[00:00:02]
WELL, GOOD EVENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
[City Council Meeting]
AND VISITORS.WE THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING GOING ON WITH ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE, AND IT'S FOR CHANGES, SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
I DO WANNA ANNOUNCE THIS IS MEADOWS PLACE, CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING.
THAT IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, 2023 AT 6:30 PM AND MEADOWS PLACE, CITY HALL ONE, TROY AND DRIVE, MEADOWS PLACE.
UM, ITEM A IS CALLED TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCE A QUORUM.
IT'S PRESENT WITH ALL COUNSEL BEING PRESENT, AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO, UH, IS JIMMY HERE? OKAY, DAVID.
UH, WE WILL, UH, STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND IT'S GONNA BE LED BY THE MEADOWS ELEMENTARY NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY, AND THEN STAND, REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION HONOR SOCIETY.
IF YOU'LL GET US STARTED, WE'LL JOIN YOU.
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FROM WHICH YOU NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WHAT REMAIN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION.
DAVID, BEFORE WE START, COULD I GET THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY TO SAY THE PLEDGE TO THE TEXAS FLAG? 'CAUSE I KNOW Y'ALL NEED IT.
LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU, UH, THAT WE CAN GATHER HERE TONIGHT.
WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DO THAT.
AND WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THE COUNTRY THAT LIVE IN, FOR THE CITY THAT WE LIVE IN.
LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THESE, UH, THESE, UH, CHILDREN WHO CAME TONIGHT TO LEAD THE PLEDGE.
LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU THAT, UH, PATRIOTISM IS STILL SOMETHING THAT WE CAN HONOR, UH, AND ENJOY.
LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER US TONIGHT.
GIVE US WISDOM TO MAKE DECISIONS.
LORD, I JUST ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER THE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS OF OUR STAFF AND THE COUNCIL TONIGHT.
LORD, WE ASK ALL THIS IN YOUR NAME.
WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL EVENT TONIGHT, AND, UH, THAT IS TO ANNOUNCE AND RECOGNIZE THE MEADOWS ELEMENTARY NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
UH, I'M GONNA CALL YOUR NAMES.
I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO COME UP AND STAND UP, BARE THE FRONT FACE IN THE AUDIENCE.
UM, BUT BEFORE WHEN YOU COME UP, GRAB A PEN OUT OF THIS LITTLE BUCKET.
OKAY? AND THAT'S YOUR PEN TO KEEP SO YOU CAN KEEP WRITING GOOD STUFF FOR YEARS TO COME.
WE ALSO HAPPEN TO HAVE THE, UH, MEADOWS PLACE, TEACHER OF THE YEAR HERE VISITING, I BELIEVE.
I ALSO LEARNED THAT, LEARNED THAT YOU BLUSH FAIRLY EASILY.
SO WE'RE NO, WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU HERE.
I'M GOING TO, UH, ANNOUNCE THE, UH, RECIPIENTS OF THE, UH, MEDALS ELEMENTARY NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
AND I APOLOGIZE AHEAD OF TIME.
I CAN'T EVEN SAY MY NAME MOST OF THE TIME.
[00:05:01]
YOU DID.WELL, JACOB, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR NOT THROWING ROCKS AT ME.
UM, I DIDN'T HAVE YOUR NAME ON THE LIST, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
THIS IS THE FUTURE OF THIS CITY.
THIS IS, UM, A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL THING TO HAVE RECOGNIZED, I BELIEVE, BY THIS CITY COUNCIL THAT'S UP HERE WHO LOVES THESE KIDS IN THAT SCHOOL, UH, AS MUCH AS THE PARENTS DO.
LET'S GIVE THESE, UH, KIDS A GREAT BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THE MEADOWS ELEMENTARY NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.
AND DID WE HAVE A TEACHER OR ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK? YES, I DO.
WE HAVE TO COME OVER HERE TO THE PODIUM.
UM, I JUST WANNA THANK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING US TO HAVE THE HONOR TO, UM, LEAD THE PLEDGE TODAY.
IT'S AN HONOR FOR THESE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUR CITY IN ACTION, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, ALSO, UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW, UH, WE ARE HAVING A FOOD AND BLANKET DRIVE.
SO IF YOU HAVE NOT SENT YOUR CHILD WITH SOME CANNED GOODS OR A BLANKET, THEY'RE BENEFITING THE, UM, EMILY'S PANTRY, WHICH IS ACROSS FROM DULLES HIGH SCHOOL AND THE, THE LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY.
SO IF YOU HAVE NOT HELPED SUPPORT US, PLEASE DO.
YOU CAN DROP IT OFF HERE OR AT THE SCHOOL.
ONCE AGAIN, MEADOWS ELEMENTARY, THANK YOU.
NATIONAL HONORS SOCIETY AND ANY PARENTS THAT WANT TO JUMP UP REAL QUICK AND GET A PICTURE WITH YOUR KID, PLEASE DO.
BUT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MOVE ON.
AND, UH, SO THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
TOMORROW I WANT Y'ALL TO GO TO SCHOOL AND, OR Y'ALL ARE OUTTA SCHOOL, HUH? NO, YOU'RE BACK IN.
GO BACK TO SCHOOL, STEADY HARD, AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS THAT Y'ALL WERE UP HERE LEADING THE WAY FOR THIS CITY.
OKAY, COUNSEL, WE'RE GONNA GIVE JUST A MINUTE FOR THEM TO CLEAR OUT, READY TO GO.
FIRST UP AS, UH, USUAL IS OUR POLICE CHIEF, UH, GARY STEWART AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT.
MORNING, MAYOR, COUNSEL, OR EXCUSE ME, EVENING.
UH, AS ALWAYS, WE START OUT WITH OUR NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS.
UH, WE HAD NINE IN THE REPORT OF A MONTH PERIOD.
CALLS FOR SERVICE WAS 2101 WITH 52, UH, REPORTS, CITATIONS 351 WITH 689 CHARGES.
CITATIONS ISSUED WAS ZERO, UH, TRAFFIC WARNINGS, UH, 181 WITH 226 CHARGES.
[00:10:01]
THE WARNINGS FOR CITY ORDINANCE VIOLATION WERE TWO.TOTAL ACTIVITY COUNT WAS 3092.
THIS PAST MONTH, WE HAD SIX ASSAULTS.
UH, WE HAD THREE BMVS, ZERO BURGLARY OF, UH, BUSINESS, ZERO BURGLARY OF RESIDENCE.
UH, TWO CITY ORDINANCE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED.
UH, ONE CRIMINAL MISCHIEF, TWO FRAUDS, ZERO ROBBERIES.
OUR PROPERTY CHECKS WAS 2,101.
UH, THEFT WAS FIVE UUMV TWO, UH, TLC PROGRAM.
WE HAD EIGHT, UH, 53 PASS WITH 28 FAILURES TOTAL, 81 CONTACTS FOR THAT.
UH, THERE'S REPORTING PERIOD FOR THE BREAKDOWNS ON THOSE CITY ORDINANCE.
YOU CAN SEE THERE WAS TWO JUNK ABANDONED VEHICLES, UH, THAT WE HAD TO ADDRESS.
WE WENT ON TO THE CHIEF'S NOTES.
THERE'S A COUPLE BIG ITEMS I NEED TO, TO DISCUSS.
UH, FIRST ONE UNDER THE ASSAULTS.
UM, WE HAD A INCIDENT, UM, I'M GONNA GO TO THE SECOND ONE DOWN.
I MEAN, YOU SEE THE FIST FIGHTS, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE ASSAULTS THERE.
BUT THE TWO THAT ARE STANDING OUT, I WANT TO GO OVER A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AS MANY OF Y'ALL MAY KNOW THAT WE HAD SOME SHOTS FIRED IN THE CITY.
AND SO THIS WAS A RESULT OF A ROBBERY THAT OCCURRED IN SUGARLAND.
UM, THE SUSPECT, UH, VEHICLE WAS CHASED BY THE VICTIM AS THEY ENTERED TO THE CITY, UH, SOMEWHERE AROUND SCOTTSDALE NOTCH FOR GLEN.
THE SUSPECTS GOT OUT AND FIRED SEVERAL ROUNDS AT THE VICTIM.
UH, WE DID HAVE TWO HOUSES THAT WERE STRUCK, UM, OUTTA NUMEROUS ROUNDS.
SO THIS, UH, CHARGES THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY DEADLY CONDUCT, WE HAVE, HAVE UPGRADED TO ATTEMPTED MURDER.
UM, WE DO HAVE AN OPEN INVESTIGATION STATUS.
WE'RE WORKING WITH HPD AND SUGAR LAND DO.
WE'RE ALSO AFFECTED BY THIS CRIME, UH, AS IT CAME THROUGH OUR CITY.
WE'RE PROBABLY IN OUR CITY FOR ABOUT WHAT WE COULD FIGURE ABOUT.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THEM TO IDENTIFY THIS, UH, SHOOTERS.
UM, WHEN, WHEN I SAY THEY, I'M TALKING ABOUT SHORELAND, HPD, WHO ALSO HAVE CASES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
UH, AND SO IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, I CAN LIMIT IT TO WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION.
THE SECOND ONE OF NOTE IS ON PAGE TWO.
UM, ANOTHER ASSAULT THAT OCCURRED OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, UM, WAS A, UH, SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD.
IT WAS A, UH, JUVENILE VICTIM.
SO WE WON'T BE MENTIONING ANY NAMES IN THAT AND THAT WE WON'T SEE ANY, UH, THAT, UH, WAS ACCOSTED BY A MALE SUBJECT THAT WAS DELIVERING PACKAGES.
SO, UH, AGAIN, ON THAT, WE ARE, WE PROCESSED IT THAT NIGHT.
WE CAME OUT IMMEDIATELY TO THE SCENE.
OUR DETECTIVES, UH, TOOK THE VICTIM, UH, AND FOLLOWED PROTOCOL WHERE WE TAKE 'EM FOR A SEXUAL ASSAULT, UH, EXAMINATION BY SANE NURSE.
UM, THEN WE LINE UP WHAT'S AT THIS CHILD'S ADVOCACY CENTER, AT FORENSICS INTERVIEW, WHICH WE'VE DONE.
AND WE ALSO START DEVELOPING AND GATHERING ALL THE INFORMATION AND DATA ON THE SUSPECT, UM, WHICH WE'VE ALREADY DONE.
SO WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT.
AND THAT IS STILL AN OPEN INVESTIGATION, AND I CAN'T REALLY DISCLOSE MUCH MORE ON THAT MOVING FORWARD.
MOST OF THE, UH, LET'S GO TO PAGE SEVEN.
UM, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 51 HITS ON FLOCK CAMERAS.
UH, 22 OF THOSE WERE FOR STOLEN VEHICLE ALERTS.
WE HAD FOUR FOR SEX OFFENDER ALERTS, 11 FOR STOLEN PLATE, TWO FOR GANG OR TERRORIST ALERTS, ZERO FOR MISSING PERSON, ZERO FOR WARRANT, THREE PROTECTIVE ORDERS, AND NINE FROM OTHER AGENCY HOT LISTS.
OUR ARRESTS, UH, WERE 13, WERE DOWN EIGHT FROM PREVIOUS MONTH.
WE HAD THREE FOR WARRANT OTHER JURISDICTION, 1D WI FIVE FOR ASSAULT, ONE FOR THEFT, ONE FOR POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, ONE TERRORISTIC THREAT AND ASSAULT FOR ONE COUNT AND ONE COUNT FOR TAM, UH, GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT AND DWLI TRY ONE LICENSE AND BALLOT.
MOVING ON TO THE ADDITIONAL NOTES ON PAGE 11.
UM, I'M SURE COLLEEN, I DON'T WANNA WANNA STEAL ANYTHING FROM HER.
UH, BUT WE ARE PREPARING, UH, AND HAVE OUR IAP UH, READY.
I'LL BE REVIEWING IT AGAIN TOMORROW JUST TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO, UH, DETAILS
[00:15:01]
LEFT OUT FOR OUR CHRISTMAS MEMORIES FRIDAY.UH, I'D ALSO LIKE TO ANNOUNCE, UH, THE PROMOTION.
UH, OFFICER SOLOMON MANNA IS NOW SERGEANT AT SOLOMON MANNA.
UH, HE BEGAN HIS NEW TOUR DUTY BEGINNING THIS MONTH AND HAS SOME ADDITIONAL TRAINING AND TO ATTEND AND HAS BEGUN HIS TRANSITION TO HIS NEW ROLE AND IS DOING REALLY WELL.
ALSO, OFFICER FLORIAN WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR OFFICER FLORIAN.
UH, AGAIN, HE STARTED THIS MONTH IN HIS NEW POSITION AND, UH, AS A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER.
UM, AND WE HAVE ONE HERE TONIGHT, OFFICER MOSAN, THEY FILL IN WHEN THERE'S NOT A SURGEON AVAILABLE.
THEY ARE THE SENIOR OFFICER ON DUTY THAT'LL ASSUME THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES.
TRAINING CENTERS IN FULL SWING.
WE HAVE MULTIPLE TRAININGS, UH, GOING ON.
UH, AGAIN, WE USE A LOT OF AGENCIES.
UH, THIS ALLOWS US TO HOST CLASSES AT LITTLE TO NO COST TO US, BUT HAVE THOSE CLASSES HELD HERE IN OUR CITY.
SO WE'RE HOLDING SEVERAL AGAIN THIS NEXT MONTH.
UH, MESA, UH, I KNOW WE'RE WORKING ON A QUOTE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE COMPLETED THE BUILDING.
UH, BUT THE QUOTE FOR THE BRIDGE ACCESS GATE, WE'RE STILL WAITING ON, UH, I THINK A LITTLE BIT OF DETAILS OR, UH, DO WE HAVE THAT JUDGE? OKAY.
AND THEN OUR GRANT STATUS, UH, RADIO RECORDER GRANT WAS APPROVED AT 52,000.
THE RECORDER HAS BEEN ORDERED.
OUR DISPATCH CONSOLE, UH, THE $197,000, WE'RE DOING A FOLLOW-UP MEETING FOR AN ONSITE ASSESSMENT ON DECEMBER 5TH.
AND THE ACTUAL GRANT IS IN REVISION PORTAL RADIO 10, UH, 10.
OUR GRANT ORDER HAS BEEN PLACED, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY SEEKING A $250,000 GRANT FOR OUR IN-CAR CAMERA AND BODY CAMERA UPDATES.
AND THAT'S MY REPORT THIS MONTH.
UM, COUNSEL, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
WELL, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO, TO, TO REVIEW WITH ME THE, UH, DISPATCH CONSOLE GRANT.
I KNOW YOU, IT SAYS HERE, YOU'RE FOLLOWING UP MEETING ON AN ONSITE ASSESSMENT, I'M ASSUMING THAT'S HERE.
IS, UH, IS THAT TO FIND OUT AND ANSWER TO A SPECIFIC QUESTION? OR IS THIS JUST PART OF THE PROCESS? NO, WE HAVE, UH, SOME SPECIFIC ISSUES SINCE WE'RE NOT A PSAP AND SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GO ON THAT WITH OUR CONSOLE, THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN INTEGRATE WITH HARRIS COUNTY WHO CONTROLS ALL THIS, UM, THEIR OVERALL OF IT.
UM, SO WE JUST NEED TO, THEY'RE GONNA DO AN ASSESSMENT TO SEE THAT IF WE CAN, UH, MITIGATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT WE WERE TIED, THE HAIR HAD TO TIE INTO HAIR.
THAT'S JUST PART OF EVERYBODY HAS, EVERYBODY IS TIED TO HIM.
UH, SEE RICK'S SHAKING HIS HEAD OVER THERE.
UM, THAT IS THE COUNTY DOESN'T ALL, ALL ASPECTS AS WELL.
WELL, CHIEF, THAT'S IT FOR ME.
I KNOW YOUR FOLKS HAVE BEEN BUSY.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE, ON THE NEW SERGEANT AND, UH, SENIOR OFFICER.
I KNOW THOSE FILLED SLOTS THAT NEED TO BE FILLED.
AND, UM, CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THOSE TRAINING CLASSES IN THERE AND UP AND RUNNING.
UH, Y'ALL, Y'ALL DO GOOD AT THAT, BY THE WAY? THAT'S IT.
WE WILL MOVE ON, UH, TO ITEM B, UH, OR ITEM TWO AND PORTS, AND THAT'S OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
UH, THIS REPORT WILL SERVE A PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER.
FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO DO AN EVENT RECAP OF OUR FALL FESTIVAL.
THAT WAS BACK ON OCTOBER 14TH.
WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 800 PARTICIPANTS AT THAT EVENT.
IT WAS PROBABLY, UH, TO DATE OUR LARGEST FALL FESTIVAL THAT WE HAVE HAD.
UM, WE HAD A STEIN CONTEST WITH 75 KIDS PARTICIPATING AND 15 ADULTS.
UM, WE HAD 20 HOME AND GARDEN CRAFT BOOTHS, TWO COMMUNITY PARTNERS, THE VESSEL AND THE PEDIATRIC DENTIST.
EIGHT FOOD VENDORS, CARNIVAL RIDES, INFLATES AND PETTING ZOO.
AND I WANTED TO SAY A GREAT, UM, SHOUT OUT TO PD FOR THEIR SUPPORT AT THAT EVENT.
AS ALWAYS, WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM.
SO WE THANK THEM FOR, FOR BEING OUT THERE AND KEEPING US ALL SAFE.
UM, OUR OTHER EVENT THAT WE HAD WAS THE CHILDREN'S GARDEN PUMPKIN PATCH THAT'S HELD AT THE NATURE CENTER.
THIS WAS THEIR SECOND YEAR TO DO THAT.
UM, THEY HOSTED IT ON THREE SATURDAYS.
THEY HAD SIX VOLUNTEERS THAT HELPED SUPPORT THAT EVENT.
THEY SOLD 74 PUMPKINS AND COLLECTED $584, AND THAT GOES TOWARDS THE CHILDREN'S GARDEN.
UM, THE SEEDS AND THE PLANTING
[00:20:01]
AND THE DIFFERENT CRAFTS THAT THEY DO, UM, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH THAT, WITH THAT GROUP.SO I WOULD SAY IT WAS QUITE A SUCCESS FOR THEM.
MOVING ON PROJECTS THAT WE COMPLETED, UM, WAS OUR NEW SENSORY PARK.
THAT IS THE ONE THAT'S LOCATED BETWEEN THE HEALTHMAN PARK AND THE SCHOOL, UM, PAVILION AREA.
UM, THAT WAS FUNDED BY EDC AND GENERAL FUND DOLLARS.
WE ALSO COMPLETED, WELL, TWO LANDSCAPING THAT WAS FUNDED BY THE EDC.
THE FIELD HOUSE, UH, WAS PAINTED EDC FUNDING.
FOUNDATION REPAIRS WERE DONE ON BOTH THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE NATURE CENTER THAT CAME FROM GENERAL FUNDS.
WE HAD OUR ANIMAL, UH, WELL CHECK.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE DO ANNUALLY AT OUR NATURE CENTER.
WE BRING IN, UM, A, BC, UM, ANIMAL CLINIC.
THEY COME IN, THEY CHECK OUT EACH OF OUR ANIMALS THERE.
THEY TELL US, UM, THE NATURE OF THEIR HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE CAN MAKE, UM, AND, AND JUST GENERAL GOOD ADVICE, UM, THAT THEY PROVIDE FOR US.
UM, WE ALSO INSTALLED THE STREET BOULDERS WITH THE STREET NAMES AT THE ROUNDABOUTS ON KIRKWOOD.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THEM YET, THEY ARE THERE IN PLACE.
WE'RE STILL EXPERIMENTING WITH THE LIGHTING ON THE FRONT OF 'EM.
UM, I DROVE THROUGH THERE TONIGHT.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE NEED TO GET SOME, UH, BRIGHTER LIGHTS.
BUT THE BOULDERS ARE IN PLACE, IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THOSE YET.
UM, MY STAFF ALSO HAS COMPLETED ALL OF THE CHRISTMAS DECORATING OF THE CITY.
THE TREE IS UP, THE FACILITIES ARE LIT, THE FENCE LINES ARE, UM, ALSO ILLUMINATED.
AND THEN WE WILL HAVE THE ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING, OF COURSE, ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
AND THEN WE ALSO MET WITH MEADOW'S PLACE, UM, PONY BASEBALL TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF A BATTING CAGE.
UM, THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT RAISING FUNDS, UM, TO DONATE THAT TO THE CITY.
SO CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEGUN WITH THAT.
UH, THEY WILL BE COMING, UM, TO YOU GUYS IN JANUARY AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TO DISCUSS THAT FURTHER AND TO GET BLESSINGS FROM YOU GUYS AND OR DISCUSSIONS AS FAR AS HOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.
UM, THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE DOING IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS.
UH, WE ARE LOOKING AT CREATING A MEMORIAL DEDICATION PROGRAM, AND THAT'S IF A CITIZEN WANTS TO DEDICATE IN MEMORY OF SOMEONE, UM, A BENCH OR A TREE DONATION.
AND SO THESE WILL BE GUIDELINES AND PARAMETERS OF HOW WE WOULD DO THAT, WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD LOOK LIKE, WHAT THE FEE STRUCTURE WOULD BE.
UM, SO WE WILL BE BRINGING THAT BACK, UM, BEFORE COUNCIL FOR BLESSINGS.
AND OBVIOUSLY IF THERE'S A FEE, A FEE STRUCTURE THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE FEE ORDINANCE TO BE UPDATED AT THAT POINT AS WELL.
UM, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT NEW RENTAL OPTIONS FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR LONG-TERM RENTALS.
UM, WE HAVE OVER TIME, WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT USER GROUPS THAT HAVE COME AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR YEAR LONG RENTALS, UM, EVERY SUNDAY.
AND IT CAN BECOME COSTLY IF THEY'RE DOING IT EVERY SUNDAY AT A FULL DAY RATE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT HALF DAY RATES.
AND I WILL ALSO BE BRINGING THAT TO COUNCIL IN JANUARY FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, SELF-SERVICE, KAYAK RENTAL KIOSK.
UM, BUT THERE ARE, UH, GROUPS OUT THERE THAT PROVIDE, IT LOOKS ALMOST LIKE AN AMAZON STORAGE CLOSET.
UM, AND THEY PROVIDE THE KAYAKS, THEY PROVIDE THE WHOLE PROCESS OF, UM, AN INDIVIDUAL COMING, RENTING A KAYAK, PULLING IT OUT, UTILIZING IT IN THE LAKE, RETURNING IT.
UM, THEY RUN THE WHOLE PROCESS AND THEN THE CITY WOULD GET A PERCENTAGE FROM THAT.
UM, WE'RE JUST INQUIRING RIGHT NOW.
SUGARLAND ACTUALLY HAS ONE IN THEIR PARK.
THERE'S A COUPLE AROUND THAT ARE UTILIZING THAT.
SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT LOOK AT.
UM, THE TENNIS COURT ACCESS CONVERSION.
UM, WE ARE ALSO TRYING TO GET THAT STREAMED LINED THROUGH MESA, WORKING WITH PD AND THROUGH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THAT A BETTER SYSTEM.
UM, AS FAR AS UTILIZING THE, UM, SWIPE CARDS.
AND THEN ALSO BEING ABLE TO, UM, CURRENTLY OUR SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO GO OUT ON SITE TO UPDATE IT ANNUALLY AND LITERALLY STAND THERE WITH A LAPTOP GOING THROUGH A HUNDRED, 500 NAMES.
UM, THIS WE CAN DO FROM OUR OFFICE.
IT'S, IT'S A LOT MORE STREAMLINED, CONVENIENT.
UM, SO WE ARE WORKING WITH MASON PD TO IMPROVE THAT PROCESS.
AND I BELIEVE, ACTUALLY JACK TOLD ME THAT THEY'LL BEGIN THAT THIS FRIDAY.
UM, SO WE'LL BE GETTING IN TOUCH WITH ALL OF THE TENNIS, UH, PASS HOLDERS, UPDATING THEM AS FAR AS ANY, UM, USER ENTRIES AND WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE AS FAR AS GETTING THAT IN PLACE.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT ADDING A POOL, UH, RECEPTION DESK.
CURRENTLY WHEN THE POOL'S OPEN.
UH, WE HAVE A PORTABLE TABLE SET
[00:25:01]
UP OUT THERE.UM, IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK PROFESSIONAL.
SO WE ARE LOOKING AT INSTALLING, UM, A NICE BUILT-IN AREA THERE, UM, THAT SHOULD ACCOMMODATE THE FLOW TRAFFIC BETTER AND ALSO FIT IN WITH THE, UH, STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING.
I KNOW WHERE THE TEMPORARY TABLE GOES.
WHERE ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT PUTTING THE PERMANENT DESK ALSO IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA? I CAN SHOW YOU A MAP TOMORROW A LITTLE BIT SO YOU'LL UNDERSTAND.
UM, WE WILL ALSO BE GETTING QUOTES ON REPLACEMENT OF THE FENCE LINE OF DORRANCE AND PENDER.
THE, UM, THE FENCING THERE IS IN BAD SHAPE AND WE HAVE DISCUSSED REPLACING PORTIONS OF IT, UM, VERSUS ALL OF IT AT ONE TIME.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THE COST OPTIONS ON THAT.
AND THAT'S, UH, FUNDING SUPPORTED BY EDC THAT WE WILL BE UTILIZING.
UM, SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY BEGIN THAT IN FEBRUARY.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, WE ARE GONNA BE DOING SOME EXTENSIVE WORK ON THE TRAIL AROUND THE LAKE.
UM, WE HAVEN'T, WE'VE BEEN DOING PATCHES, UH, FOR ABOUT THE LAST TWO YEARS, BRINGING IN DG FLUFFING IT.
BUT, UM, THIS YEAR IS OUR YEAR TO ACTUALLY GET OUT THERE AND REALLY ADD A LOT MORE DEPTH AND REDEFINE THAT TRAIL AREA WITH THE DG AND FILL IN SOME OF THE, UM, LOWER SPOTS.
UM, ALSO PROBABLY JANUARY, FEBRUARY TIMEFRAME WHEN WE DON'T HAVE EVENTS GOING ON OUT THERE.
UPCOMING EVENTS, WELL, I HAVE ONE BIG ONE THAT'S THIS FRIDAY AND THAT IS CHRISTMAS MEMORIES.
UM, AND AGAIN, THIS, THIS EVENT IS SPONSORED BY, UM, OUR GENERAL FUND AND EDC.
UM, SO WE ARE HAPPY TO BE PARTNERING WITH THEM.
MEADOWS ELEMENTARY CHOIR WILL ALSO BE OUT THERE THIS YEAR PERFORMING FOR US.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, SO WE'RE EXCITED THAT THEY'LL BE BACK.
UM, THE, UH, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY WILL ALSO BE, UM, PRESENT OUT THERE COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR CANNED GOODS AND BLANKETS.
VIRTUE TATTOO WILL HAVE A, A BOOTH OUT THERE AS WELL, OR A BOX OUT THERE FOR COLLECTING TOYS FOR TOTS.
UH, MEADOW'S MARLINS WILL BE, UM, SELLING POPCORN AND COTTON CANDY.
AND THEN MEADOW'S PLACE HOME AND GARDEN WILL BE DOING HOT CHOCOLATE.
SO I JUST MENTIONED THESE PARTNERS 'CAUSE THESE ARE THOSE THAT ARE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE ACTUALLY PARTICIPATING TO HELP, UH, REALLY MAKE THIS A COMMUNITY WIDE EVENT.
WE'LL ALSO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL EIGHT FOOD VENDORS, UM, 12 INFLATES PETTING ZOO, LIVE BAND, ILLUMINATED DANCE FLOOR, SANTA CLAUS, UM, JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS.
UM, AT THIS POINT WE ARE HOPING AND PRAYING THAT THE WEATHER HOLDS DOESN'T LOOK GREAT AT THE MOMENT.
IT COULD, COULD HOLD OFF, BUT GOOD THOUGHTS.
THAT CONFIDENCE IN YOU IN CORRECTING THE WEATHER
UM, I I, I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH BASE ON ONE THING BEFORE I ASK COUNSEL THEIR COMMENTS.
I'VE KIND OF FOLLOWED THIS, UH, TENNIS COURT BUSINESS A LITTLE BIT.
UM, WHERE DO WE STAND ON THAT AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO GIVE IT A TEST RUN, SEE IF IT REALLY WORKS? I MEAN, IT HASN'T BEEN INSTALLED AS OF YET, SO THAT BEGINS ON FRIDAY, SIR.
UH, MESA WILL BE OUT THERE TO BEGIN PUTTING THAT IN PLACE.
AND I BELIEVE IT TAKES TWO DAYS, JACK, OR A COUPLE DAYS TO GET THAT IN, FIGURE IN THE NEXT NEXT WEEK.
AND, AND MARY, IT SHOULDN'T DISRUPT ANY OF OUR CURRENT USERS, UM, OUT THERE.
THEY'LL STILL BE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS IN AND OUT, UM, BUT ONCE WE SWITCH IT OVER, THEY WILL ALREADY BE IN PLACE.
SO IT SHOULD BE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR THEM.
SO IF I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO OPERATE RIGHT OUT THERE WHEN THEIR CARDS EXPIRE, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND JUST RE-UP THEIR CARD, IS THAT CORRECT? THEY, YES, SIR.
THEY, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND PAY FOR THE NEW FEE.
IF THEY DON'T, THEN OBVIOUSLY THE CARD LOCKS THEM OUT.
UM, THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS AGAIN UNTIL THEY PAY THE THE NEW FEE.
IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE IT'LL BE, AND IF I'M READING THIS RIGHT, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT SHOULD BE A WHOLE LOT EASIER FOR OUR RESIDENTS AND USERS AND A LOT, HECK OF A LOT EASIER ON OUR STAFF TO KEEP THAT THING FLOWING SMOOTHLY.
AM I SEEING THAT CORRECTLY? YES, SIR.
BY THE WAY, THE ROCKS LOOK GREAT.
I WENT BY THERE LAST NIGHT AND THE ONE ON BRIGHTON, THE LIGHT LOOKED GREAT.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT ON THAT ONE THAN, THAN THE OTHERS.
[00:30:01]
I'M GONNA SPEND ONE SECOND IN PUBLIC DECLARING THE SENSORY PARK A SUCCESS.UM, I GOT GRANDKIDS IS LIVING PROOF ON THAT, BUT TO SEE KIDS COME INTO THAT PARK AND JUST INSTINCTIVELY UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S FOR, NOBODY HAS TO TELL 'EM.
THERE WAS, UM, A FAMILY, UM, PLANE.
THEY LIVED OVER ON MEADOWDALE, BUT THEY HAD KINFOLK OVER HERE FROM SUGAR LAND.
AND I FOUND OUT THEY COME ON A REGULAR BASIS TO THAT PARK, THE PEOPLE FROM SUGAR LAND DO.
AND, UH, THE, THE GIRLS IN SEVENTH GRADE, AND HER SIBLING WAS FOUR-ISH.
UM, AND IT WAS, UH, IT WAS QUITE, UH, SATISFYING TO TALK WITH HER BECAUSE SHE LOOKED AROUND AT THE WHOLE PARK OVER THERE AND SAID, AND THIS PARK IS SO BIG AND IT HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY, AND IT'S JUST WONDERFUL.
THIS IS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF SEVENTH GRADER WHO, SO WE'RE SEEING IT FROM HER EYES.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY I'M, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER FELT PROUDER OF OUR PARK SYSTEM THAN I DID RIGHT THERE, HAVING SOMEBODY COME IN.
AGAIN, THAT'S WHY I'M NOT IN THE PARK BUSINESS.
I THOUGHT THAT SENSORY THING WAS GONNA BE JUST SILLY AND IT'S A HOME RUN.
AND BOY, I'LL TELL YOU, IT IS A HOME RUN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR, UH, DOING THAT FOR THE CITY.
IT'S REALLY ADDED A, A GREAT DEAL OF, UH, VALUE TO THE CITY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.
COUNCIL, ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING FOR COLLEEN? I, I WAS GONNA ECHO THE SENTIMENT ON THE SENSORY PARK, UH, GRANDKIDS HERE LAST WEEK.
UH, MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE PARK.
UH, THE COMMENT THAT AFFECTED ME THE MOST THOUGH WAS FROM MY DAUGHTER WHO'S LIVED IN A PLANNED COMMUNITY THAT HAS A REALLY HIGH HOA, SPENDS A TON OF MONEY ON PARKS AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES.
IT, IT TRULY, THEY, THAT'S ALL THEY COULD TALK ABOUT IS GOING BACK THERE, PARTICULARLY THE SENSORY PART, WHICH WAS NEW FOR THEM.
UM, IT WAS SUCH AN ENDORSEMENT TO HEAR THEM WHO THEY GO FROM THREE TO SEVEN, UH, ENJOYING IT.
AND AS YOU SAID, IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT OF INSTRUCTION.
AND WHEN THEY'RE READY TO DO PHYSICAL STUFF, THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH SWINGS, OTHER EQUIPMENT, UH, THE RE THE REDOING OF THE, UH, ASTROTURF AND THE INSIDE OF THE PARK, PARTICULARLY THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN IT GETS KIND OF RAINY AND, AND A LITTLE BIT MUGGY.
SO I JUST, I CAN'T, UH, SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THE PARK HAS TURNED OUT.
AND YOUR TEAM HAS, YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
THE OTHER THING IS, I NOTICE THAT EVERY TIME I COME INTO MEADOWS NOW, UH, THE LANDSCAPING IT WELL TOO IS GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR JUST NOT REPLANTING THE FENCE LINE AND ACTUALLY DOING LANDSCAPING.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR, FOR TAKING CARE OF THAT FOR YOUR TEAM AND HELPING BEAUTIFY THE CITY.
UH, REAL QUICK ON, UH, THE TENNIS COURTS, WHEN YOU DO CONTACT, UH, THE, THE FOLKS WHO HAVE KEY CARDS, MAYBE A GOOD IDEA TO REMIND THEM WHAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF VISITORS CAN, CAN, UH, JOIN THEM.
THERE'S BEEN SOME TIMES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT UP TO A DOZEN NON-RESIDENTS WITH THEIR ONE CARD AND IT KIND OF BOTTLENECKS, UH, UH, THE COURTS A BIT.
I JUST HAVE ONE THING AND YOU'RE VERY POPULAR TONIGHT.
UM, TWO, ONE IS THE, THE RAINBOW TROUT STOCKING.
I KNOW LAST YEAR, AT THE LAST MINUTE, WE COULD NOT DO IT BECAUSE OF THE HEAT.
UM, AND I DO SEE ON HERE TO CALL WHEN THE, A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE OR WHAT, WHEN DID WE UH, WELL, WE WERE ACTUALLY SPEAKING WITH, UH, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE TODAY.
THERE WAS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION ON THEIR WEBSITE.
THEY HAD POSTED THAT IT WAS GONNA BE STOCKED, UH, YESTERDAY.
RIGHT, CAMERON? IS IT TODAY? OH, TODAY.
SO, UM, THAT WAS AN ERROR ON THEIR PART.
THEY POSTED IT WOULD BE STOCKED TODAY.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT FOLLOW THEIR WEBSITE IN PARTICULAR.
SO WE DID HAVE SOME FISHERMEN SHOW UP AND THEY WERE ASKING US WHERE THE TROUT, UM, BUT WE DID CONFIRM THE DELIVERY DATE IS DECEMBER 12TH.
UM, WE TELL THE PUBLIC, UH, THE WEEK OF THE 11TH BECAUSE SOME THINGS DO HAPPEN SOMETIMES, UM, ON THE DELIVERY SIDE.
UM, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S SCHEDULED TO COME ON THE 12TH.
USUALLY IT'S WITHIN A TWO HOUR DRIVE, BUT THESE FISH ARE COMING FROM THE VALLEY, SO I THINK THEY WILL KNOW WHEN THEY'RE ON THEIR WAY.
UM, AND THEN THAT WAY WE CAN GET THE SCHOOL INVOLVED TO COME OUT THERE AS WELL.
BUT, UM, WE'VE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD COOL WEATHER AND THAT DOES AFFECT IF THEY'RE ABLE TO PUT THE TROUT IN THERE OR NOT.
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT 'EM TO DIE IF THE WATER'S TOO WARM.
BUT WE'VE HAD VERY, UH, COOL TEMPERATURES THAT HAVE HELPED LOWER THE, THE TEMPERATURE OF THE WATER.
[00:35:01]
WE'RE, WE'RE ON SCHEDULE FOR THE 12TH AS OF NOW.THE ONLY OTHER THING IS, UH, WENT OVER IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT FRIDAY.
SHE SAID IT'S HER FAVORITE EVENT OF THE YEAR.
AND I ASKED HER WHY FOR THE OTHER EVENTS, AND SHE SAID, JUST THE SNOW.
SHE SAID, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER EVENTS FOR THE SNOW.
WELL, WE'LL HAVE 20,000 POUNDS OF SNOW, SO PLENTY FOR HER.
UM, REGARDING THE KAYAKS, I LIKE THE IDEA, BUT I'D LIKE TO KNOW FROM OTHER CITIES IF THEY'VE DONE ANYTHING FOR ANY SIGNS ABOUT AT YOUR OWN RISK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
JUST SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING TO PROTECT THE CITY.
THERE, THERE'S A LOT TO LOOK INTO AT THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO INVESTIGATE.
UM, SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT FITS FOR OUR CITY AND IF WE WANNA DO THAT.
BUT IT WAS A, AN INTERESTING OPTION THAT WAS POSED TO US.
SO I JUST WANNA SAY HOW NICE THE PARKS AND EVERYTHING LOOKED WITH ALL THE DECORATIONS.
I WAS UP THERE THE 11TH CLOSING UP AND THE CONCESSION STAND WAS AMAZING.
IT LOOKED SO PRETTY
OH, THEY MISSED ALL MY SMART COMMENTS.
UM, IT'S TIME FOR THE FIRE REPORT.
UM, BASICALLY WE HAVE A, A AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH STAFFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT IN FORT BEND, EDC.
AND, UH, THEY COVERED OUR CITY ONCE AGAIN.
UH, THEY WORKED WITH OUR PD WHEN NECESSARY AND, UH, DID A GOOD JOB.
WE HAD, UH, 29 MEDICAL ASSISTS THIS LAST MONTH, UH, WITH THE EMS CREWS.
UM, WE HAD, UH, SIX EMS CALLS EXCLUDING ACCIDENT, UH, WITH VEHICLE.
UH, THE OTHER WE HAD, UH, SIX THAT WERE DISPATCHED AND CANCELED WITH ROUTE THAT ARE EN ROUTE.
AND THEN THERE WERE A COUPLE FALSE ALARMS, UH, UNINTENTIONAL TRANSMISSION OF ALARMS, UH, BUT, UH, ANIMAL RESCUE, PUBLIC SERVICE ASSISTANCE, ET CETERA, LEADING UP TO A TOTAL OF 54 INCIDENTS HERE IN THE CITY OF MEADOWS PLACE.
UM, AGAIN, UM, AND I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN HERE RIGHT ABOUT FIRE TRUCKS KNOCKING OVER ANY DOORS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
UH, BUT WE DO COUNT ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT A LOT.
UM, AND THEY DO A GOOD JOB FOR US.
AND I WANNA SAY PUBLICLY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO, UH, FIRE AND EMS FOR, UH, LIVING AND WORKING HERE IN, UH, IN OUR CITY.
AND WITH THAT, I WILL CONCLUDE WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT AND MOVE IT OVER TO THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT.
I'VE GOT ONLY ONE ITEM TO TO MENTION TONIGHT.
UM, BUT I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE.
UM, I'VE PUT IN FRONT OF YOU A A COLORFUL BAR CHART.
AND WHAT THIS IS, IS A VISUAL AID TO, TO HELP DESCRIBE, UH, A POINT THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE TONIGHT.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, IN THE LIFE OF A CITY FROM TIME TO TIME, STAFF WILL BRING YOU BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
AND THOSE BUDGET AMENDMENTS ARE OBVIOUSLY MEANT TO REFLECT EXPENDITURES THAT, UH, IN, IN MANY CASES WE DIDN'T PLAN FOR OR DIDN'T FORESEE, UH, IN FACT WE HAVE ONE TONIGHT, UH, DEALING WITH IRRIGATION.
UM, BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WITH YOU THAT, UM, THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS BUDGET YEAR, STAFF IS GONNA DELIBERATELY TRY TO MINIMIZE, UH, AS MANY BUDGET AMENDMENTS AS POSSIBLE.
AND THIS CHART, I THINK IS A GOOD VISUAL REPRESENTATION AS TO WHY.
UM, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST YEAR WITH, UH, TRYING TO HAVE A MINIMUM FUND BALANCE, BOTH IN OUR UTILITY AND IN OUR GENERAL FUND, UH, ACCOUNTS.
AND AS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER, WE DID A RESOLUTION WHERE WE SAID WE WANTED TO HAVE AT LEAST SEVEN MONTHS IN THE GENERAL FUND AND AT LEAST 10 MONTHS IN THE UTILITY.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BAR CHART UP TOP, THIS SHOWS YOU, UH, BASICALLY A SNAPSHOT OF, OF, OF FUNDING, UH, AT THIS TIME OR, OR CASH ON HAND AT THIS TIME.
UM, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT ON THE CITY SIDE, UH, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A TOTAL OF ABOUT 6.4, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT 3,000,060 1000 OF THAT RIGHT NOW RESERVED OR RESTRICTED FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS.
[00:40:01]
UM, NOW I DIDN'T WANT TO GET INTO ITEMIZING OUT ALL THE PROJECTS ON THIS ONE 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT THE POINT.BUT THIS REALLY IS JUST TO SHOW YOU SORT OF WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY THIS WOULD ASSUME THAT EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE HAVE RESTRICTED FOR COMMITTED PROJECTS WOULD GO OUT THE DOOR TODAY, WHICH WE KNOW IS NOT THE CASE.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS JUST AN EXERCISE TO SHOW YOU WHERE WE STAND FINANCIALLY.
SO IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT SEVEN MONTH RESERVE ON THE CITY SIDE, WE'D NEED, UH, 3.8 MILLION, 3.887 UNRESTRICTED.
RIGHT NOW, WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONLY ABOUT 3.4, WHICH MEANS THAT IF EVERY DOLLAR THAT WE HAVE COMMITTED RIGHT NOW WENT OUT THE DOOR, THEN WE'D BE ABOUT $431,000 SHORT OF MEETING OUR SEVEN MONTHS.
SIMILAR STORY OVER ON THE US UTILITY SIDE WITH THAT 1.78 AND COMMITTED FUNDS THAT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SPEND AT SOME POINT, UH, THAT LEAVES ABOUT 779 UNRESTRICTED.
AND THAT LEAVES US SHORT OF OUR 10 MONTH GOAL BY ABOUT 817,000.
ARE WE, ARE Y'ALL TRACKING WITH THAT? AGAIN, NOT COMPLETELY FAIR, BECAUSE WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GONNA WRITE A CHECK FOR THE ENTIRE AMOUNT TODAY.
AND THERE IS A CASH FLOW OVER TIME THAT'LL CHANGE THOSE NUMBERS.
BUT I WANT THIS TO BE A VISUAL REPRESENTATION TO YOU OF WHY WE'RE NOT ENCOURAGING, UH, BUDGET AMENDMENTS THROUGHOUT THE LAST, FOR THE NEXT, THE REST OF THIS BUDGET YEAR AS AN EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A NEED THAT WE BROUGHT UP NOT LONG AGO TO DO SOME REPAVING OF SOME PARKING SPACES ALONG BRIGHTON LANE NEAR THE PARK.
UH, THE INITIAL THOUGHT WAS, WELL SHOOT, LET'S JUST BRING A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO COUNCIL, SEE IF THEY'LL APPROVE THE FUNDING, AND WE'LL GET GO TO IT DONE.
AFTER LOOKING AT THIS SHEET HERE AND REALLY KIND OF TALKING ABOUT WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE, UH, WE RETHOUGHT IT AND WE ACTUALLY DECIDED TO GO TO EDC INSTEAD AND SEE IF EDC WOULD BE AMENABLE TO FUNDING IT.
AND SO THIS, THIS IS A GOOD REASON WHY WE'RE DOING THAT.
UM, NOW I KNOW THERE'S A BIT OF IRONY BECAUSE IN A COUPLE OF ITEMS LATER TONIGHT, WE ARE GONNA ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, UH, AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT.
BUT AS WE MOVE FORWARD THROUGH THE BUDGET YEAR, I'D LIKE FOR THIS TO KIND OF BE IN THE BACK OF OUR MINDS, UH, TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY.
UM, THERE'S ALWAYS REQUESTS, THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS WE WANT TO DO THAT MAYBE DON'T FIT INTO THE BUDGET.
UM, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THAT THAT WOULD COME IN HANDY WHEN WE START THINKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
IT'S AN UNUSUAL TIME, UH, IN THE LIFE OF THE CITY IN THE SENSE THAT WE'VE GOT A VERY, VERY LARGE CAPITAL PROJECT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FUND.
AND SO THIS KIND OF SHOWS YOU WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY, NOT MEANT TO SCARE YOU, NOT MEANT TO THROW ANY RED FLAGS UP, IT'S JUST, UH, THE REALITY OF SORT OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
UM, SO JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU, UH, GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF SORT OF WHERE WE ARE AND, UH, CERTAINLY HAVE ANY, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS.
NICK, I APPRECIATE THIS, NICK.
I APPRECIATE THIS A LOT AND IT'S ON OUR MIND, PROBABLY NOT AS FAR BACK AS IT OUGHT BE, BUT WE DO HAVE A CASH FLOW SITUATION THAT WILL IMPACT BOTH SIDES OF THIS BAR CHART.
AND IF IT'S LONG, IF IT'S ON OUR MIND TO NOT JUST TO AUTOMATICALLY APPROVE AMENDMENT REQUESTS, THEN WE'LL, WE'LL ALL BE A LOT BETTER OFF.
AND I THINK THE, UH, EXAMPLE THAT YOU USED WITH, UH, GOING TO EDC WAS, UH, WAS A GOOD ONE, UH, FOR THE PARKING LOTS THAT, UH, TOOK PLACE OVER THERE AT THE, UH, BRIGHTON CUL-DE-SAC.
COUNSEL, YOU GOT ANY COMMENTS ON THIS OR? WELL, JUST ONE COMMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, NICK DID MENTION CASHFLOW.
I WANNA REMIND THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE LOWEST MONTH THAT THE, THE
SO I, I THINK BY THE END OF JANUARY ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE, WE'LL BE BACK AT OUR NORMAL RESERVE AMOUNT.
UM, UTILITY SIDE'S STILL GOING TO LAG BEHIND THAT JUST BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSES WE'VE HAD WITH THIS, THIS DROUGHT AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE'RE DOING.
OTHER COMMENT I'D HAVE IS TO GIVE US A SNAPSHOT ON A, EITHER ON A REGULAR BASIS OR, OR DO A TREND TREND, LOOK AT PAST AND LOOK AT PROJECTED, UH, TO, TO RICK'S POINT, LOOK AT PROJECTED CASH FLOW OF WHAT WE ANTICIPATE BASED ON PREVIOUS YEARS.
AND, AND THAT WAY WHEN WE HAVE TO MAKE A HARD DECISION, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO SAY, ALRIGHT, WE, WE COULD POSTPONE OR WE CAN ELIMINATE INSTEAD OF JUST ONE AT A TIME.
SO I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD TOOL TO HAVE THOUGH.
I THINK IT'S 1.5 OR 1.7 WE EXPECT IN PROPERTY TAXES OVER THE NEXT TWO AND A HALF MONTHS.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU WORKED, UH, WITH
[00:45:01]
ANNA MARIA TO PUT THESE FIGURES TOGETHER AND SHE'S NOT HERE, BUT IF YOU'RE WATCHING ANNA MARIA.UM, ITEM C MOVES ON TO MAYOR COUNSELING COMMENTS.
UM, ITEM A IS A STAFF APPRECIATION.
UH, COURTNEY AND STAFF HAVE PUT TOGETHER A, A LUNCHEON THAT'LL TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 31ST OR 21ST.
UH, AND IT'S, IT'S AN ANNUAL EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION LUNCHEON.
WELL, ONE LUNCHEON, UM, CANNOT EXPRESS HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THIS STAFF.
I TALK TO FOLKS IN OTHER CITIES ALL THE TIME, UM, AND I JUST KIND OF HAVE TO SIT DOWN THERE AND SMILE SOMEPLACE.
THERE'S SOMETIMES THAT THE ISSUES THAT I HEAR ABOUT, UM, THAT I DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND I THANK OUR STAFF FOR THAT.
THE EXTRA EFFORT THEY ALL PUT IN AND THE LIFE AND ENERGY AND EXPERTISE, UH, THAT THEY EXPEND HERE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS IS JUST, IT'S A, IT'S A NICE THING TO SEE.
AND AS A RESIDENT, AS WELL AS, UH, SOMEBODY ON THIS COUNCIL, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE HIM.
AND I WANNA PUBLICLY THANK COURTNEY, ALL THE STAFF MEMBERS HERE TONIGHT.
AND IF YOU WOULD, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS, UH, SHARE THE, UH, OUR THANKS WITH, UH, WITH, UH, YOUR EMPLOYEES, I WOULD REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE FANTASTIC AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.
UM, ITEM B, WE TOUCHED YOU, HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, AND I JUST WANT TO TOUCH BASE ON, UH, DROUGHT AFFECTED ROADS AND IT AFFECTED US IN THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT.
BUSTED WATER PIPES, UH, ROADS, YOU'VE SEEN, UH, SLABS.
FIVE, FIVE INCHES, SIX INCHES DROP IN THIS CITY.
UM, I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO SEE 2011 AND THIS, I BELIEVE, UH, IS WORSE THAN 2011 OVERALL, UM, ALL ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS.
UH, THE ROAD DAMAGE HAS BEEN REAL AND IT'S BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.
AND EVERY CITY THAT WE TALK TO IS DEALING WITH IT.
UM, AND SOME OF THE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT DEALING WITH NOW, FRANKLY, ARE GOING TO TAKE YEARS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO RECOVER FROM.
UH, WE, WE DON'T HAVE A MOUNTAIN OF, UH, MONEY AND, AND, UH, UNLIMITED MANPOWER, BUT WE'RE DOING A, A GOOD JOB OVERALL.
I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE WORKING ON IT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, ANY CONCERNS, GET IN TOUCH WITH PUBLIC WORKS ON THE ROADS OR YOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE WE GOT A LIST.
MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S A COPY OF THE LIST ON MY DESK RIGHT NOW OF REPAIRS THAT ROD HAS NOTICED AND THEY, AND HE KIND OF TRIAGES THEM AS THEY GO.
UM, AND THEY'RE NEVER AS FAST AS WE WANT 'EM TO BE.
I'M SORRY, BUT IF THERE IS ONE THAT IS A PROBLEM AREA, MAKE SURE TO LET US KNOW.
TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS, LET US KNOW.
SEND TEXT OR SEND AN EMAIL TO ROD OR TO UH, COURTNEY UP HERE AT CITY HALL TO GET IT, GET IT ON THE LIST AND GET IT BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION.
WE MAY BE OVERLOOKING AT IT AND WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT IS GONNA TAKE YEARS AND MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO RECOVER FROM THIS LAST YEAR.
UM, THAT'S ALL I GOTTA SAY ABOUT THAT.
UM, ITEM TWO ON COUNCIL IS COUNCIL CONCEPT, CONCEPT COMMENTS, AND, UH, A IS FOR BEND MOBILITY PROJECT, CORRECT? WELL, I AM HAPPY TO SAY WE DID GET A SUBMISSION FROM THE ENGINEERS.
WHAT WE DID GET THE SUBMISSION JUST BEFORE THANKSGIVING.
UM, I REVIEWED IT OVER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, PROVIDED THEM COMMENTS.
THERE WAS NOTHING ON THERE THAT, TO ME WAS CRITICAL ENOUGH TO HOLD.
AND SO WE INSTRUCTED THEM TO SUBMIT TO CENTERPOINT, CITY OF STAFFORD AND DRAINAGE DISTRICT TO GET THEIR OFFICIAL REVIEWS.
UM, HOPEFULLY THAT'LL BE THE LAST REVIEW FROM EACH OF THOSE AGENCIES.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GOES WELL.
UM, CENTER POINTS WILL OBVIOUSLY THE ONE I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE MOST, UM, BECAUSE THEY COULD MAKE US CHANGE THINGS SUBSTANTIALLY BECAUSE WE'RE ON THEIR LAND.
UM, CHARLIE ASKED ME WHEN WE MIGHT GO TO BID, I SAID, I CAN'T
[00:50:01]
TELL YOU WHEN WE'LL GET COMMENTS BACK FROM CENTERPOINT, SO I'M NOT GOING TO PUT A SCHEDULE OUT THERE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.YEAH, BUT THE CHIEF LOWS KNOWS LYNETTE ANNOUNCED MAYBE WE MAKE A PHONE CALL.
UM, MINOR COMMENTS ON THE BRIDGE.
UM, A LITTLE BIT ON SIGNING, STUFF LIKE THAT.
LIKE I SAID, NOT TOO CRITICAL ON THE COMMENTS.
IF ANYBODY ON COUNCIL WANTS TO LOOK AT A SET OF PLANS, I CAN SEND YOU THE LINK.
UM, THEY ARE CONSTRUCTION PLANS, SO IT'S 2D REPRESENTATION.
THERE ARE NOT A BUNCH OF PRETTY PICTURES.
AND I, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY.
ONCE AGAIN, THANK RICK STALEY.
YOU HEARD HIM SAY I'VE REVIEWED HIM OVER THANKSGIVING WEEKEND.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY AN ENGINEERING COMPANY OVER TIME AND A BUNCH OF STAFF PEOPLE, UH, HE JUST SAT THERE AND NOD ON TURKEY AND LOOKED AT IT.
AND I, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY THANK YOU ENOUGH, RICK.
I MEAN, I, I JUST DON'T HAVE THE ADJECTIVE.
MY HEART SAYS I NEED TO SAY MORE.
AND, AND SO PLEASE TAKE THAT, UH, FROM, FROM ME 'CAUSE I'VE WORKED WITH YOU FOR YEARS IN COUNCIL.
WE JUST, UH, WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL COUNCIL MEMBER HERE.
SO RICK, THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH.
AND WITH THAT, UNLESS THAT'S IT, ITEM D, WHO DO I NEED TO CALL AT CENTER POINT? OKAY, WELL TELL ME WHEN IT IS.
I'LL CALL ITEM D, REGULAR AGENDA.
UM, ITEM ONE IS DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION REGARDING RESOLUTION 2 0 2 3 DASH 26 CASTING THE CITY'S VOTE FOR CANDIDATES FOR THE FORT BEND COUNTY CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
UM, COUNSEL, UH, I HOPE EVERYBODY'S LOOKED THIS OVER.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT, UM, CONVOLUTED, BUT WE HAVE A, UM, THERE'S FIVE CANDIDATE POSITIONS.
UH, YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKET THE FIVE CANDIDATES, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5 CANDIDATES THAT RIGHT, OR YOU GOT SIX, FIVE, WE HAVE SEVEN VOTES.
I KNOW MOST OF THESE CANDIDATES AND I'M GONNA RECOMMEND THAT WE THROW ALL SEVEN VOTES BEHIND JIM RICE.
LIKE IT'S GONNA MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO DO IT ANOTHER WAY.
UM, I WILL MOVE TO GIVE OUR VOTES SEVEN VOTES TO JIM RICE.
MOTION BY RICK, SECOND BY DAVID.
YOU KNOW, IT'S FIVE CANDIDATES, FIVE POSITIONS, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AND GOD BLESS THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE WHO WOULD WANT TO BE ON THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD? OH, NO, NOT ME.
ITEM TWO, UM, IS DISCUSSION CONSIDERATION REGARDING RESOLUTION 2 0 2 3 DASH 27, UH, AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY SECRETARY TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH GRANT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA EXTREME RENEWAL FOR OUR FACEBOOK LIVE STREAM OF CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
WAIVER EVERYBODY THROUGH DECEMBER 26TH.
BASICALLY, I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE, UH, RENEWAL.
HAVE A MOTION SECOND OR WHATEVER.
MOTION BY KURT SECOND BY THE, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.
WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE TALKED ABOUT TRACKING THE NUMBER OF VIEWERS.
HAVE WE BEEN DOING THAT? IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR PACKET, UM, BACK IN THE BACK, CAMERON DID GIVE US A PRINTOUT OF HOW MANY VIEWS WE'VE GOT ON EACH, UM, MEETING.
THAT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN I EXPECTED.
600 VIEWS, TWO INTERVIEWS, THREE INTERVIEWS.
SO WITH THAT, ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE, THAT MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
UH, I WILL SHARE YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT, RICK.
IT WAS A LITTLE BETTER THAN WHAT, THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE TOO.
HERE WE HAVE AN ITEM WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO.
DISCUSSION, DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 2023 DASH TWO EIGHT AUTHORIZED MAYOR, CITY SECRETARY TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH TEXAS LAWN WORKS FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE CITY'S IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND THE AMOUNT OF, UH, $28,000
[00:55:02]
UP ABOVE $40,320.AND NICK, YOU WANNA EXPLAIN THIS? YEAH, THIS IS THE ITEM I WAS HINTING AT EARLIER.
UM, SO AS YOU KNOW, IRRIGATION CONTINUES TO BE A, A WORK IN PROGRESS IN TOWN.
AND SO THIS TO STAFF IS THE LOGICAL NEXT STEP IN UPPING OUR GAME ON IRRIGATION.
UM, WHAT THIS WILL BUY US ESSENTIALLY IS A ONCE A WEEK, UM, SCHEDULE, ROD HAS BEEN WORKING WITH TEXAS LAWN TO, UH, TO, TO CREATE A, A REVISED, UH, WORKFLOW FOR, FOR IRRIGATION MAINTENANCE THAT YES, IS A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT ALSO OBVIOUSLY PUTS MORE ENERGY AND EFFORT INTO, UM, INTO THE MAINTENANCE.
SO ROD, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY THAT I NEED TO MENTION THAT, ABOUT THE, JUST THE NUMBER.
IF, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACKUP AND YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, THE WRITEUP, I KNOW THAT WE WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM FOR A LITTLE BIT SO WE COULD BE MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE COR WHEN THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE, UH, REPAIRS, UH, THE TIMEFRAME WITHIN WHICH THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT ONCE THEY FIND, UH, THINGS THAT ARE BROKEN.
BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, GIVEN OUR EXPERIENCE AND TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF IRRIGATION, WE'RE NOTICING THAT THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING NEEDS TO BE UPPED A LITTLE BIT.
AND THIS IS A GOOD MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING AND GOING FULL BORE AND TRYING TO DO A SEAL COMPETITIVE BID FOR IRRIGATION SERVICES, WHICH QUITE FRANKLY WE COULD DO, BUT WE'RE NOT REAL THRILLED ABOUT DOING AT THIS TIME.
SO WE WANNA GIVE THIS A SHOT, UH, SEE IF IT IMPROVES THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
WE KNOW THAT THIS PAST YEAR WAS, UH, UNUSUAL, UH, IN TERMS OF DROUGHT, UM, BUT STILL IN ALL, UH, YOU KNOW, WE THINK THIS WILL BE AN IMPROVEMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK PARK'S OPINION.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE US UP OUR GAME IN IRRIGATION? A LITTLE BIT.
WELL, CHARLIE, CHARLIE, AS MUCH AS YOU AND I HATE SPENDING MONEY ON THIS, I THINK ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT THE FEW HOUSES THAT DID NOT IRRIGATE DURING THE SUMMER WHERE THEIR ENTIRE YARD IS DEAD.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR MEDIANS AND SUCH WOULD LOOK LIKE AND OUR PARKS WOULD LOOK LIKE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE IRRIGATION.
SO IS THAT A MOTION TO, UH, APPROVE RESOLUTION 20 23, 28? I THOUGHT WE HAD A MOTIONS ALREADY.
UH, DO WE NEED IT EVERY SINGLE WEEK OR COULD WE, SINCE WE'RE DOING ONCE A MONTH, WOULD IT WOULD ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS SUFFICE IN THE WINTERTIME? WE WILL IN IN THE SUMMER, BUT IN THE WINTERTIME IT'LL DROP BACK.
BUT IN THE SUMMERTIME, ONCE A WEEK, AND I WOULD HAVE TO SAY BY THE HEARTBURN THAT I HAVE ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER AND THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE CHASING THOSE DOWN, I'D SAY, YES, WE NEED TO GET 'EM OUT THERE.
AND COLLEEN, WHAT DO YOU THINK? YEAH, CURRENTLY, UH, CURRENTLY IT, THEY WERE PROVIDING IT ONCE A MONTH AND THERE WAS A HUGE GAP FROM THE REPORTING OF WHEN THEY WOULD, UM, GO OUT AND LOOK AT IT AND CHECK IT TO WHEN WE WOULD GET THE REPORT, IT WOULD BE A MONTH TO SIX WEEKS LATER, SO THEN WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIX IT TILL NOW WE'RE INTO WEEK EIGHT.
WELL, AT THAT POINT THINGS ARE DEAD AND DYING.
SO HAVING A REPORTING METHOD, UM, AND WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE CHECKING IT ON A WEEKLY BASIS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOT SEASON, THEY'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE, REPAIR IT, AND THEN GET US BACK UP AND, AND GOING AGAIN.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT THAT CAN HAPPEN IN A WEEK'S TIME.
MOWERS HIT, HIT SPRINKLER SYSTEMS. I MEAN, THERE'S A, THE GROUND SHIFTS, IT BREAKS AND WE'RE LOSING TIME IF WE'RE ONLY DOING IT TWICE A MONTH OR ONCE A MONTH.
SO WHAT WE DID, UM, WAS PUT IT ON THE CYCLE OF OUR, OUR MOWING CYCLE, WHICH IS, I BELIEVE 42 TIMES A YEAR, ROD, 42 TIMES A YEAR.
SO INSTEAD OF 56, IT'S 42 TIMES.
SO WE ARE SAVING IN THAT REGARD AND DOING IT IN, UM, CONSISTENTLY WITH OUR MOWING CYCLE.
BUT THAT DOES PROVIDE COVERAGE DURING THE MONTHS THAT WE HAVE THE MOST DIFFICULTIES AND THE MOST BREAKS WITH IRRIGATION.
SO IT IS ADVISABLE TO DO IT WEEKLY.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? GO AHEAD.
A MOTION BY RICK, SECOND BY KIRK.
THAT TAKES US TO ITEM FOUR, DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 2023 DASH 39 AMENDING THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET AS WE JUST TALKED ABOUT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING, UH, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024, INCREASING THE LINE ITEM 1 0 0 0 4 0 5, 6 6 0 0 0 SPRINKLER MAINTENANCE,
[01:00:01]
$28,800 FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE CITY'S, UH, IRRIGATION SYSTEM.AND AGAIN, NICK, YOU WANNA EXPLAIN THAT ONE? YEAH, THIS, THIS IS THE BA THAT GOES TO THE PREVIOUS ITEM.
UH, WE OBVIOUSLY ALREADY HAVE SOME MONEY BUDGETED, SO WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE 40, THE FULL 43 20.
UH, THE DELTA WE NEED IS THAT, UM, 11, OR I'M SORRY, THAT 28 8 IN ORDER TO GET US TO THE AMOUNT, UH, UH, TO BE ABLE TO FUND WHAT WE JUST, UH, RIGHT.
WE'RE THROWING 28 8, ANOTHER 28 8 TO GET TO THE FULL AMOUNT.
AND IT'S, IT'S OBVIOUSLY LIVING INSIDE THAT IRRIGATION LINE ITEM.
RIGHT? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION MOTION BY DAVID.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND DISCUSSION.
UM, SO IF WE ARE DOING THIS, ARE THEY GOING TO FIX ALL OF OUR ISSUES SO MOVING FORWARD? 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS GOING WITH THIS CONTRACT.
THEY WILL WE'LL BE GOOD TO GO AND THEN THEY WILL ON A WEEKLY, IN THE SUMMER AND, AND BY MONTH, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK, UM, AFTERWARDS, COME OUT AND CHECK ON US AND WE'RE ALL GOOD.
SO THAT MM-HMM,
BUT IT'S MY, MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WILL IDENTIFY, THEY WILL IDENTIFY THE, THE ISSUES AGAIN, CURRENTLY WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
THEY'LL IDENTIFY SOMETHING WE WON'T KNOW ABOUT IT FOR SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS, THEN WE APPROVE THE REPAIR.
OR IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAD PLANTED SOME LANDSCAPING AND WE'RE WONDERING WHY IT'S DYING.
SO, UM, THIS SHOULD HELP WITH THE ISSUE.
AND I WANTED TO, UM, GO BACK TO THE COMMENT THAT KURT HAD MADE.
HE WAS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED ABOUT DOING IT SO OFTEN.
IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE GET IN PLACE AND WE'RE DOING IT WEEKLY AND WE SEE, OKAY, THIS IS EFFECTIVE, WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT REDUCING IT LATER ON IF WE NEED TO.
BUT I THINK THAT THIS IS A, A NECESSARY START TO GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
ALRIGHT, SO WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT KIND OF GS ME.
WELL, WE ALL, WE ALL FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT THIS,
NOW WE GET TO, UH, AN INTERESTING ONE, UH, DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL FEE ENTITLED UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE FEE AND SPECIAL FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF PRESENT AND FUTURE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES IN THE CITY.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, UM, AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE A LAWYER, DAGGETT DOWN HERE, UH, I'M SORRY, GRADY RANDALL.
WE NEED TO GET HIM A REAL CHAIR.
UM, BUT BEFORE, BEFORE HE GETS STARTED, I KNOW I AM.
AND THERE ARE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE UP HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO IDENTIFY THIS AS A SPECIAL FUND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE HECK THEY'RE SPENT PUTTING THEIR MONEY FOR.
WE'RE GONNA GO OUT AND ASK HIM FOR 10 BUCKS A MONTH OR SOME FIGURE.
RIGHT NOW IT'S AT 10 BUCKS A MONTH.
AND I WANT 'EM TO GO AND BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY RIGHT AWAY WHAT IT IS.
AND SO I'M GONNA NOW ASK OUR LEGAL, UH, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR TO GIVE US SOME INSTRUCTION AND INPUT BRADY.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME OUT.
Y'ALL SEE THIS IN THE NEWSPAPER? YES.
I READ THAT WOODLANDS CHURCH SUES OVER 83,000 HOLY WATER TAX MUD LABELS.
THIS IS WHY I'M CAUTIOUS, STUFF LIKE THIS.
YOU DON'T WANT TO, UH, UNNECESSARILY TAKE RISK OR INVITE A LAWSUIT, BUT I FOUND A WAY.
SO I THINK WE CAN LEAD YOU THROUGH THE RED SEA ON THIS AND ALL RIGHT.
OKAY, SO NICK, THIS IS GOOD FOR MY LITTLE LECTURE TONIGHT, AND IT SHOWS THAT YOUR UTILITY FEE IS A LITTLE BIT, PARDON THE PUN, UNDER WATER.
I'M, I'M AT THE RAINBOW ROOM ALL WEEK.
SO, UH, THE, UH, THE UTILITY FUND IS AN
[01:05:01]
ENTERPRISE FUND, IS THAT RIGHT? YES.AND JUST ON WATER OR WASTEWATER? BOTH.
SO, AND I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT ROAD FEES A LITTLE BIT TOO, JUST TO COMPARE IT TO, TO THIS FEE WHILE BEING ON THE AGENDA.
UH, SO YOU SEND AN ORDINANCE OVER, BACK IN AUGUST TO ESTABLISH THIS FEE AND IT HAS GOOD RECITALS TO IT.
THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF REHABILITATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PRESENT AND FUTURE PUBLIC WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES IN THE CITY.
UM, A LITTLE HEARTBURN ON SOLE PURPOSE IS FUNDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, BUT IT'S RELATED TO WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE PURPOSE OF REHABILITATION CONSTRUCTION FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE WATER AND UTILITIES IN THE CITY.
NOW, THERE ARE TWO AG OPINIONS THAT WE PREVIOUSLY TOLD YOU ABOUT FOR THE, UH, AM I ECHOING? GO AHEAD.
UM, THAT WE PREVIOUSLY TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT DISALLOWED THOSE FEES, THEY DISALLOWED 'EM BECAUSE THE FEES WERE FOR EITHER POLICE SERVICE AND THEY SAID SO IN THEIR FEES, THEY DID A WATER, THEY CHARGED A FEE IN THE WATER BILL FOR POLICE SERVICE AND THEY CHARGED A FEE IN THE WATER BILL FOR FIRE SERVICE.
ONE, UH, THE LAST ONE BY GREG ABBOTT IN 2020, IN 2003.
YOU'RE, YOU ARE TAGGING IT TO YOUR WATER UTILITY SERVICE.
SO I'M GONNA ASK YOU A RHETORICAL QUESTION HERE.
IS THE FEE USED TO COVER THE EXPENSES OF PROVIDING UTILITY SERVICE FOR WHICH CUSTOMERS ARE BEING BILLED? YES.
HOW, WHAT'S IT GONNA BE USED FOR? 'CAUSE I'M BUILDING A CASE HERE.
'CAUSE THIS IS BEING VIDEOED AS I COMPLAIN ABOUT MY SHORT CHAIR.
CAN YOU RESTATE THE QUESTION, COUNSELOR? THE FEE, ALRIGHT.
IS THE, IS THE FEE GOING TO BE USED TO COVER THE EXPENSES OF PROVIDING UTILITY SERVICE FOR WHICH CUSTOMERS ARE BEING BILLED? IT'S A $10 A MONTH WATER, WATER FEE ON YOUR WATER BILL BAR.
AT LEAST ACCORDING TO YOUR, IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S AN INFRASTRUCTURE FEE TO REHAB THE EXISTING DELIVERY SYSTEMS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DELIVER THE WATER AND TAKE THE WASTE AWAY.
NOW THE WATER CODE SAYS, OR THE WATER CODE GIVES YOU AUTHORITY TO FIX THE OVERALL REVENUE OF, IN THIS CASE THE UTILITY ENTERPRISE FUND, WHICH IS UNDERWATER TO FIX THE REVENUE, TO PERMIT THE UTILITY.
A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN A REASONABLE RETURN ON ITS INVESTED CAPITAL.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE MONEY YOU'VE PUT IN THE GROUND ON THE PIPES AND THE, AND THE WHALES AND THE TREATMENT PLANTS RETURN ON ITS INVE INVESTED CAPITAL USED AND USEFUL IN RENDERING SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
RENDERING A SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU'RE PROVIDING WATER AND WASTEWATER OVER AND ABOVE.
ITS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY OPERATING EXPENSES AND TO PRESERVE THE FI FINANCIAL INTEGRITY OF THE UTILITY.
SO THIS RED PROVES YOU NEED THE FEE TO PRESERVE THE FINANCIAL INTEGRITY OF THE ENTERPRISE FUND AND THE, UH, UTILITY SERVICE.
SO YOU'RE, YOU CAN DO IT THROUGH A FEE AND WE CAN MASSAGE THE ORDINANCE A LITTLE BIT, QUOTE THIS WATER CODE SECTION, SPOOF IT UP AND, UH, YOU SHOULD BE FINE.
I WILL POINT OUT THERE'S ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE AND THAT'S THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 5 5 2 IMPROVEMENTS
[01:10:01]
TO WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS IN CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES.AND JUST LIKE A ROAD IMPROVEMENT FEE, IT'S BY THE FRONT FOOT AND YOU CAN CHARGE NINE TENTHS OF THE COST OF THE IMPROVEMENT THAT YOU, UH, WANT TO MAKE.
DON'T KNOW THAT IT FITS AS WELL HERE AS JUST A GENERAL FEE.
UM, SO, WELL THERE IS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE, AND I THINK WE DISCUSSED IT.
RATHER THAN DOING JUST $10 FEE, WE COULD CHANGE THE BASE FEE BY INCREASING THE BASE FEE.
YOU ACHIEVE THE SAME THING, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS GYMNASTICS.
'CAUSE YOU THINK YOU INCREASE YOUR $10 FEE AND FIRST THING YOU GOTTA DO IS, IS EXPLAIN TO EVERYBODY WHY THE HECK YOU RAISE MY FEE UP AND, AND THEN IF, I MEAN YOU'RE JUMPING, YOU'RE DUMPING IT STRAIGHT INTO THE BANK, BOTTOM LINE OF THE BANK ACCOUNT, RATHER THAN SETTING IT ASIDE FOR SPECIFIC UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE FEE, IT STILL GOES INTO FUND 300.
BUT IN THAT THEORY, RICK, COULDN'T WE SPEND IT ON WHATEVER YOU COULD THEN USE IT TO INCREASE WAGES INSTEAD OF PUTTING IT DIRECTLY INTO INFRASTRUCTURE? YOU CAN USE IT FOR ANYTHING.
I AM OF THE, AND OF COURSE I DON'T HAVE A VOTE IN THIS GUY, BUT I'M FROM SITTING IN THE POSITION THAT IF I'M GONNA HAVE TO EXPLAIN SOMEBODY WHY I'M JACKING UP THE WATER BILL.
IT'S FREE AND CLEAR AND WHAT'S THE BIG FANCY WORD? TRANSPARENT.
AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIG THING.
WE'RE TRYING TO PUT IT IN AS MUCH OF A LOCKBOX AS WE CAN TO INFRASTRUCTURE.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE THAT WE DID INVESTIGATE AND IF WE GOT PUSHED INTO THAT, WE COULD USE IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, GRADY'S INDICATING THAT WE DO SEE A PATH TO PUT IT IN A FEE RATHER THAN DUMPING IT INTO THE, THE BASE COST.
MUCH LIKE YOUR ROAD FEE WHERE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE, I CAN GIVE YOU THE REFERENCE NUMBER, BUT EXPRESSLY OR EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZES MUNICIPALITIES TO CHARGE A FEE.
AND THAT FEE IS BASED ON THE HEAVY GARBAGE TRUCKS BURNING UP THE ASPHALT OR CONCRETE AND THE CITY.
SO YES, YOU CAN DO A ROAD FEE, YES, YOU'RE STREET LEGAL ON YOUR ROAD FEE.
NOW WE'RE TYING IT TO THE WATER CODE AND NO PUN INTENDED ON STREET LEGAL, BUT MAN, I'M REALLY GOING TODAY.
UH, NOW ON THE UTILITY FEE, WE CAN TIE IT TO THE WATER CODE TO, AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURES IS A FORM OF EXPENSE IN PROVIDING THE UTILITY SERVICE.
SO WE'LL JAZZ UP THE, WHEREAS PARAGRAPHS AND YOU MOSTLY HAVE IT, I MEAN YOU'RE 99% THERE, UM, FOR THE REHABILITATION CONSTRUCTION OF THE FEE.
UM, I KNOW YOU PUT IT IN THERE AS THE SOLE PURPOSE OF FUNDING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT THAT IN THERE, BUT I'M NOT GONNA PLAY LAWYER AT, IN A PUBLIC MEETING AT THE LECTERN EITHER.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL WORK IT UP AND AS LONG AS YOU PROVIDE US THE OTHER, WHATEVER RECOMMENDED LANGUAGE YOU HAVE AND WHAT THAT WOULD OPEN IT UP TO, LIKE I SAID, COUNCIL WANTED THIS LOCKED AWAY WHERE IT COULDN'T BE USED FOR WAGES, IT COULDN'T BE USED FOR PICKUPS, TOOLS, WHATEVER WE WANT IT FOR.
PIPES IN THE GROUND OR PUMPS OR WHATEVER.
I JUST WANT TO TIE A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
'CAUSE I MEAN USUALLY YOU HAVE TWO BUDGETS AND I'M GONNA GET WONKY ACCOUNTING.
YOU'VE GOT A, A CAPITAL BUDGET AND YOU'VE GOT YOUR REGULAR OPERATING BUDGET AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE COMBINED.
I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO TIE, TIE A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE POPS IN THE GROUND IS AN EXPENSE OF PROVIDING YOU UTILITY SERVICE FOR THE CITY.
AND IT IS 'CAUSE THE WATER DON'T FLOW THERE OTHERWISE.
SO IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY, 'CAUSE DAVID, YOU'RE PRETTY ADAMANT AND ON WANTING TO TRY TO KEEP IT YEAH, I I WANTED TO KEEP IT
[01:15:01]
FOR TWO REASONS.ONE, I I THINK WE HAD A A, A PUBLIC HEARING AND WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION FROM, UH, RESIDENTS ABOUT WHAT THE FEE SHOULD BE, WHAT IT WAS GONNA BE USED FOR.
AND ONE OF MY, EMILY WAS THERE, SHE REMEMBERS, AND ONE OF MY COMMENTS WAS, I WANT, I, I WANT THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN, THEY KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING.
IT'S TRANSPARENT, IT'S DESIGNATED, MEANING IT'S WATER AND SEWER.
AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS TWO YEARS AGO, WE LOOKED, WE REALIZED WE HAD TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS IN BOTH OUR WATER FEES AND, AND ARE TAKING THEM UP GRADUALLY.
UH, AND SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S FASTER THAN THEY WOULD LIKE, BUT LOOKING AT THE COST OF WHAT OUR DELIVERIES ARE, WE'RE STARTING TO GET INTO THE BLACK, I THINK IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS A SEPARATE PART AND THAT'S WHY WE CALLED IT INFRASTRUCTURE FEE.
SO TO ME, THIS DOES BOTH THINGS.
IT ALLOWS US TO RAISE THE REVENUE IN A TRANSPARENT WAY.
UH, WE'VE HAD SOME COMMENTS ON WHERE TO START AND I THINK WE SETTLED ON $10 BASED ON PUBLIC INPUT.
AND SO I, IF YOU CAN CRAFT THE, UH, ORDINANCE, I THINK THAT WOULD, THAT WOULD MEET THE, AT LEAST THE REQUEST I HAD.
HERE'S THE MIRANDA WARNING, UHHUH
LET ME MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THEN THAT YOU ARE TELLING US THAT YOU CAN MASSAGE THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAD SENT TO YOU PRIOR.
CLEAN UP THE LANGUAGE, UH, MAKE SURE IT'S LOCKED IN AS BEST WE CAN AND THEN RESUBMITTED IT TO US.
YES, BY IN NEXT MONTH, END OF THIS WEEK.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE'RE NOT GONNA MEET NEXT WEEK, SO THAT'LL BE FINE.
UM, COUNSEL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NO MORE, UH, INPUT FOR GRADY, THEN GRADY, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
AND THEN, UH, WE'LL BE SEEING YOU IN A SECOND.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL TO ME AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
UH, THAT'S OUR, UH, GRADY RANDALL FROM RANDALL LAW OFFICE, UH, GIVING US SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS.
OKAY, ITEM NUMBER SIX, DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION REGARDING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR USE OF CITY PARKS AND PUBLIC GROUNDS.
UM, I THINK, UH, COLLEEN HAD SOME REQUESTS TO TRY TO PUT SOME RULES IN PLACE AND, UM, I'M GONNA LET YOU GET UP AND EXPLAIN IT.
SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CODE OF ORDINANCE THAT COVERS, UM, A LOT OF OUR RENTAL PROPERTIES, UM, OUR FACILITIES, OUR SWIMMING POOL, KAYAKS OF THINGS OF THOSE NATURE.
UM, IT'S MY DESIRE NOW AS OUR PARKS ARE BECOMING, UH, MORE USED, HEAVILY USED, UM, NOT ONLY BY RESIDENTS BUT NON-RESIDENTS AS WELL.
UM, FOLKS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT OUR RULES AND POLICIES ARE OR WHAT WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE FEW PARKS.
UM, WE REALLY NEED TO BE DILIGENT AND INTENTFUL, UM, WITH HOW WE MAINTAIN THEM AND WHAT OUR RULES ARE.
SO MY REQUEST TONIGHT IS FOR DISCUSSION AND I BELIEVE, NICK, WE DID SEND THAT OUT, RIGHT COURTNEY, AS FAR AS THE SUGGESTED ITEMS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE AS FAR AS NOT ALLOWED, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANNA LET YOU KNOW THAT, UM, OUR STAFF DID DISCUSS THIS IN OUR, UH, MAYOR'S DIRECTOR'S MEETING.
CHIEF HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON, UH, HIS OPINION ON THIS AS WELL.
AGAIN, TONIGHT IT'S JUST DISCUSSION.
WE, THIS IS NOT A FINAL SAY AT ALL, AND WE CAN STILL, UM, MANIPULATE THIS TO, TO WHATEVER WE NEED IT TO BE.
UM, BUT THE ITEMS NOT ALLOWED.
UM, OBVIOUSLY, UH, LITTERING THAT IS ALREADY, UM, IN THE PROVISIONS.
IT'S ALREADY ONE OF OUR CODES, NON, NON LITTERING.
BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS LIST, I WANT YOU TO REALIZE THE END INTENT HERE IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO PRODUCE A SIGN TO PLACE IN EACH OF OUR PARKS THAT INCLUDES THESE ITEMS AND THAT THEY ARE PUNISHABLE BY PENALTY.
UM, THAT IS ALREADY IN OUR ORDINANCE.
I'M NOT ASKING TO CREATE A NEW PENALTY HERE.
IT'S ALREADY IN IT AND IT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT LIST.
BUT THESE ARE THE ITEMS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE ON THAT SIGN.
SO LITTERING, INFLATABLE, BOUNCE, HOUSES, TRAINS, ET CETERA.
I BELIEVE RICK HAD A QUESTION ON THAT.
HE SAID, CAN SOMEONE GET A PERMIT, UM, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE, UH, IN THE PARKS? AND THE ANSWER IS NO.
WE DON'T ALLOW THAT, UM, IN OUR PARKS OR OUR RENTAL AREAS, UM, AT ALL.
NOW, CITY EVENTS WE DO, THAT'S DIFFERENT.
UM, AND THAT DOES SPECIFY ON THIS LIST.
[01:20:01]
ARE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE LIVESTOCK OR PETTING ZOOS, GENERATORS, GLASS CONTAINERS, PINATAS, CONFETTI, RICE, BIRD, SEED, PAINT, POWDER, LIQUID AEROSOL.I BRING THAT ONE UP IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE TWO WEEKS AGO, UH, WE HAD SOME PARK GOERS THAT DECIDED TO PAINT OUT THERE AND THEY PAINTED OUR GAZEBO STRUCTURE AND OUR PICNIC TABLES AND THE GROUND.
AND WE HAVE NO RECOURSE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY GUIDELINES TO GO BY.
UM, FIREWORKS, FIRE PITS, PORTABLE GRILLS, UM, OPEN FLAME OTHER THAN CITY DESIGNATED GRILLS.
UM, AT THREE OF OUR PAVILIONS IN THE PARKS, WE HAVE CITY DESIGNATED GRILLS.
THEY CAN USE THOSE, THEY CAN HAVE OPEN FLAMES.
AND THOSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, UM, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO BRING IN A FIRE PIT.
WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BRING IN A GRILL.
UM, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DO, THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT HOME AND THEY DUMP ALL THE ASHES ON THE GROUND AND NOW HAVE MADE A MESS AND OR STARTED A FIRE.
ALSO, AMPLIFICATION SYSTEMS. UM, OUR PARKS ARE A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SPACE BETWEEN OUR PARKLAND AND WHERE OUR RESIDENTS LIVE.
SO WE WANNA BE CONSIDERATE OF OUR RESIDENTS.
I'M SURE KURT, YOU DON'T WANT BIG, LOUD PARTY SOUNDS AND SPEAKERS GOING OFF ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOU.
SO THIS ISN'T AN EFFORT TO CONTROL SOME OF THAT.
UM, ALSO MOTORIZED AND NON-MOTORIZED SCOOTERS, BIKES, SKATES, ET CETERA.
ON THE ASTROTURF GRASS AND NON-DESIGNATED AREAS.
I'M REFERRING TO, UM, OUR TRAIL SYSTEM.
SO THE TRAIL AROUND THE LAKE, NO BICYCLES, NOT, UH, NO, UM, SIDE-BY-SIDE, NO ELECTRIC SCOOTERS.
UM, THE NEW TRAIL THAT'S COMING IN, IT'S A MULTI-USE TRAIL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NON-DESIGNATED AREAS.
I ALSO BELIEVE RICK MADE A COMMENT ON THAT.
HE WAS, UM, UH, QUESTIONING ABOUT, WELL, WHAT ABOUT WITH A MEDICAL EXEMPTION? WELL, ABSOLUTELY MEDICAL EXEMPTION IS, IS THE EXCEPTION IN THAT REGARD.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT COME THROUGH ON ELECTRIC SCOOTERS AND THAT TEARS UP THAT ASTROTURF AND STARTS RIPPING THE SEAMS. SO WE, WE WANT TO, UM, DISSUADE PEOPLE FROM DOING THAT.
ALSO, POP-UP TENTS AND CANOPIES.
UM, THAT'S IN HERE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FOLKS PUT UP POP-UP TENTS IN A VERY CONDENSED AREA AND THERE'S OTHER PARK GOERS AND A BIG WIND GUST COMES THROUGH.
AND NOW YOU HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE AND CONCERN.
AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE LARGE OPEN PARK LAND.
THERE'S A LOT OF CHILDREN PLAYING AROUND IN THOSE AREAS.
SO THESE ARE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.
UM, CAMPING, OVERNIGHT, CAMPING IN OUR PARKS, UH, DOGS OFF LEASH.
UM, OTHER THAN IN THE DOG PARK.
AND THEN ALSO THE PARK HOUR SIX TO 11, THAT'S ALREADY POSTED, UM, IN THE ORDINANCE.
BUT AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD ALSO INCLUDE ON THE SIGN.
UM, AGAIN, ALL OF THESE, IT DOESN'T APPLY TO THE CITY SPONSORED EVENTS.
WHY? BECAUSE WE ARE CONTROLLING WHAT HAPPENS.
WE ARE TAKING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS IN THOSE REGARDS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THOSE ITEMS? I'M THANKFUL THIS IS COMING UP MAINLY BECAUSE OF THE PARTY THAT OCCURRED A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
UM, I SPENT A DECENT AMOUNT OF TIME PICKING UP TRASH.
AND ONE THING I, I DON'T SEE ON THERE, WATER BALLOONS.
UM, I PICKED UP A LOT OF WATER BALLOONS AND THOSE ARE JUST FRUSTRATING 'CAUSE THEY'RE SO HARD TO CLEAN UP AND THEY CAN ENDANGER, UH, ANIMALS AND, AND KIDS.
AND UH, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANNA ADD ON THERE, BUT I THINK IT'D BE HELPFUL.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY DO.
THANK YOU FOR COMING UP WITH IT.
I DO HAVE A COUPLE THINGS THAT I, NUMBER ONE I SAID THEY'RE GONNA BE HARD TO ENFORCE, WHICH IS GONNA BE THE, THE PINATAS AND THE CONFETTI.
UM, AND THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS, SO DURING THE SCHOOL CARNIVAL AND THEY'RE SELLING CONFETTI EGGS AND THE KID RUNS ACROSS THE STREET INTO THE PARK WHEN HE HIT PENCE'S FRIEND, DO WE WANT OUR PD WRITING THEM A $500 TICKET
SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I'M GONNA BRING UP AS
[01:25:01]
YOUR PLACE FOR LIFE.YES, IT'S A PAIN FOR OUR PARKS, BUT DO WE WANT TO DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE? 'CAUSE I'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO TO ZERO TOLERANCE ON DOGS AND WHATNOT, AND THE RESIDENTS LOSE THEIR MIND.
AND, AND I, I BELIEVE, WOULD THIS BE UP TO THE, THE DISCRETION OF THE OFFICER AT THAT TIME WHETHER TO GIVE A WARNING AND SAY, HEY, YOU CAN'T DO IT.
PUT YOUR PINATA AWAY IF THEY DISCRETION OF THE OFFICER.
SO, AND THEN THE FINE IS UP TO 500.
WELL, WE SAW HOW WELL THAT WORKED WITH THE GARBAGES AND THAT'S WHY COUNSEL HAD TO COME BACK AND PUT IN A TIERED SYSTEM.
SO I'M TELLING YOU THAT UNLESS YOU WANNA SEE THAT $500 TICKET, WE EITHER CHANGE THIS TO PUT IN THE TIERED SYSTEM OR WE DON'T INCLUDE THOSE ITEMS BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE JUDGE IS GONNA HAND OUT A $500 TICKET.
WELL, I THINK PART OF THIS IS, IS THIS THE KIND OF DISCUSSION WE MIGHT WANT TO HAVE AND PUT IN THE ORDINANCE? 'CAUSE SOME OF THESE ARE ALREADY ORDINANCES THAT WE JUST EITHER HAVE AND MAYBE DON'T ENFORCE.
BUT I THINK THE MAIN, I THINK THE MAIN TAKEAWAY I HAVE IS IF WE POST THIS ON A SIGN, WE'VE TAKEN A MAJOR STEP TOWARDS ENFORCING IT.
IT MAY NOT REQUIRE, IT'S MORE OF A DETERRENT.
THAT WAS THE WORD TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF, HEY, THESE, THESE THINGS ARE NOT ALLOWABLE IN OUR PARKS AND 99% WILL COMPLY.
THERE WILL BE THOSE THAT DON'T.
AND, UM, CHIEF AND I HAVE DISCUSSED, I MEAN, IT IS, IT, IT IS GONNA BE DIFFICULT NOR DO WE REALLY EXPECT THE OFFICERS TO DRIVE BY EVERY PARTY, PULL OUT THEIR CHECKLIST.
NO, IT'S, IT'S NOT THOSE SMALL THINGS.
UM, HOWEVER, IF THEY DO GO OVER THERE AND THEY SEE THAT THEY'RE VIOLATING SOME OF THE BIGGER THINGS AND THEN THEY HAPPEN TO SEE THE OTHER THINGS, THEN YEAH, THE LIST, THE LIST GETS LONGER.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS, UM, OUR INTENT TO REALLY POLICE EVERY PARTY THAT'S OUT THERE.
IT IS REALLY MORE FOR INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC THAT THESE ITEMS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN OUR PARK.
AND IF WE CAN CONTROL 98% OF THE GROUPS THAT COME OUT THERE AND UM, THEY HAVE BECOME A PARTNER IN KEEPING OUR PARTS CLEAN, UM, THEN WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB IN THE PROCESS.
THERE'S GONNA BE THOSE GROUPS THAT DO THAT.
AND, UM, NO, CERTAINLY WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY OUT THERE WITH BINOCULARS AND WRITING TICKETS ALL THE TIME.
THAT'S NOT WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS.
AND TO YOUR POINT, UH, CONFETTI IS CONSIDERED LITTERING.
SO IT'S ALREADY IN THE, THE CODE.
I MEAN YEAH, BUT THE, YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE ARE GONNA, THEY'RE NOT GONNA CONSIDER THAT LITTERING.
THEY DON'T, THEY'RE THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY DON'T TALKING ABOUT THROWING THE, THE, THE WRAPPER FROM THE CANDY BAR OR WHATEVER, HOT DOG.
YEAH, I, I WOULD CONCUR WITH THAT.
UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY YOU BROUGHT SOMETHING UP AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS SAYING WE WANT TO POST A SIGN UP, UM, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THESE THINGS ON THE SIGN.
AND THAT'S 'CAUSE THEY'RE TIED TO AN ORDINANCE THEN, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
BUT THEN ALSO LISTING, UM, THE PENALTY ON THERE THAT THEY, THEY COULD BE FINED.
SO, BUT AGAIN, IF I WERE GOING OUT THERE TO HAVE A, UH, PARTY WITH MY GRANDKIDS, FOR INSTANCE, IT WAS SOMEBODY'S BIRTHDAY, WE MIGHT HANG A PIN PINATA, NOT THINKING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, NOT THINKING THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG.
'CAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS HAD FUN WITH PINATAS AND WE KNOW NOT TO PUT THE KIND OF LITTLE TOYS AND STUFF IN IT BECAUSE THE THEY'D GET OUT THERE.
BUT THAT, THAT WOULD THEN EDUCATE ME, WHICH COULD GO A LONG WAY TO ME DOING THAT IN MY BACKYARD RATHER THAN IN THE PARK.
IS THAT WHAT I'M SENSING? YOU WERE, YOU'RE TRYING ONE OF THE GOALS YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.
SO IT'S ED, I THINK EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES HERE ARE BOUND.
I THINK THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS IN MY MIND.
IS THAT KIND OF CORRECT? ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK YOUR NEXT STEP IS GONNA BE DO A MOCKUP BECAUSE I THINK WITH THE NUMBER OF THINGS YOU'RE LISTING ON THIS, THAT CERTAINLY LETTERING IS EITHER VERY SMALL OR THAT SIGN IS VERY, VERY LARGE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD CUT THIS LIST IN HALF THE IMPORTANT ONES THAT WE GENERALLY SEE? JUST SO YOU COULD PUT THE LETTERING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER? UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN WE'VE SEEN LIVESTOCK IMPENDING TO SHOW UP.
WE DO GET REQUESTS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.
AS LONG AS THEY ASK FOR, I'M NOT SO WORRIED ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, AND I, I AGREE WITH THAT.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, ARE THEY ON THE LEASH?
[01:30:01]
USUALLY? PONIES ARE, YES.SO WHERE ARE WE HERE WE'RE, WE'VE HEARD THERE'S SUGGESTED UPDATES TO THE PARK 94.
UH, SO I HAVE A QUESTION BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
ONE WAS, THANK YOU FOR EXPLAINING, UH, THE DIFFERENCE OF WHY THE CITY WOULD BE ALLOWED VERSUS SOMEBODY ELSE.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, INITIALLY READING THIS WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND WAS THESE ARE ALL THE THINGS THAT THE CITY DOES EVERY SINGLE PARTY.
UM, SO, BUT YOU MAKE A REALLY GOOD POINT THAT IT IS A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT IT'S CLEANED UP.
YOUR STAFF DOES AN AMAZING, AMAZING JOB DOING THAT.
SO THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
UM, THE OTHER QUESTION I WAS GONNA ASK WAS, AS FAR AS THE PARKS GO, IS THAT ALL OF THE, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE POOL? OKAY.
SO IN THAT SITUATION, THEY SAY SWIM TEAM, WE USE CANOPIES.
I THINK IT'S A CITY GRILL THAT IS A CITY GRILL.
SO THAT, THAT IS A PERMITTED EVENT.
UM, AND WHEN YOU GUYS ARE UTILIZING THOSE TENTS, Y'ALL ALREADY EDUCATED AND INSTRUCTED THAT THEY HAVE TO BE SECURED.
UM, SO THOSE ARE ALREADY IN PLACE AS FAR AS SAFETY MEASURES.
IT, IT ONLY TAKES A WIND GUST ONE SECOND TO RIP ONE OF THOSE TENTS AND INJURE SOMEONE.
ANY OTHER COUNSEL INPUT OR COMMENT? OKAY.
MY THING ON THE PINATAS IS SOMEONE'S GONNA COME ALONG AND SAY WE'RE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST THEM.
THE SW GUY DOWN THE STREET THAT PUTS PINATAS UP HISTORICALLY, IT'S MAINLY A HISPANIC THING, OKAY.
SO WE'RE, AND I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE OF IT FOR 300, $300.
MIRANDA, YOU CAN FILE A LAWSUIT IF YOU HAVE $300.
UM, SO COUNSEL, I THINK YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE WHY WE BROUGHT THIS TO YOU AS A DISCUSSION ITEM AS OPPOSED TO AN ORDINANCE.
UM, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FROM YOU RIGHT NOW IS LOOKING AT ALL THE BULLETS WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU TO ADD TO TRACK, MODIFY, CHANGE, ANY OR ALL OF THESE TO YOUR LIKING.
'CAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, THIS IS YOUR PARK, RIGHT? SO IF WE CAN GET TO A POINT WHERE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT'S LISTED HERE, THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD COME TO YOU AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD CODIFY THESE WITH A PENALTY PROVISION IN THERE.
UH, RICK AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER AND 94.99, WHICH ALREADY EXISTS WITHIN THE PARK SECTION OF THE CODE.
THAT'S BOILERPLATE LANGUAGE THAT EXISTS NINE OTHER TIMES IN OUR CODE BOOK.
OKAY? IT'S JUST A PENALTY PROVISION THAT SAYS 500, UNLESS IT'S FIRE SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH SANITATION IN WHICH IT CAN BE UP TO $2,000.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE HEARTBURN WITH THE $5 AMOUNT, $500 AMOUNT, WE CAN ABSOLUTELY MODIFY THAT.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THE, THE, THE THINGS THAT ARE LISTED HERE OR THE WAY THEY'RE DESCRIBED, WE CAN MODIFY THAT.
IT IS TRUE THAT SOME OF THESE ARE ALREADY ADDRESSED IN OTHER SECTIONS OF THE CODE, LITTERING DOGS OFF THE LEACH FIREWORKS, FOR EXAMPLE.
IN THOSE CASES, WE'LL SIMPLY CROSS REFERENCE THE SECTION OF THE CODE BOOK THAT ADDRESSES THOSE THINGS.
SO IF SOMEBODY DOES GO OUT AND POP FIREWORKS, WELL, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE FOR THAT THAT LIVES SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE CODE BOOK THAT HAS ITS OWN PENALTY PROVISION IN IT.
SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR TONIGHT IS FEEDBACK.
UM, AND, AND IF WE'RE NOT READY YET, UH, TO GIVE SOME OF THAT FEEDBACK, IF YOU WANT TO MARINATE ON IT A LITTLE BIT, THAT'S FINE TOO.
WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT WHAT WE CAN ISSUE CITATIONS ON.
CAN ULTIMATELY, IT IS TRUE THAT AN OFFICER CAN GO OUT AND ISSUE A CITATION FOR ANY OF THESE.
AND ULTIMATELY WHEN THEY DO, THEN IT'S IN THE COURT.
AND SO WE WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR AS WELL.
I'M A LITTLE BIT, UH, CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE THAT, UH, RICK BROUGHT UP SO ELOQUENTLY IS I COULD SEE A 40 FOOT SIGN OUT THERE TO GET ALL THIS ON.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THAT TO, TO SORT OF LAY IT OUT, SEE WHAT YOU CAN CONDENSE, ET CETERA.
BEFORE, UH, BEFORE WE GO ON FOR THIS, MAYBE SUBMIT THAT FOR COUNSEL, UH, VIA NICK.
UH, SO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, WE'RE DONE DISCUSSING, UNLESS YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INPUT, COLLEEN, AT THIS, AT THIS POINT.
OTHER THAN, UM, ONCE A DECISION IS MADE AND WE DO SETTLE, UM, AND AGREE ON,
[01:35:01]
UM, THE SAME GOAL HERE, UM, CAMERON AND I WILL GET TOGETHER TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.UH, WE'LL CERTAINLY, UH, UTILIZE OUR MEDIA SOURCES TO, TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT.
UM, WE CAN PROBABLY, UM, ALSO CREATE A QR CODE, RIGHT, CAMERON? OH, A QR CODE FOR EVEN FOR THE SIGN.
SO, UM, THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY MINIMIZE THE FOOTPRINT OF A SIGN OUT THERE, BUT STILL EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
ALRIGHT, WELL THAT, I'M GONNA MOVE ON.
UM, AND I THINK EDUCATION IS THE BIG DEAL HERE AND I, I LIKE IT.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION REGARDING POLITICAL SIGNS.
UM, IF YOU'LL NOTICE ON YOUR PACKET, THIS ITEM WAS REQUESTED BY THE MAYOR.
'CAUSE I CAN'T STAND POLITICAL SIGNS IN THE WAY THEY'RE BEING ABUSED.
AND I CONSIDER ABUSED IN OUR CITY, APPARENTLY.
AND I'VE READ THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND I READ IT AGAIN TONIGHT, THREE TIMES.
I EVEN PUT IT UP ON A BIG SCREEN, RICK, SO I COULD SEE THE WHOLE THING.
AND IT NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT, UH, YARD SIGNS, UH, THAT I COULD FIND.
AND I USED TO BE PROUD OF CITY MEADOW'S PLACE.
PEOPLE FOLLOWED, VOLUNTARILY, FOLLOWED OUR SIGN ORDINANCE, PUT ONE SIGN IN THE YARD TOO ON THE CORNER.
AND OUT HERE ON, UH, DURING ELECTION CYCLE, THE, UH, BERM WOULD BE COVERED WITH ELECTION SIGNS.
THERE'D BE ONE PER CANDIDATE OR ONE BRIDGE, ONE PRO ONE AGAIN FOR ET CETERA.
AND IT, UH, IT USED TO LOOK, UH, REPRESENTATIVE OF A NICE CITY.
UH, NOW IT'S GONE FROM, UH, CLASSY TO TRASHY.
AND I REALLY AM A, I, I JUST DON'T LIKE IT.
IT GETS US INTO THESE SIGN WARS WITHIN THE CITY.
WHAT ARE YOU REQUESTING, CHARLIE? AND MY, MY QUESTION IS GONNA BE THIS COUNT TO OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, SINCE EVERYBODY'S CONVINCED ME, INCLUDING AUSTIN, THAT WE CAN'T LIMIT VERY MUCH THE LEGAL SIGNS AND YARDS WITHOUT, WELL, ONCE AGAIN, ARE YOU TALKING POLITICAL SIGNS? I'M GETTING THERE OR ARE YOU TALKING BEAR WITH ME ALL YARD SIGNS.
UH, JUST BEAR WITH ME THAT I'M, I'VE BACKED OFF OF THAT RICK TO ONE ISSUE.
AND THAT IS POLITICAL SIGNS OUT HERE ON, ON ELECTION DAY OR ELECTION WEEK OR PRE STARTING EARLY VOTING, WE HAD SIGNS OF DIFFERENT SIZES.
WE HAVE 14 OF THE SAME SIGN RIGHT IN A ROW.
UM, AND THEY START SPLATTERING ALL OVER, UP AND DOWN THE STREET AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.
AND MY QUESTION IS, CAN WE PUT SOME RESTRICTIONS ON IN THE AREA THAT WE ALLOW THOSE SIGNAGE, REMEMBER THAT WE ARE A POLLING LOCATION AS WELL.
WE ARE A POLLING LOCATION AND WE WANT TO REMAIN ONE.
AND JUST CLEAR THE HUNDRED FEET.
IF YOU WANT TO DECLARE WHAT I CALL THE GRASSY KNOLL OR RIGHT OF WAY, THEN YOU COULD CONTROL YOUR RIGHT OF WAY.
BUT THAT MEANS NO SIGNS, PERIOD.
RIGHT? SO IT'S E AND AND THAT'S WHY I WAS WONDERING.
SO WE CAN'T GO OUT THERE LIKE COLLEEN DID WITH HER SEEDS AND ROPE OFF AN AREA AND SAY, SEEDS IN THIS AREA, SO DON'T MOW IT.
WE CAN'T PUT THAT UP AND GO, NO, NO, YOU'RE A POLLING PLACE.
THEY GET TO HARASS YOU UP TO WHATEVER THE 100 FEET, A HUNDRED FEET, A HUNDRED FEET, A HUNDRED FEET.
AND I'LL SAY THE POLLING JUDGES DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF THAT.
AND IF IT'S INSIDE THAT A HUNDRED FEET, THEY DEAL WITH IT QUICKLY, EFFECTIVELY, AND EFFICIENTLY.
AND IF NOT, TIA GETS AFTER 'EM.
SO, ALRIGHT, WELL IT, COUNSEL, I PROMISE YOU IT'LL BE ANOTHER COUPLE, THREE, FOUR MONTHS BEFORE I GRIPE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AGAIN.
YOU'LL, YOU'LL, YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME IN MARCH.
UM, BUT YOU CAN, I, I WILL BORROW THAT FROM MY OWN HEART THAT, UH, DEMOCRACY IS MESSY WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICAL SIGNS AND I WON'T, I'LL QUIT WASTING OUR TIME 'CAUSE I FEEL BETTER NOW.
SO
[01:40:01]
UH, DISCUSSION CONSIDERATION REGARDING TRAVEL TRAINING, INCLUDING ANNUAL TRAVEL BUDGET FOR CITIES, TML, REPRESENTATIVE, ET CETERA.I WANNA SAY, FIRST OF ALL, THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM.
THERE HADN'T BEEN ANYTHING GOING ON.
BUT I WILL SAY THAT IN THIS DISCUSSION, COUNSEL, I'VE COME UP AND HEARD QUESTIONS BY AND ABOUT AND FROM STAFF.
SO, UH, I'M GONNA TURN THIS OVER TO OUR CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO UH, UH, START THE LEAD OFF AND, UH, GET COUNSEL TALKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I DON'T CARE.
UM, YOU WANT ME TO DO IT? NO, NO.
FRAME WHAT? SO I, I HAD HEARD KELLY WAS GONNA ASK FOR THIS.
SHE WAS SICK AT THE LAST MEETING, SO I ASKED FOR IT TO BE PUT ON.
UM, AT THE REQUEST OF TERRY HENLEY, WHO IS OUR, UH, TML REP, UM, WE SET A BUDGET OF $1,250.
HE ENDED UP SPENDING $1,515 62 CENTS ON HIS TRAVEL TO TML.
UM, I THINK PERSONALLY THAT WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE.
I'VE SEEN HOTELS AT A CONFERENCE IN A VERY, I MEAN THE ROOMS WERE PRICEY UP THERE IN DALLAS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S INDICATIVE OF GOING FORWARD AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO ADJUST ALL THE BUDGETS OR IF THAT'S JUST DALLAS BEING DALLAS.
UM, IT WAS TEXAS OU WEEKEND
UM, WHICH MAY HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON US BECAUSE OF THAT.
I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PROBLEM MAKING THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THIS EVENT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE MAY END UP HAVING TO LOOK AT THE BUDGETS GOING FORWARD.
IF TML CONTINUES TO HOLD OUR CONFERENCES IN LOCATIONS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THIS WAS 30% MORE THAN I'VE SEEN IN SAN ANTONIO AND I'D MUCH RATHER GO TO SAN ANTONIO THAN DALLAS.
UM, BEYOND THAT, I THINK TERRY WAS ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS BECAUSE HE'S GOT ANOTHER EVENT HE NEEDS TO GO TO.
DO WE HAVE A ROUGH NUMBER ON WHAT THAT WOULD BE BE? I THINK HE GOES TO, UH, IT'S THE REGIONAL MEETING.
AND I THINK HE JUST SPENDS ONE NIGHT IN THE HOTEL.
IS THAT THE ONE DOWN IN GALVESTON? UM, I THINK IT'S IN THE WOODLANDS OR SOMEWHERE USUALLY.
THEY DID MOVE IT, DIDN'T THEY? YEAH.
AND IT'S, I MEAN, THAT ONE IS UNDER 500, SO WE'D BE LOOKING AT, UH, ADJUSTING THE BUDGET TO 2000 WOULD BE THE REQUEST.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? YES.
LET'S MAKE IT 2000 AND MOVE ON.
HE ASKED FOR, I MEAN, THE OTHER, THE OTHER QUESTION IS DO WE CAN WANT TO CONTINUE HAVING A TML REP AND, AND SENDING TERRY TO THESE THINGS TO REPRESENT US, KNOWING THAT HE HAS A LOT OF CONNECTIONS AND HE GIVES US ACCESS TO SOME THINGS THAT WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE IF ONCE HE'S DONE, HE IS A, A GOOD MOUTHPIECE FOR THE CITY WHEN HE IS AT THESE EVENTS.
I THINK IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY.
I THINK BEING A PAST PRESIDENT OF TML CARRIES AN ENORMOUS EXTRA AMOUNT OF CREDENTIAL THAT ALLOWS HIM THAT ACCESS THAT WE HAVE ENJOYED.
AND I WOULD SAY THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE I'VE MET AND HAVE TALKED TO, I THINK TERRY'S BEEN A, A, A GOOD REPRESENTATION FOR US AT TML FOR THE CITY OF MEADOWS.
AND I THINK GOING FORWARD WE MAY, IF WHEN HE STOPS DOING THAT, WE'LL REEVALUATE.
BUT I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOOD FOR US TO SEND SOMEBODY TO TML NON COUNCILS, UH, ON A, ON A REGULAR BASIS, UH, JUST TO HAVE THAT PRESENCE IF IT, IF, IF WE SEE THAT IT, IF PANS OUT.
SO I THINK, UH, I CONCUR WITH THE 2000 FOR THIS.
I THINK THE PART OF THIS WAS THE BUDGET WAS CUT FROM 2,500 DOWN TO 1250 BECAUSE, UH, ANNAMARIE AND NICK LOOKED AT WHAT THE ACTUAL EXPENSES WERE FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE NOT GONNA FUND SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BEING SPENT.
UH, I THINK THE SITUATION CHANGED WITH OTHER FUNDING TERRY HAD THROUGH THE RISK POOL.
AND SO, UH, HE'S LOOKING TO THE CITY TO PICK UP THAT AGAIN.
SO I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION THERE.
AND I THINK, SO FOR ME, I, I AGREE.
[01:45:01]
DOING A GREAT JOB.I THINK THAT WE SHOULD RAISE IT.
ONE, I THINK THAT ANYBODY IN THIS POSITION SHOULD COME TO COUNCIL AND MAYBE GIVE AN UPDATE OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE ALL YEAR.
YOU KNOW, GIVE US AN UPDATE FROM THE MEETINGS.
WHAT ARE SOME THINGS, SOME TAKEAWAYS, HOW DID YOU REPRESENT MEADOWS AND WHAT CAN WE DO, WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS TO, TO MOVE FORWARD.
UM, AND, AND I'M OKAY WITH KEEPING TERRY THERE BECAUSE I THINK HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB.
BUT PAST THAT, WHEN HE IS READY TO STEP DOWN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS POSITION.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE AN EDC MEMBER OR UM, OR A BOARD MEMBER, UM, WOULD LIKE TO GO AND CHECK OUT TML AND, AND SEE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE AND MEET OTHER PEOPLE FROM CITIES.
'CAUSE I'LL TELL YOU, IF WHEN I WENT TO AUSTIN FOR LEADERSHIP, THAT WAS WHEN I DECIDED I WANTED TO RUN FOR COUNCIL.
SO TO BE PUT IN THOSE POSITIONS, IT MIGHT CHANGE PEOPLE'S MIND TO MAYBE RUN FOR COUNCIL OR GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE CITY AS WELL.
SO, UM, I CAN SEE A LOT OF POTENTIAL IN THIS POSITION.
UM, BUT I, I'M OKAY WITH, WITH RAISING IT.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME SORT OF AN UPDATE OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED.
WELL, WE CAN ALWAYS TELL HIM HE CAN HAVE HIS UP OR HIS CHECK AFTER, UH, AFTER WE GET AN UPDATE.
YOU GUYS REALLY WANT TO GIVE TERRY A MIC?
I TAKE YOUR COMMENTS SERIOUSLY THERE ON GETTING A REPORT.
I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND I, I, I'LL TALK TO TERRY ABOUT THAT.
I THINK TERRY WOULD LOVE TO COME UP AND SUBMIT, AT LEAST SUBMIT A REPORT.
AND I THINK THAT'S FAIR FOR COUNSEL TO ASK HIM IS TO SUBMIT A REPORT, UM, BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS ITEM AND TAKE ACTION.
THE NEXT TML MEETING, OBVIOUSLY OCTOBER, 2024.
WHEN DO WE MAKE OUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS? IS IT GONNA BE SEPTEMBER? NO, WE HOTELS IN LIKE JULY.
UM, BUT THEY DON'T, THEY DON'T PAY UNTIL WE ACTUALLY GO.
WE BOOK 'EM, WE PAY THE REGISTRATION IN JULY.
UM, I WAS JUST DECIDING WHETHER WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT NOW OR, UM, AT BUDGET SESSION.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THIS ONE IS IN HOUSTON.
UM, DRIVING TO THE GEORGE R. BROWN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IS NOT FUN.
AND UBERED
WE DON'T HAVE TRAINING AND TRAVEL POLICY.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
IF, UM, COUNSEL CAN GIVE US SOME GUIDANCE TODAY OF WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR HOTELS AND STUFF, THEN STAFF CAN CREATE A POLICY TO BRING BACK FOR APPROVAL.
I WILL SEND YOU THE COUNTY'S POLICY.
AND AS A GOOD GO BY, IT KIND OF SETS HOTEL RATES BASED ON THE, THE STATE, UM, RATES.
AND THEN IF YOU STAY IN THE CONFERENCE, HOTEL AT THE CONFERENCE RATE, EVEN IF THAT BREAKS THE, THE NORMAL PER DIEM FOR HOTELS BECAUSE YOU'RE AT THAT CONFERENCE, IT STILL COVERS THAT.
SO YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OTHER ONES WE CAN LOOK AT AS WELL.
BUT IF YOU SEND US THAT STAFF CAN PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.
THIS IS SOMETHING STAFF'S BEEN KICKING AROUND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NEW PERSONNEL POLICY THAT WE WORKED HARD ON, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS INSERT A TRAVEL POLICY WITHIN THAT.
WE REALLY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.
AND I WANNA EMPHASIZE THAT WE'RE NOT BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN ANY LEVEL OF ABUSE.
IT'S JUST, IT WOULD BE NICE FOR US TO HAVE SOME PARAMETERS.
UM, THERE'S TWO MAIN THINGS I'D LIKE TO GET FEEDBACK FROM YOU GUYS ON TONIGHT SO WE'RE NOT SPINNING OUR WHEELS AS A STAFF AND BRINGING SOMETHING OUT TO YOU GUYS THAT YOU DON'T WANT.
BUT FIRST ONE OBVIOUSLY IS THAT HOTEL IDEA.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF CITIES THAT'LL HAVE THAT RADIUS WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE OUTSIDE OF THAT RADIUS, UH, IN ORDER TO STAY IN A HOTEL.
UM, WE COULD DO THAT, BUT WE WANT TO FEEL HOW YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE GO THAT ROUTE.
IF THE IDEA WOULD BE TO STAY, UH, AT A HOTEL DOWNTOWN HOUSTON WHEN THE CONFERENCE IS IN HOUSTON, THEN THAT PRETTY MUCH KILLS THE IDEA OF A RADIUS, I THINK.
RIGHT? UM, AND SO FIRST OF ALL, WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK ABOUT THAT? I'D LIKE TO SEE HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA COST.
'CAUSE I WANT COUNCIL LOOK AT HOW MANY DOLLARS THEY'RE GETTING READY TO SAY YEAH, OKAY.
'CAUSE THEIR NEIGHBORS ARE GONNA READ WHAT GOES ON.
[01:50:01]
SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, MARY JUST SPENDING $459 TO STAY IN A HOTEL DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE FACED WITH, RIGHT? AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY'RE RIGHT NOW AT THE SAME TOKEN, I HATE GOING TO HOUSTON.
I HATE GOING DRIVING DOWN THERE, BUT NOW I'VE GOT THIS THING ON MY PHONE AND I JUST PUSHING.
IT SAYS LIFTING PEOPLE JUST SHOW UP ALL ME DOWN.
BUT THAT'S STILL A HUNDRED BUCKS BY THE TIME YOU CAN DO IT ALL.
SO I MEAN, SO I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A COST ANALYSIS.
BUT RICK, I I WOULD SAY AT THIS POINT I'M INCLINED TO SAY TO COUNCIL IF THEY WANT TO GO DOWNTOWN YOU ALONE, NOT YOU AND YOUR SPOUSE, RIGHT? BUT YOU ALONE GO DOWN AND STAY AT A HOTEL.
IF YOU TAKE YOUR SPOUSE, YOU TAKE IT, YOU PAY FOR 'EM.
BUT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A COST ANALYSIS ON THAT, UH, JUST SO WE CAN BE LOOKING AT IT ON THE FRONT.
AND I, I THINK TIMES HAVE CHANGED.
IT'S A MISERABLE, MISERABLE LIFE TO GO DOWN THERE AND FOCUS THAT.
WELL, I MEAN, IF TML WAS HELD AT THE NEW EPICENTER, I WOULD NEVER ASK FOR THIS.
'CAUSE THAT'S A 15 MINUTE DRIVE.
IT'S JUST A BRUTAL 45 MINUTES IF THERE'S NO ACCIDENTS AND AN HOUR AND A HALF IF THERE IS.
I THINK EVERYBODY HERE IS IN THE SAME BOAT.
SO ARE WE, ARE WE AT THE POINT WHERE WE, SO I, I WILL MOVE TO AMEND THE, UM, TML REP TRAVEL BUDGET FROM $1,250 TO $2,000 FOR THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR.
AND YOU GUYS WANT A BA AT THE NEXT, UH, MEETING TO CHANGE THE BUDGET TO REFLECT THAT? THAT'S FINE.
SO WE'LL HAVE THAT, UM, STAFF PREPARE THAT FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
WITH THAT, WE ARE VOTING ON WITH A, A NOMINATION BY RICK.
DID ANYBODY SECOND? KURT, YOU SECONDED IT TO BUMP IT UP TO $2,000.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE UP THE, I'M SORRY.
THERE SAVING MONEY RIGHT OUT OF THE BAT, AREN'T WE? UH, JUST GIMME 15 SECONDS.
THIS'LL, THIS'LL SAVE US A LOT OF HEADACHE.
LEMME JUST ASK THIS QUESTION REAL QUICK.
WE HAVE NOTHING IN THE POLICY.
HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT PER DIEMS? I HATE 'EM, BUT I'M, I DON'T GET A VOTE.
SO ARE YOU TALKING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OR WHETHER WE DO THEM BOTH? UM, ARE WE STILL AT 25 OR WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT AT ANYTHING.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE SAYING WE NEED A POLICY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY SET LIMITS FOR FOOD.
SO ARE THERE EMPLOYEES ON THEIR OWN FOR MEALS? EMPLOYEES? NO, WE'RE COVERING MEALS RIGHT NOW.
WE JUST, WE JUST MINUS OUT ALCOHOL DIRECT EXPENSE.
JUST YEAH, WE, THEY JUST SUBMIT RECEIPTS FOR THEIR DINNER AND WE PAY IT OUT.
UM, THERE'S NO LIMITS, BUT THERE'S BEEN NO ABUSE THERE.
THERE HAS BEEN NO ABUSE OF THE POLICY.
BUT IF WE'RE CREATING A POLICY, WE WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND GET SOME OF THESE THINGS IN PLACE.
SO WE'RE GETTING A $12 LUNCH AND WE'RE NOW, WE'RE GONNA SAY, WELL, LET'S MAKE X DOLLARS.
SO AS A TAXPAYER, I DON'T LIKE THE COUNTY'S POLICY BECAUSE THEY BASICALLY FORCE US TO TAKE THE FULL PER DIEM.
SO WHEN I GO TO A CONFERENCE, MOST OF THE MEALS ARE PAID FOR.
I'LL USUALLY PUT IN FOR ONE DAY'S WORTH OF PER DIEM.
THEY WILL REJECT IT AND MAKE ME TAKE ALL THREE DAYS.
UM, I DON'T THINK I WANT TO SEE THAT.
UM, I THINK A FAIR NUMBER FOR A PER DIEM AND IF THE RESIDENT OR THE EMPLOYEE DOESN'T SPEND IT BECAUSE HE GOES TO MCDONALD'S FOR THREE TIMES, THREE MEALS A DAY, I REALLY DON'T CARE.
IF THEY POCKET A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY DOING THAT, UM, I THINK A REASONABLE PER DIEM.
IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
IS THAT PER MEAL PER DAY? PER DAY.
AND SEE Y'ALL, THAT'S, THAT'S THREE MCDONALD'S MEALS? YEAH, THAT'S THREE.
SO I, I MIGHT ACTUALLY BE MORE, BUT YOUR, YOUR TRAVEL DAYS, YOU ONLY GET LIKE TWO THIRDS OF IT AND I, THAT'S PART OF THE TRAVEL POLICY I'LL BE SENDING YOU.
UM, SO THAT'S, SO RICK'S SUGGESTING THAT HE IS APPROVING OF, OF A PER DIEM.
DOES REST TO COUNCIL FEEL THAT WAY? WHAT THE MAX IS JUST GO, SORRY.
[01:55:01]
JUST GO WITH EXPENSES AND HAVE A CONTROL OF, UH, WHAT'S REASONABLE? 'CAUSE I, I, I THINK THE PER DIEMS START GETTING COMPLEX AND WE END UP WITH HAVING MAYBE MORE OF THE CITY'S, UH, REVENUE SPENT ON TRACKING, TRACKING IT AND THE TIME TO DO IT.I, TO ME, SINCE THERE'S BEEN NO ABUSE, WE HAVE A CITY ADMINISTRATOR THAT WE TRUST, UH, I THINK HE AND ANNE-MARIE WILL LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, HEY, YOU'VE GOT A BUDGET, UH, THIS IS REASONABLE.
AND, AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE HAVING TO TAKE A, A, SOMEBODY OUT OR HAVING A LUNCH, I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO SAY, OKAY, IT'S GONNA BE THIS.
SO I I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO PER DIEM.
I'VE HAD TO LIVE ON A PER DIEM AND MM-HMM.
SO I, I WOULD SAY LET'S NOT COMPLICATE IT WITH A PER DIEM.
THAT'S, THAT'S JUST MY, AND I'M, AND I'M GOOD WITH DIRECT EXPENSE TOO.
DO WE WANT TO LIKE SET A LIMIT FOR THE DAY OR YOU, YOU PROBABLY WANNA SET A A MAX OF SOME SORT? YEAH, FOR THE, FOR THE MEALS.
SO CITIES WILL REIMBURSE UP TO X NUMBER OF DOLLARS PER DAY FOR FOOD.
YOU KNOW, I I, I DON'T NECESSARILY MIND IF THEY GO TO SALT GRASS FOR AN EVENING DEEP DINNER, BUT MAYBE NOT, UH, PERRIES OR SUCH
THEN WE CAN CREATE SOMETHING THAT, OR FLEMINGS YEAH, WE'LL CREATE SOMETHING THAT SETS FLEMINGS MAXIMUM.
IT, IT, IT'S PROBABLY IT IT IS, YEAH.
WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME THAT WAY AND, AND I DON'T SENSE ANY, YEAH, WE HAVEN'T HAD ISSUES, SO YEAH.
I MEAN WE, WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF MAKING SURE WE KEEP ALCOHOL OFF THE, OFF THE BILL, SO, OKAY, SO WE'RE DONE WITH THAT.
IS THAT CORRECT? DID WE VOTE? YES.
WELL, WE'LL BRING YOU A, A POLICY.
ITEM NUMBER NINE, DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, RESCHEDULE THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO DECEMBER 19TH, 2023 DUE TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE THE MEETING? SO, MOTION BY TIA.
ANY DISCUSSION? ANY OPPOSED? HEARING NONE.
UH, WE ARE AT THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND BY TIA.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? OKAY, GOOD.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS FOR NOT, ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND VISIT WITH COUNSEL FOR THREE MINUTES, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DO SO AT THIS TIME.
ANYBODY WANT TO COME UP AND TALK TO COUNSEL GOING ONCE? EMILY, YOU SURE? OKAY.
ITEM TWO OR GONE? MOVING ON TO ITEM G.
UM, WE'RE NOW GOING TO RECESS THIS MEETING.
WE'RE GONNA BE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
YOU'RE FREE TO WAIT HERE IF YOU WANT.
UH, COUNSEL, UH, WE'RE GONNA MEET IN ABOUT, UH, FOUR MINUTES.
GIVE US TIME TO STOP AT THE BATHROOM.
IS THIS OKAY? CAMERON WAIVED HIS MAGIC SIGN.
OKAY, COUNCIL, IT'S NINE 14 NOW AND WE ARE THE RE WE ARE GONNA RECONVENE THE REGULAR SESSION.
WE'RE MOVING ON TO, UH, ITEM ONE, DISCUSS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION REGARDING VA ROOM'S REQUEST TO TERMINATE THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY.
UM, WE HAVE DECIDED NOT TO TERMINATE THE AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY AND IN FACT HAVE A, UH, MOTION IN FRONT THAT, UH, WE'RE GONNA PROPOSE.
DAVID, YOU GONNA PROPOSE IT? YES.
SO, UM, PART OF WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE FACT THAT WE FELT THAT, UM, WITH A ANOTHER YEAR STILL ON THERE, UH, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BUSINESS IS CHANGING AND THINGS ARE DOING, BUT WE STILL FEEL LIKE THERE IS A CONTRACT HERE AND WE'RE DISCUSSING WITH OUR LAWYER, WE HAVE A ANOTHER YEAR'S WORTH OF, UH, REVENUE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR AGREEMENT.
UH, $10,000 A MONTH OR $120,000.
WE ALL AGREED THAT UNDERSTANDING THE SITUATION, UH, WE WOULD, UH, SETTLE, UH, HAVE A SETTLEMENT FOR LESS THAN THAT.
AND THE NUMBER WE CAME UP WITH TONIGHT WAS $80,000.
[02:00:01]
WHERE WE WANNA, UH, COMMUNICATE THAT TO YOU AND, UH, TO THE, UH, TO THE ROOM COMPANY.AND, UH, WITH THAT, UH, OPEN IT UP TO COMMENTS, DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS, COUNSEL, ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS? OTHERWISE, PATRICK, PLEASE STEP UP AND VISIT WITH US.
GET PRETTY CLOSE TO IT IF YOU WOULD.
ALRIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR, UH, AT LEAST COMING BACK AND, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, I I ENJOYED THE MEETING BY THE WAY.
UH, WE WERE JUST, UH, WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING, UH, AS THE ONLY PRIVATELY OWNED PUBLIC PARK OPERATOR IN MEADOWS PLACE, I WAS REALLY FASCINATED WITH THE DISCUSSION ON, UH, RULES FOR PARKS.
I WAS THINKING IF WE WERE GONNA STILL BE OPERATING THE PARK, IT'D BE GREAT.
COULD WE INCORPORATE, INCORPORATE WHATEVER RULES YOU COME UP WITH INTO THE PARK? BUT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I'LL, I'LL TAKE THAT OFFER BACK, UH, TO OUR COMPANY.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE JUST UNDERSTANDING OUR RATIONALE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE PERMIT IS A, IS A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR USE HAS ENDED AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THEREFORE THERE'S REALLY NO USE FOR THE PERMIT.
I, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES ME WONDER IF WE STAY IN THIS, UH, UH, AGREEMENT, DOES IT PREVENT YOU FROM, YOU KNOW, PERMITTING ANOTHER USE? LIKE DO I, IF I HAVE A PERMIT ON THE PLACE, DO I CONTROL, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT GOES ON IN THE PLACE EVEN THOUGH I DON'T HAVE A LEASE? UM, YOU KNOW, SO THERE ARE SOME ODDITIES ABOUT IT.
I, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THE AGREEMENT AND, YOU KNOW, EVERY BIT OF IT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHOEVER WAS, WAS HERE WITH VROOM AND DID THE DEAL, UM, THERE WAS PROBABLY AN ERROR BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD EVER, UH, YOU KNOW, GO INTO AN AGREEMENT THAT WASN'T CO-TERMINUS OR, OR WOULD HAVE WORDING THAT SAID LIKE THE EARLIER OF, YOU KNOW, LEASE AND OR, UM, THAT DATE.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S AN UNFORTUNATE THING ABOUT, UH, THE DEAL.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING ABOUT IT THAT, THAT IN, UH, RESEARCHING THE WHOLE THING AND WE HAD THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE, UM, THE REBATE OF MONTHLY TAXES THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPENING AND THE CITY WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO MONTHLY, UM, YOU KNOW, SEND US THOSE TAX SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENTS FOR TAX GENERATED ON THAT PROPERTY, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE THE ADVANCED AUTO PARTS STORE, THE NAPA STORE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO PULL TOGETHER SOME FIGURES ON WHAT THEIR SALES WERE AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, SINCE 2018, LIKE THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF SALES, LIKE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR OF, UH, OF SALES COMING OUT OF THOSE.
THE SADDLE SHOP AND ITS RELATED BUSINESSES, UM, I THINK ARE PROBABLY PRETTY, PRETTY BIG REVENUE STREAMS. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA STAY IN THIS AGREEMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD REALLY FEEL THE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AND, AND GO BACK AND, AND RECONCILE.
UM, AND, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE AGREEMENT ALREADY, UM, IT TALKS ABOUT REALLY IN THE CASE WHERE IF SALES TAX BEING GENERATED THERE EXCEEDED 10,000 A MONTH, WE WOULD ACTUALLY STOP PAYMENT.
SO WE WOULD GET A REIMBURSEMENT.
WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET A REIMBURSEMENT NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS, BUT IN THE EVENT IT EXCEEDED 10,000 FOR THREE MONTHS, WE WOULD, IT DIRECTS US THAT WE WOULD STOP PAYMENT UNTIL IT CAUGHT BACK UP OR, YOU KNOW, AND IF IT ALWAYS EXCEEDED IT, I SUPPOSE, YOU KNOW, WE NEVER WOULD'VE, UM, PAID.
AND, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHERE THAT ENDS UP.
I, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A FEELING WE'RE GOING TO DO A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST AND, YOU KNOW, FIND OUT WHAT WERE THE SALES TAX TAX, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WERE GENERATED IN THE TIME PERIOD OF, OF THIS AGREEMENT AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, SO IN THE ANSWER TO SETTLING FOR 80,000, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA NEED THE ANSWERS ON, UH, ON WHAT WAS THAT SALES TAX REVENUE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT.
AND, UM, I, I WILL SAY THAT, UH, I'M, I'M SITTING HERE WITH CLEAR CONSCIENCE THAT WE DIDN'T, UH, FORGET TO, UH,
[02:05:01]
REIMBURSE.OKAY? AND, UH, WHEN YOU DO COME FORTH WITH AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST FOR THAT INFORMATION, I THINK YOU'LL BE SURPRISED AT THE FIGURES THAT YOU SEE, UM, AND KNOW AGAIN THAT CITY OF MEADOWS PLACE HAS MET ITS OBLIGATIONS.
UM, SO WITH THAT, DO, DOES THAT MEAN THAT YOU DID YOU WERE PAYING THOSE? DO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN YOU WERE PAYING? WELL, I'M GONNA KICK THIS TO LEGAL COUNSEL.
WE CAN'T DISCLOSE, AND A PUBLIC RECORD TO US PROBABLY WILL COME BACK WITH NO INFORMATION BECAUSE IT'S THE STATE INFORMATION.
THERE'S NEGOTIATIONS THAT WE CAN DO, UM, BUT WE'LL NEED TO FULLY VET THAT GOING FORWARD.
AND I REALIZE WE, WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
THAT'S WHY WE CAME BACK AT 80,000 INSTEAD OF THE ONE 20 AND, AND JUST WHATEVER YOU TALK TO YOUR SIDE, CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THROUGH NICK AND YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHERE THIS GOES.
I, I REALIZE I NEED TO MAKE A REQUEST TO THE STATE, RIGHT? AND I'VE ALREADY GOT THE, THE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE TAX, UH, SALES TAX, YOU KNOW, REGISTRATION NUMBERS THAT ARE RIGHT.
AFFILIATED WITH THAT ADDRESS AND, AND YOU KNOW, I'LL PROBABLY MAKE THE REQUEST BOTH HERE AND AT THE STATE.
UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN YOU GET YOUR SALES TAX REVENUE FROM THE STATE IF IT EVEN SHOWS WHAT IT'S BROKEN DOWN INTO OR NOT.
BUT, UH, BUT ANYWAY, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE CONSIDERATION OF THIS AND UH, IN THE, THE SHORT TIME I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, I'VE, UH, ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT THE, THE CITY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, EVEN ENJOYED THIS MEETING
SO ANYWAY, SO, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UH, REQUEST IS REALLY THAT WE ARE LOOKING OUT, AS YOU'RE LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR, FOR VROOM AND THE SHAREHOLDERS OF ROOM, WE'RE LOOKING OUT FOR THE CITIZENS OF MEADOWS PLACE, AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A AGREEMENT THAT SAYS, UH, IT'S ANOTHER YEAR AND I REALIZE IT DIDN'T COINCIDE WITH THE LEASE, WHICH I THINK WE KIND OF ALL SCRATCH OUR HEADS, BUT VROOM WAS THE ONE WHO SIGNED IT TWO YEARS AGO IN, IN 20 20 11.
AND SO TWICE, UH, UH, I THINK TEXAS AUTO MAYBE DID THE FIRST TIME IN VROOM THE SECOND TIME.
ANYWAY, I I, I DO THINK THAT, UM, WE'RE TRYING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITIZENS AND, AND WE THINK THAT, UH, A NEGOTIATION, UH, IS IN LINE WITH THAT, UH, VERSUS JUST ACCEPTING YOU TO WALK AWAY.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT AND IF YOU'RE GONNA PUT IN A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST WITH CITY METALS PLACE TO DEAL WITH COURTNEY RUTHERFORD, OUR CITY SECRETARY.
THAT'S WHO HANDLES THAT FOR US.
AND COURTNEY WILL BE HERE TOMORROW IF I COME IN? YES.
YEAH, SHE MAY COME IN A LITTLE BIT LATE, BUT, UH, SAID, I SAID YEAH, YOU'LL BE HERE AT SIX 30 IN THE MORNING AND DEFINITELY ANY, PRETTY MUCH ANY OF THE CLERKS SHOULD SHOOT ME AN EMAIL.
PRETTY MUCH ANY OF THE CLERKS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE FORM AND THEN ONCE YOU FILL THE FORM OUT, IT'LL BE GIVEN TO COURT OR JUST SEND HER AN EMAIL.
OUR, OUR FORM IS ON THE WEBSITE OR YOU CAN SIMPLY SEND ME AN EMAIL WITH WHAT YOU'RE REQUESTING.
YEAH, WE'RE EASY TO WORK WITH AND, AND I WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT SINCE YOU'VE TAKEN OVER, UM, WE HAVE APPRECIATED WORKING WITH VARUN ON THINGS, WHEREAS MUCH MORE SO THAN BEFORE.
AND WITH THAT, I'M GONNA CALL THIS MEETING ADJOURN.