2002 06 24 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
June 24, 2002
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on June 24, 2002, at 8:00
a.m. in the Hullum Conference Room of Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown,
Texas, with the following in attendance:
Ronnie Anderson
Calvin Mundinger
Don Murray
Mercedes Renteria, III
Scott Sheley
Pete C. Alfaro
Gary Jackson
Patti Merrell
Absent: Coleman Godwin
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Mayor
Interim City Manager
Assistant City Clerk
Council Member
The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was
conducted:
Discuss City Council priorities for the fiscal year 2002 -2003 municipal budget.
Mayor Alfaro reviewed the rules of the meeting.
• Everyone should participate
• Be courteous —do not interrupt other council members
• Respect other views and opinions
• No "chasing rabbits" stay focused on issues
• Focus on the common good of the entire Council
• No one dominates the discussions.
Consensus is the agreement of the majority of the Council. Council guidance to administration
will be made by consensus.
Mayor Alfaro expressed the need for a follow -up meeting to continue discussion of the 2002-
2003 budget, as well as the Council's goals and objectives in conjunction of the 2020 Plan.
After brief discussion, it was the consensus of council present that a work session be held on July
1, 2002 at 8:00 a.m.
Interim City Manager Gary Jackson reported that the results of the Council priority survey had
been compiled. The results reflected the top priorities of each Council Member; the top priorities
for each Council District; the overall priorities; and those issues not reflected in the
questionnaire. The four top categories are the same as last year's four top categories.
Page 2 of 3
Minutes of the Work Session —June 24, 2002
Top budget priorities ranked by Council Member Renteria.
Employee pay plan adjustment.
Fire emergency response.
Street repair and maintenance.
Economic development/revitalization.
Workforce diversity
Top budget priorities ranked by Council Member Sheley.
Workers benefits and salary package meeting market value.
10% reductions in all departments' operating budgets.
Proactive and evaluative approach to 4 -man staffing (volunteer firefighters, improve vacation
scheduling, better utilization of existing stafo.
Meeting and maintaining quality of life needs for all citizens.
Review options for additional sales tax such as '/8 fire, '/8 transit, '/a police = %2 cent sales tax.
Top budget priorities ranked by Council Member Mundinger.
Expedite implementation of 2001 bond program.
Consider new revenue sources.
Enhance city's public relations efforts.
Enhance incentives for revitalization.
Continue paying youth sports electrical costs.
Top budget priorities ranked by Council Member Murray.
No tax rate increase.
Strong, well- staffed Planning Department.
Provide sufficient staff and/or consultant oversight of bond expenditures.
Staff support for MDD and TIRZ.
Continue ongoing infrastructure improvement program.
Top budget priorities ranked by Council Member Anderson.
Landscaping.
Maintain current effort in as many areas as possible given current budget constraints.
Use caution in hiring and expansion of employee base.
Have each department evaluate spending processes for areas of cost savings.
Top budget priorities ranked by Mayor Alfaro.
Communications between Council and citizens.
Retention of DOT officer in the Police Department.
4 -man staffing.
Proactive annexation.
Economic development.
New revenue sources.
There was discussion regarding the need for a strong Planning Department in order to implement
current projects i.e., the 2020 Plan, TIRZ and MDD. Outsourcing some responsibilities, such as
legal, for these entities was suggested. More in -house project management versus less use of
consultants was debated. It was noted that, depending on the workload and level of expertise, in-
house project management can cost more than a consultant. Staff advised that the impact of a
reduction in consulting fees could delay completion of projects.
Page 3 of 3
Minutes of the Work Session —June 24, 2002
op� Mayor Alfam requested that staff provide information regarding the following top budget issues
at the work session on July 1, 2002: the impact of 4 -man staffing and loss of CCPD funds,
projected property tax figures for the next budget year from HCAD, new revenue sources,
project management, staffing equity, and proactive annexation.
Items not included in the questionnaire.
Council Member Sheley suggested the need for a half -day retreat and offered to coordinate the
meeting.
Council travel policy.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:33 a.m.
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' Patti Merrell
Assistant City Clerk