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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987/09/22-Agenda-Pre-Council PRE-COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 22, 1987 \ \ 't PRE-COUNCIL CHAMBER 1 -� I,6 1 ABSENT: None. �l 6 ITEMS: 1. AWARD WINNING STORM DRAIN TEAM - RAMON GUAJARDO, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER Ramon Guajardo, Assistant City Manager, introduced Richard Hay, Environmental Health Manager, to update Council on the status of the Health Department's storm drain team. At a recent meeting in New York City, the Ford Foundation and the John F. Kennedy School of Government awarded the team $100,000 for its innovative approach to the storm drain pollution problem. With future regulation of storm drain pollution expected from EPA, the methods developed by Fort Worth's team will save U.S. cities billions of dollars. Gene Rattan, Environmental Quality Supervisor, highlighted the major components of the storm drain program. The first component consists of evaluation. Rather than using expensive and unreliable chemical analyses, the team will monitor plant and animal life in the storm drains. This component includes the ingenious use of ordinary minnows suspended in plastic soft drink bottles within the storm drains. If pollutants enter the storm drain system, the aquatic life will be affected; therefore, dead minnows will signal the entrance of lethal substances into the storm drain system. The second component of the program consists of entry and tracing. In this phase, the storm drain team enters the system and traces the source of contamination. By locating the source of the pollutants, the team may be able to determine who is responsible and prevent future contamination. The third component of the program consists of prevention. By constantly monitoring the system and successfully tracing sources of contamination, the team will likely prevent deliberate releases of pollutants in the future. Identification of businesses or individuals responsible for contamination should also aid in the prevention of future pollution. Mr. Rattan indicated that in addition to the award and attention that the storm drain team has recently received, the Environmental Protection Agency is interested in the program as a model for other large cities in the U.S. 2. SOUTHEAST LANDFILL EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UPDATE - TOM DAVIS, ACTING CITY SERVICES DIRECTOR Tom Davis, Acting City Services Director, updated Council on the status of the proposed southeast landfill. At a hearing several weeks ago, sixty-five residents appeared to oppose the landfill. The proposed landfill received a permit in 1967, but regulatory confusion and a lack of need for the facility precluded earlier development of the site. Currently, the city has two landfills open, one of which has an expected life of one to two years and another which has approximately three years of useful life remaining. Thus, Mr. Davis stressed the need for development of the landfill site. Councilman Williams asked Mr. Davis where the City of Forest Hill is in relation to the proposed landfill site. Mr. Davis indicated that the Forest Hill is approximately two miles north of the landfill site. Concerns over diminished property values around the facility are unfounded as the area is already severely pitted from surface mining. It is likely that the landfill would be an improvement over the conditions that currently exist, as roads would have to be improved to accomodate large refuse trucks. Councilman Murrin suggested that another potential site for a landfill is Mosier Valley, which is also serverly pitted from surface mining, and which has a history of illegal dumping. 3. BUDGET ISSUES - DOUGLAS HARMAN, CITY MANAGER AND CHARLES BOSWELL, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES Charles Boswell, Management Services Director, reviewed four funding and tax rate options with Council. Each option consisted of a different tax rate and a different level of funding for specific programs. The options ranged from no change in the tax rate to a 7.56% increase in the effective tax rate. Below is a brief summary of some of the comments and concerns expressed by council members regarding the budget. Mayor Bolen asked Mr. Boswell what the increase in sales tax revenue is projected to be. Mr. Boswell indicated that a ten percent increase in sales tax revenue is expected. This increase includes the additional revenue the city will receive from the recently expand sales tax base. Mayor Bolen asked Mr. Boswell if he is comfortable with this projection. Mr. Boswell indicated that he is least comfortable with the projection for this particular revenue category. Councilman Zapata stated that he would not support any budget proposal that does not include an increase in employee salaries. He asked if the budget will include funds to make salaries of crash and fire rescue workers more equitable with those of regular firemen. Personnel Director Charlie Shapard stated that the budget does not include extra funds for that purpose and that the issue is really whether crash and fire rescue workers should be considered a part of the Fire Department. Mayor Bolen asked City Manager Douglas Harman if he has the authority to hire for crucial positions which might become vacant during the next fiscal year. Mr. Harman indicated that he has no options for hiring other than those currently available through the pay plan. Councilman Vance expressed concern over whether a two or three percent salary increase would provide enough funds for the city manager to deal effectively with potential flight in technical and professional positions. Councilman Williams stated that he is against giving employees a raise if it means having to layoff other employees. He also indicated that he is against taxing citizens to fund a salary increase. Councilman Lancaster agreed with Mr. Williams. Councilwoman Webber suggested that the citizens in her district and in others are willing to have a tax increase if the increased revenue can help with the increasing crime problem. Councilman Gilley indicated that the city must find a way to recognize its innovative employees. Councilman Lancaster stated that he had already asked the city manager to develop a pay pool to reward productive employees. City Mangager Douglas Harman indicated that any increases in efficiency and productivity are absorbed by increased demand, and that further savings could only result from diminished services levels. Councilman Williams asked Chief Windham if he could be satisfied with the Police Department budget as recommended in the city manager's proposed budget. Chief Windham suggested that he could be satisified with no increase in funding only if crime does not increase. Mayor Bolen stated that while he is aware that there are more citizens to serve, he cannot support a pay increase because we already have the highest tax rate in the state. He is concerned that further increases in the tax rate will discourage people and businesses from locating in Fort Worth. Councilman Vance indicated that he supports a two percent increase in employee salaries. Councilman Garrison questioned the proposed additions to the Police Department budget in light of the additions which were made last year. Councilman Lancaster stated his belief that police protection is more important than street improvements and increased taxes. 4. QUESTIONS/ANSWERS CONCERNING CURRENT AGENDA ITEMS - DOUGLAS HARMAN, CITY MANAGER City Manager Douglas Harman informed Council that failure to adopt the budget following the pre-council meeting would lead to difficulties in mailing tax notices on time. COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 22, 1987 COUNCIL CHAMBER ABSENT: None. I. ITEMS TO BE CONTINUED/WITHDRAWN M&C G-7242 - Water and Sewer Tap Fee Adjustments for Fiscal Year 1987-88 - delayed one week by City Manager Douglas Harman. M&C G-7255 - Ordinance Amendments to Chapter 25, Application Fees - continued one week by Councilman Gilley. M&C G-7256 - Temporary Physical Closure of a Portion of Darcy Street: Van Zandt Hillside Addition, Block 3, Lots 11-17; Block 6, Lots 3-11 & 11A (V-87-42) (FS- 87-97) - withdrawn by City Manager Douglas Harman II. ITEMS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA None. III. BOARD/COMMISSION CHANGES None. IV. COMMENTS/REQUESTS None. V. CITIZEN PRESENTATIONS A. Budget Hearing 1 . Sister Mary Fulbright appeared before Council to express her appreciation for the efforts to restore funding to human service programs. She also expressed her appreciation for Council's commitment to keep any increase in taxes from being too high. 2. Mr. Francisco Hernandez appeared before Council to suggest that the city establish a more effective way of monitoring street repairs. He believes that a significant amount of the taxpayer's money is lost each year because of contractors who do poor quality street repairs.