! City Council Ron Mullen Mayor John Treviño, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Council Members Mark Rose Roger Duncan Sally Shipman Mark E. Spaeth Charles E. Urdy Nicholas M. Meiszer City Manager Elden Aldridge Acting City Clerk CITY OF AU FOUNDED IBA Austin City Council MINUTES For SPECIAL CALLED MEETING - SEPTEMBER 14, 1983 1983-84 PROPOSED FINANCIAL PLAN Council Chambers, 301 West Second Street, Austin, Texas Memorandum To: - 4:15 Ρ.Μ. Mayor Mullen called to order the Special Called Meeting of the Council, noting the presence of all Councilmembers. Mayor Mullen stated the purpose of the meeting is to have a public hearing on the following: 1. (a) 1983-84 Proposed Financial Plan (b) Proposed fee changes 2. Proposed Tax Increase 3. Proposed Use of General Revenue Sharing Funds Daryl Janes, Chairman, Energy Advisory Commission, told Council, "In addition to the Manager's proposed budget there is also Commission approved recommendations to the budget. 1. Continued funding of the Montopolis Energy Demonstration Project for $15,000.00. 2. Funding for continuation of expansion of the Residential Energy Audit Program. The funding amount is $140,000.00. 3. Funding for an educational program to promote a voluntary residential energy efficiency rating system. No specific funding amount but more information is requested from staff on cost estimates. The figure we last heard would be about $40,000.00. 4. Roll forward of existing loan funds for commercial audit and loan program. This is money in the loan program this year that we are looking forward to using next year." Peck Young, Chairman of Electric Utility Commission, stated, "On September 12, our Commission reviewed both the budget for the utility department. Also Energy Management and had four motions as follows: 1. Recommend that Council adopt the proposed 1983-84 Electric Utility Budget with a $5,000,000.00 reduction in the proposed working capital funds but that the working capital funds be made up in future years so the level of working capital is adequate and in addition proposed rate increase, which this budget requires, be implemented in a two Council Memo 2 9/14/83 step manner. One step would be a 10% increase effective November 1, 1983 and the second, a 10% increase effective March 1, 1984. 2. Accepted recommendation of Energy Advisory Commission concerning Energy Management Department and recommended those to Council. : 3. Recommended to communicate to the City Council that the City needs to examine policy as to transfer from the Utility Fund to the General Fund in light of the City's growing utility debt and the need to maintain a reasonable equity in the system. 4. Commended the department for adopting a lean budget and recommend that the Council follow suit with the rest of the budget. Richard Halpin, representing American Institute for Learning, said he was unable to attend the September 13, 1983 hearing on social service funding but wanted Council to know they were not recommended by HSRT. Mr. Halpin told Council his organization works with teenage dropouts. They were told that AISD should help them but AISD has only given them $149.00. He said with a 24% drop-out rate from high school, their program is cheaper than having these people eventually end up in a penal institution. Their bottom line figure for need is $24,000.00. Irene Pickard, vice-president, Brykerwoods Neighborhood, Association, said they would like City planners to work with neighborhood groups to help them with their concerns. B.O. May, representing elderly residents of Austin, asked for exemption on property taxes for the elderly, (65 and over) and the handicapped. Jim Kauser, who lives on West 10th Street, thinks City pools should remain open longer. Mayor Mullen said the problem will be looked at. Bill Snow, Austin Softball Association, said the proposal is to double the fee for softball. If this happens he is afraid the teams will be priced right out of the ball park. Mayor Mullen asked the reason for the fee increase. Mr. Meiszer, City Manager, explained that under the present fee schedule, it costs the City $377,000.00 to maintain the baseball program. The budget increase proposed of $103,000 would not cover the City's cost. Ann Buxton told Council she would like to see City pools open longer than three months of the year. Don Barnes, Austin Softball Association, is against higher softball fees. Mandy Williams spoke against increases for children's classes. She said the City is now just a few cents under private sector charges. Steve McCrae spoke against higher fees and wonders why everything has to pay for itself. He said the City is pricing a lot of the people out of the market. Council Memo 3 9/14/83 Mr. Meiszer stated none of the proposed fees will make anything self-supporting and activities have to be paid for lehter through fees or taxes. Proposed Tax Increases No one appeared to speak concerning proposed tax increase. General Revenue Sharing No one appeared to speak on the use of General Revenue Sharing Funds. Jonathan Daivis, Acting City Attorney, told Council they need to set a definite time and date for announcing the amount of tax increase. Council unanimously agreed to September 21, 1983 at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers, ADJOURNMENT Council adjourned its meeting at 5:30 p.m.