MINUTES
WATAUGA CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2008
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER, 7105 WHITLEY ROAD
6:30 P.M.
The City Council of the City of Watauga, Texas convened in pre-council at 6:30 p.m. and in regular session at 6:47 p.m. with the following members present:
Henry J. Jeffries Mayor
Jerry Adams Mayor Pro Tem
Lee Griffin Council Member
Seth Thomas Council Member
Mike Steele Council Member
Ernest P. Koontz Council Member
Roy Meyers Council Member
and
Kerry Lacy City Manager
Mark G. Daniel City Attorney
Daniela Place City Secretary
Scott Neils Finance Director
Johnnie Reagan Director of Public Works
Rande Benjamin Police Chief
Bill Crawford Fire/EMS Chief
Lana Ewell Library Director
Sal Torres Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services
with
Council Member Helmick absent. Council Member Griffin arriving at 6:46 p.m.
REPORTS
1. Monthly Financial Report, Scott Neils, Finance Director
Scott Neils, Director of Finance, provided the financial Report for the month ending July 2008.
2. Minutes of Various Boards and Commissions
Minutes were provided in the Packet.
3. Marty Wieder, Economic Development Consultant, PowerPoint presentation on Economic Development activities in the City of Watauga.
Marty Wieder gave a PowerPoint presentation on Economic Development activities in the City of Watauga.
There was no discussion of the City Council agenda.
CITIZEN’S OPEN FORUM
There were no citizen presentations made.
PUBLIC COMMENT BY COUNCIL IN
RESPONSE TO CITIZEN’S OPEN FORUM
None.
Mayor Jeffries called the meeting to order at 6:47 p.m.
INVOCATION
Council Member Steele gave the invocation.
PLEDGE TO THE FLAG AND THE
TEXAS FLAG
Mayor Jeffries led the pledge to the Flag and the Texas Flag.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS
CONSTITUTED IN PRE-COUNCIL MEETING
Council Member Koontz made a motion to approve the agenda as constituted in the pre-council meeting. The motion was seconded by Council Member Steele and passed as follows:
AYES: Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Koontz, Meyers, Adams
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Helmick
PRESENTATIONS
1. Distinguished Budget Presentation
Mayor Jeffries presented the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award to Scott Neils, Director of Finance
CONSENT AGENDA
Council Member Koontz made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded by Council Member Steele and passed as follows:
AYES: Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Koontz, Meyers, Adams
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Helmick
The consent agenda was approved as follows:
1. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes of July 28, 2008
2. Approval of Special City Council Meeting Minutes of August 6, 2008
3. Approval of Special City Council Meeting Minutes of August 11, 2008
4. Approval of Mayor’s Appointments of Council Liaisons to various City Boards and Commissions
5. Approval of a Resolution to amend Section 2 (c) of the Guidelines and Fees for use of specific facilities at the Recreation and Community Center, Capp Smith Park and the Foster Village Recreation Center
The Resolution as approved carries the following caption:
CITY OF WATAUGA, TEXAS
RESOLUTION NO. 08-08-25-01
A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WATAUGA, TEXAS AMENDING GUIDELINES AND FEES FOR WATAUGA RECREATION CENTER, CAPP SMITH PARK FACILITIES, AND FOSTER VILLAGE RECREATION CENTER; SPECIFICALLY SECTION 2 (c) OF PAGE TWO RELATING TO FEES AT CAPP SMITH PARK; PROVIDING THAT ALL RESOLUTIONS IN CONFLICT HEREWITH ARE HEREBY REPEALED TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
6. Approval of awarding bids to Dirt Trucking Company as the primary supplier for flexible base #4 crushed stone, crushed rock ¾”, topsoil, manufactured sand and rock rubble with Texas Sand and Gravel being the primary supplier of bedding or cushion sand as well as Crouch Sand and Gravel being the secondary supplier of flexible base #4 crushed stone, topsoil, bedding or cushion sand and rock rubble with Texas Sand and Gravel being the secondary supplier of crushed rock ¾” and manufactured sand for the City of Watauga, at an estimated expense of $72,305.00.
7. Approval of a proposed Ordinance that gives approval to the negotiated Resolution between the ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE and ATMOS ENERGY CORP. MID-TEX DIVISION regarding the Company’s rate review mechanism filing in all cities exercising original jurisdiction; declaring existing rates to be unreasonable; adopting tariffs that reflect rate adjustments consistent with the negotiated settlement and finding the rates to be set by the attached tariffs to be just and reasonable and approving Atmos’ Proof of Revenues
The Ordinance as approved carries the following caption:
CITY OF WATAUGA, TEXAS
ORDINANCE NO. 1384
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WATAUGA, TEXAS (“CITY”) APPROVING A NEGOTIATED RESOLUTION BETWEEN THE ATMOS CITIES STEERING COMMITTEE AND ATMOS ENERGY CORP., MID-TEX DIVISION (“ATMOS MID-TEX” OR “THE COMPANY”) REGARDING THE COMPANY’S RATE REVIEW MECHANISM FILING IN ALL CITIES EXERCISING ORIGINAL JURISDICTION; DECLARING EXISTING RATES TO BE UNREASONABLE; ADOPTING TARIFFS THAT REFLECT RATE ADJUSTMENTS CONSISTENT WITH THE NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT AND FINDING THE RATES TO BE JUST AND REASONABLE; APPROVING ATMOS’ PROOF OF REVENUES; ADOPTING A SAVINGS CLAUSE; DETERMINING THAT THIS ORDINANCE WAS PASSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT; DECLARING DELIVERY OF THIS ORDINANCE TO THE COMPANY AND LEGAL COUNSEL
PUBLIC HEARING
1. Hold a Public Hearing on the Watauga Parks Development Corporation Budget. This public hearing is being held for citizen input on the Watauga Parks Development Corporation Proposed Budget for 2008-2009 Fiscal Year
Mayor Jeffries opened the public hearing at 6:53 p.m.
City Manager Kerry Lacy reported that the proposed expenses for the 2008-2009 fiscal year budget are $1,089,875.00, and an ending projected fund balance of $1,243,518.00 for the Parks Development Corporation operating fund. The capital projects fund has $42,000.00 of total expenses proposed with an ending fund balance of $680,236.00 and the debt service funds have $220,946.00 in expenses and $259,640.00 for a year-end fund balance.
No one came forward to speak regarding the budget.
2. Hold a Public Hearing on the City of Watauga proposed budget. This public hearing is being held for citizen input on the proposed budget for Fiscal Year October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009
City Manager Kerry Lacy reported estimated beginning fund balance for an all funds total $17,030,396.00 plus estimated revenues of $25,739,556.00 for all funds total available resources of $42,769,952.00 for all funds for fiscal year 2008-2009. Total expenditures for all funds budget total $26,599,860.00 for an estimated ending fund balance of $16,170,092.00.
No one came forward to speak during the public hearing.
3. Hold a Public Hearing on a proposed Tax Rate of $0.580763 per $100.00 valuation for Tax Year 2008 which rate would increase Tax Revenue more than taxes imposed during the previous year
City Manager Kerry Lacy reported that the City of Watauga is proposing a property tax rate of $0.580763 per $100.00 valuation, which is the same rate as last year. Mr. Lacy explained that the rate would result in an increase in total tax revenues from properties on the tax roll during the prior year by 1.72%. Individual property taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of the property.
No one came forward to speak during the public hearing.
Mayor Jeffries closed the public hearings at 6:57 p.m.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion and action, if any, in relation to the proposed City of Watauga Budget for Fiscal Year 2008-09 with proposed expenditures estimated at $26,599,860.00 as discussed in the public hearing
Council Member Koontz made a motion to take no action. The motion was seconded by Council Member Thomas and passed as follows:
AYES: Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Koontz, Meyers, Adams
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Helmick
2. Discussion and action, if any, in relation to the proposed tax rate discussed during the public hearing
Council Member Koontz made a motion to take no action. The motion was seconded by Council Member Thomas and passed as follows:
AYES: Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Koontz, Meyers, Adams
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Helmick
EXECUTIVE SESSION
At 7:02 p.m. Mayor Jeffries announced that the City Council would convene in executive session pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, Section 551.087 Deliberations regarding Economic Development Negotiations:
1. To discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; or
2. To deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described by Subdivision 1.
Items of Executive Session Discussion or Deliberation:
Discussion and action as a result of the executive session in regards to deliberation regarding Economic Development Negotiations:
At 7:31 p.m. the City Council reconvened in regular session and took the following action:
1. To discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; or
2. To deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described by Subdivision 1.
Items of Executive Session Discussion or Deliberation:
Council Member Koontz made a motion to take no action. The motion was seconded by Council Member Steele and passed as follows:
AYES: Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Koontz, Meyers, Adams
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Helmick
Council Member Koontz made a motion to have the City Manager receive proposals and get back to the Council regarding Subdivision 1 being 6.4 acres on Watauga Road. The motion was seconded by Council Member Thomas and passed as follows:
AYES: Griffin, Thomas, Steele, Koontz, Meyers, Adams
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Helmick
ADJOURNMENT
There was no further business and the meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
APPROVED: this _____________day of _______________ 2008.
SIGNED: this_____________day of ________________2008.
APPROVED:
ATTEST:
______________________
Henry J. Jeffries, Mayor
________________________
Daniela Place, City Secretary