MINUTES

WATAUGA CITY COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING

MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2005

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 7101 WHITLEY ROAD

6:30 P.M.

 

The City Council of the City of Watauga, Texas convened in pre-council at 6:31 p.m. and in special session at 6:38 p.m. Monday, August 8, 2005 with the following members present:

 

            Henry J. Jeffries          Mayor

            Ernest P. Koontz         Mayor Pro Tem

            Richard Helmick         Council Member

            Mike Steele                 Council Member

            Pete Beierschmitt        Council Member

            Seth Thomas               Council Member

            Lee Griffin                  Council Member

            Jerry Adams                Council Member

and

            Kerry Lacy                  City Manager

            Nancy J. Meadows     City Secretary

 

            City Attorney Mark G. Daniel was not required to attend this meeting.

 

PRE-COUNCIL:

 

Mayor Jeffries called the pre-council meeting to order.

 

CITIZEN’S OPEN FORUM:

 

Mr. Rick Devoss of 6628 Ridgewood, Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Board, spoke regarding the proposed amendments to the fence ordinance, which the Citizens Advisory Board had submitted to the City Council.  

 

Mrs. Neysa Thompson of 6544 Lyndale, a member of the Citizens Advisory Board, also spoke in regards to the proposed amendments to the fence ordinance.  She explained that the Citizens Advisory Board was just trying to provide for fence repairs, as the ordinance did not currently do that.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT BY CITY COUNCIL IN RESPONSE TO CITIZEN’S OPEN FORUM:

 

None.

 

DISCUSSION OF CITY COUNCIL AGENDA:

 

None.

 

CALL TO ORDER:

 

Mayor Jeffries called the meeting to order at 6:38 p.m.

 

INVOCATION:

 

Council Member Steele gave the Invocation.

 

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG:

 

Mayor Jeffries led the Pledge to the Flag.

 

TEXAS PLEDGE: - “Honor the Texas Flag:  I pledge allegiance to Thee, Texas, one and indivisible”

 

Mayor Jeffries led the Pledge to the Texas Flag.

 

PUBLIC HEARING:

 

1.      This Public Hearing is being held for Citizen input on the Proposed Budget for the Crime Control and Prevention District for the 2005-06 Fiscal Year

 

Mayor Jeffries recessed the special meeting at 6:40 p.m. and opened the public hearing.  Mayor Jeffries explained the purpose of this public hearing was to receive citizen input on the proposed budget for the Crime Control and Prevention District for the 2005-2006 Fiscal Year.

 

With there being no comments regarding the budget, Mayor Jeffries closed the public hearing and reconvened the special session at 6:41 p.m.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

1.      Discussion and action on approval of the proposed budget for the Crime Control and Prevention District for the 2005-06 Fiscal Year

 

Council Member Griffin moved for adoption of the proposed budget for the Crime Control and Prevention District for the 2005-2006 Fiscal Year.  Council Member Steele seconded the motion, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

AYES:  Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Helmick, Koontz, Beierschmitt, Adams

NOES:  None

 

2.      Discussion and action to place a proposal to adopt a tax rate of $.580763 per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 on the September 12, 2005 City Council agenda as an action item

 

Council Member Koontz moved to place a proposal to adopt a tax rate of $.580763 per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 on the September 12, 2005 City Council agenda as an action item.  Council Member Beierschmitt seconded the motion, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

AYES:  Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Helmick, Koontz, Beierschmitt, Adams

NOES:  None

 

3.      Discussion and action on setting public hearings on the proposed tax rate of $.580763 per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 on August 22, 2005 during the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. and on August 29, 2005 at a Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers

 

Council Member Beierschmitt moved to set public hearings on the proposed tax rate of $.580763 per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2005-2006 on August 22, 2005 during the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. and on August 29, 2005 at a Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.  Council Member Steele seconded the motion, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

AYES:  Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Helmick, Koontz, Beierschmitt, Adams

NOES:  None

 

4.      Discussion and action on approval of changing the group health and medical insurance provider from Aetna to Unicare and authorization for the Mayor to sign the appropriate documents needed to change providers, effective October 1, 2005

 

Council Member Griffin moved for approval of changing the group health and medical insurance provider from Aetna to Unicare and authorization for the Mayor to sign the appropriate documents needed to change providers, effective October 1, 2005.  Council Member Steele seconded the motion, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

AYES:  Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Helmick, Koontz, Beierschmitt, Adams

NOES:  None

 

5.      Discussion and action on approval to renew insurance coverage with VSP for Vision Coverage and Aetna for Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability Insurance, effective October 1, 2005

 

Council Member Beierschmitt moved approval to authorize the City Manager to renew insurance coverage with VSP for Vision Coverage and Aetna for Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability Insurance, effective October 1, 2005 and to authorize the Mayor to sign the documents.  Council Member Adams seconded the motion, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

AYES:  Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Helmick, Koontz, Beierschmitt, Adams

NOES:  None

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

 

The City Council may announce that they will go into executive session pursuant to chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code to discuss any matter as specifically listed on this agenda and/or as permitted by chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.

 

Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, Mayor Jeffries will announce that the City Council will convene in executive session (closed session) in the Conference Room, 7101 Whitley Road, as follows:

 

1. The City Council will convene in executive session pursuant to the (Open Meetings Act), Government Code, Section 551.074, Personnel Matters, to deliberate the appointment of a Director of Public Safety.

 

      Mayor Jeffries recessed the special session at 6:55 p.m. and the City Council convened in Executive Session in the Conference Room.

 

The City Council will return to open session in the City Council Chambers for possible discussion and action as a result of the Executive Session as follows:

 

1.      Discussion and action as a result of the executive session in regards to personnel matters to deliberate the appointment of a Director of Public Safety

 

      Mayor Jeffries reconvened the special meeting at 7:10 p.m. with all members present.

 

Council Member Adams moved approval of the City Manager’s appointment of Howard Bruce Ure to the position of Public Safety Director for the City of Watauga, at a starting salary of $95,000 per year, with a starting date of September 6, 2005.  Council Member Steele seconded the motion, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

AYES:  Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Helmick, Koontz, Beierschmitt, Adams

NOES:  None

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

With there being no further business to conduct at this time, Council Member Koontz made a motion to adjourn.  Council Member Beierschmitt seconded the motion, which prevailed by the following vote:

 

AYES:  Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Helmick, Koontz, Beierschmitt, Adams

NOES:  None

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:14 p.m.

 

APPROVED:       this ________ day of ___________________ 2005.

 

SIGNED:              this ________ day of ___________________ 2005.

 

                                                                        APPROVED:

 

 

 

                                                                        ____________________

                                                                        Henry J. Jeffries, Mayor

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

____________________________

Nancy J. Meadows, City Secretary