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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979-08-15 Regular Meetingi • • MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING OF THE LA PORTE CITY COMMISSION, LA PORTE, TEXAS AUGUST 15, 1979 7:00 P.M. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION PRESENT: Mayor J. J. Meza; Commissioners John Tomerlin, I. J. Kibodeaux, Virginia Cline, and Tom C. Simons. MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION ABS-ENT: None. OTHER CITY OFF'IC'IALS PRESENT: J. R. Hudgens, City Administrator; Margie Goyen, City Clerk; H. F. Freeman, Chief of Police; Jack Burks, Public Works Director; Paul Hickenbottom, Inspector. • OTHER CITY OFFICIALS ABSENT: Stan Sherwood, Parks and Recreation Director; D. R. McLaughlin, Fire Marshal, and Knox Askins, City Attorney. OTHERS PRESENT: Betsy Webber, La Porte-Bayshore Sun. PRESIDING: Mayor J. J. Meza. + + + 1. CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Meza called the meeting to order. + + + 2. INVOCATION = MAYOR J. J. MEZA - The invocation was given by Mayor Meza. • + + + C • Regular Meeting 8/15/79 • 3. CONSIDER APPROVING MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING - SPECIAL MEETING Motion by Commissioner Cline, seconded by Come to approve the minutes of the regular meeting and the special meeting of August 8, 1979, as carried by the following vote: 2 - AUGUST 1, 1979 - - AUGUST 8, 1979 - nissioner Simons of August 1, 1979, presented. Motion AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAY5: None. + + + 4. CONSIDER ACCEPTANCE OF 1979 TAX ROLL - The City Administrator read a memo from C. D. Boyle, Chairman, of the Board of Equaliza- tion submitting the total assessment of $192,489,030. A copy of the memo is attached and made a part of these minutes. After a brief discussion, motion by Commissioner Tomerlin, seconded by Commissioner Kibodeaux to accept the recommendation • of the Board of Equalization and accept the 1979 Tax Roll in the amount of total assessment of $192,489,030. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. + + + 5. CONSIDER' APPOINTING P,UDITOR FOR FISCAL YEP,R ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1979 - Motion by Commissioner Kibodeaux, seconded by Commissioner Simons to appoint Eugene Hovey as auditor for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1979. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. + + + • • Regular Meeting 8/15/79 3 6. CONSIDER APPROVING PROPOSED RESOLUTION NO. 79-6 - RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A CHANGE IN THE NUMBER AND METHOD OF SELECTION OF THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL BOARD OF HARRIS COUNTY - The City Administrator read the proposed resolution in full. There was a brief discussion regarding the last paragraph of the resolution "A taxing unit participating in two or more districts is entitled to vote in each district in which it participates, but only the population in a district is used to calculate the voting entitlement in that district." Mayor Meza stated that a number of legal officials from the cities and school districts both had determined that all resolu- tions would have to be identical and this resolution as read was the final form. Motion by Commissioner Tomerlin, seconded. by Commissioner Kibodeaux to approve Resolution No. 79-6 as read. Motion carried by the following vote: AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. c: CAPTION: RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. + + + 7. ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS - The Administrator Pu is or s irec or had returned and had the Sewer Department. Mr. Louis Tobar has Water/Sewer and for the past seven to nine the Waste Water Department for the City of will report to work on September 10, 1979. stated that the hired a person for a BB Certificate in years has been in Temple. Mr. Tobar The Administrator gave a summary of the proposed budget; expressed appreciation to the Commission for their hard work; and asked that a hearing be scheduled for the Revenue Sharing and General Budget to be held on September 5, 1979. A public hearing was scheduled for September 5, 1979, beginning at 7:00 P.M, for the Revenue Sharing Budget and the General Budget. A special meeting will be called to consider adopting the Budget on September 12, 1979. • • + + + • Regular Meeting 8/15/79 8. COUNCIL ACTION - Mayor Meza stated that he had received several telephone calls and that Deer Park and Lomax had both passed the resolution that La Porte passed tonight on Senate Bill 621; and several are of the opinion that Harris County is going to pass the same resolution. + + + 4 9. EXECUTIVE SESSION - V.A.T.S. - ARTICLE 6252-17 - SECTION 2 - (E), (F), AND (G) - (LEGAL, LAND ACQUISITION AND PERSONNEL ) - None. + + + 10. ADJOURNMENT - Motion by Commissioner Tomerlin, seconded by Commissioner Simons that the meeting adjourn. Motion carried by the following vote: • AYES: Commissioners Tomerlin, Kibodeaux, Cline, and Simons. NAYS: None. The meeting adjourned at 7:28 P.M. 0 Margie oyen, Cit Clerk Passed and Approved this the 5th day of September, 1979. s J. J. Meza, Mayo • Tax Department MEMORANDUM T0: Mayor and Commissioners FROM: Charles D. Boyle SUBJECT: Certification of Tax Roll • DATE: August 15, 1979 I, Betty Blackmon, Assessor of the City of La Porte, Texas, Harris County, do solemnly swear that the roll to which this is attached contain a correct and full list of the real and personal property subject to taxation in the City of La Porte, Harris County, Texas, so far as I have been able to ascertain the same; that I have sworn every person listing property to me in the City, or caused the same to be done in manner and form as provided by law, and that the assessed value set dawn in the proper columns opposite the several kinds and descriptions or property is the true and correct valuation thereof as ascertained by law, and the footings of the several columns in said book and the tabular statement returned is correct as I veri y believe. Article 7222 1 0 Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 15th day of August A.D., 1979. Seal CITY OF LA PORTE ,~ a Notary P is in n or Harris County, Texas Submitted for your approval by the Board of Equalization of the City of La Porte. Total Assessment 196,034,90E Total Exemptions -3,545,870 Total Assessment ~,+$~~ Respectfully Submitted, C. D. Boy e, C ai man, Board of Equal tion ~. • MEMORANDUM August I3, 1979 • TO: Member Cities FROM: J. J. Meza, President, Harris County Mayors' and Councilmen's Association SUBJECT: Senate Bill 621 Attached to this memorandum is a suggested resolution con- cerning the above referenced law. You are all aware, of course, that Senate Bill 621 creates a central appraisal district in Harris County that will be ad- ministered by a five (5) member board. Sections 6.03 and 6.04 et al provide the size of the board, the method of selection and the authority for three-fourths (3/4) of taxing units en- titled to vote to alter the number of board members and their method of selection. The attached resolution, if approved by three-fourths (3/4) of the taxing entities entitled to vote in Harris County, would expand the number of board members to nine (9). This expanded number will provide better representation for the fifty (50) plus taxing entities eligible to vote. In addition, the resolution provides for an alternate method of electing board members. The • resolution proposes to substitute population for cities and aver- age daily attendance for school districts in lieu of property taxes imposed. The proposed method of election in the resolution will mitigate dominance of the board by a few large taxing units, thereby giving smaller units more input into board elections. Please review this resolution very carefully in view of each of your community's circumstances. You are encouraged to approve these proposed changes and pass the resolution aid return a certi- fied copy to me no later than August 27, 1979, at P.0. Box 1115, La Porte, Texas, 77571. Due to the urgency of this matter, you are encouraged to call a special meeting of your Council, if nec- essary to meet the above .mentioned date. If I can be of further assistance or provide additional in- formation, let me know. Since J. J. Meza Mayor, City of La Porte President, Harris County Mayors' and Councilmen's Association • JJM/cb Enc. •, n U THE STATE OF TEXAS () COUNTY OF HARRIS. O KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: RESOLUTION CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS RESOLUTION N0. WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Texas passed and the Governor signed into Law Senate Bill 621 which relates to ad valorem taxation; and WHEREAS, said Senate Bi11 Number 621 provides for the crea- tion of a central appraisal district within each County of the State; and said Bill furthermore provides that said central appraisal district be governed/administered by a five (5) member board who shall be elected by the qualified voting taxing units within the County by the following formula: V=Tx 1000x5 V = The number of votes to which a taxing unit is entitled • u = The amount of property taxes imposed by a taxing unit during the previous tax year T = The total amount of property taxes imposed by all taxing units within the appraisal district which are entitled to vote. ' WHEREAS, Section 6.03 (i) of Senate Bill 621 provides that a majority of three-fourths (3/4) of the qualified voting units within the County may expand the number of members of the board and alter the previous formula used for election of board members; and WHEREAS, Harris County is a large urban area containing fifty (50) plus taxing units of which ninety-five (95) percent are small in relation to the tax levies of a few larger taxing units, thereby making the aforementioned size and formula for election of board members inequitable to the smaller taxing units. Therefore Be It Resolved: That under the authority of that section, the (Governing body) of the (.taxing unit) hereby affirms its support of the following proposed modifications in the board of directors: I. That Section (6.03 (a) and 6.03 (g) of the Act be • amended to increase the number of directors from five to nine. Those sections, as they pertain to Harris County, shall now read as follows: Section 6.03 (a): "The appraisal district is governed by a board of nine directors. To be eligible to serve on the board of directors, an individual must be a resident of the district and must have resided in the district for at least two years." • Section 6.03 (g): "The governing body of each. taxing unit entitled to vote shall determine its vote by resolution and submit it to the county clerk before November 15. The county clerk shall count the votes, declare the nine candidates who. receive the largest cumulative vote totals elected, and submit the results before December 1 to the governing body of each taxing unit in the district and to the candidates." r y R II. That Section 6.04 (a) be amended to increase the number of directors necessary for a quorum .from a • majority to seven. That section, as it pertains to Harris County, shall now read as follows: "Seven directors shall constitute a quorum of the appraisal district board of directors. At its first meeting each calendar year, the board shall elect from its members a chairman and a secretary." III. That Section 6.03 (d) be amended to provide the determination of voting entitlement by population rather than property taxes imposed. That section, as it pertains to Harris County, shall now read as follows: "The voting entitlement of a taxing unit that is entitled to vote for directors is determined by population. The authority for determining the entitlement of cities and the county shall be the most current United States Bureau of Census population figures. The authority for determining the entitlement of school districts shall be the most current Gross Average Daily Attendance figures as published in the Texas Education Agency Directory of Texas Public :Schools. • The following scale shall apply: Taxing Unit City, County School Districts Population Votes Votes 1-5,000 1 2 5,001-15,000 2 4 15,001-30,000 3 6 30,001-50,000 4 8 50,001-75,000 5 10 75,001-105,000 6 12 105,001-140,000 7 14 140,001-180,000 8 16 180,001-225,000* 9 18 *Cities, county and school districts having popu- lations over 225,000 shall accrue one additional vote for each 50,000 above 225,000. • A taxing unit participating in two or more districts is entitled to vote in each district in which it participates, but only the population in a district is used to calculate the. voting entitlement in that district." Passed by majority vote at an official.meeting of the-goyexnn~ body on Gdate) ATTEST: Presiding Officer Co-signing Officer