2005 08 03 WS MinutesMINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
August 3, 2005
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in work session on August 3, 2005, at 3:30
p.m. in the Hullum Conference Room, Baytown City Hall, 2401 Market Street, Baytown, Texas,
with the following in attendance:
Ronnie Anderson
Sammy Mahan
Don Murray
Mercedes Renteria III
Scott Sheley
Calvin Mundinger
Gary M. Jackson
Bob Leiper
Kelvin Knauf
Ignacio Ramirez, Sr.
Gary W. Smith
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, stated that the work session would review the hotel occupancy tax
fund, central services and miscellaneous funds, the remaining one - quarter cent sales tax, and a
summary.
The hotel occupancy tax revenues are restricted in use by state law. Generally, the expenditure of
the funds must support tourism. The revenues are projected to decrease by $20,484 or 4.4% to
$420,000.
Council Member Brandon Capetillo arrived at 3:42 p.m.
Council discussed the measuring the impact of expenditures on the hotels and restaurants.
The expenditures are $698,412, an increase of $114,764 or 19.66 %. Contingency is increased
$40,117, advertising is increased $29,414, Bayou Bowl support is increased $28,000, and visitor
services is increased $45,000. By function the expenditures are promotions -4571,116, arts- -
$42,673, historical -- $44,933, and bay and estuary community -- $39,690. Personnel services are
funded with $63,415, supplies with $18,085, maintenance with $5,900, services with $299,362,
sundry with $650, capital with $51,000, and contingencies with $260,000. The projects proposed to
be funded are July 4`h, $105,000; promotion and advertising, $180,742; summer concert series,
$27,184; Baytown Historical Museum, $34,933; Symphony Children's concert, $8,123; state
softball tournaments, $7,000; bays and estuary clean up, $39,690; Baytown Nature Center Visitor
Center, $3,240; art show, $3,250; and contingency $360,000.
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Minutes of the Work Session — August 3, 2005
Council discussed the expenditures for the Baytown Nature Center. The July 4 celebration funding
is continued, along with two summer concerts, the children's concert, and the Bayou Bowl support.
$110,000 is provided for new initiatives and funding is provided for a third party contract for visitor
services and promotion. The budget also sets aside funding for web page maintenance.
The statutory provisions regulating the use of hotel occupancy tax funds were reviewed.
Mayor Mundinger stated that the Chamber of Commerce is expected to request funding for its
visitor services efforts. Mr. Jackson noted that the funding is provided under the visitor services
line item. Council discussed providing funding to assist the Chamber of Commerce in its work to
support tourism, promotion, and visitor services. The services could be provided internally, but
additional staffing would be required. Presently the contract with the Chamber of Commerce
provides $5,000 for all services, including visitor services.
The Central Services Fund includes the Warehouse Fund and the Garage Fund. The Warehouse
Fund provides for a truck replacement. There are four employees in the Warehouse Fund. The
Garage Fund includes an increase of $336,957 to cover the cost of fuel. There are eight employees
in the Garage Fund.
The Street Maintenance Sales Tax is funded through a one - quarter cent sales tax. The revenue is
projected to be $1,468,500. Funding will be provided for the crack seal program, $300,000; the
contract concrete repair program, $200,000; the street mill and overlay program, $1,000,000; and
contingency, $100,000. $131,500 will be used from fund balances. The street selection for work
order number two will be presented to City Council at a later date. Council discussed the
scheduling of street work paid from the Street Maintenance Sales Tax.
The Bayland Island Fund is reduced $237,955 due to the pay off of the Ships Store debt. The
transfer from the fund is reduced to $40,000. The budget includes a small increase for maintenance
of the common areas.
Presently the sales tax is divided as follows: 6.25% to the State, 1 % to the City, .5% to MDD, .25%
for street maintenance. There is .25% available for possible use.
It is possible to ask the voters to approve a sales tax to support a new Crime Control and
Improvement District and a Fire Control, Prevention and Emergency Medical Services District.
The CCPD can fund personnel, administration, expansion, enhancement, and capital expenditures
for police and law enforcement related programs. The FCPEMSD may fund apparatus and
equipment, training, protective equipment and uniforms, overtime for unforeseen needs,
construction and maintenance of fire stations, training facilities, and equipment, and emergency
communications programs and equipment. It is possible to dedicate IN % to each. An election
could be held in May 2006 and, if approved, collections to begin in October 2006 and first payment
in December 2006. Council discussed possible election dates, support from the Chamber of
Commerce for the sales taxes, and the need for additional public safety. The Council reviewed the
results of the special overtime provided in the current year police budget. The Council discussed
crime prevention efforts.
The technical adjustments provide $15,000 for the Neighborhood Protection Division for additional
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Minutes of the Work Session – August 3, 2005
101` weekend enforcement, $5,000 to support the Beautification Commission, and $10,000 for
equipment to support an electronic agenda. The memorial for fallen firefighters was included as a
purpose in the CIPF. The adjustments are funded from Council contingency and the reduction of a
capital purchase in Parks that will be made in the current fiscal year. There is no net change to the
budget.
Council discussed the need for Spanish language signs to combat littering and the kiosk sign
program.
The following answers were provided for questions previously posed. The amount of the property
lax revenue increase is $10,886 or 0.12 %. Fund balance policies for other cities include the
following: La Porte -90 days, currently at 100 days; Deer Park -3 to 4 months, currently at I
month; Pasadena -54 days, currently at 64 days; and Beaumont -40 to 50 days. Council discussed
the sufficiency of the proposed fund balance. It is not possible to provide the appraisal roll growth
distinguishing between new construction and increased values. Fire Department training was
funded with $19,280 in the current year and is proposed to be funded with $99,223 in the proposed
budget. The fire fighter memorial is in the planning stages and is established as a purpose in CIPF.
The Neighborhood Protection Officer funding is increased by $15,000 to provide for weekend duty.
An Animal Control Officer is on duty each Saturday and is available for emergency call -out on
Sundays. The Parks Department mows the right -of -way along South Alexander near Briarwood.
The area between South Alexander and Highway 146 is the responsibility of the State. The Marshal
Program has had $185,438 in expenses, $320,222 in revenues, with a net of $134,784 in revenues.
$10,000 has been set aside to purchase equipment for an electronic agenda packet.
Council discussed additional streetlights to assist in crime prevention and additional street lights in
established neighborhoods. Council discussed the creation of a policy to allow Council Members to
request the inclusion of items in the budget for consideration.
Adjourn.
Council Member Murray moved that the meeting adjourn. Council Member Anderson seconded the
motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Council Members Anderson, Capetillo, Mahan, Murray, Renteria, and Sheley
Mayor Mundinger.
Nays: None.
The motion carried. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 5:39 p.m.
City Clerk ^