Loading...
Minutes TC 08/06/1996MINUTES OF REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING TOWN OF TROPHY CLUB, TEXAS AUGUST 6, 1996 THE STATE OF TEXAS § COUNTY OF DENTON § The Town Council of the Town of Trophy Club, Texas met in regular Town Council meeting on Tuesday, August 6, 1996. The meeting was held within the boundaries of the Town and was open to the Public. Council Members Present: Jim Carter Doug Glaspell Marshall Engelbeck Susan H. McCabe Edwin "Cotton" Moore Council Members Absent: Edwin "Ed" Decker Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Council Member Council Member Council Member Staff Members and Guests Present: Donna Welsh Jack Jacobs Bill LeGrand David Miller Karen Sadri Diane Cockrell Barbara Allen Roger Unger Gene Hill Staff Members Absent: John Hill Pauline Shaw (8:25 Arrival) (7:25 Arrival) Town Manager Town Treasurer Public Works Director Police Chief Town Secretary Court Administrator Court Clerk District Manager of M.U.D. Candidate/Planning & Zoning Commission Town Attorney Planning & Zoning Administrator Finance Committee Members Present: John Carter Chairman of Finance Committee Bob Burns Committee Member David Garlitz Committee Member Scott Smith Committee Member Finance Committee Members Absent: Lee Pettigrew Committee Member Page 2, Regular Town Council Meeting 08/06/96 CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Carter called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. noting a quorum was now present. The meeting was delayed due to a lack of a Council quorum. He then welcomed Council and Committee Members, staff, and guests. INVOCATION. An Invocation was given by Council Member Moore. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE AMERICAN AND TEXAS FLAGS. The pledge of allegiance to the American and Texas Flags was led by Finance Committee Member Burns. WORKSHOP: TOWN COUNCIL/STAFF AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT A WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS THE PRELIMINARY BUDGET FOR THE OCTOBER 1, 1996 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 FISCAL YEAR. Revenues and expenditures for each department were discussed. No budget changes were suggested for revenues. However, Mayor Carter wants the staff to make sure the charges for permits, licenses, and fees are appropriate and comparable to those of other entities in the area. Finance Committee Member Smith noted that the Town must stay equitable about increases in property values which causes increased taxes. General Administration Department expenditures included an additional employee whose costs will be shared with the Municipal Utility District. It was noted that travel/incidentals and schools/training will be inclusive. Council Member McCabe questioned if actual quotes have been given for each type of insurance needed. In the E.M.S. Department two paramedics will be trained for firefighting and the M.U.D. will reimburse their costs. Contract labor covers the personnel for week -end shifts and vacations. Legal fees will be placed in the General Administration budget. Personnel costs increased for the Police Department due to the two grant officers. However, compensation time will be almost eliminated because of them. If Software/Support is department specific, it stays in that department's budget. Building operation expenses are an unknown for the new police building, but line item amounts were calculated on the basis of the M.U.D. building which is of comparable size and the fact of twenty-four hour service to citizens. It was determined that the Police Department could not share an above ground fuel storage tank with the M.U.D. because police cars are high performance vehicles and require 93 octane. Page 3, Regular Town Council Meeting 08/06/96 Finance Committee Chairman Carter asked how this fuel tank effected insurance and liability coverage costs. The Court Department's overtime is actual hours. The increase in Judge's and Attorney's payments is due to more frequent requests for jury trials. Currently, three monthly trial sessions are regularly conducted because of the increase of issued citations. Teen Court also has to be included in the department's expenditures this budget year. The Public Works/Parks Departments' personnel include a code enforcement officer and a M.U.D. shared receptionist/clerical support employee. Discussion ensued regarding the tremendous jump in Street repairs from the normal expense of $50,000.00 to $250,000.00. It was noted that 80% of the Town's street system needs to be replaced and that the Public Works Committee and Town Engineers are working to determine immediate and long term replacement goals. Capital expense was a new truck for code enforcement. The Parks Department was separated from Public Works in response to citizen concerns for major park improvements. Also, the Parks Committee is requesting that new and upgraded playground equipment be installed closer to the athletic fields for safety purposes. Additional parking is needed on the North side of Harmony Park. In the Planning and Zoning budget it was noted that bench marks were eliminated and that engineering fees doubled. Finance Committee Chairman, John Carter, complimented the staff on a job well done. He then reminded the Council that the $160,000.00 for insurance covered all types needed to run the Town's business. Town Treasurer, Jack Jacobs, talked about the tax rate which is currently .4111 per $100-00 assessed valuation. He suggested that it could be lowered to .3991 and take the budget shortfall from reserves. This would still leave over three months operating expenses in reserves using the monthly amount of $125,000.00 for normal operations. He then mentioned that the revenues are on the conservative side. The half cent sales and use tax is not being taken into account, and it can be used for certain items in the regular present budget. Discussion ensued over the long term value and savings to the citizens during the Town's growth and developmental expenditures. Some Council Members and staff pointed out that it would be more detrimental to lower the tax rate this year and then turn around and raise it the next time. Before the Workshop concluded Town Manager Welsh announced additional expenditure requests. one was from Roanoke businessman, Tom Wooten, who will tape Town meetings and events for airing on the public service T.V. channel (53) for an annual cost of $30,000.00. The other was from the Roanoke Page 4' Regular Town Council Meeting, 08'06/96 Library asking for a total amount of $5.000.00 because the majority of their members are Trophy Club residents. The Council agreed to giving $3'500.00 this year. Finance Committee Member' Robert Burns, requested more information about the Economic Development Corporation for the half cent sales and use tax. Mayor Carter thanked the Finance Committee and staff for all their time and hard work on this budget. SESSION: TOWN COUNCIL TO CONDUCT A CLOSED -DOOR SESSION IN AZCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 651, GOVERNMENT CODE, VERNON'S TEXAS CODES 'ANNOTATED (OPEN MEETINGS LAW), SECTION 551.074 PERSONNEL. � ' A. TO CONSIDER AN APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION. The Town Council adjourned into Closed -door session at 8:37 P.m. to consider and discuss the submitted applications for the Planning and Zoning Commisaion, 1REGULAR OWN COUNCIL TO RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION TO TAKE NECESSARY ACTION REGARDING MATTERS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED -DOOR SESSION PURSUANT TO AGENDA ITEM A. The Town Council reconvened into regular session at 9:27 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Glaspell made a motion to appoint Gene Hill to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council Member Moore seconded; motion passed unanimously. Newly appointed Commissioner Hill thanked the Council and expressed his gratitude for being allowed to serve the Town again. ADJOURN. Council Member McCabe made o motion Co adjourn at 8:28 p.m. Council Member Moore seconded; motion paged unanimously. The next regular meeting is Tuesday' August 20th. TOWN SECRETARY