Aug 20, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting

ALRIGHT, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBI IS SECONDED BY MAYOR PRO 10 THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER ONE, IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

IS CITIZEN COMMENTS, PERIOD.

NEXT UP

[III) Citizen Comment Period with City Council]

AT THIS TIME WE ASK ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON ANY ITEM TO PLEASE DO SO.

WE ASK THAT YOU LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND THAT YOU DIRECT THOSE COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

WE ALSO ASK THAT YOU FILL OUT A CITIZEN COMMENTS FORM AND SUBMIT THAT TO EITHER MYSELF OR THE CITY'S SECRETARY.

I HAVE SEVERAL REGISTERED TO SPEAK.

FIRST UP IS MR. TIM MILLER.

I ALREADY GAVE.

UH, NEXT UP IS JASON PAYNE UNDER MAYOR MIDWOOD CITY.

COUNCIL'S ME AGAIN, UH, .

I'M, UH, HERE TO, UH, ONLY TALK ABOUT OUR VFW, UM, US SERVICE VETERANS DOG, UH, OUR US VETERANS DOG.

UM, TELL US ON IT.

WE HAVE GOING ON AT 31ST AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET AS MUCH AS THE COMMUNITY AND STUFF OUT THERE.

UH, THIS IS THE, UH, SECOND TELETHON THAT THE VFW HAS HOSTED, UH, WITH THE US VETERAN SERVICE DOG PROGRAM.

AND LAST YEAR IT GRADUATED, LIKE I SAID, SEVEN DOGS TO GO TOWARD THE, UM, VETERANS IN NEED.

AND THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING TO HOPEFULLY GET NINE TO THE VETERANS.

AND THIS IS ONLY FOR TEXAS.

THIS IS OUR ONLY TEXAS DEAL.

SO IT HELPS OUR TEXAS VETERANS AND THE, OUR COMMUNITY AND THESE SERVICE DOGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

'CAUSE IT GIVES THEM THE CAPABILITIES OF BEING ABLE TO GO IN AND INTRODUCE THEMSELVES BACK INTO THE PUBLIC, BACK INTO LIFE.

IT GIVES THEM THE PROTECTION.

YOU'VE SEEN.

UH, STEVE COOK COME A LOT OF TIMES WITH ME, WITH GUFFY, THAT'S HIS SERVICE DOG.

HE WANTED TO BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT HE HAD OTHER ENGAGEMENTS.

IT'S A VERY PASSIONATE DEAL BECAUSE HE WAS PRETTY MUCH LOCKED IN AT THE POST OR HIS HOUSE UNTIL HE RECEIVED A GUPPY.

AND GUPPY IS LIKE A PART OF HIM AND GETS HIM TO WHERE HE CAN ACTUALLY GO AROUND PLAYING POKEMON NOW AND STUFF OUT IN PUBLIC.

IT'S WEIRD FOR A MALE OF HIS AGE, BUT WE'LL LET IT BE.

UH, IT DOES GET HIM OUT IN PUBLIC.

SO IT'S, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM AND I ENCOURAGE ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY TO COME TO US OR LOOK US UP ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE ON AUGUST 31ST, UM, FOR THE, UH, OUR TELETHON THAT WE'RE HAVING.

AND SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET A LOT OF MONEY AND GET THOSE SERVICE DOGS GRADUATED AND TO THOSE, UH, WORTHY VETERANS THAT PRETTY MUCH ARE AT HOME NOT BEING ABLE TO LIVE THEIR LIVES.

THANK YOU MR. PAYNE.

UH, NEXT UP IS HOWARD CONNELL.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

COUNCIL.

WHERE'S MY TOWN HALL? WHERE'S MY MEETING? TWO, TWO WEEKS AGO, YOU AND I SHOOK HANDS RIGHT THERE AND SAID, LET'S DO IT.

HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YOU.

START OFF BY THANKING MICHAEL TOBIAS FOR TAKING CARE OF OUR DISCUSSING FOUNTAIN OVER HERE, THE CITY.

I KNOW IT WASN'T YOUR DISTRICT, BUT YOU TOOK UP THE SLACK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. RIZZO.

YOU SHOWED UP LATE, UM, FOR A PHOTO OP.

UM, OH, MR. ER AND I HAVE FINALLY DECIDED THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE CONVERSATION TOMORROW AT THE PARK.

I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BEAR, AFTER TWO YEARS OF STRUGGLING, WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT HAPPEN AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

SWAPPING OUT THE REALTOR.

UM, ON JUNE 6TH, THERE'S A SPECIAL MEETING HERE AND ONE OF THE, UH, ISSUES THAT CAME UP THAT'S GONNA BE, UH, THREE MONTHS IN 18 DAYS THAT WE HAD THIS MEETING HERE.

AND, UM, COUNCILMAN Z UM, BROUGHT UP THE REALTOR, OUR ORDAINED REALTOR ABOUT

[00:05:01]

ROBERT RIZZO.

YOU SPOKE VERY ELOQUENTLY SITTING NEXT TO THE MAYOR ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO GIVE OTHER REALTORS A CHANCE.

WHAT'S THE STATUS ON THAT? WHAT'S THE STATUS? WELL, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.

YOU MADE A COMMENT THAT SAYS, I DON'T WANT THE COUNCIL INVOLVED IN THIS.

I DON'T WANNA SEE US INVOLVED IN IT, SO WE'RE GONNA LEAVE IT TO THE CITY MANAGER.

WHAT'S THE STATUS? SAME OLD SONG, DIFFERENT DAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT STEP.

BETTY CONLEY.

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS BETTY CONLEY.

I LIVE AT 87 EAGLE CREEK DRIVE IN LAKESIDE COMMUNITY.

FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA THANK MIGUEL AND ALL OF YOU CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER FOR BRINGING THE AGENDA UP ABOUT THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE STUDY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE DIS WITH DISABILITIES.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT FROM WHAT I TALKED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT SOME THINGS FOR, UH, DISABILITY, UH, PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF CAL.

AND I APPRECIATE MIGUEL BRINGING THIS UP AND YOU ALL TAKING THE TIME TO DO A STUDY.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

I ALSO WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT CAS IS PARTNERED WITH THE LIBRARY TOMORROW FOR SENIOR CITIZENS DAY LUNCHEON, WHICH IS AT 11:00 PM UH, HONORING ALL OUR SENIORS OF CAL.

AND, UM, TO LEAVE THAT WE ALSO ARE HAVING A REMEMBRANCE DAY ON THE 29TH OF AUGUST IS FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE FAMILY MEMBER OR A FRIEND.

UH, PLEASE JOIN US ON THE 29TH AT 6:00 PM OVER AT THE KRUG BUILDING.

AND ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE CALENDAR FROM OUR NEWSLETTER BUT CAN'T GET THERE, WE HAVE IT ONLINE@UHCAS.ORG.

UNDERSTAND WHY, WHETHER IT WAS THIS COUNCIL OR TWO, THREE YEARS WHEN THAT THOSE SUBDIVISIONS WERE BUILT, WHY YOU GUYS DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THAT.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, MARLYS.

GOOD EVENING.

MARTHA LYONS AT 9 0 1 WEST HAY STREET.

AND THERE'S ONE THING I'M NOT GONNA THANK YOU FOR IS FOR TWO DAYS AFTER I SPOKE ON THAT TUESDAY, YOU GUYS WOKE ME UP VERY EARLY.

THERE WAS AN EIGHT MAN CREW OUT THERE WEED EATING AND MOWING THE GRASS AND GETTING RID OF THAT MANMADE DAM THAT WAS THERE ON THE SWAMP THAT I SPOKE ABOUT.

SO I HOPE THAT'S GONNA HELP.

I DON'T KNOW, I'LL CONTINUE TO KEEP SPRAYING MY BACKYARD, BUT I WASN'T JUST SPEAKING FOR MYSELF.

THERE ARE A LOT OF AREAS HERE IN KYLE THAT MIGHT NEED SOME CLEANING UP AND MAYBE EVEN MORE ATTENTION TO DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE MOSQUITOES.

I BELIEVE SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER ARE SOME OF THE WORST TIMES BEFORE THE NEXT SEASON COMES AROUND.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS VOTED FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO TAKE A LOOK INTO GETTING SOME BIDS AND QUOTES.

AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU GUYS TALK TO THE GUY THAT TAKES CARE OF MY BACKYARD.

AND I'M NOT GETTING ANY KICKBACKS FOR MENTIONING IT.

BUT, UH, THEY ARE THE MOSQUITO HUNTERS OF HAY TEXAS, OF HAYES COUNTY.

THE GUY IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE.

I UNDERSTAND MS. HARRIS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENVIRONMENT, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE GREEN DEAL STUFF THAT GOES ON.

BUT THERE'S WAYS TO DO IT SAFELY.

SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU GUYS WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING AND UH, I'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT SWAMP TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

WE MAY HAVE TO IRRIGATE IT AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER.

BUT ANYWAY, THANKS, THANKS AGAIN FOR THAT.

UM, THE OTHER THING I WANNA MENTION, AND I KIND OF DON'T WANNA LOOK AT YOU GUYS 'CAUSE I WAS VERY EMOTIONAL.

I DON'T HAVE THE AGENDA.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BEING BROUGHT UP TODAY, BUT THAT OLD DOG, OAK TREE ON OLD STAGE COACH ROAD WAS MENTIONED TODAY, AND MY HEART IS BREAKING.

A LOT OF Y'ALL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT TREE MEANS TO A LOT OF THESE OLDER RESIDENTS.

AND I'M SURE AS TIME GO BY GOES BY, THE NEWCOMERS WON'T GAIN ANY KNOWLEDGE.

THE, THE, UH, CHILDREN OF THE OLD TIMERS LIKE ME WON'T CARE ABOUT IT.

BUT I FEEL THAT TREE SHOULD BE SAVED REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH IT COSTS.

IF IT DIES, IT DIES.

MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN PLANT IT OVER BY THE SWAMP BEHIND MY HOUSE.

OKAY? BUT I, I'VE BEEN VERY EMOTIONAL OVER IT AND I DON'T

[00:10:01]

YOU KNOW, WHY YOU DIDN'T THINK, HEY, THESE 5, 6, 10 HOUSES HERE, WE'RE NOT GONNA BUILD THEM UP TO THAT ROAD BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BUILD AROUND THAT TREE.

THAT MEANS THAT TREE MEANS A LOT TO ME.

AND I HOPE YOU GUYS WILL TAKE THE TIME WE'RE, WE'RE BUYING MILLION DOLLAR BUILDINGS, WHY NOT? THANK YOU.

ORDINANCE AND I AM GOING TO ASK THAT YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT ADDING THE ALLOWANCE OF LED LIGHTS OR LED SIGNS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS STEPHANIE MCDONALD.

GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, UNDER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 24, THE BUDGET, THE COUNCIL TO STOP ALLOWING THE OUT OF CONTROL RAISES FOR OUR CITY ADMINISTRATORS.

I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND EMPLOYEES, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER POSITION AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS.

THREE YEARS AGO, THEY WERE GIVEN A 20% RAISE TO BRING THEM UP TO LEVEL, TO THE LEVEL OF OTHER CITY SALARIES.

THIS ACTUALLY WAS AN OBSCENE RAISE TO RECEIVE IN ONE YEAR'S TIME.

ON TOP OF THAT, ALL DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ALSO RECEIVE A $500 A MONTH GAS STIPEND AND A THOUSAND DOLLARS HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT CARD.

WHY DO THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS NEED A GAS STIPEND? THAT IS ABOUT $125 EVERY WEEK.

THEN THE NEXT YEAR THEY GOT A 6% RAISE, AND THEN NEXT YEAR THEY GOT A 4% RAISE.

THAT'S A 30% RAISE IN THREE YEARS.

IF YOU LOOK AT SIMILAR CITIES IN THE AREA, YOU'LL FIND THAT KYLE'S ADMINISTRATORS EARN FAR MORE THAN THOSE IN COMPARABLE CITIES.

IN FACT, OUR CITY MANAGER'S SALARIES OVER TWO TIMES THAT OF OUR GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.

AND HE HAS QUITE, I'D SAY DARE SAY, A FEW MORE RESPONSIBILITIES THAN OUR CITY MANAGER.

OUR CITY MANAGER EARNS ABOUT $340,000 A YEAR, PLUS ALL OF HIS BENEFITS.

OUR DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS ARE MAKING MORE THAN DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS OF SIMILAR CITIES THAT HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES THAN THE CITY OF KYLE.

THIS COMING BUDGET, THE CITY MANAGERS ASKING FOR A FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT RAISE THAT HE AND THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS WILL RECEIVE.

THAT'S TOO HIGH.

THEY EARN MORE THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THEY HAVE MORE JOB SECURITY.

THIS NEEDS TO BE REIGNED IN.

I CHECKED IN THE CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS, UH, CITY MANAGER.

THEY HAVE 117,000 PEOPLE THERE.

HE GETS 290,000 A YEAR.

I'M ALSO ABOUT THE SPORTS COMPLEX.

I KNOW THAT WE TABLED THAT, UM, PULLED IT BACK, BUT I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO GO.

INSTEAD OF GOING TO SOMEWHERE LIKE CARMEL, GO DOWN TO NEW BRAUNFELS, GO DOWN TO SAN MARCOS, LOOK AT THEIR ACTIVITY CENTERS, SOMETHING SIMILAR, NOT THE SAME THING, BUT SHOULD BE BUILT ON THE EAST SIDE OF KYLE.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THESE CITIES AND GET INSPIRED.

THE ONLY BARRIER TO HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN KYLE IS THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL.

I'M URGING THE COUNCIL TO PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO OUR URGENT NEEDS.

THE MAYOR SAID OUR MOST PRESSING NEED IS A SPORTSPLEX, BUT I DISAGREE.

ROADS, SUFFICIENT WATER, AVOIDING ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL PRESSURES TO RESIDENTS DURING THIS TIME WHEN OUR COUNTRY HAS EXTREME INFLATION, SHOULD BE OUR TOP PRIORITY.

WE NEED TO KEEP OUR CITY AFFORDABLE BY NOT RAISING WATER, WASTEWATER RATES, PROPERTY TAXES, AND WE ALSO EXPECT CITY LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP TO STOP OUTRAGEOUS SPENDING.

I APPRECIATE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO BE US IN ZUNIGAS EFFORTS IN THIS AREA.

WE EXPECT ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AND RESPONSIBLE SPENDING.

PLEASE TREAT THE CITY'S MONEY AS IF IT WERE COMING OUT OF YOUR OWN BANK ACCOUNT.

AND ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE NOT HELD A RECENT TOWN HALL, HALL MEANING I I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SCHEDULE ONE.

IT'S HARD TO RESPECT THOSE THAT ARE HIDING FROM THE RESIDENCE.

THAT MEANS YOU HAVE A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE RESIDENTS OF KYLE.

WE'RE GIVE WE'RE PUTTING A LOT OF ATTENTION ON YOUR ACTIONS.

IT IS NICE TO BE ABLE TO WALK UP TO THE PODIUM.

UM, MY , UM, HELLO MAYOR.

MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS TRACY SHIELD AND I COME TO YOU AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE WATERLOO FALLS, HOA.

UM, RIGHT NOW THE CITY IS DOING A REWRITE OF THE SIGN

[00:15:01]

THEY ARE A LOT MORE, UH, SOPHISTICATED THAN THEY WERE WHEN WE TOOK THAT OUT OF THE SIGN ORDINANCE.

UM, BUT AT, AT, AS IT IS NOW, EACH OF THE HOAS WHO HAVE SOME KIND OF SIGNAGE HAS TO HAVE SOMEBODY GO OUT AND CHANGE THE LETTERS FOR EACH MONTH OR EACH TIME.

AND WE'RE LIMITED ON SPACE.

AND FOR LIKE OUR HOA, IF WE DON'T PUT OUT WHAT DAYS THE RECYCLING IS AND WHAT DAYS THE COMPOST IS, WE WILL GET NOTIFIED.

SO IT TAKES UP AT LEAST HALF OF OUR SIGNS.

UM, AND SO WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROMOTE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOT ONLY IN OUR, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT IN OUR CITY.

AND EVEN, YOU KNOW, WE COULD PUT ON THERE THINGS FOR THE, UH, VFW AND THE AMVETS OR WHATEVER ORGANIZATION THAT WILL HELP, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR RESIDENTS AND KNOW ABOUT THE CITY.

THEY ARE DIMMABLE NOW.

SO I KNOW THAT WAS THE ONE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS WAS THE, THE LIGHT POLLUTION.

THEY ARE NOW DIMMABLE WHERE WE CAN DIM THEM AT, AT A CERTAIN TIME EVERY NIGHT TO 25%, 50, WHATEVER.

SO THAT HELPS REDUCE THE LIGHT, UM, POLLUTION.

AND AS I SAID, IT DOES, UH, HELP US PROMOTE, YOU KNOW, THINGS WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WITHIN THE CITY AND, UM, LET OUR RESIDENTS KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITHOUT KNOCKING ON EVERYBODY'S DOOR, MAKING THEM OPEN THE DOOR AND SAY, HEY, DID YOU KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING? UM, AND I JUST HAD ANOTHER THOUGHT ABOUT THAT.

SORRY, .

BUT, UM, SO WE JUST ASK THAT YOU LOOK AT THAT AND MAYBE KIND OF THINK ABOUT PROMOTING THAT, UM, TO ALLOW FOR US TO DO THAT.

THERE'S WHERE MY, WHERE MY THOUGHT WAS BECAUSE THE CITY HAS LED SIGNS, NOT JUST THE TEMPORARY ONES THAT YOU GUYS CAN PUT OUT, BUT YOU GUYS USE THE BILLBOARDS ON I 35 AND NOW WITH TWO STEP, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE AN LED SIGN, SUPPOSEDLY, YOU KNOW, FROM THEIR RENDERINGS ON THAT WATER TOWER, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE AN LED SIGN.

SO WE'RE ASKING FOR THE HOAS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU MS. SHE, THAT'S ALL THE CITIZEN COMMENTS FORMS THAT I HAVE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK? THANK YOU.

MY NAME'S YVONNE FLORES KEL, FOR THE RECORD.

UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO YOU GUYS FOR THE CLOSED CAPTIONS.

UM, I'M SEEING THAT ON THE TV AND UM, ACTUALLY IT'S KINDA DISTRACTED ME.

I'M READING IT AS .

IT'S NICE.

SO THANK YOU.

UM, I KNOW THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AT THE LAST MEETING BY, UM, A RESIDENT WHO WAS, UM, A DA, UM, HE WAS DEAF.

SO , I WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT.

UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO PULL AND HAVE A DISCUSSION REGARDING THE AGENDA.

ITEM NUMBER 21.

UM, I BELIEVE THERE IS, UH, THERE ARE TWO CONFLICTS THAT EXIST AND I HOPE THAT GETS DISCUSSED.

FINALLY, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE TREE.

UH, I THINK $800,000 IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

UM, AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU GUYS PULLED SEVERAL QUOTES FOR THAT.

UM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DON'T THINK OUR HISTORY HAS AN AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN PUT TO IT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE REMEMBER WHAT OUR CITY WAS.

UM, SO MUCH OF OUR DOWNTOWN IS NOW GONE, AND UNFORTUNATELY YOU CAN'T BRING THAT BACK.

AND SO IF NOTHING ELSE, YOU GUYS TRIED TO DO ALL YOU CAN TO EITHER PRESERVE OR MOVE THE TREE.

UM, AND THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

MATTHEW GONZALEZ, DEPARTMENT MANAGER HAYES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

ALRIGHT, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT, SEEING NONE, I'M GONNA CLOSE.

CITIZEN COMMENTS.

IT'S NOW CLOSED.

[2) Agenda Order per Rules of Council Sec. B1.]

UP IS AGENDA ORDER.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ITEMS THEY WISH TO MOVE AROUND ON THE AGENDA? UH, ALRIGHT, STEVEN? UH, 21, SIR.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL, THAT'S ON THE CONSENT, SO YOU OKAY.

WE CAN PULL IT.

YEAH, WE PULL.

SO ALL NEXT UP, WE HAVE A COUPLE COMMISSIONERS

[3) Receive a presentation on the Hays County Health Department updated strategic plan.]

HERE.

UH, AGENDA ITEM NUMBER THREE, RECEIVE A PRESENTATION ON THE HAYES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

UPDATED, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN.

GOOD MORNING, OR GOOD MORNING.

GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL.

MY DAY'S KIND OF THROWN OFF.

UH, MY NAME IS MATTHEW GONZALEZ.

I'M THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT MANAGER FOR THE HAYES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

WE ARE THE LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY FOR HAYES COUNTY.

UM, JOINING ME TODAY, UM, HERE IS COMMISSIONER INGLESBY OF PRECINCT ONE AND ALSO COMMISSIONER MICHELLE COHEN OF PRECINCT TWO, UM, WHO BOTH HAVE SOME OVERLAP OF THE AREAS OF KYLE.

SO TODAY I'M JUST GONNA HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ABOUT, UM, THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

BUT THINGS ARE SPECIFIC TOWARDS OUR RELATIONSHIP AS A COUNTY AND CITY,

[00:20:01]

UM, AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY THAT GOES WITH IT.

UM, SO I'M GONNA BE SKIPPING AROUND 'CAUSE I WANNA BE MINDFUL OF Y'ALL'S TIME TODAY.

I KNOW THAT Y'ALL HAVE A BUSY AGENDA.

UM, SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA CUT SOME OF THE SLIDES HERE.

SO THE FIRST THING I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE AND TALK ABOUT IS WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH? UH, PUBLIC HEALTH IS ABOUT PRO UH, PROMOTING AND MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE WELLBEING OF OUR CITIZENS AND OUR RESIDENTS WITHIN OUR COUNTY.

UM, PREVIOUSLY PUBLIC HEALTH USED TO BE THOUGHT OF PRIMARILY WITHIN THE PHYSICAL MEANS, SO OF OUR WELLBEING WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASES, UM, AND OUR HEALTHY OUTCOMES WITH THAT.

BUT AS TIME HAS EVOLVED, AND AS WE'RE ALL AWARE, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE CITY OF KYLE, IS THAT PUBLIC HEALTH NOW, UH, RELATES TO MENTAL HEALTH, WE WANNA THINK ABOUT ALL THE ASPECTS.

AND WE DON'T THINK ABOUT JUST THE PHYSICAL THINGS THAT IMPACT HUMAN BEINGS, BUT WE THINK ABOUT THE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT IN WHICH, UM, HUMANS LIVE.

SO WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT PLANNING AND HOW IT IMPACTS HUMANS.

WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT, UM, THE WEATHER AND HOW IT IMPACTS US.

UM, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT GO INTO PUBLIC HEALTH THAT MANY JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.

UM, SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS EVENTUALLY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER THAT MAY HELP Y'ALL KIND OF THINK ABOUT, OH, HEY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS PUBLIC HEALTH.

I'M GONNA SKIP OVER THE CORE FUNCTIONS IN ESSENTIAL, UM, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES.

BUT JUST GIVE A BRIEF MOMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS AT HOME IF THEY WANNA PAUSE IT AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE CORE FUNCTIONS OF PUBLIC HEALTH ARE.

UM, AND THEN THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES, THERE'S 10 OF THEM.

UM, THESE ARE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS THAT WE PROVIDE AND SERVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, THE NEXT THING THAT I WANNA TALK ABOUT IS WHY PUBLIC HEALTH MATTERS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, EMERGENCIES HAPPEN, WHETHER MANMADE OR NATURAL PUBLIC HEALTH PLAYS A COMPONENT END THOSE.

AND SO WE ALWAYS WANNA HELP OUR COMMUNITY BE PREPARED.

UM, WE WANNA FOCUS ON PREVENTION, UH, HEALTH EQUITY, WHICH MEANS THAT, UM, EVERY RESIDENT WITHIN OUR COUNTY AND WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES CAN ATTAIN THE BEST HEALTH OUTCOMES THAT THERE ARE FOR THEM.

UH, COMMUNITY WELLBEING, ENSURING THAT EVERYBODY HAS A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND THE CAPABILITY TO ENJOY THEIR ENVIRONMENTS, BUT ALSO ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT TENDS TO FALL OUT OF THE MIND OF INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH, UM, IS THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS.

UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY WORKFORCE, THEN WE DON'T HAVE A HEALTHY ECONOMY.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE EMPHASIZING ON THE PREVENTION OF, UM, NEGATIVE OUTCOMES TO OUR INDIVIDUALS TO KEEP OUR ECONOMY FLOWING.

SO THE NEXT THING, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE ERRORS HERE, IT SEEMS LIKE OUR, WE DID OUR PRESENTATION IN CANVA.

SO THAT'S THE EXPLANATION FOR SOME OF THE GRAPHICS THAT ARE WRONG HERE.

UM, SO COVID-19 WITH THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS, UH, AS WE ALL KNOW, AND I DON'T LIKE TO TAKE US BACK TO COVID-19, BUT COVID-19 DID HAPPEN.

IT DID EXIST, AND IT LED TO A LOT OF DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT SPACES WHERE WE LIVED WORK AND PLAYED, UM, SUCH AS SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, WE NOTICED THAT OUR CHILDREN HAD A LARGE LEARNING LOSS AND WE ALSO, UM, REALIZED THAT OUR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATIONS FACE A LOT OF REMOTE LEARNING CHALLENGES, UM, AND MENTAL HEALTH INDIVIDUALS FACE INCREASED ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND LONELINESS.

IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THE SURGEON GENERAL OF THE US RECENTLY, UM, DECLARED LONELINESS AS AN ISSUE IN THE, UM, UNITED STATES AND HEALTHCARE.

UH, IT WAS A STRAIN ON OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT BETTER WAY TO SAY IT, BECAUSE ALMOST EVERY INCH OF THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WAS TESTED, UM, IN COVID-19.

UM, AND THEN THE ECONOMY, AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE WAS AN ECO, UM, ECONOMIC DOWNTURN THAT OCCURRED.

AND I KNOW I'M GOING FAST, BUT I PROMISE I WANNA GET Y'ALL AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE HERE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO SAY COVID-19 POSITIVE IMPACTS.

AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CANVA FORMAT THAT OCCURRED.

UM, BUT WHAT WE SAW WAS THAT THE SCHOOLS WAS INCREASED HYGIENE, UM, HAPPENED AS WELL AS INCREASED INTERACTIVE MODELS FOR EDUCATION CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF COVID TO 19.

UM, WITHIN MENTAL HEALTH, WE HAD GREATER ACCESS DUE TO THE EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH, UM, REGULATORY, UM, LAWS, AND THEN AS WELL AS GREATER PUBLIC HEALTH AWARENESS AND THE SCOPE OF MENTAL HEALTH AS IT FALLS INTO PUBLIC HEALTH.

UM, HEALTHCARE, WE HAD A RAPID VACCINE DEVELOPMENT AND DISTRIBUTION.

UM, AND WE NOW HAVE THIS PROCESS FOR WHICH, UH, WE CAN TRY TO EXPEDITE VACCINES.

WE SAW THIS PROCESS OCCUR, OCCUR WITH MONKEYPOX, WHICH IS VERY BENEFICIAL.

UM, THE ACCELERATION OF TELEMEDICINE, AGAIN, THE LAWS REALLY RELAXED AROUND THAT, INCREASING THE ACCESS FOR OUR, UM, COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SEEK OUT HEALTHCARE.

BUT ALSO, UM, THE ECONOMY.

WHAT WE LEARNED WAS THAT THERE CAN BE SHIFTS IN WORKPLACE MEASURES, UM, WHETHER THAT'S WORK FROM HOME OR TELE, UM, TELEWORK, HOWEVER IT MAY BE, WE SAW THAT THERE WAS SOME ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT IN THE US THAT WAS GREATER THAN OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND SO, UM, WHAT THAT MEANS IS OUR COMMUNITIES ARE ADAPTABLE AND RESILIENT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE REALLY WANT FROM A COMMUNITY THAT'S HEALTHY.

UM, SO THE NEXT THING THAT I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT WITH SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES THAT WE AS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAW THAT, UM, SPECIFICALLY NATIONWIDE WE SAW, BUT ALSO, UM, LOCALLY, UH, NATIONWIDE.

WE SAW THAT THERE WAS ISSUES ALL ACROSS THE BOARD ABOUT THE CLARIFYING ROLES AND LINES OF AUTHORITY.

UM, YOU KNOW, IS THIS A CITY ISSUE? IS THIS A COUNTY ISSUE? WHO'S OUR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY? WHO DO WE REPORT STUFF TO? WHO AT THE END OF THE DAY MAKES THE DECISIONS

[00:25:01]

ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC HEALTH INEQUITIES? UM, THIS WAS A LARGE ONE.

WHAT WE SAW DURING CVID 19 WAS THAT COMMUNITIES, UM, OF COLOR, UM, AND SPECIFICALLY THOSE WITH WEALTH AND EQUITY, TYPICALLY DIDN'T RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE, UM, INFRASTRUCTURE OR, AND OR SOCIAL OUTCOMES CAPABLE OF DOING SO.

UM, DATA SHARING AND TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH HISTORICALLY IS UNDERFUNDED.

UM, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN, UM, THE NECESSARY DATA THAT WE NEEDED TO AND TO PERFORM CLINICS AND TO TRACK THE DIFFERENT CASES, UH, BUT ALSO FUNDING GAPS, AS I JUST MENTIONED.

UM, LEADERSHIP AND WORKFORCE.

THERE WAS A GOOD TRANSITION OF LEADERSHIP AND WORKFORCE WITHIN PUBLIC HEALTH DURING THIS TIME OF COVID-19.

UM, AND THEN PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WERE AT AN ALL TIME LOW.

UM, ESPECIALLY AS YOU KNOW, UH, PUBLIC HEALTH.

UM, WHENEVER THERE IS EMERGENCIES, EMERGENCIES TYPICALLY CONSPIRACIES HAPPEN.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT SOMETHING THAT WE HAD TO COMBAT AND FACE, UM, AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ADMINISTRATOR.

SO, UH, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HERE AT THE COUNTY, THINGS THAT WE NOTICED, UM, WERE CLARIFYING ROLES AND LINES OF AUTHORITY, WORKING AND LEARNING HOW TO WORK WITH OUR, UM, LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

DURING COVID-19, IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST TIME THAT A CITY AND OR SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS AWARE THAT THE COUNTY HAD A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, BUT ALSO ADDRESSING THE SYSTEMATIC HEALTH INEQUITIES WAS THE LARGEST ONE, UM, THAT WE HAD THE, THE PROBLEM WITH.

UM, WE HAD A LOT OF GRASS ROOT ORGANIZATIONS HAVE TO FILL IN THE HOLES, UM, THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD WHENEVER IT CAME TO RESPONDING TO COVID-19.

UM, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT HOW WE IMPROVE FROM THAT.

SO RIGHT HERE ABOUT HAYES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HAYES COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

WE WERE FORMED IN 1961 AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HAYES COUNTY AND THE CITY OF SAN MARCO.

UM, AT THAT TIME, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CLINICAL SERVICES, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, VITAL RECORDS, UM, AND MORE.

WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT, UH, LOCATIONS IN SAN MARCUS, KYLE, UM, AND WIMBERLEY.

AND AT THE TIME, THEY WERE LOOKING TO EXPAND DRIPPING SPRINGS.

UM, BUT NOW, CURRENTLY AS IT IS, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS ITS OWN STANDALONE DEPARTMENT.

WITHOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE C UM, CITY OF SAN MARCO, UM, IT ALSO LOST ITS FUNCTIONS RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.

UM, SO AT THE MOMENT, WE NOW PRIMARILY FUNCTION AS A PREVENTION, UM, DISEASE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER ARE VACCINATIONS TO DVFC AND A SN ELIGIBLE POPULATIONS.

UM, WE DO TUBERCULOSIS SCREENING AND TREATMENT.

WE OFFER INDIGENT HEALTHCARE.

UM, WE DO INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGY.

SO LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT DISEASES THAT ARE OCCURRING WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY, PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE.

UM, THIS ONE'S BIG, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PRONE TO A LOT OF WILD FIRES.

BUT ALSO IN HAYES COUNTY, WE'VE EXPERIENCED A LOT OF FLOODS.

UM, SO OUR PREPAREDNESS COORDINATOR WORKS A LOT WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UM, DIRECTORS AND OUR OFFICERS OF MUNICIPALITIES HERE IN HAY COUNTY, UM, TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE, BUT ALSO VECTOR CONTROL MANAGEMENT, UM, WHICH IS MOSQUITOES AND OR OTHER INSECTS.

I'M GONNA SKIP OVER A FEW OF THE SLIDES HERE AGAIN, JUST TO, UM, I JUST LEARNED A NEW WORD.

THANK YOU, .

I'VE NEVER HEARD THAT WORD BEFORE.

NO PROBLEM.

VECTOR CONTROL MEANS MOSQUITOES.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT, UH, FORTUNATELY FOR US, ONE OF THE LOWEST AMOUNTS FUNDED BY, UH, A COUNTY AND THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

UM, TO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGETS, TO REALLY SUMMARIZE THE DISCUSSION THERE IS THAT, UM, WHENEVER YOU, AS POLICY MAKERS ARE REVIEWING OUR BUDGET, WHAT I WANT YOU TO BE AWARE OF IS THAT OUR TOTAL BUDGET, UM, SAY FOR INSTANCE, IN FISCAL YEAR 23, IT LOOKS AS IF WE WERE PROVIDED $4 MILLION.

AND IF YOU WERE TO REFLECT OUR BUDGET, THE REALITY OF THAT IS, IS THAT, UM, UH, OVER, UH, 50% OF THOSE FUNDS COME THROUGH GRANTS AND NO COST SHARE GRANTS.

UM, THEN WHENEVER YOU LOOK SPECIFICALLY AT OUR OPERATING BUDGET, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS 2,500,000 YOU TAKE.

UH, WE TAKE AWAY THAT 2 MILLION BECAUSE THAT 2 MILLION GOES TOWARDS A CONTRACT WITH, UH, CHRISTUS HEALTH AND SAN MARCUS TO PROVIDE OUR INDIGENT CARE SERVICES AND CLINICAL SERVICES.

UM, SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S WORKING WITH, UM, JUST ON AN OPERATIONAL BUDGET IS ONLY $578,000.

UM, GRANTED THIS YEAR WE HAVE, UM, HISTORICALLY SEEN AT LEAST A 0.4% INCREASE IN THE BUDGET OPERATIONALLY.

UM, SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS, YOU KNOW, THE TYPICAL TREND WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, WHICH IS WE SEE OUR BUDGET, UM, SKYROCKET DURING TIMES OF EMERGENCY, AND THEN AFTER TIMES OF EMERGENCY, WE SEE OUR BUDGET HEAVILY DECREASE AND SOMETIMES, UM, STRUGGLE TO GET BACK TO EVEN A STABILIZED AREA.

UM, GRANTED, THIS IS NOT A CITY OF KYLE ISSUE.

IT'S A COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT ISSUE.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR Y'ALL HERE TODAY TO KNOW ABOUT THAT, UM, IS JUST TO BE AN ADVOCATE AND SEEING HOW Y'ALL CAN, YOU KNOW, HELP OUT AND BE AWARE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.

UM, I ALSO TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET BECAUSE I LIKE US TO THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF OUR POPULATION AND WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, WHENEVER YOU THINK ABOUT THE COST PER CAPITA, UM, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS DOLLAR AMOUNTS.

SO $1 PER CAPITA, UM, AS A FISCAL YEAR 23, THAT'S $2 PER CAPITA FOR THE INDIVIDUALS WITHIN HAYES COUNTY.

UM,

[00:30:01]

BUT IT'S ALSO NOT THE HIGHEST, NOR IS IT NEAR THE MEDIAN OF WHAT IS OFFERED.

UM, SO WE'RE WORKING HARD WITH OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH IS AND TAKE, TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

UM, ESPECIALLY HERE, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IS OUR PROJECTIONS, UM, BASED OFF OF OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT THAT WE DID IN 2023.

UM, BY 2030, WE'RE EXPECTED TO REACH 346,000 PEOPLE.

UM, SO THAT'S DISTRIBUTED ALL ACROSS, YOU KNOW, SAN MARCUS, UH, TRIPPING SPRINGS, WIMBERLEY TO BUTTA.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE EXPERIENCING FAST GROWTH HERE IN KYLE.

UM, SO I ALSO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE THIS EVENTUALLY WILL IMPACT.

UH, AND AS Y'ALL LOOK AT HOW WE ALL NEED TO ADDRESS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES AS YOUR COMMUNITY GROWS, UM, SOME OF THE WORKFORCE CHANGES THAT I JUST WANNA HIGHLIGHT FOR Y'ALL IS WE ALMOST HAVE A BRAND NEW DEPARTMENT IN TERMS OF TRANSFERS OF NEW HIRES AND ALSO NEW PERSONNEL.

UH, WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT HAS GROWN BY EIGHT POSITIONS.

UM, A LOT OF THOSE BEING, UH, CORE FUNCTIONS OF DISEASE INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS.

THEY LOOK OUT FOR STIS, UM, A DATA PROGRAM SPECIALIST TO HELP FILTER OUR DATA, UM, OUR VACCINE UNIT, AND THEN ALSO A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATOR WHO IS TRYING TO HELP COORDINATE THE DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH WITHIN THE COUNTY.

UM, I'LL SKIP OVER SOME OF THIS INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN READ IN THE PACKET, BUT I'LL GO BACK FOR THE RESIDENTS JUST SO THEY CAN PAUSE IT IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO.

AND I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE COMMUNITY STATUS ASSESSMENT.

SO THIS HEALTH ASSESSMENT WAS DONE IN 2023.

AS I MENTIONED, IT'S THE FIRST COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT DONE BY THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, AND THE COUNTY.

UM, SO THIS WAS A FIRST TIME OPPORTUNITY THAT WE REALLY GOT TO WORK IN A WAY WITH OUR COMMUNITY TO GET RESULTS THAT REFLECTED WHAT THEY SAW.

UM, IT WAS EASY FOR, UH, RESEARCHERS AND POLICY MAKERS TO LOOK AT DATA, UM, THAT MAY NOT BE ACTUALLY SUGGESTIVE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO IN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE HAVE AN INTERPRETIVE MODEL FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENTS CALLED MAP, WHICH IS MOBILIZING ACTION THROUGH, UM, PARTNERSHIPS.

AND WHAT THIS SPECIFICALLY DOES IS ASK US TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEM.

UM, SO WHAT THIS SURVEY REVEALED, UM, WE HAD 595 RESPONDENTS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD FOR A COUNTYWIDE SURVEY.

I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL, UM, YOU KNOW, CAN RECALL YOUR PAST SURVEY EXPERIENCES, BUT 10% OF THAT WAS THE CITY OF KYLE, UH, FOR PUBLIC TRANSIT.

UH, THE COMMUNITY RATED IT A 1.9 OUTTA FIVE FOR HAYES COUNTY.

UM, THEY ALSO RATED AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT A TWO POINT, UM, TWO OUT OF FIVE FOR THE COUNTY FOR SOCIOECONOMICS.

UH, YOU KNOW, 12.4% OF OUR COMMUNITY IS IN POVERTY, 3% UNEMPLOYED.

UM, BUT TO ME THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS OUR HEALTH RESOURCE AVAILABILITY.

UH, WHAT THAT NUMBER SAYS THERE IS, THERE IS 2,343 PATIENTS TO EVERY ONE PROVIDER AND PROVIDER IS LOOKING AT PRIMARY HEALTHCARE.

SO YOUR NURSE PRACTITIONERS, YOUR PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS, AND GENERAL PRACTITIONERS, UM, THAT'S A CONCERNING NUMBER 'CAUSE IT'S MUCH HIGHER THAN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND IT'S ALSO MUCH HIGHER THAN THE, UM, US AVERAGE.

SO WE HAVE A POCKET THAT WE NEED TO FILL, ESPECIALLY AS WE LOOK AT OVER 16.9% OF OUR COMMUNITIES UNINSURED.

UH, JUST TO KIND OF GO IN AGAIN, UH, REALIZING, UH, THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS THAT GO INTO PUBLIC HEALTH.

ONE OF THOSE IS HOUSING.

IF OUR INDIVIDUALS CAN'T MEET THE NEEDS OF HOUSING, THEN THEY CAN'T FULFILL THEIR OTHER, UM, NEEDS SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, SUSTAINABLE FOOD, SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION, AND OTHER SORTS.

UH, 19% OF OUR COMMUNITY IS EXPERIENCING HOUSING PROBLEMS AND OVER 18% SPEND OVER HALF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING.

UM, THEN ON A SOCIAL VULNERABILITY INDEX.

AND THAT IS A NUMBER THAT IS PROVIDED BY THE CDC COMPARISON.

UM, LOOKING AT HOW VULNERABLE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY DEPE, UM, DEPENDENT UPON THINGS SUCH AS THE COST OF LIVING, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURES.

UH, WE RANK IN THE MEDIUMS A HIGH LEVEL OF VULNERABILITY COMPARED TO OTHER US COUNTIES.

UM, THIS IS A CONCERN FOR US AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW.

'CAUSE WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES CAN BE RESILIENT.

AS I DISCUSSED EARLIER.

UM, SPECIFICALLY AREAS THAT ARE EAST OF 35 WITHIN SAN MARCO AND KYLE ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE THAT THEY PROBABLY WILL NOT, UM, WHETHER FINANCIALLY OR HEALTH-WISE RECOVER FROM AN EMERGENCY, SHOULD IT IMPACT THEM.

HEY, MATTHEW, WHAT IS SOCIAL VULNERABILITY? CAN YOU TALK THAT? YEAH.

SO, UM, SOCIAL VULNERABILITY IS THE, IT'S A MEASURE OF HOW, UM, SOMEBODY CAN BE IMPACTED BY A DISASTER.

HOW VULNERABLE THEY ARE TO, UM, DIFFERENT TYPES OF EMERGENCIES THAT MAY IMPACT THEIR LIFE.

UM, SO AGAIN, THIS CAN BE A WILDFIRE FLOOD, UM, A PANDEMIC, DIFFERENT ISSUES LIKE THAT.

AND THEY PRETTY MUCH LOOK AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY LOOK AT, UM, THE ECONOMICS AND THE EDUCATION, AND THEY PUT ALL THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER.

UM, THE CDC DOES TO SAY, THIS IS HOW VULNERABLE YOUR COMMUNITY IS BASED ON, UM, THEIR SOCIO, UM, SOCIO, YOU KNOW, ECONOMIC DEMOGRAPHICS.

AND THEN ALSO BASED OFF OF YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S PRESENT.

[00:35:02]

UM, THE NEXT THING IS MENTAL HEALTH INDICATORS.

AS I NOTED EARLIER, UM, WE ALL KNOW THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ISSUE.

I DON'T WANT TO UNDERVALUE IT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, FOR SAKE OF TIME, I'M GONNA MOVE FORWARD ON THIS ONE.

'CAUSE WE ALL KNOW IT'S A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR US.

UM, THE NEXT THING IS JUST HEALTH RESOURCE AVAILABILITY.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, SOME KEY THINGS THAT I WANT TO KNOW IS THAT COLON CANCER SCREENING, UM, IS AT 54 PER 0.6% FOR OUR INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN RECEIVE IT AMONGST THE MEDICARE POPULATION, WHICH IS A LOW NUMBER.

UM, IF Y'ALL DON'T KNOW, THE AGE FOR COLON CANCER SCREENING HAS ACTUALLY WENT, UM, LOWER.

AND SO THAT MEANS THAT, UM, MORE INDIVIDUALS WILL PROBABLY, SHOULD BE GETTING SCREENED, AREN'T GETTING SCREENED, UM, WHETHER BECAUSE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT OR 'CAUSE THERE'S NOT SOMEBODY THAT CAN SCHEDULE THEM IN.

UM, ALSO MAMMOGRAM FREE SCREENING, UM, BETWEEN THE AGES OF 65 TO 74 FOR THE MEDICARE POPULATION IS AT A 33%, UM, TIME LOW.

SO WHENEVER WE LOOK AT OUR POPULATIONS AND THEIR SOCIOECONOMICS, UM, WE CAN TELL THAT WHAT THIS MEANS IS THAT COMMUNITIES JUST CAN'T ACCESS THE HEALTHCARE, UM, AND OR THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES MEETING THEM WHERE THEY'RE AT.

THE NEXT THING IS SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS.

THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN GONORRHEA CASES, UM, AND SYPHILIS CASES.

BUT, UM, WHAT I REALLY WANNA EMPHASIZE IS THAT GONORRHEA IS TRENDING DOWNWARDS, WHEREAS SYPHILIS IS NOW TRENDING UPWARDS.

UM, THIS IS A CONCERN BECAUSE SYPHILIS CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A LOT MORE, UM, DAMAGING EFFECTS ON, UM, PREGNANT MOTHERS.

UM, AND IT, IT AFFECTS THE RISK OF CHILDBIRTH AND ALSO THE MOTHER AT THE TIME OF BIRTH.

UM, SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP OUT WITH THIS AND WHAT INNOVATIVE WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP, UM, OUR MATERNAL, OUR OUR MOTHERS OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY BY PARTNERING WITH MORE MATERNAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS, UM, BUT ALSO EMPOWERING WOMEN WITH EDUCATION.

UM, SYPHILIS THOUGH, IS IT TRAINING UPWARDS? IT'S NOT JUST US IN HAYES COUNTY, SO I WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW, BE TOO SCARED OR WORRIED.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US WITHIN PUBLIC HEALTH IS HAVING TO FIGURE OUT.

HOW DO WE RESPOND TO.

UM, AND THEN LASTLY, JUST THE COMMUNITY STATUS.

UM, SURVEY IS ACCESS TO MEDICARE, UM, OR MEDICAL CARE WAS A 3.3 OUT OF FIVE.

AND THEN THE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WAS AT A 2.7.

SO TO CONCLUDE THE PRESENTATION, I KNOW THIS PROBABLY FELT LIKE A FIRE HYDRANT, UM, BRAIN SPRAYED AT YOU, BUT WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO GET WAS THIS POINT, WHAT CAN YOU, UH, WHAT CAN WE DO AND WHAT CAN Y'ALL DO? SO WHAT CAN WE DO? WE CAN CONDUCT VITAL, UM, COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND EDUCATION FOR YOUR POPUL UH, YOUR COMMUNITY.

UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE BEEN TO SEVERAL EVENTS IN KYLE, I BELIEVE.

UH, DRIPPING SPRINGS AND KYLE ARE ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR MOST FREQUENTED.

YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE SAN MARCUS, BUT WE ACTUALLY GET A LOT OF REQUESTS OUT HERE.

UM, AND THEN PROVIDE MOBILE VACCINATION AND STI EXAMS FOR YOUR COMMUNITY WITH OUR NEW MOBILE HEALTH UNIT.

UM, PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON PUBLIC HEALTH MATTERS, UM, WHETHER IT BE MONKEYPOX, COVID, WEST NILE COME TO US.

'CAUSE AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, PREVIOUSLY, UM, DURING COVID THERE WAS CONFUSION ABOUT THE LINES OF AUTHORITY.

AND WHENEVER WE TALK OVER ONCE ANOTHER, INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH ONE, UM, WORKING WITH ONE ANOTHER, THAT'S WHENEVER ISSUES CAN ARISE.

AND ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE DE-EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ALSO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES, UM, BUT ALSO LEAD HEALTH AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.

UM, IN OUR DEPARTMENT WE HAVE THE EXPERTS AND, YOU KNOW, WITH THE DEGREES IN EDUCATION.

UM, SO WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE IS THAT WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN PARTNER.

WHENEVER WE LOOK AT THE CDC GRANTS THAT ARE COMING THROUGH IN THE RECENT TEXAS DSHS, DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES GRANTS COMING THROUGH, THEY ALL ASK FOR PARTNERSHIPS.

SO WHAT WE'RE LEARNING IS THAT WE CAN NO LONGER OPERATE TOGETHER, UM, AS A SOLO AGENCY AND, UM, COMMUNITY, THAT WE REALLY DO HAVE TO, UM, PARTNER UP FOR THE BEST, UM, OUTCOMES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO? UH, YOU CAN CREATE AND UTILIZE MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS.

AND SO WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE? UH, WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IS, SAY FOR INSTANCE, PARKS EVERY SUMMER.

UM, FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE PUT TOGETHER A, UM, OUTDOOR SAFETY CAMPAIGN.

AND WE'VE WORKED WITH PARKS DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTY, UM, TO TALK ABOUT THINGS SUCH AS ARBOVIRUSES, WHICH IS MOSQUITOES, UM, SUNSCREEN AND SKIN CANCER, AND ALSO HEAT AND DEHYDRATION.

UM, WE GO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDE THESE DIFFERENT RESOURCES FOR THEM AND DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

UM, DIFFERENT MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS ARE LIKE THE ONE THAT WE DID IN CITY OF BUTTA WHERE WE, UM, PUT THEM TOGETHER WITH THE STATE, WITH, UM, THE UNIVERSITY OF BAYLOR TO DO A WASTE, UM, WASTEWATER MONITORING SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE CAN LOOK AT THE WASTEWATER AND DETERMINE WHAT DISEASES ARE CURRENTLY GOING IN, UM, ON THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS COVID, MONKEYPOX, NOROVIRUS, ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.

UM, GRANTED IF WE DID REACH OUT TO SEE IF KYLE, IT WAS ALL POSITIVE, Y'ALL JUST LAUNCHING Y'ALL'S WASTEWATER SYSTEM.

SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE Y'ALL SOME TIME.

WE'RE GONNA REACH BACK OUT FOR THAT ONE 'CAUSE WE REALLY WANNA GET IT UP AND GOING.

UM, BUT THOSE ARE SOME OF THOSE MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS.

UH, REQUEST OUR PRESENCE AND SERVICES, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS CAN INVITE US INTO THOSE COMMUNITY SPACES WHERE YOU'RE TRUSTED.

UM, I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING IS

[00:40:01]

THAT WE WANT TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO EARN Y'ALL'S TRUST AND WE WANT TO BE RIGHT THERE WITH Y'ALL.

UM, AND Y'ALL CAN HELP US BY BEING THAT BRIDGE AMPLIFY OUR MESSAGING.

UM, RECENTLY WITH WEST NILE, WHENEVER IT WAS RELEASED, WE EMAILED, UH, TOOLKITS TO ALL CITY MANAGERS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

THAT WAS THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, UM, THAT CLEARLY STATED WHAT WEST NILE WAS, HOW IT'S, UM, TREATED, WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS, HOW IT'S CONVEYED.

UM, SO THAT WAS, IT TAKES THE WORK OUT OF YOUR STAFF WHO MAY NOT BE EXPERTS IN WEST NILE AND STARTS PUTTING THE WORK BACK ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THEM DO THEIR JOB, WHICH I MAKE OUR STAFF DO .

AND THEN, UM, LASTLY, PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS ANYTIME THAT THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COLLABORATE OR, AND, OR LOOK AT HOW WE CAN IMPACT YOUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH, REACH OUT.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A, A LARGE, UM, WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT.

UM, AND WE'RE EAGER TO BE A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY AND SEE HOW WE CAN HELP OUT.

UM, SO WITH THAT, AFTER THE FIRE HYDRANT, UM, THANK Y'ALL AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU, MATTHEW.

JUST ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BY PROTON? YEAH, MATTHEW, THANK YOU.

UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR, UH, BEING HERE TODAY.

UH, YOU BROUGHT UP COVID AND I JUST WANTED TO RELAY THE SENTIMENT THAT EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SOME SHORTCOMINGS BETWEEN IN DIFFERENT AREAS, THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITIES, THE COUNTY, AND ALL THE KEY PLAYERS CAME TOGETHER AND WE GOT THROUGH THAT PANDEMIC TOGETHER.

SO IT WAS GREAT TO SEE, UH, THE PARTNERSHIPS.

I THINK THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I SAW THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNTY AND THE CITIES, THE NEIGHBORING CITIES OURSELVES, UH, GET TOGETHER AND BE ABLE TO FIND RESOURCES TO FIND SOLUTIONS FOR THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE FACING.

UM, I THINK IT REALLY TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE FORTITUDE OF WORKING TOGETHER.

MM-HMM .

AND IT, IT WAS AMAZING TO SEE THAT I WAS GLAD TO BE THERE AT THAT TIME.

I WASN'T GLAD FOR THE PANDEMIC .

I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE PARTNERSHIPS AND THE HARD WORK WE PUT BEHIND IT AND HOW WE WERE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND WORK TOGETHER AS, AS A TEAM.

UH, THE OTHER THING I WANNA THANK COMMISSIONER COHEN INGLESBY FOR THE MOBILE VAN.

THAT'S AMAZING.

UH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN NEEDING IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME TO SEE IT COME FORWARD, IT WAS PRETTY AWESOME.

BUT ALSO, UM, JUST, UH, TALKING ABOUT WHAT RESOURCES WE CAN HAVE MOVING FORWARD.

I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WEST NILE HAVING TWO CASES NOW AND DRIPPING SPRING.

SO WHAT ARE WE, WHAT ARE WE DOING AS A COUNTY TO ADDRESS THAT? ARE WE MONITORING, TAKING DIFFERENT SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE COUNTY? UH, DIFFERENT CITIES AS WELL? OR JUST IN THE AREA THAT THEY WERE DETECTED IF? YEAH.

SO, UM, OUR ARBA VIRUS OR MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM IS, UH, FACETED.

SO, UH, WE AS THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE ARE THE, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC HEALTH REPORTING AGENCY.

SO WE GET ALL THE SAMPLES AND TESTS OF POSITIVE MOSQUITO TRAPS, UM, AND POSITIVE TESTS FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WHICH HOUSES OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UNIT, UM, TAKES THE TRAPS ACROSS THE COUNTY.

AND DUE TO THE LIMITED STAFF, WHAT THEY TRY TO DO IS, UM, TOUCH EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTY, UM, ON A ROTATING BASIS.

SO WHAT THEY MAY DO IS WIMBERLY, UH, BUTTA KYLE.

WHAT THEY MAY DO IS THEN DRIPPING SPRINGS, SAN MARCUS, KYLE DRIPPING SPRING.

THEY TRY TO DO IT ON A ROTATING BASIS.

UM, SO WE DO COLLECT SAMPLES FROM DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE COUNTY AND WE TRY TO BE, UM, FOCUSED WITH OUR EFFORTS.

SO AGAIN, IF WE'RE SEEING POSITIVE MOSQUITO TRAPS IN DIFFERENT CASES, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS TRY TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS ON THOSE SPECIFIC REGIONS AND OR TRY TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT'S HAPPENING.

UM, SO THAT'S THE CURRENT WORK THAT'S HAPPENING.

BUT AS FAR AS, UM, THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE OF IT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON WHAT THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT WEST NILE, UM, THROUGH MOSQUITO ABATEMENT, BUT ALSO THROUGH PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS THROUGH THEMSELVES.

UM, WHAT WE SEE AT OTHER COUNTIES AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH UNITS AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS DO IS, UM, MOSQUITO SPRAYING, UM, WHERE THEY, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE SPRAYING SERVICES.

UM, I KNOW THAT THAT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER.

WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND THE CITY DO IS REACH OUT, UH, TO THE, UM, TE UH, TCHO BECAUSE A LOT OF HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE THE ONES WHO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.

SO THEY ALREADY HAVE QUOTES AND PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES FOR Y'ALL.

MAD? MM-HMM? .

ANYONE ELSE? UH, MAY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBIAS, YOU, YOU'RE UP.

AND THE COVID-19 DISPARITIES AND GOT THE SAME, UM, SAME BUDGETS AS WE HAVE ON THE LAST THREE.

THANK YOU, UM, FOR THE PRESENTATION AS WELL.

SO I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND HIT, UH, THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE ON THIS.

SO, UM, YOU MAY KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF KYLE IS WORKING WITH, UM, A PRIVATE SECTOR TO BRING MENTAL HEALTH FOR CHILDREN AND SO FORTH, OR, AND THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH BY COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR HEISER AND SO FORTH.

AND I BELIEVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE COUNTY CAN BE ABLE TO ASSIST WITH THAT.

SO I'M LOOKING AT YOUR BUDGET HERE.

GOING BACK TO 2021, IMMUNIZATIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH, UH, TB PROGRAMS, BIOTERRORISM, UH, CO FIRST RESPONSE, AND THEN LOOK AT 22 IMMUNIZATIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH, BIO AUTISM GROUPS, INFECTION CONTROLLED, UH, THE ST.

DAVID'S FOUNDATION, COVID PUBLIC HEALTH WHERE, UH, WORKFORCE

[00:45:01]

WHICH, WHERE WOULD YOUR MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS BE COMING OUT OF ON THIS? HAVE Y'ALL BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A LOT OF THOSE MENTAL HEALTH, UH, GRANTS? IS IT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR, OR HOW WOULD THAT PLAY GET IN PLACE? OR WHERE WOULD SOME OF THAT MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING COME FROM OUT OF ALL OF THESE? YEAH.

SO, UM, WE RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS DSHS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES IN 2021 FOR HEALTH EQUITIES.

UM, WHAT THAT ALLOWED US TO DO WAS DO THAT COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND REVEALED THAT MENTAL HEALTH WAS AN ISSUE.

ONCE WE REVEALED THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE, THE STATE AUTHORIZED US TO ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALISTS TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH.

UM, AND SO CURRENTLY THAT GRANT FUNDS WILL EXPIRE IN 2026, WHERE WE CAN DEDICATE OUR TWO OUTREACH SPECIALISTS TOWARDS MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES.

UM, BUT ALSO, UM, THE REASON WHY I DIDN'T INCLUDE FISCAL YEAR 2024 IS BECAUSE, AS WE ALL KNOW, BUDGETS KIND OF CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

UM, AND THAT'S KIND OF ONE OF THESE INSTANCES, UM, IN DEC I WANNA SAY NOVEMBER OF 2023, UH, COMMISSIONER COHEN AND I WERE MADE AWARE OF THE OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS AND THAT'S WHERE WE FOUND THE FUNDS TO, UH, CREATE THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATOR POSITION.

SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, UM, IS PARTNERING WITH OUR CURRENT EXISTING FUNDS.

SO, UM, OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS, OUR HEALTH EQUITY FUNDS, UM, AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE SOME ALTERNATIVE FUNDS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT UTILIZING TO, UM, PUT IN THERE THROUGH OTHER GRANT MEANS, UM, TO SUSTAIN OUR MENTAL HEALTH THINGS.

BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH IS A GROWING ISSUE.

SO THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT IS, UM, CONSTANTLY TRYING TO IDENTIFY WAYS THAT WE CAN SUSTAIN A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OFFICE, BECAUSE THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY AND GOAL.

UM, BUT THE OTHER THING, SO I'M, AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONER, I KNOW THAT BUDGETS ARE LOW AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE USED TO WORKING WITH LOW INCOME, UH, OR LOW BUDGETS.

AND SO I CONSTANTLY REMIND MY STAFF THAT WE WORK OFF OF THE THREE PS, WHICH IS PARTNERSHIPS, PROGRAMS, AND POLICIES.

SO WHAT OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COORDINATOR DOES IS SHE'S LOOKING AT COUNTY POLICIES AND MUNICIPAL POLICIES THAT CAN IMPACT PUBLIC HEALTH IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.

, UM, AT THE MOMENT SPECIFICALLY, THEY CAN DO A LOT OF FREE AND OR LOW COST INITIATIVES THROUGH OUR 9 1 1 DISPATCH CENTERS.

UM, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON.

SO AT THE MOMENT, THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE'RE DOING THINGS.

UM, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME POTENTIAL INVESTMENTS, UM, THROUGH SAMSHA AND ALSO DSHS TO, UM, FURTHER INCREASE OUR MENTAL HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES.

OKAY, GREAT.

SO LIKE IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, YOU'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A BUDGET LINE ITEM FOR GRANTS.

THAT WOULD LEAD TO MENTAL HEALTH ON THAT END TOO, WHERE YOU COULD ADD IT.

'CAUSE I COULD SEE THAT THROUGH THE YEARS YOUR GRANTS HAVE INCREASED.

, WHICH IS GOOD.

UM, BUT OF COURSE WE ALWAYS WANT 'EM HIGHER.

, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANT OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE WANT OUR GRANTS TO GO UP EVEN MORE.

AND IF, IF WE'RE PUTTING MENTAL HEALTH AT THE BEGINNING, THAT LEADS TO A LOT OF, SOME OF THIS, IT SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY.

I GUESS WE SHOULD LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.

THE OFFER THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO IMPLEMENT AND WE ARE JUST BARELY STARTING, WHICH WILL BE PROBABLY MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THE CITY OF KYLE.

UM, SO TO GIVE CONTEXT, UH, FROM MY EDUCATION'S FROM, UH, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND THEN MENTAL, UM, HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION.

SO A LOT OF THOSE THINGS I WORK ON, UH, THE UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS, MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE COSTLY DOWNSTREAM SOLUTIONS.

AND SO JUST LIKE YOU SAID, IF WE CAN ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST, SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES MAY NOT OCCUR.

SO I DEFINITELY AGREE.

THANK YOU COUNCILOR PARSLEY.

UM, SO I DO APPRECIATE YOU MAKING A LIST OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AND THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO.

IT DOES HELP US TO, TO SEE HOW WE CAN PARTNER UP WITH THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO KEEP, UM, OFFERING THIS SERVICES.

I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC.

UM, SO I WAS LOOKING AT YOUR GRANTS AND YOUR BUDGET AND IT'S, IT IS REALLY AMAZING TO SEE HOW MUCH FUNDING YOU GET THROUGH GRANTS, UM, AND HAVING SUCH A LARGE BUDGET.

AND I WAS GOING ALSO TO LOOK AT THE MENTAL HEALTH SINCE I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION FOR US IN THE SECTION THAT YOU HAVE.

AND I THINK, IS THIS THE CURRENT BUDGET THAT YOU HAVE FOR MENTAL HEALTH, WHICH COMES UP TO LIKE 86,000? UM, UNFORTUNATELY, NO, I DIDN'T INCLUDE THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.

UM, JUST BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE, UH, BUDGET NUMBERS.

UM, WE TYPICALLY, THE COUNTY POST OUR FISCAL YEAR BUDGET LIKE IN OCTOBER, BUT BECAUSE THE ADDITIONS OF OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS WERE POST OCTOBER, THOSE TOTALS WEREN'T ADDED UP.

SO, AND THE PART WHERE YOU HAVE WHAT THINGS CAN WE DO? MM-HMM.

AMPLIFY OUR MESSAGING, PROVIDE FUNDS FOR SPECIAL PROJECTS.

UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER, SINCE YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE ESTABLISHED PROJECTS MM-HMM.

, AND YOU KNOW, KYLE OBVIOUSLY IS A PART OF HAYES COUNTY.

MAYBE WE CAN, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO COME UP WITH OUR OWN PROGRAMS, TRY TO GET FUNDING TO THE COUNTY MM-HMM.

, BECAUSE YOU GUYS ALREADY HAVE THAT ESTABLISHED.

YOU HAVE THE SERVICE PROVIDERS, UH, YOU HAVE, UH, PROBABLY THE FACILITIES.

UM, SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE SMART TO TRY TO PARTNER UP WITH YOU GUYS TO OFFER

[00:50:01]

SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE REALLY WORKING ON THAT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I KNOW THAT, UM, PROPOSAL THAT INITIALLY WE HAD FOR MENTAL HEALTH WAS GEARED TOWARDS YOUTH, AND YOU GUYS ALREADY ARE PROVIDING THOSE SERVICES.

SO, UM, AND I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER PARTIALLY FOR INTERRUPTING, I DO WANNA CLARIFY.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE, UM, WHICH IS LIKE THE THERAPY AND, UM, THROUGH QUALIFIED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

UM, IT'S PRIMARILY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH, UM, SYSTEMATIC CHANGE.

BUT THE GOAL EVENTUALLY IS TO OFFER SOCIAL WORK AND OR, UM, SOME TYPE OF THERAPY, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR LOCAL INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

UM, YEAH, SORRY.

SO I JUST THINK IT'S, IT IS BENEFICIAL, THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ESTABLISHING HERE THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP? AND THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE POINTS.

SO, UM, I THINK I WOULD ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FUNDING, AT LEAST IN OUR PART FOR THE SERVICES YOU'RE PROVIDING FOR KYLE.

AND I, UM, I APPRECIATE YOU STATING THAT.

UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW AS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS IN OTHER COUNTIES THEY HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT, UM, WHICH ALLOWS THE COUNTIES AND CITIES TO WORK A LOT MORE CLOSELY, UM, AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY TO HAVE MORE SUFFICIENT FUNDS.

UM, SO ANYTIME WE CAN PARTNER, I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY, UM, LET COUNCIL KNOW THAT MATTHEW IS PART OF, UH, THE COMMITTEES THAT HELP FORM, UH, OUR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.

SO THANK YOU MATTHEW.

AND THANK YOU.

UM, COMMISSIONERS COHEN AND INGLES.

YEAH, MICHELLE'S THERE.

UH, COHEN AND ENGLEBY FOR, UH, THEIR SUPPORT AS WELL.

UH, THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS, WE COULDN'T HAVE, UH, GOTTEN THAT PROGRAM, UH, COMPLETED AND FUNDED WITHOUT THE THREE OF YOU.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

COUNCILOR SGA.

HEY, THANK YOU MATTHEW.

I THINK IT'S A REALLY GREAT INFORMATION AND GOOD TO KNOW HOW WE CAN PARTNER.

AND, UH, JUST EDUCATE AND PROMOTE THE SERVICES OF THE COUNTY.

SO Y'ALL ARE MOSTLY FOCUSED ON PREVENTING INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE, IN OUR ENTIRE COUNTY, RIGHT? MM-HMM.

, WHAT KIND OF LIKE POP, WHAT SIZE OF POPULATION IS STILL UNDER IMMUNIZED, LIKE IN OUR COUNTY? 'CAUSE THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT TO KNOW LIKE HOW MANY ARE STILL OUT THERE NEEDING VACCINATIONS.

YEAH, SO, UM, WE SPECIFICALLY GET MEASURES FOR OUR TVFC AND AS N POPULATIONS.

SO, UM, UNDERINSURED, UNINSURED, UH, AF OR I'M SORRY, AMERICAN NATIVE OR NATIVE ALASKAN.

AND, UM, THERE'S ONE MORE POPULATION THAT I'M MISSING THERE, OR CHIP AND MEDICAID.

UM, ABOUT 20% ARE UNDER VACCINATED.

AND SO, UM, WE'VE BEEN REALLY TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES RECENTLY.

WE HAD AN EVENT IN KYLE, ACTUALLY TWO EVENTS, UM, WHERE WE BROUGHT OUR MOBILE HEALTH UNIT OUT TO VACCINATE SOME OF THE KIDS HERE IN KYLE AT THE KYLE IDEA SCHOOL.

WE DID OVER 18 KIDS OR SO.

SO I GUESS IT WOULD BE A LOT OF THE YOUNGER KIDS THAT, YOU KNOW, NEWBORNS, THEY NEED TO GET THE, UM, HONESTLY, IT'S ACTUALLY CURRENTLY, I WOULD SAY, UM, SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN.

SO ANYWHERE BETWEEN SIX AND 18 WHERE WE'RE NOTICING THE DEFICIENCY IN IMMUNIZATIONS.

, UM, ADHERENCE.

W WAS SYPHILIS TREATABLE? I THOUGHT IT WAS.

SYPHILIS IS TREATABLE.

UM, THE PROBLEM IS WHENEVER, UH, SOME INDIVIDUALS GO WITH IT LONG TERM MM-HMM.

AND SO SOMETIMES IT'S HARDER TO TREAT AND, OR THEY STARTED TREATMENT, DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT.

AND SO AT THAT POINT WE HAVE A, UM, RESISTANCE TO ANTIBACTERIAL MEDICATION OR, MM-HMM.

, UM, AN ANTIBIOTIC MEDICATION.

AND I GUESS OTHER THAN MOSQUITO VECTORS, ANY OTHER, UM, BUGS OUT THERE THAT LIKE TICKS I GUESS THAT, THAT SPREAD THE DISEASES WE DON'T WANT HERE IN THE COUNTY? YEAH.

UM, .

SO WE SEE, UM, LIKE ARBOVIRUSES, SO WE SEE TICKS, WE SEE FLEAS, WE SEE, UM, MOSQUITOES, UM, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE, THE BUG.

UM, THERE'S A NEW BUG THAT'S BECOMING EPIDEMIC TO TEXAS.

UM, CHI, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO, UM, YOU, YOU SAY CHIS CHI CHI OH, CHAGAS WITH AN E .

SO, UM, IT'S BECOMING, IT'S LIKE A BELE I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT HAS BEEN AROUND.

IT'S BECOMING MIMIC TO TEXAS.

UM, AND IT, IT, IT CAN DO IS, IS IT CAN CAUSE LIFELONG, UM, SYMPTOMS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.

UH, THERE'S PROFESSORS AT TEXAS STATE AND THERE'S PROFESSORS MM-HMM.

, UM, ACROSS THE NATION THAT ARE TRYING TO REALLY ELEVATE THE CONCERN OF IT, UM, AND BRING IT TO THE CENTER.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE HAVEN'T REALLY NOTICED ANY, UH, TOO MANY CASES.

WE JUST KNOW THAT THE INSECT IS PRESENT.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I MEAN, I THINK, UH, Y YOU Y'ALL STRETCH OUT THE SERVICES WITH THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT Y'ALL HAVE, UM, YEARLY THROUGH THESE GRANTS AND NOT GONNA UNDERSTAND HOW GRANTS ARE UNPREDICTABLE.

AND YOU'RE COMPETING WITH OTHER COUNTIES FOR THE SAME BUCKETS.

IS SOME BASELINE FOR THE COMMUNITIES.

THANK YOU MATTHEW.

COUNCILOR HARRIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE AS WE BEGIN DOING MORE AND MORE PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

[00:55:01]

SO THAT WE KNOW AS WE DO MORE EDUCATION, UM, AND MORE OUTREACH THAT WE ARE HAVING SOME IMPACT.

SO CITY, VARIOUS CITY, UH, DEMOGRAPHICS.

FROM THE COUNTY WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL.

WE CAN DO THAT.

UM, AND THE ONES YOU'RE SERVING ALREADY.

ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER FOUR.

, WE'D LIKE TO GET MORE IN OUR COMMUNITY, RECEIVING ADEQUATE SERVICES.

SO A BASELINE WOULD BE NICE.

WE CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WITH OUR, UM, OUR HOPE IS TO GET MORE AND MORE DATA FOR Y'ALL.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU MATTHEW, VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.

[4) Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide staff direction regarding the Economic Development and Tourism Board's research into hotel occupancy revenues. ]

RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLD A DISCUSSION, AND PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM BOARDS RESEARCH INTO HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUES.

MS. VARGAS.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

VICTORIA VARGAS, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR THE RECORD.

UM, THE NEXT ITEM BEFORE YOU IS, UH, IN RESPONSE TO YOUR DIRECTION TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM BOARD TO RESEARCH, UM, THE BEST STRATEGIES FOR INCREASING HOTEL OCCUPANCY REVENUES, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A, UH, HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER.

SO OUR BOARD CHAIR, EDDIE BROWN, IS HERE TO GIVE THE REPORT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND THEN THE BOARD IS ALSO OPEN TO ANY FURTHER DIRECTION ON THIS TOPIC OR OTHER TOPICS FROM COUNCIL.

SO, THANKS, EDDIE.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MAYOR, PRO TEM COUNCIL, RESIDENTS, NEIGHBORS.

UH, PLEASURE TO BE BEFORE YOU TODAY.

I WANNA THANK, UH, CITY COUNCIL FOR CHALLENGING US, UH, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO DETERMINE, UH, THE NATURE OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE'LL NEED, UH, ON THE CONVENTION CENTER AND HOTEL FRONT AS WE MOVE FORWARD WITH THE GROWTH PLAN FOR OUR CITY.

UH, I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR, UH, OUR BOARD.

THERE IS A LOT OF ENERGY ON OUR TEAM, UH, WHEN WE RECEIVED THIS ASSIGNMENT.

GREAT.

WE'RE VERY, VERY HAPPY TO, UM, TO ADD WHAT WE CAN AND STAND AT THE READY FOR WHATEVER FOLLOW UP MAY BE REQUIRED AFTER, UM, OUR CONVERSATION THIS EVENING.

CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR.

YES, SIR.

UH, SO THE, THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS REALLY START, UH, BENCHMARKING.

WHAT, WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES DOING THAT ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, UH, THAT ARE OF SIMILAR SIZE TODAY? SO, UM, YOU'LL SEE IN THE REPORT SOME LOCAL SUSPECTS THAT WE USUALLY COMPARE WHEN WE'RE BENCHMARKING SALARIES OR OTHER EXPENDITURES THAT MIGHT BE, UH, CONSIDERED BY THE CITY.

BUT I THINK, UH, AS WE LIKE TO SAY IN SPORTS, UH, I'M FOND OF SPORTS ANALOGIES PAST THE PUCK TO WHERE THE SKATER'S GOING, NOT TO WHERE HE OR SHE IS TODAY.

SO AS WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE BIGGER CITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE, UH, YOU'LL SEE THAT, UH, THERE ARE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FACILITIES THAT HAVE, UM, RECEIVED INVESTMENT CONSIDERATION, UH, FROM THESE MUNICIPALITIES.

AND THE SIZES RANGE ANYWHERE FROM THE 20 TO 25,000 SQUARE FEET ALL THE WAY UP TO SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

UM, AND CITIES WE ASPIRE TO BE LIKE HAVING FACILITIES, UH, LIKE KALAHARI OVER 200,000 SQUARE FEET OF CONVENTION SPACE.

SO I THINK AS WE THINK THROUGH WHERE WE'RE HEADED FROM A POPULATION STANDPOINT, AND YOU CONSIDER, UH, SOME OF THE WONDERFUL ATTRIBUTES THAT WE'RE BLESSED WITH HERE IN KYLE, BEING CLOSE TO COMPETITIVE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS, HAVING MANY CITIES AROUND US, THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF HOTEL ROOMS TODAY, WE ARE SURROUNDED WITH COMMUNITIES WHO DO HAVE AMPLE HOTEL ROOMS THAT WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO GET STARTED.

REALLY ATTRACTING BUSINESS AND SPORTS TOURISM AND THE DOLLARS THAT FLOW THROUGH THOSE EVENTS THAT COULD BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO GO DEEPER ON ANY OF THESE.

THE, THE TRADITIONAL FUNDING FOR MOST OF THESE FACILITIES IS THROUGH HOTEL TAX, UH, AS A PRIMARY DRIVER FOR HOW THESE FACILITIES GET BUILT.

THERE ARE OTHER METHODS THAT HAVE BEEN USED INCLUDING PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS.

UH, THERE ARE EVEN PRIVATE DONATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FOR NAMING RIGHTS TO SOME OF THESE FACILITIES THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED QUITE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS, UH, OF THE BUILDING AND IN SOME CASES ONGOING OPERATIONAL SUPPORT.

SO WE TALK ABOUT HOTEL FUNDS.

UH, THERE ARE LOTS OF POTENTIAL THINGS THAT THESE FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR.

I THINK THE STATE OF TEXAS PROVIDES FOR SOME FLEXIBILITY THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT EVERYBODY'S AWARE OF.

SO IT CAN CERTAINLY BE USED FOR FACILITY CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT CAN, THESE FUNDS CAN ALSO BE USED FOR ANCILLARY ITEMS RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM AND ADDITIONAL HOTEL TAX FOR THE FUTURE.

SO YOU CAN REINVEST THESE FUNDS AND ACTIVITIES, PROGRAMS, FACILITIES THAT ARE LIKELY

[01:00:01]

TO CONTINUE TO BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR THE LONG TERM.

SO IT IS A RATHER FLEXIBLE FUNDING MECHANISM.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE TRADITIONAL HOTEL TAX THAT WE MAY ALL BE FAMILIAR WITH, THERE ARE MUNICIPALITIES WHO HAVE SOUGHT THE ABILITY TO ADD AN ADDITION 2% TAX, UH, FOR WHAT'S CALLED VENUE TAX.

SO TO THE EXTENT A MUNICIPALITY HAS A VERY SPECIFIC PLAN TO ADD FACILITIES THAT WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT, UH, THERE IS PLENTY OF PRECEDENT FOR CITIES THAT HAVE ADDED, ADDED THIS TAX.

UM, THE, THE LIMITATION IS THAT NO MUNICIPALITIES, HOTEL TAX CAN BE ABOVE 16% IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO IF YOU ADD A CITY AND A COUNTY OR A STATE, WHATEVER THE ENTITIES ARE, THE MATH CAN'T GET BEYOND THAT.

BUT AT 7% FOR KYLE AT PRESENT, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN OPENING TO APPLY FOR AN ADDITIONAL 2%, UH, HOTEL TAX THAT COULD BE ADDED TO BILLINGS FOR HOTELS.

SHOULD THERE BE A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT FUNDING AND FACILITIES THAT ARE GONNA BE CONSTRUCTED IN THE FUTURE? I HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

YES, SIR.

DOES THAT, DOES THE, I GUESS IF YOU TRY TO GET THESE TAXES, WILL THIS IMPACT THE ROOM COST TO THE VISITORS OR TO, I MEAN, HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

ARE WE GONNA PASS IT OFF INTO HIGHER? YEAH, THESE ARE ADDED AT CHECKOUT TO YOUR BILL AS YOU GET TO THOSE LINE ITEMS, NONE OF US EVER LOOK AT, BUT YES, THEY'RE THERE.

AND, UM, IN ADDITION TO THE 7% TAX, IF WE WERE APPROVED TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE A VENUE TAX, UH, WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION, THERE WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 2% TAX THAT WOULD BE CHARGED TO THE CONSUMER WHO IS PAYING FOR THE HOTEL.

MM.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN HAS USED THIS QUITE WELL, RAISING OVER $20 MILLION WITH A VENUE TAX.

MOST OF THAT MONEY IS GONNA BE USED FOR MY UNDERSTANDING, UH, THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER .

SO IN MY RESEARCH, UH, CAME ACROSS AN INTERESTING, UM, FUNDING MECHANISM THAT RIGHT NOW IS ONLY BEING USED BY ONE MUNICIPALITY IN TEXAS.

AND THIS IS CALLED A PROJECT FINANCE ZONE.

SO SOME OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH DICKEY'S ARENA, UH, IN FORT WORTH AND ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WENT IN AROUND THAT.

SO PART OF THE WAY THAT CAME TOGETHER WAS THEY WERE, THEY HAD A GEOGRAPHIC AREA DESIGNATED AS A PROJECT FINANCE ZONE WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, WHICH ALLOWS THEM FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF YEARS TO CHARGE ADDITIONAL FEES, UH, THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THEIR REVENUE THAT THEY COULD APPLY TOWARD PAYING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND DICKIES ARENA.

NOW IT SEEMS THAT IT IS A, ITS INTENT IS TO BE VERY LIMITED IN THAT EVERY MUNICIPALITY DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY FOR THIS.

SO THERE WAS SOME FLEXIBILITY ADDED TO THE LANGUAGE SURROUNDING PROJECT FINANCE ZONES, WHICH HAS PROVIDED SAN ANTONIO THE FLEXIBILITY TO APPLY FOR THIS.

TO DATE, I AM NOT AWARE THAT THEY HAVE APPLIED, UM, TO CREATE A PROJECT FINANCE ZONE.

SO ONE OF THE KEY CRITERIA FOR THE PROJECT FINANCE ZONES SEEMS TO BE THE POPULATION SERVED.

AND I BELIEVE, UH, IF WE WERE TO CONSIDER APPROACHING THE STATE THROUGH THE GREATER SAN MARCOS PARTNERSHIP, UH, WITH THIS GEOGRAPHIC AREA, HAVING OVER 3.89 MILLION RESIDENTS, THAT MAY BE A SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH POPULATION SERVED TO JUSTIFY ALLOWING US TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS WITH THE STATE THAT MIGHT PROVIDE THIS KIND OF FLEXIBILITY, UH, TO OUR REGION.

IT MAY NOT BE SPECIFIC ONLY TO THE CITY OF KYLE, BUT BEING PART OF GSMP, PERHAPS THE DESTINATION COULD BE IN KYLE AND COULD SERVE THE GREATER REGION.

SO DON'T KNOW YET IF THIS IS A VIABLE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AFTER ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT COULD HELP MAKE SOME OF THE LONG-TERM GOALS THAT YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING WITH REGARD TO FACILITY CONSTRUCTION.

BUT CERTAINLY IT WAS AN INTERESTING PIECE OF RESEARCH THAT WE CAME ACROSS.

CERTAINLY WE THINK IT'S RELEVANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES.

UH, NONE OF THAT OUTREACH HAS HAPPENED.

SO WHAT, WHAT I SEE, WHAT I'M READING THIS, THIS MAKE IS INTERESTING.

IT SAYS WITHIN THE P-F-C-P-F-C FORT WORTH IS ALLOWED TO COLLECT THE INCREMENTAL REVENUE GROWTH IN STATE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES.

SO, SO THEY'RE 7%.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS, THAT'S READING, THAT'S WHY I'M GIVING IT A LOOK LIKE, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS, MAYOR, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS WELL.

SO, AND HOW MUCH DO, HOW MUCH DO WE COLLECT AS A CITY CURRENTLY? WHAT'S OUR CUT? 7% AS A CITY.

SO IT COULD DOUBLE IF THEY WOULD ALLOW, IF THEY GAVE YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT OF IT.

[01:05:01]

THAT'S THE IDEA AT LEAST.

SO IF INSTRUCTED, UH, AND GUIDED BY YOU ALL TO DO SO, WE'D BE HAPPY TO DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH INTO THIS AND FIND OUT MORE OF THE DETAIL, UH, AND PERHAPS HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS TO SEE, SEE IF IT'S ON.

WELL, I LIKE WHEN YOU PRESENT SOMETHING THAT GIVES ME LIKE 30 QUESTIONS RIGHT AWAY, .

SO IT'S INTERESTING.

SURE.

BRIAN, DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF, PROJECT SERVICE ZONES? YOU FROM THE DALLAS? IT'S, THERE ARE INSTRUMENTS CREATED IN THE LEGISLATURE AND IT'S, IT'S MOST LIKELY BRACKETED LANGUAGE.

SO AS, AS, UH, THE, THE STATE IS LOOKING AT THAT AND CITIES ARE LOBBYING FOR THESE DIFFERENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS, UH, THEY WILL A LOT OF TIMES BE BRACKETED BASED ON POPULATIONS THAT CAN ONLY BE FORT WORTH OR ONLY BE SAN ANTONIO.

UM, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE SPECIFIC LEGISLATION HERE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED TO BRING FORWARD TO YOU IS OUR OWN STATE REPRESENTATION, OUR OWN STATE LOBBYIST TO HELP US WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE.

AND IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US, THEN IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE COULD TRY TO PURSUE PERHAPS WITH THE SAN MARCUS, UH, PARTNERSHIP POPULATION NUMBERS OR SOME OTHER METRIC WE CAN LOOK AT TRYING TO ADD THAT TO THE LEGISLATION WHERE WE COULD HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT.

, I, I WOULD ONLY ADD THAT ON, JUST ON BACKGROUND.

I THINK IT WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO THAT WE WORKED WITH REPRESENTATIVES WIENER, UH, AND, UH, SOME OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO GET A BRACKETED BILL, UH, THAT ALLOWS FOR KYLE TO HAVE, UH, TO COLLECT, UH, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF, UM, THE STATE'S SALES TAX REVENUE FROM WITHIN A PERC WITHIN A THOUSAND OR 1500 FEET OF ANY CONVENTION CENTER THAT WE BUILT.

UH, SO THERE'S ANOTHER AREA THERE, AND IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE THAT THAT WRITER WAS APPROVED IN THE CONVERSATIONS.

I, I DO KNOW THAT IT WOULD APPLY IN MULTIPLE AREAS.

WE HAVE THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT SITES THAT A HOTEL CONVENTION CENTER THAT DEVELOPERS HAVE SAID, PUT IT HERE, AND OR THIS DEVELOPER SAYS, PUT IT HERE.

IT WOULD APPLY FOR ALL OF THAT.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER POTENTIAL FUNDING SOURCE.

IT WOULD BE GOOD, I THINK, BECAUSE I DOUBT COUNCIL KNOWS ABOUT THIS, AND I, I BARELY EVEN REMEMBER IT FOR US TO GO BACK AND UNDERSTAND THE DYNAMICS OF THE, THE RIDER THAT WAS PUT IN TWO SESSIONS AGO, MAYBE THREE SESSIONS AGO, WITH REGARDS TO THE CONVENTION CENTER.

YOU WANTED IT TO BE A HOME FOR SPORTS EVERY OTHER DAY.

GOOD.

THERE'S ALSO SIGNIFICANT MONEY AVAILABLE THROUGH THE, UH, GOVERNOR HAS A GRANT PROGRAM TO HELP ATTRACT EVENTS TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO TO THE EXTENT WE ENDEAVOR TO CREATE FACILITIES THAT ARE COMPETITIVE, TO TAKE EVENTS FROM OTHER STATES AND HAVE THEM HOSTED IN TEXAS, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE RESERVES PART OF THE STATE HOTEL TAX COLLECTIONS TO FUND THIS SO THAT YOU COULD APPLY.

AND GENERALLY THE WAY IT WORKS IS YOU HAVE AN EVENT YOU'VE TARGETED, UH, TO COMPETE WITH OTHER STATES AGAINST, AND YOU WOULD PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION, YOU MEANING THE MUNICIPALITY THAT WOULD GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND YOU PUT UP A PORTION OF THE FUNDING AND THEN YOU'RE ASKING THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO FUND THE REST OF IT.

AND REALLY WHAT IT'S INTENDED TO DO FOR PEOPLE MAKING THE DECISIONS ON WHERE TO PUT THEIR EVENTS.

LIKE THINK ABOUT THE FINAL FOUR.

EVERY STATE IN THE COUNTRY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AN EVENT THE SIZE OF THE FINAL FOUR.

SO THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS IS RECOGNIZED TO BE COMPETITIVE ON THIS FRONT AND TEXAS, UH, OH.

THEY, THEY OUT, UH, KICK THE PUNT COVERAGE QUITE OFTEN ON THE NUMBER OF THESE BIG EVENTS THAT COME TO TEXAS VERSUS OTHER PLACES FOR NUMEROUS REASONS.

BUT THIS EVENT GRANT PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR WITH THE FIRST EVENT WE WANT TO APPROACH THEM WITH.

SO IT'S A BIT OF, IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

SO IF WE HAD A FACILITY THAT COULD HOST THE TYPE OF EVENTS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE LIKES TO SEE COMING TO OUR STATE, WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY BE COMPETITIVE FOR THOSE FUNDS.

AND THOSE FUNDS CAN BE SIGNIFICANT.

IN DALLAS, AS AN EXAMPLE, I BELIEVE THE NUMBER WAS $20 MILLION THAT THE STATE GAVE TO THE DALLAS SPORTS COMMISSION TO HELP THEM WIN, UH, THE WORLD CUP HOSTING.

SO THAT MONEY CAN BE USED TO PAY FOR RENT ON VENUES, PAY FOR SECURITY, ET CETERA.

SO AS AN EVENT ORGANIZER, PEOPLE LOOK VERY FAVORABLY ON COMING TO TEXAS BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE MAKES THESE FUNDS AVAILABLE.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY HELP WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FACILITY.

BUT I THINK IF A MUNICIPALITY MAKES A COMMITMENT TO MAKE THEMSELVES A DESTINATION FOR THIS TYPE OF EVENT, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS SHOWN THEY WILL DO TO HELP.

SO, AND, AND THIS IS, THESE ARE REALLY BIG NUMBERS.

SO THE BIGGEST SPORTS EVENT TO COME TO THE DALLAS SPORTS CONVENTION, UH, TO COME TO THE DALLAS CONVENTION CENTER EVERY YEAR, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IS A YOUTH CHEERLEADING COMPETITION.

27,000 ATHLETES AVERAGING AT LEAST ONE PARENT PER KID, UH, WHO ALL PAY TO GET INTO VENUE.

UH, THEY ALL HAVE HOTEL NIGHTS, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE IT GETS BIG FAST.

SO I DID JUST SOME QUICK MATH.

UH, IF WE HAD A FACILITY THAT WAS A HUNDRED THOUSAND SQUARE FEET, WE COULD PUT APPROXIMATELY 50 VOLLEYBALL COURTS IN IT IN A WEEK.

YOU DECIDED

[01:10:01]

IT COULD STILL BE A NORMAL CONVENTION CENTER.

UH, YOU'D HAVE 400 VOLLEYBALL TEAMS THAT WOULD COME TO THAT EVENT AT AN AVERAGE OF 10 KIDS.

A TEAM THAT'S 4,000 ATHLETES ACCOMPANIED BY 4,000 PARENTS.

SO IF YOU PUT FOUR IN A ROOM, YOU START DOING THE MATH ON THE HOTEL NIGHTS, YOU WOULD HAVE MULTIPLIED BY AN AVERAGE OF $150 A NIGHT, A WEEKEND VOLLEYBALL EVENT WITH TWO HOTEL NIGHTS FOR THAT CREW.

THE HOTEL TAX WOULD BE $47,000 FOR THOSE TWO NIGHTS FOR THE CITY OF KYLE AT 7%.

SO IT'S EASY TO DISMISS SPORTS AS, UH, AS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT VERY INTERESTING TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT INVESTING IN A CONVENTION CENTER, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO SECURE EVENTS HERE BESIDES TRADITIONAL TRADE SHOWS THAT MIGHT OCCUPY A CONVENTION CENTER.

UH, AND I MENTIONED THE HOTEL TAX OF $47,000, WHICH DOESN'T CONTEMPLATE FOOD AND BEVERAGE RENT A CAR OR THE OTHER BENEFITS OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES WOULD ACHIEVE BY HAVING THAT MASSIVE PEOPLE HERE ON A WEEKEND.

SO, UM, I ASK YOU NOT TO DISMISS, WHICH WOULD BE PROFOUND, I WOULD THINK.

I WOULD ASK YOU NOT TO DISMISS SPORTS TOURISM.

I DON'T THINK WE NECESSARILY NEED A SPECIFIC SPORTS VENUE TO GET STARTED DOWN THIS ROAD.

UM, THE BIGGEST EVENTS THAT MY COMPANY SPONSORS IN THE COUNTRY ARE ALL HELD AT CONVENTION CENTERS, TRADITIONAL CONVENTION CENTERS THAT ARE EQUIPPED FOR SPORTING EVENTS.

SO I THINK IT CAN BE PART OF OUR STRATEGY, NOT THE WHOLE STRATEGY.

I LOVE TRADE SHOWS TOO, BUT I, I THINK THERE'S A WORLD OUT THERE THAT THE, THE GOVERNOR HAS INDICATED A WILLINGNESS TO HELP FUND THAT COULD REALLY HELP US GET A LOT OF MILEAGE OUT OF WHATEVER FACILITY, UM, COUNCIL DECIDES THAT WE SHOULD PURSUE.

UM, WE ARE, WE'RE A BIT LIMITED IN OUR ABILITY TO DRAMATICALLY IMPACT, UH, HOTEL TAX AT PRESENT, UM, WITH SIX HOTEL ROOM, SIX HOTELS IN OUR CITY, AND A LIMITED NUMBER OF BEDS.

YOU JUST DO THE MATH.

IF YOU RENTED EVERYONE OUT EVERY NIGHT, IT'S NOT YET GONNA BE, UH, A TREMENDOUSLY EXPLOSIVE, UH, BUDGET NUMBER.

UH, BUT AS WE GET MORE HOTELS, WE'LL HAVE MORE HOTEL NIGHTS TO SELL, THE NUMBER WILL INCREASE.

BUT THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO IN THE SHORT TERM.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS RECOMMENDED TO ME WAS, UH, TO TAKE A LOOK, WHAT WOULD BE THE NUMBER OF HOTELS THAT WE WOULD AT THE CAPACITY.

YOU SAID WE HAVE SIX, BUT WHAT WOULD BE THAT NUMBER? SO I BELIEVE IT WAS TWO TO BE IN THE GOOD SPOT.

200.

GIVE ME, I ACTUALLY HAVE THAT NUMBER HERE.

290 HOTEL ROOMS AT PRESENT, ADDING 104 WITH TWO NEW HOTELS.

SO THAT WOULD GET US TO 394 ROOMS IN THE CITY OF KYLE PROPER AT, IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

YEAH, I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE HOTELS, ONLY THE HOTELS.

SO WE, YOU SAID WE HAVE SIX HOTELS.

SO HOW MANY WOULD WE, I GUESS NEED? WELL, THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

10 HOTELS, I MEAN, UH, MOST OF THESE LARGE EVENTS WOULD CAPITALIZE ON HOTELS THAT ARE PRESENT NOT JUST IN THE CITY PROPER OF THE DESTINATION, BUT IN THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

UH, WHICH IS EXACTLY THE POINT THAT I WOULD, WOULD MAKE NEXT, IS THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN DEEPER PARTNERSHIP WITH MUNICIPALITIES CLOSE TO US TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL DESTINATION WHEN THEY HAVE EVENTS IN THEIR CITY SO THAT OUR HOTEL ROOMS HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF FILLING UP WHEN THEY EXCEED THE CAPACITY THEY HAVE IN THEIR OWN CITY.

EASY EXAMPLES ARE A HOME FOOTBALL GAME IN THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS.

THEY CAN FILL EVERY HOTEL ROOM IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.

SO ARE WE, AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS YET, BUT ARE WE A MEMBER OF THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN? BECAUSE IF WE ARE, WE BECOME AN OFFICIAL DESTINATION THAT THEY CAN MARKET AS A PLACE.

YOU CAN GET A HOTEL ROOM IF YOU'RE COMING TO TOWN, TO OUR EVENTS.

LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT, JUST EXTENDING, UH, A BIT OF AN OLIVE BRANCH AND BECOMING ENGAGED WITH SOME OF THE MUNICIPALITIES WHO ARE OUR NEIGHBORS.

WE CAN DRIVE UP THE, UM, OCCUPANCY OF OUR HOTELS THAT ARE PART OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW BY BEING A LITTLE PROACTIVE.

SO, UH, AGAIN, INCREMENTAL GROWTH, NOT EXPLOSIVE GROWTH, BUT IT WOULD BE GREAT IF EVERY TIME THERE WAS AN EVENT AT CODA KYLE'S HOTEL SOLD OUT FIRST, BECAUSE THERE IS GONNA BE A NEED BEYOND THE CITY OF AUSTIN FRESH OUT HOTEL ROOMS. YOU MENTIONED UT IF YOU DON'T MIND, BUT YOU ALSO GOTTA LOOK AT THE UNIVERSITY DOWN THE ROAD.

TEXAS STATE IS BOOMING.

THEY JUST SPENT MILLIONS ON RENOVATING THEIR FOOTBALL FIELD.

THEY'RE PART OF THE SUNBELT AND THEY'RE PLAYING MAJOR TEAMS. SO IF YOU WANNA START LOOKING AT SPORTS AND ALSO THE WEEKEND OF GRADUATION, THERE ARE LIKE SO SHORT ON ROOMS. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD TAP INTO THAT MARKET AS WELL.

DO THAT? AND THAT CREATIVE PROCESS WOULD OF COURSE INCLUDE PARTNERS LIKE TEXAS STATE AND, AND HOW COULD WE ENGAGE IN A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY JUST TO MAKE SURE AS PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING A PLACE, LET'S GET ON THE LIST.

TO LOOK INTO.

I THINK THE EXERCISE GETS TO BE PRETTY FUN IS, WHICH IS WHAT OUR BOARD, UH, REALIZED, IS THAT IF WE GET A LITTLE CREATIVE, WE HAVE WHAT, WE HAVE 394 ROOMS, BUT IF WE SOLD 'EM OUT EVERY NIGHT, OUR HOTEL TAX WOULD BE BETTER THAN IT IS TODAY.

SO HOW COULD WE

[01:15:01]

SO I THINK A LOT OF THAT GOOD WORK IS ALREADY HAPPENING, UH, THANKFULLY, BUT, UM, I THINK THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REEVALUATE WHERE WE'RE NOT AS PRESENT AS PERHAPS WE COULD BE.

UH, AND WE COULD HELP OUR HOTEL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE CHOSEN US AS A HOME, UM, TO SELL MORE ROOMS. AND IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

IF THERE'S NO VACANCY IN KYLE, PEOPLE ARE GONNA PUT MORE HOTELS HERE.

SO HOW CAN WE HELP SPUR THAT AS AN ACTIVITY, AS A DESIRED RESULT OF WHAT WE'RE ALL UP TO TOGETHER? SO THIS ALL MAY NOT HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY, BUT I BELIEVE IF WE DID HAVE A FACILITY, WE WOULD HAVE AN EXCELLENT CHANCE OF RECRUITING MORE AND MORE HOTELS TO OUR AREA.

SO I THINK THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME GOOD WORK DONE WITH, UM, SHORT TERM RENTALS AND THE CITY BEING MORE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE FROM SOME OF THE OWNERS OF SHORT TERM RENTALS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE HOTEL TAX.

I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE VRBO HEADQUARTERED HERE, UH, IN CENTRAL TEXAS, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A FORMAL PROGRAM IN PLACE BETWEEN THE CITY AND VRBO TO MAKE SURE THOSE VRBO OWNERS ARE ALSO MAKING THE SAME CONTRIBUTIONS THE AIRBNB OWNERS ARE MAKING BECAUSE THERE IS A PROGRAM, UH, BETWEEN THE CITY AND AIRBNB.

SO THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.

UM, AS AN EXAMPLE, THREE YEARS COLLECTIONS THROUGH THAT PROGRAM HAVE LED TO $211,000 IN HOTEL TAX.

SO IT'S NOT NOTHING, IT IS WORTH HAVING THE CONVERSATION.

THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY TO TARGET OUTDOOR EVENTS THAT DON'T REQUIRE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF PHYSICAL BUILDINGS.

THINGS LIKE CYCLO CROSS, WHICH IS AN EVENT WHERE PEOPLE RIDE THEIR BIKE ACROSS ROUGH TERRAIN, CARRY IT OVER OTHER TERRAIN, BUT IT'S A CYCLING EVENT THAT OCCURS OUTSIDE.

AND AT TIMES THEY HAVE THOUSANDS OF PARTICIPANTS.

THESE ARE THE TYPE OF EVENTS.

IF YOU HAVE OUTDOOR AREAS THAT ARE PRONE TO BE GOOD ENVIRONMENTS FOR RIDING A BIKE, WE COULD BE COMPETING FOR EVENTS LIKE THAT RIGHT NOW, WHICH DON'T NEED A FACILITY.

SO AGAIN, LOTS OF BENEFITS BESIDE THE HOTEL TAX TO HAVING AN EVENT LIKE THAT IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH WOULD BE THE NATIONAL PUBLICITY WE MIGHT GAIN FROM THAT AND SHOW PEOPLE THAT WE ARE A DESTINATION FOR THEIR EVENTS AS WELL.

SAME THING IF YOU CONSIDER, UM, A CROSS COUNTRY RACE.

A HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY MEET.

AGAIN, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF KIDS PARTICIPATING IN THAT.

THEY DON'T NEED A STADIUM.

THEY, THEY NEED NATURAL TERRAIN TO RUN ON, WHICH WE HAVE HERE.

SO I THINK IF WE'RE CREATIVE, UH, WE CAN BEGIN TO EXPLORE SPORTS TOURISM IN A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY.

IN THE SHORT TERM.

I THINK WE CAN BEGIN TO INCREASE OUR HOTEL TAX COLLECTIONS INCREMENTALLY FOR NOW.

BUT HOPEFULLY, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU ALL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PAINT KYLE AS A WONDERFUL DESTINATION FOR HOTELS.

UH, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP US IN OUR GOALS OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE MAY DECIDE TO ADD, UH, AS A COMMUNITY FOR THE LONG TERM.

THANK YOU EDDIE.

YEAH, VERY, VERY INFORMATIVE, VERY THOROUGH.

SO THANK YOU.

GIVE US A, GIVE US ANOTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, COMMENT DOWN THE ROAD ON SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE TO ENGAGE WITH.

I'M SURE THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THE BOARD MORE.

UH, THIS IS VERY HELPFUL.

YEAH, IT'S A GOOD PROJECT.

UH, I, I THINK WE STILL HAVE SOME MORE WORK WE'D LIKE TO DO ON IT.

IS, UH, THE CONSENT AGENDA.

BUT WE WILL, UM, WE'LL FOLLOW BACK UP AND WAIT FOR YOUR GUIDANCE.

[VI) Consent Agenda]

WE'RE ALREADY GONNA PULL ITEM 21.

DO WE HAVE A REQUEST TO PULL ANY OTHER ITEMS? 15.

HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT 1315, PLEASE.

OKAY, MAYOR.

MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT.

AGENDA ITEMS 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12, 14, 15.

NO, I TOOK 15 NOW, PLEASE.

NOT 15.

OH, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.

SORRY.

SCRATCH.

15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22 AND 23 SECOND.

MOTION BY MAYOR PROAM, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARSLEY, THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT, CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEMS 13, 15 AND 21.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ALL THE PIS.

I KNOW THEY WE'RE APPROVING THEM ALL, SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

HAS TO BE DONE IN THE, IN THE TAXES THAT ARE COLLECTED IN THERE.

HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

WELL, YOU, YOU CAN ASK JUST ON ASK QUESTION.

OH BRIAN, SINCE WE'RE APPROVING SO MANY PIDS, I MEAN THERE'S, THERE'S LIKE EIGHT, NINE OF THEM HERE.

ARE WE COLLECTING ENOUGH FEES IN THE, UM, I GUESS 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, REPORTING THAT

[01:20:01]

SO I WANNA MAKE SURE, UH, 'CAUSE WE RAISED IMPACT FEES, WE'VE RAISED DEVELOPMENT FEES.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT TAKES UP A LOT OF, UH, CITY TIME TO PROCESS, UM, FOR, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IS THIS A FEE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT PIT FEES? YEAH, WE HAVE, UH, ALLISON SNYDER HERE WITH P THREE.

SHE CAN PROBABLY ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.

SO ALLISON, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING TO THE PODIUM AND, AND, AND SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THE, I GUESS THE ERROR THAT WAS MADE BY THE BUILDER SEEMED TO, UM, CAUSE UM, THE, THE REPORTING TO BE OFF.

AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR ANY FEE DIFFERENCES WHEN THAT SORT OF ROUTINE HAPPENS? SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE CITY DOES NOT PAY FOR THE PIT AT ALL.

UM, ONE OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE ANNUAL INSTALLMENT FOR EACH OF THE PROPERTIES IS ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, FEES, OR IT'S CONSIDERED AN ANNUAL COLLECTION COST.

SO ANY ITEMS, WHETHER IT'S YOUR COUNTY COLLECTION FEE, UM, PAYING PIT ADMINISTRATOR, PAYING BOND COUNCIL, PAYING ANY CITY STAFF TIME, THAT'S POTENTIALLY EXTRA AS LONG AS IT IS.

UM, YOU, WE CAN BACK THAT UP AND AND CHARGE LINE ITEM TO THE SPECIFIC PIT.

UH, ALL OF THOSE ARE ELIGIBLE ADMIN EXPENSES AND CAN BE COVERED BY THAT ANNUAL COLLECTION COST.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S A COMPONENT OF THE ANNUAL INSTALLMENT THAT EACH PROPERTY PAYS AND THAT'S SPREAD OUT PRO RATA BETWEEN ALL OF THE PROPERTIES BASED ON THEIR OUTSTANDING ASSESS.

SO, UM, EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL LOTS, UM, EVEN IF THEY'RE SEPARATE LOT TYPES WHERE MM-HMM.

, UH, LARGER LOTS PAY A HAVE A LARGER OUTSTANDING ASSESSMENT AND THEREFORE THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT ANNUAL, UM, COLLECTION COST FEE THAT THEY'LL BE PAYING.

BUT IT'S ALL PRO RATA BASED ON OUTSTANDING ASSESSMENT.

SO NO DIRECT COST TO NO DIRECT COST FROM, FROM THE CITY AND THAT IS REVIEWED AND BUDGETED EACH YEAR.

SO EACH ANNUAL SAP UPDATE WILL LOOK AT THE COST FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, UM, AND MAKE THEIR BEST PROJECTION ABOUT THAT UPCOMING COST.

AND IF THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE THERE WERE, YOU KNOW, MORE UNEXPECTED COSTS, SOME TYPE OF ERROR ON THE DEVELOPER'S PART, ANYTHING THAT REQUIRED ADDITIONAL EITHER CITY ATTORNEY OR BOND COUNCIL FEES, SOMETHING THAT CAME UP, UM, THOSE FEES COULD BE COLLECTED IN AN UPCOMING YEAR TO MAKE SURE THE CITY HAD NO BURDEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, PIT ADMINISTRATOR OR ANY OF THOSE OTHER FEES COULD POTENTIALLY HOLD THEIR INVOICES, WAIT FOR THAT NEXT ROUND OF COLLECTION BECAUSE THE CITY WAS ABLE TO REVIEW BUDGET.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THESE FEES ARE COLLECTED AND PAID BY THE PIT ITSELF AND NOT BY THE CITY? OKAY.

I HAVE NO MORE CONCERNS.

ALRIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT 13.

13 WAS PULLED.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE ITEMS? YEAH, I WANTED TO SEE IF NUMBER 13, UM, IF, IF THIS SITE HANG ON.

13 IS NOT ON THE MOTION RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL THE OPPOSED.

MOTION CARRIES SEVEN TO ZERO

[13) (Second Reading) Consider approval of an ordinance amending the sign and zoning code per Ch. 29 and Ch. 53 of the City of Kyle Code of Ordinances. Council voted 6-0 to approve on first reading on 8/6/2024]

ZERO.

NEXT UP AGENDA ITEM 13 SECOND READING, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN, UH, ORDINANCE ADMITTING SIGN AND ZONING CODE PER CHAPTER TWENTY NINE FIFTY THREE OF CITY OF CALL CODE OF ORDINANCES.

MS. SHARP.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

KAYLA SHARP, SENIOR PLANNER FOR THE RECORD.

HEY KAYLA, JUST MY QUESTION, IS THIS APPROVING THIS SIGNED ORDINANCE, DOES IT GIVE US, UH, FLEXIBILITY IN THE VARIANCE I GUESS THAT MS. MS. SHIELD WAS REQUESTING, UH, IN, IN OUR HOAS? BECAUSE I AM THAT SIGN CHANGER FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT IS TIME CONSUMING AND, AND AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION WE COULD GET OUT THERE.

WITH THOSE LED TYPE SIGNS? ABSOLUTELY.

SO THESE SPECIFIC, UM, SIGN CODE AMENDMENTS WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR A VARIANCE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT WHEN WE DO FURTHER CODE REWRITES, UM, CODE AMENDMENTS IN THE FUTURE.

UM, BUT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THESE CODE AMENDMENTS.

IT'S PRETTY CLEAR ON WHAT THE CODE REQUIRES FOR THOSE.

SO I WANNA TAG ALONG IN THAT QUESTION YOU HAVE, BECAUSE DURING BUDGET WE DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING THOSE, UM, VIRTUAL KIOSK TO POSSIBLY BE INTERACTIVE FOR THE CITY.

AND SO, WHICH I THINK IT WILL BE FANTASTIC BECAUSE THAT'S INFORMATIVE AND FOR PEOPLE TO LOOK FOR INFORMATION.

HOW WILL THAT COME IN PLACE IF WE HAVE A SIGN ORDINANCE THAT WILL NOT ALLOW FOR THAT? SO THERE, THERE ARE CERTAIN SIGNS THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE ALLOWED VERSUS NOT ALLOWED.

SOMETHING LIKE, UM, THE KIOSKS HAVE DIFFERENT ALLOWANCES AND TYPICALLY, UM, SIGNS THAT ARE PUT UP BY THE CITY ARE GENERALLY EXCLUDED FROM CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS IN THE CODE.

SO IF IT'S SOMETHING CITY INITIATED, UM, IT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THESE SPECIFIC CODE SECTIONS STATES, UM, IN REFERENCE TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT AS FAR AS LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD SIGNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT,

[01:25:01]

MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN REQUEST A KIOSK FROM THE CITY TO YOUR, WE JUST JUST SAY TO WEIGH THOSE.

SO HOW DO WE GET, HOW DO WE ALLOW HOAS TO MOVE FORWARD, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS, IF WE HAVE THIS SIGN ORDINANCE, WHAT DO I NEED TO SAY? MAKE, BRING IT BACK CONSENT AGENDA FOR IF IT'S SOMETHING, AN AMENDMENT, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL WANTS TO LOOK, UM, WANTS TO HAVE STAFF LOOK AT FOR FUTURE CODE AMENDMENT, IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO.

I'D LIKE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM, BUT WITH AN AMENDMENT TO HAVE STAFF BRING IT BACK TO SEE HOW WE CAN WORK WITH HOA STUFF.

SO WE DIDN'T NOTICE FOR THAT SPECIFIC SECTION.

SO I'M NOT SURE NOT AMENDMENT JUST DIRECT.

DIRECT.

I, I THINK THAT YES SIR.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE DIRECTION IF YOU'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT THAT, WE'LL BE GLAD TO LOOK AT IT.

BUT THIS ITEM WOULD BE, UH, BEFORE YOU FOR APPROVAL OR NOT FOR THE COUNCIL.

AND THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER ISSUES AND BRING THOSE BACK TO YOU.

SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, GO.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

WHAT IS IT IT, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE A MOTION ABOUT EATON? SO IF WE APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE, IT'S PRETTY RIGID AND AND STERN.

AND, AND IT WOULD PREVENT HOAS FROM TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PAY FOR THEIR OWN SIGN AND MODERNIZE THEIR SIGNAGE.

AND THEN I HAVE TO, IT WOULD, SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WANT THE CITY TO PAY FOR NO KIOSK OR SIGNAGES.

HOAS WANT TO IMPROVE OKAY.

THEIR SIGNAGE.

TO MAKE IT GO ELECTRONIC WITH BETTER LIGHTING, IT'S MORE MODERN.

BUT THEY CAN'T DO IT IF WE APPROVE THIS ORDINANCE, THAT THAT'S WHERE WE'RE STUCK.

THE WAY THE CODE IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, IT ALREADY DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THEM.

WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANYTHING FOR OUR RESIDENTIAL SIGNS.

THEY'RE THE LED UM, MESSAGE BOARDS ARE ALREADY NOT ALLOWED.

SO THESE CODE AMENDMENTS AREN'T CHANGING ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO THAT.

UM, SO MAYBE THAT, THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE CODE AMENDMENT THAT WE CAN, THAT'S WHAT I, SO THAT WOULD, I WOULD BE LIKE, APPROVE THIS ONE AND A REQUEST FOR STAFF TO BRING SOMETHING BACK IN ORDER TO ALLOW HOAS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A ED LIFE.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE, UH, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE DONE.

YOU WANNA MAKE THE MOTION AGAIN? MAYBE SOME HOAS MAY NOT WANT THAT.

YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S UP TO THEM, RIGHT? SOME HO THE PRESIDENT .

BUT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ALLOW THE, ALLOW THEM TO MAKE THAT DETERMINATION.

GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD DANIEL.

YOU DID VERY WELL.

YOU DID VERY WELL WITH THE, SO GO AHEAD.

NO, SO I MEAN, I GUESS THE MOTION WILL BE TO APPROVE ITEM 13 AND ASK FOR STAFF TO BRING BACK, UM, POSSIBILITIES TO MODIFY THE CODE AND ALLOW FOR HOES TO HAVE SOME SORT OF, UM, CHANGEABLE MESSAGE.

AND THE NEXT CODE AMENDMENT.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S A SECOND.

MOTIONS MADE BY COUNCILOR, PARTIALLY SECONDED BY THE MAYOR THAT WE APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 13 AND DIRECT STAFF TO BRING BACK CODE REVISIONS PER OUR DISCUSSION WITH REGARDS TO RESIDENTIAL SIGNAGE.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, MOTION CARRIES SEVEN TO ZERO.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT WITH GTS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS INC.

ALRIGHT, NEXT UP.

AGENDA ITEM 15.

[15) Consider approval of an agreement with GTS Technology Solutions, Inc. for the purchase of a security camera system for the Kyle Public Library including hardware, software, and maintenance support for a term of five years in the amount of $94,401.42 via the Texas Department of Information Resources cooperative contract. ]

FOR THE PURCHASE OF A SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM FOR THE LIBRARY, INCLUDING HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT FOR A TERM OF FIVE YEARS IN THE AMOUNT OF $94,401 AND 42 CENTS VIA THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION RESOURCES, UH, COOPERATIVE GRANT, CUSTOMER PARSLEY.

SO I HAVE A QUESTION.

WHAT OTHER FACILITIES DO WE HAVE THAT REQUIRES SURVEILLANCE? UM, THAT REQUIRES SURVEILLANCE? I KNOW WE HAVE, UM, THE PARK SYSTEM USES THIS, THIS PARTICULAR, UM, SOFTWARE SYSTEM, THE ADA CAMERAS DID YOU WANNA ADD? YEAH, THE, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER HAS EXTERNAL CAMERAS ON IT.

MOST OF OUR PUBLIC BUILDINGS HAVE SOME KIND OF SECURITY FEATURES OR WATER, UH, WASTEWATER FACILITIES, LIFT STATIONS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS HAVE SECURITY CAMERAS ON THEM.

SO IT'S, ARE WE USING THE SAME COMPANY AND THE SAME TYPE OF CAMERAS FOR ALL OF THEM? THAT MAY BE A QUESTION FOR MARCO.

I BELIEVE HE'S YEAH.

COMING DOWN RIGHT NOW.

HERE COMES MARCO.

I KNOW THAT PARKS IS USING THIS SYSTEM, SO IT WILL, UM, IT WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH PARKS, UH, FACILITIES THAT ARE USING THIS.

AND HERE HE COMES.

HI MARCO.

SO DO WE, DO WE ALL USE THE SAME CAMERAS, THE SAME SYSTEM? YES.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, HALF OF OUR FACILITIES ARE USING THAT SAME SYSTEM.

UM, WE DO PLAN ON MOVING AWAY FROM THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE JUST BECAUSE THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET IS, YOU KNOW, SUBPAR I GUESS.

BUT, UM, AS FAR AS FUNCTIONALITY GOES, THIS NEWER SYSTEM THAT'S ON THE AGENDA IS USER FRIENDLY.

IT'S BETTER MANAGEABLE, UM, SECURE TOO AS WELL.

AND IT ACTUALLY INTEGRATES, UM, INTO A LOT OF DIFFERENT SOFTWARES THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE, ARE CURRENTLY GOING TO, UM, THAT PD SOFTWARE THAT THEY CURRENTLY USE THAT DOES A GOOD INTEGRATION WITH THAT ASPECT OF IT TOO.

SO WE REALLY, OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO GET ALL ONE SYSTEM, UM, WHERE WE'RE JUST MANAGING IN JUST ONE LOCATION.

SO YES, SO THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING FROM.

LIKE, CAN

[01:30:01]

WE CENTRALIZE TO HAVE ALL OF THE FACILITIES TO BE UNDER THE SAME PROGRAMS USING THE SAME CAMERAS, HAVING JUST LIKE ONE, LIKE NOT ONE POINT OF CONTACT, BUT THAT IF WE'RE GONNA REACH OUT TO SOMEBODY, THEN WE CAN ADDRESS EVERY SINGLE FACILITY FOR THE CITY.

WHAT I DON'T WANT IS APPROVE THIS FOR FIVE MORE YEARS AND THEN IN A YEAR AND A HALF WE HAVE A NEW SYSTEM AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS STREAMLINED AND SO WHAT DO WE DO NEXT? ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S THE END GOAL IS TO GET GET ON 'EM IN ONE SYSTEM WHERE IT'S, UM, WE'RE JUST MANAGING ALL OUR FACILITIES UNDER ONE SOFTWARE.

SO HOW DO WE GET THERE? UH, RIGHT NOW WE ARE, THIS IS JUST FOR THE LIBRARY.

UM, CURRENTLY I WOULD SAY THERE'S ABOUT THREE FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE PUBLIC SAFETY.

THIS BUILDING AND PUBLIC WORKS ARE ON OUR OLD SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

SO.

SO THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER HAS CAMERAS THAT SOMEBODY ELSE BESIDES THE POLICE REVIEWS ? YES.

THE POST SAFETY CENTER IS CURRENTLY ON THIS SAME SYSTEM THAT THE CITY HALL IS.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WANNA APPROVE FOR FIVE YEARS IF WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK INTO GETTING ALL OF THE FACILITIES UNDER THE SAME MM-HMM.

SYSTEM.

BUT THIS IS THE SYSTEM HE'S TRYING TO GET OFF.

WELL THIS IS THE ONE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ALL GO TO.

THIS IS THE, THIS IS THE NEW SYSTEM.

SYSTEM.

AS THE OTHER SYSTEMS AGE OUT AND ARE REPLACED, SORRY.

THEY'LL BE, THEY'LL BE CONVERTING TO THE SYSTEM, GET THAT SYSTEM JUST SO THAT IT'LL BE ALL ON THE, DO YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE QUESTION.

SAME SOFTWARE PLATFORM.

IS THIS THE SA THE NEW RESTROOMS HAVE A REPORTING SYSTEM, CAMERA SYSTEM WITH THEM.

WILL THEY BE INTEGRATED WITH THIS AS WELL? YES, THAT IS THE PLAN.

SO CURRENTLY OUR PARKS HAS THIS CURRENT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW AND WE'RE JUST EXPANDING INTO OUR FACILITIES, GOES WITH THE RESTROOMS. AND TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S OUTSIDE, NOT INSIDE THE BEDROOM.

YES, WE'RE NOT.

HEY, YOU.

SO YOU JUST SAID THAT THE LIBRARY CURRENTLY DOESN'T HAVE THIS ONE.

IT HAS A DIFFERENT ONE.

THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIVE.

THESE GUYS ARE CORRECT? YES.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 15 SECOND.

ALRIGHT, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER PARSLEY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS THAT WE APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 15.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION COUNCILOR TO ALL RIGHT, JUST, JUST ONE FOLLOW UP.

ONCE WE IN GET INTEGRATED ON THE ENTIRE SYSTEM FOR ALL THE BUILDINGS, WILL THERE BE A SPECIFIC AREA WHERE IT'S GONNA BE MONITORED OR LET'S SAY IT THE SYSTEM IS ONLY GONNA BE MONITORED FOR THE LIBRARY OR IS THE, LET'S SAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MONITORING EVERYTHING, HAVING ACCESS TO ALL OF THAT? LIKE AFTER HOURS, LET'S SAY AFTER HOURS.

, THE, THE LIBRARY'S CLOSED.

IF THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER SAYS WE WANNA BE ABLE TO TAG IN AND BASICALLY HAVE DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY THAT SOMEBODY'S AT LEAST MONITORING THAT OR HAS IT PULLED UP TO WHERE IF THEY SEE SOMETHING IN REAL TIME, THEY CAN CATCH IT.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

UM, LIKE I SAID, THIS IS, THIS IS TO INTEGRATES WITH THE POLICE SYSTEM THAT THEY'RE GOING WITH, WHICH IS, WHICH IS I BELIEVE IN THE NEW BUDGET CALLED FUSS.

UM, AND IT IS PART OF THAT PROGRAM THAT CHIEF IS TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THEIR, UM, REAL TIME CRIME CENTER.

REAL TIME CRIME CENTER.

YES, EXACTLY.

AND IT, YEAH, IT DEFINITELY, SO THAT WAY IF SOMEBODY'S KIND OF MESSING AROUND AT LAKE KYLE OR WALKING AROUND, SHOULDN'T BE WHERE THEY, YOU KNOW, BEING SILLY IN A NO SILLY STUPID ZONE , YOU KNOW, IT'S BASICALLY THEY CAN BE ABLE TO GET ALERTED FOR THAT.

DOES THIS SYSTEM KIND OF HAS THAT MOTION SENSOR KIND OF CAPABILITY? YEAH, IT'S A GREAT SYSTEM.

IT HAS, IT WILL DETECT FEATURES.

UM, IT'LL SHOW LIKE WHICH DIRECTION A PERSON WENT.

IT HAS ALL THESE DIFFERENT FEATURES.

IT'S, IT'S REALLY COOL.

GOOD.

UM, ACTUALLY I THINK THIS SYSTEM, WE DID A TRIAL LAST YEAR AND IT CAUGHT, UM, SOME TEENAGERS GRAFFITI AGAINST STEEPLE CHASE.

WE WERE ABLE TO GRAB THAT VIDEO UHHUH AND GET THAT OVER TO PD.

SO YEAH, THEY WERE THERE PRETTY QUICK.

YEAH, I REMEMBER THAT.

WE, I'M SORRY.

AS WE GROW AS A CITY, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, UH, LOCATION AND THE, UH, CAMERA SYSTEM WE HAVE IN THERE, THE MONITORS.

S EVENTUALLY WE'LL HAVE PEOPLE MONITORING THE CITY.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO DETECT CRIME, WE'LL BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, REDIRECT TRAFFIC FROM ACCIDENTS.

THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF, UH, WITH THE NEW TECHNOLOGY COMING OUT.

SO IT'LL BE A LOT OF USEFUL TOOLS THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP OUR, THE LIVES OF THE RESIDENTS.

'CAUSE LET'S LOOK AT DOWN THE ROAD WHEN WE'RE, WE'RE HAVING OUR VIBE TRAIL IMPLEMENTED AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE USING IT AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE OUR CALL BOXES OUT THERE.

THEY COULD ACTUALLY HAVE THIS KIND OF SYSTEM TO WHERE IF THERE'S AN EMERGENCY THAT NEEDS TO BE HAPPENING, IT WOULD ACTUALLY LOG IN TO THAT SPECIFIC LOCATION, GIVE THE EYES AND EARS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT COULD ALSO BE RECORDING AS WELL.

THERE'S SOME CAMERAS OUT THERE THAT ACTUALLY CAN DO RECORDING AND VIDEOTAPING WHEN SOMETHING'S GOING DOWN AND IT COULD GATHER EVIDENCE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME GIVE POLICE OFFICERS A SPECIFIC LOCATION AREA OF TOWN OR AREA IN THE PARK TO WHERE THEY CAN RESPOND TO.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

COOL.

WILL, WILL THESE CAMERAS BE ABLE TO BE LINKED INTO THE EOC? YES.

OR IS YEAH, THAT'S NOT A CHANGE.

DO ARE OUR CURRENT ALSO LINKED TO DOC? SO THAT, THAT'S NOT A CHANGED ELEMENT

[01:35:01]

SO RIGHT NOW IT IS LINKED TO THERE.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

IT'S ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

ALL OPPOSED? I HAVE A QUESTION.

MOTION.

MOTION CARRIE SIXTEEN'S ALREADY OVER.

CAN I PLEASE ASK? UM, WE'LL KEEP IT SHORT.

Y'ALL WANNA LET HIM GO OUT OF ORDER AND ASK A QUESTION ON 16? I JUST WANTED TO DISCUSS 16 REAL QUICK.

WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON IT, SO WELL, I'M GLAD TO SEE IT.

ALRIGHT, NEXT

[21) Consider approval of resolution approving a contract extension to the agreement with Uber Technologies, Inc., for continued transit services within the Kyle city limits and other areas as specified in the agreement through September 2025. ]

UP IS AGENDA ITEM 21.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONTRACT EXTENSION TO THE AGREEMENT WITH UBER TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED FOR CONTINUED TRANSIT SERVICES WITHIN THE CAL CITY LIMITS AND OTHER AREAS AS SPECIFIED IN THE AGREEMENT THROUGH SEPTEMBER, 2025.

MS. TRU, LOVE WAITING FOR THE, THERE WE GO.

UH, ROSIE TRU LOVE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.

UM, AS THE MAYOR JUST NOTED, WE'RE HERE TODAY TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONTRACT EXTENSION TO THE CURRENT AGREEMENT.

WE, UH, THAT IT HAS EXISTED WITH UBER TECHNOLOGIES FOR CONTINUED TRANSIT SERVICES, UM, WITHIN THE KYLE CITY LIMITS AND OTHER AREAS THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER, 2025.

UM, INITIALLY APPROVED IN 2020.

THE UBER THREE 14 PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UBER RIDE CHAIR PLATFORM TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS TO ALL, ALL KYLE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.

UM, RIDER CAN TAKE A TRIP ANYWHERE THAT BEGINS AND ENDS WITHIN KYLE CITY LIMITS FOR THE SMALL PRICE OF $3 AND 14 CENTS.

UH, THE UBER, UH, THREE 14 PROGRAM WILL SUBSIDIZE RIDES UP TO $10 PER RIDE AFTER YOU PAY THE FIRST $3 AND 14 CENTS.

UH, THEIR RIDERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING OVER THE INITIAL 1314.

UM, THE, THE INITIAL $3 AND 14 CENTS PAYMENT PLUS THE $10 SUBSIDY, UH, RIDERS ARE ISSUED A ONE OR ISSUED ONE MONTHLY VOUCHER THAT'S VALID FOR 10 ONE-WAY TRIPS THROUGH THE CITY'S MOBILE APP.

UH, THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES FOR, FOR, UH, ROUND TRIP, UH, ROUND TRIPS FROM KYLE TO THE AUSTIN VETERANS ADMINISTRATION, UM, AS WELL AS TWO ONE-WAY TRIPS TO AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT PER MONTH, UM, FOR, UH, 31.4% OF THE RIDE COST.

THE AMENDMENT WILL EXTEND THE UBER TRANSIT PROGRAM'S OPERATIONS THROUGH THE END OF SEPTEMBER IN 2025.

UM, STAFF WILL BE INITIATING A SOLICITATION TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO HELP CONDUCT A PROGRAM REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS, UM, TO THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND GUIDELINES.

UH, BASED ON FEEDBACK WE WILL GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS, UH, FROM THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCIL.

SO OUR OPTIONS RIGHT NOW ARE TO, UH, APPROVE THE AMENDMENT, UH, TO NOT APPROVE THE AMENDMENT OR TO, UM, RECOMMEND ANY.

UM, AND STAFF'S RECOMMEND, EXCUSE ME.

UH, STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, APPROVING THE AMENDMENT.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. TRU? LOVE COUNCILOR TOBI.

UM, I JUST HAD SOME, UM, AN EMAIL YESTERDAY I SENT YOU, MA'AM ROSIE, THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING BACK TO ME ON THIS.

SO I'LL JUST KIND OF BRIEF JUST GO THROUGH IT REALLY QUICK.

UM, AGAIN, CONSIDERING THE APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION OF THE UBER TECHNOLOGIES, IT SAYS THE TWO AWARD OR COUNSEL AUTHORIZING THE REQUEST OF 720,000 FUNDING SOURCE GENERAL FUND.

THE APPROVED BUDGET LAST YEAR WAS 450,000.

SO MY QUESTION WAS, IS WHERE'S THE BACKUP MATERIAL TO JUSTIFY THE 270,000 INCREASE FOR NEXT YEAR? AND, UM, THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING.

IS THAT BASICALLY IT'S BASED ON THE TRENDS OF THE AMOUNT THAT COULD RISE BETWEEN SIX 50 AND SEVEN 20.

DO WE HAVE THOSE NUMBERS THAT WE COULD PULL UP TO SHOW THE PUBLIC? 'CAUSE IT WASN'T IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL.

AND THAT WAS A SLIDE THAT I ADDED AND I JUST REALIZED WHEN I STEPPED UP HERE THAT I DID NOT SEND THAT SLIDE TO MARCO SO I CAN GO GRAB MY COMPUTER AND SEND IT TO MARCO AND HAVE THEM PULL IT UP SO THAT WAY JUST THE PUBLIC CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE AT OR CAN WALK THROUGH THEM.

RIGHT? YEAH.

UM, AND UM, THE OTHER THING WAS WHICH DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY IS, IS COLLECTING ALL THIS INFORMATION, UH, FOR THE INCREASE AND WHO IT CITY'S NEGOTIATING THE AGREEMENTS.

UH, YOU DID STATE THAT IT WAS THE PURCHASING DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO THAT'S WHERE THE TREND COMES FROM.

AND THEY'RE UTILIZING THE DATA CAPTURED BY UBER AND BY SHARED WITH STAFF AND MANAGING THE PROGRAM.

SO THEN THE, UH, OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS THE CURRENT BUDGET REFLECTED 450,000.

AND I WAS JUST TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE, WHAT TRENDS MEANT, UH, ACCORDING TO YOUR BACK OF MATERIAL.

THAT ALSO HAS TO DO, I GUESS WITH THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED ME TODAY, WITH THE AMOUNT OF TRIPS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, THE AMOUNT OF, UH, DISCOUNTS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT.

UH, AND THAT'S KINDA WHY IT'S BEEN INCREASING, AS YOU'RE SAYING, THROUGH THE YEAR.

UH, 'CAUSE THIS HAS BEEN UP AND RUNNING FOR THREE YEARS NOW, THAT IT COULD TOP 680,000 OR 700,000 FOR NEXT YEAR.

[01:40:01]

AND SO THE OTHER ISSUE WAS IS THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT POSSIBLY, UH, SOLICITING A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICE COMPANY.

THE QUESTION I HAD ASKED IS IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF FIRMS, WHAT WERE THE NAME OF THE FIRMS THAT ARE, THAT DO THIS TYPE OF WORK, UH, AND HOW MANY YEARS THEY'VE BEEN IN IN BUSINESS AND WHAT KIND OF TRACK RECORD THEY HAVE.

UH, YOU DID GIMME SOME NAMES LIKE DELONTE, MCKENZIE, UM, ANOTHER FIRM WAS KIMLEY HORN AND SIMILAR OTHERS.

THOSE WEREN'T ONES THAT YOU'RE GONNA GO WITH, BUT JUST THOSE WERE EXAMPLES.

AND, UM, I THINK WHAT WOULD HELP IF WE WERE TO GO THIS ROUTE OF GETTING A CONSULTANT, BECAUSE I'M NOT IN THE TRANSPORTATION OR UBER BUSINESS, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE HAD SOME PUBLIC INPUT ON IT.

IF WE CAN REALLY GET THE PEOPLE THAT USE THIS.

'CAUSE I HEAR IT FROM COUNCIL AND SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT THIS IS A GREAT I GREAT COMPANY AND GREAT IDEA, WHICH I'M SURE IT IS.

BUT WHO ARE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY USING IT? I MEAN, UH, IS IT VETERANS? IS IT THE ELDERLY? IS IT STUDENTS? ABSOLUTELY.

UH, IT IS GA GATHERING THAT INFORMATION AS FAR AS WHY THE TREND, AS THEY SAY IS INCREASING AND IF, AND WE GOTTA SEE OUR OVERALL GOAL OF WHAT THE UBER PROGRAM IS IN THE LONG RUN.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST TO THE CITY AS WELL THAT WE HAVE SOME KIND OF WORKSHOP OR WE CAN HAVE SOME KIND OF, UH, FEEDBACK ON THAT SO THAT WAY MOVING FORWARD WE'RE NOT CONSTANTLY HAVING TO APPROVE THESE CONTRACTS.

AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION WAS, HOW LONG HAS THIS CONTRACT BEEN EXPIRED? YEP.

SO I THANK YOU FOR ASKING ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS OUT LOUD THAT WE TALKED ABOUT VIA EMAIL EARLIER AND ALLOWED ME TIME TO PULL UP YES MA'AM.

THE THING AND SEND IT TO MARCO.

AND SO HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL THAT UP NOW, UM, TO RUN THROUGH THOSE, UM, $450,000 IS THE AMOUNT THAT'S IN THE BUDGET.

THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WE SPENT, UH, OR WE ANTICIPATE BASED ON, ON THE CURRENT PROGRAM, UH, FOR FISCAL YEAR 24.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S CONTAINED IN YOUR, YOUR FISCAL YEAR 25, UM, BUDGET.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TRENDS, WHICH WE'LL PULL UP HERE IN A SECOND, UM, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT, UH, THE USE, THE USAGE OF THE PROGRAM IS INCREASING EVERY YEAR.

AND SO WE THINK THAT, UM, FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, UM, WE COULD SEE THAT GO UP TO MAYBE 650 TO $700,000 OR MORE.

UM, THE CONTRACT RIGHT NOW IS STRUCTURED BASED, UH, THAT WE WILL REIMBURSE UBER BASED ON USAGE OF THE PROGRAM.

THERE'S NO CAPS AS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM, UM, OR ANYTHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

THAT'S THE PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN DESIGNED AND HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR YEARS.

UH, SO AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND WE GET CLOSER TO MEETING OR SURPASSING THE AMOUNT THAT'S IN THE BUDGET, WE'LL HAVE TO BRING BACK A BUDGET AMOUNT, UH, A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO BE ABLE TO EXCEED THE 450,000 THAT'S IN THE BUDGET.

BUT WE DO FORECAST THAT BASED ON CURRENT TRENDS AND USER, UH, USAGE OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE WILL, UM, OH, MARCO'S DOING THAT FOR ME, IT'S MAGIC.

OKAY, NOW WE HAVE THE SLIDE UP ON THE SCREEN.

WE HAVE A SCOPE THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INTERNALLY ABOUT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO, TO LOOK AT AS WE REVIEW THIS PROGRAM.

THERE YOU GO.

UM, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT USAGE OF THE PROGRAM WILL EXCEED, UM, 450,000 LIKELY IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.

UM, YOU HAD ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT, UM, THE TRENDS THAT, THAT WERE REFERENCED IN HERE.

WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT UTILIZATION OF THE PROGRAM.

YOU CAN SEE FROM 2022, UM, MOVING INTO 2024.

IN 2022, WE HAD 14,716 TOTAL TRIPS.

IN 2024, WE'RE SEEING 46,420 TOTAL TRIPS BASED ON CURRENT PROJECTIONS.

UM, AND IF YOU CONTINUE SEEING THOSE ESCALATIONS, THAT'S POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, ABOVE 68,000 TOTAL TRIPS UNDER THIS PROGRAM.

UM, SO WITH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO, TO FORECAST AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2020.

UM, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BRINGING IN A CONSULTANT, WE RECOGNIZE THIS IS A, A PROGRAM THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE TO MEET A SPECIFIC COMMUNITY NEED.

AND, UH, WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC TRANSIT HERE IN KYLE AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT AND DO A PROGRAM REVIEW ABOUT ARE WE STILL HAVING THE SAME KIND OF COMMUNITY NEEDS THAT WE HAD BACK IN 2020? IS THIS STILL THE RIGHT SOLUTION? DO WE NEED TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF THE PROGRAM? UM, IS IT, IS THE SUBSIDY AMOUNT STILL THE RIGHT AMOUNT? UH, UH, DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT ANY OTHER PARAMETERS? THERE'S, YOU KNOW, AND AND TALKING WITH, WITH THE TEAM, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT LEVELERS THAT WE COULD FLIP THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE HOW THIS PROGRAM IS STRUCTURED, WHAT IT MIGHT COST, UH, THE CITY OF KYLE AND HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT, UM, USERSHIP.

AND SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE WOULD BRING A CONSULTANT IN TO HELP US.

UM, WITH THAT, WE DO NOT HAVE A CONSULTANT IN MIND RIGHT NOW.

[01:45:01]

UM, THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF CONSULTANTS THAT COULD DO THIS KIND OF WORK.

UH, WE WOULD RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL THAT YOU DO A COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FOLKS WOULD BE OUT THERE INTERESTED IN HELPING US, UH, WORK ON THE, THE PARAMETERS FOR THIS PROGRAM AND MAKE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POTENTIAL CHANGE INCLUDED IN THAT SCOPE.

WHETHER IT'S DONE BY AN OUTSIDE CONSULTANT OR WHETHER IT'S DONE BY CITY STAFF, WILL BE AN ELEMENT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

WE WANNA HEAR FROM YOU, WE WANNA HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND KYLE, WE WANNA HEAR FROM THE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN USING THIS PROGRAM FOR SO MANY YEARS, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOOD, WHAT, WHAT'S WORKING WELL, WHAT MIGHT, WHAT MIGHT COULD WORK BETTER, UH, SO THAT WE CAN FACTOR THAT INTO ANY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE WOULD MAKE ABOUT CHANGING THIS.

UM, YOU ASKED HOW LONG THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN EXPIRED, FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE, THE WORK THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, UM, IN THE LAST EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS.

UM, HERE WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH BUILDING UP OUR, OUR PURCHASING PROGRAMS HERE IN KYLE AND IN OUR CONTRACT COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS. AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE, THE CONTRACTS THAT CAME UP THAT WE REALIZED THAT THE CONTRACT HAD LAPSED AND IT DID LAPSE BACK IN AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER OF 2022.

UM, AND WE DID NOT HAVE LANGUAGE IN THERE, UH, THAT ENABLED AN AUTOMATIC RENEWAL OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.

AND SO IT WASN'T BROUGHT BACK FOR RENEWAL.

UM, SO WE DO NEED TO RENEW IT NOW TO ALLOW THIS PROGRAM TO CONTINUE TO BE, UM, IN COMPLIANCE AND FOR US TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THIS, UM, TO THE PUBLIC.

AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH UBER, UH, PURCHASING STAFF HAS, HAS WORKED TO, TO BRING THE CONTRACT BACK TODAY THAT IS THE SAME TERMS, UH, AS THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAD LAST WITH THEM.

SO NOTHING IS CHANGING, UM, BUT JUST GETTING US COMPLIANT SO THAT WE CAN BE COMPLIANT THROUGH THE END OF 2025.

WHILE WE DO THAT, UM, TAKING A STEP BACK AND LOOKING AT THE PROGRAM TO SEE IF WE WANNA MAKE ANY CHANGES.

OKAY, SO IF IT EXPIRED IN 2022 AND WE HAD A BUDGET OF 1 69, AND THEN I GUESS DID WE APPROVE 293,000 IN 2023, BUT THE CONTRACT HAD ALREADY EXPIRED, THAT WAS THE AMOUNT THAT FROM, FROM OUR RECORDS, UM, THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WE SPENT ON THE CONTRACT.

AND I, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND PULL WHAT NUMBERS MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE BUDGET FOR, FOR THOSE PARTICULAR, PARTICULAR FISCAL YEARS.

I DON'T HAVE THAT DATA OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

AND THEN WE APPROVED IT FOR 24, FOR 451,000.

THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT'S IN THE BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR, I BELIEVE YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING BE IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, KNOWING THAT TRENDS SHOW THAT THAT WON'T BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE FULL FISCAL YEAR, BUT WE'LL ADDRESS THAT WITH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT LATER IN THE FISCAL YEAR.

UM, SHOULD WE NEED TO, I I WOULD JUST SAY I THINK ROSIE DID A GOOD JOB OF OUTLINING ALL THE VARIOUS ISSUES, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT TO PREDICT EXACTLY WHAT THE COST WILL BE.

IT'S A DEMAND-BASED CONTRACT, WHICH MEANS PEOPLE CALL UBER WHEN THEY NEED IT.

UM, THAT COULD BE VARIABLES, UH, EACH MONTH OF HOW MANY PEOPLE USE IT FOR WHAT PURPOSES.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT.

BUT JUST RUNNING SOME OF THESE TRENDS, THE THE POINT WE WANTED TO MAKE TO THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY IS THAT WITHOUT CHANGES, THE COST WILL LIKELY GROW.

IT COULD BE EVEN MORE THAN THE 6 45 THAT WE'RE SHOWING HERE.

IT COULD BE 800,000 OR SOME OTHER NUMBER.

AND PERHAPS THAT'S A GOOD THING AND PERHAPS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S THAT ROBUST.

IT COULD BE THAT THAT'S TOO MUCH OF A NUMBER AND WE WANT TO RETOOL THIS A LITTLE BIT.

AND AS ROSIE SAID, I AGREE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO MANAGE IT.

THERE'S THE NUMBER OF TRIPS THAT YOU ALLOW, THE THREE 14 THAT WAS BRANDED WITH THE PIE CAPITAL, UH, UH, MANTRA THAT WE USED HERE IN THE CITY.

AND WE'VE LOOKED AT KIND OF MOVING AWAY FROM THAT POTENTIALLY.

AND IT'S ALSO NOT AN INFLATION ADJUSTED NUMBER.

THREE 14 IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT WAS A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND SO THAT SPREAD AND THAT SUBSIDY CONTINUES TO GROW AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF TRIPS THAT WE'RE DOING.

YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE DATA THAT'S HERE.

SO WE THINK IT'S TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AND COME BACK TO YOU AND ASK YOU A VARIETY OF POLICY QUESTIONS, ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND, AND THEN SEE WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT WE WANT TO ADJUST IN THE PROGRAM AND HOW WOULD WE ADJUST IT.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS TO DO THAT, BUT I THINK THAT'S A, A MUCH DIFFERENT CONVERSATION THAN WHAT WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT AND WILL TAKE US SOME TIME TO WORK THROUGH THAT.

BUT I'M RECOMMENDING A CONSULTANT BE BROUGHT IN TO HELP US WITH THAT.

UM, IT'S JUST A COMPLEX PROGRAM.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT VARIABLES AND A LOT OF DATA.

WE DO GET A FLAT FILE FROM UBER, AND THIS IS A DASHBOARD THAT WE'VE CREATED FROM THAT, BUT, UH, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF DATA POINTS ON THAT FLAT FILE AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO ANALYZE THAT DATA.

TWO YEARS AGO AND, UM, IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS LET'S GO AHEAD AND INCREASE IT TO $720,000 AND THEN WE WILL HIRE SOMEBODY TO REEVALUATE TO SEE IF IT'S REALLY WORTH $720,000.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S HELPFUL AS, AS YOU THINK THROUGH IT.

I, I GET, I GET THE OVERALL MISSION OF IT ALL.

I GET THE MISSION OF IT ALL.

IT, IT PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION FOR RESIDENTS, UH, BUT IT EXPIRED

[01:50:01]

IS THAT WHAT I'M UNDERSTANDING? NO, SIR.

THAT, THAT'S NOT CORRECT.

WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING IS THAT YOU, UM, TAKE THE PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THAT YOU, UH, UH, APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT TO ALLOW US TO BE WITHIN CONTRACT AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONTRACT.

SO THE PAYMENTS CAN BE MADE AND THE PROGRAM CAN CONTINUE WHILE WE GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE PROGRAM.

WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT.

WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR YOU FOR ADDITIONAL DOLLARS.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO, TO SHOWCASE FOR YOU THAT THE SPEND UNCHECKED AND UNADJUSTED COULD BE HIGHER THAN THE FOUR 50 THAT WE HAVE.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT FOR CERTAIN, BUT WE WANT TO TRY TO GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION, UH, OF WHAT WE SEE IN THE TRENDS RIGHT NOW, AND THEN ASK US TO COME BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT FURTHER WITH YOU OVER THE COMING MONTHS.

BUT IT'S NOT A BUDGET AMENDMENT PER SE, IT'S JUST TO PUT US IN CONTRACT.

IT DID EXPIRE BACK IN 22, UH, BEFORE MANY OF US WERE HERE FOR THAT.

UM, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

WE JUST BELIEVE WE NEED TO, UH, GET UNDER CONTRACT SO WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM.

IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF COUNCIL OR IF THE COUNCIL'S DESIRE IS TO STOP THE PROGRAM AND DISCONTINUE IT AS WE GO THROUGH A PROCESS, THAT'S ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, WE NEED TO HAVE A CONTRACT.

I, YOU COUNCILOR PARSLEY.

DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE NUMBER OF AIRPORT TRIPS ON THIS.

SO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE REQUESTING IS FOR THE, TO RENEW THE CONTRACT AND THEN HAVE IT UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 2025, CORRECT? CORRECT.

YES, MA'AM.

I, OKAY.

I, I NEED TO HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS AND TO PAY BASED ON THE CONTRACT THAT'S THERE.

SO I, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A CONSULTANT TO ASSESS THE CITY AND WHAT THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS ARE.

IS IT UBER? WHAT REALLY WORKS FOR US OR IS IT SOMETHING ELSE? I DON'T KNOW.

UM, SO I AM REALLY FULLY ON BOARD ON HIRING SOMEBODY TO DO THAT TYPE OF STUDY.

UM, I DON'T WANNA TAKE UBER AWAY.

I HAVE A FRIEND THAT LIVES BY IT BECAUSE SHE IS BLIND, PARTLY BLIND, AND SHE SWEARS BY THE PROGRAM.

I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER USED ANY VOUCHER IN MY LIFE, BUT I DO KNOW PEOPLE THAT USE IT.

SO I DON'T WANT TO STOP THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW AND THEN LEAVING PEOPLE THAT ARE USING OR UTILIZING THE PROGRAM THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD BE WITHOUT ANY OPTIONS.

UM, DO I, I GUESS DO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO EXTEND IT UNTIL 2025, SEPTEMBER? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

UM, I GUESS IT WILL BE A MATTER OF WHEN DO WE WANT TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO COME AND DO A STUDY, UM, AND DO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND DO WHAT REALLY WE NEED.

AND THEN I FEEL LIKE ONCE YOU HAVE THOSE FINDINGS, THEN IT WILL BE A GREAT TIME FOR COUNCIL.

'CAUSE NONE OF US IN HERE HAVE ANY IDEA OF HOW REALLY THE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE CITY WORKS.

EVERYBODY HERE DRIVES, SO, BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CASE IS FOR THE REST OF THE CITY.

ONCE YOU HAVE THOSE FINDINGS, THEN AT THAT POINT YOU CAN DECIDE IF YOU WANNA CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM OR NOT.

BUT I, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA STOP IT, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, HAVE IT IN PLACE UNTIL THOSE FINDINGS COME BACK.

AND THEN AT THAT POINT, COUNCIL CAN DECIDE WHATEVER THEY WANNA DO.

I, I WOULD RECOMMEND, UM, GIVING THE TIME THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR NEXT YEAR, JUST TO ALLOW TIME TO GO THROUGH CONSULTANT SELECTION AND, AND DO A ROBUST PROCESS AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

I WOULD HATE TO SHORTCHANGE ANY OF THE STEPS THAT WE WOULD NOW I DO THINK THAT CAN WE MAKE CHANGES TO THE CURRENT PROGRAM FROM NOW UNTIL THE NEXT YEAR? 'CAUSE I THINK SOMEBODY THAT CAN AFFORD TO GO ON A TRIP SHOULDN'T BE USING THE AIRPORT SERVICES.

UM, THAT WILL BE ONE THAT I WILL BE ELIMINATING FROM THAT.

WELL, THAT WOULD, WE, WE CAN DO THAT AS WE DISCUSS THE WHOLE PROGRAM.

THAT WOULD BE INCOME-BASED.

AND RIGHT NOW, THIS SERVICE IS NOT INCOME BASED.

SO THAT'S A QUESTION WE WILL HAVE TO ASK THROUGH NEXT YEAR.

BUT IF WE DON'T VOTE TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT, THIS STOPS.

IT'S THE SAME CONTRACT THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR THAT IS IN PLACE NOW, EXCEPT IT HAS EXPIRED.

NOW.

I GUESS MY QUESTION WILL BE, SINCE WE HAVE THE AVERAGE CITY SPEND ON AIRPORT PER TRIP, THAT AMOUNT, $31 AS A WEEK HAVE SPENT IN 20 22, 20 23, OR 2024.

OR THAT IS JUST PER PERSON THAT USES THE VOUCHER FOR THE AIRPORT.

WHAT WOULD BE THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE SPENT ON AIRPORT TRIPS? I

[01:55:01]

WE DO RIGHT HERE.

WE DO.

IT'S UH, IT'S THE THIRD LINE.

OH, WE DO THOUSAND.

OH, THERE WE GO.

YEAH, SO IT, IT'S A, ESSENTIALLY, UH, THE USERS PAYING 31%, 31.4% OF THE COST OF THE RIDE.

SO YOU, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, IF YOU'VE USED UBER, SOMETIMES THE RATES ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON, UH, THE TIME OF DAY AND USAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THE 31% IS WHAT THE USER PAYS.

THE CITY PAYS THE, THE DIFFERENCE ABOUT 68% AND THAT'S WHAT THAT COST, THAT AVERAGE COST REPRESENTS.

SO IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $50 SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE.

45, $50.

SO IT'S ALREADY BUDGETED FOR 451,000 FOR THIS YEAR, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

COUNCIL MEMBER HEISER.

UM, I MEAN, TO ME THIS IS LIKE REALLY SIMPLE.

I MEAN, WE'RE MAKING A DECISION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO RENEW A CONTRACT TO CONTINUE RUNNING THIS PROGRAM.

AND GIVEN THAT, I, I THINK THE MAJORITY OF US, UM, THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD PROGRAM AND HAVE HEARD GOOD FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, I, I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULDN'T, WE WOULDN'T DO THAT.

UH, ADDITIONALLY, LIKE I AGREE WITH COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBER PARSLEY, LIKE IF THERE'S DATA AVAILABLE TO REVIEW, WE SHOULD HAVE SOMEONE COME IN AND REVIEW IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RUNNING THE BEST PROGRAM.

AND TO COUNCILMEMBER TOBIAS'S FEEDBACK OF OPENING IT UP FOR PUBLIC DIALOGUE.

I'M COOL WITH THAT TOO.

UM, LET'S MAKE THE, IF WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HERE, AND THIS IS GONNA BE OUR REPLACEMENT FOR RIGHT NOW, LET'S TRY TO MAKE IT AS GOOD AS WE CAN.

AND WE NEED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE AS TO HOW WE, WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR MORE PEOPLE IN MORE AREAS OF THE CITY.

SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I, IF THE BUDGET ISN'T CHANGING AND THERE IS NO BUDGET AMENDMENT AS UH, BRIAN IS SAYING, THEN YOU KNOW, TO ME THIS IS SOMETHING WE, WE SHOULD DO TO RENEW THIS CONTRACT.

UM, WITH THAT, UH, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE, UH, AGENDA ITEM 21.

UM, A MOTION ON THE TABLE.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

MOTION BY COUNCILOR HEISER.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, THAT WE APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 21.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? COUNCILOR ? YES.

SO, UH, IF 450 WAS ALLOCATED LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, HOW MUCH IS REMAINING? 'CAUSE HOW MUCH WOULD BE REMAINING? I MEAN, I KEEP HEARING THAT WE'RE GONNA RUN OUT OF THAT FOUR 50 .

I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE YEAR TO DATE NUMBER.

UH, COMPARED TO, THIS IS OUR ESTIMATE OF THE YEAR 4 51, 800.

I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE ESTIMATE OF THE, UH, YEAR TO DATE.

I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT FOR YOU.

I'D HAVE TO LOOK IT UP.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I HAVE THAT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

COUNCIL MEMBER, ZUNIGA, OUR CURRENT YEAR TO DATE SPEND IS $225,000.

THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN SPENT SO FAR, UHHUH.

SO WE ARE STILL 50% THROUGH IT.

WELL, THAT'S PROBABLY IN ARREARS TOO.

IT'S NOT THROUGH AUGUST, UM, 20TH.

SO, SO THROUGH JULY.

THROUGH JULY.

SO THEY, UBER BILLS US, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM.

CORRECT.

SO KEEP IN MIND THAT UBER JUST BILLS US FOR THE RIDES THEY DID.

EVEN THOUGH WE BUDGET 450 DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE GONNA TAKE 450, RIGHT? IT'S ONLY THE RIDES THAT WE'RE GETTING.

SO SAY WE'VE ONLY SPENT 250, IF WE END UP GOING 300,000, WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE THEM FOUR 50.

WE'RE ONLY GIVING 'EM 300,000 THAT WE SPENT.

CORRECT.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING MONTHLY, JUST YEARLY, GIVING THEM A FLAT CHECK.

IT'S PER RIDE PER RESIDENT.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE SPENDING $9 AND 40 CENTS PER, PER RIDE PER RESIDENT.

PRIOR TO UBER, WE WERE SPENDING $450 A RIDE PER RESIDENT FOR THE, UH, PROGRAM WE HAD IN PLACE.

UM, THAT'S WHY WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, UH, WE, WE PUT A TASK FORCE TOGETHER, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, DAPHNE RIO, ALVI, LOBO AND RICK COACH, AND WORKING WITH, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UM, JERRY HENDRICKS, THEY BROUGHT THIS FORWARD TO COUNCIL.

ROD WALTERS AND ALL OF US USED TO GIVE HIM RIDES.

WE VETTED OUT AND WE, THIS IS HOW THIS PROGRAM CAME FORWARD WAS BECAUSE IT WAS AFFORDABLE.

IT'S, UH, EVERYTHING ELSE WE LOOKED AT WAS VERY IN, VERY EXPENSIVE AND WOULD PROBABLY PRICE RESIDENTS OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

'CAUSE IT'S BUS SYSTEMS ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE, RIGHT? SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THOSE THREE WORKED ON PRIOR TO COUNCIL COUNCILS WAS REALLY, UH, IMPRESSED BY IT.

AND WE WENT, WE'RE THE FIRST CITY IN AMERICA TO IMPLEMENT THIS.

WE'RE THE FIRST CITY TO ACTUALLY BRING SOMETHING FORWARD THAT WAS AFFORDABLE TO THE RESIDENTS TO PROVIDE RIDE SHARE.

THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS IT RUNS 24 7 AND YOU'RE NOT RUNNING ON A FIXED SCHEDULE.

YOU RUN ON YOUR SCHEDULE.

DOCTOR BILL, DOCTOR VISITS DON'T RUN ON A FIXED SCHEDULE.

THEY RUN ON THEIR OWN VISIT SCHEDULE.

AND THAT'S WHY THE BEAUTY OF THIS, BUT DANIELLA BRINGS UP A GREAT POINT.

I'VE GOT A FRIEND THAT LIVED HERE IN THE AREA OF

[02:00:01]

WE, HE'D HAVE TO BE AT OUR WHIM.

ONCE UBER CAME IN, HE WAS ABLE TO BE FREE AND INDEPENDENT AND GET TO DO GO PLACES ON HIS OWN.

SO IT'S, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

I MEAN, EVEN AS YOU LOOK, HONESTLY, I, I BELIEVE IN THIS PROGRAM A LOT.

I WASN'T ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS ON IT, BUT I REALLY LOVE IT.

UH, EVEN AS A PRIVATE RESIDENT, I'VE REACHED OUT TO OTHER, WHEN I WAS OFF OF COUNCIL, I WAS REACHING OUT TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO TRY TO GET THEM TO INCORPORATE IT.

WHAT I WOULD HOPE IS THAT ONE DAY VIEWED US AND MARCUS, MAYBE IN THE COUNTY, WOULD TAKE THIS ON.

SO THAT WAY WE'D HAVE AFFORDABLE RIDE SHARE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE, UH, COUNTY OF HAYES COUNTY.

IT WOULD BE GREAT 'CAUSE PEOPLE COULD GET AROUND AT AFFORDABLE PRICE, UH, MAYBE EVEN CARPOOL TO LIMIT THE TRAFFIC ON OUR ROADS.

BUT IT'S SOMETHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT BECAUSE THE ARCHITECTS THAT BROUGHT THIS FOR CAME IN WITH A REALLY, REALLY GOOD PLAN.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE IT.

AND I BELIEVE IN IT WHOLEHEARTEDLY.

I, I WISH MORE CITIES WOULD DO THIS BECAUSE IT, IT IS AFFORDABLE.

AND THAT'S THE PART THAT I LOVE ABOUT IT, THAT IT'S AFFORDABLE AND, UH, IT, IT'S JUST A COOL THING.

UH, THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP, MR. RIZZO.

UM, SO I, I DO REMEMBER SITTING IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND WE DID DISCUSS YOUR ONLY BILL FOR THE ONES THAT ARE USED.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S GOING TO KICK BACK IN.

I'M COMFORTABLE LEAVING IT AT THE FOUR 50 THAT, YOU KNOW, BRIAN, YOU'RE PROPOSING.

BUT I STILL HEAR THE CONCERNS THAT WE NEED MORE INFORMATION.

AND SPECIFICALLY, I WANT BETTER QUALITY OF SERVICE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM.

LIKE, I WANNA SEE, UH, AS MR. RIZZO SAID, HOW DO WE IMPROVE UPON THIS PROGRAM? YEAH.

UH, SOME PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME IT'S VERY COMPLEX TO USE THE AIRPORT VOUCHER.

YOU KNOW, I, I TOOK TWO TRIPS LAST YEAR.

UH, THINK THE AIRPORT VOUCHER, YOU HAVE TO RESCHEDULE IT AHEAD OF TIME.

SO I WANT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS MADE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE BRING IN THE CONSULTANT.

BUT I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY.

UM, FIND OUT WHO ARE THE MOST FREQUENT USERS.

AND, AND I DO SUSPECT IT'S, IT'S PEOPLE THAT, UM, DON'T HAVE THE MOBILITY.

UM, AND I HAVE SAID THAT WE NEED TO, UM, BE ABLE TO REACH THEM AND IMPROVE THEIR, THEIR TRANSPORTATION.

UM, BUT UM, YEAH, I'M, I'M GLAD THAT WHAT WE'RE, THAT WE'RE, WE GET REIMBURSED WHAT'S NOT USED.

I, I THINK THAT'S AN, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING AS FAR AS FOR ME TO KEEP IN MIND ON THAT.

AND JUST ONE LAST THING.

THAT'S ALL I KNOW.

EVERYBODY'S LOOKING AT ME LIKE, GOD, TOBI IS SHOOTING IT DOWN AGAIN.

GOOD.

HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

BUT THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ASK.

IT'S A GREAT, THESE ARE, THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM.

THIS IS A GREAT DEAL FOR OUR PEOPLE.

TRUST ME, I'M ALL FOR IT.

STUDENTS USE IT, DON'T USE IT, VETERANS USE IT.

BUT I STILL HAVE TO BE PARTICULAR ABOUT THE DOLLAR.

THAT'S IT.

BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT THE BACKUP MATERIAL.

IT SAYS TO AUTHORIZE, CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED TO $720,000.

THAT RAISED QUESTIONS ON MY END.

AND MAYBE I'M NOT READING IT RIGHT.

IF WE'RE BUDGETED FOR $451,800 FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, LET'S KEEP IT AT THAT.

AND JUST LIKE EVERY TIME WE GOT A CHANGE ORDER FROM OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES THAT SAYS, OH, BY THE WAY, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE.

UH, WE NEED ANOTHER CHANGE ORDER.

MM-HMM , WE CAN TAKE IT UP FROM THERE.

BUT AS I AM NOT SAYING, LET'S JUST SHOOT THIS DEAD LIKE A HORSE AND THEN JUST MOVE ON, LIKE EVERYBODY'S SAYING, I'M TRYING TO MAKE SURE WHAT WAS PRESENTED IN THE BACKUP MATERIAL, THE APPROVED BUDGET, AND THE REQUEST OF THIS OF $270,000 WHEN WE, AGAIN, DON'T KNOW THE MATIC OF IT.

'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A CONSULTANT TO TELL US EITHER OR.

SO I'M ALL ABOUT HAVING THE UBER PROGRAM.

IT WAS JUST THE DOLLAR AMOUNT GUYS THAT I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT.

AND MR. IF WE, AND IF WE'RE GONNA GO WITH STAYING WITH THAT, AND THEN LET'S SAY IN OCTOBER WE HAVE A HUGE RUSH WHERE WE GOTTA GET A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN A CONTRACT'S DONE, WE CAN DO A CHANGE ORDER BUDGET AMENDMENT AND WE CAN INCREASE IT ACCORDING TO WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

MR. TOBIAS, YOU'RE NOT WRONG.

AND I'LL STAND WITH YOU ON, ON A LOT OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

UM, IT WAS ADAM COMPLIANCE IN 2022.

SO WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW? FOUR.

I AGREE WITH YOU ON THAT.

I KNOW WHY ALWAYS THE NUMBERS ARE BASED, BUT IF THE, BUT IF IT'S BEING USED, LIKE I SAID, I WANNA STILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF IT.

I'VE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE PROGRAM AS WELL.

THOSE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED ON MY END.

YOU KNOW, UBER HAS DONE A LOT OF VIN NUMBERS NOW.

UM, RECOGNITION, FACIAL RECOGNITION OF DRIVERS.

YOU KNOW, THE MINERS ARE PROTECTED NOW THERE, THERE'S MORE SAFEGUARDS NOW.

SO MY CONCERNS ON THE SAFETY, UH, HAVE BEEN, HAVE BEEN RESOLVED A BIT.

I KNOW THAT THOSE RELATIONSHIPS IN THIS PROGRAM, BUT I FEEL NOW BETTER, UH, AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PROGRAM THAT I CAN STILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT IT NOW.

UH, THE RELATIONSHIPS,

[02:05:01]

BUT I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE QUESTIONS ASKED OF, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE NUMBER'S COMING FROM.

AND I ASKED ABOUT IS THERE A WAY TO MANIPULATE RIDES? AND THAT CAN'T BE DONE, IS WHAT I'VE HEARD.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO CREATE DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS.

, YOU HAVE TO FRAUD THE SYSTEM.

BUT UBER IS A BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY NOT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, DAMAGE THEIR RELATIONSHIP IN THIS CITY AS FAR AS WHAT I THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.

BUT I NEED, YOU KNOW, I NEED TO PUBLIC.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S SO EXACTLY.

SO YOU ARE RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBERS, BUT I WANNA SUPPORT A PROGRAM THAT'S WORKING EXACTLY.

BECAUSE IT ALL GOES BACK TO OUR MASTER TRANSPORTATION PLAN, UH, OF OUR FUTURE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.

MOTIONS ON THE TABLE.

ALRIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA TAKE A SEVEN MINUTE BREAK.

WE'LL RECONVENE AT 9 25.

WE GOT A LOT TO GO THROUGH, SO WE'RE GONNA GET RIGHT BACK TO IT.

NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 25.

[24) (First Reading) Consider approval of an ordinance adopting the annual budget for all City Funds for the ensuing Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2024 and ending September 30, 2025; appropriating revenue and expenditure amounts thereof for all City Funds, authorizing rate increase for water and wastewater service rates, increase for solid waste service charges, all other proposed fees and charges for various City services as provided for in the Fee Schedule, capital improvement plan expenditures, and for the carryover of encumbrances, all associated schedules and documents; and repealing all ordinances in conflict herewith; and providing for an effective date. (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUESTED) (RELATED AGENDA ITEM 1 OF 3) Public Hearing ]

FIRST READING, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR ALL CITY FUNDS FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.

APPROPRIATING REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE AMOUNTS THEREOF FOR ALL CITY FUNDS.

AUTHORIZING RATE INCREASE FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICE RATES, INCREASE FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICE CHARGES.

ALL OF THEIR PROPOSED FEES AND CHARGES FOR VARIOUS CITY SERVICES IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE FEE SCHEDULE, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN EXPENDITURES, AND FOR THE CARRYOVER OF ENCUMBRANCES, ALL ASSOCIATED SCHEDULES AND DOCUMENTS AND REPEALING, UH, ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

THIS ITEM DOES HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AND AT THE END REQUIRED A ROLL CALL AND THE TAX RATE, WHICH WILL BE THE NEXT ITEM, REQUIRES A SPECIAL READING.

MR. MOHE COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE RECORD, CITY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, I HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION TO GO OVER THE REQUIRED LANGUAGE FOR BOTH BUDGET ADOPTION.

AND WE'LL DO THE SAME THING FOR THE TAX RATE ADOPTION.

AND THEN FIND ME FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE TAX RATES .

SO UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM, THE CITY COUNCIL IS POSTED TO CONDUCT THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

CONSIDER APPROVING ON FIRST READING THE ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, 20 25.

HERE ARE A SUMMARY, HIGHLIGHT OF THE CITY'S BUDGET AS AMENDED BY CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 3RD FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

2025.

TOTAL BUDGET FOR ALL CITY FUNDS IS $365.3 MILLION.

THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR CITY'S GENERAL FUND IS $83.1 MILLION.

THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PLAN, OR CIP AS WE COMMONLY REFER TO FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 TOTALS 248.5 MILLION AND THE CITY'S FIVE YEARS.

UH, CIP SPENDING PLAN FOR FISCAL YEARS 2025 THROUGH 2029 TOTALS $848.4 MILLION.

SO WHAT DOES THE ADOPTION ACTUALLY INCLUDE WHEN WE SAY ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET? WHAT DOES THAT ORDINANCE INCLUDE? IT INCLUDES APPROPRIATING REVENUES AND EXPENDITURE AMOUNTS FOR ALL CITY FUNDS.

IT INCLUDES APPROPRIATING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN EXPENDITURES.

IT INCLUDES AUTHORIZING THE CARRYOVER OF ENCUMBRANCES.

IT INCLUDES APPROVAL OF NEW COST OF SERVICE BASED WATER AND WASTEWATER UTILITY RATES.

IT INCLUDES APPROVAL OF NEW RATES FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES BASED ON OUR CONTRACT CITY'S CONTRACT WITH TDS OR TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. IT INCLUDES APPROVAL OF ALL FEES AND CHARGES IN THE FEE SCHEDULE.

AND HERE I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A COUPLE OF SECONDS TO HIGHLIGHT TWO NEW FEES THAT WE'RE ADDING THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR AS IT PERTAINS TO OPEN RECORDS REQUEST.

ONE IS A LABOR CHARGE OF $18 AND 75 CENTS PER HOUR FOR LOCATING, COMPILING, REDACTING, AND REPRODUCING REQUESTED INFORMATION AND DATA.

AND THE OTHER IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD CHARGE AT 20% OR LABOR CHARGE.

SO THOSE ARE TWO NEW FEES THAT WE HAVE ADDED IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

BUDGET ADOPTION DOES NOT INCLUDE ADOPTION OF PROPERTY TAX RATES, WHICH WILL BE CONSIDERED AND VOTED

[02:10:01]

ON BY THE COUNCIL SEPARATELY.

UNDER AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 25, THE CITY'S BUDGET IS FRAMED AROUND OR BASED ON PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 46.93 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.

ALL REQUIRED PUBLIC NOTICES FOR BUDGET MEETINGS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE CITY'S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD AND POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

THIS CITY'S BUDGET DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION PROCESS IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY CHARTER AND THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE FOR MUNICIPAL BUDGETING.

TODAY IS THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE CITY'S BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.

2025.

THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S BUDGET IS SCHEDULED ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2024 OPTIONS AFTER THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CONCLUDED, CITY COUNCIL CAN APPROVE THE ORDINANCE, APPROVE THE ORDINANCE WITH AMENDMENTS OR DENY APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE.

STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE.

AND WITH THAT MAYOR, UH, WE, YOU CAN OPEN.

THIS ITEM HAS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON THE BUDGET? ALRIGHT, WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IT'S NOW CLOSED.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. MOHE? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.

COUNCILOR ZUNIGA.

HEY PEREZ, WHAT WAS THE, UM, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE? JUST JUST SO I REMEMBER.

WAS IT LOWER OR HIGHER THAN THE IT'S LOWER.

IT'S LOWER.

HUH? LOWER.

SO THIS ORDINANCE ONLY PERTAINS TO THE BUDGET.

THE BUDGET, RIGHT.

BUT WE HAVE THE TAX RATE.

WE HAVE THE TAX RATE HERE COMING UP.

NEXT ITEM.

OH, OKAY.

SORRY.

SO I GOT AHEAD OF THAT.

SO I DO WANNA MAKE SOME AMENDMENTS.

UM, THE, THE BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT WE USED LAST YEAR SEEMED TO WORK REALLY WELL.

I LIKE SEEING A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS IN BEAUTIFYING.

SO IF WE COULD HAVE A POSSIBLE INCREASE IN BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMMING AND THE GROCERY STORE ANCHOR IS IMPORTANT TO ME, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER A, UH, FIRST COME LIKE THE SPROUTS ONE MM-HMM.

, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE AN ANCHORED, ANCHORED GROCER, SO THAT I THINK THAT WOULD REALLY HELP OUR DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY.

FOR THE EAST SIDE YOU'RE SAYING SPECIFICALLY? WELL, I MEAN, JUST WE'RE UNDER, UNDER INVESTED AREA.

AND SO ALSO ASSISTANCE, INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE IN THE UNDER INVESTED AREAS TO HELP ATTRACT THAT, UM, RETAIL DEVELOPMENT THAT, THAT WON'T COME ON ITS OWN BECAUSE, UM, THERE'S POSSIBLY INFRASTRUCTURE THERE.

UM, I THINK WE SAW SOME OF THAT OCCUR LAST YEAR WITH THE, UM, YOU KNOW, EXTRA LANES OR SPEED LANES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, DESAL LANES.

UM, AND THEN POSSIBLY TO CONSIDER A 4% SALARY ACROSS THE BOARD.

I, I THINK I TALKED TO YOU ONCE ABOUT THAT, BRIAN AND I I WAS MORE COMFORTABLE KEEPING THE STATUS OF AUSTIN WITH THE, THE 4% INCREASE YOU'RE SAYING TO REDUCE FROM 4.5 TO FOUR.

THOSE, THOSE WOULD BE MY MINUTES.

LET'S, UM, LET'S KEEP GOING WITH, UH, PROPOSALS IF YOU HAVE MORE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS SO WE GET EVERYBODY'S OUT THERE ON THE SAME TIME IF WE'RE STARTING ON AMENDMENTS.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT WAS A GOOD START.

COUNCILOR TOBIAS.

UM, THE SIDEWALK INITIATIVE, DO WE NEED TO INCREASE ANY OF THAT, SIR? OR DO WE HAVE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO ADD TO THIS YEAR'S BUDGET FOR, FOR THAT? I KNOW AT ONE TIME WE WERE LOOKING AT WHAT, 500,000 AND THEN NOW IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT WE CAN ADD TO THAT TO WHERE IT IT'S IN, IN THE BUDGET ITSELF ON THAT INITIATIVE? DOES THAT INCLUDE C UH, CDBG, THAT 240 SOME ODD THOUSAND FROM CDBG THAT'S IN SIDEWALK? YES MA'AM.

IT INCLUDE THAT ABOUT 250,000 IN JOE DOLLARS AND ABOUT I BELIEVE 66 IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.

FINE.

SO IT'S ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OR SO FOR SIDEWALK PROGRAMMING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER TO, IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL SIDEWALKS, UH, WE COULD CERTAINLY LOOK AT TRYING TO INCREASE THAT AMOUNT AND THEN WE WOULD NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO TAKE THOSE FUNDS FROM.

UH, TO MAKE UP, UH, THAT DIFFERENCE.

BUT THE PROPOSED, BUT HE DOES HAVE HALF MILLION DOLLARS, UH, IN CONCLUDED IN IT.

IN THE NEXT, UH, COUPLE OF MONTHS IS THE FINAL RESULTS FROM THAT.

I DID ALSO WANT TO MENTION, I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS DURING, BY THE PRESENTATION THAT WE'RE FINALIZING THE SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN.

AND ONE OF THE, UH, PROGRAMS THAT WILL COME FORWARD WITH

[02:15:01]

WE'LL LOOK AT ALL THE CONNECTIVITY ISSUES THAT PRIORITIZE THESE SIDEWALKS THAT NEED TO BE, UH, COMPLETED TO, TO FIX SOME OF THE LINKAGES THAT ARE NOT THERE AROUND THE CITY.

, MAYBE I TURNED IT OFF, MY APOLOGIES.

BUT WE'LL LOOK AT THE, SOME OF THE LINKAGES THAT, UM, ARE GAPS THAT WE HAVE IN THE SIDEWALKS AND THEN TRY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN ACTION PLAN, PRIORITIZATION PLAN FOR THAT.

SO JUST SOME THOUGHTS FOR YOU AS YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

SO THAT WAY IN THE YEAR TO, IN THIS NEXT YEAR, IF THERE'S ANY AMENDMENTS WE NEED TO DO, LET'S SAY WE DO START WITH THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.

AND WE'VE GOT SOME SIDEWALKS THAT NEED A MAJOR REPAIR THAT INCLUDES A DA, UH, ENTRANCES IN AND OUT.

I'VE HEARD FROM RESIDENTS THAT IT'S HARD TO GO TO MARKET DAYS.

YES SIR.

BECAUSE THERE'S NO ADEQUATE SIDEWALKS FOR, FOR THAT.

SO IF WE NEED TO DO AN AMENDED BUDGET AT THE NEXT YEAR, UM, WE CAN BE ABLE TO PULL SOME OF THOSE FUNDINGS THERE.

BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE SAYING WE DO HAVE AT LEAST 500,000 RIGHT NOW AS A BASELINE FOR THE SIDEWALK YES SIR.

INITIATIVE PROGRAM.

YES, SIR.

I, I THINK IF WE CAME FORWARD AND IDENTIFIED, UH, LET'S SAY FOUR OR FIVE PROJECTS AND WE COULD ONLY FUND TWO OR THREE, THEN THE COUNCIL COULD CONSIDER IF YOU WANTED TO DO THOSE ANOTHER, THOSE OTHER TWO OR THREE PROJECTS, WHAT WOULD BE THE COST, HOW WOULD YOU FUND IT? WE COULD GIVE YOU THOSE OPTIONS AT THAT TIME.

AND THEN THAT'S, THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT.

IT, YEAH.

AND ONE WAY TO DO IT, AND I KNOW I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH, TALKING TO YOU ABOUT POSSIBLY, UM, LOOKING AT STREETLIGHTS, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS THE CLP PROJECT, UH, I KNOW THE PARKS IS LOOKING AT BRINGING A MASTER PLAN TOGETHER, BUT AS FAR AS LIKE SOLAR LIGHTING THAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY IN DARK SPOTS AROUND THAT ALSO WON'T, UM, AFFECT THE DARK SKY INITIATIVE.

UM, WILL WE BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME FUNDING IN THERE AS WELL? OR DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AGAIN AND TRY TO PULL FROM OTHER SECTIONS? I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AT LEAST SOME GROUND, SOME AT LEAST A BASELINE DOLLAR AMOUNT BEFORE I START SAYING LET'S TAKE FROM THIS SECTION.

LET'S TAKE FROM PUBLIC WORKS, LET'S TAKE FROM THE LIBRARY IF WE HAVE THOSE ALREADY LINED UP.

BECAUSE I THINK I'M OKAY WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

I, I THINK, UM, IT DEPENDS ON HOW EXPANSIVE THE, THE LIGHTING PROGRAM WOULD BE.

, YOU KNOW, A LIGHT HERE OR THERE.

WE HAVE THE OPERATING FUNDS TO MAKE THOSE.

AND I THINK WE'VE MADE A COUPLE OF THOSE THIS LAST YEAR.

IF YOU WERE LOOKING TO, TO LIGHT AN ENTIRE CORRIDOR AND IT'S TWO MILES MM-HMM.

THAT'S A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE PROJECT.

AND WE WOULD NEED TO BUDGET FOR THAT PROBABLY SEPARATELY.

UM, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE INTERESTING FOR US TO DO IS TO LOOK AT JUST LIGHTING IN GENERAL ACROSS THE CITY AND SEE WHERE ARE STRATEGICALLY SOME OF THOSE AREAS THAT ARE NOT LIT PROPERLY PERHAPS.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE THE DARK SKIES AND SOME OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT, ABOUT LIGHTING SMARTLY, BUT, UH, WHERE ARE THESE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE AND WHY? UH, ALMOST LIKE A MASTER PLAN FOR LIGHTING ITSELF.

AND SO WE COULD THEN TRY TO DEVELOP, UM, A PLAN TO IMPROVE THAT OVER TIME TOO.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S, UH, IT'S NOT IN THERE SPECIFICALLY LIKE, UH, ADDITIONAL CORRIDORS PER SE, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME OPERATING FUNDS WHEN, WHEN WE NEED TO ADD ONE OR TWO LIGHTS HERE AND THERE, WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THOSE.

THAT'S, THAT'S USUALLY MY, WOULD BE MY, ONE OF MY BIGGEST THINGS WAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE LIGHTING.

AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME RESIDENTS OVER THERE OFF OF DACY THAT NEEDED LIGHTING AND WE HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN.

WE'VE GOTTEN ONE AND WE'VE INCREASED IT.

SO IT'S, IT'S JUST BRINGING TO, TO LIGHT THAT, THAT THE LIGHT IN A WAY, NO PUN INTENDED, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS IN, IN, IN IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.

UM, I AGREE WITH YOU COUNCILOR.

WS UH, DEFINITELY THINKING ABOUT THE LIGHTING, I KNOW THAT ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH LATELY IS, UH, SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

SO I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME IMPROVEMENTS COMING INTO SOME OF THE PARKS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE SUPPLY FOR NEW LIGHT POLES AND NEW LIGHTS ARE, YOU KNOW, ON BACK ORDER BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH OF A BIG DEMAND AND VERY LITTLE PRODUCT COMING OUT.

SO OUR PARKS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING THOSE LIGHTS AND, AND LIGHT POLES OUT, UH, HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES HAVING THE FUNDING DOESN'T, ISN'T EVERYTHING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET THE PRODUCTS.

SO IT'S TOUGH.

BUT I, I AGREE WITH YOU.

WE'VE GOT STRATEGIC PLACES WE COULD GO SAFETY CORRIDORS WHERE IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN WOULD BE GREAT TO LOOK AT FIRST TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE INTERSECTIONS OR ANYTHING WALKING, WALKABILITY IS IMPORTANT.

UH, FOR LIGHTS IS GREAT.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO KEEP COUNSEL.

WANTED TO GIVE COUNSEL JUST A REMINDER THAT ANYTIME WE'RE INCREASING SOMETHING, YOU GOTTA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OFF FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE A BUDGET SOMEWHERE, HAVE A LINE ITEM WHERE YOU'RE TAKING AWAY FROM.

SO THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, UH, 'CAUSE THIS BUDGET'S ALREADY SET.

SO WE HAVE A SET BUDGET, THE DOLLARS AMOUNT ARE ALL ACCOUNTABLE FOR.

SO NOW IF YOU WANT TO INCREASE SOMETHING, YOU HAVE TO

[02:20:01]

DECREASE SOMETHING ELSE.

SO JUST HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT.

I THINK THE, WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE CHANGE IS WHERE THE DEVELOPERS CAN PAY A LOT OF THEIR COSTS SO THAT WE COLLECT ENOUGH IMPACT FEES, SEWER FEES, LANE FEES.

SO CROMWELL WOULD BE ONE WHERE I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE TRIM AND WHAT WE HAVE THERE ON, ON WHAT SIR THEWELL ROAD.

THE CROMWELL ROAD.

OH, YOU HAD 16 MILLION, BUT IT'S ALREADY IN A TURS DISTRICT AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE VERY VIBRANT ALREADY IN DEVELOPMENT.

SO I'D LIKE TO SEE A TRIM THERE TO COVER SOME OF THE, UM, OTHER NEEDS.

HOW DO YOU MEAN THAT SAME? WELL WE HAVE 16 MILLION, RIGHT? TRIM THE BUDGET YOU MEAN TRIM THE AMOUNT FOR THE ROAD THERE.

YEAH, BUT THAT'S WHAT THEN OCCURS.

YOU CAN'T USE IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

WELL, YOU HAVE TO USE IT WITHIN, WELL IT IT'S GONNA GO FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

IT'S NOT, IF I COULD JUST CLARIFY THAT THE 16 MILLION I, I THINK THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING COUNCIL MEMBER ZUNIGA IS, UH, FUNDING THAT WE IDENTIFIED OVER FIVE YEARS, UH, THAT COULD BE, UH, SPENT FOR THE SPORTSPLEX PROJECT THAT IN ADDITION TO THE 14 MILLION THAT WAS VOTER AUTHORIZED FROM THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

SO THAT WAS 30 TOTAL.

BUT THOSE ARE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

AND THAT'S NOT FOR CROMWELL THOUGH.

THAT'S NOT FOR CROMWELL.

WE, WE SHOWED IT AS A CROMWELL EXTENSION WAS IN THE $65 MILLION BUDGET THAT DID NOT GO FORWARD.

SO THE BUDGET FOR CROMWELL ZERO.

YEAH, WE SHOWED IT.

IT WAS PART OF THAT 98 MILLION THAT YOU SAW A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES JUST TO ILLUSTRATE OPTIONS THAT WERE THERE.

BUT THE 16 MILLION WAS FOR THE SPORTSPLEX, THE OUTDOOR SPORTSPLEX.

BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IF YOU WANT TO REPROGRAM IT.

HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE? 16 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS.

ALRIGHT, FURTHER DISCUSSION.

SO YEAH, WE COULD TRIM, TRIM A LITTLE BIT OF THAT TO COVER SOME OF THESE.

WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE REALLY GONNA GET ANY OF THIS.

IT'S JUST THERE AS A PLACEHOLDER.

BUT HOW ARE WE, LIKE WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING WHEN TRIMMING AND TO COVER WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU HAVE A BUDGET FOR? WHAT THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT.

HERE WE GO.

OH MY GOD.

ALRIGHT, I CAN GET NUMBERS ON THE NEXT ONE.

'CAUSE WE HAVE TWO READINGS FOR THIS, RIGHT? YEAH.

UH, I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION GO AHEAD.

FOR, FOR THE PUBLIC.

UH, BRIAN, CAN WE EXPLAIN WHY WE'RE GONNA CHARGE OPEN RECORDS FEES? WE'RE DOWN TO ONE MIC NOW.

SO, SO, UM, PROFESS MENTIONED THAT WE'RE INCREASING THE FEES FOR THE HOURLY COSTS FOR THE OPEN RECORDS CHARGES.

WE'RE ALSO INCREASING ALL OPEN RECORDS CHARGES BY 25% IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW.

CITIES ARE AUTHORIZED TO DO THIS IF THE AMOUNT THAT THE STATE LAW AUTHORIZES IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO COVER OUR COSTS.

SO WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT OUR COSTS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO CHARGE FOR THESE PROGRAMS. UM, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT LIKE STAFF TIME AND HOW MUCH OUR STAFF MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY COST US OVER BETWEEN LIKE SALARY AND BENEFITS AND ALL OF THAT, WE'RE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO OUR ACTUAL CHARGES.

AND SO SINCE WE'RE ALLOWED TO INCREASE IT, WE'RE RECOMMENDING DOING SO BECAUSE OTHERWISE THE BURDEN GOES ON THE TAXPAYERS AS A WHOLE INSTEAD OF THE PERSON REQUESTING THE RECORDS WERE THEY SET THE NINE SEVEN, I'M NOT SURE THEY WERE LAST INCREASED.

UH, IT WAS NO MORE RECENTLY THAN ABOUT 2007, BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE AG INCREASED THEIR FEES.

JUST WANTED CLARIFICATION.

ALRIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I JUST HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM FOR OUR REBATE PROGRAM? UH, FOR THE WATER CONSERVATION REBATE PROGRAM? THAT'D BE IN THE WATER FUND.

UH, UH, COUNCIL ZENGA, YOU MADE A PROPOSAL ON A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.

ONE ABOUT THE RAISES.

DO Y'ALL, YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND MOTION ON THAT AND TAKE A VOTE? POLL THE COUNCIL? OR DO YOU WANT TO JUST HOLD OFF AND DO IT AT THE END OF SECOND READING? UM, WE CAN PULL THE COUNCIL AND SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD WANNA DO.

BECAUSE WE WAIT I SEE THE NUMBER.

WE CAN WAIT TOO.

I MEAN IT'S JUST, I'M JUST CUTTING IT.

HALF A PERCENT.

I MEAN, JUST LIKE AUSTIN GAVE A 4%, THEY'RE MUCH BIGGER THAN US AND THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE MORE EMPLOYEES AND MORE RESIDENTS.

I'M NOT SAYING I JUST, I'M NOT SAYING I DISAGREE WITH YOU.

I JUST, I DON'T WANNA, WHAT ARE TRYING TO DO JUST, JUST MAKE THAT CHANGE.

CUT THE SALARY.

'CAUSE WE GAVE A 20% THREE YEARS AGO, 6% AND NOW WE'RE PROPOSING A FOUR POINT HALF PERCENT.

SO YOU WANT TO CUT A TWO WHAT? FOR FOR TO BE IN LINE WITH MY AUSTIN, MUCH BIGGER CITY AND WE, WE BENCHMARK WITH THEM ALL THE TIME.

WELL MY ONLY COMMENTARY ON THAT IS YOU BENCHMARK WITH THEM.

WELL, MY ONLY COMMENTARY ON THAT IS THAT IT'S NOT APPLES TO APPLES TO COMPARE A BASELINE THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER BASELINE AS A PERCENTAGE OF AN INCREASE.

THAT WAS LITERALLY THE POINT THAT WAS MADE AT THE BEGINNING IS THAT WE'RE ALL, WE'RE ALL IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

AND SO THE REASON THE 20% RAISE CAME IS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN UNDERPAID YEAH.

[02:25:01]

FOR THE LAST YEARS.

WE, WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRST FIVE, SIX AND PERVEZ CAN FIVE, SIX BUDGET.

YES SIR.

IN A ROW.

UH, DID YOU GET A BIG RAISE EACH EACH YEAR, SIR? ALL THOSE RAISES? NO SIR.

WITH THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND EXECUTIVE STAFF, UM, THEY ALLOWED FOR THEIR WAGES TO FALL FAR BEHIND SO THAT WE COULD FOCUS ON INCREASING OUR LABOR FORCE AND FTES AND GIVING THEM BIG RAISES.

THAT IS A, THAT IS THE TRUTH.

AND THEN WE GAVE THEM A BIG RAISE, UH, AT THAT TO HELP CATCH THEM UP IN A TIME OF GREAT SURPLUS.

BUT TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE CAUGHT THEM UP, WE NOW SHOULDN'T CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM RAISES.

AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT A STATEMENT ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF VERSUS FOUR, IT'S ABOUT THE LOGIC OF THE ARGUMENT.

IT'S JUST NOT, THE 20 IS NOT A GOOD ARGUMENT TO MAKE TO DETERMINE WHETHER FOUR AND A HALF IS APPROPRIATE.

AND THEN ALSO THE BENCHMARKS IS REALLY NOT A GOOD BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE AVERAGE SALARY OF THE AUSTIN, UH, EXECUTIVES ARE.

AND, AND THERE'S JUST SO MANY MORE FACTORS THAT GO INTO THAT.

SO IF YOU WANT TO DO IT JUST TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAT THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

I'M NOT SAYING IT'S PUNISHMENT.

I GOT A SMALL SALARY INCREASE LAST YEAR, UM, IN THE PRIVATE SECTORS AND, AND I AND I SEE WHERE WE'RE MATCHING UP, WHERE WE'RE NOT.

SOME THINGS I LIKE TO REIGN IN, SO I'M JUST MORE CONSERVATIVE.

WELL IT'S AN, THAT'S IT.

MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO PUT US TO VOTES.

WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGET SEASON AND BUDGET TIME, THERE'S GONNA BE 15 TO 20 DIFFERENT THOUGHTS AND IDEAS BETWEEN THIS MEETING AND THE NEXT ONE.

A LOT OF TIMES COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THIS IS JUST A WARNING, A LOT OF TIMES COUNCIL MEMBERS WAIT UNTIL THE VERY LAST MINUTE AND BRING UP COMPLETELY NEW IDEAS THAT THEY HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT IN THE VISIONING WORKSHOP THAT THEY DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, THAT THEY DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IN FIRST READING OR IN ANY OF THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS OR VARIETY OF MEETINGS WITH THE CITY MANAGER BEFORE OR COUNCIL.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS, OFTENTIMES THOSE BUDGET AMENDMENTS DO NOT PASS ON SECOND READING BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE SORT OF A KNEEJERK THING.

SO YES, WE ARE HERE AT FIRST READING, HAVING A DISCUSSION.

THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PUT IT ALL OUT THERE.

GIVE US TIME TO PROCESS.

WE CAN VOTE ON IT ALL AT SECOND READING, THAT'S FINE.

BUT WE CAN ALSO VOTE ON IT NOW.

SO I'M CLEAR ON, I DON'T WANNA PUT ANYONE UNDER PRESSURE.

I MEAN, I'M JUST SAYING WE CAN WAIT, BUT I WANTED TO BRING IT UP.

I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO ATTEND THAT, THAT BUDGET MEETING AND I KNOW WE WERE ALREADY GETTING IT ALL TOGETHER.

AND SO I ASKED BRIAN ABOUT SOME OF THESE THINGS AND YOU TOLD ME JUST WAIT FOR THE AMENDMENTS TO ASK FOR THE AMENDMENTS.

SO BEFORE WE FINALIZE THE BUDGET AND JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE MORE HISTORY ON IT.

UM, AND COUNCILOR TOBIAS CAN BACK US UP ON THIS.

WE'RE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH RETENTION.

WE'RE LOSING RIGHT.

A LOT OF EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE'RE WAY UNDERPAYING OUR BOOTS ON THE GROUND AS I CALL THEM, AS OUR, OUR EVERYDAY WORKERS.

WE WERE SO UNDER, WE WERE UNDERPAYING THEM THAT MAJORITY OF THEM HAD SECOND JOBS JUST TO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE IN KYLE.

AND I REMEMBER AFTER THAT MEETING, WE TOOK THE VOTE, UH, WE GOT, I THINK EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER GOT AN EMAIL FROM STAFF MEMBERS THANKING US BECAUSE NOW THEY COULD LEAVE THAT SECOND JOB AND BE ABLE TO BE THERE WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND, AND NOW BE PAID AN AFFORDABLE WAGE.

I MEAN, AS A CITY WE WERE UNDER PAYING EVERYONE.

WE'RE IN PAYING AN AFFORDABLE LIVING WAGE.

AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WAS GREAT AND WE WOULD, IT, IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A BIG INCREASE BUT IT WASN'T A BIG INCREASE 'CAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY WAY BEHIND.

AND NOT TO MENTION THAT, BUT THIS YEAR ALONE WE HAVE TRIMED.

A LOT OF THE ACTUAL JOBS IS THE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SALARY SAVINGS HAS BEEN, BUT IT'S BEEN SUBSTANTIAL.

SO I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP DURING THE CONVERSATIONS FOR THE BUDGET.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU SAY THAT YOU WERE NOT PRESENT SOME OF THEM, BUT I MEAN, I'M ASSUMING YOU WATCHED THEM AND YOU PROBABLY SENT QUESTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW.

UM, THIS IS STILL PART OF THE CONVERSATION OF THE BUDGET.

JUST JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND DANIELLA.

NO, I UNDERSTAND.

I'M JUST SAYING LIKE, YOU JUST MADE THAT COMMENT.

SO THAT'S WHY I WAS BRINGING IT UP.

AND WE'VE HAD THIS BUDGET SINCE APRIL.

WE, AND, AND YOU KNOW, IT FINALLY CAME TO US IN, IN JULY TO SAY THIS IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT AND AND WE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY FOURTH ONE GOING ON MY YEAH.

MY FOURTH ONE BUDGET.

AND AND THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS REVIEW IT VERY, VERY METICULOUSLY.

AND, AND, AND I KNOW IT, THE, THE, IT'S GOING UP BECAUSE, BUT OUR CITY SERVICES ARE, ARE NEEDED.

AND THEN WHEN I LOOK AT THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON OUR CIP ON OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS VERSUS SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT TELLS ME THERE WE ARE MAKING OUR IMPROVEMENTS.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR MONEY THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON IS IMPROVEMENTS.

LIKE WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT ALL THIS TIME ABOUT SIDEWALKS AND LIGHTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S THERE.

ARE WE GONNA ADD AT THE LAST MINUTE? AND WITH ME BRINGING THE ONLY TWO THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT WAS OF CONCERN, NOT SO MUCH CONCERN, BUT SOMETHING THAT I'M THRIVING FOR MY, MY NEXT YEAR AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IS TO CONTINUE THAT, UH, ADVOCACY FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LIGHTING AND SIDEWALKS.

UH, BUT KEEP IN MIND MR LIKE TO TO TO, TO MAYOR MITCHELL'S POINT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE COME DOWN TO SAYING HERE'S THE BUDGET AND WE'RE GONNA GO IN THERE AND SAY, OKAY, I WANT TO TAKE THIS OUT, TAKE THAT OUT.

UM, THEN WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT, WELL, WHERE ARE WE GONNA CUT FROM AND WHAT

[02:30:01]

EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OTHER THINGS AS FAR AS PARKS, UH, BUSINESS ECONOMICS, ZONING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO TO ME, WHAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME IN MY DISTRICT, AND NOT ONLY JUST MY DISTRICT BUT CITYWIDE, WAS THOSE TWO IMPORTANT THINGS.

'CAUSE I'VE BEEN HEARING THAT A LOT FROM OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT THAT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHY I'M DOUBLE CHECKING WITH BRIAN AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS, MAKING SURE THAT AS WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, THAT THOSE ITEMS THAT I HAVE THE INTEREST IN IS, IS STILL IN TAP.

OR IF WE CAN GO UP OR DOWN AND FOR ALL YOU AND, AND YOU KNOW, WE, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

BUT LIKE, THE REASONING YOU'RE USING IS LIKE, WE GET TO THIS POINT.

IT'S TOO COMPLICATED TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT.

THIS IS SOMETHING EVERY CITY DOES.

YOU KNOW, AUSTIN MADE AMENDMENTS.

THEY LIKE THE BUDGET, BUT THEY STILL LIKE TO SEE AN INCREASE IN THIS.

THAT, BUT WHEN WE, WHEN WE, WE VOTE ON THE, WE VOTE ON THE FINAL BUDGET.

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

THERE'RE ALSO, WE ALSO SAYING THESE WOULD BE SOME GREAT IDEAS, THINGS THAT COME UP.

I THINK WE SHOULD SUPPORT THEM.

I THINK THERE'S AREAS TO REDUCE WHERE DEVELOPERS COULD PAY MORE OF THEIR COSTS FOR THAT DEVELOPMENT.

, WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THE GENERAL FUND ON THAT SIDE.

THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY NEUTRAL CHANGE.

MAYBE IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN, BUT IF IT HAPPENS, IT'S FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL OF US.

OF COURSE.

AND, AND EVERYONE STRETCHED AT HOME.

GROCERIES GO UP BREAD.

EGGS.

PEOPLE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, THEY'RE, THEY DON'T WANNA JUST SEE THEIR CITY BUDGETS QUAD DOUBLE YEAH.

FROM THE LAST YEAR.

TRUE.

SO ANYWHERE THAT I COULD, YOU KNOW, BE A FISCALLY RESPONSIVE IF THAT'S WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS PUT ME UP HERE FOR.

, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

AND THEY'RE, THIS IS NOT ABOUT GOING AFTER STAFF AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT, YOU DON'T DESERVE IT.

I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE THEM 5%, FIVE AND A HALF.

BUT I KNOW THAT THE DOLLAR JUST, THEY, THEY DON'T GROW, THEY DON'T GROW ON A TREE.

I UNDERSTAND.

AND I GUESS THE POINT IS, IS IF YOU WERE TO MAKE IT SO I, I WANT THEM TO LISTEN AND SAY, LOOK, IF YOU WANNA MAKE A DEDUCTION, I NEED THE EFFORT.

THE THING ABOUT IT IS, IS THEN THAT WHERE DO YOU BALANCE IT OUT? RIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHERE, WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM AND THERE'S LOT OF ROOM, THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM TO BALANCE IT OUT.

, HOW DO WE MOVE THIS FORWARD, FORWARD TO THE SAKE OF TAKING THIS VOTE TONIGHT? WELL, IT'S, AND WE CAN COME BACK AND EVALUATE THEM WHEN WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE.

SO THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION THAT JUST TOOK PLACE.

'CAUSE YOU'RE, I THINK YOU'RE BOTH RIGHT.

SO NUMBER ONE, WE DO AMEND THE BUDGET ON FIRST AND SECOND READING.

WE'VE HAD AMENDMENTS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, AND INCLUDING LAST YEAR, WE MADE TWO OR THREE AMENDMENTS AT THE END BECAUSE OF A VARIETY OF REASONS.

SO IT'S WITHIN OUR PURVIEW.

MY POINT IS JUST TO SAY THAT WE, WE HAVE TO, WHEN YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD AMENDMENTS, YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT EVERYBODY HAS PERSONAL THINGS IN A BUDGET THAT THEY PERSONALLY WANT TO SEE CHANGE.

AND THE BUDGET IS A 385, I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER, BUT A VERY LARGE, UH, A LOT OF DOLLARS.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND HERE'S THE OTHER THING I'LL SEE, THIS IS JUST A WARNING TO THE COUNCIL.

IT BECOMES, IT ALWAYS GETS WHERE WE THINK ABOUT WHAT EACH PERSON WANTS AND WE TRY TO TAKE FROM WHAT THE OTHER PERSON WANTS AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO BRING FORWARD A GOOD PROPOSAL AND THEN FIGURING OUT COLLECTIVELY AS A GROUP WHERE'S THE WAY THAT HURTS THE LEAST TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.

AND IF WE WILL TAKE THAT APPROACH WHERE WE ALL HAVE OUR IDEAS, BEAUTIFICATION, GROCERY INCENTIVE AND STRUCTURE ASSISTANCE, UH, SIDEWALKS, STREETLIGHTS, FIVE OF US HAVEN'T SPOKEN YET ON WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE.

BUT IF WE'LL TAKE THE APPROACH THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE VALUABLE AND GOOD, AND LET'S SEE HOW WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THEM WITHOUT TRYING TO TAKE FROM WHAT SOMEONE ELSE WANTS, IT WILL GO SO MUCH BETTER YEAH.

THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

SO I, I, I DON'T WANT TO TAKE FROM ANYONE.

I WANNA SUPPORT WHAT Y'ALL WANT, BUT, AND I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN MAYBE ON Y'ALL'S GOOD SIDE FOR A WHILE, BUT, UM, I'M, I'M DOING THIS FOR THE COMMUNITY GUYS AND THIS IS NOT TRYING TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY.

SO WE ALL ARE THOUGH, I WANNA MOVE.

THAT'S THE ONLY, THAT'S THE ONLY CAVEAT.

I'M TRYING TO MOVE US FORWARD.

WE'RE ALL TRYING TO, WE'RE ALL DOING IT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND OUR PERSONAL OPINIONS ARE IN THAT EXACT SAME SPIRIT THAT YOU JUST CONVEYED.

WE ALL HAVE THAT AS WELL.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO MOVE FORWARD AS A GROUP WITHOUT TRYING TO TAKE IT FROM EACH OTHER.

AND AND WHAT WE WERE ASKING WAS THAT THE BUDGET'S ALREADY SET RIGHT, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT'S SET.

SO IF YOU'RE GONNA REDUCE IT TO 4.5, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH THAT 0.5? WHERE ARE YOU MOVING THAT TO POINT? FIVE'S ALREADY SAVINGS.

AT SECOND READING, YOU START DOING BUDGET AMENDMENTS.

BUT IF YOU ADD, RIGHT.

SO IT COULD CREATE SOME SAVINGS FOR OTHER PROJECTS, BUT WE, WHAT YOU GOTTA DO IS TRY TO GET ALL OF IT TOGETHER AND THEN, AND THEN MATCH.

IT'S BECAUSE THOSE ONE WAS ALREADY THERE.

THAT'S WHY I GO TO WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN.

IT'S, AND YOU'LL SEE PERVEZ, AND ESPECIALLY

[02:35:01]

UH, IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS AND, AND WILL GET UP THERE AND THEY GOT THEIR JUST GOING NUTS MAKING SURE THAT, BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, IT HAS TO BE DO, UH, BALANCED TO, TO THE PENNY.

AND, UH, YEAH, I MEAN, YEAH.

JUST CAN I REQUEST THAT WE DOUBLE THE CHRISTMAS BUDGET ? SURE, SURE.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THIS PARLY.

IF, IF I COULD, ONE, ONE THING TO JUST PUT INTO THE CONVERSATION TOO IS WE'VE ADDED A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN THIS YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIRST CITYWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN, AND IT'S MEANT TO GUIDE THE BUDGET PROCESS AND GUIDE OUR DECISION MAKING.

AND SO I THINK AS YOU, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT AMENDMENTS, YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING THINGS, I WOULD ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT DOCUMENT AS WELL.

AND THOSE, THOSE ELEMENTS THAT ARE IN THERE, THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH YOU WORKING THROUGH.

AND IF THERE ARE ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE TO THAT, THAT'S CERTAINLY A TIME TO DO IT.

BUT WE'RE GONNA BE ASKING YOU TO APPROVE THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER 3RD.

AND THEY, THOSE TWO DOCUMENTS GO TOGETHER.

IT'S MEANT TO CAPTURE THE MONTHS OF WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AS A GROUP.

AND, AND I'M FINE WAITING ANOTHER WEEK, LET YOU GUYS ALL TIME TO THINK ON IT.

UM, AND IF IT, IF IF IT, IF I DON'T GET SUPPORT ON IT, THAT'S FINE.

BUT I NEED TO KNOW THAT I MADE THIS EFFORT IN GOOD FAITH TO TRY TO TRY TO GET SOME, SOME OF THESE, YOU KNOW, IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE CITY.

MIGUEL, WHAT I WAS ASKING IS WITH THE SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU'RE MAKING IS HOW MUCH, AND LIKE WHERE, YOU KNOW, TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, IF WE'RE TAKING FROM ONE PLACE AND MOVING, HOW MUCH ARE WE, SO THAT I KNOW, SO THE, WHETHER OR NOT 60 MILLION DIVIDED BY FIVE YEARS, AND LET'S TRIM 1.5 EACH ONE IN EACH ONE OF THOSE YEARS.

SO WE'RE, WE'RE WE'RE SAYING LET'S JUST REALLOCATE 4 MILLION TO WHERE? INTO THESE I GAVE YOU FOUR PROJECTS.

THAT'S A PROPOSAL.

CAN YOU GIMME THAT'S NOT MEANING PROJECT, THAT'S NOT TO BE CRITICIZED.

THAT IS, THAT WAS AN EXACT PROPOSAL.

THAT PROPOSAL WE'RE ASKING YOU FOR.

RIGHT? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M ASKING.

YOU GUYS WANT ME TO BE MR. COMPUTER CALCULATOR UP HERE AND GIVE YOU PERCENT? I FEEL LIKE Y'ALL, Y'ALL HAVE A HIGHER BURDEN THAT I HAVE TO LIVE UP TO.

HANG, HANG ON, HANG ON.

LEMME, WE CAN'T READ YOUR MIND.

CAN YOU REPEAT? WE'RE NOT A MIND READER.

SO IT'S 16 MILLION THAT WAS IN THE, THE GENERAL FUND THAT WAS GONNA BE SPENT INTO THE YEAH.

CROMWELL, BUT I FEEL DEVELOPERS.

ALRIGHT, HANG ON, HANG ON.

THERE'S SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE SAID.

HAS 30 MILLION FOR SPORTSPLEX.

YOU'RE, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO, I DON'T WANNA GO TOO FAST.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

ONE IS, UH, AN ITEM YOU WANT TO REMOVE AND ANOTHER IS AN ITEM YOU WANT TO ADD TOO.

AND SO THOSE HAVE TO BE SEPARATED, WHICH IS THE POINT I JUST MADE, IS THAT YOU'RE GOING AFTER FUNDS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES TO GET $4 MILLION.

THOSE ARE THE ONES I KNOW OF.

WELL, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS FULL OF LOTS OF PLACES TO WAYS TO MOVE MONEY AROUND AND PRIORITIZE WHAT THE BUDGET HAS PRESENTED.

IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, BUT IT HAS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS AS WELL.

BUT THERE'S VERY, THERE'S ESSENTIAL ITEMS THAT I, I DON'T WANNA TAKE OR MOVE MONEY FROM THE POLICE SERVICES.

I DON'T WANNA TOUCH THAT.

PARKS AND RECS, I DON'T WANNA TOUCH THAT.

THE ONLY ONES I KNOW TO TOUCH ARE A ROAD.

THE ROADS ARE LIKE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

BUT THIS IS A CROMWELL ROAD IN, IN A TUR.

SO WHAT IS WRONG? IT'S NOT EVEN THAT.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT THOUGH? WE JUST KIDDING? IT'S A ROAD.

IT'S NOT CROMWELL.

IT'S THE BOARD.

AND DID YOU SEE THE PRIORITY OF ROADS THAT NEED TO BE DONE? WHY THIS ONE? MIGUEL? I HAVE DRIVEN THE ROADS.

WE HAVE PUT ROADS IN THAT PRIORITY LIST.

CREMO WAS NOT IN THERE AS A TOP PRIORITY.

LOOK.

EXACTLY WHERE THE 16 MILLION ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING.

IS IT GOING TO CREMO TRAVIS? NO, IT'S NOT.

BUT THIS IS WHAT WE DID LAST TIME.

WHAT WE DID LAST TIME WAS WE SAID, WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU WANT AND HOW MUCH DO THOSE COSTS? AND WE, I ADDED 'EM ALL UP.

AND WE SAID, MR. MOHIT, MR. BUDGET MAN, MR. FINANCE WIZARD, WHO'S A SQUIRREL BY THE WAY, WHICH IS A COMPLIMENT AND HE CAN FIND AND SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND PUT TOGETHER A PLAN.

WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS NOT TELL WHERE WE WANNA TAKE MONEY FROM, BUT SAY WHAT WE VALUE, WHICH IS WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER TOBIAS DID.

YOU DID A GOOD JOB AS WELL.

AND THE PROPOSAL.

$4 MILLION.

FOR WHAT? FOR THESE LITTLE PROJECTS HERE.

CAN YOU REPEAT THEM? THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR.

FOR IMPROVE.

SO THE BEAUTIFICATION PROGRAMS, I THINK WE DID VERY WELL WITH THAT LAST YEAR.

I LIKED SEEING THE THINGS WE'RE CLEANING UP IN THE CITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, BEAUTIFICATION, UM, EARMARK FOR A GROCERY STORE, ANCHOR ASSISTANCE JUST TO, JUST TO FOR SOME ASSISTANCE THERE.

AND THEN ALSO ASSISTANCE FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS IN UNDER INVESTED, YOU KNOW, AREAS LAST YEAR THIS WAS HELPFUL WITH SOME OF THE SPEED DESAL LANES AND WITH, YOU KNOW, PROVIDING A LITTLE MORE SAFETY INTO ONE OF THE ROADS.

UM, AND THEN I SAID CONSIDER A 4% SALARY INCREASE.

THAT, THAT'S ALL I SAID.

DECREASE.

[02:40:01]

DECREASE.

NOW IS THERE FOUR? SO ZUNIGA IS LOOKING FOR 4 MILLION.

I I NEED TO KNOW IF ASKING LOOKING FOR TOO MUCH THEN LET'S JUST WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, BUT LET'S FIND OUT WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WANTS.

SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET IS THERE, THAT'S BEEN CLEAR WHAT'S NEXT? IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN ESTABLISH EXACTLY WHAT FROM BEAUTIFICATION WE WOULD LIKE TO BE IMPROVED? AND HOW MUCH WILL THAT COST? WHAT WILL BE THE BUDGET FOR THOSE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE? THE SECOND THING WILL BE, UH, WE ALL WANT GROCERY STORES FOR SURE.

AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GIVING SPECIAL INCENTIVES.

IF THEY COME LIKE, HEY, WE WANT YOU HERE AND WE CAN PROBABLY HELP WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE THEY NEED TO COME OVER, BUT WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY IS IT? HOW MUCH EXACTLY IS IT GOING TO COST FOR US TO PROVIDE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THEM TO COME? BECAUSE 4 MILLION IS NOT GONNA MAKE IT FOR ALL THE PROJECTS THAT YOU WANT.

SO DO WE WANNA GIVE 10% TO EACH PROJECT? SO WHAT I'M THINKING IS WHY DON'T YOU, OR WHY DON'T WE ALL TALK ABOUT THE PROJECTS FOR BEAUTIFICATION ON HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY WANT TO ALLOCATE TO THE GROCERY ASSISTANCE, WHETHER IT IS INFRASTRUCTURE, WHATEVER THEY NEED.

UM, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND COSTS, UNDERSERVED AREAS, EXACTLY LIKE WHAT TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE COULD, THERE MAY BE A LOT OF THINGS THAT WOULD CONSIDER BE CONSIDERED INFRASTRUCTURE AND WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE AREAS BEFORE TO ME IS LIKE, WELL WE ARE GONNA TAKE $4 MILLION FROM THIS ONE, BUT THERE ARE STILL NOT SET A LINE OF PROJECTS THAT WE, THAT WE REALLY WANNA PUT THE MONEY INTO BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A, WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH IT.

SO THAT WILL BE MY, MY QUESTION IS LIKE, CAN WE ESTABLISH WHAT THE PROJECTS ARE EXACTLY WHAT THE MONEY'S GONNA GO? AND MAYBE LIKE MAYOR MITCHELL IS SAYING, WE DON'T TAKE MONEY FROM CIP BUT WE CAN ASK REST IS, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN FIND A BUDGET FOR THESE ITEMS THAT MATTER TO YOU? SURE, SURE.

THAT THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING YOU FOR.

NO, BUT BECAUSE YOU WERE ASKING US FOR US TO TAKE FROM ONE SIDE, BUT MAYBE WE CAN ASK.

OH, IT IT'S JUST BECAUSE, UM, I WAS ASKED KNOW WHERE YOU NEED TO MOVE IT FROM.

I ONLY KNEW OF ONE PLACE.

I MEAN, THAT'S IT, THAT'S NOT ESSENTIAL.

BUT, BUT, BUT IT COULD BE ESSENTIAL FOR ANOTHER LONG-TERM PROJECT.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER AND WELL EVERY EVERY ITEM IN THE, IN THE BUDGET IS ESSENTIAL TO SOMEONE.

SO WHILE YOU MAY SAY THAT'S AN EASY POT TO COME FROM, I MIGHT SAY THAT'S THE ONE POT I DON'T WANT TO TAKE FROM.

BUT THAT IS ALSO THE ONE POT DEVELOPERS WILL DEFINITELY BE THERE.

SO THAT, THAT'S THE POT FOR A PUBLIC PARK PROJECT? NO, WELL WE'RE ONLY, I'M ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, THE ROAD THAT I'M BRINGING UP, YOU KNOW.

I'M GONNA SAY THIS ONE LAST TIME.

AM I WRONG ABOUT THIS? YOU ARE WRONG.

YOU ARE WRONG.

YOU ARE WRONG BECAUSE CROMWELL'S BUDGET IS $0 ZERO.

THE 16 MILLION IS FOR THE SPORTSPLEX FOR FIELDS.

NO, THAT WAS 14.

FOR THAT.

16 PLUS 14 IS 30.

, THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAD PROPOSED TO FUND 14 IN BOND APPROVED AND SIX, UH, BOND APPROVED FUNDS.

AND 16 IN, UH, CASH RESERVES FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR A $30 MILLION TOTAL PROJECT FOR THE SPORTS FIELDS.

THE $65 MILLION THAT WE WERE GONNA ASK FOR THE VOTERS THAT WE CONSIDERED INCLUDED 16 MILLION OR SOME AMOUNT FOR THE EXTENSION OF CROMWELL.

BUT BECAUSE WE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT, IT IS NOT REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET AS A FUNDED PROJECT.

IT IS NOT GOING TO THE VOTERS AND THEREFORE IT'S BUDGETED DOLLARS IS ZERO.

THAT'S WHERE I MISUNDERSTAND YOU THEN, BECAUSE I THOUGHT, AND I THOUGHT I HEARD FROM THE CITY MANAGER THAT THERE WAS 16 THAT COULD BE USED, I GUESS, TO BUILD THE ROAD THAT, AND I THOUGHT I HEARD THE ROAD OUTTA OUT 98 MILLION.

THAT IS A PHANTOM NUMBER.

THAT'S NOT REAL.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

THERE'S NO 65 ANYMORE.

CORRECT.

SO THE, THE MONEY FOR PROMO IS IN THAT.

SO, BUT IF YOU'RE TAKING 16 FOR THE FIELDS AND RIGHT, WHICH MY POINT WOULD BE, LET'S DON'T TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM BUILDING FIELDS IN AN AREA THAT ARGUABLY THAT, THAT IS, IS AN UNDERSERVED AREA.

WE DON'T HAVE SPORTS FIELDS, INFRASTRUCTURE.

LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT WITHOUT TAKING AWAY ANOTHER VALUABLE PROGRAM THAT IS IN DIRE NEED.

I MEAN, YOU'VE HEARD IT.

THAT'S, THAT'S BIZARRE THAT YOU SAY UNDERSERVED AREA 'CAUSE THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE OF THE CITY.

UNDERSERVED MARKET IS THE APPROPRIATE WORD.

AREA.

UNDERSERVED BEING A GEOGRAPHICAL, YOU SAW THE STUDY THAT SHOWED HOW UNDERSERVED WE ARE.

ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS, EAST, WEST, NORTH, AND SOUTH ARE UNDERSERVED IN SPORTS FIELD INFRASTRUCTURE.

Y'ALL ARE CLEAR WHAT I WHAT ON THE, ON THE LOGIC THAT I'M TRYING TO GIVE Y'ALL.

YOU SEE IT FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW.

I SEE IT FROM UNDERSERVED IN DEVELOPMENT AREAS.

SO WE, WE BOTH AGREE THAT WHAT UNDERSERVED MEANS, SO I'M JUST SAYING I WANNA WORK WITH YOU, BUT, YOU KNOW, BUT IF IT'S, IF IT'S YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS, THEN WHY DO YOU GET TO HAVE WHAT YOU WANT? YOU KNOW? WELL, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE CLEAR ON WHAT YOU'RE EVEN SAYING.

NO, YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING.

I'VE BEEN, YOU, YOU GUYS HAVE ASKED ME TO SAY IT SE SEVEN OR EIGHT TIMES.

SO I DON'T EVEN THINK

[02:45:01]

ALRIGHT, LET'S, LET'S BREAK AND MOVE AND DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT THEY WANT TO PROPOSE AT THIS TIME IN TERMS OF BUDGET AMENDMENTS? ALRIGHT, DO YOU WANT, DOES ANYBODY WANNA PROPOSE TO MAKE ANY OF THESE BUDGET AMENDMENTS AT THIS TIME? OR DO YOU WANNA GIVE PERVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO LOOK AT WAYS THAT WE COULD INCREASE THE BEAUTIFICATION? UM, I DON'T THINK THE G INCENTIVE, THE BUDGET FOR IT IS THE RIGHT SPOT.

'CAUSE YOU DO IT WHEN YOU, LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER PARSLEY SAID, BUT WE CAN AT LEAST GIVE HIM SOME INSTRUCTION ON, UH, UH, INCREASING THE BEAUTIFICATION LINE ITEM, SIDEWALKS, LINE ITEM, THOSE TWO.

AND THEN, I MEAN, WE DID JUST INCREASE THE CHRISTMAS BUDGET FOR THIS COMING YEAR.

SO THIS, THIS BUDGET, ALRIGHT, HANG ON.

TAKES A LITTLE MORE .

SO THIS, BUT THAT WOULD BE FOR THIS CHRISTMAS, RIGHT? SO FROM FOUR 50 TO I'M DOING FIVE 50.

SORRY.

SO A HUNDRED MORE.

DO YOU HAVE A, AND THAT WOULD BE TO GO TO LAVERDE GRINCH.

SO IT WOULD BE, SO THAT LA GRIN? YEAH.

FOR THE GRINCH FEST, ALSO THE ARCH THAT WILL GO AT THE ENTRANCE OF DOWNTOWN, WHICH WE HAD NOT BUDGETED FOR.

AND THOSE WOULD BE MY, MY ASKS.

SO I'M GOOD WITH INCREASING THE SIDEWALKS.

NOT GOOD WITH THE BEAUTIFICATION, WITHOUT A PLAN.

WHAT I WANNA KNOW IS WHERE IT'S GOING.

WHAT AREAS ARE WE LOOKING AT BEAUTIFYING.

IF YOU BRING SOMETHING THAT WITH THAT, BECAUSE I JUST DON'T WANNA THROW SOME MONEY IN.

LET'S GO FIGURE IT OUT.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS HERE BEFORE.

IT JUST MEANS THE MONEY WON'T GET SPENT.

AND IT WON'T, IT'LL JUST SIT THERE, LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT WE WANT TO BEAUTIFY AND FIND A TARGET AREA.

THAT WAY WE BRING THOSE DOLLARS THERE AND THEN I'LL GET BEHIND IT.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IF WE'RE JUST THROWING MONEY AT BEAUTIFICATION AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO PUT IT, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST THROWING MONEY AT SOMETHING WITHOUT A PLAN.

SO I, IF YOU BRING ME A PLAN, I WILL GET BEHIND IT.

I WILL SUPPORT IT.

SO, MIGUEL, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH BEAU WITH THE AREA OF BEAUTIFICATION TO SEE WHAT KIND OF PROJECT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THERE? AND MAYBE YOU BRING THAT BACK FOR THE NEXT READING.

WELL, I MEAN, BEAUTIFICATION WORKED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY ALL LAST YEAR.

THEY WERE PICKING UP MORE TRASH THAN EVER BEFORE.

AND THEY WERE SHOWING US PICTURES OF, BUT IS THERE ANY PART, IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC PROJECT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE AND NEWSLETTER FOR THEM TO DO? THIS IS THE BEAUTIFICATION DONE THIS WEEK.

AND I WAS LIKE, WOW.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE CLEANING UP.

SO IT'S ALREADY, I DON'T WANT, I DON'T WANT, SO I DON'T WANT TO DECREASE THAT.

NO, WE'RE NOT DECREASING IT.

IT'S, I WANNA ADD TO THAT, THAT JUST ADDS VALUE RIGHT BACK TO US.

AND, AND Y'ALL HAVE A MISUNDERSTANDING OF IF IT'S THERE AND NOT USED, IF IT'S NOT SPENT, THEN WHAT'S, WELL, I GUESS IT'S IN THE BUDGET, SO, BUT IT'S NOT MONEY SPENT IF, IF, IF WE DON'T HAVE A PROJECT FOR IT.

BUT, BUT DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC PROJECT THAT IS LIKE NOTIFICATION? I'M TRYING TO HELP YOU.

I WANT MORE TRASH PICKED UP.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT BEAUTIFICATION FOR.

I'M PICKING UP ALL THE TRASH RIGHT NOW.

IT'S IN THE BUDGET.

BUT IS THERE AN AREA THAT YOU FEEL THAT WE TO PUT MORE INTO? AND I'LL GET BEHIND WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT I JUST DON'T WANNA THROW THE MONEY AT SOMETHING AND JUST SAY, HEY, GO FIND SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

WE COULD DO MORE CLEANUPS.

YOU KNOW, I CAN I JUMP COUNCIL? HEISER.

I, I I JUST, I HAVE ONE THING AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GONNA GO, BUT I MEAN, I WANNA FIND MONEY FOR A SATELLITE LIBRARY IN THE EAST SIDE.

SO DO I, AND I'D BE, I'D BE HAPPY WITH FINDING MONEY IF THAT'S NOT SOMETHING FEASIBLE THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT IN THE NEXT MONTH OF, UH, A COST OF PUTTING BOOK BOXES IN EVERY SUBDIVISION.

UM, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE.

YOU BEAUTIFICATION, IT'S GENERAL.

YOU MAKE, YOU MAKE A GOOD POINT.

I MEAN, WELL HERE'S THE DEAL.

GENERAL.

IT'S A GENERAL STATEMENT.

BUT THEN AGAIN, WHO WOULD YOU BE WORKING? HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO MR. LOPEZ THAT ASKED HIM THE AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE WORKED? ESPECIALLY THE ONES LIKE ON SECOND READING OR I'D LIKE TO $20,000 FOR A PLAY SCAPE.

, UM, AADA A COMPLIANT PARK AT THIS SPOT.

OR IT'S ALWAYS, IT'S VERY SPECIFIC AND TANGIBLE SO THAT WE CAN KNOW WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE PURSUING.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET TO.

THAT'S THAT THIS IS THE BUDGET PROCESS.

IT'S NOT EASY, BUT IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC PROJECTS OR PROPOSALS, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO BRING THEM UP TO GIVE US ONE CYCLE TO PROCESS IT ALL FOR STAFF TO DEVELOP SOME THOUGHTS AROUND IT.

AND IT GIVES A MUCH BETTER LIKELIHOOD OF IT GETTING PASSED.

BUT TELL ME WHERE THAT $4 MILLION THAT YOU WANT TO MOVE FROM SOMEWHERE IS GONNA GO TOWARDS.

BECAUSE THERE IS IN THE PROCESS, CORRECT.

MR. LOPEZ, A PARKS COMPREHENSION PLAN BEING DEVELOPED THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE ADDING TO THE BEAUTIFICATION THAT I GUESS SUPPOSEDLY YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

THAT'S WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS THAT.

LIKE, IF WE'RE GONNA THROW $4 MILLION, AGAIN, LIKE MS. PARSON SAYS, IS IT FOR SWINGS, IS IT FOR ANOTHER SPLASH PAD THAT SOMETHING COUNCIL PEOPLE LIKE, DON'T LIKE? WHAT IS IT SPECIFICALLY AND HAVE YOU GOT WITH THE PARKS DIRECTOR TO SAY, THIS IS WHAT I WANNA SUPPORT WITH YOU.

WE WANT TO INCREASE YOUR BUDGET TO THIS.

BUT THEY MAY ALREADY HAVE A BUDGET FOR IT.

BUT I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT MR. RIZZO IS TRYING TO GET AT IS LIKE, I'LL SUPPORT YOU,

[02:50:01]

WELL, YOU GUYS KNEW WHAT Y'ALL WANT.

I MEAN, I MIGHT JUST VOTE NO FOR THIS BUDGET BECAUSE I'M NOT GETTING THE GROCER, THE G SO Y'ALL DO WHAT Y'ALL WANT TO DO WITH THIS BUDGET? NO.

LET THAT STATEMENT JUST SIT THERE.

THAT'S FINE.

NO NEED TO RESPOND TO THAT.

I THINK Y'ALL, Y'ALL ARE JUST ENJOYING NITPICKING STUFF, SO WE'RE TRYING TO HELP YOU.

I DON'T FEEL HELP.

LIKE ALL WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO HELP YOU.

IF THIS HAS HELPED, THEN I TAKE, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT IS HURTING YOU.

SO LET'S JUST MOVE ON.

WELL, I I WANNA GIVE COUNCIL MEMBER PARSLEY THE OPPORTUNITY TO ELABORATE ON THE CHRISTMAS, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WAS A CONVERSATION IN JUNE 8TH THAT YOU DIDN'T GET TO FINISH.

AND SO IF YOU'VE GOT YOUR OPPORTUNITY, IF I WOULD'VE KNOWN, I WOULD'VE BROUGHT UP MY PRESENTATION.

SO, WELL JUST IN GENERAL.

INITIALLY I WANTED TO HAVE DIFFERENT THEMES PER PARKS.

'CAUSE I THINK THAT WILL LOOK MORE ORGANIZED.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID SEE IS THERE IS AN ARCH THAT WE CAN GET TO THE ENTRANCE OF DOWNTOWN THAT THINK IT WILL BE WELCOMING SINCE, SINCE WE USUALLY LIGHT UP THE PARK.

I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THERE.

I JUST SAID LIKE, WELCOME TO THE CITY OF KYLE.

UM, I GAVE MY SOME PICTURES THAT I HAVE PRESENTED IN HERE AND THERE.

OH MY GOODNESS.

FROM ME.

YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEE IT FROM THE INTERSTATE.

I FORGOT ABOUT IT.

UM, WHO IS RUNNING THE PRESENTATION? I FORGOT THAT.

IF THIS WAS, SO YOU CAN JUST KEEP MOVING IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE THE ARC IN HERE.

I WAS ABOUT TO START TOUCHING IT.

RESPECT.

WOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU BE WORKING WITH? SO YES.

UM, I THINK IN ARCH BECAUSE YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEE IT FROM I 35.

HE WOULD DRAW YOU RIGHT INTO DOWNTOWN.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT.

THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

GETTING, UM, THIS WAS MY IDEA FOR LAKE KYLE.

SINCE WE HAVE A LAKE TO HAVE MAYBE A THEME OF ALL THE ANIMALS THAT TEND TO BE CHRISTMASY, LIKE PENGUINS OR SNOWMANS, JUST TO HAVE A THEME INSTEAD OF HAVING A BUNCH OF LIGHTS EVERYWHERE THAT WERE NOT ORGANIZED.

AND CAN YOU KEEP GOING? I FORGOT ABOUT THE PRESENTATION.

THAT IS REALLY GOOD.

AND IT'S NOT AND IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE.

I ADDED SOME LINKS ABOUT IT.

CAN YOU CONTINUE? SO SINCE WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THE GRINCH FEST, THAT WILL BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK YOU WOULD LOOK GOOD.

UM, JUST HAVING EVERYTHING ABOUT VILLE ADDED TO THE PARK.

I THINK THAT WILL MAKE IT FUN FOR KIDS TO HAVE PROPS TO TAKE PICTURES AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE.

THAT WILL BE COOL.

I JUST WAS FINDING THINGS THAT I DIDN'T SEE AS VERY EXPENSIVE AND THEN HAVING A GREEN FEST, WHICH WE HAD AGREED TO DO, AND THEN ALLOW THE RESIDENTS TO COME DRESS UP IF THEY WANTED TO.

I KNOW YOU GUYS ALREADY SENT NO TO THIS ONE, BUT THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT I THINK IT WOULD LOOK GOOD FOR THE HERO'S MEMORIAL, UM, FOR VETERANS DAY OR MEMORIAL DAY.

AND THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DID LAST YEAR AND I THINK THAT IT WOULD, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WERE BUDGETING FOR THIS THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE THE, UM, CROOK CENTER LOOK REALLY GOOD AS A GINGERBREAD HOUSE.

SO I THINK THAT WE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE DOING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I HAD IN THIS PRESENTATION.

OH, THAT I THINK THAT WOULD LOOK REALLY GOOD AT THE ENTRANCE OF DOWNTOWN.

WELL DOES IT, DOES, DOES, UM, JESSE, DO YOU HAVE ANY, I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS.

DO YOU WANNA I'M REALLY, WHAT I'M CURIOUS ABOUT IS, AT THIS POINT FROM A TIMING STANDPOINT, IF WE INCREASE THE BUDGET, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS FOR THIS CHRISTMAS TO PUT THIS TOGETHER? WE WE'RE AT FOUR HALF MONTHS.

IT DOESN'T HALF HAVE TO BE ALL, BUT LIKE THEY ARCH I THINK IF WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT GRINCH FEST AND THE ARCHWAY THAT WAS BUDGETED IN THE, IN THE AMOUNT THAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET NOW, THAT WAS, THAT WAS ESTIMATED IN, YOU ALREADY HAVE THE ARCHWAY IN THE BUDGET BASED ON THE CONVERSATION WE HAD WITH COUNSEL PREVIOUSLY.

AND THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE FOR CROOK.

THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE AS WELL.

I GUESS WE'RE GOOD.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.

I, UH, I WILL MOTION TO, WELL, I MEAN, ARE WE TAKING VOTES ON INDIVIDUAL IDEA? LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO, TO VOTE ON UNLESS YOU WANNA VOTE ON A $4 MILLION AMENDMENT TO THE BUDGET.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE HAD TO VOTE ON A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR CHRISTMAS.

WE CAN VOTE ON THE FOUR AND A HALF TO FOUR.

I'M HAPPY TO DO THAT NOW AS WELL TO GET, BUT, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT IT'S $4 MILLION IS THE PROPOSAL.

BUT THEY CAN COME BACK WITH SOME MORE STUFF AT THE NEXT MEETING.

WE'RE GONNA GO THROUGH THIS ALL ONE MORE TIME.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO AMEND RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS I CAN SEE.

AT, UH, SOME OTHER GRANTS.

WELL I WANNA FOLLOW UP WITH COUNCIL ILLA.

COUNCILOR ILLA, WAS THERE A NUMBER YOU WANTED TO AMEND TO ON THE SIDEWALK LANE? BECAUSE WE'RE AT FIVE RIGHT NOW.

IF WE'RE AT FIVE RIGHT NOW.

AND I KNOW THAT, UM, WE'RE ALSO LOOKING

[02:55:01]

I THINK KAYLA'S LOOKING AT OTHER GRANTS THAT COULD COME THROUGH, UH, ANOTHER A HUNDRED THOUSAND THAT THEY'RE, I GUESS THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH.

UH, BUT IF IT'S 500,000 RIGHT NOW FOR THE BEGINNING INITIATIVE AND IF, AND IF WE HAVE THAT, WE CAN IDENTIFY WHICH SIDEWALKS REALLY, FIRST OF ALL THAT NEEDS THE IMPROVEMENTS.

AND THEN, UH, WE CAN GO FROM THERE.

BUT IF YOU WANT, IF YOU THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER AMOUNT WE CAN GO WITH, BUT THEN AGAIN, WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL FROM ANOTHER SECTION.

YEAH, THAT 500 THOUSAND'S A GOOD STARTING POINT.

SO INCREASE FROM 500 TO 1,000,500 TO AT LEAST A MILLION IF WE HAVE IT.

YOU HAVE THOUGHTS ON THAT? WOULD THAT BE MAYOR? WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK WITH AN AMENDMENT FOR Y'ALL TO CONSIDER SURE.

AND IDENTIFY POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCES.

AND, AND MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'VE GOT THE SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN COMING.

SO DO WE WANT, WAIT, DO WE GO WITH A FIVE AND THEN WAIT TO MAKE A BUDGET, UH, REVISAL OR, OR WE COME OUT THE GATE WITH A MILLION? WELL, I THINK THAT'S REALLY UP TO THE COUNCIL, BUT I, WHAT I PROPOSED FOR YOU IN MY BUDGET WAS THE 500,000 BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT WE CAN GET OFF THE GROUND.

THERE YOU GO.

I GET A LITTLE NERVOUS, FRANKLY, ON ANY OF THESE OF JUST THROWING OUT AMOUNTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BASED ON ANY PARTIC PARTICULAR PROJECT OR PROGRAM.

AND SO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO TIE, IF IT GOES TO A MILLION, DOES THAT COVER TWO MORE PROJECTS OR DOES IT ONLY COVER HALF OF A PROJECT? I, I CAN'T TELL YOU RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK THOSE WOULD BE THE THINGS WE WOULD WANT TO DO.

IF WE WERE BRINGING YOU PROPOSAL, WE WOULD HAVE A NUMBER AND SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT I CAN ACTUALLY DELIVER FOR YOU NEXT YEAR.

THAT SOUNDS, AND WE CAN LOOK AT THAT.

IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'D LIKE US TO DO.

WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY, TRY TO.

AND THE WAY WE'RE KIND OF DOING WHAT WE WE'RE, I JUST CAN'T DO THAT EARLIER.

I CAN'T DO IT TONIGHT.

SO THE WAY WE'RE KIND OF DOING WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, WE'RE JUST THROWING MONEY AT IT AND NOT REALLY GOING SPECIFICALLY.

WE, WE'LL STICK WITH THIS IN THE WAY I WAS THINKING, SIDEWALK.

IT'S NOT GONNA NOT BE A PRIORITY FOR US.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SIDEWALKS FOR MANY YEARS AND IMPROVING AND, UH, NOT ONLY BUILDING NEW ONES, BUT I IMPROVING EXISTING SIDEWALK INFRASTRUCTURE, THE AMOUNT OF PLANES WE U COMPLAINTS WE USED TO GET ON SIDEWALKS, YOU PROBABLY WILL KNOW, HAS DECREASED NOT TO ZERO, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE WE STARTED INVESTING IN SIDEWALK MAINTENANCE.

WELL, I I KNOW DOWNTOWN STEEL REALLY NEED IT FOR IT'S SIDEWALK.

YEAH, I'M NOT, THAT'S NOT, I'M JUST SAYING IT'S GETTING BETTER.

AND LET'S KEEP GOING AND CONTINUE THAT INVESTMENT FOR SURE.

I'M, I'M GOOD WITH WHAT YOU PROPOSED, SIR.

I, I'M THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THAT SIDEWALK MASTER PLAN AND INCREASING THE BUDGET LAST YEAR FOR SIDEWALKS.

JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW.

JOB.

JUST PUT IT ON RECORD.

UM, ALRIGHT, I'M GONNA MOTION TO APPROVE.

BARRY, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY? SECOND.

IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 25.

MOTION BY THE MAYOR.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBIAS, THAT WE APPROVE.

AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 24.

THIS, UH, ROLL CALL VOTE HAS BEEN REQUESTED.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ROLL CALL VOTE TOBIAS? YES MA'AM.

[25) (First Reading) Consider approval of an ordinance of the City of Kyle, Texas, setting the ad valorem tax rate (property tax rate) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 (Tax Year 2024) at $0.4693 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation, which consists of a maintenance and operation tax rate of $0.2889 and an interest and sinking fund tax rate of $0.1804, each of which is separately approved; providing for the levy of ad valorem taxes for use and support of the municipal government of the City of Kyle for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2024 and ending September 30, 2025; providing for apportioning each tax levy for specific purposes; and providing when ad valorem taxes shall become due and when same shall become delinquent if not paid. (ROLL CALL VOTE REQUESTED - 5 VOTES REQUIRED) (RELATED AGENDA ITEM 2 OF 3) Public Hearing ]

THIS IS FIRST RATING AND ALSO HAS A PUBLIC HEARING.

UM, DO I HAVE TO READ THE AGENDA LANGUAGE IN ITS ENTIRETY? NO.

AND THEN THE TAX STATEMENT, OR CAN I JUST READ THE TAX STATEMENT? YOU CAN JUST READ THE TAX STATEMENT WHEN YOU ADOPT THE MOTION.

NO, THAT'S FOR THE MOTION.

BUT IF I, IF YOU LET ME GO THROUGH, I'LL EMBED IN MY PRESENTATION THE, THE VERBIAGE THAT IS REQUIRED.

NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF 45 62 PER $100.

SO COUNSEL, THIS AGENDA ITEM BEFORE YOU IS TO CONSIDER A PROPOSAL TO SET THE ADVIL TAX RATE AT 46 93 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION FOR TAX YEAR 2024 OR FISCAL YEAR 2024 DASH 2025.

BASED ON THE 2024 ASSESSED VALUATIONS, THE CITY'S AVALOR TAX RATES FOR TAX YEAR 24 20 24 RS FOLLOWS.

NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS 45.62 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.

VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS 46 93 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.

AND THE CITY'S PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 2024 IS 46.93 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.

THE PROPOSED AVALARA TAX RATE OF 46 93 PER $100 FOR TAX YEAR 24 IS THE SAME TOTAL TAX RATE AS THE CITY'S ADOPTED TAX RATE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR OR TAX YEAR.

2023.

THE CITY'S PROPOSED ADVIL ROOM TAX RATE OF 46 93 PER $100 IS ABOVE THE

[03:00:01]

THIS IS AN INCREASE OF 0.0131 OR 2.87% FROM THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 2024 FOR TAX YEAR 2024.

THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.4693 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION IS THE SAME TAX RATE AS THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE OF 46 93 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.

THE STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE MOTION TO ADOPT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE MUST BE MADE IN A FORM AS SPECIFIED IN THE TEXAS TAX CODE.

THE SPECIFIC WORDING FOR THE MOTION TO ADOPT A TAX RATE HAS BEEN PLACED IN FRONT OF YOU.

SO WHOEVER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION WOULD HAVE TO READ THAT SPECIFIC WORDING.

TODAY IS THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE.

THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE IS SCHEDULED ON SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2024.

WITH THAT MAYOR, YOU CAN OPEN THE ALL RIGHT, IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, THIS ITEM HAS A PUBLIC HEARING.

SO SEEING NONE, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW.

IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON THE TAX RATE? ALL RIGHT.

UH, SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR, UH, ON THE TAX RATE? CUSTOMER MR. PEREZ? YES, SIR.

SO THE NEW TAX RATE IS 0.4693, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, RIGHT? THE THE NEW TAX RATE FOR THIS YEAR? FOR THIS BUDGET, YES.

46 93.

AND THEN OUR, OUR CITY BUDGET WAS 365 FOR 365.3.

SO IF WE WOULD'VE USED THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, WOULD THAT MEAN THAT THE BUDGET WOULD'VE BEEN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET FOR THIS NEW YEAR? NOT NECESSARILY.

BECAUSE NOT 100% OF OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS SUPPORTED BY MM-HMM.

TAX REVENUE.

SO, SO THAT WOULD JUST MEAN THAT HOMEOWNERS WOULD NOT HAVE SEEN A INCREASE IN THEIR PROPERTY TAX.

SO THERE ARE TWO THINGS I'LL HAVE TO REMIND Y'ALL.

ONE, YOU HAVE ALREADY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION TO DEFEAT DEBT NEXT FISCAL YEAR.

SO THAT HAS CREATED ADDITIONAL DEBT FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT HAS TO BE RECOVERED THROUGH THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

SO THAT'S ONE, TWO, YOU AS A BODY HAVE ALSO ADOPTED A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS WE WILL KEEP THAT SAME TAX RATE NEXT YEAR AS WE HAVE THIS YEAR OF 46 93.

SO THE PROPOSAL IS EXACTLY WHAT COUNCIL DIRECTED CITY MANAGER TO BRING BACK.

HMM.

SO WE WERE ALREADY LOCKED IN WITH THE DFE.

WE WE WEREN'T GONNA BE ABLE TO MOVE INTO THE NO NEW REVENUE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

JUST I WANTED CLARIFICATION.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT.

I'LL MAKE, UH, I DREW THE SHORT STICK.

THEY HANDED ME THE STICK.

UH, SO I MOVED AT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.4693, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 2.87% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

IS THERE A SECOND? ALRIGHT.

MOTION BY THE MAYOR.

SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEISER.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ROLL CALL VOTE PERLEY.

YOU MUST REQUIRE A SEPARATE VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET.

ZUNIGA NA TOBIAS A HE? YES.

ALRIGHT, NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM

[26) (First Reading) Consider approval of an ordinance ratifying the property tax increase reflected in the budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 that will require raising more revenue from property taxes than in the prior fiscal year. (RELATED AGENDA ITEM 3 OF 3)]

26.

FIRST READING, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 25.

THAT WILL REQUIRE RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM THE PROPERTY TAXES AND THE PREVIOUS YEAR RELATED AGENDA.

ITEM THREE OF THREE.

SO MAYOR AND COUNSEL, UH, THIS ITEM DOES NOT HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING ATTACHED TO IT, BUT IT IS A REQUIRED ORDINANCE THAT COUNSEL MUST ADOPT INDEPENDENT OF THE BUDGET ADOPTION ORDINANCE AND THE TAX RATE ADOPTION.

SO I'LL GO OVER BRIEFLY WHY THIS IS REQUIRED.

THE FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25 BUDGET WILL REQUIRE RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN IN THE PRIOR BUDGET OF THE CITY OF KYLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 DASH 24.

SECTION 1 0 2 0.007 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE PROVIDES THAT ADOPTION OF A BUDGET THAT REQUIRES RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

[03:05:02]

AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S VOTE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION IS IN ADDITION TO AND SEPARATE FROM THE VOTE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET OR VOTE TO SET THE TAX RATE BECAUSE OUR PROPOSED TAX RATE 46 93 IS HIGHER THAN THE NO REVENUE TAX RATE.

AND WE WILL ALSO BRING IN MORE TAX REVENUE NEXT YEAR THAN WE COLLECTED THIS YEAR.

IT IS REQUIRED TO ADOPT THIS ORDINANCE.

SO VERY BRIEFLY, THE CURRENT TAX RATE IS 46 93.

THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS 45 62.

THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS 46 93.

AND THE CITY'S TAX RATE THAT COUNCIL JUST ADOPTED IS 46 93 FOR TAX YEAR 2024.

THE SAME THING.

PROPOSED TAX RATE 46 93, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, 45 62 VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE OF 46 93.

THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OR THE TAX RATE THAT COUNCIL JUST ADOPTED IS HIGHER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF 45 62.

ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE IS REQUIRED TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 DASH 2025 THAT WILL RAISE MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAX REVENUE THAN IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 1 0 2 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE STAFF RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 24 25 THAT WILL REQUIRE RAISING MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, COUNSEL.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

IS THERE DISCUSSION? UH, MOTION TO APPROVE.

SO MOVED.

ALL MOVED BY MAYOR.

SECOND BACK.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS AS WELL? UH, WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT, SIR.

PRIMARY HEALTHCARE ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ROLL CODE HARRIS? YES.

TOUS NA MITCHELL? YES.

[27) Consider and possible action to direct the City Manager to conduct a study and make recommendations regarding the establishment of a Committee on Aging.]

ITEM 27.

CONSIDERING POSSIBLE ACTION TO DIRECT A CITY MANAGER CON TO CONDUCT A STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMITTEE ON AGING.

I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THAT, PLEASE.

NOPE.

I'M SORRY.

COUNCILOR HARRIS, I JUST STOPPED AND MY BRAIN JUST STOPPED.

I APOLOGIZE.

UH, TOMORROW IS ACTUALLY THE NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY AND ADOPTION OF, UM, THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A COUNCIL OR COMMISSION ON AGING, OR COUNCIL ON AGING, BOARD ON AGING, WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL THAT, UH, WOULD BE EXCELLENTLY TIMED.

BOTH SAN MARCOS AND BO UM, BUDDA HAVE RECENTLY ESTABLISHED COMMITTEE'S OWN AGING.

AND I'VE DISCUSSED THIS WITH SEVERAL CS BOARD MEMBERS, UM, WHO AGREE THAT THIS COULD BE A VERY WORKABLE GOOD IDEA.

THE BASIC ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGING IS TO REVIEW CITY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, MOBILITY AND HOUSING OPTIONS FOR OUR ELDERLY RESIDENTS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

SOME RESPONSIBILITIES SUCH A COMMITTEE MIGHT HAVE.

INCLUDE, USE USING THE A A RP AGE-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES, AND A A RP LIVABLE COMMUNITIES INFORMATION TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF KYLE'S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.

ADVOCATE FOR SERVICES FOR OLDER RESIDENTS SUCH AS SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER, LOCAL ACCESS TO COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL AGENCY SERVICES.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

OPTIONS FOR AGING RESIDENTS SUCH AS MULTIFAMILY HOMES, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, UNITS, SENIOR CENTRIC APARTMENTS AND ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES.

EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND SERVICES THAT WILL ASSIST SENIORS IN REMAINING IN THEIR HOMES AS LONG AS THEY SO DESIRE.

EVALUATE TRANSPORTATION AND MOBILITY NEEDS OF SENIORS AND RECOMMEND SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS.

ANALYZE PREVALENCE OF ISOLATION AND ITS IMPACT, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, ANALYZE PREVALENCE OF FOOD INSECURITY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

SUPPORT THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO ACQUIRE A-A-R-P-H FRIENDLY AND A-I-A-A-R-P.

LIVABLE COMMUNITIES CERTIFICATIONS.

ORGANIZE

[03:10:01]

OR SUPPORT VOLUNTEER EFFORTS TO ASSIST SENIOR CITIZENS SUCH AS RAMP BUILDING, HOME REPAIR, LAWN CARE, TRANSPORTATION TO FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTION EVENTS.

AND THERE MAY BE MORE OR THEY MAY NOT CHOOSE TO DO ALL OF THOSE.

UM, SO I WOULD MAKE A MOTION THAT, UM, WE AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO INVESTIGATE HOW THAT I COULD, SUCH A COMMITTEE MIGHT BE STRUCTURED.

SECOND MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, SECONDED BY THE MAYOR THAT WE DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO BRING BACK SOME PROPOSALS FOR HOW A COMMITTEE ON AGING COULD BE STRUCTURED.

IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER PARSLEY? IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN DO, LIKE A SURVEY OR WOULD IT BECOME A COMMITTEE? JUST LIKE ANY OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CITY OF OHIO.

IT'S A, IT'S A STANDING COMMITTEE.

IT'S NOT JUST A SURVEY.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS? UH, QUESTION TO, WE'RE GONNA ASK FORMAL COMMITTEE.

ABOUT HOW MANY, UH, MEMBERS DO YOU THINK WE WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND? FIVE OR THE SEVEN? I THINK THAT, I THINK IT'S POLICY.

WE, IT'S OUR, YEAH, THE, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CHOICE ON THAT.

IT'S WRITTEN IN OUR BOARD SUBMISSION POLICY.

I THINK IT SEVEN SEVEN.

I THINK IT'S, IT IS.

SO SEVEN COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THIS, UM, COMMITTEE.

AND WOULD THAT BE THE NAME THAT WE WOULD CALL IT? OR WOULD BE I WOULD SUGGEST, UM, THAT WE CALL IT THE KYLE BOARD ON AGING.

EVERYBODY'S DOING THE ACRONYM IN THEIR HEAD RIGHT NOW.

OR MAYBE IT'S JUST ME.

UH, JUST LIKE TO SAY, I THINK IT'S A VERY GOOD IDEA, UM, TO HAVE INPUT FROM THE, UM, AGING COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THEIR WANTS, THEIR NEEDS, AND INTEGRATE THEM IN OUR PLANNING, UM, FOR OUR CITY.

I THINK THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN EMPHASIS ON, YOU KNOW, THEIR SPECIFIC, UH, NECESSITIES AND HOW WE CAN FIND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THEM.

UM, AND SO IT'S, THEY'RE THEY GREAT, YOU KNOW, MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS OF OUR SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY AND, UM, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

I'D, I'D LIKE TO SEE THEIR PRESENCE.

FURTHER DISCUSSION.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? NAY.

MOTION CARRIES SIX TO ONE.

[28) Consider and possible action to direct staff to bring back a resolution appointing Daniela Parsley, Council Member, and Mayor Pro Tem Robert Rizo as moderators for the Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Dialogue for Peace and Progress Event.]

STEP.

AGENDA ITEM 28.

CONSIDER IMPOSSIBLE ACTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO BRING BACK A RESOLUTION.

APPOINTING, UH, DANIEL PARSLEY, COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PROMERA RIZZO IS MODERATED FOR THIS, UH, CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH DIALOGUE.

PEACE AND PROGRESS EVENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER PARSLEY.

SO, SINCE I WILL BE ONE OF THE MODERATORS FOR THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH DIALOGUE, COUNCIL MEMBER RISSO HAS BROUGHT UP A COUPLE OF REALLY GREAT IDEAS THAT, UM, I THINK THEY WILL BE PHENOMENAL FOR THIS YEAR.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST FOR HIM TO BE MY CO-MODERATOR FOR THIS EVENT, IF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT COUNSEL FEELS AMICABLE TO.

THOUGHTS.

SO IS THIS SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK, UM, YOU CAN HANDLE, DANIELLA? I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE? I THINK, DIDN'T YOU SERVE ON ONE BEFORE? YEP.

I HAVE DONE TWO BEFORE.

SHE'S DONE TWO.

SO WOULD THERE BE DIFFERENT ASPECTS THIS YEAR THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT? WE ARE THINKING ABOUT PROVIDING, UM, THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE INSTEAD OF JUST THE TANGO MAYBE ADDITIONAL, UM, CULTURE FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN SOUTH AMERICA.

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT MAYBE TRYING TO GET CATERING FROM LIKE, LAST TIME WE GOT IT FROM VAQUEROS, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEVERAL FOOD TRUCKS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO ABOUT TO PROVIDE A TABLE WITH APPETIZERS.

THOSE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSED ABOUT.

WE TALK ABOUT POSSIBILITY OF HAVING THE PANELISTS TO BE LOCAL KYLE BUSINESS OWNERS, OR, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE COMMISSIONERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED, INVOLVED IN THE CITY.

, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE ELEMENTS I'D LIKE TO SEE IS FOR MORE OUTREACH.

UM, IF LIKE ONE OF THE TWO OR THE QUESTIONS WITH NO PRESSURE TO THE PANELISTS, BUT IF THE CONVERSATION COULD BE HELD IN SPANISH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE AWESOME AND AMAZING TO, TO HEAR THE LANGUAGE.

UH, BUT NO PRESSURE TO THE PANELISTS.

NO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO HAVE THE FIRST HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH FOR EVERYBODY ON THE PANEL, ON THE, AS A PANELIST TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK SPANISH.

UM, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT SOME OF THE PANELISTS WEREN'T RIGHT.

SPANISH SPEAKERS.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE, THEY ARE, UM, THE ROOTS ARE HISPANIC, BUT THEY DID NOT SPEAK SPANISH.

NOW I THINK THAT'LL BE PHENOMENAL BECAUSE THERE IS, THERE IS DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPANISH ACROSS THE ENTIRE,

[03:15:01]

UM, YEAH.

I, I RECEIVED A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK FOR, FOR GIVING, UH, AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE TOWNHOUSE THAT, UM, ME AND, UM, MICHAEL TOBIAS DID, UH, AND REACHING THAT SPANISH AUDIENCE.

UH, SO I THINK THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO BE LISTENED TO AND, AND MAYBE THEIR CONVERSATION'S HEARD.

SO THAT WOULD JUST BE MY SUGGESTION.

COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNCIL MAYOR REASON.

AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT, I MEAN, I DON'T WANNA SPOIL IT, BUT WE SURE.

THOUGHT ABOUT MAKING A COUPLE OF MAYBE TIKTOK VIDEOS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, INVITING THE COMMUNITY TO JOIN US.

SO TRYING GET FUNNY THERE.

YOU KNOW, I LOVE ME ON TIKTOK.

MAYOR, I LIKE TO GO AND MAKE A MOTION COUNCILOR TO FLOOR MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, APPOINT DANIELLA PARLEY AND MAYOR PRO TEM AS THE MODERATORS FOR HISPANIC CARE T AND BRINGING AND HALF STAFF DIRECT RESOLUTION.

ALRIGHT, SECOND.

UH, MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBY IS SECOND BY THE MAYOR THAT WE APPROVE.

AGENDA ITEM 28.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALLS IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

NEXT STEP

[29) Consider and possible action to direct the City Manager to develop a Customer Assistance Program for residential utility accounts.]

IS AGENDA ITEM 29.

CONSIDER POSSIBLE ACTION TO DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO DEVELOP OUR CUS TO DEVELOP A CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTIAL UTILITY ACCOUNTS.

COUNCILOR HAER.

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, YES.

SO, YOU KNOW, WITH US INCREASING, UH, RATES THIS YEAR, UM, I WONDER HOW THOSE RATE INCREASES ARE GOING TO AFFECT SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR POPULATION.

AND SO, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER CITIES AROUND AROUND US THAT HAVE, UH, PROGRAMS THAT HELP, UM, RESIDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY, UM, PAY SOME OF THEIR BILLS.

AND WITH, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT, UH, ACROSS THE BOARD WE'RE INCREASING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE INCREASED EVERYTHING AND TRASH IS LIKELY TO GO UP AS WELL.

UM, THAT, UH, I WOULD LIKE STAFF TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT KIND OF CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE OUT THERE FOR US TO CONSIDER, UM, TRYING TO HELP SOME OF THOSE RESIDENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBER, UM, TOBI, GREAT IDEA, MR. HEISER.

'CAUSE DURING COVID WE ESTABLISHED THOSE KIND OF, UH, PROGRAMS FOR CO AND I BELIEVE WE, UH, EITHER WE GOT GRANT MONEY OR WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING GOING WHEN, WHEN THAT WAS GOING DOWN.

UH, WONDER IF WE COULD USE MAYBE THE SAME MODEL.

MS. PERVE.

REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO HELP OUR RESIDENTS WHEN IT CAME TO THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND ALSO THE, UH, UTILITIES, UH, TO GET HELP PEOPLE GET CAUGHT UP.

I THINK WE BUDGETED, WHICH IS PERFECT TIMING.

'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGETS, UH, FOR THE YEAR OF MOVING A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF MONEY TO THIS.

AND I GUESS FOR MR ER'S STANDPOINT, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR SUGGESTION OF A POSSIBLE DOLLAR AMOUNT GROUND, GROUND ROOT ON THIS? DURING THE COVID TIME, THE COUNCIL HAD DEDICATED, SET ASIDE MONIES TO HELP, UM, LOW INCOME AND PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES OR WHO HAD LOST THEIR JOBS TO PAY THEIR BILLS.

THE CITY COVERED THEIR UTILITY BILLS DURING THAT TIMEFRAME UNTIL THE MONIES RAN OUT.

, UH, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE THINKING COUNCIL MEMBERS IN THAT DIRECTION, THEN THE DIRECTION TO CITY MANAGER COULD BE THAT WE SET ASIDE WHATEVER DOLLAR AMOUNT Y'ALL THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

OR WE COULD HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT LOOK AT WHAT THE AVERAGE BILL IS AND COME COME BACK WITH AN ESTIMATE.

WHAT WOULD BE A GOOD ESTIMATE? UH, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE RATHER THAN A SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNT TONIGHT, THAT YOU LET US LOOK AT DELINQUENCIES TYPES OF ACCOUNTS THAT WE THINK WOULD BE IN NEED AND GIVE YOU SOME ANALYSIS TO SUPPORT A PROGRAM.

AND, AND THAT'S JUST ONE PIECE OF IT.

THERE'S NONPROFITS, THERE'S, UM, PAYMENT PLANS, THERE'S ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE FOR, FOR ACCOUNTS THAT FALL INTO, UM, ANY KIND OF DELINQUENCY.

SO WE CAN LOOK AT THAT AND BRING YOU BACK SOME INFORMATION TO SEE HOW YOU WANNA DO IT.

GIVE YOU SOME OPTIONS.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

COUNCIL, MAYOR PARS.

UM, I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MAYOR HARRIS.

THANKS.

UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALIZE IS THAT A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS LIVE ON VERY, VERY LIMITED INCOMES THAT THEY MANAGE TO THE PENNY EVERY MONTH.

UM, MANY ARE ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR ON DISABILITY.

EVERYTHING FOR EVERYBODY, BUT I, IF OUR BILLS ARE GOING OUT ALL ON THE SAME DAY, MAYBE WE CAN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING TO HELP WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHOSE CHECKS COME IN AND THEY'RE HAVING TO BE CONSISTENTLY LATE.

I GOT A CALL RECENTLY FROM A LADY WHO WANTS TO KNOW IF HER, UH, WATER BILL CAN BE SENT TO HER ON A PARTICULAR DAY OF THE MONTH OR WITHIN A PARTICULAR TIME BECAUSE HER SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK COMES IN AND SHE HAS TO PAY HER BILL OUT OF THAT SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK.

SO SHE'S ALWAYS LATE AND IT'S ALWAYS A $10 FINE FEE.

SO LOOKING AT, I MEAN, WE CAN'T CHANGE

[03:20:01]

LIKE THIS PARTICULAR LADY, LADY IS, WE WOULD KNOW THAT.

DON'T THEY GET 30 DAYS TO PAY? NO.

15.

SO MAY FEE MOTION.

UM, MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.

MOTION TO, UM, DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER, DEVELOP A CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTIAL UTILITY ACCOUNTS.

SECOND MOTION BY COUNCILOR HEISER.

SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, THAT WE APPROVED.

AGENDA ITEM 29.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION MOTION HERE? SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS FUNDING SOURCES, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT INCREASING SOMEONE ELSE'S BILL TO PAY FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S BILL.

MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THIS IN THE FUND ALREADY AVAILABLE.

WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON.

'CAUSE I KNOW AUSTIN RIGHT NOW ON THE WEST SIDE, UH, CHARGES PEOPLE MORE MONEY FOR ELECTRICITY THAN THE PEOPLE ON THE EAST SIDE AND THEY TAKE THAT EXTRA REVENUE AND PAY FOR THE OTHERS.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE DON'T GET INTO THAT HABIT WHERE WE'RE CHARGING SOMEBODY MORE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

WE'RE STAYING WITHIN THE CONFINES OF OUR BUDGET THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS TO DO IT.

UM, IF IT WERE TO BE JUST AN APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS TO HELP CUSTOMERS IN NEED, UH, THAT GOES TO A NONPROFIT, THEN THAT'S A COST THAT HAS TO BE BORNE BY OTHER RATE PAYERS.

THERE ARE, UH, PROGRAMS OUT THERE TOO THAT CAN REQUEST FUNDS, DONATED FUNDS, UH, FROM CUSTOMERS.

SO YOU MIGHT PAY AN EXTRA DOLLAR OR $5 WITH A UTILITY BILL AND IT GOES INTO A FUND THAT CAN ASSIST CUSTOMERS THAT ARE IN NEED.

BUT AGAIN, WE CAN GIVE YOU MANY OF THOSE OPTIONS AND LET YOU LOOK AT HOW WE COULD STRUCTURE A PROGRAM.

THERE.

LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT AND, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S PLENTY OF, OF OPTIONS THAT WE COULD PROVIDE TO YOU, BUT DEPENDING ON HOW YOU DO IT, COUNCIL MEMBER RIZZO, IT, IT, IT COULD BE COST NEUTRAL OR IT COULD COST SOMETHING.

BUT I THINK THE, UM, THOSE ARE OPTIONS THAT WE CAN BRING TO YOU.

ALRIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

NEXT UP AGENDA ITEM 30, CONSIDER IMPOSSIBLE ACTION TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO CREATE A RAIN BARREL REBATE PROGRAM TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CITY OF COLLEGE WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

UH,

[30) Consider and possible action to direct the City Manager to create a Rain Barrel rebate program to be included in the City of Kyle's Water Conservation program.]

COUNCIL MEMBERS HARRIS AND HEISER.

I'LL TAKE THIS ONE.

YOU TAKE THE NEXT ONE.

UM, YEAH.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

SO, YOU KNOW, I I I THINK THAT WE HAD A BRIEF DISCUSSION LAST YEAR WHEN WE INITIALLY CREATED THE WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY FOR US TO TRY TO INNOVATE OUR WAYS OF, OF CONSERVING WATER.

AND SOME RESIDENTS, UH, HAVE REACHED OUT ASKING FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS, CITING EXPERIENCES IN OTHER CITIES WHO HAVE SIMILAR, UM, UM, UH, CLIMATES.

SO, YOU KNOW, AND RAINWATER HARVESTING IS A GREAT WAY TO AUGMENT WATER SUPPLY FOR LANDSCAPING, UH, YOU KNOW, YEAR ROUND.

SO I, I THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING I, I, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARRISON AND I THOUGHT WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE.

LOT OF WATER, THEN WE JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT MOSQUITOES .

WELL HERE'S MY, I HAVE, I HAVE A PUSHBACK ON YOUR LAST STATEMENT.

SURE.

THIS IS, YOU SAID THAT THAT RAIN BARRELS OFF OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS IS A WAY TO AUGMENT LANDSCAPING, UH, AND IRRIGATION YEAR ROUND.

AND THE DATA THAT I, 'CAUSE I USED TO THINK THAT RAIN BARREL PROGRAMS WERE SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE TRYING TO PUT LEAN INTO VERY HARD.

BUT IN TEXAS, WE GO THROUGH EXTENDED PERIODS OF DROUGHT AND A RAIN BARREL THAT IS COLLECTED 50 GALLON DRUMS OR EVEN MUCH BIGGER DRUMS, OFTENTIMES MIGHT HAVE A, A HALF OF A YARDS WATERING OR A THIRD OF A YARDS WATERING ONE TIME.

AND WE GET IN THESE PERIODS OF DROUGHT WHERE THEY'RE GONNA BE EMPTY.

AND SO THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ACTUALLY, UH, WHAT I I WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS WHEN IT'S RAINING AND YOU DON'T NEED IT, IT'S FULL.

AND THEN WHEN IT STOPS RAINING FOR THE SUMMER, YOU USE IT A LITTLE BIT AND THEN IT'S GONE.

IS THAT, IS THAT ACTUALLY HELPING THE, THE PROBLEM? THAT'S MY QUESTION.

I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO, I JUST, ONE THING IS LIKE, I, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND AND I I WHAT YOU'RE SAYING THERE, I DON'T THINK IT HURTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NOT A COST TO US.

IF PEOPLE AREN'T UTILIZING THE PROGRAM, IF THEY'RE NOT GOING OUT TO BUY RAIN BARRELS, THEN WE'RE NOT, THERE'S NO, SO, WELL, MY THOUGHT MIGHT JUST BE TO KEEP IT LIMITED IN THE INITIAL, LIKE A PILOT PROGRAM OF LIKE, LET'S, LET'S LOOK AT 50 OR A HUNDRED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND NOT JUST SORT OF AN UNCAPPED.

'CAUSE I THINK IF SOMEBODY HAS THE INITIATIVE TO PUT THAT KIND OF A SYSTEM IN, THEY'RE GONNA UTILIZE IT AS MUCH AS THEY CAN.

AND THAT WILL CAPTURE SOME RAIN.

IT WILL HAVE SOME EFFECT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH.

AND SO WOULD YOU BE OPEN TO A SMALL PILOT PROGRAM TO GET IT STARTED? WHICH IS GONNA BE MY FEEDBACK ON THE NEXT ONE, WHICH I'M MORE EXCITED ABOUT.

GOOD IDEA.

COUNCILMAN TOBIAS.

FOR SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP ON A FARM AND WE COLLECT A

[03:25:01]

GUESS WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE RAIN WATERS, RIGHT? MR. MILLER? THEY COLLECT A LOT OF WATER AND NEXT THING YOU KNOW, UH, WE HAVE ISSUES WITH STAGNANT WATER IN THE HOUSE OR NEAR THE AREA.

AND YOU COULD HAVE THOSE KIND OF POSSIBILITIES WHERE YOU HAVE MOSQUITOES AND SO FORTH IN THE HOUSE.

I DON'T THINK THAT HAPPENS WITH RAIN BARRELS BECAUSE THEY'RE TOTALLY ENCLOSED CLOSED.

BUT IF THEY'RE ENCLOSED THEN, BUT IT'S JUST, I'M THINKING MAYBE IT'S JUST AROUND THE ENVIRONMENT.

BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT, UH, YOU THINK WOULD HELP, I MEAN, LET'S GO FOR IT.

WELL, THEY'RE ENCLOSED TO A POINT.

THE WATER HAS TO COME IN SOME WAY.

SO IT'S GOING, I MEAN, I'VE SEEN MOSQUITOES COME IN TO ALL KINDS OF CRAZY.

THAT'S TRUE.

THEY'RE DOWN THE PIPE.

I'D SAY IT.

MOSQUITOES COMING DOWN THE PIPE.

BUT REALLY MY CONCERN IS WHEN WE HAVE TOO MANY RAIN BARRELS, UH, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE AQUIFER? WE DON'T HAVE THAT RUNOFF THAT WE NEED FOR AQUIFERS.

UH, THERE WAS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN WE HAD RAIN COMING DOWN THE STREET AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE THAT RUNOFF IS WHAT GOES INTO THE AQUIFER.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF RAIN.

IF WE'RE CAPTURING ALL THE RAIN WATER AND ALL THESE BARRELS, I MEAN, WHAT'S THAT DOING FOR THE RUNOFF THAT GOES INTO OUR AQUIFERS? 'CAUSE WE DEPEND ON OUR AQUIFERS.

SO I'M JUST WONDERING.

WELL, I WOULDN'T THINK THAT A COUPLE OF RAIN BARRELS ARE GONNA TAKE WATER FROM THE AQUIFERS.

THAT THAT WOULD JUST BE, BUT NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL.

NO, I KNOW THAT I HAD ONE, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A SHARE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA PAY FOR THEIR WHOLE RAIN BARREL.

SO I, I DON'T THINK THERE'LL BE THAT MANY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IF WE DO THE PILOT PROGRAM.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT PILOT IF WE LIVED IN LOUISIANA.

, IT RAINS A LOT.

UH, WE PURCHASED ONE HERE THAT REMAINED EMPTY LIKE MORE THAN RIGHT.

THAT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE.

OUR FRAME BARRELS TOO ENTIRE YEAR.

SO THEN IT BECAME MOST OF YEAR AND EYESORE BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SO UGLY THAT WE ENDED UP GETTING RID OF IT BECAUSE WE NEVER USED IT.

SO I WOULD BE MORE IN FAVOR OF LOOKING ON WAYS TO PROMOTE OR DO REBATES FOR ZEROSCAPE OR CHANGING, WHICH WE HAVE ALREADY PUSHED FOR THE, UM, AN ORDINANCE FOR THE LANDSCAPING.

I THINK I'LL BE, WHICH IS THE NEXT ITEM? I BELIEVE THAT WHAT YOU HAVE, UM, MORE THAN DOING REBATES FOR A RAIN BARREL.

IF WE, IF IT RAINED A LOT, I THINK IT WOULD BE PHENOMENAL.

BUT I THINK THIS SUMMER WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH THAT WOULD WOULD JUSTIFY IT.

IT WOULD'VE HELPED THE RAIN.

THEY WOULD BE, THAT'D BE USING THE RAIN BARREL THIS MONTH FROM THE RAIN WE COLLECTED LAST MONTH.

BUT I THINK IT'S JUST ONE PIECE IN THE ARSENAL, RIGHT? YEAH.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT 21 INCHES OF RAIN IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS.

SMALL, CHEAP EXPERIMENTS.

WOULDN'T WORK THIS SUMMER.

WOULDN'T.

I DON'T LIKE WHAT'S BEEN SAID.

I DON'T THINK, THINK THEY'RE ACTUALLY THE DEMAND FOR THE RAIN BARREL IN TERMS OF THE SUBURBAN INFRASTRUCTURE IS PROBABLY NOT THAT HIGH.

MIGHT NOT BE.

BUT IF THERE ARE A FEW, IT'S A GOOD WAY TO TEST AND SEE AND, AND GET A SMALL, CHEAP EXPERIMENT, WHICH I LIKE.

OUR WATER HABITS AREN'T GONNA CHANGE OVERNIGHT.

SO LITTLE BY LITTLE.

THAT'S WHY PILOT PROGRAM IS PERFECTLY OKAY WITH ME IS INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENT.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION.

WE'LL KEEP GOING.

OR A MOTION TO, UH, UH, APPROVE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 30 AS WRITTEN UNDER THE CON, UH, PRETEXT THAT IT WOULD BE PRESENTED BACK BY STAFF AS A PILOT PROGRAM.

MOTION BY MAYOR SECOND BY COUNCILMAN HEISER THAT WE APPROVE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 30 AS A PILOT PROGRAM.

IS THEIR DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ALL OPPOSED? NAY.

MOTION CARRIES SIX TO ONE.

MOTION CARRIES FIVE TO ZERO.

WE'RE GOOD.

NEXT UP.

[31) Consider and possible action to direct the City Manager to bring forward options for a program that offers rebates for residents to convert existing landscaping to Texas native plants or drought tolerant plants and/or xeriscaping for owner occupied residential properties.]

AGENDA ITEM 31.

CONSIDERING POSSIBLE ACTION TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO BRING FORWARD OPTIONS FOR A PROGRAM THAT OFFERS REBATES FOR RESIDENTS TO CONVERT EXISTING LANDSCAPING TO TEXAS NATIVE PLANTS AND DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS AND OR AIR ESCAPING FOR OWNER OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.

THIS IS COUNCILOR HARRISON HEISER AS WELL.

AND THE MONARCHS ARE EVERYWHERE.

I'LL TAKE THIS ONE.

IN THE SUMMER, TURF GRASS NEEDS ABOUT ONE INCH OF WATER A WEEK.

A MATURE NATIVE BED WOULD NEED ABOUT A HALF OF AN INCH OF WATER EVERY OTHER WEEK.

IF A 500 SQUARE FOOT TURF AREA NEEDS 1,240 GALLONS OF WATER A MONTH TO STAY HEALTHY, CONVERTING TO A WATERWISE LANDSCAPE COULD SAVE UP TO 930 GALLONS A MONTH.

500 SQUARE FEET OF NATIVE PLANTS CAN SAVE OVER 10,000 GALLONS A YEAR.

SO CONVERTING TO NATIVE PLANTS FROM TURF GRASS CAN BE A DRAMATIC SAVINGS FOR THE RESIDENT AND FOR THE, UH, CITY.

HOWEVER, IT CAN BE SOMEWHAT EXPENSIVE TO CONVERT TO, UH, EITHER NATIVE PLANTS INITIALLY, UM, OR TO ESCAPING.

SO HAVING A SUBSIDY FOR THESE WOULD BE VERY, VERY BENEFICIAL.

I KNOW I DID MY, MY, UM, BACKYARD IN NATIVES THIS LAST SPRING AND, UM, THEY HAVE THRIVED.

I HAVE NOT WATERED AT ALL.

THEY'RE BLOOMING

[03:30:01]

UM, BUT IT WAS NOT INEXPENSIVE.

UM, SO I, UM, I BELIEVE THAT THIS WOULD BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF VERY, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD DO THIS.

THEY WOULD, UM, IT WOULD BE A VERY HELPFUL SUBSIDY.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY THOUGHTS? JUST WHAT, SEE WHAT WERE WE THINKING PER HOUSEHOLD OR WERE YARDS ARE DIFFERENT SIZES.

JUST TRYING TO GET A NUMBER ON WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

I THINK WE WOULD WANT TO DESIGN THE PROGRAM WITH SOME PARAMETERS.

YOU KNOW, UM, AND MAYBE CHECK AND SEE WHAT THEIR YARD IS AND FOR SURE THAT THEY'RE, UH, THE OWNER.

UM, AND THEN TAKE A LOOK AGAIN AND SEE WHAT THEY HAVE PLANTED.

YOU KNOW, IT MAY REQUIRE A LITTLE MONITORING OR AT LEAST THEM SENDING US PICTURES.

I, I'M REALLY LIKE THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR BIGGEST WATER USERS ARE SINGLE, UH, RESIDENTIAL.

UH, AND TO FIND A WAY TO SAVE WATER, UH, CONSERVE WATER IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

SO, UH, I THINK I COULD GET BEHIND THIS.

I'D JUST LIKE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ON IT, BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA.

UH, CONVERTING PEOPLE TO ZERO SCAPE.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF NEIGHBORHOODS, I MEAN MM-HMM.

, ANYWHERE YOU GO THAT IS A DROUGHT AREA, YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF ZERO ESCAPING AND IT'S, I THINK THEY, THEY'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB.

I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE MAKE VERY BEAUTIFUL YARDS WITH ZERO ESCAPING MM-HMM.

AND, UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT TO HELP US CONSERVE WATER AS WE'RE GOING.

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GETTING READY TO TIE ONTO THE R ONE AND HAVE A LOT MORE WATER, THERE'S STILL NO REASON WHY WE SHOULD JUST BE THROWING WATER OUT THE, OUT THE DOORS.

YEAH, DEFINITELY.

I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH THE, THE CARRIZO AQUIFER REALLY IS A REALLY BIG AQUIFER AND WILL MAINTAIN OUR NEEDS FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED, WE DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO A SERIOUS SITUATION WITH THAT AQUIFER AS WELL.

WE MIGHT AS WELL NOW ADJUST OUR WATER HABITS.

THAT'S GREAT.

CUSTOMER PARSLEY.

I WAS THINKING, I'M ASSUMING THE DIRECTION WILL BE PROBABLY TO DIRECT STAFF TO LOOK INTO THIS.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS IF WE CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE LOCAL, UM, BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PLANS OR, UM, YOU KNOW, DIRT THROUGH WHATEVER TO SEE IF WE CAN PARTNER UP WITH THEM WHEN WE ARE DOING THE REBATES.

IF THERE IS ANY DISCOUNT THAT THEY CAN OFFER IF THEY SHOW UP WITH THE CITY OF KYLE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA DO VOUCHERS OR HOW IS IT GOING TO BE, BUT, UM, MAYBE IT'LL BE GOOD FOR THE RESIDENTS TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT COMES FROM LOWE'S OR HOME DEPOT OR THE LOCAL MOM AND POP.

BRIAN, WHO WOULD YOU, WHO WOULD YOU HAVE TO HELP PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM? WOULD TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS AND HOW YOU MIGHT APPROACH THIS.

I WAS LOOKING TO SEE WHO MADE EYE CONTACT.

I THINK DEFINITELY WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME OF THE WATER STAFF TELL ME.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE READY.

TIM SANFORD, UH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR WATER UTILITIES.

SO IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT, UH, YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, THERE IS A WATER UTILITIES COORDINATOR POSITION SO THAT WE, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ASSIGN THAT TO THAT STAFF ONCE THEY'RE HIRED.

, YOU WALKED SHAMELESS.

WELCOME.

THERE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ORGANIZATIONS.

OH, I NEEDED THAT.

SO INCLUDING THE NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY THAT WILL HELP US, UH, STRUCTURE HELP YOU AND YOUR, YOUR NEW HIRES STRUCTURE THAT, AND I THINK THE CITY OF KYLE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROMOTE THIS TYPE OF PROGRAM WITH THE, UH, THINGS THAT WE IMPLEMENTED AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

PLANT.

SO THERE'S SEVERAL COMPONENTS THAT ARE, HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THERE AND ARE ARE WORKING TODAY.

UH, THAT ALIGN WITH EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.

WELL, THE CHANGING FROM HEAVILY IRRIGATED LANDSCAPING YARDS TO EXACTLY THIS, THIS IS HOW YOU SAVE THE AQUIFERS.

AND THIS IS THE TRUTH, IS WE'VE, WE'VE PULLED MORE WATER THAN WE SHOULD PER HOME BECAUSE THERE WAS LESS POPULATION DOWN HERE.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO MORE.

AND NOW WE'RE REALIZING, OH, WE'VE REALLY BEEN LIVING, UH, I BELIEVE EDDIE BROWN SAID OUT KICKING OUR COVERAGE.

THAT'S THE SPORTS METAPHOR.

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH WATER FOR A LONG TIME.

AND WE, AND SO WE HAVE TO CHANGE THOSE PATTERNS AND INCENTIVIZING IT MAKES SENSE TO ME.

AND WE DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO THE CONDITIONS LIKE, UH, NORTH TEXAS HAS WHERE THE OGALALA ALALA.

UM, AQUIFER IS A HUGE, HUGE AQUIFER BUT IS NOW ENDANGERED AND IT DOES NOT RECHARGE.

AND THE CARRIZO RECHARGES AT A VERY SLOW RATE.

SO WE WANNA BE VERY MINDFUL OF OUR WATER USAGE.

AND THE OTHER SAVINGS FOR THE RESIDENT IS WHEN, SAY YOU GO TO ZEROSCAPE, THEIR WATER BILL GOES DOWN.

OH.

BECAUSE THEY'RE USING AS MUCH WATER.

SO THEY, IT IT'S THE SAVINGS FOR TWICE.

SO THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH ALL THIS IS JUST THE ECONOMICS OF IT.

SO I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO GET INTO THE ECONOMICS OF IT UNTIL I SEE THE PROGRAM BECAUSE WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GONNA TAKE LESS REVENUE BY REDUCING THE WATER THAT THE WE, THAT THE CUSTOMER PAYS US.

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA, UH, GIVE THEM AN INCENTIVE

[03:35:01]

ON TOP OF THAT.

SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A A, A CASHFLOW POSITIVE.

SO WE MUST BE COMMITTED TO AN OUTCOME AS WE PURSUE SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE AFTER.

AND THEN ALSO WE NEED TO, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S NOT INEXPENSIVE.

SO IF YOU'RE GONNA SPEND $10,000 REDOING YOUR BACK AREA, HOW MUCH OF THAT ARE WE GONNA ASK FOR THE CITY TO PAY FOR? AND THEN YEAH.

THAT'S PART OF THE BIGGER, THE BIGGER THE NUMBER AND THE MORE PEOPLE WHO DO IT, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, IT'S JUST A, IT BECOMES A LOT WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE INSTALLING PLANTS ALL OVER TOWN AND SO IT'S JUST WE NEED PARAMETERS.

LIKE YOU SAY, A PROGRAM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIES, UH, IN CENTRAL TEXAS WHO HAVE THESE PROGRAMS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT.

OH, OKAY.

AND TRY TO MODEL SOMETHING AFTER FOR US TO CONSIDER.

WELL, I'M ALL ABOUT IT PERSONALLY.

I MEAN WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THE DAAS TO NITPICK AND GET TO ALL THE DETAILS.

THAT'S THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE EARLIER.

THAT'S, THAT'S COMMONPLACE.

ALRIGHT, DO WE HAVE A MOTION ALREADY ON THIS ONE OR NOT? I CAN'T REMEMBER.

MAY DID WE BRING THIS, UH, ISSUE FORWARD? HAVE THE CITY MANAGER BRING US OPTIONS FOR PROGRAM.

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HEISER THAT WE APPROVED GEN ITEM 31 IS A DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION.

I GUESS JUST ANOTHER IDEA LIKE I DO IN MY YARD, I JUST LET THE GRASS DIE AND JUST KEEP WHATEVER WEEDS ARE THERE.

DON'T WATER.

I DO THAT TOO.

LET YOUR GRASS WHAT I DO TOO MEAN DOES YOUR, SOME YEARS I GOT GRASS, SOME YEARS I GOT DIRT, GOT STICKERS AND I'M GOOD.

SO THAT'S JUST A, WELL, BOTH, IF YOU'RE REALLY LUCKY, STRAGGLER DAISIES WILL GROW AND THEY'RE GREAT .

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ITEM 32, CONSIDER IMPOSSIBLE ACTION.

ALL OPPOSED? ALL MOTION CARRIES.

SEVEN TO ZERO.

NEXT UP AGENDA

[32) Consider and Possible Action to direct city manager and staff to solicit for quality of life study for people with disabilities.]

AND DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TO SELECT SIT FOR QUALITY OF LIFE STUDY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

CUSTOMER .

THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

ADVOCATES, LOVE FOR OUR CHILDREN, BROUGHT US TOGETHER AND KEEPS US TOGETHER.

ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT ITEM THAT, YOU KNOW, DESERVES A LOT OF EMPHASIS.

WE HAVE A WIDE RANGE GROWING POPULATION AND NEW POPULATION OF PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE DISABILITIES FROM A FULL RANGE OF, YOU KNOW, HEALTH DISABILITIES, UM, MENTAL DISABILITIES AND, AND EVEN PHYSICAL DISABILITIES.

UM, AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK OF SUPPORT TO LOOK AT RESOURCES FOR THEM SO THAT AS WE DESIGN AND WE PLAN, WE'RE ABLE TO BE INCLUSIVE TO PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND DIS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SO THAT WE CAN EMPOWER THEM TO, UH, BECOME LEADERS AND BE ENGAGED WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND EVENTUALLY GROW, GO ON THAT PATH TO INDEPENDENCE AND BE EMPLOYED SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE OF THEIR FEEDBACK AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE, UM, POSITIONS.

UM, AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT OUR HOUSING.

UH, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT AFFECTS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IS THAT THEY'RE ON FIXED INCOMES AS WELL.

THEY LIVE ON SOCIAL SECURITY, A LOT OF THEM.

AND, UM, THE HOUSING IS UNAFFORDABLE SOMETIMES.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT NOT JUST THAT, THAT ASPECT, BUT THE ASPECT OF, UM, UM, ACCESSIBILITY AS WELL.

THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ACCESSIBILITY PARAMETERS THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO FACE.

AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A STUDY TO DETERMINE, UM, WHERE WOULD BE SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENT GAPS THAT WE COULD USE TO, UM, DESIGN, I GUESS LIKE PROGRAMS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WOULD HELP THEM, THAT WOULD EDUCATE THEM AND, UM, BE BENEFICIAL TO, YOU KNOW, PUT THEM ON A PATH OF INDEPENDENCE.

AND, UM, ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE VERY IMPORTANT THINGS THAT I FOUND WHEN I WAS RESEARCHING, YOU KNOW, THE NEEDS OF, UH, DISABILITY IN THE COMMUNITY IS THEY NEED PARENT NETWORK GROUPS.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR CITY, UH, TAKE THE LEAD INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

UM, PARENT NETWORK GROUPS WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO, UH, DISCUSS AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER IS, IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

UM, I'D LIKE TO READ SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT FROM A BOOK, UM, WHEN I WAS DOING THIS RESEARCH 'CAUSE IT REALLY DID TOUCH MY HEART, IT ALSO TOUCHED MY HEART WHEN I WAS DROPPING OFF MY KID AT SCHOOL AND I SAW THAT IT TOOK MORE TIME FOR A, A KID WITH DOWN SYNDROME TO, TO GET INTO THE SCHOOL BUILDING.

THEY, THEY HAD TO HAVE A PERSON MEET HIM AT THE DOOR, MAKE SURE THAT HE KNOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S OBSTACLES, YOU KNOW, NOISE THAT COULD CONFUSE HIM TO, TO GET SAFELY TO THAT SCHOOL BUILDING.

SO THESE ARE THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE COULD, WE ALL TAKE FOR GRANTED.

AND SO WHEN I WAS READING THIS, IT SAYS, AS PARENTS, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR EVENTS AND EMOTIONS.

OUR CHILDREN HAVE EXPERIENCED ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION.

OUR HEARTS HAVE BEEN BROKEN, OUR SENSES INFLAMED.

EACH STEP ALONG THIS PATH, WE HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BY OTHER PARENTS.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND

[03:40:01]

WE HAVE OUR STORIES, OUR EXPERIENCES, OUR FEARS, AND OUR HOPES.

WE NEED EACH OTHER.

SO I WANT TO, UM, MAKE A MOTION TO, UH, DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO LOOK INTO A STUDY OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE, OF WHERE WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO, UM, HELP, UM, CREATE, YOU KNOW, BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

AND, AND THIS IS EVEN SOMETHING I WA I WAS GONNA, THAT THAT IS, THAT, THAT WAS A MOTION.

I WANNA COME BACK TO THAT UBER PROGRAM.

LIKE ONE OF THE, UM, THINGS THAT I, I DID WANT IN LIKE MORE ASSISTANCE IN THE PROGRAM TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, I FELT THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME.

THAT WHEN SOMEONE WITH A DISABILITY IS PICKED UP AND DROPPED OFF AT HOME, THAT THEY ALSO GET THAT INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE.

THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE DON'T NEED, BUT THEY MIGHT NEED SOMEONE TO WALK THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SAFE IN THE HOUSE.

SO, JUST TO TOUCH ON THAT, SO THE MERIDIAN PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PART OF THE UBER PROGRAM WE HAVE YEAH.

DOES THAT YOU HAVE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS THAT DRIVE THOSE VEHICLES THAT ARE TRAINED TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES.

SO WE HAVE A GREAT PROGRAM.

UM, THIS IS ONE REASON I WAS TRYING TO MM-HMM.

, UH, REACH OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS JUST NORTH OF US TO IMPLEMENT THIS BECAUSE THEY, THEY INVESTED IN TWO TRUCKS THAT ONLY RUN A COUPLE HOURS A WEEK WHEN OUR PROGRAM, THE MERIDIAN PROGRAM RUNS 24 7.

SO SOMEBODY WITH DISABILITIES CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL AND HAVE A RIDE TO THE DOCTOR OR TO THE HOSPITAL IF THEY NEED TO GET THERE 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT I, YEAH.

AND FOR $3 FULL DISABILITY.

$3 FULL DISABILITY.

SO THREE 14 CENTS.

SO IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.

SO I GLAD.

AND OUR, AND OUR COST, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

IT'S, IT'S REALLY AMAZING.

AND, UH, YEAH, I, UM, I WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS WHEN YOU PUT IT ON HERE.

I WANT TO, I SAW A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKUP YOU ON THERE, BUT I DEFINITELY WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM.

SECOND COUNCILOR TOBIAS, NO MOTIONS ON THE TABLE.

NO MOTIONS.

ONE ON THE TABLE.

UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.

UH, IT IS IMPORTANT, UH, FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS A SON WHO HAS A DISABILITY OF AUTISM.

UM, THESE ARE THINGS THAT, UH, GO THROUGH OUR MINDS AS PARENTS EVERY SINGLE DAY.

UM, HE IS RIGHT NOW AT TEXAS STATE IN THE BOBCAT RISE PROGRAM, WHICH WE'RE VERY HAPPY FOR HIM.

AND HE ALSO WAS WITH THE TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS THIS YEAR.

UH, AND HE GOT A SUMMER JOB AND HE WAS ACTUALLY IRONICALLY ASSIGNED TO LAKE KYLE TO HELP OUT WITH THE SUMMER PROGRAM.

SO IT'S, UH, IT'S, IT'S GREAT THAT WE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, THAT THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE DISABILITIES.

UM, SO I, I WAS GONNA ASK, UH, MR. LANGLEY, UM, WHAT, UH, WHAT TYPE OF, UM, STUDY DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO CONDUCT OR WHO WOULD NEED TO CONDUCT TO, TO GET SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT MR. ZUNIGAS, UH, REQUESTING AND, AND WHETHER IT'S JOBS OR HOUSING, UH, JUST AN IDEA OF WHAT KIND OF, UH, UH, STUDY THAT, THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

UH, WE COULD DO SOME RESEARCH AND TAKE A LOOK AT SOME STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE.

I THINK THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME VERY GOOD EXAMPLES OUT THERE THAT WE COULD FIND AND, AND USE THOSE AS A, UH, REALLY A TEMPLATE FOR US MOVING FORWARD.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

UH, BUT WE COULD CERTAINLY RESEARCH IT.

ANYTHING ELSE GOING? 'CAUSE I WANT GO MAY PRETEND.

GO AHEAD.

THINGS ON HERE, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING OF VALUE.

DO YOU LIKE TO GIVE EVERYBODY ELSE AN OPPORTUNITY? NO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, JOE, YOU KNOW, UH, I, WHEN WE MADE THE MOTION, I WAS LIKE, UH, NOT DIRECT BRIAN, BUT TO FIND BRIAN, FOR BRIAN TO FIND SOMEONE THAT CAN DO THIS STUDY.

'CAUSE I KNOW THIS IS NOT YOUR BACKGROUND.

UH, BUT THE OTHER THING IS JUST TO KEEP, KEEP IN MIND THE, WHEN WE BRING AGENDA ITEMS AS A COUNCIL, UM, WE CAN JUST THROW STUFF ON HERE TO THROW THINGS ON HERE, RIGHT? MM-HMM.

BUT WHEN YOU BRING SOMETHING TO QUALITY LIKE THIS, I REALLY CAN GET BEHIND IT.

BUT, UH, AND JUST REMEMBER, EVERY TIME WE PUT SOMETHING ON HERE AND WE DIRECT STAFF, THAT'S MORE TIME WE'RE DOING.

SO IF WE'RE BRINGING TWO ITEMS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER OR COUNCIL, WE'RE BRINGING ITEMS EVERY OTHER MONTH.

I MEAN, OR EVERY MONTH.

I MEAN THAT, JUST REMEMBER, THAT'S STAFF TIME.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE GOTTA BE VERY CONSIDERATE ABOUT IS THE TIME THAT WE GIVE STAFF.

'CAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY WORKING THEIR DAY TO DAY, UH, DUTIES.

AND THEN WE ADD MORE TO THEM, RIGHT? SO I ALWAYS BE CONSIDERATE, BUT WHEN YOU BRING SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT CAN MAKE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE'S LIVES, I'M DEFINITELY GONNA SUPPORT IT.

NEVER SAY ANYTHING AGAINST IT.

JUST BEING CONSCIOUS OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING WHEN WE ASK STAFF, IT'S EASY FOR US TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY, HEY, I WANT STAFF TO DO THIS.

I WANT STAFF TO DO THAT.

BUT BEING CONSCIOUS AND KNOWING THAT, HEY, LET'S BRING THINGS OF, OF SUBSTANCE THAT MAKE OF VALUE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES IN OUR CITY IS IMPORTANT.

SO LET'S BRING THAT UP.

BUT WE, LET'S NOT JUST PUT THINGS ON HERE TO PUT

[03:45:01]

SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS.

IT'S A VERY GREAT VALUE.

MOTIONS.

MAKE A MOTION MAYOR TO PROVISION 32 AS STATED SECOND.

MOTION BY COUNCILOR TOBY.

SECOND BY COUNCILOR HARRIS.

SO WE APPROVE AGENDA.

I'M 32.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? I JUST WANNA MAKE A QUICK COMMENT.

SO WHEN YOU ARE DIRECTING STAFF TO DO THESE THINGS, AND THEN THE SAME CONVERSATION, WE WANNA TRIM THEIR SALARY, SO WE'RE JUST GONNA MAKE SURE THAT WE THINK ABOUT THAT.

NO, THAT THEY'RE UNRELATED, BUT WELL, UH, WE, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR WHEN STAFF IS GOING TO BRING BACK THESE REQUESTS.

IF WE'RE EXPECTING THAT ALL THIS IS GONNA BE, UH, UH, STAPLED AND COLLATED AND PRESENTED TO US AT THE NEXT MEETING, I THINK THAT'S UNREALISTIC AND, UM, INAPPROPRIATE.

BUT WE, THESE ARE GOOD IDEAS.

UP UNTIL THIS POINT, THESE ARE ALL GOOD IDEAS AND WORTH DISCUSSION DISCUSSING.

THEY'RE VALUABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.

AND, UM, UH, WE, WE WILL GET ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE.

SO IT'S LIKE, YEAH, IT'S STAFF'S DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, BUT IT'S OKAY FOR US TO BRING FORWARD GOOD IDEAS.

AND WE ARE THE ACCOUNTABILITY METRIC HERE.

THIS IS BETTER, IN MY OPINION, THAN 20 EMAILS A WEEK FROM EACH COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTING THINGS FROM STAFF, RIGHT? SO LIKE, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO VET IT OURSELVES AND THEN GIVE THAT DIRECTION OR NOT.

AND THEN STAFF GETS THE TIME TO KNOW THAT WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IS SOMETHING WE'VE ASKED THEM TO WORK ON.

AND THEN WHEN THEY BRING THAT BACK, WE WON'T BE SURPRISED AS TO HOW, WHY IT IS THAT IT CAME THAT WAY.

SO FOR THOSE REASONS, IT WORKS OUT.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE OF BOTH IN, IN, IN THE, SO, NO, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I MEAN, THERE'S, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING IN THIS, IN THE SPHERE AND IN THE RANGE THAT OUR STAFF IS QUALIFIED TO DO SINCE WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE HOUSING INCLUSIVITY AND AFFORDABILITY AND, UH, THE, UM, ACCESSIBILITY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO DESIGN OUR CITY TO BE UNIVERSAL FOR EVERYONE THAT NEEDS A FIT US ALL.

AND, UH, HAVING THE PERSPECTIVE OF, YOU KNOW, THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY, UH, SINCE THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF DISABILITIES, THAT'S, THAT'S IMPORTANT AS WE PLAN AND AS WE GROW.

SO I WOULD NOT BRING ITEMS UP TO THE DAAS THAT, UM, I WOULD NOT HAVE FULL BELIEF IN.

SO IT'S A SERIOUS ISSUE.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AGENDA ITEM 33, CONSIDERING POSSIBLE ACTION TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF.

ALRIGHT, NEXT UP.

[33) Consider and Possible Action to direct city manager and staff to implement a municipal integrity hotline to report fraud, waste, or abuse.]

I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

I'M GONNA KEEP READING THOUGH TO, TO IMPLEMENT A MUNICIPAL INTEGRITY HOTLINE TO REPORT FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE COUNCIL MEMBER Z GUN.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I, THAT'S REALLY WHY I JUST FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO EXPLAIN THE PRESSURES THAT I FEEL AND, AND WHERE THIS WAS COMING FROM.

SO, UH, THIS ONE, I'M, I'M ACTUALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS AN IDEA THAT I COULD GET BEHIND, BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING I WANNA PURSUE.

ACTUALLY, BECAUSE I LOOKED INTO IT, IT WOULD BE MORE OF A TROUBLE AND CONFUSION TO DO.

UH, BUT WHAT I DO WANNA SAY IS THAT, UM, THERE ARE, UM, GOOD WAYS TO REPORT MISINFORMATION OR, YOU KNOW, THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT SOMETHING MIGHT BE HAPPENING.

WE, ON THE DAAS HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAT THAN THE PUBLIC.

SO SOMETIMES THAT'S NOT TRANSLATED OVER.

UM, I HAVE NOT DONE A GOOD JOB OF COMMUNICATING WHAT IS REAL, WHAT IS UNREAL.

AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE THINGS IN SOCIAL MEDIA THAT COULD, YOU KNOW, NEGATIVELY HURT PROFESSIONS AND, AND, AND EVEN INNOCENT PEOPLE.

SO WHAT I WANTED TO JUST DO WITH THIS WAS CREATE SOME SPACE.

THAT'S WHAT MY INTENTION WAS.

CREATE SPACE AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO, UM, VOICE THEIR CONCERN, BUT IN A NEUTRAL WAY.

BUT WHEN I LOOKED INTO THIS A LITTLE MORE AFTER SPEAKING WITH OUR CITY MANAGER AND POLICE CHIEF, THERE ARE BETTER MA THERE ARE BETTER WAYS AND MORE FORMAL WAYS IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, REAL, UM, ISSUES OR CONCERNS OR, YOU KNOW, EVIDENCE OF WHATEVER YOU THINK MIGHT BE HAPPENING TO GO AND REPORT THAT, YOU KNOW, UH, AND OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE ALREADY EMPOWERED TO MAKE REPORTS ANONYMOUSLY.

SO IF THERE IS FRAUD OR, YOU KNOW, WASTE AND FRAUD THERE, THERE'S ALREADY THAT AVAILABLE INTERNALLY.

AND, UM, IF SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS, YOU KNOW, THE NEED TO MAKE A MORE FORMAL REPORT, THEY CAN GO TO THE, UM, POLICE STATION OR TO THE AGS OFFICE.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE, MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT I HAVE SEEN, UM, THAT IS HAPPENING.

AND I WILL BE WITH YOU IF INVESTIGATIONS ARE NEEDED IN SOME CASE.

BUT AT THIS TIME, YOU KNOW, THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR A HOTLINE IS PROBABLY NOT, YOU KNOW, GOING TO BE VERY, UH, PRODUCTIVE.

UM, AND I WILL STILL DO MY PART.

AND WHEN OUR, UM, LARGE EXPENDITURES COME IN THE BUDGET TO, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH OUR AUDITORS TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHERE, WHERE THE VARIANCES ARE IN OVERRUN COSTS.

[03:50:01]

SO I APPRECIATE, AND THAT'S, I HAVE TO SAY APPRECIATE AND THAT'S ALL WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT, ABOUT THIS ITEM.

ACTUALLY, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD ON TO THAT? IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, ON THE, UH, STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS, I'D LIKE TO TAKE THE, UH, STAGE COACH TREE NEXT.

IS THAT OKAY WITH Y'ALL? THAT'S FINE.

RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLD A DISCUSSION, PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING RELOCATING THE OLD TREE ON OLD STAGE COACH ROAD, MS. M.

NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 36.

[36) Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide staff direction regarding relocating the oak tree on Old Stagecoach Road.]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AMBER SM IS CITY MANAGER FOR THE RECORD.

I HAVE A FUN ONE FOR YOU TONIGHT, , I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT.

ACTUALLY WOKE UP THIS MORNING THINKING ABOUT HOW FUN I SERIOUSLY DID.

OKAY, UM, SO THIS IS A BACKGROUND ON THE TREE.

UM, OVER THE YEARS THE CITY OF KYLE'S BEEN PLANNING TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND OLD STAGE COACH ROAD.

HOWEVER, THERE'S A LARGE OLD LIVE OAK THAT IS WITHIN SIX INCHES OF THE ROAD AS IT CURRENTLY EXISTS.

THE TREE CURRENTLY RE RESTRICTS TRAFFIC FLOW WITH SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC HAVING TO YIELD TO NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC, CAUSING A PINCH POINT BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY TO THE ROAD AND THE NEED TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE ROAD, THE FUTURE OF THE TREE IS IN QUESTION.

SO HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE TREE.

WE AFFECTIONATELY NAMED HER JOLENE.

THAT WAS BEFORE WE KNEW IT WAS ALSO CALLED THE GREG TREE.

BUT, UM, SO TONIGHT SHE'S JOLENE.

UM, SHE HAS A HEIGHT OF 30 FEET.

HER DIAMETER IS 51 INCHES.

THE CROWN IS 63 FEET ACROSS AND THE ROOTS ARE USUALLY, UM, EXTEND WIDER THAN THE CROWN.

SO HERE'S A TIMELINE OF OF STUDIES THAT WE'VE DONE ON HER.

IN, UH, FEBRUARY OF 2020, WE HAD A STUDY PERFORMED BY A VAUGHN, UM, CONSULT IN, UM, JANUARY OF 2024.

STAFF PRESENTED THE, UM, OLD STAGE COACH ROAD BOND PROJECT RESULTING IN, UM, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDED A DESIGN WITH REMOVAL OF THE TREE.

DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE TREE CONTINUED, INCLUDING GETTING OTHER OPINIONS ABOUT THE TREE, WHICH RESULTED IN STAFF PERFORMING RESEARCH FOR ARBORISTS TO ASSESS THE TREE AND FEASIBILITY FOR RELOCATION.

AND APRIL CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED STAFF TO EVALUATE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING THE OAK TREE.

AND THEN, UM, IN MAY THROUGH JUNE, WE RECEIVED THREE REPORTS ON THE TREE.

SO HERE'S THE RESULTS.

THIS WAS THE ORIGINAL STUDY.

UM, THEY USED THREE ASSESSMENT METHODS AND DETERMINED THE TREE TO BE A POOR CANDIDATE FOR PRESERVATION.

SO THEIR FIRST METHOD USES A SCALE OF ZERO TO A HUNDRED, AND SHE SCORED 56.

ANYTHING BELOW A 59 IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO NOT BE A GOOD CANDIDATE.

UM, SECOND METHOD ASSESSES THE TREE HEALTH AND STRUCTURE AND IT WAS CONSIDERED POOR CONDITION.

THE TREE RATED LOW AND ROOT STRUCTURE AND HEALTH.

AND THEN THE THIRD METHOD MEASURE, UM, METHOD MEASURES LIKELIHOOD OF FAILURE OF THE TREE OR PARTS OF THE TREE, LIKELIHOOD OF IMPACTING A TARGET AND CONSEQUENCES OF THAT FAILURE CONSIDERED TO BE OF MODERATE RISK, WHICH WOULD CHANGE AFTER CONSTRUCTION TO HIGH TWO.

EXTREME RISK.

SO THIS WAS THIS YEAR THAT WE RECEIVED THE NEXT THREE, UM, SURVEYS ABOUT HER AND BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS SAID THE CONDITION IS FAIR.

UM, SHE'S A SINGLE TRUNK TREE DIVIDED INTO SEVERAL SCAFFOLDS LIMBS.

THREE DECAYING WOUNDS WERE OBSERVED ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE STEM.

ONE ON THE EASTERN SIDE.

TWO LARGE CAVITIES OBSERVED AT THE UNION OF THE TWO LIMBS.

CANOPY IN FAIR CONDITION, BUT UNBALANCED TESTING WITH MALLET AND WOOD RESISTANCE.

DRILL SUGGEST A DECAY IN THE LOWER STEM BALL, MOSS AND PRICKLY PAIR CACTUS GROWING WITHIN THE CANOPY AND BRANCH UNIONS.

AND THEN THE ROOTS NOT VISIBLE ROOT COLLAR BURIED WITH SOIL.

AUSTIN TREE EXPERTS HAD TO SAY THAT HER CONDITION IS FAIR.

THE DENSITY OF FOLIAGE IS THIN, BUT NO DIEBACK ROOT FLARES ARE BURIED BY ROAD CONSTRUCTION.

THIS WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE DEATH OF THE TREE.

IF SOIL IS NOT RETURNED TO ORIGINAL GRADE EVIDENCE OF SEVERAL BRANCH FAILURES OVER THE ROAD.

THE IDEAL SCENARIO TO PRESERVE THE TREE WOULD BE TO SWERVE THE ROAD FURTHER AWAY AND RESTORE GRADE AROUND THE TREE.

IF SOIL AROUND THE TRUNK REMAINS AS IS, THE TREE WILL SEVERELY DECLINE AND DIE OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

HERITAGE TREE CARE SAID THAT THE CONDITION OF HER IS FAIR TO GOOD.

THE CANOPY DENSITY IS 60% RATING, FAIR, IMPRESSIVE AND HEALTHY.

LIVE OAK WITH EXCELLENT LIMB STRUCTURE, CANOPY DENSITY, FLORA AND FAUNA AND MINOR CAVITIES AND SCARS, SHOW THE TYPICAL SIGNS OF A VETERAN LIVE OAK WITH FEW SIGNS OF LIMB FAILURES.

THE TOP OF THE CANOPY SHOWS THINNER DENSITY THAN LOWER MIDDLE SECTIONS, WHICH IS COMMON.

NO SIGNS OF SAP ROT, INFECTION, LEAF DISEASES, OR INSECT INFESTATION.

THE GROWTH RATE IS BELOW AVERAGE.

BUT FAIR CONSIDERING LIMITING FACTORS.

HEALTHY ROOT ZONE EXPECTED TO REMAIN OF.

NO CHANGES ARE MADE IF ROAD CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION

[03:55:01]

IS CONSIDERED.

FURTHER COORDINATION WITH EXPERIENCED ARBITERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO ESTABLISH A TREE PROTECTION AND CARE PLAN.

RECOMMEND BRIDGING EXISTING ROOT SYSTEM FOR ANY NEW CONSTRUCTION.

SO THEY GAVE US, UM, A TREE ROAD RELOCATION CRITERIA.

THEY TOLD US, UM, IT WAS NOT RECOMMENDED TO MOVE HER MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE.

AND A FEW CRITERIA WERE USED IN SELECTING LOCATIONS, WHICH INCLUDED WITHIN THE EASEMENT RIGHT OF WAY IN PUBLIC PROPERTY.

SO WITHIN PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER CLEAR OF UTILITIES HAVE A SPACE OF AT LEAST 70 FEET IN DIAMETER TO ACCOMMODATE THE ROOTS AND THEN BE IN UPLAND AND AVOID SOGGY SOIL.

AND THEN EXISTING OVERHEAD LINES AND SIZE OF THE TREE COMPLICATE THE ABILITY TO RELOCATE HER.

SO WE HAD STAFF DRAW RADIUS OF A QUARTER MILE AROUND WHERE SHE CURRENTLY SITS.

AND THESE ARE THE LOCATIONS THAT WE IDENTIFIED IN MEETING THOSE CRITERIA.

IN LOCATION ONE.

THIS IS THE CITY'S EASEMENT NEXT TO, UM, OLD STAGE COACH ROAD.

THE PROS OF THIS, IT'S CLEAR OF UTILITIES.

IT HAS ADEQUATE SPACE.

IT'S WITHIN THE CITY'S ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE EASEMENT.

CONS.

IT'S NEXT TO THE ROAD WHICH MIGHT INTERFERE WITH THE ROAD BOND.

AND HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TODAY.

AND BAM, HERE IT IS WITH JOLENE IMAGINED IN THAT SPACE.

ISN'T SHE CUTE? OKAY.

THEN THERE'S THE HOA OPEN SPACE.

UM, HOA OF HOMETOWN.

KYLE, I BELIEVE HERE.

UM, THIS HAS A PRO OF BEING CLEAR OF UTILITIES, OPEN SPACE, HOA PARK AREA, PROVIDE SHADE IN THE AREA.

CONS, NEED TO WORK WITH THE HOA.

HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

AND HERE'S JOLIE.

OKAY, , I KNOW I, HERE'S THE HOA PARK AREA PROS.

UM, CLEAR OF UTILITIES.

IT'S HOA PARK AREA.

AGAIN, IT'S A SMALL SPACE.

WE'D HAVE TO WORK WITH THE HHOA TO RELOCATE HERE.

HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WITH JOLIE.

AND THEN FINALLY, OUR FOURTH SELECTION WAS THE HOA PARK AND TRAIL.

AGAIN, PROS, IT'S CLEAR OF UTILITIES, ADEQUATE SPACE, HOA PARK AREA AND PUBLIC TRAIL ADJACENT.

PROVIDE EXTRA SHADE IN THE AREA.

CONS, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH HOA.

HERE'S WHAT THAT PROPERTY LOOKS LIKE.

AND HERE SHE IS.

SO IN SUMMARY, UM, WE BELIEVE REDESIGNING OLD STAGE COACH ROAD TO SWING AWAY FROM THE TREE WHERE IT CURRENTLY LIVES IS NOT AS, IS NOT IDEAL AS THE NEW ALIGNMENT TO ACCOMMODATE THE TREE WOULD REQUIRE PROPERTY ACQUISITION, WHICH MAY AFFECT STRUCTURES OR PEOPLE'S HOMES.

THE VERBAL ESTIMATE FOR RELOCATION RANGE FROM 600 TO $850,000.

CONTRACTORS WILL PROVIDE A BID ONCE LOCATION IS SELECTED DUE TO A NUMBER OF UNKNOWN FACTORS RELATED TO RELOCATION CHALLENGES FOR EACH SIDE, INCLUDING OVERHEAD UTILITIES AND SUCH.

UM, WE SHOULD NOTE THERE WILL BE QUITE A BIT OF AFTERCARE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT SHE LIVES AND SURVIVES AND THRIVES IN HER NEW ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING REGULAR WATERING MULCHING, FERTILIZING AND MONITORING AND SUPPORT TO INCLUDE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF TRANSPLANT, SHOCK, PRUNING, STAKING, AND PEST AND DISEASE CONTROL.

SO HERE ARE YOUR OPTIONS.

YOU CAN DIRECT STAFF TO REDESIGN OLD STAGE COACH ROAD TO ACCOMMODATE THE TREE WHERE SHE CURRENTLY LIVES.

DIRECT STAFF TO WORK ON A SELECTED LOCATION FROM THE FOUR OPTIONS PRESENTED TO SECURE A SITE AND SOLICIT BIDS FOR THE RELOCATION.

DO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH RELOCATION EFFORTS AND ALLOW TREE REMOVAL TO PROCEED ALONG WITH THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

MAYOR PRO TIM, I GUESS I'LL GO FIRST.

UH, FIRST OF ALL, I LIKE LOCATION TWO BETTER THAN ANY OF THEM ALL 'CAUSE THE OTHER ONES INCLUDE SIDEWALKS WITH A TREE, UH, ROOTS AND THE CANOPY.

I CAN SEE THOSE SIDEWALKS GOING UP GIVING US ANOTHER PROBLEM.

BUT I DO LIKE LOCATION TWO BETTER OVER THERE.

I DON'T WANNA TAKE AWAY THE KIDS' FIELDS.

THAT'S ALL THE SOCCER GOES.

I DON'T WANNA TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THERE, BUT I DON'T WANNA PUT THIS TREE NEAR SIDEWALKS 'CAUSE SHE'S ALREADY NEAR A ROAD.

I DON'T WANNA PUT HER NEAR A SIDEWALK THAT'S GONNA TEAR UP A SIDEWALK.

BUT I LIKE LOCATION TWO REALLY WELL.

UH, JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, ABOUT 40 SOMETHING YEARS AGO, THE ORIGINAL RESIDENCE OF KYLE, UH, CALLED THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

THIS WAS A COUNTY ROAD, SAID THEY WANTED THE TREE GONE.

SO THERE WAS A YOUNG TREE.

THEY DIDN'T WANT THE TREE THERE, UNFORTUNATELY.

ONE INFLUENTIAL PERSON WAS ABLE TO MAKE A PHONE CALL AND SAVE THE TREE.

SO THE TREE, SO THE ORIGINAL RESIDENTS THAT WANTED A TREE GONE, THE OLDER, UH, FAMILIES THERE THAT LIVED NEAR STAGECOACH, UH, DIDN'T GET THEIR WAY.

AND THE TREE STAYED.

SO THE TREES QUITE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES.

THE, THEN THE COUNTY BEFORE THEY GAVE THE ROAD TO THE CITY CAME IN AND REDID THE ROAD.

WELL, THEY DUG DOWN AND CUT THE ROOTS ON THIS SIDE OF THE TREE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED DURING THAT PROCESS.

SO PUTTING THAT TREE IN MORE DISTRESS.

SO JUST SOME HISTORY ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT, THAT POOR TREE.

AND THEN THEY, PEOPLE COME BACK, THEY'VE CUT BACK THE, UH, CANOPY, THAT'S WHY IT'S UNEVEN.

UH, ONE PERSON WENT UP THERE AND NAILED AMERICAN FLAGS WITH NAILS ON IT.

YEAH, IT'S

[04:00:01]

BEEN CRAZY NOW.

AND THOSE WERE THE PEOPLE TRYING TO PRESERVE THE TREE.

UH, YEAH.

SO I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

UH, BUT YEAH, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, THIS TREE'S GONE THROUGH A LOT.

AND I THINK TRYING TO PRESERVE IT, IF, IF THE RESIDENTS WANT TO TRY AND PRESERVE IT, I'M, I'M ALL FOR IT.

UH, I THINK LOCATION TWO IS THE BEST PLACE FOR IT.

IT'S AWAY FROM TREE, IT'S AWAY FROM ROADS, IT'S AWAY FROM SIDEWALKS.

AND I THINK IT WOULD BE A REALLY NICE PLACE FOR IT TO, TO FINISH OFF ITS DAY.

IT DOES HAVE SOME HOLLOW SPOTS IN IT.

I'VE DRIVEN BY IT, UH, QUITE A FEW TIMES.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A GREAT CANDIDATE TO PRESERVE, BUT, UM, IF, IF WE'RE WILLING TO TRY AS A CITY, IF THE RESIDENTS WANNA DO IT, I'M GOOD WITH IT.

UH, BUT YES, TREE HAS HAD A LOT OF HISTORY TO IT AND A LOT OF DAMAGE DONE TO IT AS WELL.

UH, SO IT'S, IT'S UP TO COUNSEL.

YES, MA'AM.

COUNCILOR HARRIS.

THE TREE'S ACTUALLY ABOUT 500 YEARS OLD.

UM, AND MR. MILLER ELOQUENTLY, I THINK STATED, YOU KNOW, HIS FEELINGS ABOUT THIS TREE AND THE COMMUNITY'S FEELINGS ABOUT THIS TREE AND WHAT IT HAS SEEN, UM, FROM THE EARLY DAYS OF OUR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THROUGH THE SETTLEMENT IN THIS AREA, UM, IT, IT HAS BEEN A LOVE TREE, UH, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A ROAD THAT HAS TO GO AROUND IT.

AND EVERYBODY HAS HATED THAT.

UM, IT IS, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IF WE MOVE IT THAT IT WILL LIVE.

UM, SO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO VOTE A FAIRLY LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO MOVE THE TREE, HOWEVER, WITH GOOD CARE, UH, IT HAS A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE OF LIVING.

I KNOW THAT, UM, BUDA MOVED A LARGE OAK TREE, UM, FOR THEIR NEW CITY HALL AND LIBRARY.

AND IT'S NOT DOING WELL.

IT HAS SURVIVED.

IT'S NOT DOING WELL BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN CARE OF IT.

THEY'VE REALLY KIND OF NEGLECTED IT.

UM, BUT I THINK WITH OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, I THINK THAT THEY WILL LIKE THIS TREE.

AND, UH, IT WILL BE A A, A COMMUNITY ASSET.

I MEAN, WE WENT FROM TALKING ABOUT WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WHEN WE CUT DOWN THE TREE AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE PUT, PUT SCULPTURES IN THE ROUNDABOUTS ON STAGE.

COACH MADE FROM THE TREE.

I'D RATHER THE TREE LIVE.

WELL, I, I HAVE A THOUGHT ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT COULD ALL ACCOMPLISH THAT.

IT'S, I THINK ABOUT THE FUNDING AND THE TIMING.

SO NUMBER ONE IS THE BUDGET FOR STAGE COACH IS, DOES ANYBODY KNOW IT OFF THE TOP OF THEIR HEAD? I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

THE ROAD BOND.

THE ROAD BOND BUDGET FOR STAGECOACH, IT'S HUGE.

OH, I THINK IT'S MORE, I THINK IT'S LIKE 20 SOMETHING, ISN'T IT? I THINK IT'S MORE .

YEAH, I DON'T REMEMBER THAT.

BOND PROCEEDS THE CONTINGENCY.

SO MY POINT IS, IT'S, WHILE YOU'RE GETTING THAT, MY POINT IS IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PROJECT THAT'S IMPACTING THIS TREE, WE HAVE A CONTINGENCY AMOUNT.

IF IT ENDS UP, LET'S SAY IT ENDS UP BEING ON THE LOW END OF 600,000, YOU KNOW, IF WE'VE GOT A $30 MILLION ROAD PROJECT, 600,000, IT'S 2% AND WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE THERE, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S LIKE, ALL RIGHT, WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN WORK WITH SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINES INSTEAD OF JUST A GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE, TAKE IT OUTTA THE ROAD.

WE'RE WORKING A DEAL POTENTIALLY TO SAVE, UH, RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION COSTS ON STAGECOACH, WHICH IS MONEY THAT WE COULD SAVE.

SO IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE'RE JUST JUST TAKING IT OUT OF OUR CASH SAVINGS, IT'S A BIGGER FINANCIAL HIT THAN IF WE ARE INCORPORATING IT AS IT SHOULD BE INTO THE ROAD BOND PROJECT THAT'S UPENDING THE TREE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

SO THAT'D BE MY FIRST THOUGHT.

AND THEN MY SECOND THOUGHT IS, I, OKAY, I WOULD SAY THAT I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A GOOD USE OF MONEY AT ALL, BUT I AGREE WITH THE SENTIMENT BEHIND, UH, WHAT THE COMMUNITY HAS SAID.

LIKE THE FOR, BECAUSE IT'S DILAPIDATED OR IT'S A 59% LEFT.

LIKE, IF YOU'RE JUST THINKING ABOUT THE USE OF MONEY, YOU WOULD NEVER TRY TO DO THAT WITH A TREE LIKE THIS.

BUT IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THE HISTORY AND THE COMMUNITY AND THE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THIS TREE, KIND OF THE BEAT UP NATURE OF IT IS PART OF ITS STORY, RIGHT? LIKE IT'S, IT HAS A STORY TO TELL.

AND SO I REALLY RESONATE WITH THAT.

BUT HERE'S WHERE IT COMES BACK TO ME AS BEING SELFISH, SELFISHLY, UH, INCENTIVIZED TO TRY TO MAKE THIS WORK.

I, UH, DRIVE PAST THIS TREE 10 TO 15 TIMES EVERY DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

THIS IS THE TREE I PASS THE MOST.

AND I THAT ROAD BOTTLENECKS INTO A ONE-WAY.

WE HAVE ABOUT THREE OR FOUR SPOTS IN KYLE WHERE TRAFFIC BOTTLENECKS INTO A ONE-WAY WHERE YOU MUST STOP AND YIELD AND WAIT FOR OTHERS TO GO AROUND.

LIKE THE BRIDGE ON KYLE CROSSING, UH, THE HISTORIC BRIDGE THERE.

BUT THE STATE, THE SECTION THAT GOES THROUGH THIS TREE ISN'T SCHEDULED TO START UNTIL 2027, I BELIEVE IT COULD BE 2028 THAT I SAW, WHICH IS REALLY SAD FOR ME 'CAUSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET STAGE COACH DONE SINCE 2017.

, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A HISTORIC ELEMENT.

YOU CAN'T MOVE IT.

AND SO YOU MUST YIELD.

AND WHEN TRAFFIC IS BAD AND IT'S INCREASINGLY GETTING BAD ON STAGE COACH, UH, AND UM, UH, AND IT GOES INTO A BOTTLENECK, THAT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING.

OKAY, SO WHEN, WHEN WE RECEIVED OUR REPORT ABOUT STAGE COACH ROAD AND THE, UH, THE PHASING OF THE CONSTRUCTIONS, WHEN WE'RE GONNA START DIFFERENT PHASES, THE PHASE FROM UH, SIX CREEKS BOULEVARD, THE ROUNDABOUT THERE UP TO VETERANS DRIVE GOES OFF FIRST.

[04:05:01]

SO YOU GOTTA BE A LITTLE MORE PATIENT WITH YOUR BIG EXPENDITURES.

'CAUSE SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THE THINGS YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT FOR THE RESIDENTS.

BUT IF WE COULD GO AHEAD AND SAY, WE'RE GONNA INCORPORATE THIS TREE RIGHT AWAY AND GET IT MOVED.

PUBLIC WORKS COULD COME BACK AND ALLEVIATE THAT BOTTLENECK RIGHT AWAY, BUT NOT RIGHT AS SOON AS THIS HAPPENS.

AND SO NOT SO, SO IT'S, UH, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT TANGIBLE BENEFITS THERE TO THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE STAGECOACH EVERY DAY.

THAT IF YOU INCORPORATE IT THAT WAY, THAT'S THE WAY I CAN GET BEHIND IT, THE WAY I'VE SORT OF OUTLINED IT.

AND WHICH MEANS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IT SOON.

IF WE'RE GONNA DO IT, THERE'S NO REASON TO WAIT BECAUSE WE CAN SOLVE A PROBLEM.

ALRIGHT, GOOD.

COUNCILOR PARSLEY.

SO I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER SEEN, AND I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE, UM, INSENSITIVE WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE FEELINGS FOR THE TREE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY SITTING UNDER THAT TREE.

SO IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF TREES WE CAN BUY WITH $800,000 AND LOCATE CORRECTLY.

WE HAVE NO GUARANTEE THAT THE TREE WILL MAKE IT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION TO BE LOOKING INTO.

EVEN IF WE USE THE CONTINGENCY FROM STAGECOACH, WHEN THEY COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO MAKE A BUDGET AMENDMENT, THE MONEY'S GONNA HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, PROBABLY WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO PUT THE BILL FROM THE GENERAL FUND.

THAT'S JUST HOW IT IS.

SO JUST THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING CONSERVATIVE WITH THE MONEY WE ARE GONNA PUT ABOUT, 'CAUSE FORGET ABOUT IT, THEY'RE SAYING 600 TO EIGHT 50.

WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO GO PROBABLY ABOVE THAT AMOUNT AND WE STILL HAVE NO GUARANTEE THAT THE TREE WILL MAKE IT.

NOW CAN WE BUY TREES AND PLACE THEM CORRECTLY IN ALL OF THE PARKS AND BEAUTIFICATION? A HUNDRED PERCENT.

AND THAT WILL BE A BETTER USE OF THE MONEY.

NOW IF YOU MOVE THE TREE, I BETTER SEE ALL OF Y'ALL SITTING DOWN UNDER THAT TREE EVERY DAY.

I DON'T KNOW, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK READING A BOOK, I'M GONNA SEE READING A BOOK.

WELL, AND THAT'S POSSIBLE.

I JUST, I JUST, I DON'T, YEAH, I, I WOULD LOVE TO, I LOVE TREES AND I LOVE PLANTS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT $850,000 IS GOING TO MAKE, IT MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE.

SORRY, THAT WOULD BE A BIG NO FOR ME.

BUY TREES WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

CUSTOMER HARRIS, TWO THINGS.

THIS TREE SEQUESTERS SOMEWHERE AROUND HALF A TON OF CARBON A YEAR.

YOU HAVE THE YOUNG TREES DO NOT SEQUESTER THAT AMOUNT OF CARBON.

UM, IT ALSO LOWERS THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE UNDER THIS TREE BY A GOOD FIVE DEGREES.

SO THE SURROUNDING AREA IS, IS LOWERED.

UM, SO IT, IT CAN'T BE REPLACED WITH YOUNG TREES TO DO THE SAME AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THAT TREE DOES.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A LOT OF YOUNG TREES, WHICH WE WANNA DO ANYWAY.

BUT, UM, MY ONE THING THAT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO INDICATE IS I'M GLAD WE'VE GOT SOME TIME TO WORK WITH BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHEN THIS TREE IS MOVED.

IF WE MOVE IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO STAY OUT OF OAK QUILT SEASON.

SO WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE THE, THE TREE AT VERY SPECIFIC TIME OF THE YEAR.

MAYOR PRO TEM.

UH, JUST TO FOLLOW UP.

YEAH, I'D LOVE TO SEE IT SOONER THAN LATER, BUT KEEPING THAT IN MIND ABOUT WHEN WE CAN MOVE IT.

BUT, UH, I, I DON'T KNOW IT, THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT THINKS THAT NO, I, I'M JUST SAYING YEAH.

WHAT I, I'M ASKING MYSELF.

I'M TRYING TO, I'M TRYING TO GET THERE.

BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THIS.

I'M TRYING TO GET THERE IN MY HEAD WHAT I SPEND $600,000 TO ALLEVIATE A BOTTLENECK FROM A, FROM A ONE-WAY BOTTLENECK TO A TWO-LANE ROAD.

WOULD I DO THAT ANYWHERE IN THIS TOWN? YES.

SO IF I THINK OF IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE THIS TREE, AND AS A RESULT OF DOING THAT, WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO TURN THIS BACK INTO A TWO-LANE ROAD BEFORE WE, UH, ACTUALLY GET TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND SAVE FOR TWO YEARS.

IT BECOMES SLOWING TRAFFIC IN MY MIND.

I CAN GO WITH THAT.

AND THEN THE SIDE EFFECT FROM THAT EXPENDITURE IS THAT POTENTIALLY THIS TREE IS SAVED.

I, I THINK THE ODDS OF THE TREE SURVIVING ARE VERY LOW.

BUT, UM, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S MY THOUGHT.

I'M WILLING TO SAY NO.

BUT IF WE WANT TO REMOVE THE TREE, THEN IF THAT'S WHERE, IF WE TAKE THE VOTE TO REMOVE THE TREE, WE SHOULD GO REMOVE THE TREE AND TURN THAT INTO A TWO-LANE ROAD.

'CAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION.

IT'S NOT AN INTERSECTION, BUT IT IS AN INTERSECTION.

IT'S DANGEROUS THERE.

IT'S NERVE WRACKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE ARE GOING GOING FAST.

I SEE IT AT EVERY DIFFERENT ANGLE AND THERE ARE INCIDENTS THERE EVERY

[04:10:01]

SINGLE DAY.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO ALLEVIATE.

IS THAT SO WELL ON THE, ON THE TRAFFIC PART OF IT, MAYOR, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN IS WHETHER THE TREE GETS RELOCATED OR TAKEN DOWN, STAGECOACH WILL BECOME A RACETRACK NO MATTER WHAT.

UM, THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT PEOPLE DRIVE NOWADAYS.

SO WE CAN GO ON AND ON ABOUT THE SAFETY OF IT AND IT BECOMES A BOTTLENECK.

BUT ONCE YOU MAKE THAT TWO LANE ON THAT STAGE COACH, AND I'VE DRIVEN DOWN THERE BEFORE, UH, YOU GOT ALL THOSE BIG TRUCKS THAT ARE JUST HAULING, HAULING A GOING DOWN THERE, IT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S JUST GOING TO BECOME EVEN MORE DANGEROUS.

I'M JUST ALREADY COULD TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.

UM, MAN, I DISAGREE THOUGH.

I, I, I, IT, IT WILL, I'M I'M TELLING YOU, I'M TELLING THAT TREE IS DANGEROUS.

I'M TELLING YOU, I'M TELLING YOU, YOU THERE, YOU OPENED IT UP AND YOU GET RID OF THAT TREE.

YOU OPEN UP THAT TWO LANE ROAD, IT STAGECOACH WILL BE YOUR NEXT HOTSPOT FOR PEOPLE SPEEDING, GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR, 60 MILES IT, AND MAYBE BE TEMPORARILY UNTIL THOSE ROUNDABOUTS GO IN AND SLOW 'EM DOWN.

WELL, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

BUT, UM, WELL, WHERE ARE YOU AT ON THE TREE? WHAT DO YOU WANNA DO? I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE, I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE UNDERNEATH THE TREE.

YOU HAVE THEM BIKE RIDERS THAT DO THAT.

, CAN YOU MAKE A ROUNDABOUT AROUND IT? BUT IT, IT'S, IT'S JUST, UM, IT'S, IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE SAYING, WE'RE SPENDING MILLION DOLLARS ON BUILDINGS AND, UH, AND THEN HERE'S A MILLION DOLLARS.

PRETTY MUCH, THIS IS GONNA BE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS TO UP UPROOT PLANT, TAKE CARE OF, HIRE A HARBOR TO MAKE SURE IT SURVIVES AND MAINTENANCE.

AND AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NATIVE GRASSES AND WATER AND ALL THAT.

SO LET'S ADD THAT INTO THE FACTOR.

UM, IT'S GONNA COST ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS TO UPKEEP AND MOVE.

SO IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M STILL DWINDLING ON, DWINDLING ON IT.

SO KEEP IN MIND, WE PASSED THE BOND FOR STAGECOACH.

UH, THOSE BOND DOLLARS HAVE TO BE USED ON STAGECOACH.

SO DO WE BUILD THE MAJORITY OF THE ROAD AND THEN BOTTLENECK IN THE MIDDLE? I MEAN, WE GOTTA DECIDE THAT AS A COUNCIL.

I MEAN, DO WE, 'CAUSE SOME OF THE STATE PATROL'S GONNA BE FOUR LANES.

SOME OF IT'S GONNA BE THREE LANES.

UM, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN TO ONE LANE.

SO WE'VE GOTTA DECIDE THAT AS A COUNCIL, I MEAN, THESE ARE THE HARD DECISIONS THAT WE'RE TASKED WITH IN FRONT OF US RIGHT NOW IS DO WE SPEND THE MONEY AND MOVE THE TREE, TRY TO PRESERVE IT? OR DO WE SPEND, UH, THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE ALLOCATED FOR STAGE CODE FROM THE BOND THAT THE TAXPAYERS APPROVED AND BUILD AROUND IT AND GO FOUR LANE AND THREE LANE, BUT ONE LANE IN THE MIDDLE? I MEAN, THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE THOUGHT IS RIGHT NOW.

AND I LOOK HONESTLY, UM, I, I THINK FOR ME IT WOULD BE, UH, I'M, I'M GOOD WITH EITHER ONE, WHATEVER COUNCIL DECIDES, BUT I DON'T THINK I, I, I'M GOOD WITH JUST DOING NOTHING AND BUILDING AROUND IT.

SO HERE'S THE QUESTION.

IF WE VOTE NO THAT WE SAY THIS IS REALLY NOT A GOOD USE OF MONEY BECAUSE OF THE CONDITION OF THE TREE, HOW EVER MUCH THAT WE CARE FOR IT.

IF WE SAY THAT, DO WE NEED TO KEEP IT A ONE BOTTLENECK? CAN WE GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THE TREE? BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S ESSENTIALLY, IT'S LIKE RIPPING OFF THE BANDAID.

WE'VE SAID THAT IT'S FAILING.

IT'S A, A PROOF PROJECT.

WE CAN GO AHEAD AND, AND REMOVE THE TREE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, IS MY POINT.

BECAUSE IT'LL MAKE AN INCREASE IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE.

YOU MAY SAY THAT IT, IT WON'T, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I KNOW THAT AREA BETTER THAN ANYONE.

I'M, I SEE IT ALL THE TIME AND I KNOW WHAT OPENING UP A TWO-LANE ROAD, BUT THERE ARE TWO LANE ROADS EVERY WAY ALL OVER THE CITY.

WHEN IT GOES, WHEN YOU'RE GOING LIKE THIS AND IT TURNS INTO A ONE LANE, THAT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

LIKE, 'CAUSE NOBODY KNOWS.

AND IF YOU HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT BEFORE, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU FIND YOURSELF CLOSE AND YOU HAVE TO SLAM INTO THE TREE.

DON'T SUPER DANGEROUS.

I DON'T, THERE'S A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS.

HONESTLY, I DON'T HAPPEN THERE.

FOR ME, I DON'T THINK THE DEBATE IS ABOUT THE ROAD.

I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S GONNA COME NO MATTER WHAT.

YOU KNOW, IT IS SOMEWHAT CHEAPER BECAUSE THE TREE STILL HAS TO BE REMOVED.

I THINK IT'S A MATTER OF WHAT, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO WITH THIS TREE? BOTTOM LINE.

IT'S JUST THE ROAD.

THE ROAD NEEDS TO BE THERE AND, YOU KNOW, OPENING IT UP OR NOT OPENING UP, IT'S, PEOPLE ARE STILL GONNA SPEED NO MATTER WHAT.

I GUESS THE, THE THING FOR ME IS WHAT, WHAT IS THE BEST USAGE TO DEAL WITH THIS STREET? THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

IT'S JUST THE TREAT WHERE, WHAT DO WE DO WITH IT? WELL THAT, THAT'S WHERE IT COMES BACK TO THE FIRE OR MAKING ART OUT OF IT IS NOT THE WORST SUGGESTION BECAUSE IT DOES PRESERVE IT IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO SEE AND HEAR THE STORY.

AND IT'S DEMONSTRABLY CHEAPER THAN THIS PARTICULAR RISKY, HIGHLY RISKY PLAN OF SPENDING.

[04:15:01]

THAT'S NOT CHEAP.

AND THEN IT HAS TO BE DONE VIA A, A WOOD SCULPTOR RIGHT INTO, SO IT'S STILL MAJOR.

YEAH, THAT PART OF IT DOES GO BACK.

YOU ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I DON'T THINK IT'D BE A MILLION DOLLARS THOUGH.

WELL, I DON'T THINK IT'LL BE, I DON'T THINK MOVING THE TREE WILL BE COSTING, IT'D BE 500,000.

BUT ALL SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, WHAT DO WE, WHAT'S THE NUMBER? I'M SORRY, I LOST MY NUMBER.

36.

THAT, UH, WE APPROVE.

UH, ITEM NUMBER 36, WHICH OPTIONS? SO THERE IS, THERE'S THREE OPTIONS.

I'M SORRY.

AND THAT WE, UM, LAURA, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YEAH.

BEFORE YOU CONTINUE, DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST, UM, UH, JUST TO REMOVE IT WITHOUT REPLACING IT? COULD I PULL THE COURTS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT? YEAH, I, I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OF, OF WHAT IT WOULD BE.

IT, IT'S, UH, IT'S SOME COST.

IT, IT, IT WOULD DEPEND IF YOU JUST WANT TO JUST REMOVE IT, JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TREE, JUST CUT IT DOWN TREE AND JUST CUT IT DOWN AND MOVE ON.

IF YOU WANNA TRY TO PRESERVE IT, MAKE SOME TYPE OF ART, THERE MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRESERVATION PROCESS TO TRY TO PRESERVE, UH, PRESERVE THE TRUNK.

WE CAN GET YOU THAT INFORMATION.

BUT I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

SO, UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT, UM, WE LOOK INTO MOVING THE TREE.

THAT WE MOVE THE TREE, UH, BUT THAT WE GET BIDS TO DO SO.

AND UM, IF THE MOVERS DO NOT FEEL THAT THE TREE IS, BECAUSE OUR ARBORIST, ALL THREE OF THE ARBORISTS OUT OF THE FOREST SAID THAT IT'S VIABLE TREE.

BUT WHEN THE MOVERS COME IN AND LOOK AT IT, THEY MAY SAY IT'S NOT MOVABLE.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT WE SHOULD GET BIDS FROM THE MOVERS, UM, AND PROCEED WITH MOVING THE TREE TO ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT THEY DECIDE IS THE BEST.

WHICH OPTION WILL YOU WANT TO GO WITH? WELL, THEY WILL HAVE TO DECIDE THAT 'CAUSE THEY CAN TELL US BETTER WHICH SITE IS BEST.

THERE'S FOUR OPTIONS.

WHICH ONE WOULD YOU PREFER? UM, SO DIRECT THE STAFF TO WORK ON A SELECTED LOCATION AND UM, SECURE A SITE AND SOLICITATION BIDS FOR THE RELOCATION.

SO NUMBER TWO, ONE THING WE COULD OFFER UP, UM, WE'LL HAVE TO APPROACH THE HOA FOR THREE OF THE FOUR OPTIONS.

AND SO MAYBE WE JUST HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THE HOA TO SEE IF YOU KNOW THEY'RE EVEN WILLING TO HOST THE TREE ON THEIR PROPERTY.

IF THEY'RE NOT, THEN WE HAVE ONE OPTION.

AVAILABLE TO US.

IF UM, IF YOU COULD MAYBE PICK THE TOP ONE OUT OF THE THREE HOA OPTIONS AND DIRECT STAFF TO INVESTIGATE THAT, THEN THAT WOULD GIVE US UM, BETTER DIRECTION.

WELL, I THINK IF THEY'RE ALSO CLOSE TOGETHER, I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR TREE MOVERS COME IN, THEY CAN TELL US WHICH ARE THE BEST SITES FOR THOSE TREES.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE ALL WITHIN A QUARTER MILE RADIUS OF WHERE SHE LIVES.

BUT THEY HAVE DIFFERENT DRAINAGE, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ELEVATION AND UM, AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SAY, THIS IS A GREAT LOCATION OR THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE IT'S GREAT, BUT IT'S NOT.

AND HERE'S WHY.

WE COULD HAVE THEM EVALUATE THAT TOO.

I, I, I STILL THINK OPTION TWO IS THE BEST.

IT'S AWAY FROM ALL THE SIDEWALKS.

WE'RE NOT TEARING UP SIDEWALKS OR ANYTHING ELSE AND IT'S, IT'S AWAY FROM EVERYTHING FROM KIDS AND UH, WE CAN EXPRESS A PREFERENCE.

I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.

WHICH PREFERENCE DID YOU, DID YOU EXPERIENCE VALUE WHEN IT COMES TO THE STUFF? WHICH PREFERENCE? OUT OF ALL OF THOSE, THOSE FOUR WOULD BE OUT OF THE FOUR MA'AM.

I WOULD WANNA HEAR FROM THE MOVER.

WELL, ONE IS WE GET TO SEE IT WHEN WE DRIVE BY, I GUESS WOULD WE SEE ON NUMBER TWO? BUT IT'S ON CAM HOMETOWN WOOD, BUT THE REST OF US WOULDN'T.

YEAH, NUMBER ONE.

UM, I WOULD LIKE IT TO STAY NEAR SIT ON STAGE COACH, BUT SO NUMBER ONE WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE.

WHAT DO WE HAVE A MOTION MAKE A MOTION THAT, UM, WOULD YOU GIVE ME BACK UP OUR OPTIONS SO I CAN READ IT PLEASE? YES.

THAT WE DIRECT STAFF TO WORK ON A SELECTED LOCATION FROM THE FOUR OPTIONS PRESENTED TO SECURE SITE AND SOLICIT BIDS FOR THE RELOCATION OF THE TREATMENT.

I THINK, I THINK WHAT WE'RE WE'RE ASKING FROM THE COUNCIL IS YOUR, YOUR PREFERENCE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS IS OPTION ONE.

MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE OPTION ONE, BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST.

AND WE COULD LOOK AT THAT AND THEN BRING THAT BACK.

BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S CLEAR FROM THE COUNCIL'S PER PERSPECTIVE MOTION.

ALRIGHT, IS THERE A SECOND?

[04:20:02]

MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBIAS, THAT WE DIRECT THE STAFF TO WORK ON A SELECTED LOCATION FROM THE FOUR OPTIONS PRESENTED TO SECURE A SITE AND SOLICIT BIDS FOR THE RELOCATION AND WITH A, UM, UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR PREFERENCE OPTION ONE, BUT THAT THEY'RE, UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT'LL BE DISCUSSED.

IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION COUNCILOR HEISER? YEAH.

UM, JUST SO I'M CLEAR, UH, STAFF'S GONNA COME BACK WITH A DOLLAR FIGURE AT A LATER DATE TO LET US, SO THEN WE CAN DECIDE WHEN WE HAVE THE FULL PICTURE OF WHAT THIS WILL COST AND THE VIABILITY.

IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

UH, YES.

WE'LL HAVE TO GO IF OPTION ONE IS WHERE YOU'D LIKE US TO LOOK AT, WE WILL, UH, SEE IF WE CAN, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US TO GET BIDS UNTIL WE KNOW EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE MOVING THE TREE.

SO, UH, WE CAN HAVE SOME MORE INVESTIGATION DONE ON THAT, SEE IF IT'S A GOOD, TRULY A GOOD VIABLE LOCATION AND BRING THAT BACK TO YOU WITH SOME MORE INFORMATION AND AT THE OPTIONS.

MM-HMM, WE JUST HAVE TO NARROW IT DOWN WHERE WE, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING SO WE COULD STILL THOUGH IT, YEAH, YOU CAN KILL IT AT A LATER DATE.

BEAR IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE WANTING TO KNOW.

I'M JUST, LET'S ROLL CALL VOTE.

WANT MORE INFORMATION? SO, RIZZO AYE.

PERLEY NAY HARRIS? YES.

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL START WITH NUMBER 35, RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION, PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING BAND OPTIONS FOR CITY FEST.

MOTION CARRIES SIX TO ONE.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD.

TREE ON THE AGENDA.

, HOPEFULLY DOWN THE ROAD.

, THAT'S A DOUBLE PUN.

UM, SO MY THOUGHT HERE SINCE IT'S QUARTER TO MIDNIGHT IS THE, THE, UM, THE GRINCH FEST ITEM.

RACHEL'S TWO ITEMS AND CITY FEST.

'CAUSE SHE'S GONNA WANT FEEDBACK FROM US.

AND THEN THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE LEANN GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE, WHICH I KNOW I THINK WE KEEP PUSHING ON LEANN GOVERNMENT, BUT THAT'S, I WOULD LIKE TO AT LEAST GO THROUGH RACHEL'S ITEMS AND SEE, BECAUSE THAT WAY WE CAN GIVE THAT FEEDBACK.

[35) Receive a report, hold discussion, and provide staff direction regarding band options for the 2024 City Fest.]

GIVE GRANT A SECOND HERE.

CLEVELAND, MERLE BEACH, ORLANDO.

HELLO, COUNSEL, RACHEL SONIER, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE RECORD.

ALL RIGHT, I AM HERE TO PRESENT 2024 CITY FEST ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS.

SO, UH, EIGHTH AT THE APRIL 16TH MEETING THIS YEAR, COUNCIL APPROVED THE CREATION AND FUNDING FOR OUR FIRST EVER CITY FEST, WHICH WILL BE ON OCTOBER 19TH OVER AT LA VERDE PARK FROM TWO TO 6:00 PM UM, AND WITHIN THAT Y'ALL GAVE US ABOUT $15,000, $715,750 FOR BOOKING, UH, BANS, INCLUDING A HEADLINING BAN, OPENING BAN AND DJ UH, COUNSEL.

ALSO DIRECTED STAFF TO BRING BACK SOME POTENTIAL BAND OPTIONS FOR THE EVENTS.

STAFF HAS BROUGHT FORWARD SOME FOLLOWING BAND OPTIONS THAT FALL WITHIN OUR BUDGET AND THAT, UH, WILL BASICALLY SERVE THIS AREA.

ONE OF OUR FIRST HEADLINER OPTIONS WOULD BE THE EMERALD CITY BAND.

UH, EMERALD CITY IS BASICALLY A 13 MEMBER ENSEMBLE.

THEY HAVE A HORN SECTION.

THEY PERFORM A LOT OF HIGH ENERGY DANCE CLASSICS.

UH, CONTEMPORARY HESS AS WELL.

THEY ARE DALLAS BASE BAND.

UM, THEY HAVE BEEN FEATURED AT WHITE HOUSE PERFORMANCES AS WELL AS CELEBRITY WEDDINGS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THEY COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IN THE AREA.

ANOTHER HEADLINER OPTION WOULD BE A BAND CALLED ALL HAT NO CADILLAC.

THEY ARE ALSO A COVER BAND, BUT THEY SPECIALIZE IN NINETIES COUNTRIES COVERS.

SO GEORGE STRAIT, TIM MCGRAW, ANY OTHER FAVORITES OUT THERE? THAT IS WHAT THEY COVER.

UH, THEY REGULARLY PLAY LOTS OF TEXAS DANCE HALLS.

THEY'RE, UH, ALSO A, UH, HAVE BEEN FEATURED AT THE TEXAS FESTIVAL.

THE BURNETT BLUE BONNET FESTIVAL.

ESCAPE IS ANOTHER HEADLINE.

OUR OPTION, THEY'RE ALSO DALLAS BASED.

THEY ARE ACTUALLY A, UH, JOURNEY TRIBUTE BAND.

SO IF YOU LIKE BAND, BAND JOURNEY , UH, THEY'RE THE TEXAS'S LONGEST RUNNING JOURNEY TRIBUTE BAND AS WELL.

UH, THEY'VE BEEN FEATURED ON WFA A'S GOOD MORNING TEXAS, AS WELL AS FEATURED IN THE 2019 ADDISON KABOOM TOWN, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TOP INDEPENDENCE DAY FESTIVALS IN THE NATION.

DEF LEGENDS IS ALSO AN OPTION.

THEY ARE A DEF LEPARD TRIBUTE BAND.

UH, THEY'RE ALSO DALLAS BASED.

THERE'S A LOT OF DALLAS BASED BANDS.

, UH, THEY ARE ALSO, UH, WELL TOWARD BAND IN THE AREA.

THEY PLAY PLAYED HOUSE OF BLUES LOCATIONS IN DALLAS, HOUSTON,

[04:25:01]

THEY'VE ALSO BEEN FEATURED AT THE JACK FM THROWBACK MUSIC FESTIVAL IN DALLAS.

WE ALSO PUT TOGETHER SOME OPENING BAND OPTIONS FOR Y'ALL'S CONSIDERATION IN FEEDBACK.

UH, ONE OF THEM IS LC ROCKS.

LC ROCKS PLAYS LOTS OF COVERS FROM THE SEVENTIES, EIGHTIES, AND NINETIES.

THEY ARE KNOWN AS THE PREMIER EIGHTIES TRIBUTE BAND OF TEXAS, THOUGH THAT IS THEIR SPECIALTY.

YOU'VE HEARD OF THE GROOVES IS ANOTHER BAND WE HAVE CONSIDERED.

UH, THEY'RE ONE OF THE TOP TEXAS COVER BANDS FOR HIGHER IN AUSTIN, DALLAS, AND HOUSTON.

IN SAN ANTONIO.

THEY COVER LOTS OF SONGS FROM EVERYTHING FROM POP COUNTRY AND R AND B IN MOTOWN.

UH, WE HAVE BOOKED THEM BEFORE.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE Y'ALL FULL DISCLOSURE.

THEY WERE BOOKED LAST YEAR, JULY 24, UH, JULY 4TH, 2023.

SO IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR.

BUT WANTED TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT YESENIA MNET AND THE GROOVE DOCTORS, THEY'RE A SAN ANTONIO BASED BAND.

UH, THEY HAVE A DIVERSE SELECTION OF SONGS.

THEY COVER MOTOWN TO MODERN.

UH, THEY ARE ALSO A CENTRAL TEXAS BAND.

THEY PLAY LOTS OF VENUES ALL OVER CENTRAL TEXAS.

THEY WERE BOOKED AT THE 2024 KYLE FAIR FESTIVAL, BUT THEY RECEIVED A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND CROWD FAVORITE.

UH, THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY BAND OPTIONS.

WE ARE ALSO OPEN TO GET Y'ALL'S FEEDBACK IF THERE ARE OTHER BANDS Y'ALL WANT US TO CONSIDER.

THESE WERE JUST SOME OF THE ONES WE PUT TOGETHER THAT WERE WITHIN OUR BUDGET, KIND OF AIMING FOR THE AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, SIZE WE HAD TO HAVE FOR THE AUDIENCE, THEIR KIND OF DRAW, THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT VERY OPEN TO FEEDBACK FROM Y'ALL.

WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK? I KNOW WHAT TOBE WANTS COSMETICS IN THERE AT SOME POINT.

WE, UH, SO ONE OF THE DIRECTIONS IN THE MEETING WHENEVER WE FIRST BROUGHT THIS TO COUNCIL WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT A LOT OF BANDS THAT WE'VE HAD REPEAT VERY RECENTLY SINCE WE HAD THEM AT THE 2024 CAL FAIR.

WE WERE THINKING AS THE HEADLINER.

IT WAS JUST KIND OF, KIND OF TOO SOON.

IT IS SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK INTO, BUT YEAH, THEY, THEY WOULD FALL WITHIN THE $10,000 RANGE FOR THE HEADLINER.

IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OVER SO WE CAN MAKE SOME WIGGLE ROOM THERE, BUT THEY'RE REALLY GOOD.

BUT ROX IS GOOD.

THAT'S THE ONLY FEEDBACK I HAVE 'CAUSE I HAVE HEARD THEM BEFORE.

MM-HMM, TOS WANTS DEF LEPARD.

I KNOW HE DOES.

ME TOO.

I'LL BE DOWN FOR THAT.

SO I GUESS IRON MAIDEN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

IRON WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THAT DAY.

, RACHEL, WHAT'S THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE? AGAIN, I'M OUTTA HERE.

UH, SO WE HAVE 15,000 TOTAL, BUT THAT'S TO BOOK A HEADLINER, AN OPENING BAND, AND A DJ.

UH, AND THAT NEEDS TO COVER THEIR FULL CONTRACT, INCLUDING ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY MIGHT INCLUDE THEIR RIDERS, SUCH AS SOMETIMES BANDS HAVE THINGS LIKE PROVIDING MEALS, PROVIDING SOME FORM OF TRANSPORTATION, PICKING UP FROM AIRPORTS, THINGS OF THESE NATURE.

JUST OUT OUTTA CURIOSITY, HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO GET A BAND THAT PLAYS THEIR OWN MUSIC? UH, I MEAN IT JUST REALLY DEPENDS.

SO LIKE, SOME OF THE BANDS ARE, UH, YOU KNOW, WE COULD GET, UH, MORE, UH, ORIGINAL BANDS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT IT REALLY JUST KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE GOING FOR.

SO IF IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING LIKE WITH A LARGE DRAW, FOR INSTANCE, WE BOOKED KEVIN FOWLER AT KYLE FAIR, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S LIKE A $40,000 BAND, WHICH IS MORE THAN THE WHOLE ENTIRE EVENT ITSELF.

SO IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS.

IF IT'S A SMALLER LOCAL BAND THAT'S OPENING, THAT DOES ORIGINAL MUSIC THAT'S MORE AFFORDABLE, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA HAVE A BIG DRAW.

SO IT JUST KIND OF, THERE'S A GIVE AND TAKE WITH IT.

I JUST WONDERING.

I I KIND OF THINK OF IT AS MORE OF A FESTIVAL.

LIKE IT'S HOW MANY HOURS IN TOTAL? UH, THIS FESTIVAL WOULD BE ABOUT FOUR HOURS IN TOTAL.

SO WE'RE BOOKING, YEAH, ABOUT THREE RANGES OF ENTERTAINMENT.

, UM, I, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE OUT DOING THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S A CONCERT.

THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING IN MY MIND.

LIKE YOU WANT TO GET KEVIN FOWLER WHEN YOU'RE GOING THERE TO HEAR KEVIN FOWLER THIS, WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO COME.

THERE'S STATE OF THE CITY, THERE'S VENDORS AND ALL.

IT'S MORE ABOUT WE'LL HAVE MARK MUSIC AND SOMETHING JAMMING FOR SURE.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE A $40,000 BAND.

WE'LL HAVE CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT, WE'LL HAVE A CHILI COOKOFF WE'LL HAVE FOOTBALL PLAYING ON BIG L BAND IS SO IT BE KIND OF A ONE OF, BUT IT'S KEVIN FOWLER.

YOU GOTTA GO LISTEN TO KEVIN FOWLER, YOU KNOW, .

SO MY THOUGHTS ON IT.

UM, THERE'S ONLY ONE STEVE PERRY.

SO THE JOURNEY BAND'S OUT BECAUSE NO ONE CAN DO STEVE PERRY.

I'VE GONE TO SEE, I I DIDN'T EVEN GO SEE THE NEW JOURNEY 'CAUSE IT'S SO BAD.

IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO STEVE PERRY.

UH, THERE'S ONLY ONE STEVE PERRY, BUT I KIND OF LIKE ALL HAT NO CADILLAC KIND OF THINK THAT WOULD BE PRETTY COOL 'CAUSE THEY PLAY A GENRE DIFFERENT YEARS.

UM, CAN YOU GO TO THAT ONE? SO THAT'D BE PRETTY COOL.

THE NINETIES IS SOMETHING THAT I REALLY LIKE.

THEY ARE, THEY ARE A NINETIES COUNTRY COVER BAND AND I'M JUST GONNA LET YOU KNOW THAT I'VE ERASED 1 0 7 OUT OF AUSTIN OUT OF MY VEHICLE.

SO I DON'T EVEN LISTEN TO NEW COUNTRY.

SO OLD COUNTRY STILL WHERE I'M AT.

I'M SHOWING MY H UH, BUT ANYWAY, I DO THINK OLD CADILLAC OR EVEN THE DEF LEPPARD BAND IS PROBABLY SOMETHING I WOULD GET BEHIND THOSE TWO BANDS.

I LIKE THOSE TWO.

UH, BUT JUST MY THOUGHTS ON THAT.

SO THEY'RE MORE OF, UH, THEY'RE A COVER BAND BUT THEY HAVE A HORN SECTION AND THEY'RE MORE, I GUESS LIKE GET PEOPLE OUT ON THE DANCE FLOOR GROOVING SORT OF THING.

CAN I DO THE AGAIN? YEAH.

[04:30:02]

, THEY'RE LIKE CASEY AND THE SUNSHINE CUTTING BACK OF THE ARROW .

I LIKE DON'T ASK MY OPINION, I JUST, WELL THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS I LIKE THE VARIETY.

SO IF THE, IF A BAND IS GONNA PLAY A COUNTRY A LITTLE LIKE YOUR BEST FROM A BUNCH OF GENRES, YOU WANT COUNTRY AND SOME ROCK, THERE'S DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT TASTES.

THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD WAY TO GO.

BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, AND I CAN'T GUARANTEE WE'LL BE ABLE TO A HUNDRED PERCENT BOOK THESE BANDS 'CAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE WE GOT THEM TIED IN.

'CAUSE UNTIL WE GIVE THEM MONEY, THEY ARE NOT .

THEY'RE NOT BOOKING THAT DATE FOR US.

BUT THAT BEING SAID, WE CAN REACH OUT AND TRY TO GET THE TOP CONTENDERS THAT Y'ALL WANT AND IF THOSE DON'T WORK OUT, WE'LL TRY TO GET SOMETHING SIMILAR.

WE'RE JUST MORE HERE TO KIND OF FILL WHAT Y'ALL ARE WANTING TO SEE AT THIS FESTIVAL MORE THAN A VERY SPECIFIC BAND THAT Y'ALL WANNA SEE THERE.

I ALSO LIKE THE ALL HIGH NO CATTLE.

IT'S NOT RANDY ROGERS, BUT IT'S FINE.

, I'M DOWN FOR THE EMERALD CITY BAND.

I LIKE THE, THAT LEGEND.

I LIKE HORNS, SEVEN OPINIONS COMING RIGHT AT YOU.

MAKE THIS, IT'S GONNA BE FUN .

UM, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, OPENING AND HEADLINER BAND MONEY SO WE CAN KIND OF FINAGLE A LITTLE BIT WITHIN THAT IN OUR BUDGET TO, YOU KNOW, UH, WORK OUT DIFFERENT CONTRACTS WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO AND UH, GO FROM THERE.

UM, I'VE HEARD TWO ALL HAT NOW CADILLAC AND I'VE HEARD, UH, WHAT DID DEAF LEGEND, DEAF LEGEND .

THAT ONE'S ALSO A GOOD ONE.

UM, THERE'S ALSO THE OPPORTUNITY, SO IF WE DON'T BOOK A BAND FROM THIS LIST THAT Y'ALL LIKE FOR THIS SPECIFIC EVENT, WE HAVE LOTS OF EVENTS THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY COME TRUCK FOR.

NOT TO MENTION.

THINGS LIKE CR FEST, OTHER CITY FEST FOR OTHER YEARS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IF WE DON'T GET THEM FOR THIS YEAR, IT IS A CONSIDERATION FOR OTHER EVENTS THAT WE'LL BE HOLDING.

DO YOU WANT MORE THAN THIS THAN WHAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU? GOOD.

I WE CAN MOVE FORWARD I THINK WITH WHAT WE GOT FROM ALL THAT.

TWO TO EMERALDS.

TWO EMERALDS TWO ALL HAT CAT.

NO CADILLAC AND I THINK A DEATH LEO THIRD.

ALRIGHT, HANG ON.

GO TO EMERALD.

VERSUS WHAT? EMERALD WAS THE ONE THAT PLAYED IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

AND THEN WHAT WAS THE, WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? DEATH.

SO ALL HAT CADILLAC? NO.

AND WHAT DOES THAT ONE DO? UH, THEY'RE THE COUNTRY NINETIES COVER COUNTRY.

CAN YOU GO TO THAT ONE REAL QUICK? JUST COUNTRY OR DO THEY DO MORE? UH, THEY PRIMARILY DO NINETIES COUNTRY.

SO TIM ALL ALRIGHT, WELL THEN I WOULD, I WOULD LEAN ON THE EMERALD FOR THAT REASON.

JUST FOR MORE DIVERSITY.

YOU PLAY SOME OF THEIR MUSIC.

I DO NOT HAVE ANY LOADED UP .

SO, BUT I DON'T REALLY CARE IF YOU WERE TO SAY I'M DOING THE OTHER ONE.

AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS IF, UH, WE CAN ONLY BOOK ONE OF THESE, I WOULD LOOK FOR MAYBE FOR AN OPENING ACT, MAYBE A LOCAL MM-HMM.

SOLO ARTIST OR A COUPLE OF SOLO ARTISTS THAT CAN DO MAYBE AN ACOUSTIC SHOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

MM-HMM GET PEOPLE IN THERE THAT'LL PLAY A DIFFERENT, UH, DIFFERENT GENRES.

SOMEONE LIKE THAT.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF LOCAL PEOPLE HERE THAT DO THAT JUST FOR AN OPENING BAND.

JUST TO SAVE SOME DOLLARS AND GIVE THEM SOME, UH, COVERAGE.

BE GOOD.

SO KIND OF WHAT I'M TAKING AWAY FROM THIS IS WE'LL REACH OUT TO ALL HAT NO CADILLAC, WE'LL ALSO REACH OUT TO THEIR EMERALD CITY BAND, SEE WHICH ONE WE CAN BOOK AND WORK OUT DIFFERENT THINGS.

UH, ONE MIGHT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT, ONE MIGHT, UH, SO WE'LL KIND OF CHECK IN ON THAT.

AND THEN WE CAN LOOK INTO SOME LOCAL BAND OPTIONS TOO.

FOR THE OPENING ACT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE DEFINITELY DOABLE.

ALRIGHT, NEXT UP

[38) Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide staff direction regarding the proposed 2024 Grinch Festival.]

IS AGENDA ITEM 38.

RECEIVE A REPORT, HOLD DISCUSSION, PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE 2024 GRINCH FEST.

ALL RIGHT, I GET THE PLEASURE OF TWO FUN EVENTS BACK TO BACK .

UH, SO THIS IS OUR PROPOSAL FOR THE 2024 GRINCH FESTIVAL.

AS PERVE MENTIONED EARLIER, WE HAVE ALREADY IDENTIFIED FUNDING FOR IT SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE HASSLE OF TRYING TO IDENTIFY THAT IN JULY OR AUGUST, WITH ONLY SIX MONTHS TO GO BEFORE THE EVENT.

SO THAT BEING SAID, UH, WE HAVE MET WITH OUR PARKS TEAMS. WE HAVE MET WITH OUR RESIDENT GRINCH IN HOUSE.

WE HAVE KIND OF PUT TOGETHER THIS PROPOSAL FOR Y'ALL'S FEEDBACK AND DIRECTION.

UH, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

, KEEP ON FORGETTING THIS.

ARE, WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BASICALLY GENERATORS OUT THERE FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON ALONG WITH PARKED MAINTENANCE, STAFFING THOSE GENERATORS, MAKING SURE THEY'RE NOT GETTING STOLEN.

SO, UH, AT THE SAT UH, AT THE SATURDAY JUNE 8TH, 2024 MEETING, COUNCIL GAVE STAFF DIRECTION TO BRING BACK AN EVENT PROPOSAL FOR THIS EVENT.

IT'S FIRST OF ITS EVER, UH, OUR PROPOSED DATE WOULD BE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7TH.

SO THE WEEK AFTER SANTA'S ARRIVAL, UH, FROM FIVE 30 TO 9:00 PM AT MARY KYLE HARTSON PARK.

WE WERE INITIALLY EXPLORING LA VERDE PARK AS THE LOCATION FOR THIS EVENT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD OUR ELECTRICAL STAFF GO OUT THERE UNDER MAINTENANCE AND THEY DO NOT THINK WE HAVE THE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT LIGHTS ALL CHRISTMAS LONG BASED ON WHERE OUR OUTLETS

[04:35:01]

WE DECIDED THAT WAS PROBABLY A NO-GO AND WAS ACTUALLY MORE HASSLE THAN IT WAS WORTH TO HAVE IT AT THIS YEAR.

SO, UH, WELL, HANG ON.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO PUT CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AT LAVERDE? NOT FOR THE FULL PARK.

WE COULD DO IT IN PARTS OF IT, BUT OTHER PARTS OF IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SUPPORTED BY GENERATOR OR OUTSIDE ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE.

SO THAT WAS AFTER WE HAD PARTS FACILITIES THERE.

I'M GONNA WANT, I'M GONNA NEED MORE ON THAT, UH, FOR A, A VARIETY.

I DON'T HAVE A MAP PULLED UP, BUT I DID HAVE CHANCE PATIOS OUT, UH, ONE OF OUR ELECTRICAL TEAMS AND HE'S OUR, UH, ASSISTANCE PARK MANAGER THAT'S OVER MAINTENANCE WAS YOU SAID IT'S JUST NOT ENOUGH POWER TO THE PARK.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT THERE IS ENOUGH POWER IS WHERE THE POWER IS LOCATED AND WHENEVER THE ELECTRICAL IS BEING INSTALLED.

UM, AND I'M NOT AN ELECTRICIAN, SORRY, I'M NOT GONNA ACT LIKE I'M A PROFESSIONAL ON THIS, BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT HE TOLD ME WAS, UH, THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE PLANS WERE NOT FULLY INSTALLED INTO THE PARK COME TIME WHEN IT WAS ALL FINISHED OUT.

AND, UM, ESSENTIALLY WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL OUT THERE FOR SAY, BRIAN, CAN WE GET A, CAN WE GET A REPORT ON THAT AND GET SOME MORE INFORMATION? SO I, I DON'T WANNA CHECK INTO THAT.

IT'S THE SAME ISSUE WE HAD WITH LIKE HEROES MEMORIAL, THAT THEY WERE NOT ENOUGH PLACES TO PLUG IN ELECTRICITY.

SO ESSENTIALLY, I REMEMBER THERE BEING MANY DIFFERENT AL OUTLET, WHAT'S BEEN ABLE TO FIND ALL THE ELECTRICAL IS NEAR THE STAGING.

THERE IS NONE THAT WE CAN IDENTIFY IN OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PLUG INTO.

THAT GOES BACK SOLDERED.

SO, AND BECAUSE THERE, SEE, BUT WHAT YOU JUST SAID WAS THAT THERE WERE ELECTRICAL OUTLETS IN THE PLANS THAT DIDN'T GET INSTALLED.

SO'S I'M NOT INTERESTED IN DEBATING THAT NOW.

'CAUSE IT'S YEAH, JUST GO AHEAD.

I DON'T, YEAH, I'M, I'M NOT, UH, I'LL CHALLENGE THAT LATER.

I DON'T WANNA BE, UH, ACTING LIKE I AM THE EXPERT ON THIS.

I UNDERSTAND.

I DO NOT HAVE THE FINAL KNOWLEDGE ON THIS.

I WOULD MUCH RATHER WE HAVE, SO GRINCH FEST AT MARYL HEARTS INSTEAD, THIS IS THE PROPOSED WORKAROUND WE WORKED OUT, UH, IT WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY A ONE NIGHT TAKEOVER OF MARY KYLE HARTSON PARK.

WE ALL KNOW HOW THE GRINCH FEELS ABOUT SANTA'S ARRIVAL AND SANTA.

SO WE FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE ON BRAND FOR THIS EVENT FOR HIM TO ESSENTIALLY WANT TO OUTDO SANTA AT HIS OWN EVENT.

SO OUR IDEA WAS A ONE NIGHT TAKEOVER OF MARY KYLE HARTSON PARK.

NONE OF THE, UH, HOLIDAY LIGHTS THAT WOULD BE, WOULD BE DAMAGED BY ANY OF THE GRINCH TAKEOVER.

UH, AND WE'RE EVEN LOOKING AT POSSIBLY WITH THE RFP, HAVING IT BE WHERE WE COULD DO LED LIGHTS THAT COULD TURN GREEN FOR, IF NOT OLIVE PARK, PARTS OF THE PARK, THAT SORT OF THING.

AND THEN MAYBE SOME, UH, GRINCH CHALK GRAFFITI AREAS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO, UM, UH, THAT WAS KIND OF OUR WORKAROUND FOR TAKING OVER MARY KYLE HARTSON AND DOING LIKE A CREW CENTER TAKEOVER ON THE INSIDE.

IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF, UM, ADDING THOSE ADDITIONAL, GETTING AN ELECTRICIAN TO GO AND LOOK INTO THE PARK AND SEE WHAT IS, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR US TO ADD SOME OUTLETS OR LIKE RUN THE ELECTRICITY TO SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE PARK? LIKE I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE MUCH AND WELL, YOU GOTTA YOU GOTTA GO BACK.

I KNOW, I'M DIG IT UP.

IT WILL BE.

SO YOU GOTTA RUN YOUR CONDUIT.

YOU'VE GOTTA RUN TO THE, TO YOUR OUTLETS.

SO YOU'RE DIGGING UP THE PARK ESSENTIALLY TO RUN YOUR CONDUIT AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

NOW CAN WE GO AROUND IT? I DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU'RE, IT'S GONNA BE UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE YOU'RE LOOKING AT.

YEAH, I WOULD SAY WOULD THAT LONG TERM SOLUTION WILL BE TO GO UNDERGROUND? LIKE DO REDO THE PLAN IN ORDER TO HAVE IT.

I THINK WE NEED TO, I THINK WE NEED TO POSTPONE THIS ITEM AND LET STAFF WORK ON THIS QUESTION.

YES, I AGREE.

WELL, WE CAN BRING IT BACK.

WE LET, LET 'EM, LET 'EM DISCUSS IT AND COME BACK FOR THE GRINCH FEST ITEM OR YES, THE, THE GRINCH FEST ITEM.

WE'RE GONNA POSTPONE IT ON THE GRINCH FEST ITEM.

SO WE LIKE, WE'RE LIKE, UH, WE ARE HAVING LOTS OF REACTIONS TO YOUR COMMENT THAT YOU'RE NOT PREPARED TO DEFEND 'CAUSE IT'S JUST, YOU'RE JUST PASSING THE INFORMATION ALONG AND WE'RE GONNA WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO LOOK INTO THAT.

JUST BECAUSE THE DETERMINATION WAS MADE DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GET A BIGGER PICTURE VIEW OF THIS AND SEE ABOUT SOLVING THAT PROBLEM.

SO YES, WE'LL BE GLAD TO TAKE A LOOK, SEE WHAT WE COULD DO FOR LAVERDE, SEE WHAT THE, THE SITUATION WAS WITH WHAT WAS OR WAS NOT INSTALLED AND WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE, AND TRY TO GET YOU SOME COSTS IF THAT'S THE LOCATION YOU WANT TO HAVE THE EVENT AT, AND WE'LL COME BACK TO COME BACK.

I THINK IT WOULD REALLY, ALTHOUGH IT IS ONE DAY, IT WILL TAKE AWAY FROM WHAT WE HAVE IN MARY HARSON, THE GREEN LIGHTS, THE WHOLE YES.

THE WHOLE VIBE OF THE THING I UNDERSTAND.

AND VERDE IS THE GREEN.

I MEAN, IT'S A, IT'S A PRETTY GOOD, WE WANTED TO DO GRINCH ON THE, I WOULD SAY THIS, I WORRY ABOUT PLANNING A FESTIVAL WITHIN THAT TIME PERIOD.

IF WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD ESSENTIALLY WITH OUR PROPOSED PLANS, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE POSTPONING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO LOOK INTO IT.

WE'LL NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY.

WE'LL TRY TO COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH SOME INFORMATION.

SOUNDS, I JUST WANTED TO ASK IF, IF THE SPACE WILL ACCOMMODATE ALL THE VENDORS, ALL THE PEOPLE DOWN THERE.

IS THAT AT LAVERDE? YES.

[04:40:01]

WE'VE, WE'VE WORKED OUT, UH, SITE PLANS FOR EITHER PARK THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE VENDORS AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING TO HAVE AT THIS TIME.

AND THE PARKING AT LA VERDE WILL BE DONE BY THEN.

UH, IT'S SUPPOSED TO, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, IN, IN OCTOBER I BELIEVE IS WHAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN TOLD, UM, IF NOT SOONER.

SO WE WERE GONNA USE IT, BUT WE WERE STILL GONNA GET OVERFLOW PARKING AT THE PAC CENTER JUST SURE.

FOR SAFETY REASONS.

SO JUST IN CLOSING, UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THE STUFF THAT WE'RE ADDING.

WE'VE ADDED A LOT MORE DECORATIONS.

SO MY CONCERN IS PUTTING THIS ON STAFF PARK STAFF, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO, I MEAN, WE'RE ADDING ARCHES NOW.

WE'RE ADDING LIGHTS, WE'RE ADDING A FESTIVAL AND STAFF ALREADY WITH WHAT THEY PUT UP IS OVERWHELMED.

SO WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT WE HIRE OUT OR HIRE A COMPANY TO DO THIS BECAUSE THIS IS, I MEAN, WE'RE ADDING A LOT OF LIGHTING AND WE DID NOT ADD STAFF, PARK STAFF.

SO WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THESE EXTRA CHRISTMAS FIXTURES? 'CAUSE YOU'LL KILL OUR STAFF IF WE, IT, IT NEEDS, NEEDS TO BE CONTRACTED OUT.

IT, IT, IT'S GETTING TO THE SIZE AND SCOPE THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL FIRMS DOING THAT WORK.

AND WHEN, UM, PARK STAFF IS DOING THAT, THAT MAY NOT, THAT MEANS OTHER THINGS AREN'T GETTING DONE THAT PARK STAFF NEED TO BE DOING.

SO, UH, WE'VE BEEN, UH, MR. LOPEZ AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT AND, AND WE WILL COME BACK WITH A, A PLAN FOR THAT.

BUT MUCH OF IT, AND ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE HIGHER AREAS THAT ARE DANGEROUS, THEY, THEY NEED TO BE CONTRACTED OUT TO PROFESSIONALS IF THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

BUT I'M STILL PUTTING THE STAR UP ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

ON THE RIBBON TREE.

I DO THAT EVERY YEAR.

UM,

[34) Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide staff direction regarding the Economic Development Strategic Plan.]

[37) Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide staff direction regarding the City's Lean Government Initiative.]

ALL, IT'S 1205.

I WOULD SAY THAT THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND THE LEAN GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE CAN WAIT.

AND THE REASON I WOULD SAY IT IS BECAUSE, UM, I THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME LIGHTER AGENDAS COMING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

AND SO THIS ONE WAS SUPER BIG AND WEIGHTY AND BRIAN IS NODDING HIS HEAD IN AFFIRMATION THAT THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

ALL, WE'LL BRING 'EM BACK.

MOTION TO ADJOURN.