Aug 22, 2022 Special City Council

[CALL TO ORDER – Roll Call and Determination of a Quorum]

[00:00:05]

OKAY. I AM HEREBY CALLING TO ORDER THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY OF PARKER.

IT IS AUGUST 22ND, 2022 AT 7 P.M..

MR. OLSEN, DO WE HAVE A SUPER QUORUM? YES, MADAM MAYOR. YOU DO HAVE A SUPER QUORUM.

OKAY. THANK YOU, SIR.

AT THIS TIME, I WILL ASK MR. SAVAGE TO COME UP AND GIVE US AN OVERVIEW.

HE IS GOING TO OVERVIEW ALL THREE OF THE ITEMS SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO COME UP.

GO BACK. COME UP AND GO BACK.

OH, OKAY.

THE I THE ITEMS ARE CONSIDERATION AND OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE 821 ADOPTING THE 2022 TAX RATE.

CONSIDERATION AND OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NUMBER 822 ADOPTING THE 2022-2023 BUDGET . THREE CONSIDERATION AND OR APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NUMBER 823 RATIFYING THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE IN THE 2022-23 BUDGET AS A RESULT OF THE CITY RECEIVING MORE REVENUES FROM PROPERTY TAXES IN THE 2022-23 BUDGET THAN IN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

OK GRANT. LET'S JUST KIND OF RECAP OUR PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HELD LAST WEEK.

[1. CONSIDERATION AND/OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NO. 821 ADOPTING THE 2022 TAX RATE.]

AND JUST A REMINDER, IT'S A 3.6695 CENT DECREASE FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND ALTHOUGH THE RATE DECREASE, COUNCIL IS REQUIRED TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THE MEETING THAT MEETING WAS HELD LAST WEEK ON AUGUST 16TH.

AND THEN TONIGHT WE'RE VOTING TO TAKE FINAL ACTION ON THE TAX RATE.

AS FAR AS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE CALCULATIONS, YOU CAN SEE NO NEW REVENUE WAS A 32.0101.

SINCE WE DID, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS THE SAME AS THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WE FALL BELOW THE DE MINIMIS RATE OF 35.3399.

GO AHEAD. AS FAR AS THE BUDGET.

THE BUDGET PROCESS STARTED BACK IN MAY WHEN WE HAD A PLANNING WORKSHOP.

WE HELD TWO BUDGET WORKSHOPS IN JULY.

WE HAD THE PROPOSED TAX RATE SET IN 1ST OF AUGUST.

PUBLIC HEARING WAS ON AUGUST THE 16TH AND FINAL ACTION ON THE TAX RATE AND BUDGET IS TONIGHT ON AUGUST THE 22ND.

BUDGET WAS PREPARED USING THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 32.9289.

AND THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR FOR TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE $14,666,215.

AND TONIGHT COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO ACT ON THREE SEPARATE ITEMS THERE AND WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A RECORD VOTE ON ALL THREE OF THEM.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, GRANT.

OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CONSIDER ITEM NUMBER ONE CONSIDERATION AND OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NUMBER 821 ADOPTING THE 2022 TAX RATE.

MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 821, SETTING A TAX RATE OF 0.329289, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 2.87% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.

OKAY, WE HAVE.

I'LL SECOND THAT MADAM MAYOR.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER ABRAHAM AND A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM SLAUGHTER.

ANY DISCUSSION THEN? I'LL CALL FOR YOUR VOTE.

ALTHOUGH. OH, I HAVE TO DO A RECORD VOTE.

OH. COUNCIL MEMBER REID, DO YOU VOTE FOR OR AGAINST? I AM FOR OK.

COUNCIL MEMBER ABRAHAM.

I VOTE FOR.

OK COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER, FOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH, FOR.

MAYOR PRO TEM SLAUGHTER, FOR.

OK. MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

[2. CONSIDERATION AND/OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NO. 822 ADOPTING THE 2022-2023 BUDGET.]

[00:05:07]

MADAME MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 822 APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO 2023 BUDGET AS PRESENTED.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 822 ADOPTING THE 2022-2023 BUDGET.

IS THERE A SECOND.

OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION? YES, MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS SECTION 5 IN REQUESTING YOU ASK FOR POSSIBLE AMENDMENT TO SECTION 5.

IT SPECIFIES AUTHORITY GIVEN TO THE MAYOR, CONDITIONED AS SET FORTH TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING ADJUSTMENTS, ALLOWING FOR ONE WITH THE CONCURRENCE OF THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO TRANSFER APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE BUDGETED FROM ONE ACCOUNT CLASSIFICATION TO ANOTHER ACCOUNT CLASSIFICATION WITHIN THE SAME DEPARTMENT.

AND ITEM 2 WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND OR THE MAYOR TO TRANSFER APPROPRIATIONS FROM DESIGNATED APPROPRIATION FROM ONE DEPARTMENT OR ACTIVITY TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT OR ACTIVITY WITHIN THE SAME FUND.

I'D LIKE TO ADD A STIPULATION.

I UNDERSTAND THERE MAY BE SOME CERTAIN TIMES FOR THAT, AND I DON'T WANT TO STOP PROGRESS.

MINIMAL CHANGES.

HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MAKES SIGNIFICANT EFFORT IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET.

AND SO I, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE ADD A STIPULATION AND MY WORDING MAY NOT BE QUITE RIGHT, BUT TO LIMIT THAT IF THE AMOUNTS ARE LESS THAN IF THE ADJUSTMENT, THE TOTAL ADJUSTMENT TO THE TO THE ITEMS ARE LESS THAN 5% OR $10,000. OKAY.

I HAVE A QUESTION, MR. LANSFORD. WHAT IS STATE LAW REGARDING THAT IN TERMS OF ONCE A BUDGET IS PASSED, IT COMES BACK TO THE MAYOR? I'M SORRY, I'M NOT FOLLOWING YOUR QUESTION.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN ABOUT ONCE IT'S PASSED, IT COMES BACK TO THE MAYOR.

OKAY. I NEED TO SEE GOVERNMENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT? AND WHICH SECTION OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.

I MEAN I CAN PULL IT UP ONLINE.

OH, I'M JUST UNCLEAR AS TO WHAT THE QUESTION IS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I MEAN, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVEN'T PASSED A BUDGET, SO.

OKAY. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WHAT TERRY IS ASKING FOR DOES NOT CONTRADICT OR INTERFERE WITH OR I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RIGHT WORD IS.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STAY WITHIN THE LAW.

IN THAT PARTICULAR SECTION THAT I'M LOOKING FOR HAS TO DO WITH THE MAYOR AS THE CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER OF THE CITY.

AND IT STATES OUT SOME SOME THINGS.

AND THAT'S WHERE I'M LOOKING AT OKAY. DID YOU HEAR THAT? 22.42 IS ABOUT POWERS AND DUTIES OF MAYOR.

BUT THAT DOESN'T. THAT'S NOT THE BUDGET SECTION SO.

THE MUNICIPAL FINANCES IS FOUND IN SECTION CHAPTER 102 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

IT DOES SAY 102.01, SAYS THE BUDGET OFFICER.

THE MAYOR OF THE MUNICIPALITY SERVES AS THE BUDGET OFFICER FOR THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE MUNICIPALITY, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION B AND THEN SUBSECTION B IS ABOUT CITY MANAGER FORM, WHICH WE ARE NOT.

[00:10:08]

BUT BUT BUT IN MOST CASES, THE AMOUNT OF DETAIL THAT WE SPEND IN PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, I WOULD THINK THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME INPUT BECAUSE WE'RE THE VOTING BODY TO PROPOSE THE BUDGET. SO I THINK THAT ANY RAMIFICATIONS WOULD INVOLVE US AS WELL.

SO I KNOW THIS IS THE SAME AS WHAT IT'S BEEN.

IT'S JUST GOING THROUGH IT SINCE IT'S PART OF THIS, I'M CURIOUS.

I MEAN, IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRED A SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURE CONSIDERATION THEREOF, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO PROBABLY A BUDGET AMENDMENT, WHICH OF COURSE WOULD COME WOULD COME TO COUNCIL.

SO, COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH, CAN YOU CAN YOU ELABORATE WHAT YOUR CONCERN IS SO THAT TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT . IN TAKING IT, STRETCHING IT TO TO THE EXTREME? THIS WOULD ALLOW THE.

THE MAYOR, THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY HERE IS THE MAYOR TO MAKE CHANGES FROM LET'S USE LET'S USE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO MOVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BUDGET BETWEEN THOSE TWO DEPARTMENTS WITHOUT COUNCIL BEING INVOLVED.

IN FACT, IF YOU ACTUALLY READ THE SECOND SECTION, NUMBER TWO, IT SAYS WITH THE APPROVAL OF CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND OR MAYOR.

SO IT COULD BE OR SO ACTUALLY, THAT SEEMS THAT LUKE WOULD HAVE AN AUTHORITY.

AND SAME WITH EXPENSES.

SO IF I'VE GOT AN ITEM IN, IN MY DEPARTMENT AND I WANT TO SPEND MORE IN, IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY THAN, THAN WAS BUDGETED, THIS WOULD ALLOW THAT TO BE DONE WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL. AND AGAIN, I DO SEE SOME REASON FOR ALLOWING SOME STIPULATIONS ON THAT.

AND THAT'S WHY I'VE ADDED THE 5% OR $10,000 TO ALLOW FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY FOR MINOR, YOU KNOW, ISSUES THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE COME UP. BUT WE DO SPEND A LOT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CREATE A BUDGET, WHEN WE WHEN WE DON'T CREATE THE BUDGET, WHEN WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENT, WE'RE LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURES WITHIN THAT DEPARTMENT AS TO WHAT IT'S FOR.

SO IT SEEMS IT SEEMS CONTRARY TO TO THE PROCESS TO HAVE THIS SECTION IN THERE.

IT'S JUST THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS SECTION HAS BEEN THERE IS IS THE STANDARD.

IT WAS THERE LAST YEAR.

I DID GO LOOK AT LAST YEAR'S REPORT YEAH. OKAY.

MY CONCERN, TERRY, I MEAN, COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH IS THAT WELL, I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN.

IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY AND COUNCIL, THE NOTICE HAS TO BE POSTED 72 HOURS IN ADVANCE. I MEAN, THIS HOLDS THINGS UP.

AND IF THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, LIKE [INAUDIBLE] STORM OR FLOODING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD REQUIRE MAYBE MORE THAN $10,000 WORTH OF EXPENDITURES AND NEEDED TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER.

THREE DAYS HAVE TO GO BY BEFORE BEFORE THAT CAN BE DONE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S SMART.

AGAIN, 5% AND $10,000 SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO GIVE FLEXIBILITY.

I'M CONCERNED WITH THE THOUGHT OF MORE TYPES OF EMERGENCY TYPE THINGS.

I MEAN, THE MAYOR JUST SAID IF THAT WAS REALLY AN EMERGENCY, WE WOULD CALL A COUNCIL MEETING TO HANDLE TO HANDLE THOSE SITUATIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW, OVER HERE WE SAID WE WOULD CALL A COUNCIL MEETING FOR THAT TYPE OF AN EMERGENCY.

SO WHAT ARE WE TRYING? YEAH, IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT OF THE BUDGET AFTER THE BUDGET IS PASSED.

[00:15:05]

I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT IN TERMS OF YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERYTHING.

I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THE MAYOR IS THE CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER OF THE CITY, AND THE COUNCIL HAS I MEAN, THE COUNCIL'S THE ONE THAT MAKES THE FINAL CALLS ON THINGS.

I MEAN, THE COUNCIL IS THE ONE THAT MAKES THE FINAL DECISIONS ON ON THINGS.

WHAT THINGS? WELL, ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

TRUE. I WOULD JUST SAY ONE THING BECAUSE TYPICALLY, LIKE WHEN WE DO LIKE WE WE DO BASE BASED BUDGETING OR FUND BUDGETING.

SO BASICALLY LIKE IF I JUST USE PD AS AN EXAMPLE, IF THEY HAVE SOMEONE WHO COMES ON BOARD, GOES OVER UNIFORMS, THEY MIGHT HAVE TO CUT COSTS SOMEWHERE ELSE. AND SO WE'RE MAKING THEM CUT THEIR COSTS WITHIN THEIR OWN BUDGET TO MAKE UP THAT.

SO BASELINE BOTTOM, THAT'S WHAT WE LOOK AT IS THE TOTAL FUND FOR EACH DEPARTMENT.

SO LIKE, YOU KNOW, SO PD, YOU KNOW, WELL SEE IF I CAN PULL IT UP HERE.

MAKE SURE I'M LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS $215,000 FOR THEIR SERVICES HERE.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T GO OVER THIS NUMBER IF THEY HAVE TO.

THAT'S WRONG DEPARTMENT.

BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING OVER THOSE THAT BASE NUMBER IF THEY HAVE TO.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES, TERRY COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH.

EXCUSE ME, WE HAVE WE HAD IN A FAIRLY EMERGENCY SITUATION HAD TO BUY A FIRE TRUCK FOR $1.13 MILLION.

BECAUSE WE HAD NO TRUCK TO GO OUT AND MAKE CALLS.

WE ALSO HAD TO PAY $40,000 TO REPAIR THAT FIRE TRUCK.

AND SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF RESERVES.

YOU HAVE TO MOVE MONEY AROUND FOR UNINTENDED SITUATIONS.

I THINK IN BOTH SITUATIONS, COUNCIL SHOULD BE SHOULD BE CONSULTED ON.

THERE'S NOT ALWAYS TIME.

IT'S AT LEAST AFTER THE YOU KNOW, AFTER THE FACT.

THERE'S THERE NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND I HAVE ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF ME, I WON'T SPEAK FOR ANYBODY ELSE, BUT IN FRONT OF ME, I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT Y'ALL KNEW THAT $40,000.

YOU KNEW ABOUT THE FIRE TRUCK.

YOU KNEW MAYBE YOU WEREN'T ON COUNCIL WHEN WE DID THE FIRE TRUCK.

I DON'T REMEMBER. I WAS THERE FOR THE COUNCIL FOR THE FIRE TRUCK, YOU KNOW, AND ALL THAT'S BEEN VERY RECENT.

BUT IT STILL IT DID HAPPEN.

AND IT'S IT'S YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME.

AND IF IF I HAD TO SAY, OKAY, TROY, CALL A MEETING UP.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I COULD GET A COUNCIL.

I MEAN, LOOK AT HOW MUCH DIFFICULT WE HAVE JUST IN GETTING A QUORUM OR SUPER QUORUM.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WOULD IT BE SATISFACTORY, FOR WANT OF A BETTER TERM, TO MAKE SURE COUNSEL IS ALWAYS ADVISED OF THOSE IN ANY SITUATION OF OR WHAT IS COUNCIL WANT ON THAT? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT GENERALLY MY POSITION FROM BOTH MY CORPORATE EXPERIENCES AND GOVERNMENTAL BACKGROUND, IF I GIVE X NUMBER OF DOLLARS TO PD OR FD, HOW IT GETS ALLOCATED WITHIN THERE AFTER THE FACT, IF SOMETHING COMES UP AND SUDDENLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TAKE MONEY FROM TRAINING BECAUSE WE NEED AN EXTRA UNIFORM BECAUSE SOMEBODY RIPPED HIS VEST.

I, I DON'T THINK IT IS PRUDENT FOR THAT TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL WHEN AS IF YOU LOOK AT THE VEST CATEGORY, WHICH MAY ONLY BE $900 IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MOVE $900 OUT OF OUT OF THAT, THAT HITS YOUR YOUR LIMIT OF 5%.

SO THAT WOULD HAVE TO COME TO COUNCIL.

I WOULD HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS.

I UNDERSTAND THE SPIRIT OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE MAYOR WOULD WOULD SPEND $1,000,000 ON A FIRE TRUCK WITHOUT BRINGING THAT TO COUNCIL, NO MATTER THE LEVEL OF URGENCY.

NOR DO I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD EVEN BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE IN THAT INSTANCE MORALLY, WHICH I DON'T THINK THAT IT WOULD.

[00:20:03]

THAT WOULD BE A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

YEAH. SINCE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WE'VE NEVER TAKEN MONEY FROM ONE DEPARTMENT OR ANOTHER.

IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WE WOULD BRING IT AS A AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

[INAUDIBLE] THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY IN THE FIRE AND POLICE HAD SOME SAVINGS WITHIN THEIR BUDGET AND THEY HAD, I GUESS, AGREED TO MOVE THAT MONEY OR SAVINGS OVER TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COVER WHATEVER IT WAS THAT IT HAD COME UP.

BUT THAT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS AGO.

I COULD SAY A LOT ABOUT PD AND TO GIVE UP STUFF FOR FDS BUT THERE'S NO POINT IN GETTING INTO THAT.

MY QUESTION FOR FOR YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH SO THAT I BETTER UNDERSTAND BECAUSE I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION I WANT TO FOLLOW UP WITH, BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE IT MENTIONS ARE YOU SAYING THE LESSER OF 5% OR $10,000 OR THE GREATER OF 5% OR $10,000? GREATER. SO IN THAT INSTANCE, LET'S SAY THE GREATER OF THE TWO, SO 10,000 THE MAYOR CAN MOVE FROM ONE CLASSIFICATION TO ANOTHER WITHOUT COMING TO US.

HOW OFTEN DO WE REALLY EXCEED $10,000 MOVING FROM ONE CLASSIFICATION TO ANOTHER? WELL, IF WE DON'T, WHY DO WE NEED THE ORDINANCE? WHY DO WE NEED THAT SECTION IN THE ORDINANCE? FOR THE ONE FOR THE ODDITIES OF SNOWMAGEDDON WHERE WE CAN'T CALL A COUNCIL MEETING.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW HOW WE GET TOGETHER TO DO THAT.

AND EVEN IN THE LAST SNOWMAGEDDON, I MEAN, AS DIRE AS THE SITUATION WAS ACROSS NORTH TEXAS, I MEAN, IT DIDN'T EVEN WE WERE STILL ABLE TO TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OUR SERVICES.

NOBODY WAS YOU KNOW, NOBODY WAS REALLY AFFECTED TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAD TO SPEND ADDITIONAL MONIES ON ANY ANYTHING ADDITIONAL.

AND THAT WAS THAT WAS LIKE THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

SO I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, LIKE, ANYTHING EVEN GREATER THAN THAT THAT OUR CITY HAS GONE THROUGH IN THE LAST 5 TO 6 YEARS.

I, I WILL ADD, AND THIS IS JUST BEEN MY EXPERIENCE AS, OR AS MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBER MYERS, THE ONLY OTHER SITTING PERSON WHO'S BEEN MAYOR PRO TEM, MAYBE SHE CAN AGREE.

I WILL SAY THAT GENERALLY IN THE DAY TO DAY OF SIGNING CHECKS AND THESE THINGS HAPPENING.

THERE'S PLENTY OF RESEARCH THAT GOES INTO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE AND THERE'S A TON OF QUESTIONS THAT GETS ASKED EVERY WEDNESDAY DURING CHECK SIGNINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT STUFF HAS BEEN APPROPRIATELY.

YOU KNOW, YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT THE $40,000, I ACTUALLY THINK WE BROUGHT THAT UP IN A MEETING NOT THAT LONG AGO, BUT WE DID DISCUSS THAT AS A CONVERSATION.

WELL, IT WAS AFTER BECAUSE WE HAD A FIRE TRUCK THAT WAS WRECKED.

AND YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR COUNCIL TO FIX A FIRE TRUCK.

UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THE MEETINGS AND THE ISSUES AND MY CONCERN, COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH WITH THIS AND I AGREE WITH I AGREE AGAIN WITH YOUR SPIRIT, I UNDERSTAND WHERE IT'S COMING FROM, BUT MY CONCERN IS LET'S LOOK AT WHAT'S ABOUT TO COME UP.

WHAT IS IT, SECOND WEEK IN OCTOBER? WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NOVEMBER AND WE CAN'T MEET.

WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING HALL.

WE DON'T HAVE A ROOM.

AND WE COULD IN THEORY CALL ONE, BUT WE COULDN'T EVEN HAVE A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING DURING THAT TIME TO GET IT DONE.

I JUST I HAVE BECAUSE WE'RE GIVING UP PART OF THE TRAINING ROOM NOW IN IN THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE WOULD EVEN BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING IF THERE WERE URGENCY.

YOU KNOW, I COULD SOME PEOPLE WOULDN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT.

YOU KNOW, THE ONLY ONE AND IT'S NO OFFENSE TO MR. OLSON HERE I DEFINITELY READING THIS DID MISS THE AND OR MAYOR I DON'T KNOW THAT THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR SHOULD HAVE AUTONOMY TO MOVE FUND FROM ONE TO THE OTHER. LUKE I TRUST EXPLICITLY AND I KNOW, BUT I LOOK AT THESE FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THAT I LIKE THAT WORDING IN THE FUTURE AMENDMENTS COMING UP BECAUSE THINGS CHANGE.

MAYORS CAN CHANGE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, IN THAT WAY, BOTH OF THEM HAVE TO AGREE TO IT SO THAT AT LEAST THERE'S A CHECKS AND BALANCES, IF THAT WOULD MAKE YOU MORE COMFORTABLE.

BUT I JUST I HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS WITH STRIPPING AUTHORITY FROM THE MAYOR IN THAT RESPECT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE EVEN CAN.

SORRY, MAYOR AND MAYOR PRO TEM SLAUGHTER, JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION ON THAT IS THAT SUBSECTION TWO OF THAT SECTION DOES NOT GIVE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR THE AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THE TO MOVE THE APPROPRIATIONS.

IT'S STILL THE MAYOR. THE SECTION FIVE OF THE TOP OF SECTION FIVE SPECIFICALLY GIVES IT TO THE MAYOR WITH APPROVAL OF CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND OR MAYOR.

SO STILL, IT'S NOT WOULDN'T BE MR. OLSON MOVING THE FUNDS, IT WOULD STILL BE MS. PETTLE. SO REALLY THERE'S NO PURPOSE AT ALL IN CITY ADMINISTRATOR BEING IN THERE BECAUSE THE MAYOR GETS TO APPROVE THE MAYOR MOVING THE FUNDS.

TERRY BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT.

DO WE EVEN NEED SECTION FIVE? YEAH. HERE'S MY, I GUESS, DILEMMA THAT I HAVE WITH THIS IS AND AGAIN, I'M NOT I'M NOT LOOKING AT THIS FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE HAS EVER GONE

[00:25:08]

BUT THE POINT BEING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A POLICY AND AGAIN, THIS COMES FROM MY 30 PLUS YEARS IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY WHERE THE POLICIES THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW WITH AUTOMOTIVE, AEROSPACE AND MEDICAL ARE EXTREMELY TIGHT BECAUSE BIG LAWSUITS HAPPEN WHEN YOU DON'T FOLLOW PROCEDURES.

AND SO WHAT I'M SAYING HERE IS DO WHAT YOU SAY, SAY WHAT YOU DO.

SO THE BOTTOM LINE HERE, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, IS THAT WE'VE BEEN DEBATING THIS FOR LIKE 10 OR 15 MINUTES NOW BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING VERSUS WHAT'S IN THE WORDS HERE.

AND IN MY OPINION, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT DISCONNECTED.

SO I'M FINE WITH WHAT WE DO.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE IT DOCUMENTED IN THE WAY WE DO IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF OVERSIGHT.

AND THE OTHER THING THAT BUGGED ME TOO, IS AS FAR AS THE OVERSIGHT OF THE BUDGET IS CONCERNED, I THINK THAT AS A COUNCIL, AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THAT'S MY JOB.

SO IF THERE IS A LINE ITEM THAT WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON FOR SOME REASON, AND THEN WE FIND OUT ABOUT THAT, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN OVERSEER OF THAT.

THAT'S THAT'S THAT'S THE JOB THAT WE TOOK ON HERE.

BUT ANYWAY, BUT ALL I'M SAYING IS THAT LET'S, LET'S DO WHAT WE SAY, SAY WHAT WE DO AND HAVE IT HAVE IT TIDIED UP SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY AMBIGUITY HERE.

THAT'S JUST THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

AND I AGREE WITH, WITH WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

HOWEVER, WHAT I SEE IS THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MIGHT COME UP AND WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE WHAT MAY COME UP. AND LET ME JUST THROW SOMETHING OUT.

AND IT'S I THINK THIS WON'T HAPPEN BECAUSE I THINK WE HAVE COVERED.

BUT IN THE PAST, IF WE HAD A WHEN WE HAD A THE FREEZE FOR A LONG TIME, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF THE WATER TOWER FREEZING.

WELL, THE ROADS ARE ICE.

NOBODY CAN GET TO A MEETING.

IT WOULD TAKE 72 HOURS AND SOMETHING HAD TO BE LET'S HYPOTHETICALLY, SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE AND IT COSTS MORE THAN $10,000.

DO WE SIT AROUND AND WAIT FOR THE WATER TOWER TO FREEZE OR SHOULD WE GIVE, YOU KNOW, IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE MAYOR THE POWER TO MOVE FUNDS? IT'S NOT WHAT NORMALLY HAPPENS.

IT'S THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY COME UP, YOU KNOW, ONCE IN A LIFETIME.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE WAY THIS IS WRITTEN, THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE IN THE PAST, WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM AND MAYBE RAISE THE THRESHOLD FROM $10,000 TO SOMETHING MORE SIGNIFICANT.

BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT CALLING A COUNCIL MEETING, TAKING 72 HOURS TO CALL A COUNCIL MEETING AND THEN CAN PEOPLE SHOW UP IN 72 HOURS? WE REALLY DON'T KNOW THAT.

IN THE MEANTIME, I MEAN, WE CAN'T ANTICIPATE WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN DOWN THE ROAD.

SO THAT'S MY CONCERN.

SO WHAT IF WE UPPED THE THRESHOLD TO $25,000? WOULD THAT BE A MORE REASONABLE THRESHOLD TO HAVE? IT'S HARD TO SAY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT THE THRESHOLD AMOUNT.

I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT'S A SITUATION THAT MAY ARISE THAT CAUSES THE AMOUNT TO INCREASE.

SO IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MEET TO DECIDE ON, YOU KNOW, ON THE INCREASE OR THE BUDGET ITEM BEING MOVED OR WHATNOT, THEN THAT'S TO ME, THAT'S MORE OF A CONCERN THAN THE ACTUAL WHETHER IT'S $10,000 OR $25,000 OR $100,000 AT THAT POINT.

WELL, THE SITUATION IS WHAT'S GOING TO DICTATE THE MEETING TO BEGIN WITH.

RIGHT. THE PROBLEM IS, IS I THINK THERE ARE PROVISIONS THAT ALLOW US TO FOREGO THE 72 HOURS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.

CORRECT. RIGHT.

IN EVENT OF A CATASTROPHE.

THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT CATASTROPHE COULD BE AT MIDNIGHT AND SOMEBODY IS ON THE PHONE.

AND I DON'T WANT THE MAYOR EVER SCARED OF BEING ABLE TO SAY, THAW THAT WATER TOWER, FIX THE FIRE TRUCK, TOW IT OUT OF THE SCENE, DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. AND THAT WOULD BE MY MY PRIME CONCERN THERE AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE EVEN GOTTEN THE CLARIFICATION FROM FOR MR. LANSFORD, IF WE CAN EVEN PUT THAT TYPE OF STIPULATION.

BEING CHIEF BUDGET OFFICER DOES FALL ON THE MAYOR.

I MEAN, WE GET THE AUTHORITY TO VOTE.

SHE'S TECHNICALLY A NON-VOTING MEMBER.

MOST TIMES OUR 30 COMES FROM OUR ABILITY TO VOTE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN TAKE THAT AUTHORITIES AWAY FROM THE MAYOR IF BY EVEN MAKING THIS CHANGE.

I MEAN, YOU COULD MAKE A CHANGE LIKE THIS.

TO DO THE QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT DO WE NEED SECTION FIVE AT ALL?

[00:30:02]

IT'S NOT IT'S NOT THAT THE CHANGES THEMSELVES, THE LITTLE CHANGES DON'T HAPPEN OFTEN.

MR. SAVAGE, YOU COULD PROBABLY SPEAK TO HOW OFTEN THOSE MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN, BUT I THINK THOSE ARE I THINK THOSE ARE MORE ROUTINE AND DO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN.

IT WAS YOUR ANSWER WAS TO THE GREAT HIGH EXPENDITURES DON'T HAPPEN OFTEN SO BUT FOR THOSE LITTLE ONES YOU WOULD NEED A SECTION LIKE THIS.

CORRECT. SO WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO IS NOT WITHIN A ONE DEPARTMENT IT'S BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.

WITHIN A DEPARTMENT. ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S THERE'S BUDGET TRANSFERS ALMOST ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

AND I WILL SAY THAT THAT'S ALMOST A TOOL.

IF YOU WERE TO LIMIT A TRANSFER OR WITHIN A DEPARTMENT, YOU TOLD THE DEPARTMENT HEAD, IF YOU HAVE TO MOVE MONEY FROM ONE ACCOUNT TO THE OTHER, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE COUNCIL ACTION.

I THINK IN THEIR MINDSET THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, I'VE GOT TO DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT, THEN I'M GOING TO SPEND ALL THE MONEY AND ALL THE COUNTS AND THEN WHATEVER I GO OVER ON, I'LL BRING THAT TO COUNCIL.

RIGHT NOW THE MINDSET IS I HAVE TO LEAVE.

I HAVE TO BE CONSERVATIVE WITH MY ACCOUNT BECAUSE IF SOMETHING COMES UP, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COVER THAT.

BUT IF IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A COUNCIL ACTION, I THINK THE MINDSET IS GOING TO BE WELL.

SO I'M NOT TOO HAPPY TO FIND THAT WITHIN MY BUDGET.

I'LL JUST GO TO THE COUNCIL AND ASK FOR [INAUDIBLE].

SO I THINK [INAUDIBLE] REALLY GOOD ABOUT CONSERVING MONEY THAT WAIT UNTIL THE SPENDING TO SEE IF THEY WERE TO COME UP.

YEAH. ONE OTHER THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS IN THE PHRASE, AND GOD FORBID WE EVER HAVE ANOTHER FREEZE LIKE THAT, WE DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY. MOST OF US DIDN'T HAVE TELEPHONES.

I MEAN, WE WERE DOING WHAT WE COULD THE BEST WAY WE COULD.

AND IN THAT TYPE OF SITUATION, I DON'T SEE WHERE I COULD STOP AND EVEN MAKE A PHONE CALL TO TRY TO GET ALL OF COUNCIL.

AND I'D PROBABLY BE A WALKING QUORUM, AND HE'D YELL AT ME.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SITUATIONS THAT I HOPE NEVER COME UP AGAIN, BUT I'D HATE TO BE, WHETHER IT'S ME OR ANYBODY ELSE, PUT IN THAT TYPE OF POSITION WHERE YOU DON'T DO SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY.

I THINK WE GO BACK TO THE SNOWMAGEDDON FREEZEMAGEDDON, WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT.

YOU KNOW, I THINK MYSELF AND STAFF KEPT COUNCIL VERY WELL APPRIZED OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON DURING THOSE TIME PERIODS, AS LONG AS YOU HAD A CELL PHONE.

WELL, WHEN I GOT OUT OF MY PLACE OVER TO MY PARENTS HOUSE WHO HAD DIDN'T LOSE ELECTRICITY AT ALL, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING UNTIL FRIDAY, THE WEEK AFTER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ONCE I GOT OVER THERE, I WAS ABLE TO START WORKING A LOT MORE ON STUFF.

AND WE WERE STILL ABLE TO KEEP EVERYONE NOTIFIED, KEEP EVERYONE GOING.

THAT WAY YOU KNEW EVERYONE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND HOW MONEY WAS BEING SPENT.

AND WE CAN COME UP WITH EVERY SCENARIO IN THE WESTERN WORLD.

BUT BOTTOM LINE IS, DO YOU KNOW, DO WE NEED SECTION FIVE OR WHAT? WHAT DO Y'ALL WANT TO DO? SO WAS THERE A MOTION? WAS THAT A MOTION THAT YOU MADE? YEAH, THERE IS A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? IS EVERYBODY CLEAR ON WHAT THE MOTION IS? THEN I WILL CALL FOR YOUR VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR.

IT'S GOING TO BE A RECORD VOTE.

EXCUSE ME. I WAS GOING TO FORGET THAT AGAIN.

WOULD YOU REPEAT WHAT THE MOTION IS SO THAT WE ARE ALL CLEAR WHAT THE MOTION IS THAT WE'RE VOTING ON? I JUST ASK IF EVERYBODY I'M ASKING IT, PLEASE REPEAT IT.

[INAUDIBLE] THE MAYOR CAN JUST RESTATE IT.

BUT EITHER WAY, I'M SORRY.

SHE WAS COUNCIL MEMBER ABRAHAM WAS ASKING IF SHE NEEDED TO REPEAT IT OR YOU WOULD.

AND EITHER WAY IS FINE IF YOU WANT TO.

MADAM MAYOR, MAKING A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 822 APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO 2023 BUDGET AS PRESENTED.

OK AND ANY QUESTIONS NOW ON WHAT THE MOTION IS? OK. THEN I WILL CALL FOR YOUR VOTE.

MR. REID. I AM FOR, FOR.

[00:35:01]

MISS MEYER FOR.

MISS LYNCH AGAINST.

MR. SLAUGHTER I'M FOR.

OK THAT BEING THE CASE.

MOTION PASSES 4 TO 1.

THANK YOU ALL.

NOW WE ARE.

WAS THAT IT? HUH? THIS ONE. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, JOE.

MY MIND IS STILL ON ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING THE FOOTBALL GAME THAT'S GOING ON.

OKAY. ITEM NUMBER THREE, CONSIDERATION AND OR ANY APPROACH, APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NUMBER 823, RATIFYING THE PROPERTY

[3. CONSIDERATION AND/OR ANY APPROPRIATE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NO. 823 RATIFYING THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE IN THE 2022-23 BUDGET AS A RESULT OF THE CITY RECEIVING MORE REVENUES FROM PROPERTY TAXES IN THE 2022-23 BUDGET THAN IN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.]

IS THERE A MOTION OR IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MADAM MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 823, RATIFYING THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES REFLECTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 TO 2023 BUDGET.

IS THERE A SECOND? MADAM MAYOR I SECOND THAT.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 823.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NOT HEARING ANY.

I WILL CALL FOR YOUR VOTE.

HUH? I'M WORKING ON IT, BUT THANK YOU.

I COULD HAVE FORGOTTEN.

OKAY, THIS TIME I'M GOING TO START WITH MAYOR PRO TEM SLAUGHTER FOR OK.

COUNCIL MEMBER LYNCH FOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER MEYER FOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER ABRAHAM FOR.

COUNCIL MEMBER REED, FOR OK.

MOTION ORDINANCE PASSES FIVE ZERO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OK ONE THING BEFORE WE GO VERY QUICKLY, JUST FOR THE RECORD, BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING THIS ON ON TAPE THAT AREN'T HERE, I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE CLARIFIED THAT OUR TAX RATE IS DECREASING, ALTHOUGH ON HERE IT SHOWS IT AS AN INCREASE. WE'RE GOING FROM 36 TO 32.

BUT THE TAX INCREASES.

YEAH, BUT THE TAX INCREASES BECAUSE THE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE WENT UP, RIGHT? YES. SO THE AMOUNT OF TAX INCREASES, THAT'S WHY IT SAYS THAT INCREASES.

BUT THE RATE THERE'S SOME CONFUSION OUT THERE WITH SOME PEOPLE THAT THINK DIFFERENTLY.

I WISH THE LEGISLATURE WOULD CHANGE THAT LANGUAGE TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR, A LOT BETTER IF THEY DID.

OK NOT HAVING ANYTHING ELSE.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

IT IS 7:38.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.