City Council

Belton City Council Meeting September 8, 2020- 5:30 P.M. The Belton City Council met in an in-person/virtual meeting via Zoom due to the COVID- 19 Public Health Emergency that has been declared by Governor Greg Abbott, Bell County Judge David Blackburn and Belton Mayor Marion Grayson . Members present included Mayor Marion Grayson , Mayor Pro Tern Wayne Carpenter and Councilmembers David K. Leigh, John R. Holmes, Sr., Craig Pearson , Guy O'Banion and Dan Kirkley. Staff present included Sam Listi, John Messer, Amy Casey, Gene Ellis, Cheryl Maxwell, Jon Fontenot, Paul Romer, Chris Brown, Mike Rodgers, Bob van Til , Kim Kroll , Judy Garrett, Susan Allamon and Jeremy Allamon . The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag was led by Councilmember David K. Leigh, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Texas Flag was led by CVB and Retail Coordinator Judy Garrett. The Invocation was given by Councilmember Dan Kirkley. 1. Call to order. Mayor Grayson called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. 2. Public Comments. (Audio 1:43) Philip Petty, 680 County Road 339, Moody, Texas - Police Department Incident Randy Pittenger, Belton Area Chamber of Commerce - CRF Small Business Grant Program 3. Proclamation: Constitution Week- September 17-23, 2020. (Audio 6:49) Regent Rebecca Vajdak of the Betty Martin Chapter of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution was present to receive the proclamation. Consent Agenda (Audio 9:40) Items 4-5 under this section are considered to be routine by the City Council and may be enacted by one motion. If discussion is desired by the Council, any item may be removed from the Consent Agenda prior to voting , at the request of any Councilmember, and it will be considered separately. 4. Consider minutes of August 25, 2020, City Council Meeting. 5. Consider designating signatories for safe deposit box at the City's depository bank. Upon a motion for approval by Councilmember Holmes, and a second by Councilmember Pearson , the Consent Agenda was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0. Belton City Council Meeting September 8, 2020 - Page 2 Miscellaneous 6. Consider authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement with American Medical Response Ambulance Services, Inc. (AMR), for the provision of emergency medical services within the City. (Audio 10:54) Upon a motion by Councilmember Holmes and a second by Councilmember Leigh , the agreement with AMR was approved upon a unanimous vote of 7-0 . 7. Consider authorizing the City Manager to enter into a professional services agreement with Kasberg, Patrick & Associates for the design of water line relocations required by the Loop 121 widening project. (Audio 26:05) Upon a motion by Councilmember Leigh, and a second by Councilmember Pearson, the agreement with KPA was approved upon a unanimous vote of 7-0. 8. Consider authorizing the City of Belton's Corona Relief Fund (CRF) Small Business Grant Program. (Audio 29:06) Upon a motion by Councilmember Pearson and a second by Councilmember Holmes, Belton's CRF Small Business Grant Program was approved upon a vote of 6-0-1 with Councilmember Leigh abstaining. FY2021 Budget 9. Receive a presentation and invite public input on Belton's Strategic Plan for FY 2021-2025. (Audio 39:34) City Manager Sam Listi presented the proposed Strategic Plan for FY 2021-2025 (See Exhibit "A"). There were no public comments. 10. Consider an ordinance adopting the City of Belton Fee and Rate Schedule for FY 2021. (Audio 44:58) City Clerk Amy Casey presented the proposed Fee and Rate Schedule for FY 2021 (See Exhibit "B"). Upon a motion by Councilmember Pearson and a second by Mayor Pro Tern Carpenter, the revised Fee and Rate Schedule for FY 2021 was approved upon a unanimous vote of 7-0. 11 . Conduct a public hearing on the FY2021 Proposed Annual Budget for the City of Belton, Texas. (Audio 48:09) THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY $752,103 OR 10.06%, AND OF THAT AMOUNT $240,741 IS Belton City Council Meeting September 8, 2020 - Page 3 TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR. Public Hearing: no public comments. 12. Set a date, time, and place for the meeting to adopt the FY 2021 Proposed Annual Budget for the City of Belton, Texas. (Audio 53:30) THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY $752,103 OR 10.06%, AND OF THAT AMOUNT $240,741 IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR. Councilmember Pearson made a motion to set adoption of the FY 2021 Proposed Annual Budget at a Special Called meeting at 5:30 p.m. on September 15, 2020, in the Conference Room at Belton City Hall, 333 Water Street. Mayor Pro Tern Carpenter seconded the motion which was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7- 0. 13. Conduct a public hearing on the FY 2021 (Tax Year 2020) proposed ad valorem tax rate of $0.6400/$100 of taxable value, which is effectively a 1.57 percent increase in the tax rate. (Audio 55:38) THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S RATE. Public Hearing: no public comments. 14. Set a date, time, and place for the meeting to adopt the FY 2021 (Tax Year 2020) proposed ad valorem tax rate. (Audio 1:23:01) THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S RATE. Councilmember Pearson made a motion to set adoption of the FY 2021 (Tax Year 2020) Ad Valorem Tax Rate at a Special Called meeting at 5:30 p.m . on September 15, 2020, in the Conference Room at Belton City Hall, 333 Water Street. Councilmember Holmes seconded the motion which was unanimously approved upon a vote of 7-0 . Belton City Council Meeting September 8, 2020 - Page 4 There being no further business, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m. ATTEST: A tf:t~f?:;  EXHIBIT "A" FY 2021-FY 2025 Strategic Plan Update City Council Meeting September 8, 2020  Summary • Belton’s Strategic Plan has been updated for the next five years, including a comprehensive update conducted in 2020. • Seven (7) Initiatives were identified in 2020: • Maintenance of all infrastructure, capital, projects, and equipment • Update the City Charter leading to November 2020 election • Refine the Development Process to enhance customer service • Develop a process to address future of Belton’s TIRZ • Maintain a competitive staff compensation plan  Summary (Continued) • Plan reflects achievements in 2020, and will guide the Community into the future, maintaining the six (6) Goal categories: • Governance • Economic Development • Public Safety • Connectivity • Quality of Life • Parks/Natural Beauty • Belton’s updated Strategic Plan remains substantial, yet realistic in scope. • A Scorecard reviews nineteen (19) Goals for FY 2020, and indicates status of goals, many of which are underway, and multi-year in scope. • 18 Goals are presented for FY 2021  Goals for FY 2021 Governance – Policy Emphasis 1d) Address TIRZ Strategic Objectives 1e) Monitor Employee Compensation Plan 1f) Conduct Charter Election 1h) Enhance Belton’s Citizen Engagement and Customer Service 1i) Refine Development Review to Simplify and Expedite Process Public Safety – Year for Analysis 2a&b) Address Strategic Needs for Police and Fire Departments  Goals for FY 2021 Quality of Life – Maintain/Enhance 3a) Address Existing and Future Infrastructure/Capital Equipment Needs through a Comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): • Street Maintenance • Water/Sewer • Storm Drainage • Capital Equipment Replacement • Library Enhancements Economic Development – Recognize Opportunities 4a) Develop Downtown Redevelopment Plan, including 6th Avenue Gateway Corridor 4b) Complete IH35 and IH14 Sewer/Water Infrastructure  Goals for FY 2021 Connectivity – Monitor/Coordinate 5a) Coordinate Projects with TxDOT: • Loop 121 Construction • FM 93 Design/ROW • Renovation of Central Avenue Bridge in Yettie Polk Park • IH 14 Alignment Through/East of Belton • Continue Planning for Lake to Lake Road • Construct IH35 Hike/Bike Trail from Park & Ride to FM 436  Goals for FY 2021 Parks & Natural Beauty – Provide Enhancements 6a) Continue Enhancements to Park System including Heritage Park and Standpipe Park  FY 2021-2025 Strategic Plan Adoption • Goals have been updated for out years, building on earlier direction • Annual updates will keep Strategic Plan refreshed.  FY 2021-2025 Strategic Plan Adoption • The Strategic Plan Update was placed on City website for public review and comment after the August 11th City Council meeting. • We invite public comments at this City Council meeting. • At the September 15th Council meeting, we will recommend adoption of an ordinance approving the Strategic Plan Update for FY 2021-2025 to guide the City during the next five years.  Proposed Changes to FY 2021 EXHIBIT "B" Fee and Rate Schedule Effective October 1, 2020  Sec. 2-29 Lena Armstrong Public Library Fees Temporarily Out of Circulation $5.00 per item Scanning – Edit $2.00 per page Interlibrary Loan Postage cost Late DVDs $0.50 per day Sec. 4-33 Building Permit Fees No change in fee amounts – attempting to make it easier to determine total fees dues Basic Building Permit Fee $ 60.00 Moving in Permits (Mobile Homes) $255.00 Solar Panels Installation $ 95.00  Sec. 10-40 Vehicle Towing, Impoundment and Wrecker Rotation List Maximum Fees Allowed to be Charged by Tow Companies: Non-Consent Fees $130.00 $150.00 Incident Management Fees $130.00 $150.00 Sec. 20-78 Driveway Permit Fee Reinspection Fee $60.00 $35.00 Sec. 23-137 Water Tapping Fees Technology Fee (Both Contractor and City Installations) $10.00 Sec. 23-137 Sewer Tapping Fees Contractor Installed $300.00 (includes inspection) Technology Fee (Both Contractor and City Installations) $10.00 Sec. 23-139 Utility Disconnect, Reconnect and Leak/Overflow/Stoppage Fees Irrigation Meter Reactivation/Deactivation $20.00 Sec. 23-156 Illegal Unauthorized Water and Sewer Taps Usage Change “Illegal” to “Unauthorized” and “Theft” to “Use” throughout the section. Miscellaneous Fees Credit Card Payments 4% 2% Internet Payments: Utility Billing Payments 4% 2% + $1.25 $1.00 convenience fee Court Fees Payments 4% 2% + $1.25 $1.50 convenience fee Recommendation: Adopt the ordinance and corresponding Fee and Rate Schedule for FY 2021.