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2010-08-23 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010, AT 6:30 P.M., IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, 2555 CULLEN PARKWAY, SECOND FLOOR TRAINING ROOM NUMBER ONE, PEARLAND, TEXAS. Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 6:43 p.m. with the following present: Mayor Tom Reid Mayor Pro -Tem Scott Sherman Councilmember Woody Owens Councilmember Felicia Kyle Councilmember Ed Thompson City Manager Bill Eisen City Attorney Darrin Coker City Secretary Young Lorfing Absent: Councilmember Steve Saboe Others in attendance: Jon Branson Assistant City Manager; Danny Cameron Public Works Director; J.C. Doyle Police Chief; Trent Epperson Project Director; Bonita J. Hall Director of Human Resources and Safety Management; Mike Hodge Assistant City Manager; Lata Krishnarao Planning Director; Narciso Lira City Engineer; Claire Bogard Finance Director; Michelle Smith Director of Parks and Recreation; Jeff Sundseth EMS Operations Director; Matt Buchanan Executive Director of Economic Development Corporation; David Whittaker Director of Inspection Services; Mattie Culver Public Affairs Manager; Yesenia Garza HR Benefits Coordinator; June Ellis Purchasing Officer; Paulette Englund Budget Analyst; Carmel Derosena Budget Analyst; Thomas Moncrief Police Captain. PURPOSE OF HEARING — PUBLIC COMMENT AND TESTIMONY REGARDING THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011 (OCTOBER 1, 2010 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2011) FOR THE CITY OF PEARLAND. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. STAFF REVIEW OF PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011 (OCTOBER 1, 2010 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2011) FOR THE CITY OF PEARLAND. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. City Manager Bill Eisen stated this is the first of two Public Hearings that will be held in reference to the proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year 2011. Council has previously participated in three Workshops regarding the proposed Budget. There were several challenges for the proposed Budget that have not been seen previously in the City. To deal with challenges, Staff reviewed a number of Budget reductions and ways to make operations more efficient. Mr. Eisen continued to provide Council with a detailed review of the proposed Budget for the Fiscal Year 2011. Page 1 of 3 — 8/23/2010 CITIZEN COMMENTS: Adam Carol, President of the Police Officer Association, addressed Council and stated he is concerned regarding the proposal to reallocate operating expenses to debt service and he would like clarification on what impact this will have on the next Budget year. Tim Daigle, 1209 Pine Field Ct., addressed Council and stated he is the field manager for the Pearland United Soccer Club. He would like to know why improvements to the Max Road Soccer were included in the approved Bond Election in 2007, but there is no mention of it in the proposed budget. He has been involved in the Pearland United Soccer Club and has greatly improved the soccer fields they are able to use. Their soccer fields were not designed for soccer and they have had to make up for this. It is well known in the area that Pearland has the worst soccer fields. There are even smaller towns that have exceptional soccer fields. There is a lot of money that is leaving the City because citizens have to go to other areas to play soccer. He understands that there are financial issues, but this is something that is greatly needed and the citizens are willing to help pay for the cost. COUNCIUSTAFF DISCUSSION: City Manager Bill Eisen stated the effects reallocating the operating expenses will have on future budget years will be minimal if there is any effect at all. Councilmember Owens stated he would like an update regarding the profitability of the programs being held at the Bailey Road campus that the City is leasing. There was a concern regarding the ability to generate revenue. Assistant City Manager Jon Branson stated one of the larger revenue generators is the after-school program. Today would have been the very first day of the program and it is most likely too early to evaluate the success. The attendance for the summer programs did increase over previous years. Councilmember Kyle stated she would like to receive a financial analysis of the profitability of the programs. Mayor Pro -Tem Sherman stated that he feels it is unacceptable for the City of Pearland to have the worst soccer fields. He would like any information regarding Max Road Soccer Field forwarded to Council and he would like to visit the fields personally to see what can be done. Discussion ensued between Council, City Manager Bill Eisen, Assistant City Manager Jon Branson, and Tim Daigle regarding the Max Road Soccer Fields. Councilmember Kyle stated the breakdown of the Pearland Economic Development Corporation Budget shows it is operating in a fiscal deficit and will be for the next year for the first time in its history. Councilmember Kyle stated it is appropriate to look closely at what is going on and how it is spending money. She questioned the allocations or the supposed allocations of expenditures of nearly $350,000 that will be paid by the Pearland Economic Development Corporation given their current debt. She asked for Page 2 of 3 — 8/23/2010 MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PEARLAND EMPLOYEES BENEFITS TRUST, HELD ON MONDAY, AUGUST 23, 2010, AT 7:30 P.M., IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, 2555 CULLEN PARKWAY, SECOND FLOOR TRAINING ROOM NUMBER ONE, PEARLAND, TEXAS. Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. with the following present: Mayor Tom Reid Trustee Scott Sherman Trustee Woody Owens Trustee Felicia Kyle Trustee Ed Thompson City Manager Bill Eisen City Attorney Darrin Coker City Secretary Young Lorfing Absent: Trustee Steve Saboe Others in attendance: Jon Branson Assistant City Manager; Danny Cameron Public Works Director; J.C. Doyle Police Chief; Trent Epperson Project Director; Bonita J. Hall Director of Human Resources and Safety Management; Mike Hodge Assistant City Manager; Lata Krishnarao Planning Director; Narciso Lira City Engineer; Claire Bogard Finance Director; Michelle Smith Director of Parks and Recreation; Jeff Sundseth EMS Operations Director; Matt Buchanan Executive Director of Economic Development Corporation; David Whittaker Director of Inspection Services; Mattie Culver Public Affairs Manager; Yesinia Garza HR Benefits Coordinator; June Ellis Purchasing Officer; Paulette Englund Budget Analyst; Carmel Derosena Budget Analyst; Thomas Moncrief Police Captain. NEW BUSINESS: TRUST ACTION — RESOLUTION NO. BTR2010-1 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TRUST ("TRUST"), TERMINATING A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DECLARATION OF TRUST. Mr. Darrin Coker, City Attorney. Trustee Sherman made the motion, seconded by Trustee Kyle, to approve Resolution No. BTR2010-1 as amended. City Attorney Darrin Coker stated the Council will be considering a Resolution at the Regular Council Meeting to award a contract for Employee Health Benefits. If the Employee Health Benefits Contract is approved by Council, it will negate the need for there to be an Employee Benefits Trust. This Resolution would terminate the Trust. Page 1 of 2 — 8/23/2010 Trustee Sherman made the motion, seconded by Trustee Kyle, to approve Resolution No. BTR2010-1 contingent upon the passage of the subsequent Employee Benefits Package later in the evening at the regular council meeting. Voting "Aye" Trustees Owens, Sherman, Kyle, and Thompson. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, with Trustee Saboe absent. Mayor Reid called for a vote on the original motion as amended. Voting "Aye" Owens, Sherman, Kyle, and Thompson. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 4 to 0, Trustee Saboe absent. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 13th day of September, A.D., 2010. Tom Reid Mayor ATTEST: i/ • • • • • / / / Page 2 of 2 — 8/23/2010 clarification regarding if the Budget is approved, will the proposed expenditures of $136,000 for the Chamber and $210,000 for the Northern Brazoria County Education Alliance come before Council for the allocation of funds. City Attorney Darrin Coker stated the contract will not come before Council based on an interpretation of the Pearland Economic Development Corporations bylaws. The bylaws are vague and poorly drafted, but they have been in place since the Board was created. This is one of the issues being reviewed and discussed with the current governance committee that has been meeting. Councilmember Kyle stated she questions whether this year's Pearland Economic Development specific Budget should be approved because of concerns she has regarding the Northern Brazoria County Education Alliance contract and the Pearland Economic Development Corporation's consideration of the proposed expenditure. She stated she does not understand why the Council or the Pearland Economic Development Corporation is recommending another $210,000 be allocated to Northern Brazoria County Education Alliance when Council has questioned NBCEA's accountability. Discussion ensued between Council, City Attorney Darrin Coker, and Executive Director of Economic Development Corporation Matt Buchanan regarding the proposed Budget. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 13th day of September, A.D., 2010. C-7:�L -L. Tom Reid Mayor ATTEST: Page 3 of 3 — 8/23/2010 This Page Left Blank Intentionally