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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes City Council - 05/06/2003 - RetreatI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Retreat of the Corpus Christi City Council of May 6, 2003, which were approved by the City Council on May 27, 2003. WITNESSETH MY HAN SEAL AND SEAL, this 8th day of October 2003. Armando Chapa City Secretary MINUTES CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS City Council Retreat May 6, 2003 - 8:44 a.m. PRESENT Mayor Samuel L. Neal Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Henry Garrett Council Members: Brent Chesney Javier D. Colmenero Melody Cooper Bill Kelly Rex A. Kinnison Jesse Noyola Mark Scott Mayor Neal called the retre and History. City Secretary Chap Council and the required charter of City Staff: City Manager George K. Noe Acting City Attorney R. Jay Reining City Secretary Armando Chapa Recording Secretary Rebecca Huerta t to order in the Water Garden Room of the Museum of Science called the roll and verified that the necessary quorum of the ficers were present to conduct the meeting. Scott Elliff, retreat facilitator, asked the council to review the group norms they had set at last year's retreat and make any changes if needed. There were no changes. The first agenda item called for a presentation on the status of the previous Council's goals and objectives (see Mr. Elliffs attached report, included as part of these minutes). City Manager Noe reported that in total, the previus council had set 18 priorities. Of those 18 priorities, five were completed, substantial progress habeen made on eight and work had begun on five. He noted that there were a number of new goals $dded to the priority list in March 2002. Council Member Kelly asked for more information on the new "Environmental Court" process being proposed by staff to enhance code enforcement. City Manager Noe replied that staff had discussed creating the "environmental court" to deal exclusively with problems relating to high weeds and junk cars on vacant lots, similar to a program in place in San Antonio. Mr. Noe said that the goal was to encourage voluntary compliance by creating incentives. To that end, he said that staff was striving to be more aggressive on fining violators. Council Member Scott asked for more information on the Garwood Water project timeline. Mr. Ron Massey, Assistant City Manager, said that a partnership with the Lower Celorado River Authority (LCRA) would be one of the next steps. Council Member Colmenero asked if the city needed stronger code enforcement for rental properties. City Manager Noe said that the code does not differentiate between renters and property owners. The next presentation pertained to Bond 2004. City Manager Noe reported that the preliminary project categories and costs from the Capital Improvement Project (CIP) budget come to a total of $641,386,000. Mr. Noe discussed the pros and cons of having large bond issues up front or approving smaller issues every fdur years. He said that affordability, project management, market saturation, utility rates and bond ,ratings/interest rates were all deciding factors. The council members asked questions pertaining to cost savings with utility re-engineering efforts, specifically Minutes - City Council Retreat May 6, 2003 - Page 2 solid waste. Also, the council was concerned with whether these savings could be used to improve parks. City Manager Noe remarkUd that aggressive re-engineering efforts are also needed in the general fund to provide cost savin4s. Mayor Neal commented tha the city must become more efficient with fewer people. He was concerned that the city may not be . ble to meet the needs of the community at the end of the decade. He said that the reality was that t e city would have to have a leaner workforce that was highly motivated and highly trained. He dded that cities can expect fewer state and federal dollars for help, placing the burden on them. r. Kinnison remarked that at some point, the city may need to seriously consider tax increases to ncrease revenues. City Manager Noe reviewe the tentative timeline for the bond issue. He said that it will be important to create a good publi information campaign and enhance citizen involvement to successful. He also said that projec development and the timing of the bond issue will be important. The next item on the age da was a discussion of upcoming Budget issues. Mr. Mark McDaniel, Director of Manageme t and Budget, reviewed the General Fund Five Year financial forecast. He said that the city's finncial situation is currently good. Unlike other cities in the state, the city is not seeing deficits of $15 million to $30 million. He also said that it was important to consider that the city is planning fo the future. During 2012-2016, the city will likely face looming future costs. Mr. McDaniel pro ided a list of current and emerging fiscal issues as follows: compensation costs, retirement cots, re-engineering, water resource development, storm water costs, crime control district progr mming, arena and convention center expansion, proposition 2 initiatives, marina privatization, g if course utilization, and airport promotion. Mr. McDaniel said that the city's budget goals would be focusing on fostering livable communities, a commitment to improving customer service, strong support for economic development initiatives, efficiencies through teamwork and employee involvement and renewed emphasis on intergovernmental re ations. After discussion, Mr. Elliff summarized the council's ideas on the budget over the next 12-24 months as follows: 1) have the audit committee make recommendations on the tax cap and tax increases; 2) look at the big picture and check on joint ventures with other entities; 3) pudic education campaign on the budget issues. The next agenda item was a facilitated discussion and consideration of the 2003-05 Council goals and objectives. Mr. Elliff opened the discussion by asking the council to review the goals they had set last year to see if they shojild be carried over to this year. After discussion, the Council made revisions to the following exiting council priority issues: charter revisions; adding federal and state issues to the legislative agenda increased CVB funding, trashy neighborhoods, master drainage plan, Garwood water, new funding sources/inner city improvements and improving the permitting process. Mr. Elliff then opened discussion on determining the priority issues for 2003-2004. After discussion and a brief exercise, the Council identified the following two main issues: focusing on the long-term revenue picture and Bond 2004. Additional priority issues included the following: revitalize downtown/bayfront initiatives; skate park; storm water/ storm water drainage; ADA compliance; Park Master Plan; conpmunication with other entities ("summit"); and revisit sexually oriented businesses ordinance. Minutes - City Council Retreat May 6, 2003 - Page 3 Finally, the Council discus Chapa presented a list of recomm approved the complete list which Summer Break; November 25, 2 December 30, 2003 - New Years; Mr. Elliff asked the Counci procedures. Council Member Sco room and outside the Council Cha suggested that instead of presentin a written report rather than prepare meeting. The Council asked sta quarterly reports and the Texas De Council Member Kelly reqs on the agenda for next week, saying previous exercise. Mr. Elliff rep priorities over the next 12-24 mon ed and considered the City Council calendar. City Secretary nded dates for canceled meetings for 2003-04. The Council insisted of the following: July 29, 2003 and August 12, 2003 - 03 - Thanksgiving break; December 23, 2003 - Christmas; arch 16, 2004 - Spring Break. if there were any recommended changes for council operating suggested posting the council priorities in the closed session bers to help everyone keep them in mind. City Manager Noe quarterly and annual reports on some topics, staff could provide presentations or go to the expense of bringing consultants to the to add the Convention and Visitors Bureau to the list for a artment of Transportation (TXDOT) for an annual report. ested that staff place the sexually oriented business ordinance that the Council had indicated that it was a high priority in the ied that the intent of the exercise was to determine council hs, not to place the priorities on the agenda. There was some discussion about the process for potting items, specifically the council priorities, on the agenda. Mayor Neal stated that the process would involve asking the city manager and staff to prepare an action plan and timetable on the council priorities informing the Council when they might be prepared to discuss the items, subjCct to the Council's approval. Council Member Cooper asrked the Council to consider moving the public comment period back to the beginning of the meeting instead of at the end. After asking for feedback from the rest of the Council, however, Mr. Elliff determined that there was little support for this suggestion. Mayor Neal asked for a review of the council policies. City Secretary Chapa said he would provide the Council with a written report with a copy of the current policies for their review. There being no further busiihess, Mayor Neal adjourned the Council meeting at 2:42 p.m. on May 6, 2003. * * * * * * * * * * * * * CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI ANNUAL CITY COUNCIL RETREAT MAY 6, 2003 The Corpus Christi City Cou cil conducted their annual facilitated retreat on Tuesday, May 6, 2003, at th Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. The purpose of the retreat s to establish priority issues for the Council and staffs work over the next 12 24 months. The process for the retreat as as follows: • Introduction and overvie • Status report on previous • Budget report • Bond program report • Revision of existing ongc • Listing of potential new i • Ranking of new issues u • Review of Council calenc • Discussion of Council op • Adjournment of agenda ly-established priority issues ing priority issues sues ing multi -voting process ar rating procedures Expected next steps followirig the retreat are for the staff to prepare action plans related to the priority issues Ond to present the action plans to the Council within 30 days. Revisions to Charter Revisions • Revisit for possibility of 2 • Establish process, with p • Report to Council in June Legislative Agenda • Include federal issues • Base closures • Reactions to state chang Increased CVB funding • Clarification on increase Trashy Neighborhoods • Use foreclosures as part • Enhance and enforce lith • Enforce maintenance of i • Involve neighborhood as. • Communication campaig large Existing Council Priority Issues 04 election ssibility of mirroring bond election calendar 2003 s additional funding—one time or over longer term? of code enforcement ring and mowing ordinances ight-of-way �ociations and community members in trash pickup n with retailers / commercial customers, citizenry at Master Drainage Plan • Delineate short-term plan for stormwater drainage Garwood Water • Need detailed time schedule New funding sources / Inner City Improvements • Need more detail Improving Permitting Process • Rewrite Development Ccjdes Lon 2003-2004 Priority Issues Term Revenue Pictu • Audit Committee should omplete work and make recommendations to Council regarding tax caand tax increase philosophy / policy • Need to apprise other to ing entities of issues / conversations and coordination with other e tities • Broad-based community education regarding long-term financial picture Bond 2004, including, but hot limited to, discussion of the following • Leopard Street (curbs, g tters, drainage) • Mansheim / Sunnybrook V Crestmont (curbs, gutters, drainage) • Saratoga widening from ,Ayers to Greenwood • Northwest library expans on Additional Issues (number of priority votes indicated in parentheses) • Revitalize Downtown / BOyfront Initiatives (8)1 • Skate Park (8) • Stormwater / Stormwater Draininge District (7) • ADA Compliance (7) • Park Master Plan, includ ng Support of Community Organizations (7) • Communication with Oth r Taxing Entities ("Summit," separate meetings) (6) • Revisit Sexually Oriente Businesses Ordinance (6) • Call Center for City Services (5) • Landfill Plans (4) • Saratoga Development Fllan (3) • Identification and Development of Neighborhood Associations (3) • Finish Northside Plan (3) • Affordable Housing, inch ding Mortgage Counseling (3) • Protocol Department (3) • Airport—International Services (3) • NPID Development (2) • Public Long -Range Planning Process (2) • Regional Economic Dev lopment Summit (2) • Revisit Catering Contract for Arena / Local Participation (1) • Laredo / Agnes Corridor Plan (1) • Council Meetings in the Oommunity • Consular Services 1 Includes closure on Marina Deveplopment (decision on Landry's and South Wharf); Festival Site and events; Coliseum use; Arena and Convention Center development; possible realignment of Shoreline Drive; development of 4rea near baseball stadium; Old Courthouse; Corpus Christi Beach; and the need for public input. Additional Council Issues • Prominently post list of priority issues in Conference Room and Council Chambers • Add Convention Center rogress report quarterly • Add TXDOT report annu ; Ily • Review Council policies