Public Forum for FY23-24 Budget and City Charter Amendments, plus more…

To quote Mayor Lopez, last night’s City Council meeting was perhaps the most productive meeting in a long time. It lasted from 6-10pm for most of us (the City Council had an executive session afterwards for an employee performance review).

. The PUBLIC BUDGET FORUM with 5 residents offering suggestions for review (funding in 2024):

• 1) Child/Student safety – speed humps & reduced speed limits for Rosebud & Kate Baker park streets, and around Binion (Norton Dr) and Cheney (Allena, Dreeben) Elementary schools. There was a report from 2 days ago of a young boy narrowing missing being a victim of a car driving too fast down Allena. With the absence of sidewalks in several streets around our schools and parks, speed humps maybe our best resource. One Citizen thought it a waste of money, 4 believed it would enhance safety.
• 2) Increase street lighting with white lights – promoting neighborhood safety.
• 3) Improved road signage – especially dead end signs (adding reflective materials or solar lighting to signs).
• 4) no parking signs for Vance & Popplewell (safety for residents and drivers).
• 5) evaluation and plan for recent residential flooding issues.
• 6) additional info on webpage regarding permits & Certificates of Occupancy issued, especially for new business and construction in town. 7) shift from large budget for parks improvements to street/water/sewer improvements.

CONTRACTS:

• 1) renewal of contract with EXCEL 4 – for repairs to drainage, water and sewer systems – minor increase in fees (5.9%) and better access to parts and supplies.
• 2) reward of contract to Angiel Electrical for the installation of backup generators at 5 well stations – required by Texas and funded by American Rescue Plan.
  • I had requested time for a question, but was overlooked in the busyness of the session – my question would have been about the creation of a budget line item for the maintenance of these generators.

CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS:

We were able to go line and line and offer our feedback and ask for clarification of several items, and the Mayor & Council were very receptive and informative. There was much discussion about term limits (capping service to 18 years in a lifetime) but it appears that these amendments will be on the May 2023 general election ballot.

• terms – increase from 2 to 3 year limits
• cap – 18 years of service for a lifetime (any combination of mayor or council seat)
• increase compensation from $10/month to $10/session for Council & Mayor
• increase council size from 5 places to 6, and give the Mayor a vote
• place six would be appointed by Council for an initial 2 year term, then elected by voters after.
• 4 unexcused absences during a term, could result in dismissal from council and create a vacancy
• Vacancies for 3 yr terms – less than 12 months, filled by council or special election (council’s choice), over 12 month, a special election
• Vacancies for 2 yr terms – appointed by Council, unless they decide upon a special election. Currently, a special election is called unless the term is within 6 months of expiration.
• Budget – removal of stipulation of “public forum to allow for consideration of any changes” in January of each year- Texas Law states that public hearing must be within 15 days of filing the budget with the municipal clerk, which is around July/August. I asked how the City would promote future public hearings and publish the timelines… answer was not clear to me.

REPORTS:

FINANCIAL: The property taxes appear to be increasing city income more than expected, returns on investments are higher than last year (much) – overall very optimistic.

Storm Drain System: It appears that the City is now in the position of having to find funding to make some significant repairs quickly, and soon for significant upgrades. I have posted what I was able to capture in pics below.