2011-08-29 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2011, AT 6:30 P.M., IN THE
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. with the following present:
Mayor
Mayor Pro -Tem
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
City Manager
City Attorney
City Secretary
Tom Reid
Ed Thompson
Woody Owens
Scott Sherman
Susan Sherrouse
Felicia Harris
Bill Eisen
Darrin Coker
Young LorFing
Others in attendance: Jon Branson Assistant City Manager; Matt Buchanan President of
Economic Development Corporation; Doyle Police Chief; Trent Epperson Project
Director; Roland Garcia Fire Marshal; Mike Hodge Assistant City Manager; Lata
Krishnarao Planning Director; Narciso Lira City Engineer; Claire Bogard Finance
Director; Michelle Smith Director of Parks; Kelly Sears Interim EMS Operations Director;
Rick Overgaard Assistant Finance Director; Johnny Spires Assistant Police Chief.
PURPOSE OF HEARING — PUBLIC COMMENT AND TESTIMONY REGARDING THE
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012 (OCTOBER 1, 2011 TO
SEPTEMBER 30, 2012) FOR THE CITY OF PEARLAND. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager.
STAFF REVIEW OF PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012
(OCTOBER 1, 2011 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2012) FOR THE CITY OF PEARLAND.
Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager.
City Manager Bill Eisen stated this is the second Public Hearing with regards to the
proposed Budget for the upcoming year. A Workshop was held after the first Public
Hearing where Council made several changes to the budget as submitted. The proposed
budget has been modified to include the requested changed. Mr. Eisen continued to
provide Council with a detailed overview of the proposed budget.
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CITIZEN COMMENTS
Charles McMurray, 5209 Spring Branch Drive, addressed Council and stated he is l I
concerned about the budget he sees the City spending more money than it has. He is
also concerned about the great economic impact it would bring for the City by building
the proposed park amenity since it will require upkeep, and the City is still dealing with
the current unresolved water leaks.
Norman Sandwell, 3523 Creekstone Drive, addressed Council and stated he represents
Pearland Girls Softball League, and wanted to address a question from Councilmember
Harris regarding putting heads in beds. A quick analysis was done on the tournaments
from last year from a small to midsize tournament to a large tournament. They bring a
lot of people and revenue into the community and he would have to disagree with the
previous speaker. He feels it is a need for our children to build these parks. The bond
has been voted and approved and it is time to move forward.
Donna Chauvin, 3311 Churchill, addressed Council and stated her concerns is about the
parks and amount of money being spent. She feels it is too much money and the City
needs to be realistic about its fiscal responsibilities. This is why City Council has been
elected.
Ashley Lyrock 3018 Corebrook Drive addressed Council and stated that she and her
teammates have been playing soccer since they were three or four years old. It is a part
of their lives and something they love to do. It is a sacrifice to do what they love.
Claire Jeffress, 2626 Landere Court, addressed Council and stated Pearland is growing
and has less and less field space to run and play soccer. Pearland does not have safe
fields to host games and tournaments. They are required to drive 45 minutes to play a
soccer game. She commented that a soccer field cost $50.00 per year and that she felt
they deserved new soccer fields.
Julie Ruffino, 9602 Fairbrook Way, addressed Council and stated she is a coach, a
board member with PGSA and a concerned mom. She stated that money has been
raised to run the soccer fields. The families of PGSA Local sponsors have raised over
$15,000 that the restaurant and local business approved for us. Our raffle, auction and
sales of candy have raised over $60,000. That is only in the spring. We are trying again
to do another raffle that will generate approximately $6,000 to $7,000. In addition to
local donations at $19,000. If it costs $150,000 to $200,000 to run and have
maintenance on these fields, we will do this every day because we care about our fields.
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- Steve Garris, 3222 Worthington, addressed council and stated that his house backs up
to Hughes Ranch Road and inquired about the status of the road being built. He also
stated that he recognizes sports are a passion for children who are full of life. That
passion has not faded since 2007, if anything that passion has grown stronger today.
That passion was recognized and promised four years ago. It is his hope that it is
approved and fulfilled today.
Ted Kalivoda, 11506 Starlight Bay Court, addressed Council and stated that Mary Merek
Elementary has thirty six different first generation nationalities. Pearland is on the map
of the world right now. Economically, we have a lot of opportunity in this City. We need
to move forward with the 2007 Bond Election. Let us get the best for Texas in both
business and sports.
Tim Daigle, 12009 Pine Field Court, addressed Council and stated that it pains him to
hear about raising taxes. He wants to be fiscally conservative in all that he does and
does not see where his money goes when given to the Government. This is about
economic development for the community, it is not an amenity. This is about safety and
keeping our folks here without them having to travel all over town. It is about having a
park that can be maintained and cared for properly. It is about having the proper
surveillance by the authorities. Currently we have no control over these things. This is a
need mentioned in the advertisement 2007 Bond Election.
COUNCIL/STAFF DISCUSSION
Councilmember Sherman stated that he did not think there is enough funding in the
budget this year for CR 403 and requested for a brief summary.
City Manager Bill Eisen stated that CR 403 is a County project at this point. They have
done the design along with an environmental study. The next step of the process is the
construction phase; however, at this time there is not anything in the budget for next
year. The funding that the City has this year is predicated on there also being some
federal or state money.
Councilmember Owens inquired about any meetings being setup to discuss the future
cost of this project. He further requested additional information from staff prior to the
passing of the budget. He also wanted to ,state that any person over the age of sixty five
will not be affected by the tax increase Because of the approved tax exemption.
Mayor -Pro Tem Thompson stated that oiV of the major things on this project is the
drainage. There is a little over $2 million from Brazoria Drainage District 4 going in to
Page 3 of 4 - 8/29/2011
this project. We have to make some difficult decisions and it is not easy to raise taxes.
He feels right now the bids are coming in at very low prices and it is a great opportunity
to take advantage of it now. The cost savings projected, plus the Drainage District 4
participation, in this project are the things that have changed his opinion. The drainage
is a major problem in Clear Creek and anything the City can do to prevent this must be
done.
Councilmember Harris stated she is opposed to a tax increase. The City is looking at a
situation where almost two-thirds of the tax rate goes to debt service. We are coming
close to a situation where we are having our home values decline while we are
increasing the tax rate. Business owners are also seeing tax increases while continuing
to manage budgets, salaries and whether to keep employees. In addition to having to
keep fair and reasonable salaries in this climate. She stated she agrees this is not an
easy decision. The passion that has been displayed by parents and the young ladies
who spoke tonight is real. It is also real that the City is in a different day today than it
was in 2007. The economy is not as strong as it was. She stated that she was a
product of youth sports and it is not that she does not want the park; it is that she feels
she has a fiscal responsibility to all of the citizens of Pearland.
Discussion ensued between City Manager Bill Eisen and Council regarding the
proposed Fiscal Year 2011-2012 Budget.
City Manager Bill Eisen stated the final votes for the tax rate and the budget will take
place on September 19, 2011 and September 26, 2011.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 10thof October, A.D., 2011.
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Tom Reid
Mayor
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