2004 08 04 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
August 4, 2004
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on August 4, 2004, at 3:30
p.m. in the Hullum Conference Room, Baytown, Texas, with the following in attendance:
Ronnie Anderson
Sammy Mahan
Don Murray
Mercedes Renteria III
Calvin Mundinger
Gary M. Jackson
Bob Leiper
Ignacio Ramirez, Sr.
Gary W. Smith
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Mayor
City Manager
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
The meeting was opened with a quorum present after which the following business was
conducted:
Discuss the 2004 -2005 fiscal year budget.
Gary Jackson, City Manager, introduced the budget for Planning and Development Services.
Planning oversees the comprehensive plan, zoning, the subdivision ordinance, plan review,
prepares annexation service plans, oversees the Development Review Committee, and provides
support for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of Adjustment.
Greg Stubbs, Director of Planning and Development Services, explained that it is time to update
the comprehensive plan to adjust the growth rate to 1.2% and to include the economic
development strategic plan and the downtown master plan. A unified land development code
will combine all of the development ordinances and engineering and design standards into a
single communication device to assist and encourage development. The Municipal Development
District will provide funding to assist with the development of the code. The proposed budget
includes $50,000 in matching funds for downtown redevelopment. The Council discussed how
the funds would be matched and qualifying projects. The proposed budget also includes funds
for a grant locator service. This service will provide the City with reports of grant availability
and forms.
Mr. Stubbs explained the activities in Building Services. This division reviews plans, issues
permits, conducts inspections, enforces care of premises, serves as the FEMA Floodplain
Administrator, provides maintenance for City Hall, and provides staff support for the
Construction Board of Appeals and the Electrical Board. The budget includes a replacement
vehicle and additional training for staff.
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Minutes of the Work Session — August 4, 2004
Council Member Sheley arrived at 4:06 p.m.
The Council engaged in a discussion of a cooperative effort with the Economic Development
Foundation to provide assistance in grants and economic development.
Mr. Stubbs explained the activities of the Community Development Division. The division
assists the Community Development Advisory Committee and the Urban Rehabilitation
Standards Review Board, prepares the 5 -year Consolidated Plan, supervises the Senior /Disabled
Transportation program, oversees the Community Development Block Grant sub - recipients, and
collaborates with Harris County on housing and transportation issues.
Bill Pedersen, City Engineer, explained the activities of the Engineering Department. They plan,
program and supervise all public infrastructure projects. Currently they are managing
approximately 50 contracts. They review and approve engineering for private development.
They provide technical support for all departments. They prepare the agendas and packets for
the A &E Committee.
Mr. Jackson introduced the activities of the Public Works Department. The Administrative
Division prepares reports to the EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The
other general fund divisions are Streets and Drainage and Traffic Control.
Fred Pack, Director of Public Works, explained the impact of the recent rains on pothole repairs
and street sweeping. The proposed budget includes funding for design of traffic light
synchronization on North Main and North Alexander Drive. The Sanitation Fund provides for
twice weekly collection of trash and heavy items, brush collection, and the Recycling/Drop -Off
Center. No rate increase is proposed. A continuing problem at the Recycling/Drop -Off Center is
the apparent use of the facility by contractors. This is not an intended use, but the current
practices make it very hard to prevent. The contractors should be taking the waste to the landfill.
The division is considering changes to the program to prevent the misuse.
Mr. Jackson reviewed the proposal for the street maintenance sales tax. The sales tax was
approved as a one - quarter of one percent sales and use tax. Collection will begin on October 1,
2004, with the first payment received in December, 2004. The revenue is projected to be
$1,250,000 this fiscal year. The revenue will fund the crack seal program, $150,000; the contract
concrete program, $200,000; and the repair /overlay program, $900,000. The contract concrete
program will provide relief to the general fund.
The Council engaged in a discussion of how to form the budget to allow expenditure of funds
received in excess of anticipated revenues.
Mr. Pack reviewed the activities of the Utilities Division. The Water Department maintains 435
miles of water mains, 5 wells and 6 elevated storage tanks. Water treatment is provided by the
Baytown Area Water Authority. The proposed budget includes $100,000 for the design of an
additional elevated water storage tank. In Wastewater, the collection system consists of 420
miles of mains, 80 lift stations, three treatment plants with an additional one being planned, and
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Minutes of the Work Session — August 4, 2004
pollution control, which monitors the waste entering the system. The Construction Division
!' provides the taps for the water and wastewater lines. Most of the taps are new taps for new
development. The division also maintains the water mains.
Mr. Jackson explained that the Water and Sewer Fund provides funding for water and sewer
overhead, utility billing, water operations, wastewater operations, and utility construction. All
the activities are supported by revenue from water and sewer rates.
Council discussed the hours of the utility billing office.
Mr. Jackson stated that the fund is increased by 8.2% due to the increase in debt service. The
debt service has increased to $21,417,245, an increase of $1,622,782. The fund is aided by the
MDD sharing 40% of the cost of the new Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant. Debt is also
proposed to expand the West District Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water and sewer rates are
proposed to be increased by an average of 8.6% for in -City users.
The Council discussed the potential advantages of the privatization of the wastewater plants and
system.
Mr. Jackson noted that the budget contained no funding for the repair of private sewer laterals to
fix the infiltration problem.
Mayor Mundinger noted that the estimate of repair of the private lines is $20,000,000 and the
estimate to repair the public lines is $200,000,000. The private lines are estimated to contribute
one -half of the infiltration. Staff stated that the ordinance requires the citizens to repair the
private lines. Mr. Jackson explained alternatives for generation of funds for the repair of private
lines. If water bills were surcharged, the surcharge would be very high. He queried if a
surcharge would be fair to a citizen without faulty laterals or one who repaired his own lateral.
Debt cannot be issued to repair private laterals unless the property owner is required to repay the
expense within five years. Funding could be provided through the issuance of revenue bonds to
be repaid by a $6 per month surcharge for 20 years. This funding source will not provide
sufficient revenue to repair all private laterals. The Council reviewed and discussed other
solutions to the I & I problem.
The meeting was recessed at 5:49 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 6:01 p.m.
The Council, by consensus, detennined to set meetings for Monday, August 9 at 5 p.m.,
Wednesday, August 11 at 5 p.m. and Thursday, August 12 at 4 p.m.
Adjourn.
There being no further business, Council Member Anderson moved that the meeting adjourn.
Council Member Sheley seconded the motion. The vote follows:
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Minutes of the Work Session — August 4, 2004
Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Mahan, Murray, Renteria, and Sheley
Mayor Mundinger
Nays: None.
The motion carried and the meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
GGl y W. Smith
City Clerk