Aug 15, 2023 City Council Meetings

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:12]

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. IT IS TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2023 BUT WE SET UP EVERY SESSION WITH AN INDICATION AND THEN INTO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. IF YOU WISH TO JOIN US, COUNCILMEMBER MIKE BRITTON WILL BE DOING THE INVOCATION

>> HEAVENLY FATHER,I PUT YOUR BLESSINGS UPON OUR COUNCIL TONIGHT AS WELL AS OUR CITY OFFICIALS , THE STAFF, AND CITIZENS PRESENT. WAS HE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AN PRIVILEGE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY. WE ARE IN THIS POSITION NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, JUST AS CHRIST CAME TO SERVE AND DIE I THE CROSS TO SAVE US. WE PRAY, FATHER, THREE PROCEDURE AGENDA TONIGHT WE WILL FIRST AND FOREMOST BUT OUR CITIZENS INTEREST ABOVE OUR OWN PROGRESS WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT TO FIRST AND FOREMOST UPHOLD WHAT IS MORAL , WHAT IS RIGHT, WHAT BENEFITS THE CITIZENS OF ROWLETT, AND ESPECIALLY WHAT BRINGS YOU UNREGULATED I PRAY FOR THOSE CITIZENS WERE SUFFERING TONIGHT, SPECIFICALLY THOSE RESIDENTS FROM THE -- APARTMENT COMPLEX WORD DISPLACED BY THE RECENT FIRE. MAY WE AS A COMMITTEE COME TOGETHER AND PROVIDE WHATEVER RELIEF WEEKEND SO THEY CAN GET BACK ON THEIR FEET AS AS POSSIBLE. FINALLY, FATHER, I THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR FIRE AND POLICE. AND WE ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THE DO TO KEEP US SAFE AND SECURE BUT ASK THESE THINGS IN YOUR SON'S HOLY NAME, AMEN.

>> AMEN. >> THANK YOU. THE PRESS

ALLEGIANCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDE GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AN

JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> AND NOW FOR TEXAS?

>>HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

[5A. Delivery of the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024) Proposed Budget]

>> THANK YOU. YOU MAY NOW BE SEATED. OUR FIRST ITEM FOR TONIGHT IS ITEM 5A. PRESENTATIONS FOR DELIVERY OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET . PRESENTING THIS ITEM I

CITY MANAGER, DAVID HALL. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT IS ANY MANAGER CAN DO IN SERVICE TO TH COUNSELING COMMUNITY IS THE PREPARATION AND ULTIMATELY, THE PRIEST PATIENT OF YOUR FISCAL BUDGET. WITH THAT, I WILL OFFICIALLY DELIVER TO YOU THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET. OBVIOUSLY, AND WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS. I PREPARE THIS BUDGET. YOU, AS THE STEWARDS OF THE CITY, HAVE THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE THIS BUDGET. IT IS NOT OURS AS STAFF UNTIL YOU DO SO. SO THIS IS REALLY JUST WHAT IT SAYS. IT IS THE PROPOSED BUDGET GIVEN TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. EVERY BUDGET PREPARATION DOCUMENT, EVERY PROCESS , IRRESPECTIVE OF THE CITY, WILL HAVE ITS CHALLENGES. THAT IS KIND OF BEFORE THINGS FOR THAT SOME DEGREE HELPS SHAPE OUR BUDGET DELIBERATIONS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS BUT WE HAVE TALKED THEM BEFORE THE RECORD, THE FUTURE FINANCIAL CONDITION WAS A KEY DRIVER FOR US BUT WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PUBLIC READINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ON THI TOPIC. I WILL DISPEL FOR ANY MISINFORMATION, FISCAL YEAR 2024 IS JUST FINE. FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS JUST FINE. THE COUNCIL AND I HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LOOK AT THE IMMEDIATE AND LOOK TOWARD A MORE STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE. THAT IS FUTURE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS. AS WE DID SO , I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THERE WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO CONTEND WITH TODAY IN ORDER TO ENSURE W HAD STABLE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS IN THE FUTURE. EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND ATTRACTION IS SOMETHING THAT EVERY CITY IS DEALING WITH. EVERY ORGANIZATION, BUT IT ARE THE MEDS THE POLITIES THAT ARE HIT ESPECIALLY HARD. TRITON IS THE EXCEPTION. AGAIN, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE OF A BRIGHTER SIDE.

WENT OUT AT A 30 OR 20% ATTRITION RIGHT AS WHAT IS HAPPENED WITH SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. GROWTH, THE DOUBLE EDGED SWORD THAT IT IS, SOME PEOPLE LOVE IT, SOME PEOPL HATED IT HAS BENEFITS BUT ALSO HAS DISADVANTAGES. AGAIN, IT IS A KEY DRIVER IN AND HE SAID IT BUDGET THAT IS BEEN DEVELOPED I THE COMMUNITY. NO DIFFERENT WIT US. UTILITY RATES. AGAIN, A LONG-STANDING CONVERSATION, LON BEFORE I JOINED THE CITY. AGAIN WE RELY ON OUR REGIONAL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE US WATER. W RECEIVED SERVICES FROM THE CIT OF -- BOTH OF THE THINGS ON THI PARTICULAR, AS THEY HAVE IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THEY HAVE INCREASED IN TERMS OF THEIR RATE, BUT IN TERMS OF USES.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DRIVERS FOR US HERE AS WE DEVELOP THIS FISCAL YEAR PROPOSED BUDGET. QUICKLY, I WILL GO OVER SOME OF

[00:05:05]

APPROXIMATELY $14 MILLION IN TH RESERVE FUND BALANCE. WE ARE EXPECTING $66 MILLION IN REVENUES, AS WITH MOST WHEN IS THE POLITIES, THE MAJORITY OF OUR REVENUE IS BEING GENERATED AT THE LOWER TAXES. YOU CAN SE THERE, PROPERTY TAXES ARE EXPECTED TO GENERATE APPROXIMATELY $39 MILLION IN REVENUE. SALES TAX IS APPROXIMATELY $9.4 MILLION AND SO FORTH DOWN THE LINE. WITH RESPECT TO OUR OTHER REVENUE CATEGORIES FOR THE TOTAL EXPECTED REVENUE GENERATION IS $56.1 MILLION. THAT IS $8 MILLION MORE THAN WAS EXPECTED LAST FISCAL YEAR IN FY2023. PROPERTY TAX VALUES HAVE INCREASED. FY2023, VALUES WERE APPROXIMATELY $7.2 BILLION IN ASSESSED VALUE. IN THE FY2024, OUR TAXES BASED ON APPROXIMATELY $8.1 BILLION IN CERTIFIED DOLLARS. WE ARE ALSO CONCENTRATING SOME VERY SMALL PAUL INCREASES IN TERMS OF SUMMARY. THE MOST OBVIOUS BEIN THE PARKS AND REC PROPOSING A SMALL CHANGE IN THE MEMBERSHIP COST TO THE RCC. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS PROPOSING TWO SMALL CHANGES THERE WITH RESPECT TO ACCIDENT REPORTS AND FINGERPRINTING FEES. THERE IS A PROPOSED REDUCTION FROM OUR LIBRARY WITH RESPECT TO COPYING I LOVE GOING INTO THE DETAILS THAT WE WENT TO THE WORK SESSION, BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY, IN RECOGNITION OF SOME OF THE THINGS WE NEEDED TO DO TO SHORE UP OUR FUTURE, WE MOVED BUT I CALLED STALE FUNDS FROM SOME O THE RESERVE PLACES OR OTHER FUNDS WHERE THEY WERE SITTING, NOT HELPING OPERATIONS, NOR BEING PLACED IN THE CAPITAL OPERATIONS. WE MOVED BACK TO TH GENERAL FUND. ULTIMATELY, WE MOVED $2.7 MILLION FROM WHAT WAS CALLED LANDMINE PLANNING BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND , AS WELL AS REFUTES FUNDS FOR THAT WAS REAPPROPRIATED TO THE RESPECTIVE FUNDS. EXPENDITURES WE ARE ANTICIPATING EXPENDITURE IN THE AMOUNT OF $63.6 MILLION FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET. YOU CAN SEE THAT MOST CITIES , THE EXPENDITURES WILL BE PERSONNEL. WE ARE NO DIFFERENT IN THAT RESPECT. $46.

MILLION IS PROPOSED. PURCHASE SERVICES, THAT CORDY COREY IS A CATCHALL FOR ALL THE THINGS THA ARE OPERATIONAL AND SUPPORTING THE OPERATIONS OF THE CITY. AGAIN, A TOTAL OF $63.6 MILLION FOR THE GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES. ENHANCEMENTS. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS PUBLICLY I WILL NOT SENT HOW MUCH TIME.

THIS IS FROM OUR JULY 13TH MEETING. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOT THAT YOU HAVE ASKED US ABOUT PROPOSED ENHANCEMENTS. WE HAVE BROUGHT FORTH TWO POLICE OFFICERS IN THIS BUDGET. THE COMMERCIAL -- BEING SPLIT BETWEEN THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FUND. WE ARE SHIFTING THE CRISIS ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR FROM AN EXPIRED GRANT BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR THERE WERE NINE FIREFIGHTERS HIRED ON THIS PAPER GRANT FOR THAT PROGRAM HA EXPIRED. SO THEY ARE NOW BEING ABSORBED INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

ALSO ADDING, TERMS OF NEW POSITIONS, AN APPLICATIONS I.T.

ANALYST. THEY ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED, BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT. TWO PARKS MAINTENANC SPECIALIST TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN OUR AMENITIES. ANOTHER THING TO NOT THAT IS A HUGE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO SUPPOR IS $3.4 MILLION IN ENHANCED SALARY AND BENEFITS TO THE EMPLOYEES TO KEEP PACE WITH TH MARKET. AGAIN, THIS IS KIND OF BEEN A MULTIYEAR COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF THE CITY TO MOVE OU PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL TO WITHIN 5% ABOVE THE MEAN. AND TO MOVE OUR OPENING WAGE EMPLOYEES TO WITHIN 3% ABOVE TH MEAN. AGAIN, WE ARE TAKING STEPS TO DO THAT. OPEN RANGE EMPLOYEES ARE RECEIVING A 5.7% INCREASE, ALONG WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL. POLICE DEPARTMENT IS RECEIVING A 6% INCREASE. AGAIN, YOU HAVE ALLOTTED AN ADDITIONAL 1.3% INCREASE TO OUR DISPATCH TEAM. ONE OTHER THING I WILL NOTE, BECAUSE THEY THINK IT IS PRETTY COOL. FINALLY, WE HAVE ADDED HERE, YOU WILL NOTE THAT YOU HAVE ALLOWED US TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE PAID. THAT WOULD BE $80 PER MONTH TO AN ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE WHO CAN PASS THE TEST AND PROVIDE LANGUAGE SKILLS FO THE CITY'S BENEFIT . YOU CAN SE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS FOR TH NGO SUPPORT IS GOING UP WITH RESPECT TO THE VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND OTHER STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. UTILITY FUND, OUR OTHER LARGEST FUND. ALMOST $14.8 MILLION. THE TOTAL, YOU CAN SEE WHERE ANTICIPATING TO RAISE $36 MILLION IN REVENUE ACROSS OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER REVENUE SOURCES. EXPENDITURES ARE APPROXIMATELY $36.8 MILLION. A

[00:10:07]

THE WATER DISTRICT COSTS PASSE ON TO THIS COMING YEAR WILL BE 11%. THE CITY WELL APPROXIMATEL -- FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMEN SERVICES. I POINT THIS OUT IN TERMS OF OUR EXPENDITURES FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR EXPENDITURE DO NOT COME IN TERMS OF PERSONNEL COSTS WITH RESPECT TO OUR UTILITY FUND. THEY COME WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES WE ARE PAYING FOR. YOU CAN SEE HERE, WATER, SEWER, CONTRACT SERVICES, $17.8 MILLION.

ANOTHER THING I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE. WHILE THE NE CHANGE AND NET POSITION IS $422,000, IT WOULD'VE BEEN GREAT. IT WAS ANTICIPATED AS SUCH. TWO THINGS CHANGE THAT.

NUMBER ONE. GOT A SLIGHTLY LOWER RATE THAN ANTICIPATED IN TERMS OF THE INCREASE . SECONDLY, BACK IN JANUARY 2021 THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED SETTING ASIDE ALMOST $1 MILLION TO HELP ABSORB SOME OF THE ANTICIPATED FUTURE RATE INCREASES. WHILE WE ARE BUILDIN AT A DEFICIT, WE WERE CONTEMPLATING AND ANTICIPATING, AND ACTUALLY BEING EMPLOYED BY THE FUND BALANCE. THE DRAINAGE FUND NOT QUITE AS LARGE AS THE OTHER TWO, BUT IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF MOVING STORMWATER OFF THE CITY. YOU CAN SEE HERE , I WANT TO POINT OUT, THE BEGINNING OF RESERVES. $784,000 FOR THE CHARGES FOR SERVICE APPROXIMATELY $1.8 MILLION BUT YOU CAN SEE EXPENDITURES EQUALING 1.8 MILLION DOLLARS. THE ENDING RESERVE IN FISCAL YEAR 24 STAYING FLAT. THAT IS INTENTIONAL. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT, AGAIN, STALE EXCESS FUND BALANCE PUTTING IN THOSE ACCOUNTS NOT BEING UTILIZED, SO IT IS BEEN OUR APPROACH TO TAKE THE EXCESS FUND BALANCE TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $1.2 MILLION. MOST OF THAT IS MOVING OVER TO THE CIP PROGRAM FOR THE DRAINAGE FUND. LASTLY, IN SUMMATION, YOU WILL SEE THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN. I WILL NOT G OVER EVERY LINE ITEM. BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE A COUPLE OF THINGS. $31.4 MILLIO IN FISCAL YEAR 2024 TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. OVERALL, MINIMALLY, THE FIVE-YEAR CAPITA IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS $183 MILLION. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH RESPECT TO POTENTIAL FUTURE BOND ISSUE SINCE MAY OF 2024. HERE BEFORE, OUR BONDING CAPACITY WITHOUT HAVING TO INCREASE THE TAX 20 WAS APPROXIMATELY $50 MILLION. WELL, ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF POTENTIALLY HAVING THIS INCREASED PROPERTY VALUE I THAT WE ARE NOW, THE BONDING CAPACITY HAS INCREASED FROM $50 MILLION TO APPROXIMATELY $63 MILLION. WITHOUT ANY INCREASE TO THE RATE ANTICIPATED FOR THE INS IN THE FUTURE. WITH THAT, I PRESENT YOU THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. WE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS, BUT I'M

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, FOR THAT PRESENTATION. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO WERE INVOLVED IN THIS.

THIS IS OUR KIND OF MIDDLE, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH THE BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION.

BY NEXT MONTH, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ADOPT THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING SCHEDULED SOMETIME SOON TO FINALIZE THE BUDGET AND GO OVER SOME DETAILS. OVERALL, GREAT WORK TO EVERYBODY. WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION THAN I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING INTO THIS PLANNING. SO THANK YOU FOR GETTING US BACK ON TRACK.

COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ?

[5B. Presentation of proclamation recognizing August 21st as Senior Citizen Day.]

>> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. >> THANK YOU. OUR NEXT ITEM OUR PRESENTATIONS 5B. THE PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AUGUST 21ST AS PYLES WHATLEY PRESENTING THAT ITEM IS OUR DINNER LIAISON, COUNCILMEMBER MIKE BRITTON. THOSE ON THE

BOARD, PLEASE COME UP. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT IS A DISTINCT PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO SERVE AS YOUR LIAISON. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION HERE BUT IT IS KIND OF AN INTERESTING FACT. THIS IS PUT OUT BY THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU. APPROXIMATELY 78 MILLIO PEOPLE AGED 65 OR OLDER WILL RESIDE IN AMERICA BY 2035.

THAT IS A HUGE NUMBER. THIS FIGURE WILL SURPASS THE NUMBER OF THE POPULATION UNDER THE AGE OF 18 , WHICH IS ALSO VERY

[00:15:01]

THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, OLDER PEOPLE, I'M NOT SURE I LIKE TH WORD OLDER, BUT THAT'S OKAY. THOSE PEOPLE HAVE ACHIEVEMENTS FOR OUR FAMILIES, COMMUNITY, AN COUNTRY THAT REMAINS TRUE TODAY IT GIVES A SIMPLE REASON FOR THIS YEAR TO PRESERVE A SPECIAL DAY IN THE HONOR OF SENIOR CITIZENS WHO MEAN SO MUCH TO OU LAND, AND ESPECIALLY OUR CITY O TRENTON. PRESIDENT REAGAN PROCLAIMED, FOR ALL THEY HAVE ACHIEVED THROUGHOUT LIFE AND FOR ALL THEY CONTINUE TO ACCOMPLISH, WE OWE THE OLDER CITIZENS OUR THINGS IN OUR HEARTFELT SALUTE. WE CAN BEST DEMONSTRATE OUR GRATITUDE AND ESTEEM BY MAKING SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE GOOD PLACES IN WHICH TO MATURE AND GROW OLDER PLACES IN WHICH OLDER PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE TO THE FULLEST AND CONFINED TO THE ENCOURAGEMENT, ACCEPTANCE, AND SERVICES THEY NEED TO CONTINUE TO LEAD LIVES OF INDEPENDENCE AND DIGNITY. ANYBODY FROM THE BOARD THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT BEFORE I READ THE PROCLAMATION? YOU DO NOT HAVE

TO. THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY. >>

>> GOOD EVENING. YES, THIS IS SO EXCITING TO BE HERE AND GET TO BE PART OF THIS PROCLAMATION I KNOW THE SENIOR ADVISORY BOARD MEANS A LOT TO ME. ONCE BECAME A SENIOR, WHICH IS BEEN LITTLE WHILE BACK NOW, I'M SURPRISED THEY HAVE NOT KICKED ME OFF IT YET. SERIOUSLY I AM GLAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT. I REALLY ENJOY THE WORK WE CAN DO TO HELP THE OTHER SENIORS. THAN YOU.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING THIS AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK. LET ME READ THE PROCLAMATION. TRENTON, 1988, TH UNITED STATES TENANT AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AUTHORIZED AND REQUESTED PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN TO NAME AUGUST 21ST AS NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY , AND WHEREAS, WHERE SENIORS HAVE REACHED THE TIME IN LIFE AND HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MANY ACHIEVEMENTS SUCH AS COMPLETION OF THEIR EDUCATION, CONTRIBUTIN TO THEIR CAREERS TO THE EXCESS AND GROWTH OF BUSINESSES, AND INDUSTRIES THAT DRIVE OUR COMMUNITY TO THE BENEFIT OF US ALL AND FOR MANY , AND THE MILITARY TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY, AND WHEREAS, THEATERS HAVE ESTABLISHED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS AND FAMILIES, AND ONLY RAISING THEI CHILDREN, BUT OFTEN ALSO PULLING IMPORTANT GOALS IN THE LIVES OF THEIR GRANDCHILDREN AN CARING FOR THEIR PARENTS AND IN THEIR FINAL YEARS. AND WHEREAS SENIORS ARE STAYING MORE ACTIVE LIVING LONGER, AND CONTINUALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY I TO BE SHARING OF THEIR TIME, TALENT, WISDOM, AND EXPERIENCE.

AND WHEREAS, THE TREND IN ADVISORY BOARDS OF SEVERAL CITIZENS TO THE VOLUNTEERISM TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS, LUNCHEONS, MEETINGS, AND SEMINARS TO HELP OUR SENIOR STAY ACTIVE, SAFE, INFORMED, AND ENGAGED.

ON BEHALF OF -- MAYOR MARGOLIS THE MAYOR OF CITY OF ROWLETT, DO PROCLAIM AUGUST 21, 2023, AS SENIOR CITIZEN'S DAY IN CITY O ROWLETT. AND APPRECIATIVE SENIORS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ENRICH US ALTER THEIR ONGOING CONTRIBUTIONS. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE WATER TOWER WILL BE LIT AND PURPLE ON AUGUS 21ST TO HONOR OUR SENIORS, AND AS A SYMBOL OF ROWLETT'S COMMITMENT FOR PROMOTING EQUITY FOR ALL OF THE MEMBERS WHO HAVE LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR CITY AND PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN MAKING ROWLETT THE PLAC TO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.

>> A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS.

>> DO YOU WANT TO GET A GROUP PICTURE?

[5C. Update from the City Council and Management: Financial Position, Major Projects, Operational Issues, Upcoming Dates of Interest and Items of Community Interest. ]

THE UPDATE FOR THE FINANCIAL POSITION, MAJOR PROJECTS, OPERATIONAL ISSUES, UPCOMING DATES OF INTEREST AND ITEMS OF

[00:20:01]

MICHAEL SCHUPP. >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

THESE ARE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS FO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TODAY FOR THE ARTS AND AMENITIES COMMISSION IS ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR THEIR PHOTO CONTEST ON AUGUST 18TH AND 19TH. VISIT ROWLETT.COM/ARTS ENTRY FORM AN MORE DETAILS. SAVE A LIFE, GIV YOUR BLOOD. THERE'S A, AUGUST 24TH FROM 8:00 A.M. UNTIL 2:00 P.M. CITY OF ROWLETT WILL BE HOSTING A BLOOD DRIVE AT THE RATE TO THUNDERBIRD PLEASE REGISTER TO DONATE AND DO YOUR PART TO HELP MAINTAIN CRITICAL BLOOD SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT OUR REGION. WE LIKE THE IDEA OF HELPING TO SET PEOPLE UP FOR SUCCESS. IF SO, THE ROWLETT PUBLIC LIBRARY IS LOOKING FOR COMMITTED TUTORS WITH THE GED AND ESL PROGRAMS. IF INTERESTED, AND FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE LIBRARY. FROM INFORMATION ON THESE, AND ALL OF THE GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN OUR CITY, PLEASE VISIT ROWLETT.COM OR CALL THE ACTION CENTER AT 97241261 00.

>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT ANNOUNCEMENT IS FROM DEBRA SHINDER WITH SOME IMPORTANT NEWS.

>> THIS IS IMPORTANT NEWS. THI IS A FEATURE FROM THE ANIMAL SHELTER. THIS IS TEDDY. HE IS S HANDSOME. HE IS YOUR GUY YOU'R LOOKING FOR A FURRY FRIEND TO TAKE ON ADVENTURES. HE MAY WEIGH 65 POUNDS, BUT HE WOULD LOVE TO BE YOUR LAPDOG. I HOPE YOU HAVE A BIG LAUGH. HE IS ABOUT THREE YEARS OLD AND TEDDY GETS ALONG GREAT WITH OTHER DOG AND CATS , WE RECOMMEND HAVING MEET AND GREET WITH YOUR OTHER FURRY FRIENDS, JUST IN CASE.

TEDDY WOULD MAKE A GREAT ADDITION TO ANY FAMILY AND HE WILL ALWAYS KEEP A SMILE ON YOU FACE , AND ON HIS FACE. AND I WERE, ALL ADOPTIONS INCLUDE SPAY, NEUTER, MICROCHIP AND VACCINATIONS FROM INFORMATION O TEDDY OR ANY OF THE OTHER ADOPTABLE ANIMALS, PLEASE CONTACT ANIMAL SERVICES AT 972-412-6219 OR COME BY THE SHELTER AT 4402 INDUSTRIAL STREET. OPEN FROM 10:00 A.M. UNTIL 5:00 P.M., TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. YOU COULD PROBABLY REPEAT THIS WITH ME.

OUR ANIMALS SHELTER IS STILL I CODE RED. THIS MEANS ALL THE CANDLES ARE FULL. SO IF YOU'RE TOSSING AROUND THE IDEA OF ADOPTION OR FOSTERING, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT TIME TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. EVEN JUST SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT OUR ANIMAL SHELTER AND THE AVAILABL ANIMALS WOULD HELP US A GREAT

[6. CITIZENS’ INPUT]

DEAL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBERS, ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? OKAY. THING DONE, WE'LL MOVE ONTO CITIZENS INPUT. AT THIS TIME,, JULIE TAKEN FROM THE AUDIENCE O ANY TOPIC. NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN BY THE COUNCIL DURING CITIZEN 'INPUT. IS THERE ANY COMMENT CARDS?

FROM ROWLETT. >> THANK YOU. SIR, JUST COME UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE FOR THE RECORD.

>> MY NAME IS RICHARD HOLLOWAY IT' . I'M A RETIRED GEOLOGIST. I'V LIVED IN ROWLETT FOR THE PAST 1 YEARS ON A SMALL 26 UNIT CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE LAKE IN ROCKWELL COUNTY BUT I LIVE IN THAT LITTLE AREA THAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF -- ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, OUR RESIDENTS NOTICED RAPID SHORELINE EROSION. THAT IS AFFECTING LAND, FOUR ASIAN, ENTRIES BEIN LOST TO THE LAKE. ADDITIONAL MATURE TREES ARE NOW TILTED AND READY TO FALL INTO THE LAKE THE EROSION FRONT HAS FORMED AT THE NORTH END OF OUR PROPERT ALONG THE SHORELINE. THIS EROSION FRONT WAS CAUSED BY WHA IS CALLED LINKING EROSION AROUN BULKHEADS. SO WHEN WE HAVE STORMS, NOT ONLY FROM THE NORTH NORTHEAST, THEY CAME DOWN AND COME AROUND AND THEY WROTE THE SHORELINE. IT IS RAPIDLY PROGRESSING UPSLOPE. TOWARD TH TAKE ALONG BEHIND OUR CONDOMINIUM. IT WILL REACH A POINT WHERE IT WILL IMPACT THE SANITARY SEWER LINE THAT RUNS BEHIND OUR CONDOMINIUMS, AND ALSO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE OF OU AS SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE, WE HAVE BEEN PULLING A POSITION T HAVE THE CITY OF DALLAS AND THE CITY OF ROWLETT AND GARLAND FORM A PERMANENT PROGRAM TO MITIGATE PROBLEM AREAS , AND MAINTAIN THE LAKE AS AN

[00:25:07]

YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU. >> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID HALL. AFTER THAT , IT'S CATHERINE --

>> PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND CITY OF RESIDENCE.

>> DAVID HALL , TRYING TO PLEASE LET ME READ OFF THESE PICTURES WHICH CATHERINE EL PASO TO YOU. WE GO. ROWLETT IS HOLDING THE ROAD WIDENING ON PRIVATE LAND WITH NO RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION, NO EASEMENTS, AND NO EMINENT DOMAIN. PICTURES ONE AND TWO AR THE OPEN RECORDS REQUEST , W271996-062123 DOCUMENT RESPONSE FOR MILLER. THE CONSTRUCTION ON MY LAND WHICH IS INVALID. THERE ARE NO SIGNATURES BUT IT IS 90 FINAL PLAT. IT IS NOT RECORDED WITH THE DALLAS COUNTY AND THE UNDERLYING LOGIC HAS BEEN A BENEFIT PICTURE NUMBER THREE IS A PICTURE OF AN ENCORE -- ILLEGALLY PLACED ON MY PRIVATE LAND PICTURE NUMBER FOUR IS CONSTRUCTION ON MY PRIVATE LAND WITH PRIVATE EQUIPMENT, CATERPILLAR EQUIPMENT. PICTURE FIVE IS REMOVED FROM MY PRIVATE AND WITHOUT PERMISSION, TRESPASSING. PICTURE NUMBER SIX IS SOME OF THE CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE ON MY PRIVATE LAND SEVEN IS A PICTURE OF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF MY PRIVATE LAND UPON WHICH ROWLETT IS CONSTRUCTING THE WIDENING OF MILLER ROAD, TRESPASSING AGAIN. PICTURE EIGHT. EXISTING PROPERT BOUNDARY. BARB WIRE FENCE TURNED OUT DURING CONSTRUCTION.

PICTURE 10 OR POST PROPERTY BOUNDARY ROWLETT WATSON IS TRESPASSING. PICTURE 11. FROM MILLER ROAD LEO CROSSAN REBUIL AFTER MY PRIVATE LAND. PICTURE 12 FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN DRIVE PROPERTY WHICH ROWLETT WANTS AN IS TAKEN WITHOUT ANY LEGAL PROCESS , ILLEGALLY. SO THE PROPOSED MARKER CONTROL MARKER HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. PICTURE 13. -- REMOVE THE NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH PROPERTY DAMAGE. 14 PUT EVERYTHING TO THE LEFT O THE ENCORE POLE IS MY PRIVATE LAND UPON WHICH ROWLETT IS TRESPASSING. 15. EVERYTHING TO THE RIGHT OF THE WHOLE AND HYDRA IS MY PRIVATE LAND .16, AND OTHER OF THE BIRD WHICH IS BEEN REMOVED FOR MY PRIVATE LAN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH 7. REMNANTS OF THE GAIN INSTALLED BY MAJOR PREVENT ILLEGAL DUMPING ACCESS FROM THE PIPELINE. A TAPERED CONTRACTOR BLOCKING ACCESS TO MY PROPERTY. 19. CONTRACTORS AND DUMP TRUCK STILL TRESPASSING ON MY PRIVATE LAND. SEE THE TIRE TRACKS AND BLOCKING COHEN. 20. CONTRACTOR CAN'T MOVING THE BLOCKING GOIN TO MY PROPERTY. 21 . REPLACING WHEN HE SAW HE WAS CAUGHT ON CAMERA AND I WAS TAKING PICTURE OF HIM. I'M NOT BRINGING TO THI ATTENTION SO I CAN WIN THE LOTTERY, BUT TO MAKE COUNCIL IN ALL OF YOU AWARE SO YOU CAN DO THE RIGHT THING. THE RIGHT THIN IS , FIRST, NEGOTIATE A CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT. SECOND.

SECURING THE PROPERTIES BEFORE THE ROWLETT BEGAN ISSUING PERMITS TO ASSESS PROPERTY DAMAGE. THIRD, SAYING THE PROCESS WITH REMOVAL OF THE TREES, YOUNG AND MATURE, ON MY PROPERTY WITH ROWLETT COLLECTIN $120,240.18. I LIKE THOSE TREES, AS DID THE WILDLIFE IN YOUR BUILDING PHASE TWO WITHOUT THE NECESSARY RIGHT-OF-WAY ACQUISITION ON MY LAND. THE RESPONSE WAS WE ARE WIDENING TH ROAD AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP US. WELL -- SIR, DO YOU MIND IF WE TAKE COPIES OF THOSE PHOTOS AND CAN REVIEW IT TOMORROW? THANK YOU.

CATHERINE -- . >> IS IT ON?

>> YES. >> THE DALLAS POLICE HAD TO DRIVE FROM -- TO GET OUT OF TH WEATHER. THEY HAVE NO EFFECTIV

[00:30:01]

HAVING PEOPLE JUMPING OFF THE BRIDGE CLOSE TO THE GIRLS. THE ARE 16 AND HALF OF THEM HAVE NO EVEN BEEN OUT THERE ON THE WATER. EVER BEFORE IN A PADDLEBOARD.

VOLUME ] IS TO DRIVE DOWN THERE. SO MY GOOD TIME TURNED INTO WELL, NOW I HAVE GOT TO B ALERT. WITH THAT ALSO BEING SAID, THE LEAGUE IS DECLINING RAPIDLY. PEOPLE JUMPING OFF TH BRIDGE, WE'VE ALREADY HAD, FOR MY KNOWLEDGE, TWO DEATHS FROM THE BRIDGE. WE HAD A MAN JUMP OFF . HIS FAMILY FLEW DOWN. THE HE DIED. THEY PULLED A BACKUP AT WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER PERSON HANG HIMSELF ON THE BRIDGE A FE YEARS AGO. WE CONSTANTLY HAVE ROPES GOING UP AND WE OFF THE BRIDGE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THAT CREDIT IS NOT PUTTING THEM IN DANGER, BUT IT IS PUTTING OUR CUSTOMERS IN DANGER BUT IT TAKE ME ABOUT 10 TO GO 12 MINUTES TO PADDLE OUT, DEPENDING ON THE CURRENT OF THE WATER AT THE TIME. I AM CERTIFIED AND BEING FULLY CERTIFIED TO DO MY SEARCH AND RESCUE AT THIS TIME WITH ACA. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I JUST ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHERE THE, BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT NOW WITH DALLAS CITY.

THEY WILL COME OUT IN UNIFORM AND ASKED PEOPLE TO LEAVE. I JUST , I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE SOMEBODY GOT STUCK IN A SLIP AND SLIDE. WE HAD TO CALL THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE RESCUE TO COME OUT. WHEN THEY CAME OUT, I WAS SO LONG FOR THEM TO COME OU . THANK GOD WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE, BUT IT WAS, IT TURNED INTO A SEARCH AND RESCUE TO A POSSIBLE SEARCH AND RECOVERY. BECAUSE OF HOW LONG IT TOOK BUT I KNOW THERE IS MISCOMMUNICATIO --

>> THANK YOU. NO OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. I WILL MOVE ON

[7. CONSENT AGENDA]

OTHER THAN THAT, COUNCIL HAS NO DECIDED TO PULL ANY OTHER ITEM OFF THE CONSENT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. DOES ANYBODY FRO THE AUDIENC WISH TO DO THAT? THING DONE, LAURA, PLEASE WILL YOU GET THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM INTO THE RECORD.

>> 7A. CONSIDER ACTION APPROVIN MINUTES. 7B CONSIDER ACTION ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL A VACANCY. 7C PER CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING FIBER UP NETWORK CONNECTION FOR NEWLY ACQUIRED CITY BUILDING. 7D. CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT INCIDENT TO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3913 MAIN STREET.

7D. CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF A TRAILER FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. 7G PER CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING THE ELECTRICAL COLD. AND 7H POINT CONSIDER ACTION APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL

SERVICES. >> COUNCIL , I WILL ENTERTAIN A

MOTION. >> YES, I MOVE THAT WE MOVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS WELL.

>> SECOND. >> OKAY, A MOTION BY -- A SECOND BY COUNCILPERSON SHINDER. ANY DISCUSSION? SINGIN

DONE, CALL THE VOTE . >> THAT ITEM CARRIED

[8A. Consider action to approve a resolution calling for a public hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 proposed budget and tax rate for Tuesday September 19, 2023, and to consider approval of a maximum tax rate of $0.716886 for the 2023 tax year.]

[00:35:06]

PRESENTING THAT ITEM IS TAX DIRECTOR, WENDY -- GOOD EVENING TONIGHT , I'M HERE WITH HER PRESENTATION FREE TO CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED TEXT 20 OF .716886 AND CALLING FOR SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING FO THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET AND TEXT 20 FOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2023. TO BEGIN, A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. THE TRUTH IN TAXATION IS A CONCEPT EMBODIED IN THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION AND THE TEXAS TAX CODE REQUIRES LOCAL TAXING UNI TO MAKE TAXPAYERS AWARE OF TEX 20 PROPOSALS. THIS PROCESS STARTS WITH THE DALLAS COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE. CALCULATING AND CERTIFYING OUR NO NEW REVENUE AND OUR APPROVAL RATES USING THE TEXAS COMPTROLLER RATE SHEET, AND TH JULY 25TH CERTIFIED IS PROVIDED BY -- AND --. FISCAL YEAR 2024 RATES WERE CERTIFIED BY DALLAS COUNTY ON AUGUST 1ST OF THIS YEAR. TONIGHT, WITH THOSE RATE IN MIND, THE LOW VOTERS THAT TH PROPOSED TAX RATE TO PUBLISH FOR THE RIGHT HEARING. THE PROPOSED TEXT 20 IS TO PROPOSE CEILING , OR THE MAXIMUM, THE VERY MAXIMUM RATE THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD CONSIDER ADOPTING THAT IS ON SEPTEMBER 20TH.

COUNCIL IS NOT ADOPTING THE ACTUAL TAX RATE TONIGHT AND IS NOT REQUIRED TO ADOPT THIS PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 FOR THIS IS ONLY FOR PUBLICATION IN THE MEDICATION PURPOSES . FOR PUBLIC DISCLOSUR AND A PUBLIC HEARING. FINALLY, WE WILL END THE PROCESS WITH TH TAX RATE HEARING AT A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH. AND IN THE ADOPTION OF THE FISCAL YEAR TAX RATE AT A SPECIAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH. THIS SLIDE GETS A LITTLE COMPLICATE WITH A LOT OF NUMBERS , SO BEAR WITH ME TO IT BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO GO THROUGH THESE DIFFERENT TAX RATE SCENARIOS S THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE AWARE. A SHOWN , IN THE SECOND COLUMN, THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET THAT THE CITY MANAGER PRESENTED TONIGHT, THAT IS BEE PREPARED WITH A TAX RATE OF JUST OVER $.71 PER 100 ASSESSE VALUATION AT .710 400. AS A COMBINATION OF COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND A JULY 13TH AN SUBSEQUENT CERTIFIED VALUES BEING RELEASED. THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IN THE THIRD COLUMN IS A CALCULATED RATE THA WOULD PROVIDE THE TAXING IT WIT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT O REVENUE RECEIVED IN THE YEAR BEFORE ON PROPERTIES, THE SAME PROPERTIES, THAT ARE TAXED IN BOTH YEARS THE PROPERTY VALUES RISE, NO NEW REVENUE RATE WOULD GO DOWN AND VICE VERSA. THIS RATE IS CALCULATED BY DALLAS COUNTY AT A TOTAL OF .649459.

BELOW THE APPROVAL RATE SHOWN IN THE VERY LAST COLUMN, THAT PROVIDES THE TAXING UNIT WITH APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT O TAX REVENUE IT SPENT THE PREVIOUS YEAR FOR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS , PLUS A 3 1/2 1% INCREASE FOR THOSE OPERATIONS .

IN ADDITION TO THE UNUSED INCREMENT RATE, THE FULL INCREMENT RATE, SUFFICIENT FUND TO PAY DEBT SERVICE IN THE COMING YEAR. THE VOTER APPROVA RATE ALSO REPRESENTS THE MAXIMU RATE THE COLD VULCAN SET OR ADOPT WITHOUT BEING SUBJECT TO AN AUTOMATIC ELECTION AT THE NOVEMBER UNIFORM ELECTION DATE.

THIS RATE IS CALCULATED AS IS THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE BY DALLAS COUNTY AND TOTALS .716886. STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVING AND PUBLISHING THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE OF .716886 WHICH IS SHOWN IN THE FAR RIGHT COLUMN , AS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE TAX RATE OF POINT 527827 AND A DATE SERVICE RATE OF POINT - TO PAY THE DEBT OBLIGATIONS FO FISCAL YEAR 2024. THIS WILL ALLOW COUNCIL THE OPTION BY CHOOSING THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE AT THE PROPOSED PUBLISHED RATE WILL ALLOW COUNCIL THE OPTION TO ADOPT UP TO THAT RATE ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, IF

[00:40:03]

>> THANK YOU. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS? THING DONE, I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANYBOD WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS? OH, LAUGHTER ] OKAY, SORRY. MY APOLOGIES. YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, AND JOKING. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, AND THERE IS NO COMMENTS, IN THAT CASE, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

RESOLUTION SETTING THE MAXIMUM PROPOSED TAX RATE AT .71886 AN CALLING FOR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 , AT 7:00 P.M.

>> IS THERE A SECOND? OKAY. SAY THAT AGAIN.

>> I SECOND THE MOTION. >> THERE IS A MOTION MADE BY -- AND A SECOND BY COUNCILPERSON SCHUPP. ANY DISCUSSION? SINGING ON, CALL THE VOTE . THAT ITEM CARRIES . THANK YOU. THAT WAS IT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION ITEM 9. MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL MAY REQUEST TOPICS REPLACED ON AN AGENDA FOR SUBSEQUENT MEETING ANY DELIBERATION OR DECISION SHALL BE LIMITED TO A PROPOSAL TO PLACE TOPIC ON THE AGENDA FOR

[2. EXECUTIVE SESSION]