Richardson City Council Meeting August 28th, 2023
OPENING & BUDGET HEARING
All councilmembers are present as well as City Manager Don Magner and City Secretary Aimee Nemer.
Councilwoman Justice leads a prayer and the pledges of allegiance.
Minutes of previous meetings are approved unanimously.
One comment is submitted for the visitors’ section with a request that the city provide transcriptions of meetings.
The first item is a public hearing on the FY 23/24 Budget. City Manager Don Magner provides one last review of the proposed budget before Council considers adoption. Mayor Dubey gives Council a final chance to make comments on the budget. They have no additional comments. Public comments submitted for the public hearing are acknowledged. The first comment is not expounded upon. The second comment opposes the tax rate. Feedback submitted from the Truth in Taxation websites includes 2 people opposed to the budget and tax rate. One public speaker is present. Due to microphone issues, the first half of the speaker’s comments are not captured. He appears to be associated with the Richardson Fire Department. The second half of his comments thank Council and staff for their support of the 6% pay raise and support for personnel in this proposed budget. Council applauds his 36 years of service to the city.
BUDGET ADOPTION VOTES
The remaining 45 minutes of the meeting is mostly a series of votes.
The first vote is on approval of the budget except for scoreboard maintenance, wellness services, immunizations, employee shots, and Methodist Richardson Medical Center (MRMC) Foundation event sponsorship/advertising for FY 23/24. This passes unanimously.
Due to Mayor Dubey’s employment as a salesperson with Spectrum Scoreboards, he excuses himself to abstain from the next vote. Mayor Pro Tem Shamsul assumes control of the meeting.
The next vote is approval of the budget for scoreboard maintenance for FY 23/24. This passes unanimously.
Mayor Dubey returns and assumes control of the meeting.
Due to Councilman Hutchenrider’s employment as President of Methodist Richardson Medical Center, he excuses himself to abstain from the next vote.
The next vote is approval of the budget for immunizations, employee shots, and MRMC Foundation event sponsorships/advertising for FY 23/24. This passes unanimously.
Councilman Hutchenrider returns.
The next vote is approval of the tax rate of .56095%. This passes unanimously.
The next vote is approval of the property tax increase reflected in the FY 23/24 budget. (Revenues increase, not the rate.) This passes unanimously.
The next vote is approval of the new water and sewer rates, solid waste rates, building inspection fees, and paying off some debt early. This passes unanimously.
VARIANCE REQUESTS
The next two action items are consideration of Variance 23-01 (Church Parking Screening Waiver) and Variance 23-02 (Shopping Center Parking Reduction). These were both discussed in detail at the August 1st CPC meeting. Council is briefed on the variance process and the two cases. These variance requests are not public hearing items. For Variance 23-01, Council asks questions to clarify their understanding of the request. Variance 23-01 is approved unanimously.
For Variance 23-02, Council asks more questions to clarify their understanding of the request. Councilman Barrios asks if there has been any update to the adjacent property owner’s support or opposition to this request. The applicant’s representatives answer that they have since worked out a mutual agreement and the adjacent property owner is not opposed to the request. He just hopes to be given the same consideration if any variances are needed for his property. It’s important to note, however, that the adjacent property owner is not present to speak for himself and it does not appear that he submitted any comments for this action item tonight. Mayor Dubey asks if Pet Supplies Plus sells live animals. The applicant’s representatives answer that Pet Supplies Plus does not sell live animals, but they may host adoptions. A check on the Pet Supplies Plus website shows that they do indeed sell live animals, but these offerings vary store to store. Several Pet Supplies Plus locations sell live animals in Collin and Dallas Counties. Maybe they were implying that this particular store won’t have live animals? Variance 23-02 is approved unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA & CLOSING
The consent agenda is also approved unanimously. It includes a state mandated repeal of the city’s curfew for minors due to HB 1819. It also includes a reimbursement agreement with TxDOT for the Belt line/75 traffic signal improvements project up to $59,800. This funding is provided under the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program. Also included are resolutions reflecting the settlement agreement for Atmos (Gas) rates and beginning the settlement process for Oncor (Electricity) rates. Four bid awards totaling roughly $4M for sewer and alley repairs and pedestrian bridge improvements are also included. An annual requirements contract for water and wastewater materials estimated to total approx. $225K is also included. The last consent agenda item is authorization of approx. $100K to clean up the mess at 302 Pittman St. This is the same mess that started the fire on Aug. 19th.
Council discusses the UTD University Emergency Medical Response Program Open House, the Leadership North Texas program, and a Richardson Interfaith Alliance meeting, and the meeting adjourns.