VOCATION BY MISS MARGIE GONZALEZ.
[00:00:02]
IF YOU GUYS WOULD ALL PLEASE RISE.AND AFTERWARD, WE WILL SAY THE PLEDGE.
OKAY. IF YOU'LL JUST BOW YOUR HEADS WITH ME TODAY.
WE'RE THANKFUL, GOD, THAT TODAY, THROUGH THAT NAME, WE HAVE ACCESS TO YOU.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THAT WE NEED OR WE HAVE ACCESS TO WISDOM.
WE HAVE ACCESS TO DIRECTION AND GOD TODAY WE PRAY THAT IN EVERYTHING THAT WAS DONE AND EVERYTHING THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED TODAY, THAT YOUR WILL AND YOUR WAY WOULD PREVAIL, OR THAT YOU WOULD BE GLORIFIED AS WE WORK TOGETHER, THAT YOU WOULD BE GLORIFIED IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, THAT YOU WOULD BE GLORIFIED IN OUR DISCUSSION GOD, THAT THERE WOULD BE UNITY OF PURPOSE, LORD GOD, EVEN WHERE THERE'S DISAGREEMENTS OH GOD AT THE END OF THE DAY, CAUSE THERE TO BE A UNITY WITH GOD, THAT THAT ALLOWS BLESSING TO FLOW. IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO TODAY WE DECLARE ONE MORE TIME THAT AMARILLO BELONGS TO YOU.
WE DECLARE THAT YOU ARE LORD AND SAVIOR OF THE CITY.
WE DECLARE THAT YOU ARE ALLOWED GOD TO HAVE YOUR WAY.
WE STEP ASIDE SO THAT YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU DESIRE TO DO IN OUR CITY.
WE PRAY THAT INTEGRITY AND HONESTY AND HONOR WOULD GOD WOULD FILL THE ROOM LORD.
IF YOU'LL JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.
HEY, GUYS WE'RE GOING TO GO DOWN THERE.
EVERYBODY GOT THEIR PROCLAMATION.
[5.A. Blank Spaces]
ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE GOOD. OKAY, WE'VE GOT A FEW ONE RECOGNITION AND THEN A COUPLE PROCLAMATIONS HERE TODAY.SO DURING THIS PART OF OUR MEETING TODAY, WE GET TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE THE RECIPIENT OF THEIR HARD WORK. AND SO I BELIEVE.
WHO HAS THE FIRST ONE? IS IT DON BLANK SPACES? YEP. SO DON TIPPS IS GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DO OUR RECOGNITION.
THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION FOR THEIR, IT'S FOR BLANK SPACES, BY THE WAY, FOR THEIR BEAUTIFICATION INITIATIVES THROUGH MURAL ARTS AROUND THE CITY OF AMARILLO, THEIR COMMITMENT TO YOUTH AND BEING ROLE MODELS TO INSPIRING ARTISTS AND FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO WHILE SERVING IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE TO THE YOUTH AND FOR COMPLETING 15 MURALS AS PART OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO MURAL GRANT PROGRAM AND COMPLETING AN ADDITIONAL 37 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE MURALS ACROSS THE CITY, AND FOR FACILITATING A STAFF OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE INTERNS AND ALLOWING THEM TO WORK ALONGSIDE PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS TO DEVELOP ALL ASPECTS OF MURAL PAINTING, INCLUDING WORKING WITH CLIENTS, PROPERTY OWNERS THROUGH IDEA GENERATION, DESIGN, CONCEPTION MATERIALS, APPLICATION BUDGET AND MURAL PRESERVATION, AND FOR COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ARTISTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS TO TEACH CHILDREN FROM DIVERSE SCHOOLS AND CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS AND HOW TO GIVE BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY, GROW THEIR SKILLS AND WORK IN REAL WORLD ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PRESENT THIS CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION TO BLANK SPACES ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2023, AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN MENTORING YOUNG ARTISTS IN MAKING AMARILLO A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
SEAN KENNEDY, SHANE O'NEILL, ARE YOU ALL HERE? YOU ALL WANT TO COME UP AND ANYBODY ELSE? ANYBODY ELSE THAT YOU HAVE? HOW ARE YOU, SIR? GOOD. GOOD TO SEE YOU.
YOU OKAY? HOW ARE YOU, MA'AM? OH, YOU OKAY? ONE. WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING FIRST BEFORE WE DO A PHOTO?
[00:05:05]
YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT WE CERTAINLY WILL.I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO SING A QUICK SONG REAL QUICK.
NO, I DON'T. NO, I'M ONLY KIDDING.
NO SINGING. BUT I WANT TO THANK THE CITY AND THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE OFFERED US.
JASON ALL THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE.
IT'S AMAZING TO WATCH THEM OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS GROW AND FLOURISH AND BECOME OUTSTANDING CITIZENS, ALL DUE, I THINK, TO JUST A GROUP EFFORT AND THE VILLAGE THAT IT TOOK TO GET THIS TO HAPPEN.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT HAS SUPPORTED US ALONG THE WAY.
AND WE'RE LUCKY TO BE HERE AND.
OKAY. THERE WE GO. THERE WE GO.
ALL RIGHT. TRY NOT TO BEND IT.
I APPRECIATE IT. APPRECIATE IT. GREAT JOB.
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU, MA'AM. JUST REAL QUICK, BEFORE WE MOVE TO OUR NEXT OUR FIRST PROCLAMATION, NEXT ITEM OUTSIDE, WHEN YOU GUYS CAME IN, EVERYTHING THAT YOU SAW OVER THERE ON THE WALL IS A PHOTO OF WHAT THEY'VE DONE AROUND TOWN.
SO WE'RE HUGE SUPPORTERS AND WE APPRECIATE BLANK SPACES FOR ALL THAT THEY DO.
I BELIEVE. DO WE HAVE MISS CITY SECRETARIES IS IT HIGH PLAINS THAT NEXT.
I NOTICED WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE FROM HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK.
[6.A. Hunger Action Month]
WHY DON'T YOU GUYS COME ON UP UP HERE SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOU WHILE WE'RE READING ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND APPRECIATE IT.SO THE CITY DOES HAVE A PROCLAMATION THAT WE SIGNED FOR TODAY IN THIS MONTH THAT READS WHEREAS HUNGER AND POVERTY ARE ISSUES OF VITAL CONCERN IN TEXAS, WHERE 13.7% OF PEOPLE FACE HUNGER AND ONE IN EVERY SIX CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM.
AND. WHEREAS, THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, IS COMMITTED TO TAKING STEPS TO COMBAT HUNGER IN EVERY PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT THOSE IN THE NEED NEED.
WHEREAS THE CITY IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK, A MEMBER OF THE FEEDING AMERICA NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF FOOD BANKS AND EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE ROLE OF IMPORTANCE OF FOOD BANKS AND ADDRESSING HUNGER AND RAISING AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES AND ATTENTION TO HUNGER ISSUES.
AND. WHEREAS, MORE THAN 22,110 INDIVIDUALS IN POTTER COUNTY AND MORE THAN 16,120 INDIVIDUALS IN RANDALL COUNTY RELY ON FOOD PROVIDED BY MEMBERS OF THE HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK EACH YEAR.
AND. WHEREAS, MEMBERS OF THE HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 6.5 MILLION MEALS TO 16,900 FAMILIES IN 2022 THROUGH ITS NETWORKS OF FOOD PANTRIES, SOUP KITCHENS, SHELTERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
AND. WHEREAS, THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN DESIGNATED HUNGER ACTION MONTH IN ORDER TO BRING ATTENTION TO FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO ENLIST THE PUBLIC IN THE MOVEMENT TO END HUNGER BY TAKING ACTION, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER SHIFTS, SOCIAL MEDIA SHARES AND DONATIONS TO ENSURE EVERY COMMUNITY AND EVERYBODY IN IT HAS THE FOOD THEY NEED TO THRIVE.
AND. WHEREAS, FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK, WILL HOST NUMEROUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER TO BRING AWARENESS AND HELP END HUNGER AND THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THIS MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023 AS HUNGER ACTION MONTH IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, AND THANK THOSE MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HELP TO END HUNGER IN AMARILLO.
ONCE AGAIN, THANKS TO THE HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK FOR ALL THE WORK THEY DO.
AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO.
LET ME INTRODUCE ZACH WILLIAMS AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HIGH PLAINS FOOD BANK.
AND ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME THE MICROPHONE.
[00:10:02]
BUT NO, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AS THIS YEAR IS, AS YOU PROBABLY ARE WELL AWARE, IS DEFINITELY BEEN A YEAR TO REMEMBER. WE'VE WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, HIGH RATES OF FOLKS WHO NEED HELP THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.AND NOW WE'VE HAD NATURAL DISASTERS ON TOP OF THAT HIT ALL OVER THE PANHANDLE THIS YEAR.
AND ALSO WANT TO SAY A BIG KUDOS TO BLANK SPACES OUT THERE.
THEY WERE ONE OF THOSE 15 MAYOR MENTIONED THAT HAD OUR NEW ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE BUILDING DONE.
SO THEY DID A GREAT JOB AND THIS IS A GREAT COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU. Y'ALL GET IN THE MIDDLE THERE.
TURN THEM OVER ON THEIR SIDE IN THE.
WHAT DO THE CEREMONY PRESENTATION? SEE. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. NEXT ONE UP IS GOING TO BE NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH.
[6.B. National Preparedness Month]
I KNOW THIS GROUP HAS BEEN SUPER BUSY THIS YEAR.YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES THAT HELP KEEP US SAFE AND OPERATE THIS STUFF AT A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.
SO WHEREAS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH SERVES AS A REMINDER THAT WE ALL MUST TAKE ACTION TO PREPARE NOW AND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR FOR THE TYPES OF EMERGENCIES THAT COULD AFFECT US WHERE WE LIVE, WORK AND VISIT.
AND. WHEREAS, INVESTING IN THE PREPAREDNESS OF OURSELVES, OUR FAMILIES AND OUR BUSINESSES CAN REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES AND ECONOMIC DEVASTATION IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN OUR NATION. AND. WHEREAS, ALL CITIZENS OF AMARILLO ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE ENGAGEMENT, TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER AND DEVELOP SKILLS FROM OUR COMMUNITY'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE, VOLUNTEER AND FAITH BASED AGENCIES.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2023 AS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH. DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR THIS RECOGNITION OF THIS, THIS MONTH.
IT IS SUITING THAT IT BE THE COMPANION TO FOOD AWARENESS MONTH AS WELL.
PREPAREDNESS IS A VERY LARGE GOAL.
IT IS A NATIONAL GOAL AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH EVERYONE.
SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT.
ANY ONE OF OUR TEAM WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU GUYS AND POINT YOU ALL IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALL THOSE THAT CAME AND PARTICIPATED.
[7. Public Comment]
[00:15:02]
BUT THEN ALSO JUST OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING FROM OUR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO FOOD INSECURITIES. IT'S A REMINDER THAT WE'RE NOT JUST HERE TO TALK ABOUT POTHOLES AND TAXES.YOU KNOW, WE'RE REALLY HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO APPRECIATE EVERYONE BEING HERE TODAY.
WE ARE READY TO MOVE TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION.
AND SO I SEE OUR CITY SECRETARY IS HEADING THAT DIRECTION.
SO I WON'T ASK WHETHER OR NOT SHE HAD ANYONE SIGNED UP.
WELL, THEN WE WILL JUST CONTINUE TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE UNTIL WE GET TO THAT ONE.
MR. SAINT LET ME VERY BRIEFLY, WE ALLOW THREE MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
AT THE END OF 2.5 MINUTES, YOU'LL HEAR A WARNING BEEP, REMINDING YOU TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS.
MR. SCHANKE, WE PRESUME YOU RESIDE IN THE CITY LIMITS.
AND AND I ACTUALLY HAVE PRINTED COMMENTS THIS TIME, SO, YOU KNOW.
SO NONE OF THIS IS DIRECTED TOWARDS Y'ALL.
THIS LATEST DEMAND BY THEM TO MAKE US SPEND $4.5 MILLION SMACKS OF JUST BASIC EXTORTION.
A LITTLE HISTORY STARTED BACK IN EARLY 2008.
LES WAS A BOARD MEMBER OF THAT GROUP AND DAI STARTED IN 2008 AS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION INTENDED TO IMPLEMENT THE DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PLAN.
IT INCLUDED THOSE THINGS THE CONVENTION HOTEL, THE BALLPARK THEN THEY HAD IN 2015 A NON-BINDING REFERENDUM BECAUSE HARPOLE AND THAT GROUP WANTED TO AT LEAST GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM US.
NON-BINDING REFERENDUM THAT ONLY WON BY 800 VOTES AND THERE WAS ABOUT 20,000 PEOPLE VOTED.
SO TO ME, IT WAS A NARROW MARGIN TO DO THE THING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IN 2016, LGC, WHICH WAS CHAIRED BY SONNY HODGE, FORMED A NEGOTIATING TEAM OF HER DAD AND SEVERAL OTHERS, MR. FARRELLY AND GILLILAND AND SEVERAL OTHERS, AND REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ELMORE SPORTS GROUP ON 2017. SOMETHING SHOCKING IN MY MIND HAPPENED.
THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS.
THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER NEGOTIATION.
WHEN IT ARRIVED, THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
APPROVED IT. I READ THE CONTRACT BACK THEN AND WAS KEENLY AWARE THAT THE TEAM MLB WERE THE AND MLB WERE THE ONLY MONEY MAKERS IN THIS CONTRACT AND WE WERE LEFT WITH THE BILLS.
THIS $4.5 MILLION UPDATE IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE AND IT WON'T BE THE LAST.
I STUDY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.
I'M A FAN AND I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL THESE OTHER STADIUMS AROUND ARE IN TROUBLE AND THEY'VE MOVED OUT ON THEM.
PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THEM ABANDONED.
AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS SORT OF FINDING OUT ABOUT THAT, TOO.
THIS MAKES WITH US PUTTING THIS 4.5 MILLION IN THERE.
IT MAKES OUR BUILDING OVER THERE ABOUT 53 PLUS MILLION THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR.
[00:20:06]
THEN IN A LITTLE OVER TEN YEARS, WE ARE MANDATED TO A $15 MILLION RENOVATION THAT IF WE REFUSE, THEY CAN EXTORT US AGAIN BECAUSE THEY CAN MOVE.IT'S A TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT.
THEY HAVE US IN A OVER A BARREL WITH THIS CONTRACT.
FINALLY. $4 MILLION AND THE TEAM PAYS 5.95 $595,000.
THAT'S THE IMBALANCE THAT GOES ON.
AND THEY USE THE MONEY THEY ALREADY GAVE US TO SERVICE THE DEBT WE ALREADY HAD.
OF THE $175,000 THERE, THEY'RE ALLOWING US TO DO THAT.
WHERE'S THE LINE ITEM COST OF THIS RENOVATION? IT'S NOT IN OUR MINUTES OR ANYTHING.
ARE THERE ARE THESE ALL MANDATED BY MLB? WHY JUST ONE BID? IT'S THE QUESTIONS. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS.
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU AGREE TO HERE.
IT'S A SLIPPERY SLOPE AND WE'RE ALREADY ON IT.
WHEN YOU LOOK OVER WHAT THEY WANTED, WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR $4.5 MILLION, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME SUSPICION AND QUESTIONS ABOUT IS THAT REALLY MLB'S GOING TO COME DOWN HERE AND AND WANT TO WORRY ABOUT.
MR.. BEEN AROUND MANY BASEBALL LOCKER ROOMS. THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO SPEAK THIS MORNING OR THIS AFTERNOON.
DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING COUNCILMAN? I DID NOT. OKAY.
MISS CITY SECRETARY, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? NO, MAYOR. OKAY.
DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY? VERIFY. OKAY.
SO MR. FORD, YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON.
OKAY. SO ONE OF OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. OKAY, NO PROBLEM.
WE'LL WAIT THEN TILL WE GET TO THAT ITEM AND JUST ACKNOWLEDGE IT WHEN WE GET TO THAT.
ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL HERE TODAY? OKAY. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[8.A. Review agenda items for regular meeting and attachments]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM EIGHT A AND OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY CONCERNS FROM COUNCIL ON ANY OF THE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA HERE TODAY? OKAY. APPRECIATE THAT.[8.B. Discuss Downtown Paid Parking]
MOVING ON TO ITEM 8 B, WE DO HAVE IS IT CITY MANAGER ANDREW FREEMAN COMING DOWN HERE TO DISCUSS DOWNTOWN PAID PARKING, SIR? SO THIS IS GOING TO LOOK A LITTLE FAMILIAR TO THE JUNE PRESENTATION.WE HAD A COUPLE OF Y'ALL IN A IN A RUNOFF.
SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH WHAT SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD, AND THEN THAT'LL ADDRESS THE DISCUSSION THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SCHERLEN REQUESTED TO REVISIT THE PAID PARKING COMPONENT OF DOWNTOWN PARKING.
SO JUST A LITTLE, LITTLE HISTORY.
DOWNTOWN IS TYPICALLY BEEN ALL TIME MANAGED.
IT WASN'T UNTIL JUST A FEW YEARS AGO THAT WE STARTED THE PAID PARKING PROGRAM THAT WAS BASED ON SOME PAST CASE STUDIES WITH THE DOWNTOWN CATALYST PROJECTS IN COORDINATION WITH THE CITY IN DOWNTOWN AMARILLO, INC AND CENTER CITY.
ALL WORKING ON THAT PROJECT TOGETHER THAT INCLUDE THE PAID PARKING GARAGE AS PART OF THAT.
SO MARCH 2019 IS WHEN THE PAID PARKING ON STREET WAS ESTABLISHED.
IT STARTED AS A DOLLAR PER HOUR INITIALLY WITH THREE HOUR ZONES.
AND THEN THROUGH THAT PROJECT, WE ALSO WERE ABLE TO STRIPE ALL THE SPACES TO EASILY MONITOR FOR VIOLATIONS, BOTH ON THE TIME PARKING SIDE OF DOWNTOWN AND THE PAID PARKING SIDE.
AND THOSE WERE MONITORED USING LICENSE PLATE READERS WITH OUR PARKING ENFORCEMENT.
JUST TO RECAP THE PAID PARKING AREA, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 900 SPACES WITH THE BOUNDARY BEING THIRD AVENUE ON THE NORTH JOHNSON TO THE EAST 10TH AVENUE TO THE SOUTH AND TAYLOR STREET TO THE WEST.
[00:25:03]
AND THEN WITHIN THE AREA, THERE'S ALSO MANY SURFACE LOTS, 900 PLUS SPACES THAT AREN'T CHARGED PARKING.SO THOSE ARE FREE SURFACE LOTS.
AND THEN THE CITY PARKING GARAGE AS WELL.
THAT IS CREDIT CARD ONLY WITH 480 SPACES.
THE COLORED THEME IS EVERYTHING ON THE WEST SIDE THAT IS FREE, BUT IT IS TIME RESTRICTED RANGES FROM 15 MINUTES, 30 MINUTES, AN HOUR PARKING OR TWO HOUR PARKING AND THEN EVERYTHING IN THE GREEN THERE IS THE PAID PARKING AREA AND THEN THE BROWN IS JUST INDICATING ALL THE FREE SURFACE LOTS THAT THE CITY OF AMARILLO OWNS AS WELL.
AND THEN THE YELLOW WITH THE DOLLAR SIGN IS THE PAID PARKING GARAGE.
AND WE'VE ALSO INDICATED THE HANDICAPPED SPOTS AVAILABLE DOWNTOWN AS WELL.
WE STILL HAVE ONE VACANCY THAT WE NEED TO FILL.
ONCE WE GET UP TO SPEED WITH TWO, YOU'D SEE THAT NUMBER INCREASE.
BUT WE HAVE SEEN STEADY GROWTH IN THE APP BASED PARKING.
THAT'S WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE TRANSACTIONS TOTAL FOR PARKING FEES AND TOTAL FOR TRANSACTION FEES.
THAT ALL COMES FROM THE PARK MOBILE PAID PROGRAM.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT'S ENDING, WE'RE UP TO ALMOST 25,000 TRANSACTIONS FOR REVENUE OF 43,000 AND THEN DEDUCTED FROM THAT IS SOME TRANSACTION FEES OF 6500.
SO A LITTLE LESS THAN 40,000 REVENUE FROM THAT.
AND THEN THE NEXT LINE, PARKING FINES PAID.
THIS IS OUTSIDE OF THE PAID PARKING PROGRAM.
THIS COULD BE SOMEONE'S IN THE PAID PARKING ZONE THAT DIDN'T USE THE APP AND RECEIVED A VIOLATION.
SOMEONE IN THE FREE PARKING AREA THAT DIDN'T MOVE THEIR CAR WITHIN THE TIME LIMIT THAT RECEIVED A TICKET OR SOMEWHERE ELSE ACROSS TOWN, WHETHER IT'S A HANDICAP VIOLATION OR FIRE ZONE VIOLATION THAT WOULD ALL FALL IN THOSE THOSE FINES PAID.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE DROP FROM PREVIOUS YEAR FROM 114,000 DOWN TO 30,000 FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
SO THAT ALSO REFLECTED SOME OF THOSE DECREASES DURING THAT TIME.
AND THEN WHAT'S CHANGED SINCE WE LAUNCHED A FEW YEARS AGO? WE REMOVED THE THREE HOUR MAXIMUM PARKING SO YOU CAN PARK ALL DAY IN THE PAID PARKING AREA.
YOU CAN. WE DID NOT CHARGE DURING COVID.
WE ADDED 30 MINUTES OF FREE PARKING WHEN STARTING A PARKING SESSION THROUGH THE PAID AREA.
SO WE MADE AN AMENDMENT THAT NOW IT HAS TO BE ON STREET PARKING WITH EITHER PAID PARKING METERS OR FREE SHORT TERM, SHORT TERM, SHORT TERM TIME LIMITED PARKING FOR ON STREET PARKING WITHIN THE AREA. SO BASICALLY NOW IT HAS TO BE PAID PARKING OR TIME RESTRICTED PARKING.
AND THEN WE'D BE ABLE TO EVERY YEAR ADJUST FOR CPI AND THE RENT THAT THEY PAY.
AND THEN WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE JUROR PARKING THAT WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED WITH COUNCIL AND ARE WORKING ON A PLAN TO BRING BACK THAT ORDINANCE AMENDMENT NEXT MONTH.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS TO SEE HOW BEST WE CAN ADJUST, AND WE'VE GOT THE SOFTWARE THAT ALLOWS US TO ENTER IN THE LICENSE PLATES OF ANY JURORS THAT THEY CAN PRE-FILL OUT ON THEIR PRE QUESTIONNAIRE, PROVIDE THAT TO US.
AND THEN AS WE DRIVE THROUGH, WE CAN SEE IF THEY'RE A JUROR AND NOT CITE THEM FOR EITHER NOT PAYING FOR PARKING OR IF THEY'RE IN A TIME RESTRICTED AREA, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND NOT CHARGE THEM A PENALTY BECAUSE THEY'RE SERVING FOR FOR JURY DUTY.
AND THEN THIS DISCUSSION IS REALLY TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK ON THE DOWNTOWN PAID PARKING.
SO HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. FREEMAN. COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN.
OKAY. UM, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A VERY UNFAIR PARKING PROGRAM BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY DOING IT TO THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN AMARILLO, WHICH BENEFITS THE BUSINESSES ON THE WEST SIDE OF AMARILLO QUESTION I HAVE IS, ARE WE IN A CONTRACT WITH PARKMOBILE? YEAH. YES.
SO IT'S EASIER TO GET OUT OF THAT CONTRACT.
HOW MUCH IS IT COSTING US TO TRY TO REGULATE THIS?
[00:30:02]
SO WE'VE GOT THE ONE PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DOWNTOWN, SO THERE'S THAT EXPENSE AND THEN WE'VE KIND OF GOT A SHARED EXPENSE WITH THE CIVIL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR OF MUNICIPAL COURT THAT JUST HEARS THESE CASES.BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A PAID PARKING PROGRAM.
OH, LAURA, I THINK YOU HAD PULLED THAT NUMBER, BUT THAT WOULD BE CITYWIDE AS FAR AS FINES.
I MEAN, THE MAJORITY OF IT IS GOING TO BE DOWNTOWN.
I HEARD SOMEWHERE IN THE REGION OF 112,000.
IS THAT CORRECT? I BELIEVE IT'S HIGHER THAN THAT.
SEE IF I GET TO IT FASTER THAN LAUREN.
MY, I CAN GO AHEAD AND TALK WHILE YOU'RE LOOKING UP STUFF THERE.
UH, MY OPINION, THE REGIONAL REASON THIS WAS DONE WAS TO GET PEOPLE TO USE OUR PARKING GARAGE TO BEGIN WITH, WHICH IT'S NOT DONE.
IT HADN'T BEEN EFFECTIVE AND ACTUALLY CAUSED THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO HARDSHIP BECAUSE A LOT OF THE OLDER PEOPLE THAT COME DOWNTOWN TO PARK DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO WORK THE APP TO BE ABLE TO SIGN IT.
I DON'T SEE WHERE, YOU KNOW, WE SHOWED SOME INCOME, BUT IN ACTUALITY WE PROBABLY HAVE AS MUCH COST AS I DO INCOME BY KEEPING UP THIS PROJECT. I WOULD RATHER SEE US AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN DO THIS, GO TO A MAYBE TO OUR FREE PARKING WITHIN ALL OF DOWNTOWN AREA BECAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE IT EQUITABLE TO EVERY BUSINESS IN TOWN.
IT WOULD MAKE IT EQUITABLE FOR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO DO BY PICKING ON CERTAIN AREAS OF TOWN, AS YOU COULD SEE BY YOUR MAP WAS VERY FLAGRANT AGAINST SOME BUSINESSES AND OTHER BUSINESSES NOT.
AND WE CAN SEE THERE WE DO HAVE SOME AREAS THAT ARE 30 MINUTE FREE PARKING, TWO HOUR FREE PARKING.
I JUST THINK IT'D MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE TO MAKE EVERYTHING THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
I WOULD RATHER SEE US AS A CITY THAT IS A SERVICE WE PROVIDE.
YES, SIR. ANDREW, DO YOU HAVE A TRUE FIGURE OF REVENUE VERSUS COST? LIKE WHAT IS THIS COSTING US VERSUS WHAT IS IT BRINGING THE CITY? DO YOU HAVE A FIGURE THAT SHOWS THAT? I THINK WE DO.
PERFECT. THAT GOT THE OK STANLEY MOUNT.
SO IT'S NOT REALLY AN APPLES, NOT REALLY A NET SAVINGS.
SO TOTAL UNPAID OUTSTANDING AS OF SEPTEMBER 21ST IS 511,000.
AND THAT COULD BE OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
OKAY. CORRECT. 511,000 511,000.
SO THIS IS KIND OF LIKE THE THE LAWN MOWING THING THAT WE HAD.
SO DO WE DO WE HAVE A COST VERSUS REVENUE RIGHT NOW? I MEAN, AND AGAIN, TO MAYOR'S POINT, I WOULD TAKE THAT THAT THAT ONE STAFF POSITION.
SO WE'RE BRINGING IN FOUR, FIVE, SIX, 70,000 RIGHT THERE.
THAT PROBABLY MORE THAN COVERS THE STAFF PERSON THAT MONITORS THE ENTIRE DOWNTOWN.
SO IT PROBABLY COVERS THE HALF THAT WOULD BE THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN FOR THE PAID PARKING AREA.
4500. SO WE GOT THE FEES INVOLVED.
BUT WE WOULD STILL USE THAT PERSON.
SO REALLY IT'S COVERING THAT PERSON IF THEY WERE FULL TIME DEDICATED TO THE EAST SIDE PAID PARKING.
[00:35:01]
IT'S BASICALLY A WASH. AND WE DON'T HAVE MANY CAPITAL COSTS BECAUSE THE SIGNS ARE THERE.IT'S NOT ANYTHING WE HAVE TO MAINTAIN NO MAINTENANCE.
IT WOULD BE FINE WITHOUT THE PAID PARKING COMING IN.
THEN THAT BECOMES AN EXPENSE TO US.
SO WE'D PROBABLY ACTUALLY SEE MORE REVENUE THAT WAY.
SO DO WE SEE THE PEOPLE? I KNOW THAT WE STILL HAVE THE TWO HOUR PARKING, THE OTHER PART OF THE CITY.
SO DO WE SEE THE TWO HOUR PARKING? DO WE SEE LIKE STATISTICS ON HOW MUCH THOSE PEOPLE PAY THAT FINE VERSUS HOW MUCH PEOPLE PAY? THE THE FINE FOR BEING OUTSIDE THERE IS THAT.
I KNOW THAT'S A THAT'S A STRETCH.
AND WE ARE WORKING TO FILL THAT THAT VACANT POSITION CURRENTLY.
AND YOU MAY HAVE ADDRESSED THIS.
WHAT'S THE REASON FOR THE DROP IN 21 AND 22 IN THE PAID FINES? THE STAFFING JUST NOT HAVING SOMEONE OUT THERE CHECKING ALL THE TIME ZONES AS CONSTANT BECAUSE THE DOWNTOWN PERSON HAS TO WORK CITYWIDE NOW.
SO THAT CREATED ABOUT AN $84,000 DIFFERENCE.
OKAY. 120MI² OF DRIVING FOR ONE PERSON.
FOR ONE PERSON, WHICH WE ARE WORKING BECAUSE THAT'S NOW BEING ASSIGNED TO THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO PULL SOMEBODY OUT OF DOWNTOWN.
THAT PERSON MANAGES EVERY BIT OF THAT, RIGHT.
THAT'S ILLEGAL PARKING ANYWHERE.
YEAH, WE HAD TO BASICALLY HANDLING ALL OF THAT.
SO IT DIDN'T BECOME A POLICE ISSUE WHERE THEY HAD TO GO HANDLE ILLEGAL PARKED CARS.
YES, SIR. I MEAN, AS FAR AS THE DIRECTION, YOU KNOW, IT'S YOU'RE ASKING, I.
I PERSONALLY THINK WE JUST NEED TO GET RID OF IT.
I MEAN, I DON'T IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A MINIMAL COST TO GET RID OF IT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE FAIR TO OUR CITIZENS.
AND I MEAN, THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR ITSELF, IN MY OPINION.
SO THE COST THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WOULD BE THE REMOVAL OF THE PARK PAY OR WHATEVER THAT IS, RIGHT? SO IT'D JUST BE TERMINATING THAT CONTRACT AND WE'D SWAP THE SIGNS OUT WITH TIME TO HOUR AND THAT AND THAT THAT WOULD MAKE IT UNIFORM THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN PRETTY MUCH THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE OTHER COMPONENT.
AND DO YOU FOCUS ON ANY AREAS THAT ARE FOR EMPLOYEES THAT NEED TO PARK 4 TO 8 HOURS? BUT RIGHT NOW, AS FAR AS GETTING RID OF THIS, WE COULD DEFAULT TO HOURS AND THE ONES WE'RE TAKING AWAY.
BUT IF WE'RE WILLING TO TALK CITY DOWNTOWN WISE, THAT MIGHT BE A BIGGER CONVERSATION.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T MANAGE THAT, THEN WHAT WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH IS VEHICLES THAT ARE LEFT OVERNIGHT OR THROUGHOUT THE DAY OR WHATEVER, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRULY MANAGE THAT ON STREET PARKING.
SO YOU COULD GO TO A TWO HOUR TIMED PARKING, WHICH IS FREE PARKING EVERYWHERE DOWNTOWN AND THEN YOU'RE NOT REALLY CONSEQUENCES ANY EXISTING BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY'VE ALREADY LEARNED TO DEAL WITH YOU KNOW OUR PARK MOBILE ISSUE ON THE EAST SIDE IF WE JUST CHANGE THE EAST SIDE PAID PARKING TO TWO HOUR TIME LIMITED, I THINK THAT'D BE PRETTY LOW IMPACT.
SO THEN WHAT WE WOULD BE SAYING IS, IS WOULD YOU WANT TO BRING ANOTHER DISCUSSION WITH MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE EDUCATION FOR COUNCIL GOING WEST? DO THESE 1531 AND TWOS NEED TO CHANGE OVER THERE FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES? AND ARE THERE ANY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES? RIGHT. AND MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO SEE WHAT WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ON IT? HAS IT BEEN WORKING IN THE PAST? SHOULD THEY BE CONSISTENT? YES. YES, SIR.
AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK TO ENGAGE WITH THEM? NO, JUST JUST SCHEDULING THE MEETINGS AND GETTING THE INPUT.
I DON'T THINK IT'D TAKE TOO TERRIBLY LONG TO GET THOSE TOGETHER.
AND YOU YOU FEEL LIKE IF WE WENT TO A.
TO OUR PARKING JUST ACROSS THE BOARD THERE, CHANGED THEM ALL TO TWO HOURS AND JUST NOTIFIED THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS OR INDIVIDUALS OF, HEY, IF THAT'S A GOING TO CREATE AN ISSUE, PLEASE LET US KNOW WHY.
AND THEN WE COULD DO LIKE A WOULD WE ALLOW SOME SOMEWHAT OF A LOWER TIME CAP BASED ON THE ACTUAL PROPERTY OWNER? THAT'S BASICALLY HOW IT'S BEEN DONE IN THE LAST FEW DECADES, IS ANALYZING IT AND SEEING IF IT MAKES SENSE IN THOSE AREAS.
[00:40:04]
IS IT IS IT A BUSINESS OR A ROW OF BUSINESSES THAT HAVE LIKE DROP OFF PICKUP THAT DOESN'T NEED SOMEBODY SITTING OUT THERE TWO HOURS, 15 MINUTES OR 30 MINUTES WORKS BETTER? THOSE WOULD BE THE CONVERSATIONS.BUT A LOT OF THOSE BUSINESSES HAVE CHANGED OVER THE LAST 30, 40 YEARS.
SO THEY MAY NO LONGER NEED THE SHORT TURNAROUND.
MAYBE THEY WANT LONGER TIME PERIODS.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT PARTNER IN CENTER CITY AND BETH DUKE THAT CAN ALSO HELP US GATHER THAT INPUT AND INSIGHT WHEN WE GET START IT OFF WITH THE HEY COUNCIL IS KIND OF INTERESTING ACROSS THE BOARD, SIMILAR TIMES AND THEN JUST KIND OF GO FROM THERE AND GET THE FEEDBACK.
WELL, I'D ASK IF COUNCIL, UNLESS WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION DIRECTED AT THIS OVERALL TOPIC.
YES, SIR. JUST KIND OF JUST STEPPING BACK A MINUTE.
WHY WHY DO YOU IMPLEMENT PAID PARKING AT ALL? WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PAID PARKING? WELL, IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT TO MAKE A TON OF MONEY.
BUT IN THE OTHER SIDE, OUR PAID PARKING GARAGE ALLOWS YOU TO PARK ALL DAY.
SO IT'S REALLY THE PREFERENCE OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T WANT TO MOVE EVERY 30 MINUTES TO 2 HOURS.
SO I THINK THEY CAN STILL WORK IN TANDEM ON STREET SHOULD BE MORE THE SHORT TERM PARKING.
OFF STREET PARKING GARAGE SHOULD BE THE LONG TERM PARKING.
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR LOCATION.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER MAYBE THE TWO HOUR IS THE BEST ALL OVER, YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN OR MAYBE THEY'RE MORE TO HELP THE BUSINESS OWNERS SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY BECAUSE I GUESS BEFORE WE HAD THIS I MEAN, THERE WERE TIMES WHERE PEOPLE WOULD PARK EIGHT HOURS.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS, I GUESS IF WE, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE'RE GOING TO DO, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THE ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT GOING TO DO ANY GOOD FOR ANYBODY IF IT'S IF IT'S NOT ENFORCED.
SO THE BUSINESSES HAVE THAT ACCESSIBILITY.
YEAH. YES, SIR. AND, YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, I JUST I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY DATA TO SAY.
SO I JUST THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO JUST LOOK AT I MEAN, IF THE TWO HOUR WORKS WITH THE PARKING GARAGE AND WE DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ANY IMPACT, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST SOMETHING WE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
OH, WE CAN DEFINITELY PULL THAT DATA.
WE'VE GOT ALL THAT IN THE SYSTEM.
WE COULD WE COULD FOLLOW UP WITH THAT REPORT.
BUT WE KNOW HOW LONG THEY'VE BEEN IN THERE, HOW MUCH THEY PAY FOR, AND WE CAN RUN THOSE STATS.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SIR. THANK YOU.
WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THIS MAP HERE, I SEE A MOST OF IT DOWNTOWN THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WEST OF THE AREA AROUND HERE IS BASICALLY IT LOOKS LIKE TWO HOUR PARKING.
YOUR SIDE STREETS APPEAR TO BE MORE OF YOUR 30 MINUTE PARKING, WHICH THERE'S NOT MANY BUSINESSES SET UP ON THE SIDE STREETS, ACTUALLY.
SO WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS, THE MAJORITY OF IT IS GOING TO BE TWO HOUR PARKING ANYWAY.
SO YEAH, IT'S A MAJORITY, TWO HOUR AND ONE HOUR.
SO ONE HOUR IS THE PINK AND BLUE IS THE TWO HOUR.
SO IT'S VERY SMALL, 30 MINUTE AND 15 MINUTE OPTIONS.
MR. FREEMAN I WOULD ASK THAT WE YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MORE OR LESS AN 8 TO 5 UNDERSTANDING ON THIS.
SO THIS WOULD THIS WOULD KEEP THE AFTER FIVE OPEN, NOT A TWO HOUR RESTRICTED.
OKAY. YES, SIR. UM, UNLESS COUNCIL DISAGREES OR HAS A FURTHER DISCUSSION POINT ON THIS, I FEEL LIKE THE DIRECTIVE THAT THAT WE'RE WANTING TO SEE STAFF GO IS FOR YOU GUYS TO MAYBE DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AS TO ANY NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT THIS IS GOING TO HIT SOME OF THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS OR PROPERTY OWNERS DOWNTOWN.
ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THAT? OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. FREEMAN. APPRECIATE YOU.
THANK YOU. MR. FORD, YOU JUST WANT TO LEAVE OR.
IF YOU DON'T MIND STEPPING TO THE MIC, WE'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
[00:45:04]
I HAVE SOME THINGS FOR YOU.SOME HISTORICAL ISSUES THAT DATE WAY BACK, SOME JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS.
MIKE FORD, RESIDENT OF AMARILLO, TEXAS.
AND I WILL JUST SAY, IN TERMS OF PARKING ENFORCEMENT, IT IS VERY GOOD.
A FEW YEARS BACK I WAS AT A YOUNG SUSHI ROX FOR A BUSINESS LUNCHEON.
WE WERE THERE FOR RIGHT AT TWO HOURS.
I WAS IN A TWO HOUR PARKING SPOT.
NOT TO TOOT MY OWN HORN OR ANYTHING, BUT JUST IT DELAYED ME GETTING OUT.
SO I LEFT, GOT TO MY TRUCK AT TWO HOURS AND FIVE MINUTES, AND I HAD A PARKING TICKET.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS A PAGE FROM THE FROM THE EMERALD GLOBE, 1941, DECEMBER 31ST, 1941 PARKING METERS ARE INSTALLED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK SIDE OF THE PAGE, JULY 17TH, 1967, PARKING METERS ARE REMOVED.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE EXACT SAME CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING TODAY.
SO THAT'S ALL ABOUT IF YOU DON'T IF YOU DON'T LEARN YOUR HISTORY, YOU'RE BOUND TO REPEAT IT.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE REPEATING EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
THE STRIP MALLS WERE COMING INTO BEING.
THEY WERE LOSING CUSTOMERS DOWNTOWN.
NOW IT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING.
AND WHAT OTHER CITIES WILL DO IS THEY WILL BUILD PARKING GARAGES THAT ARE FREE TO PARK IN TO ATTRACT PEOPLE, TO COME DOWN TO THEIR DOWNTOWN AREAS, TO SHOP IN THEIR DOWNTOWN STORES. AND THERE'S NO CHARGE TO THE I MEAN, IF YOU GO TO THE MAJOR CITIES RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NO CHARGES FOR THOSE THAT COULD BE IN DENVER OR COULD BE IN DALLAS, FORT WORTH OR FORT WORTH. AND THEN IN REGARD TO THIS COUNCIL MEMBER SIMPSON, THIS THIS WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION.
THIS IS AN ARTICLE FROM THE FROM YOUR FORMER NEWSPAPER.
AND IT SAYS THAT MAYOR HARPOLE SUPPORTED THE PLAN.
HE SAID, LET'S DO IT WITH THE IDEA IT'S GOT TO SUPPORT THE GARAGE THAT'S PAID PARKING.
AND THAT'S WHY ESSENTIALLY THAT WAS THE REASON FOR IT.
AS THE CITY MANAGER NOTED, THAT IT WAS TO SUPPORT THE PARKING GARAGE.
MR. SCHANKE WAS UP HERE EARLIER AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT KIND OF THE TRIFECTA, THE HOW DO THIS THING, THIS THIS ORDINANCE HERE, IF YOU SAW THE ORDINANCE ON THE TAX NOTES.
THIS IS THE MOTHER OF ALL ILLEGAL ORDINANCES.
OKAY. THIS THIS THIS ONE ORDINANCE GOT US INTO THE HOTEL, THE MPEV AND THE PARKING GARAGE.
IT WAS A SUBJECT OF TWO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, TWO WORKING GROUP SESSIONS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THEM EXTENSIVELY.
OKAY. THIS THIS IS A HIGHLY IN MY IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, THIS IS A HIGHLY ILLEGAL ORDINANCE.
THE PUBLIC NOTICE WAS INSUFFICIENT.
AND THAT WAS FOR THE MPEV AND AS MR..
MR. SCHANKE SAID, SO BOY, MY TIME IS UP AND IN A BIG WAY.
AND SO I JUST WANTED TO LEAVE THAT WITH YOU.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CONVERSATION IS IN THE DIRECTION, OF COURSE YOU WANT TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR WITH YOUR VENDORS AND YOUR AND YOUR BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE EVENT THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN THE INTERIM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, A SAFE PLACE TO START IS THE DAY BEFORE THE PAID PARKING WAS INSTITUTED.
AND YOU CAN START WITH THAT PLAN AND SEE IF ANYTHING NEEDS TO CHANGE FROM THERE.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. FORD? YES.
WHAT WAS THIS DOCUMENT PRESENTED FOR OTHER THAN TO SHOW? I MEAN, I GET IT, BUT..
IT'S FAR IT TALKS ABOUT PARKING.
IT TALKS ABOUT THE WHOLE IT TALKS ABOUT THE ENTIRE THING.
SO THERE WAS THESE THESE ARE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME FROM THE FROM THE LGC.
THERE WERE PROBABLY CLOSE TO 20 RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEPARATE ORDINANCES OR SEPARATELY NOTICED.
[00:50:03]
BUT BUT THERE'S A HISTORICAL PIECE OR IS A HISTORICAL ELEMENT TO THAT.AND THERE ARE QUESTIONS ON HOW DO WE GET HERE FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER.
SIMPSON WAS ASKING HOW DO WE GET HERE FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE? AND THIS THIS REALLY KIND OF LAYS THE GROUNDWORK FOR THAT.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. FORD BEFORE HE SITS DOWN FOR ME? THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR.
UM, JUST ACKNOWLEDGING A DISCUSSION ITEM AND IN FAIRNESS TO ALL SIDES, WE DID ALLOW A CITIZEN TO TO SPEAK ALONG WITH COUNCIL HERE TODAY. AND I APPRECIATE YOU, YOU KNOW, BEING WILLING TO TO RISE AND SPEAK.
DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE TODAY THAT WOULD CARE TO OFFER ANYTHING TO THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM? OKAY. THANK YOU, GUYS.
APPRECIATE YOU FOR BEING HERE, SIR.
UM, STAFF, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE SOME GOOD DIRECTION, SO WE'LL MOVE FORWARD FROM HERE.
[8.C. Discuss Zoning Code Parking Regulations]
UH, MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT C, WE HAVE MISS EMILY KOLLER COMING FORWARD TO DISCUSS ZONING CODE, PARKING REGULATIONS.ALL RIGHT. CONTINUING ON THE TOPIC OF PARKING, THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
I'M EMILY KOLLER, THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, AND WE'RE SEEKING SOME DIRECTION ON POSSIBLE PARKING CODE AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD HELP PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY FOR INFILL AND REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
WE'RE STARTING TO RUN INTO SOME CHALLENGES REVIEWING THESE PROJECTS.
AND SINCE WE KNOW THAT THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THE CITY PLAN PROCESS, WE THOUGHT IT'S POSSIBLE WE COULD START WORKING ON SOME UPDATES NOW PENDING YOUR DIRECTION.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
PARKING REGULATIONS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT ARE THE SAME THROUGHOUT THE CITY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DOWNTOWN IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND THE CBD.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY REQUIREMENTS FOR NON RESIDENTIAL.
SO ANY COMMERCIAL USE COMING INTO DOWNTOWN ISN'T REQUIRED TO PROVIDE PARKING.
BUT WE DO REQUIRE ONE SPACE FOR EACH RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNIT.
SO IN OTHER OLDER PARTS OF THE CITY, OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO MEET.
AND THEN ANOTHER ONE JUST FOR DISCUSSION.
SO THE FIRST OPTION PROPOSES TO USE SOME OF WHAT WAS DRAFTED DURING THE ZONING CODE REVISION PROJECT TO ADDRESS INFILL AND ADAPTIVE REUSE.
THIS WOULD PROBABLY JUST ADD A NEW SECTION TO OUR PARKING CODE, WHICH IS FOR 10 TO 11.
SO PROJECTS ARE EITHER CHANGING IN USE IN AN OLDER AREA OR EXPANDING THEIR USABLE FLOOR AREA BY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE WOULD TRIGGER THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
SOME CITIES DO ALLOW ON STREET PARKING TO BE COUNTED.
THIS DOESN'T PROPOSE TO ALLOW THAT.
AND SO IN INFILL LOTS IN THE COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICTS, THE APPLICANT COULD OPT INTO A 20% REDUCTION IN WHAT'S REQUIRED JUST WHEN THEY COME IN TO TO HAVE THEIR PROJECT REVIEWED.
SO THAT'S A VACANT LOT, NEW CONSTRUCTION IN.
AND THEN IF THEY'RE WORKING ON REUSING AN EXISTING BUILDING, THE WAY WE HAD DRAFTED IT PREVIOUSLY WAS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE LOCATED IN ONE OF OUR ADOPTED NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AREAS BECAUSE THOSE ARE OUR REVITALIZATION FOCUS AREAS.
AND THEN THE BUILDING WOULD HAVE TO MEET ONE OF THESE THREE THINGS.
AND THEN THEY COULDN'T BE EXPANDING THAT BUILDING BY MORE THAN 50%.
AND THEN THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR A REDUCTION OF 50%.
THEY COULD ALSO USE OFF SITE PARKING THAT WASN'T IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THEIR LOT.
AND RIGHT NOW I DON'T HAVE ANY FLEXIBILITY TO DO THAT.
[00:55:04]
SO SOME OF THE PROS AND CONS WITH THIS.THIS ONE IS, WE THINK, VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE DIRECTION WE'VE HEARD THROUGH CITY PLAN AND THE COMMUNITY INPUT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED ON WORKING ON TO REVITALIZE OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS.
THIS WOULDN'T REQUIRE ANY APPLICATION FEE OR A SEPARATE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR A DEVELOPER.
WE HAVE A DRAFT OF THESE, SO WE COULD BRING THIS TO YOU RELATIVELY QUICKLY, BUT I THINK WE'D LIKE SOME TIME TO MAKE SURE IT ALIGNS WITH SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS WE'VE HEARD THROUGH CITY PLAN. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW IT JUST SAYS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AREAS.
SO THESE ARE OLDER COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND THE HISTORIC PART OF SIXTH STREET THAT'S BECOME A PRIORITY FOR REDEVELOPMENT THROUGH CITY PLAN.
SO WE PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY MAYBE TO EXPAND.
THIS LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN WE COULD ADOPT THIS WITHOUT DISRUPTING THE REST OF THE CODE.
AND WE THINK THESE ARE REALLY CLEAR AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND FOR CITIZENS.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD EXPECT PEOPLE TO BE ON BOARD WITH THIS AND NOT SEE A LOT OF RESISTANCE TO IT.
AND IT WOULD POTENTIALLY HAVE SOME IMPACTS TO SURROUNDING RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
BUT WE'RE STILL REQUIRING PARKING.
SO I THINK THOSE WOULD BE MINIMAL.
AND THEN THE NEXT OPTION WOULDN'T ADDRESS ANYTHING WITHIN THE PARKING SECTION OF OUR CODE.
THIS WOULD BE A SPECIAL EXCEPTION PROCESS.
SO THIS WOULD MEAN THAT WE WOULD BE AMENDING THE SECTION OF OUR CODE THAT ALLOWS FOR APPEALS AND VARIANCES, AND THEN THE SPECIAL APPLICATION TYPE CALLED A SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING WE HAD WRITTEN AND DRAFTED FOR THE ZONING CODE REVISION PROJECT, AND THIS WOULD ALLOW SOMEONE WHO'S HAVING TROUBLE TRYING TO GET TO THE REQUIRED PARKING THAT THEY COULD APPLY FOR THIS SPECIAL EXCEPTION AND REQUEST A 25% REDUCTION.
TYPICALLY YOU HAVE TO SHOW A HARDSHIP, BUT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT FOR THIS KIND OF REQUEST.
YOU JUST HAVE TO CLEARLY EXPLAIN WHY YOUR PROJECT WOULD WARRANT FEWER PARKING SPACES.
SO PROS AND CONS FOR THIS ONE, THIS PROBABLY WOULD BE MORE OF A QUICK FIX TO ALLOW US TO DO SOME OF THE THESE ADDRESS SOME OF THESE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW. BUT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE LONG TERM FIX THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH OUR CITY PLAN VISION.
IT WOULD REQUIRE AN APPLICATION FEE PROBABLY, AND A SEPARATE HEARING.
SO THAT'S MORE TIME IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
SO WE COULD PROBABLY BRING THIS TO YOU PRETTY QUICKLY AND PROBABLY HAVE KIND OF THE SAME IMPACT AS FAR AS DISRUPTION TO SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AS THE FIRST OPTION.
AND THEN THE LAST ONE, THIS IS NOT PART OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED THROUGH THE ZONING CODE REVISION PROJECT, BUT INTERNALLY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT AND WE THOUGHT THAT NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO RAISE THIS AS WELL.
SO THIS IDEA WOULD ELIMINATE PARKING MINIMUMS CITYWIDE.
SO ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD TAKE WHAT WE'VE DONE DOWNTOWN AND APPLY THAT TO THE REST OF THE CITY.
SO IT WOULD PROBABLY ENTIRELY REVISE OUR PARKING SECTION.
SO THIS MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME FOR US TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
BUT I'VE SEEN OTHER CITIES DO IT.
THEY JUST CHANGE REQUIRED TO RECOMMEND IT.
SO IT MIGHT BE EASIER THAN I THINK, BUT WE JUST HAVEN'T SPENT AS MUCH TIME ON THIS POSSIBLE OPTION.
UM, SOME OF THE PROS AND CONS.
AS WE'VE SEEN IN DOWNTOWN, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ACQUIRING LAND FOR PARKING LOTS.
SO BUSINESSES DO TEND TO PROVIDE WHAT THEY THINK THAT THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
IT CAN REDUCE THE COST FOR DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY'RE BUILDING.
THIS COULD LEAD TO DECREASES IN RENT OR HOUSING COSTS TO THE END USER OR BUYER LAND HOPEFULLY WOULD BECOME A MORE PRODUCTIVE USE.
[01:00:01]
SO IT'S NOT A PARKING LOT.IT BECOMES A BUILDING, HELPS INCREASE THE TAX BASE AND THIS COULD HAVE MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS ADJACENT TO COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THIS WITH INCREASED INVESTMENTS IN OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
SO IF IT'S LESS CONVENIENT TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE, THEN THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT'S PART OF THE DISCUSSION WE JUST HAD WITH THE DOWNTOWN PAY PARKING.
AND SO I DO THINK THIS WOULD MAKE PARKING LESS CONVENIENT FOR THE AVERAGE CITIZEN TRYING TO GET AROUND TO DO THEIR BUSINESS. AND LONG TERM, IT WOULD POTENTIALLY REQUIRE LIKE PARKING MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS LIKE WE'RE DOING IN DOWNTOWN AND OTHER COMMERCIAL AREAS.
SO THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS WE PREPARE FOR YOU.
SO WE'RE HERE FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
THEY'RE NOT DOWNTOWN, BUT THEY'RE CLOSE, SO MAYBE BARRIO OR ON SIXTH STREET.
SO THEY'RE THEY'RE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE.
SOME OF THESE MAY BE BAD OPTIONS.
AND THEN I FEEL LIKE YOU'VE LAID OUT THREE REALLY GOOD OPTIONS.
SO MS. KOLLER JUST I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
SO THE ISSUE HERE, I MEAN, TO FOR EVERYBODY ELSE, I THINK IS SOME OF THE OLDER BUILDINGS AND THAT TYPE DEAL THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING, THEY WANT TO DO THINGS TO IT, BUT IF THEY DO, THEN THEY'VE GOT TO COME UP TO CURRENT CODE, RIGHT? WHICH IS THAT WHERE THE PARKING COMES IN, RIGHT.
IT YEAH. DEPENDING ON THE PROJECT IT TRIGGERS A REVIEW PROCESS.
AND THESE ARE PARTS OF OUR CITY THAT ARE ALREADY DEVELOPED.
AND SO THERE JUST ISN'T NECESSARILY THE SPACE TO BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? YEAH. AND YEAH, I THINK IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN A PARTICULAR LOCATION FOR A BUSINESS IDEA AND THE PARKING CAN BE LIKE, ALL RIGHT, WELL THERE'S NO WAY WE'D BE ABLE TO DO THAT THERE.
SO WE'LL GO OUT OF TOWN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT PART OF TOWN.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I THINK THIS IS CONSIDERED AN INCENTIVE FOR INFILL AND ADAPTIVE REUSE, BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE REINVESTMENT IN CERTAIN AREAS BY ALLOWING THESE REDUCTIONS.
OKAY. OKAY. SO THEN THAT'S WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT THE THREE OPTIONS IS FOR FOR THAT SITUATION TO MAYBE HELP THEM TO HAVE THE OPTION TO INFILL OR TO DO THE RENOVATIONS OR.
AS SOMEWHAT OF A KIND OF A ONE OFF EXAMPLE, IF WE HAD A BUILDING, SAY ON 10TH STREET, NOT IN THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, SO THEY ARE REQUIRED TO COME UP TO STANDARDS.
SO LET'S SAY EXISTING BUILDING IS A GOOD FIT FOR A RESTAURANT.
SO IN THE RESTAURANT DESIGN AND WE'LL JUST SAY THE DINING SPACE IS WHAT FORMULATES HOW MANY OCCUPANTS YOU MAY HAVE THAT ARE DINING, AND THEN THAT CONTRIBUTES TO OUR PARKING.
SO AT A POINT WE REACH A STUDY AND WE SAY WE NEED 50 SPACES FOR THIS TO EVER BECOME A RESTAURANT.
SO IN REVITALIZING AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE MAY HAVE A NICE RESTAURANT THAT'S MOVING IN AND THEY MAY ONLY REALLY NEED TO SERVICE 10 TO 12 CUSTOMERS AT A TIME TO MAKE A GOOD LIVING FOR THAT BUSINESS MODEL.
WE'RE HOLDING THEM TO THE STANDARD OF WHAT WE'VE KIND OF FORMULATED OVER R.S.C.
[01:05:04]
TO SAY, WELL, IF WE HAVE A RESTAURANT AND THIS IS HOW MANY TABLES THEY HAVE, YOU GOT TO HAVE 50 SPACES.SO IF WE LOOK AT OPTION TWO AND ONE, REALLY THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME LATITUDE FOR OUR ADMINISTRATORS AND PLANNERS TO SAY, OKAY, WELL, LET'S REDUCE THAT, YOU KNOW, BY 25%.
AM I CORRECT IN IN LEADING THAT WAY? YEAH. SO THE OPTION TO THAT'S THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
SO THAT WOULDN'T LIKE IF WE WENT DOWN THIS PATH, IT WOULD BE WE COULD CONSIDER A PROJECT AT A TIME WE WOULD ASSUME OKAY MOST PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE OKAY FOR NOW, BUT THIS GIVES US SOME FLEXIBILITY WHEN WE DO HAVE THESE ONES THAT COME UP VERSUS I THINK THE FIRST OPTION IS A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TO WORKING ON REDEVELOPMENT IN THESE OLDER COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.
SO GIVE ME LET ME JUST RUN THAT EXAMPLE REAL QUICK.
WHAT WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO DO FOR THEM? LET'S SAY THEY'RE ON 10TH, BUT NOT IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT, RIGHT? SO THEY WOULD IF THEY'RE ON 10TH, THEY WOULD BE IN THE BARRIO NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN AREA.
AND SO IF THEY'RE REQUIRED PARKING IS 40, THEN IT ALLOWS A 50% REDUCTION.
MAYBE THEY CAN GET FIVE MORE IN A LOT.
THAT'S A COUPLE LOTS DOWN FROM THEM.
RIGHT. OR YOU COULD ALLOW FOR ON STREET PARKING, NOT ON THAT STREET, BUT POTENTIALLY OTHER STREETS.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT SOME CITIES DO ALLOW A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF ON STREET TO BE COUNTED.
WHAT'S THE NEGATIVE WITH ALLOWING THE ON STREET PARKING.
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO MANAGE IF POTENTIAL ISSUES PEOPLE PARKING.
AND THEN I THINK JUST IF THIS BUSINESS IS THEY'RE USING THREE ON STREET SPACES AND THEN THE NEXT ONE SAYS THEY'RE USING THREE ON STREET SPACES, IT GETS SORT OF HARD TO TRACK THAT.
OKAY. CAN CAN I ASK A BASIC QUESTION? SO AS A CITY, WE'RE WE'RE REQUIRING, YOU KNOW, WITH THE CODES AND ORDINANCES THAT THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE SO MANY PARKING SPACES.
IF I OPEN UP A RESTAURANT AND IT HAS 50 TABLES AND I'VE ONLY GOT.
ISN'T THAT MY PROBLEM? LIKE, I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO SERVE VERY MANY PEOPLE.
BUT I MEAN, PEOPLE CAN PARK ON THE STREETS IF THEY WANT, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S NOT ILLEGAL, YOU KNOW, UNLESS THEY'RE BLOCKING DRIVES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
WHY WOULD WE EVEN I MEAN, AND AGAIN, JUST I'M JUST THROWING THIS OUT HERE IN DISCUSSION.
IF THE BUILDING IS IN CERTAIN AREAS OR MAYBE CERTAIN AGE, WHY WOULD WE EVEN APPLY THESE AT ALL WHEN THEY'RE IN A LANDLOCKED AREA? THEY CAN'T DO IT. WE WANT DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT IN THESE AREAS, BUT BECAUSE OF THESE RESTRICTIONS, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DO IT.
LIKE, AGAIN, IF I'M GOING TO OPEN UP A RESTAURANT AND I DON'T HAVE PARKING SPACES, THAT'S MY BAD.
BUT THAT'S A BUSINESS DECISION THAT I'M WILLING TO MAKE.
OR IF I JUST WANT TO OPEN UP A BAKERY, I'VE GOT FIVE SPACES.
SO THEY'VE GOT TO WALK, YOU KNOW, FOREVER.
WELL, THAT'S A BAD CALL ON MY PART, BUT THAT'S MY BUSINESS DECISION.
SO IS THAT IS THAT FAIR, TOO? I MEAN, Y'ALL HELP ME OUT HERE BECAUSE I JUST DON'T GET IT.
WHY? WE WOULD DICTATE THAT, WHY WE WANT THIS REDEVELOPMENT IN THESE OLDER AREAS.
WHY WOULD WE AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED IN A BUSINESS DECISION THAT IF I WANT TO OPEN A BUSINESS AND IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH PARKING SPACES, THAT'S IN MY OPINION, PROBABLY A BAD DECISION. IF I COULD OFFER A A LINE THAT I WOULD LOVE TO, TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, WHEN WE BACK AWAY FROM REGULATING PRIVATE BUSINESS, WE HAVE TO TRUST OUR PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNERS AND OUR CITIZENS TO HANDLE THEMSELVES IN A PROFESSIONAL AND ADULT LIKE
[01:10:01]
MANNER. RIGHT.AND THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO MITIGATE OR MANAGE THAT ON YOUR BEHALF.
SO WE NEED TO DRAW A LINE THERE OF WHAT IS THE RIGHT ROLE OF GOVERNMENT? WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY IN MANAGING YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS VERSUS WHAT IS YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS AND YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND THE WAY IN WHICH YOU ARE TRYING TO INVEST IN YOUR PROPERTY AND DO YOUR OWN UPGRADES.
AND SO THERE'S A BALANCING ACT THERE.
SO OPTION THREE HERE THAT JUST SAYS NO PARKING REQUIREMENTS MAY NOT BE AS HELPFUL IN A NEW DEVELOPMENT WHERE I'M BUYING A LOT AND I'M PUTTING IN MY PARKING AND I'M CREATING A STRIP CENTER THAT HAS MULTI USE AND IT'S GOING TO CHANGE OVER TIME VERSUS LIKE A ONE STRUCTURE, YOU KNOW, BUILDING OVER ON 10TH THAT COULD BECOME A RESTAURANT.
AND SO GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE MAY SAY LESSER REGULATION IS IS GOOD TO INCENTIVIZE GROWTH, BUT A CERTAIN LEVEL OF OF OVERSIGHT IS PROBABLY NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT TYPE OF GROWTH.
AND SO WHERE ARE YOU AT AS STAFF? BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION OF, HEY, PLEASE DON'T EVER DO THIS TO ME.
YEAH, WELL, I THINK THAT THE FIRST OPTION IS, WHICH IS ADDRESSING THE CHALLENGE IN THE OLDER PARTS OF OUR CITY. I MEAN, I THINK THAT WOULD BE OUR RECOMMENDATION PROBABLY.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER TIPPS, I THINK THAT MAYBE PART OF THIS IS THAT THIS ISN'T THIS IS A CHALLENGE WE RUN INTO WITH OUR PARTICULAR ZONING CODE IS THAT MUCH OF IT IS FROM THE 1960S.
AND SO IT'S WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT'S ENCOURAGING A REALLY SUBURBAN STYLE OF DEVELOPMENT AND DOESN'T DO A GOOD JOB HELPING US DO REDEVELOPMENT OF OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT OPTION ONE IS TRYING TO FIX IN THE THE ENTIRE ZONING CODE REVISION.
WE DIDN'T CHANGE THE PARKING RATIOS ALL THAT MUCH FROM WHAT THEY ARE.
YEAH. AND THAT I MEAN, MY OPINION IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LESSER REGULATIONS ON THOSE IN THESE AREAS, I MEAN MUCH LESS. BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE IS THE REASON.
SO THEREFORE, I'M NOT COMING DOWNTOWN.
I'M NOT COMING TO NOT DOWNTOWN TO THOSE AREAS TO PUT MY RESTAURANT IN BECAUSE I JUST I CAN'T DO IT LIKE IT'S IMPOSSIBLE OR EVEN JUST THE MINIMAL NUMBER OF REDUCING THE NUMBER.
I MEAN, IF WE WANT DEVELOPMENT IN THESE AREAS, WHICH I'M LOOKING AT, OPTION ONE, THE REDUCTION TO REDUCE IT BY 20%, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE REQUIRING, YOU KNOW, 15 SPACES AND YOU'RE SAYING, WELL, OKAY, YOU CAN HAVE 12, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT HELPS ME, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? THAT'S A 20% REDUCTION, BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP ME THAT MUCH.
IT'S STILL LIKE IT'S STILL OFF THE TABLE.
I CAN'T GO TO NORTH HEIGHTS AND SAY, HEY, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT DEAL AND I CAN'T BUILD IT.
I CAN'T DO MY RESTAURANT THERE BECAUSE I CAN'T.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S RESTRICTIVE ON THE BUSINESS PERSON THAT WANTS TO GO INTO MAYBE ONE OF THESE AREAS AND DO THAT. NOW, I AGREE WITH MAYOR.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME PROBABLY SOME DEGREE, BUT WITH WITH THE NEWER DEVELOPMENT.
ABSOLUTELY. LIKE THAT, IT'S NEW.
YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT HERE.
YOU'RE LANDLOCKED. YOU DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
MAYBE YOU CAN USE HIS, YOU KNOW, THE ACCOUNTANT.
YOU CAN USE HIS AFTER 6:00, YOU CAN USE PARKING.
I MEAN, IN MY OPINION, I JUST THINK THAT WE COULD BACK AWAY.
SO INFILL WE'RE ASSUMING THAT THEY'RE STARTING WITH A VACANT PIECE OF LAND AND THEY'VE DONE SOME PLANNING AND THEY KNOW THEY CAN FIT A BUILDING AND THE PARKING ON IT. AND THEN THE ADAPTIVE REUSE, THAT'S AN INCREASE.
[01:15:01]
SO THAT'S HALF. SO I THINK THAT GIVES US MORE THAT MIGHT HELP ADDRESS THAT CONCERN.AND THEN WE'VE ALSO KIND OF BEEN DEBATING LIKE MY ADMINISTRATIVE 10%.
CAN I DO THAT ON TOP OF THE 50 AND THE 20? AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IF WE ALLOW THAT AS WELL.
AND I THINK BETWEEN THOSE THREE, THAT GIVES US A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY BUT ALSO ENSURED.
I MEAN, ALSO MY OFFICE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORDERLY GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
SO WE DO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPACTS ON THE ADJACENT RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S THE ARGUMENT FOR ENSURING SOME CONSISTENCY WITH PARKING, IS THAT WE'RE NOT CREATING TOO MUCH OF A NUISANCE WITH CIRCULATION IN THE ADJOINING RESIDENTIAL AREAS AS WELL.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AND DO YOU SAY THAT YOU GOT ALL THIS INFORMATION FROM WHAT OUR CITIZENS WERE WANTING OR IS THIS JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU ALL WOULD COME UP WITH BASED ON? SO THE THE DIRECTION TO REVITALIZE OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS WORK ON OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, MAIN STREETS, COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS, THAT'S COMING FROM CITY PLAN LIKE LOUD AND CLEAR.
AND I ALSO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT, LIKE THAT WORK IS USEFUL TO US.
LIKE NOW WE CAN TAKE THESE DRAFTS, HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, COMPARE IT TO WHAT WE'RE HEARING THROUGH CITY PLAN AND COME OUT WITH A GOOD END RESULT, I THINK.
ON THESE OPTIONS YOU GAVE US, WHEN YOU GO DOWN SIXTH STREET ON FRIDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT, THE CARS ARE PARKED ALL UP AND DOWN.
SO WOULD THAT AFFECT THOSE BUSINESSES? IT WOULDN'T AFFECT ANY EXISTING BUSINESS ON SIXTH STREET.
AND IT COULD POTENTIALLY LIKE THERE ARE SOME VACANT BUILDINGS ALONG THERE, IT COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE IT EASIER FOR SOMEONE TO LOCATE AND ONE OF THOSE CURRENTLY VACANT SPACES, BUT IT WOULDN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE OPERATION OF ANY EXISTING BUSINESS UNLESS THEY TRIGGERED A REQUIREMENT.
SIMPSON. SO I GUESS IF I HEAR WHAT THIS IS ATTEMPTING TO ACCOMPLISH, IT'S ATTEMPTING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO DO BUSINESS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS BECAUSE IT'S GIVING US A LESSENING THE PARKING RESTRICTIONS, PARTICULARLY IN THESE AREAS THAT NEED ADAPTIVE USE OR INFILL DEVELOPMENT AREAS.
SO WE'RE NOT REALLY MAKING IT HARDER.
WE'RE MAKING IT POTENTIALLY EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO DO THIS TYPE OF REDEVELOPMENT.
OKAY. AND THEN I GUESS THE ADVANTAGE TO THE CITY IS THE POTENTIAL.
BUT THESE RESTRICTIONS COULD FORCE THEM TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE TO DO THE BUSINESS, WHICH COULD INCLUDE THEM GOING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS WHERE THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE REGULATION AT ALL. THEY MAY CHOOSE TO DO THAT, WHICH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GREAT FOR THEM.
I GUESS THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THIS AT THIS POINT.
AND ALSO I THINK AND MAYBE SOME OF THESE OLDER AREAS AS THERE'S MORE INTEREST IN THEM, IF WE KEPT OUR PARKING REQUIREMENTS THE WAY THEY WERE, WE MIGHT START TO SEE BUILDINGS COME DOWN TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED PARKING.
AND THAT'S KIND OF THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE.
WE WANT TO SEE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND WE WANT TO SEE EXISTING BUILDINGS, PEOPLE REINVEST IN THOSE.
AND WHAT ARE I MEAN, IS THERE SOME COMMON UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DO THIS OR DO YOU TRY TO MITIGATE THOSE, SUCH AS? I MEAN, IN SOME OF THESE AREAS, YOU MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, MIXED USE MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER RESIDENTIAL TO BUSINESS SO THAT IT COULD HAVE AN IMPACT.
HOW DO YOU KIND OF NAVIGATE THAT IF YOU'RE LESSENING THE REQUIREMENTS WITHOUT NECESSARILY NEGATIVE IMPACT TO THE REST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD? YEAH. WELL, I THINK IN COMMERCIAL LIKE OLDER COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS, IF WE'RE GOING TO LESSEN THE REQUIREMENTS FOR OFF STREET PARKING, TYPICALLY THERE SHOULD BE A STRATEGY FOR MANAGING AN ON STREET PARKING.
[01:20:01]
AND THEN ALSO THINKING ABOUT ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE LIKE DESTINATION DISTRICTS, LIKE SOME MAYBE OFF STREET PARKING THAT'S PUBLIC LIKE PROVIDED PUBLICLY TO MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT FOR PEOPLE TO LIKE.AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THERE, IF THE PARKING IS JUST SUCH A NUISANCE THAT THEY JUST DON'T BOTHER.
SO LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS IN OKLAHOMA CITY, LIKE THEY HAVE PUBLIC PARKING AREAS, LIKE SOME OFF STREET PARKING SURFACE PARKING LOTS THAT ARE PUBLIC, LOTS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO HELP THE BUSINESSES WITH THAT CHURN OF CUSTOMERS MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO GET DOWN THERE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL. SO I WOULD ASK MISS KOLLER.
PLAN. MY QUESTION WOULD BE ON THE LAST BULLET POINT OF A 10% REDUCTION, WHAT WOULD YOUR COMFORT BE IN MOVING THAT TO A 20% REDUCTION, BUT ONLY GIVEN AT THE APPROVAL OF THE PLANNING DIRECTOR? AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE 20? I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT I WOULD PREFER THAT THERE'D BE SOME CRITERIA, MAYBE.
YEAH. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD ENTERTAIN? UM. YEAH.
LIKE TO WORK ON SOME ADDITIONAL CRITERIA IF IT'S A HIGHER ADMINISTRATIVE.
SO YOU MEAN OR I THINK 20% IS A LOT FOR ME, LIKE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE MAKING THAT DECISION.
JUST WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL BECAUSE THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, IT'S JUST 10% ISN'T GOING TO DO ENOUGH DAMAGE FOR ME TO HAVE THAT AUTHORITY TO SIT, BUT 20% POSSIBLY COULD.
ARE WE ARE WE ALL SOMEWHAT AGREEABLE THAT THAT WE THINK LESS REGULATION IN PARKING MINIMUMS IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY WORKS WELL WITH? WE CAN LOOK AT THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
THEY'RE NOT HAVING FIST FIGHTS OVER PARKING SPOTS.
SO I THINK WE'RE GETTING ALONG DOWNTOWN AND MAKING IT WORK.
SO ARE WE GOOD IN DIRECTING STAFF TO GO AND WORK TOWARDS AN OPTION ONE? YEAH, I THINK THERE'S AN AGE THING HERE THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, TO TO SPECIFY EITHER AN AGE OR OR A LOCATION, WHATEVER IT IS, SO THAT WE KEEP WHAT WE HAVE FOR NEW GROWTH.
LIKE THEY HAVE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
BUT FOR THESE THAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THAT.
AND I THINK IF YOU EVEN SEPARATE IT OUT, DEVELOPMENT VERSUS INFILL, BECAUSE IF I'M LOOKING AT A UNUSED LOT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, CREATIVE IN ITS IN ITS PLAN FOR MY USAGE, THAT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN ME HAVING AN ACRE OF LAND THAT I CAN EASILY PUT 50 PARKING SPOTS ON. RIGHT.
SO NOT THAT IT'S ON HERE, BUT IT WOULD BE.
RELEVANT TO WHAT THAT WOULD AFFECT IN THE LANDSCAPING ORDINANCE.
SO I'M SURE YOU'LL ENTERTAIN THAT AS WELL.
AND THEN WE COULD SEE IF IF WE'RE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THAT LANDSCAPING ORDINANCE IN ANY WAY.
YES. OKAY. YEAH, WE'LL REVIEW THAT AGAINST THAT.
OKAY, WELL, IF YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MA'AM. IF WE COULD, I'D LIKE TO DO EIGHT D AND THEN I THINK WE'LL TAKE A SHORT RECESS.
[8.D. Discuss Licenses and Business Regulations]
[01:25:02]
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN PUSHING HERE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF, BUT WE DO HAVE OUR CITY MARSHAL, JACOB DIAZ, COMING UP HERE TO DISCUSS LICENSES AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS.GOOD AFTERNOON. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.
COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACOB DIAZ, A CITY MARSHAL FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SORRY ABOUT THE PURPOSE OF THIS UPDATE IS THE CHANGE IN THE EXISTING ORDINANCE TO MEET THE CURRENT INDUSTRY LANGUAGE AND PRACTICES.
WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT A NEW PROGRAM TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT ENFORCEMENT TO MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN THE CITY, TO IDENTIFY THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE AS THE DEPARTMENT THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH THE LICENSING AND INSPECTIONS OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.
CITY OF EMERALD CURRENTLY HAS AN ORDINANCE NUMBER 5651.
IT WAS ADOPTED IN 1986 AND HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED OR CHANGED SINCE THEN.
THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ENFORCEMENT FOR MANY YEARS.
THERE IS CURRENTLY NOT A CITY DEPARTMENT THAT HANDLES THE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS OF THAT ORDINANCE.
THE STATE OF TEXAS DOES HAVE AN OCCUPATIONS CODE THAT HAS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS, AND THAT DOES HAVE SOME SOME LIMITATIONS AND ALSO HAS SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THAT THE CITY CAN DO OR OUR OFFICE CAN DO.
THOSE VIOLATIONS ARE TYPICALLY CLASS B MISDEMEANORS.
AS WE ALL KNOW, IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, NOT JUST NATIONALLY OR GLOBALLY, BUT EVEN IN STATE OF TEXAS AND EVEN WITHIN OUR CITY. ILLEGAL MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE A BREEDING GROUND FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PROSTITUTION AND OTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.
THAT NUMBER CAME FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEN THEY'RE RELOCATED TO ANOTHER LOCATION, SOMETIMES WITHIN THE CITY.
SOMETIMES THEY GO TO ADDITIONAL OR SORRY, OTHER CITIES.
SO THAT CREATES SOME COMMUNICATION BARRIERS FOR US.
AND ALSO THESE LOCATIONS ARE TYPICALLY ADJACENT TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS WITHIN OUR CITY.
THE SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO THIS PROPOSAL OR PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE IS WE'LL BE DOING ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTIONS FOR EACH OF THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.
EACH ESTABLISHMENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL EMPLOYEES TO INCLUDE A COPY OF A VALID PICTURE ID IN ADDITION TO THE OWNERS AS WELL. THE CITY MARSHALS WILL BE THE RESPONSIBLE AGENCY, BUT THIS ORDINANCE WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR THE EMERALD POLICE DEPARTMENT TO ENFORCE AS WELL.
VIOLATIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE CAN BE EITHER A FINE EQUIVALENT TO A CLASS C MISDEMEANOR REVOCATION OF THE BUSINESS LICENSE OR BOTH. AND OBVIOUSLY THE GREATEST BENEFIT WOULD BE THE REDUCTION OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PROSTITUTION AND AND NARCOTICS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. TRY TO KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET AND I'LL OPEN IT UP TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU ALL HAVE.
QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY MARSHAL.
I DO HAVE ONE. I MEAN, IT'S A PRETTY BLUNT QUESTION.
DO YOU HAVE ANY DATA ON THAT TYPE OF STUFF THAT'S IN AMARILLO CURRENTLY? I DO NOT. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE EMERALD POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OUR LEGAL TEAM.
I KNOW ONE OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE ASKED INITIALLY IS HOW MANY LOCATIONS OR HOW MANY ILLEGAL ESTABLISHMENTS DO YOU THINK WE HAVE? AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY, BASED ON THAT INFORMATION, ROUGHLY 20 TO 30 ILLEGAL ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN OUR CITY AT THIS TIME.
AWESOME. THANK YOU, SIR. SO I DO HAVE A FEW.
[01:30:07]
SUBJECT TO THIS.SO CAN YOU HELP ME IDENTIFY LIKE WHAT YOU KNOW, WHO DOES THE OVERSIGHT ON THE HAIR AND NAIL SALON AND AND MAYBE WHY? THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T LOOK AT A LITTLE BIT.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT TDLR THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF LICENSE REGULATORY.
AND THERE ARE ALSO OTHER ADDITIONAL STATE LICENSING.
I DON'T KNOW IF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DOES OR NOT.
WE DO HAVE THAT ACTIVE ORDINANCE.
IT JUST JUST HADN'T BEEN ENFORCED AND I THINK THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO RESOURCES.
SO I'M CURIOUS AS LIKE A SPA OWNER, IF YOU OWN A SPA AND YOU PERFORM MASSAGE AND YOU'RE A LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST, YOU'D BE LICENSED BY THE STATE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU COME AND INSPECT.
AND NOW I'M SUBJECT TO, YOU KNOW, A FEW CRITERIA, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I CREATE APPOINTMENTS, I HAVE IDENTIFICATION FOR MY CUSTOMERS, I HAVE A LICENSE, I HAVE A PHOTO ID, THAT KIND OF THING.
WHAT WILL BE YOUR YOUR OPERATION THERE? WHAT WOULD BE THE CORRECTIVE MEASURE IF I DON'T HAVE A LICENSE? SO ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'LL BE DOING IS EVERY MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION THROUGH OUR OFFICE AND WE'LL HAVE SOMEBODY IN OUR TEAM THAT DOES THE PROCESSING. WE ALSO DO A BACKGROUND CHECK AND WE'LL DO THAT IN CONJUNCTION WITH EMERALD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR IN OUR DISPATCH TEAM.
IF EVERYTHING IS KOSHER, WE'LL ISSUE THAT LICENSE.
AND SO I SHOULD ALREADY HAVE MY LICENSE WITH THE STATE.
IS THERE DO YOU WILL YOU IDENTIFY A FEE WHEN YOU BRING THIS BACK? YES, SIR, WE WILL.
SO WE FELT IT WAS PRETTY FAIR TO IT'S ALMOST FOUR DECADES.
WE ARE INCREASING A LITTLE BIT, BUT BUT NOT TOO MUCH.
OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY MARSHAL? AND SO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING IS, I GUESS, ADDING MORE TEETH TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AND.
ALSO, IS THERE SOME IS THERE SOME TYPE OF OVERSIGHT? I COULDN'T TELL THE LICENSING OF THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE.
YES, SIR. TO ACTUALLY BE IN BUSINESS.
SO THEY HAVE TO THEY HAVE TO DO THINGS THAT THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO DO RIGHT NOW.
AND IF IT'S AFTER HOURS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALREADY A CERTAIN TIME LIMIT THAT THEY CAN OPERATE.
IF FOR SOME REASON, ONE OF OUR ONE OF OUR OFFICERS OR ONE OF THE ADMIRAL POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS GOES BY IN THE EVENING AFTER HOURS AND SEES IT OPEN, THEY CAN ASK FOR THOSE CRITERIA.
THE LIST OF EMPLOYEES AND THAT TYPE OF STUFF AND SEE IF THEY'VE GOT A VALID LICENSE.
MR. DIAZ. I THINK THAT TAKES CARE OF IT.
I THINK YOU HAVE THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS, AND THEN WE ARE ALL EXCITED ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT OUR CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE IS GOING TO DO TO PROVIDE FOR A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE TO TO HELP RUN THE CITY IN A MUCH MORE CLEAN AND PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS LIKE MANNER.
APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
I'M GOING TO ASK IF WE WOULD TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
WE'LL COME RIGHT BACK. THANK YOU, GUYS.
ALL RIGHT. APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LETTING US TAKE A RECESS.
WE'RE CALLED BACK TO ORDER AND WE ARE MOVING ON TO ITEM EIGHT E.
WE HAVE OUR CITY SECRETARY HERE TO WALK US THROUGH A SECTION OF APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
[8.E. Discuss Process for 2023 Election of Appraisal District Board of Directors]
THANK YOU, MAYOR, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.ONE OF YOUR ROLES IS TO HELP APPOINT MEMBERS TO OUR POTTER RANDALL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARDS.
THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE BOARDS THERE, ONE FOR POTTER AND ONE FOR RANDALL COUNTY.
I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD BE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THEY DO, BUT THEY ARE THE AGENCY THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF THE TAXING DISTRICTS IN OUR AREA TO APPRAISE PROPERTIES. THEY HAVE THREE ARMS.
[01:35:01]
THEY HAVE THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO YOU AS COUNSEL.THEY'VE GOT THEIR CHIEF APPRAISER, SO THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS HIRES THE CHIEF APPRAISER.
THEY APPOINT THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS AND THEY SET THE BUDGET.
THE CHIEF APPRAISER CARRIES OUT THE APPRAISALS, LEGAL DUTIES.
HE HIRES THE STAFF, MAKES THE APPRAISALS AND OPERATES THE APPRAISAL OFFICE.
AND THEN THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD ACTS AS THE JUDICIAL ARM OF PRATT, AND THEY GO AND HEAR AND RESOLVE DISPUTES OVER APPRAISAL MATTERS, AND THEY ONLY HAVE AUTHORITY OVER ISSUES BROUGHT TO THEM.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT TODAY ABOUT PRATT.
BUT I DO WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT SENATE BILL TWO, WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE SECOND SPECIAL SESSION OF THIS 88TH LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS, CHANGED THE COMPOSITION OF OUR PRATT BOARD.
AND SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT FIVE APPOINTMENTS FOR EACH BOARD THIS YEAR.
AND SO PRATT WILL HAVE AN ELECTION.
CITIZENS, RESIDENTS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE MAY APPLY TO BE ELECTED TO THESE BOARDS.
AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO GET A NINTH MEMBER IN THE TAX APPRAISER COLLECTOR.
AND SO THAT ROLE AT THE COUNTY HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN A NON-VOTING EX OFFICIO TYPE ROLE.
AND BEGINNING JULY OF 2024, THEY WILL GET A VOTE ON THIS BOARD.
SO IT'S GOING FROM 5 TO 9 MEMBERS.
THEY WILL TRANSITION TO FOUR YEAR TERMS AS WELL.
AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, SOME MEMBERS WILL BE APPOINTED TO ONE YEAR TERMS AND SOME TO THREE YEAR TERMS. AFTER THAT, COUNCIL WILL SEE IT COME BACK IN ODD NUMBERED YEARS.
SO. ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE ON THE BOARDS.
THEY CANNOT BE RELATED TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS ENGAGED IN BUSINESS OF APPRAISING PROPERTY OR REPRESENTING PEOPLE LEGALLY IN REGARDS TO THE DISTRICT. THEY MAY NOT OWN PROPERTY WITH DELINQUENT TAXES AND THEY CANNOT HAVE INTEREST IN CERTAIN CONTRACTS, AND THOSE ARE TYPICALLY CONTRACTS WITH EITHER PRATT OR WITH THE TAXING DISTRICT.
AND THIS JUST IS GOING TO GO OVER VERY BRIEFLY THE TWO BOARD ROSTERS.
SO POTTER COUNTY, WE HAVE ZACHARY PLUMMER, KAY LEDBETTER, CINDY SPANEL, JOHN COFFEY, MITZI WADE, AND THEN SHERRY AYLOR, CURRENTLY SERVING AS A NON-VOTING MEMBER.
AND THAT WILL CHANGE NEXT YEAR OF THESE FIVE.
KAY LEDBETTER IS NOT REQUESTING TO SERVE AGAIN.
IS YOUR TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR ON THAT BOARD.
AND OF THESE MEMBERS, JOE SHANE HAS REQUESTED NOT TO SERVE AGAIN.
AND SO THIS PROCESS COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO NOMINATE SOME MEMBERS FOR THE BOARD.
AND WE WOULD INVITE CITIZENS INTERESTED IN SERVING.
SO NEXT MEETING, OCTOBER 10TH, WE WILL BRING BACK A RESOLUTION FOR EACH OF THE COUNTIES.
AND SO WE'LL ASK YOU TO NOMINATE ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 5 INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL GO ON TO A BALLOT.
THAT BALLOT WILL BE PROVIDED BACK TO US FROM PRAGUE BY OCTOBER 30TH.
SO I KNOW THAT WAS PRETTY FAST.
ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU ON THIS PROCESS? WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE TRANSPARENCY TO LET YOU UNDERSTAND IT BETTER BEFORE WE COME BACK AND ASK FOR THOSE NOMINATIONS.
OKAY. WE WILL GET WE WILL GET GOING ON GETTING SOME OPTIONS FOR YOU.
[8.F. Discuss Northeast Interceptor Construction Project]
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION RELATED TO THE NORTHEAST INTERCEPTOR PROJECT.
PERFECT. SO ON THIS, I WANT TO TALK FIRST.
THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT'S BEEN A KNOWN PRIORITY FOR THE CITY FOR QUITE A WHILE.
[01:40:03]
YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE CURRENTLY.SO 3 MILLION CAME FROM THE 1819 APPROVED CIP IN THE FORM OF BOND PROCEEDS.
25.2 MILLION CAME FROM THE 2020 2021 CIP, ALSO FROM BOND PROCEEDS AND THEN ANOTHER 26.2 MILLION FROM THIS CURRENT YEAR, CIP 2223 AND ALSO FROM BOND PROCEEDS.
AND TO DATE WE'VE HAD ABOUT $4.7 MILLION THAT'S BEEN SPENT AND THAT'S FOR DESIGN.
ALSO, LAND ACQUISITION OR ANY KIND OF RIGHT OF WAY ACQUISITION IS NEEDED.
AND SO THAT LEAVES $49.7 MILLION.
SO MAYBE BEFORE I JUMP INTO THIS NEXT ONE, I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE.
WE OPENED BIDS RELATED TO THIS PROJECT ON SEPTEMBER 14TH.
MY UNDERSTANDING THOSE BIDS ARE IN PLACE FOR ABOUT 60 DAYS.
WE HAD TWO BIDDERS, AND WE DO HAVE A SHORTAGE IN FUNDING THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROJECT BASED ON THE BIDS THAT HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO COVER WITH YOU ALL TODAY WERE JUST SOME OPTIONS ON HOW TO CLOSE THAT GAP.
SO JUST REAL QUICKLY, AS A REMINDER, WE'VE GOT ABOUT $49.7 MILLION FROM WHAT WE CAN SEE, THERE'S ABOUT ANOTHER $20 MILLION THAT WE'RE NEEDING TO SECURE TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
SO WHAT WE COULD LOOK AT DOING IS ISSUING DEBT.
THEY WOULD BE IN THE FORM OF A WATER AND SEWER REVENUE BOND FOR $20 MILLION.
ON THE SCREEN HERE, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S THERE'S THREE OPTIONS WE COULD TAKE.
AND THAT'S BASED ON THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT THOSE BONDS WOULD BE OUTSTANDING.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL THREE OF THESE OPTIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE AMOUNTS OF TIME RELATED TO HOW LONG THIS ASSET WOULD STAY IN PLACE. THE MAIN THING IS, IS YOU DON'T WANT YOUR BOND TERM TO BE LONGER THAN THE LIFE OF YOUR ASSET.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, A 20 YEAR BOND WOULD HAVE AN ESTIMATED INTEREST RATE OF ABOUT 4.67%.
WE DO HAVE SOME CUSHION BUILT IN ON THESE JUST RELATED TO RATE VOLATILITY.
THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 1.65 MILLION IN ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS FOR THE 20 YEAR PERIOD.
THE 25 YEAR BOND INTEREST RATE STEPS UP A LITTLE AT 4.85%.
AND YOUR ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT WOULD BE 1.35 MILLION.
SO THERE'S DEFINITELY SEVERAL STEPS THAT ARE INVOLVED.
ANYTIME THE CITY ISSUES DEBT, THIS TIMELINE HERE IS AN ABSOLUTE FASTEST, BEST CASE SCENARIO.
WE WOULD HAVE AN UPDATE TO COUNCIL AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 10TH AND WE WOULD HAVE A COMPETITIVE SALE AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING OR I'M SORRY, THE MORNING OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING IN OCTOBER ON THE 24TH, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK BY NOVEMBER 14TH.
I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THIS IS THE EARLIEST WE COULD LOOK AT RECEIVING THAT MONEY.
SO BEFORE I JUMP FORWARD FOR QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO CLICK FORWARD.
OH. NOPE. STEPHANIE. STEPHANIE, CAN YOU PULL UP THOSE PDFS FOR ME? I WANTED TO WALK YOU THROUGH BECAUSE I KNOW THE FIRST THING THAT'S IN YOUR MIND IS WE JUST APPROVED A BUDGET AND NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT THAT ESSENTIALLY LIES OUTSIDE OF THAT APPROVED BUDGET.
YOU REMEMBER A SCHEDULE SIMILAR TO THIS.
THIS IS OUR CASH FLOWS THAT WE LOOK AT.
THIS IS WHERE WE KIND OF SAY, WHAT WAS OUR ORIGINAL BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR? WHERE DO WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO END THIS YEAR? AND THEN HERE'S OUR PROPOSED, WHICH IS NOW YOUR APPROVED BUDGET FOR THIS UPCOMING.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU HERE, THIS IS YOUR WATER AND SEWER FUND.
[01:45:07]
THEN WE HAVE OUR ANTICIPATED OPERATING INCOME AS A REMINDER ON WATER AND SEWER REVENUES.WE WE LOOKED AT OR THERE'S AN APPROVED FLAT RATE FOR THE BASE BILLS ON THE RESIDENTIAL TYPICAL METER. SO THERE'S TWO TYPICAL SIZED METERS WITH THAT SAW NO CHANGE IN THEIR BASE RATE AND THAT'S ALSO FOR USE UP TO 3000 GALLONS.
THEN BEYOND THAT, ALL THE COMMERCIAL AND ALL THE LARGER METERS SAW A 6% RATE INCREASE AND THE TIERED USAGE WHICH WE USE TO HELP WITH CONSERVATION PURPOSES AS WELL, ALL SAW A 6% RATE INCREASE.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU IS HERE IS YOUR EXISTING BUDGET AS YOU ALL APPROVED IT.
STEPHANIE, IF YOU COULD GO AND I THINK YOU ALL HAVE A HANDOUT HERE, IT MAY BE EASIER FOR YOU ALL TO SEE THAN ON THE SCREEN IF YOU TURN THAT HANDOUT OVER OR LOOK AT THE OTHER HANDOUT. I MODELED OUT HERE WHAT A $20 MILLION DEBT ISSUANCE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
THE FIRST THING I WANTED TO NOTE IS THAT WE WOULD DO IT WITHIN THE EXISTING APPROVALS ON THE RATES SO IT WOULD HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE RATES THAT YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY APPROVED THAT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1ST.
SO WE COULD DO THIS ISSUANCE INSIDE THE EXISTING BUDGET.
AND LET ME WALK YOU THROUGH HOW THAT WOULD LOOK.
SO I JUST TOOK THE MIDDLE SCENARIO THAT WE WENT OVER.
LET'S SAY WE NEED ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE OF ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF.
SO WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE ON THIS PAGE THAT'S DIFFERENT.
I PUT A BOX AROUND ON THE FAR RIGHT HAND SIDE.
THE THINGS THAT CHANGED FROM THE ORIGINAL APPROVED BUDGET TO THIS MODELED CASH FLOW.
WE WOULD LOOK TO RECEIVE $20 MILLION IN BOND PROCEEDS.
THEN AS YOU COME DOWN, YOU WILL SEE UNDER YOUR CAPITAL YOUR AMOUNT WENT UP BY THE $20 MILLION FOR DEBT ISSUANCE AND THEN IT WAS REDUCED BY A MILLION AND A HALF BECAUSE WE NEED THE MILLION AND A HALF NOW TO GO INTO YOUR DEBT SERVICE.
SO I JUST STUCK IT ALL IN PRINCIPLE.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION YOU MAY HAVE IS, WELL, WHAT WOULD GET CUT IF WE HAD TO REDUCE CASH FUNDED CAPITAL TO NOW PAY THIS ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT INSIDE OUR APPROVED BUDGET? WHAT WE WOULD DO IS LOOK AT IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, THERE WERE SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS, THERE WAS A WATER ONE AND THERE WAS A SEWER ONE AND IT WAS CALLED WATER ANY AND SEWER ANY.
AND SO THAT'S THAT STANDS FOR EXTENSIONS.
THOSE ARE ANNUAL CASH FUNDED PROJECTS THAT ARE TYPICALLY USED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE UNKNOWN ISSUES THAT COME UP, MAYBE SOME OF THE SMALLER PROJECTS AND SOME EXTENSIONS AS NEEDED.
THOSE ALL HAD GOOD FUNDING IN THIS CURRENT YEAR.
AND SO TALKING WITH FLOYD AND THE UTILITIES TEAM, THAT IS THE RECOMMENDATION.
WE WOULD PULL THAT FUNDING BACK JUST SLIGHTLY AND SHIFT IT INTO DEBT SERVICE INSTEAD.
WE COULD DO IT WITHIN THE EXISTING BUDGET.
IT WOULD JUST BE SHIFTING THINGS AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
SO WITH THAT, COULD I ANSWER QUESTIONS? I'M SURE YOU'VE GOT SOME.
WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE? SO OTHER OPTIONS WE COULD AND I'M NOT SAYING I'M GOING TO LOOK AT FLOYD AND HE'S GOING TO LIKE CRINGE, AS I MENTIONED, ANY OF THEM. WE COULD LOOK AT TRYING TO REPRIORITIZE SOME PROJECTS.
I THINK THAT WE HAVE HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN YOUR ALREADY CASH FUNDED CAPITAL PROJECT LIST THAT WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT IN COUNCIL LATELY THAT REALLY NEED TO GO FORWARD.
SO ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY CHANGING RATES, WHICH I DON'T KNOW NOW THAT YOU JUST AFFECTED RATES, THAT THAT WOULD BE THE BEST OPTION.
SO YOU COULD AFFECT RATES TO DO A DEBT.
[01:50:04]
ENGINEERING THE PROJECT.I THINK THAT OPTION, FROM THE WAY IT SOUNDS, IS PRETTY MUCH ALREADY BEEN DONE.
DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A GREAT OPTION GOING FORWARD ON THAT.
OTHER THINGS WOULD BE ALWAYS DELAY A PROJECT, LOOK FOR OTHER CONTRIBUTORS INTO THIS PROJECT.
WHAT TYPE OF CONTRIBUTORS WOULD IT BE? WELL, A GOOD QUESTION, SIR.
WHAT DID YOU SAY? OH, I SAID THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE COULD EXPLORE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER GROUPS.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S BEEN A QUESTION COME UP BEFORE IS, YOU KNOW, COULD THE EDC BRING ANY FUNDING TO CERTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS? IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE EXPLORED AS LONG AS THIS MET THEIR CRITERIA.
SO THAT'S CERTAINLY A PARTNER POSSIBLY THAT COULD BE COULD BE LOOKED AT.
DOES THIS PROJECT IS OUR HOLLYWOOD PLANT A HIGHER PRIORITY AT THIS POINT? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AS WELL.
SO THIS PROJECT HAS A COMPONENT OF BENEFITING THE HOLLYWOOD ROAD PLANT BY.
FLOYD, I ALSO WANTED TO ADD THIS LINE IS ALSO CRITICAL TO OUR ALREADY APPROVED ADC PROJECTS TO EVEN BE BUILT AND OPERATE AS FAR AS HAVING CAPACITY FOR THOSE PROJECTS TO MOVE. SO THAT MEANS WE GOT A GOOD CHANCE OF GETTING ADC MONEY, PERHAPS BECAUSE THERE'S PROJECTS THAT IT DOES.
THEY'VE GOT A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE ACREAGE OUT THERE AND THEN BUILDINGS THAT ARE ALREADY PLANNED IN THE PIPELINE THAT NEED THIS LINE AT A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD TO EVEN BE OPERATIONAL. OKAY.
QUESTION SIR, SO LET ME GO BACK BECAUSE SO WE EXPECTED A BID OF X, BUT IT CAME IN AT Y.
YES. AND $20 MILLION MORE, RIGHT? A LITTLE OVER 20 MILLION.
KIND OF JUST QUICKLY KIND OF WALK ME THROUGH, I MEAN, IS IT WAS IT THE TIMING OF IT JUST KIND OF HOW DID WE WIND UP? OH, WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY IN ALL THE BIDS, WE'VE HAD A ROAD PROJECT AT THE AIRPORT THAT CAME IN 40, 50% ABOVE THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.
SO THIS IS JUST A RESULT OF WHAT I'M SEEING IS IN THE CONSTRUCTION COMMUNITY, THIS IS A VERY HIGH BID AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING.
WE ARE REEVALUATING OUR OUR ESTIMATE, OUR METHOD OF ESTIMATING PROJECTS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'RE EXPERIENCING OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS ON THESE BIDS.
SO LET'S JUST SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WE DECIDED WE DECIDE TO STAY WITHIN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY.
WE SAY THAT WE'VE KIND OF VALUED ENGINEER, BUT IF WE IF WE ABSOLUTELY HAD TO SAY WE STILL HAD TO FUND IT FOR WHAT WE PLANNED ON, WHAT WOULD WE DO AND HOW WOULD THAT IMPACT THE PROJECT? THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PROVIDED WOULD SHOW THAT THERE'S THERE WERE MULTIPLE EVALUATIONS DONE ON SIZING OF THE PIPE.
THE BEST I CAN TELL YOU IS TO GO BACK AND VALUE ENGINEER THIS PIPE.
THE ONE OPTION THAT YOU WOULD HAVE IS TO REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE PIPE.
IT'S GOING TO HAVE A MINIMAL COST COMPARED TO THE TOTAL COST.
[01:55:04]
THAT'S WHY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE THE FOURTH VERSION, THIS VERSION THAT WE STICK WITH THIS AND FIND A WAY TO FUND THIS, BECAUSE ONCE THERE'S ONLY TWO OPTIONS, THAT GETS YOU PAST THE 20 YEAR WINDOW OF SERVICE.AND THAT'S WHAT THIS LINE WAS DESIGNED TO DO AND PLANNED TO DO OUT OF THE MASTER PLAN.
THE 2013 MASTER PLAN IDENTIFIED THIS PROJECT AS GOING INTO SERVICE IN 2025.
OKAY. AND SO WE WERE ON TRACK.
WE WERE ON TRACK FROM OUR PLANNING COMPONENT.
IT'S JUST THIS FACTOR IN OUR BID PROCESS IN THE ECONOMY THAT WE'RE SEEING THESE EXTREMELY HIGH BIDS.
AND THIS ISN'T THE ONLY PROJECT THAT'S EXPERIENCED.
IT HAS UP TO THE 40 YEAR SERVICE PLAN.
THIS IS THIS ISN'T THE LIFE OF THE PIPE.
THIS IS SERVING THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO WANT TO ADD TO THIS OVER A 40 YEAR WINDOW.
RIGHT. OKAY. AND SO IF YOU IF YOU IF YOU LESSEN THAT PIPE, I MEAN, IF YOU BUILT A SMALL TWO VERSIONS OF THAT PIPE, WE HAVE ENOUGH IN OUR SYSTEM TO OVERLOAD IT IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THIS WILL THIS REMEMBER, THIS PROVIDES RELIEF UNDER THE EAST AMARILLO CREEK LINES THAT EXIST THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT ODOR PROBLEM THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.
OKAY. AND SO WHERE WE'RE AT IS WE NEED THAT.
AND THESE BECOME REGULATORY COMPLIANCE ISSUES AS WELL AS THE HOLLYWOOD ROAD.
SO THIS IS JUST A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE OF THE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE THAT WE ARE WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
RIGHT? SO WE'RE ALTHOUGH WE WOULD SAVE MONEY HERE IN THE SHORT TERM, THE COST OF REPLACING THAT OR UPGRADING IT OR WHATEVER IS GOING TO BE EXPONENTIALLY RATHER THAN SPENDING THE FULL $20 MILLION MORE AT THIS POINT.
AGAIN, IT OPENS UP SERVICE AREA ACROSS THE CITY.
IT WILL OPEN UP ADDITIONAL CAPACITY EVENTUALLY AT HOLLYWOOD.
SO WE'LL BE ADDRESSING HOLLYWOOD AS WE DO THIS.
BUT IT IMPACTS HOW MUCH WE SPEND ON THAT PLANT IN TREMENDOUS AMOUNT, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS NORTHEAST INTERCEPTOR, WE'LL HAVE TO BUILD A MUCH BIGGER PLANT AT HOLLYWOOD THAN EVEN WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON RIGHT NOW.
AND WHEN DOES THE CURRENT BID EXPIRE, DO YOU KNOW? 60 DAYS FROM THE 14TH IS WHEN IT OPENED.
AND THOSE BIDS ARE GOOD FOR 60 DAYS.
SO WE'LL HAVE TO WE'D HAVE TO DECIDE OR DOES IT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A WHOLE REBID PROCESS AT THAT POINT? AT THAT POINT, YOU'D START OVER? YES. NOW, THAT'S WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING A WARD WITHIN THIS TIME FRAME TO GO AHEAD AND USE EXISTING CASH PROJECTS AND PUT THEM ON HOLD.
AWARD THIS WITH THAT CASH AND FIND A WAY TO PUT THAT MONEY BACK INTO THESE CASH.
AND THAT'S WHAT LAURA PRESENTED.
HEY, FLOYD. HOW MANY BIDS DID WE GET FOR THIS PROJECT? TWO. TWO.
THAT WAS IT. AND THEY WERE BOTH PRETTY CLOSE.
NO, THE OTHER ONE WAS OVER 80 MILLION.
IT'S 10 MILLION MORE PLUS A LITTLE.
IT'S 10 MILLION MORE THAN THE LOWER BID.
AND WE HAD A COMMENT FROM OTHER BIDDERS THAT THE TIME FRAME WAS THE CHALLENGE.
OKAY. BUT THEY ALSO INDICATED THAT IT WOULDN'T BE CHEAPER EVEN IF WE EXTENDED IT A YEAR.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? WOW. SO, FLOYD, BEFORE YOU STEP AWAY THERE JUST A FEW OR ACTUALLY IT MAY BE DIRECTED AT ANY OF ANY OF YOU IN OUR DESIGN AND BID PROCESS.
I'M ASSUMING WE TOOK A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE FROM OUR ENGINEER OR OUR CONSULTANT, AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT GAVE US THE THE WORKING BUDGET THAT WE HAD . DURING DESIGN WHEN WE HAD, SAY, COMPLETED 50% OF THE DESIGN, DID WE REACH OUT AND GET NUMBERS THAT CAME BACK, YOU KNOW, BEFORE
[02:00:01]
EVERYTHING. OKAY. SO AT WHAT TIME DID STAFF KNOW THAT WE WERE THIS FAR OVER BUDGET OR WAS IT JUST HERE ON THE 14TH? CAN YOU BACK UP TO THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE DEBT ISSUANCES? NOPE. ON THE PRESENTATION.OH, I'M SORRY. DO I? OKAY. LET ME GET TO IT.
THERE. EACH ONE OF THOSE STEPS THAT OCCURRED.
SO WE BID IT WHEN WE WHEN WE WHEN WE HAD THE 3 MILLION ISSUED FOR DESIGN, WE STARTED INTO DESIGN.
WE IDENTIFIED APPROXIMATELY 29 MILLION AT THE 2021 CIP THAT THIS LINE WOULD COST.
AND AS WE DESIGNED IT, THEN WE GOT INTO, OH, THE ENGINEER UPDATED THE COST ESTIMATE.
WE HAD TO HAVE THAT ADDITIONAL 26.2 MILLION TO EVEN CONSIDER BIDDING THIS.
AND WE HAD ANTICIPATED USING THE 25.2 AND DOING THE REST WITH CASH.
SO OVER THAT TIME PERIOD IS WHEN THIS INFLATIONARY BID COMPONENT HAS HAS COME UP.
AND SO, YES, WE REEVALUATED THAT AT EACH TIME AND WE DID NOT ANTICIPATE WE ANTICIPATED THAT THAT 52 MILLION ESTIMATE WAS VERY CLOSE WHEN WE GOT TO THE FINAL PRODUCT.
SO YOU GUYS HAVE LOOKED AT, YOU KNOW, SIZE OF PIPE, OBVIOUSLY TYPE OF PIPE.
YES. NO, NO SUGGESTIONS THERE OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD.
WELL, I THINK WE'VE EXPERIENCED MANY TYPES OF PIPES IN THE CITY.
BECAUSE IF YOU USE A PIPE WITH LESS STRUCTURAL STRENGTH, THEN YOU HAVE TO INCREASE THE BEDDING.
IF YOU HAVE A PIPE WITH INCREASED STRUCTURAL STRENGTH, YOU CAN HAVE CHEAPER BEDDING.
SO IT'S A IT'S A TRADE OFF AND THAT'S WHAT YOU PAY THE ENGINEER TO DESIGN.
SO ONCE YOU ONCE THE ENGINEER PICKS THAT TYPE OF PIPE AT THESE DEPTHS, IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE A COMPLETE RE-ENGINEERING OF THE PROJECT TO CHANGE THE TYPE 30, 40FT DEEP IN CASES, IT'S OVER 40FT DEEP AND THEN FLOW FILL VERSUS BACKFILL ALL CONSIDERED IN CASES.
IT FLOW. IT ALL DEPENDS ON THAT PIPE.
DID HE WAS HE ASKED, LIKE, WE'RE NOT AT THAT POINT IN THIS PROCESS.
WE'VE ACCEPTED THEIR BID AND WE WE WE'RE NOT AT A POINT TO NEGOTIATE THOSE BID ITEMS AT THIS POINT BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL SO MAJOR.
YOU JUST HAVE TO REDO REDO THE WHOLE BID.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE THAT'S THAT'S GOING TO BE NEGOTIATED THAT WOULDN'T CHANGE YOUR SPECIFICATIONS AND THUS REQUIRE YOU TO START OVER AND GIVE THE OTHER BIDDER AN OPPORTUNITY. RIGHT? OKAY. SO RIGHT NOW IT'S A FAIRNESS THING TO THE OTHER BIDDER.
DO WE SEE PRICES GOING UP IN THIS MATERIAL? YES. OKAY.
WE'RE SEEING TREMENDOUS INCREASES IN COST.
THANK YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE BOUNCE BACK OVER WITH YOU.
MRS STORRS ON LOOKING AT THIS BEING A NEED AND A COST OVERRUN OR.
A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIND FUNDING FOR.
WE HAD ASKED, LIKE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PIECE OF THIS, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FROM YOUR SIDE OF THINGS IN THE WAY OF HOW WOULD THAT FUNCTION AND WHAT DOES THAT REQUEST LOOK LIKE? SO IF WE COULD GET SOME MAYBE SOME DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S AN OPTION YOU'RE WANTING TO EXPLORE AND AT MAYBE WHAT LEVEL, WE COULD CERTAINLY WORK WITH KEVIN CARTER AND HIS TEAM TO START WORKING WITH THEIR BOARD ON THAT.
WHAT I THINK COULD BE MOST FEASIBLE IS IF COUNCIL'S GOOD, YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD WITH ACCEPTING BIDS, YOU KNOW, ACCEPTING THE BID OR AWARDING THE BID.
I'M SORRY. YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE COULD KIND OF START TALKING ABOUT TIMING OF A DEBT ISSUANCE IT FROM A COST STANDPOINT, WHETHER WE HAVE A PARTNER LIKE WITH EDC OR NOT, IT MAKES SENSE FOR THE THE CITY TO ISSUE THE DEBT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE THE BEST CREDIT RATING AND CAN ISSUE THE CHEAPEST DEBT, I GUESS.
[02:05:02]
AND THEN MAYBE ESTABLISH SOME SORT OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM ON PARTICIPATION ANNUALLY IN THOSE DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS WITH US THAT WOULD THEN ALSO KEEP THEM FROM POSSIBLY SPENDING A LARGE SUM OF THEIR FUNDING ALL AT ONCE. SO IF THERE WERE SOME FAVORABLE PROJECTS THAT WERE COMING IN THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE STRAPPED FROM A CASH FLOW STANDPOINT, BUT THEY WOULD BE PARTICIPATING WITH US FROM A 20, 25 OR 30 YEAR DEBT ISSUANCE STANDPOINT.DOES THAT DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? I MEAN, WE COULD ASK FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF JUST CASH FUNDING.
BUT ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO HAVE THEM PARTICIPATE IN ESSENTIALLY PAYING ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS TO NOT HINDER THEIR CASH STANDPOINT ALL AT ONE POINT IN TIME. YES, SIR.
OH, IS THERE WOULD WE, FOR INSTANCE, IF WE WANTED TO CHANGE HOW MUCH WE OUT OF THE HOT TAX, GIVE THE EDC.
WE COULD DO THAT, BUT WE'D HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE VOTERS.
IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S YEAH, AND IT'S THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE IT WAS VOTED IN BY OUR CITIZENS TO ALLOCATE A PORTION OF OUR SALES TAX TO THEM.
THEN MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT WOULD HAVE TO GO BACK TO A VOTE OF THE CITIZENS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MRS? STORRS. NO, I MEAN, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING I'D BE INTERESTED IN IS THE ABC PARTNERSHIP, IF THAT'S FEASIBLE AND SEE HOW IT GOES WITH THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I MEAN, I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW MUCH OF THAT INTERCEPTOR PROJECT.
WOULD THEY BENEFIT FROM THAT WITH WITH THEIR FUTURE COMMITMENTS AND THEIR BUSINESSES THEY HAVE IN THAT AREA? SO IN IN THE ENGINEERS PROJECTED TEN YEAR WINDOW, A LITTLE APPROXIMATELY 80% OF THE PROPERTY WAS IT WAS AT ONE TIME OWNED BY THE ADC OR IS OWNED BY THE ADC.
SO THAT INDUSTRIAL PARK AND THAT INDUSTRIAL AREA.
SO THAT THAT TARGET AREA IS, IS ABOUT 80% OF THE TEN YEAR WINDOW.
SO IT'S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE TO TELL YOU THEY OWN SO MUCH OF THIS PIECE, BUT THEY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF PROPERTY AND THEY CURRENTLY DO THAT IS DISCHARGING INTO THAT AREA.
OKAY. SO DOES THAT HELP YOU? YEAH. THANK YOU. YES.
THAT IS CORRECT. BUT HOW WE REPAY THAT IS BACK UP TO US.
SO THE ADC PART OF IT, WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GET THAT RESOLVED TO ISSUE THE DEBT.
THE BEST PART OF THAT. THAT IS CORRECT.
BUT THERE'S NO TIME FRAME ON THAT.
SO AGAIN, WITHOUT ANY OTHER FUNDING SOURCE, IT WOULD DEFAULT TO THAT, BUT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE YOUR FIRST DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT UNTIL THE LATTER PART OF THIS THIS UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE SOME TIME FROM THAT STANDPOINT.
THE OTHER THING THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IS SO WE WOULD HAVE TO GO.
SO WE WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH A RATING PROCESS.
WE ARE FINE FROM A CAPACITY STANDPOINT.
SO WHAT WE WOULD PROBABLY WORK WITH THEM ON DEPENDING ON WHERE WE'RE AT ON THE DISCUSSION WITH ADC IS WE WOULD WE WOULD DEFAULT TO IT WOULD ALL COME OUT OF WATER AND SEWER REVENUES AND WE WOULD BE FINE.
OUR COVERAGE IS GREAT FROM THAT STANDPOINT, BUT WE MIGHT LET THEM KNOW THAT WE MAY HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION IN, BUT IT'S NOT A FORMAL PLEDGE ON, ON THE BONDS OR ANYTHING. BUT YEAH, WE WE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF TIMING TO WORK THROUGH A PROCESS LIKE THAT.
YEAH. WELL, AND I THINK THE REASON WHY I BRING THAT UP, I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS COULD FALL UNDER THE SCOPE OF USING THAT MONEY. WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.
I MEAN, IN OTHER WORDS, THIS PROJECT IS HERE.
BUT I THINK INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, OKAY, HOW CAN WE HELP? I MEAN, I THINK TO GET SOME CONSENSUS ON, OKAY, OVERALL MOVING FORWARD, NOT JUST WITH THIS PROJECT, BUT WHAT DO WE WHAT DO WE FEEL AND THE BOARD WOULD FEEL AND WHAT WOULD ADC
[02:10:08]
FEEL WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT COULD DO THAT.SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THIS OVERALL IS A BIGGER PICTURE ISSUE AND THEN HOW ONCE WE DETERMINE WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE, HOW THIS PROJECT COULD FIT UNDER IT, BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COMES UP JUST NOT NOW BUT DOWN THE ROAD.
SO ARE YOU ARE YOU ENVISIONING AND I UNDERSTAND A BIG PICTURE DISCUSSION ON THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, ARE WE ARE YOU ENVISIONING SOMETHING LIKE PUTTING PARAMETERS IN PLACE OR LIKE MAYBE A POLICY OR JUST TRYING TO GET SOME FEEDBACK INSTEAD OF NECESSARILY JUST SAYING, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DO A ONE OFF WHENEVER A BID IS OVER $20 MILLION? I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IS THERE A STRATEGY THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY AND ADC TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS MONEY IN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DEBT LEVEL OR CAPACITY OR WHATEVER? BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE GOT LOTS OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS, BUT INSTEAD OF NECESSARILY JUST SAYING, HOW DO WE DO IT JUST IN THIS ONE OCCASION, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY WE HAVE SOMETHING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE AND MORE OF THESE NEEDS AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS TO MAYBE HAVE A LARGER BECAUSE AND AGAIN, I'D HAVE TO DO MY HOMEWORK ON SAYING WHERE WHERE ARE WE CURRENTLY? HOW MUCH DO WE HAVE? YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, DO WE HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO FUND THIS? IS IT THE BEST USE TO CONTINUE DOING WHAT ADC IS DOING? OR IS IT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY TO TALK ABOUT A BETTER USE OF MAYBE LOOKING AT SOME OF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING, YOU KNOW, LONGER TERM? SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, AND IF WE'VE GOT THE TIME TO MAYBE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MAKE A FINAL DETERMINATION ON ON THIS PROJECT IS WHAT I WAS JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT.
OKAY. AND LAURA, WE HAVE TWO OPTIONS.
WE CAN ASK THEM TO HELP PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBT.
LIKE YOU SAID, WE WOULD BE THE ONES OR WE COULD ASK FOR A CASH OPTION, RIGHT? I MEAN, MAYBE NOT THE FULL 20, BUT WHATEVER IT IS, FIVE, TEN, WHATEVER IT IS, TO THEN REDUCE THE DEBT LOAD TO HERE.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. FROM JUST ONE STANDPOINT.
SO YOU COULD LOOK AT THAT FROM A MULTIPLE OPTIONS.
WE CAN TAKE THAT BACK OR IF YOU ALL WOULD PREFER GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THEM.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE OPEN ON THAT FOR SURE.
SO I THINK WHAT I'M NOT GOOD WITH IS REDUCING OUR SIP, TRYING TO TAKE AWAY FROM URGENT PROBLEMS THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO FOREVER. AND WE'RE FINALLY GETTING SOME MOMENTUM.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO KNEEJERK AND AND PULL IT.
AND SO I, FOR ONE, WANT TO CONTINUE FORWARD WITH EVERYTHING THAT AS IDENTIFIED, I AM NOT.
I'M NOT OPPOSED TO ASKING FOR A PARTNERSHIP WITH AN ENTITY THAT I BELIEVE IS GOING TO SUBSTANTIALLY BENEFIT IN WHAT THEY DO FOR A LIVING AND WHAT IT DOES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW MY BUSINESS EXPERIENCE USUALLY LEADS ME TO KIND OF A CUT.
THE BABY IN HALF IS USUALLY THE BEST WAY TO GO.
AND SO I NORMALLY GO TO A 5050 KIND OF ASK AND START THERE.
STAFF CAN GO TO THEM AND ASK THEM ONE, ARE YOU WILLING? ARE YOU A WILLING PARTICIPANT? I UNFORTUNATELY AM KIND OF AN UNWILLING PARTICIPANT TO THIS COST OVERRUN HERE TODAY.
SO WHEN I ASK, DO I HAVE OPTIONS, WELL, I HAVE AN OPTION TO FUND IT OR I HAVE AN OPTION TO FUND IT.
AND SO THESE ARE GREAT OPTIONS TO KNOW THAT I HAVE, BUT THEY DON'T REALLY CHANGE MUCH.
SO NOW IT IS THE QUESTION OF HOW DO I FUND THIS, HOW DO WE FUND THIS? AND SO WE'RE NOT IN THE POSITION TO NOT ASK FOR OUR PARTNER TO COME ALONGSIDE US.
AND SO MY EXPERIENCE WOULD LEAD ME MORE KIND OF DOWN THE 5050 LINE THAT MAY NOT BE WHERE THEY CAN LIVE, AND I THINK THEY WILL KNOW BETTER WHAT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IS AND THEIR THE WAY IN WHICH THEY WERE TO PARTICIPATE.
AND THEN I WOULD ASK FOR COUNCILMAN SIMPSON, YOU KNOW, A HIGHER LEVEL UNDERSTANDING, MAYBE TO PUT IT ON A FUTURE DISCUSSION ITEM OF THE 10TH OR THE 24TH IN OCTOBER. ONE OF THOSE TWO WHERE WE TRULY COULD DISCUSS WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE IF WE IF, IF THE EDC DOESN'T CONTINUE MAYBE TRYING TO PURCHASE LAND AND PUT IN INFRASTRUCTURE VERSUS LIKE WHAT IF IT IS GEARED MORE TOWARDS INCENTIVES AND AND STIMULUS? BUT BUT WE ARE GETTING TO SOME OF THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS AND HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT THEM AND AT THE SAME TIME STILL GIVE US ALL THAT WE NEED TO GO AND ATTRACT
[02:15:02]
THOSE BIG BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIES WITH SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN FRONT OF US.AND SO WE NEED TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE MOVING FORWARD.
AND AND, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE GET TO BE A GOOD PARTNER TO THEM? SO I WOULD ASK COUNCIL, IS THAT TOO AGGRESSIVE? DO YOU ALL FEEL THE SAME? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIRECT STAFF TO DO? I AGREE 100%, MAYOR.
BUT I THINK IT IS, I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLACE TO START.
AND AGAIN, LOOKING AT TALKING NOT JUST NOW BUT LONGER TERM, HOW CAN WE, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE LOOK AT THESE? BUT WE DO HAVE A IMMINENT SHORT TERM PROBLEM THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE.
AND SO I'M FINE WITH THAT, TOO.
OKAY. SO MAYBE A COUPLE OTHER BASIC QUESTIONS.
IT SOUNDS LIKE Y'ALL ARE CONFIRMING THAT WE DO NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITHIN THE TIME FRAME THAT THE BIDS ARE VALID.
SO WE CAN CERTAINLY TAKE STEPS TO DO THAT.
THAT WOULD MOST LIKELY BE COMING AT SOME POINT DURING ONE OF YOUR 2ND OCTOBER MEETINGS.
AND THEN I WOULD STRIVE TO BRING AN UPDATE AT THAT SAME TIME, MAYBE RELATED TO THE ADC CONVERSATION AND MAYBE A BRIEF ONE SO WE COULD GET SOME DIRECTION FROM YOU ALL RELATED TO A DEBT ISSUANCE AS WELL.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, TIMING IS WE CAN CERTAINLY PUSH A DEBT ISSUANCE OUT.
BUT IF YOU AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, YOU'VE GOT TO HOLD THE CASH IN PLACE ON ALL THESE OTHER PROJECTS UNTIL YOU GET THE DEBT ISSUED IN CASE THERE'S ANYTHING THAT FALLS THROUGH ON THAT.
SO I DON'T THINK WE'D WANT TOO MUCH SEPARATION IN THAT.
SO DOES THAT SEEM REASONABLE IF WE BROUGHT AN UPDATE AND THEN MAYBE GOT DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL RELATED TO A DEBT ISSUANCE AT SOME POINT DURING ONE OF THE 2ND OCTOBER MEETINGS? IT DOES. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WOULD BE OPPOSED TO ANY OTHER IDEAS THAT WOULD MAKE THIS MORE COST EFFECTIVE.
IT MAY ONLY SAVE $1 MILLION, BUT LIKE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE JOB SITE PREPARATION IS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT DIFFERENT LANDOWNER, YOU KNOW, ISSUES COULD BE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT NEGOTIATING AND TIMELINES COULD BE WITHOUT VIOLATING ANY OF THAT BID CRITERIA.
SO THIS IS A VERY ACCURATE RELATED TO WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE.
YOU KNOW, PUTTING BACK FENCES, DAMAGES AGREED TO IN ADVANCE.
ALL OF THAT, I'M SAYING IS PRETTY SET.
IS THERE ANYTHING IN THAT BID? THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD FIND SOME COST SAVINGS.
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT WE WILL LOOK AT THAT BEFORE WE COME BACK.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED? MRS STORRS.
OKAY. APPRECIATE THAT DISCUSSION, GUYS.
THAT'S ITEM EIGHT F, SO IT'S ONLY 530 AND WE ARE WE ARE ALMOST THROUGH OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. SO DO I HAVE ANYTHING FOR FUTURE AGENDA DISCUSSION?
[8.G. Request future agenda items and reports from City Manager.]
I THINK I BROUGHT UP TALKING ABOUT THE AT SOME POINT ETJ.ANYTHING ELSE, COUNSEL? OKAY. AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSENT AGENDA ITEM NINE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[9. Consent Items]
DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY NEED TO HAVE ANYTHING PULLED OFF FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? GREAT WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR OUR CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.
CAN I SAY SOMETHING? YES, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE JUSTIN KUDOS FOR THE VINEYARD.
LADIES CAME TO ME AGAIN TODAY, AND YOU EVIDENTLY DID A VERY GOOD JOB.
JUSTIN SO ANYWAY, I APPRECIATE THAT.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE ITEM TEN A AND JUSTIN'S ALREADY MADE HIS WAY DOWN HERE TO THE MICROPHONE.
[10.A. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8079]
[02:20:04]
IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US AN UPDATE OF HOW YOU CAME OUT WITH THE VINEYARDS LAST WINTER.JUSTIN OPAL DEVELOPMENT CUSTOMER SERVICE COORDINATOR WITH THE CITY.
SO LAST WEDNESDAY WE HAD A MEETING OUT AT THE VINEYARDS NEIGHBORHOOD.
THERE WAS ABOUT 30 TO 40 RESIDENTS THAT CAME OUT TO SPEAK.
AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE QUESTIONS CENTERED AROUND SOME MISCONCEPTIONS REGARDING THE PID AND HOW THE PID FUNCTIONS AND HOW THE CITY RELATES TO THE PYD AND THE DEVELOPER AND BASICALLY WHAT IS A PID.
SO WENT THROUGH THAT AND QUITE A FEW OF THE QUESTIONS INVOLVES HOW IS THE PID DIFFERENT FROM THE HOA? HOW ARE THE BOARD MEMBERS SELECTED? SO WE WENT INTO THE ADVISORY BOARD QUALIFICATIONS AND HOW WE SELECT THOSE MEMBERS AND HOW THEY COME TO YOU ALL FOR APPROVAL.
DISCUSS THE PETITION, WHICH IS THAT PID GOVERNING DOCUMENT WHICH OUTLINES HOW THE ADVISORY BOARDS MADE UP THE ASSESSMENTS AND THE DECISIONS THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD MAKES AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THE ADVISORY BOARD MAKES TO THE COUNCIL.
WAS MORE SPECIFIC TO THE BUDGET AND SOME LINE ITEM QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THE THREE MONTH OPERATING RESERVE, HOW ARE THE ASSESSMENTS CHOSEN, THE CONTRACTS THAT WE'RE GETTING THAT WE NOW HAVE IN PLACE AS OF AUGUST 28TH FOR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE? SO A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS DEALT WITH LACK OF MAINTENANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, JUST UNSATISFACTORY STANDARDS, I GUESS YOU COULD SAY.
SO ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING THAT IS THROUGH THE CONTRACT THAT WE NOW HAVE FOR LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, WHICH NOT ONLY HAS THE SPECIFICATIONS, SO WE HAVE THOSE STANDARDS NOW THAT WE CAN HOLD THOSE CONTRACTORS TO, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE DID NOT HAVE PREVIOUS TO THIS CONTRACT.
BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, THE MAJORITY OF OR PRETTY MUCH NOT PRETTY MUCH ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ON THE AGENDA, THE INFORMATION THAT COUNCIL HAS BEEN PROVIDED REGARDING THE ASSESSMENTS REGARDING.
SO HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
THANK YOU, SIR. SO ARE YOU SAYING, JUSTIN, THAT ALL PIDS NOW HAVE A PERFORMANCE CLAUSE IN THEM? LIKE IF IT'S NOT BEING DONE, I MEAN, IT WOULD BE IN THAT PERFORMANCE CLAUSE IS FACTORED INTO THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAVE.
SO THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS, THE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH EACH PID.
SO EACH PID DOES? YES, WE HAVE THE CONTRACTS FOR EACH PID FOR THE AND THEY'RE EACH SEPARATE CONTRACTS FOR EACH PID.
BUT WE DO HAVE THOSE STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS NOW THAT WE CAN HOLD CONTRACTORS TO.
AND IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO PERFORM, THEN A WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY UNTIL IT'S SATISFACTORY WORK.
FURTHER QUESTIONS. I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
WE ACCEPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8079.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM TEN A.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT ITEM PASSES.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU.
MOVING ALONG TO ITEM TEN B, WE HAVE CITY MANAGER ANDREW FREEMAN HERE TO WALK US THROUGH THIS ONE.
[10.B. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 09-26-23-1]
YES, SIR. SO THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL'S STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION SHORTLY AFTER THE RUNOFF CONCLUDED, BASICALLY BRINGING FORWARD A RESOLUTION TO FORMALLY ADOPT THE PILLARS AND MILESTONES THAT WERE SET OUT BY CITY COUNCIL, WHICH YOU ARE ALL AWARE OF.AND THEN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING AFTER THESE ARE ADOPTED AS CITY STAFF TO DEVELOP BASICALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TO TRY AND IMPLEMENT YOUR PRIORITIES AND ONCE THOSE ARE COMPLETED, WE'LL BRING THOSE BACK AS WELL, WHICH WILL BE A WAY FOR YOU ALL TO TRACK HOW WE'RE PROGRESSING THROUGH YOUR YOUR GOALS AND PILLARS.
SO THE FIVE OR THE SIX PILLARS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER ARE BUSINESS FRIENDLY COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.
JUST TO GO THROUGH EACH ONE AND JUST TOUCH ON SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS, BUSINESS FRIENDLY COMMUNITY IS REALLY ABOUT IMPROVING OUR PROCESS, MAKING SURE WE HAVE FAST DECISIONS FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE GETTING PERMITS OR GOING THROUGH ANY OF OUR DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, GETTING INPUT FROM OUR DEVELOPERS, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ON WAYS THAT
[02:25:06]
WE CAN BE MORE EFFICIENT, MORE CUSTOMER FRIENDLY.EVALUATING DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE.
JUST LIKE THE CONVERSATION WE HAD EARLIER IN THE MEETING ABOUT PARKING STANDARDS, FOR EXAMPLE.
ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE INCENTIVES TO GROW TAX REVENUES.
SO THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR INCENTIVE GUIDELINES AND DISCUSSIONS WITH EDC ON HOW TO IMPROVE UPON THOSE AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO TO MEET THAT, MEET THAT PILLAR AND THEN COLLABORATION WITH OTHERS.
SO THIS IS OUR FIRST ONE BUSINESS FRIENDLY COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION USING ALL AVAILABLE CHANNELS TO INCREASE OUR AUDIENCE, WHETHER THAT'S SOCIAL MEDIA, WORKING WITH THE PRESS, GETTING OUT AND HAVING MEETINGS JUST ACROSS THE BOARD.
HOW CAN WE IMPROVE AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATING, INFORMING OF THE FACTS, SHARING OUR PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO JUST BE SHARING THE GOOD NEWS AND THE SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS. WE WANT TO BE UP FRONT, LIKE WITH THE HOLLYWOOD WASTEWATER PLANT CHALLENGES, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND THE CITIZENS ARE ENGAGED WITH THE ISSUES, CREATING OUR OWN SOURCE AND CURRENT INFORMATION IN REAL TIME TO SHARE THE NEWS AND UPDATES.
SO IT'S EASIER FOR THE PRESS, THE CITIZENS ANYONE TO FIND CURRENT AND ACCURATE INFORMATION.
JUST LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE CITIZENS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR EMPLOYEES ALSO KNOW THE MESSAGE AND BUILD THAT CULTURE SO EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE, GETTING FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC AND FOLLOWING UP ON THEIR INPUT.
THIS IS OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE ASPECT.
IF SOMEONE IS TURNING IN A COMPLAINT OR AN ISSUE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS GETTING BACK TO THEM, FOLLOWING UP ON THE ON THE SITUATION AND MAKING SURE IT'S BEEN ADDRESSED. A LOT OF THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKING INTO OUR 311 APP PROCESS AS FAR AS AUTOMATING SOME OF THAT.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE'VE GOT TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO MAKE SURE WE CLOSE THOSE LOOPS ON ANY ANY CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND THEN JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. THAT INCLUDES BOOSTING THOSE MESSAGES AT VERY SMALL COSTS THAT WE CAN JUST SPREAD, SPREAD THE THE MESSAGES FARTHER OUT SO WE CAN GET MORE, MORE CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT.
WE'VE GOT DIRECTION. WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL MONTHLY ON DEPARTMENTS AND IMPROVING THE REVIEW OF EACH DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET AND MAKING SURE THAT WE FIND THOSE SAVINGS OR FINDING DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TO TO ALLOCATE THOSE RESOURCES.
MAKING SURE WE HAVE THOSE FINANCIAL POLICY FRAMEWORKS TO MAKE SURE IT'S MEETING THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S INTENT TO HAVE BEST PRACTICES IN THOSE FINANCIAL POLICIES, MAKING SURE OUR BUDGET PROCESS HAS EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, AND THEN WE HAVE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS WE'VE GOT THIS BUDGET ADOPTED.
THESE ARE NOW THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE BUY IN TO THOSE PROJECTS AND THEN ADDRESSING BUDGET CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AND ALLOWING US TO ADAPT QUICKLY AND CHANGING UNDER DIFFERENT ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CONDITIONS.
ALLOCATING IMMEDIATE FUNDS TO PRIORITY NEEDS AND THEN EVALUATING LONG TERM FUNDING PLANS.
AND THOSE ARE OUR MASTER PLAN DOCUMENTS THAT WE UPDATE ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND THEN WORKING THROUGH OUR CIP PROGRAM TO MAP THOSE OUT OVER A FIVE YEAR TIME PERIOD, IDENTIFYING THOSE RESOURCES AND MAKING SURE THEY ALIGN WITH WITH THIS PILLAR. SO ON THE POSITIVE, EVERYTHING WE'VE DISCUSSED TODAY IS ALREADY MEETING ALL THESE PILLARS, SO IT'S REALLY GOOD.
EXAMPLE WOULD BE FIRE STATIONS, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ACQUIRING LAND FOR FUTURE FIRE STATIONS.
SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO.
[02:30:05]
USING TECHNOLOGY LIKE OUR REGIONAL CRIME CENTER TO IMPROVE AND BE A MORE EFFICIENT IN WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THESE ISSUES.AND THEN CONTINUING TO EVALUATE BEST PRACTICES ON STAFFING AND ASSIGNMENTS AND PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS A BIG PART ABOUT GETTING MORE, MORE, MORE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AS FAR AS PEOPLE HAVING THAT VISIBILITY OF A SAFE CITY, SAFE COMMUNITY.
WHERE CAN WE USE THOSE TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE? WHERE CAN WE HAVE CREATE THAT CULTURE OF INNOVATION WITH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EMPHASIZING CO DEVELOPMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY, MORE OF THOSE PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS OF HOW WE CAN FIND WAYS TO INTEGRATE THE PRIVATE SECTOR INTO WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY SUCCESSFUL.
AND THEN CREATING THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SAFELY USING THAT TECHNOLOGY AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT HAVING ANY SECURITY RISKS WORKING THROUGH OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TEAM.
SO THAT IS A VERY QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT YOU ALL WORKED ON FOR TWO DAYS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR YOU ALL TO ELABORATE MORE ON Y'ALL'S THOUGHT PROCESS ON SOME OF THOSE.
COUNCIL. IS SIX PILLARS ENOUGH OR DID YOU WANT TO COME UP WITH A SEVENTH? I THINK YOU GOT THEM DOWN WELL.
I WOULD SAY AND I THINK THAT ACCURATELY, AS I REMEMBER ALL THOSE YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD I MEAN, MONTHS AGO WHEN WE HAD THAT MEETING, YOU KNOW, ONE THING I YOU ALSO TO AND AGAIN, THIS GOES BACK TO IT BUT YOU KNOW MAYBE EVEN HERE QUICKLY JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE PUBLISHING THOSE FOR THE PUBLIC TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE.
AND AGAIN, EVEN USING SOCIAL MEDIA, MAYBE NOT ALL THE ALL SIX OF THEM AT ONE TIME, BUT JUST BECAUSE WE MAY GET SOME FEEDBACK OFF OF THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THOUGHTS ARE WHAT THEY'RE THINKING OR WHATEVER.
THANK YOU, SIR. WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION.
I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 092623-1 AS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. THAT ITEM PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.
WE'RE MOVING FORWARD TO ITEM TEN C.
[10.C. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 09-26-23-2]
MR. FREEMAN, JUST PUT THIS ON AT MY REQUEST.THAT INCLUDES I-27 EXPANDING BEYOND AMARILLO AND LUBBOCK.
PART OF THAT PROCESS IS THESE RESOLUTIONS SUPPORTING DESIGNATIONS LIKE WE HAD YEARS AGO WAS WE WANTED TO GET I-27 DESIGNATED NATIONALLY SO IT COULD CONTINUE TO HAVE FUNDS INVESTED IN IT.
NOW THAT WE'VE GOT THE DESIGNATION, WE'VE DONE SOME MASTER PLANS.
NOW WE HAVE TO GET THE FUNDING TO GET THAT PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.
SO THIS IS REALLY JUST REFRESHING THAT REQUEST, URGING THE FEDERAL CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND TXDOT TO INVEST IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF FUTURE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 27, AND THEN URGING TXDOT TO INVEST IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF I 27 THROUGH THEIR UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM.
SO I DID GET TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE FOR A FEW DAYS.
SO AS THE STATE OF TEXAS CONTINUES TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO TEXDOT AND HIGHWAYS, WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE IN PORTS TO PLAINS AND THEY ARE PULLING FOR AMARILLO. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PULLING FOR EVERYBODY ELSE ALONG THAT I-27 CORRIDOR ALL THE WAY SOUTH AND NORTH.
SO I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT ON THIS.
I THINK IT GOES A LONG WAY TO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THOSE RESOURCES THAT THE STATE HAS.
ANY QUESTIONS ON 10C? NO. OKAY.
WE'D ASK FOR A MOTION ON THAT ONE.
I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 09-26-23-2 AS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT ONE PASSES. FIVE ZERO.
[10.D. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 09-26-23-3]
LAURA STORRS ON A INVESTMENT POLICY AND A CONSULTANT.[02:35:01]
YES. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.SO I'M GOING TO SPEAK VERY BRIEFLY.
WE HAVE OUR CONSULTANTS HERE WITH US.
SO THIS IS RICHARD LONG WITH VALLEY VIEW CONSULTING.
SO PART OF STATE LAW IS THAT ANNUALLY WE HAVE TO HAVE OUR CITY COUNCIL APPROVE AN INVESTMENT POLICY.
IF YOU JUST CLICK THAT, IT'LL WALK YOU THROUGH.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL. APPRECIATE IT.
I WAS JOKING WITH THE MAYOR AT THE BREAK ABOUT.
YOU CERTAINLY HAVE AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION TOPIC TODAY WITH ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
BUT WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW TODAY.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT IT REQUIRES THE COUNCIL TO DO IS TO ADOPT AN INVESTMENT POLICY.
AND I GUESS I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO LIKE THAT FIRST.
EXCUSE ME. AND PRIMARILY YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO EMPHASIZE SAFETY AND LIQUIDITY, SAFETY OF THE PRINCIPAL AND LIQUIDITY, MEANING THAT YOU HAVE MONEY AND TIME TO PAY THE BILLS WITHOUT TAKING ADDITIONAL RISK WITH IT.
YOU DO HAVE TO DIVERSIFY YOUR PORTFOLIO WITHIN THIS POLICY.
AND THEN OBVIOUSLY MOSTLY THAT'S GOVERNED BY MATURITY AND WE'LL GET INTO THAT IN JUST A SECOND.
AND THEN ANOTHER TOPIC WE THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT IS CAPABILITY OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT.
AND SO MISS STORRS, MR. POSTON, SEVERAL OF THE OTHERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH TRAINING ON A REGULAR BASIS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS AND CURRENT REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE LAW.
SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE FOR THE INVESTMENT POLICY.
ONE OF THE KEY RISK MANAGEMENT COMPONENTS IS WHAT YOU DO AUTHORIZE.
I'LL GO THROUGH THE FULL LIST THAT'S ELIGIBLE UNDER THE ACT AT THIS POINT.
THE CITY, I THINK VERY APPROPRIATELY HAS CHOSEN TO NOT DO ALL OF THEM.
THE BIGGEST RISK MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE THAT YOU HAVE IS MATURITY.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME MAXIMUM MATURITY REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO STAY WITHIN, EVEN IF YOU MIGHT HAVE LONGER OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW, YOU STILL WANT TO STAY WITHIN THOSE GUIDELINES. AND THEN AS PER THE ACT, IF YOU USE AN INTERNAL POOL, WHICH THE CITY DOES, THEN YOU NEED TO HAVE A WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITY MAXIMUM.
AND THAT'S ALSO ADDRESSED IN THE POLICY.
HERE'S ALL THE ELIGIBLE ITEMS UNDER THE PFA.
WE PUT CHECK MARKS NEXT TO THE ONES THAT YOU AUTHORIZE.
THE RED ONE UP IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND CORNER IS SECURITIES LENDING.
AND AGAIN, ALL ALL THIS WAS DISCUSSIONS WITH US AND THE STAFF.
THIS YEAR WE'RE RECOMMENDING YOU ELIMINATE THE OPTION TO TO DO INVESTMENT SECURITIES LENDING.
IT WAS A FINANCIAL PRODUCT THAT YEARS AGO HAD VALUE TO THE CITY.
THERE WAS A PROMINENT BANK IN THE STATE THAT OFFERED THE PROGRAM.
AND SO YOU HAD A GOOD VENDOR, YOU HAD ECONOMIC VALUE.
THAT MARKET HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THEN.
THE ECONOMIC VALUE HAS GONE AWAY.
SO WE'RE SUGGESTING YOU TAKE THAT OUT OF YOUR POLICY.
CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT COLLATERALIZED BY.
SO ANYWAY, AGAIN, SAFE, LOW RISK TYPES OF INVESTMENTS WITHIN YOUR POLICY.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE METHODS TO MONITOR MARKET PRICE.
AGAIN, WE TALKED ABOUT THE MAIN RISK CRITERIA IS A CHANGE IN VALUE.
IF YOU DO BUY SECURITIES, YOU HAVE TO USE WHAT'S CALLED DELIVERY VERSUS PAYMENT.
AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE METHODS TO MONITOR CREDIT RATINGS.
THE MARCH REPORT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE RECEIVE THE JUNE REPORT.
[02:40:09]
VALUE, CURRENT MARKET VALUE OF ANY SECURITY THAT YOU OWN IS ALSO REPORTED TO THE COUNCIL ON A REGULAR BASIS.SO YOU CAN BE UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR PORTFOLIO.
A FEW THINGS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
BY FUN TIMES, YOU HAVE TO HAVE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.
AGAIN, SUITABILITY OF THE INVESTMENT CHOICES, SAFETY OF PRINCIPAL, AS, AS WE STATED EARLIER, LIQUIDITY, MARKETABILITY, IF IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE LIQUIDATED PRIOR TO MATURITY. DIVERSIFICATION AND AGAIN YIELD NOT MAXIMIZATION OF YIELD, BUT APPROPRIATE YIELD BASED ON THOSE OTHER RISK CRITERIA SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN YOUR POLICY.
YOU'RE GOING TO USE INTELLIGENCE, YOU'RE GOING TO USE DISCRETION, YOU'RE GOING TO USE PRUDENCE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO WEIGH THOSE TO DECIDE WHAT THE BEST CHOICE IS TO PROVIDE YOU A REASONABLE INCOME.
ALL RIGHT. THIS IS NOT A SPECULATIVE PORTFOLIO.
THIS IS AN INTEREST EARNING PORTFOLIO.
IF YOU ARE AN INVESTMENT OFFICER, WHICH WITHIN THE POLICY, YOU'VE DESIGNATED MRS, STORRS, MR. POSTON AND A COUPLE OTHERS AS INVESTMENT OFFICERS, THEY DO HAVE TO DISCLOSE IF THEY HAVE ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS AND THEY HAVE TO BE DISCLOSED NOT ONLY TO THE COUNSEL BUT TO TO THE TEXAS ETHICS COMMISSION AND WHY WE'RE HERE TONIGHT IS EVERY YEAR YOU GET TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS POLICY AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU STILL AGREE WITH THE TYPES OF RISKS THAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE. SO THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH STAFF AND WITH MYSELF AND OUR GROUP, WE WENT THROUGH THE POLICY.
I WOULD TELL YOU A LOT OF IT IS A DIFFERENT WORDING.
BUT BASICALLY WE WOULD LABEL IT AS JUST UPDATES AND CLARIFICATIONS.
WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO GO AHEAD AND INCLUDE AN OFFICIAL LISTING OF SOME INTERNAL CONTROLS THAT YOU HAVE IN PLACE THAT HELP REDUCE OR CONTROL SOME OF THE POTENTIAL RISKS THAT COULD HAPPEN IN YOUR CASH MANAGEMENT.
AGAIN, JUST FORMALIZES IT WITHIN THE POLICY.
SO AGAIN, OVERALL, A VERY GOOD POLICY, VERY WELL MANAGED PORTFOLIO.
ONCE A YEAR YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO THIS.
AND MS.. STORRS INVITED ME TO COME AND PROVIDE THAT UPDATE.
SO IS THAT QUICK ENOUGH, SIR? THAT WAS REALLY GOOD.
WE WERE STARTING TO WONDER WHO THE WELL-DRESSED GENTLEMAN WAS THAT STAYED THIS LONG IN OUR MEETING.
SO, MR. LONG, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN AND GIVING US AN OVERVIEW OF THIS.
SO, COUNSEL, YOU HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR MR. LONG. NONE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OUR CONSULTANT ON THIS? WELL, WE'VE DONE SOME WORK FOR THE CITY OVER A YEAR, OVER MULTIPLE YEARS ON VARIOUS PROJECTS.
SO WE'VE JUST GOTTEN STARTED ON IT.
WE ARE HELPING A LITTLE BIT ON THE INVESTMENT SIDE WITH MATT, AND WE RECENTLY PLACED SOME CDS.
SO AGAIN, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE HIGHER YIELDS THAT MS..
THAT'S GOOD. AND HOW LONG DID WE HAVE OUR PREVIOUS INVESTMENT ADVISOR? WELL, TECHNICALLY SPEAKING.
SO I'VE WORKED AT THIS CITY ALMOST 17 YEARS NOW.
SO IT WAS IT WAS IT'S ALWAYS LAID ON THE FINANCE DIRECTOR ROLE.
AND SO I DID IT PERSONALLY FOR ABOUT 6 OR 7 YEARS.
DEBBIE READ, WHO WAS HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
AND THEN THE INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT STARTED CHANGING AND IT STARTED CHANGING RAPIDLY.
AND SO WE DETERMINED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SIZE OF A PORTFOLIO THAT WE HAVE, IT WAS BEST TO GO AHEAD AND SECURE SERVICES FROM AN EXTERNAL PARTY. AND I WILL SAY THIS IS ONE OF THOSE GROUPS THAT WILL MORE THAN PAY FOR THEMSELVES IN AN ANNUAL TIME PERIOD, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW WITH THE WAY INTEREST RATES ARE.
SO BUT I THINK EVEN IN A LOWER INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT, IT'S A GOOD VALUE FOR THE CITY.
I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GREAT WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO COMES IN AND CAN KIND OF TAKE AN OVERALL AND AND HOPEFULLY YOU BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE THAT WE NOT NECESSARILY WERE MISSING, BUT JUST HARD TO KEEP UP WITH.
YES. THANK YOU, SIR. YES, SIR.
IF YOU EVER NEED ANYTHING, GOT TO GET HOLD OF ME.
[02:45:02]
OKAY. AND WE DO HAVE THIS AS A RESOLUTION FOR COUNCIL TO APPROVE.SO IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, EITHER ONE OF US WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
THANK YOU. OKAY, WELL, I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 0926233 AS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM TEN D.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT ITEM PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG TO ITEM TEN E, WE HAVE OUR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE I'VE.
[10.E. CONSIDER AWARD - CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR MPEV UPGRADES FOR MLB REQUIREMENTS]
YES, SIR. SO JUST COVERING THE UPGRADES, WANTED TO GO OVER THE MLB REQUIREMENTS, KIND OF HOW THAT PROCESS LAYS OUT AND THEN DISCUSS THE FUNDING SOURCES THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF, WHERE THOSE ARE COMING FROM AND WHAT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE DEBT SERVICE WOULD BE.SO AS FAR AS THE UPGRADES REQUIRED, SO MLB, NOW THAT WE DO HAVE A DOUBLE-A MINOR LEAGUE TEAM, THEY DO HAVE TO MEET THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL REQUIREMENTS AND THEY'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THEY GO THROUGH ANNUAL INSPECTIONS WITH MLB AND THEY COME IN AND HAVE A SCORING CRITERIA WHERE THEY COME IN AND CHECK MANY DIFFERENT VARIABLES.
SO WE'VE GOTTEN THIS BROKEN DOWN ON THIS SLIDE HERE AS FAR AS MLB REQUIRED ADDITIONS.
AND THEN THERE ARE SOME OTHER ADDITIONS THAT WERE ADDED THROUGH THIS PROCESS THAT WOULD ALSO BENEFIT THE TEAM ALMOST BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE HAVING TO MEET, THAT IT'S IMPACTING OTHER AREAS WHERE THEY HAD STORAGE, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO BASED ON THAT, WE'VE GOT INCREASED SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR SHARED WORKOUT AREAS, SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR FOOD SERVICE, BREAK AREAS FOR EACH TEAM, A DEDICATED LOCKER AND SHOWER SPACES FOR FEMALES.
ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE FOR VISITING TEAM COACHES, SAFETY NETTING.
SO WE'VE GOT CURRENT SAFETY NETTING THAT WILL NOW ACTUALLY BRING IT TO THE ENDS OF EACH LINE.
SO IT COVERS ALL SEATING ALONG THE FOUL LINES OF THE SEATING BOWL, ADDITIONAL PADDING ON OUTFIELD WALLS, CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW STRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH THE ADDITIONAL SQUARE FOOTAGE LOST BY RENOVATING THE CLUBHOUSE AREAS FOR FOR BASICALLY EVERYTHING I'VE COVERED UP ABOVE.
ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES AND THEN ADDITIONAL STORAGE PER MLB.
SO THEN WE'VE GOT THE ADDITIONAL STORAGE FOR THE TEAM.
AND THEN THERE WAS THE ABILITY BASED ON HOW THE STRUCTURE WOULD BE, THAT THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN EVENT VENUE SPACE SIMILAR TO THE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD WHERE THEY HAVE THE PARTY DECK UP TOP.
THIS WOULD GIVE THEM ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY ON THAT SIDE.
ONE HAD BASICALLY TOO MUCH WORK TO REALLY TAKE ON ANOTHER PROJECT.
PART OF MLB REQUIREMENTS IS THAT THEY ALSO HAVE A DEADLINE, SO WE'RE HAVING TO START BASICALLY RIGHT WHEN THE SEASON ENDS AND GET THIS PROJECT DONE BEFORE NEW SEASON BEGINS IN 2024. SO WESTERN ENDED UP SUBMITTING THE THE THE BID FOR IT.
THEY ARE THE MOST FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECT SINCE THEY BUILT IT ORIGINALLY.
SO THAT IS A BIG, BIG PART OF WHY THEY CHOSE TO BID ON IT.
AS FAR AS THE TOTAL FOR THIS PROJECT, IT IS JUST UNDER 4.6 MILLION PROPOSED TO BE PAID FROM THE 4 MILLION THAT WAS ISSUED WITH HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX BONDS BACK IN MARCH OF 2023.
AND THEN THE ELMORE SPORTS GROUP WOULD BE CONTRIBUTING ALMOST 600,000 TOWARD THE PROJECT THAT WOULD GO TOWARD THOSE ADDITIONAL STORAGE NEEDS AS WELL AS THAT EVENT VENUE SPACE, SINCE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING ABLE TO TO SELL MORE TICKETS FOR THE FOR THE SPACE.
JUST A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION.
[02:50:02]
PROJECTS, DECIDE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE AND THE TEAM.AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO A NEGOTIATION OF UPDATING THAT SPLIT ON THE 400,000 LEASE PAYMENT WITH 175,000 CURRENTLY GOING TOWARD THE 2018 HOT REVENUE BONDS, ANOTHER 175,000 GOING TOWARD THE 2023 ISSUANCE AND THEN 50,000 BASICALLY REDUCING THAT TO 50,000 GOING TO THE CAPITAL RESERVE ACCOUNT FOR FUTURE PROJECTS.
PREVIOUSLY 225,000 WAS GOING INTO THAT THAT FUND.
THE CVB HAS ALSO AGREED TO REALLOCATE 50,000 OF THEIR ANNUAL ALLOCATION TO GO TOWARD THE DEBT ISSUANCE, AND THEN THE REMAINDER WOULD COME FROM CITY HOT COLLECTIONS.
SO THAT IS JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW.
HAPPY TO TRY AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
THEY CAME DOWN AND MADE DEMANDS THAT WE NEED TO DO THIS.
CORRECT? MLB MADE DEMANDS, YES.
YES, SIR. SO WITH THEM, CAN I MAKE A DEMAND TO APPEAL ANY OF THAT? IT WAS AN ONGOING NEGOTIATION.
THE TEAM DID CHALLENGE A LOT OF THEIR SCORES TO BASICALLY GET IT TO THIS SHORT LIST OF PROJECTS.
DID WE CHALLENGE? WELL, WE DID HAVE STAFF INVOLVED IN ALL THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
SO JERRY DANFORTH WAS THERE FOR ALL THE TOURS AND INSPECTIONS TO TRY AND SHOW THAT WE HAD THE AMENITIES AND THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, BUT WE WEREN'T PART OF THAT PROCESS. BUT NO, WE WEREN'T PART OF AN APPEAL PROCESS.
IT APPEARS TO ME SOME OF THIS IS VERY UNREASONABLE.
I MEAN, MORE STORAGE FOR GEAR.
WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS? THEY'VE BEEN STORING GEAR.
WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN DOING ABOUT FEMALE BATHROOMS AND MALE BATHROOMS? NOW THEY'VE BEEN WORKING, RIGHT? YES, SIR. UH, I AGREE.
I MEAN, MY MY QUESTION IS, I JUST HATE PUTTING GOOD.
I MEAN, WE'RE IN A CATCH 22 HERE.
YES, WE GOT WE GOT TO SPEND THE MONEY, BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW I DON'T LIKE IT.
AND I THINK THE TEAM WOULD PROBABLY GIVE ME A NAME WHO I CAN TELL.
I CAN I CAN CERTAINLY GET WITH TONY WINDSOR TO GET YOU THAT NAME.
I MEAN, THE THING IT WAS NOTHING THAT WE WANT TO DO THIS SIT DOWN AND JUST TELL US HOW TO RUN THIS.
WE OWN IT, RIGHT? THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL ME HOW TO RUN A BASEBALL PARK.
RIGHT? I MEAN, UNLESS I WANT TO HAVE THEIR BASEBALL TEAM, I GUESS.
RIGHT. OR IF WE DIDN'T WANT A MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM IN THERE, YES.
WE WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THAT OPTION TO NOT HAVE A MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM.
YEAH, THERE IS AN OPTION SMALL WAY.
BUT YES, I MEAN, I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION WITH THE WAY THIS THING IS HANDLED.
AND IT'S LIKE MR. SCHANKE BROUGHT UP, WE GOT TO DO A $15 MILLION UPDATE.
YES, SIR. AND I WONDER, HOW MANY DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE OTHER TEAMS ARE GOING TO COMPLY OR WHAT THE DATE MY I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT OF TEAMS LIKE SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS.
THEY HAVEN'T HAD A NEW STADIUM AND SHOOT.
I LIVE DOWN THERE AS A KID SO THAT'S 70 YEARS AGO.
AND I COULD GET YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THE OTHER TEAMS. BUT YEAH, I THINK A BUNCH OF THEM ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COMPLY OR THEIR TEAMS ARE GETTING RELOCATED.
YES, SIR. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION, ANDREW.
YES, SIR. SO CAN YOU KIND OF TELL ME WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF IF THE MLB COMES BACK NEXT YEAR OR THE YEAR AFTER AND EACH YEAR THEY'RE COMING BACK WITH 5 OR $10 MILLION IN THESE REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS? I MEAN, ARE WE GOING TO JUST CONTINUE TO ISSUE THESE REVENUE BONDS OR I MEAN, ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT? I MEAN, WHAT'S KIND OF I THINK EVENTUALLY WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT CONTINUING TO FUND IT VIA HOT.
SO WE'D HAVE A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT CONVERSATION AND HAVE TO HAVE OTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TEAM AS FAR AS IF THEY WANT TO STAY HERE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE PRETTY TAPPED AS FAR AS HOT BONDS IF THE HOPEFULLY THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW AND MORE MORE VISITORS, THAT IT COULD HAVE MORE CAPACITY.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK THE GOAL WHEN WE GET TO THAT 15 MILLION REQUIREMENT IS THAT OUR OUR BONDS WOULD BE COMING UP FOR REFINANCING TO HELP PAY FOR ANY REQUIRED MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS. BUT IF WE KEEP GETTING KIND OF NICKEL AND DIME EVERY FEW YEARS OF OTHER REQUIREMENTS, THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE.
MAYBE WE NEED TO GO BACK AND TELL THEM WE WANT 30% OF THEIR SALES OUT OF THERE TO HELP PAY.
I MEAN, THEY'RE THE ONES MAKING THESE DEMANDS AND WE LITTLE CITIES JUST CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.
YES, SIR. I MEAN, I'M NOT GRASPING IT.
[02:55:01]
I'M I'M LISTENING.THE TV STATIONS TO PICK ALL THIS UP.
CLEAR. I WILL SHARE YOUR FRUSTRATIONS.
THANK COUNCILMAN. SCHERLEN IS AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT OR ON CAMERA AFTER THE MEETING.
YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO KNOW? I MEAN, THAT'S JUST KIND OF THAT'S WHAT I'M KIND OF CURIOUS ABOUT IS, I MEAN, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO COME DOWN THE PIPE, RIGHT? BECAUSE MLB COULD COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO UPGRADE ANOTHER 5 TO 10 MILLION.
AND I CAN GET SOME MORE DETAILS FROM TONY.
I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THEIR TEN YEAR AGREEMENTS THAT THEY PUT IN PLACE TO KEEP TEAMS IN SPOTS FOR LONGER TERMS. SO HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT SOMETHING THEY COME EVERY YEAR AND KEEP ADDING TO IT, BUT I'LL GET MORE DETAILS ON THAT.
THIS IS MORE TWEAKS TO THE EXISTING FACILITY.
WELL, NOW THAT THAT CONTRACT IS BETWEEN OURSELVES AND ELMER GROUP, CORRECT? THAT'S TRUE. SO THAT COULD BE NEGOTIABLE.
I THINK THAT'S THE ONE ITEM THAT THAT WE SHOULD ADDRESS KIND OF HERE ON THE FRONT END.
I THINK WE UNDERSTAND WE ARE OVER A BARREL, AS IT WAS SAID HERE EARLIER.
SO IF THERE'S A 15 MILLION, IS THAT CORRECT? I BELIEVE SO, YEAH. 15 MILLION REQUIREMENT, YEAH.
AFTER TEN YEARS. YEAH, I BELIEVE IT'S AROUND 15 MILLION.
I BELIEVE IT TO BE HIGHLY REASONABLE FOR US AS A GOOD PARTNER AND LANDLORD TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THESE PETITIONS AND PUT US ON THE SAME TEAM WITH THE ELMER GROUP.
SO IF MLB DOES COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, WE'D LIKE TO SEE THESE OTHER UPGRADES, WELL, IF IT DOESN'T, IF IT IF IT DOESN'T BENEFIT THE TEAM, THEN THE TEAM'S NOT AS APT TO WANT US OR NEED US TO DO IT IF IT'S COMING OUT OF THEIR BOTTOM LINE AS WELL.
AND SO I KNOW COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN COMPLAINING AT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.
YES, SIR. WELL, MY CONCERNS, MY CONCERNS ARE MORE LOCAL.
BUT THEN WE'RE ALSO HAVING PARTICIPATION ON THE OTHER SIDE.
SO, YES, SIR, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE AWARD A CONTRACT FOR 4,595,000 UNDER DURESS.
OKAY. I HAVE A DURESS MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NO. THAT IS A41 VOTE.
ALL RIGHT. THERE YOU GO, BUDDY.
OKAY. ITEM TEN F, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG TO THE NEXT AS OUR LAST OPTION.
[10.F. CONSIDER APPROVAL – LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WATER PROVIDER AGREEMENT]
I BELIEVE THAT'S OUR LAST ITEM.YES. AND I WILL KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET.
STORRS. OKAY, SO WE HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
WHAT IT IS, IT'S A GRANT FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE THE LOWEST INCOMES THAT PAY A HIGH PROPORTION OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD INCOME, IN OUR CASE, FOR WATER, STORMWATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES.
THIS GRANTS PROVIDED THROUGH PANHANDLE COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT PROGRAM.
WE'VE HAD IT IN PLACE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.
WHAT THIS ITEM IS ASKING IS IF WE CAN EXTEND THAT TERM TO DECEMBER 31ST OF 2023.
[03:00:04]
DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, THEY HAVE SERVED 33 CLIENTS THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS P ONE.WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THEY WERE CURRENTLY DISCONNECTED WHEN THEY WERE HELPED THROUGH THIS GRANT.
THERE WAS A LITTLE OVER $18,000 FROM THIS GRANT THAT WENT TOWARDS THAT CLASSIFICATION.
ALSO, THERE WERE 225 CLIENTS SO FAR THAT HAVE BEEN HELPED THAT ARE CLASSIFIED AS AP2 STATUS.
AND THOSE ARE CLIENTS THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE DISCONNECTED.
AND THERE'S BEEN JUST UNDER $94,000 PAID OUT TO ASSIST WITH THAT GROUP.
AND THEN FINALLY, THERE'S AP3 CATEGORY.
AND THERE HAVE BEEN 134 CLIENTS SERVED SO FAR.
THEY ALSO MENTIONED THAT ANY OF THEIR CLIENTS THAT ARE IN THAT P TWO OR P THREE CATEGORY, THEY ALSO CAN QUALIFY FOR AN ADDITIONAL $85 PER MONTH FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.
THAT JUST HELPS KEEP THEM IN GOOD STANDING.
AND SO THIS IS, I THINK, BEEN A GAME CHANGER FOR A LOT OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
AND SO THE REQUEST HERE, THERE'S STILL I THINK THEY SAID IN TOTAL IT'S 173,000 AND 392 FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVED HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO THERE IS SUFFICIENT FUNDING TO EXTEND THIS ALL THE WAY OUT THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL.
ANYONE WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION? I MOVE, WE APPROVE ITEM TEN ON THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM TEN F WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THAT ITEM PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.
IF I CAN GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
I MOVE TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
YOU'RE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU GUYS FOR STAYING AND PARTICIPATING IN OUR MEETING.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.