City Council

RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF PASADENA October 8, 2019 – 9:30 a.m. CALL TO ORDER The Special Council Meeting of the City of Pasadena, Harris County, Texas, was called to order by Mayor Jeff A. Wagner. ROLL CALL COUNCIL PRESENT: Jeff A. Wagner – Mayor COUNCIL MEMBERS ORNALDO YBARRA - District A CODY RAY WHEELER - District E BRUCE LEAMON - District B PHIL CAYTEN - District F DON HARRISON - District C CARY BASS - District G SAMMY CASADOS - District D THOMAS SCHOENBEIN - District H Also present at the Council table was Linda Rorick, City Secretary. INVOCATION – Pastor Kevin Ward, Connect Community Church PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE – Councilmember Cody Ray Wheeler COMMUNITY INTEREST COMMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 551.0415 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE Councilmember Wheeler – Thanked audience for coming out to a special meeting. Commented on the nice weather we are having. Councilmember Cayten – Thanked audience for attending meeting. Hopes all enjoy the cooler weather. Shoutout - Go Astros! Councilmember Bass – Thanked audience for coming to the meeting. Councilmember Schoenbein – Thanked all those who participated in National Night Out, commenting it was a huge success. Wished the Astros the best of luck. Councilmember Ybarra – Passed; no comments. Councilmember Leamon – Thanked audience for attending meeting. Councilmember Harrison – Welcomed audience, commenting on the length of time it’s been since the City lowered its tax rate. Discussed case where a citizen’s water was cut off resulting in a reconnect fee and a new deposit. Explained this was due to the City of Pasadena – SPECIAL Council Meeting 1 Minutes: 10-08-19 9:30 a.m. citizen not receiving mail for several days following Tropical Storm Imelda. Would like to see the Water Department consider such instances on a “case-by-case basis”. Councilmember Casados – Thanked audience for coming out to the meeting. Talked about Deepwater Association’s National Night Out event held at South Avenue Baptist Church. Appreciates the police officers and City employees who worked to make this night a success. Announced that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. His prayers are with those battling this disease, as well as for their families. CITIZENS WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL Jonathan Findley – Stated he was in attendance to reiterate his point made at the last meeting that he would like to see taxes go down. Encouraged Council to vote “yes” on Ordinance 2019-172. DOCKETED CITY COUNCIL HEARINGS PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATIONS, AWARDS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS PROPOSALS FOR CITY BUSINESS PRESENTATION OF MINUTES PRESENTATION OF MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING CONTRACT CHANGE ORDERS PROGRESS PAYMENTS FINANCE RESOLUTION - MISC. CLAIMS & INVOICES PERSONNEL CHANGES (A) REGULAR EMPLOYEES (B) FINANCE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES (C) ADMINISTRATION CHANGES IN PERSONNEL (D) INTRODUCTION OF NEW CITY EMPLOYEES MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS REPORTS REPORTS OF COMMITTEES City of Pasadena – SPECIAL Council Meeting 2 Minutes: 10-08-19 9:30 a.m. MAYOR’S REPORT ORDINANCES FINAL READINGS ORDINANCE 2019-172 – Proposing the adoption of a property tax rate for 2019 tax year of $0.570342/$100 value for the City of Pasadena, Harris County, Texas; being the 2019 effective tax rate and lower than the 2018 property tax rate of $0.615446/$100; authorizing the levy, assessment and collection of ad valorem taxes based upon the established rate; declaring distribution of said tax rate in the general fund and the debt service fund of the City; and providing for a severability clause. Councilmember Bass moved, seconded by Councilmember Ybarra that Ordinance 2019-172 be passed on second and final reading. Councilmember Casados – Pleased about the lower effective tax rate. He is of the opinion that any member on Council who advocated for the higher rate should vote “no” on the item. Councilmember Cayten – Feels some members on Council do not understand what will happen if City keeps an effective tax rate year after year. Proceeded to explain his remark and differences between adopting an effective tax rate versus a rollback tax rate. Councilmember Harrison – Commented that some members on Council do not want to touch City’s reserve funds of over 50 million dollars. Responded to Councilmember Cayten’s comments regarding sale of bonds. Discussed the City’s Certificates of Obligation issued under this administration. Feels City needs to be more “proficient” in working with the budget. Mayor Wagner – Responded to Councilmember Harrison’s remark regarding Certificates of Obligation, noting the amount he stated was incorrect; stated the correct figures. Councilmember Ybarra – Feels confident that there is no member on Council who would want to lay off police officers. Commented should there be any “cuts” in the budget, that laying off officers would not be one of them. Councilmember Schoenbein – Discussed the benefits to City in adopting a rollback tax rate over the effective tax rate. Feels that adopting the effective tax rate at this time will “turn back the clock”, commenting the City will be “plateaued at a 15-year growth with our taxes”. Councilmember Wheeler – Discussed the tax rates adopted under this administration. In response to the earlier comment about the potential of City’s inability to sell bonds with adoption of an effective tax rate, noted there had not been any mention or prior discussion about this matter with Council. Talked about the last bond election in our City back in 2002 and the procedures that were put in place for that election. Also, City of Pasadena – SPECIAL Council Meeting 3 Minutes: 10-08-19 9:30 a.m. discussed the difference in having a bond election versus that of issuing Certificates of Obligation. Thinks that adopting this rate is the right thing to do. Councilmember Leamon – Discussed how adopting the effective tax rate may cause some infrastructure projects to be cut or reduced, especially on the north side of City. Expressed his opinion that he feels some members on Council are “more concerned with their political future than they are about the well-being of Pasadena”. Mayor Wagner – Stated this administration is “not over-spending” and reminded Council that the City does not spend money without their vote. Regarding adoption of the effective tax rate, commented the City’s budget is “solid” and he feels the City can sustain all it needs to move forward. MOTION CARRIED, UNANIMOUS. FIRST READINGS EMERGENCY READINGS ISSUANCE OF OBLIGATIONS RESOLUTIONS OTHER BUSINESS EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNMENT BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER Mayor Wagner – Thanked audience for attending meeting. Cautioned all to check out facts for themselves and not to believe everything a politician says. City of Pasadena – SPECIAL Council Meeting 4 Minutes: 10-08-19 9:30 a.m.