MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, OCTOBER: 1,2024  CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DUMAS, TEXAS  CALL' TO ORDER:  Mayor Brinkmann at 11:30. A.M.  MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Barr  Commissioner Mayor Commissioner Mayor Pro Tem Commissioner City Attorney Interim City Manager City Secretary Building Official Fire Chief Finance Director Public Works Director ChiefofPolice Police Lieutenant Parks Supervisor Purchasing Agent Administrative Assistant Code Enforcement  Bob Brinkmann Tommy Brooks PatI L. Sims Justin Willis Bryan Guymon Ben Maples Bethanie Alwan Javier Pena Ronald Pray Shannon Wallace Isidro Renteria Rick] Pippins Joe Morales Tom Carter Rene Ramirez Connie Martinez Angela Robles  STAFF PRESENT:  OTHERS PRESENT:  Brandon Cox, Marisela Hernandez, Darren Stallwitz, Garrett Stallwitz, Cliff White, Carl Watson, Alex Guerrero  NEWS MEDIA PRESENT: John Key  City Manager, Ben Maples, explains changes made to the consent agenda formatting. He explains that in years passed, the Commission has been approving bills that have already been paid, but moving forward they will be approving, questioning and striking bills before the checks are sent out. A motion was made by Commissioner Brooks, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Sims, and passed unanimously to approve the consent agenda as presented with the following items: the September 17, 2024 Regular City Commission Meeting Minutes, Paying the Bills, and Bills tol be  Paid.  Mayor Brinkmann convened into Executive Session at 11:34 a.m. in accordance with Tex. Gov't Code $551.074 to discuss and consider the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of City Manager and Interim City Manager, and in accordance with Tex. Gov'tCode $551.072 to discuss and consider the purchase, exchange, lease,  or value ofr real property.    Mayor Brinkmann reconvened into open session at 12:06 p.m. No decisions were made in  Executive Session.  Mayor Brinkmann opened the Formal Session  Marisela Hernandez presents ai request for city water services outside the city limits for a new-build residential dwelling. She lets the Commission know that she has gotten quotes on a water well, however, since it is pricey to get a water well, she spoke to Public Works Director, Isidro Renteria, about the possibility of gaining access to city water services. Mr. Renteria lets the Commission know that there is an unused water meter near the property. Building Official, Javier Pena, follows this statement by letting the Commission know that the meter being discussed has been off for some years due to the line needing repairs. Mayor Brinkmann lets Mr. Renteria and Ms. Hernandez know that this part of town is difficult to keep adequate water pressure as it is without the addition of any new dwellings to service. He states many citizens of this area went days without any water during the period of water restrictions the city experienced a few short months ago. He goes on to say that this areaj periodically struggles with water pressure because the lines are already at capacity, He state the city doesn'thave the water to offer new dwellings in the county at this time. He goes on to say that the main priority is to service the city first, and with the lack of production in this area of the county, it's not practical to approve another dwelling outside the city limits to gain access to city water services at this time. A motion was made by Mayor Brinkmann, seconded by Commissioner Barr, and passed unanimously to deny water services  outside the city limits.  Commissioner Brooks lets the Commission know that the EOC will be conducting a full- scale exercise on S. Bliss, between fourth and fifth street (in front of First Baptist Church) on October 22, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. until approximately 5:00 p.m. He states the exercise will be in the church, however, there will be participants running back and forth from the parking lot to the church, sO the need for the street closure is necessary. A motion wasi made by Commissioner Barr, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Sims, andj passed by amajority vote to approve the closure ofs.E Bliss from fourth to fifth street on October 22, 2024, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. as presented.  Commissioner Brooks abstained.  Alex Guerrero, Local Government Services Director for Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, presents an interlocal agreement between the city and PRPC in order to find a candidate to fill the open City Manager position. Mr. Gurrero goes over the highlights of the agreement. Ai motion wasi made by Commissioner Willis, seconded by Commissioner Brooks, and passed by a majority vote to approve the Interlocal Agreement between the city and PRPC for  professional services, as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Sims abstained.  City Manager, Ben Maples, presents a contract between Dumas Little League and Turf Tank, letting the Commission know that the goal for this contract is for the city to assume responsibility moving forward, for the remainder of the contract. There was clarification that Dumas Little League has made two of the six annual payments of $10,000, leaving the city toj pay the remaining four payments over the next four years. A motion was made by Commissioner Barr, seconded by May Pro Tem Sims, and passed unanimously to approve the city to assume responsibility ofthe current agreement between Dumas. LittleL League and' TurfTank, as presented.    Amotion wasi made by Mayor Pro Tem Sims, seconded by Commissioner Barr, and passed unanimously to approve Ordinance No. 1231 - A Zoning Amendment, for the second and final  reading, as presented.  A motion was made by Commissioner Willis, seconded by Commissioner Brooks, and passed unanimously to approve Ordinance No. 1232 - Dumas South Elementary School Zone,  Amending Ordinance No. 445, for the second and final reading, as presented.  Police Chief, Rick Pippins, lets the Commission know that they have received two 2023 Chevy Tahoes, fully upfitted and ready for patrol after graphics are placed. He states that the final stepi ini this process is fort the city to sign offand pay the outstanding invoice for all work completed by Watt's Upfitting. He goes on to say that the cost per vehicle comes out to be $22,510, which is significantly lower than a normal purchasing transaction on a brand-new vehicle because earlier this year, the Commission approved the Police Department to trade in a high milage Ford Explorer in preparation for the two newer units. Chief Pippins states he is seeking approval to fund the $45,021.18 from the Federal Seizure Fund. A motion was: made by Commissioner Barr, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Sims, and passed unanimously to approve the payment of $45,021.18 to Watt's  Upfitting, as presented.  Mayor Brinkmann opened the Work Session  City Manager, Ben Maples, lets the Commission know thank he has been looking into the commercial water and sewer rates, stating "these rates haven't! been raised in quite some time."He goes on to mention that the only difference in the minimum rate of commercial rates verses the residential rates is $5.00/month for water and $2.50/month for sewer. He explains that he visited the TML (Texas Municipal League) website to compare the City of Dumas' rates to other cities around the same population size. He explains that the water rates for the ten cities he researched range between $8.00/1,000 gallons on the high end and $3.00/1,000 gallons on the lower end for water rates. He goes on1 to give the same analysis on sewer rates which he states range from $16.99 on the high end and $3.19 on the low end. In both cases, the City of Dumas is charging the least amount to the consumers compared to the similar cities. Mr. Maples proposes the Commission consider aligning water rates with the City of Berney, TX, at $8.00/1,000 gallons of water for commercial accounts. He goes on to propose a rate of $4.06 as a minimum charge for sewer services on commercial accounts. He explains that he came to this number by averaging the ten similar sized cities sewer rates. The Commission concurs with Mr. Maples, stating that the city does need to look into raising the commercial water/sewer rates. After some discussion, it was decided Mr. Maples and the city'sattorneys wouldcollectively work on an ordinance to effectively raise commercial water and sewer rates to be considered for the first reading at the October 15th  regular Commission meeting.  City Manager, Ben Maples, lets the Commission know that he has been contacted by several individuals interested in entering into a grass lease for the newly acquired land south of town. He explains that each parcel of land was previously under contract with the Blackburn's. Mayor Brinkmann states that when the land was acquired, the agreement was for all existing leases to be continued until their expiration. Mr. Maples follows this statement up with the expiration    date of the current leases being in October of 2025. Garrett Stallwitz states that it was their understanding that once the land sold, all leases and agreements were null and void. Mr. Maples follows this up by stating ift the leases are. now void, he would like direction from the Commission oni ift the Commission would be interested in leasing the land out again for grass leases as well as dry farming, and how they would like him to grant these leases in the fairest way possible. Cliff White lets the Commission know that his verbal agreement with the previous City Manager was that he would be able tol keepl his existing crops on1 the land until the spring of2025, withi no definite date and no written agreement. Mayor Brinkmann states that it makes sense for the existing agreements to stand especially ift they have money invested in the crops that are currently present ont the land. He goes on to say that when he went to look at the land, he felt it was overgrazed, and the city doesn't want this land to be a dirt farm. Because of this, Mayor Brinkmann states that before it is put out for bidding, there will need to be parameters set on how the land will need to be taken care of, and also ways to keep the options open ifthe land was ever to be developed or one day sold. Commissioner Brooks questions if a portion of the land would be used for fire mitigation. Mayor Brinkmann lets Commissioner Brooks know that there have been no solid plans for the land at the current time, but that option has been discussed. After some discussion, it was decided to look into all oft these items and have aj proposal to the Commission by January of 2025. City Manager, Ben Maples, lets the Commission knowi that the City Hall: staffh has identified at least a half dozen known and advertised Air BnB's in town. He states that these entities are acting as. hotels, however, the city is not receiving any taxes from them operating as such. He goes on to say that in other cities, they have ordinances in place to outline the expectations of such entities to ensure the city is being paid the appropriate taxes. Mayor Brinkmann states that it is only fair to the hotel owners ini town ift the city treats them all fair, sO the need for an ordinance on the matter would be appropriate. City Attorney, Bryan Guymon, lets the Commission know that there are several ways to go about the regulation ofthis situation. He goes on to say that the current Hotel/Motel ordinance is already outlined for these entities to pay taxes to the city. He goes on to say that they will primarily focus on the permitting and registration process to ensure the city knows where they are to further ensure that they are paying the hotel occupancy taxes.  Meeting adjourned.  Bob Brinkmann, Mayor Ridsbons  ATTEST:  Rat Sims MmAyOR PRe lem  R.  AEN Mens