City Council Regular Meeting

Minutes of Special Meeting The City Council City of Richwood A Special Meeting of the City Council of City of Richwood was held Monday, August 4, 2014, beginning at 7:00 PM in the Richwood City Hall, 1800 N. Brazosport Blvd. Richwood, Texas. I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Clint Kocurek, Mayor and presiding officer. II. ROLL CALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS Roll call showed the following members present: Clint Kocurek, Mayor and presiding officer Paul Raymond, Council, Position #1 and Mayor Pro Tem John Pitts, Council, Position #2 Jarrod Beaty, Council, Position #3 Sarah Harris, Council, Position #4 Chris Hardison, Council, Position #5 A quorum was declared. Others present included Glenn Patton, City Manager, Brad Caudle, Police Chief, Kenny Williams, Public Works Director and Jason Cordoba, City Attorney. III. ANYONE WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNCIL There was no one present who wished to address Council on matters not on the agenda. IV. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS A. FY 15 Budget Workshop Mayor Kocurek stated that after the last workshop, city staff began work on making cuts and determining a tax rate that will allow the City to begin building fund balances back up and putting money back into the Replacement Fund so we can fund capital purchases and projects in the future. Councilman Raymond had challenged each department head to cut at least 1% from their budget As a result, the Contingency Fund in General Fund is $90,500 and Water/Sewer is $10,000. This money is there in the event there is a need in FY 2015 but it will take Council approval. Because the budget requires a tax of $0.73658 which exceeds our effective rate of $0.695165, the Council will need to adopt the proposed rate and then hold 2 public hearings. Councilman Harris asked why the estimate in the Police Department’s 5 year plan had the sally port costing $12,000 but it is budgeted for $52,800 in the CCPD budget. Police Chief Caudle stated that he was unable to get an estimate from APEX prior to the CCPD’s budget meeting. Chief Caudle also stated that he supports the direction the City is heading but expressed concerns over the budget cuts to his department. He made $3,500 in cuts that he felt comfortable with. But then an additional $4,000 was cut from his budget, bringing the total cuts to $7,500. He is not happy with the additional cuts and the Police Department hasn’t had an increase in their budget since 2008. Not this upcoming year, but the year after (FY 16), he’s been told that the dispatch costs will go up $6,000. How will it look if the Police Department goes belly up in their budget? Mayor Kocurek explained that the Finance Director sent out an email after the last meeting to the department heads to make the cuts. Then he, Glenn and Ms. Schrom sat down and looked at the cuts, keeping in mind Council’s direction to increase the contingency fund for the future. With the exception of two departments, every other department cut at least 1% from their budget as was directed by Council. He reminded everyone that we know we have some large infrastructure and capital expenses coming up in the very near future. Councilman Pitts stated that the Police Department is the largest budget. In the past, when cuts were made to the Police Department, Mr. Patton would readjust and get things going the way he needed to. Sometimes it doesn’t seem fair but we do have to make those decisions from time to time. Councilman Beaty stated that Councilman Raymond had challenged everyone to look at their needs and wants. The Police Department is much more fortunate than other departments in that they have the CCPD. Everyone had to make these difficult decisions and we need to look at the future. He is excited about the future. Chief Caudle stated his problem was not being included. He stated that he’d been told it would not be beneficial if the CCPD budgeted for a car this year. CCPD has to hold special meetings to change expenditures. Councilman Hardison feels the City does need to put the money in the  contingency fund. Council has more control over the expenditures and the Council is planning for the future. Having a strong fund balance helps with economic development. However, if something happens during the year, the money will be made available. B. Executive Session: Consultation with attorney pursuant to Texas Government Code §551.071 in respect to pending or contemplated litigation, settlement offers, and matters where duty of public body's counsel to client, pursuant to code of professional responsibility of the State Bar of Texas, clearly conflicts with this chapter: 1. Richwood Personnel Policy C. Executive Session: Pursuant to Section 551.087, Government Code, Deliberation regarding economic development negotiations to discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; or to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described in Subdivision (1) 1. Chapter 380 Agreement in North Brazos Crossing Council entered executive session at 7:35 p.m. Council exited executive session at 8:54 p.m. D. Action as a result of executive session - Richwood Personnel Policy There was no action taken. E. Action as a result of Executive Session - Chapter 380 in North Brazos Crossing There was no action taken V. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Review of revised personnel policy. VI. ADJOURNMENT With no further city business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. APPROVED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF COUNCIL ON AUGUST 11, 2014. _______________________________ Clint Kocurek, Mayor ATTEST: _______________________________ Karen B. Schrom, City Secretary