| The City of |
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Village |
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THURSDAY, October 7, 2010 PUPLIC HEARING & SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING 7:00 P.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Pro Tem Castro called the City of Hilshire Village Special Council Meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. at 8301 Westview, Houston, Texas 77055. 1.1 Invocation: was given by Council Member Whiting. 1.2 Present: Mayor Pro Tem Connie Castro and Council Members Shannon Whiting, Stephanie Post, Edward Davis and Bill Bristow were present. Mayor Robin Border was absent. 2. COMMENTS BY COUNCIL: Mayor Pro Tem Castro stated the meeting was a public hearing on the proposed tax rate increase. She stated the City’s emergency reserves were unacceptably low and a lot of factors converged to bring the City to this point. Mayor Pro Tem Castro stated the cost of police and fire protection was $470,000 while property revenue before any increase was only $495,000. The City’s other revenues have remained flat or decreased over the last years. She stated the City needs to have a reserve of three (3) months expenses (approximately $195,000) and the question was how quickly the City needs to recover this reserve. Mayor Pro Tem Castro stated the option of doing nothing and leaving the City with no reserves for the next year would be irresponsible. She stated Council started the discussion with a rollback rate of $0.450475 plus $0.15 to obtain the three (3) month reserve in one year. On September 27th Council made cuts and decided a two (2) month reserve would be adequate so the rate was reduced to $0.450475 plus $0.08. On September 28th after more discussion from Council and input from residents a $0.05 increase was decided on. Mayor Pro Tem Castro stated the City Office had prepared a frequently asked question sheet to help with the residents questions. 3. CITIZENS COMMENTS: No citizens came to the microphone to be recorded. Comments from the audience were positive and appreciative for the time and effort that Council had spent. 4. DISCUSSION: OUT OF ORDER: 4.2 The City’s proposed FYE 2011 Budget: Mayor Pro Tem Castro went over the changes in the proposed budget from the last meeting. She said the property taxes reflect the current proposed tax rate and the police department had reduced their estimated proposed contract from $334,000 to $319,822. Mayor Pro Tem Castro said that on page 3 of the budget the generator expense had been reduced because the City had already expended $4,950 of the cost. She asked Council if they wanted to leave the $3,500 expense to cover a generator or if they wanted it removed. Council agreed to leave the generator in the budget but Council Member Bristow wanted to make sure the cost for maintenance was carefully watched. 2 Public Hearing & Special Council Meeting, October 7, 2010 4.1 The City’s Proposed 2010 Total Rate: Mayor Pro Tem Castro asked Council if they wanted to discuss the proposed tax rate increase of $0.05 over the City’s 2010 roll back rate or had they agreed on the number. City Secretary Blevins brought to the attention of Council that actual numbers from FYE 2010 were still an estimated number and would change when all expenditures had been recorded. She also said that she had not yet received a written contract from the Police Department and the contract numbers were verbal only. Mayor Pro Tem Castro said she was comfortable with the proposed tax increase. Council Member Whiting and Post agreed. 5: ADDITIONAL CITIZENS COMMENTS: Paul Maddock, 8 Hilshire Oaks Court, asked if there was money to replace the infrastructure. Council stated there were restricted funds from Metro and the Utility Funds that were available for replacement of the infrastructure. The tax increase was for the operating funds not capital expenses for the infrastructure. The City has applied for grant money for planned projects. Council Member Whiting said one of the reasons Council raised the water rates was to develop funds for replacement of the 50 year old infrastructure. It was brought to Council’s attention by Nancy Freeman that a sectarian prayer should not be given at the Council Meetings. ANNOUNCEMENT: None 6. ADJOURNMENT: Council Member Davis moved to adjourn, seconded by Council Member Whiting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 P.M. ____________________ Mayor Pro Tem Castro ATTEST: __________________________ Susan Blevins, City Secretary |