CITY OF SANTA FE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 22, 2024 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS 12002 HWY. 6, SANTA FE, TEXAS  MINUTES  The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m. by Mayor Brandon Noto.  Roll Call:  Present:  Mayor Brandon Noto Mayor Pro Tem Ronald "Bubba" Jannett Councimember Rusty Schroeder Councilmember John Dickerson Councilmember Dana Marks Councimember Ryan McCamy, excused.  Absent:  The invocation was given by Pastor Brad Drake from Dayspring Church, and Mayor Brandon Noto then led those  present in the Pledge of Allegiance tot the U. S. Flag and to the Texas Flag.  Citizens' Comments:  Charles Neiman, 5547 Ave T, expressed concerns about contractors, the upcoming growth, and having adequate services to provide fort that growth. Mr. Neiman would liket to receive more communication: ahead ofr natural disasters. Rollie Smith, 3833 % 646 N., spoke about drainage issues at his residence, and the zoning districts near his  residence. Staff Report:  ar of the activities  duringt the previous month and a report of  1. Presentation of departmental reports by staff, specifically recap upcoming activities, events, andp projects on the! horizon  performed investment  audit services, PEG Finance Director  1) Finance cityf finance activities (including cash flow, financial reports,  reports, utlity  channel development), and Santal Fel Economic Development Corporation project updates presented! by 2) Community Services - building permits issued, fees collected, inspections performed, development update, presented by 3) Parks and Community Center park maintenance activities, center rental statistics, presented by Community 5) Resiliency Center - counseling statistics, including new and continuing clients, for individual andi familys sessions  Rudy Zepeda.  Community Services Director Georgia Argentine. Director Georgia Argentine.  Services  4) Municipal Court- cases filed, revenue collected, warrants issued and cleared  Business: Oldl Business:  1. Discussion and direction: Tree appreciation discussion, including consideration of recognizing the Councimember Schroeder expressed his appreciate for the trees in Santa Fe and the history of such trees. He explained that trees help reduce the sound of traffic, provide cooler temperatures, enhance property values, and improve physical and mental health. He would also like to ensure that historical trees are not being removed if possible. Additionally, Councimember Schroeder would like to see another welcoming monument in Santa Fe, as  importance of the Heritage Oaks at Runge Park    Minutes (cont) 8/22/2024 Page 20f5  therei is currently only one "Welcome to Santa Fe" sign, and cited locations where the monument could be placed. He asked that the community reach out to staff, members oft the Park Board, or Council with any recommendations 2. Consideration and possible action: Appointment or reappointment oft three members (Positions 1,3,and 5) to the Library Advisory Board to serve terms to expire in July 2025, and appointment or reappointment oftwo members and one alternate member (Positions 2, 4, and Alternate toservetwoyeartems to expire Library Director Becky McClain explained that at a previous meeting, Council had expressed it would like to meet current members of the board, as each member has requested to be reappointed. As a result, Barbara Winburn, and Stephanie Carter were in attendance. They introduced themselves to the Council and expressed their interest inc continuing to serve on the Library Advisory Board. Ms. McClain said that all the members were invited to attend the meeting, but that the others had conflicts ini their schedule that prevented them from being able to attend. Motion by Councilmember Jannett, seconded by Councilmember Dickerson, to reappoint Barbara Winburn (Position 1), Stephanie Carter (Position 3), Jennifer Miers (Position 5), tot their current positions with terms ending July 2025, and Sandra Bradley (Position 2), Stormy Stanford (Position 4), and Debbie Tabor (Alternate 1), to their current 3. Discussion and direction: Possible development and adoption of a policy for child warning area signs Community Services Director Georgia Argentine explained that there were citizens that requested different types of child warning signs in areas of the community. These types of signs are not approved by the State, and if the City chooses to adopt a policy for these signs, it would bet the responsibility of the City to maintain them going forward. The signs can be placed on city streets however, not on state highways. City Manager Alun Thomas added that there was an issue that arose when a citizen requested an "Autistic Child Area" sign and a different autistic child who could read was upset as the child thought the sign was directed towards them. Mr. Thomas explained that staff wanted direction from Council oni ifitv would like to adopt a policy to continue placing these signs or ifity would liket to do away with the signs. If Council wishes to keep the signs, he said, staff feels there should be some stipulations as the replacements can become costly to the City. After some discussion amongst the Council, Council directed that existing signs stayi in place, however, no such signs shall be replaced or new signs added going forward. Motion by Councilmember Jannett, seconded by Councimember Schroeder, to discontinue replacing or adding of the child warning signs going forward, and leaving the current signs intact, withdrawing them only due to attrition.  ori input.  July 2026  positions with terms ending July 2026. The motion passed the roll call vote unanimously.  The motion passed the roll call vote unanimously.  4. Briefing and discussion: Hurricane Beryl recovery efforts  Streets Superintendent Billy Creppon said that the Streets Department has picked up 2,713 dump truck loads of hurricane debris. Mr. Creppon said that debris pick up should be complete by August 31, 2024, and mulching oft the trees should start on September 2, 2024. Once the debris has been mulched, the City willl let citizens knowa and they can pick up as much mulch as they would like at no cost. City Manager Alun Thomas informed everyone thati it will not bet treated mulch, the City will merely process thei tree limbs and brush in whatever condition it was found. Mayor Noto and the Councimembers commended the Streets Department for their continued hard work. 5.0 Consideration and possible action: Approval for maintenance repair on the Gradall  Streets Superintendent Billy Creppon said that the debris clean up from Hurricane Beryl has taken a toll on the Gradall, which is currently broken down. He spoke with the surrounding cities and majority oft their Gradalls are also    Minutes (cont) 8/22/2024 Page 3of5  broken down from the cleanup of Hurricane Beryl. Mr. Creppon explained the issue and said the repair will take about four weeks and will cost $22,033.42. Currently, both Gradalls are not running which will impact the process ofo debris removal, setting culverts and digging out ditches. City Manager Alun Thomas said hel hopes staff willl have an update from thei insurance company about the Gradall that caught fire byt the next regular meeting on September 12, 2024. Staff has been looking at replacing the equipment and receiving quotes. Mayor Noto asked ift the cost of the repair could be reimbursed by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Finance Director Rudy Zepeda said staff is hoping it will be a reimbursement but currently such reimbursement is not certain. Motion by Councilmember Jannett, seconded by Councimember Dickerson, to approve the maintenance repair on the Gradall in an amount not to exceed $22,033.42. The motion passed the roll call vote unanimously. 6.Consideration: and possible action: First reading ofa an ordinance of the City of Santa Fe, Texas, Amending Subsection s, Erosion and Sediment Control, of Section 22, Storm Water Pollution Control Regulations, of Chapter 3, Construction Regulations, of the City of Santa Fe Code of Ordinances; providing a repealer Community Services Director Georgia Argentine said that shel has sent the proposal tot the City's Engineer to review and has not yetr received thet finalized proposal back. Ms. Argentine asked Council ifit could postpone the item until the next regular meeting on September 12, 2024. Mayor Noto explained that thei item could be postponed, however, there were citizens in attendance that would like to address their concerns and wanted to lett them dos SO. Jared Moore, 11823 11th Street, addressed his concerns on the affects this change would have on property owners, Chad Gass had concerns about the process of the construction at the bridge on 646, however, Council could not address the issue. Mr. Gass also expressed his concerns on the proposed change andi it possibly slowing down the Tom Estep, 4211 Dover Avenue, had concerns about the current proposal however, considering the proposal will Motion by Councilmember Dickerson, seconded by Councimember Marks, to postpone the item until the final proposal is complete. The motion passed the roll call vote unanimously. Mayor Noto said that he would work with 7. Consideration and possible action: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute an administrative services agreement with the Santa Fel Economic Development Corporation for thet fiscaly year beginning Oct Santa Fe Economic Development Corporation Director Rudy Zepeda briefed the Council ont the breakdown of the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) budget for administrative services and the direction of EDC staff ini the Motion by Councimember Jannett, seconded by Councimember Marks, to approve an administrative services agreement with the Santa Fe Economic Development Corporation for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024, and to authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement on behalf of the City. The motion passed the roll call vote  clause, a severability clause, and an effective date  Contractors or anyone who does dirt work.  process of work.  be changing, hei instead gave at few recommendations.  thei interested parties to finalize the proposed changes.  1,2024 future.  unanimously.    Minutes (cont.) 8/22/2024 Page 40f5 New Business:  1. Public Hearing: The City of Santa Fe City Council will receive public comments related to the following  proposed tax rate for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024:  Proposed Tax Rate: No-new-revenue Tax Rate: Voter-approval Tax Rate:  $0.246097 per $100 $0.241739 per $100 $0.272240 per $100  City of Santa Fe, Texas is proposing a tax rate that will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year's tax rate. The tax rate will effectively be raised by 2.13% and will raise taxes for  maintenance and operations on a $100,000 home by approximately $7.84.  Mayor Noto opened the public hearing at 8:16 p.m.  Tom Estep, 4211 Dover Avenue, wanted to know how much revenue the proposed tax rate increase would be to  the City ($128,596), and asked questions to better understand tax rates and calculations.  Mayor Noto closed the public hearing at 8:20 p.m.  2. Consideration and possible action: Approval for the payment of additional reimbursement to exempt City Manager Alun Thomas explained that during the last regular meeting on August 8, 2024, an ordinance was passed to pay non-exempt employees one-and-a-half times pay for any hours worked over 40 hours during a declared emergency. Mayor Noto had recommended retroactively paying the salaried employees (5 total) who worked overtime during Hurricane Beryl for the half of the one-and-a-half times paid to the employees for the additional time worked over 40 hours as those employees were paid straight time for those additional hours. This cost (approximately $7,676.56) would not be reimbursed by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as Motion by Councimember Dickerson, seconded by Councimember Schroeder, to approve the payment of additional reimbursement to exempt employees for their additional hours worked during Hurricane Beryl as 3. Consideration and possible action: Approval oft the second amended bylaws of the Santa Fe Economic Economic Development Corporation Director Rudy Zepeda said that the Santa Fe Economic Development Corporation (EDC) have proposed amending the bylaws to move the annual meeting from August to October. By doing sO, election for officers for the EDC will take place immediately after appointments tot the board are made by Council, rather than before. This proposed change was recommended by the EDC attorney, Olson & Olson. Motion by Councimember Jannett, seconded by Councilmember Marks, to approve the second amended bylaws of the Santa Fe Economic Development Corporation as presented. The motion passed the roll call vote  employees for their additional hours worked during Hurricane Beryl  the policy change was noti in effect before that last declared emergency.  presented. The motion passed the roll call vote unanimously.  Development Corporation  unanimously.    Minutes (cont.) 8/22/2024 Page 5of5 Announcements: Adjustment  Councilmember Schroder let everyone know that staff is accepting applications for the Economic Development Corporation. City Secretary Natalie Arnett said that staff is also accepting applications for the Zoning Board of Motion by Councimember Jannett to adjourn. The motion passed and the meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m.  DL3L BRANDONN NOTO, MAYOR  ATTEST:  Joupk Natalie N.Amet, City Secretary