May 09, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting

[*This meeting was joined in progress*]

[00:00:02]

SENT HERE TO START OUR MEETING OFF WITH AN INVOCATION IS ALEXANDRA PEREZ FROM PRAY THE CITY.

[2. Invocation]

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.

WE THANK YOU FOR THIS PRECIOUS TIME YOU HAVE GIVEN US SO THAT WE CAN DISCUSS IMPORTANT TOPICS.

WE ARE PRAYING FOR A PRODUCTIVE MEETING TODAY.

AND LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED TO LEAD OUR COMMUNITY.

MAY YOU POUR OUT YOUR GRACE, WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE LORD, TO CREATE SUCCESS AND GROWTH IN THIS COMMUNITY.

GUIDE THEM, LORD, AND COMING UP WITH THE BEST POSSIBLE AND MORALLY RIGHT SOLUTIONS THAT BRING THE BEST BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.

LORD, I THANK YOU FOR EVERY BEAUTIFUL PERSON HERE.

FATHER, I PRAY YOU HAD YOUR PROTECTION OVER EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE, LORD.

AND I PRAY THAT YOU BLESS THEM IN THEIR DAY TO DAY AND BLESS EVERYTHING THAT THEY PUT THEIR HANDS TO.

THAT'S IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME, WE PRAY.

AMEN. AMEN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. WILL YOU JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

[4. Proclamations]

THE FIRST ONE IS NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH AND COUNCIL MEMBER EDDY SAUER IS GOING TO READ THAT FOR US.

DR. SAUER OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

SO, IS MEGAN COLE HERE? OH, YOU'RE ALL HERE.

ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, COME ON UP.

STEP BEHIND YOU.

GET TO STEP BEHIND.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, HERE WE GO. WHEREAS ON MAY 21ST, 1881, THE UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION, ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION, WAS FOUNDED IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, TO CREATE RULES AND STANDARDS FOR THE EMERGING GAME OF LAWN TENNIS.

AND. WHEREAS, THE USTA IS THE NONPROFIT NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY FOR TENNIS IN THE UNITED STATES AND LEADS THE PROMOTION AND GROWTH OF THE SPORT AT EVERY LEVEL OF PLAY, FROM BEGINNERS TO PROFESSIONALS AT THE US OPEN.

AND. WHEREAS, THE USTA PROUDLY PARTNERS WITH LOCAL TENNIS PROGRAMS TO SHOWCASE THE IMPORTANT HEALTH, SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS OF TENNIS AND MAKE THE SPORT AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE, ENVIRONMENT, CONDITION OR ABILITY THROUGH ITS USTA ADAPTIVE GRANTS.

AND. WHEREAS, THE LATEST RESEARCH BY THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY COUNCIL SHOWS THAT NOW THAT MORE THAN 23.6 MILLION AMERICANS PLAY TENNIS IN 2022, AN UNPRECEDENTED 33% INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION OVER 2019 AND THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PLAYERS SINCE THE STUDY BEGAN IN 2007. AND.

WHEREAS, BY INCREASING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF TENNIS FOR CITIZENS OF AMARILLO OF ALL AGES AND ABILITY, THE USTA HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING OUR COMMUNITY HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER. AND.

WHEREAS, THE USTA HAS DECLARED THE MONTH OF MAY AS NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH TO ENCOURAGE PLAYERS, ORGANIZATIONS, FACILITIES, RETAILERS, TENNIS MANUFACTURERS AND MORE TO PROMOTE LOCAL PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES AT PARKS AND FACILITIES TO SHOWCASE TENNIS AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE SPORT AND ITS BENEFITS AND TO HELP PLAYERS AND NON-PLAYERS ALIKE FIND COURTS AND PLAY OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2023 AS NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH IN AMARILLO AND URGE AMARILLOANS TO BECOME AWARE OF AND SUPPORT NATIONAL TENNIS MONTH GIVEN UNDER OUR HANDS AND SEAL OF OFFICE THIS NINTH DAY OF MAY 2023.

THE MAYOR AND ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO, MEGAN, WOULD YOU.

YEAH. OKAY.

PERFECT. OH, WELL, THIS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL RECOGNITION FOR THE ALEX O'BRIEN TENNIS FOUNDATION.

WE WERE FOUNDED IN THE EARLY 90 SECONDS AFTER ALEX CAME BACK TO AMARILLO AFTER DOMINATING THE PROFESSIONAL TENNIS TOUR.

AND SO WE'VE BEEN STEADILY DOING SOME GREAT WORK HERE IN THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE ACCESS TO TENNIS, PARTICULARLY FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES HERE IN AMARILLO.

WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT BOARD MEMBERS BEHIND US AND THEN WE'VE GOT ONE OF THE GREAT PLAYERS HERE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO, ALEX GONZALEZ, JUST STRAIGHT FRESH BACK FROM THE STATE

[00:05:01]

SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD TO HAVE HER PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL.

AND I DO WANT TO MENTION, IF YOU PLAY TENNIS, IT'S PROVEN YOU LIVE TEN YEARS LONGER THAN NON TENNIS PLAYERS.

SO I HOPE TO SEE ALL OF YOU ALL THIS SATURDAY AT OUR FREE PLAY DAY OUT AT AMARILLO NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER.

WE ARE SO DELIGHTED TO PARTNER WITH OUR FRIENDS AT PARKS AND REC HERE AT THE CITY OF AMARILLO ON THIS PROJECT AND ALSO ON RESURFACING THE TENNIS COURTS AT AMTC AND AT MEMORIAL PARK SO THAT WE HAVE A WONDERFUL COUPLE OF FACILITIES TO GROW THE GAME HERE IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.

SO THANK YOU TO THE CITY FOR EMBRACING TENNIS AND THANK YOU FOR PARKS AND REC FOR BEING A GREAT PARTNER TO US.

SO THANKS.

MIC].

OUR NEXT PROCLAMATION IS FOR OLDER AMERICANS MONTH AND COUNCIL MEMBER FRIDA POWELL IS GOING TO READ THAT FOR US.

GOOD AFTERNOON. LISA HANCOCK IS HERE TO JOIN US WITH AMARILLO AREA AGING AMARILLO AREA AGENCY ON AGING.

SO YOU ALL COME ON UP AND JOIN ME.

OKAY. SO WHEREAS AMARILLO INCLUDES A GROWING NUMBER OF OLDER AMERICANS WHO CONTRIBUTE THEIR TIME, WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

AND. WHEREAS, COMMUNITIES BENEFIT WHEN PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES AND BACKGROUNDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AND LIVE INDEPENDENTLY.

AND. WHEREAS, THOSE IN AMARILLO RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO CREATE A COMMUNITY THAT OFFERS THE SERVICES AND SUPPORT, OLDER ADULTS MAY NEED TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT HOW THEY AGE.

AND. WHEREAS, AMARILLOANS CAN WORK TO BUILD AN EVEN BETTER COMMUNITY FOR OUR OLDER RESIDENTS BY NOT LIMITING OUR THINKING ABOUT AGING, EXPLORING AND COMBATING STEREOTYPES, EMPHASIZING THE MANY POSITIVE ASPECTS OF AGING, INSPIRING OLDER ADULTS TO PUSH PAST TRADITIONAL BOUNDARIES AND EMBRACING OUR COMMUNITY'S DIVERSITY.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MAY 2023 AS OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IN AMARILLO, AND URGE EVERY RESIDENT TO CELEBRATE OUR OLDER CITIZENS, HELP TO CREATE AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY AND ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE OF FLEXIBLE THINKING AROUND AGING GIVEN UNDER OUR HANDS AND SEAL OF OFFICE THIS FIFTH DAY OF MAY 2023.

THE HONORABLE MAYOR GINGER NELSON.

COUNCIL MEMBERS COLE STANLEY, FRIDA POWELL, DR.

EDDY SAUER AND HOWARD SMITH.

AND LISA, I'LL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WELL, WE APPRECIATE FREDA AS SHE CAME AND READ OUR PROCLAMATION ON FRIDAY THE FIFTH, AT THE REGION 16 EDUCATION CONFERENCE CENTER, WHERE WE HAD OUR CELEBRATION FOR OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.

AND THE THEME IS AGING UNBOUND.

THAT MEANS, LOOK OUT, WE'RE OUT THERE AND WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO MAYBE PLAY TENNIS OR SOMETHING.

BUT BUT WE ARE ALIVE AND WELL IN AMARILLO AND THE PANHANDLE.

AND WE HAD A GREAT CELEBRATION WITH ALMOST 200 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.

WE HAVE GREAT SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY TO FEED US AND ENTERTAIN US.

WE HAD THE GLENWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DANCERS THAT CAME AND DID THEIR MEXICAN DANCES AND THE SOMBREROS AND THE BEAUTIFUL COLORS, AND WE HAD AN ENCHILADA LUNCH.

AND ALL OF THIS WAS FREE FOR OUR SENIORS WHO WANTED TO COME.

AND IT WAS A GREAT CELEBRATION.

I'M SORRY Y'ALL MISSED IT.

I WISH YOU COULD HAVE BEEN THERE, BUT MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

AND REMEMBER, WE ARE ALL AGING.

[00:10:02]

SO HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

THANK YOU.

MIC].

[5. Announcements]

WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY, SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT ON TO ITEM SIX PUBLIC ADDRESS.

[6. Public Address]

THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.

YOUR INPUT AND YOUR OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND WE ARE GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TO SHARE THEM.

AT EACH POSTED MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS. EVERY SPEAKER HAS THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

AT THE END OF 2.5 MINUTES, A WARNING BEEP WILL ALERT YOU THAT YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS.

WE ASK YOU TO STAY WITHIN THE THREE MINUTES ALLOTTED.

SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO ITEMS ON THE POSTED AGENDA.

WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN THE AMARILLO CITY LIMITS.

PLEASE STATE WHICH ITEM YOU ARE SPEAKING ON FOR OR AGAINST.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL.

WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC ADDRESS TODAY, AND THAT'S MICHAEL FORD.

AND SO WE INVITE HIM UP AT THIS TIME.

MOST OF YOU GUYS DO THAT.

MIKE FORD, AMARILLO, TEXAS MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MAYOR ELECT STANLEY.

YOU KNOW, I WALKED IN HERE.

I HAD A WHOLE, WHOLE SET OF NOTES TO TALK ABOUT, AND I'VE CHANGED MY MIND.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU READ THE ROOM AND YOU LISTEN TO PEOPLE AND YOU KIND OF FEEL AND SENSE THE ENVIRONMENT AS YOU WALK IN IN A PLACE AND THE HUMAN PART OF ME WANTS TO.

WANTS TO BE ANGRY AND LASH OUT AND REVENGE AND ALL THAT STUFF.

AND SO I'VE, I FEEL LIKE SOME ANGELS HAVE LANDED ON MY SHOULDERS HERE.

SO I JUST WANT TO I WANT TO THANK THE MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YOU REALLY REPRESENTED THE CITY WELL.

THANK YOU, DR.

SAUER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB REPRESENTING THE CITY.

MR. SMITH, HOWARD, YOU'VE GOT A FEW MORE DAYS TO SERVE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

AND MAYOR NELSON I'VE, WE'VE DISAGREED MANY TIMES.

WE'VE SAT IN YOUR OFFICE AND TALKED FOR A LENGTH OF TIME.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF DOZEN TIMES.

MAYBE I LOST COUNT.

BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

I'M JUST GOING TO CONCLUDE.

I'VE GOT TWO PARAGRAPHS HERE, AND THIS MIGHT BE THE SHORTEST COMMENTS I'VE EVER MADE.

I'M JUST GOING TO SAY MAY WE ALL WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR CITY.

FOUNDED ON PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE AND THE RULE OF LAW.

SO THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY.

AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, MR. FORD.

THAT CONCLUDES PUBLIC ADDRESS.

THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, THEN COUNCIL WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN.

[7.A. Review agenda items for regular meeting and attachments]

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS UP FRONT ABOUT YOUR PACKET?

[7.B. Quarterly Budget Update]

ALL RIGHT, MAYOR, WE'VE GOT MATT POSTON, FINANCE DIRECTOR, TO COME IN AND GIVE US THE UPDATE.

MATT. THANK YOU.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

[00:15:01]

THIS IS THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF OUR FISCAL YEAR.

SO WE'RE ABOUT HALF, WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE FISCAL YEAR.

WE'LL START WITH OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SLIDE, OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES BUDGETED THROUGH 331 WERE 130.1 MILLION.

WE CAME IN AT ONE 36.5 MILLION, WHICH IS A 6.4 MILLION POSITIVE VARIANCE.

AND WE'LL MOVE TO THE NEXT SLIDE AND SEE WHAT'S KIND OF MAKING THAT UP.

YOU CAN SEE THAT PROPERTY TAXES COMING IN ABOVE BUDGET AND THAT'S JUST A TIMING THING.

WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY OVER COLLECTING PROPERTY TAX.

IT'S JUST IT'S KIND OF HARD TO BUDGET EXACTLY WHAT PART OF THE YEAR THEY'LL PEOPLE WILL PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES.

SO WE'RE SHOWING OVER 3.2, BUT IN TOTAL, WE'RE AT 99.4% OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET, WHICH IS ABOUT NORMAL.

SO WE'RE NOT EXPECTING LIKE A HUGE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAXES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THE NEXT ONE IS SALES TAX IS COMING IN AT 4.2 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE MORE DETAIL LATER.

HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS STILL KIND OF LAGGING BEHIND BUDGET AT 405,000.

UNDER BUDGET GROSS RECEIPTS, BUSINESS TAXES ARE 828,000.

ABOVE BUDGET CHARGES FOR SERVICES ARE 274,000 UNDER BUDGET.

AND THAT IS CULTURE AND RECREATION, WHICH IS YOUR CIVIC CENTER, LIBRARY PARKS.

AND A LOT OF THAT'S GOING TO BE TIMING BECAUSE MOST OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE VERY HEAVY IN THE SUMMER AND WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE SUMMER YET.

SO AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS FINES ARE DOWN 325,000, AND THOSE HAVE BEEN TRENDING DOWN FOR YEARS JUST WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES IN THE LEGISLATION.

ANY QUESTION BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

WE'LL GO INTO SALES TAX.

HERE'S A TEN YEAR HISTORY OF SALES TAX.

THIS SLIDE HASN'T BEEN UPDATED SINCE THE LAST TIME, BUT WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CURRENT INFORMATION.

YOU CAN SEE THROUGH MARCH, WE ARE UP 6.18% OVER LAST YEAR AND 12.27% ABOVE BUDGET, WHICH IS 4.2 MILLION ABOVE BUDGET. SO SALES TAX IS STILL STRONG.

WE DO HAVE APRIL NUMBERS, WHICH WAS THE MARCH SALES.

WE'RE STILL UP 6.13%, WHICH IS ABOUT 2.5 MILLION OVER PRIOR YEAR AND 12.69%, WHICH IS 5 MILLION OVER BUDGET.

SO WE'RE STILL SEEING THOSE SALES TAX COME IN STRONG.

WE'RE CLOSELY MONITORING THOSE TO SEE WHAT IMPACT, IF ANY, THE RECESSION THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE COMING OR ANY OF THAT WILL HAVE ON THAT.

BUT AS OF NOW, THEY'RE STILL STRONG AND.

ANY QUESTIONS ON SALES TAX? OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.

THIS SLIDE IS THE SAME AS LAST TIME.

JUST SHOWING SOME HISTORICAL INFORMATION IN THIS TIME IS SHOWN.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE QUARTER.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THROUGH THE END OF THE QUARTER, WE ARE DOWN.

319,000, AND THAT'S ABOUT 7.43% FROM LAST YEAR.

AND WE'RE DOWN FROM BUDGET BY 405,000.

SO IT'S HOT.

TAX RECEIPTS ARE LAGGING.

WE ARE SEEING THAT. WE'RE CLOSELY MONITORING THAT WITH THE CVB WITH THEIR HELP TO SEE KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE THROUGH APRIL.

WE DO HAVE THE APRIL NUMBERS, WHICH IS THE MARCH RECEIPTS.

WE'RE STILL DOWN 9.2% FROM BUDGET AND WE'RE DOWN 7.4% FROM LAST YEAR, WHICH IS ABOUT 387,000.

SO THOSE RECEIPTS ARE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT LIKE I SAID, WE WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THAT AS WE GO AND MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS IF NECESSARY.

THE NEXT SESSION SECTION, WE'LL TALK ABOUT GROSS RECEIPTS, BUSINESS TAX.

THIS SLIDE JUST SHOWS YOU THE RATES FOR ALL THE DIFFERENT BUSINESS GROSS RECEIPTS, BUSINESS TAXES.

THIS SLIDE SHOWS YOU THE ACTUAL BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL FOR THE QUARTER.

YOU CAN SEE THAT FOR THE QUARTER, WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOVE BUDGET BY 827,000, WHICH IS ABOUT 7%.

AND THAT IS DRIVEN MOSTLY BY YOUR ELECTRICITY AND ALSO YOUR GAS.

AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE'S BEEN INCREASED FUEL FACTORS AND RATES FOR BOTH ELECTRICITY AND GAS, WHICH DRIVES UP THE FRANCHISE FEES DUE TO US BECAUSE THOSE ARE BASED ON THE BILLS.

SO AND YOU CAN SEE THAT CABLE AND TELECOM ARE KIND OF OFFSETTING A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO PREDICT WHAT THEY ONLY HAVE TO PAY ONE OR THE OTHER AFTER SOME LEGISLATIVE CHANGES.

SO IT'S HARD FOR US TO PREDICT EXACTLY WHICH ONE THEY'RE GOING TO PAY.

BUT WE HAVE SEEN THOSE DECREASING OVER THE YEARS JUST DUE TO PEOPLE GOING TO STREAMING AND AWAY FROM CABLE.

SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL FUND EXPENSES FOR THE QUARTER.

WE HAD A BUDGET OF 120.1 MILLION.

OUR ACTUAL EXPENSE WAS 114.5 MILLION, GIVING US A VARIANCE OF 5.6 MILLION THAT WE UNDERSPENT THE BUDGET.

AND THE LARGEST UNDERSPEND IS IN PERSONNEL SERVICES AS WE, ALONG WITH OTHER BUSINESSES, STRUGGLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN AND RETAIN STAFF.

THAT'S ABOUT 5 MILLION OF THAT VARIANCE IS IN PERSONNEL.

IN PERSONNEL DOES MAKE UP THE LARGEST PORTION OF THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.

THAT LEADS US TO THE GENERAL FUND.

NET VARIANCE. OUR REVENUES WERE OVER 6.4 MILLION.

OUR EXPENSES WERE UNDER 5.6 MILLION.

SO OUR NET VARIANCE IS 12 MILLION TO THE GOOD THROUGH THE FIRST QUARTER.

ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON TO OR THE SECOND QUARTER? ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON TO UTILITY SALES? OKAY. WE'LL LOOK AT UTILITY SALES THROUGH MARCH.

SOLID WASTE CAME IN RIGHT AT BUDGET, JUST 36,000 OVER BUDGET.

AND THEN WATER AND SEWER SALES ARE LAGGING BEHIND ABOUT 2.6 MILLION, WHICH IS DOWN ABOUT 6.2%.

WE HAVE SEEN THIS TREND.

WE ARE LOOKING AT IT.

IT'S KIND OF EARLY TO TELL STILL.

[00:20:01]

THAT'S WHEN MOST OF OUR WATER IS USED.

SO WE STILL HAVE THE SUMMER COMING UP WHERE WE COULD MAKE THIS UP.

WE HAVE HAD MORE PRECIPITATION THIS FISCAL YEAR TO DATE COMPARED TO LAST FISCAL YEAR.

SO I THINK THIS YEAR THROUGH APRIL, WE'RE AT 5.15IN VERSUS LAST YEAR.

WE WERE AT 2.65IN.

SO THERE HAS BEEN A LOT MORE RAIN THIS YEAR, WHICH DOES HAVE A GREAT IMPACT ON OUR WATER SALES.

SO THAT'S WHAT'S KIND OF GOING ON THERE.

AND AS WE GO TO THE HOTTER, DRIER MONTHS, LIKE I SAID, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT COMES OUT.

THEY MAY MAY THROUGH SEPTEMBER MAKES UP ABOUT 50% OF OUR REVENUE WITH AUGUST USUALLY BEING OUR PEAK MONTH.

SO THOSE WILL BE THE IMPORTANT MONTHS.

WE'LL KEEP MONITORING IT AND SEE WHERE THAT'S GOING.

AND THEN YOU CAN SEE AT THE BOTTOM THAT DRAINAGE CAME IN RIGHT ON BUDGET JUST OVER BY 109,000.

ANY QUESTIONS THERE BEFORE I MOVE ON? THIS NEXT GRAPH JUST KIND OF I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER IT IN TOO MUCH DETAIL, BUT IT JUST KIND OF CHARTS WATER SALES VERSUS THE PRECIPITATION FROM THIS YEAR AND LAST YEAR JUST SHOWING THAT THERE IS A BIG CORRELATION BETWEEN PRECIPITATION AND WATER SALES.

SAME WITH THE NEXT CHART.

THIS IS MORE OF A HISTORICAL LOOK AT IT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE FIRST CHART WAS JUST THIS FISCAL YEAR.

THIS CHART IS A COUPLE OF FISCAL YEARS BACK AND WE WILL END UP ON HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER. WE ARE LOOKING GOOD.

WE ARE 1.5 MILLION TO THE GOOD ON OUR MEDICAL CLAIMS BUDGET, WHICH IS ABOUT 12%.

SO WE'RE SEEING OUR MEDICAL CLAIMS STAY IN AND ACTUALLY BE UNDER BUDGET.

SO WE'RE SITTING GOOD THERE.

I KNOW THAT WAS PRETTY FAST, BUT ANY QUESTIONS? JUST CURIOUS ON THE MEDICAL, DO WE THINK THE WELLNESS PLANS ARE IMPACTING THOSE CLAIMS? BECAUSE I KNOW THE CITY'S MADE AN EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT.

MATT'S LOOKING AT ME LIKE, HEY, THAT'S NOT MY THING.

THAT'S OKAY. I'M NOT TRYING TO THROW YOU A CURVE BALL, MATT.

I'M JUST CURIOUS.

YEAH. AND WE'RE STILL IN THE EARLY STAGES OF IMPLEMENTING THOSE.

SO I MEAN, I THINK THEY DO HELP, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THE DATA TO BACK PROVE THAT THAT DIFFERENTIAL IS RELATED TO THAT.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEAH. WHY DO YOU THINK COMP TAXES ARE LAGGING? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WE'RE WORKING WITH CVB VERY CLOSELY ON THAT.

IT'S I MEAN, I CAN'T REALLY SAY WE'RE SEEING OCCUPANCY KIND OF STAY STEADY, BUT THE REVENUES ARE COMING DOWN.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE LOOKING INTO IT CLOSELY.

WE'LL KEEP MONITORING IT AND WE WILL CHANGE COURSE IF WE NEED TO ON WHAT WE'RE USING HOT TAX FOR.

AND JUST AS A REMINDER TO US, YOU'RE USING THE HOT TAX WITH REGARD TO CIVIC CENTER OPERATIONS.

WE USE IT TO PAY THE DEBT ON THE BALLPARK AND THEN ANYTHING WE HAVE LEFT OVER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT WISE AND ALSO A CONTRACT WITH CVB AND AND WE PAY THE CVB CONTRACT WITH IT.

YEAH. OKAY, GOOD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 7C IS UPDATES FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS SERVING ON OUTSIDE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

[7.C. Updates from Councilmembers serving on outside boards and commissions]

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH.

OH, I'VE GOT A REPORT HERE.

I'M GOING TO READ MOST OF IT.

WE'VE BEEN VERY BUSY.

PROJECT UPDATES.

JERRY DANFORTH PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THE RENOVATIONS TAKING PLACE AT HODGETOWN, WHICH WERE REQUIRED DUE TO NEW MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SPECIFICATIONS. BECAUSE OUR HODGETOWN IS RELATIVELY NEW, WE HAVE A LOT LESS THAN OLDER BALLPARKS.

THANK GOODNESS.

SOD [INAUDIBLE] HAVE NOW BEEN OPERATING THE GARAGE SINCE THE START OF THE SEASON AND THINGS ARE GOING WELL.

MARKETING WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AND WE EXPECT THIS WILL BOOST TRAFFIC TO THE GARAGE.

THE PRESIDENT OF OUR LGC, MICHAEL HENNING AND ANDREW FREEMAN, SCHEDULED A LUNCH WITH THE NEW EMBASSY SUITES GENERAL MANAGER.

WHO IS THOMAS WENZEL? HE HAS JUST STARTED TO GET HIM UP TO SPEED ON THE LEASE AGREEMENT AND THE LGC RELATIONSHIP.

WE GET A REPORT EACH TIME WE MEET FROM THE MANAGER OF THE HOTEL.

SO WE HAVE A NEW MANAGER NOW.

THE OTHER ONE MOVED TO FLORIDA, I BELIEVE.

AND THEN. WE'VE HAD QUITE A BIT OF DISCUSSION AT OUR LAST MEETING REGARDING THE CONDO REGIME.

WE'VE COME UP WITH THE IDEA THAT WE MIGHT COULD.

GET OUR SPACE USED ACROSS FROM THE BALLPARK RATHER THAN JUST LEASE IT.

WE'VE CREATED A CONDOMINIUM WHERE PEOPLE COULD BUY A PART OF IT.

PART OF THE CONDOMINIUM.

AND SO WE'VE GOT THE DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN DRAFTED AND APPROVED BY THE LGC BOARD.

[00:25:06]

THE BOARD DISCUSSED GIVING TWO PARKING SPACES AS A MINIMUM PER UNIT.

IN ADDITION, FOR EVERY 500FT², OVER 1000FT THAT PEOPLE GET, THEY GET AN ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACE IN THE PARKING GARAGE. AND IN ANOTHER TOPIC DISCUSSION AND PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF ON NEXT STEPS FOR LISTING, AGREEMENT AND MARKETING OF THE RETAIL SPACE.

THE LISTING AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE EXPIRES ON JUNE 30TH.

SO A SUBCOMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED OF THE LGC TO SEVEN MEMBERS ON THE LGC AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE MADE UP OF COLE STANLEY MYSELF AND.

MEGAN. MEGAN.

JACK. THE THREE OF US HAD MET MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE LGC AND WILL BE.

THEY DID THAT ON THE CONDOMINIUM AND THEY'LL BE INTERVIEWING REALTORS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN LISTING THE PROPERTY.

AND GET THEM TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEY CAN DO.

AND THEN THE NEXT TOPIC WE DISCUSSED IN CONSIDERATION OF A PILOT PROGRAM PARKING AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMARILLO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION AND THE PANHANDLE BASEBALL CLUB.

THIS ITEM FORMALIZED THE AGREEMENT WITH THE SOD [INAUDIBLE] TO OPERATE THE PARKING GARAGE DURING GAMES AND EVENTS.

LGC WILL EARN 20% OF ALL REVENUES NO MATTER THE SOURCE.

THE AGREEMENT WOULD BE FOR ONE YEAR, AND AT THAT TIME, LGC WOULD DECIDE TO DO WHETHER TO DO A LONGER AGREEMENT.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S THE GIST OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE'VE GOT A LOT GOING ON.

YOU GOT ANYTHING TO ADD, MR. STANLEY. THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD THERE IS JUST COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH'S WILLINGNESS TO KEEP PUSHING ON THIS DEAL.

HE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON THE LGC FOR A WHILE.

AND WE BOTH FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT GETTING THIS BALL ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

WE THINK THIS CONDO REGIME PROVIDES A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO BRING TO THAT BUILDING WHAT IT REALLY IS INTENDED FOR GETTING BUSINESSES AND GETTING NOT ONLY PROPERTY TAX, BUT SALES TAX REVENUES GENERATED HERE DOWNTOWN.

AND SO WE LOVE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A SELLABLE PRODUCT NOW, NOT JUST A LEASABLE PRODUCT.

AND COUNCILMAN SMITH'S BEEN INTEGRAL IN THAT.

SO I JUST APPRECIATE HIM FOR ALL HIS WORK.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, COUNCIL? OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS FOR THAT REPORT.

ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO REQUEST COUNCIL FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS OR REPORTS FROM STAFF OR CITY MANAGER?

[7.D. Request future agenda items and reports from City Manager.]

[8. Consent Items]

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

SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER, TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANYONE OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES WITH THE FIVE ZERO VOTE.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE END OF OUR AGENDA.

AND WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.