CITY OF KEENE PTERAS  City Council Regular Meeting Minutes  at 6:00 PM  September 05, 2024  Keene City Hall - Robert G. Cooper Council Chamber 1000 N. Old Betsy Rd Cleburne, Texas 76031  Recorded Live Stream available at ttps:/www.youtube.com/@clyofkeenetexas  Members present: Lisa Parrish, Mayor; and Council Members Gwen Beeson, James Belz, Charles  Easley, Rob Foster, and Thomas Gutwa. Members absent: Ray Johnson, Mayor Pro Tem  City Staff present: Brent Batla, City Manager; Holly Russell, City Secretary; Don Martin, Director of Development & Neighborhood Services; Kit Kepple, Admin Assistant to the City Manager; Chief Dan Warner, Keene Fire Department; Derek Malone, Public Works Director; Dinah Acosta, Finance  Manager; and Robert Brown, City Attorney.  1. Call to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, Pledge to Texas Flag  Mayor Parrish called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and Council Member Gutwa gave the  invocation. 2. Mayor Announcements  Cell phones are to be placed on vibrate/silent only. No conversation or comment from the audience The Mayor reminded citizens about National Night Out to be held at City Hall on October 1, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. There will be a small ceremony in front of City Hall for 9/11 as well. Announcements are Paul Gnadt, Keene Chamber of Commerce President, shared information about the Council Candidates Forum to be held Tuesday, October 15, at 6:00 pm, in the Community Center. There will also be a Town Hall on Monday, September 9, to help come up with questions for the Forum. Samantha Gillin, 218 W. 4th Street, announced that resident Michael Williams was in a serious accident but recovering. There is a donation account to cover expenses at Pinnacle Bank should anyone like to donate to help him. She also made comments about the property appraiser and  is permitted unless specifically called upon by the Mayor.  to be made soon. 3. Public Comments  property tax concerns the Council will be discussing this evening. A. Receive and discuss the City Manager's Report.  4. Reports  Brent Batla, City Manager, shared about various repairs at City Hall. Savor Keene is being rescheduled to allow for further planning. The utility billing concerns of residents was addressed, stating that there were no technology issues with the meter reading as well as physical inspections. He reassured that staff will do everything they can to make sure residents are being charged correctly and to address any issues that may be the cause for  high billing or water consumption.  1/Page    B. Receive and discuss a report on the update on the sidewalk portion crossing a creek at S. Don Martin, Director of Neighborhood and Development Services, shared information he received from the City's engineer as to the cost of planning a crossing at the creek in this location. The cost for survey, and planning would cost about $9,000, and up to $75,000 for the  Eastern Steet and E. First Street.  full project to completion.  5. Public Hearing Items 6. Consent Agenda  There was no public hearing scheduled/held for this date.  A. Consider approval of the Interlocal. Agreement with Johnson County for Dispatching Services B. Consider approval of Ordinance Number 2024-672 amending Section 8 of Ordinance No. Considera approval of the minutes for the regular City Council meeting held on August 15, D. Consider approval of the minutes for the Special-called City Council meeting held on August  for Budget Year 2024-2025.  2024-671 to change the name oft the Elections Administrator.  2024. 23, 2024.  Council Member Foster removed Item C for discussion. Easley second. The motion carried unanimously.  Council Member Foster motioned to approve Consent Agenda Items A, B, and D. Council Member Discussion on Item C. Council Member Foster recommended adding clarification to the text of Item 4A, to show report of two audits: the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the single audit. An motion to approve the minutes of the August 15, 2024 regular City Council meeting with the suggested edits was made Council Member Foster, and second by Council Member Beeson. The  motion carried unanimously.  7. General  A. Review, discuss, and consider a resolution stating the City's vote of no confidence in the The Mayor explained the item is on the agenda by request of several residents and other cities' council members who have also considered and voted on resolutions. Jim Hudspeth, Chief Appraiser of the Johnson County Central Appraisal District (JCAD), was ina attendance to answer the Council's questions concerning property appraisals and citizens' concerns. Mr. Hudspeth has been with the JCAD since 1981. He spoke to the reappraisal plans the JCAD Board is discussing to change processes in the appraisal process, and hopefully add more Appraisal Review Board (ARB) members. Once the plan has been settled, it will be shared with municipalities and other taxing entities for review andi input. He and the JCAD Board do hear the citizens' concerns and are working to address those concerns. Mayor Parrish asked about access to information. Council Member Beeson asked for an explanation of how appraisals are assessed other than square footage. Council Member Belz asked if citizens cannot see the ARB if they are told they' "do not have a case". Mr. Hudspeth said he was unaware of such activity but asked to know more details on the matter. Council Member Gutwa asked about the Chief Appraiser's contract and review process. Mr. Hudspeth noted that his review is usually in December, and the contract is reviewed before it expires for possible renewal. Council Member Foster asked how many Board Members there are, to  Johnson County Appraisal District's Chief Appraiser.  2Page    which there are nine total. Some are voted and some are appointed. Council Member Belz asked if Mr. Hudspeth had read the proposed resolution, and if passed what would it accomplish. Mr. Hudspeth said he had not read the resolution, but if passed it would go to the JCAD Board and what they do with it will be up to them to consider. Greg Cooper, of Fox Hollow, spoke to what the vote of no confidence means and the message itsends; and responded to Mr. Hudpeth's talk. He criticized the JCAD appraisal and believes the issue is there in JCAD and not with the tax office. He calls for fair appraisal of all Craig Hundley, head of a grassroots movement to rid property tax, read a response from the state comptroller's office regarding a complaint he filed. He asked for a vote of no confidence Kaleb Boal, asked the Council to adopt the resolution for a vote of no confidence. Peter Svendson of Cleburne, Texas, spoke about a citizen in Keene who owns several rental Nova Olson, 8921 Winding Way in Godley, stated that she moved to Texas and has been involved in local government in many ways and talking to people in her community about property taxes. She questioned why the Chief Appraiser has not led any change to improve the system. She called on the Council to speak for the citizens and vote to adopt the Council Member Gutwa spoke to his agreement with most of the citizens that have spoken up A motion was made to approve a resolution stating the City's vote of no confidence in the Johnson County Appraisal District's Chief Appraiser by Council Member Gutwa. Council Member Easley stated he would second the motion if the resolution stated a vote of no confidence in the JCAD, and not name only the Chief Appraiser. Council Member Gutwa  properties.  in the Chief Appraiser.  properties and pays high property taxes on those properties.  resolution. about their concerns.  accepted that change. The amended motion carried. Voting Yea: Belz, Easley, Foster, Gutwa  Voting Nay: Beeson Budget for 2024-25.  B. Review, discuss, and consider possible action regarding updates or changes to the Proposed The Mayor recessed the meeting at 7:42 p.m., and resumed the meeting at 7:56 p.m. Mr. Batla gave an update on the cost of the backhoe for Public Works. The state BuyBoard contract price on the backhoe is significantly less at $164,000, which will allow the City to purchase outright and not make a huge hit to the Water/Waste Water Fund. Council advised to Staff is doing open enrollment currently, which closes tomorrow afternoon. Numbers are trending toward more staff taking the PPO Option over the HDHP/HSA option. To offset this, the purchase of a Tahoe for the Fire Department has been removed from the proposed budget Wes Schram, 102W4th Street, asked if leftover funds could be used to purchase a PPE fan the FD that is greatly needed. Mr. Batla replied that the Taho was the priority right now, but the The Mayor asked if there were any further questions or comments, to which there were none.  do the full purchase rather than the lease-purchase over four years.  as there looks to be funds to purchase a vehicle in the current budget.  purchase of a fan is not out of the question.  3Page    C. Review, discuss, and consider a professional services contract with Charles Williams as Mr. Batla presented a contract for professional services to allow Charles Williams to serve as Finance Consultant until a new Director of Finance is hired. The position has been advertised for about three months, and there are few qualified applicants applying. His services would help the City in the meantime. Mr. Batla is seeking Council's approval to move forward with the Council Member Belz made the motion to approve the professional services contract with Charles Williams, and was second by Council Member Foster. The motion carried  Finance Consultant.  contract. unanimously. 8. Executive Session  No Executive Session was held. 9. Reconvene into Open Session 10. Requests for Future Agenda Items  The Mayor confirmed that there will be a Special-called City Council Meeting on September 24 to Council Member Beeson asked if the Council could start interviewing City Manager candidates. The Mayor advised to selection of a committee to review applicants and refer candidates to Council for interviews. The past committees involved the Chiefs, Mayor, two Council Members, and Council Member Foster asked that the Clothing Collection Boxes be discussed, to which Mr. Batla said that staff would have materials prepared by the next Council meeting for discussion on the Beeson asked about the Mayor Pro Tem, and the Mayor noted that the Clty Attorney is reviewing  vote on Tax Rate.  Directors. matter.  complaints that affect this decision.  11. Adjourn  The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.  Approved on this the 24th day of September 2024.  APPBÔVED Cuoa Lisa Parrish, Mayor  ATTEST:,  Do  Jlnil Holly Russell City Secretary  4IPage