Minutes  City Council- - Regular City Council Meeting  CITY OF SIMONTON September 24, 2024  This is a true and, correct copy of the Minutes of the City Council - Regular Meeting of the  Simonton City Council held on September 24, 2024 at 6:00p p.m.  1. Call to Order at 6:02 p.m.  A quorum was present with the following City Council Members in attendance: Kelli Matula, Laurie Boudrtux;Courtney Cox, Faith Haley, Justin Boudreau and Burns  Turner City Staff present: City Secretary Nanci Mohr Olson and Olson. Attorney Philip Boedeker Public Present:  Dan McJunkin, Kristi Smith, Dub Sabrsula, Ben Krail, Angela King, Kevin Malo, Jeff  Nelson, Stacey Gootee and Sara Dvorak. Mayor Boudreaux gavet the invocation.  2. Invocation and Pledge  Mayor Boudreaux led the assembly in thel Pledge of Allegiance.  3. Public Comments  Kristi Smith stated that Council is not listening. She stated that a $0.21 ad valorem tax rate and spending funds ini reserves isi not a good idea. Mrs. Smith stated that she drove through Simonton taking notes regarding broken roads, junk vehicles, missing signs, incomplete homes, the use of RVs as homesteads, burning construction debris, multi-family use of single-family homes, and improper temporary fencing. Ms. Smith was prepared to present photographs of code violations, requesting that said photographs be held confidential by Council, the Mayor and the City Secretary. City Attorney Philip Boedeker stated that by presenting the photographs they become public record under the Open Meetings Act. Mrs. Ben Krail inquired as to who will bej performing accounting functions. He stated that $70K in legal fees is too high, and that Council needs to be held accountable for utilizing too much oft the City Attorney's billable time. Mr. Krail stated that CIA Services (POA)isa a waste of money as violation letters are ignored, and that the $0.21 ad valorem tax rate is Angela King remarked that she believes the Council is not working for their constituents  Smith handed the photographs to City Secretary Nanci Mohr.  not high enough for debris clean up and road: repairs.  1    and that the City means more to the community than the $0.8 tax difference. Mrs. King requested that Council not cut funding for emergency management, Keep Simonton Beautiful and zoning. She stated that the proposed $0.21 tax rate will cause the City to be Sarah Dvorak stated that she is praying for the City and loves the City. Ms. Dvorak stated that the three Council Members that she voted for are representing the community. Ms. Dvorak was interrupted: several times, to which. Mayor) Boudreaux and City Attorney. Philip Boedeker stated that it was Ms: Dvorak's time to speak and to please not interrupt. She  in a deficit that will take four year to recover.  requested that Council not be disparaged in the public. 4. Consider and take action on1 the Consent Agenda  Items listed under the ConsentAgenda are considered; routine and are generally enacted in one motion. The exception. to this rule occurs when a Council. Member requests one or more items removedj from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion and action. a. Draft City Council Meeting Minutes of September 16, 2024 Special Meeting. Council Member Faith Haley took umbrage with the use of the word "homemade" in the Minutes. referencing Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox's version of the budget stating that it was "very disrespectful." City Secretary Nanci Mohr stated that she in no way intended to be disrespectful and used the word "homemade" to differentiate (between the four proposed tax rates). Mayor Boudreaux asked City Secretary Nanci Mohr if she would like to push the September 16, 2024 Special Meeting Minutes to thei next Councilmeeting ors simply remove the offending word ("homemade"). City Secretary Nanci Mohr agreed to Motion by Council Member Faith Haley to approve (a) Special Meeting Minutes.  remove homemade" from the record. Seconded by Council Member Kelli Matula.  Ayes: Noes:  Five None  Present and not voting except in the event ofat tie: Mayor Boudreaux.  Motion approved unanimously.  b. Draft City Council Meeting Minutes of September 17,20241 Regular Meeting. Motion by Council Member Faith Haley to approve (b). Regular Meeting Minutes.  Seconded by Council Member Burns Turner.  Ayes: Noes:  Five None  Present and not voting except int the event ofa tie: Mayor Boudreaux.  Motion approved unanimously.  2    5. New Business  a. Discussion regarding the public'st misconception ofthe Approved Budget. Mayor Boudreaux provided a detailed explanation of encumbered amounts for engineering, consulting, zoning, roads and facilities. Mayor Boudreaux stated that internet and telephone have been removed, and that the $200,000 in encumbered funds for roads will: fund approximately one-halfofan mile C ofroadway. The Mayor stated that EDC A, EDC B and Keep Simonton Beautiful budgets have been removed, and that the committees will meet to determine the next steps according to law. Council Member Faith Haley stated that telephone and internet budgets were' removed from facilities as they were already listed under administrative. A debate among community members in response ensued. Mayor Boudreaux stated this is not time for open discussion. Mayor Boudreaux stated that a Council Member can amend aj proposed budget. City. Attorney Philip Boedeker confirmed Council Member Kelli Matula requested that Mayor re-read the roadwork portion oft the encumbered funds discussion. Mayor Boudreaux stated that there are three roads scheduled with the $200,000 funds, and that .25% of sales tax will be Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox stated the property values almost tripled, so even at a $0.21 ad valorem tax levy, the City has "the largest spending budget that we havé had in Simonton." She stated that even with the past $0.45 tax rate, thej property values were lower. She stated that the money for roads is there, itl has been collected and previously not spent. Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox stated that a $0.21 tax: rate gives the people back $300 of their money. She stated that in an emergency, the committees have the money available, but they have not Community Member Karen Long asked where the KSB money comes from if Council has already adopted the budget. Mayor Boudreaux asked City Attorney Boedeker if KSB specifically could be discussed with regard to the budget. City Attorney Philip Boedeker stated it could be discussed as it is an agenda item and as long as no action is attempted to amend the budget or change line items in the budget. Mayor Boudreaux stated that KSB funds come mainly from sponsorships and vendorb booth fees and! Home Tourtickets. She stated that KSB has a $01 budget, KSB cannot pay for the tent for Christmas Round Up without coming to Council first. Council Member Kelli Matula stated that KSB generates its own funding. She stated that Council is micromanaging Keep Simonton Beautiful ("KSB") and that KSB will now have to request Council's permission for funds they (KSB) raised. Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox stated this is how it has been in  same.  collected for roadwork.  yet presented a budget to Council.  the past. A community discussion in response ensued.  3    Community Member Sarah Jordan asked what administrative looks like? Mayor Boudreaux responded City Secretary Nanci Mohr and City Finance Specialist.Julie Community Member Stacey Gootee stated that budgets are customarily prepared anticipating the funds you plan to spend and that adjusting the budget later is frowned upon by auditors. Council Member Kelli Matula stated that the Budget should be the City's soverall plan fort the year andi iti isi not. Mayor Boudreaux stated that, agreed or not agreed, the Budget has been adopted and that is our plan. Community Member Dub Sabrsula questioned whether the $0.21 ad valorem tax rate will accommodate the City's needs next year in relation to projects and encumbered funds. Mayor Boudreaux responded that the $0.21 tax rate and funding of items with previously encumbered funds are not related. Mayor Community Member Sarah Dvorak questioned whether 3% budget increase a year is possible with super majority electoral power. City Attorney Philip Boedeker discussed the simple explanation of the voter approval rate, no new revenue rate, and working within the-adopted budget and associated tax triggers resulting Community Member Sarah Jordan asked why the City collects taxes and what the vision is for the City in the future. City Attorney Philip Boedeker stated that these questions are outside the scope oft the agenda. Mayor Boudreaux stated that those questions will need to be addressed at a future City Council meeting. Community Member Kristi Smith addressed foreclosures in relation to appraisals and tax protests. Mayor Boudreaux stated both oft those scenarios are included in b. Discussion and action to approve the 2024-2025 Ad Valorem Tax Rate (Record 1. Maintenance & Operations portion of the 2024-2025 Ad Valorem Tax Rate Motion by Council Member Kelli Matula to approve a $0.29 ad valorem tax  Watts.  Boudreaux stated no.  therefrom.  the tax rolls. Vote).  (Record Vote).  rate. Seconded by Council Member Justin Boudreau. Council Member Kelli Matula: Aye Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox: Nay Council Member Faith Haley: No Council Member. Justin Boudreau: Yes Council Member Burns Turner: No  Present and not voting except in the event ofa tie: Mayor Boudreaux.  4    Motion failed.  Motion by Council Member Justin Boudreau to approve a $0.25 ad valorem tax  rate. Seconded by Council Member Kelli Matula. Council Member Kelli Matula: Aye Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox: No Council Member Faith Haley: No Council Member Justin Boudreau: Yes Council Member Burns Turner: No  Present and not voting except in the event of a tie: Mayor Boudreaux.  Motion failed.  Council Member Kelli Matula thanked the community for their involvement and support. She stated that she and Council Member. Justin Boudreau boycotted the September, 17,2024 méeting as the budget and tax rate are ill-thought out and the budget is poorly managed and not taking into account where the City is today. She stated that there are already growth challenges and the budget is based upon 2016 numbers. Council Member Kelli Matula said the current budget will force the City to deplete its resources andi is fiscallyi irresponsible. She stated that it will not support the committees and that it will take years to recover. Council Member Kelli Matula stated that she and Council Member Justin Boudreau do not agree with the $0.21 tax rate, but they felt that $0.21 is better than zero, which is the result ift the remaining counsel members did not ratify the default tax rate. Council Member Kelli Matula stated that the community desires a higher rate, but opined that other Council members are not working for the citizens. She stated that the reserves will be depleted by $500,000 and Keep Simonton Beautiful by $6,000. She stated that all technology has been cut from the budget and does not takei into account any inflationary measures. Council Member Kelli Matula stated that KSB is risking having to cancel Christmas Round Up and Home Tour due to lack of budgeted funds. She does not believe Fort Bend County will come to Simonton to repair one-half a mile of road, and that it will take four years to Council Member. Justin Boudreau stated that he and Council Member Kelli Matula boycotted because he does not agree with the tax ratel being sO low when the Texas average is $0.47. He said that tax rate doesn'ti include the debt service portion, which would increase the tax rate. He stated that defunding emergency services did not sit right with him, but he wants to do the best he can for the people who Council Member Faith Haley stated that the people who voted for them (presumably Council Members Cox, Haley and Turner) would be crazy to attend this meeting tonight. She stated that those people are sO nice, they don' 't want to  recover from the $0.21 tax rate.  voted for him.  come to the meeting, but do want their taxes lowered.  5    Motion by Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox to approve a $0.21 ad valorem tax rate. Seconded by Council Member Burns Turner.  Council Member Kelli Matula: Nay Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox: Yes Council Member Faith Haley: Yes Council Member Justin Boudreau: Nay Council Member Burns Turner: Yes  Present and not voting except in the event of a tie: Mayor Boudreaux.  Motion passed.  2. Debt Service portion oft the 2024-2025 Ad Valorem Tax Rate (Record Vote). Motion by Council Member. Justin Boudreau for $0.00 Debt Service Tax Rate.  Seconded by Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox. Council Member Kelli Matula: Yes Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox: Yes Council Member Faith Haley: Yes Council Member Justin Boudreau: Yes Council Member Burns Turner: Yes Motion passed unanimously.  Prèsent and not voting except in the event of a tie: Mayor Boudreaux.  Discussion and action to: approve Ordinance 2024-07 - An Ordinance oft the City of Simonton to adopt and levy the 2024-2025. Ad' Valorem Tax] Rate of$0.21 per $100 Motion by Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox to approve Ordinance.  dollars ofvaluation (Record Vote).  Seconded by Council Member Burns Turner. Council Member Kelli Matula: Nay Council Member/Pro Tem Courtney Cox: Yes Council Member Faith Haley: Yes Council Member Justin Boudreau: Nay Council Member Burns Turner: Yes  Present and not voting except in the event ofa tie: Mayor Boudreaux.  Motion passed.  d. Budget Adjustment FY 2023-2024 passed to: next Council Meeting on October 1,  2024.  5. Adjourn to Executive Session at 6:43 p.m.  Section 551.071 - Consultation with. Legal Counsel  Executive Session was not held.  6    6. The City Council reconvened to Open Session.  Council did not reconvene as Executive Session was not held.  7. Reports a. Mayor - None b. City.Attorney City Staff-1 None.  a. City Council- Council Member Kelli Matula requested volunteers with chainsaws and tractors for the KSB/POA trash clean up on October 6, 2024. She stated that December  7,2024 is the date for Christmas Round Up.  10. NextCity Council Meeting is on October 1, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.  11. Adjournment  Mayor Boudreaux adjourned the City Council Meeting at 7:23 p.m. without objection.  Respectfully submitted,  -  oFslii &A+  laini baudny  Mayor Lauriel Boudreaux AsnAg Nanci Mohr, City/Secretary  7