The Mayor and 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.

Those who wish to speak may fill out a form or email the City Secretary prior to the meeting.

BACKGROUND

Hunger Action Month was established in 2008 by Feeding America® and works to promote ways for individuals, organizations, and communities everywhere to get involved and help fight the hunger crisis. The nationwide campaign strives to mobilize the public into acting on the issue of hunger and help the more than 12 million children and their families who are food insecure. Locally, one in seven people or 14.2% of Dallas County residents, and 1 in 10 people or 10.9% of Collin County residents struggle with food insecurity.

OVERVIEW

Sachse is joining together with all of North Texas to promote and participate in the North Texas Food Bank’s Annual Peanut Butter Drive, either virtually or in-person, with the goal of raising 400,000 pounds of peanut butter. 

RECOMMENDATION

Present a proclamation to the North Texas Food Bank recognizing September as Hunger Action Month and the City's participation in the Peanut Butter Drive.  

BACKGROUND

Each year, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and EMS World Magazine announce the winners of the National EMS Awards of Excellence. These awards recognize individuals and agencies that demonstrate outstanding contributions to the EMS profession and the patients they serve.

OVERVIEW

On August 16th, 2023, Sachse Fire-Rescue (SFR) was named the recipient of the Dick Ferneau Career EMS Service of the Year Award for 2023. SFR is honored to be only the second fire-based EMS service to receive this prestigious award. The award will be presented, on stage, to SFR Personnel on September 20, 2023, at the EMS World Expo in New Orleans. SFR is excited and proud to represent the City of Sachse on a national stage with worldwide attendance.  

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item. 

RECOMMENDATION

Recognize Sachse Fire-Rescue for receiving the 2023 Dick Ferneau Career EMS Service of the Year Award.

Susan Bailey, MSEM, NRP, NAEMT President and EMS Director for the State of Louisiana, will join the meeting virtually to present the award.

BACKGROUND

Occasionally, as needed, City Council will cancel meetings that are near holidays or conferences. The listed meetings present scheduling conflicts and will be considered for cancellation. 

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations associated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Cancel the following City Council meetings due to scheduling conflicts: October 2, November 20, December 18, 2023, and January 2, 2024.   

The January 2, 2024 would normally occur on January 1, 2024, but would have been moved due to the holiday. 

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 the Sachse Municipal Development District, as well as a report of the year-to-date sales tax revenue.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

City Charter section 7.16(4) says the City Manager shall submit to the City Council each month a report covering revenues and expenditures of the City in such a form as requested by the City Council.

RECOMMENDATION

Accept the monthly revenue and expenditure report for the period ending July 31, 2023.

BACKGROUND

The Finance Department provides budget and investment reports on a quarterly basis to provide Council an update on the City's finances. The budget report includes revenues and expenditures for the General and Utility Funds, Debt Service, Impact Fee, Special Revenue, Street Maintenance Tax, Health Insurance, and Municipal Development District, as well as a summary of capital project expenditures. The investment report provides an overview of investment activity details for the Checking, Money Market, Investment Pool, and Certificate of Deposit accounts.

OVERVIEW

Quarterly Budget and Investment Reports are provided for the quarter ending June 30, 2023.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

Sachse Comprehensive Financial Management Policy Section VI.E. Capital Improvements/Project Reporting requires a summary/status report on the City's various capital project be prepared and available to the City Manager and to City Council.

Texas Government Code 2256.023 of the Public Funds Investment Act (PFIA) requires not less than quarterly, the investment officer prepare and submit a written report of investment transactions for all funds covered by the Investment Policy. The City's Investment Policy is to invest public funds in a manner which will provide the highest investment return with the maximum security while meeting the detail cash flow demands of Sachse and conforming to the PFIA, and all other State and local statutes governing the investment of public funds.

RECOMMENDATION

Accept the Quarterly Budget and Investment Reports for the quarter ending June 30, 2023.

BACKGROUND

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

OVERVIEW

The Master Fee Schedule is considered annually during the budget process. Water and wastewater rates were presented and considered during the 2019 Water Rate Study discussions performed by NewGen Strategies and Solutions. The City Council was briefed at the August 21 meeting regarding proposed changes.

After the presentation to Council, the City was made aware of a $60 fee increase for Dallas County Health and Human Services health inspection fees charged to the City. The Master Fee Schedule provided for consideration now also includes this $60 fee increase as a pass-through cost. The change is reflected in a Health Permit cost increase from $225 to $285.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve and adopt a resolution amending the Master Fee Schedule adopted by Resolution 4071 by amending engineering, health and sanitation, municipal court fines/fees, building permits and Development Services fees, refuse services fees, water rate schedule, water service connection fees, and wastewater rate schedule and providing an effective date.

BACKGROUND

Sachse, along with 181 other Mid-Texas cities served by Atmos Energy Corporation, Mid-Tex Division ("Atmos Mid-Tex" or "Company"), is a member of the Atmos Cities Steering Committee ("ACSC"). In 2007, ACSC and Atmos Mid-Tex settled a rate application filed by the Company pursuant to Section 104.301 of the Texas Utilities Code for an interim rate adjustment commonly referred to as a GRIP filing (arising out of the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program legislation). That settlement created a substitute rate review process, referred to as Rate Review Mechanism ("RRM"), as a substitute for future filings under the GRIP statute.

Since 2007, there have been several modifications to the original RRM Tariff. The most recent iteration of an RRM Tariff was reflected in an ordinance adopted by ACSC members in 2018. On or about March 31, 2023, the Company filed a rate request pursuant to the RRM Tariff adopted by ACSC members. The Company claimed that its cost-of-service in a test year ending December 31, 2022, entitled it to additional system-wide revenues of $165.9 million.

Application of the standards set forth in ACSC's RRM Tariff reduces the Company's request to $156.1 million, $113.8 million of which would be applicable to ACSC members. ACSC's consultants concluded that the system-wide deficiency under the RRM regime should be $130.9 million instead of the claimed $156.1 million.

After several settlement meetings, the parties have agreed to settle the case for $142 million. This is a reduction of $23.9 million to the Company's initial request. The settlement also includes an additional $19.5 million for the securitization regulatory asset expenses related to Winter Storm Uri. This was previously approved by the Texas Legislature and Railroad Commission. The Effective Date for new rates is October 1, 2023. ACSC members should take action approving the Resolution/Ordinance before September 30, 2023.

OVERVIEW

The impact of the settlement on average residential rates is an increase of $6.47 on a monthly basis, or 7.31%. The increase for average commercial usage will be $24.72 or 5.19%. Atmos provided bill impact comparisons containing these figures.

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 2023 Rate Review Mechanism filings.

BACKGROUND

This Interlocal Agreement includes Food Establishment Inspections and Environmental Health Services.  Both are described below:

• Food Establishment Inspections: The City of Sachse simply acts as a collection agent for fees associated with food establishment inspections. The food establishment pays the fee directly to the City of Sachse and the City then remits the money to Dallas County within 30 days of the monthly request for payment.

• Environmental Health Services: Environmental Health Services addresses Vector and/or Mosquito Control. These services only include ground application services upon written request by the City of Sachse to Dallas County. Ground application services are limited to ground spraying of pesticides by County vehicles (“adulticiding”) and application of larvacide to standing water.

OVERVIEW

This Agreement is renewed on an annual basis and requires City Council approval. As indicated in the Agreement, Dallas County will perform a minimum of two inspections for each food establishment and any additional follow-up inspections. The City will collect and submit to Dallas County a minimum of $210 from each food establishment and $105 for each additional follow-up inspection. Additionally, the Agreement also addresses the environmental health services associated with vector and/or mosquito control through ground applications. This agreement is effective October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve an Interlocal Agreement renewing the Food Establishment Inspection and Environmental Health Services between Dallas County, on behalf of Dallas County Health and Human Services, and the City of Sachse.

BACKGROUND

The City Manager's FY 2023-2024 Proposed Budget for citywide programs and services was submitted to Council and made available to the public on August 15. The proposed budget is posted on the City website at www.cityofsachse.com/budget and copies are on file with the City Secretary and the Sachse Public Library for public inspection. The FY 2023-2024 Proposed Budget was presented to Council at the August 21 City Council meeting.

The City Charter states that the City Council shall conduct public hearings on the proposed budget as required by state law and shall conduct at least one public hearing. At this hearing, interested members of the public may express their opinions concerning items of expenditures, giving their reasons for wishing to increase or decrease any items of expense.

On June 5, the City Council opened the floor to receive early resident and stakeholder input regarding the fiscal year 2023-2024 budget. The public was also invited to address the Council during the Public Comment period of subsequent City Council Meetings. In addition, the City also hosted a "Budget Town Hall" event on August 29 to provide an opportunity for public questions and feedback. This public hearing is an additional opportunity to allow public input regarding proposed revenues and expenditures for fiscal year 2023-2024. The proposed budget revenues and expenditures can be amended by the City Council prior to adoption of the budget ordinance.

The notice for the public hearing was published in the Dallas Morning News on August 24. It was also published in the Sachse News online on August 24 and in print on August 31.

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 2023-2024 fiscal year budget.

BACKGROUND

Community Waste Disposal (CWD) has served as the City's solid waste and recycling provider since 2019. CWD collects residential trash and recycling for Sachse residents once a week and collects up to six cubic yards of unbundled and unlimited bundled/tied bulk and brush once a month. In addition, CWD also offers two "X-treme Green" events every year where Sachse residents can dispose of household hazardous waste, e-waste, yard waste, and receive document shredding all in one location. Residents are also able to use CWD's search tool where they can enter their address and determine the collection dates for their homes. 

OVERVIEW

In advance of the renewal notification, Jason Roemer, Vice President of CWD, presented the City with a contract renewal proposal. That proposal includes the following contract terms:

• Changing the extension terms from two (2) additional three (3) year terms to either one five-year term or one seven-year term extension.
• Keeping the original cost adjustment to a once-a-year event instead of rate adjustments throughout the year.
• Updating the cost adjustment model to reflect the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks that are utilized in Sachse versus the diesel model contained in the original contract. 
• Converting the Sachse truck fleet to include "3rd Eye" video and safety technology. This camera system provides a real-time multi-angle point of view that documents CWD services and allows their customer service team to respond more quickly to concerns using camera footage of the event. 

CWD is also offering additional contract terms, pending City feedback and direction.

Lauren Rose, Assistant City Manager, will provide a brief overview of current services and the proposed terms under the renewal offer. Jason Roemer, Vice President of CWD, will be in attendance to answer any questions the Council may have.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

The City entered into a five-year service agreement with CWD in April 2019. The City is currently in the final year of the contract term. Per the terms of the contract, the City shall have the option to extend the terms of the agreement by providing written notice to the contractor one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the expiration of the renewal term. Notice to proceed with a contract extension or to select a new provider must be provided to CWD no later than October 4, 2023. This item is being presented to the Council for feedback at this meeting in order to provide sufficient time for discussion and direction.

RECOMMENDATION

Discuss and provide feedback on a potential contract renewal with Community Waste Disposal, the City's solid waste and recycling provider.

BACKGROUND

The 88th regular legislative session convened on January 10, 2023, and concluded on May 29, 2023. Governor Abbott immediately called a special session on Monday, May 29, to address two outstanding issues that were not addressed in the 88th regular session. That second special session was concluded on June 27, 2023, and a second special session was held from June 27, 2023, to July 13, 2023. The current proceedings regarding the Attorney General are not covered in this update.

OVERVIEW

This was a record-breaking session in terms of the number of bills that were filed. There were 8,344 bills filed in the 88th session. Of those bills 1,258 bills were flagged by the Texas Municipal League for tracking as they related to cities. For reference, there were 6,930 bills filed in 87th session. 

For the sake of time, staff will present information about the major bills that impact operations for the City of Sachse. The Texas Municipal League has extensive information about all city-related bills on its website.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

Some of the bills presented will have policy impacts as well as operational impacts for the City of Sachse. Staff will review these items with the City Attorney and will make required changes, as needed.

RECOMMENDATION

Receive a legislative update regarding approved Senate and House bills from the 88th regular and special sessions.