MINUTES
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA MET IN A SPECIAL CALL SESSION IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF CITY HALL MAY 13, 2024
The City Council of the City of Muskogee, Oklahoma, met in a Special Call Session at 5:30 p.m., on May 13, 2024, in Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 229 W. Okmulgee Ave., Muskogee, Oklahoma, with Mayor Marlon J. Coleman presiding.
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Meeting was called to order by Mayor W. Patrick Cale and the City Clerk called the roll as follows:
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1 | Hold a Public Hearing to discuss the City of Muskogee Budget for FY2024-2025, and take other necessary action. (Mike Miller) Mayor W. Patrick Cale opened the Public Hearing. City Manager Mike Miller explained Staff and Council have been working on the budget since February. Council requested a balanced budget, discussing any changes and providing rationale for those changes. Mr. Miller stated there are exciting projects in progress for our city. We have begun construction on an $80 million sewer plant. There are TIF projects that will bring in 800+ jobs and a billion dollars worth of industrial development sites. We have had the largest street projects in history. The budget goal is to have revenue remain above expenses, with focus being on strategic initiatives, areas of interest, reserve, budget overview/principles, General Fund, and strategic funds. The foundation of the budget is to make certain we have a good savings account for emergencies, and best practice is to have 20-30% of the general fund in savings. Mr. Miller explained the General Fund can be used for any governmental purpose and is funded primarily from sales taxes (57.7%) with the rest from fees for services. Sales tax is down about one percent (1%) for the year, so Staff was instructed to cut 2.25% of operating budgets in an effort to reduce the impact on services. Two (2) long-vacant positions were elimated, and no new ones were created. The community picnic was reduced to $12,000.00, and the parade float funding was reduced by half. General Fund $44,625,900.00 Special Revenue and Capital Projects $50,296,841.00 Enterprise Funds $4,142,354.00 Internal Service Funds $7,816.263.00 Sinking Fund $405,000.00 Mr. Miller explained expenses have increased due to inflation and rising utility costs. Health insurance premiums increased by $439,500.00. $1,500,000.00 has been set aside for Economic Development from use tax. Operations Account $900,000.00
Councilmember Tracy Hoos stated the Port has requested $500.000.00 from the housing incentive fund to be transferred to the Port's capital fund. Discussion followed. |
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Motion was made by Mayor Patrick Cale, seconded by Councilmember Dan Hall to approve the one-time funding of $500,000.00, transferring from the Special Project fund (housing incentive) to the Muskogee City-County Port Authority for capital expenditures, effective July 1, 2024. | |||||||||||
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Mr. Miller stated the Hotel/Motel tax has a projected increase of $59,000.00 for FY2025, totaling $1,050,000.00. All of the FY2025 Hotel/Motel tax revenue is to be transferred to the Muskogee Tourism Authority. The estimated carryover will be available July 1, 2023 and will be $455,000.00 with a capital request from the livestock show for animal pens. Councilmember Jaime Stout asked if the money could be transferred before July 1, 2024. Councilmember Hoos asked if the money is transferred before then, would the FY2024 budget have to be amended. Mr. Miller explained that yes, if the money was transferred before July 1, there would have to be a budget amendment because those funds have already been appropriated. Deputy Mayor Reed stated he would like to hear from tourism as to the urgency of immediately transferring the funds. Avery Frix stated with the projects planned, the July date will work, as long as the amount is still $455,000.00. Deputy Mayor Reed inquired if the livestock pens would be purchased before the $455,000.00 transfer; Mr. Frixed stated no. Mayor Patrick Cale stated the pens could be purchased in November 2024, and Councilmember Stout recommended using the Special Project Fund. Mr. Miller stated we will amend the budget transfer to not include the pens and transfer the $455,000.00 on July 1, 2024. |
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Motion was made by Councilmember Tom Martindale, seconded by Councilmember Dan Hall to transfer the estimated carryover amount of $455,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to the Muskogee Tourism Authority (MTA), effective July 1, 2024. | |||||||||||
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Mr. Miller explained in this years' budget requests, there are more requests than we have money. He stated the key takeaways are that it has been a tough year for the general fund, but strategic initiatives can still be accomplished through dedicated funds:
Deputy Mayor Reed stated he would like to wait in an effort to gain additional knowledge. Mayor Cale suggested waiting a week and bringing it for discussion at the Special Call meeting on May 20, 2024. Mayor Cale closed the Public Hearing. Mr. Miller gave direction to Staff to prepare revisions to be considered for the budget at the Special Call City Council Meeting to be held on May 20, 2024. |
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2 | (Tabled) Consider approval of Resolution No. 2989 approving the City of Muskogee Budget for FY2024-2025, establishing budget amendment authority, or take other necessary action. (Mike Miller) | ||||||||||
3 | (Stricken) Discuss and take appropriate action to rescind the motion made at the City Council Meeting on April 30, 2024, related to the purchase of cattle ties through the Muskogee Tourism Authority (MTA), and Repayment to the MTA from the Special Project Fund, or take other necessary action. (Councilors Jaime Stout and Dan Hall) | ||||||||||
4 | (No Action) Receive report on the appointment of Mayor W. Patrick Cale to the Economic Development Advisory Board, or take other necessary action. (Mayor W. Patrick Cale) | ||||||||||
5 | Discuss and consider approval of the appointment of Councilor Jaime Stout and Councilor Tracy Hoos to the Economic Development Advisory Committee, or take other necessary action. (Mayor W. Patrick Cale) | ||||||||||
Motion was made by Councilmember Dan Hall, seconded by Councilmember Shirley Hilton-Flanary to approve of the appointment of Councilor Jaime Stout and Councilor Tracy Hoos to the Economic Development Advisory Committee. | |||||||||||
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W. PATRICK CALE, MAYOR
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TAMMY L. TRACY, CITY CLERK
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