1988-08-11 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES92
MHMS OF A PUBLIC BEARUG OF 7M CITY COIR M OF 7tE CITY OF PEARIAM, TEXAS, HELD
ON AUGUST 11, 1988, AT 7:30 P. M. IN THE CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND,
TEXAS
The hearing was called to order with the following present:
Mayor
Tom Reid
Councilmember/Mayor Pro Tem Stella Roberts
Councilmember William Wolff
Councilmember Richard Tetens
Councilmember David Smith
City Manager Ronald J. Wicker
Assistant City Manager Donald Birkner
Finance Director Janet Eastburn
City Secretary Kay Krouse
Absent from the hearing: Councilmember James Bost
NUMBER OF PERSONS SIGNING ATTENDANCE REGISTER: 21
PURPOSE OF THE HEARING:
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 1988, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER
30, 1989
City Manager Ron Wicker gave the following background information on how this year's
budget is proposed as of this date:
The Proposed 1988-89 Budget is based on a tax rate of 81V. This is presently 1.5¢
less than the rollback rate of 82.50 calculated by the tax collector.
This Proposed Budget, as presented, still has two major issues that are not finally
addressed. These issues are:
1. What do we do about tax collections for the City? The proposed budget, as
presented, reflects monies that will provide for a contract between the City of
Pearland and Pearland Independent School District for joint tax collections.
No agreement has been signed but it is in draft stages to be considered in the
immediate future and should amount to a savings of between $50,000 and $70,000
a year.
2. The Proposed Budget is based on our hauling our solid waste to a landfill owned
by others. Again, we are currently negotiating a contract for hauling our
waste, and this signed agreement should be a reality shortly.
I think there have been some questions raised relative to the proceeding with the
budget hearings even though these questions have not yet been answered. This budget
is a proposed budget until adopted on second reading by the Pearland City Council.
The City Council can and may make numerous changes to this Proposed Budget.
I think it is important to note that the City Council and Staff have workshopped this
budget in at least eight different meetings, resulting in many hours spent by both
the City Council and Staff.
I can personally attest that we have spent more time working on this budget this year
than any budgets I have been associated with in the past 25 years.
The major changes in this Proposed Budget are as follows:
1. In every area, where possible, employees who worked for both General Fund
account and the Enterprise Fund account have their salaries and benefits split
between both areas.
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2. The Sanitation Department this year is proposed as an Enterprise Fund which
means it will be standing on its own like the Water & Sewer Department and
paying for its operation out of its own revenues. This is primarily because we
are nearing completion of our landfill in the City of Manvel and will be
required to haul to someone else's permitted landfill. To accomplish this, the
Proposed Budget will require a rate increase of $1.50 per customer or an
increase from $7.50 per month to $9.00 per month.
3. This Proposed Budget reflects a further reduction in staff levels by ten
employees. Two of these positions we have managed to vacate through normal
attrition. The remaining eight impact existing employees. The proposed
reduction in staff has affected the following departments:
Engineering - two
employees
Personnel - one
employee
Tax - two
employees
Inspection - one
employee
Parks - one
employee
Animal Control -
1/2 employee
City Garage - 1/2
employee
Sanitation - one
employee
Public Works - one employee
4. This Proposed Budget reflects the need for increases in both Water & Sewer
Rates. As you know, at a recent Council meeting, consideration and action was
taken by the City Council in increasing the Sanitation and Water & Sewer
Rates. These are necessary for the proper balance of the Enterprise Fund.
Mr. Wicker projected on the screen some 15 charts and graphs which provided some
statistical information on the proposed budget.
Mr. Wicker then projected on the screen each page of the line item budget and
answered questions from the audience.
The following individuals had comments and questions concerning the financial
condition and operations of the City:
1. Margaret Brown, 2701 Shakespeare
2. Nina McCart, 2306 Halbert
3. Myra Harr -ell, 1814 Winding Creek
4. Nina Sanders, 2703 Robinhood
The following individuals expressed their views on areas in the proposed budget they
felt needed to be addressed:
1. Jim DeShazer, 2203 Cedar
2. Carlton McComb, 3914 Shadycrest
3. Steve Jankowski, 3412 Windsor
4. David S. Miller, 4002 Shadycrest
COMPLETE TAPE OF HEARING IS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY SECRETARY
The meeting adjourned at 11:55 P. M.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this day of
A. D., 1988.
ATTEST:
City Se tary