TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2009

SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING &

COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP

6:00 P M

 

1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Robin Border called the City of Hilshire Village Council Meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. at 8301 Westview, Houston, Texas 77055.

Invocation was given by Mayor Pro Tem Castro.

 

1.2. Present were Mayor Robin Border, Mayor Pro Tem Connie Castro and Council Members Cheryl Wolfe, Edward Davis and Bill Bristow. Zan May, District Director of CenterPoint Energy, was also in attendance. Council Member Shannon Whiting was absent.

 

2. ACTION ITEMS (CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON):

 

2.1 A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Castro to approve a resolution of the City of Hilshire Village, Texas, suspending the September 4, 2009 effective date of CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp., d/b/a CenterPoint Energy Entex and CenterPoint Energy Texas Gas (CenterPoint) requested rate change to permit the City time to study the request and to establish reasonable rates; approving cooperation with other Cities in the CenterPoint area to hire legal and consulting services and to negotiate with the company and direct any necessary litigation and appeals; ratifying the selection of Lloyd Gosselink as legal counsel; requiring reimbursement of cities rate case expenses; finding that the meeting at which this resolution is passed is open to the Public as Required by Law; Requiring Notice of this Resolution to the Company and Legal Counsel, seconded by Council Member Davis. Mayor Border explained that joining the coalition would not cost the City any money. The attorney’s charges would be paid by the rate coalition. He explained the City could either do nothing which means no appeal, join the coalition to suspend the rate increase or deny the request and go to the Rail Road Commission directly.

 

Zan May, District Director, Gas Operations Texas Coast District, explained that he was at the meeting to provide information to the City. His role is to be the City’s contact and to answer any questions the City may have. Zan May stated he was not there to sway or argue the case.

 

A vote was taken to approve the motion approving a Resolution of the City of Hilshire Village suspending the September 4, 2009 effective date of CenterPoint Energy Resources requested rate change to permit the City time to study the request and to establish reasonable rates. The vote passed unanimously.

 

3. DISCUSSION ITEMS:

 

3.1 FYE 2010 Budget for General Fund, Restricted Fund and Utility Fund.

Mayor Border went over the changes that were made to the budget since the last workshop. The Mayor reported line 20 is the deficit that the City has to cover. He strongly recommends adding a trash collection revenue line to offset this deficit. Mayor Pro Tem Castro stated she tried last year to have the City charge for ½ the cost of trash pick-up. She gave to Council a survey showing how the other Villages handle trash pick-up. Council Member Wolfe was concerned with the cost of living in the City. Mayor Pro Tem Castro brought to the attention that the debt tax rate brings the City’s tax rate up. Concerns discussed included the ongoing shortage of revenues versus increasing expenses. Council discussed charging a fee for trash versus a tax rate. The Mayor stated it would take a 12% rate increase to take care of the trash charges and that would require a place on the ballot. Mayor Border stated that he would not want to raise the taxes and then have a group of people decide they wanted to petition this increase and if they win then the City would have to return the money to HCAD for distribution back to the residents. Council Member Wolfe stated that the City needs to make sure all houses are evaluated correctly and include all additions.

 

The Mayor wanted to increase line 31 by $440.00 to cover the clerk’s time to cover the City’s Secretary’s vacation. Mayor Border stated the City has the same basic requirements of any other City regardless of the size. Mayor Border stated that Council needs to decide how to handle a retirement benefit.

 

Council Member Wolfe stated Line 37; the treasurer’s stipend, needs to be looked at and the duties that go along with it.

 

Mayor Border stated the revenue line for the utility account needs to be increased. City Secretary stated putting a 12% increase on last year’s water and sewer revenue would achieve the revenue that the City needs.

 

4. Adjournment: Mayor Pro Tem Castro made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Council Member Davis.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                        ____________________

                                                                                                                                                                        Mayor Robin Border

 

ATTEST:

 

__________________________

Susan Blevins, City Secretary