City of Saginaw
Minutes of the City Council Meeting
held on March 19, 2024
333 W. McLeroy Blvd., Saginaw, Texas
Roll Call: (The following members were in attendance)
1. Call To Order
1.A. Call To Order -- Todd Flippo, Mayor
Mayor Flippo called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present
City Manager Gabe Reaume
Asst. City Manager Lee Howell
Finance Director Kim Quin
City Secretary Janice England
Police Chief Russell Ragsdale
Fire Chief Doug Spears
Director of Public Works Randy Newsom
Director of Community & Economic Development Keith Rinehart
Director of Human Resources Melanie McManus
Library Director Ellen Ritchie
Communications Manager Pedro Zambrano
Absent
Councilmember Paul Felegy
Councilmember Randy Edwards
City Attorney Bryn Meredith
City Engineer Trenton Tidwell, P.E.
Visitors
Brack St. Clair
James Crippen
Corey Burnett
Glenn Reeves
Larry Little
Kristi Haney
Ronnie Horton
Jada Kent
Bobby Cartwright
Bryan Waugh
Regina Imre
Malcolm Mitchell
Jennifer Mitchell
David Walker
Matt Hubert
Garrett Musser
Austin Pittman
Levi Hickey
M. DeFord
M. Bibb
C. Brady
Anthony Monaco
Mark Perry
Tara Clontz
Julie Evans
1.B. Pledges--Pledge of Allegiance to the United States; Pledge of Allegiance to the State of Texas--"Honor the Texas Flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one State under God, one and indivisible"
1.C. Invocation--Pastor Joe Rangel, SOBA Church
In the absence of Pastor Rangel, Councilmember Lawson gave the invocation.
1.D. Audience Participation--Anyone wishing to speak during the discussion of an item listed on the agenda must complete an audience participation form. These forms are located by the Police Chief. After completing the form, give it to the City Secretary. She will give it to the Mayor. The Mayor will call on you when that item is discussed. You will have three (3) minutes to make your comments.
2. Consent Agenda
Motion was made by Mayor Pro-Tem Junkersfeld with a second by Councilmember Bighorse to approve Items 2a, 2b, and 2d of the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 5-0-0-2 (Felegy and Edwards absent)
2.A. Action regarding Minutes, March 5, 2024--Janice England, City Secretary
2.B. Action regarding Cancellation of April 16, 2024 City Council Meeting--Janice England, City Secretary
The cancellation of the April 16th City Council Meeting will be necessary due to the lack of a quorum. Three members will be out of town on that date which, along with the absence of Councilmember Place 4, will make it impossible to meet the quorum requirement of four members.
2.C. Action regarding Retail Retention, Recruitment and Development Services Proposal with the Retail Coach--Keith Rinehart, Director of Community & Economic Development
In March 2020 the City entered into a contract with The Retail Coach to provide assistance with Retail Retention, Recruitment and Development Services. It was a one year agreement with the option to renew for up to two additional one-year terms. During the past four years significant progress has been made with the recruitment of potential commercial retail and restaurants. The proposed agreement is for one additional year. The scope of the agreement remains the same. The financial impact will be $20,000 plus reimbursable expenses. This expenditure is budgeted within the Economic Development budget.
Note: This item was pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion. Director of Community & Economic Development Rinehart explained the proposed agreement and its benefits to the City. There was some discussion regarding the reimbursable expenses. He explained that reimbursable expenses would include travel expenses. He added that The Retail Coach has staff that resides close to Saginaw so there hasn't been any need for travel expenses.
** Item was Removed from Consent
Motion was made by Mayor Pro-Tem Junkersfeld with a second by Councilmember Bighorse to approve Item 2C of the Consent Agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 5-0-0-2 (Felegy and Edwards absent)
2.D. Action regarding Purchase of a 3/4 ton Service Truck for the Public Works Department--Randy Newsom, Director of Public Works
A new service truck for the Public Works Department was approved in the 2023-2024 budget. This vehicle will replace Unit #410 which is a 2012 model with over 100,000 miles. The Chief Mechanic has obtained three (3) quotes for this vehicle. The lowest quote is from James Wood Motors in Decatur in the amount of $51,861.16. The next lowest quote is from David McDavid in Fort Worth in the amount of $59,549.79. The last quote is from AutoNation Chrysler Dodge Ram in the amount of $62,260.19. All quotes are for a 3/4 ton truck with like equipment. Staff recommends the purchase of the service truck from James Wood Motors. The financial impact will be $51,861.16. Funds in the amount of $60,000 are budgeted for this purchase in the 2023-2024 Public Services Budget, Capital Outlay/Special Request Account 01-7000-06-00.
3. Proclamations-Presentations
3.A. Employee Recognitions/Presentations--Gabe Reaume, City Manager
City Manager Reaume announced that the Library has been notified that they will be receiving an award from the Texas Municipal Library Director's Association. A formal presentation will be made when the award arrives.
Mayor Flippo reminded everyone of the Mayor's Youth Advisory Council Meeting on March 23rd. The meeting will include tours of the Public Works Facility, the Animal Services Facility, and Miller Milling.
3.B. Proclamation--Child Abuse Prevention Month
Mayor Pro-Tem Junkersfeld read a proclamation declaring the month of April to be Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Saginaw. Ms. Julie Evans, Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance for Children, was present to accept the proclamation. She expressed her appreciation for the City's support of their programs to prevent child abuse.
3.C. Salary Study Presentation - Baker Tilly - Jada Kent
Ms. Jada Kent of Baker Tilly gave a presentation of the results of the compensation study project that began in August, 2023. She explained the process and gave an overview of the project and results. She also explained the development of the proposed pay plan and grade assignments. She explained three implementation scenarios. They are as follows.
1. Employees move to the step nearest their existing salary without a decrease. Therefore, the 93 employees 'below' their new range move to the minimum (Step A) while the 6 vacant positions also remain at Step A.
2. Employees move to the step corresponding with their years in position. For example, an employee that has been in their position for 3 years would move to Step C. If their current salary is already greater than Step C, they would remain on the step established in Option1 (corresponding to their current salary).
3. Employees move to the step corresponding with their years of service. For example, an employee that has been in their position for 3 years but employed by the City for 5 years, would move to Step E (Step 5). If their current salary is already greater than Step E, they would remain on the step established in Option 1 (corresponding to their current salary).
She stated that Baker Tilly's recommendation would be approval of the proposed pay plan, and implementation of scenario 2.
There was a discussion of the costs associated with each proposed scenario. The consensus of the Council was to direct staff to outline the steps that need Council action and begin the calculation of the total costs of each scenario presented, keeping in mind that the City won't receive the estimated values from the Tarrant Appraisal District until the end of April, and the City won't receive the certified values from the Tarrant Appraisal District until the of July.
4. Executive Session
4.A. 551.071. Texas Government Code. Consultation with Attorney. The City Council may convene in executive session to conduct a private consultation with its attorney on any legally posted agenda item, when the City Council seeks the advice of its attorney about pending or contemplated litigation, a settlement offer, or on a matter in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas clearly conflicts with the provisions of Chapter 551, including the following items:-
4.B. Any Posted Item -
4.C. 551.087 Texas Government Code. Deliberation regarding Economic Development Negotiations. The City Council may convene in executive session to discuss or deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the City has received from a business prospect that the City seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the City and with which the City is conducting economic development negotiations; or to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described above, including:
Mayor Flippo declared the meeting recessed into Executive Session at 7:01 p.m.
4.D. Building Improvement Grant Application--100 S. Hampshire St., #200-
Mayor Flippo declared the Executive Session closed and the meeting back in Regular Session at 7:20 p.m.
5. Adjournment
5.A. Adjournment--Todd Flippo, Mayor
Mayor Flippo declared the March 19, 2024 City Council Meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
Motion was made by Mayor Pro-Tem Junkersfeld with a second by Councilmember Bighorse to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. 5-0-0-2 (Felegy and Edwards Absent)