Sep 12, 2022 City Council Special Session

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GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO SECTION TWO.

CITIZENS APPEARANCE.

EACH PERSON IN ATTENDANCE WHO DESIRES TO SPEAK TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON AN ITEM NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA SHALL SPEAK DURING THIS TIME.

THE SPEAKER CARD MUST BE FILLED OUT AND TURNED INTO MYSELF OR MY DEPUTY PRIOR TO ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL AND EACH SPEAKER WILL BE ALLOWED 3 MINUTES.

AT THIS TIME I HAVE NO SPEAKER CARDS.

IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON AN ITEM NOT POSTED ON THE AGENDA? I HAVE NONE. SO WE WILL MOVE ON TO SECTION THREE, GENERAL.

AT THIS TIME, MAYOR, I WILL CALL FORWARD ITEMS THREE A THROUGH THREE H ITEMS PERTAINING TO THE BUDGET, THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, THE PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE, THE PROPOSED WATER WASTEWATER PROPOSED SOLID WASTE, AND THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

THIS MORNING, JOHN BUTKUS, DIRECTOR, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, WILL MAKE ONE PRESENTATION.

AFTER HIS PRESENTATION, I WILL FORMALLY ANNOUNCE EACH ITEM AND WE WILL TAKE ACTION AT THAT TIME.

MR. BUTKUS.

YEAH. GOOD MORNING. AS AMANDA NOTED, WE'RE HERE TO HAVE OUR FINAL READING FOR THE BUDGET AND ASSOCIATED TAX ITEMS. JUST AS A RECAP, BACK ON AUGUST 4TH OF 2022, AT OUR SPECIAL SESSION WHERE COUNCIL DID APPROVE THE AMENDED ORDER SETTING A DATE AND TIME FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE AND THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.

FOR SEPTEMBER 6TH, ON SEPTEMBER SIX, WE HAD THE FIRST READING OF THE SAID ORDINANCE, AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL ON SEPTEMBER 12TH.

TODAY, WE'VE GOT A BUDGET PRESENTATION.

I THINK WE'VE COVERED THIS MULTIPLE TIMES.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND THANKS.

THANK YOU. LIKE I SAID, WE'VE COVERED THE THIS BUDGET PRESENTATION SEVERAL TIMES WITH COUNCIL AND AGAIN, GOING OVER THE OVERALL BUDGET BY FUNDS, THE ASSUMPTION FOR OUR GENERAL FUND TAX NUMBERS, THE RATE HISTORY, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND SO ON.

I'M GOING TO GO TO THE BACK AGAIN TODAY.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCES AND THE FINAL READING AGAIN FOR THE FY 2223 BUDGET, WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST, 2022 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.

WE'LL LEVY THE PROPERTY TAX FOR THIS YEAR, TAXABLE VALUES AND ADOPTING THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.6572 PER 100 VALUE.

AND WE'LL APPROVE THE TAX YEAR 2022 TAX ROLL AND WE'LL APPROVE THE 2022-23 SCHEDULE OF FEES AND WE'LL ESTABLISH THE 2022-23 RATES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE.

AND THERE ARE NEW INCREASES AND WE'LL ESTABLISH THIS 2020 223 RATES FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICE.

AGAIN, NO INCREASES.

AND WE'LL LOOK FOR THE APPROVAL OF A 2% RESIDENTIAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR TAX YEAR 2023 TO BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST, 2023 FOR YEARS 2023 AND 24.

AGAIN, WE'VE COVERED THE THE BUDGET ITEMS SEVERAL TIMES.

I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS AS FAR AS THE BUDGET, TAX RATE, THE RATES, AND I'LL OPEN IT UP TO YOU.

ANYBODY ? THERE'S NO MORE PRESENTATIONS BY STAFF THAN I WILL BEGIN CALLING THE ITEMS ONE BY ONE FOR A VOTING.

[3.A.Consider approval of an ordinance adopting the budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 beginning October 1, 2022, and terminating September 30, 2023, and making appropriations for each fund; repealing conflicting ordinances; providing a savings clause, severability clause, declaring an effective date; and finding that the meeting at which this ordinance is passed is open to the public. (Final Reading) (Staff Presenter: Martin Avila, Finance Director)]

THIS IS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON FINAL READING.

IS THERE A MOTION? SECONDLY, I HAVE A MOTION BY RONNIE.

SECOND, BY RICK PLEASE VOTE.

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THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 3 B CONSIDER OR APPROVAL OF A MINUTE ORDER RATIFYING THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET FOR

[3.B.Consider approval of a minute order ratifying the adoption of the fiscal year 2022-2023 Annual Operating Budget for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2022, and ending September 30, 2023. (Staff Presenter: Martin Avila, Finance Director)]

IS THERE A MOTION? CAN I REAL QUICK, PLEASE USE YOUR MICROPHONES.

I'M SORRY. PLEASE USE MICROPHONES.

AS I WAS LISTENING LAST WEEK, WHILE I COULDN'T BE HERE, WHEN NO ONE WHO'S WATCHING LIVE CAN HEAR ANYTHING WITHOUT A MICROPHONE.

SO, COUNCIL, IF YOU'LL BE AWARE TO USE YOUR MICROPHONES, PLEASE.

I'LL SECOND MOTION.

I HAVE A MOTION BY RICK, SECOND BY DAN, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION APPROVED 6 TO 1.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

[3.C.Consider approval of an ordinance levying the ad valorem property tax of the City of Burleson for Tax Year 2022 on all taxable property within the corporate limits of the city on January 1, 2022, and adopting a tax rate of $0.6572 per $100 of valuation for Tax Year 2022; providing revenues for payment of current municipal maintenance and operation expenses and for payment of interest and principal on outstanding City of Burleson debt; providing for enforcement of collections; repealing conflicting ordinances; providing a savings clause; declaring an effective date; and finding that the at which this ordinance is passed is open to the public. (Final Reading) (Staff Presenter: Martin Avila, Finance Director)]

GO AHEAD, CITY ATTORNEY.

THIS IS THE MOTION THAT HAS REQUIRED LANGUAGE.

THERE'S A HANDOUT IN FRONT OF YOU.

I'M GETTING THE THUMBS UP OVER THERE.

SO WITH THAT THUMBS UP, I'LL CONTINUE.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE LEVYING THE AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX.

THE CITY OF BURLESON FOR TAX YEAR 2022 ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY ON JANUARY ONE, 2022 AND ADOPTING A TAX RATE OF 0.6572 PER $100 VALUATION FOR TAX YEAR 2022.

THIS IS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON FINAL READING.

IS THERE A MOTION? I WILL MAKE THE MOTION, BUT AS I DID EARLIER IN THE EARLIER MEETING, I WILL NEED TO EXPLAIN MY MOTION.

WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY DEFINES TAX RATE AS A UNIT CHARGE OR RATIO USED IN ASSESSING PROPERTY TAXES.

AND ACCORDING TO WEBSTER, OUR ACTION, IF APPROVED ON MY MOTION, WILL BE TO LOWER THAT NUMBER.

HOWEVER, THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE APPARENTLY DOES NOT FEEL CONSTRAINED BY WEBSTER OR THE NEED TO APPLY GRAMMATICAL CORRECTNESS, AND THEREFORE THEY REQUIRE A FACTUALLY INCORRECT MOTION TO BE MADE.

AND I WILL MAKE IT ACCORDING TO SECTION 26.5 OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE AS FOLLOWS.

I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 65.70 $0.02 PER $100 VALUATION, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 5.69% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

IS THERE A SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY DAN, A SECOND BY RONNIE PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES 6 TO 1.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO THREE D.

[3.D.Consider approval of an ordinance approving the 2022 tax rolls; and declaring an effective date. (Final Reading) (Staff Presenter: Martin Avila, Finance Director)]

THIS IS BEFORE YOU ON FINAL READING.

IS THERE A MOTION? [INAUDIBLE].

MOTION TO APPROVE, SECOND.

MOTION BY RONNIE A SECOND BY VICTORIA PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUS.

THAT BRINGS US TO 3E CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING A FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023 SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR VARIOUS CITY

[3.E.Consider approval of an ordinance providing a FY 2022-23 schedule of fees for various city services; repealing conflicting ordinances; providing a savings clause; declaring an effective date; and finding that the meeting at which this ordinance is passed is open to the public. (Final Reading) (Staff Presenter: Martin Avila, Finance Director)]

IS THERE A MOTION? MOVE FOR APPROVAL.

SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY RICK, SECOND BY DAN, PLEASE VOTE.

PASSES UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 3F CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING FISCAL YEAR 2022 2023 RATES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES.

[3.F.Consider approval of an ordinance establishing FY 2022-23 rates for water and wastewater service; repealing conflicting ordinances; providing a savings clause; declaring an effective date; and finding that the meeting at which this ordinance is passed is open to the public. (Final Reading) (Staff Presenter: Martin Avila, Finance Director)]

IS THERE A MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE.

[INAUDIBLE] I HAVE A MOTION BY DAN AND A SECOND BY RONNIE.

PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUS.

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[3.G.Consider approval of an ordinance establishing FY 2022-23 rates for collection and disposal of residential and non-residential solid waste, recyclables, and trash; repealing conflicting ordinances; providing a savings clause, declaring an effective date; and finding that the meeting at which this ordinance is passed is open to the public. (Final Reading) (Staff Presenter: Martin Avila, Finance Director)]

THIS IS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON FINAL READING.

IS THERE A MOTION? MOVED TO APPROVE.

OH SECOND, I'M SORRY.

I'M NOT GOING TO MOVE OR SECOND. I GOT THEM.

GOT A MOTION BY VICTORIA AND A SECOND BY RICK.

PLEASE VOTE. PASSES UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THEN THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 3H.

[3.H.Consider approval of an ordinance providing for a residential homestead exemption from the ad valorem property tax for Tax Year 2023 and all future years unless revised of an amount equal to the sum of 2% of the appraised value; repealing conflicting ordinances; providing a savings clause; incorporating the recitals. (Final Reading) (Staff Presenter: Martin Avila, Finance Director)]

THIS IS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL ON FINAL READING.

IS THERE A MOTION? MOVED TO APPROVE.

SECOND? I HAVE A MOTION BY RONNIE IN A SECOND, BUT TAMARA, PLEASE VOTE.

UNANIMOUS. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM 3I SO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE CITY OF BURLESON COMPENSATION PLAN, PAY PLAN, BENEFITS PROGRAM AND EMPLOYEE

[3.I.Consider approval of a resolution adopting the City of Burleson's compensation pay plans, benefits program, and employee handbook for fiscal year 2022-2023. (Staff Presenter: Rick DeOrdio, Director of Human Resources)]

THE STAFF PRESENTED THIS MORNING IS RICK DEORDIO, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES.

MR. DEORDIO. THANKS, AMANDA.

GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. COUNCIL.

HOW DO I FOLLOW SOMETHING LIKE RECITING HIS BUDGET? ALL RIGHT. WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS TAKE A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO REVIEW SOME THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

I BELIEVE IT WAS JUNE AND JULY.

WE TALKED ABOUT CHANGES UP FOR THE UPCOMING HANDBOOK, COMPENSATION PLAN AND THE BENEFIT STRUCTURE.

I'M JUST GOING TO RUN THROUGH IT FAIRLY QUICKLY.

WE DID MAKE A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE THIS YEAR FOR SALARIES.

WE DID INCREASE THE STEPS ON THE POLICE AND FIRE PAY PLANS, THE STEP PLANS, BASED ON SOME PRELIMINARY MARKET ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM OTHER CITIES.

AND THEN WE DID AN OVERALL NON STEP PLAN INCREASE THROUGH MERIT ADJUSTMENTS, AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT THREE AND A HALF PERCENT PER DEPARTMENT, DENTAL AND VISION MEDICAL.

THERE WEREN'T ANY PLAN CHANGES EXCEPT FOR DENTAL.

WE INCREASED THE BENEFITS JUST A LITTLE BIT ON THE DENTAL PROGRAM FROM 1500 TO $2000 PER PERSON PER YEAR.

THE INCREASE IN COST WAS MINIMAL.

IT'S 15006 TO 26 AND THE CITY MANAGEMENT DECIDED TO HAVE THE CITY ABSORB THAT.

SO IT'S NO OTHER NO ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES ON THE EMPLOYEES.

AND AS ALL THE CONTRACTS WENT OUT FOR ALL THE INSURANCE BENEFITS WENT OUT FOR NEW CONTRACTS LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CHANGES.

SO EVERYTHING IS JUST PASSING THROUGH LIKE WE HAD CURRENTLY.

POLICY CHANGES. WE TIGHTENED UP SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AND ADJUSTED SOME OF THE POLICIES TO BENEFIT THE EMPLOYEES AND TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE LANGUAGE IN SOME OF THEM REGARDING FMLA SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND CO-PAY, COMP TIME, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD THE RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THESE GOING FORWARD FOR THE EMPLOYEES.

SO THE OPTION TO THE PROPOSED COMPENSATION PLAN BENEFITS AND THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK AS OUTLINED APPROVED THE SAME WITH CHANGES AS DIRECTED BY COUNCIL OR DO NOT APPROVE THESE CHANGES.

AND OUR RECOMMENDATION BY STAFF IS TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK CHANGES AS OUTLINED.

ANY QUESTIONS? I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION.

WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE SIX SIGMA PROGRAM BEFORE ABOUT POSSIBLE PROVIDING SOME KIND OF INCENTIVE IN THERE.

HAVING SPENT ALMOST MY ENTIRE ADULT LIFE AND GOVERNMENT, I KNOW THE ALL TOO OLD ADAGE OF IF YOU DON'T USE IT, YOU LOSE IT.

AND SO IT'S THERE'S AN ONGOING HISTORICAL VIEW IN GOVERNMENT THAT YOU NEED TO SPEND EVERY BIT OF YOUR BUDGET, EVEN IF IT'S THINGS YOU DON'T NEED. AND I LIKE THE SIX SIGMA PROGRAM BECAUSE IT REVERSES THAT TREND.

HAS THERE BEEN THOUGHT, AS FAR AS WHAT WE CAN DO TO TO SUPPORT THAT OR PROVIDE IT? ACTUALLY, JESSIE, THE DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I HAD A CHAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO ABOUT SPENDING PART OF OUR TRAINING BUDGETS, BOTH OF US TOGETHER TO GET MORE EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE CITY TRAIN FOR EITHER YELLOW, YELLOW BELT OR GREEN BELT SIX SIGMA, SO THAT THEY

[00:15:04]

WE'VE GOT LEAN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM INITIATIVES ALREADY STARTED.

I BELIEVE THE HR DEPARTMENT WAS THE FIRST ONE TO SUBMIT A LEAN SIX SIGMA PROGRAM.

WE DID DO SOME IN OUR DEPARTMENT ALREADY, AND WE'VE GOT TWO MORE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING THE SAME THING.

SO YEAH, WE ARE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT THAT DIRECTION BECAUSE I KNOW OUR DEPARTMENT GAVE MONEY BACK AND I KNOW OTHER DEPARTMENTS DID AS WELL.

BUT WE CAN MAKE BETTER USE OF TIME, RESOURCES AND FUNDING FOR EVERY PART OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

WELL, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND I'M NOT NOT SINGLING Y'ALL OUT.

IT'S JUST A CULTURE OF GOVERNMENT AT EVERY LEVEL.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GOING TO TRY AND CHANGE THAT CULTURE.

THANK YOU, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU THIS MORNING. IS THERE A MOTION ON THIS? I MOVE TO APPROVE.

I WOULD SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY TAMARA.

AND SECOND BY JIMMY, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU, JOHN. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THAT BRINGS US TO SECTION FOUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[4.RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION]

SO THERE IS A NEED TO CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS MORNING PURSUANT TO SECTION 551.071551.072551.087.

MAYOR IF YOU COULD ASK FOR A MOTION, A VOTE, AND THEN ANNOUNCE THE TIME WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IS THERE A MOTION? SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY RONNIE AND A SECOND BY RICK. PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUS.

WE'RE GOING TO GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 9:21.

WE'RE GOING TO RECONVENE AT 10:59.

MAYOR, I NEED A VOTE TO RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION.

IS THERE A MOTION TO RECONVENE? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING.

PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.

WE ARE NOW BACK IN OPEN SESSION AT 10:59.

WE HAVE NO OTHER ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION ON THIS AGENDA, SO WE ARE READY TO ADJOURN.

MAYOR IF YOU COULD ASK FOR A MOTION, A SECOND AND NO VOTE AND THEN STATE THE TIME A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SECOND.

I GOT A SECOND. I GOT DAN AND JIMMY AND A SPEEDBOAT WERE ADJOURNED.

AT WHICH ONE? 10:59.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.