VENUS CITY COUNCIL
PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
CITY OF VENUS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
103 WEST 3"^ • VENUS, TEXAS 76084
K
1 City OF
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016
ENUS
PUBLIC HEARING
6:30PM
PUBLIC HEARING CALLED TO ORDER
A Public Hearing of the City Council was called to order Monday, September 12, 2016 at 6:35 PM to
discussthe Proposed Budget for FY 2016-2017 with a quorum present, to wit:
James Burgess
Wes Dady
Mayor Pro Temp
Jeannie Prazak
Councilmember
Jeanie Toland-Scott
Councilmember
Councilmember
Geronimo Hernandez
Mayor
CITIZENS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
John Benjamin Clopton, residing at 810 S. P.M. Hwy 157, Venus, Texas 76084; spoke, asking the Venus
City Council to reconsider their decision in regards to the City of Venus' employees not receiving a cost of
living raise.
ITEM 1. Discuss FY 2016 - 2017 Proposed Budget
ADJOURNED:
Public hearing adjourned at 6:45pm.
APPROVED
CITY SECRETARY
MAYOR
VENUS CITY COUNCIL
PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
CITY OF VENUS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
103 WEST 3^ • VENUS, TEXAS 76084
City OF
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12,2016
E
PUBLIC HEARING
6:30PM
PUBLIC HEARING CALLED TO ORDER
A Public Hearing of the City Council was called to order on Monday, September 12, 2016 at 6:45 PM to
discussTax Year 2016 Proposed Tax Rate with a quorum present,to wit:
James Burgess
Wes Dady
Mayor
Mayor Pro Temp
Jeannie Prazak
Councilmember
Jeanie Toland-Scott
Councilmember
Geronimo Hernandez
Councilmember
CITIZENS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
No comments were made
ITEM 1. Discuss Tax Year 2016 Proposed Tax Rate
Venus City Council and Staffhad a discussion in regards to keeping theTax Year 2016 Property Tax Rate
the same as Tax Year 2015 Property Tax Rate.
•
•
Proposed tax rate
Preceding year's tax rate
•
$0.879918 Per $100
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$0.879918 Per $100
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Effective tax rate
•
$0.832806 Per $100
•
Rollback tax rate
•
$0.899430 Per $100
ADJOURNED:
Public hearing adjourned at 6:45pm.
OVED:
CITY SECRETARY
MAYOR
VENUS CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
OFFICIAL MINUTES
CITY OF VENUS COUNCIL CHAMBERS
103 WEST 3^ • VENUS, TEXAS 76084
City o f
ENUS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12,2016
7:15 PM
CALL TO ORDER
A regular session of the City Council was called to order 7:18PM. The Invocation was given by Mayor
Burgess. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited following roll call with a quorum present to wit:
James Burgess
Wes Dady
Mayor
Mayor Pro Temp
Jeannie Prazak
Councilmember
Jeanie Scott
Councilmember
Geronimo Hernandez
Councilmember
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS BY THE MAYOR.
Cell phones are to be turned off or placed on vibrate/silent only. No conversation or comment
from the audience is permitted unless specifically called upon by the Mayor. Please remain
respectfully quiet.
•
Proclamation declaring Saturday October 1, 2016 "Venus Neighborhood Night Out" day
in the City of Venus
Mayor Burgess presented Venus Neighborhood Night Out Proclamation. Chief Michael Boese
explained the purpose of the event.
•
Recognition of police promotion: Captain James Groom
Chief Michael Boese presented Officer James Groom with a plaque, promoting him to the
position of Captain.
CITIZEN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Barbara Clopton, residing at 810 S. P.M. Hwy 157, Venus, Texas 76084; spoke in regards to a
response letter to a complaint Mr. Clopton had sent was an observation of a structure that had
been engineered incorrectly by the city of Venus. Mrs. Clopton passed out the letter to each
member of the council.
John Benjamin Clopton who resides at 810 S. P.M. Hwy 157, Venus, Texas 76084; passed out
a press release claiming he was slandered by city employees, most of which currently have an
inactive status. Mr. Clopton stated the Texas Board ofEngineers review of the plans for the
structure, indicated it was builtincorrectly. Mr. Clopton requested the cityinform theTexas
Boardof Professional Engineers, thathis observation of the city structure wascorrect.
CONSENT AGENDA
ITEM 1. Approval of the minutes of the August 8,2016Budget Workshop and
RegularCity Council Meeting; and the August 22,2016 Budget Workshop.
ITEM 2. Ratify the payment of bills for the month of August 2016.
Councilmember Hernandez made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Scott, to
approve Items 1 and2 of theConsent Agenda. A votewascast,4 in favor, 0 against.
Motion passed.
ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
Presentation of monthly department reports:
• Police Department - Captain Groom
•
Fire Department - ChiefAllen
•
Public Works and Water/Sewer-Public Works Director - Cesar Roca
•
Administration - City Administrator Michael Boese
ITEM 3. Present to councU, the FY2015 - 2016 Annual Audit Report conducted by
Water, VoUmering & Associates, and LLP.
ITEM 4. Discuss and consider approval ofan Ordinance approving and adopting the
budget for the City of Venus,Texas for the Fiscal Year of October 1,2016
through September 30,2017 providing that expenditures for saidfiscal year
shall be made in accordance with said budget, and providingan effective
date.
Councilmember Prazak madea motion, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez,
to approve the Ordinance for approving and adopting the budget for the City of
Venus, Texas forthe Fiscal Yearof October 1,2016 through September 30,2017
providing that expenditures for said fiscal year shallbe made in accordance
with saidbudget, and providing an effective date. A vote was cast, 4 in favor,
0 against. Motion passed.
ITEM5. Discuss and consider approval of an Ordinance ratifying the vote to
approve the budget for FY2016-17 that will require raising more
property taxes than the previous year; and provide for an effective
date.
Councilmember Hernandez madea motion, seconded by Councilmember
Prazak, toapprove an Ordinance ratifying the vote to approve the budget
for FY2016-17 that will require raising more revenue from property taxes
than theprevious year; andprovide for an effective date. Avote was cast, 4
in favor,0 against. Motion passed.
ITEM 6.
Discuss and consider approval of request by Venus ISD for a variance to
waive the storm shelter requirement ICC-500, which addresses storm shelter
requirements associated with educational occupancies, for additions to the
Venus Primary School and Venus Elementary School.
Chance Howell, the Architect from WRA who is working on the building project for
Venus ISD explained the law does not require a new school addition storm shelter to
house all students. Venus ISD would prefer not to have storm shelters in the new
additions. Council suggestedVenus ISD come up with an alternativeplan if they do not
want to build storm shelters in the new additions preferably a storm shelter that can house
all students. No Motion
ITEM 7.
Discuss and consider approval ofDavid DeBorde Re-Flat of401W. 5^ Street
Parcel ID: 9743 Geo ID:126.0379.00120.
Councilmember Prazak made a motion, seconded by Mayor Pro-Temp Dady, to approved
David DeBorde Re-Plat of401 W. 5"^ Street Parcel ID: 9743 Geo
ID:126.0379.00120. A vote was cast, 4 in favor, 0 against. Motion passed.
ITEM 8.
Discuss and consider approval of Inter-Local Agreement with the City of
Burleson for access to SunGuard Public Safety Software and Information.
Councilmember Prazakmade a motion, secondedby Coimcilmember Scott, to approve
the Inter-Local Agreement with the City of Burleson for access to
SunGuard Public Safety Software and Information. A vote was cast, 4 in favor,
0 against. Motion passed.
ITEM 9.
Discuss and consider a rental reduction for the Civic Center Restrooms to
the Venus Chamber of Commerce "Antique Alley" September event.
Councilmember Prazak made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Hernandez, to
approve a rental fee of zero dollars for the Civic Center Restrooms to the Venus
Chamberof Commercefor the "Antique Alley" Septemberevent. A vote was cast,
3 in favor, 0 against.Councilmember Scott abstained. Motion passed.
ITEM 10.
Discuss and consider a rental reduction for the Civic Center to Johnson
County Elections from October 24, 2016 through November 4, 2016.
Councilmember Hernandez made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Scott, to
approve a rental fee of zero dollars for the Civic Center Restrooms to Johnson County
Elections from October 24,2016 through November 4,2016. A vote was cast, 4 in favor,
0 against. Motion passed.
ITEM 11.
Discussion and possible action to adopt Ordinance 437-2016 an ordinance of
the city council of the city of Venus, Texas, adding Article VI. Residential
Rental Property Registration and Inspection to Chapter 8, Buildings and
Building Regulations of the Venus Code of Ordinances to provide for
registration and inspection of residential rental properties within the city and
amending Article II. Technical Codes, Section 8-19 to limit the applicability
of the section to Article II. And to raise the maximum fine from $1,000 to
$2,000, ordering publication, confirming Open Meetings Act compliance,
providing a severability clause, providing a repealer clause and providing for
an effective date.
Staff explained the City will request the landlords to register paying a $10.00 fee which remains
good for a year. If there are any complaints, Code enforcement will inspect the premises and
issue a warning. Staff stated this will also helped build communication between the landlords
and renters.
Councilmember Prazak made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Scott to adopt Ordinance
437-2016 an ordinance of the city council of the city of Venus, Texas, adding Article VI.
Residential Rental Property Registration and Inspection to Chapter 8, Buildings and Building
Regulations of the Venus Code of Ordinances to provide for registration and inspection of
residential rental properties within the city and amending Article II. Technical Codes, Section 819 to limit the applicability of the section to Article H. And to raise the maximum fine fi*om
$1,000 to $2,000, orderingpublication, confirmingOpen MeetingsAct compliance, providinga
severability clause, providing a repealer clause and providing for an effective date. A vote was
cast, 4 in favor, 0 against. Motion passed.
ITEM 12.Discussioii and possible action to adopt Ordinance 438-2016 an ordinance of the
city council of Venus, Texas, amending Venus Code of Ordinances Chapter
30, Traffic and Vehicles, Article II. Speed, Section 30-31 to expand the existing
school crossing zones near the Venus Independent School District buildings and
to repeal Section 30-33 as conflicting with other provisions of Chapter 30,
Traffic and Vehicles, ordering publication, confirming Texas Open Meetings
Act compliance, providing a severability clause, providing a repealer clause
and providing for an effective date.
A motion was made by Councilmember Hernandez, seconded by Councilmember Prazak to
adopt Ordinance 438-2016 an ordinance of the city council of Venus, Texas, amending
Venus Code of Ordinances Chapter 30, Traffic and Vehicles, Article II. Speed, Section
30-31 to expand the existing school crossing zones near the Venus Independent School
District buildings and to repeal Section 30-33 as conflicting with other provisions of Chapter
30, Traffic and Vehicles, ordering publication, confirming TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT
compliance, providing a severability clause, providing a repealer clause and providing for an
effective date.
A vote was cast, 4 in favor, 0 against. Motion past.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The City Council reserves the right to meet in a closed session on any ofthefollowing items
should the need arise and ifapplicable, pursuant to authorization by Texas Government Code,
Sections 551.071 (consultation with attorney), 551.072 (deliberations about realproperty),
551.073 (deliberations about gifts and donations), 551.074 (personnel matters), 551.076
(deliberations about security devices), 551.087 (economicdevelopment), 418.183 (homeland
security).
{Council recessedinto executive session at 8:47PM}
•
Texas Government Code Section 551.072 —Deliberations Regarding Real Property—
Discussion regarding potentially leasing approximately 11.02 acresof city ownedproperty
located on CoimtyRoad 109 (JohnsonCoimtyCentral AppraisalDistrict Geo Code Numbers
126.0379.00246,126.4440.05009 and 126.0379.00232) and if leasing, negotiatinglease
agreement terms (land use, lease term length, rent amount, payment intervals, etc.) with interested
third party.
•
Texas Government Code Section 551.074 —Personnel Discussion (Appointment of City
Secretary)
{Council Reconvene back into regular session at 9:32pni}
Councilmember Scott made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Prazak to appoint a City
Secretary for the City of Venus, Mrs. Rana Gamel. A vote was cast, 4 in
favor, 0 against. Motion passed.
ITEM 13.
Swearing in ceremony of newly appointed City Secretary. Rana Gamel, the
Oath of Office was given by Mayor Burgess and completion of Oath of Office
Form 2204 and Statement of Public Officer Form 2201.
ITEM 14. Discuss and take action on filling the Councilmember seat vacated by
Councilmember Wood for the remainder of the term.
Mayor opened the floor for councirs nominations to fill the seat vacated by
Councilmember Wood.
Council nominated as followed:
Mayor Burgess
Lauma Guidry-Shaw &
Robert Winkleman
Councilmember Scott
Robert McCurdy
Each nominee spoke briefly.
Mayor Burgess called a vote, Lauma-Guidry Shaw won by 3 in favor, 1 against
(Scott), and will fill the seat vacated by Robert Wood for the remainder of the
term.
ITEM 15.
Swearing in ceremony of newly appointed Councilmember Laurna Guidry
Shaw, the Oath of Office by Mayor Burgess and completion of Oath of Office
Form 2204 and Statement of Public Officer Form 2201.
ADJOURNMENT:
Council adjourned at 9^53PM.
PROVED:
CITY SECRETARY
MAYOR