2019-09-03 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 3, 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 6:20 p.m. with the following present:
Mayor Pro -Tem David J. Little
Councilmember Luke Orlando
Councilmember Derrick Reed
Councilmember Adrian Hernandez
Councilmember Trent Perez
Councilmember Gary Moore
Councilmember Woody Owens
City Manager Clay Pearson
City Attorney Darrin Coker
Interim City Secretary Maria Rodriguez
Absent: Mayor Tom Reid and Councilmember Perez.
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, Johnny Spires
Police Chief, Robert Upton Director of Engineering and Capital Projects, Clarence Wittwer
Director of Public Works, Andrea Brinkley Assistant Director of Public Works, Joel Hardy
Grants — Special Projects Administrator, Jennifer Huhn Court,Administrator, Daniel McGhinnis
Chief Information Officer and Lawrence Provins Deputy City Aw6rney.; ,
PUBLIC HEARING:
Public Hearing on the Proposed 2019 Tax Rate for the 2019-2020 Budget.
STAFF REVIEW:
Assistant Director of Finance John McCarter presented to Council on the 2019-2020 proposed
Tax Rate and stated this is the First Public Hearing for the Tax Rate.
CITIZEN COMMENTS: None.
COUNCILISTAFF DISCUSSION:
Councilmember Owens stated there is concern about the recurring cost for staff that are joining
the City in the middle of the year which will be an additional cost once the new Fiscal Year
starts. He further stated the cost of Operations and Maintenance are going up yearly also and
he does not see a savings. Councilmember Owens stated he would like staff to analyze where
reductions can occur and identify duplication of expenses.
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Councilmember Moore stated the tax rate keeps going up yearly and unnecessary costs need to
be flushed out to reduce the amount of tax rate associated with improvements. He further
stated in the past, projects have been done without an increase in the tax rate.
Councilmember Hernandez stated it would be good to have the potential rate changes from
Pearland Independent School District in front of Council so that a whole picture can be looked at
when deciding on the tax rate.
Councilmember Reed stated the City needs money to fund projects but does not know what
project is unable to be funded at the current effective rate. He further stated the proposal shows
a decrease in the tax rate in the year 2030 and asked staff for an explanation.
City Manager Clay Pearson stated in the year 2030 the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #2
falls off and all that value comes back to the City to help with debt service.
Conversation ensued between Councilmember Moore, Assistant Finance Director John
McCarter and City Manager Clay Pearson regarding taxable value on homes.
ADJOURNMENT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING
Meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 131h day of Janu�ar(y,,'A.D., 2020.
Tom Reid
Mayor
ATTEST:..........
Maria Rodriguez
Interim City Secretary
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