1975 09 08 CC Minutes, Special5890
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
September 8, 1975
The City Council of the City of Baytown met in Special Session, Monday,
September 8, 1975, at 6:30 P. M. in the Council Chamber of the Baytown City Hall.
The following members attended;
Jody Lander Councilman
Charles Pool Councilman
Emmett 0. Hutto Councilman
Tom Walmsley Councilman
Tom Gentry Mayor
Fritz Lanham City Manager
Jon Pfennig Assistant City Attorney
Edna Oliver City Clerk
Dan Savage Assistant City Manager
Absent: Fred Bednarski Councilman
Mary E. Wilbanks Councilwoman
Mayor Gentry called the meeting to order and the following business was
transacted:
Hearing on Proposed 1976 -76 Budget
M ayor Gentry declared in session the hearing on the proposed budget for the
fiscal year 1975 -76.
Mr. Lanham briefly summarized the proposed budget, which represents a 146 increase
over the current budget. There will be no increase in taxes or user charges, and the
budget does not provide for any new programs or significant increase in existing programs
or services. The 14% increase is necessary, in part, because of inflation, increased
requirements for bond fund interest & sinking funds from current revenues, and an
8% pay increase for city employees. There is an increase of $137,000 in the Capital
Outlay. The proposed budget was filed in the City Clerk's office on July 31, and has
been available to the general public since that time.
The only person desiring to speak to the proposed budget was Mr. John Donnelly,
representing the Volunteer Fire Department of District No. 6. Mr. Donnelly explained
that he was not aware if council had considered providing a meeting room for the
volunteers of district No. 6 in the budget work sessions. This request had been made,
however, at the time fire station no. 6 was designed. Because there were not adequate
funds at that time, a meeting room was not included in the plans. The volunteer firemen
of district no. 6 meet in the living quarters of the fire station. Mr. Donnelly
stated it was his understanding that a meeting room would be considered in the 1975 -76
budget. He stressed the necessity for a building, about 30' x 40', in which there should
be a meeting room with a small kitchen. The building is needed for meeting and training
space, and should be similar to the area at fire station no. 2. There is presently a
slab behind station no. 6 which could probably be used.
Regarding the training officer that was proposed, Mr. Donnelly expressed his
OWN appreciation for council's consideration, but indicated it was premature. He did not
feel a training officer could provide the quality of training that is available at
Texas A & M. Also, the volunteers' situation is unique, in that there are actually
six separate volunteer fire deparmtnets in Baytown. A more practical approach would
be for each department to have its own training officer.
Following discussion with Mr. Donnelly, Mr. Lanham suggested an estimate be made
forthe size building Mr. Donnelly has requested for council's consideration at the meeting
Thursday night. Council offered no objection.
:)891
September 8, 1975
Receive Report from 1975 Board of Equalization
Mr. Truett Smith, chairman of the 1975 Board of Equalization, presented the
Board's report to Council. The Board met for seven days of public hearings, and
four days for work sessions. A total of 123 taxpayers met with the board and dis-
cussed 208 property values. In addition to the hearings, the Board made several
field trips for the on -site inspections of properties that had been discussed.
Adjustments were made to the valuations made by the tax department that were
deemed necessary by the Board in order to complete and equalize the tax roll.
Mr. Smith reported an assessed value of $262,589,185, which is 50% of fair market
value. This represents an increase of 7.6% over the 1974 assessed value.
In discussing the number of protests that were heard by the board, Mr. Smith
explained that because of the number of opeople available to assess property,
the city must use the mass appraisal approach. Certain subdivisions were re- evaluated
depending on the ratio studies. This year, some of the surveys (non- subdivided)
were re- evaluated. Mr. Smith commended the tax department for their cocperation
with the Board, and their methods in carrying out the ratio studies. The Board
is satisfied with the way property is evaluated by Baytown's tax department, based
on information and methods of other cities. The Thomas Y. Pickett firm again did
an excellent job in evaluating the industrial districts.
Councilman Pool moved to accept the report from the Board of Equalization;
approving the tax roll as reflected in the report; Councilman Walmsley seconded the
motion:
Ayes: Council members
Mayor Gentry
Nays: None
Work Session
Adiourn
Lander, Pool, Hutto and Walmsley
Mayor Gentry recessed the council meeting to a budget work session.
When the council meeting reconvened,
Councilman Walmsley seconded the motion:
Ayes: Council members Lander, Pool,
Mayor Gentry
Nays: None
AT T:
EDNA OLIVER, City Clerk
Councilman Lander moved to adjourn;
Hutto and Walmsley
APPROVED:
/s/ Tom Gentry
TOM GENTRY, Mayor