City Council Meeting

MINUTES RICHWOOD CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 13, 2021 at 6:15 PM BE IT KNOWN THAT a City of Richwood City Council will meet Monday, September 13,2021, beginning at 6:15 PM at Richwood City Hall, located at 1800 Brazosport Blvd. N., Richwood, Texas 77531 with the following agenda: I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order 7:16 p.m. II. ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS Steve Boykin, Mayor: Present Mike Johnson, Position 1: Present Melissa Strawn, Position 2: Present Matthew Yarborough, Position 3: Present Rory Escalante, Position 4: Present Mark Brown II, Position 5: Present Others in attendance: Eric Foerster, City Manager; Kirsten Garcia, City Secretary; Patricia Ditto, Finance Director; Clif Custer, Public Works Director; Stephen Mayer, Chief of Police; Matt Allen, City Attorney III. PUBLIC COMMENTS All public comments will be subject to the following rules: All speakers will be permitted to speak no longer than 3 minutes; all speakers will only be permitted to speak once; speakers cannot defer their 3 minutes to another speaker. Discussion is not allowed on items not posted on the agenda. There was no public comment. IV. PROCLAMATION A. Constitution Week - September 17-23, 2021 Mayor Boykin read the proclamation aloud. V. EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARD A. Kirsten Garcia, City Secretary - 5 Years of Service Mayor Boykin presented Kirsten Garcia with her service award. Appreciation was expressed by council members. VI. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of minutes from regular meeting held, August 9, 2021. B. Approval of July 2021 budget report. C. Approval of August 2021 budget report. D. Approve re-appointing Jeremy Fountain as the City's representative to the Brazosport Water Authority Board.  Motion to approve consent agenda. Motion made by Mike Johnson, Seconded by Matthew Yarborough. Voting Yea: Mike Johnson, Melissa Strawn, Matthew Yarborough, Rory Escalante, Mark Brown II VII. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2021-2022 BUDGET Patricia Ditto presented the budget document. Discussion held on workers compensation and projected changes. Discussion held on bond funds. Discussion held on how much fund balance is expected for this year. Public hearing closed at 6:40p.m. VIII. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2021-2022 TAX RATE Patricia Ditto presented tax rate options. Discussion held on historical tax rates. Discussion held on infrastructure needs and how the city plans to fund these needs. IX. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS A. Discuss and take appropriate action concerning any final changes to the proposed 2021- 2022 Municipal Budget. Eric Foerster presented council with the option to motion last minute changes to the presented budget. No action taken. B. Consideration and possible action - reading of Ordinance 2021-480, an ordinance appropriating adopting a budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2022. Motion to approve Ordinance 2021-480, an ordinance appropriating adopting a budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2022. Motion made by Matthew Yarborough, Seconded by Mark Brown II. Voting Yea: Mike Johnson, Melissa Strawn, Matthew Yarborough, Rory Escalante, Mark Brown II C. Consideration and action - reading of ordinance 2021-481, an ordinance adopting a tax rate of $0.652278 and levying taxes for the use and support of the Municipal Government of the City of Richwood, Texas and providing for the interest and sinking fund of the taxable year 2021. Discussion held on voter approval rate vs the current tax rate. Discussion held on contingency and how rates affect the bottom line for fund balance. Discussion held on the need to maintain our infrastructure which is primarily funded by property taxed due to lack of commercial bringing in sales tax revenue. I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.652278, which is effectively a 6.63 percent increase in the tax rate.  Motion made by Matthew Yarborough, Seconded by Rory Escalante. Voting Yea: Melissa Strawn, Matthew Yarborough, Rory Escalante Voting Nay: Mike Johnson, Mark Brown II D. Discuss and consider approval of Matula and Matula Construction, LLC change order #1 in the amount of $21,302.30 City Council recessed at 7:23 p.m. City Council reconvened at 7:26 p.m. Clif Custer presented. Motion to approve of Matula and Matula Construction, LLC change order #1 in the amount of $21,302.30 Motion made by Mike Johnson, Seconded by Mark Brown II. Voting Yea: Mike Johnson, Melissa Strawn, Matthew Yarborough, Rory Escalante, Mark Brown II E. Discuss and consider approval of Matula and Matula Construction, LLC change order #2 in the mount, not to exceed, $30,000, to resurface asphalt driveways in the project scope of Richwood's phase 2 of street repair. Clif presented. Discussion held on where the funds come from. During the current agenda item, weather deteriorated due to Hurricane Nicholas. Motion to table remaining items on agenda until next meeting to be held September 21, 2021. Motion made by Mark Brown II, Seconded by Melissa Strawn. Voting Yea: Mike Johnson, Melissa Strawn, Matthew Yarborough, Rory Escalante, Mark Brown II F. Discuss and consider approval of change order in the amount of $29,838.00 to repair roughly 310 linear feet of the western portion of Cypress Street. (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) G. Discuss and consider approving a service agreement with Ana Celedon to provide City water to lots 4 & 5, Block 1 of the Havenwood Subdivision at 1.5 times the cost of water rate within the City of Richwood. (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) H. Discussion and possible action regarding street flooding on Quail Run Street. (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) I. Discussion regarding standing water on Oyster Creek Drive in front of driveays and intersection of S. Yaupon. (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) X. EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to Chapter 551.071, Consultation with Counsel on legal matters 1. Bid Contract for North Water Plant (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) Pursuant to Chapter 551.074, personnel matters regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee; 1. Chief of Police (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) XI. ACTION AS A RESULT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) XII. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UPDATE (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) XIII. CITY MANAGER'S REPORT (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) XIV. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS & REPORTS (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) XV. MAYOR'S REPORT (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) XVI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS (TABLED TO 9/21/2021) XVII. ADJOURNMENT Being there no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45p.m. These minutes were read and approved on this 21st day of September 2021. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________________ City Secretary