MINUTES
City Council
Regular Meeting
100 East Main Street, Suite 500
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 7:30 PM
1. Call to Order. Mayor Jeff Coleman called the meeting
to order at 7:31 p.m. Councilmembers Wayne Cooper, Mike Marsh, Darelle White,
Starlet Sattler, and Victor Gonzales were in attendance. City employees
attending: Lauri Gillam, Interim City Manager; Floyd Akers, City Attorney; Joe
Carpenter, City Engineer; Trey Fletcher, Development Services Director; Lori
Crow, Public Information Officer; Beth Davis, Finance Director; Amy Good,
Assistant Finance Director; Tracy Hibbs, Utility Billing Operations Manager;
Karen Thompson, City Secretary; Shawn Brown, Police Sergeant.
2. Opening.
A. Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States
of America: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,
and to the republic for which it stands: one nation under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.
B. Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas State Flag: Honor
the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one
and indivisible.
Mayor Coleman led those in attendance in reciting the Pledge
of Allegiance to the flag of the United States and of Texas.
Items were addressed in the order as recorded in the
minutes.
3. Presentations.
A. Appreciation presentation for Jay Wiles, outgoing student member of the
Parks and Recreation Commission. Mayor Coleman provided information
on the student member position on the Parks and Recreation Commission. He
congratulated Mr. Wiles on his graduation from high school and thanked him for
his service to the City. Mayor Coleman presented a certificate of appreciation
and small gift to Mr. Wiles.
B. Proclamation declaring the week of June 7 -13, 2009,
as the Storehouse Network Week in the City of Pflugerville. Mayor Coleman
provided information on the efforts of Jack and Sandra Cochrun of the
Storehouse food pantry. Mr. Cochrun thanked the Pflugerville community for being
champions of their work and called for more assistance, as the numbers of those
in need is escalating. The May 22, 2009, ABC News clip featuring Jack and
Sandra Cochrun as AmeriCANS, ordinary people committing extraordinary acts of
kindness and bravery, was played. Mayor Coleman then read the proclamation
declaring the week of June 7-13, 2009, as the Storehouse Network Week and
presented the proclamation to Mr. and Mrs. Cochrun.
4. Introductions and action.
A. Conduct introductions of candidates for student member of the Parks and
Recreation Commission and consider action to make appointment.
Sheyda Aboii, Azeen Anjum, and Matthew Evans introduced
themselves and answered questions of the City Council.
Mr. Marsh made a motion to appoint Sheyda Aboii to the Parks
and Recreation Commission. Mr. Cooper seconded the motion. All voted in
favor. The motion carried.
Mr. Cooper commented that he wished that all of them could
be on the Commission. He commended the candidates for their interest in the
environment and the community. Mayor Coleman thanked all of the candidates for
applying and asked them to please continue working in the community.
5. Public Comment. There were no persons in
attendance that requested to speak under the Public Comment item.
6. Approval of Minutes.
A. Approval of the minutes of the May 19, 2009,
Worksession and Special Meeting; and May 26, 2009, Worksession and Regular
Meeting.
Mr. Gonzales made a motion to approve the minutes. Mr.
White seconded the motion. Mayor Coleman asked for a modification to the May
26, 2009, Regular Meeting Minutes, to clarify on page 5 that he did not commit
to staying in the plan, but instead indicated no intentions of getting out of
the plan. Mr. Gonzales made a modified motion to approve the minutes with the amendment
to page 5 regarding Mr. Coleman?s statement. Mr. White seconded the modified motion.
All voted in favor. The motion carried.
7. Discuss and consider action.
A. Discuss and consider action regarding the proposed
Capital Budget for FY 2010 and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2010 ? 2014.
Mr. Carpenter resumed review of the CIP projects from the June 9, 2009, worksession
and answered questions of the City Council. Mr. Fletcher also provided input.
Ms. Gillam explained that the debt service amount for the tax rate must be
decided tonight and that they would be authorizing Travis County to collect the
tax to cover the proposed debt. She clarified that the action tonight would
not authorize the bonds.
Mr. Fletcher provided information on the 5-year CIP. Mayor
Coleman asked the City Council, with the current fiscal constraints, if they
should delay the library expansion project a year. Ms. Gillam reported on
lower appraised values than projected from Travis County and the effects to the
5-year pro forma. She indicated concerns for 2011 and 2012 with the additional
operating costs for the library. Mayor Coleman asked regarding the cost of
debt service. Ms. Davis stated that they would issue bonds with just an
interest payment in the first year of $53,000, but the annual payment would be $139,000
after that. Mayor Coleman indicated concerns for future effects to the budget,
noting that they would need to equip the library out of the general fund. He
stated that this puts pressure on reducing taxes. Discussion followed
regarding delaying the bond issue for the library expansion project.
Mr. Cooper recommended going forward with design of the
project. Mr. Carpenter indicated that they have more than enough money to
complete the design, with the design estimated at $1 million and the
construction estimated at $6 million. He stated that they currently have $3
million issued for the project. Mayor Coleman stated that they could start
building with the remaining $2 million in 2010 if things looked okay. Mr. Carpenter
indicated agreement. Mayor Coleman contended that the City Council does not
have to include the additional $2 million for the library expansion project
tonight.
Ms. Gillam explained that they have flexibility in the timing
of issuing the bonds, which will give them more time to consider the budget effects
for the library. Council was in agreement to not include an additional
$2,000,000 for the library expansion in this year?s debt service.
Mr. Fletcher and Ms. Gillam answered questions regarding the
CIP projects that are funded through the operating budget. Mr. Cooper noted that
some information is missing on the park improvements. Ms. Gillam indicated
that those are pending and staff is also waiting for information on those. Ms.
Gillam noted that in the future, they would be doing short quarterly updates on
CIP projects at the Council meetings.
Mayor Coleman called for a motion to authorize $6 million
for CIP projects as listed in the Council packet, excluding the library, plus
issuing costs. Mr. Cooper made a motion to approve the Fiscal Year 2010 budget
to coincide with the CIP with the General Obligation bond or CO bond items
listed, excluding the library, but including the actual administrative fees and
costs of the bond issuance. Mr. White seconded the motion. All voted in
favor. Mayor Coleman stated he thinks that it was clear on that item to move
forward with the design of the library.
B. Discuss and consider action regarding a survey for
solid waste and recycling services. Mayor Coleman indicated that the item
was addressed in the worksession earlier, and that a subcommittee of Mr. Marsh,
Mr. Gonzales and staff is going to stay after the meeting with the intent of
finalizing the survey tonight.
Rick Fraumann, Texas Disposal Systems (TDS), stated that he hopes
through the survey that they will get a lot of ideas that they have not even
thought of at this point. He commented regarding the Parks and Recreation
students (Pfun Campers) visiting their facility over the next two days to learn
about the geology, landfill and the environment. He explained that the City of
San Marcos has expanded and changed their recycling to single stream. He explained
that sometimes it is difficult to survey the responses accurately if the
customers have never used the service. He noted that with single stream in San
Marcos, the recycling volume doubled overnight and the value increased. He
stated that they might get different responses on the survey if they had
expanded recycling. He stated from what he sees in the market place, there are
many options. He stated that he thinks that the Council can find something that
will be a good value to the City of Pflugerville. Mr. Fraumann answered
questions of the Council regarding recycling.
Jerry Rieger, IESI, stated that every contract is
different. He stated that in their contract with the City, the money from
recycling goes back to the City. He stated that they can structure the
contract the way the City wants. He noted that when IESI did recycle glass, it
was being taken to the processor. He stated that the processor committed to
IESI that it was being recycled. He stated that he likes the idea of putting
it in the contract to guarantee the citizens that the materials do not go to
the landfill.
Mr. Marsh asked if it would be against protocol to invite the
TDS and IESI representatives to attend the subcommittee meeting following the
Council meeting. Mr. Akers indicated that it would be fine. Mr. Gonzales was
in agreement to invite the TDS and IESI representatives to attend.
C. Discuss and consider action regarding City Hall space
needs and options. Ms. Gillam stated that in the budget it appears they
are going to add a person and in looking at the options, staff recommends
renting space in a building down the street for one year. She stated that it
is a short-term solution, which would allow flexibility to the new City Manager.
Mr. Gonzales recommended not adding the employee this year. Ms. Sattler
indicated agreement with Mr. Gonzales. Mr. Cooper asked to defer the decision until
the budget discussions. Ms. Gillam verified that as they continue in budget
preparations, they should assume that Suite 500 would remain for the City Council
and the Justice Center would remain as it is. Mayor Coleman asked if they want
to go ahead with the improvements to Suite 500 or wait until after the budget
discussions. Council indicated agreement to defer the work on Suite 500 until
after the budget discussions.
D. Discuss and consider action regarding plans for a
summer City Council retreat worksession. Staff budget ready by July 1. Staff
was to prepare a budget calendar and send it out to the Council in order to
establish possible dates for a retreat worksession. Council made plans to have
a short discussion at their special meeting on June 16, 2009, to establish the
date for the budget retreat worksession.
E. Discuss and consider action regarding future agenda items. Ms.
Thompson noted that there would be a Council worksession with the Pflugerville
Community Development Corporation on June 16, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. and a Special
Meeting to follow.
Mayor Coleman announced that the City Council was retiring
to executive session for items F and G for discussion regarding economic
development negotiations and acquisition of real property. The time was 9:30
p.m.
F. 1.) Executive Session Item: Discussion regarding economic
development negotiations related to health care pursuant to Chapter 551.086 of
the Texas Government Code. 2.) Open Session Item: Discuss and consider action regarding
economic development negotiations related to health care. Discussion on
the item was to take place in executive session.
G. 1.) Executive Session Item: Discussion regarding the
acquisition of real property pursuant to Chapter 551.072 of the Texas
Government Code. 2.) Open Session Item: Discuss and consider action regarding
the acquisition of real property. Discussion on the item was to take place
in executive session.
Mayor Coleman reconvened in open session at 10:15 p.m. No
action was taken.
D. Discuss and consider action regarding plans for a
summer City Council retreat worksession. Ms. Davis presented the budget
calendar and indicated that they would need to vote on a tax rate on August 4,
2009. She recommended holding the budget retreat in early July. The budget
worksession was set for July 12, 2009, at 9:00 a.m. and was to be held in Suite
500.
8. Adjourn. Mr. Marsh made a motion to adjourn. Mr.
Cooper seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The motion carried. The
meeting was adjourned at 10:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Thompson
City Secretary
Approved as presented on June 23, 2009.
