HomeMy WebLinkAbout(03) 09/23/2024 SPECIAL MEETING SPECIAL MEETING — September 23, 2024
I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL
Mayor Bartie gave the invocation followed with the pledge to the flag.
The City Council of the City of Port Arthur met in Special Session on Monday,
September 23, 2024 at 9:51 a.m. in the City Council Chamber, City Hall, with the
following members present: Mayor Thurman Bill Bartie; Mayor Pro Tem Doneane
Beckcom; Councilmembers Willie "Bae" Lewis, Tiffany Hamilton Everfield, Harold Doucet
and Thomas Kinlaw, III.; City Manager Ron Burton; City Secretary Sherri Bellard;
Interim City Attorney James M. Black and Sergeant At Arms Police Chief Tim Duriso.
Councilmember Donald Frank Sr. joined the meeting at 10:30 a.m.
II. CITY MANAGER'S STAFF REPORT
A Report Regarding Fiscal Year Budget For Utility Operations
Utility Operations Director Calvin Matthews and Finance Director Lynda Boswell
appeared before the City Council to discuss the above-mentioned report.
III. PUBLIC HEARING — 10:00 A.M.
To Receive And Consider Public Comment(s) For All Interested Citizens
With Regard To The Budget For The City Of Port Arthur And The Port
Arthur Section 4A Economic Development Corporation For The Fiscal Year
Beginning October 1, 2024 And Ending September 30, 2025. A Copy Of A
Summary Of The Proposed Operating Budgets For The 2024-2025 Fiscal
Year Is Attached Hereto And Made A Part Hereof As Exhibit "A". Citizens
Shall Have The Opportunity To Provide Written And Oral Comments And
To Ask Questions Concerning The Entire Budget. The Public Will Also Be
Able To View The Public Hearing Via The City's Website At
www.portarthurtx.gov
THIS BUDGET WILL RAISE MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN
LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY $1,794,627 OR 7.34%, AND OF THAT
AMOUNT, $339,959 IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED FROM NEW
PROPERTY ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL THIS YEAR
The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Public Hearing at 10:00 a.m.
The Mayor requested to hear from anyone present in the audience who wished to
speak regarding the above-mentioned item.
Gloria Snchez, 6625 Jade Avenue, appeared before the City Council via zoom regarding
the above-mentioned proposed budget.
Upon the motion of Councilmember Doucet, seconded by Councilmember Lewis and
carried unanimously, the City Council closed the Public Hearing at 10:13 a.m.
IV. ACTION ITEM
To Consider Taking Action On The Adoption Of The City Of Port
Arthur's Proposed Annual Operating Budget And Capital
Improvement Program For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1,
2024 And Ending September 30, 2025
Councilmember Kinlaw read the following motion into the record.
I Move That The Adoption Of The Fiscal Year 2024 —
2025 Annual Budget Of The City Of Port Arthur Be
Postponed At This Time And That The Final Vote On
The Budget Be Held On Tuesday, September 24,
2024 During The Regularly Scheduled City Council
Meeting
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt the above-mentioned
motion:
Mayor Pro Tern Beckcom "Yes"
Councilmember Doucet "Yes"
Councilmember Hamilton Everfield "Yes"
Councilmember Kinlaw "Yes"
Councilmember Lewis "Yes"
Mayor Bartie "Yes"
The above-mentioned motion was adopted.
II. CITY MANAGER'S STAFF REPORT - CONTINUED
A Report Regarding Fiscal Year Budget For Utility Operations
Utility Operations Director Calvin Matthews and Finance Director Lynda Boswell
appeared before the City Council to answer inquiries regarding the above-mentioned
report.
Councilmember Frank posed the following question for the record:
Have you and the staff, City Manager, have you all looked as deeply as
you can to try to find an alternative decision to this increase (water rate
increase)? Have you looked at everything you can, done all that you can
to see what we could have done or what is possible for us to do not to
have to do this 7.5 % increase?
Finance Director Boswell:
We have looked at everything and the result has been having to make
cuts instead to bring you a balanced budget. So, therefore the
recommendation—potentially this will be Council's recommendation to use
general fund. Even though it is allowable it's also not best practice. At
minimum we should minimally, and I'm talking to you as the Director of
Finance with experience, at least keep up with the CPI (Annual Consumer
Price Index for Water and Sewer Maintenance) The CPI is 4.7% we are
not asking tax payers we are asking users of our water and sewer that's
who we are asking to use that. Just everyone who uses water and sewer
that's it. That is normal practice and that's only for maintenance and
operations—that's just normally a CPI. Looking at that the minimum it's
supposed to operate as an enterprise that is the function of that. It is not
supposed to be subsidizing, even though you can I would just say it's not
the best practice for that. But I would say that we have looked at
everything, I think the idea of dedicating a sales tax is a really good one
to help reduce the amount that has to be raised. Unfortunately, CPI
continues to go up every year. I have never seen a CPI be in the negative.
Even when I was in different states, even CPIs over 3.6%, 3.7% this year
is 4.7% I actually pay attention, and I usually capture just once a year
what is that. I would dare say that we have done everything that we
possibly can within the current means. What I had recommended is
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Special Meeting — September 23, 2024 2
sustained revenue. I get grants, it's just a one-time pump and that's
fantastic. But I believe that I had recommended a sustained revenue to
sustain the fund.
III. ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING
Upon the motion by Councilmember Doucet seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Beckcom and
carried unanimously, the City Council adjourned their meeting at 11:44 a.m.
An audio-tape of this meeting is on file in the office of the City Secretary and is made a
part of the official minutes of this meeting.
MAYOR THURMAN BILL BARTIE
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY SHERRI BELLARD
END OF SPECIAL EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD September 23, 2024.
APPROVED: .
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