HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-08-31 (Special Called Mtg) MINUTES OF A SPECIAL CALLED MEETING
OF THE
EULESS CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 31, 2000
CALL TO ORDER
A special called meeting of the Euless City Council was called to order by Mayor Mary Lib
Saleh at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2000, in the Council Chambers. Those
present included: Mayor Mary Lib Saleh, Mayor Pro Tern Leon Hogg and Council
Members Carl Tyson, Bobby Baker, Charlie Miller, Glenn Porterfield and Veva Lou
Massey.
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
City Manager Joe Hennig, Deputy City Manager Gary McKamie, City Attorney Bob
McFarland, City Secretary Susan Crim, Director of Finance Loretta Getchell, Fire Chief
Lee Koontz, Police Chief Leonard Carmack, Director of Community Services Rick Herold,
Director of Economic Development Andrea Baxter, Director of Planning & Development
Bo Bass, Assistant Director of Public Works Ron Young, Police Captain Harland
Westmoreland, Budget &Treasury Manager Vicki Rodriquez, Fire Lieutenant Jerry Sutton,
and Deputy City Secretary Becky Null
VISITORS
Visitors are noted in the visitors' register.
ITEM NO. 1 HOLD PUBLIC HEARING ON FY 2000-2001 AD VALOREM TAX RATE
Mayor Saleh opened the public hearing at 7:01 p.m. regarding the FY 2000-2001 ad
valorem tax rate.
Director of Finance Loretta Getchell stated that a copy of the City's proposed budget for
Fiscal Year 2000-2001 is available for public view in the Library, but the public hearing
being held was to hear input from the citizens regarding the proposed tax rate for the
year 2000. She said that the staff proposed an ad valorem tax rate of .529754, an
increase of 1.5 cents from the current rate of .514754. This increase would cost the
average homeowner an additional 93 cents a month or $11.16 per year. The average
senior citizen would pay an additional 48 cents per month or $5.76 per year. The tax
rate consists of two components, i.e., the debt rate and the maintenance and operation
rate.
The debt component is required by law to be established at a rate that could cover the
City's debt payment. The City's debt component increased this year from 15.8 cents to
17.8 cents for the year 2001. This increase was due to the additional debt that was
"-� incurred for Harwood Road and the Police and Court facility's portion of the bonds that
is not covered by the Crime Control and Prevention District quarter cent sales tax. The
amount of that debt is approximately $465,000.
City Council Minutes Page 2 of 3 August 31,2000
'okay The maintenance and operation component represents the balance of the tax rate.
Under the proposed rate of .529754 the maintenance and operation component would
be reduced from 35.6 cents, which we currently have to 35.1 cents. The City would still
receive additional revenues of approximately $290,000 due to increased property
values. This increase, in addition to the increase that is projected for sales tax and a
transfer from the car rental tax of approximately one half million dollars, would allow the
City to continue its commitment to the employees by funding a competitive salary
package and would also allow the City to begin a reserve for a Fire Department ladder
truck that is due to be replaced in 2003.
Ms. Getchell further stated that staff recommended passing along a portion of the
increase in the debt component this year, because it is the intent to issue additional
debt next year for Main Street, Glade Road and Pipeline Road. The cumulative effect of
these issues will be an additional $1.3 million in 2002 and an additional $1.6 million for
the following two years. If paid solely from ad valorem taxes, these new increases
would require in excess of six cents in ad valorem taxes. Therefore staff recommended
using a balance of slight tax rate increases along with significant transfers from the car
rental tax fund to pay these debt issues to ensure that a portion of the car rental tax
would remain available for special projects and for future operating costs. Ms. Getchell
pointed out that the required newspaper notices have been published at the rate being
proposed as directed by a vote of the City Council on August 8. She stated that at the
September 12 Council meeting two versions of the tax rate ordinance will be provided
for consideration by the Council, one at the rate of .529754 and one at the rate of
.514754.
Dwayne Wilcox, 1402 Pebble Creek, spoke in favor of the tax rate increase.
Kathy Haecker, 403 John Vernon; Robert McMillon, 407 E. Fuller Drive; Mike Utzman,
811 Rock Creek; Joy Baldwin, 617 Clebud Drive; Mike Grove, 2621 Tallow; Wes Scott,
1802 Toplea Drive; Ned K. Burleson, 1914 Windlea; Katie Edwards, 603 Ascot Drive;
and Larry G. Bradford, 1112 Meadowview Drive, spoke in opposition to the tax rate
increase.
Mayor Saleh asked City Attorney Bob McFarland to read the names and comments of
those who registered an opinion, but did not want to speak.
City Attorney Bob McFarland then read the names of the following persons who did not
wish to speak but who had expressed opposition to the tax rate increase: Joe W.
Cannon, 907 Rusk Drive; Irene Rosecrans, 507 West Cliff Drive; Mike Daniel, 803
Peterstow; Bill & Tamita Pasteur, 1900 Trailwood Drive; Dan Clark, 108 Trailwood
Drive; Jeff & Traci Mountain, 421 Thornwood Drive; Billy F. Owens, 508 Sunset Drive;
Tony Dates, 2809 Needles Street; H. L. Everidge, 404 E. Huitt Lane; Maurine Butler,
604 W. Harwood; Jerry F. Waldrup, 503 Summit Ridge Drive; Ken & Sally Olmstead,
1304 Cliffwood; Iris Elliott, 604 Clebud; Jack Hill, 616 Bent Tree Drive; Robert W.
Easley, 1605 Willow Lane; Donald R. Horton, 118 Travis Drive; Julia White, 1200
Tanglewood Trail; John & Helen Voss, 1201 Hillcrest; Noni Kirk, 404 Horse Shoe Drive;
Richard L. McNeese, 302 Whitener; Don Cohoon, 801 Collin Drive; Gay and Rick
Julian, 1002 Rockwall; Rose Miller, 608 Creekside Drive; LaKevin Smith, 402 Teal
City Council Minutes Page 3 of 3 August 31,2000
Wood Lane; Scott & Tonya Makar, 700 Creekside Drive; Naomi J. Svochak, 1603 N.
Main Street; Elwood Craft, 506 Martin Lane; Elizabeth Daniels, 507 Martin Lane; Bettie
J. Daniel, 122 Travis; Thomas & Teresa Truttmann, 800 Chipwood Court.; Barney Snitz,
202 Trailwood Drive; Scott & Kathy Hadley, 609 Lamar Drive; Colette Miles, 17 Abbey
Road; Carroll Scott, 1701 Tanglecrest Court.; George W. Zahn, 701 Royce; Donald E.
McPherson, 607 Canterbury Street; and George Mera, 1405 Monterrey, Apt. 108.
City Attorney Bob McFarland stated that Geri Sorg, 1308 Shady Hollow Court.,
submitted a letter that was read at the last public hearing in support of the tax rate
increase.
City Attorney Bob McFarland read a portion of a letter from Irene Rosecrans, 507 West
Cliff Drive, that had been added to the letter she presented at the August 22 public
hearing in opposition to the tax increase.
There being no additional proponents or opponents, Mayor Saleh closed the public
hearing at 7:55 p.m.
ITEM NO. 2 ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
APPROVED: ATTEST:
Mary Lib leh, Mayor usan m, MC, City Secretary