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ALL RIGHT. IT IS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH AT 630.
[(EDC) Board Meeting/(CDC) Board Meeting on September 8, 2025.]
AND IT'S TIME TO CALL THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED CORPORATION TYPE A AND TYPE B BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING TO ORDER. ROLL CALL PLEASE.BOARD MEMBER. PORTERFIELD. HERE.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. ON TO THE PLEDGE.
I 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. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS.
ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
ALL RIGHT. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, SIR. AWESOME. ALL RIGHT.
I'LL TAKE US TO ITEM FIVE ONE.
DISCUSS AND CONSIDER A PRESENTATION REGARDING POSSIBLE INCENTIVES FOR PROJECT LIBRA, A PROPOSED BOOKSTORE AND CAFE BUSINESS TO BE LOCATED IN CITY OF HOODOOS HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THAT BUSINESS OWNER IS NOT ABLE TO BE HERE, BUT SHE ACTUALLY RECORDED A VIDEO AND SENT THAT LINK SO THAT SHE CAN PRESENT HER BUSINESS TO YOU ALL. SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND PLAY THAT FOR YOU ALL NOW.
OH. WRONG THING. JUST KIDDING.
I CAN'T BE HERE IN PERSON TO TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT MY BOOKSHOP AND ALL OF THE EXCITING THINGS THAT I HAVE PLANNED FOR IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I ALREADY HAD PLANS TO GO TO A FAMILY MEMBER'S WEDDING, AND I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING BACK ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH A TWO YEAR OLD SCREAMING IN THE BACK SEAT. SO WISH ME ALL OF THE GOOD LUCK LOOK, AND I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU GUYS WITH ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY THIS VIDEO.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO ME YAP ABOUT IT.
THERE ARE A FEW PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE SORT OF POISED TO SOLVE IN HOTEL.
ONE OF THEM IS THE LACK OF THIRD SPACES, SO SPACES TO GET TOGETHER AND SPEND TIME IN A POSITIVE AND ENRICHING WAY OUTSIDE OF WORK, HOME, SCHOOL ALSO THE CULTURE OF ISOLATION THAT IS REALLY RAMPANT, ESPECIALLY AMONG CREATIVE TYPES.
YOU MIGHT NOT REALLY HAVE ANY OTHER EXTRACURRICULARS OTHER THAN SOMETHING LIKE READING OR WRITING, AND HATTO ALSO NEEDS A PLACE FOR COMMUNITY GATHERINGS.
THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IS WELL ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE AUSTIN METRO AREA, WHICH IS REALLY PROMISING FOR SOMETHING LIKE A BOOKSHOP, WHICH IS NOT A NECESSITY BUT IS TECHNICALLY MORE OF A LUXURY ITEM.
IT'S A NECESSITY, BUT I UNDERSTAND TO MOST PEOPLE IT'S PROBABLY NOT.
ALSO, SPECIFICALLY, THE LOCATION IN HUTTO WHERE THE BOOKSHOP IS IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, HISTORIC DISTRICTS ARE REALLY WELL KNOWN FOR BOOKSHOPS DOING REALLY WELL IN THEM, BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE PEOPLE GO FOR AN EXPERIENCE.
AND WHEN YOU GO TO AN INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE, TYPICALLY YOU'RE NOT JUST GOING TO FIND A BOOK. YOU COULD DO THAT ON AMAZON.
I MEAN, I DON'T RECOMMEND IT, BUT YOU CERTAINLY CAN, AND PEOPLE DO, AND THAT'S FINE. THERE ARE ALSO A LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES HERE AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN SCHOOL. SO SCAB IS GOING TO PROVIDE A LOT OF RESOURCES TO THOSE FAMILIES.
ANOTHER REASON IS BECAUSE OF ITS SPECIFIC LOCATION IN POSITION TO THE AUSTIN ROUND ROCK METRO AREA. IT IS A PASS THROUGH FOR SO MANY PEOPLE WHO MAYBE THEY LIVE IN GEORGETOWN AND THEY WORK IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
MY OWN MOTHER DOES, AND I KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE TRAVEL ALL AROUND AUSTIN FOR WORK, AND HUTTO IS A REALLY COMMON PLACE.
PEOPLE HAVE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT THROUGH ALL THE TIME, SO IT'S EASY TO ACCESS, WHETHER YOU'RE IN A MORE RURAL AREA OR WHETHER YOU ARE IN A MORE URBAN LIKE AUSTIN.
SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE RESIDENTS OF HUTTO TO LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING, STARVING, WE CAN PRETTY REASONABLY EXPECT TO GET TO SERVE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR SURROUNDING CITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DO THINGS LIKE OFFER EVENTS THAT BOOKSTORES IN AUSTIN OR IN GEORGETOWN OR IN BASTROP ARE NOT OFFERING.
WHEN WE'RE OFFERING PROGRAMS THAT ARE UNIQUE.
THEY'RE WILLING TO DRIVE 30, 45 MINUTES, EVEN AN HOUR TO GET TO.
I HAVE BEEN WRITING AND EDITING PROFESSIONALLY FOR NEARLY A DECADE NOW.
I HAVE A DEGREE IN ENGLISH LITERATURE, WHICH HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REALLY HELPFUL, EVEN THOUGH I GOT TEASED ABOUT IT IN SCHOOL.
IT TURNS OUT IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE USEFUL AND CONTINUES TO BE QUITE USEFUL.
I'VE ALSO WORKED IN MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO AS MY PRIMARY SOURCE OF INCOME.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO USE THOSE MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO PROMOTE THE BOOKSHOP AND OUR EVENTS AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. I PUBLISHED MY FIRST BOOK WHEN I WAS 15, WHICH WAS DEFINITELY TOO EARLY TO BE PUBLISHING MY FIRST BOOK, BUT THAT DID START ME OFF ON A JOURNEY WHERE I REALLY GOT INTO THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY EARLY, QUICKLY, AND MADE ALL THE MISTAKES THAT A HUMAN BEING CAN POSSIBLY MAKE.
IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY. SO I DO KNOW QUITE A BIT ABOUT IT.
NOW, AS AN INSIDER, I UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES IN SUBMISSIONS AND
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SELF-PUBLISHING VERSUS TRADITIONAL PUBLISHING, AND THAT'S A PROCESS THAT I'VE COACHED A LOT OF WRITERS THROUGH.I THINK I'VE NOW HAD THE CHANCE TO MENTOR APPROXIMATELY 60 WRITERS, WHICH IS AMAZING. SOME OF THEM HAVE GONE ON TO BE PUBLISHED. SOME OF THEM ARE CONTINUING TO WORK TOWARDS PUBLICATION.
I ALSO OWN STORY SIREN STUDIO, WHICH IS A PRODUCTION COMPANY.
WE PRODUCE PODCASTS LIKE THAT PRETENTIOUS BOOK CLUB AND THE VICTORIAN SOCIETY, SO VERY BOOK LITERARY THEMED.
WE ALSO HOST WRITING RETREATS FOUR TIMES A YEAR.
SO THAT'S REALLY FUN. AND THROUGH THAT AND THROUGH THE CONNECTIONS THAT I'VE MADE, I THINK OUR AUDIENCE IS APPROXIMATELY LIKE 30,000.
SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW AND CONNECT WITH A LOT OF OUR LISTENERS AND REALIZE THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR A PLACE TO CONNECT, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO TEND TO ISOLATE, PULL BACK FROM SOCIETY I'M REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THESE PEOPLE FOR THE STORY.
SIRENS STUDIO STARTED IN 2021, SO IN REALLY CLOSE CONTACT WITH THEM AND UNDERSTANDING LIKE WHAT THE TRENDS ARE, WHAT DO THEY NEED, WHAT DO THEY WANT? AS WELL AS BEING A READER AND A WRITER MYSELF AND KNOWING THE KIND OF THINGS THAT I WANT AND THAT I'VE STRUGGLED TO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO NOW I'M IN A PLACE WHERE I CAN PROVIDE THAT TO PEOPLE, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. SCABS BUILDING HAS TWO LEVELS.
THERE ARE TWO ROOMS UPSTAIRS AND THERE ARE FOUR ROOMS DOWNSTAIRS, FIVE ROOMS DOWNSTAIRS.
ALL OF THESE ARE VIABLE EVENT SPACE.
HOWEVER, ONE OF THE UPSTAIRS ROOMS IS RESERVED SPECIFICALLY FOR EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND THIS IS A SPACE THAT COULD BE RESERVED FOR BOOK CLUBS, TUTORING, MEETINGS, WHATEVER IT IS, IF SOMEBODY NEEDS A PRIVATE SPACE OR ONLY NEEDS A SMALLER SPACE, OR WANTS TO HOST SOMETHING WHILE WE HAVE OTHER THINGS GOING ON AND THEN OF COURSE THERE'S A LARGE ROOM DOWNSTAIRS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MAIN EVENT CENTER. WE'LL HAVE A SMALL STAGE SO THAT WE CAN HOST AUTHOR READINGS, SIGNINGS. IT'S GOING TO BE SUPER, SUPER COOL.
AND WHEN IT'S NOT IN USE FOR THAT, IT'LL JUST PART OF THE BOOKSTORE.
THERE ARE ALSO OTHER ROOMS THAT CAN BE OPENED UP FOR A LARGER EVENT AS WELL. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A PA SYSTEM WITH MICROPHONES, GOING TO HAVE LIVE MUSIC OCCASIONALLY AUTHOR READINGS, AUTHOR SIGNINGS, POETRY SLAMS, WORKSHOPS OF ALL KINDS, NETWORKING EVENTS, THEMED DAYS, CREATIVE CRAWLERS, TIME FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS.
WE'RE GONNA DO THEMED STORY HOURS FOR CHILDREN, WHERE SOMEBODY COMES IN IN A COSTUME AND READS TO THEM, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO BE ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS. THE PRIMARY COST THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO COVER RIGHT NOW ARE THE EQUIPMENT AND SORT OF SPACE IMPROVEMENT COSTS, SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE OUR CAFE AND EVENT SPACES FUNCTIONAL. WE'RE LOOKING TO RAISE OR COME UP WITH $31,600 APPROXIMATELY.
THAT'S GOING TO COVER TWO POINT OF SALE SYSTEMS, A COUNTERTOP WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET TOGETHER, SIT DOWN, READ, WRITE, SOCIALIZE, THE BUILT IN BOOKSHELVES, DISHWASHER, REFRIGERATOR, DISPLAY CASE, FOLDING CHAIRS FOR EVENTS, A PA SYSTEM FOR EVENTS, AND AN ICE BIN FOR THOSE HOT TEXAS DAYS SO WE CAN OFFER COLD DRINKS TO PEOPLE.
OUR PLAN IS TO, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, ESTABLISH OURSELVES AS A SORT OF CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC CORNERSTONE IN HUTTO.
I THINK OUR LOCATION IS PERFECT FOR THAT, AND I THINK THAT OUR OFFERINGS ARE PERFECT FOR THAT. WE WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS.
WE WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE LIBRARY. WE WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE CITY. WE HAVE A VARIETY OF REVENUE STREAMS TO RELY ON.
SO EVEN THOUGH SOME BOOKSTORES MAY BE AFFECTED BY SEASONALITY, WITH PEOPLE PURCHASING MORE BOOKS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON FOR GIFTS AND SUCH, BECAUSE THAT'S JUST ONE PART OF OUR OF OUR REVENUE, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR INVENTORY BECAUSE OF HOW WE ARE DOING IT.
WE'RE ABLE TO VERY QUICKLY ADAPT TO THE CHANGING TRENDS, WHICH EVEN IN BOOK INVENTORY AND BOOK SALES, IS GOING TO REALLY MAKE US SOMEWHAT IMPERVIOUS TO SOME OF THE SEASONALITY THAT MORE TRADITIONAL BOOKSTORE INVENTORY MODELS MIGHT BE MORE LIKELY TO STRUGGLE WITH.
WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS IS ANOTHER REVENUE STREAM.
WE HAVE, OF COURSE, THE CAFE OFFERINGS AS WELL AS ONLINE SALES, WHICH WE HOPE TO GET UP IN THE NEXT 6 TO 12 MONTHS.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO OFFER THINGS THAT MAKE EXCELLENT GIFTS.
THESE ARE JOURNALS. THESE ARE REALLY FUN PENS, BOOKMARKS, CARDS, AS WELL AS SPECIAL ORDERS THAT WE PUT IN FOR PEOPLE AND THEN RESERVATIONS FOR TUTORING SPACE, BOOK CLUBS, WRITING GROUPS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
SO WE HAVE JUST UNDER 1800 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE AT THE BOOKSHOP, AND THAT MEANS THAT DEPENDING ON THE DAY AND DEPENDING ON WHAT SORT OF PROGRAMS WE HAVE GOING ON, THIS WHOLE BOOKSHOP CAN BE STAFFED BY APPROXIMATELY LIKE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1 AND 4 PEOPLE. AND WE'RE EXCITED TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO.
WE'RE ALSO PLANNING TO HIRE INTERNS, SO THAT'S EXCITING.
SO IF THERE'S, YOU KNOW, LOCAL YOUTH LOOKING FOR SUMMER WORK OR IF SOMEBODY'S LOOKING TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, OR PERHAPS SOMEBODY WHO CAN ONLY WORK SO MUCH DUE TO PHYSICAL CONDITIONS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, WE'RE EXCITED TO OFFER PAID INTERNSHIPS AND PART TIME POSITIONS FOR THAT AS MUCH AS WE'RE ABLE TO, BASED ON OUR PROJECTIONS IN THESE MULTIPLE REVENUE STREAMS, WE ARE ACTUALLY REALLY WELL POSITIONED TO ALMOST OPERATIONALLY BREAK EVEN WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH WITH A FULL INVESTMENT RECOVERY IN OUR FIRST TWO YEARS.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT ALL KINDS OF PROGRAMS, BECAUSE REALLY THE CORE OF READING, THE CORE OF LITERACY IS LEARNING.
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AND THE POINT OF THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE INTO YOUR POTENTIAL.SO EVEN IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T WANT TO BE A BEST SELLING FICTION NOVELIST, ALTHOUGH I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT WE WILL DEFINITELY HAVE RESOURCES FOR THAT PERSON.
THOSE ARE NOT THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO FEEL COMFORTABLE AND DRAWN INTO AND SERVED BY SCAB. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING THIS AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANYBODY.
ANY QUESTIONS? I'M AN OPEN BOOK AND I'M VERY EXCITED AND VERY PASSIONATE, VERY DRIVEN. I WANT TO BE ABLE TO OFFER SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL TO THE PEOPLE OF HUTTO AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT WITH ME. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL EVENING AND I HOPE TO CONNECT WITH YOU ALL SOON.
OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT? THAT WAS REALLY CREATIVE.
IS THAT TOO LOUD FOR YOU? BOARD MEMBER MORRIS. SHE HAS A LOT OF ENERGY.
ARE YOU PASSIONATE? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. I'M ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT.
I THINK THERE'S A. WE CAN'T HEAR YOU.
OH, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? THANKS. I'M ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT.
I THINK JUST PERSONALLY HAVING A SMALL CHILD, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH THAT I CAN TAKE HER TO THAT ISN'T OUTSIDE.
SO IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE HER INDOORS TO DO SOMETHING REALLY FUN.
AND I KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, WHOLESOME WITH BOOKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND I THINK THAT THIS CONCEPT HAS WORKED WELL IN OTHER CITIES AS WELL, WHEN THEY HAVE THIS IN THEIR SORT OF CITY HUB.
I'VE SEEN IT BE SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER PLACES TOO.
I ALSO HAVE SEEN A BOOKSTORE IN ROCHDALE VERY SIMILAR, EXCEPT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE EXTRA SPACE THAT SHE'S PROPOSING.
BUT I THINK THAT EXTRA SPACE WOULD BE VERY RELEVANT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND SPACES FOR DIFFERENT, FOR DIVERSE GROUPS. AND WHAT SHE DESCRIBED SEEMED TO FIT THE BILL.
WE DON'T HAVE A PUBLIC LOCATION YET.
A A PUBLIC LOCATION LOCATION THAT WE CAN SHARE PUBLICLY OF WHERE THIS IS PROPOSED TO GO. YEAH, SHE HAD IT ON HER SLIDE HERE.
I'M SORRY. OH THAT'S OKAY. IT WAS ON THE I THINK IT WAS ON THE OPENING SLIDE.
IT'S WHERE THE OLD OR IT'S THE HOUSE WHERE HIPPO VAPE SHOP.
HIPPO. OH, THEY JUST REPAINTED IT.
IT LOOKS GREAT. SO RIGHT ON 79.
YEAH, IT'S RIGHT BEFORE THAT OFFICE BUILDING.
IS THAT PROPERTY AVAILABLE OR WHO DO WE OWN IT.
NO, SHE'S SHE'S TO MY KNOWLEDGE SHE'S SECURING THE LEASE ON THAT PROPERTY.
SHE'S WORKING TO FINALIZE THAT.
WE'LL CONTINUE ON TO WE HAVE NO ACTION ON FIVE ONE.
TAKE US ON TO SIX ONE CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE CONSIDERATION OF INCENTIVES FOR PROJECT LIBRA, A PLANNED BOOKSTORE AND CAFE BUSINESS PLANNED TO BE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF COHOES HISTORIC DISTRICT.
GREAT. THANK YOU. SO AS A REQUIREMENT, BY STATE LAW, ANYTIME THIS CORPORATION AWARDS INCENTIVES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING IT.
SO WE JUST HEARD THE PRESENTATION FOR PROJECT LIBRA, WHICH IS THE STORY EMPORIUM AND BOOKSTORE.
PROPOSED TO GO IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT RIGHT ON 79.
THEY'RE PLANNING TO HAVE A BOOKSTORE WITH EVENT SPACE HOST PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS, AS WELL AS A CAFE. I UNDERSTAND ALSO, SHE'S PLANNING TO SERVE ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN THE FUTURE, BUT THAT IS NOT PART OF HER CURRENT PROPOSAL.
SO NONE OF THAT WAS CALCULATED INTO HER CURRENT REVENUE STREAMS OR EXPENSES.
SO JUST WANT TO FOLLOW THAT AND GIVE THE BOARD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENTERTAIN INCENTIVES FOR THIS PROJECT. SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE HEARING, SIR. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THE HEARING REGARDING THIS IS OPENED AT 645.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? I THINK YOU HAVE TO ASK IF THERE'S ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WISHES TO COME UP AND SPEAK. RIGHT. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK?
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HEARING NONE. WE'LL CLOSE IT THEN.THAT WILL TAKE US ON TO ITEM SEVEN ONE.
STAFF WILL PROVIDE UPDATES ON CRITICAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE MEGA SITE SPINE ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, WILLIAMSON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP EVENT RECAPS, AND UPCOMING EVENTS.
GREAT. THANK YOU. SO REGARDING THE MEGA SITE AND SPINE ROAD, WE'RE PLANNING A RIBBON CUTTING FOR OCTOBER.
SEPTEMBER JUST KIND OF SNUCK UP ON US REAL QUICK, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT. SO WE'RE THINKING OCTOBER.
I'M PRETTY SURE EVERYONE ELSE THAT MIGHT ATTEND WILL APPRECIATE THAT TOO.
WE'RE HOPING FOR COOLER TEMPERATURES BY THEN, SO WE'LL BE SHARING OUT DETAILS ON THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS.
WILCO. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP.
I ATTENDED LAST WEEK THE KOREA BUSINESS, THE TEXAS KOREA BUSINESS EXCHANGE EVENT, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WILCO EDP, DAVE PORTER, SPOKE, AS DID TAYLOR, EDC CEO BEN WHITE, AND MYSELF.
IT WAS A GREAT COLLABORATION BETWEEN ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE GREATER AUSTIN ASIAN CHAMBER, TAYLOR CHAMBER AND HUTTO CHAMBER.
SEPTEMBER 18TH IS WHEN WE WILL HOST THE NEXT DELEGATION FROM SOUTH KOREA.
THAT VISIT IS COORDINATED BY WILCO EDP.
WE HAVE A FULL DAY OF ENGAGEMENT PLANNED, AND A FAIR PORTION OF IT IS HERE IN HUTTO AT TSTC. TEN COMPANIES WILL BE REPRESENTED, AND THESE COMPANIES HAVE BEEN VETTED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH KOREA.
THESE ARE THE TOP TEN THAT THEY FELT MOST CONFIDENT IN BRINGING OVER.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE WAS DOZENS OF COMPANIES THAT HAD EXPRESSED INTEREST.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO ENGAGE WITH THESE TEN COMPANIES FROM THE LIST.
I HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY ENGAGED WITH ANY.
SO THESE ARE TEN NEW COMPANIES, AT LEAST AS FAR AS I KNOW.
WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL FOLLOW UP FROM OUR SELECT USA SPIN OFF EVENT THAT WE HELD EARLIER THIS YEAR. THAT'S PENDING LATER THIS MONTH AND THEN ON INTO OCTOBER AS WELL.
WE HAVE THE HEART OF JUDO EVENT TOMORROW EVENING AT THE JUDO WINE BAR FROM 6 TO 8 THAT IS SPONSORED BY FROST BANK AND IS A COLLABORATION WITH BRUNO WORKSHOP AND HALF.
IT'S A THREE PART SERIES THAT FOCUSES ON OUR DOWNTOWN.
THE FIRST SESSION IS CENTERED ON PLACEMAKING.
THE SECOND SESSION, TO OCCUR IN OCTOBER, WILL BE ON RENOVATION AND REHABILITATION AND THEN THE THIRD AND FINAL EVENT WILL BE FOCUSED ON REDEVELOPMENT AND INVESTMENT.
AND WE'LL SHARE OUT THE DETAILS ON THE OCTOBER NOVEMBER EVENTS AS SOON AS WE NAIL DOWN THOSE DATES. SUPER GRATEFUL TO OUR SPONSOR, FROST BANK. AND THEN AND OUR PARTNERS ON THAT.
ALSO THIS WEEK, WE HAVE THE CHAMBER LUNCHEON ON WEDNESDAY AT 1130 AT UK POWER BREAKFAST, THURSDAY MORNING AT 8 A.M., ALSO AT UTECH.
AND THEN SEPTEMBER 23RD, WE HAVE OUR BIZ THRIVE EVENT FOR OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY FOCUSED ON MARKETING.
THAT'S AT 6:00 AT THE WINE BAR.
AND AS ALWAYS, YOU CAN CHECK OUT HOW TO CONNECT CALENDAR ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S ALL. IS THERE A WAY WHEN WE DO THESE EVENTS, WE CAN HAVE LIKE A LIKE A SYNOPSIS THAT'S EMAILED TO US, LIKE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE GOT OUT OF IT, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, A KEY EXCHANGE.
I KNOW YOU SPOKE THERE, BUT MAYBE SO THE WHOLE BOARD KNOWS WHAT WE WHAT BENEFIT WE RECEIVED OUT OF BEING THERE.
BEING A PART OF IT, OTHER THAN SOME BUSINESS PEOPLE SHOWED UP.
I ALSO ATTENDED THAT EVENT AND THERE WERE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE.
SO I GOT THE CHANCE TO CHAT WITH A SAMSUNG GAL.
SHE AND I HAVE CONNECTED ON LINKEDIN, SO WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS BEFORE.
AND WE ALSO CONNECTED WITH SOME OF THE OTHER EDC FOLKS THAT I KNOW ALREADY FROM PRIOR MEETINGS THAT I'VE HAD WITH THEM ON A BUSINESS LEVEL.
AND IT WAS GOOD TO EXCHANGE SOME IDEAS.
YOU KNOW WHAT HOW THEY'RE DOING BUSINESS, HOW THEY'RE IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THEIR MUNICIPALITIES, HOW THEY'RE DEALING WITH WATER ISSUES, ENERGY ISSUES. AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF OUR EFFORT IN BEST PRACTICES AND GROUPS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF US.
MUNICIPALITIES ARE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF US, AND I THINK SO.
WE DON'T WORK IN ISOLATION, THAT WE GATHER INFORMATION FROM OTHERS, AND MAYBE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING WE NEVER WANT TO DO, AND THAT'S POSSIBLE TOO.
BUT THOSE ARE LESSONS LEARNED AS WELL.
SO I FOUND IT TO BE A VERY INVIGORATING DISCUSSION WITH INDIVIDUALS, ESPECIALLY FROM KOREA.
THEY WERE VERY EAGER TO LEARN AND TO TALK, UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER THE PROCESS OF ESTABLISHING BUSINESSES HERE IN IN HUTTO.
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ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE.THANK YOU. CHENEY. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM EIGHT ONE.
DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE THE CORPORATION'S MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR AUGUST 2025. GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHRISTINA BISHOP, CITY COMPTROLLER. WE HAVE A FEW FINANCE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, THE FIRST ONE BEING THE AUGUST 2025 FINANCIAL REPORT.
THIS WAS EMAILED OUT ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
AS WITH THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A WHOLE LOT TO REPORT.
NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY OCCURRED.
YOU HAVE ONE MONTH LEFT IN THE FISCAL YEAR.
THE LAST FEW FISCAL YEARS, YOU'VE ADDED OVER $1 MILLION TO FUND BALANCE.
AND THIS LOOKS TO BE NO DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW.
YOUR REVENUES EXCEED EXPENSES BY 1.4 MILLION.
YOU HAVE A FEW EXPENDITURES LEFT.
ONE OF THEM BEING YOUR LAST ALLIANCE INTEREST PAYMENT FOR THE YEAR.
A COUPLE OF MONTHS OF LEGAL EXPENSES AN NK2 SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENT AND THE PAYMENTS TO THE TOUR'S NUMBER ONE FOR THE CO-OP SALES TAX AGREEMENT.
ALL THAT BEING SAID, WE EXPECT TO END AT OVER $1 MILLION ADDED TO FUND BALANCE.
SO YOU SHOULD BE ENDING THE YEAR IN A PRETTY GOOD PLACE.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ON THIS ONE.
WHEN YOU WHEN YOU SAID ADDING TO THE FUND BALANCE, WHAT IS THE TOTAL FUND BALANCE OR IS THAT THE 1.4.
SO FUND BALANCE. WE STARTED THE YEAR AT 6.7 MILLION.
I'M KIND OF THINKING YOU'LL END AT ABOUT 8.2.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. CHRISTINA.
WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION. SO OPEN TO A MOTION.
MOTION TO APPROVE CORPORATION'S MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR AUGUST 2025.
SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY SECRETARY MORALES.
SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER PORTERFIELD.
HEARING NONE. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
BOARD MEMBER. GONZALEZ I BOARD MEMBER.
PORTERFIELD I CHAIR. CARLSON I SECRETARY.
SNYDER I. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
ITEM EIGHT TWO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION ON RESOLUTION R DASH HDC.
DASH 2020 5-144 TO APPROVE FINANCIAL POLICIES OF THE CORPORATION, INCLUDING A CORPORATE CREDIT CARD USE POLICY AND ACH PAYMENT POLICY.
OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO TALK THROUGH THESE ONES TOO FAST.
THE FIRST POLICY FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IS A CREDIT CARD USE POLICY.
THE REASON THIS COMES TO USE IS BECAUSE STAFF WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE GETTING A CREDIT CARD FOR THE CORPORATION. RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING IS WHEN THE CORPORATION NEEDS TO MAKE EXPENDITURES WITH A CREDIT CARD, YOU KNOW, TRAINING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S ACTUALLY USING THE CITY'S P CARD.
ON AN ACCOUNTING END, THIS CAUSES ME A LITTLE BIT OF HEARTBURN.
WE HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA WORK ON THE BACK END, BECAUSE WE WORK REALLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EXPENSES ARE NOT CO-MINGLED WITH THE CITY'S CASH, AND VICE VERSA. SO THIS WOULD KIND OF THIS WOULD ALLEVIATE THAT FOR US.
SO SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE POLICY, A LOT OF IT IS PRETTY BOILERPLATE STANDARD THINGS YOU WOULD FIND IN A CREDIT CARD POLICY.
THE FEW THINGS I WANTED TO TOUCH ON WERE THERE WOULD BE A CREDIT MONTHLY CREDIT LIMIT OF $10,000. THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE CITY'S DIRECTOR'S MONTHLY LIMIT OF $10,000 ON A CREDIT CARD. AND IT SHOULD BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE CORPORATION'S NEEDS IN A MONTH. THE OTHER ITEM WOULD BE THAT THE CREDIT CARD WOULD BE IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR'S NAME.
IT UPON SEPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT FINANCE WOULD IMMEDIATELY DEACTIVATE THAT ACCOUNT, AND WE WOULDN'T ISSUE A NEW ONE UNTIL A NEW DIRECTOR IS APPOINTED.
AND THE OTHER ITEM I WANTED TO TOUCH ON, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, EXPENDITURES WOULD HAVE TO BE PRE-APPROVED IN THESE CITIES, OR, I'M SORRY THE CORPORATIONS ADOPTED BUDGET.
AND FINALLY, WE WOULD INCLUDE A STATEMENT AND AN ANALYSIS OF THE TRANSACTIONS IN YOUR MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT FOR TRANSPARENCY.
REALLY, I DIDN'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF GUIDANCE TO GO ON ON WHAT THIS BOARD IN PARTICULAR WOULD LIKE TO SEE. SO I'M HAPPY TO MAKE ANY CHANGES, INCORPORATE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE. BUT I THINK THIS MEETS WHAT FINANCE WOULD CONSIDER A SUFFICIENT POLICY. SO A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THIS, GUYS. SO THIS IS WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING.
I'M A CFO OF TECHNICALLY THREE SEPARATE COMPANIES, AND CO-MINGLING OF FUNDS AND TRYING TO KEEP EVERYTHING LINED OUT IS AN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT TASK. I UNDERSTAND THAT FROM A A COUNSEL PERSPECTIVE OR MEMBERS OF COUNSEL, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CONCERN OF, OH, CREDIT CARDS OUT THERE, SO ON AND SO FORTH. WELL, THE WAY I READ THE POLICY IS A RECEIPT IS REQUIRED FOR ANY AND ALL
[00:25:04]
TRANSACTIONS FROM ONE PENNY UP TO $10,000 IN THE COURSE OF A MONTH.THE IRS REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO CORPORATE PURCHASING CARDS, WHICH IS TYPICALLY WHAT THIS WOULD FALL UNDER, IS ACTUALLY ANYTHING UNDER $75 DOES NOT NEED A RECEIPT ANY LONGER.
SO THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY STRINGENT YOU KNOW, POLICY WITH RESPECT TO THAT, BECAUSE I DON'T EVEN REQUIRE THAT.
AND THIS SHOULD BE A ONE OFF THING.
ANYTHING OVER TEN GRAND IS PROBABLY A ACH WIRE TYPE SITUATION OR CHECK.
SO I THINK IT'S GREAT FOR FROM A DISCRETIONARY STANDPOINT OR WHEN OR AS NEEDED, LIKE A GOOD EXAMPLE MIGHT BE, OH HEY, WE NEED TO HAVE SHIRTS EMBROIDERED OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE, INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DO ALL THE OTHER BACK END.
NOW IT'S EASIER BECAUSE THERE IS A TIME SINK IN THERE, WHETHER IT'S FOR SETTING UP A VENDOR FOR ACH AND THEN ACTUALLY DOING THE ACH REMITTANCE OR CUTTING A PAPER CHECK AND RECONCILING IT.
THERE'S A LOT IN THE FINANCE WORLD THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T SEE, BUT THIS WOULD MAKE THEIR LIFE A MILLION TIMES EASIER, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DON'T PAY FOR IT FOR THOSE SERVICES IN EFFECT. SO I AM A LARGE PROPONENT OF IT.
I'LL, YOU KNOW, I'M GOOD WITH IT FROM WHERE I SIT.
OKAY. END OF THE DAY, IT'S UP TO THE BOARD. OH, SORRY.
I WANTED TO JUST OVERLAP WHERE THESE ALIGN OR ARE DIFFERENT WITH OUR EXISTING FINANCIAL POLICIES, BECAUSE OUR CURRENT POLICIES DO AUTHORIZE A CREDIT CARD.
SO MOST OF THIS IS CURRENTLY COVERED.
HOWEVER, WE DID NOT HAVE A CARD LIMIT.
SO WE DID NOT HAVE A $10,000 LIMIT CURRENTLY.
SO THAT'S A THING THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE IN.
THE OTHER THING IS THE EXISTING POLICIES SAY THAT.
AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ANY BOARD MEMBERS CAN GET A CREDIT CARD IF THERE IS A RESOLUTION, IF THE BOARD PASSES A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THEM, CAN UTILIZE THE CORPORATE CREDIT CARD IF THERE'S A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THEM TO DO SO. THIS ONE LIMITS AND SAYS THAT IT'S JUST THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, AND IT'S IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR'S NAME. SO THAT IS THAT IS DIFFERENT. THIS ONE HAS A FEW MORE.
THIS ONE SPECIFIES SOME THINGS ABOUT BUSINESS MEALS.
WHAT TO DO WITH RETURNS? WHICH IS GREAT. I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POLICY.
AND I'LL TOUCH ON THE ACH POLICY NEXT.
I KIND OF WANTED TO SEPARATE THE TWO BECAUSE THEY'RE. SO I THINK I CAN.
ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO IF YOU GUYS REALLY LIKE THIS POLICY, IS WE CAN AMEND OUR CURRENT POLICIES ANYWHERE. LIKE WE CAN INCORPORATE EVERYTHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE INTO OUR CURRENT POLICIES AND THEN AMEND THEM TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THIS AS WELL.
YEAH. I WOULD RECOMMEND HAVING AT LEAST ONE OTHER AUTHORIZED USER ON SAID CREDIT CARD, WHOEVER THAT IS ON STAFF OR SOMEBODY ON THE BOARD OR WHATEVER, JUST PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE AT LEAST ONE MORE PERSON WHO CAN AUTHORIZE THINGS WHEN SOMEONE'S NOT THERE. LIKE I SAID THIS, THE POLICY SAYS ANY ANY OF YOU CAN, BUT YOU HAVE TO. THE BOARD HAS TO PASS A RESOLUTION SAYING, OKAY, NOW THIS PERSON IS THE PERSON. I'M JUST THAT'S THE CURRENT POLICY.
YEAH. NOT JUST THINKING LIKE, IF ALL OF US ARE AUTHORIZED AND THEN A BUNCH OF PEOPLE LEAVE OR, FOR, YOU KNOW, THEN THAT'S A HEADACHE TO DEAL WITH OR LIKE CANCEL ALL OF THAT.
SO I THINK LIKE 1 TO 2 PEOPLE MAX WOULD BE SMART.
RIGHT? IT DOESN'T. YES IT CAN.
YEAH. YEAH. IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE THAT IT WOULD BE A STAFF PERSON, WHICH IS THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN. I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY IT'S A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX.
IT'S NOT THE PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
IT'S JUST A HEY, IF WE NEED TO DO THIS INSTEAD OF USING THE CITI P CARD FOR TRAINING, ETC., IT'S OR BOOKING ICSC OR WHATEVER, THAT MIGHT BE. OKAY, THAT ACTUALLY GOES ON THE EDC CREDIT CARD.
THAT'S LITERALLY IT. SO AND IF I CAN JUST OFFER ONE OTHER DETAIL.
SO WHEN I COMMUNICATED THIS TO CHRISTINA, I GOT THE IMPRESSION FROM THE BOARD AT THAT TIME THAT EFFICIENCY IS WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO FOCUS.
AND SO I REALLY WANTED IT TO MATCH THE CITY'S PROCESSES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT DON'T APPLY JUST BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT STRUCTURE OF THIS CORPORATION VERSUS THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
SO THAT ALSO MAKES IT EASIER FOR OUR FINANCE TEAM TO BE ABLE TO PROCESS ALL THESE TRANSACTIONS AND THE REPORTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO SO AND COMPLY.
I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF OPTIONS ON HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. IF YOU GUYS LIKE THE POLICIES AND YOU WANT TO INCORPORATE THEM. ONE IS I CAN JUST MAKE THE CHANGES AND I CAN BRING IT BACK FOR FINAL APPROVAL AT THE NEXT MEETING.
THE OTHER IS THAT YOU CAN APPROVE OUR EXISTING POLICIES AS MODIFIED BY TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THESE.
SO YOU CAN APPROVE IT TODAY AS MODIFIED.
AND THEN I OR I CAN JUST DO THE EDITS AND BRING IT BACK.
AND YOU LOOK AT THE FINAL VERSION AND APPROVE THAT. SO ARE YOU SAYING THERE'S A CURRENT POLICY? YES, WE HAVE A CURRENT POLICY.
AND WE WROTE IT. WE WROTE ANOTHER POLICY.
WELL, THE CITY HAS A UNDERSTANDING.
THE CITY HAS A POLICY. I DIDN'T DRAFT THIS.
THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S PREFERENCES OR CURRENTLY HAVE
[00:30:01]
A POLICY. AND WE YES WE DO.I DON'T I DIDN'T I'M NOT SAYING YOU DIDN'T.
I KNOW I'M SAYING SOMEBODY BROUGHT POLICIES, PROPOSED CHANGES OR PROPOSED POLICY.
AND SO I'M OUTLINING HOW IT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE.
I THINK THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN OURS THAT YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO GIVE UP WAS THAT WE DIDN'T WRITE ANOTHER POLICY.
IT'S THE EXISTING CITY POLICY.
IT'S THE CITY. IT'S MADE TO REFLECT THE RED LINE ANYWHERE.
NO, WE DIDN'T I DIDN'T HAVE THE DOCUMENT UNTIL TODAY.
OH, SO YOU HAVEN'T EVEN REVIEWED IT? I REVIEWED IT TO JUST NOW.
TODAY. KIND OF A POINT OF CLARIFICATION TO OUR PREVIOUS LEGAL HAS BROUGHT UP THE ACH, AND THE CREDIT CARD IS THE CURRENT CITY POLICY.
ONE POLICY THAT DOES BOTH ACH AND CREDIT CARD POLICY DOESN'T HAVE ACH.
SO OKAY, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SO THERE'S THE ACH POLICY RIGHT.
AND THEN NOW THERE'S THE CREDIT CARD POLICY. AND I READ THE PURPOSE.
THE PURPOSE IS POLICY IS ESTABLISH CLEAR AND UNIFORM GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS CREDIT CARD.
SO WE DON'T HAVE AN EXISTING CREDIT CARD OR EXISTING CREDIT CARD POLICY.
OKAY, SO THIS AS MAYOR HAS BROUGHT UP.
DOES THIS ADD TO IT? REPLACE IT.
LET ME BE MORE DIRECT. LET ME EXPLAIN.
WAIT, WAIT. HOLD ON. LET ME TRY TO BE MORE DIRECT. WHAT IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE IS WE HAVEN'T COMMUNICATED WELL WITH LEGAL.
BECAUSE IF YOU GUYS ARE JUST NOW SEEING THIS TODAY, THAT CONCERNS ME. BUT WE HAVE TWO POLICIES WE'RE BEING SHOWN.
WE HAVE EXISTING. ONE, WE DON'T HAVE A RED LINE.
AND I'M TRYING TO FOLLOW ALONG WITH WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING TO SAY THAT WE HAD A POLICY, WE REVISED IT, BUT WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO POLICIES, SO THERE'S NOT ENOUGH COMMUNICATION GOING ON BETWEEN OUR STAFF AND YOU GUYS.
I DON'T THINK LIKE I UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK THAT I THINK THAT THE THE DISCONNECT HERE IS THAT WE, WE HAD A POLICY THAT WE HAD ADOPTED A YEAR AGO, MAYBE THE FIRST THE THE EDC POLICY, EDC POLICY WAS AMENDED THE LAST TIME IN JULY, IN JULY WAS THE LAST AMENDMENT.
SO THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE FOR THIS CORPORATION.
THE CURRENT NEW CONSIDERATION IS THE CITY'S POLICY, WITH CERTAIN EDITS TO CONFORM WITH THE NONPROFIT CHARACTER OF YOUR CORPORATION.
WE HAVE NOT DONE AN EVALUATION OF WHAT THE EFFECT OF YOUR ADOPTION OF THIS IS TONIGHT, BECAUSE THE ARE WE WE PROVIDE WHAT ARE CALLED REPEALER CLAUSES IN YOUR IN YOUR RESOLUTIONS.
SO ANYTHING THAT'S IN YOUR CURRENT POLICY THAT'S IN CONFLICT WITH YOUR THIS NEW POLICY, IF IT'S ADOPTED WILL BE SUPERSEDED BY YOUR NEW POLICY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SUPERSEDE OR WHAT YOU'RE NOT.
AND SO THAT'S MY THAT'S WHERE I'M GETTING THE CONCERN.
RIGHT. BECAUSE THERE'S A POTENTIAL WE ADOPT SOMETHING AND IT'S GOING TO BE A CONVOLUTED MESSAGE TO COME BACK I THINK AT SOME POINT.
RIGHT. YOU GOT IT'S LIKE WHAT I ALWAYS SAID IN THE CITY COUNCIL BETWEEN STAFF AND LEGAL, YOU GET IT ALL FIGURED OUT.
YOU BRING IT ALL IN READY TO GO, AND THEN YOU BRING IT TO US AND THEN WE'LL GO FAST. WHEN ONE SIDE IS DOING SOMETHING, DROPS IT OFF TO YOU AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND THEN BOOM, IT'S ON THE AGENDA.
NOW WE'RE ALL GOING THROUGH. AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. YOU GUYS ARE SAYING OTHER PEOPLE CAN GET A CREDIT CARD WITH BOARD OR DEBIT CARD OR WHATEVER WITH BOARD APPROVAL.
BUT WHAT I READ IN NUMBER FOUR IS CREDIT CARD USE IS RESTRICTED TO EXPENSES.
NUMBER THREE, THE CORPORATION SHALL MAINTAIN A SINGLE CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT WITH A MONTHLY LIMIT OF 10,000. THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR SHALL SERVE AS THE SOLE CARDHOLDER.
NO OTHER INDIVIDUALS AUTHORIZED TO USE, DELEGATE OR OTHERWISE ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CORPORATION'S CREDIT CARD. SO THAT TELLS ME IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE PASS AS A AS A RESOLUTION. IF YOU ADOPT THIS PROVISION, YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVING A CREDIT CARD WOULD BE ELIMINATED FROM YOUR POLICY. SUBSTITUTING THIS PROVISION IN IT FOR THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.
RIGHT. AND THIS IS THE ONE WE'RE BEING ASKED TO ADOPT.
BUT WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT BY ADOPTING THIS WE'LL ALSO GET TO ADD TO BOARD MEMBER MORALES'S POINT. WE JUST PASSED A RESOLUTION, WHICH WE CAN'T. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
SO I'M SITTING HERE FOLLOWING ALONG, GOING THIS I'M NOT READING WHAT I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S TOUGH FOR ME TO PUT IN WORDS BECAUSE IT'S SO CONFUSING TO ME. YEAH. THAT'S JUST.
YEAH, WE'RE NOT READY TO DISCUSS IT, I GUESS IS MY POINT.
OKAY. ONE THING, I GET IT, IT'S NOT IDEAL, BUT WE ARE HERE.
SO I WAS THINKING, IF YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF THE DIFFERENCES THAT I TOLD YOU, LIKE, DO YOU WANT A $10,000 LIMIT? YES OR NO? DO YOU WANT 1 OR 2? DO YOU WANT JUST THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, OR DO YOU ALSO WANT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BOARD MEMBERS? THEN I WILL PREPARE A PROPOSED
[00:35:03]
VERSION THAT COMBINES THE TWO THAT HAS EVERYTHING FROM HERE AND EVERYTHING FROM HERE. HIGHLIGHT HOW THEY'RE DIFFERENT AND WITH THE DIRECTION THAT YOU GIVE ME TODAY.SO IF YOU TELL ME RIGHT NOW WHICH PARTS YOU LIKE AND DON'T LIKE, THEN I WILL MAKE SURE IT'S DRAFTED THAT WAY.
NO BOARD MEMBER UP HERE, A COUPLE STAFF MEMBERS IN MY MIND, CHRISTINA AND THE DIRECTOR.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE 10,000 LIMIT OTHER THAN MY ONLY FEAR WITH THE BIG LIMIT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM THINGS LIKE IF YOU GO TO PAY YOUR TAXES, YOU CAN PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD, BUT THERE'S A 3% CONVENIENCE FEE.
SO I DON'T WANT US TO BE USING I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT, BUT I DON'T WANT TO USE A CARD ON SOMETHING AND CHARGE US A CONVENIENCE FEE JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO AN ACH.
TO ME, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD AS A PART OF THE MONTHLY, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL PACKAGE, YOU KNOW, FOR CHRISTINA. SO I THINK THAT'S THAT'S FINE.
I THINK THIS IS I GET THERE IS DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE TWO AND I AGREE THOSE NEED TO BE RESOLVED. HOWEVER I ALSO DON'T THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE, YOU KNOW, TURNED INTO A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLEHILL.
THERE'S A LOT OF THIS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, YES, THERE'S A $10,000 LIMIT, BUT ALL YOU'RE DOING, INSTEAD OF USING OR INSTEAD OF USING HER EXISTING CITY P CARD THAT HAS A $10,000 LIMIT, IT WOULD BE THE SAME EXACT SETUP, JUST ROUTING THOSE FUNDS TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM AN EDC ACCOUNT. THAT'S REALLY KIND OF WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING FROM CHRISTINA, BASICALLY SAYING, HERE'S THE CITY POLICY.
THIS IS WHAT WE ENFORCE ON THE DAILY, IF YOU WILL, AND IT'S COPY PASTE, CHANGE IT TO THE EDC.
THERE'S SOME DISCREPANCIES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT IT'S JUST LIKE I SAID EARLIER, IT'S A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX.
A COUPLE COMMENTS ON THE ON THE ON THE LIMITS TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE IS. I, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IS NORMAL, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEED AN ANSWER NOW, WHAT'S THE MAXIMUM WE'VE EVER DONE BEFORE? BUT WHATEVER THE LIMITS IS, I THINK WE'LL DO THE RIGHT DECISION.
THE WHETHER IT'S A, YOU KNOW, THE IF IT IS A BOARD, AN EDC BOARD MEMBER, I WOULD THINK IT'D BE LIMITED TO THE CHAIR ONLY.
BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT HAS TO BE.
BUT I LIKE THE FACT HAVING A EDC STAFF IS KIND OF SECOND BACK BECAUSE THEY'RE AWARE OF THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS, MAYBE MORE SO THAN SOMEONE ON THE BOARD.
IT TALKS HERE. THE THIRD THING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IN TWO SCOPES IS ALL EXPENDITURES MUST ALIGN WITH APPROVED AND BUDGETED ACTIVITIES.
AND THEN ALSO IN FOR AUTHORIZED USE CONSISTENT WITH THE ADOPTED BUDGET APPROVED.
AND THEN IT TALKS ABOUT BUSINESS.
THE DOCUMENTATION TALKS ABOUT AN ITEMIZED RECEIPT.
AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A LINK AND ALSO THE BUDGET LINE ITEM.
SO WHEN WHEN A REPORT WHEN THE BUSINESS REPORT IS I MEAN THE THE THE RECEIPT I GUESS.
WHAT'S THE WRONG WORD WRITTEN.
THE ITEMIZED. ITEMIZED, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WHATEVER THAT'S DONE IS THAT IF THEY COULD HAVE A LINK TO THE BUDGET ITEM OR BUDGET AREA, IF IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC LINE ITEM WHEN THAT'S TURNED IN, THAT THESE ARE THE RECEIPTS, THESE ITEMIZED BILL, THESE ARE THE ATTENDANTS. THIS IS THE SCOPE.
THIS IS WHERE WE WERE. HERE'S THE BUDGET CATEGORY.
IF I MAY, BOARD MEMBER MAURICE, WHAT WE DO CURRENTLY IS WE IDENTIFY THE LINE ITEM AND WE PUT IN A DESCRIPTION.
SO I DON'T KNOW THE CAPABILITIES OF LINKING IT TO THAT SPECIFIC THING IN THE BUDGET AS FAR AS LIKE WHAT'S ON CLEAR GOV OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
BUT WE DO PROVIDE I PROBABLY PROVIDE EXCESSIVE DETAIL BUT I THAT'S ALWAYS INCLUDED AND THAT'S PART OF THE EVEN SORRY THE RECONCILIATION EVERY MONTH IS ACCOUNTING LINKAGE JUST IN THAT PIECE OF PAPER. GOTCHA. YOU'VE WRITTEN DOWN. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE DONE THAT ALREADY. YEAH.
THANK YOU. SURE. SO I LIKE FOLLOWING THE CITY'S POLICIES AS CLOSELY AS WE CAN.
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE JUST PASSING SOMETHING THAT WE'RE THEN GOING TO HAVE TO MERGE INTO OUR POLICY. I THINK WE SHOULD JUST LET IT BE MERGED, COME BACK TO US AS A COMPLETE POLICY SO THAT WE CAN JUST APPROVE IT.
I AGREE WITH THAT. I DON'T SEE A NEED FOR A BOARD MEMBER TO HAVE A CARD.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE NEED A SECOND STAFF MEMBER BECAUSE WE'RE NOT JUST AN INDEPENDENT CORPORATION. THE ONE THING WE HAVE IS THE CITY IS HERE.
AND SO IF FOR SOME REASON CHENEY DISAPPEARS AND WE NEED TO APPROVE SOMETHING, IT MAY NOT BE 100% IDEAL, BUT WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO.
WOULD THAT CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR YOU GUYS AT ALL? IF YOU KNOW CHENEY'S OUT SICK OR SOMETHING AND WE HAVE SOMETHING PRESSING AND SHE'S IN KOREA. YEAH. YEAH, I STILL WORK IN KOREA TOO.
SO IT'S I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT THERE WOULD BE TOO MUCH.
WE NEEDED A CREDIT CARD FOR THAT.
COULDN'T WAIT A COUPLE OF DAYS UNTIL SHE'S.
WELL YOU KNOW ASK ME HOW MANY SICK DAYS I'VE HAD SINCE I STARTED.
WE COULD FIND ALTERNATIVES IF TO MAKE PAYMENTS,
[00:40:01]
IF, YOU KNOW. WELL, THE POINT IS TO MAKE YOUR JOB MORE EFFICIENT AND EASY, LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN UP THAT END OF IT FOR YOU, SO IT WOULDN'T CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR YOU IF THAT WE HAD TO DO THAT.NO, IT WOULDN'T CAUSE A PROBLEM FOR ME IF WE HAD ONE INDIVIDUAL ON THE CARD, ONE CARDHOLDER, AND THERE WAS TURNOVER.
THERE'S THERE'S OTHER MEANS WE CAN FIND IT.
OKAY. IT'S PROBABLY THE LEAST OF MY CONCERNS IF WE HAVE TURNOVER AT A, AT A DIRECTOR POSITION.
TO BE HONEST, I WAS THINKING THE CONVENIENCE MIGHT BE NOT THAT CHENEY WOULD LEAVE OR BE OUT OF TOWN, OR IT'S JUST THAT SHE HAS A LOT ON HER PLATE.
SHE'S QUITE BUSY, AS MOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS ARE.
AND IF SHE'S NOT READILY AVAILABLE, THEN A STAFF MEMBER WHO KNOWS A BIT MORE ABOUT THE DAY TO DAY WOULD BE AVAILABLE.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT REQUEST AND I'D SAY THAT WOULD MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.
I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S SOMEONE'S GOING TO RUN AWAY WITH $10,000 CHARGE.
AND. SORRY, SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.
SO I WAS THINKING THAT THERE ARE ENOUGH SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE THAT WOULD PREVENT ANY ISSUE FROM HAPPENING. JUST THE BACK.
IT'S A BACKUP, AND IT PROBABLY WOULD RARELY BE USED, BUT AT LEAST ALL THE PRESSURE IS NOT TO COME BACK TO A BOARD MEMBER OR, YOU KNOW, SCRAMBLING, TRYING TO FIND OUT, OKAY, WHO CAN DO THIS AND THEN INITIATE THE PROPER PAPERWORK.
SO I THINK IF CHENEY THINKS THERE'S A SECOND STAFF MEMBER WHO SHOULD HAVE A CARD, THEN CHENEY SHOULD LET US KNOW WHO THAT IS.
YES. AND TELL US WHY. AND THEN WE CAN DECIDE IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
I MEAN, WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR FROM ME NOW? I'M A BIG FAN OF THE FEWER CARDS, THE BETTER.
IT MAKES ME NERVOUS. THE MORE CARDS WE HAVE FLOATING OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP TRACK OF. AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IF ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER HAD A CARD, THEY WOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE WITH IT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I FEEL LIKE I'M STILL RESPONSIBLE.
AND SO FOR ME PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, I WOULD JUST HAVE THE ONE CARD AND AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, AVAILABILITY TO MAKE PURCHASES BECAUSE EVERY PURCHASE MADE ON THAT CARD IS A PRE-APPROVED, APPROVED BUDGET ITEM.
THIS IS NOT A OH CRAP, THIS DEADLINE'S COMING UP.
LET ME QUICK SPEND, YOU KNOW, PUT THAT ON THE CARD.
IT'S A HEY, WE HAVE THIS EXPENDITURE COMING UP.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND BOOK THAT.
LET ME GO AHEAD AND SECURE THAT. LET ME GO AHEAD AND PAY THAT DEPOSIT, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE.
SO AD HOC PURCHASES, EMERGENCY PURCHASES WOULD BE VERY FEW AND FAR BETWEEN, IF AT ALL. SO JUST TO SHARE A LITTLE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT.
HAVING DONE THIS FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, AND WE'RE ALWAYS THREE BUSINESS DAYS AWAY FROM A MEETING IF WE NEED ONE, RIGHT? FACTS. YES, SIR. WELL, YOU KNOW HOW I AM, RIGHT? CREDIT CARDS BY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES SCARE ME.
BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHAT'S THE CITY RUNNING LIKE, A WHAT IS IT, LIKE, 80,000? ABOUT 80,000 A MONTH ON CARDS, 80,000 A MONTH IN PURCHASE CARDS.
AND IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND AWAY BECAUSE THAT'S ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER CHECKS WE'RE ISSUING.
SO WHAT HAVE YOU GUYS DECIDE? I LIKE WHEN CHENEY SAYS IF YOU ARE, THE BETTER.
I WAS LIKE, WELL, I KNOW SOMETHING FEWER THAN ONE, NOT ZERO.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND. I DO UNDERSTAND THE WE'VE GOT SOME TRAINING AND THINGS.
WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS I DON'T THINK I WOULD HOPE WE DON'T EVER HAVE LIKE A WE REALLY HAVE TO MAKE A CHARGE RIGHT NOW.
IT SHOULD BE. THERE'S A SEMINAR COMING UP.
THERE'S I'M TRYING TO THINK WHAT WE WOULD SPEND MONEY ON THAT YOU WOULD NEED THAT.
AND SO IF CHENEY'S SICK, SHE WON'T BE GOING TO LUNCH.
AND SO SHE WON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.
AND SO THERE'S JUST LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE I THINK, AGAIN, FOR ME, 1 OR 2 OUGHT TO BE FINE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS SHOULD BE USED A WHOLE LOT AND ESPECIALLY IN EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD BE PLANNED. BUT YEAH, I THINK THE WHOLE POINT OF IT IS JUST TO COMPARTMENTALIZE IT FOR FINANCIALS.
BUT YEAH, I THINK WHATEVER CHENEY THINKS IS APPROPRIATE ONE IS FINE.
IF THAT'S FINE WITH HER, THAT'D BE MY VOTE.
MY VOTE IS ONE IS THAT MY VOTE DOESN'T COUNT.
SO GOOD. SO IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THE PROPOSED DOCUMENT IS FINE.
OKAY, I WILL ONCE YOU GUYS ALSO DISCUSS THE ACH POLICY, THEN I WILL BRING BACK NEW AMENDED POLICIES THAT REFLECT YOUR PROPOSED CHANGES.
A QUICK QUESTION ON POLICIES, CHRISTINA, DO YOU HAVE ALL OF THE EDC FINANCIAL POLICIES OR IS THAT BECAUSE I THINK TO PIGGYBACK ON ON MIKE FROM EARLIER, I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE BOTH SETS OF BOOKS AT ONE TIME OR THE PLAYBOOK. IT'S LIKE, WELL, WHAT IS THE EDC POLICY? SO WE THEN GO, YOU KNOW, HEY, HERE'S THE CITY AND MODIFY IT.
AND THAT'S GENERALLY SPEAKING, FINE.
I MEAN, YOU AND I WORKED TOGETHER FOR A WHILE NOW, AND IT'S ALWAYS LIKE, WHAT'S EASIER FOR YOU? NOT THE BOARD. AND I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
[00:45:01]
SO IT'S REALLY JUST A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, SHARING ALL OF THAT WITH YOU UP FRONT. THAT WAY, IF THERE'S EVER AN ISSUE THAT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE SOME OF THIS COULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY ADDRESSED OR WHATEVER ELSE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK IT'S FINE TO HAVE AND GO FROM THERE.COULD COULD WE KEEP THOSE THOSE POLICIES, FINANCIAL POLICIES IN ONE PLACE, EITHER ON THE ONE DRIVE? I WAS JUST MAKING NOTE OF THAT.
I THINK WHAT I MAY DO OR I ALREADY HAVE THIS FOLDER, BUT JUST SHARE A LINK WITH YOU ALL, LIKE I NORMALLY DO, BECAUSE IT GETS PRETTY BIG IN THE FILES, BUT I'LL JUST LABEL IT, YOU KNOW, EDC ADMIN DOCS.
AND THEN THAT WAY YOU ALL CAN FLAG IT, KEEP IT FOR LATER.
BUT AS WE UPDATE THINGS, I'LL JUST KEEP UPDATING INSIDE THAT LINK.
AND THEN YOU GUYS HAVE ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO THE LATEST AND GREATEST.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON CREDIT CARDS? ARE WE DONE? HEARING NONE.
ACH, PLEASE. OKAY, SO THE SECOND POLICY WAS REQUESTED AT THE LAST BOARD MEETING.
THIS IS THE ACH PAYMENTS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES.
SO THE REASON THIS WAS BROUGHT IS THAT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, THE BOARD HAS PAUSED ACH PAYMENTS.
THE ONLY WAY WE ARE PAYING OUR VENDORS IS THROUGH PAPER CHECKS.
SO PAYING THROUGH PAPER CHECKS CAUSES A FEW.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY PROBLEMS, BUT INEFFICIENCIES.
ONE BEING THAT PAPER CHECKS RIGHT NOW ARE IT HAS THE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RISKS OF FRAUD.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PAYMENT OPTIONS BECAUSE YOU'RE IT'S JUST ALL THE BACK END THINGS COST TO CASH A CHECK, PRINT CHECKS, MAIL, CHECKS, ETC.. IT'S YOUR VENDORS ARE.
IT'S THE SLOWEST WAY TO PAY YOUR VENDOR.
AND FINALLY ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES WHEN WE WERE DOING ACH PAYMENTS LAST WHEN WE WERE DOING IT IS THAT SIGNERS DIDN'T HAVE TO PHYSICALLY COME IN AND SIGN A CHECK.
WE WERE THEY WERE ABLE TO DOCUSIGN.
ADOBE SIGN WHAT SIGN? AND SEND IT TO FINANCE TO AUTHORIZE A PAYMENT TO GO OUT.
AND WE COULD MAKE IT, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THE SAME WEEK AND NOT JUST PAY VENDORS EVERY MONTH.
SO THAT BEING SAID, WE DID PUT TOGETHER AN ACH POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR YOU ALL.
IT'S ATTACHED TO IT ARE TWO EXHIBITS.
ONE IS A ACH VERIFICATION FORM, AND ANOTHER IS THE ACH AUTHORIZATION FORM THAT WE WOULD HAVE SIGNER SIGN.
I THINK ONE OF THE BIG THEMES IN THIS POLICY IS DUAL AUTHORIZATION.
SO THAT, NO, NOTHING CAN BE DONE WITH ACH WITH JUST ONE PERSON.
SO IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AN ACH PAYMENT, A VENDOR WOULD HAVE TO FILL OUT AN AUTHORIZATION FORM.
IT WOULD BE FILLED OUT AND SIGNED BY AN OFFICER OR AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY. THEN WHAT THE CITY DOES IS WE CALL AND AND THIS IS ALSO IN THE POLICY.
WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER CALL AND CONFIRM AND THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WITH AN INDEPENDENT PERSON IN THE COMPANY, NOT THE PERSON WHO FILLED OUT THE FORM.
WE DON'T RESPOND TO THE EMAIL.
WE DON'T PUT CALL THE NUMBER THAT IS ON THE FORM, BECAUSE IF A FRAUDSTER SENDS THAT FORM IN AND YOU'RE CALLING THE NUMBER THAT THEY PROVIDED YOU THAT, YOU KNOW IS A HORRIBLE PRACTICE.
SO WHAT WE DO IS WE FIND A CONTACT THAT WE KNOW, WELL, KNOW THE NUMBER AND GET THEM ON THE PHONE AND VERBALLY CONFIRM THOSE INSTRUCTIONS. ONCE THOSE ARE CONFIRMED WE WOULD HAVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS.
I HAVE OUTLINED EITHER STAFF OR OR CHENEY.
THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
SO WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD IT WOULD LIKELY BE FINANCE STAFF, JUST CHENEY IN AN EMERGENCY.
WHAT WE DO IS WE WOULD HAVE A STAFF MEMBER GO IN, ENTER THE VERIFIED PAYMENT INFORMATION INTO THE SYSTEM.
WE WOULD HAVE A STAFF MEMBER, A SECOND STAFF MEMBER REVIEW CONFIRM THAT THOSE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS THAT WERE CONFIRMED.
AFTER THAT, WHAT WE WOULD DO IS IF WE WOULD SEND IF THERE WAS A PAYMENT THAT WAS PRESSING AND NEEDED AN ACH PAYMENT, WE WOULD SEND THAT INVOICE TO THE BOARD.
I HAD JUST KIND OF OUTLINED FIVE DAYS FOR ANY BOARD MEMBERS TO EXPRESS AN OBJECTION OR COME BACK WITH QUESTIONS TO FINANCE, LIKE, WHAT IS THIS? I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS PAYMENT.
I DON'T WANT OUR SIGNERS TO SIGN ON THIS RIGHT NOW.
IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS ARE RECEIVED, I WOULD SEND OUT A FORM TO THE AUTHORIZED SIGNERS. WE'D HAVE TWO AUTHORIZED SIGNERS SIGN OFF ON THE ACH AUTHORIZATION? ONLY WHEN THAT'S RECEIVED WOULD A PAYMENT BE INITIATED.
AND AT THAT POINT WE WOULD HAVE STAFF ONE MEMBER INITIATE THE ACH AND A SECOND STAFF MEMBER APPROVE IT. SO NO PAYMENT IS GOING OUT WITH JUST ONE PERSON AUTHORIZING, EXECUTING, ETC.. I THINK THOSE ARE REALLY THE HIGHLIGHTS OF IT.
YOU KNOW, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND IF THE BOARD HAS AND I WELCOME THESE COMMENTS, YOU KNOW, HOW YOU WOULD LIKE THE APPROVAL OF INVOICE PAYMENTS TO GO? SO I AM LOOKING FOR ANY FEEDBACK YOU ALL MAY HAVE ON THIS POLICY.
[00:50:04]
SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS IMPLEMENTED THE ACT CHANGE.YES. YEAH. AND TECHNICALLY, THAT PROCEDURE WAS ALREADY IN PLACE.
YEAH. THAT'S THE REASON I TAKE THIS STUFF REAL SERIOUSLY IS WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD THIS IN THE CITY WHERE WE WIRED OUT MONEY TO A NEW ACCOUNT.
I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MUCH MONEY THAT WAS.
BUT IT WAS. IT WAS MORE THAN WE ALL MAKE IN A YEAR.
YEAH, IT WAS TWO. IT WAS 200 SOMETHING.
IT WAS. IT WAS A GARBAGE BILL.
YEAH, YEAH. SO IT SEEMS TO ME THE PARAGRAPH INVOICE REVIEW AND ACH PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION CONFLICTS WITH ACH PAYMENT INITIATION AND APPROVAL.
BECAUSE THE FIRST PART OF THAT INVOICE REVIEW SAYS THAT ACH PAYMENTS WILL ONLY BE ISSUED FOR INVOICES THAT HAVE BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE EDC DIRECTOR AND THE CITY FINANCE TO CONFIRM EVERYTHING.
AND THEN IN THE ACH PAYMENT, IT SAYS THEY WILL BE THEY WILL NOT BE INITIATED UNTIL THE REQUEST FORM IS FILLED OUT AND SIGNED BY TWO BOARD SIGNERS, CONFIRMING THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL.
IT SEEMS TO ME THOSE PARAGRAPHS NEED TO BE COMBINED SO THAT NOT THAT YOU WOULD DO THIS, BUT IF A PAYMENT WAS MADE, SOMEONE COULD IN MY MIND COULD SAY, WELL, I FOLLOWED ALL THE RULES IN THE INVOICE REVIEW AND PAYMENT AUTHORIZATION AND THEN I'D BE COMING BACK GOING, YEAH, BUT YOU DIDN'T FOLLOW THE ACH PAYMENT.
AND SOMEONE WOULD TELL ME THAT'S FOR SOME SORT OF OTHER PAYMENT.
SO IT SEEMS TO ME THERE'S GOT TO BE COMBINED TO WHERE ANY PAYMENT COMING OUT OF HERE HAS TO HAVE THE PROCESS YOU OUTLINED.
AND I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED FIVE DAYS FOR ALL OF US TO REVIEW IT.
I MEAN, TO ME, HOW OFTEN ARE THOSE EMERGENCY TYPE CHARGES OR IS IT MORE LIKE YOU HAVE A NET 30 AND YOU GOT TO GET IT PAID? IT WOULD BE A NET 30. I DON'T I DON'T THINK WE'VE EVER HAD AN INVOICE.
SOME SAY DUE ON RECEIPT, BUT I THINK I DON'T.
TRUTHFULLY, IT'S NET 30 AND YOU'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH IT.
YEAH, EXACTLY. SO WE CAN EXTEND THE DEADLINE.
WE CAN STILL HAVE THEM SIGNED OFF ON AT A BOARD MEETING.
UNLESS A BOARD MEETING IS CANCELED.
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I'M WELCOME TO FEEDBACK ON THIS.
AND I DO AGREE WITH YOUR POINT.
I THINK THE INTENT WAS FOR THAT WE WOULD ONLY SEND INVOICES TO THE BOARD IF FINANCE AND THE EDC DIRECTOR HAD. REVIEWED AND APPROVED IT, THEN IT WOULD GO TO YOU.
SO I PHRASE THIS MAYBE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENTLY FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND JUST SEE IF I'M, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING YOU IN THIS WAY.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FINANCE REVIEW SLASH APPROVAL OF THE INVOICE.
WE'RE TALKING MORE AROUND THE LINES OF, YOU KNOW, DOES THAT BUDGET LINE HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN IT.
IT CAN PROCEED ON. IT'S ALREADY A, YOU KNOW, APPROVED ITEM, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
ALL RIGHT. HEY, NOW IT GOES TO THE SIGNERS FOR APPROVAL FOR THE RELEASE OF THE ACH.
IT'S ONLY COMING TO THE BOARD IF IT'S NOT APPROVED, IF IT'S BECAUSE OF BUDGETARY ISSUE WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DO AMENDMENT OR SOMETHING ELSE. IS THAT BASICALLY A FAIR SUMMARIZATION? WELL, WE WOULD BE SENDING REGARDLESS.
BOARD WOULD SIGN OFF, BOARD SIGNERS WOULD SIGN OFF ON EVERYTHING.
WE WOULD JUST ONLY THE FINANCE EDC PART WOULD BE, HEY, WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED THESE GOODS.
WE'RE PROPOSING. WE'RE SUGGESTING YOU SIGN OFF TO PAY.
NOW, WE ACTUALLY THIS PROJECT WAS ACTUALLY COMPLETED.
WE SAW IT. WE ARE NOW SENDING IT TO YOU FOR APPROVAL.
FOR FINAL APPROVAL AND SIGN OFF.
YEAH, SO I DON'T TO ME, I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS FIVE OF US.
I THINK WE'VE GOT THE TWO PEOPLE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO REVIEW IT AND THAT'S IT.
YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO REVIEW THE MONEY'S THERE. AND WE GOT THE DIRECTOR SAYING IT'S AN APPROPRIATE EXPENSE. AND WE GOT TWO BOARD MEMBERS SAYING, I WOULD THINK THAT'S ALL IT'S NEEDED.
YEAH. NEVER WOULD YOU WANT, YOU KNOW, FIVE OF US, FIVE BUSINESS DAYS FOR THE WHOLE BOARD TO LOOK AND OBJECT BECAUSE FIVE PEOPLE.
BUT IT'S FIVE DAYS FOR THE WHOLE BOARD TO REVIEW EACH.
ACH. BUT, YEAH, I SCREWED UP THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE IN THE DAYS.
YEAH. SO, I MEAN, REALISTICALLY, LIKE, THERE WERE THREE CHECKS THAT CAME ACROSS THIS PART OF THE DIOCESE EARLIER.
ONE WAS LEGAL. ANOTHER ONE WAS CONCRETE OF SOME SORT, AND AFTER THE OTHER ONE WAS THE WILKO ITEM.
THAT WAS IT. SO, I MEAN, HOW WE HISTORICALLY HAVE DONE IT IS HERE'S THE CHECKS. HERE YOU GO.
WE'RE DONE BECAUSE IT'S ALREADY AN APPROVED EXPENSE.
LIKE THE CHECKS ALREADY WRITTEN LIKE EVERYTHING'S ALREADY DONE. SO I THINK FOLLOWING THAT MODEL THAT WE'VE FOLLOWED PREVIOUSLY WORKS FINE.
WE'RE JUST TAKING IT TO THE 21ST AGE.
THIS IS THE DIGITAL VERSION OF WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING. YEAH.
KIND OF. AND I WILL STILL INCLUDE ALL THE COPIES OF THE INVOICES WITH THE FINANCIAL REPORT, JUST AS A COURTESY FOR ANYONE WHO'S INTERESTED.
BUT. OKAY, SO WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THE BOARD IS WE LIKE THE ACH POLICY AND PROCEDURE AS
[00:55:05]
PRESENTED, EXCEPT REMOVE THE FIVE DAYS FOR THE BOARD TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND COMBINE THOSE TWO PARAGRAPHS. COMBINE THOSE TWO PARAGRAPHS. OKAY. HOW IS THAT NOTIFICATION SENT? JUST OUR INTERNAL EMAIL.YEAH, IT WOULD BE SENT VIA EMAIL.
OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS STUFF.
I KNOW EVERY TIME YOU I FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME I'M HEARING IT'S A FINANCE SAYING, WE'RE LIKE GRILLING YOU ON ON WHAT LITTLE DETAILS.
BUT I KNOW THAT YOUR HISTORY YOU KNOW EVERYTHING.
WE'VE KIND OF WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE WE ARE NOW, WHICH IS LIKE LIGHT YEARS.
SO I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK OVER THE FOUR YEARS TO KIND OF HELP US GET US TO THIS POINT. NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.
I FELT LIKE THESE THIS AGENDA ITEM COULD HAVE SPIRALED WORSE THAN IT DID.
SO I'M HEARING THE BAR IS LOW.
WITH THAT WE'VE ALREADY HAD PLENTY OF DISCUSSION.
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION THAT ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE? ALL RIGHT.
ENTERTAIN A MOTION. I MAKE A MOTION THAT STAFF BRINGS THIS BACK FOR US TO VOTE WITH ALL THE CHANGES THAT WE SAID SECOND.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER SNYDER, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER PORTERFIELD.
TO RETURN THIS AT NEXT MEETING.
AFTER EDITS ARE DONE WITH THAT, OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE. ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
BOARD MEMBER. THORNTON. BOARD MEMBER.
SECRETARY. MORALES I. BOARD MEMBER.
GONZALEZ. AYE. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
THANK YOU. CHRISTINA. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM EIGHT THREE.
DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION ON RESOLUTION R DASH.
DASH 2025, DASH 141 TO APPROVE A BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2025.
TO REALLOCATE FUNDS TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT IPADS FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
DON, DO YOU HAVE SOME COMMENTS ON THAT? MY COMMENTS ARE POTENTIALLY NOT APPROPRIATE.
HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY. WE HAVE SEVEN MEMBERS UP HERE.
FOUR OF THOSE ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS. YOU ALL HAVE WORKING IT.
DUE TO THE RECENT CHANGE INTERNALLY, ALL OF OUR IPADS ARE PAPERWEIGHTS.
AND WITHOUT THIS, WE CANNOT COMMUNICATE AT ALL WITH ANYONE.
AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLANNED BETTER FROM BEING HONEST.
AND I THERE'S THERE'S NOTHING ELSE WE CAN DO.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'M GOING TO MOTION TO APPROVE THE TO PROCURE THE REPLACEMENT DEVICES, WHICH IT HAS SPECIFIED THAT IT SHOULD BE IN PARTICULAR IPAD AIR, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
IF IN THESE SCENARIOS, IF IT SAYS THIS IS WHAT WE NEED, OKAY, JUST DO THAT. I KNOW THERE'S OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I JUST WANT THIS SIMPLE AND EASY BECAUSE INEVITABLY IT COULD TURN INTO THE WE ALL BOUGHT THIS. WE TOLD YOU ALL TO BUY THIS.
AND NOW THERE'S A PROBLEM OR X, Y, Z.
I JUST WANT NO EXCUSES BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO GET IN MY EMAIL.
SECOND, YOU WANT TO SHORTEN THAT MOTION THOUGH.
YES, I HAVE A COMMENT ABOUT A QUESTION.
SO IS THERE WOULD THERE BE A DIFFERENCE? A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN PRICE BETWEEN AN IPAD AND A BASIC LAPTOP? IT RECOMMENDED IPADS. SO THAT IS WHAT THE THE AGENDA ITEM IS FOR.
BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A COST COMPARISON BECAUSE FRANKLY THE SCREENS ARE SO SMALL.
AND WITH THOSE EXCEL EXCEL FILES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO.
AND THAT'S IS THAT'S THAT'S LARGER THAN THIS.
THAT'S MORE THIS IS A 14 INCH SCREEN RIGHT HERE.
SO CLOSE IN SIZE. THE LAPTOPS ARE 11 INCH AND IT'S BIGGER THAN IT'S BIGGER THAN WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS FOR A SCREEN.
YOU USE GOOGLE DOCS BUT YOU USE APPLE PRODUCTS.
I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT ARE WE? THAT'S MY COMMENT. IF THIS PASSES, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE EXISTING HARDWARE? IT GETS RETURNED TO THE CITY.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEIR DISPOSAL PROCESS IS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EQUIPMENT THAT IS OVER FIVE YEARS OLD.
HOLD ON. YEAH, THEY'RE EIGHT YEARS OLD.
HEY, I GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED, WHICH HAS BEEN SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER SNYDER.
SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION AS PRESENTED? YES. I'D LIKE TO DO AN AMENDMENT TO YOUR MOTION.
OKAY. IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,700.
WHAT DID THEY LIST ON THERE? 6600. SINCE WE ONLY NEED THREE IPADS.
YES. YEAH. IT'S ONLY FOR THE THREE $800 A PIECE WITH A 9% INTEREST OR A 9% SALES TAX WOULD GET YOU TO 2616.
I GOT A LITTLE EXTRA ON THERE BECAUSE THERE MAY NEED TO BE A CHARGER OR SOMETHING LIKE
[01:00:03]
THAT COVERS WHATEVER ELSE.WHERE IS THIS PRICE STUFF? IT'S IT'S AN EMAIL. OH.
AN EMAIL. OKAY, SO BACK TO MY QUESTION. SO WAIT, WAIT, I GOTTA HAVE A ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT OR YOU WANT I NEED A SECOND.
I AM FINE WITH THAT. AS LONG AS AS LONG AS MATH MATH MATH MATH.
SO WE'RE ESSENTIALLY BUYING THESE THROUGH THE CITY.
WE'RE NOT CORRECT. THEY'RE CITY ISSUED.
SO THE CORPORATION PAYS FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE USED BY THE CITY.
BUYS THEM. YES. OKAY. CORRECT.
OKAY. THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT IS I'D LIKE TO SEE US WHEN WE HAVE RESOLUTIONS THAT THE EXHIBIT A IS READY TO GO TO WHERE ESSENTIALLY, LIKE WHEN I DO COUNCIL WE GET DONE.
THE DOCUMENTS GIVEN TO ME IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAD, WHICH IS EXACTLY READY TO SIGN.
AND NOT ALL THESE ARE THAT WAY.
AND I UNDERSTAND WE CHANGE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT.
BUT RIGHT NOW THE EXHIBIT A JUST SAYS AMENDED BUDGET.
TWO QUESTIONS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE LINE ITEM WHERE THAT IS.
I THINK THE ONLY THING THAT WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF, AND THIS IS KIND OF A SIDEBAR THING, WOULD BE OKAY IF THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD IS GOING TO CHANGE AT ANY POINT IN TIME.
REGARDING COUNCIL V, YOU KNOW, JUST TRADITIONAL BOARD MEMBER, YOU COULD RUN INTO A NEED FOR MORE DEVICES.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT RIGHT NOW. I'M JUST POINTING THAT POINTING THAT PART OUT.
AND I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T QUITE HEAR YOU.
YOU SAID IT WOULD CREATE WHAT? IT COULD CREATE SOME CONFLICTS WITH DEVICE AGE, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING, IF YOU'RE NOT BUYING THEM ALL AT ONE TIME. SO IF THE MAKEUP OF THE BOARD IS GOING TO REMAIN THE WAY THAT IT IS RIGHT NOW, THEN NO, WE DON'T NEED MORE THAN THREE DEVICES BECAUSE THERE'S FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR OWN CITY ISSUED DEVICE. BOARD MEMBER SNYDER I FORGOT TO WRITE THE AMOUNT. YOU SAID 26,700 2700.
OKAY I WILL PROVIDE ONE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT FOR YOU THAT UPON THESE NEW DEVICES COMING IN THAT THE EXISTING DEVICES ARE DISPOSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY OF HUTTO, IT STANDARDS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT ITEMS FOR DATA SECURITY.
YES. FINE. OKAY. CAN I OFFER ONE COMMENT? TO BUILD ON WHAT YOU SAID SO EFFECTIVELY, IF THE BOARD WERE TO CHANGE OVER ONE COUNCIL MEMBER POSITION, THERE WOULD BE NO DEVICE FOR THEM, DEVICE FOR THAT BOARD MEMBER.
SO THEN WE HAVE A DELAY IN WHEN THAT BOARD MEMBER COULD ACTUALLY ACCESS THINGS, ETC.. SO I WOULD ASK THAT WE EITHER DO THE FULL SEVEN BECAUSE WE HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO REALLOCATE VERSUS A FUTURE EXPENSE.
ALSO, PRICES MIGHT BE DIFFERENT IN THE FUTURE.
EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING UP.
BUT ALSO FOR CONSISTENCY ON THE BOARD AND ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.
SHOULD BOARD MEMBERS TURN OVER AS FAR AS COUNCIL MEMBER SEATS IN THE FUTURE? SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING WE BUY SEVEN RIGHT NOW? YES. AND FOUR OF THEM WOULD NOT BE USED.
SO WE HAVE THREE FOR THE CURRENT NON COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE HAVE ONE AS A ONE HOUR ROLLOVER MAINTENANCE IF SOMETHING GOES AWRY AND WE HAVE ONE IF SOME IF WE HAVE ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, THEN A YEAR LESS THAN A YEAR STEPS DOWN AND WE ONLY HAVE THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TWO WEEK DELAY. I'M OKAY DOING 4 IN 2 WEEKS.
YOU GOT ANOTHER MEETING AND YOU ORDER THE IPAD.
NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE COUNCIL MADE CHANGES TO THIS BOARD THE THURSDAY BEFORE A MEETING.
SO I'M JUST SAYING LIKE IT HAS HAPPENED AND I'M TRYING TO HELP FUTURE BOARD MEMBERS, TWO AND A HALF WEEKS HAVE ACCESS TO TWO AND A HALF WEEK DELAY. YOU GOT A DEVICE SITTING THERE DOING NOTHING. I'M OKAY WITH FOUR, BUT I HAVE NO DESIRE TO ORDER SEVEN SO THAT YOU HAVE THREE, MAYBE FOUR SITTING THERE GETTING OLD AND THEN TWO YEARS.
WE ROLL PEOPLE OFF AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HEAR WE'LL GET ANOTHER FOUR. WE NEED SEVEN MORE BECAUSE THOSE ARE TWO YEARS OLD.
AND THESE ARE THE SAME ONES FROM WHEN I STARTED OVER FIVE YEARS AGO.
WE DID GOOD. THAT HASN'T CHANGED.
LIKE THEY'RE THEY'VE AGED OUT.
ARE YOU OKAY DOING A FOURTH ONE? YOU'RE THE ONE. WHO HAD THE AMENDMENT. YEAH.
YOU MADE THE MOTION. SO 3200 TIMES 1.09.
IF YOU HAD 2700 DIVIDED BY 3600.
YOU'RE AMENDING YOUR AMENDMENT TO 3600, NOT TO EXCEED.
YES. OKAY. I WOULD ONLY ORDER THREE RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN JUST ORDER THE FOURTH. YEAH. THERE YOU GO. THAT'S EVEN BETTER. HAVE IT READY TO GO TO. WHERE SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN? MONEY CAN BE SPENT IF IT'S NEEDED, BUT IT'S ALSO IN THE BUDGET YEAR, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE ADDED BACK INTO THE BUDGET. YEAH IT WOULD IMPACT THE FY 26 BUDGET THEN. SO THIS IS FY 25 CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AMENDMENT A REALLOCATION FROM ONE LINE ITEM TO ANOTHER. ALL FOR NOW.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO JUST BE IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET NO MATTER WHAT POTENTIALLY.
RIGHT. SO WELL, ONLY IF COUNCIL MEMBERS ROLL OFF.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE NOT ANTICIPATING THAT.
SO NO ROLL OFF GUYS. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED AS I JUST ORDER THREE AS BUDGETS FOR ORDER THREE.
AND I'M SURE WE CAN DO WHAT THEY DO IN THE CITY COUNCIL.
THEY PUT A LITTLE LINE ITEM MEMO THAT'S OUT TO THE SIDE FOR SOMETHING LATER ON THAT CAN
[01:05:05]
BE SPENT RIGHT HERE. IT CAN'T.SO THAT'S THE POINT, IS THAT IF YOU AUTHORIZE THE FUNDS RIGHT NOW, THIS IS AN FY 25 BUDGET AMENDMENT. WE CANNOT THEN SAY WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THAT IN FY 26.
FY 26 HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.
SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ANOTHER BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR FY 26.
WHAT I'M SAYING BUT THAT'S WHAT WE DO, CHRISTINA, IS THAT WHAT WE DO IN CITY COUNCIL.
WE MAKE CHANGES. AND THEN ONCE A QUARTER WE DO A TRUE UP.
I JUST THIS IS LITERALLY WHY GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE MONEY.
WE'RE DEBATING HOW TO HURRY UP AND SPEND MONEY FOR THE END OF THE YEAR ON STUFF WE PROBABLY DON'T NEED, BECAUSE, I MEAN, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT, RIGHT? I MEAN, ARE WE ABLE TO SAY BUDGET FOR SPEND THREE AND THEN CARRY IT OVER AND THEN A QUARTER FROM NOW OR FOUR MONTHS, WE DO A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
CHENEY. CHENEY IS ACCURATE. WE WOULD JUST END UP DOING THAT WOULD ROLL INTO FUND BALANCE.
AND THEN NEXT YEAR, IF WE WANTED TO BUY ANOTHER IPAD, WE WOULD JUST COME WITH A BUDGET AMENDMENT AND SAY WE NEED TO BUDGET FY 26 FUNDS FOR ONE MORE IPAD. SO WE'D GO INTO FUND BALANCE.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S COMPLETELY DISAPPEARING.
YEAH. YEAH. BUT THEN COUNCIL ALSO HAS TO APPROVE THAT.
SO JUST I MEAN IT JUST ADDS TO THE INEFFICIENCY I GUESS HIGH ON OPIUM, OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. IT'S TAX DOLLARS. LET'S JUST BUY A FOURTH ONE. YOU KNOW WHY NOT.
IT'LL SIT THERE. I SAY BUY THREE.
SO THE MOTION WAS. I CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT NOW. SO WHERE ARE WE AT 36? I WAS JUST I'M AT FOUR. HE KEEPS THROWING IT AROUND.
I DON'T SEE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IN THE RESOLUTION.
IT'S NOT IN THERE. IT'S IN THE EMAIL.
OH, IN THE EMAIL? YEAH, THERE'S AN ACTUAL EMAIL FROM IT ON WHAT MODEL TO BUY. I'M NOT JAMIE.
BUT IT WAS I THINK PART OF THAT.
IT. ALL RIGHT. SO APPROVE AS PRESENTED NOT TO EXCEED $3,600 AS THE LAST MOTION THAT WE HAVE AND THAT ANY EXISTING DEVICES THAT ARE END OF LIFE ARE DISPOSED OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH CITY STANDARDS.
YEAH. OKAY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, MA'AM.
SO NOW THAT THIS IS BEING APPROVED, DO WE HAVE TO PUT A TIME FRAME, LIKE WOULD IT INITIATE PURCHASE IMMEDIATELY? A WEEK FROM NOW? A MONTH FROM NOW.
HE'S GOT THREE WEEKS. OTHERWISE, A YEAR IS OVER.
RIGHT. I'LL LET IT KNOW TOMORROW.
THEY'LL PLACE THE ORDER THIS WEEK. BUT SHE HAS A CREDIT CARD.
ALL RIGHT, GUYS DON'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD.
ALL RIGHT, ANY FURTHER? ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE.
ROLL CALL PLEASE. BOARD MEMBER.
LET THE RECORD SHOW. WE DON'T ALWAYS VOTE THE SAME WAY. YEAH, RIGHT. YOU'RE RIGHT. IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM EIGHT FOR DISCUSSION.
CONSIDER ACTION ON RESOLUTION R DASH HDC DASH 2020 5-142 TO APPROVE A $12,000 EXPENDITURE FOR THE SMALL BUSINESS BIG IMPACT MARKETING OPPORTUNITY WITH THE AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL.
THANK YOU. SO THIS WAS A MARKETING OPPORTUNITY.
THE AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL REACHED OUT TO STAFF TO SHARE.
PROVIDED QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION IN THE DOCUMENTS LINK FOR Y'ALL.
SO HOPEFULLY YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT.
ABJ IS A PRETTY PROMINENT PUBLICATION IN THE AREA.
THEY COVER A LOT OF OUR STUFF AS WELL AS FOR THE REGION.
THIS IN PARTICULAR IS A PRETTY IN-DEPTH SPREAD ON HUTTO AND SMALL BUSINESS AND THE IMPACT THAT IT HAS, THE SUPPORT THAT HUTTO HAS AVAILABLE FOR SMALL BUSINESS.
IT ALSO IS EVERGREEN, SO IT STAYS FOREVER AND IT IS NOT BEHIND THEIR PAYWALL. SO THOSE WERE A COUPLE THINGS THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME.
SO WE WOULD BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT LINK TO SHARE OUT AND AND HAVE REASSURANCE THAT ANYONE THAT RECEIVES THE LINK WOULD BE ABLE TO ACCESS IT.
WE DO HAVE MARKETING FUNDS AVAILABLE.
AS I STIPULATED IN THE EMAIL, IT'S A $12,000 EXPENSE.
IT WOULD BE INCURRED IN MARKETING SERVICES, WHICH ALIGNS WITH THIS PARTICULAR EXPENSE.
SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE 76,900 AVAILABLE IN THAT LINE ITEM.
OR WAS APPROVED IN THAT LINE ITEM.
EXCUSE ME. THE YEAR TO DATE EXPENDITURES ARE 37,407 $0.40.
SO THE YEAR TO DATE BALANCE IS 39,492 60.
AND THEN THE ENDING BALANCE FOR THAT LINE ITEM AFTER THIS EXPENSE AS PROPOSED, WOULD BE $27,492.60. I CAN'T GET THE LINK TO WORK.
THE ONE THAT SAYS LINK TO DIGITAL RECAP WITH BUDDHA.
IT SAYS THAT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S IN LIKE, EMBEDDED INSIDE OF THE EMAIL,
[01:10:04]
BECAUSE I HOVERED OVER IT OFF MY IPAD AND IT WOULD START TO PULL IT.BUT IF I CONTINUE TO LET IT GO, IT WOULD BLANK OUT.
SO DID YOU SEE IT? I GOT A THUMBNAIL.
OH, WELL THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, I APOLOGIZE.
CAN YOU OR CAN YOU THROW IT UP ON THE TV THEN? JUST DO IT. I CAN NOT BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE MY COMPUTER DOWN HERE.
I CAN RUN UP AND GRAB IT IF YOU WANT. WOULD I WHAT WOULD I SEARCH ON? ABJ. VIEWED A SMALL BUSINESS.
HOPE YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNT. YOU COULD JUST PUT.
IF IT'S NO PAYWALL, YOU COULD DO A SEARCH UNDER ABJ AND THEN PUT THE TITLE AND IT SHOULD PULL UP. WHATEVER.
WHAT TITLE WOULD I USE? SMALL BUSINESS, BIG IMPACT.
WOULD IT BE UNDER CHENEY? NO. HERE. MIKE, ARE YOU IN YOUR EMAIL? THERE IT IS. I, I I HAVE THE ELGIN ONE RIGHT HERE.
I'LL. I'LL SEND YOU YOUR THEY DO A REALLY GOOD JOB.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY POST ON LINKEDIN.
AND I'VE MENTIONED LINKEDIN SEVERAL TIMES.
LINKEDIN IS VIEWED BY GAZILLION PEOPLE BUSINESS PEOPLE, DEVELOPERS, CONTRACTORS, ARCHITECTS, YOU NAME IT, THEY'RE ON THERE. AND SO ABJ AND I REPOST A LOT OF THEIR ARTICLES AS WELL, AND I GET A LOT OF VIEWS.
THIS PAST WEEK I GOT 12,000 VIEWS.
SO IT'S A VERY WELL WRITTEN AND VERY PROMINENT BUSINESS JOURNAL, IF YOU WILL. IT HAS A VERY BROAD REACH.
I DON'T DISAGREE, I JUST COULDN'T FIND BUDDHA OR THE OTHER ONE.
AND I WOULD SEARCH ON THE WEB.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WAS, IS GOING TO BE A TOP FIVE, WHATEVER. AND I COULDN'T FIND IT AND I KNOW THAT WAS JUST THE ALL THE BUDDHA ECONOMIC LINKS. I WAS WONDERING IF SOMEONE COULD CLARIFY WHAT IT IS WE ARE GETTING FROM THIS.
I JUST IT WAS JUST A VERY GENERIC DESCRIPTION, SO I COULDN'T REALLY TELL, LIKE, WHAT DO WE WANT FROM IT? THIS IS MY QUESTION. YEAH.
SO EFFECTIVELY IT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF A FULL PAGE SPREAD.
SO IT WOULD BE DIGITAL, THOUGH IT'S NOT ON THEIR PRINT.
SO THEY DO FEATURE IT FOR THE MONTH.
SO IT'S A BIG FULL PAGE SPREAD ON IT WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY SMALL BUSINESSES.
AND SO IT WOULD BE UP ON THEIR PAGE FOR THAT MONTH.
AND THEN THEY MOVE IT OVER TO THE SIDE FOR FOLLOWING MONTHS.
BUT THEN WE'D BE ABLE TO USE THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE'D BE ABLE TO USE IT IN RECRUITMENT EFFORTS.
WHO WOULD WHERE WOULD WE SEE IT? I'M SORRY. YEAH. YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THE.
IT WOULD BE LIKE MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION.
SO WHERE WHERE WOULD SOMEONE FIND THAT AGAIN? I GUESS FOR. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT FOR LIKE, WHERE'S THE WHERE? YEAH. LIKE WHERE IS IT ILLUSTRATE. LIKE WHAT PAGE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THEIR HOMEPAGE OR SOMETHING. OR. SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHEN IT ROLLS OUT, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THEIR MAIN PAGE, THEIR MAIN ARTICLE.
AND THEN AFTER THE MONTH THEY ARCHIVE THEM INTO, LIKE, THEIR SMALL BUSINESS FEATURE.
OH, IS IT, IS THIS UNDER ONE OF THEIR SUB CATEGORIES ON THEIR WEBSITE? OKAY. SO YOU GO TO THAT SUBCATEGORY.
WHAT IS IT. SMALL BUSINESS OR SOMETHING. AND THEN IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST ONES AT THE TOP.
I WOULD SAY THIS THE CITY IS SPENDING $5,000 TO DO SOMETHING PRETTY CLOSE TO THE SAME WITH KVUE, KXAN, CBS, CBS. AND SO THE CHAMBER IS DOING PART OF IT.
THERE'S A BUSINESS DOING PART OF IT.
NO, NO TSTC OR TEMPLE COLLEGE IS DUE IN PART, AND THEN A CITY HAS A PART, AND I'M SURE THAT'LL BE ON YOUTUBE GETTING A GOOD RETURN ON THOSE. THAT SEEMS TO BE A BIT NARROWER FOCUS.
CBS IS DECENTLY THEY HAVE A DECENT FOLLOWING, BUT WE ACTUALLY ON THAT ONE WE GET TO DICTATE WHAT WE WANT THEM TO SEE.
SO THE CITY WORKS TO FIGURE OUT WE WANT TO SHOW THIS AND SHOW THIS AND SHOW THAT.
I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT AB DID ON ANY OTHER CITY.
AND SO I SAW THEY DO. THEY DO QUITE A BIT.
I'M ON LINKEDIN EVERY SINGLE DAY, IF YOU CAN HELP ME FIND IT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO FIND WHERE SOMEONE ELSE SPENT $12,000 AND WHAT THEY GOT FOR IT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW EVERYBODY'S SAYING IT'S OUT THERE TO FIND AND I CAN FIND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
BUT A SMALL BUSINESS THING FROM AB AND I'M, I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS THING, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THEY POST FOR ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES, NOT JUST IN WILLIAMSON BUT IN TRAVIS AND DOWN IN SAN MARCOS AND BUDA IN ELGIN.
MAYNOR. EVERY DAY I SEE POSTINGS EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I'M ON THEIR WEBSITE. I DON'T EVEN SEE WHERE THEY HAVE THE SMALL BUSINESS BIG IMPACT.
THE $12,000 IS THAT. ONE POSTING LIKE ONE ONE MONTH
[01:15:06]
RUN? YEAH, IT'S THE ONE MONTH FEATURE, BUT IT'S I THINK I FOUND IT.IT'S LIVE FOREVER. LIKE THEY KEEP IT.
THEY DON'T TAKE IT DOWN AND ARCHIVE IT SOMEWHERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T GET IT.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO KEEP IT AT THE TOP YOU PUT ON THE SCREEN.
NO, I DON'T HAVE YOU. THE LINK THAT SAYS SPONSORED CONTENT BY BEAUTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
I SENT YOU THE ELGIN ONE THAT'S IN YOUR CITY EMAIL.
HOLD ON. OKAY, SO AND I DID FIND AN ARTICLE.
SO THE OTHER COMPONENT IS THAT THEY OFFER AD SPACE TO OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AT A DISCOUNT FOR WHEN OUR FEATURE IS PUBLISHED.
SO THE TAYLOR ONE IS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT THIS FALL? I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH MONTH, BUT THERE'S AN ARTICLE OR I DON'T KNOW IF TECHNICALLY IT'S AN ARTICLE, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE TAYLOR CHAMBERS WEBSITE ABOUT THEM ENGAGING IN THE SMALL BUSINESS BIG IMPACT ISSUE AS WELL.
SO I KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT JUST HASN'T BEEN DONE YET.
IF IT'S AN ELEGANT ONE, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT.
IT'S IT'S IT'S A Q&A. IT'S A Q&A THAT'S DONE.
IT'S REALLY NOT AS A SITE SELECTOR.
IT IT'S NOT THERE'S NO FACTS, THERE'S NO FIGURES, THERE'S NO INFORMATION.
IT'S IT'S LIKE BASICALLY A PANEL DISCUSSION IN WORD THAT'S SHARED IS I THINK THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT.
HERE, I'LL FORWARD IT TO CHENEY, AND CHENEY CAN FORWARD IT TO THE BOARD.
WHAT'S BOTHERING ME IS I CAN'T JUST LOOK IT UP ON AUSTIN BUSINESS JOURNAL LIKE ANYTHING.
WELL, IT'S HERE. I MEAN, I SEARCHED DO BUDDHA IN FRONT OF THERE.
I WAS ALSO GOING TO ASK ABOUT OTHER OTHER CHANNELS LIKE THE TEXAS MONTHLY.
WE CAN'T DISCUSS IT. IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
SO YOU CAN BRING THAT UP FOR OUR FUTURE ITEM UNDER ITEM 11.
YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT WAS TO FIND. I KNOW.
OKAY, SO HOW DO I PROPOSE THAT IT BE INCLUDED? BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL, NOT JUST THE TEXAS MONTHLY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THAT IS NOT THE AGENDA ITEM THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING. SO HOW DO I GET IT? SO I JUST SAID THAT I'M SORRY.
I CAN'T HEAR YOU. THERE IS A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, ITEM 11. THAT'S ALWAYS ON OUR AGENDAS.
THAT WILL BE THE PLACE FOR THAT.
I PERSONALLY THINK ABG'S IMPACT IS BETTER WITH IN-PERSON EVENTS THAN THEIR ONLINE INFLUENCE. I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD IN-PERSON EVENTS.
YES. GROWTH SUMMITS. WHERE DO THEY HAVE THEM? ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THEIR CITY? REGION? REGIONAL? COUNTY? YEAH. COMING UP ON AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, THEY SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER ONE.
YEAH. BIZ NOW ALSO HAS A LOT OF.
BUT THAT WILL BE A FUTURE DISCUSSION BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ON THE ON THE AGENDA.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DENY THIS EXPENDITURE.
SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER SNIDER NEITHER SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER PORTERFIELD. OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE MOTION TO DENY THE RESOLUTION? OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
DO I? IF YOU'RE AGREEING WITH I AGREE, I SAY YAY.
AGREE. DENY. NAY IS ABSTAIN, YAY OR ABSTAIN.
OH MY GOD, YAY IS A VOTE TO DENY.
OR YOU CAN ABSTAIN. YEAH, THAT'S.
I'M NOT ABSTAINING. I JUST AGREE WITH THE MOTION. SO I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO SAY. YAY! YAY. THANK YOU.
WE GET THAT WAY SOMETIMES YOU GET DONE VOTING.
YOU'RE LIKE, I THOUGHT I VOTED AGAINST IT.
BOARD MEMBER SNYDER, A BOARD MEMBER.
GONZALEZ. ABSTAIN. BOARD MEMBER.
A BOARD MEMBER. MORRIS A BOARD MEMBER.
PORTERFIELD A. MOTION PASSES 601.
TAKES US TO ITEM EIGHT FIVE TO EXCUSE ME.
DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION ON RESOLUTION R DASH HDC DASH 2020 5-143 TO APPROVE AN END OF YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO ACCURATELY REFLECT EXPENDITURES.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD CHRISTINA BISHOP, CITY COMPTROLLER WITH THE FINAL FINANCE AGENDA ITEM OF THE EVENING.
[01:20:03]
SO WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD THE END OF YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENTS.WE'RE NOT BRINGING FORWARD EVERY SINGLE ACCOUNT AND TRYING TO GET THEM AMENDED TO THE EXACT DOLLAR. WE'RE JUST BRINGING A COUPLE OF ACCOUNTS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO END OVER BUDGET AND ANYTHING THAT'S BASICALLY EGREGIOUSLY OFF BASE REVENUES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO REDUCE THE BUDGET BY $45 MILLION.
AND THE OTHER REVENUE LINE ITEM, THOSE ARE FOR THE LAND SALES THAT DID NOT OCCUR. SO THOSE ARE GOING TO BE REFLECTED IN THE FY 2026 BUDGET.
ON THE EXPENDITURES. THERE ARE THREE LINE ITEMS WE LIKE TO AMEND.
SORT OF IN LINE WITH THE LAND SALES.
WE ARE REDUCING THE LOAN PRINCIPAL PAYMENT BUDGET BY $12.9 MILLION.
THOSE THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE PAID IN FY 2026.
SIMILARLY, BECAUSE THE ALLIANCE BANK PRINCIPAL PAYMENT WAS NOT PAID OFF WHEN WE THOUGHT IT WOULD, THAT MEANS THE INTEREST PAYMENTS ARE HIGHER. SO WE ARE INCREASING INTEREST BY $455,099. AND FINALLY, THIS ONE IS SMALL POTATOES.
BUT I REALLY WOULD PREFER NOT TO HAVE THE AUDIT COMMENT THAT WE WERE OVER BUDGET IN THE BANK AND FINANCE CHARGE LINE ITEM.
WE ARE INCREASING THAT BUDGET BY $100 TO 400, AND BOTH OF THOSE EXPENSES WERE FOR TRUSTEE AGENT FEES.
SO PEOPLE WHO HELP US PAY OUR DEBT ESSENTIALLY, AND THOSE ARE THE THREE LINE ITEMS WE WOULD LIKE TO AMEND.
IF THIS IS APPROVED, IT WILL BE ON THE END OF YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENTS GOING TO COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 18TH. MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED.
SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY CHAIR CARLSON, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER MORRIS.
THIS IS APPROVING AS PRESENTED.
HEARING NONE. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
SECRETARY MORALES. I. BOARD MEMBER.
PORTERFIELD. I CHAIR. CARLSON.
AYE. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS ON HERE FOR CHRISTINA, OR IS SHE FREE TO GO? I THINK SHE'S GOOD AND MRS. SHE'S FREE. I KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER POLICY.
I MIGHT WANT TO STAY FOR THAT ONE.
OH. YOU MAY. IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD. YEAH.
THAT'LL TAKE US ON TO ITEM EIGHT, 6 OR 8.6 WHATEVER.
DISCUSS CONSIDER ACTION ON A RESTAURANT AND RETAIL INCENTIVES POLICY.
SO THIS WAS A REQUESTED FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.
HOPEFULLY THEY WORKED BETTER THAN IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ABJ ONES DID.
BUT I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS REALLY TO EXPOSE YOU GUYS TO WHAT TYPES OF POLICIES OR PROGRAMS ARE OUT THERE AROUND THE REGION, BUT ALSO SOME LIKE UP IN THE DFW AREA, JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT AND COLOR TO WHAT IS TYPICAL.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE DISCRETIONARY ABILITY OF THIS BOARD AND CORPORATION TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE PROJECTS AND BUSINESSES FOR INCENTIVES ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. HOWEVER, IT IS ALSO REALLY HELPFUL FOR STAFF TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE NARROW FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT Y'ALL ARE WANTING TO PURSUE AND ARE OPEN TO INCENTIVIZING AND CONVERSELY, THOSE THAT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT WILLING TO INCENTIVIZE IF THOSE THINGS EXIST.
SO I'M OPEN TO FEEDBACK, DISCUSSION ON THIS FURTHER DIRECTION SO THAT WE CAN CRAFT A POLICY.
I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF TIME VERSUS ME DRAFTING SOMETHING, AND THEN YOU GUYS SHREDDING IT EFFECTIVELY AND THEN COMING BACK ANYWAY.
SO WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.
I APPRECIATE YOU PROVIDING INFORMATION.
THE REASON I ASKED FOR THIS ITEM BACK IN 2022, DON MEMBERS IN 23, WE STARTED DOING THIS WORKING ON A POSSIBLE SOME KIND OF OUTLINE WITH THE GOAL. I'LL JUST READ A COUPLE OF THINGS WE HAD.
THIS IS FROM THIS IS A CITY OF HUTTO DRAFT THAT WE HAD DONE.
IT WAS THE GOAL WAS TO BRING EXCITING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO HUTTO, TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THE COMMUNITY'S LIFESTYLE, TO INCREASE REVENUE FOR THE CITY OF HUTTO, AND TO ENHANCE THE COMMUNITY'S ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. AND THEN THIS WASN'T A YOU HAVE TO HIT THIS OR NOTHING.
IT WAS MORE LIKE CHENEY SAID TO KIND OF GIVE SOME DIRECTION TO WHERE AT LEAST STAFF WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO IN AND TALK TO SOMEONE AND GO, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS FITS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
I CAN BRING UP TO THE BOARD, BUT KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY HAVE A PROBLEM LIKE RESTAURANT SALES.
WE WANTED TO HAVE A TAXABLE SALES AT LEAST THREE AND A HALF TO 4 MILLION RETAIL, TWO AND A HALF TO 4 MILLION.
AND THERE WERE SOME VARIOUS THINGS LIKE IT HAD TO BE BRANDED.
TRADITIONALLY YOU'RE BRANDED PLACES PROVIDE MORE RETAIL.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THEY WANT SMALL.
THEY WANT WHAT THEY SAY THEY WANT. THEY WANT THE WHAT DO YOU CALL IT?
[01:25:02]
THE MOM AND POP. BUT MOM AND POPS TYPICALLY DON'T BRING THE REVENUE IN, LIKE BRANDED THAT THEY WILL ATTRACT CUSTOMERS FROM OUTSIDE OF HUTTO.THERE'S NOT EXISTING LOCATION WITHIN TEN MILES OF HUTTO.
PRIORITIES GIVEN TO RESTAURANTS OVER 4000FT.
1000FT. GEORGE, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS WITH BOB. THEY'LL CONSIDER AN EXPANSION OR A SECOND LOCATION, BUT IT HAS TO BE LIKE 50% MORE SPACE EXISTING THAT WAY. SOMEONE COULDN'T JUST SAY I WANTED TO ADD ON A PATIO, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE'RE LIKE, YEAH, WE'LL GIVE YOU 50% OF YOUR SALES TAX BACK FOR THAT. SO THAT'S REALLY KIND OF WHAT I BROUGHT UP.
JUST SOMETHING TO GIVE STAFF DIRECTION TO WHERE OKAY.
WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR? IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY WE WANT? IT SEEMS TO ME ITALIAN AND A STEAK RESTAURANT IS UP THERE WITH WHAT PEOPLE SAY THEY REALLY WANT. NOW, WHAT KIND OF STEAK RESTAURANT, LIKE A GROCERY STORE IS ALL OVER THE MAP? BUT AT LEAST YOU CAN SAY THERE'S A PLACE TO GET A STEAK OR SEAFOOD OR SOMETHING.
SO THAT'S REALLY WHY I BROUGHT THIS UP. JUST A WAY TO KIND OF HELP US FOCUS ON CERTAIN THINGS. AND THEN MAYBE WE KNOCK ONE OFF AND THERE'S ANOTHER ONE. BUT ANYWAY, I'M HAPPY TO SHARE. YEAH, I HAD NO IDEA THAT EXISTED.
SO IF YOU WANT TO SEND THAT OVER, THAT'D BE GREAT.
I THINK MY ONLY COMMENT LISTENING TO YOU, BOARD MEMBER SNYDER, IS I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW WE WOULD ALSO THEN SUPPORT THE SMALL BUSINESS INCENTIVE LINE ITEM.
SO IF WE ARE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE TO BE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF SQUARE FEET AND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF REVENUE, THAT REALLY CONTRADICTS THAT SMALL AND SMALL BUSINESS INCENTIVE LINE ITEM THAT THIS CORPORATION HAS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT.
AND I JUST THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WINE BAR AND HAPPY PANINI, LIKE THEY WOULD NOT HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORT IF THESE REQUIREMENTS WERE IN PLACE.
I DON'T THINK IT CONFLICTS BECAUSE IT'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT RETAIL, RESTAURANT ENTERTAINMENT, WHAT DO WE WANT TO FOCUS ON? AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR SMALL BUSINESS INCENTIVES, WHICH IS GOING TO BE, IN MY MIND, A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.
BUT IF WE GO TO INCENTIVIZE SOMEONE MAKING HATS, FOR EXAMPLE, RETAIL, IF YOU DO TEN DEALS LIKE THAT, YOU COULDN'T EVEN HIRE AN EMPLOYEE WITH THE REVENUE BROUGHT IN.
IF YOU FOCUSED ON TWO BRANDED COMPANIES, YOU COULD BRING IN 10 MILLION IN TAXABLE SALES IN ONE YEAR AND YOU COULD PAVE A STREET WITH THAT.
SO I THINK IT'S A WAY TO JUST NOT AN ALL OR NOTHING.
IT'S A MANNER OF WHAT CAN WE FOCUS ON.
BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS WE TEND TO FOCUS ON PREVIOUSLY IN THE EDC HAVE BEEN REALLY SMALL TYPE PROJECTS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME ON, BUT NOT SPEND A WHOLE BUNCH OF STAFF TIME MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, IF WE DO TEN COMPANIES AND THEY'RE COMBINED, THEY RUN 1 MILLION OR 2 MILLION IN SALES.
WE COULD SPEND A WHOLE YEAR AND WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING NOTHING OUT OF THAT.
THE SMALL BUSINESS PART, I THINK, IS WHERE THE AUTHENTICITY OF A CITY COMES FROM. AND SO I AGREE THAT MAYBE COMPARTMENTALIZING THE RETAIL RESTAURANT ASPECT INTO A DIFFERENT AREA MIGHT BE SMART, BUT CERTAINLY NOT HIGHLIGHTING ONE MORE THAN THE OTHER. KIND OF WAS WHAT CAME TO MY MIND.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S A WAY TO POSITION THESE OR OR MAYBE EVEN TITLE THEM IN A WAY THAT SPECIFIES LIKE IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR NATIONAL, REGIONAL BRANDS FOR RESTAURANT, RETAIL, ENTERTAINMENT VERSUS OUR SMALL BUSINESS, ARE YOU A FRANCHISE OR ARE YOU A UNIQUE BUSINESS OR.
YEAH. SO I THINK LEANDER LEANDER'S POLICY I LIKED BECAUSE THEY THEY JUST HAVE A DESTINATION RESTAURANT POLICY.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE WANT IS A DESTINATION RESTAURANT POLICY FOR CERTAIN CASES, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT A GENERAL RESTAURANT POLICY FOR EVERYBODY, BECAUSE THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, ANY RESTAURANT OPENING IS AUTOMATICALLY COMPETING AGAINST SOME OF OUR EXISTING BUSINESSES AND GIVING THEM A LEG UP.
I'M RELUCTANT TO DO THAT UNLESS THERE'S A REASON.
SO IF IT'S A DESTINATION, THAT'S A REASON.
IF IT'S A SMALL BUSINESS THAT'S GROWING AND SOMETHING LIKE HAPPY PANINI AND THE WINE BAR.
THOSE WERE THE INTERSECTION OF SMALL BUSINESS AND DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, WHICH ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE WE LIKE TO SEE.
SO IT KIND OF THEY THEY MEET THE BAR THERE.
YEAH. AND NOT REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THEM YOU KNOW COMING IN AND COMPETING AGAINST, YOU KNOW, JULIO'S AND RIO GRANDE AND WHOEVER THAT'S BEEN HERE WHERE SOME OF THE OTHER RESTAURANTS THEY DO. I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN FAVOR OF CHUY'S ON ITS OWN BECAUSE WE HAVE OTHER RESTAURANTS IN THAT SPACE.
BUT IT WAS A PACKAGE DEAL, SO IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. BUT HAVING AN INCENTIVE, HAVING A DESTINATION POLICY THAT THEN THEY HAVE TO MEET A HIGH BAR OF, THEY'RE BRINGING PEOPLE IN, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SO MUCH SALES, THEY'RE GOING TO IF THEY'RE AN EXISTING BUSINESS, THEY'RE GOING TO EXPAND BY SO MUCH. I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE GOOD TO HAVE AS A BAR THAT
[01:30:03]
THAT SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TO MEET. IF THEY JUST WANT TO COME IN WITH A RESTAURANT AND, AND ASK FOR INCENTIVES.AND THEN THE SMALL BUSINESS STUFF IS JUST SEPARATE.
IF WE WERE JUST TO MODIFY THIS FROM A POLICY TO A PROGRAM, THEN YOU HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAM.
YOU HAVE A RETAIL RESTAURANT PROGRAM, YOU MAY HAVE A DESTINATION RESTAURANT AS A AS A HIGHLIGHT TO YOUR RETAIL RESTAURANT.
SO ALL THE DIFFERENT DISTINCTIONS AND THAT'S KIND OF THE COMPARTMENTALIZED I THINK THAT SECRETARY TREASURER MORALES SAID THAT WOULD BE A WAY TO DISTINGUISH THAT FOR YOU.
THERE'S TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANIMALS TO ME. SO IT'S RIGHT.
I FOUND IT, I FOUND IT A GOOD SUGGESTION.
PROGRAMS. JUST LIKE YOU HAVE A CONVENIENCE STORE OR EXPERIENTIAL RETAIL.
THEY'RE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS FOR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PURPOSES.
AND AS FAR AS MEXICAN FOOD THAT'S A VERY POPULAR.
WE GOOD. YEAH. ON IT. WE'VE GOT THE.
WHAT IS IT? THE CASA JALISCO, RIO GRANDE AND CHUY'S.
AND THEY'RE ALWAYS FULL. AND JULIO'S.
JULIO'S. HAS ANYBODY BEEN TO BABE'S CHICKEN? OH, GOD. WHAT'S THAT? HAS ANYBODY BEEN TO BABE'S CHICKEN? THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT THIS UP. SO I TRIED GETTING BABE'S CHICKEN TO COME TO HUTTO BACK, I GUESS, IN 22. AND THEY WILL ONLY COME TO A CITY.
BASICALLY, YOU HAVE TO BUILD THEM A BUILDING AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO THEM.
AND I WAS LIKE, WOW. BUT THEN IT WAS THE AMOUNT OF SALES.
IT WAS EVEN MORE OF A WHILE BECAUSE THEN YOU KIND OF THOUGHT, WELL, HOW MUCH IS THAT BUILDING COST? BECAUSE BASED ON YOUR SALES AND YOUR DRAW.
BUT THAT MADE ME THINK OF OTHERS. I WOULDN'T WANT TO INCENTIVIZE WILLIE'S, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED DOWN THERE BY COSTCO.
THERE'S ONE IN THE AREA, BUT SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE, OR KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE'VE, IN A WAY, BEEN DOING. I MEAN, I WOULD HAVE GONE FOR CHUY'S BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER CHUY'S IN THE AREA. I LIKE THE ACADEMY.
THERE'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE IN THE AREA. AND SO TO ME, THOSE ARE THE THINGS YOU PUT ENOUGH OF.
I TALKED TO CHENEY ABOUT THIS. IF YOU HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM IN A CITY, YOU WILL DRAW PEOPLE IN.
AND THEN I THINK THAT BLEEDS OVER TO THE SMALLER BUSINESSES, BECAUSE YOU CAME IN AT CHEWY'S AND HOOKY AND YOU FINISHED THE NIGHT AT THE WINE BAR, YOU'RE PROBABLY THE WINE BAR IS PROBABLY NEVER GOING TO DRAG PEOPLE IN FROM WEST AUSTIN, BUT THEY MAY COME IN OR ROUND ROCK OR PFLUGERVILLE MAY COME IN FOR OTHER THINGS AND THEN SPEND THE WHOLE DAY HERE, OR SPEND THE NIGHT IN A HOTEL AND THEN SPEND THE NEXT DAY. SO I THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, I GUESS, WHAT PATH WE WANT TO STAY ON, OR IF MAYBE WE'RE NOT ON THE RIGHT PATH. I DON'T EVEN KNOW. KYLE HAD ONE.
THERE'S JUST REALLY SIMPLE YEAR ONE 100%, YEAR 275 AND YEAR 350% ON RESTAURANTS.
THAT WAS THERE WAS NO CRITERIA.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH DIRECTION THAT GIVES STAFF.
BUT THE THING I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THAT IS THEN EVERY RESTAURANT IS GOING TO APPLY AND THEN RIGHT, HOW MANY ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE OUT? I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A BAR THAT YOU MEET THAT.
OH THIS ONE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOOD FOR THE CITY, TO THE POINT THAT WE SHOULD GIVE AN INCENTIVE VERSUS THERE'S 12 RESTAURANTS THAT WANT TO OPEN. YEAH. GIVE ME YOUR NUMBER OF COMPETITORS IN THE AREA.
WELL, LIKE THE MCDONALD'S IS GOING TO OPEN UP A THIRD LOCATION IN THE CITY.
YOU'D PROBABLY SAY THAT'S GREAT, BUT I MEAN, WE HAVE 14 PEOPLE SELLING HAMBURGERS.
WE DON'T NEED ONE MORE. PLEASE.
NO. I THINK ON ON SOME OF THIS, YOU HAVE TO LET THE MARKET DRIVE, YOU KNOW, THE DEMAND. YOU KNOW, LIKE A PLACE LIKE BABE CHICKEN I'VE NEVER BEEN TO BEFORE. BUT A SINGLE PLATE FOR ONE PERSON IS $20.
SO IT'S LIKE YOU, YOU WANT US TO INCENTIVIZE THE WHOLE FACILITY AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO CHARGE YOUR CITIZENS $20 A HEAD TO EAT THERE.
LIKE THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE MEALS IN TOWN EVEN FROM A SIT DOWN PERSPECTIVE.
WHERE'S THAT BABE? CHICKEN IS $20 A PLATE.
OH, AND IT IS 110%. AND IT MIGHT BE GREAT, BUT FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO SPEND $100 TO GO OUT TO DINNER. I MEAN, LIKE, THAT'S NO, I'M WITH YOU ON THAT TOO. AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WHERE WE, SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC ARE DEBATING ON.
I'M NOT LOOKING AT BRINGING STUFF HERE JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
I AGREE WITH THAT. JUST BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE 5000 PEOPLE WHO MAKE SIX FIGURES, ALL OF A SUDDEN $20 A PLATE, LIKE FOR INSTANCE, SOUTHSIDE MARKET, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A 2 MILLION A YEAR DEAL WHEN THEY DID THAT. AND NOW I THINK THEY'RE ALMOST 4 MILLION WAS WHAT THEY HAD.
SO THEY'RE RUNNING DOUBLE WHAT THEY THOUGHT. AND I THINK $20 FOR A BAKED POTATO IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, EVEN AS GOOD AS THE BRISKET IS.
BUT THEY KEEP RUNNING OUT OF THEM.
BUT I THINK IT'S A GOOD POINT. THAT'S WHY I THINK IT GOES INTO THE LIKE BOARD MEMBER MORALES WAS SAYING, I THINK YOU HAVE KIND OF TWO BUCKETS, YOU HAVE SOME STUFF THAT THIS IS CERTAIN GEARS, AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS OTHER ONE THAT WE HAVE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR SOME BIGGER STUFF DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T MOVE IT AROUND IT JUST SOMETHING TO GIVE, I DON'T KNOW, SOMETHING FOR US TO TALK ABOUT WHEN THE PROJECT COMES UP.
[01:35:03]
I THINK IT'S A VERY TRICKY CONVERSATION, AND I THINK IT'S HARD TO PUT IT INSIDE OF A BOX, IF YOU WILL. I THINK THAT WHAT I'M SEEING IS THAT ALMOST THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE IT, WHETHER RIGHT, WRONG OR INDIFFERENT MIGHT STILL BE CONTINUING TO CONTINUE TO BE THE BEST WAY BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE OVERALL, YOU KNOW, NEW QUEST PROJECT ITSELF WITH, WITH HOCKEY AND SHOES AND EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S ALREADY BRINGING ADDITIONAL, YOU KNOW, FOOD TO THE AREA FROM AN AMY'S ICE CREAM TO A POTBELLY.THERE'S NO INCENTIVES ON ANY OF THAT OR ANYTHING ELSE. SO I THINK WE'LL START TO SEE SOME OF THAT. AND I WOULD HAVE ALMOST CONSIDERED AMY'S ICE CREAM A DESTINATION, YOU KNOW, TYPE, YOU KNOW, EATERY JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT IT IS IN THE AUSTIN MARKET ITSELF. BUT OTHERS MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY SEE IT THAT WAY.
THEY MIGHT SEE IT AS A GOING TO THROW SOMETHING CRAZY MEDIEVAL TIMES OUT THERE.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT AT ALL.
BUT THAT'S A DESTINATION TYPE, YOU KNOW FACILITY, SO. BUT I THINK THE WAY WE'VE DONE IT IS PROBABLY THE RIGHT WAY IS REALLY ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT HAS COME ACROSS LIKE LIKE BACK IN THE DAY, IT'S LIKE IT DIDN'T MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE. SO I THINK WE'VE DONE A DECENT JOB WITH THAT.
I THINK HAVING THE POLICY LIKE LEANDER DOES JUST PUTS IT OUT THERE THAT IF YOU MEET THIS CRITERIA, YOU CAN APPLY TO THIS PROGRAM.
CORRECT. AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. IT'S LIKE I'M NOT INTERESTED IN INCENTIVIZING A MCDONALD'S, TACO BELL, ARBY'S, BURGER KING, WHATEVER ELSE.
BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS TRULY UNIQUE TO THE AREA THAT MAYBE EVEN HAS A BORDERLINE CULT FOLLOWING, OKAY, THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, RUN OF THE MILL, YOU KNOW? NAH. AND THAT DOESN'T PREVENT US FROM DOING OTHER THINGS, DOING SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MEET THAT CRITERIA AND JUST SAYING, NO, NO, NO, THIS THIS HAS SOMETHING ELSE THAT, THAT THE CITY STILL WANTS, AND WE CAN DO IT. IT'S NOT LIKE IT EXCLUDES ANYBODY.
WELL, AND AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH WHAT YOU KNOW, CHENEY PROVIDED FROM THE CITY OF COPPELL.
I THINK THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME SOME GOOD THINGS INSIDE OF THERE.
ONE OF THOSE I SAW WAS BASICALLY THE EXPEDITED PLAN REVIEW, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THE EDC CONTROL.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AND WITH A HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, GREAT. YEAH. LIKE THAT.
THAT'S AN AVENUE WHERE, YOU KNOW, TIME IS MONEY.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT NECESSARILY THE ACTUAL CASH HANDOUT, IF YOU WILL. SO I THINK THERE'S A MYRIAD OF WAYS TO GET THERE.
BUT IF WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH RESPECT TO LIKE DESTINATION STYLE OKAY, GREAT.
I'M GOOD WITH THAT. I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE.
HOW ABOUT I'VE GIVEN CHENEY THE THE DRAFT FROM A FEW YEARS AGO AND THE ONE FROM KYLE.
HOW ABOUT EVERYBODY GETS LOOKS AT THAT. WE BRING IT BACK UP NEXT MONTH AND SEE IF WE ANYBODY WANTS TO DO ANYTHING AFTER THEY'VE SEEN SOME CITIES. I THINK WHAT ELSE WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR STAFF MOVING FORWARD IS I, I'M LEANING IN TO WHAT BOARD MEMBER THORNTON SHARED ABOUT, OH, THAT CHECKS MORE BOXES IF WE CAN IDENTIFY WHAT THOSE BOXES ARE.
THAT'S SUPER HELPFUL, BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE A PROGRAM THAT HAS KIND OF AN OVERARCHING IDEA OR THEME OR GENERAL PRIORITY OF WHAT DIRECTION TO GO.
BUT THEN IF SOMETHING ELSE COMES ALONG AND IT CHECKS OTHER BOXES, THEN IT WARRANTS BRINGING FORWARD OR HELPS STAFF KIND OF VET SOME OF THESE THINGS A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR Y'ALL.
SO MAYBE IDENTIFYING WHAT ARE THE BOXES WE'RE TRYING TO CHECK? IS IT OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES? IS IT EXPERIENTIAL RETAIL? IS IT ENTERTAINMENT AND WITHIN ENTERTAINMENT? IS IT FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT? IS IT NIGHTLIFE? ENTERTAINMENT? LIKE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT THIS CORPORATION REALLY WANTS TO SEEK OUT? BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO NARROW THE SCOPE A LITTLE BIT SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST WHAT'S COMING IN, BUT ALSO WHAT IS STAFF GOING AFTER.
SO JUST FOR SOME ADDITIONAL REQUESTED INPUT WOULD BE GREAT.
I THINK THIS IS I THINK WE DISTRIBUTE SOME MATERIALS, GET SOME FEEDBACK, AND THEN WE CAN PROBABLY BRING SOMETHING BACK THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE POLISHED AT THAT POINT.
IS THAT A MOTION OR. NO I'M GOOD.
SO WE HAVE NO ACTION ON EIGHT SIX.
SO THAT'LL TAKE US TO EIGHT SEVEN. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION REGARDING A LAND APPRAISAL FOR THE COTTONWOOD PROPERTIES. YES.
THANK YOU. SO PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS, BOARD MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF AN APPRAISAL OR MARKET VALUATION DONE FOR THE COTTONWOOD PROPERTIES VALUE OF THAT BEING, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE SET THE PRICING IN THE PENDING PSA OR FUTURE LAND SALES? ON THE COTTONWOOD PROPERTIES? SO WE'RE JUST REQUESTING AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED AND NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT SO THE ASSESSMENT CAN BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND MORE OF A MARKET VALUATION VERSUS A LAND APPRAISAL.
I THINK THE EXAMPLE I GAVE YOU ALL IN MY HEAD WAS LIKE, WHAT IS THE COUNTY? SAY YOUR HOUSE IS APPRAISED AT VERSUS WHAT YOU CAN SELL IT AT.
[01:40:01]
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO THE WHAT CAN WE SELL IT AT SIDE.SO THAT WOULD BE THE REQUEST FROM STAFF.
SO MOVED. OKAY. SO WHEN YOU SAY THAT IT'S HOLD ON.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER SNYDER, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER PORTERFIELD.
I ALSO HEARD NO NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT.
SO I GET CARTE BLANCHE AS LONG AS IT'S IN THE CURRENT BUDGET.
I'M GOOD AN AMENDMENT, BUT WE GOT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
SO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE AS PRESENTED BY.
AND SO WE'LL OPEN THAT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
SO I HAD A COMMENT ON CHENEY, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE APPRAISAL AND THE VALUATION. THE VALUATION WOULD ALSO INCLUDE WHAT KIND OF ESTIMATE THE REVENUES COULD POSSIBLY BE ON THAT LAND.
SO WHAT WE WOULD WHAT WE WOULD DO IS WE WOULD ENGAGE A PROFESSIONAL AND SAY, EFFECTIVELY, HERE'S KIND OF THE LAND USES THAT WE ARE PROPOSING ON THAT 250 ACRES.
WHAT WHAT COULD WE GO TO MARKET TODAY AND SELL FOR THAT SPECIFIC USE TYPE FOR THIS OTHER USE TYPE FOR THIS OTHER USE TYPE.
AND THEN THAT WAY IT'LL GIVE US A BETTER IDEA OF AS THAT PROPERTY DEVELOPS AND AS WE SELL THAT LAND, WHAT KIND OF SOME EARMARKS AND MARKET INDICATORS AS TO WHAT WE COULD EXPECT TO TO SELL THAT FOR AND WHAT WHOEVER WE SELL TO WOULD EXPECT TO PAY FOR THAT TOO, WHICH IS ALWAYS NICE. WOULD INCLUDE THE REVENUE.
SO THEN WE'D BE ABLE TO CALCULATE, IF I CAN ASK THIS QUESTION CHAIR, PLEASE CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG IN ASKING IT, BUT DO WE HAVE ALREADY INDIVIDUALS, EXPERTS THAT CAN DO THAT VALUATION FOR US? NOT IN HOUSE. IT WOULD BE EXTERNAL.
BUT ONE OF THE THE THINGS THAT THIS CORPORATION IS ABLE TO DO IS WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MUNICIPAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS, SO WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO, LIKE, GO BID THIS OUT OR GO THROUGH ROTATION LIST OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
SO IT'S REALLY EFFECTIVELY, HEY, WHO DO I KNOW OR WHO DO Y'ALL KNOW THAT CAN DO THIS FOR US AND AND GET IT DONE QUICKLY AND FOR A REASONABLE PRICE.
DO WE HAVE A VALUE ON THIS AT ALL YET OR NO, I DON'T.
WHEN WE WE DID THE APPRAISAL FOR THE KRUEGER LAND WHEN WE HAD TO BUY THE ADDITIONAL EASEMENT FOR THE FINAL DRAINAGE DESIGN.
I CAN LOOK AT THAT, BUT I WOULD SAY I CAN'T IMAGINE IT WOULD BE MORE THAN $10,000 TO GET IT DONE. IT'S A LOT OF LAND.
IT'S THE ONLY THING. AND WE ONLY HAD THREE PARCELS IN THE KRUEGER ONE, AND IT WAS FOR LIKE, THIS MUCH LAND.
OKAY, IF THERE'S GONNA BE A BASELINE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE YOUR BASICALLY YOUR SCALE OF IT.
SO I MEAN, IT WON'T BE A ONE FOR ONE.
BUT I MEAN, WITHOUT A NUMBER, IT'S KIND OF HARD. I MEAN, I GUESS IF WE WANT TO THROW TEN GRAND OUT THERE. OKAY, BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE COUNCIL MEMBER OR A BOARD MEMBER ON THE PROCESS? I'VE NEVER ENGAGED IN THIS.
I'M ONLY PERMITTED TO MAKE BROKER'S PRICE OPINIONS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT.
I SHOULD HOPE IT DOES NOT COST YOU $10,000.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK FOR A THIRD PARTY APPRAISAL, LIKE MARKET VALUATION APPRAISAL.
YEAH, IT COULD BE BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT AS IN DEPTH AS THE OTHER ONE.
YEAH. I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE OF A HIGH LEVEL WHAT HAS ACTUALLY SOLD AND, YOU KNOW, IS IT COMPARABLE TO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, 5000, A MORE REALISTIC NUMBER.
SIMILARLY, WHEN WE DID THAT APPRAISAL FOR THE KRUEGER PROPERTY, THEY DID SOMETHING SIMILAR.
THEY WENT AND LOOKED AT WHAT LAND HAD SOLD FOR THE PURPOSES OF EASEMENTS TOO.
SO CAN YOU SPEAK UP? CAN'T HEAR YOU.
SORRY. I ALWAYS GET MAD AT COUNCIL WHEN THEY DO THAT, SO I SHOULD LEARN. I WAS JUST SAYING THAT WHEN WE DID THE EVALUATION FOR THE APPRAISAL FOR THE KRUGER EASEMENTS, IT WAS SIMILAR IN THAT THEY WENT OUT AND LOOKED AT HOW MUCH HAD BEEN PAID FOR OTHER EASEMENTS FOR THAT PARTICULAR USE AS WELL.
SO IT'S SIMILAR BUT FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES FOR THAT PROPERTY.
I WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE CHECK, BUT I WANT TO SAY IT WAS AROUND 7000 I THINK 5 TO 7. WELL, I MEAN IT'S A NOT TO EXCEED.
SO THAT'S A CONDEMNATION APPRAISAL THOUGH.
MARKET ANALYSIS. THEY DO ABOUT 3 OR 4 DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THEY.
I'M SORRY. THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONDEMNATION APPRAISAL WHICH DOES THE MULTIPLE APPROACHES SALES COMP SALES COMP AND REPLACEMENT AND INCOME AND THEN REMAINDERS AFTER AFTER THE ACQUISITION. SO IT'S A IT'S A MUCH MORE COMPLICATED APPRAISAL, BUT I'D LOVE TO KNOW JUST WHERE THEY'RE GETTING THEIR INFORMATION. I WOULD JUST STRESS FINDING OUT WHERE THEY GET THEIR INFORMATION.
ASK THEM WHERE ARE YOU PHYSICALLY GOING TO GET IT? BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT THE COTTONWOOD PROPERTY WAS APPRAISED IN 2020, AND WE HAVE THAT APPRAISAL FROM THAT PERIOD OF TIME, AND IT HAD TWO DIFFERENT APPRAISAL APPRAISALS.
ONE WAS THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY BY ITSELF, AND ONE WAS THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY WITH,
[01:45:03]
WITH ENTITLEMENTS. AND THAT WAS A $2 MILLION DIFFERENCE.IT WAS 23 PLUS, AS IS 25 PLUS WITH ENTITLEMENTS.
AND TO CHANGE MY MOTION THAT WE JUST DIRECT STAFF TO BRING BACK THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO GET IT APPRAISED.
I'M GOOD WITH THAT. I SECOND THAT.
SO SPIT IT OUT LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.
BOARD MEMBER SNYDER HAS AMENDED HIS MOTION FOR STAFF TO TO NEXT MEETING TO PROVIDE THREE YOU KNOW, VENDORS, IN EFFECT AND THEIR SUBSEQUENT PRICING.
AND WE'LL MAKE A DECISION ON THAT AT THAT POINT IN TIME.
BOARD MEMBER PORTERFIELD, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT? ALL RIGHT. YES, SIR. OPEN IT UP FOR ANY FINAL DISCUSSION.
BOARD MEMBER. SNYDER, A BOARD MEMBER.
MORRIS I CHAIR. CARLSON I BOARD MEMBER.
GONZALEZ I. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
TAKE US TO ITEM EIGHT EIGHT. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION TO APPOINT UP TO TWO BOARD MEMBERS TO THE CITY OF HUTTO.
SEQUENTIAL CELEBRATION COMMITTEE.
IT'S MUCH EASIER TO SAY YES. MOTION TO APPOINT BOARD MEMBER MORALES AND BOARD MEMBER GONZALEZ TO THE COMMISSION SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPOINT SECRETARY MORALES.
AND WHO IS THE OTHER IRMA? LET'S GO. YES, GIRL. I MEAN, IT CAN'T BE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO IT'S TWO OUT OF THREE OF YOU, AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE CHAIRPERSON MAD BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW TO THROW A PARTY, RIGHT? RIGHT. OKAY.
AND WE KNOW DON WOULDN'T WANT TO DO IT, ALL RIGHT? YEAH. ALL RIGHT. HEY, LOOK WE HAVE A MOTION OUT THERE, AND WE HAVE A SECOND. HAS ANYONE SECOND? THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER SNIDER, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER THORNTON.
TO APPOINT SECRETARY MORALES AND BOARD MEMBER GONZALEZ.
BOARD MEMBER. MORRIS A BOARD MEMBER.
SECRETARY. MORALES I. BOARD MEMBER.
THORNTON I. IS THAT SEVEN? THAT'S NOT 7I0, SORRY.
BOARD MEMBER SNYDER I SORRY YOUR LITTLE CHECK MARKS ARE.
ALL RIGHT. THAT WILL TAKE US TO ITEM EIGHT NINE. DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ACTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE CORPORATION'S REGULAR MEETING ON AUGUST 11TH, 2025.
MOVE THE ONE REVISION ITEM SEVEN ONE.
REVISE THAT JUST TO SAY NO ACTION.
SECOND. THE REASON FOR THAT IS IS WE.
IT SAYS ITEM AGENDA ITEM SEVEN WAS SKIPPED ACCIDENTALLY.
WE'LL CHANGE IT. SAY NO ACTION.
RIGHT. BUT JUST. YEAH, JUST THAT ONE LINE STRUCK.
NO ACTION. ONE OR THE OTHER. YEAH. OKAY, SO ONLY SAY THAT.
GOT IT. SORRY. WE HAVE A SECOND ON THAT.
I GAVE IT A SECOND. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER SNYDER, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER PORTERFIELD TO APPROVE, AS PRESENTED. WHILE STRIKING ON SEVEN ONE AGENDA ITEM SEVEN ONE WAS SKIPPED ACCIDENTALLY. OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE. ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
BOARD MEMBER THORNTON, A BOARD MEMBER.
AYE. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
THE BOARD WILL NOW RECESS THE OPEN MEETING AND RECONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 5510715551087.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND 551072.
REAL PROPERTY. DELIBERATE AND SEEK LEGAL ADVICE REGARDING THE FOLLOWING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. PROJECT PROJECT. PROJECT MAESTRO MEGA SITE PROJECT. PROJECT TITAN PROJECT, PROJECT CHICKEN DUO PROJECT LIBRA PROJECT ORCHARD PROJECT HARVEST PROJECT PROJECT PROJECT AND Q2 AND PROJECT AND POTENTIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.
THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COTTONWOOD PROPERTIES AND ANY RELATED INCENTIVES AND THE EVALUATION OF AVAILABLE CORPORATE FUNDS FOR INCENTIVES. THE TIME IS 820. ALL RIGHT. THE TIME IS 1032, AND WE HAVE RETURNED FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
I'LL TAKE US TO ITEM TEN ONE DISCUSSING CONSIDERATION REGARDING A PURCHASE OPTION
[01:50:05]
AGREEMENT WITH MIDWAY FOR THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COTTONWOOD PROPERTIES.WE'RE TAKING ACTION ON THIS. ARE WE? WHICH ONE ARE YOU ON? SORRY. TEN ONE.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT STAFF TO UPDATE PROJECT CORE ON THE TEN TWO.
YEAH, THAT'LL BE TEN TWO OTHER ITEMS. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY MIDWAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE NO ACTION ON TEN ONE. SO TAKE US TO TEN TWO.
CONSIDERATION OF POSSIBLE ACTION RELATED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA ITEMS LISTED ABOVE.
I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO UPDATE PROJECT CORE ON THE TERMS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER SNIDER, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER THORNTON, TO ENGAGE PROJECT CORE AS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
AYE. CHAIR. CARLSON. BOARD MEMBER.
GONZALES. AYE. MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DIRECT STAFF.
I NEED SOME HELP ON THIS DIRECT STAFF TO SEEK PROPOSALS FROM FEE AND MASTER DEVELOPERS IN REGARDS TO THE COTTONWOOD PROPERTY FOR A PORTION OF IT.
SECOND. NICE. WHO GOT THE SECOND? WHO WAS OKAY? IS THAT YOU? OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY BOARD MEMBER SNYDER, SECONDED BY BOARD MEMBER GONZALEZ TO ENGAGE FEE DEVELOPERS AS WELL AS ANY OTHER FLAVORS FOR THAT. PROPOSALS FOR PROPOSAL.
YES. YEAH. OPEN UP FOR DISCUSSION.
HEARING NONE. ROLL CALL PLEASE.
BOARD MEMBER. PORTERFIELD. A BOARD MEMBER.
BOARD MEMBER. GONZALEZ. BOARD MEMBER.
THORNTON. I. A MOTION PASSES SEVEN ZERO.
ANY OTHER ITEMS? MOTIONS TO BE MADE? I DON'T THINK SO. ALL RIGHT. HEARING NONE WILL TAKE US TO ITEM 11 FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. AND I WANTED TO TALK NEXT MEETING ABOUT OTHER VENUES TO PROMOTE HUDDLE.
OKAY. AND THEN I ALSO HAD A QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD BE A FUTURE TOPIC ITEM, BUT WE TALKED ABOUT THAT SECTION EIGHT HOUSING.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE UPDATE ON THAT IS.
THE THAT'S ACTUALLY THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, RIGHT? I GUESS THAT'S WHAT IT IS.
THAT'S THE ONE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT. THE ONE THAT'S RIGHT THERE ON RIGHT NEAR THE HIGH SCHOOL. OH, YEAH. OKAY.
SENIOR SENIOR HOUSING. IS THAT THE ONE? I BELIEVE SO.
OKAY. YEAH. THE TRAILS AT CARMEL CREEK.
YEAH. I LIKE TO LOOK AT AN AGENDA ITEM FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING ACCESS EASEMENTS FOR THE MEGA SITE.
AND THEN AN ITEM DISCUSSION, POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE REFUNDING OF THE COTTONWOOD LOAN. AND THEN TO ADD PROJECT FOOTBALL AND PROJECT AIR TO THE AGENDA FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. ANY OTHER ITEMS? WHAT WAS THE REFUND? WHAT? I'M SORRY. THE REFUNDING OF THE COTTONWOOD LOAN.
COTTONWOOD. THANK YOU. REFINANCING.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO? YEAH, BUT THEN YOU GET IN THE CITY, GETS. YOU GOT TO GET FANCY. WE DON'T REFINANCE, WE REFUND. OKAY. RIGHT, GEORGE? I DON'T KNOW WHY. ALL RIGHT.
WELL, IF THERE ARE NO OTHER ITEMS. TIME IS
1036, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.