[00:00:03]
>> WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH OUR PRE-COUNCIL MEETING.
[A. CALL TO ORDER-MAYOR]
THE TIME IS 4:32.TODAY IS MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 2025, AND I'LL DO A ROLL CALL. MS. DAVIS-GRAVES.
>> I BELIEVE MS. TODD IS RUNNING LATE, MR. JOHNSON.
>> MR. WASHINGTON IS RUNNING LATE, MR. GERFERS?
>> I BELIEVE WE HAVE A QUORUM, SO WE'LL GET STARTED.
WE'LL GO TO ITEM C BUDGET WORK SESSION.
[C. BUDGET WORK SESSION AGENDA]
DISCUSS FISCAL YEAR 2025/2026, BUDGET WITH PRESET FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET.THE PURPOSE OF THIS WORKSHOP IS TO PRESENT TO YOU THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025/26 ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF PRINCETON.
THIS BUDGET REFLECTS OUR FINANCIAL REALITIES AS WE PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
FISCAL YEAR 26. IT'S GOING TO BE A LEAN YEAR GOING FORWARD.
THE DEPARTMENTS HAD TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE OF COURSE, STILL PROVIDE OUR SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY.
I WILL GO OVER OUR REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES TO HELP PROVIDE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE THE FUNDING ARE FOR THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS. STAFF HAS MET WITH COUNSEL FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS JUST TO DISCUSS YOUR COUNCIL'S GOALS AND PRIORITIES.
THIS BUDGET IS ALIGNED TO MEET THOSE GOALS AND PRIORITIES AND TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING WHAT IS NEEDED FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
THERE'S BEEN SOME WINDS AND SOME CHALLENGES HERE IN 2025, SO I THOUGHT I'D RECAP, OF COURSE, BEING NOTED AS THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE NATION.
COUNCIL HAD THAT FORWARD THINKING OF PUTTING US IN A MORATORIUM STATE, SO IT ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE MORE OF A GUIDED GROWTH AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE FUTURE OF WHAT PRINCETON LOOKS LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF REVIEWING OUR MASTER PLANS FOR WATER, WASTEWATER, ROADS, PARKS, AND TRAILS AS WELL SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND WHAT WE CAN BRING TO COUNCIL TO DISCUSS.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME WINDS AS WELL IN PUBLIC SAFETY, WITH REGARD TO FIRE, WHO HAS BEEN ABLE TO ADD SOME FIREFIGHTERS.
WE'RE ABLE TO FUND SOME EQUIPMENT FOR THEM AS WELL, SUCH AS A BRUSH TRUCK AND AN ENGINE.
POLICE WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE SIX OFFICERS, AS WELL AS DEVELOP VARIOUS DIVISIONS WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALSO ADDED 12 NEW POLICE UNITS AND ADDED SOME EQUIPMENT THAT WAS VERY NEEDED FOR THEM FOR THEIR SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY, SUCH AS BODY AND IN CAR CAMERAS.
WE ALSO PROVIDED THEM LICENSE PLATES, READERS, AND THOSE ELECTRONIC TICKET RIDERS SO THAT THEY COULD BE EFFICIENT OUT ON THE STREETS.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE FEW WINS THAT WE'VE HAD THIS YEAR.
AS WE LOOK AT YOUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, AGAIN, YOUR LONG TERM VISION.
THIS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2024 AND REAFFIRMED IN 2025.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR PURPOSE FULL PARTNERSHIPS, THOSE COULD ENTAIL LIKE CITY EVENTS, PUBLIC SAFETY, DOING THEIR OUTREACH PROGRAMS. YOUR ECONOMIC VALUE, WE HAVE THE EDC AND CDC DOING REALLY HARD TO PROMOTE AND BRING IN NEW BUSINESSES TO ENCOURAGE THAT FUTURE GROWTH.
WITHIN THE ENTERTAINMENT, WE HAVE OUR PARKS MASTER PLAN TO BRING THOSE UNIQUE RECREATION TO TEXAS HERE IN PRINCETON.
LOOKING AT OUR BUILDING STANDARDS, WE CONTINUE TO WORK ON THOSE ZONING AND ORDINANCES.
WE'RE ALSO, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, FULLY IN SWING WITH OUR UPDATED OF OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
OF COURSE, DEVELOPING A LAND ACQUISITION PLAN THAT LEADS TO RECRUITING BUSINESSES.
THESE PRIORITIES PROVIDES THE BUDGET A TOOL TO COMMUNICATE NOW THE CITY RESOURCES, HOW WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THE LONG TERM VISION THAT COUNCIL HAS SET.
THIS IS JUST A LITTLE RECAP AGAIN OF WHERE WE'VE BEEN.
AGAIN, IN MAY, WE STARTED WITH YOUR STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT.
THEN IN JUNE, WE HAD A BUDGET RETREAT.
LOTS OF MEETINGS TO DISCUSS WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
IN JULY, WE DID GET OUR CERTIFIED VALUES AND FINALIZE THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
THEN IN AUGUST, WE FILED THE PROPOSED BUDGET WITH COUNCIL, CITY SECRETARY, AS WELL AS POSTING ONLINE.
THEN IN AUGUST, AT YOUR FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST, YOU SET THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AND SET THE NEXT PUBLIC HEARING DATE, WHICH IS SEPTEMBER 8TH, AS WELL AS WE ARE HERE TODAY ON OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP SESSION.
THEN, LIKE I JUST SAID, SEPTEMBER, YOUR PUBLIC HEARING.
THIS ALLOWS THE PUBLIC TO COMMUNICATE TO COUNCIL ABOUT THEIR NEEDS FOR THE COMMUNITY,
[00:05:07]
AND THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET AND THE TAX RATE WILL BE THAT SAME NIGHT.I THOUGHT THIS WAS A LITTLE INTERESTING LOOKING FIVE YEARS BACK TO TODAY.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE POPULATION OF 17,000 JUST FIVE YEARS AGO, AND WE HAVE NOW MORE THAN DOUBLED.
ACTUALLY, IT'S A LOT OF STATS OF JUST CHERRY PICKING, NOT TRYING TO AT ANY PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT, BUT JUST LOOKING AT OUR ROADWAYS OF WHAT WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN, HOW MANY MORE WATER CONNECTIONS WE HAVE, HOW MANY MORE WATER MAINS, SEWER LINES, JUST ALONE HAVE TRIPLED.
ALL OF THIS IN FIVE YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN SUCH GROWTH, BUT YET OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE HAS DECLINED BY 21 PENNIES.
THIS IS ANOTHER THING THAT WE'LL BE DISCUSSING IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WHERE WE'RE PROPOSING TO HAVE A FULL WORK FORCE OF 219.5.
AGAIN, SO WE'VE ADDED 132 EMPLOYEES.
BUT THEN AGAIN, THE POPULATION DOUBLING WHILE WE'RE STILL LOWERING THAT TAX RATE.
AGAIN, MUNICIPALITIES ARE A SERVICE BASED ORGANIZATION.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST AN INTERESTING LOOK BACK JUST FIVE YEARS.
WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GO TOMORROW.
HERE'S SOME AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER AS WE'RE LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE.
AS WE LOOK AT THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY GROWTH THAT I HAD MENTIONED EARLIER, TO BRING THAT IN TO DIVERSIFY OUR TAX ROLE, LOOKING AT OUR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE STANDARDS WE WANT THAT DEVELOPMENT TO LOOK LIKE FOR TOMORROW.
CONTINUE THE PAY AS YOU GO PROGRAM SO THAT WE'RE NOT ISSUING DEBT, BUT USING CASH FUNDS TO FUND SUCH PROGRAMS, AND THEN REVENUE EXPANSION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT OUR BUDGET WORKSHOP ON FEES.
THEN THERE'S SOME AREAS OF NEED THAT WE SEE IN OUR 2026 BUDGET.
AGAIN, PUBLIC SAFETY WAS SOMETHING WE HEARD FROM COUNCIL AT THE BUDGET RETREAT THAT WAS, NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
THEN RIGHT SIZING OUR SERVICES AND OUR STAFFING LEVELS IS ANOTHER CRUCIAL AREA THAT WE NEED, AS WELL AS THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.
HERE'S A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF OUR REVENUE RESOURCES BY FUND.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE FIRST COLUMN THE 2024/25 AMENDED BUDGET.
THEN YOU CAN SEE THE 25/26 PROPOSED BUDGET.
THE TOP SECTION YOU WILL SEE IS YOUR OPERATING BUDGET.
THAT WILL BE YOUR GENERAL FUND AND YOUR UTILITIES FUND, COMPARING THOSE TWO.
I'D LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT'S REALLY WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, WHERE WE'RE SPENDING MONEY AND WE'RE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.
THAT'S WHERE PUBLIC SAFETY IS GOING TO BE.
THAT'S WHERE YOUR UTILITIES ARE.
THEN THE REST OF THE FUNDS BELOW ARE RESTRICTED IN THEIR NATURE, MEANING THAT THEIR REVENUE STREAMS THAT COME IN ARE RESTRICTED IN THEIR PURPOSE AS TO HOW IT CAN BE USED.
I'VE IDENTIFIED VARIOUS REVENUES FOR THOSE RESTRICTED, SUCH AS YOUR DEBT SERVICE.
THAT IS GOING TO BE YOUR INS TAX RATE.
THAT'S THE EDC AND CDC FUND THAT RECEIVE THE SALES TAX AND HOW THEY USE THOSE RESOURCES.
IMPACT FEES IS A BIG ONE, AS YOU SEE WITH A GROWING COMMUNITY WITH IMPACT FEES COMING IN AND BEING RESTRICTED FOR THOSE QUALIFIED PROJECTS, AND THEN YOUR CAPITAL PROGRAM.
IT DOES SHOW LESS IN OUR TOTAL REVENUE RESOURCES, BUT THAT IS BECAUSE IN '25, WE DID ISSUE A BOND ISSUANCE OF 77.5 MILLION.
THAT IS WHY THAT IS LESS REVENUE IN '26 PROPOSED BUDGET.
LOOKING AT OUR REVENUE BY FUNCTION, YOU CAN SEE OUR CHARGES FOR SERVICES MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF THAT.
AGAIN, THAT IS YOUR UTILITY BILL.
THEN YOU SEE OUR AD VALOREM TAXES MAKING IN 17%.
AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR BUILDING PERMITS, AS WELL AS THOSE IMPACT FEES THAT I HAD MENTIONED, WHICH ARE RESTRICTED.
THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY SEE IN A HIGH GROWTH COMMUNITY.
AS THESE REVENUES START TO REDUCE, THERE IS A NEED FOR OTHER REVENUE SOURCES TO HELP SUSTAIN THE SERVICES, AND THAT IS USUALLY SEEN IN SALES TAX, WHICH IS ANOTHER AREA THAT WE NEED TO ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COMMERCIAL GROWTH AND HOW WE CAN BRING THAT IN.
[00:10:01]
NOW I'M GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU THE EXPENDITURES BY FUND, AND THIS IS LESS TRANSFERS.AGAIN, TOP SECTION IS YOUR OPERATING BUDGET.
WE'RE SEEING A 9% INCREASE OVERALL, 10% INCREASE IN THE GENERAL FUND AND 8% INCREASE IN THE UTILITY FUND.
THEN YOU CAN SEE DOWN BELOW THE RESTRICTED.
YOU MIGHT ASK, WHY IS THAT SPECIAL REVENUE SO.
THAT AGAIN WAS THE ARPA FUNDS THAT WERE BUDGETED TO END BEING SPENT AND HAVE BEEN SPENT FOR THE ARPA FUNDS THAT WE RECEIVED.
THE DEBT SERVICE DID INCREASE BY 24%.
AGAIN, WE DID ISSUE SOME NEW DEBT THIS YEAR.
WE'RE SEEING A SMALL INCREASE IN THE EDC AND CDC, BASED ON WHAT WE SAW IN THE SALES TAX, THEIR BUDGET IS A BALANCED BUDGET.
THEN THE IMPACT FEES, WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE MASTER PLANS TO REALLY HELP BUILD OUR CIP PROGRAM SO THAT WE CAN ALLOCATE RESOURCES FOR THOSE.
THEN YOUR RESTRICTED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
WE ARE SEEING A SLIGHT INCREASE OF 2% FROM LAST YEAR OVERALL.
IF YOU LOOK AT OUR EXPENDITURES BY FUNCTION, SEE, OF COURSE, A CAPITAL PROJECTS MAKES UP THE MAJORITY OF THAT FUNCTION.
AGAIN, LITTLE OVER 70 MILLION HAS BEEN PROGRAMMED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AGAIN, DUE TO A LARGE GROWING COMMUNITY, THOSE WHERE THE RESOURCES ARE NEEDED, THE ROADS, THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
WE HAVE THOSE IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET.
THEN THERE'S YOUR PUBLIC WORKS BEING AT 20%.
THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS GOING TO BE THE WATER PURCHASE THAT WE HAVE, AS WELL AS OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND OUR SOLID WASTE CONTRACT.
THAT MAKES UP 20.5 MILLION OR 70% OF THE 20%.
THEN PUBLIC SAFETY COMING IN AT 13%.
THEN THERE'S THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT AT 7% DEBT SERVICE AT EIGHT AND PARKS AND REC, AND PUBLIC SERVICE AT TWO AND THREE.
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STOP ME ANYTIME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. REVENUE HIGHLIGHTS.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT SOME AREAS ON THE REVENUE SIDE.
AGAIN, PROPERTY TAX, WE MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY TAX FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.
WE LOOKED AT THE MODIFIED FEE STRUCTURE, WHAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU IN JULY AND WITH YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
WE DID BRING THAT INTO THE BUDGET.
THAT'S BRINGING IN ADDITIONAL $100,000 INTO VARIOUS FUNDS, THE UTILITY FEES.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SECOND YEAR OF THE FIVE-YEAR ADOPTED RATE PLAN THAT WE DISCUSSED AS WELL IN JULY, AND WE WERE GIVEN THE APPROVAL TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH THAT SECOND YEAR, AS WELL AS THE CCN AND HOW THE WASTEWATER SERVICE FEE CHARGES ARE GOING TO BE CALCULATED BASED ON CONSUMPTION.
THERE'S ALSO THE PAY AS YOU GO CONTINUING THAT IN OUR BUDGET AS WELL, AND THEN THE FUNDING FOR CIP.
THAT WE HAVE FOR THE PARK PROJECTS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THIS SLIDE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE BUDGET CONSTRAINTS THAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY IN THE FUTURE.
WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT SENATE BILL 2, BUT NOW THE STATE LEGISLATOR IS TALKING ABOUT SENATE BILL 10.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT, BUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT EVEN RESTRICTING FROM 3.5-2.5.
IT JUST REALLY REALLY HURTS THESE GROWING COMMUNITIES.
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF UNIONS SPEAKING AT THE STATE LEGISLATION, ESPECIALLY THE FIREFIGHTERS, THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THIS MIGHT CUT THEIR RESOURCES IN THE FUTURE.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING A LOT OF COMMUNITIES BECAUSE OF THIS TAX CAP LOOKING AT RAISING THEIR TAX RATE.
ONE IN PARTICULAR IS ARLINGTON, IT'S A COMMUNITY THAT'S FULLY BUILT UP, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING AT RAISING THEIR TAX RATE AGAIN FOR THE SECOND YEAR.
FORT WORTH INCREASED THEIR TAX RATE LAST YEAR.
SOME INDICATIONS OF WHAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING AS WELL.
AS WELL WE'RE SEEING RESIDENTIAL IN THAT COMMERCIAL TAX BASE, I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL TIMES SEEING THAT WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY OUR TAX ROLE.
AS I HEARD FROM JIM AT THE BUDGET RETREAT, BRINGING IN THESE BUSINESSES CAN HELP INCREASE OUR HOME VALUES, AS WELL AS DIVERSIFYING THAT TAX ROLE.
THEN, I GUESS, ALIGNING THOSE REVENUE WITH THOSE EXPENSES.
AGAIN, WITH RAPID GROWTH IF WE HAVE THESE LOW HOME VALUES, BUT WE'RE STILL NEEDING TO PROVIDE THESE TOP NOTCH SERVICES, WE NEED THAT DIVERSIFIED REVENUE EXPENSE RATIO.
THAT'S ANOTHER CONSTRAINT, AS WELL AS HOUSING DIVERSITY.
[00:15:04]
MOVING FORWARD AFTER THE MORATORIUM, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COUNSEL COULD BE THINKING ABOUT WITH REGARD TO LOT SIZES AND THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE FUTURE.AS WELL AS THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE IMPACTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LIST OF FUTURE PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE FUNDING ALL OF THOSE IN THE FUTURE, AND THEN THE STAFF NEEDS.
THAT'S A BIG AREA THAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE STAFF NEEDS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, EVEN BUILDING CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THOSE THINGS.
BUT THIS BEING A VERY LEAN YEAR, WE DID WHAT WE COULD DO IN THE GENERAL FUND.
WE'LL GO INTO DETAIL MORE ABOUT THAT.
BUT HERE YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THIS AS WELL, THE DISTRIBUTION OF YOUR TAX BILL.
THERE ARE FOUR TAXING UNITS IN THE CITY OF PRINCETON.
IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE MEDIAN HOME VALUE OF 324,747, THAT RESIDENTS TAX BILL WOULD BE 4,420 AND THE CITY WOULD GET $1430 OF THAT.
JUST TO NOTE, THE ISD DID CHANGE THEIR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, SO MOST RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO SEE A SAVINGS ON THEIR TAXES WITH THAT HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION INCREASING TO 140,000 THIS YEAR.
>> WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF OUR GROWTH IS IN THE TIERS ITSELF SO THAT IS ALSO SOMETHING WE'RE SEEING.
>> EXCUSE ME. CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?
>> WITH THE CHANGE THE HOMESTEAD EXTENSION, HOW IS THAT IMPACTING US FINANCIALLY IN REGARDS TO WHAT WE'RE RECEIVING? I UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH WE WOULD BE GETTING FROM EACH HOME.
HOW MUCH ARE WE GETTING FROM THE HOMES THAT HAVE THE TIERS WHERE WE HAVE TO REINVEST THAT MONEY BACK INTO THEIR PIDS?
>> I THINK THERE'S TWO QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST QUESTION, I BELIEVE I HEARD WAS, WITH REGARD TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
THAT DOES NOT IMPACT THE CITY.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE IMPACTING AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS. THEN YOU MENTIONED THE TIERS.
THERE'S VARIOUS FUNDING SOURCES THAT WE HAVE WITH THOSE.
THEY COULD BE FROM 5% TO 45%, AND THAT DOES GO BACK TO REDUCE THEIR PID ASSESSMENTS.
>> THE POWER OF THE PENNY FOR LOOKING AT $0.01, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE IN GENERATING THE REVENUE BASED ON OUR 4.5 BILLION TAXABLE VALUE? THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE $452,360.
AS VALUES INCREASE, YOU WILL SEE THE VALUE OF THIS PENNY INCREASE.
IF WE HAD AN EXTRA PENNY, WHAT THAT COULD DO TO HELP US IN THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION? WHICH, AGAIN, IS YOUR GENERAL FUND, WHERE HOUSING MOST OF THE STAFFING OF PUBLIC SAFETY, DEVELOPMENT, PARKS, LIBRARY, THAT COULD PAY RIGHT NOW TWO POLICE OFFICERS.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE ALL OF THEIR SALARY, THEIR BENEFITS, AND ANY ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING, BUT DOES NOT FUND THE VEHICLE ITSELF.
IN THE IMS, OBVIOUSLY, YOU WOULD PAY DOWN YOUR PRINCIPAL, BUT YOU COULD ALSO BE LOOKING AT INTEREST SAVINGS OF $113,700.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE AVERAGE HOME IN PRINCETON, A PENNY WOULD BE $33 A YEAR IN TAXES TO THE CITY.
THAT'S WHAT A HOME OWNER WOULD SEE.
NOW, IF WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF A QUARTER.
AGAIN, THIS WAS WHAT WE HAD 10 YEARS AGO, AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING A QUARTER IS NEEDED.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL NEEDS TO DECIDE.
PLUS, WE LEGALLY CANNOT INCREASE THE TAX RATE UNTIL WE GO TO A VOTE OF THE RESIDENTS ON THAT TAX INCREASE.
BUT IF WE WERE TO SEE WHAT KIND OF REVENUE THAT WOULD GENERATE, 11 MILLION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE WOULD BE BROUGHT INTO THE CITY.
WHAT WE COULD USE OF 6.5 IF YOU WERE TO SPLIT THAT OUT BETWEEN YOUR M&O AND YOUR I&S TAX RATE, PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
ONE MORE THING I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
AGAIN, I NOTED HERE ABOUT 64 MILLION COULD BE ISSUED THAT COULD HELP WITH THE ROADS.
BUT JUST THINKING ABOUT HOW THIS COULD PROVIDE THAT EXCELLENT SERVICE WITHIN PUBLIC SAFETY, PROVIDING GREAT ROADS, PARKS, A DOWNTOWN AREA.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS TO BE THINKING ABOUT IF WE WERE TO RAISE THE TAX RATE.
[00:20:01]
AS WE LOOK AT THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE DOLLAR FOR OUR CITY SERVICES, LIKE TO BREAK THAT DOWN.THE DEBT SERVICE IS THE MAJORITY OF THAT AT 18.59 GETS THE MOST OF THAT, BUT THEN PUBLIC SAFETY AT 13.9.
THEN YOU HAVE YOUR ADMINISTRATION, PARKS AND REC, PUBLIC WORKS, AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
AGAIN, THIS WAS PRESENTED TO YOU AT YOUR BUDGET RETREAT AS WELL.
SALES TAX. THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT YOU WANTED TO BRING THE MAP BACK INTO THIS, AGAIN, THAT WE SHOWED AT THE BUDGET RETREAT.
THOSE RED AREAS IS WHAT IS ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL AREAS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE COULD BRING THAT IN.
THAT'S WHERE YOU NEED TO BE THINKING OF THE HIGHEST BEST USE CORRIDORS, SUCH AS 380.
REMIND EVERYBODY, AGAIN, THE STATE GETS 6.25% ON THAT SALES TAX, AND THE CITY GETS $0.02.
IN THIS LIGHT GREEN AREA AT THE TOP OF THE BAR, THAT IS THE GENERAL FUND GETTING ONE PENNY.
THEN THE OTHER TWO SHADES IS SPLIT BETWEEN CDC AND EDC.
WE'RE PROJECTING THE END OF '25 TO BE ABOUT 8.9 MILLION AND A CONSERVATIVE GROWTH FOR NEXT YEAR TO HAVE 9.1 MILLION, IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
NOW, TO GO OVER OUR TOP 3 SOURCES OF REVENUE.
OBVIOUSLY, THE CHARGES FOR SERVICES BRINGS IN THE MAJORITY OF THE TOP 3 IS 42.9 MILLION.
AGAIN, THAT'S JUST FOR SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDE A DIRECT BENEFIT TO CERTAIN RESIDENTS RATHER THAN BEING SHARED BY ALL TAXPAYERS.
THEN IN THE UTILITY, THAT'S 38.7.
OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS YOUR UTILITY BILL; THE WATER, THE WASTEWATER, THE SOLID WASTE DRAINAGE.
THEN IN LICENSE PERMITS, FEES, AND CHARGES, WE'RE AT 32.6 IN OUR PROJECTED PROPOSED BUDGET.
AGAIN, THAT'S A BREAKOUT OF BUILDING PERMITS AND IMPACT FEES.
>> EXCUSE ME. CAN I ASK YOU ONE QUESTION ABOUT THE UTILITIES?
>> THIS IS WHAT IT BRINGS IN, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT SERVICE TOO.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE THAT YOU HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD?
>> I HOPE YOU HAVE YOUR BUDGET BOOK.
IF NOT, I CAN DEFINITELY GET THAT FOR YOU.
IF YOU LOOK AT PAGE 80, WE'RE LOOKING AT ACTUALLY A LOSS IN OUR PROPOSED BUDGET BASED ON THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS AND THE EXPENSES, A LOSS OF A MILLION DOLLARS THIS PROPOSED YEAR IN THE 26 PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE ARE SEEING SIGNIFICANT, AND I'VE GOT MANY MORE SLIDES TO GO OVER THE ACTUAL COST THAT ARE INCURRED IN THAT FUND.
>> WELCOME. THEN IMPACT FEES BEING RESTRICTED IN THEIR USE, OF COURSE.
I MENTIONED THAT EARLIER.. THEN THE AD VALOREM, THE GENERAL FUND GETTING 11.1 MILLION AND DEBT GETTING 7.8 MILLION.
>> IN THE LICENSE PERMITS AND FEE CHARGES, IS THAT HOW MUCH WE'RE ACTUALLY KEEPING, OR IS THAT BEFORE WE RETURN MONEY DUE TO DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WITH DEVELOPERS?
>> THAT IS WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING BASED ON THAT WE ARE KEEPING.
AGAIN, A VERY BIG AREA THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
I THINK YOU SAW THIS AT THE BUDGET RETREAT.
WE DID UPDATE THIS WITH POPULATION.
OUT OF THE 215 FTES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE SERVICING 217 RESIDENTS PER EMPLOYEE.
LOOKING AT THE OTHER CITIES, OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN SEE, WE SERVICE MORE RESIDENTS WITH LESS STAFF, AND RAPID GROWTH ADDS EXPONENTIALLY MORE TO OUR STAFF.
WE'RE NOT HIRING JUST TO HAVE A HEAD COUNT.
WE REALLY THINK ABOUT BEFORE WE HIRE THOSE STAFFING NEEDS, BUT WE ARE A VERY LEAN STAFF.
THIS IS WHAT I RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENTS WHEN WE DID SAY, AT THE VERY BEGINNING DURING OUR INTERNAL BUDGET KICKOFF MEETING, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LEAN YEAR.
I THINK THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE REQUESTS FROM DEPARTMENTS, BUT THEY WERE VERY STRATEGIC AS WELL OF THINKING ABOUT THIS AS A LEAN YEAR, BUT WE DID GET A WISH LIST OF 32 FULL TIME POSITIONS IN ONE PART TIME.
THAT WOULD AMOUNT TO 2.8 MILLION IN JUST ONE YEAR.
WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO, IN REALITY, FILL FOUR POSITIONS,
[00:25:02]
TWO IN THE GENERAL FUND, ACTUALLY 2.5 IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND TWO IN THE WATER AND WASTEWATER.WE'RE LOOKING AT FUNDING TWO POLICE OFFICERS, A PART TIME ASSISTANT FOR THE MAYOR, AND TWO WASTEWATER MAINTENANCE TECHS.
WE WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE EVERYBODY THEIR WISH LIST, BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, THAT WOULD NOT BE SUSTAINABLE AT THIS TIME.
LET'S DIVE INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
AS WE LOOK AT OUR EXPENDITURES, PUBLIC SAFETY, MAIN FOCUS, AS WELL, AGAIN, TWO POLICE OFFICERS.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME NEW POLICE PROGRAMS IDENTIFIED IN THIS BUDGET.
FIRE HAS ALSO BEEN FUNDED A REPLACEMENT ON A RESPONSE VEHICLE.
WE HAVE ALSO LOOKING AT OUR AMBULANCE CONTRACT THAT HAS INCREASED AND THE OUTDOOR WARNING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT THAT WAS PRESENTED TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
>> I DO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING REAL QUICK. THE RECORD OF MS. TODD WALKED IN AT 4:45 PM.
>> INFRASTRUCTURES AND ROADS WE LOOKED AT AS WELL, MAKING SURE THAT WE KEEP A GOOD HEALTHY FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT AS WELL.
WE HAVE HALF MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND WE ARE PROPOSING A ONE MILLION TRANSFER TO THE CIP TO BE EARMARKED FOR ROADS AS A PAY AS YOU GO PROGRAM.
IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES, CONTINUING OUR YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAM IN CITY EVENTS, AS WE GROW, THAT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE.
ATTENDANCE. BUT THEN THE GENERAL GOVERNMENT AND OPERATIONS.
WE DID FUND JUST IN CASE THERE WAS GOING TO BE A SPECIAL CHARTER ELECTION, SO THAT IS FUNDED IN THE GENERAL FUND.
WE ARE ALSO, AGAIN, THE PART TIME ASSISTANT FOR THE MAYOR.
THERE'S SOME CITY HALL RENOVATIONS.
WE'RE ALSO SEEING, AND YOU'LL SEE A SLIDE ON THIS IN JUST A LITTLE BIT ON COLLIN COUNTY AND THEIR SERVICES AND THE INCREASES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING FROM THAT THAT WE OUTSOURCED WITH THEM, AS WELL AS THE MCKINNEY URBAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY SYSTEM INCREASED BY 10,000.
THEN WE ARE TRYING OUR BEST TO RIGHT SIZE OUR SERVICES WITH OUR STAFFING DEMANDS.
IF WE BREAK IT DOWN BY FUNCTION WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, PUBLIC SAFETY MAKING UP THE MAJORITY, 53%.
YOU SEE THE OTHER VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE IN THERE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THE GENERAL FUND 61% OF THE EXPENDITURES IS FOR PERSONNEL, AGAIN, BEING A SERVICE BASED ORGANIZATION.
IF WE LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENTS A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AND POLICE, IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS, THEY'RE LOOKING TO ENHANCE THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES BY EXPANDING THEIR STAFF AND THE PROGRAMS TO MEET EVOLVING NEEDS OF GROWING COMMUNITY AND REDUCE THE RESPONSE TIME, PROVIDE ANY READINESS THAT'S NEEDED FOR THEIR STAFF, SUCH AS NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THOSE OUTREACH PROGRAMS. WITHIN THE BUDGET, WE DID ADD TWO NEW OFFICERS.
THERE IS THE NEW PROGRAMS SUCH AS CITIZENS ON PATROL, THE ADDITION IN HOUSE INSTRUCTORS, DIGITAL FORENSIC AND COMMUNITY REPORTING.
ALL TO MEET THAT STRATEGIC GOAL OF PARTNERSHIPS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE FLOCK CAMERA, WHICH IS A GRANT FUNDED IN DRONES.
FIRE. AGAIN, ALWAYS LOOKING TO ENHANCE THEIR SERVICES AND PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO THAT ISO CLASS 1 RATING, AS WELL AS ACHIEVING THE TEXAS FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION BEST PRACTICES RECOGNITION, FOSTERING A DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE CENTERED ON LEADERSHIP, COMMUNICATION, INTEGRITY, AND SUSTAINING A COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAM, AND EXPANDING THE SERVICES BY ESTABLISHING AN INTERNAL AMBULANCE PROGRAM IS BEING LOOKED AT THAT WOULD HELP PROVIDE THAT RELIABLE HIGH QUALITY SERVICE TO OUR RESIDENTS.
WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IN THE BUDGET IS FUND THE INCIDENT COMMAND RESPONSE VEHICLE.
AGAIN, MENTION THE OUTDOOR WARNING SYSTEM THAT IS A FIVE YEAR FINANCING ON THAT.
THE CHIEF DID MOVE TO A 28 DAY CYCLE THAT WILL HELP ALLEVIATE OUR OVERTIME COSTS.
THAT FORWARD THINKING THERE FROM THE CHIEF, AND THEN NEW TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES ARE IN THEIR BUDGET.
FOR ROADS. AGAIN, LOOKING AT A COMPLETE PAVEMENT CONDITION ASSESSMENT FOR THE CITY OWNED RIGHT AWAY,
[00:30:03]
AND I BELIEVE TOMMY JUST TOLD ME WE GOT THAT.IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
THEN MAINTAINING OUR STREET SWEEPING SCHEDULE AND ADHERENCE TO OUR GRANT COMPLIANCE AS WELL AS THAT MOBILITY AND SAFETY ACTION PLAN.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE RESIDENTS WITH THE ROADS THAT THEY SO DESPERATELY WANT, WE PUSHED IN HALF A MILLION IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE, AND THEN A TRANSFER OF A MILLION TO THE CIP PROGRAM FOR ROADS.
JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF COST TO MAINTAIN A ROAD.
IF WE WERE TO RESURFACE A FOUR LANE ROAD, WE'RE LOOKING AT THREE MILLION DOLLARS FOR ONE MILE.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN PERSPECTIVE.
IF YOU WERE TO RECONSTRUCT A TWO LANE, IT WOULD BE 1.8 MILLION FOR A MILE.
>> I ACTUALLY HAVE MULTIPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROADS, CAN I? TO START WITH, BORMANN DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE MONEY ALLOCATED TO IT FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.
I BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS ONE OF THE ROADS THAT WE'VE SAID IS GOING TO BE DONE.
IS THERE A REASONS THAT [OVERLAPPING]
>> ACTUALLY, IN THE '25 BUDGET SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT REAPPROPRIATED IN '26.
>> THE 43,000, 346 IS FROM THIS YEAR'S BUDGET GOING AND COVERING THAT THEN.
>> YOU SEE THE TRANSFER FROM THE ROAD IMPACT FUND OF 4.6 MILLION? THAT IS FOR THE BORMANN PROJECT IN THE 25 BUDGET.
>> MY NEXT QUESTION IS FOR ITEM R55, ALSO ON TEAKWOOD HERE.
UP UNTIL 21, 22, R55 TEAKWOOD WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $150,000.
IT WENT MISSING AND NOT LISTED ON THE BUDGETS AFTER THAT UNTIL NOW SHOWING THAT WE ARE SPENDING OVER A DOLLARS ON IT, AND ITEM 55 TIKI DRIVE, R53 WAS SHOWING A LITTLE OVER TWO MILLION, AND THEN ONE MILLION WAS ACTUALLY SPENT.
I'M WONDERING HOW WE WENT FROM $150,000 TO OVER A MILLION WHEN THERE WAS NO MONEY ALLOCATED TO IT, ACCORDING TO THE BUDGETS FOR ITEM R55 FOR THE PAST YEAR.
LIKE, IT WASN'T EVEN ON LAST YEAR'S BUDGET PERIOD.
IS THAT AN ERROR, AND IT SHOULD BE R53 AND NOT R55?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST. SORRY.
>> SORRY. MAYOR COUNCIL, TOM MAPP DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONSTRUCTED.
THAT WOULD BE WHY THERE'S NO FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THEM.
THEY WENT FROM AN ASPHALT ROAD TO A CONCRETE ROAD, AND ORIGINALLY WITH THE INTENT FOR TEAKWOOD, WAS TO REPLACE THE ASPHALT THAT WAS THERE WITH ASPHALT, BUT IT WAS INCREASED OR IT WAS CHANGED OVER TO CONCRETE.
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PROJECT.
>> YES, BUT THERE'S ALSO, LIKE, THE TEAKWOOD REHAB THAT WAS MENTIONED.
LOOKING AT THE BUDGETS, TIKI AND TEAKWOOD, HAVE SOME DIFFERENT, I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW WE WENT FROM 150,000 FOR THE ONE THING TO OVER A MILLION BEING REFLECTED AND WHY SOME COMPLETED PROJECTS ARE BEING SHOWN HERE AND OTHERS ARE NOT.
R55 IS HERE, SHOWING COMPLETED, BUT WE DO NOT HAVE R53 ON HERE, SHOWING IS COMPLETED.
>> CORRECT. THAT'S BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A FUNDING SOURCE IDENTIFIED FOR R53.
>> WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE STREET?
>> THAT WAS THE PROJECT BUDGET FOR THAT ROAD WAS 1.132 MILLION.
>> MY QUESTION IS, ITEM R55 IS NOT ON LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AT ALL.
YET PRIOR TO SHOWING BACK UP ON OUR BUDGET,
[00:35:04]
IT WAS LISTED AT A 150,000.I'VE GONE ALL THE WAY BACK TO 2018 ON THE BUDGETS.
IT WAS PREVIOUSLY $150,000 DID NOT SHOW UP AT ALL ON LAST YEAR'S BUDGET IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, AND NOW IT'S SHOWING WE'VE SPENT THIS MUCH MONEY ON THIS PROJECT.
>> THAT PROJECT, LIKE I SAID, THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST FROM WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY BUDGETED TO WHAT WAS EXPENDED TO CONSTRUCT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WENT FROM ASPHALT AND WAS JUST GOING TO BE AN ASPHALT OVERLAY ROAD TO REPAIR IT.
IT WENT TO BEING A CONCRETE ROAD, INSTALLED A SIDEWALK, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT'S THE INCREASE OF THAT COST.
NOW, THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THAT, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND REVIEW THE DOCUMENTATION ON THAT, BUT THAT WAS MORE OR LESS UNDER THE PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT, WAS DEEMED AN EMERGENCY PROJECT.
IT WASN'T PUT IN THE BUDGET, BUT THE MONEY WAS REALLOCATED TO FUND THAT PROJECT.
>> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LAST YEAR BECAUSE THAT WAS ON THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR PRIOR, BUT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET SPECIFICALLY, LEADING INTO THE CURRENT ONE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO CLOSE OUT ON DOES NOT LIST THIS PLAN PERIOD IN IT.
>> THAT'S BECAUSE THE ROADWAY WAS ALREADY COMPLETED.
>> WHY IS IT SHOWING UP AGAIN NOW?
>> DOCUMENTATION, I DON'T KNOW THAT.
>> BECAUSE IT WASN'T IN THERE LAST YEAR.
THEN THE LAST TIME WE LOOKED AT IT WAS 150, AND NOW SUDDENLY, SURPRISE.
WE'RE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS ON THIS ONE ITEM.
I UNDERSTAND EMERGENCY FUNDS AND STUFF, BUT EVEN STILL, I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE IT GOT MOVED FROM.
>> AGAIN, I'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD.
THIS IS SOMETHING I JUST DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
>> CAN WE LOOK INTO THAT AND THEN COME BACK TO THAT?
>> LIKE I SAID, BUT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST OF A 100,000 AND THE ONE MILLION WAS NOT DOING ASPHALT AND DOING CONCRETE INSTEAD OF.
I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT FELL OFF THE BUDGET BOOKS AND THEN CAME BACK ON THE BUDGET BOOKS.
BUT THE OTHER ITEM THAT'S COMPLETED DID NOT COME BACK ON THE BUDGET BOOKS AFTER IT WAS REMOVED.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY SOME THINGS DISAPPEAR AND COME BACK AND OTHER THINGS DISAPPEAR AND DON'T COME BACK AND WHY SOME OF THESE NUMBERS THAT ARE COMING UP NOW DON'T MATCH THE LAST TIME THEY SHOWED UP IN A BUDGET? THE NUMBERS AREN'T FULLY ALIGNED.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A YOU'RE DOING A MUCH BETTER JOB AND YOU'RE CATCHING IT, AND WHATNOT.
>> I'LL FIND THAT INFORMATION OUT AND PROVIDE IT TO YOU AND KELLY.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. I CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF ALL THE THINGS, KELLY.
IF WE CAN MEET SOMETIME, WE CAN LOOK AND TRY AND FIND IT. THAT'D BE AWESOME.
>> AGAIN, I THINK WE WENT OVER ENOUGH ON THE ROADS ITSELF, BUT WE ARE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MOWING THE RIGHT AWAY, AND WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO LOWER THAT OVERTIME COST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
LOOKING AT EFFICIENCIES WITHIN THAT AS WELL.
OUTSOURCING IS ONE THING THAT WE SAW AS A BENEFIT TO THE CITY.
WITHIN THE PARKS AND WRECKS IN THE LIBRARY.
AGAIN, WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THOSE PARK BOND PROJECTS, BUILDING A COLLABORATION RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ISD TO SUPPORT THOSE RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AS WELL AS EXPANDING THE TRAIL NETWORK BETWEEN THE PARK SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY DESTINATIONS.
WITHIN THE BUDGET, AGAIN, LIKE I MENTIONED, DUE TO POPULATION GROWTH, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF INCREASE IN THE YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS, SO WE HAD TO SUPPORT THAT AS WELL, DUE THAT HIGH GROWTH.
THE PROGRAMMING ALSO INCLUDES FIELD MAINTENANCE, MOWING, PLAYGROUND, WEAR AND TEAR, AS WELL AS THE UNIFORMS FOR THE REFEREES.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT CONTINUING TO FUND THOSE CITY EVENTS THAT ARE OUTLINED THERE, AND THEN IN THE LIBRARY, EXPANDING OUR DIGITAL ACCESS AND PROMOTE DIGITAL LITERACY.
OTHER GENERAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER THIS IS YOUR INTERNAL DEPARTMENTS, THOSE THAT ARE SERVICING THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS HR, IT, FINANCE FACILITIES.
WE ARE ALSO CONTINUING OUR QUALITY SUPPORT OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS BEING FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, OPENNESS, AND EFFICIENT SERVICE.
ALWAYS LOOKING AT RECRUITING AND DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING OUR TALENTED EMPLOYEES AND CREATE A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT COMMUNICATION TOOL AND CHANNELS TO STRENGTHEN PRINCETON'S IMAGE AND ENHANCE THE OUTREACH TO OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:40:02]
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE INVESTED IN THE 26 BUDGET IS, OF COURSE, OUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF FOR TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS.WE'VE ALLOCATED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT COUNCIL TRAINING.
THEN EXPANDING OUR SOFTWARE LICENSING DUE TO OUR INCREASE OF LOOKING FOR EFFICIENCIES IN TECHNOLOGY.
WE HAVE INCREASED OUR LICENSING TO ENSURE THAT TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS THAT OPERATIONS.
HERE IS THE COLLIN COUNTY BREAKDOWN OF THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE US.
WE'VE STARTED ANIMAL SERVICES.
WE ARE SEEING IT NOW AT 189,000, AN 89% INCREASE FOR ANIMAL SERVICES.
OUR APPRAISAL HAS GONE UP BY 13% DISPATCH.
DISPATCH, WE HAVE, CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW, OUR CONTRACT IS 263,000.
THE TIME WE PRESENTED THE BUDGET, WE WERE ESTIMATING A 10% INCREASE, BUT WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED WORD THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT HIGHER.
THE CHIEF IS WORKING REALLY HARD TO QUANTIFY THIS AMOUNT FOR PRINCETON BEFORE WE BRING THIS BACK TO COUNCIL.
THEN WE HAVE OUR JAIL SERVICES THAT HAVE INCREASED, AND THE TAX COLLECTOR HAS INCREASED AS WELL.
WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW AN INCREASE OF 29% OR A LITTLE OVER 146,000 THAT HAS IMPACT THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE INCREASE IS FOR THE DISPATCH?
>> BASED ON CALLS IS WHAT I BELIEVE IS HOW IT'S JUSTIFIED.
>> MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL, JAMES WATERS, CHIEF POLICE CITY PRINCETON.
[NOISE] THE INCREASE FOR DISPATCH IS USUALLY AROUND CALLS FOR SERVICE, AND ALSO THE NUMBER OF RADIOS THAT WE HAVE ISSUED OUT.
WHENEVER THE INITIAL IMPACT FEE CAME IN, WE TRY TO PROJECT AS CLOSE AS WE CAN.
THEY MISCOUNTED THE RADIOS WHENEVER THEY WERE BECAUSE WE SWITCHED OVER TO THE NEW RADIO SYSTEM THAT EVERYBODY APPROVED OFF OF, SO THEY DOUBLE COUNTED THE RADIO.
WE JUST GOT FRIDAY, SATURDAY THAT WE JUST GOT FROM DISPATCH.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DOUBLE THE NUMBER RIGHT THERE.
I CONTACTED DISPATCH SUPERVISOR.
I CONTACTED KELLY. I LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE'RE HOLDING EVERYTHING, AND THEN WE ARE DOING A PHYSICAL COUNT AT THIS POINT IN TIME TO NOTIFY DISPATCH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.
THEY'RE GOING TO RESUBMIT THE NUMBERS.
>> WE'RE GOING TO JUMP INTO THE UTILITY FUND AND THE RATES.
HERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF THE UTILITY REVENUE FROM ACTUAL TO AMENDED TO WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING IN OUR 25 BUDGET AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN THE 26 BUDGET.
AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE 24-25-26 IS BUDGET AN INCREASE.
THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE RATE INCREASE FOR WATER THAT WE HAVE IN OUR RATE PLAN.
OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT AS WELL AS INCREASING BASED ON THE RATE INCREASE, BASED ON WHAT COUNCIL HAS GIVEN US DIRECTION OF MAKING THEM PAY BY CONSUMPTION VERSUS A FLAT RATE.
THEN SOLID WASTE FOR PROJECTING AN INCREASE AS WELL, YOU'LL HAVE ON YOUR COUNCIL AGENDA TONIGHT THE CONTRACT WITH CWD WITH THE INCREASE OF THAT.
DRAINAGE FEES, PRETTY MUCH REMAINING FLAT, AND THE OTHER VARIOUS LITTLE REVENUE SOURCES IS IN THE UTILITY FUND.
IF YOU LOOK AT IT IN A PIE CHART, OBVIOUSLY, WATER SALES MAKES UP HALF OF THAT REVENUE STREAM, WASTEWATER TREATMENT AT 30%, AND SOLID WASTE AT 11%, AND THEN THE OTHER DRAINAGE IS AT THREE.
I KNOW YOU'VE SEEN THIS BEAUTIFUL PICTURE BEFORE, BUT IT JUST GIVES A GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT GOES INTO A UTILITY BILL.
THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO IN, SUCH AS THE UTILITY MASTER PLAN THAT I MENTIONED IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW.
THIS WILL HELP DEVELOP OUR CIP AND SET THAT REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE FOR EXPANSION.
AGAIN, THE CIP PROGRAM OUTLINES THAT FUTURE LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE AND FORMS AN INVESTMENT SCHEDULE OF HOW WE PLAN TO FUND THAT.
THEN THERE'S ALSO YOUR COST OF SERVICE, JUST THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS NORTH TEXAS.
BEING A MEMBER CITY, WE BUY WATER FROM TEXAS.
THAT IS A BIG INCREASE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ON THIS NEXT SLIDE.
I'VE GOT SOME MORE DATA, AND THEN CONSUMPTION, WHICH IS CALLED ALSO YOUR TAKE OR PAY.
ALL OF THESE THINGS GO INTO PLAY WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT YOUR UTILITY BILL.
THE IMPACT TO THE UTILITY FUND, AGAIN, MENTIONED THE FEE INCREASE FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER.
A RESIDENT WITH 5,000 GALLONS WOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF $3.62 A MONTH.
[00:45:02]
SOLID WASTE RATE INCREASES WOULD BE $2.55.AGAIN, THE CCN THAT I MENTIONED, WE'RE CHANGING THAT FROM A FLAT RATE TO A CONSUMPTION BASED.
ALL OF THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT OUR JULY WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD ON FEES.
NOW ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, YOU'LL SEE THAT NORTH TEXAS IS RAISING THEIR RATE TO US FROM $3.85 TO $4.14 PER 1,000 GALLONS.
THEN THERE'S YOUR TAKE-OR- PAY THAT I MENTIONED.
THAT IS A 23% INCREASE, AND THAT IS BASED ON LAST YEAR'S USAGE.
NORTH TEXAS ALWAYS LOOKS AT HOW MUCH YOU'RE USING.
IF YOU CAN JUST AN INDICATION, WE WENT FROM 4.7 MILLION GALLONS A DAY TO 5.8 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.
WE'RE ALSO CONTINUING THE PAY-AS-YOU-GO PROGRAM, SUPPORTING THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND BY PUTTING FUNDING SOURCES IN THERE.
AGAIN, THE TWO WASTEWATER MAINTENANCE TEXTS, AND THE RATE STUDY FOR NEXT YEAR.
WE'VE SHOWN THIS BEFORE, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A COMPARISON TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
WE HAVE OUR 25/26 RATES OF GOING UP, AS YOU CAN SEE, FOR THE $3.62, BUT I CAN REASSURE YOU.
I'M SURE THAT MOST OF THESE CITIES ARE SEEING AN INCREASE PROPOSED IN THEIR 26 RATES AS WELL, BEING IN THE NORTH TEXAS MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT.
>> ON THE UTILITY EXPENDITURES, HERE'S THE BREAKOUT BY THE DEPARTMENTS.
YOU CAN SEE THE SOLID WASTE CONTRACT, THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE YOUR TAKE OR PAY, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE PURCHASING THE WATER.
THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT INCREASE FROM 6 MILLION TO 8.5.
THAT'S FOR SOME CIP PROGRAMS THAT WE'VE GOT IN THERE OF ONE MILLION FOR INFILTRATION AND THE VERF AS WELL.
THEN THE STORMWATER, WE DO HAVE 300,000 FOR SOME PROJECTS AS WELL.
>> EXCUSE ME. WITH THAT, WE HAD ASKED FOR AN RFQ FOR THE STORMWATER, STUDY A WHILE BACK, AND THEN WE HAD A PRESENTATION ON IT.
IT HASN'T SHOWN UP AGAIN ON THE WEEKLY REPORTS THAT WE GET.
WHY I'M ASKING IF THOSE FUNDS THAT YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU HAVE THERE FOR STORMWATER, ARE THOSE WHERE THE FUNDS WOULD COME FROM FOR THE STORMWATER STUDY, OR ARE THEY GOING TO BE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE? BECAUSE I COULDN'T FIND THAT ALSO IN THE BUDGET ANYWHERE.
I DIDN'T SEE WHERE MONEY WAS ALLOCATED FOR THAT.
>> I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LINE ITEMS AND ANSWER THAT GET BACK WITH YOU ON THAT.
>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNSEL, TOY MATT DIRECTOR PUBLIC WORKS.
SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GET THE COST OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE TO DO THAT STUDY BEFORE WE CAN EVEN START TO BUDGET FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE STUDY.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AND THEN PUT IT BEFORE COUNCIL AND GET INPUT AS TO WHERE THAT FUNDING IS GOING TO COME FROM.
>> SO WE HAVE NOT GONE AFTER AN RFQ, EVEN THOUGH COUNSEL VOTED FOR IT AND SAID TO MOVE FORWARD WITH SEEKING AN RFQ FOR THAT?
WE'RE DISCUSSING IT INTERNALLY.
>> SO IT HASN'T GONE OUT YET EVEN THOUGH IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS?
>> LET ME ADD TO THAT. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT INTERNALLY.
I KNOW WE BROUGHT FORWARD A LIST OF ENGINEERS THAT WE ARE GOING TO ENGAGE WITH AS PART OF SOME TYPE OF DRAINAGE STUDY, BUT REALLY THE STAFF REALLY NEEDS TO GET SOME DIRECTION FROM THE CITY COUNCIL ON WHAT EXACTLY THE PARAMETERS WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING THROUGH THAT BEFORE WE CAN REALLY GIVE A FULL RFQ OUT THERE BECAUSE THESE CAN BE VERY ROBUST AND HAVE A LOT OF PROJECTS.
AND I REALLY WANT TO GET SOME DIRECTION FROM THE ENTIRE COUNCIL ON WHAT THAT NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE BEFORE WE PUT A LOT OF THESE DETAILS OUT THERE ON THE STREETS TO GET RFQS AND QUALIFICATIONS AND WHATNOT.
>> THE LAST ONE THAT WAS DONE IS WAS IN 2017 AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF STORMWATER DRAINAGE ISSUES WE'VE HAD THROUGHOUT THE CITY AND THE MORATORIUM ENDING.
WE HAVE FIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS FROM TODAY UNTIL THE MORATORIUM ENDS, AND WE HAVE A MASSIVE DRAINAGE ISSUE IN OUR CITY WITH STORMWATER AND COUNCIL IS JUST NOW BEING TOLD BECAUSE WE GET OUR WEEKLY UPDATES.
IT HASN'T BEEN IN ANY OF OUR WEEKLY UPDATES TELLING US THAT THIS VERY VITAL THING HAS BEEN PUT ON HOLD LIKE THAT.
AND WE ARE FINDING OUT RIGHT NOW THE BUDGET THAT IT'S NOT LISTED FOR.
THIS IS NOT THE BEST TIME FOR US TO BE FINDING OUT
[00:50:03]
THAT A PROJECT WE APPROVED HASN'T BEEN GOING FORWARD WITH.>> CAN WE JUST GET A WORK SESSION AT THE NEXT MEETING AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT, GIVE YOU THE DIRECTION THAT YOU GUYS NEED, AND WE CAN GO FROM FROM THERE?
>> JUST ANOTHER REPRESENTATION OF OUR EXPENDITURES.
AGAIN, THE WATER DIVISION OF THE UTILITY FUND BEING 48% OR LOOKING AT 9.8 MILLION THAT WE PURCHASE WATER.
SO THAT'S 9.8 MILLION OUT OF THAT 48%.
AND THE WASTEWATER AT 29%, WE'RE SPENDING 6.2 MILLION FOR THE TREATMENT OF OUR WASTEWATER AND THEN SOLID WASTE OF 4.45 MILLION.
AGAIN, TAKING THE SAME APPROACH AS WE DID IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WATER DIVISION, THEIR STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS AND MAINTAINING AND OPTIMIZING THE CITY WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING PUMP STATIONS AND ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS, AND SO ON.
AS YOU SAW ON THE STATS, HOW MUCH THAT HAS GROWN JUST IN FIVE YEARS ALONE.
WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THESE SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND PROVIDE WATER CONSERVATION CAMPAIGNS AND LOOKING TO OBTAIN THE APWA ACCREDITATION.
IN THE BUDGET, AGAIN, WE DID FUND THE UTILITY RATE PLAN STUDY THAT WE PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH NEXT YEAR.
NORTH TEXAS RATE INCREASE, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, AS WELL AS THE TAKE OR PAY INCREASE.
WE ARE ALSO ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR A WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS, FUNDING A HALF TON TRUCK, THREE FORD MAVERICKS TO REPLACE THE OUTDATED FLEET, AS WELL AS PUTTING MONEY INTO THE VERF TO FUND THOSE REPLACEMENTS IN THE FUTURE.
WASTEWATER, UPDATING THE CMOM PLAN TO DEFINE FUTURE CAPACITY, IMPLEMENT BEST PRACTICES TO REDUCE THE INFLOW AND INFILTRATION AND ELIMINATE FOG, AS WELL AS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WATER CONSERVATION CAMPAIGN AND OBTAIN THE APWA.
IN THE BUDGET, WE AGAIN, MENTIONED, OUR TOTAL COST TO TREAT THE WATER IS 6.2, BUT THAT IS INCREASING BY 1.4 MILLION IN THIS 26 BUDGET.
WE ALSO HAVE A MILLION FOR THE INFILTRATION.
WE ARE ALSO FUNDING A JET TRAILER AND THEN THE TRANSFER TO THE VERF.
DRAINAGE. LOOKING AT THE COMPLIANCE OF OUR PHASE 2 MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM PERMIT AND IMPLEMENTING BEST PRACTICES.
HERE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE DRAINAGE TO INSTALL A STORM WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM IN AREAS PRONE TO POPULATION.
CONDUCT INSPECTIONS OF STORM INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AGAIN, FUNDING 300,000 FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, AND INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE DRAINAGE AND IMPROVEMENT OF THAT LINE ITEM ITSELF.
IN THE UTILITY BILLING SOLID WASTE, AGAIN, MAINTAINING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH TIMELY AND ACCURATE AND FRIENDLY SERVICE TO OUR CUSTOMERS, OFFERING MULTIPLE CONVENIENT PAYMENT OPTIONS, AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THE BILL IS ACCURATE.
IN THE BUDGET, WE'VE INVESTING IN STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO ENSURE THE DEPARTMENT FULLY UTILIZES THE CURRENT BILLING SOFTWARE.
SO THERE'S SOME TRAINING FOR THEM ON THAT.
INCREASING THE FUNDING FOR POSTAGE AND CREDIT CARD FEES, AS WE SEE, THAT'S HOW A LOT OF CUSTOMERS ARE GOING IN THAT ROUTE, AND THEN THE INCREASE TO THE CWD CONTRACT.
THAT CONCLUDES THE UTILITY FUND.
WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO THE CIP.
AGAIN, CIP CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS, ALSO YOUR LONG RANGE FOCUS OR PAY AS YOU GO FUNDING.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT WAS PRESENTED IN HERE AS A 10 YEAR BASIS, AND WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER A CIP PLAN IS A FLUID DOCUMENT THAT TAKES MULTI YEARS FOR A PROJECT TO GET COMPLETE.
SO YOU MIGHT BE ALLOCATING FUNDS ONE YEAR, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL YEARS FOR THAT PROJECT TO GET COMPLETED.
WE'VE ALSO PRESENTED IMPACT FEE FUNDS AND THEIR BALANCES, SHOWING THEIR RESTRICTED BALANCES THAT COULD BE USED FOR SPECIFIC QUALIFIED PROJECTS, AS WELL AS THE VERF.
>> SORRY. NOW I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
FOR THE CIP, STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE A COMMITTEE FOR THAT, WHICH IS CURRENTLY OUR PLANNING AND ZONING UNTIL SEPTEMBER 1ST, WHEN THAT HAS TO CHANGE.
WITHIN OUR ORDINANCE, IT STATES THAT THAT COMMITTEE HAS TO BE COMMUNICATED WITH,
[00:55:05]
THEY HAVE TO CONVENE TO BE MAKING THESE CHANGES OR TO BE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS FOR THE CIP.AND THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FROM THIS COMMITTEE REVIEWING THESE AREAS OF CONCERN TO PRESENT TO COUNCIL WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEM AS WELL.
AND HAVING BEEN THE LIAISON FOR PLANNING AND ZONING THIS YEAR, I KNOW THAT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.
I KNOW THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECLINE DURING THE MEETING, BUT IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN PRESENTED.
I'M CURIOUS HOW WE HAVE ALL OF THESE CIP THINGS HAPPENING WITHIN OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW WHEN IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE SINCE THE CIP COMMITTEE HAS ACTUALLY MET.
OR I DON'T THINK I'VE SEEN A RECORD OF A REPORT FROM THEM AT ALL IN THE HISTORY OF THEIR EXISTENCE.
SO WHERE ARE THESE PROJECTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS COMING FROM?
>> THIS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT A COMMITTEE, BUT WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT FOR YOU.
>> THIS IS GRANT. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN THE CIP WAS ADOPTED, THERE WAS A COMMITTEE IN PLACE.
OF COURSE, THAT PREDATES MY TIME, AND I THINK JUST ABOUT EVERYONE HERE.
I KNOW THAT THE CITY'S IN THE PROCESS.
ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO REUP THE CIP INCREASE IMPACT FEES.
AT THAT POINT, THE COMMITTEE WILL BE RE-ESTABLISHED BASED ON THE NEW STATE LAW THAT DOESN'T ALLOW IT TO BE THE P AND Z ANYMORE.
I THINK I PRESENTED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT AT THE LAST MEETING OF THE MEETING PRIOR.
WHEN I GET MY LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WILL CHANGE.
WE'LL MAKE SURE WE'RE COMPLYING WITH THE NEW STATE LAW THAT THE COMMITTEE IS INVOLVED, AND THEY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION THAT ULTIMATELY HAS TO BE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL.
LIKE I SAID, I THINK THERE WAS A COMMITTEE PREVIOUSLY PREDATES MY TIME.
BUT MOVING FORWARD, THERE WILL BE A COMMITTEE ONCE WE GET TO THE POINT IN UPDATING THE CIP LAND USE ASSUMPTIONS AND IMPACT FEES.
>> WITH THE CIP COMMITTEE BEING A REQUIREMENT BY STATE LAW.
HOW IS IT THAT WE ARE CIRCUMVENTING STATE LAW AND MAKING THESE PROPOSALS RIGHT NOW WITHOUT EVER GOING BEFORE THE CIP COMMITTEE? FURTHERMORE, AS OF SEPTEMBER 1ST, ALL CIP PROJECTS WILL HAVE TO BE AUDITED ANNUALLY.
THERE ARE SOME VERY SPECIFIC RULES WITH THE AUDITING.
IT CANNOT BE IN HOUSE, AND SO ON.
BUT I DON'T SEE ANY BUDGET LINE ITEM IN EITHER GENERAL FUNDS OR WITHIN THE CIP TO ACCOUNT FOR THE AUDIT THAT WE WILL BE REQUIRED TO HOLD FOR ALL CIP PROJECTS.
>> AS MENTIONED, MOVING FORWARD, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, WHEN THE CITY GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THIS NEXT TIME, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING ALL THE NEW STATE LAWS AND DOING SO.
LIKE PREVIOUSLY, I'M HAPPY TO SCHEDULE A WORK SESSION AND WE CAN GO OVER THIS IN GREATER DETAIL ON WHAT THE COMMITTEE LOOKS LIKE, THE PROCESS.
THERE'S SOME NEW STATUTORY DEADLINES.
IT'S A VERY LENGTHY PROCESS, AND I'M HAPPY TO GO OVER THAT, GIVE A PROPOSED TIMELINE ONCE WE GET THROUGH PRIMARILY THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BECAUSE THAT FACTORS INTO THE CIP.
>> SO IS THIS LEGAL THAT WE ARE EVEN LOOKING AT ADJUST THE IMPACT FEES AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE COVERED WITHIN THE CIP, PER ORDINANCE, AND PER STATE LAW, WHEN THAT COMMITTEE THAT DOES EXIST, BECAUSE IT IS DEFINED AS OUR PLANNING AND ZONING HAS NOT BEEN CONSULTED AT ALL OR INVOLVED?
I'M JUST GOING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON IT.
YES, THE CITY'S GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS MOVING FORWARD, AND ANY IMPACT FEES THAT INCREASE, ANY ADJUSTMENT TO THE IMPACT FEE HAS TO GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW ALL THE RULES AND REQUIREMENTS OF 395.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR OFF FROM THE WEEDS TO MAKE SURE KELLY CAN GET THROUGH HER PRESENTATION, BUT I'M HAPPY TO PUT THIS ON A WORK SESSION IN THE FUTURE.
WE CAN GO THROUGH STEP BY STEP AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THE COMMITTEE IN THE CIP PROCESS.
>> SINCE THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE IN SEPTEMBER, IT'D BE GREAT IF WE CAN HAVE THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING AND HOW WE'LL PLAY CATCH UP FOR HAVING NOT HAD THE MEET AT ALL THIS YEAR OR PREVIOUSLY FOR QUITE A WHILE.
>> MAYOR, COUNSEL, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE WEEKLY UPDATES.
WE'VE BRIEFED YOU ALL ON THIS THAT WE'RE RE ENGAGING IN THE COMMITTEE.
IT IS A LENGTHY PROCESS, AS GRANT DESCRIBED, THE LEGISLATION DID JUST CHANGE.
NO FUNDS WILL BE EXPENDED THAT DO NOT LEGALLY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE DELINEATION WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND.
[01:00:08]
>> AGAIN, CIP, WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT ARE IMPACT FEE QUALIFIED ROAD PROJECTS.
WE'VE GOT THE YORKSHIRE, MCKINNEY STREET, AND EAST COLLEGE.
AGAIN, FUNDING FROM THE 2023 VOTER APPROVED GO BONDS, LOOKING AT PROJECTS TOTALING 107 ACRES OF IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE JJ BOOK PHASE 2, CALDWELL PARK, TURF AND GTLC FIELDS AND MULTI GEN FACILITY.
THEN WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING PHASE 1.
THE FUNDING SOURCES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THE 24S IN THE 25S COS FOR THIS 46,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.
THEN THE WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WE'VE BEEN SAYING, THROUGHOUT THIS THEME OF THIS BUDGET, AGAIN, THE MASTER PLAN IS UNDERWAY TO LOOK AT FINALIZING PROJECTS THAT MEET THE NEEDS FOR OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE TO GUIDE THE CIP.
WE ARE LOOKING AT A THREE MILLION GALLON ELEVATED STORAGE TANK AND A UTILITY SYSTEM REPLACEMENT AND IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE CITY, AS WELL AS THE INFLOW AND INFILTRATION MITIGATION PROJECTS.
>> DEBT AND LONG TERM PLANNING.
JUST LOOKING AT THE CITY'S TOTAL DEBT OBLIGATIONS.
THIS IS THE TAX OBLIGATION AS WELL AS WHAT THE UTILITY FUND HAS IN DEBT OBLIGATIONS.
AGAIN, IT'S A 27 YEAR PERIOD, LOOKING AT THIS HERE, TOTAL 266 MILLION IN DEBT OBLIGATIONS.
225.4 MILLION IS IN THE GENERAL FUND AND THE UTILITY IS 40.7.
GIVEN YOU A LOT, AS WELL AS 190 OR 39-PAGE DOCUMENT TO GO OVER, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME OF LOOKING OVER THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
THIS HAS ALSO BEEN POSTED ONLINE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO TONIGHT, WE'RE JUST ASKING COUNCIL IF THERE ARE ANY CHANGES THAT WE NEED SO THAT WE CAN BALANCE TODAY'S CHALLENGES TO MEET TOMORROW'S OPPORTUNITY IN POSITIONING PRINCETON IN A GOOD SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
>> MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY? THANK YOU, KELLY, FOR THE IN DEPTH BREAKDOWN OF THE BUDGET.
I ALSO WANT TO JUST THANK YOU AND THE STAFF FOR GETTING IT TO US IN A TIMELY MANNER IN ORDER FOR US TO GO THROUGH IT, AND I REACHED OUT TO YOU AND MR. MASHBURN WITH QUESTIONS SINCE RECEIVING IT, AND YOU GUYS WERE VERY HELPFUL IN THAT REGARD, SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU. I THINK I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, IF I CAN GET FIRST ONE TO ANSWER.
THEN I ASK MY NEXT ONE HERE IS, YOU MENTIONED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADDED 12 PD UNITS THERE, AND THEY ARE THE NEW TICKETING SYSTEM.
I ACTUALLY GOT A TICKET THIS SATURDAY, AND THEY USE IT.
SO THEY ARE USING THOSE TICKETING SYSTEMS. [LAUGHTER] I'VE SEEN IT IN FULL DISPLAY.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I DID NOTICE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
I COULD BE WRONG, BUT IT LOOKS TO BE A 14.5% DECREASE FROM THE DEPARTMENT, AND IT LOOKS TO BE MAYBE ONE TIME FEES THAT ARE COMING OFF OF THERE.
BUT THE BUDGET THAT'S BEING PROPOSED IS AT COST.
I KNOW ONE OF THE PRIMARY THINGS THAT EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER IN ATTENDANCE AT THE BUDGET RETREAT ASKED FOR, WE ALL PUT POLICE AS THE NUMBER 1 ITEM THAT WE WANTED TO SEE AN INCREASE IN.
IS THERE ANY WAY TO POTENTIALLY MOVE SOMETHING AROUND, MAYBE SOME OF THE CONTINGENCY, THE PAY GO FUNDING, OR SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE THE DEPARTMENT FUNDING?
>> JUST KNOWING TOO THAT WE'VE GOT THE DISPATCH TO ADDRESS THAT'S COMING UP, THAT'S LIKE DOUBLE THAT.
I SEE THAT DIPPING OBVIOUSLY IN THE CONTINGENCY.
WE COULD LOOK AT THE CIP WHERE WE'RE MOVING A MILLION INTO THE CIP ITSELF.
THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY AREA I SEE THAT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
>> I KNOW THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PROBABLY TAKE BACK TO A FURTHER DETAIL.
BUT I THINK FOR ME, THAT WILL PROBABLY BE, THE NUMBER 1 ITEM IS SEEING THAT WE CAN GET THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE IN TERMS OF FUNDING.
I KNOW THAT WILL HELP MEDIATE A LOT OF SOME OF THE GROUND PAINS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE,
[01:05:03]
LIKE WE'RE PUTTING IN PARKS AND TRAFFIC IS GOING TO GET WORSE AND MAYBE HAVE SOME EXTRA BODIES OUT THERE TO [INAUDIBLE].>> I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO.
THAT WAS DEFINITELY ME. [LAUGHTER].
>> I THOUGHT I WAS STEVEN OVER HERE.
I THINK THE SECOND QUESTION I HAD, AND I WILL PROPOSE THIS TO THE COUNSEL, MY COLLEAGUES HERE, IS, THERE ARE TWO ITEMS ON HERE THAT I FEEL THAT WE CAN DO WITH THAT ON THIS BUDGET BASED ON THE CONSTRAINTS THAT WE ARE IN, I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE REMOVE THE MAYOR'S ASSISTANT AND THE REMODEL AND USE THOSE FUNDS TO CREATE A POTENTIAL OR CREATE A FORENSIC AUDIT OR AN AUDIT LINE ITEM IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET, SINCE THERE SEEMS TO BE FUNDING THERE FOR IT.
IF WE CAN JUST MOVE THAT OVER SO THAT THERE'S A LINE ITEM ALREADY THERE, AND WE DON'T HAVE TO AMEND OR DISCUSS ANY OF THOSE CHANGES IN THE FUTURE.
>> WHICH AUDIT ARE YOU SPEAKING OF?
>> POTENTIALLY A FORENSIC AUDIT.
>> I WANT TO ECHO HIS CONCERNS FOR THE POLICE.
I KNOW TECHNICALLY ON THE RECORD, IT SHOWS WE HAVE 35,020 RESIDENTS, BUT WE'RE REALLY 47,000 OR SO.
I PULLED THE NUMBER OF SWORN OFFICERS AND POPULATIONS OF SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES TO SEE THE RATIO BETWEEN OFFICERS TO RESIDENTS, AND OUR CLOSEST ONE IF WE'RE LOOKING AT SAYING WE HAVE THE 35,000, THAT PUTS US AT 0.94 OFFICERS PER THE RESIDENTS PER CAPITA.
THEN PROSPER WITH 37,746 IS 1.06.
THEY HAVE 92 SWORN OFFICERS, THAT'S 1.66 PER CAPITA.
IF WE LOOK AT US AS HAVING 47,000 RESIDENTS, IT'S 0.702.
THESE ARE VERY CONCERNING SINCE WE ARE THE FASTEST GROWING CITY.
THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES THAT HAVE VERY SIMILAR POPULATIONS TO US, AND WE ARE LAGGING BEHIND IN OFFICERS.
I VERY MUCH AGREE THAT IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN MOVE AROUND AND ADJUST TO GET MORE OFFICERS, THAT IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE WITH OUR POPULATION GROWTH BASED ON THE 2019 COMPREHENSION PLAN, WE ARE 25 YEARS AHEAD IN POPULATION.
THAT PUTS US 25 YEARS BEHIND IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
THAT'S A BIG JUMP AND A LOT OF CATCH UP FOR US TO PLAY WHEN WE'RE STILL WE'RE NOW NUMBER ONE IN GROWTH.
>> YOU NOTED SOME CITIES THAT I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH, AND THEIR TAX RATES ARE HIGHER THAN THE CITY OF PRINCETON.
FOR ONCE, I KNOW LITTLE ELM'S AT 54.
THAT DOES HELP SIGNIFICANTLY TO BRING IN THE RESOURCES NEEDED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> YEAH, I THINK WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH JUST A QUARTER, WAS, YOU SAID 11 MILLION OR HOW MUCH WAS IT?
>> TOTAL 11,000,006.5 FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
>> THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO HELP US CATCH UP IF WE HAD THAT AMOUNT.
I THINK THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN WE'RE SEEING.
WE WENT OVER JUST A FEW TIMES, AND IT ALL COME DOWN TO MONEY, AND WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT EVEN IF WE MOVED TO, SAY THE CIP FUNDS, THAT 1 MILLION, WE STILL GOING TO BE BEHIND THE STAFF.
>> WELL, THEN I GUESS MY QUESTION COMES.
KNOWING THESE NUMBERS, KNOWING ALL OF THAT, WHY WAS IT THAT THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO US IN REGARDS TO A TAX INCREASE WAS TO GO WITH NO INCREASE AT THE LAST MEETING.
THAT'S WHAT WAS PRESENTED, FOR US?
>> AGAIN, WE CAN ONLY GO TO THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
IS THE HIGHEST RATE THAT WE GO TO, WHICH IS WHAT WE PRESENTED TO COUNCIL.
IF YOU WANT TO GO ANY HIGHER, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE RESIDENTS FOR A VOTE.
ONE IS, HAVE WE PREPARED A STRESS TEST SHOWING OUR ABILITY TO PAY OUR RAPIDLY INCREASING DEBT WITH THE REVENUE THAT WE HAVE?
>> I WANT TO JUMP BACK TO THE OVERALL BUDGET REAL QUICK AND I'LL ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
THIS IS OUR RECOMMENDATION BASED ON TRYING TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE AS A CITY.
WE HAVE A FEW THINGS COMING UP THAT WE KNOW WE CAN'T AFFORD.
WE HAVE SOME OPERATIONS WITH NEW PARKS THAT WILL REQUIRE STAFF AS WELL AS A FACILITY.
[01:10:05]
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF US WEREN'T HERE WHEN THIS WAS PROPOSED OR PITCHED, BUT NOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO OPERATE THAT IN THE FUTURE.BASED ON THE BUSINESS PLAN THAT WE DID FOR THE MULTI GEN FACILITY THAT WILL COME ON IN ROUGHLY 2.5 YEARS, WE WILL BE AT A NEGATIVE OFFSET FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS AT LEAST.
WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT IF THERE IS AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND OUR HOME VALUES DO DECREASE, WE CAN ABSORB THAT JUST SLIGHTLY AND OR ALLOCATE SOME FUNDS IN OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVES THAT WILL EVENTUALLY IN A COUPLE OF YEARS GET US THROUGH.
NOW, COUNCIL, THERE IS PROBABLY $700,000 ISH THAT WE CAN PULL OUT OF ROADS AND CIP TO ALLOCATE IF THAT'S THE DESIRE.
I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE IF WE DO THAT.
IT GIVES ME A LOT OF HEARTBURN TO TRY AND BALANCE A BUDGET IN FUTURE YEARS.
ADDITIONALLY, AS FAR AS A STRESS TEST IN TERMS OF DEBT.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE SEEN JIM SABONIS SO ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBE.
ANYTIME WE GO OUT FOR DEBT, WE DO GO THROUGH OUR BOND COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PAY THAT, AND HE'S MADE THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
I KNOW SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE LENGTHY AND HARD TO SIT THROUGH, BUT THAT'S WHAT HE'S HERE FOR.
DID I ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS OKAY?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION TO YOU, MIKE.
LET'S JUST SAY WE DID USE SOME OF THAT MONEY, THAT 700,000 WE HAVE TO HIRE.
WE CAN BE IN TROUBLE THE FOLLOWING YEAR BECAUSE THAT'S NOT A REOCCURRING MONEY THAT WE GET IN.
WE CAN USE THAT NOW, HIRE ALL EVERYBODY THAT WE NEED, BUT NEXT YEAR, WE PROBABLY LAYING FOLKS OFF.
>> ABSOLUTELY. OUR RECOMMENDATION TO GET US WHERE WE NEED.
THERE'S NO QUESTION EVERYONE IN HERE NEEDS STAFF, ESPECIALLY PD, AND THAT'S A PRIORITY WHEN WE ADDED FOUR POSITIONS, TWO OR OUT OF WATER.
THAT'S A COMPLETELY RESTRICTED, DIFFERENT FUND.
THE ONLY TWO THAT GOT APPROVED OR AT LEAST THAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO YOU ALL IS POLICE.
AS FAR AS A TAX RATE INCREASE, I DO WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR.
OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS NEVER TO KEEP IT STATIC.
IN FACT, IF YOU ASKED ME, I'D WAIVE THE MAGIC WAND AND HAVE IT APPROVED TODAY TO PUT IT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS.
YOU SAW THE IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.
THAT'S ALMOST $12,000,000 OVER SIX IN MNO.
WHICH WOULD HIRE THE OFFICERS, FIRE, ET CETERA THAT WE NEED.
I DO THINK FOR THE SOLVENCY OF THE CITY, THAT NEEDS TO BE A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE AND PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT GOES TO THE VOTERS THE FOLLOWING YEAR TO ENSURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS.
IF THIS IS THE CITY YOU WANT, YOU WANT ROADS REPAIRED.
IF POLICE AND FIRE SAY, IF YOU WANT BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE MEDIA, WHATEVER THE CASE IS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE MORE REVENUE.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN THE FORM OF EITHER GIGANTIC PROPERTY VALUE INCREASES, WHICH WILL THEN BE A STRAIN FOR FOLKS AS WELL OR A TAX RATE INCREASE.
WE SAW THE POWER OF THE PENNY.
IT'S A $33 A YEAR FOR THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER.
>> MY LAST QUESTION, GOES TOWARDS YOU MORE, MR. MASHBURN.
I RECALL A CONVERSATION THAT OUR CITY HAS INVESTMENTS OR INVESTMENT STRATEGIES OR WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.
DO WE HAVE AN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO FOR OUR CITY?
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT. THE LAST QUARTER, QUARTER 3, INVESTMENT REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO COUNCIL IN JULY AND WE HAVE VARIOUS FUNDING SOURCES WITH TEXT POLL, TEXTER AS WELL AS OUR BANKING ACCOUNT.
THAT'S ALL REPORTED TO COUNCIL EVERY QUARTER AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
IN TERMS OF INVESTMENTS, WE'RE RESTRICTED AS A MUNICIPALITY TO VERY SAFE INVESTMENTS DO YOU WANT TO?
>> YES. AS WELL, THE POLICY WILL COME TO COUNCIL EVERY YEAR FOR RENEWAL, AND WE ARE LIMITED.
WE CAN'T BE IN THE STOCK MARKET.
WE CAN'T DO ANY OF THAT RISKY.
IT'S GOT TO BE BOUGHT BACK BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT BONDS, AGENCY, (T) BILL, THOSE THINGS.
>> ARE WE MAKING MONEY FROM YOUTH INVESTMENTS?
>> YES. YOU CAN SEE ON THE INVESTMENT REPORT.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, AND I DO REALLY DON'T WANT TO.
BUT YES, IT'S IN THE INVESTMENT REPORT THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU IN JULY.
>> KELLY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING US WITH THIS VERY DETAILED BUDGET.
I KNOW A LOT OF TIME AND SWEAT AND PERHAPS TEARS WENT INTO IT.
IT'S VERY EVIDENT EVEN WITH THIS PROPOSAL, HOW MUCH WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY IN PRINCETON.
THE MORATORIUM IS GOING TO BE ENDING SO ON.
THIS IS SHOWING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BRING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO PRINCETON.
[01:15:02]
WE LOOK AT OTHER CITIES, WE MAY LOOK AND COMPARE OURSELVES TO MCKINNEY AND MELISSA AND THOSE OTHER CITIES.BUT THEY HAVE SOMETHING PRINCETON DOES NOT HAVE.
THEY CAN GO FREELY FROM CITY TO CITY.
WE HAVE THE 380 HUMP, AND WHATEVER BACK ROADS MAY BE OPENED, THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE CITY.
IN PLANNING, WE DO NEED TO EXTEND GRACE, ONE, AND TWO, WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS BUILDING FORWARD AS WE ARE FIXING BACKWARDS BECAUSE MOST OF THE STAFF HERE WERE NOT A PART OF THE PROPOSALS NOR THE DETERMINATIONS THAT ARE AFFECTING US TODAY.
I GIVE YOU ALL A LOT OF CREDIT TO PROVIDE A BUDGET LIKE THIS THAT STILL HAS US LOOKING GOOD, BUT WE'RE NOT IN A VERY GOOD PLACE, WE'RE IN A SHAKY PLACE.
I HOPE OUR RESIDENTS UNDERSTAND THAT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE THE CITY THAT THEY WANT, WE HAVE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
THIS MIGHT COME WITH INCREASED TAXES.
IT MIGHT COME WITH INCREASED REVENUE FROM SALES, BUT IT HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
IF WE OVERTAX THEM, THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO LOOK AT ALTERNATE MEANS OF DIVERSIFYING OUR TAX BASE, AND THE MOST LIKELY WILL COME FROM SOME ATTRACTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AS TO THE BUDGET.
WENT THROUGH, HAD THOSE ANSWERED.
JUST WANT YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORTS. THANK YOU.
JIM, YOU GOT YOUR WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU. [LAUGHTER]
>> KELLY, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU ALSO FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND ALSO THE STAFF, WELL PRESENTED.
LOTS OF GOOD INFORMATION HERE.
ALL IT TAKES IS MONEY TO RUN ANYTHING, TO DO ANYTHING.
AS FAR AS THE TAX INCREASE, I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL SINCE 2005, AND I WAS ALWAYS PROUD TO SAY THAT WE WERE DECREASING OUR AVALON TAXES BECAUSE THAT'S USUALLY WHAT THE GOAL IS OF A CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THE TAXPAYERS THE ONES OUT THERE FOOTING THE BILL, SO TO SPEAK.
THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY ANY MORE THAN THEY HAVE TO.
OF COURSE, USUALLY EACH YEAR, EVEN IF OUR AVALON TAXES GO DOWN A PENNY OR A HALF CENT OR WHATEVER, USUALLY THE PROPERTY VALUES GO UP TWO OR $0.03 MORE OR PERCENT.
IT OFFSETS IT ALTHOUGH WE SEE THE NEED AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD REALLY HELP US, AND THERE'S PROBABLY A HANDFUL OF CITIZENS HERE THAT WOULD WANT THAT.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THE VAST MAJORITY WOULD PROBABLY, VOTE AGAINST IT, A TAX INCREASE AND WHO WANTS TO PAY MORE MONEY, I MEAN, LET'S FACE IT.
BUT ALL WE CAN DO IS JUST STRIVE AND GO FORWARD AND BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE MONEY.
I THINK YOU'RE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB AT DOING THAT FOR US. THANK YOU.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAS QUESTIONS FOR KELLY?
>> I GOT TO GET USED TO THE MICROPHONE FACING THIS WAY.
NOW FIRST, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT EXPLANATION HERE.
GETTING US ALL THIS INFORMATION NICE AND EARLY.
GIVE US I BELIEVE ALL OF US PLENTY OF TIME TO NAVIGATE THROUGH IT, AND ASK QUESTIONS.
PART OF MY THANK YOU IS FOR THE WHOLE STAFF, MR. MASHBURN, AS I GO THROUGH THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED, NOT ONLY IN THE BUDGET, BUT WEEKLY UPDATES FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATES, IT UPDATES.
THERE'S AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT I GO THROUGH NIGHTS, WEEKENDS, WHENEVER I HAVE TIME.
I ALWAYS HAVE THINGS I WANT CLARIFIED.
I'M ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE THINGS TO YOU.
YOU GUYS ALWAYS RESPOND VERY QUICKLY WITH THE ANSWERS, CLARIFICATIONS, EVEN THE THINGS I WANT SPOKEN ABOUT DURING MEETINGS.
I HIGHLIGHT THOSE EXACT THINGS.
[01:20:01]
HEY, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THESE POINTS.REALLY APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
IT REALLY HELPS ME UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE SCOPE OF THINGS SO I CAN MAKE A BETTER DECISION. THANK YOU FOR THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS BUDGET.
I KNOW IT'S NOT WHAT WE ALL WANT OR WHAT WE ALL DESIRE LIKE THAT WISH LIST.
I WOULD LOVE TO VOTE YES ON THAT WISH LIST.
THAT WOULD BE AMAZING, BUT WE HAVE TO LIVE IN REALITY.
BUT I WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON HOW WE COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER CITIES.
YOU MENTIONED THE TAX RATES ARE DIFFERENT.
SOME CITIES HAVE A HIGHER TAX RATE, AND THAT BRINGS BIGGER BUDGETS.
BUT MEDIAN HOME VALUES ALSO PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THAT.
QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S HARD TO COMPARE OURSELVES TO PROSPER OR LITTLE ELM OR MCKINNEY EVEN, EVEN THOUGH MCKINNEY IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT RATES AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT MEDIAN HOME VALUES.
I DON'T WANT TO BEAT OURSELVES UP OVER THAT BECAUSE REALLY WE HAVE OURSELVES TO COMPARE AGAINST.
LITTLE LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO TO COMPARE TO NOW.
THE COMPARISON IS REALLY GREAT.
A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS MADE, AND IT ALL STEMS RIGHT HERE IN THIS INFORMATION PROVIDED FROM MAY, THE FIRST RETREAT, ALL THE WAY TO THIS WORK SESSION, AND ALL THE WAY INTO SEPTEMBER.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GET ANY MORE INFORMATION FROM Y'ALL.
I THINK THAT'S TRANSPARENCY AT ITS FINEST.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG REASONS I'M SITTING RIGHT HERE.
I GIVEN UP IMMENSE AMOUNT OF MY OWN TIME, TAKEN AWAY FROM MANY OTHER THINGS, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS OUT THERE.
I HOPE THAT PUBLIC WORKS GETS THAT JET TRAILER BECAUSE I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT JET TRAILERS ARE, AND THEY CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OF MONEY.
THOSE ARE THE SMART MOVES THAT I SEE ALL AROUND FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS.
SEEING YOU GUYS PUT THOSE INTO THIS BUDGET TO DO BETTER WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY AND TRAINING, THAT INCREASES PRODUCTIVITY AND REALLY HELPS IN THE STRESSFUL BUDGET TIMES, LIKE MR. MASHBURN SAYS, WE HAVE A FEW MORE YEARS OF THIS.
>> IF THAT IS ALL, I WANT TO THANK. THANK YOU AGAIN, KELLY.
I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A A STRUGGLE FOR YOU A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE YOU CAME IN RUNNING AND HAD TO GET THE BUDGET SET I GET THIS.
I KNOW A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU.
YOU JUST DON'T HAVE IT NOW BECAUSE YOUR FOCUS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE HAS BEEN GETTING THIS BUDGET TOGETHER, BUT I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE HARD WORK AND THE TIME THAT YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING INTO THIS.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS THAT WILL COME BACK UP.
I GUESS THEY'LL BE ANSWERED THROUGH E MAIL OR GO AND GO FROM THERE.
THEN ALSO FOR THE WORK SESSION, I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AN RFQ WORK SESSION FOR THE STORMWATER STUDY ON THE NEXT AGENDA, AND THEN THE CIP COMMITTEE, LET'S GET AN UPDATE ON THAT AS WELL ON THE NEXT WORK SESSION.
>> YES. I DO NEED CLARIFICATION ON ONE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO BRING THIS BACK BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNSON AND COUNCILWOMAN TODD TO CHANGE A FEW ITEMS. WE CAN BRING THIS BACK FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE NEXT MEETING IF YOU'D LIKE.
>> THAT CAN BE I GUESS THE THIRD SESSION JUST TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON ANY OF THE CHANGES WHAT IT WAS THE MAYOR IS RUBINO I'M SORRY, THE PART TIME ASSISTANT AND THEN THE OFFICE.
WE CAN BRING THAT BACK AND THEN DISCUSS ON HOW WE WANT TO HANDLE THAT.
DO Y'ALL HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON MAYOR ON WHAT TERENCE SUGGESTED WHILE WE WERE HERE?
>> MAY I REQUEST, ALSO IN BRINGING IT BACK THAT WE INCLUDE THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF TRANSFERRING THE FUNDS FROM WHAT IT'S CURRENTLY EMARKED FOR INTO WHAT WE WANT MORE POLICE AND FIRE, JUST WHATEVER IT'S GOING TO GO INTO.
WE TALK ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY COST OF THAT.
>> I THINK THEY WOULD JUST SWAP IN THOSE FUNDS FOR A JUST TO ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR FORENSIC AUDIT WE NEED TO.
THAT'S JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT IS ACTUALLY BUDGETED IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE, SO TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
>> I'M SORRY. ONE MORE POINT OF CLARIFICATION. WHAT WAS ASKED.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THE DRAINAGE STUDY,
[01:25:02]
WHICH CAN BE VERY EXTENSIVE AND COST UPWARDS OF $1,000,000 PERHAPS.THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THE RFQ.
THIS TAKES A MINUTE. WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR I THINK A FEW MONTHS NOW, TOMMY.
IS THAT WHAT WAS REQUESTED FROM COUNCILWOMAN TODD, OR DO YOU WANT STORMWATER AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
>> WELL, WE'RE ABOUT TO DO A BUDGET, AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU'RE SAYING UPWARDS OF $1,000,000 TO DO A VERY VITAL STUDY FOR THE CITY.
I THINK THAT HAVING THE RFQS HAVING THAT INFORMATION, WE NEED TO GET THAT BALL ROLLING SO THAT WE HAVE THE MONEY TO ADD THAT INTO THE BUDGET.
OTHERWISE, WE WILL APPROVE A BUDGET THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS VITAL STUDY, AND THEN TOMMY'S TEAM IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO IN THEIR DEPARTMENT WITH THE VITAL INFORMATION THAT WE CAN GET THE UPDATED INFORMATION TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY IS GOING IN THE DIRECTION IT NEEDS TO GO.
IT'S NOT JUST TOMMY'S DEPARTMENT THAT GETS IMPACTED, IT'S CRAIG AS WELL.
THEY NEED TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION, AND THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE LONGER WE DRAG IT OUT, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THINGS MORE DIFFICULT FOR THEIR STAFF TO UPHOLD ORDINANCES AND ENSURE THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING TO OUR CITY, ARE GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL AND NOT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT.
WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO GET THAT ACTUALLY STARTED, BECAUSE I HONESTLY THOUGHT WHEN WE VOTED FOR IT, IT WAS STARTED.
WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO TO GET THAT STARTED, THAT TOMMY CAN DO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO, LET'S DO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY FOR IT.
>> BUT I'M GUESSING THAT OUR ACE IS NOT GOING TO BE DONE IN TIME FOR THIS BUDGET, BUT WE CAN PROBABLY DO A MID YEAR ADJUSTMENT AND IF WE HAVE TO, DEPENDING.
>> IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THAT MUCH INFORMATION THIS TIME.
BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS DISCUSS WHAT THAT ENTAILS AND A SOMEWHAT ROUGH ESTIMATE OR EARMARK.
IF COUNSEL CHOOSES AND YOU WANT TO CUT FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE AND ALLOCATE MONEY FOR THIS, WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AT THE NEXT MEETING AS WELL.
[D. DISCUSS AND REVIEW AGENDA ITEMS]
TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO ITEM D DISCUSSING IF YOU A AGENDA ITEM.THE CITY COUNCIL MAY ASK QUESTIONS REGARDING OR DISCUSS ANY ITEMS. LISTEN ON THE MAIN MEETING AGENDA.
NO FORMAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN DURING THE PRE MEETING AS ANY FORMAL ACTION SHALL ONLY OCCUR DURING THE MAIN MEETING.
AT THIS TIME, IF COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY AGENDA ITEMS?
>> I DO. I JUST WANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE REMOVING THEMSELVES FROM THE ETJ.
I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL OF THEM.
THIS MASSIVE RESPONSE THAT WE ARE GETTING RIGHT NOW IS BECAUSE OF THE PROPOSAL TO FIND THEM OR HAVE A FEE FOR THEM TO LEAVE THE ETJ IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL FOR OUR COUNCIL TO MAYBE LOOK AT THAT AGAIN AND SEE IF THINGS $1,000 WE WERE GOING TO CHARGE THEM IF WE CAN SEE WHAT THOSE ACTUAL COSTS ARE, AND IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO BRING THAT DOWN, BECAUSE AS SOON AS THEY START LEAVING THE ETJ, THESE ARE PROPERTIES THAT WE CAN'T JUST BRING INTO CITY LIMITS LATER.
THE ETJ HAS THE PRIME REAL ESTATE FOR THE BYPASS AND ALL OF THAT THAT'S COMING THROUGH THE THOROUGHFARE, AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
IT'S THE ETJ LAND THAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP DEPENDING ON FOR FUTURE GROWTH.
I FEAR THAT WE MAY BE PUSHING THEM TO EXIT, AND IT MIGHT PUT US IN A VERY BIG PREDICAMENT DOWN THE ROAD.
JUST I WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
>> I THINK THE LAST MEETING, I BELIEVE, WE DISCUSSED FEES AND COUNSEL AFFIRMED THE PROPOSED FEES.
AM I HEARING WE WANT TO BRING THAT BACK AGAIN FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION?
>> I'M GOING TO SAY NO ON THAT.
>> WELL, THE CIP COMMITTEE HAS TO ALSO REVIEW THOUGH, SO IT WILL HAVE TO COME BACK BEFORE COUNSEL EITHER WAY, WON'T IT? IT'S A FEE. IT'S ONE OF THE ITEMS UNDER THE CIP.
>> FOR THE ETJ REMOVAL FEE? NO. THAT'S NOT THE CIP COMMITTEE.
I WILL SAY THE PROPOSAL OF $1,000.
THAT'S GENERALLY IN LINE WITH WHAT I'VE SEEN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DO BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF STAFF TIME INVOLVED TO REVIEW THE PETITIONS.
I'VE SEEN IT AS LOW AS 500 AND AS HIGH AS MAYBE 1,500.
[01:30:01]
THAT'S GENERALLY IN LINE WITH WHAT I'VE SEEN OTHER MUNICIPALITIES DO FOR ETJ REMOVAL FEES BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE UP STAFF TIME AND RESOURCES.>> I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE ONE COMMENT ABOUT THE PEOPLE FOR THE ETJ THING, IF I CAN, YOUR HONOR, IS THAT LOTS OF THESE PEOPLE, IF THEY'VE GOT TWO ACRES AND LESS OR ONE ACRE, LIKE MOST OF THEM DO, SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING, IT MAKES NO SENSE FOR THEM TO GET OUT OF THE ETJ.
THIS WAS PEOPLE GETTING OUT OF THE ETJ THAT MIGHT HAVE 30 ACRES THAT MIGHT DEVELOP IT.
WHERE WE WOULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEIR BUILDING THERE OR CONSTRUCTION.
I CAN SEE THAT. BUT JUST ONE ACRE OR TWO ACRES, IT REALLY MAKES NO SENSE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THEY'VE BEEN MISINFORMED ON SOMETHING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT ANYWAY.
>> IS ANY OTHER ITEMS? THIS WILL MOVE US INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[E. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
EXECUTIVE SESION ON THE TERMS OF CHAPTER 551 OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.CITY COUNCIL MAY ENTER TO A CLOSED SESSION OR EXECUTIVE SESION TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING, SECTION 551.071, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CONSULTATION WITH CITY ATTORNEY.
ALSO SECTION 551.087 DELIBERATION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS. CLOSED MEETINGS.
THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT REQUIRE A GOVERNMENT BODY TO CONDUCT AN OPEN MEETING TO DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE REGARDING COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION.
THIS WILL BE FOR PROJECT HARVARD.
AT THIS TIME, THE TIME IS 6:03 TO TAKE US INTO EXECUTIVE.
>> HI, THE TIME IS 6:31, AND THIS WILL TAKE US OUT OF EXECUTIVE.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> YOUR HONOR, I MAKE THAT MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> ALL IN FAVOR? NO. IT GET A SECOND. I'M SORRY.
>> WE'LL GET STARTED IN ABOUT A MINUTE WHEN MR. WASHINGTON COMES BACK.
ALSO, I WANT TO PUT ON THE RECORD THAT MR. WASHINGTON WALKED IN AT 5:12 P.M. FOR THE PRE COUNSEL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.