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2011-09-19 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011, AT 6:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY. DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS. Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 6:07 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; J.C. Doyle Police Chief; Mike Hodge Assistant City Manager; Michelle Smith Director of Parks and Recreation; Kelly Sears Interim EMS Operations Director; Vance Riley Director of Fire Services. The invocation was given by Mayor Pro -Tem Thompson and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by J. C. Doyle Police Chief. MAYOR'S ACTIVITY REPORT Mayor Reid announced that the City's Mayor -Pro Tem Thompson is a candidate for State Representative and wished him a great deal of luck. Mayor Reid also read a communication from the Planning Association Texas Chapter recognizing the Planning and Zoning Department receiving the Planning of Excellence for 2011 Award. He presented the Planning and Zoning Department with a Recognition of Excellence for 2011. COUNCIL ACTIVITY REPORTS Councilmember Owens stated he attended the Pearland Independent School District Breakfast for the music contender. He also met with a group out of Las Colinas, and met with a group out of the Woodlands. It was a good time, they are very gracious people, and shared a lot of great ideas during the meetings. Page 1 of 6 — 9/19/2011 Councilmember Sherman stated he had the opportunity to attend the Municipal Utility District No. 26 Board of Directors Meeting in Shadow Creek Ranch, and also met with Superintendent Fred Brandt, Alvin Independent School District. He wanted to say , the Adult Reading Center would be hosting a book sale on Friday and Saturday at the Garden Hilton Inn. Mayor -Pro Tem Thompson stated it is with a great deal of anticipation and a little bit of sadness to announce his resignation from his position on Council. The next fourteen months will be a long journey for him. He thanked everyone for all their well wishes. He attended a transportation and infrastructure meeting in Lake Jackson. The discussions were on road projects, ports, bridges and railroads that are in dire need of replacement and repair. He also had the opportunity to attend the Leadership Meeting for Mayor Reid and the meeting at Las Colinas. Mayor Reid stated since Mayor-ProTem Thompson has resigned the City Charter specifies that he serve until replaced. Councilmember Harris stated many of the things she attended all her colleagues have already mentioned, but she did want footnote that the transportation meeting that Mayor-ProTem Thompson spoke about, was truly informative. She met with the 288 Rotary Club for in depth discussions about the budget. Last week she also attended The New Pearland Area Republican Club and the Pearland Chamber of Commerce event at Las Colinas. With the help of the Chamber, a trip was arranged to Las Colinas with herself, Councilmember Owens, Mayor Pro -Tem Thompson, Mayor Reid and City Manager Bill Eisen. Discussions were held on how Las Colinas developed some of the things they found useful in making their community much more enriching for them and those that come there. She wanted to thank Mayor Reid for previously announcing that she filed on September 8, 2011, with the Federal Elections Commission to run for Congressional District Number 14, the seat being vacated by Congressman Ron Paul. She further stated that per the Constitution of Texas requires someone who is in a position that has a term longer than of two years to step down if not in their last year. She is in her last year of service in May 2012, of her term and is not required to step down. Councilmember Sherrouse passed on giving a report. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT City Manager Bill Eisen stated he wanted to thank Carol Artz Bucek, the President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for participating in a Workshop with City Council a few weeks ago regarding the future of Destination Marketing. One of the things discussed at that time was to have a planning meeting with representatives of the City, Pearland Chamber of Commerce, hotel management and owners in the community. The planned facilitator for that event is Dion McInnis who is associated with the University Of Houston -Clear Lake. Page 2 of 6 — 9/19/2011 Mayor Reid stated that he has asked Councilmember Owens and Councilmember Sherman to represent the City Council at the meeting. Mayor Reid called a recess of the Regular Meeting at 6:30 to conduct the Joint Public Hearings. Mayor Reid called the Regular meeting back to order at 7:39 pm. CITIZENS Larry Marcott, 3606 Inverness Court, stated the drought concerns him and he is alarmed to see the dry dead trees around town being a possible fire hazard. The City and residents need to come together and take care of the trees that are a hazard. DOCKETED PUBLIC HEARING: None. CONSENT AGENDA: None. MATTERS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA: None. NEW BUSINESS: FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1453 — AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE ADOPTING A REVISED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2011, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2012, AND PAY PLANS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Owens made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Sherman, to approve Ordinance No. 1453 on its first reading. City Manager Bill Eisen stated Council has had detailed discussions of the budget twice during the last couple of weeks. The documentation provided this evening does incorporate all the revisions made to the original budget and its original file. Councilmember Sherman stated he was appreciative of City Manager Bill Eisen and all the Staff that worked very hard at putting the Budget together this year. Councilmember Harris stated she wished to echo Councilmember Sherman's Comments to City Manager and to Staff. She recognized all the hard work, effort, and endless number of hours that went into it; however, she will not be voting in favor of the budget because a portion of it would be unfunded without a Page 3 of 6 — 9/19/2011 tax increase for the Parks Project. Being consistent with her previous comments she would like to incorporate those comments by reference. Discussion ensued between City Council and City Manager Bill Eisen regarding the Ordinance. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Owens, Sherman, Thompson, Sherrouse. Voting "No" Councilmember Harris Motion Passed 4 tot. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 1454 — AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A TAX RATE OF $0.6851 AND LEVYING TAXES FOR THE USE AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, AND PROVIDING FOR THE INTEREST AND SINKING FUND OF THE TAXABLE YEAR 2011. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Sherman, made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Owens to approve Ordinance No. 1454 on its first reading. Councilmember Sherman proceeded to read into the record to move to adopt the tax rate of $0.6851/100 cents which is a property tax increase rate over the effective tax rate of 2.39%, second by Councilmember Owens to approve Ordinance No. 1454 on its first reading. City Manager Bill Eisen stated that under state law the tax rate currently being proposed to be adopted exceeds to generate the property tax revenue in excess to what was generated in the current year. There is specific language that is required to be utilized in that motion and considered in the second. City Manager Bill Eisen stated there have been two Public Hearings held previously covering the tax rate. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Sherrouse, Thompson, Sherman and Owens. Voting "No" Councilmember Harris . Motion Passed 4 tot. Page 4 of 6 — 9/19/2011 COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. R2011-108 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, DEDUCTING UNCOLLECTIBLE UTILITY ACCOUNTS FROM THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Mayor -Pro Tem Thompson made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Owens, to approve Resolution No. R2011-108. City Manager Bill Eisen stated each year the Council considers a write off of uncollectable utility billing accounts. This write off is for the purposes of the City's financial statements and records; and the City will continue to attempt to collect these funds. Discussion ensued between City Council, City Manager Bill Eisen, City Attorney Darrin Coker, and Finance Director Claire Bogard regarding the Resolution. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Owens, Thompson, Sherman, Harris and Sherrouse. Voting "No" None Motion Passed 5 to 0. COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. R2011-109 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR 2012 BUDGET THAT WILL REQUIRE RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN IN THE FISCAL YEARS' 2011 BUDGET. Mr. Bill Eisen, City Manager. Councilmember Harris made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Owens, to approve Resolution No. R2011-109. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Sherrouse, Thompson, Sherman, Owens. Voting "No" Councilmember Harris Motion Passed 4 tot. COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. R2011-107 — A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, APPROVING EMPLOYEE INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR STOP LOSS, DENTAL AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES. Ms. Bonita Hall, Director of Human Resources and Safety Management. Councilmember Sherrouse made the motion, seconded by Councilmember Harris, to approve Resolution No. R2011-107. Page 5 of 6 — 9/19/2011 City Manager Bill Eisen stated, over the course of the fiscal year, staff has made some updates for Council. This is the third installment of that summary which includes 11 months of the fiscal year. Mr. Eisen continued to give a detailed summary of the compared budget. Councilmember Owens requested clarification and breakdown of claims submitted and costs. Director of Human Resources and Safety Management Bonita Hall presented City Council with an overview of the plan. Discussion ensued between Council and Human Resource Director and Safety Management Bonita Hall regarding the Resolution. Voting "Aye" Councilmembers Owens, Thompson, Sherman Harris and Sherrouse. Voting "No" None. Motion Passed 5 to 0. OTHER BUSINESS: NONE. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Minutes approved as submitted and or corrected this 24th day of October, A.D., 2011 Tom Reid Mayor ATTEST: • . •. ij• r Page 6 of 6 — 9/19/2011