Loading...
Minutes TC 08/12/1997 - Budget WorkshopMINUTES OF JOINT PUBLIC HEARING TOWN COUNCIL MEETING/PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION BUDGET WORKSHOP/FINANCE COMMITTEE TOWN OF TROPHY CLUB, TEXAS AUGUST 12, 1997 THE STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF DENTON The Town Council of the Town of Trophy Club, Texas met in a Budget Workshop with the Finance Committee on Thursday, August 12, 1997, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting was held within the boundaries of the Town and was open to the public. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Jim Carter Mayor Marshall Engelbeck Mayor Pro Tem Doug Glaspell Council Member Edwin "Ed" Decker Council Member Susan H. McCabe Council Member Kevin Carr Council Member FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: John Carter Chairperson Robert Burns Member Dave Robison Member FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Scott Smith Member Kay Pratt Member David Garlitz Member STAFF AND GUESTS PRESENT: Donna Welsh Karen Sadri Bill LeGrand David Miller Roger Unger Barbara Allen Jack Jacobs Greg Guillaume Town Manager Town Secretary Director of Public Works Director of DPS MUD Manager Court Administrator Town Treasurer Senior Accountant Page 2 Budget Workshop Town Council Meeting/Finance Committee August 12, 1997 CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCE A QUORUM: Mayor Carter called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m., noting a quorum was present. INVOCATION: John Carter, Finance Committee Chairperson, gave the invocation. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE AMERICAN AND TEXAS FLAG: Jack Jacobs, Town Treasurer, led both pledges. CONTINUATION OF THE AUGUST 5, 1997 TOWN COUNCIL/STAFF/FINANCE COMMITTEE 1997-1998 BUDGET WORKSHOP: Council Member Glaspell moved to follow the general direction in what we are doing this evening, let the Finance Committee provide all the information they have to give to us, uninterrupted, then let the Staff make all their presentations and any areas of disagreement between them and the Finance Committee. Then allow the Town Council to take the floor and ask questions. Mayor Pro Tem Engelbeck seconded; motion passed unanimously. Chairperson Carter asked Robert Burns to address the one remaining issue concerning the Parks budget. Mr. Burns stated that the Trophy Club Economic Development Corporation tentatively agreed to fund the $106,000.00 in projects that were removed from the Parks budget. Chairperson Carter moved on to the Courts budget and asked that Robert Burns make a presentation on that budget. Mr. Burns stated that the Finance Committee didn't feel any changes needed to be made to the Courts budget. There was no input from the Staff on this item. Chairperson Carter moved to the Public Works budget. The Finance Committee recommends that: ► $1,500.00 be taken out of overtime and holiday payroll. (instead of $3,000.00 it would be $1,500.00) ► $500.00 reduction in closing allowance. ► $1200.00 reduction in Equipment and Maintenance. ► $600.00 reduction in Vehicle Maintenance. ► $600.00 reduction in Maintenance Supplies. ► $1500.00 reduction in Printing. ► $3000.00 to be added to Independent Labor. ► $115,000.00 reduction in Landscape Maintenance. ► $2,500.00 reduction in Engineering Services. ► $8,000.00 reduction in Property Maintenance. ► $500.00 reduction in Code Enforcement. Page 3 Budget Workshop Town Council Meeting/Finance Committee August 12, 1997 ► $1,000.00 reduction in Animal Control. ► $12,500.00 reduction in Irrigation Repairs. ► Street Sweeping eliminated completely. ► $2500.00 reduction in Street/Traffic Signs and Crosswalks. ► Uniforms and Accessories was eliminated. The Finance Committee has suggested to reduce the Public Works budget by $47,500.00. Chairperson Carter asked for comments from Bill LeGrand, Director of Public Works. Mr. LeGrand had no comments at this time, he agreed with all the recommendations by the committee. Mr. Robison asked Mr. LeGrand about a $90,000 reduction concerning the streets and Mr. LeGrand asked to defer his answer until later in the evening. Chairperson Carter moved on to the EMS budget. The Finance Committee's recommendations were: ► No salary cuts in the EMS Dept. ► Under Administrative expenses: $300.00 reduction in Equipment Maintenance. a 50% reduction in Vehicle Maintenance. Public Safety: ► Operating Expenses: $500.00 reduction from small equipment. Chairperson Carter then moved on to the Police Department budget. The Finance Committee's recommendations were: ► No salary cuts in the Police Department. ► Total reduction of $800.00. Chairperson Carter then moved on to the General Administrative budget. The Finance Committee's recommendations were: ► No salary cuts. ► Insurance reduction of $2,500.00. ► Records Retention reduction of $500.00. Chairperson Carter then turned the floor over to Donna Welsh, Town Manager. Ms. Welsh explained the handout dated 8/12/97. The staff recommendations were: ► adding a contingency of $25,000.00 to the General Administration Budget. ► a reduction of $90,000.00 in street construction. Page 4 Budget Workshop Town Council Meeting/Finance Committee August 12, 1997 ► a bond issue to fund street repair. ► a possible tax rate increase to $.48. ► transfer garbage billing costs to Citizens. This includes a 14% increase in tax revenues. Mayor Carter questioned the 34% increase in spending. Ms. Welsh opened the floor to the Council's questions. The Council agreed to follow the guidelines set by the motion earlier in the evening. REVENUES: Council Member Decker read a memo from an employee in the cable industry. Mr. Decker would like to know the status of the negotiations with Marcus Cable on the franchise renewal. Ms. Welsh explained the franchise issue (including but not limited to; an increase to 5% in franchise fees, and a channel of our own) was slated for the September 19, 1997 Council meeting. Mr. Decker feels strongly we need to negotiate the 5% franchise fee. Council Member Engelbeck questioned the $1.9 million in projected revenues in 96-97 when actual collected revenues is $1.7 million. Ms. Welsh explained the developers overestimated their building projections. Jack Jacobs, Town Treasurer, stated this is the first year in many years that we will have a deficit budget. ( approx. $8,000.00) Mayor Carter stated that the city sales tax revenue estimate is very conservative. David Robison, Finance Committee member, reminded Council that the Finance Committee has discussed raising sales tax another one-half percent. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION: Council Member Decker asked what the average of salary increase was. Ms. Welsh explained the average was 3%. The only adjustment was to the Town Secretary salary, which was to bring that salary up to an acceptable level. Council Member Decker feels that the Town is still under -insured for public liability. Page Budget Workshop Town Council Meeting/Finance Committee August 12, 1997 EMS: Council Member Carr questioned the schools and training amounts, salaries and over -time, and insurance. Council Member Decker stated he didn't want any cuts to EMS at all. POLICE DEPARTMENT: Council Member Decker questioned the 10% increase in salaries. What guidelines do we use to compare salaries. Mr. Decker feels we need to raise the city tax rate to maintain competitive salaries in the area to avoid huge increases every year. Council Member Decker questioned the lack of funding for the animal holding facility for the P.D. Council Member Engelbeck is against the animal holding facility because there are too may hidden costs involved. Council Member Glaspell stated he can't support the animal holding facility. He feels we need personnel first. Council Members McCabe and Carr are also against the animal holding facility. Council Member Carr questioned the salaries and over -time. He suggests hiring another officer to reduce the over -time. Mr. Carr would like to see the D.A.R.E. officer more involved at the school by spring by adding the new officer this winter. COURTS: No changes. Council Member Carr would like to reduce the landscape maintenance costs for the common areas the Town has to maintain. Council Member McCabe wanted to know if there were any options to reducing the winter upkeep for the athletic fields. Page 6 Budget Workshop Town Council Meeting/Finance Committee August 12, 1997 PUBLIC WORKS cont.: Council member Glaspell would like to move any savings to the Parks upkeep. Council Member Carr would like to see the painting of the bike lanes included in the budget. He has gotten quotes considerably less that Teague, Nall & Perkins. Council Member McCabe supports Council Member Carr's views and would like to see the bike and walk paths incorporated into this budget. Council Member Glaspell verified the removal of the street cleaning line item and reminded the Council of the non -homeowner areas that would need to be Town maintained. Mr. Glaspell supports the sidewalk for the school area. The consensus was to include the sidewalk on Village Trail, Trophy Lake Drive and Trophy Club Drive (to the Marshall Creek bridge), and the striping of the bike paths in the budget. Council Member Decker expressed his concerns regarding the situation at 241 Oak Hill and any liability costs the Town may incur. Council Member Decker moved to street repair. Mr. Decker noted the total cost of street repairs to be about $6.9 Million. Mr. Decker suggested to have a bond issue to finance long term street repairs. David Robison, Finance Committee member, stated that the remaining life expectancy report shows that the majority of the streets have a life expectancy of 20 years. He also reminded the Council the Finance Committee did not want a bond issue or any certificates of obligation. The Finance committee recommends that all the street repair be funded out of the budget. Council Member Engelbeck wanted to clarify that this budget does not reflect the rebuilding of Skyline Dr. Mr. Engelbeck feels there is a disparity of urgency surrounding the repair and rebuilding of Skyline Dr. Discussion continued regarding the street rebuilding/repair issue. Page 7 Budget Workshop Town Council Meeting/Finance Committee August 12, 1997 1 :I► Council Member Decker moved to adjourn at 10:04 p.m. Council Member Glaspell seconded; motion passed unanimously. Karen Sadri, Town Secretary (Seal) -Jim Carter'_Mayor