[1. CALL SESSION TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
I WILL CALL THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 2023 TO ORDER. WE WILL START WITH ROLL-CALL.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON? >> PRESENT.
COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON? >> HERE.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM GOURDTON? >> HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WILCOTT? >> HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER KOLAR. >> HERE.
IF YOU WILL PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD. ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENT]
>> NEXT WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT. WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. YOU WILL HAVE A GREEN LIGHT WHEN THERE IS 30 SECONDS LEFT, IT WILL GO TO YELLOW.
THEN WHEN IT IS RED, YOUR TIME IS UP.
BEFORE I START THAT, WE DID GET COMMENTS FROM ANDREW MURPHY, KELSEY PARKINSON, KAITLYN ELLIOTT AND ERIN KEENE.
TO ACKNOWLEDGE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE DID RECEIVE THOSE.
FIRST UP, WE HAVE JIMMY PIERCE. >> MR. MAYOR, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN MEAN.
YOU LISTEN TO YOUR OWN LITTLE ECHO CHAMBER AND IGNORE ANYONE WHO DOESN'T AGREE WITH YOU. AND YOUR ECHO CHAMBER OF HUTTO 2.0 AND FIGHT FOR HUTTO KICK OUT ANYBODY WHO DISAGREES WITH THEM.
THERE IS NO REAL DISCUSSION. YOU CLAIM THERE IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. WHAT DEVELOPER BUILT YOUR HOME, BUILT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? HAVE THEY BUILT ANYTHING IN TOWN SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL? THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE CLAIMING IS A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HAS PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH DEVELOPERS.
YOU ARE THE ONE THAT TAKES-- THAT TOOK AT LEAST ONE CITY OFFICIAL TO ANOTHER TOWN IN ORDER TO HAVE A MEETING AND NOT BE OVERHEARD. YOU WERE THE ONE THAT GOES AFTER OTHER COUNCILMEN WHO TRY TO CONTROL THE CHAMBER.
THE MAYOR IN THIS THIS TOWN IS NOT GRANTED THAT POWER.
NO ONE PERSON IS, AND THAT IS THE POINT.
YOU ARE THE ONE ABUSING YOUR OFFICE.
YOU ARE THE ONE WITH CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
EVERY LAWSUIT THIS CITY HAS FACED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN A DIRECT RESULT OF YOUR ACTIONS.
NO NEW REVENUE IS GOING TO HURT THIS TOWN.
THE ROADS IN THIS TOWN NEED IMMEDIATE ATTENTION.
THE CITY NEEDS TO DO WHAT IT CAN TO HELP THE COUNTY WITH THE SOUTHEAST LOOP, QUIT PISSING OFF COUNTY OFFICIALS.
ALTHOUGH THAT IS MOSTLY JUST ONE PERSON.
THE BRIDGE NEEDS TO BE BUILT. IT NEEDS TO BE ALL FOUR LANES AS SOON AS IT OPENS BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO NEED THEM.
THAT ROAD ALSO NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED UP TO CHANDLER ROAD.
1660 SOUTH NEEDS TO BE FIVE LANES ALL THE WAY OUT TO 137.
137 NEEDS TO BE FIVE LANES DOWN TO THE PARK.
WE POSSIBLY NEED ELEVATED WALKWAYS IN THIS AREA AS WELL FOR THE KIDS AT THE SCHOOL. IF YOU ARE LETTING DEVELOPERS BUILD RIGHT UP AGAINST ROADS AS YOU HAVE BEEN, THEN THIS CAN'T HAPPEN. THE LOOP NEEDS TO BE FIVE LANES FROM 110 ALL THE WAY TO THE OTHER END WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE CONNECTED TO 79. A DEAL NEEDS TO BE MADE WITH THE COUNTY TO WIDEN 110 FROM LEMMER LOOP TO 79.
THIS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO GO AROUND 79 THROUGH TOWN AND LESS IN TRAFFIC. LIVE OAK WAS CUT UP FOUR YEARS AGO. NOW WE ARE TOLD IT IS TWO TO THREE MORE YEARS BEFORE IT WILL BE FINISHED.
WHICH MEANS THE REST OF THE TOWN WILL BE EVEN LONGER.
THIS STUFF NEEDS TO GET GOING. EVEN IF YOU USE BOND MONEY WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED ALREADY TO DO IT.
AND ONE MORE LITTLE THING. CAN WE GET THE FAKE BRICK INTERSECTIONS IN OLDTOWN PAINTED BEFORE OLD TIME DAYS AGAIN? THEY LOOK LIKE CRAP. AND THE PARKS, IF YOU REDESIGNED FRITZ PARK, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE LARGER TREES IN THAT PARK TO OFFER MORE SHADE. SOME COULD BE TRANSPLANTED FROM LIVE OAK IF YOU GET YOUR ACTS TOGETHER.
THE AMPHITHEATER NEEDS A BAND SHELL AND THE FENCE AROUND IT REPLACED WITH A WALL. THIS WOULD MAKE IT EASIER-- THIS WOULD BE VERY EASY TO MAKE IT WORK FOR SHOWS AND NOT HAVE THE NOISE COMPLAINTS WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH.
AND I GUESS I'M OUT OF TIME. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
WE HAVE DANIEL FOLEY. IT SAYS TO WAIVE TIME FOR NICOLE
[00:05:12]
THAT BRINGS UP NEXT WE HAVE NICOLE CALDERON.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS NICOLE CALDERON.
I LIVE IN HUTTO. IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT I WRITE MY BIOGRAPHY INTO WHAT I SHARE AT THE PODIUM, BUT TONIGHT I HAVE A PERSONAL STORY AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC INTEREST.
TO BEGIN, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW IS FIGHTING CANCER.
SHE HAS A PICK LINE FOR THE CHEMO WHICH MAKES THE SEAT BELT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE, ESPECIALLY ON BUMPY ROADS.
AND SHE SAYS HUTTO IS THE WORST. LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS VISITING WITH MY IN-LAWS AT THEIR HOUSE, I COMPLIMENTED AN ITEM ON THEIR COUNTER. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW SAID I COULD HAVE IT. OF COURSE, I THANKED HER AND ADMITTED THAT IF SHE GAVE IT TO ME, I WOULD JUST GIVE IT TO THE MAYOR. HER RESPONSE WAS ADAMANT.
TELL HIM HE CAN HAVE IT AS LONG AS HE FIX IT IS ROADS.
AND YOU PUT SOME BANANAS ON IT FIRST.
THIS IS FOR YOU, MAYOR. IT IS A SYMBOL.
I'M ONE OF THE MANY MONKEYS WHO KEEP TRYING TO CLIMB THE LADDER FOR BE UNANIMOUS THAT IS. REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY TIMES OTHER MONKEYS TRY TO PULL ME DOWN AND BEAT ME UP.
TO ME, THE BANANAS REPRESENT WHAT I EXPECT AND WHAT I'M WILLING TO FIGHT FOR. LOW TAXES, KEEPING A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS, AND FOOD ON THE TA TABLE, AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY.
COUNCIL AS A MODEL OF PROPER DECORUM.
CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, LIKE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY. FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS, LIKE EXERCISING OUR FIRST AMENDMENT. PUBLIC SAFETY AND ARE WE GETTING A VALUE IN OUR SERVICES? AND JUSTICE BECAUSE ACCOUNTABILITY BUILDS TRUST. AND LAST, OUR BASIC NECESSITIES, KEEPING GOVERNMENT SMALL WITH CORE SERVICES.
THE GOAL OF THIS COUNCIL IS TO FIND UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE, OR TRUTH. WITHOUT JUDGMENT OR CONTROL.
TO GET US ALL UP THE LADDER. REGARDLESS OF THE FORCES TRYING TO WORK AGAINST PROGRESS. TO DO THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, THIS COUNCIL MUST IMPROVE ITS COMMUNICATION CIRCLE BY NOT DEBATING TO PROVE A POINT. BUT INSTEAD, DISCUSSING.
THE DIFFERENCE IS HAVING TO BE RIGHT VERSUS UNDERSTANDING AND BEING UNDERSTOOD. HERE IS FIVE STEPS TO HELP IMPLEMENT THE CHANGE. ONE, RECEIVE.
LISTEN WITHOUT THINKING WHAT YOU ARE GOING SAY NEXT.
TWO, REFLECT. WHAT DID I HEAR? FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN SAY "IF I HEARD YOU CORRECTLY," AND THEN REPEAT WHAT YOU THINK YOU HEARD. THREE, REFINE.
ASK QUESTIONS TO CLARIFY. WHEN YOU SAID THIS, DID YOU MEAN THAT? FOUR, RESTATE.
AND THIS IS IMPORTANT. REPEAT BACK YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY ARE TELLING YOU. THEN FIVE, REPEAT AND LISTEN AGAIN. COMPLETE THAT PROCESS, AND WE CAN DO BETTER. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> DO YOU WANT YOUR BANANAS?
CAN I BRING THEM UP THERE? >> SURE.
THANKS. NEXT WE HAVE JIM MORRIS.
I'M SORRY? >> I RESCIND MY REQUEST.
NEXT WE HAVE JAMES WEAVER. >> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY ATTORNEY, AND DEPUTY CITY MANAGER IS.
MY WIFE AND I ARE CONSIDERING SETTING UP A TRUST TO PROVIDE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN.
I HAVE A MINOR IN FINANCE AND 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE OF A FORENSIC EXAMINER. WE NEED TO GET HELP ON THIS FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND WITH THE EXPERIENCE IN THESE TYPES OF TRUSTS. NOW, THE SAME GOES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL PERSONS CHARGED WITH MANAGING OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE AND OTHER PUBLIC ASSETS. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO SEE THE FINANCIALS OF OUR COUNCILPERSONS.
DO THEY HAVE THE EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING THEIR OWN FINANCES? HAVE THEY DONE A GOOD JOB? DO THEY HAVE THINGS THAT SUGGEST THEY CANNOT FAIR AND HONESTLY HANDLE THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PUBLIC ASSETS? I WANT YOU TO TELL THE CONSTITUENTS WHAT FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE. IF YOU HAVE LITTLE OR NONE OR
[00:10:02]
DEFICIENCIES SUCH AS BANKRUPTCIES, YOU NEED TO RECUSE YOURSELF FROM MAJOR FINANCIAL DECISIONS.CITY RESOURCES ARE LIMITED. FAMILY BUDGETS ARE STRETCHED THIN. THE CITY IS RECOVERING FROM MAJOR FINANCIAL STRESS AND MISMANAGEMENT.
WE HAVE EXTENSIVE DEFERRED STRUCTURE-- INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT OR MAINTENANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
WE MUST CONCENTRATE ON OUR NEEDS AND NOT OUR WANTS.
WE MUST KEEP PROPERTY TAXES AFFORDABLE, OR YOU ARE GOING TO RUN PEOPLE OUT. THE CITIZENS HAVE TOLD YOU VERY CLEARLY WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO CONCENTRATE ON.
THAT IS ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
ON BRINGING IN NEW BUSINESS THAT PAYS FOR SOME OF-- SOME OR ALL OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE BURDEN. WE DO NOT NEED SILLINESS LIKE TWINKLE LIGHTS IN THE TREES, EXCESSIVE PARK DEVELOPMENT, STAFF RESORT RETREATS, UNNECESSARY ADMIN STAFF.
WE NEED ADDITIONAL ROAD CREW OR TWO.
NOT A COUPLE OF MBA SPECIALISTS. WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY.
WE NEED TIGHT INTERNAL CONTROLS. WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE AND OUR RESOURCES-- ON OUR RESOURCES CANNOT BE TOLERATED.
EVEN THOUGH SOME OF YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU DID NOT RUN ON TRANSPARENCY, WE NEED TRANSPARENCY ACROSS THE BOARD.
WHAT WERE YOU THINKING IN SCHEDULING THIS SPECIAL MEETING?
>> IS IT JUST ARROGANCE? INEXPERIENCE OR INATTENTION TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS' DEMANDS? YOU HAVE TURNED YOUR BACK ON US.
MAYBE YOU BELIEVE NOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO, ONCE YOU ARE ELECTED, THAT YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT HUTTO CITIZENS HAVE TO SAY. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME BY TRYING TO REPEAL THE RESOLUTION THAT SET THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.
VOTE TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING NOW.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. >> NEXT WE HAVE IDA WEAVER.
>> MY NAME IS IDA WEAVER. I LIVE HERE IN HUTTO.
I WILL ALWAYS SEE MY DUTY TO KEEP MY EYES ON HUTTO AND TO KEEP MY EYES ON CITY COUNCIL HERE.
I YIELD THE REMAINDER OF MY TIME TO TWO PEOPLE THAT REALLY LIKE TO SPEAK. DANA WILCOTT AND BRIAN THOMPSON.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE ROBIN SUTTON.
JUST CROSSED MY 25TH YEAR IN HUTTO.
YAY. I LOVE THAT THE FOCUS IS COMING BACK TO INFRASTRUCTURE AND ROADS.
THANK YOU, NICOLE, FOR BRINGING THAT BACK UP.
I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THAT SINCE DAY ONE THAT I HIT THIS PODIUM. OKAY.
I'M GOING TO MAKE IT QUICK. NUMBER ONE, MIKE.
CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ANTHONY SPIZZA? I HAVE KNOWN, I HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THE GIRL THAT YOU HAVE HIRED TO WORK THERE.
CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY WHAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WAS WITH ABOUTNY? I KNOW JENNIFER. I HAVE KNOWN HER AS LONG AS I HAVE KNOWN MY HUSBAND. SO IN THE SPIRIT OF TRANSPARENCY, CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY THAT FOR THE CITIZENS? BECAUSE YOU HAVE A VERY-- YOU SIGNED AN ACTUAL-- YOU ACTUALLY SIGNED AN ORDINANCE ON BULLYING. THEY SEEM TO BE UNCLEAR ON WHAT BULLYING MEANS. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES OF. THAT SHOUTING OR SWEARING AT A COLLEAGUE, PERSISTENT NEGATIVE OR INACCURATE ON A COLLEAGUE'S PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE.
CRITICIZING IN FRONT OF OTHERS. MAKING MALICIOUS ALLEGATIONS, THREATENING BEHAVIOR BOTH VERBAL AND PHYSICAL, BODY LANGUAGE AND NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION WHICH IS INAPPROPRIATE, INVADING PERSONAL SPACE, USE OF INAPPROPRIATE TONE, LANGUAGE, AND QUANTITY OF EMAILS, INAPPROPRIATE USE OF CAPITAL LETTERS.
USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AS A METHOD OF ENACTS CYBER-HARASSMENT AND BULLYING. LYING AND SPREADING RUMORS, NEGATIVE FACIAL OR PHYSICAL GESTURES, MENACING OR CONTEMPTUOUS LOOKS, PLAYING NASTY JOKES TO EMBARRASS AND HUMILIATE, MIMICKING UNKINDLY, ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO SOCIALLY-- SOCIALLY EXCLUES SOMEONE, DAMAGING SOMEONE'S SOCIAL
[00:15:01]
REPUTATION OR SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE. OKAY.NEXT. I WANT TO SAY WHEN I SAW THE REPRIMAND-- (APPLAUSE) THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING AND STANDING UP TO BULLYING AND NOT LETTING IT CONTINUE. I PRAY THAT YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO NOT LET THESE PEOPLE KEEP YOU FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING TO MOVE HUTTO FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. NEXT WE HAVE GREG WRAY.
AND HE IS YIELDING HIS TIME TO TARA WRAY.
THAT BRINGS UP TARA WRAY. >> GOOD EVENING.
TONIGHT I WILL BE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SOME OF THE CITIZENS AND BUSINESS OWNERS WITH A FEW OF MY OWN COMMENTS SPRINKLED IN.
THE TOP OF THE ORG CHART AS SOME SAY, I HAVE GOTTEN PERMISSION TO SPEAK NAMES AND THE THINGS SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SAY BUT DON'T FEEL KFORTABLE-- COMFORTABLE DOING.
AFTER LAST WEEK'S MEETING, I DO NOT BLAME THEM ONE BIT.
ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THIS TOWN WILL NOT BE BULLYING CITIZENS.
NOT ON OUR WATCH. SHANNON PRINCE CARTER SAYS "THIS ISN'T AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YARD. THAT IS PROFESSIONAL SETTING.
TREAT PEOPLE THAT WAY." BETTER YET, ACT AS IF JESUS WAS PHYSICALLY SITTING IN THE ROOM. THE REASON YOU WERE ELECTED IS TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF HUTTO AND MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF EVERYONE HERE. PLEASE FOCUS YOUR DECISIONS AROUND FIXING WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR, EXPANDING INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT WHAT'S ALREADY HERE AND BRINGING IN BUSINESSES WHO PROVIDE WHAT WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF A TOPIC, SEEK TO UNDERSTAND OR ABSTAIN FROM VOTING. MS. FELDER, MIKE IS YOUR DADDY.
ASHLEY WARD, AN EXPECTATION OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BEHAVE IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY IS NOT ASKING TOO MUCH.
AS SOMEONE WHO VOTED FOR BRIAN AND DANA, I AM THOROUGHLY EMBARRASSED. I WOULD BE THERE TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT TO BE CLEAR, I MOVED BACK TO HUTO THE RAISE MY FAMILY. MY SON WILL BE BORN IN 7 WEEKS.
I'M CONTEMPLATING MOVING OUT OF THIS CITY BEFORE HE EVEN HAS A CHANCE TO HAVE TO OPERATE IN THESE NORMS, AND YEAH, WHO IS YOUR DADDY? MR. AND MRS. FOLEY, FIRST, MY HUSBAND AND I ARE RETIRED AND ON A FIXED INCOME.
BETWEEN THE INCREASE IN HOME OWNER'S INSURANCE, VEHICLE INSURANCE AND PROPERTY TAXES, WE ARE BARELY HOLDING ON TO OUR HOME. WE LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, BUT FRANKLY, IT HAS BECOME AN EMBARRASSMENT TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE LIVING HERE BECAUSE OF THE IMMATURE, UNDERHANDED ACTIONS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TRUST ANYBODY RUNNING FOR CITY OFFICE IN THIS TOWN.
NO WONDER VOTER TURNOUT IS SO LOW.
DAWN GUEST HOWARD. TAX INCREASE? WE PUT THIS TO BED ALREADY. WHY IS IT BEING BROUGHT UP AGAIN? WE, THE PEOPLE, DO NOT WANT IT.
MY HOUSE IS PAID FOR, AND I FEEL LIKE I'M ALREADY MAKING ANOTHER MORTGAGE PAYMENT. WITH THE COST OF GAS, ELECTRIC, WATER, GROCERIES, HOW ARE WE EXPECTED TO LIVE HERE? IF THEY WANT TO LIVE IN A RICHER AREA, THEY NEED TO MOVE.
HUTTO IS BARELY A MIDDLE-CLASS TOWN AS IT IS.
ALSO THE OUTBURST BY DANA, IT SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED.
AMY SMITH. THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON ARE THE ONLY TWO WHO HAVE HELD THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO CITIZENS. THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE, THE MAJORITY HAS IN THE CITY COUNCIL'S TREMENDOUS.
PLEASE, FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY AND ITS CITIZEN, THE BUSINESS OWNERS WHO KEEP THE CITY AFLOAT DO NOT RAISE THE TAXES.
WHO IS GETTING WHAT AND WHERE ARE THEY HIDING IT? KATHY CLARK SLAUGHTER. I AGREE THAT THE CHILDISH BEHAVIOR IS UNACCEPTABLE. I ALWAYS SAY THE CITY NEEDS TO LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS. JUST AS THE CITIZENS HAVE TO DO.
QUIT SPENDING MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE.
THESE FOOLS ACT LIKE THEY CAN RUN DOWN AND GRAB A PAY DAY LOAN
[00:20:02]
TO GET WHAT THEY WANT. STOP THE INSANITY.THIS PART IS MINE. DANA, YOUR COMMENT TO IDA WAS CHILDISH AND DISRESPECTFUL. NOT BECOMING OF A COUNCIL MEMBER. HERE ARE A FEW COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS ABOUT YOUR BEHAVIOR. YOU THINK IT IS FUNNY? THAT IS AWESOME. DISGRACE.
TO THE CITY AND CITIZENS OF HUTTO.
LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM ON HER PART.
IS ASTONISHING. MY HIGH-SCHOOLERS HAVE BETTER MANNERS. I TAKE THAT, WHAT YOU SAID, AS A THREAT, TO A CITIZEN. KEEP LOOKING AT ME OR WHAT? SOUNDS LIKE A THREAT. GESTURE, TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE OF A COUNCIL MEMBER TO MAKE A THREATENING GESTURE TOWARDS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. SHE IS RIDICULOUS.
THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING, NOT SURE HOW THIS BEHAVIOR COMPLIES WITH THE CITY OF HUTTO RULES OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I WANT TO SAY YOUR COMMENTS ON THE MAYOR'S POST THE OTHER NIGHT SHOWED HOW YOU ARE OVER YOUR HEAD.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA. ALSO YOU DELETED ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS. THAT IS ILLEGAL, ACCORDING TO TOA. BRIAN, I HAVE SPOKE TO YOU ON THE PHONE. WE WERE NEXT TO YOU EACH-- WE WERE NEXT TO EACH OTHER AT THE LAST FESTIVAL.
I HAD RESPECT AND HIGH HOPES FOR YOU.
AND YOUR TIME UP THERE IN THAT SEAT.
MY TEENAGER HAS BETTER MANNERS AND DECORUM THAN YOU HAVE SHOWN IN THESE CHAMBERS. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED.
MIKE ISN'T LECTURING, IN MY OPINION.
HE IS SPEAKING INTO THE RECORD WHY HE IS VOTING HOW HE IS AND HIS THOUGHT PROCESS, WHICH IS EDUCATING THOSE OF US THAT DON'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE WORKINGS OF CITY GOVERNMENT.
IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT THOUGHT PROCESS, YOU CAN RESPECTFULLY VOICE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO SP SPEAK. YOU CALLING HIM DAD" FOR LECTURING WAS WAY OUT OF LINE. CHILDISH AND DISRESPECTFUL.
BEFORE I RUN OUT OF TIME, I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT THE CITIZENS SAID. UNBELIEVABLE HOW CHILDISH AND-- I'M OUT OF BREATH. UNBELIEVABLE HOW CHILDISH AND IMMATURE THESE SO-CALLED ADULTS ACT.
TOTAL EMBARRASSMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY.
DISGUSTING BY THOSE WHO WANT TO RAISE TAXES OR JUST DON'T GIVE A CRAP. HE JUST SOUNDED STUPID.
I'M ASHAMED TO SAY I SUPPORTED HIM.
FOOL ME ONCE. PETER, YOU ARE DELUSIONAL IF YOU THINK THAT THESE OPINIONS ARE ONLY HELD BY A FEW PEOPLE.
THE OUTRAGE FOR A POSSIBLE INCREASE OF TAXES IS FAR-REACHING, AND THAT, I PROMISE.
I WILL END WITH A QUOTE. GIVEN TO ME BY AMY SMITH.
A BODY OF MEN HOLDING THEMSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO NOBODY OUGHT NOT BE TRUSTED BY ANYBODY. THOMAS PAYNE.
>> NEXT WE HAVE RUDY PEREZ. >> HELLO, EVERYBODY.
RYAN, YOU DISAPPOINTED ME, MAN. I WENT TO YOUR CAMPAIGN WHEN I FIRST MET YOU. YOU DISAPPOINTED ME.
DON'T LECTURE ME. THAT IS BRIAN.
IDA, QUIT LOOKING AT ME. THAT IS DANA.
STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. VERY DISAPPOINTING LAST COUNCIL MEETING ON ALL FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YOU MADE HUTTO LOOK BAD. SHAME ON YOU ALL.
BRIAN, I VOTED FOR YOU. I WON'T VOTE FOR YOU AGAIN.
DANA, YOU MADE A DONKEY OUT OF YOURSELF.
AMBERLEY, NO COMMENT. PETER, YOU ARE TRYING HARD TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR. RANDAL, WHAT'S UP WITH THE MUG SHOT? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
DO YOUR DAMN JOB. >> THANK YOU, SIR.
(APPLAUSE). >> NEXT WE HAVE CORY DENANA.
>> MY NAME IS CORY DENENA. NO NEW REVENUE IS NOT A GOVERNING STRATEGY. IT IS A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN.
SLOGANS WILL NOT DIG H HUTTO OUT OF THE HUGE INFRASTRUCTURE HOLE WE ARE IN NOR ADDRESS REAL STAFFING NEEDS THE CITY FACES TO. PRETEND OTHERWISE IS IRRESPONSIBLE. SOME ARE DARN NEAR APOCALYPTIC ABOUT RAISING MORE REVENUE. THEY ARE BG HYPER BOLICK AND DISINGENUOUS. MAYOR SNYDER HAS CALLED THIS VERY PROCEEDING AN ATTACK ON THE CITIZENS OF HUTTO AND SUGGESTED WE MAY BE HEADED TOWARD A SOCIALIST STATE.
[00:25:04]
RIDICULOUS. REALLY.AS WRONG-HEADED AS SOME OF THE MAYOR'S POSITIONS, ARE AND EVEN THOUGH I THINK HE LACKS VISION AND IS FAILING TO COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS THE PRESSING NEEDS OF RAPID GROWTH, I REALLY CAN'T IMAGINE ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER SAYING IT FOLLOWS THEREFORE, THAT HE IS ATTACKING THE CITIZENS OF HUTTO.
ONCE AGAIN, THE LANGUAGE, THE WHOLE ARGUMENT IS HYPERBOLIC AND REVEALS A POVERTY OF IDEAS AND VISION.
THERE IS NO REAL VISION IN NO NEW REVENUE.
I BELIEVE IT PAINTS AN UNREALISTIC PICTURE OF WHAT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS ARE AND HOW CRITICAL IT IS THAT WE ADDRESS THEM HEAD-ON. IF THE NO NEW TAX IDEOLOGS PREVAIL HERE TONIGHT, THAT HOLE WE ARE IN WILL GET KEEPER AND WIDER AND-- WILL GET DEEPER AND WIDER.
FORTUNATELY, OUR CURRENT TAX RATE IS LOW.
VERY LOW. LOW IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER CITIES, AND WE ARE ABOUT TO REALIZE SAVINGS OF SOMEWHERE AROUND $1,000 A YEAR PER HOUSEHOLD WITH STATE PROPERTY TAX CUTS. THAT IS ALL THE MORE REASON WHY NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO PURSUE NO NEW REVENUE.
RIGHT NOW HUTTO NEEDS FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE GROWN UP ABOUT LEADING THIS CITY INTO A RAPID GROWTH FUTURE.
AS OPPOSED TO ATTEMPTING TO GOVERN BY SLOGAN.
WE NEED FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WILL COMMUNICATE A POSITIVE VISION FOR HUTTO WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS BUT ALSO HONEST ABOUT OUR NEEDS. AND YES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DO BOTH. I'M A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER.
I CERTAINLY DON'T CONSIDER MYSELF AN ELITE.
I'M OKAY WITH PAYING $10 MORE A MONTH TO HELP US KEEP OUR HEADS ABOVE WATER. REGARDING INFRASTRUCTURE, STAFFING NEED, AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMENITIES.
ONE GOOD HAMBURGER, THREE BREAKFAST TACOS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT IF OUR LEADERSHIP WILL BE HONEST WITH US ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND WHAT CAN BE DELIVERED WITH A SMALL TO MODERATE REVENUE INCREASE, MOST FOLKS WILL AGREE WITH MAKING THAT SACRIFICE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THOSE ON THE COUNCIL WHO CALLED THIS MEETING TO REVISIT NO NEW REVENUE.
THANK YOU FOR NOT TURNING YOUR BACK ON HUT O'S NEEDS.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. (APPLAUSE).
>> NEXT WE HAVE CHERYL STEWART. >> HELLO.
CHERYL STEWART. I LIVE IN HUTTO.
SO I MADE A NOTE, AND I GOT DISTRACTED BY WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE BACK THERE. I APOLOGIZE.
PRETTY MUCH WHAT I'M ALLUDING TO IS THAT THE LAST MEETING, I FEEL LIKE IT IS DEJA VU TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE BUDGET.
BUT I USED HIPPO AS AN ACRONYM, THE HIGHEST INDIVIDUALS' PAYING.
WE ARE THE TAXPAYERS AND THE FEE-PAYERS.
OUR OPINION SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN AND FOCUS DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS. I CAN RESPECT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID REGARDING NO NEW REVENUE, BUT THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS STAFF DID PRESENT TO YOU A BUDGET THAT CAN BE DONE WITH NO NEW REVENUE. YOU ALL AGREED TO TO THAT.
I HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY IS SAYING. IN MY OPINION, BEING A MEMBER OF THE CITIZENS UNIVERSITY, THERE ARE MANY POSITIONS THAT THEY PRESENTED TO YOU THAT ARE NOT NEEDED.
IT IS FLUFF. IT IS NOT NECESSARY.
YOU GUYS DURING YOUR 7-HOUR MEETING OR WHATEVER IT WAS, AND TRUST ME, I RESPECT THAT Y'ALL SPENT SO MUCH TIME HERE, THERE IS A LOT OF POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT NEEDED.
THAT EVEN Y'ALL WENT AHEAD AND YOU APPROVED THEM.
THAT IS GREAT FOR THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
I HOPE THEY CAN DO TREMENDOUS THINGS WITH THEM.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT IS STILL ACCOMPLISHING NO NEW REVENUE. YOU CAN STILL DO IT.
REGARDING THE FEE, I WOULD MUCH RATHER PAY $5 PER MONTH, KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT THAT MONEY IS GOING TOWARDS THAN SPENDING $200-SOMETHING A YEAR NOT KNOWING WHAT Y'ALL ARE GOING TO DO WITH IT. $60 IN COMPARISON TO $200, SIMPLE MATH TELLS ME THAT MAKES MORE SENSE.
I APPRECIATE THAT PEOPLE ARE THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX TO ADDRESS THINGS THAT WE AS CITIZENS ACTUALLY NEED, AND WE CAN HOPEFULLY, SEE SOMETHING COME FROM THAT.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, I ASK Y'ALL TO TREAT EACH OTHER AS YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED. I KNOW KIT BE FRUSTRATING.
IT IS VERY TIME-CONSUMING, DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
IT TAKES A LOT OF-- A LOT OUT OF YOU PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND MENTALLY. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE LOOKING TO YOU GUYS TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND BE OUR LEADERS.
IT IS DISCOURAGING AND DISAPPOINTING TO SEE SOME OF THE BEHAVIOR THAT WE HAVE SEEN. I'M ASKING YOU TO DO BETTER AND RIGHT YOUR WRONGS. THANK YOU.
>> NEXT WE HAVE JENNY SELLERS. >> GOOD EVENING.
[00:30:01]
I RESPECT EVERYBODY HERE. I'M HERE TO TALK NOT ABOUT NO NEW REVENUE. I'M ACTUALLY HERE TO INVITE EVERYONE TO ENJOY A FUN EVENT THIS WEEKEND AND HAVE BARBECUE.I HAVE A HOUSE WITH A ROOF IN HUTTO.
I'M CURRENTLY RESIDING OVER AT THE PARKING LOT.
WE ARE SETTING UP FOR AN INTERNATIONAL BARBECUE COOK-OFF THIS WEEKEND. A THREE-DAY EVENT.
SOME OF YOU CAME LAST YEAR AND ACTED AS HONORARY JUDGES.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE INVITED THE COMMUNITY TO COME SERVE AS HONORARY JUDGES TO ENJOY THE BARBECUE COOK-OFF.
IF YOU CAN'T GET A CHANCE TO COME LAST YEAR, I'M GOING TO KIND OF WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT TOO EXPECT IF YOU COME THIS YEAR. I DID SEND AN EMAIL.
I INVITED YOU ALL TO COME SERVE. I HAVE A FLASH DRIVE I WILL LEAVE BEHIND. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE ACCESS AND COME AND EAT SOME BARBECUE. STARTING TOMORROW MORNING, THE NATIONAL BARBECUE-COOKERS ASSOCIATION, WE SANCTION AND GOVERN ALL THE BARBECUE COOK-OFFS.
WE ARE A NONPROFIT THAT BENEFITS A VARIETY OF OTHER NONPROFITS AT ABOUT 800 COOK-OFFS A YEAR. ALL ALIGNED WITH THEIR OWN NONPROFITS. THIS YEAR, IT IS BENEFITING THE HUTTO RESOURCE CENTER. YOU WILL SEE A CARAVAN OF UP TO 200 DIFFERENT CUSTOM-BUILT RIGS AND FOLKS COMING FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. PRIMARILY TEXAS.
WE ARE INTERNATIONAL. THEY WILL BE COMING IN ALL DAY LONG. SETTING UP THEIR RIGS IN THE PARKING LOT. WE WILL HAVE FIRE INSPECTIONS.
WE ARE FOLLOWING CITY CODES. FIRE IS A BIG DEAL WHEN IT COMES TO BARBECUE. WE DO RESPECT THE FACT THAT IT IS CRAZY HOT OUTSIDE, AND WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF RAIN.
WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BE VERY, VERY SAFE.
WE ARE HOSTING A MOVIE NIGHT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WE ARE DOING A DOUBLE FEATURE OF THE JUMANJI MOVIES.
VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. IT WAS A SUCCESS LAST YEAR.
WE DO FREE POPCORN. FOLKS ENJOY THE MOVIE AND HEAR THE SOUNDS. SATURDAY MORNING, IT KICKS OFF WHERE WE HOST A HIDING HENRY YET THAT.
THERE IS 0 OF THESE LITTLE HIPPOS HIDDEN ALL OVER THE PARK AND THE PAVILIONS. WE ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY AND OUR KIDS AND THE ADULTS TO FIND AS MANY HIPPOS AS THEY CAN.
AT THE END, THERE IS AN AWARD FOR THE PERSON WHO FINDS THE MOST HIPPOS. YOU WILL HAVE TO COME SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT. ON SATURDAY NIGHT, WE DO AN AWARD CEREMONY. SUNDAY IS AN INVITATIONAL ONLY FOR THE TOP 50. THE BEST OF THE BEST WILL BE COMPETING ON SUNDAY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE IN. WE HAVE SENT INVITATIONS TO EVERYBODY WHO BORDERS THAT AREA. AND I HAVE POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS I CAN REGARDING THIS. I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU THERE.
IF YOU DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE EMAIL, CHECK YOUR FIRE WALL.
WE WELCOME YOU TO COME OUT. SOME OF YOU WERE HERE LAST YEAR.
YOU GET A FULL BELLY AND YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME.
WE APPRECIATE SEE YOUING ALL. THANK YOU.
>> I BELIEVE THAT IS IT. THE NEXT COMMENTS I HAVE ARE ALL
[5.1. Consideration and possible action reconsidering the proposed No New Revenue Tax Tate for Fiscal Year 2023 to 2024 (Anne LaMere)]
FOR 51. THE NEXT ITEM WE HAVE IS ITEM 5-1. CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION, RECONSIDERING THE PROPOSED NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE FOR FISCALYEAR 2023-2024. >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
ANNE LAMERE, FINANCE DIRECTOR. SO OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT COUNCIL WANTED TO RECONSIDER. THEY HAD PROPOSED THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE ON AUGUST 17. I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE OR MAYBE YOU WANT TO JUST DISCUS AMONG
I KNOW ONE PERSON THAT REQUESTED THE MEETING.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WANT TO TALK OR WHO THE OTHER PERSON WAS. HOW WE WANT TO START THIS
SO I KNOW THAT WE HAD PROPOSED THE NO NEW REVENUE.
I WAS ONBOARD FOR THAT. AS MOST OF YOU, MY FINANCIAL SITUATION HAS TOO CHANGED. I'M VERY LIMITED ON MY BUDGET.
I HAVE TO TAKE OUT WHAT I CAN TO MAKE MY BUDGET WORK.
THIS WAS SO WE COULD MAKE OUR BUDGET WORK WITH WHAT WE HAD.
THEN THE FEE CAME INTO PLAY AFTER WE PASSED THE NO NEW REVENUE. I WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FEE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T PROTECT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PROTECTED BY THE TAX BASE, LIKE OUR DISABLED VETS OR OUR 65 AND UP WHO HAVE THE PROTECTED HOMESTEAD TAX BASE.
AND I WAS CONCERNED THAT IT MAY NOT BE EQUITABLE FOR THEM IF WE START CHARGING A FEE. SO I REQUESTED TO BRING IT BACK SINCE WE DID PASS NO NEW REVENUE.
AND WE DID NOT PASS A FEE. WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO
[00:35:03]
MAKE THAT EXTRA MONEY FOR ALL THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. I WANTED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ABLE TO SUSTAIN OURSELVES FOR THE NEXT YEAR. THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT IT BACK.>> AND THERE HAD TO BE A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER THAT VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE TO BRING IT BACK UP, AND I DID AS WELL.
BECAUSE I SAID I WAS WILLING TO BE AT NO NEW REVENUE IF WE WERE DOING A ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE. WHEN THAT FAILED AND TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS SWITCHED THEIR VOTE FROM THE ORIGINAL VOTE TO HAVE FIRST READING TO DO THE ROAD MAINTENANCE AND THEN ON THE MEETING LAST WEEK, ON THE 24TH, THEY SWITCHED THEIR VOTE AND CAUSED IT TO FAIL, I NOW COULD NO LONGER STAY AT NO NEW REVENUE AND KEEP US AT THE ROAD FEES THAT WE HAVE PROMISED THAT I WOULD GET OUR ROADS DONE. I RAN ON.
THAT I'M GOING TO DO IT. I WAS TRYING TO DO IT THROUGH A FEE. THAT FAILED.
FINE. THEN WE NEED TO SET A RATE SO WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION. IT MAY BE THAT THAT WILL GET PEOPLE REINTERESTED TO DO THE ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE.
THEN WE CAN BE APT AT A DIFFERENT RATE.
IF NOT, WE HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH THE TAX RATE.
I WAS ALSO VERY CONCERNED AFTER THINKING ABOUT IT, REDUCING OUR CASH RESERVE BY $1.2 MILLION WHICH WOULD NOT GET US TO THE FISCAL FINANCIAL POLICY AT 30% WHICH WAS A GOAL THAT THIS COUNCIL, INCLUDING OTHERS UP HERE VOTED FOR.
AND WE CAN'T BE AT 30% IF WE STAY AT NO NEW REVENUE AND PAY THAT REDUCING OUR GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
CASH RESERVES. THOSE ARE VERY CONCERNING THINGS AS WE GO INTO THIS YEAR OF UNCERTAINTY.
POSSIBLY A RECESSION TO REJOIN OUR RESERVE BALANCE.
I THINK THAT IS IRRESPONSIBLE. WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OF WHERE THAT RATE SHOULD BE AND NOT JUST BE HANDCUFFED WITH NO WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THAT IS WHY I HAVE ASKED FOR THE MOTION TO BE RECONSIDERED. AS THE SECOND PERSON FOR THIS MEETING TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> I COULD GIVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE HAD THE FIRST READING OF THE ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE THAT PASSED. WE TOOK-- IT WAS AN ACTION ITEM THAT WE TOOK A VOTE IN TERMS O OF-- WITH THE COUNCIL THAT WE DID NOT WANT TO PURSUE THE ROAD FEE.
IT IS COMING BACK FOR A SECOND READING, SO WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY ACCEPTED IT. WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY NOT ACCEPTED IT. IS THAT CORRECT? UNTIL THE SECOND READING COMES ON SEPTEMBER 7?
>> SO THERE WAS A FIRST READING RELATED TO AN ORDINANCE, AND SO THAT ORDINANCE WAS PASSED. IN THE ORDINANCE, IT REPEELS A $1 FEE THAT IS CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN TRASH.
AND THEN SETS UP A $5 FEE PER UNIT.
THEN AFTER THAT ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, ON FIRST READING, THERE WAS A VOTE BY COUNCIL TO SAY NO, WE DON'T WANT A STREET MAINTENANCE FEE. THERE WAS NO REPEALING OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WAS PASSED ON FIRST READING.
AND SO YES, THAT HAS TO COME BACK BEFORE COUNCIL.
SO COUNCIL CAN PASS IT ON THE SECOND READING OR DECLINE IT.
THAT WILL COME BACK SEPTEMBER 7. >> ALL RIGHT.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT IS NOT THAT THE ORDINANCE PASSED ON THE FIRST READING. IN ORDER TO PASS, YOU NEED TWO READINGS AT TWO REGULAR MEETINGS.
FOR THE CHARTER? >> THE CHARTER REQUIRES THE TWO
IT IS NOT TECH TECHNICALLY PASSED.
IT IS HALFWAY THERE FOR A SECOND READING THAT COULD BE MODIFIED, CHANGED, ACCEPTED, NOT DONE. SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT?
>> IF IT HAS BEEN APPROVED ON THE FIRST READING.
>> THE SECOND POINT OF CLARIFICATION, I WANT TO MAKE SURE. THAT WAS-- WE HAVEN'T ACTUALLY VOTED ON THE BUDGET. RIGHT? WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS, THE FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET IS ACTUALLY SEPTEMBER 7. I BELIEVE.
WHAT WE VOTED ON WAS MORE OF A, HERE IS WHAT WE WANT STAFF TO BRING BACK FOR THE FIRST READING.
AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? >> CORRECT.
THERE HAS BEEN NO MOTION OR NO ACTION ON THE BUDGET.
THE BUDGET WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL BY THE CITY MANAGER.
AND THEN THERE HAS BEEN WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THAT BUDGET THERE. HAS BEEN NO ACTION SO FAR ON THE
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT CLEAR.
OTHER DISCUSSION FROM COUNCIL FOR RECONSIDERATION?
>> YES. I HAVE A CLARIFICATION QUESTION FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY. I GUESS SO WHENEVER WE DID DO THE BUDGET DISCUSSION LAST WEEK, WE DID TAKE A VOTE ON THE ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE. OF HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO THE ACTUAL, LIKE, ORDINANCE AND THEN US TAKING ACTION AND, I GUESS, A DIFFERENT REALM. WITHIN THE BUDGET.
[00:40:04]
LAST WEEK WE WERE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET.WE ONLY HAD ONE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
AND WE TOOK ACTION. AND IT WAS VOTED ON THAT THE ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE, THAT WE-- IT WAS NOT AN OPTION ON THE
TABLE SFLT THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS WHAT I REMEMBER.
>> THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT. >> LET ME PULL IT UP REAL QUICK.
I BELIEVE IT WAS A DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET.
>> THERE WAS A MOTION MADE BY YOU, MR. MAYOR.
I BELIEVE I SECONDED IT. THEN WE VOTED.
IN ORDER TO TAKE ACTION, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE ITEM LISTED ON THE AGENDA. I THINK WHAT LAST MEETING WAS IN THE PRESENTATION, WE WERE TAKING VOTES ON DIRECTING STAFF TO BRING BACK A PROPOSAL. SO WHEN THEY BRING BACK THE BUDGET SEPTEMBER 7, IT DOES NOT INCLUDE A ROAD MAINTENANCE.
THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT ON THE FIRST READING, THE COUNCIL SWITCHES COURSE AND SAYS "BRING BACK THIS ROAD FEE." THAT IS WHY IT IS ON THE-- THAT IS WHY THE SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCE IS ON NEXT WEEK'S AGENDA.
>> YES. I JUST NEEDED CLARIFICATION ON
THAT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RECONSIDER THE PROPOSED NEW RATE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
>> POINT OF ORDER. >> LY MAKE A MOTION.
>> HOLD ON. >> SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOLAR. RECONSIDERING THE PROPOSED NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE. A POINT OF ORDER BY COUNCIL
ACCORDING TO ROBERT'S RULES, IT IS TOO LATE TO MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER. ACTION COULD BE TAKEN LATER.
THE MOTION NEEDS TO BE MADE WITHIN THE SAME DAY OR NEXT DAY OF THE MEETING WHERE THE MOTION OCCURRED.
THE ORIGINAL MOTION. >> I MAKE MOTION THAT WE SUSPEND ROBERT'S QUP P RULE APPLICATION IN THIS CASE AT THIS TIME.
>> SECOND. >> I WAS GOING TO SAY I'LL
THAT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CITY ATT THE CITY ATTORNEY
RECOMMENDED THAT WE COULD DO. >> ALL RIGHT.
A POINT OF ORDER BY COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON.
THEN WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK.
TO SUSPEND ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON.
DO I HAVE THIS RIGHT? >> CLARIFICATION.
HE ONCE SUSPENDING THE ENTIRE ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER.
ONLY THAT ONE SPECIFIC RULE IN THAT CASE.
>> CORRECT. >> THAT IS WHAT I HEARD.
>> YES. >> WELL, THE WHOLE BOOK.
WE ARE SUSPENDING. HOW DO YOU WANT ME TO WORD THIS? WE ARE SUSPENDING THE RULE THAT IS STOPPING THE RECONSIDERATION?
>> THAT IS CORRECT. >> SUSPENDING THE RULE --
>> I MEAN -- >> SUSPENDING THE RULE THAT STOPS THE RECONSIDERATION. OKAY.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOORNTON. THORNTON.
YOU HAD SOMETHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD?
>> THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT RULES THAT WOULD STOP THIS ACTION.
>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND ANY ONE OF THEM THAT WILL PREVENT THE VOTE. YOU CAN GO THROUGH IT.
>> LET HIM FINISH. THEN WHEN HE IS DONE FINISHING, AS GOD AS MY WITNESS, I WILL CALL ON YOU TO DEBATE WHATEVER IT IS HE SAYS. FIRST I HAVE TO HEAR WHAT HE
>> OKAY. SO THERE IS RULES-- 37-8B AND 37-10B SAYS THE MOTION INITIALLY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN EITHER THE DAY THE MEETING HAPPENED OR THE DAY AFTER THE MEETING.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BY AUGUST 18.
AND THEN 37-92C SAYS THAT A MOTION TO RECONSIDER CAN'T BE APPLIED TO AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE WHOSE PROVISIONS HAVE ALREADY PARTLY BEEN CARRIED OUT. IF ANY ACTION WAS TAKEN OUT TO CARRY OUT ANYTHING IN THAT RESOLUTION, WE CAN'T RECONSIDER IT. IT IS ALREADY IN MOTION.
>> WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN -- >> ANY OF THE POSTINGS.
THE NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET. >> YUP.
>> OKAY. NOW, COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK?
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND-- THEY WERE ALL IN 37.
CORRECT? >> THEY ARE ALL PART OF 37.
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE RULES.
>> I SAY THAT WE SUSPEND THE MOTION RULE 37.
>> OKAY. YOU WANT TO AMEND YOUR MOTION TO JUST SUSPEND RULE 37 OF ROBERT'S RULES?
>> HOLD ON. MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON?
>> SHE ACTUALLY SPOKE FIRST. IF SHE WANTS TO TAKE IT OVER.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOLAR.
ALL RIGHT. DISCUSSION ON THE SUSPENSION OF
THE RULE. >> WE AGREED TO HAVE RULES FOR A
[00:45:08]
REASON. >> IF I MAY, ACCORDING TO THE RULES, THE MOTION TO SUSPEND IS NOT DEBATABLE.
>> IT IS NOT DEBATABLE. >> YEAH.
SORRY. TO CLARIFY, FOR THE COUNCIL, A MOTION TO SUSPEND IS NOT DEBATABLE UNDERNEATH THE RULES.
THEN PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER KOLAR?
>> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON?
>> NAY. >> MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON?
>> NAY. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK?
>> AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON?
>> AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER WILCOTT?
WITH THE RULES NOT IN PLACE, SECTION 37, WE WILL GO BACK TO THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSED NO NEW TAX RATE.
MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK. SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOLAR. DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION.
>> WELL, I WILL HAVE TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT.
IF WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS, THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WHY WE ARE DOING IT.
I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED, AND I'M REALLY CONFUSED THIS TIME AROUND BECAUSE WE ARE PRESENTED A NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET.
WE ACCEPT IT. LITERALLY EVERYTHING IN THERE BUT ONE LIBRARIAN. WE ADDED THINGS.
WE GET TO THE END, I'M SORRY. ANNE, I HAVE TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. HOW MUCH CASH DO WE HAVE THROUGH OUR DIFFERENT BANK ACCOUNTS? THE REASON I ASK IS I KNOW WE MADE A-- WE MADE AN ACCOUNTING-- WE AMENDED OUR BUDGET EARLIER TO GO FROM $100,000 INTEREST INCOME TO $6.1 ROUGHLY.
IT APPEARS WE HAVE LOTS OF MONEY IN THE BANK.
IF YOU HAD TO GUESS, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, HOW MUCH MONEY IS
IN THE BANK RIGHT NOW? >> FOR THE RECORD, ANNE LAMERE, INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR. I WOULD GUESS $173 MILLION
BETWEEN CASH AND INVESTMENTS. >> SO WE HAVE $173 MILLION.
WE HAVE PASSED THINGS TO INVEST IT IN T-BILLS BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MUCH MONEY. WE HAVE ADJUSTED OUR BUDGET UP $6 MILLION DUE TO INTEREST. THIS ISN'T JUST IN GENERAL REVENUE. IT IS IN UTILITY, IN THE ROADS.
IT IS ALL OVER. AND SO I WAS HAPPY TO GET A NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET. I THINK IT COULD BE TWEAKED AND THINGS MOVED AROUND. FOR ME, TO RECONSIDER AND TAX PEOPLE MORE MONEY WHEN WE ARE SITTING ON $170-- HOW MUCH?
>> I'M GUESSING $173 MILLION. >> TO RAISE TAXES WHEN YOU HAVE $173 MILLION IN THE BANK, I JUST FEEL LIKE-- THE DISCUSSION IN TERMS OF WE SHOULD BE DOING THIS AND WE SHOULD BE DOING.
THAT WE SHOULD. WE HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY TO DO IT. I CAN'T MAKE ROADS AND SIDEWALKS GET BUILT. ALL I CAN DO IS ASK THAT WE HIRE DIFFERENT ENGINEERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT IS NOT LIKE PEOPLE-- THE MONEY IS NOT THERE.
IT IS AN IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEM.
IT IS MANAGEMENT. RAISING PEOPLE'S TAXES WON'T GET US TO SPEND THE MONEY BETTER. IT IS FUNNY THAT WE SUSPEND THE RULES. WE HAVE RULES.
AS WE HAD THE COUNCIL MEMBER SEVERAL YEARS AGO SAY, YOU EITHER FOLLOW THE RULES OR YOU DON'T.
WE FOUND OUT A WAY TO SUSPEND THE RULES.
WE DON'T LIKE THE RULES. WHICH TO ME, IS UNPRECEDENTED.
NOW GOING FORWARD, I DON'T MIND BEING THE MINORITY AND BEING OUTVOTED ALL THE TIME. NOW EVERY TIME WE HAVE A RULE, WE WILL JUST SAY, I'LL SUSPEND THAT RULE.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO SUSPEND THE RULES OR YOU DON'T LIKE IT, THEN WE WILL GO BACK. THE PROTOTHE MAYOR PRO TEM REMEMBERS WHEN WE DID AWAY WITH THIS.
TO ME, WE ARE HEADED THAT ROUTE. >> SO I HAVE A QUESTION.
WHAT IS OUR-- YOU SAID IT IS $100 MILLION.
THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR US TO USE HOWEVER WE WANT.
A LOT OF THAT MONEY IS COMMITTED FOR THINGS ALREADY.
>> CORRECT. >> THE CORRECT QUESTION IS WHAT IS OUR UNRESERVED, UNCOMMITTED BALANCE THAT WE HAVE? I REMEMBER THAT BEING ABOUT $8 MILLION FROM LAST MEETING.
IS THAT RIGHT? >> WE HAVE DIFFERENT-- WHAT THEY CALL COLORS OF MONEY OR DIFFERENT FUNDS THAT WE PUTS OUR MONEY INTO. AND I THINK WHAT YOU ARE ASKING ME ABOUT IS OUR GENERAL REVENUE FUND.
>> YES. >> WHICH IS THE FUND WHERE THE
TAX DOLLARS GO INTO. >> CORRECT.
>> YOU ARE CORRECT. THERE IS ABOUT $8.2 MILLION IN FUND BALANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT FUND.
OF THE $8.2, ABOUT $4.7 MILLION IS RESERVED PER POLICY.
[00:50:07]
20% FOR EMERGENCIES. AND THEN THE REMAINDER OF $3.5 MILLION WOULD BE UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE.>> SO $2.-- I'M SORRY. $2.1 MILLION BASICALLY COVERS ABOUT 10%. YOU SAID WE HAVE $4.2 THAT HAS TO BE SET ASIDE TO COVER OUR 20%.
IF WE WANTED TO GET TO 30%, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT $6.3 MILLION THAT WE WOULD NEED IN THAT FUND BALANCE.
AND ALSO I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT AFTER ALL OF THE ADDITIONS THAT WE HAD IN THE BUDGET DISCUSSION LAST WEEK, WE WERE COMING UP SHORT. ROUGHLY $1 TO $1.2 MILLION IN ADS. THERE WAS A MOTION TO DRAW DOWN THE FUND BALANCE FROM $8 TO $7. IF I REMEMBER, THAT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON WHO MADE THAT MOTION.
>> SO WHAT I REMEMBER FROM LAST WEEK, YOU HAD ABOUT $330,000 IN ADS. AND WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE $330,000. I REMEMBER A QUESTION FROM COUNCILWOMAN KOLAR REGARDING, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE BUDGET. RIGHT? AND I SAID Y'ALL JUST TAKE CARE OF WHAT YOU WANT.
ADD IT AND SUBTRACT IT. WE WILL LOOK AT BALANCING IT.
WHEN WE LOOKED, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN ERROR IN REVENUE CALCULATION RELATE TO THE INCENTIVE PAYMENT THAT WE CALCULATED AT LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT YEAR TAX RATE. THAT ADDED ABOUT $200,000 IN REVENUE. AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, I HAD VERY CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATED SALES TAX REVENUE.
AND SO WE COULD HAVE-- WE COULD ADD ANOTHER $100,000 IN SALES TAX REVENUE AND THEN BALANCE OUT THAT $330,000 IN ADS THAT YOU HAD. AND STILL REMAIN AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE. THE QUESTION THAT I THINK YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT RELATED TO FUND BALANCE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, COUNCIL MEMBER THORN TOBACCO HAD SAID COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON HAD SAID TAKE ANYTHING ABOVE $7 MILLION, WHICH IF WE HAD $8.2 MILLION, THAT WOULD BE $1.2 MILLION AND ADD THAT INTO STREET MAINTENANCE EXPENSE. I BELIEVE THAT WAS YOUR MOTION.
WE CURRENTLY HAD $750,000 IN STREET MAINTENANCE EXPENSE.
ANOTHER $1.2 WOULD THEN MAKE IT $1,904 FOR STREET MAINTENANCE EXPENSE. SO THAT WAS ONE MOTION ON THE TABLE. AND THEN THERE WAS SOMEBODY E ELSE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK. WHO MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A $1.7 MILLION POTENTIAL BALANCING ISSUE FROM AN AGREEMENT THAT MIGHT BE FALLING THROUGH RELATED TO COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUNDING WHICH I DID TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE RESOLUTION ON THAT YET.
>> RIGHT. >> THOSE ARE THE THREE POTENTIAL
MY POINT WAS WHEN YOU HAVE THAT $1.7 UNKNOWN AND YOU HAVE THE ROAD MAINTENANCE WITHOUT DOING THE ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE, AND ALL OF THAT CAN'T JIVE AT NO NEW REVENUE, WE NEED TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE AN HONEST DISCUSSION OVER THE NEXT MONTH TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
DO WE GO AT 42, 43 CENTS AND DON'T HAVE A FEE? DO OFF ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE AND HAVE A NO NEW REV SNEU IT WOULDD BE IRRESPONSIBLE KNOWING THERE IS NOT AN AGREEMENT THAT IS FINALIZED. THAT IS WHY I'M CALLING FOR THIS RECONSIDERATION. IT IS NOT TO SET THE RATE TONIGHT. IT IS TO SET THE MAX THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE. AND THEN TO WORK THROUGH IT OVER THE NEXT MONTH WITH CITIZEN INPUT, US BEING HONEST AND THEN US AS A COUNCIL, ALSO UNDERSTANDING, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT OPTIONS HOW YOU CAN GET THERE.
YOU CAN HAVE A ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE.
A LOT OF CITIZENS SAID TONIGHT THEY MIGHT IN FAVOR OF.
THAT WOULD CHANGE WHERE WE SET THAT RATE.
YOU KNOW, THE CHARACTERIZATION THAT I HAVE SEEN IN SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT OF HURTING THE CITIZENS OR DOING SOMETHING ELSE. IT IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DO IT AND NOT HANDCUFFING US BEFORE WE CAN HAVE THE DISCUSSION. SO I HOPE THAT EXPLAINS KIND OF MY THINKING. AND THAT IS WHY I WOULD NORMALLY NEVER SUSPEND A RULE. WE NEED TO HAVE THIS ABILITY AFTER THIS OTHER STUFF CAME UP AND THE OTHER THINGS DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL AUGUST 24. THIS IS WHY.
LAST YEAR, IF EVERYONE REMEMBERS, WE ADOPTED IN THE INITIAL ONE, NOT NO NEW REVENUE. WE WENT TO A VOTER-APPROVED RATE. WE ENDED UP ADOPTING NO NEW REVENUE. WE HAD THE ABILITY TO HAVE AN HONEST DISCUSSION AND WORKED THROUGH THOSE ISSUES.
[00:55:03]
TRUST YOUR COUNCIL THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER THINGS AND NOT JUST A NUMBER. IT IS REALLY MORE COMPLEX THAN THAT. SO -->> WE ARE TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE A RUSH DECISION.
WE KNOW WE WILL BE LOCKED IN FOR A YEAR.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST GET THIS DIFFERENCE
FOR NEXT YEAR. >> ON THAT $173 MILLION, SINCE I LOOK AT IT-- A LOT OF OUR BUDGET IS COMING FROM THAT.
I'M NOT SAYING WE HAVE THE $173 MILLION IN WHATEVER FUNDS THAT ARE UNALLOCATED. BUT A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS, PROJECTS WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET DONE LAST YEAR.
THEY ARE ALL PART OF THAT $173. RIGHT? I THINK THERE IS THIS THOUGHT THAT WE NEED MORE MONEY TO GET STUFF DONE. AND THE LOGIC I KEEP HAVING IS WE HAVE THE MONEY. THERE IS $165 MILLION THAT WE HAVE BUDGETED THIS YEAR TO SPEND ON.
RIGHT? >> IN 2022, THE CITY ISSUED APPROXIMATELY $52 MILLION IN WATER/WASTEWATER CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. THAT MONEY HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
HOWEVER, WE HAVEN'T SPENT A LOT OF THAT BOND MONEY BECAUSE THE PROJECTS ARE STILL IN DESIGN. VERY CLOSE TO BEING RELEASED.
TO BEGIN CONSTRUCTION. THAT IS $56 MILLION.
AND THEN THERE WAS A $26 MILLION BOND ISSUANCE FOR ROADS.
THAT MONEY IS STILL PROBABLY ABOUT $19 MILLION OF THAT BOND IS STILL UNSPENT. THEN THERE WAS $12 MILLION RECENTLY ISSUED FOR EAST-WEST SPINE ROAD.
THERE IS PARK IMPROVEMENT FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO BE SPENT.
THERE IS IMPACT FEE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO BE SPENT.
SO THAT THERE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE EARMARKED FOR SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT CANNOT BE SPENT FOR YOUR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF
YOUR GENERAL FUND. >> AND IN ADDITION, ROAD BOND MONEY CANNOT BE SPENT FOR MAINTENANCE OF ROADS.
IT IS NOT ALLOWED. >> CORRECT.
>> YOU KEEP HEARING THIS NUMBER, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND YOU CAN'T DO-- IT IS NOT AS SIMPLE. I DON'T LIKE WHEN IT JUST COMES OUT AS JUST A SIMPLE THING OF, WE CAN JUST MOVE THIS MONEY AROUND. IT IS NOT THAT WAY.
THE REASON WE WERE ABLE TO ISSUE THE ROAD BONDS BEFORE, BECAUSE OF THE MISMANAGEMENT OF BEFORE, THOSE FUNDS HAD TO BE ENCUMBERED BY THE A.G. TO THOSE ROAD PROJECTS THAT WE HAD NAMED IN THE BONDS. FROM 2017, 2019.
WHENEVER THEY PASSED. YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHY WE NEED TO
DO THIS. >> MAYBE I CAN EXPLAIN HIT THE WAY. AT THE END OF THE MONTH, YOU GET YOUR PAYCHECK. YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY IN CHECKING. IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU GO BLOW IT ALL ON WHATEVER YOU WANT. YOU HAVE YOUR INSURANCE DUE, YOUR CAR PAYMENT DUE. YOU HAVE YOUR RENT DUE.
YOU HAVE FOOD THAT YOU NEED TO BUY.
YOU HAVE ALL THIS STUFF. SO YEAH, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BANK BALANCE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD.
WE HAVE TO REALIZE AND REMEMBER THAT MONEY IS EARMARKED.
IT IS ACCOUNTED FOR. IT IS SPOKEN FOR FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS ALREADY. WE CAN'T JUST GO AND MOVE IT
AROUND AND SPEND HOW WE WANT. >> CORRECT.
IF WE COULD MOVE IT AROUND AND SPEND IT HOW WE WANTED, WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE TAXES ON HOUSES.
IT REALLY DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. >> WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS
DISCUSSION. >> MONEY IN THE BANK IS
EARMARKED FOR A SPECIFIC ITEM. >> IF WE DO NO NEW REVENUE, WE ARE STILL DOING THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS. THERE IS A PREVAILING THOUGHT THAT IF YOU DO NO NEW REVENUE, IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE EAST BERLIN.
HUTTO WILL BE IN DECAY. IN REALITY, THAT IS MY POINT.
THERE IS MONEY THERE. THAT IS GOING TO ROADS.
MONEY GOING TO PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
MONEY EARMARKED. THIS IDEA THAT NO NEW REVENUE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU CAN'T DO ANY OF.
THIS IT IS EARMARKED. THERE IS MONEY FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE. $1.9 MILLION.
>> NO, NO, NO. CURRENTLY, THERE IS $750,000 IN
>> AND THERE WAS SOME DIRECTION THAT I SHOULD TAKE $1.2 MILLION AND GO OUT IT OVER THERE UNDER ROAD MAINTENANCE.
HOWEVER, I THINK THAT IS PART OF WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
>> RIGHT. >> $750,000, IS IT ENOUGH? IF IT IS NOT ENOUGH, THEN DOES THE ADDITIONAL COME FROM FUND BALANCE OR FROM INCREASED TAXES OR FROM A $5 FEE?
>> RIGHT. AS IT WAS LEFT AT THE END OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, IT WAS TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF THE RESERVE.
>> CORRECT. >> AS WE LEFT IT, THERE IS $1.9 MILLION. I LOOK AT IT AS $1.9 MILLION FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE UNLESS WE CHANGE THAT AS A COUNCIL.
>> CORRECT. >> AS VOTED ON PREVIOUSLY.
>> YEAH. >> YOU ARE ALSO FORGETTING ABOUT THE $1.7 THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE GREET ON.
[01:00:02]
THAT MEANS WE HAVE $200,000 IF YOU DID THAT.THERE IS ANOTHER AMOUNT YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT IS ANOTHER $200,000 THAT WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR. FOR EXPENDITURES.
BECAUSE AS THE ROAD PROJECTS START BIDDING OUT, THEY MAY OR MAY NOT COME IN AT WHAT WE BUDGETED FOR.
IT WOULD BE PRUDENT WHEN WE'VE GOT HUGE CONSTRUCTION COSTS WITH CERTAIN NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE COMPLEX.
WE WILL DISCUS THEM AND DISCLOSE THEM IN TRANSPARENCY OVER THE SEPTEMBER 7 MEETING. YOU KNOW, I THINK I WANT TO ASK THAT WE HAVE THE MOTION ON THE TABLE.
I THINK WE CALL THE VOTE. >> THANK YOU, ANNE.
>> PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON?
>> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER C KOLAR?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON? >> NAY.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON? >> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WILCOTT? >> AYE.
BUT I FORGOT TO CALL UP CITIZENS.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP AND SPEAK ON 5-1. IF IT SOMEHOW CHANGES, PEOPLE'S OPINIONS, WE CAN RECALL THE ITEM.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS. FIRST WE HAVE SUSAN.
>> WE HAVE SHANNON CARTER YIELDING TIME TO TARA WRAY.
AND SCOTT CARTER YESTERDAYING TIME TO TARA WRAY.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. (INAUDIBLE) FIREFIGHT NEXT WE
[5.2. Consideration and possible action repealing Resolution No. R-2023-176 calling and setting a public hearing on September 7, 2023, at 7:00 PM on the proposed No New Revenue Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and setting the proposed tax rate at the Voter Approval Tax Rate and approving Resolution No. R-2023 -198 calling a public hearing on September 14, 2023 on the proposed Voter Approval Tax Rate to be included in the hearing notice (Anne LaMere)]
HAVE ITEM 5-2/. POSSIBLE ACTION.REPEALING RESOLUTION NUMBER: CALLING AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 AT 7:00 P.M.
ON THE PROPOSED NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024? AND SETTING THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AT THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE AND APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER R-2023-198, CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 ON A PROPOSED VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE TO BE INCLUDED
IN THE HEARING NOTICE. >> SO MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PROPOSE TO SET A TAX RATE NOT TO EXCEED 45 CENTS WHICH IS NOT AT THAT RATE THAT WAS THROWN OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT, YOU KNOW, WAS NOT-- I THINK IT WAS PREMATURE.
>> OKAY. THE MOTION IS TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION. THE RESOLUTION CALLED TO RAISE IT 7 CENTS. YYOUR MOTION IS TO AMEND THE
>> TO LOWER IT FROM A 7-CENT INCREASE TO A 5-CENT.
>> NOT TO EXCEED. >> I HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION FOR OUR ATTORNEY. DOES THIS NEED TO BE WORDED IN ANY SPECIFIC WAY FOR US TO PASS THIS? I KNOW THERE ARE SOME RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO TAXES THAT HAVE TO BE WORDED SPECIFICALLY.
>> AS LONG AS YOU ARE LOOKING TO AMEND RANGES THAT ARE IN BETWEEN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, THE CURRENT RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU WILL SUFFICE.
I WOULD JUST MAKE YOUR MOTION AS AMENDING IF YOU ARE JUST CHANGING THE AMOUNT, SECTION 4, AND THEN JUST STATE WHAT THE SPECK AMOUNT IS. THE SPECIFIC AMOUNT.
SO THERE IS SOME CLARITY. FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU ARE PROPOSING COUNCIL MEMBER 0.45. AS THE TAX RATE.
I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND SECTION 4 TO REPLACE THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE NUMBER THAT IS THERE WITH 0.45.
>> OKAY. I MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE MY MOTION TO CHANGE SECTION 4 FROM THE NO-- THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX
RATE TO .45 CENTS. >> DO YOU HAVE THAT, COUNCIL
MEMBER THOMPSON? >> ANOTHER QUESTION.
I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT REPEALING THE MOTION OR APPROVING THE RESOLUTION. THAT IS THE INTENTION.
SPECIFICALLY STATED. >> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO BOTH AMEND AND MOVE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED, YOU COULD DO
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE R-2023-198 AS AMENDED.
AND REPEAL R-2023-176. >> DOES THAT WORK?
[01:05:08]
>> ISN'T THAT ALREADY MENTIONED? >> WAIT A MINUTE.
>> SORRY. I WASN'T CLEAR IF THAT WAS A QUESTION FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER OR MYSELF.
DOES THAT WORK FOR LEGAL ASPECTS?
>> YES. AND JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS CLEAR, THE RESOLUTION ITSELF IS WRITTEN IN THE SECTIONS, IF YOU LOOK OVER IT. SECTION 2.
BY SECTION 2, THE RESOLUTION WOULD REPEAL THE PRIOR RESOLUTION. AND THEN CALL THE HEARING IN SECTION 3 FOR SEPTEMBER 14 ON THE NEW PROPOSED RATE.
AND IN SECTION 4, PROPOSE THE RATE OF THE AMOUNT SUGGESTED IN THE AMENDMENT TO. CLARIFY HOW THE RESOLUTION IS
>> COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON? >> THAT IS NOT WHAT SECTION 2
YOU ARE CORRECT. THERE IS A TYPO.
MY APOLOGIES ON THAT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE REPEAL.
WE NEED TO AMEND THE WORD "APPEALED TO "REPEALED."
APOLOGIES. >> YOU TWO OKAY WITH THAT?
DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION TO REPEAL? RESOLUTION R-2023-176. APPROVE RESOLUTION R-2023-198.
CHANGING SECTION 4 FROM THE VOTER APPROVED RATE TO .45.
DISCUSSION ON THAT? >> SO I'LL JUST SAY THAT JUST A REMINDER TO CITIZENS. THIS IS NOT SETTING THE FINAL TAX RATE. THIS IS SETTING THE MAX THAT WE WOULD CONSIDER. SO WE CAN HAVE A ROBUST AND OPEN DISCUSSION ON ALL OPTIONS ON THE TABLE.
I HAVE SAID BEFORE AND I THINK I SAID IT IN OUR LAST MEETING WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE MAINTENANCE FEE, I'M IN FAVOR OF ONE OR THE OTHER, NOT BOTH. I LIKED SOME OF THE AX PEBTS AND IDEAS OF A ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE. I LIKE SOME OF THE ASPECTS OF SETTING THE TAX RATE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER TO, AGAIN, PAY FOR ROADS. THAT IS MY INTENTION.
TO BE ABLE TO DO KIND OF WHAT WE HAVE PROMISED THE CITIZENS TO DO. A REMINDER TO CITIZENS.
THIS IS NOT A FINAL ACTION WE ARE TAKING TONIGHT.
THE FINAL ACTION IS TAKEN APT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
>> YEAH. ACTUALLY, I HAVE SOME PREPARED COMMENTS. ACTUALLY.
I CAN BE VERY CLEAR ON MY MESSAGE TO THE RESIDENTS OF HUTTO. AS MANY OF YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW, I VOTED AGAINST THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE EARLIER THIS MONTH. AND THAT IS WHY I VOTED IN FAVOR OF US BRINGING THIS FORWARD SO WE COULD HAVE THIS DISCUSSION NOW. BUT I VOTED NO BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, IT IS WISE TO START HIGH AT THE VOTER APPROVED RATE OF 47 CENTS. NOW WE ARE AT 45.
I'M OKAY WITH THAT AS WELL. ULTIMATELY, END AT A LOWER RATE.
LAST BUDGET YEAR, THE TAX RATE WAS PROPOSED AT THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE. AND ULTIMATELY, THIS CURRENT TAX RATE WE ARE IN ENDED UP BEING THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
SO YES, LAST YEAR, I DID VOTE FOR NO NEW REVENUE LAST YEAR.
SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO RECONSIDER OUR OPTIONS ON THE TAX RATE. BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE PREVAILING SIDE OF THE INITIAL TAX RATE VOTE. I'LL VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS TO RESTART THE TAX RATE PROCESS, BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND WHY I'M IN FAVOR OF THIS. AGAIN, I BELIEVE IT IS A WISE DECISION TO START HIGH AND END LOW.
ULTIMATELY, I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GOING TO-- END LOW.
HAD THIS HAPPENED DURING THE FIRST VOTE, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. BEYOND THAT, AS COUNCIL MEMBER, I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH SEEING THE TAX RATE AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE BEFORE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET.
WITH THE OTHER DOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS WHICH WE DID LAST THURSDAY. LAST THURSDAY WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE DISCUSSED THE BUDGET FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I BELIEVE OVERALL, WE ARE VERY PRODUCTIVE IN THE CHANGES WE WANT TO SEE IN THE CITY. WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FUNDED.
WHAT WE SEE AS UNNECESSARY. BUT THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TASKED TO DO HERE. AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO THE 2024 BUDGET, IT WAS PREPARED AND PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL. AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
WHICH MS. STEWART MENTIONED. WHICH IS GREAT.
EVERY TAXING ENTITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS HAS TO PRESENT A BALANCING BUDGET. UNFORTUNATELY, THE 2024 NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET ONLY APPROPRIATED $750,000 TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S ROADS. ACCORDING TO THE STREETS AND MAINTENANCE STUDY PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC
[01:10:01]
EARLIER THIS YEAR, IT WOULD REQUIRE $1.2 MILLION TO, AT BEST, MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT ROADS.THE NO NEW REVENUE BUDGET IS $450,000 SHORT ON MAINTAINING THE CITY'S ROADS. I'M NOT HERE TO TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT TO SIMPLY DECLARE THAT I, AS COUNCIL MEMBER, HAVE VOTED FOR NO NEW REVENUE AND THEY DID NOT RAISE YOUR TAXES.
THAT I LOWERED YOUR TAX RATE, THAT I SAVED YOU MONEY.
IT IS EASY TO DECLARE THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE AS A WIN FOR THE TAXPAYERS. I WILL SIT HERE BEFORE YOU AND TELL YOU THE TRUTH. THAT IN ORDER TO MINIMALLY MAINTAIN THE CITY'S ROADS, IT IS GOING TO REQUIRE A TAX RATE INCREASE ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE.
IS THAT GOING TO REQUIRE THE MAXIMUM VOTER-APPROVED RATE OF 47 CENTS OR EVEN OUR 45-CENT THAT IS ONLY TABLE NOW? ABSOLUTELY NOT. SETTING THE RATE AT THE 47 CENTS WHICH MY CALCULATIONS ARE WRONG, BUT IF WE WOULD HAVE DONE THE 47 CENTS, IT WOULD HAVE GENERATED $3.1 MILLION EXTRA.
REMEMBER, TO CLOSE THE ROAD MAINTENANCE GAP, WE NEED $450,000. NOT THE $2 MILLION.
NOT THE $3 MILLION. THAT IS EXCESSIVE AND NOT NEEDED. OKAY? IF WE SIMPLY MAINTAIN OUR CURRENT TAX RATE AT 42 CENTS, THE CITY WILL MAINTAIN THE RO ROADS.
SINCE ROADS, AFTER ALL, IS WHAT THE CITIZENS STRONGLY FEEL NEED TO BE THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE CITY.
SO AFTER THE TAX RATE VOTE WAS TAKEN EARLIER THIS MONTH, WE TOOK A BREAK. WE CAME BACK, AND NOT ON THE MIC. NOT LIVE OR ANYTHING.
I STATED TO THE MAYOR, I SAID "THERE IS TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WANT THE LOWEST TAX RATE, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WANT THINGS DONE AND ARE WILLING TO PAY." YOU CANNOT BE BOTH. THOSE THAT WANT TO TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT WITH NO NEW REVENUE, CANNOT DEMAND THINGS-- CANNOT DEMAND THAT THINGS GET DONE. I SAID THIS DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR. I SAID YOU CANNOT DEMAND THINGS GETTING DONE AT NO NEW REVENUE. I RAN ON INVESTING ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE. I'M ASKING THE TAXPAYERS OF HUTTO TO INVEST IN YOUR CITY SO YOU CAN SEE THINGS GET DONE THIS YEAR. THIS NEXT YEAR.
I BELIEVE THAT POST OF YOU THAT LIVE HERE WANT TO SEE YOUR COMMUNITY IMPROVE AND THRIVE. I'M NOT AFRAID TO ASK YOU FOR $50 OR $100 MORE OF YOUR HARD-EARNED MONEY IN DECEMBER WHEN YOUR TAXES ARE DUE. SO THANK YOU.
>> OTHER DISCUSSION? >> SO BEFORE I GET INTO THE DISCUSSION, I MEAN, OUR PROTOCOLS SAY THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO SPEAK BEFORE WE VOTE ON ANYTHING. AND CALLING INTO QUESTION...
LET EVERYBODY SPEAK. I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH YOU ON THIS MOTION. IT IS RESPECTING THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY AND THEIR BUDGETS. BECAUSE WE ARE ASKING THEM TO INCREASE THEIR BUDGET TO FUND STUFF WE CAN BE DEMANNING OF WHAT WE EXPECT THE CITY TO DO WITH THE RATE.
IT IS A MATTER OF PRIORITIZING. WE NEED TO GET THE NEEDS DONE AND THEN LOOK AT THE WANTS. AND SEE WHICH WANTS WE CAN STILL AFFORD WITH WHAT WE HAVE LEFT. WE MOSTLY ADDED THINGS LAST WEEK. WE ENDED UP BECAUSE THE $300,000 IS APPARENTLY NOT NEEDED, WE ADDED MORE THAN WE NEEDED TO STREET MAINTENANCE. SO WE CAN BOOST THE FUND BALANCE BACK UP BY SHIFTING SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK.
BECAUSE IT IS NOT NEEDED TO HIT $1.2 MILLION.
IF THAT IS THE GOAL. IF COUNCIL WANTS A DIFFERENT GOAL, WE CAN DISCUSS. THAT THAT IS SOMETHING A LOT OF US CONSIDER A NEED. TO KEEP UP WITH OUR STREET MAINTENANCE. WE NEED TO TAKE A HARDER LOOK AT THE WANTS IN THE BUDGET. AND DECIDE WHICH ONES MAYBE GET PUSHED A YEAR. MAYBE IT IS NOT IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR. WE DIDN'T DO VERY MUCH OF THAT LAST WEEK AT ALL. I DON'T SEE A NEED TO CALL FOR A HIGHER TAX RATE NOW. WHEN WE DIDN'T DO A VERY GOOD JOB OF TRIMMING SOME THINGS FROM THE BUDGET THAT WE ALREADY HAVE WITHOUT IMPACTING THE NEEDS OF THE CITY.
>> ANYONE ELSE? >> I DO THINK THAT WE DID A VERY GOOD JOB OF LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, SEEING WHAT WE COULD TAKE OUT. SEEING WHAT WE INITIALLY NEEDED TO ADD. IN I APPRECIATE STAFF FOR COMING WITH A BUDGET THAT WAS NO NEW REVENUE.
I ALSO THINK THAT LOOKING AT THE SURVEY THAT IS WERE DONE EARLIER THIS YEAR, THERE ARE THINGS THAT CITIZENS WOULD LIKE PRIORITIZED.
SUCH AS CODE ENFORCEMENT, COMMUNICATION, THINGS OF THAT NATURE. I DO THINK THAT WE DO HAVE A
[01:15:01]
GOOD FOCUS ON ROADS AND TRAILS AS WELL AS SIDEWALKS.I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON, ON WHAT WE CAN-- YOU KNOW, WHAT WE REALLY NEED IN THIS CITY OVER THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. I APPRECIATE THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR BRINGING THIS BACK AND HAVING THE CITIZENS IN MIND.
WHENEVER THEY VOTE TO BRING THIS BACK AND RECONSIDER THIS.
SO I AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON.
YOU KNOW, I DISAGREE WITH WHAT I'M HEARING UP HERE WHICH IS, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT UNCOMMON. TWO OR THREE PEOPLE MENTIONED THEY CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION.
WE WERE HERE UNTIL 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
WE WENT LINE BY LINE. THROUGH ALMOST EVERY SINGLE BUDGET LAST THURSDAY. IF THAT WAS NOT A ROBUST DISCUSSION, WE WASTED OUR TIME. WE WASTED ALL THE STAFF'S TIME THAT STAYED UNTIL 2:00 IN THE MORNING.
AND WE DIDN'T CUT ANYTHING OUT BUT ONE LIBRARIAN.
EVERYTHING WAS ADD IN OR WE NEED, WE NEED, WE NEED.
AND SO SOMEHOW YOU ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE ME THATTER WE ARE GOIG TO COME BACK IN SEPTEMBER AND THIS TIME WE ARE GOING TO DIG INTO THE BUDGET. WE ARE GOING TO GO OVER WHAT WE NEED AND DON'T NEED. AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, DECISIONS ON THESE ROBUST DISCUSSIONS.
I DON'T SEE THAT HAPPENING. I THOUGHT WE HAD THAT.
I DON'T SEE NO NEW REVENUE IS THE EASY WAY OUT.
I SEE THE EXACT OPPOSITE TO. ME, THE EASY WAY OUT IS RAISE YOUR TAXES. WE ARE UP HERE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT CALL AND DECISION BASED ON SURVEYS, BASED ON FEEDBACK WE GET FROM THE CITIZENS. AND THE TAXPAYERS.
WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE US DO. THE VAST MAJORITY DO NOT WANT THEIR TAXES GOING UP. THEY WANT US TO FIND WAYS TO GET THINGS DONE AT A CHEAPER COST. THE CITY IS GROWING.
OUR REVENUES ARE GROWING OVER 10% A YEAR.
AND THE BUDGET WE HAVE CAN'T EVEN-- IT CAN'T EVEN STAY WITHIN THAT. ALL THESE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO STAY WITHIN OUR BUDGETS. THEY HAVE TO DECIDE EVERY DAY DO THEY GO TO THE MOVIES OR GO OUT AND EAT? WHAT DO THEY DO FOR THEIR CHILD'S BIRTHDAY? A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THAT.
IF ONLY THEY COULD GO BACK TO THEIR EMPLOYER EVERY MONTH.
NO NEW REVENUE IS ACTUALLY THE TOUGH ONE.
IF YOU PACK A BUDGET WITH A BUNCH OF WANTS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE STAFF DOING THE WORK THEY DID, BUT STAFF'S JOB IS TO BRING WHAT THEY THINK WE NEED AND WHAT THEY WANT US TO APPROVE. IT IS OUR JOB TO THEN SIFT THROUGH THAT AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT.
I THINK WHAT GET CAUGHT UP WITH A LOT OF TIMES IS WE SAY A L LOT -- THIS IS WHAT THE CITY MANAGER WANTED. FOR ME, AND I DON'T MEAN THIS-- I'M NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE WHEN I SAY THIS.
I'M NOT HERE MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
I'M NOT MAKING DECISIONS FOR WHAT STAFF WANTS.
I'M MAKING DECISIONS FOR THE PEOPLE OF HUTTO AND WHAT THEY WANT. WHAT THEY NEED.
AND WE GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT. I HAVE NO DOUBT WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL CHANGE.
SOMEONE UP HERE WILL HAVE TO CUT SOME SPENDING.
THAT IS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT GOT A LITTLE OUT OF HAND.
LIKE I SAID, JUST SETTING BUDGETS AND SPENDING THE MOST YOU CAN SPEND IS NOT BUDGETING. BUDGETING, TO ME, IS GOVERNMENT STAYING WITHIN THEIR MEANS. AND BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHY WE DID WHAT WE DID. YOU KNOW, WHY WE ARE PUTTING A SHOWER IN CITY HALL. I DON'T KNOW THAT A SHOWER IS NEEDED. WE VOTED TO DO IT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A STREET-SWEEPER.
WE VOTED TO DO IT. WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS-- THESE ARE NOT NEEDS. THESE ARE WANTS.
WE GET DOWN TO THE END. AND WE ARE, LIKE, LET'S HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT TAKING MORE MONEY OUT OF PEOPLE'S POCKETS BECAUSE WE NEED THIS SHOWER.
WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IS THE CURRENT EMPLOYEES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE-- THEIR PAY GOES UP AND-- AT AN AMOUNT THAT HELPS THEM OFF-SET THE COST OF LIVING AND INFLATION.
WE DO ALL OF THAT BEFORE WE START ADDING EMPLOYEES.
BUT I GUESS WE WILL SAVE MORE TALK FOR THE 7TH.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? NOT GET A CHANCE OR WANT TO --
>> I THINK IT WILL BE EITHER HIGHER TAX RATE OR A FEE.
ONE OR THE OTHER. WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THEM TOGETHER. THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE WOULD BE BEST.
>> ALL RIGHT. PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
FOR REPEALING RESOLUTION NUMBER R-2023-198.
[01:20:11]
>> REPEALING 176. >> RESOLUTION NUMBER R-2023-176.
AND CHANGING SECTION 4 TO READ 45 CENTS.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? >> YES, SIR.
>> PLEASE CALL THE VOTE. >> MAYOR SNYDER?
>> STNAY. >> COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK?
>> AYE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON?
>> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON?
>> AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER WILCOTT?
>> AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON?
[5.3. Consideration and possible action on a timeline to adopt the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget and Tax Rate (Anne LaMere)]
5-2. >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR THE RECORD, ANNE LAMERE, FINANCE DIRECTOR.
WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, YOU REALLY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. YOU WOULD HAVE THE ADOPTION OF YOUR BUDGET, AND THEN THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE WHICH WE HAD SET FOR SEPTEMBER 21. NOW THAT WE HAVE A RATE THAT IS GREATER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, YOU MUST POST IN A NEWSPAPER AND THERE MUST BE TEN DAYS BETWEEN THE POSTING IN THE NEWSPAPER AND THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE HEARING.
SO IN COMING UP WITH A TIMELINE FOR THAT, THE CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU CAN CHECK ME ON THIS. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE WERE TO SCHEDULE A SPECIAL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 14, THAT WOULD ALLOW US TIME BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER 14 THAT WOULD GIVE US THE TEN-DAY PERIOD WITH POSTING IN THE TAYLOR PRESS FOR THE TEN DAYS. OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 14. THAT WOULD ALSO BE THE FIRST REAFDING ON THE BUDGET, AND YOU COULD ADOPT-- LET'S SEE.
FIRST REAFDING OJT BUDGET. FIRST READING ON THE BUDGET.
AND FIRST READING ON THE TAX RATE ADOPTION.
THEN ON SEPTEMBER 21, YOU WOULD HAVE THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE. AND THE SECOND READING ON THE BUDGET ADOPTION. YOU WOULD ADOPT THE TAX RATE,
SECOND HEARING. >> SO THAT IS ALL CORRECT.
MY ONE CLARIFICATION WOULD BE IN CALLING THE MEETING ON THE 14TH. YOU WOULD WANT TO CALL THAT AS A REGULAR MEETING. YOU WILL CALL IT AS AN ADDITIONAL REGULAR MEETING. JUST FOR THE CHARTER
REQUIREMENTS. >> THAT IS THE WORST THING WE DID WAS PASS THAT ORDINANCE. BECAUSE NOW EVERY TIME WE WANT SOMETHING DONE, WE CALL THE REGULAR MEETING.
AND VOILA. AND WE ARE IN THE GUIDELINES.
THE MOTION IS WHAT? TO ADOPT WHAT YOU JUST SAID?
>> YES. >> A MEETING ON THE 14TH FOR
THE FIRST PUBLIC READING? >> WE NEED TO DO 5.4 FIRST.
SO WE CAN SET THAT. >> COUNCIL, I THINK IT WOULD BE FINE TO DIRECT STAFF TO PURSUE THIS TIMELINE THAT HAS BEEN LAID OUT AND GO AHEAD AND PROCEED TO 5.4 TO APPROVE THE MEETING.
>> SO MAYOR, I'M MAKE A MOTION, THEN, TO ADOPT THE TIMELINE AS PRESENTED BY MS. LAMERE TO HOLD THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 14 23S, ON THE TAX RATE.
THE FIRST BUDGET READING AND THE FIRST READING ON A TAX-- ON ADOPTING THE TAX RATE. AND THEN ON SEPTEMBER 21, TO HOLD THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE, THE SECOND READING AND THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE.
>> I DON'T THINK THAT WORKS, RIGHT?
THAT IS ONLY 7 DAYS. >> THE SECOND READING ONLY NEEDS
7 DAYS. >> I THOUGHT THEY SAID TEN DAYS.
>> FOR THE FIRST ONE. >> THE NOTICE PERIOD IS ON THE FIRST HEARING. WHEN THEY NOTICED THAT ONE.
THAT WILL BE THE NOTICE THAT WILL NEED TO BE ISSUED.
TOMORROW FOR STAFF PURPOSES. IN ORDER TO MEET THAT SEPTEMBER
[01:25:02]
WE KNOW WHEN THE TAYLOR PRESS GOES-- WHEN THE NOTICES GO IN THERE? WE HAVE CHECKED THAT OUT?
I DON'T THINK IT IS DAILY THERE. >> CORRECT.
AGAIN, ANNE LAMERE, FINANCE DIRECTOR, FOR THE RECORD.
THE TAYLOR POLICE, YOU HAVE TO PUT IN-- THE TAYLOR PRESS, YOU HAVE TO PUT IN YOUR REQUEST ON WEDNESDAY FOR A PUBLICATION ON
SUNDAY. >> SO THIS WOULD BE PUBLISHED THIS COMING-- IT WOULD BE PUBLISHED ON THE SUNDAY PRIOR TO
THE 14TH? >> IT IS ACTUALLY THE SUNDAY PRIOR TO THAT. WHICH IS-- DO OFF CALENDAR,
ANGELA? >> THE QUESTION IS DID YOU NOTICE-- DID THEY NOTICE YESTERDAY?
>> WE DID NOT NOTICE YESTERDAY. WE DID NOTICE, HOWEVER, THAT WE MIGHT MISS THE TAYLOR PRESS, AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO PUBLISH IN THE
WILLIAMSON COUNTY SUN NEWSPAPER. >> PER ORDINANCE, THAT IS NOT
THE PAPER WE CAN PUBLISH IN. >> CORRECT.
I DO BELIEVE WE STILL HAVE TIME TO PUBLISH IN TAYLOR PRESS.
IS THAT CORRECT, ANGELA? >> YES.
WHEN WILL THE NOTICE ACTUALLY BE PUBLISHED?
SEPTEMBER 3? >> I WILL HAVE TO DOUBLE-CHECK
THAT. >> IT WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 10.
RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO NOTICE ON WEDNESDAY.
WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 6. WHICH THEN MAKES IT GO TO
SEPTEMBER 10. >> SEPTEMBER 10 WON'T BE ENOUGH TIME TO MEET THE TEN-DAY TIME FRAME.
>> FOR THE 14TH. THAT IS WHY I'M THINKING IT HAS TO BE IN THE PAPER ON THE THIRD. LET'S SEE.
THERE IS ALSO AN ON-LINE EDITION ON WEDNESDAY.
AND THAT WEDNESDAY IS THE 6TH.
IF WE GET IT IN THE PAPER FOR THE 6TH, WE STILL MISS THE
IT IS SCARING ME A LITTLE BIT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO DO SOMETHING THAT STATE LAW HAS A CERTAIN WAY SO THAT PEOPLE GET PROPERLY NOTIFIED. THEY HAVE TIME TO RESPOND.
THEY HAVE TIME TO GET INPUT. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET ALL OF THIS DONE. WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON BROUGHT THIS UP. I'M GLAD TO HEAR.
I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU. I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR NOBODY
TRIED TO NOTICE IT YESTERDAY. >> WELL, WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE
>> WE COULD HAVEN'T NOTICED IT YESTERDAY.
BUT THEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30 TO APPROVE THE BUDGET. AND SO THR THERE IS ANOTHER THURSDAY AFTER SEPTEMBER 21. THAT WOULD BE-- IS THAT
THURSDAY, THE 28TH? >> CORRECT.
YES. UNDER STATE LAW, THE FINAL LEGAL DEADLINE WOULD BE SEPTEMBER 30. AND SO IF YOU WANTED TO HOLD A MEETING ON THE 21ST AND THEN ON THE 28TH, THAT WOULD BE AN AL EARN THE TY OPTION TO MEET THE STATE LAW DEADLINES ON
BUDGET AND TAX RATE APPROVALS. >> OH.
SO THE SPECIAL/REGULAR MEETING WOULD BE ON THE 28TH.
WE WOULDN'T NEED TO MEET ON THE 14TH.
>> SO I AMEND MY MOTION TO SAY THAT THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, THE FIRST BUDGET READING, AND THE FIRST READING ON THE TAX ADOPTION WOULD BE ON SEPTEMBER 21.
AND THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING, THE SECOND BUDGET READING AND THE ACTUAL TAX ADOPTION WOULD BE ON SEPTEMBER 28.
>> OKAY. >> AGAIN, ANNE, THANK YOU-- YOU DON'T HAVE TO COME UP. THANK YOU FOR-- I TALKED TO COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON ABOUT. THIS I WAS SO SURE-- MY DISTRUST OF THINGS. THAT SOMEONE WOULD GO AHEAD AND NOTICE THE TAYLOR PRESS YESTERDAY IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE THE TIMELINES WORK. AND I HAD ALL THIS THING THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, LIKE, IN TERMS OF, LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF I HAD TO FIRE SOMEBODY BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DOING STUFF WITHOUT DIRECTION. IT HAS GIVEN ME COMFORT THAT WE ARE STAYING WITHIN THE LINES. WE ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, SAYING --
>> I DID PREPARE THE NOTICE AT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE A WEEK OR TWO AGO TO GO INTO THE TAYLOR PRESS.
THEN ANGEL AND I PULLED IT OUT. SO YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY FLEXIBLE AND TRYING TO HONOR COUNCIL'S WISHES.
>> THANK YOU, ANNE. >> THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM
GORDON. >> I'LL SECOND THE MOTION.
>> TO HAVE THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 21.
[01:30:03]
AND THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 28.>> PLUS THE BUDGET READINGS AND THE ADOPTION.
>> PLUS BUDGET READINGS AND TAX ADOPTION.
>> SO QUESTION FOR COUNCIL. THE EMAIL WE RECEIVED SUNDAY MORNING LAID OUT A TIMELINE THAT SAID CERTAIN THINGS HAD TO BE POSTED BY AUGUST 29. ARE WE IN COMPLIANCE ON THE FULL
TIMELINE? >> SO I BELIEVE THE AUGUST 29 DEADLINE IS FOR THE BUDGET COVER PAGE.
AND THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR STAFF, IF THAT BUDGET COVER PAGE
WAS INCLUDED ON THAT DATE. >> OUR BUDGET IS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE AND HAS BEEN POSTED CONTINUOUSLY ON THE WEBSITE SINCE IT WAS PRESENTED ON JULY 31.
THERE IS A COVER PAGE ON THAT BUDGET THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE LAW. HOWEVER, THAT COVER PAGE IS BASED ON THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
SO TOMORROW MORNING, WE WILL CHANGE THE COVER PAGE TO NOW SAY THE NEW PROPOSED RATE. BUT YES, WE HAVE BEEN COMPLIANT
THE WHOLE TIME. >> WHAT IS THE LAW ON THAT COVER
PAGE? >> SO THE LAW SAYS-- IT IS A VERY DETAILED LAW. IT SAYS THAT YOUR TITLE MUST BE IN A FONT GREATER THAN 24 POINTS.
AND IT MUST SAY SOMETHING LIKE "NOTICE OF TAX RATE." THEN IT HAS A SPECIFIC WORDING THAT SAYS "THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE X AMOUNT OF NEW REVENUE GREATER THAN LAST YEAR'S BUD BUDGET." IT HAS SOME DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN IT. AND THEN YOU HAVE-- THERE IS ANOTHER LAW THAT SAYS ON THE COVER PAGE OF YOUR BUDGET, YOU MUST DISCLOSE HOW MUCH MONEY YOU PAID LAST YEAR IN LOBBYING EXPENSE AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN YOUR BUDGET FOR LOBBYING EXP EXPENSE. THEN ALSO HOW MUCH MONEY IS PAID LAST YEAR FOR ADVERTISEMENTS AND NEWSPAPERS.
AND HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN THE CURRENT BUDGET FOR ADVERTISING AND NEWSPAPERS. AND THEN YOU HAVE TO POST THE RATE. THEN I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE ON THERE. I CAN'T REMEMBER IT ALL.
IT IS ON THE COVER PAGE. >> WHAT IS THE DATE PORTION OF ALL OF THAT? WHY WAS AUGUST 29 IMPORTANT BUT NOW SEPTEMBER 1 IS OKAY? WHAT PART OF THE LAW MAKES THOSE
DATES HAVE TO BE THOSE DATES? >> SO YOU ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT YOUR BUDGET BY A CERTAIN TIME FRAME.
I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE AUGUST 29 DATE.
THAT WAS A DATE PUT OUT BY TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE WHICH TRIES TO HELP CITIES BE COMPLIANT. THAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE LAST DATE THAT A CITY MANAGER COULD ACTUALLY PRESENT THEIR BUDGET TO COUNCIL AND THEN BE COMPLIANT IN MEETING ALL THE DEADLINES FOR APPROVAL. MY GUESS WOULD BE THAT IS WHAT THAT DATE WAS. I WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK AND
LOOK. >> IT SAYS IT HAS TO BE THERE BEFORE THE 0TH DAY. BEFORE THE DATE THAT THE TAX RATE IS ADOPTED. THAT IS TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND OUR BUDGET WAS THERE PRIOR TO 30 DAYS BEFORE IT WILL BE ADOPTED. OUR BUDGET APPEARED ON THE WEBSITE, I BELIEVE, JULY 31. WHEN IT WAS PRESENTED TO
THE PROBLEM IS THAT BUDGET SAYS NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
>> CORRECT. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT COUNCIL HAD
HOW CAN YOU NOTICE A BUDGET IN TIME AND THEN GO PAST THE DEADLINE AND THEN CHANGE THE BUDGET?
>> THEN IT IS NOT NOTICED ANYMORE.
IT IS A NEW NOTICE. THIS IS THE PROBLEM I HAVE PROCEDURALLY. THAT WE ARE CHANGING THE BUDGET AFTER THE DEADLINE TO POST THE BUDGET.
>> WE ARE NOT CHANGING THE BUDGET.
>> SURE WE ARE. >> NO, WE ARE NOT.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BUDGET AT ALL TONIGHT.
>> NO. BECAUSE THE COVER PAGE OF THE BUDGET SAYS THIS IS WHAT THE TAX RATE IS.
>> SO IF YOU GO .0000 WHATEVER ABOVE THAT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT FOR 30 DAYS. NOW WE WILL HAVE IT FOR 29 DAYS.
>> NOT EVEN 29 DAYS. >> THE AUGUST 29 DATE WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A MEETING ON FRIDAY, THE 29TH TO FINALIZE IT.
IF WE WERE MEETING ON THE 28TH, WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO
HAVE IT BY AUGUST 28. >> SO IT IS KIND OF LIKE LAST YEAR. YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF CITIES IN TEXAS THAT WILL PROPOSE-- THE COUNCIL WILL PROPOSE A NO NEW REVENUE RATE. THEN WHEN IT COMES TIME TO ADOPT, THEY ADOPT SOMETHING LESS THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
THA AT THAT POINT, YOUR COVER PAGE CHANGES.
>> I KNOW. BUT SEE, THE REASON THAT IS RULE IS THERE IS YOU HAVE TO TELL THE CITIZENS BY THAT DEADLINE WITH THE HIGHEST-- WHAT THE HIGHEST RATE THEY COULD SEE IS.
[01:35:02]
NOW WE ARE GOING BACK AND SAYING IT IS HIGHER AFTER THE DEADLINE.AND THAT IS BROUGHT UP ON SU SUNDAY.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD AST DISAGREE WITH.
I WOULD VENTURE THAT MOST CITIES DON'T ADOPT NO NEW REVENUE AND COME IN LOWER. I WOULD ALMOST WITHOUT EXCEPTION, IF THEY WERE TO DO-- MOST CITIES, I THINK, GO WITH A VOTER-APPROVED AND MAYBE COME LESS.
I THINK THE REASON IS BECAUSE-- COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON IS SAYING THE STATE HAS IT SET UP TO WHERE THE PUBLIC KNOWS, OKAY, IT CAN'T GET ANY WORSE THAN THIS.
IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER. AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT, CAN'T BE WORSE THAN FOR 30 DAYS. NOW WE ARE SAYING THE CAN'T BE WORSE, WE HAVE MOVED THE GOAL POST.
WE ARE SAYING, WELL, THE NEW ONE IS GOING TO BE A NICKEL HIGHER.
CAN'T BE WORSE THAN. WE HAVE US SUSPENDED RULES.
WE HAVE DONE A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS TO GET TO THIS POINT.
I THINK EVERYBODY AT TML HATES THE STATE OF TEXAS.
BECAUSE THEY TAKE THE POWER AWAY.
I LOVE IT. THEY SET THINGS IN IRONCLAD.
YOU EITHER DO IT OR YOU DON'T. I'M WITH COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON ON THIS. HERE IS AN INSTANCE WHERE F YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE COVER PAGE. THIS IS ANOTHER ONE WHERE I TOLD COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON. THAT PAGE IS CHANGED ON WEDNESDAY. THINKING THIS VOTE IS GOING TO COME. I'M, LIKE, IT IS GOING TO BE CRAZY. THANKFULLY, WE ARE STICKING TO WHAT COUNCIL SAID AT THE TIME. THERE IS LESS THAN 30 DAYS.
I DON'T KNOW. >> COULD WE ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE? DOTTIE SAID SHE WAS GOING TO BE ON THE LINE TONIGHT. INSTEAD OF US TRYING TO JUST GUESS, I THINK I WOULD LOVE AN ANSWER FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY.
>> SO LOOKING AT THE STATUTE, CLEARLY, THERE IS A 30-DAY DEADLINE. FOR POSTING THE BUDGET PROPOSAL.
THAT IS THE PROPOSAL THAT CITY STAFF, CITY MANAGERS PUT TOGETHER AND POST. THE LAW IS SILENT IN THIS AREA OF THE STATUTE TO ME. AS TO WHAT COUNCIL'S ABILITY IS TO COME IN AND AMEND THAT DURING THE TIME BEFORE THE HEARING.
I THINK PUBLIC NOTICE CONCERNS ARE CERTAINLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THEY ARE ALSO BEING MET WITH A VARIETY OF NOTICES THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE AND THEN A SECOND PUBLIC HEARING. IN THAT REGARD, THE NOTICE PURPOSE OF THE LAW IS STILL MAINTAINED THERE.
I THINK I WOULD NEED TO EXAMINE FURTHER TO DETERMINE CLEARLY IF THERE IS ANY CASE LAW OR OTHER LIMITATION THAT IS WOULD CLEARLY STATE YOU CANNOT CHANGE YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET COVER PAGE AFTER
THAT 30-DAY DEADLINE. >> TO BE CLEAR, IT IS NOT JUST CHANGING THE COVER PAGE. IT IS INCREASING THE TAX RATE.
>> CORRECT. I WOULD NEED TO EXAMINE THAT
CLOSER THAN I CAN RIGHT NOW. >> BUT IT EVEN MENTIONS IN THIS SECTION, THAT THE NOTICE ON THE SECTION SHALL BE PUBLISHED NO LATER THAN THE TENTH DAY BEFORE THE DATE OF THE HEARING.
YOU ARE JUST MATCHING THE COVER SHEET TO MATCH WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO NOTICE TEN DAYS BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IT SEEMS THAT THAT MAKES SENSE. THEY ALWAYS NEED TO BE IN LOCK STEP. THEN YOU HAVE TO NOTICE TEN DAYS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE HEARING. WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.
THAT IS WHY WE SET THE DATES THAT COUNCIL MEMBER GORDON
STATED. >> WELL, I MEAN, IT IS TWO SEPARATE REQUIREMENTS. SO YOU ARE TYING THEM TOGETHER.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT TIES THEM TOGETHER.
>> OKAY. >> THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE ONE PERSON-- ONE PERSON IN THE PUBLIC COULD CALL THE STATE COMPTROLLER OR THE AGO'S OFFICE AND GO, THE CITY COUNCIL OF HUTO IS NOT FOLLOWING THE RULES. WE CAN BEDEBATE UP HERE.
WE ARE BACK TO THREADING THIS FINE NEEDLE ALL SO WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION LATER ON ABOUT WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO.
BY THE TIME WE GET THROUGH THE LEGAL REVIEW, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE COME BACK WITH, WE CAN'T ACT ON IT.
LET'S SAY HE SAYS, WELL GO, AHEAD AND DEAL WITH IT TODAY AND FIGURE IT OUT LATER. WELL, THEN, HE FIGURES OUT, WELL, SHOOT, YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY.
OKAY, WE NEED ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING.
THEN WE WILL KEEP HAVING SPECIAL MEETINGS IN AN EFFORT TO POTENTIALLY RAISE PEOPLE'S TAXES.
IT SENDS TO ME A TERRIBLE MESSAGE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO POTENTIALLY RAISE YOUR TAXES, BUT WE ARE NOT SAYING WE ARE GOING TO.
WE ARE JUST SAYING WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE --
>> REGARDING THE COVER PAGE, I HAVE SEEN INSTANCES WHERE THERE WERE ERRORS ON THE COVER PAGE, AND SO THE CITY WILL REPLACE THAT COVER PAGE FOR THE ERROR. SOMETIMES WHAT THEY WILL DO IS THEY WILL PUT SOMETHING ON TH THERE-- THEY WILL LEAVE THE
[01:40:02]
ORIGINAL COVER PAGE AND SAY THIS PAGE HAS BEEN REVISED, LIKE A BIG WATER MARK OVER IT. THEN THEY PUT THE CORRECTED INFORMATION ON A NEW COVER PAGE ON THE FRONT.I COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> WELL, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THERE WAS NO ERROR ON THE COVER PAGE, THOUGH.
>> LIKE IF I ACCIDENTALLY WRITE A CHECK FOR $10,000 INSTEAD OF $1,000, THAT IS AN ERROR. IF I PURPOSELY WRITE IT FOR $10,000, AND THEN LATER ON, WHAT HAPPENS-- I CLAIM IT WAS AN ERROR, I JUST NEEDED TO GET A PAYMENT OR SOMETHING MADE, BECAUSE THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
THERE ARE ERRORS AND OMISSIONS. WE ALL KNOW WE ARE TRYING TO GET
AROUND THE DEAL. >> ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE RATE IS ACTUALLY ON THAT COVER PAGE.
>> IT ACTUALLY SAYS, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WITH THE DATES, IT GOES DOWN AND FURTHER SAYS THAT THE GOVERNING BODY SHALL TAKE ACTION, IT IS AMENDED TO APPROVE THE TAX RATE FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IF THE RATES ARE NOT INCLUDE ON THE COVER PAGE.
CLEARLY, WE HAVE NOW CHANGED IT. NOW THE CLERK WILL FILE WITH THE
ACTUAL NEW MAX RATE. >> WHERE IS THAT?
>> SECTION 101.008. >> THAT IS WHEN IT POSE THE DOWN. AGAIN, YOU SET A NOT TO EXCEED RATE. RIGHT.
WE SET A RATE NOT TO EXCEED. THEN AT SOME POINT, YOU COME IN POTENTIALLY BELOW THAT. THEN YOU HAVE TO FIX THE COVER
PAGE. >> I'M LOOKING AT THE COVER P PAGE. THANK YOU, JIM MORRIS, FOR HANDING IT TO ME. AND THERE IS NOTHING ON HERE THAT SAYS THE PROPOSED RATE. FROM COUNCIL.
ALL THIS SAYS IS THE CALCULATED RATE.
AND SO IT GIVES THE CURRENT PROPERTY TAX RATE, THE NO NEW REVENUE RITE. THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, THE DEBT RATE, AND THE DEMONEY MUS RATE.
IT DOES NOT HAVE A PROPOSED RATE.
THERE IS NO CHANGE TO THE COVER PAGE OF THE BUDGET.
>> IT SAYS WHAT THE BUDGETED RATE IS.
>> YOU CAN AMEND IT AS YOU GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>> RIGHT. >> YOU CAN GO DOWN BECAUSE WE SET THE NOT TO EXCEED RATE. YOU CAN ALWAYS GO DOWN.
THE ARGUMENT, I THINK, IS YOU CAN'T SET IT AT, SAY, 40 CENT AND COME BACK AT 55. YOU CAN SET IT AT 55 AND COME
BACK AT 40 OR 35. >> EXCEPT WE RENOTICED.
>> THE COVER PAGE IS GOOD. WE ARE GOOD.
>> THERE IS NOTHING ON THIS COVER PAGE THAT SAYS THE PROPOSED RATE OR THAT SAYS THE APPROVED RATE OR THE ADOPTED RATE. THERE IS NOTHING ON THERE LIKE
>> IT DOESN'T. >> BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T ADOPTED A BUDGET YET. THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE TO DO IT AFTER-- THEN YOU HAVE TO UPDATE IT AS YOU GO.
>> IT SAYS PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR '23.
IT SAYS .42198. AND FOR '24, IT HAS .402114.
WHICH IS THE RATE THAT THE TAXES WERE CALCULATED ON THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET CURRENTLY THAT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
THAT HAS NOT CHANGED. >> BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE
SAYING YOU ARE GOING CHANGE. >> NOPE, NOPE.
I'M NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL. THAT IS ON THE WEBSITE.
NOW, YOU MIGHT MAKE A CHANGE, AND YOU MIGHT DO THAT AS PART OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS, AND WHAT WE END UP WITH IS A FINAL BUDGET. IT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S ON THE WEBSITE. WHAT'S ON THE WEBSITE IS WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED. AND THE TAX RATE CALCULATION THAT IS IN THE BUDGET FOR THE TAX RATE IS BASED OFF OF THE NO
>> THAT COULD CHANGE. >> SO THE PROBLEM IS YOU ARE SAYING THIS, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT-- I'M NOT A LAWYER.
I'M NOT SAYING YOU ARE RIGHT OR WRONG.
YOU ARE NOT A LAWYER EITHER. >> CORRECT.
I'M NOT. >> WE HAVE AN EMAIL FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYING THAT THE COVER PAGE NEEDED TO BE CHANGED BY AUGUST 19. I NEED THAT TO BE ADDRESSED BY
THE CITY ATTORNEY. >> I HEARD AN ANSWER FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE CITY ATTORNEY HERE.
A VERY THOROUGH ANSWER TO. THAT I WOULD LIKE BEN TO REITERATE HIS ANSWER THAT HE GAVE.
S IF WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THAT, I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE GET
DOTTIE ON THE PHONE. >> I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO
HAVE DOTTIE ON THE PHONE. >> ACTUALLY, THE MOST HELPFUL THING FOR ME WOULD BE IF I COULD SEE THE COVER PAGE.
AND HOW IT WAS DRAFTED FOR THIS. SORRY.
>> JUST SO YOU KNOW, JIM, WE ARE NOT PAYING YOU FOR DATA SERVICE OR ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT PHONE. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO-- YEAH.
>> DON'T TELL ANYBODY. >> THIS IS A VOLUNTARY
[01:45:03]
CONTRIBUTION. TO THE CITY OF HUTTO.(APPLAUSE). >> CAN I MAKE A REQUEST? IF THE ATTORNEY IS GOING TO SPEAK, HE HAS TO BE LOUDER AND GET CLOSER TO THE MIC. WE CAN'T HEAR HIM BACK HERE.
DOES THIS WORK BETTER? THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. I'M GOING TO SEND THIS TO YOU, BEN. DOTTIE GAVE US A PRETTY--
(INAUDIBLE). >> ALL SHE SAID BEFORE WAS THE COUNCIL APPROVED A NO NEW REVENUE RATE, AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE THIS COVER PAGE.
STAFF WOULD HAVE TO ADD A COVER PAGE WITH THE NEW TAX RATE.
>> NO, NO. SHE SAID BUDGET-- I'LL READ IT TO THE PUBLIC. BUDGET BY AUGUST 29.
THE BUDGET PAGE WILL HAVE TO REFLECT THE VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE. SHE WENT IN ALL THE NOTICES.
>> IT DOES REFLECT THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE AS WELL AS THE DEMONEY MUS RATE. THEY ARE ALL PRESENTED THERE.
CALCULATIONS PER THE WORK SHEET. THE WORKSHEET IS ALSO POSTED ON THE WEBSITE SO THAT ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO LOOK AT THE FULL TEN-PAGE CALCULATION FOR ALL THE TAX RATES CAN FIND IT ON OUR
THEN SHE SAID BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL OR BECAUSE THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE THIS COVER PAGE. STAFF WILL HAVE TO ADD A COVER PAGE WITH A NOTE OF COUNCIL RECONSIDERING THE TAX RATE AND VOTER-APPROVED RATE. I DON'T KNOW.
>> THEN SHE SAID IT MUST BE CONTINUOUSLY POSTED FOR 7 DAYS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WHICH IT MORE THAN WILL BECAUSE WE ARE ADOPTING THE PUBLIC
HEARING TO BE SEPTEMBER 21. >> YES.
>> THAT IS NOTICE OF THE HEARING.
>> YEAH. THE REASON IT HAD TO BE DONE AUGUST 29 WAS BECAUSE OF THE 30 DAYS.
THAT IS WHAT I MEAN. SHE GAVE US ALL OF.
THIS I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE, LIKE, NO, WE CAN'T DO IT.
IT WAS A GOOD TRY. YOU GUYS SHOULD HAVE DONE IT ON FRIDAY. THEN WE COULD CALL A SPECIAL MEETING FOR MONDAY. MONDAY WE WOULD HAVE HIT EVERYTHING. BECAUSE WE WAITED FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, WE MISSED THE DEADLINE.
NOW HER DATES THAT SHE IS SAYING YOU HAVE TO IN THE STATE LAWS
THAT SHE IS GIVING-- >> WHEN WAS THE EMAIL SENT?
WHAT DATE? >> SUNDAY, 11:21 A.M.
>> THANK YOU. >> I TEND TO BE LITERAL ABOUT THINGS. WHEN I'M TOLD TO BE HOME BY 5:00, IT IS LIKE 4:59. WHEN I SEE 0 DAYS, I FEEL LIKE-- WHEN I SEE 30 DAYS, I FEEL LIKE IT IS-- NOW BEN IS LIKE, OH, MAN. NOW I KNOW WHY DOTTIE IS NOT HERE. (LAUGHTER).
>> SO REVIEWING-- SORRY. LET ME DOUBLE-CHECK.
ALL RIGHT. DOES THIS WORK BETTER NOW? THE CLAIRE IS LOW. MIC IS LOW.
WE WILL WORK THIS OUT. THANK YOU.
SO REVIEWING THE STATE LAW, I WOULD LOOK AT THIS AS THE BUDGET COVER PAGE PROPOSAL REQUIREMENT WAS MET.
THAT DOES INCLUDE ALL OF THE POTENTIAL CALCULATED TAX RATES.
COUNCIL HAD PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED THE TAX RATE AT NO NEW REVENUE.
BUT ASSUMING THAT YOU HAD NOT APPROVED THE RESOLUTION TONIGHT, RIGHT? AND YOU HAD GONE FORWARD THROUGH THE BUDGETING PROCESS, THE NEXT SORT OF NOTICE REQUIREMENTS ARE ON THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AND HAVING THE BUDGET AVAILABLE AND THE TAX RATES AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THOSE HEARINGS.
AND THEN WHEN YOU GET INTO THE HEARINGS, THE COUNCIL HAS THE AUTHORITY TO AMEND THE BUDGET PROPOSAL AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
AND THEN THE SECTION THAT WAS QUOTED EARLIER, 102.08 ALLOWS FOR THE CORRECTION AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS FOR ANY OF THOSE CHANGES THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH. RIGHT? SO THAT THE FINAL APPROVED BUDGET DOCUMENTS REFLECT ALL OF THOSE CHANGES. SO TO ME, LOOKING AT THIS, OUR CURRENT BUDGET COVER PAGE HAS THE REQUIREMENTS MET FOR PRESENTING THE DIFFERENT TAX RATES, INCLUDING THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE LISTED. THE COUNCIL HAS NOW COME IN AND PROPOSED A TAX RATE AT 0.45. THAT IS JUST BELOW THE VOTER
[01:50:04]
APPROVAL TAX RATE. I THINK THAT WE HAVE MET THE 30-DAY REQUIREMENT WITH OUR ORIGINAL POSTING.AND I THINK THAT AS YOU MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROCESS, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO AMEND THAT COVER PAGE BEFORE YOU HIT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE NOTICE FOR THAT. AND THEN AS YOU MOVE INTO THE APPROVING OF THE BUDGET THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS, IF THERE IS ANY FURTHER CHANGES, YOU WOULD THEN AMEND THAT PROPOSED BUDGET IN THE COVER PAGE TO REFLECT THOSE CHANGES AS WELL. SO TO ME, THE WAY THE STATE LAW IS STRUCTURED HERE THAT, BUDGET PAGE IS MALLEABLE TO SOME EXTENT. YOU HAVEN'T YET SET IN STONE ANY OF YOUR BUDGET OR TAX RATE. YOU ARE STILL IN AN ONGOING PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THE PUBLIC THROUGHOUT THE BUDGET PROPOSAL PROCESS AND THE PUBLIC HEARINGS UNTIL YOU REACH THE ADOPTION, AT WHICH POINT, WE LINE IT ALL UP WITH WHAT YOU HAVE APPROVED. MY POSITION WOULD BE THAT I BELIEVE THE BUDGET COVER PAGE DEADLINE WAS MET PREVIOUSLY ON THE 31ST OF JULY. AND THAT IN LIGHT OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, YOU WOULD THEN DO YOUR CONTEMPORANEOUS UPDATES TO THE BUDGET ON-LINE FOR POSTING PURPOSES TO MEET THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
>> ALL RIGHT, THEN. THANK YOU.
>> THE MOTION IS TO CALL THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 21 AND THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 28.
RIGHT? >> AND THE FIRST BUDGET READING
AND THE TAX ADOPTION. >> ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK? >> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WILCOTT? >> AYE.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON? >> AYE.
COUNCIL MEMBER TOMPTON? >> AYE.
COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON? >> AYE.
[5.4. Consideration and possible action on the addition of September 14, 2023 as a regular Council meeting date (Anne LaMere)]
>> MOTION PASSES 7-0. NEXT ITEM IS CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE ADDITION OF SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 AS A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING DATE. I BELIEVE WE DON'T NEED THAT
ANYMORE. >> I JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THIS TO SAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2023 AS A REGULAR
YOU CAN AMEND IT. >> IT WAS NOTICED FOR SEPTEMBER 14. WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER --
>> IT IS NOT NOTICED. >> SURE IT IS.
>> WE ARE TAKING ACTION TO CONSIDER WHETHER WE WANT TO DO
IT WAS NOT NOTICED. WE HAVE NOT ISSUED A PUBLIC
WE ARE GETTING CONFUSED HERE. I WANT TO ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY GENERAL. WE ARE PLAYING ATTORNEY.
THE WAY I READ THE AGENDA ITEM, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE MEETING DATE. SEPTEMBER 14.
DO WE WANT TO MAKE SEPTEMBER 14 A REGULAR MEETING DATE? CAN WE CHANGE THAT DATE TO BE OTHER DATES AND MAKE THEM REGULAR OR DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A NEW AGENDA ITEM THAT SAYS CONSIDERATION, POSSIBLE ACTION OR THE ADDITION OF WHATEVER NEW DATE AS A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING DATE?
>> I THINK HERE-- YEAH. HERE I THINK THE SCOPE THAT'S BEEN PLENTED IN THE AGENDA IS FOR THE SEPTEMBER 14 DATE.
BUT THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THE OPTION HERE TO MAKE THIS TIMELINE WORK WOULD BE THAT WE WILL NEED TO RECONSIDER THE RESOLUTION SINCE IT HAD A SECTION CALLING.
THEN WE CAN CALL A REGULAR MEETING FOR THE 28TH AT THAT
MEETING ON THE 21ST. >> OR WE COULD DO IT ON THE
WE WILL COME BACK WITH THAT. >> WE HAVE TO MAKE AN ADDITIONAL
CHANGE FOR SECTION -- >> CORRECT.
I WOULD RECALL ITEM 5.22. AMEND SECTION # TO ADJUST THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING TO
SEPTEMBER 21. >> A RECALL ITEM.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
REPEALING THE RESOLUTION. CALLING AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 AT 7:00 P.M.
ON THE PROPOSED NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR, 2023
[01:55:04]
TO 2024 AND SETTING THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AT THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE AND APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER R-2023-198, CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 ON A PROPOSED VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE TO BE INCLUDE IN THE HEARING NOTICE.WE NEED TO AMEND THE PREVIOUS MOTION?
>> I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER, AND THEN YOU CAN
AMEND IT FROM THERE. >> AND THEN SO A POINT OF CLARIFICATION. AT WHAT POINT, SINCE WE HAVE SUSPENDED SECTION 37, AT WHAT POINT DOES THAT COME BACK IN?
THE NEXT MEETING? >> DO WE HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION
TO START FOLLOWING 37 AGAIN? >> NO.
TO CLARIFY THE RULES AROUND SUSPENSIONS, WHEN A SUSPENSION MOTION IS MADE, IT IS THE PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE SUSPENSION, WHAT IT WAS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT DEFINES THE SCOPE. SINCE WE HAD A MOTION THAT WAS TO SUSPEND THAT FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECONSIDERING â– THE ONE RESOLUTION, THAT WOULD BE THE EXTENT OF THE SCOPE OF THAT
SUSPENSION. >> THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT CAN RECONSIDER THIS IS SOMEONE WHO VOTED FOR THIS?
>> YES. SOMEONE FROM THE PREVAILING SIDE. SOMEONE WHO VOTED IN FAVOR.
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO RECONSIDER ITEM 5.2 SO WE CAN CORRECT THE DATE TO THE SEPTEMBER 21 TO ALIGN WITH THE CALENDAR?
>> SECOND. >> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK. SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON. RECONSIDERING RESOLUTION NUMBER R-2023-198. ADJUSTING THE DATE FROM SEPTEMBER 14 TO SEPTEMBER 21. AND SECTION 3.
>> SO ON A MOTION TO RECONSIDER, IS IT AS THOUGH NOTHING PASSED IN THE FIRST PLACE NOW? DO WE HAVE TO MAKE THE SAME
AMENDMENTS TO THE INITIAL TEXT? >> CORRECT.
SO WE WOULD ALSO -- >> WE HAVE TO GET THE MOTION TO
RECONSIDER TO PASS FIRST. >> IT WAS A QUESTION.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER WILCOTT? >> AYE.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON? >> AYE.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON? >> AYE.
>> THE MOTION PASSES. >> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION. TO SET THE TAX MAX RATE FROM THE VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE TO 45 CENTS.
AND IN ADDITION TO REPEAL R-2023-176.
>> THAT IS A CORRECTION TO SECTION 2.
>> MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK.
SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON.
>> DID WE GET ALL OF THEM IN THERE?
>> SO WHAT I'M READING AS THE MOTION WOULD BE A MOTION TO ADOPT RESOLUTION R-2023-198 WITH THE FOLLOWING THREE AMENDMENTS.
THE FIRST BEING TO SECTION 2 TO CHANGE THE WORD "APPEALED" TO "REPEALED." SECTION 3, TO CHANGE THE APPEARANCES OF THE DATE SEPTEMBER 14 TO SEPTEMBER 21.
IN BOTH INSTANCES. AND THE LAST, SECTION 4, TO CHANGE THE RATE AMOUNT TO 0.45. IS THAT CORRECT, COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> THAT SOUNDS CORRECT. >> YES.
I AGREE WITH THAT. >> ALL RIGHT.
DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? SO AGAIN, I WON'T BE VOTING FOR THIS. I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS WORKING HARD TO GET IT ALL SET UP RIGHT. AND THE MANY AMENDMENTS AND THINGS WE ARE DOING TO GET TO THIS POINT.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE
VOTE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON?
>> AYE. >> COUNCIL MEMBER KOLAR?
>> NAY. COUNCIL MEMBER WILCOTT?
>> AYE. >> MOTION PASSES, 5-2.
ALL RIGHT. THAT IS IT FOR THE AGENDA TODAY.
WE WILL ADJOURN AT 8:59.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.