[00:00:06]
WHAT A GREAT, GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY.
[INVOCATION]
WE HAVE TO START OUR MEETING TODAY, MS. JULIA O'DELL FROM GRACE COMMUNION INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP GROUP TO DO OUR INVOCATION.SO I WOULD ASK HER TO GO AHEAD AND COME AND WE'LL START OUR MEETING.
THANK YOU, JULIA FOR BEING WITH US.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY WITH YOU TODAY.
WE THANK YOU FOR OUR COUNTRY, OUR STATE, AND THE WONDERFUL COMMUNITY WHERE WE RESIDE.
WE THANK YOU FOR AMARILLO'S CITIZENS AND THE LEADERS THAT YOU HAVE CALLED TO SERVE THEM.
WE PRAY FOR OUR MAYOR, GINGER NELSON, MAYOR PRO TEM FREDA POWELL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS COLE STANLEY, EDDY SAUER AND HOWARD SMITH.
WE ALSO PRAY FOR OUR CITY MANAGER, JARED MILLER, AND ALL OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND EMPLOYEES THAT SERVE THE CITY OF AMARILLO. THANK YOU FOR GUIDING THEM AND OTHER CIVIC LEADERS DURING THESE VERY DIFFICULT LAST THREE CALENDAR YEARS.
WE PRAY FOR THOSE IN OUR CITY WHO HELP US DURING EMERGENCIES AND SEVERE WEATHER SUCH AS THE POLICE, FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRST RESPONDERS AND EMTS.
WE PRAY FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO WORK IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH FIELDS.
WE PRAY FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, OWNERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES, ALSO FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED JOBS, BETTER EMPLOYMENT OR NEW SKILLS.
WE PRAY FOR THE POOR, THE HUNGRY, THE HOMELESS, THE TROUBLED FAMILIES GOING THROUGH TURMOIL OR CHANGE , THE DISPLACED, THE REFUGEES AND ALL OF THOSE WHO WORK TO GIVE THEM A BETTER LIFE HERE IN AMARILLO.
WE PRAY FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE DISABLED, OUR VETERANS AND OUR SOLDIERS.
WE PRAY FOR OUR CHURCHES, CHARITIES, AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
PLEASE GIVE THE COUNCIL AND THE PARTICIPANTS WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING AND CLEAR DECISION MAKING WITH A SPIRIT OF COOPERATION AND PEACE.
HELP THEM TO USE OUR CITY'S MONETARY RESOURCES WISELY AS THEY CONSIDER AND CONSENT TO VARIOUS MATTERS ON THE AGENDA, SUCH AS SAFETY, PARKS, AWARDS, GRANTS, LEASES, PURCHASES, SERVICES, MATERIALS, VEHICLES, UTILITIES, TECHNOLOGY, REPAIRS AND UPGRADES, INCLUDING THOSE FOR THE ZOO AND THE AIRPORT TAX ASSESSMENT, THE CALENDAR, AND OTHER CITY BUSINESS.
WE HUMBLY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OUR CITY.
WOULD YOU JOIN US IN SAYING THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE?
[PROCLAMATION]
HOWARD.COUNCILMAN HOWARD SMITH IS GOING TO COME TO THE PODIUM.
PLEASE, EVERYONE, HAVE A SEAT IF YOU WANT.
HE'S GOING TO COME TO THE PODIUM AND START US OFF WITH A PROCLAMATION TODAY.
[00:05:02]
. AND IF THERE'S OTHERS HERE THAT PERTAIN TO THIS PROCLAMATION COME ON UP.LET ME READ THIS AS A PROCLAMATION.
AND. WHEREAS, FOUNDED BY CHRIS MCGILVERY IN 2022 THE LEADERS READERS NETWORK CONSISTS OF A DIVERSE AND DEDICATED GROUP OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.
AND WHEREAS, IN THEIR DEDICATION TO EQUALIZING ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION, THE LEADER READER NETWORK WORKS WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO DELIVER BOOKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO CHILDREN AND CLASSROOMS IN NEED.
AND WHEREAS, IT IS THE VISION OF THE LEADERS READERS NETWORK TO EMPOWER TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO BE LIFELONG ADVOCATES FOR CREATING EQUAL ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CHILDREN.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 4TH, 2022 AS LEADERS READERS NETWORK DAY AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THE LEADERS READERS NETWORK IN THEIR MISSION TO SUPPORT EARLY LITERACY IN UNDERFUNDED COMMUNITIES.
GIVEN UNDER OUR HANDS AND SEAL OF OFFICE THIS FOURTH DAY OF AUGUST, SIGNED BY GINGER NELSON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBER COLE STANLEY, FREDA POWELL, EDDY SAUER AND MYSELF.
SO WILL GIVE YOU THIS PROCLAMATION WHOEVER WANTS TO SPEAK AND JOIN US [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER].
YOU WANT ME TO SHARE A FEW WORDS? YES. OKAY. WELL, I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH CITIZENS OF AMARILLO, WITH MY YOUNGEST SON, ARTIS, AND MY TEAM HERE AND FAR.
WE ALL BELIEVE EDUCATION AND LITERACY CAN CHANGE LIVES.
AND WE'RE HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS PROCLAMATION TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE WORK THAT WE DO TO SUPPORT CHILDREN, TEACHERS, TO SHARE THAT JOY OF READING THAT WILL INVEST IN OUR FUTURE TODAY.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND I LOOK FORWARD FOR ALL CITIZENS HERE IN AMARILLO TO BE A PART OF OUR WORK SO WE CAN SUPPORT EDUCATORS, TEACHERS AND FAMILIES, AT UNDERFUNDED SCHOOLS WITH LITERACY RESOURCES.
SO THANK YOU. AND IT'S HIS TURN.
WHAT'S THAT? HE'S SHY RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'VE GOT IT LIKE YOU WANT IT THERE.
[00:10:04]
BEFORE WE START, I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE HAVE SO MANY LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS IN THE ROOM WITH US TODAY.AND CHIEF, I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THIS REPORT BECAUSE I THINK WILL GIVE US A ROADMAP FOR ACTION.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME GUESTS IN THE ROOM THAT ARE FROM OUT OF TOWN.
PRESIDENT PEDEN, ARE YOU IN HERE? THERE YOU ARE. HI, TODD.
YOU WANT TO INTRODUCE US TO THEM? RECENTLY WE WORKED ON A I'VE GOT MICHAEL FLYNN. HE'S THE PRESIDENT OF FORT WORTH FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION.
WE GOT JACK TODD. HE'S FROM LUBBOCK FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATION WELCOME, JACK. AND WE GOT JOSEPH WONDERFUL. WELCOME, JOSEPH.
WE APPRECIATE HAVING YOU GUYS IN TOWN.
AND WE APPRECIATE THE WORK, OBVIOUSLY, THAT YOU ALL DO IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL.
SO MOVING ON THEN TO THE NEXT THING ON OUR AGENDA AND THAT IS PUBLIC ADDRESS.
BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANT TO TOUCH BASE.
WE HAD SCHEDULED TODAY A PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET ISSUES.
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY NOT WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT PUBLIC HEARING TODAY BECAUSE WE HAVE APPROVED A PROPOSED TAX RATE THAT IS AT OR BELOW THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE.
AND SO WE'RE FINALIZING THOSE DATES WHEN THOSE HEARINGS WILL HAPPEN.
SO PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON OUR WEBSITE FOR THE NOTICES FOR THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
I THINK WE'LL BE POSTING THOSE DATES SOON.
YOU CAN REACH US. ALL OF OUR EMAILS ARE ON THE WEBSITE AND THE CITY SECRETARY'S EMAIL ADDRESS IS ON THERE TOO IF YOU WANT TO SEND YOUR COMMENT DIRECTLY TO HER. SHE'S REALLY GOOD ABOUT PUSHING IT OUT TO THE FIVE OF US AS A GROUP.
[PUBLIC ADDRESS]
SO WITH THAT THOUGH, I THINK WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC ADDRESS.SO I WILL PASS THE MICROPHONE TO OUR MODERATOR, STEPHANIE COGGINS, OUR CITY SECRETARY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
YOUR INPUT AND OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE WITH US TO SHARE THEM.
AT EACH POSTED MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. EVERY SPEAKER HAS 3 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
WE ASK THAT YOU STAY WITHIN YOUR THREE ALLOTTED MINUTES.
SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO ITEMS ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
WE DO NOT HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY, SO PUBLIC ADDRESS WILL BE OUR MAIN PUBLIC SPEAKING TIME.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN AMARILLO CITY LIMITS AND IF YOU ARE SPEAKING FOR ON OR AGAINST THE AGENDA ITEMS THAT YOU ARE ADDRESSING COUNCIL ON TODAY.
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WE HAVE NINE CITIZENS SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC ADDRESS, SO WE WILL START WITH NOAH DAWSON AND ON DECK AFTER MR. DAWSON WILL BE DENNY DEVER.
SECRETARY, I THINK WHEN I SIGNED UP I ONLY SAID I WAS SPEAKING ON 1E.
I'M ALSO GOING TO BE SPEAKING AGAINST 3A AND 3B.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
ALL RIGHT. SO I'M NOAH DAWSON, STILL LIVING IN AMARILLO.
SO ON A 1E THOSE KIND OF TIE INTO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS BECAUSE I AM HOPING THAT
[00:15:02]
THIS COUNCIL IS TAKING THE TIME TO FURTHER VET THE CITY BUDGET.AND ALSO, I'M HOPING, ESPECIALLY THAT Y'ALL WILL TAKE MR. STANLEY'S COMMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING INTO MORE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BECAUSE HE MADE SOME EXCELLENT POINTS THERE.
WE SHOULDN'T BE TAXING PEOPLE BEFORE THE TAXES ACTUALLY BEFORE THE DEBT'S ACTUALLY ISSUED.
IT'S KIND OF ABSURD TO BE DOING THAT.
BUT I DO ALSO HOPE THAT THOSE STAKES WILL BE PUT FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC FOR THOSE HEARINGS FAIRLY SOON, BECAUSE ESPECIALLY WITH THESE MEETINGS BEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TO DO QUITE A BIT OF PLANNING AND REARRANGING OF THEIR DAY JUST TO SHOW UP TO THESE MEETINGS, UNLIKE HOW IT WAS WHEN THEY WERE IN THE EVENINGS.
TYPICALLY, WHEN I WOULD BE SPEAKING ON AN ITEM SUCH AS 3A, I WOULD FOCUS MY COMMENTS ON MY PRINCIPLED CRITICISMS OF TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING. BUT I ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THAT.
HOWEVER, I SAY ASSUMING BECAUSE EXHIBIT A ISN'T ON THE ONLINE PACKET.
SO I AM HOPING AT THE VERY LEAST THAT THIS COUNCIL WILL DELAY TAKING ACTION ON THIS ITEM UNTIL A VERSION OF THE AGENDA PACKET FOR A FUTURE MEETING CAN LIST WHAT THOSE PRIORITIES ARE SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION AND SPEAK ON THOSE ISSUES IF THEY HAVE COMMENTS.
BECAUSE UNLESS I'M MISSING IT, EXHIBIT A IS NOT ON THE PACKET.
LET'S SEE. ITEM A I'M GETTING THEM MIX UP IN MY HEAD.
I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN DOWN MY NOTES MORE CLEARLY.
I THINK THE REASONING THERE IS A LITTLE THIN.
FOR THE OTHER ONE REALLY Y'ALL ARE WANTING THE STATE TO AGAIN RAISE THE RATES THAT Y'ALL CAN TAX.
WHY AM I NOT SURPRISED? [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MR. DAWSON. NEXT, DENNY DEVER.
AND ON DECK AFTER MR. DEVER WILL BE THOMAS WARREN, THE THIRD.
WELL, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I THINK THIS GENTLEMAN COVERED ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
I JUST THINK THAT THE ONLY AGENDA THAT ITEM 2A IS WHAT I HAVE APPROVAL OF LAST MINUTES, LAST MEETINGS, MINUTES ON THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE.
I THINK THE HEARINGS IS WHAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS, I GUESS, AREN'T WE? YES. BY LAW.
YES, BY LAW. THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.
OKAY. AND BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN? NO. THE DATES AREN'T SET YET.
OKAY. WELL, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I WAS INTERESTED IN.
NEXT, THOMAS WARREN, THE THIRD AND ON DECK, JAMES SKANK.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE THE LAST TIME I WAS HERE AT A COUNCIL MEETING TO SPEAK.
SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
I WILL BE SPEAKING ON AGENDA ITEM 3B, AND I ALSO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT 3D AND E.
AND SO I HAVE THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO BE THE STATE REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEMAN FOR DISTRICT 31 HERE IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, REPRESENTING THE PANHANDLE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE PERMIAN BASIN.
AND AS MANY OF YOU MAY BE AWARE, ONE OF THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR THE RPT WAS ABOLISHING TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING. OUR LAWMAKERS DID NOT GET THAT DONE THIS SESSION.
BUT HERE IN AMARILLO, WE ARE ONCE AGAIN FURTHERING TAXPAYER FUNDED LOBBYING BY PUSHING 3B.
[00:20:02]
AND WHEN YOU ACTUALLY LOOK AT WHAT THE ITEMS ON 3B ARE, I THINK MR. DAWSON SAID IT WELL.THERE'S NOT REALLY A GREAT JUSTIFICATION FOR EITHER ONE OF THE ITEMS. THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH WOULD CHANGE THE WAY THAT ITEMS ARE LISTED ON THE BALLOT FOR CITY PROPOSITIONS, IT WOULD JUST CONFUSE VOTERS MORE.
AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM, IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY TO TAX PEOPLE WHO SPEND NIGHTS HERE IN AMARILLO.
YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE HOT TAX FOR YEARS WHEN WE WERE DOING HODGE TOWN AND ALL OF THAT, AND THEY SAID, OH, YES, THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH HOT TAX MONEY TO GO AROUND FOR ALL THE PROJECTS. SO IF THAT WAS TRUE, WHY ARE WE TRYING TO RAISE OUR HOT TAX POSSIBILITIES? [APPLAUSE] AND THEN AS FAR AS 3D AND E ARE CONCERNED.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD THE HEARING A FEW WEEKS AGO WITH THE FAIRLY LAWSUIT, AND I THINK IT SHED A LOT OF LIGHT ON THE WAY THAT DEBT IS ISSUED HERE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
AND LOOKING AT WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THAT HEARING, WE LEARNED THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MAY HAVE VIOLATED THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT BY PARTICIPATING IN A ROLLING QUORUM AND OR EVEN BY PUBLISHING AN INCORRECT AGENDA FOR THAT MEETING.
NOTHING'S GOING TO HAPPEN ABOUT IT, THOUGH, BECAUSE THERE'S NO TEETH TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
SO WITH 3D AND E IN MIND, I THINK IT'S AMAZING THAT WE'RE DOUBLING DOWN ON DEBT ISSUANCES.
BUT AS FAR AS VIOLATING THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT IN THE LAST DEBT ISSUANCE THE CITY COUNCIL DID, I'M VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE POTTER COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY JUST PASSED A RESOLUTION ASKING OUR LEGISLATORS TO MAKE VIOLATIONS OF THE ROLLING QUORUM PROVISION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, A STATE JAIL FELONY.
DURING THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND I HOPE THEY TAKE THAT UP DURING THE SESSION.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME AND HAVE A GOOD DAY.
[APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MR. WARREN.
AND ON DECK AFTER, MR. SKANK WILL BE DEEPAK PATEL.
I WANT TO TALK FIRST ABOUT SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
WE'RE FIXING TO HAVE ON THE AGENDA TODAY THE PDP MEETING THAT I WENT THROUGH THE LAST TEN OR 11 MONTHS WITH LLOYD AND OUR CONSULTANTS. AND I JUST WANT TO STATE MY ISSUE WITH NOT SIGNING ON TO THAT WAS THE FACT THAT WE KEPT HAVING DEFINITIONS WHICH Y'ALL WILL PROBABLY SEE OF A FULLY FUNDED FUTURE GROWTH ASSESSMENT.
AND TO ME, THAT'S A BUREAUCRATIC NIGHTMARE.
THAT'S A TAX AND SPEND AGENDA, IF I'VE EVER HEARD ONE.
AND WHEN WE STARTED IT, WE HAD THE PREMISE THAT WE WERE LED DOWN, THAT THE CITY HAD NO OTHER WAY OF HAVING MONEY, WHICH WE ALL KNOW THAT'S REALLY NOT TRUE ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE CONSULTANTS DID A GOOD JOB OF TAKING US DOWN A ROAD THAT THEY IT WAS VERY CLEAR TO US VERY QUICKLY THAT THEY WANTED US TO GO DOWN TO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SAY, HEY, LET'S, FOR EXAMPLE, TO START UP A NEW STREETS ENTERPRISE OPERATION WHERE WE'LL PUT THAT ON THEIR WATER BILL OR SOMETHING. SOUNDS GOOD ON ITS FACE ON SOME LEVEL, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT HAS NO OPPORTUNITY FOR VOTER APPROVAL FEES OR JUST ANOTHER WAY OF GETTING AROUND US BEING ABLE TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
3D AND E IT IS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE BUDGET AND THE BUDGET, AS I SEE IT RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S AN EIGHT CENT INCREASE.
AND HOW WE GET AROUND TO WHERE THAT'S NOT HITTING WITH THIS 3.5% CAP ON PROPERTY TAX INCREASE IS JUST BEYOND ME.
I HAVEN'T FROM EVEN THE EARLY BUDGET MEETINGS BECAUSE YOU COULD HAVE HAD $0.41 WOULD HAVE
[00:25:09]
GOTTEN YOU BECAUSE OF PROPERTY VALUATIONS GOT YOU ALL THE MONEY THAT YOU HAD IN THE LAST BUDGET.AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GO UP $0.08.
THAT'S ANOTHER GO AROUND THAT VOTERS ARE AGAINST.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MR. SKANK. NEXT, DEEPAK PATEL.
AND ON DECK AFTER, MR. PATEL IS MACK PATEL.
GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DEEPAK PATEL, 46 COLONIAL AMARILLO, TEXAS.
JUST 2 MINUTES AGO WE PRAY GOD HELP US LAST THREE CRITICAL YEARS WE PASSED THROUGH THIS COUNTRY AND NOW WE RAISE THE TAX, 2% TAX FOR ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OUR TOURISTS, THEIR OWNERS, AMARILLO TO STAY ONE MORE NIGHTS IN AMARILLO AND THEY HAVE TO PAY TWO MORE PERCENT TAX IS UNACCEPTABLE AND 65 PLUS TODAY 11 67 HOTELS OWNERS AGAINST THESE THINGS AND A COUPLE MORE THEY OUT OF TOWNS TO ALMOST 70 HOTELS AGAINST OF THESE 2% RAISES THE TAX.
ALL STUDIES CITY SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REALITY ALL FAKES.
WHY WE SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WITH ALL THIS STUDY IS A FAKE.
CONVENTION HOTEL STUDY ALL HOTELS IN THE AREAS HOTELS POLLED BY THE CITYWIDE CONVENTION.
BECAUSE CONVENTION HOTELS BRING A LOT OF CONVENTION.
WE LOST CITY LOST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LAST FIVE YEARS IN OCCUPANCY TAX.
THEY COLLECT THE TAX CITY REIMBURSE TAX BACK TO HOTELS.
CITY AND STATE BOTH LOST REVENUE FOR THE HOTELS.
THERE ARE SOME REBATE IN A PROPERTY TAX.
THIS HOTELS MAY BE $500,000 A YEAR, 20 YEARS, ALMOST HUNDRED YEARS WE LOSE THIS THING.
WHAT HAPPENED? COUPLE LOCAL POLITICIAN IN A PARTNER OF 50% THAT HOTELS AND THIS BENEFIT GOES TO THEIR PERSONAL POCKETS.
AND OUR HOTELIERS I BUILT NINE HOTELS IN THIS TOWN ALMOST MY INVESTMENT OVER $60 OR 80 MILLION DOLLARS INVESTMENT IN THIS TOWN. I NOT CATCH ANY SINGLE PENNY FROM THIS THIS TOWN.
ANOTHER THING WE PRAY RIGHT NOW.
WE PRAY FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS AND OUR DISABLED PEOPLES.
THESE HOTELS CROSS THE ROADS, CROSS THE PASSAGE, PATHWAY FOR THE PEDESTAL PATHWAY FROM THE GLOBE NEWS TO THE PARKING GARAGE A COUPLE TIMES AND I REQUEST DECEMBER 14, 2021 THAT TIME HOTELS CHANGE OWNERSHIP AT THIS PASSAGE PATHWAY IN HOTEL CONTRACT IN [INAUDIBLE] NUMBER [INAUDIBLE] THEY HAVE NOT PUT THE HOTEL PASSAGE PEDESTAL AND ALL THESE CITIES THAT HAVE TO WALK IN A BAD WAY IN A CITY, STREET, THE PLACE, JUST CONSIDER A REQUEST AND DON'T RAISE THE TAX.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. PATEL. MACK PATEL.
STEPHANIE, I JUST WANT TO PAUSE FOR A SECOND.
THERE MAY BE SOME CONFUSION ABOUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
THERE'S NOTHING ON THE AGENDA TODAY ABOUT OUR CITY RAISING TAXES.
RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE CAPACITY TO DO THAT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT THAT DISCUSSION IS NOT ON OUR AGENDA.
I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT WHAT THAT IS.
SO IF MR. PATEL, IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO A MEETING WITH YOU.
I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T RECOGNIZED YOU.
I'M GOING TO GIVE IT BACK TO THE CITY SECRETARY.
BACK TO THE CITY SECRETARY, PLEASE.
MAYOR. MACK PATEL AND ON DECK AFTER MACK PATEL IS JATIN BHAKTA.
[00:30:07]
THANK YOU CITY COUNCIL.SO IF YOU CAN CONSIDER THAT, I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU. NEXT, JATIN BHAKTA.
AND I OPPOSED FOR 3B LIKE A HOTEL TAX PERSON.
[APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE] ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BHAKTA. NEXT, MR. KONDAR.
ON DECK AFTER HIM WILL BE SAM PATEL.
DEAR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AFTER CONSIDERATION AND HEARING THE PROPOSAL FROM CVC LAST MEETING, WE FIND OUT THAT ALL THE HOTEL OWNERS LIKE TO VOICE OUR STRONGEST OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSAL OF ANY ADDITIONAL 2% OR ANY OTHER HOT TAX FOR CITY OF AMARILLO.
THE HOTEL INDUSTRY NEEDS TIME TO RECOVER AND NAVIGATE THESE TOUGH TIME AND ADJUST NEW TIMES BEFORE PLACING MORE BURDEN ON THIS PARTICULAR INDUSTRY.
THIS INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS RESTAURANT INDUSTRY, IS KIND OF A LIFELINE TO OUR CITY.
SO WE ENCOURAGE AND WE APPRECIATE IF YOU DO NOT INCREASE ANY TAXES ON THE HOT TAX, THE BURDENS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN AS AN INDUSTRY FROM VARIOUS PROJECTS DOWNTOWN HAVE NOT BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL DRIVER OF THE REVENUE.
SO WE ENCOURAGE, AGAIN, NOT TO INCREASE ANY MORE.
IN CLOSING, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE AWARE THAT THE LOCAL AMARILLO HOTEL AND MOTEL OWNERS STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS METHOD OF FUNDING ADDITIONAL PROJECTS DOWNTOWN.
THIS WILL HURT, BUT NOT HELP OUR ABILITY TO FULLY RECOVER AND HAVE A VIBRANT BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS SAM PATEL.
MR. PATEL DOES NOT WISH TO SPEAK.
[1.A. Review agenda items for regular meeting and attachments]
MAYOR THIS CONCLUDES PUBLIC ADDRESS.MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE.
[1.B. Updates from Councilmembers serving on outside boards and commissions ]
HEARING NONE.REPORT COUNCILMEMBER SMITH FROM THE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I'LL BE GLAD TO MAKE A REPORT.
UNFORTUNATELY, I MISSED THREE FOURTHS OF THE MEETING, BUT DONNY HOOPER SENT ME A REPORT.
WE DISCUSSED USING EXISTING UTILITY EASEMENTS FOR POSSIBLE LOCATIONS OF NEW TRAILS THAT WOULD CONNECT PARKS AND OTHER AREAS TO EXISTING TRAILS OR PATHS.
AND THEN BOARD MEMBERS TERRY GINGRICH AND MELINDA LANDRY, THE FAIRLY NEW MEMBERS, GAVE US AN UPDATE ON HOW TO IMPROVE WALKABILITY IN AMARILLO.
THAT CONCLUDES THE REPORT I GOT FROM HIM.
ANY QUESTIONS? NOPE. NO QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE ON FOR AN UPDATE FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER ON PARKS AND REC ADVISORY BOARD.
YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. SO THIS REPORT REALLY COMING FROM PARKS AND RECREATION IS IN SOME WAYS THE BIG SEASON FOR PARKS AND REC IS KIND OF WINDING DOWN WHEN YOU GET TO THE END OF THE SUMMER BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY ARE A PART OF ARE ACTUALLY DURING THE SUMMER.
AND SO WE HAD AN AQUATICS UPDATE AND ON THE AQUATIC UPDATE IT WAS A REALLY GOOD SEASON.
THERE WERE NO MAJOR INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AT ANY OF THE POOLS.
[00:35:06]
WAS 67% OF ALL THE POOL REVENUE FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER.SO. IT'S BEEN A REALLY, REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT POOL BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND TO SEE THE USE THAT IT'S ACTUALLY ENDED UP HAVING. AND SO THAT WENT.
THEY HAD A HOOKED ON FISHING CAMP.
AND I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DO AN INCREDIBLY GOOD JOB.
THEY DO SUCH A GOOD JOB OF PROGRAMING.
ALSO, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ALSO WAS THE ZOO UPDATE.
AND PERSONALLY, I KIND OF WONDERED WHENEVER I FIRST CAME ON COUNCIL IN 2017 WHAT WAS GOING TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN WITH OUR ZOO? I MEAN, IT WAS THERE WAS A LOT OF STRUGGLE WITH THE ZOO.
THE FRIENDS OF THE ZOO BASICALLY DISBANDED AND GAVE THEIR MONEY INTO THE ZOO DEPARTMENT.
AND SO IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THINGS WERE GOING WELL.
AND SO KUDOS AGAIN TO MICHAEL AND HIS DEPARTMENT.
THEY'VE DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB.
THEY'RE DOING A BUNCH OF RENOVATIONS.
AND WHEN YOU JUST THINK THAT THINGS ARE ABOUT TO KIND OF COLLAPSE, ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW THEN THEY'VE GOT NEW ANIMALS THAT ARE COMING IN TO BE PART OF THE ZOO.
THEY'VE GOT TWO TWIN BLACK BEARS.
THEY'VE GOT TWIN BOBCATS THAT THEY HAVE BROUGHT ON THEY GOT COYOTES.
THEY'VE ACTUALLY GOT A BIRD EATER TARANTULA.
SO SUPPOSEDLY IT'S THE BIGGEST, ISN'T IT THE BIGGEST TARANTULA THERE IS? I MEAN. THAT'S A BIG THAT'S A BIG TARANTULA IF IT'S GOING TO BE A BIRD EATER.
SO, I MEAN, IT KIND OF PEAKS YOUR INTEREST.
AND THEN HOW CAN YOU NOT HELP WITH THE CHUPACABRA SHOWING UP OUT ON THE CAMERAS OUT THERE? AND IT JUST KIND OF BASICALLY GIVES THEM A VIDEO THAT GOES VIRAL.
SO THE ZOO HAS REALLY WORKED REALLY HARD.
AND THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOME MONEY THAT IS BEING PUT BACK INTO IT.
THE BEAR BARN IS BEING RESHINGLED.
THEY'RE REPLACING LIGHT FIXTURES.
THEY'RE WORKING ON ANIMAL SAFETY THINGS OUT THERE.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE MONKEY HOLDING WINDOW.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THE CAT BUILDING.
I CAN'T GO ON WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE PLAYGROUND UPDATES.
SO WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RENOVATION PROCESS AT STEVEN F AUSTIN'S SOUTHEAST AND MEMORIAL.
THOMPSON PARK IS ESTIMATED TO BE DONE IN EARLY IN THE SPRING OF 2023.
AND IT IS A REALLY GOOD USE OF ARPA MONEY AND THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH THAT.
LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON.
WE DESIGNATED 600,000 OF THE ARPA MONEY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR SENIOR SERVICES PROGRAMS, AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO FACILITATE THE GATHERING AND OF THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR PART OF THAT MONEY FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION.
AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE ALSO GOING TO BE HELPING MAKE THE DECISION ON WHO GETS THAT.
THE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE ON THERE JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU.
AND THEIR FISCAL YEAR IS ABOUT.
[00:40:04]
SO THAT'S 64,000.AND SO THEY HAVE BASICALLY DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF COMING IN.
AND SO THAT IS SO THEY ARE WORKING REALLY HARD AT ACTUALLY MAKING THEIR PART OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, MAKING IT PAY FOR ITSELF AND MAKING IT BECOME SELF-SUSTAINING.
WELL, MOST OF THIS IS IN TERMS OF DOLLARS, BUT THEY HAVE HAD AN INCREDIBLY GOOD SUMMER.
THEY HAD $22,000, $23,000 WORTH OF ADMISSIONS.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THE PARK.
WHENEVER YOU CONSIDER WHAT IS IT TO GET INTO THE ZOO? IS IT $4 DOLLARS SO THAT IF YOU WERE TO EXTRAPOLATE THAT OUT, THAT IS A LOT OF VISITS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY ENDED UP AT THE ZOO. SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD.
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.
THEY HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD AT MAKING AVAILABLE A LOT OF THINGS.
AND ONE OF THE BIG ONES THAT'S KIND OF COME UP ON THE SCENE IS PICKLEBALL.
AND THEY ACTUALLY HAVE 29 TEAMS IN A SPRING PICKLEBALL LEAGUE.
AND SO THEY'VE HAD AND THEIR TENNIS LEAGUE HAS DONE WELL.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WHENEVER WE LOOK BACK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH PARKS AND RECREATION, IT'S BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL SUMMER AND THEIR PROGRAMING HAS BEEN GREAT.
AND THEY'RE MAKING SOME REALLY GOOD STRIDES IN THAT DEPARTMENT.
QUESTIONS FOR COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER?
[3.C. CONSIDER LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND FRIENDS OF AJ SWOPE]
ALL RIGHT, EDDY, THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT.ITEM THREE C IS AN ITEM THAT I THINK WE HAVE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TODAY FOR.
AND SO AS A COURTESY TO THEIR SCHEDULES, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA FOR US TO GO DOWN TO THAT IN THE AGENDA AND GO AHEAD AND CALL THAT PROJECT UP.
IT IS CONSIDERING A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND THE FRIENDS.
THERE ARE MANY, I WOULD ADD, OF AJ SWOPE.
SO MR. CITY MANAGER, I THINK WE JUST HAVE WENDY, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHO OUR CITY STAFF MEMBER IS THAT'S KIND OF WORKING THIS PROJECT.
WELL, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM AND A NUMBER OF STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM.
IN PREFACE, AS WE'VE SEEN, THERE'S INTONATION TODAY.
THERE'S SO FEW THINGS THAT EVERYBODY CAN AGREE ON.
BUT I THINK THIS THE FIRST RESPONDER MEMORIAL IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL AGREE ON.
SO WITH THAT INTRODUCTION, WENDY, COME ON UP.
AND WHETHER IT'S WES OR GARY OR CHIEF OR WHOEVER YOU WANT TO BRING UP WITH YOU.
HE GOES RUNNING IN THE MORNINGS IN A TIE.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, SITTING UP HERE, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED THIS VENTURE PRE-COVID, IT WAS ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT PROJECTS THAT WERE GOING TO BE LOCATED IN ONE CENTRAL LOCATION. BUT SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE BEEN AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPLIT UP EACH OF THOSE PROJECTS, LETTING THEM STAND ALONE ON THEIR OWN PIECE OF LAND IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF AMARILLO. AND WE FEEL STRONGLY IN OUR HEARTS THAT THAT'S THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR ALL OF THESE PROJECTS.
THE FIRST PART OF THE PROJECT THAT WE WORKED ON, WHICH WAS THE AJ SWOPE PERFORMANCE PLAZA, IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WE WILL MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN JANUARY OF 2023 REGARDING THAT. THE SECOND PART OF THE PROJECT, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY, IS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE FIRST RESPONDERS MEMORIAL, AND THAT IS NOW OUR MAIN FOCUS.
SO WE'VE PARTNERED WITH SIMS AND ARCHITECTS TO DESIGN THE MEMORIAL, WHICH YOU CAN SEE VIDEO NOW.
YOU CAN SEE VIDEO AND PICTURES UP HERE ON THE SCREEN AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE.
[00:45:02]
NOW, ON THIS VISUAL, THE RESPONDERS NAMES ARE ON ONE BIG PIECE.THAT'S NOT HOW WE ENVISION IT.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT OFF AND EITHER REPAIR OR CLEAN.
SO THAT'S OUR VISION FOR THAT.
IT WILL ALSO FEATURE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPING THAT GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE VERY BRIGHTLY COLORED TREES THAT THEY'VE CHOSEN TO GO AROUND.
AND FINALLY IT'LL HAVE A MULTICOLORED LIGHTING PORTION OF IT SO IT CAN BE CHANGED TO HONOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND EMS PERSONNEL AS WE NEED.
WE STAND HERE TODAY WITH THE COMPLETE SUPPORT OF OUR LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS.
ALL OF YOU HAVE A LETTER OF SUPPORT IN FRONT OF YOU THAT WAS SIGNED BY AMARILLO POLICE CHIEF MARTIN BIRKENFELD, POTTER COUNTY SHERIFF BRIAN THOMAS, RANDALL COUNTY SHERIFF CHRIS FORBES, FIRE CHIEF JASON MAYS, AMARILLO MEDICAL SERVICES CHIEF WILL HINDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE AMARILLO POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, SERGEANT TOBY HUDSON, COMMISSIONER H.R. KELLY FROM POTTER COUNTY, AND THE 100 CLUB OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SUZANNE TALLEY, MANY OF WHICH ARE IN THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
THIS GROUP HAS PROVIDED VALUABLE GUIDANCE AND CONTINUED SUPPORT AS WE HAVE PIVOTED THIS PROJECT TO HONOR 89 OF THEIR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS. SO TODAY IS A MILESTONE NOT ONLY FOR FRIENDS OF AJ SWOPE, BUT FOR ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
AND SO, AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
SURE MR. CITY MANAGER. WE HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN LOOKING AT THEM WHEN WENDY TALKED ABOUT WE HAD ORIGINALLY LOOKED AT CONSOLIDATING ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING THROUGH THE FRIENDS OF AJ SWOPE TOGETHER ON ONE SITE.
IT WAS JUST SOUTH OF THE BALLPARK AND IT WASN'T THE MOST VISIBLE LOCATION.
SO THEY FOUND AN AMAZINGLY VISIBLE LOCATION FOR THE PERFORMANCE AREA.
AND I DON'T THINK WE EVER TALKED ABOUT EXACTLY WHERE THIS IS.
SO THIS IS ALREADY A LITTLE POCKET PARK RIGHT SOUTH OF THE CVB BUILDING, THE CHAMBER.
THAT IS NOW OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
SO IT WILL BE USING THAT EXACT SAME FOOTPRINT AND JUST CHANGING WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
I JUST WANTED Y'ALL TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE IT WAS.
THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL FOR WENDY? YEAH.
NO QUESTIONS, BUT I'VE GOT A COMMENT.
SO, WENDY, I'VE WATCHED YOU WORK ON THIS FOR A REALLY, REALLY LONG TIME.
AND YOU AND YOUR CLOSE GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT HAVE DONE THIS.
AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR STICKING WITH IT AND KEEP PUSHING THROUGH UNTIL THIS, WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THIS TO BE IN PLACE. AND SO THANK YOU FOR KEEP PUSHING FORWARD AND NOT GIVING UP.
I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF TIMES, IF I WAS IN YOUR POSITION, I MIGHT HAVE KIND OF GIVEN UP.
I MEAN, IT KIND OF LOOKED LIKE EVERYTHING HAD BEEN TURNED UPSIDE DOWN.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU GUYS FOR KEEPING THE WORK GOING FORWARD.
AND I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BELIEVING IN OUR VISION.
WITH THAT THEN DO WE HAVE A MOTION? YES, MAYOR, WE DO.
I MOVE TO APPROVE A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND FRIENDS OF AJ SWOPE FOR A 0.130 ACRE TRACT OF LAND LOCATED AT 18 EXCUSE ME, AT 1018 SOUTH POLK STREET HERE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND ACTUALLY SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER AND COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH TO APPROVE THIS LEASE BETWEEN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND THE FRIENDS OF AJ SWOPE FOR THE PURPOSE OF HONORING AND MEMORIALIZING THE LOSS OF FIRST RESPONDERS ACROSS THE ENTIRE TEXAS PANHANDLE.
ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOTION? MR. SMITH. I'M JUST CURIOUS IF ANY OTHER MEMBERS HERE INTERESTED IN THIS WANT TO MAKE ANY COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WE OUGHT TO VOTE? YOU KNOW, GARY PITNER HAS GOT SOME WORDS.
HE'S GOT A TIE AND HE HAS COMMENTS.
OH NO MY REPUTATION IS STILL OUT THERE.
NO, I JUST WANT TO SAY, JUST I'VE HAD A CHANCE TO DO SOME RESEARCH OVER THE YEARS.
WE WANT TO MAKE THIS VERY MUCH ABOUT THOSE 89 INDIVIDUALS.
[00:50:06]
THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE.IN THE MIDDLE 1950S, WE HAD ONE OF THE MOST DISASTROUS FIREFIGHTER LOSS OF LIFE IN US HISTORY.
WHEN THE MCKEE REFINERY OPERATED BY SHAMROCK OIL AND GAS COMPANY AT THE TIME, VALERO, BETWEEN DUMAS AND DALHART EXPLODED ON THAT EARLY SUNDAY MORNING BACK IN JULY OF 1956.
19 FIREFIGHTERS LOST THEIR LIFE.
THOSE LOST THEIR LIVES THAT MORNING.
THERE WERE 35 BOYS AND GIRLS LOST THEIR DADDIES INSTANTLY AT 6:30 A.M.
AND THEN GOING TO A MORE MORE RECENT TIME BACK IN 2000.
MANY OF US REMEMBER THIS, WHEN THE LIFE STAR AIRCRAFT WENT DOWN.
THE HELICOPTER WENT DOWN ON A FOGGY MARCH MORNING.
AND THAT CHOPPER WENT DOWN JUST THIS SIDE OF THE OKLAHOMA LINE IN DALLAM COUNTY.
WE LOST ALL THREE MEMBERS OF THE FLIGHT CREW AND THAT FOUR MONTH OLD BABY.
WE'RE GOING TO TELL THAT STORY.
THERE WILL BE QR CODES THERE WHERE PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL THEY'RE INTERESTED IN AND NOT ONLY READ THE STORY, BUT ALSO AN AUDIO VERSION WHERE THEY CAN HEAR THESE STORIES TOLD.
AND ALL WE NEED IS ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.
WELL, I WAS GOING TO SAY, BEFORE WE FINISH, PLEASE TELL PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN PARTICIPATE.
AND YOU CAN GO TO THE AJ SWOPE WEBSITE AND THERE'S A SECURE PLEDGE OPPORTUNITY AND THE SITE IS FRIENDS OF AJ SWOPE FRIENDSOFAJSWOPE.ORG.
AND YOU'LL BE HEARING MORE FROM US ON THE FUNDRAISING SIDE AS WE PROGRESS.
BUT WE'RE THRILLED TO GET THIS STEP ACCOMPLISHED IN TERMS OF GETTING OUR SPOT NAILED DOWN.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL, CONTEMPLATIVE SPOT.
YOU CAN HEAR THE CHURCH BELLS RINGING FROM FIRST PRES, FIRST BAPTIST AND POLK STREET METHODIST.
SO THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH FOR BEING OUR PARTNERS IN THIS.
YEAH. MR. CITY MANAGER ANYTHING TO COMMENT BEFORE WE VOTE? NO, MA'AM. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT.
AND WENDY HAS BEEN DILIGENT AND A DOG ON A BONE JUST NEVER GIVEN UP, LIKE YOU SAID, THROUGH COVID.
[LAUGHTER] BECAUSE WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE COVID, I THINK.
SO THIS HAS BEEN GOING A LONG TIME AND HER PATIENCE IS COMMENDABLE.
DILIGENCE. I WILL CALL THE QUESTION ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANYONE OPPOSED THAT MOTION PASSES WITH THE 5 0 VOTE.
AND WENDY, JUST OUR SINCEREST THANK YOU AND GRATITUDE TO THE WORK BEHIND THIS.
EVERYONE ON THE COMMITTEE AND ALL OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE ROOM, WE APPRECIATE YOU.
WE APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU DO, THE RISKS THAT YOU TAKE.
AND WE WANT TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THE ULTIMATE PRICE IN ORDER TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I ALSO LOVE THAT THIS WHEN I TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE CITY OFTEN AMARILLO HAS A REPUTATION.
WE ARE IN AMAZING SEASON OF GROWTH RIGHT NOW AND OPPORTUNITY.
BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT ONE OF OUR SUPERPOWERS IS THAT WE THINK REGIONALLY, WE THINK OF OURSELVES AS A REGIONAL COMMUNITY, AND THERE ARE NOT MANY OTHER PLACES IN OUR NATION THAT DO THAT.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR CASTING A VISION THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.
[1.C. Discuss Partners for Development Progress]
SPEAKING OF CASTING VISION, OUR NEXT WE'RE GOING BACK TO AGENDA ITEM SECTION ONE AND WE'LL DO ITEM C, WHICH IS DISCUSS PARTNERS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS, A VERY BIG PROJECT, A VERY BIG VISION AND A VERY IMPORTANT PRESENTATION.[00:55:02]
SO IF YOU DON'T MIND, LLOYD WE'LL GIVE JUST A SECOND TO LET FOLKS CLEAR.CITY MANAGER, I'LL PASS IT TO YOU AND YOU CAN HAND IT TO LLOYD IF YOU WANT.
ALL RIGHT. AS THE FACILITATOR OF THE ENTIRE PDP PROCESS, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND THROW IT TO LLOYD BROWN TO GIVE US THE PRESENTATION. IT'S GOING TO WRAP UP EVERYTHING THAT THE PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING ON OVER TIME.
SO WITH THAT SAID, LLOYD, TAKE IT AWAY.
THANK YOU, MR. MANAGER AND CITY COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE.
IT'S BEEN ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING THINGS THAT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO.
WHAT A WONDERFUL GROUP OF CITIZENS THAT WE HAVE THAT SERVE ON THIS COMMITTEE.
AND THEY'RE REPRESENTING THE HARD WORK THAT WE PUT IN.
AND I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE EFFORTS OF OUR STAFF.
OUR COMMITTEE PUT IN OVER 600 MAN HOURS JUST AS THE CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS.
AND I KNOW THAT OUR OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY AND ADMINISTRATION, ALONG WITH KIMLEY HORN, DID AN AMAZING JOB. WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING ON DECEMBER THE 7TH OF 2021, AND WE HAD OUR FINAL SUMMATION MEETING ON AUGUST 9TH OF 2022.
OUR COMMITTEE WAS EXTREMELY DIVERSE.
WE REPRESENTED ALL THE ZIP CODES WITH INSIDE THE LOOP OF 335 OF AMARILLO.
THE FIRST HABIT. BE PROACTIVE.
WE WORKED ON PROACTIVELY SETTING THE BOUNDARIES OF OUR COMMITTEE AND EXPECTATIONS.
WE AGREED ON HOW WE WOULD RESPECT EACH OTHER.
AND SEVERAL WERE VERY EMOTIONAL.
BY DOING THIS, WE PRACTICED HABIT NUMBER TWO AND WE BEGUN OUR PROCESS WITHIN THE END IN MIND.
THAT IS WHERE OUR WHY STATEMENT CAME, WHICH IS NOW OUR MISSION STATEMENT, CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE CITY ROADMAP TO GROW, SUSTAIN AND DEVELOP OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMARILLO. THIS CREATED A VISION THAT GUIDED OUR DECISIONS AND IT HELPED US SET OUR PRIORITIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
WHICH LED US TO PRACTICE FIRST THINGS FIRST.
WE HAD TO UNDERSTAND IN THE AREAS REGARDING INFRASTRUCTURE, WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON TODAY THAT IS URGENT AND IMPORTANT? AND THEN SECONDARILY, WHAT IS IMPORTANT BUT NOT URGENT? THAT LED US TO THE PROCESS OF THINKING WIN, WIN.
THAT LED US TO HABIT NUMBER FIVE.
SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
WE PRACTICED EMPATHIC LISTENING SKILLS TO GENUINELY UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND OUR PERSPECTIVES, WHICH COMPELLED RECIPROCATION AND ACTIVE LISTENING WITH AN OPEN MIND.
AND ASKING REALLY HARD QUESTIONS.
[01:00:01]
IT HELPED US CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF CARING AND POSITIVE PROBLEM SOLVING.SO THAT MEANT THAT WE BROUGHT A LOT OF SYNERGY, WHICH IS HABIT NUMBER SIX, AND EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER WITH OUR COMBINED STRENGTHS AND POSITIVE TEAMWORK. WE THEN BROKE INTO SUBCOMMITTEES TO LOOK AT THE FOUR AREAS OF INFRASTRUCTURE WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS TODAY.
AND IT ALLOWED US TO LEARN AND SEEK SOLUTIONS THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE DONE ALONE, WHICH LED US TO HABIT NUMBER SEVEN, SHARPENING THE SAW AND CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT.
AND SO THIS IS THE FOUNDATION THAT SETS THE PRESENTATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
AND I HOPE I'M DOING THIS CORRECTLY.
HERE WE GO. SO AGAIN, I'M GOING TO REPEAT OUR MISSION STATEMENT CREATING A COMPREHENSIVE CITY ROADMAP TO GROW, SUSTAIN AND DEVELOP OPPORTUNITY FOR AMARILLO. WE HAD 34 CITIZENS ACCEPT THE INVITATION TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, ONE OF OUR MEMBERS THAT RESIGNED PASSED AWAY DURING THIS TIME.
AND WHAT WE DEFINE AN ACTIVE MEMBER IS THAT YOU ATTENDED A MAJORITY OF THE MEETINGS AND YOU VOTED ON THE POLLING THAT WE SUBMITTED TO EACH MEMBER DURING THIS PROCESS. THESE ARE THE MEMBERS THAT SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE, WHICH SOME OF YOU HAVE MET TODAY THAT HAVE STOOD.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS A HIGH DENSITY IN 79109.
BUT WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WAS TO GET A REALLY DIVERSE GROUP OF CITIZENS WITH EXPERIENCES THAT WERE DIVERSE AND ALSO CREATIVE IDEAS ON HOW WE MOVE FORWARD.
THESE ARE THE OCCUPATIONS OF THE CITIZENS WHO SERVED.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE DIVERSITY THERE.
THIS BRINGS US TO THE AREA OF IDENTIFYING THE ISSUE AS WE STARTED OUR PROCESS.
AND AS A GROUP WE AND SUBCOMMITTEES COMING TOGETHER, WE ALL AGREED THAT THE CURRENT FUNDING FOR BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT CURRENTLY ABLE TO FULLY FUND THE NECESSARY MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS, PLANNING AND GROWTH FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
THE EXISTING FUNDING DEFICIT IS LARGELY A RESULT OF A LONG HISTORY OF FAILING TO PLAN, ACT AND ADEQUATELY FUND ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE REPLACEMENT.
OUR PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION IS THE CITY SHOULD EVALUATE THE RATES AND THE FUNDING OF ALL BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENSURE THAT THEY FULLY FUND THE NECESSARY OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, PLANNING AND GROWTH.
WHEN THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE IS FULLY FUNDED THROUGH RESPECTIVE ENTERPRISE ACCOUNTS, THE CITY SHOULD CONSIDER A GENERAL TAX REDUCTION. OUT OF THE 27 ACTIVE MEMBERS, 85.2% OF OUR MEMBERS SIGNED THIS RECOMMENDATION.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THE MOST PASSIONATE PART.
THE COMMITTEE WAS QUITE FRANKLY, VERY UPSET THAT NONE OF US HAD THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FUNDING CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE WITHIN THE CITY AND OUR CURRENT WAY OF COMMUNICATING THAT OVER THE YEARS.
AND THIS IS NOT JUST RESPECTIVE TO THIS COUNCIL, BUT AS A HISTORY FOR OUR CITY, WE REALLY NEED TO FIND A WAY TO COMMUNICATE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE. AND THE COMMITTEE WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY SHOULD IMPLEMENT CONCISE, PROACTIVE PUBLIC OUTREACH AND MESSAGING TO PROVIDE EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION TO OUR CITIES, TO THE UNDERFUNDED STATE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEN OUR PROPOSED SOLUTIONS. SO OUR NEXT AREA WAS BREAKDOWN.
OUR PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION IS THE SAME THAT WE READ TO THE CITY, TO THE COMMUNITY JUST A MINUTE AGO.
BUT I WANT TO CALL OUT THE RED.
ARE THE AREAS THAT WE'RE UNDERFUNDED FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS OR FIVE YEARS?
[01:05:02]
EXCUSE ME. THAT BRINGS TO LIGHT HOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT OUR FUNDING IS.THE GREEN IS THE PART THAT THE CITY IS FUNDED THROUGH AN ENTERPRISE FUND WHICH IS ON YOUR WATER BILL, AND THE ADDITIONAL MONIES ARE MADE UP EITHER THROUGH BONDS OR FROM PROPERTY TAXES WE UNDERSTAND.
BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE A WASTEWATER ENTERPRISE FUND AND OUR CHALLENGE FROM A TOTAL DOLLAR AMOUNT IS MUCH LESS CHALLENGING. ON THE NEXT AREA THAT THE SUBCOMMITTEE DOVE INTO IS DRAINAGE.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, WE HAVE CHALLENGES.
SO AGAIN, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF UNDERFUNDING FOR THE DRAINAGE AREA.
STREETS DOESN'T HAVE AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
OUR PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO CREATE AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
ALL OF THE FUNDING FROM CURRENTLY FUNDING FROM THE STREETS COMES FROM EITHER BONDS AND OR PROPERTY TAX, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS THE WAY THAT WE FUND OUR BONDS. I THINK PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS IS MOST OF OUR MEMBERS, IF NOT ALL OF THE MEMBERS, BELIEVE OUR CITY HAS A DUTY TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUNDED INFRASTRUCTURE AND IN DOING SO, ENTERPRISE FUNDS IN THE WAY THAT WE DO WATER, WASTEWATER AND DRAINAGE.
THOSE MONIES RAISED HAVE BOUNDARIES THAT CAN ONLY BE SPENT ON THOSE SPECIFIC ITEMS. AND WE FEEL LIKE WE OWE THE COMMUNITY IF WE RAISE FUNDS, THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE IMPLEMENTED AND SPENT IN THAT AREA.
IT ALSO GIVES THE ABILITY TO BE MUCH MORE PROACTIVE THAN WAITING ON LARGE BONDS LIKE THE ONE THAT WAS BACK IN 2016 AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO EFFICIENTLY UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS.
WE FELT LIKE AS A COMMITTEE THAT THE ABILITY TO PROJECT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, TO PLAN FOR THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY WERE BEST GOING TO BE FUNDED THROUGH ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
AGAIN COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATE AND EDUCATE ABOUT THE UNDERFUNDED STATE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE WANT THE FUNDING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
THEY HAVE THE STATUTORY PROTECTION THAT I DISCUSSED AND THE FEES THAT ARE CHARGED TO THE CITIZENS PAY FOR SERVICES THAT ARE PROMISED. I LIKE TO THINK PROMISE MADE, PROMISE KEPT.
AND THEN FINALLY, THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE THE BEGINNING STEPS.
AND AT THIS TIME, I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS, AND I KNOW WE HAVE GREAT PEOPLE HERE TO HELP ANSWER THEM.
FIRST OF ALL, LLOYD, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL FOR TAKING ON THIS LEADERSHIP MANTLE OF LEADING THIS PROCESS WITH THE PDP COMMITTEE, A VERY DIVERSE AND LARGE GROUP OF CITIZENS WITH MANY GOOD IDEAS AND MANY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
SO I THINK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE INCLUDED AND ATTENDED MANY OF THE SESSIONS.
ACTUALLY, WE WERE INVITED EVERY SINGLE TIME.
SO WE'VE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU AND IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE AWARE OF.
IT'S WHY WE CREATED THE COMMITTEE, BUT THANK YOU FOR LEADING IT, AND I HOPE YOU WILL THANK MRS. BROWN AS WELL FOR GIVING YOU PERMISSION TO LEAD THE COMMITTEE.
[LAUGHTER] YOU'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB, BUT IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME, PERSONAL TIME TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, YOUR BUSINESS TO SERVE AND TO LEAD THIS COMMITTEE. SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE EFFORT.
IT'S BEEN DONE WITH EXCELLENCE AND WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORT THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO IT SO.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THE COMMITTEE WAS SO GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR PARTICIPATION.
[01:10:06]
IT REALLY GAVE US ADDITIONAL ENERGY AND STRENGTH TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO THIS COUNCIL TO REALLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.NO QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR LLOYD? MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST START DOWN HERE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER.
OKAY. SO IN THE THOUGHT OF STARTING A ENTERPRISE FUND THAT FUNDS STREETS, DID YOU ALL LOOK AT WHAT BEST PRACTICES WERE GOING ON IN OTHER CITIES? ARE OTHER CITIES ALSO BEING IN THE POSITION WHERE THEY'RE BEING FORCED TO HAVE TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT HOW ARE WE GOING TO FUND SOME UNDERFUNDED THINGS AND ARE THEY CONSIDERING OR HAVE CONSIDERED AND ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, ARE WE SEEING ENTERPRISE FUNDS SHOWING UP IN OTHER PLACES OF SIMILAR CITIES LIKE JUST FOR, SAY, TEXAS, NOT MUCH LESS THE REST OF THE US, SINCE WE'RE SOMEWHAT OF A COUNTRY UNTO OURSELVES? YOU BET. YES, SIR, THERE ARE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE GLEAN FROM TO LEARN IS ON THE WEBSITE, THE PDP WEBSITE, AND THERE ARE OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED STREET FUNDS.
IT'S NOT A MAJORITY OF CITIES.
AND JEFF, YOU COULD PROBABLY SHARE SOME OF THE CITIES THAT HAVE THAT ARE OF OUR SIZE THAT HAVE STARTED IMPLEMENTING OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING STREET FUNDS.
COULD WE HAVE AN EXPLANATION OF EXACTLY WHAT AN ENTERPRISE FUND? BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S PEOPLE OUT THERE WATCHING THIS AND THEY'RE KIND OF GOING, WHAT THE HECK IS AN ENTERPRISE FUND AND WHAT DOES IT DO AND WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE THEM AND WHAT WOULD BE THE PURPOSE FOR IT AND WHY WOULD IT EVEN BE IN PLACE? JARED WHO DO YOU WANT TO PITCH THAT TO? FLOYD. YOU'RE UP FLOYD.
THANK YOU. FLOYD HARTMAN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, KEY STAFF LIAISON TO THIS ENTIRE PROCESS.
FLOYD, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THIS LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMITTEE AND THE CONSULTANT.
BUT STAFF KYLE YOUR GROUP AND THE OTHER STAFF THAT HELPED, TIFFANY HELP AND COORDINATION BUT AN ENTERPRISE FUND BACK IN THE FUNDING OF A PUBLIC ENTITY CITY LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUNDING.
YOU HAVE THE TAX BASE FUNDING WHICH IS GENERAL FUND, WHICH MAJORITY OF THAT IS TAX BASED.
ENTERPRISE FUNDS ARE FEE BASED SUCH AS OUR WATER AND SEWER UTILITY, OUR DRAINAGE FEE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS WHERE THERE IS ACTUALLY A FEE BASED IN ANOTHER STATE LAW WHERE YOU CHARGE A FEE TO FUND THAT ENTERPRISE.
AND THAT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND, THAT ENTERPRISE OF WATER AND SEWER.
SO IT'S FEE BASED RATHER THAN TAX BASED.
AND THEY PAY FOR THEMSELVES, CORRECT? THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND IT.
SELF-SUPPORTING ENTITY LIKE WATER AND SEWER IS WHAT THE GOAL OF AN ENTERPRISE FUND IS.
THE DRAINAGE UTILITY SELF-SUPPORTING ENTERPRISE WITHIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
JUST LIKE EVEN OUR AIRPORT'S ON AN ENTERPRISE FUND.
YES SIR. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, IT DOES. I JUST I HOPE THAT THAT WOULD BE A SIMPLE ENOUGH EXPLANATION SO THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC WOULD BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHY THIS IS BEING SET IN PLACE. IT'S WE HAVE TO COME UP WITH A WAY TO PAY FOR THIS $384 MILLION DOLLAR BASICALLY DEFICIT TO TAKE CARE OF THE STREETS.
AND WE'VE GOT A $384 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT OF NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.
SO AND TO YOUR POINT, IT APPEARED TO US THAT THE CITY IS HAVING TO MAKE REALLY DIFFICULT CHOICES BECAUSE THE STREET THE MONEY NEEDED FOR STREETS IS A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND IT'S COMPETING WITH THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES AND THE PROTECTION OF LIFE ISSUES WITH POLICE, FIRE AND THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
HOW DO WE, OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, PROVIDE A PROMISE OF GREAT STREETS WHEN IT'S COMPETING AGAINST EVERYTHING ELSE? AND IT HIT US IN A LOT OF AREAS THAT AGAIN, BACK TO THE COVEY STATEMENT, OUR CITIES HAVING TO LIVE IN THE AREA OF URGENT AND IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE HAVING TO FIX RAPIDLY AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND TO LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT OLD AND THEN TO REALIZE MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS, WOLFLIN.
[01:15:06]
AND THE TAKEAWAY SEWER IS APPROACHING 90 YEARS OLD.SO WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO START DOING IT TODAY TO PLAN FOR TOMORROW, BECAUSE IT'S COMING.
NOW ALSO WHENEVER WE GO THIS ROUTE, DOESN'T THAT ALSO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO FREE UP THAT MONEY THAT WAS IN THE GENERAL BUDGET THAT WE WERE SPENDING ON THESE STREETS CAN NOW BE USED FOR OTHER THINGS IN THE GENERAL BUDGET WHILE THIS FUND IS ACTUALLY BEING LEVERAGED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR STREETS.
AND SO, IN ESSENCE, IT ACTUALLY FREES UP THE ABILITY FOR OTHER THINGS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE CITY AND PUTS THE STREETS ON THEIR OWN PLAYING FIELD, SO TO SPEAK.
I THINK IT DOVETAILS NICELY WITH THE WAY WE'VE SHIFTED TO DO CIP IN THE LAST SIX, SEVEN YEARS.
SO THAT RATHER THAN CIP JUST HAVING TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT IS LEFT OVER FROM THE LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND LIVE OFF THE CRUMBS OF THE TABLE SO TO SAY CIP HAS A DEDICATED FUNDING SOURCE AND THAT ALLOWS THEM TO PLAN WITH MORE CERTAINTY THOSE LONG RANGE PROJECTS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE LOTS OF ZEROS AND COMMAS ON THEIR PRICE TAG.
BUT THIS RATHER THAN, OH, THIS IS HOW MUCH WE HAVE THIS YEAR.
OK WELL, WE ONLY HAVE WE CAN'T DO A PROJECT THAT HAS THIS.
SO WE JUST I WATCH YOU GUYS EVERY YEAR.
AND I COULD SEE THE BENEFIT OF AND I HEAR THAT IN WHAT THE CITIZENS WERE SAYING, WHICH IS DEDICATE FUNDS THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO GO TO OUR STREETS, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH WE'RE BEHIND, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO DO IT EVERY YEAR.
LET'S WORK THAT DOWN TO A NUMBER AND GET STARTED ON HAVING DEDICATED STREET FUNDS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
THAT'S WHAT I HEARD FROM THE MEETINGS.
WE GET THE LOWEST INTEREST RATE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED IS WHAT ARE THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES? AND THEY'LL BE GOOD AND THEY'LL BE BAD.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS, IS CONTRACTORS FOR WE HAVE A GREAT NUMBER OF GREAT CONTRACTORS IN AMARILLO, BUT THE TYPE OF EQUIPMENT THEY NEED TO DO REALLY BIG JOBS IS A MASSIVE INVESTMENT.
IT GIVES CONTRACTORS, BOTH LOCAL AND NATIONAL, THE ABILITY TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN AMARILLO AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE TO DO THE WORK BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO COME IN AND DO A BOND AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO SHRINK BACK.
IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO BE SYSTEMATIC, PROACTIVE AND ONE THING THAT WE NOTICED IS THAT THE STUDIES THAT ARE DONE ON OUR STREETS AND LOOKING AT THE AGE OF THE DOLLARS THAT WE GAVE UP THERE, MOST OF THOSE ARE IN 2016 ARE OLDER DOLLARS.
THAT'S THE LAST TIME THAT THE SURVEYS FOR THOSE AREAS WERE DONE.
WE SUSPECT THAT THE DOLLARS ARE ACTUALLY MUCH LARGER AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE PREDICTABLE INCOME ALLOWS STAFF TO DO THE STUDIES TO KEEP THEM UPDATED.
SO THERE AREN'T SURPRISES IN THE FUTURE.
IF YOU DON'T PLAN YOUR WORK, YOU CAN'T WORK YOUR PLAN AND YOU END UP LIVING IN CHAOS.
AND THAT'S A QUADRANT ONE LIFE.
AND OUR CITIZENS AND OUR CITY DESERVE BETTER.
YES. SO, LLOYD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR COMMITTEE.
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS AND HOW CAN WE BETTER EDUCATE OUR CITIZENS REGARDING THE GENERAL FUNDING? BECAUSE MOST CITIZENS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT GOVERNMENTAL FINANCE IS TOTALLY, TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM PERSONAL FINANCE.
THERE'S A GREAT DOCUMENT THAT WAS CREATED AT THE BEGINNING, AND IT BASICALLY WAS A DOLLAR BILL AND IT SHOWED WHERE THERE WERE BUCKETS OF MONEY, BASICALLY THE REVENUE RESOURCES AND WHERE THOSE AREAS.
THAT REALLY HELPED THE COMMITTEE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROPERTY TAX AND GENERAL FUNDS, FROM FEES TO ENTERPRISE FUNDS, AND HOW THOSE HAD BOUNDARIES.
[01:20:02]
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY UTILIZING GREAT GRAPHICS PICTURES AND THEN HAVING TEAM MEMBERS AVAILABLE TO COMMUNICATE.THIS IS HOW IT WORKS AND THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT STAFF PUT IN TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES.
AND I KNOW THAT KIMLEY HORN HAS GIVEN THEM A PROCESS MAP OF WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH AND PROVIDE THE COUNCIL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED AT ANOTHER DATE.
THAT IS A GOOD LOOKING JACKET.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR PROFESSIONALISM.
I ATTENDED MOST OF THESE MEETINGS.
AND YOU BROKE THEM APART AND YOU LED THEM DOWN THIS ROAD.
AND THIS IS NOT AN EASY ROAD TO GO DOWN.
THIS IS NOT AN EASY PROBLEM TO HELP SOLVE.
AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO VOLUNTEER AND TRY TO LEAD.
AND I THINK YOU'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB.
SO SAYING THAT I HAVE SOME SOME QUESTIONS THAT I HOPE ARE DIFFICULT QUESTIONS AND THAT WE CAN PROVIDE SOME GOOD ANSWERS FOR TO WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT THIS AND SAY, OKAY, YOU KNOW WHAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SOUND GOOD TO ME ON THE FRONT END, BUT I DO SEE THE OVERALL OR I SEE IT DIFFERENT NOW.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW, I MAY DIRECT THIS TO CITY MANAGER.
WE HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS DEDICATED IN THAT TAX RATE RIGHT NOW IN OUR BUDGET.
WE KNOW WHAT OUR CIP KIND OF FORECAST IS.
CAN WE TAKE THAT AND CAN WE GIVE OURSELVES AN AMOUNT OF PENNIES THAT WE WOULD SAY, OKAY, THIS IS HOW MUCH OF THIS $0.44 IS NOW GOING TO STREETS. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, COULD WE THEN TAKE THAT AND SAY, OKAY, WELL THIS WOULD BE THE OFFSET IF WE WERE TO DO THIS SYSTEM WE NEED TO NOW REVENUE THIS MUCH MONEY AND THEN WE CAN BUILD OUT ALL FILL IN THE BLANKS OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN PRESENTED YET.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND JARED, IS THAT A GOOD QUESTION FOR YOU? I THINK IT'S A BETTER QUESTION FOR THEM.
YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF FLOYD WANTED TO JUMP IN THERE.
I MEAN, LLOYD, Y'ALL HAVE NAMES TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.
I JUST REALIZED. LLOYD AND FLOYD.
THIS COMING YEAR WE HAVE BUDGETED RIGHT AT $13 MILLION DOLLARS FOR STREET PROJECTS.
BUT LET'S JUST USE THAT AS OUR RULE OF THUMB BECAUSE IT'S VERY CLOSE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE AT ALMOST $0.11 THAT WE'RE SPENDING ON STREETS THIS NEXT YEAR.
NOW, THAT GRAIN OF SALT ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THERE, WE DON'T SPEND THE SAME AMOUNT ON STREETS EVERY SINGLE YEAR BECAUSE IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF CAPITAL PROJECTS, HOW MUCH OVERLAY WE'RE DOING ON ANY YEAR, HOW OUR STAFFING IS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A VARIETY OF VARIABLES THAT GO IN THERE.
SO I THINK CONSISTENCY IS KEY.
I KNOW AS A BUILDER THAT'S SOMETHING WE LOOK FOR.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GOING AFTER WITH THIS.
AND LOOK AT STREETS AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND THAT WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH A FEE AND NOT ON A TAX.
AND SO IF WE THEN WERE TO SAY, OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE $0.10, $0.11 HERE, THAT WE WOULD REDUCE OUR TAX RATE AND NOT FORFEIT ANY OF OUR EXISTING BUDGETS.
I DIDN'T COMPROMISE ANY OF THE OTHER 45 DEPARTMENTS BUDGET BY DOING THAT.
[01:25:01]
FORWARD? AT THAT POINT THEN HOPEFULLY WE'D BE ABLE TO TAKE BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE IT ON SURFACE VALUE, IF I JUST SAID, HEY, WE, WE'RE GOING TO SPEND 13 MILLION ON A $390 MILLION DOLLAR PROBLEM. I MEAN, YOU GUYS WOULD LOOK AT ME AND SAY, WELL, THAT'S NOT A REAL GOOD IT'S NOT A REAL GOOD STRATEGIC PLAN, MR. STANLEY. BUT IF I SAID, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT AND OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WE NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THIS AND THEN START OVER.AND I KNOW KYLE CAN DO THAT VERY WELL.
SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD ASK FOR SO THAT THIS DOESN'T GET.
IF YOU DON'T MIND. CAN I WEIGH IN ON RIGHT THERE? YES, SIR. FLOYD DO YOU MIND RAISING YOUR MICROPHONE UP JUST A LITTLE? THANKS. THAT'S A GOOD POINT.
SO WHERE THIS DOCUMENT IS, WHAT'S BEEN PREPARED FROM THE PDP TO THIS POINT IS A ROAD MAP, A GUIDE? WHERE WE'RE GOING RIGHT WITH THIS DISCUSSION IS IN THE DETAILS OF WHAT IS THE NEXT STEPS, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS FROM PDP? IF WE AGREE THAT THIS IS THE ROADMAP, THEN ALL OF THE EVALUATION OF THE SPECIFICS, SUCH AS WHAT IFS IF THEN RELATED TO FUNDING AND WHAT IS FUNDED THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES IN EACH CATEGORY.
AND EACH RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS MADE WILL HAVE STAFF WILL BE WORKING WITH EITHER CONSULTANTS OR INTERNALLY AND WITH THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND IN SOME CASES WITH COMMITTEES. THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT ANDREW WILL BE DOING IS ONE PIECE OF THIS.
WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE'RE GETTING INTO THE NEXT STEPS OF WHAT SHOULD BE BROUGHT FORWARD.
ARE YOU AGREEING THAT THIS IS THE ROADMAP TO THOSE NEXT STEPS AND THEN THOSE NEXT STEPS GO INTO ALL THOSE DETAILS THAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP IN A DISCUSSION THAT GOES BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN STAFF, CONSULTANTS AND THE COUNCIL WITH UPDATES TO WHERE WE WANT TO GET TO WHAT THAT ACCOMPLISHES.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO TRY TO HELP DIRECT IN WHY I COMPLIMENTED YOUR JACKET AND APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.
I BELIEVE THAT THESE NEXT STEPS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO ASK IS, IS YOUR OPINION DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO TAKE THOSE 27 MEMBERS? I KNOW YOU BROKE THEM UP INTO SMALL COMMITTEES.
WOULD IT BE HELPFUL TO BRING THOSE 27 MEMBERS BACK AND COUNCIL AND STAFF AND BE ABLE TO PUT THIS PROPOSAL IN FRONT OF THAT ENTIRE GROUP AND BE ABLE TO LET THAT ENTIRE GROUP WORK ON THE SOLUTION BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE SOME NEGATIVES AND YOU HAVE SOME POSITIVES OUT OF THERE.
AND SO AS A POINT OF CONCERN, REGULATION, MY TAX RATE IS REGULATED SO I CANNOT ARBITRARILY DOUBLE YOUR THE TAX IMPACT ON YOU IN MY GENERAL FUND.
AND SO THIS FEE WOULD WE WANT TO SET SOME PARAMETERS IN SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE RELIABILITY SUSTAINABILITY? YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY FOR MY STAFF BUT FOR MY CITIZENS SO THAT IT DOESN'T GO FROM A $10 A MONTH FEE TO A $20 A MONTH FEE AND IN ONE MEETING.
THAT'S JUST ONE SMALL THING HERE.
SO YOUR OPINION ON GETTING EVERYBODY BACK TOGETHER FOR ANOTHER MEETING? SURE. AS LONG AS I'D BE, I'M GOING TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR ANYBODY ELSE.
BUT I WOULD BE HONORED TO LEAD ANOTHER MEETING AND INVITE OUR MEMBERS TO JOIN US.
AND I'LL JUST SPEAK TO JAMES'S CONCERN, WHICH I THINK IS ALIGNED.
ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE ENTERPRISE FUND EVERY YEAR IT'S GOING TO BE VOTED ON BY OUR COUNCIL.
YOU DON'T HAVE AN OPTION TODAY ON STREETS TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
YOU HAVE ONLY AN OPTION TO PROVIDE IT, PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR OUR COMMUNITY REALLY, THROUGH THE STANDARD PRACTICES THAT YOU DO TODAY, HAVING AN ENTERPRISE FUND WOULD GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S ABOUT BEING PART OF A REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC, WHICH IS WHAT YOU GUYS ARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND I AGREE THE REALLY DOWN AND DIRTY HARD WORK IS COMING.
AND I KNOW THAT WE MAY HAVE THOSE DETAILED QUESTIONS THEY'RE DEFINITELY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM.
BUT I'M CURIOUS AS TO IF WE JUST PUT A PIN IN THAT AND WE JUST SAID, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS? WHAT ARE THOSE NEXT STEPS? BARRING COUNCIL GUIDANCE TO SCRAP OR SCRAPS TOO STRONG A WORD BUT TO NOT TAKE THE INPUT OF THE COMMITTEE WHAT WE WOULD PROPOSE DOING WOULD BE TO BRING A RESOLUTION AT AN UPCOMING MEETING, POSSIBLY THE NEXT MEETING OR WHENEVER, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL HAS GIVEN ENOUGH INPUT TO ADOPT THIS AS A GUIDING
[01:30:03]
DOCUMENT AND THEN START THE WORK OF CREATING WHATEVER FEES AND EVALUATING WHATEVER FEES NEED TO BE IMPOSED, WHETHER IT IS FOR REVISING THE WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE TO TAKE CARE OF PROJECTS.ADMITTEDLY, THE DELTA THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT LESS.
EVALUATING A STREET MAINTENANCE FEE TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE STREET MAINTENANCE SHORTFALLS.
TYPICALLY AND WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IN THOSE SITUATIONS IS WE BRING ON CONSULTANTS THAT ARE WELL TRAINED IN CREATING AND EVALUATING OR EVALUATING THE CHALLENGE AND CREATING THE FEES TO ADDRESS SPECIFIC IDENTIFIED NEEDS.
SO IT'S NOT AN OPEN ENDED DEAL.
IT WOULD BE, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY A LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND TECHNICALITY THAT THE COMMITTEE I'M GOING TO SPECULATE AND CERTAINLY CITY STAFF IS NOT PREPARED TO CREATE ON ITS OWN.
WE CAN EVALUATE THE PRODUCT OF THE CONSULTANTS, BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS IN PARTNERSHIP AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS WHICH WE'VE JUST RECENTLY KICKED OFF.
SO IT WOULD BE A VERY SCIENTIFIC, REGIMENTED PROCESS TO IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE FEES TO ADDRESS EACH ONE OF THESE STATED NEEDS IN THE SUBCOMMITTEES THAT LLOYDS GROUP, THAT THE CITIZEN GROUP IS WORKING ON.
AND WITH LLOYD, I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT 600 MAN HOURS WITH THIS GROUP.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE ALL OF THAT SYNERGY, EVERYTHING THAT.
AND YOU CREATED THE VISION STATEMENT.
SO LET'S NOT DOGLEG THIS AWAY FROM OUR VISION STATEMENT INTO A CONSULTING FIRM THAT WE LOSE KIND OF THE GROUND THAT WE STARTED ON. AND THEN THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART, I THINK, OF KIND OF PUTTING THE INGREDIENTS IN HERE BEFORE WE PUT THIS IN THE OVEN AND IT COMES OUT ALREADY BAKED.
AND SO I WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS.
I WANT YOU GUYS TO BE A PART OF THIS.
I WANT TO HELP MR. SCHNIEDERJAN, THE MOST THAT I CAN WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND I'M NOT TELLING I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS IS A BAD IDEA OR THAT I STAND AGAINST IT IN ANY WAY.
I'M SAYING THIS IS A NEW IDEA.
AND LIKE ANY GOOD NEW IDEA, IT NEEDS TO BE VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT.
AND I'M AGREEING WITH STAFF THAT CONSULTING AND CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND I THINK THERE MAY BE SOME CONFUSION THERE ABOUT WHAT COUNCIL MIGHT BE VOTING ON.
I'M JUST GOING TO SPEAK FROM MY POINT OF VIEW AS COUNCIL IS, YOU GUYS HAVE SPENT 600 PLUS HOURS PUTTING THIS RECOMMENDATION TOGETHER, AND I THINK WE WOULD BE HAVING A DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WHAT'S BEEN BROUGHT TO US IS THE GENERAL DIRECTION THAT WE SHOULD GO IN.
YES. THAT'S WHAT THIS LETTER WOULD ACCOMPLISH WITH A RESOLUTION.
ANOTHER AREA JUST TO DESCRIBE HOW ANOTHER AREA HAS A RESOLUTION.
THAT WAS PASSED IN 2002 BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME.
AND SO THAT'S HOW THIS DOCUMENT WOULD BE TREATED.
IT WOULD BE A GUIDING DOCUMENT IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND WHAT WE BRING FORWARD TO DISCUSS WITH COUNCIL AND ALSO WHAT WE WORK TOWARDS IN CHANGING THE DESIGN STANDARDS, THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE, THERE ARE SO MANY TRAILS OF THIS THAT YOU CAN'T GO OVER IT IN A SHORT DISCUSSION.
SO THE FIRST COMPONENT OF WATER AND SEWER IS TO GET THOSE PROFESSIONALS ON BOARD IN RELATION TO WHAT THE RATES DO, WHAT THEY PAY FOR, WHAT THEY COVER AND HOW IT WOULD LOOK IN COVERING THIS NEED THAT'S IDENTIFIED BY THIS GUIDING DOCUMENT.
COLE WHAT DO YOU WANT THE NEXT STEP TO BE? BECAUSE WHAT I'M HEARING IS THAT NONE OF OUR STAFF TEAM, NONE OF THE COUNCIL AND NONE OF THE CITIZENS COMMITTEE HAVE THE PROJECT SPECIFIC EXPERTISE TO DO THE NEXT STEP.
WE NEED TO HIRE A CONSULTANT THAT TELLS US IF WE DID AN ENTERPRISE FEE, WHAT KIND OF RATES WOULD WE BE SETTING? I CAN'T CALCULATE THAT, BUT I'M WONDERING JUST, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NEXT STEP NEEDS TO BE?
[01:35:04]
SO I WANT TO BE HELPFUL AND BEING IN AGREEMENT WITH A CONSULTING FIRM TO COME BACK IN ALONG WITH THIS COMMITTEE OF MEMBERS THAT WERE CAREFULLY SELECTED, ALONG WITH ALL OF THEIR RESEARCH DATA, ALONG WITH STAFF MOVING FORWARD AND FILLING IN ALL OF THE BLANKS ON THIS, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND WE DON'T KNOW.THERE'S A LOT OF CORNERS WE CAN'T SEE AROUND RIGHT NOW.
AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT SAYS WE WANT TO PROCEED WITH AN ENTERPRISE FUND FOR STREETS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'LL LOOK LIKE.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'LL WORK, BUT WE WANT TO PUT IT ON AN AGENDA, WE WANT TO VOTE ON IT.
I DON'T WANT THAT. Y'ALL HAVEN'T I CAN'T SEE THE DETAILS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND LEGITIMATE CONCERNS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE SPENDING THE MONIES THAT THEY HAVE TO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES, PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS AND STILL HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO BUY GROCERIES.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE IS TO GO SLOW, TAKE YOUR TIME, MAKE GOOD DECISIONS, BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER.
YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF LAYING OUT THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE.
NOT ONE OF THEM SAYS TO DO ALL OF THAT AND THEN HIRE A CONSULTANT.
BECAUSE WE'RE TEN MONTHS INTO THIS PROCESS.
SO I THINK WE'RE ON BOARD WITH ABSOLUTELY GOING AT THE PACE WE NEED TO GO TO GET THE INFORMATION.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO AS THE NEXT STEP? I WOULD PROPOSE TO GET THE 27 MEMBERS BACK IN A ROOM AND HAVE A DISCUSSION OVER THIS TO SEE HOW CLOSE WE CAN GET BEFORE WE NEED THAT CONSULTANT.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, CLOSE WE CAN GET.
HOW CLOSE CAN THEY GET IN THIS ROADMAP THAT THEY'VE ENVISIONED? HOW CLOSE CAN STAFF AND COUNCIL GET TO SAYING, OKAY, THIS IS WHAT WE FORESEE AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY GOT A STRUCTURE, SOMETHING THAT HAS A VISION TO A CONSULTANT.
LLOYD, DO YOU SEE THAT THERE? I GUESS I'M JUST I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE I THINK THEY'VE DONE WHAT THEY CAN DO BASED ON THE EXPERTISE THEY HAVE IN THE ROOM.
BUT I WANT TO BE I'M LISTENING.
I APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO HIRING A CONSULTANT.
SO IF THERE IS A PROCEDURAL ITEM ON AN AGENDA TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO UNDERSTAND MORE DATA AND DO A DISCOVERY MORE OR LESS HERE AND THEN FOR THIS TO GO BACK TO THE COMMITTEE AND GO BACK TO STAFF AND GO BACK TO COUNCIL IN THE FORMAT THAT WE STARTED IN, THEN I WOULD BE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S A GOOD PLAN.
OKAY, GREAT. I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE HOW AND THE WHAT WE DO IS FOR THE PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE EDUCATED ON WHAT IT TAKES.
THE COMMITTEE, I THINK, IS REALLY GOOD AT ASKING QUESTIONS TO GET CLARIFICATION.
AND THAT'S WHAT OUR ROLE HAS BEEN.
LET ME I'LL JUST TELL YOU, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF VIGOROUS DEBATE OF WHAT IS RIGHT.
AND THIS IS NOT A UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION.
HOWEVER, IT IS A SUPER MAJORITY RECOMMENDATION OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT THIS ROADMAP, BECAUSE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE, PERIOD, IS FUNDING.
AND IT COMES FROM A HISTORY OF OUR CITY OF NOT PLANNING FOR REPLACEMENT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NOW UPWARDS OF 90 AND 100 YEARS OLD IN MANY PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
MUCH OF IT IS TOO SMALL FOR THIS ROBUST, DYNAMIC COMMUNITY.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMEBODY HIGHLY COMPETENT.
AND THAT'S WHERE I SEE HAVING CONSULTANTS LIKE THE KIMLEY-HORN TEAM THAT HAS SUCH A BROAD ARRAY OF EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDS HOW TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S KNOWING WHERE TO GET IT.
SO I THINK IT'S BOTH CAN I ASK ONE OTHER QUESTION? YOU BET. DO WE NOT HAVE A CONSULTANT HIRED ALREADY FOR THIS PDP PROGRAM? YES, SIR. THEY'RE WONDERFUL. AND ARE THEY NOT, LIKE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND QUALIFIED PEOPLE FOR THIS EXACT TYPE OF INDUSTRY AND ROADMAP?
[01:40:01]
I CAN'T MAKE A STATEMENT, I MEAN, TO THAT.BUT THEY HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC FOR OUR TEAM.
SO DO WE NOT ALREADY HAVE EXCELLENT IDEA.
THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST IN ALL OF THESE THINGS.
THEY WEREN'T HIRED TO DO ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT STUDIES.
THEY WERE HIRED TO HELP WITH THIS PDP PROCESS.
AND SO WE DON'T NEED MULTIPLE CONSULTANTS TO DO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
WE COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS ONE CONSULTANT TO DO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT PROJECTS.
THEY ARE DIFFERENT PROJECTS, BUT YOU KNOW, A DRAINAGE STUDY.
AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD COME OUT OF THE RESOLUTION, TAKING THIS AS KIND OF A GUIDING DOCUMENT, USING THAT COMMITTEE AS A SOUNDING BOARD AS WE GO THROUGH ALL THESE PROCESSES. BUT THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST.
AND I'M NOT INSULTING KIMLEY-HORN BY SAYING THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING THEY ARE ONE OF THE RECOGNIZED EXPERTS IN THIS.
SOME OF THOSE CITIES YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE, SOME OF THOSE CITIES YOU WON'T LOVE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BIND OURSELVES OR LIMIT OURSELVES, BUT ABSOLUTELY KIMLEY-HORN IS ONE OF THE BEST.
DON'T HEAR ME SAY I DIDN'T SAY THE BEST.
I DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM A BIG HEAD.
SO WE HAVE BEFORE YOU SPEAK THERE LLOYD, WE HAVE THE TEAM TOGETHER.
I THINK WE'VE DONE GOOD LLOYD, I THINK YOUR INVESTMENT AN YOUR TIME IS WELL SPENT.
LET'S KEEP THE TEAM TOGETHER AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
IS THIS THE RIGHT ROAD TO TAKE? OKAY. FIRST BACK TO THAT, FLOYD.
FIRST OFF AND I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU A MINUTE TO COMMENT THAT.
A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT IS BASED OFF QUALIFICATIONS.
AND OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS CONTRACTOR IS A HIGH LEVEL OF QUALIFICATIONS.
SO THOSE CAN BE WORKED FORWARD.
SO THERE AGAIN, WE CAN WORK THROUGH THAT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR CONSULTANT TO TALK TO.
BUT I WANTED TO GO BACK TO A STATEMENT I MADE EARLIER.
THIS MULTIPLE AVENUES THAT THIS DOCUMENT SENDS US DOWN.
THIS IS ONE AVENUE OF PROBABLY 20.
WHERE ARE WE IN RELATION TO THE TEAM? YOU SAID YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS TEAM DOING IT, BUT WHEN I GET TO THE STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS MANUAL, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE LOCAL ENGINEERING FIRMS ENGAGED IN THAT. SO I HAVE TO SHIFT COMPONENTS OF THIS PLAN TO ANOTHER TEAM IF I STICK AND THIS ONE CAN BE ENGAGED IN THAT.
WHEN I DO THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE CHANGES AND PROPOSALS TO COUNCIL THIS TEAM IS GREAT AS A AS A CITIZENS COMMITTEE, BUT I NEED THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY MORE ENGAGED IN THE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE TO GET IT RIGHT.
SO WHEN WE SAY IT HAS TO BE THE EXACT SAME TEAM ON EVERY AVENUE THAT I GO DOWN, WE'RE GOING TO MISS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR COMMUNITY IF WE DON'T EXPAND THAT INTO THE APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT WE NEED TO DO ON EACH CHALLENGE.
SO THIS GUIDING DOCUMENT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO DO THESE THINGS UNDERNEATH THAT IS ALL OF THESE THINGS I'VE TALKED ABOUT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BEING ONE SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE, STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS.
BUT THEN ON THIS SPECIFIC TOPIC, THE VERY WELL HAVE THE FIRM THAT NEEDS TO GO FORWARD.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO MAKE IT GLOBAL ON EVERY ONE OF THE PATHS FORWARD, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS BEST ON EACH ONE OF THOSE AS WE TAKE THOSE STEPS. THAT APPROVING THIS DOCUMENT THROUGH A RESOLUTION WOULD SET US ON THAT PATH AS STAFF HAVE THE CONFIDENCE, OKAY, THEY WANT TO GO FORWARD WITH THESE THINGS AND HERE'S HOW WE SEE THAT WE BRING THAT BACK AND A RECOMMENDATION BEFORE WE GO MAKE THAT HIGHER.
ANNE, DO YOU WANT TO? ANNE SCAMHORN WAS ON OUR COMMITTEE AS A CITIZEN.
JUST I KNOW SHE HAD A COMMENT A MOMENT AGO.
YES. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR, FOR THE INVITATION TO BE ON THE COMMITTEE.
IT WAS AN HONOR TO WORK WITH THE STAFF AND THE COUNCIL VERY MUCH.
I THINK YOU ASK US TO PROVIDE WHAT AND WE DID, WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
I DON'T THINK WE PROVIDED HOW.
AND TO RESPECT WHAT FLOYD AND LLOYD AND THE CONSULTING FIRM ARE SAYING.
WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW IN TERMS OF THE ENGINEERING, BUT WE KNOW AS CITIZENS WHAT IS APPROPRIATE.
[01:45:02]
WE SEE THOSE WATER BILLS AND THE DIFFERENT FEES AND WHAT CAN WE STAND? WHAT IS POSSIBLE AND HOW DO WE MAKE THIS COME TRUE? BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.THANK YOU. THAT'S GOOD PERSPECTIVE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR LLOYD? WELL Y'ALL COVERED A LOT OF TERRITORY.
I KNOW WE DID. WE'RE LEAVING YOU TO BAT CLEANUP.
NO, YOU'RE NOT. FIRST, LET ME SAY I LIKE YOUR JACKET.
[LAUGHTER] I THINK I MISSED ONE.
AND WHEN YOU BROKE INTO AT THE FIRST YOU INVITED, US COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SIT BACK AT THE BACK AND THEN YOU BROKE INTO GROUPS AND I DECIDED I'M GOING TO JOIN A GROUP.
AND I DID. I WAS WITH A DRAINAGE GROUP ONE WEEK AND THEN THE STREETS GROUP THE OTHER TIMES.
AND THE PEOPLE IN BOTH OF THOSE GROUPS, THEY TOOK ALL THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
I WAS PROUD THAT THEY WHAT YOU SAID, 85% WERE ON BOARD HERE AND SOME DROPPED BY THE WAYSIDE.
BUT TO GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE, I THINK WE NEED TO ADOPT THIS.
AND WE NEED THE EXPERTS TO HELP US.
BUT I'D LOVE IT IF ALL OF THESE MEMBERS WOULD CONTINUE WE INVITE THEM TO CONTINUE.
BUT WE NEED SOME OTHER EXPERTS, TOO.
THIS WASN'T AN ACTION ITEM TODAY, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE THE NEXT MEETING TO ACCEPT YOUR REPORT AND PROCEED TO MAKE PLANS TO CONTINUE FURTHER.
IT'LL BE SEVERAL MONTHS PROBABLY.
NOW OKAY. SO DO WE HAVE A CONSENSUS TOWARD THAT? TO ADD THIS TO THE NEXT AGENDA AS AN ACTION ITEM TO RECEIVE THE REPORT AND THEN TO ENTERTAIN HIRING, HOPEFULLY MAYBE OUR SAME CONSULTANT AND KEEP OUR SAME COMMITTEE AS A RESOURCE TO MOVING FORWARD IN THIS PROCESS.
I THINK THE REPORT GIVES US A WHAT AND NOW WE NEED TO START WORKING ON THE HOW.
AND IT ENGAGED THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, ENGAGED THE STAKEHOLDERS, ENGAGED US.
AND THAT'S BASICALLY ALL THAT THIS IS AMOUNTING TO IS WE'RE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING WITH A MAJOR ISSUE IN OUR CITY THAT WE'VE DONE WITH ALL THE OTHER MAJOR ISSUES IN OUR CITY.
WHAT IS THAT, A FAIR ASSESSMENT? THAT'S A GOOD SUMMARY.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU GUYS IN THE WINGS BECAUSE Y'ALL ARE.
YOU'VE GOT 20 PLUS HOURS, EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER IN STUDYING THIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE THAN THE AVERAGE CITIZEN KNOWS ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
AND I THINK IT IS WISE, COUNCIL FOR US TO CONTINUE TO CHECK IN WITH YOU AND ALSO USE YOU AS COMMUNICATORS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP CITIZENS UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU NOW UNDERSTAND SO.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PLEASURE THANK YOU. WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT OFFICIALLY ON THE AGENDA.
BEFORE WE TAKE A BREAK, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY NEEDS A BATHROOM BREAK.
[Items 3.D. & 3.E.]
WE HAVE A TIME CRUNCH WITH REGARD TO ONE OF THE ITEMS ON OUR ACTION AGENDA.IT HAS SOME END OF BUSINESS DAY REQUIREMENTS WITH IT.
SO I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.
OH, SORRY. YEAH. BOTH OF THOSE BONDS.
RIGHT, LAURA? BOTH OF THOSE PROJECTS HAVE END OF DAY TIME FRAMES TO THEM, SO.
MR. CITY MANAGER, IF YOU DON'T MIND, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO 3D AND 3E.
3D $57 MILLION DOLLARS OF WATER AND WASTEWATER.
[01:50:02]
YES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.AND SO WE HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION ON YOUR AGENDA.
BOTH OF THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN PUT INTO THE CURRENT APPROVED BUDGET, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PART OF THE WATER AND SEWER, WHICH IS ITEM 3D WAS ACTUALLY APPROVED A FEW YEARS BACK THROUGH A RATE INCREASE.
HOWEVER, WE NEVER ISSUED THE DEBT FOR IT AND HAVE NOT PROCEEDED WITH THE PROJECTS UNTIL NOW.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING TO GO AHEAD AND COMPLETE WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED BACK IN THE 18-19 FISCAL YEAR.
SO WITH THAT, I AM GOING TO HAND IT OVER TO STEVEN ADAMS, WHO IS OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE, TO GIVE A COUPLE OF PRESENTATIONS AND THEN I WILL ADD A FEW COMMENTS AND BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL STEVEN ADAMS WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE.
THIS FIRST ITEM IS FOR THE SALE OF WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BONDS.
THE SALE IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,590,000.
TO PURCHASE WATER RIGHTS, IT'S FOR NORTHEAST INTERCEPTOR SEWER LINE, A PUMP STATION ON 34TH STREET AND AN OSAGE STREET OZONE REPLACEMENT AND SOME REPAIRS. WE DID SELL THESE BONDS OVER A 20 YEAR TERM.
THEY'RE RATED DOUBLE A-PLUS BY STANDARD POOR'S.
SO WE TOOK BIDS THIS MORNING AT 9:00 FOR THESE BONDS.
THE WINNING BIDDER WAS CITIGROUP CAPITAL MARKETS.
AND IT'S A PRETTY GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY.
SO THAT'S WHY WE APPRECIATE AND THEY APPRECIATE YOU MOVING THIS UP.
IF YOU APPROVE THIS, ONCE WE GO THROUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PROCESS, WE WILL CLOSE ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER THE 13TH, JUST TO LET YOU SEE THE WINNING ALL OF THE BIDS.
THE BIDS CAME FROM MANY PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THE COVER BID WAS FHN FINANCIAL GROUP.
AND THEN YOU SEE THE HOST OF BIDDERS THAT BID COMING IN BEHIND CITIGROUP.
THIS IS THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE BONDS.
YOU SEE THE COUPONS OF FIVE AND 4%.
THEY ARE HIGHER THAN THEIR ACTUAL YIELD ON THE BONDS.
SO WE WILL BE RECEIVING A PREMIUM.
SO WE JUST REDUCE THE PAR AMOUNT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T NEED ANY EXTRA MONEY.
WANT TO SKIP THAT AND GO TO THIS BECAUSE IT'S SO SMALL.
THEY'RE THE SAME DATA JUST IN TWO DIFFERENT FORMATS.
THE TOP RED LINE IS THE CITY'S LAST YEAR'S NET REVENUES AVAILABLE TO PAY DEBT SERVICE.
THE GREEN IS THE OUTSTANDING DEBT OF THE CITY, INCLUDING SELF SUPPORTING CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
SO THERE IS PLENTY OF COVERAGE AND YOU CAN SEE THE COVERAGE WILL BE GETTING LARGER OVER TIME WITH EVEN THOUGH THE CITY WILL PROBABLY BE ISSUING DEBT IN THE FUTURE AS ITS CAPITAL NEEDS ARE PRETTY GREAT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE COUPON RATES BEING HIGHER THAN THE YIELD ON THE BONDS.
WE NEEDED $57,192,000 FOR THE PROJECTS AND COST OF ISSUANCE.
SO YOU SEE THE PAR AMOUNT WAS ONLY 52 MILLION 590.
THE REST OF THAT'S MADE UP BY PREMIUM THAT WAS PAID TO THE CITY BY THE WINNING BIDDER, CITIGROUP.
SO A GOOD TIME TO BE SELLING DEBT FOR A CITY.
AND WITH THAT MAYOR, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY AWARD, THE $52,590,000 WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BONDS NEW SERIES 2022 TO CITIGROUP CAPITAL MARKETS INC.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS FOR STEVEN OR LAURA ABOUT THIS? NO. NO.
[01:55:02]
OKAY DO WE HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM 3D? YES, MAYOR, WE DO. I MOVED TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8002 TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS.WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS.
NEW SERIES 2022 PRESCRIBING THE FORMS, TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF SAID BONDS PLEDGING THE NET REVENUES OF THE CITY'S WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM TO THE PAYMENT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF AN INTEREST ON SAID BONDS AND ACTING PROVISIONS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE PAYMENT, SECURITY, SALE AND DELIVERY OF SAID BONDS AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
IT'S BEEN MOVED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN SAUER TO APPROVE ITEM 3D.
ANY DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOTION? OKAY. HEARING NONE.
ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANYONE OPPOSED? THAT PASSES WITH THE 5 0 VOTE? MOVE ON TO ITEM 3E, LAURA.
OK. ON ITEM 3E, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ISSUE TAX NOTES SERIES 2022 B . THIS IS A NEED THAT THE CITY HAS FOR $8 MILLION DOLLARS IN ORDER TO FUND UPDATED FINANCIAL SOFTWARE, WHICH IS ACTUALLY AN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SOFTWARE.
IT TOUCHES ALMOST EVERY ASPECT OF WHAT THE CITY DOES.
OUR CURRENT SYSTEM IS ABOUT 20 PLUS YEARS OLD.
SO WE MUST MAKE SOME SORT OF A CHANGE.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS TO UTILIZE FOR THE GENERAL FUNDS PORTION OF THIS PROJECT, FOR THE UPFRONT IMPLEMENTATION COST AND THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASPECTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SOFTWARE.
WE ARE LOOKING TO UTILIZE 4 MILLION OUT OF THIS DEBT ISSUANCE.
THE OTHER 4 MILLION WOULD BE FOR REPLACEMENT OF FUEL ISLANDS OUT AT OUR SERVICE CENTER.
THOSE HAVE BEEN IN NEED OF UPGRADE AND REPLACEMENT FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS.
AND SO THESE THIS HALF THE 4 MILLION WOULD BE FUNDED THROUGH EXISTING REVENUES THAT COME THROUGH OUR FLEET SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
GOING BACK TO THE 4 MILLION ASSOCIATED WITH THE FINANCIAL ERP SOFTWARE.
WE ARE PROPOSING THAT THOSE ARE FUNDED BY THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
AND AS MOST OF YOU ARE AWARE, SOFTWARE CONTINUES TO CHANGE AND EVOLVE OVER TIME.
THIS WOULD ALLOW A CONTINUED FUNDING SOURCE WITHOUT IMPACTING PROPERTY TAXPAYERS IN THE FUTURE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE CITY ALWAYS HAS GOOD, SOLID FINANCIAL AND ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING SOFTWARE IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT WE DON'T GET INTO A SITUATION LIKE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE WAY PAST NEEDING TO REPLACE THIS SOFTWARE PACKAGE.
THANK YOU, LAURA. AGAIN, 30 MINUTES AFTER WE TOOK THE BIDS ON WATER AND SEWER BONDS.
WE TOOK BIDS ON THESE TAX NOTES.
IN THIS CASE, THE WINNING BIDDER WAS WAS MESIROW FINANCE AT A 2.18% BOND SOLD WITH THEIR TRIPLE-A RATING.
AND IT WAS A LOWER RATE THAN THE WATER AND SEWER, PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT'S JUST A SHORTER DURATION.
NOTICE WE GOT FEWER BIDS AND IT DIDN'T INCLUDE CITIBANK.
THIS IS JUST NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR THESE BIG BANKS TO PARTICIPATE IN.
SO MOSTLY REGIONAL BANKS BID ON THIS AND DID A REALLY FINE JOB FOR US.
THIS IS THE DEBT SERVICE ON THE ENTIRE PROJECT OF THE ENTIRE TAX NOTES.
SO THE PAR AMOUNT IS ONLY 7,000,345 IN THIS SCENARIO.
[02:00:03]
THE FUEL ISLAND IS ABOUT $620,000 A YEAR.AND IN THE FIRST YEAR THE SOFTWARE IS $160,000 IN DEBT SERVICE, BUT THEN IT BECOMES ABOUT $700,000 FOR YEARS, 24 THROUGH 29.
WE HAVE $8 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE TWO PROJECTS.
WE WILL RECEIVE A $732,000 AND SOME CHANGE PREMIUM.
SO THE PAR AMOUNT THAT WE NEED IS $7,345,000.
I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY SEEN THE INTEREST RATES AND CHART.
SO WITH THAT, WE DO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY AWARD, THE $7,345,000 TAX NOTE SERIES 2022 B TO MISROW FINANCE INC.
COUNCIL WHAT QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR LAURA OR STEVEN ABOUT THIS PROJECT? SO I DO HAVE SOME MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY.
LAURA, IF I COULD ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS HERE.
MY MATH IS PROBABLY WRONG, AND I'D ASK YOU TO HELP ME KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
SO THE NOTE IS AN $8 MILLION DOLLAR NOTE.
AND I'M NOT DISPUTING THE NEEDS ON EITHER.
YES, SIR. BUT THE PATH AT WHICH YOU'VE CHOSEN TO PAY FOR THESE HAVE A LONG TERM TAX IMPACT.
SO THAT $8 MILLION DOLLAR TAX NOTE IMPACTS OUR TAX RATE, HOW MUCH? SO ONLY HALF OF THE PAYMENT WOULD COME FROM PROPERTY TAX RATE AND IT WOULD BE STARTING IN YEAR 2024 WHEN THE AMOUNT JUMPS UP TO ABOUT $700,000, IT WOULD BE 4/10 OF A PENNY.
SO THE 4/10 OF A PENNY IS NOT ON THE 8 MILLION, IT'S ON THE 4 MILLION.
THAT IS CORRECT. SO THAT'S WHERE MY MATH IS WRONG.
I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY.
I WAS GOING TO SAY SO OUR FLEET REVENUES ARE NOT A PLEDGE-ABLE SECURITY FOR A DEBT ISSUANCE.
AND SO THE FULL NOTE HAS TO HAVE THE PROPERTY TAX AS THE PLEDGE FOR THE ISSUANCE.
AND SO THERE'S NOT IF WE WERE TO BE USING SOMETHING LIKE WATER AND SEWER REVENUES OR DRAINAGE REVENUES, THOSE COULD BE A COMBINATION OF TAX AND REVENUE NOTES. BUT OUR FLEET REVENUES ARE NOT A PLEDGE-ABLE REVENUE SOURCE AND SO THE FULL AMOUNT HAS TO BE PLEDGED BY THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
SO THE CONCERN I HAVE IS WE'RE INCREASING OUR TAX RATE WHAT EQUATES TO AN $8 MILLION DOLLAR REVENUE ON 0.4, 04 PENNIES? WE ARE INCREASING OUR.
AND I'M NOT BELABORING THE POINT.
I'M JUST SAYING LIKE IT'S A SEVEN YEAR TAX NOTE.
YES. AND THE GOOD NEWS IN THAT IS YOU'RE GOING TO MORE OR LESS LEASE SOFTWARE AT THIS POINT, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE TAKING OUT A TAX NOTE SOFTWARE IS GOING TO NEED TO BE UPDATED IN 5 TO 7 YEARS. AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT IN THE BUDGET.
WE WOULDN'T NEED TO DO THIS AGAIN.
THAT IS CORRECT. FUEL ISLANDS ARE NOT A SEVEN YEAR LIFE SPAN OR EXPECTANCY, IF I'M CORRECT.
SO LIKE I WOULD HOPE FLOYD ARE THESE 20 OR 30 YEAR FUEL ISLANDS ANYWAY? YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
DO WE HAVE ANY MONEY IN FLEET THAT COULD PAY FOR THIS? DO WE HAVE ANY CASH ON HAND? DO WE HAVE ANY EXISTING OR I'D SAY EXCESS REVENUES, SALES TAX, ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN GENERAL FUND? SO ON THIS SLIDE, IF Y'ALL CAN SEE THAT ON YOUR SCREENS, IT'S BROKEN DOWN BETWEEN THE TWO USES THE FUEL ISLANDS AND THE SOFTWARE AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT ON LET'S SEE 1,2,3 THE FOURTH COLUMN WHERE IT SAYS TOTAL DEBT SERVICE UNDER FUEL ISLANDS IS 4.3 MILLION OVER THE LIFE OF THE NOTES.
THAT ALL WILL COME FROM THE EXISTING FLEET REVENUES.
HOWEVER, THE PLEDGE IS ALL BACKED BY THE PROPERTY TAXES.
WE'RE ONLY PAYING THE 4,384,000 FROM PROPERTY TAX.
THAT'S WHAT TRANSLATES TO THE 4/10 OF A PENNY.
THE REST OF IT WILL COME OFF OF OUR EXISTING FLEET REVENUES.
AND AS. IN LAYMAN'S TERMS. I'M SORRY. DOES THAT MEAN THAT REALLY THE ONLY PART THAT'S LANDING ON PROPERTY TAX RATE IS THE SOFTWARE? THAT IS CORRECT. THAT IS CORRECT.
[02:05:03]
AND SO IT'S SIMILAR TO A MORTGAGE WHERE YOUR HOUSE IS BACKING THE MORTGAGE.IN THIS CASE, OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE IS BACKING THE DEBT SERVICE.
BUT YOU MIGHT USE ALL SORTS OF MEANS TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR THE DEBT.
AND IN OUR CASE, WE'RE GOING TO USE TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES TO PAY THE DEBT.
HALF WILL COME FROM OUR EXISTING FLEET SERVICES REVENUE.
IT'S ALREADY BUILT INTO THE BUDGET.
THE OTHER HALF IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO APPLY TO THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BEGINNING IN NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH WOULD BE THE 23-24 FISCAL YEAR.
WHEN THAT FUEL DEBT IS PAID OFF.
YES. IT'S NOT ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
AND WE DIDN'T STRUCTURE THIS AS, FOR INSTANCE, MAYBE A CO OR A LONGER TERM DEBT INSTRUMENT, BECAUSE FOR ONE THING, IT'S VERY RELATIVELY SPEAKING.
SO BEAR WITH ME, IT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, $4 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE FUEL ISLANDS.
COMBINING IT TOGETHER, THIS MAKES A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A DEBT ISSUANCE THAT ENTITIES WOULD BE INTERESTED IN BIDDING UPON. AS STEVEN MENTIONED EARLIER, YOU SAW IN OUR WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BONDS, THERE WERE MORE BIDDERS, THERE'S MORE INTEREST THE LARGER THE SIZE OF THE DEBT ISSUANCE. WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT A VERY SMALL DEBT ISSUANCE, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET MUCH INTEREST IN IT BY COMBINING THESE TWO TOGETHER.
WE ASSUMED WE WOULD GET MORE INTEREST, WHICH ALSO HELPS DRIVE DOWN THE OVERALL INTEREST RATE.
BECAUSE TO ME, THE $8 MILLION DOLLAR TAX NOTE IS WHAT WE'RE PAYING.
IT'S A MILLION DOLLAR INTEREST OVER THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS.
BUT IF IT WAS COMING DIRECTLY FROM OUR TAXES, THAT RATE WOULD BE 0.8 CENTS.
THAT IS CORRECT, IT WOULD NOT BE 0.4.
I THOUGHT IT WAS 1.2 MILLION PER PENNY THAT WE HAVE IN REVENUE.
SO HERE I'M A HALF A PENNY FOR 8 MILLION IN REVENUE.
SO YOU ARE AT WELL, YOU'RE AT 7.
YOU NEED YOU NEED $700,000 PER YEAR OFF OF YOUR PROPERTY TAX RATE.
SO IF YOU DO AND IT'S ABOUT 1.3 IN THIS NEXT YEAR.
I'M CURIOUS, HOW ARE WE PLEDGING? HOW ARE WE INCREASING OUR TAX RATE? LET ME CALL IT A HALF A PENNY, JUST FOR EASE.
OKAY. HOW ARE WE INCREASING THAT? AND WE'RE ONLY BORROWING $8 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE WAY OF LIKE.
YEAH, GO AHEAD AND SAY IT EDDY. SO GO AHEAD.
BECAUSE WE'RE PAYING HALF OF IT OUT OF OUT OF THE OTHER MEANS.
SO ONLY HALF OF IT IS BEING PAID FOR BY OUR TAXES.
YES. OKAY. LAST QUESTION AND THEN I'LL QUIT.
DO WE HAVE SALES TAX REVENUES, ANY OTHER FORMS OF PAYMENT THAT WOULD BE SUITABLE? COULD WE PAY CASH FOR THIS INSTEAD OF BORROWING THE MONEY? SO WE HAVE HAD STRONG SALES TAX COLLECTIONS IN THIS CURRENT YEAR.
WE WORK THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS TO ALLOCATE SOME OF THE EARLY EXCESS COLLECTIONS THAT WE GOT THIS FISCAL YEAR TOWARDS CASH FUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO THOSE HAVE BEEN WORKED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
SO THERE ARE THOSE THAT ARE STILL UP FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE PROPOSED 22-23 BUDGET.
THE CASH FUNDED GENERAL FUND PROJECTS WOULD BE WOULD POTENTIALLY BE ELIGIBLE.
WE DO ALSO HAVE SOME PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN STARTED IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME ABILITY FOR COUNCIL IF THEY CHOSE TO PULL CASH FUNDING FROM THEM TO USE INSTEAD FOR A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
IT WOULD JUST BE WHATEVER COUNCIL DECIDED.
AGAIN, THOUGH ONE OF THE REASONS WE BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AS AN ACTUAL DEBT ISSUANCE THAT WOULD BE APPLIED TO THE PROPERTY TAX RATE IS SO INSTEAD OF USING ONE TIME CASH FUNDING IN SEVEN YEARS, WHEN THIS TAX NOTE IS FULLY PAID FOR, WE WOULD STILL HAVE THAT ONGOING FUNDING SOURCE TO THEN REFRESH THE SOFTWARE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IT UPGRADED PROPERLY SO WE DON'T GET 20 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD AND HAVE TO TRY TO FIND SOME SORT OF A LARGE UPFRONT EXPENDITURE TO UPGRADE A SOFTWARE PACKAGE LIKE THIS.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE EXPLANATION.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. YOU'RE WELCOME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, LAURA. DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM? YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8003 TO AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS TAX NOTES SERIES 2022 B IN
[02:10:06]
RESOLVING OTHER MATTERS, INCIDENT AND RELATED THERETO, INCLUDING THE APPROVAL OF A PAYING AGENT/REGISTER AGREEMENT.IT'S BEEN MOVED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ITEM 3E.
DISCUSSIONS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MOTION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANYONE OPPOSED? NO. OKAY.
SO THAT THAT MOTION PASSES 4 1.
AND WITH THAT, LET'S TAKE A BREAK AND COME BACK IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO PICK BACK UP.
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THE PATIENCE IN JUMPING AROUND ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
[1.D. Presentation of Gun Violence Trends in Amarillo]
OK WHERE WE LEFT OFF IS BACK TO AGENDA ITEM 1D WHICH RYAN'S BEEN SO PATIENT.BECAUSE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PRESENTATION.
A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO IT.
SO LET'S, GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATION OF GUN VIOLENCE TRENDS IN AMARILLO.
MR. CITY MANAGER, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO PREFACE THIS REPORT WITH? JUST A QUICK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON RYAN.
I DON'T WANT TO GIVE HIM TOO BIG OF A HEAD, BUT HE'S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
HE HAS HARVARD MASTER'S DEGREES IN BOTH EDUCATION AND POLICY.
SO HE IS BRINGING A WEALTH OF ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE TO OUR REAL WORLD PROBLEM SET.
AND I THINK IT'S BEEN A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR RYAN.
I BELIEVE IT'S ALSO BEEN A GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TEAM, AND IT'S GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT A VERY REAL CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE WORKING ON HERE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO. SO, RYAN, DID I MISS ANYTHING? DID I OVERSTATE ANYTHING? JUST THE BIG DEAL PART? NOT AS BIG OF A DEAL.
[LAUGHTER] HE WOULD NEVER SAY THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, EVERYONE.
HEY RYAN, LET ME JUST JUMP IN REAL QUICK.
I'M GOING TO NEED YOU TO ALMOST KIND OF EAT THAT MICROPHONE, APOLOGIZE.
IT'S OUR SOUND IS SO BAD IN HERE AND SOME OF OUR AUDIENCE NEEDS THE HELP.
AMARILLO IS THE FOURTH MOST VIOLENT CITY IN TEXAS, ACCORDING TO ONE SOURCE FROM THE FBI.
IT FALLS BEHIND LUBBOCK AND ODESSA.
THE THIRD IS CORPUS CHRISTI OUT ON THE COAST, THE VIOLENT CRIME RATE IS ABOUT 8.36.
VIOLENT CRIMES PER 1000 RESIDENTS IN THE CITY.
THIS IS ABOUT TWICE THE STATE AVERAGE.
EVEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOW THAT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME, THIS DATA IS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, SO A LITTLE BIT UPDATED NOW, BUT EVEN THE ENTIRE PANHANDLE IS SEEING AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME. AMARILLO MORE SO THAN SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES THAT WE SEE.
A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, A MEDIA INQUIRY CAME IN TO THE APD.
OUR ANALYST TEAM WAS ABLE TO LOOK FROM 2019 ONWARDS TO REALLY SEE, ARE WE SEEING MORE GUN VIOLENCE? ARE WE SEEING MORE SHOOTINGS IN THE CITY OVER THESE FOUR YEARS? THIS IS A VERY ROUGH ESTIMATE, VERY MODEST.
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO GIVE US VERY CLEAN NUMBERS ON THIS.
SO PROBABLY A 60% INCREASE FROM 2019 TO 2022 AS OF TODAY.
ALL THAT INFORMATION WAS PRESENT BEFORE I GOT HERE.
I DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO ANY OF THAT.
I'LL MOVE INTO WHAT I ACTUALLY HELPED TO DO.
THIS ALLOWED US TO CONCLUDE OVER PAST 12 MONTHS, ABOUT 450 CASES WHERE A FIREARM WAS DISCHARGED.
I WAS ABLE TO GO THROUGH AND READ 450 CASES OF NARRATIVES, FIELD INTERVIEWS, LOOKING THROUGH SUSPECTS AND VICTIMS TO REALLY PULL OUT SOME OF THE KEY TRENDS THAT THROUGH GEOGRAPHICAL AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OUT SOME INTERESTING PATTERNS THAT I'LL PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.
I THINK IT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT TO DENOTE THAT THIS IS INCOMPLETE DATA.
THIS IS ONLY INFORMATION THAT COMES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
[02:15:03]
WE CAN'T COMPARE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN LUBBOCK OR ODESSA, AND ALSO WE HAVE NO HISTORICAL REFERENCE ON THIS.WE WERE ABLE TO FIND 355 SHOOTINGS OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
THAT WOULD CHANGE THAT NUMBER TO ABOUT 1.2 SHOOTINGS PER 12 HOURS.
THIS CRACKS DOWN TO THE ABOUT A GUN VIOLENCE RATE OF 1.75 SHOOTINGS PER 1000 INDIVIDUALS.
THIS IS HIGHER THAN AMARILLO'S ROBBERY RATE.
IT IS HIGHER THAN OUR RAPE RATE IT IS HIGHER THAN OUR MURDER RATE.
THERE IS NO PART OF THE CITY THAT IS DEVOID OF GUN VIOLENCE.
THERE ARE PLACES THAT SEE IT MORE OFTEN, THOUGH THIS IS NOT THE BEST GRAPH TO SEE FROM AFAR.
BUT THE RED SHOWS WHERE WE HAVE A PROPENSITY OF GUN VIOLENCE TO OCCUR.
THE DARKER BLUE SECTIONS SHOW WHERE IT IS LEAST LIKELY.
SO YOU SEE THAT WE HAVE QUOTE UNQUOTE COLD SPOTS THAT HAPPEN IN THE NORTHERN I MEAN, IN THE WESTERN, EASTERN AND SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS OF THE CITY WITH KIND OF NORTH-CENTRAL BEING THE HOT SPOT AREAS OF WHERE WE SEE MOST OF OUR GUN VIOLENCE TO OCCUR.
WHEN WE BREAK THIS DOWN BY THE DIFFERENT QUADRANTS OF THE CITY, THE NORTH AND THE WEST HOLD A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF THIS GUN VIOLENCE PROPORTIONAL TO THE SIZE THAT THEY ACTUALLY OCCUPY.
A MAJORITY OF GUN RELATED HOMICIDES OCCURS IN THE NORTHERN NEIGHBORHOOD.
A MAJORITY OF THE GUN RELATED DOMESTIC DISPUTES OCCUR IN THE WESTERN NEIGHBORHOOD.
WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO DO SOME SIMPLE CORRELATIONAL STATISTICAL ANALYSIS, WE SEE THAT NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE GREATER GUN VIOLENCE ALSO HAVE HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT, HIGHER POVERTY, LESS HOMEOWNERSHIP AND LESS EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT.
WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT ACTUALLY CONSISTS OF THE SHOOTINGS THAT OCCUR, A MAJORITY OF THESE CASES HAPPEN IN AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS WHERE A GUN IS SPECIFICALLY USED TO INFLICT HARM ON ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, FOLLOWED BY VANDALISM, THEN AGGRAVATED ROBBERY, AND THEN HOMICIDE.
THESE ARE ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT FOR THE POLICE TO TRACK DOWN AND GET SOLID, VALID INFORMATION ON.
SO THAT POSES ANOTHER ISSUE FOR THE APD AS WELL.
OUT OF THE 355 CASES THAT WE IDENTIFIED, WE WERE ABLE TO LOCATE 176 VALID SUSPECTS, WHICH KIND OF GIVES US A NICE SAMPLE SIZE TO ACTUALLY CONCLUDE WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT AS OUR SHOOTER PROFILE OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
OVER 50% OF THE SHOOTERS WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 25.
ABOUT A FIFTH OF THEM WERE SCHOOL AGE.
OVERWHELMINGLY MALE, ALMOST 90%.
AND ON AVERAGE, MOST OF THEM DO HAVE A QUITE COLORED HISTORY WITH THE APD.
SO AN AVERAGE OF TEN PAST OFFENSES, BOTH VIOLENT AND NONVIOLENT, AND THREE PASSED VIOLENT OFFENSES.
WHEN WE THINK OF THE RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS, THIS OCCURS ACROSS EVERY RACIAL GROUP.
IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, A MAJORITY OF OUR SHOOTERS WERE HISPANIC, FOLLOWED BY BLACK INDIVIDUALS, FOLLOWED BY WHITE INDIVIDUALS DISPROPORTIONATELY, THOUGH OUR SHOOTERS ARE BLACK PROPORTIONATE TO THE MAKEUP THAT THEY HAVE WITHIN THE CITY OVERALL.
WHEN WE LOOK AT WHO GETS SHOT, THOUGH, IT'S A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC.
SO A MAJORITY OF THE INTENDED VICTIMS OR TARGETS OF SHOOTINGS IN AMARILLO TEND TO BE CIVILIANS WHO ARE NOT RELATED TO THE SHOOTER VIA BLOOD OR AN INTIMATE PARTNERSHIP.
AND THEN SHOOTINGS ARE EQUALLY LIKELY TO HAPPEN WITHIN RACIAL GROUPS AS THEY ARE ACROSS THEM, WHICH KIND OF TELLS YOU THAT IN AMARILLO THERE'S NO CLEAR RACIAL PATTERNS THAT DICTATE WHY THESE SHOOTINGS HAPPENED IN OUR CITY.
AND THEN I'LL TRY TO BREAK DOWN KIND OF HOW I'VE CONCLUDED WHAT THE MAJOR TAKEAWAYS ARE AND HOW I'VE KIND OF DICTATED MY NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS HERE AS I MOVE FORWARD WITH MY RESEARCH. THIS PIE CHART SHOWS THAT IN ALL OF THE CASES THAT WE LOOKED AT, OVER 50% OF THEM, 50.6, APD WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE A MOTIVE FOR WHY THE SHOOTING HAPPENED, WASN'T ABLE TO LOCATE A SUSPECT FOR WHO DID THE SHOOTING, SOMETIMES, COULDN'T EVEN LOCATE THE VICTIM OR THE INTENDED TARGET OF WHY THAT
[02:20:02]
SHOOTING OCCURRED. THIS IS A HUGE GAP IN OUR KNOWLEDGE.IT REALLY PREVENTS US FROM KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE, BUT ALSO FROM UNDERSTANDING WHY GUN VIOLENCE IS HAPPENING IN THE CITY AND ENDS UP BEING A TOTAL OF 180 SHOOTINGS THAT GO UNSOLVED OR UNRESOLVED OVER THE SPAN OF A YEAR.
BUT IT ALSO SHOWS US THAT WE HAVE A DIRE NEED FOR IMPROVING THE COOPERATION WE HAVE WITH OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WILL ONLY GET PRECEDED BY A BETTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE POLICE AND CITIZENS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT.
WE ACTUALLY DO KNOW THE MOTIVE OF THE SUSPECT.
AND A FEW FINER DETAILS THAT GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF AN INSIGHT INTO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
AND THOSE ARE GANGS, YOUTH OFFENDERS, DRIVE BYS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I AM HELPING THE PD DO AND I HOPE TO TURN OVER TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL, IS THINKING ABOUT HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THESE FOUR ELEMENTS AS MAJOR LEVERS IN REDUCING CRIME IN THE CITY, BUT ALSO THINK OF THEM FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH CIRCUMSTANCE.
WHAT'S ON THE PRESENTATION NOW IS WHAT'S CALLED THE HADDON MATRIX.
IT'S TAKEN FROM PUBLIC HEALTH THEORY.
IT BREAKS DOWN ANY VIOLENT EVENTS INTO THREE STAGES WHERE A CITY AGENCY, A NONPROFIT, CAN INTERVENE.
IT'S THE INTERVENTION, THE PREVENTION OF ACTUALLY ALLOWING THAT SHOT TO BE FIRED.
THE CLEARANCE AND THE PROSECUTION OF THAT OFFENDER, ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT, DETERMINED, AND THEN ALSO THE REHABILITATION OF THAT OFFENDER, ONCE THEY'VE BEEN CAUGHT AND THE HEALING OF THEIR VICTIMS AND THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'VE PERPETRATED IN.
AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF CRIMES THAT ARE COMMITTED BY YOUTH, WHICH ARE OF A VIOLENT NATURE, THAT PERCENTAGE HAS GONE UP QUITE DRASTICALLY SINCE THE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL, MOVING FROM 31% OF ALL CRIMES TO 39% OF ALL CRIMES.
THIS KIND OF IDENTIFIES THAT ALTHOUGH MAYBE YOUTHS ARE NOT COMMITTING MORE CRIMES IN THE CITY, THE NATURE OF WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO PERPETRATE IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE VIOLENT, WHICH IS BOTH A PROBLEM FOR THEM AND A PROBLEM FOR US AS A CITY AT LARGE, AND DICTATES THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON THEM AS A MAJOR LEVER FOR IMPROVEMENT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'LL DO IN MY NEXT TWO WEEKS IS REALLY ZONE IN ON WHAT THIS MAP SHOWS HERE, WHICH IS A PROPENSITY, A CONCENTRATION OF WHERE AT RISK YOUTH LIVE IN THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO HAVE A COLORED PAST WITH APD AND PROBABLY WILL HAVE A PROPENSITY FOR INCREASED VIOLENT CRIME UNLESS THEY HAVE SOLID SOCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE CITY AND OUTSIDE AGENCIES.
MY GOAL IS TO LOOK IN THESE THREE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE HAVE THIS PROPENSITY.
THAT'S HAMLET, NORTH HEIGHTS AND EASTRIDGE.
AND CONSIDER WHAT ARE THE CURRENT SOCIAL SERVICES THESE KIDS HAVE AVAILABLE TO THEM? HOW DOES THE CITY MOVE IN AND SUPPORT THOSE AGENCIES TO BOTH BE BETTER ON THEIR OWN, BUT ALSO BE BETTER TOGETHER AS WELL.
IT'S HIGH. IT'S EXPECTED TO INCREASE.
THE APD HAS LIMITED INFORMATION ON THIS GUN VIOLENCE, AND THAT WOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO INCREASE UNLESS WE RAPIDLY IMPROVE OUR CAPACITY TO GAIN CRIMINAL INTEL AND OR IMPROVE COMMUNITY COOPERATION.
THANK YOU. RYAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR DIALOG YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH RYAN? I DIDN'T KNOW IF CHIEF BIRKENFELD WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING.
YES OR COME UP AND ADD SOME COLOR OR FLAVOR.
WELL, I DO WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE RYAN BEING SO THOROUGH.
YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN REPORTS OVER THE YEARS AND SOMETIMES YOU SEE MEDIOCRE STUFF.
[02:25:05]
WE ALREADY KNOW SOME OF THIS STUFF, BUT IT ALSO KIND OF GIVES US A MAP TO MOVE FORWARD, EITHER KNOWING THAT WE'RE MOVING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION OR THE RIGHT DIRECTION.CLEARLY, THERE'S SOME OF BOTH IN HERE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS AS ANOTHER TOOL TO DEVELOP OUR STRATEGIES AND AND PERFECT OUR STRATEGIES TO CONTINUE, BECAUSE I'M NOT WILLING AND I KNOW OUR CITY'S NOT WILLING AND OUR COMMUNITY IS NOT WILLING TO JUST THROW OUR HANDS UP AND SAY, WELL, VIOLENT CRIME IS UP ACROSS THE NATION.
FIRST FIRST OF ALL, HAILEY HERNANDEZ IS OUR CRIME ANALYST SUPERVISOR.
SHE'S BEEN WITH US A FEW YEARS.
CAPTAIN BROWN ALSO WAS INSTRUMENTAL.
I ASSIGNED RYAN TO CAPTAIN BROWN TO TO FOR GUIDANCE IN GETTING OUR DATA.
AND THERE'S PROBABLY SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE I.
LIEUTENANT GROSS IS THE LEADER OF OUR CRIME AND OR OUR VIOLENT CRIME UNIT.
AND WE HAD TO CONTRIBUTE A LOT OF INFORMATION.
OKAY. WELL, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
AND I'LL JUST SAY RIGHT OFF THE BAT THAT THIS IS COUNCIL'S JOB IS TO PROVIDE BASIC CITY SERVICES FOR OUR CITIZENS AND PROVIDING A SAFE CITY TO LEAVE TO LIVE IN REALLY IS THE MOST BASIC OF BASIC.
AND WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE HARVARD PROGRAM AND THIS DOOR OPENED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A HARVARD RESEARCH.
SUMMER PROGRAM WE WERE INTERESTED IN.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY INTERESTED IN DOING IT ON GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY, REALLY.
AND WE WERE DOING THAT EVEN BEFORE OUR NUMBERS WERE CHANGING SO DRASTICALLY IN THIS LAST YEAR BECAUSE THIS THE CONVERSATION TO GET THIS PROJECT STARTED HAPPENED ABOUT TEN MONTHS AGO. SO I JUST WANT TO SAY KUDOS TO JARED AND HIS VISIONARY APPROACH TO LEADING CITY STAFF TO SAY, YES, IF THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN PURSUE.
GETTING RYAN WE DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME IT WOULD BE YOU.
RYAN, BUT GETTING SOMEONE HERE THAT HAD AN AND.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS PROVIDED THROUGH A GRANT.
AND RYAN'S BEEN HIS EXPENSES HAVE BEEN COVERED NOT BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS BUT BY GRANT FUNDED DOLLARS.
AND SO KUDOS TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR OPENING THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
THANK YOU BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE IT BETTER.
BUT ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO SAY ON THAT COUNCILMEMBER STAY.
DID WE TRACK AND DO WE KNOW, DO WE HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF ASSAULTS AND CONFLICT? AND OUR YOUTH ARE PREDOMINANTLY CHOOSING TO SOLVE THESE WITH GUN VIOLENCE INSTEAD OF, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER FORM OF RESOLUTION.
IF WE'RE LOOKING AT YOUTH ONLY.
WE HAVE SOME RECORD NUMBERS THAT ARE HITTING THIS YEAR.
AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ASSAULTS, ARSON, BUT AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS COMMITTED BY YOUTH ARE MOVING DOWN.
BUT FROM WHAT WE CAN TELL, THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE.
BUT I STILL DON'T THINK THAT NEGATES THAT.
YOU DESERVE A LOT OF ATTENTION WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
THANK YOU. QUESTIONS FROM THIS END OF THE DICE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE IN AMARILLO? I'VE BEEN HERE SEVEN WEEKS.
IT'S BEEN SHORT AND SWEET, BUT VERY ENJOYABLE.
SEVEN WEEKS SPENT IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT LOOKING AT ALL OUR DATA.
[02:30:01]
YOU AND HAYLEY DIVING.WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK.
I THINK WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER SMITH.
I WANT TO SAY TO THE POLICE CHIEF, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES FOR US.
IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY FEW DAYS.
THERE'S AN INCIDENT THAT TAKES PLACE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ANY COMMUNITY COULD DEFUND THEIR POLICE.
I APPRECIATE IT. IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE IN AMARILLO.
YOU KNOW, I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE AND I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE ELSE.
BUT YOUR SUPPORT MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT MAKES IT MUCH MORE REWARDING TO BE ABLE TO DO OUR JOBS.
AND THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I FEEL.
ALSO NEGLECTED TO MENTION THAT I KNOW MAYOR NELSON.
OPEN SOME DOORS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND AND JENNIFER ALSO HELPED WHEN WE WERE FIRST INTERVIEWING SEVERAL CANDIDATES.
IT WAS TOUGH BECAUSE YOU WERE COMPETING AMONGST A BUNCH OF SMART PEOPLE THERE.
BUT YEAH, WE ENDED UP PICKING RYAN OUT.
THANK YOU, JENNIFER. AND ALSO.
YES, THANK YOU FOR CALLING THEM OUT.
WE HAD LOTS OF APPLICANTS WHO SAID THEY WANT TO COME TO AMARILLO.
SO, RYAN, WE PICKED YOU AS THE TOP OF THE HEAP.
AND I THINK THIS REPORT SHOWS THAT WE MADE A GOOD PICK.
NONE OF US ARE HAPPY ABOUT WHAT THIS ISSUE IS OR WHAT IT'S SHOWING US, BUT IT DOES GIVE US HOPE FOR KNOWING THAT WE CAN MAKE A STRATEGY. AND I TRUST THE PEOPLE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO EXECUTE ON THAT STRATEGY.
YEAH. MR. CITY MANAGER I THINK ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT, RECOGNIZING FOR BOTH RYAN AND FOR OUR POLICE TEAM, IT'S NEVER EASY FOR ANY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE SOMEONE COME IN FROM OUTSIDE AND UNFETTERED ACCESS TO ALL OF YOUR DATA.
AND AND DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS.
SORRY I WASN'T SPEAKING INTO THE LITTLE MICROPHONE.
I WAS SPEAKING INTO THE MICROPHONE.
BUT BUT I DO THINK THAT I WANT TO COMMEND OUR TEAM, OUR APD TEAM, BECAUSE THERE WAS NEVER ANY HESITANCY TO OPEN UP EVERY FILE IN EVERY CASE THAT WE HAVE TO ANALYSIS.
SO ALL THAT TO SAY, I APPRECIATE OUR APD TEAM AND OUR OUTSIDE INPUT FOR WORKING EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER TO HELP GIVE US BETTER CLARITY AND RESOLUTION ON OUR CHALLENGES AND WHAT OUR SPECIFIC PATHS FOR IMPROVEMENT WHERE OPPORTUNITIES MIGHT BE.
BECAUSE, CHIEF, I BET YOU COULD YOU'RE IN YOUR TEAM COULD SAY, YEAH, WE THAT CORROBORATES WHAT WE KNEW BUT EMPIRICALLY BEING ABLE TO SAY, YEAH, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON, WHERE IT'S GOING ON, WHO'S DOING IT, AND THEN BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY SOME POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITIES AND AVENUES TO MAKE INROADS IS A HUGE ACHIEVEMENT ON BOTH PARTIES PARTS.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE BEHIND YOU.
ABSOLUTELY. LITERALLY BEHIND YOU.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS, WE WOULD ECHO THAT.
BUT CHIEF, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH WHAT JARED JUST SAID.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT SO MUCH.
MOVING ON TO ITEM ONE E, REQUESTING FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS OR REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER? DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING?
[2. CONSENT ITEMS]
IT'S STRANGE TO BE AT THIS POINT IN THE MEETING, WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING TO CONSENT.WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF JUMPING AROUND.
ANYTHING THERE THAT NEEDS TO COME OFF FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? MAYOR IF YOU'D BE KIND ENOUGH TO PULL, WHY NOT FOR A DISCUSSION? THAT IS THE ITEM FOR THE FIBER OPTIC DIRECTIONAL DRILLING.
ANYTHING ELSE? DO WE HAVE A MOTION WITH REGARD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? YES, MAYOR, WE DO.
I MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA WITH THE CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES.
ITEM TWO ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY I.
[2.Y. CONSIDER AWARD - FIBER OPTIC DIRECTIONAL DRILLING SERVICES]
ANYONE OPPOSED THAT PASSES WITH A5000 VOTE ITEM.[02:35:02]
WHY? OFF OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, MR. CITY MANAGER. ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, I'M GOING TO ASK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER RICH GALEN TO COME UP AND PRESENT THE ITEM AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE.LET ME START BY CLARIFYING ITEM.
WHY IS NOT AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF ANY CITY FUNDS OR ANY CITY BUDGET? WHAT IT IS, IS IT'S THE IT IS THE CULMINATION OF A VENDOR SELECTION PROCESS WHERE WHEREBY WE CHOSE WHAT VENDOR WE WOULD USE FOR THE NEXT YEAR TO EXECUTE ANY FIBER PROJECTS THE CITY MAY HAVE.
THAT'S A BUDGET THAT GETS APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
THEN ALL THAT THIS DOES IS IT DETERMINES WHAT VENDOR WILL BE USING FOR THE NEXT YEAR WITH THE OPTION TO USE THAT VENDOR AGAIN THE YEAR AFTER THAT, THE NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE ON IT ARE A CAP.
THEY'RE A LIMIT. SO WHAT THAT DOES IS THAT PREVENTS US FROM MISUSING THAT CONTRACT.
IF SUDDENLY WE HAD A NEED TO RUN $5 MILLION WORTH OF FIBER, WE WOULD HAVE TO RENEGOTIATE THAT AND WITH GOOD REASON, BECAUSE WE WOULD WANT A BETTER DISCOUNT DISCOUNT BASED ON THE BULK PURCHASE OF THEIR SERVICES.
SO ALL THIS IS, IS MUCH LIKE WE DO WITH OUR AV CONTRACTS.
WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH AN AV PROVIDER.
AND THANK YOU, SIR, IF I COULD.
I HAD A COUPLE CITIZENS THAT REACHED OUT TO ME ON THIS.
AND SO MORE FOR A POINT OF CLARITY THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
SO SO WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS THIS IS A PROCEDURAL IT'S INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
SO THIS IS JUST SELECTING THE VENDOR, BUT THE ACTUAL BUDGET ITEM.
SO THE FIBER FOR CITY HALL IS IN THE BUDGET OR FOR TRANSIT? THE FIBER FOR TRANSIT IS A LINE ITEM IN TRANSIT'S BUDGET.
THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL BUDGET THAT COMES WITH THIS.
SO THIS DOES NOT FREE UP $1,000,000 WORTH OF MONIES OUT OF THE BUDGET IF WE DIDN'T DO THIS.
AND THEN THIS IS NOT A PRIVATE INTERNET LINE IN THE WAY OF LIKE AT&T, VERIZON.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT ANY ANY COMPANY CAN UTILIZE.
THIS WOULD BE A LINE DEDICATED, A HARD LINE, LET'S SAY, FROM ONE BUILDING TO THE NEXT FOR OUR PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION ONLY, CORRECT? INTERNAL ONLY. SO IT'S TO CONNECT NEW FACILITIES TO OUR EXISTING NETWORK.
AND AND YOU'RE EXACTLY YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
IT'S JUST PROCEDURE ON HOW WE SELECT THE VENDOR THAT WILL BE DOING THOSE JOBS.
THIS IS JUST HOW WE FULFILL WORK THAT IS ALREADY BUDGETED.
OKAY. YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT BASICALLY COVERS IT.
NO, GO AHEAD. DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON IT THEN.
I'M SORRY IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT.
NO, THANK YOU. I THINK WE EXPLAINED IT.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT, RICH.
OKAY. YOU WANT ME TO READ THEM? YOU KNOW WHAT? WE DON'T HAVE ONE TO READ, SO, YES, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT.
WE APPROVE ITEM I TO CONSIDER THE AWARD FOR FIBER OPTIC DIRECTIONAL DRILLING SERVICES.
WHY? IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER STANLEY AND APPROVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH TO APPROVE ITEM.
WHY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA ANY CONVERSATION OR DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT MOTION ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY I OPPOSED THAT PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.
[3.A. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 08-16-22-5]
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.MOVING ON TO SECTION THREE OF OUR AGENDA THREE A IS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER 0816225.
MR. CITY MANAGER ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, THE NEXT TWO ITEMS WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT PROPOSED CITY LEGISLATIVE AGENDA, WHICH IS MUCH LIKE OUR PREVIOUS THREE OR FOUR YEARS LEGISLATIVE AGENDAS.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT HTML, TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE LEGISLATIVE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH ARE VERY TYPICALLY ONLY GOING TO BE THINGS THAT ARE THINGS THAT EVERY CITY WOULD GET ON BOARD WITH BECAUSE HTML WILL ONLY SPONSOR THINGS OR ONLY ENDORSE THINGS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE CITIES ARGUING WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT.
SO THESE ARE GOING TO BE THINGS THAT ARE VERY BASIC.
SO ANDREW FREEMAN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, IS GOING TO GO OVER BOTH OF THESE THINGS.
SOUNDS GOOD. SO AS JARED MENTIONED, THIS IS A POLICY OR PRIORITIES THAT HAVE COME TO COUNCIL IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE CITY COUNCILS TO GIVE DIRECTION. REALLY, IT'S TO GIVE DIRECTION TO CITY STAFF AS WELL AS OUR LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANTS BOTH AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
[02:40:05]
SO THEY REALLY HAVE THE MARCHING ORDERS FROM COUNCIL AS FAR AS WHAT THE GROUP AS A WHOLE SUPPORT SO THEY CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS AND BE PREPARED AS AS THINGS ARE PRESENTED IN BILLS THAT GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.SO A LOT OF THIS IS JUST IN PREPARATION OF THE NEXT SESSION NOT KNOWING WHAT BILLS ARE COMING, WHAT MIGHT BE FILED, AND A LOT OF IT WERE ON PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
SO FIRST OFF, THERE ARE THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES THAT CITY COUNCIL WOULD BE ADOPTING IN THIS POLICY AS FAR AS SUPPORTING ANYTHING THAT ENHANCES THE ABILITY FOR THE CITY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE CITIZENS, AS WELL AS ANY INITIATIVES FROM PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD ENHANCE EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE RESOURCES IN THE REGION.
AND THEN THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT THE CITY JUST GENERALLY DOES DOES OPPOSE AS IT COMES FORWARD.
ANYTHING THAT INCREASES THE CITY'S COSTS, ANYTHING THAT REDUCES THE CITY'S AUTHORITY, AND ANYTHING THAT BURDENS AMARILLO TAXPAYERS WITH UNFUNDED MANDATES, WHICH ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME THROUGH RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS.
NOW I'VE GOT THE BULLETS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES.
SO IN FRONT OF YOU, ON THE DAIS ARE THE IS THE FULL DOCUMENT.
THERE'S ALSO INCLUDED A RED LINE VERSION.
WE DID SPEND A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME AT YOUR BUDGET WORKSHOP GOING THROUGH EACH OF THESE.
SO I'LL TRY AND KEEP A LITTLE BRIEF AS I AS I WALK THROUGH THEM, FEEL FREE TO STOP AND ASK QUESTIONS OR GO INTO MORE DETAIL WITH EACH ITEM I WILL TOUCH ON THE ONES THAT ARE RED LINE YOUR DOCUMENT. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD THAT YOU MIGHT WANT ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE DOCUMENT OR ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT WE RESEARCH AND ADDED TO THIS LATEST VERSION OF THE PRIORITIES. SO FIRST UP, OF COURSE, IS TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS A BIG TOPIC HERE IN AMARILLO.
THIS TOUCHES ON THINGS LIKE COMPLETING THE BUILDING OF LOOP 335.
AND WE ALSO ADDED IN NOT INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS VERSIONS WAS TO PROVIDE AND SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADD THE CO DESIGNATION OF INTERSTATE 40 AS MLK OR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR MEMORIAL HIGHWAY INTO YOUR DOCUMENT.
THE NEXT ONE IS PRO FAMILY POLICY.
THIS IS A NEW NEW ADDITION TO THE PRIORITIES.
THIS IS SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN RESOURCES, PROVIDE TO NEW MOTHERS AND NEW FAMILIES THAT LIVE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO, THINGS LIKE REHABILITATING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, REDUCING BARRIERS TO PRIVATE ADOPTION, LESSENING THE TIME, COMMITMENT AND PAPERWORK SURROUNDING BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ADOPTION.
JUST TO TO REALLY ADD MORE EMPHASIS TO THE PRO FAMILY POLICIES THAT THE STATE MIGHT ENACT.
NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT PROPERTY TAX, DEBT AND SALES TAX.
PROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS THE SEA OF AMARILLO AND OUR LOW TAX RATE COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES IN THE STATE WOULD UNNECESSARILY RESTRICT THE ABILITY TO ISSUE DEBT OR IMPOSE ADDITIONAL UNDUE BURDENS ON DEBT ISSUANCE AND ALSO WOULD WOULD IMPOSE REVENUE CAPS THAT LOWERED THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE THAT'S BEEN SET IN PREVIOUS SESSIONS, AS WELL AS MANDATORY TAX RATE ELECTIONS.
WE KEPT THAT ONE A LITTLE A LITTLE MORE BROAD AS FAR AS NOT HAVING A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT TO THE CITY'S ANNUAL BUDGET, BECAUSE IT COULD BE A MATTER OF SOURCING WHERE THE PRODUCT IS SOLD VERSUS WHERE IT'S DELIVERED, AND THERE MIGHT BE A MIXTURE OF THE TWO.
SO WE JUST WANT TO BE ON OUR TOES AS FAR AS WHATEVER BENEFITS AMARILLO MOVING FORWARD.
THIS IS JUST TO KEEP HOPEFULLY FROM THAT GETTING ANY MORE DIFFICULT MOVING FORWARD.
EXPANSION OF BROADBAND INTERNET.
THIS IS, OF COURSE, AN ONGOING PROJECT FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
THIS IS JUST TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THAT DIGITAL DIVIDE, PROVIDE ELIMINATION OF FINANCIAL BARRIERS FOR THE CITIZENS THAT ARE TRYING TO ACCESS BROADBAND INTERNET RIGHT AWAY IN SMALL CELL TOWERS.
THIS IS ALSO A CONTINUATION SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE CONTROL OF MUNICIPAL RIGHT AWAY, ALLOWING TO CHARGE FEES AS FAR AS MARKET RATE TO USE THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND ALSO AUTHORITY OVER THE SMALL CELL NODES THAT CURRENTLY ARE ALLOWED TO BASICALLY GO UP WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE TO BE ON EXISTING AND FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE.
NEXT UP IS OPEN MEETINGS AND OPEN RECORDS.
AS FAR AS IN PARTICULAR, AS FAR AS OPEN MEETINGS, IS THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY FOR VIRTUAL MEETINGS.
[02:45:08]
SO WE SAW THE BENEFIT OF BEING ABLE TO USE ZOOM AND OTHER PRODUCTS DURING COVID, AND WE'D LIKE TO SEE THE STATE CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THAT OPTION.VIRTUAL COURT. THAT IS A NEW ONE FROM BUDGET WORKSHOPS AS FAR AS SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO EXPAND OUR MUNICIPAL COURTS ABILITY TO OFFER VIRTUAL COURT HEARINGS. THOSE ARE CURRENTLY STILL BEING USED, BUT IT'S NOT KNOWN WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BE PERMANENT OR COULD GO AWAY.
THAT ONE IS REALLY ABOUT PROVIDING FOR AND ENHANCING LOCAL CONTROL DURING DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES, WHETHER THAT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLIC HEALTH, OR OTHER LEVELS.
EMERGENCIES. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS A CARRYOVER, BUT WE'VE HAD SOME ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO SUPPORTING LEGISLATION FOR MILDURA STATE PARK AS FAR AS INCREASING THAT ASSET TO ALLOW FOR GREATER TOURISM, WHETHER THAT'S ADDING A SECOND ENTRANCE TO THE PARK, HIRING MORE PERSONNEL OR ALLOWING MORE ACCESSIBLE LAND FOR PARK VISITORS TO ENJOY.
WE ALSO ADDED SUPPORTING THE ROUTE 66 AND CENTENNIAL COMMISSION FOR THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF ROUTE 66, WHICH IS COMING UP IN 2026, AS WELL AS INCLUDING THE CITY. AND OUR LOCAL PARTNERS ARE CONTINUING TO SEEK FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THAT ANNIVERSARY.
AND WE ALSO ADDED LANGUAGE AS FAR AS PROHIBITING THE SALE OR LIMITING THE SALE OF LAND IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE OR THE REST OF THE STATE TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY, OR THE CHINESE NATIONALS AFFILIATED WITH THESE TWO ENTITIES.
WE ALSO HAVE A MORE ELABORATE SECTION ON MENTAL HEALTH.
IT TOUCHES ON SUPPORTING FUNDING TO BUILD A STATE HOSPITAL.
STATE MENTAL HOSPITAL IN AMARILLO, INCREASED INTERVENTION AND FUNDS RESOURCE FOR PERSONS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, SUPPORTING TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, MENTAL HEALTH CASEWORKERS, AND BEING ABLE TO AID MORE IN THE CRISIS RESPONSE TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
MEASURES OF RESIDENTS AND SOLICITORS THAT USE NOT ONLY THE CITY BUT STATE RIGHT AWAY AS WELL, AND ALLOWING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO REDIRECT SOLICITORS TO PANHANDLE AND SAFER LOCATIONS. AND THEN NEXT UP, WE'VE GOT THE AMARILLO CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX.
THAT WAS JUST AN ONGOING ITEM TO TRY AND FIND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES BEYOND JUST GENERAL TAX DOLLARS.
WE DID HAVE THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE ADDED AS FAR AS THE ABILITY TO ADD ADDITIONAL 2% OF HOT TAX.
IF THIS WAS EVER ADJUSTED, THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO BE SOMETHING THAT COMES BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
ONCE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACTUALLY RAISE THE TAX, THEY WOULD HAVE TO VOTE ON THAT SEPARATELY.
SO IT'S NOTHING AS FAR AS COMMITTING ANYTHING AT THIS POINT.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE REQUIRED TO USE ALPHABETICAL AND PREVIOUS SESSIONS BEFORE THE CHANGE.
YOU COULD USE NUMERICAL AS WELL.
WHY ARE WE VOTING ON PROP EIGHT AGAIN? SO THAT IS A CONCERN. WE HAVE RECEIVED PUBLIC ADVERTISING THAT WOULD SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO ENABLE THE USE OF ELECTRONIC NOTICE FOR PUBLIC NOTICES VERSUS JUST NEWSPAPER NOTICES BEING THE REQUIREMENT AND THE STANDARD TODAY.
AND THEN THE LAST FOUR, THE STATE LEGISLATION IS OPPOSING ANY ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD LIMIT THE ABILITIES OF CITIES IN RURAL TEXAS WHO ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY DISTANCE FROM THE CAPITAL TO COMMUNICATE WITH LEGISLATURES AND ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF THEIR RURAL COMMUNITIES.
[02:50:06]
COMMUNICATION ON THEIR THEIR AGENDAS AS THEY GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.SO I'LL TAKE A BREAK THERE ON STATE PRIORITIES.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE TO FEDERAL.
THOSE WERE THE TWO HTML ITEMS THAT WE ARE PROPOSING TO SUBMIT THROUGH THEIR PROCESS.
SO I'LL TOUCH ON THAT ON THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM.
SENATOR SELIGER AND NOW SPARKS.
WE'RE ONE OF THE BIGGEST REPOSITORIES OF CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY HAVE.
SO THAT'S THAT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY.
THE OTHER THINGS ARE OCCASIONALLY WE'RE ASKED TO GO TO AUSTIN TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THESE THINGS.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO STAY OUT OF THINGS FROM A STAFF LEVEL.
WE'RE GOING TO STAY OUT OF THINGS THAT ARE VERY, VERY CONTROVERSIAL.
HOWEVER, LIKE TRANSPORTATION, LIKE PRO-FAMILY POLICY, LIKE ANNEXATION, BROADBAND, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE WHERE WE HAVE UNIVERSAL SUPPORT FROM OUR COUNCIL ON THESE ITEMS, WE WILL GO DOWN AND AND JUST PROVIDE FACT BASED INFORMATION AND INPUT THAT IS NOT DESIGNED TO IN ANY WAY STRAY OR DEVIATE FROM WHAT COUNCIL'S GUIDANCE IS.
SO NONE OF THIS IS IS PROPOSED TO PUT US OUT ON A LIMB.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IS WHAT COUNCIL WANTS US TO BE DOING.
SO THIS DOCUMENT HELPS GUIDE STAFF AS WE WORK WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS, STATE STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND ALSO WITH THOSE IN AUSTIN WHO CAN HELP COUNCIL AND COMMUNITIES CAUSE.
WITH REGARD TO LEGISLATION BEING CONSIDERED IN AUSTIN DURING THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL HAS FOR ANDREW OR FOR ME OR FOR ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS? QUESTION. WELL, MAYOR, A POINT OF ORDER OR A POINT OF PROCEDURE? WE DID NOTICE THIS PAGE ONE ON THE DRAFT SAYS EXHIBIT A THAT WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER.
EXHIBIT A WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS AGENDA.
SO I'D LIKE STAFF'S OPINION OR RECOMMENDATION ON POSTPONE THIS FOR TWO WEEKS IN ORDER TO GET EVERYTHING EXACTLY CORRECT IN THE AGENDA. OR CAN WE GET AN OPINION ON SAFE TO MOVE FORWARD? EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T POSTED AND WASN'T PRESENTED, THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ITEM IS POSTED.
OR IF COUNCIL WANTS TO DELAY, WE CAN DO IT THEN.
OR WE CAN MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS AND AND INCORPORATE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS AS APPROVED OR IS IT DIRECTED FROM COUNCIL RIGHT NOW? BUT THE LACK OF HAVING THAT IN THE PACKET AND BEING PROVIDED TO YOU ALL AT THE DAIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GET MR. MCWILLIAM'S OPINION ON IT.
IF I COULD, AND IF I MAY ADD A QUICK POINT OF REFERENCE, THE EXHIBIT A WAS PROVIDED TO COUNCIL IN AN EMAIL ON FRIDAY AS PART OF THE CITY MANAGER REPORT. THANK YOU, STEPHANIE.
BRIAN, IT DOESN'T IMPACT DOESN'T IMPACT IT AT ALL.
YOU CAN TAKE ACTION TODAY IF YOU WISH.
AND FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S NOT A HARD DEADLINE.
BUT IN GENERAL, THE POLICY COULD COME BACK.
DO YOU WANT ME TO TOUCH ON THE FEDERAL FIRST BEFORE WE NEED TO? HE'S ONLY TALKING ABOUT THREE, JUST THREE EIGHT.
I DIDN'T TOUCH ON THE FEDERAL PRIORITIES YET.
WE JUST NEED TO VOTE ON THREE EIGHT RIGHT NOW.
OH, NO, THE FEDERAL PRIORITIES ARE PART OF THREE.
SO WE NEED TO GET THROUGH THE WE ONLY DID THE STATEWIDE.
IF Y'ALL ARE OKAY, WE CAN DO THE FEDERAL FIRST AND SECOND THAT MOTION.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE PERSONS THAT SPOKE EARLIER.
AND I THINK THEY NEED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT.
[02:55:02]
WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO POSTPONE TAKING ACTION.YES. ONE JUST HAS THE RED LINES OF THE CHANGES SINCE THE.
GOTCHA. ALL RIGHT. AND THE FEDERAL AGENDA IS EXTENSIVE.
BUT I'M NOT SEEING HOW THAT HOW THAT CORRELATES TO WHAT'S LISTED HERE IN THE AGENDA.
SO THREE A IS THE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES, BOTH STATE AND FEDERAL ON THE SAME DOCUMENT.
THREE B IS THE HTML RESOLUTION SUPPORT AS IT RELATES TO THE AGENDA.
I WAS LOOKING FOR A3A REFERENCE IN THIS DOCUMENT.
I WAS LIKE, I AM NOT FOLLOWING HERE.
SO I DO THINK IT WOULD STILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO FINISH HEARING YOUR PRESENTATION.
JUST TO TALK ABOUT, IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND, WE'LL PAUSE THEN ON CALLING THE QUESTION ON JUST POSTPONING THAT VOTE AND LET ANDREW FINISH. BEFORE YOU FINISH, ANDREW, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THINGS THAT ARE ON OUR STATE AGENDA.
ONE IS THAT HOT TAX, OTHER CITIES HAVE THAT OPTION AND THAT AS WE'VE WORKED THROUGH HOW TO SOLVE THE CIVIC CENTER PROBLEM, AND I KNOW THERE ARE A LOT OF OPINIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE CIVIC CENTER, BUT AT LEAST FOUR INCUMBENTS RAN ON THAT IN 2021, BACK IN MAY.
AND WE WERE CLEAR THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM.
IT COSTS US MONEY, THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EVERY DAY TO SUBSIDIZE THAT PROPERTY.
WHAT WE HAVE TRIED TO DO IS FIND A WAY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE CIVIC CENTER WITHOUT IT LANDING ON THE TAXPAYER, ON THE PROPERTY TAXPAYER.
AND WHAT WE DISCOVERED IN THAT YEAR LONG PROCESS OF LOOKING FOR OTHER OPTIONS THROUGH THE GARFIELD REPORT IS THAT SOME OTHER CITIES HAVE THIS ADDITIONAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX THAT WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HERE IN AMARILLO, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST TOURISM, ESPECIALLY FOR ONE NIGHT, STAY OFF OF I-40.
AND WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT SOME OTHER TEXAS CITIES HAVE TO COLLECT MORE IN HOT AS A WAY OF NOT BURDENING OUR PROPERTY TAX PAYERS.
AND SO I WANTED TO JUST GIVE A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND ON HOW THAT WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA.
IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN.
IT WOULD HELP US DECREASE OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE, WHICH IS A BENEFIT TO EVERY PROPERTY TAXPAYER, INCLUDING HOTEL PROPERTY TAX OWNERS, HOTEL OWNERS WHO ALSO PAY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAX BILLS.
AND IT WOULD BE TO SUPPORT A PROJECT THAT ACTUALLY INCREASES OUR TOURISM.
SO WE WOULD GENERATE MORE HOTEL STAYS, MORE BUSINESS, GENERAL BUSINESS, RESTAURANT BUSINESS BY HAVING PEOPLE IN THE CITY FOR THE EVENTS IN THE CIVIC CENTER.
SO AS I SEE IT, IT'S A WIN WIN FOR SOMEONE WHO IS CURRENTLY PAYING PROPERTY TAX AND WOULD BENEFIT WHATEVER YOUR BUSINESS IS. IF YOUR BUSINESS WOULD BENEFIT BY HAVING MORE TOURISTS IN OUR CITY, THEN THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ADVOCATE.
BUT WE DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT OPTION RIGHT NOW.
OTHER TEXAS CITIES HAVE IT, WE DO NOT HAVE IT.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR IS THE LEGISLATURE WOULD JUST EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD AND GIVE US THE SAME OPPORTUNITY THAT OTHER TEXAS CITIES HAVE BEEN GIVEN SO THAT THEN WE COULD BEGIN AS A COUNCIL TO ANALYZE WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS AN OPTION AND IT WOULD BENEFIT OUR PROPERTY TAX PAYERS BY.
LETTING US DO THAT PROJECT WITHOUT HAVING TO RAISE PROPERTY TAX RATES.
SO I WAS A LITTLE BIT SURPRISED TODAY TO SEE THAT THE RESPONSE IN THE ROOM.
BUT I THINK MAYBE WE HADN'T SAID OUT LOUD, WE HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO SAY OUT LOUD, WHY IS THAT ON THE AGENDA AND HOW DID THAT GET ON THE AGENDA? I COMPARE IT TO THE TOURISM PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT LANGUAGE PREVIOUSLY ONLY METROPLEX CITIES AND A HANDFUL, MAYBE FIVE CITIES THAT WERE ALLOWED TO USE IT UNTIL THE 2019 SESSION CHANGED THAT LANGUAGE.
SO IN AMARILLO, WAS PART OF THE DRIVER IN THAT CHANGE, CORRECT?
[03:00:03]
WE WERE THE DRIVER, YEAH.AS TO ELECTIONS, WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE CITIZEN INQUIRIES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES.
WE'VE DONE AN ELECTION CALLING CONFUSED, SAYING WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON THIS PROP EIGHT.
WHY IS PROP EIGHT BACK ON THE BALLOT? AND THEN I HAD AT LEAST ONE CITIZEN WHO CAME TO ME AND SAID, I THINK THIS IS A PROBLEM.
WOULD YOU CONSIDER ADDING THIS TO THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA JUST SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HOW WE NAME THOSE ODD YEARS? ONE, TWO, THREE, NAME THEM AS NUMBERS, PROP ONE, PROP TWO, EVEN YEARS.
JUST SOMETHING TO CREATE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE SO THAT IT'S NOT PROP A ON TOP OF PROP A ON TOP OF PROP EIGHT, SO THAT CITIZENS ARE CONFUSED FROM ELECTION TO ELECTION AS TO WHAT THEY'RE THEY'RE VOTING ON.
SO I WANTED AGAIN, JUST TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND ON HOW DID THAT END UP ON THE AGENDA? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAIL AND PHONE CALLS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT, AND SO THAT'S HOW THAT GOT THERE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS PEOPLE WANT BEFORE WE HEAR THE FEDERAL? THANK YOU, ANDREW. YES, MA'AM.
FEDERAL. SO I PUT AN ASTERISK ON ALL OF THESE BECAUSE WE DID MAKE A LOT OF CHANGES SINCE THE BUDGET WORKSHOP, MORE JUST TO BEEF UP THE LANGUAGE AND ADD SOME MORE INFORMATION ON A LOT OF THESE TOPICS AND THEN A FEW, A FEW NEW ONES.
THAT'S THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT LAND, THE 12,000 ACRES NORTH OF TOWN.
SO WE JUST HIGHLIGHTED THE SUPPORTING LEGISLATION TO INCREASE OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT PROPERTY, WHETHER IT'S REPLACEMENT OF THE TRAIN TRESTLE WIDENING AND IMPROVEMENTS TO AN EXISTING ACCESS ROAD, OR FOR DEVELOPING THE INTERIOR ROAD NETWORK TO SUPPORT VISITOR ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY.
WE ALSO ADDED A CATEGORY FOR US DEPARTMENT, DEFENSE AND US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT CONTINUES TO INVEST IN THE AREAS OF DEFENSE AND ENERGY RELATED TO AGENCY INITIATIVES OR INCREASED FUNDING SUPPORT.
PANTA BELL OR OTHER COMPANIES THAT WORK IN THESE INDUSTRY SECTORS.
TRANSPORTATION REALLY THE NEXT FEW TRANSPORTATION THROUGH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS ALL ABOUT SUPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECENT LEGISLATION, THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW AS IT RELATES TO TRANSPORTATION FUNDING AND ALL THE PRIORITIES RELATED TO OUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HIGHWAY SYSTEM.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SPENDING FEDERAL DOLLARS EITHER THROUGH FEMA, HUD, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC SAFETY IS FOR FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS, ADVANCED POLICE AND FIRE, PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAMS, OVERALL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS, ENHANCING THE POWER GRID, INFRASTRUCTURE, RESILIENCY AND RELIABILITY.
AND THEN TECHNOLOGY IS SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO SECURE FEDERAL BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT FUNDS, SECURING FEDERAL FUNDING INCLUDED FOR CYBERSECURITY NEEDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. SO THAT WAS ALL JUST THESE ARE THE THINGS WE CONTRACT WITH NORMANDY TO GO OUT AND FIND THESE FUNDING AND GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.
SO WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT MORE SPECIFICS AS FAR AS EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WAS A CARRYOVER FROM PREVIOUS WHEN IT RELATES TO OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS AND HOME PARTNERSHIP FUNDS, CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR TAX CREDIT AND HISTORIC PROPERTIES SIMILAR TO THE COMMONS AT ST ANTHONY'S PROJECT THAT BENEFITED FROM THAT PROGRAM, INCREASING INCENTIVES FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF CITY NEIGHBORHOODS AND NEEDED REVITALIZATION THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AREAS.
TO BUILD OFF THAT SYNERGY, IT WOULD BE TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION AIMED AT CREATING A TEXAS BASED RARE EARTH METALS EXCHANGE THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE ECONOMIC GROWTH IN TEXAS AND FOR FURTHER DECOUPLING FROM CHINA.
DIRECTING STAFF TO TAKE EVERY EFFORT POSSIBLE TO WORK WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS TO GET AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE. THERE ARE BILLIONS, IF NOT TRILLIONS, REALLY, OF EXISTING AND NEW MONIES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT INTO THIS LAST BUDGET FOR TRANSPORTATION, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, FOR TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ALL THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
AND WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFIT FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND FOR THE PANHANDLE.
[03:05:01]
SO WE WANT THIS MONEY WILL BE SPENT SOMEWHERE.SO WE WANT TO MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT THAT SPENT IN THE PANHANDLE.
MOTION WITH REGARD TO ITEM THREE B OR YOU HAVE A MOTION.
SORRY. THANK YOU. LET'S CALL THE LET ME LET ME MAKE A COMMENT.
SURE. HE MADE THE MOTION I SECOND.
I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH ANY OF THIS, EXCEPT I THINK IT'S NOT RIGHT TO GO AROUND THE PUBLIC.
MAYOR I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH IT EITHER.
I DO LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON IT.
AND THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT WE MISSED HERE TODAY.
BUT YES, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF POSTPONING ITEM ACTION ON ITEM THREE A SAY ANYONE OPPOSED.
K THAT PASSES WITH 5 0 VOTE AND MR. CITY MANAGER I WOULD DIRECT IT THAT BE PLACED ON THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL AGENDA.
WE WILL HAVE IT THERE AND WE WILL INCLUDE THE DOCUMENT AS PRESENTED TODAY IN THE PACKET FOR YOU.
[3.B. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 08-16-22-6]
WITH REGARD TO ITEM THREE B, DO WE IS THERE ANY FURTHER PRESENTATION ON THAT MATTER? NO, IT WAS JUST THE JUST A LITTLE MORE DETAIL.SO WHAT THEY DO IS ALLOW CITIES TO PRESENT RESOLUTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION.
THAT COULD BE EITHER FOR HTML TO SUPPORT IT.
IT COULD BE TO OPPOSE OR IT COULD BE TO HAVE NO STAND ON THE TOPIC.
SO THEY DO HAVE THE GUIDANCE OF MAKING IT SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS MULTIPLE CITIES.
IT'S BROAD TOPICS, SO IT'S NOT REALLY FOR ONE OR TWO CITIES, IT'S REALLY STATEWIDE BENEFITS.
SO THAT'S WHY WE PRESENTED THE INTRODUCE AND PASS OPTION FOR THE ELECTION CODE CHANGES AS FAR AS THE ALPHABET VERSUS NUMERICAL REQUIREMENTS AND THEN SUPPORTING A BILL FOR THE ADDITIONAL HOT TAX TO ALLOW ALL CITIES TO AT LEAST BE ABLE TO CONSIDER THAT.
BUT CITIES WILL NOT BE OPPOSED ON THE CLARIFICATIONS ON BALLOT INITIATIVES, NOR WOULD THEY BE OPPOSED, I DON'T BELIEVE, TO CITIES HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO TAKE ON THE ADDITIONAL HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES IT DOES NOT COMPEL OR REQUIRE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT GIVES LOCAL CONTROL AND THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WILL RESONATE STATEWIDE.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S INCLUDED ON THIS.
OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS FOR ANDREW COUNCIL ABOUT THAT.
THANK YOU, ANDREW. THIS IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT INTO THIS MONTHS OF ANALYZING, RESEARCHING, THINKING AHEAD AROUND ALL THE CORNERS. SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO PUTTING THIS AGENDA TOGETHER FOR US.
YEAH. WELL, WITH REGARD TO ITEM THREE, BE, DO WE HAVE A MOTION? YES, MA'AM, WE DO.
I MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER ZERO 816 TO 20 2-6, ADOPTING POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INCLUSION IN THE 2023 2024 TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE LEGISLATIVE POLICY.
SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY THE MAYOR PRO TEM AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SMITH TO APPROVE ITEM 3B.
ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED THAT PASSES WITH THE 5 0 VOTE AND THAT IS ACTUALLY THE LAST THING ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
SO WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR YOUR WORK.
ALL RIGHT. IT'S GOOD BEING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.