Special City Council Meeting

MINUTES OF CITY OF WHARTON SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 11, 2020 Mayor Tim Barker declared a Special Meeting duly open for the transaction of business at 6: 10 P.M. Councilmembers present were: Mayor Tim Barker and Councilmembers Terry Freese, Clifford Jackson, Russell Machann, Don Mueller, Steve Schneider and Alice Heard- Roberts. Councilmember absent were: None. Staff members present were: City Manager Andres Garza, Jr., Finance Director Joan Andel, City Secretary Paula Favors, Assistant to the City Manager Brandi Jimenez, Community Development Director Gwyn Teves and Finance Accountant London Davis. Visitors present were: None. Roll Call and Excused Absences. All Councilmembers were present. Public Comments. Mayor Tim Barker called for Public Comments. No comments were made. Wharton Moment. City Manager Andres Garza, Jr. stated Wharton County received the highest number of positives for COVID- 19 residents with a total of one hundred and twelve today. City Manager Garza said the City would be working on additional messaging to encourage citizens to continue to wear a mask and social distance to help end the pandemic. The first item on the agenda was Budget Workshop: the City of Wharton 2020- 2021 Fiscal Year Budget: A. Five- year Vehicle & Equipment Capital Needs: 1. Code Enforcement Department. 2. Parks& Facilities Department. 3. Airport Department. 4. Fire Department. 5. Emergency Medical Services Department. 6. Emergency Management Department. 7. Police, Animal Control Communications Departments. 1  City of Wharton Special City Council Meeting August 11, 2020 8. Municipal Court. 9. Civic Center. 10. Central Services. Councilmember Steven Schneider arrived at 7: 41 p.m. B. Five Year Capital Infrastructure Improvement Program: 1. Transportation Systems. A. Streets. B. Major Thoroughfares. C. Sidewalks. 2. Drainage System. 3. Flood Reduction Project-Levee. 4. Water and Sewer Utility System. City Manager Andres Garza, Jr. and Finance Director Joan Andel presented the City Council the Capital Improvements Projects: Levee Project and Water Well Project. After some discussion, no action was taken. C. General Fund. D. PEG Fund. E. Hotel Motel Fund. City Manager Andres Garza, Jr. and Finance Director Joan Andel included the City Council the requests from the Crisis Center in the amount of$ 5, 000, the Friends of Wharton Animal Control in the amount of$ 3, 000. F. Narcotics Seizure Fund. G. Debt Fund. H. Capital Improvement Fund. I. Water& Sewer Fund. City Manager Andres Garza, Jr. stated the 2020- 2021 fiscal year budget would include an increase in water and sewer rates and an increase in solid waste rates. J. Solid Waste Fund. K. Emergency Medical Services Fund. L. Civic Center Fund. M. Airport Fund. City Manager Andres Garza, Jr. and Finance Director Joan Andel presented the City of Wharton 2020- 2021 fiscal year budget. City Manager Garza stated that it was a balanced budget in the general fund. He said that the tax rate used was the voter approval rate. Mrs. Andel stated that the proposed budget included a pay increase for City Employees and benefits would remain the same as the 2019- 2020 fiscal year budget. Adjournment. 2 City of Wharton Special City Council Meeting August 11, 2020 There being no further discussion, Councilmember Don Mueller moved to adjourn. Councilmember Russell Machann seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8: 02 p.m. CITY OF WHARTON, TEXAS By: el- 444 TIM BARKER Mayor TTES L AA ULA FAVORS Ci Secretary f. f 3