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

In 2011, the Sachse Police Department was first awarded "Accredited" status by the Texas Police Chiefs Association for demonstrated compliance with best practices in policing standards. Since then, the agency has been re-accredited in 2015 and 2019. In June 2023, the department underwent an on-site assessment by outside agency chiefs to determine compliance with 173 standards governing all facets of police operations. Out of the 2,800 police agencies in Texas, only 196 have attained "Accredited" status.  An even smaller percentage of these agencies have been accredited four times like Sachse has accomplished.

OVERVIEW

Richland Hills Chief of Police Kimberly Sylvester will present the accreditation certificate to the police department on behalf of the Texas Police Chiefs Association. Chief Kimberly Sylvester serves as an assessor for the accreditation program. 

RECOMMENDATION

Receive presentation of "Accredited Agency" by the Texas Police Chiefs Associations Best Practices Accreditation Program

BACKGROUND

During the 88th legislative session, the Texas Legislature passed into law House Bill 1819, which amends the Texas Government Code by adding section 370.007. This section prohibits political subdivisions from adopting or enforcing an order, ordinance or other measure that imposes a curfew to regulate the movement or actions of persons younger than 18 years of age. This law became effective on September 1, 2023. The City's current juvenile curfew ordinance was due to return to Council in August, however this was cancelled due to the forthcoming legislation. The purpose of this item is to repeal the existing ordinance in conformance with the newly effective state law.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the ordinance amending Chapter 12 of the City of Sachse Code of Ordinances titled “Miscellaneous Regulations” by deleting Section 12-1 titled “Curfew for Minors” in its entirety and by reserving Section 12-1 for future use.

BACKGROUND
Since 2011, the City partnered with the City of Garland Health Department through an Interlocal Agreement with a two-year renewal option to provide services to the City. The agreement was renewed and extended for an additional two years through 2023. It should be noted that this agreement does not suggest that the contract and relationship be altered with DCHHS for the food establishments, childcare centers, vector control, and the continuation to regulate on-site sewage facilities. This agreement would complement those services already in place with DCHHS. The City of Sachse continues to use Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) to provide all environmental health services for food establishments, childcare centers, vector control, as well as regulating on-site sewage facilities in the City of Sachse. This also includes assistance with communicable disease investigations and control for all vaccine preventable disease.
 
OVERVIEW
The purpose of this Professional Services Agreement is to renew the agreement with the City of Garland and the City of Sachse for Garland Health Department to be our Local Health Authority for the City of Sachse. The Garland Health Department would provide communicable disease investigations and control for all vaccine preventable disease and enteric illnesses identified within the City of Sachse for its citizens. The City of Garland Health Department will make available to the citizens of Sachse all immunizations and well child services offered to the residents of Garland at the same fees as required of Garland residents. This includes providing notifications of all occurrences of foodborne illness outbreaks, reportable communicable diseases as they pertain to food service establishments and childcare centers, and all cases of mosquito-borne illnesses that occur in the City of Sachse to DCHHS Environmental Health Divisions.
 
POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.
 
RECOMMENDATION
Approve renewing the terms and conditions of a Professional Services Agreement, by and between the City of Sachse and the City of Garland for the City of Garland Health Department, to provide immunizations, well child health care, and communicable disease investigation services for the City of Sachse.

BACKGROUND

In the FY 2022-2023 budget, the City Council approved funds for the purchase of two (2) vehicles for the Public Works Department through the General Fund (VERF) and Utility Fund.

OVERVIEW

This purchase was approved as part of the FY 2022-2023 budget. All purchases of $50,000 and above must be approved by the City Council. The budgeted amount for the first vehicle is $55,668 (VERF) and the second vehicle has a budgeted amount of $62,147 (UF). The budgeted amounts for costs associated with the addition of a new truck bed, light bar, logos, and other miscellaneous outfitting of the vehicles is $4,212 for the VERF vehicle and $5,373 for the UF vehicle bringing the total amount to $127,400. The requested amount is under the authorized budgeted amount. 

These two vehicles will be purchased using previously authorized funds in the FY 2022-2023 budget. 

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Authorize the purchase of two (2) 2023 Ford 350 Crew Cab Pickup Trucks from Randall Reed's Planet Ford 635 through the Tarrant County's cooperative purchasing program (2022-187) not to exceed the budgeted funds of One Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred Dollars ($127,400) for the City of Sachse Public Works Department.

BACKGROUND

The City has two tax note issues outstanding, the Limited Tax Notes, Series 2019, and the Limited Tax Notes, Series 2021. Both issues are currently callable, meaning that the remaining principal on each may be paid off early without penalty. Staff is recommending that Council approve the redemption resolution, which is a legal requirement allowing for the early payment of the tax notes. Early payment of the tax notes will result in the avoidance of interest paid and provide future debt service capacity.

Financial advisor, Jason Hughes, will present this item for Council review.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations associated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve a resolution calling a portion of the City of Sachse, Texas, Limited Tax Note, Series 2019 and City of Sachse, Texas, Limited Tax Notes, Series 2021, for Redemption.

BACKGROUND

HUB International is the City's benefits consultant. Monica Blakely, HUB International, will discuss the renewal strategy for employee group health, dental, and ancillary insurance benefits.

OVERVIEW

Monica Blakely provided the City Council with an update on claims in July 2023, recommending we consider proposals for renewal of health insurance with Aetna as well as employee assistance program services and administrative services for COBRA, retiree billing, and flexible spending, health savings, and health reimbursement accounts which were due for renewal.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

HUB International recommends the acceptance of the following bids: Aetna for group health insurance, Alliance Work Partners for employee assistance program services, and Surency for administrative services for COBRA, retiree billing, and flexible spending, health savings and health reimbursement accounts.

RECOMMENDATION

Authorize the City Manager to execute agreements for various employee insurance coverage policies as presented. 

BACKGROUND

Senate Bill 2 added Texas Property Tax Code (TPTC) § 6.0301. In accordance with the new section, the Collin Central Appraisal District’s Board of Directors makeup has changed significantly. The total number of directors increased from five (5) appointed and one non-voting tax assessor-collector director, to nine (9) total directors.

Starting January 1, 2024, the Board of Directors will include three (3) publicly elected directors in addition to the five (5) appointed directors which are still elected by the taxing units that participate in the Appraisal District. Each taxing unit may nominate one to five board candidates. Appointed directors will begin four-year terms on January 1st of even-numbered years, and elected directors will begin four-year terms on January 1st of odd-numbered years. Another significant change in this new section is that the tax assessor collector is now an ex-officio member. Unfortunately, the bill is not clear as to whether or not the tax assessor-collector is a voting director, but with nine (9) directors, the assumption until further notice, is that they will be allowed to vote to avoid tie votes.

OVERVIEW

The process for electing the District’s Board of Directors is outlined in the Texas Property Tax Code (TPTC) § 6.03. The deadline dates for the election are statutory and controlled by TPTC § 6.03.

To be eligible to serve on the board, an individual must be a resident of the district and must have resided in the district for at least two years immediately preceding the date they take office.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Consider a resolution nominating _________________________ as candidate(s) to the Board of Directors of the Collin Central Appraisal District.

BACKGROUND

In accordance with the Texas Property Tax Code, Section 6.03, requires that an election or appointment of members to the Board of Directors of an appraisal district be conducted in odd numbered years. 

The Property Tax Code specifies the qualifications for membership to the Board of Directors which includes that the member must be a resident within the DCAD for at least two years, may be an elected official of an agency represented by the DCAD, cannot be an employee of any agency represented by the DCAD, cannot be related within the second degree by consanguinity or affinity, and cannot own property on which delinquent taxes have been owed to a taxing unit for more than 60 days. A member is considered ineligible if the individual has engaged in the business of appraising property for compensation for use in proceedings under this title or of representing property owners for compensation in proceedings under this title in the appraisal district at any time during the preceding five years.

Each of the incorporated cities and towns, except the City of Dallas, shall have the right to nominate by official resolution one (1) candidate as a member to the Board. The said cities and towns shall, from among the nominations received, elect by a majority vote, with each city and town being entitled to one (1) vote, a member to the Board of Directors.

OVERVIEW

The City Council has the option to nominate an existing Board member(s) or an individual that meets the qualifications. The nominating process deadline is October 16, 2023, with this item returning to the City Council by December 15 to cast its official vote.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item.

RECOMMENDATION

Consider approval of a resolution nominating ________ to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Central Appraisal District.

BACKGROUND

The Fiscal Year 2022-2034 Budget, including the 2022-2023 Capital Improvement Plan, was adopted by Council on September 6, 2022, and amended on April 3, 2023. The Sachse Charter allows Council to amend or change the budget to provide for additional expense and this routinely occurs through-out the fiscal year. Several budget and Capital Improvement Plan amendments have been identified for the current fiscal year and shall become an attachment to the original Budget upon Council approval.

OVERVIEW

Budget and Capital Improvement Plan adjustments are shown below by fund:

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

According to Section 7.09 of the City Charter, "Under conditions which may arise and which could not reasonably have been foreseen in the normal process of planning the budget, the city council may, by a majority vote of the full membership, amend or change the budget to provide for any additional expense in which the general welfare of the citizenry is involved. These amendments shall be by ordinance, and shall become an attachment to the original budget."

RECOMMENDATION

Approve an ordinance authorizing certain Budget and Capital Improvement Plan amendments pertaining to the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan.

BACKGROUND

This public hearing is regarding the 2023 tax rate to generate sufficient revenues as required in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget. The tax rate consists of two components: the Debt Service (I&S) rate of $0.194207 and the Maintenance & Operation (M&O) rate of $0.456209. Both of the components of the rate are unchanged from the prior fiscal year. The total tax rate of $0.650416 to consider reflects no change from the prior year tax rate.

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

Comprehensive Financial Management Policy states that the City Council shall hold public hearings in accordance with the City Charter and Sate Law.

RECOMMENDATION

Conduct a public hearing to consider ad valorem taxes for the year 2023 (Fiscal Year 2023-2024) at a rate of $0.650416 per one hundred dollars ($100) assessed valuation on all taxable property within the corporate limits of the City of Sachse as of January 1, 2024.

BACKGROUND

On September 5, in accordance with Section 7.05 of the City Charter, the City held a public hearing on the proposed budget of programs and services for the ensuing year. In accordance with Section 7.06 of the City Charter, after the public hearing, the City Council shall analyze the budget, making any additions or deletions which they feel appropriate, and shall, at least ten days prior to the next fiscal year, adopt the budget by a favorable majority vote of the full membership of the City Council. Final adoption of the budget by the City Council shall constitute the official appropriations as proposed by the City Manager for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2024.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

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

The proposed tax rate is $0.650416 per $100 assessed value.

Changes since the Proposed Budget as provided on August 15 include the following:

Health Insurance

While awaiting final cost calculations, the Proposed Budget reflected health insurance costs at the maximum allowed 13% rate increase. Final cost calculations are now received, reflecting a year-over-year rate increase of 9.91%. This reflects an expenditure savings in the budget amounts presented for adoption, which will increase the anticipated fund balances by the amounts shown below. Changes from the Proposed Budget include:

Tax Note Redemption

The City has two tax note issues outstanding: the Limited Tax Notes, Series 2019, and the Limited Tax Notes, Series 2021. Both issues are currently callable, meaning that the remaining principal on each may be paid off early without penalty. Early payment of the tax notes will result in the avoidance of interest paid and provide future debt service capacity. Changes from the Proposed Budget include:

Technical Budget Book Corrections

The new budget book format implementation and associated financial upload process resulted in errors, technical in nature, that impacted the display of expenditures by fund. The Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) was unaffected. Correction amounts by fund are shown in the table below.

The proposed 2023-2024 budgeted expenditures are as follows:

Capital project expenditures include the following, representing no changes from the Proposed Budget:

RECOMMENDATION

Approve the ordinance approving and adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2024.

BACKGROUND

According to Texas Local Government Code Section 102.007(c), "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 (Assessment), Tax Code, or other law."

Per the Budget Cover Page, the proposed 2023-2024 Fiscal Year Budget calls for $3,519,803 more in property tax revenue than the previous year's budget. The associated calculation includes revenues calculated from new construction totaling $1.38M. The $3.5M increase over the prior year includes $674K to Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZ) and $846K to the Debt Service Fund, leaving $1.99M as an increase to the General Fund.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

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

RECOMMENDATION

Consider ratifying the property tax increase in the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.

BACKGROUND

This item is to adopt the 2023 tax rate to generate sufficient revenues as required in the fiscal year 2023-2024 Adopted Budget. While the tax rate of $0.650416 reflects no change from the 2022 tax rate, the rate is $0.023637, or 3.771% above the no-new-revenue rate. In addition, the M&O rate of $0.456209 reflects a 3.55% increase over the no-new-revenue M&O rate of $0.440568.

This item requires a record vote, and at least 60 percent of the members of the governing body must vote in favor of the Ordinance. The tax code is specific in the form of making a motion to set the tax rate. City staff recommends that the City Council approve an ordinance adopting the 2023 tax rate using the required language below:

"I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of $0.456209 and a debt service rate of $0.194207 for a total rate of $0.650416, which is effectively a 3.771 percent increase in the tax rate."

State law requires the use of this specific language, even though this is the same tax rate as was authorized last year.

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

There are no policy considerations affiliated with this item. Texas Tax Code 26.05 states the requirements for tax rate adoption.

RECOMMENDATION

Approve an ordinance levying ad valorem taxes for the year 2023 (Fiscal Year 2023-2024) at a maintenance and operations rate of $0.456209 and a debt service rate of $0.194207 for a total rate of $0.650416 per one hundred dollars ($100) assessed valuation on all taxable property within the corporate limits of the City of Sachse as of January 1, 2023.