>> I WANT TO WELCOME ALL OF YOU TO OUR BUSINESS MEETING TODAY.
[00:00:02]
IT'S A VERY FULL AGENDA, BUT WE'RE GOING TO START THE DAY WITH AN INVOCATION.[INVOCATION]
THE PERSON WHO WAS DESIGNATED TO DO OUR INVOCATION IS NOT HERE WITH US TODAY.I THOUGHT I SAW A VERY HANDSOME GENTLEMAN. THERE HE IS.
OUR FIRST GENTLEMAN, KEVIN NELSON, WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO COME SEE AN INVOCATION FOR US?
>> I SHOULD HAVE MORE NOTICE THEN. [LAUGHTER]
DO WE KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT NO NOTICE?
>> WELL, THANK YOU. PLEASE PRAY WITH ME AND YOU CAN PRAY FOR ME AS I PRAY HERE WITHOUT PREPARATION.
LORD, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR A BEAUTIFUL DAY.
THANK YOU FOR IMPORTANT WORK TO DO.
THANK YOU FOR THIS CITY THAT WE ALL LOVE SO MUCH.
WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE TODAY AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SOME IMPORTANT DECISIONS TODAY AND I PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME PROCLAMATIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND WE'RE GOING TO MARK SOME MILESTONES, ALL OF WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND I PRAY LORD, THAT WE WILL DO IT IN A WAY THAT PLEASES YOU AND MARKS THIS UNIQUE TIME, AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE ARE HERE FOR THE PURPOSE OF LOVING EACH OTHER AS WE LOVE AND SERVE YOU.
WE JUST PRAY BLESSINGS AND FAVOR, AND CONTINUED FAVOR OVER OUR CITY, LORD.
THANK YOU, AND WE ASK ALL OF THIS IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME. AMEN.
WOULD YOU JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU, YOU MAY BE SEATED.
[PROCLAMATION AND KEYS TO THE CITY PRESENTATION]
WE HAVE SOME VERY SPECIAL GUESTS WITH US TODAY AND I WANT TO INVITE YOU GENTLEMEN.DOCTORS, I SEE YOU STANDING OFF IN THE SIDELINES THERE.
COME ON, STEP ON OUT TO THE CENTER STAGE.
WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
I LOVE TO READ AND IT'S GREAT TO LET THE STORIES OF OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES COME OFF THE WORDS ON A PAGE.
BUT IN THE YEAR 2020, WE LEFT BEHIND READING ABOUT HISTORY AND TOGETHER WE BECAME MAKERS OF REMARKABLE HISTORY.
IT WAS UNEXPECTED, IT WAS UNREAL, AND IT WAS EPIC.
ALL OF US WERE SHAPED BY IT, MANY OF US WERE TESTED BY IT, AND IN SOME OF US, GREATNESS WAS REVEALED BY IT.
STANDING BEHIND ME TODAY ARE FIVE AMARILLO CITIZENS WHOSE GREATNESS WAS CERTAINLY REVEALED IN 2020.
THEIR INDIVIDUAL WORK WAS IMPORTANT AND IT WAS IMPACTFUL.
BUT THEIR GREATNESS SHINED IN THEIR COLLABORATION.
EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO ANY DISASTER TAKES A WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH.
THESE MEDICAL LEADERS DID JUST THAT AND THEY TOOK A COMMUNITY APPROACH TO FINDING SOLUTIONS TO INCREDIBLE TRIALS.
WE CONSTANTLY ASKED THESE MEN TO GIVE AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OFTEN AND ACCURATE PREDICTION OF SOMETHING WE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19? HOW WILL IT SPREAD THROUGH OUR CITY? THE WIDE BREADTH OF DUTIES PLACED ON THEIR SHOULDERS WAS UNIQUELY HEAVY.
THEY WERE RESEARCHING AND STUDYING ABOUT COVID-19.
HOW DID IT SPREAD? HOW LONG WAS THE PATIENT CONTAGIOUS? WHAT DRUGS WOULD WORK TO TREAT IT? THERE WERE SO MANY UNKNOWNS IN AN EVER-CHANGING SITUATION.
THEY WERE MANAGING LARGE TEAMS RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING OUR HOSPITALS AND THEY WERE HANDS-ON IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THEIR STAFFS' PERSONAL SAFETY, AS WELL AS MAKING TREMENDOUS SYSTEM AND FACILITY CHANGES TO KEEP OUR HOSPITALS OPERATING AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.
THEY WERE PERSONALLY MAKING ROUNDS AND CARING FOR INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS.
THEY WERE CELEBRATING WHEN THOSE PATIENTS RECOVERED AND THEY WERE GRIEVING WHEN A COVID STRUGGLE ENDED ANOTHER PATIENT'S LIFE.
THEY GAVE UNSELFISHLY OF THEIR TIME AND THEIR EXPERTISE TO MEET OFTEN.
MANY TIMES, THEY MET ON LITTLE OR SHORT NOTICE WITH CITY AND STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO OFFER THEIR MEDICAL EXPERTISE.
THEY CARVED OUT TIME DURING THEIR BUSY DAYS AND THEY WERE AVAILABLE AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY,
[00:05:04]
AND EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK FOR OVER A YEAR.IN ADDITION TO THESE DUTIES, THEY HAD TO LEARN NEW SKILLS JUST LIKE THE REST OF US, LIKE ZOOM AND HOW TO GIVE PRESS CONFERENCES.
THEY WERE COMMITTED TO EDUCATING AND INFORMING OUR COMMUNITY, AND THEY WILLINGLY JOIN THOSE PRESS CONFERENCES SOMETIMES AS MANY AS THREE A WEEK.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, SENIOR CITIZENS, AND CONCERNED FAMILIES, SOON CAME TO KNOW THESE DOCTORS AND TRUSTED THEM, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD NEVER MET THEM FACE-TO-FACE.
DOCTORS, THE CITY OF AMARILLO IS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY AND TODAY WE ARE HONORED TO GIVE EACH OF YOU A KEY TO THE CITY, SIGNIFYING OUR TRUST IN YOU AND OUR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR SERVICE, YOUR SACRIFICE, AND YOUR LEADERSHIP IN A TIME OF NEED.
PLEASE, GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE] NOW, THESE GUYS ARE HUMBLE AND THEY'RE HATING THIS, [LAUGHTER] BUT I LOVE IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ENDURE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF IT.
I'M GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO SPEAK ABOUT EACH ONE OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY.
I'D LIKE TO INVITE THE CITY COUNCIL JUST TO JOIN ME UP HERE, MAYBE TWO OF YOU ON EACH SIDE.
MAYOR PRO TEMPORE IS GOING TO GRAB EACH CERTIFICATE AND KEY, BUT DR. BELL, WILL YOU JOIN US UP HERE? JUST A FEW WORDS TO SPEAK ABOUT DR. BELL.
THE VERY FIRST TIME I HEARD THE NAME TODD BELL WAS FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, CASEY STONE AND HER EXACT WORDS WERE, "DR. TODD BELL IS A NATIONAL TREASURE." AT THE TIME I THOUGHT, "WELL, IT'S PRETTY AWESOME." BUT AS TIME WENT ON, I BEGAN TO REALIZE THAT WAS REALLY NOT HYPERBOLE.
EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC, WE STRUGGLED TO GET OUR MINDS AROUND THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT THIS WOULD TOUCH.
WE WERE ALL HAVING TO SHIFT OUR THINKING TO MUCH LARGER SCALE NUMBERS AND THAT WAS DIFFICULT TO DO.
BUT SOON ENOUGH ALL OF US, EVERYONE HERE BEGAN TO SEE SHORTAGES IN THINGS, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRODUCTS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW A SHORTAGE IN WAS WITH REGARD TO COVID TESTING.
WE NEEDED TESTING SUPPLIES, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO TEST THE PEOPLE THAT WE NEEDED TO TEST IN ORDER TO KEEP THE SPREAD FROM SKYROCKETING.
THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF SOMETHING THAT MOST OF US HAD NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE.
WITHOUT VTM, A NASAL SWAB CAN'T TRAVEL AND STILL PREDICT AN ACCURATE TEST.
COVID TESTING WAS LIMITED BY THE FACT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THIS VIRAL TRANSPORT MEDIA.
BUT DR. BELL WENT DIRECTLY INTO THAT PROBLEM AND HE CREATED A RECIPE FOR MAKING OUR OWN VTM.
SOON, THE RECIPE WAS USED BY OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE STATE TO MAKE VTM AND IT OPENED UP THE ABILITY TO TEST THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS.
BECAUSE OF THIS, TEXAS IS PROUD TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT NO ONE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WHO'S WANTED TO BE TESTED HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE TESTED.
IF ONLY YOU HAD BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT FOR TOILET PAPER, [LAUGHTER] THEN WE WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN BETTER OFF.
BUT WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL DR. BELL FOR YOUR SERVICE AND WE'RE PLEASED TODAY TO PRESENT YOU WITH A KEY TO THE CITY FOR YOUR SERVICE.
PICTURE WITH ALL OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
GUYS, YOU ALL STAND AT THE BACKGROUND.
>> THINK ABOUT TOILET PAPER [LAUGHTER]
NOW, YOU GUYS MIGHT NOT KNOW, BUT HE'S THE NEW KID ON THE MEDICAL BLOCK IN OUR CITY.
ACTUALLY, TODAY IS IN ONE YEAR IN MY POSITION.
NOT ONLY DID WE SAY WELCOME TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO, BUT WE SAID WELCOME TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND HERE'S WHAT WE NEED AND WE NEED IT NOW, AND WE NEED YOU BE AVAILABLE AND BASICALLY HOP TO IT.
THE VA PRESENTS A REALLY UNIQUE PART OF OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO OPERATE IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM.
YES, YOU ARE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, BUT SOMETHING THAT DR. GONZALES DID, HE LANDED IN OUR COMMUNITY NOT HAVING MET ANY OF THESE PEOPLE FACE-TO-FACE
[00:10:03]
AND HE STRONGLY ADOPTED THE IDEA THAT HE WAS AN AMARILLOAN.LITERALLY FROM THE DAY HE TOOK THE HELM, HE CHANGED HOW OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY WITH INTERFACING WITH THE VA HOSPITAL.
THE VA BEGAN TO TAKE TRANSFERS FROM OUR HOSPITALS.
THEY HAD SPACE WHEN OUR OTHER HOSPITALS DID NOT HAVE BEDS.
AT THE CITY CLINIC WHEN THEY HAD VACCINE THAT THEY COULD NOT GET INTO ARMS AND THEY KNEW IT COULD BE IN ARMS AT THE CITY CLINIC, THEY GAVE US VACCINE WHICH WE WERE THEN ABLE TO REPLACE AS SOON AS OUR SHIPMENTS CAME IN.
I AM THRILLED TO HAVE YOU AT THE VA HOSPITAL AND I WANT THE ENTIRE CITY TO KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE BEEN AN AMARILLOAN FOR A YEAR, YOU HAVE HAD A TREMENDOUS IMPACT THAT WILL LAST, I THINK, FOR A VERY LONG TIME IN HOW OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY IS NOW ABLE TO BETTER COOPERATE AND WORK WITH THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IT'S WITH OUR PLEASURE THAT WE'RE PRESENTING YOU A KEY TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
>> OH, YEAH AM SORRY. I COULD DO THAT FOR YOU.
>> OUR NEXT TWO DOCTORS, DR. WEISS AND DR. LAMON TEAR, WERE TRULY ON THE FRONT LINES OF THIS BATTLE.
THE FRONTLINES OF OUR RESPONSE CENTERED REALLY AT NORTH WEST TEXAS HOSPITAL AND AT BAPTIST ST. ANTHONY'S.
THEY'RE BOTH CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS FOR THOSE HOSPITALS.
THEY WORKED TIRELESSLY TO MANAGE THE CHALLENGES OF THEIR STAFFS AND THEIR FACILITIES.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY WORKED FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THESE GUYS ARE TYPICALLY IN A COMPETITIVE ROLE WITH EACH OTHER.
I KNOW IT'S STRANGE TO THINK OF THAT IN A MEDICAL SENSE.
BUT TRULY, THE COLLABORATION THAT WE SAW BETWEEN OUR TWO HOSPITALS WAS HUMBLING, IT WAS LIFESAVING AND I THINK IT WAS COMMUNITY CHANGING PERMANENTLY.
THEY LED TEAMS THAT GREATLY EXPANDED OUR HOSPITAL CAPACITY TO MEET OUR NEEDS AS THE CRISIS GREW.
NOT ONLY ARE THEY ADDRESSING STAFFING ISSUES AND THERE WERE STAFFING ISSUES, BUT THEY ARE LITERALLY REBUILDING THE HOSPITAL WHILE IT IS BREAKING RECORDS FOR PATIENT POPULATION.
THEY ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO INCREASE ICU CAPACITY, THEY ARE WORKING ON VENTILATION SYSTEMS SO THAT WE ARE NOT CONTAMINATING DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HOSPITAL THAT ARE NOT COVID RELATED.
THEY LED TEAMS THAT DID ALL OF THIS WORK.
ALL THE WHILE, THESE GUYS WERE STILL SEEING PATIENTS, AND THEY WERE PROVIDING MEDICAL EXPERTISE TO US ANYTIME WE NEEDED IT.
BOTH OF YOU WERE A TREMENDOUS RESOURCE TO KEVIN STARBUCK AND TO CASEY STOTEN.
YOU WERE ALWAYS AVAILABLE AND I NEVER EVER SAW AN EGO WALK INTO THE ROOM ANYTIME I HAD A MEETING WITH THE TWO OF YOU.
YOU INSPIRED ME AND YOU HUMBLED ME, AND WITHOUT IT, OUR COMMUNITY WOULD HAVE LOST SO MANY LIVES.
IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT WE'RE PRESENTING THIS TO YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO JUST PAUSE FOR A MINUTE.
I WANT TO SAY THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE NOT VERY MUCH ALIKE [LAUGHTER] IF YOU KNOW THEM AT ALL.
DR. WEISS BECAME REALLY THE STAR OF OUR PRESS CONFERENCES EVERY WEEK.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A TALENT YOU KNEW ABOUT BEFORE THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT YOU ARE VERY GIFTED AS A PUBLIC SPEAKER AND AS A TEACHER.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT YOUR HEART WAS FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND AND TO KNOW THAT WE CARED ABOUT THEM AND HOW TO EDUCATE THEM TO MAKE THE BEST HEALTH DECISION THEY COULD MAKE FOR THEMSELVES.
I ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT AND CASEY TOLD ME THAT YOUR TEAM WAS ALWAYS A YES TO WHATEVER THE CITY ASKED YOU TO HELP THEM SET UP, DO, CONCEPTUALIZE, OPERATE.
JUST THAT YES ATTITUDE AND YES RESPONSE WAS SO HELPFUL DURING THE CRISIS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE IS DR. LAMON TEAR.
[00:15:01]
HE IS THE NO-NONSENSE PERSONALITY IN THE ROOM, AND I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT.HE IS JUST THE FACTS MAN APPROACH.
BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU, YOU GUYS TANDEM TO MAKE A VERY STRONG COMMUNICATIONS TEAM.
I THINK IT WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS TEAM BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR IT IN A LIGHTER APPROACH AND SOME PEOPLE WANT JUST THE FACTS.
BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU, WE COVERED A LOT OF BASIS FROM A CITIZEN'S POINT OF VIEW IN HOW THEY WANTED TO RECEIVE UPDATES AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE COVID CRISIS.
BSA, WAS A TREMENDOUS PARTNER DURING ALL OF THIS.
THEY WERE THE FIRST TO TRANSFER MODERNA VACCINES TO THE CITY.
I WAS THERE WHEN THAT OFFER CAME.
IT WAS IN THE MOMENT I SAW THE IDEA ON YOUR FACE.
YOU MADE THE OFFER MIKE TO CASEY AND SAID, "WE HAVE VACCINE.
YOU CAN GET IT IN ARMS FASTER THAN WE CAN GET IT IN ARMS." YOU GOT IT RIGHT OVER TO THE CLINIC AND CASEY DID HER JOB.
THEN AGAIN, WHEN THEY APPROVED THE PFIZER VACCINE FOR KIDS, YOU HAD VACCINE AVAILABLE BEFORE WE DID AND YOU KNEW WE COULD BE GETTING IT INTO TEENAGERS.
YOU OFFERED THE PFIZER VACCINE AND THAT WAS SO IMPACTFUL IN KEEPING THE MOMENTUM GOING AND GETTING THE CITY VACCINATED.
YOU GUYS WERE A TREMENDOUS PART OF HOW WE SUCCEEDED ON A NATIONAL SCALE OF BEING ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CITIES TO DO THE VACCINE ROLLOUT.
I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW THAT PART OF THE STORY TOO.
WOULD YOU GUYS PLEASE GIVE BOTH OF THESE DOCTORS AROUND OF APPLAUSE? [APPLAUSE].
>> I WANT US TO TAKE YOUR PICTURES TOGETHER.
>> BECAUSE THAT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT THAT YOU COLLABORATED TO SERVICE.
[LAUGHTER] [NOISE] LET'S DO ONE MORE.
WE GOT ONE MORE DOCTOR, THEN WE'LL DO EVERYBODY. SORRY [INAUDIBLE].
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [BACKGROUND]
>> THANKS, [INAUDIBLE]. I APPRECIATE.
>> THEN LAST IS DR. SCOTT MILTON.
I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE ANY NOTES ABOUT SCOTT BECAUSE THERE'S JUST SO MUCH IN MY HEART TO SAY.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK SCOTT HAS THE HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD.
WHAT YOU LAY AWAKE AT NIGHT AND WORRY ABOUT ON A BIG SCALE OF IMPACTING SO MANY PEOPLE AND HAVING TO THINK FORWARD.
I CAN'T TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT I LOOKED AT HIM AND I SAID, "DR. MILTON, HOW FAST IS THIS GOING TO MOVE? HOW BIG IS IT GOING TO LAND? TELL ME WHAT THE TIMING ON IT IS GOING TO BE." HE ALWAYS CALMLY, LOGICALLY, REASONABLY, WORKED THROUGH THE INFORMATION THAT HE HAD AND HE GAVE ME THE BEST ANSWER HE COULD GIVE ME IN THAT MOMENT.
I KNOW HE WAS GETTING THOSE SAME QUESTIONS FROM CASEY, FROM KEVIN STARBUCK, FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS, FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE CITY.
BUT THE PRESSURE THAT SITS ON YOUR SHOULDER SCOTT, IT WAS SITTING ON YOUR SHOULDERS ALONE.
WE ONLY HAVE ONE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY AND YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO SURROUNDED YOU, WHO ENCOURAGED YOU, BUT YOU HELD THE WEIGHT OF IT FOR ALL OF US.
I'M GRATEFUL, THE CITY IS GRATEFUL AND I WANT TO SAY, YOU DID YOUR JOB WELL.
WE'RE VERY PROUD AND I'M PLEASED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT YOU A KEY TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF AMAZING THINGS THAT WE COULD SAY ABOUT DR. MILTON, BUT I WILL LEAVE YOU GUYS WITH THIS ONE THING.
IF SOMEONE HAD A COVID CASE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND THEY WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR IT, DR. MILTON SAW THEM.
HE ROUNDED ON EVERY SINGLE PATIENT WHO WAS COVID POSITIVE AND HOSPITALIZED IN OUR CITY AND OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THAT IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
THAT'S A PRETTY AMAZING STATISTICS GOTTEN.
IT JUST REVEALS HOW DEDICATED YOU'VE BEEN DURING ALL OF THIS TO SERVE WHOEVER NEEDED HELP.
WE'RE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR IT [NOISE]
[00:20:11]
YES, I WOULD LIKE THE GROUPS, SO DOCTORS CAN WE ALL MOVE TO THE MIDDLE? [BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] THANK YOU, GUYS.[BACKGROUND] GIVE A MINUTE FOR THAT DOOR TO GET CLOSED.
ARE OUR MIC'S ON LYNN? [NOISE] YEAH. [NOISE] THEY ARE? OKAY [NOISE] TESTING THEM.
OKAY. THAT FEELS BETTER. YEAH. THANK YOU.
OKAY. NOW, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA,
[PUBLIC ADDRESS]
WHICH IS PUBLIC ADDRESS, AND I WILL TURN THAT OVER TO JENNIFER RAMIREZ.OKAY. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
YOUR INPUT AND YOUR OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TO SHARE THEM.
AT EACH POSTED MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS TO ENSURE ALL WHO WISH TO SPEAK ARE ABLE TO.
WE LIMIT EACH SPEAKER'S TIME TO THREE MINUTES.
AT THE END OF TWO AND A HALF MINUTES, A WARNING BEEP WILL SOUND FROM THE TIME CLOCK SO THAT YOU HAVE TIME TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND STATE LAW, SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO ITEMS ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
DOING SO WILL ENSURE WE ARE ALL FOLLOWING THE GUIDELINES AND ARE ABLE TO HAVE EFFECTIVE AND BENEFICIAL MEETING FOR ALL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS PROCESS AND FOR YOUR VALUABLE INPUT.
THE FIRST SPEAKER TODAY WILL BE JAMES SHANK AND UP NEXT AFTER THAT WILL BE TOM SHERLING.
[NOISE] WELCOME. ANYWAY, GOOD TO BE BACK.
HEY, JUST WANTED TO START TALKING TODAY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S MEETING, WHICH INVOLVES 3C TODAY ON THE COS. ON MAY 25TH, YOU'LL HAVE A COUNCIL MEETING AND I WATCH THE COUNCIL MEETINGS AND REQUEST SOME OF YOU TO USE YOUR MICROPHONES A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
YOU KNOW, YOU GET UP HERE AND YOU CAN HEAR IT, ESPECIALLY ON TV.
NOW, YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE CITY HALL AND I WAS INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU'RE HAVING TO SAY THERE, BUT ALSO HAD IN MIND THAT SINCE THAT WAS A PART OF THE BOND PROJECT, THAT YOU REALLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO START MESSING WITH THAT FOR THREE YEARS.
BUT INSTEAD NOW WE'RE MOVING ON THAT.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, AS YOU WENT THROUGH THE 5.5 MILLION TO FIX THIS BUILD AND TO GET IT UP TO RELEASE RUNNING AND 28 AND 31.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS WHAT I CONSIDERED A VOTE AT A WORK SESSION, BASICALLY.
A CONSENSUS THAT WENT ON AND YOU TOOK AN ACTION FROM THERE THAT WAS ALMOST LIKE YOU HAD A VOTE.
WHICH I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT NEEDS TO BE UNBUNDLED IS PRESENTING TO THE AUDIENCE AND THE CITIZENS WHAT 5.5 MILLION DOLLARS WOULD DO TO THIS BUILDING.
[00:25:04]
WHAT 28 MILLION DOLLARS WOULD DO TO THIS BUILDING.WHAT 31 MILLION WOULD DO TO REALLY AN OLDER BUILDING THAN THIS ONE.
THE ACTION PLAN WAS REALLY TREATED AS AN AGENDA AND NOW HERE WE ARE TODAY FIXING OR RECEIVE INFORMATION ON GETTING A SEAL.
WHEN IT WAS HAPPENING, I WAS WATCHING IT ON TV AND I ACTUALLY SAID OUT LOUD, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA TO BASICALLY VOTE ON IT.
WHICH IT LOOKED LIKE THAT`S WHAT HAPPENED.
WE HAVE A P3 COMMITTEE, CIVIC CENTER COME HERE.
P3. I HOPE YOU'LL EXPLAIN THAT WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH HERE IN A LITTLE WHILE AND GET AN UPDATE FROM THEM FOR NEXT STEPS.
HERE WE ARE BACK IN CIRCLING BACK, TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S SEVEN MONTHS AGO, WAS VOTED DOWN 62 PERCENT TO 38 PERCENT BY THE CITIZENS.
WHICH I WISH WE WOULD DO OUR ELECTIONS FOR MUNICIPAL IN NOVEMBER.
YOU WOULD HAVE THIS TURNOUT AND WE'D GET MORE OF A CONSENSUS OF THE WHOLE CITY OF WHO SHOULD BE SITTING.
THEN THE LAST ONE WAS ANOTHER THING.
IT'S 1D POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE CIVIC CENTER.
WE TALKED ABOUT BRINGING IN SOME BACK WHEN YOU TRIED TO START THE FIRST ONE, BUT IT WAS LIKE NO, WE'RE JUST GOING TO DO 300 MILLION AND BUILD ONE.
UP NEXT IS TOM SHERLING AND ON DECK IS JUSTIN FURROW.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU-ALL FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SPEAK BEFORE THE COMMISSION TODAY.
I KNOW IT'S A PRIVILEGE AND A HONOR BECAUSE YOU ALL DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO US IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.
BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS JAMES SAID A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT I WANTED SAY BUT WHAT I WANTED TO CIRCLE AROUND IS, THAT WHEN I WAS RUNNING FOR OFFICE, I TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF CITIZENS IN THIS TOWN WHO REALLY FELT DISCONNECTED FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.
THEY FELT LIKE THEIR VOTE DIDN'T COUNT, AND MY CONTINUING ON WITH THIS CO TODAY, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TELLING OUR CITIZENS, YOUR VOTE DIDN'T COUNT.
THAT ELECTION NOVEMBER DIDN'T MEAN A THING.
BUT WHAT WE DECIDED IS WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DECIDE TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO START PHASE ONE, WHICH WAS TEAR DOWN CITY HALL.
THAT'S WHAT IT SAID IN ALL THE NEWS RELEASES.
I WENT BACK LAST FEW DAYS LOOKING AT NEWS REPORTS, PULLING UP KMR. [INAUDIBLE] , AMARILLO GOLD NEWS, AND EVERY ONE OF THEM HAD IN PHASE ONE WAS A TEAR DOWN CITY HALL.
I JUST WISH WE WOULDN'T LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO SEND A FALSE MESSAGE TO THE CITIZENS, THAT WE DON'T LISTEN.
IF YOU DECIDE TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AT LEAST LET THE PEOPLE VOTE.
LET THEM EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS.
DON'T JUST GO OUT WITH WHATEVER VOTE IT MIGHT BE.
I WOULD JUST LIKE FOR YOU-ALL TO LET THE CITIZENS GO OUT AND SAY, YAY I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T NEED A NEW CITY HALL.
I JUST DON'T LIKE THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO PAY FOR IT.
THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, AND THEN ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THAT WERE PRESENTED, THE 31 MILLION COMPARED TO THE 28 MILLION, THAT IS REALLY NOT A GOOD NUMBER.
BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE GONE UP TREMENDOUSLY.
IF YOU TAKE WHAT WE SEE TODAY, A 20-30 PERCENT RISE, I THINK IT'S ALL IN THE NEWS THE OTHER DAY.
BUILDING MATERIALS UP 30 PERCENT.
IF YOU TAKE 30 PERCENT AND ADD IT TO THE PROJECTION, YOU SAID NO MORE THAN 35 AND IT WAS 31, WE'RE NOT IN THE BALLPARK YET.
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO JUST SIT BACK, TAKE OUR TIME.
LET'S LOOK AT IT, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
I'M IN AGREEMENT ON A LOT OF THINGS.
ALL I WANT TO DO IS LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.
UP NEXT IS JUSTIN FURROW AND AFTER THAT WILL BE MICHAEL FORD.
[00:30:04]
I WANT SPEAK TODAY ABOUT THE THOMPSON POOL PROJECT IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT PROPERTY BUY THAT YOU'LL BE DISCUSSING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.TODAY, THE QUESTION WILL BE ASKED IS THE POOL READY.
I ASKED THE QUESTION ARE WE READY FOR THE POOL? I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE THOMPSON POOL PROJECT IN NORTHEAST QUARTER PROPERTY BUY WHICH IS UNDER DISCUSSION EXECUTIVE SESSION.
MY NAME IS JUSTIN FURROW, 71 YEARS AGO.
MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT A HOUSE IN THE AREA OF 24TH AND GRAND.
MY GRANDMOTHER STILL LIVES IN THIS HOUSE.
FOUR GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY LIVE IN THIS AREA OF TOWN.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN BY THANKING OUR CITY LEADERS FOR THE NEW INVESTMENTS IN OUR PART OF TOWN.
I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO USING THE NEW POOL AT THOMPSON PARK.
BUT I'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CITY LEADERS THE NEED FOR NEW AND UPGRADED INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THESE PROJECTS.
I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT THE REASON FOR THE NEED OF THE NEW POOL AT THOMPSON PARK WAS THAT THE ORIGINAL POOL WITH OLD, AND THIS DESCRIBES THE ENTIRE PART OF THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF AMARILLO.
BY MOVING THE POOL TO THE NORTH END OF THE PARK, TRAFFIC WILL ALSO MOVE TO THE NORTH ENTRANCE OF THE PARK LOCATED ON HASTINGS AVENUE. THIS ROAD IS OLD.
IT IS THE MOST EFFICIENT ROUTE THOUGH FROM MY HOUSE TO THE POOL AT THOMPSON PARK IS NARROW, IT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF TRUCKS THAT USE THIS ROAD.
THE INTERSECTIONS NEAR THE POOL WILL NEED UPGRADING.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PRAISE THE CITY LEADERSHIP FOR BRINGING IN THE WAREHOUSES AND THE INDUSTRIES ALONG NORTHEAST LOOP 335.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT IN YOUR NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE NEW PROPERTY IN THIS AREA, THAT YOU FIGURE IN THE NEEDED UPGRADES TO MAKE THIS PROPERTY SUCCESSFUL.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND CITY LEADERSHIP THAT THE SURROUNDING ROADS IN THIS AREA ARE ALSO OLD.
ROADS THAT WERE DESIGNED 100 YEARS AGO DO NOT MEET THE MODERN STANDARDS.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE CORNER OF NORTHEAST 24TH AND EASTERN.
YESTERDAY THE CITY CAME OUT AND WORKED ON THIS CORNER.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THEY DID BECAUSE A FEW MONTHS AGO I BUSTED A SHOCK ON MY TRUCK IN A POTHOLE ON THIS VERY SECTION OF ROAD.
BUT LIFE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS INTERSECTION HAS TAUGHT ME THAT THE WORK THAT WAS DONE WILL ONLY LAST A SHORT TIME.
THE INTERSECTION FLOODS WHEN IT RAINS, UNDERMINING THE ROAD BASE, AND THE INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THAT INTERSECTION, BRINGS IN RAW MATERIALS ON TRUCKS THAT FAR OUTWEIGH THE DESIGN LIMITS OF THIS ROAD.
IN A YEAR'S TIME, WE'LL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT WERE FIXED YESTERDAY.
I BEGIN BY TELLING YOU MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT A HOUSE IN THIS NORTHEAST QUADRANT AREA.
FOR THE LAST 71 YEARS MY FAMILY HAVE PAID TAXES THAT WERE USED TO BUILD AMARILLO.
MY FAMILY AND OTHERS LIKE US IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT THROUGH OUR TAXES, HAVE INVESTED IN SOUTHWEST AMARILLO BY GIVING YOU A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE AND MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE TO LIVE YOUR DAILY LIVES.
I'M JUST ASKING FOR RETURN ON THIS INVESTMENT.
THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT IS IN GREAT NEED OF UPGRADING SO THAT THE QUALITY OF LIFE MATCHES THE REST OF AMARILLO, AND NEGOTIATING TO BUY PROPERTY IN NORTHEAST QUADRANT, ARE YOU BUDGETING NOT ONLY TO BUY THE PROPERTY, BUT MAKING THE UPGRADES NECESSARY TO THE SURROUNDING AREA.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT THE CITY WILL BE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO US IN THE AREA.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE NEW POOL AND THE PROPERTY PURCHASE FOR THE FUTURE JOBS THAT YOU WILL GIVE US IN NORTHEAST AMARILLO.
IDEAS FOR GRADES, BUT THANK YOU.
NEXT IS MICHAEL FORD, AND ON DECK IS ALAN FEINGOLD.
I'M GOING TO ADJUST THIS MICROPHONE.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT TO [INAUDIBLE] DIFFICULT FOR GUYS LIKE ME.
[INAUDIBLE] DID YOU KNOW I WAS COMING TODAY? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I RISE TO SPEAK ON TWO ISSUES TODAY.
THE FIRST ISSUE IS 3C ON YOUR AGENDA.
I'LL MAKE TO BRIEF POINTS REGARDING YOUR AGENDA ITEM; ONE THE PROPOSAL IS ILLEGAL ON IT'S FACE AS TEXAS LAW FORBIDS THE USE OF CEOS FOR THREE YEARS AFTER THE VOTERS HAVE REJECTED AN IDENTICAL PROJECT TO THE POLLS.
VOTERS REJECTED YOUR PACKAGE OF PROJECTS UNDER PROPOSITION A, IN NOVEMBER, INCLUDING THE $22 MILLION PROJECT TO RELOCATE CITY SERVICES TO THE AMARILLO HARDWARE BUILDING, END OF STORY FOR THREE YEARS.
TWO IN ARRIVING HERE TODAY, YOU BLATANTLY VIOLATED THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FURTHER TAINTING YOUR ACTIONS TODAY.
WELL, YOU PROPERLY NOTICE THE CITY HALL RENOVATION UPDATE UNDER ITEM 1C ON YOUR MAY 25TH AGENDA, THERE WERE NO LEGAL NOTICE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL'S RECEIVING A PRESENTATION FOR $35 MILLION CONVERSION OF HARDWARE BUILDING, THE CITY COUNCIL DELIBERATIONS REGARDING THE PROS AND CONS OF STAYING HERE OR GOING NOR THE CONDUCT OF A STRAW POLL, THE CITY COUNCIL, BY THE MAYOR FOLD BY WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CITY STAFF TO PROCEED WITH PLANS TO CONVERT THE AMARILLO HARDWARE BUILDING IN A NEW CITY HALL.
VIOLATIONS OF TAKING A STRAW POLL OR THE CITY COUNCIL AND DELIVERING DIRECTION TO THE CITY STAFF IS ESPECIALLY EGREGIOUS VIOLATION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THE SECOND MATTER CONCERNS ONE B ON YOUR AGENDA VERY DIFFERENT AND I HATE TO RAIN ON THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION TODAY, BUT UNDER FEDERAL LAWS GOVERNING EMERGENCY USE BY AUTHORIZATIONS OF
[00:35:01]
THE CURRENT UNAPPROVED COVID VACCINES ARE ISSUED UNDER THE LAW CLEARLY STATES THAT ANYONE CONSIDERING RECEIVING ONE OF THESE INJECTIONS BEING PROVIDED INFORMED CONSENT.WHAT IS INFORMED CONSENT? IS IT HEARING ONLY ONE SIDE OF THE STORY? IS IT ONLY ABOUT THE CONTINUOUS MANTRA COMING FROM THIS CHAMBER AND THIS CITY GOVERNMENT EXTOLLING HOW GREAT THIS WONDERFUL TECHNOLOGY IS WITH NO ZERO FORMATION ALSO ON THE HARMS THAT THESE INJECTIONS CREATE OR ARE CAUSING.
SINCE YOU ONLY HEAR ABOUT LOTTERIES, DONUTS, BEER AND JOINTS BEING PROVIDED AS INDUCEMENTS THAT'S IN WASHINGTON STATE TO BRIBE PEOPLE INTO TAKING THESE UNAPPROVED EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND BECOME PART OF THE EXPERIMENT FOR TWO YEARS, HOW ABOUT SOME COUNTERPOINT.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC'S OWN VARIOUS DATABASE THERE HAVE BEEN 294,801 ADVERSE EVENTS REPORTS SUBMITTED TO THEIR THROUGH MAY 21ST, 2021.
CRITICALLY, CDC HAS STOPPED TRACKING ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE CONTRACTED COVID AFTER BEING VACCINATED.
INSTEAD, ONLY OPTING TO TRACK PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN HOSPITALIZED OR HAVE DIED FROM THESE VACCINES, AND WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS ACCORDING TO CDC? HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE 717,619 AND DEATHS ARE 5,165.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, WE'RE NOW ONLY FINDING THE RESULTS OF THESE EXPERIMENTAL SUBSTANCES GO INTO THE BODY WHERE THEY GO AFTER BOTH THE HARVARD STUDY AND A JAPANESE GOVERNMENT STUDY SHOW THAT THESE TOXIC SPIKE PROTEINS DO NOT STAY IN INJECT INSIDE INTO DELTOID, BUT RAPIDLY DISPERSE AND CONCENTRATE IN THE OVARIES, THE HEART, THE BRAIN, THE LIVER, SKIN, AND SALIVARY GLANDS.
NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GIVING THESE TO OUR KIDS.
THIS IS PERHAPS THE MOST INSIDIOUS OF ALL.
CHILDREN ARE ONE THIRD OF OUR POPULATION AND ALL OF OUR FUTURE.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE DATA THAT WOULD SUPPORT THIS, THAT CHILDREN WHO'D RARELY HAVE ANY COVID SYMPTOMS FROM COVID OR DYING FROM THESE EXPERIMENTAL INJECTIONS.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. IT'S WELL PAST TIME THE END THIS PROPAGANDA.
STOP LISTENING TO PEOPLE WHO ONLY STAND TO PROFIT FROM THESE INJECTIONS TO PEOPLE WHO BEAR NO LIABILITY IF THEY'RE WRONG ABOUT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND START TELLING PEOPLE THE TRUTH ABOUT THESE INJECTIONS SO THEY MIGHT EXERCISE TRUE INFORMED CONSENT. THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS ALAN FEINGOLD AND ON DECK IS ALAN ABRAHAM.
>> [NOISE] I DIDN'T HAVE ANY INTENTION OF ADDRESSING THIS COUNCIL ABOUT COVID, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO LET THAT GO BY WITHOUT A COMMENT.
CERTAINLY PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE INFORMED CONSENT.
BUT WHEN WE'VE HAD OVER 600,000 DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES FROM COVID AND WE HAVE A PRECIPITOUS DROP IN THAT NUMBER AFTER SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF PERSONS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, I THINK IT BEHOOVES US TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE.
BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THIS COMMISSION SHOULD SERIOUSLY CONSIDER HAVING A MEETING CONCERNING PUBLIC HEALTH AND RESPIRATORY DISEASE IN GENERAL, SO THAT THE PUBLIC DOES NOT GET MISLED IN THE FUTURE.
I ADDRESSED THE COMMISSION ABOUT 1/2 DOZEN TIMES CONCERNING THE MATTER OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE, LONG BEFORE ANYBODY HAD HEARD OF COVID.
I DO THINK THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING WHERE YOU HAVE PHYSICIANS SUCH AS THE EXPERTS THAT YOU HAD HERE, ADDRESS THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS ON A PERSON TO PERSON BASIS.
NOW, I WANTED TO ADDRESS YOU ON A MATTER CONCERNING EMPLOYMENT IN THE CITY.
I THINK IT'S 3B, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE IT VERY SHORT.
FOR PERSONS WHO ARE DOING HEAVY DUTY LABOR, THE CITY OF AMARILLO HAS CONSISTENTLY UNDERPAID THEM FOR DECADES.
YOU NEED TO BRING UP THAT WAGE TO AT LEAST $12 AN HOUR.
IT'S NOT ONLY A MATTER OF FAIRNESS, IT'S A RUDIMENTARY MATTER OF COMMON SENSE.
IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT OBTAINS A SKILL OVER A PERIOD OF 2-4 YEARS AND ARE HARD WORKERS AND THE CITY DOES NOT CONTINUALLY RAISE THEIR WAGES OR DOES NOT RAISE THE WAGE IN A WAY COMPARABLE TO WHAT THEY COULD GET IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY, IT'S HIGHLY LIKELY YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
IT'S BECOME A REAL SERIOUS ISSUE IN TERMS OF YOUR WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENTS.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK IN THE NEAR FUTURE ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD WATER LINES.
YOU'VE MADE A GOOD START ON IT, BUT THERE'S WAY MORE TO BE DONE.
IF YOU WANT TO GET THIS DONE IN A TIMELY FASHION, SAY WITHIN THE NEXT 5-6 YEARS, YOU'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THE MATTER OF UNDERPAYING PEOPLE WHO ARE LABORING IN WATER AND SEWER. THANK YOU.
[00:40:03]
THE LAST SPEAKER IS ALAN ABRAHAM.>> OBVIOUSLY NOT ALPHABETICALLY.
MR. ABRAHAM, FROM RANDALL COUNTY.
MAYOR, COUNCIL, I RISE TO SPEAK TO ITEM 1G, WHICH IS A NON ACTIONABLE ITEM TODAY AND I RECOGNIZE THAT.
I JUST WANT TO PUT A POSITIVE WORD IN, A WORD OF SUPPORT FOR A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN UNDERWAY FOR A YEAR NOW AT LEAST AND THAT'S CALLED THE REZONING INITIATIVE FOR THE NORTH HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M NOT A PART OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD AS FAR AS A RESIDENT, BUT I AM A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY FROM MY INVOLVEMENT BACK WITH THE ST. ANTHONY'S HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT AND BEEN VERY CURRENT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHAT I WANT TO SAY AND MAKE CLEAR TO EACH AND EVERYONE BECAUSE ZONING SOUNDS LIKE A CITY PROJECT AND REALLY THIS PROJECT IS A CITY ASSISTED PROJECT.
THE CITY IS LENDING ITS ASSISTANCE WITH ITS SPECIALTY STAFF AND WITH SOME FINANCES TO HELP FOUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR CITY START WORKING TOWARD THE FUTURE, TO UNBIND THEMSELVES FROM THE PAST AND TO MOVE FORWARD FOR A FUTURE.
THE NORTH HEIGHTS HAS A TREMENDOUS AND IMPORTANT FUTURE AS A NEIGHBORHOOD, IT'S A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, PRIMARILY WITH COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE TRACKS ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE.
BUT TO THE NORTH, IT'S REALLY RESIDENTIAL AND THAT'S WHAT THOSE RESIDENTS WANT.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY INITIATIVE TO GET THAT ZONING WHICH IS THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND USE IN A COMMUNITY, SO THAT LAND CAN BE INCENTIVIZED FOR DEVELOPERS TO COME IN AND FILL IN THE BLANK SPACES AND HELP DEVELOP A PATTERN [NOISE] OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES ALONG THE BUSINESS CORRIDORS THAT ARE ALREADY ESTABLISHED.
LET'S JUST THINK OF THIS AS NEIGHBORHOOD INITIATED, CITY ASSISTED.
IT COMES FROM THIS DOCUMENT, THE NORTH HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN, AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMARILLO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATED JANUARY 10, 2017.
I SUPPORT THIS AND I WISH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL WHEN IT BECOMES ACTIONABLE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 1,
[1.A. Review agenda items for regular meeting and attachments;]
ITEM A ON THAT, WE HAVE A VERY THICK AGENDA PACKET TODAY COUNCIL, SO THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY JUST RIGHT UP FRONT AT THE START OF THE MEETING TO BRING ANYTHING TO THE CITY MANAGER'S ATTENTION.BUT BEFORE WE MOVE THROUGH THIS, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT EXPLAINED OR HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IN THE PACKET?
>> YES, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ITEM 2H ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPLANATION ON THAT.
>> IF YOU'D LIKE, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TALK ABOUT IT.
>> YEAH, THAT'S FINE. LET'S TALK ABOUT IT NOW.
>> GLENN, CAN YOU OR STEPHANIE? I'M NOT SURE WHO NEEDS TO COME UP AND SPEAK TO THAT.
WE'VE GOT GLENN LAVENDER, DIRECTOR OF FLEET, AND STEPHANIE COGGINS.
>> STEPHANIE COGGINS, PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER [OVERLAPPING].
>> GLENN LAVENDER, A SUPERINTENDENT FOR FLEET.
HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST LIKE A BRIEF EXPLANATION.
I SEE THE ITEM IS APPROXIMATELY A LITTLE OVER TWO MILLION DOLLARS, SO IF YOU CAN JUST SHARE WITH US THE EQUIPMENT AND STUFF [NOISE] THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE PURCHASING.
>> YES, MA'AM I'D BE HAPPY TO. MAYOR, COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY THIS AFTERNOON.
>> CAN YOU RAISE YOUR MICROPHONE JUST A LITTLE BIT SO WE CAN? [OVERLAPPING].
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> IS THAT BETTER? OKAY, VERY GOOD.
THIS ITEM IS ACTUALLY A SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT THAT THE CITY OF AMARILLO USES BY MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS; SOLID WASTE, STREET DEPARTMENT, WASTEWATER COLLECTION, AND ALSO WASTEWATER DISTRIBUTION.
[00:45:05]
I DO REALIZE THAT THE TRANSMITTAL MEMO LICENSE THAT GOT SENT THROUGH FOR SOME REASON JUST SAYS SOLID WASTE AND SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL.BUT THIS IS FOR 25 LARGE VEHICLES THAT WE USE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, EVERYTHING RANGING FROM RESIDENTIAL SIDE LOADER TRUCKS TO 12 YARD DUMP TRUCKS FOR STREET DEPARTMENT TO USE, TO SERVICE UTILITY TRUCKS FOR WATER AND WATER DISTRIBUTION.
ONE ROLL-OFF TRUCK WILL BE USED BY ANOTHER DEPARTMENT FOR THE ROLL-OFF CONTAINERS THAT WE HAVE IN TOWN AND A WATER TRUCK THAT WILL BE USED FOR STREET DEPARTMENT TO DO VARIOUS DUTIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
IF YOU ADD THOSE UP, IT COMES UP PRETTY HIGH, $2.6 MILLION.
THAT'S TRUE, THAT IS A LARGE AMOUNT.
BUT THESE TRUCKS, IT'S 25 TRUCKS ON THIS ITEM, THEY WILL BE USED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AMARILLO IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
>> THANK YOU, GLENN. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
I JUST WANTED OUR CITIZENS THAT ARE WATCHING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE SPENT.
>> YES, MA'AM. AS THEY DRIVE AROUND TOWN THEY'LL SEE THE NEW TRUCKS DRIVING AROUND.
HOPEFULLY, THE NEW TRUCKS THAT WILL HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WHERE THEY'RE MORE EFFICIENT, AND STUFF LIKE THAT TO HELP US CONTROL OTHER COSTS THROUGHOUT THE OPERATIONS.
>> THANK YOU, GLENN. BEFORE STEP DOWN REAL QUICK.
>> FREDA, YESTERDAY THE CITY MANAGER TOLD ME THAT WE HAD 2.55 IN THE GIVEN BUDGET; $2.55 MILLION.
THIS TOTAL COST IS $2.63 MILLION, SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT OVER BUDGET TO PURCHASE THESE TRUCKS.
I'M ASSUMING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PROCURE THIS THROUGH LOCAL ROBERTS TRUCK CENTERS.
IS THAT CORRECT? WE'RE ABLE TO USE THE LOCAL VENDOR TO BUY THESE?
>> YES SIR. THEY ALL ARE COMING FROM THE LOCAL VENDOR AND THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THAT ALSO.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE AGENDA BID WENT OUT, LINE ITEM NUMBER 3 ONLY CALLED FOR TWO TRUCKS.
WHILE THAT WAS OUT, LINE ITEM NUMBER 9, WHICH WAS A TRUCK FOR HOLLYWOOD ROAD TREATMENT PLANT, WAS CANCELED.
THEY WANTED TO GO WITH A SIMILAR TRUCK THAT WAS ON LINE 3.
WHEN WE REDO THE MATH AND STUFF, YES, THE BID IS FOR $2.63 BUT WE ACTUALLY HAD $2.75 IN A BUDGET, SO WE'RE ACTUALLY 14,000 UNDERBUDGET WHEN YOU FIGURE THAT OTHER TRUCK THEY GOT MOVED AROUND.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR GIVING YOU INACCURATE INFORMATION AS I MENTIONED YESTERDAY.
>> WHAT HAPPENED WAS WE DIDN'T INCLUDE THAT ONE TRUCK IN THE PROJECTED BUDGET FOR THIS PURCHASE SO.
>> THAT'S GREAT TO KNOW; I APPRECIATE THAT.
THEN I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME OTHER FUNDS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE PURCHASE OF THESE SO.
BOTTOM LINE FROM YOU GLENN, YOU'RE GETTING WHAT YOU NEED AND WE'RE NOT OVER BUDGET.
>> THAT IS CORRECT, SIR. YES, SIR.
WE TRY TO STAY UNDER OUR BUDGET AS BEST WE CAN.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING AVAILABLE AND READY TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
COUNCIL, ANYTHING ELSE IN THE PACKET YOU WANT TO? MAYOR [INAUDIBLE] , ARE YOU SATISFIED THEN ON THAT? CAN WE LEAVE THAT ITEM ON THE CONSENT NOW OR?
>> YES, MAYOR, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 1B WITH A CORONA VIRUS UPDATE, MR. CITY MANAGER.
[1.B. Coronavirus update;]
>> HI, MAYOR. WE HAVE CASIE STOUGHTON THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH HERE TO GIVE US THE UPDATE.
I'LL ALSO TOUCH VERY BRIEFLY ON ARP FUNDS.
>> IT'S GOOD TO STACK TALL PEOPLE AND SHORT PEOPLE STAGGERED [LAUGHTER] SO THE MICROPHONE GETS LOTS OF USE TODAY.
I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE PROCLAMATION EARLIER.
ONE GOOD THING ABOUT WEARING A MASK IS THAT NO ONE CAN SEE YOU CRY.
GOOD TO ALSO HAVE A MINUTE TO COLLECT MYSELF, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
JUST A GOOD TEAM TO WORK WITH.
AS OF TODAY, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 34,534 CASES OF COVID-19 IN POTTER AND RANDALL COUNTIES, 17,574 CASES IN POTTER COUNTY, AND 16,960 CASES IN RANDALL COUNTY.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 33,511 RECOVERIES AND WE ARE THANKFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY RECOVERY.
WE DO HAVE 762 DEATHS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THAT LEAVES US WITH 261 ACTIVE CASES.
OUR NUMBERS ARE GETTING BETTER, SO THE SEVEN-DAY ROLLING POSITIVITY RATE IS AT TWO PERCENT.
THE POSITIVITY RATE AT THE DRIVE-THROUGH TESTING SITE IS CURRENTLY AT ZERO PERCENT.
WE'RE TESTING MAYBE ONE OR TWO PATIENTS A DAY SO IT'S NICE THAT THEY'RE TESTING NEGATIVE AND THE FIVE-DAY NEW CASE AVERAGE IS DOWN TO 13 NEW CASES PER DAY.
YESTERDAY, RGA 34'S HOSPITALIZATION PERCENTAGE WAS AT 2.27 PERCENT.
THAT MEANS THAT JUST OVER TWO PERCENT OF ALL HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS HAVE COVID-19.
THE PUBLIC HEALTH DRIVE-THROUGH DOES REMAIN OPERATIONAL AT THE TESTING SITE.
INDIVIDUALS CAN CALL 3-786-300, AND YOU PROBABLY ALL HAVE THAT PHONE NUMBER MEMORIZED NOW, CAN BE SCREENED, AND DIRECTED TO THE TEST SITE.
[00:50:01]
THE VACCINATION CLINIC IS ALSO OPERATIONAL AT THE CIVIC CENTER THROUGH ENTRANCE NUMBER 4, THEY'RE IN THE REGENCY ROOM.WE'RE OPEN UNTIL 7:00 PM TONIGHT SO IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR VACCINE, NOW'S A GREAT TIME TO DO THAT.
AMARILLO PUBLIC HEALTH HAS GIVEN A TOTAL OF A 132,956 DOSES OF THE MODERNA VACCINE SPLIT AROUND TWO-THIRDS.
FIRST DOSE IS A THIRD SECOND DOSES.
WE'VE ALSO GIVEN JUST OVER 609 DOSES OF THE PFIZER VACCINE TO ADOLESCENTS, AGE 12-17.
THURSDAY, OUR TEAM WILL BE BACK AT THE EL ALAMO COMMUNITY CENTER FROM 10:00-5:00 FOR THE MOBILE COVID VACCINATION CENTER.
THE EXPERT VACCINE ALLOCATION PANEL, WE HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY.
I CAN PROVIDE AN UPDATE HERE OR I AM HAPPY TO SEND AN EMAIL THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.
>> YEAH, WE DO HAVE A FULL AGENDA. LIST IT BY EMAIL, IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> I HAVE A FEW, IF IT'S OKAY.
HOWARD, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> WHY DON'T YOU GO FIRST, COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> I'M SORRY I JUMPED IN THERE.
I KNOW WE'RE A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY LIKES TO COMMUNICATE, KEEP EVERYTHING OUT IN THE OPEN, AND I THINK THAT DEVELOPS TRUST.
MR. FORD'S COMMENTS, AND I BELIEVE IT'S FINE GOLD, TO HELP ADDRESS BOTH OF THOSE.
>> THIS MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE, BUT I'M JUST GOING TO THROW THEM OUT THERE AND ASK.
OUR INFORMED CONSENT, IS THAT A PUBLIC DOCUMENT? CAN WE PROVIDE THAT SO THAT IF OUR PUBLIC WANTED TO READ, "HEY, WHAT ARE WE SIGNING IF I GO DOWN THERE TO TAKE THE VACCINE?"
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE HAPPY TO PUT THAT ON AMARILLOALERTS.COM.
WE HAVE A FAIRLY THICK PACKET OF INFORMATION THAT WE PROVIDE TO PATIENTS WHENEVER THEY COME TO CLINIC.
INFORMED CONSENT IS YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE TO PROVIDE INFORMED CONSENT.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE INFORMED CONSENT, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WE HAVE A FAIRLY THICK PACKET THAT WE PROVIDE TO PATIENTS WHENEVER THEY COME FOR THEIR VACCINE.
WE'RE HAPPY TO PUT THAT ON AMARILLOALERTS.COM.
WE HAVE THAT AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THEMSELVES, SO YES, WE DO HAVE THAT.
>> WE WILL HAVE INFORMED CONSENT FOR THE MINORS AS WELL.
IS THAT A SEPARATE PACKET THAT THE PARENT SIGNS OR ARE THOSE THE SAME?
>> IT IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT BUT IT'S THE SAME INFORMATION ABOUT THE VACCINE ITSELF.
THE INFORMATION IS DIFFERENT IN JUST HOW THE PARENT SIGNS AS OPPOSED TO SIGNING FOR SELF.
>> CASEY, AS A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION TO THAT, HAVE WE PROVIDED INFORMED CONSENT TO EVERYONE WHO'S COME TO GET A VACCINE IN OUR CLINIC?
>> YES, AND WE PROVIDE INFORMED CONSENT FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
IF YOU'RE COMING FOR TB TESTING OR IF YOU'RE COMING FOR A TETANUS SHOT OR IF YOU'RE COMING FOR STD TREATMENT, WE PROVIDE INFORMED CONSENT FOR ALL OF THOSE PROCEDURES.
THIS ISN'T NEW BUT IT IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT WE DO.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK IN THE FOLLOW-UP WITH THAT, ARE WE FOLLOWING UP FOR OUR VACCINE CLINIC INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A GROUP? DO WE HAVE A POLICY, A PROTOCOL, IN PLACE WHERE IF ANYBODY DID HAVE AN ADVERSE REACTION, THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO US SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE WE'RE IN FRONT OF THAT?
>> YES, WE HAVE TWO WAYS THAT PEOPLE DO THAT.
THEY HAVE ACCESS TO US THROUGH OUR PHONE NUMBER, THE 3-786-300.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MEMORIZED YET, IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY NOW.
WE ALSO HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS AND THOSE ARE ON THE INFORMED CONSENT, SO COVID@AMARILLO.GOV.
PEOPLE HAVE REACHED OUT A NUMBER OF TIMES.
IF THEIR ARM IS STILL SORE OR SOMETIMES YOU MAY HAVE A LITTLE REDNESS, WE'RE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH [NOISE] THOSE SITUATIONS INDIVIDUALLY, AND SO PATIENTS ARE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO US.
USUALLY, I RESPOND TO THEM JUST BECAUSE THE TEAM IS WORKING AND SO I'M AT THE COMPUTER AND ABLE TO DO THAT.
I'LL USUALLY CALL OR RESPOND VIA EMAIL TO PATIENTS.
>> CASEY, JUST COLLOQUIALLY, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE NECESSARILY SCIENTIFICALLY TRACKING IT, BUT HAVE YOU HAD ANY LIFE-THREATENING TYPE RESPONSES OR ANY FEEDBACK THERE THAT YOU FELT LIKE IT WAS DANGEROUS TO SOMEONE'S HEALTH TO RECEIVE THAT VACCINE?
>> NO, WE'VE HAD MAYBE ONE, MAYBE TWO SITUATIONS WHERE WE ADMINISTERED BENADRYL.
>> THAT WAS AT THE CLINIC. WE [NOISE] DO HAVE PATIENTS WAIT 15 MINUTES AND AFTER THEIR VACCINE, IF THERE'S EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES, MAYBE THEY HAVE LOTS OF ALLERGIES TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT MEDICINES,
[00:55:01]
THEN WORKING WITH THAT PATIENT, THEY MAY WAIT 30 MINUTES BUT I THINK WE HAD ONE PATIENT WHERE WE'VE ADMINISTERED BENADRYL BUT WE'VE NOT HAD ANY SITUATIONS THAT WERE MORE SERIOUS THAN THAT.>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?
>> I'VE GOT A COMMENT. YOU RECOGNIZED ALL THESE DOCTORS, WHICH HELPS US FOR OVER A YEAR.
CASEY WAS ONE OF THOSE MEDICS.
WE'VE RECOGNIZED HER, BUT [LAUGHTER] SHE WAS A BIG PART OF GETTING US THROUGH COVID.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT AGAIN.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WE SHOULD SAY IT 100 MORE TIMES THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD NOT BE WHERE IT IS IN ITS SUCCESSFUL RESPONSE TO THE COVID PANDEMIC BUT FOR THE LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
IT IS A TEAM OVER THERE AND IT'S A TEAM THAT PARTNERS WELL WITH THE TEAM HERE IN THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND CASEY, YOU ARE SUCH A VITAL PART OF THAT TEAM.
WE'VE WATCHED YOU GROW IN YOUR LEADERSHIP, BUT YOU HAVE A NATURAL GIFT OF LEADERSHIP AND IT IS FILLED WITH COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE TO SERVE OUR CITY AND WE'LL KEEP THANKING YOU [LAUGHTER]
>> YES, VERY GREAT POINT, HOWARD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU [APPLAUSE] EXCELLENT.
>> AREN'T YOU GLAD YOU HAD THE MASK ON? [LAUGHTER]
>> I AM. BACK TO WEARING THE MASK.
[LAUGHTER] THANK YOU. [LAUGHTER]
>> JUST ONE MORE THING [OVERLAPPING] FROM CORONAVIRUS.
THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS, WE ARE CURRENTLY ANALYZING, STILL ANALYZING THE INTERIM FINAL GUIDANCE THAT WE RECEIVED.
IT'S 150 PAGES OF DOCUMENTS THAT GIVE THE OUTLINES ON WHAT THE ARP FUNDS CAN BE SPENT ON, HOW THEY CAN BE SPENT, WHAT TYPE OF PROJECTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE COMMENT PERIOD FOR JURISDICTIONS IN CITIZENS TO COMMENT ABOUT WHAT IS IN THE INTERIM FINAL GUIDANCE WILL END JULY 16TH.
THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE THEY WILL REVIEW, INCORPORATE IF APPROPRIATE, THOSE COMMENTS.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHEN THE FINAL GUIDANCE WILL COME OUT.
BUT AS SOON AS WE HAVE THE FINAL GUIDANCE, WE WILL WORK WITH YOU ALL TO GET INPUT FROM COUNCIL TO PREPARE OPTIONS FOR WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD IN COMPLIANCE WITH ERP GUIDELINES.
>> I HEARD YOU GIVE AN ANSWER IN A MEETING THIS WEEK.
A CITIZEN HAD DUTIFULLY READ THE SUMMARY OF WHAT ARP FUNDS COULD BE SPENT ON BECAUSE THEY'RE THEY'RE COMING WITH STRINGS ATTACHED TO THEM.
YOU CAN ONLY SPEND THEM FOR CERTAIN THINGS.
THIS VERY WELL-INFORMED CITIZEN BROUGHT UP THIS CATEGORY.
BUT YOUR POINT WAS, THAT WAS A SUMMARY MAYBE OR TWO OR THREE-PAGE SUMMARY OF A 150 PAGES OF GUIDANCE.
WHAT GOT SUMMARIZED AND INTERPRETED BY THIS CITIZEN GETTING INFORMED WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY THE FUNDS COULD BE SPENT FOR.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, NUMBER 1, WE CAN'T SPEND THOSE DOLLARS ON ANYTHING.
THEY'RE GOING TO COME WITH RESTRICTIONS.
EVEN IF YOU'RE READING A SUMMARY, WHICH THAT'S ALL I'VE [NOISE] BEEN READING ABOUT IT TOO, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T DEDICATED TIME TO PROCESS 150 PAGES OF WHAT'S NOT EVEN YET FINAL GUIDANCE.
IT'S SOMETIMES IN THE SUMMARIZATION OF THOSE LARGE PIECES OF INFORMATION.
IT'S HARD TO ACCURATELY PORTRAY WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THOSE DOLLARS.
I THOUGHT YOU DID THAT VERY WELL IN A MEETING THIS WEEK.
>> GREAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL THAT ARE CORONAVIRUS-RELATED? MOVING ON. ITEM 1C.
[1.C. Receive Civic Center P3 Committee update and recommended next steps;]
THIS ITEM IS UNIQUE AND I THINK THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP IN PUBLIC ADDRESS.IF YOU DON'T MIND, MR. CITY MANAGER, WE'VE GOT A STAND-IN CITY ATTORNEY HERE, MICK MCKENNA IS HERE WHILE OUR CITY ATTORNEY IS OUT THIS WEEK.
BUT JUST TO ADDRESS HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TALKING ABOUT OPTIONS FOR A PROJECT THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY ON A BOND BALLOT.
JUST BECAUSE THERE WAS A BOND IN NOVEMBER RELATED TO A CIVIC CENTER PROJECT, HOW IS IT THAT COUNCIL CAN MOVE FORWARD? LOOKING AT OPTIONS AND BEGINNING TO RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATE WHAT NEXT STEPS SHOULD BE RELATED TO THAT PROJECT.
[01:00:01]
>> AMIRA, I THINK YOU JUST SAID IT, THERE'S NO RESTRICTION ON PLANNING.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
HERE'S UPDATES AND RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS.
[NOISE] YOU ADDRESS TIMING DURING YOUR PLANNING SESSIONS.
WE'LL CERTAINLY BE READY TO GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE AT THAT TIME.
>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNCIL WAS JUST WANTING TO KNOW HOW WE MOVE FORWARD AND PLAN THE PROJECT.
THE EXISTING FACILITY HAS DESPERATE NEEDS AND IT'S NOT COMPETITIVE, SO WE NEED TO KNOW.
WE DID LISTEN TO CITIZENS AND WE HEARD WHAT THEY SAID.
NOW WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT INPUT IN MIND.
THAT VERY INPUT IS WHAT'S GOING TO GUIDE US ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
TO THAT END, THERE WAS A TWO-PERSON, BASICALLY A SCOUTING COMMITTEE APPOINTED BACK IN FEBRUARY.
I THINK IT WAS JUST TO GO AND EXPLORE WHAT IDEAS THERE MIGHT BE FOR FUNDING A CIVIC CENTER PROJECT DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT WAS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
IN NOVEMBER, WHAT WAS ON THE BALLOT WAS FOR THE PROPERTY TAXPAYER TO BEAR ALL OF THE COST OF DOING THAT PROJECT.
DEFINITELY LISTENING TO WHAT CITIZENS SAID IN NOVEMBER.
NOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, LOOKING AT ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS TO POSSIBLY DO THIS TYPE OF PROJECT BUT PAY FOR IT WITHOUT THIS SAME BURDEN ON THE PROPERTY TAX PAYER.
MR. CITY MANAGER, I'M GOING TO HAND IT TO YOU WITH THAT BACKGROUND.
UNLESS COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE PUBLIC ADDRESS COMMENTS ABOUT [NOISE] WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS OR HOW WE'RE MOVING FORWARD ON THIS?
>> NO, MAYOR, I DON'T. I THINK YOU'VE COVERED IT FOR ME.
>> OKAY. MR. CITY MANAGER, I'LL PASS IT TO YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO GO AND HIT IT OFF TO ANDREW FREEMAN.
HE WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE ON THAT SUBCOMMITTEE AND WAS PRESENT AT ALL THE MEETINGS, ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
OF COURSE, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO.
ARE YOU GOING TO BRING UP THE WHOLE TEAM?
>> YES, I'LL INTRODUCE SOME HERE IN A FEW MINUTES, BUT YES, JASON HERIK WAS THE OTHER MEMBER OF THE TEAM.
HE VOLUNTEERED MAINLY TO GIVE THE PRESENTATION.
[LAUGHTER] HE'S AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS [INAUDIBLE] ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE SLIDES AND THEN THE RECOMMENDED INDIVIDUALS ARE HERE TO GO OVER THEIR BACKGROUND ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS AS WELL.
YES, JUST TO FURTHER ELABORATE, [OVERLAPPING].
>> [INAUDIBLE] YOU FOR THIS AGAIN. [OVERLAPPING] WHAT THE COUNCIL ASKED YOU TO [NOISE] DO WHEN YOU GUYS AGREED TO SERVE ON THIS WAS TRULY GO OUT AND FACT FINE.
GO OUT AND DISCOVER WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS, WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES DOING? IS THERE A WAY TO DO THIS OTHER THAN ASKING THE PROPERTY TAXPAYERS TO BEAR THE ENTIRE COST OF IT? WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE RESULTS OF THAT.
CERTAINLY, YOU GUYS ESSENTIALLY YOUR SEARCH PARTY ON HOW TO FUND THIS PROJECT DIFFERENTLY.
WITH THAT IN MIND, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT AT THE BEGINNING TOO.
WITH THAT IN MIND, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO RECEIVING BASICALLY A REPORT ON WHAT YOU GUYS FOUND WHEN YOU WENT OUT, DID THIS RESEARCH.
>> [INAUDIBLE] YES, JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND TO ELABORATE ON THAT.
IT WAS NOVEMBER 2020, SHORTLY AFTER THE ELECTION, IS WHEN THIS COMMITTEE WAS FORMED.
JUST LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, IT WAS TO LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT DIDN'T FULLY FUND THIS PROJECT ON GENERAL PROPERTY TAXES ALONE.
GETTING A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE SAYING HOW OTHER CITIES, OTHER STATES HAVE DONE IT.
OVER THOSE FIRST COUPLE OF MONTHS JASON AND I FOCUSED ON JUST RESEARCHING ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING WE COULD FIND AS FAR AS PROJECTS IN TEXAS OR PROJECTS AND ADJACENT STATES, JUST HOW DID THEY DO IT? HOW IS IT FUNDED? WHO ARE THE DIFFERENT PARTIES INVOLVED IN? A LOT OF SIMILARITIES STARTED TO COME OUT OF WAYS THAT THESE CAN BE LAYERED TO NOT JUST BE GENERAL OBLIGATION, PROPERTY TAX DEBT FUNDED PROJECTS AS WHAT WE'RE FINDING.
PARTICULARLY RELATED TO CONVENTION CENTERS, HOTELS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, WHICH IS WHAT P3 STANDS FOR, ARE SUCCESSFUL IN AS WELL AS SIMILAR PROJECTS LIKE THE GLOBE NEWS FACILITY ACROSS A STREET.
THESE ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE FOUND.
THEN DURING THAT TIME-FRAME, WE ALSO STARTED TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL P3 PARTNERS THAT HAVE DONE THIS SUCCESSFULLY AND WHICH PROJECTS THEY WORKED ON.
OUR VERY NEXT STEP WAS WE WANTED TO MEET THESE INDIVIDUALS, LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT OUR PROJECT, WHERE WE COULD MAYBE BENEFIT FROM A P3 PARTNERSHIP.
IN FEBRUARY 2021, WE DEVELOPED A WRITTEN CONCEPT REQUESTS BASICALLY TO SEND OUT TO THESE FIVE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE MET WITH TO GET THEIR RESPONSES OF THEIR BACKGROUND, WHAT THEIR QUALIFICATIONS WERE THEIR REFERENCES.
[01:05:02]
WE ADD FOUR RESPONSES.THEN APRIL THROUGH MAY OF THIS YEAR WE MET WITH EACH ONE DISCUSSED THERE.
THERE'S SOME MIDDLE INVOLVED MYSELF AND JASON AS WELL AS DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
WE WANTED TO GET MORE INPUT IN THE PROCESS AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK, WHICH WAS VERY GOOD.
THEN THAT LED TO, WE HAD A COUPLE OF FINALISTS OUT OF THAT PROCESS.
WE HAD ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS WITH MAYOR, WAS ABLE TO ALSO SIT IN ON ONE OF THOSE AND PROVIDE SOME FEEDBACK THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THEN THAT'S LED US HERE TO TODAY.
WE'RE WANTING TO INTRODUCE THE ONE THAT WE'RE BASICALLY RECOMMENDING THROUGH THIS FACT-FINDING PROCESS THAT IT DOES.
WE BELIEVE IT MAKES SENSE TO BRING ON A PRIVATE PARTNER TO WORK WITH US ON THIS ENDEAVOR, TO INVESTIGATE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS AGAIN, LOOK AT OUR REVENUE SOURCES.
MAYBE CONSIDER OTHER WAYS TO OPERATE THE FACILITY THAT WOULD SAVE DOLLARS AND MAKE THIS PROJECT VIABLE.
THAT GROUP IS GARFIELD PUBLIC-PRIVATE LLC.
WE'VE GOT THEM HERE TODAY TO REALLY PRESENT THEIR BACKGROUND, LETS YOU GET A LITTLE MORE FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
BASED ON THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL, WE WOULD RECOMMEND ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS PROCESS.
BUT WITH THAT SAID, I'LL INVITE GREG GARFIELD AND STEVE GALBRAITH UP TO GO THROUGH THEIR SLIDESHOW AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
THEN AFTER THAT, MYSELF, JASON THEM ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANYTHING YOU MIGHT HAVE TO ASK.
>> ANDREW, ON P3, IS IT PROFESSIONAL, [OVERLAPPING] PUBLIC-PRIVATE? IS IT WHAT THAT IS? THAT'S ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS WANTED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> IT'S PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
>> THE THREE PS COME FROM PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. GOT IT.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREW. HI, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE TODAY. I'M GREG GARFIELD, PRESIDENT OF GARFIELD PUBLIC/PRIVATE.
STEVE GALBRAITH IS WITH ME SITTING OVER HERE.
STEVE IS A PARTNER IN THE COMPANY AND OUR CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER.
HE'S AN ARCHITECT BY BACKGROUND.
ACTUALLY, BEFORE HE JOINED US FOR 23 YEARS, HE WAS WITH RTKL ARCHITECTS AND FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS HEAD OF THEIR HOSPITALITY DIVISIONS.
A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND MIXED USE PROJECTS, CONVENTION CENTER SPACE, EXHIBIT MEETING, BALLROOM SPACE, ETC, AS [BACKGROUND] JUST TO RIGHT-CLICK.
THERE'S A BUNCH OF SLIDES HERE.
I'M GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THESE WITH ALACRITY, BUT PLEASE, IF I'M MOVING TOO FAST, STOP. ASK QUESTIONS.
WOULD LOVE FOR THIS TO BE A DIALOGUE.
WE ARE A NATIONAL DEVELOPER FOCUSING ONLY ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
IT'S ALL WE'VE DONE SINCE 1998 WHEN WE FOUNDED THIS COMPANY.
WE HAVE DONE PROJECTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT A BILLION AND A QUARTER THAT WE'VE COMPLETED IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS AND [NOISE] ALMOST 300 MILLION MORE IN DESIGN AND NEARING A CONSTRUCTION START.
THIS WILL BE HARD TO SEE, BUT HOPEFULLY IT'S EASIER TO READ IN YOUR PACKETS.
IN FACT, I'M GOING TO OPEN UP MY LAPTOP HERE SO I CAN SEE IT A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
THIS SLIDE HERE JUST SHOWS OUR REPRESENTATIVE DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING FROM K-12 SCHOOLS TO GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDINGS TO HEADQUARTERS, HOTELS, CONVENTION CENTERS, EVENTS CENTERS, PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS.
THE SIMILARITY TO ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS BEING THAT THEY WERE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC PROJECTS THAT NEEDED SOME CREATIVE THINKING ON HOW TO GET THEM FINANCED, HOW TO GET THEM FUNDED, A CREATIVE DEAL STRUCTURE, AND THEY WANTED THE PRIVATE SECTOR DELIVERY EFFICIENCIES IF PREDICTABLY ON TIME AND ON BUDGET DELIVERY OF HIGH-QUALITY PROJECTS.
>> WE PREFER UNDER-BUDGET ACTUALLY.
>> [LAUGHTER] AS DO WE. WE GOT SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF THOSE THAT WE HAVE DELIVERED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE IN UNDER BUDGET.
WE'VE DONE STUFF FROM COAST TO COAST.
WE ARE VERY ACTIVE IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW.
YOU'LL SEE ON THIS SLIDE THAT WE ARE INDESIGN ON THREE HOTELS, AND CONVENTION CENTERS IN ABILENE, CONROE, AND BAYTOWN.
ALL OF THOSE WILL BREAK GROUND IN THE NEXT 60-120 DAYS.
BY THE WAY, WE HAVE DEVELOPED THREE PROJECTS FOR LUBBOCK, TEXAS.
THE OVERTON HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER WAS OUR FIRST, STILL THE ONLY FULL-SERVICE HOTEL IN LUBBOCK, AND THEY'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.
THAT LED TO OUR BEING SELECTED AS THE DEVELOPER OF THE BUDDY HOLLY HALL OF PERFORMING ARTS AND SCIENCES, WHICH JUST OPENED UP IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, AND WE'RE INDESIGN ON THE NEW LUBBOCK COUNTY EXPO CENTER.
[01:10:03]
WE'RE HAPPY TO BE MOVING NORTH TO [INAUDIBLE] TO HOPEFULLY CREATE THOSE KIND OF RELATIONSHIPS HERE THAT WE'VE HAD IN LUBBOCK.THIS SLIDE JUST HAS MORE OF THE FOCUS ON SPORTS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND PERFORMING ARTS.
THREE PROJECTS ON HERE, COMPLETED DEVELOPMENTS.
I MENTIONED THE BUDDY HOLLY HALL, WHICH IS OUR LARGEST PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO DATE.
WE ALSO DEVELOPED THE ECCLES THEATER IN SALT LAKE CITY DOWNTOWN, AND THE DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.
THREE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS DEVELOPED IN THE LAST DECADE, AND ALL OF THEM WITH VERY CREATIVE DEAL STRUCTURES AND WITH COMPONENTS OF PUBLIC FINANCING AND PRIVATE FINANCING, BUT ALSO EVENTS CENTERS ON HERE AND ARENAS AS WELL.
LET ME MOVE THROUGH HERE, TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
THE THREE PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS I MENTIONED SHOWN ACROSS THE TOP, THE DPAC IN DURHAM, ECCLES THEATER IN SALT LAKE CITY, AND BUDDY HOLLY HALL IN LUBBOCK, AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM, THE HUNTINGTON CENTER ARENA IN TOLEDO, OHIO, WHERE WE PROVIDED PLANNING SERVICES ON THAT PROJECT.
IN THE MIDDLE, THE MONROE EVENTS CENTER AND HEADQUARTERS HOTEL THAT WE DID STRATEGIC PLANNING WORK FOR THE CITY OF MONROE ON THAT, AND LUBBOCK COUNTY EXPO CENTER, AND EARLY RENDERING OF THAT PROJECT.
WE'VE GOT ONE SLIDE HERE WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON BUDDY HOLLY HALL.
BUDDY HOLLY HALL IS THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS.
MOST PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS HAVE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF PUBLIC FINANCING AND FUNDING THAT'S REQUIRED IN THE PROJECT.
WELL, WHEN WE WERE HIRED BACK IN 2012 TO DO THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR BUDDY HOLLY HALL, WE TOLD THEM WHAT THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE, WHAT IT WAS GOING TO COST, WHAT THE SCHEDULE WOULD BE TO DEVELOP IT, HOW THEY SHOULD APPROACH IT, AND WE LOOKED AT OPTIONS ABOUT HOW IT WOULD BE FUNDED AND FINANCED, AND THE GROUP THAT HAD HIRED US SAID, "WE DON'T WANT THE CITY INVOLVED, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT ALL OURSELVES." WE DID IT PRIVATELY. WE ADVISED THEM FORM A 501(C)(3), POPULATE THE BOARD WITH PEOPLE THAT CAN RAISE MONEY IN LUBBOCK AND PEOPLE THAT CAN ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTE MONEY TO THE PROJECT.
THAT 501(C)(3) BOARD IS CALLED LIPA, AND TWO OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD REPRESENTING THE TWO LARGEST FOUNDATIONS IN LUBBOCK, THEY MADE SUBSTANTIAL STARTING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROJECT, AND THEN WE HELPED THEM GO ABOUT RAISING THE ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR THE PROJECT.
BY THE TIME WE HAD COMPLETED THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT AND HAD A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE FROM THE CONTRACTOR, THEY HAD RAISED $93 MILLION TOWARD A $158 MILLION PROJECT.
WE HELPED THEM TO PUT TOGETHER A CONSTRUCTION LOAN WITH A CONSORTIUM OF LOCAL BANKS THAT WOULD FUND THE BALANCE OF THE PROJECT, AND THEY EXPECT TO HAVE THAT CONSTRUCTION LOAN PAID OFF PROBABLY WITHIN FIVE YEARS OF OPENING THE PROJECT, JUST THROUGH ADDITIONAL PRIVATE ONGOING FUNDRAISING.
BUT IT'S AN AMAZING PROJECT, I'D LOVE TO GIVE ANY OF YOU A TOUR IF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET DOWN TO LUBBOCK.
FINANCING AND FUNDING DISCUSSION, THIS MAYBE A LITTLE HARD TO READ ON THE SCREEN AS WELL, BUT I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BUDDY HOLLY HALL ALL READY, THAT'S THE COLUMN IN THE CENTER.
IN ADDITION TO THE PRIVATE FUNDRAISING THERE, WHICH INCLUDED NAMING RIGHTS, PHILANTHROPY, SALE OF PREMIUM SEATING, BOX SEATING, AS WELL AS PERSONAL SEAT LICENSES, AND GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISING, WE ALSO ENTERED INTO PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LUBBOCK INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, TEXAS TECH, AND BALLET, LUBBOCK.
BALLET ACTUALLY HAS A DEDICATED SPACE WITHIN THE BUILDING, ABOUT 22,000 SQUARE FEET, AND ALSO A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNITED SUPERMARKETS WHERE THEY ARE THEIR PROVIDER OF CATERING AND CONCESSIONS THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING.
THEY ALSO OPERATE A RESTAURANT IN THE BUILDING CALLED RAVE ON, AFTER THE BUDDY HOLLY SONG, WHICH IS SPECTACULAR, THE RESTAURANT.
THROUGH ALL THESE PARTNERSHIPS, WE WERE ABLE TO GENERATE FUNDS FOR THE PROJECT, AND WITH THE INCLUSION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND UNIVERSITIES, WE FOUND IN MANY COMMUNITIES, THAT CAN REALLY HELP TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES BECAUSE A LOT OF FOUNDATIONS WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO PROJECTS THAT HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL FOCUS.
ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE, WE HAVE THE DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE WE HAVE ECCLES THEATER IN SALT LAKE CITY.
I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE MORE THAN NORM FOR THESE TYPES OF PROJECTS IN TERMS OF THE SPLITS BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING, AND THEY WERE BOTH ABOUT 68 PERCENT MUNICIPAL BOND FUNDED AND ABOUT 32 PERCENT IN PRIVATE FUNDRAISING AND THROUGH NAMING RIGHTS.
[01:15:05]
BY THE WAY, THAT 32 PERCENT PRIVATE FUNDING WAS A SNAPSHOT AT THE TIME THAT WE FINANCED THE PROJECT.WE DON'T STOP RAISING MONEY AND GOING OUT AND TRYING TO RAISE NAMING RIGHTS.
WHEN AN ORIGINAL NAMING RIGHTS CONTRACT EXPIRES, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RE-UP THAT CONTRACT AND CREATE REVENUE DOWN THE ROAD AS WELL.
BUT EVEN IN THOSE CASES WHERE THOSE ARE MUNICIPAL BOND FINANCED, THOSE WERE NOT GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOT BACKED BY THE FULL FAITH AND CREDIT OF THE COMMUNITIES THERE.
IN THE CASE OF DURHAM, IT WAS AN INCREMENT OF THEIR CITYWIDE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX THAT FUNDED THE MAJORITY OF THE CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION THAT THEY USED TO FINANCE THAT PUBLIC PIECE.
IN SALT LAKE CITY, THEY USED INCREMENTAL SALES TAX FUNDS FROM A DOWNTOWN TIFF THAT WAS CREATED.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED TO FUND THEIR BASKETBALL ARENA DOWNTOWN, BUT THEY WERE ABOUT TO PAY OFF THE BONDS ON THEIR BASKETBALL ARENAS.
THE CITY IN THE COUNTY GOT TOGETHER, AND SAID, LET'S JUST EXTEND THE HORIZON OF THE COLLECTION OF THOSE INCREMENTAL TAXES AND WE'LL USE IT TO FUND THIS NEW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THAT THEY REALLY NEEDED DOWNTOWN.
ALL THESE PROJECTS HAVE PRETTY CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, AND EVERY COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT IN THE TOOLS THAT IT HAS AVAILABLE TO IT.
I THINK THE BULLETS ARE NOT SHOWING UP HERE ON THE SCREEN, BUT THIS IS A SLIDE THAT JUST TALKS ABOUT FACILITY OPERATION.
WE KNOW THAT YOUR CIVIC CENTER IS OPERATED BY THE CITY, AND WE'VE MET WITH [INAUDIBLE].
VERY SHARP, AND I THINK HE ALREADY KNOWS WHERE THE POTENTIAL SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE MIGHT BE TO HELP REDUCE THE SUBSIDY ON THE CONVENTION CENTER.
BUT WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE COMMERCIAL OPERATORS NATIONALLY IN WHAT WE MIGHT WANT TO, AND WE'LL TALK TO THE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE STAFF ABOUT THIS IS TO MAYBE START A DIALOGUE WITH ONE OR TWO OF THE COMMERCIAL OPERATORS NATIONALLY.
ASM IS ONE OF THEM, FORMERLY SMG, THEY'RE THE OPERATOR OF BUDDY HOLLY HALL AND SEVERAL OTHER VENUES THAT WE HAVE WORKED WITH THEM ON.
JUST TO BRING THEIR PERSPECTIVE TO LOOK AT THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ALREADY.
THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE.
WE'VE REVIEWED FOUR VOLUMES WORTH OF THE MASTER PLANNING WORK THAT WAS DONE BY THE DEKKER PERICH SABATINI, AND POPULACE TEAM.
WE'RE GOING TO DIG INTO THAT IN GREAT DETAIL, BUT WE MIGHT WANT TO GET A PEER REVIEW BY A NATIONAL OPERATOR OF VENUES TO SEE WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ON PRIORITIES, WHERE THE MONEY WOULD BEST BE SPENT THERE AND WHAT REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES THERE WOULD BE.
JUST A FEW BRIEF SLIDES ON THE APPROACH TO FINANCING AND FUNDING, IDENTIFYING AS MUCH UPFRONT CONTRIBUTION.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO EXPLORE THE MARKET AND SEE WHAT THE POTENTIAL IS FOR PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY AND NAMING RIGHTS, WHETHER IT'S FROM WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS OR FOUNDATIONS OR CORPORATIONS AND PUT TOGETHER A MENU OF OPTIONS, NAMING RIGHTS OPTIONS IN THE VENUE, WHICH COULD INCLUDE NOT JUST THE TITLE OF THE BUILDING, BUT IT CAN INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT SPACES IN THE BUILDING.
WE CREATE DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND PARTICIPATE BY CONTRIBUTING NAMING RIGHTS FUNDS TO THE PROJECT.
WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THE OPERATING PROFORMA FOR THE VENUE, THE ACTIVITY PROFILE.
I'VE MENTIONED THE REVENUE SOURCES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPLORING WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER STAFF AND POTENTIALLY WITH AN OUTSIDE OPERATOR AND SEE IF THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FINANCE ANYTHING THAT IS RECOURSE ONLY TO THE PROJECTED ANNUAL REVENUE FROM THE PROJECT, WHICH COULD INCLUDE NAMING RIGHTS AND SPONSORSHIPS.
THIS NEXT SLIDE, JUST SHOW SOME EXAMPLES OF THOSE POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCES.
PRIVATE FUNDRAISING OBVIOUSLY, NAMING RIGHTS, SPONSORSHIPS, SALE OF PREMIUM BOXES AND SUITES, PERSONAL SEAT LICENSES, OBVIOUSLY TICKETS THAT ARE SOLD AND THE BUILDINGS, A SHARE OF THAT, AS WELL AS RENT, TICKETING REBATES.
I KNOW THE CIVIC CENTER ALREADY HAS A DEAL WITH THE TICKETING PROVIDER, FACILITY FEES, CIVIC CENTER CHARGES THOSE AS WELL.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE SALES CONCESSIONS AND TAKING A LOOK AT THAT AND SEEING IF THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN OPTIMIZE THAT OR INCREASE THE MARGINS POTENTIALLY, BUT OBVIOUSLY BEING SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF LOCAL TENANTS.
WE'RE ALWAYS DOING HEAVY STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT
[01:20:05]
FROM THE OUTSET AND TALKING TO MAJOR TENANTS IN THE BUILDING AND MAKE SURE WE'RE BEING SENSITIVE TO THEIR NEEDS AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THEIR HOPES FOR THE PROJECT AS WELL.PARKING FEES AND OTHER REVENUE STREAMS THAT ARE A POTENTIAL REVENUE STREAMS HERE WILL BE EXPLORED DURING THIS PRE-DEVELOPMENT PERIOD.
THIS WAS FOR THE MONROE EVENTS CENTER AND HEADQUARTERS HOTEL, WHICH WAS A STRATEGIC PLAN WE CONDUCTED FOR THE CITY OF MONROE ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO.
THE ONLY THING WE WANTED TO SHOW ON THIS SLIDE IS THAT OUR TEAM WAS ENGAGED TO LOOK AT DOING AND EVENTS CENTER ARENA DOWNTOWN.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ABOUT 7,000 SEAT VENUE AND AS WE DID THIS STAKEHOLDER, I THINK WE CONDUCTED MAYBE TWO DOZEN INTERVIEWS WITH STAKEHOLDERS DOWNTOWN.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM SAID, "IN ADDITION TO AN ARENA, WE REALLY NEED A HEADQUARTERS HOTEL, WE NEED A FULL-SERVICE HOTEL DOWNTOWN".
IN FACT, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY HOTELS IN DOWNTOWN MONROE.
WE ACTUALLY ADDED TO OUR SCOPE ENGAGING THE MARKET CONSULTANT TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF A 200 ROOM HEADQUARTERS HOTEL AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS A DEMAND FOR IT IN MONROE.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE TOP IMAGE THERE, IT WAS JUST THE ARENA PROJECT IN THE MIDDLE IMAGE THAT SHOWS THE ADDITION OF A HEADQUARTERS HOTEL THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN BUILT ON AN ADJACENT PIECE OF PROPERTY.
AS WE STUDIED IT FURTHER, WE SAID, "LET'S CREATE SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND EFFICIENCIES BY BUILDING THE HOTEL AS PART OF THE EVENT CENTER".
ACTUALLY INTEGRATING IT INTO THE FOOTPRINT OF THE ARENA AND WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE A LOT OF SPACES AND BRING THE OVERALL COST DOWN AND THE AMOUNT OF CITY INVESTMENT NEEDED WAS BROUGHT DOWN AS WELL, WHILE CREATING A GREATER ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR THE CITY OF MONROE.
WE'LL BRING THAT SAME CREATIVITY, NOT JUST TO THE DEAL STRUCTURING AND THE FINANCING, BUT IN THE DESIGN.
THESE AREN'T SHOWING UP ON THE SCREEN EITHER.
LET ME TALK THROUGH THESE BRIEFLY.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN PHASE 1 IS WHAT WE CALL A PRE-DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN.
WE DO THIS FOR EVERY SINGLE DEVELOPMENT WE DO.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SOLID FOUNDATION AND SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL WHERE THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WE HAVE A BLUEPRINT FOR THE PROJECT, HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST, WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE, WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE, HOW MUCH PUBLIC INVESTMENT IS GOING TO BE NEEDED, SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION ON WHETHER TO PROCEED INTO THE DESIGN PHASE WHEN WE START DESIGNING THE PROJECT AND DOING ALL THE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AND ULTIMATELY CONSTRUCTING THE PROJECT.
YOU'VE GOT HVS, WHICH IS A GREAT MARKET CONSULTANT.
WE WORK WITH THEM A LOT AND WE KNOW THEY'VE DONE A STUDY AS PART OF THE OVERALL MASTER PLAN THAT WAS COMPLETED BY THE DPS GROUP.
WE CAN WORK FROM THAT. AGAIN, WE WILL DIG INTO AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH HVS AS WELL AS THE CIVIC CENTER STAFF AND THE ARCHITECTURAL TEAM TO REFINE THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT AND A SPATIAL PROGRAM TO TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES FOR THE PROJECT.
IF WE WERE TO PHASE THIS DEVELOPMENT INTO COMPONENTS, WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT NEEDS AND WHAT SHOULD WE FOCUS ON FIRST? WHAT'S GOING TO BRING THE GREATEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT AND THE QUICKEST IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE TAXPAYERS OF AMARILLO.
WE PRODUCE DEVELOPMENT BUDGET AND SCHEDULE THAT'S BASED ON THAT PROGRAM AND WE'RE VERY ACCUSTOMED TO BREAKING OUT IF WE ARE PHASING THIS.
THE ARENA IN ONE PHASE, WHETHER THAT COMES FIRST OR SECOND, CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION OR RENOVATION.
WE'LL BREAK THOSE OUT INTO COLUMNS SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT EACH OF THOSE COSTS, AND IT'S A COMPLETE COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT BUDGET INCLUDING ALL THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND SOFT COSTS.
THEN WE WILL CREATE AN OPERATIONAL AND OWNERSHIP BUSINESS PLAN, WORK WITH THE CITY AND ITS FINANCE STAFF AND FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND BOND COUNCIL TO EXPLORE THE FINANCING OPTIONS FOR THE PUBLIC COMPONENT OF THIS AND BRING BACK A COMPLETE PLAN OF FINANCE FOR THE CITY'S CONSIDERATION.
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IF ONLY IF YOU GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED TO THE DESIGN PHASE, WE WOULD THEN PROCEED WITH THE FUNDRAISING AND THE FINANCIAL STRUCTURING OF THE PROJECT.
[01:25:01]
WE COULD START ON THE FUNDRAISING.WE COULD BE OUT THERE TALKING TO THOSE FOUNDATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO START GETTING AN EARLY SENSE OF THEIR COMMITMENT AND WHETHER THEY'RE WILLING TO PUT NAMING RIGHTS INTO THIS PROJECT.
I WOULD LIKE TO START THAT DURING THE PHASE 1 STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS, BUT THAT WOULD ALL BE PAPERED DURING THE DEVELOPMENT PERIOD AND DESIGN PERIOD.
IF THERE IS AN OPERATOR SELECTED, THAT WOULD OCCUR AND WE WOULDN'T NEGOTIATE WITH THEM DURING THIS PERIOD.
OBVIOUSLY ENGAGE THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM MEMBERS, ARCHITECT, GENERAL CONTRACTOR, ETC, OVERSEE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND OPEN TO PUBLIC.
THIS SLIDES IS GOING TO BE TOO HARD TO SEE.
THESE ARE REALLY COMPLEX PROJECTS AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF TEAM MEMBERS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
GARFIELD IS THE DEVELOPER INTERFACES BETWEEN THE OWNER AND ALL OF THOSE TEAM MEMBERS AND WE HELP THE CITY WITH THE SELECTION OF ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS, NEGOTIATING ALL THE CONTRACTS.
HALF OF THOSE TEAM MEMBERS MAY ACTUALLY BE SUBCONTRACTED TO GARFIELD PUBLIC-PRIVATE WHICH REDUCES CONTRACTUAL EXPOSURE FOR THE CITY AND SIMPLIFIES THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS.
BUT THEN WE WOULD ADVISE IN THE NEGOTIATION OF THE DESIGN AGREEMENT, THE CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT, OPERATING AGREEMENT, ETC.
I'LL STOP THERE AND JUST INVITE QUESTIONS.
>> JUST BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS, MY NAME IS JASON HERIK.
AS THE MAYOR SAID I'VE WORKED WITH ANDREW ON THE BEGINNING OF THE COMMITTEE.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS AND WHAT THIS ISN'T AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I AGREE WITH JAMES AND TOM WHO SPOKE EARLIER.
THE VOTE THAT WAS IN NOVEMBER TO ME WAS VERY CLEAR.
IF WE WANT TO DO A PROJECT THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS, IT CAN NOT LOOK LIKE WHAT WE DID.
WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE THE BURDENS OFF THE PROPERTY TAX OWNERS OR IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CITY OF AMARILLO WANT TO DO.
FRANKLY, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, OUR FOCUS WAS REALLY HOW CAN WE FIND SOMEBODY TO COME PARTNER WITH US WHERE WE CAN SHIFT THAT BURDEN AND SHIFT THOSE COSTS OVER TO THE PRIVATE MARKET AND SOME OF THE RISKS CAN BE TAKEN OFF OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
AS WE WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT ANDREW OUTLINES, WE WERE CHALLENGING THESE GROUPS TO COME TO US WITH CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.
YOU SAW SOME OF THESE IDEAS FOR POTENTIAL FUNDING THAT'S OUT THERE, THAT'S REALLY THE KEY.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET SOMEBODY THAT HAS AN EXPERIENCE LEVEL LIKE GARFIELD TO COME IN, WHO HAS DONE THESE PROJECTS ACROSS THE BOARD BECAUSE AMARILLO IS NOT UNIQUE IN THIS SENSE.
WE ARE NOT UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO PROJECTS, BUT WE DO NOT WANT TO TAP PROPERTY TAXES AND BURDENS ON OUR PROPERTY TAX OWNERS.
HOW CAN WE DO THAT? WELL, WE NEED TO FIND STRATEGIC PARTNERS THAT CAN COME ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS FOR US.
WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS, WE ARE NOT AT A POINT WHERE WE'RE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION FOR GOING FORWARD WITH ANYTHING THAT HAS DESIGN ELEMENTS TO IT OR EVEN MAYBE EVEN LOOKS LIKE THE OTHER PART.
WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THE ABILITY TO PARTNER WITH SOMEBODY THAT HAS ACCESS TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT IDEAS AROUND REVENUE STREAMING, ACCESS TO WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT AND POTENTIALLY TAP INTO THOSE REVENUE SOURCES.
THEN HOPEFULLY COME BACK TO YOU GUYS IN FIVE OR SIX MONTHS WITH A PROPOSAL THAT SAYS, THE CAPITALS STACK LOOKS DIFFERENT NOW, MAYBE THE PHASING IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
MAYBE WE'RE TOSSING SOME OF THESE PIECES, MAYBE WE'RE NOT DOING IT AT ALL BY THE WAY.
WE'RE ALSO CHALLENGING TO SAY, BY THE WAY, YOU MAY WANT TO BACK INTO A NUMBER THAT SAYS, YOU CAN'T DO EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO DO, YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING LESS.
ALL OF THOSE THINGS AT THIS POINT NEED TO BE EXPLORED.
THE PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH WAS TALKING WITH A LOT OF QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS AND GARFIELD REALLY ROSE TO THE TOP AS ONE TO PARTNER WITH WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.
I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GOING THROUGH THE DETAILS OF SOME OF THE QUALIFICATIONS THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEN WE'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT, I GUESS.
FIRST OF ALL, GREG AND STEVEN, WELCOME BOTH OF YOU TO AMARILLO.
VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THIS PROJECT AND I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
JASON, I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB THERE JUST CLARIFYING WHAT QUESTIONS WE'RE ASKING TODAY.
[01:30:03]
I THOUGHT THE COMMENT OR QUESTIONS WERE GOOD BECAUSE IT IS NOT ABOUT NOT LISTENING TO THE VOTERS, IT IS ABOUT WHAT THE VOTERS SAID.SO TAKING WHAT THEY SAID AND THEN MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IN THE PROCESS.
I'M JUST GOING TO OPEN IT UP, COUNCIL.
WE'VE SLOTTED THIS TO BE A LONG ITEM.
DON'T HOLD BACK ON ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE THIS IS GREG AND STEVEN ARE HERE JUST FOR YOU TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO ASK YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> IF I COULD SAY, I'M GOING TO BRING JASON ALONG WITH ME FOR ALL FUTURE PRESENTATIONS BECAUSE [LAUGHTER] HE WAS MUCH MORE CONCISE THAN I WAS.
>> EXPLAIN THOUGH, I KNOW YOU DO THIS FOR FUN OF IT, BUT THERE'S PROBABLY A COST.
WHAT DO YOU CHARGE THE CITY IF WE HIRE YOU TO DO THIS?
IN THIS CASE, WHAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, STEVE, YOU'VE GOT THE NUMBERS, RIGHT? COME UP HERE REAL QUICK IF YOU DON'T WANT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS.
TALK ABOUT THE FIVE-MONTH AND THE TWO-MONTH PERIOD.
>> AND THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE FOR THAT.
>> CURRENTLY WE'RE LOOKING AT A FOUR-PHASE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
PHASE 1 IS BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES.
PHASE 1A, WHICH IS ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AND PHASE 1B, WHICH IS ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
IT'S REALLY DIGGING INTO THE PLAN, CONSIDERING THE PHASING, LOOKING AT CURRENT CONSTRUCTION COSTS, PIECES AND ELEMENTS OF THE BUILDINGS THAT WE NEED AND THEN THE TIMING OF ALL THAT.
LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT ALONG WITH AN OPERATOR DECIDING, IS THIS ACTUALLY THE PROGRAM THAT WE NEED? THIS IS THE SPACES THAT ARE NEEDED BY THE USERS OF THE CONVENTION CENTER OR THE ARENA.
THEN GOING IN AND MAKING SOME CHANGES TO THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU'VE SEEN.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TIME SPENT ON PLANNING AND ARCHITECTURE.
THE FIRST PHASE IS ABOUT FIVE MONTHS AND IT'S PROBABLY IN THE ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF MAYBE $200,000.
THAT'S A TEAM MEMBER, THAT'S LEGAL FEES, THAT'S ARCHITECTS, THAT IS DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT TIME.
>> MARKET CONSULTANT, GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR UPDATED PRICING.
IT'S AN ENTIRE BUDGET IF WE THINK ALL THE COMPONENTS THAT WE NEED TO COMPLETE THE REPORT.
>> YEAH. THE FINAL TWO MONTHS ARE THE TEAM REALLY MAKING THE BIG CHANGES TO DESIGNS AND TAKING ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THE MEETINGS WITH THE OPERATORS, WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND STAFF, AND DOCUMENTING ALL OF THAT SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE.
THOSE COUPLE OF MONTHS, THAT'S A HARD NUMBER TO COME UP WITH, BUT IT'S MORE LIKELY IN THE RANGE OF MAYBE $300,000 TOTAL.
MUCH OF THAT, PROBABLY ABOUT HALF OF THAT, IS ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN DRAWINGS.
WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT, THEN I THINK THE GROUP WILL BE READY TO CONSIDER ENGAGING A CONSTRUCTION FIRM OR GOING OUT WORK FOR AN RFQ FOR A DESIGN-BUILD CONTRACT.
>> I'M GOING TO TAKE A CUE FROM JASON HERE AND BE SHORT.
THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, SIR, IS IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT $500,000 FOR THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT PERIOD.
>> THANK YOU. I LIKE THE SHORT ANSWER.
>> YES, SIR [LAUGHTER]. I'M LEARNING.
>> ANOTHER QUESTION IS, ARE YOU PROPOSING TO OPERATE IT OR JUST GET IT STARTED AND THEN WE OPERATE IT?
>> NO, SIR. WE ARE NOT AN OPERATOR.
WE ARE AN ADVISOR IN FACILITY OPERATIONS AND SO OBVIOUSLY THE CIVIC CENTER IS OPERATED RIGHT NOW BY THE CITY.
MANY CITIES OPERATE THEIR CIVIC CENTERS WITH THEIR OWN STAFF AND WE UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE A VERY GOOD STAFF.
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE CITY'S CONSIDERATION OF TALKING TO SOME THIRD PARTY OPERATORS.
I MENTIONED ASM IS ONE, SPECTRA IS ANOTHER.
THESE ARE FIRMS THAT OPERATE HUNDREDS OF FACILITIES NATIONALLY OR INTERNATIONALLY.
THERE MAY BE REASONS TO CONSIDER ENGAGING A THIRD PARTY TO OPERATE YOUR CIVIC CENTER.
BY THE WAY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOUR CIVIC CENTER STAFF WOULD NOT STILL BE THERE.
WE'RE HELPING A COUPLE OF CITIES RIGHT NOW TRANSITION THEIR OPERATIONS FROM CITY STAFF OVER TO A COMMERCIAL OPERATOR.
THE COMMERCIAL OPERATOR IS TAKING ON THE STAFF THAT WORKED UNDER THE CITY WHEN IT WAS A CITY OPERATED VENUE BECAUSE THEY'RE GREAT STAFF AND THEY KNOW THE FACILITY BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
YOU BRING IN A COMMERCIAL OPERATOR BECAUSE THERE ARE
[01:35:01]
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO ROUTE BUSINESS.THEY HAVE NATIONAL SALES CALLS WHERE THEY'RE TALKING TO TOURING, CONCERTS, AND COMEDY ACTS, AND FAMILY SHOWS AND BROADWAY SHOWS.
YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN POTENTIALLY MORE COMMERCIAL EVENTS AND EVENTS THAT HAVE A GREATER ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE QUESTION WAS BECAUSE I WAS TALKING TOO LONG.
[LAUGHTER] BUT WE ARE NOT AN OPERATOR.
WE DON'T HAVE AN AGENDA AS TO WHETHER THE FACILITY SHOULD BE OPERATED BY THE CITY OR A COMMERCIAL OPERATOR.
BUT WE WILL TALK TO THE CITY AND THE CITY STAFF ABOUT WHAT OPTIONS ARE OUT THERE AND YOU WILL MAKE THE DECISION.
>> THANK YOU. ANOTHER QUESTION, THE TOPIC OF PARKING CAME UP.
YOU'RE PROBABLY AWARE WE HAVE MORE SPORTS GROUP IN [INAUDIBLE] TOWN AND SO MANY PARKING SPACES ARE RESERVED WITHIN SO MANY FEE OF [INAUDIBLE] TOWN.
SO YOU WILL BE WORKING AND COORDINATING WITH ELMORE SPORTS GROUP TO COME UP WITH PARKING THERE IN THE CITY?
>> YES, SIR. WE WILL EXPLORE THAT.
WE WANT TO GET ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE, ALL THE DOCUMENTATION, ALL THE CONTRACTS FROM THE CITY SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE OPERATIONS, ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE THAT'S ALREADY GONE INTO STUDYING WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE CIVIC CENTER, BUT IT WOULD INCLUDE LOOKING AT THOSE PARKING AGREEMENTS, AND WHAT THE OVERALL PARKING SITUATION IS, AND MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON THAT.
WE'VE BEEN THROUGH WHAT FORD ITERATIONS OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, I THINK.
>> I THINK I'VE GOT FOUR DOCUMENTS.
>> WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE FOUR DOCUMENTS?
>> WELL, THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON BY THE WAY.
I THINK IN LUBBOCK THEY HAD PROBABLY, I DON'T KNOW, 10 STUDIES THAT HAD BEEN DONE OVER 25 YEARS BEFORE WE WERE ENGAGED.
WE'D LIKE TO SEE ALL THE DOCUMENTS.
I THINK THE MORE CURRENT THE DOCUMENT, THE MORE RELEVANT THE INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE.
BUT WE DO WANT TO GET ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND WE WANT TO CAPITALIZE ON GOOD IDEAS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRODUCED BY THESE OTHER REPORTS.
BUT WE THINK WHAT USUALLY IS DIFFERENT IN THE REPORT THAT WE PROVIDE IS THAT IT'S A COMPLETE PLAN.
IT'S NOT JUST A NEEDS ASSESSMENT, IT'S NOT JUST A MARKET STUDY, IT'S NOT JUST AN ARCHITECTURAL MASTER-PLAN, IT'S HOW DO YOU FUND IT? HOW DO YOU PUT THE DEAL TOGETHER? WHO'S GOING TO OWN IT? IS IT GOING TO BE OWNED BY THE CITY OR BY A SEPARATE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY THAT WE SET UP JUST TO OWN THIS FACILITY? IS IT GOING TO BE SETUP? IS IT GOING TO BE A 501C3? HOW IS IT GOING TO BE FUNDED AND HOW'S IT GOING TO BE FINANCED? WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS THERE.
IT REALLY IS A COMPLETE BLUEPRINT, THAT'S WHAT WE INTEND TO PROVIDE.
>> OKAY. THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
>> ESSENTIALLY IT'S 100 YARD DASH AND YOU'RE GOING TO USE THAT SO THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY START AT THE BLOCKS?
>>MAYBE YOU'RE GOING TO START AT THE 25 YARD LINE OR THE 50.
>> BUT WE'RE NOT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE YET.
>> SO WE NEED A TEAM TO GET US THERE.
>> A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, I RESEARCHED YOUR FIRM.
FANTASTIC, BY THE WAY, LIKE YOU GUYS LOOK GREAT ON PAPER, VERY PROFESSIONAL, SOME REALLY GOOD-LOOKING PROJECTS, ARCHITECTURE THE WHOLE NIGHT.
I SAY THAT TO SAY YOU SOUND EXPENSIVE.
I GET THE ORIGINAL 500K TO GET US THROUGH WHAT I BELIEVE IS SEVEN MONTHS OR SO.
IS IT AN OBLIGATION TO RETAIN YOU MOVING FORWARD FROM THERE AND FOR PHASE 2 THROUGH 4, WHICH IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECT THERE, THAT'S JUST PHASE 1? WE WOULD HAVE A 2, 3, AND 4.
IF SO, HOW MUCH WOULD THOSE PHASES BE PROJECTED AT FOR US TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION? IF IT'S NOT OBLIGATED, THEN REALLY I THINK WHAT WE'RE BEING ASKED TO DO HERE IS LOOK AT YOU AT A 500K CONSULTING FEE.
>> YES. IT'S NOT OBLIGATED AND I THINK OVER THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL THOSE NUMBERS ARE.
PHASE 2 IS DESIGN, PHASE 3 IS CONSTRUCTION, AND PHASE 4 IS OPENING.
SO IT'S REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE.
HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK WE COULD GIVE YOU A GOOD NUMBER TODAY OF WHAT THE DESIGN PHASE COMMITMENT WOULD BE FROM THE CITY.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE COSTS WILL BE ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING COSTS BECAUSE THE ARCHITECT AND ITS TEAM ARE GENERALLY EARNING ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THEIR FEES DURING THE DESIGN PERIOD AND 20 PERCENT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
BUT IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT FEES IF GARFIELD IS ENGAGED AS YOUR DEVELOPER AND OTHER COSTS.
BUT WE DON'T, AGAIN, NOT KNOWING THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, THE PHASING, THIS REPORT WILL INCLUDE THOSE FIGURES INCLUDING THE PROJECTIONS OF THE DESIGN PERIOD,
[01:40:03]
AND THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, AND THE FEES PROFESSIONAL FEES FOR ALL THE TEAM MEMBERS.>> SURE. BUT FOR NOW WE JUST HAVE A FLAT FEE OF 500K TO GET US [NOISE] TO A POINT WHERE WE'D BE OBLIGATED TO GET THROUGH THE REPORT AND EVERYTHING AT THAT TIME, DO THE STUDY.
BEING PART OF THE 62 PERCENT THAT VOTED NO, IT'S HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE ANNOUNCE THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN THE WAY OF PUTTING UP ANOTHER BOND OR ASKING FOR ANOTHER TOTAL COST HOLD.
CORRECT ME IF I'M SPEAKING OUT OF TURN BECAUSE I DON'T SPEAK FOR THE WHOLE COUNSEL.
BUT THE WAY I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS AT THIS POINT IS, YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING TO PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS IN THE WAY OF ALLOWING PRIVATE TO COME IN AND TO DO THE HEAVY LIFTING.
THAT THIS WOULD THEN BE LOOKED AT UPON OUR COMMUNITY AS, "OKAY, NOW WE GET THESE AMENITIES, NOW WE GET THESE ENTERTAINMENT VALUES.
I DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT THROUGH MY PROPERTY TAXES.
I WOULD LOVE TO PAY FOR THAT WHEN I BUY A BEER OR WHEN I BUY A TICKET." AM I CORRECT IN UNDERSTANDING THAT, AND IS THAT THE WAY THE COUNSEL IS PROMOTING THIS?
>> IT'S A GOOD HIGH LEVEL BASIC SUMMARY.
>> MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU-ALL ARE THE ONES THAT DO IT NATIONWIDE.
>> WELL, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY.
NONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE DONE SINCE THE FOUNDING OF OUR COMPANY BACK IN 1998 HAVE USED GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND FINANCING OR RELIED ON PROPERTY TAXES.
THEY'VE ALL BEEN OTHER MECHANISMS. THAT'S THE CITY'S DECISION, BUT YES, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR EVERY PRIVATE DOLLAR THAT WE CAN GET COMMITTED TO THIS PROJECT, EVERY REVENUE SOURCE THAT IS RELATED TO THE PROJECT, AND A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CONVENTION CENTER PROJECTS OR HEADQUARTER HOTEL PROJECTS.
WELL, LUBBOCK COUNTY EXPO CENTER IS A GOOD EXAMPLE, THE ONE I MENTIONED.
WE'RE IN DESIGN ON THAT RIGHT NOW.
THEY HAD A COUNTY-WIDE VOTE ON A VENUE TAX, WHICH WAS A SMALL INCREASE IN THEIR COUNTY WIDE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS AND THE IMPOSITION OF A TAX ON RENTAL CARS IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH FALLS ON VISITORS TO THE COMMUNITY.
BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU CAN CAPTURE THOSE REVENUE SOURCES, YOU DON'T HAVE TO RELY AS MUCH ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAXES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT CREATIVE WAYS LIKE THAT TO CREATE REVENUE STREAMS FOR THE PROJECTS SO THAT THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE TO USE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, PROPERTY TAXES.
>> LET ME ASK IF I CAN, AS AN IDEA OR A THOUGHT.
I APPRECIATE JASON HERIK AND ANDREW AND GIVEN THEIR TIME AND REALLY RUNNING WITH THE TORCH ON THIS THING.
NOT TO HANG YOU OUT THERE WHERE YOU WOULD NEED TO CONTINUE ON, I KNOW THAT THAT WAS A SCOUTING COMMITTEE, AND SO YOU'VE FULFILLED YOUR OBLIGATION.
BUT ONE OF THE WORST THINGS I THINK YOU CAN DO IN CONSTRUCTION IS MAYBE JUST TURN AN ARCHITECT LOOSE AND NOT HAVE HIM TALK TO THE OWNER THE WHOLE TIME.
SO CONTINUED INPUT FROM OUR CITIZENS AND FROM OUR COMMUNITY, WOULD WE BE IN FAVOR OF LOOKING AT MAYBE EACH COUNCIL PERSON AND THE MAYOR NOMINATING A CITIZEN TO FORM A COMMITTEE THAT CAN WALK WITH YOU THROUGH THIS, AND WOULD THAT BE HELPFUL TO YOU TO HAVE SOME CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT AS YOU'RE HELPING TO COME UP WITH THIS DESIGN AND LOOK AT WHAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE?
IN FACT, IN SOME COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE PUBLIC CHARRETTES, AND WE COULD EVEN ARRANGE A PUBLIC CHARRETTE AND PRESENTATION TO SOLICIT FEEDBACK ON THE DESIGN, OR A COMMITTEE LIKE THE ONE YOU'RE DESCRIBING.
OR WE CAN THEN SCHEDULE A SHREDDER.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE DID THIS TWO YEARS AGO.
NOT ONLY DID WE HAVE A COMMITTEE, BUT WE HAD PUBLIC CHARRETTES.
WE HAD CHARRETTES WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY USERS AT THE CIVIC CENTER.
WE HAD CHARRETTES WITH PEOPLE THAT WE WOULD HOPE TO BE USERS AT THE CIVIC CENTER.
WE HAD CHARRETTES, I KNOW MR. SCANT CAME TO A CHARRETTE THAT WAS PUBLIC.
THERE WERE 80 PEOPLE AT THAT ONE THAT WERE CITIZENS, THE WHOLE CITY WAS INVITED.
THIS WILL BE AS MANY PEOPLE AT THE TABLE AS WE CAN GET AND COME AROUND IT BECAUSE YOU GUYS CAN'T KNOW WHAT TO DESIGN.
YES, WE CAN GO AND STUDY THE ECONOMIC DATA WHERE WE'RE NOT COMPETITIVE, WHAT TYPES OF EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING WE CAN BE COMPETITIVE FOR THAT WILL DRIVE SOME OF THE DESIGN, BUT A LOT OF WHAT'S GOING TO DRIVE THE DESIGN, THIS IS OUR BACKYARD, IT'S OUR CITY.
WHAT DO WE WANT AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS? SO WE ABSOLUTELY WANT THAT INPUT AND WE'LL GET TO THAT POINT.
WE DID THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND WE MAY GO BACK TO THAT COMMITTEE BECAUSE AGAIN, WE MAY FIND THAT THERE'S BENEFIT TO NOT COMING STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BLOCKS.
THAT COMMITTEE HAS 18 MONTHS OF STUDYING THIS, BUT IT MIGHT ALSO BE GOOD TO BRING SOME NEW VOICES AROUND THE TABLE TO LOOK AT IT WITH FRESH EYES.
I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION AND I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT AS A COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO STEER TOWARD SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
[01:45:03]
WE'LL PUT THE SPECIFICS TO IT AS WE MOVE ALONG.>> WE HAVE THE PROCESS THE MAYOR JUST DESCRIBED IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DID IN SALT LAKE CITY FOR THE ECCLES THEATER WE DEVELOPED DOWNTOWN AND THERE WAS A STEERING COMMITTEE CREATED.
IT WAS POPULATED BY THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
WE HAD MULTIPLE CHARRETTES AND STAKEHOLDER, INDIVIDUAL STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS, AND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION WAS CONSIDERED IN THE DESIGN OF THE PROJECT.
OUR REPUTATION IS BASED ON TRANSPARENCY AND MAKING SURE THE COMMUNITY IS ALONG WITH THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE.
THEY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, THEIR INPUT IS SOLICITED AND INCORPORATED INTO THE PROJECT.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT A REPUTATION FOR DOING IT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE PLAN TO DO HERE.
>> MY LAST QUESTION, JUST TO MANAGE MY EXPECTATIONS SO I DON'T GET TOO EXCITED.
WHAT PERCENTAGE OF PROJECTS HAVE YOU DESIGNED THAT ARE TOTALLY FUNDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THAT DON'T HAVE ANY LET ME SAY PROPERTY TAX OR ANY TAX INCREASE, IF WE WEREN'T WILLING TO DO A HOT TAX INCREASE, WHICH I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN?
>> WELL, THAT'S TOUGH QUESTION, THE 100 PERCENT [OVERLAPPING]. SORRY?
>> WE CANNOT, YEAH. SO WHATEVER OUR OPTION WOULD BE, DO YOU HAVE ANY THAT ARE TOTALLY PRIVATELY FUNDED?
>> WHICH I MENTIONED WAS AN ABERRATION.
FOR LOVETT TO RAISE 150, FOR ANY COMMUNITY TO RAISE $158 MILLION TO FUND A PROJECT OF THIS AS BIG AND BEAUTIFUL AS BUDDY HOLLY HALL IS AN IMPRESSIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT, BUT EVEN MORE SO IN LUBBOCK.
THAT IS THE EXCEPTION, NOT THE NORM.
I MENTIONED NONE OF OUR PROJECTS HAVE GO BOND FINANCING OR PROPERTY TAXES BACKING THE PROJECT.
I'D BE HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU IF YOU LIKE, WITH A SUMMARY OF ALL OF OUR PROJECTS AND WHAT PERCENTAGES, AND WHAT INSTRUMENTS WERE USED TO FINANCE THOSE SO YOU CAN GET AN IDEA OF THAT.
>> I WOULD LOVE THAT. IF I CAN GET EDUCATED ON THAT AND THEN I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TWO AND YOUR TIME INVOLVED SO FAR, AND ALSO MR. HERRICK.
I KNOW HE'S GOT A FEW HOURS IN THIS DEAL.
>> [LAUGHTER] YES, SIR. THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM POWELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
GUYS, THIS IS MORE ADDRESSED TO ANDREW AND JASON, BUT HANG TIGHT IN CASE WE COME BACK TO YOU.
JASON, WHY WOULD YOU BRING US, AS YOU GUYS HAVE MOVED THROUGH THIS PROCESS, ESSENTIALLY, WE SAID GO OUT AND TURNOVER EVERY SINGLE ROCK POSSIBLY CAN TO LOOK FOR A DIFFERENT WAY TO FUND A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
[NOISE] YOU SAID YOU HAD FOUR DIFFERENT PROPOSALS, SO WHY ARE WE AS A COUNSEL, NOT HEARING FROM FOUR DIFFERENT COMPANIES?
WE ACTUALLY PROBABLY INTERVIEWED ABOUT SIX DIFFERENT ONES AND WE HAD FOUR THAT RESPONDED TO OUR WRITTEN CONCEPTS REQUEST.
FROM THAT POINT, WE DID FORM A CITIZENS COMMITTEE ALONG WITH STAFF.
THERE WAS EIGHT OTHER CITIZENS ON THAT.
WE TRIED TO HAVE A ARCHITECT AND A BUILDER AND SOMEONE FOR THE BANK AND SOME OTHER FOLKS JUST TO HELP SIT INTO THAT, PLUS SEVERAL OF THE CITY STAFF, AND WE DID DO INTERVIEWS SPECIFICALLY WITH THREE OF THOSE.
ONE WITHDREW FROM THE PROJECT JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD A LOT OF OTHER STUFF THAT THEY WERE COMMITTED TO.
WE HAVE TRIED TO GET DOWN TO WHERE WE HAVE PRESENTING YOU WITH AN OPTION THAT WE THINK IS THE BEST FIT FOR AMARILLO THAT IS THE MOST PROFESSIONAL GROUP THAT WE COULD FIND THAT HAD BEEN VETTED BY THE CITY STAFF ON THEIR HISTORY AND BACKGROUND AND THAT CAN MOVE QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY FOR THE NEXT STEPS.
SOME OF OUR PROCESS WAS A LITTLE BIT ON THE FRONT END TO TRY TO GET DOWN TO A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU GUYS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FOR PARTNER.
>> I'M WONDERING TOO. THESE GUYS HAVE ASKED GREAT QUESTIONS FROM THIS END OF THE TABLE AS FAR AS HOW YOU GET PAID IN ALL OF THIS, AND YOU DID A GREAT JOB ANSWERING.
COLE DID A GREAT JOB OF COMING TO $500,000 COMMITMENT TO START.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE A FINANCIAL STAKE IN THIS, IT'S THE WAY YOU MAKE YOUR LIVING OR ELSE I'M SURE YOU HAVE GREAT HEARTS, BUT YOU'RE NOT JUST DOING IT FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR HEART.
I KNOW THAT THERE IS A PROFIT IN THIS FOR YOU AND IT'S HARD TO SAY WHAT THAT BOTTOM LINE IS UNTIL WE TELL YOU.
IT'S LIKE GOING TO THE CAR DEALER AND SAYING, WELL, AM I GOING TO PICK THIS CAR WITH THESE OPTIONS OR THIS CAR WITH THESE OPTIONS?
[01:50:03]
IT'S ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT WE TELL YOU WE WANT AS THE CITY IN OUR FACILITY.AM I INTERPRETING THAT RIGHT, GREG?
>> YES, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, AND WE WILL STRUCTURE OUR FEE PROPOSAL BASED ON THE SCOPE OF SERVICES THAT WE DEVELOPED, AND OUR SCOPE OF SERVICES IS TAILORED TO WHAT YOU NEED AND THEN THE FEES THAT WE PROPOSE ARE MARKET-BASED AND WE WELCOME YOU TO GO OUT AND EXPLORE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE MARKET-BASED, BUT WE PROVIDE AND EVERYTHING IS FULLY DISCLOSED SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE PROPOSAL IS, BUT IT'S BASED ON A SCOPE OF SERVICES AND THE ANTICIPATED WORKLOAD FOR OUR COMPANY TO PERFORM THE SERVICES.
>> I'M A LAWYER IN MY NON-MARRIED TIME AND I DO A STATE PLANNING.
WHEN A FAMILY COMES TO ME, AND THERE'S SOME ART TO CREATING AN ESTATE PLAN, WHEN THEY COME TO ME AND THEY TELL ME I WANT TO FUND COLLEGE FOR MY GRAND KIDS AND I HAVE A CABINET IN NEW MEXICO AND THEY LIST OUT ALL THEIR UNIQUE THINGS, THEN I DEVELOP A PLAN THAT SUITED UNIQUELY TO THAT FAMILY.
I WOULD BE VERY UPSET AFTER HAVING DONE ALL OF THAT WORK AND THEY LOOK AT THAT PLAN, AND EVEN SOMETIMES I'LL SEND THEM A DRAFT.
I WOULD BE REALLY UPSET IF THEY JUST TYPED UP WHAT I DEVELOPED FOR THEM AND SIGNED IT WITHOUT COMING BACK TO MY OFFICE IN USING MY PLAN AND PAYING MY FEE TO DO IT.
I'M SENSING THAT THERE'S SOME PROPRIETARY EFFORT ON YOUR PART IN EVEN STARTING PHASE 1.
LIKE WHEN I DO AN ESTATE PLAN AND I BEGAN TO MOVE THE PIECES AROUND TO MEET THEIR GOAL, I'M ALREADY DEVELOPING THE ART.
I'M LAWYERING MY PRODUCT FOR THEM EVEN FROM DAY 1, AND I'M SENSING MAYBE EVEN JASON, THIS MIGHT BE PART OF WHY IT WAS BEST TO ONLY BRING ONE COMPANY IS BECAUSE, YOU HAVE PROPRIETARY ART IN CREATING HOW IT'S STRUCTURED FROM THE GET-GO.
I GUESS I JUST WANT US TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE NOT LETTING FOUR PEOPLE PITCH US AND WHY WE'RE NARROWING IT.
YES, IT'S VERY EFFICIENT, BUT HOW DO WE BRING THAT TO THE CITY'S BOTTOM LINE TO SHOW WE'RE GETTING THE BEST DEAL? DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT QUESTION?
>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A QUESTION FOR JASON OR FOR ME. [LAUGHTER]
>> LET ME SAY THIS. I THINK THIS A LITTLE BIT ADDRESSES IT.
THERE IS ONLY SO FAR THAT WE COULD GET TO THIS POINT.
REALLY, THE ANSWERS THAT WE NEED NOW REQUIRE A MUCH GREATER COMMITMENT OF TIME AND EFFORT TO GET TO THAT ANSWER.
THE ANSWER THAT WE WANT AS A COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW IS, WHAT PROJECTS CAN BE DONE AND HOW CAN THEY BE FINANCED? FRANKLY, AS GREG MENTIONED, THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT BETWEEN ALL THE COMMUNITIES, AND SO ALL THE GROUPS WE COULD GET TO THE POINT HERE, WHERE WE THINK THIS IS THE BEST PARTNER TO GO FORWARD WITH.
BUT TO GET TO THAT NEXT STEP, THEY HAVE A LEGITIMATE THING TO TALK ABOUT, TO TALK ABOUT WHETHER THAT'S A GOOD REVENUE SOURCE TO GO DO THAT, WHETHER THAT'S A TRUE OPTION, WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE, OR IF IT'S EVEN POSSIBLE, BY THE WAY, THAT TAKES A MUCH GREATER COMMITMENT FROM THESE GUYS, FROM US BECAUSE NOW WE REALLY HAVE TO GET INTO THE ANSWERS OF THAT TO PROVIDE A TRUE ANSWER OR SOLUTION TO IT.
>> IF A CLIENT CAME TO ME AND SAID, "I'M INTERVIEWING FOUR LAWYERS TO DO MY ESTATE PLAN.
I'D LIKE YOU TO GO AHEAD AND DEVELOP THE PLAN AND DRAFT THE DOCUMENT AND THEN I'M ONLY GOING TO PICK ONE OF THE FOUR AFTER YOU'VE DONE ALL THE WORK," THERE'S A 75 PERCENT CHANCE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO PICK YOU AND I WOULD SAY TO THAT CLIENT, BLESSINGS, YOU GO ON DOWN THE ROAD.
I CAN'T INVEST THAT KIND OF TIME NOT KNOWING THAT I'M GOING TO GET REIMBURSED FOR IT.
IS THAT A GOOD ANALOGY OF WHERE WE ARE?
>> YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SHOW THAT WE GIVE GOOD VALUE, AND IT'S NOT JUST IN THIS SEVEN MONTHS, BUT IN THE YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION WHERE WE'RE CREATIVELY SOLVING ISSUES IN THE FIELD EVERY DAY BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE OUR PEOPLE HERE.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT.
WE EARN FEE, NOT JUST IN THIS SMALL PIECE IN THE FRONT, THESE FIVE MONTHS, BUT OVER THE 30 MONTHS OF A CONSTRUCTION JOB OR WHATEVER IT IS, WE'RE THEY'RE SOLVING PROBLEMS EVERY DAY.
I THINK WE'LL SHOW THAT TO YOU GUYS AND YOU'LL APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I WOULD ADD, WHAT WE SAID BEFORE IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PHASE 1 HERE, AND WE SURE HOPE THERE'S A PHASE 2.
WE HOPE WE COME BACK WITH A PLAN THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO THE COUNCIL AND YOU SAY, YES, WE WANT TO PROCEED INTO DESIGN.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY, NO, WE'RE NOT READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AT THIS TIME.
[01:55:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.THERE'LL BE NO FURTHER COMMITMENT TO GARFIELD, BUT WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE IN THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO DRAFT THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SENDING TO THE CITY, THAT DURING THE SEVEN MONTH PERIOD, WE'RE NEGOTIATING A GOOD FAITH, A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO CARRY US AS THE DEVELOPER, ASSUMING YOU DECIDE TO PROCEED TO PHASE 2, THAT WOULD CARRY US THROUGH THE REST OF THE PROJECT.
YOU'RE NOT COMMITTED TO ENTERING INTO THAT AGREEMENT UNLESS YOU SAY, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT.
>> I WOULD WANT US TO DO THAT IN GOOD FAITH AS WELL.
YEAH, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION, COUNCILMAN?
>> YES. I LIKE YOUR LINE OF THINKING IN THE WAY OF DO WE OWN ANYTHING? WHERE I THINK WE'RE GETTING TO IS, ARE WE GOING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION ON A $500,000 SPEND TO NOT OWN THE PLANS THAT WE MAY HAVE? SO IF YOU GUYS WERE COMFORTABLE COMING BACK SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO PITCH YOU THE BEST PLAN WE GOT AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH US, THEN IT'S NOT PROPRIETARY THAT WE DON'T OWN THE PLAN.
BUT THERE MAY BE SOME ASPECTS OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE THAT YOU WANTED TO RETAIN, AND NOW, COULD WE GET THAT BROKEN OUT? IS IT THAT BLACK AND WHITE OR IS IT THE OPPOSITE, WHERE YOU OWN EVERYTHING? WE SPEND THE 500K, BUT REALLY MOVING FORWARD FROM THERE, WE DON'T HAVE MUCH IF WE DON'T GO?
>> YOU WILL OWN THE PRODUCT OF THE WORK THAT WE ARE PERFORMING.
I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT OUR LEGAL TEAM DRAFTING THE DOCUMENT RIGHT NOW.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN SOME COMMUNITIES IS TO SAY, [LAUGHTER] IF YOU USE THIS WORK PRODUCT WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO YEARS, YOU SAY, OKAY, WE DON'T WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS PROJECT RIGHT NOW, YOU OWN THE WORK PRODUCT.
BUT IF YOU RESTART THE PROJECT WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO YEARS, YOU NEED TO COME BACK TO GARFIELD BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF TIME AND COMMITMENT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND WHAT'S BEEN PRODUCED, AND USE US AS THE DEVELOPER.
BUT WE'VE GOT TO OBVIOUSLY GET TO AGREEMENT ON REASONABLE TERMS FOR THAT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT OR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, BUT YOU'LL OWN THE WORK PRODUCT.
>> THAT'S A GREAT ANSWER. EMMA, IF I CAN ASK THE COUNCIL, ARE WE BEING ASKED TO MAKE RECOMMENDED STEPS HERE TODAY OR WOULD NOW BE A GOOD TIME TO JUST REQUEST THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SO WE COULD REVIEW THAT BEFORE WE WOULD MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS?
>> TODAY YOU'RE JUST BEING ASKED TO GET ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU NEED.
WE'RE NOT TAKING ANY ACTION ON THIS.
I SUSPECT THAT IT WILL BE ON THE NEXT MEETING AGENDA AS AN ACTION ITEM.
BUT YOU HAVE THE EXPERTS IN THE ROOM TODAY TO ASK FOR ANY FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION OR ANY DATA SLIDES THAT YOU WANT TO SEE.
>> SPECIFICALLY, IF WE COULD GET THAT INFORMATION FOR THE COUNSEL THAT YOU HAD OFFERED TO ME TO HELP EDUCATE ME ON WHAT IT IS IN THE WAY IN WHICH YOU FUNCTION, ALSO IN WHICH ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD RETAIN OR ANY NON-COMP, SO TO SPEAK, FOR SO MANY YEARS AND ANY OF THOSE LEGAL DOCS, I THINK, WOULD PUT US IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE INFORMATION ON THE BUDDY HOLLY CENTER IN LUBBOCK SINCE IT WAS THE ONE THAT WAS FULLY 100 PERCENT FUNDED BY PRIVATE DONATIONS.
>> I WILL PROVIDE YOU, MA'AM, WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I CAN, BUT THAT IS A PRIVATELY OWNED, IT'S A PRIVATE 501C3, SO THEY PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT IS CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY, AND I HAVE TO PROTECT THAT JUST AS I WOULD PROTECT THE CITY OF AMARILLO'S INTERESTS.
>> I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WHATEVER INFORMATION CAN BE SHARED WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
>> LET'S TALK AGAIN ABOUT TIME FRAME.
LET'S SUPPOSE THAT THIS IS ON OUR AGENDA TWO WEEKS FROM NOW AS AN ACTION ITEM.
LET'S HYPOTHETICALLY SET OUT THAT THE COUNCIL VOTES TO HIRE YOUR FIRM TO ENTER INTO 1A OF PHASE 1.
THAT TAKES FIVE MONTHS AND TALK AGAIN SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THOSE FIVE MONTHS.
>> YEAH, LET ME JUST COMPARE SOME NOTES HERE.
[INAUDIBLE] ANSWER TO SPECIFIC QUESTION.
[NOISE] WE'VE GOT IT TOGETHER AT PHASE 1A AND PHASE 1B, BUT PHASE 1A IS REALLY DIGGING INTO THE STUDIES THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING THROWN AWAY.
THOSE ARE DETAILED INFORMATION.
ALL THE OPTIONS AND PLANS, AND ETC.
WORKING WITH THE CITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE DESIGN TEAM AND A CONTRACTOR, START FIGURING OUT WHO THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE.
>> WE START HAVING CHARRETTES?
[02:00:03]
>> I THINK [OVERLAPPING] PRETTY SOON.
BUT I THINK THE FIRST MONTH OR SO IS REALLY INVESTIGATING WHAT'S GOING ON.
THEN WE CAN SAY, OKAY, AS WE'RE TALKING WITH AN OPERATOR, WE THINK THAT, MAYBE, THIS SUGGESTION THAT WAS MADE IN ONE OF THE FOUR VOLUMES TO MAKE A BALLROOM EXERCISE, WE REALLY THINK IT OUGHT TO BE THIS SIZE.
THAT'S WHEN THE ARCHITECTS START GETTING INVOLVED IN FIGURING OUT HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO A PLAN.
WORK WITH THE CITY TO ENGAGE AN OPERATOR EVEN IF IT'S JUST FOR TACTICAL SERVICES.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ENGAGING AN OPERATOR TO OPERATE IT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY FROM OUTSIDE TO JUST HELP US LOOK AT IT WITH A FRESH SET OF EYES.
>> TALK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF MARKET OPPORTUNITIES WE MIGHT NOT CURRENTLY BE MOVING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, LIKE ARE THERE THINGS OUT THERE THAT EITHER WE CAN'T GET RELATED TO OUR OUTDATED DESIGN OR WE COULD BE GETTING, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT OR WE DON'T HAVE THE CONNECTION CURRENTLY IN PLACE TO GET THAT.
>> YES, AND HOW TO WORK COMMERCIAL, AND WITH COMMUNITY, AND AMATEUR ATHLETICS, AND ALL THE ATHLETIC SIDE.
THERE'S ALL THOSE THINGS TO LOOK AT.
THAT OPERATOR WILL HELP US, ALONG WITH SHERMAN, AND HIS TEAM, WILL PRODUCE A FEASIBILITY AND MARKET STUDY THAT WE'LL REALLY LOOK AT.
AT THAT POINT, WE THEN ALSO START ENGAGING OUR BANKERS THAT LOOK AT HOW WE WOULD CONCEPTUALIZE SOME OF OUR CAPITAL STOCK AS IT WAS MENTIONED BEFORE, AND ALL THE TIME WORKING WITH THE CITY'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND YOUR BOND COUNCIL.
>> MAYBE I CAN BRIEFLY SUMMARIZE THE COMPONENTS.
IT'S EITHER AN UPDATE TO THE HPS MARKET STUDY OR AN OPERATING PROFORMA AND ACTIVITY PROFILE THAT IS PRODUCED IN COLLABORATION WITH SHERMAN AND HIS TEAM, AND POSSIBLY, OUTSIDE REVIEW BY A THIRD PARTY OPERATOR, SO MARKET STUDY OR OPERATING PROFORMA, UPDATED BUILDING PROGRAM, UPDATED DESIGN CONCEPT THAT IS INFORMED, AND WE'LL PLAN ON HAVING A COMMUNITY CHARRETTE AND MEETINGS WITH STAKEHOLDERS.
UPDATED DEVELOPMENT BUDGET THAT'S BROKEN DOWN IN THOSE COMPONENTS LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE.
SO YOU CAN SAY, "OKAY, WE THINK THIS COMPONENT IS A PRIORITY, SO IF WE LOOKED AT FUNDING THAT FIRST, HERE'S HOW WE WOULD DO IT." THEN IT'S THE FINANCING OPTIONS WHICH WOULD INCLUDE A NARRATIVE OF THE DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE OPTIONS FOR THE FACILITIES, AND WHAT INSTRUMENTS MAY BE USED TO FINANCE THEM, WHETHER THOSE ARE REVENUE BONDS OF SOME KIND, BUT NOT GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, AND JUST THE ENTIRE CAPITAL STOCK OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SOURCES.
>> WE MIXED A COUPLE OF THINGS JUST TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND, SO THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS IS FIGURING OUT WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THEN THE LAST TWO MONTHS IS DOCUMENTING THAT IN THE BUDGET.
THE SCHEDULE, THE DESIGN DRAWINGS, AND WORKING WITH THE CONTRACTOR SAYING THIS IS WHAT IT IS.
WHATEVER WE END UP DOING, WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH A GMP, A GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE.
>> THIS WILL ALL BE CLEAR, ALL THIS SCOPE AND EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING WILL BE EXTEMPORIZING HERE, WILL BE VERY CLEAR IN A DOCUMENT THAT'LL COME BACK TO YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR PRE-DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT.
>> COUNCIL DO YOU HAVE ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS FOR THE GARFIELD TEAM?
>> I JUST HAVE ONE, I GUESS, FOR CITY MANAGER, WHERE DOES THE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS COME FROM?
>> WE'LL GET LAURA. SHE CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOU, [LAUGHTER] BUT WE COULD USE A NUMBER OF FUNDING SOURCES POTENTIALLY, BUT WE WOULD HAVE TO POTENTIALLY JUST PROBABLY FIND SAVINGS ON OTHER PROJECTS OR REALLOCATE, RE-PRIORITIZE SOME OF OUR PROJECT FUNDING RIGHT NOW.
>> ALONG WITH THAT AGREEMENT, THERE'LL BE A DRAW SCHEDULE OVER THE SEVEN MONTHS SHOWING WHAT'S SPENT MONTHLY.
IT'S NOT ALL SPENT OBVIOUSLY IN DAY 1, VERY HEAVILY TOWARDS THE END ACTUALLY, SO THE FIRST 200,000 IS OVER THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS, AND THEN THE LAST PIECE,.
>> WHICH MEANS THAT IT COULD PROBABLY LAND IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LEANING TOWARD?
>> [OVERLAPPING] WE COULD BUDGET WITH IT. THAT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER THAN TRYING TO FIND FUNDS INSIDE OF OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, SO THAT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON.
MY ANSWER SOUNDED A LITTLE BIT FLAT-FOOTED BECAUSE IT WAS SO. [LAUGHTER]
>> I QUICKLY TRIED TO LOCATE SOME MONEY.
NOW, ONE THING JUST TO REMIND COUNCIL AND YOU'LL HAVE IT ON A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM, YOUR HOT TAX COLLECTIONS ARE COMING IN MUCH STRONGER THIS YEAR.
[02:05:01]
THIS WOULD BE A PROJECT THAT WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO USE SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES, SO THAT IS ENCOURAGING.WE BUDGETED VERY CONSERVATIVELY THIS YEAR NOT KNOWING WHAT THE PANDEMIC WAS EXACTLY GOING TO DO, SO WE'RE HIGHLY EXCEEDING THOSE BUDGET REVENUES AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE COULD POTENTIALLY USE SOME OF THOSE EXCESS COLLECTIONS IN THE CURRENT YEAR TO FUND SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO GET IT STARTED, AND THEN BUDGET IT INTO NEXT YEAR THAT THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF IT OR THE NEXT PHASE OR THE NEXT PART OF THIS PHASE, AND WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET, AND SO THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD TIMING.
>> TRULY, THIS COULD END UP NOT COSTING THE TAXPAYER [OVERLAPPING].
>> TO GET THIS PORTION OF IT DONE [OVERLAPPING] BY USING HOT TAX, WHICH DOES NOT COME FROM THE TAXPAYER'S POCKET.
>> IT COMES FROM OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS.
>> COMES FROM OUT-OF-TOWN VISITORS.
>> YES, AND FOR THE ACRONYM PURPOSES, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, SO IT WOULD BE ONLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE STAYING IN HOTELS, AND PAYING THAT TAX INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, THOSE REVENUES WOULD BE GOING TO FUND SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
>> JUST TO BRING US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, LAURA.
>> HOT, WE CAN'T CHANGE THE RATE.
THAT WE ARE MAXED ON THAT, [OVERLAPPING] AND THAT IS CONTROLLED MOSTLY OUT OF AUSTIN.
BUT OUR REVENUE ON HOT VARIES JUST DEPENDING ON HOW MANY PEOPLE STAY IN A HOTEL IN THE CITY OVER THE COURSE OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.
>> THAT IS CORRECT. ALONG WITH THOSE AVERAGE DAILY RATES WHICH WE SAW THOSE PLUMMET DURING COVID, WE HAVE SEEN A FULL RECOVERY, ACTUALLY, THEY'RE UP ABOVE PRE-COVID AVERAGE DAILY RATES, AND THE OCCUPANCY RATES ARE ACTUALLY ABOVE THE PRE-COVID NUMBERS, SO GOING BACK TO FISCAL YEAR '18, '19.
I'M STEALING SOME OF DEBBIE'S THUNDER IN HER PRESENTATION.
>> I KNOW YOU ARE. BUT I THINK IT'S [OVERLAPPING] VERY GOOD TO CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE JUST ANY OF US WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW THAT WORKS, WE CAN'T CHANGE THE RATE OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX BECAUSE WE ARE ALREADY MAXED ON IT.
>> BUT OUR REVENUE FROM IT VARIES EVERY YEAR DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH VOLUME WE HAVE AND OUR ROOM RATES [OVERLAPPING] WHICH THE MARKET DRIVES [OVERLAPPING] FROM OUR LOCAL HOTELIERS.
>> JUST AS A REMINDER, AND AGAIN, IT'LL BE IN THE PRESENTATION, WE ARE MAXED AT A SEVEN PERCENT LOCAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
OUR AMARILLO-POTTER EVENTS VENUE DISTRICT ALSO HAS A TWO PERCENT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX ON TOP OF THAT, THAT GOES TO THEIR PURPOSES NOT TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
THEN THE STATE HAS A SIX PERCENT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
VENUE DISTRICT IS ALSO MAXED OUT AS WELL.
>> BUT THE INCREASED REVENUE THAT WE ANTICIPATE, BOTH FROM VOLUME AND RATE [OVERLAPPING] OF THAT STRONG FIRST QUARTER OF 2021 [OVERLAPPING] IN OUR HOTELS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT, AND POTENTIALLY THEN COULD LAND IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE TO FUND THIS OUT OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
[OVERLAPPING] THEN WE CAN START LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS? YES, COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH?
>> WHAT, IF ANYTHING, WOULD BE THE FACT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD DO DURING THESE FIRST FIVE MONTHS?
>> ANDREW WILL YOU SPEAK TO THAT, JUST HAVING BEEN INVOLVED IN THE PRIOR? I THINK IT WILL BE SIMILAR.
>> AS FAR AS STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, YES.
IT'LL BE PARTICIPATING IN THOSE MEETINGS TO CONTINUE TO GIVE FEEDBACK THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, JUST LIKE WITH THE CITIZENS THROUGH THE PRE-DEVELOPMENT PHASE.
>> SO THE COUNCIL HAS A SUBCOMMITTEE RIGHT NOW OF COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH, AND MYSELF THAT ARE WORKING ON THE CIVIC CENTER PROJECT.
BUT WE COULD GET UPDATES ANYTIME BY PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA SO THAT ALL FIVE OF US COULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT, COULD ASK QUESTIONS,.
>> THE PUBLIC MEETINGS WILL BE QUORUM, THOSE [INAUDIBLE] CAN ALL ATTEND.
>> ALL FIVE OF US WOULD BE ABLE TO ATTEND THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS, ANYTIME WE WANT TO POST NOTICE SO THAT ALL FIVE OF THOSE COULD ATTEND, AND UPDATE OR ANYTIME YOUR TEAM IS IN TOWN TO THE GARFIELD TEAM, THE FIVE OF US COULD, WITH A POSTING, BE A PART OF THOSE MEETINGS, BUT I WOULD ANTICIPATE A LOT OF IT TO HAPPEN IN OUR SUBCOMMITTEE AS FAR AS SOME OF THE NITTY-GRITTY STUFF, THEN WE WOULD COME BACK FOR COUNCIL INPUT AND APPROVAL ON ANY STEPS TO MOVE FORWARD.
BUT AS FAR AS PUBLIC CHARRETTES AND ALL OF THAT, COUNCIL, ABSOLUTELY, IS A VITAL PART OF THAT PROCESS.
ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? MR. HERRICK, ANY FINAL COMMENTS? OKAY. I WILL SAY THANK YOU TO ANDREW, AND JASON.
THEY HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME RESEARCHING, LEARNING,
[02:10:02]
TEACHING THEMSELVES ABOUT WHAT A PPP APPROACH MIGHT LOOK LIKE FOR THIS PROJECT, A LOT OF TIME ON THE PHONE, A LOT OF TIME ENGAGING RELATIONSHIPS, AND TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT WHO'S THE EXPERT IN THE FIELD, WHO'S DOING THE PROJECTS WELL.I DO KNOW THAT YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB SCOUTING THIS FOR US, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE TODAY IN A LINK THE PRESENTATION.
JASON YOU'RE NOT OFF THE HOOK.
I'M SURE THERE'S ANOTHER ASK COMING AT SOME POINT ON THIS.
OKAY. TO THE GARFIELD TEAM, THANK YOU FOR TRAVELING TO AMARILLO AND BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
>> YEAH. OKAY COUNCIL, AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A PAUSE TO TAKE A BATHROOM BREAK, AND SO TAKE YOUR FIVE MINUTES, AND LET'S MEET BACK UP HERE ON THE DAIS TO KEEP TURNING THROUGH OUR WORK TODAY.
[BACKGROUND] AFTER A LITTLE BREAK, NO, YOU'RE GOOD, YOU'RE FINE.
THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED TO ME A MOMENT AGO AND I WISHED MR. SKANK WAS STILL HERE.
THERE WAS A QUESTION IN PUBLIC ADDRESS ABOUT THE CITY HALL PROJECT.
WAS IT PART OF THE CIVIC CENTER THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER? I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY JUST TO CLARIFY THAT THE CITY HALL AMARILLO HARDWARE WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT.
JUST CONFIRM AND CLARIFY THAT FOR PEOPLE AT HOME THAT ARE WATCHING, HOPEFULLY MR. SKANK WILL GO BACK AND WATCH THE REST OF THIS MEETING.
>> THE TOTAL PROJECT WE PROPOSED WAS A MIX OF FUNDING SOURCES.
IT WAS A TOTAL PROJECT WITH $319 MILLION, WHICH WOULD HAVE RENOVATED AND EXPANDED OUR EXISTING CIVIC CENTER, WOULD HAVE BUILT THE NEW ARENA, WOULD HAVE RENOVATED AN EXISTING FACILITY THAT WE HAVE AS CITY HALL, AND WOULD HAVE DEMOLISHED THE CURRENT CITY HALL AND BUILD SOME GREEN SPACE HERE.
THAT INCLUDED BOTH GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, THE GO, THE $275 MILLION, WOULD HAVE RENOVATED AND EXPANDED THE CIVIC CENTER, WOULD HAVE BUILT THE ARENA.
THE COS AND ALSO SOME UTILITY FUNDS WOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO ROUND OUT THAT $319 MILLION TO BUILD THE CITY HALL AND TO DO SOME UTILITY MODIFICATIONS AND PARKING, I'M SORRY, SOME UTILITY MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE THE PROJECT.
THE CITY HALL, WHILE A COMPONENT OF A LARGER PROJECT, WAS NOT A COMPONENT OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION.
JUST FOR CLARITY SAKE, AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY CITY HALL WAS NOT PART OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION.
ONE BOND COUNCIL DID NOT RECOMMEND THAT WE PUT THE CITY HALL IN WITH A CIVIC CENTER PROJECT FOR A BOND ELECTION.
IF WE WANTED TO DO IT AS A GO COMPONENT OF A BOND ELECTION, THEN IT COULD HAVE BEEN LISTED AS A SECOND INITIATIVE.
THE OTHER REASON WHY IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT AND OUT OF PRUDENCE, IT WOULD'VE BEEN SHORT-SIGHTED FOR COUNCIL TO PUT THE CITY HALL ON A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION, KNOWING THAT WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES WITH THE FACILITY, THAT WOULD [NOISE] HAVE PREVENTED US ADDRESSING THOSE CHALLENGES FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY THE CITY HALL WAS NEVER PART OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION.
BUT I THINK THAT HOPEFULLY THAT EXPLAINS THE THE NUANCES OF HOW THAT PROJECT WORKED AND BECAUSE OF THE FAILED GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION, IT WOULD.
WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THE SAME PROJECT TO DO THE CIVIC CENTER RENOVATION, EXPANSION, AND NEW ARENA.
>> GOOD EXPLANATION, AND I APPRECIATE THAT YOU USE THE WORD NUANCES.
IT'S COMPLICATED, SO I APPRECIATE CITIZENS WHO ARE WILLING TO ENGAGE AND STAY ENGAGED AND LEARN ABOUT IT.
I APPRECIATED THE QUESTION FROM THE PODIUM AND THANKS FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
>> IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE THAT SOMEONE MIGHT NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL ABOUT THAT? GREAT. LET'S MOVE ON THEN AND DO ITEM 1D,
[1.D. Discuss potential revenue sources for Amarillo Civic Center Complex;]
WHICH IS RELATED TO THE PRESENTATION THAT WE JUST SAW AS I SAT IN ON ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS, THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT WELL, ARE THERE POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCES FROM THE CIVIC CENTER THAT WE MIGHT NEED TO LOOK AT RIGHT NOW, JUST TO IMPROVE THE COST RECOVERY THAT WE HAVE FROM OPERATING IT? WHEN WE OPERATE IT, WE SUBSIDIZE IT WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS JUST TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN RIGHT NOW.WHAT I WOULD HOPE IN A RENEWED FACILITY OR RENOVATED OR AN UPDATED OR EXPANDED FACILITY IS THAT WE WOULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE MARKET IN THE TYPES OF USES THAT WE WOULD ATTRACT AND THAT WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO SUPPORT IT.
[02:15:03]
WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO SUBSIDIZE IT AS MUCH, SO THAT'S WHERE THIS AGENDA ITEM CAME FROM.WHAT COULD WE BE DOING NOW THAT WOULD IMPROVE THE REVENUE AT THE CIVIC CENTER? MR. CITY MANAGER.
>> I THINK THE PART OF THAT QUESTION IS ALSO, IF WE COULD DO SOMETHING AT THE CIVIC CENTER TO BRING IN MORE REVENUE, WHY ARE WE NOT DOING IT NOW? I THINK THAT'S A VERY CONSCIOUS DECISION THAT THE COMMUNITY AND COUNCILS HAVE MADE OVER THE DECADES TO PROVIDE A LEVEL OF SERVICE AND THE LEVEL OF ACCESS FOR OUR NON-PROFITS, FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR OUR SCHOOLS, FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT HAPPEN ON OUR CIVIC CENTER AT A SUBSIDIZED COST.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW IS ADOPTING MORE OF A BEST PRACTICE, NATIONWIDE BEST PRACTICE, WHICH WOULD BE ACTUALLY CHARGING THE COST OF SPACE TO ALL USERS.
RUNS ALL THE OPERATIONS OVER AT THE CIVIC CENTER, GOING TO GIVE US A PRESENTATION ON IT. SHERMAN.
>> THANK YOU CITY MANAGER AND THANK YOU COUNCIL AND MAYOR FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT.
I'LL BE BRIEF AS I CAN AND CERTAINLY OPEN FOR QUESTIONS, HERE TO TALK ABOUT POTENTIAL REVENUE SOURCES FOR THE CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX.
I HAVE ONE SLIDE, IT'S FIVE. THERE THEY ARE.
FIVE POTENTIAL IDEAS THAT WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY LOOKING AT.
THOSE REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT EITHER NOW OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO REDUCE OUR SUBSIDY, WHICH IS PROVIDED BY THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AND INCREASE OUR NET BOTTOM LINE.
THE FIRST OF THE FIVE IDEAS IS A CATERING COMMISSION, AND OUR BEST PRACTICES IN OUR FIELD WE SEE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE OPEN CATERING, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE.
WE SEE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE IN-HOUSE CONTRACTED CATERING AND WE SEE BUILDINGS THAT HAVE THEIR OWN CATERING DEPARTMENTS.
OPEN CATERING IS NOT AN ISSUE TO CONTINUE IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WITHOUT COLLECTING COMMISSIONS WE'RE MISSING ON A MAJOR REVENUE OPPORTUNITY.
IN LIEU OF CONTRACTING WITH SOMEONE, THEN WOULD PAY US COMMISSIONS, KEEPING IT AS OPEN CATERING.
WHICH MEANS YOUR LESSEE CAN PICK ANY CATERER THEY WANT, AS LONG AS THEY'RE LICENSED TO CATER OFF-SITE, THEY CAN CATER AND THAT'S A BENEFIT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS, BUT IT'S ALSO A BENEFIT FOR REGIONAL STATEWIDE CONVENTIONS.
WE HAVE CONVENTIONS THAT COME TO AMARILLO MAYBE ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS BECAUSE THEY'RE ROTATING THE CYCLE OF WHICH AREA OF TEXAS THEY VISIT.
THEY LIKE USING THE SAME CATER EVERY TIME THEY MEET, WHETHER THEY'RE IN SAN ANTONIO OR DALLAS OR EL PASO OR AMARILLO.
THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE ABOUT A 15 PERCENT COMMISSION AND I ESTIMATE THAT COULD GENERATE ANYWHERE FROM A $100,000 - $150,000 A YEAR.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY BECAUSE WE DON'T SEE THE CATERING INVOICES THAT ARE LESS EASY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY CHARGING A COMMISSION.
BUT BASED ON SOME GENERALIZED NUMBERS AND HOW MANY MEAL FUNCTIONS WE HAVE, WHAT TYPES THEY ARE, WHETHER THEY'RE BREAKFAST, LUNCHES, BREAK TIMES, OR A FUNDRAISING BANQUETS, ETC.
I'VE PUT TOGETHER A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATE THERE AT 100,000-150,000.
THE SECOND ITEM IS A PREFERRED AUDIO VIDEO PROVIDER OR COMMISSION FROM FROM THAT PROVIDER.
AS A LESSEE, YOU CAN BRING ANYONE INTO THE FACILITY YOU'D LIKE TO PROVIDE YOUR AV, WHETHER THAT'S SIMPLE POWERPOINT SCREENS OR LARGE SCREENS WITH REAR PROJECTION, WITH LIGHTS, WITH CAMERAS, ETC.
THERE ARE COUPLE OF FIRMS HERE IN AMARILLO.
ONE PROVIDES MOST OF THOSE, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT CONTRACTED THROUGH THE CITY TO DO SO.
I'M NOT SUGGESTING WE CONTRACT WITH ONE.
I'M SUGGESTING WE WOULD KEEP IT OPEN, BUT AGAIN, THAT WE'D SEE A COMMISSION BASED ON THEIR SALES.
WHATEVER COMPANY COMES INTO THE BUILDING, AND AGAIN, I'M ESTIMATING THAT TO BE ABOUT 10-15 PERCENT COMMISSION AND THEN AGAIN, I DON'T SEE THAT AV BILLS, BUT I THINK IT VERY LOW BALLED ESTIMATE WOULD BE ABOUT 50,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
NEXT ITEM ON THE LIST IS PARKING FEES.
BACK IN 2011 WHEN THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT REALLY STARTED GOING AND THE ORIGINAL PERFORMER WAS DONE FOR PARKING, IT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT BOTH THE SURFACE PARKING AND THE STREET PARKING, ALL OF THE ABOVE.
I'VE LOOKED OVER THOSE NUMBERS THAT AGAIN, AND THEY'RE 10 YEARS OLD, AND CERTAINLY A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC TODAY AT DEPENDS ON WE WOULDN'T DO IT 24/ 7, WE DO IT BASED ON DEMAND WHEN WE FEEL LIKE THE PARKING LOTS THAT THE CITY HAS CONTROL OVER IN THAT DEMAND.
IT WOULD DEPEND A LITTLE BIT ABOUT TIMING,
[02:20:01]
AS WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S AN AGREEMENT WITH THE SOD POODLES TO ALLOW THAT GROUP TO SELL PARKING ON OUR TWO LARGER SURFACE SLOTS DURING SOME OF THEIR EVENTS.AGAIN, I THINK A $100,000-$150,000 ESTIMATE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IS A FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE ONE.
IT REALLY WOULD DEPEND ON THAT TIMING, HOW MANY OVERLAP WITH AN EVENT THAT THE OTHER PROVIDER MIGHT BE USING IT.
THE NEXT ITEM ON THE LIST IS IN-HOUSE VERSUS CONTRACTED CONCESSIONS.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A CONTRACTED CONCESSIONAIRE OF WHICH WE DO RECEIVE A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR SALES, AN OPTION THAT CERTAINLY THE DEVELOPERS ALLUDED TO IT IF A PRIVATE MANAGEMENT COMPANY WERE TO COME IN, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY OPEN TO US, HAS BRING THAT OPERATION IN HOUSE.
THE CITY IS ACTUALLY OPERATING CONCESSIONS AND WE CONSERVATIVELY ESTIMATE THAT, THAT WOULD GENERATE ABOUT $220,000 IN ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
FINALLY, SALES STAFF. IT WAS ONE, OF ALL OF THESE WERE DEFICIENCIES NOTED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
BUT IT IS ONE THAT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT WERE PART OF THE CONVERSATION CIVIC CENTER PLAN THAT THE SALES STAFF IS REALLY THERE TO SELL INSIDE OF TWO YEARS THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE MEETING SPACE, THE BANQUET SPACE, THE EXHIBIT SPACE, AND 5.5 DECADES WE HAVE NEVER HAD A SALES STAFF AT THE CIVIC CENTER.
THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU HANDLES LONG-TERM SALES TWO YEARS OUT, THEY KNOW THEY HAVE THE CALENDAR THAT THEY CAN KNOW.
THEY CAN MAKE OFFERS FOR CONVENTIONS AND MEETINGS.
THEY CERTAINLY SUPPLEMENT THAT WITH INSIDE OF TWO YEARS.
BUT WE DO NOT HAVE A SALE STAFF GOING AND MARKETING THE CIVIC CENTER FOR BANQUETS, FOR WEDDINGS, FOR RECEPTIONS, FOR ANNIVERSARIES, FOR REUNIONS, ALL THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT CHOOSE.
THE CIVIC CENTER MAY NOT THINK OF THE CIVIC CENTER HAS BEEN AN OPTION FOR THEIR EVENTS.
DO NOT HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THAT WOULD LOOK IN AMARILLO.
CERTAINLY IN LARGER MARKETS THAT HAVE A LOT OF COMPETITION AMONGST VENUES.
IT'S A TIGHT BUSINESS AND A LOT OF FOLKS ARE INVESTING A LOT IN THOSE SALES STAFF'S.
BUT I THINK WITH A MINIMAL INVESTMENT OF SALES STAFF, WE COULD AT LEAST BREAK-EVEN IN AN UNLIMITED POTENTIAL DEPENDING ON HOW MANY FOLKS WE COULD CONVINCE TO COME TO THE CIVIC CENTER FOR THEIR LOCAL EVENTS.
THOSE ARE THE FIVE ITEMS I'M BRINGING TO YOUR ATTENTION AND WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR ACTION FROM COUNCIL.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT ANY OR ALL OF THESE AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS.
I WILL MENTION THAT THE CONCESSIONS WOULD BE AT LEAST ONE YEAR OUT.
I THINK THE EARLIEST WE'D BE LOOKING AT SEPTEMBER OF 22 AND IT WOULD REQUIRE A CAPITAL INVESTMENT, WHICH WE HAVE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN OUR CIVIC CENTER AVAILABLE THROUGH THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, EXCUSE ME.
I THINK THE SALES STAFF WOULD BE, AT LEAST, A YEAR OUT UNLESS WE DID A MID-YEAR BUDGET CHANGE IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE PREPARED TO GET IT DONE FAST ENOUGH TO TRIGGER OCTOBER 1.
PARKING AND OUR SURFACE LOTS COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS OCTOBER 1 BUT THE CATERING AND THE AV COMMISSION, I THINK THE EARLIEST WE'D SEE AS PROBABLY JANUARY 1ST.
WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE RESPECTFUL OF OUR EXISTING LESSEES AND CLIENTS, GIVE THEM NOTIFICATION.
ALTHOUGH, IT WOULD PROBABLY BE TRIGGERED WITH THE REVENUE BUDGET THAT WOULD COME BEFORE YOU AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR OCTOBER 1, WE'RE ALREADY CONTRACTING FOR EVENTS THIS FALL SO I THINK TO BE FAIR AND TRANSPARENT WE'D BE LOOKING AT THAT BEING IMPLEMENTED IN ABOUT JANUARY.
>> I'M SORRY, QUESTIONS COUNCIL?
>> WHAT ARE OTHER CITIES OUR SIZE DOING?
>> I DON'T KNOW ANY THE DON'T LEAST CHARGE A COMMISSION ON CATERING.
I THINK IT VARIES ON PARKING, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH THEY HAVE AT THEIR FACILITY AND HOW MUCH IS IN THEIR CONTROL.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY THE MOST VARIED ON WHETHER THERE'S NO COMMISSION OR WHETHER THERE'S A COMMISSION.
CONCESSIONS IS PROBABLY ABOUT 50, 50 ON HOW MANY ARE IN HOUSE OR, BY THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, OPERATING THE VENUE AND HOW MANY ARE CONTRACTED AND SALES STAFF.
THEY ARE STILL ON OUT THERE WITHOUT A SALES STAFF VERSUS THOSE THAT HAVE INCORPORATED A SALES STAFF.
>> YOU MAY NOT ANSWER THIS BUT HOW MANY EVENTS WOULD YOU LOSE IF WE DID THIS?
>> YOU KNOW I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.
THERE CERTAINLY MAY BE SOME EVENTS THAT FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD BE TOO MUCH IN ADDITIONAL COSTS.
[02:25:02]
WITHOUT KNOWING FOR SURE AND IMPLEMENTING THIS AND TALKING THROUGH IT WITH THEM, I WOULD CERTAINLY, IF WE DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT THIS, WORK WITH SOME OF OUR BIGGER CLIENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD AMPLE NOTICE SO THEY COULD BUDGET FOR IT.THE ONE THING THAT WE DON'T DO A LOT OF, AND PART OF IT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE AN IN-HOUSE SALES TEAM AND PART OF IT IS BECAUSE OF OUR CONCESSIONS AGREEMENT, BUT WE DON'T DO A LOT OF RECEPTION BUSINESS WHETHER IT'S, AGAIN, WEDDINGS OR ANNIVERSARIES OR REUNIONS.
THAT IS BECAUSE OF OUR POLICIES REQUIRING BEER AND WINE AND ALCOHOL TO COME THROUGH THE CONTRACTED CONCESSIONAIRE.
THEY TOO ARE IN THIS BUSINESS TO PROVIDE A SERVICE, BUT TO MAKE MONEY AT THE END, AND THAT'S WHERE THEY MAKE MONEY.
WE'D HAVE THE SAME ISSUE IF THE CITY WAS OPERATING IT.
IF THE IDEA IS TO TRY TO INCREASE OUR BOTTOM LINE SO THAT THERE'S NOT A DEFICIT THAT THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX SUPPORTS, THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT THESE FEES.
ULTIMATELY, IN THE LONG-TERM, IF THE CITY CHOSE IN THE FUTURE TO GO WITH A PRIVATE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, I CAN ASSURE YOU THE CONTRACT IS GOING TO WANT ALL OF THESE THINGS.
>> GREAT QUESTIONS. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT COMMUNITY EVENTS, NON-PROFIT EVENTS.
THEY RUN ON A TIGHT BUDGET, THEY'RE TRYING TO RAISE DOLLARS TO SUPPORT SERVICE PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE CITY THAT COORDINATE WITH THEIR MISSIONS, AND NOW WE'RE ADDING SOME PERCENTAGE COST.
WE'RE TAKING THAT MONEY DIRECTLY OUT OF A NON-PROFIT OR A CHARITY.
I WANT TO JUST BE VERY OPEN ABOUT THAT IT WON'T HAPPEN THAT WAY ON EVERY EVENT, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF EVENTS THAT ARE CHARITY RELATED AND THIS WILL INCREASE THE COST OF DOING THOSE EVENTS.
BUT WHAT I HEAR FROM A NO VOTE FROM OUR VOTERS IN NOVEMBER IS THAT WE MUST LOOK AT OTHER WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE, THAT PROPERTY TAXPAYERS ARE SAYING, "LET THE PEOPLE THAT USE THE FACILITY PAY FOR THE FACILITY," AND THIS IS WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
I [BACKGROUND] DON'T WANT OUR NON-PROFITS OR OUR CHARITIES TO BE SURPRISED BY A CHANGE LIKE THIS AND I THINK, COMMUNICATION, IF WE WERE TO DO SOMETHING ALONG THESE LINES, COMMUNICATION WITH THEM WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY'RE PUTTING BUDGETS TOGETHER 12 MONTHS AHEAD OF TIME.
THEY WOULD NEED A CHANCE TO ADJUST AND ANTICIPATE AN INCREASE OF COSTS TO PUTTING THEIR EVENTS ON.
>> BUT I WILL SAY PHILOSOPHICALLY, I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA THAT THE PERSON THAT'S USING THE CITY SERVICE [NOISE] IS PAYING FOR THE CITY SERVICE.
I THINK THAT IS A GOOD TREND FOR US TO FINANCIALLY, AS A COUNCIL, TO MOVE TOWARD, THAT IF YOU LIKE PLAYING GOLF IN THE CITY, YOU'RE PAYING FOR THE SERVICE OF GOLF IN OUR CITY.
WE'RE SUBSIDIZING IT A LITTLE BIT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THE PERSON WHO'S USING THE SERVICE IS THE PERSON WHO'S PAYING FOR THE SERVICE.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD FINANCIAL, IT'S SUSTAINABLE.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD APPROACH. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK?
>> I'M INTERESTED IN THE WHOLE IDEA OF BEST PRACTICES.
I THINK WE'VE BEEN SPENDING THE PAST FOUR YEARS THAT MOST OF US HAVE BEEN SITTING ON THE COUNCIL WE KEEP LOOKING AT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY AND WE KEEP HAVING TO RE-EVALUATE WHAT ARE BEST PRACTICES, AND WE KEEP FINDING OUT, "OH, WE'RE FIVE OR 10 OR 15 OR 20 YEARS BEHIND WHAT THE REST OF THE WORLD IS DOING." I THINK THIS IS, AGAIN, ONE OF THOSE SOURCES WHERE WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT WHAT BEST PRACTICES ARE.
TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, IS THE FACT THAT IT'S BASICALLY THE PEOPLE THAT USE THEM NEED TO BE HELPING TO SEE THAT THOSE SERVICES ARE PAID FOR.
IT'S THE SAME WAY WHENEVER WE FIRST WALKED IN AND WE HAD THE WHOLE DEAL ABOUT HAVING TO DEAL WITH GOLF [NOISE] AND HOW IT HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN, WHAT WAS IT? TEN OR 15 YEARS THAT THEY HADN'T EVEN LOOKED AT [NOISE] THE FEES.
CHAIRMAN, I THINK THIS LOOKS EXACTLY THE SAME.
HONESTLY, IT LOOKS THE SAME WAY AS GOLF.
THERE'S ALL THESE FEES THAT ARE NATURALLY OCCURRING THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THEM AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THAT.
STAFF HAD ASKED ME TO PREPARE THESE REVENUE IDEAS.
[02:30:01]
LET ME TELL YOU, I DID NOT LOOK AT EXPENSES AND WHERE WE CAN CUT.OUR TWO LARGEST EXPENSES FOR THE CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX ARE PERSONNEL AND UTILITIES.
WE HAVE LEARNED THE HARD WAY, OVER THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF, HOW TO MANAGE PERSONNEL VACANCIES AND TRY TO KEEP THINGS DOWN AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC AND UTILITIES.
THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE UNLESS WE'RE GOING TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE, MAKE IT COLDER IN THE WINTER AND WARMER IN THE SUMMER DURING OUR EVENTS.
WE'RE AT THE MERCY OF WHAT THE UTILITY COMPANIES PAY US, WE DO OUR BEST TO MANAGE, TO REMOVE THEM, WIDE-OPEN OVERHEAD DOORS, THOSE THINGS, BUT ULTIMATELY, WE'RE IN A TIGHT SITUATION THERE.
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, IN GENERAL, FOR THE REVENUE FOR THE CIVIC CENTER, WE OPERATE IN A VERY CYCLICAL ENVIRONMENT.
EVERY YEAR WE BUDGET MORE THAN WE MIGHT NEED IN EXPENSES AND UNDER WHAT WE MIGHT NEED IN REVENUE NOT KNOWING WHAT WILL BOOK THAT YEAR.
ONE MAJOR FAMILY SHOW CAN PRODUCE $50,000 IN REVENUE.
IF THAT COMES TWICE A YEAR, THAT'S A $100,000 OFF THE YEAR, IT DIDN'T COME AT ALL.
EVEN A SMALLER SYMPHONY PERFORMANCE AND CONCESSIONS GENERATES ABOUT A $1000 PRE-COVID.
SINCE THEY'VE COME BACK LIVE, THEY'VE DONE SHORTER PERFORMANCES AND LEFT INTERMISSION OUT, THEY GENERATE ABOUT 300.
IT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN HOW MANY PEOPLE IN A FACILITY, HOW LONG THE EVENTS GOING ON, HOW MANY TIMES THOSE EVENTS COME PER YEAR.
ULTIMATELY, WE'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF IT.
>> UTILITY WISE THOUGH, REMIND ME.
WE HAVE CHANGED TO LED LIGHTING IN THE FACILITY, CORRECT?
>> THAT A BIG EXPENSIVE [OVERLAPPING].
>> I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS IN FRONT OF ME.
I BELIEVE IT WAS A 60 PERCENT COST SAVINGS.
WE HAD PROJECTED PAYING FOR IT OVER THREE YEARS, BUT AGAIN, WHEN ALL OF THE UTILITIES ARE COMBINED AND THEY CONTINUED TO INCREASE, IT'S HARD TO TRACK EXACTLY WHAT THAT WAS.
EVEN DURING COVID, WE HAVE THE ICE IN THIS YEAR EVEN THOUGH WE WERE CLOSED FOR TWO MONTHS.
WE DID ALLOW THE BULLS TO PRACTICE AND TO PLAY WITHOUT SPECTATORS THERE BUT THOSE EXPENSES ARE STILL THERE EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T HAVE REVENUE OFFSETTING THEM.
IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE THE PAST 18 MONTHS.
>> QUESTIONS FROM THE RIGHT SIDE? NO.
ANYBODY HAVE CONCERNS OR JUST THINKING FORWARD THAT WE WANT TO PUT THOSE QUESTIONS IN FRONT OF SHERMAN OF WHY THIS WOULD BE A TERRIBLE IDEA? HOWARD?
>> THE CITY USES THE CIVIC CENTER A LOT.
WOULD WE BE CHARGING THAT DEPARTMENT THAT USES IT?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT YET.
I BELIEVE WE AVERAGE ABOUT 100,000 ON UNEARNED OR MISSED REVENUE.
BUT MOST OF THAT IS FOR INTERDEPARTMENTAL EVENTS, NOT FOR COMMERCIAL-TYPE EVENTS, WHEN CITY COUNCIL MOVES DUE TO A PANDEMIC OR FOR WHATEVER REASON, THOSE KIND OF EVENTS.
DEPARTMENTS ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUETS, THERE ARE VERY FEW EVENTS OUT THERE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BE COMMERCIAL EVENTS.
ULTIMATELY, THAT WOULD BE A DECISION ON MANAGEMENT.
IT WOULD CERTAINLY REDUCE OUR HOT SUBSIDY, BUT IT WILL INCREASE GENERAL FUND SPENDING IF DEPARTMENTS WERE PAYING FOR THAT.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
THAT WOULD BE A VALUE-BASED DECISION THAT THE COUNCIL AND STAFF WOULD HAVE TO GATHER TO TRY AND DECIDE WHAT THE BEST WAY FORWARD IS.
[NOISE] I KNOW PEOPLE LIKE ME, THESE MICROPHONES ARE STARTING TO GET CLOSER TO IT AS I'M LOOKING TO MY LEFT.
BUT YEAH, IT WOULD INCREASE THE EXPENDITURES IN THE GENERAL FUND AND IN OUR ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WHICH ARE FUNDED THROUGH EITHER TAXES, OR FEES, AND RATES TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE REVENUE IN A HOT TAX FUNDED DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT IN THERE, I THINK.
I OBVIOUSLY DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN ANYBODY'S MOUTH, NOR DO I WANT TO HAVE ANY PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS ABOUT WHAT OUR COUNCIL WOULD PREFER TO BE, BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PERSPECTIVES ON THAT.
>> I KNEW THE ONE I MENTIONED.
>> YEAH. [LAUGHTER] ANYTHING ELSE THEN?
>> NO, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR NON-PROFITS DO GET A VOICE, OR WE RECEIVE FEEDBACK, OR INPUT FROM THEM BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT.
[02:35:04]
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT. SHERMAN, I JUST WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T SAY THANK YOU TO YOUR CIVIC CENTER STAFF, YOU MENTIONED PERSONNEL AND THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU'VE HAD THIS LAST YEAR.
YOUR STAFF, I THINK MAYBE OUT OF ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT, I THINK HAS SHOWN TREMENDOUS ADAPTABILITY, AND A WILLINGNESS TO DO ANY JOB, WHETHER THAT WAS CLEANING OUT BUSES OR WHEREVER THEY WERE SHIFTED TO MEET AN IMMEDIATE NEED IN THE CITY.
I APPRECIATE THE CULTURE THAT YOU ESTABLISH IN YOUR TEAM AT THE CIVIC CENTER.
I HOPE YOU'LL CONVEY ON THE CITY COUNCIL'S BEHALF OUR GRATITUDE TO YOUR TEAM FOR THE SERVICE THAT THEY'VE DONE TO THE CITY OVER THE LAST YEAR.
>> THANK YOU. YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M LOOKING AT OUR TIME.
I KNOW THAT OUR BOND COUNCIL HAS A FLIGHT THAT HE NEEDS TO CATCH.
WHAT WERE YOU JUST SAYING? IS ANYBODY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I'M GOING TO MAKE MY PLANE OR NOT? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, STEVEN? [LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK HALF THE ROOM IS ON THAT PLANE.
>> YEAH, [LAUGHTER] I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ON THAT FLIGHT, BUT IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE COUNCIL,
[3.C. CONSIDER RESOLUTION . AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.]
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE OUR BOND COUNCIL ITEM UP.IT IS ITEM 3D OR 3. LET ME MAKE SURE.
>> THREE C. THANK YOU. THERE YOU GO.
MR. CITY MANAGER, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO ITEM 3C, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT STEVEN CAN CATCH THAT FLIGHT.
>> HI, MAYOR. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO HAND IT TO OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, LAURA STORRS TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.
BUT THIS IS THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE, AUTHORIZING THE PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE.
IT'S ONE OF THE STEPS THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE PRIOR TO ACTUALLY ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION. LAURA?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE STEVEN ADAMS. I THINK ALL OF YOU KNOW HIM.
HE WAS HERE LAST COUNCIL MEETING AS WELL.
HE'S GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE DETAILED INFORMATION RELATED TO THIS.
JUST AS A REMINDER TO COUNCIL AS JARED MENTIONED, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF SEVERAL STEPS FOR COUNCIL TO ACTUALLY AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF ANY DEBT.
THIS DOES NOT ISSUE THE DEBT WITH THE ACTION THAT'S BEING TAKEN TODAY.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT, AND IT SETS A CLOCK FOR A TIME PERIOD THAT IF CITIZENS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION, THEY CERTAINLY CAN.
WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO TURN THIS OVER TO STEVEN ADAMS TO GO OVER THE PRESENTATION, AND I'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS NEEDED.
>> LAURA, ONE MORE QUICK QUESTION BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
>> IT STARTS A PROCESS, AND YOU SAID WHAT IT IS, IS IT STARTS A PROCESS.
WHAT IT ISN'T IS A FINAL DECISION TO DO THE PROJECT.
>> NOR DOES IT OBLIGATE US IN ANY WAY TO DO THE PROJECT.
>> IT IS JUST STARTING THE CLOCK BECAUSE IT IS A LONG PROCESS.
YOU CAN'T JUST WAKE UP AND GO, ISSUING BONDS SOUNDS GOOD TODAY. LET'S DO THAT.
INSTEAD, IT IS A VERY DELIBERATE TECHNICAL PROCESS, AND SO YOU'RE JUST SAYING, WE'RE STARTING THE PROCESS IN CASE COUNCIL WANTS TO MOVE THAT DIRECTION.
>> ABSOLUTELY. COUNCIL WON'T TAKE FURTHER ACTION UNTIL THE AUGUST 10TH COUNCIL MEETING, SO THERE'S A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
WE CAN BRING THIS BACK AND HAVE MULTIPLE DISCUSSION ITEMS IF NEEDED.
WE ARE TARGETING TO HAVE THIS POSTED IN THE AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS NEWSPAPERS STARTING THIS FRIDAY, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY.
IT WILL ALSO BE POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE.
AGAIN, THAT IS IF COUNCIL APPROVES THIS ITEM TODAY.
THEN WE WILL PUT THE NOTICES OUT THERE FOR CITIZENS. STEVEN.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE HAVE A POWERPOINT.
BY THE WAY, IF I MISS A POINT, I'D HAVE TO SUFFER IN OHMS TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY WERE CLOSED LAST NIGHT.
>> OUR HOT WOULD INCREASE, RIGHT?
>> WE STAY IN OUR HOTEL AGAIN.
>> AS LAURA MENTIONED, THIS IS THE FIRST OF A PROCESS FOR ISSUING CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
WE HAVE A NOT-TO-EXCEED AMOUNT OF $35 MILLION.
WE DON'T HAVE TO ISSUE THAT MUCH, BUT YOU CAN.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO ISSUE ANY OF IT.
HOWEVER, THE STATUTE DOES REQUIRE THAT YOU DO TWO PUBLICATIONS IN THE NEWSPAPER ON SUCCESSIVE WEEKS ON THE SAME DAY OF THE WEEK.
THE CITY COUNCIL CANNOT ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION UNTIL 45 DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL PUBLICATION.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS FOR THE RENOVATION OF THE BUILDING THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.
THE UTILITY DEPARTMENT WOULD BE PAYING PART OF IT BECAUSE THEY WILL
[02:40:01]
BE USING PART OF IT AS THEIR DEPARTMENTS MOVE INTO THAT FACILITY, AND THE REST OF IT WOULD BE PAID BY THE INS TAX RATE.AS WE MENTIONED THERE, THEY'RE PAID BY BOTH SOURCES, SO IF WE WENT AHEAD WITH THIS, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO SELL THE CERTIFICATES ON ABOUT AUGUST THE 13TH AT A REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING, AND CLOSE ON AUGUST THE 31ST.
THIS IS THE DEBT SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE DEBT.
IT WOULD BE BETWEEN NOW AND 30-YEAR DEBT, AND BE PAID FOR BY THOSE TWO SOURCES.
WE ESTIMATE THAT THE PORTION THAT WE PAID BY THE INS TAXES WILL BE UNDER A PENNY, AND THE PORTION THAT WOULD BE PAID BY THE WATER UTILITY IS INCLUDED IN ITS CURRENT OPERATING BUDGET TAX RATE INCREASES.
IT'S ONLY ABOUT $400,000 FOR UTILITY PORTION.
THAT COULD EASILY BE ABSORBED IN THE RATE, AND THE BUDGETS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE FOR THE UTILITY.
THE SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS, AGAIN, IT WILL PAY THE COST OF ISSUANCE AS WELL AS THE EXPECTED PROJECT COSTS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS ARE RIGHT NOW.
WE EXPECT AT THIS POINT THAT IT WOULD BE LESS THAN $35 MILLION, AND SO WE HOPE THAT WE DON'T ISSUE THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT.
THEN JUST TO LET YOU LOOK, THIS IS THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR TAX-SUPPORTED DEBT AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF THESE COS. YOU CAN SEE THAT YOUR DEBT FALLS OFF IN FUTURE YEARS.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY, OR YOU WILL HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY, AND THE FACT THAT YOUR ASSESS VALUATION IS GROWING ADDS TO THE CAPACITY.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR FUTURE TAX-SUPPORTED PROJECTS OVER TIME THAT CAN BE DONE WITHIN THE SAME TAX RATE.
THIS IS THE WATER AND WASTEWATER DEBT ATTRIBUTIONS OF THESE.
NOW, THE WATER UTILITY, AS YOU ARE AWARE, IS USED DEBT ON ABOUT EVERY YEAR OR EVERY OTHER YEAR.
IT, TOO HAS DECLINING DEBT AND A LOT OF CAPACITY, BUT IT IS A GROWING UTILITY, AND IS AN AGING UTILITY, AND WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF DEBT ISSUED OVER TIME FILLING THAT IN.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON INTEREST RATES, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN THIS.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EVERY TIME I COME UP HERE, I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THE LOW INTEREST RATES.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MARKET INTEREST RATES FOR TAXES AND BONDS HAVE CONTINUED TO COME DOWN OVER TIME.
ALL ISSUERS INCLUDED THE CITY, ESPECIALLY, WITH YOUR HIGH-CREDIT RATING, HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
FINALLY, THIS IS THE ENTIRE TIMETABLE OF EVENTS WITH THE PUBLICATIONS THAT ARE REQUIRED, AND THEN THE SALE IN AUGUST AT THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, AND THEN THE CLOSING ALSO IN AUGUST TO FUND THE PROJECT.
WITH THAT, I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>> THIS IS A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, AND THE INTEREST RATE DIFFERS HOW FROM JUST A BOND OR A GENERAL?
>> THIS IS THE EXACT SAME CREDIT RATING AS A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND, WHICH IS AAA BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME TAX PLEDGE, THE INS TAX PLEDGE.
IT'S BASICALLY A PARODY WITH THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND.
YOUR WATER AND SEWER BONDS ARE ALSO AAA BY S&P, SO THEY ALSO HAVE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE SAME RATE.
THERE'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCE FROM A REVENUE BOND TO A GO, BUT VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF DIFFERENCE. IT'S YOUR BEST CREDIT.
>> WE'RE THE BEST OF THE BEST, RIGHT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT, [OVERLAPPING] AAA.
>> GOING TO BRAG FOR A SECOND.
[LAUGHTER] I ALWAYS SAY WE'RE THE PRETTIEST GIRL AT THE DEBT DANCE.
>> THERE YOU ARE, IT'S A DEBT DANCE.
[LAUGHTER] WE CALL IT BEING BOND PRETTY.
>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROCESS OR?
WELL, WE HAVE DISCUSSION ON 3C NEXT. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. CORRECT. THANK YOU STEPHEN.
>> HAVING HEARD THE PRESENTATION, DO WE HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 3C?
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO TEM PAO, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER.
NOW THAT WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM 3C QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL.
[02:45:06]
>> YES. DISCUSSION, THIS IS THE LARGEST BOND WE'VE ISSUED, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> WELL, IT'LL BE THE LARGEST CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION [OVERLAPPING] IT'LL BE THE LARGEST CO.
>> THE OTHER CO WAS 24,575,000 AND IT WENT TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, RENOVATION OF THE FIRE STATION, PARKS, LOTS OF USAGE IN THE COMMUNITY.
THEN THIS PRIMARILY WILL BE UTILIZED JUST FOR ADMIN AND FOR CERTAIN UTILITY PAYMENTS.
>> MY MAIN QUESTION AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS DIRECTED AT NICK OR NOT, WELL, I AM CONCERNED BUT I'M UNEDUCATED SO I'LL JUST ASK FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN TRYING TO GO BACK THROUGH THIS LEGALLY.
I HAVE A CONCERN FOR MY CITY AND THE WAY THAT IT'S MOVING LEGALLY THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF A CO WITH A PROJECT THAT'S SO SIMILAR TO THE PROJECT THAT WAS VOTED DOWN SEVEN MONTHS AGO.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS SPECIFICALLY BETWEEN THE TWO?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S NICK OR [OVERLAPPING].
>> JUST EXPLAIN WHAT THE REAL DIFFERENCE WAS IN THE ELECTION.
>> I DO NOT THINK I CAN HELP WITH THAT.
>> YEAH, AND MAYBE JARED TOO JUST FEEL FREE [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE AND I'M NOT THE BOND LAWYER, BUT ALL OF THESE ALSO HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SO THAT'S JUST THAT.
THE ACTUAL BOND, THE LANGUAGE IN THE BOND PROPOSITION SAID FOR A CONVENTION CENTER TO WIT THE AMARILLO CIVIC CENTER FOR THE 275, IT SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT IN THE BOND PROPOSITION.
THE CERTIFICATES SPECIFICALLY SAY THE CITY HALL, WHICH IS I MEAN THEY'RE CLOSE BUT IN THE EYES OF THE BOND COUNSEL THEY'RE DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND THAT'S HOW THE BOND COUNSEL CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT WE COULD DO THIS.
>> I THINK IN ADDITION TO THAT THE CITY HALL WAS NOT ON THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
>> [OVERLAPPING] PART OF THIS IS WE'RE VICTIMS OF TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE WE WERE TRYING SO HARD TO TELL TAXPAYERS EXACTLY WHAT THE FULL SCOPE OF BECAUSE WHAT WAS ON THE BALLOT WOULD DEMOLISH THIS CITY HALL, WHICH MEANT WE WOULD NEED A SECOND LOCATION FOR CITY HALL.
EVEN THOUGH THAT SECOND LOCATION WAS NOT PART OF WHAT WAS ON THE BALLOT, IT WAS THE NEXT LOGICAL STEP THAT IF THE BALLOT PASSED, WE KNEW WE NEEDED THAT SECOND LOCATION.
WE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT IT AS ONE PROJECT AT $318 MILLION, AND I THINK THAT'S NOW CREATING SOME CONFUSION THAT WHAT WAS ON THE BALLOT WAS NEW CITY HALL SECOND LOCATION.
IT WASN'T ON THE BALLOT IT WAS JUST IN OUR DISCUSSIONS FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY.
WE ALWAYS LET TAXPAYERS KNOW THERE WOULD BE ADDITIONAL COST TO THE 275 MILLION THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT RELATED TO A SECOND LOCATION FOR CITY HALL IF IT PASSED.
>> I THINK I'M UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE BIT MORE NOW.
CAN YOU GO BACK THROUGH THAT FOR ME ONE MORE TIME AND BREAK THAT OUT? THE 275 AND THEN THE 20 MILLION AND THE 14 MILLION OR WAS IT, GIVE ME THE AMOUNT.
>> THE 275 SPECIFICALLY SAID THAT CONSTRUCTION [NOISE] RELATED TO A CONVENTION CENTER TOWARDS THE AMARILLO CIVIC CENTER.
EVERYTHING THAT WAS TO BE VOTED ON WAS ONLY RELATED TO THE CIVIC CENTER.
>> THE LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT WAS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF 275 MILLION OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR CONVENTION CENTER FACILITIES EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT, AND THE IMPOSITION OF THE TAX SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON THE BONDS.
NOW THE RESOLUTION TO CALL THAT ELECTION HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, BUT IT WOULD HAVE GONE INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE CIVIC CENTER AND THE ARENA, IT DID NOT, I DIDN'T MEAN TO EMPHASIZE THAT LIKE THAT, BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE CITY HALL.
>> YEAH, CORRECT. IT DID NOT INCLUDE RENOVATION OF EXISTING FACILITY OVER [INAUDIBLE] HARDWARE FOR CITY HALL.
>> WAS OUR INTENTION IF THAT BOND HAD PASSED TO ISSUE A CO FOR THE ADDITIONAL MONEYS NEEDED TO RENOVATE [INAUDIBLE] HARDWARE?
>> CORRECT. THE REASON FOR THAT WAS BECAUSE THE ARENA WOULD HAVE SET BASICALLY WHERE WE'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU HAD INCLUDED IN THAT 275 TO REMOVE THIS BUILDING?
[02:50:05]
>> NO. [OVERLAPPING] THE DEMOLITION WAS ALSO GOING TO BE PART OF THE CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.
THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS WOULD HAVE PAID FOR JUST THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ARENA, EXPANSION OF THE CIVIC CENTER, RENOVATION OF THE CIVIC CENTER, RENOVATION OF THE SANTA FE DEPOT, AND ALSO CONSTRUCTION OF ONE PARKING GARAGE.
>> WHERE I MAY BE MISSING THE BOAT HERE AND JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M SPECIFIC, THE PROPOSAL DID NOT INCLUDE A 20 MILLION FOR CITY SERVICES RELOCATION AND DID NOT INCLUDE A 15 MILLION FOR A PARKING GARAGE IN THE 318.5 MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT DID INCLUDE THE PARKING GARAGE.
>> WELL, HE SAID THE 318 NOT THE 275.
>> I'M TRYING TO BREAK THEM APART SO THAT I MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT I'M BEING ASKED TO VOTE.
>> I CAN PUT IT IN. WHEN WE MADE THE PRESENTATIONS WE PRESENTED EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING BECAUSE WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE THE TOTAL TAX IMPACT OF EVERYTHING.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUT AND SAY THE GO BOND ELECTION IS GOING TO COST YOU THIS MANY CENTS AND THEN RAISE THE TAXES A LITTLE BIT MORE FOR ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAD TO HAPPEN IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THAT BIG PROJECT.
WE WENT AHEAD AND PRESENTED EVERYTHING OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE KNEW THE FULL IMPACT OF WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DOING.
BUT FROM WHAT IS THE GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND AND WHAT IS A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION, WE WE'RE ALSO VERY CLEAR ABOUT THOSE HOWEVER, IT IS A MUCH MORE CONFUSING ASPECT OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
IT DID MUDDY THE WATER THAT ATTEMPT AT CLARITY DID ALSO POTENTIALLY CREATE SOME CONFUSION FOR PEOPLE.
>> I THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT MOVE THEN BECAUSE IT OBVIOUSLY ARTICULATED THE TOTAL COST AND WE THE CITIZENS APPRECIATE THAT.
WHAT IT MUDDIES THE WATER ON NOW IS WHAT WE'RE MOVING TO DO NOW THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE WERE DOING THEN.
WE ALSO HAVE A PRESENTATION HERE ABOUT SOME ALTERNATIVES FOR CIVIC CENTER.
WE'RE STILL PLANNING, WE'RE STILL LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT BUT WE'RE TRYING TO DO THAT, LISTENING TO THE VOTERS THAT SAID NO AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE PRIVATELY FUNDED.
THIS RIGHT HERE DIFFERS IN THE WAY LEGALLY IS MY CONCERN THAT WE WALK THAT FINE LINE THAT ON A CO THOSE TWO DON'T OVERLAP IN THE WAY OF IMPROVEMENTS.
>> THIS CO DOES NOT OVERLAP WITH THE BOND ELECTION BECAUSE THAT'S A PRETTY RECENT STATUTE.
>> WE JUST WANT TO BE SUPER CLEAR.
WE'RE GOING TO PAUSE AND SAY, FROM OUR BOND COUNSEL, GIVE US YOUR OFFICIAL LEGAL OPINION THAT THIS PROJECT THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING, CITY HALL SECOND LOCATION DOES NOT OVERLAP IN ANY WAY SHOULD PERFORM WITH THE PROJECT THAT WAS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
>> LET ME LET ME SAY THIS WAY.
>> I BELIEVE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FIND THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS LEGAL AND THAT THEY WILL APPROVE THE CERTIFICATES [OVERLAPPING] AND THEY GO BACK AND LOOK AT EVERY LITTLE DETAIL.
>> YEAH, GREAT. THAT'S A GREAT LEGAL TECHNICAL ANSWER.
>> THIS IS FROM A CITIZEN'S VIEWPOINT, I'LL SAY THIS PROJECT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WAS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.
>> EDUCATE ME A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE I'M GLAD TO HEAR YOU'RE SAYING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL STATE WOULD REVIEW THIS ACTION AND THEN THEY WOULD GIVE AN OPINION ON IT.
>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REVIEWS EVERY DEBT ISSUANCE OF EVERY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND THEN THEY GIVE AN OPINION THAT ALL OF THE STATUTES WERE COMPLIED WITH AND THAT THE DEBT IS A BINDING DEBT SO THAT NOBODY CAN COME BACK AND SUE LATER AND SAYING IT'S NOT A LEGAL DEBT.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS ON EVERY BOND ISSUE.
>> NICK, WOULD YOU TELL ME THAT MY CONCERN FOR WHAT THE CITY MAY BE DOING LEGALLY SHOULDN'T BE MY CONCERN BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE OVERSEEN BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON A REVIEW?
>> NO, I THINK EVERYTHING SHOULD BE A COUNCIL MEMBER'S CONCERN ABOUT HOW THIS IS SET UP.
BUT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE BEING TOLD TODAY AND THAT WE'VE EXAMINED AND OBVIOUSLY ALL THE PROFESSIONALS HAVE EXAMINED IS WHEN THE PROJECT WERE DESCRIBED IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR THE BOND ELECTION, THAT WAS PREPARED BY BOND COUNSEL TO SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBE THAT PROJECT, AND THAT PROJECT HAD LIMITS.
NONE OF THOSE LIMITS ARE INVADED IN ANY WAY BY WHAT THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION IS ON THE CERTIFICATES.
NO, YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS COUNCIL MEMBER.
[02:55:03]
HOWEVER, IF WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER, WILL GET YOU ONE.[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR TO ENSURE THAT THIS PARTICULAR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATIONS WILL PASS MOSTLY WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND BE MARKETABLE FOR SALE.
>> I THINK THAT THE ROOT OF ALL OF THIS IS LEGISLATION FROM 2015, AND THAT WOULD'VE BEEN HP 1378 1379.
PROHIBITED A GOVERNING BODY OF AN ISSUE OR MAY NOT AUTHORIZE A CERTIFICATE TO PAY A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION TO BE INCURRED IF A BOND PROPOSITION TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS FOR THE SAME PURPOSE WAS SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS DURING THE PRECEDING THREE YEARS AND FAILED TO BE APPROVED.
THAT'S THE ORIGIN OF A PROHIBITION OF CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION BEING USED TO PAY DEBT THAT WAS NOT APPROVED BY VOTERS IN A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION.
SINCE CITY HALL OR ANY COMPONENT OF CITY HALL WAS NOT PART OF THAT BOND ELECTION, THERE IS NO LEGAL EXPOSURE WITH REGARD TO CONTEMPLATED ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE I WANTED TO ADD ONE THING.
>> GOOD POINT. IN THAT 1378 IN THAT HOUSE BILL, IT TALKS ABOUT EMERGENCY USE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I UNDERSTAND COS ARE TYPICALLY FOR AN EMERGENCY.
THIS IS NOT BEING LOOKED AT UNDER ANY OTHER FORM OTHER THAN A NEW PROJECT.
THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY; IS THAT CORRECT?
>> RIGHT. IT'S NOT AN EMERGENCY AND THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR COS TO BE USED FOR EMERGENCIES.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I THINK BEST PRACTICES ARE UC CITY IS USING THEM FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT ARE NON-EMERGENCY FREQUENTLY.
>> ABSOLUTELY. ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO NOTE IS STEVEN ADAMS IS OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
WE DO NOT HAVE OUR BOND COUNSEL TODAY.
[OVERLAPPING] THAT'S OKAY, BUT THAT IS BOB [INAUDIBLE] FIELD.
HE HAS BEEN THE CITY'S BOND COUNSEL FOR MANY YEARS, HAS SEEN US THROUGH MANY DEBT ISSUANCES AND HE WROTE THE LEGAL LANGUAGE ON THE PROPOSITION THAT WAS VOTED DOWN.
[NOISE] HE ALSO WROTE THE LEGAL LANGUAGE ON THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE YOU TODAY AND THAT WILL GO INTO THE ADVERTISING IF THIS ITEM IS APPROVED.
HE WOULD NOT WRITE IN SOMETHING THAT CONTRADICTED WHAT WE COULD LEGALLY DO.
HE HAS HAD HIS HAND IN HIS OVERSIGHT IN ALL OF THIS.
HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS TAKEN TO THE VOTERS AND WHAT THE CITY WAS COMMUNICATING FOR A FURTHER DEBT ISSUANCE THROUGH CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION IF THE BOND ELECTION ARE PASSED.
THEN NOW HE HAS BLESSED AND HAS WRITTEN LEGALLY WHAT WE CAN DO ON A NEW ISSUANCE OF CO IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO DO IT.
HE HAS PUT HIS LEGAL OPINION ON ALL OF THIS.
>> I FEEL LIKE THAT'S VERY CLEAR NOW, I THINK IT WAS PROBABLY MUDDIED UP IN THE WAY THAT IT WAS PRESENTED DURING THE VOTE.
I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT.
AGAIN, THIS IS A COMPLEX PROCESS AND PROJECT THAT AS A COUNCIL WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS.
I QUIPPED EARLIER THAT IN SOME WAYS WE'RE ASKING YOU TO JUMP ON AN 80 MILE PER HOUR TRAIN.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S ALREADY MOVING AT THE SPEED OF HAVING COVERED A LOT OF MATERIAL IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
MANY TIMES WE'VE ASKED THE SAME QUESTION OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO UNDERSTAND IT AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MINUTE JUST TO ONBOARD A NEW.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE ASKING QUESTIONS.
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW WE WERE TALKING EARLIER.
MY DISADVANTAGE IS, IS I GOT HIRED BY THE CITIZENS TO GO TO WORK WITH A REAL WORKING COUNCIL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WOULD HAVE GOTTEN PREPARED OR EDUCATED FOR THIS.
THEY MOVE VERY FAST AND THEY WORK REALLY HARD.
I APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPLAUD IT.
BUT BECAUSE WE'RE MOVING AT SUCH A FAST PACE, I DON'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE TO, [NOISE] I GUESS STOP ALONG THE WAY AND MAKE SURE WE'RE STILL FOLLOWING THE MAP.
A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT GO HAND IN HAND WITH THIS, THIS IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
IT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO A CERTAIN NEED.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GOING OUT IN A MULTIFACETED WAY THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY LIKE THE OTHER BOND WAS.
THIS WILL BE THE LARGEST CO THAT WE ISSUE, I BELIEVE I'M CORRECT IN THAT.
WITH GREAT CAUTION, I DON'T FEEL WE EVER GET SOME VALID UPDATED COST FOR IF WE STAYED HERE AND LOOKED AT THIS BUILDING IN THE WAY OF, WILL THIS BE NOT THAT IT HAS TO BE A NO, BUT THAT IT COULD BE A NOT YET.
IN THE WAY OF HIRING A $500,000 EXPENSE FOR A CONSULTANT AND GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS,
[03:00:06]
SHOULD WE NOT ALSO BE LOOKING AT ALL OUR ALTERNATIVES TO STAY HERE OR TO UTILIZE OTHER FACILITIES.JUST BECAUSE WE MAY PUT THIS UP AND THIS MAY PASS, I DON'T WANT TO CLOSE THE CONVERSATION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO JUST TOTALLY IGNORE ALL OF OUR OTHER OPTIONS BECAUSE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW AND NOT EVERY VOICE HAS BEEN HEARD ON THIS AS TO EXACTLY THE IMPACT AND WHAT WE ARE OR ARE NOT FACING.
WITH CAUTION, I'M JUST SAYING THAT TO MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND HOPEFULLY WITH SOME GRACE IN THE WAY OF WE ALL KNOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING AND I'M WINGING IT HERE, BUT I'M LEARNING QUICK AND I'M JUST TRYING TO GET MY POINT OUT THERE.
I'M NOT TRYING TO OFFEND, BUT I ALSO DON'T WANT TO BE QUIET AND WALK AWAY AND WISH THAT I HAD SPOKEN UP.
>> ABSOLUTELY, QUESTIONS ARE WELCOME.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING THAT AGAIN, WHAT IS THIS? IT'S THE BEGINNING STEP IN THE PROCESS.
WHAT IT ISN'T, IS A FINAL DETERMINATION.
WHATEVER INFORMATION COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY THAT YOU THINK STAFF NEEDS TO WORK ON AND COMPILE AND PUT TOGETHER BEFORE COUNCIL ACTUALLY LOOKS AT THIS ITEM AS AN ACTION ITEM.
12 WEEKS. YEAH, WE HAVE EIGHT WEEKS TO DO THAT, TWO MONTHS.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, GATHER THAT DATA.
WE CAN PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR MORE DISCUSSION, AND WE WILL, SO THAT BY THE TIME WE COME TO AN ACTION ITEM.
IF THE CONSENSUS FROM THE COUNCIL IS THAT WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD AN ACTION ITEM, EVERYBODY HAS ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
>> YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT AND THANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP.
>> WE HAVE VARIED OVER TO THE ACTION AGENDA.
THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM ON AND WE DO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE TABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND START THIS PROCESS.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION?
>> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, I APPRECIATE BOTH QUESTIONS.
THINKING THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN TO CARRY OUT THE CIVIC CENTER PLAN WE DID HAVE THAT DIDN'T PASS.
THAT WAS DONE, BUT NOT ONLY WAS THAT THE REASON THERE WAS ANOTHER REASON EXPRESSED, [INAUDIBLE] , THAT WE ARE FACING A LOT OF EXPENSES ON THIS BUILDING.
WE'VE HAD ESTIMATES ON WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE THIS WORK IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
OFF LIKE WE'RE JUST ADDING IS A SEPARATE ISSUE FROM ALL THAT ELECTION TO REPLACE CITY HALL BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSES OF THIS BUILDING ARE GOING TO BE ALMOST THE SAME AMOUNT.
>> YES, [OVERLAPPING] I THINK SO.
I THINK IT LEADS TO DIRECTING THAT QUESTION BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY ABOUT WHAT INFORMATION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE STAFF PREPARE? I HEAR IN HOWARD'S COMMENT THAT HE FEELS LIKE HE HAS SEEN, AND AGAIN WE'VE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY FOR THREE YEARS, AND I COMPLETELY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE JUMPING ON THE TRAIN.
WHAT DOES STAFF NEED TO PREPARE TO GET YOU THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO SEE THE COMPARISON MAY BE THAT WE'VE ALL BEEN A PART OF THE PROCESS OF THE EXPENSES TO DO THE NEEDED REPAIRS AND EXISTING CITY HALL VERSUS THE COST OF REHABBING A LARGER SECOND LOCATION? HELP US.
>> THAT'S GREAT. THANK YOU FOR KICKING THAT BACK OVER.
AS I'M THINKING THROUGH IT HERE, LAST MEETING [NOISE] , WE TALKED ABOUT BEING IN A VOLATILE CLIMATE.
I MEAN CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
SOME OF MY MATERIALS ARE 400 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THEY WERE WHEN I STARTED CONSTRUCTION ON A PROJECT.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THE DIFFICULTY IN WORKING REAL HARD AND NOT MAKING ANY MONEY RIGHT NOW.
I'M ALSO CONCERNED MOVING FORWARD, THAT WE HAVE A VALID 35 MILLION DOLLARS HERE WITH THE POTENTIAL INCREASE AND I WEIGH THAT WITH THE INEXPENSIVE MONEY THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO BORROW.
[03:05:01]
SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A BREAKDOWN, NOT NECESSARILY A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE JERRY, BUT A BREAKDOWN AND IF WE STAY, WHAT DOES THIS REALLY LOOK LIKE? ARE THESE ITEMS THAT MUST BE TAKEN IN THE WAY OF NEEDS OR THEY'RE [INAUDIBLE].THEN HOW AFFORDABLE CAN WE GET IT.
THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE LOOKING AT ANY OTHER FACILITY THAT WE MAY HAVE LIKE A PARKING GARAGE OR A RETAIL FACILITY THAT WE'RE NOT RENTED OUT IN IF WE WANTED TO LOOK AT AN OPTION AND I'M NOT THROWING THAT OUT AS A GOOD IDEA.
I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S MULTIPLE IDEAS OUT THERE THAT A FINISH OUT OF A NEW BUILDING IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN RE-MODELLING AMARILLO HARDWARE, AND SO IN THE WAY OF THE URGENCY THAT IT WAS PLACED, IN FRONT OF ME TWO WEEKS AGO, I DON'T WANT TO INVALIDATE THAT, BUT WE ALL KNOW HOW CONSTRUCTION GOES.
IT'S SUPER SLOW, SO I'D LIKE TO TAKE MY TIME AND REALLY GET OUR HARD COSTS.
ON THE AGENDA NEXT WEEK, IF WE COULD PUT THAT ON THERE AS A DISCUSSION ON A PRESENTATION, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE, AND THEN WHAT DO WE REALLY LOOK LIKE [NOISE] HERE AT THIS CITY HALL.
THEN ONE OTHER QUICK QUESTION.
>> WHEN YOU SAY, ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS, YOU MEAN LIKE BUYING A DIFFERENT BUILDING AND DOING IT [OVERLAPPING] OR BUILDING A NEW BUILDING SOMEWHERE?
I DON'T THINK I'D BE LOOKING AT NEW CONSTRUCTION.
I THINK I'D BE LOOKING AT IF WE CURRENTLY OWN ANY OTHER PROPERTY THAT MAY BE REHABBED OR FUNCTIONAL FOR A LESSER AMOUNT OF MONEY.
ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I'M JUST WANTING TO LOOK AT ALL IDEAS.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WHICH IS GOOD GOVERNANCE.
>> JARED, I'M GOING TO NOW HAND YOU THE FOOTBALL AND ASK YOU TO JUST QUICKLY RUN COLD THROUGH THE TWO YEARS OF EXECUTIVE SESSIONS WHERE WE HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER PIECES OF PROPERTY AS WELL AS INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS THAT I KNOW YOU AND YOUR TEAM HAVE HAD ABOUT EXISTING FACILITIES THAT WE OWN.
I MEAN JERRY'S RIGHT HERE IN THE ROOM, SO COLE THESE ARE GOOD QUESTIONS.
THEY ARE QUESTIONS THAT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL WORKED EXTENSIVELY THROUGH.
>> [NOISE] YEAH. I APOLOGIZE. YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO WALK ME BACK THROUGH JUST BECAUSE I WASN'T HERE, BUT I'LL CATCH UP.
>> WE DON'T HAVE ANY EXISTING BUILDINGS OUTSIDE OF THAT BUILDING THAT ARE OF ADEQUATE SIZE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS BUILDING.
WE DID EXTENSIVE WORK EVALUATING OTHER BUILDINGS THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY BUY, OR WE ALSO LOOKED INTO POTENTIALLY FINDING A PLACE THAT WE COULD LEASE BOTH SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM.
>> EVEN ENTERED INTO SOME NEGOTIATIONS FOR WHICH WE'RE STILL UNDER CONFIDENTIALITY.
>> RIGHT. WE CAN'T GO INTO DETAILS ON THOSE, BUT WE DID LOOK AT A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS AROUND TOWN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALTERNATIVES TO THE AMARILLO HARDWARE SITE AND THEY WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT.
>> BUT SIMILAR IN THIS COST RANGE.
>> YOU KEEP GOING. I'M GOING TO ADD IN EVERY TIME I HAVEN'T [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE].
>> THAT'S PRETTY MUCH UNLESS I'M MISSING.
WE PROBABLY DID A REALLY HARD LOOK WHERE WE WERE WORKING WITH A LOT OF DETAIL ON AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT SITES PRIOR TO AMARILLO HARDWARE, BECAUSE WE KNEW IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
ONE WE KNEW ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WE HAD WITH THIS BUILDING, BUT TWO IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A LARGER CIVIC CENTER PROJECT, WE KNEW WE NEEDED LAND SOMEWHERE ELSE.
WE HAD TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BEFORE THE PROJECT REALLY WAS A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE KNEW ONCE THAT HAPPENED, THE COST OF ANY NEW FACILITY WAS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER.
FOR GOOD OR BAD, WHEN PEOPLE KNOW THE BUYER IS THE CITY, THEY THINK THAT THERE'S AN UNLIMITED CHECKBOOK AND THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE, SO WE ALWAYS WORKED WITH BLIND BUYERS, WE ALWAYS WORKED WITH AGENTS REPRESENTING US ALTHOUGH WE DO MOVE THAT AROUND ON A REGULAR BASIS JUST SO WE CAN MAINTAIN A LITTLE BIT OF COMPETITIVE POSITION WHEN WE'RE BUYING.
>> WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THE BOND WAS GOING TO PASS OR NOT PASS.
IF IT PASSED, WE KNEW ALL THE PROPERTY ON THE FRENCH OF THE CIVIC CENTER WAS IMMEDIATELY GOING UP IN VALUE, BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENTIRE WORLD KNEW WE NEEDED IT IN ORDER TO BUILD WHAT THE VOTERS JUST TOLD US TO GO AND BUILD.
[NOISE] THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A ROCK IN A HARD PLACE IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL IN TRYING TO DECIDE DO WE PURCHASE THIS FRENCH PROPERTY BEFORE THE BOND.
[NOISE] BEFORE WE KNEW WHAT VOTERS WERE GOING TO SAY ON IT JUST SO WE COULD GET THE BEST DOLLAR FOR TAXPAYERS IN DOING THAT.
[03:10:01]
>> THANK YOU FOR INDULGING ME AND GOING BACK THROUGH THAT.
AS A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE, WE NOW OWN THOSE ASSETS.
WE ARE ALSO HIRING A CONSULTANT THAT HAS A REALLY GOOD RESUME.
WE COULD BE LOOKING AT A PROPOSAL THAT COMES BACK FROM THEM THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE THIS CITY CALL RELOCATING.
IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S IN THE WAY.
THEY COULD DESIGN SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
NOW WE'RE SITTING ON ASSETS THAT WE CAN SELL AND OFFSET COSTS FOR OUR TAXPAYER.
PERHAPS WE SELL ONE AND THAT OFFSET PAYS FOR RENOVATION HERE WHATNOT.
I'M JUST THINKING IN THE WAY OF THERE'S A LOT WE STILL DON'T KNOW.
I KNOW THERE'S WAY MORE I DON'T KNOW, BUT THERE'S A LOT WE STILL DON'T KNOW AND WHAT ARE OTHER OPTIONS WOULD BE.
I JUST WANT TO MOVE A LITTLE SLOWER.
THEN LET ME ASK YOU. I KNOW THIS IS A CEO.
IT'S UP FOR A VOTE ON A CEO, BUT ASSUMING THAT IT DIDN'T PASS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD KEEP IT FROM GOING TO THE VOTERS.
IT WOULDN'T BE A SPECIAL BOND ELECTION BECAUSE IT HADN'T BEEN PUT UP.
IS THERE ANYTHING NICK THAT WOULD KEEP US FROM PUTTING THIS UP AS A BOND TO STAND ALONE ON ITSELF?
>> WE COULD DO THAT IF WE PUMP THE BREAKS [INAUDIBLE]. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WANT TO REVISIT [NOISE] IN ALL OF THAT TWO YEARS OF LOOKING FOR HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THIS BUILDING COMPLETELY UNRELATED TO THE CIVIC CENTER PROJECT.
THE PROBLEMS IN THIS BUILDING GOT MORE SEVERE JANUARY, FEBRUARY WHENEVER WE HAD ANOTHER BOILER FAIL.
[NOISE] IN THE COURSE OF LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO THIS BUILDING, WE DID SOME ANALYSIS ON WHETHER OR NOT WE COULD USE THE SPACE ACROSS THE STREET THAT'S CURRENTLY UNLEASED UNDERNEATH THE PARKING GARAGE ESPECIALLY IN KNOWING THAT WE HAVE OUTGROWN THIS BUILDING.
WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT WE REALLY NEED IN ORDER FOR US TO PROVIDE THE LEVEL OF SERVICES THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE TO CITIZENS, SO WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO MOVE SOME DEPARTMENTS OVER TO THAT SPACE.
IT'S NOT LEASED. WE'RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY OFF OF IT RIGHT NOW.
WHAT I UNDERSTAND LAURA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT JUST A LITTLE BIT, WE LEFT A RAMP FOR THAT SPACE TO BE UNLEASED FOR A LITTLE WHILE IN OUR PRO FORMAS ON HOW THAT PARKING GARAGE IS PERFORMING TO COVER THE DEBT.
IT WHICH BY THE WAY EVEN IN COVID, WITHOUT THE SOD POODLES, WITHOUT ANYBODY AT THE CIVIC CENTER DOING EVENTS, WE'RE STILL DOING FINE ON OUR DEBT PAYMENTS FROM THE PARKING GARAGE.
THOSE PRO FORMAS HAVE SHOWN THEY WERE PREPARED WITH A VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, BUT WE NEED THOSE SPACES TO LEASE AND BE PART OF THE PRO FORMA AS IT RAMPS UP AND RELIES ON THE REVENUE FROM THOSE LEASED SPACES.
THAT OPTION WASN'T THAT APPEALING TO THE COUNCIL AS WE WALKED THROUGH THIS, JUST SIMPLY BECAUSE WE NEEDED TO PRODUCE REVENUE IN ORDER TO COVER THE DEBT PAYMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE PARKING GARAGE.
>> COUNCIL, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A DIFFERENT COMMENT ON THAT? YOU'RE ASKING FANTASTIC QUESTIONS AND IN A LOT OF WAYS YOU'RE SUMMARIZING 2-3 YEARS WORTH OF WORK THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE TO BRING US TO THIS POINT, BUT I UNDERSTAND HOW HARD IT WOULD BE TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN A PART OF ALL OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS, SO I'M GLAD YOU'RE ASKING QUESTIONS.
>> ANYTHING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TABLE? WE'VE GOT EMOTION AND IT'S SECONDED.
I THINK IF WE'VE ADDRESSED CONCERNS OR ALL QUESTIONS, WE'RE READY TO CALL THE QUESTION.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> THAT PASSES WITH A FOUR ONE VOTE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE IN THAT.
I KNOW THIS MEETING IS LONG, BUT WE'RE GETTING GOOD WORK DONE.
ITEM 1 E IS TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THOMPSON PARK POOL, MR. CITY MANAGER?
[1.E. Receive Thompson Park Pool update;]
>> THANK YOU. I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE SHORTEST PRESENTATION DURING THE ITEM 1 AGENDA.
MICHAEL KASHUBA IS GOING TO GIVE US THE LATEST WE ARE BRINGING THOMPSON PARK POOL TO YOU ON A MEETING BY MEETING BASIS BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF DESIRE TO GET THIS DONE.
WE'RE PUSHING AS HARD AS WE CAN.
WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM, THEY'VE BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB.
IT'S PUTTING IT ON HERE IS NOT A SHOT AT THEM OR ANYTHING, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOUGH THAT OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR COUNCIL KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON AND THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED SO THAT NOBODY IS SURPRISED.
WE'RE ALREADY BEHIND OUR PROJECTED AND TARGETED COMPLETION DATE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS THE ANSWERS.
[03:15:02]
>> MAYOR, COUNCIL MICHAEL KASHUBA THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
I JOKE LAST WEEK THAT WHEN I DO A COUNCIL UPDATE IT RAINS WELL, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER TWO INCHES OF RAIN ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
IT SLOWED CONSTRUCTION DOWN ABOUT 3-5 DAYS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE END OF JUNE.
I THINK WITH THE WEATHER TRENDS STABILIZING WITH THE WARMER WEATHER, I THINK A GOOD START DATE WOULD BE THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR, I HOPING THAT THE WEATHER HOLDS OUT FOR US.
OBVIOUSLY WE GET A NICE WARMING TREND.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR IS OPENING TO THE PUBLIC ON THAT 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND.
IF WE CAN OPEN EARLIER. WE WILL OBVIOUSLY WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM THERE, BUT OPENING ON THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND.
I ALSO WANTED TO DRAW A LITTLE BIT OF ATTENTION TO TRANSIT.
THEY JUST EXPANDED FREE SERVICE TO THOMPSON PARK STARTING JUNE 1ST.
THAT COVERS THOMPSON PARK POOL WONDERLAND, AND THE ZOO, AND THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THROUGH ROUTES 21 AND 12.
A BIG THANK YOU TO [INAUDIBLE] AND CHRIS QUIGLEY FOR FACILITATING THAT.
WHEN THE POOL OPENS, WE WILL HAVE OUR TRANSIT ROUTE THAT RUNS RIGHT THROUGH THERE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ROUTES 21 AND 12.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> NO, WE JUST APPRECIATE THE UPDATE.
ITEM 1 F MR. CITY MANAGER IS A REPORT ON OUR QUARTERLY BUDGET AND COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY,
[1.F. Receive Quarterly Budget update and Sales Tax update;]
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW WE TRY AT LEAST QUARTERLY TO HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE BUDGET.WHEN WE CAME ON BOARD IN 2017, WE WANTED TO SEE HIGH LEVEL HOW WE WERE PERFORMING, WHERE WE WERE BEHIND IN REVENUE, WHERE WE WERE AHEAD IN EXPENSES.
WE DIDN'T WANT TO JUST GET THAT ONCE A YEAR IN A BUDGET WORKSHOP.
WE ASKED THE CITY MANAGER AND HE'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB ALONG WITH HIS STAFF OF GETTING US QUARTERLY BUDGET UPDATES AS WELL AS SALES TAX REVENUE BECAUSE SO MUCH OF OUR GENERAL FUND 30 PERCENT OR SO OF OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE COMES FROM SALES TAX REVENUE.
WE FEEL BETTER AS A COUNCIL HAVING A LITTLE SNIPPET OF ARE WE ON TRACK OR WHERE ARE WE OFF TRACK? THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THESE QUARTERLY BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.
BUT ALWAYS DEBBIE, LAURA, JARED, ANYBODY ON THE STAFF IS AVAILABLE TO GO IN A DEEPER DIVE.
THESE ARE TYPICALLY A 10-MINUTE OR SO PRESENTATIONS, BUT DEEPER DIVES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IF YOU WANT TO SET THOSE UP AND ASK QUESTIONS AND GET MORE INFORMATION.
>> DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, DEBBIE READ.
>> OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
THE MAYOR JUST GAVE ME A GREAT SEGUE INTO THE PRESENTATION.
THIS IS FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS OCTOBER THROUGH MARCH.
THE FIRST FUND THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IS THE GENERAL FUND.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE MAIN OPERATING FUND FOR THE CITY WHERE MOST OF THE CITY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND.
THE FIRST SLIDE THAT WE'LL LOOK AT IS THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE AND BUDGETED REVENUES THROUGH MARCH WERE A 115.4 MILLION.
ACTUAL REVENUES HAVE COME IN AT A 117 MILLION.
THAT'S A POSITIVE VARIANCE THROUGH MARCH OF 1.6 MILLION.
THE NEXT SLIDE WE'LL SHOW YOU THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THAT VARIANCE.
YOU LOOK AT THIS SLIDE, OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE COMING IN 1.2 MILLION AHEAD OF BUDGET THROUGH MARCH.
NOW, PLEASE NOTE AND REMEMBER THAT MOST PROPERTY TAXES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FOR THE YEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE DUE BY FEBRUARY 1ST.
WHAT THE DIFFERENCE THAT THERE IS OUR COLLECTION RATE, WE PROJECT CONSERVATIVELY ON THE AMOUNT THAT WILL ACTUALLY COLLECT, AND THAT HAS BEEN COMING IN BETTER THAN WE EXPECTED.
THE NEXT THREE ITEMS, SALES TAX, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, AND GROCERY SEED TAX, I'LL COVER IN MORE DETAIL ON THE NEXT SLIDES, BUT ALL OF THEM ARE COMING IN AHEAD OF BUDGET THROUGH MARCH.
LICENSES AND PERMITS IS OVER BUDGET BY 622,000 AND THIS IS ANOTHER PLUS FOR AMARILLO.
IT'S OUR POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY GOING ON, THE BUILDING PERMITS ARE VERY STRONG.
THAT'S DOING VERY WELL THROUGH MARCH AS WELL.
NOW CHARGES FOR SERVICES IS AN AREA THAT HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID.
AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD MANY THINGS SHUT DOWN IN THIS CATEGORY.
THERE ARE THINGS SUCH AS THE GULF REVENUES, RECREATION FEES, AND THE CIVIC CENTER EVENTS.
THAT'S THE MAIN IMPACT THERE FROM COVID CAUSING THOSE REVENUES TO BE DOWN THROUGH MARCH.
FINES ARE ALSO DOWN ABOUT 396,000.
AGAIN, WE BELIEVE THAT'S AN IMPACT FROM COVID TRAFFIC FINES AND PARKING FINES ARE DOWN.
THERE HASN'T BEEN AS MUCH ACTIVITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLIER PART OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
THEN THE LAST CATEGORY THERE INTEREST INCOME AND OTHER OUR INTEREST INCOME, OBVIOUSLY THE INTEREST RATES ARE VERY LOW RIGHT NOW WE'RE EARNING VERY LOW INTEREST RATES ON OUR MONEY.
THAT REVENUE IS ABOUT 461,000 UNDER BUDGET, WE ARE SEEING THE INTEREST RATES START TO TURN AROUND.
[03:20:02]
THEN SOME OF OUR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL REVENUE, SOME OF IT'S A TIMING DIFFERENCE, THEY COME IN LATER IN THE YEAR.SOME OF IT IS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING COVID TYPE GRANT MONEY IN PLACE OF THE REGULAR GRANT MONEY THAT WE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED IN THOSE AREAS.
WE'LL DIVE INTO SALES TAX AND YOU RECEIVE THE SALES TAX REPORTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
BUT JUST AS A REMINDER, THROUGH MARCH WHERE 5.54 PERCENT MORE THAN LAST YEAR AND MORE THAN BUDGETED, WHICH IS ABOUT $1.7 MILLION, WE DID BUDGET CONSERVATIVELY, NOT KNOWING HOW LONG THE COVID IMPACT WOULD CONTINUE INTO THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, BUT OUR RETAIL SPENDING IN AMARILLO HAS REBOUNDED VERY WELL.
THROUGH MAY, JUST TO NOTE, AND YOU ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED THOSE REPORTS IN YOUR MONTHLY PACKETS.
THERE 8.8 PERCENT ABOVE BUDGET OR 3.5 MILLION.
AGAIN, SALES TAX IS TRENDING VERY WELL.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
LAURA DID A GREAT JOB SETTING US UP FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS YOU THE 10-YEAR HISTORY.
YOU CAN SEE A POSITIVE TREND IN HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX SINCE 2011, WE DID HAVE A SMALL DECLINE IN 2017.
THEN WHEN IT CAME TO 2020, YOU SEE THE IMPACT OF COVID ON THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS WHAT I'LL SHOW YOU ON THE NEXT SLIDE IS HOW WE'VE REBOUNDED.
LAURA ALREADY EXPLAINED THOSE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX RATES AND WE ARE AT THE MAX, AS SHE MENTIONED. [NOISE] THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FOR CURRENT YEAR COLLECTIONS, WE ARE AT 13.79 PERCENT MORE THAN LAST YEAR OR $412,000.
KEEP IN MIND THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR OR LAST YEAR WE'RE PRE-COVID, AND IN OUR FIRST SIX MONTHS, THIS YEAR WE WERE STILL COMING OUT OF COVID SO THIS AMOUNT OVER BUDGET IS EVEN COMPARING PRE-COVID TO STILL IN COVID NUMBER.
IT'S A VERY GOOD RESULT HERE FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
COLLECTIONS THROUGH MARCH ARE 44.8, TWO PERCENT MORE THAN BUDGET.
NOW, OUR BUDGET WAS LOWERED SOMEWHAT NOT KNOWING THE IMPACT OF COVID AGAIN.
BUT ONE OTHER BIG POSITIVE THING IS WE RECENTLY REFUNDED THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX BONDS FOR SAVINGS.
DURING THAT PROCESS, THE BONDS ARE ALWAYS RATED BY THE BOND RATING AGENCIES AND STANDARD AND POOR'S REAFFIRMED FOR THE CDS GO BONDS OR TAXED BACK BONDS, THEY REAFFIRMED OUR AAA BOND RATING, BUT THEY ALSO REAFFIRMED THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX BONDS, THE AAA PLUS RATING.
THE BIG THING WAS THEY TOOK AWAY THE NEGATIVE OUTLOOK.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF RATING AGENCIES WERE PUTTING ON A LOT OF CITIES, WAS A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK, NOT KNOWING THE IMPACT OF COVID, BUT OUR ECONOMY HAS REBOUNDED SO WHAT I THINK IT'S A GOOD INDICATION THAT THEY FEEL THAT WAY AS WELL.
THE AMARILLO ECONOMY HAS TURNED AROUND AND OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY IS VERY STRONG RIGHT NOW.
THIS NEXT SLIDE WILL SHOW YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT PICTURE.
HERE, IT'S THOSE SAME REVENUES.
THE BLUE BARS ARE LAST YEAR, THE GREEN BARS ARE THIS YEAR'S ACTUAL, THE GRAY IS THE BUDGET.
BUT LOOK AT THE LINES THERE, THIS IS THE OCCUPANCY PERCENTAGES.
PRETTY MUCH EQUAL THE GRAY LINE IS LAST YEAR AND THE YELLOW LINE IS THE CURRENT YEAR OCCUPANCY PERCENTAGES.
OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER, PRETTY MUCH THE SAME AS THE YEAR BEFORE, BUT IN JANUARY WE WERE 10.9 PERCENT MORE AND THAT WAS REALLY BEFORE COVID REALLY HIT.
8.1 PERCENT MORE THAN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR AND 21.5 PERCENT MORE THAN MARCH OF LAST YEAR.
WE'RE SEEING ALL OF THAT HOTEL OCCUPANCY AREA REBOUND VERY VERY WELL.
THE NEXT AREA IS GROSS RECEIPTS BUSINESS TAX.
THIS IS FRANCHISE FEES, WHERE WE CHARGE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT USE OUR RIGHT OF WAYS TO RUN THEIR LINES THROUGH THE CITY.
WE CHARGE THEM EITHER A FEE BASED ON THEIR GROSS RECEIPTS REVENUE OR WE DO IT AS ON A PER LINE BASIS OR PER ACCOUNT CHARGE.
THIS PHI SHOWS YOU WHAT RATES WE CHARGE.
FOR ELECTRIC, GAS, AND CABLE, WE CHARGE A FIVE PERCENT ON THEIR GROSS RECEIPTS.
FOR TELEPHONE, IT'S A PER LINE CHARGE AND FOR CITY-OWNED UTILITIES, OUR WATER SEWER FUND PAYS BASED ON A PER ACCOUNT CHARGE.
THEY PAY BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND FOR USING THOSE RIGHT OF WAYS.
TO LOOK AT THE RESULTS THROUGH MARCH FOR THE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX, WE ARE AHEAD OF BUDGET ABOUT 337,000 OR FOUR PERCENT AND MOST OF THE AREAS ARE IN LINE WITH BUDGET, GAS IS A LITTLE AHEAD.
THEN ON THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND CABLE, THERE WAS A LEGISLATIVE CHANGE IN 2019 WHERE IF ONE COMPANY HAD BOTH UTILITIES, THEY COULD CHOOSE WHICH ONE TO REMIT THEIR FEES ON SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THOSE CHANGES THERE AND THEY WERE WORKING THROUGH THEIR CHANGES ON WHICH ONE THEY WERE GOING TO CHOOSE TO REMIT.
THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT OF A BUDGET VARIANCE THERE.
THE NEXT SLIDE WE'LL LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND EXPENSES.
OVERALL, WE HAVE 96.5 MILLION BUDGETED, 100 MILLION ACTUAL WITH A VARIANCE OF 3.5 MILLION NEGATIVE.
NOW, KEEP IN MIND THE AMOUNT OVER BUDGET IS DUE TO THE USE OF THOSE EXCESS RESERVES AT THE END OF LAST YEAR THAT COUNCIL APPROVED,
[03:25:04]
THAT WAS FOR THE AMARILLO HARDWARE PURCHASE AND SOME OTHER MAJOR IT PROJECTS THAT HAD TO BE DONE.IF WE TOOK OUT THOSE RESERVES, THE VARIANCE WOULD ACTUALLY BE 6.7 MILLION POSITIVE.
I POINT THAT OUT TO SAY THAT WE'RE STILL BEING VERY CONSERVATIVE IN OUR SPENDING.
THE LARGEST AREA UNDER BUDGET HAS BEEN PERSONAL SERVICES AND THAT IS DUE TO A LOT OF VACANT POSITIONS COMING OUT OF COVID WHERE WE HAD FROZEN POSITIONS.
WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE ON OUR EXPENDITURES, IT WAS AN ON PURPOSE EFFORT TO USE THOSE EXCESS RESERVES FOR THOSE MAJOR PROJECTS AND THEY WERE EXCESS RESERVES.
OOPS, I'M SORRY, LET ME GO BACK.
THE NET VARIANCE FOR THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE HAS A POSITIVE OF 1.6 MILLION EXPENSES INCLUDING THOSE TRANSFERS, A NEGATIVE OF 3.5, WHICH IS A NEGATIVE NET VARIANCE OF 1.9 MILLION.
IF YOU TAKE OUT THE IMPACT OF THOSE TRANSFERS WE'RE ACTUALLY 8.3 MILLION POSITIVE.
EVEN WITH THOSE TRANSFERS IN THERE, AT THE SPENDING LEVEL IN THE VACANCIES THAT WE STILL HAVE, WE COULD END THE YEAR POSITIVE OR EVEN JUST A BREAK-EVEN AND NOT EVEN HAVE TO USE THOSE EXCESS RESERVES.
THAT'S TREMENDOUS RESULTS FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE NEXT SLIDE IS UTILITY SALES.
IN THIS AREA, WE ALWAYS LOOK AT THE UTILITIES THAT ARE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THERE'S SOLID WASTE, SOLID WASTE FEES ARE TWO PERCENT AHEAD OF BUDGET THROUGH MARCH AT 210,000.
WATER SALES ARE THREE PERCENT AHEAD OF BUDGET, SALES ONE PERCENT.
NOW, ONE THING TO THINK ABOUT WITH WATER, WE WERE PRETTY DRY ALL THE WAY TILL APRIL WHEN MAY HIT.
THROUGH MARCH WE WERE STILL PRETTY DRY.
WE HAVE TO WATCH THAT GOING INTO THE THIRD QUARTER, WE HAD A LOT OF RAIN, SO THAT'S LESS WATER CONSUMPTION.
NOW, I DID LOOK IN MAY, IT'S STILL SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF BUDGET, BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE THE IMPACT OF ALL THAT RAIN IN MAY HOW IT COMES INTO JUNE'S BILLINGS.
WE'LL WATCH THAT THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR, ALTHOUGH WE DO HAVE OUR DRIEST MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR COMING UP, WE SHOULD BE OKAY BUT WE'LL MONITOR IT CLOSELY.
DRAINAGE FUND IS PRETTY MUCH RIGHT ON TRACK WITH THEIR BUDGETED REVENUES.
WE JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF SLIDES HERE, SOME CHARTS.
THIS IS THE WATER SEWER SALES AND THEN COMPARED TO THE CUSTOMERS, JUST SHOWS THAT THEY FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU ANOTHER SLIDE, NEXT.
THEY DON'T FLUCTUATE TOO MUCH BASED ON CUSTOMERS BUT YOU'LL SEE A DROP THERE, THAT WAS WHEN WE CHANGED SOFTWARE SYSTEMS AND THAT WAS BASICALLY JUST TWO DIFFERENT WAYS OF HOW WE COUNTED THE NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS IN A LITTLE BIT OF CLEAN UP, BUT NO CHANGE IN THEIR REVENUES FROM THE ACTIVITY THAT YOU SEE OVER THE YEARS.
BUT THE NEXT SLIDE IS VERY INTERESTING, THIS SHOWS THE SALES IN RELATION TO THE PRECIPITATION.
OBVIOUSLY WHEN IT RAINS MORE, WE USE LESS WATER.
WHEN IT'S DRY, THE CUSTOMERS USE MORE WATER.
THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE, 2014 WAS WHAT WE CALL A NEAR NORMAL YEAR AND THEN IN 2015, THE VERY NEXT YEAR, IT WAS THE WETTEST YEAR, SO THE REVENUES WENT DOWN.
2019 WAS THE 15TH WETTEST YEAR, AND THEN 2020 WAS THE EIGHTH DRIEST YEAR.
WATER, SEWER REVENUE, WELL, REALLY ITS WATER, THE SEWER ARE PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT THE WATER FLUCTUATES BASED ON THE WEATHER SO WE HAVE TO WATCH THAT CAREFULLY.
BUT THOSE FUNDS, THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE THROUGH MARCH.
THE HEALTH INSURANCE FUND, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KEEP AN EYE ON OUR MEDICAL CLAIMS. LAST YEAR ENDED VERY WELL, BUT THAT WAS BECAUSE DURING COVID THERE WERE MANY RESTRICTIONS ON ELECTIVE SURGERIES SO WE DIDN'T HAVE AS MANY MEDICAL CLAIMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
FOR THIS YEAR THROUGH MARCH, WE'RE ACTUALLY SLIGHTLY UNDER BUDGET BY 215,000.
THE MEDICAL CLAIMS IN THE FIRST QUARTER WERE TRENDING HIGHER AND THAT'S BECAUSE THEY OPENED UP THOSE ELECTIVE SURGERIES AGAIN.
WE SAW A SPIKE THERE BUT IT'S LEVELED OUT FOR THE YEAR, WE WERE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THAT AS WE GO IN TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
THIS CHART JUST SHOWS YOU HOW THE MEDICAL CLAIMS CAN FLUCTUATE, AND THIS SHOWS YOUR MEDICAL CLAIMS SINCE 2013 AND THEN THE CITY WAS SELF-ADMINISTERED UNTIL 2015.
AT THE BOTTOM OF 16 THROUGH THE CURRENT YEAR, YOU'LL SEE THAT LITTLE ORANGE THAT IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE FEES.
ONE THING WITH HEALTH CLAIMS, THEY FLUCTUATE BASED ON CLAIMS ACTIVITY AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU JUST CANNOT PROJECT.
A CITY CAN HAVE A HIGH CLAIMS YEAR, ONE YEAR, AND NOT HAVE ANOTHER HIGH CLAIMS YEAR FOR THREE YEARS.
THE IMPORTANT THING IN THE MEDICAL CLAIMS FUND IS TO HAVE A HEALTHY RESERVE AND WE DO HAVE THAT IN PLACE, SO WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE THERE TO HANDLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN.
EVERYTHING'S LOOKING GOOD, TO THE SECOND QUARTER AND I WOULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> GREAT. [NOISE] ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? IT'S A GREAT SUMMARY, YOU DID A GREAT PRESENTATION.
IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND WORK.
YES. WILL YOU LIVE IN THAT BUDGET AND
[03:30:03]
THE FUND ACCOUNTING WORLD TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND DO A 10-MINUTE SUMMARY? IT IS IMPRESSIVE.I TOLD JARED, I'M FROM THE NORTH ORIGINALLY, SO I USUALLY TALK VERY FAST.
[LAUGHTER] I'VE LEARNED TO SLOW IT DOWN BUT I TOLD HIM I WOULD TALK FAST-SLOWLY.
OBVIOUSLY ANY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE COUNCIL, JUST RUN THOSE THROUGH JARED.
WHETHER IT'S A SIT DOWN MEETING OR JUST A SINGLE ITEM QUESTION.
OBVIOUSLY, STAFF IS HERE TO GET THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED FOR YOU.
WE'VE ALSO GOT ANDREW TO DO A VERY QUICK SALES TAX UPDATE, GOING INTO A LITTLE MORE DEPTH.
THREE SLIDES BUT ONCE THE INTRODUCTORY SLIDE AND THE LAST ONE'S THE QUESTION SLIDE.
ONE SLIDE AND IT'S VERY HARD TO READ SO I'LL TRY AND COVER SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
THE BEST PART ABOUT MY PRESENTATION IS SALES TAX IS GREAT SO ALL THESE NUMBERS ARE REALLY IN THE BLACK COMPARED TO PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS BUT FOR [INAUDIBLE] OR STANLEY'S BENEFIT, WE GET SALES TAX DATA FROM THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE SO WE CAN TRACK THESE INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE MEASURES ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO SEE WHO'S UP, WHO'S DOWN SO WE CAN HELP PREDICT THE REVENUE SOURCE MOVING FORWARD.
THIS ONE IS THROUGH CALENDAR YEAR, TODAY, THROUGH MAY SO THIS IS NOVEMBER THROUGH MARCH ACTUAL SALES BECAUSE IT'S PAID TWO MONTHS BEHIND THE ACTUAL SALES.
OVERALL PERFORMANCE COUNTER HERE TODAY IS UP 10 PERCENT AND WE HAD 10 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS OF INCREASES WITH SALES TAX.
I THINK WE NEED TO, I WANT TO JUMP IN RIGHT THERE AND WE NEED TO HAVE A GRAIN OF SALT WITH THAT BECAUSE WE'RE COMPARING OUR SALES TO AN ARTIFICIALLY LOW PERIOD LAST YEAR, SO WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME REALLY BIG SALES TAX GROWTH NUMBERS BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW WE COMPARE TO PREVIOUS YEARS, IT'S NOT NEARLY SOMETHING THAT BIG BECAUSE THEIR SALES TAXES WERE ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN WHAT WE EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR DURING THAT PRESS PERIOD, CORRECT.
YES. IT'S ABOUT HALF THAT COMPARED TO TWO YEARS AGO.
BUT RETAIL HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST PERFORMER.
IT'S A 15 PERCENT BUT RETAILS ACTUALLY SEEING 11 MONTHS IN A ROW OF INCREASES, FOLLOWED BY FOOD.
THOSE ARE OUR TWO HIGHEST CATEGORIES OF REVENUE.
IT'S ABOUT 36 PERCENT TO 58 PERCENT MONTHLY ON PERFORMANCE AS FAR AS REVENUE GOES BUT FOOD IS THE ONE.
IT'S CURRENTLY HAD ONE NEGATIVE MONTH PRIOR TO THAT, WE'VE BEEN SEEING INCREASES BUT WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANTS VERSUS LIMITED SERVICE RESTAURANTS, FULL SERVICE IS ACTUALLY UP THREE MONTHS IN A ROW COMPARED TO ABOUT NINE OR 10 MONTHS AT DECREASES.
WE'RE SEEING THAT SHIFT OF PEOPLE GOING FROM FAST, QUICK SERVICE THROUGH A DRIVE-THRU TO BACK OUT INTO THE RESTAURANTS SITTING DOWN HAVING A MEAL SO YOU CAN TRACK THAT LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE.
OTHER THING TO NOTE, THE ONLY NEGATIVE WE'VE SEEN IS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.
THAT INCLUDES CATEGORIES LIKE INFORMATION SERVICES, CELL PHONE PROVIDERS, SATELLITES, MOVIE THEATERS, WHICH WE KNOW MOVIE THEATERS ARE STILL HURTING.
FINANCE, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE, THOSE SUB INDUSTRIES.
BEYOND THAT, ALL CATEGORIES AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN ALL RETAIL CATEGORIES ALL IN THE POSITIVE COMPARED TO PREVIOUS YEARS.
ALSO WANTED TO NOTE REMOTE SELLERS.
THAT'S A NEW CATEGORY THAT STARTED COLLECTIONS DECEMBER 2019.
IT'S A 1.75 PERCENT RATE ON THOSE REMOTE SELLERS THAT DON'T HAVE A PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN THE STATE BUT THEY SHIP GOODS HERE LOCALLY.
WE CAN SEEM TO SEE THAT INCREASE THE LAST FEW MONTHS OF SEEING INCREASES BETWEEN 48-100 PERCENT INCREASES COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
SO THAT'S JUST CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE OF ONLINE SALES.
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH NON STORE RETAILERS WHICH IS THE AMAZONS AND ONLINE SELLERS OF THE WORLD THAT HAVE A PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN TEXAS.
THAT ONE'S ACTUALLY FINALLY COMING DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S IN THE 40 PERCENT RANGE YEAR TO DATE.
WE'VE SEEN MONTHLY NUMBERS BETWEEN 120 PERCENT TO 200 PERCENT IN THAT CATEGORY.
PARTICULARLY DURING THE PANDEMIC WHERE MOST OF THE SHOPPING WAS ONLINE BUT THAT NUMBER IS STARTING TO COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND THEN JUST A SNAPSHOT ON THE WORKFORCE.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN APRIL 2021 WAS 4.1 PERCENT COMPARED TO 8.8 PERCENT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
WHEN LOOKING AT THE MSA, THAT NUMBER IS ACTUALLY FOUR PERCENT.
IT USUALLY PERFORMS JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN THE CITY LIMITS.
COMPARED TO TEXAS AT 6.3 AND US AT 5.7 OVERALL, WE TRACK THE TIN INDUSTRIES THROUGH THE WORKFORCE DATA FOR SHOWING DECREASES.
THAT'S INCLUDES FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES DOWN 1.5 PERCENT.
GOVERNMENT DOWN 1.4, THE CONSTRUCTION OF SERIES DOWN 1.3 PERCENT AND RETAIL TRADE, TRANSPORTATION UTILITIES DOWN JUST 100 PERCENT.
WE'VE STARTED TO SEE A TURNAROUND IN THE LEISURE HOSPITALITY OF 36.5 PERCENT, MANUFACTURING 27.9 PERCENT, SO THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY LARGE INCREASES AND BASICALLY LOOKING AT THE OVERALL EMPLOYEE COUNT,
[03:35:02]
WE'RE ONLY A COUPLE 100 DOWN COMPARED TO PRE-PANDEMIC PERIODS SO WE'VE REALLY SEEN OUR WORKFORCE NUMBERS GIVE BACK UP TO WHETHER THEY'RE USUALLY AT.HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
QUESTIONS FOR ANDREW? GOOD NEWS, ANDREW. IT'S AMAZING.
I THINK BACK A YEAR AGO, WE WERE BRACING FOR IMPACT, SO THIS IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FAVOR THAT GOD HAS SHOWED US AS A COMMUNITY JUST ON FINANCIAL RECOVERY, ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 1G WHICH IS
[1.G. Receive update on North Heights Rezoning lnitiative;]
[NOISE] AN UPDATE ON THE NORTH HEIGHTS REZONING INITIATIVE.WE HAD A PUBLIC COMMENTER WHO COMMENTED ON THIS ITEM AND HE HAS DUTIFULLY.
I JUST WANT TO NOTE THANK YOU, ALAN.
YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOUR HOURS [LAUGHTER] WAITING FOR THIS ONE ITEM.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM COUNSEL. I'M EMILY COLOR.
I'M THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION MANAGER FOR THE CITY AND I'VE BEEN MANAGING THIS PROJECT FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND IT'S BECOME A BIT COMPLICATED WITH THE SEQUENCING OF THE APPLICATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, SO WE WANTED TO COME HERE TODAY TO MOSTLY PROVIDES ALL THE BACKGROUND CONTEXT FOR YOU BEFORE YOU SEE THE ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION.
I THOUGHT MR. ABRAHAM DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF INTRODUCING THIS.
I AM JUST GOING TO TOUCH ON IT IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL SO WE'RE CONSIDERING THE REZONING INITIATIVE PROJECT IN MOTION.
IT'S A TERM THAT WE USE FOR ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAY AND PROJECTS THAT ARE ACTIVELY BEING IMPLEMENTED.
THE NORTH HEIGHTS PLAN WAS ADOPTED IN 2017 AND THERE WERE EIGHT DIFFERENT STRATEGIES WITHIN IT THAT ADDRESSED THE ZONING, ESPECIALLY AMENDING INCOMPATIBLE ZONING DISTRICTS AND IN 2019, THE NORTH HEIGHTS ADVISORY ASSOCIATION, WHO'S OUR PARTNER IN IMPLEMENTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS.
THEY PRIORITIZE THIS AS ONE OF THEIR FIRST MAJOR IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS.
SO THEY FORMED A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY TEXAS HOUSERS WHICH IS A NON-PROFIT BASED IN FORT WORTH THAT FOCUSES ON FAIR HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES.
PLANNING STAFF HAS WORKED WITH THEM FROM THE BEGINNING ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE SUBMITTED IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR OF 2020 BY THE NORTH HEIGHTS ADVISORY ASSOCIATION TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO BEGIN THE CITY INITIATED APPLICATION PROCESS AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION OVER THIS, SO THIS IS WHAT MR. ABRAHAM WAS CLARIFYING.
I APPRECIATE THAT. WE ARE MANAGING THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THE APPLICATION.
BUT WE'RE DOING THIS AT THE REQUEST OF THE NORTH HEIGHTS ADVISORY ASSOCIATION LIKE THE CITY DIDN'T JUST DECIDE TO DO THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PRIORITIZED AND REQUESTED AND SO WE'VE BEEN FACILITATING IT AND ASSISTING THEM IN THIS AND THE TERMINOLOGY BECOMES CONFUSING BECAUSE THE TECHNICAL ZONING TERM IS A CITY INITIATED ZONING PROCESS.
BUT REALLY WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT IT AS FACILITATING IT FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
I THINK THIS IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT IS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD TO PLANNING AND ZONING AND TO YOU ARE BASED ON WHAT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AND SO I JUST HAVE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THOSE SO ENCOURAGE AND MIX OF HOUSING ALTERNATIVES, DISCOURAGE RENTAL HOUSING, ADDRESSING COMPATIBLE ZONING, SUPPORT A DIVERSE MIX OF HOUSING, AMEND INCONSISTENT.
THIS IS ALL THE LANGUAGE COMING DIRECTLY FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
WHEN THE COMMITTEE FORMED REALLY WHAT THEIR CHARGE WAS WAS DEFINED TO THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS INTO AN ACTIONABLE PROPOSAL THAT COULD BE SUBMITTED FOR THE REZONING, SO THEY'RE NOT JUST RANDOM OR ARBITRARY SUGGESTIONS BY A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT WAS WORKING ON THIS WAS REALLY WORKING TO FURTHER IMPLEMENT WHAT WAS ALREADY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
THE COMMITTEE ALSO IDENTIFIED THEIR OWN PROJECT GOALS OR PRINCIPLES AND SO THIS IS REALLY THE WHY.
WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS LIKE WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? WHY IS MY NORTH HEIGHTS DOING THIS? THE MOST COMMON ANSWER THAT
[03:40:01]
WE GIVE IN THE NORTH HEIGHTS ADVISORY ASSOCIATION GIVES IS THAT THIS IS ABOUT REBUILDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT'S REALLY ABOUT PRESERVING THE EXISTING CULTURE AND CHARACTER AND SO IT'S NOT ABOUT WIPING OVER AND STARTING NEW, THAT THIS IS A PLAN.THERE'S ALREADY A LOT BUILT OUT THERE.
NORTH HEIGHTS IS A HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD AND THIS IS ABOUT REBUILDING INCREMENTALLY.
IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE INVESTED IN NORTH HEIGHTS, TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MOVEMENT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT, SO WE TALK ABOUT GENTRIFICATION.
THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE AND THIS PLAN IS REALLY INTENDED TO HELP THOSE WHO ARE FROM THERE BECOME MORE INVESTED AND BUILD WEALTH OVER TIME IN THAT AREA.
THEY REMEMBER NORTH HEIGHTS AS A PLACE THAT WAS SELF-SUSTAINING.
THE HOMES WERE NICE AND THEY WANT THAT AGAIN.
THERE ARE A FEW OTHER THINGS SPECIFIC TO THE PROJECT GOALS AS FAR AS WHAT WE'RE DOING LAND-USE WISE.
DECREASING INDUSTRIAL ZONING, INCREASING SINGLE FAMILY, DECREASING MULTIFAMILY, PROVIDING THE RIGHT KIND OF COMMERCIAL USES THAT ARE CLOSE TO RESIDENCES.
SO THEY HAVE ACCESS TO JOBS AND SERVICES, AND THEN CONSIDERING OTHER AMENITIES THAT WILL MAKE THAT NEIGHBORHOOD ATTRACTIVE FOR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES.
I INCLUDED ALL OF THESE BECAUSE THIS PROCESS HAS INCLUDED A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FROM, SAY LIKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T, WE WANT THEM TO COME AND GIVE THEIR INPUT AND THEN THEY EXPECT TO SEE THAT INPUT EXACTLY IN THE PLAN DOCUMENT.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND THAT IF WE'RE HEARING FROM PROPERTY OWNERS THAT DON'T LIKE WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED, THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S NOT CHANGING.
IT'S BECAUSE IF WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR ISN'T CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE PROJECT GOALS ARE, THEN THOSE CHANGES WEREN'T MADE.
I'LL TOUCH ON THAT A LITTLE BIT WHEN WE START TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS WITH PLANNING AND ZONING.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE IN THE NORTH HEIGHTS ADVISORY ASSOCIATIONS SINCE JUNE OF LAST YEAR, BUT THEY HAD BEEN WORKING ON THIS BEFORE WORKING WITH TEXAS HOUSES ON TRAINING AND EDUCATION, BUT WE DRAFTED A REPORT WITH 11 DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS LAST SUMMER AND INTO THE FALL.
THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALL WRITTEN BASED ON OUR ZONING CODE REWRITE, SO WE'RE TAKING THAT INTO ACCOUNT THAT OUR OVERALL CODE IS CHANGING FOR THE CITY.
EVERYTHING THAT'S IN HERE IS CONSISTENT, WITH WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN THE ZONING CODE REWRITE.
ONCE WE'VE FINISHED DRAFTING THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE NORTH HEIGHTS ADVISORY ASSOCIATION WORKED ON PUBLIC OUTREACH AND EDUCATION AT THAT TIME, BUT IT WAS DURING COVID, AND SO WE HAD A REALLY HARD TIME REACHING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, VIRTUALLY LIKE THROUGH DIGITAL PLATFORMS. WE DID DO A PUBLIC MEETING AT THAT TIME, A ZOOM MEETING, AND WE ALSO MAILED ALL THE PROPERTY OWNERS AT THAT TIME.
THAT WAS BEFORE ANYTHING WAS FORMALLY SUBMITTED TO THE CITY.
WE DIDN'T GET A LOT OF RESPONSE AT THAT TIME, SO THE ADVISORY ASSOCIATION CONTINUED ON WITH THE APPLICATION.
THEY SUBMITTED A FORMAL LETTER TO THE CITY, SAYING THAT THEY SUPPORTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT THEY WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CITY INITIATED PROCESS.
THE FIRST MEETING WAS IN MARCH 1ST, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HEARD THIS CASE.
BEFORE THAT, WE MAILED ABOUT 2,600 NOTICES.
WE'VE NEVER JUST WANT PAUSE THERE LIKE WE HAVE NEVER DONE THE AMOUNT OF MAILING FOR A ZONING PROJECT LIKE THIS AT THE CITY, AND BOTH WHAT'S REQUIRED AND THEN ALSO LIKE PROACTIVE BECAUSE WE FOUND THAT THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO REACH PEOPLE AND HAVE HEIGHTS.
AT THAT MEETING, IT WAS A ZOOM MEETING, WE HAD OVER 50 PEOPLE ON THERE, AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FELT LIKE THERE WAS JUST STILL A LOT OF CONFUSION OVER WHAT THE PROPOSAL WAS AND ASKED US TO WORK MORE DIRECTLY WITH PROPERTY OWNERS AND TAKE SOME TIME TO DO THAT, AND THEN WHEN IT CAME BACK TO THEM, THEY WANTED TO SEE IT IN SMALLER PIECES BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE THERE ARE DIFFERENT CHARACTERS WITHIN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND IT WAS HARD TO SORT THROUGH THE DIFFERENT INTERESTS.
[03:45:01]
THEN WE WORKED WITH ADVISORY ASSOCIATION TO DO A NUMBER OF WORKSHOPS.I KNOW SOME OF YOU WHO ATTENDED THOSE SO YOU KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT WE COVERED THERE.
PRIOR TO THOSE WORKSHOPS, WE MAILED AGAIN AND WE MAILED A VERY DETAILED LETTER THAT HAD ALL OF THEIR PROPERTIES THAT WERE PROPOSED TO CHANGE WHAT THEIR EXISTING ZONING WAS, AND WHEN IT WAS PROPOSED TO CHANGE TOO.
EVERY PROPERTY OWNER THAT'S PROPERTY WAS EXPECTED TO CHANGE, RECEIVED A DIRECT COMMUNICATION FROM US EXPLAINING THAT.
WE HAD GOTTEN A LOT OF COMMENTS THAT THINGS WERE UNCLEAR AS FAR AS THE LEGEND, THE US TRIER, THE MAPS WERE UNCLEAR, SO WE READ IT ALL OF THOSE AND TRIED TO MAKE THOSE AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE, AND THEN THE COMMITTEE WORKED WITH THE PLANNING STAFF TO INCORPORATE ANY CHANGES FROM THAT OUTREACH, AND THEY HELD TWO MORE MEETINGS ON THEIR OWN TO TRY TO COMMUNICATE THOSE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE APPROVAL TIMELINE.
WE STAFF WITHDREW THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION AT THE MAY 17 P&Z MEETING, SO WE COULD CREATE TWO APPLICATIONS THAT ARE GOING TO COVER SMALLER AREAS, SO THE APPLICATION WAS TABLED, SO WE HAD TO WITHDRAW THAT SO WE COULD PROCEED WITH TWO NEW ONES THAT ARE SMALLER AREAS.
WE'RE TRYING, IT ALSO MEANS THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO READ NOTICE, WHICH IS A POSITIVE THING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE'S ACTUALLY ONLY ONE CHANGE THE MAP, SO WHAT WAS SEEN BY THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY IS VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEE AGAIN.
ESSENTIALLY IT'S THE NORTHERN PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
PART 1 IS WHAT'S SHADED IN YELLOW.
THAT'S GOING TO GO TO THE PLAIN ZONING COMMISSION NEXT WEEK ON JUNE 14TH.
THEN THE PART THAT'S SHADED IN BLUE, WE'RE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THE FIRST PART MAKES ITS WAY ALL THE WAY THROUGH COUNCIL BEFORE WE START THE SECOND ONE, WE'RE PLANNING AND ZONING BECAUSE WE FELT THAT THAT WAS GOING TO GET CONFUSING IF THERE WERE DIFFERENT MEETING DATES FOR DIFFERENT PARTS FOR PLANNING AND ZONING AND CITY COUNCIL.
THEN I MENTIONED THE RECOMMENDATION.
YOU'LL HEAR, LIKE THE COMMITTEE AND THE NORTH HEIGHTS ADVISORY ASSOCIATION TALK ABOUT THE QUADRANTS AND ALSO PLAYING IN ZONING IS KIND OF FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT THIS WAY TOO, AND THERE'S A TYPO, THE BLUE ON THE BOTTOM THAT SAYS QUADRANT 4 IS SUPPOSED TO BE QUADRANT 1, I APOLOGIZE AND CATCH THAT UNTIL I WAS SITTING HERE, BUT WE'VE ORGANIZED IT.
QUADRANT 2, 3, AND 4 ARE THAT THE FIRST PART, AND SO THOSE CHARACTER AREAS WERE DEFINED ACTUALLY IN THE ORIGINAL NORTH HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
THAT'S HOW IT WAS EASIEST FOR THE COMMITTEE TO WORK THROUGH AS LOOKING AT THESE DIFFERENT CHARACTER AREAS.
PART 1 IS EVERYTHING NORTH OF AMARILLO BOULEVARD AND IT'S THREE QUADRANTS, AND THEN PART 2 IS EVERYTHING SOUTH AND IT'S JUST ONE QUADRANT.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THERE'S 11 OF THEM TOTAL.
I KNOW THAT ZONING IS NOT EVERYONE'S FAVORITE TOPICS, I'M JUST GOING TO DO THOSE REALLY HIGH LEVEL, BUT IT'S HOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE WRITTEN IN PLAIN ENGLISH, BUT IT'S HOW WE GET TO THE MORE DETAILED WHAT'S GOING ON AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL DETAIL WITH THE ZONING CHANGES.
THIS MAP IS THE COMPLETE STUDY AREA.
THE BOUNDARY PLUS JUST A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF THE BOUNDARIES INCLUDED IN THE REZONING PROPOSAL.
WE'VE LOOKED AT OVER 1,700 ACRES AND THE PROPOSAL ITSELF IS 814 ACRES.
ABOUT HALF OF THE PLAN AREA IS PROPOSED TO BE REZONE.
IF IT'S ON THIS MAP AND IT'S SHADED, IT'S PROPOSED TO BE REZONED.
THEN I WAS GOING TO JUST GO THROUGH THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS FIRST PART.
THE APPLICATION THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE COMING FROM PLANNING AND ZONING, IT'S FIVE THROUGH 11.
>> EMILY, I CAN SEE YOU HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB PUTTING ALL THESE SLIDES TOGETHER, BUT I'M WONDERING ABOUT MAYBE JUST PULL THOSE TWO AND END HERE AND THE LOGISTIC QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL,
[03:50:01]
AND LET'S COUNCIL QUESTIONS DRIVE MAYBE THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE I THINK YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB PUTTING THE DATA TOGETHER SLIDE BY SLIDE.I THINK IT'S VERY SELF-EXPLANATORY, AND JUST GIVING HOW MUCH LEFT WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA, I THOUGHT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO.
I'M REALLY USED TO PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND AND IT'S VERY CONFUSING TO THEM, AND [LAUGHTER] [OVERLAPPING] BY THE WAY THIS PROJECT HAS GONE AS WE KEEP HEARING WE'RE NOT GIVING ENOUGH INFORMATION, BUT I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN ENOUGH INFORMATION. [LAUGHTER]
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S ALWAYS THE APPROACH THOUGH, BECAUSE WE DO WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE MORE INFORMATION.
I DON'T WANT TO STEP ON ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNSELS WHO ARE GOING TO HAVE EITHER ABOUT IT.
>> NO. I WOULD JUST SAY SO THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE.
IT'S GOING TO BE THE NORTHERN PART, AND THE NORTHERN PART IS REALLY FOCUSED ON SINGLE-FAMILY AND THE APPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL USES TO SUPPORT SINGLE FAMILY.
I THINK THAT GENUINELY WE ARE CLOSE TO HAVING CONSENSUS.
WE STILL HAVE SOME PROPERTY AND THERE'S THAT ARE NOT ON BOARD WITH THIS, SO I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT, BUT WE'RE READY TO BRING IT FORWARD, IT'S JUST TIME FOR IT TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
WITH THAT, I WILL JUST TOUCH ON THESE DATES.
YOU SHOULD SEE THIS ON THE JULY 13TH AGENDA, AND THEN IF YOU'D LIKE US TO, WE CAN COME BACK WITH PART 2, WHAT YOU COULD EXPECT TO SEE FOR PART 2 BEFORE THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION AND DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY BACKGROUND KNOWN THAT BEFORE, BUT THAT'S ON HERE TENTATIVELY THAT WE COULD COME AND DO ANOTHER UPDATE ON THE 27TH FOR THE SECOND PART.
>> SO THOSE ARE RUNNING SEPARATELY AS TWO DIFFERENT PROJECTS FOR NOTICE TO CITIZENS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THAT?
I JUST WANT TO COMPLIMENT YOU AND ANDREW, I WANT TO COMPLIMENT EVERYBODY IN PLANNING WHO'S WORKED ON THIS PROJECT BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN CITIZEN DRIVEN AND IT IS A DIRECT RESULT TO ONE OF OUR PILLARS COUNCIL IS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REDEVELOPMENT, SO IT ACTUALLY TOUCHES TWO PILLARS.
I KNOW THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT EMILY SPENDS WORKING ON THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANS IS A HUGE CHUNK.
ANDREW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, EMILY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION, NOT JUST YOUR EXPERTISE, BUT THE WAY YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT THE CITIZENS THAT ARE DRIVING THESE PROJECTS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT ON THE FRONT END.
>> THANK YOU. YEAH, I DO CARE.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU THE QUESTION.
I WENT TO THE WHICHEVER ONE IT WAS THAT WAS ON THE RESIDENTIAL PORTION, SO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THIS IS BASICALLY WHAT I GOT OUT OF IT.
I GOT OUT OF IT THAT THE REST OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO BASICALLY HAS A PLAN FOR WHERE YOU PUT RETAIL, WHERE YOU PUT HOMES, WHERE YOU PUT ALL OF THIS, AND THE NORTH HEIGHTS HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF ALL OF THAT, AND IT'S BEEN WILLY-NILLY.
YOU GOT A BUSINESS HERE, YOU GOT HOUSES HERE, YOU GOT INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX RIGHT NEXT TO ALL OF THAT, AND THAT'S NOT THE WAY THE REST OF THE CITY AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL ACTUALLY TERRIBLE BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE EXACT SAME ABILITY TO DEVELOP THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALL THE OTHER NEIGHBORHOODS IN TOWN HAVE BEEN GIVEN AND PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE CONFUSION COMES FROM, IS THERE'S NO UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN YOU ORGANIZE AND [INAUDIBLE] WAY THAT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD GETS THE OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE AND GROW AND THRIVE, BECAUSE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO DO THIS HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS HERE, THIS AREA IS GOING TO STAY SAFE FOR RESIDENTIAL BECAUSE IT'S FAR AWAY FROM THE INDUSTRIAL.
YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THESE AND THEY'VE NEVER HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY ON THE NORTH HEIGHTS SIDE OF TOWN.
I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF, PERSONALLY FROM SITTING IN THAT MEETING AND THEN LET THEM COMING UP AND ACTUALLY TALKING TO ME AND SAYING, WELL THIS AND THIS, AND THEN BEGINNING TO REALIZE, OH MY GOSH, YOU GUYS HAVE NEVER BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS THING LAID OUT SO THAT YOU CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL ON THIS PART OF TOWN.
I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AND THAT THIS IS GOING THROUGH, AND THAT THE NORTH HEIGHTS REALLY THIS SETS THEM UP TO BE EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL.
I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT ALL OF YOU ALL HAVE DONE TO
[03:55:01]
GET THAT TO THIS POINT AND GETTING THAT UNDERSTANDING.IF THAT WAS THE PREVALENT VIEW IN THE COMMUNITY AS ONE WAY AND SWITCHING THAT VIEW TO HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND THIS ACTUALLY PROPELS YOU FORWARD, THAT IS DIFFICULT.
YOU DESCRIBED THAT REALLY WELL.
THIS WILL BE AN ACTION ITEM COMING SOON, BUT THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO GET MORE INFORMATION OR IF YOU NEED STAFF TO GO DIGGING OR PREPARING A MORE INFORMATION BEFORE IT'S AN ACTION ITEM, THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO IDENTIFY THOSE CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS. [INAUDIBLE]
>> OH, GO AHEAD FREDA, I'M SORRY.
>> I JUST WANT TO SAY I WOULD LIKE FOR EMILY TO SHARE PLAN 2 WITH US BEFORE IT COMES AS AN ACTION ITEM AND IT CAN BE SUMMARIZED.
>> COME BACK ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA A FEW WEEKS BEFORE.
YOU WOULD HOPE FOR THAT TO BE AN ACTION ITEM, JUST AS A REMINDER, FOLLOW IT.
WE'D LIKE AN UPDATE ON HOW PART 1 HAS GONE.
WE WANT ANOTHER CHANCE TO DISCUSS IT BEFORE WE ACT ON PART 2.
>> YOU'LL SEE IT FOR FIRST READING AND THEN A LITTLE BIT EACH.
>> THERE'S TWO VOTES ONLY ON THE PLAN AS A WHOLE.
>> YEAH, FIRST READINGS ARE HAPPENING ON DIFFERENT DATES, BUT SECOND READINGS TO BE ON THE SAME DATE, RIGHT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] 13TH AND THEN THE SECOND READING ON 20TH FOR THE.
>> BOTH PLANS, THE FIRST ONE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FIRST.
>> NO, WE HAVEN'T SCHEDULED FOR THAT, I CAN GET BACK TO IT.
BUT THAT SLIDE WITH THE MAP AND THE SHADED YELLOW AND BLUE ON THAT SLIDE, SO PART 1 P&Z, JUNE 14TH, AND THEN CA JULY 13TH.
THAT'S GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH YOU.
YOU'LL GET THAT RECOMMENDATION, YOU'LL MAKE THAT DECISION ON THE NORTHERN PART BEFORE WE START WITH P&Z ON THE SOUTHERN PART, AND THAT'S ESTIMATED TO GO TO PLANNING AND ZONING ON AUGUST 2ND.
>> THEN IT WOULD COME TO COUNCIL AFTER AUGUST 2ND?
>> YEAH. TENTATIVELY, THE FIRST READING IS AUGUST 24TH FOR COUNCIL.
YEAH. YOU'LL MAKE A DECISION ON THAT FIRST PART BEFORE, IF YOU WANT US TO COME AND DO AN UPDATE TO YOU ON PART 2, YOU WILL HAVE ALREADY PROBABLY MADE A DECISION ON PART 1, THE NORTHERN PART.
>> BUT IF WE COULD HAVE JUST A REPORT ON THE AUGUST 9TH, IF YOU COULD BE ON THE DISCUSSION AGENDA FOR THE PART 2 JUST TO GIVE US ANOTHER CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS, TOUCH IT AGAIN BEFORE IT'S ON AN ACTION AGENDA.
>> PART 2 IS DIFFERENT FROM PART 1, CORRECT?
JENNIFER, CAN YOU [OVERLAPPING] GO BACK TO SLIDE 7, THE MAP?
PART 1 IS EVERYTHING TO THE NORTH AND THEN PART 2 IS THE BLUE TO THE SOUTH, SO YES, THEY'RE VERY DIFFERENT, AND THAT'S WHY PLANNING AND ZONING ONLY ASKED THEM TO BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY.
>> THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO GET STRAIGHT.
>> KNOWING EMILY THAT PART 2 OR PHASE 2 IS A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED THAN PHASE 1, WOULD THERE BE ANYBODY OPPOSED TO SEPARATING THESE RIGHT ON THE BOULEVARD AND LEAVING THOSE PROPERTIES THAT ARE SOUTH OF THE BOULEVARD TO PHASE 2?
>> STARTING OVER ON THE NOTICE PROCESS.
>> I UNDERSTAND. WOULD THAT ALSO APPLY TO NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES? EMILY IF THERE WERE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FROM COUNCIL ON LIKE A NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES BEING RELOCATED OR SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE ZONING, DOES THAT HAVE A TIMING AS WELL?
[04:00:03]
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT IF IT CAME TO YOU AND YOU WANTED TO PROPOSE A DIFFERENT SCHEME FOR THAT, I THINK AT THIS POINT IT WOULD GO THROUGH, BUT IT COULD CHANGE WHEN IT GETS TO PLANNING AND ZONING AND THEN WHEN IT GETS TO YOU, IT COULD ALSO CHANGE.I GUESS THIS MAYBE THE BEST WAY TO ANSWER THAT.
>> IT'S JUST GOING AS A RECOMMENDATION, THAT'S THE WAY WE'VE BEEN EXPLAINING IT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, LIKE THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY GO TO PLANNING AND ZONING, THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATION FOR COUNCIL, AND IT COULD CHANGE ONCE IT GETS TO COUNCIL ON THE FINAL APPROVAL.
>> SO THE APPROPRIATE PROCESS WOULD BE PLANNING AND ZONING WILL BRING A FINAL RECOMMENDATION, THIS IS NOT THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION EVEN THOUGH NOTICES HAVE BEEN SENT.
PHASE 1 AND PHASE 2 HAS BEEN SENT, BUT THEN THERE'S NO FINAL RECOMMENDATION AS FAR AS THE ZONING.
>> IT'S STAFF'S FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO JUST START THE FORMAL APPROVAL PROCESS.
>> IT'S STAFF RECOMMENDATION THEN P&Z VOTES ON THEIRS, AND THAT MIGHT CHANGE, THEN THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BRING TO COUNCIL AND WE'LL EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCES IF THEY MAKE A CHANGE IN THE PROPOSAL.
>> HOW DO THESE TWO GO HAND IN HAND AS FAR AS TIMING WITH THE REZONING ORDINATES?
>> THE REZONING ORDINATES WE HAVE TO BRING SHORTLY AFTER THIS PROCESS IS COMPLETED.
HOPEFULLY THE REZONING ORDINATES WILL COME INTO SEPTEMBER, EARLY OCTOBER.
WE'RE STILL FINE TUNING THAT, WE DIDN'T WANT TO CONFUSE BOTH OF THOSE PROCESSES WITH SIMILAR NOTICES, SIMILAR CHANGES.
WE KNOW THIS IS COMPLICATED AND I MEAN, 2,600 NOTICES, THIS IS A BIG PROJECT AND YOU ALL SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON IT [NOISE] WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME.
THE PRESENTATION IS SO GOOD I WONDERED IF IT'S ON THE WEBSITE BECAUSE IF CITIZENS WERE TO SAY TO US WE DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR THIS PRESENTATION TO BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
>> I SEE. WE'LL GET IT ON THERE AND WE'LL UPDATE AS WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.
>> THERE ARE MULTIPLE PRESENTATIONS ON THE WEBSITE, LOTS OF INFORMATION.
>> GREAT. THAT'S GOOD FOR US AS COUNSEL TO KNOW.
WE CAN OBVIOUSLY STEER THEM STRAIGHT TO JERALD AND GET IN TOUCH WITH A STAFF MEMBER TO ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE WEBSITE HAS ANSWERS ABOUT THIS IF THEY WANT TO STUDY UP ON IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
ITEM 1H COUNCIL, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT I'M DRIVING FOR HERE BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S REALLY TIME FOR ANOTHER BATHROOM BREAK.
ARE YOU ALL GOOD TO GO AHEAD AND DO H, I, AND J?
>> LET'S PUSH THROUGH THOSE AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AND COME BACK, DO CONSENT, AND THE LAST TWO THINGS ON OUR ACTION.
WE'VE GOT SOME SANDWICHES COMING TO HELP US POWER THROUGH OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION TOO.
GREAT. ITEM 1H MR. CITY MANAGER.
[1.H. Reports on Boards and Commissions that City Councilmembers serve on;]
>> WELL, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF REPORTS AND DR. SAUER IS GOING TO BE ON THE SPOT FOR BOTH OF THEM.
THE FIRST ONE IS ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE ADVISORY BOARD.
>> ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE MET TWO WEDNESDAY AGO I BELIEVE.
AT THAT WE GOT AN UPDATE OF HOW THINGS WERE GOING AND IN THAT UPDATE, THERE ARE STILL SOME SPOTS THAT ARE NEEDING TO BE FILLED ON THE STAFF UPDATES.
PROBABLY THEIR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS ANIMAL CARE WORKER SHORTAGES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE BEING TRIED TO BE FILLED.
THE GOOD THING IS, IS THAT THEY HAD FIVE AMO TRAINEES THAT STARTED ON APRIL THE 15TH AND SO WE'RE UP TO 15 FIELD OFFICERS NOW.
>> FOURTEEN. THERE IS A ONE-OFF, 14 FIELD OFFICERS.
AS LONG AS WE'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST WE'VE EVER BEEN STAFFED IN ANIMAL MANAGEMENT WELFARE.
I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY FANTASTIC THING.
ON THE VET SERVICES UPDATE, VICTORIA HAS MANAGED TO GET TWO VETS CONTRACTED DR. LEE AND DR. HOW DO YOU SAY HER LAST NAME? GOBBLE.
>> GOBBLE. WE'VE GOT TWO VETS THAT ARE CONTRACTED TO DO SPAYED OR NEUTERED OR TAKING CARE OF THINGS AND ON TOP OF THAT,
[04:05:04]
THIS IS WHAT I WAS HOPING WE WOULD END UP SEEING, IS TEXAS TECH HAS GOT A COUPLE OF THEIR VETS THAT ARE COMING IN A DAY A WEEK.DR. CLAYTON COP IS A SOCIAL PROFESSOR OF GENERAL VETERINARIAN PRACTICE AND DR. BETHANY SHERINE AND SHE'S AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR.
WE'VE GOT THAT QUALITY OF VETERINARIAN SERVICES THAT ARE NOW BEGINNING TO APPEAR AT AMARILLO MANAGEMENT WELFARE.
I THINK THAT'S STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE ANIMALS IN AMARILLO BEING TAKEN CARE OF THE BEST THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN IN MULTIPLE NUMBER OF YEARS.
THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THEIR COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND ADOPTION PROGRAMS. THEY'VE GOT A WEEKLY ADOPTION SPOT ON THE EAGLE, THEY'RE SETTING UP A PARTNERSHIP WITH AMARILLO PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM.
HAVE THEY HAD THE ADOPTION EVENT YET?
>> THAT'S IN JULY. THEN THEY'VE ALSO DONE MET FEST 2021.
THEY HAD 56 FREE MICROCHIPS IMPLANTED AND THEY HAD OFFICER OUTRAGE, SO THINGS ARE REALLY LOOKING UP.
THEY'VE GOT A RESCUE GROUP MEETING SET FOR JUNE 30TH AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THE BREEDERS' ORDINATES UPDATE, NOBODY HAS APPLIED FOR BREEDERS ORDINATES YET FOR BREEDERS PERMITS.
THERE'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING TO HELP GET THAT UNDER CONTROL.
BUT I WILL TELL YOU THIS, THINGS ARE CHANGING AND THEY'RE CHANGING IN A POSITIVE LIGHT AND THINGS ARE REALLY MOVING FORWARD AND I'M REALLY HAPPY WE'RE SEEING WHAT'S HAPPENING, AND THAT ALL FALLS AT VICTORIA'S FEET.
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL. THANK YOU, VICTORIA FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE, AND REMIND ME AGAIN, YOUR ASSISTANT.
>> CHRIS SHAFER, HE'S A GREAT GUY.
I GOT TO MEET HIM THE LAST TIME THAT I WAS OUT THERE.
THINGS ARE REALLY LOOKING GOOD.
I SEE A LOT OF THE ISSUES AND A LOT OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS, I SEE THAT THOSE ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND WE'RE SEEING A NICE TURN AROUND BEGIN TO HAPPEN IN ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE. THAT'S THAT ONE.
>> WHAT A GREAT REPORT. ANY QUESTIONS FOR DR. SAUER? NEXT.
>> THANKS ALL THE BEST. BEAUTIFICATION AND ARTS.
WE MET AT 11:30 TODAY, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, REALLY THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S GOING ON IS THE BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT.
THERE'S A DEADLINE, IT'S OPEN RIGHT NOW FOR PEOPLE TO DOWNLOAD THE OPPORTUNITY.
I THINK IT'S AN RFQ, I CAN'T REMEMBER FOR SURE EXACTLY THE NOMENCLATURE FOR EVERYTHING.
BUT SO FAR, 18 PEOPLE HAVE DOWNLOADED FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION AND IT'S ON THE RAILS TO TRAILS AT WESTERN AND PLANES ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.
THERE'S A DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS JUNE THE 14TH AND PROPOSALS ARE DUE BY JUNE THE 24TH AND THEN HOPEFULLY PRETTY QUICK AFTER THAT, JULY THE 13TH, WE'LL BE ANNOUNCING WHO WILL BE AWARDED.
THIS ONE IS NOT A MATCHING FUNDS GRANT, BUT THIS IS A REIMBURSABLE GRANT.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHATEVER THEY PUT IN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REIMBURSED UP TO $30,000 FULL.
I THINK IT'S A REAL GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FIRST BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT.
FOR THOSE, ANYBODY THAT HAPPENS TO BE LISTENING, YOU CAN EMAIL PURCHASING AND THE NUMBER 2 @AMARILLO.GOV TO GET INFORMATION ON THE BEAUTIFICATION GRANT.
>> THE ONLY OTHER THING THAT I WOULD THROW OUT THERE ALSO IS IN OUR PART OF THE THOMPSON PARK PULL-UP DAY, WE WERE ALSO VERY INTERESTED IN WHICH THE FACT THAT THEY'VE GOT TWO PIECES OF ART THAT ACTUALLY JACKET BREEDING IS THE ONE WHO WAS AWARDED THAT ONE WHO'S DOING THAT OUT THERE.
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT THAT IS THEY'RE GETTING THOSE TO A POINT WHERE THEY'RE NOT VERY FAR AWAY FROM INSTALLING THOSE.
BUT THE GREAT PART ABOUT THAT IS THEY'VE COME UP WITH A MEANS THAT THEY ARE STANDARDIZING THE INSTALLATION, THE WAY THAT IT WILL BE INSTALLED SO THAT HOPEFULLY, AS TIME PROGRESSES ON, WE CAN PUT THE SAME KIND OF INSTALLATION ATTACHMENTS IN OTHER PARKS AROUND TOWN AND SO NOW, THEN WE CAN SEE THIS ART NOT JUST BE THERE,
[04:10:03]
BUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE IT BEING MOVED AROUND TOWN AND HAVE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ARTS, AND BEAUTIFICATION TO BE INCREASED IN AMARILLO.I'M GRATEFUL FOR MICHAEL, BECAUSE SHE'D BEEN THE HARD WORK THAT HE'S DONE.
HE'S ALREADY GONE, I THINK, AT THIS POINT.
BUT THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO GET THIS COMMITTEE STARTED, AND THE WAY THAT THINGS HAVE TURNED OUT FOR ARTS AND BEAUTIFICATION IN AMARILLO IS REALLY PRETTY GREAT.
I WOULDN'T HAVE EVER IMAGINED THIS A TWO-YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR DR. SAUER ON THAT BEAUTIFICATION? JUST TO HIGHLIGHT THAT ITEM B ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA TODAY WAS ABOUT SUMMER MOWINGS, AND HOW THE CITY PARTNERS WITH TXDOT TO DO SUPPLEMENTAL AND ADDITIONAL MOWING.
[NOISE] I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WANT OUR I-40 AND I-27 CORRIDORS TO REFLECT WELL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE ARE CURB APPEAL BASICALLY, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. [OVERLAPPING]
>>YEAH, LAST YEAR [OVERLAPPING].
>> YEAH. IT CANNOT WITH ALL THE RAIN WE'VE HAD IN LAST YEAR.
WE CANCELED THOSE IN PART OF OUR COVID RESPONSE WHEN WE WENT REALLY THIN IN OUR BUDGET.
THOSE WERE THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT WE SET ASIDE AND DID NOT DO, SO WE WANT TO GET BACK TO DOING THOSE SO THAT OUR CITY IS CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL, EVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST DRIVING THROUGH IT.
[NOISE] ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT? OKAY. GOOD. THAT WAS VERY FAST, EDDIE. GOOD JOB.
THIS GUEST BOARD AND COMMISSION MID-YEAR APPOINTMENTS.
[1.l. Discuss Board and Commission mid year appointments;]
OKAY, [INAUDIBLE] MANAGER.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. MID-YEAR APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE TYPICALLY DO.
WE HAVE DEFINITELY DESIGNED OUR BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS THE ANNUAL APPOINTMENT PROCESS THAT HAPPENS IN NOVEMBER TO AVOID HAVING BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS COME ON A PIECEMEAL BASIS TO COUNCIL.
IT ALSO ALLOWS ONE PERIOD OF TIME IN THE YEAR WHERE EVERYBODY CAN APPLY FOR ANYTHING THEY WANT, RATHER THAN HAVING TO TRACK THE WEBSITE AND KNOW WHICH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THEY CAN APPLY FOR NOW, BECAUSE WE HAD A ROLLING PERIOD OF APPLICATIONS FOR EACH ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND IT GOT PRETTY DAUNTING BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THAT'S WHY WE WENT TO ANNUAL BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF, AS HAPPENS MID YEAR, WE USUALLY HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT ROLL OFF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY MOVE, BECAUSE OF A VARIETY OF THINGS AND REASONS.
BUT WE HAVE LOOKED AT ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT DO HAVE VACANCIES TO IDENTIFY WHICH ONES WOULD FALL INTO THE CRITICAL CATEGORY.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE TO NOT DO A WHOLE BUNCH OF AD-HOC APPOINTMENTS, BUT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHERE THE LACK OF MEMBERS IS CAUSING CHALLENGES WITH BEING ABLE TO MEET QUORUM, AND HAVE THEIR MEETINGS, AND DO THE BUSINESS OF THAT COMMITTEE.
I'VE GOT SIX BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WERE I'D LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE COME AT THE NEXT MEETING OR SOMETIME VERY SOON, TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE SOME INTERIM APPOINTMENTS SO THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR ON THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
ONE IS THE AUDIT COMMITTEE WHERE WE HAVE TO FILL A VACANCY THAT'S MADE BY OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, SO WE HAVE TO PUT A COUNCIL MEMBER INTO OUR OWN AUDIT COMMITTEE TO PERFORM THE AUDIT OF CITY FINANCIALS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION, LGC.
WE DO HAVE ONE APPLICANT THAT HAS AGREED TO SERVE.
THAT IS A VERY NARROW POOL, SO I WOULD ALWAYS REMIND COUNCIL THAT IN ADDITION TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPLIED IN NOVEMBER OR FOR THE NOVEMBER APPOINTMENT PERIOD, YOU CAN ALSO BRING ANYBODY YOU WANT TO NOMINATE WHETHER THEY'VE APPLIED OR NOT, LONG AS YOU'VE TALKED TO THEM, AND YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE, WILLING TO SERVE, YOU CAN NOMINATE SOMEBODY OTHER THAN SOMEBODY WHO HAS APPLIED.
THERE IS THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL, AND I WILL BE REACHING OUT TO EACH ONE OF YOU PRIOR TO THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY APPLICANTS AND HOW MANY PEOPLE WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO CHOOSE FROM FOR EACH BOARD AND COMMISSION.
WE ALSO HAVE THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD. WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES.
WE HAVE LOTS OF APPLICANTS FOR THAT ONE.
THEY HAVE SEVEN APPLICANTS THAT HAVE ALL SAID THAT THEY'RE STILL INTERESTED IN SERVING, IF COUNCIL CHOSE TO APPOINT THEM.
WE HAVE THE CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY AND APPEALS COMMISSION, AND THAT ONE IS UNIQUE IN THAT EACH PERSON THAT'S ON THERE HAS TO REPRESENT A SPECIFIC INDUSTRY, AND THIS ONE IS FOR AN INSURANCE AGENT.
WE HAVE AN EXCELLENT PERSON THAT HAS APPLIED FOR THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE YOU WANT TO NOMINATE, YOU CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT AS WELL.
ANIMAL MANAGEMENT WELFARE, WE HAVE ONE VACANCY.
AS WE WERE JUST TALKING WITH DR. SAUER JUST A MOMENT AGO, ONE OF OUR KEY PARTNERS, NOW WITH THE WAY WE ARE MOVING RIGHT NOW IS TEXAS TECH SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE.
WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE FILL THAT WITH A TEXAS TECH SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE REPRESENTATIVE.
WE COULD CODIFY THAT THROUGH AN ORDINANCE AT A LATER TIME, BUT YOU HAVE ALL THE AUTHORITY THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO APPOINT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU SO CHOSE.
[04:15:01]
THAT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION.YOU ALL MAY HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT AT THE BOARD MEETING COUNCIL OR AT THE RECENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL DO.
>> NO. WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> BUT I THINK THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL FOR US BECAUSE THAT WOULD HELP US PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE, IT'S A TRUE PROFESSIONAL CHECK AND BALANCE.
IT ADDS TO THE CREDIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT HAVING THE SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE ON OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AS YOU SAID EARLIER, THEY ALREADY GOT PEOPLE COMING AND WORKING IN OUR FACILITY.
THEY'RE COMMITTED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE FACILITY, AND THEY'RE COMMITTED TO THE HEALTH OF OUR LOCAL ANIMALS.
>> THEY'LL BE PROVIDING STUDENTS TO DO SERVICES AS THEY RAMP UP.
>> YES, MA'AM. ABSOLUTELY. FINALLY, CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES.
WE ALSO NEED TO CONSIDER REPLACING COUNCILMEMBER HAYES, WHO SERVED ON THE CBB FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WE DO NEED TO MAKE THAT REPLACEMENT AS WELL.
OTHER THAN THAT, WHILE WE DO HAVE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT HAVE VACANCIES, WE DON'T SEE THEM AS BEING HAVING CHALLENGES MAKING MEETINGS OR BEING ABLE TO MAKE THEM WORK, SO THERE'S NO REASON TO ACCELERATE THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS INTO A MID-YEAR APPOINTMENT PROCESS.
WE REALLY JUST WANT TO FILL THE HOLES IN THE DIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL ABLE TO DO THE BUSINESS THAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
>> QUESTIONS ON THAT COUNCIL? JARED, COULD WE GET A LIST? [NOISE] I KNOW THAT IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU GUYS HAVE SYSTEMIZED THIS SO MUCH BETTER SO THAT CITIZENS CAN BETTER ENGAGE JUST LIKE YOU WERE EXPLAINING, AND I KNOW THAT PART OF THAT WAS INVESTING IN SOFTWARE TO BETTER MANAGE THAT PROCESS.
CAN WE GET A PRINTOUT OF PEOPLE WHO APPLIED? NUMBER 1, THE OPEN POSITIONS THAT WILL BE ON THE ACTION AGENDA IN TWO WEEKS.
YOU JUST RAN THROUGH THEM VERBALLY. [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A LIST.
THEN PREVIOUSLY, THE CITY SECRETARY HAS PUT A PACKET TOGETHER FOR US THAT HAD THOSE OPEN SPOTS AND THEN ATTACHED TO IT, THE APPLICATIONS THAT HAD BEEN FILED IN NOVEMBER FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERESTED IN THOSE SLOTS.
THEN LIKE WHAT THE CITY MANAGER SAID, WE'RE NOT LIMITED TO THOSE APPLICATIONS, BUT THEY'RE A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR US AS WE'RE DOING OUR HOMEWORK AND GETTING READY FOR THAT ACTION ITEM ON THE NEXT COUNCIL AGENDA.
I THINK IT'S PRETTY READILY PRINTABLE AND WE COULD PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR YOU, AND EITHER SCAN ALL THAT AND SEND IT TO YOU PRIOR TO THE END OF THIS WEEK.
OR WE CAN HAVE A PACKET THAT YOU ALL CAN COME PICK UP AT ANY TIME THIS WEEK.
>> YEAH. IF YOU ALL JUST LET LYNN, HOWARD, DO YOU PREFER EMAIL OR PACKET?
>> YEAH. YOU CAN EMAIL IT TO ME. IT'LL BE GREAT.
>> OKAY. THAT GIVES YOU THE BREAKDOWN, LYNN. [NOISE] THANK YOU.
>> ARE WE ONLY GOING TO CONSIDER THOSE THAT APPLIED LAST NOVEMBER? OR ARE WE GOING TO OPEN IT UP? [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW, BUT ARE WE GOING TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO APPLY?
>> WE HAD NOT PLANNED TO DO THAT.
WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO IT.
WE CAN OPEN UP THE APPLICATION PORTALS, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN APPLY ONLINE AS WELL.
>> JARED HAD ASKED ME, WE HAD A LITTLE DIALOGUE ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VALUE TO HAVING A ONCE-A-YEAR PUSH.
SOMETHING THAT GETS ADVERTISED, SOMETHING THAT THE MEDIA FOLLOWS, SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE BEGIN TO EXPECT THAT WE DO BOARD APPOINTMENTS IN NOVEMBER.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON A BOARD, THE TIME TO APPLY IS OCTOBER.
I THINK THERE'S VALUE TO THE CITIZENS FOR THAT.
INEVITABLY, WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO PASS AWAY, WHO MOVE AWAY, WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON CAN'T SERVE, AND SO WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS LEAVE A BOARD HIGH AND DRY, NOT ABLE TO MAKE A QUORUM EASILY AND DO THE SERVICE FOR THE CITY, SO I THINK THIS MID-YEAR APPROVAL IS FOR A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF BOARDS THAT ACTUALLY NEED IT TO MEET THOSE QUORUM REQUIREMENTS.
THEN YOU GET IN THIS CATCH-22 OF WELL, DO YOU OPEN THE PORTAL JUST FOR THIS LIMITED? BECAUSE THEN I THINK YOU START TAKING AWAY FROM HAVING THAT BIG ANNUAL EVENT THAT PEOPLE ARE ANTICIPATING AND MEDIA IS HELPING US PROMOTE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A WRONG WAY OF DOING IT.
I KNOW JARED'S OPEN TO HEARING COUNCIL WEIGH IN ON THAT.
I THINK THERE IS A GOOD MIDDLE GROUND OPTION IN THAT WE CAN ASK ANY.
IF WE SEE THE LIST FOR THESE, WHAT I'M CALLING 911-TYPE APPOINTMENTS MID YEAR, AND WE THINK THE LIST DOESN'T HAVE A QUALIFIED CANDIDATE, THEN WE CAN ASK FOLKS OR MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE D
[04:20:03]
[INAUDIBLE] TO APPOINT SOMEONE THAT WE PERSONALLY THINK WOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATE, WHICH WE CAN ALWAYS DO THAT.>> DOES THAT GIVE YOU THE GUIDANCE YOU NEED THEN?
>> THAT'LL BE AN ACTION ITEM ON OUR NEXT AGENDA.
[1.J. Request future agenda items and reports from City Manager.]
WE HAVE ANTICIPATED GETTING THE ITEM 1J, WHICH IS TO REQUEST FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS OR ANY REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE MENTIONED OR SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR?
>> MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SEE AN UPDATE ON MOWING.
>> ARE YOU SAYING MOVING OF CITY FACILITIES, MOVING OF RIGHT AWAY? [OVERLAPPING].
>> I HAD 40 NOT 27 PRIMARILY. YES MADAM.
>> MAYOR, GOING BACK TO OUR P3 AND THE POTENTIAL OF HAVING A, OUR CITIZEN-LED COMMITTEE.
CAN WE PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA AS FAR AS LIKE IF YOU GUYS LIKE THIS, I WOULD LIKE FOR ALL COUNSEL TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, TO HELP FORM THAT.
IS THAT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THAT OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT BEFORE WE, PUT THAT ON THE AGENDA?
>> YEAH. LET'S TAKE THAT IN THE PROCESS.
I THINK FIRST WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO HIRE THAT FIRM, WHICH WILL BE AN ACTION ITEM ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
THEN DULY NOTING THAT YOU WANT A DISCUSSION AT SOME POINT AFTER THAT, FOR US TO TALK ABOUT HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENGAGE WITH THAT FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT.
I THINK IT'S VERY LOGICAL, AND WE DID THAT TWO YEARS AGO.
I THINK IT'S VERY LOGICAL FOR THERE TO BE A CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
THAT COMES FROM COUNCIL INPUT.
THE MAYOR CAN MAKE THOSE APPOINTMENTS.
BUT REALLY IN THE PAST, TRADITIONALLY, I HAVE ALWAYS SOUGHT COUNSEL INPUT ON THOSE CITIZENS COMMITTEE.
USUALLY AND USUALLY WHAT WE DO CALL IS, WE HAVE YOU SUBMIT A LIST OF LIKE IF WE KNOW WE'RE LOOKING FOR THREE APPOINTMENTS FROM EACH COUNCIL MEMBER, THEN WE WOULD ASK YOU TO MAYBE SUBMIT A LIST OF EIGHT TO 10 PEOPLE.
[NOISE] THEN STAFF GOES THROUGH AND TRIES TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED BECAUSE WE WANT THE COMMITTEE TO REPRESENT ALL QUADRANTS OF THE CITY.
WE'D LIKE A GENDER DIVERSITY ON THEIR, WE'D LIKE AN AGE DIVERSITY ON THEIR, WE'D LIKE ETHNIC DIVERSITY ON THEIR.
THAT GIVES STAFF SOME OPTIONS.
THEN THEY COME BACK TO US WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF MAYBE WHO TO APPOINT.
THEN WE DIALOGUE ABOUT IT AS COUNSEL IN MY FINAL DETERMINATIONS.
THAT'S HOW WE'VE DONE IT IN THE PAST, AND I THINK.
>> THAT WE'LL TRY TO DO ALL THAT IN ORDER.
>> BUT AT EITHER THE MEETING AFTER, ADDING MEETING AFTER, IF WE AS A COUNCIL, APPROVE THE PPP, ENGAGING THE FIRM AND ASKING THEM TO MOVE FORWARD ON PHASE 1A AND 1B.
GREAT COMMENT. OKAY. LET'S PROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA REAL QUICK.
[2. CONSENT ITEMS]
>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE CONSENT AGENDA MOTION, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANYONE OPPOSED? OKAY. THAT PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.
LET'S TAKE A BREAK AND I WILL COME BACK.
>> OH, YEAH. YOU CAN LOOK AT IT IN THE BUILDING.
>> WE ARE LOOKING AT AGENDA ITEM 3A CONSIDER APPROVAL OF
[3.A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT (S.B. 8).]
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT. MR. CITY MANAGER.>> MAYOR. SENATE BILL 8 OF THIS MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WAS A TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT STATUTE.
BASICALLY, IT PROHIBITS THE ABORTIONS AFTER A HEARTBEAT IS THERE.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY OF AMARILLO THAT WOULD SUPPORT, ENDORSE WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS DONE THERE, AND I'M NOT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT THE ORDINANCE, I NEED TO GET THAT, SO I APOLOGIZE.
IN ESSENCE, THE PURPOSE OF THE ACT IS TO PROTECT UNBORN CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
THIS WOULD, IN ESSENCE HAVE THE CITY OF AMARILLO ENDORSING THAT, AND SUPPORTING THAT.
[04:25:04]
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE OR I CAN [NOISE] ABOUT THE ORDINANCE OR ABOUT THE STATUTE OR THE RESOLUTION IS NOT AN ORDINANCE.>> ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? YEAH. OKAY. NO QUESTIONS.
THEN WE WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 3A.
YES, MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE TEXAS HEARTBEAT ACT.
>> SECOND. [LAUGHTER] I JUST WENT EARLY. I'M SORRY.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PROTEMPAL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY TO APPROVE ITEM 3A.
ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ON THE MOTION?
>> YEAH. OKAY. [LAUGHTER] ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 3A, PLEASE.
I WILL JUST SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE GOVERNOR'S HEART.
I APPRECIATE THE LEGISLATURE'S HEART BEHIND THIS ORDINATES.
I KNOW, THERE WILL BE FOLKS AND OUR CITY WHO DO NOT AGREE.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TAKE A STAND, ON THIS ISSUE IN WORD,.
>> WE'RE APPROVING A RESOLUTION AND NOT AN ORDINANCE. IS THAT CORRECT?
>> ONE READING FOR RESOLUTIONS.
>> OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> THAT ITEM PASSES WITH THE 5-0 VOTE.
[3.B. CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING GENERAL PREVAILING RATE OF PER DIEM WAGES.]
>> MAYOR, THIS IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE GENERAL PREVAILING RATE FOR PER DIEM WAGES.
WE DID THIS FOR THE FIRST TIME, THREE YEARS AGO WHEN YOU ARE DOING CONTRACTS, ESPECIALLY FEDERAL CONTRACTS, YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF EITHER ADOPTING YOUR OWN PREVAILING WAGE RATES OR YOU CAN ADOPT DAVIS BACON WAGE RATES, WHICH ARE FEDERAL WAGE RATES.
THIS WILL ADOPT LOCAL WAGE RATES.
SO WE DID THIS BEFORE WE STARTED THE IMPACT PROJECT.
IT HAS WORKED WELL FOR US. I JUST LOVE MONEY ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING THAT WE DO AGAIN.
>> OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT THAT ITEM?
>> IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS, WE'VE GOT TREND DAVIS, DIRECTOR PURCHASING HERE TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT MIGHT WANT TO SAY IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. IF THERE'S QUESTIONS.
WE HAD SOMEONE ADDRESSES PUBLIC COMMENT CONCERNS.
>> THIS PRETTY WELL, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE RIGHTS IS ACTUALLY ABOVE THAT RIGHT.
>> YES. AS I WAS READ INTO THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY A PERFECT DESIRE FOR HIGHER WAGES.
>> YEAH, I THINK HE WAS TALKING ABOUT CITY EMPLOYEES.
REAL QUICK, IF I CAN IF YOU'D LOOK AT WHAT MR. MILLER WAS SAYING ON YOUR PREVAILING WAGE RATE, YOUR CARPENTERS A MINIMUM OF 1577 AND FOR DAVIS BAKING, IT'D BE 20 TO 25 PLUS $7 DAY FRINGE.
[NOISE] SO YOU'RE SAVING A LOT OF MONEY BY ADOPTING THIS AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY I LOOKED AT THAT.
IT DOESN'T SAY THIS IS WHAT EVERYBODY, EVERY PERSON WORKING ON A PROJECT GETS PAID.
IT JUST SAYS THERE ARE AT LEAST GOING TO GET PAID THIS MUCH MONEY.
>> EXCEPT IT'S A BASELINE. OKAY.
>> OKAY. DO WE HAVE MOTION ON THIS ITEM?
>> YES MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF AMARILLO PROPOSED GENERAL PREVAILING RATE OF PER DIEM WAGES.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PROTEMPAL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ITEM 3B ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? THAT ITEM PASSES WITH 5-0 VOTE.
OKAY. THAT'S THE LAST ITEM ON OUR NON-EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA.
SO AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK MR. MCKAMEY IF HE WOULD
[4. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
PLEASE READ OUR DISMISSAL LANGUAGE TO HIS EXACT YES.>> MAYOR, PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT OF CLOSED SESSION OF THE AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY, JUNE 8TH, 2021, AT 6:03 PM, UNDER THE FOLLOWING AUTHORITY; SECTION 55107, TO DISCUSS THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE, LEASE, SALE OR VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF WHICH, WOULD NOT BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY'S BARGAINING POSITION REGARDING PROPERTY LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF THE CITY.
UNDER 551.087, DISCUSSION REGARDING
[04:30:02]
COMMERCIAL OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM A BUSINESS PROSPECT, AND OR TO DELIBERATE THE OFFER OF FINANCIAL OFF OUR OTHER INCENTIVE TO A BUSINESS PROSPECT ON PROJECTS NUMBER 20_0 5_01 [NOISE] , NUMBER 21_01_02, NUMBER 21_01_03, AND NUMBER 21_02_01, AND THAT'S IT, MAYOR.>> THANK YOU. WE'RE NOW DISMISSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.