City Council Regular Meeting

Minutes of City Council The City Council Regular Meeting of August 10, 2020 BE IT KNOWN THAT, a City Council Regular Meeting of City of Richwood was held August 10, 2020, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Richwood City Hall Richwood City Hall, 1800 N. Brazosport Blvd., Richwood, Texas 77531 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:00 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 Mark Brown II, Position 4 Present Katie Johnson, Position 5 Present Others present: Eric Foerster, City Manager; Kirsten Garcia, City Secretary; Patricia Ditto, Finance Director; Stephen Mayer, Chief of Police; Clif Custer, Director of Public Works; Matt Allen, City Attorney III. PUBLIC COMMENTS Rodrigo Escalante - 2918 Oakwood Shore Dr - Mr. Escalante stated other cities in lower Brazoria County were conducting their City Council meetings in person with COVID-19 control measures. He asked why the City of Richwood was still holding virtual meetings and restricting the public from entry when City Hall is open. He added comments regarding Agenda Item V.I., asking if we violated the currently policy and if not, why is there a need to update and amend now. He also addressed his comment from a prior meeting regarding he allocation of bond funds for road repair, stated that he hasn't seen a publication of numbers. He would like to know where the City is on spending. Last, he inquired about the contract terms for the new City Manager regarding his residency and performance review requirements. Christine Escalante - 2918 Oakwood Shores Dr - Mrs. Escalante addressed the Mayor and comments made at a prior meeting, stating that the Mayor referred to herself and others as "those people" and she would like to know what the Mayor meant by the statement. She added she was just asking for transparency from the government. 1 IV. CONSENT AGENDA Motion to approve all items on the consent agenda. This motion, made by Mike Johnson and seconded by Mark Brown II, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 A. Approval of Minutes 1. Minutes from regular meeting held June 8, 2020 2. Minutes from regular meeting held July 13, 2020 B. Appoint Sonia Foger to the Keep Richwood Beautiful Commission. C. Approval of June Budget Report D. Approval of Quarterly Investment Report E. Discuss and consider a resolution adopting the FY 19-20 Investment Policy V. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS A. Discuss and consider authorizing City Manager to execute agreement for auditing services with Patillo, Brown & Hill. Mr. Manning with Patillo, Brown & Hill presented and answered questions for Council regarding the auditing process. Motion to authorize City Manager to execute agreement for auditing services with Patillo, Brown & Hill. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Mike Johnson, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 B. Discuss and consider a resolution authorizing professional service provider selection for the Community Development Block Grant - Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) programs through the Texas General Land Office. Sylvia with GrantWorks was in attendance, she answered questions from Council regarding the grant process. Motion to approve resolution authorizing professional service provider selection for the Community Development Block Grant - Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) programs through the Texas General Land Office. This motion, made by Mike Johnson and seconded by Mark Brown II, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 2 C. Public hearing and action on FY 2020-2021 Proposed Budget of the Crime Control and Prevention District (CCPD) CCPD revenues are generated from a percentage of the 8.25% sales and use tax and can only be used for crime prevention and Police Department related expenses. Chief Mayer presented the FY 2020-2021 Proposed Budget of the CCPD. There were no public comments. Motion to approve the FY 2020-2021 Proposed Budget of the Crime Control and Prevention District (CCPD). This motion, made by Katie Johnson and seconded by Melissa Strawn, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 D. Discuss and consider approving a resolution setting the date and time for the public hearing for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Annual Budget for August 24, 2020 at 6:00PM. Motion to approving a resolution setting the date and time for the public hearing for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Annual Budget for August 24, 2020 at 6:00PM. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Mike Johnson, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 E. Discuss and consider an ordinance calling the November 3, 2020 General Election and approving a joint election with Brazoria County. Motion to approve an ordinance calling the November 3, 2020 General Election and approving a joint election with Brazoria County. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Melissa Strawn, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 F. Consider and record vote for proposed tax rate for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year of $0.670204, which is a tax increase of up to 10.79% above the No New Revenue Tax Rate for the City of Richwood, to be adopted at a future meeting. Tam Crabtree - Resident of Oakwood Shores - asked what the justification was with raising the tax rate. Melissa asked what are we recommending for the adopted rate. Eric stated we are recommending the voter approved tax rate of $0.62070. Discussion held on action item language. Motion to approve proposed tax rate for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year of $0.670204, which is a tax increase of up to 10.79% above the No New Revenue Tax Rate for the City of Richwood, to be adopted at a future meeting. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Katie Johnson, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 3 G. Discuss and consider approving a resolution setting the date and time for public hearing for the proposed tax rate for September 14, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. to be held at the City of Richwood, 1800 Brazosport Blvd, Richwood, TX 77531. Motion to approve a resolution setting the date and time for public hearing for the proposed tax rate for September 14, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. to be held at the City of Richwood, 1800 Brazosport Blvd, Richwood, TX 77531. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Mike Johnson, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 H. Discuss and consider allowing Cordoba Law firm to acquire any remaining necessary easements for the North Water Plant through the Condemnation Process. Discussion held on easements necessary and steps taken thus far. Tam Crabtree - Resident of Oakwood Shores - Asked if properties would be restored to their original state if disturbed. Josh Strawn - Oakwood Shores - stated that his understanding was that it would be 20 feet and they would get 10 feet back. Clif stated it was a 20 foot perpetual easement with a 10 foot construction easement. Rory Escalante - asked if the City has attempted to purchase the lots from the residents. Seems like it would be cheaper than litigation or TCEQ violations. Motion to table the approval of Cordoba Law firm to acquire any remaining necessary easements for the North Water Plant through the Condemnation Process. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Melissa Strawn, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 I. Discuss and consider approving a resolution amending policy #504 and deleting policy #1303 in the Personnel Policy. Motion to approve resolution 20-R-21, amending policy #504 and deleting policy #1303 from the Personnel Policy with condition that policy # 504 leaves the initial approval of premium pay to City Council at the any extension of disaster declaration. This motion, made by Matthew Yarborough and seconded by Mike Johnson, Withdrawn. Motion to table resolution 20-R-21, amending policy #504 and deleting policy #1303 from the Personnel Policy. This motion, made by Matthew Yarborough and seconded by Mark Brown II, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 4  J. Discuss and consider approving a resolution amending the FY 19-20 budget to increase budget of Richwood Transportation fund to allocate voter-approved sales tax revenue received in FY 2016 through FY 2019 Motion approving a resolution amending the FY 19-20 budget to increase budget of Richwood Transportation fund to allocate voter-approved sales tax revenue received in FY 2016 through FY 2019. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Katie Johnson, Passed. Yea: 4, Nay: 1 Melissa Strawn: Nay K. Approve items removed from the Consent Agenda No items were removed from consent agenda. VI. WORKSHOP A. FY 2020-2021 PROPOSED BUDGET Eric Foerster, City Manager, presented the FY 2021 Proposed Budget VII. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UPDATE Clif Custer, Public Works Director, presented a Capital Improvement Projects update. VIII. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT IX. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS & REPORTS Mark Brown II gave recognition to staff, putting in alot of time getting budget together and initial review looks really good. He also recognized the police department and officers, for keeping us going and keeping us safe. X. MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor stated he was keeping up to date with the County regarding COVID and weather. XI. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS No future agenda items were requested. XII. SET NEXT MEETING DATE August 24, 2020 at 6:00pm XIII. ADJOURNMENT Being there no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:32p.m. 5 These minutes were read and approved on this 14th day of September, 2020. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________________ 6