Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-08-17 Special Called Meeting MINUTES OF A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE EULESS CITY COUNCIL Monday, August 17, 2020 CALL TO ORDER A special called meeting of the Euless City Council was called to order by Mayor Linda Martin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 17, 2020, in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 201 North Ector Drive. Mayor Linda Martin was present in the Council Chambers. Mayor Pro Tem Jeremy Tompkins, Council Members Tim Stinneford, Eddie Price, Perry Bynum, Harry Zimmer, and Salman Bhojani were present via video conferencing. STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT City Manager Loretta Getchell Deputy City Manager Chris Barker City Secretary Kim Sutter City Attorney Wayne Olson (video conference) Finance Director Janina Jewell Director of Information Services Scott Joyce INVOCATION City Manager Loretta Getchell gave the invocation. PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Pro Tern Jeremy Tompkins led the pledges of allegiance to the flags of the United States and Texas. ITEM NO. 1. HELD PUBLIC HEARING FOR EULESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BUDGET FOR FY 2020-2021 Mayor Martin opened the public hearing at 7:03 p.m. Finance Director Jewell presented the proposed budget to the City Council. She advised that the Euless Development Corporation (EDC) Board of Directors met on August 10, 2020, and recommended approval of the proposed budget for FY 2020-2021. The EDC budget is supported by a half cent sales tax approved by Euless citizens in 1993 for economic development, parks, and library projects. Ms. Jewell stated that overall, staff is projecting a 10 percent decline in revenue due to the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Additionally, cuts were made that resulted in a decrease in expenditures of 12 percent, and $424,000 of capital purchases have been rolled forward into the new budget year. The projected ending fund balance for Council Minutes Page 2 of 3 August 17, 2020 Fiscal Year 2020 is $1,934,021. Projected revenues for FY 2021 is $4,985,335 and proposed operating expenditures total $4,671,893, and includes funding for parks personnel, operations, library personnel and materials, economic development personnel, and incentives. The proposed budget also includes capital requests of $424,757 for projects that are not yet complete and $370,000 for recommended capital expenditures. If approved as recommended, the projected ending fund balance would be $1,452,706, which exceeds the recommended reserve level of $767,982. She advised that the recommended reserve level is larger than what would historically be recommended due to the uncertainly of the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Capital Projects Fund budget includes total expenditures of $250,000, and includes funding for miscellaneous park improvement projects, irrigation, and incentives. The Debt Reserve Fund proposed budget includes a transfer from EDC operations necessary to meet the reserve level of $401,125, and the Debt Service Fund proposed budget is $394,605. Finance Director Jewell advised that the budget will be presented for City Council consideration at the Monday, August 24, 2020 meeting. Mayor Martin asked to hear from any proponents followed by opponents wishing to speak regarding the proposed budget. Seeing none, the public hearing was closed at 7:09 p.m. ITEM NO. 2. HELD PUBLIC HEARING FOR CITY OF EULESS FY 2020-2021 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS Mayor Martin opened the public hearing at 7:09 p.m. Finance Director Jewell reviewed the overall budget objectives and presented the proposed City of Euless FY 2020-2021 Operating and Capital Budget. She discussed the three largest revenue funds which include the General Fund, Water and Wastewater Fund, and the Car Rental Fund. She advised that significant reductions are projected in sales tax, car rental tax, hotel/motel occupancy tax and interest income as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the economy. The proposed budget is based on maintaining the property tax rate for the upcoming year at $.4625 per $100 of assessed valuation. She presented the Capital Improvements Program Budget and briefly reviewed each of the proposed projects, which includes annual funding for street maintenance, water and wastewater line replacement at El Camino Real, Del Paso Street, and State Highway 10 at Main Street; and the water line replacement at Dickey Drive. Additionally, she advised that both the Operating and Capital Budget and the Capital Improvements Program Budget are available on the City website, and are on file in the City Secretary's Office for review. Finance Director Jewell advised that the budget will be presented for City Council consideration at the Monday, August 24, 2020 meeting. Council Minutes Page 3 of 3 August 17, 2020 Mayor Martin asked to hear from any proponents followed by opponents wishing to speak regarding the proposed budget. Seeing none, the public hearing was closed at 7:22 p.m. ITEM NO. 3. HELD PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED TAX RATE Mayor Martin opened the public hearing at 7:23 p.m. Finance Director Jewell advised that the proposed budget is based on a proposed ad valorem tax rate of $0.4625 per $100 of assessed value for tax year 2020. She added that the City has either reduced or held the same rate since Fiscal Year 1994. Additionally, she explained the two components of the tax rate which includes the Interest and Sinking (debt) portion levied to support the payment of required debt on outstanding bonds and the remaining Maintenance and Operation portion required to fund the City general operating budget. Mayor Martin asked to hear from any proponents followed by opponents wishing to speak _ regarding the proposed tax rate. Seeing none, the public hearing was closed at 7:28 p.m. ITEM NO. 4. ANNOUNCED THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF VOTE ON TAX RATE Mayor Martin announced that the vote on the proposed tax rate will take place on Monday, August 24, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 201 North Ector Drive, Euless, Texas. The meeting will be held virtually utilizing procedures as authorized by the State of Texas. ITEM NO. 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Martin expressed her appreciation to Finance Director Janina Jewell and her staff for their efforts in preparing a budget in such uncertain times. ITEM NO. 6. ADJOURN Mayor Martin adjourned the meeting at 7:29 p.m. APPROVED: ATTEST: • :74\itifeectiaMartin Mayor Ki Sutte TRMC CMC City Secretary- ..