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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMayor's Newsletter 10/96C. MAYOR'S 0 c i T r 0 F E Greetings From Your Mayor Dear Citizens, As the cool weather approaches and the days grow shorter, we all seem to hurry in order to accomplish all that needs to be done in our daily schedules. The city is also busy as you will see by our fall Schedule of Events. This newsletter is focused on budget information for our citizens. The city's fiscal year begins in October and ends the last day of September. City staff and Council have worked together to bring you anoth- er balanced budget with a tax rate decrease! The Grand Opening of our new library is October 13. If you have not been inside the library, you have really missed a treat. If you have been inside, I know you must be proud. Everyone is invited to come for the festivities the entire week of October 13, but especially for the Grand Opening on that Sunday afternoon. The Library Foundation, a group of volunteer citizens, has selected Cindy and Terry Burleson of Austin, Texas, to create a piece of bronze artwork for the garden in front of the library. The Foundation is accepting donations for the artwork and still has cookbooks for sale. All monies collected will help purchase the artwork. A maquette of the artwork will be on display the week of the Library Grand Opening. With the closing of the old library, we are remodeling the facility and will be moving city departments into that building. Inside the newsletter, please find a map of the municipal complex locating the city departments on cam- pus. We are preparing better signage for citizens as well. The City Council has passed two ordinances that effect skateboarders and false alarms. Please read the newsletter articles so you can be aware of the changes. If you haven't been down South Pipeline Road from Hwy 157 to Westpark Way, you have a surprise in store. The new athletic complex is progressing nicely, the golf course is changing daily and construction has begun on the clubhouse. This summer we opened a new library and U L E S S next summer we'll open phase one of the athletic complex and the golf course. This fall Euless will host a group of city officials from Gruibingen, Germany. Our former staff member, Michelle Wyman, served part of her Bosch internship in Gruibingen. The officials heard so much about Euless, Texas, they decided to come see for themselves. Euless is building an international reputation. Speaking of reputations, Euless continues to win awards locally, statewide and nationally. City Council frequently reads of our citizens and city personnel doing great things through the local news media. Each time one of us receives an award, that's another star for Euless. Our neighborhood associations and crime watch com- mittees are growing. Neighbors are getting to know one another, neighborhoods are being revitalized, clean-ups and beautifications are taking place. Our schools and busi- nesses are being recognized for their expertise. Citizens are becoming more involved and community pride is evident all around our city. Together we are Building a Better Tomorrow for Euless citizens. L_A� Mary Lib Saleh Mayor Council Decreases Tdx We After months of worksessions between Council Members and staff, City Council approved the 1997 bud- get, which went into effect October 1. The new budget decreases Euless citizens tax rate from $.616 to $.545, based on a $100 valuation. This is the second consecutive year that Council has been able to reduce the tax rate to benefit Euless citizens. "The large decrease in the tax rate reflects the cont. on page 2 D Z Your Taxes Working For You P.3 Municipal (omPlex P. 4 Alarm Sgstems Ordinance P.5 Meet the Finance Department P. 6 Tax Rate cont. from page 1 organization's aggressive and constant pursuit of alternative revenue sources which alleviates the burden on the property tax rate," said Diana Ortiz, Director of Finance. Council and staff designed the 1997 budget to benefit citizens by funding city projects such as the purchasing of fire safety equipment and refurbish- ing two swimming pools and buildings (Wilshire and South Euless). In addition to city enhance- ments, Council approved additional personnel to be hired including three firefighters/paramedics, a bailiff and a police records clerk. Public Works received additional funding to repair sewer lines and the police and fire depart- ment will be purchasing new equipment such as traffic radars and rescue tools. Although the general fund pays for most of the projects and equipment for the city, our half -cent sales tax fund- ed the building of the new library and will fund the Parks at Texas Star athletic facility. The quarter cent crime sales tax will help fund a drug search dog and an updated computer system. "The City Council is proud to present citizens a balanced budget with a 10% decrease in the tax rate," said Mayor Mary Lib Saleh. "The business and residential growth in our city have provided additional revenues for the budget thus allowing for a lower tax rate. It pays to live and shop in our city!" Citizens Received These Services for Only $6.47 (average) Per Week in 1996 Municipal Court filed 490 cases Only 1 case appealed Held 102 arraignments Issued 481 traffic safety citations Made 78 arrests Processed 103 offenses Cleared 37 judicial cases Recovered $13,287 in stolen property Responded to 1,465 calls for police service Responded to 17 accidents Incarcerated 62 prisoners Conducted 39 fire safety inspections Responded to 46 emergency medical calls Maintained 25 fire hydrants Responded to 33 fire calls Distributed information to 210 fire prevention publications Conducted 5 fire prevention classes Fire classes average attendance was 225 people Serviced 3,768 users of Midway Recreation Center Maintained 16 parks and athletic fields Checked out 3,962 library materials Answered 400 library reference questions Overlaid 17,500 square feet of asphalt on streets Repaired 75 street pot holes Laid 230 linear feet of street, curb and gutter Made 35 street signs Conducted 348 minimum housing inspections Reviewed 36 plans for building code compliance Performed 90 building inspections Picked up 39 unattended animals Processed 8 animal adoptions Returned 12 animals to owners Conducted 55 inspections of food service establishments Conducted 9 inspections of swimming pools Read 2,495 meters Produced and pumped 44,870,000 gallons of water Installed 115 linear feet of water lines At (040 Historically, the City of Euless' portion of this tax liability has continued to decline. j` EU�6SS This information is utilized to determine the total tax liability of the average homeowner 20 OW° in the City of Euless. uOSp The total overlapping debt for citizens is $2.73 for the 1996 tax year, with the city's share at just under one fifth of the g g% combined total. uEB'SD (OUOt�1 The amount of the average residential tax $ I.617 sp 261 assessed valuation is estimated at $77,215. Based this the total on average value, liability for 1996 $2,108. overlapping tax is page 2 Your Taos Working for You SALES TAX Euless charges 8.25% sales tax on items pur- chased in the city. The State of Texas collects 6.25% from the 8.25% sales tax while Euless collects 2%. Money collected through sales tax is placed in the city's general fund which purchased a new fire pumper (fire truck) in 1995-96. PROPERTY TAX (ad valorem tax) Tax collected from property owners. ✓ Funded in 1995-96: Five new sidewalks were paved on E. Ash, South Main, Augustine, W. Pipeline and N. Main. Thirty six sidewalks were repaired throughout the city. Seventeen streets were overlaid during the past year. HOTELIMOTEL TAX Tax collected from all hotel/motels located in Euless. Funded in 1995-96: Renovation of Fuller House, the first house built in Euless. HALF CENT SALES TAX Approved in 1993 by Euless citizens to collect an addi- tional half cei sales tax for e nomic devek ment, new lit and parks ani leisure servic Funded 1995-1, Euless Public library was built and opened in July 1996. Parks at Texas Star is under construction and phase I should be completed next year. Euless Town Centre is rapidly developing with the shopping center over 85% occupied. CRIME SALES TAX Quarter cent sales tax approved by Euless residents in 1995. Will Fund in Near Future: Three new police officers, an updated computer system and a drug search dog. PROPERTY RELIEF SALES TAX Quarter cent sales tax approved by Euless residents in 1996. Euless residents should see a decrease in property taxes during the next billing cycle. COMMUNITY DONATION Fifty cents donated by residents on their water bill. Donations collected fund senior citizen activities, building revi- talizations and the Christmas Parade of Lights. Tax Rate Impact Average Home Value $77,215 Less Homestead Exemption 15 443 (20%) Net Value $61,772 Annual Tax Burden: (at proposed rate .54498) S377 (or 528.08 monthly) Annual Impact of One Cent Increase (.01) S6.18 or 52c monthly Over 65 Average Home Value $71,745 Less Homestead Exemption - 14 349 (20%) Adjusted Value $57,396 Less Over 65 Exemption 000 43M Net Value $27,396 Annual Tax Burden: (at proposed rate .54498) $149 (or $12.44 monthly) Annual Impact of One Cent Increase (.01) $2.74 or 234 monthly Note. Home Values are based on 1996 average home values provided by Tarrant Appraisal District. 41 page 3 Depdrtments Relocate at Municipal Complex ince the construction of the new library has been completed and library staff has settled into the new building, the old library building will now be converted into additional office space for city staff. Due to increased services offered by the city, Euless has J L had to increase its staff to maintain the quality of service it provides to citizens. When the conver- sion of the old library is completed, city depart- ments will be realigned for the convenience of cit- izens and staff. The following map outlines the location of Police Department Civic Drive Building A Mayor City Manager Administration Economic Development Fire Administration Support Services City Secretary Public Works Building B Municipal Court/ Council Chambers Water Office Personnel Community Services Recreation Finance Risk Management EULESS each department throughout the municipal complex. Various departments will be relocating to different buildings but will have the same phone number for citizens convenience. If you have any questions about the location of a certain department, please call 685-1821. cc a Building C Development Code Enforcement/ Inspections Engineering Data Processing/GIS L = O Q d�+ �a 8- J .s, J L had to increase its staff to maintain the quality of service it provides to citizens. When the conver- sion of the old library is completed, city depart- ments will be realigned for the convenience of cit- izens and staff. The following map outlines the location of Police Department Civic Drive Building A Mayor City Manager Administration Economic Development Fire Administration Support Services City Secretary Public Works Building B Municipal Court/ Council Chambers Water Office Personnel Community Services Recreation Finance Risk Management EULESS each department throughout the municipal complex. Various departments will be relocating to different buildings but will have the same phone number for citizens convenience. If you have any questions about the location of a certain department, please call 685-1821. cc a Building C Development Code Enforcement/ Inspections Engineering Data Processing/GIS OCTOBER 1 Euless Public Library Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 2:00 pm, I Euless Library 10() 1996 World Series for 8coed softball, 6:30pm, Softball World 22 City Council meeting, 7:00 pm, Building B y Daylight Savings Time ends 27 Oct. 27-NOV 1 t City Officials from Gruibingen, Germany 6 visit Euless 31 Trick or Treat at Midway Recreation Center, 6:00 pm NOVIABIP 1 Austin Lounge Lizards concert, 8:30 pm, Location TBA 2 HEB Chamber of Commerce Showcase Event, L.D. Bell High School 5 ELECTION DAY Boards and Commission Dinner, 11 6:30 pm T H E MC I T Y O F SS I .131191 12 City Council meeting, 7:00 pm, Building B 1416 Texas Municipal League conference, Corpus Christi 21 Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon, 11:30 am, Simmons Center 26 City Council meeting, 7:00 pm, Building B Thanksgiving Holiday, 28-2-) Municipal Complex closed DRIABID 640 National League of Cities conference, San Antonio 12 Senior Citizen Christmas Luncheon, 11:30 am, Simmons Center 1 2 City Council Meeting, 7:00 pm, Building B 14 Christmas Parade of Lights, 6:30 pm Christmas Holiday, Municipal 2.5 Complex closed 31 Trout Fishing in America Concert, 2:00pm and 10:00 pm, Midway Recreation Center POSTAL CUSTOMER JANUAPY New Year's Day, Municipal Complex closed For more information on any city meetings or events please call the Media Relations Office at 685-1821. Magor (itg Manager Mary Lib Saleh Tom Hart (ouncilpersons Bobby Baker, Mayor Pro Tem Carl Tyson Leon Hogg Charlie Miller Glenn Walker Katie Edwards (itg Secretary Susan Crim If The Mayor's Newsletter is printed CA on recycled paper. 201 North Ector Drive, Euless, Texas 76039 817/685-1821 Assistant (itg Manager Joe Hennig Municipal Relations (oordinator/Editor Jenny Kratz The Mayor'sNewsletteris a quarterly publica- tion of the City of Euless. If you have any com- ments or suggestions, please call 685-1821 or write to: 201 North Ector Drive Euless, Texas, 76039 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #28 EULESS, TEXAS Euless Selected as Clean Cities 2000 Member he City of Euless has been inducted as a Clean Cities 2000 member by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC). Euless received this honor due to the innovative and resourceful recycling program that has been implemented since 1993. Euless has seen excellent diversion rates of materials not being placed into the landfill over the last three years. Euless joins 62 other communities statewide that are making a strong commitment to reducing the waste going into landfills and the pollution being dispersed into Texas skies and waters. City officials and staff were present at the Clean Cities 2000 annual conference on October 1 to receive this prestigious award. In addition, jenny Kratz, Municipal Relations Coordinator, served on a panel informing other Clean Cities 2000 members about Euless' successful W113 Chamber of Commerce Honored in Top Five of the Nation The HEB Chamber of Commerce was select- ed among five finalists in the nation to receive the Award of Excellence. The HEB Chamber of Commerce competed with similar sized Chambers throughout the nation for this presti- gious honor. The National Association for Membership Development, an association of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, selected outstanding Chambers of Commerce for their programs, performance, membership growth and financial gain. Only two Chambers from the state of Texas were chosen in this category: Lubbock and Hurst -Euless -Bedford. The HEB Chamber of Commerce was honored at the Association's annual conference in August and the City of Euless is proud to be a member of this organization. apartment recycling program. "Euless citizens have responded very positively to Euless' «rqN TEXAS 2000 recycling program and they are one of the main reasons we received this award," said Jenny Kratz, Municipal Relations Coordinator. "We hope to continue adding new items to the list of acceptable recyclables and also exploring new recycling projects to add to the program" To become a member of Clean Cities 2000, communities must agree to implement comprehensive environmental programs that reduce solid waste. Euless has made a commit- ment to continue its efforts to preserve the environment. r-------------- i I I City of Euless Receives High1 Honors I I I I • The Mayor's Newsletter received a 1 Savvy award from the City -County Communication and Marketing Association. 1 I I • City Manager Tom Hart was a recipient of I the Award of Career Development in Memory of L.P. Cookingham. • The Texas Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association awarded Sergeant 1 Mike Brown as Peace Officer of the Year. • Mayor Mary Lib Saleh was chosen as Volunteer of the Year at the Legacy of 1 Women Awards Luncheon. • Finance Director Diana Ortiz achieved the 1 designation of a Certified Government 1 Finance Officer and a Certified Municipal 1 Finance Administrator. 1 • City Secretary Susan Crim was accepted into the Academy for Advanced Education 1 of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks. L-------------- J page 7 finance Department Euless' finance department oversees several areas that are instrumental in the overall daily functions of the city. The finance department car- ries a large responsibility for the city since they implement sales taxes, prepare the paperwork for bond sales, project the fiscal budget and collate the budget book for presentation to the City Council. The department also manages the money allocated to each department in the city and monitors departmental spending by provid- ing monthly reports to the directors. Daily routine for the finance department consists of monitoring sales taxes, grants, utili- ty receipts, collections, payroll reports, cash management, invest- ments and monthly financial reports. The finance department consists of eight dedi- cated employees who each maintain certain unts and functions of the rtment with the director 1 he AWard of Excellence the Municipal Treasurer's Jfom united States Association of the to the and Cana' " ent in both 1993 lInance Oaf heir Outstanding and A995 Written Investment P6M. Finance Director Diana Ortiz has achieved the designation of a Certified Government Finance Officer from the Government Finance Officers Association. This designation can be renewed each year only if the required number of hours of continuing education are earned. Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association has been awarded to the finance department every year since 1986. FINANCE pEpAQT QtSOONSIQIIITIMS NT I mPlernent Sales Taxes Prepare Bond Sales Project Fiscal Budget Collate Budget gook Manage Money for pepanments Monitor De padmental Spending supervising all projects. "Our department works extremely well together," said Diana Ortiz, Finance Director. "Every employee in this department worked to present a budget to City Council that was in the best interest of our citizens and our city." The finance department is the primary manager of taxes and city utility funds for Euless. Citizens can call this department with questions about the budget or other finance related issues at 685-1826. The Fiscal Budget has received the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Past six years. MS. Ortiz has also received the designation of a ' al Finance Adminitrsator from the Certified Murncip Municipal Treasurer's Association. page 6 Alarm Systems Ordinance City Council voted unanimously on August 13 to approve a new ordinance providing separate requirements for residential burglar alarms, com- mercial burglar alarms and commercial hold-up alarm systems. The amount of alarm systems being installed in the city has increased which has led to an increase in the occurence of false alarms. The police department has been responding to an aver- age of 350 false alarms per month taking police officers away from their regular patrol to assess the false alarms. As a result, City Council members pro- posed an adjustment to the alarm fee ordinance that would better distinguish the types of alarms in use as well as adjust the fees and restrictions. The new ordinance defines three different alarms that can be installed within the city: Residential Burglar Alarm: requires a one time permit fee of $50.00 and is limited to five false alarm calls over a twelve month period. For each false alarm over the five call limit, an additional $50.00 will be charged. Commercial Burglar Alarm: requires an annual permit fee of $50.00 and the owner will be limited to twelve false alarm calls within a twelve month period. For each false alarm over the twelve call limit, an additional $50.00 will be charged. Hold -Up Alarm: requires an annual permit fee of $50.00 and is limited to three false alarm calls within a twelve month period. For each false alarm over the three call limit, an additional $100.00 will be charged. "We felt that our police officers were responding - to too many false alarm calls which detracted from their daily patrols," said Chief Gary McKamie. "We hope this ordinance will make owners of alarm systems more aware of false alarm calls." If any resident has questions regarding the new alarm fee ordinance, please call Chief McKamie at 685-1509. ALARM FEES RESIDENTIAL $50 (one-time fee) 5 false alarms/year $50 each additional false alarm COMMERCIAL $50 (annually) 12 false alarms/year $50 each additional false alarm HOLD-UP $50 (annually) 3 false alarms/year $100 each additional false alarm Skateboarding Ordinance Effective Immediately After several skateboarding incidents throughout city complexes that endangered pedestrians, city officials felt the police depart- ment needed a stronger ordinance which would enable enforcement of no skateboarding or skating in poste areas. The city staff had notice( an abundance of skateboarding and skating throughout the municipal complex during working hours. This increased interest in skating at the municipal complex concerned city staff an Council Members that a pedestrian or even the skater could become injured by an accidental fall or collision of two people. "With the completion of the new library and additional paved areas throughout the municipal complex, skateboarding increased and so did the danger of our citizens," said Mayor Mary Lib Saleh. "The City Council felt it imperative to protect our citizens as well as our skateboarders." In order to protect the citizens who use city facilities, City Council passed an ordinance on August 13 prohibiting skateboard- ing and skating at the municipal complex. Signs have been strategi- cally placed throughout the municipal complex warning potential skaters of the new ordinance. Any person who violates this ordinance and is found guilty in the Euless Municipal Court will be fined up to $500.00. "We hope this is a deterrent for skaters to use only facilities designated for skating," said Tom Hart, City Manager. For additional information regarding the new ordinance, please call the police department at 685-1551. page 5