City Council Regular Meeting

Minutes of the City Council The City Council called Meeting of August 9, 2021 BE IT KNOWN THAT, a City Council of City of Richwood was held August 9, 2021, beginning at 6:10 PM PM in the Richwood City Hall, located at 1800 Brazosport Blvd. N, Richwood, Texas 77531. I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:19 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: Absent Others in attendance: Eric Foerster, City Manager; Kirsten Garcia, City Secretary; Tricia Ditto, Finance Director; Clif Custer, Public Works Director; Matt Allen, City Attorney. III. PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. IV. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Minutes 1. Regular meeting held July 19, 2021. 2. Special meeting and workshop held July 26, 2021. 3. Special meeting and workshop held August 2, 2021. B. Budget Report, June 2021 Motion to approve consent agenda. This motion, made by Rory Escalante and seconded by Mark Brown II, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 V. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS A. Discuss and consider awarding contract 5-2020 for the construction of the North Water Plant 350,000-gallon ground storage tank. Clif Custer presented. No discussion held. 1 Motion to awarding contract 5-2020 for the construction of the North Water Plant 350,000-gallon ground storage tank to Premier. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Mike Johnson, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 B. Discuss and consider approving amendment no. 2 to task order no. 19-02 for additional water plant site and facilities design, additional RPR services, North Water Plant integration into Richwood's SCADA system and Geotechnical Engineering/Consulting. Clif Custer presented. No discussion held. Motion to approve amendment no. 2 to task order no. 19-02 for additional water plant site and facilities design, additional RPR services, North Water Plant integration into Richwood's SCADA system and Geotechnical Engineering/Consulting. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Mike Johnson, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 C. Discuss and consider approving Strand Associates Task Order No. 21-03 for engineering and related services for repair and improvement of identified drainage projects within the City of Richwood. Clif Custer presented. No discussion. Motion to approve Strand Associates Task Order No. 21-03 for engineering and related services for repair and improvement of identified drainage projects within the City of Richwood. This motion, made by Matthew Yarborough and seconded by Mark Brown II, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 D. Discuss, consider and adopt a resolution designating an administration/project delivery service provider to complete project implementation for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP Act) funding administered by the US Department of the Treasury, other Federal or State agency. Kirsten Garcia presented. Discussion held on costs associated with hiring grant administration and how the proposed costs compare to other grant management companies. Motion to approve a resolution designating an administration/project delivery service provider to complete project implementation for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP 2 Act) funding administered by the US Department of the Treasury, other Federal or State agency. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Mike Johnson, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 E. Public hearing and action on the FY 2021-2022 proposed budget of the Crime Control and Prevention District. Tricia Ditto presented. No discussion held. Motion to approve FY 2021-2022 proposed budget of the Crime Control and Prevention District. This motion, made by Mike Johnson and seconded by Melissa Strawn, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 F. Discuss and consider approving a resolution setting the date and time for the public hearing for FY 2021-2022 Annual Budget for September 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Eric Foerster presented. Motion to approve a resolution setting the date and time for the public hearing for FY 2021-2022 Annual Budget for September 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. This motion, made by Mark Brown II and seconded by Mike Johnson, Passed. Yea: 5, Nay: 0 G. Consider and record vote for proposed tax rate for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year of .652278, which is a tax increase of up to 6.63% above the No New Revenue Tax Rate for the City of Richwood, to be adopted at a future meeting. Discussion held on requirement for motion language and how the proposed rate is used at future meetings. Councilman Mike Johnson requested that the minutes reflect that this specific language used to motion and vote is required by TEX. TAX CODE § 26.06(c) and 26.061. “I move to propose a tax rate of $.652278, which will result in a tax rate increase of 6.63% above the No New Revenue Tax Rate." This motion, made by Matthew Yarborough and seconded by Rory Escalante, Passed. Yea: 4, Nay: 1 Mark Brown II: Nay H. Discuss and consider approving a resolution setting the date and time for public hearing for the proposed tax rate for September 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. to be held at the City of Richwood, 1800 Brazosport Blvd, Richwood, TX 77531 3  Motion to approve a resolution setting the date and time for public hearing for the proposed tax rate for September 13, 2021 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 I. Discussion and possible action regarding rental of City property for events and a possible moratorium on City sponsored events in light of the recent COVID-19 spike. Discussion held on limited rentals and city events. Council consensus was to continue with private rentals of City facilities but limit in person City hosted events. No formal action taken. VI. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UPDATE Clif Custer presented. VII. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT Eric Foerster reported budget updates, including information regarding CCPD's budget amendment. Mr. Foerster also gave an update regarding COVID-19 and staff. VIII. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS & REPORTS Melissa Strawn stated that she spoke to Eric about adding code enforcement officer position to the city, add it's possibly something to look at for next budget. Rory Escalante spoke regarding contract award and how an error created such financial implication for both the city and the taxpayers. Mike Johnson stated that he appreciates all the project work going on and requests future meetings be cut off at 10:00 pm if they go long. Matthew Yarborough stated that in 2019 our tax rate was .67 and in 2020 it was .63 and we just approve a ceiling of .65, so worst case we still won't be where we were in 2019. He added that we have a lot of infrastructure needed and we need to have a way to fund it. Mark Brown recognized the police officers for working extra hours, he appreciates their efforts, he also recognized the fire department and city staff for doing a great job executing things and moving things forward. He encouraged everyone to keep on taking care of yourself and hope for speedy recovery for those impacted. IX. MAYOR’S REPORT Mayor Boykin gave an update on weather and staying prepared. He requested anyone that may need assistance to please contact the City. 4  X. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Executive session regarding bid contract. XI. ADJOURNMENT Being there no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. These minutes were read and approved on this 13th day of September 2021. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________________ City Secretary 5