The Mayor and Sachse City Council request that all cell phones be turned off or set to vibrate. Members of the audience are requested to step outside the Council Chambers to respond or to conduct a phone conversation.

BACKGROUND

On June 7, the City received four bids for the Sachse Community Center project. Due to various reasons including high costs, timelines, and number of bids received, the City Council rejected all bids at the July 16, 2018, meeting. The City Council directed staff and Mr. Hobbs to look at some ideas for cost savings on the project that could be worked into the design and bid packets.

OVERVIEW

Mr. Hobbs is here to discuss the value engineering options, timelines, and bid process options that staff and Mr. Hobbs have come up with. Staff has taken into consideration the current economy, building material pricing, and the overall community needs in the value engineering process.   

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Receive direction from the City Council on the value engineering items for Mr. Hobbs to work into the design and bid packets, and determine which direction the City Council would like to go with the bid process. 

The Mayor and Sachse City Council request that all cell phones be turned off or set to vibrate. Members of the audience are requested to step outside the Council Chambers to respond or to conduct a phone conversation.

BACKGROUND

Minutes of the September 4, 2018 combined meeting.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the minutes of the September 4, 2018 combined meeting.

The public is invited at this time to address the Council. Please come to the microphone and state your name and address for the record. If your remarks pertain to a specific agenda item, please hold them until that item, at which time the Mayor may solicit your comments. Time limit is 3 minutes per speaker. The City Council is prohibited by state law from discussing any item not posted on the agenda according to the Texas Open Meetings Act, but may take them under advisement. Issues raised may be referred to City Staff for research and possible future action.

BACKGROUND

Conduct a public hearing to consider and act on a request by Tracy Burns to rezone approximately 1.23 acres of land from R-1 (Residential 1) and R-2A (Residential 2A) to R-15 (Residential 15) for the purposes of building an additional home.

OVERVIEW

• The subject property is generally located at the southeast corner of Sachse Road and Getha Lane
• The subject property is oddly shaped in the formation of an "L"
• The subject property has split zoning, with the top half being R-1 and the bottom half being R-2A
• The current home on the northern half was constructed in 1960 prior to the adoption of the City's first zoning ordinance

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

• The project is not eligible for review by the Board of Adjustment
• The requested R-15 zoning has higher standards than the current R-2A zoning
• The Future Land Use Plan supports the rezoning request
• At the August 27, 2018 Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing, some residents spoke in favor of the rezoning request; some in opposition

RECOMMENDATION

• The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the proposed rezoning on August 27, 2018
• Staff recommends approval of the requested rezoning and accompanying ordinance

BACKGROUND

On August 23, the City co-hosted a People with Disabilities Community Round Table event with the Texas Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities. The purpose of the event was to obtain feedback about the quality of services provided to residents and guests of Sachse with disabilities. 

Participants provided feedback through a series of four, topic-based discussion tables. With the help of a facilitator to guide the conversations, attendees commented on Public Safety, Public Infrastructure, Parks and Recreation, and the Library. Staff compiled a summary of the comments derived from facilitators' notes and footage from the recording of the event. 

OVERVIEW

Staff categorized the feedback into a report that includes compliments and areas of improvement, as well as short-term, mid-term, and long-term action items garnered from feedback provided at the event.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item. 

RECOMMENDATION
There are no recommendations affiliated with this item.

BACKGROUND

October is nationally recognized as Fire Safety Month. In recognition of this month, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) promotes Fire Safety Week.

OVERVIEW

Fire Department Staff will provide a brief history of Fire Safety Week and will share details about the department's activities specific to this week. Staff will also provide an overview of future programs, projects, community outreach, and public education opportunities. 

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

There are no recommendations affiliated with this item. The presentation is intended to provide information about the importance of Fire Safety Week and Fire Department interaction throughout the year.

BACKGROUND

In accordance with Section 7.15 of the City Charter, the City held a public hearing on the proposed budget of programs and services for the ensuing fiscal year on September 4, 2018. The required "Notice of Public Hearing" was published. In accordance with Section 7.02 of the City Charter, the City Council shall, prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year, adopt the budget by a favorable majority of the full membership of the City Council. Final adoption of the budget by the City shall constitute the official appropriations as proposed by the City Manager for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018 and ending September 30, 2019. Additionally, the General Fund budget of programs and services shall constitute the basis of the official levy of the property tax as the amount of tax to be assessed and collected for the corresponding tax year.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

This document sets the financial and operational direction of the City for the next year.

The proposed tax rate is $0.72 per $100 assessed value. The proposed 18-19 Budgeted Expenditures are as follows:

General Fund                                                                                $18,244,099

Utility Fund                                                                                     11,267,655

Debt Service Fund                                                                             4,466,609

Capital Projects Fund                                                                         1,205,000

Special Revenue Fund                                                                            70,390

Impact Fee Fund                                                                                  780,000

Street Maintenance Tax Fund                                                                388,000

Health Insurance Fund                                                                       1,635,757

Vehicle/Equipment Replacement Fund                                                    886,820

Municipal Development District                                                              455,000

Sachse Economic Development Corporation                                            767,183

TOTAL                                                                                              $40,166,513

The total amount includes $4,550,864 in inter-fund transfers.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve an ordinance approving and adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018 and ending September 30, 2019; providing that expenditures for said year shall be made in accordance with said budget; appropriating and setting aside the necessary funds out of the general and other revenues for said fiscal year for the maintenance and operation of the various departments and for various activities and improvements of the City; providing a repealing clause; providing a severability clause; and providing an effective date.

BACKGROUND

According to Texas Local Government Code Section 102.007, "Adoption of a budget that will require raising more revenue from property taxes than in the previous year requires a separate vote of the governing body to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the budget.  A vote under this subsection is in addition to and separate from the vote to adopt the budget or a vote to set the tax rate required by Chapter 26, Tax Code, or other law."

The proposed 2018-2019 Fiscal Year Budget calls for $776,121 more in property tax revenues than the previous year's budget.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

This action is a required step in adoption of the Budget and Tax Rate.

RECOMMENDATION

Make a motion to ratify the property tax increase in the budget for Fiscal Year 2018-2019.

BACKGROUND

Two public hearings have been conducted on the proposed Fiscal Year 2018-2019 tax rate in "good faith" to comply with Chapter 26 of the State Property Tax Code.  The public hearings were advertised and held on August 20 and September 4. The purpose of this agenda item is for City Council to consider adopting a Tax Rate Ordinance assessing a levy against all taxable properties in the City of Sachse for purpose of raising revenue to provide payment of current operational expenses and current debt obligations. The tax rate is comprised of two components as follows:

                                                                                              FY 2017-2018                                       FY 2018-2019

Debt Service (I&S)                                                                   $0.194207                                           $0.194207

Maintenance and Operations (M&O)                                           $0.553072                                           $0.525793

TOTAL                                                                                     $0.747279                                            $0.720000

The proposed tax rate exceeds the calculated effective tax rate for 2018 and requires specific language in the adoption of the rate which identifies the rate as an effective tax increase.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve an ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for the year 2018 (Fiscal Year 2018-2019) at a rate of $0.72 per one hundred dollars ($100) assessed valuation on all taxable property within the corporate limits of the City of Sachse as of January 1, 2018, to provide revenue for the payment of current expenses; providing for an interest and sinking fund for all outstanding debts of the City of Sachse; providing for due and delinquent dates together with penalties and interest; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an effective date.

BACKGROUND

The Master Fee Schedule is a convenient tool for citizens and customers to use to acquaint themselves with various charges for City services. The schedule can be updated periodically for necessary changes without amending the associated Ordinance.

The annual requested rate change from Republic Services for refuse services is included in the proposed fee schedule, so no separate action will be required for that change. The proposed fee schedule also includes revised water and wastewater rates that were approved by City Council in August 2014. This is the fifth and final approved annual revision to the utility fee structure.

OVERVIEW

The Master Fee Schedule amendments are considered annually; discussion occurred August 20, 2018. The fees, as outlined, provide the basis for revenue assumptions provided in the Proposed Budget for 2018-2019.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve a resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule by amending health permits, new home construction/remodel/addition; general contractor registration; preliminary plat application fees; printing/copying charges in library, three inch and above meter installation performed in-house; meter supply costs; refuse service fees; water and wastewater rates; and 5/8" meter deposits and providing an effective date.

BACKGROUND

Utility billing fees and procedures should be reviewed on a regular basis to remain consistent with the current economic climate and best practices in order to recover the cost of providing water and sewer services to the City.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

Proposed changes will clarify billing procedures to include AMI analysis.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10, "Utilities," by amending Section 2 "Sewer Service Fees," Section 3 "Water and Sewer Service Billing Procedures," and Section 6 "Regulating the Discharge of Industrial Wastes into Public Sewers" to provide for service billing policies and procedures.

BACKGROUND

Sachse, along with 171 other Mid-Texas cities served by Atmos Energy Corporation, Mid-Tex Division, is a member of the Atmos Cities Steering Committee("ACSC").  In March 2018, the City Council approved a new Rate Review Mechanism ("RRM"). The RRM process allows a longer review period and includes other features favorable to the Cities. On or about April 1, 2018, the Company filed a rate request pursuant to the RRM Tariff adopted by ACSC members, claiming that its 2017 cost-of-service entitled it to additional system-wide revenues of $42 million. Negotiations with ACSC reduced the amount of expenses to be recovered to $24.9 million, a savings of $17.1 million.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

The governing body of a municipality has exclusive original jurisdiction over the rates, operations, and services of a gas utility within the municipality.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve a resolution approving a negotiated settlement between the Atmos Cities Steering Committee ("ACSC") and Atmos Energy Corp., Mid-Tex Division regarding the Company's 2018 Rate Review Mechanism filings.

BACKGROUND

• The 2017 Comprehensive Plan identified the Use Chart as an ordinance to be revised
• The maintenance of existing ordinances is considered routine in order to provide a healthy and functioning regulatory framework that meets the needs of the community

OVERVIEW

• The Use Chart determines what land uses are allowed in what zoning districts
• Formatting changes in addition to a few line item changes were made per Council direction

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

• Is there any support for allowing drive-thru restaurants by right in retail districts and distinguishing them from drive-thrus that serve beverages? 

RECOMMENDATION

• Following discussion on proposed changes to the Use Chart, Staff recommends approval of the accompanying ordinance
• The ordinance is currently written to keep the SUP requirement on drive-thru restaurants, as directed by the City Council in July

Conduct Executive Session and take any action necessary as a result.