Oct 26, 2021 City Council Regular Meeting

>> IF THERE'S CAKE INVOLVED, IT'S DEFINITELY TRUE.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

>> UNDERSTOOD. HONORABLE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MEMBERS OF THE AMARILLO COMMUNITY, GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS MAX WESTBROOK.

I'M RETIRED FROM THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT PLEASE DON'T HOLD THAT AGAINST ME.

FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS, I'VE BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION. I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT.

THE TPCA IS MADE UP OF OVER 1,500 PROFESSIONAL POLICE CHIEFS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, WHO ARE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE DELIVERY OF QUALITY POLICE SERVICES.

I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON, TO PRESENT THE AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT, WITH A CERTIFICATE OF RE-RECOGNITION FOR CONTINUING TO MAINTAIN THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENTS BEST PRACTICES PROGRAM.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO, THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION DEVELOPED AND ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

MANY OF YOU KNOW ABOUT ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES, AND HOSPITALS.

THEY ARE ALL PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AND ALL REQUIRE PROOF OF COMPLIANCE WITH A SET OF DIFFICULT STANDARDS.

[00:25:03]

WHERE AGENCIES MUST PROVE THEY MEET OR EXCEED 170 DIFFICULT STANDARDS.

THE STANDARDS ARE BASED ON TEXAS LAW, TEXAS COURT CASES, AND CONTEMPORARY BEST PRACTICES AS IDENTIFIED BY THE TPCA.

THESE STANDARDS ADDRESS THE FULL RANGE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS, SUCH AS USE OF FORCE, PROTECTION OF CITIZENS RIGHTS, VEHICLE PURSUITS, PROPERTY AND EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT, PATROL INVESTIGATIONS, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

THIS PROGRAM HAS BECOME THE NEW GOLD STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN TEXAS AND AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS.

APPROXIMATELY 12 YEARS AGO, THE AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRST ATTAINED THEY'RE RECOGNIZED STATUS WITH THE TPCA AND IT WAS NOT EASY TO DO.

THE AGENCY HAD TO CONDUCT A COMPLETE AUDIT OF ITS POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO MEET THESE STANDARDS.

SINCE THAT TIME, THE AGENCY HAS SUBMITTED ANNUAL REPORTS, WHICH WERE REVIEWED TO ENSURE CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH THE TPCA STANDARDS.

IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR, TRAINED ASSESSORS, POLICE CHIEFS, AND COMMAND OFFICERS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE STATES SPENT TWO DAYS CONDUCTING ANOTHER ON-SITE ASSESSMENT OF THE AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THESE ASSESSORS INTERVIEWED STAFF, INSPECTED FACILITIES, AND OPERATIONS, MET WITH FIELD OFFICERS, AND ENSURED COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OF THE STANDARDS.

THEIR REPORT WAS THEN SENT TO THE RECOGNITION COMMITTEE, COMPRISED OF NINE AT THE POLICE CHIEFS AROUND THE STATE, WHO REVIEWED THE REPORT AND VOTED TO AWARD RE-RECOGNIZED STATUS.

I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THAT VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS.

DURING THIS PROCESS, THE AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ONCE AGAIN, PROVEN THAT IT MEETS OR EXCEEDS, BEST PRACTICES FOR PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS.

THERE ARE 2,700 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND ONLY 184 OF THEM HAVE ACHIEVED RECOGNIZED STATUS, AND FEWER THAN THAT, HAVE ACHIEVED RE-RECOGNIZE STATUS.

THAT'S HUGE. THIS AFTERNOON, WE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR COMMUNITY? RECOGNITION PROGRAM ASSURES BOTH CITY MANAGEMENT AND THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO, THAT THEY'RE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS OPERATING IN A MANNER THAT REFLECTS THE CURRENT BEST PRACTICES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

IT MEANS YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUALLY STRIVING FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE.

IT MEANS YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ONE OF THE VERY BEST IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

THE CERTIFICATE WE PRESENT THIS AFTERNOON IS SYMBOLIC.

WHILE IT IS CLEARLY THE MARKET PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE, THE REAL VALUE OF THE PROGRAM IS THE PROCESS THEY MUST COMPLETE TO RECEIVE THE CERTIFICATE.

ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE PROCESS.

WE'LL BE BACK IN FOUR YEARS TO CONDUCT ANOTHER ON-SITE ASSESSMENT.

THE AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT IS A LEADER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, AND WE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD OF THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT.

CHIEF BURDEN FELT, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION, TO ALL THOSE WHO SEE THIS CERTIFICATE, KNOW THAT THE AMARILLO POLICE DEPARTMENT, HAVING FULFILLED THE NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS, AND MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS OF THE TPCA TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT BEST PRACTICES RECOGNITION PROGRAM, BY VOLUNTARILY PROVING THEIR COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT BEST-PRACTICES PROGRAM, THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS, DOES HERE BY AWARD THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION. CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> GO AHEAD CHIEF.

>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THIS VERY MUCH, BUT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN WITH THAT, A VERY PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENT THAT I CAME INTO 31 YEARS AGO, AND I HOPE I CAN HELP MAINTAIN THAT STANDARD.

YOU GUYS COME UP HERE AND LINE UP HERE.

I'VE ASKED SOME OF MY KEY STAFF MEMBERS TO BE HERE, TO ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION BECAUSE, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HAVE DONE THE HARD WORK AND OBVIOUSLY, IF I COULD BRING ALL 345 POLICE OFFICERS AND 80 CIVILIANS IN HERE, I WOULD BUT, THIS IS SOME OF OUR KEY STAFF MEMBERS.

ASSISTANT CHIEF FUNTECH IS IN CHARGE OF OPERATIONS BUREAU, AND THAT'S THE DAY-TO-DAY PATROL, AND A SPECIAL OPERATIONS, AND THE REALLY TOUGH WORK THAT GETS DONE, APPRECIATE CHIEF FUNTECH'S HARD WORK ON THAT.

ASSISTANT CHIEF JOHNSON IS IN A LEADERSHIP TRAINING THIS WEEK, SO HE WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE.

HE HAS THE STAFF SERVICES AND INVESTIGATIONS.

JACK HILDEBRAND IS OUR COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR, AND THAT'S A HUGE TASK.

JACK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, KEEPING US ALL ON TRACK AND DOING OUR DAY-TO-DAY POLICY CHANGES, MAKING SURE THOSE MEET THE BEST PRACTICES STANDARDS, AND HE DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB ON THAT.

WE WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY WITHOUT JACK'S HARD WORK.

BY THE WAY, JACKS A RETIRED US MARSHALL CHIEF.

HE'S VERY EXPERIENCED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND DOES A GREAT JOB FOR US.

TAMMY PV, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT TAMMY.

SHE IS AN ESSENTIAL MEMBER OF OUR TEAM.

SHE'S BEEN THERE OVER 20 YEARS, WORKING HARD ON OUR RECORDS MANAGEMENT.

SHE'S OUR RECORDS MANAGER.

IF TAMMY WAS TO SHUT DOWN OPERATIONS, WE WOULD ALL HAVE TO STOP AND GET SOME CRAYONS OUT AND SOME BIG CHIEF TABLETS AND AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO OUR WORK.

TAMMY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK.

A BIG CHUNK OF COMPLIANCE FALLS ON YOUR SHOULDERS AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.

[00:30:01]

CAPTAIN BOHANNON IS OUR CAPTAIN OVER, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION.

A LOT OF THINGS CHANGED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS, AND I APPRECIATE YOU KEEPING US IN COMPLIANCE.

CAPTAIN BROWN IS IN CHARGE OF OUR SPECIALIZED OPERATIONS DIVISION.

ALL OF THE SUPER SECRET AND TACTICAL STUFF.

AS YOU KNOW FROM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, CAPTAIN BROWN IS A PINNACLE OF EXCELLENCE IN OUR ORGANIZATION AND DOES A GREAT JOB FOR US, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

CAPTAIN LOFTUS IS IN CHARGE OF OUR TRAINING AND PERSONNEL DIVISION, WHICH IS A VERY KEY PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION, KEEPS OUR COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARDS, AS WELL AS OUR BEST PRACTICES PROGRAM.

I APPRECIATE THAT. CAPTAIN SANCHEZ COULDN'T BE HERE.

HE'S ALSO IN SOME LEADERSHIP TRAINING RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S KIND MARTINE. WITH YOUR PERMISSION, I'D LIKE TO APPLAUD THESE MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY DO.

[APPLAUSE]

>> WHILE WE HAVE YOU HERE WITH YOUR CERTIFICATE, WE DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO STOP FOR A MINUTE AND TAKE A PICTURE, BECAUSE THIS WORK IS, YES BEING RECOGNIZED IN THE MOMENT, AND WE WANT TO CAPTURE THAT.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT IT REPRESENTS DAY IN AND DAY OUT WHAT YOU GUYS DO FOR US AND YOU DO IT AROUND THE CLOCK, WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS, MIDNIGHTS, YOU NEVER STOP.

WE LOVE A CHANCE TO SAY HOW GRATEFUL WE ARE FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU GIVE TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS.

WE WANT TO SAY JUST THAT. THANK YOU.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO STAND IN FRONT OF YOU AND SEE YOUR BADGES BANDED, AND NOT JUST SAY.

I'VE HEARD SO MANY CITIZENS SAY, THAT THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT THEIR DEPARTMENT, AND THE TWO LOSSES THAT YOU'VE HAD.

WE HATE COVID, BUT WE LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT IT AFFECTS.

IT HAS AFFECTED YOUR FAMILY AS A DEPARTMENT, AND THAT MEANS IT'S WEIGHING HEAVY ON US TOO.

THOSE FAMILIES IN PARTICULAR, WE'RE PRAYING FOR THEM.

JUST KNOW THAT WE HAVE YOUR BACK, ON THAT FRONT WHILE YOU ALL GO THROUGH THIS SEASON OF GRIEF AND MOURNING.

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU, AND WE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO CELEBRATE THAT BY TAKING A PICTURE RIGHT NOW.

>> HOW ABOUT [INAUDIBLE] [BACKGROUND] [BACKGROUND]I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT WHEN OUR STAFF COMES AND SHOWS US HOW ACROSS THE STATE THEY'RE BEING RECOGNIZED FOR THE EXCELLENT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND THAT ITEM IS DEFINITELY AN IMPORTANT ONE.

NEXT UP IS ITEM 1C,

[1.C. Discuss Tax lncrement Reinvestment Zone #1 Extension;]

WHICH IS A DISCUSSION ON THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 1, EXTENSION.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, WE HAVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ANDREW FREEMAN HERE TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS A, OLDER ITEM THAT WE'RE BRINGING BACK AROUND.

THIS WAS DISCUSSED BACK IN 2019.

[BACKGROUND] JUST A LITTLE BACKGROUND.

SO THE DISCUSSION ITEM IS WHETHER OR NOT TO EXTEND THESE ZONES, STATE LAW DOES ALLOW FOR THE TAXING TO, THAT CREATES A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE BOUNDARY OR CHANGE THE TERMS. THIS DISCUSSION WILL BE ABOUT CHANGING THE TERM FROM 2036 TO A LONGER PERIOD.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND. IT WAS INITIALLY CREATED IN 2006.

IT'S CURRENTLY SET TO EXPIRE IN 2036.

ALL TAXING ENTITIES DO PARTICIPATE IN THE ZONE AT 100 PERCENT OF THEIR TAX RATE.

SO AS A CITY TAX RATE, POTTER COUNTY, THE WATER DISTRICT, AND AMARILLO COLLEGE, THAT ALL MAKE UP THE TAX RATE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE ZONE.

IN 2006, THE BASE VALUE WAS 139 MILLION AND WE'VE SEEN THE INCREASE OF 80 PERCENT UP TO 2020 WITH THE NEW VALUE OF 251.

SO WE KNOW THAT ZONE IS WORKED, IT'S ADDING VALUE AND INCREASING INVESTMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

IT'S AVERAGED AN INCREASE OF ALMOST FOUR AND A HALF PERCENT SINCE THE BEGINNING.

I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE COUNCIL OF THE GOALS OF TIERS NUMBER 1, WHICH IS,

[00:35:02]

INVESTMENT IN HOTELS, URBAN RESIDENTIAL, OFFICE COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL, AND THEN THE BALLPARK AND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT VENUES.

THIS IS A RECENT UPDATE THAT EMILY KOLLER GAVE TO THE TIERS BOARD IN JULY JUST SHOWING HOW WE'RE DOING AS FAR AS PROGRESSING TO THE ORIGINAL GOALS IN THE DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN.

YOU CAN SEE THAT, INVESTMENT HOTEL IS DOING REALLY WELL.

HOTEL ROOMS IS ABOUT 37 PERCENT.

WE'RE SEEING INVESTMENT IN THE OFFICE COMMERCIAL SECTOR OF 56 PERCENT OF THE GOAL, RETAIL'S A LITTLE BIT LOWER AS FAR AS 28 PERCENT, OFFICE 17 PERCENT AND THEN WHERE YOU REALLY SEE THE LOW NUMBERS THAT WE STILL HAVE TO CONTINUE WORKING ON, IS URBAN RESIDENTIAL.

UNITS IS AT 13 PERCENT, AND INVESTMENT IS AT 16 PERCENT.

SO THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS AS FAR AS ADDING VALUE TO THE DOWNTOWN, BUT WE'RE STILL TRYING TO MEET SOME OF THESE GOALS LONG-TERM.

THE TIERS BOARD A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND THEN MOST RECENTLY AT THEIR LAST MEETING, HAS CONTINUED WITH THE DISCUSSION OF THE BENEFITS OF EXTENDING THE ZONE AND RECOMMENDED THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER TAKING ACTION TO DO SO.

WHAT THEY FOCUSED ON IS INCREASING THE ZONE FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS, TAKING IT TILL 2056 AT 50 PERCENT OF THE TAX RATE.

SO THE BENEFIT THERE IS WHEN YOU CREATE THESE ZONES, THE GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE VALUE, AND AT THE END OF THE TERM, THE TAXING ENTITIES GET TO RATE THE BENEFIT OF ALL THAT INCREASED TAX BASE FOR THEIR BUDGETS AND CONTINUE TO INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY, IN THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.

WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS, CONTINUE TO TAKE A SHARE OF THAT TAXING RATE, BUT ONLY AT 50 PERCENT OF EACH TAXING ENTITY'S RATE.

SO EACH ENTITY WOULD COLLECT HALF AND THEN HALF WOULD GO INTO THE ZONE.

AS FAR AS PROCESS, THE PROCEDURE TO EXPAND THE BOUNDARY IS REALLY THE SAME AS IT IS TO CREATE THE ZONE.

IT'S VIA ORDINANCE, UNDER PUBLIC HEARING PROCESS.

OTHER ENTITIES ARE NOT REQUIRED TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE.

THEY CAN DO, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO, THEY WOULD ENTER INTO ANOTHER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT, AND THEY CAN ALSO BE AT DIFFERENT RATES THAN THE CITY.

WHAT WE'LL BE PROPOSING AND WORKING WITH EACH ENTITY TO DO WOULD BE TO ALL MATCH THE 50 PERCENT RATES SIMILAR TO NOW WHERE WE ALL MATCH THE 100 PERCENT RATE.

SOME EXAMPLES OF OTHER TIER ZONES ACROSS THE STATE, THEY RANGE FROM ANYWHERE FROM 5-50 YEARS.

IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE GOALS OF THE CITY, WHAT'S LEFT TO ACCOMPLISH, AND SO FORTH.

AS FAR AS, BARRY ALTERED THE SLIDE HERE, BUT THIS COVERS 2006 THROUGH 2036, JUST TO SHOW YOU THE PROJECTED GROWTH FROM 2021-2036.

AND THEN ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE ANNUAL REVENUE AT THE CURRENT TAX RATE IN 2020 SHOWS THE ZONE ENDING AT APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION A YEAR ANNUAL REVENUE.

AND THEN THE RIGHT FOUR COLUMNS OR EACH CITY, COUNTY, AMARILLO COLLEGE, AND WATER DISTRICTS RATES.

AND WHAT THEIR REVENUE SHARE IS THAT THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ZONE, JUST TO SHOW THE BREAKDOWN BASED ON PARTICIPATION.

AND THEN OUR LAST SLIDE GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF IF EACH ENTITY DECIDED TO CONTRIBUTE THE 50 PERCENT AND WE WENT DOWN THIS PATH, THE COLUMN IS UPDATED TO SHOW 2037 AND STARTING OFF FRESH WITH A NEW TAX RATE.

AND REALLY STARTING A CLEAN SLATE AS FAR AS DEVELOPER AGREEMENTS BECAUSE MOST OF OUR DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS ARE SET TO EXPIRE WITH THE ZONE.

SO THAT OPENS UP CAPACITY FOR EITHER DEBT FUNDING PROJECTS BASED ON THIS REVENUE AND JUST HAVING NO RESTRICTIONS AS FAR AS INCENTIVE AGREEMENTS IN PLACE, SHOWS THAT IT BE 1.6 ANNUALLY WORKING ITS WAY BACK UP TO THE 3 MILLION AND OVERALL BENEFIT OF 46 MILLION OVER THAT ADDITIONAL 20 YEARS.

BUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THAT IS WHAT EACH ENTITY WOULD GET TO RECEIVE EACH YEAR GOING FORWARD.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2037 STARTING FRESH, THE CITY WOULD REALIZE AN EXTRA 483,000 STARTING THAT YEAR THAT WOULD NO LONGER GO TO THE ZONE.

THE COUNTY WOULD GET 841,000, AMARILLO COLLEGE 277, AND THEN THE WATER DISTRICT, 12,000.

AND OF COURSE, THESE ARE BASED ON CURRENT RATES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE LOOK LIKE 15 YEARS FROM NOW BUT JUST BASED ON CURRENT RATES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE THAT BENEFIT OF THE 30 YEARS WORTH OF GROWTH, WHILE STILL KEEPING WITH THE COMMITMENT OF IMPROVING THE DOWNTOWN AREA OVERALL AND CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO MEET ALL THE GOALS IN THE PLAN.

REALLY, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS, BUT WE KNOW IT'S A VERY LARGE ZONE WITH A LOT OF NEEDS STILL TO BE MET AND THE BENEFIT OF KEEPING THE ZONE IN PLACE WOULD CONTINUED TO WORK TOWARD MEETING THOSE GOALS.

WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR REALLY TO SEEK YOUR FEEDBACK IF WE WANT TO START THIS PROCESS OF BRINGING BACK AN ORDINANCE AND MOVING FORWARD WITH EXTENDING THE YEARS, AT 20 YEARS AT 50 PERCENT RATE, OR OTHER SUGGESTIONS.

[00:40:04]

>> QUESTIONS? WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH, AND I THINK IT'S FASCINATING.

I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS CHART, THE PROGRESS SUMMARY CHART, IF IT HAD ANOTHER COLUMN IN FRONT OF THAT CURRENT COLUMN THAT SAID FROM THE BEGINNING.

SO WE COULD SEE WHERE WE'VE COME FROM 2006 TO WHERE WE CURRENTLY ARE, TO WHERE THE GOAL IS ON ALL OF THESE PROJECTS.

AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS, THIS IS IT, THIS IS OUR LONG WALK IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

NONE OF US WERE HERE, FLOYD WAS HERE, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, [LAUGHTER] NONE OF US WERE HERE IN 2006.

WHEN WE STARTED WE SAID, HEY, OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THESE TIERS, INCREMENT, REINVESTMENT ZONES.

AND PEOPLE BACK THEN SAID THAT DOWNTOWN WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE, SO A DOWNTOWN GOES, SO GOES THE CITY AND WE'VE SEEN THAT, LOOK AT THE STORY OF DETROIT OR OTHER PLACES.

IF YOU LET YOUR DOWNTOWN GO, YOUR CITY GOES.

AND THOSE LEADERS BACK THEN KNEW THAT.

THAT WAS 15 YEARS AGO.

AND LOOK, THEY SET THE GOALS.

I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THEY STARTED WITH AND HOW FAR THEIR VISION AND THEIR LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT, HAS CARRIED US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE THAT ADDED TO THAT [OVERLAPPING] PART OF IT.

BUT AS FAR AS WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND, IT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO SEE ESSENTIALLY THE, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE WORD, SORRY, THE CHART AT THE END.

THAT JUST SHOWS US HOW IT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.

>> THE PROJECTIONS.

>> THE PROJECTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> I THINK OVERALL, THE MAIN BENEFIT IS, WE DO A LOT OF THE DEVELOPER AGREEMENTS FOR THESE LARGE PROJECTS LIKE THE EXCEL BUILDING OR THE FISK ARE SOME OF THOSE, THEIR 2030 OR AGREEMENTS NOW ARE TRICKLING DOWN, WE'LL ONLY HAVE LIKE TEN YEARS TO OFFER.

THIS WILL GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THOSE OTHER LARGE BUILDINGS LIKE THE HERRING, THE RULE.

SOME OF THESE THAT WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO NEED ASSISTANCE, THAT WINDOW'S CLOSING AS FAR AS BENEFITS TO HELP REALLY MOVE THOSE PROJECTS FORWARD.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S A KEY PART OF THE PUZZLE.

PEOPLE ARE LIKE, "YOU STILL GOT 15 YEARS LEFT ON IT." YES, BUT IF WE'RE NEGOTIATING A DEAL WITH THE BUILDING OWNER WHO'S MAKING A 20 OR 30-YEAR INVESTMENT, WE NEED LONGER.

SO THAT'S IMPORTANT, I THINK FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.

ANY HESITATIONS, CONCERNS.

STEER IT LEFT, STEER IT RIGHT.

NOW IS THE TIME TO GIVE THEM THAT.

>> NO, I'M GOOD WITH STAFF MOVING FORWARD TO PURSUE AN ORDINANCE TO EXTEND THE TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE NUMBER 1.

SO I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DIRECT OR GUIDE, ANDREW ON?

>> [INAUDIBLE]

>> I DID HAVE A PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION WITH THE COLLEGE AND THE COUNTY AND THEY WERE PRETTY ON BOARD WITH THAT AMOUNT, JUST TALKING TO THE LEADERSHIP, BUT IT HADN'T GONE IN FRONT OF THE BOARD, SO WE'LL CONTINUE THROUGH THAT PROCESS AFTER COUNCIL STARTS THAT PROCESS.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU, ANDREW.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THAT VERY MUCH.

[1.D. Update on Point-in-Time Count]

ITEM 1D IS AN UPDATE ON THE POINT AND TIME COUNT, [OVERLAPPING]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR, JASON BURGER FOR THIS ITEM.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. HOW ARE YOU-ALL?

>> GOOD. THANK YOU.

>> I'M SO GLAD TO BE HERE.

FOR ME THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE DO OUR POINT IN TIME COUNT.

IN AMARILLO, WE'RE DOING IT TWICE A YEAR NOW.

WE HAVE TO DO IT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR, TYPICALLY IN THE WINTER, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR SUMMER POINT TIME COUNT, WE DID JULY 16TH, 2021.

WHAT IS THE POINT IN TIME COUNT? IT IS SNAPSHOT OF THE AMARILLO HOMELESS IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD.

WE TYPICALLY DO THAT FROM, SAY, 8.00 AM, AND THEN ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE NIGHT TO THE NEXT MORNING FOR THAT 24 HOUR SNAPSHOT.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR BOTH OUR SHELTERED AND OUR UNSHELTERED, MOST OF OUR TEAMS THAT GO OUT AND DO THE VOLUNTEERING, THEY'RE DOING OUR UNSHELTERED COUNT, BUT WE ALSO GET OUR NUMBERS FROM ALL OF OUR SHELTERS.

HUD REQUIRES THAT COUNT EVERY JANUARY, SO WE DO PARTICIPATE FATE IN THAT, BUT OUR AMARILLO WE DO THAT SECOND ONE BECAUSE WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN BOTH THE WINTER AND THE SUMMER.

AGAIN, THERE'S WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THERE WITH US CONDUCTING THAT SECOND COUNTS.

THIS WAS THE SECOND ONE THAT WE'VE DONE, WE DID NOT DO ONE LAST YEAR DUE TO COVID, SO THIS IS OUR SECOND SUMMER COUNT.

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE DATA FOR HUD? WE REPORT THIS INFORMATION TO THE CONGRESS WHO KNOW THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY,

[00:45:01]

WHAT'S THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT WE'RE RUNNING, AND OF COURSE, THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT THE AMARILLO CONTINUUM CARE.

I AM HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF OF THE CONTINUUM OF CARE.

THERE'S A LOT OF AGENCIES THAT WORK TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY IN THAT CONTINUUM OF CARE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO THIS POINT IN TIME COUNT.

I'LL SHOW YOU LATER HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE VOLUNTEERED AND TEAMS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

JASON, CAN YOU PAUSE FOR JUST A SECOND.

YEAH.

SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT IN THIS ALL THE TIME MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT THE AMARILLO CONTINUUM OF CARE IS.

THE AMARILLO CONTINUUM OF CARE IS ALL OF THE SERVICE AGENCIES AND IN THE AMARILLO AREA THAT SERVICE HOMELESS POPULATION.

WE'VE GOT DOWNTOWN WOMEN'S CENTER, WE'VE GOT ANOTHER CHANCE HOUSE, SALVATION ARMY, FAITH CITY, AMARILLO ISD PARTICIPATE, SO WE'VE GOT LEGAL AID THAT PARTICIPATE.

WE'VE GOT FOLKS THAT JUST, IN FACT, IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE AN AGENCY, SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CONCERNED CITIZENS AND PEOPLE THAT JUST CARE ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUES AND WE INVITE THEM TO BE AT THIS MEETING.

IN FACT, I'LL JUST THROW A PLUG THERE THAT WE ARE NEXT OPEN CONTINUUM OF CARE MEETING IS NOVEMBER 16TH, THAT'S FRIDAY AT 10.30 AM, AND IT WILL BE AT PATSY'S PLACE.

YOU CAN LOOK, AND YOU CAN GOOGLE THAT, BUT ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO COME TO THAT MEETING, AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU THERE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. HOW DID WE DO THIS ACCOUNT, SOMETHING THAT WE USE TO, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HIT BOTH OF THOSE.

WE USE A COUNTING US, A MOBILE APP, THIS IS ABOUT THE THIRD COUNT THAT WE'VE USED THIS MOBILE APP, AND I'LL TELL YOU FROM PRIOR TO THAT, WE USED TO DO HAND TO PAPER AND IT WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE TO DO AN INTERVIEW WITH OUR CLIENTS THAT WE TALKED TO.

THIS APP IS VERY USER-FRIENDLY, VERY EASY FOR US TO USE, AND IT HELPS US MAKE SURE THAT DATA IS VERY CLEAN, AND SAME THING WITH OUR HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM.

THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE COLLECT ALL OF THE DATA THAT OUR HOMELESS POPULATION THROUGHOUT AMARILLO, WE WILL COLLECT THAT DATA AND ALL OF THE AGENCIES THAT WORK WITH THOSE CLIENTS.

SALVATION ARMY USES IT, GUY ON SAUNDERS RESOURCE CENTER USES IT.

WE PUT THAT INFORMATION IN THERE SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT SERVICES THEY'RE USING.

THIS HELPS US WHENEVER WE'RE DOING OUR POINT IN TIME COUNT, SO THAT WE CLEAN THAT DATA, SO THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT JOHN SMITH, DATE OF BIRTH, SUCH AND SUCH IS THE SAME PERSON, AND WE'RE NOT DOUBLE COUNTING THAT PERSON.

HERE'S OUR TOTAL FOR 2021 SUMMER POINT IN TIME COUNT, WE HAD A TOTAL OF 499.

I'M POINTING OUT SPECIFICALLY HERE, I'LL SEE THAT WE COUNTED OUR SHELTERED.

THOSE ARE THE FACE CITY MISSION SALVATION ARMY, ALL OF THOSE PLACES LISTED THERE, 183 WERE SHELTERED.

THE CONCERNING NUMBER THAT I'M ALWAYS LOOKING AT IS THE UNSHELTERED NUMBER.

THAT'S WHERE WE COME UP WITH THE 316.

THOSE ARE THE FOLKS LIVING IN THE STREETS, THE TENTS, THE CARS, PLACES NOT MEANT FOR HABITATION, AND SO THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS.

THOSE ARE SOMETHING THAT I'M KEEPING AN EYE ON, IS THAT, UNSHELTERED COUNTS.

THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONSTANTLY BE LOOKING AT TRYING TO BRING THAT NUMBER DOWN.

I GAVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE COLLECTED INSIDE OF THOSE NUMBERS, JUST SO YOU'D HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE NUMBER OF ADULTS, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN UNDER AGE 18.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT ON THE YOUNG CHILDREN UNDER 18, YOU'LL SEE THE UNSHELTERED IS A ZERO.

I KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY QUICK TO RECOGNIZE AND SEE IF WE HAVE ANY CHILDREN THAT ARE IN ANY KIND OF AN UNSHELTERED SITUATION, WE GET ON THAT QUICK.

EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION TO GET THAT REMEDIED ASAP.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME IN AS SOME OF OUR SHELTERING ENVIRONMENTS, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO RARELY SEE ANYTHING THAT'S UNSHELTERED BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET ON THAT REAL QUICK.

AGAIN, BACK ON THAT ONE STILL, WE SEE THAT OUR NUMBERS ARE STILL MUCH HIGHER FOR MEN THAN THE WOMEN.

WE STILL HAVE SOME CHRONICALLY HOMELESS AND SOME VETERANS.

THOSE ARE TWO AREAS THAT WE TARGET PRETTY HEAVILY WHENEVER WE'RE TRYING TO PUT THEM INTO SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS, LIKE THE COMING HOME PROGRAM AND OTHER OTHER RESOURCES.

A LITTLE BIT OF A COMPARISON BETWEEN OUR WINTER AND OUR SUMMER COUNT, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY THE SAME.

WE WANTED TO START DOING OUR SUMMER COUNT WAS BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS THOUGHT, WHY ARE WE COUNTING THEM IN THE WINTER? WE BELIEVE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE FOLKS OUT THERE IN THE SUMMER, ESPECIALLY UNSHELTERED.

I THINK THAT THIS SHOWS US THAT ACTUALLY OUR NUMBERS ARE RELATIVELY CLOSE FOR BOTH THE WINTER AND THE SUMMER.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU? IT DOES A LITTLE BIT.

I THINK ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I KNOW FROM MY DEPARTMENT HOW MANY OF OUR HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY HOUSING.

WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF FOLKS INTO HOUSING, WE HAVE EMERGENCY HOUSING VOUCHERS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING IN, GETTING THEM HOUSE.

THAT MAKES ME THINK THAT THE NUMBERS ARE GROWING, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SUMMER, THAT MAYBE WE'RE JUST SEEING SOME FLUCTUATIONS.

I'M A LOT LIKE YOU AND I LIKE TO SEE LOTS OF DATA.

I WANT TO SEE YEAR'S WORTH OF DATA, I WANT TO SEE LOTS OF TRENDS, NOT JUST A SMALL TWO-YEAR SNAPSHOT,

[00:50:03]

I WANT TO SEE LONGER TRENDS.

WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO DOING THAT.

WE'VE REALLY GOOD COUNTS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE DO A GREAT JOB OF THE DATA THAT WE COLLECT.

I FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THE DATA THAT WE COLLECT, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS THAT WE HAVE TO HELP US DO THIS COUNTS.

I KNOW THIS IS A LITTLE BIT SMALL HERE, BUT THIS IS A BROAD VIEW OF WHERE WE BEEN FROM WINTER OF 2019 ON THAT LEFT COLUMN.

YOU CAN SEE WE STARTED OUT WITH A TOTAL OF 774, THAT TOP BLUE LINE.

WE'RE WORKING OUR WAY DOWN HERE.

WE'VE GOT OURSELF FROM ALL THE WAY FROM 774 WORKING OUR WAY DOWN HERE TO AROUND THE 500 MARK.

STILL WAY TOO HIGH, STILL WAY TOO HIGH FOR NATIONALLY AND THROUGH TEXAS.

THIS IS STILL ENTIRELY TOO MANY.

WE'RE STILL ABOVE THOSE AVERAGES FOR BOTH THE STATE AND THE NATION, SO WE WERE STILL WORKING ON IT.

THE NUMBER THAT CONCERNS ME THERE, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE GRAY LINE, THAT IS OUR UNSHELTERED COUNT.

YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S FLIP-FLOPPED THERE IN THE WINTER OF LAST YEAR THAT WE WENT FROM 403 TO 197, WHERE WE HAD SHELTERED VERSUS UNSHELTERED, NOW UNSHELTERED HAS BECOME MORE PREVALENT THAN OUR SHELTER.

THAT IS SOMETHING AGAIN THAT I'M VERY MUCH CONCENTRATING ON GETTING PROGRAMS IN PLACE IN ORDER FOR US TO GET THOSE UNSHELTERED INTO A SHELTER.

I ALWAYS WANT TO POINT OUT ARE GREAT VOLUNTEERS.

WE HAD 85 VOLUNTEERS AND THIS IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER WHEN DELTA WAS HITTING US, AND WE GOT 85 VOLUNTEERS, 41 TEAMS, MAYOR WAS OUT THERE, IT WAS HOT THAT DAY, AND WE WERE OUT THERE JUST DOING A GREAT JOB, AND I'M SO PROUD.

I CAN'T THANK THE VOLUNTEERS ENOUGH OF THE TIME THAT THEY PUT IN THIS.

I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M SELFISH BECAUSE IT'S VERY REWARDING, AND I KNOW I SPEAK FOR YOU TOO.

IT'S ONE CHANCE FOR US TO GET OUT THERE AND REMIND OURSELVES WHY WE'RE DOING THIS, AND I TAKE THIS AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE ON THERE.

IF YOU'LL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY OF THEM.

QUESTIONS?

>> I GUESS THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I HAVE, WAS WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT THAT 2020 AND YOU SEE IT FLIP.

IS THERE ANY COMPONENT OF THAT WHERE WE LOST HOUSING OR IS THAT JUST PURELY PEOPLE QUIT GOING TO HOUSING?

>> IT'S NOT NECESSARILY HOUSING.

I WOULD SAY IT'S SHELTER.

THE CHANGE HAS BEEN IN THE SHELTER.

I DON'T LIKE TO POINT ANY FINGERS.

EVERY AGENCY THAT DOES THEIR PROGRAMS HOW THEY CHOOSE.

BUT WE HAD SOME CHANGES IN SOME OF THE AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE OUR EMERGENCY SHELTER AND SOME OF THE RULES AND THINGS LIKE THAT CHANGED.

QUITE FRANKLY, THOSE NUMBERS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WERE SHELTERED A YEAR BEFORE TO LAST YEAR.

>> THERE IS SOME REASONING BEHIND WHY THERE'S AN ACTION AND FOLLOWING REACTION TO SOMETHING THAT OCCURRED?

>> THAT IS CORRECT. THAT'S WHY I'M COMING UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO COME UP WITH THOSE AT A LATER TIME AND SHOW YOU AND SHARE WITH YOU GUYS WHAT I'M DOING.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR WORKING ON THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> JUST OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THIS SIDE.

I HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL LET YOU GUYS GO FIRST.

>> THANK YOU. FROM THE 774 AND THE DROP, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD MORE OR LESS POINT TO AS A CREDIT ON HOW WE'VE ACHIEVED THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT WAS ABOUT THE TIME THAT WE IMPLEMENTED OUR COMING HOME PROGRAM, AND IT HAS BEEN AN ABSOLUTE AMAZING SUCCESS.

THE COMING HOME PROGRAM IS A HOUSING FIRST MODEL WHERE WE TAKE OUR MOST CHRONICALLY HOMELESS FOLKS THAT HAD BEEN ON THE STREETS AND FOR YEARS.

WE TAKE THOSE FOLKS AND WE GET THEM INTO HOUSING JUST LIKE A BASIC RIGHT, FOOD, AND WATER.

WE BELIEVE HOUSING IS THE SAME BASIC RIGHT.

WE GET THEM INTO HOUSING.

THEN MY STAFF OF ABOUT 10-12 FOLKS SURROUND THEM WITH SUPPORT SERVICES.

THAT'S GETTING THEM CONNECTED WITH A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN, GETTING THEM MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IF THEY NEED IT, COULD BE ADDICTION SERVICES IF THEY NEED IT.

WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW HOW TO FIND FOOD, WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW HOW THEY CAN GET THEIR GED DOCUMENTS.

THEY LOSE THEIR DOCUMENTS AND ONCE THEY LOSE A DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND A SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, AND THAT BIRTH CERTIFICATE, IT'S HARD TO GET THINGS BACK ON TRACK.

WE HELP THEM MANAGE TO GET THOSE THINGS BACK.

THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN THERE.

I'LL TELL YOU THAT OUR PROGRAM IS ENJOYING ABOUT AN 85 CLOSER TO A 90 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE IN THE COMING HOME PROGRAM.

SPEAKING ABOUT ALL PROGRAMS THAT HELP THE HOMELESS.

USUALLY, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A 20-30 PERCENT SUCCESS RATE AND THAT'S CONSIDERED GOOD.

WE'RE UP IN THE 90 PERCENT, I THINK THAT'S OUTSTANDING.

I BELIEVE THAT IS THE CHANGE IN THOSE NUMBERS AND INSIGNIFICANCE.

[00:55:01]

>> COULD WE INFER THAT WE'VE GOT 250 LESS HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE COMING HOME PROGRAM THAT ARE SUCCESS AND ROUGHLY 25 OF THEM WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT ON AVERAGE.

>> THAT'S ABOUT AVERAGE.

>> THAT'S PHENOMENAL.

>> YES, SIR.

>> ANY NEW LAW CHANGES COMING UP THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.

THINGS THAT WOULD CHANGE THE WAY LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS TO WORK? POLICING THAT WOULD IMPACT MAYBE THE NUMBER, THE CONSEQUENCES OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH ALREADY.

>> ACTUALLY IT'S SEPTEMBER 1ST THERE WAS A NEW LAW OF IT, THAT WENT INTO ACTION.

IT'S BASICALLY SPECIFICALLY RECITING WHAT THE LAW IS.

YOU CANNOT CAMP ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, AND THAT MEANS ANYTHING FROM LETTING YOUR HEAD DOWN WITH YOUR JACKET BEHIND YOUR HEAD, LAYING OUT A BED ROLE.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, SIDEWALKS, PARK BENCHES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S ACTUALLY A CLASSY MISDEMEANOR.

THE GOOD THING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY IS THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OR OUR CITY, IN A BIG HURRY TO GO OUT THERE AND ENFORCE THESE THINGS AND TICKETS AND JAIL.

THAT'S NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

WE'RE IN THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN WE DO ON THE FRONT END OF THAT? WHAT OPTIONS DO THEY HAVE? WE HAVE AN OUTREACH TEAM WITH THE COMING HOME TEAM.

WE SEND THEM OUT THERE TO GO ENGAGE WITH OUR CLIENTS.

WE'VE GOT A REALLY COOL ARTICLE THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER, I RECOMMEND YOU READING THAT.

I HAVE AN EMPLOYEE NAMED MICHAEL JOHNSON WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY HOMELESS AND HE IS AMAZING.

HE GOES OUT AND ENGAGES WITH THESE FOLKS, TELLS THEM WHAT RESOURCES WE HAVE IN THE CITY.

WHERE CAN THEY GO, WHAT CAN YOU DO? THEN WE WILL PASS THAT OFF.

IF IT'S SOMETHING WHERE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO GET INVOLVED, WE'LL LET THEM TAKE CARE OF THAT END.

BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE TRYING TO PUT PEOPLE IN JAIL.

THEY'RE JUST OUT THERE TO SAY, HEY, LOOK, WE NEED YOU TO DO THIS.

IF YOU'RE TRESPASSING, YOU CAN'T TRESPASS.

WE JUST NEED YOU TO BE SOMEWHERE THAT YOU CAN BE.

WE DO HAVE THE SALVATION ARMY, WE DO HAVE FAITH CITY, SO WE DO HAVE OPTIONS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT LAST QUESTION.

AMARILLO IS A VERY GENEROUS COMMUNITY AND WE'RE RIGHT ON THE OFF 40 CORD.

DO YOU TRACK WHAT WE WOULD CALL TRANSIT, PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE FOR A SHORT TIME, BUT THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY HOMELESS IN AMARILLO? HOW MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO STAY HERE VERSUS CONTINUING ON? WHAT INFORMATION'S AVAILABLE AS IT PERTAINS TO THAT ITEM ON SAY I40 ALONE?

>> SURE. EARLIER, I WAS MENTIONING THE HMIS TO THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, GREAT TOOL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO CONTRACT OUR OWN INFORMATION.

THAT'S BEEN THE KEY SO FAR AS IT'S BEEN OUR INFORMATION, IT'S ONLY IN OUR SILO.

RECENTLY WE HAVE AGREEMENTS WITH MOST EVERY OTHER ENTITY WITHIN TEXAS SO THAT WE CAN SHARE THAT DATA.

WE'LL KNOW, HAS THIS PERSON BEEN LIVING DOWN IN HOUSTON? HAS THIS BEEN A PERSON DOWN IN AUSTIN? WE'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION AND TRACK WHERE THOSE FOLKS HAVE BEEN.

THERE'S A PUSH FOR THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE SHARE THIS NATIONWIDE.

WE WILL KNOW, IS THIS SOMEONE COMING FROM PHOENIX? WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN? THAT'S A WAY FOR US TO KNOW, ARE THEY THAT TRANSIENT LEAVING ALONE TYPE OF PERSON.

OR IS THAT AN AMARILLO PERSON THAT'S BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS AND SOMEHOW THEY FALLEN THROUGH THE CRACKS FOR 15 YEARS AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THIS RESULT.

THOSE ARE THE ONES I WANTED TO SOLVE VERY QUICKLY.

THOSE ARE OUR PEOPLE. I WANT TO GET THAT RESOLVED QUICKLY.

>> QUESTIONS. I WONDER JUST BECAUSE I KNOW HMIS WAS SOMETHING MAYBE STARTED AROUND 2017, I WONDERED IF THAT WAS PART OF WHAT YOU THOUGHT BETTER-TRACKED PEOPLE AND HELPED THEM NOT FALL THROUGH THE GAPS.

>> YES SIR.

>> I ALWAYS THINK THAT GOOD DATA, GOOD TRACKING, AND THE GUY ON SAUNDERS RESOURCE CENTER HAS BEEN A VERY KEY COMPONENT OF THAT.

THEY ARE WHAT WE CALL THE COORDINATED ENTRY OR THAT MAIN POINT OF ENTRY.

THEY DO A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING UP WITH THAT IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM SO THAT WE KNOW WHO OUR FOLKS ARE.

THEY'VE SEEN, TYPICALLY AROUND 150 PEOPLE A DAY.

IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD, HAVING THAT TRACKING SYSTEM IS VERY KEY.

>> YEAH. I KNOW JUST THOSE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, PRIVATE ENTITIES, NON-PROFITS.

IT WAS A CHANGE FOR THEM.

THEY HAD TO LEARN IT AND STAFF PEOPLE TO DATA ENTRY AND ALL THAT, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR PARTNERSHIP THAT GIVES US.

HOW DO WE COMPARE, JASON? DO YOU HAVE THAT DATA? WHAT THE PER CAPITA NUMBER IS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS OR WHAT IS OUR NUMBER AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE EXACTLY TO TEXAS?

>> AS FAR AS OUR HOMELESS POPULATION?

>> YES.

>> WE'RE AVERAGING ABOUT 250 PER 100,000.

[01:00:03]

THE STATE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 93 PER 100,000.

THE NATION IS, I THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT 175 PER 100,000.

WE'RE STILL WAY TOO HIGH.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, WE SHOULD BE ABOUT 350 INSTEAD OF 500.

I WANT ZERO PER 100,000.

THAT'S MY GOAL, BUT DEFINITELY LESS THAN WHERE WE ARE.

BUT THE GOOD THING IS THIS, YOU SAW THOSE CHARTS.

WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE'RE GOING DOWN, WE'RE COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS, AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT I WANT TO GET PUT IN PLACE.

>> GREAT.

>> AGAIN, I WANT TO INVITE AS MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO COME AND VOICE YOUR CONCERNS AND ASSISTANCE AND IDEAS TO COME TO THAT CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT IS FOR YOU.

THAT IS NOT A CITY-RUN PROGRAM, THAT IS THE CONTINUUM OF CARE FOR EVERYBODY.

AGAIN, THAT'S NOVEMBER 17TH, FRIDAY AT 10:30 AM.

PLEASE COME AND HELP US, YOUR VOICE MATTERS.

>> WONDERFUL. ANYBODY ELSE? JASON, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'RE DOING AND PLEASE TELL YOUR TEAM. WE SAID THANK YOU.

>> I WILL, THANK Y'ALL.

>> NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS ITEM 1E,

[1.E. Updates from Councilmembers Serving on Boards and Commissions a. Environmental Task Force b. Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Committee; and]

WHICH IS AN UPDATE FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS SERVING ON BOARDS.

HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO IS GIVING THOSE REPORTS IS UNDER THE WEATHER TODAY.

HEY, THAT'S VERY FUN.

THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO BUMP HIM TO OUR NEXT MEETING.

HE'LL BE HAPPY TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THOSE THINGS.

THAT BRINGS US TO ONE OF REQUESTING FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS OR REPORTS,

[1.F. Request future agenda items and reports from City Manager.]

ANYTHING FROM THE COUNCIL ON THAT? MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA,

[2. CONSENT ITEMS]

ANYTHING ON ITEM NUMBER 2 THAT NEEDS TO COME OFF FOR DISCUSSION OR FURTHER QUESTIONS? THERE'S NOT ANYTHING, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 2.

>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

>> AS BEEN MOVED BY MAYOR PRO-TEM PAL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL-MEMBER SAUER, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

>> AYE [OVERLAPPING].

>> ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES WITH THE 4-0 VOTE.

ITEM 3A IS CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 79, 38.

[3.A. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7938]

MR. SYSTEM CITY MANAGER.

>> MAYOR, WE HAVE ANTHONY, THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THIS ITEM IS THE SECOND READING FOR AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE VARIANCE REQUEST FOR GOBRANDS TEXAS, LLC LOCATED AT 3420 SOUTHWEST 15.

GOBRANDS HAS APPLIED FOR AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE OF AN OFF-PREMISE CONSUMPTION BEER AND WINE.

THAT ABO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE WAS ULTIMATELY DENIED ON AUGUST 16TH DUE TO THE DISTANCE FROM AIST AND TECH CAREER ACADEMY WAS ROUGHLY 63 FEET.

JUST TO RECAP, THAT AOA IS ZONED GENERAL RETAIL, WHICH DOES ALLOW FOR ON-PREMISE AND OFF-PREMISE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE, THAT WOULD HAPPEN IN A RESTAURANT OR A CONVENIENCE STORE.

BUT IT WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR A BAR ONLY, SO A FACILITY THAT JUST SERVED ALCOHOLIC AND BEVERAGE LICENSE.

THE SURROUNDING AREA DOES CURRENTLY HAVE ZERO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSES WITHIN THE 300-FOOT SETBACK.

I DO WANT TO MENTION ONCE ISSUED IN AVL, SWITCHING FROM ON-PREMISE TO OFF-PREMISE LICENSES IS ALLOWED.

AISD WAS NOTIFIED OF THE REQUESTED VARIANCE AND IS NOT IN A POSITION OF ITS ISSUANCE.

I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

WE DO NOT HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE GO BRANDS, BUT I DO HAVE TOM ROLLER BACK HERE ON THE BACK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM AND THE LANDLORD SIDE.

>> COUNCIL O'CARTER YOUR ATTENTION THAT YOU HAVE AN UPDATED LETTER.

IT'S LOOSE, IT'S NOT IN YOUR POCKET REGARDING THIS WHICH ANTHONY REALLY STATED EVERYTHING THAT'S ALREADY IN THERE.

[OVERLAPPING] ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANTHONY? THANK YOU, ANTHONY.

>> DO YOU HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM, COUNCIL?

>> YES, MAYOR, WE DO.

I MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7938, AND GRANT A VARIANCE FOR ALCOHOL SALES AT 3420 SOUTH WEST 15TH FOR APPLICANT GOBRANDS TEXAS, LLC, PURSUING TO SECTION 109.33 E OF THE TEXAS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE CODE, AFTER CONSIDERATION OF THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF THE PUBLIC IN THE ENTITIES OF THIS SITUATION COUNCIL FINDS AND DETERMINES THAT ENFORCEMENT OF THE DISTANCE REGULATION IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE OR NECESSARY.

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7938.

[01:05:03]

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? NO. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

>> AYE.

>> ACTUALLY JUST RAISE HANDS ON THIS WHEN WE HAD A SPLIT VOTE LAST TIME.

ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES WITH A THREE, ONE VOTE. THANK YOU.

ITEM 3 B IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 102621 - FIVE,

[3.B. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 10-26-21-5]

MR. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. WE HAVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, ANDREW FREEMAN, TO PRESENT THIS ITEM.

[NOISE]

>> NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. TODAY IS AN ITEM WE'VE HAD A FEW OF THESE OVER THE YEARS, AND TRADITIONALLY WE'VE HAD A LITTLE OVER 20 SINCE 1990.

THIS IS THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM.

IT'S ADMINISTERED BY THE TDHCA.

IT DIRECTS PRIVATE CAPITAL TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL, HOUSING FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, THROUGH MULTIFAMILY DEVELOPMENTS.

WHAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO IS USE THOSE TAX CREDITS TO OFFSET A PORTION OF THEIR FEDERAL TAX LIABILITY, IN EXCHANGE FOR PRODUCTION OR PRESERVATION OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING.

THESE CAN GO TOWARDS NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, HISTORICAL REHABS, THE MOST RECENT ONE WE HAD WAS AN EYE PERCENT FOR THE SAINT ANTHONY'S PROJECT THAT'S CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.

THERE ARE THE TWO TYPES, THE NINE PERCENT COMPETITIVE PROCESS AND THEN THE FOUR PERCENT NON-COMPETITIVE, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE HERE TODAY. NEXT PLEASE.

THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EQUITY FINANCING TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MAXIMIZE THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE UNITS ADD TO THE STATE'S HOUSING SUPPLY.

IT ALSO IS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE HAVING SUPPLIES WELL-MAINTAINED AND OPERATED, IT ALSO HELPS PREVENT LOSSES IN THE STATE SUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AS FAR AS THE CITY'S ROLE, THE APPLICATION DOES REQUIRE A CITY RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION AND A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE DEVELOPER'S APPLICATION FOR THEM TO BE CONSIDERED, FOR EVEN THE FOUR PERCENT PROCESS.

IT IS A STATE ALLOCATION, IT'S NOT REGIONAL, IT'S NOT COMPETITIVE WITH OTHERS IN OUR REGION.

THEN JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE PROJECT, WE ALSO HAVE RYAN GARCIA HERE IN THE AUDIENCE WITH THE DEVELOPER IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL COVER THE BASICS.

IT IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY AT 4,000 NORTHWEST 12TH AVENUE, BASICALLY SOUTHEAST OF THE WT ENTERPRISE CENTER, THE PROJECT COST IS APPROXIMATELY 34.6 MILLION.

IT'LL BE 210 UNITS, WHICH WOULD BE A MIXTURE OF ONE BED, TWO BED AND THREE BED UNITS.

THE RENT RANGE WOULD RUN BETWEEN $739 A MONTH TO A $1,017 A MONTH AND THE WAY THESE AFFORDABLE UNITS ARE ISSUED BY THE STATE, IT'S BASED ON AREA MEDIAN INCOME, AND THEY'RE PROPOSING MAJORITY OF THESE TO BE IN THE 60 PERCENT RANGE, WHICH GIVES YOU AN INCOME LEVEL OF, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 30,000 TO 56,000 IN INCOME BASED ON YOUR FAMILY SIZE.

THE 60 PERCENT AREA MEDIAN INCOME FOR 2021.

THE CALCULATIONS BASED ON IS 72,100.

I DID WANT TO POINT OUT THAT SOME OF THE UNITS MAY BE RESERVED FOR LOWER INCOME, WHICH IS 30 PERCENT AMI OR 15,000-28,000, AND THEN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES, I'LL JUST SHOW YOU AN AERIAL OF THE AREA.

THE SOUTH SIDE OF THIS TRACK TO THE EAST OF WT ENTERPRISE CENTERS WHERE THEY ARE CONSIDERING THE PROJECT.

THIS AREA WAS RECENTLY ZONE TO MANUFACTURE HOME DISTRICTS OR THE SOUTHERN HALF WOULDN'T NEED TO BE PROCESSED APPLICATION OR REZONED TO MULTIFAMILY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD THIS PROJECT, SO THEY WOULDN'T BE GOING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

THE NEXT SLIDE, THIS IS SHIFTED, SO THE SOUTH SIDE IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCREEN, BUT THIS IS JUST THE PRELIMINARY LAYOUT OF WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ON THESE BUILDINGS.

THERE ARE 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 BUILDINGS? [OVERLAPPING] 11 UNITS,11 BUILDINGS, THEY ARE THREE STOREYS TALL, AND THEN THERE WOULD BE THE COMMUNITY BUILDING THERE IN THE CENTER THAT YOU SEE THE SMALLER ORANGE BUILDING.

THEN THE NEXT SLIDE IS JUST GIVING AN IDEA OF ANOTHER PROJECT THAT THEY CURRENTLY HAVE UNDER CONSTRUCTION JUST SEEING SOME OF THE BUILDING MATERIALS THEY USE, WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

IN-CASE YOU HAD QUESTIONS THERE.

THEN WITH THAT SAID, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS OR RYAN IS ALSO HERE, IF YOU HAVE MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

>> ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL?

>> CAN I MAKE A COMMENT? I REMEMBER WHEN THIS CAME UP FOR A VOTE AND I VOTED AGAINST IT [NOISE] FOR THE VERY REASON OF THE MANUFACTURED HOUSING.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU GUYS STEPPING IN AND MOVING THIS FROM THAT TO MULTIFAMILY AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

>>YEAH.

>> I WILL SAY ABOUT HALF WILL STILL HAVE THAT ZONING.

[01:10:02]

I KNOW THAT MIGHT STILL BE IN THEIR PLANS, THE CURRENT LANDOWNERS, BUT THIS [OVERLAPPING] IS A GREAT START.

>> IT'S A GOOD START.

>> IT IS. I'M EXCITED TOO.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT COMMENT, BRIAN.

THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU'VE DONE ON THAT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

>> WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.

ALWAYS NEED THE REMINDER.

[LAUGHTER] AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

ANY ONE PRESENT WHO WISHES TO SPEAK FOR ON OR AGAINST THE MATTER MAY DO SO AND HAVE THREE MINUTES AT THE PODIUM.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WANTS TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 3 B.

>> YES, MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 10-26-21-FIVE, STATING NO OBJECTION FOR AN APPLICATION FOR 2022 NON-COMPETITIVE HOUSING TAX CREDITS, TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROGRAM BY JES DEVELOPMENT COMPANY INCORPORATED OR DEV INCORPORATED A PRIVATE ENTITY FOR THE STACCATO STATION, A DEVELOPMENT FOR AFFORDABLE RENTAL PROPERTY LOCATED AT APPROXIMATELY 4,000 NORTHWEST 12TH AVENUE.

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM, SECONDED BY DR. SAUER TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 10 26215.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

ALL THOSE OPPOSED, NONE SO THAT PASSES WITH FOUR VOTE.

>> ITEM 3C IS TO CONSIDER AWARDING A CONTRACT WITH

[3.C. CONSIDER AWARD - ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE (AMI)]

REGARD TO ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE AMI PROJECT.

MR. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'LL BE MAKING THE PRESENTATION ON THIS, BUT I DO WANT TO INTRODUCE JONATHAN GRESHAM, THE DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES.

JENNIFER GONZALEZ OUR BILLING MANAGER, BUT ALSO DAVID ALLEN WITH SL-SERCO THE CONTRACTOR THAT IS HELPING US RUN THIS PROJECT THAT ALL AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.

OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT, THIS IS THE REPLACEMENT OF 70,000 EXISTING METERS WITH SMART METERS.

THE INSTALLATION OF THE AMI SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE AND HARDWARE, INTEGRATION OF THE AMI SOFTWARE, AND A DIGITAL PLATFORM.

THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS A COUNCIL OBJECTIVE A FEW YEARS AGO AND THIS IS AT CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUE THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT.

ON THE NEXT SLIDE, YOU'LL SEE THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT.

WE QUALIFIED FOR UP TO $28.5 MILLION WITH ZERO INTEREST LOAN FROM THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

WE WANT TO GREATLY APPRECIATE THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT, IT'S AMAZING.

WE ESTIMATE INTEREST SAVINGS OVER THE LIFE OF THIS LOAN TO BE AT MINIMUM 6,800,000.

WITH A LOAN FORGIVENESS, IF YOU RECALL, OF ONE MILLION THROUGH THAT APPLICATION PROCESS.

NEXT SLIDE IS JUST A PRELIMINARY LIST OF EXPECTED BENEFITS TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

ACCURATE BILLING OBVIOUSLY IS A PRIORITY OF OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE, BUT EASY CUSTOMER FEEDBACK.

IT WILL HAVE THE ABILITY FOR CUSTOMERS AND US TO TRACK DAILY WATER USE WITH AUTOMATED COMMUNICATIONS WARNINGS.

I WILL LET YOU KNOW THE CUSTOMERS CAN SET THE PARAMETERS THAT THAT INFORMATION IS GATHERED.

IT'LL REDUCE CUSTOMER CONTACTS.

IT'LL PROVIDE ACCESSIBILITY TO INFORMATION DIRECTLY TO THE CUSTOMER THROUGH DIFFERENT MECHANISMS, WHETHER THAT'S A PHONE APP, EMAILS, OR OTHER MECHANISMS, BUT IT WILL ELIMINATE THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE THAT INCLUDES BILLING ESTIMATES.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST FACTORS, IT REMOVES THE HUMAN ERROR.

ONCE YOU GET THIS SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING HUMAN ERROR IS REMOVED FROM IT.

IT'S EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES ALL AROUND WHETHER THAT'S METERS, A PERSONNEL, WHATEVER THAT MEANS EFFICIENCY COMES BY REALLOCATION OF ALL RESOURCES.

IT ALSO PROVIDES TIMELY EMERGENCY RESPONSE, WHETHER THAT'S A CITYWIDE, CITY LEAK OR A CUSTOMER PROBLEM.

IT ALSO WILL ENHANCE THE ABILITY TO DATA COLLECT, AND REPORT.

THE RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU IS TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL TO [INAUDIBLE] CORPORATION DOING BUSINESS AS UTILITY USE FOR THE TOTAL OF $27,024,744.76, CAPITAL OF A LITTLE OVER 22.5 MILLION AND THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OVER THE LIFE, INCLUDING SOFTWARE UPGRADES AND THAT FOR THE TOTAL OF $27 MILLION.

UPON APPROVAL OF THIS,

[01:15:01]

THE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE CONTRACT PROCESSING, WHICH TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER WITH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD INVOLVED, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE APPROVAL FROM THEM TO ACCESS THE FUNDING.

WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THE NOTICE TO PROCEED TO BE IN FEBRUARY, KICKOFF THE SOFTWARE INTEGRATION IN MARCH, A TRIAL RUN WITH 1,000 METERS IN MARCH WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT BEGINNING IN SUMMER NEXT YEAR.

WITH THE FINAL COMPLETION AND COMPLETE WRAP-UP WITH TESTING, VERIFICATION, AND EVERYTHING IN 2024.

WITH THAT, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR WE HAVE SOME OF THE TEAM HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THERE MIGHT BE.

>> QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?

>> I GOT A FEW.

>> OKAY. GO.

>> WATER AND SEWER WOULD BE BORROWING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

DO THEY HAVE ANY OTHER OUTSTANDING DEBTS OR IS EVERYTHING ELSE PAID FOR?

>> THIS WAS INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET AND WITH A RATE INCREASE TO FUND THE PAYMENT.

A LOT COULD GO INTO THAT.

YES, THERE'S OTHER OUTSTANDING DEBT WITHIN THE WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES.

THIS WAS A SEPARATE ISSUANCE WITH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?

>> YES, SIR, AND JUST TRYING TO SPEAK SPECIFICALLY TO THE METERING PROGRAM.

THIS IS THE TOTAL OF THE $27 MILLION ALL COSTS INCLUDED.

MATERIAL COST, METERING COSTS, LABOR TO INSTALL, CORRECT?

>> YES. THIS IS COMPLETE INSTALLATION AND GETTING THE SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING, INCLUDING TESTING AND VERIFICATION.

>> APOLOGIZE FOR THE POORLY WORDED QUESTION THERE THAT WAS OPEN.

CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT HOW IT WORKS IS THIS ON A RADIOFREQUENCY AND HOW IT TRANSMITS BACK AND FORTH?

>> SURE. THESE COMMUNICATE BY RADIOFREQUENCY.

ONE OF THE REASONS THIS VENDOR WAS SELECTED WAS BECAUSE THIS IS ON A LICENSED RADIOFREQUENCY.

THESE ARE VERY SAFE UNITS.

THEY TRANSMIT LESS RADIOFREQUENCY THAN A CELL PHONE BUT THERE WOULD BE RADIO COMMUNICATION TO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS WHETHER AT CITY HALL DIRECTLY OR REMOTE SITES AND THAT INFORMATION IS TRANSMITTED TO A LOCATION LIKE CITY HALL OR WHEREVER WE HAVE THAT CENTRAL LOCATION.

THAT INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE TO OUR BILLING OFFICE, OUR STAFF IN THE FIELD, AND OUR CUSTOMERS.

IT'LL BE LIVE DATA, TYPICALLY YOU'LL GIVE WARNINGS.

THE COMMUNICATIONS DOES OCCUR TYPICALLY ONCE A MONTH WHEN IT'S RED BUT CAN OCCUR WHEN COMMUNICATION CURVES SUCH AS, IF I WERE THE CUSTOMER AND I LOGGED ON THE APP AND I CHECKED, I WOULD GET ACCURATE, UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION.

>> OKAY. GREAT. ALL THIS INFORMATION DATA IS HELD LOCALLY, CORRECT? WE HOLD ALL THE DATA LOCALLY. IT DOESN'T GO ANYWHERE.

>> YES. WHEN THE TEAM WENT THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS, SECURITY OF ALL THIS WAS A TOP PRIORITY ALONG WITH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE.

THERE WERE OVER 700 ITEMS EVALUATED IN THE PROCESS TO MAKE THE RECOMMENDATION, INCLUDING SECURITY OF THE SOFTWARE, OF DATA, AND THE SYSTEM.

SECURITY IS A HUGE ISSUE RELATED TO THIS.

>> SPEAKING OF THAT SECURITY, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY NEEDED TO HAVE A FIREWALL SYSTEM BECAUSE IT'S A CLOSED CIRCUIT.

ALL THAT IS NOT VULNERABLE TO SOMEBODY MESSING WITH THAT OR BEING ABLE TO DISRUPT SERVICE.

AM I CORRECT IN STATING ALL THAT?

>> DAVID, DO YOU WANT TO ADDRESS THAT QUESTION SPECIFICALLY? [NOISE]

>> HI. WELCOME DAVID.

>> HOW ARE YOU THERE?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THERE IS A FIREWALL THAT'S YOUR DATA PERSON HAS ORGANIZED.

RICH IS IN THE PROCESS OF DEALING WITH THAT TO GIVE YOUR RESIDENCE ACCESS TO THE DATA THAT YOU NEED.

BUT THE SYSTEM ITSELF IS A LICENSED SYSTEM.

THE DATA ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO NORMAL PROCESSES.

BUT THAT DATA IS TRAVELING OVER A RADIO NETWORK, SO IT'S ENCRYPTED AND THERE'S A HIGH [NOISE] LEVEL OF SECURITY THAT'S BEING DEVELOPED.

BUT IT'S BEING DEVOTED TO MAKING SURE THAT THAT DATA ISN'T AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE.

>> OKAY. GREAT. THANK YOU SIR.

>> LAST QUESTION. ARE WE KEEPING ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES IN THIS DEPARTMENT FOR LATER OR DO WE SHIFT IN SOME OF THESE EMPLOYEES AROUND THAT WE'RE READING METERS NOW WE'RE DOING DIGITALLY, [NOISE] DO WE HAVE ANY ANY CHANGE THERE?

>> GOOD QUESTION. YEAH WE WILL BE KEEPING ALL EMPLOYEES

[01:20:02]

THROUGH A PROCESS OF ATTRITION AND REALLOCATION RESOURCES.

THOSE EMPLOYEES WILL WIND UP ULTIMATELY IN OTHER POSITIONS, WHETHER THAT MAINTENANCE OF THIS SYSTEM, CUSTOMER SERVICE POSITIONS, OR ANY OTHER POSITION THAT THEY CHOOSE OR THROUGH ATTRITION WHEN IT'S OPENED THAT POSITIONS MOVE TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE UTILITIES.

THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE PLACES WHERE THOSE EMPLOYEES GO OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

THEY WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF AND PUT INTO SIMILAR TYPE POSITIONS OR WHEN IT'S EMPTY, THAT POSITION WILL BE MOVED.

THERE IS NO PLAN TO REDUCE EMPLOYEES.

>> THANK YOU SIR.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> I'LL JUST MAKE A COMMENT.

I THINK IT'S REALLY INTERESTING ESPECIALLY SITTING IN THIS POSITION FOR 5 YEARS NOW AND I THINK DIDN'T WE JUMP INTO THE MIDDLE OF THIS LIKE IN 2018? I MEAN, HERE WE ARE SETTING 4 OR 3 YEARS LATER, AND BY THE TIME IT'S FINISHED, YOU ADD ANOTHER ALMOST 3 YEARS TO THAT, IT TAKES ALMOST 6 YEARS TO MAKE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ACTUALLY COME TO LIFE.

I GUESS ONE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS GOING TO BE, 2018 I THINK I HAD A VENT AT MY OFFICE AND WE NEVER DID FIND OUT WHERE THE WATER WENT.

THE ONLY THING THAT WE COULD FIGURE IT OUT WAS SOMEBODY HOOKED HOSE UP TO AND FILL THE TANKER TRUCK UP OR SOMETHING.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY PUT IN, I'VE GOT DIGITALLY READ AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IS IT BASICALLY THE SAME DEVICE?

>> IT'S THE SAME CONCEPT.

[INAUDIBLE] [NOISE] [OVERLAPPING]

>> WE CAN HEAR YOU BUT PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING AT HOME CAN ONLY HEAR YOU IF YOU'RE TALKING THROUGH THE MICROPHONE SO THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT TO COME BACK TO THE PODIUM.

>> YOU BET HAPPY TO DO IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER, IT IS A SIMILAR DEVICE.

THE RESOLUTION OR THE FREQUENCY OF MEASUREMENTS MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOURS IS BUT IT WOULD ALLOW YOU, AS A HOMEOWNER TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT YOUR OWN USE AND DETERMINE THE TIMING OF WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, I'VE GOT RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND IN COLLEGE STUDENTS, AND SO USUALLY IT'S WHEN MY LOVE AND I TRAVEL AND ALL OF THEM ARE HOME, SUDDENLY THE USE OF WATER.

[LAUGHTER] I CAN TELL WHEN IT'S HAPPENING, WHAT HOURS THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE ACTIVITY AT THE HOUSE AND THAT'S THE THING THAT I THINK IT ALLOWS YOU, AS A BUSINESS OWNER TO DO YOUR PROPERTY IF SOMEBODY'S COMING TO CONNECT HOSE TO YOUR PROPERTY, OR IF IT WAS YOUR HOME.

>> YEAH, WE HAD A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS AT OUR HOME.

>> IF YOU GO OUT AT TOWN FOR THE WEEKEND AND SPECALLY SHOWS UP AND THEY'RE HAVING A PARTY AT YOUR HOUSE.

>> EARLIER.

[LAUGHTER] YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW ON YOUR METER [OVERLAPPING]

>> YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW IT. I CAN LOOK RIGHT NOW AND THIS VERY SYSTEM ACTUALLY IS AT OUR HOME.

I CAN LOOK ON IT AND SEE ACTIVITY GOING ON AT HOME.

>> I THINK ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS HAPPENING WAS, THERE WAS A QUESTION OF THE AGE OF THE VALVE AND IT BEING ANALOG AND WHETHER IT WAS ACCURATE OR NOT.

>> BY SWITCHING TO DIGITAL, YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PAY FOR EXACTLY WHAT GOES THROUGH.

>>YEAH.

>> I APPRECIATE THAT ABILITY SO THAT NO LONGER BECOMES AN ISSUE AT ALL.

OKAY, SO THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION, THANK YOU.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, DAVE.

I KNOW THIS, EDDIE MADE THE POINT.

THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS.

I APPRECIATE THE COMING BACK AROUND TO SOME OF THE BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT IT CALL, BECAUSE THAT'S DEFINITELY BEEN WE'VE TALKED AND HASHED, REHASHED, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP A LOT AT THE BEGINNING WAS, IF WELL SPEND THIS MONEY NOW AND WE KNOW TECHNOLOGY'S JUST GOING TO IMPROVE, HOW ARE WE GOING TO NOT BE BEHIND AGAIN? I THINK THE TEAM HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF ADDRESSING THAT QUESTION TOO.

>> YES. A LOT OF THAT GENETIC COMPONENT OF THOSE YEARLY ANNUAL UPGRADES, MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY CURRENT.

BUT ALSO AT THE END OF THE LIFE OF THIS PROGRAM, THEY'LL HAVE THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE THE SAME RESOURCES TO UPGRADE AND CHANGED THE METERS OVER PROGRAMMED TO WHATEVER IS NEEDED AT YOUR 20.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THINK AS TAXPAYERS, WE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW, OKAY, WE'RE SPENDING THIS MONEY THAT IS THIS SUSTAINABLE? I APPRECIATE THE WORK STAFFS DONE TO ANSWER THAT TOO.

OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

[01:25:01]

IF NOT, I THINK WE NEED A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.

>> OKAY, MAY I MOVE TO AWARD THE ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE CONTRACT TO THEIR KETTLE COOPERATION DOING BUSINESS AS UTILITY USE.

ANY AMOUNT OF $27,024,744.76 FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SMART METERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AMARILLO TO BE FUNDED THROUGH PREVIOUSLY ISSUED BOND PROCEEDS FROM A ZERO PERCENT INTEREST LOAN IN THE GRANT BOTH PROVIDED BY THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.