City manager briefs council on events, preliminary budget workshop and several consent-agenda contracts

City Manager Melissa provided the Cedar Hill City Council with calendar items, budget scheduling and details on consent-agenda contracts during the June 24 briefing session.

Melissa told council that staff will host a preliminary budget workshop on Tuesday, July 15 at 6 p.m. at the Trapine Hickman (library) and said the administration will recommend options to address council's top priority of narrowing the general employee pay gap; she said the pay plan is "about 10% under market" and staff will present options for council direction ahead of a final budget workshop in August.

On city finances, Melissa said property-tax revenue collections have been lower than usual for the last two years because of protests and exemptions; she said collection rates are currently in the mid-90s and that "we'll probably land about 98%" though the transcript reported figures of roughly 96% to 97.7% in the current cycle. Melissa said staff plans to budget more conservatively next year to reflect lower collections.

She reviewed upcoming community events and public engagement opportunities: a "Let's Wave Together" inclusion pool party for people of all abilities at the Lagoon at Virginia Weaver Park (Sunday, June 29, 5:30'7:30 p.m., RSVP required), downtown engagement events tied to the Heart of the Hill Downtown Action Plan on Friday, July 11 at the Trapine Hickman Library (4'6 p.m.) and a pop-up at the Pioneer Park Farmers Market on July 12 (presentations at 10 a.m. and noon, walking tour at 11 a.m.), and a community appreciation day hosted by NFL player Travis Gibson (a Cedar Hill alum) at Valley Ridge Park on Saturday, July 12 (9 a.m.'1 p.m.). Assistant City Manager Chastity Benson described the downtown outreach format and said the events will highlight complete-streets and small-business support initiatives.

Melissa also called attention to a letter from Ginger Reid and Caroline McKee about the Cedar Hill Shares Food Pantry seeking to increase donations and staff said they will report to council on a potential partnership with the pantry.

On the consent agenda (items summarized by staff), Melissa said the packet included: - A resolution adopting the 2025'20230 Dallas County Hazard Mitigation Action Plan (listed on the consent agenda); - Authorization for the mayor to execute a construction contract with Standard Site Utilities for drainage improvements at 702 East Pleasant Run for an amount not to exceed $316,739 (capital improvement plan project); - Authorization for the mayor to execute a contract with Infrastructure Management Services for a roadway pavement condition survey in the amount of $60,899; - A professional services agreement with Garver in an amount not to exceed $159,548 for assistance with implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency's Lead and Copper Rule revisions (noted as an unfunded federal mandate); - A proposed agreement with Year Out Energy Services Company, LLC / Energy Systems Group for design, management and renovation work at the former Zula B. Wiley Library under a performance-based energy retrofit approach; staff said the company committed to 30% MWBE participation in the project.

Council briefly discussed orientation for new boards and commissions (July 17), the Best Southwest TGIF legislative series beginning August 1, and other calendar items. A closed session that had been on the agenda was tabled for a later date.

Procedural actions at the end of the briefing included a motion to adjourn; council recessed briefly and planned to reconvene for the next scheduled portion of the meeting.

No formal council votes on the consent-agenda contracts were recorded during the briefing portion in the transcript provided; staff identified the items for council consideration.