CITY OF PALACIOS,TEXAS  SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING  MINUTES September21,2023  SPECIAL CITY COUNCILI MEETING  A special City Council meeting was held by the City Council of the City of Palacios on September 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., in Council Chambers located at 311 Henderson, Palacios, Texas 77465. Mayor. Jim Gardner calledi the Special City Council meeting to order at 6:01PM.  CALLTOORDER  CERTIFICATION OF AQUORUM Mayor. Jim Gardner certified a quorum was present. ATTENDANCE ROLLCALL Mayor, Jim Gardner, Present Councilmember Place 6, Donna Schulman, Present Councilmember Place 5,. Jason. Hink, Present Councilmember, Place 4, Margie Wier, Present Councilmember Place. 3, Chip Woolf, Present Councilmember, Place 2, Sharon Trainor, Present Councilmember Place 1, Larry Glenn, Present CITYSTAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Anne Marie Odefey, City Attorney Tobie Bias, Palacios Police Chief Aleigha Galvan, City Secretary Maria Ayala, Office/ Finance Manager Tammy McDonald, HR/Grant Manager Nicole Brown, Executive. Assistant Manuel Guevara, Public Works Superintendent Captain Steven-Johmson, Palacios Police Department Kimberly. Myers, Records Clerk ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Mayor's Announcements - none Council Members Amouncements - none  CITIZEN COMMUNICATION FORUM: DISCUSSION ACTIONITEMS  Michael Dotson addressed Council and expressed. his concerns about a balanced budget.  First and Final Reading of Ordinance No. 2023-T-17 to Adopt Budget Adopt a budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1,2023, and ending September 30, 2024, in accordance with the Charter of the City of Palacios, Texas; providing for the filing of the Budget; providing that this Ordinance shall be cumulative of all Ordinances; providing a Severability Clause; and providing an) Effective Date. First and Final Reading, Presentedby Chief Bias, Tammy. McDonald, and Maria Ayala. Councilmember Glenn asked ifthe budget was balanced. Staff assured him it was. Mayor Pro Tem Woolfexplained why it appeared that the budget was not balanced, but that it was inj fact balanced. City Attorney, Anne Marie Odefeycomfirmed. Councilmember Schulman showeds support for Woolf's statements, and the many hours the City Manger worked to complete it with transparency. Woolfstatedi the budget was a "roadi map" and the numbers were estimates. Mayor Pro Tem Woolf moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2023-7-17 adopting the budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024. Councilmember Glem seconded the motion. City Secretary, polled the votes showing  CITY OF PALACIOS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES- SEPTEMBER21,2023    Councilmembers Glenn, Woolf, Wier, Hink, Schulman, and Mayor Gardner voting "Yea"; and First: and Final Reading ofOrdinance! No. 2023-T-18t to Adopt Tax Rate Approve an Ordinance approving the appraisal roll setting the tax rate; levying and assessing general and special ad valorem taxes for the use and support of the municipal government of the City of Palacios, Texas. First and Final Reading. Councilmember Glenn moved to adopt Ordinance No. 2023-T-18 adopting the total tax rate of $0.66164. for the fiscal year 2023-2024. Mayor Pro Tem Woolf seconded. City Secretary, polled the votes showing Councilmembers Glenn, Trainor, Woolf, Wier, Hink, Schulman, and Mayor Gardner voting "Yea", and no councilmember voting "Nay". Motion passed. Councilmember Glenn moved to adopt M&O tax rate of $0.62104. Councilmember Woolf secondedi the motion.. Motion passed unanimously. Councilmember Glenn movedto adopt debt rate of80.04060. Mayor Pro Tem Woolfseconded. Motion passedz unanimous/y. Council questioned the City. Attorney as to why they had t0 vote on the rates separately, and. she let them know it was recommendedby: TML to doso. Councilmember Schulman movedtoratify the budget that willr raise total property tax revenue by $21,817 due t0 new value on the tax roll. Councilmember Glenn First and Final Reading of Ordinance No. 2023-0-19 to Adopt Fee Schedule Approve an Ordinance approving the Master Fee Schedule, setting particular fees for the City of Palacios for the use and support of the municipal government of the City of Palacios, Texas. First and Final Reading, Councilmember Glenn questioned if the ordinance may still be amended. Odefey explained it could, and that the second reading didn't need to be at the next regular meeting. Councilmembers Trainor and Woolfexpressed. concerns over fees associatedi with fire inspections, and Woolfstatedi the water and: sewer rates were not included in the fee schedule. Mayor Pro Tem Woolf moved to adopt the first reading of Ordinance No. 2023-0-19, and instruct staff to include fees schedule for water and sewer rates and remove, fees for Fire Marshal and gather further information, from Council, for their input. Councilmember Glemn seconded. City Secretary polled the votes showing Councilmembers Glem, Woolf Wier, Hink; Schulman, and Mayor Gardner First and Final Reading of Ordinance No. 2023-0-20 Personnel Policy adding a Pay Scale Approve an Ordinance of the City of Palacios, Texas to incorporate Section 6.10 permanent Pay Table and Pay Scale; and repealing all policies and practices in conflict. First and Final Reading, Council asked City staff to explain how the chart will work, and askedi ifs staff would be happy with the numbers. Chief Bias explained it would show an employee the possibilities for growth within the City, and what that next step up would look like, encouraging longevity. Councilmember Schulman asked for more information as to what the schedule means and why we needit. Mayor Pro Tem notified Council he had looked into the federal schedule and did some comparisons. He asked for the inventory ofjob class. McDonald: stated. she was working on that, but neededCouncil to approve the pay scale first. She asked Council what they wanted it to look like, and Councilmember Glenn. stated he neededmore information and would be voting no. Mayor Pro Tem motioned to postpone the item. The motion died for a lack ofa second. Councilmember Trainor motioned to approve the first reading and bring back with the next level of what the scale would be. Councilmember Wier seconded the motion. City Secretary polled the votes showing Councilmembers Woolf, Trainor, Wier, Hink, Schulman, and Mayor Gardner voting "Yae"; and 5. Resolution No. 2023-R-20 Investment Policy and Cash Management Policy Discuss and approve al Resolution of the City of Palacios to adopt a Cash Management Policy and the City Investment Policy to increase the amount of idle money invested, generating non-tax revenues through increased investment earnings, ensuring safety and liquidity of the city's monies and. wherei investments shalll be madei ina a manner which will provide the maximum security of principal invested through limitations and diversification whiler meeting the daily cash flow needs oft the City and conforming to all applicable state statutes governing the investment of public funds. Councilmember Glenn motioned to approve Resolution No. 2023-R-20. Councilmember, Schulman 6. Approval of Master Calendar Discuss and approve the Master Calendar for 2024. Councilmember Glenn motioned t0 approve the 2024 Master Calendar. Councilmember Hink Final Reading ofOrdinance No. 2023-0-15Juyenile Curfew Discuss and approve final reading of Ordinance No. 2023-0-15; an ordinance of the City of Palacios, Texas, amending the Code of Ordinances by repealing any conflicting ordinances; andj providing an effective date. City Attorney, Anne Marie Odefey. Councilmember Glenn motioned to approve final reading of Ordinance No. 2023-0-15. Councilmember Schulman seconded. City Secretary polled the votes showing Councilmembers Glenn, Trainor, Woolf, Wier, Hink, Schulman, and Mayor Gardner voting "Yea";  Councilmember Trainor voting "Nay". Motion passed.  seconded. Motion passed unanimously.  voting "Yea"; and Councilmember Trainor voting "Nay". Motion passed.  Councilmember Glemn voting "Nay". Motion passed.  seconded. Motion passed unanimous'y. seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.  and no councilmember voting "Nay". Motion passed unanimously.  CITY OFF PALACIOS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETINGI MINUTES- SEPTEMBER: 21,2023    ADJOURNMENT  Meeting Adjourned by Mayor Gardner at 7:01PM.  G Jim Gardner, MAYOR  ATTEST:  SECRETARY  E. a * s  rhdki  CITY OFF PALACIOS! SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES- SEPTEMBER: 21,2023