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Minutes 2015-09-151 PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 6:07 P.M. The Prattville City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, at 6:07 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. After the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, Council President Wood gave the invocation. Roll was called and all Councilors were recorded as being present. THE CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH IS SEPTEMBER DECISIVENESS: The ability to recognize key factors and finalize difficult decisions. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: City Council Meeting September 1, 2015 and Work Session September 9, 2015. Councilor Brown made a motion to adopt the minutes and Councilor Starnes seconded the motion. With no discussion, the minutes were adopted (7-0). COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT REGARDING TONIGHT’S AGENDA: Jon Lee Finnegan, 212 Deer Trace, stated that she had met with the Mayor today regarding the proposed budget not being posted on the website prior to being considered for adoption at tonight’s meeting. Ms. Finnegan asked Councilors if they had allowed their constituents to see the proposed budget. Councilor Boles responded that none of his constituents called regarding the budget. Constituents outside his district did contact him, although no one stopped by his business to review the proposed budget. Council President Wood noted that no one was in attendance at the budget work session held on September 9, 2015 in opposition to the proposed budget. Ms. Finnegan requested the Council to consider posting future proposed budgets online prior to adoption, stating this had been the practice in previous years. MAYOR’S REPORT: Mayor Gillespie thanked the Public Safety departments for the tremendous job they did on Friday, September 11, 2015, honoring the fallen heroes of 9/11. They represented the City well on this somber occasion. The Bryan Jackson Band performed during the street concert celebrating Prattville’s 176th anniversary on Saturday, September 12, 2015. The 5th Annual Worldwide Day of Play event will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2015. Mayor Gillespie encouraged councilors to move forward with Item #4 to adopt the FY2015- 2016 budget. This budget was built off of the previous year’s actual revenue and expenses. While the City’s needs exceed the proposed the income, the expenditures will be controlled to correspond with the budget. The City’s financial footprint is firm and the City continues to make progress, not only in paying down debt, but also in making capital investments to areas that provide services and infrastructure to this City. The Mayor thanked Department Heads and administrative staff for their assistance in budget preparation and thanked Councilors for their thorough review of the budget during the work session. 2 Councilor Boles asked if the City is over budget or even with the budget during the current year, and if the proposed budget would be considered a line-item budget or a lump sum budget. Mayor Gillespie responded that the City is even with the budget and the proposed budget is a line-item budget. REPORT FROM COUNCIL ON SPECIAL COMMITTEES: Council President Pro Tempore Striplin reported that the Wastewater Committee met on Monday, September 14, 2015, to review a preliminary engineering estimate for Phase II of the Pine Creek plant expansion. Phase II includes both the Pine Creek and Fay Branch collector systems. A dedicated easement and pipes in these two areas will be increased in size to accommodate greater flow to the Pine Creek facility for the next thirty plus years. Due to the current proposed costs, this Phase may be divided into two or more projects. The Planning Department provided projections for the anticipated population growth for this area, which were used to project the increased needed plant capacity. Through the services of a professional consulting firm, the City plans to use this same data to determine what rate structure is appropriate to recover these costs. The committee plans to present a consulting contract regarding cost recovery information at the next meeting for Council’s approval. The cost of this consulting contract is included in the proposed FY2016 Wastewater Enterprise Fund budget. REPORT ON THE STATUS OF CITY FINANCES: Finance Director Doug Moseley presented the finance reports for August 2015. The Unaudited General Fund Revenue report showed that with 83.33% of the year complete, 92.24% of budgeted income has been received. Overall revenue was up by 0.98% in comparison to prior year. The Tax Breakdown Comparison report showed revenue increased 3.80% in comparison to the prior year. The Unaudited Expenses by Department report showed that with 91.67% of the year complete, expenses were at 84.36%. For this fiscal year, the City is ahead of budget on revenues and under budget on expenses. The Wastewater Enterprise Fund Income Statement showed that revenue was at 88.10% with 83.33% of the budget year complete. Expenses were at 106.40% with 91.67% of the budget year complete. This was due to early payoff of the SRF loan. The Sanitation Enterprise Fund Income Statement showed that revenue was at 84.20% with 83.33% of the budget year complete. Expenses were at 83.31% with 91.67% of the budget year complete. The Judicial Special Revenue Fund Income Statement showed that with 91.67% of the budget year complete, revenue was at 76.24% and expenses were at 67.30%. The decrease in revenue is due to the discontinuation of the JCS contract. The City is looking at additional in-house personnel to collect this revenue. 3 The Bank Balances report showed a total cash balance of $18,498,022.73 as of August 31, 2015. The City Wide Accounts Payable and Debt Balances report show total debt at $40,872,522.39 as of August 31, 2015. Councilor Boles asked if cash is on hand for the upcoming October bond payment. Mr. Moseley responded funds are available to make the payment. Councilor Boles clarified that during the current year, the City has collected more revenue than budgeted and spent less than budgeted, and that the proposed FY2016 budget is based on the current year’s actual numbers. Mr. Moseley replied that these statements are true. AGENDA 1. ORDINANCE: To Zone Property Located at 630 Vintage Way to R-5 (Patio Garden Homes). (Sponsored By: Councilor Boone) ORDINANCE BOOK 2015, PAGE 040 This Ordinance was introduced on August 18, 2015 and held for the public hearing. There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE 2. ORDINANCE: To Zone Property Located at Rocky Mount Road at Old Farm Lane to FAR (Forest, Agriculture, Recreation). (Sponsored By: Councilor Whiteside) ORDINANCE BOOK 2015, PAGE 041 This Ordinance was introduced on August 18, 2015 and held for the public hearing. There being no discussion, the Ordinance was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE 3. RESOLUTION: To Declare the Structure Located at 101 North Chestnut Street to Be Unsafe and a Public Nuisance. (Sponsored By: Councilor Starnes) HELD FROM MAY 5, MAY 19, JUNE 2, AND SEPTEMBER 1, 2015 RESOLUTION BOOK 2015-A, PAGE 108 4 Councilor Starnes noted that the Council had shown patience and leniency with this property and urged the Council to move forward with adoption of the Resolution. With no further discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE 4. RESOLUTION: To Adopt the City of Prattville Fiscal Year 2015/2016 General Operating Fund, Gas Tax Fund, Debt Service Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Sanitation Enterprise Fund, Wastewater Enterprise Fund, and Judicial Special Revenue Fund Budgets. (Sponsored By: Council President Wood) RESOLUTION BOOK 2015-A, PAGE 109 Councilor Brown made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilor Boles seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE 5. RESOLUTION: To Surplus One (1) Vehicle from the Fire Department. (Sponsored By: Councilor Boles) RESOLUTION BOOK 2015-A, PAGE 110 Councilor Boles made a motion to adopt the Resolution and Councilor Whiteside seconded the motion. There being no discussion, the Resolution was adopted with the following results: AYES : STRIPLIN, WOOD, BROWN, STARNES, WHITESIDE, BOLES, BOONE 7 NAYS : NONE 0 ABSTAINED : NONE 0 ABSENT : NONE COMMENTS FROM PERSONS PRESENT: Jon Lee Finnegan, 211 Deer Trace, asked Councilor Starnes for an update on an ordinance restricting vehicles parking on residential front yards. Councilor Starnes replied he had received her letter and is still reviewing the matter. 5 CLOSING COMMENTS: Mayor Gillespie stated that this last year has gone well and thanked the City Council, Department Heads, and staff for their hard work. Councilor Boles thanked Department Heads and Teresa Lee for their hard work. As Chairman of the Fire Committee, Councilor Boles thanked Chief Brown specifically for watching their budget on a daily basis to keep the department running efficiently. Council President Wood thanked all employees for the job they do for the City and thanked the Mayor and administration for their hard work on the budget. A budget is a fluid document and serves as a guide. With difficult days ahead, the City will need to continue watch spending. Council President Wood thanked the Councilors for working diligently this year. As the City looks forward to next twenty five to thirty years, planning has begun on the investment that will be required in the Wastewater Department. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the council, Councilor Boone made a motion to adjourn and Councilor Boles seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned (7-0) at 6:32 p.m. APPROVED: ___________________________ Cathy Dickerson City Clerk ___________________________ Willie L. Wood, Jr., President Prattville City Council