Sep 05, 2026 City Council Special Meeting

IS IT, SO THE, IS THE CITY'S WEBSITE WORKING? BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S TWO PLACES TO WATCH FAILING, BUT WE'RE ON IT.

UM, OKAY, UP NEXT I HAVE EVAN OAK.

YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU, .

HELLO, UM, MY NAME IS EVAN OAK.

I'M HERE TO ADDRESS THE FUNDING FOR THE FLOCK CAMERAS IN THE, UH, KYLE CITY COUNCIL.

UM, MY WIFE AND I JUST MOVED RECENTLY AND BOUGHT A HOUSE IN, UM, IN KYLE WITH OUR EIGHT MONTH OLD SON.

UM, WE'RE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO RAISING HIM IN KYLE, BUT AS A NEW PARENT, I'M DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE WORLD AND CITY AND LIKE CULTURE IN WHICH I'M GOING TO BE RAISING MY EIGHT MONTH OLD SON.

I WOULD LIKE THAT CULTURE TO BE ONE OF TRUST AND SECURITY AND PRIVACY AND FLOCK.

CAMERAS FLY IN THE FACE OF ALL THREE OF THOSE TENANTS OF LIKE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN.

WITH OUR RIGHT TO PRIVACY, UH, FLOCK CAMERAS ALL OVER THE NATION HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE USED BY OFFICERS WITH ACCESS TO THOSE CAMERAS TO TRACK EX-WIVES AND FAMILY MEMBERS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ESTRANGED FROM IN WHAT HAS BEEN CONVICTED AS STALKING.

SO WE KNOW FOR A FACT ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT THESE CAMERAS ARE BEING USED FOR ILLICIT PURPOSES.

WE ALSO KNOW FOR A FACT THAT FLOCK GAVE A PRESENTATION TO POLICE OFFICERS LAST YEAR BEFORE THE NO KINGS PROTEST ON PROPER WAYS TO TRACK CITIZENS FROM THOSE PROTESTS, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SOMETHING THAT A LICENSE PLATE READER WOULD BE USED FOR.

THAT FOOTAGE WAS ONLY RELEASED TWO DAYS AGO.

WE JUST GOT THAT FROM OVER A YEAR AGO WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY GIVEN TO OFFICERS.

SO AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT THESE CAMERAS ARE BEING USED FOR THINGS THAT THEY AREN'T SOLD AS, THAT WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD ABOUT.

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE NO OUTSIDE ACCESS TO THESE CAMERAS FROM ORGANIZATIONS OR PEOPLE WITH ILLICIT GOALS? WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN.

UM, I'VE SEEN PERSONALLY ON, UH, VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA SITES, PEOPLE ABLE TO HACK INTO THEIR LOCAL FLOCK CAMERA NETWORK AND FIND CAMERAS POINTED AT PLAYGROUNDS, RIGHT? LIKE, I DON'T THINK WE NEED FLOCK CAMERAS TRACKING OUR KIDS WHILE THEY'RE PLAYING.

UM, THESE CAMERAS ARE NOTHING BUT A VIOLATION OF OUR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PRIVACY.

ADDITIONALLY, THESE CAMERAS ARE COSTING US $400,000 PER YEAR OUT OF TAXPAYER MONEY WITH NO STATE GRANTS WHATSOEVER, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT GREG ABBOTT, OUR GOVERNOR, HAS DECIDED TO NO LONGER GIVE ANY AGENCIES FUNDING FOR FLOCK CAMERAS.

SO ALL OF THE BURDEN OF THESE CAMERAS ARE ON US, THE TAXPAYERS, AS THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

WE HAVE $1.4 MILLION IN EQUIPMENT THAT WE GOT WITHOUT A STATE GRANT THAT WE'RE RENTING FOR $400,000 A YEAR SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SPY ON US AND TRACK US WITHOUT ANY ACCOUNTABILITY.

THAT'S UP.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME I HAVE.

ROAD BOND AND BUILD THE ROADS AND THE SIDEWALKS, WHICH IS WHAT THE VIBE, WHICH WAS WHAT THE 2022 ROAD BOND SAYS, ROADS AND SIDEWALKS.

UM, I DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE FORMS. WOULD ANYBODY ELSE LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK? OKAY.

UM, NEXT I HAVE STEPHANIE MCDONALD.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR.

MAYOR, PRO TEM AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, TONIGHT'S AN IMPORTANT NIGHT.

THE BUDGET INTERIM CITY MANAGER, MOHE AND THE FINANCE TEAM HAVE BROUGHT AN AMAZING BUDGET BEFORE YOU AND THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER ASKED THAT ANY AMENDMENTS ADDED FOR ADDITIONAL SPENDING TO THIS BUDGET BE OFFSET BY REMOVING SOMETHING ELSE FROM THE BUDGET WE SAW AT THE LAST MEETING THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WE JUST, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER GOZA BROUGHT UP, WE SHOULD HAVE THAT CUSHION.

IT'S BEING DEPLETED.

WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE AMENDMENTS TO THE BUDGET.

WE JUST NEED TO PUSH THE BUDGET THROUGH THE WAY IT IS.

IT'S A GREAT BUDGET.

IT'S, IT'S, IT WAS AN AMAZING JOB.

I CAN'T THANK THEM ENOUGH.

PLEASE ACCEPT THE BUDGET WITH NO FURTHER AMENDMENTS.

PLEASE HOLD TOUGH TO THAT.

WE CAN DO THAT MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

BUT LET'S DIG OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT OUTTA THIS HOLE.

THE VIBE TRAIL.

PLEASE GO BY THE 2022

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THOSE NEED TO BE, THEY'RE DESPERATELY NEEDED IN A LOT OF AREAS OF TOWN.

BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE IS WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON RIGHT NOW.

I'M JUST WONDERING, UH, AND I KNOW THAT THE ON SYSTEM HASN'T BEEN BID OUT YET, SO WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THIS TRAIL'S GONNA REALLY COST, BUT HOW MANY ALREADY BUILT OUT LOCAL SPOTS IN THE VIBE HAVE 12 FOOT MULTI-USE PATHS? I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE PUTTING A PATH LIKE THAT RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE, THE PIE COMPANY AND TAKING ALL THE PARKING AWAY.

IT'S JUST, IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DONE, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT.

AND THEN CONCERNING THE TMT CONTRACT FOR SCADA, THE REMOTE SITE MONITORING, I'M THANKFUL THAT IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY BE ABLE TO RECOUP THAT MONEY, TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS, UH, THAT WE IN ERROR PUT IN THE CONTRACT.

UM, I KNOW THE VENDOR THAT TMT BROUGHT THIS TO THE CITY'S ATTENTION, THE EMPLOYEES THAT WERE TAKING CARE OF THAT IN PROCUREMENT, I KNOW, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS SAID THAT WAS A NEW DEPARTMENT, BUT THESE WERE NOT CASHIERS HIRED FROM SOME STORE.

THESE WERE EMPLOYEES THAT HAD YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER CITIES.

SO, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBERS ZAPATA SAID THAT THEIR, UH, OUR STAFF HAS A CONSTANT PRACTICE TO LOOK AT PROJECTS AS THEY CLOSE TO REVIEW WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROVED, THINGS THAT WENT WELL AND THINGS THAT DID NOT, THAT WOULDN'T HAVE CAUGHT THAT, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN TOO LATE.

WE NEED TO DO THAT BEFORE THE CONTRACTS ARE FINALIZED, NOT AFTER.

UH, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S ANOTHER, UM, ANOTHER ERROR AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE, BUT THE SLUDGE ERROR, I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS, UH, ANOTHER, UH, I THINK IT WAS TWO AND A HALF MILLION.

SO WE'RE AT $5 MILLION IN ERRORS AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN BEGUN TO DO AN AUDIT.

THAT'S WHY WE NEED AN AUDIT.

WHAT ELSE IS, ARE WE GONNA DISCOVER? SO I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, AND MY HOPE IS THAT YOU REALLY FOCUS ON THE FISCAL NEEDS OF THIS CITY.

MAYOR.

CAN I PROVIDE A STATEMENT OF FACTS? I'M HESITANT TO PROVIDE ANY STATEMENT OF FACTS BECAUSE LAST TIME IT WAS INACCURATE.

SO I WILL, YES.

AND THERE WAS ANOTHER INACCURATE ONE.

I'M, THAT WAS SETTLED.

THE D DIA LAST MEETING.

I'M, YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.

I'M GONNA FINISH MY STATEMENT AND THEN I WILL ALLOW YOU TO TALK IN THE EVENT.

THIS IS NOT A STATEMENT OF FACT THAT THE OPPORTUNITY WILL NOT COME AGAIN.

SO, OKAY, THEN I WOULD LIKE THE SAME THING TO BE SAID FOR COUNCIL MEMBER ME MEDINA, WHO SAID IN CORRECT STATEMENT OF FACT LAST TIME.

SO STATEMENT OF FACT.

IT ACTUALLY WASN'T TMT IT WASN'T THE VENDOR WHO BROUGHT TO US OR FOUND THE $2.5 MILLION ERROR.

IT WAS ACTUALLY OUR OWN STAFF DURING ROUTINE CLOSEOUT THAT WE DO PRACTICE.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT WAS CLEAR.

KENNETH ROCHA, DISTRICT FOUR.

THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER.

WE'RE WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A DISCUSSION.

UM, I APOLOGIZE.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ADMITTED.

SO, OKAY, WE'RE GONNA CARRY OUT, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.

ACCUSATIONS.

I'M TRYING REALLY HARD TO BE AN ADULT HERE.

UM, SO I'M GONNA ASK THAT WE DON'T ARGUE AND WE DON'T TALK OVER EACH OTHER.

WE DON'T MAKE ACCUSATIONS AND WE DON'T MAKE HALF STATEMENTS.

SO YOUR STATEMENT OF FACT IS DONE.

WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK? THANK YOU.

UM, NEXT WE HAVE KENNETH ROCHA.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNSEL.

SO IT'S HERE, THE BUDGET, IT'S TIME TO PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.

THAT'S, UM, REALLY SHOW WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO.

UM, IT'S BEEN A TOUGH COUPLE MONTHS IN FIGURING OUT AND GOING THROUGH OUR CIP GOING THROUGH WHAT WE'RE COMMITTING OURSELVES TO.

AND I APPRECIATE THE DUE DILIGENCE.

UM, I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE ALSO GONNA HEAR FROM CHIEF TONIGHT ABOUT THE FLOCK AND ABOUT, UH, GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S DECISION.

AND, UH, WHAT IS THE IMPACT? WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON OUR DISBURSEMENT OF GRANTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN AWARDED VERSUS WHAT MAY COME OR WHAT THE PAUSE MAY BE GOING FORWARD.

SO I EXPECT THE SAME LEVEL OF DUE DILIGENCE OF REVIEWING WHAT IS OR WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL NUMBERS.

UM, THAT'S PART OF OUR EXPECTATION FOR Y'ALL, IS TO REALLY SEE, DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST INTO FLOCK? DO WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE GRANT FUNDS ARE ITEMIZED, TRULY SO WE CAN SAY WE

[00:15:01]

CAN'T, WE DON'T WANNA JUST GET RID OF THE FULL AMOUNT THAT WE'VE ALREADY INVESTED IN BECAUSE WE MAY BE TAKING AWAY OTHER PARTS OF WHAT WE'RE, WHAT WE ACTUALLY BEEN AWARDED.

THE CITY MAY HAVE ALREADY SPENT FUNDS INTO SOME OF THOSE SOFTWARE, SOME OF THOSE TECHNOLOGIES THAT BENEFIT THAT, UM, CHIEF WILL BE ABLE TO HELP DISCLOSE WHAT WHAT IT IS WE ACTUALLY HAVE BENEFITED BY OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO, UM, THANKS FOR THE DILIGENCE.

I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO HOLD THE LINE AND LET'S GO WITH OPTION TWO FOR OUR BUDGET.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK BEFORE I CLOSE? DISTANCE COMMENTS, PLEASE DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE.

YOUR BABY IS MORE THAN WELCOME TO STAY HERE.

THIS ISN'T CHURCH.

CONSIDER IMPOSSIBLE ACTION.

UM, NEXT WE HAVE CONSIDER IMPOSSIBLE ACTION.

WELL, I'M GONNA CLOSE OUT CITIZEN'S COMMENTS.

NOW WE HAVE

[III.1) Conduct a public hearing to obtain comments on the City of Kyle's Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 totaling $434,696,680 subject to final amendments by City Council, which includes a proposed property tax rate of $0.5600 per $100/taxable valuation, a reduction of $0.0357 per $100 or 5.99%, no increase for water service rates, no increase for wastewater service rates, no increase for storm drainage fees, a 2.5% increase for solid waste services (trash collection), all other fees and charges for various city services as provided for in the fee schedule, capital improvement plan expenditures, and the deletion of eleven (11.0) full-time equivalent positions for a net total of 470.0 proposed positions. (RELATED AGENDA ITEM 1 OF 5)]

UM, I'M GONNA CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO OBTAIN COMMENTS IN THE CITY OF KYLE'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2027 TO LANE $434 MILLION, $696,680, SUBJECT TO FINAL AMENDMENTS BY CITY COUNCIL, WHICH INCLUDE A PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.56 PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS TAXABLE VALUATION, A REDUCTION OF, UH, 0.0357 PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS OR 5.99%, NO INCREASE FOR WATER SERVICE RATES, NO INCREASE FOR WASTEWATER SERVICE RATES, NO INCREASE FOR STORM DRAINAGE FEES.

A 2.5 INCREASE FOR SOLID INCREASE FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES, TRASH COLLECTION, ALL OTHER FEES AND CHARGES FOR VARIOUS CITY SERVICES AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE FEE SCHEDULE, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN EXPENDITURES, AND THE DELETION OF 11 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS FOR A NET TOTAL OF 470 PROPOSED POSITIONS.

UM, THIS IS GONNA BE, UH, AN ITEM RELATED TO ONE OF FIVE, AND THE ITEM PRESENTER IS GONNA BE PEREZ MOHE.

SO, MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR THE RECORD, I'M PEREZ MOHE CITY'S INTERIM CITY MANAGER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR.

SO THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 27, THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AT 7:00 PM ON SEPTEMBER 15TH AT KYLE CITY HALL, 100 WEST CENTER STREET, KYLE, TEXAS.

ON TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA, THE KYLE CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO CONSIDER ON FIRST READING TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY'S BUDGET OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR 26, 27.

JUST TO QUICKLY REVIEW A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT WAS PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL, THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES 417 MILLION WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICE AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

THIS DEBT SERVICE IN THIS NUMBER INCLUDES BOTH THE UTILITY DEBT AS WELL AS TAX SUPPORTED DEBT.

THE 417 MILLION TOTAL RECOMMENDED EXPENDITURE BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE IN THIS NUMBER.

THE AMENDMENTS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 27TH, AND I'LL GO OVER THOSE AMENDMENTS WHEN WE BRING UP THE ORDINANCE FOR ADOPTING THE BUDGET.

THE 417 MILLION IS ALSO SUBJECT TO ANY COUNCIL AMENDMENTS PROPOSED AND APPROVED AT TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.

THE PROPERTY TAX INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS 3.57 CENTS LESS THAN THE CURRENT ADOPTED, BUT, UH, TAX RATE OF 59 57, THIS REDUCTION IS ALMOST 6% AS COMPARED TO THE CURRENT ADOPTED TAX RATE.

THERE'S NO RATE INCREASES PROPOSED FOR WATER SERVICE FOR INSIDE AND OUTSIDE UTILITY CUSTOMERS.

NO RATE INCREASE IS PROPOSED FOR A WASTEWATER SERVICE FOR ANY INSIDE OR OUTSIDE UTILITY CUSTOMERS.

AND THERE'S NO FEE INCREASE PROPOSED FOR STORM DRAINAGE FEES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND CO COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.

NO FEE INCREASES AND FOR OTHER CITY RATES AND CHARGES, EXCEPT FOR THE ADDITION OF ONE NEW FEE FOR THE WASTEWATER UTILITIES, WHICH IS

[00:20:01]

TO SIMPLY RECOVER THE COST FOR INDUSTRIAL PRETREATMENT SAMPLING.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES INCLUDE A 2.5% RATE INCREASE FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES AND RECYCLING, WHICH IS BASICALLY OUR TRA TRASH COLLECTION PER THE CITY'S CONTRACT WITH TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEM.

AND THESE RATES WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1ST, 2027.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS.

A FILLED POSITIONS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

NO REDUCTION IN EMPLOYEE WAGES OR SALARIES WERE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 460 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS FOR NEXT YEAR, AND THAT IS AFTER THE ELIMINATION OF 11 FULL-TIME POSITIONS FOR A TOTAL SAVINGS OF $1.9 MILLION ANNUAL RECURRING COST SAVINGS TO THE CITY.

THE LIST OF POSITIONS ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT.

IN ADDITION, MY PROPOSED BUDGET TO CITY COUNCIL INCLUDED 24 POSITIONS FROZEN OR UNFUNDED FOR NEXT FISCAL FISCAL GEAR.

THEY WERE NOT ELIMINATED, BUT THEY WERE FROZEN.

HOWEVER, AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING ON AUGUST 27TH, THERE WERE TWO PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, VACANT EMPLOYEES OR POSITIONS IN THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT THAT COUNCIL APPROVED FUNDING FOR, AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT 24 NOW IS 23 BECAUSE THERE WERE TWO HALVES.

AND THE 2.45 MILLION IN TOTAL RECURRING ANNUAL COST SAVINGS NOW DROPS DOWN TO $2.39 MILLION.

THE FIVE YEAR CIP SPENDING PLAN, 288 OR 289 MILLION FOR NEXT YEAR.

BUT OVER THE FIVE YEARS, IT IS REDUCED FROM $1.3 MILLION, $1.3 BILLION TO 839 MILLION.

TODAY.

SEPTEMBER 5TH, WE HAVE OUR FIRST SET OF PUBLIC HEARINGS, OUR FIRST READING ON BUDGET ADOPTION ORDINANCE, OUR FIRST READING ON PROPERTY TAX RATE ADOPTION ORDINANCE, AND THEN FIRST READING OF THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE STRATIFICATION ORDINANCE.

AND I'LL GO OVER THAT AND WHAT THAT MEANS, UH, WHEN THAT ITEM COMES UP, OUR SECOND AND FINAL PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND THE SECOND READING OF THESE ORDINANCES IS SCHEDULED ON SEPTEMBER 15TH AS 7:00 PM A COMPLETE COPY OF THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING ALL ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

A PRINTED COPY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION DURING BUSINESS HOURS AT CITY HALL, AS WELL AS AT THE KYLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

SO WITH THAT MAYOR, YOU CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

ANYBODY LIKE TO COME AND SPEAK ABOUT THE BUDGET? ALL RIGHT, SEE, THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE IT.

GO AHEAD, MR. BRI.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION ON THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING THERE.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE COULD AGENDA ITEM

[III.2) Conduct a public hearing to obtain comments on the proposal to adopt the City of Kyle's ad valorem tax rate (property tax rate) at $0.5600 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation for Tax Year 2026 and Fiscal Year 2026-27. This is a $0.0357 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation or 5.99% reduction from the current adopted tax rate of $0.5957 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation. (RELATED AGENDA ITEM 2 OF 5)]

TWO.

WE HAVE ITEM PRESENTER PEREZ MOHE.

CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO OBTAIN COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE CITY OF KYLE'S AT BOHAM TAX RATE PROPERTY TAX RATE AT 0.5600 PER HUNDRED OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR 2026 AND FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2027.

THIS IS A 0.0357 PER 100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION, OR 5.99 REDUCTION FROM THE CURRENT ADOPTED TAX RATE OF 0.5957 PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.

[00:25:01]

SO MAYOR AND COUNSEL, THIS IS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPERTY TAX RATES.

THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING WAS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

THIS IS ON THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATES FOR NEXT YEAR.

THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AT 7:00 PM ON SEPTEMBER 15TH AT KYLE CITY HALL, 100 WEST CENTER STREET, KYLE, TEXAS.

DURING TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA, THE KYLE CITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO CONSIDER A PROPOSAL TO SET THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE AT 0.5600 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION FOR TAX YEAR 26 OR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATES FOR 26 TAX YEAR 26 OR FISCAL YEAR 26 27 ARE AS FOLLOWS.

THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE WAS CALCULATED AT 0.6322 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.

THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE WAS CALCULATED AT 0.5650 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.

THE PROPOSED TAX RATE BEFORE YOU TONIGHT FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL ON FIRST READING IS 0.5600 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION.

AND IN REFERENCE, THE CURRENT ADOPTED OR THE APPROVED TAX RATE FOR THIS YEAR IS 0.5957 PER $100.

SO NOW I'M GONNA COMPARE THE PROPOSED TAX RATE TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE AND THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.

AND I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT IS PART OF OUR RECORD.

THE PROPOSED ADVIL OR PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 56 0 0 0 0.5600 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION FOR TAX YEAR 2026 OR FISCAL YEAR 26 27 IS A DECREASE OF 0.0357 OR 3.57 CENTS PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION, OR 5.99% FROM THE CITY'S CURRENT ADOPTED TAX RATE OF 0.5957 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION FOR TAX YEAR 25 OR FISCAL YEAR 25 26.

SO WE'RE COMPARING THE PROPOSED TAX RATE TO THE CURRENT ADOPTED TAX RATE IN IN THAT BULLET.

THIS, THE SECOND ITEM HERE IS CITY'S PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER $100 IS LOWER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF 0.6322 PER $100 FOR TAX YEAR 26 OR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

THIS IS A DECREASE OF 0.0722 PER $100 OR 11.42% FROM THE KNOWN NEW REVENUE TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 26.

IF Y'ALL RECALL, UH, RECALL FROM MY EARLIER PRESENTATIONS TO COUNSEL ON TAX RATE INFORMATION, THIS HAS BEEN A VERY UNUSUAL YEAR FOR CITY OF KYLE.

THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS TYPICALLY LESS THAN THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE, AND IN MOST CASES, LESS THAN THE PROPOSED TAX RATE.

THE LAST BULLET COMPARES THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE TO THE CURRENT TAX RATE.

THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER $100 IS

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0.0050 PER $100 LOWER THAN THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE OF 0.5650 PER $100 FOR TAX YEAR 26 OR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

HERE'S A TABLE SHOWING YOU THE FIVE TAX RATES THAT WE DISCUSSED DURING THE BUDGET DELIBERATIONS.

SO WORKING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.

THE SECOND COLUMN IS THE CITY'S CURRENT ADOPTED TAX RATE.

NEXT TO IT IS THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE CALCULATED FOR THIS YEAR.

THEN WE HAVE THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.

AND THEN YOU'LL RECALL WE DISCUSSED TWO PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE OPTIONS THAT I BROUGHT FORWARD FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED LINE, THE TOTAL PROPERTY TAX RATE, THE CURRENT TAX RATE IS 0.5957, THOUGH NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS 0.6322.

THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS 0.5650.

AND THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING TONIGHT IS OPTION NUMBER ONE OR 0.5600 PER $100.

EACH ONE OF THESE TAX RATES COMPARES ON THIS TABLE TO THE CURRENT PROPERTY TAX RATE.

SO THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.5600 IS 0.36 CENTS PER $100 LESS THAN THE CURRENT ADOPT TAX RATE, OR IT'S 6% LESS THAN THE CURRENT RATE.

SO HERE'S THE BREAKDOWN OF THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE.

Y'ALL RECALL THAT PROPERTY TAX RATE HAS TWO COMPONENTS.

WE WENT OVER IT.

THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS COMPONENT AND THE INTEREST IN SEEKING TAX RATE COMPONENT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION COMPONENT PAYS FOR THE GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.

FOR EXAMPLE, OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY, OUR GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, ALL OF THOSE CONSIDERED AS MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.

AND THEY'RE PAID WITH PROPERTY TAX RATE FROM MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.

THE INTEREST IN SINKING RATE IS THE PROPERTY TAX RATE THAT PAYS FOR, FOR THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST DUE ON THE DEBT WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN OR BORROWED TO PAY BACK THE PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST DUE NEXT YEAR.

SO THE, THOSE TWO COMPONENTS MAKE UP THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

SO FOR NEXT YEAR, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS 0.5600 AS COMPARED TO THE CURRENT ADOPTED TAX RATE OF 0.5957 OR A REDUCTION OF 3.57 CENTS PER $100 OR 6% REDUCTION IN TAX RATE.

IF COUNSEL WAS TO ADOPT THAT TAX RATE TONIGHT.

SO FOR AN AVERAGE VALUED HOME IN KYLE, WHAT WILL BE THE TAX IMPACT ON THE BILL? SO THIS TABLE OUTLINES THAT FOR AN AVERAGE VALUED HOME IN KYLE IN 2026, IF THE COUNCIL ADOPTS THE 56 0 0 TAX RATE, WHAT WILL BE THE TAX BILL AS COMPARED TO THE CURRENT TAX RATE? SO LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH THE SETUP OF THIS TABLE FROM LEFT TO THE RIGHT.

FISCAL YEAR, AVERAGE HOME VALUE PROPERTY TAX RATE, THE GROSS PROPERTY TAX LEVY.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT WILL BE THE GROSS TAX BILL? THE HOMESTEAD REDUCTION IN KYLE, WE ALLOW UP TO $40,000 IN HOMESTEAD HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

AND THEN THE LAST COLUMN SHOWS YOU THE FINAL, UM, A AVERAGE BILL.

SO FOR 2026, THE AVERAGE HOME VALUE IN KYLE, ACCORDING TO OUR APPRAISAL DISTRICT, IS $301,530.

THAT SAME HOME IN 2025 WAS VALUED AT $317,616

[00:35:04]

OR A DROP IN VALUE IN THIS YEAR.

THIS TAX CALCULATION THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, IT REDUCES THE HOME AVERAGE HOME VALUE BY A LITTLE OVER $16,000 OR 5%.

SO IF YOU WERE TO TAKE THAT AVERAGE VALUED HOME OF $301,000 AND $530 AND APPLY THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.5600, THE GROSS TAX BILL FOR THE CITY OF KYLE'S TAX PORTION, IT EQUALS $1,688 AND 57 CENTS.

NOW YOU HAVE TO APPLY THE EXEMPTION.

YOU HAVE TO NET THAT OUT.

IF, IF THIS HOME IS OWNED BY AN OCCUPIED BY THE HOMEOWNER, THEY GET A HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, THEY WILL GET A REDUCTION OF $224.

THEIR NET TAX BILL ON THAT AVERAGE VALUED HOME WILL BE $1,464 AND 57 CENTS.

IF COUNSEL WAS TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE AT 0.5600, IF YOU WERE TO COMPARE THAT SAME VALUED HOME LAST YEAR AT THE LAST YEAR'S, OR THE RATE IN EFFECT 59 57, THAT TAX BILL WAS $1,653 AND 76 CENTS.

SO WITH THE VALUED DROPPING TAX RATE, DROPPING, OUR AVERAGE HOME VALUED HOMEOWNER WILL SEE A REDUCTION OF $189 AND 19 CENTS IN THEIR TAX BILL, OR 11.44%.

NOT EVERYBODY'S GONNA SEE THIS EXACT AMOUNT.

THIS IS THE AVERAGE VALUED HOME.

SOME WILL SEE MORE, SOME WILL SEE SLIGHTLY LESS.

THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER $100 FOR TAX YEAR 26 WILL RAISE SLIGHTLY MORE REVENUES FROM PROPERTY TAXES THAN IN THE PRIOR TAX YEAR.

THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND BECAUSE THE LAST AGENDA ITEM YOU HAVE, BEFORE YOU NUMBER FIVE ON YOUR AGENDA, YOU HAVE TO RATIFY THE TAX RATE ONE MORE TIME BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA GET SLIGHTLY MORE REVENUES, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION REVENUES NEXT YEAR FROM THE, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE REDUCING THE TAX RATE, BECAUSE NEW PROPERTIES HAVE COME ON TO THE TAX ROLL THAT WERE NOT THERE THE YEAR BEFORE.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE MUST RATIFY THE TAX RATE BY COUNCIL IN A SEPARATE ORDINANCE.

DURING TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING, THE KYLE CITY COUNCIL IS POSTED TO VOTE ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER $100 FOR TAX YEAR 26 OR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

ON FIRST READING OF THE TAX RATE ORDINANCE, A COMPLETE COPY OF THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE CALCULATIONS ARE ALL POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

A PRINTED COPY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION DURING BUSINESS HOURS AT CITY HALL, AS WELL AS AT THE KYLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

SO WITH THAT MAYOR, YOU CAN OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPERTY TAX RATES.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK? SEE NONE.

I WILL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING.

DO WE HAVE A DISCUSSION ON IT HERE OR WE WAIT AFTERWARDS? RIGHT, SO, SO THE WAY WE'VE DONE THE BUDGET IS WE POST THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FIRST, AND THEN THE NEXT TWO ITEMS WILL BE THESE SAME ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.

GOT.

ALRIGHT, WELL, SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO

[III.3) (First Reading) Consider approval of an Ordinance adopting the annual budget totaling $434,696,680 subject to final amendments by City Council, for the ensuing fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2027; appropriating revenue and expenditure amounts thereof for city funds, authorizing no rate increase for water service rates, no rate increase for wastewater service rates, no increase in storm drainage fees, a 2.5% increase in solid waste service charges, all other fees and charges for various city services as provided for in the fee schedule, capital improvement plan expenditures, elimination of eleven (11) full-time positions for a net total of 470.0 positions, and authorizing for the carryover of encumbrances, all associated schedules and documents; and repealing all Ordinances in conflict herewith; and providing for an effective date. (RELATED AGENDA ITEM 3 OF 5 & ROLL CALL VOTE IS REQUESTED) ]

AGENDA ITEM THREE.

THIS IS THE FIRST READING, CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL BUDGET TOLLING $434,696,680, SUBJECT TO FINAL AMENDMENTS BY CITY COUNCIL FOR THE ENSUING FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2026, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2027.

APPROPRIATING REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE AMOUNTS THEREOF FOR CITY FUNDS AUTHORIZING NO RATE INCREASE FOR WATER SERVICE RATES, NO RATE INCREASE FOR WASTEWATER SERVICE RATES, NO INCREASE IN STORM DRAINAGE FEES.

A 2.5 INCREASE IN SOLID WASTE SERVICE CHARGES ALL OTHER FEES AND CHARGES FOR VARIOUS CITY SERVICES AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE FEE SCHEDULE, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND EXPENDITURES.

ELIMINATION OF 11 FULL-TIME POSITIONS FOR A NET TOTAL OF 470 THOU 470 POSITIONS AND AUTHORIZING FOR THE CARRYOVER OF ENCUMBRANCES, ALL ASSOCIATED SCHEDULES AND DOCUMENTS AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT WITH HERE WITHIN OR HEREWITH.

[00:40:01]

AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE ITEM, UH, PRESENTER IS PEREZ MO HEAT.

BUT BEFORE WE MOVE ON, HOW DO WE WANT, 'CAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT CHANGES AND UPDATES.

HOW DO YOU, DO YOU WANT TO JUST PRESENT IT AND THEN IN THE END WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT? YY YES.

SO I'LL, I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THE STEPS AND THEN ONCE I GO THROUGH MY PRESENTATION, I'LL OPEN IT UP FOR COUNSEL FOR QUESTIONS, ANSWERS, ANY AMENDMENTS Y'ALL WANNA CONSIDER.

THAT WILL BE THE TIME TO MAKE THOSE AMENDMENTS.

HOWEVER, AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, WE, UH, COUNCIL AMENDED THE PROPOSED BUDGET BY FUNDING THE, THE TWO HALFTIME POSITIONS IN THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.

SO, AS A HOUSEKEEPING MATTER, MAYOR, FOR THE NEXT THREE ITEMS, STAFF IS REQUESTING THAT WE HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

SO UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM, THE CITY COUNCIL IS POSTED TO CONSIDER ON FIRST READING THE ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE CITY'S OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED ON THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET WAS HELD EARLIER TODAY AT THIS COUNCIL MEETING HERE AGAIN, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THIS REAL QUICK.

IT'S, IT'S, UH, EXACTLY THE SAME SLIDE AS WE COVERED UNDER THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPERTY, UH, FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET, THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT, THAT THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL TOTAL $417 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES.

THIS NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE THE AMENDMENTS APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 27TH, NOR DOES IT INCLUDE THE TRANSFERS OUT, WHICH IS ANOTHER $17.7 MILLION.

THE TAX RATE, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE IS 3.57 CENTS PER $100 LESS THAN THE CURRENT TAX RATE OF 59 57 OR A REDUCTION OF 6%.

THERE'S NO RATE INCREASE PROPOSED FOR WATER SERVICE FOR ANY INSIDE OR OUTSIDE UTILITY CUSTOMERS.

NO RATE INCREASE IS PROPOSED FOR WASTEWATER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE CITY CUSTOMERS.

NO FEE INCREASE IS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR STORM DRAINAGE, FEE FOR RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS.

NO INCREASE IN OTHER RATES AND CHARGES IN THE CITY'S FEE SCHEDULE, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT THE WATER U UTILITY IS ADDING A NEW FEE TO RECOVER THE COST OF INDUSTRIAL PRETREATMENT SAMPLING.

THERE IS, HOWEVER, A 2.5% RATE INCREASE INCLUDED FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES AND RECYCLING SERVICES PER CITY'S CONTRACT WITH TEXAS DISPOSAL SYSTEM.

AND VERY BRIEFLY, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT THAT RATE INCREASE IS.

THE CURRENT BASE TRASH BILL OR SOLID WASTE BILL IS $25 AND 5 CENTS, WHICH IS WITHOUT THE 10% FRANCHISE FEE AND 8.25% SALES TAX TRASH CHARGES ARE SUBJECT TO STATE OF TEXAS SALES TAX.

SO THE RATE IS GONNA GO FROM 25.05 TO 25.6868 OR AN INCREASE OF 63 CENTS PER MONTH FOR SOLID WASTE SERVICES.

THESE NEW RATES WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1ST, 2027 NEXT YEAR.

THE WAY THE TDS OR TEXAS DISPOSABLE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY IS SET UP, THE NEW RATES GO INTO EFFECT MIDYEAR MID FISCAL YEAR.

SO IT'LL BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER, I MEAN APRIL 1ST.

THERE ARE NO EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

NO REDUCTION IN EMPLOYEE WAGES OR SALARY IS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

THERE IS A TOTAL OF FULL HUNDRED 60 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.

THAT 460 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT NUMBER IS NET OF 11 POSITIONS THAT WERE ELIMINATED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FY 26 27.

THAT 11 REDUCTION, 11 POSITION REDUCTION GIVES US A NET SAVINGS OF $1.9 MILLION RECURRING EVERY YEAR.

THEREAFTER, THE LIST OF THOSE 11 POSITIONS ARE PROVIDED IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT.

THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO INCLUDED 24 POSITIONS FROZEN UNFUNDED IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO REALIZE COST SAVINGS OF 2.45 MILLION.

[00:45:02]

SO THAT 24 FROZEN POSITION BECOMES 23 AND THE SAVINGS OF 2.45 MILLION, UH, IS REDUCED TO 2.39 MILLION.

WE WENT OVER THE CIP BUDGET, SO AMENDMENTS ON AUGUST 28TH, 2026.

I BELIEVE IT WAS AUGUST 28TH.

THE DAYS ARE ALL BLENDING TOGETHER.

27, LET'S CORRECT THAT.

AUGUST 27, THE CITY COUNCIL AMENDED THE INTERIM CITY MANAGERS PROPOSED RECOMMENDED EXPENDITURES FOR THE OPERATING CAPITAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 27 BY INCREASING APPROPRIATIONS FOR EXPENDITURES IN THE BUDGET AS FOLLOWS.

FOR KYLE VISTA PARK, CIP, THE BUDGET WAS AMENDED BY $1,886,546.

THE EXPENDITURE PORTION, HOWEVER, THIS AMENDMENT WAS, HAD A NET ZERO IMPACT BECAUSE IT ALSO HAD A CORRESPONDING REVENUE SOURCE OF REVENUE COMING FROM THE SIX CREEKS DEVELOPER.

SO IT WAS A REVENUE NEUTRAL AMENDMENT.

WE INCREASED THE EXPENDITURES BY 1.9 MILLION.

WE ALSO INCREASED THE REVENUE SIDE BY 1.9 MILLION.

SO ZERO NET IMPACT TO THE FUND BALANCE.

THE SECOND AMENDMENT THAT WAS APPROVED ON AUGUST 27TH WERE TWO PART-TIME POSITIONS IN LIBRARY FOR A TOTAL SUM OF $57,000 AND 58 CENTS.

THE THIRD, UH, AMENDMENT WAS ALSO A CIP AMENDMENT, THE MORENO OR MORENO STREET DRAINAGE, CIP, THE APPROPRIATION FOR EXPENDITURES WAS INCREASED BY COUNCIL BY $600,000.

SO THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION FOR EXPENDITURES WAS 2 MILLION.

IF YOU ADD UP ALL THESE THREE NUMBERS, WAS $2,543,604.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AMENDMENTS APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON AUGUST 27TH? BEFORE I MOVE ON? OKAY, I THINK YOU'RE GOOD.

SO AT THAT SAME COUNCIL MEETING, THERE WERE COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO FOLLOW UP.

WE AS IN STAFF, SO THE FIRST SET OF QUESTIONS, UH, CAME FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ZAPATA.

AND HER QUESTION WAS, WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST FOR A ONE TIME $1,800 PAYMENT TO ALL OUR EMPLOYEES FOR ARREST AND RECOGNITION, I BELIEVE IS HOW YOU DESCRIBED IT, PAYMENT TO ALL OUR CIVILIAN CITY EMPLOYEES.

THIS WOULD EXCLUDE OUR SWORN POLICE OFFICERS.

SO EVERYONE CIVILIAN WOULD, IF THIS WAS TO BE APPROVED BY COUNSEL, WOULD RECEIVE $1,800 GROSS NET.

WHEN THE EMPLOYEE SEES IT ON THEIR PAYCHECK, IT WOULD BE NET OF PAYROLL, TAXES AND RETIREMENT.

SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT THE EMPLOYEES WILL NOT SEE EXACTLY $1,800.

THEY WILL SEE NET OF THOSE DEDUCTIONS.

SO THE IMP THE QUESTION WAS WHAT'S THE TOTAL IMPACT TO THE CITY IF THIS PROPOSAL WAS TO BE ADOPTED? THE IMPACT OF GENERAL FUND IS $581,465.

THE IMPACT TO THE WATER UTILITY FUND IS $99,371.

THE IMPACT TO WASTEWATER UTILITY FUND IS $88,330.

STORM DRAINAGE $22,082.

AND THEN WE HAVE A SMALL IMPACT ON A GRANT FUNDED POSITION BY $4,400.

SO THE TOTAL IMPACT OF THIS PROPOSAL, INCLUDING PAYROLL TAXES IN RETIREMENT, IS 795,665.

AND WE HAVE PROVIDED THIS INFORMATION TO COUNSEL LAST FRIDAY.

SO WE TURNED IT AROUND QUICK, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WENT OVER IT TODAY IF Y'ALL HAD ANY QUESTIONS.

THE NEXT SET OF QUESTIONS CAME FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS.

HER

[00:50:01]

PROPOSAL WAS TO FIND OUT WHAT IS THE IMPACT, TOTAL IMPACT OF A 3% GENERAL WAGE INCREASE GIVEN TO ALL CIVILIAN CITY EMPLOYEES EXCEPT FOR THE MANAGEMENT TEAM.

AND THIS WOULD ALSO EXCLUDE ALL SWORN POSITIONS.

AND BY MANAGEMENT TEAM, WE MEAN ON OUR SIDE WHEN WE CALCULATED THESE NUMBERS, IS FROM THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR POSITION LEVEL.

SO IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, THE DIRECTOR WOULD NOT RECEIVE ONE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTORS WOULD NOT RECEIVE ONE, THE DEPUTY DIRECTORS WOULD NOT RECEIVE ONE, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER WOULD NOT RECEIVE ONE.

THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER WOULD NOT RECEIVE ONE.

THE INTERIM CITY MANAGER WOULD NOT RECEIVE ONE AND NOR WOULD THE, HIS SHADOW FINANCE DIRECTOR WOULD NOT RECEIVE ONE.

THERE ARE SOME DIRECTORS THAT ARE NOT CALLED DIRECTORS, BUT THEY ARE AT THE DIRECTOR LEVEL, FOR EXAMPLE, CITY ATTORNEY.

SO CITY ATTORNEY WOULD BE EXCLUDED, THE ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY WOULD BE EXCLUDED.

WE ALSO HAVE CITY SECRETARY THAT DOES NOT HAVE DIRECTOR TITLE IN THEIR, IN THEIR POSITION DESCRIPTION.

SO CITY SECRETARY WOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS LIST.

SO HERE AGAIN, THE IMPACT TO GENERAL FUND IS $609,385.

THE IMPACT TO THE WATER UTILITY FUND IS $83,305.

THE IMPACT TO WASTEWATER UTILITY FUND IS $75,123.

THE IMPACT TO STORM DRAINAGE IS 25,638 AND GRAND FUNDS IS ABOUT $4,746.

A TOTAL IMPACT CITYWIDE IS $798,197.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS PROPOSAL AND COUNCIL MEMBER'S A PROPOSAL COUNCIL MEMBER'S, A PROPOSAL IS A ONE TIME IMPACT IS PAID, IS DONE, IT DOESN'T COME BACK, IT DOESN'T ADD TO THE BASE OF OUR PAY OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

THE GENERAL WAGE INCREASE OPTION WOULD BE ADDED TO THE BASE OF OUR EMPLOYEES.

THEIR WAGE WILL CONTINUE.

SO THIS IS A RECURRING IMPACT FROM, FROM THAT POINT FORWARD.

SO IT WILL IMPACT NOT ONLY 26, 27, IT WILL ALSO IMPACT 28, 29 30 AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE TWO PROPOSALS BEFORE I MOVE ON? ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.

REAL QUICK, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

SO YOU'RE SAYING REGARDING NUMBER EIGHT, THE 3% INCREASE WAGE, THAT'S, THAT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL, IT'S NOT JUST LIKE WHAT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZAPATA HAD REQUESTING THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE AMENDED MOVING FORWARD.

$798.

91 97.

IS THAT PER MONTH OR IS IT PER YEAR.

PER YEAR.

SO THAT WAS AN ASSUMPTION THAT SOME OF THESE COULD BE RECURRING MONTHLY OR EVERY TWO WEEKS SINCE IF RIGHT.

SO IT WILL BECOME PART OF THE PAYROLL EVERY TWO WEEKS.

BUT THE TOTAL IMPACT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, THE 12 MONTH WILL BE 798,000 1 97.

IF COUNSEL WAS TO APPROVE THIS AS AN AMENDMENT AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, IT'LL BE CONTINUING RIGHT? THAT, THAT PRICE, YES.

IT'LL ALSO INCREASE, IF THERE'S A, A RAISE NEXT YEAR, IT'LL BE A COMPOUNDED.

SO ON TOP OF THIS, SO THE NEXT YEAR, THE NEXT TIME THEY GET A 3% RAISE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE, BUT JUST SAY IT'S ANOTHER 7 98.

SO THEN YOU HAVE 1.4 MILLION IN TWO YEARS OF INCREASE.

YES, IT WILL STACK EACH YEAR.

AS COMPARED AS COMPARED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS OF PAT'S PROPOSAL? IT'S ONE TIME IT DOESN'T, UNLESS COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE IT EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENT, BUT THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW AND WAS INTRODUCED, IT'S A ONE TIME.

THAT THE RESERVE WOULD BE REDUCED BY IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER ADA.

AND THEN ALSO JUST FOR EXTRA CLARIFICATION, UM, THE, WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT ON THE, UH, RESERVE REQUIREMENT, UH, FOR, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS'S, I GUESS MOVING FORWARD, DO YOU, ARE WE, DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH THAT NUMBER WOULD IMPACT US? BECAUSE THE MORE THAT WE INCREASE OUR OPERATING BUDGET EVERY SINGLE YEAR, THAT MEANS THE HIGHER THE RESERVE REQUIREMENT.

SO, SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT SLIDE, THE GENERAL FUND IMPACT IS $609,000 SO

[00:55:01]

UNLESS COUNSEL DIRECTS ME TO FIND EXPENDITURES IN, IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THAT TO REDUCE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THAT WOULD BE TAKEN FROM THE, THE RESERVE.

BUT THE RESERVE REQUIREMENT IS GONNA GO UP MM-HMM .

BECAUSE NOW THIS NUMBER IS EMBEDDED IN THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S WHAT HER ORIGINAL QUESTION WAS.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS.

SO FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, THEY'RE PRETTY IDENTICAL.

THE RESERVE REQUIRE REQUIREMENT WILL BE THE SAME.

UM, MY COMMENT IS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GIVE A, WE SAY WE VALUE OUR STAFF AND WE DO, BUT SAYING THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE THEM RAISES, ALTHOUGH WE'RE CUTTING OUR TAX RATE, UM, AND THE BUDGET IS BALANCED AND DOES HAVE A, A, SOME EXCESS THERE OVER THE, UM, REQUIRED RESERVE.

AND THE REQUIRED RESERVE IS NOT REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED ALL IN ONE YEAR.

IN ANY CASE, WE CAN DO THAT, BUT THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT TO DO THAT.

AND OF COURSE, YOU, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET, THE RAISE DOES CARRY THROUGH.

THAT'S WHAT RAISES DO.

, THEY INCREASE YOUR SALARY.

UM, YOU DON'T TAKE IT BACK THE NEXT YEAR, WHICH WE WOULD BE IN A POSITION NEXT YEAR OF DOING THE SAME THING AND ANOTHER 1800 PER STAFF PERSON OR ANOTHER 3% RAISE PERHAPS WHATEVER THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO.

UM, BUT THAT IS HOW RAISES WORK.

THAT'S WHEN WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING.

THAT'S HOW ALL OF OUR RAISES WORK.

UM, I THINK THAT THAT SHOWS THAT WE VALUE OUR STAFF, UH, AND I, I WOULD DEFINITELY ADVOCATE FOR THIS PARTICULAR METHOD OF REWARDING OUR STAFF.

I DO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

MY FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT TO REPLACE THE RESERVE? I GUESS THAT WOULD BE AN AMY QUESTION.

'CAUSE IT'S REALLY IN THE CHARTER.

YEAH, WE CAN COME BACK TO THAT AT THE END.

WELL, I JUST, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.

I THINK OVERALL JUST, OKAY, WHAT IS THE RE WHAT IS THE REQUIREMENT TO REPLACE IT? IS IT GONNA BE THE FIRST ONE? DO YOU GIMME A SECOND TO PULL UP THE CHARTER FOR EXACT LANGUAGE, BUT IT IS TO HAVE A PLAN TO REPLACE, AND I NEED TO GET THE EXACT LANGUAGE FOR YOU.

I BELIEVE THE LANGUAGE SAYS AS SOON AS PRACTICAL.

IT DOESN'T SAY WITHIN ANY PARTICULAR TIMEFRAME.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, AFTER YOU FIND THAT, WHAT IS THE LANGUAGE THAT ALLOWS FOR THE USE OF THE RESERVE? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT.

USING THE RESERVE IS NOT, IT'S NOT LIKE OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT WHERE WE CAN JUST DIP INTO IT AND BECAUSE WE WANNA TAKE A VACATION.

AND THEN I THINK ALSO TO CLARIFY, EITHER OF THESE WOULDN'T BE COMING OUT OF THE RESERVE.

THEY WOULD BE COMING ABOVE WHAT WE HAVE IN RESERVE.

SO WHY IT WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE LOWERING OUR CUSHION, MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE RESERVE.

STILL NOT IN THE RESERVE.

ONLY ONE IS THE CUSHION.

I THINK THE GOAL IS NOT TO REACH BACK INTO THAT RESERVE.

SO SECTION 8.12 IS CITY'S RESERVE FUND.

A RESERVE FUND SHALL BE ESTABLISHED EXCEPT WHEN EXPENDED ONLY FOR AN EMERGENCY.

THE RESERVE FUND SHALL OVER TIME BE FUNDED IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO AT LEAST 25% OF THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET IF EXPENDED, THE RESERVE FUND SHALL BE RESU RESTORED AS SOON THEREAFTER AS PRACTICAL.

THAT'S, THAT'S INTERESTING.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE IN THE FUTURE FIGURE OUT WHAT EMERGENCIES WERE, WERE THERE IN ORDER FOR US TO DIP INTO THAT RESERVE.

UM, AND THEN I, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, I, I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S NOT SAYING WE CAN PAY OVER TIME.

IT'S AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO THANK YOU.

AND WE'LL BRING BACK A, A POLICY FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE I HADN'T HEARD FROM COUNCIL, I THINK IT WAS COUNCIL MEMBER MCKINNEY THAT HAS SUGGESTED TO SEPARATE THE EMERGENCY RESERVE IN A SEPARATE FUND, A GREAT IDEA AND NOT COMMINGLE WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND.

SO WE'LL BRING BACK A POLICY FOR THAT.

AND MY RESPONSE THAT EVENING WAS, LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

SO THE THIRD SET OF QUESTION CAME FROM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKINNEY.

SO ON 27TH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCKINNEY WAS DISCUSSING A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR BY $950,000.

AND HE HAD TWO LINE ITEMS THAT HE WAS CONSIDERING.

ONE WAS FOR, UH, FLEET BUDGET, UH, INCREASING IT BY 800,000.

AND THEN THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT'S TRAINING BUDGET BY 150,000.

THE SUM OF THOSE TWO NUMBERS WERE $950,000.

[01:00:01]

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'M HEARING $800,000 DEFICIT IN FLEET AND 150,000 IN TRAINING BUDGET.

SO WE LEFT IT AT THAT FOR ME TO GO BACK AND FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION, COME BACK AND REPORT BACK TO COUNSEL.

SO JUST TO GIVE YOU A BACKDROP, UM, THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET IS ABOUT 71.3 MILLION PROPOSED NEXT YEAR POLICE DEPARTMENT'S.

TOTAL BUDGET IS 31% OF THAT.

THE TOTAL POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET IS $22 MILLION NEXT YEAR.

AND THAT IS 31% OF THE TOTAL GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET IS SHOWN IN THAT BUDGET DOCUMENT FROM PAGES 80 THROUGH PAGE 92.

SO THIS GRAPH AT THE BOTTOM KIND OF GIVES YOU A BACKGROUND INFORMATION AS TO THEIR ACTUAL EXPENDITURES FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 23, 24, 25, WHAT WAS APPROVED THIS YEAR FOR 26 AND WHAT'S IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 27.

SO THE PROPOSED BUDGET COMPARED TO THE CURRENT APPROVED BUDGET IS $1.8 MILLION INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT BUDGET.

AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT.

WE HAVE MEET AND CONFER THAT WE'RE HONORING FOR NEXT YEAR.

THERE ARE COST INCREASES FOR UNIFORM AMMUNITION, YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, THEIR SUPPORT COSTS.

SO IT, IT'S ABOUT 8.4% INCREASE FROM THE CURRENT APPROVED BUDGET.

SO THAT JUST GIVES YOU A BACKDROP OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS PROPOSED BUDGET.

SO ON AUGUST 31ST, AFTER WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION ON AUGUST 27TH, I MET WITH THE TOP BRASS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT IN THE FLEET BUDGET AND IN THE TRAINING BUDGET.

SO I MET WITH POLICE, CHIEF ASSISTANT, POLICE CHIEF, AND ALL FIVE POLICE COMMANDERS TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TWO ITEMS INCLUDED IN COUNCIL MEMBER MCKINNEY'S PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS 800,000 FOR TO INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR FLEET AND 150,000 FOR TRAINING.

SO THE FLEET ITEM, AND CAN I MAKE A SLIGHT SURE.

CORRECTION THERE.

YOU BET.

I BELIEVE 800 WAS THE TOTAL, IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT, IT WAS SIX 50 FOR THE FLEET AND THEN INCREASING FROM 69,000 TO ONE 50, THE AMOUNT THAT WAS BUDGETED FOR, UH, FOR TRAINING.

JUST, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION.

YEAH, NO, THAT'S FINE.

NOT TRYING TO SPLIT AIRS.

YEAH, NO, I MAY HAVE JOTTED IT DOWN WRONG.

SO, AND I DID THE SAME EXERCISE FOR BOTH ITEMS WITH THE TAB BARRAS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I HAD, UH, ALONG WITH THEM AROUND THE TABLE, I HAD THE BUDGET TEAM, HOLLY AND ANDY WERE THERE.

I HAD OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, AMBER SCH.

I HAD OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, JESSE ELIZONDO.

AND MY QUESTION WAS, JUST TO GET MY UNDERSTANDING, I ASKED THE BUDGET STAFF HOW MUCH IS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR FLEET? AND THEY SAID $723,299.

I SAID, OKAY.

I ASKED THE SAME QUESTION OF THE POLICE STAFF.

I ASKED THEM BASED ON THE POLICE CHIEF'S PROPOSED BUDGET AND HIS PLAN FOR DECOMMISSIONING, I BELIEVE HE SAID, 20 VEHICLES NEXT YEAR, WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GONNA NEED TO PAY THEIR LEASE BILLS FOR NEXT YEAR? SO WHATEVER THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES YOU HAVE AND YOU'RE GONNA LEASE THOSE NEXT YEAR, WHAT IS GONNA BE THE TOTAL BILL WHEN THEY ALL SHOW UP TO PAY EVERY MONTH? WHAT WILL IT ADD UP FOR THE YEAR? AND THEY GAVE ME A NUMBER OF $964,280.

AND I EVEN ASKED THEM, DO YOU WANNA CALL A FRIEND OR IS THIS YOUR FINAL NUMBER? VERY SERIOUSLY.

I WASN'T KIDDING.

I NEEDED TO KNOW, IS THIS YOUR FINAL SET OF NUMBERS? AND THEY SAID YES.

I AGAIN ASKED ALL THE VEHICLES THAT ARE GONNA BE IN YOUR FLEET NEXT YEAR AFTER YOU HAVE DECOMMISSIONED WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO DECOMMISSION,

[01:05:01]

AND WE GET THE INVOICES NEXT YEAR FROM ENTERPRISE, WHAT WILL BE THAT TOTAL NUMBER? AND THEY CONFIRMED IT.

9 64, 2 80.

SO I WENT AROUND THE TABLE.

UH, CAN I ASK WHY WE WERE DECOMMISSIONING THOSE 20? I HAVE POLICE CHIEF COME UP HERE AND EXPLAIN THAT.

AND IF HIS ANSWER IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I UNDERSTOOD, I'LL STEP IN AND I'LL GIVE YOU MY SIDE OF THE STORY AS WELL.

FAIR ENOUGH.

JUST CURIOUS.

SO I WENT AROUND THE TABLE BY INDIVIDUAL.

I SAID, DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS NUMBER 9 64, 2 80 FROM POLICE CHIEF TO THE FIVE COMMANDERS? THEY ALL AGREED, YES, THIS IS THE ACCURATE NUMBER, WHAT WE NEED NEXT YEAR TO PAY OUR BILLS FOR LEASED VEHICLES.

I SAID, OKAY.

THEN I ASKED ANDY, OUR HUMAN CALCULATOR, SO WHAT IS THAT DIFFERENCE? WHAT IS THAT DELTA, WHAT THEY SAID THEY NEED? AND WHAT WE HAVE IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET? AND THE DELTA WAS 240,981.

SO RIGHT BELOW THAT, I'M GIVING YOU THE PROPOSED BUDGET OF POLICE DEPARTMENT NEXT YEAR, $22 MILLION.

THE THE GAP.

AND WHAT WE DISCOVERED IN THIS MEETING THAT THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR BILLS FOR LEASE VEHICLES IS 2 49 81, WHICH IS ABOUT 1% OF THEIR TOTAL BUDGET.

SO I ASKED THE CHIEF, I SAID, CHIEF, IN YOUR $22 MILLION PROPOSED BUDGET, IS THERE ANY ROOM TO ABSORB THIS? AND HE SAID, NO, NOT WITHOUT LAYING OFF EMPLOYEES.

I SAID, OKAY, HE'S THE POLICE CHIEF.

I TRUST HIS JUDGMENT, I AGREE WITH HIS ASSESSMENT.

AND I SAID, OKAY, SO THIS IS THE NUMBER THAT THEY'RE SHORT IN FLEET AND I'LL LEAVE IT UP TO COUNSEL IF YOU WANNA AMEND THEIR BUDGET TONIGHT, OR IF YOU WANNA WAIT AND SEE HOW THE BUDGET PROGRESSES NEXT YEAR AND THEN AMEND IT AS THEY NEED.

SO I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU.

THAT'S ON THE FLEET.

I DID THE EXACT SAME EXERCISE WITH THE TOP BRASA POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THE TRAINING BUDGET.

I ASKED OUR BUDGET TEAM WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET FOR TRAINING AND THEY'RE IN TWO PLACES COMBINED TOGETHER IT'S $116,120.

SO I WENT AROUND THE TABLE WITH THE COMMANDERS AND THE CHIEF AND THE ASSISTANT CHIEF, I SAID, WHAT DO Y'ALL NEED TO GET YOUR BUSINESS DONE NEXT YEAR IN TERMS OF TRAINING? AND THEY SAID, WE HAVE SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THE BUDGET.

WE'LL BE OKAY.

WE CAN MAKE IT WORK $116,120.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A ZERO IN THE COLUMN FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS REQUESTED.

HERE.

AGAIN, I'M GONNA LEAVE IT UP TO COUNCIL, UH, WHAT DO Y'ALL WANT TO DO WITH THE BUDGET AMENDMENT? SO NEXT STEPS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.

TODAY IS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, UH, FIFTH WE HAVE THE FIRST SET OF PUBLIC HEARING.

WE HAVE THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCES FOR BUDGET, FOR PROPERTY TAX RATE AND TAX RATE INCREASE RATIFICATION.

AND ROUND TWO ARE THE SECOND SET OF PUBLIC HEARING.

AND SECOND READING OF THE ORDINANCES IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 15TH AT 7:00 PM A COMPLETE COPY OF THE CITY'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 27.

AND ALL ASSOCIATE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

A PRINTED COPY OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT KYLE CITY HALL, AS WELL AS AT THE KYLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

SO WITH THAT MAYOR AND COUNSEL, I'M GONNA LEAVE IT UP TO Y'ALL HOW Y'ALL WANNA PROCEED, AND I'LL COME BACK IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

WE WEREN'T PLANNING ON USING, IS THAT, ARE THEY NOT OPERATIONAL? IS IT NOT FIT WITHIN NEXT YEAR'S PLANNED USE? I I JUST, I WAS TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE'RE AT WITH OUR FLEET AND, AND WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR NEEDS ARE BEING MET.

ANY QUESTIONS MAY, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND MARK WITH YOUR POLICE QUESTIONS.

UM, YEAH, KEITH, IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER MY 'CAUSE I'LL BE NEXT, MY, MY TWO QUESTIONS.

HEY, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNSEL JEFF BARNETT, CHIEF OF POLICE FOR THE RECORD.

AND SIR, I WILL TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE, WHAT YOU GOT.

I APPRECIATE YOU, SIR.

YES, SIR.

UM, MR. MOHE SAID THAT WE WERE, UH, DECOMMISSIONING, UH, 20 VEHICLES.

UH, WHAT'S IS, IS THAT VEHICLES THAT

[01:10:01]

SO WHILE WE MIGHT WANT TO SUGGEST THAT WE GET RID OF 20 POLICE VEHICLES FROM OUR CURRENT LEASE LINE ITEM.

YES, SIR.

VEHICLES TO MAKE UP THAT $330,000 THAT WE OFFERED TO TRY TO AVOID THE 10% PAY REDUCTIONS FOR STAFF.

SO OBVIOUSLY THIS, THIS YEAR, THIS BUDGET HAS BEEN A, A, A CHALLENGE AND SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY'S HAD TO WORK THROUGH VERY DILIGENTLY.

AND WE'VE TRIED TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH, UM, OUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, MR. MOHE AND THE ENTIRE FINANCE TEAM.

AND WE'VE ALL TRIED TO DO OUR PART TO, TO GIVE YOU A BUDGET THAT WORKS WITH THE TAX RATE AND THE TAXES THAT YOU SET AND TO DO OUR, TO DO OUR PART.

SO ONE OF THE TASKS OR CHALLENGES, OR I'M CALL IT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WERE GIVEN AS STAFF TO WORK TO COLLECTIVELY TRY TO AVOID A 10% PAY CUT FOR STAFF.

AND IN DOING THAT, WE, WE DIRECTORS WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO DIG DEEP WITHIN OUR BUDGETS AND FIND AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO AVOID A 10%, 10% PAY REDUCTION FOR ALL OF OUR STAFF.

AND THAT WOULDN'T INCLUDE THE MEETING CONFER OFFICERS.

SO I'LL BE REAL CLEAR WITH SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL, Y'ALL PROBABLY KNOW, BUT MAYBE THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE, UH, REMINDED WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVICE.

UH, JUST SO IT DOESN'T SOUND SELF-SERVING, THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ME AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ASSISTANT CHIEF.

ANYTIME YOU TALK ABOUT THE CIVIL SERVICE PAY AND THE OFFICERS COVERED BY THAT, THAT IS NOT US.

I ONLY SAY THAT SO IT DOESN'T SOUND SELF-SERVING.

SO IT WOULD'VE BEEN, UM, TO POTENTIALLY AVOID A 10% PAY CUT FOR ALL OF THE CITY STAFF THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

THAT INCLUDES PUBLIC WORKS, STREETS LIBRARY, AND, AND ALL, AND ALL THE DIRECTORS AND THE FINANCE TEAM WORKED VERY DILIGENTLY TO TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET THAT AVOIDED THAT AS PART OF OUR OFFER TO AVOID THAT WE FOUND WHERE WE COULD REDUCE OUR, UH, ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR FLEET BY ABOUT $330,000.

NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WERE, WERE, EVERYBODY WAS HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

IT WAS, THOSE WERE TOUGH DECISIONS.

THOSE WERE NOT VEHICLES, UH, FOR THE MOST PART THAT WERE PLANNED NOT TO BE REPLACED OR CONTINUED IN OPERATION.

WE WERE JUST TRYING TO FIND ANY AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PRESERVE THOSE 10% PAY REDUCTIONS THAT WERE ON THE TABLE.

SO OUT OF THAT $330,000, UH, WHICH WAS PART OF ABOUT A $600,000 ASK OF THE PD, UH, AS OUR PERCENTAGE TO TRY TO AVOID THAT, WE RECOMMENDED, UH, ABOUT 20 VEHICLES.

IT TOTALED TO ABOUT 20 VEHICLES THAT WE COULD REMOVE FROM THE POLICE FLEET, UM, AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACT TO OPERATIONS.

I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT THERE'S NOT SOME IMPACT, BUT WE'LL MINIMIZE.

TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THOSE VEHICLES OR THOSE THAT 300,000 WOULD CONSIST OF IS WE'VE HAD, ORIGINALLY WE HAD SEVEN MARKED POLICE CARS.

I THINK, UH, MR. MOHE MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING THAT I HAD INITIALLY SAID WE HAD SEVEN WRECKED POLICE VEHICLES THAT WE WOULDN'T REPLACE DURING THE MONTHS OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, BEGINNING BACK IN MAY AND JUNE AND JULY, TWO OF THOSE THAT WERE WRECKED ALREADY WENT THROUGH THE, I'M GONNA CALL IT THE ENTRANCE PROCESS AND THE REPLACEMENT PROCESS AND THE ORDERING PROCESS TO GET THOSE REPLACED.

SO TWO OF THEM WENT OFF THE TABLE BECAUSE WE HAD KIND OF ALREADY, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING 'EM.

THE EQUIPMENT WAS ORDERED AND, AND WHATNOT.

SO THAT KNOCKED THAT DOWN TO FIVE.

SO WE HAD FIVE MARKED POLICE CARS.

THOSE ARE THE ONES WITH STRIPES AND LIGHT BARS, AND THAT PATROL USES THAT.

WERE STILL OUT IN THE BACK PARKING LOT WAITING TO GO THROUGH THAT REPLACEMENT PROCESS THAT WE COULD PUT A HOLD TO.

AND WE PAUSED THOSE OR STOPPED THOSE FIVE FROM BEING REPLACED.

WE ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE SIX VEHICLES THAT ARE CURRENTLY LEASED, BECAUSE I'M GONNA USE THE TERM THEY WERE TERMED OUT.

THEY WERE, THEY WERE REACHING THE END OF THEIR PLANNED LEASE PROGRAM WHEN THEY REACHED THE END OF THAT.

MEANING WE'VE PAID THE FULL ENTIRETY OF THE 36 OR 48 MONTHS OR WHATEVER THEY MAY BE, OF LEASE PAYMENTS.

AT THE END OF THAT, THEY WILL OFFER THAT VEHICLE TO US AT AN ABOUT $400 A VEHICLE.

SO WHEN WE PAY ONE OUT COMPLETELY, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER PURCHASING THOSE FOR ABOUT $400 AND CHANGE IF THAT VEHICLE IS STILL WORTHY, MEANING THE MILEAGE AND THE WEAR AND TEAR AND THE TYPE OF VEHICLE IT IS.

SOMETIMES WE MAKE THOSE CONSIDERATIONS.

SO WE HAD SIX, WE HAVE SIX VEHICLES, OR OUT OF THAT ORIGINAL 20, TAKE THE FIVE THAT WERE MARKED THAT WE'VE SAID THAT WE'RE JUST NOT GONNA REPLACE, WE WON'T GET INSURANCE TO PAY FOR 'EM AND WE WON'T PLACE 'EM.

WE FOUND SIX THAT WE CAN REMOVE AND PURCHASE THEM.

AND WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT.

NOW, THAT LEAVES A REMAINING NINE

[01:15:01]

THAT, THAT INCLUDES TWO COMMAND TAHOES, UH, FOR THE, THAT THE ASSISTANT CHIEF AND THE CHIEF USES.

THAT INCLUDES ONE TAHOE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMANDER, A SPECIAL SERVICES SERGEANT TAHOE, ONE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT VEHICLE, ONE SPECIAL SERVICES TRAINING VEHICLE, THE QUARTER MASTER, WHICH IS A PERSON THAT SUPPLIES ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT AND THEN WHATNOT, THE UNIFORMS AND PERSON, IT'LL ELIMINATE THEIR VEHICLE AND ONE VICTIM SERVICES VEHICLE AND ONE CITIZEN'S OWN PATROL VEHICLE.

SO WE WOULD REMOVE THOSE EXISTING, OR THOSE ADDITIONAL NINE VEHICLES TO ACHIEVE THE $330,000 THAT WE OFFERED WAY BACK DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

SO I HOPE I'VE ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION OF HOW DID WE COME TO 20 VEHICLES? WHAT ARE THOSE VEHICLES? WHAT WERE THE PLANS FOR THOSE VEHICLES? WHERE ARE THEY ASSIGNED? UM, I HOPE I'VE ANSWERED THAT QUESTION FOR YOU.

AND I THOUGHT I JOTTED IT DOWN, BUT MAYBE I DIDN'T.

THE, UH, THE DIFFERENCE THAT MR. MOHE, UH, PROFESS MOHE, YES, SIR.

UM, HAD MENTIONED IN THIS PRESENTATION, IF WE COULD GO BACK A COUPLE SLIDES.

IT WAS 200 AND HOW MANY THOUSAND? 41,000 PROBABLY.

I'M SORRY.

SHE'S GOT IT TOO FAR.

HERE WE GO.

UH, UH, THE 240,981.

UM, DO YOU FEEL LIKE IF, IF I MAKE THE MOTION TO AMEND THE BUDGET THAT WE CAN PROVIDE, UH, THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE WITH THAT? I DO.

I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT THAT MONEY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES THAT WOULD BE REMOVED FROM OUR POLICE FLEET, AND IT IS A TOTAL OF 12 ADDITIONAL VEHICLES BEYOND THE, BEYOND THE 20 THAT I JUST DISCUSSED.

IT WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 12 VEHICLES THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO MEET THE NUMBER THAT MR. MOHE TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT EARLIER TONIGHT.

AND THEN YOU SEE THAT DELTA NUMBER THAT WOULD IN FACT, UH, PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THOSE ADDITIONAL 12 VEHICLES.

I CAN IDENTIFY THOSE IF YOU WANT TO HEAR THOSE, BUT IT'S, BUT WITH THAT FUNDING THAT WOULD KEEP THOSE 12 VEHICLES AND WILL WE BE ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY? ABSOLUTELY.

UM, HOW, HOW MANY VEHICLES THAT WOULD THAT LEAVE IN OUR, OUR FLEET AT THAT POINT WITHOUT THOSE 12? WELL, AND, AND THE REASON I ASK IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD, WE HAD SEVEN THAT WERE, THAT WERE MARKED BECAUSE OF, UH, KINDA SITUATIONS BEYOND OUR CONTROL AND, AND AS WE DIMINISHED DOWN OUR FLEET THAT IF THAT NUMBER WERE TO DUPLICATE, I IMAGINE THAT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF OUR FLEET AVAILABLE.

I JUST WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY, WAS THAT FIVE OR SEVEN? 'CAUSE I THINK YOU SAID TWO OF THEM WERE IN THE ORIGINAL 20 MM-HMM .

IN THE ORIGINAL 20.

WE HAD ORIGINALLY TALKED ABOUT, AND MR. MOHE REFERRED TO SEVEN THAT I HADN'T INITIALLY OFFERED.

BY THE TIME WE GOT INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS, IT DROPPED DOWN TO FIVE FIVE.

SO, OKAY.

THERE ARE FIVE MARKED POLICE VEHICLES THAT IN THAT ORIGINAL 20 THAT WE'RE JUST SAYING, WE JUST WON'T REPLACE.

WE'LL DO WITHOUT THOSE WE'LL, WE'LL RUN, I'M GONNA CALL IT WITH A SMALLER NUMBER AND ALSO THE SIX TERMED OUT LEASE ONES YES.

THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY BUY FOR 400.

IS, ARE, ARE WE GONNA PURCHASE THOSE? YES, MA'AM.

WE'RE ACTUALLY ALREADY, SO THOSE WILL ACTUALLY BE ADDED BACK IN, THOSE WILL BE OWNED BY THE CITY AT THE END OF THAT.

AND THOSE WOULD REMAIN IN THE FLEET? YES, MA'AM.

AND WE'RE ACTUALLY ALREADY IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT AND WE'RE KIND OF WORKING THROUGH THAT 20 ALREADY FOR THOSE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GZA, UM, ONE OF THE THINGS I NOTICED AS GOING THROUGH THE CREDIT CARD STATEMENT WAS THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT WE HAVE A STATION THAT WE'RE CONTRACTED WITH IN ORDER TO DO SIMPLE THINGS LIKE OIL CHANGES, ET CETERA.

UM, I KNOW SOMEBODY HAD APPROACHED THE CITY LOOKING TO DO A CONTRACT, WHICH WOULD'VE DRASTICALLY REDUCED THOSE COSTS FOR OIL CHANGES.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THIS PROCESS IN ORDER TO, UM, JUST KIND OF BE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON YOUR BUDGET THAT MAYBE THEN COULD FLEX INTO THESE NEEDS? UM, KIND OF, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO I SHOULD PROBABLY DEFER BECAUSE THERE, THAT'S A BIGGER, BIGGER QUESTION ABOUT THE ENTIRE CITY FLEET.

UH, IT HAS THE CITY CONSIDERED LOOKING AT, UH, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AND AGREEMENTS TO REDUCE THE OVERALL FLEET MAINTENANCE.

I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE, I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN IN DISCUSSIONS AND IN BUDGET YEARS.

I REMEMBER BEING IN THIS ROOM WHEN THOSE DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD.

UH, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

IF THE CITY WANTED TO NEGOTIATE THAT FOR ALL OF THE CITY'S FLEET THERE, THERE COULD BE SOME SAVINGS.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE, BUT I'LL DEFER TO MR. MIKE.

SO, COUNCIL MEMBER, WHEN IT COMES TO LEASE VEHICLES THROUGH ENTERPRISE, OUR MASTER AGREEMENT WITH ENTERPRISE REQUIRES THAT WE ONLY TAKE THESE VEHICLES TO THEIR CERTIFIED SHOPS.

[01:20:01]

FOR MAINTENANCE, FOR REPAIRS, FOR, UH, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO WHEN WE TAKE OUR VEHICLES TO OUR LOCAL SHOPS HERE IN THE KYLE AREA, THEY'RE, WE, THEY'RE ONLY THE ONES THAT WE CAN TAKE TO BASED ON OUR AGREEMENT WITH ENTERPRISE.

AND ARE THERE ANY SHOPS THAT ARE WILLING TO CONTRACT WITH US THAT ARE CERTIFIED THROUGH THOSE VENDORS? WE CAN LOOK AT THAT.

UH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTRACTS WITH ANY VENDORS RIGHT NOW, BUT WE COULD LOOK AT ONCE, UH, ONCE THE BUDGET IS DONE.

YEAH, I JUST THINK THAT WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, SAY, $120 FOR AN OIL CHANGE, WHEN I KNOW THAT THERE'S A, AN ACTUAL SHOP THAT'S SOMEWHERE IN THE 60, $70 RANGE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THAT MANY MILES AND HAVE TO DO THAT MANY OIL CHANGES, IT DOES ADD UP.

SO THAT WAS MY CONCERN ON THAT.

UM, SO JUST TOLAR, CLARIFY SOME OF THIS, UH, SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE RECEIVED.

SO ON AVERAGE, DO YOU HAVE 26 TO 28 VEHICLES PER SHIFT? NO.

NO.

AND SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT LINE ITEM NUMBER ON PAGE 85, LINE ITEM NUMBER 26, WHERE IT HAD THE 380 AND THEN IT GOES TO 454 IN THE REDUCTION, WE ARE BASICALLY JUST STATING THAT IT'S NOT GONNA BE THIS $429,000 REDUCTIONS.

IT'S GONNA BE THE 2 49 81.

AND YOU'LL BE FINE WITH THE TYPE OF SERVICE THAT YOU NEED, CHIEF, BECAUSE I THINK THE CONCERNS THAT I WAS HEARING FROM, UM, SOME OF YOUR SECTION THERE IS THAT IF WE REDUCE THESE 20 VEHICLES, I GUESS THE PERCEPTION WOULD BE THAT YOU WOULD BE LEFT WITH MAYBE 13 VEHICLES OR MAYBE LESS THAN THAT PER SHIFT.

AND THAT WOULD ALSO REDUCE THE, THE CONCERN THAT, THAT I WAS HEARING WAS YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT RESPONSE TIME FOR SITUATIONS OR CRITICAL INCIDENTS.

YOU WOULD ALSO HAVE TO HAVE OFFICERS DOUBLING UP IN VEHICLES.

CORRECT.

AND SO THOSE WERE THE CONCERNS THAT, THAT I'VE BEEN HEARING ON THAT END.

SO WE, I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S ALL CLEAR SURE.

FROM ALL ANGLES THAT WHATEVER WE DECIDE TO DO AS FAR AS THE VEHICLES GOES, WE DO NOT WANNA REDUCE THE, THE SERVICE THAT IS NEEDED, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THESE INCIDENTS.

AND IF IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TWO OFFICERS IN ONE VEHICLE, UM, WAS THAT EVER A CONCERN THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO YOU AS WELL? SO THAT THE ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL BASED ON THE ALLOTMENT OF VEHICLES HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A CONVERSATION.

I THINK IF YOU, UH, WITH THE FIRST 20 VEHICLES THAT WE OFFERED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT 330,000 REDUCTION, UM, THAT IT DOES LEAVE YOU A DELTA OF ABOUT 240 THAT'S IDENTIFIED HERE, THAT WITHOUT THAT MONEY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON OPERATIONS AND, AND FIELD OPERATIONS IN GENERAL.

THAT TOTAL YOU SEE THERE, THAT 240, THE DIFFERENCE FOR THOSE OTHER NINE, AND I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THAT.

I'M JUST SHARING WITH YOU A NUMBER 'CAUSE I, I'M WITH MR. MOHIT AND THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE PRESENTED AND THE NUMBERS THAT HE'S PUT TOGETHER, THE DIFFERENCE OF THOSE NINE VEHICLES THAT I TOLD YOU THAT ARE PART OF THE 20 WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 157,764.

AGAIN, I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THAT.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS IN ORDER TO KEEP FROM CUTTING INTO SERVICES.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK EXAMPLE.

I DIDN'T GO DOWN THE LIST.

WE WOULD BE REDUCING OUR FOUR ANIMAL CONTROL, UM, VEHICLE FLEET DOWN TO TWO.

WE WOULD BE REDUCING TWO PATROL COMMANDER VEHICLES DOWN TO ONE.

WE WOULD BE REDUCING OUR FRONTLINE PATROL SERGEANTS FROM SIX DOWN TO FIVE.

CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION WOULD GO FROM SIX DETECTIVE VEHICLES DOWN TO THREE.

AND YOU CAN SEE WE'RE GETTING INTO THE NUMBERS WHERE YOU'RE SAYING YES, PEOPLE WILL BEGIN TO SHARE CARS, UH, PERHAPS MORE OFTEN THAN THEY DO NOW.

GENERAL SINGLE PURPOSE VEHICLES WOULD NOW BECOME SHARED VEHICLES BETWEEN A VARIETY OF STAFF MEMBERS.

UM, SO IT'S THAT 240,000 DELTA THAT KEEPS FROM DIVING INTO SOMETHING THAT REALLY MIGHT IMPACT THE AVAILABLE FLEET AS IT RELATES TO COMMUNITY SERVICES AND, AND RESPONSE AND WHATNOT.

THE OTHER 20 THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'LL, WE'LL SURVIVE WITHOUT WILL BE, THAT'S WHAT WE OFFERED.

AND, AND WE SAID WE WOULD DO THAT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT AVOIDANCE OF A 10% PAY CUT FOR STAFF.

AND WE STAND BEHIND THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO IF THAT'S WHAT'S NEEDED.

UNDERSTAND AND INCLUDING, UH, YOUR DEPARTMENT AND, AND THE OFFICERS THAT ARE, THAT ARE LISTENING, UM, 'CAUSE I KNOW HAVING CONVERSATIONS, HAVING THEM UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT FROM A CITY STANDPOINT AS FAR AS OUR BUDGET GOES.

I, I JUST NEED EVERYBODY TO

[01:25:01]

UM, BUT OF COURSE MY CONCERN AS WELL IS THAT WE'RE NOT LIMITING YOU AS WELL AND YOUR OFFICERS BY REDUCING THESE VEHICLES THAT WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE SERVICE CALLS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR OUR OFFICERS AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS STRESSED TO ME THE MOST.

UH, I KNOW THERE'S, UH, MORALE ISSUES WITH ALL AGENCIES AROUND THE STATE IN, IN OTHER AREAS.

I I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE IS THAT WHEN I WAS STARTING TO HEAR THESE NUMBERS OF THE POSSIBLE VEHICLES THAT MAY BE TAKEN, UH, BE REDUCED DUE TO OUR BUDGET, THAT WE MIGHT SEE, UH, ANOTHER DOMINO EFFECT, UH, FROM THAT END.

AND, AND SO I, THAT'S ONE THING THAT I'D LIKE TO PREVENT AS WELL.

BUT IF THERE IS, UH, IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS AMENDED BUDGET CHIEF, THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP YOUR FORCE ON TRACK AS FAR AS THE, UH, THE SERVICE THAT'S PROVIDED.

IF IT MEANS THAT MAYBE ONE SUPERVISOR MAY NOT HAVE A VEHICLE, HE MAY HAVE TO SHARE WITH ANOTHER IF, IF THAT'S THE CASE OR, BUT THEN AGAIN, I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU HAVE WATCH COMMANDERS THAT ARE ON DUTY AT NIGHT, THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE VEHICLES TO RESPOND TO INCIDENTS.

UM, IT'S THOSE KIND OF THINGS WHERE I'D HATE FOR THEM TO HAVE TO USE A PERSONAL VEHICLE JUST TO ATTEND OR TO BE OUT THERE.

SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT I'VE, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT ON THAT END.

SO YES, SIR.

UM, JUST KNOW THAT, WE'LL, WHATEVER YOU GIVE US, WE'RE GONNA MAKE THE BEST USE OF AND DO WHAT WE CAN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP FROM THAT SECOND CUT OF CARS, SECOND TIER, IF YOU WANNA CALL IT THAT, THAT'S WHERE THAT 240 AGAIN WOULD, WOULD COVER THAT.

AND THEN THAT STILL LEAVES THAT ORIGINAL THREE 30 THAT WE OFFERED AND WE STAND BY THAT IF THAT'S NEEDED.

COUNCIL MEMBER, ADA, THAT $330,000 THAT YOU KEEP ON REFERRING TO, WAS THAT ASKED SPECIFICALLY BY KPD DEPARTMENT TO FIND, UM, WAS, IS THE 330,000 SOMETHING THAT WAS ONLY ASKED OF YOUR DEPARTMENT IN ORDER TO HELP AVOID THE 10% CUT OR WAS THAT AN ASK THAT WAS PUT OUT TO ALL DIRECTORS? NO, I, I THINK SO WHEN THE CITY WAS LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL 10% PAY CUT AT THAT MOMENT, UH, I THINK THERE WERE, UH, WE DIRECTORS, THE CITY STAFF FINANCE SAID, WHAT CAN WE DO? HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER? AND I THINK THERE WAS SOME COST SHARING AMONGST THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

UH, I KNOW THE FOUR MAJOR BIG DEPARTMENT CALLED THE FOUR MAJOR BIG DEPARTMENTS, THE ONES THAT JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT LARGER BUDGET WERE EACH GIVEN AN AMOUNT.

I'M NOT PRIVY TO WHAT THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS WERE ASKED TO PROVIDE.

I THINK OUR NUMBER WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 600 AND CHANGE A THOUSAND DOLLARS.

UM, AND SO WE DID OUR VERY BEST TO TRY TO COME UP WITH AS MUCH MONEY AS WE COULD AND BE PART OF THAT TEAM AND PART OF THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET TO AVOID THAT.

THE 300, I'LL TELL YOU HOW THE 300,000 EVEN CAME.

OUR FIRST, FIRST OPTION I, HOW THAT EVEN BECAME A NUMBER.

SO OUR ORIGINAL ATTEMPT WAS TO POTENTIALLY NEGOTIATE A DEFERRAL WITH OUR AXON CONTRACT.

WE HAVE AN AXON CONTRACT, UM, THAT WAS GONNA INCREASE, UH, BY ABOUT $300,000.

AND WE REACHED OUT TO AXON TO SEE IF WE COULD DEFER THAT.

ULTIMATELY, UH, THEY WERE WILLING TO WORK WITH US, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT THAT WASN'T JUST AN, A BUDGETARY OPTION.

SO AGAIN, I HAD TO KIND OF REPLACE THAT FIRST THOUGHT, I'M GONNA GET AXON TO WORK WITH US AND WE'RE GONNA SAVE 300.

AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T MATERIALIZE, I NEEDED TO FIND THE NEXT OPTION.

SO WHAT OTHER, I DON'T HAVE THAT MANY BIG LINE ITEMS. OUR BUDGET, AND I'M GONNA USE GENERAL TERMS. OUR, I MEAN IN GENERAL NUMBERS, OUR BUDGET'S ABOUT $20 MILLION FOR THIS GIVEN YEAR WITHOUT GOING INTO THE CHANGE.

RIGHT? ABOUT $20 MILLION, ABOUT 16 MILLION OF THAT IS PERSONNEL.

THAT MEANS I HAVE ABOUT $4 MILLION TO OPERATE ON.

AND THAT'S BUYING EVERYTHING FROM GAS IN THE CARS, TIRES, UNIFORMS, BULLETS, TRAINING, TRAVEL, YOU NAME IT, THAT'S PAPER IN THE COPY MACHINE.

WE OPERATE ON ABOUT $4 MILLION A YEAR.

SO WHEN YOU GET SIX MONTHS INTO THE YEAR, YOU CAN ROUGHLY EXPECT US TO HAVE SPENT ABOUT 50% OF THAT, WHICH WOULD BE ROUGHLY $2 MILLION.

SO AT THE TIME WHEN THE CITY, UH, BEGAN DISCUSSING ITS FINANCIAL SITUATION, WE WERE SLIGHTLY OVER $2 MILLION LEFT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

AND WE ALL NEEDED TO CHIP IN AND TRY TO FIND WHAT WE COULD FIND FOR THE EXISTING YEAR.

THAT WAS OUR FIRST STEP.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO ASSIST THE CITY MANAGER AND THE FINANCE TEAM AS THEY WORK THROUGH THE BUDGET CHALLENGES? SO DISCUSSIONS KIND OF EVOLVED FROM THERE.

AND THEN OVER THE NEXT COURSE OF 60, WELL, 30, 60, 90 DAYS, IT WAS NOT ONLY THIS YEAR THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET? SO, UM, WE, THAT WAS OUR FIRST GOAL TO ANSWER.

I THINK WE WERE PART OF A TEAM.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS CAME UP JUST 'CAUSE THAT WOULD'VE BEEN FOR THEM TO DISCUSS WITH THE CITY MANAGER.

OR NOT THAT $300,000 ASK WAS SPECIFIC TO KPD.

NOW, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY WHETHER

[01:30:01]

UM, WHAT WAS THE REASON THAT, OR THAT THE AXON, UH, CONTRACT PAUSE DIDN'T WORK OUT? UM, SO I THINK AXON WAS WILLING TO DO IT.

I THINK IT JUST COULDN'T ALL COME TOGETHER AND MATCH WITH THE REST OF THE BUDGET FROM THE IT AND THE CITY'S FINANCE TEAM.

IT JUST, IT JUST COULDN'T EVER COME TOGETHER TO BE A NUMBER THAT HE COULD USE FOR THE FINAL, FOR THE BUDGET PRESENTATION TO GIVE TO COUNCIL.

SO THEY'RE WILLING TO WORK WITH US TO HELP CUT SOME OF THE COSTS FROM THERE.

DEFER, THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING.

I WOULD PERSONALLY SAY THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO DEFER COSTS RATHER THAN CUT.

MEANING THAT THEY, IT'S A 10 YEAR CONTRACT THAT, THAT Y'ALL KNOW THAT WE HAVE.

WE'RE IN YEAR ONE OF THAT CONTRACT, YEAR TWO THROUGH YEAR 10 HAD A, HAD A CONSISTENT AMOUNT THAT WOULD'VE REMAINED YEARS TWO THROUGH 10.

THEY WERE OPEN TO THE DISCUSSION AND WORKING WITH THE CITY POTENTIALLY TO DEFER SOME OF THOSE COSTS TO YEAR 4, 5, 6, 7, AND EIGHT RATHER THAN EXPECT, UH, AN INCREASE FOR YEAR TWO.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 10 YEAR, $7 MILLION CONTRACT.

YES MA'AM.

I WAS, THAT WAS MY FIRST NO VOTE HERE ON CITY COUNCIL.

IT WAS ALSO MY FIRST DAY.

UM, THERE WAS A LINE ITEM SPECIFICALLY IN THAT CONTRACT THAT WAS ONLY FOR SOFTWARE OF SOFTWARE THAT DOESN'T EXIST YET.

IT'S THE SAME ONE THAT GOT BROUGHT UP AT HAYES COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT THIS PAST WEEK, WHICH IS THE AI, THE AXON AI ERA PLAN.

THAT'S $2 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS.

SO THAT'S $200,000 A YEAR RIGHT THERE.

WHERE IT DOESN'T IMPACT EQUIPMENT, DOESN'T IMPACT PERSONNEL.

IT'S QUITE LITERALLY JUST THE SOFTWARE PLAN THAT KIND OF PREDISPOSES US AND PRE SIGNS US UP FOR AI POLICE TECHNOLOGY THAT HASN'T BEEN CREATED YET.

UM, I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO SEE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE, BECAUSE THAT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN USE, I MEAN THAT'S $200,000.

THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS REQUESTED RIGHT NOW ARE $240,000.

I MEAN THAT'S WHAT 90% OF IT RIGHT THERE.

UM, WITHOUT IMPACTING OUR PERSONNEL OR EQUIPMENT OR TOOLS.

UM, AND THEN I ALSO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IS THE, UH, AVERAGE RECRUITMENT BONUS FOR KPD TWO? GREAT QUESTIONS.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD OR COULD NOT BE NEGOTIATED, BUT I UNDERSTAND YOUR ASK.

I UNDERSTAND THE POINT.

UH, I WILL SAY THAT SOME OF THOSE, UH, SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE OFFERED IN THAT ERA PLAN, WHICH IS KIND OF AN ALL INCLUSIVE PLAN THAT THEY OFFER, WE'RE ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING NOW, AND I'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE.

PART OF OUR BUDGET CUTS THIS YEAR THAT ARE IN YOUR PROPOSED BUDGET ARE TO REDUCE CERTAIN OTHER SOFTWARES THAT WE HAVE FUNDED IN THE PD BUDGET AND ROTATE THOSE OVER TO A, TO THE, UH, AXON OPPORTUNITIES.

AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE CURRENTLY USE IS ONE CALLED LEFT A.

LEFT A HAS BEEN BOUGHT OUT BY I THINK ONE OF THE MAJOR COMPANIES, BUT LEFT IS HOW WE ALL KNOW IT.

SO LEFT A LEFT A IS THE SOFTWARE THAT WE USE TO TRACK OUR USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS, OUR PURSUITS, OUR TRAINING REQUESTS AND TRAINING AUTHORIZATIONS AND TRAINING APPROVALS AND DOLLAR SPENT AND ALL THAT.

SO IT'S A PRETTY ROBUST PIECE OF TRAINING SOFTWARE AS PART OF OUR REDUCTION THIS YEAR TO HELP MEET THE BUDGET.

AND THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET WAS TO DEFER SOME OF THOSE, OR MAYBE MOVE SOME OF THOSE OFF OF OUR LIST, BUT TO INCORPORATE THINGS THAT, THAT AXON CAN DO.

SO THEY HAVE A, ONE OF THEIR SOFTWARES, THEY HAD SEVERAL IN THE PLAN, IT'S CALLED FORMS. FORMS IS A SOFTWARE, AND I HOPE I DON'T OVERSPEAK MY TECHNOLOGY EXPERTISE, BUT THEY WILL CREATE BASICALLY WHAT LEFT.

IT DOES TO SOME EXTENT LEFT AND MAY NOT AGREE WITH THAT.

BUT THEY CAN CREATE FORMS THAT ARE FILLABLE ONLINE OFFICERS CAN GO IN AND REQUEST TRAINING OR IF THEY NEED TO REPORT A USE OF FORCE, THEY CAN GO IN AND LOG INTO THAT ERROR PLAN AXON FORMS. AND BASICALLY WE CAPTURE THE SAME DATA AND BECAUSE IT'S INCLUDED IN THE PLAN, WE COULD FOREGO THE LEFT EXPENSE AND IT'S INCLUDED IN AXON.

SO I HATE TO GET AHEAD OF MYSELF AND SAY, WHAT, WHICH ONES ARE WE USING? WHICH ONES ARE WE NOT? 'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA MISSPEAK.

YEAH, WELL WE WE'RE SOME OF ABLE TO CHOOSE.

I APPRECIATE YOU EXPLAINING THAT AND I UNDERSTAND HOW SOME OF IT CAN BE HELPFUL.

BUT WE ARE ABLE TO CHOOSE, THAT'S WHAT HAYES COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT, 'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT THE DRAFT ONE, UH, FEATURE BECAUSE OF THE, UH, ISSUES WITH AI WRITING UP, UH, POLICE REPORTS AND DOCUMENTATION AND WHATNOT.

UH, THERE'S A LOT OF DANGERS THAT CAN OCCUR WITH INCONSISTENCIES.

UM, SO I KNOW THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHICH SOFTWARES WE USE, WHICH ONES WE DON'T.

UM, BECAUSE THERE ARE MULTIPLE AREAS WITHIN KPD BECAUSE THERE ARE MULTIPLE AREAS WHERE, UH, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SOME COST SAVINGS WITHOUT HAVING TO EVEN GO AND TOUCH OUR EQUIPMENT OR TOOLS, UM, OR PERSONNEL.

ONES THAT ARE, UH, THAT ARE HELPFUL THAT HELP REMOVE THAT, THAT ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT DON'T PUT US AT TOO MUCH LIABILITY FOR AI INCONSISTENCIES.

I CAN UNDERSTAND SURE.

ONES THAT DON'T, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND.

UM, AND I, I, WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS, UM, HOW IT IS THAT WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT WITHOUT THAT THERE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN CUTS TO PERSONNEL.

[01:35:01]

AND TO ME THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT Y'ALL HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.

UM, AND AT THE SAME TIME, UM, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO TO SAY THAT KPD ARE THE ONLY ONES EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE IN PAY.

UM, THE, THE GENERAL FUND IMPACT FOR THE, UH, MEET AND CONFER IS $788,990.

ON TOP OF THAT, AS A PART OF THE COST CONTAINMENT, UH, THE RECRUITMENT BONUSES AND SIGN-ON BONUSES WERE ROLLED INTO SALARIES.

SO WHILE THE REST OF EVERY OTHER SINGLE STAFF MEMBER AT THE CITY OF KYLE IS NOT EXPERIENCING THAT SUPPORT KPD IS, AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT Y'ALL DON'T MAKE SACRIFICES EVERY SINGLE DAY, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DO.

UM, BUT WHAT I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW WE CAN'T FIND THESE SOFTWARES, THESE AI SOFTWARES SPECIFICALLY, THAT ARE DANGEROUS, THAT ARE HARMFUL, THAT ARE INCONSISTENT.

AND THAT ALSO LEAD TO THE CREATION OF AI DATA CENTERS, WHICH WE ALL KNOW.

IS THAT THE BIGGEST OF TALKS RIGHT NOW WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND ACROSS THE NATION.

UM, ARE THERE ANY WAYS IN WHICH YOU WERE WILLING TO COMPROMISE TO CUT SOME OF THAT TECHNOLOGY FUNDING TO MAKE UP FOR THIS $240,981? 'CAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.

IT CAN COME STRICTLY FROM TECHNOLOGY THAT IS NOT NEEDED.

I ALSO KNOW AS A PART OF THAT AXON CONTRACT, UH, THERE WAS A VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING HEADSET AND PLAN MM-HMM .

I DON'T THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE REMOVED FROM THAT CONTRACT TO HELP WITH THIS ADDITIONAL FUNDS REQUEST.

SURE.

I CERTAINLY HEAR YOUR ASK.

I COULD CERTAINLY EXPLORE EVERY OPPORTUNITY AND A DISCUSSION WITH AXON ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND TO REALLY BREAK DOWN EVERY SINGULAR PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY OFFER THAT'S INCLUDED IN THEIR CONTRACT.

SO MY ANSWER IS, WOULD WE LOOK AT IT? ABSOLUTELY.

THE ANSWER TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL ANSWER YOUR SECOND ONE.

YOU ASKED ABOUT BONUSES AND I FORGET FINANCE.

THE, THE SIGN-ON AND RECRUITMENT IS ROLLED INTO SALARIES.

SO, UM, WE NO LONGER HAVE THOSE, THOSE ARE NO LONGER OFFERED BY THE CITY OF KYLE TO POLICE RECRUITS.

AND HOW THOSE WERE OFFERED IS WHEN WE HAD, UH, A, A GOOD NUMBER OF OPENINGS, 8, 7, 8, 9 OPENINGS THAT WE WERE HAVING DIFFICULTY FILLING.

WE WERE USING AND HAD AUTHORIZATION TO USE SALARY SAVINGS FROM THE VACANCIES THAT THOSE EIGHT OR SEVEN OR EIGHT POSITIONS CREATED TO OFFER A $10,000 SIGN ON BONUS TO CERTIFIED TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS.

AND HOW WE JUSTIFIED THAT ASK WAS BECAUSE WE COULD AVOID THE TIME THAT THEY GO TO THE POLICE ACADEMY AND WE PAY FOR THEIR SALARY AND WE PAY FOR THEIR ACADEMY DURING THAT FIVE MONTH ACADEMY.

AND WE PAY FOR THEIR LENGTHY SIX, UH, FOUR TO SIX MONTH TRAINING DEPENDING ON HOW LONG IT TAKES.

AND WE GET A CERTIFIED AND HOPEFULLY WELL-TRAINED OFFICER.

AND THEN WE JUST HAVE TO TEACH 'EM HOW TO BE A, A KYLE POLICE OFFICER, SHOW 'EM THE CITY OF COLLIN, THE WAY THAT WE DO BUSINESS.

SO THE MONIES THAT WE WERE OFFERING AS A SIGN ON BONUS WERE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SALARY SAVINGS THAT WERE CREATED BY THE VACANCY THAT WE WERE TRYING TO FILL.

AND THEN ALSO ATTRIBUTED TO THE SAVINGS OF THEIR SALARY DURING THAT FOUR TO SIX MONTHS OF TIME WHILE THEY WERE IN THE ACADEMY.

AND THE COST OF THE ACADEMY, WHICH IS ANYWHERE FROM, I'LL JUST CALL IT 5,000 PLUS OR MINUS, IT DEPENDS ON WHICH ACADEMY WE USE.

THAT HAS AN OPENING AT THE TIME.

SO WE WERE SAVING MONEY OR NO, WE HAD SAVINGS REALIZED WITHIN OUR SALARY SAVINGS THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR THOSE BONUSES AND ACTUALLY HELPING US RECRUIT PEOPLE THAT COULD START BEING A POLICE OFFICER EFFECTIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY FASTER.

BUT WE NO LONGER, NO LONGER OFFER THAT.

UM, WE GOT FULLY STAFFED A FEW, I'M GONNA CALL IT A FEW WEEKS AGO, BUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WE WERE FULLY STAFFED.

UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO POLICE OFFICER OPENINGS, BUT THAT'S NO LONGER AN OPTION TO OFFER THEM THAT HIRING BONUS.

WE ALSO OFFERED A $5,000 MOVING STIPEND THAT IF YOU LIVED MORE THAN, AND I THINK IT WAS 50 OR 60 MILES, I THINK IT'S 50, BUT IF YOU LIVED BEYOND, MAYBE IT WAS 60, BUT IF YOU LIVED BEYOND THAT AND YOU WERE RELOCATING HERE TO KYLE, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH QUALIFYING MOVING EXPENSES BASED UPON A REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS.

AND YOU HAD TO JUSTIFY THAT AND SHOW YOUR MOVING COMPANY OR YOUR WHATEVER YOU NEEDED TO MAKE THAT MOVE.

YOU COULD SUBMIT THAT FOR NO MORE THAN UP TO $5,000 FOR QUALIFYING REIMBURSEMENT.

BUT WE'RE NOT OFFERING THAT EITHER.

THOSE HAVE BOTH GONE AWAY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY CURRENT PLANS TO BRING THEM BACK.

BUT JUST REALIZED THEY WERE, THOSE WERE FUNDED ON BY SALARY SAVINGS.

AND THEN THOSE WERE ONE-TIME EXPENSES.

THOSE WERE ONE-TIME PAYMENTS.

THEY WEREN'T ROLLED INTO THEIR SALARY, THEY DIDN'T CARRY FORWARD, THEY DIDN'T ADD TO THEIR END THEIR

[01:40:01]

HOURLY RATE.

THOSE WERE SINGULAR PAYMENTS.

NOW WE DID DIVIDE THE $10,000 SIGN-ON BONUS UP INTO THREE PAYMENTS.

SO WE GAVE 'EM A THIRD, BASICALLY A THIRD OF IT WHEN THEY STARTED.

WE GAVE THEM A THIRD WHEN THEY COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING PROGRAM HERE IN THE PD.

NOW THEY'RE OUT THERE GONNA WORK OUT ON THEIR OWN.

AND THEY RECEIVED THAT FINAL THIRD AT THE END OF ONE YEAR.

SO THEY DIDN'T GET IT ALL UP FRONT AND COME HERE AND THEN LEAVE US AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE OR QUIT OR NOT WORK OUT.

IT WAS BROKEN UP INTO THIRDS OVER A PERIOD OF A YEAR.

AND IF AT THE END OF ONE YEAR THEY WERE A SUCCESSFUL OFFICER AND THEY MA THEY MATRICULATED INTO OUR DEPARTMENT, THEY WOULD'VE THEN RECEIVED ALL OF THAT $10,000 THROUGHOUT THAT PERIOD.

BUT AGAIN, THOSE ARE JUST SINGULAR PAYMENTS AND NOT SALARY RELATED.

COST CONTAINMENT DETAILS.

HAVE I ANSWERED THAT? WELL? I THINK SO.

AND THEN I CAN I JUST GET A CLARIFICATION FROM HOLLY? 'CAUSE YOU'RE THE ONE THAT SENT OVER THIS COST CONTAINMENT SPREADSHEET.

UM, THEN IF IT, IT WASN'T ROLLED INTO SALARIES, I THINK IS WHAT CHIEF OF SAYING.

BUT ON THE UH, PDF THAT YOU SENT US, IT SAYS ROLLED INTO SALARIES, WHICH PF ARE YOU? UM, IT'S THE ATTACHMENT ONE B UH, FY 26 27.

UM, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT GENERALLY MEANS THAT WE'RE NOT OFFERING THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE'RE NOW JUST IN INCREASING OR OFFERING HIGHER SALARIES.

LET ME LOOK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO MAKE SURE I'M SPEAKING ON THE RIGHT THING FIRST.

ATTACHMENT ONE, BE COUNCILMAN BURTA.

ARE YOU REFERRING TO, UH, SAVINGS FOR 26 OR 27? I'M SORRY? UH, 26.

26, 27.

SO, I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? UM, CAN YOU VERIFY FOR ME WHAT THAT ROLLED INTO SALARIES? UH, WHETHER OR NOT, LIKE, I GUESS I'M JUST CONFUSED BECAUSE IT SAYS ROLLED INTO SALARIES HERE, BUT CHIEF JUST SAID WE DIDN'T ROLL IT INTO SALARIES.

UH, I THINK FOR ON THE BUDGET SIDE AND FOR, UH, WOULD YOU TALK INTO THE MIC? OH, I'M SORRY.

SORRY.

YES, OF COURSE.

FOR THE BUDGET SIDE AND FOR COST ACCOUNTING, WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IT'S NOT ITS OWN, UH, IDENTIFIED LINE.

IT'S NOT, WE DON'T HAVE A COST LINE FOR THAT.

IT'S, IT'S AN EXPENSE THAT'S ROLLED INTO, ROLLED INTO SALARIES.

THAT'S WHERE IT'S BUDGETED IS, IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO IT WASN'T A SEPARATE LINE ITEM PRIOR TO THAT'S CORRECT.

ALRIGHT, UM, UM, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE I START ASKING MY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, CHIEF.

UM, IS THE AXION CONTRACT FINALIZED? UM, COUNSEL AUTHORIZED AND SIGNED THAT CONTRACT, UH, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A YEAR AGO.

SO WE WOULD BE ENTERING YEAR TWO OF A 10 YEAR CONTRACT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT WAS DONE A YEAR OR SO AGO.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY NOVEMBER.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY, YOU'RE NOT SURE IF IT IS NEGOTIABLE, LIKE IT'S ALREADY BEEN FINALIZED AND SIGNED, CORRECT? WELL, YES.

YES MA'AM.

THERE, THERE'S AN AGREEMENT IN PLACE.

BOTH, BOTH PARTIES HAVE SIGNED AND ALL THAT I UNDERSTAND.

COUNCIL MEMBERS REQUEST TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE.

BUT, BUT YES MA'AM, YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT'S A SIGNED CONTRACT APPROVED BY COUNSEL ROUGHLY A YEAR AGO.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IF THIS COULD OR COULD NOT AFFECT THE PRICE.

YEAH, I HAVE.

YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

I, I HEAR WHAT HER ASK IS AND I'M ALWAYS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO LOOK AT STUFF, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEIR RESPONSE IMPACT CURRENT PRICES ARE THAT THEY MIGHT READJUST TO THEIR CURRENT PRICE OF THINGS AS WE RENEGOTIATE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WITHOUT GETTING INTO THAT CONVERSATION WITH 'EM.

YES, MA'AM.

UM, I DO HAVE A CONCERN, NOT WITH YOU, BUT WITH THE NUMBER THAT WE WERE GIVEN OF $800,000 BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKINNEY.

UM, MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HOW DID YOU GET THAT NUMBER? THAT'S THE NUMBER I WAS TOLD.

WELL, I'VE, I'VE HAD PEOPLE REACH OUT TO ME CONCERNED THAT WE'RE DEFUNDING THE POLICE MM-HMM .

AND SO I NEED TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDED TO US, 'CAUSE WE COULD HAVE SAID YES AT THE TIME, WE COULD HAVE APPROVED THE $800,000 IF THIS WERE A DIFFERENT COUNCIL THAT COULD HAVE PASSED.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE BRING THESE NUMBERS TO COUNCIL THAT THEY'RE ACCURATE.

I KNOW THERE WAS A TIME BEFORE THAT YOU ALSO MENTIONED LIKE $30 MILLION, WHICH WAS ANOTHER EXAGGERATED AMOUNT FOR THE WASTEWATER FOR THE OUTSIDE WATER.

MY WHOLE POINT BEING LIKE, THESE ARE NOT SUPPORTED NUMBERS, THEY'RE, AND SO IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MOVE FORWARD OR, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK A MILLION QUESTIONS.

THIS PRICE WENT FROM $800,000 TO $241,000.

WELL, LET, LET, LET'S BE CLEAR THOUGH.

THERE IS STILL A REDUCTION OF 330,000.

BUT THAT WAS EVEN, OKAY, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THAT.

BUT THAT WAS, EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT, THAT WAS A 10%, THAT WAS PART OF THE 16 AND YOU WERE NOT ASKING FOR THAT.

YOU WERE ASKING FOR THE 800.

BUT EVEN IN THE EVENT I PUT THOSE TWO NUMBERS TOGETHER, THE 800 INCLUDING TRAINING, IT IS STILL LESS THAN

[01:45:01]

$800,000.

AND THE, THE MONEY THAT YOU WERE ASKING FOR WAS ONLY $40,000, WHICH WAS FOUND WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO AGAIN, THE $800,000 WAS WAY OFF.

AND I APPRECIATE PEREZ AND ALL THE STAFF COMING TOGETHER AND YOU GUYS GIVING US THESE NUMBERS BECAUSE I MEAN, IF WE'RE LOOKING AT NOT, YOU KNOW, OUR CUSHION, THAT THAT'S SLOWLY BEING EATEN AWAY, 800,000 IF APPROVED WOULD'VE TAKEN US WAY BELOW WHAT, WHAT I WOULD EVER BE APP APPRO.

I MEAN THAT WOULD LIMIT US IN EVEN GIVING ANY RAISES IF WE WANTED TO.

SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE AS WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, IF YOU RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR TO PRESENT A NUMBER TO US AND THEN JUST SAY IT WAS FROM SOMEBODY.

I THINK IT'S, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PRESENT THAT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, WELL, I THINK BACK IT UP HER ACCOUNT FOR IT, THE DIFFERENCE CAME FROM FURTHER EXAMINATION AND DRILLING DOWN THE INFORMATION THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME WAS A TOTAL OF $650,000 IN DRAW DOWN ON, ON FLEET, WHICH WE'RE STILL AT 5 71 EVEN AFTER THE DRILL DOWN.

WELL, I THINK WHAT IT ENDED UP BEING WAS 241.

SO I'LL, I'LL TRY TO HELP.

WELL, IF YOU WANNA SELECTIVELY DISMISS THAT THREE 30, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY BE YEAH, BECAUSE THAT'S, THAT WAS, THAT WAS NOT WHAT HE WAS ASKING FOR.

EVERY, EVERY DEPARTMENT HAD TO GIVE UP WAS SACRIFICING, EVERY STAFF IS SACRIFICING.

AND SO FOR YOU TO GO BACK AND ASK FOR WHAT WAS SACRIFICED ISN'T FAIR TO PARKS AND ISN'T FAIR TO WATER AND, AND EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT THAT SACRIFICED, HE WASN'T ASKING FOR THAT.

AND AT THE TIME, IF THAT'S, YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT'S INCLUDED, WHICH I DON'T THINK IT WAS, BUT AT THE TIME YOU'RE ASKING US TO APPROVE SOMETHING THAT HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE UP BECAUSE IT WAS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF EVERYBODY AND IT WAS HIS PART.

SO YES, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE WHEN YOU BRING THESE NUMBERS FORWARD THAT THEY'RE SOLID WITH EX EXPLANATION AND SUPPORT.

I THINK THAT'S REASONABLE, BUT WE CAN MOVE ON.

DOES ANYBODY, OKAY, SO ARE WE MAKING ALL THESE AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TOWARDS THE END? I DON'T KNOW IF COUNCIL MEMBER SATO WANTS HIM TO SPEAK WITH AXION FIRST TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR LIMITATIONS ARE, BUT WE ARE COUNTING DOWN THE MINUTES.

WE HAVE 10 DAYS.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF WE CAN EVEN DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA BE POSSIBLE, ONLY BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SHORT WINDOW OF TIME AND WE HAVE A HOLIDAY ON MONDAY, SO THAT LIMITS US EVEN MORE.

I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE WHEN I BEGAN THESE NEGOTIATIONS TO EVEN DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF A THREE OF A DEFERRAL PUSHING IT INTO LATER YEARS.

IT TOOK MORE THAN 10 DAYS TO EVEN GET A REMOTE IDEA OF WHAT THEY COULD DO.

AND THEN BECAUSE OUR BUDGET PROCESS MOVED FORWARD AND THAT WASN'T, WE NEEDED TO FIND SOME THAT WE NEEDED TO FIND ANOTHER ANSWER THAT WE NEVER DID EVEN GET A FINAL DOCUMENT.

AND I'M NOT REALLY SAYING THAT'S ALL AXON, BUT WE MOVED ON BECAUSE WE NEEDED AN ANSWER TO PROVIDE TO OUR CITY MANAGER.

AND WHILE HE IS WORKING ON BUDGET, AND IT WAS DEFINITELY BEYOND 10 DAYS AND EVEN 30 DAYS LATER, I STILL, EVEN 60 DAYS LATER, I STILL DON'T HAVE A DOCUMENT TODAY, BUT I'VE MOVED ON.

WE FOUND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO DO WHAT WE'VE DISCUSSED TONIGHT.

SO I DON'T IN ANY WAY WANNA PROMISE YOU THAT I COULD HAVE AN ANSWER FROM THEM AND HAVE CITY AND THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT NEGOTIATE ALL THAT.

I I UNDERSTAND THE ASK AND I'M CERTAINLY WILLING TO DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK I CAN GET THAT DONE IN 10 DAYS BASED ON EXPERIENCE.

I WOULD APPRECIATE IF WE TRIED.

SURE.

BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE MONEY, BUT WE'RE NOT EVEN GONNA INVESTIGATE TO SEE IF THERE, THERE'S AN OPTION.

AND WHAT I'D RATHER DO IS, IS SEE IF THERE'S AN OPTION SO THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY GIVE THIS 240,000 WITHOUT IMPACTING ANYTHING ELSE.

YEAH, NO, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING REALISTIC ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT, BECAUSE IF YOU COME BACK AND SAY, YOU SAY YES, THAT'S A PLUS, RIGHT? YES.

BUT IF YOU COME BACK AND YOU SAY, NO, I WANT IT TO BE, UM, REALIZED THAT THAT'S A, A HUGE ASK WITHIN THE NEXT 10 DAYS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.

WE'LL WAIT UNTIL THE END TO DO ANY AMENDMENTS.

UM, SO IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK UP OR IS THIS IT? YEAH, THAT WAS THE END OF MY PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION.

WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND TO CITY COUNCIL IS WE HAVE THREE AMENDMENTS, UH, UNDER CONSIDERATION IF Y'ALL WANT TO TAKE ONE AT A TIME OR WHATEVER ORDER Y'ALL WANT TO TAKE AND VOTE ON IT.

BUT THE, UH, IF Y'ALL COULD TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

AND THEN LASTLY ON, ON THE VEHICLE FOR PD.

UM, SO THIS IS WHAT I HEARD AFTER ALL THE QUESTION AND ANSWERS.

WE HAVE 240,981.

THEY NEED ADDITIONAL FOR THE FIRST LEVEL, BUT FOR THE SECOND LEVEL THAT HE DISCUSSED THE OTHER NINE UNITS, HE NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL 157,764

[01:50:02]

I BELIEVE.

SO IN ROUND NUMBERS HE NEEDS A TOTAL OF 400,000 CHIEF, IS THAT CORRECT? I THINK ON THIS NUMBER WAS 429,000.

SO IT WAS 2 41.

LET'S SPEAK IN ROUND NUMBERS.

THE 2 41 THAT I HAVE ON THE SCREEN.

AND PLUS YOU SAID YOU NEEDED AN ADDITIONAL FOR THE NINE UNITS.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT.

I, I DIDN'T WANNA ANSWER YOU FROM THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

THE ANSWER TO THAT IS YES IF YOU WANT TO KEEP ALL THE VEHICLES.

SO THAT'S 3 98 7 4 5.

SO IN ROUND NUMBERS 400,000, 400,000, IT'LL BE EASIER TO CALCULATE FOR US TONIGHT.

SO WE HAVE THE OPTION OF EITHER OR.

I WAS JUST LOOKING COMBINED.

ORDER TO BALANCE THIS BUDGET, LIKE I SAID, WITHOUT MAKING TOO MANY, UM, CUTS TO NECESSARY SERVICES TO KEEP THIS CITY RUNNING.

SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT IS GONNA BE, UH, I'M GONNA DO IT AS ONE SO WE DON'T VOTE FOR ONE AND THEN GO BACK AND VOTE FOR ANOTHER ONE.

IT'S GONNA BE THE REST AND RECOGNITION PAYMENT AND THE GENERAL WAGE INCREASE OF ALL CIVILIANS NON-MANAGEMENT.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

UM, SO I'LL GO AHEAD AND KICK IT OFF, UH, SINCE MINE WAS THE FIRST ONE ON THE PRESENTATION.

UM, SO AS STATED, UH, THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT COST CONTAINMENT MEASURES THAT WE HAVE HAD TO TAKE, UM, IN FY 26, FY 27 PROPOSED BUDGET.

UM, WITH A LOT OF THAT BEING, UH, HITS TO BENEFITS THAT STAFF IS, IS, UH, NO LONGER EXPERIENCING OR AT THIS CURRENT TIME IS PAUSED.

UH, SO I JUST WANNA GO THROUGH THOSE SO THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT IS THAT, THAT WE HAVE REMOVED FROM THOSE BENEFITS.

UH, SO WE HAVE PAUSED, UH, HSA CASH CONTRIBUTIONS PAUSED, HRA CASH CONTRIBUTIONS PAUSED.

THE THE LEAVE BUYBACK PROGRAM, PAUSED PAID PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM, PAUSED.

THE P-P-L-P-P-O HEALTH PLAN WITH NO NEW ENROLLMENTS, UH, PAUSED THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM, UM, ALONG WITH SOME OTHER DEPARTMENTAL REDUCTIONS IN OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES.

UM, BUT THAT IS A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT OUR STAFF HAS HAD CUT.

THEIR BUDGETS HAVE BEEN CUT.

UH, WHAT THEY ARE WORKING WITH NEXT YEAR MOVING FORWARD HAS BEEN CUT AND WE ARE STILL EXPECTING THEM TO PERFORM AT THE SAME LEVEL.

AND SO FAR, HOPEFULLY IT HAS BEEN SEAMLESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS BECAUSE OUR STAFF IS AMAZING.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE HERE ON THE DIOCESE CAN AGREE ABOUT.

UM, IN A WAY THAT I WANTED TO KIND OF FIND THIS MIDDLE GROUND, UH, BETWEEN GIVING A RAISE AND FIGURING OUT WHAT ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN RECOGNIZE STAFF, UM, TO HELP KIND OF CUSHION BURDEN, SAY SORRY, SAY THANK YOU ALL AT THE SAME TIME, UH, FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU ALL ARE MAKING TO THIS CITY, UH, WHILE WE FIGURE OUT AND BALANCE THIS BUDGET.

UH, SO WITH THAT, UH, IN PREPARATION FOR THIS, I HAD ASKED A FEW QUESTIONS, UM, LIKE WHAT IS THE AVERAGE, UH, NON-SUPERVISORY CIVILIAN PAY THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE CITY AND IT'S ABOUT $70,000.

UM, AND SO I WAS TRYING TO COM COMPARE THAT TO, FOR EXAMPLE, MEET AND CONFER.

UM, BECAUSE I WAS LIKE, OKAY, MEET AND CONFER HAS 3% OR 2%.

I WANNA SEE WHAT THOSE, UH, NUMBERS ARE EQUAL TO.

IF WE WERE TO WRITE IT TO STAFF, UM, AT 3%, THAT'S $2,100 AT 2%, THAT'S ABOUT THIS $1,800.

UM, I FELT THAT 1800 FELT, UH, FAIR, UM, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE, UH, AT LEAST THAT $1,800 ONE TIME KIND OF THANK YOU PAYMENT, UH, BECAUSE IT WOULD ALSO HAVE THE MINIMAL IMPACT ON OUR GENERAL FUND, UH, NOT JUST, UH, THIS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET PERIOD, BUT IN ALL FOLLOWING BUDGET PERIODS BECAUSE IT WOULD STILL ALLOW FOR US TO CREATE THAT CUSHION MOVING FORWARD.

UM, SO THAT WAS THE REASONING BEHIND THE REST AND RECOGNITION PAYMENT.

AND THAT'S ALSO HOW IT CAME UP WITH THE $1,800 NUMBER.

UM, I FEEL THAT, UH, THE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCES IS THAT, UH, THERE ARE DIFFERENT VARYING LEVELS OF POSITIONS THAT ARE EXCLUDED FROM THE OTHER AMENDMENT THAT IS SIMILAR TO THIS FOR THE 3% RAISE.

UM, AND WHILE I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT, I ALSO DO THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO GIVE A THANK YOU ALSO TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SERVING US AND WORKING EXTREMELY HARD, UH, FOR RESIDENTS IN

[01:55:01]

UM, SO THAT'S, UH, THE REASONING BEHIND THIS 1800 R AND R PAYMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, DO YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT THAT, ERIC? YEAH, IF YOU WANNA TALK.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S GREAT.

THE, UM, EXCLUDING OUR UPPER MANAGEMENT, UM, IS A BUDGET CONCERN.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHY WE'RE UM, I PRESIDENT THAT, UM, OUR UPPER MANAGEMENT SALARIES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE 70,000 I BELIEVE.

UM, I THINK THAT GRANTING A RAISE IS SIMPLY THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

OUR STAFF HAVE WORKED REALLY, REALLY HARD.

OUR MANAGEMENT STAFF HAVE AS WELL.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

UM, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT OUR LINE STAFF SHOULD HAVE TO SACRIFICE WHEN THEY ARE OUT THERE IN THE HEAT.

UM, THEY'RE WORKING THE PARKS, THEY'RE DOING THE MOWING, UM, THEY'RE WORKING IN OUR, UH, WATER DEPARTMENT OUTSIDE.

THEY'RE WORKING IN OUR WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT OUTSIDE IT.

IF THEY DESERVE THE RAISES, THEY'RE NOT LARGE RAISES.

UH, THEY WOULD, BUT THEY WOULD DEFINITELY YES, CONTINUE NEXT YEAR.

THEY WOULDN'T BE JUST A ONE TIME BONUS TO THEM.

IT WOULD BE A, A RAISE THAT WOULD CARRY THROUGH.

I THINK THAT THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER TO BE, I MEAN, MAY PRETEND TO BE A, WHEN IT COMES TO THE EMPLOYEES, DO THEY GET A LONGEVITY CHECK EVERY YEAR? YES, SIR.

AND IT'S INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET.

THEY'LL GET FIRST PAYCHECK IN DECEMBER, SO THEY AUTOMATICALLY GET A CHECK FOR LONGEVITY AS FAR AS LIKE YEARS OF SERVICE.

SO THEY, EVEN THOUGH WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER ZAPATA'S PROPOSING IS A ONE TIME THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO KIND OF CHECK, BUT THEY STILL RECEIVE AN ADDITION.

THEIR, THEIR, UM, LONGEVITY AT THEIR, UH, WHAT IS IT CALLED AT THEIR TERM WHEN, WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR, UM, AFTER ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE RECEIVES THAT.

AT THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATE.

SO THAT WOULD BE, THIS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL TO THAT.

ON THAT END, HOW MUCH IS THAT LONGEVITY PAY? IT'S BASED ON, UH, YEARS OF SERVICE, YEARS OF SERVICE, NUMBER OF MONTHS OF SERVICE.

AND IT'S $15 FOR EVERY MONTH AFTER ONE YEAR.

SO, NO, WE'RE GONNA HOLD ON BECAUSE HE'S STILL NOT TALKING AND WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE YOU'VE ALREADY HAD TO TURN, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET THROUGH EVERYBODY.

SO THEY, SO THEY RECEIVE THEIR, THEIR AT THEIR AT THEIR ANNIVERSARY DAY? NO, IT'S NOT ON ANNIVERSARY, BUT AT THE REST OF THE YEAR YEAH.

EVERYONE THAT'S ELIGIBLE WILL RECEIVE A CHECK BASED ON THEIR MONTHS OF SERVICE.

ON THE FIRST PAYCHECK IN DECEMBER.

WE ALSO CALL IT THE CHRISTMAS BONUS.

CHRISTMAS BONUS.

SO THEY ALREADY GET A BONUS AND THEN THIS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL YES SIR.

IF VOTED THROUGH.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? BECAUSE I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

FIRST OFF, STARTING WITH THESE BENEFITS THAT WERE CUT THIS YEAR, 'CAUSE I REMEMBER BEING ON COUNCIL IN 2023 AND I DON'T REMEMBER A LOT OF THESE BENEFITS.

SO COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THESE BENEFITS THAT WERE CUT, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM WERE FAIRLY NEW? I KNOW LIKE THE, UM, BUYBACK WAS NOT A THING IN 2023, OR MAYBE IT BEGAN IN 2023.

UM, OR THE PATERNITY LEAVE THAT WAS THE PAID PATERNITY LEAVE.

UM, WHAT, WHAT DID THOSE BENEFITS LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS TIMELINE AND WHEN THEY STARTED? SO THE EMPLOYEE VACATION AND SICK LEAVE BUYBACK PROGRAM WAS INTRODUCED BY OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER.

SO IT'S FAIRLY RECENT AND IT'S QUITE EXPENSIVE.

SO WE HAD TO PAUSE IT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.

WE DIDN'T ELIMINATE IT AND WE JUST SAID, OKAY, LET'S WAIT A YEAR AND SEE WHAT NEXT YEAR BRINGS.

SO WE PAUSED THAT, UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE, UH, BENEFITS WE INTRODUCED RECENTLY.

UM, THE THE, UM, MATERNITY OR MATERNITY LEAVE, UH, IS SIX WEEKS PAID LEAVE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TOUCH YOUR PTO OR YOUR VACATION OR ACCRUED LEAVE.

HOW OLD IS THAT? UH, THAT IS ALSO FAIRLY RECENT.

I CAN ASK JULIE TO COME UP HERE AND GIVE US A, A TIMEFRAME.

NOPE, NOT REQUIRED.

JULIE BEGGS.

GOOD EVENING.

JULIE BEGGS, HR DIRECTOR.

SO BOTH OF THESE POLICIES, THE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, UM, CAME ONLINE IN 2024

[02:00:01]

IN JUNE I BELIEVE.

AND THAT PROGRAM REQUIRES THAT EMPLOYEE MEET ELIGIBILITY UNDER FMLA STANDARDS.

IF THEY DO, THEY CAN GET UP TO 12 WEEKS OF PAID PARENTAL LEAVE.

UM, AND ONE THAT WE HAD TO REALLY LOOK AT AND SCRUTINIZE THIS YEAR LOOKING ON DOLLARS THAT GO OUT.

THE SECOND WAS THE TUITION REIMBURSEMENT.

WELL, I'M JUST LIKE IN GENERAL, LIKE HOW NEW WERE THESE? THE CITY HAS HAD TUITION REIMBURSEMENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

IN 2024, WE UPPED THE ELIGIBILITY THAT YOU COULD RECEIVE BACK FOR YOUR REIMBURSEMENT FROM, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT 1500 AND IT DOUBLED TO ABOUT 3000.

AND THEN I KNOW IT WASN'T UNTIL PROBABLY WAS IT 2023 OR 2024 THAT WE STARTED PAYING FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF, UM, STAFF INSURANCE? I BELIEVE YOU ARE CORRECT.

I THINK THAT WAS 2023 GOING INTO THE 24.

BECAUSE REMEMBER, OUR BENEFITS WORK ON THE CALENDAR YEAR.

SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN ADOPTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR GOING IN AND THAT WENT INTO EFFECT OF THE CALENDAR YEAR 2024.

AND WE WILL PAY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ON THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLAN, EMPLOYEE ONLY THE CITY, UM, CHARGES ZERO FOR THAT.

WE TAKE CARE OF THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

OR IF THEY'RE ON AN HMO PLAN, THE CITY TAKE PAYS FOR 100%.

IF THEY ARE ON A MORE EXPENSIVE PLAN, THOSE EMPLOYEES PAY A PERCENTAGE FOR EMPLOYEE ONLY AND THEN THEY'RE STAGGERED, DEPENDING IF THEY HAVE DEPENDENTS, A SPOUSE OR THEIR WHOLE FAMILY.

WAS HERE WHEN WE STARTED, UM, PAYING FOR ALL THIS, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF'S, UM, INSURANCE, I KNOW WE PAID FOR THE LAST, WERE, YOU KNOW, SCOTT SELLER'S INSURANCE AND ALL NINE OF HIS KIDS.

WELL, AND I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THESE ARE GREAT BENEFITS MM-HMM .

IN MOST CITIES, YOU DO NOT SEE THESE SAME BENEFITS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WAS BROUGHT UP DURING THE PREVIOUS, AND MAYBE THIS IS WHAT GOT US INTO A HOLE.

GREAT BOOK TO READ IS CALLED GREEDY BASTARDS.

IT HAS TO DO, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE EVER, UH, READ IT.

SHARON SCULLY AND SHE WAS THE CITY MANAGER FOR SAN ANTONIO.

AND SHE LITERALLY HAD TO FIGHT, UM, THE UNIONS BECAUSE WHAT THEY WERE OFFERING, THE BENEFITS THEY WERE OFFERING, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I'M NOT SAYING OURS, I'M JUST SAYING LIKE IN GENERAL, WHEN YOU PAY STAFF THESE GREAT BENEFITS AND YOU DON'T LOOK AT THE LONG TERM OUTCOME OF IT, IT WILL LITERALLY BANKRUPT A CITY.

AND BENEFITS ARE WONDERFUL AND IF, IF WE WANNA GIVE OUR STAFF GREAT BENEFITS, I'M ALL FOR THAT.

WE CANNOT AS A CITY AFFORD TO GIVE GOOD PAY AND GOOD BENEFITS.

AND I KNOW WE ARE TOP TIER.

I'VE HEARD OTHER CITIES, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE BEING INTERVIEWED BY OTHER PEOPLE AND SAID, HEY, I THINK I NEED TO COME WORK FOR THE CITY OF KYLE BECAUSE IT PAYS.

WELL, THAT IS A DOCUMENTED LIKE INTERVIEW WITH OUR CITY STAFF.

AND THE TRUTH IS, WE WERE A REALLY GREAT PAYING CITY WITH REALLY GREAT PAYING BENEFIT OR PAYING BENEFITS.

BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE TAXPAYER.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR LOYALTY IS TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING THE SALARIES.

AND WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THEIR WATER BILLS, THEY'RE NOT GETTING RAISES AT THEIR JOB.

AND I HAVE TO WONDER HOW DO THEY FEEL KNOWING THAT SINCE WHAT, 2022 WE'VE GIVEN, WE, I GAVE A 20% RAISE AND THEN EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN WE'VE GIVEN A A SIGNIFICANT RAISE.

WE ARE NOT A BAD PAYING CITY.

I MEAN, DO WE, DO WE HAVE SOME SOME PAY THAT WE CAN REEVALUATE? I'M SURE WE CAN, BUT ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER GOZA HAVE LOOKED AT THE SALARIES OF OUR STAFF.

NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT THERE'S SEVERAL THAT'S OVER, INCLUDING THE LAST CITY MANAGER'S SALARY WHO CREATED THIS SALARY CHART.

HE WAS OVER THE MAX AMOUNT.

AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK AND REEVALUATE THAT.

AND IT, IT CAN'T, WE CAN'T MAKE VOTES BASED ON JUST OUR FEELINGS, RIGHT.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A DUTY TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

WE HAVE A DUTY TO OUR STAFF AND I, I'D LIKE TO THINK WE'VE DONE REALLY WELL TAKING CARE OF THEM.

SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET A RAISE AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T GET A BONUS.

AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE DON'T APPRECIATE YOU, WE DON'T LIKE YOU.

IT IT'S THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT.

RIGHT? LIKE IF YOU WANNA GO OUT AND GO ON VACATION, IF I WANNA GO ON VACATION AND I'M LIKE, MAN, I WOULD REALLY JUST LIKE TO GO TO SOUTH PADRE BECAUSE THAT'S MY SAFE PLACE, RIGHT? BUT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

I DON'T SPEND THE MONEY EVEN THOUGH I WANT IT, AND IT MAKES ME HAPPY AND IT PUTS ME IN A GOOD PLACE.

YOU JUST DON'T, YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, YOU DON'T SPEND IT.

AND THIS, THIS CUSHION I'M LOOKING AT THAT THE $2.5 MILLION IS DWINDLING QUICKLY.

AND UNLESS WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY TO DIG INTO THAT RESERVE, I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE CONSCIOUS ABOUT OUR DECISIONS.

SO I DO APPRECIATE YOU COMING UP HERE JUST LETTING US KNOW LIKE SURE.

HOW THESE BENEFITS WERE, YOU KNOW, THE, YOU KNOW, IF THESE WERE BENEFITS THAT WERE OFFERED TO THE, TO THE STAFF FOR 10, 15, 20 YEARS AND THEIR LIVES WERE BASED AROUND IT.

I CAN UNDERSTAND IT, BUT I, I KNOW, AND I REMEMBER I WAS HERE WHEN WE GAVE THE 20% I

[02:05:01]

AND YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME WE WERE LIKE, OH YEAH, WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP 'EM.

BUT AGAIN, WHAT GOOD DOES THAT DO? HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT OUR TAXPAYERS IS MY QUESTION.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WE HAVE EMPLOYEES AND THEY HAVE JOBS, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT AGAIN, WE'RE PRETTY WELL PAYING CITI.

I, I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE PAY OUR STAFF.

UM, THE BENEFITS I THINK WE'RE A LITTLE EXAGGERATED.

UM, AND THIS UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE TO BE PART OF THE COUNCIL THAT HAS TO CORRECT SOMETHING AT SOME POINT.

SO, UM, I APPRECIATE IT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY? COUNCIL MEMBER GZA? I JUST HAD A COMMENT BECAUSE I HAVE RUN AND RERUN THE NUMBERS.

SO IF WE WERE TO PASS, UM, CMS POTS PROPOSAL AND THEN ALSO PASS THE EXTRA 400,000 FOR POLICE, THAT WOULD LEAVE US WITH ABOUT A $33,600 CUSHION OVER AND ABOVE WHAT OUR RESERVES REQUIRE IF I'M RUNNING THOSE NUMBERS CORRECTLY.

BECAUSE OUR RESERVE REQUIREMENT HAS TO COME UP, WHICH ALSO ADJUSTS FOR THAT.

AND SO THAT INCREASE IN RESERVES, I CAME UP WITH AN AMOUNT OF ABOUT $460,000.

WE COULD HAVE STAFF VERIFY THAT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY STAGGERING JUST TO HEAR LIKE HOW THAT COMPOUNDS WITH EACH OTHER WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THAT.

UM, SO THEN IF WE DO HAVE THINGS THAT COME UP WHERE WE'RE OVER BUDGET AND NOT AN EMERGENCY, HOW DO WE PAY FOR THAT? SO THAT IS MY CONCERN.

WELL IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TAX RATE YOU'RE USING WHEN DETERMINE WHETHER HOW MUCH ENDS UP GOING BACK INTO THE .

AND WE COULD HAVE STAFF BRING THAT BACK FOR SURE.

IF, IF WE'RE INTERESTED AND WE WANNA KNOW AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT EATING AWAY AT THIS CUSHION.

'CAUSE I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER SAA IS INTERESTED IN HAVING, YOU KNOW, THE, AT LEAST THE CONTRACT LOOKED AT AND THAT COULD OFF BALANCE US, THE 240,000.

OH YEAH.

POSSIBLY MORE THAN THAT.

LIKE THE, UH, H-S-A-H-R-A CONTRIBUTIONS.

UM, I ALSO WANTED TO SAY THAT THE 1800 IS ALSO NEGOTIABLE.

UM, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE 1800, UH, 1800 COMES OUT TO ABOUT A LITTLE OVER 2.5% OF THE AVERAGE $70,000 SALARY.

UM, SO EVEN IF WE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING AKIN TO STIMULUS CHECKS THAT WE ALL RECEIVED, WHICH WAS $1,200, UM, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE LOWEST NUMBER THAT I'M WILLING TO GO TO.

UM, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD PUT LESS PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL FUND, STILL RECOGNIZE THAT, STILL BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR STAFF SOMETHING.

UM, I THINK THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN PARTS OF OUR BENEFITS THAT AREN'T EXAGGERATED, THAT HAVE BEEN PAUSED.

LIKE TO ME, THAT'S NOT EXAGGERATED.

THAT'S LIKE BASIC, THE PPO HEALTH PLAN, LIKE NO NEW ENROLLMENTS, THAT'S NOT EXAGGERATED.

THAT'S KIND OF LIKE BASIC THAT'S PROVIDED AT EVERY CITY.

UM, SO I THINK IT'S, IT'S ALSO UNFAIR TO ONLY SCRUTINIZE THINGS THAT WERE BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE FORMER CITY ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT ALL OF THIS KEEPS ON COMING BACK TO, IS IF IT WAS BROUGHT UP BY, OR CREATED BY, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE CONSTANTLY BEING ASKED ABOUT WHAT ARE THE DATES, WHAT ARE THE TIMELINES? BECAUSE IF IT'S ASSOCIATED TO THE LAST CITY ADMINISTRATION, IT IS BEING UNFAIRLY SCRUTINIZED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THAT'S AN ACCUSATION AND WELL, NO, IT'S, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I'VE HEARD IT.

EVERY SINGLE ACCUSATION.

NO, THAT'S TIME HERE ON THE DIOCESE.

THAT ORDER POINT OF ORDER.

I'M THE ONE THAT'S SPEAKING.

POINT OF ORDER.

I'M TELLING YOU THAT'S AN ACCUSATION.

YOU CAN CALL THE POINT OF ORDER.

OH YEAH.

WELL SHE CALLED THE POINT OF ORDER AND I SUPPORT IT BECAUSE THE ACCU WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WHAT YOU THINK AND THAT'S, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PROVE.

AND THAT GOES AGAINST THE RULES.

IT'S NOT AN ACCUSATION.

IT IS SAID HERE ON THE DAIS EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS.

NO, IT'S NOT.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I ALSO THINK THAT WE'RE COMING UP ON LABOR DAY TO BE ANTI-WORKER RIGHT BEFORE LABOR DAY, TO ME ISN'T THE BEST OF MOVES.

I THINK IT IS FAIRLY REASONABLE FOR US TO SAY OUR SWORN, UH, STAFF MEMBERS HAVE RECEIVED AN INCREASE AND THAT HAD PUT UH, $788,000 PRESSURE ON THE GENERAL FUND.

IT IS FAIR FOR US TO WANT TO GIVE OUR CIVILIAN, NON-SWORN STAFF A SMALL SOMETHING AS WELL.

UH, WE DIDN'T ASK FOR MEET AND CONFER TO BE PAIRED DOWN.

I FELT LIKE SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE EXPECTED IT FROM ME 'CAUSE I RECEIVED MESSAGES THREATENING ME IF I DID.

BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I TOUCHED BECAUSE I WANT TO BE FAIR TO OUR STAFF.

I WANNA BE FAIR TO OUR WORKERS.

AND SO I AM JUST ASKING THIS COUNSEL TO CONSIDER, EVEN IF IT'S NOT $1,800, CONSIDER SOMETHING FOR THE REST OF OUR NON-SWORN CIVILIAN

[02:10:01]

STAFF.

HEY PEREZ, DO THEY HAVE MONDAY OFF? YES.

ALRIGHT, GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE IS APPRECIATION IN DIFFERENT WAYS AND SO IT'S, IT IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY THAT DOESN'T, THERE WAS A LOT OF FEDERAL HOLIDAYS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE OFF.

I KNOW, BECAUSE I APPROVED TWO OF THEM.

SO GOING BACK TO THAT, UM, I, I DON'T, I'M NOT, I DON'T VOTE OR SPEAK ON EMOTION 'CAUSE THAT'S SILLINESS.

UM, DO I THINK MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY? YES.

DO I THINK I NEED TO MAKE A VOTE BECAUSE MONDAY'S A HOLIDAY? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THAT'S NOT HOW ADULTS MAKE DECISIONS.

AND WITH THAT SAID, POINT OF ORDER, THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY UNNECESSARY.

WELL, WHAT'S THE POINT OF ORDER? LET'S REPORT RUDE, DEMEANING, CONDESCENDING, I DON'T THINK CAN CHOOSE.

OKAY, WELL I DON'T LADIES, LADIES, LET'S GET BACK ON TRACK, PLEASE.

UM, WELL ANYWAYS, AS I WAS SAYING, UM, I THINK WE WOULD NEED TO SEE IF WE PICKED ONE OF 'EM AND HOW THAT WOULD LOOK.

UM, COUNCIL MEMBER GOZA GAVE A NUMBER.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ACCURATE, BUT WHAT I'M NOT GONNA DO IS TO DEPLETE THE LITTLE CUSHION THAT WE HAVE.

UM, AND IF THAT BRINGS US DOWN TO $400,000 TO INCLUDE COVERING THE CARS, UM, WHICH ARE GONNA BE NEEDED FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEN I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THAT.

SO MAYOR AND COUNSEL, ANDY IS, IS DEVISING A LITTLE CALCULATOR.

SO AS YOU'RE ADDING OR SUBTRACTING AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT, WE WILL SHOW YOU EXACTLY THE IMPACT TO THE FUND BALANCE AS WELL AS THE INCREASE IN, IN THE REQUIREMENT.

SO BOTH OF THOSE.

SO IF, IF Y'ALL WANT TO TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK, IT'S UP TO YOU.

UM, LET'S GO DO THAT.

WE'LL BE BACK HERE AND WE'LL HAVE THAT INFORMATION READY SO WE CAN PLUG IN THE NUMBERS.

HERE, I THINK IT'S FAIR TOO THAT YOU GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF DEFEND YOURSELF A LITTLE BIT.

I KNOW IT'S GONNA SURPRISE YOU COMING FROM ME.

UM, UH, WOULD YOU PLEASE CLARIFY, UH, WHY YOU ASKED ABOUT THE TIMELINE FOR THE BENEFITS? UM, MY CONCERN WAS THAT WE ARE TAKING AWAY LONG-TERM BENEFITS FROM OUR STAFF AND IT, AND THE REALITY WAS THESE WERE FAIRLY NEW BENEFITS AND SO I DON'T THINK PAUSING THEM FOR A LITTLE BIT WAS GOING TO DO A LOT OF DAMAGE.

'CAUSE THESE ARE, AGAIN, FAIRLY NEW.

WE JUST HAD 'EM FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS.

SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT.

UH, MAYOR PORT TOBIAS, JUST REAL QUICK AND, AND TO CLARIFY ON HOW A LOT OF THIS GOES WITH EMPLOYEES, I KIND OF GO BY WHAT OUR SURVEYS SAY AND I THINK WE JUST HAD ONE JUST RECENTLY FOR THE YEAR.

CORRECT.

WAS THERE ANY FORM OF DISPARITY WHEN IT CAME TO THE EMPLOYEES REQUESTING MORE IN PAY OR WERE THEY BASICALLY WANTING GOOD FRIDAY OFF? WHAT WAS THEIR TOP, TOP THING? OKAY, I'M GONNA ASK JULIE TO COME FORWARD, JUDY, BECAUSE THE SURVEYS TELL A LOT ABOUT THE MORALE OF THE CITY.

TRUE.

OF THE EMPLOYEES.

AND WE HAVE NOT ISSUED ONE FOR THIS YEAR.

WE'LL PROBABLY DO THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT.

THE LAST, UH, SURVEY THAT WE DID CITYWIDE WAS MORE FOCUSED ON TMRS AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WERE ELIGIBLE AS OF NEW STATE LAW.

AND THEN, AND I UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE EMERGENCIES 'CAUSE UH, COURTNEY AND MS. AMBER, THANK YOU.

I HAD A BIG EMERGENCY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD LAST NIGHT, HAD A HUGE WATER MAIN BREAK.

AND ISMAIL AND MICHAEL WHO WERE OUT THERE AT 10 30 AT NIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING OUT THERE.

AND THEY SHUT THE WATER OFF, BUT THEY SAID THEY'LL GET TO IT, UH, SOMETIME THIS WEEK.

SO THEY ARE APPRECIATED.

'CAUSE I WENT OUT THERE AND THANKED THEM.

I WISH I COULD GO DO MORE, TAKE 'EM OUT, BUY 'EM BEER , AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, THEY'RE ON DUTY.

BUT, UH, THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AND THEY APPRECIATE IT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE VISIBLE WITH THEM.

GREAT EXAMPLE OF AN EMERGENCY.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? LIKE THAT WAS TWO YES.

IS TWO WATER ISSUES IN THE LAST MONTH.

I HAVE NO IDEA HOW THAT'S GONNA GET FIXED.

IT WAS A LOT OF WATER RUNNING DOWN THAT STREET.

SO AGAIN, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THROUGH AN EMERGENCY THAT WE WOULD NEED TO YEAH.

FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR.

AND THANK YOU TO THE RESIDENT WHO LET US KNOW.

APPRECIATE IT.

WE GOT, WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT EIGHT O'CLOCK.

TWO MINUTE RECESS.

ALL RIGHT, WE ARE BACK.

AND I THINK, UM, WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS HAVE SOME NUMBERS PRESENTED TO US JUST, UM, TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH THIS IS.

HOW MUCH, UH, RAISE DO WE HAVE THE TWO COSTS OR LIKE WHAT, TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DISCUSS.

SO WE'LL, WE'LL WALK YOU THROUGH OKAY.

WITH ALL THE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE ON THE TABLE, AS WELL AS AMENDMENTS THAT WERE APPROVED ON THE 27TH.

AND WHAT THAT WILL DO TO THE GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE.

SO I'M GONNA HAVE ANDY LIST THE ITEMS AND THE AMOUNTS SO YOU WILL KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH WE ARE PLUGGING IN

[02:15:01]

AND HOW MUCH OF THE EXTRA CUSHION OVER AND ABOVE WHAT'S REQUIRED IS STILL REMAINING.

SO GO AHEAD, ANDY.

I'VE INCLUDED, WELL, ANDY, ALEJANDRO, FOR THE RECORD, I INCLUDE THE 60,000.

THESE ARE ALL HOLD NUMBERS TO, TO MAKE IT EASIER.

60,000 FOR THE PART-TIME LIBRARY POSITIONS.

$400,000 FOR THE INCREASE FOR THE ENTERPRISE VEHICLES, FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

582,000 FOR THE 1800 R AND R.

609,000 FOR THE 3% GWI.

AND THEN I ALSO PUT IN HERE 145,000 AND THIS WILL BRING UP EVERYBODY INCLUDING MANAGEMENT FOR THE 3% GWI.

SO IF WE INCLUDE ALL OF THOSE RIGHT NOW, THAT WILL INCREASE OUR EXPENDITURES BY $1.7 MILLION.

AND OUR REQUIRED BALANCE WOULD BE 18,000,282.

AND OUR ESTIMATING, OUR ESTIMATED ENDING FUNDING FUND BALANCE WOULD BE 18,000,573, LEAVING US A CUSHION OF $291,000.

NOW, IF WE WANTED TO, 'CAUSE YOU HAVE BOTH OF THEM IN THEY BOTH R AND R AND, AND THE RACE.

SO LET'S, WE PLUGGED EVERYTHING IN THERE.

WE PLUGGED EVERYTHING IN AND WE CAN BACK OUT WHATEVER COUNCIL WANTS US TO TAKE OUT.

I THINK THAT'S, SO I THINK FOR SURE WE'RE GONNA DO THE LIBRARY.

IS THAT RIGHT GUYS? OKAY.

SO WE HAVE THE LIBRARY.

UM, I AM IN FAVOR OF THE CARS, THE POLICE CARS.

SO YOU GUYS IN FAVOR OF THE POLICE CARS.

TAKE A VOTE ON THAT.

YEAH, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE ON THAT BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE NEED TO GET MOVING FORWARD.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

I THINK, DO YOU WANT ME THE EXACT NUMBER? I'M GONNA DO A MOTION AND THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.

UM, IT'S 3 9 8 7 4 5, I BELIEVE FOR THE CARS COMBINED.

400,000.

YEAH, WE WANT ME JUST 400 IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JUST ROUND IT UP FOR OKAY.

I'M GONNA ROUND IT UP FOR FOR ACCOUNTING PURPOSES.

I WOULD LIKE TO APPROVE $400,000 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

CARS SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION BY MYSELF AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKENNEY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZAPATA.

OH, WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PHASES OF THAT? I REMEMBER THERE WAS LIKE TWO PARTS TO IT THAT GOT US TO THAT 300 OR $400,000.

SO THAT FIRST ONE IS THAT TWO 40 AND THEN THE EXTRA IS 1 57.

AND THE MATERIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE IS GOING TO BE THE NUMBER OF CARS THAT WE BRING BACK ONLINE? THAT'S CORRECT.

IT'LL BE ADDITIONAL NINE, I BELIEVE.

CHIEF, THAT WOULD MAKE YOU GUYS WHOLE, I BELIEVE.

UH, COUNSEL FOR THE RECORD, JEFF BARNETT.

CHIEF PLEASE.

AND THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

THAT WOULD BRING US BACK TO WHOLE AND IT WOULD BRING THE NINE THAT OUR CITY MANAGER MENTIONED.

OKAY, NEITHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? OKAY.

CAN I GET A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.

SEVEN ZERO CAN GO AHEAD AND UPDATE THOSE NUMBERS WITH THE 400,000.

WITH JUST THE 60,000 AND 400,000, WE HAVE AN ESTIMATED ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 19.9.

THE REQUIREMENT IS 17.9.

SO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATED 1.9 MILLION 1.9.

AND THAT'S OUR CUSHION.

THAT'S A CUSHION.

SO UP NEXT WE HAVE THE R AND R, WHICH IS 582,000.

IS THERE ANY CONVERSATION TALK, CAN I SEE WHAT THAT NUMBER LOOKS LIKE AT 1200 R AND R? I THINK IT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO NOTE TOO, THAT AFTER TAXES, TAXES, DEDUCTIONS AND EVERYTHING, THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT WHAT THEY'LL END UP WITH IF WE LEAVE IT AT THE 1800.

WELL, IF YOU, SO I DON'T, TAXES ARE CHECKS ARE TAXED AT DIFFERENT RATES.

YEAH, I THINK WE HAVE, UM, WAS IT A 25% LOAD RATE? THAT'S WHAT I HAD ASKED ABOUT, LIKE HR WISE.

SO IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO MAKES 70,000, WHICH IS OUR AVERAGE AND THEY GET AN $1,800 BONUS, DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT ACTUAL BONUS TAKE HOME BONUS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE? DEPENDING ON THEIR DEDUCTIONS AND ALLOWANCES.

BUT WE CAN GIVE YOU AN AVERAGE.

YEAH, BECAUSE TO GET TO 1800 TO GIVE TO THEM, YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE TO DO IT LIKE 2,400 OR SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEIR, YOU KNOW, BENEFITS ARE.

[02:20:01]

UM, AND I SEE A NOD FROM YES, IT IS A 25% LOAD RATE.

SO CAN WE FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT CHECK WOULD LOOK LIKE? SO FROM THE EMPLOYEE SHARE, WE WILL HAVE TO DEDUCT FCAR AND MEDICARE.

THAT'S 7.65%.

WE'LL HAVE TO DEDUCT TMRS, WHICH WILL BE 7% FROM THEM.

SO THAT'S, AND ROUND NUMBER IS ABOUT 15% THAT'LL GET DEDUCTED.

SO 15% OF 1800.

15.

AND THAT'S ASSUMING THEY DON'T HAVE ANY THAT'S RIGHT.

ADDITIONAL.

YEAH, THEN I'LL LEAVE IT AT MY 1800.

I THINK THE DISCUSSION, IF, IF I'M FOLLOWING THE REST OF THE DAAS IS TRYING TO DECIDE BETWEEN A ONE-TIME PAYMENT AND THEN A 3% RAISE.

AM I, AM I TRACKING THAT CORRECTLY? I THINK IT'S OR NEITHER.

OR NEITHER THERE OR NEITHER? NO.

UM, IT'S A TOUGH CALL.

IT'S A TOUGH CALL.

I MEAN, WE WERE J ME AND COUNCIL MEMBER OR MAYOR PRETEND TO BE AS WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE 20% RAISE WHERE EVERYBODY CAME IN HERE WITH T-SHIRTS AND SIGNS AND YOU TALK ABOUT PRESSURE TO GIVE THEM A 20% RAISE.

AND THAT WAS NOT TOO LONG AGO, BUT I REMEMBER IT IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO SIT HERE WITH YOU GUYS AND TO SAY WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF YOU EVER TOLD YOUR KIDS, NO, WE CAN'T DO X, Y, Z 'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, THAT'S PROBABLY THE HARDEST THING THAT YOU CAN SAY.

AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU DON'T LOVE YOUR KIDS, IT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY.

WE DO.

WELL, WE HAVE MONEY, BUT I'M FAIRLY CERTAIN.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO IT.

LET'S GO AHEAD.

IF WE TAKE OUT THE 5 82 OR YEAH, FOR R AND R, LET'S SEE HOW MUCH THAT PUTS US DOWN TO.

'CAUSE WE DO HAVE MONEY.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES AND WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL ON OUR SPENDING.

HEY, HOLD ON.

TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE SPEAKING OVER HERE.

UM, SO COUNSEL, DO YOU WANT THE 5 82 IN, IN THE NUMBERS YOU WANNA HEAR NOW? YES, SIR.

I JUST WANNA SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

ON THIS, THIS CUSHION THAT WE HAVE WHILE THEY'RE CALCULATING JUST TO ENTERTAIN THE CROWD, UH, SINCE THE TWO OF YOU WERE HERE FOR THAT, UH, 2022 VOTE TO INCREASE 20%, WOULD YOU GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THAT? YEAH, JERRY HENRICKS ASKED US IF WE'D GIVE HIM A RAISE BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN A COUPLE, IT HAD BEEN A WHILE.

I GUESS I DON'T, I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER.

I JUST REMEMBER WE DIDN'T HAVE SCOTT SELLER, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A CITY MANAGER.

WE HAD THE INTERIM.

THAT WHOLE TIME PERIOD WAS PURE CHAOS.

AND WE WERE, YOU KNOW, STAFF AT THAT POINT WAS PROBABLY AT ALL TIME LOW MORALE.

AND SO WE WERE TRYING TO GIVE THEM KIND OF LIKE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SAYS, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE 'EM HAPPY.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT THEY REALLY NEEDED AND WHAT THEY COULD HAVE IT WAS BENEFITED FROM WAS SOME STABILITY.

IT WAS A MOST OF A, OF A COLA, WHICH WAS A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE OF, WE WERE COMING OUT OF ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OF FROM COVID AND WE WERE GOING THROUGH A LOT OF, UM, COMING OUT OF THE, A LOT OF THE ECONOMIC, UM, UNCERTAINTIES THAT WE WERE HAVING, UH, BUSINESSES WERE CLOSED, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LOST DAYCARES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, SCHOOLS WERE BARELY GETTING BACK INTO NORMAL ACTIVITIES.

AND, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAD LOST JOBS AND SOME PEOPLE HAD FAMILIES THAT WERE STILL LOOKING FOR JOBS.

SO IT, IT WAS BASICALLY IN THAT SITUATION, UH, COUNCILLOR MCKINNEY WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO, UH, UM, GIVE THE MORALE OF A SENSE, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE DID HAVE MR. SELLER STEP DOWN.

SO THERE'S THAT UNEASINESS KIND OF DEAL.

BUT, UH, WE, WE, UH, WE KIND OF, I I LOOKED AT IT AS THAT KIND OF THING TO WHERE WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO, UH, PROVIDE IN THAT SENSE BECAUSE OF THE, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF COVID, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE SNOWSTORM, BECAUSE OF IT WAS JUST, UH, THAT, THAT SENSE TO WHERE OUR CITY WAS ACTUALLY BOOMING AT THAT TIME.

TO WHERE, UH, WE, WE HAD THE FUNDS AVAILABLE, UH, WHERE, WHERE WE'RE NOT LIKE, WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE'RE HAVING TO NITPICK AND, AND PENNY PINCH, UH, THE FUNDS WERE AVAILABLE.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE IT WAS.

AND IT WAS ACROSS THE BOARD EVEN.

A SUGGESTION THAT WE TAKE A VOTE ON A YES NO VOTE.

SENIOR OFFICIALS THAT WERE MAKING OVER 200,000 GOT, UH, 20% COUNCIL MEMBER.

HARRIS, COULD I MAKE

[02:25:01]

DO YOU WANT TO CONSIDER, UH, A RAISE OF ANY KIND? UH, SO WE KNOW IF, IF THE COUNCIL IS, IT'S WORTH THEIR CONVERSATION, WANTS TO CONSIDER THE ITEM AND THEN TAKE A VOTE ON, UH, ONE OR TWO.

IF WE COULD ACTUALLY DO, BEFORE WE DO THAT, GET THE NUMBERS.

SO GET THE NUMBERS.

IF WE DO THE 5 82 AND THEN GET THE NUMBERS.

IF WE DO THE 6 0 9, I WILL SAY THE 6 0 9, WHICH IS THE GWI KIND OF MAKES ME NERVOUS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OR LEADERSHIP HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB OF HOLDING THEIR DEPARTMENTS TOGETHER.

UH, I I MEAN WE COULDN'T DO WITHOUT THEM, RIGHT? YOU COULDN'T DO WITHOUT ANDY, WE COULDN'T DO WITHOUT AMBER.

WE COULDN'T DO, YOU GUYS ARE ALL AMAZING.

AND SO IT DOES MAKE ME FEEL A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE GIVING SOME, BUT NOT ALL.

WHICH THEN LEADS ME TO MAYBE THIS JUST ISN'T THE RIGHT TIME.

'CAUSE WE CAN'T GIVE IT TO ALL.

AND SO YEAH, IF YOU COULD GIVE US THOSE TWO NUMBERS, AMY, THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC.

IF WE ADMIT OMIT YOU, IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T LOVE YOU.

? WELL, THAT THEIR SALARIES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN OUR LINE SALARIES.

GO AHEAD.

SO I'M, I'M INCLUDING THE 60,000 FOR THE PART-TIME LIBRARY POSITIONS, THE 400,000 FOR THE POLICE VEHICLES AND THE 582,000 FOR THE R AND R.

BUT THAT BRINGS OUR ESTIMATED ENDING FUND BALANCE TO 19.3 MILLION.

OUR REQUIREMENT IS 18, LITTLE OVER 18 MILLION.

AND SO THAT LEAVES US WITH A $1.2 MILLION BALANCE CUSHION CUSHION CHRISTIAN.

NOW COULD YOU DO THE 6 0 9? OKAY.

NOW WITH THE 6 0 9, IT LEAVES US WITH THE ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE OF 19.3.

THE REQUIREMENT IS 18.1 AND IT'S ABOUT $1.2 MILLION CUSHION.

SO IT'S FOR BOTH GONNA BE 1.2.

YEAH, VERY LITTLE DIFFERENCE.

YEAH, THERE'S, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 18,000.

IS THE MARINAS DRAINAGE PROJECT COMING OUT OF A CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FUND INSTEAD OF THE OKAY.

THAT'S PART OF THE DIFFERENCE THEN.

AND YOUR NUMBERS VERSUS MINE.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

THAT'S NOT, OKAY, SO WELL, LET'S TAKE A VOTE.

UM, I WILL MAKE A MOTION TO HOLD OFF ON GIVING RAISES THIS YEAR.

I GET A MOTION BY MYSELF A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOZA ROLL CALL.

VOTE PLEASE.

CAN I ASK FOR POINT OF CLARIFICATION? DO YOU MEAN RAISES OR ONE TIME BONUS PAYMENTS? BECAUSE THERE'S A EITHER MATERIALISTIC DIFFERENCE.

YEAH, SO EITHER, OKAY.

SO, UM, SO THEN OUR ENDING BALANCE WILL NOT INCLUDE, IT'LL JUST INCLUDE THE 60,000 AND THE 400,000? THAT'S CORRECT.

AND CAN YOU GIVE US WHAT THAT END? I THINK YOU DID GIVE US IT RIGHT.

RIGHTS ONE POINT.

ANDY WILL RE UH, REPEAT THAT.

YES, I CAN RE I CAN REPEAT IT.

SO WITH THE 60,000 FOR THE LIBRARY, 400,000 FOR POLICE, THAT LEAVES US AN ESTIMATED FUND BALANCE OF 19.9.

THE REQUIREMENT IS 17.9.

SO THE CUSHION IS $1.9 MILLION.

1.9.

AND THEN I DID WANT TO PROPOSE ANOTHER AMENDMENT.

UM, OKAY.

ARE WE DONE WITH THAT ITEM ALTOGETHER? WELL, THE, THIS ITEM WILL REQUIRE THEN COUNCIL'S VOTE FIRST READING.

SO AFTER COUNCIL IS DONE WITH THE AMENDMENTS, THEN WE CAN GET TO THE READING PART.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE, WERE THOSE THE ONLY TWO FROM THE PREVIOUS? YES, WE HAD THREE ITEMS. ONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER ZAPATA, ONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, AND ONE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER NEY.

UH, MAKE A MOTION TO CANCEL THROUGH NON APPROPRIATIONS.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

UM, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT TO CANCEL THROUGH NON APPROPRIATION.

UH, THE 2024 AND 2025 FLOCK CONTRACTS FOR A TOTAL OF $381,000 A YEAR.

UH, THOSE COME WITH NO LEGAL LIABILITY AND NO CANCELLATION FEES.

UM, THAT'S AN EXTRA $381,000 A YEAR THAT GOES INTO OUR GENERAL FUNDS.

UM, WHICH CAN ALSO INCREASE, OH WAIT, YOU HAVE A MOTION? SORRY.

THAT'S OKAY.

MOTION .

SO COULD YOU REPEAT YOUR MOTION, PLEASE?

[02:30:01]

UH, THE 2024 AND 2025 FLOCK CONTRACTS OF AT A TOTAL OF $381,000 A YEAR.

OR NO CANCELLATION FEE.

NO LEGAL LIABILITY.

I'M GONNA SECOND IT FOR CONVERSATION AND I'M GONNA, I AM GONNA SAY, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION, IF THIS GOES TOO LONG, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU, WE CANNOT BE TALKING ABOUT THIS ALL NIGHT LONG.

I'M GONNA DO IT FOR A CONVERSATION JUST SO WE CAN GET SOME NUMBERS AND SOME UNDERSTANDING AND SOME CLARITY.

BUT IF IT GOES ON TOO FAR, WE ARE GONNA CALL, I MEAN, I'M GONNA CALL THE QUESTION.

SO EXPLAIN TO US WHAT IT IS, THE 20 24 20 25 CONTRACT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? SO WE HAVE THREE CONTRACTS.

THE CITY OF KYLE'S, THREE CONTRACTS, UH, WITH, UH, FLOCK, UM, THE 2024 AND 2025 CONTRACTS, UM, IN TOTAL TOGETHER FUND 47 FLOCK CAMERAS, UM, INCLUDING, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER THE DIVIDE, BUT A MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE GOING TO BE A LPRS.

THERE ARE SOME PTZ CAMERAS IN THERE AS WELL.

AND TWO DRONES, UM, THAT COME AT A COST OF AROUND $782,000 EACH.

WE DO NOT OWN THIS EQUIPMENT.

WE RENT THIS EQUIPMENT.

SO AT THE END OF THESE TERMS, IF WE NEVER RENEW OUR CONTRACT, WE DON'T OWN THIS, WE RETURN IT BACK TO FLOCK.

UM, THERE HAS BEEN A STATEWIDE PAUSE.

UH, GOVERNOR ABBOTT, UH, ASKED, UH, FOR STATE AGENCIES TO STOP FUNDING, UH, FLOCK CAMERAS.

UM, AND IN PARTICULAR, I DID RECEIVE CLARIFICATION THAT IT IS SPECIFIC TO, UH, ALPS, YOUR AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS.

UM, WE HAVE BEEN TOLD TIME AND TIME AGAIN, UH, WHETHER THAT'S COUNSEL OR THE RESIDENTS, THAT PARTS OF THIS INITIAL FUNDING WERE GRANT FUNDED.

AND IT IS TRUE THAT WE APPLIED FOR THIS GRANT.

IT IS TRUE THAT WE WERE, UH, CHOSEN TO BE AWARDED MONEY FOR THIS GRANT, BUT TO DATE, SINCE WE'VE BEEN APPLYING FOR THE GRANTS, WHICH I BELIEVE STARTED IN 2023 OR 2024, WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY RECEIVED ANY MONEY FROM THE STATE FOR THESE GRANTS.

SO THESE HAVE BEEN SINCE WE'VE, WE'VE ENTERED INTO THESE CONTRACTS FULLY SUPPORTED BY OUR TAXPAYERS.

UM, THERE HAVE BEEN, UH, A LOT OF ISSUES RAISED WITH THE, THE FLOCK DATA SECURITY, NOT ON THE SIDES OF THE CITIES OR MUNICIPALITIES WHO USE THEM, BUT AS FAR AS THE, UH, FLOCK COMPANY ITSELF, UM, SO YOU HAVE CITIES LIKE, UH, BANDERA, TEXAS, UH, ELGIN MANOR, PFLUGERVILLE LEANDER BASTROP, UH, SAN MARCO, AUSTIN ROUND ROCK, WHO HAVE ALL WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, UH, DECIDED TO, UH, DISCONTINUE THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH FLOCK, UM, AND HAVE ACTUALLY COVERED THEIR CAMERAS FOR THE TIME BEING.

A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH, UH, DATA SECURITY ISSUES, LIKE I SAID, ON THE SIDE OF FLOCK ITSELF, NOT WITHIN THE MUNICIPALITIES.

UH, SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US, BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE THERE IS A NATIONAL AND STATEWIDE ISSUE WITH THIS COMPANY, I DO NOT THINK THAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS TO CONTINUE DOING THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE WE SOMEHOW GOT SOME MAGIC SWEETHEART, UH, CONTRACT WITH FLOCK.

WE HAVE THE SAME CONTRACT THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE CITIES HAS.

AND SO IF THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THOSE ISSUES AND THEY HAVE ALL SEEN IT AND THEY'VE ALL RECOGNIZED IT, I DON'T THINK IT'S HARD FOR US TO DO THE SAME.

AND THIS ALSO COMES AT A COST SAVINGS TO OUR RESIDENTS AT THE SAME TIME, INCREASES MONEY BACK IN THEIR POCKETS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE NEEDED TO FIND LIKE AN EXTRA 257,000 TO FINISH, UM, OUT CONSTRUCTION ON THE CR 1 58 EAST SIDE OF KYLE, UM, UH, UH, ACCELERATION DECELERATION LANE.

UM, AND I COULDN'T EVEN GET A SECOND TO PUT THAT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

IT GOT INCLUDED IN 2028 AND THAT WAS ONLY LIKE 257,000.

MEANWHILE, HERE'S $381,000 THAT WE COULD FREE UP EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

ALRIGHT, PERFECT.

UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON.

I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, SO IF IF ANYBODY ELSE HAS QUESTIONS BEFORE ME, UM, FEEL FREE TO GO AHEAD.

YOU GO FIRST.

SO COULD I HAVE CHIEF BARNETT COME UP HERE PLEASE? HI, CHIEF.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL CHIEF, HOW ARE YOU? WE'RE WE'RE GONNA BE NICE.

YES, SIR.

I PROMISE YOU THAT.

SO MY FIRST QUESTION IS, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST RPD FOR THE MISUSE OF LOCK? ZERO.

THAT OTHER CITIES ARE HAVING AND FOR, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THEM, I RECOGNIZE THEM.

UM, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT RES RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE FOR OUR OFFICERS? SO THEY CAN'T, 'CAUSE WE HEAR THESE OTHER ISSUES

[02:35:01]

UM, THESE FLOCK CAMERAS ARE IN PUBLIC PLACES.

THEY'RE NOT PUT IN ANYBODY'S HOUSE OR HOMES.

UM, SO MY QUESTION TO YOU THEN IS, WHAT IN RESTRICTIONS DO WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT IMMIGRANTS OR WOMEN WHO ARE PREGNANT OR, YOU KNOW, I THINK ANY OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN IN OTHER CITIES, BUT NOT IN OUR CITY, UM, WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO TRY TO PROTECT, UH, THOSE RESIDENTS? SO VERY NARROWLY, YOU, YOU MENTIONED TWO VERY SPECIFIC TYPES OF CONCERNS FROM OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU TALKED ABOUT IMMIGRATION RELATED MATTERS AND YOU TALKED ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE, RIGHT.

RIGHTS RELATED MATTERS.

UM, I THINK WE WERE THE FIRST CITY OR COMMUNITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND IF NOT, I KNOW WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST, BUT ACTUALLY THINK WE WERE AGENCY NUMBER ONE THAT WAS ABLE TO HAVE A, UH, PROHIBITION ON SEARCHES IN OUR SYSTEM, BOTH FROM WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION OR ELSEWHERE, TO PROHIBIT SEARCHES THAT WERE RELATED TO IMMIGRATION PURPOSES OR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHT PURPOSES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE ADVOCATED FOR ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITHIN THE FLOCK SYSTEM TO REQUIRE A CASE NUMBER, WHICH WOULD REFLECT AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND TO, UH, INCLUDE A PURPOSE OF THAT INVESTIGATION, RELYING UP ON THE HONESTY OF THAT SEARCH THAT WOULD HAVE AN OFFICIAL POLICE CASE NUMBER, SHOWING THAT IT'S AN OFFICIAL POLICE MATTER AND AN INVESTIGATION.

AND THEN WE REMOVED PURPOSES THAT WERE NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I JUST MENTIONED.

WE, YOU CAN'T TYPE IN A REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OR ANYTHING RELATED TO THAT AND GET ACCESS TO OUR SYSTEM.

UH, SAME FOR IMMIGRATION RELATED PURPOSES.

THE, IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE A POLICY THAT REGARDS OUR USE OF A LPR TECHNOLOGY.

AND IN ADDITION, THAT PROHIBITS THE PERSONAL USE OF A LPR SEARCHES FOR ANY PERSONAL REASON.

OTHER, IT HAS TO BE A BONAFIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSE OR THE PURPOSE FOR DOING YOUR JOB AS A POLICE OFFICER.

UH, THIS PART OF YOUR OFFICIAL DUTIES.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE HAVE A ROBUST REVIEW SYSTEM THAT'S IN PLACE.

COMMANDER JONES CAME UP HERE TO MY RIGHT, IN CASE WE GET INTO THAT.

HE IS THE COMMANDER THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY MONTH, MONTH GOING IN AND REVIEWING THE DATA.

HE LOOKS AT ALL OF THE SEARCHES, HE CROSS REFERENCES THOSE SEARCHES AGAINST POLICE CALLS FOR SERVICE AND CASE NUMBERS THAT MATCH.

AND HE MAKES CERTAIN THAT THE PURPOSES, UH, MATCH, SINCE IT'S A DROPDOWN MENU, YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE FROM SOMETHING THAT WE GIVE YOU.

BUT HE HAS TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ALL OF THAT IS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF OUR POLICIES AND OUR EXPECTATIONS OF STAFF.

SO HE, HE REVIEWS THOSE.

ADAM, HE PREPARES A MONTHLY REPORT.

HE CAN REVIEW 'EM THROUGHOUT THE MONTH, BUT AT A MINIMUM HE PREPARE.

HE PREPARES A MONTHLY REPORT AND PROVIDES THAT TO US FOR ANY, ANYTHING THAT HE FINDS OR TO CONFIRM THAT HE'S CONDUCTED THAT REPORT.

I'M GONNA ASK YOU AGAIN, HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR THE MISUSE OF FLOCK? ZERO.

I CONFIRMED WITH HIM AGAIN, BUT ZERO.

UM, DOES FLOCK USE FACIAL RECOGNITION? UH, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO.

DOES FLOCK USE, UH, GENDER RECOGNITION? NO, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

DOES FLOCK USE RACE RECOGNITION? NO.

AGAIN, NO.

HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR MISUSE A FLOCK IN OUR CITY? ZERO MA'AM.

HOW DO OUTSIDE COMPANIES ACCESS OUR FLOCK CAMERAS? UH, THEY DO NOT.

OUR CAMERAS ARE RESTRICTED FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCESS ONLY.

SO PRIVATE COMPANIES, PRIVATE BUSINESSES, NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT, DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OUR SYSTEM AT ALL.

DO DOES THE STATE OR THE FEDERALS, CAN THEY GET IN THERE AND LOOK AT IT? OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES COULD IF WE SHARE THAT WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES? YES, MA'AM.

AND DO WE SHARE THAT WITH THEM? WE DO.

WE DO.

HOW DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK? UH, FOR AGENCIES THAT WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR SYSTEM, THEY HAVE TO SEND US, I BELIEVE IT'S AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION THAT OCCURS THROUGH THE SYSTEM AND WE APPROVE OF THEIR ACCESS.

WE HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN ONE TO SHARE IT WITH OTHER AGENCIES.

IF SHOULD WE, YOU KNOW, GET OTHER GUIDANCE? WE WOULD CERTAINLY DO THE WILL OF COUNSEL.

BUT IN PART, I THINK I'D LIKE TO ADVOCATE THAT WE WANT TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

AND LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHY.

IF A PERSON COMMITS ANOTHER CRIME IN A DIFFERENT COMMUNITY AND THAT AGENCY WANTS TO FIND THAT FLEEING SUSPECT, AND THEY COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THAT PERSON, WE MAY NOT EVEN BE AWARE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THAT SUSPECT.

AND I'LL CHOOSE MAYBE THE DALLAS METROPLEX, MAYBE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THEIR MURDER SUSPECT OR THEIR HOMICIDE OR WHATEVER, AND THEY, THEY QUERY THE SYSTEM AND THEY FIND THAT MATCH BECAUSE WE'VE OPENED THAT DATABASE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ONLY, AND THEY FIND THAT SUSPECT, THEY CAN CALL US AND GO, WE'VE JUST HAD AN ALERT THAT ONE OF OUR WANTED PERSONS OR STOLEN VEHICLES OR WHATEVER HAS BEEN FOUND IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

UM, SO I THINK IN PART OF KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE IS IN PART OF SHARING THAT WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.

AGAIN, THE SAME CRITERIA.

IF THEY CHOOSE ONE OF THOSE PROHIBITED, UM, SEARCH TECHNIQUES OR SEARCH TOPICS, THEY'RE NOT GONNA ACCESS OUR DATABASE.

SO HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR MISUSE OF FLOCK? UH, ZERO MA'AM.

THE, OUR INFORMATION, UH, TO MAKE SURE I'M RIGHT? WE BELIEVE WITH 30 DAYS, I'M GONNA CONFIRM IT.

HOW MANY DAYS DOES FLOCK HOLD ONTO

[02:40:01]

30 DAYS.

WE ARE KEEP, WE'RE CONTINUING TO KEEP IT AT THIS MOMENT FOR 30 DAYS.

WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THAT TO SEVEN.

WE DO, MA'AM.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT, ABOUT, YES.

UM, AND HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED FOR THE MISUSE OF FLOCK? UH, ZERO.

WHAT ALTERNATIVE PRODUCT COULD WE USE TO HELP? DID THAT? DOES THE SAME THING AS FLOCK? SO FROM, IT'S A, IT'S A BIG GRANT.

WE HAVE THE DRONES AND WE HAVE THE OTHER STUFF.

BUT SPECIFICALLY SPEAKING ABOUT LICENSE PLATE READERS, I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES OUT THERE.

UH, OBVIOUSLY AXON IS ONE OF THOSE THAT'S, THAT'S PRODUCING THAT.

BUT LPR TECHNOLOGY IS MORE ABOUT THE SOFTWARE BEHIND THE SCENES THAN IT IS THE ACTUAL CAMERA ITSELF.

AND HERE'S WHAT I MEAN BY THAT.

UM, A HOSPITAL OR A SCHOOL DISTRICT OR ANY, ANY CAMERA THAT'S OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT'S ON A BUSINESS OR A OTHER GOVERNMENT BUILDING, YOU'RE, YOU'RE CAPABLE OF ATTACHING THE SOFTWARE BEHIND THAT CAMERA, REGARDLESS OF THE BRAND, THE MAKE THE MODEL, THE SUPPLIER OF THAT CAMERA, AND RUNNING THE SOFTWARE BEHIND THE IMAGES THAT THAT CAMERA CATCHES.

SO THERE ARE SOME BUSINESSES PERHAPS OUT THERE IN THE WORLD THAT MAY PUT CAMERAS ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY.

THEY OWN IT, IT'S THEIR, THEIR PROPERTY.

AND THAT CAMERA ITSELF CAN RUN A LICENSE PLATE, UH, TECHNOLOGY ON THE BACKSIDE OF THAT.

NOW, I WILL SAY THAT PRIVATE BUSINESSES ARE NOT ENTITLED TO YOUR REGISTRATION RETURNS AND, AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.

THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS LAW ENFORCEMENT.

BUT WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M REALLY TRYING TO SAY IS THAT IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE SOFTWARE, NOT THE CAMERA ITSELF, BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PROVIDERS THAT PROVIDE LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY OUT THERE IN EXISTENCE.

AND HOW MANY, UM, FLOCK CAMERAS ARE IN PRIVATE PROPERTY? OH, I DON'T KNOW.

'CAUSE WE DON'T OWN 'EM AND THEY'RE NOT OURS.

SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE, I HAVE NO IDEA.

NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT IN THE CITY OF KYLE, IF THEY'RE PRIVATELY OWNED AND ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBERS.

THEY, THEY EXIST, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY, I'M, WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MANY, THE CITY OF KYLE, I'M SO SORRY.

LOCK CAMERAS ARE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

UM, SO IT, IT, OUR LICENSE PLATE READERS ARE ZERO.

WE HAVE SOME BUSINESSES THAT HAVE PARTNERED WITH US TO ALLOW US TO PLACE A LIVE VIEW CAMERA ON THEIR PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THEFTS AND BURGLARIES AND CRIME THAT'S COMMITTED IN GENERALLY IN THEIR AREA.

SO THEY'VE ALLOWED, THEY HAVE ALLOWED US WITH THEIR PERMISSION TO PLACE THAT CAMERA ON THEIR FACILITY.

UH, BUT IT MAY BE ON THEIR PROPERTY.

NOW, NOT TOO LONG AGO, CAR THEFT WAS A BIG DEAL.

UM, WE HAPPENED, ME AND MY HUSBAND HAPPENED TO HAVE SOMEONE COME ONTO OUR DRIVEWAY AND GET INTO THE CAR, UM, POORLY BECAUSE THE DOOR, THE DOOR WASN'T LOCKED.

BUT, UM, BUT I DO NOTICE THAT THE AMOUNT OF POST ON FACEBOOK REGARDING CAR THEFT HAS COME DOWN.

SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, SINCE WE'VE GOT THE FLOCK CAMERAS, WHAT KIND OF REDUCTION IN CAR THEFT WOULD YOU SAY THAT WE'VE HAD? I APOLOGIZE.

I DON'T HAVE A PERCENTAGE FOR THAT.

I CAN GIVE YOU THE OPERATIONAL FEEL OF THAT FROM OUR ASSIGNMENT OF PERSONNEL AND THE RESPONSE TO CRIMES THAT WE'RE SEEING, A REDUCTION IN CAR BURGLARIES, CAR THEFTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CAR BURGLARIES.

'CAUSE PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY IN STOLEN CARS TO COMMIT THOSE ADDITIONAL CRIMES.

I WISH I HAD THE PERCENTAGE.

I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU.

BUT I CAN CAN TELL YOU FROM A, UM, AN ADVOCACY OF POSITIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS AND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES THAT WE'RE SEEING A REDUCTION IN THAT COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS.

I CAN TELL YOU FROM A PD STANDPOINT, WE'RE VERY SENSITIVE TO THE COMMUNITY CONCERNS.

I DO WANNA STATE THAT I'M TORN BECAUSE I HEAR THE RESIDENTS AND WE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THEM WANT 'EM, SOME OF THEM DON'T.

AND WE GET EMAILS.

UH, SOME OF THEM WANT 'EM, SOME OF THEM DON'T.

AND I WANNA RESPECT OUR RESIDENT'S PRIVACY, BUT I ALSO HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT OUR, OUR RESIDENTS.

AND SO WHEN WE'RE ASKED TO REMOVE SOMETHING LIKE FLOCK, IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE THERE'S, WHAT DO WE USE INSTEAD OF IT, IT CAN'T BE JUST LIKE, TAKE IT AWAY AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BE A SAFER CITY BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM OR A COMPLAINT OR A MISUSE IN OUR CITY.

IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO JUST SAY, YEAH, THESE CAMERAS PLACE ON PUB, ON PUBLIC PROPERTY OR INVADING PEOPLE'S PRIVATE PRIVACY.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT, YOU ARE NOT IN A PRIVATE PLACE.

YOU'RE IN A PLACE WHERE EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOUR LICENSE.

YOU'RE, I MEAN, WE HAVE DASH CAMS. WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT DO INVADE OUR PRIVACY.

FOR ME, THIS IS ABOUT SAFETY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN THE GENTLEMAN CAME IN AND GAVE A SPEECH ABOUT HE DIDN'T WANT FLOCK AND HE HAD A KID, I WAS LIKE, HOW DO YOU AS A PARENT, MY BIGGEST FEAR EVEN WITH A 17-YEAR-OLD, IS SHE'S, SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.

SHE'S GONNA BE TAKEN.

RIGHT? THERE'S LOTS OF MISS CRIMINAL STUFF THAT GOES DOWN 35.

WE HAPPEN TO BE ON THE 35 CORRIDOR.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW, AND I, I GET THAT SOME PLACES HAVE MISUSED IT FOR A PLACE THAT HAS NOT MISUSED FLOCK.

WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE AGAINST IT.

[02:45:01]

AND, AND WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE SEEN AS TRANSPARENT AND HONEST WITH ALL THAT WE DO IN OUR TECHNOLOGY.

AND I THINK THE BEST THING THAT WE CAN DO AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT IS OFFER TRANSPARENCY.

WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A PAGE ON OUR WEBPAGE THAT SHARES THE NUMBER OF SEARCHES AND NUMBERS AND ALL THAT, BUT IT'S REALLY MORE ABOUT OUR USE AND OUR POLICIES AND OUR REVIEW OF USE, WHICH COMMANDER JONES RIGHT HERE IS PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.

SO I THINK IT'S A LOT ABOUT, UM, BEING ACCOUNTABLE TO HOW WE USE THE EQUIPMENT AND HOW WE ALLOW IT TO BE USED.

BUT I SAY THAT AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY SENSITIVE TO THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS.

AND I THINK IT'S UP TO US TO BE THE BEST STEWARDS OF THAT, UH, EQUIPMENT AND ALLOWANCES THAT, THAT COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS GIVE US.

AND WE HONESTLY, I MEAN WE'LL DO WHATEVER IT IS THE COUNCIL'S WILL, IS WITH THAT.

IT IS EQUIPMENT THAT CERTAINLY SAVES CRIMES.

WE'VE ALL SEEN THE HEADLINES FROM JUST LAST WEEK.

I CAN GIVE EXAMPLES.

WE HAD A FIVE MONTH OLD BABY THAT WAS LEFT IN THE BACKSEAT OF A CAR WHILE THE PARENT TEMPORARILY EXITED THAT CAR AND WENT INTO A BUSINESS.

AND DURING THAT SPLIT SECOND OF TIME, A PERSON CAME ALONG, A VERY DANGEROUS PERSON, AND CAME ALONG AND STOLE THAT VEHICLE WITH THAT INFANT IN THE BACKSEAT LICENSE PLATE READERS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE INTO US QUICKLY LOCATING THAT VEHICLE.

THAT INDIVIDUAL FLED ON FOOT.

WHAT THE PUBLIC MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT INDIVIDUAL THEN FORCED HIS WAY.

I SAY FORCED ENTERED AN APARTMENT AS POLICE GAVE FOOT PURSUIT.

HE THEN RAN OUT OF THAT APARTMENT AND MADE HIS WAY INTO ANOTHER APARTMENT WHERE A LADY WAS IN THERE BY HERSELF.

SHE BARRICADED HERSELF IN HER BEDROOM WHILE OUR OFFICERS FORCED ENTRY ON HER FRONT DOOR IN HER APARTMENT, AND QUICKLY ARRESTED THAT INDIVIDUAL.

IT COULD HAVE TURNED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

AND I'M GLAD, I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO REACTED QUICKLY.

BUT IT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW THAT TECHNOLOGY CAN BE USED.

ALL THAT.

ALL THAT BEING SAID, COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND TRUST IS PARAMOUNT.

SAME WITH COUNCIL.

WE WANT YOU TO TRUST WHAT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE DO AND WE RESPECT YOUR DECISION.

AND I, I, I GET WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER SATA IS SAYING A HUNDRED PERCENT.

I GET THE EMAILS A HUNDRED PERCENT ON BOTH SIDES.

THIS IS TOUGH.

THIS IS NOT EASY.

THIS IS NOT LIKE, WELL, FOR SOME IT'S TOUGH BECAUSE I LOOK AT THE LENS OF NOT JUST ONE, RIGHT? I LOOK AT EVERYTHING.

I LOOK AT TAKING AWAY A RESOURCE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO FEEL LIKE THEIR RIGHTS ARE BEING VIOLATED.

I LOOK AT WHERE IS THIS AT? WHERE ARE WE PUTTING THEM? HOW CAN WE BE MORE PROTECTIVE? I CAN'T, AND AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF 65,000 PEOPLE JUST LOOK IT THROUGH ONE SCOPE.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR.

SO, UM, BEFORE PEOPLE SPEAK AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO EVERYBODY ELSE.

AND IF NOT, THEN I'LL GIVE THE FLOOR MAYOR APPROACH HIM.

TOBIAS, THANK YOU.

AND TO, TO YOUR POINT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ZAPATA, WE, WE ARE NOT HERE TRYING TO DISMISS.

OR IF YOU EVER FEEL LIKE THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT THE CASE IS.

WE DO GET THE EMAILS AS WELL.

BUT I ALSO LOOK AT, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO, OFF OF THE DAYS, THE APARTMENTS, THERE IS, UH, AN INDIVIDUAL OR A FAMILY, MAYBE IT WAS A FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL THAT GOT ROBBED AT GUNPOINT AND WAS PISTOL WHIPPED AND WAS, UH, ROBBED BY TWO INDIVIDUALS.

AND HOW WERE THEY, HOW WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO NOTIFY THE CAR? HOW WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO, HOW WAS, HOW WERE THEY ABLE TO TRACK THE CAR? WAS IT THROUGH THE CAMERA, THE FLOCK SYSTEMS AS WELL? YES, SIR.

LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY HELPED US IN SOLVING THAT CRIME, IN FINDING THEM WITHIN THE MATTER HOURS.

SO I'M LOOKING AT IT ALSO FROM A VICTIM STANDPOINT.

IF THIS, THESE PEOPLE GOT AWAY AND THEY WENT TO CROWN AND DID IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE, HOW MANY MORE VICTIMS WE WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH FOR THESE PEOPLE TO HAVE TO LIVE WITH ALL THAT? AND IF THEY NEVER WERE ABLE TO FIND THE PERPETRATOR ON THAT.

SO I HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM ALL ANGLES OF THE SAFETY OF THIS.

AND ON ANOTHER NOTE, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY NAIVE TO NOT KNOW THAT THESE CRIMINALS DON'T TALK TO EACH OTHER.

YOU HAVE TO BE VERY NAIVE FROM A PUBLIC STANDPOINT THAT SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT THESE CRIMES AND THEY WANT TO COMMIT THESE CRIMES, KNOW THAT WE HAVE THIS TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SYSTEM.

IN, IN OUR, IN, IN THIS, IN OUR CITY.

THEY TALK, TRUST ME, THEY TALK ON THE STREET, THEY TALK AROUND OTHER PLACES AND THEY SAY, THIS PLACE HAS THESE CAMERAS, WHATEVER IT IS, WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T GO THROUGH IT.

MAYBE GO THROUGH SAN MARCO OR AUSTIN, THEY AIN'T GOT 'EM.

BUT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY NAIVE THAT THESE CRIMINALS DO NOT TALK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT STAYING AWAY FROM CERTAIN AREAS THAT COULD BE CATCHING THEM DOING WHATEVER IT IS OR SCOPING 'EM OUT.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT THAT GOES ON, TRUST ME.

UH, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO HAVE A LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT IS DIVIDED ON THE FLOCK.

UH, I'VE GOT FAMILY MEMBERS THAT DO NOT CARE FOR IT 'CAUSE THEY FEEL THE SAME TYPE OF THING.

IT'S A VIOLATION OF PRIVACY.

BUT AGAIN, WHEN MY BROTHER AND I WATCH THESE FIRST AMENDMENT AUDITOR VIDEOS, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY

[02:50:01]

WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE.

BUT BESIDES THAT POINT, UM, THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY MAYBE THE WAY THAT IT'S GOING WHERE TECHNOLOGY AND CAMERAS ARE EVERYWHERE FROM OUR PHONES.

BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE THE CHOICE TO HAVE OUR PHONES AND BE TRACED AND TRACKED.

UH, YOU GO INTO STORES, YOU GO INTO BANKS, YOU GO INTO SCHOOLS, IT'S, IT'S IRONIC THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE, ARE ALSO COMPLAINING THAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT PRIVACY AND LINKAGE.

BUT IF YOU GO PICK UP YOUR DAUGHTER, MS. UH, MS. YVONNE FLORES, KALE FROM THE SCHOOL, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU GOTTA GIVE THE ATTENDANCE PERSON? OH, YOUR ID.

AND THEN THEY SCAN IT, RIGHT? YOU GET A STICKER, PUT IT ON.

OKAY, WHERE DOES, WHERE DOES, WHERE DOES YOUR ID, WHERE DOES THAT INFORMATION GO? DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHEN THEY SCAN YOUR ID? WHO KNOWS WHERE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES WITH THAT? BUT THAT'S ANOTHER POINT I'M TRYING TO ALSO MAKE, IS THAT THERE'S, YOU'RE BEING WATCHED EVERYWHERE, BUT WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS YOU HAVE TO TRUST OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE BROUGHT UP AND WE ADVOCATED FOR, AND, AND I CAN GIVE CREDIT TO FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERT RIESEL ON THIS TOO, IS WE EXPECTED TO HAVE A POLICY AND PROCEDURE IN PLACE AS WE WERE GOING ALONG THIS PROCESS OF GETTING THESE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AND, AND, UM, PLOT SYSTEMS. AND I REMEMBER MARK MCKINNEY WAS SUPPORTIVE OF THAT AS WELL, MAKING SURE WE HAVE SOMETHING SOLID IN GROUND WHERE YOU WOULD HOLD THESE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE.

YOU WOULD BE VERY STRICT WITH THE POLICY.

AND THIS IS WHAT THE, IF WE GET THESE GRANTS WITH THESE CAMERAS, THIS IS WHAT'S GONNA BE EXPECTED OF OUR OFFICERS.

AND I UNDERSTAND ALSO FROM ANOTHER POINT WHERE SOCIAL MEDIA GRABS A STORY AND TAKES IT BY STORM, WHETHER IT'S AN OFFICER IN KENTUCKY OR AN OFFICER IN SOUTH TEXAS, WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S ON THEIR AGENCY.

BUT I FULLY TRUST OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL RESPECT OUR RESIDENTS OF THEIR SECURITY AND NOT BE ABLE TO ABUSE THIS TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKINNEY.

YEAH, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS, AS WHAT FLOCK IS, WHAT IT DOES, WHO HAS ACCESS TO IT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE QUESTIONS YOU ASKED.

THE, A LOT OF THEM WERE YES, WERE THE ONES THAT I HAD, UH, ON MY LIST.

UM, AND, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, MAYOR PRETEND TO, TO POINT OUT THE, THE RIGHTS OF THE VICTIMS AS WELL.

THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S A VERY REAL CONSIDERATION.

UM, WE GOT AN UPDATE NOT THAT LONG AGO AND I'M SURE THE NUMBERS HAVE CLIMBED SINCE THEN.

BUT, UH, UH, CHIEF, DO YOU MIND RUNNING KIND OF DOWN SOME OF THE, THE HIGHLIGHTS AS FAR AS, UH, OR, YOU KNOW, I DUNNO, HIGHLIGHTS IS THE RIGHT WORD, BUT, UM, SOME OF THE DATA AS FAR AS CRIMES THAT WERE SOLVED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY? I CAN, I, I CAN ABSOLUTELY SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE CASES THAT ARE, I WOULD SAY MORE NOTABLE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

UPON ENTERING OUR COMMUNITY, THEY HAD ENTERED THAT LICENSE PLATE NUMBER SO THAT IT WOULD GET HIT.

WE HAD AN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY AT A CONVENIENCE STORE.

THE INDIVIDUAL APPROACHED THE, THE YOUNG CLERK, I THINK HE WAS AROUND 19 OR SO YEARS OLD, AND DISPLAYED THAT WEAPON AND TRIED TO ROB THAT CONVENIENCE STORE WHEN THE CONVENIENCE STORE CLERK WAS A LITTLE SHOOK BY THAT INCIDENT AND COULDN'T QUITE GRASP WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE AND WAS NERVOUS AND DIDN'T ACT QUICK ENOUGH.

UH, THAT INDIVIDUAL TURNED TO LEAVE THAT CONVENIENCE STORE.

AND AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE FRONT DOOR, THAT CLERK'S YOUNGER BROTHER WAS WALKING IN THE DOOR.

I THINK HE WORKED THERE TOO.

I THINK HE WAS CLOSER TO 17 FOR NO REASON AT ALL.

THAT INDIVIDUAL SHOT THAT 17-YEAR-OLD IN THE FRONT DOOR OF THAT CONVENIENCE STORE AND THEN WALKED OUT AND GOT INTO HIS VEHICLE.

THAT VERY SINGULAR CASE WAS, UH, ABSOLUTELY BROUGHT TO FRUITION WITH THE ARREST OF THAT INDIVIDUAL BECAUSE OF FLOCK, OUR LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY.

IN FACT, WHEN WE DID LOCATE HIM, HE WAS EXITING ANOTHER CONVENIENCE STORE ABOUT, UH, PROBABLY LESS THAN A MILE, ROUGHLY A MILE AWAY.

AND WHAT WE THINK WAS VERY LIKELY INSIDE THAT STORE CASING THAT CONVENIENCE STORE TO ROB IT AS WELL.

WE'VE HAD, UM, A SHOOTING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE TEENS AND AND DRUGS WERE INVOLVED.

AND, UH, UH, THE ONE TEENAGER WAS HIT DURING THAT PROCESS OF THAT, THAT, THAT TRANSACTION.

AND WE GOT INVOLVED IN AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND THAT INVESTIGATION WAS, UH, AIDED BY THE USE OF LPR TECHNOLOGY.

WE'VE HAD ROBBERIES AS MENTIONED BY MAYOR PRO TEM EARLIER IN A PARKING LOT WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL WAS ROBBED AT GUNPOINT.

WE'VE HAD NUMEROUS STOLEN VEHICLES, BUT LAST TIME I SAW A NUMBER A FEW WEEKS AGO, I THINK IT WAS LIKE 41 STOLEN VEHICLES.

WE GET HITS ON INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

A COMMUNITY TO OUR EAST HAD A SHOOTING THAT SUSPECT FLED INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND

[02:55:01]

UH, WE WOULD CALL A HIT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE'D GET NOTIFIED.

WE WERE QUICKLY NOTIFIED THAT HE HAD JUST ENTERED THE CITY OF KYLE AND OUR OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO GO LOCATE.

HE FLED ON FOOT.

HE HAD IN THE A WOODED AREA, AND I THINK WE FOUND HIM IN A SMALL LEAN TUBE BARN.

BUT HE WAS COMING INTO KYLE FLEEING AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WHERE HE HAD SHOT SOMEONE ELSE.

UH, WE HAD, UM, A, A SEX OFFENDER COME INTO THE CITY OF KYLE FROM AUSTIN THAT WAS WANTED.

AND WITHIN MINUTES OF HIM ENTERING OUR CITY LIMITS, THE, THE ALERT WENT OFF TO OFFICERS.

THEN THEY LOCATED THAT INDIVIDUAL AT NIGHT COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SERVE THAT FELONY, THAT FELONY WARRANT ON THAT INDIVIDUAL.

NUMEROUS WARRANTS EVERY WEEK.

I WANNA SAY EVERY DAY, BUT IT MAY NOT BE EVERY SEVEN DAYS, BUT IT'S DAILY ALMOST.

WE GET, UH, NOTIFICATIONS OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH ASSOCIATED LICENSE PLATE THAT HAS FELONY WARRANTS ENTERING OUR COMMUNITY.

AND OUR OFFICERS GO AND LOCATE THAT INDIVIDUAL AND MAKE THAT ARREST.

UM, VERY SIGNIFICANT CRIMES, UH, ARE OCCURRING FELONIES THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE INTERVENING IN BECAUSE OF THAT ALERT FROM THAT TECHNOLOGY.

AND I'LL REITERATE AGAIN, AND TRUST AND, AND TRUST AND SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY IS, IS IMPORTANT TO US AS WELL.

AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE SUCH STRINGENT POLICIES.

THAT'S WHY WE WERE THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO ASK FOR A RE A RESTRICTION ON IMMIGRATION AND, AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHT.

RELATED SEARCHES.

AND WE WANTED TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT.

FLOG THEMSELVES HAS HAVE RECENTLY ALSO IMPROVED THEIR AUDITING TOOLS THAT AIDS PEOPLE LIKE COMMANDER JONES TO GET ALERTS INSTANTLY IF THEY, IT NOTICES ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR AND IF IT SEES SOMETHING THAT THE SYSTEM, MAYBE IT'S A REPETITIVE SEARCH FOR A LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OR SOMETHING COULD BE COMPLETELY VALID, RIGHT? LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT, LOOKING FOR THE SUSPECT VEHICLE OR LOOKING FOR A WANTED PERSON OR WHATNOT.

OR A MISSING PERSON EVEN.

WE'VE HAD, I THINK WE FOUND AT LEAST THREE, I'M GONNA CALL 'EM MISSING ENDANGERED ADULTS.

AND THEN Y'ALL MAY REMEMBER ONE OF OUR EARLY CALLS, ONE OF ACTUALLY THE VERY FIRST CALL THAT WE EVER HAD THAT HAD A, A LICENSE PLATE READER SUCCESS.

WE HAD TWO VERY SMALL CHILDREN THAT WERE ORIGINALLY RELINQUISHED BY THE MOM.

TWO, WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BE A A DAY BABYSITTER WHEN THAT DAY BABYSITTER DIDN'T RETURN.

A FEW HOURS LATER IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON THE MOM BECAME, UH, UN VERY CONCERNED AND CALLED POLICE.

AND WE BEGAN A POLICE SEARCH THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE ENDED UP ABLE TO USE LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY.

WE ISSUED AN AMBER ALERT BASED ON THAT LICENSE PLATE READER INFORMATION THAT WE GOT.

WE KNEW THE WHEN AND WHERE THEY WERE LAST SEEN.

WE HAD A SNAPSHOT OF THE VEHICLE.

WE SHARED THAT PUBLICLY.

AND A YOUNG MAN TRAVELING BACK TO THIS AREA FROM THE LOCKHART AREA SAW THAT VEHICLE SITTING AT A, IN A PARKING LOT AT ROUGHLY 10:00 PM AT NIGHT.

AND THE INDIVIDUAL IN THE FRONT SEAT, THAT TEMPORARY BABYSITTER, UH, WAS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF NARCOTICS AND HAD A PLETHORA OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS SCATTERED IN THE VEHICLE WITH THOSE TWO LITTLE KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT.

THEY COULD HAVE EASILY CLIMBED OVER AND GRABBED THE DRUGS AND STUFF STUFF 'CAUSE THEY WERE JUST SITTING OUT FREELY.

SO THE LIST PROBABLY GOES ON AND ON, BUT YOU CAN TELL THEY CERTAINLY PROVIDE A ASSISTANCE TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHO ARE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.

AND AT THE SAME TIME WE TRY TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AND USE THAT EQUIPMENT IN A WAY THAT OUR COMMUNITY COULD BE PROUD.

BUT WE'RE ALSO SENSITIVE TO THE CONCERNS AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

COUNCIL MEMBER MEDINA, UH, CHIEF BURNETT GOING BACK, YOU MENTIONED, UM, FOR SOME OF THE SAFEGUARDS YOU HAVE IN PLACE, IF AN OFFICER NEEDS TO PULL UP A LICENSE PLATE TO SEARCH FOR SOMETHING, THEY NEED TO FIRST ALSO HAVE A CASE NUMBER.

IS THAT CORRECT? WHEN THEY'RE USING LICENSE PLATE READER TECHNOLOGY BEFORE THEY SEARCH THAT THEY WANT TO LOOK FOR A VEHICLE TO SEE IF IT HAS BEEN, UM, ENCOUNTERED ON ONE OF OUR LICENSE PLATE READERS.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A LAW ENFORCEMENT PURPOSE.

THERE'S A PLACE FOR THEM TO PUT A CASE NUMBER, THE PURPOSE, THE REASON, AND TO JUSTIFY THAT WITHIN THE SYSTEM FOR PEOPLE LIKE COMMANDER JONES WHO CAN VERIFY THAT AGAINST A VALID CALL FOR SERVICE.

AND THAT WOULD BE THE SAME FOR LIKE A DALLAS PD OFFICER, AS YOU MENTIONED.

IF THEY WERE LOOKING FOR, UH, SOMEONE WHO COMMITTED A CRIME THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THIS AREA, THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE THAT CASE NUMBER AS WELL.

WHEN THEY'RE COMING AND TALK, THEY DO WITHIN THE SYSTEM OR THEY'LL NEVER ACCESS OUR DATA.

JUST LIKE IF YOU'RE IN NEW YORK AND YOU RUN AN IMMIGRATION RELATED SEARCH AND YOU'RE BASICALLY, YOU HAVE THESE OPTIONS, DO YOU WANNA RUN IT IN A, A SHORT, A SMALL AREA OR DO YOU NOT KNOW WHERE THAT VEHICLE COULD BE AND YOU WANNA RUN IT STATEWIDE OR NATIONWIDE? THAT NEW YORK POLICE OFFICER, IF THEY RUN AN IMMIGRATION RELATED SEARCH AND THEY PUT THAT IN THEIR SEARCH ENGINE, 'CAUSE PERHAPS THEY ALLOW THAT, IT WILL NEVER QUERY OUR DATABASE.

THEY WON'T GET NOTIFIED THAT IT DIDN'T QUERY KYLE TEXAS.

THEY JUST SIMPLY WON'T GET ANY RETURN INFORMATION.

EVEN IF THAT VEHICLE HAS BEEN PICKED UP ON OUR CAMERAS, THEY'LL JUST SIMPLY NEVER GET THAT INFORMATION.

'CAUSE IT'LL NEVER HIT OUR DATABASE TO SEARCH.

WE WOULD NEED A A CASE NUMBER NUMBER AND THAT WOULD BE, THAT WOULD NOT BE A LAWFUL PURPOSE FOR US TO DO THAT.

SO THEN IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT SOME OF THE ISSUES OTHER AREAS ARE HAVING WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING UP A STRANGE WIVES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

IF PEREZ'S WIFE WAS SITTING AT HOME IS PEREZ REALLY AT THESE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ALL, ALL NIGHT LONG, SHE COULDN'T CALL AND SAY, HEY CHIEF BARNETT, CAN YOU PUT IN THIS LICENSE PLATE NUMBER FOR ME? 'CAUSE YOU WOULD NEED A CASE NUMBER.

[03:00:01]

YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

YOU PASSED THE TEST.

JUST , JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WAS KINDA CLARIFIED THAT IN ORDER FOR YOU TO DO ANY KIND OF SEARCHES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CASE NUMBER.

AND A CASE NUMBER CAN'T BE GRANTED UNTIL THERE'S ACTUALLY BEEN SOME SORT OF CRIME, UM, UM, OR SUSPICION OF CRIME COMMITMENTS.

THE LAWFUL PURPOSE TO FIND THAT INDIVIDUAL WARRANT COULD BE OUT FOR THERE.

IT COULD BE A WELLBEING SEARCH, IT COULD BE PERHAPS THERE'S A MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN.

WE USE 'EM TO FIND PEOPLE THAT THEIR FAMILIES CALLED IN AND THERE'S A, A WELLNESS, UH, COMPONENT TO THAT MENTAL HEALTH CONCERN FOR THEIR SAFETY, RIGHT? SO YES MA'AM.

BUT A LAWFUL PURPOSE, I WOULD SAY A LAWFUL PURPOSE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT TO EVEN BEGIN THAT.

OTHERWISE, I PROMISE YOU WE HAVE ENOUGH WORK TO DO AND THE REST ISN'T ON OUR PLATE.

ALRIGHT, THANK WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR AND WE HAVE A SECOND.

PRIOR TO FLOCK TECHNOLOGY WERE FOUND, UM, VERSUS WHERE WE'RE AT NOW WITH FLOCK TECHNOLOGY? I'M SORRY.

COUNCIL MEMBER GZA, I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

UM, HOW DO WE PREVENT FALSE FLAGS? SO I KNOW THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT PEOPLE SAY IS THAT, OH, THIS FAMILY GOT PULLED OVER, YOU KNOW, HELD AT GUNPOINT AND IT WAS A FALSE FLAG BECAUSE THE SYSTEM READ THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER WRONG.

UM, HOW ARE WE STOPPING THAT? SO FOR THE MAJORITY OF THAT, THAT HAS TO BE HUMAN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT TECHNOLOGY THINKS IT SAW COMPARED TO THE INFORMATION THAT IT THINKS IT'S LOOKING FOR ARE EXACTLY THE SAME.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS POSSIBLE, AND IT DOES HAPPEN FROM TIME TO TIME.

A CAMERA WILL BELIEVE THAT A NUMBER IS AN H AND MAYBE IT'S A AN EIGHT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THERE ARE SOME, AND PERHAPS AN OUT OUT-OF-STATE PLATES ARE SOMEWHAT A LITTLE TRICKY FOR THESE CAMERAS.

BUT THAT IS THE HUMAN SIDE OF WE NEED TO COMPARE THE IMAGE OF THE PHOTOGRAPH, THE STATE THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT NUMBER COMPARED TO THE NUMBER THAT'S IN THE POLICE SYSTEM FOR IT TO EVEN COMPARE TO.

SO LET'S SUPPOSE THAT IT'S A STOLEN VEHICLE AND A BC 1, 2, 3, TEXAS IS THE LICENSE PLATE OF THE STOLEN VEHICLE, BUT PERHAPS A BC 1 23 FROM KENTUCKY IS PICKED UP BY COMING THROUGH TEXAS LAWFULLY AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A STOLEN VEHICLE.

THAT WOULD BE UP TO OUR HUMAN EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PLATES MATCH THE STATE MATCHES AND THAT WHAT'S ALREADY IN THE POLICE DATABASE MATCH.

AND THEN EVEN WHEN YOU DO STOP A VEHICLE, BECAUSE LET'S SAY THAT YOU THINK ALL THAT MATCHES TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, YOU STILL HAVE THE REST OF THE INVESTIGATIVE, UH, EFFORTS TO DETERMINE THAT THE INFORMATION IS CORRECT AND THAT THIS CAR SO LONG, AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF, UM, SOMETIMES PEOPLE REPORT A LICENSE PLATE STOLEN AND THEY REPORT IT TO AUSTIN PD AND THEN AUSTIN PD ENTERS THAT INTO A DATABASE.

THE POLICE DATABASE, NOT THE, NOT THE LPR DATABASE, THEY ENTERED THAT INTO THE STATE POLICE COMPUTERS THAT WE USE, WE'VE ALREADY HAD FOR YOU, Y'ALL KNOW, FOR DECADES.

RIGHT? WHEN THAT SAME INDIVIDUAL FORGETS TO TAKE THE OTHER PLATE OFF OF THEIR VEHICLE AND A WEEK LATER THEY PASS A LICENSE PLATE READER, THEY LEFT THE FRONT PLATE ON IT WAS THE BACK ONE THEY REPORTED STOLEN.

AND SOMEHOW THEY FORGOT THAT WE MAY GET A HIT STOLEN LICENSE PLATE, NOT STOLEN VEHICLE.

THEIR VERY SPECIFIC STOLEN LICENSE PLATE HAS JUST PASSED THIS CAMERA AT THIS TIME, AT THE GOING THIS DIRECTION.

OUR OFFICERS ARE KEENLY AWARE THAT THAT CAN HAPPEN.

SO IT'S PART OF THEIR INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS.

YES, THEY MAY HAVE TO STOP THAT CAR 'CAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW IS THIS, WHICH ONE'S WHICH.

BUT THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT EVERYTHING MAY BE LEGAL AND LEGIT.

SOMETIMES REPOSSESSED CARS HAVE THAT SAME ISSUE.

THE, UH, THEY MAY GET REPOSSESSED BY THE BANK AND WHILE IT'S IN TRANSIT THEY REPORT IT STOLEN.

HERE NOBODY KNOWS IT'S A REPOSSESSION YET IT'S TRANSPORTING BACK TO DALLAS TO THE BANK FOR WHICH IS OWED AND IT HITS ON A CAMERA COMING THROUGH KYLE.

OUR OFFICERS ARE AWARE THAT THAT'S JUST ONE STEP IN AN INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANY CRIME BEING COMMITTED.

AND THAT'S, THAT'S ON THE OFFICERS TO DO.

HAVE WE HAD ANY INCIDENCES SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE BEING HELD AT GUNPOINT, UM, WHILE THAT'S PROCESSES IS GOING ON? 'CAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE SCENARIOS THAT PEOPLE HAVE REALLY TALKED ABOUT ONLINE.

WHILE I DON'T PERSONALLY KNOW OF ANY, I WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S A CHANCE OF IT AND THAT HAPPENED WITH OR WITHOUT LPR TECHNOLOGY.

AND I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE REPORT CRIMES AND THEY REPORT A WHITE VEHICLE LEAVING OR A PICKUP OR A CAR OR TRUCK OR WHATEVER LEAVING THE SCENE.

AND THE OFFICERS THINK THEY FIND THAT ONE BECAUSE IT'S IN THE AREA LEAVING THE AREA AND THEY MAKE THAT STOP.

SO I WOULD CERTAINLY SAY IT'S QUITE POSSIBLE, BUT THAT HAPPENS IN OUR WORLD, UH, ALREADY.

AND IF IT DID, IT WOULD BE EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT IT IS, IS THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY EXAMPLES OF IT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HOWEVER THAT WAS, IT RESOLVED ITSELF.

I MEAN, IT RESOLVED ITSELF IN THE WAY THAT IT SHOULD OFFICERS CONSIDER WITH OR WITHOUT LPR TECHNOLOGY WHEN THEY GET INFORMATION.

IT'S JUST ONE COMPONENT OF THE OVERALL STOP, THE OVERALL INVESTIGATION.

AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER.

IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD HAVE A, A SUSPECT FLEEING A SCENE WITH OR WITHOUT LPR TECHNOLOGY AND THEY STOP IT AND MAKE A SAFE APPROACH WITH OR WITHOUT GUNS DISPLAYED OR WHATNOT? SURE.

I'M SURE THAT'S HAPPENED.

BUT THE FACT THAT THE OFFICERS DID THE STEPS THAT THEY'RE TRAINED TO DO AND RESOLVE IT PEACEFULLY AND PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER, THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD HOPE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON THE PERCENTAGE OF AMBER ALERTS, SILVER ALERTS, BLUE ALERTS, ET CETERA, HOW MANY OF THOSE

[03:05:01]

I DON'T, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, BUT I DO NOT.

UM, AND THEN HOW MUCH HAVE WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED IN GRANTS? WE HAVE YET TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE 24 AND 25 OR TWENTY FIVE TWENTY.

I'M GONNA CALL 'EM 25 AND 26.

THEY MAY DIFFER A LITTLE BIT, BUT I MEAN THE SAME GRANT THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POTTER MENTIONED THE 25 GRANT, WE HAVE SUBMITTED REIMBURSEMENT AND WE EXPECT THAT REIMBURSEMENT.

THE 26, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T SUBMIT UNTIL THEY HAVE FULLY PROCESSED OUR 25 REIMBURSEMENT JUST ON THEIR END.

AND THE MINUTE THEY DO, WE'RE WAITING ON IT.

THE MINUTE THEY PROCESS IT, WE'LL JUST, WE'RE READY.

WE'LL JUST IMMEDIATELY SUBMIT 26 AND EXPECT REIMBURSEMENT.

AND THEN THAT'S BASED ON INCLUDING THE INFORMATION THAT Y'ALL SHARED EARLIER TONIGHT ABOUT WHAT WE EXPECT WITH THE GOVERNOR AND N-V-C-P-A AND AND WHAT WE EXPECT.

UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

YES MA'AM.

COUNCIL MEMBER ZAPATA.

AND THEN TO CLARIFY, UH, JUST ON THE REIMBURSEMENT, UM, IN THE EMAIL THAT WE GOT, UH, THAT YOU, IT, I GUESS YOU SPOKE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

UM, THE REIMBURSEMENT ONLY APPLIES TO NON A LPR TECHNOLOGY.

SO WE'RE NOT GONNA GET REIMBURSED FOR THE PAYMENTS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY MADE FOR AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS.

THAT IS WHAT YOU SAID, THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

I THINK I HAD TWO DIFFERENT, I THINK I SPOKE TO TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

AND I'LL TRY TO SUMMARIZE BOTH SO THAT WE GET THE TOTALITY BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE I DON'T MISS MISRE RECALL.

SO MY FIRST CALL WAS TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND I SPOKE TO THEIR APPOINTED PERSON TO SPEAK TO ME FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

MY QUESTION FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL IS, UH, THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER, THE GOVERNOR'S DIRECTIVE FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF EQUIPMENT, DID IT APPLY TO LPR TECHNOLOGY? DID IT APPLY TO LIVE VIEW CAMERAS? DID IT APPLY TO DRONES? DID IT APPLY? HOW, WHAT DID HE MEAN? UH, IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE GOVERNOR'S INTENT WAS FOR LPR RELATED TECHNOLOGY THAT IS BEING USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF LPR TECHNOLOGY.

SO REMEMBER I MENTIONED EARLIER, ANY CAMERA IN REALLY ANY CAMERA, THE CAMERAS IN THIS ROOM CAN ACTUALLY BE LPR TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S THE SOFTWARE IN THE BACK AND IN THE BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU USED THEM.

SO HE CLARIFIED THAT IT IS INTENDED FOR LPR RELATED TECHNOLOGY THAT'S BEING USED AS SUCH.

SO I TOOK THAT TO MEAN, OKAY, SO WE'RE NOT THE DRONE THAT WE, WE HAVE TWO DRONES.

THE DRONES THAT WE HAVE WOULD STILL BE EXPECTED TO BE COVERED.

ONLY ONE OF THOSE ARE IS GRANT FUNDED AND THEN THE LIVE VIEW CAMERAS, IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OPINION THAT THE GOVERNOR DID NOT INTEND TO PROHIBIT LIVE VIEW CAMERAS AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT USING 'EM FOR LPR RUNNING IN THE BACKGROUND AND WE'RE NOT MY, THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD REALLY PROVIDE AT THAT MOMENT, OTHER THAN THEY, HIS STAFF IS LEARNING WHAT HE SAID LAST FRIDAY AS WELL.

THEY'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH IT.

MY NE THEY THEN REFERRED ME TO THE M-V-C-P-A, THAT'S THE GRANT AUTHORITY.

UM, SO I SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR OF M-V-C-P-A.

HE RELAYED THAT IT IS HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PROCESS THE 25 AND 26 REIMBURSEMENTS AS IT RELATES TO NON LPR TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT THAT YOU'RE USING AS LPR EQUIPMENT.

SO I SPECIFICALLY SAID, WE HAVE A DRONE AND WE HAVE LIVE VIEW CAMERAS.

IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU CAN REIMBURSE US FOR THAT FOR ANY YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD THAT? AND HE SAID, YES, HE CAN.

HE SAID, CONTINUE TO KEEP YOUR INFORMATION, CONTINUE TO SUBMIT YOUR FULL REQUEST.

SHOULD THE GOVERNOR CHANGE HIS MIND OR THE RULES BECOME MORE CLEAR OR WHATNOT FOR 25 AND 26.

FOR 27, THAT GRANT, THEY JUST AWARDED THAT THOSE GRANTS AND MADE THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS IN JULY OF THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE YET TO BRING THAT TO COUNCIL FOR FINAL APPROVAL, UH, IN PART BECAUSE I THINK IT WAS TEMPORARILY PUT ON YOUR SEPTEMBER THE 15TH AGENDA.

BUT WITH ALL OF THIS NEW NEWS, WE'RE GONNA PUSH IT BACK A LITTLE BIT AND SEE HOW ALL THIS IS VETS OUT FOR 27.

THE N-B-C-P-A DIRECTOR SAID HE DOESN'T THINK THAT THEY CAN E IMPLY THAT THEY WILL REIMBURSE FOR LPR RELATED DATA THAT'S BEING USED AS, I MEAN, EQUIPMENT BEING USED AS SUCH AT THIS TIME.

AND HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'LL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

SO I AM CORRECT IN THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ALL OF THE YEARS THAT WE HAVE, UH, PAID FOR AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS 'CAUSE THEY'RE ONLY REIMBURSING FOR NON LPR TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU JUST STATED.

THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

YEAH, I THINK THAT'S, I THINK HE YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

HE CAN'T MAKE THAT COM RIGHT? HE CAN'T MAKE THAT PROMISE THAT THEY ARE, THEY'RE GONNA DO THE LIVE VIEW AND THE DRONE.

NOT THE, SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT GETTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READERS AT THIS TIME.

YES, THANK YOU.

THAT WE RETAIN, UH, THE, THE AFTER THE 30 DAY RETENTION PERIOD, THEY DELETE THE FOOTAGE BUT NOT THE DATA THAT IS ACTUALLY COLLECTED OFF OF THAT FOOTAGE.

UM, THE, UM, OTHER ISSUES THAT I HAVE IS THAT, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST PUT IT FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL TO THINK, TRULY THINK OUTSIDE OF JUST WHAT IT IS THAT IS WITHIN OUR CONTROL.

BECAUSE THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT IS NOT FULLY WITHIN OUR CONTROL.

AND WE CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO TRY AND KEEP THE SYSTEM WITHIN OUR CONTROL.

BUT I HAVE POINTED OUT TIME AND TIME AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S IN THE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT WHERE IT SAYS THAT EVEN THOUGH FLOCK SAYS THAT YES, WE RETAIN THE DATA IN THEIR MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT WORD FOR WORD, IT SAYS

[03:10:01]

THEY HOLD THAT PERMANENTLY IN THEIR AMAZON WEB SERVICES SERVER THAT IS HOSTED NOT HERE AT THE CITY OF KYLE, BUT ELSEWHERE OFFSITE.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE HAD INSTANCES OF OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS BEING ACCIDENTALLY TRYING TO BE SELL, SOLD BACK THEIR DATA FROM THE FLOCK COMPANY ITSELF.

BECAUSE ALL OF THAT DATA THAT IS KEPT FROM THOSE IMAGES, BECAUSE IT IS AI TECHNOLOGY, IT PULLS THAT AND IT SAVES THAT.

SO OUR RESIDENTS DATA IS GOING TO LIVE LONGER THAN THIS.

IT'S NOT JUST THE 30 DAY RETENTION PERIOD.

OUR CRIME RATES HAVE NOT IMPROVED.

THEY HAVE NOT, THEY HAVE NOT DECREASED OR CRIME RATES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSISTENTLY LOW.

PRE FLOCK A LPR POST FLOCK, A LPR, OUR, OUR CRIME RATES HAVE REMAINED THE SAME.

UM, WE HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AS COUNCIL, BECAUSE I'VE ASKED FOR THEM, UH, FROM JANUARY 1ST THROUGH MARCH 19TH, WE RECEIVED COPIES OF THE ORGANIZATION AUDIT LOGS AND THE NETWORK AUDIT LOGS.

AND FROM JANUARY 1ST TO MARCH 19TH, OUR OWN INTERNAL LOGS SHOWED THAT OVER 3000 AGENCIES ACROSS 40 STATES ENTERED OUR SYSTEM AND RAN SEARCHES OUT OF ALL OF THE, OUT OF THE NEARLY 1.5 MILLION SEARCHES THAT WERE PERFORMED JUST WITHIN THAT THREE MONTH PERIOD, OVER 50.4% OF THEM WERE MADE OUT FROM AGENCIES OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, NOT WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

AND OUT OF THOSE 1.5 MILLION SEARCHES, ONLY 2,888 OF THEM WERE MADE BY KPD.

THIS TOOL IS NOT BEING PRIMARILY USED BY THE KYLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND I HAVE BROUGHT THAT FACT UP REPEATEDLY HERE.

IT IS BEING USED BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES WHO WE DO NOT CONTROL.

WHEN THE FLOCK REPRESENTATIVE WAS BROUGHT HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHEN THE PEREGRINE REPRESENTATIVE WAS BROUGHT AS WELL, THEY CLARIFIED THAT OTHER AGENCIES WILL ALSO, THEY FOLLOW THEIR OWN PROTOCOLS.

AND WHEN WE HAVE SIGNED MOUS, WE HAVE SIGNED DATA SHARING MOUS WITH TEXAS DPS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY HAVE TO COME AND ASK KPD FOR PERMISSION EVERY TIME THEY WANT ACCESS TO IT BECAUSE IT'S AN MOU.

IT'S UNDERSTOOD THAT YOU SIGNED THAT IN, THAT YOUR INFORMATION SHARE THAT MOU WITH DPS SHARES FAR BEYOND WHAT, UH, WHAT KPD MAY HAVE ANY AWARE OF.

AND SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THIS, THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT NOT IN THAT LIKE, OH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE ISSUE LIES WITHIN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T, OUR ISSUE LIES WITHIN THIS COMPANY ITSELF.

IT LIES WITHIN THIS MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT THAT NO MATTER WHAT COUNCIL HAS SAID HERE BEFORE, IT IS ALL DEBUNKED IF YOU GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT, UM, FROM 20 23, 20 24, AND 2025.

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME ON THIS DAIS THAT GET UPSET, THAT GET ANNOYED THAT I SPEAK SO PASSIONATELY ABOUT THIS.

BUT IT IS BECAUSE IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE AND BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT WHERE IT IS THAT WE HOLD OURSELVES TO THE CONSTITUTION.

SO WHAT IF WE JUST PUT IT ON A BALLOT OR THAT, OR WOULD YOU BE OKAY WITH THAT? LIKE IF WE HAD A MAY, I THINK THERE'S A MAIL ELECTION OR TO WE'RE IT'S NOT ALLOWED TO BE BINDING.

IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A NON-BINDING REFERENDUM.

THAT'S FINE'S FINE.

I THINK IT'S, THAT'S HOW WE GET THE FEEDBACK FROM THE RESIDENTS.

I THINK, I MEAN, I THINK WE CAN PUT THIS ON HOLD.

WE CAN JUST KEEP IT AS IS.

PUT IT ON A REFERENDUM LIKE YOU SAID, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE TAKE ACTION BECAUSE WE, THIS IS SUCH A DIVISIVE ISSUE AND I SEE THE POLICE WANTING TO PLEASE, AND I KNOW I WANNA PLEASE, AND I THINK EVERYBODY UP HERE WANTS TO PLEASE.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANNA DO IT.

I MEAN, MAY'S PROBABLY NOT A BIG TURNOUT.

SO IF WE WANNA DO IT NEXT YEAR, WHAT WHATEVER IS GONNA BE EASIER FOR YOU, YOU'RE, IT'S, IT'S CLEAR THAT WE CAN JUST SAY NO AND THEN MOVE ON AND THEN BE DONE.

BUT I'M TRYING TO GIVE THIS OLIVE BRANCH NOT JUST TO YOU, BUT TO THE RESIDENTS, TO EVERYBODY.

LET'S LET THEM COME OUT AND DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES.

I MEAN, I WANTED TO BRING FORWARD THE BALLOT PROPOSITION EITHER WAY.

SO I WAS GONNA DO THAT ON SEPTEMBER 15TH OR TONIGHT IF I FELT LIKE IT.

SO WE CAN PUT THAT UP.

THAT'S FINE BY ME.

IT HAS TO BE A NON-BINDING REFERENDUM.

IT CANNOT BE BINDING.

WELL, I WOULD HOPE ANY, AND WE HAVE TO ALSO COME UP WITH THE LANGUAGE OR ASK STAFF TO COME UP WITH A LANGUAGE, UM, TO BE PROPOSED FOR A POTENTIAL MAY BALLOT.

IS IT TOO LATE? YEAH.

IS IS IT TOO LATE TO PUT IT ON IT NOW ON THE BALLOT? NOW I'M GONNA ASK THE CITY ATTORNEY TO HELP OUT HERE.

I THINK THE TIME NEEDED TO PUT THAT TOGETHER, IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT ON IN TIME FOR NOVEMBER.

MAY WOULD

[03:15:01]

BE FINE.

NEXT NOVEMBER WOULD BE FINE.

I JUST FEEL LIKE THIS NO, IT WOULD'VE JUST BEEN A BIGGER TURNOUT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT.

I WANT PEOPLE TO COME OUT, TELL US WHAT THEY WANT.

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE IN MAY AND THEN ONLY GET LIKE 500 PEOPLE VOTING.

UM, BUT I MEAN, I WOULD RATHER WE DO MAY VERSUS WAIT A WHOLE NOTHER YEAR FOR THIS SYSTEM TO JUST CONTINUE DOING WRONG AND CONTINUE HARMING PEOPLE.

UM, SO WE CAN DO IT ON THE MAY BALLOT.

SO, AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL AT THE TIME HONORS WHATEVER THE NON-BINDING REFERENDUM STATES.

JUST, JUST AS A NOTE, THE NON-BINDING REFERENDUM DOES REQUIRE SIX VOTES.

WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S CLEAR GOING INTO THE PROCESS.

SO LET'S FIRST WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UNLESS YOU WANNA WITHDRAW THAT.

UM, NOW I STILL WANT THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

WE'RE GONNA DO A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

UM, NO TALKING BEFORE, JUST, JUST YES OR NO.

THIS IS NOT A TIME TO GRAND STAND.

IT'S JUST A TIME TO VOTE AND MOVE FORWARD.

SO, UM, DOES ANYBODY NEED THE MOTION REREAD OR DO WE UNDERSTAND? OKAY.

ROLL CALL, VOTE PLEASE.

UH, SIX TO NO ONE TO SIX.

UH, MOTION FAILS.

SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO PLACE FLOCK ON THE MAY BALLOT.

SECOND.

I GOT A MOTION BY MYSELF AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER MCKINNEY.

A DISCUSSION MM-HMM .

UM, I DON'T, I THINK THERE'S SOME WEIRD, UH, ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN ACTUALLY NAME FLOCK.

UH, AND OTHER CITIES HAVE HAD TO DO LIKE, BROADER, LIKE JUST AUTOMATIC LICENSE PLATE READER LANGUAGE.

IF POSSIBLE.

I WOULD PREFER FOR THIS TO BE A MOTION ASKING STAFF TO BRING SOMETHING BACK.

SOMETHING BACK.

LET'S DO THAT.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE, YEAH, BECAUSE REALLY, LET'S, LET'S START OFF WITH BABY STEPS AS FAR AS LET'S START OFF THE PROCEDURE.

AFRAID TO GO TO THE BALLOT.

LET'S START OFF EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

LET'S, SO I'M GOING AMEND TO MY MOTION TO BRING BACK OPTIONS FOR, OR SHOULD I JUST CANCEL IT? WHAT, WHAT WOULD BE EASIEST FOR YOU GUYS? AND THEN I CAN REWORD IT.

YOU CAN JUST, YOU CAN JUST RESEND IT AND THEN MAKE A NEW ONE.

THAT'S FINE.

I'M GONNA RESEND MY MOTION AND I'M GONNA MAKE A NEW MOTION TO HAVE STAFF BRING BACK INFORMATION PLACING.

I DON'T WANNA SAY ALL LPRS THOUGH, BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE, WELL, YOU KNOW, I JUST BRING BACK, BRING BACK OPTIONS.

OPTIONS FOR, UM, FOR, UH, MAY BALLAD BOND LANGUAGE FOR, YEAH.

BOND LANGUAGE FOR MAY BALLAD.

FOR FLOCK.

LPRI MEAN, I DON'T WANNA SAY LPR YEAH.

ALTOGETHER.

UM, BUT UNLESS THEY USE THE COMPANY NAME REGARDING LICENSE PLATE READERS.

AND JUST START THERE AND THEN WE CAN BRING BACK OPTIONS.

I GOT A SECOND BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER HARRIS, I MEAN MCKINNEY.

UM, WE'LL DO A ROLL CALL.

NOW WE'RE GONNA DO THE NEXT ONE.

NO, NOT YET, MARY? NO.

SO IF WE'RE DONE WITH THE AMENDMENTS, WE ARE THEN NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THE FIRST READING OF THE ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AS AMENDED.

WE HAVE AGENDA ITEM FOUR.

SO WHOEVER WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION AND THEN Y'ALL CAN TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM THREE WITH ALL THE AMENDMENTS.

SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY MYSELF AND A SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM.

[III.4) (First Reading) Consider approval of an Ordinance of the City of Kyle adopting the ad valorem tax rate (property tax rate) of $0.5600 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation for Tax Year 2026 or Fiscal Year 2026-27, which consists of a maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate of $0.3687 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation and an interest and sinking (I&S) tax rate of $0.1913 per $100 of taxable assessed valuation, each of which is separately approved; providing for the levy of ad valorem taxes for use and support of the municipal government of the City of Kyle for the Fiscal Year 2026-27 beginning October 1, 2026 and ending September 30, 2026; providing for apportioning each tax levy for specific purposes; providing when ad valorem taxes shall become due and when same shall become delinquent if not paid. (RELATED AGENDA ITEM 4 OF 5 & ROLL CALL VOTE IS REQUESTED) ]

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL NOT GO PRETTY FAST, RIGHT? YES, ETHAN? YEAH.

AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF KYLE ADOPTING THE ADVIL ARM TAX RATE, PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER A HUNDRED OF TAXABLE ASSIST VALUATION FOR TAX YEAR 2026 OR FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2 27, WHICH CONSISTS OF A MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS M AND O TAX RATE OF 0.3687 PER A HUNDRED OF TAXABLE ASSIST VALUATION.

AND AN INTEREST IN SINKING INS TAX RATE OF 0.1913 PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION, EACH OF WHICH IS SEPARATELY APPROVED PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY OF AVALOR TAXES FOR USE AND SUPPORT OF THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF THE CITY OF KYLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2026,

[03:20:01]

PROVIDING FOR OPERATION EACH LEVY FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES, PROVIDING FOR WHEN A VALOREM TAXES SHALL BECOME DUE AND WHEN SAME SHALL BECOME DELINQUENT IF NOT PAID.

UM, THIS IS GONNA BE A ROLL CALL VOTE AND THE ITEM PRESENTER IS PEREZ MOHE.

SO MARION COUNCIL, UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM, THE CITY COUNCIL IS POSTED TO VOTE ON FIRST READING THE ORDINANCE TO ADOPT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AT 0.5600 PER $100 OF TAXABLE ASSESSED VALUATION FOR TAX YEAR 26 OR FISCAL YEAR 26 27, THE FIRST OF TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS SCHEDULED ON THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATES FOR TAX YEAR 2026 OR FISCAL YEAR 26 27 WAS HELD EARLIER TODAY AT THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

SO THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATES FOR TAX YEAR 26 ARE AS FOLLOWS.

NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS CALCULATED AT 0.6322 PER $100.

VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE HAS BEEN CALCULATED AT 0.5650 PER $100.

AND THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING ADOPTING ON FIRST READING TONIGHT IS CALCULATED AT 0.5600 PER $100.

SO A LOT OF THIS LANGUAGE, MARION COUNSEL IS, IS REQUIRED FOR ME TO READ INTO THE RECORD.

SO IT'LL BE, I'LL GO THROUGH FAST, BUT IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN THE PUBLIC HEARING PART OF THIS.

SO THE PROPOSED AT WILLUM TAX RATE OR PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER $100 FOR TAX YEAR 26 ARE FISCAL YEAR 26 27 IS A DECREASE OF 0.0357 FOR $100 OR POINT OR 5.99% FROM THE CITY'S CURRENT ADOPTED TAX RATE OF 0.5957 PER $100 FOR THE CURRENT YEAR OR FISCAL YEAR 25 26, THE CITY'S PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER $100 IS LOWER THAN THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF 0.6322 PER $100 FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

THIS IS A DECREASE OF 0.0722 PER $100 OR 11.42% FROM THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE FOR TAX YEAR 26 OR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER $100 IS 0.0050 PER $100 LOWER THAN THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE OF 0.5650 PER $100 FOR TAX YEAR 2026.

SO I JUST WANNA GO VERY QUICKLY.

THE HIGHLIGHTED COLUMN IS WHAT THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING TONIGHT TO ADOPT THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS COMPONENT IS 0.3687 PER $100.

THE INTEREST IN SYNCING RATE IS 0.193 PER $100 FOR A TOTAL TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER $100, WHICH IS 0.357 LESS THAN THE CURRENT TAX RATE AND 5.99% OR 6% LESS THAN THE CURRENT TAX RATE.

SO WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE TWO COMPONENTS.

HERE'S THE BILL IMPACT ON AN AVERAGE VALUED HOME IN KYLE.

SO FOR 2026, IF COUNSEL WAS TO ADOPT THE TAX RATE OF 0.5600, AN AVERAGE VALUE HOME IN KYLE VALUED AT $301,530 WILL RECEIVE A TAX BILL OF NEXT TAX NET TAX BILL OF $1,464 AND 57 CENTS FOR THE CITY OF KYLE'S PORTION OF THE TAX BILL,

[03:25:01]

WHICH WHEN COMPARED TO 2025 WILL BE $189 AND 19 CENTS A REDUCTION IN THEIR TAX BILL.

THE TAX LAW.

IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, THE TAX LAW REQUIRES US TO DISCLOSE THE MEDIAN HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX BILL COMPARISON.

THE SLIDE BEFORE I TALKED ABOUT IS THE AVERAGE THE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE ALSO EXPLAIN THE MEDIAN HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX BILL.

AND BEFORE I GO INTO THE NUMBERS, I, I'M GONNA START WITH THE, THE NOTE FIRST.

SO NOT ONLY COUNSEL, BUT ALSO RESIDENTS WILL UNDERSTAND WHY THIS IS REQUIRED.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE FOOTNOTE, HOUSE BILL 1522 AMENDED THE TAX CODE, THIS STATEMENT THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU COMPARES THE PROPERTY TAX BILL FOR A MEDIAN VALUED HOMESTEAD PROPERTY IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR WITH ESTIMATED PROPERTY TAX BILLS FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR UNDER TWO CONDITIONS.

ONE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX RATE, AND TWO, A BALANCED BUDGET FUNDED AT THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE.

AND THE PURPOSE OR THE COMPARISON IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE TO PAYERS WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF BUDGET AND TAX RATE DECISIONS MADE BY THE CITY OF KYLE COUNCIL.

SO AVERAGE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT'S WHAT WE NORMALLY USE AND HAVE USED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

UH, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR MOST PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MEDIA VALUED HOMESTEAD MEANS, BUT HERE WE GO.

SO THE MEDIAN VALUED HOMESTEAD FOR THE CURRENT YEAR 25 26 IS $266,150.

THE MEDIAN VALUED HOMESTEAD FOR 26 27 IS VALUED AT $250,340.

SO IF WE WERE TO USE THE CURRENT TAX RATE OF 59 57 AND APPLIED TO THE MEDIAN VALUED HOMESTEAD FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, THE TAX BILL WOULD BE $1,585 AND 46 CENTS FOR NEXT YEAR'S MEDIAN VALUED HOMESTEAD OF 250,340.

IF WE WERE TO APPLY THE PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING ADOPTING TONIGHT ON FIRST READING OF 0.5600, THE TAX BILL WILL BE $1,401 AND 90 CENTS.

THAT'S $183 AND 55 CENTS LESS THAN THE CURRENT TAX YEAR BILL, OR 11.58% REDUCTION.

SAME MEDIAN VALUED HOMESTEAD FOR NEXT YEAR.

IF WE WERE TO USE THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF 0.6322, THAT SAME HOMEOWNER WILL RECEIVE A TAX BILL OF $1,582 AND 65 CENTS, OR $2 AND 81 CENTS LESS THAN THE CURRENT YEAR.

AND IF COUNSEL WANTS ME TO EXPLAIN MEDIAN VALUE, I'LL BE HAPPY TO GO INTO THAT DEFINITION.

IF NOT, UH, ALL OUR PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.

IN ADDITION, WE ALSO HAVE A PAPER COPY FOR PUBLIC'S INSPECTION LOCATED AT CITY HALL AND AT THE KYLE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

SO WITH THAT, UNLESS Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I HAVE ALSO WITH THE HELP OF OUR CITY ATTORNEY, BECAUSE TAX LAWS ARE VERY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL, IT, YOUR MOTION HAS TO BE VERY SPECIFICALLY WORDED AND STATED.

SO I HAVE THE SAMPLE OR EXAMPLE MOTION AND BEFORE YOU, UH, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE Y'ALL GET INTO THE MOTION.

THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? NO.

NO.

UM, I REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS A PRESENTATION THAT HAD SHOWN FIGURES OF WHAT OUR, UH, BUDGET WOULD LOOK LIKE WITH EACH OF THE TAX RATES.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO PULL THAT UP AND PUT IT ON SCREEN FOR US? I DID NOT BRING IT ON USB.

UH, WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN CALL IT UP FROM, FROM THE, UH, CITY'S WEBSITE AT, FROM THE LAST MEETING.

MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT HE CAN ANSWER.

[03:30:01]

IS THERE A QUESTION THAT'S GONNA FOLLOW THAT? WELL, IT'S JUST SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THE, UH, EACH OF THE TAX RATES DO BASED ON WHAT WE WERE TO ADOPT, WHETHER IT'S THIS 0.560 OR OPTION OH OR THE LOWER ONE.

UH, SO THAT WAY WE CAN ALL JUST BE AWARE OF IT.

SO I HAVE IT FROM OPTION TWO.

THE 0.5340 WOULD GIVE YOU AN OVERAGE OF $52,901.

THE OPTION ONE CURRENTLY ON THE TABLE, THE 0.5600 WOULD GIVE YOU AN INCREASE OF $1,691,047.

AND HAD IT BEEN THE VOTER APPROVED RATE OF THE 0.5650 WOULD'VE INCREASED YOU BY 2,000,006, UH, $2,675,000.

DOES THAT GET YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED TO FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING A DECISION? I BELIEVE COUNCIL MEMBER ZAPATA WAS REFERRING TO THESE OPTIONS.

YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

SO UNDER OPTION NUMBER ONE, WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING 0.5600 TAX RATE, IF YOU LOOK TOWARDS THE WRITE OUT THE BLUE BAR, THE BUDGET PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES 33,000,592 AND $97 RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU CHRIS.

UM, AND THE ESTIMATED REVENUE AT THAT RATE WOULD GENERATE 35 MILLION 283, 144 OR 1.7 MILLION OVER THE BUDGET.

SO THIS IS A TAX RATE OF 56 0 0.

OPTION TWO THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH COUNSEL WAS AT WHAT RATE WILL THE TAX REVENUES EQUAL TO WHAT WE PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET? SO WORKING BACKWARDS TO GET AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET NUMBER, WHICH WAS 33 5 92 AND $97 AT THE TAX RATE OF 5 3 4 0, IT WILL GET US AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE WITH ONLY 52,000 OR $53,000 EXTRA.

HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE MADE SOME AMENDMENTS EARLIER.

SO AT 53 40 IT WILL EAT INTO THE CUSHION SOME MORE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY.

DO YOU WANNA PUT THAT LANGUAGE BACK UP? YES.

CHRIS, IF WE CAN GO BACK TO THE EARLIER.

THANK YOU, CHRIS.

CONSIDERED APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE RATIFYING THE AL ALARM TAX REVENUES PROPERTY TAXES REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27, WHICH WILL RAISE SLIGHTLY MORE REVENUE FROM AVALOR TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES THAN IN THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE CITY'S ADVIL ARM TAX RATE OF 0.5600 PER A HUNDRED DOLLARS, A HUNDRED OF TAXABLE ASSESS VALUATION FOR THE TAX YEAR 2026 OR FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27, WHICH CONSISTS OF A MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION TAX RATE OF 0.3687 PER HUNDRED DOLLARS OF TAXABLE ASSIST VALUATION AND AN INTEREST AND SINKING RATE OF 0.1913 PER HUNDRED DOLLARS OF TAXABLE ASSIST VALUATION, EACH OF WHICH IS SEPARATELY APPROVED.

SECOND, ARE WE AWAKE? ? ALL RIGHT.

I GOT A MOTION BY MYSELF AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER.

ADA, CAN I GET A ROLL CALL? VOTE PLEASE.

[III.5) (First Reading) Consider approval of an Ordinance ratifying the ad valorem tax revenues (property taxes) reflected in the budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 which will raise slightly more revenue from ad valorem taxes (property taxes) than in the prior Fiscal Year 2025-26. (RELATED AGENDA ITEM 5 OF 5 & ROLL CALL VOTE IS REQUESTED)]

UH, ITEM PRESENTER PEREZ MOHE.

SO MAYOR AND COUNSEL, THE TAX LAW REQUIRES THAT WHENEVER THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUES GENERATED IN THE PROPOSED YEAR IS HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT YEAR, THAN IT REQUIRES THAT AN ADDITIONAL ORDINANCE BE APPROVED

[03:35:01]

BY CITY COUNCIL RATIFYING THE TAX RATE THAT YOU JUST ADOPTED ON FIRST READING.

SO THE CITY COUNCIL'S VOTE UNDER THIS SUBSECTION IS IN ADDITION TO AND SEPARATE FROM THE VOTE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET OR VOTE TO SET THE TAX RATE, WHICH YOU JUST DID UNDER AGENDA ITEMS THREE AND FOUR, THE FISCAL YEAR 26 27 BUDGET WILL RAISE SLIGHTLY MORE REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS PORTION THAN IN THE BRIAR BUDGET OF THE CITY OF KYLE FOR FISCAL YEAR 25, 26.

HENCE, THIS ORDINANCE IS NECESSARY.

UM, I JUST HAVE THE NEXT STEPS.

WE WILL BE COMING BACK BEFORE YOU ON SEPTEMBER 15TH FOR THIS SECOND ROUND OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.

AND THE READING OF THE ORDINANCES STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 1 0 2 0.007 C OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION ON THIS ITEM.

GREAT.

IF THERE'S, UM, ANYBODY THAT HAS ANYTHING TO SAY, IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THE TAX RATE, IF THERE'S ANY OPINION NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE COUNCIL MEMBER MEDINA, JUST TO UM, REITERATE FROM LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THE TAX RATE, UM, I COULDN'T CONSCIOUSLY VOTE FOR THE 0.5600 WHEN MOST OF MY CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN ASKING ME FOR THE 0.5340.

'CAUSE THAT MAKES A BIGGER, UM, A BIGGER CHANGE IN THEIR TAXES THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY.

AND SO LONG AS WE'RE NOT CRAZILY APPROVING, UM, AMENDMENTS TO OUR BUDGET, WE COULD AFFORD TO GO WITH THAT LOWER TAX RATE.

SO HENCE MY KNOWLEDGE THERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GOZA, I HAVE THE SAME CONCERNS.

I DID VOTE YES TONIGHT, BUT ULTIMATELY I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GO WITH THE OPTION NUMBER TWO.

UH, WE ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED THE TAX RATE LAST YEAR PER WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD IN ORDER TO DEFE DEBT.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A MEASURE OF GOOD FAITH FOR US TO BRING IT DOWN AS LOW AS POSSIBLE THIS YEAR.

CAN WE HAVE, UM, WITH THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE MADE, IS THERE ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD SHOW US WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE AT 0.53? YES, WE CAN.

BECAUSE THAT, THAT, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S GONNA EAT INTO OUR CUSHION AS WELL.

SO I, BEFORE I BE ON BOARD FOR LAUREN, I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT IT'S GONNA LOOK LIKE.

UM, I AM A BIG ADVOCATE FOR LOWERING THE RATE, BUT I'M ALSO A BIG ADVOCATE FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR BILLS PAID AND JUST IN CASE WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED EXTRA MONEY.

FIRST READING.

SO, BUT LET'S NOT, LET'S NOT DO SURPRISES .

LET BRING THEM.

WE'LL BRING, WE'LL BRING IT BACK.

UH, FOR THE SECOND READING.

ALRIGHT, SO NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SORRY.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE AGENDA ITEM FIVE.

SECOND.

ALRIGHT, I GOT, I GOT A MOTION BY MYSELF.

AND A SECOND BY GIVE IT TO MCKINNEY.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCKINNEY, IS THERE ANY CONVERSATION JUST REAL QUICK BEFORE WE HEAD OUT? I WANT TO THANK ALL THE CITY STAFF THIS FOR BEING HERE.

I KNOW IT'S A SATURDAY NIGHT.

YOU, YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH A LONG BUDGET PROCESS, SO I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU FOR, FOR BEING HERE GUYS.

ALL OF YOU.