Loading...
BM 2006-03-20 CRDC PARKS AND RECREATION/CRDC/TREE BOARD MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING March 20, 2006 Meeting Time:6:30 p.m. Meeting Place: Coppell Road Service Center 816 S. Coppell Road Coppell, Texas 75019 Members Present:Victor Burke, Stephen Hafer, Mark Tepper, Julie Basham, Lindy Thomas, and David Castillo. Staff Present:Brad Reid, Guy McLain, Jane Anne Sellars, and Hilda Salazar AGENDA Item 1:Call the Meeting to Order -Mr. Victor Burke called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. Item 2:Citizens’ Forum -No citizens present. COPPELL RECREATION DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Item 3:Consider approval of minutes from March 6, 2006. -Mr. Mark Tepper moved to approve the minutes from March 6, 2006. Ms. Julie Basham seconded the motion. Vote: (6-0), approved Item 4:Discussion regarding possible changes to the allocation of the 4b sales tax. -Mr. Jim Witt, City Manager, informed the Board that during the last City Council retreat 4b sales tax was discussed. -Mr. Witt mentioned that while CRDC sales taxes have grown, the ability to maintain our facilities has not. The City is running out of financial resources to maintain what we have built, and we are getting affected by inflation. City Managers office was looking for alternatives to alleviate the general fund by converting the 4b sales tax. -Mr. Witt presented to the Board the following options: 1)Go back to the voters to try to reauthorize it to take on new projects. According to the City attorneys, there is no legal way to take it to the voters until the original debt is paid off. 2)Another option is pay off the debt earlier. If we shut down spending CRDC money except for debt service by year 2010, it will be paid off. 3)The third option is to keep moving along building and general fund keeps paying for the operation and maintenance. 4)The fourth option is legally based, and it can be accomplished: Convert 75% of the CRDC funds to maintenance the CRDC funded projects. Following is how it can be accomplished: -All currently identified high and medium park and recreation open space Master Plan priorities are funded and completed with cash and debt service for the next five to seven years. -All currently identified high and medium CRDC projects are funded. -Town Center Commons and the Senior Center receive the additional funds necessary to be completed as planned. -The conversion would allow the General Fund to find some relief in maintenance of CRDC facilities, yet at the same time assist in maintaining a flat tax rate for the next five to seven years. Mr. Witt also mentioned that the City is limited to where we can go to generate revenue. The fourth option will allow us to fund high and medium projects that have been on the priority list for several years. Details will be discussed with City Council on March 30. Mr. Clay Phillips expressed that sales taxes are paid by citizens that don’t live in Coppell, due to business to business in the west side of town. Board expressed delight about the proposal and expressed that if this proposal is adopted, the Board will need to be more serious about prioritizing and assume a conservative approach in regards to building new projects even when funds are available. Board also asked what they can do to help. The City Manager responded that they need the Board’s input. Item 5:Chair Report ? Future agenda items -Sub-committee Report -Facility Scheduling ? Adopt a Location -April 1, 9 a.m.-noon, and clean Freeport Rd. Item 6:Adjourn -Mr. Stephen Hafer moved to adjourn meeting. Mr. Mark Tepper seconded the motion. Vote: (6-0), approved. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. *Note: Copies of handouts provided at this meeting available upon request at the Parks and Recreation Department administrative offices.