[00:00:02]
[1. Call to Order]
THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE.I KNOW THAT I WASN'T HERE FOR THE LAST REGULAR MEETING.
COUNCILMAN TIPS RAN THE MEETING, I THINK, IN 57 MINUTES.
THERE HAS BEEN AN OVERWHELMING CALL FOR HIM TO CONTINUE TO RUN THESE MEETINGS.
I DON'T THINK I CAN GET US OUT OF HERE IN 57 MINUTES, BUT I'M GOING TO WORK AS DILIGENTLY AS I CAN.
IF I DON'T DO A GOOD JOB AT ANY POINT IN TIME, DON CAN TAKE OVER RUNNING ALL OF THE MEETINGS FROM HERE ON, AND I'LL SIT OVER THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO OFFICIALLY CALL OURSELVES TO ORDER HERE TODAY.
WE DO HAVE BRADY GABLE HERE, WHO'S GOING TO OFFER THE INVOCATION.
HERE IN A MOMENT, WE'RE GOING TO DO A COUPLE THINGS.
I'M GOING TO ASK EVERYONE TO RISE FOR THE PRAYER.
AFTER THE PRAYER, WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN VERY DEAR TO THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY, MR. JOHN WARD, WHO PASSED AWAY.
IF YOU'LL REMAIN STANDING FOR THAT, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY AND THEN WE'LL DO BOTH OF OUR PLEDGES.
[2. Invocation]
MR. GABLE, YOU'RE UP.IF YOU GUYS WOULD PLEASE STAND.
>> FELL BY YOUR HEADS WITH ME. DEARLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR TODAY.
LORD, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROVISION AND STEADFASTNESS.
AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SON WHO DIED THE WAY WE DESERVE AND ROSE THREE DAYS LATER TO RECONCILE US BACK TO YOU.
LORD, THANK YOU FOR CALLING THESE LEADERS TO SERVE YOUR PEOPLE, GIVE THEM DISCERNMENT, AND I PRAY FOR YOUR WISDOM AND DECISION MAKING TODAY.
MAY THESE LEADERS LOOK TO YOU IN THE SERVING OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
I ASK THAT YOU SEARCH AND KNOW OUR HEARTS, TRUST US AND KNOW OUR CONCERNS, SEE US IN ANY OFFENSIVE WAYS AND LEAD US BACK TO YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO GET INTO A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN, IN MY OPINION, IF NOT THE BEST, BUT ONE OF THE BEST CITY MANAGERS THAT WE'VE EVER HAD THE HONOR OF HAVING HERE.
PLEASE, IF YOU'D REMAIN SILENT FOR A FEW MOMENTS HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT MOMENT OF SILENCE IN HONOR OF JOHN WARD.
I ASKED THE MAYOR IF IT'D BE OKAY IF I JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT OUR FORMER CITY MANAGER. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE.
HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE THAT I MET WHEN I MOVED HERE 22 YEARS AGO AND WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH HIM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN HE WAS WITH THE CITY.
THEN OF COURSE, HE LEFT HERE, IT SEEMS JUST YESTERDAY, BUT 20 SOME YEARS AGO TO GO TO WORK FOR MAXOR.
BUT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT JOHN HAD IN HIS STELLAR CAREER AS CITY MANAGER HERE TO LAST AS LONG AS HE DID.
BUT HE HAD A UNIQUE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CALM DEMEANOR AT ALL TIMES.
SOMETIMES YOU AND JOHN MAY NOT DISAGREE, BUT HE WAS SOMETHING HE WOULD NEVER HOLD THAT AGAINST YOU AND YOU CONTINUED TO HAVE A GREAT WORKING RELATIONSHIP.
BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT AND UNIQUE THING ABOUT JOHN WAS HE WAS A LEGEND AS A CITY MANAGER FOR WHAT HE DID FOR THIS COMMUNITY TO LAST AS LONG AS HE DID AND DO THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT HE DID.
BUT WHAT YOU FORGET IS HE WAS A LEGEND WHO FOLLOWED A LEGEND, WHO WAS JOHN STIFF WHO WAS CITY MANAGER HERE FOR MANY YEARS.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT HIM, OF COURSE, THERE'S A PARK IN THIS COMMUNITY.
IT'S ONE THING TO JUST TO BE ABLE TO COME IN AND DO A GOOD JOB, BUT I CAN'T.
NOBODY GOES IN AFTER THE LEGEND.
HE HAD BIG SHOES TO FILL AND JOHN FILLED THOSE SHOES AND EVEN MORE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, AND I KNOW ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL, WE WANT TO THANK JOHN AND APPRECIATE HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE.
HIS IMPACT IS STILL FELT TODAY AND WILL BE FELT FOR MANY YEARS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> VERY MUCH SO. THANK YOU GUYS.
IF YOU GUYS WOULD JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU GUYS. PLEASE BE SEATED.
I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LETTING US DO THAT, AND THE HONOR THAT IT SHOWS ON BEHALF OF THIS ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
MS. CITY SECRETARY, DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY?
[00:05:03]
>> MOVING RIGHT ALONG, WE ARE GOING TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
[7. Public Comment ]
MS. CITY SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL MOVE US INTO ITEM 7.>> THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
YOUR INPUT AND YOUR OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND WE ARE GLAD YOU'RE HERE TO SHARE THEM.
AT EACH POSTED MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS OR TOPICS RELATED TO CITY POLICY.
EACH SPEAKER TODAY WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS COUNCIL.
AT THE END OF TWO-AND-A-HALF MINUTES, A WARNING BEEP WILL SOUND TO ALERT YOU YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS.
WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY.
IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM THAT HAS A PUBLIC HEARING, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU COMMENT EITHER DURING PUBLIC ADDRESS OR THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT NOT BOTH IN ORDER FOR US TO KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS.
IT'S YOUR DECISION AT WHICH POINT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE TODAY, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN THE AMARILLO CITY LIMITS, AND THEN BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS TO COUNCIL.
FIRST, TODAY IS JEFFREY MCGUNEGLE, AFTER MR. MCGUNEGLE, ON DECK WILL BE NATHAN SMITH.
>> WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I'M JEFF MCGUNEGLE.
I LIVE IN AMARILLO, AMARIL, TEXAS.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE INVOCATION AND THE ALL.
DURING THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE 2023 COUNCIL THERE WAS MUCH TALK ABOUT THE ALL, THE ALL OF AMARILLO, AMARIL.
THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE FOR AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ALL, ALL OF AMARILLO, AMARIL.
FIRST OFF, WHAT COMES FORTH IS NOT AN ATTACK ON ANYONE'S FAITH.
I FULLY HONOR EACH PERSON'S FAITH IN THIS CITY.
ONE OF THE GREATEST TENANTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS ITS FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
ALSO, WHENEVER I SPEAK, I DO NOT SPEAK FOR MYSELF ALONE.
MANY TURN TO ME TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS AND CONCERNS.
SOME EVEN CALL ME THE NON MAYOR OF AMARILLO, AMARIL.
MANY OF THESE PEOPLE, THEY FEAR HAVING THEIR VOICE HEARD FOR VARIOUS REASONS AND MOST OFTEN GOOD REASONS.
ANYWAY, ON MARCH 12TH IN THIS CHAMBER, AN INVOCATION WAS GIVEN BY A LOCAL PASTOR.
IN ATTENDANCE AND WATCHING REMOTELY WERE THOSE OF THE JEWISH, MUSLIM, HINDU, BUDDHIST, AND CHRISTIAN FAITH.
I'M SURE OTHERS, AS WELL AS ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS.
A BUDDHIST CHRISTIAN ATTENDED, MYSELF.
IN HIS INVOCATION, THE PASTOR MENTIONED JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH HAVING A NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME, THE ONLY NAME UNDER HEAVEN BY WHICH MEN MIGHT BE SAVED.
WHAT ABOUT THE ALL? IN MY OPINION, AND MANY OTHERS, THIS PASTOR DISCOUNTED EVERY PERSON'S FAITH OUTSIDE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
AS A FOLLOWER OF BUDDHA AND CHRIST, I FOUND HIS WORDS OFFENSIVE.
I QUESTIONED HIS DISCERNMENT. WHAT ABOUT THE ALL? I'M NOT SURE IF THE INVOCATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE CHRISTIAN OR WHAT, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHY IT'S AT A GOVERNMENT MEETING IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IS THERE A SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE ISSUE? I DON'T KNOW. WHAT I DO KNOW, THESE INVOCATIONS DO NOT REPRESENT THE ALL.
I GO AS FAR AS TO SAY THAT THEY DISRESPECT THE MANY.
WHAT ABOUT THE ALL? I ALWAYS TRY TO HAVE SOLUTIONS.
SOLUTION 1 INVITE OTHER FAITH LEADERS DO THE INVOCATION, NOT A WIN-WIN TO ME.
TOO MUCH RISK OF FURTHER DIVISIVENESS.
I'M READING THIS MOMENT OF SILENCE I THINK WAS AWESOME.
WE DO IN SCHOOLS, HAVE A 1-2 MINUTE OF SILENCE.
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PRAY OR WHATEVER THEY FEEL SUITS THEIR SPIRITUAL AUTONOMY.
THIS HAS WIN-WIN POTENTIAL AND POTENTIAL FOR GREATER POWER.
WHAT ABOUT THE ALL? TO CONCLUDE, EACH CENTURY IS DIFFERENT FROM THE LAST? CAN WE START TO REALIZE WE ARE NOW IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND THERE'S NO TURNING BACK.
THE 21ST CENTURY CITY, GREAT TEXAS CITY OF AMARILLO, AMARIL.
WE ARE NOT WHO WE THINK WE ARE.
I THANK YOU, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
>> MR. MCGUNEGLE, AS A STATEMENT OF FACT, I DISAGREE.
BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO SPEAK UP.
[00:10:01]
NEXT, NATHAN SMITH.>> I'M NATHAN SMITH. I LIVE IN AMARILLO.
ANYWAY, AS USUAL I'M GOING TO OPEN THIS WITH A BIBLE VERSE WHICH GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO GENESIS 19:5-8.
"THEY CALLED UNTO LOT AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHERE ARE THE MEN WHICH CAME INTO THEE THIS NIGHT? BRING THEM OUT UNTO US THAT WE MAY KNOW THEM.
LOT WENT OUT AT THE DOOR UNTO THEM AND SHUT THE DOOR AFTER HIM, AND SAID, I PRAY YOU BRETHREN DO NOT SO WICKEDLY, BEHOLD NOW I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS WHICH HAVE NOT KNOWN MEN.
LET ME, I PRAY YOU BRING THEM OUT UNTO YOU AND DO YE TO THEM AS IS GOOD IN YOUR EYES.
ONLY UNTO THESE MEN, DO NOTHING FOR CAME THEY UNDER THE SHADOW OF MY ROOF." REGARDLESS, WE'RE NOT A THEOCRACY.
I AGREE WITH THAT GUY IN THE INVOCATION.
THE REASON I WEAPONIZE THIS BOOK IS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT A THEOCRACY, AND WE OPEN EVERY SITUATION WITH A PRAYER.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THIS SANCTUARY ABORTION TRAFFICKING NONSENSE.
I REALLY HOPE THEY ENJOY THEIR BREAKFAST OVER AT THE GOLDEN WAFFLE.
IF YOU HAVE A UTERUS AND YOU LIKE HAVING RIGHTS, YOU MIGHT RECONSIDER PATRONING THE GOLDEN WAFFLE.
ANYWAY, MOVING ALONG, I'M GOING TO DOUBLE DIP, SINCE I HAVE TO COME UP HERE EVERY WEEK, AND MIGHT AS WELL POINT OUT SOME ABSURDITY THAT TRANS PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS BEING ACCUSED OF THINGS.
IN AN ARTICLE BY GIANNI LEGI ON 20 OCTOBER, 2023, THERE WAS A PASTOR ACCUSED OF MAKING GIRL PERFORM ORAL SEX AT SEVEN YEARS OLD, IMPREGNATING HER AT 16.
IT HAPPENED IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
ALLEGEDLY, ROBERT CARTER, 39 BEGAN MOLESTING HIS FAMILY MEMBER WHEN SHE WAS SEVEN.
BEGAN RAPING HER AT 12, AND THERE WAS A RAPE BABY AT 16.
ANYWAY, THE IRONIC PART IS THE DUDE VIOLATED HIS FAMILY MEMBER IN HIS CHURCH.
THAT'S PRIME REAL ESTATE RIGHT THERE.
MOVING ON, NORTH TEXAS YOUTH PASTOR, WHO SEXUALLY ABUSED 14 GIRLS RELEASED FROM PRISON EARLY FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR, REPORTED BY LORI BROWN, DENTON, TEXAS.
THE FORMER PASTOR AT THE DENTON BIBLE CHURCH, ROBERT SHIFLET SERVED 25 OUT OF 33 MONTHS.
HIS CHURCH FOUND OUT IN 2005 THAT HIS BEHAVIOR WAS GOING ON, DIDN'T BOTHER TO REPORT IT, BECAUSE WHY? THE VICTIMS CAME FORWARD TO THE CHURCH, CHURCH DID NOTHING.
A BUNCH OF YEARS LATER, VICTIMS FINALLY GO TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THEN THE JUDGE HIMSELF, AFTER THE GUY TOOK THE PLEA DEAL, WAS DISGUSTED THAT HE ONLY GOT 33 MONTHS AND ONLY SERVED 25 OF THEM.
THIS IS WHY I SAY WE'RE A PRO RAPE STATE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BECAUSE OF PENALTIES LIKE THIS FOR SUCH CRIMES AND EVEN THE JUDGE WAS DISGUSTED.
YES, YOU CAN RAPE ALL YOU WANT AND YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE RAPE BABIES YOU WANT IN TEXAS.
DON'T WORRY, YOU'LL GET OUT IN 5-10 YEARS, MAYBE IF WE'RE LUCKY AND YOU CAN RAPE AGAIN.
AMERICA, WE DON'T REPRESENT IT WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE EVERYBODY'S RIGHTS.
>> NOT AT ALL. APPRECIATE YOU.
>> TRUE DECORUM? THANK YOU, SIR.
>> MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES EVERYONE THAT SIGNED UP TODAY.
>> APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE ESPECIALLY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON CITY BUSINESS? YES, SIR, MR. SKANK.
I'M GOING TO SPEAK ON 8B, WHERE Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PROPOSITION 1 BEING VERY INVOLVED IN THOSE PROPOSITIONS THAT WERE PUT FORTH IN 2016, EARLY THAT YEAR AND VOTED ON THAT MAY OF WHEN TRUMP WAS ELECTED.
WE HAD SEVEN BONDS THAT WERE PRESENTED, HAD 340 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS OF PROJECTS THAT WERE DESIGNED TO BE PUT ON.
ONLY TWO OF THOSE PASSED TO REFRESH AND THEN THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOWN TO THIS PROPOSITION 1 RIGHT NOW.
BUT WE HAD SEVEN PROPOSITIONS IN THE OPINION OF MYSELF AND MANY THAT WERE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THOSE.
A LOT OF FLUFF IN THERE WASN'T CONSIDERED A LOT OF FLUFF BY CERTAIN OTHER GROUPS, BUT IT WAS CONSIDERED, AND THE CITIZENS SPOKE WELL I BELIEVE, AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN STREETS WAS NEEDED SITUATIONS.
SOMETHING THAT'S CONCERNING ME AND IT ALWAYS HAS, AND I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE PDP AND INVOLVED WITH TALKING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE
[00:15:03]
SUPPOSEDLY PUTTING THESE PROJECTS IN WHICH IT'S HARD TO FIND THIS LIST.STEPHANIE, ON THE PROJECTS WERE NOTED FOR PROPOSITION 1 TO WHERE WE CAN ACTUALLY GO IN AND DETERMINE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE AND WHAT HADN'T BEEN DONE.
IT'S APPARENT TO SOME OF US THAT SOME THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN DONE YET AND SOME THINGS HAVE BEEN MOVED AROUND.
HOPEFULLY TODAY WE'RE GOING TO OBVIOUSLY GET DOWN TO APPROVING SOME BONDS AND RELATED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS WHICH CONTINUES TO POTENTIALLY INCREASE OUR TAX BASE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE MONEY.
I KNOW THERE WAS A SHORT TIME BACK WHEN FLOYD AND I WAS TALKING, THERE WAS $57 MILLION LEFT IN THIS $90 MILLION BOND.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH IS LEFT NOW, BUT I HAVE A SNEAKY SUSPICION THAT THERE'S A BUNCH STILL REMAINING.
WE NEEDED TO HAVE SOME OF THESE THINGS GOING ON.
SOME OF THE REASONS THAT I HEARD WAS, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER AND SUPPLY CHAIN BECAUSE 2020 HIT AND WE HAD SOME ISSUES THERE.
BUT I LOOK AT SOME OF IT AS THE PRIORITY THAT WAS OVERLOOKED FOR ALL.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET THIS CONSENSUS OF THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON THIS THING, GET IT DONE, LET'S GO, LET'S GET SOME OF THESE PROJECTS FINISHED AND FIND OUT IF WE SPENT ALL THE MONEY OR NOT.
IF NOT, WE'VE GOT MORE PROJECTS I BELIEVE, DON'T WE?
>> YES, SIR. APPRECIATE YOU, MR. SKANK.
DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON CITY BUSINESS BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA? SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
MOVE INTO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS.
[8.A. Review agenda items for regular meeting and attachments]
ITEM 8A, REVIEW AGENDA ITEMS. COUNCIL, DO I HAVE ANYONE HERE WHO NEEDS ANYTHING ADDITIONAL BEFORE WE MOVE ALONG?>> ITEM 8B. THIS IS MR. HARTMAN COMING
[8.B. Update on Proposition 1 voter approved bonds & related capital improvement projects]
FORWARD HERE FOR DISCUSSION AND AN UPDATE ON PROPOSITION 1, THOSE VOTER APPROVED BONDS AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT MR. SKANK MENTIONED.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY.
WE ARE ADDRESSING ALMOST EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
AS REQUESTED, THIS IS THE UPDATE ON THE PROPOSITION 1.
I'LL HAND THIS OFF TO KYLE AND LAURA AT TIMES.
WE HAVE OUR BOND COUNCIL HERE, IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS RELATED TO SOME OTHER THINGS, SO THERE'S A TEAM OUT HERE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FOR US.
PROCEEDS FROM THE BOND WERE USED FOR THESE MAIN PURPOSES.
STREET ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, MAINTENANCE, ALLEY IMPROVEMENTS, DRAINAGE, SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS, SIGNALIZED LIGHTS AND SIGNAGE, STREET LIGHTING, TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT EQUIPMENT, TRANSPORTATION RELATED TO INCIDENTALS, EROSION, BRIDGE AND OTHER CULVERTS.
THAT WAS BACK FROM THE VERBIAGE IN THE BOND.
THEY VOTED ON IT IN 2016, BUT FOR THE PROP ONES, IT WAS ACTUALLY ISSUED IN MAY OF 17, JULY OF 18, AND THAT LAST ISSUANCE THE 57 MILLION, YES, WAS ISSUED IN 2021.
THEY VOTED ON IT, BUT THAT WAS ORIGINAL STRUCTURE ON THE BOND AS IT WAS PROPOSED THAT WE WOULD DELAY THOSE ISSUANCES.
BY THE WAY, IT IMPACTED THE TAX RATE AT THE TIME IT WAS ISSUED, NOT WHEN IT WAS VOTED ON.
IT DIDN'T IMPACT TAXES PRIOR TO THOSE ISSUANCES.
HERE IS A GRAPHIC THAT SHOWS THAT IN A GRAPHIC FORM WHERE THAT FIRST ISSUANCE, SECOND ISSUANCE, THAT'S ALL BEEN COMPLETED AND EXPANDED.
IF YOU SEE IN THE THIRD COLUMN THAT 26.6 MILLION OF THAT, YES, AS OF TODAY, 30.6 MILLION REMAINS IN THE 57 MILLION.
WE'LL GET TO A COUPLE, BUT I WANTED TO BRING UP THAT GEORGIA STREET IS READY TO BID.
THAT HAS 15 MILLION COMMITTED AND THEN WE HAVE
[00:20:02]
ANOTHER PROJECT WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT HAS EIGHT MILLION READY.WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AS I GO, PLEASE ASK.
THE CATEGORIES WERE MAINTENANCE, REHAB, GROWTH, AND THEN TXDOT OBLIGATIONS.
YOU LOOK AT HOW THOSE CATEGORIES BROKE OUT AND THIS IS A GRAPHIC VIEW OF THE ENTIRE 89.7 MILLION AS THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS PROPOSED.
YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME SHIFTING.
YES, THE TXDOT RIGHT AWAY ISSUES BECAME LESS BECAUSE TXDOT TOOK CARE OF WHAT WAS LISTED IN THERE.
YOU SEE THAT WE ADJUSTED THOSE BASED OFF OF THOSE ACTUAL CHANGES IN THE NEED FOR THE PROJECTS, MAINTENANCE PROJECTS BEING A FOCUS, AND THE REPAIR, REPLACEMENT AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS BECAME THE FOCUS.
HERE IS A MAP OF WHAT'S BEEN COMPLETED.
REMEMBER WE HAVE THE QUADRANTS, AND THEN WE HAVE GEORGIA STREET NORTH OF 58TH, WE HAVE EAST 34TH FROM GRAND TO EASTERN.
THOSE RECONSTRUCTIONS OCCURRED. WE HAVE WESTERN STREET, WALLACE STREET OUT BY THE HOSPITAL.
THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE TXDOT RIGHT AWAYS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS WHAT THAT CURRENT CHART OF THAT LOOKS LIKE UNDER CURRENT PROPOSALS.
THIS IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT POLK STREET IS IN PROGRESS, RAILROAD CROSSINGS IS IN PROGRESS, RIDGEMERE COMPLETED, SIXTH AND SEVENTH, ARTERIAL RECONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETE BECAUSE WE ARE NOW IN A GROWTH COMPONENT OF THAT.
ACCESS MANAGEMENT IN PROGRESS.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, THAT'S COMPLETE.
NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN INITIATIVE WAS COMPLETE.
CENTRAL LIBRARY UNDERSTANDING WITH INFLATION.
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE NOT GOING TO GET COMPLETED.
THIS IS ONE THAT'S UP FOR DISCUSSION ON WHAT FUNDING IS LEFT AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE BASED OFF THAT LIST.
>> YES. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL LIST THAT WAS LISTED.
LET ME BE CLEAR. IT'S NOT LISTED IN THE BOND ORDINANCE.
THE BOND ORDINANCE IS GENERAL TO STREET REPAIR, BUT THIS IS WHAT WAS ADVERTISED AS DURING THE VOTER SUPPORT FOR IT.
HELIUM FROM I-40, THOSE ARE COMPLETE BY OTHERS.
ARDEN ROAD IS IN PROGRESS, BUT OTHERS IS TXDOT THERE.
ARDEN ROAD ARENA IS IN PROGRESS.
GEORGIA FOX RIDGE IN PROGRESS.
NOW WE GET TO THE LIST THAT HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED.
TXDOT OBLIGATIONS, YOU SEE THERE AT THE BOTTOM, SOME OF THOSE WERE PUT OFF.
THE SOUTHEAST LOOP WAS PUT OFF INDEFINITELY BY TXDOT IN THE MPO PLAN, SO THAT BASICALLY JUST WENT AWAY, THOSE FUNDS THAT WERE DEDICATED, THAT WERE MOVED INTO THESE OTHER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR PROGRAMS. GEORGIA, FROM FROXRIDGE TO LOOP, AGAIN THAT'S IN PROGRESS.
COULTER FROM HOLLYWOOD, SOUTH TO SUNDOWN, THAT ONE IS GOING TO DESIGN.
34TH FROM SONCY TO HELIUM, THESE ARE IN OUR PRIORITY LIST AS WE HAVE THOSE FOR AVAILABLE FUNDING.
WE'LL GET INTO A QUICK DISCUSSION HERE SHORT.
GRAND STREET COMPLEX TO 58TH, AGAIN, MOST OF THAT'S OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.
BELL FROM ATTERBURY TO SUNDOWN, TRADEWINDS, THERE'RE CITY PROBLEMS THERE.
SUNDOWN FROM WESTERN TO I-27, THAT WAS THE LAST PRIORITY LISTED IN THE ORIGINAL BOND.QUESTIONS ON THE PROJECTS BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO GO TO SOME MORE INFORMATION?
>> WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GROWTH PROJECTS THAT WE JUST WENT OVER , JUST SHOOT ME STRAIGHT HERE.
ON THE TO BE DETERMINED, SOME OF THOSE WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO. CORRECT?
>> RIGHT. WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL GET TWO OF THOSE GROWTH PROJECTS OUT OF THE REMAINING 30 MILLION.
WE HAVE THOSE PRIORITIZED IN OUR ORDER.
YOU CAN DIRECT US TO RE PRIORITIZE THAT IF YOU CHOOSE, BUT THAT'S HOW WE HAVE THEM PRIORITIZED AT THIS POINT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I WAS WONDERING, DO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF HOW MUCH MONEY WE'VE LOST SINCE 2017 TO TODAY? BECAUSE WITH THE PRICES GOING UP, INTEREST RATES, I DON'T.
[00:25:01]
>> I DON'T HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT INFLATION HAS IMPACTED BASED OFF OUR ESTIMATES, BUT I CAN GET THAT.
WE CAN GET A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF THAT TO YOU.
>> BECAUSE IN REALITY, IT'S COST THE CITIZENS A LOT OF MONEY.
ONE OTHER QUESTION. WE HAD ON HERE POLK STREET STREETSCAPE.
>> AREN'T THE STREETS PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE STREETSCAPE AT THIS POINT?
>> WELL, THAT ONE'S ALREADY AWARDED AND IN CONSTRUCTION.
>> THAT ONE IS ALREADY AWARDED?
HAD IT BEEN ON THE LIST, IT WOULD BE ABLE TO BE PRIORITIZED AT THIS POINT, BUT IT'S AWARDED AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
IF YOU LOOK AT TOTAL, COMPLETE PROJECTS COMPLETED, CURRENTLY CONTRACTED VALUES.
THE MAJORITY OF THAT FUNDING IS IN THE POLK STREET PROJECTS.
THE 30.6 MILLION THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT IS LISTED DOWN THERE.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE REMAINING DOLLARS.
GEORGIA AND COULTER DESIGN IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
BOTH OF THOSE SHOULD COME TO YOU SOON FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE REST OF THAT, YOU CAN GIVE US DIRECTION, BUT WE'RE RECOMMENDING CULTURE CONSTRUCTION AND THEN THE REMAINING GO TO 34TH.
THEN THE OTHERS WE'LL DEAL WITH IN UPCOMING BUDGETS.
AT THAT POINT, I WANT TO GO INTO SOME DISCUSSION.
I'LL BACK UP TO THAT SLIDE FOR THIS DISCUSSION.
OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE 30.6 MILLION REMAINING.
THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS PROJECT.
I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT MOVING THESE PROJECTS FORWARD, THERE ARE SOME CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS IN STAFF IN GETTING THOSE MOVED FORWARD.
WE'RE ADDRESSING THOSE TO THE BEST WE CAN.
THAT SHOULD HOPEFULLY GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE THAT 34TH IS THERE.
OUR NEXT PROJECT IS BID OUT FOR EIGHT MILLION.
THOSE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO MOVE THAT NEEDLE AND MAINTAIN OUR COMPLIANCE WITH THE IRS RULES RELATED TO THE BONDS.
AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY THING THAT WE CAN'T ADDRESS MOVING FORWARD.
BUT I DO WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED INTERNALLY THAT STAFF CAN DO A BETTER JOB ON MULTIPLE AVENUES AND WE'LL ACCEPT THAT WE SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS QUICKER AND MORE TIMELY RELATED TO THIS ISSUANCE.
WITH THAT SAID, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S UP TO STAFF TO BRING YOU SOLUTIONS TO THAT CHALLENGE AND BRING THESE THINGS FORWARD AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE BOND COUNCIL TO DO THAT AND BRING THAT FORWARD.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU ON THE LATER AGENDA ITEM TO DELAY THE ISSUANCE OF THE STREET FUNDS RELATED TO THIS TOPIC, SUCH THAT WE CAN GET EVERYTHING SQUARED AWAY RELATED TO THE 2021 ISSUANCE, SUCH THAT WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE TO ISSUE THIS ONE.
THOSE CHALLENGES ARE OUT THERE.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THEM AND WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT?
>> WELL, THE RIDGEMERE HAS NOT BEEN DONE.
WE DID A MAINTENANCE PROJECT ON IT.
WE DIDN'T REBUILD IT, BUT WE DID A RESURFACING WITH, IS IT DOUBLE COURT?
>> BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS TWO MILLION AT ONE TIME, WASN'T IT?
>> YES. SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE WAS THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE, BUT I CAN GET YOU THE SPECIFICS.
>> WITH WHAT I JUST STATED, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, THAT I'M RECOMMENDING THAT WE GO AHEAD AND GET A THIRD PARTY AUDITOR TO LOOK AT THOSE PROCESSES, WHAT OCCURRED AND THAT STAFF CHALLENGES THAT I SPOKE OF, AND THAT WE MOVE FORWARD TO GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE, [NOISE] AND OUR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE IDENTIFIED AND WHERE WE'RE GOING.
AS YOUR INTERIM CITY MANAGER, I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE GO AHEAD AND GET A THIRD PARTY AUDITOR TO LOOK AT THIS, GIVE US SPECIFICS.
IF YOU WANT TO GET IN THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT OCCURRED, I'M GOING TO DEFER THAT UNTIL I GET THE FACTS.
UNTIL YOU ALL HAVE THE FACTS IN FRONT OF YOU, THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION.
WE CAN DISCUSS IT ALL DAY LONG BASED OFF SPECULATION,
[00:30:01]
BUT I AM GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A THIRD PARTY.>> YOU FEEL, AND WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY, AND I AGREE WITH YOU, A THIRD PARTY INDEPENDENT AUDIT WOULD GO BACK THROUGH JUST BECAUSE WHAT CITIZENS HAVE BEEN SAYING IS, WELL, IF YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY AND IT'S SITTING THERE, HOW COME YOU'RE NOT DOING THE JOBS? I THINK THE ASSUMPTION IS, WELL, DO WE HAVE THE MONEY? I KNOW I WAS AT 38 MILLION AT ONE POINT IN AN UPDATE AND A CONVERSATION OF WHAT I THOUGHT WE HAD BASED ON SOME INTEREST THAT WAS REVENUED, AND REMAINING FUNDS FROM DEDUCTING EXISTING CONSTRUCTION THAT WAS COMPLETED, SO NOW WE'RE AT 30.6.
THAT MAY BE SOME OF THE CONTRACT ISSUE THAT'S UP TOP THAT I WOULDN'T BE CALCULATING.
IN THE WAY IN WHICH WE BRING A THIRD PARTY AUDITOR IN TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THIS, OUR PUBLIC NEEDS TO HEAR US SAY, THIS IS EIGHT YEARS OLD, AND WE'VE BEEN ISSUED THIS DEBT, THIS 57 MILLION FOR THREE YEARS, SO IT'S JUST GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE TO GO BACK AND VERIFY ALL THE MONIES AND LET A THIRD PARTY TELL US EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE.
>> OUR TEAM WANTS TO GIVE YOU CONFIDENCE AND THE PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
>> DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE ON YOUR THIRD PARTY?
>> I DON'T HAVE THE NAME IN FRONT OF ME, BUT YES, I DO HAVE SOMEBODY I THINK THAT HAS EXPERIENCE IN DOING THIS EXACT THING.
I'M SORRY I DON'T HAVE THAT AND BY THE WAY, I'M NEGOTIATING.
I PROBABLY CAN'T SAY THE NAME.
>> MAYBE THE NAME IS NOT IMPORTANT BUT YOU'VE GOT A DIRECTIVE AND YOU AND STAFF WILL CARRY THIS OUT, SO WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THIS TO BE LET WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MAYBE ABOUT 4-8 WEEKS WORTH OF RESEARCH AND WE WOULD KNOW?
>> I DON'T HAVE THE TIME PERIOD, BUT I'LL UPDATE YOU WHEN I DO.
THEN, I WILL PLAN A SCHEDULE ONCE WE GET THAT, I WOULD PLAN ANOTHER UPDATE TO BRING YOU FORWARD THOSE FINDINGS.
>> HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE NEED FOR THE ADDITIONAL STREETS YOU'RE LOOKING AT? I KNOW I HAD VISITED WITH MRS. STORES.
POTENTIALLY, WE WOULD BE IN A BETTER BORROWING POSITION IN MAY, TO LET THOSE PROJECTS, AND I WOULD SAY, KYLE ON SOME OF THIS, I KNOW IT COMES BACK TO YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND YOU'VE BEEN ASKED A LOT OF HARD QUESTIONS AS TO WHY YOU DID AND WHY YOU DIDN'T.
I DO KNOW THAT THIS COUNCIL PUT FORWARD A FUNDING MECHANISM OF $13 MILLION AND I WATCHED YOU TAKE THIS THROUGH DESIGN AND PUT IT UP FOR CONSTRUCTION, AND YOU WOULD BE READY TO PUT THOSE SHOVELS IN THE GROUND AS SOON AS SUMMERTIME.
NOW, WE MAY SLOW YOU DOWN A LITTLE BIT, BUT ON YOUR END, WE'VE SEEN YOU PERFORM AND DO YOUR JOB VERY WELL IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, WHICH IS WE'RE PRIORITIZING THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
NOW, HOW THAT GOT FLIPPED IN FRONT OF THESE OTHER PROP ONE MONIES REMAINS TO BE SEEN, AND I THINK THE VERIFICATION OF THOSE FUNDS WILL HELP [NOISE] US.
>> BUT HERE, WHAT I DO KNOW, MAYOR, ON THAT TOPIC, KYLE AND HIS TEAM DID EXCELLENT WORK ON THAT.
THOSE BIDS WILL OPEN NEXT WEEK, [NOISE] AND IT WAS PLANNED TO ISSUE THIS DEBT AND THEN BRING THAT FORWARD TO YOU, BUT THAT IS A MUCH NEEDED SUMMERTIME MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, AND BOND COUNCIL IS BACK HERE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT WE GO AHEAD AND AWARD THAT WITH 2021, AND THEN ISSUE THAT SUBSEQUENT DEBT TO COMPLETE PROBABLY WHAT'S NUMBER 2 ON THIS LIST IS COULTER AND BOND COUNCIL HAS EXPLAINED THAT THAT'S AN APPROPRIATE THING TO LOOK AT AND DO.
THAT WILL BE THE DISCUSSION HERE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WHEN WE OPEN THE BIDS, AND WE'LL BE BRINGING THAT RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU IN RELATION TO WHEN WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN ISSUE THAT DEBT AND MOVE FORWARD.
>> I THINK THAT THAT'S A VALID POINT FOR STAFF, HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE CONTINGENT UPON THE VERIFICATION THROUGH THE THIRD PARTY AUDIT BEFORE WE WOULD BE WILLING TO MOVE.
>> I THINK THOSE TIME-FRAMES WILL MATCH.
>> OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE A FURTHER COMPLICATION FOR SOMEBODY WHO'S TRYING TO LOOK IF WE'RE REALLOCATING MONEY.
ONCE WE HAVE THAT, THEN I THINK BOND COUNCIL WOULD NEED TO GIVE US SPECIFIC LEGAL OPINION THAT WE WOULD BE FINE TO DO THIS, BECAUSE WE'VE REPRESENTED TO OUR CITIZENS WE WOULD HANDLE IT THIS WAY FOR THESE PROJECTS, AND WE WOULD BE THEN ALLOCATING MONIES TO OTHER FUNDED PROJECTS.
WHICH I WOULDN'T SAY COUNCIL IS COMFORTABLE WITH, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE'RE AT, BUT NOT SAYING THAT THE CONVERSATION WOULDN'T BE HAD.
>> I THINK WE'RE FINE ON THAT TIMING.
IT'S ALL PREDICATED ON GETTING THAT THIRD PARTY AUDIT AND LOOKING AT THAT, AND BEING IN A POSITION OF CONFIDENCE AT THAT POINT.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A VISION [NOISE] OF HOW THAT MIGHT LOOK.
>> I KNOW YOU'RE HANDLING AND FIELDING QUESTIONS AND I APPRECIATE THAT AND IT'S GOOD DISCUSSION.
HOWEVER, COUNCILMAN TIPS REQUESTED THIS ITEM AND I DON'T THINK YOU'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK YET.
I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF WE CAN CATCH YOU FIRST, AND THEN WE'LL GO THROUGH COUNCIL.
[00:35:02]
>> I THINK HE'S ADDRESSED ALMOST EVERYTHING, THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD.
I THINK THAT WITH FUTURE, MY ONLY QUESTION WAS THE SAME THING OF THE WHY, WHAT WAS THE DELAY, THAT TYPE DEAL BUT I GUESS WHICH IS SAYING IS.
>> I FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT INTERNALLY WE HAD SOME CHALLENGES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HANDLED BETTER, AND I THINK THE AUDIT IS GOING TO HELP US PINPOINT THOSE.
I ASSURE YOU, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THOSE CHALLENGES BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN THIS CURRENT PROCESS.
>> WE KNEW WHEN THESE BONDS WERE GOING TO BE ISSUED, WE STAGGERED THEM FOR A REASON.
>> BACK IN 2021, ACTUALLY, WE HAD PLANNED TO DELAY ISSUANCE OF SOME OF THESE BONDS, PROBABLY ABOUT THE 30 MILLION.
THE COUNCIL AT THAT TIME DISCUSSED THE LOW INTEREST RATES AND WENT AHEAD AND ISSUED THE ENTIRE AMOUNT.
OBVIOUSLY, STAFF BELIEVED AT THAT TIME THAT WE WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM MEETING THAT DEADLINE, BUT THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO HAVE ANOTHER ISSUANCE AND ACTUALLY DELAY THAT, SO WE WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY FINE HAD WE STUCK WITH THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
>> WE KNEW THAT 57 MILLION WAS COMING.
>> WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING.
>> THERE WEREN'T ANY PROJECTS, WE KNEW THAT MONEY WAS COMING, WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT AND START PLANNING OR ANYTHING, IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?
>> IN 2021, [NOISE] WE WEREN'T ANTICIPATING GOING INTO THAT BOND ISSUANCE.
WE WEREN'T ANTICIPATING ALL OF IT.
WE WERE ANTICIPATING PROBABLY THE 20 MILLION PLUS THAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET THAT DEADLINE.
WHEN THAT CHANGED, AGAIN, INTERNALLY IN STAFF, WE DIDN'T MEET ALL THE NEEDS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
[NOISE] BUT AGAIN, I THINK WE'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT.
I THINK ANDREW HELPED A LOT IN THAT PROCESS OF ADDRESSING THAT.
LAURA, I KNOW HAS HAD A POSITIVE IMPACT ON HELPING US ADDRESS THAT.
WE FEEL INTERNALLY WHERE THE CHALLENGES ARE, WE THINK WE'VE GOT THAT.
WE ALSO WELCOME THE LOOK FROM A THIRD PARTY IN CASE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY SEE THAT WE MISSED.
MAKE SURE TO GIVE YOU ALL CONFIDENCE AND GIVE OUR CITIZENS CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY.
>> WE'RE CONFIDENT WITH HOW MUCH MONEY WE HAVE LEFT, THE 30.6 PLUS THE 4 MILLION.
>> I'M TELLING YOU I'M VERY CONFIDENT IN THAT FROM ALL THE RESEARCH, AND IF THAT NUMBER IS NOT RIGHT, THEN IT'S ON ME.
>> THEN WE'VE GOT PROJECTS THAT WE CAN FUND AND BE GOOD. THANK YOU.
>> PROBABLY IF YOU GOT ANYTHING, COUNCILMAN.
>> I'D JUST LIKE CLARIFICATION ON THE 2.7 THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SET FOR RIDGEMERE AND WITH US JUST DOING OVERLAY, IT SHOULD BE I CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE.
>> WELL, WHEN WE TREATED A STREET LIKE THAT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TO THE OTHERS.
IT'S GOING TO MOVE RIDGEMERE BACK DOWN FOR RECONSTRUCTION INTO THOSE OTHERS THAT AREN'T FUNDED.
WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF RIDGEMERE.
WE WILL CONTINUE ACCELERATING THE MAINTENANCE ON THAT AND THEN IDENTIFYING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR A COMPLETE REBUILD.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES ON RIDGEMERE THAT DELAYED IT, WAS THAT THERE'S AN ANTIQUATED WATER MAIN UNDERNEATH IT.
IT WAS GOING TO BE A COMBINATION RECONSTRUCTION OF A ROAD AND A WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT, AND IN THE TIME FRAME, WE COULDN'T COORDINATE BOTH OF THOSE, SO WE SEAL COATED THAT, AND WE PUT IT OFF.
NOW IT'S IN THE GROUP THAT'S NOT FUNDED FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT IN THE FUTURE.
>> YOU MENTIONED IRS RULES WITH BONDS.
>> TELL ME WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. I GUESS WE'RE SCARED A LITTLE BIT.
>> I'M GOING TO ASK BOND COUNCIL TO ANSWER THOSE.
I DON'T WANT TO GET THAT WRONG.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
I'M BOB DRANSFIELD WITH NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT, YOUR BOND LAWYERS.
THE IRS, WHEN YOU HAVE TAX EXEMPT BONDS, THEY WANT YOU TO SPEND 85% OF YOUR SPENDABLE PROCEEDS FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE BASED ON YOUR REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS AT THE TIME YOU ISSUE THE DEBT WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THAT TIME FRAME.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT DRIVES THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION.
THERE'S SOME SUBCATEGORIES THAT COME UNDER THAT AS TO HOW QUICKLY YOU SPEND UP TO THAT 85%, BUT THAT'S THE TARGET YOU TRY TO HAVE WHEN YOU HAVE A NEW ISSUE OF BONDS THAT ARE TAX EXEMPT, GETTING THOSE DOLLARS EXPENDED WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME FROM THE DATE OF ISSUANCE.
IT'S JUST A TAX REQUIREMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOR TAX EXEMPTION.
>> THE REQUIREMENT IS HOW MUCH WITHIN THE THREE YEAR PERIOD?
>> EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE SPENDABLE PROCEEDS, THE COST OF ISSUANCE COME OFF OF THAT BUT JUST KIND OF WHAT YOUR CONSTRUCTION DOLLAR AMOUNTS, BASICALLY, 85% OF THAT TO BE SPENT WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE DATE OF ISSUANCE.
THIS WAS LIKE A FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE.
[00:40:03]
YOU'RE AT THE THREE YEAR PERIOD, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE NOT GOTTEN 85% SPENT YET.WE DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES IN ADDRESSING THAT PROCESS OF HOW YOU GET THE REST OF THE MONEY SPENT AND DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ULTIMATELY END UP DOING PROBABLY IS RESTRICTING THE INVESTMENT YIELD, IF YOU WILL, ON THOSE DOLLARS TO TRY TO COME IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS THAT THE IRS HAS PUT ON TAX EXEMPT FINANCING.
>> WHAT IS THE PENALTY IF YOU DO NOT SPEND THAT MONEY? ARE YOU THEN TAXED ON THE MONEY THAT YOU ISSUED THE DEBT ON OR WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR THAT?
>> THESE ARE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES DISCUSSIONS IN THAT SENSE BUT THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS THE IRS COULD SAY, WELL, YOU DIDN'T SPEND THE MONEY TIMELY AND WE'RE NOW GOING TO DECLARE THOSE BONDS TAXABLE.
THAT'S NOT A GOOD RESULT TO HAVE.
YOU DON'T WANT TO PREJUDGE THOSE THINGS AND GET TO THE CONCLUSION FIRST, YOU LOOK TO SEE WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPENDING PATTERN.
DID YOU HAVE SOME REASON FOR IT TO BE DELAYED OR NOT, BUT YOUR REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS AT THE TIME THAT YOU ISSUED THAT DEBT IN 2021 WAS CERTIFIED AS BEING REASONABLE TO GET THAT SPENT WITHIN THREE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.
WHEN YOU LOOK BEHIND THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AS YOU GO ON, BUT THE WORST CASE SCENARIO PROBABLY IS THE IRS SAYS THOSE BONDS ARE TAXABLE.
QUITE CANDIDLY, THEY CAN SAY THEY'RE TAXABLE BACK TO THE DATE OF ISSUANCE.
YOU FIGURE OUT HOW YOU DEAL WITH THAT PROCESS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.
BUT IF YOU GET TO THAT STAGE AND I'M NOT SUGGESTING YOU'RE AT THAT STAGE YET, BUT YOU'LL FIGURE OUT WHATEVER THE RIGHT PROCESS IS TO ADDRESS THAT WITH THE IRS.
>> BACK TO FLOYD, I GUESS THE AUDIT IS GOING TO HELP US DETERMINE WHAT? BECAUSE I GUESS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRACKING THIS MONEY, A, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STREETS GET REPAIRED, BUT ALSO THERE WERE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR US TO THE TAXPAYERS IF WE DO NOT SPEND THAT MONEY BECAUSE IT COULD RESULT IN FINES, PENALTIES, WHATEVER THAT MAY BE, AND STILL COULD AT THIS POINT.
>> THAT HELPS WITH THE THIRD PARTY AUDITOR TO CONFIRM ALL OF THOSE ISSUES RELATED TO THAT.
>> OKAY. I GUESS THAT THE AUDITOR WILL HELP SHOW WHERE THE GAPS WERE.
WHY THIS DID NOT RAISE A RED FLAG, I GUESS?
>> WHEN DID WE BECOME AWARE THAT WE WERE THIS FAR BEHIND ON THE SPENDING?
>> WELL, I GUESS OVER THE RECENT MONTHS IT BECAME MORE AND MORE AWARE TO US OF WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE.
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF THE INTERACTION WITH COUNCIL THAT WE RAISED OUR AWARENESS AND BECAME FULLY AWARE OF WHAT THIS WAS.
>> THEN I'M SORRY, ONE MORE QUESTION FOR BOND, COUNCIL.
YOU SAID YOU WERE DOING SOMETHING THAT MITIGATES THIS RIGHT NOW THAT WAS NOT EARNING AS MUCH?
>> WELL, YOU'VE GOT UNEXPENDED BOND PROCEEDS THAT YOU'RE INVESTING, AND RIGHT NOW YOU'RE INVESTING THEM AT A POSITIVE RATE COMPARED TO WHEN THEY WERE ISSUED.
ONE OF THE REMEDIES THAT THE IRS HAS IS THAT YOU RESTRICT THE YIELD ON THOSE INVESTMENTS TO A YIELD NOT MATERIALLY HIGHER THAN THE YIELD ON THE DEBT THAT YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING.
IN THIS CASE, YOU HAVE PRETTY LOW INTEREST RATES ON THAT DEBT.
2021 WAS A GOOD TIME TO BE BORROWING, IF YOU WILL.
YOU MAY HAVE TO INVEST IN AN OBLIGATION AND IT VERY WELL MAY END UP BEING SOMETHING LIKE A STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERIES TREASURY OBLIGATION THAT HAS A LOWER YIELD OR A YIELD EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE YIELD ON THE DEBT.
THAT'S ONE OF THE AVENUES THAT YOU TRY TO DEAL WITH TO HELP MITIGATE THAT DISCUSSION.
>> THE POSITIVE COULD BE THAT WE COULD EARN A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY, BUT THE NEGATIVE IS, WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE USING THAT MONEY TO EARN MONEY, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO USE IT TO GET THE JOB DONE.
>> RIGHT. THE '86 TAX ACT CHANGED THE WORLD FOR EVERYBODY.
THEY SAID IN THE OLDER DAYS YOU COULD BORROW AT 4%, INVEST AT 7% AND KEEP THAT DIFFERENTIAL.
NOW YOU BORROW AT 4%, INVEST AT 7% AND THE IRS SAYS THANK YOU VERY MUCH BECAUSE YOU REBATE THAT MONEY BACK TO THEM.
YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE ARBITRAGE TO KEEP, BUT DURING THIS "TEMPORARY PERIOD", YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO EARN POSITIVE ARBITRAGE.
THEN IF YOU HAVE A REBATE REQUIRED, THEN YOU MAKE THE REBATE PAYMENT.
>> SIR, IF YOU WOULD, DON'T GO TOO FAR.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER CONSEQUENCES RELATED TO NOT SPENDING THE MONEY WITHIN THE TIME THAT'S ALREADY ELAPSED?
OTHER THAN HAVING THE DEBT DECLARED TAXABLE, THAT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCE, YOU PROBABLY DEAL WITH THAT.
THEN YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THAT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP, WHAT KIND OF DISCUSSIONS YOU HAVE WITH THE IRS IF YOU HAVE THAT, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
NOW, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE IRS IS NOT INVOLVED IN THIS DISCUSSION.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE, IT WOULD BE AT ALL.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW NOW WHAT THE FACTS ARE.
[00:45:02]
YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT UNEXPENDED BOND PROCEEDS, AND SO YOU'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING AS BEST YOU CAN TO PRESERVE THE TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF THAT 2021 ISSUE.>> SIR, I APPRECIATE THAT. IS THERE A GRACE PERIOD? IS THERE SOMETHING THERE THAT WE CAN WE CAN LOOK TO? THERE'S NOT.
>> IT WOULD JUST BE THE MITIGATING CALCULATION OF PROJECTS THAT WERE COMPLETED, RIGHT?
>> MAYOR REMEMBER, THIS IS ALL PREDICATED UPON REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS OF THE ISSUER OF THE CITY AT THAT POINT IN TIME WHEN YOU ISSUE THE DEBT IN 2021.
ALL THE OBJECTS CAME SAYING THERE WAS REASONABLE EXPECTATION, THERE'S A CERTIFICATION TO THAT EFFECT.
OBVIOUSLY SOMEBODY THOUGHT THEY COULD GET ALL THAT MONEY SPENT WITHIN A THREE YEAR PERIOD OF TIME.
CIRCUMSTANCES COME INTO PLAY IN THIS DISCUSSION ALL THE TIME.
DON'T HAVE TO LOOK TOO FAR BACK TO SEE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ULTIMATELY, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT WERE THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THAT DISCUSSION AND WHY THE DELAY TOOK PLACE.
THEN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT BEST REMEDIES YOU APPROACH.
ONE OF THE ONES WE CAN CERTAINLY TELL YOU THAT YOU OUGHT TO PURSUE QUICKLY IS RESTRICTING THE YIELD ON THOSE UNEXPENDED BOND PROCEEDS.
>> OKAY. THAT MAKES SENSE AS FAR AS MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK THE LOOK BACK IS PROBABLY WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE QUESTIONS WILL BE.
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE TO ME, A FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES DISCUSSION.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, SIR. I THINK I DO HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS, MAYBE FOR KYLE, ACTUALLY IF I CAN. THANK YOU, SIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE OPTIMISTIC HERE, AT THE VERY LEAST, IN THE WAY IN WHICH YOU HAVE $30.6 MILLION PLUS YOU HAVE FOUR MILLION IN INTEREST.
WE'LL FACTOR IN THE REDUCTION BASED ON WHAT THE CONSEQUENCE COULD OR COULDN'T BE.
BUT I'D LIKE TO START WITH WHAT DO WE ACTUALLY HOLD.
I DON'T KNOW THE AMOUNT, BUT I DO KNOW THE AEDC HAD VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE CARE OF 1,000 FEET AT GEORGIA.
WHATEVER THE COST OF THAT WOULD BE, CAN I SAY A MILLION DOLLARS, $1.5 MILLION WILL BE BECAUSE IN YOUR NUMBER, I THINK YOU'RE COVERING THE PROJECT ON GEORGIA, RIGHT?
>> THIS DISCUSSION IS GOING TOWARDS VALUE ENGINEERING.
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR HERE IS A DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TO STAFF THAT CAN WE ASSIST IN MAXIMIZING THESE MONIES IN HOW THEY'RE SPENT SO THAT WE DON'T END UP, WELL, WE HAD $30 MILLION.
WE DID ONE MORE ROAD, BUT WE COULD HAVE REDUCED THIS AND MULTIPLIED THAT.
CAN YOU TAKE ME THROUGH THAT BECAUSE I ALSO WANT TO TOUCH ON PERHAPS OSAGE.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CITIZENS HAVE REACHED OUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIX THAT, AND A LOT OF WHAT I HAVE IS INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND ALL SORTS OF SEWER AND WATER THAT'S GONE IN THERE.
PERHAPS OSAGE COULD BE HANDLED OPTIMISTICALLY ON SOME OF THAT.
I'M TRYING TO PAINT A LITTLE BIT BETTER PICTURE HERE AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MUCH DIRECTION CAN YOU TAKE ON THE VE SIDE?
>> THERE ALWAYS ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED AND CAN BE CHANGED.
EVEN MR. SHERLAN'S QUESTION ON RIDGE MIRROR IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF SUCH.
THAT WAS RESCOPED BASED ON THE THINGS THAT WE FOUND WHEN WE WENT AND DID THE DETAILED LOOK AT THE STREET AND THEN MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS THAT TRYING TO MEET OUR ORIGINAL INTENT OF ABOUT A THIRD, THIRD AND A THIRD MAINTENANCE REHAB AND GROWTH, WE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE DOLLARS THAT ARE SPENT TO SPEND IT ON THINGS THAT WE HAD GOOD CONTROL OVER.
MEANING, GENERALLY, WE OWNED ALL THE RIGHT AWAY FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND REHAB TYPE WORK VERSUS IN THE GROWTH CATEGORY, THERE ARE MORE UNKNOWNS.
WHILE THERE ARE MORE UNKNOWNS ON ONE SIDE THAT ALSO GENERATES UNKNOWNS ON THE OTHER FOR SOME VALUE SCOPING.
FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE ON THIS LIST ON THIS TO BE DETERMINED PROJECTS THAT WE HAVEN'T GOT TO, PROJECTS THAT CANNOT AT THIS TIME BE COMPLETED THE WAY THEY WERE VISIONED AND THE WAY THEY WERE ACTUALLY PRESENTED IN 2016.
BECAUSE PRIVATE INDUSTRY AND THE DEVELOPMENT SIDE THAT IS RELATED TO THE GROWTH PROJECTS HAS GENERATED UNKNOWNS AND CRITERIA THAT HAVEN'T ALSO COME TO FRUITION.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE DON'T HAVE THE FULL RIGHT OF WAY, WE CAN'T BUILD WHAT WAS FULLY SCOPED FROM 2016.
THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE GROWTH PROJECTS WERE SLID INTO THE LATTER PORTIONS OF THE CATEGORICAL FUNDING.
BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE UNKNOWNS OUT HERE IN THIS CATEGORY OF PROJECT
[00:50:02]
AS WELL THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY, EVEN AS AN UNKNOWN MIGHT TO VALUE AND CHANGE THAT SCOPE AND CHANGE THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF THE PROJECT.>> LET ME RUN THE NUMBERS UP, 34, 36, 37 MILLION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY VALUE ENGINEER.
I KNOW THE POLK STREET, I WANT TO SAY ANOTHER 4.5 MILLION OF THE 7.7.
DOES THE OTHER TWO MILLION THAT'S IN THE SEVEN OR THREE? IS THAT ALL DESIGN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN CONTRACTED WITH ENGINEERING FIRMS?
>> IN THE 7.3 WE'RE FINISHING UP OUR COMMITMENTS ON ARDEN AS WELL AS I LISTED WESTERN, IT'S ACTUALLY WESTERN AND WALLACE HAGE PORT.
NEITHER OF THOSE CONTRACTS ARE FULLY COMPLETED.
WE'RE DOWN TO PUNCH LIST FINALIZING THE PROJECT TYPE THINGS.
BUT THERE IN THAT 7.3 INCLUDES THAT THE RAILROAD CROSSING PROJECT AS A WHOLE WAS NEVER ITS OWN PROJECT.
LIKE A SINGLE, WE'RE GOING TO GO DO ALL THE RAILROAD CROSSINGS.
WE DID THAT PROJECT AS PARTS OF OTHER PROJECTS AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A WATER LINE BEING RECONSTRUCTED TO SERVICE THE BARRIO NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE'RE CROSSING THE RAILROAD ACTUALLY JUST TWO BLOCKS HERE TO THE EAST.
WE'RE DOING RAILROAD CROSSINGS AS PART OF THAT WATER LINE PROJECT.
THEN THE 34TH DESIGN FOR THAT SCOPE OF SCOPING OUT AND FINISHING UP THE DESIGN OF THE 34TH PROJECT IS WHAT'S ALL INCLUDED IN THE 7.3.
>> AS A CONTRACTOR, WHAT I'D LOVE TO GEAR TOWARDS IS YOU'VE GOT A DESIGN OF A FIVE LANE ARTERIAL SIDEWALKS, LIGHTS, CONCRETE MEDIANS.
INSTEAD OF DOING ONE ROAD, DOES THAT BECOME A THREE LANE WITH FUTURE DIRT WORK FOR THE ADDITIONAL TWO? DO WE LOSE THE MEDIANS? CAN WE NOT DO THE LIGHTING UP FRONT? MAYBE RUN THE DUCT AND THE CONDUIT FOR FUTURE EVEN TO THE POINT OF I DON'T KNOW, IF WE CAN DO SIDEWALKS ON ONE SIDE OR HOW WE DO THAT.
CAN WE DO THAT AND MULTIPLY OUR RESOURCES HERE TO GET TO 34TH SO THAT WE DON'T END UP HALFWAY THROUGH COULTER AND DOWN GEORGIA?
>> YES, THAT'S ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO US.
I THINK THE GEORGIA STREET IS A GOOD EXAMPLE BECAUSE RIGHT OUT IN THAT AREA YOU CAN THINK OF FARMERS THAT COMES UP AND CONNECTS THERE.
FARMERS IS ACTUALLY BUILT AS A HALF ARTERIAL, SO THERE'S CURBING, GUTTER, AND SIDEWALK ON ONE SIDE.
THEN HALF OF THE ROADWAY APPROXIMATELY TO THE CROWN OF THE STREET IS THE ONLY PIECE THAT'S PAVED, THE OTHER HALF WAS NOT CONSTRUCTED AT THAT TIME.
THAT AN EXAMPLE IS THERE AND EXISTS ON ALL THESE PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.
GEORGIA IS A UNIQUE DUCK BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE STRUGGLING WITH WITH GEORGIA IS THE FLOODPLAIN CONSIDERATION AND INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
REACTING TO THE MOST ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT SCENARIO IN OUR GROWTH PROJECTS THAT GEORGIA GOT MOVED TO THE TOP OF THE LIST.
BECAUSE THERE IS ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT, THERE IS PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD OUT THERE ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, AND WE'RE BEING RESPONSIVE TO THAT.
THE INDUSTRIAL PIECE OF THAT IS A BIG PIECE.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BIG TRUCKS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TRUCKS MAKING TURNING MOVEMENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT INDUSTRIAL TYPE CONDITION THERE IN.
ARE WE BEING GOOD AND RESPONSIVE BY COMPROMISING THAT SIZE RELATIVE TO THOSE PROJECTS? LIKEWISE WITH THE FLOODPLAIN CONSIDERATIONS ON GEORGIA, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING MORE EARTHWORK AND DRAINAGE WORK.
THEN MAYBE ON ONE OF THE OTHER PROJECTS ON A LIST OR ON THE LIST, THAT BECOMES SIGNIFICANT DRAINAGE PIECES THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO DRAINAGE ON PRIVY TO PROP 1, THEY GET PAID BY THE DRAINAGE UTILITY DEPARTMENT.
THOSE ARE SEPARATE MONIES, BUT THAT EFFORT IN CONSTRUCTION IS NO LESS PART OF THE PROJECT.
WHAT HAPPENS ON GEORGIA IS VALUING THAT DOWN BECOMES A NON VALUE, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE EARTH, A HAPPENS BEFORE B HAPPENS BEFORE C, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE EARTHWORK ANYWAY.
THEN LIKEWISE ON THAT PARTICULAR ROADWAY, SINCE WE'RE MAKING SUCH A CHANGE IN THE ELEVATION OF THAT ROADWAY WAY, I'VE COME UP WITH A LOT OF SCENARIOS WHERE I CAN'T BUILD A VERTICAL DIRT WALL AND EXPECT IT TO SIT THERE FOR MULTIPLE MONTHS WHILE I BUILD THE OTHER HALF OF THE ROAD.
BECAUSE IT'S LITERALLY A GRADE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHERE TRAFFIC IS GOING AND WHERE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO BE.
[00:55:04]
THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNICAL ITEMS IN GEORGIA, AND I APOLOGIZE THAT GETS PRETTY DEEP, PRETTY QUICK.BUT THE VALUE ENGINEERING ON GEORGIA BECOMES VERY, VERY COMPLICATED RELATED TO THOSE ISSUES.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY ITEMS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT AND ACTUALLY HAVE.
WE'VE REDUCED THE LOOP, OUR SCOPE OF WORK CURRENTLY AND OUR SET OF PLANS DOES NOT HAVE THE FULL TEXT BUILD OUT WITH THAT TEXT ON REQUESTED AT THE LOOP.
THOSE CAN BE ADDED AT A LATER DATE.
BUT WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE TO THE INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS THERE WITH WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, WE'VE SCALED DOWN SIDEWALKS AND LIGHTING RELATIVE TO WHAT WE CAN AND MEET THE MINIMUM CRITERIA OF ADA, AND MEET SOME MINIMUM SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT THOSE THINGS CAN BE PUT FORWARD AT A LATER DATE AND ALL OF THOSE SAVINGS WOULD JUST LIKE YOU DESCRIBED, MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT PROJECT.
>> KYLE THANK YOU. THAT'S HELPFUL.
>> IF WE GO INTO VALUE REDESIGN, DOES THAT THROW THE DATES FURTHER BACK?
>>WELL, I SAY THAT ONLY FOR GEORGIA BECAUSE IT'S THE ONE FAR ENOUGH IN FRONT THAT IF WE WENT TO A REDESIGN, IT COULD HAVE SOME DRAMATIC NEGATIVE EFFECTS.
WHICH WOULD BE THE TIME PERIOD OF THAT ENGINEER TO REDO HIS DESIGN.
THE OTHERS, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE, WE ARE POISED IN A GOOD POSITION TO SCOPE AS WE SEE FIT TO MEET WELL, WE'D HAVE TO, NUMBER 1, MEET THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT CRITERIA.
IF I DON'T OWN THE RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE THOSE THINGS THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVEN'T CHOSEN TO ANNEX, OR HAVEN'T CHOSE TO BRING THEIR PROJECTS FORWARD ON ON THE PRIVATE SIDE, THEN I'M BOUND BY THOSE THINGS AND I CAN'T BUILD THAT FULL SCOPE.
I'VE GOT TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT LIKE I DID ON RIDGE MERE.
>> WE DO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE TIME CONSTRAINTS ESPECIALLY WITH THIS MONEY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SIR.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU, KYLE, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> TWO QUICK QUESTIONS. I KNOW WE'RE BRINGING IN A SPECIAL AUDITOR FOR THIS, BUT WOULD THIS BE A TOPIC THAT OUR GENERAL AUDITOR WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT OR ADDRESSED?
>> OUR ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT HAD THE INTERNAL AUDIT AND LOOK AT IT TOO.
WE HAVE A THIRD PARTY AUDITOR THAT COMES IN AND AUDITS ONCE A YEAR CORRECT.
>> IS THIS A TOPIC THAT THEY LOOK INTO OR ADDRESS OR?
>> YES. THEY DO REVIEW ALL OF THE CITY'S FINANCIALS AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE MATERIALLY CORRECT TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY.
YES, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SAMPLE TEST WORK DONE IN THIS AREA.
IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TO THE SCOPE THAT FLOYD IS TALKING ABOUT RELATED TO GETTING A THIRD PARTY AUDITOR.
I THINK HIS THOUGHT IS TO LOOK THROUGH EVERY SINGLE TRANSACTION ESSENTIALLY AND AUDIT ALL OF IT.
IT'S MORE ON A SAMPLE BASIS THAT COMPLIES WITH AUDIT PROCEDURES THAT OUR EXTERNAL AUDITORS ARE DOING BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE CITY'S FINANCIALS AS A WHOLE.
>> THEY WOULD NOT HAVE LOOKED AT THE TIME CONSTRAINT, CORRECT.
THEY'RE INTERNAL AUDITORS, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN LOOKED AT THAT.
>> THEN I GUESS AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN WE LOOK AT THE COST OF THIS, I MEAN, YOU CAN FACTOR INFLATION, BUT I GUESS THERE WILL BE A LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WERE PLANNED BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO DELIVER ON.
>> AT THAT POINT WE CAN SEE WHAT THOSE ARE.
>> THEN WE START LOOKING AT THE FUTURE FUNDING AND HOW WE PUT THOSE INTO IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER.
WITH A RECENT UPGRADE IN THE STREET ASSESSMENT, THEY'LL BE REPRIORITIZED WITH NEED BASED OFF OF THE STREET ASSESSMENT AND HOW THEY'RE RELATED.
THEY'LL BE A PRIORITY BASED OFF BEING IN THIS BOND, BUT YOU COULD HAVE A STREET LIKE OSAGE THAT COULD TRUMP THAT BECAUSE OF A SEVERE NEED.
I WANTED TO ADDRESS OSAGE, MAYOR, YOU BROUGHT THAT UP?
>> YEAH, I'D LOVE FOR THAT TOO.
>> OVER THE LAST 10-12 YEARS, WE'VE HAD FOUR DIFFERENT MAJOR UTILITY PROJECTS IN OSAGE STREET, THERE IN FRONT OF THE WATER PLANT AND THE WASTEWATER PLANT.
AND MOST OF THE PROBLEMS THAT I SEE AND THE ENGINEERS HAVE SEEN ON OSAGE ARE RELATED TO THOSE PATCHES MATCHING EACH OTHER.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON OSAGE THERE.
ARE YOU IN DESIGNING? PROCURING DESIGN.
HE'S PROCURING DESIGN, BUT UTILITIES IS GOING TO PAY FOR THE RESURFACING OF A MAJOR PORTION OF OSAGE BECAUSE IT'S RELATED TO UTILITIES PROJECTS,
[01:00:03]
HOW THEY WERE PUT TOGETHER.THE PATCHWORK IN ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS, THE LAST PROJECT WE SHOULD HAVE JUST REPAVED THE WHOLE ROAD IN THE PROJECT.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND REPAY THAT UNDER UTILITIES BECAUSE IT'S UTILITIES PATCHES THAT ARE CAUSING THE PROBLEM DOWN THERE.
>> AND THEN ONE FINAL QUESTION, BACK TO THE IRS ISSUE.
IS THIS SOMETHING WE WAIT TO GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL? DO WE SELF REPORT OR HOW DOES THAT WORK?
>> WE THINK THAT WE JUST NEED TO FIRST DEVELOP THE FACTS, MAKE SURE WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT PLAN OF ATTACK.
AT THIS JUNCTURE, I WOULD SAY THERE'S NO REASON TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT, TO GATHER THE FACTS AND SEE WHERE WE ARE AND THEN WE HAVE THE HANDLE ON THE FACTS.
WE CAN FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE BEST PATH WOULD BE TO GO FORWARD.
THERE'S NO NEED TO, AND FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, WE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU GO AHEAD AND SAY, IRS WE'VE GOT SOMETHING BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ANYTHING REALLY.
SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE THINK THAT WOULD BE PREMATURE.
BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I SAY GET THE FACTS TOGETHER AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHERE WE'RE GOING AND THEN WE'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SOLUTION.
WE DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES WITH THE IRS WITH SOME FREQUENCY.
THEY'VE GOT A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE AUDIT PROCESS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, SO WE'RE PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH WHAT THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS THEY'RE ASKING IF THEY GET INTO THAT DISCUSSION.
BUT AGAIN, THAT'S PREMATURE WE WOULD SAY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
UNTIL YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU HAVE THE FACTS AND THEN FIGURE OUT WHAT THE NEXT DIRECTION IS GOING TO BE.
>> AND YOU GUYS WILL DIRECT US THROUGH THIS, CORRECT? I MEAN, YOU-ALL ARE THE EXPERTS IN THIS AREA.
SO WE COULD COME TO YOU FOR COUNCIL?
>> I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE, SIR.
FLOYD, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FURTHER, RIGHT?
>> SO JUST TO WRAP THIS ONE UP, I'M VERY IMPRESSED WITH COUNCIL.
THE OTHER FOUR GENTLEMEN THAT I GET TO WORK ALONGSIDE, THEY ARE EXTREMELY AVAILABLE TO THE CITIZENS AND ACCOUNTABLE.
I THINK WHAT THIS COUNCIL NEEDS TO SET AS A GUIDELINE FOR STAFF IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO POINT TO THE REASON, THE WHO AND THE WHY.
WHY WE DIDN'T GET TO THESE PROJECTS? WHO DIRECTED THIS? WHAT HAPPENED? I KNOW MOVING FORWARD, THIS COUNCIL IS NOT GOING TO BE WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD JUST WITH WELL, SORRY IT HAPPENED AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE STAFF MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
THIS THIRD PARTY AUDIT IS A GREAT FIRST STEP.
AND THEN WE WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU IN FRONT OF THESE PEOPLE.
WE LOVE THE OPENNESS OF THIS CONVERSATION, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ONE YOU WOULD PREFER TO HAVE SOMETIMES.
WHATEVER THE MISTAKE IS, IT'S DONE.
WE CAN WORK THROUGH ANY ISSUE IF WE ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE WE WERE AND WE ALL CHOOSE TO WORK TOGETHER.
>> YES. AND WE THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY AND STAFF'S ANXIOUS TO PROVIDE THAT.
IN MY OPINION, IT WOULD BE SPECULATION IF I START PROVIDING THAT BEFORE THAT AUDIT.
>> AGREED. SO I WOULD HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU.
I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE THREE ITEMS. I THINK IT'S 10 B, C, AND D, AND THEY HAVE A TIME LIMIT OF 5:00 O'CLOCK.
WE HAVE SEVERAL MORE DISCUSSION ITEMS, AND I DON'T WANT TO RUSH THE DISCUSSIONS.
IS IT PREFERABLE TO GO AHEAD AND PULL THOSE UP NOW?
>> SINCE WE ARE NOT TAKING ACTION ON THOSE?
>> YEAH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON THE ONE, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ACTION ON TWO.
>> OKAY. SO AT THIS TIME I'M GOING TO TAKE MY AGENDA OUT OF ORDER.
IF ANYBODY'S FOLLOWING ALONG, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FROM DISCUSSION ITEM B AND INSTEAD OF MOVING INTO DISCUSSION ITEM 8C,
[10.B. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8123]
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE UP ITEM 10B.AND MRS. STORES, ARE YOU OKAY ON THIS ONE, CONSIDERATION OF AN ORDINANCE, SO WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MEET OUR TIME FRAMES?
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
APPRECIATE YOU-ALL'S WILLINGNESS TO GO AHEAD AND CONSIDER THESE ITEMS JUST BASED ON THE TIMING.
WE'VE GOT BOND COUNCIL, AS YOU-ALL ARE AWARE BOB DRANSFIELD, BUT WE ALSO HAVE STEVEN ADAMS, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, THAT'S GOING TO COME UP AND GO OVER THIS PRESENTATION WITH YOU ALL.
WE SOLD BONDS THIS MORNING RELATED TO THE DEBT ISSUANCE THAT WAS ANTICIPATED THROUGH THE APPROVED BUDGET PROCESS.
STEVEN WILL GO INTO MORE DETAIL ABOUT THIS.
SINCE IT WAS SUCH A LARGE DEBT ISSUANCE AND WE PUT A LARGE RATE INCREASE IN PLACE ON OCTOBER 1 OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WE WEREN'T QUITE FAR ENOUGH ALONG TO GO AHEAD AND HAVE THE CORRECT COVERAGE RATIO TO ISSUE THE FULL 42, ALMOST $43 MILLION IN BONDS.
WE GOT TO ABOUT 39 MILLION IS WHAT THE DEPOSIT'S GOING TO BE.
AND SO WE WILL COME BACK AT A LATER POINT THIS YEAR TO ASK YOU-ALL TO GO AHEAD AND ISSUE THE REMAINING 3, 4 MILLION.
THAT WILL BE PLENTY OF MONEY FOR US TO GET GOING ON ALL PROJECTS AND TO NOT SLOW ANYONE DOWN.
WE WILL DISCUSS THAT AT A FUTURE POINT IN TIME.
SO WE HAD A LOT OF INTEREST ON OUR BONDS THAT YOU'LL SEE HERE IN JUST A SECOND.
[01:05:03]
FOR NOW, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TURN IT OVER TO STEVEN ADAMS TO GO OVER THE PRESENTATION WITH US.>> THANK YOU, LAURA. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
LAURA MENTIONED THIS IS FOR THE SALE OF THE DRAINAGE UTILITY BONDS.
AND THE WAY THIS WENT ABOUT, AFTER WE WENT THROUGH THE WRITING PROCESS, WE PREPARED OFFERING DOCUMENTS AND THEN WE TAKE BIDS.
WE TOOK BIDS THIS MORNING VIA AN ONLINE INTERNET PROCESS, WHICH IS WIDELY USED IN THE MUNICIPAL FINANCE AREA.
WE RECEIVED TEN BIDS, WHICH IS A LOT OF BIDS WITH A TRUE INTEREST COST OF 4.11%.
I THINK AT THE LAST MEETING WHEN LAURA PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL, WE WERE MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS.
WE SHOWED THE COUNCIL AN EXCESS OF 4.5%.
WE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE RATES WERE, SO WHEN WE TOOK THE BIDS AND THE RATES WERE LOWER, WE WERE ABLE TO INCREASE THE BOND ISSUE SIZE AND STAY WITHIN THE ADDITIONAL BONDS TEST THAT LAURA TALKED ABOUT.
AND I'LL GO OVER THAT IN JUST ONE SECOND.
SO WE WERE ABLE TO DEPOSIT 39 MILLION INTO THE CONSTRUCTION FUND, SO ALMOST ALL THE MONEY THAT YOU NEED.
AND WORKING WITH FLOYD AND LAURA, THEY DO NOT FEEL LIKE THAT ANY PROJECT WILL BE SLOWED DOWN WHATSOEVER BY COMING BACK WITH A FOLLOW UP BOND ISSUE IN A YEAR OR SO OR WHENEVER THEY NEED THE CASH.
RIGHT NOW, THE CITY HAS ISSUED SEVERAL ISSUES OF DRAINAGE REVENUE BONDS.
BONDS ARE TRADED IN $5,000 INCREMENTS.
THERE'S PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF BOND OWNERS.
SINCE WE DON'T WANT TO GO ASK EVERY BOND OWNER FOR PERMISSION TO SELL BONDS, WE PUT IN COVENANTS THAT PROTECT THEM FROM THE CITY ISSUING MORE BONDS THAN REALLY WHAT THE CREDIT ANALYSTS FEEL WOULD BE AFFORDABLE AND PROTECTS THEIR ABILITY FOR YOU TO PAY THEM.
THE WAY THE TEST WORKS, IT SAYS FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS, YOUR REVENUES HAVE TO BE ENOUGH TO PAY YOUR CURRENT BONDS, PLUS OUR BONDS, PLUS THE COVERAGE OF 25% YOUR RATE IMPACT WENT INTO PLACE FIVE MONTHS AGO.
WE HAD FIVE MONTHS OF REVENUES WITH YOUR RATE INCREASE AND THE REMAINING SEVEN OF YOUR LOWER RATES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE RATE INCREASE.
WITH ONLY FIVE MONTHS OF THAT, WE WERE LIMITED TO THIS AMOUNT AS TO HOW MUCH WE COULD SELL.
NOW AS WE HAVE 12 MONTHS OF YOUR RATE INCREASE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SELL ADDITIONAL BONDS AND COMPLY WITH THAT TEST.
IT'S JUST TOO EARLY AFTER THE RATE INCREASE TO TODAY'S DATE WHEN YOU NEED THE ACTUAL CASH.
AS FOR THE BIDS, WE TALKED ABOUT RECEIVING 10 BIDS, THE WINNING BIDDER WAS ROBERT W. BAIRD AND COMPANY, AT A 4.11% COVER BID WAS JP MORGAN, AND YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF INTEREST FROM A LOT OF VERY WELL KNOWN BANKS AND INVESTMENT BANKS AROUND THE NATION ON YOUR DEBT.
JUST FOR A LOOK AT THE COVERAGE, YOU YOURSELVES WILL BE SURE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN IT.
THE RED LINE IS THE LAST 12 MONTHS OF NET AVAILABLE REVENUES AND REMEMBER, WE ONLY GET FIVE MONTHS OF THE RATE INCREASE.
THE COVERAGE IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE RED AND THE BLUE.
AS EACH MONTH MOVES FORWARD, THAT RED LINE WILL GO UP BECAUSE YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER MONTH OF YOUR HIGHER RATES.
AT THAT POINT, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SELL MORE BONDS WHENEVER YOU NEED THAT CASH FOR YOUR FUTURE PROJECTS.
WE ARE SELLING $38,135,000 IN DEBT AND WE'RE FUNDING 39 MILLION IN PROJECTS.
AND THE REASON WE CAN DO THAT, YOU SEE THE COUPON RATES ARE AT 5% THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE 4.11.
FOR THE BONDHOLDERS TO RECEIVE THAT, THEY HAVE TO PAY US CASH UP FRONT.
WE HAVE THAT PREMIUM OF $1,018,000.
WE'RE LIMITED BY THE DEBT SERVICE AND SO WE BACKED INTO HOW MUCH WE COULD PUT INTO THE CONSTRUCTION DEPOSIT OF $39 MILLION.
WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT INTEREST RATES IN A MINUTE AGO IN OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM.
THIS IS A GRAPH, YOU CAN LOOK IN '19, '20 AND 2021.
THAT WAS REALLY THE ONLY TIME THEY WERE LOWER THAN THEY ARE NOW AND THAT IS WHEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE SYSTEM TO
[01:10:01]
MAKE UP FOR THE FACT THAT WE WERE LOCKED DOWN DUE TO COVID.WHEN YOU LOWER YOUR GP AND YOU PUT A LOT OF CASH, THERE IS A TEMPORARY RATE INCREASE.
BUT NOW WE'RE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF THE INFLATION WHICH IS CAUSED BY THAT.
I THINK WAS TALKED ABOUT EARLIER AND AGENDA ITEM AS WELL, BUT STILL PRETTY LOW INTEREST RATES COMPARED TO HISTORICAL.
WITH THAT, I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
HOWEVER, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE CITY OF AMARILLO WILL AWARD THE 38,135,000 DRAINAGE UTILITY SYSTEM REVENUE BOND SERIES 2024 TO ROBERT W. BAIRD AND COMPANY AND OF COURSE, I'M HERE, LAURA AND BOB DRANSFIELD, WHO DID THE LEGALS ON THIS TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> DO WE HAVE THE LIST OR WHEN CAN WE PUT OUT THE LIST ON WHAT PROJECTS?
>> WE CAN GET IT UP IMMEDIATELY.
>> IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MEETING.
IT'S IN THE BUDGET, AND IT'S LISTED IT'S ACTUALLY THE PROJECTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE BUDGET AND IN THAT ONE CHART IN THE BUDGET, IT LISTS DEBT PROPOSED AND IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME AS IN THE BUDGET.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE HARD TO GET IT.
I'LL GO PULL IT UP AND MAKE SURE AND TIMETABLE.
>> ENGINEERING CONTRACT SHOULD BE IN FRONT OF YOU OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.
FOR ALL OF THESE, AND THAT SHOULD INITIATE THAT TIME FRAME OF DESIGN.
SOME OF THEM WILL HAVE A SHORTER DESIGN TIME AND SOME WILL HAVE A LONGER DESIGN TIME.
BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE AS LONG TO DESIGN A DREDGING AS IT DOES LIKE LAWRENCE LAKE RECONSTRUCTION.
AND SO LAWRENCE LAKE WILL PROBABLY BE THE LONGEST DESIGN TIME, THE PUMPS AT SEVEN WILL HAVE A SHORTER.
YOU SHOULD SEE THESE PROJECTS GOING INTO CONSTRUCTION EARLY NEXT YEAR, UNTIL A YEAR FROM NOW.
LAWRENCE LAKE PROBABLY WILL BE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN A YEAR ON DESIGN.
>> SO ONCE AGAIN, JUST TO REFRESH THANK YOU, SIR, I APPRECIATE THAT.
THIS COUNCIL CHOSE, INSTEAD OF DOING INCREMENTAL INCREASES OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, LET'S GO AHEAD AND INCREASE EVERYTHING ON THE FRONT END SO WE CAN MAXIMIZE OUR BORROWING CAPABILITY.
WHY THE INTEREST IS WHERE IT IS? BECAUSE WE HAVE A PROBLEM.
WE REALLY WOULD LIKE TO FIX IT VERSUS INCREMENTALLY GOING AT IT AND NEVER REALLY GETTING ON TOP OF THIS ISSUE.
WE APPRECIATE OUR PUBLIC FOR SUPPORTING THAT AND KNOWING THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY STILL LOOKED AT AS A DRAINAGE TAX, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO CALL IT A DRAINAGE FEE.
BUT WHAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR, YOU OUGHT TO GET WHERE THAT MONEY GOES, YOU NEED TO GET THE OUTCOME AND WE NEED TO PERFORM ON THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY.
WITH NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM 10B, I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8123 AS PRESENTED IN THE AGENDA.
>> I HAVE A MOTION FROM PLACE 2.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON 10B? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
WE'RE GOING TO GO ON TO ITEM 10C.
[10.C. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8124]
MS. LAURA, IF YOU'LL COME BACK UP.>> YES. THIS ITEM IS AN ORDINANCE CONSIDERING A NEGOTIATED SALE OF TAXABLE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION, AND WHAT THIS IS FUNDING IS IF YOU'LL REMEMBER BACK WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING DURING BUDGET AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW MONTHS AGO AS WE HAD TO POST NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPER AND ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE, THIS IS TO DO SOME REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS AT A HANGER OUT AT THE AIRPORT AND THAT HANGER IS LEASED.
DOES HAVE A PROPERTY TAX PLEDGE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, BUT WE WILL BE PAYING FOR THIS OUT OF AIRPORT REVENUES.
AIRPORT DOES NOT HAVE ITS OWN CREDIT RATING AND SO IT USES THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX CREDIT RATING.
I'M PROBABLY OVER SIMPLIFYING THAT.
BUT TO GO AHEAD AND ISSUE THE DEBT TO ENSURE THAT THEY GET A FAVORABLE INTEREST RATE BECAUSE THIS IS TAXABLE.
THE REASON IT'S TAXABLE IS BECAUSE WE ARE EARNING REVENUE OFF OF THE ASSET THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPROVING BECAUSE THE HANGER IS LEASED OUT TO AN EXTERNAL GROUP.
WITH THAT, THE INTEREST RATES ARE SLIGHTLY HIGHER ON THESE, BUT THIS IS A MUCH LOWER DEBT ISSUANCE AND I WILL LET STEVEN ADAMS WALK THROUGH THE DETAILS OF THIS ONE.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA. AGAIN, COUNCIL AND MAYOR.
THIS PROJECT WAS DONE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
WE PREFER TO COMPETITIVELY BID BONDS BECAUSE IT'S A VERY EFFICIENT PROCESS.
HOWEVER, THE TAXABLE MARKET IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFERENT AND IT'S NOT COMMONLY DONE TO DO A COMPETITIVE BID.
[01:15:02]
WE NEGOTIATED THE SALE WITH FROST BANK AS A NEGOTIATED BASIS.THIS PROCESS STARTED LAST FRIDAY WHERE WE OUR FIRM AND FROST TALKED ABOUT WHERE THE INTEREST RATE SHOULD BE COMPARED TO OTHER BOND ISSUES, COMPARED TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE MARKET.
THEY, IN TURN, ARE TALKING TO POTENTIAL BUYERS AND GIVING US FEEDBACK ON THAT, AND WE AGREE ON WHERE WE'LL START.
WE FOLLOWED UP AGAIN YESTERDAY WITH ANOTHER CONVERSATION WITH FROST ABOUT THAT.
THEN THIS MORNING, THEY WENT OUT AND ACTUALLY TOOK ORDERS.
DURING THE DAYS BEFORE THAT, THEY'RE TALKING TO THEIR CLIENTS ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO ORDER, HOW MANY ORDERS WE'RE GOING TO GET.
THEN THEY OPEN AN ORDER PERIOD THIS MORNING, THEY COME BACK TO US AND SAY, WELL, HERE'S ALL OF OUR ORDERS AND HERE'S WHERE WE THINK THE RATE SHOULD BE.
THEN WE NEGOTIATE THAT PARTICULAR RATE, THE RATE WE NEGOTIATED WAS A TRUE INTEREST COST OF 5.45%.
THE FINAL MATURITY IS 2024 AND WE EXPECT TO CLOSE IN APRIL OF 2025.
THESE ARE AAA RATED BONDS, SO THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATING.
THE DEBT SERVICE YOU CAN SEE IS APPROXIMATELY $458,000 A YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE THE COUPON RATES THERE AND THE INTEREST.
AGAIN, AS LAURA SAID, THIS WILL BE PAID BY THE LESSORS OF THE PROPERTY THAT THE CITY OWNS UP AT THE AIRPORT.
WE ARE PUTTING THREE MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE PROJECT CONSTRUCTION FUND.
WE HAVE AN UNDERWRITERS DISCOUNT OF 26,924 THAT PAYS FROST BANK AND THEIR ATTORNEYS.
WE HAVE A TOTAL COST OF ISSUANCE OF 60,000, THAT'S FOR OUR FIRM, MR. DRANSFIELD FIRM RATINGS AND OTHER COSTS AND BANK COSTS.
AGAIN, THEY BID A PAR PLUS REOFFERING PREMIUM OF $4,970.
WE'RE WATCHING THE ORDERS COME IN AS THE ORDER PERIOD GOES.
YOU CAN'T SEE THERE'S A BLACK LINE OF THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF BONDS THAT WERE OFFERED, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE BLUE LINES A LOT MORE, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST TWO MATURITIES.
THAT'S HOW MANY PEOPLE OVER ORDERED OR PUT IN ORDERS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT WE HAD TO SELL.
WE WERE FIVE TIMES OVER SUBSCRIBED.
IN OTHER WORDS, WE COULD HAVE SOLD THIS BOND FIVE, ALMOST SIX TIMES.
WHAT WE DO IS WE SAY, THEN LET'S LOWER THE YIELD AND MAYBE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WILL DROP OUT AND MAYBE THEY WON'T, BUT THE CITY GETS A LOWER RATE.
ON THE RIGHT FROM WHERE WE STARTED THIS MORNING UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON, YOU CAN SEE THE BASIS POINTS YIELD THAT WE DROPPED.
YOU SEE THE SEVEN BASIS POINTS IN 38 AND THE FOUR BASIS POINTS IN 44, AND THEN THE FIVE AND SIX AND FOURS BEFORE THAT.
JUST FOR YOU CURIOSITY, IF YOU HAVE ANY AS TO WHO THE BUYERS OF THESE BONDS ARE, YOU CAN SEE THAT MOSTLY BANKS.
SWBC IS A FIRM OUT OF SAN ANTONIO THAT INVEST MONEY FOR HIGH INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
THEY'RE WAY UP THERE, SO DOES AND UMB BANK, SAMCO IS A BROKER DEALER IN DALLAS AND YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE ORDERS CAME IN FROM THOSE.
AGAIN, THESE BONDS TRADING $5,000 INCREMENTS OVER TIME.
THESE OWNERS CAN SELL THEM OFF IN $5,000 INCREMENTS AND USUALLY DO OVERTIME.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE SAME CHART, ONLY IT'S TAXABLE INTEREST RATES VERSUS TAX EXEMPT.
AGAIN, WHERE AT A GOOD SPOT HISTORICALLY.
THEN FINALLY, OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU AWARD THE 3,085,000 COMBINATION TAX AND REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION TAXABLE SERIES 2024 TO FROST BANK. MAYOR.
>> QUESTIONS FOR BOND, COUNCIL? THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE IS AN INTERNAL QUESTION OF WHY I CHOSE TO BECOME A CONTRACTOR INSTEAD OF BECOMING A BONDING AGENT.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 10C. WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE ACCEPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8124 AS STATED.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON 10C?
>> I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION, MAYOR.
ON THE PERSON THAT'S LEASING THIS BUILDING, HOW LONG IS THEIR LEASE THEY HAVE WITH US?
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS 20 YEARS. IS THAT RIGHT?
[01:20:05]
>> NO, I THINK IT'S RENEWED FOR THE 20 YEARS.
I'M JUST SURE THAT THAT'S TRUE.
I'LL GET THAT ACCURATELY TO YOU.
I'M DOING IT OFF MEMORY AND I DID THAT ABOUT TWO MONTHS TIME.
>> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS.
IF IT'S NOT EXACTLY 20, I'LL UPDATE YOU.
>> GREAT QUESTION, COUNCIL MAN.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.
WE'LL DO ONE MORE BEFORE WE TAKE A SHORT RECESS,
[10.D. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8125 ]
WE'LL GO TO ITEM 10D.>> ITEM 10D, THIS IS THE ONE I DISCUSSED EARLIER IN THE PRESENTATION.
I WOULD ASK, YOU CAN TAKE NO ACTION OR IF YOU CHOSE TO TAKE ACTION, PLEASE JUST VOTE TO POSTPONE THIS AND TO BE BROUGHT BACK AT STAFF'S DISCRETION.
>> I THINK BECAUSE WE'VE EXPLAINED IT AND WE HAVE HAD A LENGTHY DISCUSSION, I WOULD BE FINE WITH JUST TAKING NO ACTION ON THIS UNLESS ANYONE WOULD LIKE THEN I COULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO POSTPONE.
NO GUIDANCE ON THAT. COUNCIL, TAKING NO ACTION ON ITEM 10D, IT WILL JUST SIT THEN.
AT THIS TIME IT IS 4:20 ROUGHLY.
LET'S TAKE A 10 MINUTE RECESS AND THEN COME RIGHT BACK. THANK YOU.
MR. HARTMAN, IF YOU COME UP FOR THAT ONE CLARIFICATION THAT YOU MENTIONED.
>> YES. ON THE QUESTION ABOUT THE LENGTH OF THE LEASE AT THE AIRPORT ON THAT BOND ISSUANCE, IT CURRENTLY IS AT 10 YEARS.
STAFF IS NEGOTIATING AT COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, REMEMBER TO ADD 20-30 YEARS, AT LEAST 20.
WHEN WE COMPLETE THE RENEWAL OF THE LEASE, IT'LL BE 30 YEARS.
WE'RE IN NEGOTIATIONS TO EXTEND IT AT A MINIMUM TO A 30-YEAR WINDOW.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
APPRECIATE THAT. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS. WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO 8C,
[8.C. State of the City and Fourth of July community events]
WHICH IS A DISCUSSION ITEM ON THE STATE OF THE CITY AND THE 4TH OF JULY COMMUNITY EVENT THAT'S COMING UP.AT A PRETTY HIGH LEVEL, I JUST WANTED TO JUMP INTO THIS ONE.
I HAD HAD SOME GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH STAFF.
I ALSO HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT COUNCIL.
QUALITY OF LIFE IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL WANT TO FOCUS ON HERE.
ONE OPPORTUNITY THAT HAS PRESENTED ITSELF THIS YEAR, 4TH OF JULY, FALLS ON A THURSDAY.
THE CITY OF AMARILLO FOR SEVERAL YEARS HASN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR THE CITY AS A CITY IN THE WAY OF A NICE FIREWORKS SHOW AND A COMMUNITY EVENT, LIVE MUSIC, FOOD TRUCKS, RETAILERS, MAYBE SOME GAMES, THINGS THAT ARE FAMILY FRIENDLY.
FOR A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, WE CAN WORK THROUGH OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT THAT'S DOING A FANTASTIC JOB, AND A NEW LOCAL NON-PROFIT THAT HAS REALLY REACHED OUT TO HEAD THIS ONE UP.
WE WANT TO PUT ON A 4TH OF JULY EVENT.
WE WANT TO SEE THAT COME BACK INTO AMARILLO, AND FOR AMARILLO TO HAVE ITS OWN FIREWORKS SHOW, AN EVENT THAT WE CAN ALL LOOK FORWARD TO, AND WE PLAN ON BEING ABLE TO BUILD ON THIS.
ON THE FIRST YEAR, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP THE MONEY AND INVEST IN IT OURSELVES.
WE BELIEVE THAT'S A GOOD USAGE OF SOME OF THE MONIES THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
THESE ARE DEFINITELY MONIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
THEN WE THINK NEXT YEAR AND THE YEAR AFTER, WE'LL BE ABLE TO BUILD WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS AND OUR SUPPORTERS HERE IN TOWN THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT REVENUE COMING IN SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE EVENT.
NOW, THE OPPORTUNITY IS THE 4TH OF JULY IS ON A THURSDAY.
WE DON'T HAVE TO COMPETE WITH LAKE TANGLE WOOD, THE CITY OF CANYON, ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON IF WE CELEBRATE THE 5TH OF JULY ON A FRIDAY.
ARE WE 248 YEARS OLD, I THINK.
IS THAT RIGHT? I THINK IT'S 248, MAYBE IT'S NOT.
I SHOULD LOOK BEFORE I PUT OUT A PATRIOTIC STANCE LIKE THAT. I LOVE THIS COUNTRY.
I MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN OUR OWN BIRTHDAY, BUT OUR BIRTHDAY'S COMING UP AND SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY.
I AM EGOTISTICAL ENOUGH TO TRY TO CELEBRATE A BIRTH WEEK.
WE COULD HAVE A BIRTH WEEKEND FOR THE UNITED STATES IN THE WAY OF LIKE IT'S GOING TO START ON THURSDAY, THE 4TH, THAT'S THE 4TH OF JULY.
YOU'LL HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'LL BE OFF WORK ON FRIDAY BECAUSE IT'S A HOLIDAY ON A THURSDAY WITH THE WEEKEND ON SATURDAY.
IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO START THE EVENT RIGHT NOW AT 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, RUN IT UNTIL 10:30, 11:00, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET EVERYBODY BACK OUT OF THE PARK.
[01:25:02]
IT'S SCHEDULED TO GO INTO SOUTHWEST PARK JOHN STIFF.WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH IN PREPARATION IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
PARKS AND REC, MICHAEL KASHUBA HAS HEADED THIS UP WITH OUTDOOR AMARILLO.
OUTDOOR AMARILLO HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ON.
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE ORCHESTRATING, REACHING OUT TO THE BANDS, REACHING OUT TO THE STAGING THE EQUIPMENT, WORKING ALONGSIDE PARKS AND REC ON HOW DO WE GET POWER, HOW DO WE STAGE THIS, WHERE DO WE SET IT.
A LOT OF THE CITY SIDE WILL BE POLICE AND FIRE EMERGENCY THAT WILL BE THERE COORDINATING PARKING LOTS WITH NEIGHBORS AND CHURCHES TO WHERE WE CAN TROLLEY PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH.
SETTING THIS GUY UP FROM 4:00 IN THE AFTERNOON UNTIL 10:30, 11:00.
THESE GUYS ARE DOING ALL THE WORK.
STAFF IS PROBABLY DOING A LOT OF THE WORK TOO.
I DON'T SEE IT BECAUSE THEY STAY BEHIND THE SCENES.
WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS, BUT WE ARE IN A POSITION TO MOVE FORWARD.
AS LONG AS COUNCIL IS IN AGREEMENT, THIS WILL COST ROUGHLY $50,000 OUT OF CURRENT YEAR BUDGET FOR US.
VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A BIG BIRTHDAY PARTY.
WE HAD $50,000 IN A PREVIOUS YEAR BUDGET THAT WE DIDN'T SPEND.
HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS ALLOCATED FOR, BUT WE DIDN'T NEED IT.
THEN OUR NONPROFIT HAS FUND RAISED ROUGHLY $40,000 AND THEY NEED TO GET ANOTHER $10,000 OR SO.
WE'LL HAVE ALL OF THE MONIES THAT WE NEED BUDGETED TO PAY FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD LOOKING FIREWORKS SHOW WITH A FIRST OF ITS KIND LIGHT DRONE SHOW IN THE SKY.
I THINK THERE'S SEVEN MINUTES OF FIREWORKS, 10 MINUTES OF DRONE, AND ANOTHER SEVEN MINUTES OF FIREWORKS.
THAT'LL ALL BE COORDINATED WITH THE MUSIC.
WE'LL DEFINITELY HAVE AREAS SET UP FOR DIFFERENT FOOD AND BEVERAGES.
THEN WE'RE TRYING TO HAVE SOMETHING FUN, COMPETITIVE.
I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GETTING PULLED IN THE MUD PIT ON THE TUG OF WAR, BUT COUNCILMEN, I'D SAY AT LEAST TIPPS IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO SIT IN THE FRONT.
WE THINK THIS WILL BE A GOOD COMMUNITY EVENT WE CAN BUILD ON IT.
THIS IS WHAT WE FEEL IS IMPORTANT IN HELPING TO CREATE THAT COMMUNITY AND CULTURE.
WHERE WE AS A CITY ARE LEADING, WE'RE LETTING YOU INVEST IN IT.
THIS IS YOU GUYS COMING FORWARD AND BEING WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK.
THAT BEING SAID, EVERYBODY HAS SAID, HAVE YOU EVER DONE THIS BEFORE? DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE EVER DONE THIS BEFORE? DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING? HOW BAD IS THIS GOING TO GO? DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME? HAVE YOU THOUGHT THROUGH ALL OF THESE THINGS? THE ANSWER HONESTLY ON THE FRONT END IS LIKE NO, I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE REACHED OUT TO PEOPLE THAT HAVE.
WE HAVE A GOOD STAFF, PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT THAT IS HELPING TO LEAD BUT AS IT SO HAPPENS, I HAVE AN ASSET HERE WITH COUNCILMAN SIMPSON WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY OF THESE FOR A CERTAIN COMPANY THAT MAY HAVE HOSTED MOST OF THESE, AND PROBABLY HAS A CONTACT OR TWO.
IF I CAN TALK HIM INTO IT, HE'S GOING TO BUDDY UP AND JUST MAKE SURE, YEAH, YOU GUYS CHECKED THIS, YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THIS, YOU DID THESE THINGS.
STAFF IS DEFINITELY AGREEABLE TO GETTING AS MANY EYES ON IT AS WE CAN.
MISS CASH AND SMITH IS SITTING HERE AND I DID THROW OUT HER NAME IN MY LAST MEETING WITH OUTDOOR AMARILLO OF, HEY, LET'S REACH OUT TO THE CHAMBER, LET'S REACH OUT TO CVB.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYBODY COMING THAT WE CAN.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT TIME ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH SOMETHING TO GO AND DO RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT WILL BE A LONG HOLIDAY WEEKEND.
THE WHOLE REASON I BRING THIS UP IS A COUPLE OF REASONS.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING AND THAT WE'RE ALL IN FAVOR OF IT, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL DOESN'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT WELL.
THAT THEY HAVE THE CONFIDENCE IN KNOWING WE GOT THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT PLACES AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A GOOD EVENT FOR THE CITY.
THAT'S A QUICK UPDATE FOR COUNCIL.
DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS ON THE EVENT ITSELF? THEN I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STATE OF THE CITY.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. I THINK IT'LL BE GREAT.
>> NO, I THINK MAYBE WE COULD GET THE FIRE MARSHAL TO COOPERATE EVEN MORE NOW SINCE THE CITY'S PUTTING IT ON.
NO, I THINK THAT THAT'S GREAT, AND SOMETHING WE COULD LOOK AT.
>> NO ONE WOULD EVER COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FIRE MARSHAL ON A FIREWORKS EVENT, I'M SURE.
>> SOMEHOW I FEEL LIKE THEY WILL BE UP TO SPEED AND WILLING TO ASSIST US IN THIS EVENT.
[01:30:01]
I KNOW YOU HAD SOMEBODY THAT WORKED DIRECTLY IN THIS. ARE THEY?>> YEAH. THE AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS DID THE COMMUNITY FIREWORKS, I THINK FOR SOME 75 OR 80 YEARS.
I THINK 2017 WAS THE LAST YEAR THEY WERE DONE DOWNTOWN.
YEAH, I'D BE GLAD TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY AND KNOW PEOPLE THAT COULD PROBABLY PROVIDE SUPPORT AS WELL, SO I'M EXPERIENCED BECAUSE A FEW THINGS CAN GO WRONG.
>> IT'S A STATEMENT OF FACT WHEN I TELL PEOPLE WE HAVE 80 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING ON THIS NOW, NOT THAT YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE DONE THAT.
WELL, I THINK WE'VE GOT THE BEST TEAM PUT TOGETHER.
OUR COMMUNITY ALWAYS COMES TOGETHER FOR STUFF LIKE THIS.
HONESTLY, WE'RE PRETTY LOW MAINTENANCE.
WE'RE GOING TO PARK WHERE WE CAN.
WE'RE GOING TO WALK, WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO, WE'RE GOING TO ENJOY A GOOD TIME AND IT'LL HAVE A SMALL TOWN FEEL OUT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF JOHN STIFF.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT. NOW, IN THIS CONVERSATION WE HAD ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE MAYOR IS RESPONSIBLE TO PUT FORWARD A STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS ONCE A YEAR.
WE HAVE A SEARCH GOING FOR A CITY MANAGER.
WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH, AND QUITE FRANKLY, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO WORK AS HARD AS WE CAN.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, WE HAD THOUGHT, WELL MAYBE WE DO THE STATE OF THE CITY ON THE 5TH AND JUST AT THE FRONT PART OF THAT EVENT.
THAT'S NOT A REAL GOOD IDEA BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE CO-MINGLING A COMMUNITY EVENT THAT'S TRULY FOR THE COMMUNITY ALONG WITH SOMETHING THAT LOOKS POLITICAL.
WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR MAYOR AND COUNCIL GET UP AND SAY, HEY, HERE'S ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE'RE DOING FOR YOU, I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD TO DO THAT WHEN YOU'RE ALSO TRYING TO MAKE IT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ON THE 5TH NOW.
I WAS WILLING TO COMBINE EVENTS JUST OUT OF TRYING TO BE A GOOD USER OF EVERYONE'S TIME, BUT I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.
I THINK WE AS A COUNCIL ARE LOOKING AT MIDDLE END OF AUGUST.
WE DON'T WANT TO GET HUNG UP IN THE BUDGET TIME TOO MUCH, BUT WE WILL BEGIN PLANNING FOR A STATE OF THE CITY THAT MAYBE LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
YOU GUYS HEARD US SAY, WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO SHINE THE SPOTLIGHT MORE SO ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS DOING.
IF THIS THING GOES WELL ON THE 5TH, THEN OUTDOOR AMARILLO IS UP THERE ON STAGE WITH US TELLING US HOW MUCH THEY ENJOYED IT, AND WE ALL GET TO CELEBRATE IN THAT.
I HOPE THAT'S WHAT THE STATE OF THE CITY LOOKS LIKE.
WE WILL DEFINITELY GIVE YOU THE RUNDOWN.
WE'LL PUT IT IN PRINT PROBABLY.
WE'LL COMMUNICATE TO EVERYONE, HERE'S OUR PILLARS, HERE'S THE MANDATE THAT YOU GAVE US TO GO AND GET ALL THIS WORK DONE AND HERE'S HOW MUCH WE'VE GOTTEN DONE FOR YOU AS OUR BOSS.
WE'LL DO A GOOD JOB OF DOING THAT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO SPLIT THAT EVENT OUT INTO AUGUST SOMETIME.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S COMING AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.
LET ME ASK STAFF, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING, MR. KASHUBA THAT YOU NEED ON THIS EVENT?
>> IF YOU DO, YOU CAN ASK US, BUT IF YOU HAVE EVERYTHING AND YOU'RE GOOD, THEN WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING SO FAR.
>> WE'RE MOVING FULL SPEED AHEAD.
WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR QUITE SOME MONTHS.
THE 50,000 YOU'D MENTIONED WAS ACTUALLY SET ASIDE A COUPLE BUDGET CYCLES AGO FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
WE HAD SOME STAFF CHANGES LAST YEAR AND WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT.
THAT'S WHERE THAT INITIAL 50,000 CAME FROM.
BUT STAFF HAS BEEN PLANNING ON THESE TYPES OF EVENTS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I THINK THE ONLY QUESTION IS THAT 50,000 FROM THE WORKING BUDGET TO COVER THE REST OF OUR EXPENSES.
>> COUNCIL, CAN WE SPEAK NOW IF ANY OF US WOULD REFRAIN FROM USING 50,000 OUT OF THAT WORKING BUDGET? OTHERWISE, STAFF WOULD HAVE DIRECTION AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE FUNDED. ANY CONCERNS?
>> BUT I GUESS THE PLAN LONGER TERM WOULD BE THAT THE OUTDOOR AMARILLO WOULD TAKE MORE AND MORE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY TO THE FUNDING, PREFERABLY TO 100% OF POSSIBLE.
BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WILL BE A LOT OF CITY RESOURCES USED FOR THIS, THERE'S JUST NO WAY AROUND IT THAT'S COSTING THE CITY.
BUT I GUESS THE LONGER TERM PLAN IS THAT THE CITY REALLY WOULD NOT BE FUNDING THIS EVERY YEAR. CORRECT?
>> WE THINK THIS IS A GOOD PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY WITH US AND OUTDOOR AMARILLO TO CO-SPONSOR EVENTS WHERE WE FACILITATE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF IT, LIKE THE STAFFING PORTION THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES FOR AND THEN THEY CAN GO OUT AND DO THE SPONSORSHIPS, THE BANDS, AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
WE THINK THIS IS A GOOD LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE HANDLE THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND THEY HANDLE THE FUNDING AND THE OTHER PIECES TO IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON IT.
I KNOW YOU DON'T NEED ONE MORE THING TO DO, BUT WE GAVE IT TO YOU.
>> THIS WILL BE A GREAT EVENT, FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
IT'LL BE SAFE. WE'VE ALREADY SCHEDULED ALL THE PRETTY WEATHER, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TOO HOT THAT DAY, IT WON'T BE WINDY AT ALL.
[01:35:01]
MAN, I HOPE EVERYBODY COMES OUT AND ENJOYS IT BECAUSE IT'S TRULY FOR YOU GUYS.[8.D. Updates from Councilmembers serving on outside boards and commissions i. Convention and Visitors Bureau (February 28, 2024) ii. Animal Management and Welfare Advisory Board (March 6, 2024) iii. Beautification and Public Arts Advisory Board (March 12, 2024) iv. Parks and Recreation Board (March 13, 2024) v. Amarillo Metropolitan Policy Organization (March 21, 2024)]
UPDATES FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS SERVING OUTSIDE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.WE'RE GOING TO JUMP INTO THESE FIVE.
>> I HAVE GOT THE PLEASURE THAT CASH AND SMITH IS HERE TODAY [LAUGHTER] AND I'M GOING TO LET HER GIVE IT.
>> I WILL BE VERY, VERY QUICK.
I WAS ACTUALLY IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND DID THE UPDATE ON THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND A COUPLE OF SMALL CHANGES AND BY LAWS.
THAT REALLY WAS THE MEAT OF OUR LAST BOARD MEETING, SO I THINK YOU ALL ARE PRETTY UPDATED ON THE WORK THAT WAS DONE IN THAT MEETING.
THERE WAS A PRESENTATION GIVEN BY OURSELVES AND SERVICING TEAM ABOUT SOME OF THE EXCITING EVENTS COMING UP, JUST BIG WINS AND WE LIKE TO DO REMINDERS WITH THE BOARD AND ALL OF OUR COMMITTEES.
EVERYBODY KNOWS WRCA IS COMING IN, BUT REALLY JUST ON WHAT WE BOOK INSIDE THE OFFICE.
THEN ALSO TRADE SHOWS, UPCOMING GROUPS, ACTIVE BIDS THAT ARE OUT RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL AND BIG ECONOMIC COM.
IT WAS REALLY A SUMMARY OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.
THE TWO BIG TAKEAWAYS FROM THEIR PRESENTATION, IN MY OPINION, WAS THAT THE CVB, THE SALES AND SERVICING TEAM, HAS PARTNERED WITH WT AND BID ON MULTIPLE, I BELIEVE THERE'S 10 TOTAL EVENTS AND/OR YEARS, SO 10 TOTAL BIDS THAT WENT INTO THE NCAA BIDDING CYCLE THIS YEAR.
BUT TO HOST A NCAA TOURNAMENT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE FACILITY.
IT'S NOT THE SCHOOL THAT DOES THE BIDDING, IT'S NORMALLY THE CBB OR THE CITY ITSELF.
WE WERE HAPPY TO PARTNER WITH WT AND DO THAT.
THIS MEANS THAT AMARILLO WOULD ACTUALLY HOLD ALL OF THE ROOMS FOR ANY TEAMS THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE TOURNAMENT.
WT WOULD PROVIDE THE FACILITY AND BE ABLE TO SHOW OFF THEIR CAMPSITES OR CAMPSITE.
[LAUGHTER] THAT'S THE WRONG WORD.
ANYWAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S A BIG ONE AND WE SHOULD KNOW IN OCTOBER.
WE REALLY DO EXPECT TO WIN AT LEAST ONE OF THESE.
WE ARE DOING, I CALL IT A LOBBYIST CAMPAIGN.
WE HIRED A COMPANY TO GO IN AND REALLY LOBBY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE BIDS WE DID PERSONALIZED LETTERS AND PERSONALIZED BIDS TO EACH PERSON ON THE COMMITTEE THAT WILL BE OVERSEEING THOSE.
THAT IS HUGE. THEN THE SECOND BIG TAKEAWAY, I THINK FROM THEIR PRESENTATION, WAS THAT WE HAVE A BID OUT FOR THE SOCIETY OF AMERICAN TRAVEL WRITERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE THAT WE'RE BIDDING TO HOST IN 2025.
THAT DECISION WILL BE MADE IN JUNE.
THIS CONFERENCE BRINGS IN APPROXIMATELY 250 TRAVEL WRITERS, MOSTLY DOMESTIC, SOME ARE INTERNATIONAL THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP.
ROUTE 66 IS A BIG DEAL RIGHT NOW, IT'S GETTING A LOT OF EYES ON IT.
BUT FOR US TO HOST THIS IN 2025 MEANS THAT 250 PEOPLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY GO BACK OUT INTO THE WORLD AND START WRITING ARTICLES THAT WOULD BE PLACED.
IT'S NOT JUST INFLUENCERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THIS REALLY IS MORE THE FREELANCE WRITER, SO INTO THE TRAVEL AGENTS HANDS IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT WAYS ALONG WITH THE ATTENDEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE DEFINITELY ARE GOING TO HAVE 66 FOCUS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE PRESENTED TO THEM AND THAT'S WHY WE BID ON 2025.
THAT GROUP IS INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE TO HOST.
WE PAY FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING DOWN TO THEIR AIRLINE TICKETS.
WE'VE HOSTED A SMALL GROUP, I THINK IN 2018, WE HAD A CENTRAL GROUP THAT CAME IN AND WE'RE STILL SEEING THE RESIDUAL EFFECTS FROM THE MARKETING THAT IS COMING FROM THAT GROUP AND THEIR VISIT SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THAT BIT OUT AND HOPE THAT WE WIN. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> GREAT JOB, COUNCILMAN, SHERLAN.
A LOT OF INFORMATION, AND YOU MOVE QUICKLY SO WE DO APPRECIATE THAT.
NUMBER 2, ANIMAL MANAGEMENT WELFARE IS COUNCILMAN SIMPSON.
I'LL JUST GO QUICKLY BECAUSE THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO PRESENT THAT CAME UP FROM THE BOARD FOR POSSIBLE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OR MAYBE EVEN DIRECTION TO CITY STAFF ON THESE TWO ITEMS. IN THE COUNCIL BUDGET THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THERE'S SOME MONEY SET ASIDE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE, SOMEWHERE AROUND $500,000 I THINK IS HOW MUCH WE EARMARKED.
WE TAGGED IT FOR, I THINK INCENTIVES, BUT THERE MAY BE OTHER WAYS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
[01:40:01]
>> HOW ABOUT THAT? IS THAT BETTER? I JUST SAID SOMETHING REALLY GREAT AND YOU DIDN'T HEAR IT.
THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT CAME UP THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF AND MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHETHER THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER OR POSSIBLE DO TO HELP THIS COMMUNITY WHEN IT COMES TO TREATMENT OF ANIMALS.
THE NUMBER 1 ISSUE AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS AND LAURA CAN CORRECT ME ON THE NUMBER.
I KNOW THERE WERE OVER 2,000, BUT I BELIEVE THERE WERE 2,600 OUTSTANDING WARRANTS FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT TAKEN PROPER CONTROL OF THEIR ANIMALS, NOT TREATED THEIR ANIMALS WELL, KEPT THEM WHERE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.
THERE'S 2,600 OUTSTANDING WARRANTS FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT TAKEN CARE OF THEIR ANIMALS.
THEY'VE NOT BEEN SERVED, THEY'VE NOT PAID THEIR FINE, THEY'VE NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH ON WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN TAKE CLASSES AND DO OTHER THINGS WITH THAT.
ONE OF THE POSSIBILITIES FOR US TO CONSIDER IS TO WHETHER WE WOULD WANT TO ASK OUR MUNICIPAL JUDGE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WORKING WITH THIS, TO DO A STRONG CAMPAIGN THAT GOES AFTER THESE 2,600 PEOPLE THAT HAVE WARRANTS OUT FROM THEM.
BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE ALL THE LAWS IN THE WORLD TO PROTECT ANIMALS, BUT IF WE'RE NOT ENFORCING THEM AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THERE'S A CONSEQUENCE FOR IT, THERE'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE THAT MUCH OF A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WORKING WITH THE POTENTIALLY THE MUNICIPAL JUDGE, WHETHER THAT MIGHT REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STAFFING FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT MAYBE WE'D HAVE TO GET DETAILS BACK ON WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE OR CAN WE DO IT WITH EXISTING STAFF TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT? BUT REALLY FOCUS ON CONCENTRATED EFFORT SO THAT WE'RE COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, AND PROBABLY NO BETTER PLACE THAN STARTING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HISTORICALLY NOT DONE THAT AND HAVE WARRANTS THAT ARE CURRENT OUTSTANDING.
THAT'S ONE ISSUE THAT CAME UP THAT THE BOARD ASKED THAT I BRING TO YOU FOR SOMETHING TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER.
THE SECOND IS POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT A CAMERA SYSTEM AT OUR FACILITIES AS WELL AS BODY CAMS FOR ANIMAL MANAGEMENT OFFICERS THAT ARE WORKING WITH ANIMALS OUT IN THE FIELD.
I THINK THERE'S BENEFITS AND PARTICULARLY ON THE CITY SIDE, WE SEE POLICE OFFICERS OBVIOUSLY HAVE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, BUT ONE OF THOSE IS TO PROTECT THE CITY AND THE POLICE OFFICERS.
THE SAME WOULD BE, THE BENEFIT OF HAVING THIS, A LOT OF TIMES, JUST LIKE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH POLICE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY PASSIONATE WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH ANIMALS.
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WE'RE PROTECTING OUR STAFF WHEN WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THERE MAY BE TWO SIDES OF THE STORY WITHOUT ANY REALLY PROOF OF EVIDENCE OF WHICH IT IS.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF PURCHASING BODY CAMS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THAT ANIMAL MANAGEMENT WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT.I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TIME FRAME IS ON THAT.
I THINK I WAS TOLD THAT ANIMAL MANAGEMENT I GUESS IS AT THE END.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS THREE MONTHS FROM NOW OR A YEAR FROM NOW AS TO WHEN THAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
BUT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO EXPEDITE THAT, AS WELL AS WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH OUR POLICE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
THEN THE SECOND THING IS LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL CAMERA SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE LOCATED AT ANIMAL WELFARE MANAGEMENT TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO, AGAIN, PROTECTING EMPLOYEES AND BEING ABLE TO DOCUMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT'S OCCURRING THERE.
THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD JUST RELATE TO YOU.
I DON'T KNOW ANY THOUGHTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE, ANY DIRECTION OR THOUGHTS THAT WE MAY WANT TO GIVE TO STAFF ABOUT THESE ISSUES.
IN THE FUTURE ONE ISSUE WE DID TALK ABOUT, BUT NOT MAKE MUCH HEADWAY ON, IS VARIOUS LEGISLATION.
AS YOU KNOW, COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO DO LEGISLATION TO HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS FROM A LEGAL STANDPOINT? NOBODY HAS THE ANSWER YET, IS THE ONE THING THAT WE'RE SURE OF.
BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE BRINGING SOME POSSIBILITIES OR THINGS TO CONSIDER WHERE THE ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM MAY BE A LITTLE BIT STRONGER TO, AGAIN, HAVE PEOPLE TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEIR ANIMALS.
>> QUESTIONS FOR THIS GENTLEMEN.
>> THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR STAFF BUT WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT AUDIT WE'RE DOING IN ANIMAL WELFARE.
>> YES. WE HAVE SECURED A THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANT THAT IS DOING A FULL REVIEW OF EVERYTHING RELATED TO ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE.
THEY HAD A MASSIVE INFORMATION REQUEST, AND STAFF HAS ALREADY PULLED ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER.
[01:45:01]
ALONG THOSE LINES, THEY WANTED TO SEE ALL OF OUR ORDINANCES, THEY WANTED TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AT THIS TIME THAT'S PART OF THE REVIEW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AS WELL.MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS REQUESTED IN THEIR HANDS NOW.
THE CONSULTANT IS WORKING THROUGH EVERYTHING AND LOOKING TO COME OUT ON SITE.
I THINK SOMETIME IN APRIL, POSSIBLY LATER APRIL.
WE'LL KNOW SOONER THAN LATER IN WHAT THEY COME UP WITH ON THAT, AND WE'LL BE PRESENTING THOSE RESULTS BACK TO CITY COUNCIL.
YES, THAT PART OF IT WILL BE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT SOME ORDINANCES.
BASED ON SOME OF THEIR REVIEW, THEY'RE LOOKING AT A LOT OF OTHER COMMUNITIES AS WELL, AND WE'RE HOPING TO GET SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEM ON WHAT THEY'RE SEEING MAYBE WORKING IN SOME OTHER AREAS THAT WE COULD BRING BACK TO CITY COUNCIL.
>> THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE, COUNSEL MEN?
>> I THINK THAT IT IS GOOD TO WEIGHT ON, WHAT THAT THIRD PARTY RECOMMENDS, BUT ON THE CAMERAS, I THINK THAT IS A VERY COMMON SENSE PRACTICAL WAY TO PROTECT ALL PARTIES INVOLVED.
THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE ALREADY WORKING ON WITH THE BODY CAMS. AS FAR AS THE CURRENT CAMERAS, DO WE HAVE CAMERAS AT INTAKE IN PLACES LIKE THAT WHERE WE INTERACT WITH THE PUBLIC?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A VERY OLD OUTDATED LIMITED CAMERA SYSTEM.
BASED ON THE DISCUSSION THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AT THE AMW ADVISORY BOARD, WE DID WORK WITH FACILITIES WITH JERRY AND HIS TEAM TO DO AN ANALYSIS.
WHAT WOULD THIS LOOK LIKE? WHAT COULD THIS POTENTIALLY COST? WHAT WE'RE HEARING IS THE ESTIMATE IS IT WOULD BE ABOUT $30,000 TO DO FULL COVERAGE.
IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT TO OUR FACILITY, WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE BUILDINGS, SO IT'S NOT ONE BIG SPACE THAT YOU CAN POINT CAMERAS IN.
THERE'S INSIDE AREAS THERE AS OUTSIDE AREAS AND THE THOUGHT WOULD BE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE COVERING PRETTY MUCH ALL THE SQUARE FOOTAGE.
JUST TO MAKE SURE, AS COUNCIL MEMBER SIMPSON MENTIONED, WE'RE DOCUMENTING THINGS, WE'RE PROTECTING THE EMPLOYEES.
IF A SITUATION IS ALLEGED THAT WE CAN GO BACK, REVIEW THE FOOTAGE, AND ENSURE WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURRED.
>> THAT'S GREAT. I LOVE THAT STAFF IS ALREADY OUT IN FRONT OF IT AT THE BEHEST OF THE BOARD.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WITH THAT $500,000 ALLOCATION THAT WE'VE SPECIFIED, A GOOD PORTION OF THAT I THINK IS GOING TO GO TO THE SPADE AND NEUTER INCENTIVE.
THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE WAY THAT I THINK THIS THIRD PARTY IS GOING TO COME BACK AND TELL US A LONG TERM, THIS IS THE WAY YOU'RE GOING TO CONTROL THIS ANIMAL POPULATION BY WORKING WITH THOSE NONPROFITS AND THOSE RESCUES TO MANAGE THAT.
BUT ON THE FRONT END, IF WE WERE TO ALLOCATE THE 30,000 OUT OF THAT 500, I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT.
WOULD COUNSEL SEE THAT FITTING? THEN WHAT WAS THE OTHER COST, COUNCILMAN?
>> WELL, THE OTHER ONE WAS IF WE WANTED TO TAKE A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO THESE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS.
I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WOULD COST US ANYTHING AT ALL OR WHAT MAY BE REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
>> YES. WE JUST WENT THROUGH A CAMPAIGN, A COMPLIANCE CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO RESOLVE AS MANY OF OUR OUTSTANDING WARRANTS AS POSSIBLE.
I APOLOGIZE, I DON'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THAT WAS ALL WARRANTS THAT COME THROUGH OUR MUNICIPAL COURT.
THE NUMBERS WERE VERY FAVORABLE AND WHAT I NEED TO DO IS GO BACK AND NOW PAIR THAT BACK ON WHAT WAS SETTLED DURING THAT CAMPAIGN, COMPLIANCE THAT JUST WRAPPED UP, I BELIEVE, THE END OF FEBRUARY, EARLY MARCH AND GET A GOOD LOOK AT WHAT THE NUMBER OUTSTANDING IS NOW.
WE CAN SIT DOWN WITH OUR MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE AND ALSO WITH OUR POLICE CHIEF AND SEE IF WE CAN BRAINSTORM SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO REALLY FOCUS ON GETTING AS MANY OF THOSE RESOLVED AS POSSIBLE.
LET US WORK ON THAT AND WE CAN BRING SOMETHING TO COUNSEL AT A FUTURE DATE, IF THAT'S REASONABLE.
>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE FINE.
TO ME, JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE ACT OF ACTING ON THESE WARRANTS IS MAKING SURE THERE'S A ROBUST COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN, SO THAT WORD GETS OUT TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'RE TAKING ANIMAL TREATMENT EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY PROVEN THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR ANIMALS CORRECTLY, BUT THOSE THAT STILL DO IT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE NEXT WITH ORDINANCES.
I THINK NOT ONLY THE ACT OF IT, BUT REALLY THE OVER COMMUNICATION OF IT.
THAT WE GET THIS MESSAGE OUT THAT WE'RE GOING TO, FIRST OF ALL, TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE HAD, AND THEN AGAIN, LOOK AT NEW ORDINANCES ON HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROTECT ANIMALS AND PROTECT PEOPLE FROM ANIMALS THAT PEOPLE AREN'T TAKEN
[01:50:02]
CARE OF AND THEY'RE CAUSING INJURY TO OTHERS.>> ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN WORK ON THAT.
>> HOW MANY BOARD MEETINGS HAVE YOU BEEN IN? TWO?
>> PLEASE COMMUNICATE BACK TO THAT BOARD. IT'S A FAIRLY NEW BOARD.
I KNOW YOU HAVE SOME MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE, BUT WE APPOINTED ONE OR TWO AND THEN YOU'RE ON IT.
LOVE THE HARD WORK AND THE ACTIVITY OF GETTING IT GOING AND COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS AND SO I THINK THIS IS GREAT IF STAFF COULD DIRECT THAT MONEY OUT OF THAT SET ALLOCATION TO GET MOVING ON CAMERAS.
I THINK THAT'S A GOOD MOVE WHILE WE WAIT ON THE REST OF THE REPORT.
>> I WILL ALSO TOUCH BASE WITH POLICE CHIEF AND SEE IF I CAN GET AN UPDATE ON HOW QUICKLY AMW WILL BE ON THE LIST TO GET BODY CAMERAS ON.
I THINK THAT PROJECT'S MOVING ALONG QUICKLY SO HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS I CAN SEND OUT TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU MA'AM. ANYTHING FURTHER FOR COUNCILMAN SIMPSON ON ITEM TWO?
>> OKAY. ANYTHING FOR HIM? ALL GOOD?
>> YEAH. THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS COUNCILMAN CRAFT BEAUTIFICATION AND PUBLIC ARTS.
>> I'LL HIT THREE AND FOUR BECAUSE I GOT PARKS AND REC AS WELL.
WE DIDN'T MEET FOR BEAUTIFICATION AND PUBLIC ARTS, WE DIDN'T HAVE A QUORUM.
BUT ON THE PARK SIDE, GO THROUGH A COUPLE OF UPDATES.
SAM HOUSTON PARK LIGHTING PROJECT CONCRETE LIGHT POLE BASES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
POLES WERE DELIVERED, INSTALLED.
FIXTURES ARE SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE ON MARCH 29 AND IT WILL BE INSTALLED SOON AFTER COMPLETION IS EXPECTED THE WEEK AFTER EASTER.
THAT SAM HOUSTON PARK LIGHTING UPDATE.
SANDRA SANTO PARK LIGHTING PROJECT.
THE LIGHTS FIXTURES, AND CONCRETE BASES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
PROJECTS WAITING ON A PANEL INTERIOR WHICH IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE THE WEEK OF 318-322.
ONCE THAT INTERIOR IS INSTALLED, THE PROJECT WILL BE COMMISSIONED, READY TO OPERATE.
MEDICAL CENTER PARK LIGHTING PROJECT.
ALL CONCRETE BASE HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT THE NORTH LAKE.
CONTRACTOR IS CURRENTLY BORING CONDUIT TO EACH OF THE BASES INSTALLED IN LIGHT POLES.
COMPLETION OF THE NORTH LAKE IS EXPECTED AROUND MID-APRIL, AND THEN CONTRACT WILL TRANSITION TO THE SOUTH LAKE.
HERE'S A BIG ONE, JOHN STIFF CAMERA INSTALLATION AND LIGHTING PROJECT.
CONTRACTOR HAS INSTALLED THE SIX CAMERAS FOR JOHN STIFF, WITH TWO MORE SCHEDULED TO BE INSTALLED.
TWO OF THE CAMERAS ARE LICENSE PLATE READERS AND SIX WILL BE ABLE TO LIVESTREAM AND ROTATE UP TO 360 DEGREES DEPENDING ON THE POLE AND INSULATION.
THEN THE LAST THING ON THE LIST IS THE THOMPSON PARK POOL DEMO CONTRACTORS BEGUN THE DEMOLITION OF THE OLD POOL IN THOMPSON PARK.
IT'S EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT SIX WEEKS TO COMPLETE.
THAT'S SOME PRETTY BIG UPDATES GOING ON, ESPECIALLY WITH JOHN STIFF.
HOPEFULLY HELP CURE SOME OF THE CRIME ISSUES.
IS THERE ANYTHING, MISS KASHUBA? OKAY.
>> QUESTIONS FOR COUNCILMAN CRAFT? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, THANK YOU TO JERRY DANFORTH AS WELL FOR CARRYING OUT A LOT OF THOSE, AS WELL AS MR. KASHUBA.
I KNOW YOU GUYS WORK HAND IN HAND ON THE LIGHTING PROJECTS, AND SO YOU'RE MOVING QUICKLY AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE IT.
I THINK THAT TAKES US THROUGH YOURS, PARKS AND REC THE LAST ONE IS THE AMARILLO MPO.
TRAVIS MUNIO, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.
COUNCILMAN SHERLAN AND I SIT ON THIS ONE, BUT THIS IS OUR DIRECTOR AND I JUST WANTED TO SEE IF MR. MUNIO WOULD GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU A QUICK RUNDOWN ON WHERE WE'VE BEEN LATELY AND WHAT OUR FIVE YEAR LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE ON THE ROADS.
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
OUR LAST MEETING WAS IN MARCH.
IT WAS MORE OF JUST A HOUSEKEEPING-TYPE DEAL.
IT'S TYPICALLY OUR WORKSHOP, WHERE WE JUST BRING THINGS TO GET INPUT AND ALL ON.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID APPROVE THOUGH WAS TO SUPPORT THE CITY OF AMARILLO AS THE DESIGNATED RECIPIENT FOR FTA FUNDS.
WE'LL GET THAT RESOLUTION OUT TO TEXT AS SOON AS WE'RE ABLE TO.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IS, WE HAVE A 25 YEAR PLAN THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE RE-UPDATING THAT PLAN RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT ADOPTED UNTIL OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR, BUT IT'LL OUTLINE ALL OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS IN THE AMARILLO AREA.
UNTIL THEN, OUR ORGANIZATION IS NOT JUST THE CITY OF AMARILLO, IT'S ALSO THE CITY OF CANYON, POTTER COUNTY, RANDALL COUNTY, AND TEXT.
WE ALL WORK TOGETHER ON THOSE PLANS.
IN OUR NEXT MEETING, WHICH WILL BE IN APRIL, WE'LL LOOK AT APPROVING OUR SHORT-RANGE PLAN, WHICH IS THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF THAT LONG-RANGE PLAN.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FUNDS LEFT FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
JUST A LITTLE OVER $300 MILLION PROJECT LAST MONTH.
[01:55:02]
IT'LL BE ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION IN AUSTIN THIS MONTH FOR APPROVAL.THAT'S SUCKED UP A LOT OF OUR FUNDS GOING FORWARD.
HOWEVER, WE WILL HAVE MORE FUNDS COMING AVAILABLE.
AMARILLO HAS GONE OVER 200,000 POPULATION.
WE WILL START GETTING SOME ADDITIONAL FEDERAL CATEGORIES OF FUNDING.
WE'VE BEEN REVIEWING A LIST OF THESE PROJECTS FOR OUR POLICY BOARD AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER LIST FORM IN APRIL.
THESE ARE MOSTLY MULTI-MODAL TYPE PROJECTS DOING SIDEWALKS, BICYCLE LANES, TRANSIT FACILITIES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL OTHER ITEMS THAT WILL BE ON THAT LIST, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY 12 OUT OF OUR 14 MULTIMODAL PROJECTS.
AN ADDITIONAL CATEGORY WE ALSO GET IS CATEGORY NINE, WHICH AGAIN, IS JUST TARGETING MULTIMODAL PROJECTS.
WHAT THIS WILL DO THOUGH, IS BRING IN PROBABLY AN ADDITIONAL $7 MILLION A YEAR FOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS TO OUR AREA.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING OUR BUDGET RIGHT NOW FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND WE'LL HAVE THAT TO THE POLICY BOARD IN JULY.
WE CAN DO EITHER ONE YEAR OR A TWO YEAR BUDGET.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE ONE YEAR, BUT FEDERAL HIGHWAY HAS ASKED US TO LOOK AT DOING IT TWO YEARS.
WE'LL LOOK AT BOTH OF THOSE THIS YEAR TO SEE WHICH WORKS BETTER FOR US.
IS THERE ANY OTHER PROJECTS OR ANYTHING YOU ALL HAVE QUESTIONS ON?
>> NO. I JUST WOULD SAY THAT TRAVIS AND HIS STAFF ARE KEY IN WORKING ALONG WITH POTTER COUNTY, RANDALL COUNTY, OUR JUDGES, AND SOME COMMISSIONERS, ALSO THE CITY AS WELL AS TXDOT, IN BEING ABLE TO PLAN THESE NEEDS.
IF YOU GET THEM INTO A PLAN, THEN THEY GET IN FRONT OF TXDOT AND THEN THEY GET FUNDED.
IF YOU DON'T GET THESE PLANNED AND YOU DON'T PRIORITIZE THEM AND YOU DON'T SHOW THE NEED, THEN DOWN IN AUSTIN, THOSE MONIES DON'T FIND THEIR WAY UP HERE.
THEY TEND TO FOLLOW THAT I35 AND STAY ON THE EAST SIDE.
THE MORE THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE LIKE TRAVIS AND HIS STAFF STAYING AHEAD OF THESE AND KNOWING WHERE WE'RE AT, THE BETTER OFF WE ARE FOR ALL OF OUR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS AND GROWTH AS WELL.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND THAT'S A GOOD UPDATE.
>>THANK YOU. THAT FINALLY GETS US THROUGH OUR UPDATES AND WE WOULD MOVE ON TO ITEM 8E, WHICH IS A REQUEST FOR ANY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FROM COUNCIL.
>> WELL, I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE THAT OUT THERE VERY LONG, SO I'M GOING TO SAY WE'RE GOOD.
>> MOVING ON TO ITEM 9, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[9. Consent Items ]
DO I HAVE ANYTHING ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT NEEDS TO COME OFF FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? EVERYTHING GOOD AS PRESENTED?>> WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
DO I HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
WE WILL MOVE ON NOW TO OUR NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
[10.A. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8122]
ITEM 10A IS A PUBLIC HEARING, AND I BELIEVE WE DO HAVE MR. KASHUBA COMING BACK UP HERE FOR THIS ONE.FIRST READING FOR AN ORDINANCE.
>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MICHAEL KASHUBA, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 81-22.
THE STANDARDS OF CARE FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO PARKS AND REC IS INTENDED TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH STATE REGULATIONS AND PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN.
IT COVERS VARIOUS ASPECTS SUCH AS GENERAL ADMINISTRATION, ORGANIZATION, INSPECTIONS, ENROLLMENT, HOW TO REPORT ABUSE, STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS, TRAINING OPERATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, FACILITY STANDARDS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
ADOPTING THESE STANDARDS OF CARE EXEMPTS THE CITY YOUTH PROGRAMS FROM STATE CHILDCARE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
THIS WAS SHARED WITH THE PARK BOARD AT THE MARCH 12 PARK BOARD MEETING AND WAS RECOMMENDED FORWARD TO COUNCIL.
THERE WERE TWO MINOR CHANGES FROM THE LAST TIME IT CAME TO COUNCIL IN 2021.
ONE OF THEM WAS THE AGE OF STAFF, WHICH WENT FROM 16 DOWN TO 15, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS A COUPLE OF TITLE CHANGES.
THAT'S BASICALLY A QUICK SUMMARY OF IT.
I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
JUST A REMINDER, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
>> I ALWAYS APPRECIATE THAT REMINDER.
IT'S AN EASY ONE TO MISS. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. KASHUBA ON THIS DOCUMENT.
IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND APPRECIATE YOU PUTTING IT IN PLACE.
[02:00:03]
AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.DO I HAVE ANYONE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND I'D ASK FOR A MOTION.
>> I MOVED TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8122 AS PRESENTED.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED. ITEM 10A PASSES.
WE WILL MOVE DOWN TO ITEM 10E.
[10.E. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8126]
WE HAVE MR. BRADY KENDRICK COMING FORWARD.NOW, THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, BUT YOU DO QUITE A FEW OF THOSE.
WHAT DO YOU GOT FOR US TODAY, BRADY?
>> YES, I GOT TWO THAT ARE PRETTY SIMILAR IN NATURE.
GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS ONE IS A CONSIDERATION TO VACATE A 10 FOOT WIDE PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT THAT'S LOCATED WITHIN LOT 5, BLOCK 4, OF EMERALD MEDICAL CENTER, UNIT NUMBER 5, IN THE VICINITY OF KILGORE DRIVE AND WALLACE BOULEVARD.
THE APPLICANT IS FURMAN LAND SURVEYORS, INC., FOR THE BETTY BIVINS CHILDERS FOUNDATION, AND THEY ARE REQUESTING THE ABANDONMENT OF THE NOTED EASEMENT. ON YOUR SCREEN.
IT'S A 10 FOOT WIDE PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT THAT WAS NEVER UTILIZED BY THE CITY NOR ANY OF OUR FRANCHISE UTILITY COMPANIES.
IT WAS THOUGHT THAT THIS EASEMENT HAD BEEN VACATED IN THE PAST, HOWEVER, DURING A SALE OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS, THE TITLE COMPANY BELIEVES THAT THIS EASEMENT WAS NEVER VACATED.
WE LOOKED THROUGH OUR DOCUMENTS IN THE CITY RECORDS AND WE COULD NOT VERIFY THAT IT WAS VACATED EVER.
WE ARE SIMPLY GOING THROUGH THE FORMALITY OF VACATING AN EASEMENT THAT WAS NEVER UTILIZED BY THE CITY OR UTILITY COMPANIES.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FOUND THIS REQUEST DOES COMPLY WITH CITY POLICY REGARDING EASEMENT ABANDONMENTS AND DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR BRADY, GENTLEMEN?
>> THANK YOU, SIR. WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION.
>> I MOVED TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 8126 AS PRESENTED ON THE AGENDA.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM 10E? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.
[10.F. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8127]
MR. KENDRICK, YOU ARE LAST UP ON ITEM 10F.>> YES, 10F IS ALSO AN EASEMENT VACATION.
THIS ONE IS A 20 FOOT WIDE PUBLIC UTILITY EASEMENT THAT IS LOCATED IN BLOCK 41 OF THE ORIGINAL TOWN OF AMARILLO UNIT NUMBER 21, IN THE VICINITY OF SOUTHWEST FIFTH AVENUE AND PARKER STREET.
THE APPLICANT IS OJD ENGINEERING, LLC, FOR TYLER STREET RESOURCES CENTER.
THIS EASEMENT WAS RETAINED WHEN AN ALLEY THAT WAS LOCATED OVER THE SAME AREA WAS VACATED A COUPLE DECADES AGO.
THE EASEMENT WAS RETAINED IN THE EVENT THAT UTILITIES NEEDED TO BE PLACED THERE.
MOST OF THE UTILITY COMPANIES NEVER UTILIZED THIS EASEMENT.
HOWEVER, THEY HAVE SINCE ABANDONED THEIR FACILITIES THAT WERE IN THIS EASEMENT AND THEY STATED THAT THEY NO LONGER NEEDED IT.
THE PLANS FOR THIS SITE IS IT IS THE LOCATION FOR THE UPCOMING GUYON SAUNDERS RESOURCE CENTER.
THEY'RE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TRANSFORMATION PARK.
THEY INTEND TO DEVELOP ON THE ENTIRETY OF THAT SITE.
THIS ONE ALSO DID COMPLY WITH CITY POLICY REGARDING EASEMENT ABANDONMENTS AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL AS PRESENTED WITH A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
>> VERY WELL. ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. KENDRICK ON THIS ITEM?
>> BRADY, WE APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE ON WORKING THROUGH ALL THAT AND VERIFYING ALL OF IT WITH EVERYBODY WHO'S BEEN THERE.
>> WOULD ASK FOR, WELL, NOT OUR FINAL MOTION, BUT WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8127 AS PRESENTED.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM THE LEFT SIDE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? ITEM PASSES WITH A 5:0 VOTE.
I WOULD NOW REQUEST OUR LAST MOTION.
>> I MOVED TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND. THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE. YOU'RE ADJOURNED.
>> THAT'S FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.