It's 7 p.m. We're going to get the meeting started, caught over the regular meeting, August regular meeting of the
District of Village City Council. City Secretaries are quorum. Yes, sir. And first we have the
invocation and pledge by a student pastor of the Church of Jersey Village just to
Johnson.
Let's pray. Father, thank you for this moment in time to get the
gather together and discuss the important issues in the city or we know that you care about
the City of Jersey Village we know that you care about this meeting and I just
pray to you with bless the efforts of all involved and we find common ground
Lord and may you just you bless this city going forward since you used to name
my praying amen. I just do a pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States
of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God
indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.
We're going to move right into the fun stuff today, the 2026, 2027 municipal budget and tax rates.
Adam, see one to Jennifer Brown.
Thank you, Mayor. Sorry. My computer is not responding. I'm trying to get the item pulled up.
So the first item on the agenda is receiving the 2026 calculations from the tax assessor collector for the no new revenue tax rate
and the voter approval tax rate.
If we could do public comments before.
I'm sorry.
Thank you for a much.
Yes.
It's not.
Yep.
No, it's got to be before this.
I was just going down the list.
And also, it's fine to do them after if there was a public hearing
for the because the budget public hearing was last time.
Yeah, we're taking actions.
They're going to have to be.
And there's only one.
Kimberly Annale.
Thank you, Tony.
My name is Kimberly Annale and I live at 1-5-601
Singapore Lane. As my 59th installment on tourist village, it may feel heroic to say no more
taxes, but then what happens to your community, the activities and camaraderie to secure because
there is no funding for services that make it such a wonderful place to live. Not many employees
who would want to risk losing quality career development, nor employee loyalty based on the
chance of a sharp and tinsel putting them out of a job. And not just in the job, specialty
roles that misguided by the roles and laws of the Texas legislature, because a city secretary
is not just a secretary. To help offset the need of county appraisal district-based property
taxes, the revenue from shopping and eating in Jersey Village first can be the cure.
There are approximately 200 places to shop and eat within the City Limits of Jersey
Village.
If you are not too sure, you can check the address on Google Maps or hk.org to make sure
you are patronizing locally.
The minimum combined 2026 sales tax rate for Jersey Village Texas is 8.25%.
This is the total of state, county, and city sales tax rates.
The Texas Cells Tax Rate is currently 6.25%.
The Jersey Village City Cells Tax Rate is 1%,
plus the Jersey Village Crime Control District's half percent,
and the Jersey Village Fire Control Prevention and Emergency Services District's half percent.
There are calculators that show how much your purchase is divided
from state and local tax amounts.
This may even help with the decision of where to buy from and have delivered to.
Enter the price without tax such as $50 times 2.8.25 total tax equals 53.13 of which
state taxes, $3.13.
There is villages 50 cents, crime control district is 25 cents, and fire control district is 25 cents.
When we speculate that with all the cars for sale parking lots we have, why isn't that helping?
Texas taxes, vehicle sales separately from general sales tax.
The motor vehicle sales tax rate is a flat 6.25%.
Only the state portion with no local city, county, or transit authority add-ons.
The total is the same whether you bind Houston, Dallas, Austin, or Jersey Village.
With the advent of online shopping, the delivery location is typically where the cell's tax money is received.
The cell's, the tax rate applies to your order will be the combined state and local tax rates of the address where your order is delivered to or fulfilled from.
These factors can change between the time you place in order or when your shipment is complete
as making sure what needs to be sent from where and where to as finalized.
In addition to the tax revenue distribution, shopping and eating with
interest village also increases the livelihood of these businesses,
making them more inclined to remain within our little town.
So although it may be more convenient to stop at a pharmacy and
pharmacy in your work, we have two close to home.
Even if there are several chain stores and eateries along your Saturday errands route, stop into our storefronts first.
It is quite nice when you become a regular at locations.
The employees begin to notice and remember you.
It really increases that small town vibe that we all love about your civilage.
Thank you.
Now we can move to the budgets.
See one discussion consideration resolution 2026-37 and the
calculations of the no new revenue rate Jennifer Brown.
So earlier this month we received the no new revenue tax rate and
voter approval tax rate calculations from the Harris County
tax assessor collector who is our designated
tax assessor for record and for actual collections.
So part of the section 26.04 of the tax code,
City Council needs to formally receive these
calculations from the tax assessor.
Included as part of the agenda item is the actual worksheet
That determines the calculation of these tax rates as well as the notices that are published in association with these calculations.
The resolution before you, 26-26-37 is simply just recognize that you have received these calculations from the tax assessor.
We've also included the certified estimate from the Harris County
Harris Central Prasal District.
They have not certified values yet.
They anticipate doing that in September.
And so we are conducting these calculations using
the certified estimates of value,
which is an acceptable substitute for the certified values.
And that would be happy to answer any questions.
So to clarify tonight, for this item in particular, this is not Council deciding on anything
we're just receiving it.
This is simply receiving, noting the fact that you have received these calculations from
the tax assessor.
Jennifer, just for purposes of explanation, could you explain what the no-new revenue tax
rate is and what the voter approval tax rate is, just in a general sense.
Absolutely. The no new revenue tax rate is the tax rate that levies the same amount of revenue as last year's tax rate on properties that were taxed in both years.
So basically it excludes any new value. It also adjusts for any lawsuits that settled in during the tax year 2025 or prior your refund.
And so what we had quite a few, and so that is all taken into account in the voter, in the
no new revenue tax rate.
The voter approval tax rate is you take the no new revenue maintenance and operations
rate and you are allowed to grow that by three and a half percent and then you add the rate
that is required to service your debt for the following year and then that becomes your voter
approval rate.
I
feel like this form has gotten a whole lot longer. Maybe we have a motion.
It has. I'll motion to a pervolution 2026-37.
All second. A motion that's second. All those in favor. All those against.
Brian, there's a little bit of delay, I think. That was in favor, right?
Yes, approve.
Motion passes unanimously moving on to C2 discussion and consideration of ordinance
2026-21 adopting the annual budget city manager awescent lease.
Mayor and councilors before you is a proposed budget that we've modified since the last
time council looked at it.
After the July budget meeting, council director has to look at it to add some items into
there.
They want to see some pay adjustments for some positions.
Staffings analysis as well.
So I reviewed the salary adjustment
mouth says you remember from the budget book
that was tentatively had barely finished
compiling the information.
So tonight we're recommending three positions
for adjustment, court administrator,
parks and recommender and public works manager.
Court administrators, it's 15,000 below public works
measures 13 and parks and recommender is 6,000.
Those total $34,000.
The six positions not addressed this year would remain consideration for next year.
Two of the employees were hired within the last six months and compensation adjustments at this stage of their tenure.
I think we can probably hold off on.
There are many four positions ranked among the top 12 highest compensated employees in the prior calendar year.
So I think we can look at those in future years as well.
We're also proposing to change in health insurance plans.
the bulk of that is later on in the agenda, but we'll save about $82,000 of Council approves
those changes there.
We believe we can complete the fire department sewer line project in this current fiscal
year, so that reduces the line by $75,000.
We currently have one position open for building maintenance.
We're proposing to not fill that for six months with savings of $31,000.
We remove some intern wages, and we've also authorized the over time and the streets department.
So all of those are approximately $200,000.
So the budget tonight still has a fund balanced
drawdown of approximately $7.86 million
for the city campus project,
which is a state-of-council priority.
The fund balances have been built up over the years
as a facility reserved for the construction
slash renovation of public facilities owned and operated
by the city of Jersey Village
as per resolution in 2007-46.
The city's fund balance policy requires a minimum reserve
equal to 90 days of annual recurring expenditures.
for fiscal $27, that threshold is $3. just under $3.8 million. The projected fiscal
$27 opening fund balance is just under $12.6 million. The proposed budget has a draw
down of $7.86 million, which would reduce the fund balance to $4.726 million. Of that
$85,000 is designated for the compensated absences, leaving an undesignated balance above
all required reserve amounts of approximately $846,000. So the plan drawdown keeps us
above the 90 day policy floor by approximately 931,000 with the undezing
aid imbalance plus the 85,000 compensated absences set aside.
So the final budget here is based on proposed
out, AdValorum tax rate of 0.817625, which is 0.003
higher than the tax rate for fiscal 26.
For the average homeowner, with the valuation of home with
$342,000, your estimated tax increase would be $20 and 48 cents
for the year for an over $65 that's $17.
I head to fiscal 28. We anticipate that that service rate to be decreasing by about .03 or 3 cents, which would bring our total tax rate below 80 cents for fiscal 28.
When the pool bond is put out for a vote and the voters approved that last fall, we estimated the increase in property taxes for this year would be about $75 for a homeowner with the residential exemption in 45 for anything over 65.
So we're saying well below those projections.
Public hearing was held on this back on July 21st.
Several changes, all of those are listed in the report here below.
The combined income statements are attached as well.
Final line item allocation report is in the packet for council's review.
Total budget, 97.56 million excluding interfund transfers,
with 58.67 million in capital projects and 38.93 million in operating expenditures.
Funding sources include 71.5 and 9 million revenues and 25.97 from fund balances, which is
for capital projects and capital replacement funded from existing funds, including the
bond proceeds and fund balances.
With that, happy to answer any questions the council might have on this proposed budget.
Also, you talked about the pool bond, and looking back
away from prior year projections, basically it was the as a result of passing the pool bond.
The debt service rate would basically generate or cost the residents anywhere between $64,
$177 per year.
So, we're raising, we are raising the tax rate by a very small increment, but not enough to cover the school bond.
I'm sorry, school bond. The pool bond.
Can you talk about that for a second?
Yeah, and Jennifer might have to jump in a little bit. She knows these are a little bit better than I do.
But we have not yet sold that pool bond, and we don't anticipate selling that pool bond until the next fiscal year,
So that we'll have the some rolling off parse and another piece of the debt service rate that we're proposing is
the bulk of our debt service will be from utility expenses, water and sewer lines.
And so we're proposing to use a little bit of the fund balance from the utility fund to covers the
to cover debt service fund balance requirements by policy.
And then, in looking through the information presented, specifically pages 30 through 32,
you had the proposed budget numbers, and then you had changes in the proposed budget
as presented this evening.
So, the items you mentioned are some of the things that you looked at, but looking at those pages, there are a lot of other things that you went back into the budget and kind of revise.
Is that correct?
For instance, on page 30, general fund, increase, add back file file, add decrease, adjust allocation to FCP.
No, I'm sorry, that was the same.
Did you make any other adjustments in the other funds other than the things that you mentioned?
And if you could, could you talk about those a little bit?
So we did make some adjustments mainly in the debt service funds and the utility funds.
We, since we received the updated estimates from our financial advisor, we incorporated the
more accurate debt service payments and transfers between the debt service fund or the utility
fund to the debt service fund. And then we also adjusted the tax revenues in the debt service
fund and the transfer in from the park bond. Are the pool bonds, sorry, into the debt
percent. Did you make any other adjustments on light item, for instance,
or are they pretty
much as proposed? Pretty much as proposed. We did adjust a couple of line items in the
capital replacement fund. We added replacing the generators at the water plants, which
was not included in the initial proposed budget. And then we reconciled our contributions
to the capital or a placement fund based on our vehicle and equipment replacement plan.
And so that there were some adjustments based on that.
Those didn't get included, didn't get entered into the system
and the initial filed budgets they didn't get captured.
And then we also reallocated some expenses to the fire control district
and to the crime control district from the general fund.
And so that's basically drawing down on those fun balances a little bit.
Yes.
I will say, as a matter of exercise, I like a little stress on the budget because I think
and I talked to Austin about it, I liked the department heads, I like the city to really
look at the budget critically and say these things we really need.
So I know it's, I know it's hell on you guys to go through that, but I think that exercise
as worthwhile. And I appreciate the work that you guys put into it to make it happen.
But I do like that a little stress on it. I think it produces good results.
I was just going to say as compared to, you know, year over year, you may recall that
a meeting or two ago we had a discussion regarding the over 65 of exemption and potentially
adjusting that. And as a result of that discussion, we decided to take no action to leave
it where it is. And at that time, we also discussed, and I mentioned, well, I would be comfortable
leaving it where it is, as long as the tax rate stays flat. In the course of, since May, we've
had discussions about the funding of the phase one, and going all the way back to December, January
of last year after the voters in November did not support the $21.6 million bond. As we're
deciding how to move forward, I was of the mindset and through this summer, it was of the
mindset that rather than using all of the reserve's access of the required reserve in the general
fund that we should look at perhaps using only a part of it and allowing the voters to vote on
a bond for phase one, because without additional funds, we would certainly need a bond
for phase two.
Notwithstanding those discussions, the consensus among Council was that because of the funds
available, approximately 8 million excess of the required reserve in the general fund, that
we would move forward with a budget that uses those funds and doesn't require a bond while
that's not personally what I would prefer to do. I recognize and respect that that's the
decision of other Council members moving more towards the pay as you go. I will say that as
a result of the budget meeting, which we had several weeks ago, the first lengthy one here,
and then discussions that followed including discussions between Austin and individual Council members,
recognising the residents concern over, for example, the having four firefighters available
on a fire truck that considerable efforts were made to make adjustments to the budget,
to try to do our best to minimize any increase in the tax rate. But at the same time, provide the level
services that are being provided. And I think that Jennifer, you and Austin have done a very
admirable job in making those adjustments. And I think that that dialogue has been very
good. One thing just as a matter of comparing last year to this year that I would advocate for
is before going into the budget season next year. We really try to cover a lot in that budget
session. And it's really difficult because there are so many departments, so many particulars,
And you don't really have an opportunity to delve into the real details.
And it might be an idea.
I'm just throwing this out as a suggestion, not as an action item.
But it might be an idea that before going into budget season, maybe in Q2, or I guess
Q1, I'm not in the first quarter of 2027 or early in the second quarter, to have maybe some
workshop sessions where we would take some individual departments and talk about what they anticipate.
the budget is going to be so we could have a more robust discussion over those issues.
But breaking it up, not trying to do it all at once, in that way, when we actually get
to the budget session, as we had just recently, I think we can cover more ground, because
we will have addressed a lot of it.
But at any rate, I just wanted to provide that as a recap, say that I thought that the
budget process this year went well.
Well, I understand a lot of residents' concerns about we don't want the tax rate to increase.
There is a very slight increase here.
We do have to remember that the pool bond that, you know, that's something that the voters voted on
and that will increase the debt service.
We also have to remember that we're living in a world where everything costs a little more than it did yesterday
and we're doing our best as a city to address and compensate people and pay all the expenses
and provide the level of services while still being cognizant of how that may stress taxpayers.
So I just wanted to say that and primarily thank you Austin and Jennifer for the work that you did on the budget.
I
do have a question.
I was going to say, thank you.
That was actually, I agree with a lot of what you just said.
Just a question, and I feel like we talked about this,
and I just don't remember.
How many interns do we have?
Right now we have two.
We're looking to probably add another one next year,
but we found a partnership that we can utilize
with the University of Houston where they would pay them,
rather than us having to pay them, which would be very helpful.
So there would be like three total, one, the city doesn't pay, and then the other two.
So the 40 that's listed in here is split between the two interns.
Correct.
It's more our base if we can get somebody to work a little few more hours every year than
that's kind of where that comes from.
question, I'm just kind of bringing it up, but I think this is something, I think it's too
laid, this is already passed, but there was discussion about adding a line item each month for
citizens to pay directly for trash collection and recycling fee. And I do want to say, pick you back
enough what Simon said. You know, I think Austin and Jennifer, you guys did a really great job
and working on the budget.
So I would say great job, Cudos.
I wish we could have got all the way there
in terms of not having to increase the rate at all,
because I made a commitment not to do that.
But my thought is if on top of that,
we also added that additional fee for trash collection,
which, I don't know what the amount was,
I was thinking it was kind of maybe say $20 a month,
or something along those lines.
My impression would be that would have been enough
to close the gaps.
I wanted to see if you guys agreed with that,
had any comments there.
My experience with this and I'm only gonna speak for my
experience. When you start messing with people's trash and their water you might
end up with a lot more or many more impacts to that than than the savings but I
understand the I understand where you're going with that but I because I
thought
I think trust fees are a good revenue source at some point, but like I said earlier, I like a little stress on the budget.
I think it forces staff to look at the expenditure side before they look at the revenue side.
So I think we still have some room on the expenditure side.
That if we need at some point in the future, if we need to balance a budget and we need to cut expenditures, I think there is still room there.
So, you know, the Oak Creek cliche, we don't have a revenue problem, we've got spending problem, we don't have any problems, but I like the exercise of looking at the expenses first.
Another thing, you know, at our last meeting we did all have a consensus that we wanted the tax rate to be the same.
Knowing that the tax rates comprised of two components, the M&O component and the debt service component,
with our debt service component increasing with a flat tax rate, it necessarily means that the
M&O rate will decrease. So we would expect staff to do more with less. So I did have some
discussions with Austin and we may have gotten there, but what I proposed was a flat M&O rate,
M&O rate this year as it was last year, and then increased the debt service rate to whatever the
that service is. And again, with Austin said, there was a, a $6.5 million bond that was approved by the voters.
There was a cost to that. And that will hit that debt service rate. So, a general question I didn't have time to look at it.
But is our M&O rate this year the same as last year? And is it more or less?
And what, how is our debt service rate as compared to last?
Last year.
Well, if you don't have it available, that's okay. I mean, but we've got to recognize that increasing debt. If we don't change the tax rate, it will necessarily decrease the M&O rate, which will decrease the operating expenses basically.
Sorry, I had the wrong version of my worksheet open so I was trying to open the correct one.
So what we're proposing is a slight increase on the MNO rate compared to the 2025 tax rate
and it is a slight decrease on the debt service component.
We are using some additional utility revenues to fund the fund balance policy and the debt service fund,
which by right, you know, more than half the debt service and that in that fund is going to be utility debt.
So it makes sense to have the utility fund contribute.
And so because of that, we were able to lower the debt service rate slightly.
Okay, so what deal we're all is 0.033, which is one third of one cent.
Is that correct?
So given in 2018, given debt service, given all the factors that you guys are dealing with, I think it's fairly commendable.
Jennifer, one other question with respect to the schedule of death service on page 43 because this obviously goes to the in part to the death service calculation or the death service rate rather.
So the 2027 rate that's calculated does that include the drawdown on the six and a half million dollar pool bond.
It does not. So because we have not sold that debt yet, we are not allowed to love the
attacks for it. So we are planning to sell that debt at a premium with some capitalized
interest that would cover the first year's interest payment. We would not actually be making
principal payments on that debt until fiscal year 2028. And because we are paying off the 2016
refunding bonds. This 2027 is our last year of debt service. So that is naturally falling off and we will
actually see a decrease in the debt service rate because of that even with adding the pull bond
in next year. So just those top two figures, the the 2027 debt service is 3.4 million and the 2028
with the drop-off is 2.5 out of 5 million. That'll be increased because of the pool bond,
but it's not going to increase it back to what the 2027 rate is. Is that a fair statement?
That's correct. Okay. Thank you.
Just one other comment. When Simon was talking, we were talking. He talked about phase one,
the project, and his desire to have a bond. I'd like to point out one thing,
that the money for the money of the budget for phase one is essentially coming from a facility
replacement fund. Years ago that fund was set up for this very purpose.
So we're not
drawing down on our 90 day reserve. We have plenty of excess money to handle emergencies.
But just to kind of reiterate that the money that will be used on phase 1, it's a city hall
was coming from a facility replacement fund and that was set up for this very purpose.
So that it wasn't necessary to issue debt that we could pay for
at a fund balance.
So it is by design.
And also when I looked because you said it was a it's 0.003 so for I think I read was a 342, the house, the taxable that.
I had all these page numbers written down and then I lost them, I don't know what I did.
342 pages 24.
Okay, so
there's a paragraph in there where you described that.
And I think, annually, that it was like $20 or something, the difference or whatever.
$20 and $40.
So, what I did
was I looked at my house and I looked at the taxable value because that's
what it's measure on.
And I looked at, I did the formula, double-checked it and saw what we spent in taxes.
This year and then I took the same value and went ahead and put the new tax rate or the proposed tax rate that's in the packet.
And the difference was maybe like $8. I think the increase is going to be $8 annually.
does that sound remotely close to you, Jennifer,
since you're the numbers person?
I'm sorry, can you repeat that?
My home, my taxable value, it's a little under 300.
So I went in and I took the current tax rate
and then the proposed tax rate, which is 0.003 above what we have now.
And when I calculated it, I had to do it a couple times
because it was only like an $8 difference annually.
So I'm just sad, like I did it right,
you think that that's sensible or okay, yes.
To answer your question, Greg,
you're asking about the 300's of a cent,
the split out between that service
and maintenance operations.
It's in c.7 on pages 184, 185 where it breaks it out.
and explains it. And then to your other point, talking about the facilities replacement fund,
that was a resolution 2007-46 that was specifically designated for, as you described, what
we're experiencing now with this new facility.
Any further discussion?
And there's a specific motion for this item.
In the packet, but it's
approved ordinance, 2026, 21 of the City of Jersey Village Texas stopping the annual budget for fiscal year beginning October 1,
2026 ending September 30, 2027, appropriateing the sums set forth their end in authorizing expenditure funds in accordance with the adopted budget.
Someone to make that motion is second.
I'll make a motion to approve ordinance number 2226-21.
I'll second.
I have a motion as second. I'll now call Pointing to Council Member by name to take a record vote once your name is called answer
I signify your approval of the motion or need to signify your disapproval.
Council Member Britain. Council Member. Council Member Hughes. Council Member Holden. Council Member Rossi. Council Member McColley.
Let the record reflect on motion carried if that is the case in motion carries, now we're
going to move on to C3 conduct, a separate vote to ratify the property tax increase
to reflect on the 2026 to 2027 budget adopted today.
Jennifer Brown.
Thank you, Mayor.
So, because this budget will raise more property taxes than last year's budget in total,
by $98,805 or 0.28. 0.82% and of that, 24,836 is tax revenue to be raised from new property,
added to the tax roll this year. Texas local government code section 102.007
requires that we hold a separate vote apart from the budget and apart from the tax rate
adoption to ratify that tax revenue increase and so that's what this item is doing.
It doesn't have to be a record vote just as simple.
Yep.
ratify it.
Recommended motion is in the fact that
I'm moved to ratify the property tax increase
Reflected in a fiscal year, 2026, 2027, budget has adopted.
Have a motion news, second.
I'll second.
Motion is second, all those in favor.
All those opposed.
Naked.
Motion passes.
Moving on to item C4,
conducted public hearing on the proposed 2026 tax rate.
Now, call to order this public hearing on the tax.
Tax rate increase everyone's desire to speak of the Syrian should complete a public hearing
comic crime present at the sea secretary. The purpose of this public hearing is to give all interested
part of persons the right to express support for or opposition to the proposed tax rate of 0.821375 per 100
of rate that is not greater than the voter approval tax rate. As a result,
Georgia village does not require to hold an election at which voters may accept or reject
proposed tax rate. This means the City of Jersey village is proposing to increase taxes for the
2026 tax year. I would now like to request the City Finance Secretary Jennifer Brown,
summarized the subject of this public hearing.
Thank you. So we are because the city is proposing
at tax rate. The published proposed tax rate was what you all voted on on July 21st,
the 0.821-375. That is what we're having the public hearing on. You can adopt anything
up to that tax rate this evening. Since that tax rate is above the no new revenue tax rate
of 0.00558, we are required to hold a public hearing. The notice was published in the August
11, or you remember what day, Courtney, that was the week before it was, it was the Friday
before August 11, I can't remember, the 7th, sorry.
We didn't get our calculations in time to publish when we normally publish, so it was published
on Friday, August 7th, in the Houston Chronicle, the notice of the public hearing and of
proposed tax rate, and at this time, at this meeting, after you receive and hear all persons
wishing to speak on the tax rate, then you may vote to consider the tax rate after the
public hearing. And if you do not adopt the tax rate at this meeting, then you'll need to state
the date time and place for action on the tax rate.
Thank you. Now you all do your best, but
County does wait till the last possible moment to get you the information.
Anyone else, desire to speak during this public hearing for the tax rate increase.
Seeing anyone else desire to speak, I close this public hearing on the tax rate increase.
And we move to item C5 to discuss, consider approval, the motion to set the tax rate for debt service for tax year 26.
general for real.
We have the next two items are to propose the two components
of the tax rate. By law we have to adopt the tax rate in two pieces. The maintenance
and operations rate and the debt service tax rate. The debt service tax rate
recommended to fund the budget that you just adopted is .152647 per $100 of
a
service tax rate go down from last year.
So part of that is the fact that we are shifting those funds over from the utility fund
to support the fund balance in the debt service fund and because of that we were able to
not love the as much on the debt service side.
It's about $300,000.
I understand that correctly, a balance that exists in the utility fund was moved from the utility fund into the debt service fund,
which, and routinely, there's money moved from the utility fund into the debt server.
And as far as the movement of the funds from the U.S. Fund, because...
Yes, so the debt service fund is supporting debt that we issued on behalf of the utility fund.
We have a fund balance policy equal to 10 percent of the following year's debt service,
so including the new debt that we're about to sell that component of the debt service
causes that required fund balance to go up.
And as far as the movement of the funds from the utility fund into the debt service fund,
that didn't cause the utility fund to go below the required reserved it.
Not at all.
I didn't think it would.
Thank you.
Any other discussion or the motion?
Make a motion to adopt a debt service tax component of the tax rate of .152.647 per hundred dollars taxable value for the tax year.
2026.
I'll second, have a motion in the second, all of those in favor, motion passes unanimously.
We go on to item C6, discussing considerable approval of the motion to set the tax rate
for the maintenance and operation for tax year 2026, Jennifer Brown.
So this item is to adopt or make a motion on the actual value for the maintenance and operations tax rate.
And so in order to fund the budget that you just adopted as recommended by the City Manager,
a maintenance and operations tax rate of 0.664978 is needed to fund that budget.
And I believe that I did not update the rest of this agenda item correctly, so I'm going to ignore that no new revenue,
M&O rates, that's not correct.
So you are not permitted to set a rate higher than 0.712332.
And so we're not recommending anything about that.
This motion would be for the M&O rate of 0.664978.
What do you think is pushing that M&O in your personal opinion of?
Is it just like the cost of benefits or increasing like things like that like little examples here and there?
So I mean, overall you all saw the increases that were in the budget this year. We are seeing cost of salary and benefits increasing.
We are seeing fuel costs increased and just in general things are more expensive today than they were last year.
move to adopt maintenance and operations rate at 0.6649-78 per hundred dollars of taxable value for 20 for the tax year 2026.
I'll start again.
The motion is second. All those in favor? All those against?
Nay.
Motion carries.
We're going to item C7 discussion consideration ordinance 2026-22 providing the levying collection of ad dorm taxes,
Jennifer Brown.
So this I keep thinking this is a touch screen it's not sorry. So this
is the ordinance to adopt the tax rate based on the two components that you all
just voted on with this 0.664978 for maintenance and operations and 0.152647 that
gives us a total tax rate of 0.817625, which as we discussed earlier was a 0.3 cent in 0.003 increase
on the tax rate. It is above the known revenue rate, but below the voter approval rate.
There is a specific motion that needs to be made in adoption of this tax rate and it is
I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.817625 which is effectively a 2.13% increase in the tax rate.
So however, makes that motion that would need to be stated that way.
In addition, we have statements included on the ordinance in the ordinance adopting the tax rate.
that says that the tax rate for maintenance and operations is effectively being raised by a 1.54%
and that that piece of the tax rate will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000
home by approximately $8.49 compared to last year.
And so our recommendation is for you all to
adopt ordinance number 2026-22 to that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption
of a tax rate of .817625, which is effectively a 2.13% increase in the tax rate consisting
of a maintenance and operations rate of .664978 per $100 a taxable value and an interest
and thinking fund tax rate, a point one, five, two, six, four, seven per one hundred
of taxable value.
Common clarification says I move that the property tax rate
being increased by adoption of 0.8176, which is effectively a 2.13% increase.
It's not a 2.13%
increase. It is in some world that the state, man.
Yes, compared to the no new revenue tax rate. Yeah, but but basically we're raising it one third of one cent
Which is
Much less than two point two point so I
Don't know if you can speak to I
Again begin to understand most of the stuff that's a state sends down. I understand what the end result is
But all that to say that we're not having a 2.1% increase in our tax rate
It's this language is mandate by the state and really nothing we can do about it and I don't know if you care to explain that or not classroom we can't.
So I just ran the calculation real quick.
The actual tax rate compared to last year's tax rate is going up 0.368 to 7%.
But because we have to follow the truth in taxation this is the way the statement has to read.
it's all based on the no new revenue tax rate calculation, which I confused myself in the previous
item regarding the M&O tax rate and the actual M&O tax rate, the no new revenue rate is 0.654883.
That's where it's getting the increase on the M&O piece, but the overall is based on an 80 cent
tax rate, which is, I don't know, I didn't help me much, but thank you.
I know.
It's very confusing and I've been doing this for a long time.
Far call when a lot is put down the state.
They basically don't want you to get any new revenue,
and the only way to not have a tax increase
is cutting services, cutting expenses,
because the real world, those prices go up.
And you can say you're going to keep things flat.
You're not going to have an increase.
But their calculations are basically
it's based off of what we would have brought in last year.
And the rate goes down because the praises go up.
And there's absolutely no way to get around the word increase
unless you start cutting core services.
That is correct.
You raise one penny of new revenue, then you're raising taxes according to the state.
The way I summed it up is that basically our SES value is relatively flat across as an aggregate,
and their tax rate is essentially flat. So flat assess value and flat tax rate essentially, statistically.
Anybody have the motion?
I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance number 2026-22 for the property value tax rate being
increased by the adoption of the tax rate of 0.817625.
So, unfortunately, I can't take that one.
I mean, that has to be worded by a red.
Sorry.
You have to read that big number that Greg was just, he did read the number, but he missed
the percentage increase. Read that statement. Okay. I'm moved at the property tax rate being
increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.18765, which is effectively a 2.13% increase
in the tax rate. Thank you. You have a motion. Now, call upon each member.
on a clarity there was a miss that was misread slightly said 0.187 it was 0.817.
Oh, thank you for the important.
All right, we're in get there.
I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.817625,
which is effectively a 2.13% increase in the tax rate.
and I'll second that motion.
But motion and seconds.
Now call upon each member for record vote,
which name is called, answer I,
to signify your approval,
the motion or native signify
to disapproval, council member Britain.
Council member Hughes, aye.
Council member Holden, aye.
Council member Rossi.
Aye.
Council member McColley.
Nay.
Motion carries.
We now move on to City Manager's report, Austin Blix.
Mayor and councillors, the report is in front of you.
Tonight, happy to answer any questions that you might have.
One thing that you won't see in the City Manager report,
but we would do want to talk council about slightly sadness
but to yesterday fire chief Mark Bitz announced his retirement
in January of 27.
We have a few moments with them. We'll have a transition coming here shortly, but I did want to make a council aware of his impending retirement.
I'm happy for you. I'm really sad for us.
Do we have to accept it?
That doesn't take constant action. Sorry.
So the police department, you highlighted your sergeants. So I thought that was...
I thought you did a good job in that. That was really good.
there's a tremendous amount of experience and specialized training in that group of residents.
Don't realize that or some don't, so I'm glad that you put that in there.
Public works. So this came up. I was sent an email about
It was kind of cute, but the water, the village drive, the water plant on village was shut down.
And we had a new resident, which I'm so glad it was such a good question, so I figured I'd mention it.
So we have three water plants to our working and supplying our water.
On Seattle and on West.
So I just thought if anyone was wondering where our water is coming from, we do have
other water.
But anyway, so I'm really glad that she reached out and when you have questions like that,
If something isn't clear, please feel free to reach out to us.
We're happy to find those answers for you.
Also, with this recently, is it selenium, selenium,
exceedants in that village water treatment plant?
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services is coming out.
Can you give us a little bit more information about that?
We know they're coming.
They're going to help us out.
going to do some investigations with us. I don't have the specifics at this point in time.
And does that cost the city anything?
No, that's a free service that they offer to communities around the state.
So they've got a lot of expertise, the whole educational program up there about that.
They help cities out, so everybody can get a little real-world experience and help cities in a
effective way? Well, I was really glad to see that. This is happening. I also wanted to
recognize another strongment at Jersey Meadow. The reports that the course has generated
3.5 million in gross. So, basically any remainder, I'm sorry, revenue for the remainder of
the year is net profit correct. I read that right. Okay, I'm just saying that's kind of cool.
and I saw her report on the Milky Way camps.
It's really a place to see that it was a success. So glad to see that. Also, I want to thank, sorry.
I would say the camps made a profit of $6,000.
Thank you. And Park crews, you're doing a lot of work, and if just want you to know, and what
I know that you guys are doing a lot of work on the scenes and we really appreciate all that.
I'll let you put into our city and I
also want to say that I appreciate the outreach
to prospective businesses and existing businesses looking to expand along with the restaurant week campaign.
So thank you to staff for actively working to bring outside dollars into our local businesses.
I think also the city manager report will move to the consent agenda.
The motion to consider the approval of the minutes from last meeting.
I'll make a motion.
I'll second.
The motion is second.
All is in favor.
Passes.
We want to regular agenda.
Discussion and consideration and resolution in 2638.
accepting the proposal of group health benefit services and authorizing the city manager to
enter into an agreement with SIGNA for medical dental and physician, Lori Capps.
Good afternoon, Council. So in order to remain competitive with the boy group health benefits,
we recently solicited silk proposals from vendors for group health benefits for medical dental
and vision. Currently, we're with the United Health Care for these services, but due to
fluctuation and rate to city opted to solicit cell proposals for qualified vendors.
We did this in similar process in 2003, where we got RFPs for help benefit consultants and help care vendors.
Our benefit consultant hub was responsible for these vendors, and then we got the following companies that responded to the RFP.
So, once these RFEs are with the submissions, we're brought in, we evaluated those based
on evaluations criteria, and then after those we are recommending to change medical to
envision to seeing that from your own health care.
I'm in addition to these changes, we recommend transitioning from a single medical plan,
so currently we have one, we want transition to a dual offering, like is an invoice flexibility,
to choose plans that meets their health care and on their needs.
So we have two recommended plans, one is they sing a PPO plan
and then the other one is a hadaductible plan.
Offering both of these, it aligns to the benefits that packages with current
market trends and it also gives employees flexibility and
select and coverage.
The recommendation dual option, it will help increase total
premiums. But approximately 6.4% compared to 29.2, renewal increase proposed by United Health Care.
So we're also recommending to change dental and vision insurance to United Health Care as well.
Dental had a approximately 3% increase. Vision was a 22% decrease. In addition to this,
is off, so offering $10,000 in wellness dollars to the city, and also the $5,000
technology and communication allowance as well, which will help cover some of those costs.
Overall, we'll save approximately $82,000 dollars across all funds for the upcoming fiscal
year.
Based upon this, based upon the review, the staff and hub, international, up-and-fifth consultant,
the SINGA proposal provides the best overall value balancing competitive benefits, employee
each voice provider access and long-term financial stability.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Really quick before we get into it.
On the resolution, on page 330,
so where it says staff recommends that the proposal from
United Health Care has that been updated to say Signa,
I'll look at it right now.
I'll make sure it's correct.
And just to clarify, that's just the wear as clause, that the section 1 and section 2 does say signify.
Am I looking at the wrong one?
No, the wear as does incorrectly reverence hub.
Okay, I just want to make sure we have the right one that's signing.
And Austin, in this packet on the healthcare, isn't that one of the adjustments that you made to reduce?
Yes, sir.
What's our total premium cost for health if you have health insurance and dental and stuff on the health insurance side? Do you have an annual cost?
Total like with employee contribution in city contribution or
Just total premiums regardless of where we're.
I can put that real quick for
you. Maybe.
So total health insurance is about 1.7 million for just the health insurance.
Let me employ you, so we just at 120, roughly 115 approximately.
But 115.
Did you have to shop around for that?
Were you the one shopping around for the health insurance?
How does that go?
Our benefit consultant does.
So the process is we sent out for RFP.
Those results come back.
We evaluate and then based on what they send us,
go back out and negotiate and that's how we get our final rates.
Now this is really probably you've done question, but is it similar where you have to go
for like a lowest bitter type of thing or is this something that you kind of go side-by-side
with all of them and then this is your recommendation.
How long have we been with United
Health Care? Two years. Have we had sign up during your term? No sir.
Is all of it a two-year
guarantee. No, so our medical rates will be a one year and then our vision
and dental is a two year term.
Austin, I'm sorry. this has a, has you
united cheer, premium loss ratio with us at all, and what were we? We were, I
have to look it up, but it was over a hundred, and a hundred and a-one. Don't
forget me on that exact, but it was, we have a high loss ratio. I'm sorry, a hundred
18. Don't put me on that exact number. It was over 100. I can look at it. But it's
we have a high loss ratio. So we're probably experiencing some market conditions
and some plan or some census conditions as well.
Yes. Okay. There's another discussion on your motion.
I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2026-38.
Oh, second. Have a motion.
in a second, all those in favor, most of the classes.
We've got a regular agenda item G2,
discussion and possible action regarding public
open meetings act.
The text is what it means act.
Council member Rossi.
OK, give me a second when you get to it.
OK.
So I'll go and read it, I guess.
Do you guys need me read it?
Or do you do?
OK, I'll just read it.
All right.
Texas government code establishes the requirements governing meetings, do you have a summary?
Yeah, that would be even better, thank you.
Okay, so I request these exhibits because Tom affects how all of us conduct city business,
rather than relying on anyone's interpretation, including mine, I thought it would be helpful to
have the actual law and guidance in the records, so council and the public can see what the rules are.
So,
so what I did was I submitted exhibits to Tommy, our city attorney, he looked over it and to make sure that everything was accurate and over to Courtney, so I don't know how you want me to
everything. What I try to do is, and I'm a former teacher, so I try to look at things
how, how is it that I would want to receive information, how would anyone want to receive information.
So first I put in a little overview of it. I understand that we all signed a certificate if you
would say, hey, we did the training, we understand Toma, and what I realized talking to
since I've been on council talking to people in the community and hearing a lot of questions.
I realize that a lot of people don't know why we do things the way we do up here.
And so, and a lot of it has to do with the Texas Open Meetings Act.
And so, I thought it was only fitting to put it on the agenda because that way we can all talk about it.
And I also put like frequently asked questions,
so things have heard people ask me in there.
And a little reference guide, if you want to look them up,
and TML, which is text-manusmalade guidance,
is sort of, once it's where I go to get a lot of information,
we receive emails from them, we go to things with them.
So anyway,
I just think that it's never a bad thing
to be reminded what we're doing and why we're doing things in general.
Yeah, coming.
I think it's good information.
And I think the public, the more information we can get, the public, is very beneficial.
Because sometimes it looks like we do things haphazardly, very unorthodox.
We're somewhat dismissive, we're all those things that we know we aren't.
But perhaps, I think there's two things I think I'd like you to address, however, I'd also like to say, perhaps this handout, this exhibit B, at a few city council meetings so that people understand what we're doing and how we're doing it.
And since they've frequently asked questions about the council meetings, it'd be a great
handout along with the agenda perhaps at the next couple meetings so that people have
a reference.
But one of the criticisms we hear a lot about is executive session and public comment.
People will stand up and ask questions and we don't answer.
Or we go in an executive session for a specific reason, do you want to talk about that at all?
Or do you want?
Well, Tommy is definitely an expert, so.
So I can, I mean, maybe it's easier just someone's signal when I should stop talking about
open meetings.
And this, going back to the budget item, you know, this is the time of year where I
sit in a lot of meetings and I apologize on behalf of the legislature for making your
ridiculous things that happen. I mentioned also like the problem in that statement is the word
rate because it's not a rate to rate percent increase and there's a lot of problems in
health calculated but open meetings is another one of those issues where in addressing, I mean,
transparency, open meetings is incredibly important but in addressing it, the great irony
is, the legislature has made it very difficult
if not practically impossible to do what a lot of folks expect,
which is, I'm going to show up at a city council meeting.
I'm going to ask a question.
I want that question to be answered.
And 90% of the meetings I sit in, the people that are up
on the dice, they want more than anything to answer
that question right there on the spot and they can't.
And it's open meetings that prevent some from doing that,
because because in the past there have been abuses of them.
And so they require you list the specific subject matter on the agenda before you discuss it.
And that makes procedurally the public comment thing extremely difficult.
And, you know, coincidentally there have even been situations, I was one recently,
where when some members of the public were asking questions and one council member said,
well, you know what?
Take off my council member had, and I'm going to put all my public comment hat, and I'm going to go out and I'm going to make a statement under public comment as a member of the public.
And answer all those questions. And the court said, no, you can't do that. You don't get just like a judge. Can't take off their robe. They're always a judge. Same thing with city council members. You don't get to pick and choose. Otherwise it'd be super easy to frustrate the whole purpose of the open meeting, exact.
What was the other executive session?
I mean, generally speaking, executive session,
the kind of the high level basis for all of the exceptions,
is, well, there's one, there's protection
of attorney client privilege.
And it's important to realize, you know, everyone thinks,
well, that's protecting a council member,
or a person's privilege, like it's an individual thing.
that's protecting the city's privilege because in protecting the city's privilege you protect
the taxpayers taxes that get paid to the city and that's that comes directly from the Texas
Supreme Court which is why not just they not just put a high premium on the importance of
attorney client privilege on anything I mean that's that's goes back 200 years in case of
But in the government context, it has an even more sacrosanct premium attached to it, because
the government's privilege is the taxpayers' privilege, and that means it's every citizen's
privilege.
So that's the, you know, when we're in an executive session under attorney client, that's
the basis for that.
There's a basis for personnel, which is to protect public officials and employees.
And that's for the public official or employee, just, you know, it's a public official or employee that's being discussed as the discussion whether they want to bring it out in the open or let them do it in the executive session.
It's actually not councils privilege to exercise.
And so it's that when they're in executive session under that, that's why they're there because the person that's being discussed would rather, you know, whatever the issue is not be aired.
all the other privileges generally relate to negotiations.
So there's economic development negotiations, there is real property negotiations, and
that same purpose with, that I mentioned with what gets attached to attorney client,
because it protects the interest of the taxpayers, protecting the city's position in
association protects the taxpayer dollars that are used ultimately in that negotiation.
And so that's kind of the source for all of the, you know, really three categories,
personnel attorney client, negotiations.
So we use executive session if we're negotiating a real estate transaction and we're talking
about terms and price and the details of that transaction, if there's a lawsuit and we're
discussing a settlement that needs to be confidential, that's an executive session.
So, it's not a desire not to be transparent, it's kind of to what time it says, it's to protect the city's interest.
So, but I think those are very good points.
I have for what it's worth, I've had situations where we've had a one entity that insisted on doing the RFP scoring process in a public meeting.
And because they did it in a public meeting, it made the negotiation, they just completely
frustrated it.
I mean, they had every bid, had every other bidders, number, against it, they had all
their weaknesses, strong suits, and so when they finally selected someone, it was, and
that's one reason they could have arguably done that in an executive session because of
what was being discussed.
they feel comfortable with it, and that is the purpose, it's there they end up selecting a really
good contractor for an extremely high price.
So that also just to add to the council members
or anyone really for that matter, excuse me, in the executive session is not to discuss those
matters outside of executive session. Yeah, in fact that's the highest penalty in open meetings,
It's revealing the contents of executive session.
It's a class B, misdemeanor, I think.
That's the, it's the highest criminal penalty attached.
And I say this all the time, because we can talk about what
the fine levels are.
I'm up to five years in prison or something like that.
No one is ever gone to jail for open meetings, violations.
There are some that probably should have.
But all generally it is a hefty fine.
I don't know if anyone that wouldn't gladly pay
every last dollar of that fine to avoid the news article
that comes out the day those charges are announced
because that article is always written
not from a, it was just a technical violation of the open meeting
that it is written as, this is public corruption
at its finest regardless of what was happened
And half the time those issues are not rampant corruption.
They are people just being ignorant of maybe a specific requirement under open meetings or a little bit loose with some of the processes.
So it's that the news article is what I always worry about the most, because that's the most unforgiving thing.
What was the other one you had? Was that the one?
Okay,
so I have the first question here is why are council meeting, why are council meeting agendas posted?
And I gave an answer and that kind of also sort of falls into that as well.
The quorum piece could you kind of give an overview about what that agendas for all the things about the agendas so we can all
Yeah, so basically open meetings requires you, the simplest way to put it is the legislature
requires that you tell people when you're going to meet, what you're going to talk about
and then when you meet, they want you to only talk about those things.
That's time, place, subject matter, discussion.
That's all that's required to be on the agenda.
But that is a lot, and the reason, of course, the purpose is, it's not a lot, it's
three, you know, time-place subject matter.
But the purpose for all of that is because the citizens have a right to know, the subject
matter that's being discussed, before it's being discussed, and the legislature has put the
I already on the right to know rather than the right to answer questions and resolve issues
quickly, which is that's the tension that we come into with the, you know, we have a question
in public comment.
We really want to answer, it's not posted on the agenda, it's not, it's not being answered
because the city can't, it's not being answered because the legislature says the city
can't.
At least not in that meeting.
We should do a pretty good job.
Our generous are very detailed.
They describe exactly what we are interested in doing.
No secret of a fan of efficiency and is having a goal and a direction we're headed.
I read this agenda.
I done a chat a little bit with Connie and have a direction that I think going ahead with it.
There's nothing on the item that says that we are going to adopt a resolution tonight.
So we're not going to be adopting a resolution.
I have a draft for us to discuss and then it will be next month's agenda to actually adopt it.
Because I don't want to characterize why you brought this up because I think it was for a lot of different reasons in talking with you.
And, but a big part of it was recently the town hall event, which, you know, you
know, I discussed not trying to rehash at all how the agenda was or wasn't posted.
But it brought up some consideration of how do we go forward and addressing the matter.
Even when you cancel my argument, he's not here, this is not at all for a specific council member.
it just brought up a fact that a council member can reserve a space using their position
at no cost to them. And that space could be used for a lot of different things. It's supposed
to be for their purposes and elected official. They can also choose to pay for it and use it
or campaign purpose, or even city purpose, they just pay for it.
But I wrote up a resolution that you've gotten for you to summarize it.
It basically has a narrowly focused trigger that when using the position of elected official
to rent a space, such as the Civic Center or the golf course or somewhere, and the event
is open to the public, then it is the responsibility of the Council Mayor to initiate a public
posting the event through the city secretary that meeting must be posted so that everyone can
attend. The problem right now is if you have an event but you don't post that event on the
city's website, on the city's building, then you are prohibiting member other members of the council
from attending that meeting and hearing comments from the citizens and so if we're going to try
to promote the best transparency and open communication and hearing everyone then everyone should be
allowed to attend. This does not exempt or preclude any requirement of the Texas Meet Open Meetings Act
and if a council member wanted to they could just pay the reservation and not post as long as
there's no violation of the Texas meeting act,
which is what occurred.
And there was no violation of the Texas
of the meeting act at all,
but thinking future councils down the road,
what's good policy to have,
good policy would be that if you're using your position,
you post it so that everyone can be there.
So, and I've just read this,
but it would still have to go through your review, though.
You don't, well, I just say,
we're not, I don't have any issue with this.
And one, I think, it's generally just a good policy.
Any open meetings question that I ever get that's like, should we post an agenda?
There are certain times.
I've been like, no, you don't need to post an agenda for a Super Bowl party.
And I've gotten that question.
I've gotten that question this year, not for anyone.
But the answer is almost always, why not?
It's right up there with like, do I need to take the oath of office?
Like, yeah, why not?
It's you don't ever get in trouble for too much notice,
and you don't ever get in trouble for too many others.
And it covers the posted agenda, covers it all issues.
And which is something I know there's a lot of confusion
about, like notice of possible quorum,
and things like that to get posted.
It's only the agenda that covers all issues.
So if you know that there may be a quorum,
and you're going to be discussing this in business,
I think it's just good practice.
I don't, for what it's worth, I absolutely don't think any of that was what was going on
with that brought all this up. In fact, and I will say, the gathering issue related to open meetings
is one of the most confusing issues with open meetings, because no one believes it, but it's
like just listening to counts. Like you've done at little all council members could just
it in the same room quietly, not saying anything, anyone and have a third party talk at them.
And that counts.
And the reason is, because when the issue, the legislature was trying to address when they
wrote it, was staff briefings, and that's why they wrote this language, and again, one of
those issues where they fixed one problem and made a whole bunch of other problems, or at least
issues that were harder to navigate because now we're
roping on a whole bunch of stuff.
But the primary issue is that if it's city hall,
that's kind of when you can trigger more easily
the gatherings definition.
And so just essentially the way I read this is,
if we're going to reserve space, let's city secretary
know so we can post notice and we're all going to go.
So, for example, if I wanted to have a gathering here and I posted could I just put on the agenda
discussion regarding Jersey Village, like how specific or not specific does the item need to be?
I don't think you can put, I don't think in a gen item can be.
I mean there are some people that take the view that the word budget means you can talk about anything
that the city does. And I know there is some validity to that. It's anything related to the
budget that the city does. But the idea being, yeah, the agenda item is city that is any
in all Jersey Village city business. But is that specifically detailed enough to satisfy the subject
matter, description requirement? I don't think it is. But I have language I put on other types of events
where you just, I mean, what are the questions?
Everyone knows what questions get brought up the most.
And you can put those in a, in a notice that says,
these are the types of topics that are going to be,
and you may get a nod ball.
It's not on that list.
And if that comes up, like, you know,
that's a unposting subject matter.
So you have a half a pass on that,
but you can cover 99% of them.
And for what it's worth, there are some cities
to have a policy, Austin is one and granted.
This is, this may be a little bit of, you know, a perfect example of, like, a government
entity, like, well, we need to put a process in place that just completely beats the whole thing
down. But it definitely satisfies the open meetings. Anyone that wants to attend a council gathering
where they're going to ask questions is required email essentially an RSVP to the city one week
before and the question that they're going to ask and then the city when they post the agenda
they go the agenda is and then they attach every email that they receive as the subject
matter of what's going to be discussed and so people show up and that's how they satisfy
Open meetings.
Well, and they just pass legislation last year, I think, on the timing when that agenda
posts, Courtney, what is the timing?
It's three business days before the meeting.
So to calculate that today, we meet on Tuesday.
The three business days are Monday, Friday, Thursday.
So we have to post no later than Wednesday.
because you have to have those three business days
between your posting and the meeting.
A week's note, a week's note is for that.
You mentioned gatherings,
I mentioned it in here as well in my questions.
If all council ends up at a July 4th celebration,
that's not the same, that does not require any.
It's absolutely not the same.
And that's, there's a whole bunch of exceptions,
educational seminars, we all used to go to Barbie Freeman
House for Republican events every quarter, the entire council attended because it was a county
event that happened often.
And that's the thing.
If the event is being held by someone else and whatever city business is brought up is incidental
to the event.
That's the key word is incidental to the event.
The event is not being held for the core purpose of discussing whatever was brought up.
then it is not covered by open meetings.
Now that doesn't mean you can make it covered by open meetings
by entering into a huge discussion on that incidental
comment when it gets brought up.
But that's the trigger word is incidental to the event.
You mentioned a agenda versus posting a core may meet.
There's not my intent with this to cause them to post a full agenda.
Do you want my general thoughts on notice a core possible core?
And so one thing that you said there was we're certainly
under the impression that it counts in our holds and event,
that if a quorum appeared, they're talking about city business,
that city business had to stop.
Can we just posting counsel that a quorum may meet enough?
And the practice, and this is one of those, you know,
when the law changes under open meetings,
There are certain practices everyone keeps in place and they still do and I don't know this for a fact
I'm guessing a little bit the the walking quorum language in open meetings used to be as a as one appellate or as the
Court of Criminal Appeal said
Hopelessly unconstitutionally vague and
It the language was you can't conspire to circumvent the open meetings act, which is like
Just it's just very very broad
And the idea was, if we post a notice of course possible quorum, it's very hard to argue
that we're conspiring to circumvent the act, if we're posting a notice that we all may
be in the same place and we accidentally talk about something.
I'm guessing that's kind of why that it bullet proofs the old language of walking quorum
a little bit.
Walking quorum has completely been redone and it doesn't, it wouldn't really address any
that. But I still have never recommended that anyone's stopped doing it and no one actually wants
to stop doing it because it just adds another layer of transparency just to let everyone know
that there's going to be, you know, and frankly it's helpful to the council members, the council
would may find out, oh, there's going to be some other council members here, we need to make sure
that
I'm posting this as helpful to the public because we all have our little niches of people that
we know, but everyone knows the city website.
And so by posting it, gets it out to more people.
So you mentioned walking quorum.
There's a lot of great area there, in my opinion.
But two council members simply talking to each other
is not considered a walking quorum.
OK, I just want to.
A walking quorum.
Give us some examples of walking quorum.
I'm walking, so we'll start off with two council members talking together and walking
corpsmen to open meetings was essentially redefined after it was held to be hopelessly
vague.
It was redefined to add more specificity to each of the steps and so it is a communication
between one council member intentionally communicating with another council member knowingly
that that communication will result in a corps.
So, two council members talking, no issue.
One council member then goes to a third person
and talks to that third person about the issue.
The open meetings violation, I mean, of course,
backing up open meetings means what the DA thinks it means.
That's kind of the, I don't know if it's an old joke,
But it's certain, and that's true.
Like they may take a really broad interpretation and say,
well, it's the second and third people that both violate it.
I think strictly reading the act,
it's only the second person, assuming the third person
doesn't know that number one has been talked to.
The third person knows number one has been talked to you.
Then it would be two and three is the problem.
It wouldn't be a problem for one under the old language.
One would still be an issue because there isn't that knowing intent that was attached to it.
And so that, and that was the largest issue that the legislature cleaned up.
But essentially it's a series of individual communications that results in a quorum walking quorum amongst body.
You know, the foul thoughts coming.
The most famous example, of course, being the, the, I keep thinking it's the Mayor in San Antonio,
and I feel terrible if it's not because it's, because at this point I pretty much bad
and I'll say it in Antonio.
But I want to say it's, it's a city was a city in Barric County for sure.
But, essentially, there was seven or eight members on council camera and, you know, the mayor was sitting in the office said, all right, three of you first three come in and said, all right, here's what we're going to do this, this, this and this, what are your, what are your opinions, what are your votes, and they said, okay, all right, all right, number three and he was going into a council positions one, two, three, all right, number three,
you're out, Council Member Four come in, explain that.
All right, Council Member's one and two, you're out,
Council Member Lee come in.
So there's never a war, there's never a quorum in the room
at the same time, and of course the quorum was like,
that's, you know, like, thank goodness for bad criminals
that it was that easy to identify,
but that's kind of the, that was the first big case on it.
And, and all community, all forms of communication count,
texting, emailing, does not, it can be the same chat room,
say, anything, which in the context of the internet, there's a whole bunch of endless questions
about what constitutes communication. I still don't like the idea of if someone even makes
a post on Facebook, just liking it. Because if someone says, well, I think we should do this,
and then two people like that, I mean, do we have a walking corner? Again, again, depends
what the DA thinks. But that's the, that would be the risk. I, I, I, I don't have any
issue with end open meetings allows for some communication online, but you can imagine
the legislature wrote that language when message boards were really big. If you've ever
followed college football recruiting, BBS boards, that's basically what's written into the code
is the permissible form of communication amongst council members on the internet is the city
You can set up a...
Well, it's important for you.
Because we're in the 80s.
All right.
Connie, your motion recommended actions give direction to staff.
I provided some possible action or possible direction towards staff.
I think staff would prefer anything to be in writing.
Is there any specific action that you're looking to make here?
No.
I actually wasn't playing.
I just put that in the item just in case.
I don't know.
just because I'm used to putting that kind of language together.
But I just wanted to make sure that we all understand,
especially the public comments which we were talking about earlier,
we're not trying to avoid anyone or when things come up,
that we're not trying to answer,
we're not up here, trying to not answer questions,
or not engage, that if it is not on the agenda,
we cannot discuss it.
And so, and it's becoming up a lot
with since I've been on council and I just wanted to, I just think that things like this
never hurts to just have a little refresher and I'm happy to share what if you share it,
we can put it out, the questions, the Q&A or whatever, it's fine with me, that's really all that
it was. If you guys wanted to do resolution, I will say if, like let's say Austin is contacted maybe,
about possibly having one of us having or any of us having an event here that is that we're
not paying for that maybe Austin communicate that with Courtney immediately or have all
of us copy Courtney on something like that so that where she's aware it just in case an agenda
does have to be posted.
We need any council member using their position should be going to the city manager to book
it but the resolution I put the responsibility on the council member.
And I use the term council member the same way as the charter it includes me.
I think that's reasonable.
Does anybody have any comments or objection to anything here?
Well then I will, I've already said that the court will pass that through the review.
Come back next month.
And now we're going to move on to Mayor and council comments.
And so we'll start off.
I think we've started off down there.
Councillor McCrey, McCulley.
Hey, appreciate it.
Sorry, I could not be there in person today.
I do want to reiterate to the public and to council as well.
I really do appreciate the work that Austin has done on this budget.
I know I voted against it, but I really wanted to.
And I made a commitment that I wouldn't.
So I didn't want to go back on that.
but the fact that the taxes are only getting raised
at a very small amount is I think pretty impressive
to the work that you guys did,
so I really do appreciate that.
With that being said, in terms of overall impact to citizens,
there's some also some really big stuff coming up,
not only in the school district,
but Harris County as well,
so those are gonna have in terms of real dollar spent,
a much bigger impact
and what we're talking about here.
So my request is all of this in really pay attention
to that that's something that's coming up here
that's going to have a really big impact on your lives.
So thank you.
Councilman Rossi.
Well, I do want to thank staff and everyone
who did take the time to, you guys worked really hard on this.
So I appreciate it.
I spoke with you about it, Austin, so I appreciate that.
I still want to thank, when I was going through everything,
I want to thank Congressman, Wesley Hunts Office, again,
for the $1 million federal funding to JB.
I think that is wonderful.
Also, our fire department was busy.
They stopped by the high school, saw the post,
and you were doing your inspections.
I didn't know there was something called Wet the Band.
I thought that was kind of cute, so I think that's kind of, you know, I just want to say thank you for that and don't forget
Dueling Piano is coming up Friday. There's a lot happening in our city and it's a good reminder that even when we don't agree on every issue
We share the same community. It's great to see so many people engaged and invested in our community and I look forward to all of us continuing to work together
to keep JV a great place to call home.
Councillor Ritten.
I want to also reiterate the appreciation for the staff.
Being able to work through the challenges that we had.
Pretty impressive.
I want to note the positivity of our golf course and the management that make that happen.
so amazing.
Chief Bits, I just got to say I was thinking about it and I think that was
really the first volunteer work that I probably have ever done. It's 2008.
My wife and I just moved into Jersey Village. There's this packet to be a volunteer
fire department. I actually thought it was for cooking for the firefighters or maybe
getting to wash their fire trucks. I don't think we were here a week or two and I'd
already filled up the packet.
And I actually met with you and Frank Mar, who's no longer here, Curtis and Rob Missle.
So, I've only been in the neighborhood for two, three weeks, possibly.
What was the third week was my first day as a volunteer firefighter with the Jersey Village Fire Department.
that was Hurricane Ike.
So, watching what you've done with this fire department
and leading the men and women of the fire department
and our city and the programs that you have overseen
and developed, I cannot say enough,
and you will truly be missed.
Thank you for all that you've done.
Councilor Hughes, just want to thank everybody who stayed and either viewed the council meeting in person or over the video, appreciate your participation, the comments, the emails that have come.
Just a quick correction. Council member Britain, you said Frank Moore is no longer here. He's actually no longer in the room.
Man, lots of clear, just a point of play, right?
Chief Bits, just saddened to hear that you're leaving, but hopefully it's your opportunities
or what you're doing, retiring, whatever.
I'm sure we'll learn more in any event.
And I know you're here for a while, but anyway, deeply, I'm saddened that you're leaving.
But always wishing you the best, appreciate your service.
appreciate all the service of the police and of our department. Thank you.
I'd like to revisit the budget, tax rates, moment meeting questions, and I'm just kidding.
Staff, thank you for your hard work on the budget. I'm always the
standard at the breadth of knowledge that you have. We find the most hidden question you guys always
have an answer, and that's very commendable. So thank you for the work. It doesn't go unnoticed.
You guys, the whole staff, you guys do a fantastic job.
Mark Bitz, we're going to see if we can make your last four months as difficult as possible.
I'm stuck.
You've been a main stage of your as a village and you will be a mess and congratulations
on your retirement.
I can tell you that I can speak very highly of retirement so far so good.
So I hope you enjoy it and thank you for your service to the city.
If staff did a very good job with the budget, I appreciate all your hard work, Austin,
Jennifer, everyone that helped you.
Chief, I remember you called me as going home from the police academy and say,
hey, can you stop by the office on your way home?
This is my 21st birthday and you started my career off.
And if amount of mentorship and time you put into me and those first several years, I greatly appreciate.
Thank you very much for all you've done for the city.
A little sad here that you're deciding to retire, but it is very well deserved.
And it looks forward to seeing what happens next.
I hear retirement's great thanks, so.
Remind everybody that schools back in session,
you can certainly feel it in the traffic,
but keep an eye out for kids moving around bus stops and schools
and come out to doing pianos on Friday night,
should be a great show.
It has been every year, so thank you very much.
And that's the end of the meeting, 848.
Thank you.