2020_04.21 Minutes_CC_Regularx
KENNEDALE
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KENNEDALE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE
APRIL 21, 2020 AT 5:30 PM
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I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Brian Johnson called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
II. WORK SESSION
A. WORK SESSION REPORTS
1. Presentation of the independent auditor's report (Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report (CAFR)) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019
Director of Finance and Information Technology Lakeita Sutton stated that the process
had taken about one month longer than usual due complications, but that the audit was
successful She added that FY19 ended with a fund balance higher than was projected.
The year ended at 32% fund balance as a percentage of annual expenditures across all
general funds She adds that the 32% fund balance includes several of City's funds within
the categories of general, capital projects, special projects, municipal, and parks She
stated that the two audit findings that carried over from the prior year were related to the
year-end closing process and the segregation of duties.
Danny Martinez of BKD (the City's auditing firm) offered a presentation of the audit,
including results (an unmodified opinion), the process, required communications, findings
(two significant deficiencies), financial trends, and forthcoming Government Accounting
Standards Board (GASB) standards.
There was some discussion regarding deferred outflows of resources related to pensions,
the Tax Notes issued in January 2020, the potential financial impacts of COVID-19, the
deficit reflected on page 4, increasing revenues from sales and property tax, and how
ending FY19 above projections will help to mitigate the budgeted deficit for FY20.
2. Hold a discussion and provide staff direction regarding the development of an economic
assistance program for local small businesses relating to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic and the City's local disaster declaration
City Manager George Campbell stated that though staff had proposed the possibility of a
program to assist local small businesses, that research had shown that it would most
likely only serve to negatively impact those businesses' ability to qualify for assistance
under federal and/or state programs, and, at this time, staff was not offering a
recommendation to move forward with such a program. He added that the EDC board
had also come to a consensus that provision of such a program by the City and/or the
405 Municipal Drive, Kennedale, TX 76060 I Telephone: 817-985-2100 I Fax: 817-478-7169
EDC was premature, but that the board had approved rent deferral (not forgiveness) for
tenants of EDC-owned properties in 30-day increments. There was some discussion
regarding potentially offering no -interest loans and/or 380 agreements instead of grants.
3. Receive a report and hold a discussion of operations issues relating to the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) emergency
City Manager George Campbell stated that the Planning Department had developed a
"Shop Kennedale" program. Planner Meghan Riddlespurger gave a brief presentation of
the new website (www.shopkennedale.org) that aggregated local business information,
including changes due to COVID-19, noting that the program had been very successful
thus far. Riddlespurger added that printed materials were also in production.
4. Receive a report regarding the current status of utility customer service and billing issues
City Manager George Campbell stated that the Informal Staff Report that had been sent
to Council via email was included in the packet and then provided a brief overview of the
billing issues that had affected about 200 of the most recent utility bills, the research staff
had done to identify the source of the problem, and what was being done to correct and
prevent such an occurrence going forward.
There was some discussion about ways in which this could have been prevented, the
need for additional review of billing registers, the cost of having the City of Arlington
manually read the meters, the replacement of the MTU's on the meters, and Council's
strong desire to do anything necessary from preventing such a problem in the future.
B REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS LISTED ON THE AGENDA
There was no discussion at this time.
At 6:52 p.m., Mayor Johnson offered a brief recess before convening the Regular Session.
III. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Council recess to Executive Session at any time during this meeting.
IV. REGULAR SESSION
Mayor Johnson called the Regular Session to order at 7:03 p.m.
A. ROLL CALL
Participating via VideoConference: Mayor Brian Johnson; Josh Altom, Place 1; Chris Pugh, Place
2; Mayor Pro Tem Lee, Place 3; Linda Rhodes, Place 4; Chad Wandel, Place 5. Staff Participating via
VideoConference: City Manager George Campbell, City Secretary and Communications Coordinator Leslie E Galloway, City
Attorney Drew Larkin, Director of HR and Administrative Services Danielle Clarke, Director of Finance and Information
Technology Lakeita Sutton, Library Director Amanda King, Director of Planning and Economic Development Melissa Dailey,
Planner Meghan Riddlespurger, Public Works Director Larry Hoover, Fire Chief James Brown, and Police Chief Tommy
Williams, Administrative Assistant Rosie Ericson; Consultants Participating via VideoConference: Danny Martinez of BKD
and Lee Swain of SafeBuilt
B. INVOCATION AND PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE U.S. AND TEXAS FLAGS
This item was skipped due to the meeting being held via VideoConference.
C VISITOR AND CITIZEN FORUM
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1 APRIL 21, 2020
There were no requests to speak at this time.
D REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Updates from the City Council
■ Josh Altom, Place 1, announced that he recently tested positive for COVID-19
antibodies and believed he had the virus in January.
■ Chris Pugh, Place 2, announced that he attended a few calls to keep updated on
current public health issues, talked to a few residents about the water billing
mistakes, and thanked staff for resolving the issue quickly.
■ Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Lee, Place 3, thanked Chad and Leslie Wandel for
making masks and Jan Joplin for handing them out at the senior apartments on
New Hope Road; she also thanked Lakeita for her hard work on the audit and to
correct the water billing issue.
■ Linda Rhodes, Place 4, thanked Lakeita Sutton for her work adding that there
should be responsibility for the issue and that it should fall to the billing company.
■ Chad Wandel, Place 5, announced that he was working from home and that he
and his wife Leslie had made more than 1000 masks now, using donations from
the community, and that anyone needing one should message him.
2. Updates from the Mayor
Mayor Johnson thanked Lakeita Sutton for having the forethought to immediately disable
auto -pay when the billing error occurred, thanked George Campbell and Leslie Galloway
for their work on the billing issue, and thanked Sara Johnson, Chad Wandel, Jan Joplin,
Gary Mitchell, and others for helping get masks to those who need them. Mayor Johnson
then read the proclamations regarding Child Abuse Prevention and Kids to Parks Day.
3. Updates from the City Manager
City Manager George Campbell announced that staff had been focused on keeping up
with state and federal level guidance and regulations regarding COVID-19, noting that
there were now two confirmed cases in Kennedale.
4. Financial Reports for the City
Director of Finance and Information Technology Lakeita Sutton offered a brief overview of
the February and March 2020 financials, noting that revenues and expenditures were on
track, that it was not yet fully known how Water Fund expenditures might be affected by
the departure of Aclara and the forthcoming move to the City of Arlington for billing, that
staff was creating a list of stormwater capital projects, and that projects might be delayed
and revenues might be negatively affected by COVID-19. City Manager George
Campbell added that, when practical, vacant positions were being left unfilled.
5. Schedule of Investment Activity for quarter ending March 31, 2020
There was no discussion at this time.
E. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approval of the minutes from the February 18, 2020 regular meeting
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES I APRIL 21, 2020
2. Approval of the minutes from the March 24, 2020 special meeting via teleconference
3. Approval of the minutes from the March 31, 2020 special meeting via teleconference
4. Consider adoption of Ordinance 693, amending Chapter 12, "Miscellaneous Provisions
and Offenses" of the Kennedale City Code by adding section 12-10, "Protection of
Children Exposed to Unjustified Violence."
5. Consider adoption of Ordinance 694, amending Chapter 12, "Miscellaneous Provisions
and Offenses" of the Kennedale City Code by adding Section 12-11, "Effective Response
to Strangulation."
6. Consider acceptance of independent auditor's report (Comprehensive Annual Financial
Report (CAFR)) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019
Motion Approve. Action Approve Consent Agenda, with the corrected date of approval
on Ordinance 694, Moved By Rhodes, Seconded By Wandel. Motion passed
unanimously.
F. ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
1. Consider approval of Ordinance 691, amending various provisions of Chapter 4
"Buildings and Building Regulations" of the Kennedale City Code to adopt the 2018
International Building Code (IBC), 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), 2018
International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2018
International Fire Code (IFC), 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), 2018
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2018 International Energy Conservation Code
(IECC), and 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (SPSC) along with local
amendments as recommended by the North Central Texas Council of Governments
(NCTCOG)
Director of Planning and Economic Development Melissa Dailey stated that the City was
currently operating under 2015 codes, and staff was recommending adoption of the 2018
codes along with the regional amendments provided by the North Central Texas Council
of Governments (NCTCOG) Lee Swain of SafeBuilt was available to answer questions.
There was some discussion of how adopting the new codes might affect construction
costs, that these codes would not retroactively be applied to existing construction, that
the main purpose of updated codes was increased safety, and that it was considered a
best practice to be in line with what other Cities in the region are requiring.
Motion Approve. Action Approve Ordinance 691, amending various provisions of
Chapter 4 "Buildings and Building Regulations" of the Kennedale City Code to adopt the
2018 International Building Code (IBC), 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC), 2018
International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2018
International Fire Code (IFC), 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), 2018
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2018 International Energy Conservation Code
(IECC), and 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (SPSC) along with local
amendments as recommended by the North Central Texas Council of Governments
(NCTCOG), Moved By Pugh, Seconded By Altom. Motion passed unanimously.
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 1 APRIL 21, 2020
2 Consider adoption of Ordinance 692, amending Article III "Fire Department" of Chapter 6
"Emergency Management and Services" of the Kennedale City Code to authorize and
establish mitigation fees for the deployment of emergency services by the City of
Kennedale Fire Department
Fire Chief James Brown stated that approval of Ordinance 692 would allow the City to
invoice insurance carriers for certain equipment and personnel costs associated with the
provision of emergency services, but that if the insurance company did not pay that the
billing would be written off (and not directed to the private party involved in the incident).
Motion Approve. Action Approve Ordinance 692, amending Article III "Fire Department"
of Chapter 6 "Emergency Management and Services" of the Kennedale City Code to
authorize and establish mitigation fees for the deployment of emergency services by the
City of Kennedale Fire Department, Moved By Altom, Seconded By Mayor Pro Tem
Lee. Motion passed unanimously.
G PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Conduct a Public Hearing and consider approval of Resolution 569, authorizing funding
participation with Tarrant County Community Development and Housing for the 46th Year
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Project for rehabilitation of water lines in
the 400 to 600 blocks of Third Street
Public Works Director Larry Hoover offered a brief presentation regarding the scope of
the project, the income levels necessary for an area to quality, and that the City had
received more funding than was projected — $180,000 rather than $160,000.
Mayor Johnson opened the public hearing at 7:56 p.m. There were no requests to speak,
and the public hearing was immediately closed.
Motion Approve. Action Approve Resolution 569, authorizing funding participation with
Tarrant County Community Development and Housing for the 46th Year CDBG Project
for rehabilitation of water lines in the 400 to 600 blocks of Third Street, Moved By
Wandel, Seconded By Pugh. Motion passed unanimously.
H. TAKE ACTION NECESSARY, PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF NEEDED
1. Take any action deemed necessary as a result of the Executive Session
There was neither discussion nor action at this time.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Motion Adjourn. Action Adjourn, Moved By Altom, Seconded By Wandel. Motion passed
unanimously.
Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 7:57 p.m.
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LESLIE E. GALLOWAY, CITY SECRETARY
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CITY COUNCIL MINUTES I APRIL 21, 2020