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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-06-21 Town Hall TOWN HALL MEETING EULESS CITY HALL MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2010 CALL TO ORDER Mayor Mary Lib Saleh called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. COUNCIL AND STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Mayor Mary Lib Saleh, Mayor Pro Tern Linda Martin, and Council Members Tim Stinneford, Leon Hogg, Donna Mickan, Glenn Porterfield and Perry Bynum participated in the panel discussions along with City Manager Gary McKamie, Deputy City Manager Loretta Getchell, Police Chief Mike Brown, Fire Chief Robert Isbell, Public Works Director Ron Young, Parks and Community Services Director Ray McDonald, Director of Economic Development Mike Collins, and Director of Planning and Development Chris Barker. Additional staff members present included Director of Finance Vicki Rodriquez, Assistant Director of Finance Jackie Theriot, Comptroller Gary Yakesch, Assistant Police Chief Bob Freeman, City Engineer Robert Barker, Information Services Administrator Dan McLain, ,.. Library Administrator Kate Lyon, Texas Star General Manager Glenda Hartsell-Shelton, Fleet and Facilities Administrator Kyle McAdams, Communications and Marketing Manager Betsy Deck, Firefighter II/Paramedic Irving Alvarado, Parks Department Office Technician Lloyd Marlowe, Parks Department Aquatics Technician Tim Rolen, City Secretary Susan Crim and Deputy City Secretary Kim Sutter. VISITORS Faye Stinneford, Jan Hogg, Lisa Bynum, Helen Voss, Jerrie Keller, Billy Owens, Sonja Adams, Bill Brown, Charles Cinquemani, Susan Rogers, Joe Mapes, Barney Snitz, Jake Thomasson, Iris Elliott, Leah Bennett, Charlie Miller, Carroll and Luz Scott, Kathy Marlowe, John and Carmen Deithloff, Geri Sorg, Mary Shepherd, James and Beth Gathings, Keith and Melanie Koraska, Christopher McAllister, Beverly Leake, and approximately 100 other citizens. TOPICS OF DISCUSSION City Manager Gary McKamie announced that the public hearing and consideration of applications for two gas drilling site permits was scheduled for the following night at a regular city council meeting and discussion of those items would not be held at this town hall meeting. Deputy City Manager Loretta Getchell gave a presentation on the City's financial status with a review from October, 2008, when the revenues first began to decline and continuing through the present. She stated the effort has been to manage without any impact on citizens, but as the economy continues to decline, we are preparing for another very difficult year. The City Council and staff are seeking input from the citizens as they Town Hall Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 3 June 21, 2010 prepare the budget for Fiscal Year 2010-2011. Ms. Getchell described the decline in ad valorem tax receipts and property values and shared what cuts had already been made and what services were being considered as cuts. She said they expect further decline in revenues in FY 2011. Ms. Getchell reported that the Trinity River Authority has informed cities that they will be increasing the water and wastewater rates, but the City of Euless is doing everything possible to absorb those increases without raising citizen rates. Capital Improvement Projects are continuing where funding has been established, and some of them have been provided for by grants. City Manager Gary McKamie discussed some of the options under consideration by the Council Members and staff to attain a balanced budget which included: Adjustment of use of car rental tax revenues Increase in ad valorem tax rate Elimination of paper notices on delinquent water bills Not hold Arbor Daze in 2011 (falls on Easter week-end) Reduction in mowing public areas Reduce hours at Midway Recreation Center Close 2 swimming pools next year Eliminate Halloween and Easter events Replace fleet vehicles less often Eliminate Christmas lights on buildings Change publication of Euless Today magazine to smaller monthly newsletter in water bills; use email and Internet more Reduce library hours Adjust Animal Shelter hours Go to 4-1/2 day work week in offices Eliminate dedication of 2% of half cent sales tax to art for a few years Members of the audience asked questions regarding other topics including: Signage on streets directing `Wrong Way' traffic Intersection at West Pipeline Road and West Euless Boulevard Reduction of garbage and recycling pickup times per week Redi Mix building tax arrangement City's revenues from drilling Municipal court revenues Rental car tax revenues Suggested frequent shopper card Swimming pools Verizon Wireless facility Midway Recreation Center construction Sidewalk repairs on Fuller Wiser Road Trees cut down by new hotels on SH183 New traffic signal lights on Mid Cities Boulevard Glade Parks development Water bill 50 cent Betterment Fund contribution Electronic billing for water bills Euless Today online Town Hall Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 3 June 21, 2010 Grocery store in South Euless Accolades for Police and Fire Departments Request for packaged liquor store Police Chief Mike Brown reported on the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement (CVE) program that the Police Department has implemented to help control the illegal trucks that pass through Euless. Each of the City Council Members expressed their appreciation to the citizens who were present for their participation in the Town Hall Meeting and requested they continue to be active in their City government. ADJOURN The Town Hall Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. ATTEST: S su an Crim, RMC City Secretary r--