07-29-2003 (City Council) Minutes MINUTES
WYLIE CITY COUNCIL
Work Session
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
6:00 p.m.
Wylie Municipal Complex—Council Chambers/Council Conference Room
2000 State Highway 78 North
Wylie,Texas 75098
Mayor Mondy called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. with the following council members present: Mayor Pro Tem
Eric Hogue, Councilwoman Reta Allen, Councilman J. C. Worley, and Councilman Chris Trout. Councilman Merrill
Young and Councilman Randal Shinn were absent.
The following staff members were present: Finance Director, Brady Snellgrove; Chief of Police, Jeff Butters; City
Engineer, Chris Hoisted; Library Director, Mignon Morse; Wylie Economic Development Director Sam Satterwhite;
Public Information Officer,Mark Witter,and City Secretary, Carole Ehrlich.
City Manager,Biff Johnson gave the invocation.
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There was no one present to address the Council.
• Budget 2003-2004
Staff Comments
Mr. Biff Johnson addressed the Council stating that when staff and council met two weeks ago to review the 2004 fiscal
budget, there were a couple of things that Council said at that meeting that have had some consideration and brought
back in the proposed budget now presented. He stated that the proposed budget still showed a decrease to a$0.705 tax
rate and that another building inspector had been added along with cutting the part time secretary in parks and a
communication piece of equipment in the Fire Department.He stated that the goal of making these changes was to not
affect services that are currently in place while at the same time prioritizing the needs of the City Departments. He also
stated that the need for the building inspector outweighed the need for the part time secretary in the Parks Department
and the addition of Fire Department Personnel would enhance the services they provide.
Council Discussion
Council asked some questions pertaining to services in the building permit department and their desire to improve the
time involved with the current work load. Mr. Johnson stated that the inspection time would be improved with the
Minutes—July 29,2003
Wylie City Council
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~--~- addition of another inspector, but that the time element also depended on the volume of inspections requested to the
City. He stated that another inspector would definitely enhance the inspection process.
Dale Jackson, Building Official stated that with another inspector and some additional assistance by another permit
technician, the inspection process could be even more thorough and at the same time more inspections could be
performed.
Staff Comments
Finance Director, Brady Snellgrove addressed the Council. He reviewed some of the highlights of the proposed 2004
fiscal budget stating that the current tax rate would be reduced by 1 cent and the Preliminary Tax Roll of
$1,130,974.581 had an increase of$201,727,976 over last years tax base. The increase in the tax roll will generate an
additional $1,335,570 in tax revenues. He also stated that there would be no long-term debt issued in FY2004. He
stated that the Fund Balance for the proposed FY 2004 would be 13.4%for the General Fund and 20.0%for the Utility
Fund. Mr. Snellgrove presented the budget planning calendar stating that there would be no called meetings to satisfy
the budget hearing process. All meetings will be conducted on the Regular Sessions of the City Council.
Mr. Snellgrove introduced Karla Stovall, as the new Budget Analyst for the City.
Council Discussion
Some questions were posed in reference to the fund balances and reduction of taxes. Mr. Johnson stated that the fund
balance had a direct affect on bond ratings and should be kept high enough to address unforeseen disasters as well as a
good bond rating. He stated that interest rates on bonds are directly tied to the conservative planning of the City and
focus is given to the amounts held in the General and Utility Fund balances. He stated that taxes are going down and
hopefully will continue to be reduced while at the same time attention to fund balances will be an ongoing issue until
they are at a secure level.
Staff Comments
Wylie Economic Development Director, Sam Satterwhite was present to address the council on ongoing projects and
new projects for the year ahead.
•
With no further business coming before Council the meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
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Caro e Ehrlich, ty Secretary
Minutes—July 29,2003
Wylie City Council
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