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.
Please note: These items are for discussion purposes only and no City Council action will be taken. The workshop session is for City Council and staff discussion. Citizen input is not permitted on this agenda.
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
The Sachse Police Department has participated in the Texas Police Chief's Association's Best Practices Recognition program since 2011. To remain a "Recognized" agency, the department must undergo an assessment every four years and meet 168 standards covering every facet of operations of the police department. These standards are based on Texas law, court decisions, and best business practices as identified by the Texas Police Chief's Association.
Of the 2400 Law Enforcement agencies in Texas, only 157 agencies have received the “Recognized” status. Only 44 agencies inclusive of the City of Sachse have been recognized three times.
OVERVIEW
During the September 3 regular City Council meeting, Chief Mike Sullivan (Farmersville PD), representing the Texas Police Chief's Association, will present the TPCA Best Practices Recognition certificate to the Sachse Police Department.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION
Presentation of the TPCA Best Practices certificate to the Sachse Police Department.
Citizens who wish to speak may fill out the attached card and bring to the City Council meeting or email to the City Secretary prior to the meeting.
BACKGROUND
Minutes of the August 19, 2019, joint workshop meeting.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the minutes of the August 19, 2019, joint workshop meeting.
BACKGROUND
Minutes of the August 19, 2019, regular meeting.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the minutes of the August 19, 2019, regular meeting.
BACKGROUND
The Finance Department prepares a report each month to update the City Council regarding revenues and expenditures for the City. Included in the report are unaudited summaries for the General Fund, Utility Fund, Debt Service Fund, Sachse Economic Development Corporation, and Sachse Municipal Development District, as well as an analysis of sales tax revenues received year-to-date.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
The City Charter requires that the City Manager submit a monthly report covering revenues and expenditures.
RECOMMENDATION
Accept the monthly revenue and expenditure report for the period ending July 31, 2019.
BACKGROUND
The City of Sachse currently provides fire protection to the unincorporated adjoining Dallas County area per a three-year agreement. The current agreement expires September 2019.
OVERVIEW
The main change from the current agreement is that Dallas County has increased the amount paid per incident. The change is from $420.00 to $450.00 per incident.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve an agreement the terms and conditions by and between Dallas County and the City of Sachse for fire protection services.
BACKGROUND
The City of Sachse currently provides ambulance and fire protection to the adjoining Dallas County Area per a three-year agreement. The current agreement expires September 2019.
OVERVIEW
The main changes from the current agreement is that Dallas County has increased the amount paid per incident. The new rate is an increase from $450.00 to $500.00.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve an agreement the terms and conditions by and between Dallas County and City of Sachse for ambulance services.
BACKGROUND
The City of Sachse partnered with Dallas County on a major capital improvement project for the widening of Sachse Road and 5th Street, from State Highway 78 to Miles Road. The project was delayed past its original timeline. Dallas County staff bid the project in May 2019, with Tiseo Paving Company coming in as the lowest qualified bidder. Dallas County staff requested that the City Council be briefed on this item before taking the contract to the Dallas County Commissioner's Court on September 17, 2019 to award the final bid.
OVERVIEW
Staff will provide an update on the Sachse Road/5th Street widening project. John Mears with Dallas County Public Works will be in attendance to answer any specific questions about the project.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
The City of Sachse and Dallas County are partners in the project funding.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the funding strategy for the Sachse Road Project and adopt a resolution affirming the City’s ability to fund its share of the project.
BACKGROUND
This is the second of two mandated public hearings on the tax rate when the proposed tax rate exceeds the Effective Tax Rate. The first public hearing was held on August 19, 2019. On August 5, 2019, the City Council approved a motion to place an action item to adopt a tax rate greater than the Effective Tax Rate of 0.682051 per $100 assessed value on the September 16, 2019 City Council agenda.
The Effective Tax Rate is the tax rate that will generate approximately the same amount of tax revenue as the prior year, excluding tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year. The proposed tax rate of 0.720000 is 5.56% greater than the Effective Tax Rate.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
If a taxing unit's proposed tax rate is higher than the lower of the Effective Tax Rate or the Rollback Tax Rate, the City Council must hold two public hearings in compliance with Chapter 26 of the Property Tax Code.
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct the second public hearing on the Proposed Tax Rate for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year.
BACKGROUND
The City Manager's 2019-2020 Proposed Budget for citywide programs and services was presented to City Council on August 5, 2019. Budget information was distributed for City Council review and consideration. The proposed budget has been posted on the City's website. A copy is also on file with the City Secretary and at the Sachse Public Library for public inspection.
This item is to allow public input regarding proposed revenues and expenditures for fiscal year 2019-2020. The proposed budget revenues and expenditures can be amended by City Council prior to adoption of the budget ordinance, which is scheduled for September 16, 2019.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
The budget document sets the financial and operational direction of the City for the next fiscal year.
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct a public hearing on the proposed 2019-2020 fiscal year budget.
BACKGROUND
At the August 12, 2019 Library Board meeting, the Library Board voted unanimously to recommend eliminating fines for overdue Library items. Current research indicates that overdue fines are not effective as an incentive for library patrons to return items on-time. Overdue fines also adversely impact children and elderly library patrons, which is counter to the mission of the Sachse Public Library to "link people to the world by enriching lives, creating community, and inspiring curiosity." In addition, declining revenue generated from overdue fines and the high costs associated with collecting overdue fines have led to numerous cities in the DFW-area eliminating fines for overdue library items. The Library Board also recommended waiving all outstanding fines for overdue Library items, as well as waiving a portion of older fines for lost or damaged items.
OVERVIEW
Staff and the Library Board recommend eliminating fines for overdue Library items. Instead of charging a daily fine for overdue items, the Library would suspend borrowing privileges for patrons with overdue items until the items are returned. Items that are not returned will be declared LOST after 30 days overdue, and the patron will be billed for the cost of the item, plus a processing fee. Charges for lost items will be waived if the item is returned after being declared LOST. The Library Board will consider an amended Library Circulation policy at a future meeting which would reflect these changes. The Master Fee Schedule would also be updated to remove the current fines for overdue library items. In addition, staff and the Library Board recommend waiving all outstanding fines for overdue Library items, as well as waiving a portion of older fines for lost or damaged items.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
Eliminating fines for overdue Library items will require updates to the Library Circulation Policy and the Master Fee Schedule.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the recommendation from staff and the Library Board to eliminate fines for overdue Library items, waive outstanding overdue fine balances, and waive outstanding fines for older lost and damaged items.
BACKGROUND
Historically, the City Council has conducted a performance review of the City Secretary every six months from the date of hire. Currently, the annual review of the City Secretary is conducted in September and the mid-year review is conducted in March.
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION
Conduct Executive Session as appropriate.