HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/22/2014 SPECIAL MEETING SPECIAL MEETING — September 22, 2014
I. INVOCATION, PLEDGE & ROLL CALL
Councilmember Williamson gave the invocation followed with the pledge to the flag.
The City Council of the City of Port Arthur met in Special Session on Tuesday,
September 22, 2014 at 6:05 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, with the
following members present: Mayor Deloris "Bobbie" Prince; Councilmembers Raymond
Scott, Jr., Tiffany Hamilton, Morris Albright, III., Stephen A. Mosely, Robert E. "Bob"
Williamson and Kaprina Frank; Interim City Manager John A. Comeaux, P.E., City
Secretary Sherri Bellard and City Attorney Valecia Tizeno.
Councilmember Willie "Bae" Lewis, Jr. joined the Special Meeting at 6:08 p.m.
Mayor Pro Tem Mayor Pro Tem Derrick Freeman joined the Special Meeting at 6:14
p.m.
II. PUBLIC HEARING — 6:00 PM
(1) To Receive Public Comment For The Purpose Of
Considering The Budget For The City Of Port Arthur And
The Port Arthur Section 4A Economic Development
Corporation For The Fiscal Year Beginning October 1, 2014
And Ending September 31, 2015
The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Public Hearing at 6:06 p.m.
Interim City Manager John A. Comeaux, PE and Finance Director Deborah Echols
appeared before the City Council and gave an overview of the above-mentioned
budget.
The Mayor requested to hear from anyone present in the audience who wished to
speak regarding the above-mentioned item.
Harold Doucet, 5180 Cambridge Avenue, appeared before the City Council in opposition
of the proposed budget.
Warren Field, 1147 60th Street, appeared before the City Council in opposition of the
proposed budget.
For the Record
Mayor Prince:
You all did post this as required by law right?
City Secretary Bellard:
Yes ma'am it is required to be published in the newspaper eleven (11) days before the
Public Hearing. This was pushed until the later part of that time-frame. It was published
on September the 11th and it is published in the regular part of the newspaper and it is
also on our website.
Councilmember Scott made the following statement for the record:
This $5.00 fee, if it was going towards streets or something like that—like
we know from the get go we are going to be in the red no matter what, in
the water utilities. I've gotten a lot of calls from citizens about this $5.00
fee and like I said if there were—if this $5.00 fee was going towards
something the citizens have been asking about; streets, fixing streets and
that kind of stuff, then I probably would not be getting the calls. I
probably would not be talking to people about this $5.00 fee. And, I know
that by law, by law, we have to get this budget approved. I don't want to
be in the way of stopping this budget being approved because; by law we
need to get it approved. But, I want to go on record, City Secretary, truly
the calls that I've gotten from citizens, I've reconsidered. I'm not for the
$5.00 fee. But it has been voted in; again I'm not for it. Because, the
conversation that I've had with citizens they are not really pleased with it.
And the whole time I've been on council I've tried to express that I tried
to hear the citizen's voice and I've heard some of the citizens voices. And,
I've always said that, hey, I will respond to the citizen's voices. The voices
that I've heard they are against the $5.00 fee. So my voice, as being the
voice of the citizens, I've reconsidered and I'm against the $5.00 fee. So I
wanted this to be known and I wanted to say it out in this meeting that it
go on record so that people know how I feel about this $5.00 fee.
Upon the motion of Mayor Pro Tem Freeman, seconded by Councilmember Hamilton
and carried unanimously, the City Council closed the Public Hearing at 7:03 p.m.
IV. ITEM REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION
A. Ordinances
(1) P.O. No. 6403 — An Ordinance Approving The Appraisal
Rolls For The Year 2014 And Receiving Determinations
From The Tax Assessors Under Section 26.04 Of The Texas
Property Tax Code
The City Manager introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Ordinance.
The motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Freeman and seconded by Councilmember
Williamson that Proposed Ordinance No. 6403 be adopted.
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Ordinance No.
14-35:
Councilmember Albright "Yes"
Councilmember Frank "Yes"
Mayor Pro Tem Freeman "Yes"
Councilmember Hamilton "Yes"
Councilmember Lewis "Yes"
Councilmember Mosely "Yes"
Councilmember Scott "Yes"
Councilmember Williamson "Yes"
Mayor Prince "Yes"
Proposed Ordinance No. 6403 was adopted becoming Ordinance No. 14-35.
The caption of Ordinance No. 14-35 reads as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 14-35
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE APPRAISAL
ROLLS FOR THE YEAR 2014 AND RECEIVING
DETERMINATIONS FROM THE TAX ASSESSORS
UNDER SECTION 26.04 OF THE TEXAS
PROPERTY TAX CODE
(2) P.O. No. 6404 — An Ordinance Approving The 2014 Tax Roll
For The Use And Support Of The Municipal Government Of
The City Of Port Arthur; And Providing For The Interest And
Sinking Fund And Apportioning Each Levy For A Specific
Purpose
City Council Minutes — Special Executive Meeting
September 22, 2014 2
The City Manager introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Ordinance.
The motion was made by Councilmember Williamson and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem
Freeman that Proposed Ordinance No. 6404 be adopted.
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Ordinance No.
6404:
Councilmember Albright "Yes"
Councilmember Frank "Yes"
Mayor Pro Tem Freeman "Yes"
Councilmember Hamilton "Yes"
Councilmember Lewis "Yes"
Councilmember Mosely "Yes"
Councilmember Scott "Yes"
Councilmember Williamson "Yes"
Mayor Prince "Yes"
Proposed Ordinance No. 6404 was adopted becoming Ordinance No. 14-36.
The caption of Ordinance No. 14-36 reads as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 14-36
AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE 2014 TAX
ROLL FOR THE USE AND SUPPORT OF THE
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF
PORT ARTHUR; AND PROVIDING FOR THE
INTEREST AND SINKING FUND AND
APPORTIONING EACH LEVY FOR A SPECIFIC
PURPOSE
(4) P.O. No. 6406 — An Appropriation Ordinance Adopting A
Budget For The Ensuing Fiscal Year Beginning October 1,
2014 And Ending September 30, 2015, In Accordance With
Section 7, Article XII Of The Charter Of The City Of Port
Arthur
The City Manager introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Ordinance.
The motion was made by Councilmember Williamson and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem
Freeman that Proposed Ordinance No. 6406 be adopted.
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Ordinance No.
6406:
Councilmember Albright "Yes"
Councilmember Frank "Yes"
Mayor Pro Tem Freeman "Yes"
Councilmember Hamilton "Yes"
Councilmember Lewis "Yes"
Councilmember Mosely "No"
Councilmember Scott "Yes"
Councilmember Williamson "Yes"
Mayor Prince "Yes"
Proposed Ordinance No. 6406 was adopted becoming Ordinance No. 14-37.
The caption of Ordinance No. 14-37 reads as follows:
City Council Minutes— Special Executive Meeting
September 22, 2014 3
ORDINANCE NO. 14-37
AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE ADOPTING A
BUDGET FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR
BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2014 AND ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30, 2015, IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 7, ARTICLE XII OF THE CHARTER OF
THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR
III. ACTION ITEM
(1) To Discuss And Possibly Take Action On The Ratification Of
The Property Tax Increase Included In Fiscal Year 2014-
2015 Budget As Required By Section 102.007 Of The Texas
Local Government Code
The following motion was made and read into the record by Councilmember Williamson
and seconded by Councilmember Hamilton.
I Move That The City Of Port Arthur Ratify The Property Tax
Increase Reflected In The Budget For The Fiscal Year 2014-2015
As It Will Raise More Revenue From Property Taxes Than Last
Year's Budget By An Amount Of $463,814.00 Or 2.6% And Of That
Amount $307,923.00 Is Tax Revenue To Be Raised From New
Property Added To The Tax Roll This Years
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt the above-mentioned
motion read into the record:
Councilmember Albright "Yes"
Councilmember Frank `Yes"
Mayor Pro Tem Freeman "Yes"
Councilmember Hamilton "Yes"
Councilmember Lewis "Yes"
Councilmember Mosely "Yes"
Councilmember Scott "Yes"
Councilmember Williamson "Yes"
Mayor Prince "Yes"
The above-mentioned motion was adopted.
IV. ITEM REQUIRING INDIVIDUAL ACTION
A. Ordinances
(3) P.O. No. 6405 — An Ordinance Adopting A Tax Rate For The
Tax Year 2014 (Fiscal Year October 1, 2014 — September
30, 2015)
The City Manager introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Ordinance.
The motion was made by Councilmember Williamson and seconded by Councilmember
Hamilton that Proposed Ordinance No. 6405 be adopted.
The following motion was read into the record by Councilmember Williamson:
I Move For The Adoption Of Proposed Ordinance No. 6405 That
Property Taxes Be Increased By The Adoption Of A Tax Rate Of
.792 What Is Affectively An Increase Of 2.33% In The Tax Rate
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt the Proposed Ordinance
No. 6405:
City Council Minutes — Special Executive Meeting
September 22, 2014 4
Councilmember Albright "Yes"
Councilmember Frank "Yes"
Mayor Pro Tem Freeman "Yes"
Councilmember Hamilton "Yes"
Councilmember Lewis "Yes"
Councilmember Mosely "Yes"
Councilmember Scott "Yes"
Councilmember Williamson ` Yes"
Mayor Prince "Yes"
Proposed Ordinance No. 6405 was adopted becoming Ordinance No. 14-38.
The caption of Ordinance No. 14-38 reads as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 14-38
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A TAX RATE FOR
THE TAX YEAR 2014 (FISCAL YEAR OCTOBER 1,
2014 — SEPTEMBER 30, 2015)
(5) P.O. No. 6407 — An Appropriation Ordinance Approving And
Adopting A Budget For The City Of Port Arthur Section 4A
Economic Development Corporation For The Ensuing Fiscal
Year Beginning October 1, 2014 And Ending September 30,
2015 In Accordance With Section 12.03 Of The Bylaws Of
The Corporation
The Mayor introduced the above-mentioned Proposed Ordinance.
The motion was made by Mayor Pro Tern Freeman and seconded by Councilmember
Williamson that Proposed Ordinance No. 6407 be adopted.
The following roll call vote was taken on the motion to adopt Proposed Ordinance No.
6407:
Councilmember Albright ` Yes"
Councilmember Frank "Yes"
Mayor Pro Tem Freeman "Yes"
Councilmember Hamilton "Yes"
Councilmember Lewis "Yes"
Councilmember Mosely "Yes"
Councilmember Scott "Yes"
Councilmember Williamson "Yes"
Mayor Prince "Yes"
Proposed Ordinance No. 6407 was adopted becoming Ordinance No. 14-39.
The caption of Resolution No. 14-39 reads as follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 14-39
AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE APPROVING
AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF
PORT ARTHUR SECTION 4A ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FOR THE
ENSUING FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER
1, 2014 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2015 IN
City Council Minutes — Special Executive Meeting
September 22, 2014 5
ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 12.03 OF THE
BYLAWS OF THE CORPORATION
V. ADJOURNMENT
Upon the motion by Councilmember Williamson, seconded by Mayor Pro Tern Freeman
and carried unanimously, the City Council adjourned their Special Meeting at 7:27 p.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 DELORIS "BOBBIE" PRINCE
ATTEST:
CITY SECRETARY SHERRI BELLARD
END OF SPECIAL MEETING HELD: September 22, 2014.
APPROVED:
City Council Minutes — Special Executive Meeting
September 22, 2014 6