01151979 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I regular meeting, january 15, 1979 page three 165 Mr. Hansen moved the ordinance be adopted on third and final reading. Mr. Hyatt seconded the motion. Mr. Arredondo said that he was very unhappy with the consultants since he felt their recommendation to approving the automatic service cost adjustment clause indicated a bias in favor of utility ~ companies instead of the consumer. Mr. Arredondo also noted a State statute which would allo~ citizens to appeal any action of a City Council in setting rates. Mr. James moved to amend Section 5 of the ordinance so as to require representatives of Entex to appear personally before the City Council to request any increase, in,yates. Mr. Arredondo seconded the motion which passed unanimously. On roll call, the motion to adopt the ordinance as amended also passed unanimously. Mr. Albert Sierra, Director of Community Development, came before the City Council with a summary of cost figures for projects previously discussed for funding under Action Year V of the Community Development Block Grant Program. Mr. Sierra also presented Council with a report on total funds committed for all four years of the Community Development Program. Following Mr. Sierra's presentation, the Mayor opened a public hearing to receive comments from visitors regarding the Year V program and budget. Mr. John Morrisset, representing the Downtown B~siness Association, requested the Council consider completion of the Downtown Revitalization Project with an allocation of $150,000. Mr. Morrisset said this would complete lighting improvements around the square and on L.B.J. Drive from Comal to University and other improvements on L.B.J. Drive including planter boxes and sidewalk improvements and repairs. Chris Banbury appeared before the Council to request special consideration for the Dunbar and Mitchell Street area. Mrs. Banbury said the primary needs in the area were for parkland and street and curb improvefuents. Mr. C. E. O'Bryant and Mr. Elmer Satterwhite requested the Council fund improvements in the Mill Street area. Mr. Celestino Mendez, a former member of the Urban Renewal Board, urged the Council to leave housing as a priority item. Mr. 'Sutton suggested that some of the proceeds from sale of Urban Renewal property which had been committed to housing programs be used instead for a new fire station to be constructed in the area of Broadway Street. Mr. Mendez said he felt the available fire substation were not well staffed and that he had been told that it might be as sufficient to operate out of one central station instead of a series of substations. When all persons in the audience had been heard, the Mayor closed the public hearin~. Mr. Hyatt questioned the amount of money recommended for personnel costs. He and Mr. Breihan said they felt since the overall program monies were less, the administrative cost should be proportionatel~ less. Mr. Sierra pointed out that not all the funds allocated for Action Year IV had been expended and that no administrative funds had been placed in the first year of the Small Cities grant; therefore, there was a sufficient work load to keep all the eiisting personnel employed. Council discussed proposed programs at length. Council having reached a concensus, the Mayor moved approval of allocations for the 5th Year Community Development Program as follows: Administrative costs $150,000; housing $150,000; fuaster plan $25,000; Mill Street area,public works improvements $350,000; fire substation and pumper $185,650; water well North of City $78,175; and Barbara Drive, public works improvements $78,175, for a total budget of $1,017,000. Mr. Hyatt seconded the motion which passed unanimously. Meeting was recessed at 9:45 p.m. for a five minute break. Mr. Earl Williams, Director of Finance, came before the Council with a financial report on the activities of the City from October 1, 1978 through December 31, 1978: Mr. Williams told the Council that the General Fund, Revenue Sharing Fund and Airport Funds were in satisfactory condition but that it appeared that revenues would not be sufficient to fund all expenditures ~llocated within the Utility Fund.