2019-09-09 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES - TAX RATEMINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND,
TEXAS, HELD ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2019, AT 6:15 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 6:18 p.m. with the following present:
Mayor
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
City Manager
City Attorney
Interim City Secretary
Tom Reid
Luke Orlando
Adrian Hernandez
Trent Perez
Gary Moore
Woody Owens
Clay Pearson
Darrin Coker
Maria Rodriguez
Absent: Mayor Pro -Tem Little and Councilmember Derrick Reed.
Others in attendance: Jon Branson Deputy City Manager, Matt Buchanan Director of EDC, Trent
Epperson Assistant City Manager, Michelle Graham Director of Human Resources, John
McDonald Assistant Director of Finance, John McCarter Budget & Procurement Manager, Chris
Orlea Director of Parks and Recreation, Cynthia Pearson Director of Finance, Vance Riley Fire
Chief, Johnny Spires Police Chief, Clarence Wittwer Director of Public Works, Joel Hardy Grants
— Special Projects Administrator, Skipper Jones Assistant Director of Capital Projects, Joshua
Lee Director of Communications, Daniel McGhinnis Chief Information Officer and Lawrence
Provins Deputy City Attorney.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Public Hearing on the Proposed 2019 Tax Rate for the 2019-2020 Budget.
STAFF REVIEW
City Manager Clay Pearson stated this is the second required Public Hearing for the Tax Rate for
the 2019-2020 Budget.
Assistant Director of Finance John McCarter presented to Council on the proposed Tax Rate,
including taxable values and historical tax rates.
CITIZEN COMMENTS:
Jeff Hunkele, 3912 Oakwood Drive North, addressed Council and spoke in regard to property
taxes.
Rebecca Dunaway, 2302 Cunningham, addressed Council and spoke regarding flooding in her
subdivision and opposition to the new tax rate.
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COUNCIL/STAFF DISCUSSION: m
Councilmember Orlando stated he can understand the frustration of taxes going up and as
Councilmembers it is a duty to uphold the voting of the citizens. He further stated all the
Propositions that went to vote were approved and Council is legally obligated to uphold those
votes. Councilmember Orlando stated that when the Propositions were presented for voter
approval it was printed in the paper the passing of the Propositions would come with an increase
in tax rate.
Councilmember Perez spoke regarding the tax rate in comparison to Cities the size of Pearland
and how those rates effect the prices of homes and revenue. He further stated the desire is to
improve the City as the residents have requested but the funds to do those upgrades has to come
from the General Funds, which are made up in part by property taxes. Councilmember Perez
stated that of all the options to fund the City, this is the fairest way.
Councilmember Hernandez stated the amounts approved by Council for projects are the
maximum allowable and not the amount that will get spent. He further stated that if the City does
not accept the funds from different entities for projects the City loses those opportunities.
Councilmember Hernandez stated some projects and improvements to the City save residents
money in the long run by maintaining and keeping the City up to state requirements.
Conversation ensued between Councilmember Hernandez and Deputy City Manager Jon
Branson regarding the proposed addition of a Billing Specialist within the Budget.
Conversation ensued between Councilmember Moore and City Manager Clay Pearson regarding
the estimated roll out of the tax rate in the coming years.
Councilmember Moore stated any time that there is a Bond election there is a possible tax rate
increase. He further stated Council is aware and is keeping close watch on not allowing the tax
rate to get out of hand.
Councilmember Owens stated there are two options for the tax rate, the rollback rate and the
effective rate, which he then explained the differences. He further spoke regarding his desire to
look at the effective tax rate when reviewing the budget. Councilmember Owens stated the
budget can be looked at and reworked to still include necessary additions and remove others not
deemed as needed.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 25th day of November, A.D., 2019.
om Reid
Mayor
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ATTEST:
Maria Rodriguez.
Interim City Secretary
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