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2025 06 27 CC WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE BUDGET WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN June 27, 2025 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in a Budget Work Session on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 8:30 P.M. in the Conference Room of the Public Safety Building, 3200 North Main Street, Baytown, Texas, with the following in attendance: Jacob Powell Mayor Pro Tern Laura Alvarado Council Member Sarah Graham Council Member Kenrick Griffith Council Member James Franco Council Member Mike Lester Council Member Charles Johnson Mayor Jason Reynolds City Manager Scott Lemond City Attorney Gabriella Gonzales Assistant City Clerk John Stringer Sergeant at Arms Mayor Charles Johnson convened the June 27, 2025 City Council Budget Work Session with a quorum present at 9:27 A.M. All members were present with the exception of Council Member James Franco. 1. CITIZEN COMMENTS Mayor Charles Johnson announced he would be reading citizen Don Marie Seaver, 805 Schilling Street Apartment 201 comments due to her having to leave the meeting early. "Has any of Council ever been on the bus? Are they willing to? The Ubers & Taxis do no have lifts. Can United Way give passes to those present? Is the City hiring and if so can Human Resources reach out to her with details on how to apply?" 2. DISCUSSIONS a. Discussion of Fiscal Year 2026 budget and policy impacts. City Manager Jason Reynolds shared how personal experiences with change and discipline relate to maintaining a fiscally healthier City. (Exhibit A) Assistant to the City Manager Sabrina Martin provided an outline of the agenda and topics to be discussed regarding the City of Baytown Financial Budget to receive accurate feedback for a final balanced budget. City Council Budget Work Session Minutes June 27, 2025 Page 2 of 4 Council Members expressed their opinions and recommendations regarding the City Budget and expressed appreciation to staff for their continuous work on meeting new budget demands. City Manager Jason Reynolds further discussed the listed items for City Council Members: • Personal Property Tax Exemption • Special District Taxes • Property Tax Rate Chief of Police John Stringer provided an in-depth overview regarding Crime Control and Prevention District (CCPD) funding requirements to maintain current level of support for the City of Baytown. Chief of Fire Kenneth Dobson provided a summary regarding Fire Control Prevention and Emergency Medical Services District (FCPEMSD) funding requirements to maintain readiness level for the City of Baytown. Council Members expressed concerns related to the effects of failing elections and where would the funding would come from to cover those costs. Finance Director Teresa McKenzie provided an overview regarding the listed items: • EMS Fees • Green Center Fees • Credit Card Charges • Utility Fees Assistant City Manager Brant Gary provided a few suggestions to City Council to address the Green Center Fees. City Council Members provided recommendations regarding ways to address potential fees associated with brush disposal at the Green Center. Finance Director Teresa McKenzie informed the City Council that due to an account review credit card fees after the amendments to payments has been increased and currently will be looking for other options. Council Members requested clarification and expressed their opinions regarding fee increases and alternatives for payment processing. City Manager Jason Reynolds further discussed recouping outstanding balances related to utility services and staffing personnel required to accommodate the current work volume. City Council Members expressed their opinions and recommendations for handling outstanding utility account balances. City Council Budget Work Session Minutes June 27, 2025 Page 3 of 4 Finance Director Teresa McKenzie proposed rate increases for utility billing of non -routine fees. City Council requested further clarification on methods to prevent non -routine fees and deter any increases within this percentage. Assistant City Manager Gary Brant discussed the listed items: • Sanitation • Permitting Fees • Eliminate TxDot Mowing • Reduce Demolition Public Works and Engineering Director Frank Simoueaux provided resources and data regarding sanitation agreements with the current contractor. Planning and Development Services Director Martin Scribner provided details for fees associated with services provided to citizens. Council Members provided recommendations to increase the fees to possibly achieve a goal that distributes the cost associated with these services. City Manager Jason Reynolds provided a break down of how other funds transferred into accounts in affects to the budget overall as listed below: • Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) • Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) • Municipal Development District (MDD) • Water and Sewer (WS) City Manager Jason Reynolds introduced Harris County Transit Representative Ken Fickes. Ken Fickes. presented the Harris transit cost associated with services provided to the City of Baytown Residents. (Exhibit B) City Council Members requested results for utilized services and expressed their opinions and recommendations to account for the residents using Harris County Transit Services. Mayor Charles Johnson announced they will recess at l 1:31 A.M. Mayor Charles Johnson reconvened the meeting at 12:17 P.M. City Manager Jason Reynolds thanked City staff for a report completed by multiple departments reflecting the work completed to provide the date regarding mowing services and demolition services. City Council Budget Work Session Minutes June 27, 2025 Page 4 of 4 Mayor Pro Tem Jacob Powell left the meeting at 2:51 P.M. Fire Chief Kenneth Dobson provided a request regarding personnel that would impact the Fire Department high demand services. Assistant to City Manager Sabrina Martin provided a draft of the City Budget until the final voter approval amount is provided and further discussions take place with the approved budget amount. kc�. t1i1#19I Il With there being no further business to discuss, Mayor Charles Johnson adjourned the June 27, 2025, City Council Budget Work Session at 3.28 P.M. 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