2003-03-11 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTESJ%
MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON MARCH 11, 2003, AT 6:30 P.M., IN
CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
The meeting was called to order with the following present:
Mayor
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
City Manager
City Attorney
Deputy City Secretary
Tom Reid
Richard Tetens
Larry Marcott
Klaus Seeger
Bill Eisen
Darrin Coker
LaKeisha Cannon -Scott
THE CITY OF
THE COUNCIL
Absent: Councilmembers Woody Owens and Richard Tetens, City Manager Bill Eisen.
Others in attendance: Deputy City Manager Alan Mueller.
Brazoria County Municipal Utility District No. 4 Board of Directors
F. C. (Bus) Adams
.-- Hugh Pylant
Charles A. Mills
Thomas Goss
Others in attendance: Tim Austin, Municipal Utility District No. 4 Attorney
PURPOSE OF HEARING - PROPOSED ANNEXATION
TO GATHER PUBLIC COMMENT AND TESTIMONY REGARDING THE ADOPTION
OF A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT AND A SALES & USE TAX
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND BRAZORIA COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY
DISTRICT NUMBER 4 AND THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY
669 ACRES, OF LAND, MORE OR LESS, CONSISTING OF ALL OF BRAZORIA
COUNTY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER 4, BEING GENERALLY LOCATED
SOUTH OF CLEAR CREEK, WEST AND NORTH OF BRAZORIA COUNTY
MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE.
STAFF REVIEW OF PROPOSED SERVICE PLAN
Deputy City Manager, Alan Mueller, addressed Council and gave a brief overview of the
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annexation process of Municipal Utility District No. 4.
Deputy City Manager, Alan Mueller, addressed Council and reported a previous public
hearing took place on February 25, 2003 and another public hearing would take place on
March 24, 2003. This Strategic Partnership Agreement is an agreement between the
City of Pearland and the Municipal Utility District No. 4 authorized under. Interstate Law.
This enables the City of Pearland and the Municipal Utility District No. 4 to agree upon
and further annexation until a specific date of December 31, 2012. He stated on January
1, 2013 the Municipal Utility District No. 4 would be dissolved. The operation of the
Municipal Utility District will remain the same with an additional charge of $4.38 per
month collected on the utility bill. This charge will be used to offset the City's costs in
providing Fire and EMS Services to the Municipal Utility District. Mr. Mueller stated this
charge would be considered as part of the operating charge of the Municipal Utility
District No. 4 and would not be an additional charge to the residents of the district. He
stated during the transition the utility fees will be incrementally raised until consistent with
the City and the City will be allowed to collect sales tax on any taxable items within the
Municipal Utility District, Mr. Mueller further stated any remaining funds in the Municipal
Utility District accounts during the time of annexation would be spent within the
boundaries of the Municipal Utility District. He stated the Municipal Utility District would
also appoint a three-member liaison committee. He noted that the Home Owners
Association would not be affected by the annexation or the Strategic Partnership
Agreement. He stated the City would be responsible for any maintenance and operation
of any public streets including a Street Lighting Bill. Any private streets would remain
private and the Guard Station would stay in place. The Municipal Utility District tax
would be dissolved once annexation takes place. Mr. Mueller stated that the Service
Plan has an effective date of January 1, 2013, and also noted the Service Plan provides
a level of services for the Municipal Utility District. The City may provide those services
directly or may contract other parties to provide those services. He noted that the term
Standard Policy and Procedures means that an application or fee for services may apply.
He stated that State Law requires two portions of the Service Plan. First section is the
Early Action Program and the second section is a Capital Improvement Program. The
services are effective immediately upon the date of annexation. These services provide
Police, Fire, and EMS services. Solid waste collections will transition to collection under
the City's contract in accordance with State Law. Mr. Mueller stated that in regards to
the operation maintenance of water and waste facilities, the City would take the place of
the Municipal Utility District including any joint facilities. Mr. Mueller further stated there
are no parks operated by the Municipal Utility District. Mr. Mueller stated the drainage
facilities within the district would be maintained by the City. Additional services to the
residents would include health services. In closing, Mr. Mueller stated the Capital
Improvement Program has not foreseen a need for any additional facilities.
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CITIZEN COMMENTS
59
Rosemary Jackson, 3107 South Peach Hollow, addressed Council and asked what is the
current value of the Municipal Utility District No. 4.
Municipal Utility District No. 4 Board stated they do not have the current information at
the meeting.
Discussion ensued among Ms. Jackson and Municipal Utility District No. 4 Board
regarding the district's value.
Ms. Jackson asked what is the advantage to waiting ten years for annexation to take
place.
The Municipal Utility District No. 4 Board stated the City is not annexing until ten years
due to the district's debt. The Board stated that all Municipal Utility Districts are destined
for annexation at some time.
Mayor Reid stated annexation normally takes place when the district's indebtedness has
been paid and the district's current indebtedness is not matching the value of the
properties.
Deputy City Manager, Alan Mueller, stated that her advantage would be continuing to
have the current Municipal Utility District atmosphere; therefore the agreement was to
structure the annexation in this way giving the residents advanced notice. He also stated
there are other districts being annexed at this time and they are being phased out yearly.
He stated the districts with lower debt would be annexed first in the order of their
indebtedness.
Councilmember Marcott stated additional police officers would be hired to accommodate
the additional City residents and there are costs for the additional personnel.
Ms. Jackson asked who would provide for trash pick up.
Deputy City Manager, Alan Mueller, stated trash collection would continue as is until
2013. He stated the Homeowner's Association is currently handling trash collection and
once annexation take place it would be taken over by the City.
Margaret Robinson, 938 South Palm Crest Court, addressed Council and asked when
would the fee for utilities start.
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Municipal Utility District No. 4 Board stated the fee would be part of the operating charge
of the Municipal Utility District No. 4 and would not be an additional charge to the
residents of the district. He stated this fee would start thirty days after the Strategic
Partnership Agreement is executed.
Ms. Robinson asked what is the current City's tax rate.
Mayor Reid stated the tax rate is $.686 per $100 of property value.
A brief discussion ensued among Council, Staff, and Ms. Robinson regarding a Hospital
District.
Dollie Kendry, 8222 Woodfern Glen Lane, addressed Council and stated the Municipal
Utility District No. 4 has a park.
Deputy City Manager, Alan Mueller, stated the Municipal Utility District No. 4 does not
operate any parks and it is possible the park is operated by the Homeowner's
Association. He stated the Homeowner's Association would continue to operate the park
after annexation.
COUNCIL/STAFF DISCUSSION
Brief discussion ensued among Council and Staff regarding the Strategic Partnership
Agreement.
Municipal Utility District No. 4 Board stated they appreciate the citizens coming to the
meeting tonight and they feel the Strategic Partnership Agreement is good for the
District.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this 14" day of April A.D., 2003.
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Tom Reid
Mayor