05 Council Spec Min 9-15-05
SPECIAL BUDGET WORK SESSION MEETING
0 F THE CITY CO UN CIL, CITY OF PARIS
September 15, 2005
1.
The City Council of the City of Paris met for a special work session at 6:00 P. M.
Thursday, September 15, 2005, at the Love Civic Center, 2025 South Collegiate
Drive, Paris, Texas.
Present:
Mayor:
Curtis Fendley
Council Members: Tim Ray; Richard Manning, Mayor Pro
Tern; Mary Ann Fisher; Karen Wilkerson;
Rick Poston; and Don Wilson
City Staff:
Tony N. Williams, City Manager; Larry
W. Schenk, City Attorney; and Janice
Ellis, City Clerk
2.
},3udget Workshop - Discuss City Manager's 2005-2006 Budget and proposed
amendments.
Tony Williams made a recommendation to the Council to add to the proposed budget
the expense that would pay the cost of the increased employee retirement benefits. This
would add $177,709.00 of expense to the budget, which consists of going from a match of
1 Y2 to 1 to a match of2 to 1. Tony did not recommend that revenue be increased therefore,
the surplus of revenue to expenses will be reduced in that like amount. Tony said the reason
he was able to make this recommendation is because this summer we had an unusually dry
summer, thereby increasing water sales. He also informed Council that the longstanding
dispute with Lamar County Water Supply was settled, there was a settlement with Atmos
Energy over franchise fees and we settled with the insurance carrier concerning unpaid health
insurance claims. He told Council that the money was in the bank from these settlements.
He informed Council that since mid year expenses of operating the City had been reduced.
Tony said we were ahead of schedule in building back operating reserves. Tony requested
an additional change in the salary increase from a proposed 3% to a 2% salary increase. He
thought the other 1 % should be reserved for mid year to allow the staff to come back to
Council with a comprehensive wage survey. Tony told Council that at mid year they may
want to look at adjusting salaries in certain jobs, where the City is low in competition with
other cities.
Council Member Wilson wanted to know the dollar amount of the 1 %. Tony told him
$130,981.00. Council Member Wilson wanted to know if they were going to be able to give
direction where to spend that money. Tony told him that staff would bring the survey to
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Special Budget Work Session
September 15,2005
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Council and Council would determine where there needs to be changes or corrections.
Council Member Manning said the last survey cost them $25,000.00 and the
recommendations were not followed. Tony said that city staff can do the survey. He told
Council that staff would get with Council so that Council can select ten or twelve cities for
comparison.
Tony also suggested that a second part-time person be added to the staff at the Animal
Shelter. We would have two full-time and two part-time persons in order to better serve the
public.
Tony summarized by asking Council to add expenses of the increase in retirement
benefits and one part-time person in animal control. He told Council the two items total
$186,029.00.
Council Member Wilson said they did not have anything for dilapidated houses and
street repairs. He inquired as to how long they should put these items on the back burner.
Tony said he did not believe there was sufficient revenue in reserves to add those expenses.
He said in the future they might want to look at other ways to come up with sufficient money.
Mayor Fendley suggested looking at those items at mid year. Council Member Manning
concurred with Mayor Fendley.
Council Member Wilson inquired of Tony what the target dollar amount is for
reserves. Tony said the opinion of most is between two months and four months of working
capital. Tony said that at the end of September, we will have improved ourselves by
$500,000.00. Mayor Fendley stated that it would take a couple of years to get out of the hole.
Tony reiterated that it would take a couple of years to get out; however, the City was
. .
ImprovIng.
Council Member Poston wanted to know what month they would review the 1 %.
Tony said he would like for staff to be back to Council around March or April. Council
Member Wilson wanted to know if staff was working on the insurance plan. Tony said we
needed nine months history to get rates and that staff needed to be working on that in
January. Council Member Ray said he would like to review the 1 % by early January and get
the money to the employees by March.
Mayor Fendley inquired as to if Council had any other items they wanted to bring up
as proposed amendments.
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Special Budget Work Session
September 15, 2005
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Council Member Wilson wants to put Lamar County Human Resources Council back
in the budget, which will be $5,000.00.
3.
Consideration of and action on proposed amendments to the City Manager's proposed
budget.
A Motion to approve Tony Williams' recommendations was made by Council
Member Poston and seconded by Council Member Wilkerson. The Motion carried - 7 ayes,
0 nays.
A Motion to amend the budget to reinstate Lamar County Resources Council for
$5,000.00 was made by Council Member Wilkerson. The motion failed for lack of a second.
4.
RESOLUTION NO. 2005-112: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS, SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING ON
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005-2006; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
A Motion to approve was made by Council Member Manning and seconded by
Council Member Ray. The Motion carried - 7 ayes, 0 nays.
5.
Referrals.
There were none.
6.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
CURTIS FENDLEY, MAYOR
JANICE ELLIS, CITY CLERK
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