MINUTES
City Council
Work Session
Pflugerville Justice Center, 1611 E. Pfennig Lane, Pflugerville TX
Saturday - July 14, 2007 - 08:00 AM
1. Call to Order. Mayor Jeff Coleman called the
Work Session to order at 8:17 a.m. Councilmembers Wayne Cooper, Bruce Wood,
Darelle White, Mark Gladney, and Victor Gonzales were in attendance. City
employees attending: David Buesing, City Manager; Lauri Gillam, Assistant City
Manager; Beth Davis, Assistant Finance Director; Floyd Akers, City Attorney; Lori Paul, Deputy City Secretary; Trey Fletcher, Planning Director; Chuck Hooker, Police Chief.
2. Discuss Only.
A. Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Overview. Mr.
Buesing explained the budget packet that was provided. Ms. Gillam described
the 25% reserve requirement that is required by the City Charter, and stated
that bond companies look upon this very favorably. Ms. Gillam explained the
calculation of the effective rate. Mr. Buesing went over personnel plans and
equipment that will be included in the 2008 budget. Mr. Buesing went over
salary studies that were conducted by Human Resources and answered questions. Ms.
Gillam asked for Councilmembers to review the budget and email her with any
questions.
Discussion was held on the utility budget and proposed rate
changes. Ms. Gillam distributed and explained the pro forma cash flow analysis
and a utility study conducted by the City of Austin that compares rates. Ms.
Gillam stated that she would like the Council to provide input on current
policies related to the utility rates before final numbers were presented for
the 2008 budget.
Ms. Gillam explained that currently the City’s policy is to
utilize revenues from water and wastewater collectively for both water and
wastewater improvements and maintenance. She recommended that the City
continue with this policy because the two utilities tend to balance each other
out and help the City avoid rate increases. Council agreed to continue with
the current policy through 2011 with continued analysis.
The second policy Ms. Gillam brought up for discussion was the
method used for setting wastewater rates. Ms. Gillam explained that currently
the City’s policy is to measure usage between November and February, and set
the rate according to the average of this monthly usage with no cap. Mr. Wood
suggested building a 3-tier rate system where customers using up to 8,000
gallons pay a fixed rate, customers using 8,000-12,000 gallons pay a higher
fixed rate, and customers using more than 12,000 gallons pay a higher fixed
rate. After discussion, Council discussed adding another tier at the beginning
of the rate scale for 0-4,000 gallons as the first fixed rate. Ms. Gillam
stated that she could put together numbers using this method for the Council to
consider.
The third policy Ms. Gillam brought up for discussion is how
different types of customers are charged. She stated that currently the City
is charging all customer types the same way, but that some cities break up
their customers into classes that pay different rates. After discussion, Mr.
Wood suggested that the classes be determined by meter size/load. Ms. Gillam
stated that Finance would reexamine the policy.
F. Discuss Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and
Certificates of Convenience and Necessity (CCNs). Mr. Wood brought
up MUDs and Municipal Management Districts (MMDs) and stated that he would like
for the Council to create a subcommittee to see where Mr. Tim Timmerman is
heading because he is disappointed with the original agreement. Mr. Buesing
asked that he and Mr. Akers be allowed to form a plan and Mr. Wood and Mr.
Cooper volunteered to serve on the subcommittee.
B. Discuss Annexations. Mr. Akers
provided a legislative update on the new law regarding annexation. He
explained that landowners not wanting to be annexed into the City can sign a
development agreement that then allows the City to skip over the owner’s land
and annex adjacent pieces of land, therefore continuing the City’s ETJ
expansion. He explained that if the landowner decides to develop their land,
they lose their exemption and are subject to annexation. He stated that this
law goes into effect on September 1, 2007.
Mr. Fletcher described the City’s 3-year annexation plan to
the Council and showed a map with future annexations marked. The Council
provided Mr. Fletcher with direction on areas to include in the immediate
annexation plan.
C. Comprehensive Plan Diagnosis. Mr.
Fletcher stated that he will be soliciting a consultant to engage in community
surveys. He explained that the Comprehensive Plan was created in 2004 and that
staff will fulfill what the plan directs to do before creating a new plan. He
stated that in order to give citizens on the far east and west sides of
Pflugerville an identity with the City, east to west connectivity is crucial.
Mr. Coleman agreed that it is important to facilitate east to west travel. Mr.
Fletcher described the proposed land uses for the Pfennig Lane corridor that
were designed at the charrette that was held with involved parties in June.
Mr. Fletcher showed a map of collectors that will help increase connectivity in
the City. Mr. Buesing stated that many of these roads haven’t showed up in the
Comprehensive Plan and that he wants to update the plan to make it clear to
citizens what is going to occur over the coming years.
Mr. Fletcher presented information on lot sizes at Mr.
Wood’s request. He explained that 9,000 square feet is the norm that comes
from the subdivision regulations, and that there are alternatives for
developers to seek variances through the ALUR process or through development
agreements. Mr. Coleman stated that the size of the lot isn’t what creates
value, it’s how the community is built. Mr. Fletcher stated that he needs
guidance on how to communicate to developers that we want higher quality and
not emphasize just the lot sizes. Mr. Cooper suggested requiring better
streets, sidewalks, green spaces and housing materials to ensure a higher
quality neighborhood. Mr. Coleman suggested releasing the 9,000 square foot
requirement and ensuring quality by other means as Mr. Cooper described. Mr.
Wood stated that he doesn’t want to send out the message that the City welcomes
small lot developers because he fears that is all the City would receive. Mr.
Gladney agreed with the high quality and design standards that Mr. Cooper
proposed.
D. 1.)Executive Session Item: Discuss Bond Status and
Negotiations with Developers on Possible Sites. 2.)Open Session Item: Discuss
Bond Status and Negotiations with Developers on Possible Sites. Mr.
Buesing requested direction on where the Council wants the Bond Committee
steered. He distributed handouts showing the preliminary plans for the
Library, Recreation Center and City Hall, and stated that the Committee is also
interested in building a new animal shelter. Discussion was held on the
different options for the recreation center.
Mayor Coleman announced that the City Council was retiring
to executive session for the purpose of real estate acquisition pursuant to
Chapter 551.072 of the Texas Government Code. The time was 2:59 p.m. Mayor Coleman reconvened in open session at 3:53 p.m. No action was taken.
E. Discuss Traffic Regulations and Concerns.
Chief Hooker presented information from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices. Mr. Gladney brought up the intersections of Applewood/Rocky Creek,
Olympic/10th Street and Oxford/Stansted Manor, and asked that stop
signs be considered for these intersections. Mr. Akers stated that the
ordinance regarding stop signs and stoplights needs to be modified. He
explained that the Council will need to decide on locations where stop signs
are warranted and enact an ordinance for each. Mr. Hooker suggested addressing
the stop signs incrementally so as not to create a stress on the Streets
Department. Mr. Coleman asked that Mr. Akers modify the ordinance and that one
problem intersection be addressed every six months.
F. Discuss Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) and Certificates
of Convenience and Necessity (CCNs). Mr. Buesing presented
information on MUDs and CCNs. Mr. Coleman stated that he requested this item
as an introduction to MUDs, and that the information provided answered his
questions.
G. Public Relations Public Information Officer (PIO)
Update. Ms. Gillam distributed the new resident bags. She
stated that the City is working on branding itself and that the creation of the
new logo has been received favorably by the community. She mentioned the
“between a rock and a weird place” shirts and stated that these will help to
identify Pflugerville. She described the department videos that are being
created and stated that the website is being revamped and consolidated. She
stated that the City is being more proactive in sending information to the
local press. She described the City’s involvement in TML’s new Texas Cities
Work Program. She explained that a survey is being sent out both when
customers sign up and terminate their water bills to find out why they came to
Pflugerville or why they are leaving.
H. Discuss Solid Waste. Mr. Buesing
stated that IESI recently fired two area directors and one fleet maintenance
director. He stated that IESI has a lot going on in this area and that they
really want the City’s business. Mr. Gladney mentioned that IESI was supposed
to move their location closer to Pflugerville, but they still haven’t done so.
Mr. Cooper and Mr. White each described personal negative experiences with
IESI’s service. Mr. Gladney suggested inviting IESI and concerned citizens to
a Council meeting to allow the citizens to address their concerns. Ms. Gillam
stated that a notice could be put on water bills inviting citizens to the
meeting and informing them that IESI will be present to address their concerns.
The Council agreed to the first regular meeting in September.
I. Discuss Handling and Routing of City Complaints.
Mr. Buesing asked Council if they would like to make any changes to the current
method of routing complaints. The Council expressed approval with the method
that is currently being utilized. Mr. Buesing asked that Councilmembers route
complaints directly to the appropriate staff when they receive them so they can
be addressed quickly.
J. Discuss Goals and Strategic Planning. Mr.
Buesing provided information on goals and strategic planning from the previous
retreat. Mr. Akers explained the “City Address” and stated that he sends it
out every 30 days. Mr. Wood stated that he would like to create an ordinance
addressing sexual predators that is similar to the ordinances that other cities
in the area have recently adopted. Mr. Coleman stated that he would like the
City to consider having one contact to work with developers to make the process
as easy as possible. Mr. Buesing explained that Mr. Simon’s role is to bring
developers forward and convince them to build in Pflugerville, and that Mr.
Fletcher is the main point of contact throughout the development process. Ms.
Gillam stated that the City has streamlined operations by moving site development
from the Building Department to the Planning Department.
K. Discuss Plans to Condense Further City Council Meeting
Times. Mr. Buesing presented some suggestions regarding
condensing City Council meetings. He suggested that the Council attempt to
call staff with questions prior to the meeting to avoid pulling items off the
consent agenda unnecessarily. He suggested allowing staff or concerned
citizens to speak on an item prior to the reading of the consent agenda instead
of always pulling items off when someone wishes to speak. He suggested including
the first reading of an ordinance at the same meeting that the public hearing
is held.
Councilmembers agreed that the public hearing and first
reading of an ordinance should be on the same meeting.
Mr. Cooper stated that it would be helpful for
Councilmembers to receive their packets further in advance so they have enough
time to review and contact staff with questions prior to the meeting.
Councilmembers requested that staff attempt to have the Council packets
prepared on the Wednesday prior to the Council meeting.
Mayor Coleman asked Councilmembers for guidance in his method
of controlling discussion during meetings. Mr. Akers explained that the Mayor
can make a motion to call the question if he feels that there has been sufficient
discussion on an item. When he calls the question, the Mayor has to
immediately ask those assembled to vote to determine whether or not debate
should be cut off or continue. If two-thirds of those voting agree that the
discussion should be cut off, they will support the call. With two-thirds
support, a vote will be taken on the question itself. Councilmembers agreed to
this method for controlling discussion.
3. Adjourn. Mr. Wood made a
motion to adjourn. Mr. Cooper seconded the motion. All voted in
favor. The motion carried. The worksession was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori J. Paul
Deputy City Secretary
Approved as presented on August 14, 2007.