Mayor Pro Tem Martin Sauceda opened the Sept. 8 Blanco City Council meeting at 6:03 p.m. with all council members present. There were no announcements or public comments at this time.
Council member Mike Smith moved to approve the minutes from the previous meetings and Council member Keith McClellan seconded. The motion carried.
Wayne Gosnell, Blanco Friends of the Night Sky president, explained the “Hill Country Night Sky Month in the City of Blanco” proclamation and encouraged citizens to help preserve the night sky.
“...the Blanco City Council encourages citizens to enjoy the night sky and to participate in the Hill Country region’s events and programs celebrating the night sky and promoting ways in which communities are working to preserve it...Council encourages citizens to learn about light pollution and why it matters, night sky friendly lighting, and lighting recommendations, and to implement practices and lighting improvements that will reduce light pollution, thereby preserving our night skies,” states the proclamation.
This is a Hill Country wide effort. The council accepted and approved the proclamation.
The council held a discussion regarding the creation of a task force to study cost-effective wastewater engineering options that provide for growth and development without discharge. This will be facilitated by the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University and will include representatives and technical experts selected by the City of Blanco and Protect Our Blanco (POB). The study will be delivered to the council before the December 2020 regular meeting.
Nick Dornak, of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment Director of Watershed Services, explained that identifying a scope of work is the first step. Putting together stakeholders to find solutions and protect the Blanco River are important. POB will pay for the engineering study; the council would like the city engineer involved as well.
Concerns over the cost were shared by several council members. Ronnie Rodriguez, public works director, expressed concerns on infrastructure and easements. Lewis moved to form a task force with four members: Lewis; Council member Deda Divine; Rodriguez; and Will Daves, city administrator, from the City of Blanco and four members of POB; the group will have a scope of work completion prior to Sept. 22. A goal is to “make Blanco a model city.”
Laurie Cassidy, city secretary, went over a correction to the personnel policy page 43. The employee benefits and enrollment effective dates were approved. Benefits will now be 90 days instead of 60 days per the Affordable Care Act.
Police Chief Scott Rubin discussed the resolution 2020-R-009 for Police Department CARES Act Funding. The money will be used for the record management system which the department currently lacks and a chief computer system that will help with minor violations and limit contact. Smith moved to approve resolution 2020-R-009 and was seconded by Lewis. The motion carried.
Next, the fee schedule was discussed at length. Water and sewer tap rates have not been raised since 2017. The new tap fees will only apply to new construction and brand new taps. A new house inside the city limits will be looking at $2,400 for the tap fees. Rodriguez explained that the city is currently losing money with the current $750 fee. The meter fee is separate from the tap fee. Smith moved to approve the amendment to Ordinance 2020-O-0010 which amends Ordinance 269 regarding the tap fees; both water and sewer taps inside the city will cost $1,200 and outside the city will cost $1,750. McClellan seconded the motion and it carried.
The fee schedule was discussed next. The proposed fees include: $30 (remains the same) for residential, $50 for commercial, and $75 for industrial. A Construction Services and Inspections (CSI) fee was discussed briefly which will also help protect the water supply. The infrastructure of Cielo Springs which needs improvements was discussed next. A fee for the industrial waste permit was proposed; this rate will vary depending on the business and will be negotiated by city staff and engineers. Smith moved to approve the fee schedule 2020-O-011 which includes: CSI fees, water tower rental fees, infrastructure fees, industrial waste permit, and waterline damage fee. Divine seconded and the motion carried.
At 7:33 p.m. the council adjourned into executive session and returned to the regular meeting at 8:21 p.m. No action was taken after the executive session.
After the session, the council held a budget workshop. The city hall budget proposed total income totals $1,244,401.36 and the proposed expenditures total $607,557.46. Expenditures include the total payroll expense of $229,741.28 and total professional fees of $164,950. The proposed sewer budget net income totals $92,563.85 from a total income of $772,512.66 and total expenditures in the amount of $679,948.81.
The proposed water budget’s total income will total $2,092,831.28 and the proposed expenditures total $1,397,656.57 which comes out to a net income of $695,174.71. The net income of the proposed parks and streets budget totals - $180,746.98 with a total income of $110,000 and total expenses of $290,746.98. The proposed police department budget total expenditures is $1,287,446.13 with a proposed income of $82,467.22.
Daves will have balance sheets together for the next meeting. A public hearing for the proposed budget and tax rates will take place on Sept. 22 and citizens are encouraged to participate.
