2000-08-14 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTESMINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON AUGUST 14, 2000, AT 7:00 P.M., IN THE COUNCIL
CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND; TEXAS.
The meeting was called to order with the following present:
Mayor
Mayor Pro -Tem
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
City Manager
City Attorney
City Secretary
Absent: Councilmember Larry Wilkins.
Tom Reid
Klaus Seeger
Helen Beckman
Woody Owens
Larry Marcott
Glen Erwin
Darrin Coker
Young Lorfing
Others in attendance: Deputy City Manager Alan Mueller; Manager of Administrative
Support Tobin Maples; Police Chief J.C. Doyle; City Engineer John Hargrove; Community
Relations Liaison Phibi Vassallos; Finance Director Jim Causey; Parks and Recreation
Director Ed Hersh; Project Manager Michael Ross; Assistant City Attorney Nghiem Doan;
Court Coordinator Cheryl Garcia.
CALL TO ORDER
PURPOSE OF HEARING - 2000-2001 BUDGET
To consider the City of Pearland's Budget for Fiscal Year 2000-2001. Mr. Glen Erwin, City
Manager.
STAFF REVIEW OF PROPOSED BUDGET
City Manager, Glen Erwin, presented the proposed budget for 2000-2001 and stated that
during the current fiscal year, Staff and Council have set both long-term and short-term
goals. These goals were established to insure that we continue to move toward our shared
vision of what we all want Pearland to become. He further stated the assessed value. This
years assessed value is $157,071,687. The assessed value generates ad valorem tax
dollars which is a large part of the revenue stream. The projected General Fund revenues
this year are $19,973,675 or $1,534,347 greater than last year. The other major fund is
the Water and Sewer Fund. Revenues in this fund are expected to increase by 16% to
$8,067,374 which is $1,768,676 over last year's revenues. Most of this increase is
attributable to an increasing customer base and a proposed 8% increase in water and
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sewer rates. Mr. Erwin further stated in the Economic Development Fund, we are
projecting revenues of $2,253,444. In the current year and in the proposed budget,
revenues and expenses are balanced. At the end of the year revenues will more than
likely exceed expenses and the surplus funds will be moved to a "new industry incentive
account to be used to continue the program of incentives and recruitment of industry and
business to Pearland. In closing he stated the Staff believes this proposed budget is
realistic and takes in account the financial capabilities of the citizens of Pearland. It is a
workable conservative document that will allow us to continue important initiatives we have
started and to begin new programs to achieve the goals we have set together. In this
budget the operational expenses and staff additions have been held to a minimum while
funding high priority capital, equipment, and maintenance purchases. The budget is
balanced, the goals of Council have been addressed and the proposed tax rate is $.695
per $100 of property valuation. Mr. Erwin thanked the Mayor and Council for the
opportunity to make his presentation.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Alan Eddy, 2824 Piper Road, addressed Council and stated that he has talked to 17 of the
24 residents on his street and of those he obtained signatures from 16 of them, stating that
they are interested in connecting to water or sewer. There are four wells on the street that
are going salty or dry. Mr. Eddy further stated that sewer service would be the biggest help
to him and his future plans to expand his house. He also stated the flooding in his area
has gotten better since they installed the drain across Fite Road. In closing he stated he
would appreciate it if this was considered in the new budget.
Mike Murphy, 3011 Piper Road, addressed Council and stated he is also interested in
connecting on to water and sewer when it is available in his area. Mr. Murphy further
stated that one of his neighbors is wanting to built a new home in the neighborhood and
by having water and sewer available it would greatly improve the area and promote growth
as well.
Stella Roberts, 2918 Green Tee, addressed Council and stated she is pleased to see that
we are giving the city workers raises. We have a lot of good employees that deserve a
good wage, however, she is concerned that the City only has one Code Enforcement
Officer. She further stated that she feels he needs more help and is concerned with the
enforcement of the ordinances that are currently in effect. She also expressed her
concerns about the City not having a full-time, trained, Urban Forester. Mrs. Roberts
stated that she agreed with Councilmember Beckman, the City needs a already seasoned
professional, who can take care of a very important asset of this community.
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COUNCIUSTAFF DISCUSSION
Mayor Pro -Tem Seeger and City Manager briefly discussed sales tax. Mr. Erwin stated the
revenues that were projected are conservative with that particular revenue stream because
this year a 10% increase was projected and that hasn't happened. It appears to attributed
to people shopping on the Internet, and wanted to be careful and not over estimate the
sales tax revenue.
City Manager reported that the Staff will be looking into the Piper Road issue Mr. Eddy
addressed Council on.
Councilmember Marcott asked if the City still had the Urban Forester Grant?
City Manager Glen Erwin reported that the grant expired this year.
Mayor Reid gave a brief overview of the grant.
Councilmember Owens stated that he noticed that there was $50,000 in the budget to
conduct a salary study, and asked if there is any of this type of salary information available
from the Texas Municipal League.
City Manager, Glen Erwin stated the City has been compiling several different studies
regarding salaries over the past year. Mr. Erwin explained it is not just a single issue study.
It will also be used to establish a matrix that can be used to progress people through the
salary ranges and scales. He further stated we have had it in the past and have not
adhered to it very close. Once individuals are moved around and get out of the percentage
of increase then the whole matrix is thrown out.
Councilmember Owens also stated a projected increase in the new budgets revenue of
$1.8 million which does not include the water and sewer.
City Manager stated that the General Fund revenues will increase $1,534,347 and Water
and Sewer is $1.7 million.
Councilmember Owens stated he is kind of "bumfuzzled" that the City has a budget this
size and have an open process for the people to participate in publicly and we only had
three individuals speak, and throughout the course of time, we have so many talk about
how the budget is being spent.
Mayor Reid stated that could be a positive, the citizens realize they get the best "bang for
their buck."
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City Manager, Glen Erwin stated that we look forward to any participation from our citizens
in this process and he has taken down the citizen's comments from this public hearing and
assured the Mayor and Council that the comments will be reviewed.
Councilmember Owens verified with the City Manager that the 8% water and sewer fee
increase is accounted for in the revenues that are projected.
Mayor Reid also commented that a lot of people do not realize that the City is non-profit
and the City is not in the business to make money. The City takes in just enough for
operations and maintenance of the City. He further commented if the City could do less
we would ask for less money, but right now we are in a growth pattern.
City Manager, Glen Erwin, gave a brief overview of the ad valorem tax which is part of the
General fund and the fee for service, water and sewer fees which is the Enterprise Fund
and how the two funds work.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 281 day of Au ust , A.D., 2000.
Tom Reid
ATTEST: Mayor
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