2005 08 01 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
August 1, 2005
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on August 1, 2005, at 1:00
p.m. in the Hullum Conference Room, Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas,
with the following in attendance:
Ronnie Anderson
Brandon Capetillo
Sammy Mahan
Don Murray
Mercedes Renteria III
Calvin Mundinger
Gary M. Jackson
Bob Leiper
Kelvin Knauf
Ignacio Ramirez, Sr.
Gary W. Smith
Absent was Scott Sheley, Council Member.
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Council Member
Mayor
City Manager
Deputy 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 proposed 2005 -2006 fiscal year budget.
Gary Jackson, City Manager, reviewed the priorities of the proposed budget, employee
compensation and benefits, public safety and health, infrastructure and bond/capital projects, and
economic development. The general fund budgets have increased since 1999 with the sharpest
increase in 2001 -2002.
The proposed budget contains a $2.2 million increase. The largest increase is in personnel services.
The proposed tax rate is unchanged since 1992. There has been a five percent increase in total
taxable value. No increase in facility rental fees, sanitation/recycling fees or charges, or in the
storm water utility fee. Increases are proposed for Health inspection fees and a new contractor
registration fee and a GIS mapping fee are proposed. Fifteen new employees are in the budget.
Five are transferred police officers from the Organized Crime Unit, six new firefighters, 2 new
paramedics, a web page technician, and a safety coordinator.
Compensation is proposed to be increased by $1,090,270 to bring employees to market, based on
the compensation study. Health and dental expenses are increased $1,101,000, a 35% increase for
the City and a 25% increase for employees. The budget includes the use of $2,157,246 of fund
balance, resulting in a fund balance of 70 days.
The general fund revenues are from Industrial District Agreements, 38 %; property taxes, 21 %; sales
and use taxes, 16 %; franchise fees, 8 %; and other, 17 %. Taxable values are projected to increase by
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Minutes of the Work Session — August 1, 2005
1.5% over the current certified roll. Sales tax is projected to grow by 2.3% and a 0.9% growth is
projected in IDA payments. The City will begin to repay $560,500 sales tax paid in error. Permits
and licenses are projected to increase by 31 %. Health permits are proposed to be increased as
follows:
High risk food (1 -9 employees) from $150 to $250,
High risk food (over 9 employees) from $300 to $400,
Day care from $75 to $100,
Food processing plant from $300 to $400, and
Public pools from $30 to $100.
The transfers -in will increase by 65.7% and the intergovernmental transfers will increase by 78.6 %.
This is the final year of the CCPD transition fund (25.5% decrease). Fines and forfeitures will
increase by 12.1 %, while interest earnings are down 27.8 %.
The general fund expenditures by function are public safety, 54 %; general government, 25 %;
culture and leisure, 11 %; public works, 8 %; and health and welfare, 2 %. Expenditures by type are
personnel services, 76 %; services, 11 %; capital and transfers 5 %; maintenance, 4 %; supplies, 3 %;
and miscellaneous, 1%.
The nine -month cost of the compensation adjustments to bring employees to market as proposed is
$1,090,270. Mr. Jackson reviewed the methodology used to determine the market pay for executive
employees, non - executive employees, police employees, and fire employees. Ninety -nine
employees were below the minimum of the market study. These employees will be brought to the
minimum. The plan will be adjusted on January 1, 2006. A tenure -based approach will be used to
bring the employees to the market midpoint. The Police Department pay tiers will be adjusted to
100% of market. The Fire Department tiers are subject to collective bargaining.
The health plan expenses are exceeding revenues by $1.5 million. $1.1 million will be borne by the
City and $240,000 will be borne by the employees and retirees. The plan design is proposed to be
changed to increase the out -of- pocket expenses for Plan B from $2500 to $3500 with a $100
prescription deductible. The dental plan will increase by 20% and the alternate dental plan will
increase 3 %.
Six officers are returning to the Police Department from the Organized Crime Unit. The Captain
and Lieutenant will be paid 100% by OCU funds, the four patrol officers will be paid 75% by OCU
funds. The civilian employees will be funded by the OCU until January 2006. The capital
expenditures for the police include video cameras, radar, twelve vehicles, and operating expenses
for the new Police Academy. The Department has the Chief, 125 officers, legal advisor, 19 jailers,
7 animal control officers, 3 mechanics, and a support staff of 23.
The Fire Department will have six new fire fighters. Three will be funded by the agreement with
Chambers County Improvement District No. 1 and three will be funded through a reduction in
overtime. The budget provides for additional training, a battalion chief being made an assistant
chief over homeland security, hazardous materials response, capital maintenance and repairs,
vehicle replacement, and the operational expenses for the new emergency operations center. The
Department consists of the Chief, 91 fire fighters, 3 mechanics, and a support staff of 2.
The Council discussed a memorial for fire fighters lost in the line of duty and an annual ceremony.
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Minutes of the Work Session — August 1, 2005
The meeting recessed at 2:34 p.m.
The meeting reconvened at 2:49 p.m.
Public Health and Emergency Medical Services conduct neighborhood protection with lot and alley
cleanup, funded through Community Development Block Grant funds, and the Trash -Off Program.
The mosquito control officer will be expanded from part -time to full -time. The Department has the
director, an environmental health coordinator, a neighborhood protection division coordinator, four
inspectors /specialists, and a support staff of 2. The Emergency Medical Services Division budget
includes two new paramedics to serve as shift relief to reduce overtime, a new ambulance, and a 12-
lead EKG. The division consists of the EMS coordinator, 3 supervisors, 18 paramedics, and a
support staff of 2.
Communications handles all calls for service, oversees the emergency sirens, and the 800 MHz
radio system. The division consists of the coordinator, 4 supervisors, 15 telecommunicators, and
one electronic technician.
Public Works consists of administration with 4 employees, streets and drainage with 30 employees
and three funded through CDBG funds, with major funding from the street sales tax, and traffic
control. The traffic control budget includes $40,000 for a contract Traffic Engineer, $100,000 for
an undesignated traffic signal, $50,000 for contract pavement marking, and the purchase of an
arrow board to improve worker and driver safety. The division consists of six employees.
The Engineering Department consists of the City Engineer, Assistant Director, 2 project
coordinators, 2 inspectors, a survey technician, a CAD /GIS technician, and a staff support of 1. The
Department oversees many projects and serves as a resource for other departments. More work has
been done "in- house" saving consultant fees and lowering the costs of the projects.
General government accounts for 25% of the general fund budget. Administration consists of the
City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and Administrative Assistant.
Administration oversees the other organizations and component units of the City.
Fiscal operations consist of finance administration, accounting, treasurer, budgeting, cash
management, purchasing, and utility billing. The department consists of the director, assistant
director, controller, treasurer, purchasing manager, budget officer, financial analyst, buyer, three
accountants, and a support staff of seven. Fiscal operations is the heartbeat of the operation.
Legal services consists of the City Attorney, First Assistant City Attorney, Municipal Court
Prosecutor, Legal Advisor, and a support staff of two.
Information Technology Services budget includes egovernment applications, a PC /web technician,
$436,562 for maintenance and license fees, and $54,312 for PC and printer replacement. The
department oversaw the installation of the voice over Internet protocol telephone system providing
the City with significant savings in communications.
The Council discussed electronic agenda packets. A pilot program was proposed. The cost of a
laptop computer for each Council Member is estimated to be $1300 to $1500.
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Minutes of the Work Session — August 1, 2005
Planning and Development Services consists of Planning, which oversees the comprehensive plan,
zoning, subdivisions, plan review, annexation service plans, the development review committee, the
Planning & Zoning Commission, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The division consists of
the director, a planning manager, two planners, and a support staff of one. The budget includes
funding for the unified land development code, the comprehensive plan update, downtown
redevelopment matching funds, coordination with the Economic Development Foundation of the
economic development strategic plan and the revolving loan program, the downtown design
guidelines, and a grant locator service. The Council discussed the orderly progression of downtown
redevelopment and funding.
The Building Services Division is responsible for plans review, inspections, floodplain
management, City Hall maintenance, the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals, and the
Electrical Board. The division consists of the chief building official, the deputy building official,
plans examiner, five inspectors, and a support staff of two. The division was commended for the
approach and attitude in providing excellent customer service.
The Community Development Division is responsible for the Community Development Advisory
Committee, the Urban Rehabilitation Standards Review Board, the 5 -year Consolidated Plan, the
transportation program, and the Community Development Block Grant subrecipient program. The
division consists of the community development planning manager, housing planner, property
rehabilitation specialist, inspector, and a support staff of one.
The budget for Human Resources includes the addition of a full -time safety coordinator. The
department consists of the director, the assistant director, training and employee development
manager, risk manager, safety coordinator, HR coordinator, and a support staff of two.
The City Clerk's Office and Municipal Court oversees and conducts elections, agendas, and records
management. The Marshal Program has been a benefit to the City in bringing unresolved cases
back to Court. The department consists of the city clerk, municipal court judge, assistant city clerk,
court administrator, two city marshals, and a support staff of thirteen.
City facilities and overhead cover the joint functions of City Hall and all streetlights.
Culture and Leisure makes up 11 % of the general fund.
The Parks and Recreation budget include a part -time parks caretaker for the Sports Complex,
electrical costs for youth sports, playground equipment replacement, backstop replacements, and a
used dump truck. The department consists of the director and the Parks Division and the Recreation
Division. The Parks division consists of the superintendent, three foremen, thirteen caretakers, four
heavy equipment operators, and four equipment operators. The Recreation Division consists of the
superintendent, recreation supervisor, building maintenance supervisor, and two recreation
specialists.
., Sterling Municipal Library has over 320,000 vists each year. The use of electronic resources has
tripled since 2003 -2004. The budget provides an increase of $128,923 for books and non -print
materials and a 7% increase in HALAN fees. The department consists of the city librarian, assistant
librarian, library staff of twenty and a support staff of one. The budget has been maintained at the
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Minutes of the Work Session — August 1, 2005
I' same level with increased funding for fuels. The programs will be maintained. The bookmobile
will be expanded to provide service at San Jacinto Mall on weekends. The Friends of the Library
are active. Grants are anticipated to increase the number of computers for public use at the Library.
Security is proposed to be reduced, as there have been no incidents recently.
Mr. Jackson reported that GASB 45 will place new requirements for post employment benefits.
The budget proposes a portion of the fund balance to be dedicated to provide a portion of the
requirement. While the requirements will not be in effect until 2008 -2009, an actuarial study will
be done and it is anticipated that approximately 50% of the requirement will be met.
The next work session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 2, 2005 at 9 a.m. to discuss the Water and
Sewer fund and its divisions and capital improvement program.
Adjourn.
Council Member Anderson moved that the meeting adjourn. Council Member Renteria seconded
the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Capetillo, Mahan, Murray, and Renteria
Mayor Mundinger.
Nays: None.
The motion carried. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:39 p.m.