08/02/2002-CC-Minutes-Work Session1VIINUTES: City Council Workshop
August 2, 2002
i PRESENT: Mayor Tommy Kincaid, Councilman Glenn Ervin, Councilman Joe Higgs,
Councilman Jimmy Evans, Councilman Mike James, Councilman Andy Garza
OTHERS
PRESENT: City Manager JackSmith, City Secretary/Assistant City Manager Rose Chavez,
Esmeralda Wilkerson, City Mechanic David Erwin, Streets/Parks
Superintendent John Henderson, Water/Wastewater Superintendent Eddie
Branham, Police Chief Curtis Amyx, Electric Superintendent Mike Prater, Fire
Chief David Pennington
1. Mayor called meeting to order.
2. Budget Workshop.
Discussion regarding Street Department Budget.
Councilman Ervin inquired how much was in the budget for water/sewer, and electric
departments to repair streets when they have to do a cut on the street.
City Secretary indicated over $46,000 had been spent to date.
Discussion regarding street maintenance.
Staff indicated that with the capital improvement funds that are coming in, this will
cover the majority of the repairs that need to be done; therefore, the amount budgeted
should be enough.
Discussion regarding the possibility of showing in the budget the repairs on cuts from
the water, sewer and electric departments.
Discussion on why city has to pay for repairs when the telephone company cuts the
street.
City Secretary stated that there is an ordinance in the IA for regulating when
other utilities come in and cut the street making them responsible for repairs.
Discussion continued regarding street repairs and capital improvement project.
Discussed street signs, and that developers are requi
Dired to put them in.
Discussion regarding the street cuts made by other departments and that the individual
departments need to budget for those repairs.
Discussion regarding sidewalk repairs in the downtown area.
Discussed the budget for the Parks Department.
Discussed the various responsibilities of the department. They sand when there is ice,
spray for mosquitos, take care of the pool, mow, and take care of any emergency
situations in the streets or parks.
Discussed safety equipment.
City Secretary indicated they could move funds from the building supplies to increase
the budget for safety equipment.
Council felt safety was a priority.
City Secretary indicated the Parks Department is in the process of applying for a parks
grant.
Discussion regarding the grant.
Discussion regarding lawn mowers and equipment.
Discussed the budget for the swimming pool.
Council asked if the city is breaking even on this.
City Secretary indicated they are not and never have. She indicated this is providing
as service, which is recreation for the citizens.
Discussed current cost to use the pool, and that perhaps they could charge more if there
was a slide or more equipment for the kids.
City Secretary indicated this is a service like the library, the parks are not a revenue
source.
Discussed possible charging more money or charging non -citizens a higher rate.
Discussion continued regarding the parks budget.
Briefly discussed the Sullivan Center and Library budget.
City Secretary indicated the Community Center had been remodeled last year;
therefore, the budget will go down this year.
Discussed there will be and increase in tax service, and Health service is cut and dry.
Discussed Solid Waste and Debt Service.
Discussed sanitation.
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Discussed budget for Mayor and Council.
Discussed TML workshops, travel and food budget.
Councilman Higgs felt Council members should pay for their own travel and hotel
expenses.
Discussion regarding TML, Seminars.
Staff indicated the seminars help the Council understand more about the laws that
change each year.
Lengthy discussion regarding travel for Council and if the City should continue to pay
travel expenses.
Discussed Administration budget.
Discussion regarding travel, legal fees, and salaries.
Discussion regarding payroll and selling vacation and sick time.
Discussed Health Insurance.
Discussed the budget for the Water Department.
Discussed the street cuts again, and that the water department should pay for the repair
on cuts it makes.
Eddie Branham indicated they will start documenting the cuts.
Discussion to get ordinance on street cuts and charge other companies if they cut the
streets.
Discussed Wastewater Treatment.
Discussed salaries and lease equipment.
Discussed the new overhead pump station.
City Secretary explained that Hunter Associates was supposedly working on the permit
over a year ago. It did not get submitted and TNRCC fined the city. Hunter Associates
indicated that we could send them the bill and they will pay it.
City Manager indicated the overall Wastewater budget has decreased.
Discussed the Engineering Department.
Discussed Electric Department Budget.
Mike Prater indicated there has been a lot of new construction. He felt the budget
should be increased.
Discussed contractor to trim limbs.
Discussed capital improvements.
City Manager will put in changes and give finalized copies to all department heads and
Council.
The overall increase over last year was approximately 21% to 25%.
3. Meeting Adjourned.
ATTiEST:
Mayor TImmy Kincaid
Rosalie Chavez, City Secre�
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