[00:00:01]
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. THE TIME IS 7:01 P.M..
[I) Call Meeting to Order, Roll Call, and Excuse Absences]
IT IS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH, AND I'M GOING TO CALL THIS REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER. WOULD YOU ALL PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
FOR ALL. THE CITY SECRETARY, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
MITCHELL. HERE. HEIZER. HERE. RIZZO. PRESENT.
ZUNIGA. PRESENT. HARRIS. HERE. MCKINNEY. HERE.
TOBIAS. PRESENT. ALL RIGHT. ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT.
WE HAVE A QUORUM. NEXT UP. CITIZEN COMMENTS. OH.
APPROVAL. DO WE NEED APPROVAL? I'M SORRY. APPROVAL?
[II) Approval of Minutes]
I SAID I MEANT TO SAY APPROVAL OF MINUTES. THAT'S WHY I WAS WAITING.SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER TOBIAS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER RIZZO, THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES. IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 7 TO 0. NEXT UP IS CITIZEN COMMENTS.
[III) Citizen Comment Period with City Council]
PERIOD. AT THIS TIME, WE ASK ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK 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 SECRETARY.I HAVE SIX REGISTERED. FIRST UP, STEVEN COOK.
MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL. CITIZENS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS STEVEN COOK, AND I STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AS A VETERAN, A MASON, AMVETS MEMBER, AND QUARTERMASTER OF THE VFW, AND COMMITTED SERVANT TO THIS COMMUNITY. I AM HERE NOT JUST FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORE THE UNIFORM, THOSE WHO SACRIFICED FOR THIS COUNTRY AND THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO SERVE LONG AFTER THEIR TIME IN THE MILITARY HAS ENDED.
FOR VETERANS, SERVICE DOES NOT STOP. WHEN WE TAKE OFF THE UNIFORM.
WE CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR HOMES AND IN OUR HEARTS.
WE BUILD, WE PROTECT, AND WE GIVE BACK. BUT SOMETIMES WE NEED THE SUPPORT OF OUR COMMUNITY AS MUCH AS WE STRIVE TO SUPPORT IT. TONIGHT, I COME BEFORE YOU WITH A SIMPLE YET SIGNIFICANT REQUEST.
THE SPACE WHERE WE CONTINUE OUR MISSION OF SERVICE.
THE VFW HAS GROWN BEYOND ITS WALLS. WE HAVE BECOME A PILLAR FOR THE CITY, A LIFELINE FOR VETERANS, AND A RESOURCE FOR THOSE IN NEED. FROM JOB ASSISTANCE AND COUNSELING TO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND MEMBERSHIP, OUR WORK IS NEVER DONE. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE OPENED A FREE COMMUNITY CLOSET PROVIDING CLOTHING AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS TO OVER 100 VETERANS AND RESIDENTS IN KYLE. HOSTED A FIRST EVER UNITED STATES VETERANS SERVICE DOG TELETHON.
WORKING WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO BUY FOOD FOR THOSE IN NEED.
HAUNTED HOUSE FREE COMMUNITY DAY HOSTED A POKEMON COMMUNITY DAY FISHING WITH VETERANS.
I COULD GO ON AND ON. WE HAVE SIGNED AND PARTNERED WITH THE RED CROSS FOR THEM TO HELP US WITH THESE NEEDS, BUT WE ARE AT CAPACITY. WE NEED ROOM TO GROW.
THIS IS WHY I'M RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THAT WE BE CONSIDERED FOR THE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY IS ACQUIRING AT 105 VETERANS DRIVE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE AND EXPAND OUR MISSION.
WHY THIS MATTERS. BECAUSE NO VETERANS SHOULD BE LEFT BEHIND.
THE VFW PROVIDES CRITICAL SUPPORT SERVICES, HELPING VETERANS TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE, SECURE EMPLOYMENT, AND RECEIVE THE CARE THEY DESERVE. MORE SPACE MEANS MORE LIVES CHANGED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
ACCESSIBILITY IS NOT A NECESSITY, NOT A LUXURY.
BUT MANY OF OUR VETERANS HAVE DISABILITIES AND SENIORS BECAUSE OUR COMMITMENT IS STRONGER THAN EVER.
WE PARTNER WITH SCHOOLS, FIRST RESPONDERS AND LOCAL CHARITIES.
[00:05:04]
MAKING. TO JOIN IN CREATING A FUTURE WHERE NO VETERAN IS FORGOTTEN.RESPECTFULLY. STEVEN COOK, THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
NEXT UP IS. I CAN'T READ IT, BUT I THINK IT'S STEVEN COLLINS WITH EMBEDS.
I'M. I'M SORRY. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, DIGNITARIES AND COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS CHRISTOPHER CALKINS. I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE CURRENT COMMANDER OF AMVETS.
LOCATED JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM VFW POST. AMVETS AND THE VFW SHARE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP NOT ONLY HERE IN KYLE BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UNITED IN OUR MISSION TO SERVE VETERANS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE PROPERTY AT 105 VETERANS DRIVE, WHICH IS CITY, IS IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING AND PRESENT A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR KYLE VFW TO EXPAND, TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT LOCATION TO BETTER SERVE THE VETERANS AND CITIZENS OF KYLE.
THIS ADDITIONAL SPACE WOULD ALLOW VFW TO ENHANCE ITS MISSION BY PROVIDING FOOD TO THE VETERANS, FOR HOMELESS, AND OTHERS IN NEED. EXPANDING THE COMMUNITY CLOSET TO OFFER FREE CLOTHING, SHOES AND ESSENTIALS, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, AND TO THOSE FACING HARDSHIPS.
CREATING A DEDICATED SPACE FOR SCOUT UNITS TO HOLD ACTIVITIES.
INCREASING PARKING SPACE AND CAPACITY TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND GATHERINGS.
ESTABLISHING ESTABLISHING A CENTRALLY LOCATED HUB TO ENSURE THE VFW IS PREPARED TO RESPOND SWIFTLY TO COMMUNITY CRISIS SUCH AS FIRES, TORNADOES, AND RAILROAD RAILROAD ACCIDENTS LIKE THE ONE IN PALESTINE, OHIO. THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING PREPARED FOR BOTH LOCAL EMERGENCIES AND LARGE SCALE DISASTERS CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.
THE VFW STANDS READY, WILLING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS IN TIMES OF NEED, BUT THEY REQUIRE THE NECESSARY SPACE TO DO SO AND EFFECTIVELY.
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, INCLUDING CLINT WILLIAMS, LARRY STAMPS, AND OTHERS WHO AGREE THAT ADDITIONAL SPACE IS ESSENTIAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROGRAMS. I URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO STRONGLY CONSIDER THIS PROPERTY AS A VIABLE OPTION FOR KYLE'S VFW EXPANSION.
SINCERELY, ME. CHRISTOPHER CALKINS, COMMANDER.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MY DAD. JUST AS AN FYI, WE DO HAVE A RULE ABOUT CLAPPING. WE ALLOW EACH PERSON WHO COMES AND SPEAKS TO DO SO, AND WE WANT THOSE PERSONS WORDS TO STAND ON THEIR OWN.
IF SOMEBODY CAN SPEAK FOR, SOMEONE CAN SPEAK AGAINST. WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THE COURAGE AND THE COURTESY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND WITHHOLDING YOUR CLAPPING UNTIL THE END, WE'LL HEAR FROM EACH AND EVERY PERSON.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS CYNTHIA BENTLEY.
GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CYNTHIA BENTLEY, AND I'M A PROUD LIFE MEMBER OF AMVETS.
POST 115 LADIES AUXILIARY. MY FATHER. BROTHERS, SISTER, SISTER IN LAWS, BROTHER IN LAWS ARE ALL HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED OVER 200 YEARS TO KEEP US FREE.
THEY WERE IN THE ARMY, THE NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINES AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE COAST GUARDS.
AND OF COURSE, A FEW ALSO HAVE PTSD. MY BACKGROUND IS WORKFORCE COMMISSION.
I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EIGHT FULL SERVICE JOB SERVICE OFFICES IN LOUISIANA.
MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE VETERANS ARE FIRSTHAND.
THEY NEED QUIET PLACES. THEY NEED TO SPEAK WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED IN ORDER FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS. MANY OF THEM NEED COUNSELING.
[00:10:03]
THEY NEED THAT ONE ON ONE QUIET PLACE. BECAUSE WITH PTSD, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE TRIGGER.THEY NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE THAT HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND THAT SPECIAL TRAINING.
MANY VETERANS ARE NOT EVEN AWARE, ONCE THEY ARE DISCHARGED OUT OF THE MILITARY, THAT THEY CAN UPGRADE THAT DD214, OR THEY CAN UPGRADE THE MEDICAL. AND MANY OF THEM ARE NOT EVEN AWARE THAT THEY CAN APPLY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, EVEN THOUGH THEY DID NOT GET THAT ASSISTANCE WHILE THEY WERE IN THE MILITARY.
IF WE HAD THAT PROPERTY AT 105 VETERANS DRIVE AS AN EXPANSION OR A NEW FACILITY FOR OUR VETERANS, WE CAN OFFER ALL OF THESE SERVICES TO OUR VETERANS.
AND JUST REMEMBER, WE ARE ALL STANDING HERE AS PROUD U.S.
CITIZENS BECAUSE OF OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN.
AND JUST THINK, YOU ALL ARE SITTING THERE AS MAYOR AND AS COUNCILMEN AND COUNCIL LADIES, BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICE THAT OUR VETERANS HAVE MADE FOR US. AND I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT MY NAME IS CYNTHIA BENTLEY, AND I AM A PROUD LIFE MEMBER OF AMVETS. POST 115 LADIES AUXILIARY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. OUR NEXT UP IS BARBARA CARUSO WITH THE AUXILIARY.
I'M NOT SURE IF I SAID IT RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT.
OH, OKAY. THERE WE GO. GOT ONE. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND FELLOW CITIZENS. MY NAME IS BARBARA COLARUSSO, AND I AM HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMVETS LADIES AUXILIARY. 115, IN KYLE, TEXAS.
I COME TO YOU TODAY TO FORMALLY REQUEST THE CITY OF KYLE DONATE THE PROPERTY AT 105 VETERANS DRIVE, OR POSSIBLY ANOTHER CITY PROPERTY TO VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 12058.
THE VFW AND AMVETS SHARE A DEEP COMMITMENT TO SERVING NOT ONLY VETERANS IN CENTRAL TEXAS, BUT ALSO OUR GREATER COMMUNITY. VFW POST 12058 PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDING FELLOWSHIP, FOOD, CLOTHING, SERVICE, DOGS, AND NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR VETERANS.
THE. AND THIS LADIES AUXILIARY 115 IS PROUD TO STAND ALONGSIDE THEM IN THESE EFFORTS, PARTNERING WHENEVER POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT AND UPLIFT THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED OUR NATION.
THIS IS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT BY DONATING THE CITY OWNED PROPERTY AT 105 VETERANS DRIVE, OR A COMPARABLE PROPERTY TO THE VFW 12058, SO THAT IT CONTINUES TO GROW AND SERVE THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH. THEY ARE GROWING. THEY'RE BUILDING YOU COME.
YOU SEE, THEY HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR BUILDING. THEY NEED HELP.
ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN INVEST LADIES AUXILIARY.
115 I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE KYLE CITY COUNCIL GRANT THIS DONATION.
IT WOULD BE A MEANINGFUL INVESTMENT IN THE WELL-BEING OF OUR VETERANS, AND A TESTAMENT TO KYLE'S UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS SALLY SHIELDS.
GOOD EVENING. I WASN'T AS PREPARED WITH REMARKS TONIGHT BECAUSE I ONLY FOUND ABOUT.
FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING RECENTLY.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MYSELF. MY NAME IS SALLY SHIELDS.
I'M A US NAVY VETERAN OF 11 YEARS. I SERVED AS AN INDEPENDENT DUTY CORPSMAN IN THE NAVY.
I WAS A CUBMASTER FOR PACK 812 FOR THE LITTLE ONES THAT ARE IN THIS ROOM AT ONE TIME PRIOR TO THAT.
I FOUND THAT THEY WERE CHARTERED BY THE VFW, WHICH MADE ME VERY HAPPY.
[00:15:01]
AS A VETERAN MYSELF, AND I HAVE COME TO KNOW THE VFW VERY WELL OVER THE LAST WHAT IS THIS, SIX YEARS NOW? I WAS QUITE SHOCKED WHEN I FIRST CAME TO THE CITY AND FOUND THAT OUR VFW WAS ON 103 CENTER STREET HERE, THIS VERY SMALL, NOT IN THE BEST SHAPE BUILDING FOR OUR VETERANS THAT SERVED HONORABLY IN THE MILITARY.SINCE THAT TIME, OUR CITY HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND THANK YOU THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN A LARGER SPACE OVER ON 107 VETERAN ROAD AT THIS TIME.
BUT AS OUR CITY GROWS, SO DOES OUR VFW. AND OUR VFW NEEDS OUR SUPPORT, AND THEY NEED MORE SPACE, AND THEY NEED A BIGGER LOT TO TAKE CARE OF NOT ONLY THE VETERANS IN OUR CITY AS IT GROWS, BUT THE CHILDREN THAT ARE COMING UP THROUGH THIS CITY THAT ARE BEING RAISED IN A CIVIC MINDED COMMUNITY. I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL YOU ALL KNOW THE BSA PROGRAM NOW KNOWN AS SCOUTING AMERICA, BUT OUR MAIN MISSION IS TO RAISE MORAL AND ETHICAL CHILDREN.
AND THANK YOU TO THE VFW THAT MAKES THAT POSSIBLE FOR US.
BUT IN 2019, THE SCOUTING AMERICA DECIDED TO MOVE TO FEMALES.
WE DID NOT HAVE ANY FEMALE TROOPS IN THE AREA WHATSOEVER.
SO I WENT AND I CAME TO OUR VFW, OUR CHARTER ORGANIZATION REP.
AND THEY SAID, NOT JUST YES, BUT OH YES, PLEASE, PLEASE.
AND THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT SUPPORT US THE ENTIRE TIME.
IN FACT, THEY WERE ACTUALLY THE FIRST VFW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS TO CHARTER A BSA ALL GIRLS TROOP.
THAT'S PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FOR OUR STATE, CONSIDERING HOW BIG TEXAS IS.
SINCE THAT TIME, OUR TROOP HAS GROWN AND THEY HAVE NOT ONLY APPRECIATED ALL THE SUPPORT OF THE VFW, BUT WE USE THEIR SPACE TO HOLD OUR GEAR. WE USE THEIR SPACE TO MEET.
WE DO HAVE A BROTHER TROOP THAT WE WORK ALONGSIDE THE BOYS TROOP.
TROOP 812. THEY MEET AT THE VFW REGULARLY, BUT THEY HAVE NOW OUTGROWN THE SPACE.
THEY HAVE OVER 30 SCOUTS IN THAT TINY LITTLE BUILDING AT ANY ONE TIME.
WE GIRLS, WE ACTUALLY MEET OVER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE OF THE VFW BEING SO SMALL.
LAST THURSDAY I SORRY WIMBERLEY POST VFW POST OUT THERE.
AND AS THE CITY GROWS, WE NEED TO HELP THEM GROW.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS EMMA BESKOW.
HI. MY NAME IS EMMA BESKOW, AND I'M HERE SUPPORTING TROOP 1948 AND OUR VFW POST.
ALTHOUGH I DO NOT HAVE A PREPARED, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT PREPARED SOMETHING, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF MY CHARTER ORGANIZATION AND MY TROOP. THIS BUILDING WOULD BE VERY SPECIAL TO NOT JUST THE TROOP, BUT THE VFW TOO, BECAUSE I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN INSIDE THAT BUILDING AND IT IS SMALL AND THE VFW, I THINK, DESERVES A BIGGER BUILDING BECAUSE THEY HELP THIS COMMUNITY SO MUCH, AND IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THE COMMUNITY JUST GAVE BACK TO THE VFW, BECAUSE I THINK THE VFW DESERVES THIS AND SO DOES THE TROOPS.
AND I'M SORRY. AND I JUST THINK THAT THEY DESERVE THIS.
AND SO DO THE TROOPS THAT ARE CHARTERED BY THE VFW.
AND. AND IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE A BIGGER SPACE TO STORE OUR GEAR AND TO POSSIBLY HAVE MORE VETERAN, VETERAN COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS TRACY. SHE'LL.
BEFORE I BEGIN, I JUST WANT TO SAY IT IS SO NICE TO SEE ALL THESE WONDERFUL FACES FROM OUR SCOUTS.
AND ALSO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES.
[00:20:08]
SO HELLO, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY COUNCIL, I INVITE ALL OF YOU AND ALL OF YOU TO COME. AND ON NEXT. WELL, COME NEXT SATURDAY MORNING AT 9 A.M.TO HELP US CLEAN AND DO OUR GREAT RIVER CLEANUP.
IT HELPS ALLEVIATE FLOODING. IT HELPS JUST OUR INNER SPIRIT BY BEING ABLE TO WALK THE TRAILS AND JUST ENJOY OUR ENVIRONMENT AND OUR COMMUNITY.
PART OF THAT, THOUGH, IS A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.
AND SOMETIMES IT'S, YOU KNOW, CAN GET A LITTLE DIRTY WITH PEOPLE DUMPING STUFF OR JUST A, A PLASTIC BOTTLE THAT GOT WASHED AWAY BECAUSE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, LEFT IT ON A TABLE AND IT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ROLLED DOWN, DOWN AND THEN THE RAIN AND EVERYTHING ENDS UP IN THE CREEK.
SO SATURDAY MORNING AT 9 A.M. AT WATERLOO PARK.
I INVITE EVERYBODY TO JOIN US TO HELP KEEP IT CLEAN.
AND BECAUSE ONE OTHER THING THAT IT DOES TRASH IN OUR OUR CREEK LIKE THAT ALSO CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEAR OUR WATERSHED BY FLOODING, IF WE GET. AND, YES, WE NEED IT.
I KNOW, BUT WE DO NEED A MAJOR RAIN EVENT. IT'S JUST WHAT WE NEED.
AND IF WE GET IT, TRASH CREATES DAMS, WHICH CREATES FLOODING.
AND SO US KEEPING IT CLEAN NOT ONLY KEEPS THE ESTHETIC OF OUR WATERSHED, BUT IT ALSO KEEPS THE SAFETY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SO PLEASE, AGAIN, COME OUT. I EXPECT TO SEE ALL SEVEN OF YOU.
INCLUDING YOU. MAYOR. ALL SEVEN. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU.
AND ONE LAST THING. AS ALL OF YOU GUYS. KNOW OF MY RELATION WITH MY FAMILY ALSO BEING VETERANS.
PLEASE HELP THE VFW. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
[IV) Agenda Order]
COUNCILOR ZUNIGA. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO BRING UP AGENDA ITEM 27.ALL RIGHT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL BRING THAT ONE ALL THE WAY TO THE FRONT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS THEY WANT TO MOVE AROUND? ALL RIGHT.
[27) Consider and Possible Action to Direct City Manager and Staff to evaluate opportunities for VFW/American Red Cross Partnership at 105 Veterans to improve capacity for community closet and preparedness outreach.]
AMERICAN RED CROSS PARTNERSHIP AT 105 VETERANS TO IMPROVE CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY CLOSET AND PREPAREDNESS OUTREACH.COUNCILOR ZUNIGA. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO YOU'VE HEARD FROM MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS HERE? WHEN I VISITED WITH A FEW OF OUR MEMBERS, THEY HAD SPOKEN TO ME ABOUT THE NEEDS AND THE COMMUNITY.
I SAID, WELL, THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, I COULD CONSIDER.
AND I SAID I'D BRING IT TO AN AGENDA IF TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR A COMMUNITY NEEDS.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE FLOOR TO MISTER MR. LARRY STAMP, SINCE THESE ARE SLIDES THAT HE SHARED.
GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL VETERANS. PUBLIC. MAYOR.
GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU ALL? I WAS PREPARING THIS PRESENTATION EARLIER AND I HEARD THE NEWS.
AS I WAS ON MY WAY OUT THE DOOR AND IT WAS THE WEATHER WAS ON.
I THOUGHT, HEY, IT'S FIXING TO FREEZE. SO I SAID, WHAT? WHO BETTER TO BLAME IT ON THAN THE CITY COUNCIL? SO THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE THAT WEATHER. COUNCILMAN ZUNIGA, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS ON THE AGENDA FOR US.
AND YIELDING YOUR TIME TO ME AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VFW.
[00:25:04]
AND I'LL YIELD BACK TO YOU ONCE OUR PRESENTATION IS COMPLETED.THE VETERAN. THE VFW APPRECIATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY AND DEMONSTRATE OUR PLAN TO GROW AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, AS THE CITY OF KYLE GROWS. AND I HAD A PRESENTATION, AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE THAT OFF, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
CAN YOU TAKE THAT OFF? THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THAT'S GOOD.
THANK YOU. LITTLE GLITCH IN OUR PRESENTATION.
SO WITH THAT SAID, VETERANS FOUGHT TO HELP THIS NATION KEEP IT SAFE, ALONG WITH TEXAS AND ALONG WITH THE CITY OF THE CITY OF KYLE, WE FOUGHT TO KEEP IT PROSPEROUS AND FREE.
AND WE STILL HAVE THAT TODAY. WE HAVE MANY TROOPS OUT IN STATESIDE.
THEY'RE ALSO OVERSEAS AND WE THINK ABOUT THEM AS WELL.
IF YOU'RE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS PROVIDED CONTINUOUS SUPPORT FOR THE VETERANS, OUR VFW AND AMVETS, I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
IT JUST COMES FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART. WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
WITH THAT SAID, THE VFW STANDS PROUD TONIGHT.
YET WE'RE HUMBLE BECAUSE WE'RE ASKING FOR CONSIDERATION OF SOME PROPERTY THAT YOU ALL DON'T YET OWN.
BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BUY IT. WE KNOW YOU ARE. THAT PROPERTY WOULD REALLY GO BENEFICIAL TO ACCOMMODATE, AS YOU HEARD, OUR CONTINUING GROWTH. WE YOU KNOW, WE WERE ACROSS THE ROAD, ACROSS THE STREET OVER HERE WITH THE RAILROAD TRACKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THAT WAS EVEN A SMALLER PLACE.
AND WE'RE NOT. IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP OF MOVING US OUT THERE, BUT WE'RE REALLY, REALLY HAPPY BECAUSE IT GAVE US A CHANCE TO EXPAND AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT WE COULDN'T DO HERE.
ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS VETERANS.
WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING TO USE THIS PROPERTY THAT THE CITY IS CHOOSING, THAT IT'S CLOSING ON IN A MONTH.
YET, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PLANS TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT AT THE MOMENT.
I JUST GAVE YOU A PLAN. WE ALL GAVE YOU A PLAN.
THE VFW SITS AT 12. I'M SORRY, 107 VETERANS DRIVE.
IF YOU ALL HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE, I KNOW I'VE SEEN SOME OF YOUR FACES.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE FOR SOME OF YOU. AND FOR SOME I HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALL.
BUT COME OUT. WE CAN SHOW YOU WHAT WE DO, HOW WE DO IT, AND WHO WE AFFECT.
THERE ARE MANY FACETS WITH THE VFW, AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO BENEFIT FROM THE VFW BEING THERE WITH OUR PROGRAMS. WE WE DO COMMUNITY OUTREACH AS WELL AS PROVIDE A FREE BREAKFAST EVERY FRIDAY MORNING, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CHRISTMAS AND MAYBE THANKSGIVING, I'M NOT SURE, BUT JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER FRIDAY, YOU CAN FIND US AT 8:00 OR BEFORE THEN OR AFTER YOU CAN GET YOURSELF A FREE BREAKFAST.
ALONG WITH THAT COMES A ORGANIZATION CALLED THE UNITED STATES VETERAN SERVICE DOG ORGANIZATION.
AND IF YOU SAW STEVE WALK UP HERE A FEW MINUTES AGO, HE HAD A DOG WITH HIM.
THAT'S JUST NOT ANY DOG. IT IS A TRAINED SERVICE DOG THAT THE UNITED STATES VETERAN SERVICE DOGS TRAINED FOR HIM, AND THEY DO THAT FOR EVERY VET THAT THEY CAN GET A DOG TO IN TEXAS.
SO WE HAVE HE MENTIONED THE THE I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF THE NAME OF IT. TELETHON, WHICH I'M A HOST OF. YOU THINK I WOULD REMEMBER THE NAME OF IT? WE'VE DONE THREE TELETHONS SO FAR, AND WE'VE RAISED OVER, I THINK IT WAS CLOSE TO $70,000.
AND WE PUT A LOT OF DOGS IN THE HANDS OF VETERANS THROUGH THEIR GRADUATION.
I DON'T WANT TO EXPOUND ON A LOT OF THESE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE BOY SCOUTS, THE TROOPS THERE.
THEY'RE THE SCOUTS. I MEAN, THEY'RE THE GIRL SCOUTS.
THEY'RE GREAT, AND WE LOVE HELPING THEM. THEY OPERATE OUT OF OUR POST.
[00:30:07]
AND WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET THEM HAVE IT. AS LONG AS THEY'RE CHARTERED THROUGH OUR VFW, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET A GOOD, REPUTABLE ORGANIZATION USE THE FACILITY.CERT COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, AND WE ARE WITH THEM AND THEY ARE WITH US, AND THEY ARE GOING TO IMPROVE OUR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS, OR THEY'RE GOING TO INSTALL RADIO COMMUNICATIONS ALONG WITH SOME OTHER PROGRAMS. AND WE HAVE WE JUST RECENTLY TALKED TO THE KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL, AND WE ARE ALSO TALKING TO SOME OTHER FOLKS.
AND I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION THOSE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD WE DON'T HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM YET, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT AND WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
ALONG WITH QUILTS OF VALOR. QUILTS OF VALOR MOVED IN ABOUT, I GUESS, MAYBE EIGHT MONTHS AGO.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE QUILTS THAT THEY MAKE, THEY DO THEM RIGHT THERE AT THE VFW.
WE INVITE FOLKS. WE ALSO HAVE A COMMUNITY CLOSET WHERE WE PROVIDE CLOTHES, SMALL HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, AND OTHER THINGS TO THE NEEDY PEOPLE. AND I'M TELLING YOU, THAT THING GETS USED.
YOU NEED IT. COME GET IT. WE ARE KYLE. THE VETERANS OF THIS COMMUNITY ARE KYLE. AND WE ARE. WE ARE ALL ONE TOGETHER.
SO THE CURRENT USE FOR 107 VETERANS DRIVE IS WHERE WE'RE AT.
OBVIOUSLY, IF WE WERE TO OBTAIN THE PROPERTY AT 105, I'M SORRY, 107.
WE OBTAIN THE PROPERTY AT 105. WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BASICALLY DOUBLE IN SIZE, AND YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T HEAR FROM US, FROM US FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS, MAYBE. I MEAN, THAT'S IT WOULD MAKE A SIZABLE FOOTPRINT FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVEN'T BOUGHT IT YET. YOU HAVEN'T CLOSED ON IT.
WE'D CONSIDER THAT. I HADN'T TALKED ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH AN MOA WITH THAT ORGANIZATION SIGNED YESTERDAY.
WE ARE FULLY FLEDGED TOGETHER AND THEY HAVE BIG PLANS FOR THE THE VETERANS 107 VETERANS DRIVE AS WELL. WE HAVE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT 105 AND THEY THINK THEY THINK IT'S GREAT.
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. WE'D BE ABLE TO EXPAND WITH THEM ALONG WITH THE COMMUNITY CLOSETS.
AND THEY WOULD BE READY FOR A DISASTER AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.
AND SINCE THEY'RE SO CLOSE, THINK ABOUT THE RESPONSE TIME THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US, AS OPPOSED TO BEING IN DRIPPING OR SAN MARCOS OR OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE WE'VE APPLIED FOR A $20,000 GRANT. DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT'S GOING TO GET APPROVED IF IT GETS APPROVED, BUT WE BELIEVE IT WILL JUST BASED ON OUR NEEDS AND WHAT OUR CONVERSATIONS HAVE BEEN.
THAT'S JUST THAT'S JUST THE START. THERE'S OTHER GRANTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE APPLYING FOR AS WELL, AND IT'S JUST GOING TO GROW AND GROW AND GROW.
I HOPE, I HOPE THAT'S I MEAN, THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR KYLE.
I KNOW IT WOULD BE. SO ALL THESE PEOPLE ATTENDING TONIGHT AT THIS EVENING'S MEETING. THEY CAME HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
THEY CAME TO SUPPORT US AS WELL. BUT THEY CAME TO SUPPORT YOU IN DOING THE RIGHT THING IN HELPING THE VFW INCREASE OUR FOOTPRINT AT THAT LOCATION OR ANOTHER LOCATION SOMEWHERE HERE IN KYLE.
THEY ALL SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL AS WELL, I DO TOO.
EVERYBODY'S HOPING AND PRAYING THAT THERE'S A VOTE AT SOME POINT IN TIME OR ANOTHER.
THAT'S A YES. I'D LOVE A UNANIMOUS VOTE. UNANIMOUS VOTE.
IF WE COULD GET THAT WOW. THAT WOULD SHOW US THE COUNCIL IS FULLY BEHIND US, FULLY BEHIND THE VETERANS AND FULLY BEHIND THIS COMMUNITY. THEREFORE, WE, AS THE VFW RECOMMEND AND WE URGE THAT THIS ITEM BE PERHAPS
[00:35:09]
POSTPONED AND THE CITY COMMIT TO ENTERING INTO NEGOTIATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VFW SO WE CAN MAKE THIS REQUEST A REALITY. FURTHERMORE, WE ASK THAT NO DECISION BE MADE ON THIS PROPERTY'S USE UNTIL ALL OPTIONS BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE VFW HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING ANOTHER SIMILAR OR MORE SUITABLE LOCATION.WE WOULD ASK THAT THIS ISSUE BE READDRESSED AT THE NEXT REGULAR SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, AND WE'LL BE HERE. SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO WRAP IT UP.
WANT TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS? ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF THE PRESENTER? COUNCILMAN.
TOBIAS. ALL RIGHT. WELL THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR COMING.
AND APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK ON THE, THE USAGES THAT YOU'RE NEEDING FOR A NEW FACILITY, BECAUSE I KNEW THIS WAS COMING DOWN THE WIRE.
I KNEW IT WAS COMING. WE GOT THE SENIOR CITIZENS COMMUNITY GROUP.
I DO ATTEND THE LAST BREAKFAST. I DON'T GO VERY OFTEN, BUT I DO.
I'M VERY WELCOMED WHEN I'M THERE, AND I APPRECIATE THE HOSPITALITY.
WHEN IT CAME TO THIS VOTE HERE ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO, I VOTED NO FOR THE PROPERTY BECAUSE IN FAIRNESS, IN MY VISION, I DID NOT HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE CITY WOULD NEED TO USE IT FOR.
IT'S A SCENARIO. JUST BECAUSE IT'S AVAILABLE IS IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO PURCHASE RIGHT NOW? SO I HAVE TO BE NUMBER ONE ACCOUNTABLE FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
I HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FROM THAT END. BUT I ALSO HAVE TO THINK LOGISTICALLY, WHAT WOULD BE A USE FOR THAT AREA IN THE IF WE WERE IF I WAS TO SAY YES ON THAT VOTE.
SO THIS IS, IS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO MY ATTENTION AS FAR AS THE VETERANS NEEDING THE SPACE IN THAT AREA AND REQUESTING THAT IT'S KIND OF IT.
SO IN FAIRNESS FOR FOR MYSELF, IS THAT I FEEL THAT I WOULD NEED TO REALLY EVALUATE WHAT THE CITY WOULD BE GOING FORWARD ON THIS IN THE AREA THAT THAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT. I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE PURCHASED THIS YET IN FULLY.
BUT IRONICALLY, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER PROPERTIES AS WELL BECAUSE I KNEW NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE ANOTHER ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO START LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO WHEN IT COMES TO OUR ANIMAL SHELTER? THERE ARE. I GREW UP IN THIS TOWN. I CALL IT TOWN.
IT'S A CITY NOW, SO I KNOW LOTS OF PROPERTIES FROM THE BACK OF MY HAND.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I FOUND MOST OF THE SPOTS FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR THE BETTER, FOR THE SENIORS. SO IN A WAY, I'VE BEEN KIND OF ALREADY LOOKING AROUND AND THERE IS A SPOT THAT I'VE ALREADY KIND OF JUST FIGURED OUT IN MY HEAD WHERE A NEXT FACILITY COULD BE FOR A NEXT CITY RUN GROUP. BUT ON THAT, TO BE FAIR, SIR, I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH MY COLLEAGUES FIRST TO SEE HOW WE WOULD EVALUATE THIS PROPERTY, BECAUSE, AGAIN, I WAS A NO VOTE ON THIS SPECIFIC PROPERTY. BUT HEARING EVERYBODY'S TESTIMONY, HEARING EVERYBODY'S NEEDS FOR THIS FACILITY, FOR A FOR A NEW FACILITY IT GROWS INTO MIND THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO NEED TO START THE WHEELS TURNING ON HOW WE CAN BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE NOT ONLY JUST THE VETERANS, BUT THE THE LADIES AUXILIARY, THE BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS, AND SO FORTH. BECAUSE I KNEW AT ONE TIME THE WAY OUR CITY IS GROWING.
SO IN FAIRNESS, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING A WORKSHOP IN THE NEXT MONTH,
[00:40:01]
AND PLANS FOR WHAT WE WANT TO DO THIS UPCOMING YEAR FOR THE CITY.AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE ALL OUR OPTIONS AND, LIKE YOU SAY, EXHAUST ALL OUR OPTIONS, BECAUSE THIS MAY NOT BE THE SPOT, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING SOME CONSTRUCTION AS FAR AS ROAD CONSTRUCTION, POSSIBLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AND WE AND I THINK IT'S FAIRNESS THAT LOCATION SHOULD ALWAYS BE THE KEY ACCESSIBILITY AND LOCATION.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD THE BOX BEFORE YOU THINK OUTSIDE IT.
OKAY? YOU'VE GOT TO FIND THE COMPONENTS, THE FINANCING AND SO FORTH.
YOU'RE TEAMING UP WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.
DO THEY HAVE A GRANT PROGRAM THAT COULD POSSIBLY ASSIST US WITH, DO WE HAVE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE COULD BE ABLE TO GET FOR? HAVE WE REACHED OUT TO THE VETERANS AFFAIRS TO SEE WHAT KIND OF FUNDING WE CAN GET FROM THAT, THAT ERA? WHAT WHAT CAPACITY DO THEY HAVE AS FAR AS ASSISTING WITH NEW FACILITIES OR SERVICES? AND THEN THAT WAY IT CAN BE ABLE TO HELP US BUILD THAT ROAD, THAT BUILDING BLOCK, TO GO FROM THERE.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I STAND ON THAT.
SIR, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND I CAN RELATE TO A LOT OF THAT.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD STRONGLY ADVOCATE THAT WE'RE ALREADY THERE AT 107, AND IF WE WERE ABLE TO DOUBLE IN SIZE WITH 105, AND I KNOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY MOVE SOMEPLACE ELSE, I GET THAT. BUT WE WOULDN'T DISRUPT THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY IN PLACE.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HAVING OUR VETERANS FIGURE OUT WHERE WE HAD MOVED.
I WASN'T AN ACTIVE MEMBER, BUT I WENT AND GOT THE FREE BREAKFAST.
SO ONCE I FOUND IT, I WAS LIKE, WOW. AND THEN IT WAS KIND OF STRANGE.
WHEN I WALKED IN, I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WELL AM I AT THE RIGHT PLACE? SO SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE MINOR, BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO REALLY CONSIDER ABOUT MOVING BECAUSE WE'RE ALREADY THERE.
WE'RE ALREADY ESTABLISHED. AND THAT'S THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS AND THE COMMUNITY, QUITE FRANKLY, BECAUSE LIKE I SAID EARLIER, A LOT OF COMMUNITY FOLKS COME IN AND THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, WILLING TO HELP US OR WANT TO BE AROUND US.
SO TRUE. THANK YOU, SIR. BECAUSE THEN AGAIN, I MEAN, IT'S IT'S A NO BRAINER.
YOU'RE ON VETERANS DRIVE RIGHT? RIGHT. SO IT'S YOU'VE GOT THAT ADDRESS THERE.
I JUST I JUST FEEL THAT WE COULD PROBABLY AS A COUNCIL AND AS A CITY BE ABLE TO FURTHERMORE INVESTIGATE MORE AND LOOK INTO TO SEE IF HOW, HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT END.
AND I WOULD ADVOCATE YET TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE INVOLVED IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
OF COURSE. YEAH. JUST LIKE JUST LIKE. YEAH, JUST LIKE THE SENIORS.
AWESOME. EXACTLY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS. THAT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE.
NUMBER ONE IS THE THE PROPERTY OVER HERE THAT'S NOW BEEN RAZED.
THAT WAS THE HOME OF THE VETERANS. AND BEFORE IT WAS THE HOME OF THE VETERANS, IT WAS ACTUALLY THE HOME OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT. AND GO BACK THAT FAR AND NOW LOOK WHERE THEY'RE AT. SO IF YOU YOU CAN IMAGINE A DIFFERENT SCENARIO AND A DIFFERENT NIGHT, WHERE THERE'S MANY PEOPLE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT THOSE WHO PROTECT AND SERVE US HERE LOCALLY, SAYING THAT THE FACILITIES THAT THEY HAD WERE INADEQUATE AND THEY THEY MADE A MOVE OVER TO THE WELLS FARGO BUILDING, THE OLD WELLS FARGO BUILDING. WELL, IT'S NOT THERE ANYMORE EITHER.
AND THE COMMENT THAT I CONTINUALLY GOT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AS, AS WE WERE MAKING THESE MOVES WERE, WELL, WE'RE REALLY TIRED OF GETTING SECOND HAND FACILITIES, FACILITIES THAT WEREN'T DESIGNED FOR US THAT WE JUST MOVED IN BECAUSE THAT WAS THE ONLY SPACE THAT WAS AVAILABLE. AND WHEN I CAME HERE TO TO THE CITY AND STARTED WORKING, IT WASN'T JUST ME.
IT WAS MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. BUT WE STARTED WORKING ON A FINAL SOLUTION FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS WHAT YOU NOW HAVE IN A PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER WITH 64,000FT².
[00:45:05]
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TO 2ND MAY NOT BE THE BEST LONG TERM SOLUTION FOR THE VFW.IN FACT, MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE 5 TO 10,000FT² OF REALLY GREAT MEETING SPACE IS WHAT IT WOULD BE.
BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE WOULD BE AS AS HAS BEEN MENTIONED, OUR SENIORS.
SO THE SENIORS MOVED INTO WHAT'S NOW THE KRUG ACTIVITY CENTER MANY YEARS AGO THAT THAT FACILITY THEY OUTGREW AND THEY'VE BEEN OUTGROWN FROM THAT FOR A VERY LONG TIME. AND SO WE WORKED FOR A LONG TIME TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A GOOD LONG TERM SOLUTION, WHICH WE ARE JUST NOW IN THE PROCESS OF DELIVERING.
THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT FACILITY IS, I THINK, SIMILAR TO THE SITUATION THAT YOU CURRENTLY FACE, WHICH IS IT HAS TO DO WITH LAND USE. THE PROPERTIES THAT ARE THERE ON VETERANS DRIVE, THOSE TWO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN PARTICULAR.
THEY'RE NOT DESIGNED AS LARGE ORGANIZATION, GROWING ORGANIZATION, MEETING SPACE.
AND THEN THE THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS, YOU KNOW, JUST CONSIDER THE AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, INVESTMENT THAT THE CITY HAS MADE INTO, INTO A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT SERVICES.
IT TAKES TIME FOR US TO FIGURE IT OUT. BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE INVESTMENT INTO OUR DOWNTOWN, I MEAN, IT'S BEEN NOTED THAT OUR CITY HAS GROWN FROM A 6500 PEOPLE IN THE YEAR 2000 TO 65,000 PEOPLE NOW.
AND THE SIZE OF THE TOWN, LIKE IF YOU WERE TO SELL IT, HAS GONE FROM ABOUT $2 BILLION IN VALUATION TO OVER $8 BILLION IN VALUATION, WHICH REPRESENTS A, YOU KNOW, A4X GROWTH. HOW MUCH OUT OF THAT DO YOU THINK CAME FROM THE DOWNTOWN AREA? THE ANSWER IS NONE. WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT INTO OUR DOWNTOWN SINCE THE HOWRY BUILDING OVER HERE, AND THEN THE THE BARTON WARD BUILDING BEFORE THAT. AND THOSE HAVE REALLY BEEN THE ONLY TWO VERTICAL PROJECTS SINCE CITY HALL.
AND SO IT IS. IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT WE HAVE NOT CLOSED ON THIS PROPERTY.
IT'S THE DISCUSSION I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE WITH THE VETERANS.
FOR MYSELF, THOUGH I HAVE TO ASK COUNCIL MEMBER, TOBIAS SAID.
I WOULD CONSIDER THIS MOMENT TO BE PREMATURE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T EVEN CLOSED.
WE'RE IN A CONTRACT SITUATION. THAT DEAL COULD STILL FALL THROUGH, BUT THE BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW DO WE ENGAGE WITH THE VFW, HOW DO WE GROW WITH THE VFW, HOW DO WE HELP THE VFW AND AMVETS AND THE THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AROUND COME TOGETHER AND BE NOT JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER, BUT THE BEST THAT WE WANT TO HAVE, THE BEST PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY.
WE WANT TO HAVE THE BEST FACILITY FOR SENIORS.
WE WOULD LOVE TO BE A PART OF A PROJECT THAT WOULD THAT WOULD KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF.
BUT WE NEED SOME TIME TO TO ANALYZE THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY ON LOOKING AT, AS WELL AS WHAT IS THE ACTUAL BEST LONG TERM SOLUTION.
I DON'T THINK THAT OUR PARKS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITY, WHICH IS JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF 107 VETERANS, IS THE BEST LONG TERM SOLUTION FOR THAT SPOT EITHER.
SO THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE AS A COUNCIL.
WE NEED TO TALK WITH ABOUT STAFF TO STAFF WITH AND I THINK THE CULTIVATION OF A GREAT VFW BASED PROJECT, JUST LIKE WHAT WE DID WITH THE SENIORS, MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AND SOMETHING YOU GET A LOT OF SUPPORT ON.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE WE HAVE TO HAVE THE TIME AND THE SPACE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
AND THAT INCLUDES CLOSING ON THESE LOTS. SO THAT'S THAT'S REALLY WHERE MY FEEDBACK IS.
WE STILL WON'T EVEN HAVE THE PROPERTY CLOSED. WE WON'T HAVE ENGAGED AT THE VISIONING WORKSHOP ABOUT THIS PROPERTY, AS WELL AS A LOT OF OUR OTHER DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU, Y'ALL AREN'T GOING AWAY.
I ALREADY KNOW THIS. WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE EITHER.
WE WANT TO HAVE A VERY, VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP, BUT IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND A LITTLE BIT OF TRUST, I PROMISE YOU THAT WE'RE NOT IN THE IN THE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO PUT SOMEONE ELSE IN THAT BUILDING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU.
IT REALLY IS MORE OF A CONVERSATION OF, IS THAT BUILDING EVEN APPROPRIATE TO BE THERE ON THAT SPACE, OR COULD WE BE WOULD IT BE BETTER FOR US TO CULTIVATE A LARGER PROJECT? AND SO AND I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH MR. COOK. I WROTE HIM A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION FOR HIS SERVICE ANIMAL THAT HE NOW HAS.
SO, I MEAN, WE'VE ALL CERTAINLY BEEN ENGAGED WITH THE VFW FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND I EXPECT WE'D CONTINUE TO, BUT I WOULD JUST PERSONALLY ASK THAT YOU WOULD ALLOW FOR US TO HAVE THE SPACE TO WALK THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND TO DO IT WELL,
[00:50:02]
ASKING WHAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION, NOT JUST WHAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW? SO THOSE ARE THOSE WOULD BE MY COMMENTS. COUNCILOR HEISER, LET ME INTERJECT SOMETHING BEFORE WE START.COUNCILMAN. I AGREE WITH YOUR POINTS. AND I, I KNOW THAT THE CONVERSATION THAT MAYBE A COUPLE OF TIMES WAS HAD THAT YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT WE COULD, YOU KNOW, CITY COUNCIL COULD BUILD $1 MILLION FACILITY FOR THE VETERANS, THE VFW.
AND I'M LIKE, OKAY, WELL, WE DON'T REALLY NEED $1 MILLION FACILITY RIGHT NOW.
AND NOW IF WE HAD THE POPULATION SUCH AS AUSTIN OR LET'S SAY DALLAS, SAN ANTONIO, I, I'D BE LIKE, HEY, MAKE IT A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR FACILITY.
I'M MORE THAN HAPPY ABOUT THAT. BUT WE DON'T NEED THAT AT THE MOMENT AND FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
I DON'T THINK WE DO. GIVING RESPECT TO YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR INSIGHT, I APPRECIATE THAT.
AND WE ARE WILLING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN WITH YOU ALL BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
SO WITH THAT SAID COUNCILMAN. YEAH. THANKS, LARRY.
I MEAN, I EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SAID UP HERE FROM THE DICE I'M IN SUPPORT OF, AND I THINK IT'S IN LINE WITH THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD OVER THE WEEKEND WITH, YOU KNOW, THE TWO HOURS THAT YOU, ME AND STEVE SPENT TOGETHER.
I'M YOU HAVE MY SUPPORT. ME ALONE. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK TO THE REST OF THE GROUP OF TALKING, ENGAGING WITH STAFF AND TRYING TO GO THROUGH AND TELLING THEM WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE NOW AND WHAT YOU ANTICIPATE THOSE NEEDS BEING IN THE FUTURE.
UNTIL YOU DO THAT, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WHERE YOU FIT IN THE AREAS IN WHICH WE CONTROL THE PROPERTIES THAT WE HAVE ACROSS THE CITY. SO I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF YOU GUYS GOING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THAT PROCESS WITH WITH BRIAN AND THE REST OF STAFF.
AND BECAUSE UNTIL WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, LIKE WE DON'T KNOW NECESSARILY WHETHER IT'S $1 MILLION OR WHATEVER THE COMMITMENT IS THAT THE CITY, IN THEORY, WOULD MAKE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S THE RIGHT COMMITMENT AND THE RIGHT SPACE FOR YOU, AND NOT JUST THE CAPACITY. THE CAPACITY ISSUE AND THE CURRENT BUILDING, BUT THE YOU KNOW, WHERE THE WHERE THE BUILDING WILL GO WITH THE GRANT MONEY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CLOTHES CLOSET, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AND WORK THAT, YOU KNOW, WORK THROUGH THAT WITH STAFF.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THERE'S SOMETHING FOR US TO, TO EVALUATE, YOU KNOW, IS A GOVERNING BODY.
I YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE CITY, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING YOUR GROWTH.
AND I THANK YOU. WE THANK YOU. IT'S I'M NOT UP HERE.
THE VFW IS UP HERE, SO IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME OTHER THAN JUST BRINGING THE MESSAGE TO YOU.
BUT YOU BRING UP A GOOD POINT. AND THAT'S WHY I SAID WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOU ALL.
NOT YOU ALL HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS. AND THEN WE HAVE THE DISCUSSIONS AND NOBODY TALKS TO EACH OTHER.
BUT SINCE I DON'T HAVE TIME TO COMMUNICATE MY WORDS IN THE PAPER, IT'S GOING TO BE A WHILE.
SO IF I COULD GET YOUR ALL'S COMMITMENT TO DO THAT, THAT'S THAT STARTS.
THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS. AND WE NEED TO TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER.
WE NEED TO TALK TO PLANNING COMMISSION. WE NEED TO TALK TO EVERYBODY THAT NEEDS.
THAT HAS A STAKE IN THIS. NOT SO MUCH A STAKE AS WELL AS IT IS HELP, ASSISTANCE AND BEING ABLE TO HELP. TAILOR WHAT WE NEED. AND IT'S NOT A WANT, IT'S A NEED.
AND MY ONLY, MY ONLY ONE OTHER THING IS WE HAVE A TIMELINE.
IT'S NOT A TIMELINE, BUT WE PARTNER WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, AND WE'RE PARTNERING.
WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND I DON'T WANT US TO PUT THE BRAKES, HAVE TO PUT THE BRAKES ON SOMETHING THAT COULD REALLY BENEFIT THIS COMMUNITY.
NOW, WITH THAT SAID, IS THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCILMAN RIZZO? YEAH, WELL, I THINK YOU ALREADY PUT THE BRAKES ON YOURSELF, SIR.
BUT ANYWAY THE REASON WHY IS THAT PARTNERING WITH RED CROSS WOULD BE GREAT.
[00:55:06]
WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO BEING BUILDING, THERE'S NO WAY TO DO THAT.THE BUILDING IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR THAT BLUEPRINT EITHER. BUT I CAN SEE YOU NEEDING MORE ROOM.
COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT YOUR CURRENT MEMBERSHIP IS RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, WHAT'S YOUR NUMBERS RIGHT NOW, STEVE? WHERE ARE WE AT? WE'RE 60. 60. OKAY. CHRIS, WHAT ARE YOUR NUMBERS RIGHT NOW AT THE AMVETS? 72. 72. SO OVER 100. PROBABLY BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
MAYBE 200 MEMBERS FOR BOTH. AND THAT. OH, AND LADIES AUXILIARY, YOU GOT THE BOY SCOUTS? SO WE'VE GOT A BIG NEED. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT TODAY WAS WE'VE GOT ANOTHER NEW VETERANS GROUP IN HAYS COUNTY THAT'S LOOKING FOR SPACE AS WELL.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THERE? I HAVE NOT, SIR. YOU NEED TO LOOK IT UP, AND YOU NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE DONE IN DRIPPING SPRINGS, BECAUSE THAT'S PROBABLY THE BLUEPRINT WE NEED HERE. AND VETS IS OUTGROWING THEIR SPACE.
YOU'RE OUTGROWING YOUR SPACE. WE NEED MORE SPACE FOR MORE PEOPLE.
WE DEFINITELY. WE'VE GOT A NEW VETERANS GROUP NOW COMING IN.
IT'S GOING TO BE PRIVATE. IT'S GOING TO BE THE COUNTY.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE CITY. IF THE COUNTY WOULD LOVE TO JOIN US WOULD BE GREAT. I THINK THEY WOULD.
YOU COULD HAVE, LIKE JUDE PRATHER HERE AND HIS GROUP HERE HELPING VETERANS, SERVICING VETERANS.
BUILDING THE RIGHT BUILDING AND CHAMPIONING SOMETHING THAT WOULD SERVICE ALL THE VETERANS IN HAYS COUNTY WOULD BE GREAT, OR AT LEAST IN OUR CITY. RIGHT? WE HAVE A LOT OF VETERANS GROUPS JUST IN OUR CITY, BUT SOMETHING THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BENEFIT EVERYBODY WOULD BE GREAT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING I COULD REALLY GET BEHIND. BUT I'M NOT A FAN OF, YOU KNOW, KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
I DON'T LIKE HOUSING PEOPLE HERE AND THEN OUTGROWING THIS AND GOING TO ANOTHER.
IT'S LIKE GOING FROM ONE SHACK TO ANOTHER SHACK TO ANOTHER SHACK.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE NEED TO DO. OUR VETERANS DESERVE A LOT MORE THAN THAT. THEY DESERVE THE BEST. I KNOW BECAUSE MY BROTHER IS A MARINE. HE WAS IN THE CORPS AND HE'S A VETERAN. I SAW WHAT I SAW THE SACRIFICES WHEN I WENT DOWN TO CAMP PENDLETON AND STAYED DOWN THERE AND SAW THE LIVING CONDITIONS, AND I ALWAYS SAID WE COULD DO BETTER AS A COUNTRY.
I KNOW THEY'RE IN A COUNTY FACILITY RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT BUILDING LOOKS HORRIBLE WHEN I GO BY IT.
THEY DO WHAT EVERYBODY DOES. EVERY VETERAN GROUP AND EVERY VETERAN IN OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES BETTER.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN INSTEAD OF US PIECEMEALING THINGS TOGETHER.
AND I HOPE THAT'S WHAT THE VFW WANTS AS WELL.
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO SUPPORT EVERYBODY. IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE THE ROOM. AND FOR OUR BOY SCOUTS. I MEAN, I'VE HELPED WITH A BUNCH OF EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS. I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT. I KNOW THE SACRIFICES THESE YOUNG PEOPLE DO TO EARN THAT EAGLE SCOUT.
SO I DEFINITELY KNOW THE HARD WORK THEY PUT INTO IT AS WELL.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD REALLY LOOK AT AND GO FORWARD WITH, IS THE RIGHT FACILITY, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE BUILD SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY GOING TO HONOR AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY, THE ENTIRE VETERAN COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF WHAT MY HOPE IS AND PIECEMEAL.
OH NO. THERE'S A NEW ONE. IT'S A IT'S A BLACK HAWK.
BUT YEAH THAT'S ANOTHER ONE WHERE WE COULD BE ABLE TO WORK. IT'S A NEW ONE THAT'S CALLED BLACK HAWK. ALL VETERAN GROUPS. YEAH. SO ALL VETERANS GROUPS. LET'S GET ALL VETERANS GROUPS IN THERE AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE ALL THERE. SO YEAH, THERE'S A NEW ONE NOW IT'S BLACK BLACKHAWKS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THERE'S MORE VETERAN GROUPS COMING IN. AND IF WE COULD SERVICE EVERYBODY, IT'D BE GREAT.
IT'D BE AWESOME. BUT I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE RED CROSS AS WELL.
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SERVICE EVERYONE.
IT'S SOMETHING I'D LOVE TO DO. SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S KIND OF WHAT Y'ALL'S VISION IS TOO.
AND WELL, AGAIN, COUNCILMAN, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS THAT Y'ALL.
Y'ALL HAVE GIVEN ME A LOT TO THINK ABOUT AS WELL AS THE REST OF US.
WE'LL GO BACK, TALK. BUT, YOU KNOW, AS VETERANS ARE WE FIGHT, WE'LL BE BACK.
WE JUST WE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO. THAT'S AWESOME.
YEAH. THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY TO THAT IS Y'ALL KNOW US AND WE KNOW Y'ALL.
AND THIS IS NOT THIS IS THIS IS A GOOD FORUM FOR FOR FOR WHAT IT IS.
[01:00:05]
THIS FORUM IS, IS A IT'S A BIT OF A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, 30 ITEMS TO GO THROUGH AND THERE'S JUST A LOT ON OUR MINDS.AND IT'S, IT'S IT'S NOT THE BEST TIME FOR YOU.
FRANKLY IT'S NOT. WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE BEST OF OURSELVES BECAUSE IT'S RECORDED.
WE HAVE WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE FREEDOM TO JUST TALK FREELY BACK AND FORTH.
BUT THE SPONSOR OF THE ITEM AND THE COME BEFORE US ALL AND DO ALL THIS.
WE NEED TO TAKE OUR TIME ON THIS. FAIR ENOUGH.
WE HAVE NOT CLOSED ON THIS LAND AND WE WILL NOT HAVE CLOSED ON IT BY THE BY THE NEXT MEETING.
BUT WE'RE WORKING ON A DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS, AND YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY GROUPS THAT NEED MEETING SPACE, BY THE WAY. I MEAN, WE WANT IT'S ON OUR IT'S ON OUR BINGO CARD, CULTIVATING MORE MEETING SPACE.
BUT JUST THE LAND ITSELF IS $1 MILLION. WE DON'T NEED $1 MILLION.
JUST THE DIRT IS $1 MILLION FOR THAT PROPERTY NEXT DOOR.
SO THERE'S JUST THERE'S JUST A LOT. THERE'S JUST A LOT TO IT.
IS THAT IS THAT WHERE A QUORUM IS WITH YOU? ALL IS.
I MEAN, IS THAT A MEETING? IS THAT IT IS. IT'S WE EVERY YEAR WE GO AWAY, WE PUT TICKETS, YOU KNOW, WE PUT BIG ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WHERE WE SIT DOWN AS A COUNCIL AND HAVE HAVE A LONG, A LONG DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH ANY NUMBER OF POTENTIAL TOPICS. SO IT'D BE IMPORTANT. THAT'LL BE MID MIDDLE OF MARCH I THINK IS WHEN THAT IS BEING OPEN.
I MEAN IT'S BEING A COUNCIL MEETING. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
RIGHT. IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. TAKE VOTES FOR THAT.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT ARE THAT ARE MAYBE A MOTEL ROOM.
COULD I BE ABLE TO GO? COME ON. ALL RIGHT. WE MAY DO THAT.
I THINK THAT SOMETIMES WE DO WE DO NEED WE NEED TO KIND OF THINK EVERYTHING THROUGH.
BUT I THIS WAS AN IDEA, RIGHT? THIS WAS A VISION.
RIGHT. AND AND I AGREE WITH YOU. AND LIKE WHAT YOU.
IT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR. SO TO ME, I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS A NEED AND THERE'S, THERE'S NO THE NEED IS GOING TO BE THERE WHETHER YOU'RE WAITING FOR MILLION DOLLAR FACILITIES OR NOT. SO I TRIED TO DO WHAT I CAN TO HELP THE COMMUNITY OUT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE GOAL IS HERE, FOCUSING ON NEEDS AND AND WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS, IS, IS ASKING FOR.
BUT OUT OF RESPECT FOR ALL COUNCIL, I, I, I'M NOT GOING TO BRING ANY MOTION BECAUSE I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S RESPECTFUL. THEY NEED TO HAVE THEIR TIME TO DIGEST IT ALL.
AND BUT I DO RESPECT YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO SPEAK TO ALL OF US.
AND NOW YOU KIND OF SEE WHERE THINGS WOULD BE AND WHAT WHAT PLANS WE'D HAVE TO COME UP WITH AS A COMMUNITY TO THE CITY TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. WELL, THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME I'VE APPEARED IN FRONT OF YOU ALL, AND THE FIRST TIME WAS LIKE 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO.
SO SOME OF YOU ARE NEWER, BUT I PLAN ON BEING FAR MORE ACTIVE WITH OUR CITY THAN I HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST, BECAUSE I TRULY BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED CAN MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT INSIDE THE BOX, YOU GUYS ARE INSIDE THE BOX, SO TO SPEAK.
BUT WE'RE OUT THERE. SO MARRYING COMMUNITIES WITH CITIZENS ALONG WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, I THINK IS A FAR, FAR GREATER SOLUTION FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY THAN JUST PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS AND NOT HAVING OUR CONSTITUENTS INVOLVED.
I MEAN, LET'S DO IT JUST LIKE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CENTER. CONSIDER A HEROES MEMORIAL PARK.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF FEELINGS AROUND WHAT A VETERANS MEMORIAL SHOULD BE LIKE. AND MAYBE THERE STILL ARE FEELINGS. BUT WE ENGAGED WITH THE VFW VERY HEAVILY AND AND WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDERS TO BUILD SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL THAT THAT WOULD BE BEST IN CLASS.
AND I THINK OUR OUR NEW PD FACILITY IS BEST IN CLASS.
I THINK WHEN WE'RE THROUGH WITH OUR FACILITY OVER HERE WITH THE SENIORS, I HOPE THAT IT'S ONE OF THE VERY BEST ONES IN THE REGION. I HAVE I HAVE NO DESIRE TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN MAKE SOMETHING REALLY GREAT FOR YOU ALL AS WELL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST FOR YOU, IT'S FOR ALL OF US. YOU KNOW, IT'S YOU'RE A REFLECTION OF US, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU MATTERS, AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO US MATTERS. SO ONE OTHER THING.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE IT.
ON BEHALF OF VFW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
[01:05:04]
WE DIDN'T MEAN TO TAKE UP SO MUCH TIME. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. SO DON'T STAB US IN THE BACK ON THE WAY OUT.[3) A proclamation recognizing George Washington Day.]
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, SAY I WAS THANKFUL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION.I'M PROUD TO READ IT. AND I WANT TO SAY A FEW LITTLE HIGHLIGHTS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, OUR FIRST PRESIDENT, FOUNDING FATHER OF OUR COUNTRY. MR. GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS A MAN WHO HAD GREAT LEADERSHIP, INTEGRITY, ETHICS, MAN OF CHARACTER. HE GREW UP IN HIS TIME, PRETTY HUMBLE HAD EXPERIENCED SURVEYING GOT INTO THE MILITIA WHERE HE HE LEARNED THE ART OF MILITARY STRATEGY AND TACTICS.
HE DIDN'T GET THE COMMISSION THAT HE WANTED WITH THE ENGLISH ARMY, SO HE WENT BACK INTO PRIVATE LIFE BUT STAYED STILL, STAYED POLITICALLY ACTIVE. DURING THE REVOLUTION, HE CAME BACK TO BE THE GENERAL OF THE COLONIAL ARMY, AND HIS GREAT ASSETS AND QUALITIES HELPED KEEP THAT MILITIA TOGETHER BY.
HE WAS INSPIRING THEM WHEN THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, UNMANNED, UNDERARMED, UNDERSERVED.
AND HE DID THAT BY BEING AN EXAMPLE, BY BEING OUT THERE, PUTTING HIS LIFE IN DANGER FOR THE MEN.
AND HE JUST COULD CONNECT WITH HIS CAPTAINS AND EVERYBODY.
SO THEY WERE VERY LOYAL TO HIM. THE COLONIALS STAYED WITH HIM, AND HE KNEW THAT HE HAD TO DEFEAT THE BRITISH BY WINNING THE WAR OF ATTRITION. BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, YOU LOSE SOME BATTLES, BUT THE IMPORTANT ONES WHERE HE COULD INSPIRE THE COUNTRYMEN TO BELIEVE IN THE CAUSE.
AFTER WINNING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, CAME BACK TO THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS TO HELP STABILIZE THE COUNTRY. SO THAT IT WOULDN'T FALL APART RIGHT AFTER IT JUST WON ITS INDEPENDENCE.
HIS BIGGEST THING WAS HE WAS NOT SEARCHING FOR POWER.
HE WAS SEARCHING FOR THE CAUSE WHICH BECAME THIS DEMOCRACY IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND TOWARDS THE END OF HIS LIFE, YOU KNOW, HE HE WAS A TWO TERM PRESIDENT, UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY ALL THE OTHER MEMBERS, AND HE GAVE GOOD COUNSEL TO, YOU KNOW, STAY OUT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
AND HE BUILT DIFFERENT CABINETS, THE TREASURY AND ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE NOW HOLD DEAR.
AND HE SET THE PRESIDENT MOST IMPORTANTLY BY TRANSFERRING POWER, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT OTHER, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DIDN'T DO IN THOSE PERIODS OF TIME.
SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE REMEMBER HIM FOR THAT COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP.
AND I'M PROUD TO READ THIS PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING THE WAR OF REVOLUTION FROM 1776 TO 1788, A WAR WON THROUGH THE BRILLIANT AND COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, REVERED FATHER OF OUR NATION.
AND WHEREAS GEORGE WASHINGTON, WHO LIVED FROM 1732 TO 1799, MOBILIZED THE CONTINENTAL ARMY AND LED THE AMERICAN COLONIES AGAINST THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, FINALLY DEFEATING THE BRITISH AT THE FAMOUS BATTLE OF YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA. AND WHEREAS THE REVERED FOUNDER OF THE NATION RESISTED THE EFFORTS OF MANY SUPPORTERS TO MAKE HIM A KING OR DICTATOR, INSTEAD USING HIS INFLUENCE AND POWER TO SUPPORT THE CREATION AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND WHEREAS GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS ELECTED AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SERVING TWO TERMS OF OFFICE FROM 1789 TO 1797, AND THROUGH HIS DEVOTION, WISDOM, AND VISION, BECAME THE EXEMPLAR OF DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP FOR ALL FUTURE PRESIDENTS.
AND WHEREAS, THE WILLIAM HIGHTOWER CHAPTER OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, IF PARTICIPANTS ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THE ETHICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO OUR NATION BY CELEBRATING HIS BIRTH ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2025. NOW, THEREFORE, I, MIGUEL ZUNIGA BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT THREE OF THE CITY OF KYLE, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 22ND, 2025 AS PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON DAY AND CALL UPON ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE BRILLIANCE, THE COURAGE, AND THE VISION OF THE FATHER OF OUR NATION AND THE RELEVANCE OF HIS LIFE TO
[01:10:05]
THE PRESERVATION OF OUR DEMOCRACY AND TODAY'S COMPLEX WORLD.AND OKAY, SO THAT IS WHAT I HAVE. AND I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. STUART HOYT TO COME UP IF YOU'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING AND THANK MISS ANNA WHEEL FOR BEING HERE AND FOR WRITING THIS PROCLAMATION UP FOR ME AS WELL.
THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. UP THERE. UP TO THE.
ELITE AND DIGNIFIED COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF KYLE.
THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE NATION. MY NAME IS STEW STU HOYT.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE WILLIAM HIGHTOWER CHAPTER.
AND THE YOUNG LADY TO MY RIGHT IS ANNE WHEELER, WHO IS THE REGENT OF THE NEWLY FORMED LIZZIE JOHNSON WILLIAMS, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FOR THE KYLE BUDA AREA.
THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
IN ORDER TO BECOME A MEMBER, ONE MUST PROVE DIRECT BLOODLINE DESCENDANCY OF THOSE THAT SUPPORTED THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM, THAT FREEDOM WHICH WE ALL ENJOY TODAY.
GEORGE WASHINGTON GAVE 35 YEARS OF HIS LIFE IN FORMING THIS COUNTRY AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. HIS BIRTHDAY WAS CELEBRATED EVERY YEAR AND EVERY YEAR THEREAFTER UNTIL 1971, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO DO A FAVOR TO ALL THE PEOPLE AND HAVE A THING CALLED THE UNITED MODIFIED HOLIDAY ACT. WE KNOW AS A THREE DAY WEEKEND. SINCE THAT TIME, YOU CAN ASK ANYBODY WHEN HIS BIRTHDAY IS AND THEY CAN'T TELL YOU.
A MAN THAT DEDICATED ALL THAT TIME AND YET HE IS NOT RECOGNIZED.
THERE ARE SEVEN STATES THAT RECOGNIZE HIS BIRTHDAY IN TEXAS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
WE WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THAT. I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND I DO WANT TO SHARE THAT I AM A 21 YEAR AIR FORCE VETERAN, MEMBER OF THE AMVETS CHAPTER AND COINCIDENTALLY, THE FIRST AMERICAN VETERANS SERVED IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOUR THROUGH 15.
[VI) Consent Agenda]
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY ITEMS THEY WISH TO PULL AND DISCUSS IN DETAIL? MOTIONS. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION.IF IT'S ALL CLEAR FOR A CONSENT AGENDA. ITEM NUMBER 4567, EIGHT, NINE, TEN, 11, 12, 13, 14 AND 15. WE HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. ALL RIGHT.
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBIAS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKINNEY TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 7 TO 0.
[16) Consider approval of a resolution finding public convenience and necessity and authorizing the use of eminent domain to condemn, if necessary, a 1,741 square foot parcel of land in fee simple (as described in Exhibit 4) from certain real property owned by Richard Cuellar, Sr. and Rita Cuellar for the public use and purpose of construction of public roadway improvements and shared use paths including a portion of the Vybe Trail. ]
NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 16 AND ITEM 16, 17, AND 18 AND 19 ALL DEAL WITH LAND ACQUISITIONS FOR UTILITY AND TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS. MR.. DO YOU WANT TO PRESENT ON ALL OF THEM? THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH THE FIRST THREE ARE ALL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS YOUR PRESENTATION ON ALL OF THEM.IT IS. ALL RIGHT. GO AHEAD. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS KENT SICK. I'M OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR THE CITY AND REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION MATTERS.
LET'S SEE. WE'LL JUST BRING IT UP. THIS IS FOR THE CENTER STREET PROJECT.
WE CALL THIS PARCEL 11. THE LAND THAT'S TO BE ACQUIRED IS THAT GREEN PARCEL THERE ON THE EXHIBIT? NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH THIS LANDOWNER FOR SOME TIME NOW. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS IS FOR THE CITY TO CONSIDER AND PASS THIS RESOLUTION SO THAT, IF NECESSARY, THE CITY MIGHT INITIATE EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDINGS TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY.
SO WE'RE WE'RE ASKING YOU GUYS TO TO CONSIDER THAT RESOLUTION.
THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 17 IS FOR ALSO FOR A PC AND RESOLUTION.
THIS IS FOR THE KYLE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT.
[01:15:03]
THERE WE GO. THESE NEXT TWO PARCELS ARE FOR THAT.SO THIS PART THIS PROJECT IS TO EXPAND AN EXISTING 30 INCH WASTEWATER LINE TO A 48 INCH WASTEWATER LINE AND AN EXISTING EIGHT INCH RECLAIMED WATER LINE TO AN 18 INCH WATER LINE. THESE EASEMENTS ARE BEING EXPANDED.
THE SECOND ONE IS A GREEN ONE OWNED BY THE TERHUNE'S.
THESE NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 24TH SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AFTER MAKING A BONA FIDE OFFER.
THE CITY'S EFFORTS HAVEN'T HAVEN'T WORKED OUT.
THIS IS THE PROPERTY TO BE ACQUIRED FROM MISS ANTHONY'S PROPERTY.
THE PERMANENT EASEMENT THERE IS THE THING IN THE MIDDLE AND THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENTS.
THE CITY NEEDS ARE IN THE SHADED AREA ON EITHER SIDE.
THIS IS THE NEXT DOOR PROPERTY, THE TERHUNE ONE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PERMANENT EASEMENT AND THE TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT ARE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE, AND THEY'RE NEEDED FOR WASTEWATER AND RECLAIMED WATER LINES.
WE WOULD ASK THAT THE CITY CONSIDER PASSING THE PCN RESOLUTIONS FOR BOTH OF THESE PROPERTIES AS WELL, SO THAT THE ACQUISITION PROCESS CAN MOVE FORWARD LEGALLY.
AND I THINK THAT'S MY PRESENTATION FOR THOSE THREE.
AND THIS DOES HAVE TO BE BY ROLL CALL VOTE. OKAY.
OKAY. I'M JUST GOING TO READ THE MOTIONS ON THE ITEMS. DO YOU DO? YOU CAN'T. DO YOU SAY? I NEED TO READ OUT THE CAPTIONS FIRST AND THEN THE MOTIONS.
JUST THE MOTION TO BE FINE. I BELIEVE I'M GOING TO START ON AGENDA ITEM 16.
I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF KYLE AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE 1741FT² OF LAND IN FEE SIMPLE FROM PROPERTY OWNED BY RICHARD CUELLAR SENIOR AND RITA CUELLAR IS DESCRIBED IN AGENDA ITEM 16 FOR THE PUBLIC USE OF CONSTRUCTING AND OPERATING PUBLIC ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE OLD STAGECOACH ROAD PROJECT. SECOND I MOTION BY MAYOR, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBIAS.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ROLL CALL.
VOTE. ZUNIGA. YES. HARRIS. YES. HEIZER. YES. TOBIAS.
AYE. MCKINNEY. YES. RIZZO A MITCHELL. YES. ALL RIGHT.
MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT UP WILL BE AGENDA ITEM 17.
[17) Consider approval of a resolution finding public convenience and necessity and authorizing the use of eminent domain to condemn if necessary a 0.148 acre permanent utility easement and a 0.222 acre temporary construction easement in two parts (all as described in Exhibit 4) from certain real property conveyed to Terry Lewis and Deborah Nazemi and recorded at volume 4334, page 286 of the official public records of Hays County, Texas, and now owned by Deborah Anthony, for the public use and purpose of construction of wastewater and reclaimed water lines.]
I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF KYLE AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PERMANENT UTILITY EASEMENT OVER 0.148 ACRES AND A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT IN TWO PARTS, OVER A TOTAL OF 0.222 ACRES, ALL FROM THE PROPERTY OWNED BY DEBORAH ANTHONY.YEAH. MITCHELL. YES. MCKINNEY. YES. ZUNIGA. YES.
RIZZO. AYE. HARRIS. YES. TOBIAS. AYE. ALL RIGHT.
MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 18.
[18) Consider approval of a resolution finding public convenience and necessity and authorizing the use of eminent domain to condemn if necessary a 0.261 acre permanent utility easement and a 0.260 acre temporary construction easement (both as described in Exhibit 4) from certain real property conveyed to Terrell K. Terhune and Susan E. Terhune and recorded at volume 4348, page 671 of the official public records of Hays County, Texas, for the public use and purpose of construction of wastewater and reclaimed water lines.]
I MOVE THAT THE CITY OF KYLE AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACQUIRE PERMANENT UTILITY EASEMENT OVER 0.261 ACRES IN A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT OVER 0.260 ACRES FROM PROPERTY OWNED BY TERRELL K TERHUNE AND SUSAN E TERHUNE, AS DESCRIBED IN AGENDA ITEM 18 FOR THE PUBLIC USE OF CONSTRUCTING AND OPERATING PUBLIC WASTEWATER AND RECLAIMED WATER LINES.HI. RIZZO. HI. HARRIS. YES. MCKINNEY. YES. MITCHELL.
YES. ZUNIGA. YES. HEISER. YES. ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[19) Consider approval of a resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into and fund Possession And Use Agreements with Center Street Village, L.P. for Parcels 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Center Street Village Wastewater Project segment 2, not to exceed $331,703.]
VILLAGE, L.P. FOR PARCELS ONE, TWO, THREE, AND FOUR OF THE CENTER STREET VILLAGE WASTEWATER PROJECT SEGMENT TWO, NOT TO EXCEED $331,703. SECOND. AND THAT WAS JUST THE ITEM THAT THIS WOULD NORMALLY BE.AMBER. BUT ARE YOU PRESENTING THIS ONE? YES. OKAY.
HELLO AGAIN. COUNCIL. SO THIS IS THE CENTER STREET VILLAGE WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENT LINE PROJECT.
THIS IS A BADLY NEEDED PROJECT THE CITY HAS CITIES NEEDED TO GET DONE FOR SOME TIME.
THERE ARE FOUR PARCELS HERE. THE CITY HAS ALREADY PASSED PCN RESOLUTIONS.
LAWSUITS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN FILED. WE ARE SEEKING TO SET THESE HEARINGS.
THAT TAKES QUITE A BIT OF TIME. THE LANDOWNER HAS AGREED WITH THE CITY TO ENTER INTO THESE POSSESSION AND USE AGREEMENTS, WHICH WOULD GIVE THE CITY PRETTY MUCH IMMEDIATE POSSESSION SO THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT COULD MOVE FORWARD WHILE WE ARE STILL WORKING OUT THE COMPENSATION ISSUES.
[01:20:04]
ALL RIGHT. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY THE MAYOR, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER TOBIAS THAT WE APPROVE. AGENDA ITEM 19. IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? DOES THAT REQUIRE A ROLL CALL VOTE? NO. ALL RIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 7 TO 0.
THANK YOU. KENT. THANK YOU GUYS. HAVE A GOOD EVENING. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 20.
[20) (First Reading) Consider approval of an ordinance granting Acadian Ambulance Service Inc., d/b/a Acadian Ambulance Service of Texas, LLC, a franchise to provide non-emergency and rollover emergency ambulance services within the boundaries of the City of Kyle. (Two readings required per Charter Sec. 11.02) Public Hearing ]
THIS ITEM DOES HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. FIRST READING.CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE GRANTING ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE, INC., DBA ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICES OR SERVICE OF TEXAS, LLC, A FRANCHISE TO PROVIDE NON-EMERGENCY AND ROLLOVER EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OF KYLE.
CHIEF BARNETT, IF YOU WANT TO PRESENT AND THEN WE'LL DO A PUBLIC HEARING.
ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU'RE FINE WITH THAT, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF. JEFF BARNETT, CHIEF OF POLICE, FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TONIGHT, WE'RE HERE TO BRING ABOUT A RENEWAL OF A PREVIOUSLY EXISTING AGREEMENT WITH THE ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE.
ALSO DOES BUSINESS AS ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICES OF TEXAS.
WE HAD AN EXISTING AGREEMENT THAT EXPIRED IN JANUARY OF 2025.
AND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE, IF YOU SO CHOOSE A RENEWAL AGREEMENT FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS, WITH AN OPTION FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS. SHOULD THE REQUESTER MAKE MAKE SUCH A REQUEST? IT'LL BE THE EXACT SAME AGREEMENT THAT YOU'VE HAD IN PLACE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WITH THE AMBULANCE SERVICE.
THIS AGREEMENT IS ASKED ON THEIR BEHALF. IT IS REQUIRED BY OUR CITY CHARTER.
THEY AGREE TO THE SAME TERMS AS BEFORE. YOU SEE BEFORE YOU THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE.
THEY'LL PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES TO THE CITY OF KYLE AND TO THE KYLE ETJ.
THEY WILL CONTINUE THE SAME FRANCHISE FEE OF 3.5%, BASED ON THE TOTAL AMOUNT BILLED AND OTHER INCOME DERIVED FROM THEIR OPERATIONS AND NON-EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE. AND AGAIN, THIS IS A TWO YEAR AGREEMENT WITH AN OPTION FOR AN ADDITIONAL TWO YEARS.
OUR CITY'S RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU APPROVE AS ASKED.
WE DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE TONIGHT WITH US, MR..
RON, IF I'M GETTING THAT RIGHT, RON, I APOLOGIZE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. CHIEF. THIS ITEM DOES HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING. SO IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, I'M GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. NOW. SEEING NONE. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW OPEN. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? ALL RIGHT.
SEEING NONE, THE PUBLIC IS HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS NOW CLOSED, COUNCILOR TOBIAS.
YES, SIR. SO THE ROLLOVER SERVICES MEANS THAT THEY'RE TYPICALLY GOING TO PROVIDE INTER-HOSPITAL TRANSFERS, NURSING HOME TRANSFERS, MAYBE TO AND FROM LOCATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF KYLE.
AND SHOULD THERE BE A SITUATION IN WHICH WE ARE OUT OF EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICES, OR SHOULD THEY ENCOUNTER AN EMERGENCY, THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO PASS THAT BY. BUT IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL AMBULANCES DURING A DISASTER, PERHAPS WE HAVE A TORNADO THAT THAT CAUSES A MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT.
THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO TO NOT DO THEIR DUTIES.
WE HAVE THAT IN PLACE. WE HAVE THAT EXISTING.
THIS IS TO PROVIDE ROLLOVER. SHOULD THERE BE AN EMERGENCY.
AND RON, IF I DIDN'T EXPLAIN THAT CLEARLY, IS THAT CLEAR ENOUGH? OKAY. YEAH. THEY'RE NOT YOUR PRIMARY 911 AMBULANCE SERVICE, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO GOING TO. THEY'RE GOING TO COME HELP IF WE NEED IT. OKAY. LIKE THE TRAGIC INCIDENT WE HAD WITH THE BUS ACCIDENT, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO COME OUT AND ASSIST.
THANK YOU, COUNCILOR HARRIS. I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHAT THE REPUTATION IS OF THIS PARTICULAR VENDOR.
WELL, I HATE TO BE THE ONE TO TO GAUGE SOMEBODY'S REPUTATION.
THEY ARE. THEY ARE. I MEAN, OH, YEAH, THEY'RE A MULTI-STATE AMBULANCE SERVICE THAT HAS A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING AMBULANCE SERVICE, BOTH 911 SERVICES AND INTER-FACILITY TRANSFERS AND SUCH THAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE CITY OF KYLE.
I HAVE BEEN IN THE EMS BUSINESS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, ESPECIALLY EARLY IN MY LIFE, AND THEY WERE ALWAYS A GO TO AMBULANCE SERVICE FOR PROVIDING TRAINING FOR EMTS AND PARAMEDICS. THEY PROVIDE AIR SERVICE, GROUND SERVICE, BOTH BASIC LIFE SUPPORT, ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT. SO THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF PROVIDING MEDICAL SERVICES TO MULTIPLE STATES IN OUR REGION BASED OUT OF LOUISIANA, I BELIEVE IS WHERE THEIR HOME BASE IS AT, BUT THEY CERTAINLY OPERATE IN MULTIPLE STATES.
SO YOU'VE BEEN PLEASED WITH YOUR INTERACTIONS AND THEIR SERVICES? YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN CHIEF, IS THE COST OF AN AMBULANCE RIDE WITH ACADIAN THE SAME AS AN AMBULANCE RIDE WITH ANY OTHER AMBULANCE SERVICE? I APOLOGIZE, BUT I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE AN EXPERT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU THAT ANSWER. BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND, I COULD INVITE RON UP HERE. MAYBE HE COULD GIVE SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THEIR CHARGING BECAUSE HE DOES HAVE IF YOU LOOK IN YOUR BACKUP MATERIAL EXHIBIT B THAT TALKS ABOUT SOME OF THEIR CHARGES FOR BOTH ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT AND BASIC LIFE SUPPORT
[01:25:05]
TRANSPORTS. RON. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR. COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS RENEWAL.JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW. 53 YEARS IN BUSINESS. AN EMPLOYEE OWNED COMPANY ACCREDITED.
AND WE DO SERVICE FOR STATES. WE RUN ABOUT 750 AMBULANCES A DAY.
WE HAVE 14 HELICOPTERS AND THREE FIXED WINGS.
SO VERY REPUTABLE SERVICE IN REGARDS TO FEES.
THE SERVICES THAT WE'LL BE PROVIDING IN AND AROUND KYLE ARE TYPICALLY NON-EMERGENT TRANSFERS.
AND WE BILL THE MEDICARE FEE SCHEDULE. IT'S THE MEDICARE ALLOWABLE RATE.
SO IT'S THE INDUSTRY STANDARD. OKAY. SO NO NO SURPRISES WHEN IT COMES TO BILLING.
COOL. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. COUNCIL MEMBER.
RIZZO. YEAH. I JUST GOT ONE QUICK QUESTION. HOW MANY AMBULANCES DO YOU HAVE IN HAYS COUNTY RIGHT NOW? SO IN HAYS, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY HOUSED IN HAYS.
WE HAVE I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT. FORGIVE ME. I'M.
I'M NEWER TO THE AREA. I'M FROM MASSACHUSETTS.
WE DO HAVE AMBULANCES HOUSED IN SAN MARCOS, MARCUS, AND WE HAVE HIM IN TRAVIS COUNTY IN AUSTIN.
AND THEY WOULD YOU SAY JUST IN THE AREA. I'M SORRY, IN THE SAN MARCOS AUSTIN AREA.
HOW MANY AMBULANCES? SO IN THIS DIVISION OF OURS, WE RUN ABOUT 55 AMBULANCES A DAY.
OH THAT'S GREAT. YEAH. THAT'S AWESOME. AND THE REASON I'M ASKING IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT JIMMIE JOHNSON, CHIEF, MAKING SURE THAT OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR HAS ALL THE CONTACT INFORMATION IN CASE THERE IS AN EMERGENCY.
LIKE COUNCIL MEMBER TOBIAS POINTED OUT A BUS ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING MAJOR, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE.
WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? HAVE ENOUGH AMBULANCES. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN WE HAVE THAT ONE EMERGENCY WHERE WE DEFINITELY NEED AN ABUNDANCE OF AMBULANCES, A BIG BUS CRASH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. GOD, I HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS.
BUT IF IT IF IT DOES, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THAT.
AND THAT'S THAT'S WHY WE CREATED THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POSITION.
AND FOR THAT REASON WAS TO HAVE THESE PARTNERSHIPS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? MOTIONS. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES 7 TO 0. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
[21) Consider approval of a resolution to approve an agreement with Mesa Design Group, Inc. for master planning design services of a nature park at Lake Kensington for an amount of $611,621.90.]
INC. FOR MASTER PLANNING DESIGN SERVICES OF A NATURE PARK AT LAKE KENSINGTON FOR AN AMOUNT OF $611,621.90.MISS TRUELOVE. GOOD EVENING, ROSY TRUELOVE, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES. THIS ITEM IS TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE ACTUAL DESIGN CONTRACT WITH MESA DESIGN GROUP FOR LAKE KENSINGTON. AS A MATTER OF BACKGROUND, THIS IS A 105 ACRE UNDEVELOPED PARK LOCATED AT 2400 DACEY LANE.
THE FEASIBILITY REPORT WAS COMPLETED IN JUNE OF 2024, AND THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS A PRIORITY PROJECT FOR 2025 THROUGH 2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. THIS WILL BE PROGRAMED IN. DESIGNED AS A PREMIER NATURE PARK WITH A BUDGET OF 17 MILLION.
WE WILL BEGIN SURVEYS AND GEOTECHNICAL STUDIES, AND THE PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS WILL BRING 2 TO 3 CONCEPT DESIGNS TO THE PARKS BOARD AND COUNCIL FOR FEEDBACK AND APPROVAL. AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK WITH A FULL CONSTRUCTION DESIGN CONTRACT FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
WE RECEIVED 17 RESPONSES. CITY STAFF EVALUATION PANEL WAS CONVENED AND SHORTLISTED FOUR FIRMS FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE TASK FORCE AND BOTH THE CITY STAFF PANEL AND THE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDED AWARD OF THE CONTRACT TO MESA DESIGN GROUP.
THE TWO OPTIONS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY ARE TO APPROVE THE EXECUTION OF THE AGREEMENT, OR TO NOT APPROVE THE AGREEMENT. AND PARKS DIRECTOR DAVID LOPEZ IS HERE TO HELP ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ROSIE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILOR TOBIAS.
OKAY. MR. LOPEZ, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE HOA AT SOUTH LAKE RANCH THAT A LOT OF THE RESIDENTS WERE BLINDSIDED BY THIS PROJECT. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE, LIKE, AT THE VERY, VERY EARLY STAGES OF YOU KNOW, GETTING THE BALL ROLLING AS FAR AS THE CONCEPT DESIGN AND HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK.
[01:30:01]
WE DID DISCUSS THAT THE MEDIA GROUP WILL CONDUCT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENTS, AND WE DID.AND WE DID REACH OUT AND SAY THAT WE WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO BE REACHING OUT TO BOTH AWAY FROM KENSINGTON TRAILS AND SOUTH LAKE RANCH. YES, SIR. TO START THE PROCESS AS FAR AS ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON ON THE WHAT'S IN THE IN THE FUTURE? CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT KNOWN THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOME RESIDENTS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS WAS COMING AROUND.
I THINK WHAT CAUGHT THEM OFF GUARD WAS AN AERIAL PHOTO OF THE PARK.
SO GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL. AS THIS IF THIS CONTRACT IS AUTHORIZED THIS EVENING, THEN WE WOULD START PRELIMINARY WORK, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, LOOKING AT SOME PROGRAMMATIC CONCEPTS AND DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES FOR THIS PROJECT, WORKING WITH THE TASK FORCE, WORKING WITH PARKS BOARD.
BUT WE'RE WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A CONTRACT EXECUTED YET.
WE'RE AT THE VERY FRONT END OF THIS. OKAY, SO IF THE THE IDEA WOULD BE TO WHERE IF THEY CAME BACK WITH A CONCEPT DESIGN SAYING THAT WE MIGHT NEED A JUST THROWING IT OUT THERE ADDITIONAL PROPERTY, THEN WE WOULD TAKE THOSE STEPS GOING FORWARD.
CORRECT. YES, SIR. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. COUNCILMAN.
IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT. SO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO. THE MESA GROUP REALLY TALKED ABOUT A PLAN ON HOW TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A CITY WIDE PARK AS WELL. SO EVERYBODY IT'S GOING TO BE OUR LARGEST PARK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE INVESTMENT WE'RE MAKING AT THE LOCATION.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING. SO YEAH, DEFINITELY IMPORTANT TO GET ALL THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND THE REASON WHY IS THAT WE WANT TO BUILD A PARK FOR THE COMMUNITY. I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S THE CONSENSUS UP AND DOWN THE DAIS AND BUILDING SOMETHING FOR THE RESIDENTS THERE AND FOR THE REST OF THE RESIDENTS IN KYLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS BIG PROJECT.
ONCE THEY UNDERSTAND THE GREAT ACCESS THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO A WORLD CLASS PARK.
BUT IT CERTAINLY IN MY YEARS, IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT THERE'S A THERE'S A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM WHENEVER SOMETHING NEW IS PROPOSED, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT'S WHAT'S COMING AND HAVING BEEN READ IN. SO THE THE ENGAGEMENT OF THOSE TWO NEIGHBORHOODS IN PARTICULAR, I THINK IS, IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I EXPECT AND HOPE THAT OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD IS PROTECTED FROM THINGS, BUT AS WELL, OVER TIME BECOMING VERY VOCALLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT.
SO YEAH. YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? YES. I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 21. SECOND GROUP. ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER TOBIAS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER RIZZO THAT WE APPROVE.
AGENDA ITEM 21. IS THERE A DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 7 TO 0. JUST. AND JUST AS AN FYI, I'VE ALWAYS COUNTED THE INITIAL DESIGN, THE MAJOR DESIGN CONTRACTS AS THE START OF A PROJECT.
AND SO OFFICIALLY, IN MY OPINION, THAT THAT VOTE RIGHT THERE REPRESENTS THE START OF THE LAKE KENSINGTON NATURE PARK AND WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO, WHATEVER IT'S CALLED. BUT I LIKE IT AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF THAT VOTE.
[22) Consider approval of Amendment No. 2 to the agreement with CP&Y, dba, STV Infrastructure for the final design, bid phase, and construction phase services of the WWTP Phase 2 Expansion in the amount of $15,486,908.03 for a total contract amount of $17,783,101.71.]
DBA STV ISDB INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FINAL DESIGN, BID PHASE AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.PHASE TWO EXPANSION IN THE AMOUNT OF $15,486,908.03, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $17,783,101.71. MR. TRUELOVE. AS THE MAYOR JUST MENTIONED, THIS IS ADDITIONAL DESIGN FOR THE EXPANSION OF OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
OUR EXISTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TOTAL PERMITTED CAPACITY IS 4.5 MILLION GALLONS.
MILLION GALLONS PER DAY. ON AUGUST 1ST OF 2023, COUNCIL AWARDED THAT 30% DESIGN CONTRACT TO STEVE AFTER A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PROCESS. STEVE HAS COMPLETED THE 30% PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT, AND WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT THE NEXT PHASES OF WORK.
A PROPOSAL FOR THE REMAINING DESIGN, INCLUDING BID PHASE SERVICES, FOR THIS NEXT EXPANSION, INCLUDES WHAT WE'RE CALLING AN EARLY WORKS PACKAGE, OR AWP.
ON THE SLIDE OF TWO AND A HALF MGD AND THE FINAL WORKS PACKAGE, OR WP OF AN ADDITIONAL TWO MGD,
[01:35:08]
FOR A TOTAL CAPACITY OF NINE MGD. THE EARLY WORKS PACKAGE WILL COME ONLINE IN JULY OF 2026 WITH TYPE ONE WATER, AND THE FINAL WORKS PACKAGE WILL COME ONLINE IN MAY OF 2028 WITH NINE MGD.THE EARLY WORKS PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE DESIGN FOR DISC FILTRATION, MASONRY, FENCING AND LANDSCAPING, AND THE FINAL WORK PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE ODOR CONTROL, GRIP REMOVAL, AERATION BASIN, CLARIFIERS DIGESTERS AND CHEMICAL DOSAGE FOR PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL. THIS SLIDE SHOWS A MAP AND KIND OF A PHYSICAL OUTLAY OF THE WORK THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THE WORK PACKAGES. THE BLUE AREAS ARE THE EARLY WORKS PACKAGE AND THE RED ARE THE FINAL WORKS PACKAGE.
THE. WE'RE SEPARATING THIS INTO AN EARLY WORK PACKAGE SO THAT WE CAN GET THE THE 2.5 MGD ADDITIONAL CAPACITY ON A QUICKER TIME FRAME TO ADDRESS OUR GROWTH AND OUR REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. THE ADDITION OF THIS EARLY WORKS PACKAGE WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL CAPACITY 22 MONTHS SOONER THAN WAITING FOR THE FULL EXPANSION.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PROJECT PLAN ON THE SCREEN.
SO FROM MARCH TO APRIL 2025 WILL BE IN PRE-PROCUREMENT AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE SERVICES.
WE ANTICIPATE IN OCTOBER OF 2025 AWARDING THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE EARLY WORKS PACKAGE.
AND THEN GOING INTO FOURTH QUARTER OF 2025, DO THE PRE-PROCUREMENT FOR THE FINAL WORKS PACKAGE AND AWARDING THAT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT IN 2026. QUARTER TWO OF 2026. SO THE DESIGN AMENDMENT HERE IS FOR AN ADDITIONAL 15 APPROXIMATELY $15.5 MILLION. THIS SCOPE OF WORK INCLUDES THE EARLY WORK AND FINAL WORK PACKAGES.
DESIGN PHASE SERVICES AND THE BID PHASE SERVICES FOR THE EARLY WORKS PACKAGE.
THEY'VE PREPARED A PROPOSAL. WE'VE GOT FUNDING THAT'S ADEQUATE IN OUR BUDGET.
AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT.
I'M GOING TO LET DIRECTOR MIKE MURPHY ADDRESS THAT QUESTION.
THANK YOU. ROSIE. SO THE DEADLINE FOR REHEARING IS MARCH THE 3RD, 2025. AND IF ANY MOTIONS THAT ARE NOT RECEIVED BY THEN OR ANY MOTIONS THAT ARE OVERRULED WILL HAPPEN BY APRIL THE 1ST. AND IF WE IF WE CLEAR THOSE TWO HURDLES, THEN WE GET OUR PERMIT AND WE'VE CLEARED ALREADY A COUPLE OF HURDLES WITH THEM, RIGHT? WE HAVE SO. SO WE GOT APPROVAL. NOW WE'RE JUST WAITING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY WILLING TO APPEAL.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER ZUNIGA. THANK YOU, MIKE AND BRIAN, FOR ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS I ASKED ABOUT THE ODOR NUISANCE, BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT I'M FOCUSED ON HERE, TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE'RE FINISHING EITHER THE PHASE TWO DESIGNS, THAT WE'RE NOT SHORTCUTTING THE ODOR CONTROL BECAUSE THAT IS AFFECTING THE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING WOODLANDS, BARTON CREEK, ALL OF THAT AS WE GROW THE CAPACITY THERE.
AND SO IS THE 3.6 EARMARKED MILLION FOR ODOR CONTROL.
IS THAT LOOKING AT THE WHERE THE HEADWORKS IS, WHERE THE MOST STRONG ODORS ARISE FROM? YEAH, THAT'S THAT'S THE THE 3.6 MILLION IS ALL ENCOMPASSING.
AND WHAT WE'RE DOING UNTIL WE GET THAT'S PART OF PHASE TWO.
SO WE DON'T GET TO THAT UNTIL THE THE SECOND PACKAGE.
THE FINAL WORK PACKAGE THAT ROSIE WAS REFERRING TO THAT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETED IN MAY OF 2028.
BUT UP UNTIL THAT POINT, WE'VE GOT TEMPORARY FEATURES IN PLACE.
WE'VE GOT A NEW FEATURE THAT WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR, MATERIAL DELIVERY, AND THAT'S FOR THE THAT'S FOR THE BACTERIOLOGICAL MEDIA AND SCRUBBERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT INSTALL HOPEFULLY BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH.
RIGHT. AND THAT WILL STAY IN PLACE UNTIL WE'RE READY TO PUT TO PUT THE NEW SCRUBBERS ONLINE.
WILL WE STILL BE USING A COMBINATION OF THE BIOCIDE? BECAUSE THAT HAS FROM WHAT I'VE NOTICED, IT'S HELPING OUT THERE, RIGHT? YEAH. SO SO THE THE THREE FEATURES THAT WE DESCRIBED TO COUNCIL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, OR I GUESS PROBABLY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO NOW, TWO OF THEM ARE IN PLACE AND SEEM TO BE WORKING REALLY WELL.
[01:40:01]
SO WILL THERE STILL BE COLUMNS, I GUESS, OF CHARCOAL OUT THERE, LIKE THE LARGE STACKS THAT YOU SEE IN NORMAL TREATMENT PLANTS? IS THAT STILL PART OF THE DESIGN OF THE NEW DESIGN? YEAH. I'M NOT REALLY SURE. WE DO HAVE OUR ENGINEER FROM STEVE HERE.IF SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SO. ARE YOU OKAY? LINDSAY WEBB WITH STEVE. SO OUR OUR FULL EXPANSION THAT THE FULL WORKS PACKAGE WILL INCLUDE ODOR CONTROL.
TWO ADDITIONAL ONES FOR THE R-RATED SPLITTER BOX.
SO THERE WILL BE THREE SYSTEMS KIND OF SCATTERED AROUND THE PLANT, MOSTLY AT THE FRONT END, WHERE THE MAJOR ODOR CONCERNS ARE. BUT WE KIND OF SPLIT UP THE SYSTEMS TO KIND OF HONE IN ON THE CAPACITY THAT WE NEED FOR EACH OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS AND WHAT THE DESIGNS BE FEASIBLE TO ADD ON MORE MODIFICATIONS IF NEEDED AS WE CONTINUE GROWING TO MORE MGS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WILL PRODUCE MORE, MORE ODORS IN THE FUTURE.
CORRECT. SO WE HOPE IT WON'T PRODUCE MORE ODORS.
YES, SIR. I THINK WE'VE TRIED TO BE CLEAR. IT DOESN'T.
THERE IS FUNDING IN THE PROJECT. 3.66 MILLION, I THINK, IS THE FIGURE RELATED TO ODOR CONTROL.
IT'S BEEN A BIG FOCUS FOR I KNOW MIKE AND TIM AND THE TEAM OUT THERE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL REASONS WE WANT TO LOOK AT IMPROVING THIS FACILITY LONG TERM. SO YES, THAT WILL BE PART OF THE PROJECT.
AND I MEAN I SORRY, THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION. SO WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO ALMOST A CLOSED LOOP OF THE WATER SYSTEM DOWN THERE, AREN'T WE. IS THAT STILL KIND OF BEING LOOKED AT IN THE FUTURE TO HAVE IT ALL CLOSED WHERE YOU CAN ALMOST REUSE THAT WATER BETTER, BETTER TERTIARY LEVEL OF WATER? YES. SO ONCE WE GET ALL THESE FEEDS, ACTUALLY, ONCE WE GET THE THE EARLY WORK PACKAGE INSTALLED, WE'RE GOING TO BE DELIVERING TYPE ONE WASTEWATER, WHICH IS THAT WON'T BE POSSIBLE.
WATER LAWNS. IT'S JUST IT'S IT'S MINIMAL BODY CONTACT WATER IS WHAT IT'S BASICALLY CALLED.
SO IT'S GOT A SHOT OF OXYGEN AS WELL THAT HELPS THE WILDLIFE THAT LIVES IN THE CREEK.
BUT I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT ON ONE OF THESE CHARTS, WE SHOWED HOW MUCH TIME WE'RE ACTUALLY SAVING ON THIS PROJECT, AND IT TOOK A BIG TEAM EFFORT TO GET IT TO THIS POINT, WORKING WITH ROSIE AND HER TEAM, WITH THE ENGINEERING TEAM, WITH AMY, AND OF COURSE WITH OUR OUR WATER TEAM TO SHAVE OFF WHAT WE'RE CONSIDERING 22 MONTHS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE TO GET THAT FIRST PHASE COMPLETED. OTHERWISE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 2028 BEFORE WE WERE WE WERE DELIVERING TYPE ONE WATER.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO DELIVER THAT WATER IN JULY.
AND YOU ALL STILL HAVE A UV UV COMPONENT IN THIS PLANT? I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD THAT BEFORE. IS THAT NEW TO THIS? SO THAT WILL PRODUCE LESS BACTERIA INTO THE CREEK RIGHT.
YEAH. IF YOU IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP UP THERE, YOU SEE THE UV DISINFECTION, JUST AS THE WATER IS ONE OF THE FINAL PHASES OF THE WATER BEFORE WE PUT IT, PUT IT OUT. I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT, COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS.
SO I REALLY LIKE THAT WE'RE SPLITTING THIS INTO TWO PHASES.
I THINK THAT IS BRILLIANT. I UNDERSTAND HOW CLOSE WE ARE TO NONCOMPLIANCE.
THANK YOU. THERE'S A LOT OF HARD WORK THANKS TO THE STAFF AND THEIR TEAM.
SO, COUNCIL MEMBER OR MAYOR PRO TEM. DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS? YEAH. GO AHEAD. JUST QUICKLY. HEY, MIKE, I'M JUST WONDERING, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS DAIS IS ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT THE ODOR COMING OUT OF THERE, BUT WE'RE ALSO HAVING THE FENCE PUT IN FOR THAT REASON.
WHAT'S THE TIMELINE ON THE CONCRETE FENCE TO CUT DOWN ON THAT ODOR?
[01:45:01]
YEAH. SO THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE NEW FENCE? THE NEW FENCE THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE EARLY WORK PACKAGE. OKAY. SO IT'LL BE THE EARLY WORK.SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THANK YOU. COUNCILOR HEISER.
YEAH. MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 22.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? COUNCILMEMBER ZUNIGA. YEAH. I JUST WANT TO SAY LAST TECHNICAL COMMENT. BY REDUCING ODORS, YOU'RE ALSO REDUCING SULFURIC ACID, WHICH DETERIORATES YOUR PIPES DOWN THERE.
RIGHT. SO IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO HAVE LOW HYDROGEN SULFIDE, RIGHT? ISN'T THAT TRUE? YES. RIGHT. OTHERWISE, YOU'LL BE CORRODING YOUR PIPES DOWN THERE.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE JUST ADDRESSING ODOR FOR NO REASON.
IT'S GOT IT'S GOT ANOTHER PURPOSE. I AGREE 100%.
ALL RIGHT, MIKE, YOU'VE SAID SOMETHING BEFORE, AND I LET IT PASS.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES 7 TO 0. THANK YOU ALL.
NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 23. RECEIVER REPORT. HOLD DISCUSSION.
[23) Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide staff direction on the proposed High School Internship Program (HIP). ]
PROVIDE STAFF DIRECTION ON THE PROPOSED HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.MISS TRUELOVE. BACK IN DECEMBER, ON THE 12TH, COUNCIL APPROVED AN ITEM DIRECTING STAFF TO CONSIDER ACTION ON OR TO EXPLORE.
RATHER A HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER INTERN WORK OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM FOR CITY DEPARTMENTS.
PROGRAM GOALS INCLUDED GROWING AND DEVELOPING LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THE PROGRAM THAT WE ARE PRESENTING TODAY IS A LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR CARLISLE AREA HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS CALLED HIP HIGH SCHOOL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THIS INITIATIVE WILL INCLUDE THE EXISTING PARTNERSHIP THAT WE HAVE WITH HAYS ISD, WHICH HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ALMOST A DECADE, AND EXPAND TO OTHER LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OR HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS THAT MIGHT BE IN OUR COMMUNITY, PERHAPS BEING HOMESCHOOLED. THROUGH THIS TO GROW LEADERS, WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE STUDENTS WHO WILL PARTICIPATE IN, AS CURRENTLY ENVISIONED, AN UNPAID INTERNSHIP AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF KYLE.
DATES FOR THE PROGRAMS WOULD VARY. THE GOAL FOR THE PROGRAM OR FOR THE EVENT.
WOULD BE TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT CAREER SECTORS TO. EQUIP THEM WITH KNOWLEDGE, CONNECTIONS AND EXPERIENCE, AND TO HELP THEM FIND THEIR PATH AFTER GRADUATION.
ORGANIZATION. THIS IS AGAIN RUNNING CONCURRENT WITH SCHOOL TIMEFRAMES.
IT'S AN UNPAID PROGRAM. THEN KIDS RECEIVE SCHOOL CREDIT FOR IT.
SO CURRENT THE PROPOSED ELIGIBILITY ENROLLED IN AN AREA HIGH SCHOOL OR POTENTIALLY A HOME SCHOOL.
CITY OF KYLE RESIDENT TO APPLY LOOKING AT A GRADE LEVEL OF A JUNIOR OR SENIOR.
SO AN UPPERCLASSMEN OF AT LEAST 17 YEARS OLD.
WE WOULD ASK THAT THEY BE COMMITTED TO THE ENTIRE INTERNSHIP SESSION, WHICH WOULD BE BETWEEN 8 AND 12 WEEKS, AND BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FULL DURATION OF THE PROGRAM WITH NO MORE THAN THREE DAYS OF ABSENCES, AND THEY NEED TO HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM OUR JOB SITES.
DEPENDING ON THEIR INTERESTS, THEY WOULD WORK 3 TO 8 HOURS PER WEEK DEPENDING ON THEIR SCHEDULE, AND WOULD BE PAIRED UP WITH AN INTERNAL STAFF MEMBER TO MENTOR THEM.
GOALS BEING INCREASING AWARENESS ABOUT CITY OPPORTUNITIES, BUILDING CONFIDENCE OF OUR AREA YOUTH WHO ARE ABOUT TO GRADUATE STRENGTHEN EXISTING AND NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS AND DEVELOPING NEW LEADERS.
IT'S ACTUALLY A FUN FACT. WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO WORKS FOR THE KYLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO STARTED WORKING WITH THE CITY OF KYLE AS A HIGH SCHOOL INTERN, AND SHE'S CONTINUED THAT EMPLOYMENT THROUGH TODAY.
WE WANT TO STANDARDIZE THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
AGAIN, WE'RE MIRRORING WHAT'S HAPPENING CURRENTLY WITH KPD, LOOKING AT PROBABLY A SEPTEMBER 1ST GOAL FOR A FALL APPLICATION FOR A NINE WEEK INTERNSHIP, AND FEBRUARY 1ST FOR A SPRING APPLICATION FOR ANOTHER NINE WEEK INTERNSHIP IN THE SPRING.
[01:50:05]
SO AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH FOR OUR NEXT STEPS, WE WOULD WANT TO OBVIOUSLY HEAR FROM COUNCIL TODAY ON THEIR IDEAS AND WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THIS PROGRAM TO HOW WE WOULD WANT IT TO OPERATE.AND JULIE AND I ARE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.
COUNCILMAN HAZARD. GO AHEAD. YES. THANK YOU ROSIE.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN REGARD TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
THIS WOULD APPLY TO CHARTER SCHOOLS. IS WHAT THE TWO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
YES. OKAY, GREAT. AND IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO LOOK INTO TO TRY TO SOLVE FOR ANY POSSIBLE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES WITH OUR UBER 311 PROGRAM SO WE CAN TALK TO THE TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS ABOUT THAT.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE WORKING IN AUSTIN, WHERE WE HAD A HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM, WE ACTUALLY WORKED WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND THERE WERE BUSSES THAT WOULD DROP THEM OFF AT VARIOUS CITY LOCATIONS BASED ON THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WERE PARTICIPATING AND WHERE FOLKS WERE GOING.
SO THAT'S WE'RE LEAVING IT KIND OF OPEN ENDED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FROM WHEN WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE DIRECTION WE GOT BACK IN DECEMBER AND IN TALKING ABOUT IT, WE REALLY WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT WHAT THE HIGH SCHOOLS WOULD NEED AND HOW THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO BE, HOW WE CAN FIND WAYS TO ACCOMMODATE ALL OF THAT, BUT I THINK THE 314 PROGRAM MIGHT BE A VIABLE POSSIBILITY.
THERE MIGHT BE POSSIBILITIES WITH SCHOOL PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION.
WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THEM TO OUR LOCATION, THAT WE'RE NOT, AS CITY STAFF, GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO AND PICK THEM UP. YEAH. OKAY.
AND JUST ONE MORE THING. THIS IS JUST SO I UNDERSTAND IT'S RUNNING CONCURRENT WITH THE SCHOOL YEAR, NOT IN THE SUMMER. THAT IS HOW WE'RE THAT'S HOW WE'VE DESIGNED IT.
AND SO IF WE FIND THAT THERE'S A BIG DRAW OR NEED FOR OR DESIRE TO HAVE A SUMMER BASED PROGRAM, THEN WE CAN LOOK AT THAT. BUT GIVEN THE LIMITED HOURS THAT STUDENTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, AND THE FACT THAT WITH THE EXISTING PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY GETTING SCHOOL CREDIT, WE WANT TO SEE IF THAT'S MORE OF A NEED AND BUILD OFF OF THAT SIDE.
ALL RIGHT. YEAH. I LOVE THE PRESENTATION, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, AND I'M SURE COUNCIL MEMBER, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER PARSLEY SITTING AT HOME, VERY EXCITED TO HEAR I HOPE SO.
BACK AS WELL. COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS. JUST TO SHOW YOU HOW EFFECTIVE THESE PROGRAMS CAN BE, AND PROBABLY TIM WILL KNOW WILL RECOGNIZE THE PERSON I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT.
ONE OF OUR WASTEWATER EMPLOYEES DID A PROGRAM VERY I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE, BUT VERY, VERY EARLY IN HER CAREER AT A WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND SHE JUST WAS INTRIGUED BY THE WHOLE SCIENCE OF IT, EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE AT THOSE PLANTS.
SO THESE PROGRAMS WORK. AND THE QUESTION WAS RAISED ABOUT SUMMER VERSUS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
I WILL SAY THAT TYPICALLY WHEN WE SEE SUMMER INTERNSHIPS, THEY'RE THEY'RE MORE FOR FOLKS NEEDING LIKE COLLEGE CREDIT OR KIND OF ORIENTED AROUND THAT LEVEL OF, OF ASSISTANCE. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE FOCUSING DURING THE YEAR ON THE HIGH SCHOOL KIDS.
COUNCILMAN RIZZO. YEAH. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO RE-EMPHASIZE YOU SAID THE CREDIT HOURS FOR SCHOOL, BUT ALSO WANTED TO EMPHASIZE VOLUNTEER HOURS.
AND IF WE COULD GIVE OUT A CERTIFICATE AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'D BE GREAT ON A COLLEGE APPLICATION FOR THESE YOUNG PEOPLE, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING THEIR SERVICE.
ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CTE PROGRAMS AT BOTH LAYMAN AND HAYES.
YES. OKAY. BECAUSE I ATTENDED MY DAUGHTER'S SHE'S EIGHTH GRADE GOING INTO FRESHMAN.
AND SO THEY HAD THEIR LIKE START CHOOSING YOUR CLASSES NOW KIND OF DEAL.
AND THEY'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S COMING IN AS AN EIGHTH GRADER TO A FRESHMAN, BUT THEY'RE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT YOUR CAREER PATHS AND YOUR, YOUR CLASSES THAT YOU GOT TO TAKE YOUR JUNIOR OR SENIOR YEAR.
AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY BROUGHT UP AS WELL, TO WHERE A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT THESE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN GO TO, TO JOBS WITHIN THE CITY. I THINK IF WE ADDRESS IT ON THOSE LEVELS, LIKE WE GET THE PROGRAM GOING LIKE WE HAVE BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT,
[01:55:02]
WE CAN REALLY SAY, HEY, THE CITY COUNCIL'S HERE.IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO WORK ON AS FAR AS YOUR COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS, ANY KIND OF VOLUNTEER HOURS LIKE WHAT RIZZO IS SAYING, THAT COULD BE EFFECTIVE AS WELL TO LET THEM KNOW THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU'RE WALKING IN, PARENTS MAY NOT KNOW, WHERE COULD MY KID GO? YOU KNOW, THEY JUST HAVE THE THE THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD GO WORK SOMEWHERE.
BUT IF THE CITY OF KYLE COULD SAY, HEY, WE OFFER A PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WHETHER, LIKE WITH MISS HARRIS SAID, THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OR MAYBE WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT OR WHO KNOWS, MAYBE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY WANT TO GET SOME OF THE STUDENTS INVOLVED IN SOME KIND OF OFFICE KIND OF INTERACTION AND SO FORTH, JUST TO EXPOSE THEM TO THESE CAREER FIELDS.
I THINK IT WOULD REALLY HELP ON THAT END. AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE WE'RE TALKING NOW AND WE'RE IN WE'RE IN FEBRUARY AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HOPING TO TO GET THIS LAUNCHED SO THAT WE CAN BE TALKING TO FOLKS FOR THE FALL SEMESTER.
WE WANT TO GET STARTED ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN, BECAUSE WE ARE VERY I MEAN, I HAVE I HAVE TWO HIGH SCHOOL KIDS AT HOME MYSELF, AND THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GET PEOPLE TO GET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT CAREER PATHS AND AND GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT WORKING IN GOVERNMENT.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING. YEAH. AND I THOUGHT YOU ALSO ADDRESSING TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE PARENTS TOO AS WELL THAT THESE WE OFFER THIS AS A CITY FOR YOUR KIDS AS WELL. WE HAVE THAT MARKETING MESSAGE.
COUNCIL MEMBER. HEY, ROSIE. YEAH. COULD WE JUST MAKE IT TO ANY HIGH SCHOOL KID LIVING? I MEAN, ANY HIGH SCHOOL KID IN THE CITY OF KYLE THAT INCLUDES CHARTER.
YEAH. BECAUSE I THINK IT'S RESTRICTIVE. WHEN WE SAY IN THE CITY OF KYLE KIDS HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CITY OF KYLE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY KIDS IN THE COUNTY THAT GO TO OUR HIGH SCHOOLS HERE IN THE CITY. SO. OKAY. WOULD YOU WOULD LIKE TO BROADEN IT UP? BROADEN IT UP AS LONG AS THEY AS LONG AS THEY ATTEND A HIGH SCHOOL IN KYLE, WHETHER IT'S CHARTER OR PUBLIC.
SO, I MEAN, I JUST IT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR OUR CITY.
I'M SURE THERE ARE INTERNSHIPS FOR THE COUNTY AS WELL. I AGREE. SO I'M I WOULD PREFER TO SEE IT REMAIN ALL SCHOOLS, ALL KIDS, BUT WITHIN OUR CITY. OKAY. SO. MOTIONS.
MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT STAFF TO WHERE'S THE OPTIONS? I MEAN, REALLY IN FRONT OF ME MOVING FORWARD WITH THE PROGRAM AS PRESENTED WOULD BE OPTION ONE, PLEASE. YES. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. A MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS, THAT WE APPROVE. AGENDA ITEM 24 AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 7 TO 0.
THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 25. RECEIVE A REPORT, WHOLE DISCUSSION.
PROVIDE STAFF FEEDBACK REGARDING THE PARKS CONSERVATION STRATEGY.
YOU SKIPPED SKIPPING 2024. I'M SO SORRY. NEXT UP, I MESSED THAT UP.
[24) Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide staff feedback regarding a Utility Customer Assistance Program.]
NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 24. RECEIVE A REPORT. HOLD DISCUSSION.SO THIS IS BRINGING BACK OUR UTILITY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
AND NOW WE'RE HERE TODAY WITH A MORE FORMULATED SET OF PROGRAM GUIDELINES FOR CONSIDERATION.
CONNECTIONS WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS LIKE SAINT VINCENT, SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL AND THE SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER, AND THROUGH WAIVING CERTAIN FEES WHEN APPROPRIATE.
OKAY. THIS IS NOT WORKING. THEY'RE HELPING ME IN THE BACK.
AVERAGE WATER USAGE IS 5600 GALLONS PER MONTH.
THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL BILL FOR ALL SERVICES IS $148, AND THE NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS WITH EXTENDED PAYOUT AGREEMENTS ARE 93, WITH AN AVERAGE DURATION OF 2 TO 9 MONTHS. THE PURPOSE OF OUR UTILITY CUSTOMER SERVICE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WOULD BE TO ENSURE CONTINUED ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL UTILITIES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC HEALTH, SANITATION AND SAFETY, AND TO ASSIST RESIDENTS WHEN THEY'RE FACING A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP.
[02:00:04]
FUNDING. WE DISCUSSED AT THE OCTOBER MEETING AND WE WILL BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION FOR FUNDING WHEN WE COME BACK TO COUNCIL.WITH THE SERVICE CONTRACTS THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A MINUTE.
WE WERE ANTICIPATING AROUND MAYBE $30,000 OF ASSISTANCE TO BE PROVIDED, BUT WE WANT TO GO THROUGH THE SOLICITATION PROCESS BEFORE WE FINALIZE THAT NUMBER. SO OUR INCOME ELIGIBILITY IS THE 20 BASED ON 2025 NUMBERS, ADJUSTED INCOME LIMITS BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE FOR THE HAYS COUNTY METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA.
AND THIS IS IDENTIFYING HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE CONSIDERED VERY LOW OR LOW INCOME.
AND THE WAY YOU READ THIS CHART, YOU'RE CONSIDERED LOW INCOME IF YOU'RE A TWO PERSON HOUSEHOLD, MAKING AT OR BELOW $30,250 OR LOW INCOME. IF YOU'RE A TWO PERSON HOUSEHOLD AND MAKING AT OR BELOW 50,400.
SO IT'S BASED ON HOUSEHOLD SIZE. WE WOULD ALSO CONSIDER ELIGIBILITY IF THE HOUSEHOLD IS PARTICIPATING IN ANY OF THESE PROGRAMS, SUCH AS MEDICAID, SNAP CHIP TELEPHONE LIFELINE PROGRAM, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME, VASH UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OR TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES.
BY IDENTIFYING THESE ADDITIONAL WAYS OF QUALIFICATION, WE'RE ENCOURAGING FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE PARTICIPATING IN THESE PROGRAMS TO COME FORWARD AND SEEK ASSISTANCE, OR WE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROGRAMS AS A WAY TO VERIFY THAT THEY DO, IN FACT, MEET OUR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. SO WITHIN THE PROGRAM GUIDELINES, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A DISCUSSION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE CAPS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT AN ANNUAL CAP OF $600 PER HOUSEHOLD.
AND THEN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT SERVICE SPECIFIC CAPS WATER AT $120 A MONTH, WASTE WATER AT $50 A MONTH, SOLID WASTE AT $30 A MONTH, OR STORM DRAINAGE AT $10 A MONTH.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THAT WE WOULD OFFER WOULD BE ASSISTANCE FOR EMERGENCY RECONNECTION FEES UP TO $75, AND LOOKING AT POTENTIAL LATE PAYMENT PENALTY WAIVERS UP TO 10%, WITH A MAXIMUM OF $250.
WE WOULD ALSO BE LOOKING AT BILL CREDITS. FOLKS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE OR ELIGIBLE.
PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE A ONE TIME CREDIT OF UP TO $600 A YEAR FOR PAST DUE BALANCES, THE DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENTS OR EXTENDED PAYOUT AGREEMENTS OF UP TO 12 MONTHS, WITH NO MORE THAN 25% DUE UP FRONT.
WE WOULD ALSO BE OFFERING LATE PAYMENT OR LATE FEE WAIVERS SO THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ASSESSED ADDITIONAL LATE FEES IF YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN AN EXTENDED PAYOUT AGREEMENT, AND THAT WE'RE NOTING THAT THE CITY MANAGER CAN WAIVE BALANCES EXCEEDING THE CAPS IN EXTREME CASES.
RECOGNIZING THAT THERE COULD BE EXTREME HARDSHIP THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND WHILE THAT DISCRETION IS, IS WOULD BE USED INFREQUENTLY, WE WANTED TO NOTE IT IN IN THE TYPE OF ASSISTANCE THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS WITH THE APPROVAL OF THESE GUIDELINES. WE WILL DEVELOP A SOLICITATION, HAVE THAT READY ALREADY TO FIND A THIRD PARTY PARTNER WHO WILL PROVIDE QUALIFICATION SCREENING. AND AND IDENTIFY COME BACK WITH THE RECOMMENDED FUNDING AMOUNT TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM.
SO THE OPTIONS IN FRONT OF US ARE TO APPROVE THE GUIDELINES OR DENY THE GUIDELINES.
THANK YOU. ROSIE. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING THIS ITEM? COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS. THIS IS AN ITEM THAT I HAD REQUESTED TO BRING FORWARD, AND I'M REALLY IMPRESSED WITH THE WORK THAT THE STAFF HAS DONE IN LOOKING AT HOW TO DO THAT, IT'S REALLY EASY TO SAY, HEY, WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING OUR VERY LOW INCOME RESIDENTS WHEN THEY HAVE PROBLEMS MAKING THE PAYMENTS FOR WATER, WHICH IS A CRUCIAL RESOURCE FOR THEM. THE DETAILS ON HOW TO PROVIDE THAT EQUITABLY ARE REALLY COMPLEX.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH THAT SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MAY HAVE COMMENTS ON THE DETAILS, BUT I'M SATISFIED THAT YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN WORKING THAT OUT. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR RIZZO.
YEAH, JUST REAL QUICK. JUST ON PAGE THREE OF 13 IT TALKS ABOUT THE.
THE CITY COUNCIL CURRENTLY OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO CUSTOMERS THROUGH, YOU KNOW, LOCAL NON-PROFITS, SAINT VINCENT PAUL SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITY CENTER.
IT SAYS IT WAIVES CERTAIN FEES WHEN APPROPRIATE.
WHO DECIDES WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE? WE HAVE OUR UTILITY BILLING
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ORDINANCE IS OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENT. WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.IT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME.
WHEN WE DO NEED TO DO ADJUSTMENTS OR OR ANY FEE WAIVERS, THOSE ARE BROUGHT FORWARD FROM THE UTILITY BILLING SUPERVISOR AND THEY'RE BROUGHT FORWARD TO HER SUPERVISOR, WHICH IS JOSH CONNELLY, OUR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. HE BRINGS THEM TO ME AND I BRING THEM TO TO BRIAN AND JESSE AS MAYBE APPROPRIATE.
WHEN YOU HAVE A NONPROFIT HELPING, THEY CAN ONLY HELP MORE PEOPLE IF WE'RE WAIVING THOSE LATE FEES.
LATE FEES ARE JUST LATE FEES. THEY'RE NOT SOMETHING WATER USAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I BELIEVE IN CHARGING FOR THE WATER USAGE, BUT IF WE COULD, YOU KNOW, FIND A SYSTEM WHERE IT'S JUST TO GUARANTEE THERE WE DON'T HAVE TO USE THAT MUCH STAFF TIME, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE. THAT'S THAT'S PART OF WHY IT'S LISTED IN HERE. YEAH. IN THESE PROGRAM GUIDELINES. AND AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO UPDATING OUR UTILITY BILLING ORDINANCE. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THAT WE CLEAN UP THAT LANGUAGE AS WE MAY NEED TO.
AND IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT ME TO ADD ON THAT? OKAY.
OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM 24 WITH OPTION ONE.
SECOND. MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR HARRIS THAT WE APPROVE.
AGENDA ITEM 24. IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? COUNCILOR TOBIAS. THANK YOU, MISS DOCTOR HARRIS, FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. IT'S VERY NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO THANK YOU, MA'AM.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, ANYONE ELSE? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 7 TO 0.
NOW TO AGENDA ITEM 25. RECEIVE A REPORT. HOLD A DISCUSSION.
[25) Receive a report, hold a discussion, and provide staff feedback regarding the Parks conservation strategy.]
PROVIDE STAFF FEEDBACK REGARDING THE PARKS CONSERVATION STRATEGY, MR. LOPEZ. CONSERVATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUSTAINABLY MANAGING PARKS AND CITIES. IT'S ALSO A MAJOR PILLAR OF PURPOSE FOR PARKS AND RECREATION AS IT HELPS KEEP OUR COMMUNITY HEALTHY AND VIABLE.SUSTAINABLE GREEN SPACES AND PARKS, PURIFY OUR AIR AND SEQUESTER CARBON, FILTER TOXINS FROM OUR WATERSHED, COOL OUR CITY, MITIGATE FLOODING, PROVIDE HABITAT FOR FLORA AND FAUNA THAT ARE KEY TO OUR SURVIVAL AND FUTURE.
BOTH HAVE A PLACE IN OUR SYSTEM. CONSERVATION AREAS NOT ONLY NOT ONLY PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, BUT ALSO FISCAL SUSTAINABILITY. IN ONE RECENT PARK O&M ASSESSMENT, WE CONDUCTED ABOUT TEN ACRES OF A 13 ACRE PROPERTY WERE DESIGNATED AS NATURAL AREA, WHICH RESULTED IN MAINTENANCE COSTS, AVOIDANCE OR SAVINGS OF ABOUT 75%.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE A RENOWNED URBAN BIOLOGIST IN TEXAS WHO WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE AS OUR CONSERVATION DIVISION MANAGER, JOHN DAVIS, WHO WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT OUR CONSERVATION STRATEGY IN KYLE PARKS.
MR. DAVIS. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL. I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE.
I'M JUST GOING TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KIND OF A ROADMAP AS TO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE HEADED. WE'RE GOING TO TALK VERY QUICKLY ABOUT A MISSION STATEMENT. WE'RE GOING TO DEFINE A FEW TERMS. WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF KYLE PARKS, AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS SOME MANAGEMENT SHIFTS THAT WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE TO IMPROVE PARK HEALTH. THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH QUICKLY SOME CASE STUDIES, AND THEN WE'LL FINISH UP WITH BUDGET PROJECTIONS AND VISION CASTING.
I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT BY MAKING SIMPLE CHANGES IN HOW WE MANAGE PARKS, WE CAN CREATE NATIVE HABITATS OR LANDSCAPES THAT PAY US RATHER THAN COST US. BUT TO GET INTO THAT, WE HAVE TO KIND OF DEFINE SOME TERMS LIKE WHAT IS CONSERVATION? CONSERVATION IS WISELY MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCES TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES AND THE BENEFITS THAT NATURAL HABITATS OFFER US. I MENTIONED ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. WELL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? THESE ARE FREE BENEFITS THAT ECOSYSTEMS OFFER US, SUCH AS CLEAN AIR, CLEAN WATER, TEMPERATURE REGULATION, POLLINATION SERVICES, FOOD FLOOD REDUCTION, CARBON SEQUESTRATION OR CARBON CAPTURE, NUTRIENT CYCLING.
AND THE LIST COULD GO ON, BUT THESE AREN'T THE ONLY BENEFITS.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE HUMAN HEALTH BENEFITS, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, EXTRAPOLATED OUT TO SOCIETY MULTIPLE HEALTH BENEFITS TO SOCIETY BY MANAGING PROPERTIES TO BE IN A NATURAL, OPEN SPACE.
PSYCHOLOGICAL RESTORATION. RESTORED COGNITIVE FUNCTION, IMPROVED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.
[02:10:07]
WHICH IS WHY MD ANDERSON IN HOUSTON STOPPED MOWING MOST OF THEIR CAMPUS AND RESTORED NATIVE PRAIRIE IN THE MIDDLE OF HOUSTON BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT NATURAL HABITAT RESTORES US, AND REMOVING THAT HABITAT HARMS US.SO WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MANAGEMENT ACTIONS THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT? AND WHAT DO I MEAN BY MANAGEMENT ACTIONS THAT COST US VERSUS THOSE THAT PAY US? WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT COSTS, IT'S EASY TO SEE FINANCIAL COSTS.
SO IN A LOT OF THESE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH, IT'S EASY TO SEE FINANCIAL COST IN THE TERMS OF FUEL, STAFF TIME, EQUIPMENT PURCHASE, EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR.
BUT IN MY OPINION, AND I BELIEVE I HOPE TO TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT THAT THESE ARE THE LEAST OF THE COSTS, THAT THERE ARE MUCH GREATER COSTS IN SOCIAL, MENTAL PSYCHOLOGICAL COSTS.
OUR MANAGEMENT ACTIONS CAN OFTEN IMPACT PEOPLE POSITIVELY OR NEGATIVELY PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY.
SO WHAT THEN PAYS US? IT'S ESSENTIALLY THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.
SO HOW ARE WE DOING IN THE IN OUR KYLE PARK. SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.
AND IT'S NOT JUST IN KYLE PARKS. THESE ARE COMMON MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES THAT I'VE SEEN IN OTHER PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS. WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE COSTS AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THESE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AND TALK ABOUT THEIR COSTS.
FIRST OF ALL, WE MOW A LOT OF ACREAGE. AND IF YOU LOOK JUST AT THE FINANCIAL COST, IT'S AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 40 TO $70 PER ACRE PER CYCLE TO MOW GRASS. BUT WELL BEYOND THAT, THERE ARE THESE COSTS THAT GO BEYOND THE FINANCIAL COST.
THIS PRACTICE REDUCES HUMAN WELLNESS BENEFITS.
IT DEGRADES AIR AND WATER QUALITY, REDUCES TEMPERATURE MITIGATION, REDUCES CARBON SEQUESTRATION, ELIMINATES POLLINATION SERVICES, ELIMINATES SEED AND NESTING RESOURCES, AND ALL OF THOSE COMBINED RESULT IN A COLLAPSED FOOD WEB.
WHEN WE MOVE INTO OUR TREES OR OUR FORESTED HABITATS, LION TAILING COSTS US.
LION TAILING IS SIMPLY THE STRIPPING OF LIMBS OF FOLIAGE, LEAVING ONLY TUFTS OF LEAVES ON THE VERY END, LIKE YOU SEE IN THE PICTURE HERE. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A TREE IN MEMORY.
IT'S MY FAVORITE TREE. IT'S A RED OAK. THESE.
THIS SHOWS THE THE SCARS LEFT BEHIND FROM YEARS OF LION TAILING.
AND THE COST OF THAT IS THIS. OF COURSE THERE IS FUEL STAFF AND EQUIPMENT COSTS TO DO THIS PRACTICE.
BUT AGAIN, MUCH BEYOND THAT THESE BRANCHES ARE NO LONGER SHADED.
SUN SCALD KILLS THE BARK AND AS A RESULT, THAT TREE IS STRUGGLING AND IT'S IN FAIRLY BAD SHAPE.
AND ONCE THIS HAPPENS, OFTENTIMES THAT PRACTICE IS REPEATED.
LION TAILING WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. AND THIS CREATES A VICIOUS CYCLE THAT WILL KILL THE TREE.
SO MOVING OUT OF THE LIVING TREES WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DEAD TREES.
MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT WHEN A TREE IS ALIVE, THAT'S ITS ECOLOGICAL SERVICE LIFESPAN.
WHEN IT DIES, THAT ECOLOGICAL SERVICE IS OVER.
HOWEVER, THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE ECOLOGICAL LIVES OF THE TREE.
A LIVING TREE ATTRACTS A SUITE OF SPECIES WHEN THAT TREE DIES AND IS A STANDING DEAD TREE.
A COMPLETELY NEW SUITE OF SPECIES ARE ATTRACTED TO THAT TREE AND BENEFIT FROM THAT TREE.
AND THEN WHEN THAT DEAD, THAT STANDING DEAD TREE FALLS AND BECOMES A FALLEN LOG.
AND AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PRACTICE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT CONSERVATION ZONES IN WHICH DIFFERENT PRACTICES WILL BE ACCEPTABLE OR ALLOWED. SOMETHING WE MAY DO IN ONE CONSERVATION ZONE WOULDN'T BE APPROPRIATE FOR ANOTHER CONSERVATION ZONE.
BUT THE FACT IS, REMOVING SNAGS COSTS US. NOT ONLY IS IT THE FINANCIAL COST OF THE FUEL, STAFF AND EQUIPMENT, BUT WHEN WE REMOVE A SNAG, WE ELIMINATE PERCHING SITES, NESTING CAVITIES, FOOD SOURCES, AND WE ELIMINATE THAT THAT LAST TWO THIRDS OF THE ECOLOGICAL LIFE OF THAT TREE AND ALL THE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES THAT COME WITH THAT.
USING TOXIC CHEMICALS COSTS US AGAIN, IT'S FUEL STAFF AND EQUIPMENT FINANCIAL COST.
BUT THESE THESE CHEMICALS DEGRADE WATER QUALITY.
THEY HARM BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND THEY CAUSE SECONDARY POISONING.
EXOTIC LANDSCAPES ALSO COST US FUEL, STAFF AND EQUIPMENT AGAIN TO PUT THESE PLANTS IN.
BUT ONCE THEY'VE BEEN PUT IN, THEY REQUIRE SUPPLEMENTAL WATER, FERTILIZER, PESTICIDE.
BUT THE BIGGEST COST OF ALL IS WHAT I CALL THE LOST OPPORTUNITY COST.
[02:15:01]
AND I WANT TO UNPACK THAT FOR JUST A SECOND. THERE'S A MAN NAMED DOUG TALLAMY.HE'S A HE'S AN ENTOMOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE.
AND HE STUDIES THE IMPACT OF EXOTIC LANDSCAPING ON ECOSYSTEMS. AND THE YEARS OF HIS STUDY HAVE RESULTED IN ONE SIMPLE, YET PROFOUND TRUTH.
AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE NATIVE INSECTS, YOU DON'T HAVE A FOOD WEB.
TO PUT A FACE TO THAT CONCEPT, THINK ABOUT THIS.
HERE'S HERE'S A TRIANGLE OF LAND. THIS IS IN KYLE.
IT IS NOT A PARK, BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A LOST OPPORTUNITY.
THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LANDSCAPE THIS PARCEL.
AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO PUT 14 CRAPE MYRTLES ON THIS PARCEL.
CRAPE MYRTLES ARE NATIVE TO ASIA. THEY FEED THREE SPECIES.
NOW, IF WE CONTRAST THAT OR COMPARE THAT TO THE LIVE OAK THAT IS ALSO IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH.
IT IS NATIVE TO KYLE AND IT FEEDS OVER 500 SPECIES.
SO THE LOST OPPORTUNITY WAS WHEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLANT NATIVE PLANTS HERE.
WE CHOSE TO PLANT AN EXOTIC PLANT WHICH LOST ALL OF THAT OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A VIBRANT FOOD WEB.
NOW, THIS IS AKIN TO THE CONCEPT OR THE PROBLEM OF INVASIVE SPECIES BECAUSE THEY ARE EXOTIC SPECIES.
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A WALL OF LIGUSTRUM NEXT TO A FUTURE ALIGNMENT OF THE VIBE TRAIL.
WHEN YOU HAVE LIGUSTRUM THAT TAKES OVER AN AREA.
SO THE BAD NEWS IS THAT OUR PARKS REALLY AREN'T THAT HEALTHY RIGHT NOW.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS PROBLEMS WE CREATE, WE CAN FIX.
AND SO INSTEAD OF MOWING ACRES OF LAND, WE CAN RESTORE NATIVE PRAIRIES.
AND IT RESTORES ALL OF THOSE HUMAN HEALTH BENEFITS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.
PROPER TREE CARE IS ALSO ONE OF THOSE PRACTICES THAT PAYS US, RATHER THAN LY, ENTAILING WE CAN REINVEST THAT COST INTO GUIDING AND MANAGING THE REGROWTH AND THE HEALTH OF OUR TREES. WE CAN HEAL THE SCALDING WHERE IT EXISTS OUT THERE, AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR URBAN FOREST IMPROVES FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.
LEAVING SNAGS PAYS US. THERE'S NO REMOVAL COST.
LATER, ALL OF THAT IS RETAINED, BUT RIGHTLY SO.
ANYTIME YOU TALK ABOUT LEAVING A DEAD TREE, THE QUESTION OF RISK COMES UP.
SO THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU CAN MITIGATE THAT DOWN TO NEARLY ZERO.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IS REMOVE A LOT OF THE LIMBS AND TOP THAT SNAG SO THAT YOU REMOVE THE WIND SHEAR STRESSES ON THAT SNAG, MAKING THAT STEM'S LIFESPAN BE PROLONGED AND RETAINING THOSE ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FOR MANY MORE YEARS.
WHEN IT IS DETERMINED THAT THAT SNAG NEEDS TO COME DOWN, WE CAN SELL THAT TREE IN PLACE ON OUR SCHEDULE SO THAT WE THEN LEAVE THAT TREE IN PLACE SO THAT IT RETAINS NESTING AND FOOD RESOURCES AGAIN, CREATES FIREFLY HABITAT, RETAINS THE BIODIVERSITY, AND RETAINS THE NUTRIENT CYCLING OF THAT TREE TO PUT THE NUTRIENTS BACK IN THE SOIL USING ORGANIC OR LOW TOXICITY, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PAYS US. THERE IS, OF COURSE, FUEL, STAFF AND EQUIPMENT COST FOR THIS KIND OF A PRACTICE, BUT THIS PRACTICE WILL PROMOTE WILL PROTECT WATER QUALITY, PROTECT BENEFICIAL INSECTS AND REDUCES SECONDARY POISONING.
USING NATIVE LANDSCAPING PAYS US. IT DOES REQUIRE STAFF AND EQUIPMENT, JUST LIKE USING OTHER PLANTS.
AND RATHER THAN THE LOST OPPORTUNITY OF USING EXOTICS.
WE NOW HAVE THE THE FOOD WEB BEING CREATED BY THIS FOUNDATION OF NATIVE PLANTS.
ON THE FLIP SIDE, REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES ALSO PAYS US.
IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE IN FUEL, STAFF AND EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE LOTS OF LIGUSTRUM, BUT ONCE YOU'VE DONE THAT, YOU HAVE NATIVE HABITATS THAT ARE RESTORED AND ECOSYSTEMS REPAIRED.
[02:20:02]
SO HOW DOES THIS LOOK ON A MAP? THIS IS A PARK.I'M SURE YOU RECOGNIZE STEEPLECHASE PARK, A LITTLE LESS THAN 40 ACRES CURRENTLY.
NOW, THIS IS NOT JUST MY IDEA. THERE ARE OTHER PLACES ALREADY DOING THIS.
THIS IS ALSO WATERLOO PARK. YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE A GREAT LAWN FULL OF ACTIVITY AND AVAILABLE FOR CONCERTS, ETC., RIGHT NEXT TO CONSERVATION AREAS. THIS IS GEORGE BUSH LIBRARY IN DALLAS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY HAVE RECREATED OR RESTORED NATIVE PRAIRIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY.
WHEN I TOOK THIS PHOTOGRAPH, IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY, AND THIS PARTICULAR PARCEL WAS JUST WAS JUST FULL OF ACTIVITY FROM NATIVE POLLINATORS. SO WHAT WILL THIS TAKE? WELL, I'VE ALWAYS SAID TO SOLVE ANY PROBLEM YOU NEED PEOPLE, MONEY AND TIME. AND SO I DO HAVE PEOPLE I HAVE A THREE TEAM LANDSCAPE RESTORATION TEAM.
WE DID THE FIRST DAY FOR THEIR SUPERVISOR WAS TODAY.
WE'VE HIRED CALVIN KING, SO HE'S GOING TO BE ON BOARD AS THEIR SUPERVISOR.
WE HAVE A THREE PERSON TRAILS MAINTENANCE TEAM WITH A SUPERVISOR.
AND SO WE DO HAVE STAFF OUT DOING THIS WORK. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE REALIZING IS THERE'S SO MUCH CONSERVATION WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE STAFF, ESPECIALLY AS AS THE PARK PORTFOLIO CONTINUES TO GROW.
SO CURRENTLY THE BUDGET IS 117,000. THIS YEAR, THIS WAS COBBLED TOGETHER TO STAND THE PROGRAM UP.
BUT THIS IS GOING TOWARD NEW EQUIPMENT, PLANT MATERIALS AND NEW TRAINING FOR STAFF AS WE'RE RETOOLING TO LEARN NEW THINGS, TO CREATE HABITAT, TO DO HABITAT RESTORATION.
AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THIS EFFORT IS GOING RIGHT NOW.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, TIME HABITAT RESTORATION IS MEASURED IN YEARS.
AND SO WHEN I SAY THAT WE REQUIRE TIME, REALLY THAT MEANS PATIENCE.
BUT HERE'S THE GREAT NEWS. ONCE WE START DOING THIS WORK, AND ONCE WE START EDUCATING PEOPLE AND MAKING PEOPLE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE WILL START HAVING SUSTAINABILITY PARTNERSHIPS THAT COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK AND RECOGNITION AND SERVICE AND CERTIFICATIONS JUST START ESSENTIALLY FALLING OUT OF THE SKY BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THIS GREAT WORK AND PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT.
BUT WHAT I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH IS JUST THE KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE A CONSERVATION PROGRAM RIGHT NOW THAT IS ALREADY WORKING TO FULFILL THE VISION OF CREATING LANDSCAPES THAT PAY US RATHER THAN COST US. AND WE BELIEVE THIS TO BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAKE THE FUTURE OF KYLE'S PARKS BETTER THAN THE PAST.
MY NAME IS JOHN DAVIS. I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER. RIZZO. YEAH. IT'S GREAT THAT YOU'RE BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
I MEAN, JUST THINK ABOUT THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY PLANNING.
YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT VEGETATION THERE FOR THE MONARCHS TO HELP THEM MAKE A REBOUND AS WELL.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS. BUT WE ALSO GOT TO BE AWARE ABOUT LEAVING STUFF OUT.
SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING THAT IN MIND AS WELL, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT CONSERVATION AND MAKING THESE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING EVERYTHING INTO ACCOUNT, IT'S IMPORTANT.
I'M GLAD YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TREE, BECAUSE THE TREE, THE DEAD TREE WAS REALLY SCARED ME, BECAUSE I COULD SEE THAT BRANCH FALLING DOWN AND HITTING SOMEBODY. BUT I LOVE THE WAY THEY CUT IT DOWN AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING THAT, BECAUSE I WAS DEFINITELY FREAKING OUT A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT ONE. BUT BUT HONESTLY, IT'S IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT AS A CITY BUILDING THESE AREAS TO BRING THE WILDLIFE BACK.
SO. YEP. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENHANCE THAT.
BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, US DOING THINGS THAT DEFINITELY ARE BENEFICIAL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. AND IT'S GREAT. BUT YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT'S IT'S A HEALTH THING. AND I LOVE THAT, YOU KNOW.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
[02:25:02]
THANK YOU. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. COUNCILMEMBER HARRIS WELL, YOU'RE SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE.AND WE'RE REALLY DELIGHTED TO SEE THIS MATURING.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING THAT PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AWARE OF.
THE WILDFLOWER LOOP AND BUTTON IS HAS BEEN. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF THAT FOUR YEAR PROCESS OF RESTORING THAT TO BLACKLAND PRAIRIE. AND IT IS A IT'S A REALLY COOL PROCESS, BUT YOU DO GO THROUGH A LOT.
HEROES PARK IS IN NATIVES AND PEOPLE THINK, OF COURSE THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, THAT'S UGLY.
BUT THAT'S WHERE THE BENEFICIAL INSECTS ARE IN THAT DEAD GROWTH BEFORE THAT REGROWTH.
SO IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL TO LEAVE THAT. AND I THINK IN THE PAST WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT.
WE'VE THOUGHT, WELL, THAT'S AN UGLY THING. KIND OF LIKE THE TREES THAT ARE DYING.
THAT'S AN UGLY THING. WE'VE GOT TO CLEAN THAT UP.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULDN'T CLEAN THAT UP. I'M DELIGHTED THAT MESA THAT THE GROUP THAT WE'VE CONTRACTED WITH FOR KENSINGTON HAS AS PART OF THEIR CONSULTANT TEAM, BLACKLAND PRAIRIE CONSERVATION NATION GROUP.
BECAUSE BLACKLAND PRAIRIE IS A VERY PRECIOUS PART OF OUR ECOSYSTEM THAT IS ENDANGERED, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A BIG, BIG DIFFERENCE THERE. ONE OF THE THINGS I'D LIKE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THIS, RATHER THAN JUST PARKS, WE HAVE A LOT OF VERGES THAT WE AROUND THE BY THE ROADS THAT WE MOW ON A REGULAR BASIS.
THAT WOULD BE VERY THEY'RE VERY, SO MUCH PRETTIER IN NATIVE GRASSES AND WILDFLOWERS THAN IN WHAT THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW, WHICH MOST OF THEM IS KING RANCH OR BERMUDA.
AND THAT'S COSTLY. WE HAVE TO MOW IT CONSTANTLY.
AND IN OUR AREAS THAT ARE DRAINAGE AREAS THAT IF WE CAN BEGIN TO RESTORE THOSE AS WELL, LIKE ALONG THE VIBE TRAIL ALONG THE LIKE WE JUST DID.
TALKED ABOUT THE AREA BEHIND SILVERADO LAST MEETING AND THAT AREA IS IDEAL FOR ECOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THIS.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. COUNCILOR ZUNIGA, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION, MR. DAVIS. YEAH, IT WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE, AND I THINK THAT WE SEE THE VALUE OF LEAVING THE GRASS UP HIGHER WHERE WE CAN.
IT IS A IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE WILD ANIMALS. I MEAN, DURING WINTER STORMS, THEY THEY FIND WAYS TO STAY WARM IN THE, IN THE, IN THAT TALL GRASS. SO THEY CREATE THEIR DENS AND BURROWS AND I THINK THAT.
WOULD YOU CREATE A MAGNET FOR MORE OF THAT WILDLIFE TO COME BACK AND REPOPULATE ITSELF? AND JUST TO SEE HOW YOU KNOW IT BEAUTIFIES ALL OF OUR PARKS AS WELL.
EVERY MODERN DAY, YOU KNOW, HIGH TECH WORLD OR, YOU KNOW, I'M IN A LABORATORY ALL THE TIME.
SO SOMETIMES WHEN I GET OUTSIDE AND WALK OR RIDE A BICYCLE OUT THERE IN THOSE PARKS, IT'S.
YOU RESET YOURSELF, I GIVE YOU GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO THINK AND AND BE MENTALLY SHARPER THERE.
STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE KIDS THAT SPEND MORE TIME RIGHT OUTSIDE PERFORM BETTER IN TESTING.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILOR TOBIAS. THE OTHER DAY SUNDAY NIGHT, I WAS TAKING MY SON BACK TO CAMPUS, AND WE LISTENED TO NPR RADIO, AND THEY ACTUALLY HAD A LITTLE SEGMENT ON THE THIS SPECIFIC TYPE OF CONSERVATION. THEY HAD SOMEBODY FROM NEW YORK TALKING ABOUT HOW WE CAME OUT OF COVID AND HOW PEOPLE ARE NOW GETTING OUT MORE THAN THEY THEY NORMALLY WOULD.
AND JUST TALKING ABOUT ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT ITSELF, HOW WHEN YOU LOSE SPECIES LIKE INSECTS AS MUCH AS WE SEE THEM CRAWLING AROUND. WHEN WE START LOSING THEM, WE START LOSING NATIVE BIRDS AND WE START LOSING NATIVE BIRDS.
WE START LOSING WILDLIFE, WHICH LEADS TO, YOU KNOW, THEM POLLINATING EVERYTHING ELSE.
[02:30:04]
RIGHT? SO IT WAS JUST PRETTY INTERESTING HEARING THAT ON THE RADIO AND NOW SEEING THIS HOW IT ALL GOES AROUND.SO I DID NOTICE THAT IN STEEPLECHASE THAT YOU HAD A LOT OF THOSE STAG TREES.
AND I'M THINKING, WHY DON'T WE JUST GO AND CUT THEM DOWN? I MEAN, THIS LOOKS UGLY, BUT NOW YOU EDUCATED ME THE REASON WHY WE DON'T.
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT LITTLE PEARLS OF INSECTS IN THERE THAT NEED TO SURVIVE, YOU KNOW? HOW ARE WE TO GO IN THERE AND TAKE THEIR HOUSES? AND THEY NEED THAT TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH LEADS TO THE BIRDS THAT COME IN AND SO FORTH.
SO I'M GLAD WE'RE GETTING A PLAN GOING. AND I AGREE WITH MISS HARRIS THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE MOW THE GRASS, BUT MAYBE WE CAN START LOOKING AT KEEPING CERTAIN TYPES OF GRASS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN NORMAL IN OUR PARKS TO TO BALANCE THAT.
AND WHEN I LOOKED AT PAGE NUMBER SIX OF YOUR PRESENTATION ALL THE WAY UP THERE IT HAD THOSE PEOPLE WALKING IN THAT FIELD ON THAT TRAIL, I'M LIKE, WOW, THAT COULD BE KENSINGTON ONE DAY.
YOU KNOW, JUST JUST PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH THAT NATURAL SETTING THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, I LIVE OUT THERE, SO I SEE WHAT IT IS.
WE KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROCESS. AND SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING SITUATIONAL SIGNAGE, MAYBE WITH QR CODES TO LINK BACK TO A WEBSITE AS WELL, SO THAT IF WE HAVE AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE A CONSERVATION PROJECT AND PROCESS, WE'RE TELLING PEOPLE WHAT IT IS, WHERE THEY CAN LEARN MORE AND SO THAT THEY WON'T SEE SOMETHING AS JUST IN TRANSITION OR UGLY, BUT THEY CAN UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF IT. WE HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION IN ANOTHER PLACE WHERE I WORKED, WHERE NOBODY WANTED WILDFLOWERS ALONG THE TRAIL SYSTEM, AND ONCE THEY SAW THE BENEFITS OF THE WILDFLOWERS AND BECAME EDUCATED, THEN THEY DIDN'T WANT US TO MOW THEM DOWN EVEN AFTER THE SEED HAD DROPPED. SO THEY WERE GETTING UPSET WITH PARKS AND RECS. SO THEN WE HAD TO DO THIS COUNTER EDUCATION PROCESS WHERE WE TOLD THEM NOW WHY WE HAD TO MOW AND MAINTAIN SEASONALLY.
COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS. HERE'S I REALLY APPRECIATE HAVING JOHN HERE WITH US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. HIS QUALIFICATIONS ARE AMAZING FOR THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF WORK.
WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE HIM. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE KNOWS SO WELL IS HOW IN VERY, SOMETIMES VERY SMALL ECHO ZONES THAT THE INSECTS ARE VERY DEPENDENT ON A PARTICULAR TYPE OF PLANT.
YOUR LAST SLIDE IS ANTELOPE HORN. MILKWEED. AND I'M NOT SURE IF THOSE ARE MONARCH CATERPILLARS.
YES, MA'AM. MONARCHS ARE PICKY, PICKY, PICKY.
AND THEY'RE PICKY ABOUT NOT ONLY THE TYPE OF MILKWEED IN THIS AREA, BUT THEY'RE PICKY ABOUT THE PLANTS THAT THEY POLLINATE. AND I HAD GREG'S MIST IN MY GARDEN THIS LAST SUMMER.
I HAD 20 OR 30 ALL THE TIME. EVERY DAY. ALL DAY.
MONARCHS. I HAD NEGLECTED TO PLANT MILKWEED. MILKWEED TO ME.
BUT IF YOU GO A LITTLE FARTHER INTO HILL COUNTRY, THOSE INSECTS WANT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TYPE OF PLANT. SO IT'S NICE TO HAVE YOU TO BE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M IN OUR BLACKLAND PRAIRIE AREA. THIS IS THE TYPE OF INSECTS WE WOULD TRADITIONALLY HAVE.
THESE ARE THE TYPE OF PLANTS WE WOULD WE WOULD HAVE MAYBE BUFFALO, BUT WE PROBABLY WON'T GET THOSE.
SO IT'S I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A WONDERFUL BENEFIT TO US AND TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S VERY YOU KNOW, I LOVE THE BLUE ZONES BOOKS AND PHILOSOPHIES.
IT'S VERY BLUE ZONE. IT REALLY CONTRIBUTES TO OUR HEALTH.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT UP IS AGENDA ITEM 26.
[26) Consider alternative options to celebrate Black History Month in the City of Kyle.]
CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF KYLE COUNCILMAN RIZZO. YEAH.THANK YOU. MAYOR. JUST WANTED TO BRING EVERYBODY UP TO DATE.
WE ACTUALLY HAD TO POSTPONE THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
PEACE AND PROGRESS DUE TO PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING FOR IT.
WE ONLY HAD THREE PEOPLE SIGN UP FOR THE PANELISTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMMISSIONER COHEN AND I WERE THINKING ABOUT IS HIGHLIGHTING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD REALLY ENGAGE.
I THINK PEACE AND PROGRESS IS GREAT. I THINK IT'S OUTLIVED EACH OTHER OF ITS LIFE.
AND I THINK IN SOME FORMS IT'S KIND OF TAKEN ON A POLITICAL THING.
AND I'M KIND OF THINKING WE NEED TO REALLY GO BACK TO THE COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT WE WE CAN DO.
[02:35:04]
AND I THINK DOING SOMETHING LIKE HIGHLIGHTING PEOPLE MEMBERS OUR COMMUNITY, ALLOWING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE MEMBERS AND TO PICK WHO WE.HIGHLIGHT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WORK WITH IMPORTANT PEOPLE. SO I WAS KIND OF THINKING ABOUT FOR THIS FIRST ONE, MAYBE FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. THE THREE PANELISTS THAT VOLUNTEERED, LET'S GO BACK AND INTERVIEW THEM.
TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS CELEBRATING THE INVISIBLE WORKFORCE, THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE HAD IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND BEING ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AND TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION. BUT I REALLY THINK THAT AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING THINGS.
WE SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTING PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AS WELL. AND I THINK WE COULD GIVE THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO SAY WHO WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT. LET'S PUT SOMETHING OUT AND SAY, HEY, IS THERE SOMEONE IN YOUR COMMUNITY IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE? AND I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE WAY WE WE MOVE FORWARD WHEN WE'RE CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, HISPANIC HISTORY MONTH.
BEING ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE THAT ARE IN COMMUNITY ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND ALLOWING OUR COMMUNITY TO PICK WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE, AND THAT TAKES THE POLITICS OUT OF IT, IS WHAT I'M HOPING ON. DOES HE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? YEAH. I MEAN, I THINK THE BEST WAY TO GET IT, THE POLITICS OUT OF IT, IS TO TAKE IT OUT OF OUR HANDS AND TO BRING IT BACK TO STAFF AND LET RACHEL AND THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WITH BRIAN'S BLESSING, TAKE OVER THE PROGRAMING.
AND IT ALLOWS FOR THE EVENT TO GET MUCH LARGER THAN IN REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY THAN WE CAN DO FROM THIS DAIS AND WE SHOULD DO FROM THIS DAIS.
I LIKE TO SEE I LIKE THE PEACE AND PROGRESS EVENTS.
I MEAN, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE MAKING THE DECISION.
I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE IT OUT OF OUR HANDS AND LET STAFF WORK ON THIS AND HAVE IT BE A PART OF CITY EVENTS AND CITY PROGRAMING THAT WAY. IT JUST MAKES IT MUCH CLEANER. YEAH, BUT WE DO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO HONOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH THIS MONTH.
SO I'D DEFINITELY LOVE TO SEE STAFF DO SOMETHING.
STAFF I THINK HAS IS ON BOARD WITH INTERVIEWING THE THREE PANELISTS THAT SIGNED UP.
SO I'M HOPING THAT WE DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S A PART OF OUR HISTORY, AND I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO SEE US MISS AN OPPORTUNITY.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO SOMETHING FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THIS COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THIS DAY. IT'S IMPORTANT TO EVERYBODY. SO LET'S NOT MISS OUT ON AN OPPORTUNITY, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO RELOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW TO CELEBRATE WHAT WE'RE CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, ANY MONTH THAT WE'RE CELEBRATING.
LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. IF IT'S STAFF FIGURED OUT, THAT'S FINE.
BUT I THINK IT'S THE METAMORPHOSIS FROM EVERYTHING.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EARLY ON, AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET THAT BACK.
I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO, AS A CITY, ALLOW OUR STAFF, WHO DOES A GREAT JOB, TO FIND SOMETHING A DIFFERENT WAY, WHERE WE CAN HONOR THE MONTHS THAT WE NEED TO BE HONORING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M HOPING ON. CUSTOMER AS WELL.
WELL, ON THAT NOTE THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, IF WE AS COUNCIL SAYING I WANT A DIFFERENT DIRECTION OR I'M LOOKING AT US GOING A DIFFERENT WAY, WHICH IS FINE.
THAT'S OUR OPINION. BUT THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS.
IT STARTS WITH US STAYING OUT OF IT. OKAY. IT STARTS WITH US.
IT SHOULDN'T BE. WELL, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO SEE.
THIS IS HOW I FEEL. THESE PROGRAMS SHOULD GO.
THERE'S NO I HEAR INVOLVED, YOU KNOW THAT? YEAH.
NO, I KNOW, BUT BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT. BUT IT.
YOU KNOW, I BROUGHT IT TO THIS BODY. YEAH, EXACTLY.
BUT I'M JUST SAYING, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT IT IN THAT SENSE AND IF WE ARE LOOKING AT.
OKAY, WELL, MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER DIRECTION, THEN.
YOU'RE RIGHT. YEAH. WE COULD ASK CITY STAFF TO SAY IF THIS IS A PROJECT YOU WANT TO CONTINUE, WE JUST STAY OUT OF IT AND LET THEM CONTINUE TO DO IT THEIR WAY.
[02:40:03]
IF THERE'S A WAY TO WHERE IF THEY WANT TO DO A ROUNDTABLE, IF THERE'S A WAY TO, THEY WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE PEACE AND PROGRESS PROCEDURE OR DIALOG OR HAVE A TOWN MEETING OR HOWEVER AND SO FORTH.I THINK THAT DOES TAKE A LOT OF THE POLITICS OUT OF IT, BY US STAYING OUT OF IT AND JUST FOCUSING ON THE COMMUNITY AND LETTING STAFF, IF THEY'RE WILLING TO, AND IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE ON WITH THIS, WITH THIS PROCESS, IT WOULD BE, IN MY OPINION, UP, UP, UP TO THEM IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE IT.
YEAH. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK TO CONTINUE DOWN THE ROAD, WE ARE I THINK IT'S BEEN I THINK COUNCILS HAVE JUST BEEN TOO INVOLVED IN I THINK STARTING FRESH WOULD ELIMINATE ANY DOUBT OF COUNCIL BEING INVOLVED.
AND THAT'S KIND OF WHY I THOUGHT, LET'S JUST LET STAFF COME UP WITH SOMETHING AND WE STAY OUT OF IT, BECAUSE IF WE CONTINUE THE SAME PATH WE'VE HAD COUNCIL AND THAT'S ONE OF THE WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? BIGGEST COMPLAINTS THAT I WAS RECEIVING. AND WHEN WE WERE MOVING FORWARD, PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT IT WAS TOO MUCH ON COUNCIL AND COUNCIL'S TOO INVOLVED.
AND I KIND OF AGREE WITH THEM, I THINK. I THINK IT'S JUST TOO IT'S BECOME IT HAD THE RIGHT INTENTIONS WHEN IT STARTED, WHEN PEACE AND PROGRESS STARTED, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S METAMORPHOSED INTO SOMETHING ELSE. AND I THINK WHEN SOMETHING GOES AWRY, YOU DON'T TRY TO FIX IT. I THINK THE BEST THING IS TO START OVER.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, BUT LET'S LET STAFF FIGURE IT OUT AND LET'S LET'S START OVER BECAUSE WE'VE WE ARE TOO INVOLVED IN WHAT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING, AND WE NEED TO START OVER AND GET US OUT OF IT, WHICH I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE IN POWER.
WE CAN PARTICIPATE, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO BE GIVING DIRECTION AND TURNING THIS INTO SOMETHING ELSE.
I MEAN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, I HEARD WAS, YOU KNOW, ARE YOU DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, POLITICALLY. AND I NEVER DO ANYTHING FOR ANYTHING POLITICALLY.
I DON'T WANT TO DO STUFF LIKE THAT. I MEAN, THIS THIS WAS ABOUT EDUCATION.
YEAH. SO. YEAH. SO SO WITH THAT NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BRIAN.
WHICH IS THERE A SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT THAT YOU THINK THAT MIGHT WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TAKING OVER? WOULD IT STILL BE COMMUNICATIONS OR ANOTHER ROUTE THAT YOU WANT TO GO WITH, WHETHER IT'S ANOTHER.
I GUESS MY THING IS, IS THAT I, FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER, WOULD BE WILLING TO JUST HAND IT OVER TO THE CITY IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT PROJECT AND JUST KEEP THE POLITICAL RIM OUT OF IT AND JUST LET MAKE IT BECOME MORE OF A COMMUNITY BASED ENGAGEMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF CITIES THAT DO THIS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, SO WE'VE GOT SOME GOOD BLUEPRINTS OUT THERE, HOW WE CAN DO IT. AND THEN THERE'S PROBABLY SOME THINGS FOR KYLE SPECIFICALLY THAT MAKE SENSE.
WE COULD CERTAINLY DO THAT IF THAT'S THE COUNCIL'S DESIRE TO DO IT.
IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT US TO DO QUICKLY THIS MONTH, WE WOULD, YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO SOMETHING QUICKLY TO TO CELEBRATE THIS MONTH AND THEN TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM FOR THE COMING YEAR.
SURE. THANK YOU BRIAN. WELL GO AHEAD. I THINK USING THE LIBRARY WOULD BE REALLY GREAT.
THEY DO SPECIALS AND EMPHASES ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS ALL YEAR, AND I THINK THEY WOULD PROBABLY BE REALLY HAPPY TO BE INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT CERTAINLY COULD BE A COMPONENT OF IT TOO.
BRIAN, WHAT KIND OF MOTION WOULD YOU NEED FROM US TO TAKE THIS POWER AWAY FROM US AND HAVE IT THIS BECOME A COMMUNICATIONS OR A DIRECTION THAT YOU NEED? I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING TO CANCEL THE PEACE AND PROGRESS EVENT FOR THIS MONTH AND FOR FOR US TO PUT TOGETHER SOME PROGRAMING TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
DOES THAT LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING TO DO? YES.
[02:45:03]
I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO I DON'T THINK THAT'S NECESSARILY THE BEST.I THINK COUNCIL MEMBER HEISER'S ORIGINAL COMMENTS PROBABLY WHERE AT LEAST WHERE I LAND.
THAT'S KIND OF A RACIST COMMENT, SO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT.
IS IT? YEAH. IT WAS. YEAH, I TOOK IT THAT WAY.
I DEFINITELY DID BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS KEEP IN MIND IS THAT I AM A MINORITY, AND I VOLUNTEERED TO BE A TO BE A MODERATOR AS THE PANELISTS THAT GIVE THE STORY.
JUST REMEMBER THAT. SO WE GOT TO BE REAL CAREFUL WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT.
WELL, I TRY TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH MY WITH MY WORDS.
SO I JUST, I THINK THAT THE BIG THE BIG ISSUE WASN'T NECESSARILY THAT WE WERE ELECTEDS.
IT HAS MORE TO DO THAT, THAT IT WASN'T PERCEIVED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCURATELY REFLECT THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE BY MODERATING THAT EVENT IN THAT, IN THAT PARTICULAR WAY, I THINK THAT THAT IT'S CANCELING THE EVENT IS NOT REALLY WASN'T REALLY UP TO US.
AND I, I MEAN, I HEARD THE FEEDBACK, YOU KNOW, BOTH BOTH IN WORDS AND IN, IN WITH THE LACK OF WORDS, YOU KNOW, AND WHAT HAPPENED AT, AT THE, AT OUR PROCLAMATION AT THE LAST MEETING THAT THAT BOTHERED ME TREMENDOUSLY.
AND SO FOR ME, IT'S THE DEPOLITICIZING OF IT IS REALLY ABOUT ALLOWING FOR THE MODERATORS IN PARTICULAR, TO BE SELECTED FROM THE COMMUNITY, TO REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT THEY FEEL IS APPROPRIATE.
SO I THINK THE EVENT IS IS PRETTY GOOD AND WOULD PROBABLY COME BACK NEXT YEAR IF WE JUST IF WE JUST WEREN'T INVOLVED IN IT, IF WE ALLOWED FOR COMMUNICATIONS TO JUST YOU KNOW, WORK, WORK TO PUT THAT PROGRAM TOGETHER TRY TRYING TO ACCURATELY REFLECT THE, THE EXPERIENCES THAT WANT TO BE DISCUSSED AND ALLOW FOR THE MODERATORS TO BE SELECTED FROM THAT POPULATION.
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THAT'S JUST MY THAT'S MY LIVED EXPERIENCE.
ON WHAT MAKES THAT WHAT MADE THAT PROGRAM GREAT AND ENJOYABLE TO LISTEN TO.
SO IT'D BE IT'D BE JUST JUST THE SAME AS IF, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A HISPANIC HERITAGE DIALOGS EVENT AND IT WAS JUST IT WAS WHITE PEOPLE DOING THE MODERATING. IT'S THE SAME KIND OF THING.
IT'S THE MODERATORS. THAT'S NOT WHO'S TELLING THE STORY.
ANYONE COULD MODERATE THIS. IT'S IT'S THE PANELISTS.
AND HAVING A DIVERSE GROUP OF PANELISTS IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WELL.
I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I DON'T DISAGREE.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MODERATORS AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT COLOR, THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE WRONG THING. IT'S NOT THE MODERATORS THAT ARE TELLING THE STORY. THEY'RE JUST HOLDING THE DISCUSSIONS. IT'S THE PEOPLE ON THE PANEL THAT GIVE THE GIVE THE THE STORY.
BUT I THINK WE GOT THE FEEDBACK LOUD AND CLEAR THAT WHILE THAT MAY BE YOUR EXPERIENCE, THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S BEING HEARD. THAT'S NOT IT'S NOT BEING TRANSLATED THAT WAY.
SO I'M JUST I THINK DEPOLITICIZING IS JUST TAKING US OUT OF THE, THE I MEAN, THE WAY THAT WE CHANGE THE ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO TRY TO KEEP ELECTEDS OFF THE PANEL, I ENDED UP MAKING ELECTEDS THE MODERATORS.
AND WE WE CAN'T MODERATE THE FEBRUARY DIALOGS EVENT, NOT IN A WAY THAT'S GOING TO BE RECEIVED.
WELL, WE CAN'T DO IT. IT'S NOT IT'S NOT WITHIN US TO DO THAT.
THAT'S DISCRIMINATION. WELL, SO THAT'S MY MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO JUST REMOVE THE ELECTEDS FROM THE PROCESS FOR HOW THE MODERATORS ARE FORMED, HOW THE PANELISTS ARE FORMED AND ALLOW FOR THAT, THAT, THAT SUMMIT, THAT EVENT TO BE DEALT WITH MORE ORGANICALLY AND OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL.
AND I THINK IT WOULD COME BACK. WE'VE DONE IT A LOT OF YEARS.
IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD FOR A LOT OF YEARS THAT THIS YEAR IT ALL CHANGED.
SO AND THERE'S NO FAULT TO BE BLAMED. WE DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.
LIKE YOU SAY, THE MODERATORS HAVE TO COME AS ELECTEDS.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT I SAID. LOOK TO YOUR LEFT. LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT.
THERE'S NO ONE REALLY QUALIFIED TO DO THAT. SO COUNCIL MEMBER HEIZER.
BRIAN, IS THIS SO DO YOU NEED OFFICIAL ACTION FROM US TO HAVE CITY OF KYLE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THESE EVENTS IN THE FUTURE, WHETHER IT'S PEACE AND PROGRESS OR ANYTHING ELSE.
THAT'S NOT A DECISION THAT I WANT. I THINK FOR THE PEACE AND PROGRESS EVENTS.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO CHANGE THOSE AND CHANGE HOW THE MODERATORS ARE SELECTED AND HOW THAT'S SET UP, I BELIEVE IT WAS A RESOLUTION AND A POLICY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNCIL.
SO THAT WOULD NEED TO COME BACK TO YOU WITH SOME OPTIONS ABOUT HOW TO DO THAT.
[02:50:02]
I THINK IF YOU'RE ASKING ME TO JUST FIND SOME WAYS TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH THIS MONTH, A SIMPLE MOTION TO THAT EFFECT, THOSE THINGS WE CAN.CERTAINLY IT'S NOT ONE OR THE OTHER. IT'S BOTH. YES, BUT THE OTHER ONE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR ACTION TO CHANGE THAT FORMAT, IF THAT'S THE DESIRE COUNCIL. SO MR. MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO CHANGE THE CURRENT POLICY AROUND PEACE AND PROGRESS. PEACE AND PROGRESS. TO HAVE IT BE A STAFF LED, COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT LED EVENT.
MOTION BY COUNCILOR HEISER. MAYOR PRO TEM HEISER, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TOBIAS.
I THINK WE JUST NEED TO GET AWAY FROM IT. SO THAT'S WHAT THE MOTION IS.
THAT'S WHAT THE NEXT STEP IS TO BRING IT BACK AND LET STAFF.
AND I'M THINKING WE JUST NEED TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
YOUR YOUR MOTION IS TO TAKE THE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OUT OF THAT PROCESS.
YEAH. WE DO NOT NEED TO BE DECIDING PROGRAMING, I DON'T THINK.
OKAY. IS THAT DO YOU GUYS NOT. IS IS THE MOTION NOT SOUND THAT WAY TO YOU.
IS THAT WE'RE STILL GOING TO KEEP THIS IN PROGRESS? I WANT TO KEEP IT. I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T KEEP IT. I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH BEING ELIMINATED.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE TO PUT IT ON.
SO IT'S GOT TO COME FROM THE PUBLIC IF IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH STAFF SUPPORT.
BUT IT JUST EITHER EITHER WAY, IT'S FINE. I JUST I THINK THAT THIS THE LAST, THE LAST DIALOG MOMENT SHOULDN'T BE BECAUSE OF WHAT JUST HAPPENED. WE SHOULD IF IT IF IT IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT'S NOT WELL ATTENDED OR IT'S NOT PROVIDING VALUE.
IT SHOULDN'T BE BECAUSE WE HAD A DISAGREEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHO IT'S NOT A DISAGREEMENT.
IT'S ABOUT. THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT FELT TO ME.
IT FELT LIKE A DISAGREEMENT. WRONG FOR YOU. FOR ME, IT WAS MORE ABOUT PEOPLE NOT BEING THERE.
IT WAS ABOUT PEOPLE WORKING TO SHUT IT DOWN. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.
SO IT DEFINITELY NEEDS TO END. WE VOTE. MR. RIZZO, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP.
I KNOW THAT THAT WAS THAT WAS NOT EASY. BUT YOU STEPPED UP TO TRY TO MODERATE THAT EVENT AS DIFFICULT AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN A, YOU KNOW, SITUATION THAT HAPPENED IS NOT ANYBODY NOT YOUR FAULT OR NOT JUST SEEMS LIKE YOU SAID TRANSLATION IS BROKEN MISCOMMUNICATION ON THIS EVENT. WELL, WE SHOULD HEAR FROM THE REST OF COUNCILMEMBER MCKINNEY.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN A, YOU KNOW, A PANEL DISCUSSION THAT IT NEEDS TO BE OWNED BY THE PEOPLE THAT'S REPRESENTING IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE IN OUR HANDS. IT NEEDS TO BE OWNED BY THE COMMUNITY.
I, I CAN KIND OF SEE RIZZO, YOUR POINT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, IT'S KIND OF OUTLIVED WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED FOR, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S BECAUSE OF US OR IF IT'S BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE CLIMATE ITSELF HAS CHANGED, BUT I FEEL LIKE THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TAKE IT OUT OF OUR HANDS AND GIVE IT BACK TO THE COMMUNITY THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE REPRESENTING.
ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 6 TO 1.
WERE THERE ANY OTHER ANY OTHER MOTIONS THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE AS FAR AS DIRECTING STAFF ON THE THE OTHER ITEMS THAT YOU DISCUSSED, THE AS FAR AS THIS MONTH AND ALL THAT? WELL, I'D LOVE TO SEE STAFF BRING SOMETHING BACK TO.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR STAFF TO BRING SOMETHING BACK TO CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
IF THAT'S THE CONSENSUS OF THE DAIS AND TO WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? REALLY PUT AN EMPHASIS ON WHAT BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS CELEBRATING THIS THIS YEAR.
AND THAT'S THE INVISIBLE WORKFORCE. SO IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING TO HIGHLIGHT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
SECOND MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER RIZZO, SECONDED BY THE MAYOR, THAT WE DIRECT STAFF TO WORK ON SOME WAYS OF CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND TO USE THE THE THEMES OF THE PROGRAMING AS DISCUSSED.
WELL, WE I THOUGHT WE WERE MAKING OURSELVES OUT OF IT.
[02:55:01]
YEAH. LET ME MAKE THAT MOTION. I DON'T OKAY. BUT YEAH, BRING BACK PROBABLY NEEDS TO CHANGE OUT TO BRING BACK.SO I'D LIKE TO PROCEED. PROCEED WITH IT. PROCEED WITH.
IS THERE DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. ALL OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES 7 TO 0.
[28) Consider and Possible Action to Direct City Manager and Staff to upload all city credit card expenses into new simple lean government use transparency portal pages.]
TRANSPARENCY PORTAL PAGES COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.YEAH, I WAS REACHED OUT BY, YOU KNOW, CONCERNED RESIDENTS THAT ASKED IF WE WOULD BE ABLE TO UPLOAD OUR CITY EXPENDITURE, ALL CREDIT CARDS INTO OUR NEW GOVERNMENT PORTAL.
AND I SAID, WELL, LET ME GIVE GIVE SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT THAT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE WHERE THE NUMBERS ARE. WE WORK AS A TEAM HERE ON COUNCIL, SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO RESPECT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO ON THIS, BUT I'M WILLING TO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY AND BETTER SAFEGUARDS IN ANY TYPE OF SPENDING THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.
SO I ASKED BRIAN AND ROSE PEREZ TO GIVE ME SOME DATA.
WE HAVE 4300 ANNUAL TRANSACTIONS IN CARDS, CREDIT CARDS, 60 CREDIT CARDS, PRETTY MUCH THAT ARE HELD BY PEOPLE IN OUR CITY, INCLUDING US COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I THINK THE THE YEARLY EXPENSES ARE ABOUT 200,000.
NO, PROBABLY MORE THAN THAT. THE MONTHLY EXPENSES ARE 200,000, BUT HALF OF THAT IS PROGRAMING OTHER KINDS OF UTILITY COSTS AND PAYMENTS WITH CARDS. AND LIKE I SAID I, I WILL BRING AGENDA ITEMS UP.
THAT'S NOTHING THAT THAT SURPRISES ANYBODY UP HERE.
BUT I WANTED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION AND ALLOW OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS TO, TO SEE IF THEY WOULD SUPPORT THIS, BECAUSE I WANT TO DO THE WORK OF THE CITY AS A TEAM.
AND WHAT I SAY OUTSIDE BACK THERE OR HERE IS THE SAME.
AND THIS IS NOBODY ASKING ME TO DO THIS. I BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY, INTEGRITY AND OPEN GOVERNMENT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING I'LL. I'LL STAND BY, COUNCILMEMBER HAUSER.
DIDN'T YOU SAY IT WASN'T THE FIRST THING YOU SAID? THAT A RESIDENT ASKED YOU ABOUT TO DO THIS, AND THEN YOU YOU BOOKENDED IT BY SAYING, THIS IS YOUR IDEA.
IT'S JUST ONE FOR CONSISTENCY. IT'S A COMBINATION.
OKAY. JUST CURIOSITY. THERE'S DATA. THERE'S SPENDING.
WELL, I'VE I'VE ASKED THE QUESTION TO. AND IT SEEMS LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, NEVER MIND.
I DON'T I THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.
SO THE FACT THAT IT'S ON THE AGENDA IS PERFORMATIVE.
BUT SO, BRIAN, CAN YOU CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRANSPARENCY OF CITY FINANCES AND WHETHER WHETHER OR NOT THE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PROCESS IS FOR AUDITS, TRANSPARENCY, SPENDING, BUDGETING, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
YEAH. SO I THINK WE'VE HAD A PRETTY DETAILED PRESENTATION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY ON SOME OF THE WHAT WE'RE CALLING THE OPEN GOV PORTAL AND OUR TRANSPARENCY PAGES THAT WE'RE HAVING THAT WILL INCLUDE OUR BUDGET INFORMATION, LOTS OF DETAILS ABOUT THE BUDGET, AND HOPEFULLY WAYS THAT ARE A LOT MORE DIGESTIBLE THAN YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AND CAN BE SEARCHED IN WAYS THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN THE PAST.
SO THAT'S PART OF IT. A FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY PAGE IS ALSO PROPOSED ON OUR WEBSITE AS PART OF THIS OPEN GOV, AS WELL AS AN OPEN DATA PORTAL, WHICH WILL BE RAW DATA THAT CAN BE EXPORTED BY USERS AND PUT INTO ANY FORMAT THAT THEY WANT TO ANALYZE AND LOOK AT.
BUT THEN THE INTENTION IS TO PROVIDE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TOOLS AND INFORMATION TO MAKE ALL OF OUR DATA TRANSPARENT TO THE PUBLIC, TO THE COUNCIL, TO THE COMMUNITY, SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF PIECES TO THAT AND A LOT OF PAGES THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY THAT WILL ALSO BE PUBLISHED, ALONG WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN AND A LOT OF OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT OF THAT DATA THAT'S THERE, AND IT WILL BE ADDED IN THE FUTURE.
YEAH. WELL, I APPRECIATE, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT OUR, OUR BOOKKEEPING AND TRANSPARENCY PROCESSES HAVE INCREASED A LOT LATELY, AS IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT YOU'VE BEEN AND JESSE AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING TO BRING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT.
MY CONCERN WITH THE ALL STAFF CREDIT CARDS IS THAT IT DOESN'T TELL A COMPLETE PICTURE.
AND SO IT'S A IT'S A, YOU KNOW, I WOULD PREFER TO SEE A MORE ROBUST TRANSPARENCY PROCESS AS OPPOSED TO THE ITEMIZED CITY COUNCIL CREDIT CARDS OR CITY EMPLOYEE CREDIT CARDS BEING PUT PUT FORWARD.
[03:00:06]
THAT'S JUST THAT'S JUST MY TAKE ON IT. BUT I LIKE THE DIRECTION THAT THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY GOING.AND I'M HAPPY TO DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT YOU THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO PUT THE CITY, ALL CITY CREDIT CARDS, ITEMIZED RECEIPTS BECAUSE, LIKE, WHAT IF THEY DON'T USE A CREDIT CARD? THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT EXPENDITURES ARE ARE MADE.
AND IF YOU PUT ONE VERSION OF A TRANSACTION BUT NOT THE OTHER.
ARE YOU BEING TRANSPARENT OR ARE YOU, YOU KNOW, SHOWING JUST CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS? AND SO I THINK THAT THE PROCESS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH, ESPECIALLY WITH THE EXPORT FEATURE THAT YOU'VE DISCUSSED, IS THE RIGHT PATH. BUT THAT'S JUST THAT'S MY OPINION ON THAT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS? I AGREE.
I AGREE WITH SOME OF WHAT YOU SAID, MR. MAYOR, BUT IT'S NEW INFORMATION, RIGHT? SO IT'S VALUABLE TO SEE IT AS A CITIZEN. EVEN FOR MYSELF, I'M A NUMBERS GUY.
I LIKE TO SEE WHERE THINGS ARE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT $2 MILLION IN CREDIT CARDS, CHARGES A YEAR.
YEAH. SO THEY'RE VERY JUSTIFIED THERE FOR GOOD REASONS.
HOW MANY CREDIT CARDS ARE RUNNING? HOW MANY ARE DEACTIVATED? WHO? WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE USING THEM? WHAT DO THEY HELP WITH? THE. YOU KNOW, DO THEY HELP WITH THE PROCURING? WHAT ARE THEY DOING? SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THEY'RE FOR UTILITIES, DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. AND I'M ABOUT OPEN LEAN GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY.
IT MAKES YOUR YOUR JOB AND STAFF'S JOB A LOT EASIER.
AND IT'S IT'S INFORMATION THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
SO I'M ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INFORMATION HERE THAT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE TO US.
SO IT'S REALLY EASY. WE'RE ALREADY COLLECTING THIS DATA ANYWAY.
AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE NAMES. I MEAN, I'M NOT I DON'T CARE.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT. I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT ARE OUR PATTERNS, WHAT ARE OUR USES OF.
DID WE DID WE TRICK UP WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE TREND.
YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR TO LAST YEAR WE DO GET SOME OF THIS IN THE AUDIT BUT IT'S MORE DIFFICULT IN DIGESTING THAT OUT OF THE AUDIT. THAT'S WHERE THAT'S WHERE MY ISSUE ACTUALLY LIES.
THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR TRENDS IN CREDIT CARDS, BUT A CREDIT CARD IS JUST A TYPE OF TRANSACTION.
THE BUDGET AND THE OVERALL EXPENDITURES ARE REALLY WHAT TELLS THE STORY.
SOME OF THAT'S CREDIT CARDS AND SOME OF THAT IS PURCHASE ORDERS.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THE CREDIT CARDS DO. YOU KNOW WHAT'S A SAFE PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES HAVING CREDIT CARDS? WHAT'S HIGH RISK AND WHAT'S LOW RISK? I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVEN WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WHAT YOU'RE 20%.
IF YOU REACH 20%, THAT'S A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WITH CREDIT CARDS.
OKAY, OKAY. WE ARE AT A 12%. HAD I NOT ASKED FOR THAT DATA.
I'M A MATH GUY. I LIKE TO KNOW THAT. I LIKE TO KNOW ARE WE ARE WE BEING CAUTIOUS WITH WHAT? SPENDING? WELL, LOOK, YOU MADE A LOT OF STATEMENTS THERE, SO I MEAN, I WON'T I WON'T ARGUE BECAUSE I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT EXACTLY, BUT THAT ALL OF THOSE ARE IF YOU THE POINT IS TO BE TRANSPARENT.
THE POINT IS NOT TO PUT CERTAIN THINGS FORWARD THAT CAN BE EASILY CRITICIZED.
I'M TRYING TO MITIGATE RISK. YOU KNOW, AS WE AS THE CITY IS GROWING AND WE HAVE THAT VISION AND WE WANT TO CULTIVATE A LEAN, OPEN GOVERNMENT CITY. OKAY. WELL, I AGREE WITH THAT.
SO I AGREE WITH THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, WHICH IS LIKE JESSE'S PRESENTATION ON THE FINANCIALS, BEING ABLE TO DIVE DOWN INTO EACH DEPARTMENT AND WHAT THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY ON, WHAT THEIR WHAT THEIR PERFORMANCE METRICS ARE, ALL OF THAT IS VERY GOOD. AND ANY TRANSACTION IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE VIA THE OPEN RECORDS PROCESS.
SO I JUST I JUST THINK THAT PICKING ONE TYPE OF TRANSACTION OUT AND PUTTING IT FRONT AND CENTER, WHEN WHAT PERCENTAGE OF A OF A DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET IS SPENT USING CREDIT CARDS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THAT'S THE THAT'S A QUESTION THAT THAT STORY WON'T TELL.
YEAH. I DON'T GO INTO THE NEGATIVE OF THIS. LIKE I SAID, I TRUST OUR EMPLOYEES.
OPEN RECORDS ARE NOT AS EASY AS YOU SAY THEY ARE.
IT'S NOT AN EASY PROCESS TO GO THROUGH. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO SIMPLIFY OUR GOVERNMENT, SIMPLIFY FOR FOR RESIDENTS THAT ARE TAXPAYERS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SO THAT THEY CAN TRUST US.
SO SO OUR GOVERNMENT IS TRUSTED. THAT'S ALL. MIGUEL.
DID YOU ASK STAFF IF THESE WERE GOING TO BE UPLOADED TO OPEN GOV BEFORE YOU SUBMITTED YOUR AGENDA REQUEST? NO MATTER WHAT I ASKED STAFF, WE HAVE TO VOTE AS A COUNCIL TO GIVE DIRECTION.
[03:05:05]
SO YOU DIDN'T HEAR THE QUESTION I ASKED YOU? IF YOU.I ASKED YOU IF YOU ASKED IF STAFF WAS ALREADY PLANNING TO PUT THESE ON THE THE OPENGOV PLATFORM, NOT P CARDS AND CREDIT CARDS. DID YOU ASK IF THEY HAD? YES. THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HERE.
CAN I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? BRIAN DOESN'T ANSWER TO ME.
NEITHER DOES NOT. BUT THAT'S NOT ANSWERING THE QUESTION.
THE ONLY WAY WE GET ACTION IS IF WE TAKE A VOTE.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU DIDN'T GIVE A CHANCE TO SEE THE PLATFORM BEFORE.
YOU'RE PUTTING. YOU'RE TRYING TO MESS WITH IT.
WE ARE A GOVERNMENT LET STAFF ROLL OUT THE PLATFORM AND THEN TRY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK.
YOU DIDN'T ASK IF IT WAS EVEN IN THE ROADMAP.
ALL RIGHT. IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DIRECT CITY MANAGER AND STAFF TO UPLOAD ALL CITY CREDIT CARD EXPENSES INTO NEW, SIMPLE, LEAN, GOVERNMENT USED TRANSPARENCY PORTAL PAGES.
ALL RIGHT, THERE'S A MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? ALL RIGHT.
MOTION FAILS FOR LACK OF A SECOND. MOTION TO ADJOURN.
SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.