2014-09-02 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014, AT 6:30 P.M., IN
THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following present:
Mayor
Mayor Pro -Tem
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
City Manager
City Attorney
City Secretary
Tom Reid
Keith Ordeneaux
Tony Carbone
Scott Sherman
Gary Moore
Greg Hill
Clay Pearson
Darrin Coker
Young Lorfing
Others in attendance: Daniel Baum Deputy Fire Chief; Claire Bogard Finance Director;
Jon Branson Deputy City Manager; Matt Buchanan President of Pearland Economic
Development Cooperation; J.C. Doyle Police Chief; Trent Epperson Assistant City
Manager; Michelle Graham Director of Parks and Recreation; Bonita Hall Director of
Human Resource and Safety Management; Lata Krishnarao Director of Community
Development; Skipper Jones Assistant Director of Capital Projects; Johnny Spires
Assistant Police Chief.
Purpose of Hearing — Public comment and testimony regarding the proposed 2014 Tax
Rate for the 2014-2015 Budget.
Staff Review — Proposed 2014 Tax Rate for the 2014 — 2015 Budget.
Finance Director Claire Bogard gave a presentation on the Tax Rate for the 2014 — 2015
Budget.
Citizen Comments:
Robert Fawcett, 2112 Birdie Court, addressed Council stating what brought his family to
Pearland 28 years ago were Mayor Reid's words that safety and security has afforded
residents to live in Pearland. He would like to ask Council to look carefully at any reduction
with the City departments including the first responders. In the system of priorities public
safety and security should come first.
Jerry Joseph, 3506 Lauren Trail, addressed Council stating he has some thoughts
regarding the City budget. He is concerned with the cost to purchase and maintain Police
equipment. If the crime rate has increased in Pearland, the Police budget needs to be
increased. He believes the most important thing for the City is to pay down debt, and as
time progresses the City can look at increasing law enforcement and fire protection.
Page 1 of 5 — 9/2/2014
Council/Staff discussion:
Mayor Pro -Tem Ordeneaux stated regarding the Historical Tax Rate Allocation the tax
rate has not changed very much. What has changed is the amount for debt service. He
would like for everyone to think about how the City is going to attack the debt problem.
Mayor Reid stated he agrees with Mayor Pro -Tem Ordeneaux. This is something Council
needs to be very careful and work on the debt.
Councilmember Carbone stated the tax rate purposes the highest in effect the City can
have without having to go for a rollback election.
Adjournment:
Meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
Mayor Reid called the Public Hearing to order at 6:50 p.m.
Purpose of Hearing — Public comment and testimony regarding the proposed Fiscal
Year 2014-2015 Budget.
Staff Review — Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Budget.
City Manager Clay Pearson and Finance Director Claire Bogard gave a presentative on
the Fiscal Year 2014-2015 Proposed Budget.
Citizen Comments:
Adam Carroll, 2502 Alexander, addressed Council stating as the President of the
Pearland Police Officers Association he is representing the Pearland Police Officers. He
wanted to clarify the cost of living expense. It is not a cost of living expense, it is an
adopted Step Pay Plan. The Police Officers would like for this Pay Plan to be left alone.
The Police Officers are asking Council not to cut the budget any further, the Officers need
the appropriate tools to do their job and to get home safe.
Council/Staff Discussion:
Councilmember Carbone stated regarding Master Plans, there was a study done in 2010
in terms of Fire and EMS. He has not seen anything regarding Public Safety from the
Police Department. The City should be planning for Public Safety to make sure crime
does not get out of control. He commended Pearland Economic Development
Corporation for paying off their debt service.
Mayor Pro -Tem Ordeneaux stated he would like to clarify his statement he made
regarding the Police Officers receiving a cost of living increase. He has been corrected.
A Step Pay Plan increase is completely different than a cost of living increase. He would
like to retract his statement regarding taking the cost of living expense from the Police
Officers.
Page 2 of 5 — 9/2/2014
Councilmember Moore stated the Police, Fire, and EMS are of the most importance, and
should be on Council's mind when discussing the budget.
Adjournment:
Meeting was adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS:
COUNCIL INPUT AND DISCUSSION: Regarding the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget, and
Multi -Year Financial Plan:
• Police Staffing and Funding
• Review of all changes to Budget from filed Budget
• Other Budget Discussion Items
City Manager Clay Pearson provided information regarding the Fiscal Year 2015 Budget,
and Multi -Year Financial Plan through a PowerPoint presentation.
Councilmember Hill stated it is important to plan for the future in regards to growth. It is
also important that Pearland continues to be a safe City. The City needs to figure out how
many Police Officers need to be hired per year based on the growth of the City. He stated
for him the issue is not about hiring, it is about budgeting. To have the ability in the budget
to hire as many as you need.
Discussion ensued between Council and City Manager Clay Pearson regarding the Raise
Processing Fee and the Natatorium HVAC system.
Discussion ensued between Council and Police Chief J.C. Doyle regarding the number
of Police Officers hired last year and the number to be hired this year.
Mayor Pro -Tem Ordeneaux stated he would like to find a balance to keep Pearland's
infrastructure up. Without that infrastructure, home values go down.
Councilmember Sherman stated this is a large budget that covers a lot of different issues.
He is looking at the needs of the City as a whole.
Discussion ensued between Council and City Manager Clay Pearson regarding the
importance of having a Business Analyst and Chief Information Officer.
Mayor Pro -Tem Ordeneaux stated he would like to see a study of other like size Cities,
metropolitan areas, average home value, things of that nature, and look at staffing across
the board to see how Pearland compares. He agrees with option number two, hiring two
Sergeants and three Police Officers.
Mayor Reid stated he would like to try to use a technique to address some of these issues.
Page 3 of 5 — 9/2/2014
City Manager Clay Pearson stated he has been pushing for multi-year long range
budgeting. Reality is Council needs to make a budget allocation with the various
departments and support a certain number of positions. If hiring Police Officers is
approved, Staff will start the recruitment, and hold to the City's standards. Staff will come
back to Council with an update on where the City stands regarding the recruitment of
Police Officers.
Councilmember Hill stated regarding the Police Personnel Service Options he agrees
with option number three, hiring two Sergeants and four Police Officers.
Discussion ensued between Council and Police Chief J.C. Doyle regarding the increased
time on calls with Dispatch.
Councilmember Moore stated regarding the Police Personnel Service Options he would
like to see hiring two Sergeants and four Police Officers. If that is not possible he could
compromise and go with hiring two Sergeants and three Police Officers.
Councilmember Carbone stated he agrees with option number three, hiring two
Sergeants and four Police Officers. At midyear this can be revisited at the Budget Update.
If the positions have not been filled Council can reallocate the funds to sidewalks and
streets.
A I-
ll 1:111,14
Council adjourned into Executive Session under Texas Government Code at 8:23 p.m. to
discuss the following:
EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE
1. Section 551.087 — Consultation with City Attorney — Regarding
Economic Development Negotiations.
NEW BUSINESS CONTINUED:
Council returned from Executive Session at 9:00 p.m.
Consideration and Possible Action — Regarding Economic Development Negotiations.
No Council Action taken.
Page 4 of 5 — 9/2/2014
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 9:01 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 29t' day of September, A.D.,
2014.
ATTEST:
6I�_ng
Lo i g, TR
Secr ary
T�r'_"k
Tom Reid
Mayor
Page 5 of 5 — 9/2/2014