Carrollton City Council Worksession and Regular Meeting - July 26, 2022

The Carrollton City Council met on July 26, 2022, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. pre-meeting/worksession and reconvening at 7:00 p.m. for the regular meeting at Carrollton City Hall. Mayor Steve Babick presided. The worksession covered the FY 2023 budget, public safety requests, the 2022 State of the Workforce, and the proposed November 2022 bond election. The regular meeting included a consent agenda, a public hearing on a Municipal Setting Designation for 1671 South Broadway Street, and a public forum. The regular meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.; the council resumed the worksession afterward and adjourned at 9:03 p.m.

Consent Calendar

• RFP #22-028 Nursery Stock: Approved an award to Southwest Wholesale Nursery for parks department plant materials in an amount not to exceed $105,000 for one year, with two one-year renewal options for a total three-year contract value not to exceed $315,000. Staff noted only one vendor responded and 14 line-item categories received no bids.
• RFP #22-027 School Crossing Guards: Approved a three-year contract with All City Management Services for school crossing guard services. The first-year amount is not to exceed $302,695, with a three-year total not to exceed $948,600. The city has 34 crossing locations serving Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Lewisville, and Dallas ISD schools, requiring coverage for 180 school days at two hours per day. ACMS has provided the service since 2013.
• Special Events Ordinance: Approved an ordinance amending Chapter 117 to increase the number of special events allowed in the Downtown area from 15 to 20 per calendar year.
• Metrocrest Hospital Authority Appointment: Approved a resolution appointing Dr. Rufino Talatala to the Metrocrest Hospital Authority Board, Place 5, to serve until December 2023, filling the remainder of Craig Greenway's term.
• Trinity Mills TOD Urban Village Phase 1: Approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute Contract Amendment No. 1 with Trinity Mills Urban Village Partners, LLC in the amount of $78,442.41, increasing the total contract to not exceed $678,442.41 for design and construction management services.
• Item 15 Pulled: The proposed resolution for the Duncan Heights storm sewer development agreement with TCCI Land Development, Inc. was pulled from the consent agenda at the council's request and was not included in the approval motion.
• TexPool Authorized Representatives: Approved a resolution updating the individuals authorized to invest funds and make withdrawals from TexPool on behalf of the city, listing Diana K. Vaughn, Claudia Gallegos, Silvia Haragus, and Gage Hartley.
• Vector Fleet Management Renewal: Approved a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract renewal with Vector Fleet Management, LLC for fleet services in an amount not to exceed $2,599,481.50 annually. The renewal covers October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2024, with no increase in target services in year one and a 3% increase in year two.

The consent agenda motion, covering items 10-14 and 16-17, was made by Councilmember Polter, seconded by Councilmember Sung, and passed unanimously. Item 15 was not part of the motion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Consent Agenda Public Comment: No members of the public came forward to speak on consent agenda items 10 through 17.
• Public Hearing - Municipal Setting Designation: No residents spoke during the public hearing. Staff reported that a required July 13, 2022 community meeting at Crosby Recreation Center drew roughly 20 residents, with Spanish translators available; no public comments were submitted.
• Public Forum:
  • Pat Cochran, a former councilmember and mayor pro tem, opposed the selection of a seated city council member for the city-funded Leadership Metrocrest program. She argued the program's purpose is to develop future citizen leaders and urged the council to instead choose from the resident applicants.
  • A speaker regarding 2021 Ash Hill objected to the city's demolition and notice process, saying a certified engineer's report concluded the property did not need demolition. He claimed the city was disregarding the engineer's assessment and asked the council to review the rules and investigate the matter.
  • Susannah Dooling, speaking as a private resident, said CPAC had not recommended TC Rice funding and expressed concern that $2 million for TC Rice appeared in the bond proposal. She urged council members to be honest and transparent and said she feared retaliation for speaking out.
  • Laurie Foster, a longtime Carrollton homeowner, said she had supported doing something with TC Rice since the 1990s but was concerned about the lack of transparency around the proposed $2 million. She asked the mayor and council to clarify the funding source and identify what would go unfunded.
  • Mr. Vidovich made allegations about his arrest and prosecution and about the Public Safety Director, calling for the director's arrest. He was reminded to avoid slanderous remarks during public comment.
  • Mary Rubio, a resident of Oak Creek Estates, invited the council to the annual back-to-school luncheon for B's Kids, now known as Make It Count, to be held at Joe's Pizza on Broadway, and stressed the importance of such programs for children.
  • Antonio Swad, Republican candidate for U.S. House District 32, introduced himself, noted that part of Carrollton is now in that district, and asked for support in the November election.

Discussion Items

Budget Discussion

• Library Improvements: Jonathan Shue, Library Director, presented a $300,000 ATB for improvements at Hebron & Josie Library. He noted it was built in 2001, is about 5,000 square feet smaller than the other city library, yet is the busiest, with more than 40,000 additional visitors per year and roughly three times the circulation of Josey Ranch Lake Library. A space study identified more than 20 improvement opportunities; a full interior rebuild would cost more than $10 million and require about one year of closure. The immediate proposal would relocate the central service desk and expand youth space. He also noted Denton County residents can use Carrollton libraries through the Denton County Library Agreement, and that Denton County users account for about a quarter of Hebron & Josie's use.
• IT Systems: Christian Coney, Chief Information Officer, discussed planned ATBs for replacing aging ERP/finance, HRIS, utility billing, and public works applications. He described the utility billing system as a roughly 25-year-old AS400 application and said the ERP and HRIS contracts require action by early 2023. Professional services and contract resources are being requested to support implementation without overloading internal IT staff.
• Parks and Recreation: Scott Whitaker, Parks and Recreation Director, reviewed ATBs for a parks master plan update and lighting at McKinnish Dog Park, as well as planned amenity fund projects such as irrigation replacements, playground resurfacing, and recreation center interior updates.

Fiscal Year 2023 Public Safety Budget Requests

• Fire Department: Fire Chief Michael Thompson requested $167,400 in non-recurring funds for cosmetic improvements at the older fire stations, specifically stations 3 through 7, while the city pursues station replacement. Station 6 is relocating to Frankford and Rosemeade with completion targeted for FY 2025; Station 5 is included in the proposed bond program; Station 3 is planned for a later bond cycle. The chief also requested recurring funding for a resuscitation quality improvement training program previously funded by grants through the Metrocrest Hospital Authority.
• Police Department: Executive Director of Public Safety Rex Redden requested funding for two additional public safety officers, non-sworn civilian positions intended to handle duties that do not require law enforcement authority. Two similar positions were approved the prior year but had not yet been hired; staff reported a candidate was emerging for one position and asked to add two more so each patrol shift could have one.

2022 State of the Workforce

• Samantha Dean, Workforce Services Director, presented economic context: the national CPI was 9.1%, gasoline was up 50% since May 2021, and fixed mortgage rates had reached their highest level since 2008. Texas's voluntary quit rate was 36.2%, above the national average of 33.8%. The DFW area is the second-fastest-growing major metro for jobs and home prices.
• The city's turnover is trending about 3% lower than last fiscal year, but more than 40% of current vacancies occurred after April 1, 2022. Carrollton avoided hiring freezes and layoffs during the pandemic and has a formal telecommuting policy.
• A compensation study in FY 2022 used $750,000 in council-approved funding, adjusting 60 positions and impacting 188 employees, who received an average increase of 7.26%. The FY 2023 study would review about 90 positions and could impact about 220 employees.
• ATBs discussed included approximately $187,000 for the internship program, $575,000 for compensation study adjustments, $747,000 for the Carrollton Difference One-Time Pay Program, additional funds for employee raises, temporary services, the employee referral program, and HRIS implementation.
• Justin Hill, Strategic Services Coordinator, described the U at Work internship program, which offers paid high school, college, and graduate internships, and the city anticipates 33 interns in the upcoming fiscal year.
• Several councilmembers questioned the city's starting wage of $13.40 per hour for the lowest benefit-eligible position, compared to higher starting pay at local retailers. Staff was asked to provide options for raising the starting rate to at least $15 per hour and for matching inflation. Staff noted a 5% across-the-board raise would move the starting rate to approximately $14.07 per hour.

2022 Bond Election

• Jonathan Wheat, Director of Engineering, presented the proposed bond package. The total is approximately $136.9 million, based on the city's debt capacity, with about 75% ($102 million) for street/infrastructure projects and about 25% ($34.5 million) for parks, public safety, and facilities. The package includes 25 prioritized street projects and parks/public safety/facilities projects recommended by CPAC.
• Staff added $2 million for trails at TC Rice, which was not part of CPAC's original recommendation. The full TC Rice phase was estimated at about $6.4 million for phase one; the $2 million is limited to a trail segment. Committee-cut items included the broader TC Rice project, a downtown dog park, and six additional pickleball courts.
• CFO Diana Vaughn explained that the $136.9 million figure is the maximum debt capacity without raising the city's debt rate and without impacting the property tax rate. Staff noted the city cannot advocate for or against ballot propositions and plans a voter education and communication program in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
• Mayor Babick noted that Denton County is also considering a bond election that could bring roughly $32 million in road funding to Carrollton. If county funds cover projects already on the city's list, the city can use its bond dollars to move further down its prioritized list within the same project category.
• Claudia Gallegos, City Treasurer, said the bond would likely be presented as five propositions: streets/infrastructure, public safety, parks and recreation facilities, other facilities (animal shelter), and trails including TC Rice. Proposition language is intentionally broad to allow flexibility within each category, but bond funds cannot be moved between categories.
• A detailed alternative proposal was offered by one councilmember. It opposed the Perry Barn event venue and the full $7.3 million Rosemeade Recreation Center expansion, supported only $3.3 million for gymnastics, storage, and esports, and proposed shifting $4 million to trails. It also favored full animal services funding of about $8.3 million rather than the proposed $4.8 million, supported the fire station funding, Field 16 synthetic turf, a South Carrollton dog park, pickleball courts across the city, and completing Woodlake phases two and three, and opposed the $2 million TC Rice trail as a "trail to nowhere" until access and bridge issues are resolved. The mayor asked for consensus on that alternative; only one councilmember indicated support.
• The council then reached consensus on the staff/CPAC bond allocation as presented, with amendments. Next steps include reviewing ballot language and bond propositions on August 2, 2022, and ordering the bond election on August 16, 2022.

Mayor and Council Reports & Information Sharing

• Councilmember Polter announced the grand opening of the new esports facility at Crosby Recreation Center on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., with free gameplay and a taco truck.
• Councilmember Sung announced he had been invited by the Korean government to attend a political forum in South Korea and planned to travel the following week.
• Councilmember Palacios announced the back-to-school bash was moved to Crosby Recreation Center on August 13 at noon due to the heat advisory, with free backpacks, supplies, food, haircuts, and an appearance by former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Quincy Carter.
• Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Cline reminded the public of DART's Silver Line biannual meeting at Crosby Recreation Center the following evening and encouraged attendance at ribbon cuttings for local businesses.
• Councilmember Axberg reported on Metrocrest Chamber activities, the redevelopment committee, and his attendance at Texas Municipal League orientation for newly elected officials.
• Councilmember Fleming highlighted B's Kids community service events, including backpack sorting, a senior center lunch delivery, a back-to-school celebration, and a Franklin Town Homes back-to-school event.
• Mayor Babick noted the North Texas Food Bank's peanut butter drive was beginning in August and mentioned the city's participation in the regional effort.

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda passed unanimously, including items 10-14 and 16-17; item 15 was pulled from the agenda.
• The council held a public hearing and unanimously approved Ordinance No. ___ for the Municipal Setting Designation at 1671 South Broadway Street. The ordinance prohibits use of designated groundwater beneath the approximately 8.127-acre property as potable water and supports the applicant's TCEQ MSD certification request. The motion was made by Councilmember Sung and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Palacios.
• The council reached consensus on the $136.9 million bond package based on the CPAC/staff recommendations, including the $2 million TC Rice trail item and five propositions for the November 2022 ballot. Staff was directed to prepare ballot language and updated allocation details for the August 2, 2022 council meeting, with a bond election order scheduled for August 16, 2022.
• No formal action was taken on public forum comments because the items were not on the posted agenda.