[00:00:01]
[1. CALL SESSION TO ORDER]
O'CLOCK.WE'LL CALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 3RD, 2023 TO ORDER.
WE'LL START WITH ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON.
PRESIDENT, COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON.
ALRIGHT, NEXT BE LED BY THE COUNCIL WILL BE LED BY REVEREND JOHNNY BROWER OF THE HEAD OF DISCOVERY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
COUNCIL FRIENDS, IF YOU ARE THE PRAYING TYPE, WILL YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER? IF NOT, THAT'S OKAY TOO.
LET'S JOIN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND ONE INTENTION.
HOLY AND LOVING GOD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY AND ABUNDANT BLESSINGS.
WE NEED TO FULFILL OUR CALLINGS FOR SUSTENANCE AND FOR FRIENDSHIP.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK AND FOR THE HONOR OF BEARING APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITIES.
WE THANK YOU AS WELL FOR THE FREEDOM TO PRACTICE OUR FAITH.
WE PRAY THIS EVENING FOR THE GRACE OF YOUR WISDOM TO GUIDE OUR WORDS AND OUR HEARTS AND OUR TIME TOGETHER.
GRANT US CLARITY OF VISION TO MAKE WISE CHOICES ABOUT OUR PRESENT AND OUR FUTURE TOGETHER SO THAT ALL PEOPLE MAY FLOURISH WITH DIGNITY.
GIVE US GRACE TO AGREE AND DISAGREE WITHOUT FORGETTING KINDNESS AND HUMILITY SO THAT WE NOT LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR DIVINE SPARK WITHIN US ALL.
AND GIVE US COURAGE TO WALK BOLDLY INTO THE FUTURE CONFIDENT IN YOUR WILL FOR GOOD GOD.
I ASK FOR ALL THOSE GATHERED HERE, YOUR BLESSINGS OVER OUR MAYOR, THIS COUNCIL, WE THE CITIZENS, AND OF ALL THOSE WHO SERVE TO PROTECT THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WORK AND MOVE WITHIN ALL OF US IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR WORLD.
THAT PLEASE JOIN ME THE PLEDGE.
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS.
[5.1. Hutto Farmer's Market Week - August 6-12, 2023 ]
THE COUNCIL WILL JOIN ME UP FRONT FOR A PROCLAMATION.SO FUN THAT THE MARKER WILL COME UP AS WELL.
THIS IS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING HU FARMERS MARKET.
AUGUST 6TH, THE 12TH, 2023 WE'RE AT FARMERS.
WHEREAS HUDU AREA FARMERS AND RANCHERS PROVIDE CITIZENS WITH ACCESS TO HELPFUL LOCALLY AND REGIONALLY PRODUCED FOODS THROUGH FARMER'S MARKETS, WHICH ARE EXPANDING AND EVOLVING TO ACCOMMODATE THE DEMAND FOR A DIVERSE ARRAY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FARMERS' MARKETS AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL DIRECT MARKETING OUTLETS PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ASSIST IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF FARM AND VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING APPROXIMATELY $9 BILLION EACH YEAR TO THE US ECONOMY.
AND WHEREAS FARMERS' MARKETS SERVE AS SIGNIFICANT OUTLETS BY WHICH SMALL TO MEDIUM NEW AND BEGINNING AND VETERAN AGRICULTURAL GROWERS AND PRODUCERS MARKET THEIR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS GENERATING REVENUE THAT SUPPORTS THE SUSTAINABILITY OF FAMILY FARMS AND A REVITALIZATION OF RURAL COMMUNITIES LIKE HU HUDU.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF HU RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPANDING AGRICULTURAL MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ASSIST AND ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF FARMERS AND RANCHERS, EDUCATE OUR YOUTH ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FARMING, GENERATE FARM INCOME TO HELP STIMULATE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION, BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS THROUGH RURAL AND URBAN LI LINKAGES AND MORE.
WHEREAS THE HU FARMER'S MARKET RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING A MORE INFORMED AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY THAT CARES ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE
[00:05:01]
PEOPLE WHO ARE SO DEEPLY CONNECTED TO IT.NOW THEREFORE, TO FURTHER THE AWARENESS OF FARMER'S MARKETS, UH, CONTRIBUTIONS TO HU LIFE, WE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HUDU DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF AUGUST 6TH TO AUGUST 12TH, 2023 AS HU FARMERS' MARKET WEEK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OBSERVANCE OF NATIONAL FARMERS' MARKET WEEK.
WE CALL UPON THE HUDU CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE FARMERS' MARKETS WEEK WITH APPROPRIATE OBSERVANCE AND ACTIVITIES PROCLAIMED THE THIRD DAY OF AUGUST, 2023.
HOPEFULLY YOU'VE GOT, YOU'VE GOT SOME STUFF.
I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY OF HUDU FOR JOINING THE HU FARMER'S MARKET IN RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND ARTISANS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF SMALL BUSINESSES, SOME OF THEM UP HERE WITH US TODAY FROM LOCAL HU HONEY TO DOG TREES AND GROWERS RANCHERS.
SO ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9TH, WE'LL HAVE OUR NATIONAL FARMER'S MARKET WEEK CELEBRATION IN WHICH WE'LL BE DEBUTING A NEW INITIATIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KEEP HURO BEAUTIFUL IN THE PETERSON COMMUNITY GARDEN.
WE'LL BEGIN ACCEPTING COMPOST AT THE MARKET FOR HUDDLES FIRST COMMUNITY COMPOSTING PROGRAM AND THIS, SO THIS TIES INTO THE HUDDLE FARMER'S MARKET'S MISSION OF PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND WE HOPE Y'ALL CAN JOIN US THIS WEDNESDAY.
WE'LL HAVE LIVE MUSIC FREE FACE PAINTING FOR THE KIDS, OF COURSE ALL OF OUR AWESOME VENDORS AND GROWERS.
AND, AND DUNNO IF, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? SURE.
WE HAVE KEY PU SO WE GOT A REPRESENTATIVE OF KEY PUDDLE BEAUTIFUL HERE TOO.
SO THANK Y'ALL ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND UM, THIS IS SUCH AN AWESOME GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT SERVE THE FARMER'S MARKET ON, ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, YOU ARE MISSING OUT.
UM, DANIEL AND DANIELLA AND JOSEPH HAVE JUST DONE A GREAT JOB AND HE'S KIND OF, UM, SNAGGED KEY, PUTTO BEAUTIFUL AND THE PETERSON COMMUNITY GARDEN TO BE, UH, PARTICIPATING.
AND WE'LL BE AT THE MARKET NEXT WEDNESDAY TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT COMPOSTING.
WE HAD, WE GOT OUR COMPOST BIN BUILT THIS AFTERNOON, SO, UM, JUST KIND OF BE ON THE WATCH FOR SOME UP AND COMING THINGS THAT ARE GONNA BE HAPPENING AT THE COMMUNITY GARDEN.
AND, UM, IT'S A DEMONSTRATION GARDEN.
WE WANT TO INVOLVE THE CITIZENS.
AND WHAT'S HIS NAME? SO, SO EVERYONE MEET HARVEY THE HIPPO HARVEY, THE HARVESTING HIPPO.
ALSO DRAWN BY A LOCAL ARTIST THAT YOU CAN MEET ON WEDNESDAYS TOO.
SO SHIRT ON OUR WEBSITE IF YOU WANNA ORDER A SHIRT.
THEY ARE AVAILABLE HOW TO MARKET.ORG.
SO WILL YOU TOGETHER HOLD? YEAH, LET'S GET TOGETHER.
I'LL TAKE A QUICK LITTLE PICTURE.
AND WE GOT A GUY IN THE MIDDLE TAKING PICTURES HERE.
DID GOOD, RIGHT? I, OKAY, THAT BRINGS US TO NEXT TO CITY MANAGER COMMENTS, MAYOR, COUNCIL,
[6. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS ]
CITIZENS OF HUDDLE FOR THE RECORD.UM, COUPLE OF TOPICS TO COVER TONIGHT.
Y'ALL MIGHT HAVE, UH, NOTICED IT'S HOT OUTSIDE
SO, UH, BUT OUR YARDS NEED 'EM AND OUR PLANTS NEED 'EM AND OUR GARDENS NEED 'EM.
UH, WE NEED OUR FARMERS' MARKETS AND ALL THOSE, UH, GOOD THINGS THAT COME FROM WATERING.
[00:10:01]
WE ANNOUNCED LAST TIME AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.WE ARE CLOSELY APPROACHING THE THRESHOLD FOR STAGE THREE.
NOW, STAGE THREE IS CONSIDERABLY DIFFERENT, AND I WON'T GO INTO ALL THAT TONIGHT, BUT DO START TO EDUCATE YOURSELF, JUMP ON THE WEBSITE AND TAKE A LOOK.
THAT THEN CHANGES WHEN YOU CAN WATER IT CHANGES WHAT YOU CAN USE FOR WATER OUTSIDE, UH, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
UM, BUT I ALSO WANT EVERYONE HERE TO KNOW THAT AS A MEMBER OF AN H O A, IF YOU CAN GO BACK AND REPORT TO YOUR HOAS, THE CITY CONSIDERS AN H O A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
SO IF YOU'RE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND YOU'RE A WATER CUSTOMER OF THE CITY OF HUDU AND YOUR H O A IS NOT WATERING ON THE COMMERCIAL DAYS, THEN THAT TECHNICALLY IS A VIOLATION.
SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO EDUCATE AND GET THEM TO SET THEIR WATERING DATES.
UM, AND THE REASON IS SO Y'ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON IS WE'RE SPREADING OUT THE DEMAND OVER THE WEEK.
SO THAT WAY THE, EVERYBODY'S NOT WATERING ON THE SAME DAY AND DRAWING DOWN ALL THE WATER AT THE SAME TIME.
WE'RE SPREADING OUT THE WATER OVER THE WEEK.
SO THAT'S WHY WE DO THE ALTERNATING DAYS AND ADDRESSES, UM, THE HOURS THAT YOU CAN WATER.
SO IF YOU CAN WATER, SAY ON, UH, MAYBE YOUR DAY IS, UH, TUESDAY, IF YOU CAN WATER ON TUESDAY AND THE HOURS ARE FROM MIDNIGHT TILL 10:00 AM AND 8:00 PM TO MIDNIGHT, THAT IS ON THAT SAME TUESDAY.
IT IS NOT START WATERING AT, WHAT WAS IT? START WATERING AT, UH, MIDNIGHT.
START WATERING AT 8:00 PM ON, ON THE NIGHT.
GO PAST MIDNIGHT UNTIL 10:00 AM THE NEXT DAY.
THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT THE PROCESS.
SO YOU CAN CHOOSE MORNING OR OR EVENING BASICALLY.
AND YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR IRRIGATION RUNS WITHIN THE, THE SCHEDULED NUMBER OF HOURS.
UM, YOU CERTAINLY HAVE MORE TIME TO WATER IN THE MORNING 'CAUSE THAT'S A 10 HOUR WINDOW VERSUS THE EVENING IS ONLY A FOUR HOUR WINDOW.
OKAY? AND, UH, IF YOU HAPPEN TO NOTICE THAT YOUR NEIGHBORS AREN'T COMPLYING OR THEY'RE BEING IRRESPONSIBLE, NOT THAT WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO RIDE OUT YOUR NEIGHBORS, BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO REPORT THAT SOMEONE'S BEING WASTEFUL, UH, WHEN WE'RE ALL TRYING TO TO BE GOOD STEWARDS, YOU CAN CERTAINLY SUBMIT THAT INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE.
YOU CAN DO IT THROUGH THE CITIZEN TRACKER.
OKAY? UM, YEAH, STAGE THREE, I ALREADY TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT'S COMING OUT, UH, COMING UP.
SO THAT'S GONNA BE ON OCTOBER 3RD.
IT'S A LITTLE EARLY YET, BUT THIS IS THE TIME WHEN THE PLANNING AND THE HOAS IS GOING ON FOR, FOR WHAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WANTED TO REACH OUT TO ME AND, AND HAVE ME LET YOU ALL KNOW, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL LOTS OUT IS ABOUT STRENGTHENING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE NEIGHBORS AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.
MAKE EVERYTHING SAFER IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IF YOU'RE HAVING A BLOCK PARTY, IF YOUR H O A IS HAVING A PARTY, IF YOU'RE HAVING A GATHERING OF PEOPLE AND, UH, YOU WOULD LIKE FOR THE PD TO SWING BY TO COME SAY HI, TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME THERE, UH, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THAT LIST TO GET GENERATED SO THEY HAVE AN IDEA OF, OF WHERE THEY NEED TO GO THAT NIGHT.
UM, THEY'RE ASKING YOU TO GO TO THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE AND TO, I GUESS THERE'S A LINK ON THERE.
I I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE YET, BUT, UH, TO GO TO THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE TO SIGN UP.
SO IF YOU JUST GO AND RESPOND TO THAT, THAT WAY THEY'LL KNOW.
ALRIGHT, PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION.
SO WE DO THIS, UH, AT THE FIRST MEETING OF THE MONTH.
AND, UH, THAT IS CERTAINLY TODAY SINCE IT'S AUGUST 3RD.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, TWO, LET'S SEE, WE GOT TWO I THREE FOLKS, TWO OF WHICH, UH, ARE, I THINK THEY'RE HERE.
WE'LL SEE IF RYAN'S HERE OR NOT.
WELL, LET'S, LET'S, LET'S TALK ABOUT RYAN.
HE WAS RECENTLY PROMOTED IN OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
HE'S MOVED FROM RIGHT OF WAY INSPECTOR TO A CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR.
UM, BUT RYAN'S A GRADUATE OF HU HIGH SCHOOL, SO I, I REALLY LOVE THE STORIES.
WHENEVER OUR, OUR KIDS WENT TO SCHOOL HERE, STAYED IN THE COMMUNITY, AND NOW THEY'RE WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED RAISE THEM.
UH, AND HE'S OUT THERE WATCHING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE C I P PROJECTS THAT WE'RE BUILDING ARE GETTING DONE CORRECTLY.
UM, AND THEN, UH, JESSE MENARD.
IS JESSE HERE? YEAH, THERE'S JESSE.
SO JESSE IS ACTUALLY A NEW EMPLOYEE TO THE CITY.
HE JUST JOINED, UH, TEAM HU IN JULY, UH, IN OUR STREETS AND DRAINAGE, UH, DIVISION.
SO, UH, AS YOU WILL QUICKLY LEARN HERE, JESSE, UM, THE TOP THREE THINGS ON EVERYONE'S LIST IN HURO ARE STREETS, ROADS, ROADS, WHATEVER, STREET, STREETS AND STREETS.
IS THAT ABOUT RIGHT? YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.
SO, UH, YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, UH, HERE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE VERY INTERESTED IN SEEING YOU BE SUCCESSFUL, SO THANK YOU AND WELCOME TO THE WELCOME TO TEAM HURO.
WELL, I HAVE SOME COOL STUFF ABOUT YOU.
SEEMS LIKE YOU MOVED HERE FROM WASHINGTON STATE WITH YOUR BELOVED DOG, ABBY.
UH, AND YOUR BACKGROUND IS IN SEWER AND STORM INSPECTIONS.
SO, UH, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE SOMEONE OF YOUR CALIBER AND TALENT JOIN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THEN LASTLY, TONIGHT WE HAVE AVERY
[00:15:01]
MARTINEZ.AVERY CAME TO, AND AVERY, I DON'T THINK COULD BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT AVERY CAME TO TEAM HOOD THIS JULY AS A UTILITY TECHNICIAN, UH, GREW UP JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN ROUND ROCK AND HAS WORKED FOR SEVERAL LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AVERY EAGERLY LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS CAREER HERE IN HIPPO NATION, AND, UH, HE'S SUPER EXCITED.
AND THEN, UH, THEY PUT THIS ON HERE FOR ME, BUT, UH, TONIGHT IS THE EXACT ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY FROM WHEN I STARTED IN THE CITY OF HU.
SO, UM, THANK YOU MAYOR COUNCIL.
I WANT TO THANK Y'ALL FOR, FOR EXTENDING THE CALL TO ME TO COME AND FOR THE CITIZENS FOR EMBRACING ME, UM, MY WIFE MELINDA, AND OUR CRAZY KIDS THAT, UM, MY DAUGHTER JULIE COMES UP HERE AND TRIES TO EAT ALL THE SNACKS QUITE OFTEN.
SO, UM, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE Y'ALL WELCOMING US INTO THE COMMUNITY AND LETTING US FEEL LIKE WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS FROM HU.
AND, UM, I'M JUST SUPER EXCITED.
I'M A LITTLE EMOTIONAL JUST BECAUSE OF THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH WE'VE COME, HOW FAR WE'VE COME, AND HOW MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR.
UH, BUT LITERALLY A YEAR AGO TONIGHT WAS WEDNESDAY, AND I WAS SITTING DOWN WITH MR. ISAAC TURNER, WHO IS THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER, AND MEETING EACH OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR ONE AT A TIME AS THEY CAME IN FOR THEIR BRIEFINGS BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING.
AND, UH, HERE WE ARE A YEAR LATER ON MY ANNIVERSARY AND I'LL BE PRESENTING THE BUDGET TONIGHT.
SO, PRETTY EXCITING, UH, MILESTONE ALTOGETHER.
AND JUST THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR, UH, FOR WELCOMING US INTO THE COMMUNITY AND LETTING US FEEL LIKE WE'RE, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN A PART.
UH, SHE'D LIKE A PICTURE OF ME WITH COUNSEL.
JESSE, COME ON UP HERE TO THE CENTER OF THE, OF THE, OF THE CURVE AND THEN WE'LL GATHER UP BEHIND YOU.
WE ALWAYS LIKE TO TAKE PETER IN FRONT OF ME.
SEE THAT? SEE THAT NOW? 3 1 2.
WELCOME DE THANK YOU CHAIR SLICE MY MAJOR ARTERY IN MAYOR COUNCIL.
[7. PUBLIC COMMENT ]
BRINGS US TO PUBLIC COMMENT.WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES, THAT'LL BE GREEN WHEN THERE'S 30 SECONDS LEFT, THAT'LL GO TO YELLOW AT RED.
UM, YOUR TIME WILL BE UP BEFORE I CALL NAMES.
WE DID HAVE SOME THAT, UM, USE THE ONLINE SYSTEM.
I JUST WANNA LET THEM KNOW THAT WE DID GET IT.
SUSAN MAID, SONYA AYERS AND ALAN WORKIN HAVE ALL, UH, SENT IN COMMENTS.
AND SO, UM, WE RECEIVED THOSE.
I'M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND GOOD EVENING, ALL OF Y'ALL.
I'M IDA WEAVER, AND I DO LIVE IN HU AND I'M HERE THIS EVENING TO SUPPORT THE NO NEW REVENUE PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 TO 20 20 24.
ALL OF US HERE IN HUDA, WE CAN'T AFFORD EVER INCREASING PROPERTY TAXES THAT WE JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT.
UM, AND I'M A SENIOR, MY TAXES ARE CAPPED, BUT LIKE YOU ON THE DAAS, I LISTEN TO EVERYBODY HERE, WHOEVER WANTS TO COME TO ME AND CALL ME, STOP ME ON THE STREET.
UM, WE CAN'T AFFORD EVERYTHING WE WANT.
WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE, UM, AND PHASE IN MANY OF OUR NEEDS, THINGS WE REALLY NEED.
THAT GOES FOR OUR PERSONAL BUDGETS, AND IT GOES FOR CITY BUDGETS.
THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, WATER, WASTEWATER, PUBLIC WORKS.
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST, YOU COPY MINE,
SO OUR POLICE FORCE, OUR CITY ENGINEERING ROAD CREWS, UH, CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE FINANCE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT'S WAY UP THERE ON THE LIST.
AND I, I, I THINK YOU'VE PUT THAT IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR EFFORT TO MAKE HU AFFORDABLE FOR ALL OF US.
[00:20:07]
HI, GOOD EVENING.UM, AARON KING, A CITIZEN OF HARO.
AND, UM, I'M UP HERE ALSO TO, UM, KIND OF ECHO WHAT, UM, I JUST SPOKE ON, UH, REGARDING THE NO NEW REVENUE, UH, BUDGET.
UM, I TOO WANNA SAY THAT, UH, WE, WE DON'T NEED TO INCREASE TAXES, YOU KNOW, UM, A LOT OF US ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.
AND I, AND, AND I'M NOT JUST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I'M PROBABLY SPEAKING FOR THE MAJORITY OF, OF HU CITIZENS, AND SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO, UH, WORK TWO JOBS, THREE JOBS JUST TO, JUST TO SURVIVE.
SO WE DON'T NEED TAX INCREASES.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WITH ALL THE, THE NEW DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING ON WITH BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESSES, THAT THERE IS A, UH, THAT, THAT THERE IS A REVENUE INCREASE OF 8%, WHICH EQUIVALATE, UH, TO ABOUT $2,100,000.
UM, SO HAVING SAID THAT, UM, I WANNA JUST VOICE MY, MY, UM, OPINION AS IT WERE TO PLEASE DON'T INCREASE TAXES TO PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU, YOU'VE GOT AN 8% INCREASE HERE, 2 MILLION, $100,000.
UM, KEEP THE TAXES THE SAME AS AS, AS THEY HAVE BEEN.
I MEAN, IF YOU REALLY WANNA HELP THE CITIZENS OUT, I MEAN, IT'S A PIPE DREAM, BUT DECREASE 'EM,
UM, SO I, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING US AND, UM, REPRESENT YOU.
REPRESENTING THE CITIZENS OF HURO IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
UM, WE VOTED YOU UP THERE TO DO EXACTLY THAT, TO REPRESENT US, TO LOOK OUT FOR US, TO TAKE CARE OF US, TO HEAR US.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, BY NOT INCREASING TAXES, NOT ONLY ARE YOU HELPING US OUT, BUT YOU'RE HELPING YOURSELVES OUT TOO BY NOT INCREASING TAXES.
SO IT'S KIND OF A WIN-WIN IF YOU WANNA LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
UM, SO I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
CHERYL STEWART, FOUR 19 ADAM LEAF ROAD.
THE BUDGET THAT WE'RE, THAT Y'ALL ARE BEING PRESENTED IS ONE THAT IS VERY TRANSPARENT AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT IT WAS POSTED ONLINE PRIOR TO THIS MEETING SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN VIEW IT.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT TO WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
I'M GLAD THAT THE CITIZENS HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THIS PROCESS AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS CONTINUING.
THERE ARE HIGH PRIORITY ITEMS, BUT THERE'S ALSO AREAS OF CONCERN THAT WE AS A CITY NEED TO ADDRESS.
I WAS AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND HU CITIZEN UNIVERSITY AND THROUGHOUT THAT COURSE WE WERE ABLE TO GET INSIGHT INTO VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR REPORTED NEEDS OR PRESENTED NEEDS, WHATEVER TERM YOU WANNA USE.
SOME DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS POLICE, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AND PUBLIC WORKS HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT TO EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS HAVE A HARD TIME JUSTIFYING THE ADDITIONAL FTES THEY'RE REQUESTING WHEN THEY'RE OUTSOURCING SO MUCH OF THEIR WORK TO ENTITIES SUCH AS D O C, OTHER PARTNERSHIPS AND LANDSCAPING COMPANIES.
I ASK THAT YOU GO THROUGH THIS BUDGET AND YOU DETERMINE WHAT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED FOR THE CITIZENS SUCH AS ROADS.
WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE NEEDS FOR ROADS, WHICH IS TRUE, BUT WE NEED TO ALSO DISCUSS BUDGETING APPROPRIATELY FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ROADS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
LEASING THESE ROADS APPROPRIATELY AND ENSURING THAT OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAMS ARE WELL EQUIPPED AND PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE CITY.
THESE SHOULD BE OF THE HIGHEST CONCERN AND PRIORITY HU IS NOT IN THE SAME NEGATIVE FINANCIAL POSITION THAT WE WERE PREVIOUSLY.
AND THINGS ARE STARTING TO LOOK MORE OPTIMISTIC IN OUR HORIZON.
IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST THOUGH TO CONTINUE TO TAKE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH AND HIGHLY CONSIDER AND IDEALLY IMPLEMENT THE NO NEW REVENUE WHEN ADDRESSING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
ADDITIONALLY, IT'S BEEN MENTIONED THAT THEY, WE WILL BE POSSIBLY, WELL WE WILL BE VOTING IN NOVEMBER, UM, TO PASS THE HOMESTEAD INCREASE OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU STAY IN YOUR RESPECTIVE CITY LANE AS THAT INCREASE DOESN'T AFFECT OUR CITY TAX DOLLARS.
BUT RATHER THE I S D, THE WORD HIPPO COULD STAND FOR HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL PAYING PERSONS OPINION.
[00:25:01]
WE ARE THE HIGHEST INDIVIDUALS PAYING.WE ARE THE TAXPAYERS AND OUR OPINION SHOULD BE THE PRIMARY CONCERN AND FOCUS DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
NEXT WE HAVE JAMES WEAVER, INDIVIDUAL.
MY NAME IS JAMES WEAVER AND I DO LIVE IN HU.
I'M HERE TO LEND MY SUPPORT TO THE N N R RATE, BETTER KNOWN AS THE, UH, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.
THIS RATE HAS PROVEN TO BE A PROPER RATE FOR HUDU FOR THE LAST FEW BUDGET CYCLES.
SHOWS GREAT RESPECT FOR YOUR CITIZENS OF HUDU.
IT DOES NOT IMPOSE ADDITIONAL BURDENS ON THEM AND IT HAS ALLOWED AMPLE FUNDS TO ACCOMPLISH THE NEEDS THAT WE COULD ACCOMPLISH FOR THE YEAR.
WE'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE ALL THE FUNDS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WAS SET ASIDE LAST YEAR FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
WE'VE MADE A GOOD, A GOOD DENT IN IT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE USED THEM ALL.
EVEN THE N N R RATE WILL BE PROVIDING AROUND $2 MILLION ADDITIONAL FUNDS WITHOUT A TAX RATE INCREASE.
SO PLEASE BE COMPASSIONATE IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS AND YOUR VOTING FOR A FINAL RATE IN A FEW WEEKS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTFULNESS AND YOUR CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER.
NEXT WE HAVE COREY AND I MAY SAY THIS WRONG.
IS IT D DANINA OR DRA? DANINA DANINA.
APOLOGIZE LEFT MY GLASSES AT HOME, SO I'M HAVING TO GUESS.
I'M ON THE PARKS BOARD HERE IN HU.
UM, USING THE PARK DEVELOPMENT FUND TO PARTIALLY FINANCE FOR ITS PARK IS UNNECESSARY AND WOULD IMPEDE THE REALIZATION OF OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE GOOD FOLKS, FOLKS OF HUDA.
I WAS HAPPY TO SEE THE FIRST STEPS TO THE RENOVATION OF FRITZ PARK APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.
BUT IN REGARDS TO FINANCING THE PROJECT, IN MY OPINION, AND I BELIEVE, UH, THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PARKS BOARD SHARE THIS OPINION, THE ENTIRETY OF THE FRITZ PARK RENOVATION SHOULD COME FROM THE SALE OF THE BONDS THAT VOTERS APPROVED FIVE YEARS AGO.
I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH THE APPARENT INTENT TO UTILIZE PARK DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR THE FRITZ PARK PROJECT.
IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP ON JULY 22ND, MAYOR SCHNEIDER STATED, AND I QUOTE, I KNOW THERE'S A HAPPY MIDDLE BETWEEN ADDING PARTS AND IMPROVING ONES, AND WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT THAT BALANCE.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT.
AND HE ALSO, MAYOR, UH, SNYDER ALSO QUOTED, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO IMPROVE ALL OF OUR PARKS.
AND I ALSO AGREE 100% WITH THAT STATEMENT.
HOWEVER, USING THE PARK FUND FOR FRITZ PARK, IN PART OR IN WHOLE WILL NOT LEAVE US WITH A CLEAR PATH TO IMPROVE ALL OUR PARKS AND IN NO WAY WOULD ALLOW US TO BALANCE, UH, THE BALANCE WE'RE SEEKING.
IF WE DRAIN THE PARK FUND TO ZERO, AS MAYOR SCHNEIDER ASKED IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, THERE WILL BE LITTLE MONEY LEFT IN THE FUND TO TAKE CARE OF THE SMALLER PROJECTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED.
SMALLER PROJECTS SUCH AS ATHLETIC FIELD LIGHTING, TRAIL LIGHTING, TRAIL EXTENSIONS, PLAYGROUNDS AT HUDDLE LAKE PARK, CREEKSIDE PARK LIGHTS ON BASKETBALL COURTS, AND MAYBE EVEN DISC GOLF ON EXISTING PARKLAND ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS I'M TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THEY WILL BE IN PERIL FOR THE NEAR FUTURE.
SOME MAY BE FOR YEARS IF THE PARK DEVELOPMENT FUND IS TAKEN TO ZERO, IN MY OPINION, THAT WOULD NOT BE A RESPONSIBLE APPROACH TO FINANCE FINANCING FRITZ PARK RENOVATIONS.
THE MAYOR SAID WE CAN ALWAYS REPLACE THE FUND LATER, BUT THAT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLY IFFY TO ME.
I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT LEAVE US WITH A ZERO BALANCE IN THE PARK DEVELOPMENT FUND.
REALLY, WHERE IS THE WISDOM IN THAT COUNCIL SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR SHOWING RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP OF THE CITY'S FINANCES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, GETTING THE TAX RATE BELOW 50 CENTS, FOR EXAMPLE.
BUT AS SUGGESTED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, AND I'M PARAPHRASING, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE GREAT SAVINGS THAT WE WILL LIKELY ENJOY SOON, UH, IN STATE PROPERTY TAXES AND BE WILLING TO USE JUST A SMALL FRACTION OF THOSE SAVINGS TO GET SOME OTHER VERY NECESSARY THINGS DONE AS WELL.
SO I ASK THE COUNCIL TO SHOW SMART FINANCIAL PLANNING AND A LITTLE WISDOM AND DO NOT USE THE PARK DEVELOPMENT FUND TO FINANCE THE RENOVATIONS OF FRITZ PARK.
THAT IS WHAT THE BOND PACKAGE THAT VOTERS APPROVED IN 2018 SHOULD BE USED FOR.
I'M HERE WITH THE HEAD OF PRIDE, UM, AND I'M PART OF THE COMMITTEE.
I AM ACTUALLY GONNA READ A STATEMENT FROM MONICA GONZALEZ, WHO IS THE OWNER OF THE SALON, THE STUDIO IN DOWNTOWN HEAD.
THANK YOU SO, SO MUCH FOR LETTING ME COME UP HERE.
I HAVE SEVEN CHILDREN MOST ATTENDED HU
[00:30:01]
I S D I HAVE SIX SONS AND ONE GRANDSON.I STARTED THE HU PRIDE PAGE WHILE ON THE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION COMMISSION WITH THE IC, UH, HURO, UH, COUNCIL.
I AM PROUD TO SAY I'M PROUD, VERY PROUD TO BE A MOM, UH, TO MY NOW ADULT KIDS.
THREE OF THEM CHILDREN, THREE OF MY CHILDREN ARE PART OF THE LGBTQI A PLUS COMMUNITY.
THEY NOW LIVE AND THRIVE IN AUSTIN AND IN DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA.
I WISH HUDA WAS A PLACE THEY COULD FEEL AT HOME AND AT EASE.
YOU SEE, THERE IS NO SPACE HERE WHERE THEY WERE TRULY ACCEPTED WHERE THEY CAN BE THEMSELVES AND BE FREE OF FEAR AND TENSION.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE NOW GROWING A GROWING COMMUNITY IN HUDA DEDICATED TO BRINGING EVENTS AND GATHERINGS WHERE THE L G B T I Q A COMMUNITY AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAN ENJOY LIFE HERE IN OUR HOMETOWN.
WE WANNA HAVE REPRESENTATION IN OUR TOWN.
WE ALSO WANNA HAVE PLACES AND SPACES WHERE WE CAN GO AND READ AND ENJOY AND LEARN ABOUT OURSELVES AND ABOUT THE LGBTQI PLUS WORLD PARENTS CAN LEARN AND TALK WITH OTHER ADULTS AND THE YOUTH CAN LEARN FROM THE OTHER, OTHER YOUTH THE WAY WE NEED.
UH, THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WE AND THEY ARE NOT ALONE HERE AT HOME.
GOOD EVENING, SUSAN TI HATO RESIDENT.
I AM HERE TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSED PLANS TO INSTALL A MANMADE WATER FEATURE AT FRITZ PARK.
RATHER THAN SPEND OUR TAX MONEY ON SUCH AN EXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURE, I PROPOSE THAT THE CITY INSTEAD REJUVENATE THAT AREA BY DEVELOPING IT INTO A POCKET PRAIRIE, RESTORING THE LAND TO WHAT IT ONCE WAS, A HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM CONTAINING NATIVE WILDFLOWERS, GRASSES AND TREES.
THIS EXCERPT FROM A RECENT EPISODE OF CENTRAL TEXAS GARDENER AUSTIN P B S, EXPLAINS THE BENEFITS FAR BETTER THAN I COULD.
PRAIRIES, AS IT TURNS OUT, ARE REALLY GREAT AT DEALING WITH A LOT OF CHALLENGES THAT URBAN ISSUES HAVE.
RAINWATER RUNOFF, CARBON SE, SEQUESTRATION, SORRY I WAS PRACTICING THAT WORD AND I STILL CAN'T GET IT.
IN OUR FAST-PACED WORLD, THIS WOULD TRULY BE AN OASIS OF NATURAL BEAUTY THAT NOT ONLY BEAUTIFIES OUR PARK, BUT WOULD PROVIDE A RESPITE FOR ALL AGES FROM THE STRESSES AND DEMANDS OF 20TH CENTURY LIFE.
JUST IMAGINE, IF YOU WILL, RELAXING ON A PARK BENCH, WATCHING BUTTERFLIES FLUTTERING FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER.
THE SOUNDS OF BIRDS SERENADING YOU AS YOU RELAX UNDER ONE OF MANY NATIVE TREES, OR THE NATIVE GRASSES GENTLY RUSTLING IN THE BREEZE AS YOU ENJOY A WALK ON ONE OF THE PATHS LAID OUT FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT AND TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE POCKET PRAIRIE.
IN ADDITION TO THE BENEFITS TO THE PEOPLE WHO VISITED AND THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU CAN KNOW THAT THIS PRAIRIE IS HELPING TO DEFLECT THE HEAT ISLANDS THAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCE OF SO MUCH PAVEMENT AND BUILDING THAT COME WITH A GROWING COMMUNITY SUCH AS HURO.
BY DOING THIS, HURO WOULD BE SETTING A HIGH STANDARD FOR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO FOLLOW IN THEIR PARKS, WHICH COULD CONTRIBUTE TO AN OVERALL POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE LARGER COMMUNITY OF OUR COUNTY AND BEYOND.
I URGE YOU TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS VERY POSITIVE AND DOABLE PROJECT FOR THE RENOVATION OF FRITZ PARK INSTEAD OF THE PROPOSED MANMADE WATER FEATURE, WHICH WOULD ADD VERY LITTLE TO THE AESTHETICS AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PARK.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, SUPPORT AND CONSIDERATION.
AND I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS QUOTE.
TO FURTHER CONSIDER, IF HALF OF AMERICAN LAWNS WERE REPLACED WITH NATIVE PLANTS, WE WOULD CREATE THE EQUIVALENT OF A 20 MILLION ACRE NATIONAL PARK.
NINE TIMES BIGGER THAN YELLOWSTONE, OR 100 TIMES BIGGER THAN THE SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK.
ROBIN SUTTON, LONG-TERM RESIDENT OF HU.
BUDGET SEASON, PROBABLY THE MOST STRESSFUL TIME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER AND STAFF.
UM, IT ALREADY HAS BECOME ABUNDANTLY AWARE THAT N N R IS
[00:35:01]
THE BATTLEGROUND, UM, FOR THIS BUDGET AND SETTING THE TAX RATE.UM, SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY PLEDGED AS A CAMPAIGN PROMISE, PROMISE TO SIGN A NO NEW REVENUE, RIGHT? SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I'M NOT SAYING I WANT TAXES RAISED, I JUST WANT MY TOWN TO GROW AND THRIVE.
UM, I LOVE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE KEEP SAYING ROADS, ROADS, ROADS.
WHEN I STEPPED UP HERE SEPTEMBER OF 2019, MY DEAL WAS INFRASTRUCTURE, ROADS, ROADS, ROADS.
THEY HAD BEEN IGNORED FOR WAY TOO LONG.
WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO IGNORE THEM.
YOU ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE LONG, LATE NIGHTS AND UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS.
YOUR JOB ISN'T TO THINK ABOUT THE SHORT TERM PLANNING, WHICH IS PLAGUED HU FOR YEARS.
YOUR JOB IS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE CITIZENS WANT AND WHAT YOUR VISION IS FOR THE NEXT FIVE TO 10 YEARS IN HURO BECAUSE IT'LL TAKE THAT LONG FOR THOSE VISIONS TO COME TO FRUITION.
WHAT DO YOU WANT HURO TO LOOK LIKE? THINK ABOUT THAT.
WHEN YOU'RE MAKING YOUR DECISIONS ON THE BUDGET.
DO YOU WANT A TOP CLASS COMMUNITY WITH TOP CLASS, YOU KNOW, UM, TOP CLASS AMENITIES, GREAT ROADS, GREAT PARKS? OR DO YOU WANNA BE IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CITY THAT PROVIDES SOME ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND MAINTENANCE IN A COUPLE OF GOOD PARKS, UM, IN A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, UH, A CITY FACILITATED, UM, PROGRAMS? OR DO YOU WANT THE MINIMAL, JUST KEEP SKATING BY LIKE WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS? DO YOU WANNA JUST OFFER THE MINI MINIMAL FIX THE ROADS WHEN YOU CAN JUGGLE ONE ROAD TO DO A SIDEWALK HERE, JUGGLE OLD TOWN ROADS AND OLD TOWN DRAINAGE AND HISTORY, HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVER HERE SO THAT WE CAN JUST GUARANTEE THAT IN AN R RATE AND SACRIFICE OUR HISTORY.
I JUST WANNA SEE MY HOMETOWN THRIVE IF IT COSTS ME AN EXTRA 50 TO A HUNDRED DOLLARS IN MY PROPERTY TAXES IN A YEAR.
AND YES, I PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES, I AM WILLING TO PAY IT AS LONG AS I CAN SEE THE HURO THAT I ENVISION FOR THE MY FUTURE AND MY CHILDREN CAN COME HOME TO THEIR HOMETOWN AND SEE IT PROSPER.
HOW'S IT GOING, COUNSEL? UM, GLAD TO BE BACK.
JAMES ZER, YOU'RE DOING GREAT.
UM, I'VE GOT THREE THINGS BUDGET RELATED.
MAYOR, YOU BROUGHT IT UP MAYBE JUST IN PASSING, BUT THAT GOES DOWN TO MY FAMILY CEMETERY, WHICH I'M THE PRESIDENT OF.
MY MY FAMILY'S MAINTAINED IT FOREVER.
THE WALLENS AND LIKE I'VE FILLED POTHOLES ON THAT.
AND, UM, I'VE BEEN ASKING COUNTY CITY, RIGHT? WE'VE BEEN PASSING IT BACK AND FORTH.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD PUT IT BETWEEN TWO DEVELOPERS 'CAUSE YEAH, SO I'M ASKING Y'ALL TO TAKE CONTROL OF 1 63 AND DO THAT.
I MEAN, EVEN IF WE JUST KEEP IT RELATIVELY, UM, GRAVEL.
UM, I'M ALSO GO TO THE MEETINGS FOR THAT RAW DEVELOPMENT.
SO THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY TOO.
LIKE THAT SHOULD BE AN EXTENSION OF THE BRUSHY CREEK PARK AND THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY SWIM AND STUFF.
AND EVERY TIME I GO DOWN THERE, THERE'S LIKE TWO PARKS OR TWO CARS PARKED DOWN THERE.
UM, OTHER THING IS OF THE BUDGET THAT I LOOKED AT AT THE LITTLE WORKSHOP, THE ONLY THING THAT Y'ALL DECIDED TO TAKE OFF OR WAS, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING, AND IT'S A SHAME THAT, UM, THIS IS GOING ON, BUT, UH, THE ONLY THING THEY DECIDED TO RECOMMEND TO TAKE OFF WAS $200,000 FOR THE TRAIN DEPOT OR SOMETHING RELATED TO RAIL FOR $47 MILLION FOR ONE BRIDGE, OR $10 MILLION FOR A TURNING LANE, OR A BILLION, BILLION DOLLARS FOREVER.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE, WHERE'S THIS GONNA STOP FOR $200,000 TO LIKE START THE PLANNING PROCESS.
LIKE, COME ON, LET'S HAVE SOME FORWARD THINKING HERE.
UM, IT'S A SHAME I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BE ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.
UM, AND THEN THE PARK DEAL, THE PARK'S BUDGET.
THE YOUNG LADY MADE A EXCELLENT POINT.
UM, YOU WANNA SAVE MONEY, STOP CUTTING THE GRASS EVERY TIME IT'S SIX INCHES TALL.
GIVE SOMEBODY A SENSE OF THE PLACE THAT THEY LIVE IN.
AND I, AND I KID YOU NOT, THE PRAIRIE IS ONE OF THE MOST ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.
SO LIKE, IF WE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL PARK, WHICH THERE'S A NICE ONE GOING IN WITH A COTTONWOOD DEVELOPMENT, COTTON BROOK, WHATEVER.
UM, AND THEN JUST ALL ALONG BRUSHY CREEK, LIKE IT WOULD BE LIKE A WORLD ATTRACTION.
[00:40:01]
LIKE PEOPLE WOULD COME HERE TO WATCH BIRDS AND PICK FLOWERS.SO I DON'T KNOW, THE PARKS BOARD WAS LIKE MAKING BAD NOISES ABOUT PUTTING SOME NATIVE GRASSES OUT THERE THAT ARE JUST GONNA ADAPT WITH THE CLIMATE AND NOT HAVE TO WATER IT.
AND THEN DON'T CUT THE GRASS EVERY SIX TIME.
OKAY, WITH THAT, I, I DON'T THINK, UNLESS I'VE MISSED ANYONE, I DON'T HAVE ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[8.1. Quarterly update from Chamber of Commerce (Joe Gonzalez)]
EIGHT.ONE QUARTERLY UPDATE FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
COUNSEL, I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO COME IN THE HUDDLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO GIVE YOU A QUARTERLY UPDATE.
THIS IS OUR SECOND ONE IN THIS YEAR.
UM, THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER BECAUSE I CAME A LITTLE BIT MORE PREPARED THIS TIME,
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
I'D LIKE TO START OFF WITH, UM, JUST KIND GOING OVER A FEW DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CHAMBER AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
UH, I WANNA START OFF WITH OUR MEMBERSHIP GROWTH.
UH, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND EMPHASIZE, UM, HOW MANY MEMBERS WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE.
UH, WE HAVE TO DATE 304 MEMBERS, UH, WHICH 21 OF THOSE WE HAVE BROUGHT ON BOARD IN THE LAST QUARTER.
SO WE, WE HAVE SEEN A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.
UH, WE ATTRIBUTE THAT TO THE GROWTH OF THE CITY, UH, THE, UH, WORK OF THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL OF ITS STAFF AND OF COURSE THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SEEING A LOT OF VALUE IN HURO, AND WE'RE STARTING TO REAP THOSE REWARDS.
THE SECOND THING I'D LIKE TO GO OVER TODAY AND KINDA GIVE YOU AN UPDATE IS EVENTS, AS YOU KNOW, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, LOVE TO THROW EVENTS.
UM, WE ARE BASICALLY INCLUDED IN THAT.
AND WE DO HAVE SEVERAL, UH, I'M JUST GONNA BRIEFLY GO OVER A FEW.
SOME OF THE NETWORKING EVENTS THAT WE'VE, UM, DONE QUITE A BIT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IS IN NETWORKING EVENTS.
UH, WE HAVE HOSTED ROUGHLY ABOUT 12 NETWORKING EVENTS, WHICH COMPRISE OF LUNCHEONS, POWER BREAKFAST, AND AFTER HOURS NETWORKING.
UH, THESE EVENTS ARE GEARED TOWARD THE MEMBERSHIPS, THEIR PARTICIPATION AND GIVING 'EM A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO, TO LEARN OF THE OTHER BUSINESSES IN THE AREA, THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA, AND BASICALLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CITY OF HUDA AND THE SURROUNDING CITIES.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE ALSO SEEN A BIG INCREASE IN AS OF LATELY IS RIBBON CUTTINGS.
UH, HERE, AGAIN, THAT'S ATTRIBUTED TO THE GROWTH OF HUDU.
UM, AND THE, UH, THE WORK THE CITY OF HUDU IS ACTUALLY DOING.
UH, IN THE LAST QUARTER SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK, UH, WE'VE HAD SEVEN RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONIES, UH, WHICH SYMBOLIZE IN OUR EYES A SUCCESSFUL OPENING AND EXPANSION OF MEMBER BUSINESSES.
UM, THAT'S QUITE A BIT IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
SO HERE WE'RE STARTING TO SEE MORE ACTIVITY, STARTING TO SEE MORE BUSINESS INTERESTS AND MORE BUSINESSES COMING HERE.
SO HERE AGAIN, WE, WE DE DEFINITELY THINK THE, UH, THE CITY OF HU UM, THIS QUARTER WE ONLY HAD ONE ANNUAL EVENT, AND THAT WAS OUR DRIVING BUSINESS GOLF TOURNAMENT.
I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR PARTICIPATING THERE.
UH, WE, UH, FEEL THAT WE'VE HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN THAT TOURNAMENT.
WE HAD ROUGHLY ABOUT 70 GUESTS, UH, WITH ROUGHLY ABOUT 16 SPONSORSHIPS.
THAT IS VERY GOOD CONSIDERING WE HAD IT IN JULY, A VERY HOT TIME DURING JULY.
AND, UM, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE TO GET A NICE CROWD IN FOR THAT, FOR THAT EVENT.
THE NEXT UPDATE WOULD BE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS.
UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT US AT THE CHAMBER HAD BEEN WORKING ON, UH, QUITE A BIT THIS LAST YEAR.
WE MADE IT A, UH, PRIORITY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TO REALLY GO AFTER WHAT WE COULD DO TO ENHANCE THE VALUE AND THE BENEFITS OF THE MEMBERSHIP.
AND WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE AS A CHAMBER.
YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF HU IS A SMALL CITY.
UH, WE HAVE A SMALL CHAMBER, WE HAVE RESOURCES, BUT THEY'RE LIMITED.
BUT WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN BEING ABLE TO ACQUIRE STAFF THAT SPECIALIZE IN THIS AREA.
AND WITH THAT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GIVE OUR MEMBERS ENHANCED VISIBILITY, UH, BEING ABLE TO PROMOTE THEM EVEN MORE, UH, WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE OFFER.
UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO OFFER WILL BE THE, OUR WEBSITE, WHICH WE ENHANCED OVER TIME.
UM, IT'S BEEN ABOUT A YEAR, A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE WE ENHANCED IT AND WE ENHANCED IT TREMENDOUSLY.
IT'S A, IT'S A WEBSITE NOW THAT HAS PLENTY OF CONTENT, PLENTY OF INFORMATION.
UH, IT HAS, UM, A THING THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN GO TO TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT HUDU, WHAT'S IN HUDU AND WHAT'S NEEDED IN HATO.
UH, WE'RE ALSO WORKING TO, UH, WORKING WITH YOU GUYS ACTUALLY, UH, AND ON ENHANCING THAT AND GETTING INFORMATION FROM THE CITY TO PARTNER UP AND PUT THAT IN THEIR WEBSITE SO THEY CAN COME TO OUR WEBSITE, THEY CAN LOOK AT WHAT THE CITY, UH, HAS TO OFFER, BUT ALSO
[00:45:01]
MORE IMPORTANTLY, A CERTAIN SECTION ON IF A NEW BUSINESS IS COMING TO HUDU, WHAT IS NEEDED FROM THE CITY OF HU TO START YOUR BUSINESS.SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON AND WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT UNTIL WE GET IT DONE.
UM, ANOTHER ADDED VALUE THAT WE DO HAVE, AND I FEEL THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, WE'RE TRYING TO STRESS TO OUR MEMBERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IN OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WE HAVE A SERVICE, WHICH IS A FREE VIDEO PROMOTIONAL SERVICE.
UH, HERE AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND STAFF TO DO THIS, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF CHAMBERS, SOME DO, SOME DON'T DO.
BUT THIS IS A, AN AREA OF WHERE THE MEMBER COULD COME TO US AND WE CAN ACTUALLY CREATE A VIDEO FOR THEM AS A Q AND A, AS A PRESENTATION, AS THE MEMBER'S CHOICE, CREATE IT, EDIT IT, AND THEN POST IT TO HELP THEM TO BASICALLY ASSIST THEM IN PROMOTING THEIR BUSINESS, PROMOTING WHO THEY ARE AND TELLING THEIR STORY.
I ACTUALLY DID ONE OF MY OWN, I DID A Q AND A, AND BASICALLY WHAT I FOCUSED ON WAS WHO VERA BANK IS.
I WORK FOR VERA BANK, WHAT WE DO, HOW WE DO IT, AND ALL THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE IN.
I BASICALLY TOLD THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END AND WHAT WE OFFER.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE WITH, AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE ON THESE VIDEOS, SINCE WE'VE BEEN PUTTING THEM TOGETHER, WE'VE HAD OVER 8,000 VIEWS COMBINED ON OUR VIDEOS, WHICH IS, IN MY OPINION, UH, VERY ROBUST AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
NEXT ITEM WOULD BE UPCOMING PLANS AND GOALS.
UH, WE TOOK A PRETTY AMBITIOUS APPROACH THIS YEAR, VERY PROACTIVE APPROACH, AND WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CONTINUE THAT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO FINISH OUT THE YEAR.
WE'LL BE GOING INTO 2024 WITH A NEW MINDSET, A VERY GROWTH ORIENTED MINDSET, A STRATEGY IN PLACE.
BUT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO ENHANCE OUR WEBSITE.
WE DEFINITELY WANNA MAKE THAT MUCH BETTER FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE CITY.
UM, CONTINUE WITH OUR BIG EVENTS.
UH, OUR, WHICH IS ONE IS COMING UP THE 30TH ANNUAL HUDDLE.
UH, WE WILL HOPEFULLY SEE ALL OF YOU THERE.
UM, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THERE'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, WE ARE ALSO DOING THIS YEAR FOR THE SECOND TIME, AND THAT'S OUR LEAD HUDDLE PROGRAM.
I AM CHAIRING THAT, UH, PROGRAM, UH, FOR 2024.
WE DIDN'T HAVE IT IN 2023, UH, JUST BECAUSE WE HAD AN UNFORTUNATE EVENT, UH, IN, IN THE CHAMBER.
UH, WE LO WE LOST A PERSON AND THEY HAD TO LEAVE.
AND, UM, I ACTUALLY HAD TO COME IN AND TAKE OVER.
MANY CHAMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL HAVE A LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND THIS IS OUR VERSION OF THAT PROGRAM.
UH, IT IS A CHAMBER BACKED INITIATIVE, WHICH AIMS BASICALLY TO FOSTER COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP BY IMMERSING THE PARTICIPANTS IN DIVERSE SECTORS.
UM, WE BASICALLY WANT TO INSTILL A VERY DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HUDA AND THE HISTORY, THE POTENTIAL.
WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE, THE, THE CITY, WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY DO IT.
UH, SOME OF THE MEMBERS THAT WE WILL HAVE PARTICIPATING WILL BE, OF COURSE, THE CITY OF HUDA WILL HAVE MARY SNYDER, UH, BE OUR FIRST PARTICIPANT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE ENTREPRENEURS.
WE HAVE THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, CITY STAFF WILL ALSO BE INVOLVED.
AND THIS IS BASICALLY TO ENHANCE THE, THE CITY OF HUDU.
UM, GETTING PEOPLE TO REALLY GET INTO WHAT HU IS ALL ABOUT.
AND FOR ME, FOR EXAMPLE, I DO BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FOR RA BANK.
SO EVERY DAY I TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND NOT ONLY THE CITY OF HU BUT MANY OF THE CITY THAT SURROUND THE CENTRAL TEXAS.
AND I WANNA BE ABLE TO HAVE OTHERS KNOW WHAT I KNOW, BECAUSE I JUST FEEL THAT INFORMATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.
SO WITH THIS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, WE WANT TO TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL AND KIND OF GET THEM MORE INVOLVED IN THE CITY COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY, UM, OUR CHAMBER.
UM, IN CONCLUSION, THAT'S BASICALLY AN UPDATE OF WHAT WE DO HAVE.
I KNOW WE'RE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU GUYS ON, ON, ON A FEW DIFFERENT ITEMS. UH, WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO, TO WORK HARD FOR THE MEMBERS, UH, FOR THE CITY AND THE, UH, AND ALSO THE COMMUNITY.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT.
UM, REACH OUT TO OUR STAFF, REACH OUT TO ME.
I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO, UH, TO ACCOMMODATE YOU.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANKS JOE.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? UM, JUST A COMMENT, MR. GONZALEZ.
YOUR GOLF TOURNAMENT WAS AWESOME.
AND I HEARD YOU THANK THE MAYOR, BUT I JUST WANT IT KNOWN THAT MY TEAM BEAT THE MAYOR'S TEAM.
SO JUST NEXT YEAR I WOULD LIKE THE RESULTS TO BE READ RED
[00:50:01]
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION.I DO WANNA ASK YOU A QUICK QUESTION JUST SINCE PEOPLE ARE WATCHING.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT JOINING OR NOT JOINING, UM, OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, AND I DON'T WANNA HOLD YOU TO THE PRICE, BUT WHAT WOULD THE ENTRY LEVEL, UM, MEMBERSHIP BE FOR LIKE A NEW PERSON COMING TO HU THAT SAYS, HEY, I WANNA JOIN.
APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH WOULD THEY LOOK AT HAVING A, THERE'S VARIOUS MEMBERSHIPS.
UM, THEY CAN GO ANYWHERE FROM THE THREE HUNDREDS, FIVE HUNDREDS TO THE THOUSANDS.
IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY WANT IN TERMS OF VISIBILITY AND OF COURSE MEMBERSHIP.
THE BENEFITS WILL VARY THROUGH THERE.
UH, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT EACH LEVEL DOES RECEIVE, SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THAT, ON THAT COMPANY AND WHAT THEY WANT.
WHAT DO THEY WANNA GET OUT OF THE ACTUAL MEMBERSHIP ITSELF? THAT'S A ROUGH ESTIMATE.
YOU GUYS, AND YOU DO OFFER LIKE NON, UH, NON-PROFIT MEMBERSHIPS, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT IS VERY AFFORDABLE FOR, FOR DOS NONPROFITS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST IS OF THAT, BUT I KNOW IT'S VERY AFFORDABLE.
I HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE CHAMBER FOR A VERY, VERY, VERY LONG TIME JUST AS A FRIEND AND IT HAS, UM, MOVED MOUNTAINS.
UM, SOCIAL MEDIA IS GETTING A LOT OF OF HYPE.
[8.2. Monthly Capital Improvement Projects Update Presentation (Matt Rector) ]
THAT WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT, TWO MONTHLY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS UPDATE PRESENTATION WHILE MATT'S WALKING, UH, WALKING UP, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE MAYOR PROAM AND I, UM, COMMUNICATED TO THE CITY MANAGER, Y'ALL MAY SEE SOMEWHAT OF A CHANGE, UM, IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE, UM, QUARTERLY.WE'LL HAVE WATER AND WASTEWATER UPDATES ON PROJECTS MONTHLY.
WE'LL HAVE CHANGES IN OUR ROAD PROJECTS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A QUARTERLY UPDATE ON JUST WHERE EVERYTHING'S AT.
SO YOU'RE ALWAYS ABLE TO ASK, UH, WE'RE STILL GOING TO PUBLISH THE ENTIRE, UH, WHAT WE USED TO HAVE A SLIDESHOW ON THE WEB SO THAT PEOPLE CAN PERUSE AND SEE THEIR THINGS, BUT IN AN EFFORT, UM, SO THAT MATT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HERE ALL NIGHT, UM, BUT STILL GET, GIVE US INFORMATION.
SO WITH THAT, GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNSEL, UH, FOR THE RECORD, MATT RECTOR, YOUR CITY ENGINEER.
UM, I WAS GONNA EXPLAIN TO YOU THE CHANGES, BUT MAYOR'S ALREADY DONE THAT, SO OH, SORRY,
SO, UM, I'M JUST GONNA HIT THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ROAD PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE UPDATES TO GIVE YOU.
UM, AND THEN THAT'LL BE ALL THE SLIDES THAT ARE ACTUALLY IN HERE TONIGHT.
BUT IN, AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT IN THE PACKET, YOU HAVE EVERY PROJECT, JUST LIKE ALWAYS.
UH, SO THE FIRST ONE IS THE ONE THAT YOU KNOW IS, IS FRONT AND CENTER ON EVERYBODY'S MIND, 1660 AT 79.
UH, SO WE DID HAVE A SLIGHT HICCUP ON THAT ONE WHERE WE HAD SOME ISSUES GETTING THE UTILITIES OUT OF OUR WAY.
THE, THE AERIAL UTILITIES THAT HAS BEEN RESOLVED.
WE'VE BEEN PUSHING, PUSHING, PUSHING.
POLLS ARE GONE, YOUR LINES ARE GONE.
IT DID PUSH US BACK A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
I'VE ALREADY COORDINATED ALL THAT WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THEY'RE AWARE THAT WE'RE A COUPLE WEEKS BEHIND SCHEDULE.
UM, AND SO WE ARE STILL ANTICIPATING CONSTRUCTION TO BE COMPLETE THIS MONTH.
UH, SO IT'S JUST ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF IS WHAT, WHAT THE DELAY WAS ON THAT ONE.
UH, THE NEXT ONE IS 1660 AT LEER LOOP.
THIS ONE IS ON THE STREET FOR BIDDING.
UH, IT'S BEEN POSTED IN THE, UH, THE PAPER OF RECORD.
UH, IT'LL BE POSTED AGAIN THIS WEEKEND IN PAPER OF RECORD.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING BID OPENINGS ON THE 23RD OF THIS MONTH.
UH, THE, WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO THEN TURN AROUND AND BRING THAT TO THE COUNCIL FOR AWARD ON THE FIRST MEETING IN SEPTEMBER.
AND THEN IT GOES TO TXDOT FOR CONCURRENCE.
AND THEN ONCE WE GET T OUT CONCURRENCE, THEN WE CAN ACTUALLY START THE, UM, CONSTRUCTION PROCESS.
WE'VE ALREADY STARTED TALKING TO THE UTILITY COMPANIES SO THEY KNOW THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING ON THEIR PERMITS WITH TXDOT SO THAT THEY CAN START GETTING ALL THEIR STUFF OUT OF OUR WAY.
SO WE ARE PUSHING THAT PROJECT AS IF ALL THOSE THINGS UP THERE IN GREEN ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO WE ARE FULLY ANTICIPATING THAT ALL WE'RE GONNA HIT ALL THOSE DATES AND THAT EVERYBODY'S GONNA GET OUT OF OUR WAY.
DID THEY CLAP WHEN YOU SAID THAT IT WAS OFF? YES, WE DID.
UH, SO THE NEXT ONE, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF UPDATE ON HERE.
I JUST PUT IT UP HERE BECAUSE THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE'RE STILL HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH TXDOT ABOUT THE ROUNDABOUT ISSUE RIGHT THERE ON 1660.
AND SO, UM, WE'RE KIND OF IN A HOLDING PATTERN UNTIL THAT GETS RESOLVED.
[00:55:01]
THE CITY MANAGER AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT SOME OTHER IDEAS THAT WE'RE GONNA GO TO TEXTILE WITH TO TRY TO GET THIS THING OFF EYE CENTER TO GET THIS THING MOVING AGAIN.UM, AND SO JUST WANTED TO KEEP THAT ONE IN THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR MIND THAT WE ARE STILL HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, BUT WE'RE KIND OF IN A, IN A LULL ON THIS ONE FOR RIGHT NOW.
SO, UH, WE'VE GOT THE FINAL GEOTECH REPORT.
I HAD GIVEN YOU KIND OF AN UPDATE ON THAT BACK TWO MEETINGS AGO, I THINK IT WAS.
UM, WE GOT THE FINAL GEOTECH REPORT.
I HAD THEM UPDATE WITH WHAT THEIR RE YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DID, DID A, LIKE A QUICK LITTLE LAY DOWN.
AND SO THEY THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'LL LAST US A FEW YEARS IF WE JUST DID A LAY DOWN.
AND SO I'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SO THAT WE CAN PUT THIS OUT TO, UH, GET A BID PACKAGE SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THE SHORT TERM FIX, IS WHAT I'M GONNA CALL IT.
UM, TO JUST MAKE IT A SMOOTHER RIDE TEMPORARILY UNTIL WE CAN START DOING THE DESIGN AND ALL THAT FOR THE FULL RECONSTRUCTION.
SO THIS ONE IS, IS GONNA BE GOING FORWARD, YOU SHOULD BE SEEING SOMETHING, UH, IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, UM, A BID PACKAGE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO, TO GET THIS ONE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
UM, AND THEN EMORY FARMS. UH, SO THIS ONE, THIS ONE HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING ONE, UM, BECAUSE IT KIND OF MORPHED AND CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES.
AND SO, UH, THE NEW DIRECTIVE FROM COUNCIL WAS TO, TO PULL THE REINS BACK ON THIS ONE A LITTLE BIT AND CHANGE FROM THIS APPROVED DESIGN, OUR APPRO APPROVED CONCEPT TO A, A MINIMALISTIC DESIGN TO JUST KIND OF DO A FIRST PASS AT IT AND SEE IF THAT FIXES THE PROBLEM.
SO, UH, WE MET WITH THE CONSULTANT, UH, THEY'RE AWARE OF THAT CHANGE, UM, BUT WE ARE STILL PUSHING FORWARD WITH DOING THE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS FIRST JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVERLOOKING ANYTHING.
SO WE'RE STILL GONNA DO THE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS.
AND THEN ONCE THAT TRAFFIC ANALYSIS IS DONE, THEN WE'RE GONNA PUSH FORWARD WITH WHAT COUNCIL'S NEW, UH, DIRECTION IS ON THIS ONE.
SO, I KNOW IT'S NOT, MY, ONE THING IS, I KNOW IT'S NOT A DIRECT, UH, PROJECT THAT WE GO, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE ON ROAD, IF WE HAVE COUNTY ROAD PROJECTS THAT ARE INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, THAT MAYBE WE PUT PEOPLE UP THERE SO CITIZENS CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW, 1660 SOUTH FROM THE RAILROAD TRACK IS GETTING A REPAYMENT.
IF ANYONE'S NOTICED, UH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT SMOOTHER, UM, AND THEY'RE NOT DONE WITH IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'D HAD THAT UPDATE FOR THE LAST MONTH OR SO SO PEOPLE WOULD KNOW WHAT WAS COMING AND STUFF INSTEAD OF JUST THE NOTICE THE WEEK OF THAT IT STARTED, UM, AT LEAST FROM THE CITY SIDE FOR COMMUNICATION, I THINK WOULD BE A, A GOOD, OKAY.
I, I CAN COORDINATE WITH TDOT, UM, 'CAUSE THAT WAS THEIR PROJECT AND, AND WITH THE COUNTY SO THAT I CAN FIND A WAY TO INCORPORATE THEIR ROAD PROJECTS INTO THIS UPDATE.
I THINK, I THINK IT'D BE GOOD.
I MEAN, BECAUSE IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT'S AFFECTING THE CITIZENS IN HU SO, OKAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YEAH, I WOULD SAY WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED THAT MONTHLY.
MAYBE QUARTERLY IS PROBABLY OKAY ON THAT, RIGHT? YEAH, I THINK SO.
E EVEN OTHER THINGS LIKE, I MEAN, I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO HAVE A FULL-TIME JOB GONNA THE COUNTY, BUT YOU KNOW, IF THEY'VE GOT AN UPDATE ON THE SOUTHEAST LOOP, YOU KNOW, STEAL THEIR WORK AND GIVE IT TO US.
YOU KNOW, DON'T, DON'T GO AND DO YOUR OWN WORK
JUST SIT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRAFFIC OUT THAT WAY AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SO YEAH.
[8.3. Budget Presentation (City Manager James Earp) ]
TO ITEM 8.3, THE BUDGET PRESENTATION, MAYOR COUNCIL, CITIZENS OF HUDDLE.IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE SIT AT A PODIUM AND PRESENTED
IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, OBVIOUSLY FOR ALL OF US.
UM, I, WE'VE PREPARED A NUMBER OF SLIDES TO GO THROUGH TONIGHT THAT, THAT GIVE THE BRIEF OVERVIEW.
BUT AS HAS BEEN ALLUDED TO SEVERAL TIMES, THE, THE DIGITAL BUDGET IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW.
WE DID MAKE A NUMBER, A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF MINUTE CHANGES SINCE WE ORIGINALLY POSTED IT ON MONDAY.
SO WE WILL BE PRESENTING, WE'LL BE PUTTING UP A TABLE THAT, THAT WILL SHOW YOU THE VARIOUS DIFFERENT CHANGES.
SO AS WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE SOFTWARE AND IDENTIFYING THINGS THAT DIDN'T GET MOVED OVER LIKE WE THOUGHT, WE'VE BEEN FIXING THAT STUFF AS WE GO.
BUT BEFORE I REALLY GET INTO THIS FIRST MAYOR COUNCIL, I HAVE TO THANK YOU ALL.
THE SOFTWARE THAT YOU ALLOWED US TO GET HAS WHAT IS, IS REALLY WHAT HAS MADE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE TO THE DEGREE AND TO THE LEVEL THAT I HOPE EVERYONE IS REALLY EMBRACING AND AND ENJOYING.
UM, THE COMMENT ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY,
[01:00:01]
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DO A BUDGET OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND THIS COMPLEXITY ON EXCEL.IT CAN BE DONE, CITIES DO DO IT, BUT IT'S COMPLICATED AND HARD.
UH, AND THERE'S A USUALLY A LOT OF MISTAKES THEY END UP GETTING BAKED INTO, UH, A FORMULA OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING THIS BECAUSE WE COULDN'T HAVE PULLED THIS OFF THE WAY THAT WE DID.
UH, WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT, I HAVE TO THANK THE STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN POURING IN COUNTLESS HOURS, UH, OVER THE MONTH OF JULY.
UH, REGARDLESS OF HOW EARLY YOU START THE PROCESS, JULY IS ALWAYS THE MONTH WHERE EVERYBODY'S BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS AND IN THE MIDDLE AT THE SAME TIME.
THAT'S JUST THE NATURE OF THE BEAST WHEN IT COMES TO TO BUDGET.
BUT THIS YEAR, NOT ONLY WERE WE DOING BUDGET, WE WERE ALSO IMPLEMENTING NEW SOFTWARE AT THE SAME TIME.
AND ANY OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN A SOFTWARE INTEGRATION KNOW HOW COMPLICATED THAT IS.
SO THIS, WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE TONIGHT IS THE CULMINATION OF A LOT OF WORK TO GET TO THIS POINT.
IT'S A CULMINATION OF SIX, SIX PEOPLE DEDICATED PRETTY MUCH ENTIRE, AN ENTIRE MONTH OF LABOR PLUS WORKING NIGHTS, PLUS WORKING WEEKENDS IN ORDER TO GET THIS TOGETHER THE WAY THAT IT IS.
UH, I WANT TO THANK, UH, ANNE LAME, UH, FINANCE DIRECTOR.
SHE IS HOME, UH, AMBULATORY AND IS, UH, RECOVERING FROM AN ILLNESS, UH, WHICH IS ANOTHER THING THAT HAPPENS TO MOST OF US AT THE END OF JULY BECAUSE OF ALL THE STRESS AND ALL THE EXTRA WORK, PEOPLE FALL ILL.
UM, AND SURE ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HALF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENTS OUT RIGHT NOW, UM, BUT ANN, UH, HER, HER HAND HERE AND, AND THE WORK THAT SHE'S BEEN DOING TO HELP THE STAFF FEEL SUPPORTED AND, UH, BRING HER EXPERTISE AND, AND, AND, AND WHAT HAVE YOU, HAS BEEN A MASSIVE HELP.
UH, GABE IS THE, IS THE FINANCIAL.
NO
UM, AND I KNOW ANN'S LAUGHING RIGHT NOW.
GABE, REALLY, LAST YEAR, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, GABE WAS KIND OF LIKE THE RIGHT HAND MAN.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE SPENT A BUNCH OF HIS TIME IN THE EXCEL BOOKS, THE VERY THINGS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT, MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DO BUDGET.
UM, AND THIS YEAR HE'S BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE, UH, SOFTWARE ROLLOUT AND GETTING IT PROGRAMMED CORRECTLY, UM, AND, AND, AND HAVING IT MATCH WITH OUR FINANCIALS.
SO THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM THAT WE PUT ALL THE, ALL THE ACCOUNTING ENTRIES INTO.
UH, AND GABE'S RIGHT HAND MAN THIS YEAR WAS ETHAN, A K A E MONEY AS WE CALL HIM NOW, ETHAN CAME TO US, UH, RELATIVELY NEW TO THE PROFESSION OVERALL.
HE'S HERE TO LEARN BECAUSE HE IS INTERESTED AND EXCITED ABOUT CITY ADMINISTRATION OVERALL.
UM, AND, AND WITH VERY LITTLE BUDGET EXPERIENCE, I WOULD SAY.
I MEAN, HE BASICALLY DID PROBABLY SOME DATA ENTRY, BUT NOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROCESS, UM, HE IS GOING TO BE A SUPERSTAR, AND I'M SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE SEEN HIM GROW OVER THIS LAST MONTH AND A HALF.
UM, THEN I, I GUESS IN, IN ORDER AFTER, UH, ETHAN, AFTER GABE AND ETHAN, UH, NOT HERE TONIGHT, UH, IT WAS CHRISTINA.
SO CHRISTINA HELPED CERTAINLY A BUNCH, UH, WITH HER, WITH HER BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
BUT REALLY KIND OF THE PERSON WHO WAS, UH, COORDINATING THIS WHOLE THING WAS, UH, DAVID AMSLER, OUR ASSISTANT, THE CITY MANAGER.
I HONESTLY THINK THAT I WORKED FOR HIM THIS MONTH,
SO I GOT, I HAD A LOT OF HOURS THIS MONTH THANKS TO DAVID AMSLER.
BUT, UH, AND THEN LASTLY, A LOT OF THE, UH, PREP WORK THAT WENT INTO, UH, THE SLIDESHOWS, THE, THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE GOING OUT TO COUNCIL, UH, THOSE, THOSE THINGS WERE SUPPORTED BY KATE, KATE MORIARTY.
SO, OKAY, THAT'S A LOT OF THANKS, BUT I, BUT I HAVE TO DO THAT.
I HOPE Y'ALL APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THESE FOLKS SPENT SO SPENT SO MUCH TIME.
SO LET'S GET INTO THE, THE GOOD STUFFS.
AND, AND JAMES, IF I COULD, YES, SO JAMES AND I ALSO TALKED, HE'LL PRESENT THE BUDGET.
WE CAN HOLD MOST OF OUR COMMENTS TILL THE END.
BUT THEN I THINK IF WE USE THE, UM, ONLINE FORUM FOR THINGS THAT WE LIKE TO SEE ENHANCED THINGS, WE LIKE TO SEE, UH, I DUNNO WHAT THE OPPOSITE OF ENHANCE IS TAKEN AWAY, BUT KIND OF USE THAT AS A METHOD TO WHERE, UH, JAMES AND STAFF CAN LOOK AND SEE KINDA SOME IDEAS WE'RE THROWING OUT THERE.
AND THEN THAT WAY WHEN WE GO BACK TO A MEETING COMING UP, MAYBE THE MEETING WON'T BE SO LONG BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY, WE BLEW UP THE INTERNET 24 HOURS A DAY AND, UM, NOT NECESSARILY ACCOUNTS MEETING.
SO THE ONLINE MESSAGE BOARD IS, UH, IS A VALUABLE TOOL IN THIS REGARD, AND I THINK IT'S VERY WISE, UH, TO LOOK AT UTILIZING THAT SO Y'ALL CAN
[01:05:01]
COMMUNICATE AND BE A TOMA COMPLIANT.UH, YOU CAN COMMUNICATE ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE AND DISLIKE WHAT YOU WANNA ADVOCATE FOR, OR WHAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO CHANGE OR, OR WHAT NEEDS TO STAY THE SAME.
Y'ALL CAN DO ALL THAT BEHIND THE SCENES.
UM, AS YOU'LL SEE HERE IN THE CALENDAR, WHEN WE GET TO IT, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE FIRST MEETING THAT THE COUNCIL WILL ACTUALLY BE DISCUSSING THE BUDGET AMONGST YOURSELVES AND, AND ELECTING TO TAKE VOTES TO MODIFY OR ADJUST.
THE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL BE AUGUST 17TH, SO THAT'S THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC.
YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE HERE FOR AUGUST 17TH.
THERE'S, AND THEN I'LL, I'LL GET THE CALENDAR, BUT YES, I'LL, I'LL MAKE SURE WE HIT THAT.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, CLEAR GOV, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY GOTTEN TO SEE THIS, UM, YOU, YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE, YOU LOOK FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES BUDGET, AND THEN THERE'S A LINK THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE ONLINE, UH, BUDGET BOOK.
THE NEAT THING ABOUT THIS SOFTWARE IS, AS THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO MAKE CHANGES, UH, WE CAN MAKE THE CHANGE ON THE BACKSIDE, SAVE IT AS A NEW VERSION, AND IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY ROLL OUT AND PUSH TO THE WEBSITE.
SO ALL THE CITIZENS WILL SEE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE VERSION OF WHAT'S BEING DISCUSSED.
SO THAT'S REALLY NEAT, UH, RESOURCE.
I'LL ALSO KNOW THAT IN THE PAST THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT WHICH VERSION ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL HARD COPIES AND PASSED AROUND AND EMAILED AND ALL THIS.
SO THIS HELPS WITH THAT TOO, BECAUSE WHATEVER'S ON THE WEB IS THE MOST RECENT VERSION, BUT EVERY SO OFTEN I'M HAVING STAFF PRINT A P D F OF THE ENTIRETY OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE, PACKAGING THAT UP AND, AND PUTTING IT INTO THE COUNCIL'S TEAMS DRIVE.
AND THEN AS WE ADVANCE, WE WILL, WE WILL, WE'LL CONTINUE TO PUT VERSION THREE, VERSION NINE, VERSION 15, WHATEVER IT IS, SO THAT WAY Y'ALL ALWAYS KNOW YOU HAVE A HARD COPY TO GO BACK TO, SHOULD YOU NEED TO, UH, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE WEB AND GET THE MOST RECENT.
SO THE BUDGET, UH, WAS, WAS, UH, DEFINITELY INFORMED BY A LOT OF PROCESSES THAT I TALKED ABOUT WHENEVER WE HAD OUR SATURDAY MEETING.
AND AS I STARTED TO LOOK AT THE FEEDBACK THAT I HAD RECEIVED FROM THE COUNCIL, FROM THE PUBLIC, FROM MY STAFF, UH, FROM WHAT I SAW, UH, IN, IN THE NUMBERS, REALLY, I SAW THE BUDGET START TO TAKE FORM AROUND THESE EIGHT AREAS.
NOW WE HAVE PILLARS THAT ARE OUR GUIDEPOSTS, IF YOU WILL, AND THOSE ARE COLLABORATE FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND EFFICIENCY, MAINTAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY, GROW RESPONSIBLY AND SUSTAINABLY, AND CREATE HIGHEST QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND THEN THE FIFTH, IT'S NOT TECHNICALLY A PILLAR, BUT REALLY THERE'S SUCH A HIGH EMPHASIS ON IT.
IT REALLY SHOULD BE A, A, A PILLAR.
SO WE CALL IT ONE, AND THAT'S OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT PRIORITIZATION IN THE CITY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO GET DONE AS EVERYONE WELL KNOWS.
SO THESE ARE THE EIGHT AREAS THAT EVERYTHING SORT OF, KIND OF, KIND OF FLOW FLOWED TO.
UM, AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE THOSE THEMES KIND OF SHOW UP THROUGHOUT AS WE GO.
WE'RE AT THE AUGUST 3RD PART OF THE MILESTONE.
THIS IS JUST SHOWING THAT THE COUNCIL REALLY STARTED THIS PROCESS IN EARNEST BACK IN MARCH, WHENEVER YOU SET ASIDE YOUR SATURDAY.
AND WE ALL CRAMMED INTO THAT SMALL ROOM, UM, AND, UH, HAD A TALK ABOUT WHAT WAS A PRIORITY FOR THE COUNCIL.
AND THAT WAS THE FIRST, UH, THING THAT STARTED TO INFORM THIS PROCESS.
THEN WE HAD THE PUBLIC BUDGET WORKSHOPS, AND I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT IN THAT PUBLIC BUDGET WORKSHOP.
WE TOOK IDEAS, WE PRIORITIZED THEM, WE WENT THROUGH SOME EXERCISES, AND WE KIND OF HELPED THE, THE, THE PUBLIC KIND OF PRIORITIZE WHAT THEY FELT WAS MOST IMPORTANT BY WHAT THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY FOR.
THAT SEEMS TO BE A GOOD WAY OF VOTING THAT WAY.
THEN, UH, WE'VE HAD OUR, OUR PRELIMINARY BUDGET WORKSHOPS AND MY SUBMISSION, AND THEN TONIGHT, OKAY, SO THE BIG NUMBER, AND THIS IS A VERY, VERY BIG NUMBER, AND THAT'S BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF CAPITAL.
SO THIS ISN'T OUR OPERATIONAL BUDGET PER SE, BUT THIS IS THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR ALL, UH, COMBINED FUNDS OVER $350 MILLION FOR THE COMING YEAR.
THAT IS, THAT IS AN ASTOUNDINGLY LARGE NUMBER THAT SAYS THAT THIS CITY IS SERIOUS ABOUT INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
BY THE WAY, THE PIE CHART SHOWS YOU HOW IT BREAKS UP.
YOU SEE THE, THE GREEN PART OF PAC-MAN, THAT'S, UH, THE UTILITY SYSTEM, THE C I P THAT'S IN THE UTILITY SYSTEM, OKAY? MANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET WERE COUNSEL INITIATED, UM, EITHER DIRECTLY ASKED FOR, UH, THROUGH THE STRATEGIC PLAN OR A PILLAR OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN, OR A PART OF THE, UH, OUTSIDE AGENCY FUNDING INITIATIVES.
SO WHAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY THE CITY MANAGER, THAT'S ME.
UM, STREET MAINTENANCE, THIS IS, UH, A SIGNIFICANT ENHANCEMENT OVER THE PAST, AND THERE'LL BE NUMBERS LATER, SO I'M NOT GONNA DIVE INTO ALL THESE NECESSARILY RIGHT NOW.
BUT STREET MAINTENANCE, PUBLIC SAFETY PAY, UH, THE FRITZ PARK CONSTRUCTION, BRUSHY CREEK AMPHITHEATER IMPROVEMENTS, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT,
[01:10:01]
WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES, UM, THE 2018 TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN UPDATE, UH, SIDEWALK AND TRAIL CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS MEMORIAL, UH, THE FACILITY PLANS FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND POLICE, THOSE WERE ALL PRIORITIZED OR INITIATED BY COUNCIL.THEN WE HAVE THE PARTNERSHIP, UH, UH, ACTIVITIES WITH CAP COG, AND OF COURSE WE'VE CONTINUING THE CITY COUNCIL MESSAGING BOARD THAT THE MAYOR WAS REFERRING TO, AND THEN A PART OF THE OUTSIDE AGENCY.
WE HAVE, UH, FUNDED THESE ITEMS AS IT HAS, HAS COME RECOMMENDED FROM THE, FROM THE, UM, THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT LOOKS AT THESE.
SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE AMERICAN LEGION POST 3 0 2 FEEDING THE 5,000.
I'M NOT GONNA READ 'EM ALL TO YOU.
AND THESE ARE ALL BUILT INTO TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO OUR STRATEGIC PILLAR FOCUS AREAS, SO THE, THESE ARE WHERE WE SAY SOME OF THESE ITEMS FALL IN OUR VIEW.
SO COLLABORATION FOR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND EFFICIENCY.
THAT WOULD BE BUILDING FRITZ'S PARK, DESIGNING THE PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY, DOING THE POLICE FACILITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE THINGS ARE BUDGETED AND CAN BE FOUND IN LINE ITEMS INSIDE THE BUDGET.
UM, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THEM BECAUSE THE BUDGET HAS THE LEVEL OF DETAIL TO WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO FIND THESE THINGS.
UM, IMPROVED EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, RADIO COVERAGE, NETWORK REBUILD AND SERVER REPLACEMENT IN THE HU POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT INSTALLING DEDICATED FIBER TO ALL OF OUR FACILITIES SO WE CAN HAVE BETTER SERVICE.
UM, SECOND CUSTOMER SERVICE WINDOW FOR MUNICIPAL COURT.
UH, SO THAT'LL HELP WITH OVER THERE.
UH, LOOKING AT FINISHING OUT THE GEN BUILDING, ADDITIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND UTILITY BILLING, UH, FUNDING FOR THE COUNTY DISPATCH SERVICES.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE COUNTY, UH, SENT OUT A REQUEST TO ITS PARTNERS THAT IT DISPATCHES FOR, UH, TELLING, UH, ITS PARTNERS THAT THEY WERE GONNA REQUIRE, THAT WE START PAYING FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE CONSUME, UH, AND THAT IF MEMORY SERVES, THAT WAS A $350,000 ASK FOR THIS YEAR.
SO A VERY LARGE NUMBER TO BE COMING TO US WHENEVER, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING FOR THAT OR LIKE THAT.
IN THE PAST, IMPROVED LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY, WE BUILT IN A POTENTIAL 4% INCREASE BETWEEN MERIT AND, UH, INFLATION FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN WE ALSO BUILT IN SOME MONEY FOR PARITY.
SO WE'RE GOING THROUGH A PROCESS RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR POSITIONS AND DETERMINING WHETHER THEY ARE, UH, COMPARABLE WITH THE MARKET, WHAT THE MARKET IS, AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO WE HAVE PUT SOME MONEY TO START THE PROCESS OF EQUALIZING THE PAY AND THE FOCUS THERE, AS YOU'LL SEE LATER, IS, UH, ON PD AND IS ON THE FOLKS WHO ARE MAKING LESS THAN $20 AN HOUR, UM, INVESTMENT IN STAFF DEVELOPMENT.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO BUILD A NEW APPLICATION PORTAL FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CANDIDATES AND BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
UH, SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT TONIGHT.
WE HAVE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION EVENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DONE BEFORE, BUT WE HAD LIKE THE, UH, THE, THE AWARDS BANQUET THIS CHRISTMAS AND RECOGNITION OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE BUILT IN NIGHT SHIFT AT DIFFERENTIAL FOR OUR, UH, POLICE OFFICERS WHO WORK NIGHT SHIFT.
WE ALSO PUT IN ANNUAL INTERNAL POLLING FOR EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION.
SO WE'RE DOING A CUS WE'RE DOING A CITIZEN SURVEY, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN SURVEYING OUR STAFF TO SEE, UH, YOU KNOW, HOW, HOW WE'RE PERFORMING, UH, AND, AND WHAT THEIR SATISFACTION IS.
AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT INTEGRATING OUR CITY PHONES WITH OFFICE 365, WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO NOT HAVE TO BE TETHERED, UH, TO A SECOND CELL PHONE.
UH, 'CAUSE THE PHONE WOULD, YOU WOULD JUST CALL, IT WOULD RING THROUGH THE OFFICE 365 APP.
MAINTAIN FIN UH, FINANCIAL STABILITY.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO ADD A SENIOR ACCOUNTANT IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD BE FOCUSED ON SPECIAL PROJECTS AND AUDIT, UH, TO HELP OUR, OUR FINANCIAL STRENGTH CONTINUE FUNDING FOR CLEAR GOV BUDGETING SOFTWARE, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN SINGING THE PRAISES OF USE OF SPECIAL REVENUE TO PAY FOR PROJECTS.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THE CRITIQUES THAT I TOOK EARLY ON FROM COUNCIL WHENEVER I WAS HERE OBSERVING THE END OF BUDGET LAST YEAR.
AND THAT WAS, WE KNOW WE HAVE THIS MONEY IN TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FEES.
WE KNOW WE HAVE THIS MONEY IN COMMUNITY BENEFIT FEES.
WE KNOW WE HAVE THIS MONEY IN PARKS IMPROVEMENT, BUT WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THERE IS AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO WITH IT, AND IT'S REALLY NOT GETTING UTILIZED OR LEVERAGED.
SO THIS YEAR I'M LEVERAGING IT, UH, FULL FUNDING FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF.
SO THE E D C HAS BEEN UNDERWRITING SOME OF THE COST OF THE, OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF.
WE'RE IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE'RE TAKING ALL OF THAT BACK FROM THE E D C.
SO THE MONEY THAT THE E D C EARNS CAN BE PUT INTO DOING DEALS.
UM, WE WE'RE PROPOSING A DRAW NOTE FOR THE UTILITY FUND.
NOW, THIS IS A SMALL NUANCE, AND I DON'T WANT TO LECTURE TOO TERRIBLY MUCH, BUT, UH, THE MAYOR HAS POINTED OUT A NUMBER OF TIMES IN LAST YEAR OR TWO, AS FAR AS I CAN RECALL, THIS SHOULD BE FAIRLY ACCURATE.
THAT, UM, IT'S NOT WISE TO ISSUE LARGE AMOUNTS OF DEBT AND HAVE TO BE MAKING PAYMENTS ON INTEREST AND CAPITAL WHEN YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DRAW DOWN THAT DEBT FAST ENOUGH.
WELL, WE NEED TO BUILD A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND THAT'S $180 MILLION ASK.
[01:15:01]
SO IF WE GO AND ISSUE $180 MILLION IN DEBT, WE'RE GONNA START PAYING DEBT SERVICE AND INTEREST DAY ONE.AND OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR AND JIM SABONI, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, ARE WORKING TO ALLOW THE USE OF A DRAW NOTE FOR THESE LARGE CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHICH EFFECTIVELY IS LIKE IF YOU WERE TAKING OUT A MORTGAGE LOAN FROM THE BANK TO GO BUILD A HOUSE.
AS YOU DRAW DOWN TO BUILD, YOU START PAYING INTEREST AND CAPITAL ON WHAT YOU HAVE DRAWN DOWN AND NOT ON THE REMAINDER.
THAT IS A VERY, UH, WISE STRATEGY TO HELP US SPREAD OUT THE IMPACT OF SUCH LARGE PROJECTS IN THE CAPITAL.
WE ARE, UH, WE BUDGETED PERSONNEL PROJECTIONS TO ACCOUNT FOR NEW HIRE DATES AND ATTRITION.
SO THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT'S A BUDGETING THING.
IT'S KIND OF A NUANCE, BUT WHEN YOU ADD A NEW POSITION TO A BUDGET, MANY PEOPLE JUST HAVE IT, UH, CALCULATED AS IF IT STARTS OCTOBER ONE.
BUT WE ALL KNOW YOU CAN'T HIRE EVERYBODY OCTOBER ONE.
SO TO BUDGET FOR THE FIRST YEAR, YOU GENERALLY BREAK THEM UP INTO HIRING TIERS AND ESTIMATE IT ON HOW FAST YOU THINK YOU CAN TAKE YOUR HIRING DOWN.
SO IT MINIMIZES THE IMPACT ON THE BUDGET, BUT IT'S ALSO MORE ACCURATE.
R F I D BOOK SECURITY SYSTEM FOR THE LIBRARY.
SO THAT THIS IS THE HELP WITH, UH, YOU KNOW, BOOKS THAT WALK THEMSELVES OUT WITHOUT GETTING CHECKED OUT.
UM, UH, WE'VE PUT MONEY IN FOR A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT VALUATION ASSESSMENT.
THIS WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF POTENTIAL DOWNTOWN PLANS AND OR, UH, REINVESTMENT ZONES, UH, TO LOOK AT WHAT THE VALUATION OF THE DOWNTOWN COULD BE, UH, IF IT WERE, IF IT WERE, YOU KNOW, RE UH, REINVESTED IN AND THEN ADDITIONAL FLEET MAINTENANCE CAPABILITIES GROWING RESPONSIBLY AND SUSTAINABLY.
WE HAVE PROPOSED THE ASSISTANT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR THAT WAS A HIGH, UH, LEVEL ASK AND THE OPERATIONS EQUIPMENT TO START TO ENHANCE OUR ABILITY TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY UH, DISASTERS.
WE HAVE DONE THE ROBUST ROAD AND DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM PROGRAM.
SO ROBUST EQUATES TO $750,000 IS WHAT WE'VE, UH, ALLOTTED FOR, UH, ONGOING REGULAR ANNUAL ROAD MAINTENANCE.
AND WE HAVE A LIST OF THE SEGMENTS OF ROAD AND THE TYPE OF MAINTENANCE THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE THAT WE PUBLISH.
AND THEN THAT WAY PEOPLE CAN FIGURE OUT, HEY, MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS, IS YEAR FIVE OR IS YEAR TWO, OR WE'RE GETTING IT THIS NEXT YEAR.
MASTER PLAN FOR COTTONWOOD PROPERTY.
SO THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC KNOWS THAT THE CITY, UH, INVESTED IN PROCURING THE COTTONWOOD PROPERTY AND CLEARING ALL THE TITLE, UH, CLOUDS.
NOW WE OWN THAT PROPERTY OUTRIGHT.
THE E D C CURRENTLY, UH, OWNS IT OUTRIGHT, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE NEXT, UH, FOCUS OUTSIDE OF THE MEGA SITE.
SO WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN, OR AT LEAST DOLLARS TO GET THAT STARTED.
SO THIS IS A UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND OUR SUPPORTING ENGINEERING MANUAL.
SO THIS IS THE DOCUMENTS THAT GUIDE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND ESTABLISH THE RULES THAT EVERYONE HAS TO PLAY BY WHENEVER THEY WANNA BUILD, UH, THE ENGINEERING MANUAL TELLS THEM HOW TO BUILD THOSE CERTAIN ITEMS. OUR DRAINAGE MASTER PLAN IS ALSO FUNDED IN, IN THE, UH, PROPOSED BUDGET AS IS AN IMPACT FEE STUDY.
SO THIS IS TO DEAL WITH THE WATER WASTEWATER IMPACT FEES THAT, UH, WE CURRENTLY CHARGE TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE NEW, UM, CAPITAL PROJECTS OUGHT TO BE AND SEE IF THOSE RATES ARE APPROPRIATE OR NOT.
TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN, UH, UH, A NEW LAW, UH, THAT'S GOING INTO EFFECT THAT WILL AFFECT CITIES IS THAT IF A ROADWAY IS NOT USED TO, IF THE ROAD WAS IN YOUR MASTER PLAN THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU TO ASK DEVELOPERS TO HELP COST PARTICIPATE, NOW YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM ON YOUR C I P.
IT CAN'T BE JUST ON A SEPARATE PLAN.
IT HAS TO BE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, OR YOU CANNOT REQUIRE THAT THEY COST PARTICIPATE.
SO WE NEED TO GET THAT UPDATED SO WE CAN GET THAT C I P LIST GENERATED AND ADOPTED.
WE ARE LOOKING AT ADOPTING UTILITY MODELING CAPABILITIES.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE BEEN OUTSOURCING DOING OUR UTILITY EXTENSION MODELING.
UM, BUT THIS, WE, THIS BUDGET HAS SUPPORT TO BRING THAT IN-HOUSE.
WE HAVE AN OUTREACH SPECIALIST, SO OUTREACH SPECIALISTS WOULD WORK WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS INSIDE THE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE HOAS, UH, WITH OUR VOLUNTEER SERVICES COORDINATION.
KEY HU BEAUTIFUL WITH, UH, ADOPT A HIGHWAY.
UH, ALSO THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF ASKS FOR GRANTS.
AND WHILE I HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO GO FULL SPEED AFTER GRANTS, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF GETTING THE CITY'S FINANCIALS IN A POSITION WHERE I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE WOULD NOT GET DING BY THE FEDS FOR MISSING A DEADLINE OR NOT RECORDING SOMETHING PROPERLY AND THEREFORE NOT GET REIMBURSED, THIS POSITION WOULD START WITH SOME OF THE SMALLER GRANTS TO START EASING US INTO THAT, INTO
[01:20:01]
THAT WORLD.UM, THE CUSTOMER PORTAL FOR UTILITY CUSTOMERS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS A PORTAL THAT MUCH LIKE IF YOU HAVE A, A POWER COMPANY WHERE YOU CAN LOG INTO YOUR, TO YOUR UTILITY ACCOUNT AND SEE WHAT YOUR CURRENT LIVE CONSUMPTION IS, THIS WOULD ALLOW YOU TO DO THAT FOR YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION.
UH, IF YOU ARE A CITY OF HU WATER CUSTOMER, THAT ALSO GENERALLY LENDS ITSELF TO YOU BEING AS A USER, BEING ABLE TO SET FLAGS THAT CONTACT YOU IN THE EVENT THAT YOU SEE CONSUMPTION TOO HIGH OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
SO THAT WAY NOW IF YOU HAVE A WATER LEAK, YOU HAVE A WAY TO BE NOTIFIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THAT, THAT YOU HAVE A WATER LEAK AT YOUR HOUSE, OR AT LEAST THE SYSTEM'S READING THAT MAYBE YOUR CONSUMPTION'S HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD BE
UM, WE INVEST, WE'RE ALSO INVESTING IN OUR UTILITY SUPERVISORY CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION.
THAT'S A REALLY, REALLY COMPLICATED WAY TO SAY THE COMPUTERS THAT RUN ALL THE WELLS AND MEASURE ALL THE LEVELS IN THE WATER TANKS AND TURN VALVES OFF AND ON AND TURN POP PUMPS OFF AND ON.
UM, WE HAVE A VERY, VERY, VERY, UH, ELEMENTARY VERSION OF THAT.
AND AS OUR SYSTEM GETS MORE COMPLICATED AND WE START INTEGRATING WITH MORE PARTNERS, UH, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT, UH, TECHNOLOGY IN PLACE TO OPERATE OUR SYSTEM PROPERLY.
AND THEN WE HAVE, UH, THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM CLEANING.
SO, UH, THIS IS A, A, IT'S A TRAILER THAT ALLOWS US TO CLEAN SEWER LINES HIGHEST QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO ENHANCE CHRISTMAS DECOR DOWNTOWN AND TO ADD A HOLIDAY DRONE LIGHT SHOW FOR THE DOWNTOWN, UH, CHRISTMAS EVENT.
WE ARE, UH, LOOKING TO IMPROVE TRAILS AND TO ADD, UH, FIELD LIGHTING WITHIN SOME OF THE CITY PARKS.
WE'RE LOOKING TO ENHANCE LIBRARY HOURS.
SO THERE'S, UH, POSITIONS IN THIS BUDGET THAT WILL ALLOW THE LIBRARY TO OPERATE IN THE EVENING MORE AND LONGER ON SATURDAY.
ALSO, WE ARE PROGRAMMING THE CO-OP TOWN GREEN.
SO THERE'LL BE EVENTS THERE THAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE PROGRAMMING NOW.
AND THEN THE FRITZ PARK, UH, RENOVATION, ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD PROBABLY CALL THAT A COMPLETE RE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
UH, WE ARE LOOKING TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY WITH A NUMBER OF THE ITEMS HERE.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ENHANCEMENTS.
UM, CCL FIX IS COMING UP NEXT, BUT, SO A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS ALSO THE SURVEY THAT WE DO.
AND RIGHT NOW WE'VE HAD THIS THING CALLED CITIZEN TRACKER WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO ONTO THE WEBSITE, YOU HAVE TO FILL OUT SOME, UM, I DON'T KNOW, H T M L FORM.
HALF THE TIME PEOPLE SAY THEY SUBMITTED STUFF AND WE CAN'T FIND ANY RECORD THAT THEY DID.
THIS IS AN APP YOU DOWNLOAD ON YOUR PHONE, YOU TAKE A PICTURE, YOU SUBMIT IT, LIKE IT COMES INTO THE SYSTEM.
IT'S, IT'S VERY, VERY GOOD FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH STAFF AND THE, AND THE COUNCIL FOR THAT MATTER ON, HEY, HERE'S A POTHOLE, HEY, THIS TRAFFIC LOT'S BAD, OR, HEY, THAT STREET LOT'S BURNED OUT, WHATEVER THEY SEE LINKEDIN LEARNING.
SO THIS IS A NEW, THE, THIS IS A NEW, UM, INITIATIVE BETWEEN THE, UH, PARKS, I MEAN, NOT THE PARKS, THE LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND E D C.
SO THIS WOULD ALLOW LINKEDIN LEARNING MEMBERSHIP FOR, AND HR, I GUESS, I GUESS I'D INCLUDE THEM TOO.
SO THE EMPLOYEES WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS ALL THE DATABASE OF LINKEDIN LEARNING.
EVERYONE WITH A LIBRARY CARD WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS ALL THE LIBRARIES ON LINKEDIN LEARNING.
AND ANYONE WHO THE E D C IS SUPPORTING, UH, COULD HAVE AN ACCESS TO THE LINKEDIN LEARNING AS WELL ACCOUNT.
SO THAT'S A COMMERCIAL ACCOUNT THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO PROCURE A STREET SWEEPER.
I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE NOTICED, BUT OUR STREETS REALLY NEED TO BE SWEPT.
UH, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO BUY A POTHOLE TRUCK, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE NOTICED, BUT OUR STREETS REALLY COULD USE SOME POTHOLE REPAIRS.
SO THIS IS A PIECE, A DEVICE THAT ALLOWS US TO SHRED THROUGH SOME OF THE OVERGROWTH AND MAKE, UH, NATURAL TRAILS ALONG THE CREEKS.
UH, WE ALSO HAVE FUNDING FOR JUDO CITIZENS UNIVERSITY TO GO TO TWICE A YEAR, CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY, THE ADDITIONAL LIBRARY HOURS I'VE MENTIONED, THE HOLIDAY DECOR, CHRISTMAS DRONE.
I THINK WE'VE REPEATING OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT HERE IT LOOKS LIKE.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MOST EVERYTHING THERE.
SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED FUNDS.
SO OVERALL, 351,000,263 OF THAT IS C I P SPENDING BETWEEN WATER, WASTEWATER, ROADS, PARKS, THAT SORT OF THING.
WE ARE PROPOSING 39 NEW POSITIONS.
THAT'S 194 TOTAL F T E NET POSITIONS FOR THE CITY.
UH, IF ALL 39 ARE IMPLEMENTED, 11 OF THOSE ARE IN THE UTILITY FUND.
28 OF THOSE ARE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
SO THE DIFFERENCE IS, IS 28 ARE SUPPORTED BY TAX DOLLARS.
11 ARE SUPPORTED BY WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES.
[01:25:01]
24, WE, THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE OF THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET IS 0.0 0.402114.UM, LAST YEAR'S CURRENT TAX RATE WAS 0.42198.
THESE WERE CERTIFIED TAX RATES PROVIDED BY THE, THE HAYES, I MEAN THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR.
YEAH, Y'ALL HEARD THAT SLIP, DIDN'T YOU?
NO INCREASE WE'RE, WE'RE PROPOSING NO INCREASE IN WATER OR WASTEWATER SERVICE RATES.
NOW, THAT SAID, THERE WE WILL NEED TO HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE CERTAINLY HEADING TOWARD A PATH THAT IS GONNA HAVE TO REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN RATES IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BUT NOT THIS YEAR.
SO THE GENERAL FUND TOTAL BUDGET IS 29 MILLION.
THAT INCLUDES COLA UH, COLA'S, COST OF LIVING, SO THAT'S INFLATION MERIT AND PARITY PAY, IT INCLUDES ALL THE OTHER THINGS UP THERE THAT I TALKED ABOUT.
THERE'S 2.8 MILLION IN NON C I P CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
THIS WOULD WOULD BE EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
WE HAVE MAJOR EXPENDITURE INCREASES IN THE MAJOR OPERATING FUNDS AND 1.19 IN THE GENERAL FUND AND 150 MILLION IN THE UTILITY FUND.
AND MOST OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE, THAT ARE LIVING THERE.
THE GENERAL FUND DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS LIVING IN IT BECAUSE THEY LIVE INSIDE, UH, A SEPARATE FUND.
SO THIS IS HOW THE FTES BREAK DOWN.
UM, THE, THE COLOR WHEEL SHOWS YOU THE DEPARTMENTS WHERE THE EMPHASIS IS GOING.
THE TWO LARGEST BY FAR ARE THE UTILITY, WHICH MAKES SENSE BASED OFF OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND POLICE.
AND THEN SHORTLY BEHIND THAT IS GONNA BE PARKS AND RECREATION.
UH, AND THEN YOU'RE GONNA SEE A, A SPLATTERING OF, UH, OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UH, THROUGHOUT.
WE DO NOT COUNT SEASONAL AND TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES AND OUR F T E COUNTS, SO LIKE THE SUMMER CAMP COUNSELORS AND THOSE FOLKS, WE DON'T COUNT THOSE, UH, WE DON'T COUNT THE CITY COUNCIL IN OUR F T E COUNT.
SO THIS IS LIKE FULL-TIME PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE CITY OR IF IT WAS A PERMANENT PART-TIME POSITION, WHICH I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY IN THIS BUDGET, BUT IF IT WERE A PERMANENT PART-TIME, THAT WOULD BE ONE HALF OF A, OF A FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT.
SO HERE ARE THE POSITIONS AND THEIR, THEIR COSTS.
THAT'S NOT SALARIES, THAT'S COSTS.
BUSINESS RESOURCE SPECIALIST AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY TECH.
NOW NOTICE THIS TABLE IS START DATE OCTOBER ONE.
SO THIS IS SOME POSITIONS THAT WE CAN, WE CAN, UH, START RECRUITING FOR IN SEPTEMBER IF, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE KIND OF SEE WHERE COUNCIL IS SETTING DOWN ON WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO ACCEPT FOR NEW POSITIONS.
SOME OF THESE WE CAN START RECRUITING, UH, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO TIE OURSELVES BECAUSE SOME OF THESE POSITIONS, LIKE THE PLAN REVIEW ENGINEER AS A RELATIVELY A LARGER SALARY, WE DIDN'T WANNA PLAN THAT ONE TOO LATE AND THEN NEED TO HIRE EARLY AND THEN BE IN A BIND.
SO THAT'S WHY SOME OF THESE MADE THEIR WAY INTO 1ST OF OCTOBER.
BUT YOU HAVE, UH, THREE TECHS FOR PARKS AND REC.
UH, THIS, THESE ARE THE FOLKS WHO ARE DOING THE MAINTENANCE WORK, SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE MAINTENANCE TECHS.
THE SENIOR ACCOUNTANT AND FINANCE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND UTILITY BILLING ADMIN ASSISTANT FOR THE PD.
UM, THERE'S A, A, A LARGE AMOUNT OF DEMANDS ON, UH, DATA TO BE PRODUCED IN THE PD AND THEY NEED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO GET THAT DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION.
THE PLAN REVIEW ENGINEER, WHICH IS CRITICAL BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF CIPS THAT WE'RE ADDING.
SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CIPS ACTIVE.
WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD I THINK 44 MORE IF MY ACCOUNT IS CORRECT.
WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING AT LIKE 33.
SO IT'S, IT'S MORE WE'LL HAVE SOME DROP OFF, BUT IT'S WAY MORE SO WE NEED TO HAVE AN ENGINEER THAT'S JUST DOING PLAN REVIEW IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE WORKLOAD.
WE HAVE A SENIOR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR.
SO THIS IS THE FOLK FOLKS WHO ARE OUT DOING THE C I P INSPECTIONS.
THIS IS ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE OF MEMORY SERVES.
AND THEN THERE'S OTHER ONES THAT ARE ON THE UTILITY FUND SIDE STREET AND DRAINAGE TECHNICIANS.
UH, SO AS WE ADD, UH, MORE DEMAND TO GET THE ROADS BUILT AND REPAIRED AND MAINTAINED, WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE.
UM, WE HAVE A FIELD SUPERVISOR, A UTILITY TECHNICIAN, BOTH IN THE UTILITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS OF OUR, EXPLAIN THAT THE ENTERPRISE SOLUTION ANALYST, THIS IS A POSITION IN IT THAT'S DEDICATED TO IMPLEMENTING AND MAINTAINING ALL OF THE UNIQUE SOFTWARE THAT WE USE AS AN ORGANIZATION.
THERE'S ANOTHER POSITION JUST LIKE THIS FOR THE PD, UM, BECAUSE PD HAS VERY SPECIFIC UNIQUE SOFTWARE THAT ONLY IT USES, BUT JUST LIKE CLEAR GOV, THAT WAS A MASSIVE LIFT.
UM, THAT'S WHERE YOUR ENTERPRISE SOLUTION PEOPLE COME IN BECAUSE THEY CAN BE FOCUSED ON GETTING THOSE, UH, SQUARED AWAY AND THEN THEY CAN SUPPORT THEM BECAUSE IMPLEMENTING THEM ALONE ISN'T ENOUGH.
THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO STAY UPDATED AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
LIBRARY ASSISTANCE, UH, THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE TIED TO THE NEW LIBRARY HOURS
[01:30:01]
MAINTENANCE MECHANIC.SO WE DON'T DO A LOT OF THE BIG, UH, VEHICLE MAINTENANCE.
WE DO A LOT OF SMALL ENGINE MAINTENANCE, SO THE MOWERS AND THE TRACTORS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
UM, RECREATION COORDINATOR, UH, THERE'S A LONG LIST OF RECREATION PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET THAT YOU WILL SEE TIED, UH, TO PARKS.
AND THIS PERSON HELPS, UH, SUPPORT THOSE.
SO I CAN OFFLOAD THAT WORKLOAD FROM MY DIRECTOR AND CERTAINLY HAVE HIM DO MORE OF THE MANAGEMENT THAT WE'RE WANTING TO START SEEING HAPPEN IN OUR DEPARTMENTS.
WE HAVE THE ASSISTANT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.
THIS IS TO, UH, WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR CURRENT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECT, UH, PERSON, UH, WHO I HAVE PROPOSED TO BE, UH, RECLASSIFIED AS A DIRECTOR.
SO HE'S CURRENTLY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR.
WE HAVE A MENTAL HEALTH CIVILIAN POSITION.
SO THIS IS TO HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I SAID THIS ON THE SATURDAY, BUT I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN FOR THE, FOR THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
JUST LIKE THE FIRE SERVICE NATURALLY STARTED TO GRAVITATE TOWARD E M S, THE POLICE SERVICE IS NATURALLY STARTING TO GRAVITATE TOWARD MENTAL HEALTH.
SO, AND WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE BEEN BEHIND THE CURVE ON RECOGNIZING THAT WE WERE FINE TO PUT THE E M S INTO THE FIRE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN BEHIND ON THE CURVE OF PUTTING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INTO PD.
AND, UM, A NUMBER OF THE FOLKS THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND INTERACT WITH ARE ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF SOME SORT OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THAT POSITION IS.
HERE'S THE IT SPECIALIST THAT IS FOCUSED ON THE PD SIDE.
THEN WE HAVE THE CRIME SCENE AND PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE TECH.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE ONE, WHICH MEANS SHE'S ON CALL 24 7.
ANYTIME THERE'S A CRIME, SHE HAS TO COME OUT AND GATHER THE EVIDENCE, AND THAT'S JUST NOT FAIR.
AND CERTAINLY, UH, SHE HAS BEEN DOING IT AND GRINNING AND BEARING IT, BUT, UM, AT THE VERY LEAST, WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN RELIEVE THE OTHERS AND ALLOW THEM TO KEEP PROCESSING THE, THE CRIME SCENES IN, IN A TIMELY MANNER.
WE HAVE TWO STREET TECHNICIAN ONE, SO THESE ARE ENTRY LEVEL AND THEN SENIOR, UH, UTILITY TECHNICIAN.
ALL OF THESE ARE SCHEDULED TO START DECEMBER.
AND THEN THE UTILITY MODELER, THE SENIOR UTILITY TECH, THE UTILITY SUPERINTENDENT, THAT'S YOUR SCADA PERSON WHO RUNS SCADA.
UM, THE UTILITY TECH IS THE PERSON WHO, UH, HELPS THE PERSON WHO RUNS SCADA IN THE FIELD, GET ALL THE, THE PUMPS AND MOTORS AND WIRES AND ALL THE STUFF UP AND RUNNING CORRECTLY.
AND THEN YOUR CONSTRUCTION INSPECTOR ON THE UTILITY SIDE.
SO THIS IS THE UTILITY HELPING PAY FOR, UM, THE INSPECTION THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR THE C I P.
THEN WE HAVE SOME MORE STREET AND DRAINAGE TECHS IN MARCH, AND THEN OTHER UTILITY FOLKS IN MARCH.
AND THEN THE POLICE OFFICERS, THEY'RE UNIQUE.
SO I HAVE THEM ONLY FUNDED FOR ONE DAY IN THE BUDGET.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE PD CURRENTLY HAS FIVE VACANCIES AND IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THE PD TO BE ABLE TO FILL VACANCIES.
SO IF I FULLY FUNDED THOSE OR EVEN HALF FUNDED THOSE, THERE WOULD JUST BE A, A CHUNK OF MONEY SITTING THERE THAT WE'RE HAVING TO COLLECT IN TAXES THAT WE ACTUALLY WON'T HAVE, UH, THE ABILITY TO USE.
BUT I'VE TOLD CHIEF IF HE CAN HIRE ALL FIVE AND THEN HE'S READY TO GET INTO THIS FOUR BEFORE THE END OF THE BUDGET YEAR, I WILL FIND A WAY TO GET THE MONEY OVER THERE SO HE CAN GET HIRED UP.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT ON PERSONNEL.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO INVEST IN OUR EXISTING WORKFORCE.
SO WE, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE HAVE THE INFLATION, THE MERIT PAY, AND THE PARODY.
UM, THE PARODY IS AT THIS RATE IS ABOUT A FOUR YEAR PHASE IN.
SO THE FIRST PRELIMINARY NUMBERS THAT I'M SEEING HAS US AT ABOUT JUST UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS SHORT, UM, IN ORDER FOR ALL THE POSITIONS, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE FINAL REPORT YET.
SO I'M BASING IT OFF OF THE PRELIMINARY NUMBERS.
SO THIS IS ABOUT ONE FOURTH OF THE OVERALL, UH, AMOUNT THAT IT WOULD TAKE.
SO AS I SAID BEFORE, WE'RE FOCUSING ON PD AND WE'RE FOCUSING ON THOSE WHO MAKE LESS THAN $20 AN HOUR IN THE ORGANIZATION.
WE ARE NOT IN, WE'RE NOT, UH, HAVING TO INCREASE OUR HEALTH INSURANCE RATES THIS YEAR, WHICH IS AN AMAZING THING FOR, FOR US ON BUDGET.
USUALLY THAT'S AN EIGHT TO 10 TO 14% ASK RIGHT THERE, UH, WHICH IS A LOT OF MONEY WHENEVER.
ONE OF YOUR MAIN BENEFITS FOR WORKING FOR THE CITY IS YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO A CITYWIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE THIS YEAR.
SO I WAS INSPIRED, UM, BY THE CITY OF LANCASTER, WHICH IS UP IN THE DALLAS AREA.
AND, UH, I THINK THE CITY OF PLANO ALSO DOES THIS.
THE CITY OF COPPEL DOES IT, BUT IT WAS LANCASTER WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT IT FIRST AND THE CITY MANAGER THERE, AND I WENT TO, UH, GRAD SCHOOL TOGETHER AND SHE WAS EXPLAINING TO ME THAT ONCE A YEAR, SHE HAS A DAY WHERE ALL THE FIELD TECHNICIANS, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GENERALLY THE ONES THAT GET TO GO TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCES, ALL COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A CONFERENCE THAT'S PLANNED FOR THEM, FOR THEIR HEALTH, FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT, FOR THEIR ADVANCEMENT.
AND, UH, WE WANT TO MODEL THAT.
[01:35:01]
PROPOSED BUDGETING FOR THAT NEW EQUIPMENT, STREET SWEEPER, POTHOLE, NEW BODY CAMERAS FOR THE PD.WE'VE GOTTA GET THOSE, UH, REPLACED AND UP TO DATE FIBER AND NETWORK UPGRADES.
THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, VEHICLE UPFIT, UM, UTILITY OPS.
SO WE HAVE WASTEWATER MAINTENANCE BACKHOE.
THE WA WASTEWATER MAINTENANCE IS THE JET ROTTING MACHINE THAT ALLOWS US TO CLEAN THE SEWER LINES AND THE MANHOLES, UH, THE BACKHOE AND A DUMP TRUCK.
NOW, THE DUMP TRUCK WAS ACTUALLY FUNDED THIS YEAR, BUT BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN DELAYS, WE ARE STILL ON BACK ORDER TO GET IT.
IT'S NOT GONNA DELIVER TILL NEXT YEAR.
SO WE ACTUALLY JUST MOVE THAT FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT.
UM, SO IT'S NOT ACTUALLY NEW MONEY BEING SPENT, IT'S JUST MONEY THAT DIDN'T GET SPENT THIS YEAR.
HERE'S OUR VALUATIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY.
SO OUR 2023 CERTIFIED TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION IS $4.8 BILLION.
LAST YEAR WE WERE $4.1 BILLION.
SO THAT MEANS IN ONE YEAR WE'VE GROWN OVER 700 MILLION.
NOW NOT ALL OF THAT IS CAPTURED BY TAXES, BUT THAT'S A 14% GROWTH.
OUR ACTUAL TRUE OVERALL VALUATION, ONCE YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, UM, THE, UH, EXEMPTIONS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS ABOUT $5.2 BILLION.
BUT WE, WE HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT THAT IS NOT, UH, TAXABLE.
SO FOR THE PURPOSES OF CALCULATING THE BUDGET, WE USE THE NUMBER 4.566 BILLION.
THAT IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO TAKE, YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE, UH, THE THIS NUMBER AND SUBTRACT OUT THE, UH, THE AMOUNT OF THE PROPERTY CAP THAT IS STILL OUT THERE, THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY BEING TAXED YET.
SO THAT GETS YOU DOWN TO THE 4.5 BILLION.
BUT TO PUT THAT INTO PERSPECTIVE, UM, A 14% GROWTH YEAR OVER YEAR WHEN YOU'RE IN THE BILLIONS IS REALLY IMPRESSIVE.
AND IT SAYS A LOT TO THE HEALTH AND TO THE FUTURE, UH, OUTLOOK FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
SO OUR CERTIFIED PROPERTY TAX RATES.
SO BREAKING THESE DOWN TO, UH, THE CURRENT TAX RATE WHERE WE'RE AT THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, WHICH IS WHAT EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT, UH, TONIGHT DURING CITIZEN COMMENTS, FOR THE MOST PART, EVERYONE, THERE ARE SOME OTHERS WHO DIDN'T, BUT WHAT NO NEW REVENUE MEANS IS WE HAVE TO COLLECT THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WE DID THE YEAR BEFORE.
THAT'S WHAT NO NEW REVENUE MEANS.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT EVERYBODY ROTS THE SAME CHECK THAT THEY WROTE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE AS VALUATIONS SHIFT AROUND, YOU MAY OWE MORE OR LESS THAN YOU DID THE YEAR BEFORE IF YOU DO NO NEW REVENUE.
BUT WHAT IT MEANS TO THE CITY IS THAT THE CITY IS SAYING TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, WE'RE GONNA DO OUR BEST TO USE THE SAME AMOUNT WORK TO COLLECT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TAXES AND TO, AND TO DO THIS, THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE SAME NUMBER AND RELY MOSTLY ON THE NEW GROWTH THAT'S COMING TO ALLOW THE EXPANSION OF SERVICES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, WHICH IS THE NEXT COLUMN, THIS IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL COULD ELECT TO RAISE THE, THE, OR TO SET THE TAX RATE, I GUESS I SHOULD SAY, UH, TO SET THE TAX RATE.
THAT'S THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL COULD ELECT TO SET THE TAX RATE WITHOUT TRIGGERING AN ELECTION OF THE VOTERS.
THE WAY THAT THE STATE HAS MADE IT, IT'S VERY COMPLICATED IF YOU'RE GONNA TRY TO EXCEED VOTER APPROVAL.
SO MOST CITIES DON'T BOTHER WITH IT.
UM, WHICH I THINK WAS THE KIND OF THE GOAL OF SETTING IT UP AND MAKING IT COMPLICATED.
UH, BUT THAT NUMBER DOES ALLOW FOR THE CITIES WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE ADOPTED NO NEW REVENUE TO GO BACKWARDS IN TIME UP TO THREE YEARS AND TO COLLECT THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT GROWTH THAT THE STATE DOES ALLOW THE NO NEW REVENUE TO GO UP EACH YEAR WITHOUT TRIGGERING VOTER APPROVAL.
SO THAT'S WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
AND THAT'S 0.4 7.40 AND MY PROPOSED BUDGET, THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET IS BUILT OFF OF THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF 0.402114.
SO ALL THE THINGS I'M TALKING ABOUT, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE SEEING AND AND GONNA HAVE TO CONSIDER, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU COUNSEL ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEBATE ARE ALL CURRENTLY FUNDED USING THAT TAX RATE.
HERE'S HOW OUR CURRENT, UH, TAX RATE HISTORY LOOKS OVER TIME.
UM, SO YOU CAN SEE A DOWNWARD TREND.
THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS NECESSARILY RELATE TO THE FACT THAT THE COUNCIL IS LOWERING TAXES.
UH, IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH, AS THE VALUES OF THE PROPERTY GO UP, THE TAX RATE THAT YOU HAVE TO COLLECT TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY GOES DOWN BECAUSE THEY'RE INVERSELY RELATED.
BUT THAT'S ALSO DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE COUNCIL HAS NOT BEEN CUTTING TAXES, IT'S JUST THAT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ON FIRST GLANCE.
THAT SAID, THE TAX RATE HERE JUST THREE YEARS AGO WAS 60 CENTS.
AND THAT'S FANTASTIC STEWARDSHIP IN MY MIND.
[01:40:01]
NOW HERE'S HOW WE, UH, STACK UP AGAINST OUR PEER CITIES.AND I
SO HUDU IS, IS BEYOND IS THE LOWER, UH, OF, OF THE MEDIAN.
AND WE'RE, AND WHILE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE OTHER CITIES ARE GOING TO DO WITH THEIR TAX RATES, UM, SO I CAN'T PROJECT THAT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING.
I I'M SHOWING YOU WHERE WE ARE GONNA STAY IN THE SAME AREA WE SHOULD ANYWAY OF, OF THE MAP GENERALLY.
UM, SO WE'RE IN THE, THE SECOND QUARTILE, I GUESS HERE.
SO HOMEOWNERS, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IF I'M A HOMEOWNER? WELL, THE RATES CHANGED.
UM, WE'RE PROPOSING TO CHANGE THE TAX RATE AND VALUES CHANGED.
SO WHILE THIS NUMBER LOOKS REALLY, REALLY GOOD, IT'S BROKEN UP INTO TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERS ACTUALLY, WHICH I'M GONNA SHOW YOU ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
BUT IF THE COUNCIL ACCEPTS THE BUDGET AND ADOPTS THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER IN THE CITY SEEING A REDUCTION OF $41 AND 37 CENTS IN THEIR TAX BILL FOR THE YEAR.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES THEY GO, BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.
SO LIKE I SAID, YOU HAVE TO BREAK THAT UP INTO TWO TIERS.
THERE'S THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS WHO HAVE A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND THEY'RE TREATED DIFFERENTLY BY, BY LAW.
AND YOU HAVE THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS WHO DO NOT HAVE A HOMESTEAD, THEY HAVEN'T QUALIFIED FOR ONE YET, OR THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST OWN THE PROPERTY, THEY HAVEN'T ELECTED DO IT OR THEY OWN IT AS INVESTMENT PROPERTY AND THEY'RE NOT ELIGIBLE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, IF WE ADOPT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS IS THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER ON AVERAGE WHO HAS A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WOULD WOULD SEE THEIR TAX BILL GO UP BY $74.
THAT'S $6 AND 19 CENTS A MONTH.
I'M SORRY, THE COLUMNS GOT MESSED UP ON THE CHART, BUT I THINK Y'ALL CAN TELL WHAT WAS TRYING TO BE SAID.
THAT'S $6 AND 19 CENTS A MONTH TO THE, TO THE RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNER WITH A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION BECAUSE YOU GO TO THE NEXT LINE AND THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WITHOUT HOMESTEAD ARE GOING TO SEE A $488 DECREASE FROM LAST YEAR TO THEIR TAX BILL, WHICH IS AN AVERAGE OF $40 AND 64 CENTS A MONTH.
NOW, THERE ARE WAY MORE PROPERTIES THAT ARE UNDER HOMESTEAD THAN THERE ARE PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT, AND THAT'S WHY THE AVERAGE ENDS UP BEING NEGATIVE 41 AND NOT SOME BIGGER NUMBER.
IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S, I DON'T, I CAN'T REMEMBER, IT'S LIKE THREE-FOURTHS OR FIVE SIX OF THE HOMES ARE HOMESTEADED MM-HMM.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
AND, UH, AS, AS MS. WEAVER MENTIONED, IF YOU'RE OVER 65, YOU SHOULD HOMESTEAD, YOU SHOULD EXEMPT BECAUSE IF YOU'RE EXEMPTED, YOU NEVER HAVE TO PAY A DOLLAR MORE IN CITY TAXES OTHER THAN THAN YOUR BASE YEAR.
IT CAN GO DOWN FROM THERE, BUT IT WILL NEVER, EVER GO UP.
AS GOOD A STEWARDS AS WE ARE, AND AS THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN, WE ARE ONLY ONE PART OF THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
THERE ARE OTHER ENTITIES OUT THERE WHO ALSO COLLECT PROPERTY TAXES.
SO YOUR TAX BILL MAY GO UP WAY MORE THAN $6 AND 19 CENTS A MONTH.
AND THAT COULD BE BECAUSE YOUR HOUSE IS WORTH A LOT MORE THAN WHAT THE AVERAGE IS FOR THAT, FOR THAT CATEGORY, OR IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF THE OTHER ENTITIES TOO.
SO YOU, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS EDUCATE YOURSELF AND UNDERSTAND WHO YOUR PAYING YOUR TAXES TO AND HOW MUCH THEY ARE.
OUR SALES TAX IS HEALTHY AS I, AS I'VE SEEN, UM, WITH THE, WITH MOSTLY WE, I CAN'T REMEMBER OF A, A SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING THAT OPENED UP, UH, LIKE, LIKE, LIKE SAY WHAT HAPPENED WHEN H E B OPENED UP FOR THE CITY OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN ACADEMY OPENS UP.
BUT THE SALES TAX GREW 15.6% YEAR OVER YEAR AND THAT, AND WE'RE PROJECTING, UH, PRETTY GOOD, UH, HEALTHY NUMBERS FOR 24, UH, CONSERVATIVE BUT STILL HEALTHY.
NOW, SALES TAX IN THE CITY OF HUDU, OF THE EIGHT AND A QUARTER THAT YOU PAY SIX AND A QUARTER GOES TO THE STATE.
2% CAN COME TO THE CITY AND I SAY CAN BECAUSE THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY E S D NUMBER THREE, WHICH IS OUR FIRE DISTRICT, THEY DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO COLLECT SALES TAX
[01:45:01]
IN CERTAIN AREAS.SO IN THOSE AREAS, NOT ALL 2% COMES TO THE CITY, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, 2% COMES TO THE CITY, 1% OF THE SALES TAX IS SPLIT A HALF CENT OF THAT, OF THAT ONE PENNY GOES TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO FUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEALS.
THE OTHER HALF GOES TO BUY DOWN OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE.
SO IN THESE COMPLICATED CALCULATIONS WE DO, WE HAVE TO TAKE A HALF CENT OF THE SALES TAX AND CALCULATE HOW MUCH PROPERTY TAX RATE IT BUYS DOWN FOR THE HOMEOWNERS WHO LIVE HERE.
OH, WELL, ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS FOR THAT MATTER, NOT JUST HOMEOWNERS.
THEN THE OTHER 1 CENT GOES FREE AND CLEAR TO THE GENERAL FUND TO FUND, UH, ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO GENERAL FUND SPECIFICALLY HAS 28 NEW POSITIONS.
UM, WE HAVE SOME PROPOSED EQUIPMENT IN THERE, AND THEN WE HAVE VERY LITTLE C I P SPENDING.
THIS IS THE LEGENDS OF HU DRAINAGE DITCH, UM, THAT WAS ON THE C I P TO GET FUNDED.
SO WE FUNDED THAT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
MOST OF THE PROJECTS THAT WERE GENERAL FUND ORIENTED LIVE ELSEWHERE.
UM, AND WE'LL, WE'LL CATCH THOSE.
I KNOW THAT'S WAY TOO SMALL TO READ.
YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY READ THIS ON A COMPUTER, BUT NOT ON A PRESENTATION.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS THE GREEN, THIS, THESE ARE ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT BUILD UP THE GENERAL FUND AND HOW MUCH OF THE GENERAL FUND THEY RECEIVE AS A DEPARTMENT.
SO, AND THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT THE BIGGEST PORTION IS PD, PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU'RE PAYING THOSE FOLKS 24 7, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OUT THERE.
UM, SO THEY USUALLY DO MAKE UP THE BIGGEST PORTION OF, OF A CITY BUDGET, AND IT'S ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT CITIES EXIST TO DO.
THE NEXT AREA THAT YOU USUALLY SEE ARE YOUR, IS YOUR PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH IS THE, WHICH IS THE BIGGER BLUE AREA, AND THEN YOUR PARKS.
BUT FOR US, OUR PARKS IS THE DARK GREEN AREA OVER HERE.
SO THAT TELLS ME THAT, THAT WE CUT OUR PARKS BACK CONSIDERABLY.
UM, AND, AND SOME OF THIS FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE GETTING ON, HEY, LET'S DO THESE THINGS IN THE PARKS, THAT, THAT TELLS ME THAT OVER TIME I NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON, ON, ON, ON INVESTING MORE IN THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
BUT I'VE STARTED THAT PROCESS THIS YEAR.
AND THEN THE REST OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT DO EVERYTHING THAT THERE IS TO DO IN THE CITY ARE ALL BROKEN UP.
SO UTILITY FUND,
BUT, BUT THE UTILITY FUND HAS A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN IT.
UH, EVERYTHING FROM THE WASTEWATER PLANT EXPANSION, WHICH IS A LIST COMING.
SO I'LL, I'LL, I'LL JUST KEEP GOING.
UM, WE ARE NOT PROPOSING A TAX, UH, A RATE INCREASE.
WE, WE HAVE OUR REVENUES AND OUR EXPENDITURES AND OUR C I P NOW THE REASON THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE REVENUE, UM, THAN EXPENDITURE HAS TO DO WITH, THERE'S MONEY COMING INTO ONE OF THE SUB FUNDS I THINK THAT WE DIDN'T BUDGET OUT BECAUSE IT'S PROPOSED REVENUE, BUT ALL THE SAME.
USUALLY THOSE NUMBERS MATCH THE 205 MILLION IN PLAN C I P SPENDING.
'CAUSE SOME OF THAT WE ALREADY HAVE THE MONEY TO, TO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALREADY ISSUED THE DEBT FOR, SO THAT'S NOT NEW DEBT.
BUT A GOOD PORTION OF THAT IS ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD OF 130 OR 140 MILLION.
WE HAVE 699,000 FOR THE 11 NEW FTES.
AND THEN, UH, 694,000 IN PROPOSED NEW EQUIPMENT.
HERE'S SOME OF THE C I P WATER PROJECTS.
UH, REHAB, THE DOWNTOWN ELEVATED TANK, THAT'S THE WHITE ONE DOWN, WELL, THE GRAY ONE DOWN HERE, UM, WITH ALL THE PAINT FLAKED OFF OF IT WITH ALL THE ANTENNAS ON TOP.
UM, THAT TANK WAS CHOSEN NOT TO BE REHABBED IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF THE COST AND THE VALUE THAT YOU WOULD GET OUT OF THE COST.
BUT BECAUSE OF WHERE WE'RE AT IN OUR SYSTEM NOW, IT ACTUALLY DOES MAKE SENSE TO REHAB THAT RATHER THAN THE TIME AND MONEY THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO BUILD A NEW ONE THAT YOU COULD, I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE TO BUILD THE NEW ONES, BUT THEY WON'T BE HERE FOR THREE YEARS.
SO REHABBING THAT NOW ACTUALLY MAKES STRATEGIC SENSE.
WE HAD TO DO SOME BALL TESTING.
UM, THAT'S WHERE THEY PUT A BALL DOWN IN A PIPE AND LET THE, AND LET THE BALL KIND OF READ THE PRESSURES AND THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE PIPE AS THE WATER FLOWS, BECAUSE MOST OF OUR WATER COMES FROM 30 MILES AWAY AND IS PIPED HERE AND PUMPED HERE.
AND THAT'S A LONG TRANSMISSION LINE FOR THERE TO BE UPS AND DOWNS AND BREAKS AND LEAKS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
WATER DISTRIBUTION LINES, NEW ELEVATED STORAGE TANKS.
UM, THE FM 1660 WATERLINE PROJECT THAT ALSO INCLUDES DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION.
ALL THE MEGA SITE WA WATER, THE NORTHWEST TRANSMISSION WATER MAIN.
UH, THESE ARE ALL LISTED IN THE C I P.
SO IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN, UM, THERE'S, THERE IS WAYS TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT.
AND THIS IS ONE THING I WOULD PAUSE REAL QUICK
[01:50:01]
AND JUST POINT OUT THAT WE'RE NOT THERE YET, COUNSEL, BUT THE SOFTWARE, THE CLEAR GOV SOFTWARE, ONCE WE BUILD THESE IN AND WE GET IT, WE GET IT BUILT ON OUR END, WE CAN PUSH EVERY ONE OF THESE C I P PROJECTS ONTO THE WEBSITE AND YOU CAN GO AND SEE, I WOULDN'T SAY LIVE UPDATES, BUT UPDATES THAT ARE REGULARLY UPDATED.YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S GETTING FUNDED, WHERE IT'S AT, WHAT ITS GANTT CHART IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE OUT TO BID, WHETHER IT WENT OUT TO BID, YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THAT AND A MAP OF WHERE IT'S LOCATED.
SO EVERYTHING THAT YOU WOULD WANNA KNOW ABOUT THE PROJECTS, YOU'RE GONNA QUICKLY HAVE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS ONCE WE CAN GET IT ALL BUILT ON THE BACKEND.
UM, FRAME SWITCH, THAT'S THE 3 MILLION GALLONS GROUND STORAGE TANK THAT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION NOW.
AND THEN THE SHILOH AND NOAC PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS, WASTEWATER.
WE HAVE THE SOUTHEAST LOOP FORCE MAIN RELOCATION, WHICH IS NOW, UM, I'M BEING TOLD THAT THE ROAD AT THE 33 49 ROAD IS NOW BEING CALLED.
SO IF I GET IT WRONG, I WON'T GET IN TROUBLE.
SO THAT'D BE ON WILCO PARKWAY.
UM, SOUTH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FINAL DESIGN AND BIDDING FOR EXPANSION TO 6 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
IS IT TWO, TWO AND A HALF, TWO AND A HALF MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
I'M SORRY, THAT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
THE, THE LOOP WASTEWATER INTERCEPTOR, THAT'S THE ONE I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
PHASE THREE HAS DEVELOPER PARTICIPATION, MEGA SITE WASTEWATER, SOUTH WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UV SYSTEM UPGRADES.
SO WE HAVE TWO WASTEWATER PLANTS.
THE CENTRAL ONE, WHICH IS BASICALLY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS OUT BY WHERE PUBLIC WORKS IS OFF OF 1 99.
THAT ONE WAS THE ORIGINAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN AS THE COMMUNITY GREW, THE SOUTH PLANT, UH, WHICH IS DOWN NEAR BRUSHY CREEK, THAT BECAME THE PRIMARY PLANT.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE WATER ALL DRAINS TOWARD THE CREEK.
SO THAT'S WHERE THE, THE SEWER ENDS UP GETTING BUILT.
THE GLENWOOD LIFT STATION PROJECT'S IN HERE AND THE, UH, EXPANSION.
SO FINISHED DESIGNS UP THERE, THE CONSTRUCTION'S DOWN HERE, OTHER KEY FUNDS.
THIS IS SOME OF THE, UH, UH, OTHER PROJECTS I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT OR THE OTHER FUNDS.
SO I, OF THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FUND, UH, I HAVE PROPOSED 2.84 MILLION IN PLAN C I P SPENDING.
UH, 2.2 OF THAT IS FOR A LIGHT CONSTRUCTION AND WELL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF INNOVATION AND LIMBER.
UM, THAT'S BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY, HIGH SAFETY ONE THAT HAS COME UP NUMBER OF TIMES FROM COUNCIL, FROM THE PUBLIC.
UH, AND IT WAS, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, PRIORITIZED INTO THE, THE C I P BY COUNCIL EMORY FARMS. THIS IS FINISHING THE PROJECT THAT MATT MENTIONED EARLIER.
AND THEN THE MOBILITY MASTER PLAN, WHICH I TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS THE TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN.
SO THE TRANSPORTATION IMPACT FUND WOULD BE PAYING FOR THESE PROJECTS AND THAT STILL LEAVES AN ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE OF $2.7 MILLION.
AND, BUT THAT DOES INCLUDE SOME PROJECTED NEW MONEY COMING IN THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST PROJECTING REVENUE.
SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT FUND BALANCES.
PARKS IMPROVEMENT FUND, I HAVE PROPOSED ONE A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN C I P SPENDING FROM THE PARKS IMPROVEMENT FUND, VETERANS MEMORIAL, THE FIELD LIGHTING, THE HU LAKE PARK DOCK FENCING AT FRITZ FOR THE TENNIS COURT.
THE SECURITY CAMERAS, THE A E D DEVICE FOR THE ME FIELDS, THE BASEBALL FIELDS, THE BRUSHY CREEK AMPHITHEATER INVESTMENT AND THE PARKS MASTER PLAN, THE TRAILS MASTER PLAN AND THE FEED THE FIELD FEASIBILITY STUDY THAT LEAVES AFTER YOU SUBTRACT OUT THE 1.2 MILLION FOR THE DESIGN FOR FRITZ PARK, THAT LEAVES A MUCH MORE REAL NUMBER OF ABOUT 1.8, ALTHOUGH WE'RE ESTIMATING 700,000 IN REVENUE.
SO THAT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS LEFT THAT IF THE COUNCIL WANTED TO PROGRAM IN MORE PARKS PROJECTS FROM THE C I P, THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO DO THAT.
THAT WOULDN'T BE IN THE BOND FUND.
SO THIS IS WHAT PIS PAY TO THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A PI.
SO I TRIED TO CHOOSE PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE, UH, BASED OFF OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PI.
SOME OF THESE ARE DEPENDENT UPON, UH, THE, SOME PI DOLLARS BEING ABLE TO BE USED OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES.
UM, BUT I PUT THE ANNUAL SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION IN HERE, THE LAKESIDE OF STATE SIDEWALK PROJECT IN HERE, THE EDGE SCHMIDT IMPROVEMENTS, THE COUNTY ROAD 1 99 RECONSTRUCTION.
AND THAT IS NOT THE CURVE IN FRONT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THAT IS THE STRETCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CURVE THAT WRAPS AROUND.
IS IT COTTON, COTTON CREEK OR COTTONWOOD CREEK OR WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT SUBDIVISION? NO HELP.
YEAH, I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UH, THEY'RE ONE OF THE ONES THAT THEIR PI DOLLARS REQUIRED THAT IT BE THE BOUNDARIES,
[01:55:01]
SO THE ROAD'S ON THEIR BOUNDARIES.UH, SO, UM, THAT'S THE BRIDGE BETWEEN US AND TAYLOR SO WE CAN MAKE IT AT LEAST SAY, YOU KNOW, WELCOME TO HU AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
UM, INSTEAD OF IT BEING PAINTED GREEN, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT
UH, AND THEN THE NEW POLICE STATION, UH, NEEDS ASSESSMENT, THAT'S ALL BUDGETED HERE.
THAT LEAVES AN ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE OF $925,000.
AND THAT IS REAL MONEY, THAT IS NOT NEW.
ESTIMATED MONEY TO BE COMING IN.
ALL THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AGAIN, 44 OF THEM.
HERE'S THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS, UH, 252 FUNDED FROM THE SPENDING PLAN.
AND THEN 11 MILLION IS UNFUNDED.
CURRENTLY, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, UM, FOR ROADS AND FOR PARKS.
UM, WE CAN'T SPEND ALL OF THE PARK MONEY IN ONE YEAR, EVEN IF WE WANTED TO.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT A FULL, UH, ISSUANCE.
BUT WE DO HAVE ABOUT 14 AND A HALF MILLION LEFT FOR THE 2018, UH, ROAD BOND PROJECTS, AND I THINK AROUND ABOUT 40 MILLION LEFT FOR THE PARKS.
SO THIS WOULD BE ENCUMBERING 11 MILLION SPLIT BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
AND THEN THERE'S OUR C I P SPENDING FROM GENERAL FUND ALL THE WAY DOWN, UM, WHERE ALL THE PROJECTS ARE GETTING PAID FOR.
AND THAT BRINGS ME TO WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT.
SO, UM, COUNCIL, YOU NOW HAVE THE DUTY OF TAKING THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND WORKING THROUGH IT.
UH, AUGUST 17TH WILL BE A REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, BUT THAT'LL BE THE FIRST TIME, UH, THAT COUNCIL HAS SLATED TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET.
IN OPEN SESSION, YOU CAN OBVIOUSLY, AS THE MAYOR ALLUDED TO BE USING THE, WHAT'S IT CALLED? THE
THE ONLINE FORUM TO BE USING THE ONLINE FORUM.
STARTING, YOU KNOW, TONIGHT, WELL, NOT WHILE YOU'RE IN SESSION, I DON'T KNOW, BUT, UM, STARTING TONIGHT, UP UNTIL THAT POINT IN TIME, AUGUST 24TH IS ONLY BUDGET THERE.
WE'RE NOT SCHEDULING ANYTHING ELSE UNLESS THERE'S SOME EMERGENCY OR SOME TIMELY THING THAT WE HAVE TO DO.
SO THAT IS JUST FOR COUNCIL TO BE ABLE TO HAMMER OUT BUDGET, UH, AND MAKE YOUR FINAL DECISION.
SO, YOU KNOW, TAKE YOUR VOTES, DECIDE WHAT'S IN, WHAT'S OUT, WHAT YOU WANNA DO WITH THE TAX RATE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.
SEPTEMBER 7TH, 14TH, AND 21ST.
THESE ARE THE STATUTORY DATES.
NOW, WE MAY HAVE TO COMBINE THE 21ST WITH THE 14TH.
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT WITH LEGAL AND WITH THE COUNTY.
UH, ON THERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE FINAL READING OR THE FINAL VOTE SEVEN DAYS AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN, UH, STATUTORILY.
AND THE COUNTY IS ASKING FOR US TO, UH, DELIVER OUR A ADOPTED BUDGET AND TAX RATE TO THEM BEFORE SEPTEMBER 15TH SO THEY CAN, UH, BE, SO WE'D BE COMPLIANT WITH OUR CONTRACT WITH THEM, FOR ONE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, IS SO THEY CAN GET THE, START GETTING THE, UH, THE NOTICES OUT IN THE MAIL FOR EVERYBODY.
SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE PLANNING TO GO THE 21ST BASED OFF OF OUR CHARTER AND THE OTHER RULES.
BUT WE MAY END UP COMBINING THAT UP INTO THE 14TH AND WE'LL KEEP EVERYBODY POSTED ON THAT.
AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO, TO SUBMIT TO YOU MY, MY VERY FIRST BUDGET AS YOUR CITY MANAGER.
I HOPE YOU'RE VERY PLEASED WITH ALL THE WORK THAT'S GONE INTO IT.
YOU MAY NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT I CHOSE TO DO, AND I TOTALLY GET THAT.
UM, AND I KNOW WE'LL HAVE SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS, I HOPE.
AND YOU HAVE STAFF VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT THEY, THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, HAVE PROPOSED TO ME.
UH, EACH ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WORKED VERY, VERY HARD.
AND I PUT THEM TO TASK BECAUSE WE PULLED THEIR BUDGETS APART, PIECE BY PIECE, DOLLAR BY DOLLAR, PENNY BY PENNY.
AND WE REBUILT THEM FOR THE MOST PART, AGAINST ACTUALS AND AGAINST SERVICE LEVELS.
SO THE, THE ISSUE OF BEING FRUSTRATED ABOUT THINGS NOT HAPPENING IN
AND THIS NEXT YEAR IS GONNA BE WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.
AND I'M, I'M VERY PLEASED TO SUBMIT TO YOU MY BUDGET.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR THE CITY MANAGER? WE JUST START WITH, I WANNA SAY I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU GUYS ARE ON CLEAR GOV.
UM, I LOOKED AT THE CITY OF HATO WEBSITE AND I CLICKED ON CLEAR GOV AND EVERYTHING IS ON THERE FOR, SO I CHALLENGE YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT THAT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY BUDGET QUESTIONS.
IT'S EXTREMELY DETAILED DOWN TO EVERY DEPARTMENT, THEIR GOALS, UM, THE COST OF EVERYTHING.
Y'ALL DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB WITH THIS WEBSITE.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UM, GREAT JOB TO EVERYBODY.
[02:00:01]
IS.COPPEL
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE CAPEL IS? NO, I KNOW WHERE KALE IS.
IS THAT WHAT YOU KNOW WHERE KALE IS? OH, I I I'M PRETTY SURE COPPLE.
HE JUST, WE'LL TALK IN THE, WE'LL TALK IN THE, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK.
ANY OTHER, JUST, UH, THE ONE THING I WAS SEEING WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MAINTENANCE TECHS SERVICING, UM, YOU KNOW, SMALL MOTORS AND STUFF, I WAS JUST CURIOUS, UM, IF THERE WAS EVER A POSSIBILITY AS, 'CAUSE I ALWAYS LOOK FOR CONTACT POINTS TO OTHER, OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES WHERE WE CAN WORK.
YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS AN ENTIRE AUTOMOTIVE TO PART WHERE THEY LIKE SERVICE VEHICLES AND IT HELPS THE STUDENTS LEARN.
AND I KNOW LIKE I S D EMPLOYEES CAN GET THEIR OIL CHANGES DONE AT THE SCHOOL.
AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF WE'D LOOKED, IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO GET THEM TO SERVICE THAT KIND OF STUFF AND MAYBE SAVE THE MONEY.
AND WE'RE GETTING STUDENTS TO THE EXPERIENCE.
THERE'S ALSO THE TECHNIC TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE HERE IN HU THAT ALSO HAS, UM, SOME OF THAT.
AND I'M JUST CURIOUS, YOU KNOW, NOT SAYING WE'RE RIPPING UP THE BUDGET, I'M JUST SAYING, IS THERE A, A POSSIBILITY THAT MAYBE WE, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S POSSIBLE AND, YOU KNOW, AND IT MAY BE NOT TIMELY OR, OR SOMETHING, BUT MAYBE INSTEAD OF NEEDING TWO, WE CAN GET BY WITH ONE BECAUSE NOW WE CAN OFFLOAD SOME TO STUDENTS AND USE THAT, THAT SAVINGS.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD JUST, UH, ARCHITECTURALLY TALKING IS, UM, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT, UH, YOU'RE DRAWING DOWN A BUNCH OF THESE SPECIAL REVENUE, UH, RATES TO GET US TO KNOW NEW REVENUE.
MY ONLY QUESTION IS, DO WE THINK THAT THEN THAT'S GONNA CREATE GAPS IN THE FUTURE, WHERE THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING TO KNOW NEW REVENUE THE NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WE DROVE DOWN ALL THESE FUNDS CREATIVELY TO GET TO IT THIS YEAR.
SO I JUST, AND I'M HOPING WE HAVE ENOUGH GROWTH AND NEW PROPERTIES THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THAT ALWAYS, BUT THAT, THAT'S JUST THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE WHEN I SAY, HEY, WE'RE USING ALL THIS CON, YOU KNOW, CREATIVE FINANCING.
IS IT, DOES IT CREATE A FUTURE PROBLEM? UM, AND THEN I'LL SAVE MY OTHER ONE FOR WHEN WE DO FOR AGENDA ITEMS LATER.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? I JUST, YEAH, I'LL SAY SOMETHING SUPER QUICK.
UM, I JUST WANNA, UH, SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER AND ALL OF THE CITY STAFF FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK, UM, THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS.
UM, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS BUDGET SEASON, THE NEXT, LIKE SIX WEEKS-ISH TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THIS.
UM, I'VE CLICKED ON THE CLEAR GOV, UM, LINK THAT WE HAVE AND HOW WE CAN KIND OF NAVIGATE IT.
IT'S, IT'S GREAT, UM, WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, THE MAYOR, MYSELF, A FEW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS REALLY WANTED, UH, DETAILS IN THE BUDGET AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE GOT.
UM, WE MAY NOT, YOU KNOW, AGREE ON THOSE DETAILS, THE NUMBERS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAVE YOU.
AND THEN AS YOU PRESENTED, THERE ARE, UM, THE ALL, THERE'S MASSIVE LISTS OF, UH, WHAT WE CAN EXPECT TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE NEXT, UH, FISCAL YEAR FOR THE CITY OF HUDU.
AND WE CAN HOLD YOUR, YOU AND YOUR STAFF ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE PROJECTS, RIGHT? AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
IT'S WHAT THE CITY, UH, NEEDS, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD AS WE GROW, UH, THIS IS JUST KIND OF LIKE A, LIKE, I GUESS A LEARNING CURVE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED, UH, GREAT SOFTWARE, UH, LOTS OF DETAILS IN IT AND, UH, LOOKING FORWARD TO, UM, THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS OF DISCUSSING EVERYTHING.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, LIKE MS. UH, WEAVER SAID THAT, UM, OR, UM, UH, MS. STEWART, SHE SAID THAT IT'S VERY TRANSPARENT AND I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, UM, WITH HER THAT IT'S VERY TRANSPARENT.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, THEY CAN, UM, LOOK AND FIND THE ANSWER OR ASK, RIGHT? SO, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN.
IF THERE'S ONE SLIDE YOU COULD GO BACK TO
WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT, UM, UH, I DO WANNA THINK STAFF.
I KNOW, UH, THE EXPECTATIONS WERE SUPER HIGH AND THERE WAS, UH, FRUSTRATION, UH, FROM SOME THAT OVER THE YEARS, THIS EXCEL SPREADSHEET ISSUE TO WHERE WE DIDN'T REALIZE, UM, THAT WE'RE BASICALLY OPERATING IT FROM THE EIGHTIES AND NOW WE'VE MADE A GIANT STEP FORWARD.
AND I THINK THIS IS A START OF, UM, I DON'T WANNA COMPARE OURSELVES TO OTHER CITIES.
I WANT OTHER CITIES PEOPLE, THEIR TAXPAYERS TO COMPARE THEM TO US SAYING, HEY, HOW DID HUDA GET IT? SO RIGHT.
AND WHY ARE YOU GUYS SO WRONG? BUT THE ONE THING I WANNA UH, POINT OUT ON THIS, I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON, UM, FOR SOMETHING HE SAID LAST YEAR.
AND THEN I ALSO WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL FOR, I WOULD SAY ENTERTAINING,
[02:05:01]
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON AND I, IN TERMS OF WANTING TO BE, UM, EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS WITH DEBT.WE ENDED UP, I THINK, I THINK WE APPROVED LIKE 25 MILLION OR SOMETHING, UH, IN DEBT.
AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING LIKE 40 MILLION, BUT THE HOMESTEAD OF PEOPLE GETTING A TAX INCREASE.
COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON BROUGHT THAT UP BEFORE PRICES WERE DROPPING, BEFORE INTEREST RATES REALLY WENT UP.
HE HAD CAUTIONED THAT BECAUSE THE GAP IS SO WIDE, THAT IF PRICES WERE TO DROP, WE COULD SEE A SITUATION WHERE RESIDENTIAL PEOPLE WITH HOMESTEADS WOULD SEE TAX INCREASES.
AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE GETTING MASSIVE INCREASES THAT DIDN'T HAVE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS, RENTERS, NEW PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO THAT, WOULD SEE DECREASES.
AND LUCKILY WE HELD THE LINE ON OUR DEBT, UM, IN MY OPINION.
AND THEN ALSO WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS A PLAN OUT OF A SMALL PART OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN.
AND THIS MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT THE OTHER CITIES OUT THERE THAT LOADED UP ON DEBT BECAUSE THE IDEA PITCHED BY ANOTHER CITY MANAGER WAS, THIS IS A ONE-TIME OPPORTUNITY.
YOU CAN BORROW A TON OF MONEY AND YOU CAN STILL HAVE NO NEW REVENUE AND YOUR TAX BILLS STAY THE SAME.
AND WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN DETAIL AND THE COUNCIL DECIDED NOT TO DO THAT.
THE CITIES THAT DID THAT ARE NOW HAVING TO SHOW THEIR PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T GET TO BORROW DEBT FOR FREE AND YOU DO HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT YOU EAT.
AND SO, LUCKILY FOR US, WE TOLD EVERYBODY, YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE A SMALL INCREASE IF RATES OR IF, UH, PRICES DROP.
YOU'RE NOW SEEING US TELL THAT.
WE ALSO TOLD THE PEOPLE WHO RENTED THAT IF WE HOLD THE LINE AND WE, WE WE MANAGE THIS APPROPRIATELY, YOU SHOULD SEE A DECREASE SHOULD PRICES DROP.
AND SO EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE PLAYING OUT, IN MY OPINION, THE WAY, UM, COUNCILOR THORNTON KIND OF HYPO HYPOTHESIZED IT COULD HAPPEN.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN DETAIL.
AND SO I'M THANKFUL THAT LAST YEAR WE, WE DIDN'T GO TOO CRAZY.
'CAUSE NOW THIS YEAR, EVEN WITH NO NEW REVENUE, SOME WILL STILL SEE AN INCREASE IN TAXES.
BUT OVERALL, UM, WE'RE STILL NOT TAKING ANY MORE IN IT'S JUST, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S JUST REBALANCING WHO'S, WHO'S PAYING FOR WHAT.
AND THIS SHOULD ALSO HELP POTENTIALLY SOME BUSINESSES.
ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS FOR SOME REASON THE BUSINESS PEOPLE SAW MASSIVE INCREASES IN VALUATIONS AGAIN.
UM, BUT I WOULD ANTICIPATE AT SOME POINT THAT COMES BACK DOWN AND THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN THAT THEN A HOMESTEADED AND THE RESIDENTIAL WITHOUT A HOMESTEAD MAY SEE INCREASES ONE YEAR AND BUSINESSES SEE A DECREASE BECAUSE THE MARKET IS SO JACKED UP RIGHT NOW THAT IT, IT'S JUST NOT, IT'S JUST NOT OPERATING EFFICIENTLY.
BUT, UM, SO I APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYBODY DID LAST YEAR 'CAUSE I THINK WE'RE SEEING DIVIDENDS ON THAT THIS YEAR.
YEAH, AND I'LL JUST ADD, I MEAN THAT THIS CHART KIND OF JUMPED OUT AT ME TOO.
AND, AND, UH, WE'VE HAD A VERY UNUSUAL TWO YEARS OF APPRAISALS WITH A HUGE, HUGE JUMP LAST YEAR AND THEN THIS YEAR WITH RESIDENTIAL AND, AND COMMERCIAL KIND OF GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
UM, AND SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT'S PLAYING OUT HERE, KIND OF FORCING THIS SITUATION.
SO BY BEING CAREFUL LAST YEAR, WE ACTUALLY, I THINK THE HOMESTEAD PEOPLE GOT A, A BETTER DROP LAST YEAR.
AND SO THAT KIND OF CUSHIONS THE, THE SLIGHT INCREASE THIS YEAR.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE, THERE'S A DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY TO EVERYTHING WE ASK YOU TO DO WITH THE BUDGET.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BRINGS THE GREATEST DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY IS BUILDING A BUDGET IN THAT NO NEW REVENUE.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU HAVE TO SPEND.
AND SO GETTING A BUDGET THAT GETS ALL OF THESE THINGS DONE WITHIN THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD ACHIEVEMENT.
I'M SURE WE'RE GONNA PICK APART A LOT OF LITTLE THINGS HERE AND THERE SURE.
BUT, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING FROM A GOOD PLACE.
OH, THAT STOOD OUT TO ME AS WELL FROM LAST YEAR.
I MEAN, I, I KIND OF CAUTIONED AND WARNED THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY SEE SOME KIND OF A BOUNCE BACK EFFECT IF WE WENT TOO LOW LAST YEAR.
LIKE, 'CAUSE WE, WE DID NO NEW REVENUE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR.
AND I KIND OF CAUTIONED IF WE DO THAT, WE'RE GONNA SEE A BOUNCE BACK, UM, AND SEE AN INCREASE FOR THOSE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS.
I MEAN, LAST YEAR I WAS HOMESTEAD EXEMPTED AND I GOT A PRETTY GOOD DECREASE.
I STILL WOULD'VE GOTTEN A DECREASE IF WE WOULD'VE DONE 40, 43, 44, EVEN 45 CENTS.
UM, BUT NOW I SAW BIGGER DECREASE LAST YEAR, AND NOW I'M SEEING AN INCREASE.
UM, YOU KNOW, MY, MY HOPE AND MY CAUTION IS, IS THAT WE WERE RESPONSIBLE IN THIS AS WE TALK ABOUT IT, THAT WE DON'T TRY TO TO GO TOO LOW, TOO FAST BECAUSE THEN WE SEE KIND OF WHAT I SUSPECTED WE, WE WOULD SEE WHERE NOW WE'VE KIND OF BOUNCED BACK UP AND, AND I'M SEEING AN INCREASE, EVEN THOUGH MY TAX RATE'S POTENTIALLY GOING DOWN 2 CENTS, UM, I'M STILL SEEING AN INCREASE.
AND SO THAT'S JUST MY CAUTION.
THAT WAS JUST KIND OF MY THOUGHT.
THAT'S WHAT STOOD OUT TO ME WHEN I SAW THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT A BUDGET WITHIN THE NO NEW REVENUE
[02:10:01]
AND STILL DELIVER ALL THE STUFF, UH, THAT YOU SAY THAT YOU CAN DELIVER.UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME THAT I REALLY LIKE ARE THE INVESTING IN OUR, IN OUR PEOPLE.
UM, THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME, UH, WITH THE, UH, 4% POTENTIAL PAY INCREASES, THE, UM, DIFFERENTIAL INCREASES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THAT'S THE NIGHTTIME DIFFERENTIAL.
UM, INTERNAL POLLING FOR THE, FOR THE, UM, EMPLOYEES, UM, DOING AWARDS AND RECOGNITION EVENTS, ALL THOSE THINGS.
INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE, INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE.
UM, I THINK THAT'S GONNA REALLY LEND ITSELF TOWARDS, UM, PEOPLE STAYING AT THE CITY OF HU LONG TERM.
UM, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR AND WANT TO STAY HERE AND WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW WITH THE CITY.
I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS, UM, BETTER THAN I EVER EXPECTED.
SO I THINK YOU MISUNDERSTAND THE WAY THAT THE RATES WORK BECAUSE HAVING A LARGER DECREASE LAST YEAR AND THEN HAVING A NEW, NEW REVENUE RATE THIS YEAR DID NOT CAUSE AN INCREASE VERSUS IF WE HAD DONE A SMALLER CUT LAST YEAR, I'M SAYING CAUSE A DECREASE.
NO, BUT IF WE HAD, BUT IF WE HAD DONE A SMALLER, IF WE HAD A LARGER BUDGET LAST YEAR, THEN NO NEW REVENUE RATE WOULD BE HIGHER THIS YEAR AS WELL.
AND SO IT WOULD STILL BE AN INCREASE NO MATTER WHAT WE DID.
YEAH, I WAS GONNA ASK THE CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU, 'CAUSE THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD YOU WERE SAYING WAS THE RATE WAS 42 CENTS LAST YEAR THAT HAD WE GONE AT 44, YOU'RE THINKING IS WE WOULDN'T MAYBE HAVE A BOUNCE BACK THIS YEAR.
AND SO, AND MAYBE I'M WRONG, BUT THAT, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IS CAN YOU THAT I WOULDN'T BE BOUNCING BACK AS MUCH AS I AM RIGHT.
CAN YOU SHOW US THAT AS A HOMESTEAD? BECAUSE, UM, I, I DO THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MAKING RIGHT DECISIONS BECAUSE MY MIND TELLS ME THE SAME THING.
COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON SAYS, IF WE KEPT THE RATE HIGHER LAST YEAR BECAUSE WE BORROWED MORE, I'M NOT SAYING BORROWED MORE WELL THAT THAT'S WHAT WE, WHATEVER HAD WE KEPT, IF WE CAN GET ANALYSIS HAD WE KEPT THE RATE SAY 2 CENTS HIGHER, WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE THIS YEAR? AND I'M ASSUMING IT'S BORROWING BECAUSE THE ONLY THING WE DID LAST YEAR WAS WE BORROWED LESS, UM, FROM OUR THING.
WE COULD HAVE DONE OTHER THINGS WITHOUT BORROWING THE MONEY.
THAT'S, THAT'S WHY YOU KEEP THE RATE THE HIGH LITTLE BIT HIGHER SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BORROW THAT MUCH MONEY.
YOU CAN PAY FOR IT OUT OF THAT RATE.
BUT BUT IF THE NO NEW REVENUE, IF WE DID 44 LAST YEAR INSTEAD OF 42, THEN WE'D BE LOOKING AT AN NO NEW REVENUE OF APPROXIMATELY 42 THIS YEAR INSTEAD OF 40.
SO IT'D STILL BE A HIGHER TAX THIS YEAR THAN IT WAS LA THEN? POSSIBLY.
I MEAN IF, YEAH, IF YOU WANNA HAVE THE CITY MANAGER RUN THE NUMBERS WAS I SAID IS THAT WAY DATA WILL TELL US.
IT, IT JUST HYPOTHETICALLY, IF WE KEPT THE RATE 2 CENTS HIGHER LAST YEAR, WHAT WOULD THAT CYCLE THROUGH THIS YEAR? AND IT WOULD HAVE TO, MY GUESS IS IT WOULD HAVE TO BE IN DEBT BECAUSE WE, WE HAD OUR M AND O AND THE ONLY THING WE DIDN'T DO LAST YEAR WAS SELL MORE DEBT, WHICH WOULD'VE RESULTED NO, YOU COULD, YOU COULD'VE INCREASED YOUR M O PROJECT.
LET'S, LET'S FOCUS ON THE NEXT UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
I MEAN, I WOULD SAY FOCUS ON THE FUTURE WOULD NOT WANT TO, TO WASTE THE CITY MANAGER'S TIME ON ALL THESE WHAT FSS ABSOLUTELY.
UM, IF HE WANTS TO DO THAT AFTERWARD, WE'RE DONE WITH THE BUDGET JUST TO KIND OF SEE, I, I THINK, I THINK THAT'S FINE
HERE'S THE ONLY REASON I ASK THIS.
LET'S SAY YOU ARE RIGHT COUNCILOR THORN AND I ARE WRONG AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE WRONG.
WE MAY BE MAKING A WRONG DECISION GOING FORWARD BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THE RESULTS OF THE DECISION WE MADE LAST YEAR.
IF HYPOTHETICALLY, BY KEEPING A RIGHT LOWER, WE HAD A SMALLER BOUNCE BACK.
WOULDN'T YOU WANNA KNOW WHERE WE RIGHT OR WRONG IN OUR ASSUMPTIONS LAST YEAR BEFORE WE MAKE DECISIONS THIS YEAR? BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU'RE REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKE OR YOU'RE STAYING ON THE RIGHT PATH.
RIGHT? SO WHAT'S THE RIGHT, 'CAUSE WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE HERE.
WAS IT A SMART MOVE LAST YEAR OR NOT? AND YOU DON'T WANNA BE FOUR YEARS DOWN THE ROAD GOING, OH, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.
IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT DIFFICULT.
'CAUSE HE'S GONNA THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
AND CAN TAKE THE, SHE CAN TAKE THE VALUATION TIMES THE TAX RATE AND YOU GET A NUMBER AND THEN SHE CAN TAKE THE NEW ONE TIMES THE TAX RATE AND GET A NUMBER.
SO I MEAN I I I, I BELIEVE WE CAN RUN A A WHAT IF SCENARIO ON THAT.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE SPLIT THE 2 CENTS ONE PENNY TO O AND M ONE PENNY TO DEBT.
THAT'S, BUT THEN ALSO THE, THE RATE APPLIES TO THIS ENVIRONMENT THAT WE'RE IN.
BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA MAKE AN ASSUMPTION THAT MM-HMM.
WE WANNA KNOW IF IT WAS THE, THE VALUES THAT SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH THE HOMES OR YEAH, NO MOVING SLIDES.
EXACTLY WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED.
IF YOU'D JUST MADE ONE DIFFERENT DECISION ON THE RATE, WHAT THEN IF THEN YOU WERE AT NO NEW REVENUE THIS YEAR, LIKE WHERE WOULD WE BE ON THE INCREASE? LIKE WOULD IT BE 74 WOULD GO UP FOR HOMESTEAD, WHICH IS LIKE 80% OF EVERYONE IN THIS TOWN? OR WOULD IT BE WE WOULD'VE ONLY HAD A $10 INCREASE FOR PEOPLE WITH HOMESTEAD, BUT PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMESTEAD, INSTEAD OF THEIR REDUCTION BEING 4 88, THEY'D ONLY BE GETTING A $200 REDUCTION.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT UH, PETER IS ASKING OR COUNCILMAN OR GORDON IS ASKING ABOUT VERSUS, YOU KNOW, AND SO JUST THAT, THAT'S AN
[02:15:01]
INTERESTING WHAT IF THAT, THAT WOULD GUIDE WHAT YOU WOULD THEN DO THIS YEAR THOUGH? I WOULD ALSO CAUTION, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THAT ANSWER IS, WE HAD A 15% PROPERTY, UH, EVALUATION REDUCTION PRETTY MUCH ACROSS THE BOARD.THAT'S WHY WE SEE THIS, UM, AFTER A 40%.
SO YOU HAD A NET 25 AND THEN HOMESTEADS ARE 10% MAX.
SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE GONNA GO UP TO YOUR POINT NO MATTER WHAT WE DID.
AND I ALSO WOULD SAY, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER 40% IN 2024.
IF ANYTHING, WE'RE GONNA STAY THE SAME OR HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DROP AGAIN IF INTEREST RATES GO UP ANOTHER QUARTER PERCENT OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
AND IF WE GO INTO A RECESSION IN 2024 PRIOR TO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
SO AS ACADEMIC AS IT IS, I DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT IT WOULD GUIDE YOUR DECISION BECAUSE I THINK BETWEEN THIS NEXT YEAR IT'S GONNA BE A DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCE THAN WHAT WE HAPPENED OVER THIS YEAR.
I DON'T THINK WE, WE EITHER, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE A 15% REDUCTION AGAIN THIS YEAR.
EITHER WE WILL OR, OR WE'LL STAY THE SAME.
IS IT A REDUCTION CITY MANAGER OR DO WE HAVE AN INCREASE IN VALUES? WE HAD AN INCREASE.
OUR VALUE AS A CITY WENT UP, BUT NOT YOUR INDIVIDUAL.
I MEAN IF YOU GOT YOUR THINGS ACCOUNT AND THE AVERAGE HOME VALUES, IF MEMORY SERVES, BUT ALSO WENT UP, BUT I SHARED THAT SHEET OUT SO Y'ALL CAN LOOK AT ALL THE DATA.
THE REASON I SAID IS THE OVERALL VALUE OF THE CITY WENT UP.
SO WHILE SOME ASSET CLASSES WENT DOWN, WE HAD NEW CONSTRUCTIONS WENT UP.
WELL THANK Y'ALL FOR THE FEEDBACK.
AND THANK AND THANK EVERYONE OUT HERE FOR LISTENING.
I KNOW SOME OF Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY HERE FOR OTHER ITEMS. UM, SO THANK Y'ALL FOR BEING PATIENT.
ALRIGHT THEN THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM
[9.1. Consideration and possible action regarding possible appointments, re-appointments and/or removals to City Boards, Commissions, Task Forces, Economic Development Corporations, Local Government Corporations and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Boards, City Council Liaisons, and Area Government appointments. ]
NINE ONE CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING POSSIBLE APPOINTMENTS, REAPPOINTMENTS AND OR REMOVALS TO CITY BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, TASK FORCES, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS AND TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENTS, THE LIAISONS AND AREA GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS.HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR THAT? NO, I DON'T THOUGH.
I DID WANNA BRING BACK UP THAT WE WERE PROBABLY GOING TO MAYBE LOOK AT, AND I GUESS IT'LL BE WITH CHARTER REVIEW, BUT THE FOCUS OF THE EMERGENCY SERVICES, UH, TASK FORCE AND WHAT ITS ROLE IS AND EITHER IT'S CLARIFICATION OR SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T THINK IT, THERE'S NO ACTION TO DO TONIGHT.
SO THAT ITEM WILL BE FROM THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, WE ASKED HIM TO COME BACK AND PRESENT TO US.
BUT WE ASKED THE, UM, CITY MANAGER TO GET IT SET UP FOR THE TASK FORCE TO COME BACK AT THE AUGUST 17TH MEETING.
COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING FOR THE, I JUST WANNA SAY THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD REALLY NEEDS SOME MEMBERS.
SO ANYBODY IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS ANY INTEREST IN THE LIBRARY.
I ACTUALLY KNOW SOMEBODY BECAUSE THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT, UH, BOOKS MM-HMM.
AND SO I'VE ALWAYS SAID, I THINK I JUST SAID EARLIER THAT WHEN A PERSON HAS CONCERNS OR PASSION, UMHMM, FIRST THING I SAY IS, IS WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON WHATEVER NIGHT THEY MEET AND THEY MEET QUARTERLY, IS THAT CORRECT? YES.
UM, ALRIGHT, SO IF ANYBODY CAN REACH OUT TO PEOPLE THEY KNOW AND, AND THE CITY SECRETARY HAS A LIST OF ANY BOARDS THAT WE HAVE OPEN.
UM, AND ALSO AT SOME POINT, I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE A DATE FROM THE CITY MANAGER OF WHEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE, UH, IT'LL BE SOMETIME THIS FISCAL YEAR WHERE, WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE A APPLICATION JOB POSTING, UH, ENHANCEMENT FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
UM, SO I, I'M, I'M, I'M REMISS, I MEAN, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WORD.
I DON'T KNOW THE DATE THAT, THAT, I COULD SAY FOR SURE THAT WE COULD DELIVER IT, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED, RIGHT? WE'RE DEFINITELY HEADED THAT WAY TO WHERE THE APPLICATIONS WOULD JUST BE LIKE, YOU'RE GONNA APPLY FOR A JOB, YOU GO TO THE WEB PORTAL, YOU FILL OUT THE INFORMATION FOR THE BOARDING COMMISSION AND YOU SUBMIT IT AND THEN IT'S ABLE TO BE STREAMLINED AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
BUT I, I CAN'T TELL YOU THE EXACT DEADLINE YET BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THE ROLLOUT OF THE, OF THE APPLICANT PORTAL THAT'S GONNA ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.
SO MY ONLY REQUEST IS ON THE CITY SECRETARY.
I KNOW WE HAVE UNDER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
CAN WE JUST CREATE A VACANCY PAY, UH, LIST DOCUMENT, JUST A SINGLE DOCUMENT OF WHAT'S CURRENTLY VACANT SO PEOPLE COULD JUST CLICK ON ONE THING AND JUST SEE ALL OF 'EM AT ONCE AND THEN IF THEY WANNA APPLY THEY CAN.
UM, 'CAUSE AS WE GET APPLICATIONS WE INTERVIEW, WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS SINCE WE DID THE BIG APPOINTMENTS BACK IN JUNE.
SO THERE ARE VACANCIES, UM, AND THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A LIST, THERE'S PROBABLY ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE TOTAL ACROSS ALL THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
SO, ALRIGHT, IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS, I'D LIKE TO GO FOR A FIVE MINUTE RECESS.
HEARING NONE RECESS AT NINE 40.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA SAY SOMETHING ELSE.
[02:20:01]
WE'RE BACK FROM RECESS.YOU HAD IT ALL OUT, SO YOU DID.
ACTUALLY, BEFORE WE GO TO THAT, DO YOU ALL MIND IF WE MOVE UP? ITEM TEN SIX NEXT HEARING NO OBJECTIONS.
[10.6. Consideration and possible action approving Ordinance No. O-2023-050 amending Article 14.07, Discrimination, of the Hutto Code of Ordinances to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation (First Reading) (Councilmember Dan Thornton and Mayor Pro Tern Peter Gordon)]
GO TO ITEM TEN SIX, CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLE ACTION APPROVING ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2023 DASH FIVE AMENDING ARTICLE 14.07, DISCRIMINATION OF THE HU CODE OF ORDINANCES TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENERAL IDENTITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION.SO THIS WAS A PRETTY SIMPLE ITEM TO ME.
WE HAD A MEMBER, UH, I THINK A FORMER MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, COMMENT THAT THERE, THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE ANY PROTECTION IN OUR HOUSING DISCRIMINATION ORDINANCE, UH, FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY.
UM, I KNOW MAYOR PROAM GORDON AND I BOTH REACHED OUT TO STAFF ABOUT THAT AT THE TIME.
AND, UH, WE HAVE AN UPDATED ORDINANCE THAT NOW SPELLS THAT OUT THAT ALL THE, ALL THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE ALSO PROTECTED FROM HOUSING DISCRIMINATION.
UM, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
UH, AND SO I'D LIKE TO MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE, UH, O 2023 DASH 0 5 0 AS PRESENTED.
SECOND MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON.
AND YOU KNOW, ONE THING, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING ACT HAD IT LISTED OUT, BUT TO, UH, MAKE SURE THAT IT'S, NO ONE CAN EVER GET DISPUTED AND HAVE SOME DISCUSSION OF, WELL IT'S IN THE FEDERAL, DOES IT APPLY TO OUR CITY? SO JUST PUTTING IT IN OUR CITY AS WELL, JUST MAKES PERFECT SENSE AND I'M GLAD TO SEE IT DONE.
AND, UM, SO YEAH, I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, WAS THIS ORDINANCE, UM, DID IT COME FROM THE D N I COMMISSION FROM THE MEMBERS THERE? OR HOW WAS IT BROUGHT LIKE FORWARD? THIS WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WAS, UH, SINCE COMING FROM THE D N I COMMISSION, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WAS, THORNTON WAS PUSHING EVER, UH, ELECTIONS WERE IN MAY.
AND SO STARTED PUSHING IT I THINK IN FEBRUARY, UM, FEBRUARY OR MARCH.
'CAUSE THIS CAME BEFORE US WHENEVER I WAS THE CHAIRPERSON ON THE COMMISSION.
SO THIS HAS BEEN, I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN GONE THROUGH THE D N I AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO LOOK AT IT AND, AND ADD IN SOME, UH, SOME, SOME VERBIAGE, UH, WITH THE HELP OF DOTTIE AS WELL.
BUT SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON, IF YOU WERE GONNA TALK YEAH, APPRECIATE THE INPUT.
YEAH, I GUESS JUST, UM, WHENEVER I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT OR WHATEVER, JUST BECAUSE, UM, IN THE FEDERAL, YOU KNOW, FAIR HOUSING ACT, IT WAS UNDER SEX, I GUESS IT DOES DEFINE, IT DOES, IT DOES DEFINE SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY ALREADY.
AND OBVIOUSLY I KNOW THAT WE KINDA WENT BACK WITH BACK AND FORTH WITH THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY ON CLARIFICATION.
I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST KIND OF LIKE, UH, I GUESS CLARIFYING IT MORE, I SUPPOSE AND DEFINING IT MORE SO IT'S, IT'S ALREADY PROTECTED UNDER, I GUESS THE CATEGORY OF SEX.
BUT I GUESS, UH, IN THE ORDINANCE WE'RE JUST KIND OF EXPANDING IT, IF THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
WHICH, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S JUST KIND OF I GUESS DEFINING IT FURTHER OR I GUESS IN MORE DETAIL.
AND SO, UM, AS LONG, AS LONG AS WE'RE JUST KIND OF STICKING TO THE, TO THE FEDERAL FAIR HOUSING, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING GREAT THAT THE CITY CAN, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD WITH DEFINING THAT.
CISCO'S IS SOMETHING I'VE TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN AS A CITY WE'VE TAKEN A STANCE OF, WELL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS YOU CAN OR CAN'T DO SOMETHING.
SO WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING OR PASS ANYTHING FORWARD.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE TALKED TO SEE MANAGER ABOUT IS I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT INSTEAD OF US JUST SAYING, UM, WELL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION OR PROHIBITS THIS OR ALLOWS YOU TO DO THIS, WE AS A CITY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO ON THE RECORD, TAKE A VOTE, AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN FURTHER AFFIRM, UM,
I JUST LOOK AT IT AS AN AFFIRMATION FROM THIS COUNCIL, WHETHER WE DO OR DO NOT AGREE WITH THINGS.
'CAUSE REALLY, QUITE HONESTLY, NO MATTER WHAT THE VOTE IS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S GONNA OVERRULE US.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE REPRESENT TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE FEEL ABOUT ISSUES AND THEN BE ABLE TO PROJECT THOSE ISSUES AND SAY, THIS IS HOW WE FEEL, UM, ABOUT DIFFERENT MATTERS THAT COME BEFORE US.
UM, ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
SEVEN ZERO IS THIS ONE WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO, UH, DISPENSE WITH THE SECOND READING.
I THINK BECAUSE THERE'S, UH, PENALTIES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A SECOND READING.
SO WE'LL HAVE A SECOND READING NEXT TO THEN.
[02:25:01]
ANA.I I SAW YOU COME IN AND I SAID, OOH, WE GOT ANOTHER HOUR.
[10.1. Consideration and possible action on Ordinance No. O-2023-052 creating a Stormwater Management Program (Matt Rector) ]
ITEM TEN ONE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2023 DASH 52, CREATING A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.GOOD EVENING AGAIN, MAYOR COUNSEL, UH, FOR THE RECORD.
UH, SO THIS ITEM IS, THIS ITEM IS JUST TO UM, BASICALLY FIX AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE FOUND IN OUR, IN OUR DEVELOPMENT CODES.
UM, IN OUR, WE DON'T HAVE OUR OWN ENGINEERING MANUAL, SO WE DEFER TO ROUND ROCKS, DRAINAGE AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR DRAINAGE DESIGN.
UM, THEY HAVE, AND AS PART OF THEIR CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS, THEY REQUIRE THAT EVERYBODY MITIGATES STORM WATER ON SITE OFFSITE OR THROUGH THEIR REGIONAL PROGRAM.
UM, AND WE, WE REFLECT SOME OF THAT LANGUAGE IN OUR U D C WHERE WE SAY THAT ALL PEAK FLOWS HAVE TO BE MANAGED ONSITE OFFSITE, OR THE DEVELOPER CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL STORMWATER PROGRAM.
THE U D C THEN SAYS THIS PROGRAM IS FURTHER DEFINED ELSEWHERE, BUT IT'S NOT DEFINED ANYWHERE.
AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORDINANCE IS TO FIX THAT ISSUE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT OF DEVELOPERS THAT COME IN RIGHT ON THE CREEK AND THEY, UH, PROVIDE ALL THE ANALYSIS SO THAT THEY CAN NOT DO ONSITE DETENTION.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THE OTHER STUFF IN PLACE PER OUR ORDINANCE OR PER OUR U D C OR PER THE DRAINAGE AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS OF ROUND ROCK.
SO THIS FIXES THAT ISSUE AND PROVIDES AN ORDINANCE.
SO THEN THAT WE WOULD HAVE A PROGRAM TO, TO REFER THEM TO YOU.
READY? QUESTIONS FROM COUNSEL OR ACTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE O DASH 2023 DASH OH FIVE TWO IS PRESENTED.
SECOND, I DO WANNA MENTION, UM, BECAUSE WE WERE USING A LOT OF ROUND ROCK'S LANGUAGE, WE HAVE ZONING ADMINISTRATOR IN THERE IN THE FIRST PARAGRAPH AND THAT SHOULD BE CITY ENGINEER.
SO IF YOU COULD ADD THAT TO YOUR MOTION.
YOU OKAY WITH THAT? I CONSENT TO THAT, YES.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOHLER.
AND WE'RE PUTTING CITY ENGINEER INSTEAD OF WHAT, WHAT DID YOU SAY? ZONING ADMINISTRATOR.
HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
MAYOR, I MOVE TO, UH, WAIVE THE SECOND READING.
MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOLAR.
UH, DISPENSING OF THE SECOND READING.
DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK AYE.
[10.2. Consideration and possible action on Ordinance No. O-2023-046 amending the City Rate Schedule to include fees associated with the Stormwater Management Program (Matt Rector) ]
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2023 DASH 46 AMENDING THE CITY RATE SCHEDULE TO INCLUDE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH A STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS ITEM IS BASICALLY BUILDING OFF OF THE ORDINANCE THAT WE JUST PASSED.
UM, PART OF THAT REGIONAL PROGRAM, UH, AS, AS, AS WE DEFINED IT AND AS ROUND ROCK HAS DEFINED THEIRS, IT REQUIRES THE DEVELOPER TO PAY A FEE IN LIEU OF DOING ONSITE DETENTION BASICALLY.
UM, AND WHAT THAT FEE DOES IS WHEN WE HAVE TO COME EVENTUALLY, IF, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO BUILD ON THE CREEK IT, WHEN WE HAVE TO COME BEHIND THEM AND DO ANY SORT OF MITIGATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT ALLOWS THE CITY TO CAPTURE THOSE COSTS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT, WHEN THEY DO THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, IF THEY PROVE THAT THEY CAN HAVE NO ADVERSE IMPACT, THEN WE ARE PRETTY LIMITED ON WHAT WE CAN FORCE THEM TO DO.
BUT EVENTUALLY WHEN ENOUGH PEOPLE SHOW THEY HAVE NO ADVERSE IMPACT, THERE WILL BE SOME IMPACTS TO THE CREEKS.
AND SO THIS ALLOWS US TO THEN GO IN AND MANAGE THOSE CREEKS.
AND SO, UH, WE HAVE SET OUR RATES EXACTLY THE SAME AS ROUND ROCK SO THAT NOBODY CAN SAY WE'RE CHEAPER OR MORE EXPENSIVE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND SO THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE TO THE FEE SCHEDULE TO SHOW THOSE, THOSE ADDITIONAL RATES SO THAT WHEN SOMEBODY WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM, WE HAVE A FEE FOR THAT.
[02:30:01]
AND WHAT IS THAT FEE AND HOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK? LIKE THE FEE IN LIEU OF UH, SO WHEN THEY SUBMIT ALL OF THEIR DRAINAGE, UM, MODELS AND SUCH TO ME FOR REVIEW AND I VERIFY ALL OF THEIR NUMBERS AND ALL THEIR SCIENCE, UM, AND SHOW THAT THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY'RE WANTING TO DO WITH NO ADVERSE IMPACT, THEN THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM AND PAY THE FEE IN LIEU AND THE FEES ARE SET SO THAT IT'S UM, I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME BUT I'LL GO OFF OF MEMORY.UH, IT WAS $800 AN ACRE FOR SINGLE FAMILY.
I THINK IT'S $1,600 AN ACRE FOR COMMERCIAL AND THEN IT'S $2,400 AN ACRE FOR INDUSTRIAL.
SO I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE.
WHAT FUND DOES THIS MONEY GO INTO? YEAH, THIS WOULD GO INTO THE, I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD GO INTO OUR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FUND OR I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE TECHNICAL TERM THAT ANN CALLS IT, BUT IT YEAH, IT'D BE A TECHNICAL, IT IT'D BE A, AN ACCOUNTING DECISION.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A DRAINAGE FEE, RIGHT? STORMWATER DRAINAGE FEE ALREADY.
SO THAT'D BE THE FIRST PLACE THAT IT WOULD GO UNLESS WE SPIN OFF A SECOND SPECIALTY FUND JUST FOR THIS SPECIFIC FEE.
SO YOU COULD ACCOUNT FOR THEM SEPARATELY OR YOU COULD GROUP THEM TOGETHER OR SOMEONE COULD PUT 'EM THEORETICALLY IN SOME OTHER FUND.
RIGHT, BECAUSE WE, THE ORDINANCES I READ IT, IT DOESN'T REALLY SAY WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO.
UH, YOU SAID IT'S AN ACCOUNTING DECISION SO YEAH, WELL WE HAVE TO USE IT FOR THIS SPECIAL PURPOSE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS USUALLY WITH A SPECIAL FEE LIKE THIS, SO YOU CAN'T SPEND, THAT'S USUALLY ENDS UP GETTING ITSELF PAIRED TO HAVING ITS OWN SPECIAL FUND SO THAT WAY YOU CAN KEEP THE ACCOUNTING CLEAR.
MY CONCERN IS, YOU'RE SAYING USUALLY IT DOES AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE CHARGING, 'CAUSE HERE, HERE'S WHAT I FORESEE BACK IN HISTORY.
WE WOULD CHARGE FEES, FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PUT 'EM FOR THE MOST FLEXIBILITY.
AND IT NOT ALWAYS GO TO THE PURPOSE.
AND TO, TO ME, IF WE'RE GONNA CHARGE MONEY AND I'LL GET TO THE MONEY IN A MINUTE, BUT IF WE'RE GONNA CHARGE MONEY, IT, WE NEED TO SOMEHOW AS A COUNCIL MAKE SURE THAT'S 100% GOING, IN MY OPINION, TO STORM WATER OR DRAINAGE.
THAT WAY WE CAN AT LEAST SAY WHEN THIS SOMEONE BUILT A THOUSAND ACRE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND PAID A FEE, WE CAN HAVE MONEY.
'CAUSE OTHERWISE WE'LL HAVE A DRAINAGE ISSUE OR A FLOOD ISSUE AND WE'LL BE OUT RAISING TAXES ON PEOPLE 'CAUSE WE SPENT THE MONEY ON, SO I'VE GOT THAT CONCERN.
HOW DO WE COME UP WITH THE MONEY PER ACRE? 'CAUSE TO ME PERSONALLY, IT SEEMS EXTREMELY, IT'S THE ROUND ROCK FEE.
IS IT THE ROUND ROCK FEE OR IS IT YES SIR.
IT'S IT IS, IT'S EXACTLY THE ROUND ROCK FEES THAT THEY USE IN THEIR PROGRAM.
THIS IS IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO ON ONSITE DETENTION.
SO IF YOU DON'T WANNA DO ONSITE DETENTION, YOU'RE BUILDING A COMMERCIAL BUILDING ON FOUR ACRES, YOU PAY $9,600 ON FOUR ACRES, 2,400 ACRE.
AND FOR $10,000 YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUILD A $300,000 DETENTION POND.
AND SO THE REASON I WAS WONDERING, I THINK WE NEED TO LIKE TABLE THIS AND WE NEED TO PUT SOME REALLY BIG THOUGHT INTO HOW WE'RE GONNA DO THIS.
BECAUSE IF WE SET IT UP LIKE THIS, EVERY DEVELOPER OUT THERE IS GONNA GO, WELL I'LL JUST PAY TO GET OUT OF IT.
I'LL DO A FEE IN LIEU OF, AND WE'LL BE COLLECTING $10,000 FOR A DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S REALLY GONNA BE COSTING US AN EXPONENTIAL NUMBER.
AND IN MY MIND IT NEEDS TO BE LIKE THE PARKING FEE IN LIEU OF WHERE YOU REALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO I DO I BUILD THE DETENTION ON SITE OR DO I PAY THE FEE? 'CAUSE MAN, BUT THEY CAN ONLY, THEY CAN ONLY PAY, THEY COULD ONLY OPTION TO, RIGHT NOW TODAY THEY CAN DUMP THE WATER IF IT'S ALLOWED WITHOUT IMPACT INTO THE CREEK AND THEY PAY US NOTHING.
THIS JUST SAYS IF THEY STILL MEET THAT CRITERIA TO DUMP IT INTO THE CREEK, IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT, THEY HAVE TO PAY US $10,000.
IN YOUR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN'T BE LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORNFIELD THING AND SAY, WELL THIS ONE'S GOING TO THE CREEK.
NO, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO ONSITE DETENTION JUST LIKE THEY NORMALLY DO.
WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT? BECAUSE IT'S SPECIFICALLY TO DROUGHT.
IT'S ONLY, THIS ONLY APPLIES TO WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO A CREEK.
WHERE IN THE ORDINANCE DOES IT SAY, 'CAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MATT SAYS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU SAY.
IT MATTERS WHAT THE ORDINANCE AND THE RULES SAY.
AND IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT IF THEY'RE IN A CORNFIELD, THEY CAN'T DO THIS, THEN I'D LIKE YOU TO SHOW ME BECAUSE I'M READING TWO THINGS AND I MEAN, AND I DON'T NECESSARILY READ ALL ROUND ROCK, BUT DEVELOPERS WILL GO TO THE EASIEST WAY TO GET SOMETHING DONE IN THE CHEAPEST WAY.
AND IF WE JUST RUSH THROUGH THIS, THEN YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK IN A YEAR AND GO, OH MAN, WE SHOULD HAVE, AND SO DO YOU KNOW LIKE IS HE, IS THERE A PLACE YOU CAN POINT OUT? IS HE RIGHT THAT WHERE THE ONLY WAY THEY HAVE TO PAY IS IF THEY'RE NEXT TO A CREEK OR CAN A PERSON? SO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THE FEE IN LIE, THEY HAVE TO, THE, THE WAY THE ORDINANCE READS AND THE WAY THE DAX
[02:35:01]
THE, THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR ROUND ROCK REED IS THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVE NO ADVERSE IMPACT THROUGH THEIR MODELING EFFORTS.IF THEY CAN PROVE THAT AND GET, GET THAT APPROVED THROUGH ME, BASICALLY THEN THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.
CURRENTLY THE WAY IT WORKS IN HUDU IS IF THEY CAN PROVE THAT I HAVE NO RECOURSE, THEY JUST GET TO DO BEATING THE PEAK IS WHAT EVERYBODY REFERS TO IT AS.
UM, AND SO THEY JUST GET TO DUMP IT IN THE CREEK AND WE HAVE NOTHING THAT WE CAN STAND ON TO REFER THEM TO THIS PROGRAM.
THE REASON THAT ROUND ROCK AND SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES HAVE IMPLEMENTED THIS IS BECAUSE OF THAT SITUATION IS BECAUSE THEY HAD NO RECOURSE TO THEN GO BACK AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO CAPTURE THAT.
PLUS IT'S KIND OF, UH, IT'S KIND OF AN INCENTIVE FOR THE DEVELOPER, RIGHT? BECAUSE LIKE, LIKE YOU SAID, IF THEY, IF THEY CAN GET OUT OF A 300,000 IN YOUR EXAMPLE, $300,000 DETENTION POND AND PAY NOTHING, WHO WOULDN'T DO THAT? RIGHT? AND SO THIS IS JUST A WAY TO SAY, OKAY, IF YOU CAN PROVE EVERYTHING UP AND YOU CAN DO ALL THE ENGINEERING AND ALL THE ANALYSIS AND SHOW THAT THERE IS NO ADVERSE IMPACT, THEN WE WOULD ALLOW YOU TO PAY THIS FEE INSTEAD OF DOING ONSITE DETENTION.
OTHERWISE YOU WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE REQUIREMENTS AND DO ONSITE DETENTION OR OFFSITE DETENTION.
THAT'S THE WAY THE, UH, CRITERIA READS CURRENTLY.
SO IT IS SOMEWHAT SUBJECTIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA DO A STUDY AND THEIR CONSULTANTS GOING TO MANIPULATE THE DATA IN A MANNER TO WHERE THEY CAN PROVE NO ADVERSE IMPACT.
YOU OR YOUR OFFICE IS GONNA HAVE TO ARGUE WITH THEM THAT NO, IT DOES HAVE, AND THEN AT SOME POINT THERE'S A MIDDLE AND ALL, ALL I'M SUGGESTING IS WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE A T I A I MEAN WHEN YOU DO A T I A, THE CONSULTANT THAT DOES IT, DOES EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO SHOW THERE'S NO IMPACT TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I I GET THAT, BUT I'M SAYING IF WE ADOPT NOTHING TODAY, THAT'S NOT WHAT I WELL THEN THE FEE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO FEE THEY CAN STILL DO THIS PROGRAM TODAY.
SO I'M JUST SAYING LET'S PUT A FEE ON IF IT TURNS OUT THAT WE GET A TON OF PEOPLE AND WE COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO RAISE THE FEE IN SIX MONTHS, WE CAN, BUT HAVING NO FEE AND STILL CONTINUING DOWN THE PATH WHERE THEY CAN GET IT BY WITH PAYING NOTHING WHILE WE WAIT AND DEBATE A COUPLE OF MORE MONTHS SEEMS IMP PRUDENT VERSUS LET'S SET A FEE AND MAKE THEM HAVE TO PAY.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY PAY NOTHING AND THEY CAN STILL DO IT TODAY, LIKE RIGHT NOW, TODAY.
I'LL MAKE ONE LAST COMMENT AND THEN I'M JUST GONNA BE DONE.
I WOULD HOPE THAT REVIEWING THE FEES DOES NOT EQUATE TO A COUPLE MONTH DEBATE.
OKAY? I'M ONLY SUGGESTING THE FEES ARE SO LOW THAT IT'S, IT'S TOO LOW AND WE COULD MAKE THE DECISION TODAY, BUT IT'S ARBITRARY AND I DON'T KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THE INFORMATION CAME FROM AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AGO ROUND ROCK, BUT I'M NOT GONNA RUSH INTO SOMETHING AND JUST PASS IT SO THAT SIX MONTHS LATER I CAN COME BACK WHEN I CAN WAIT TWO WEEKS AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S GONNA BE A FLOOD OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND GOING, I NEED TO HURRY UP AND GET IN BEFORE THIS $10,000 FEE.
I PREFER A MORE PRAGMATIC, LET'S LOOK AT THE DATA.
SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO LOOK AT THE DATA, LOOK AT THE DATA, TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S GONNA DO.
IF WE DON'T WANNA DO IT AS A COUNCIL, THAT'S FINE, BUT, UH, $10,000 ON A DEAL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS YOU CURRENTLY HAVE, UH, APPLYING, BUT POTENTIALLY, YEAH, WE MAY MISS OUT ON 10 GRAND OR 20 GRAND.
I'M LOOKING FOR HOW THE NUMBERS CAME.
IS IT THE RIGHT NUMBERS? UM, SO THAT'S ALL.
WELL, SO YOU SAID THE NUMBERS CAME FROM ROUND ROCK.
YOU, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THEY'VE HAD THIS IMPLEMENTED ANY IDEA? I I DO NOT KNOW.
I, I CAN REACH OUT TO THEIR, THEIR ENGINEERING TEAM AND GET THAT ANSWER BECAUSE I THINK THAT IF THE NUMBERS WERE WAY LOW AND THEN EVERYONE WAS KIND OF LIKE, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS ROUND ROCK WOULD'VE FIXED THIS BY NOW, I THINK THEY WOULD'VE IMMEDIATELY SEEN, WHOA, WE, WE SCREWED UP.
I MEAN, I, I FOUND THE SECTION 1702 0.001 B ONE IS WHERE IT SAYS THAT THEY CAN'T JUST DECIDE UNILATERALLY TO DO THIS.
THEY CAN'T JUST SAY, OH, I'M GONNA PAY THE FEE.
THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH YOU, YOU HAVE TO APPROVE IT.
I MEAN THAT LOOKS TO ME LIKE THERE'S A, A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PROCESS IN PLACE IN THE ORDINANCE, UM, THAT MAKES IT SO THAT THEY CAN'T JUST USE OR ABUSE THE SYSTEM.
THAT'S THE WAY I'M READING IT AT LEAST.
AND, AND THE MODELING ALSO WOULD COST FOR THEM TO DO THE MODEL TO EVEN SUBMIT TO GO INTO THE PACKAGE.
AND AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I'VE HAD MANY DEVELOPERS SINCE I'VE COME BACK, UM, WHO HAVE, UM, HOW DO I SAY THIS? BEEN UNHAPPY WITH THE FACT THAT I AM DIGGING SO DEEP INTO THEIR MODELING EFFORTS AND IT'S COSTING THEM EXTRA FUNDS FROM THEIR ENGINEERING TEAMS. BUT THAT'S MY JOB IS
[02:40:01]
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENGINEERINGS ARE DOING, ENGINEERING TEAMS ARE DOING THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.AND SO I AM DIGGING INTO EVERY BIT OF THESE MODELS AND CHALLENGING EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS WAS JUST BECAUSE I AM PUSHING BACK SO HARD AND THEY'RE ALL TELLING ME, WELL, WE'RE DOING ALL THE MATH AND SCIENCE, BUT WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVES HERE.
YOU'RE TRYING TO PIGEONHOLE US INTO DOING ONLY THIS ONE THING, WHICH I REALLY AM.
BUT UM, I'M PUSHING EVERYBODY TO DO ONSITE DETENTION.
I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST TELL YOU.
BUT UM, BY ORDINANCE, BY THE REGULATIONS THAT I CURRENTLY HAVE TO USE, I DON'T HAVE THE, THAT ABILITY.
AND SO THIS GIVES US ALL ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE TO TRY TO PROTECT THE CITY.
THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
UH, SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
ITEM TEN TWO IS PRESENTED, BUT WITH THE CHANGE AT SINGLE FAMILY 1600 AN ACRE MULTIFAMILY IS 3,200 AN ACRE AND COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL IS $4,800 AN ACRE.
IS THAT AN INCREASE OR I TO DOUBLING? YOU'RE DOUBLING THEM.
I'LL THINK IT'S STILL TOO LOW, BUT YOU CAN ADD A ZERO ON THE END.
I'M HOPING YOU GUYS WILL COME BACK AND SAY, YEAH, UH, IT'S BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE ROUND ROCK LOOKED AT IT.
WE'D LIKE TO INCREASE OUR FEES, BUT, AND THEY MAY VERY WELL OPERATE THE SAME WAY OF, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANNA PUSH EVERYTHING TO DETENTION AND IT'S NOT AN ISSUE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T COME UP.
IS ROUND ROCK THE ONLY ONE THAT YOU LOOKED AT? THE ONLY CITY? UH, THEY WERE THE ONLY ONE THAT I LOOKED AT BECAUSE WE DEFER ALL OF OUR DRAINAGE CRITERIA TO THEM.
CURRENTLY THAT'S OUR BUILDING STANDARD IS WHAT ROUND.
AND SO ALL OF OUR STANDARDS ARE BASED ON THEIR STANDARDS.
AND SO I JUST LOOKED AT WHAT THEY DO AND HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR SYSTEM.
AND I IMPLEMENTED AND I ADDED THAT TO OUR, TO OUR ORDINANCES HERE BECAUSE I MEAN, THAT'S WHO WE USE FOR EVERYTHING ELSE ALREADY.
SO ULTIMATELY THE GOAL AND DEVELOPMENT WITH THIS IS TO PUSH TOWARDS DETENTION OF STORMWATER? YES.
I MEAN, I AM REVIEWING EVERY SINGLE SUBMITTAL THAT COMES IN EVERY, EVERY MODEL.
UM, AND I'M PUSHING ALL OF THOSE DEVELOPERS TOWARDS ONSITE DETENTION.
HOWEVER, ONCE WE GO THROUGH THE, THE MODELS AND WE DO ALL OF THE, THE BACK AND FORTH AND I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYING TO SLOW DOWN DEVELOPMENT.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT, BUT WHEN I PUSH THROUGH THEIR MODELS AND SOMETIMES IT'S TAKEN THREE OR FOUR TIMES FOR US TO COME TO COME TO TERMS ON THE MODELING EFFORT, UM, WE END UP IN THIS KIND OF CATCH 22 WHERE THE CRITERIA SAYS YOU HAVE TO DO ONSITE DETENTION.
OFFSITE DETENTION OR THIS OTHER PROGRAM.
WELL, MOST DEVELOPERS AREN'T GONNA GO OUT AND BUY MORE LAND TO DO OFFSITE DETENTION.
THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ONSITE DETENTION.
AND THEY'VE PROVEN THAT IT'S NO ADVERSE IMPACT.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE ORE OF THIS OTHER PROGRAM THAT I CAN SAY, OKAY, WELL YOU'VE DONE ALL THE, THE, THE DUE DILIGENCE AND SO I'M JUST TRYING TO FIX THAT GAP, WHICH IS CURRENTLY, I MEAN IT'S, IT'S CLEARLY STATES IT IN THE U D C AND IT CLEARLY STATES IT IN ALL THE ROUND ROCK CRITERIA THAT WE TELL EVERYBODY THAT WE'RE USING.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? UH, YEAH, JUST CLARIFICATION AGAIN, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO RATE THOSE NUMBERS DOWN.
RESIDENTIAL WAS 16, 1600 MULTIFAMILY, 3,200 AND COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL 4,800 AN ACRE WAS, I THOUGHT IT WAS RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL.
I I YOU'RE SAYING IT WAS, I WAS GOING OFF OF MEMORY.
I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME.
IS SINGLE FAMILY MULTIFAMILY COMMERCIAL SLASH INDUSTRIAL.
SO MULTIFAMILY WAS HOW MUCH? 20 3232 AND THEN INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL WAS 48.
ALRIGHT, HEARING ANOTHER, ANOTHER DISCUSSION, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER WILCOTT AYE.
[Items 10.3 - 10.5]
CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION AMENDING CHAPTER EIGHT, STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE STANDARDS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TO PROVIDE FOR COST PARTICIPATION OF STORMWATER AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.DOTTIE, IF YOU DON'T MIND, DO A GENERAL INTRODUCTION FOR ITEMS 10, 3, 4, AND FIVE.
SO, MAYOR, COUNCIL AND PUBLIC, WHAT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO HERE IS ESTABLISH ORDINANCES THAT ALLOW US TO, UH, CAPTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS THAT ARE PUT IN THE GROUND
[02:45:01]
BY POTENTIALLY A DEVELOPER AND OR THE CITY THAT OTHER PROPERTIES THEN GET TO TAKE THE ADVANTAGE OF INSTEAD OF PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE.SO IN THE EVENT THAT A WATERLINE GETS EXTENDED BY A DEVELOPER AND PASSED A PARTICULAR PIECE OF PROPERTY AND THEN THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY THEN GETS THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THE WATERLINE DRAGGED BY THE OTHER DEVELOPER, NOW WE WOULD HAVE A WAY TO BE ABLE TO, TO HAVE THEM COST, PARTICIPATE IN THE COST OF THAT LINE.
IF THE DEVELOPER PAYS FOR IT, THEN WE'RE ABLE TO ALLOW THE DEVELOPER TO RECOVER SOME OF THE INVESTMENT.
IF THE CITY PAYS FOR IT, THEN THE CITY CAN RECOVER SOME OF THE INVESTMENT ASSUMING THAT THERE'S NOT A CONFLICT WITH IMPACT FEES.
SO THAT'S WHAT THREE, FOUR AND FIVE ARE.
ALTHOUGH I THINK DOTTIE IS GONNA ASK THAT WE DON'T TAKE ACTION ON THREE TONIGHT.
THE, THE ACTION ON THREE, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT COORDINATES WITH YOUR APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE ON TEN ONE SINCE THERE'S SO MANY, UM, SIMILAR PRO PROVISIONS AND THEY'RE BOTH STORM WATER AND THEY'RE BOTH STORM WATER.
I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS IN ONE OF ONES BEFORE.
UM, SO I THINK UNDERSTAND THE, THE CONCEPT IF SOMEONE BUILDS A A, A 10 ACRE DETENTION POND FOR A A REGIONAL AREA RIGHT NOW, POTENTIALLY OTHER PEOPLE MAY SHEET FLOW OR DUMP SOMEWHERE INTO IT.
AND THIS, THIS ALLOWS THE DEVELOPER TO MAYBE BE MORE OKAY WITH BUILDING THE POND BECAUSE AT SOME POINT IN TIME WITH DEVELOPMENT THEY WOULD SEE A, A RECOVERY OF SOME OF THE MONEY THEY SPENT.
AND THEN EACH ONE OF THESE IS FOR A DIFFERENT CATEGORY OF, OF, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, THE NEXT ONE IS TRANSPORTATION, SO ROADS.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS WATER AND WASTEWATER.
ALRIGHT, SO IF THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS, WE CAN JUST TAKE NO ACTION ON TEN THREE AND THAT'LL ALLOW STAFF TO BRING IT BACK WHEN THEY'RE READY.
WILL THAT WORK, JAMES? YES, SIR.
WE'LL GO TO ITEM TEN FOUR, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION AMENDING SECTION 10.615 ROAD ADEQUACY STANDARDS OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE TO PROVIDE FOR COST PARTICIPATION OF TRANSPORTATION EXTENSIONS.
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK.
WE HAVE A SECOND, SECOND, SECOND.
GORDON, ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TECHNICAL ERRORS IN THIS ONE TOO.
UM, ON THE FIRST PAGE, UNDER THE PURPOSE AND GENERAL POLICY, WE'RE GENERALLY WANTING THESE ORDINANCES TO BE THE SAME.
AND SO ON THE THIRD, UM, BULLET DOWN THERE, THE DEVELOPERS REQUIRED TO EXTEND IT SHOULD BE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT UTILITY.
AND THEN THE LAST BULLET, UM, I CALL IT THE TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN, BUT IT'S THE CITY'S REALLY CALLS IT THE MOBILITY MASTER PLAN.
SO WITH THOSE TWO CORRECTIONS, UM, THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR ALSO TO REMOVE, UM, SUBDIVISION PLATT APPROVAL FROM THE TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS.
THERE'S A NEW STATE LAW THAT SAYS YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
SO IT CORRECTS THAT STATE LAW AND THEN ALSO SETS UP YOUR, UM, PRO RATA FEE.
THE COST, UM, PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WILL HAVE ALL THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE GONNA BENEFIT FROM IT, UM, IN THE AGREEMENT AND THE PRO RATA FEE BE CALCULATED.
IF THEY CONTEST IT, THEY CAN TAKE THAT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, BUT IT GIVES THE AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THESE COST PARTICIPATION AGREEMENTS.
AND THEN THE FEES ARE COLLECTED INTO THE PRO RATA REIMBURSEMENT FUND.
THERE'S A PRO AND IT'S OVER A 10 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME IF, UM, AND THEN WHOEVER BUILDS IT, EITHER THE CITY OR THE DEVELOPER.
IF AFTER THE 10 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME, UM, FEES HAVE BEEN COLLECTED BUT NOT DISPERSED, THERE'S A PROCESS FOR THAT UNCLAIMED FEES.
SO, SO SAY THE DEVELOPER, UH, BUILDS THE ROAD AND THEN, UM, WITHIN THE 10 YEAR PERIOD, UM, SOMEBODY PULLS A BUILDING PERMIT OR GETS A PLAT PLATT APPROVAL AND HAS TO PAY THE PRO RATA FEE, PAYS IT INTO THE FUND, BUT WE CAN'T FIND THE DEVELOPER.
THERE'S A PROCESS FOR THAT IN HERE.
SO THAT THE CITY WOULD BE ABLE TO CLAIM THOSE FUNDS AND WHO EARNS THE INTEREST? UM, WE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT INTEREST ON THE FUND.
UM, I SAID WE USED TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT EARNING INTEREST, BUT SINCE WE EARNED 6 MILLION THIS YEAR MM-HMM.
'CAUSE THE ONLY TIME, THE ONLY TIME YOU WOULD POTENTIALLY EARN INTEREST IS IF YOU COULDN'T FIND THE DEVELOPER.
RIGHT? BECAUSE IF YOU FOUND THEM, YOU, THEY WOULD SOMEONE WRITE A HUNDRED THOUSAND CHECK TO THE FUND, THEN THE CITY WOULD TURN AROUND AND SAY, DEVELOPER A HERE'S
[02:50:01]
A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT CAME IN.UH, THE PRO RATA AGREEMENT USUALLY REIMBURSES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, AND SO THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, BUT TYPICALLY IF THE DEVELOPER IS EXPECTING THIS MONEY, THEY'LL KEEP IN CONTACT WITH FINANCE DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS, OR, BUT SAY THE DEVELOPER GOES BANKRUPT OR, YOU KNOW, THERE, WE JUST WANTED A PROCESS IN THERE THAT IF WE HAD THAT MONEY AT THE END OF THE 10 YEAR PERIOD OF TIME AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHO TO PAY IT TO, THAT WE WOULD, UM, HAVE A PROCESS WHERE IT WOULD GO TO THE CITY.
ARE YOU ALL OKAY WITH, UH, I'M OKAY WITH THE PROPOSED CHANGES AS PRESENTED BY LEGAL COUNSEL? YEP.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
ANYONE WANNA WAIVE THE SECOND MAYOR? I MAKE A MOTION TO WAIVE THE SECOND READING, UH, WITH THE CHANGES THAT LEGAL COUNSEL REQUESTED.
QUESTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE WAIVING OF THE SECOND READING? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER KOHLER AYE.
SEVEN ZERO RAISE ITEM TEN FIVE.
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION APPROVING ORDINANCE NUMBER O DASH 2023 DASH FOUR NINE AMENDING CHAPTER NINE, WATER AND WASTEWATER STANDARDS OF THE HU UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE BY ADDING SECTION 10 POINT, UH, 9 0 5 DEVELOPER COST PARTICIPATION FOR EXTENSION OF WATER AND WASTEWATER MAIN UTILITY EXTENSIONS.
SAME THING JUST FOR WATER WASTEWATER.
OKAY, THEN I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE O DASH 2023 DASH OH FOUR NINE AS PRESENTED.
SECOND MOTION BY MAYOR PROAM GORDON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK APPROVING TEN FIVE AS PRESENTED.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON AYE.
MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO DISPENSE WITH THE SECOND READING MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COLAR.
ANY DISCUSSION ON WAIVING OF THE SECOND READING? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER KOHLER AYE.
[11.1. Consideration and possible action on Resolution No. R-2023-175 appointing a Charter Review Commission and providing recommendations for the Charter Review Commission to review (Councilmember Randal Clark, Mayor Pro Tern Peter Gordon) ]
ONE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 2023 DASH SEVEN FIVE.APPOINTING A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION AND PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO REVIEW.
AND WE HAVE A CITIZEN COMMENT, UH, ROBIN SUTTON.
UM, WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW OUR CHARTER NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED AND FIXED AND COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
AND BECAUSE I HAVE THE HISTORY BEHIND OUR STUMBLING BLOCKS OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS, I'M HUMBLY RE HUMBLY REQUESTING THAT ONE OF YOU APPOINT ME TO THIS COMMISSION.
SO, AS THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS WE JUST START WITH PLACE ONE.
YOU SAY WHO YOU WANT TO APPOINT FOR YOUR POSITION, WE'LL GO DOWN AND THEN AFTER WE GET DONE WITH THAT, WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR, UM, ANY KIND OF THINGS YOU THINK THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT.
WE'RE GONNA NOMINATE THEN TALK ABOUT THINGS THEY SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, APPOINT, AND THEN THINGS WE'D LIKE THEM TO LOOK AT.
SO WE'LL START WITH PLACE ONE APPOINTMENT.
UM, SO I'M SO MAYOR, I APPOINT BEATRICE RODRIGUEZ TO THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD.
UM, BEATRICE HAS SERVED OR CURRENTLY SERVES AS A, OR CURRENTLY WORKS
[02:55:01]
FOR THE VETERAN SERVICE, IS A VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER FOR WILLIAMSON COUNTY.UM, AND SHE HAS, UH, SERVED IN THE UNITED AIR FORCE RESERVE AS A SENIOR AIRMAN AIR TRANSPORTATION LOAD PLANNING SPECIALIST.
UM, AND SHE'S ALSO A CIVILIAN ACCREDITED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS AND TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION.
UM, AND I THINK SHE WOULD, UH, BE A GREAT, UH, ASSET FOR REVIEWING OUR CHARTER, UM, PERIOD.
UM, I WILL APPOINT PERRY SARD.
UM, HE HAS APPLIED FOR THIS IN THE PAST.
I THINK HE MAY HAVE SERVED ON A PRIOR COMMISSION, UH, YEARS BACK.
UM, HE'S EXPRESSED TO ME HIS DISAPPOINTMENT THAT HE WASN'T APPOINTED LAST TIME AND HIS DESIRE TO BE ON THE COMMISSION SHOULD WE HAVE A NEW ONE COMING UP.
UM, AND HE'S HAD AN INTEREST IN, IN CITY ACTIVITIES FOR A VERY LONG TIME, SO HE'S UP TO SPEED ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN COUNCIL AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO, UH, WORK THROUGH THE ISSUES THAT COME UP BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
UM, I, UH, POINT, UH, TONY WETZ, WHO WAS THE CHAIR OF THE CHARTER COMMITTEE BEFORE, SO WE HAVE SOME HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE, UM, ON THE, ON THAT CHARTER, UM, THIS TIME.
UM, HE'S UNKNOWN TO MANY, BUT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM AND, UM, HE DEFINITELY QUESTIONS EVERYTHING.
AND SO I THINK IF YOU'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THE DOCUMENT, UM, OUGHT HAVE A PERSON THAT'S WILLING TO QUESTION EVERYTHING.
MAYOR PROAM GORDON? UH, I'D LIKE TO APPOINT MARSHALL HAMMOND.
UM, HE'S, UH, BEEN A LONG TIME RESIDENT.
HU UH, HAS WORKED FOR DELL BEFORE.
HE IS A BOARD MEMBER OF, UH, UH, AN ENERGY COMPANY, ALLY OR ENERGY.
UM, I WANTED TO APPOINT HIM LAST TIME.
HE WASN'T ABLE TO SERVE, UM, AT THAT TIME, BUT NOW HE'S GOT THE TIME, SO, AND HE'S THE FATHER OF THE HU FOOTBALL STAR, THE QUARTERBACK.
TEXAS TECH SHOULD BE GOING TO OKLAHOMA, BUT TEXAS TECH
I AM APPOINTING ANISHA WILLIAMS. SHE HAS CLOSE READING EXPERIENCE.
SHE'S A TECHNICAL WRITER BY TRADE.
UM, AND I'VE CHALLENGED HER TO IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES OF OTHER CITIES AND TO ENSURE THAT OUR CHARTER MATCHES, UM, STATE LAW.
COUNCILMAN KOHLER? UM, I AM APPOINTING COREY DANINA.
UM, HE HAS BEEN A NINE YEAR RESIDENT OF HU UM, HE SERVES ON THE PARKS ADVISORY BOARD.
UM, I THINK THAT, UH, HE'LL BE VERY FAIR AND ALSO, UM, QUESTION THINGS.
AND I DO THINK THAT HE'S A GREAT VOICE FOR THE, UH, THE RESIDENTS, UM, OF HUDA AND KIND OF, UM, APPRO IMPROVING OUR, OUR, UH, CHARTER MOVING FORWARD.
COULD COULD YOU SPELL HIS LAST NAME? D JUST LOOKED IT UP.
ISHA, O N N E SS H A WILLIAMS. OKAY.
SINCE THE OTHER PART OF THIS ITEM IS, AND PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO REVIEW THIS DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE, WE'RE NOT TASKING THEM WITH APPROVING WHATEVER WE BRING UP, BUT ARE THERE ANY ITEMS THAT WE WISH THEM TO LOOK AT? UM, I WISH OR I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS, UH, UH, CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA POLICIES OF OTHER CITIES AND THEN, UM, WHAT THOSE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICIES COULD LOOK LIKE, UM, FOR OUR CITY.
SO MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA USE, UM, GUIDELINES FOR, UH, STAFF COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, AND ANYBODY ELSE EMPLOYED BY THE CITY.
ANY OTHERS? SO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, IF I MAY, THE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICIES ARE ALREADY IN THE PERSONNEL POLICIES FOR THE EMPLOYEES, AND I BELIEVE IT'S IN THE PROTOCOL POLICIES FOR THE COUNCIL.
TYPICALLY, THE CHARTER IS A LAW.
IT'S, UH, TAKES THE PLACE OF, WHEN YOU'RE IN HOME RURAL CITY, YOUR CHARTER IS YOUR LOCAL LAWS, NOT REALLY POLICIES.
ARE YOU WHAT YOU WOULD PUT IN YOUR PROTOCOL POLICY
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OR YOUR PERSONNEL POLICIES FOR THE EMPLOYEES? THE DOTTIE, THE CHARTER COULD, COULD STATE SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT THERE SHALL BE A SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY, JUST LIKE THE OTHER THINGS THAT THE CHARTER DOES.BUT YEAH, POLICIES GENERALLY ARE ADOPTED BY COUNCIL, SO THEY CAN BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND CHARTER'S MORE LIKE YOUR CONSTITUTION OF HOW YOU'RE GOING TO LEGISLATE IT.
YEAH, IT'S LEGISLATION OR LAW, LOCAL LAW.
OTHER, OTHER ITEMS? ONE, WELL, ONE OF 'EM, UH, THAT POTENTIALLY CAME UP WITH, UH, WHEN SOMEONE RAN BEFORE.
UM, OUR CHARTER IS IN CONFLICT IN MANY PLACES IN DIFFERENT THINGS WITH STATE LAW.
UM, SPECIFICALLY I CAN THINK OF IS THE, THE ONE WHERE, UH, UM, AN EMPLOYEE, UH, IS IT HAS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE, THE, YOU CAN'T RUN FOR OFFICE OR THE OTHER, THE EMPLOYEE WOULD HAVE TO RESIGN UNLESS THEY'D BEEN IN FOR A YEAR.
AND STATE LAW IS ONLY SIX MONTHS AND OUR CHARTER SAYS A YEAR.
SO THERE'S MANY EXAMPLES OF THAT, UH, THAT NEED TO GET, UM, LOOKED AT SECTION THAT WE HAVE THAT UNDER SECTION 5 0 2 FILING FOR OFFICE TO JUST REMOVE THAT FROM THE CHARTER.
BUT YOU WANT JUST OVERALL THE CHARTER, UM, COMMISSION TO LOOK AT, UM, ANY CONFLICTS WITH STATE LAW, JUST AN OVERALL YES.
AND TO MAKE THEM IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW IN EVERY CASE.
THE IDEA IS TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE SECTION 5 0 2 FROM THE CHARTER? NO, JUST THAT SENTENCE.
SO IT'S ON IN EXHIBIT A ATTACHED TO THE, UM, APPOINTING OF THE COMMISSION IS THIS COMES FROM THAT WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD IN DECEMBER.
AND SO OUR RE THE RECOMMENDATION WAS IS THAT YOU CAN'T DISCIPLINE A CITY EMPLOYEE OR TAKE A FIRST EMPLOYMENT ACTION IF THEY ARE A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE.
AND SO WE JUST RECOMMENDED TO REMOVE THAT SENTENCE.
BUT WE CAN PUT AT THE TOP AN OVERALL, UM, REVIEW OF ANY CONFLICTS WITH STATE LAW.
ANY OTHER ITEMS? WELL, I THOUGHT WE ALREADY HAD AN EXHIBIT A, UM, OR YOU, JUST LIKE YOU ASKING TO ADD, IF WE WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THIS AT THE TOP, I WOULD PUT OVERALL REVIEW OF ANY CONFLICTS WITH STATE LAW AND THEN THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS UNDERNEATH AS YOUR ATTACHMENT.
I MEAN, THEY CAN COME UP WITH LOTS OF OTHER STUFF, RIGHT.
IT JUST SAYS THAT THESE ARE, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH KINDA STARTING POINT FOR POTENTIAL AMENDMENTS.
AND SO IF THEY, THEY CAN BRING THE AMENDMENT TO YOU OR ONCE THEY'VE PROPOSED THEIR AMENDMENTS, YOU CAN SEE IF THEY DIDN'T INCLUDE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT AND YOU CAN HAVE THAT AMENDMENT.
ALSO, I KNOW LIKE P AND Z IS GOING TO TWO MEETINGS A MONTH AND CURRENTLY IT HAS ONE OR THEY WANT THE POTENTIAL TWO AND IT CURRENTLY ONLY HAS ONE MEETING A MONTH IN THE, UH, IN THE CHARTER.
SO DEFINITELY LOOKING AT BOARDS AND COMMISSION, UM, MEETING TIMES.
I KNOW, UM, P AND Z MEETING TIMEFRAMES, THAT'S ONE OF THEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S PART OF THE CHARTER.
SINCE THEY'RE THEIR OWN CORPORATION.
BUT IF HE CHANGES IN THE CHARTER GOING FORWARD, THEY'LL HAVE TO MEET TWO, WHEREAS RIGHT NOW THEY DON'T HAVE TO.
THAT'S WHERE YOU COULD SAY MINIMUM OF OR SOMETHING.
THAT MINIMUM OF ONE, BUT OR SOMETHING.
ANY OTHER ITEMS? ALRIGHT, THEN I'LL GET THE CONVERSATION.
WE DON'T HAVE TO DEBATE HIM, BUT I'LL GIVE DOTTIE UM, I DOTY LIST.
I'D LIKE HIM TO LOOK AT SECTION 3 0 4.
WE TALKED PREVIOUSLY LAST TIME AT, AT THE CHARTER, WE DIDN'T ASK SHOULD WE GET PAID, BUT WE ASKED THE, UM, AS I AS I WOULD PHRASE IT, WE ASKED BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING PAID, DO WE GET PAID BY ORDINANCE OR DO WE SET IT BY CHARTER? AND SO WE'VE HAD TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THE PAST YEAR THAT ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT PAY.
AND AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS, I WONDER THEY CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION.
DID DID YOU SEE THE, THE, UH, EXHIBIT A? 'CAUSE IT'S, IT'S IN THERE.
YOU, IT COVERS A WHOLE LOT OF, OF OPTIONS ON WHAT COULD BE DONE ON YEAH.
SO I, I'LL ADD THE GUIDE FOR THEM, BUT I'LL ADD TO THE 3 0 4.
PAY BY ORDINANCE OR SET BY CHARTER.
'CAUSE ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU'RE, WELL, IT ALREADY SAYS PAY BY CHARTER.
THE VOTERS ALREADY DID THAT LAST TIME.
THEY SET THE AMOUNT AND THEY SET THE, THE VOTERS ALREADY APPROVED THAT THEY SAID WHAT IT WAS AND THAT IT WOULD BE BY CHARTER, NOT
[03:05:01]
BY US.'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT IT TO BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE.
SO, YOU KNOW, MY WAY, I'M LIKE, IF THE CHARTER COMMISSION WANTS TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT TO GO TO ZERO TO THE VOTERS, THAT'S ALREADY ALLOWED.
AND, AND THAT WOULD BE HOW THEY WOULD DO THAT.
AND I THINK YOU DON'T NEED TO CHANGE ANYTHING.
YOU JUST SAY COMPENSATION IS DEFINED BY CHARTER AND IF THE CHARTER COMMISSION THEN PUTS IT OUT TO THE VOTERS THAT IT GOES TO ZERO OR A DIFFERENT AMOUNT OR WHATEVER, THEN THAT, THAT'S HOW THEY, OR IT'S ALREADY HANDLED THAT WAY THROUGH THE CHARTER AND THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROCESS.
SO IF I COULD JUST SAY THIS, NOT HERE TO DEBATE EVERY TIME I SAY SOMETHING, JUST GOT IT.
CAN WE JUST SAY I'LL TAKE THAT OUT SET BY CHARTER, TAKE WHATEVER THEY JUST THEM TO LOOK AT.
JUST HAVE 'EM LOOK AT IT AND WE'LL, WHATEVER.
HEY, WE'RE JUST GIVING THEM IDEAS THEY COULD LOOK AT.
THEY'RE GONNA COME UP WITH A LOT OF STUFF.
SETTING IT BY ORDINANCE THOUGH.
I MEAN YOU MIGHT, THAT MIGHT BE A WAY TO WELL THAT'S HOW IT USED TO BE.
BUT AGAIN, YEAH, WE, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
IF WE'VE SET AN, AN ORDINANCE THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY AND WE'VE DEFINED WHAT RESIDENCY LOOKS LIKE.
BUT RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE, UM, ISSUE WHERE YOU CAN RESIGN BUT HANG AROUND.
AND SO I'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT, IF YOU NO LONGER LIVE IN THE CITY AND YOU MOVE OUTTA STATE OR SOMETHING THAT, THAT BECOMES A FORFEITURE OF OFFICE.
YOU'LL HAVE TO DETERMINE IF WE CAN, IF YOU CAN FORFEIT AN OFFICE.
BUT THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I HAD AN IDEA.
LEMME GO DOWN THERE REAL QUICK.
FILING FOR OFFICE, UM, AGAIN, WE MENTIONED IN TWO RESIDING 12 MONTHS PRECEDING ELECTION.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF MAYBE WE NEED TO SOMEHOW INCLUDE AS, AS IT'S DEFINED IN THE ORDINANCE.
THAT COULD BE CHANGED FROM TIME TO TIME.
I THINK YOU GUYS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THAT.
UM, 8 0 5 C LEMME GET DOWN THERE REAL QUICK.
SO 8 0 5 C IS THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET.
SO CURRENTLY IF WE FAIL TO ADOPT A BUDGET BY A CERTAIN DATE, THE BUDGET PROPOSED BY THE CITY MANAGER GOES INTO EFFECT.
TO ME THAT PUTS US AT A DISADVANTAGE AND IT, IT GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMETHING CRAZY TO HAPPEN.
AND THEN WHY DON'T WE JUST HAVE TO ACCEPT IT? I'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT, IF WE DON'T ADOPT A BUDGET BY THE DATE THAT'S DEFINED, THE BUDGET PASSED WILL BE THE PREVIOUS BUDGET WITH LIKE A 3% INCREASE FOR INFLATION OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
THAT WAY IF WE GET INTO AN ISSUE WHERE THE BUDGET CAN'T BE DONE, WE'RE ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S ALREADY COVERED THERE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO JUST, I'VE MARKED ON HERE.
SHOULD WE DELETE, THE REASON I SAY SHOULD WE DELETE IS WE KEEP HAVING PEOPLE SPENDING MONEY THAT WEREN'T BUDGETED TO SPEND MONEY AND WE DON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
SO IF WE'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, I THINK WE TAKE IT AWAY.
IF WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THEN WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORD THIS IN A MANNER TO WHERE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO.
'CAUSE IN FOUR YEARS, EVERY YEAR WE HAVE SOME MAJOR EXPENDITURE THAT HAPPENS AND NOTHING HAPPENS FROM IT.
1102 FRANCHISE POWER CITY COUNCIL.
THE WAY I READ THAT, YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT COMING TO THE CITY COUNCIL IN THIS CITY TO DO ANY KIND OF PUBLIC UTILITIES.
BUT YET THE FIBER PEOPLE SOMEHOW ARE ABLE TO COME TO THE CITY, RIP UP EVERYTHING, AND THE CITY CAN DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.
AND SO, I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A CHARTER CHANGE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS, BUT SOMEHOW FIBER IS ABLE TO RUN THE CITY AND, UH, THERE'S A REQUEST FOR AN AG OPINION SAYING THAT, UM, A CITY CAN HAVE A FIBER AGREEMENT WITH THESE FIBER PROVIDERS BECAUSE THERE'S NO LAWS THAT REALLY COVER THEM.
SO THERE, THAT REQUEST WAS JUST FILED.
SO THAT'S, UM, YEAH, I JUST SAW IF YOU WANT US TO LOOK AT THE, UM, FRANCHISE SECTION OR DO YOU WANT THE CHARTER COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THE FRANCHISE SECTION? YEAH, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL, I DON'T KNOW.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY CHANGES ON THAT I THINK SINCE THIS CHARTER WAS ORIGINALLY, UM, DONE.
UM, BUT LIKE, I SAW A PICTURE OF SOMEONE HAD A, A BOX PUT LIKE HALFWAY UP THEIR YARD AND UH, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL HIM, BUT MAYBE THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO.
[03:10:05]
UM, THAT PART WHERE WE STAGGERED THE TERMS, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THAT WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE THERE, THAT WAS A TEMPORARY DEAL UNTIL WE AMENDED THE CHARTER NEXT TIME.AND SO WE CAN JUST TAKE ALL THAT OUT BECAUSE NOW IT'S ALL, I THINK IT IS, IT'S ABLE TO BE TAKEN OUT.
AND THEN E I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY CAN ANNUALLY RECOMMEND AN ANNEXATION PLAN TO THE CITY COUNCIL ANYMORE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FORCIBLY ANNEX ANYBODY.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY LIKE, HEY, IF YOU GUYS LIKE A WISHLIST OF STUFF YOU COULD VOLUNTARY ANNEX, BUT TO ME IT SEEMS NO REASON TO HAVE IN THERE.
WE'VE, WE'VE HAD AN ETH ETHICS COMMISSION FOR FOUR YEARS.
I THINK WE'VE ONLY HAD ONE ITEM GO TO THE ETHICS AND NEVER MADE IT TO AN ACTUAL HEARING.
BUT I'M WONDERING WHAT WE DE WHAT WE DETERMINE UNDER, UM, D PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST.
BECAUSE AS THINGS GET MORE COMPLICATED, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS, SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST, BUT LIKE, IF MY SPOUSE WORKS FOR AN ENTITY AND THEN I'M VOTING ON THAT ENTITY, IS THAT A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST? AND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THAT IS, IS IF MY SPOUSE SAY WORK FOR D S D, I MEAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE PUSHING IN, IN CITY HALL OR ON COUNCIL JUST IN GENERAL.
MAYBE THEY PUSH A DEVELOPER TO GIVE LAND TO A SCHOOL FOR A SCHOOL SITE.
WELL IF THAT PERSON'S SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS EMPLOYED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, I DON'T KNOW.
IS THAT AN ISSUE? IS THAT A CONFLICT? I DON'T KNOW.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE I'VE HEARD BEFORE THAT OUR, OUR, AND MAYBE IT NEEDS TO BE IN AN ORDINANCE, BUT OUR ETHICS ARE KIND OF LOOSE TO WHERE PEOPLE, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD HAVE ETHICS ISSUES, BUT WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CRAZY STUFF HAPPENING HUDU AND IT NEVER BECAME AN ETHICAL ISSUE.
DID THAT SPARK ANY OTHER IDEAS FROM ANYBODY? UH, MAYOR I'D LIKE, UH, 12.1 SECTION.
I KNOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING CITY COUNCIL PROVIDE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS OR PROVIDE LIKE, UM, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
BUT I WOULD LIKE THE CHARTER REVIEW BOARD TO KIND OF WHAT WAS DONE WITH SECTION 12.4 WHERE THEY TALK ABOUT THE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO BE REQUIRED TO, AND THEY LIST THOSE OUT.
UM, JUST SEE WHAT IDEAS COME FROM THIS BOARD ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS TO, TO DO IDEAS ON CHANGES.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, THEN MOVE ON TO ITEM TO APPOINT THOSE BY VOTE.
OR DO WE JUST, DO WE NEED TO VOTE ON I DON'T THINK WE VOTE.
'CAUSE EACH, IT SAYS IN CHARTER THAT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER APPOINTS THEIR PERSON.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S A VOTE, BUT IT'S STRUCTURED AS A RESOLUTION.
SO WE NEED TO PASS THE RESOLUTION.
AND WHAT I DID WAS CAPTURE YOUR, UM, WHAT YOU'VE BEEN SAYING WITH EXHIBIT A SO THAT YOU CAN APPOINT THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR FIRST MEETING, THEY CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO START WITH.
SO, SO WE DO NEED TO PASS THE RESOLUTION THOUGH.
WE'LL, BUT THE THE THINGS THAT WE WANT THEM TO LOOK AT, THEY CAN BRING BACK OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER.
THEY, THIS IS NOT LIMITING THEM AT ALL.
THEY CAN, THIS IS JUST WE WANT THEM TO LOOK AT THIS PLUS WHATEVER THEY WANT TO LOOK AT TOO.
AND I WOULD SAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT ANY OF THEM.
YEAH, THEY COULD TAKE OUR LIST BECAUSE WHATEVER THEY BRING TO US, WE'RE STILL GONNA GO.
WE AGREE, WE DISAGREE, WE WANNA CHANGE THAT.
IT'S NOT A, IT'S A COMMISSION.
WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE RESOLUTION WITH PLACE.
ONE BEING BEATRICE RODRIGUEZ, PLACE TWO BEING PERRY ARD.
THE MAYOR'S POSITION BEING CHARLES WARNER, THE MAYOR PRO TEMS, UH, POSITION BEING MARSHALL HAMMOND.
UH, PLACE FIVE BEING ANISHA WILLIAMS AND PLACE SIX.
SECOND MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MAYOR KOLAR.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK AYE.
[03:15:01]
AYE.NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 12, ONE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATING TO TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION AC DASH 0 0 0 1 RELATING TO WEATHER.
BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE GO TO THAT, CAN I JUST READ OFF WHAT I'VE ADDED TO THE PROPOSED, UM, AMENDMENTS THAT THEY LOOK AT BASED ON YOUR DISCUSSION? 'CAUSE THAT WAS PART OF THE RESOLUTION.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 11 ONE? YES.
SO IF YOU PULL UP THE RESOLUTION AND LOOK AT, UM, THE CHARGES BEFORE SECTION 3 0 1, I PUT OVERALL REVIEW OF ANY CONFLICTS OF STATE LAW WITH THE HU CITY CHARTER.
AND THEN THE NEXT, UM, MB AFTER SECTION 3 0 5, I ADDED THAT SECTION 3 0 6 B FORFEITURE OF OFFICE AND THE BULLET WAS MOVING FROM THE CITY.
SO FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THAT COME ON AND THEN FILING FOR OFFICE FOR THEM TO REVIEW SECTION 5 0 2 B.
AND THEN FOR THE FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION I ADDED THE UM, 8 0 5 C.
UM, IF THEY DON'T PASS THE BUDGET, IT'S THE PREVIOUS BUDGET PLUS 3% FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
AND THEN FOR, UM, TO LOOK AT THE FRANCHISE SECTION, I'LL HAVE TO PUT THAT SECTION NUMBER IN THERE.
AND SECTION 1204, REMOVE THE STAGGERED TERMS AND 1204 E REMOVE ANNEXATION PLAN.
IT'S 1102 FOR THE, UM, FRANCHISE.
AND THEN ON THE ETHICS, UM, I JUST PUT LOOK AT, UH, PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST JUST TO REVIEW THAT PLUS WHAT WE, WHAT WAS ALREADY THERE.
SO THE LAST ONE IS THAT AND THEN SECTION 12.01.
AND I DID PUT 12.01 BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
[12.1. Consideration and possible action relating to Texas Attorney General Opinion AC-0001 relating to whether, under Texas Constitution Article XVI, Section 40, a State employee receiving all or part of their compensation from State funds may also receive compensation as an elected member of the Hutto City Council (Legal) ]
ONE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATING TO TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION AC DASH 0 0 0 1 RELATING TO WHETHER UNDER TEXAS CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 16, SECTION 40, A STATE EMPLOYEE RECEIVING ALL OR PART OF THEIR COMPENSATION FROM STATE FUNDS MAY ALSO RECEIVE COMPENSATION AS AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE HU OF CITY COUNCIL.AND WE HAVE A CITIZEN TO SPEAK, UH, ROBIN SUTTON AFTER THE CONVERSATION PLEASE.
I THINK EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE, READ THE MEMO, THE OPINION.
UM, YOU KNOW, STATE LAW PROVIDES AN EXCEPTION FOR EDUCATORS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS CAN STILL, THEY'RE NOT CONSIDERED SEATING DOUBLE STATE FUNDS AND THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION.
SO, UM, AND I ASSUMED IT WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE THERE WAS QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT, UM, PLACE FIVE.
UM, SO IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT SHE IS QUALIFIED UNDER THAT, UM, THAT, UH, EXEMPTION OR STATE LAW.
SO, UM, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THERE'S TO DISCUSS EXCEPT JUST THIS WAS MAYBE A PLACE TO HAVE THAT PUBLICLY, UH, STATED THAT THERE'S NO, UM, CONFLICT THERE.
SO ORIGINALLY I BROUGHT THIS UP BACK IN, I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WAS JANUARY.
I'VE TALKED TO COUNCIL MAYOR LAR, UM, ABOUT IT.
MY WISH IS THAT WE AS A COUNCIL AND DIRECT STAFF TO GENERATE RESOLUTION THAT WHERE WE AS COUNSEL TELL THE PUBLIC THAT THERE IS NO, UH, CONFLICT OR THERE THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH A COUNCIL ARE
[03:20:01]
NOT BEING PAID.THAT THERE'S A CONFLICT WITH THE CHARTER.
AND SO THEN THAT WAY PEOPLE OUT IN THE PUBLIC, IF THEY WANT, INSTEAD OF BEING MAD AT A COUNCIL MEMBER, THEY CAN BE MAD AT THE ENTIRE COUNCIL BECAUSE THERE'S ALWAYS THIS THING.
AND SO THEN TO ME, WE GO ON RECORD AND WE SAY, WE'VE RECEIVED AN OPINION.
THIS IS HOW WE VIEW THE OPINION.
THIS IS OUR DECISION AS A GOVERNING BODY.
AND THEN IF THEY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT, THEY CAN TAKE IT UP TO THE ENTIRE COUNCIL INSTEAD OF GOING AFTER ONE PERSON.
UM, BUT THIS IS ALL IN THERE 'CAUSE WE STARTED IT IN JANUARY, WE DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ACTION.
UM, I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO ME IN TERMS OF WE'RE BREAKING CHARTER THAT I WAS LIKE, I'LL DO IT ON MY OWN.
I'LL GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MYSELF.
AND WE GOT THE RESULT THAT I THINK WE ALL KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE.
BUT NOW WE HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF, UH, POTENTIAL CHARTER CHANGES.
UH, 'CAUSE THE FIRST AG OPINION I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WAS A LITTLE, LITTLE LIGHT ON DETAILS, BUT THAT'S WHERE THIS CAME FROM.
UH, TO ME THE OPINION IS VERY CLEAR WHERE IT SAYS WHEN THERE'S A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE CHARTER AND THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION WINS.
WHICH IS WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG.
I DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR A SEPARATE RESOLUTION.
UH, I MEAN, I GUESS IF, IF WE WANT TO, TO DO IT, I GUESS WE COULD.
BUT, UM, I MEAN SHE SAYS IT'S VERY CLEAR IN HERE, UM, TO THE EXTENT THE CITY CONSTRUES SUBSECTION 3.04 B OF THE CHARTER TO MANDATE THAT A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER RECEIVE A PER MEETING SALARY REPAYMENT, IT ISFOR UNENFORCEABLE AS APPLIED TO A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS PROHIBITED FROM RECEIVING SALARY UNDER ARTICLE.
UM, I GUESS THAT'D BE 16 SUBSECTION 40 B OF THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION.
SO, AND SEEMS I I I GUESS I JUST, WE GOT THE ANSWER.
UM, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD BEFORE, WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING ALL ALONG.
SO, YEAH, SO, SO I THINK WHAT WOULD MAKE A COMPLETE RECORD IS TO RELEASE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION, THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND THE, AND THE MEMO WE RECEIVED FROM LEGAL THAT THAT COVERS ALL THE BASES UNTIL YOU RELEASE ALL THREE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS AND IT'S ALL OUT THERE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION'S RELEASED.
DO WE NEED TO READ? RIGHT, RIGHT.
BUT THE OTHER TWO, I GUESS THE OTHER TWO, YEAH.
AND FOR, AND FOR THOSE THAT WERE CURIOUS AND DON'T WANNA READ THE WHOLE OPINION, THE BIG, UH, LINE, IT'S VERY CLEAR AS THE CHARTER PROVISION IS UNENFORCEABLE IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, AN AFFECTED COUNCIL MEMBER DECLINING THE PERMITTING PAYMENT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE CHARTER.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO, UM, DRAFT A RESOLUTION TO BRING BACK TO NEXT MEETING, UM, STIPULATING WHAT WE ARE SAYING HERE.
AND ALSO TO RELEASE, UH, THE LEGAL OPINION ALONG WITH THE JOB DESCRIPTION AND THE, ALTHOUGH IT'S OPEN MEETING ACT STUFF ANYWAY, THE AG OPINION AS WELL.
SECOND MOTION BY MAYOR SCHNEIDER, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK.
ANY DISCUSSION ON MOTION? DO WE STILL HAVE PUBLIC, UH, COMMENT? OH, I'M SORRY.
SO, SO THANKFUL THIS IS FINALLY DONE.
WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS FOR I THINK TWO YEARS NOW.
THE SAME ITEM ON THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
AND, AND NOW WE'VE FOUND A RESOLUTION AND, AND NO CONFLICT.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE ISSUES IN OUR CHARTER THAT VIOLATE STATE LAW AND THAT'S GONNA GET FIXED WITH THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILCOTT AYE.
[12.2. Discussion and possible action to reschedule the October 5th City Council meeting (James Earp)]
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO RESCHEDULE THE OCTOBER 5TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING.UM, EVERY YEAR THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE HOLDS AN ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION HALL.
UM, THIS IS TARGETED SPECIFICALLY FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATORS OF CITIES TO ATTEND FOR CON FOR UM, CONTINUING EDUCATION PURPOSES.
UM, THIS YEAR THE T M L ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS BEING HELD IN DALLAS AT THE K BAILEY HUTCHINSON CONVENTION CENTER FROM OCTOBER 4TH THROUGH THE SIXTH.
IT GENERALLY IS THE SAME TIME OF YEAR AND THE SAME TIME OF THE WEEK.
AND SINCE OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS TEND TO FALL ON THURSDAYS, UH, BY CHARTER,
[03:25:01]
UM, THAT MEANS THAT EVERY YEAR THAT THERE IS A T M L CONFERENCE, THEY'RE LIKELY TO HAVE A CONFLICT.SO THIS YEAR, UM, THERE'S A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT, UM, I BELIEVE WOULD BE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING IF THE COUNCIL MEETING FOR THE OCTOBER 5TH DATE WAS MOVED, UM, EITHER CANCELED AND WE WILL HAVE ONE MEETING IN OCTOBER OR MOVE TO TUESDAY THE WEEK OF, OR THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY.
SO WE NEEDED AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO DISCUSS BECAUSE IF WE ARE GONNA MOVE THE DATE, THEN STAFF HAS TO KNOW THAT FOR NOTICES AND THINGS THAT WE POST, UM, P N Z, UH, WORKFLOWS AND WHAT HAVE YOU.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT THE ITEM IS FOR.
IT'S TO ALLOW FOR ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO ATTEND THIS YEAR, UM, TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE, THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
HOW MANY, WHO ALL IS GOING FROM THE CITY HALL SIDE? FROM STAFF? MM-HMM.
THERE MIGHT BE OTHER STAFF MEMBERS I COULD, I COULD BRING FOR SURE, BUT IT'S THE ONLY ONE I KNOW OF.
DO WE WE DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE SLATED TO GO, DO WE? YEAH.
WELL HERE, HERE'S THE ONLY PROBLEM I HAVE.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE THE MEETING BASED ON THE CHARTER.
'CAUSE THE CHARTER JUST SAYS WE'LL HOLD AT LEAST TWO REGULAR MEETINGS EACH MONTH.
AND AS MANY ADDITIONAL MEANS AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY TO TRANSACT THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY AND CITIZENS.
THE CITY SHALL FIX BY ORDINANCE THE DAYS AND TIME OF REGULAR MEETINGS, SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE HELD AT THE CALL OF THE MAYOR OR THREE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
NOTICE OF ALL MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL BE GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF APPLICABLE STATE LAW.
SO THE WAY I READ IT, UM, YOU CAN'T MOVE IT NOW.
THERE COULD BE EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND WE'VE, I THINK WE MISSED A MEETING ONCE IN UM, UM, ANOTHER DEAL.
WE MISSED ONE FOR, UM, SPRING BREAK OR SOMETHING.
WELL, WE MOVED IT, WE MOVED IT, WE MOVED BACK IN MARCH EARLIER THIS YEAR.
BUT I, WE DID THIS ALREADY, RIGHT? I KNOW, I KNOW.
AND, AND THAT'S WHERE I DIDN'T SAY NOTHING THEN.
'CAUSE I'M LIKE SPRING BREAK AND I'LL BE A PARTY POOPER FOR TRYING TO SCREW IT ALL UP,
BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, I'VE TALKED TO CITY MANAGER ABOUT THIS IN SOME THINGS.
I GUESS
WE'RE NOT VACATIONING ON THE TAX PARADIGM IS WHAT I CALL IT.
AND IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT DOING WORK, BUT IT IS OUTTA THE CITY.
AND I THINK WHAT WE SHOULD DO, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO GO, I THINK WE OUGHT TO, AS A COUNCIL, SAY, LOOK, TWO PEOPLE CAN GO AND WE CAN DECIDE WHO'S GONNA GO.
BUT I THINK IF FOUR OR FIVE OF US DECIDE TO GO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S SHOWING IN THE CITY BECAUSE TRAINING'S IMPORTANT.
BUT THERE'S TRAINING ALL THROUGH THE YEAR AT T M L AND IN ALL DIFFERENT CITIES AND ALL DIFFERENT TIMES.
AND ANYTIME WE LEAVE OUR CITY AND GO SPEND MONEY TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON HOTELS AND MEALS, WHILE I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT ON SOME TIME, UM, I ALSO THINK THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY, IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE CAUGHT UP TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE CAN JUST TAKE A DAY OFF.
UM, BUT I'D RATHER SEE ONE OR TWO PEOPLE LIKE WHAT WE DID WITH THE, UM, LAS VEGAS DEAL.
A COUPLE PEOPLE WENT, UM, BUT WE DIDN'T, WE DIDN'T CLOSE DOWN CITY HALL, UH, BECAUSE OF IT.
BUT I KNOW THAT'S A ROUGH WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS.
BUT PERSON, I THINK PERSON JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, POSTPONE IT TO THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO OCTOBER 12TH, UM, INSTEAD OF THE FIFTH.
SO TO, 'CAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE'LL HAVE BUSINESS TO TAKE UP.
SO I JUST, IF NOBODY HAS ANY OBJECTIONS TO MOVING IT A WEEK TO THE 12TH.
SO I'LL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO MOVE, UM, THE OCTOBER 5TH COUNCIL MEETING TO THE OCTOBER TO OCTOBER 12TH, SECOND MOTION BY M KOHLER.
SO DOTTIE, IS THAT STILL A REGULAR MEETING OR IS THAT NOW A SPECIAL MEETING? UM, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, BECAUSE THE CHARTER SAYS YOU SET YOUR REGULAR MEETINGS BY ORDINANCE TO PUT AN EXCEPTION IN YOUR ORDINANCE FOR A REGULAR MEET, A REGULAR MEETING THAT THE COUNCIL MOVES BY AND I HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.
BUT YOU KNOW, LIKE YOU MOVE THE ONE FOR SPRING BREAK AND UM, YOU'RE MOVING THIS FOR A CONFERENCE.
UM, SO I COULD PUT SOME EXCEPT AND, AND I COULD CREATE THE ORDINANCE AND THEN HAVE THE REGULAR MEETINGS BE MOVED BECAUSE OF AN EXCEPTION.
SO IT WOULD STILL BE CONSIDERED A REGULAR MEETING.
BECAUSE IN THE EXCEPTION COULD BE CHRISTMAS, WE COULD SAY HOLIDAY, HOLIDAY OR A A, A TRAINING NOT TO EXCEED MORE THAN TWO PER YEAR OR SOMETHING.
[03:30:01]
COULDN'T BE MOVING 'EM ALL THE TIME.SO I, I WOULD SAY IF YOU'RE GONNA DO THAT, DO WE HAVE THE MAJOR HOLIDAY? 'CAUSE THE THIRD, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE THIRD THURSDAY IS LIKE CHRISTMAS DAY OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IF Y'ALL COULD JUST EMAIL ME WHAT YOU THINK A EXCEPTION COULD BE, I'LL BRING BACK THAT ORDINANCE.
I THINK THAT WOULD WORK BECAUSE IT DOES SAY THAT WE WILL FIX BY ORDINANCE THE DAYS AND TIMES OF THE REGULAR MEETINGS THAT UM, YEP.
OR DOES THAT DEPEND ON YOUR AGE? I MEAN SHOOT, YEAH.
STATUS AND HOW MANY KIDS, I MEAN IF MORALE FOR THE CITY, RIGHT.
IT'S ALSO, UM, IF THEY'RE OFF WITH ALL THEIR FAMILY AND THEN THEY GOTTA COME IN AND WORK THAT WHOLE, UNLESS YOU WANT TO GO TO THE SCHOOLS AND TELL THE SCHOOL KIDS THAT IT'S NOT MM-HMM.
JULY 4TH IS A HOLIDAY COMING UP IN 2024 AS WELL.
THAT ONE IT FALLS ON A COUNCIL DAY.
OH REALLY? OH, JESSICA, IT'S THE FIRST THURSDAY.
SO WE WILL TRY TO CAPTURE ALL THE EXCEPTIONS WHERE YOU CAN JUST MOVE THE REGULAR MEETING BY, BY UH, RESOL RESOLUTION OR MOTION.
SO I WOULD SAY WE DON'T TAKE ACTION ON THIS UNLESS WE HAVE TO, BUT THEN YOU'LL COME BACK WITH THE ORDINANCE AFTER THE FACT.
OR YOU JUST CAN GO PLAN FOR IT.
BUT WE'LL WAIT, WE'LL BRING THE ORDINANCE NEXT TIME.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THAT ACTION ITEM UNDERNEATH.
SO TAKE NO ACTION ON THIS ONE.
ARE YOU ALL OKAY? RESCINDING YOUR YEAH.
MOTION AND SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON.
OR DO YOU WANNA PUSH THROUGH
YOU WANNA PUSH THROUGH OR? YEP.
YOU WANNA RESEND? RESEND? OKAY.
AND WILL THAT BE NEXT MEETING? THE EIGHTH? SHE SAID THE NEXT MEETING.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE THREE MEETINGS TO GET IT COVERED.
AND THEN IF YOU COULD ALSO, UM, GET WITH THIS ON THE BUDGETARY WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM MM-HMM.
UM, SO THAT WE KNOW IF, IF I'M GONNA PICK ON A CITY MANAGER FOR DOING SOMETHING THAT'S NOT IN A BUDGET LINE, WE VERY WELL CAN'T HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL GO OUT AND AND SPEND MINUS NOT IN A BUDGET LINE.
AND IF WE HAVE BUDGET FOR TRAINING, ARE YOU JUST ASKING FOR HOW MUCH IS THERE? AND IF WE HAVE ENOUGH ALL OF THAT.
BECAUSE BEFORE I EXPRESSED INTEREST IN GOING, I ASKED SPECIFICALLY DO WE HAVE BUDGET FOR THIS? AND I WAS TOLD YES.
SO, BUT IF YOU, I MEAN, DID HE TELL YOU HOW MUCH WE HAVE? NO.
WELL, HOW DO YOU KNOW THERE'S ENOUGH? 'CAUSE HE TOLD ME
I'M TRYING TO GET ME NOT TO SLEEP TONIGHT.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A QUITE EXTENSIVE,
[13. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
UM, CONSENT AGENDA.I WOULD LIKE TO PULL OUT ITEM 13 THREE
SO WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM.
AND SO I'VE GOT 13 THREE TO PULL.
DO WE HAVE ANY OTHERS TO GET THE CONVERSATION GOING? I'D LIKE TO PULL 13 FOUR.
MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
YEAH, THERE'S, I ASKED TO PULL 10 AND 11.
YOU OKAY PULLING 10 AND 11? I AM.
AND ARE YOU OKAY ADDING 13 FIVE? SKIP THAT ONE.
WAIT, DO YOU WANNA PULL 13 FIVE AS WELL? NO.
HE WANTS TO PUT IT, NO, HE WANTS TO PUT IT.
THE MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON IS APPROVING.
SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER KOHLER.
ANY DISCUSSION ON A MOTION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
SORRY JOHN, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FIREWORKS FOR ALL THOSE SAPS.
OKAY, SO THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM
[13.3. Consideration and possible action relating to Resolution No. R-2023-174 of the City of Hutto, Texas, authorizing the City Manager to execute a change order with Associated Construction Partners, Ltd. in the amount of $119,894.39 related to the Frameswitch 20 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) Pumping Station and 3.0 Million Gallon (MG) Ground Storage Tank (GST) projects (CIP W-01 and W-03) (Matt Rector)]
13 THREE.SO THIS ONE IT WASN'T REALLY, HOLD ON, I'M SORRY.
[03:35:01]
13 THREE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION RELATING TO RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 2023 DASH 1 74 OF THE CITY OF HU TEXAS AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CHANGE ORDER WITH ASSOCIATED CONSTRUCTION PARTNERS.LIMITED IN THE AMOUNT OF $119,894 AND 39 CENTS RELATED TO THE FRAME SWITCH.
M G D PUMPING STATION AND 3.0 MILLION GALLON MG GROUND STORAGE TANK G S T PROJECT C I P W DASH ZERO ONE AND W DASH ZERO THREE.
SO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE, THE AGENDA ITEM AS IT WAS, BUT I WANTED TO BRING UP SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE REASON IT'S COMING BACK TO US IS, AND BECAUSE IT'S TAKEN TIME TO COME BACK TO US, IT'S COST THE CITY $30,000 BECAUSE OF INEFFICIENCIES IN ADMINISTRATION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE COUNCIL ORIGINALLY ADOPTED THE 17 MILLION 651 2 87 CITY ENGINEER WAS ABLE TO GET REDUCTIONS OF NEW CONTRACT PRICE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 17,000 2 85.
BUT THE REASON THIS HAS TO COME BACK IS BECAUSE THEY'RE ADDING IN AN ADDITIONAL 119 BACK IN, BUT IT'S STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL BUDGET PRICE THAT THE COUNCIL ALREADY SAID COULD BE SPENT.
BUT THE CONFLICT IS IN THE CHARTER SAYING 50,000, HAVING TO GET APPROVAL.
BUT MY THINKING IS THE 50,000 SHOULD ONLY APPLY IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GO ABOVE THE ORIGINAL NEGOTIATED PRICE THAT COUNCIL SET.
AND IF WE HAD HAD THAT AS A, AN AVAILABILITY BY ORDINANCE OR SOMETHING, THE CITY MANAGER COULD HAVE SIGNED THIS, WE STILL WOULD'VE BEEN A REDUCTION IN MONEY AND WE WOULD'VE BEEN $30,000 LESS BECAUSE IT'S A THOUSAND DOLLARS A DAY RENTAL FEE WAITING FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO BE ABLE TO SIGN THE STEP TO GET IT ON OUR AGENDA TO TALK ABOUT.
WE DON'T, WE ALWAYS WANNA AUTHORIZE ANYTHING TO GO ABOVE WHAT WE'VE EVER SENT IN THE BUDGET.
BUT IF IT'S, IF YOU'VE DONE, IF THEY'VE DONE THE WORK AND THEY'RE ABLE TO REDUCE IT AND THEN ANOTHER THING HAPPENS, BUT YOU'RE STILL UNDER WHAT THE BUDGET OF THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SPECIFIED.
I DON'T, I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION AS MAYBE A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING IT UP AS, THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE COSTING THE CITY MONEY JUST BECAUSE OF A POLICY.
I I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM AND IT, IT KINDA MAKES SENSE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THESE ACTIONS THAT HAVE KIND OF LED TO THIS POINT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S STILL UNDER THE ORIGINAL BUDGET.
I APPRECIATE THIS COMING BEFORE US SO THAT WE ARE IN THE KNOW WITH WHAT'S GOING ON.
I WOULDN'T WANNA MAKE THAT CHANGE BECAUSE IN THIS CASE WOULD'VE SAVED SOME MONEY WOULD BE FINE.
BUT WHAT IF YOU SAVE A MILLION DOLLARS OFF THE ORIGINAL BUDGET ON A PROJECT AND THEN YOU BASICALLY GOT A MILLION DOLLAR SLUSH FUND TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH WITHOUT, WITHOUT HAVING TO COME BACK FOR APPROVAL.
SO, SO I MEAN THERE'S THERE'S DANGER TO, TO ALLOW IT, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE THAT, 'CAUSE THEY CAN ONLY CHARGE IT TO WHAT THAT LINE ITEM WAS.
SO IF I COULD DO THIS, IT COULD STILL BE IN FRONT.
WE'RE KIND OF GOING OUT LIKE ON, UH, ON HOW WE DO PROJECTS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THIS A HUNDRED? THIS, THIS PARTICULAR $119,000.
NOT HOW WE, WHY THEY'RE EVEN COMING TO US BECAUSE OF A POLICY.
BUT IS THERE AN ISSUE WITH THE 120 GRAND? IF NOT, WE'LL, NO, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CLARK SECOND.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER LAR, I HAD ONE QUESTION.
IT IS 20 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY THAT, THAT'S THE CORRECT NUMBER.
THE PUMPING STATION 20 MILLION GALLONS.
SO THE WHOLE THING'S SET FOR 20 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
AND I, I THINK THE LINE ONLY CARRIES 5 MILLION GALLONS A DAY.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TWO.
NOT THAT WE'RE OVERSIZING IT, BUT YEAH, I'M GONNA HAVE TO LET THE ENGINEER ANSWER THAT I THINK IN THE THING.
UH, AND THE, UH, IT'S CALLED REALLY OVERDESIGNING
IT SAYS IT IN 13 THREE ON THE FISCAL NOTES TOO.
BUT THAT MIGHT BE, IS IT REALLY 20 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY PUMPING THAT, THAT WAS THE PUMP STATION.
TO, TO BE ABLE TO EVENTUALLY PUMP UP TO 20 MILLION GALLONS AT SOME POINT.
UM, SO SAME AGENT NEEDS TO FIND A LOT MORE WATER 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO PUMP IT.
WE WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING ON IT.
AND, AND I ASSUME, I ASSUME THAT THAT'S NOT DAY ONE.
YOU HAVE TO ADD MORE PUMPS OVER TIME AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO, SO THAT'S THE ULTIMATE CAPACITY.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS MATTER.
HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON.
[03:40:01]
WE HAVE ITEM 13, FOUR[13.4. Consideration and possible action relating to Resolution No. R-2023-179 of the City of Hutto, Texas, approving housing reimbursement to the Interim Finance Director; and authorizing the City Manager to provide the reimbursement from budgeted funds and budget amendment (Legal) ]
CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLE ACTION RELATING TO RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 2023 DASH 1 79 OF THE CITY OF HU TEXAS APPROVING HOUSING REIMBURSEMENT TO THE INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE THE REIMBURSEMENT FROM BUDGET FUNDS AND BUDGET AMENDMENT.THIS IS ON YOU DO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO OH APPROVE.
APPROVE AS, UH, PRESENTED AT 13.4 AND I'LL SECOND AND THEN NOW WE CAN HEAR, UH, CITY ATTORNEY.
SO I BELIEVE YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN ALL THE DOCUMENTATION WHEN THE INTERIM FINANCE DIRECTOR WAS HIRED, SHE DID NOT LIVE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.
AND, UM, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PER DIEM RATE THAT SHE WOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR HOUSING AS LONG AS SHE, UH, COLLECTED RECEIPTS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND PRESENTED THEM.
AND SO THIS RESOLUTION JUST, UM, ALLOWS THAT, UM, PROCESS TO BE PAID.
SO HERE'S MY QUESTION ON THAT.
SO YOU SAID THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PER DIEM RATE FOR HOUSING.
WHEN I LOOK AT THE, UM, WHEN I LOOK AT THE LETTER THAT WAS OFFERED TO HER IN TERMS OF A JOB THAT'S NOT MENTIONED IN THERE, UNLESS I MISSED IT.
NO, IT'S NOT MENTIONED IN THE LETTER BECAUSE, UH, SHE WAS ASKED TO COLLECT, SHE WAS ASKED TO, UM, SHE WAS ONLY THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS GOING TO BE HERE A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND SO SHE WAS ASKED TO GATHER, UM, HER RECEIPTS AND PRESENT 'EM TO GET REIMBURSED.
IT WASN'T PART OF THE LETTER, IT WAS A VERBAL COMMITMENT.
THAT'S WHERE I HAVE ISSUE WITH THIS IS IT'S ALREADY WEIRD TO ME THAT WE HIRE PEOPLE AND THAT WE NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH THEY COST UNTIL THE BUDGET COMES UP.
AND JAMES AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THERE'S TIMES WE'RE GONNA HIRE FIVE ENGINEERS, WE'RE GONNA STOP THESE CONSULTANTS, HIRE, HIRE FIVE ENGINEERS, AND THEN WE HIRE LIKE THREE ENGINEERS IN ANOTHER POSITION.
AND SO THEN WE GET TO THIS AND IT'S THESE VERBAL COMMITMENTS THAT I, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN OPERATE THAT WAY BECAUSE WHAT IF THE VERBAL COMMITMENT WAS A $45,000 EXPENSE, NOT A 12.
AND SO I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT THIS AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE ANNE DID A BAD JOB, BUT IT'S BECAUSE AS I'VE ALWAYS BEEN, IF WE HIRE SOMEONE AT ONE 60, IT'S ONE 60.
IF THEY WANT MORE, TO ME IT'S A BONUS BECAUSE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE REASON THIS CAME IS BECAUSE WE'RE EXTENDING THEIR EMPLOYMENT ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.
BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE FOR A BONUS NOW WE'RE GONNA REIMBURSE EVERYTHING YOU DID BEFORE THAT.
AND GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES WOULD STIPULATE TO ME THAT WHEN YOU HIRE A PERSON THAT'S ALL TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
AND SO THIS ONE'S I THINK IT'S LIKE 12 GRAND.
IT'S NOT A HUGE DEAL, BUT I, I THINK WE GOTTA FIGURE OUT HOW WE DON'T HAVE THESE ISSUES.
WE'VE AMENDED THE CITY MANAGER'S CONTRACT DUE TO, UM, SOME KIND OF QUIRKY THING WITH TAXES.
AND SO WE KEEP GOING BACK AND AMENDING THINGS TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AT SOME POINT.
WHEN DO WE SAY NO AND AT WHAT POINT DO WE SAY NO? AND SO THAT'S MY, THAT'S MY THING WITH IT.
UM, PROBABLY DOESN'T SURPRISE ANYBODY.
BUT, UM, ANYWAY, ANY DISCUSSION ON A MOTION? I THINK THIS IS A GREAT BUDGET AMENDMENT.
UM, FOR OUR INTERIM, UH, C F O, SHE HAS BEEN AN ASSET TO, UM, THE CITY.
SHE'S HERE, UM, ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.
AND SO I THINK IT'S JUSTIFIED WITH, WITH NOT HAVING A PERMANENT STAFFER AS OUR C F O.
UM, THERE ARE NO SOLID NUMBERS, NO GUARANTEES.
UM, AND SHE HAS VERBALLY COMMITTED TO OUR CITY, UH, BEYOND HER CONTRACT TIME.
AND SO I THINK THAT THIS IS, UM, A GREAT BUDGET AMENDMENT.
AND JUST THE RECORD, THIS IS NOT A BUDGET AMENDMENT RIGHT? NO.
IT'LL BE PART OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
THE THIS TRUE UP AT THE END OF THIS.
THIS IS SOLUTION ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
[13.10. Consideration and possible action approving Resolution No. R-2023-177 approving the amendment to the Interlocal Agreement between Williamson County Radio Communication System (RCS) and the City of Hutto and other "RCS Parties" (Jeff Yarbrough) ]
TO ITEM 1310 CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 2023 DASH 1 77 APPROVING THE AMENDMENT TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN WILLIAMSON COUNTY RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM[03:45:01]
R C S AND THE CITY OF HU AND OTHER R C S PARTIES.OKAY, SO HERE'S AGAIN, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS I'M PARTICULAR ABOUT.
AND IF I READ THIS RIGHT, I JUST NEED TO MAKE SURE I READ RIGHT.
THIS AGENDA ITEM, IF APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, WOULD AMEND THE CURRENT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND NO LONGER REQUIRE THE R C S MEETINGS TO FOLLOW THE OPEN MEETING ACT AND THAT ALL R C S MEMBER CITIES ARE BEING ASKED TO PASS THIS AMENDMENT.
SO THIS WOULD, THIS IS AN EFFORT FOR WHATEVER REASON, RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY, THIS IS AN EFFORT THAT IF PASSED BY, I GUESS A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBER CITIES, THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE NO LONGER HAS TO FOLLOW THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THAT'S THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, MAYOR.
AND, AND THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD THE MEMO THAT CAME FROM LEGAL, THE EXPLANATION WAS THIS IS A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT DOES NOT HAVE AUTHORITY OR POWER TO MAKE DECISIONS.
THEY'RE ONLY A RECOMMENDING BODY, UM, OF LIKE A SIMILAR TO HOW WE HAVE LIKE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF, UH, THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE OR THE OUTSIDE AGENCY FUNDING COMMITTEE.
IT'S A SUB A SUBCOMMITTEE, S T R AGENCY THAT ONLY GIVES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FULL COUNCIL.
AND IT STILL HAS TO COME BEFORE THE FULL, THE FULL BOARD, THE FULL, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER IT IS WHO ACTUALLY MAKES THE DECISIONS.
THEY'RE JUST A RECOMMENDING BODY.
SO I MAKE A MOTION TO DENY APPROVING RESOLUTION R DASH 2023 DASH 1 77.
MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
UM, 1310 AS PRESENTED MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MAYOR COLAR.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALL I WILL SAY IS WHEN ANYBODY ASKS YOU TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, I ALWAYS WONDER WHAT WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP? THIS IS JUST THE FIRST PIECE AND, UH, POTENTIAL FIND OUT LATER WHAT THEY'RE WANTING TO ACTUALLY DO.
I THINK IT'S SO THEY CAN DISCUSS THE SECURITY FEATURES AND VULNERABILITIES SO THEY CAN THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION AND THEN THAT RECOMMENDATION CAN HAPPEN IN, IN PUBLIC AND THEN ADOPT WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT YOU'RE NOT POSSIBLY INVALIDATING THE SECURITY OF WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS. AND THAT'S COVERED IN SECTION 5 5, 1 OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, WHICH IS WHY I WONDERED IF STUFF LIKE SECURITY IS COVERED AND WHY WOULD THEY NOT WANNA MEET IN PUBLIC? I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S CHECKED HER.
AND DOES HU GET A CHANCE TO TALK OR DO THEY MEET WITHOUT FOND OPENS MEETING ACT? THEY COULD MEET WITHOUT, WITHOUT ALL THE REPRESENTATION.
THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO MEET WITH THE QUORUM.
THEY COULD JUST MEET WITH THE BIGGER CITIES.
BUT BUT THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS.
AND THE PUBLIC STILL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR EVERYTHING WHEN IT COMES BEFORE THE FULL BOARD FOR A PUBLIC DISCUSSION AND A VOTE.
THEY DON'T MAKE ANY DECISIONS CURRENTLY.
AND THEY CAN'T BECAUSE THEY'RE A, THEY'RE A SUBCOMMITTEE.
THERE'S NOT A MAJORITY CURRENTLY.
WELL, IF THEY CHANGE IT, THEN THEY WOULD NO LONGER THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE OPENS MEETING ACT.
I MEAN, YOU CAN GO, YOU CAN GO DOWN, YOU KNOW, THE BLACK HOLE OF WHAT IFS.
BUT TECHNOLOGY IS GETTING MORE ADVANCED, YOU KNOW, WITH AI AND, AND GOD KNOWS WHAT ELSE.
BUT, UM, YEAH, SAFETY AND SECURITY, UM, THREATS TO OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS, UM, BOARD OR WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT, IS, UH, DISCUSSING SO SUBCOMMITTEE, SUBCOMMITTEE, YEAH.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE DISCUSSING THINGS THAT ARE COVERED, THEN THEY'RE ABLE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THOSE THINGS WHILE STILL FOLLOWING OPEN MEETING RULES.
I DON'T UNDERST WE'RE GUESSING AS TO THE WHY.
WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO, WE'RE TRYING TO THROW OUT REASONS WHY THAT WE DON'T KNOW
RIGHT? WELL, I MEAN, WHY, WHY DON'T THEY TELL US BEFORE THEY ASK US TO CHANGE SOMETHING? I, NO, IT IT, DOES THAT NOT SCARE YOU GUYS THAT YOU'RE ASKED TO DO SOMETHING BUT YOU'RE NOT TOLD THE WHY.
AND SO YOU'RE READY TO VOTE TO CHANGE SOMETHING.
BUT IF, IF THE PUBLIC, I'M ALREADY LISTENING TO YOU, IF THE, OH, I DON'T CARE IF THE PUBLIC ASKS YOU, WHY DID YOU GUYS DO THIS? YOU GO, I DON'T KNOW.
'CAUSE THEY ASKED US TO, WHAT DOES IT DO? I DON'T KNOW.
BECAUSE THEY'RE A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT DOESN'T HAVE AUTHORITY TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS AND ALL DECISIONS THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE CONSIDERS GOES BEFORE THE FULL BOARD IN A FULL OPEN MEETING, OPEN MEETINGS ACT, COVERED MEETING, AND THE DISCUSSION HAPPENS THERE AND THEY'RE JUST A RECOMMENDING COMMITTEE.
AND IF THEY'RE, IF, AND, AND THE OTHER POINT IS THE OPTICS ARE, IF EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU SAY THIS IS A MEETING PEOPLE CAN GET HERE.
NOW WE IMMEDIATELY RETURN INTO EXECUTIVE, EVERYONE LEAVES AND THEY'D HAVE THEIR
[03:50:01]
OWN MEETING IN EXECUTIVE.THERE'S NO POINT IN HAVING AN OPEN MEETING.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING AND THAT'S WHAT THEY SAID IN THEIR, WHEREAS MEETING, AND, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING EVERY TIME WHEN THEY, THEY MEET.
I MEAN, IT, WE DO HAVE A MOTION ON THE, ON THE FLOOR.
BUT IT WOULD BE, I MEAN, IT, IT, THE STAFF CONTACT IS CHIEF YARBOROUGH.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO, YOU KNOW, GET HIS TAKE ON IT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT HE UNDERSTANDS FROM THIS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, GET A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY THERE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S EMOTION ON THE TABLE.
I, I DO SEE YOUR POINT, MAYOR, IT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, JUST LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BUT LIKE I SAID, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON NAYYY.
[13.11. Consideration and possible action approving Resolution No. R-2023-178 relating to amending the City Manager's Contract, including but not limited to, Section 12 of the Agreement (Mayor Mike Snyder) ]
1311 CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION APPROVING RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 2023 DASH 1 78 RELATING TO AMENDING THE CITY MANAGER'S CONTRACT INCLUDED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SECTION 12 OF THE AGREEMENT.AND I ONLY PULL THIS BECAUSE I GUESS I'M SURPRISED I WON'T BE VOTING FOR THIS.
UM, ANY, ANY ACTION DISCUSSION? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE DID GET THE FINAL RED LINE VERSION.
CORRECT? I STILL DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE SEEN THAT.
I, I THINK, WHERE IS IT? MAYOR PROTO, I THINK THE FINAL ITEM GOT ADDED TO THE PACKET.
SO IF YOU OPEN UP THE, THE PACKET AND GO TO THE ATTACHMENTS, IT'S THERE NOW.
AND THEN IT'S THE CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.
IT'S NOT A RED LINE, IT'S JUST CLEAN, BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT THE LANGUAGE CHANGED THAT THE COUNCIL DIRECTED.
SO I'M LOOKING, WAIT, PAGE 5 0 2 OF THE, WHY ARE WE BACK HERE AGAIN? BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY, THE SECOND READING MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, UH, TO APPROVE.
SO BEFORE I'M READY TO VOTE ON IT, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT CAPTURES IN HERE EXACTLY WHAT WE SAID WE WANTED TO HAVE DONE LAST TIME.
SO WHERE, WHERE EXACTLY IS IT? SECTION 12.
IT'S, UH, SECTION 12 OF THE AGREEMENT.
AND WHAT WE DID WAS CLARIFY OTHER LEAVE IN THE LAST SENTENCE.
AND WHICH PAGE ARE YOU GUYS ON IN THE PACKET? PAGE 5 5 0 2 0 2.
THE REASON WE'RE HERE IS ALL WE DID AT THE LAST MEETING WAS DIRECTED STAFF TO AMEND THE CONTRACT AND NOW WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT.
SO WE DEFINED OTHER LEAVE AS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BANKED COMPENSATORY TIME, WORKING IN ACCORDANCE WITH A FLEX TIME SCHEDULE OR WORKING REMOTELY OKAY.
DURING REGULAR CITY BUSINESS HOURS.
AND THEN APPRECIATE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT HE WAS LIMITED TO WORKING HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT.
ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
WAS THAT SEVEN? MOTION PASSES.
[14. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM 14 ONE CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION RELATING TO RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 2023 DASH 180 1 OF THE CITY OF HU TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR A WHOLESALE WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT FOR UP TO 4 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.ITEM 14 TWO, CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE ACTION RELATING TO RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 2023 DASH 180 2 OF THE CITY OF IDAHO, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GROUNDWATER RESERVATION AGREEMENT TO RESERVE UP TO 5 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY OF RESERVED WATER FROM EXISTING PERMITTED GROUNDWATER RIGHTS FROM A GROUNDWATER SOURCE AND NEGOTIATED GROUNDWATER SUPPLY CONTRACT FROM THE SAME PROVIDER.
IN ITEM 14, THREE, RECEIVED LEGAL ADVICE PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5 51 0 7 1
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RELATED TO PENDING LEGAL REQUESTS, POTENTIAL CLAIMS, PENDING LITIGATION, POTENTIAL LITIGATION AND CITY COUNCIL LEGAL REQUESTS.THE ITEM IS, OR THE TIME IS 1103.
[15. ACTION RELATIVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
IT'S 1213.WE'RE BACK FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN.
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM 15, ONE CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. UH, SO MAYOR, I MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, AUTHORIZE THIS UNDER 14 POINT.
WELL, I GUESS THEY'RE NOT NUMBERED.
UM, I MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A WATER RESERVATION AGREEMENT AND TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT FOR THE WHOLESALE DELIVERY AND SALE OF PORTABLE WATER BETWEEN RECHARGE WATER, UM, LP, A TEXAS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP IN THE CITY OF HU, TEXAS.
SECOND MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE COUNCIL MEMBER THOMPSON AYE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER THORNTON AYE.
ANYBODY ELSE? ANYTHING? DO I HAVE THE OTHER ONE? SO, UM, MAY I MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, LET'S SEE.
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A GROUNDWATER RESERVATION AGREEMENT TO RESERVE UP TO 5 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY OF RESERVED WATER FROM EXISTING PERMITTED GROUNDWATER RIGHTS FROM, UM, EPCOR AND OUR HOLDINGS, INC.
AND, UM, NEGOTIATED GROUNDWATER SUPPLY CONTRACT WITH THE SAME PROVIDER, UH, CONTINGENT UPON THE PROVIDER FILLING OUT A FORM 1285.
AND, UH, PROVIDED THAT STAFF, UH, CERTIFY THE FUNDS PER CHARTER.
MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GORDON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN CLARK.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE VOTE.
ANY OTHER ITEMS ON THE LIST? ALRIGHT, HEARING NONE.
[16. CITY COUNCIL COMMENTS ]
16.ONE GENERAL COMMENTS FROM CITY COUNCIL.
UH, MAYOR, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO CITY MANAGER URIN, HIS STAFF FOR, UH, THE SMOOTH, UH, BUDGET, UH, OVERVIEW EARLIER IN THE MEETING.
UM, THIS BEING MY FIRST GO AROUND WITH THE BUDGET, IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO SEE SUCH CLARITY AS WELL AS TRANSPARENCY COMING FROM, FROM THE CITY MANAGER AND HIS STAFF REGARDING, UM, OUR BUDGET FOR THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
AND SO, UM, JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO, TO HIM AND HIS STAFF FOR, FOR HAVING THAT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, YOU, ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? LET'S SAY WE HAVE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. THANK YOU.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS, UH, WE'RE WE'RE JOURNEY.
I KNOW I WAS THROWN OFF BY THAT TOO.
TWO FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? UH, I'D LIKE AN AGENDA ITEM, UM, FAIRLY SOON.
UH, LOOKING AT A, A ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE ORDINANCE, UM, SO THAT WE CAN MAYBE CHECK IT OUTTA THE GENERAL FUND AND LOOK AT ANOTHER WAY OF TAKING CARE OF THAT.
UM, AND THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE.
'CAUSE IF WE CAN DECOUPLE, UH, STREET MAINTENANCE FROM, UM, PROPERTY TAX RATES, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING.
THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, JAMES.
ANY OTHERS? SO DO YOU WANT THAT AT THE NEXT MEETING? 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME.
IF, IF WE CAN GET IT THAT QUICKLY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO AT LEAST DISCUSS IT AT THE NEXT MEETING, WHETHER WE'RE READY TO SET IT OR NOT.
THEY WANNA CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A ROAD MAINTENANCE FEE TO BE ADDED TO THE UTILITY BILLS.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT SO
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WE CAN DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED A DIRECT STAFF TO DO IT.STAFF CAN GO AHEAD AND START MAYBE WORKING A LITTLE BIT ON THE SIDE, UM, COMING UP WITH SOME LANGUAGE THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE.
ANY OTHER AGENDA ITEMS. ALL RIGHT.
THEN YOU'LL ADJOURN AT 1218 ON AUGUST 4TH.