 p. m. in the Conference Room of the
Municipal Complex, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, Texas. The
following members were present: Mayor Earl W. Sawyer, presiding;
Hal Baldwin; Barbara Stanhope; Mary Marsh and Ken Greenwald.
Absent was Earl Hartzog. Staff present were City Manager Kerry
Sweatt and City Secretary June Krause.
#1 HEARING OF RESIDENTS: Mr. Chuck Sharpe reserved time to
discuss items on the budget.
#2 TAX RATE VOTE: Consider and take action to place a
proposal to adopt the 1989 tax rate of 32.83 cents per $100
valuation on the agenda of September 5, 1989.
Mr. Sweatt advised he needed to make two corrections. On the
notices that are required and the times that are involved to
establish the public hearings and publish notices and because of
the change in the publication dates of the newspaper, we need to
plan that the vote to take the final action on the tax rate be
on the agenda of September 13th.
Mrs. Marsh moved to place a proposal to adopt the 1989 tax rate
of 32.83 cents on the agenda of the Special Meeting of September
13th. Mr. Greenwald seconded the motion.
Mr. Sweatt said it is necessary to remind Council the Uniform
Truth in Taxation Bill provides that the notice that deals with
this issue will in fact run showing those voting for our tax
rate of 32.83 cents.
Mr. Baldwin stated that Council could take $200,000 out of the
budget when discussing it at this meeting, so why publ ish the
notice of a 32.83 tax rate increase.
Mrs. Marsh asked why the notice in the paper could not be changed
to say Council would consider the rate, instead of saying they
would adopt the rate.
Mr. Sweatt explained that the State law dictates the wording of
the notice.
Mr. Baldwin said he would like to move this agenda item back to
the end of the agenda; because we might not have to adopt a 32.83
cent tax rate. We even have another workshop to consider the
budget.
Mr. Sweatt read the law concerning the tax rate publ ication,
public hearings and vote. He said because of the time frame, we
need to hold the publiC hearing on the tax rate only on the 31st
of August. Then we need to give notice of the time in which we
will be adopting the tax rate as being September 13th.
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MR HARTZOG ARRIVED_AT 7:14 p.m.
After further discussion, Mrs. Marsh withdrew her motion and Mr.
Greenwald withdrew his second.
Mayor Sawyer advised that since item #3 pertained to setting the
public hearing on the tax rate, we would delay both these items
until the later part of the meeting.
#4 BUDGET WORKSHOP: Mr. Sweatt wanted to first clear up
some items Council had questioned. He said they had asked that
he provide information regarding the budget as to how it relates
to specific expenditure categories. This represents the general
fund budget - Personnel Services in the amount of $1,310,991 and
that represents 56.46% of the overall General Fund budget;
Supplies in the amount of $145,854 is 6.28%; Contractual in the
amount of $663,424 represents 28.58%; Maintenance in the amount
of $73,625 represents 3.17% and Capital Outlay in the amount of
$127,466 represents 5.49% of the General Fund budget.
Mrs. Stanhope said she really like this budget layout. Her main
concern is the lack of contingency fund. She then suggested that
after the budget is approved, staff earmark and prioritize items
that could be put on a deferred basis; and these funds could be
put in a contingency fund. Then if an emergency does not occur,
then the funds could be used as needed.
Mr. Sweatt said he agreed but thought specific levels of
expenditures should be deferred and identify total dollars that
should be held. His thought was that it be capital items -
those that could be deferred to the last quarter.
Mr. Sweatt then went over the proposed salary service grade plan,
saying that it would be implemented over a two-year period - this
year's cost would be $20,167. Mr. Sweatt also clarified the
manning docket, asking that Council delete the mechanic position.
He said we are recommending eliminating that position until we
can more effectivel y provide a work area. He said the anI y new
employees in this budget are a full-time employee for the Fire
Department and a part-time employee for the Library.
Council then discussed the pay plan at length. This included a
discussion of the longevity plan. Mr. Sweatt said that if
Council wished to defer the longevity this year, that with the
1990 census, based on population, we will be mandated by law to
supply the $4 per month for each year of service for fire and
police service. He strongly recommended that it not be done for
just one classification of employees but include all employees.
We need to recognize and retain long term employees and this is a
way to do that.
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This completing Mr. Sweatt's presentation on the pay plan,
including longevity, Council discussed the budget revenues.
Concerning the Municipal Court fines, Mr. Sweatt said we will
fall substantially short this year. However he said he believes
it will be a reachable number for next year. He said we have
had some problems this year. Regarding the franchise fees, there
are some cities who have negotiated some higher fees, but in his
opinion we are bound by our fees until we renegotiate with the
individual franchisees. As for Cable TV, we currently receive 3%
and can go to 5% if Council wished to do so. Mr. Sweatt said
there is also some possibilities in the Telecommunications field
that he will research. Mr. Sweatt said he would check on the
three items brought up by Council franchise fees,
telecommunication fee possibility and make certain that
Southwester Bell franchise fees include the New Braunfels
exchange within our city limits.
Council then started going through the various department
expenditure items.
City Council - $21,295 - discussed decreasing the election cost
expenditure by $1,000.
Management - $105,077 - some discussion on reducing personnel in
the Finance department since the budget on 1 y include 4 or 5
service centers now; but Mr. Sweatt advised that would not
diminish the work load in the department.
Mayor Sawyer called a short recess at 8:30 p.m.
The Special Meeting was reconvened at 8:37 p.m. by Mayor Sawyer.
Municipal Court $40,851 this department consists of two
persons, with no capital items.
Tax Department - $66,007 - includes an on-line computer with the
Appraisal District and a chair replacement.
Mr. Sweatt advised that even if we go on line with the Appraisal
District this year, we will still have to do our own tax
statements. Council agreed this needed to be discussed at a
future workshop.
Planning Department - $79,779 - The engineering department has
been combined with this department, with engineering being under
the contractual services.
Legal Department
services.
$26,250
this is totaling contractual
Police Department - $609,465 - under contractual services we have
included $61,457 for four additional vehicles and replacement of
the console.
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-- Fire Department $202,046 this does not include telephone
service; but by next year we will have this divided out in each
department. This does include one additional fireman, which is
the beginning of a three shift department. We hope that by next
year, we can step up to a 3-shift arrangement.
Council stopped departmental items at this time and further
discussed ways of having a floating contingency.
Mayor Sawyer then went back to pick up items 2 and 3 on the
agenda.
#2 TAX RATE VOTE: Mr. Hartzog mo_ved to place a proposal to
adopt the 1989 tax rate of 32.83 cents per $100 valuation on the
agenda of September 13, 1989. Mr. Greenwald seconded the motion,
which carried with the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Hartzog, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
#3 TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING: Mr. Baldwin ffipveg to hold a
public hearing on the tax rate on August 31, 1989. Mrs. Marsh
seconded the motion, which carried with the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Hartzog, Baldwin, Stanhope, Marsh and
Greenwald.
NAYS: None
#5 ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business to come
before Council at this time, Mayor Sawyer declared the meeting to
be adjourned at 10,15 p.m. b~/L ..__..___.__
Mayor, City of Sc rtz, Texas
ATTEST:
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