[00:00:02]
[1. Call to Order]
WE THANK YOU ALL FOR ATTENDING AND BEING WILLING TO PARTICIPATE HERE.I AM GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OFFICIALLY CALL US TO ORDER.
WE DO HAVE A QUORUM HERE FOR THE AEDC AS WELL.
BECAUSE WE ARE PRESENT HERE IN TWO DIFFERENT QUORUMS, ON BEHALF OF THE AEDC, LET THE MINUTES REFLECT THAT THEIR MEETING IS ALSO CALLED TO ORDER.
WOULD ASK IF WE HAD ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO ADD OR IF THAT'S FINE.
BRIAN, ALL GOOD. WE'VE NOW NOTICED THE PUBLIC FOR THE MUTUAL QUORUM.
[2. Invocation]
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE CHAPLAIN CHADWICK COME UP HERE AND DO OUR INVOCATION.IF YOU'D PLEASE RISE AND STAY STANDING FOR THE PLEDGES.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IF YOU GUYS WILL BOW YOUR HEAD, I'M GOING TO START WITH ISAIAH TODAY SINCE IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME.
ISAIAH CHAPTER 9 SAYS, FOR UNTO US, A CHILD IS BORN UNTO US, THE SON IS GIVEN, AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE UPON HIS SHOULDER AND HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR.
MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE, AT THE INCREASE OF THIS GOVERNMENT IN PEACE, THERE WILL BE NO END UPON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND OVER HIS KINGDOM TO ORDER IT AND ESTABLISH IT WITH JUDGMENT AND JUSTICE.
FROM THAT TIME FORWARD EVEN FOREVER TO THE ZEAL OF HOST WILL PERFORM THIS.
FATHER GOD, UNTIL YOU ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM ON EARTH, PLEASE GRANT US AND THIS BODY OF MEN, YOUR WISDOM AND PATIENCE TO GOVERN JUSTLY AND RIGHTEOUSLY.
YOU ARE TRULY WORTHY OF ALL HONOR, GLORY, AND POWER.
WE ARE REMINDED IN THIS SEASON THAT YOUR SON CAME INTO THE WORLD TO LEAD HUMANITY OUT OF DARKNESS AND INTO LIGHT.
MAY THE PEACE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THROUGH CHRIST BE FELT IN ALL, BY ALL, IN THIS CITY.
MAY JOY RESOUND, LIFT UP THE BROKEN HEARTED, HEAL THE SICK, AND DRAW ALL MEN TO YOURSELF.
SALVATION HAS COME INTO THE WORLD, FOR A SAVIOR WAS BORN AND DIED FOR THE SINS OF MANKIND.
FIND US FAITHFUL LORD, I PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.
>> THANK YOU, CHAP. IF YOU'LL JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLEASE BE SEATED. THAT'S HOW YOU DO THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY FROM STAFF?
[6. Public Comment]
>> MOVING RIGHT ALONG, WE ARE GOING TO STEP INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.
ITEM NUMBER 6, I'M GOING TO HAND THIS OVER TO MRS. CITY SECRETARY WHEN SHE'S READY IF SHE'LL READ US INTO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN TODAY'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
YOUR INPUT AND YOUR OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO US AND WE'RE GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE TO SHARE THEM TODAY.
AT EACH POSTED MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS OR TOPICS RELATED TO CITY POLICY.
EVERY SPEAKER TODAY WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS COUNCIL.
AT THE END OF 2.5 MINUTES, A WARNING BEEP WILL SOUND TO ALERT YOU THAT YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS.
EXCUSE ME. WE ASK THAT YOU STAY WITHIN YOUR THREE MINUTES ALLOTTED.
WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY.
IF YOU ARE SPEAKING ON A PUBLIC HEARING, WE ASK THAT YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENT EITHER DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OR DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT NOT BOTH IN ORDER FOR US TO KEEP ACCURATE MINUTES.
IT'S YOUR DECISION AT WHICH TIME YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE TODAY, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN THE AMARILLO CITY LIMITS, AND THEN YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS TO COUNCIL.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH US.
WE WILL START WITH TANYA WINSTON, AND AFTER MRS. WINSTON WILL BE ERIC GONZALEZ.
I LIVE IN THE AMARILLO CITY LIMITS.
THIS IS A DIFFICULT TOPIC, BUT IT IS A PUBLIC TOPIC, AND IT'S ABOUT THE PUBLIC RES AND THE TRANSGENDER.
I'M NOT HERE TO JUDGE ANYONE ON HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIFESTYLE.
[00:05:04]
HOWEVER, I AM A BIBLE BELIEVER, AND I BELIEVE THAT AMARILLO IS BUILT ON MORALS AND INTEGRITY.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE CLEAR IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN WHO ARE OUT AND ABOUT WITH THEIR PARENTS OR MAYBE SOME TEENAGERS THAT ARE OUT AND ABOUT JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME ON THE WEEKEND, WE NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO USE PUBLIC RESTROOMS WITHOUT IT BEING A PROBLEM AND THE PRIVACY OF THEM USING THE RESTROOMS, WITHOUT IT BEING A PROBLEM.
AS YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS AND YEARS IN THE PAST, THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY, IT IS VERY KNOWN THAT YOUNG BOYS AND YOUNG GIRLS HAVE BEEN MOLESTED IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS. YOU CAN LOOK IT UP, GOOGLE IT.
YOU'LL SEE THAT THESE TYPE OF CHARGES AND FOLLY HAS HAPPENED IN OUR SOCIETY.
WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC RESTROOMS HERE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE RESTROOMS IS MALE AND FEMALE GENDER, MEANING THAT WHEN YOU GO IN, YOU GO IN ONE AT A TIME, USE YOUR RESTROOM, AND YOU COME OUT.
OTHER PLACES LIKE THE WESTGATE MALL, HOSPITALS, AIRPORTS, THEY HAVE MORE THAN ONE BATHROOM STALL.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT MOST OF OUR PUBLIC PLACES HAVE ANOTHER RESTROOM WHERE IT IS SAME SEX GENDER, BUT YOU GO IN ONE AT A TIME, THAT WAY THAT WE NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS IN AMARILLO.
WE DON'T NEED LAWSUITS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AGAINST OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS.
LIKE I SAY, I'M NOT WANT TO JUDGE A PERSON'S LIFESTYLE, BUT WE DO NEED TO STAND ON OUR MORALS AND WE DO NEED TO STAND ON OUR VALUES, AND WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE SAFE AND SOUND WHEN THEY'RE OUT AND ABOUT USING PUBLIC RESTROOMS. I JUST WANTED TO BRING THIS TO THE PANEL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT IGNORED AND THAT IT'S NOT OVERLOOKED.
LIKE I SAID, I BELIEVE IN CHRIST, I BELIEVE IN SCRIPTURE.
THAT'S NUMBER ONE AND FOREMOST IN MY LIFE, AND I BELIEVE THAT PRETTY MUCH OUR CITY IS IN STAND ON THAT.
JUST LOOK OUT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OTHER PEOPLE FOR THEIR SAFETY WHEN THEY USING RESTROOM.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE PUBLIC PLACES HAVE A EXTRA RESTROOM WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO IN ONE AT A TIME AND THERE'S NO CONFUSION WITH TRANSGENDER AND PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO LIVE THEIR LIFE IN A PUBLIC SETTING ON ANY TYPE OF LEISURE TIME.
ARE Y'ALL UNDERSTANDING WHAT I'M SAYING?
>> THANK YOU, MRS. TANYA. WE UNDERSTAND, WE APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING HERE TODAY.
>> NEXT IS ERIC GONZALEZ, AND DR. ERIC WILL BE DON STRIBLING.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ERIC GONZALEZ, AND I'M A RESIDENT HERE IN AMARILLO.
I'VE GOT FAMILY TIES HERE FOR A LOT OF MY LIFE AND SURROUNDING AREA LIKE HARFORD.
ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL TODAY IS THE MATTER OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS MONUMENT THAT'S PROPOSED FOR THE NEW AMARILLO CITY HALL.
NOW, I KNOW THAT, OF COURSE, 10 COMMANDMENTS, AND OTHER SCRIPTURE RELATED TO CHRISTIANITY HAS A BIG CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR MANY PEOPLE IN TEXAS AND ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
HOWEVER, WITH REGARDS TO THIS MONUMENT, THE FACT THAT WE'D BE PUTTING IT DIRECTLY IN THE BRAND NEW CITY HALL, WHERE ALL RESIDENTS INCLUDING THOSE WHO MAYBE LESS RELIGIOUS OR WHO ARE NON-CHRISTIAN, WE DO HAVE NON-CHRISTIAN RESIDENTS, OF COURSE, IN AMARILLO, MAY NOT FEEL FULLY WELCOME OR PARTIALLY EXCLUDED WHEN WALKING INTO THEIR LOCAL PUBLIC GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
[00:10:02]
A FEW OTHER POINTS OF CONCERN REGARDING THIS.THE 10 COMMANDMENTS THEMSELVES, OF COURSE, ARE COMMANDMENTS, SO INSTRUCTIONS.
HAVING THEM ON PUBLIC PROPERTY, SUCH AS THOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE LORD'S NAME IN VAIN OR THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GOD BEFORE THE GOD OF THE BIBLE, OF COURSE, APPLIES TO CHRISTIANS, BUT THESE AS INSTRUCTIONS, BASICALLY, DON'T SEEM LIKE THEY WOULD APPLY TO OTHER PEOPLE WHEN THEY SEE THIS MONUMENT ON PUBLIC GROUNDS.
THERE'S A CONCERN ABOUT SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.
THERE'S ALSO A CONCERN ABOUT WHAT VERSION WOULD BE USED BEYOND RELIGIOUS OR NON-RELIGIOUS.
WOULD IT BE BASED OFF OF MASORETIC TEXT, WOULD IT BE BASED OFF OF THE KING JAMES BIBLE, MORE PROTESTANT INTERPRETATION? BASED OFF OF THE OLD GREEK TRANSLATION THAT'S MORE COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH CATHOLICS? WILL THERE BE WORDING THAT IS NEUTRAL FOR ALL DENOMINATIONS, SO THERE'S NO FAVORITISM OVER ONE OR THE OTHER? THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS WE NEED TO CONSIDER.
FINALLY, I KNOW THAT I'VE HEARD THAT THE FUNDING FOR THIS IS MEANT TO COME FROM PRIVATE FUNDS RATHER THAN FROM PUBLIC TAXES.
HOWEVER, WHILE THIS WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR THE INITIAL FUNDING OF SUCH A STATUTE, I HAVE TO WONDER, IF THE MONUMENT WERE TO STAND FOR DECADES, WHETHER IT'S CLEANING, CUSTODIAL WORK ON IT, ANY OTHER MAINTENANCE, WOULDN'T THAT EVENTUALLY FALL UNDER PUBLIC FUNDS SO THIS IS NOT REALLY PASSING THE CONVERSATION DOWN THE ROAD FOR SOMEONE ELSE? NOW, WITH THAT, I ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT, SO I YIELD MY TIME AND I HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER THIS.
>> THANK YOU, MR. GONZALEZ. [APPLAUSE]
>> NEXT IS DON STRIBLING, AND AFTER MR. STRIBLING, ALAN FEINGOLD.
I AM A RESIDENT OF AMARILLO, TEXAS.
I RISE TO SPEAK IN REGARD TO YOUR CONSIDERATION LAST MONTH OF THE IDEA OF PURCHASING A MONUMENT OF THE 10 COMMANDMENTS TO PLACE AT THE NEW CITY HALL.
IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT YOU WERE NOT CONSIDERING THE 10 COMMANDMENTS TO BE A RELIGIOUS ARTIFACT, BUT A HISTORICAL ONE.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE COMMANDMENTS, THE FIRST COMMANDMENT IS, I AM YAHWEH, YOUR GOD WHO BROUGHT YOU UP OUT OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE HOUSE OF SLAVERY.
YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.
THAT IS A RELIGIOUS STATEMENT, IF I'VE EVER HEARD ONE.
THEREFORE, I SUBMIT THAT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS MUST BE CONSIDERED RELIGIOUS.
ACCORDING TO THE MAJORITY OF RELIGIOUS ADHERENTS IN AMARILLO, THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ARE OF VALUE SOLELY BECAUSE THEY ARE THE WORD OF GOD TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
TO DEMEAN THE WORD OF GOD BY CLAIMING IT IS MERELY A HISTORICAL ARTIFACT, WOULD MEAN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TAKES THE POSITION THAT WHAT IS TAUGHT IN EVERY SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS IN AMARILLO IS NO LONGER DEEMED BY THIS COUNCIL TO BE WORTHY TO BE CONSIDERED RELIGIOUS, BUT MERELY HISTORICAL, EVEN THOUGH ITS ORIGIN IS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.
IF YOU DESIRE TO ERECT A HISTORICAL ARTIFACT, WHAT WOULD BE MOST FITTING FOR THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING IN OUR NATION AND IN OUR CITY IS A MONUMENT TO THE BILL OF RIGHTS.
OF WHICH THE FIRST IS, CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW RESPECTING AND ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION OR PREVENTING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF, OR ABRIDGING THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH OR A PRESS, OR THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE PEACEABLY TO ASSEMBLE AND TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT FOR REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES.
I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD APPLY TO CITY COUNCILS.
I HOPE I'VE MADE THE POINT THAT THE BEST MONUMENT FOR COUNCIL TO INSTALL AT OUR NEW CITY HALL WOULD BE THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE FIRST 10 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION, WHICH I FEAR THAT NONE OF US TODAY COULD RECITE BY MEMORY.
WE PROBABLY NEED SUCH A MONUMENT, WHICH IS DEFINITELY HISTORICAL AND HAS NEVER CLAIMED THE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY OF BEING GOD'S WORD.
>> NEXT IS ALAN FEINGOLD, AND AFTER MR. FEINGOLD WILL BE MARGARET JENKINS.
[00:15:01]
I RESIDE AT 2601 NORTH GRAND STREET IN AMARILLO.
I DIDN'T WANT TO GET IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISPUTE ABOUT A MONUMENT RELIGIOUS OR HISTORICAL, BUT I DO SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING.
IF YOU DECIDE TO GO AHEAD WITH THIS, KEEP THE ROMAN NUMERALS OUT OF IT.
NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MR. GRAYSON A QUESTION.
HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY STATUS REPORT FROM THE HEAD OF THE CITY'S DIVISION FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS REGARDING UTILITIES PROJECTS, WHICH WERE AUTHORIZED BY THE AMARILLO CITY COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER THE 19TH, 2019, UNDER THE TITLE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM? DID YOU RECEIVE YET ANY COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THE VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT WERE LISTED IN THAT, I GUESS YOU'D SAY AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OR PERHAPS IT WAS JUST ONE OF THE GENERAL RESOLUTIONS?
>> MR. MAYOR, HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE PROJECTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM?
>> TO USE YOUR TIME WELL, LET ME GET WITH YOU AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A FOLLOW UP.
I'M AWARE OF A STATEMENT OF FACT THAT YOU HAD A MEETING WITH FLOYD HARTMAN WHO DIRECTS MOST OF THOSE PROJECTS.
>> I'D LIKE TO KNOW, MR. HARTMAN, HAVE YOU PREPARED A REPORT FOR THE CITY COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF THESE PROJECTS?
>> I SAID, DID YOU PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE STATUS OF THESE PROJECTS?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT APPROPRIATE FEEDBACK MEANS, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS MUCH.
THESE WERE ESSENTIAL PROJECTS, MORE THAN A QUARTER OF $1 BILLION WAS AUTHORIZED FOR THESE PROJECTS, AND ON A SINGLE ONE OF THEM, WHICH IS LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA, HHH, THE APPROVED AMOUNT OR THE SUGGESTED AMOUNT WAS 25 MILLION, AND NOW IT'S UP TO 75 MILLION.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED, BUT I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME SEVERE LACK OF PROJECT COMPLETION OVER AT THE HOLLYWOOD WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS COMMISSION IS GOING TO INSIST ON HAVING A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT FOR ITSELF AND FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THANK YOU.
>> APPRECIATE, MR. FEINGOLD THANK YOU.
>> MARGARET JENKINS AND AFTER MISS JENKINS WILL BE CASSANDRA GREEN.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CITY COUNCIL.
I AM HERE TODAY TO STATE MY OPPOSITION OF THE HISTORICAL DOCUMENT, I E, THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, BEING PLACED ON THE GROUNDS OF THE NEW CITY HALL BUILDING.
MY OPPOSITION IS RELATED TO THE SEPARATION BETWEEN CHURCH AND STATE.
I DISAGREE THAT THE HISTORICAL DOCUMENT IS THE BASIS FOR OUR LAWS AND CONSTITUTION.
VARIOUS DOCUMENTS AND TEXTS FIGURE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN LAW.
AMONG THEM, ENGLISH, COMMON AND STATUTORY LAW, ROMAN LAW, THE CIVIL LAW OF CONTINENTAL EUROPE AND PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW.
THE FOUNDERS LISTED ITS PRIMARY INFLUENCES AS THE WRITINGS OF WILLIAM BLACKSTONE, JOHN LOCKE, ADAM SMITH, AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS THE MAGNA CARTA, THE FEDERALIST PAPERS, AND OTHER SOURCES.
EACH OF THESE DOCUMENTS HAD A FAR GREATER INFLUENCE ON THE AMERICAN LAW THAN THE 10 COMMANDMENTS.
LEGAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD DOES NOT INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT AND MEANINGFUL REFERENCES TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THE PENTATEUCH OR TO BIBLICAL LAW GENERALLY.
ASIDE FROM A FAILED ATTEMPT IN THE 17TH CENTURY TO ESTABLISH A BIBLICALLY BASED LEGAL SYSTEM IN THE PURITAN COLONIES, AMERICAN LAW IS GENERALLY VIEWED AS HAVING A SECULAR ORIGIN.
PUT SIMPLY THAT THE ORIGINAL TEXTS VIEWED IN THEIR ENTIRETY ARE UNMISTAKABLY RELIGIOUS STATEMENTS,
[00:20:02]
DEALING WITH THE RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS AND WITH MORAL SUBJECT TO RELIGIOUS SANCTION.WHEN THE GOVERNMENT INITIATES AN EFFORT TO PLACE THIS STATEMENT ALONE IN PUBLIC VIEW, A RELIGIOUS OBJECT IS UNMISTAKABLE.
I AM AWARE THAT THE SUPREME COURT OF THE US HAS ISSUED A CONFUSING PAIR OF RULINGS.
ON THE OTHER TYPES OF 10 COMMANDMENTS IN THE VAN ORDEN VERSUS PERRY, IT IS THAT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS COULD BE ON DISPLAY ON THE GROUNDS OF THE TEXAS STATE CAPITOL IN RECOGNITION OF RELIGIONS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
HOWEVER, MERCER COUNTY VERSUS ACLU OF KENTUCKY, BLOCKED THE STATE FROM DISPLAYING THE 10 COMMANDMENTS ON COURTHOUSE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DETERMINING THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS GOAL HAD BEEN TO ADVANCE A RELIGIOUS MESSAGE WHICH VIOLATES THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE.
THE COURT HAS ALSO REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS RELIGIOUS MESSAGE, SAYING THAT WHEN THE TEXT IS DISPLAYED PROMINENTLY ON ITS OWN, IT SENDS A MESSAGE ABOUT GOD RATHER THAN AMERICAN HISTORY. MAY I CONTINUE?
>> IF YOU CAN TAKE ONE MORE MINUTE, MA'AM.
>> THANK YOU. IN JUSTICE BREYER'S OPINION OF THE KENTUCKY CASE READS IN TODAY'S WORLD, IN A NATION OF SO MANY DIFFERENT RELIGIONS AND COMPARABLE NON RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS, A MORE COMPATIBLE, NON RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS, A MORE CONTEMPORARY STATE EFFORT TO FOCUS UPON A RELIGIOUS TEXT IS CERTAIN LIKELY TO PROVE DIVISIVE IN A WAY THAT THIS LONG STANDING PRE EXISTING MONUMENT HAS NOT.
NEW AND RECENT DISPLAYS, THEREFORE, FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PASS CONSTITUTIONAL SCRUTINY.
THE MONUMENT THAT THE COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING IS A NEW MONUMENT WHICH DOES NOT EXIST, AND THE CHALLENGE TO ITS LOCATION IS CLEAR.
THE CHURCH HAS ENTERED THE STATE.
WOULD THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CONSIDER PLACEMENT OF A BUDDHIST LAW OR ISLAMIC DECLARATION OF LAW OR A MORMON STATEMENT OF MARRIAGE PLURALITY? I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THAT THE COUNCIL RECONSIDER THE PLACEMENT OF A PRIVATELY FUNDED RELIGIOUS MONUMENT IN THE NEW CITY HALL COMPLEX.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TO POSSIBLY AVERT ANOTHER DIVERSE SPLIT IN THE AMARILLO CITIZENS.
>> YES. IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING?
>> YOU'LL NEED TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THAT BEING SAID, I ONLY PROVIDED I HAVE THREE DOCUMENTS.
I'M AN AMARILLO RESIDENT OF RANDALL COUNTY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMAN, AND MAYOR.
CO. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME TO SPEAK.
I COME TO YOU AS A CONCERNED AMARILLO CITIZEN.
AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER, I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL ISSUES CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF OUR PRIVACY.
I WILL ONLY SPEAK ON THE MOST PRESSING TWO OF MY CONCERNS.
AS I'M AFRAID, THE PROCESS HAS ALREADY STARTED ROLLING OUT AND BECOMING MORE MATERIALIZED THAN WE EVEN REALIZE OR THAT WE WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH.
THIS IS WHY I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY ASK YOU TO ROLL BACK ITEM 8K DUE TO MY RECENT FINDINGS.
FINDING NUMBER 1, THERE IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT YOU RECEIVED GRANTS FROM, IT'S CALLED PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU'LL SEE IN THE DOCUMENTATION THAT I DID A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH ABOUT THEM.
I'M FINDING THAT THEY HAVE TIES WITH HOMELAND SECURITY.
I WOULD LIKE TO ISSUE A CALL TO THE MAYOR AND TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE POLICIES, PROCEDURES,
[00:25:01]
AND TIES FROM THIS ENTITY, EXPLICITLY DISCLOSING TO THE CITIZENS WHAT THEIR REQUIREMENTS ARE FOR ISSUING GRANTS.I WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU MOVING FORWARD TO NOT LIMIT IT TO JUST THIS ORGANIZATION, BUT TO RETROACTIVE THIS REQUEST TO ANY OF THE GRANTS ALREADY RECEIVED THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE BUDGET OF HALF A MILLION.
I BELIEVE THAT THOSE GRANTS WERE RECEIVED IN SEPTEMBER.
IT IS MY FINDING THAT PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD IS A GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION, AND I FIND THAT EXTREMELY CONCERNING THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY HAVE ACCESS TO MY PRIVATE INFORMATION.
MY FINDING NUMBER 2, I'M AWARE THAT YOU HAVE CONSTRUCTED A RESOLUTION TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS BROUGHT UP WITH THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER.
I APPRECIATE THIS DOCUMENT THAT YOU GUYS CAME UP WITH.
HOWEVER, IT IS MY CONCERN THAT IT'S ONLY A RESOLUTION, HOLDING NO BINDING LEGALLY.
THEREFORE, NOT REALLY PROVIDING ANY FORM OF PRIVACY PROTECTION TO THE AMARILLO CITIZENS.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT I COULD HELP YOU FORM A COMMITTEE ON BEHALF OF AMARILLO CITIZENS TO JOIN YOUR EFFORTS IN CREATING A MORE LEGAL BINDING DOCUMENT.
ALSO, I HAVE A CONCERN THAT THIS IS IN VIOLATION TO TEXAS LEGISLATURE ACT HB 1631, AND I'M WONDERING HOW DID YOU ALL GET PAST THAT TO PROVIDE THIS REAL TIME CRIME CENTER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> HELLO, GENTLEMEN. MY NAME IS MISTY COLLIER.
SOME OF THE DOCUMENTS FROM OUR FOUNDING FOREFATHERS THAT INCLUDE GOD.
THAT'S THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE ACTS OF THE CONFEDERATES 1781, THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 1787, THE PREAMBLE.
TO THE CONSTITUTION, 1787, STATE CONSTITUTIONS, AND THEN THE FEDERALIST PAPERS.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GO BACK TO WHAT I ACTUALLY CAME HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TODAY.
THAT IS I'M GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN SET INTO PLACE TO KEEP AMARILLO FROM RATIONING, ITS CITIZENS WATER.
THAT IS WHY THEY USE AND THAT'S ACTUALLY IN YOUR AGENDA TODAY, YOU'RE GOING TO PROVE A METER THAT'S GOING TO SEE HOW MUCH THE WATER IS REGULATED OR WHAT LEVEL THE WATER IS AT.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING YOU THAT.
THEN WHAT PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE THAT PROTECT THE PRIVACY RIGHTS FROM THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER, WHICH IS THE CAMERAS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO APPROVE TODAY ON THE BUDGET.
THEN I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THAT IF NO PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE, I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ROLL ALL THESE ITEMS UNTIL SAID PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE.
I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO START OVER.
IF NO PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN SET INTO PLACE TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS FROM THEIR PRIVACY OR TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS FROM NOT HAVING THEIR WATER RATIONED, WHICH THEY DO IN CALIFORNIA.
I WOULD ASK THAT Y'ALL ROLL THESE ITEMS UNTIL SAID PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN SET INTO PLACE SO THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE PROTECTED FROM THESE THINGS.
I HAVE SENT A MULTIPLE ENGAGEMENTS AND PAPERS, AND PROOF OF THESE INCIDENTS.
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ROLL THESE ITEMS UNTIL THOSE SAID PROTOCOLS HAVE BEEN SET INTO PLACE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MISTY. HEY, MISTY.
JUST AS A STATEMENT OF FACT, I KNOW I THINK THAT WHAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS ITEM CC, THE LAKE LEVEL MONITORING AND THAT TYPE OF DEAL.
THAT'S FOR FLOODWATER, THOSE ARE ONLY APPLY IN LAKES IT'S NOT FOR ANY OF OUR SOURCE WATER THAT WE GET OUR DRINKS.
>> MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES EVERYONE THAT SIGNED UP TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO SPOKE.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD ASK IF I HAVE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT.
[00:30:05]
MR. FORD, I SAW YOUR HAND FIRST, AND THEN MR. MC GUN EAGLE, I SAW YOUR SECOND, MR. FORD, IF YOU COME FORWARD.>> THANK YOU. ALL THOSE ARE GOING OUT, I'D ALSO LIKE TO ECHO THE STATEMENTS THAT WE ARE ALL OF OUR STATE CONSTITUTIONS, 13 COLONIES BEGAN WITH WITH THE REQUIREMENT THAT OFFICE HOLDERS BE OF A RELIGIOUS EITHER PROTESTANT OR CATHOLIC.
TO SAY THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS SECULAR ORIGINS WOULD BE A MISSTATEMENT OF HISTORY.
THERE ARE THREE MEETING AGENDAS POSTED FOR THIS SPACE AT THE PRESENT TIME.
I KNOW THAT PROBABLY IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE A UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE WE HAVE TWO MEMBERS OF THE ADC TEMPORARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE CHAIRMAN HERE AND MAYBE OTHER MEMBERS.
BUT YOU HAVE IT IN HERE WHERE YOU'RE CALLING TO ORDER ACTUALLY THREE MEETINGS.
ON REGULAR MEETING OF THE ADC, FOR SOME REASON, THE CITY POSTED A DIFFERENT AGENDA, A WORK SESSION OF THE ADC, WHICH I CAN SEE WHY THEY I'VE CALLED IT A WORK SESSION BECAUSE IT HAS WORK SESSION ITEMS AND THEN YOU HAVE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I'VE OFFERED, PERHAPS THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, A POSTING.
IT'S A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS, YOU HAVE A QUORUM HERE.
IF YOU POST A MEETING, THERE'S A GENERAL EXPECTATION TO ANYBODY WHO'S READING THIS THAT THE MEETING WILL BE CONVENED AND THAT THERE WILL BE MINUTES.
FOR THE ADC, WON'T BE PRODUCING MINUTES. I DON'T THINK SO.
THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE TWO MEETINGS OCCURRING AT THE SAME TIME OR TWO BODIES MEETING TOGETHER AS YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST.
I'VE JUST OFFERED THAT NOTICE OF QUORUM JUST AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THAT, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE POSSIBLE QUORUM.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A QUORUM HERE, SO YOU JUST POST NOTICE OF QUORUM.
THE ARTICLE OF INCORPORATION, THE OTHER THING THAT I'VE PROVIDED YOU, IN GENERAL, MR. HYDE HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB.
HOWEVER, I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT WE FOLLOW THE LAW AND THE LAW STATES THAT THE CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION OR THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR TYPE A CORPORATION MUST STATE THAT THE CORPORATION IS GOVERNED BY THIS CHAPTER IN THIS CHAPTER 504, SO 501, 502, THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE TO BE STATED.
THE 501 ISSUE, AS MR. HYDE STATED PREVIOUSLY AND SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON TYPE A PROJECTS REQUIRED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN 501, THOSE THINGS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO HAVE CLEAR, AND THAT WAY, WE WON'T BE DOING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS FOR GENERAL RETAIL, WHICH IT DOES NOT QUALIFY AS A TYPE A PROJECT.
FINALLY, THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS AND THIS IS A QUESTION OF FACT IS WHETHER OR NOT A ANY TYPE OF CRIMINAL OR LAW ENFORCEMENT REFERRAL HAS BEEN MADE TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY, TEXAS RANGERS, ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS OR FEDERAL REGARDING THE RANGE AND THE MISAPPROPRIATIONS, THE MISAPPROPRIATION OF 1.3 MILLION DOLLAR IN TAXPAYER MONIES.
THAT'S A QUESTION OF FACT SO I'M JUST CURIOUS.
ANSWER THAT QUESTION, YES OR NO?
>> MR. FORD, WE APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING.
WE'LL TAKE ALL OF THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT.
AS A STATEMENT OF FACT, WE CAN'T ANSWER THAT. THANK YOU.
>> ANY CHANCE YOU MIGHT ELABORATE WHY WE CAN'T THAT CAN'T BE ANSWERED?
NEXT WAS MR. MC GUN EAGLE, IF YOU COME UP.
>> [BACKGROUND] WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M JEFF GUNEGLE MCGUNEGLE, ALSO KNOWN AS THE NON-MAYOR.
THE SHAMAN, COACH, MAC, THE PILOT, THE HEADLESS MAYOR, JEFF, THE PROFESSOR, SON, SON OF A, AND MANY MORE.
I LIVE IN AMAR, WHERE CHURCHES BEAR SPRAY THE MENTALLY ILL, TEXAS, OF THE CURRENTLY DIVIDED UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE. I WAS GETTING A MOUNTAINTOP VIEW OF THE LEGAL BRIBERY IN THE THOR DISTRICT 87 RACE.
[00:35:01]
I'M HAPPY TO BE BACK. TO ILL, I HONOR RESPECT AND HAVE GRATITUDE FOR YOUR EXCELLENCE.MAY YOU ALL WAKE UP TO YOUR FULL POTENTIAL.
NUMBER 1, THOU SHALT CONSIDER AND RESPECT THE ILL IN REGARDS TO ALL DECISIONS, DISCUSSIONS, AND ACTIONS TAKEN WHERE ONLY WHEN, WHEN CAN BE THE RESULT OR THE OUTCOME.
SENT BY THE ILL, IT'S GIVING ME 10 COMMANDMENTS OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE CITY LEADERS.
THE INTENTION IS TO BRING NEW LIFE.
THESE ARE TO BE 10 COMMANDMENTS ERECTED AT THE NEW CITY HALL.
THESE ARE TO BE ERECTED, NOT RELIGIOUS ONES THAT THROW SHADE OF DISRESPECT AT THE MINI.
MUCH LIKE THIS INVOCATION DOES, IT CONTINUES TO DO.
AS A BUDDHIST CHRISTIAN, ONE THING I UNDERSTAND THAT MOST AMERICANS DON'T, AND THAT'S THE IMMUTABLE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT.
EVERY TIME THIS INVOCATION IS PERFORMED, IT CAUSES A FUTURE WAVE OF DISRESPECT BACK ON THOSE PARTAKING IN IT.
SINCE THIS RETURNS IS A MUCH STRONGER ACTION, MORE HARM MAY BE CREATED THAN GOOD.
THERE'S SAFETY IN RESPECT FOR THE ILL. AGAIN, THOU SHALT CONSIDER AND RESPECT THE ILL IN REGARDS TO ALL DECISIONS, DISCUSSIONS, AND ACTIONS TAKEN WHERE ONLY WIN-WIN CAN BE THE RESULT, THE OUTCOME.
I EXPECT AMENDMENTS 2 AND 3 FOR THE NEXT MEETING, 10 BY MARCH, AND THEN HOPEFULLY ON THE BALLOT IN MAY.
I'M SURE ONE WILL BE REGARDING TRUTH AND TRUST.
AND ON THE AGENDA, I WAS EXPECTING SOMETHING ABOUT KIP BILLIPS TODAY, BUT THAT JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN.
PS, IF WE ARE MAKING SIGNS FOR THE CITY, LET THE SCHOOL STUDENTS ERECT IT.
IT'S TIME TO CREATE A CULTURE OF YOUTH.
NO MORE OLD FOLKS HOME, A CULTURE OF YOUTH.
I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS, SIR.
DID I SEE ANOTHER HAND? YES, SIR, IN THE BACK.
>> MIND TO GIVE US YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD?
>> MY NAME IS ZECHARIAH HARVEY.
I THOUGHT I SIGNED UP, BUT I GUESS I DID NOT. HERE I AM NOW.
NOT TO SOUND TOO MUCH LIKE A BROKEN RECORD, BUT I AM HERE TO OFFER MY OPPOSITION TO THE IDEA OF PUTTING A MONUMENT TO THE 10 COMMANDMENTS AT THE NEW CITY HALL, AND I DID TYPE UP SOMETHING TO SAY.
I WAS BORN HERE IN AMARILLO. I'VE LIVED HERE MOST OF MY LIFE, SAY FOR A FEW YEARS HERE AND THERE.
BUT I HAVE LIVED HERE MOST OF MY LIFE SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY BEFORE I BEGIN, I AM A CHRISTIAN.
I WAS BAPTIZED, AND I AM A CHRISTIAN.
I DO GO TO CHURCH. BUT THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS THAT THIS INHERENTLY IS A MONUMENT TO RELIGION.
MR. MAYOR, YOU MADE THE COMMENT THAT THIS WAS TO BE SEEN IN A HISTORICAL CONTEXT.
BUT WHAT I WOULD ARGUE IS THAT THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IS A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT, THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS A HISTORICAL DOCUMENT.
I FEEL THAT SOMETHING ELSE WOULD BE MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF US AS AMERICANS RATHER THAN THE 10 COMMANDMENTS TO THE BIBLE.
AND SO THAT'S REALLY ALL I WANT TO SAY.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOU SPEAKING, SIR.
>> DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT? YES, SIR, MR. FISHER.
I LIVE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
I'VE GOT A SOLUTION FOR YOUR 10 COMMANDMENTS.
DO YOU JUST SELL IT, CONVEY THE LITTLE TWO BY TWO PIECE OF PROPERTY TO A NONPROFIT AND LET THEM MAINTAIN IT THEN JUST PUT THIS TO BED? I DO HAVE A SUGGESTION, AN 11TH COMMANDMENT.
[00:40:02]
I RECENTLY ASKED THE ADC FOR FULL BREAKDOWN OF FINANCIAL RECORDS.I WANTED EVERYTHING SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE ADC, THE DATE OF THE TRANSACTION, THE PAYEE, AND THE AMOUNT, PRETTY SIMPLE.
BUT I RECEIVED A HALF TRUTH IN RETURN.
I RECEIVED GENERAL LEDGER ENTRIES.
IT JUST TELLS ME WHERE THE MONEY GOES, BUT IT DIDN'T TELL ME WHO GOT IT.
AND WHAT I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH IS THE PERSON THAT IS THE TREASURER OF THE ADC.
AND I'M NOT HERE TO SAY THAT THIS PERSON IS STEALING.
BUT IF THE PERSON MAKES THE SAME MISTAKE AT BOTH PLACES, THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF A BOARD FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT PLACES IS TO CATCH THINGS.
IT CAN CATCH THE FRAUD, BUT IT CAN ALSO CATCH JUST FLAT OUT MISTAKES.
SO WE HAVE THE SAME PERSON THAT'S OVER THE BUDGET AND THE MONEY AND HOW IT'S SPENT AT THE ADC THAT APPROVED $1 MILLION TO GO TO SOME NONPROFIT THAT APPROVED, IT WASN'T VOTED ON.
SO LET'S GO TO THE THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.
IF I TAKE THIS, IF I WALK OUT OF HERE WITH THIS, IF I TRY TO, THIS COP IS GOING TO ARREST ME.
IF COL STANLEY SAYS, I CAN TAKE THIS, NOW HE'S IN TROUBLE BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GIVE THIS TO ME.
SO THE PERSON THAT DECIDED TO GIVE THIS MONEY TWICE MADE MISTAKES TWICE BECAUSE THIS PERSON IS ALSO OVER THE FINANCES AT THE CITY OF AMARILLO.
SO IF THERE'S NOTHING SHADY GOING ON, FINE.
BUT THIS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IF WE HAD SEPARATED THE PEOPLE.
SO I SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION OF SEPARATING THOSE ROLES AND MAYBE PUT IT IN THE BYLAWS TOO BECAUSE ONCE YOU GUYS WALK OUT, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO GO BACK TO THE SAME OLD STUFF.
THE OTHER THING I HAVE IS I'D LIKE FOR YOU GUYS TO TAKE SOME ACTION ON THE REQUEST THAT I HAVE.
I THINK YOU GUYS HAVE THE AUTHORITY.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PROBLEM WITH GIVING ME THOSE RECORDS.
AND THAT SAME PERSON THAT'S OVER THE MONEY AT THE ADC, THE MONEY AT THE CITY, IS ALSO THE PERSON THAT PROBABLY MADE THE DECISION TO JUST GIVE ME THE HALF TRUTH.
SO, I REALLY THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND LOOK AT WHO'S WORKING IN OUR OWN BACKYARD AND MIGHT BE IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THESE SHADY TRANSACTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SIR. DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE TODAY WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH OUR MEETING? SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
APPRECIATE EVERYONE FOR BEING WILLING TO SPEAK AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.
WE WILL TAKE THOSE IDEAS UNDER ADVISEMENT.
MOVING US INTO OUR DISCUSSION,
[7.A. Review agenda items for regular meeting and attachments]
ITEM 7A, REVIEW AGENDA ITEMS FOR A REGULAR MEETING.DO I HAVE ANYTHING FROM COUNCIL THAT NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED BEFORE WE MOVE TO 7B? WE'RE MOVING ALONG.
[7.B. Amarillo Fire Department vehicle leasing program]
WE HAVE MR. FREEMAN HERE TO WALK US THROUGH A LEASING PROGRAM FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE.>> YES, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO CHIEF MAYES AND HIS TEAM.
JUST A REMINDER OF WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH WITH THE BUDGET.
LAST SUMMER, WE DISCUSSED QUITE A BIT ABOUT LEASING OPPORTUNITIES, WAYS TO FUND THESE VEHICLES, LEASING VERSUS BUYING, THE MARKET IMPLICATIONS, THE AVAILABILITY OF VEHICLES.
RECENTLY, WE'VE GOTTEN FEEDBACK FROM COUNSEL THAT WE MOVED AHEAD ON OUR REGULAR FLEET THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS TO START LEASING VEHICLES.
WHAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY PILLAR AND FUNDING FOR THOSE VEHICLES THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO OPERATE AND PROTECT THE CITY.
CHIEF MAYES AND DEPUTY CHIEF KUBA HAVE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME ANALYZING THEIR FLEET AND OPTIONS ALSO WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF LAURA STORRS AND DONNY HOOPER.
IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO THE MIND OF SOMEONE THAT'S VERY SMART, JUST TAKE A LOOK AT CHIEF KUBA'S SPREADSHEETS.
IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND HOW HE'S HAD TO LAY EVERYTHING OUT FOR THIS DISCUSSION TOPIC.
BUT HE'S GOING TO DIVE FURTHER INTO THE DATA AND WHERE THEY'VE COME TO THEIR CONCLUSIONS TODAY AS WE GET THROUGH THE PRESENTATION.
SO YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR SOME LARGE DOLLAR AMOUNTS TODAY AS PART OF THIS PROPOSAL.
SO I WANTED TO PUT IT INTO CONTEXT BEFORE YOU GET TO THOSE NUMBERS.
THE OPERATING PLUS THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS JUST SHY OF 50 MILLION, $48.5 MILLION.
AND THAT'S JUST FOR THE STAFF, TO OPERATE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE CIP, FOR ANY EQUIPMENT PURCHASES, EVERYTHING IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET.
[00:45:03]
VERY EXPENSIVE VEHICLES AT THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, IT WOULD COST BETWEEN 1.5-2.8 MILLION IN ONGOING ANNUAL COSTS TO MAKE THE PAYMENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM.SOME OF THAT, WE HOPE THAT WOULD BE OFFSET WITH BETTER MAINTENANCE, WARTY PROGRAMS, JUST HAVING MORE EFFICIENT VEHICLES BY UPDATING OUR FLEET.
SO THOSE PAYMENTS ARE 3%-6% OF WHAT AFDS CURRENT ANNUAL BUDGET IS, JUST TO OFFER THAT PERSPECTIVE AS YOU HEAR THESE NUMBERS.
THE SAME 1.5-2.8 MILLION IN COMPARISON TO BUYING POWER, HOW WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST, YOU JUST SET ASIDE 1-1.5 MILLIONS AND BUY A TRUCK.
TYPICALLY, YOU'D ALSO GET IN THE SAME YEAR, WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN TODAY'S VALUE.
SO THAT'S MAYBE 1.5 TRUCKS BECAUSE THE COST OF INCREASE THAT MUCH.
AS PART OF THIS LEASING PROGRAM, YOU CAN COMPARE THAT TO THE OPPORTUNITY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO ORDER 15 VEHICLES.
THE UNFORTUNATE PART IS THAT WE WON'T RECEIVE THESE VEHICLES FOR THREE PLUS YEARS.
SO IT'S MAKING AN INVESTMENT TODAY BY GIVING THIS DIRECTION THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO GET THE CYCLE GOING TO START GETTING THESE VEHICLES ON A REGULAR BASIS, KNOWING THE REALITIES OF THE MANUFACTURING, THE TIME, AND THE EXPENSE INVOLVED.
AS I MENTIONED, IT TAKES MULTIPLE YEARS TO GET THOSE.
SO IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ANY DIRECTION YOU GIVE TO DAY OR ACTION THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN NEXT MONTH RELATED TO THIS ITEM BY CURRENT CITY COUNCIL, WON'T HIT THIS BUDGET.
AND SO YOU'RE ACTUALLY PLANNING FOR A FUTURE BUDGET TO START BRINGING ON THOSE PAYMENTS BASED ON HOW LONG IT TAKES TO BUILD THOSE FIRE TRUCKS.
LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY, OF COURSE, A STAFF, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO FUND THESE VEHICLES.
RECENTLY, WE'VE BEEN INVESTIGATING ANOTHER DEBT SERVICE OPTION.
SO IF WE BRING THIS FORWARD BASED ON THE DIRECTION YOU GIVE STAFF TODAY AFTER YOU RECEIVE THIS PRESENTATION, KNOW THAT WE WILL ALSO BRING YOU ANY OTHER OPTIONS THAT MIGHT FIT THE PURCHASE OF THESE VEHICLES, WHETHER ON THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE OR THE GENERAL FUND MAINTENANCE OPERATION SIDE.
THE ANNUAL PAYMENTS, REGARDLESS, WOULD BE ABOUT THE SAME.
IT'S REALLY JUST A CHOICE ON WHICH SIDE OF THE TAX RATES YOU WANT TO FUND THOSE.
BUT THE OTHER BENEFIT TO THAT IS FUTURE COUNSEL WHEN IT COMES TIME TO MAKE THOSE PAYMENTS, MOVE FORWARD ON THAT DEBT, WE GET TO DECIDE, DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE USING THE DEBT OR DO YOU WANT TO FIND ANOTHER FUNDING SOURCE? IT REALLY WOULD GIVE THE APPROVAL FOR OPTIONS FOR FUTURE COUNSELS.
SO THAT IS JUST A VERY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW.
I'M NOW GOING TO PASS IT OVER TO CHIEF MAYES TO START THE PRESENTATION AND THEN INTRODUCE CHIEF KUBA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
>> SO ON BEHALF OF FD, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL HERE TO BE HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO OUTLINE OUR CURRENT STATUS OF OUR FD FLEET.
SPECIFICALLY, AND THAT WILL BE THE MAIN FOCUS OF WHAT WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT ON IS THE FRONT-LINE FIRE ENGINES AND OUR LADDER TRUCKS.
SO WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A PRESENTATION AT DEPUTY CHIEF DAVID KUBA WILL IN A FEW MOMENTS WALK EVERYBODY'S BASICALLY OUR AIM TODAY IS TO UPDATE COUNSEL WHERE WE'RE AT AND TO GET YOUR BLESSINGS AS WE PROCEED TOWARDS WHAT WE THINK IS THE MOST FISCALLY SOUND ROUTE TO PROCURE THE TRUCKS THAT WE NEED TO MEET OUR MISSION.
BEFORE I TURN THINGS OVER TO CHIEF KUBA, I WANT TO STATE MY APPRECIATION TO CITY STAFF FOR THEIR HELP IN THIS EFFORT, AS WELL AS I'VE GOT TO BE REMISS IN NOT PRAISING CHIEF KUBA AND HIS TEAM.
THEY'VE SPENT HOURS IN DEDICATION TO LOOKING THROUGH ALL THE DATA.
AND IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FIRE SERVICE, WE'RE TRADITIONALLY STEEPED IN HAVING A LOT OF DATA, AND THAT'S BEEN A TRANSITION.
THAT'S BEEN A LITTLE DIFFICULT FOR THE FIRE SERVICE ALL OVER THE PLACE, NOT JUST HERE IN AMARILLO.
BUT IT'S A BLESSING TO WORK WITH FOLKS LIKE THAT.
AND ONCE AGAIN, CHIEF KUBA, THANK YOU.
AND I'LL TURN THINGS OVER TO CHIEF KUBA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
COULD YOU GUYS GO AHEAD AND SWITCH TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANTED TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE MOST COMMON FIRE APPARATUS THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY WILL SEE OUT THERE ON THE STREET.
PRIMARILY, THIS DISCUSSION IS GOING TO FOCUS ON ENGINES AND LADDERS, BUT I'M GOING TO BRANCH OR DISCUSS SOME OF THESE OTHER TRUCKS YOU'LL SEE OUT THERE.
ON THE TOP LEFT OF THE SCREEN IS A FIRE ENGINE.
THAT'S OUR WORKHORSE FIRE TRUCK FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, RESPONDS TO ALL INCIDENT TYPES, AND PRIMARY RESPONSE IS GOING TO BE EMS RESPONSE, AND THEY ALSO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT CARE.
ON THE TOP RIGHT OF THE SCREEN IS A LADDER TRUCK.
THOSE ALSO RESPOND TO ALL OF OUR INCIDENT TYPES.
THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSE IS GOING TO BE FIRE CALLS, VEHICLE COLLISIONS,
[00:50:04]
AND OTHER HAZARDOUS INCIDENTS, AND THEY TOO CAN PROVIDE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT UMS CARE.ON THE BOTTOM LEFT OF THE SCREEN IS A PLATFORM LADDER TRUCK.
THIS IS A LADDER TRUCK WITH A PLATFORM AT THE TIP OF THE LADDER.
THE PLATFORM PROVIDES FIREFIGHTERS A SAFE WORKING AREA TO PERFORM NUMEROUS TASKS, INCLUDING THE MOST IMPORTANT VICTIM RESCUE OPERATIONS.
THAT ONE'S CURRENTLY ON ORDER RIGHT NOW TO GO INTO THE SOON TO BE BUILT FIRE STATION 14.
THERE AT THE BOTTOM MIDDLE IS A GRASS RIG.
THE GRASS RIGS ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THEY ARE BUILT AND EQUIPPED FOR WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING IN THAT WILDLAND ENVIRONMENT.
THEN AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT IS A COMMAND UNIT.
BATTALION CHIEFS RIDE IN THESE EVERY DAY, AND THEY ARE THE INCIDENT COMMAND UNITS ON SCENE.
THEY'RE EQUIPPED WITH ENHANCED COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES, AND SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT PRIMARILY FOR FIRE INCIDENTS.
NEXT SIDE, PLEASE. I WANT TO LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL REPLACEMENT CYCLE OF OUR FIRE APPARATUS, PARTICULARLY ENGINES AND LADDERS.
ENGINE AND LADDERS HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY REPLACED EVERY 13 YEARS.
THEY'RE IN FRONTLINE SERVICE FOR 13 YEARS, THEN WHEN THE NEW REPLACEMENT TRUCK ARRIVES, THEY GO TO RESERVE STATUS FOR 2-7 YEARS.
FIRE TRUCK PURCHASES HAVE MOSTLY BEEN CONSISTENT FOR MANY YEARS.
WE WOULD TYPICALLY ORDER ONE OR TWO ENGINES OR LADDERS A YEAR, A TYPICAL WITH A TYPICAL CYCLE ON BUYING TRUCKS.
SOME OF THE MOST RECENT PURCHASES THAT YOU ALL HAVE APPROVED IN FISCAL YEAR '22/23, TWO OF THE THREE REPLACEMENT ENGINES WERE REPLACED AND PURCHASED.
WE ALSO ORDERED THAT PLATFORM TRUCK, WHICH IS THAT ADDITION TO OUR FLEET THAT'S GOING TO GO TO STATION 14, AND WE ORDERED ONE COMMAND UNIT.
IN '23 AND '24, WE PAUSED ENGINE AND LADDER REPLACEMENTS TO GIVE US TIME TO PERFORM AN ANALYSIS BASED ON THE CURRENT CHALLENGES THE CITY AND FIRE TRUCK MANUFACTURERS WERE FACING.
WE WANT TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF OUR FLEET AND FIND SHORT AND LONG-TERM REPLACEMENT SOLUTIONS.
HOWEVER, WE DID MAKE SOME PURCHASES IN '23/24.
WE DID ADD ONE COMMAND UNIT TO OUR FLEET FOR THE ADDITIONAL THIRD BATTALION CHIEF THAT WAS ADDED.
WE ALSO ORDERED THREE FIRE MARSHAL OFFICE UNITS, WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR TO COMMAND UNITS, TWO GRASS RIGS, AND ONE REHAB TRAILER. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
OUR COMPREHENSIVE FLEET EVALUATION BEGAN ABOUT 12 MONTHS AGO.
EARLY DISCUSSION STARTED WITH THE CITY FLEET, AND THEN PROGRESSED TO DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY MANAGEMENT ON OUR FIRE REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE, AND HOW OUR PLAN WOULD BE INTEGRATED INTO THE OVERALL CITY FLEET REPLACEMENT PLANS.
WE DISCUSSED OUR NEEDS AND SOME OF OUR KNOWN CHALLENGES.
WHILE WE WERE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE WERE LOOKING AT NATIONAL STANDARDS ON FIRE TRUCK REPLACEMENTS, WE LOOKED AT OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND THEN THERE ARE TRENDS THROUGHOUT THE FIRE SERVICE ON OTHER FOLKS ARE REPLACING THEIR FIRE TRUCKS.
A BIG AREA WE FOCUSED IN ON IN THIS EVALUATION WAS AGE, MILEAGE, HOURS, REPAIR, AND OWNERSHIP COSTS.
SOME OF THE AREAS WE ASSESS WERE FIRE TRUCK MANUFACTURERS AND VENDORS, FIRE TRUCK SPECIFICATIONS.
WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT OUR SPECS MATCHED UP WITH OUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS, AND THAT'S WHERE MY TEAM OF FIRE TRUCK EXPERTS CAME IN AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS RIGHT.
THESE GUYS ARE EXPERTS IN FIRE TRUCKS.
LOOK AT SHEETS AND SHEETS OF SPECS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DIALED IN JUST RIGHT.
IT'S VERY PARTICULAR FOR OUR NEEDS AS WELL.
ALONG THAT TIME, WE ALSO HAD TO START DISCUSSIONS OF FINANCE COMPANIES ABOUT FINANCE OPTIONS AND MASTER LEASE AGREEMENTS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, WE FOUND THAT APPARATUS AGE WAS THE MOST COMMON METRIC USED TO DETERMINE APPARATUS REPLACEMENT.
HERE'S A CHART OF OUR ENGINE AGE AS OF 2025.
AT THE LEFT HAND OF THE CHART ARE OUR FRONT LINE ENGINES, THERE'S 13 OF THOSE.
THE LEFT-HAND SIDE IS OUR FRONT LINE ENGINES, ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE IS OUR RESERVE APPARATUS.
SIX OF OUR FRONT LINE ENGINES, 46% ARE 10 OR MORE YEARS OLD. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THEN HERE'S A CHART OF OUR LADDERS AGE AS OF 2025.
THE FOUR FRONT LINE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE SLIDE AND THE THREE ON THE RIGHT ARE THE RESERVE APPARATUS.
AS YOU CAN SEE, ONE OF OUR RESERVES IS OVER 20-YEARS-OLD THIS YEAR. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
THE FLEET INDUSTRY CHALLENGES ARE EQUAL TO ALL OF THEIR FLEET CHALLENGES WITHIN THE CITY AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
ONE OF OUR PRIMARY CHALLENGES IS THE ESCALATING COST OF FIRE TRUCKS AT 30-40% AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
WE'VE SEEN 100% COST INCREASE IN SOME OF OUR LAST PURCHASES.
THE CURRENT COSTS OF A FULLY EQUIPPED ENGINES IS AROUND $1.5 MILLION.
A LADDER IS AROUND $2.3 MILLION ON AVERAGE.
THE LAST TWO REPLACEMENT ENGINES WERE PURCHASED IN '22/23, AND THEY WERE AROUND $646,000 EACH.
THAT'S DEFINITELY OVER 100% INCREASE IN COSTS TODAY DOLLARS.
THE LAST TWO REPLACEMENT LADDERS PURCHASED IN 2022 OR AROUND $1 MILLION EACH, THAT'S OVER 100% COST INCREASE.
THE ONE THING THAT WE DIDN'T SEE A BIG INCREASE BECAUSE WE
[00:55:01]
ORDERED IT SOONER WAS THAT PLATFORM TRUCK.WITH THE TRUCK AND EQUIPMENT CAME IN AROUND $101.8 MILLION, AND THAT WAS ABOUT AN 80% INCREASE SINCE 2020 COSTS.
TYPICALLY, TRUCKS WERE ORDERED AND BUILT WITHIN THE SAME FISCAL YEAR.
THE CURRENT BUILD TIMES ARE NOW AT 3-5 YEARS, AND I'VE EVEN HEARD OF SOME OF THE MANUFACTURERS HAVING UP TO SIX YEAR BUILD TIMES.
EVEN OVER THE LAST YEAR, WHILE WE WERE DOING THIS EVALUATION, WE SAW A BUILT TIMES GO FROM 2-3 YEARS FOR E-ONE MANUFACTURED ENGINES.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. WHEN WE'RE LOOKING TO OPTIMIZE OUR FLEET REPLACEMENT CYCLE, WE'VE EVALUATED A SEVEN THROUGH 15 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLES.
WE CONCLUDED THAT THE 10 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE IS THE MOST BALANCED REPLACEMENT CYCLE THAT WILL ALLOW US TO INCREASE OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY AND HAVE PLANS IN PLACE TO ROTATE OUR FLEET SOONER TO REDUCE REPAIR COSTS.
OUR RESEARCH REVEALED THAT YEAR 6 THROUGH 10 ARE ON AVERAGE, THE MOST EXPENSIVE COST OF OWNERSHIP FOR OUR ENGINES AND LADDERS.
BY IMPLEMENTING A 10 YEAR TRUCK ROTATION, WE ANTICIPATE REDUCING REPAIRS, OVERALL COST OF OWNERSHIP, BY PLACING OUR NEW TRUCKS AT THE BUSIEST STATIONS FOR THE FIRST FOUR YEARS, THEN ROTATING TO SLOWER STATIONS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, AND THEN FINALLY ROTATING TO THE RESERVE STATUS FOR THE FINAL TWO YEARS OF SERVICE.
IF THIS PROPOSAL IS APPROVED, WE WILL PLACE OUR CURRENT ENGINES AND LADDERS ON A 15-YEAR REPLACEMENT PLAN.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO GET ALL WE CAN GET OUT OF OUR CURRENT FLEET WHILE WE IMPLEMENT THIS 10 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE FOR OUR NEW TRUCKS.
THIS PLAN WILL ALLOW US TO REMAIN OPERATIONAL EFFICIENT IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
BY IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN, WE'LL HAVE ALL THE ENGINES AND LADDERS ON A 10 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE BY 2039, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE NEW PLATFORM TRUCK WHICH WILL BE REPLACED IN 2041.
ADDITIONALLY, WE'LL BE IN A GOOD POSITION TO REDUCE OUR ENGINE FLEET BY TWO, SINCE WE'LL HAVE A MORE RELIABLE FRONTLINE AND RESERVE ENGINES. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
FOR MANY YEARS, WE PURCHASED FOR OUR FIRE TRUCKS.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A DECLINE IN QUALITY IN CUSTOMER SERVICE.
THAT IN ADDITION, DID THE INCREASED COSTS AND BUILD TIMES PUT US IN A POSITION TO START EVALUATING OTHER MANUFACTURERS.
OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE EVALUATED E-ONE, PIERCE, ROSENBAUER, US FIRE APPARATUS, AND WE ALREADY KNEW QUITE A BIT ABOUT FIRE FIRE TRUCKS.
E-ONE STOOD OUT AS A FRONT RUNNER FOR THEIR SUPERIOR BUILD QUALITY, THAT ENSURES OUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE SAFE, AND THE TRUCK IS RELIABLE AND DURABLE.
THEY HAVE EXCELLENT QUALITY CONTROL THROUGHOUT THE BUILD PROCESS THAT IS PROCESS DEPENDENT, NOT PERSON DEPENDENT, AND THEIR TRUCKS ARE COMPETITIVELY PRICED.
SAFE INDUSTRIES IS THE VENDOR FOR E-ONE FIRE TRUCKS.
IN THE LAST YEAR, OUR LONG STANDING FIRE TRUCK VENDOR, LONE STAR FIRE APPARATUS MERGED WITH SAFE.
WITH THE MERGER, WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR LONE STAR REP.
THIS WAS A HUGE ADVANTAGE AS HE KNOWS A WHOLE LOT ABOUT OUR FLEET AND OUR CHALLENGES.
BY MOVING TO SAFE, WE ALSO GAIN MORE ROBUST SUPPORT AND SERVICE PROGRAMS. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE, JAVIER.
ONE OF THE VALUE ADDED PROGRAMS WITH SAFE IS THE WARRANTY WORK REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.
THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OUR VERY TALENTED FIRE FLEET MECHANICS TO PERFORM THE WARRANTY WORK AND BEING REIMBURSED FOR THAT LABOR.
THESE REIMBURSEMENTS WILL HELP OFFSET THE GROWING COST OF REPAIRS.
SAFE INDUSTRIES ALSO HAS TRADED OPTIONS FOR OUR CURRENT FLEET. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT FINANCE AND LEASE OPTIONS, OUR GOAL IS TO LOOK AT MASTER LEASE AGREEMENTS, WHICH GAVE US FLEXIBILITY NOW, AND IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED TO ADD NEW VEHICLES.
TWO FINANCE COMPANIES WERE EVALUATED.
WE WORKED WITH THEM THROUGH MULTIPLE SCENARIOS TO DEVELOP A LEASE AGREEMENT AROUND BUILD TIMES IN OUR PROPOSED REPLACEMENT CYCLES.
THE PROPOSALS COVER THE COST OF TRUCKS, EQUIPMENT, AND 10-YEAR WARRANTIES.
THEY ALSO TOOK INTO ACCOUNT SAFE INDUSTRY'S GUARANTEED BUYBACK OPTION WHEN DEVELOPING THEIR PLANS.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THIS CHART COMPARES TO WHERE WE ARE NOW TO WHERE WE'LL BE IN THREE YEAR.
IT'S HIGHLIGHTING THAT THREE YEAR TRUCK BUILD TIME.
IN 2028, WHEN THESE TRUCKS DELIVER, IF WE WERE TO GET THESE TRUCKS PURCHASE AND THEN THREE YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THEY DELIVER, EIGHT OF OUR FRONT LINE ENGINES WILL BE 10 OR MORE YEARS OLD.
THAT'S 61% OF OUR FRONT LINE ENGINES.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE FRONT LINE TRUCKS, THEY DON'T GET A BREAK UNTIL THEN.
WE'VE USED JUST ABOUT EVERY OPTION WE HAVE TO ROTATE OUR CURRENT FLEET TO GET THE BEST TRUCK AT THE BUSIEST PLACES IN THE BEST CONDITION.
NEXT ONE IS OUR AVERAGE LADDER AGE, COMPARING '25 AND '28.
AGAIN, ONE OF OUR RESERVE TRUCKS WILL BE WELL OVER 20-YEARS-OLD AT THAT TIME.
IN LADDER-ONE, OUR BUSY LADDER TRUCK IN DOWNTOWN WILL BE 10-YEARS-OLD IN 2028. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.
HERE'S OUR REPLACEMENT NEEDS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
IN '24/25, WE PROSE ORDER IN SIX ENGINES IN TWO LADDERS.
IN '25/26, ORDER THREE ENGINES.
IN '26/27, ORDER FOUR ENGINES.
THESE INITIAL NEEDS MATCH CLOSELY WITH
[01:00:01]
THE PREVIOUS REPLACEMENT PLANS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR MANY YEARS.THESE FIRST THREE YEARS ARE NEEDED TO CATCH UP AND ADJUST TO NEW BUILD TIMES THAT WE WERE NOT EXPERIENCING FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO.
THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS ARE IN YEARS 1 THROUGH 3.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY REPLACEMENTS FORECASTED FOR YEARS 4 AND 5.
I ALSO WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE A LONG-TERM 30-YEAR PLAN BUILT OUT AS WELL TO LOOK OUT SHORT-TERM AND VERY LONG-TERM, HOW THIS CAN PLAY OUT IF EVERYTHING FORECASTED OUT RIGHT.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THE COST ESTIMATES, YEAR 1 COSTS.
THAT'S SIX ENGINES AND TWO LADDERS, IF WE WERE TO PAY FOR THOSE TRUCKS UP FRONT, IT'D BE AROUND $13.5 MILLION.
LET'S SEE. YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO TO THE VERY LAST SLIDE ON THESE COST ESTIMATES.
IF WE PAY UPFRONT, 13.5 MILLION, THE FINANCE LEASE OPTION ON THAT FOR YEAR 1 COST WOULD BE AROUND $1.5 MILLION ANNUAL PAYMENT. YEAR 2 COSTS.
IF WE WERE TO ADD THREE ENGINES, THOSE ARE $4.6 MILLION THAT WE PAY FOR THOSE UPFRONT.
I ADDED YEAR 1 IN YEAR 2 ON THAT FOR A TOTAL $2.1 MILLION ANNUAL PAYMENT.
YEAR 3 COSTS WOULD BE FOUR ENGINES AT 6.5 MILLION.
ADDED YEAR 1, YEAR 2, AND YEAR 3 AT ABOUT A $2.8 MILLION ANNUAL PAYMENT.
THAT GETS YOU ALL OF OUR FRONT LINE ENGINES WOULD BE REPLACED AT THAT TIME AFTER WE COMPLETE YEAR 3.
COULD YOU PLEASE GO TO THE EVALUATION CONCLUSION SLIDE? HERE'S THE CONCLUSION. WHAT WHAT WE ACHIEVE? WE IDENTIFY THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE OUR FLEET READINESS.
WHAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING, A PROPOSAL TO IMPLEMENT A COST-EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO MEET OUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS AND THOSE NEEDS WITHIN THE CITY AS WELL.
WHAT WE NEED MOVING FORWARD IS CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT TO SECURE THE ESSENTIAL FIRE APPARATUS. NEXT SLIDE.
HERE'S OUR NEXT STEPS, AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
TODAY, WE'RE HERE TO SEE COUNSEL FEEDBACK.
WITH THAT FEEDBACK, WE HOPE TO HAVE A GOAL TO PRESENT A PROPOSAL FOR APPROVAL IN JANUARY OF 2025, AND THEN BEGIN TO PHASE EXECUTION OF THE 10 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLE WHILE WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH SAFE INDUSTRIES IN THE FINANCE COMPANY FOR A SEAMLESS ROLL-OUT.
THAT'S MY FINAL SLIDE. DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANYTHING FOR ME? ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER FOR YOU GUYS.
>> WALK ME THROUGH. HOW DO YOU ALL END UP WITH RESERVE APPARATUS THROUGH THE LEASING?
>> IF WE WERE TO PLACE OUR RESERVE, WE'D HAVE THOSE AS PART OF THE RESERVE APPARATUS OR A PART OF THE LEASING PROGRAM.
CURRENTLY, WE JUST ROTATE OUR OLDEST TRUCKS INTO RESERVE, BUT THIS PLAN DOES ACCOUNT FOR, AND ALSO KEEPING A RESERVE APPARATUS IN THE LEASE PROGRAM.
THEN AFTER 10 YEARS, WE WOULD TURN THOSE BACK IN OR EXERCISE THAT GUARANTEED BUYBACK THAT WE HAVE OFFERED.
>> THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS, LET ME FIND IT REAL QUICK.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, I THINK, IS A 10 YEAR.
WITH THE 10-YEAR PLAN, I MEAN, ARE THEY STARTING BUILD FOR YOUR APPARATUS TO ACTUALLY BE READY AT YEAR 10 OR IS IT YEAR 10, AND THEN YOU HAVE THREE YEARS AFTER THAT?
>> YES. WE WOULD GO THROUGH THE BULL TIME, THEN WE'D HAVE OWNERSHIP OF THAT TRUCK FOR THE 10 YEARS AFTER DELIVERY.
WE'D HAVE THIS FIRST THREE YEARS OF WAITING FOR IT TO BE BUILT.
THEN WE'D GET THAT TEN YEARS OF FULL OWNERSHIP TO BUILD THE NUMBER 1 EXERCISE, ALL THE BENEFITS OF THE WARRANTY, AND THEN BUILD OUR REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE TO KEEP IT CONSISTENT.
>> SAY THIS PLANE WAS IN PLACE, AT YEAR 10, WHEN IT'S TIME TO REPLACE THIS NEW ENGINE THAT WE JUST LEASED, YOU'LL GET THAT A YEAR 10 OR YOU GET THAT LIKE, YEAR 13? WHEN THEY START BUILDING YOUR REPLACEMENT ENGINE, I GUESS, IS WHAT I'M ASKING.
>> FOR THESE PARTICULAR LEASE TRUCK, THREE YEARS BEFORE THESE GO OUT OF SERVICE, I WOULD HAVE TO THAT ORDER.
THREE YEARS BEFORE THIS ONE HITS, AND IT'S LAID OUT AND YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEE IT WHERE THEY BOTH HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME.
YOU GOT TO REALLY STAY ON TOP OF THESE BUILD TIMES, AND GET THEM DELIVERED AND RETIRED AT THE SAME POINT.
>> THAT'S UP TO THE LEASING COMPANY.
ONCE YOU DETERMINE YOUR REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE, THEY KNOW AHEAD OF TIME, SO THEY GO AHEAD AND ORDER THE VEHICLE SO THAT AT THE YEAR THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, IT'S READY TO GO.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT THREE YEARS TO BUILD.
>> THEY'LL START THE BILL PROCESS.
THEY'LL GET IN THE QUEUE WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND SO THAT START PROCESS WILL START AS SOON AS WE'RE READY TO GO THROUGH THAT PROPOSAL, AND GO THROUGH THAT CONTRACT.
>> WHEN THE PRICING OR THE PAYMENTS GO, DO THEY REQUIRE ANY OTHER DIFFERENT PAYMENT WHEN THOSE NEW VEHICLES ARE ORDERED?
>> WHEN THEY'RE ORDERED, IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU SET IT UP.
YOU COULD SET IT UP FOR STARTING YOUR PAYMENTS AT YEAR 1 OR 2, AND THEN THEY HAVE SOME OTHER DIFFERENT OPTIONS
[01:05:02]
THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO SET UP YOUR PAYMENT STRUCTURES DIFFERENT WAYS.>> ON THE ENGINE TRUCKS AND LADDER TRUCKS, AT SOME POINT, WILL WE EVER OWN THEM OR THEY'LL JUST ALWAYS BE LEASE VEHICLES?
>> THERE'LL ALWAYS BE THAT OPTION WHERE YOU JUST PAY OUT THE WHOLE LOAN AND ALL THE TERM ON THAT.
I WOULD SUGGEST, I MEAN, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO LOOK AT IT.
RIGHT NOW I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN TO FORECAST WHAT IT'LL LOOK LIKE IN 10 YEARS, BUT DEFINITELY THE NEXT GENERATION, WHOEVER'S DOING MY JOB WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE NEXT.
I WOULD PROPOSE CONTINUE TO REPLACE THEM THROUGH THAT 10 YEAR CYCLE, JUST BASED ON EVERYTHING I COULD SEE ON THAT OVERALL OWNERSHIP COST, I THINK, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY COST EFFICIENT TO DO IT THAT WAY.
>> FROM THE FLEET STANDPOINT, I MEAN, IT'S A WIN FOR THOSE GUYS AS FAR AS THE MAINTENANCE AND EVERYTHING.
>> THE FLEET GUYS, THEY'RE EXTREMELY BUSY RIGHT NOW.
YOU GUYS SAW THE AGE OF OUR APPARATUS RIGHT NOW.
THEY CAN'T WAIT TO GET SOME NEW TRUCKS COMING IN.
THIS WILL GIVE THEM A HUGE RELIEF TO STAY ON TOP OF WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
IT WILL BE A BIG WIN FOR THEM, AND THEY'RE SUCH A TALENTED GROUP OF FOLKS, AND THEY HAVE A REALLY SPECIALLY SERVICE THEY OFFER DIFFERENT THAN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AT THE CITY WHERE THEY'RE SPECIALIZING IN WORKING ON FIRE TRUCKS.
WITH THE FIRE TRUCK, IT CAN'T JUST BE A LITTLE BIT READY.
IT'S GOT TO BE 100% READY, AND THOSE GUYS MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE BUDGET? LET'S LOOK AT WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR AND WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO ASK ME TO DO NEXT YEAR.
I'M LOOKING AT ONE POINT SOMETHING, THEN TWO POINT SOMETHING.
HOW DOES THAT COMPARE WITH OUR BUDGETS WE'VE BEEN DOING? LOOKING AT THE INITIAL WHEN I STARTED THIS PROCESS, I LOOKED AT WHAT DID WE NORMALLY SPEND EACH YEAR TO BUY ONE FIRE TRUCK OR BUY TWO FIRE TRUCKS.
THAT'S WHERE I LANDED ON, WHAT'S AN ANNUAL PAYMENT THAT MIGHT BE REASONABLE? THAT'S CHANGED A LITTLE BIT, HOW IT WILL IMPACT IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO YEAR THREE, I'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ALWAYS BUY FIRE TRUCKS.
I HAVEN'T QUITE DONE THE BEST.
I MIGHT BE GO TO GET SOME HELP ON ANALYSIS OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AS OPPOSED TO PAYING UPFRONT CASH FOR THESE BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE HIT IN THE BUDGET THAT I REALLY COULDN'T REALLY ACCOUNT FOR BASED ON THESE COST INCREASES.
>> I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE AN ANALYSIS WITH LAURA ON THIS PROGRAM HERE? YES. BECAUSE YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGETS ARE PRETTY TIGHT.
I NEED TO KNOW WHERE THAT'S GOING TO BE BECAUSE IF WE MAKE A COMMITMENT, WE'RE LOOKING AT A 10-YEAR COMMITMENT HERE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS BALANCES AT THE END.
>> IF YOU ALL COULD GET TO THOSE FIGURES AND NUMBERS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
I DEFINITELY SEE THE NEED OF US BUYING THIS EQUIPMENT.
IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY FACTOR, AND WE NEED TO BE ON TOP OF THAT COMPLETELY.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE HOW WE'RE GOING TO PAY FOR IT AND HOW WE ALLOT THAT MUDDY IN.
SET IT ASIDE, SO IT'S THERE WHEN WE NEED IT.
>> JUST TO CONFIRM AT THE END OF THE 10 YEARS, THEY WILL EITHER PAY US AN AMOUNT THAT TO GET IT BACK AND WE CAN USE THAT TO REINVEST THEN BACK INTO OR HOWEVER WE WANT TO USE THAT MONEY.
>> YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
IT COULD BE REINVESTED THAT BACK IN OR THAT BUYBACK WILL PAY OUR FINAL PAYMENT.
DEPENDS ON WHICH ONE YOU WILL LOOK AT ON THE FINANCE OPTIONS.
>> BE OUR JUDGMENT AT THAT POINT WHETHER WE WANT TO THEN PAY THE ADDITIONAL TO OUTRIGHT OWN IT OR?
>> OR TO EXERCISE THAT BUY BACK AND YOU'RE TRADING THEM IN, YOU'RE GET SAFE INTEREST BUYING THOSE BACK FROM US. YES, SIR.
>> THEN I GUESS, OUR STAFF WILL HAVE TO UNDERGO TRAINING TO MEET THE WARRANTY REQUIREMENTS ON DOING THE REPAIRS OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? LEASING, NOT THAT THESE ARE NOT GREAT PEOPLE, BUT IN LEASE ARRANGEMENTS A LOT OF TIMES THEY SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU DIDN'T DO THAT JUST RIGHT OR THIS JUST RIGHT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO PAY YOU THE AMOUNT, BUT HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET ADEQUATE TRAINING.
>> OUR CURRENT MECHANICS ALREADY WORK REGULAR SAFE INDUSTRIES ALREADY.
THEY'RE QUALIFIED AND CERTIFIED TO THE MAJORITY OF ALL OF THOSE REPAIR WORK.
THERE COULD BE SOMETHING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT HIGHER LEVEL BUT I CAN'T SPEAK TO EXACTLY ON THE MOST COMPLICATED REPAIR THAT MIGHT HAVE TO BE OUTSOURCED, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THAT REPAIR WORK CAN BE DONE THROUGH THE ARTS PROGRAM.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANY DOUBT IN OUR STACK, BUT I KNOW HOW WARRANTIES WORK, AND WE TRADE TO BACK IN.
THEY SAY, WELL, WAIT A MINUTE. THEY CAN NIT PICK YOU.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO GRAY AREA AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE FULLY INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TOLD THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
LOOKING AT CURRENT, ARE THERE EVER TIMES WHERE WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT HAVING ALL OF OUR STATIONS FULLY EQUIPPED WITH ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT RIGHT NOW?
>> THERE'S TIMES WHERE OUR RESERVE FLEET
[01:10:01]
HAS DWINDLED DOWN QUITE A BIT WHERE WE JUST HAVE ONE OR TWO REMAINING AND THE LARGER CONCERNS PROBABLY ON OUR LADDER FLEET.IF YOU GET A COUPLE OF LADDERS GO OUT, YOU HAVE SOME PROBLEMS WITH SOME OF OUR LADDER FLEET, THAT'S A HARD ONE TO GET JUST ANOTHER REPLACED OR THE RESERVE BACKUP.
I THINK RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY OPERATIONALLY EFFICIENT, BUT WE NEED SOME HELP REALLY SOON.
>> WELL, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY PURCHASES IN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, THAT'S JUST PUTTING US FURTHER BEHIND.
ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, WE'VE GOT TO REINVEST.
>> YES. IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN THERE.
PAID WHEN DELIVERED, CORRECT? IS THERE ANY OBLIGATION TO PAY FOR ANYTHING PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF THE TRUCK?
>> DEPENDS ON HOW WE SET UP THESE SET UP THE FINES.
>> THE ONE PROPOSAL WE WERE LOOKING AT THAT WE'D START PAYING LIKE A YEAR PRIOR, BUT YOU CAN WORK WITH THEM TO STRUCTURE IT, BUT VERSUS PAYING RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF YEARS FOR THAT FIRST PAYMENT.
>> ON THE LEASE OPTION OR THE LEASE HAS AN OPTION.
THAT $1.5 MILLION AND THEN THE 2.1 AND THE 2.5 MILLION? THOSE WOULD COME ON CONSECUTIVE YEARS AND THEIR ONE YEAR IN ADVANCE OF RECEIVING THE TRADE.
>> WE'RE LOOKING I THINK IT'S A '26/'27 BUDGET.
THAT JANUARY 2027 WOULD THE FIRST BY PAYMENT.
>> BY THAT TIME, SINCE WE'RE PLANNING ON A RAMP UP TO FULLY RESUPPLY THE INVENTORY OF THE VEHICLES, WOULD WE EXPECT TO HAVE SOME VEHICLES IN GOOD CONDITION AND WHAT WOULD BE THE VALUE OF THOSE VEHICLES FOR SELLERBILITY?
>> THAT'S GOING TO BE TRICKY. I WOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT OUR RESERVE FLEET APPARATUS AT THAT POINT, WHAT CAN WE GET RID OF OUT OF THERE AND THEN SEE WHAT THOSE VALUES ARE.
THOSE ARE RIGHT NOW ON AVERAGE ABOUT 17-YEARS-OLD.
THEN WHAT I WOULD TAKE IS OUR CURRENT FRONT LINE APPARATUS AND MOVE THOSE TO RESERVE FLEETS.
WE'D HAVE A GOOD RESERVE FLEET.
BUT THE RESERVE WE COULD ALWAYS LOOK AT IT IN THREE YEARS FROM NOW, BUT AT THAT POINT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE QUITE A FEW OF THOSE TRUCKS THAT ARE GOING TO BE 20 YEARS PLUS.
>> WE'D HAVE TO LOOK WE HAVE WOULD YOU HAVE 10 TRUCKS AT THAT POINT THAT ARE 20-YEARS-OLD THAT YOU'D BE LOOKING AT SELLING BECAUSE YOU'RE TO REPLACE THEM? DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE ON THE AVERAGE, BUT YOU WOULD HAVE THEY MAY NOT BE THAT MUCH INDIVIDUALLY VALUE REMAIN BECAUSE THEY'RE OLDER, BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT SMALLER COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES DO BUY THOSE.
>> LOOKING AT SOME OPTIONS OF HOW TO GET THOSE SOLD BECAUSE THERE ARE DEPARTMENTS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IT AT SOME POINT.
>> IN PART OF THE ANALYSIS, COULD WE REFLECT A LITTLE BIT OF SPECULATION OF HOW MANY OF THOSE VEHICLES WOULD BE SELLABLE AND THAT APPARATUS, MAYBE WHAT THE AVERAGE VALUE WOULD BE EXPECTED, THEN WE COULD LOOK AT THAT OFFSET IN THAT GIVEN YEAR BUDGET.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? CHIEF, THANK YOU.
>> AS FAR AS DIRECTION THAT YOU NEED HERE TODAY, WE'VE DIRECTED THAT WE WOULD GET AN ANALYSIS BACK.
YOU GUYS WOULD BE BRINGING SOMETHING AND WHAT WOULD THE ACTION LOOK LIKE ON THAT?
>> IT WOULD BE APPROVAL OF A LEASE AGREEMENT BASICALLY TO MOVE FORWARD.
I THINK OUR GOAL WOULD GET YOU TO ANALYSIS PRIOR TO THAT MEETING.
MAYBE WE CAN GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND GO BACK AND FORTH ON THAT BEFORE WE BRING THE ACTION ITEM.
>> ANY URGENCY ON GETTING THAT? OR COULD WE DO A DISCUSSION ITEM THAT WOULD BRING BACK THE ANALYSIS, ALSO BRING THE LEASE AGREEMENT AND WOULD GIVE US A BETTER PROJECTION OF WHEN THAT BUDGET YEAR WOULD TRIGGER.
RIGHT NOW YOU'RE FORECASTING YEAR '26/'27?
>> THAT'S RIGHT. WE COULD RUN THAT SCHEDULE.
SINCE WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT THE OTHER DEBT FUNDED OPTION, WE'LL TRY AND BRING ALL THAT BACK TOGETHER.
REALLY, WE JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A GOOD APPETITE BECAUSE THE GROUP WE ARE WORKING WITH, IF THEY OF THE DIRECTION WE'RE HEADING, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND PLACE SOME ORDERS WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT REALLY BEING FINALIZED AT THIS POINT.
BUT JANUARY, WE WERE TARGETING.
>> HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONTEMPLATION OR CONSIDERATION OF DOING MAYBE A HYBRID AND HALF OF WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING OR ARE WE JUST LOOKING AT IT AS RESUPPLYING THE ENTIRE FLEET?
>> WE'RE JUST LOOKING TO START REPLACING THE FLEET.
IT'S NOT THE ENTIRE QUITE YET.
WE'D HAVE TOUCH POINTS, SO IF WE COULD DO THESE NEXT FEW YEARS, WE'D BE ABLE TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK TO SEE, MAYBE WE JUST GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE ONE IN YEAR FIVE OR YEAR SIX.
BUT AS LONG AS WE'RE STILL FACTORING IN THAT THREE-YEAR CYCLE, WHETHER YOU'RE PURCHASING OR LEASING.
YOU COULD DO A HYBRID OF PURCHASE VERSUS LEASE.
>> WHAT CLASSIFIES WHEN THE ENGINE WORE OUT? HOW DO YOU CLASSIFY THAT?
>> ONE OF THE BEST METRICS YOU LOOK AT IS YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THAT CAN GO ALL OVER THE PLACE, WHENEVER YOU LOOK AT INDUSTRY STANDARDS, ANYWHERE FROM IT COULD BE SEVEN YEARS.
IT COULD BE SOMEWHERE AROUND 20 YEARS.
THERE'S SO MANY VARIABLES ON THE MILES AND THE HOURS ON THAT TRUCK AND THEN
[01:15:04]
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT'S GOING AND IS IT ABLE TO MAINTAIN ITS SAFETY STATUS? IS EVERYTHING RUNNING ON THERE? THERE'S A LOT OF COMPLIANCE THAT GOES IN TO MAKE SURE THOSE WORK RIGHT.WHENEVER YOU'RE HITTING SOME POINTS WHERE YOUR REPAIR COSTS ARE DEFINITELY BUMPING UP INTO THE WHAT YOU'VE SPENT FOR THAT NEW PRICE FOR THAT VEHICLE? THAT'S GOING TO TRIGGER SOME OF THOSE TWO OR LOOKING AT A STRICT YEAR REPLACEMENT.
WE USE THE YEAR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THAT REALLY CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH A LOT OF THE MILEAGE.
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
>> THESE ARE TRUCKS OF WELL OVER $130,000 ON AVERAGE FOR SOME OF THESE ENGINES.
THAT'S TODAY, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT IN THREE YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THEY DO GET REPLACED.
>> DO WE STILL SEND OUT THE ENGINE FOR EVERY FENDER BENDER?
>> IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW THAT CALL COMES IN.
I IF THERE'S ANY CHANCE SOMEBODY MIGHT BE INJURED OR THERE'S SOME TYPE OF HAZARD PRESENT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN ENGINE RESPONSE OR A LADDER RESPONSE.
IT'S WHATEVER THE CALLER IS POSSIBLY TELLING DISPATCH AND WHAT THEY'RE HEARING, AND THEN THEY'RE TRYING TO APPROPRIATELY RESPOND TO THAT.
EMERGENCY, IT COULD BE THE REAL ONE OR IT COULD BE SOME POTENTIAL.
>> I'M ASKING BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW.
>> IT JUST DEPENDS SOMETIMES. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> I'M JUST WONDERING BECAUSE A LOT OF TIME WE'LL RUN A BIG OLD ENGINE OUT AND WE HAD A FENDER BENDER AND WE COULD SAY WEAR AND TEAR ON THE ENGINE, MAYBE SEND OUT A SMALLER UNIT.
>> CHIEF KUBA, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THAT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT GIVEN DIRECTION,
[7.C. Addition of a Drive Up service at the new City Hall]
LOOKING FOR A DISCUSSION ITEM COMING BACK.WE'RE GOING TO REVISIT OUR DRIVE UP FEATURE OVER AT THE NEW CITY HALL BUILDING WITH MR. DONNY HOOPER.
>> THANKS SO MUCH. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO TODAY IS JUST REVISIT THE DRIVE THROUGH THAT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR THE NEW CITY.
>> DONNY, I WANT A POINT OF ORDER.
I THOUGHT WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THIS AND I THOUGHT WE SAID NO, DIDN'T WE? I'M JUST ASKING.
>> LET ME ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THAT AS A POINT OF ORDER CLARIFICATION, WE REMOVED THE EXISTING DRIVE UP FEATURE ON THE CITY HALL BUILDING.
WE'VE REACHED SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION.
AT STAFF'S REQUEST, BRINGING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR RECONSIDERATION, GIVEN THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE GOT AS A FEATURE THAT WOULD ASSIST WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE.
>> AM I SAYING THAT THAT'S CORRECT.
REALLY WE'RE NOT PUSHING IT EITHER WAY.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION THAT THE MAYOR AND I HAD A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WITH JERRY DANFORTH AND WE WERE JUST SAYING, MAYBE WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK JUST TO DISCUSS IT AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF OUR CITIZENS AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE SURROUNDING THAT.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE NOT PUSHING IT EITHER WAY, JUST WANTED TO PUT IT BEFORE YOU ONE LAST TIME BEFORE WE COMPLETED OUR PROJECT OVER THERE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO REVISIT THE ADDITIONAL DRIVE UP SERVICE THERE THAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY HAD PLANNED IN THE NEW CITY HALL, DISCUSS SOME OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE BENEFITS OF THAT AND OBTAINED SOME DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PRESENTATION.
AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES OF THAT, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'D RECEIVED FROM SOME OF OUR CITIZENS.
THE HISTORY OF THIS IS THAT THAT WAS VALUE ENGINEERED AND TAKEN OUT OF THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE PARKING GARAGE.
THERE WERE SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT WERE TAKEN OUT OF THE PROJECT AS WELL.
SUCH AS IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, THERE WAS SOME FENCING THAT WAS TAKEN OUT, SOME DIFFERENT BRICK THAT WAS TAKEN OUT ON JOHNSON STREET, AND SOME OTHER MINOR THINGS THAT WERE DURING THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
THE STATUS UPDATE, BY THE WAY, ON THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS ON TIME.
WE'RE STILL SCHEDULED TO MOVE INTO IT IN JANUARY.
AS OF RIGHT NOW, IN FACT, THEY WERE ASSEMBLING FURNITURE WHEN I WAS OVER THERE LAST FRIDAY AND PUTTING THAT IN SOME OF THE OFFICES OVER THERE.
SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT CAME UP BOTH FROM CITIZENS AND FROM STAFF, AND THE REASON WE WANTED TO REVISIT THIS WAS THERE WERE SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CUSTOMERS WERE EVEN TELLING US TO ELDERLY, SENIOR CITIZENS, DISABLED CUSTOMERS, NOT HAVING A CONVENIENT WAY TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS, AND WE'VE BEEN REMINDED OF THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR, EVEN HERE AT THE CURRENT CITY HALL, WATCHING SOME PEOPLE COME IN OR THEY WOULD SAY, IS THERE AN EASIER WAY FOR ME TO GET INTO THE BUILDING, OR AN EASY WAY FOR ME TO COME IN AND PAY MY UTILITY BILLS.
ALSO, MORE CONVENIENT PARENTS WITH SMALL CHILDREN.
SOME OF OUR WEATHER EVENTS THAT WE HAVE AROUND HERE ARE PRETTY HORRENDOUS, AND THEY STILL HAVE TO UNLOAD KIDS, GET THEM OUT OF THE CAR, BRING THEM INTO THE BUILDING.
SOME CUSTOMERS, AND I'M GOING TO BRING UP ONE AS AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE MY MOTHER.
SHE JUST LIKES TO HAVE A PIECE OF PAPER AND A CHECK AND SHE WANTS TO PUT THAT SOMEWHERE THAT SHE CAN SEND THAT TO SOME PERSON AND GET THAT TO THEM.
BUT SHE'S 88-YEARS-OLD AND SHE WOULD HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME GOING UP STEPS AND GETTING INTO A BUILDING.
PARKING IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT LIMITED OUT THERE.
WE DO HAVE THE AMOUNT OF PARKING SPACES THAT WE HAVE THERE ARE ADEQUATE FOR STAFF,
[01:20:01]
IT'S ADEQUATE FOR SOME OTHER THINGS.BUT I'LL TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT IN THE NEXT SLIDE AS WE GET PAST THE DESIGN.
IT DOES PROVIDE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.
WE FEEL LIKE IT AND INCREASES PARKING SPACES FOR THE LEASE SPACING AREAS IS YOU GO BACK TO THE TAKING THE PARKING GARAGE AWAY, WE HAVE SOME LEASE SPACES AND ABOUT 40,000 SQUARE FEET OF LEASE SPACING AVAILABLE IN THAT CITY HALL, AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE TENANTS.
THERE'S ALREADY SOME DISCUSSIONS GOING ON WITH SOME POSSIBLE TENANTS THERE.
WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME PARKING AS WELL.
THE DRIVE THROUGH WOULD AT LEAST PUT SOME VEHICLES IN THE PARKING LANES OF THE DRIVE THROUGH.
THE TIMING OF IT, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE EXISTING CONTRACTOR, IF WE DECIDED TO CHANGE OUR POSITION ON THAT, WOULD BE MORE COSTLY TO CONSTRUCT THAT AT A LATER DATE, IF SOME OTHER FUTURE COUNSEL OR SOMEONE ELSE WANTED TO REDO THAT, WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE MORE EXPENSIVE.
THIS IS JUST TO LOOK BACK AT THE CITY HALL.
THAT'S LOOKING OVER WHERE WE SEE THE SIXTH STREET ON THERE, JUST TO REMIND YOU WHERE THAT DRIVE THROUGH WAS PROPOSED TO BE.
SIX STREET IS BEING CONSTRUCTED RIGHT NOW AND THAT WOULD GO ON THAT SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
THIS IS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE AND THEN THE ORIGINAL DRAWINGS.
ONE THING THAT WE'VE GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT AS WELL, AND IT'S ANOTHER REASON FOR BRINGING IT BACK TOO IS THAT IF WE COULD REDUCE THAT DOWN TO JUST TWO LANES INSTEAD OF THE THREE, IT WOULD ALSO OPEN UP IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PICTURE HERE, IT WOULD OPEN UP A COUPLE OF DRIVE LANES FOR VEHICLES TO GO BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THERE.
THE COST OF THAT ORIGINALLY WAS AROUND 300,000, WE'RE ESTIMATING THAT WOULD BE AROUND 500,000 NOW, IF THERE IS SOME DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TO DO THIS.
AGAIN, THAT'S A BIG IF WE COULD CHANGE THAT DESIGN AND BRING BACK THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION COST BACK TO COUNSEL AND YOU COULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
WE DON'T HAVE AN ACTUAL COST ON IT.
I WILL SAY THAT THE REDESIGN FOR TWO BAYS WAS DONE AT NO COST BY THE CONTRACTOR NOW JUST SO WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD SAY, IF WE REDUCE THAT SCOPE A LITTLE BIT, WHAT WOULD IT COST US? THE FUNDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE PROJECT.
WE HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR A CHANGE ORDER TO BE ISSUED TO PAY FOR THAT.
IF WE CHOSE TO DO THAT, THE CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE WOULD BEGIN IN FEBRUARY, IT WOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF APRIL BY MAY.
THAT'S REALLY ALL WE WANTED TO DO JUST FOLLOW UP ON WHAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THE MAYOR AND WITH SOME OTHER FOLKS WE BRING THAT BACK TO YOU AND LET YOU ASK QUESTIONS.
JERRY'S OUT OF TOWN SO IF YOU ASK ME TOO MANY TOUGH QUESTIONS, I PROBABLY WON'T BE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM, BUT I'LL TRY TO DO THE BEST I CAN IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. QUESTIONS FOR DONNY, COUNCIL?
>> WHEN YOU SAY INCREASES PARKING SPACE AVAILABLE, ARE YOU JUST SAYING THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE USING THE DRIVE THROUGH?
>> YEAH. I'M JUST SAYING THAT SOME OF THE VEHICLES THAT TAKE UP A LOT OF THE PARKING SPACES HERE AT CITY HALL RIGHT NOW ARE PEOPLE COMING INSIDE TO PAY THEIR WATER BILL.
>> DONNY, THIS WAS BROUGHT BACK UP.
>> THERE HAS BEEN SOME FEEDBACK, YES.
>> EASE OF PAYING THEIR BILL, NOT WANT TO GET OUT, THAT KIND OF THING.
>> CORRECT. WE'VE ALSO I THINK JUST WITNESSING IT TO MYSELF, I'VE WITNESSED IT A FEW TIMES WHERE PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO MAKE THEIR WAY INTO THE BUILDING AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE COMING IN TO DO IS PAY THEIR WATER BILL.
>> YOU ALL HAVE ANY IDEA OF THE NUMBERS? DO YOU ALL LOOK AT THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO COME IN AND PAY DOWNSTAIRS.
>> I DON'T HAVE THOSE, BUT WE CAN GET THEM.
>> IT'S A LOT. WE'RE LOOKING AT IS TRYING TO REDUCE MAYBE THE TRAFFIC INSIDE THE BUILDING, FREE UP PARKING SPACES, AND JUST MAKE IT MORE CONVENIENT.
>> I THINK MORE OF THE APPROACHES FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE APPROACH IS MORE THAN ANYTHING.
>> MY QUESTION GOES BACK TO THE SAME DISCUSSION WE HAD EARLIER IS IN MY OPINION, HOW THEY PAY THEIR ATMOS BILL, HOW THEY PAY THEIR XL BILL, ALL THE OTHER BILLS, THEY GOT TO GO DOWN AND GO INSIDE AND PAY.
THIS IS A $500,000 GREAT DEAL.
WE DON'T NEED TO BE THROWING MONEY.
IF ALL MY STRIP POTHOLES WERE FILLED UP AND ALL MY PARKS WERE PERFECT AND EVERYTHING ELSE, I MIGHT SAY WE CAN DO THAT.
BUT I'D SAY AT THIS POINT IN TIME, MY OPINION IS, LET'S GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT MAYBE A LATER TIME.
HALF MILLION DOLLAR, WE BALKED AT IT AT 300,000 SIX MONTHS AGO, AND WITH IT GOING UP 200, I BUY BACK AGAIN. THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.
>> DON, HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT IF WE HAVE FOR 500,000 IF IT'S STILL IN THE BUDGET?
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT NUMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD RIGHT NOW, BUT I KNOW THAT WE LOOKED AT THE CAPACITY THAT WE HAD AS FAR AS THE OVERALL BUDGET, WHAT WE SPENT, AND IF WE HAD THE CAPACITY TO DO THE CHANGE ORDER WITHIN THAT 25% AND IT FIT THAT.
I JUST DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER. WE COULD GET IT THOUGH.
>> THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT. SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE VALUED ENGINEERED OR HELPED REDUCE THE COST.
NOW THAT THEY'VE COME IN AT A GOOD NUMBER, YOU'VE GOT THAT MONEY TO SAY, HEY, MAYBE WE CAN COME BACK AND REVISIT THAT.
[01:25:01]
>> YEAH. WE HAVE SOME CONTINGENCY THAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO SOMETHING AND IT HAS TO GO TO SOMETHING AT CITY HALL.
WE KNOW THAT. THAT WAS THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS WILES WE BROUGHT UP TOO.
>> ARE THERE ANY OTHER WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN PAY THEIR WATER BILLS? YOU CAN EITHER MAIL IT TO US, YOU CAN GO ONLINE.
ANY OTHER LOCAL PLACES YOU CAN GO TO PAY THE WATER BILL? WHERE IS THAT?
>> THERE'S ALREADY OTHER PLACES LOCALLY THAT PEOPLE CAN DO THAT.
XL, AT&T, ATMOS, DO THEY HAVE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN WALK UP AND PAY THEIR BILL TO AN INDIVIDUAL PERSON? OTHER UTILITIES?
>> I'M JUST NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT.
THE STANDARDS SAY WE DON'T HAVE DRIVE-THROUGHS IN DOWNTOWN.
SOMEBODY ELSE WANTED TO COME IN UNLESS THERE'S AN EXCEPTION TO THAT.
>> THAT WAS AMENDED, I THINK IN 2014 RIGHT AROUND THE TIME TOOT'N TOTUM CAME FORWARD WITH THEIR PROPOSAL FOR DRIVE-THROUGH. IT'S IN THE DODS.
>> ANYBODY CAN DRIVE THROUGH DOWNTOWN IF THEY WANT TO.
>> BASED ON CERTAIN STANDARDS THROUGH THE DODS BOARD.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW. IT JUST SEEMED TO ME THAT WHEN WE WENT NOT IN THIS PAST YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET, IT SEEMS IT'S PRETTY MUCH A STANDARD IN MOST PLACES WHERE AS MUCH AS I'M SURE YOU MAIL IN A BILL, THERE'S DIFFERENT WAYS TO PAY THE BILL.
JUST ADDING ADDITIONAL EXPENSE FOR PEOPLE TO PAY THE BILL AND THE BUILDING OR OTHERS OR STAFFING, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE STAFFING WOULD WORK.
I THINK THAT'S WHY WE DETERMINED, CAN THERE BE A SAVINGS.
IF PEOPLE ARE PAYING OTHER BILLS ELECTRONICALLY, CREDIT CARD, NOT GOING IN PERSON, WHY CAN'T WE DO THAT WITH THE WATER UTILITY BILLS HERE? MAYBE FROM A STAFFING STANDPOINT, OTHER TYPE OF STANDING.
MAYBE WE REWARD PEOPLE THAT PAY ELECTRONICALLY BECAUSE THAT CUTS DOWN OUR COST, OR IF WE WANT TO HAVE A DRIVE-THROUGH THERE, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR US TO DO IT, MAYBE THERE'S A SURCHARGE, SOMETHING, EITHER REWARDING PEOPLE THAT PAY IN A WAY THAT SAVES US MONEY OR SAYING, WELL, WE'D BE GLAD TO HAVE THESE THINGS HERE, BUT IF YOU WANT TO PAY IN-PERSON TO DO OTHER THINGS, IT'S A LOT OF STAFFING.
I'M GUESSING THAT THE DRIVE-THROUGH WILL NOT HANDLE THE PEOPLE DOWNSTAIRS, THEY HANDLE NOT ONLY THE BILLING, BUT THE PUBLIC RECORDS, I GUESS, WHAT ELSE ARE THEY DOING DOWNSTAIRS FOR VITAL STATISTICS THAT WOULD NOT BE HANDLED THROUGH THE DRIVE THROUGH, WOULD IT?
>> I WOULD JUST WONDER HOW LONG THAT WOULD TAKE.
I JUST SEE FROM A COST EFFICIENCY STANDPOINT, WOULD BE THE SAME THING WE TALKED ABOUT IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
IF WE CAN DO WAYS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO USE ELECTRONICS, THE WAY THEY PAY EVERY OTHER BILL THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THIS THE SAME, WHICH I THINK, SAVE US MONEY AND OPERATIONAL IN THE INCOME AND REALLY NOT MERIT HAVING A DRIVE THROUGH.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THOUGH IN EVEN GETTING A RESPONSE THAT IS THE SAME DIRECTIVE THAT WE GOT PREVIOUSLY, IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE FOR STAFF TO CONTINUE TO BRING THINGS BACK TO COUNCIL FOR RECONSIDERATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN STAFF HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF MANAGE THE FUNDS.
WHEN WE HAVE A COST SAVINGS LIKE THAT, AND YOU GUYS HAVE DISCUSSED IT AND SAY, THIS WOULD BE THE BEST VALUE OF THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE, IT FITS WITHIN THE GIVEN CRITERIA, RESTRICTIONS, ETC., I'M GOOD WITH HAVING THE DISCUSSION OUT HERE TO GET THE NO.
I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION THOUGH FROM STAFF.
WE IN NO WAY WANT TO PUSH BACK IN, WE DON'T HAVE A CONSIDERATION.
WE ARE EVEN IF THE RECONSIDERATION IS THE SAME.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT BACK.
COUNCIL, I WOULD ASK IF WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THE BUILDING AS APPROVED?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR THE HARD WORK.
[Items 7.D. - 7.F.]
WE DO HAVE MR. FAIRLEY HERE IN THE BACK, AND SO THIS IS AN UPDATE ON AEDC.PREVIOUS MEETING, WE HAD RESIGNATION FROM BOARD MEMBERS.
WE WERE ABLE TO PLACE TEMPORARY BOARD MEMBERS.
WE TOOK AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS.
[01:30:03]
TO RESTATE IT AGAIN, WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF LEAVING THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS ANY LONGER THAN WE NEED TO.MR. SMITH IS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER.
HE WAS JUST UNLUCKY AND HAPPENED TO BE IN THE CROWD THAT DAY, AND WE CALLED UPON HIM AND ASKED FOR HIS HELP.
MR. FAIRLEY AND I HAD VISITED PREVIOUSLY ABOUT HIS WILLINGNESS TO GET IN AND WHAT WE'RE SAYING, CLEAN UP THE MESS.
WE DEFINED THE MESS AS ARTICLES THAT WE WERE STRUGGLING TO GET AMENDMENTS TO AND GET AGREEMENTS WITH COLLABORATION THAT THESE WERE REASONABLE AND NEEDED.
WHAT DO THOSE DO TO BYLAWS? NOW THAT THE BYLAWS NEED TO BE UPDATED WHEN YOU CHANGE AN ARTICLE OF INCORPORATION.
FROM THERE, WE WERE LOOKING AT SOME PROTOCOLS, PROCEDURES.
WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE WAY THAT WE'RE APPROVING THE FUNDS THAT ARE GOING OUT? THAT ALSO HAD IN IT A LINE ITEM BUDGET, AND SO A LOT OF WORK THERE TO BE DONE.
WHAT WE FELT LIKE AS COUNCIL IS THAT TRYING TO APPOINT FOUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS AT THAT GIVEN TIME TO GO IN AND DO ALL THIS WASN'T REAL FAIR TO THOSE WHO HAD APPLIED.
WE ASKED FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAD APPLIED TO RECONSIDER, NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO AND THE DEFICIT THAT WE'RE WORKING FROM.
DO YOU STILL WANT TO SERVE IN THIS CAPACITY? THEN WE OPENED IT BACK UP UNTIL DECEMBER 4 FOR NEW APPLICANTS.
TODAY, THE LAST ONE I SAW WAS 55.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE 55 INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO WORK IN THIS CAPACITY.
I ALSO KNOW THAT COUNCIL STILL HAS THE RIGHT TO NOMINATE ANYONE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ON THAT APPLICANT FORM.
THE GOOD NEWS IS WE HAD OUR TEMPORARY BOARD MEET.
THAT'S WHY MR. FAIRLEY IS HERE.
HE IS THE BOARD CHAIR OF OUR AEDC TEMPORARILY, AND THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS.
WE ALSO HAVE TAKEN OUR TIME WITH THESE AMENDMENTS TO THE ARTICLES BECAUSE THEY'RE IMPORTANT.
WE TAKE IT SERIOUS AND ONCE AGAIN, WE WANT TO DO NO HARM.
THE WILLINGNESS TO WORK TOGETHER, I THINK THE BEST THING WE COULD DO IS GET AN UPDATE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR, HEAR HOW THE MEETING WENT, WHAT ARE THEIR EXPECTATIONS, WHAT DO THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH? THEN WE NEED DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL HERE LATER.
>> QUESTION I HAVE AND DON'T GET ME WRONG.
WITH TWO OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THE AEDC BOARD RIGHT NOW, WILL THEY BE VOTING WHEN WE HAVE A VOTE TO DO? THAT'S POINT OF ORDER, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU.
>> YEAH. IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION TO HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS SERVING ON TWO BOARDS.
WE HAVE QUORUMS AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER ISSUES.
MR. CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU WANT TO GIVE US ANY CAUTION, PLEASE DO.
IF SOMETHING COMES UP, THOUGH, WE'LL CATCH IT AS IT GOES, BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING TO PASS ANYWAY, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER.
IF IT WAS UNANIMOUS OR SOMETHING, IF YOU'RE GOING TO PASS, THEN EVEN IF THERE WAS A CONFLICT, IT WOULDN'T APPLY. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
>> GREAT QUESTION AND IT GOES TO I'D SAY THE ATTITUDE, THE RESPECT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK WITHIN THIS, THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES, WE ARE FOLLOWING ALL OF THE STEPS AND PROCEDURES, WE ARE GOING BY THE BOOK.
MR. FAIRLEY, I'D ASK, IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP HERE, WE WOULD HAND THE MICROPHONE OVER TO YOU AND JUST LET YOU GIVE US YOUR THOUGHTS AND A BRIEF UPDATE.
>> THANK YOU. FIRST EVER CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MY LIFE.
FIRST TIME EVER IN THIS ROOM, I THINK.
I'LL GIVE A LITTLE QUICK UPDATE, AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS I COULD TAKE SOME INPUT FROM YOU ON.
I THINK FIRST I WILL GIVE JUST A RIGHT NOW HERE AND NOW SHORT TERM UPDATE BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME COMMENTS MADE THAT MAYBE WE HAVE A DISASTER AND YOU GUYS HAVE RUINED THE AEDC, ETC.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU, THE MORNING AFTER I WAS APPOINTED, THE BOARD WHERE YOU SAID, YOU ASKED ME AND I SAID, NO, AND YOU DID IT ANYWAY, THAT MEANING? THEN I TEXT YOU THAT NIGHT AND SAID, WHAT? EXCUSE ME, THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? THEN WE SLEPT.
THE FIRST THING I DID THE NEXT MORNING WAS CALL KEVIN CARTER.
[01:35:04]
WE SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS. I WAS OUT OF TOWN, SO I COULDN'T SEE HIM IN PERSON, BUT WE SPENT A COUPLE OF HOURS ON THE PHONE AND JUST BEGAN TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. I DIDN'T KNOW KEVIN.I'VE MET HIM SHAKING HIS HAND A TIME OR TWO, BUT WE PROBABLY HAD NEVER SPOKEN 20 WORDS.
THE FIRST THING I ASKED KEVIN WAS HOW WAS HE DOING, JUST AS A HUMAN.
THE SECOND THING I ASKED KEVIN WAS ARE WE IN TROUBLE WITH ANY DEALS? KEVIN ULTIMATELY TOLD ME, NO.
BUT IN THE SHORT TERM, I THINK THE AEDC IS JUST FINE.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY DEALS THAT EVEN ARE AT RISK.
WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE ANY DEALS THAT ARE LOST.
DEALS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE DONE ARE STILL DONE.
THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CHURN EVEN AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE SOME OF KEVIN'S FRIENDS HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED AND SPOKEN INTO THIS THING, SO IT'S CREATED A LITTLE BIT OF DRAMA.
BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE AEDC IS JUST FINE AND GOING FORWARD JUST FINE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A FEW THINGS SLOW DOWN WITH YOUR PROCESS OF WANTING TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE JUST FINE.
THEY PROBABLY MAKE KEVIN AND TEAM SLOW A FEW THINGS DOWN, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT'S GETTING DONE, THAT NEEDS TO GET DONE, THAT ISN'T GETTING DONE.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY TRIPS TAKEN THAT AREN'T BEING TAKEN.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND THAT ISN'T IN GOOD SHAPE.
THAT'S MY SHORT TERM PICTURE OF HOW IT'S GOING.
THERE'S CERTAINLY NO NOT EVEN CATASTROPHE.
I FRANKLY DON'T REALLY THINK THERE'S A BIG PROBLEM.
IN A LITTLE BIT THE LONGER TERM, I'LL TELL YOU THAT WHAT I'M DOING IS JUST REALLY WHAT I DO IN MY BUSINESS WHEN WE GO IN TO WORK FOR A NEW CLIENT.
WE JUST BEGIN DIGGING IN AND MOSTLY LISTENING.
I STARTED THAT MORNING ON THE PHONE WITH KEVIN.
THE FIRST TIME WE TALKED WAS TWO HOURS.
I'VE SPENT A LOT OF HOURS WITH KEVIN, A LOT OF HOURS.
HE'S PROBABLY ALREADY REALLY MAYBE TIRED OF ME.
I SAY THAT JOKING. WE'VE HAD I THINK A LOT OF GOOD MEETINGS.
SOMETIMES THE GUY WHO DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING, AND I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE AEDC WORLD.
THEY'VE GOT THEIR OWN LANGUAGE AND THEY GOT THEIR OWN TERMS AND THEY GOT THEIR OWN THINKING.
BUT SOMETIMES THE GUY THAT DOESN'T KNOW ALL THAT SEES THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE EVERY DAY AND LIVE IN THOSE PARADIGMS SEE.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT I'M LOOKING AT AN AEDC THAT FROM WHERE I STAND RIGHT NOW CAN BE DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED.
>> I'LL HOLD BACK. I HAVE SOME MUCH STRONGER THINGS THAT ARE IN MY MIND, BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE EARLY FOR ME TO SAY THOSE THINGS, BUT YOU GUYS YOU COULD FIRE ME ANYTIME.
I THINK THAT'S A HEALTHY THING.
I'VE BEEN IN A POSITION MY WHOLE LIFE TO GET FIRED ANY DAY BY MY CLIENTS.
BUT UNTIL THEN, I'M GOING TO DO THIS JOB WITH EVERY BIT OF MY ENERGY.
I'M FINDING THINGS THAT I THINK NEED A RESET AND A RETHINK AND A LOT OF ATTENTION.
ALREADY MY MIND IS GOING TOWARD WHAT THOSE THINGS COULD BE, BUT I'LL COME BACK TO THOSE LATER.
IN OUR FIRST MEETING, MY FIRST EVER PUBLIC MEETING, I WAS VOTED OR NOMINATED OR WHATEVER THE WORD IS CHAIRMAN, AND SO THEN I'M SUPPOSED TO DO THE THINGS CHAIRMAN DO IN MEETINGS BUT FIRST, I HAD TO ASK WHAT THESE JOBS ARE, AND KEVIN TOLD US.
I DON'T KNOW THE PROTOCOL, AND I DON'T KNOW WHO'S SUPPOSED TO SAY WHAT AND IN WHAT ORDER.
IT WAS FUNNY, I THINK A LITTLE BIT.
A LOT OF THINGS I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE.
BUT I DO RECOGNIZE BULLSHIT WHEN I SEE IT.
I THINK A LOT OF IT'S FLYING AROUND FROM A LOT OF PLACES.
WE'LL SEE HOW LONG I LAST WITH YOU.
BUT I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST AND CALL THINGS LIKE I SEE THEM.
I THINK THE AEDC IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY,
[01:40:06]
BUT I THINK IT CAN DO THINGS IT'S EVER THOUGHT ABOUT DOING IN OUR CITY.EVEN THOUGH IT'S DONE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS.
>> I JUST WANT TO REALLY CLEAR THAT YOU ALL HAVE STATED, THERE ARE NO PROBLEM.
WE'RE NOT LOSING BUSINESS FROM THE AEDC.
THE COUNCIL IS NOT PUSHING BUSINESS AWAY.
AFTER I'VE READ ALL THESE OP-EDS, ALL THE SOCIAL MEDIA, MEDIA, AND OTHER PLACES, WE ARE IN GOOD FOOTING RIGHT NOW, CORRECT?
>> YEAH. WE'RE IN GOOD FOOTING. I FOLLOWED THE QUESTION I HAD UP FOR KEVIN IN PRIVATE THAT DAY WITH THAT QUESTION IN THE MEETING PUBLIC.
IT WAS THE LAST BIT OF BUSINESS IN THE MEETING, AND JUST BEFORE I LEFT, YOU ASKED THE QUESTION REALLY FIRST, JOSH, AND THEN I FOLLOWED UP AND ARTICULATED JUST A LITTLE MORE, YES, NO-ISH.
ANYHOW, KEVIN CONFIRMED AGAIN THAT HE THINKS EVERYTHING IS FINE AND THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM.
>> THAT'S THE BEST NEWS I'VE HEARD BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND OP-EDS IS WE LOST OUR WHEELS, WE'RE CRASHED AND BURNED AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE THAT WE CAN BUILD WHERE WE'RE AT AND GO FORWARD. THANK YOU.
>> WE DEFINITELY AREN'T CRASHING.
I DON'T FRANKLY THINK WE'RE EVEN ALL THAT.
I'M NOT SURE HOW WOBBLY WE ARE.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE THOUGHTS OF THE PAST, BUT AS FAR AS LOOKING AS TO WHAT WE'VE BEEN, I THINK EVERYTHING IS JUST FINE.
I ASKED KEVIN, ARE THERE PEOPLE OUT THERE AT RISK THAT I NEED TO GET ON AN AIRPLANE AND GO SEE AND HE SAID, NO.
I THINK EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS GOING IS STILL GOING JUST FINE.
THERE'S PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN AMARILLO.
WHEN THE HEAD OF THE STATE ASSOCIATION SAYS, EVERYONE DOES BUSINESS THIS WAY, I THINK PEOPLE OUGHT TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.
WE'LL GET TO THAT EVENTUALLY, BUT NOW I THINK EVERYTHING IS FINE.
>> ONE THING THAT I WOULD SAY, SO YOU DO NOT COME TO THE TABLE WITH YEARS OR A 10 YEARS OF SITTING ON THE AEDC BOARD.
YOU'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH SOME BOARD PROCEDURES.
YOU IN NO WAY ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH BUSINESS, ETHICS, SALES, MARKETING, BUDGETS, FINANCE, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
YOU COME WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN YOUR BUSINESS DEALINGS AND YOUR ABILITIES TO LEAD.
WHAT WE HIRED YOU FOR, AND WHAT I NOMINATED YOU FOR THAT THIS COUNCIL WAS WILLING TO SUPPORT IS WE NEEDED STRONG LEADERSHIP AND WE NEEDED TO TELL OUR PUBLIC AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE INVESTED AND CONTINUED TO INVEST THOSE TAX DOLLARS INTO THE AEDC THAT WE HAVE A PLAN AND THAT WE WILL WALK THIS OUT THE RIGHT WAY.
NOW IT MAY NOT LOOK AS PROFESSIONAL AS EVERYONE WOULD LIKE AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS IN PUBLIC.
THAT TAKES CRITICISM AND THAT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY.
BUT THE RIGHT PATH FORWARD IS THE PATH THAT WE'RE ON.
SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO MAYBE YOUR DISAGREEMENTS WITH ME.
WE'VE HAD A FEW CONVERSATIONS WHERE PERHAPS THE ARTICLES AND THE AMENDMENTS OF THE ARTICLES, THERE'S SOMETHING IN THERE THAT I KNOW YOU HAD SAID, I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS.
THEN ALSO MAYBE ON THE BYLAWS, WE HAVE ANOTHER DISCUSSION ITEM COMING UP THAT WE'LL INVITE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN.
BUT I JUST THINK SETTING THE STAGE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WHAT I'M SEEKING TO HAVE IS A LEGITIMATE ORGANIC COLLABORATION WITH A HEALTHY BOARD, AND IT IS TEMPORARY, BUT THE WAY THAT THIS BOARD WORKS AND CLEANS UP THIS MESS SETS US UP FOR SUCCESS OR FAILURE FOR THE NEXT BOARD.
>> THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING TO GO NEXT.
I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE DISAGREEMENT, BUT TO REFERENCE WHAT COLE WAS TALKING ABOUT, I CALLED HIM ON SATURDAY, SUNDAY.
I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT DAY. I'M FINALLY GETTING MY HEAD AROUND FIRST THE ARTICLES.
FOR SOME REASON, I KEEP ON CALLING AMENDMENTS, BUT THEY'RE ARTICLES.
I THINK SOME OF THAT WOULD HELP ME.
I ASKED YOU THIS AND YOU ANSWERED FOR YOU AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR MAYBE YOU ALL TO KNOW WHAT I'M ASSUMING BECAUSE GOING FORWARD, I THINK WE OBVIOUSLY BE AFFECTED BY WHAT I'M THINKING, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD WORK DONE ON THE ARTICLES.
[01:45:03]
THERE'S JUST A LOT OF CLEANUP AND LITTLE THINGS AND REFERENCES TO PLACES IN THE STATUTES THAT NEED TO BE ADDED AND TUNED UP AND NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF GOOD WORK, PROBABLY STUFF THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN WHEN WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN.I THINK THE AEDC'S ATTORNEY AND GEORGE HAVE COLLABORATED WELL AND WORKED THROUGH SEVERAL ITERATIONS.
I THINK MOST OF THAT IS NON-STRUCTURAL, WHAT I WOULD SAY IN A LEGAL DISCUSSION ABOUT A CONTRACT IS NON-STRUCTURAL.
THE MAIN STRUCTURAL CHANGE TO THE ARTICLES IS THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT BUDGET TYPE OF DECISIONS, HOW THEY SHOULD GET TREATED.
CAN WE SAY THESE ARE OKAY ONCE THEY'RE AGREED BY YOU ALL AND THEY CAN GO EXECUTE? THEN SOME THAT ARE LIKE YOU GOT TO COME BACK ON ALL OF THESE.
SECOND, THE LATTER IS ALL EVERY DEAL THE AEDC DOES RIGHT NOW, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, THEY GOT TO BRING IT BACK HERE AND YOU ALL HAVE TO APPROVE IT.
BUT I THINK THAT WE COULD SIMPLIFY THAT.
THERE'S SOME COMPLEXITY IN THAT DOCUMENT THAT I THINK WE COULD MAKE IT A LOT SIMPLER AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THAT DOCUMENT THEN MAKES THE BYLAWS MORE COMPLICATED TO ME THAN THEY COULD BE.
THE PROBLEM THAT YOU GUYS HAD WITH THE RANGE DEAL, WHICH IS WHAT STARTED THIS DISCUSSION, YOU PROBABLY YOU HAD SOME PROBLEM THAT THEY ASKED FOR 100 AND GAVE 750.
BUT SETTING THAT ASIDE, THE WAY THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THAT IS THEY WERE ABLE TO GATHER MONEY FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUDGET AND SAY, I GOT 750.
MY THOUGHT IS THAT WE COULD FIX THAT REALLY SIMPLY BY SINCE YOU GET TO APPROVE THE BUDGET, AND YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AT WHATEVER LEVEL YOU WANT.
A COUNCIL FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, THEY MAY WANT A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF BUDGET APPROVAL.
YOU MAY SAY, JUST TELL ME OF FIX EXPENSES ARE 50 GRAND.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT HOW MANY PAPER CLIPS AND PENCILS AND PIECES OF PAPER.
BUT AT WHATEVER LEVEL YOU GUYS NEED THE BUDGET TO LOOK LIKE, I FEEL LIKE WHAT WE COULD SAY IS THE AEDC CAN'T GO BEYOND THE LINE ITEM LEVEL OF A BUDGET WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL.
OR I MAY EVEN PUT A 5% BUFFER AND I MAY SAY, YOU CAN GO BEYOND 5% OR 2% OR 10. TEN IS TOO MUCH.
BUT AS LONG AS YOU STAY WITH THAT AT THE LINE ITEM LEVEL, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT THE ARTICLES USED TO SAY, WHICH IS WHAT MADE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY COULD DO THAT.
I KNOW THAT'S A DISPUTABLE POINT AS TO WHETHER THEY COULD HAVE, BUT SETTING THAT ASIDE, I FEEL LIKE WE COULD IN VERY SIMPLE ORDER SAY, YOU GET TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.
ONCE IT'S APPROVED AT THE LINE ITEM LEVEL, AEDC CAN'T GO PAST IT.
THAT WAY, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S REALLY TIGHT.
DOING THAT, THAT SIMPLY WOULD TURN PARAGRAPHS INTO SENTENCES.
THEN IT WOULD MAKE THE BY LAW DISCUSSION, WHICH I WOULD GET TO LATER BECAUSE IT WILL DRAMATICALLY HAVE TO CHANGE EVEN FROM THE VERSION WE HAVE NOW.
SIMPLIFIED. WHAT I CALLED COLE TO DO WAS ASK IF COULD WE TAKE THIS SIMPLER APPROACH AND COULD I GO BACK TO OUR ATTORNEY AND WRITE THE DRAFT OF THE DOCUMENT THAT WAY AND THEN BRING THE ATTORNEYS AND PROBABLY SOME OF YOU OR I GUESS, ONE OR TWO OF YOU BACK TOGETHER.
I THINK WE COULD DO THAT AND I THINK WE'D HAVE THAT DONE BY THE END OF THE WEEK.
I THINK THEN IT COULD MAKE THE BYLAW DISCUSSION JUST MORE STREAMLINED AND SMOOTH.
>> ONE THING IN OUR DISCUSSION WAS, I WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO YOU THAT GEORGE HYDE, THE ATTORNEY THAT WE'VE HIRED IS NOT THE ONE THAT WE NEED APPROVAL FROM.
YOU NEED THIS COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
GEORGE HYDE IS MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS.
QUITE FRANKLY, SOME OF THE DIRECTION HE TOOK FROM THIS COUNCIL WAS, SHOW US WHAT WE CAN DO.
WE'RE UNSURE AS TO HOW RIGID THIS DOCUMENT COULD BE, NOT HOW RIGID IT SHOULD BE OR HAS TO BE.
SOME OF THE STUFF THAT HE'S PRODUCED, WE INTEND TO HAVE A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT WITH YOU AND WITH YOUR BOARD AND I THINK THAT IN THE APPROPRIATENESS I VISITED WITH OUR CITY MANAGER EARLIER TODAY, MR. PATH, IT IS MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THIS BODY UP ON THE DIAS TO DICTATE THOSE ARTICLES AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STRUCTURE IS IN PLACE LEGALLY THAT WE WANT TO SET THESE GUARD RAILS AND PARAMETERS.
THEN WE BELIEVE IT'S MORE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUR BOARD AND YOUR STAFF TO HELP AND ASSIST WITH EVERYTHING FROM THE WAY THE BUDGET IS LINE ITEMS AND PUTTING THOSE AMOUNTS IN AND HELPING
[01:50:03]
TO I GUESS I WOULD SAY DESCRIBE THOSE ITEMS THAT ARE IN THE BYLAWS, DEFINE THOSE BYLAWS SO THAT WE AVOID THIS ISSUE OF THIS IS SO CUMBERSOME.YOU'RE MAKING IT WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY. THAT'S NOT OUR GOAL.
I BELIEVE THAT IN THIS EXERCISE, ATKINS WOULD DO YOU A GOOD JOB AND WE CAN HAND THIS BACK OVER TO YOU.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO SEE IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ARTICLES.
WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS IS THAT ATKINS HAS SAID MULTIPLE TIMES, THIS SEEMS REASONABLE.
THERE WERE A FEW THINGS ON THE ARTICLES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BRING BACK.
AT THIS POINT, YOU WOULD TAKE THE ARTICLES TO ATKINS.
YOU, STAFF, YOUR BOARD WOULD MEET ONE MORE TIME.
WE COULD GET THEM IN PLENTY OF TIME.
MR. HYDE HAS DONE WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO, I BELIEVE.
THERE COULD BE SOME FEEDBACK FROM HIM ON ADVISEMENT.
THEN WE WOULD PUT THESE UP FOR A VOTE.
NOW, THAT REALLY LOOKS MORE LIKE JANUARY.
YOU COULD PROBABLY GET DONE WHAT YOU NEED TO IN A WEEK, BUT WE DON'T MEET AGAIN UNTIL JANUARY.
HOWEVER, BYLAWS COULD BE WORKING AT THAT TIME BECAUSE WE COULD GIVE YOU DIRECTION HERE TODAY FOR YOU TO GO FORWARD WITH THE BYLAWS AND THE CHANGES THAT YOU WANT?
>> I'M COMPLETELY IN AGREEMENT. I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
>> REAL QUICK. COUNCIL, AM I GOING A WRONG DIRECTION, AM I GOING A GOOD DIRECTION? WE'RE HERE TO GET AN UPDATE, BUT WE'RE ALSO HERE TO ENGAGE SO JUST OPEN IT UP FOR A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION.
MY ONLY QUESTION IS IF WE ADOPT THE BYLAWS, AS YOU SAY TO HAVE THE OVERALL BUDGET APPROVED AND THEN NOT TO GO ABOVE THE LINE ITEMS, I'D BE CURIOUS WITH KEVIN AND HIS GROUP TO SAY, DO WE NEED TO REDO THE BUDGET? DOES IT NEED TO BE RE-LOOKED AT FROM THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT WAS SUBMITTED OR NOT? HOPEFULLY, IT'S NO, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE WE HAVE YET TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS IS.
I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER STEP THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT FOR SURE.
>> I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD POINT.
DON, WHAT I THINK I WOULD DO IS LET YOU GUYS DECIDE THAT.
LOOK AT THAT BUDGET AND SAY, IF THIS IS THE RULES AND IF YOU'RE LIKE, NOPE, I NEED A LITTLE MORE DETAIL RIGHT HERE.
I NEED THREE SUB-LINE ITEMS. BUT BECAUSE ULTIMATELY, YOU GUYS THAT'S AS IT SHOULD BE, THAT'S YOUR CALL, AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE BY IT.
I LOOK AT THAT THING AND FEEL LIKE, I CAN LIVE WITH ALL THESE LINE ITEMS. THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO. I GO AHEAD.
BUT IF THERE'S SOME PLACES THAT YOU'D SAY, I'D LIKE THAT TO BE BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO OR THREE THINGS.
IT'S LOOSE. I WON'T BETRAY CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATIONS, BUT THIS THING IS TOO LOOSE.
I WILL SAY I DIDN'T KNOW JOHN ATKINS.
FACT, I WOULD HAVE FORGOT HIS LAST NAME IF YOU HADN'T SAID IT.
HE WAS GREAT AT THE TIMES I'VE SEEN HIM TALK TO HIM AND VERY REASONABLE.
I THINK THEY SHOULD GET THIS, TALKING ABOUT YOU ALSO.
I DON'T THINK THIS WILL BE THAT HARD.
I DO THINK WE NEED TILL JANUARY JUST BECAUSE OF HOLIDAYS, BUT I THINK WE COULD BE READY TO HAVE SOMETHING YOU GUYS TO LOOK AT.
>> DO WE WANT TO REDIRECT ANYTHING? CAN YOU GIVE SOME FEEDBACK, COUNCILMAN SIMPSON?
>> WELL, I DO, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRING THAT UP.
I THINK AT LEAST MY GOAL IN THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN WE CAN LOOK AT THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION.
IF SOMEBODY IS ADVISING THIS, THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO.
BUT LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT HAMPERS CAUSES PROBLEMS OR PUTS US IN A DISADVANTAGE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGAINST OTHERS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE PRODUCTIVE.
I THINK SIMPLIFYING IT, TO ME, THE COMPLICATED PROBLEM WAS GOING TO BE NOT WHAT WE'RE NECESSARILY PUT IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, BUT HOW IS THIS ALL GOING TO WORK? WHO'S GOT TO DO WHAT AND HOW DO WE DO IT? WHAT COMES AND WHAT DOESN'T GO? I APPRECIATE THE IDEA OF TRYING TO SIMPLE IT.
ONE THING I THINK AND I SAY HERE AS A COUNCIL, OF COURSE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF MEMBERS THAT ARE SERVING ON THE AEDC.
THIS IS WHERE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I'M REALLY GOING TO DEPEND ON THE INTERIM BOARD, THE AEDC STAFF, AND THE CITY STAFF TO HELP ME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE, AND WE UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK GOING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO ADVISE THIS BECAUSE, TO ME, I COULD THINK IT'S THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD, BUT IF THE STAFF SAYS, WAIT A MINUTE, WE'RE NOT CLEAR ON THIS, TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE PARTIES, NOT ONLY THE VOLUNTEER PARTY, AND THE ELECTED PARTIES, BUT THE STAFF THAT WE'RE ALL ON ONE PAGE AND THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR ON HOW THIS IS GOING TO WORK GOING FORWARD, AND THERE'S A COMFORT LEVEL AND A CLEAR PATH SO THAT EVERYBODY'S CLEAR ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE AND THERE'S A LITTLE POSSIBILITY FOR THINGS TO FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS AS THEY MAY HAVE FALLEN THROUGH BEFORE.
[01:55:02]
>> IS OKAY IF I CALL YOU LESS? IT'S OKAY. I WILL CALL YOU LESS EVERY OTHER TIME.
>> THAT'S BETTER THAN I'M CALLED SOMETIMES. YEAH, LITTLE BETTER WORD.
>> I COULD CALL YOU COUNCILMAN SENSEN.
>> I THINK THE THING COLE JUST DESCRIBED OF US TALKING THROUGH CONCEPTUALLY AGREEING AND THEN SENDING THE LAWYERS TO WRITE IT'S THE BEST WAY.
I THINK IT'S UNIQUELY VALUABLE THAT YOU GUYS PUT TWO PEOPLE ON THAT BOARD, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME.
THERE WERE SOME VERSIONS OF THESE.
I'VE LOOKED AT ALL OF THE ITERATIONS FROM THE BEGINNING THAT I DON'T THINK WERE WORKABLE.
I THINK PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAMPERED TOO MUCH, BUT I THINK WE'RE REALLY CLOSE TO A PLACE THAT WE NEED TO MAKE ONE GOOD MOVE TOWARDS SIMPLIFICATION.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY RISK OF THINGS BEING TOO KIND.
I THINK MORE THINGS NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED UP, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'LL OVERDO IT.
COLE AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THIS EVER CAME UP, THAT YOU HAD A SITUATION WHERE YOU GOT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THAT SITUATION.
YOU DON'T WANT TO WRITE BY LAWS, ASSUMING YOU'RE NOT TRUSTING THAT, BECAUSE EVENTUALLY YOU'RE GOING TO TRUST THEM AGAIN, WHOEVER THEY ARE, AND YOU WANT TO WRITE BY LAWS THAT YOU WANT TO LET THEM FLY WITH SOME ACCOUNTABILITY.
ALTHOUGH I WOULD PREDICT WE SHOULD FLY SOME DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS IN THE FUTURE, BUT WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER.
>> COUNCILMAN SIMPSON, I HEAR WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.
I CAN'T HELP BUT INFER A LITTLE BIT THAT YOU STILL FEEL MAYBE THAT WE NEED TO MAP OUT A DIRECTION.
I FEEL LIKE WE MAPPED IT OUT PRETTY GOOD.
MAYBE IF I SUMMARIZE, RESTATE, I WANT CLARITY HERE TODAY.
WHAT WE CAN'T HAVE IS ANOTHER MEETING WHERE WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.
THE COLLABORATION IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
AT THIS POINT, MR. HYDE'S DONE HIS JOB.
NOBODY'S QUESTIONING THESE THAT IS READING THEM.
NOW, WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THEM OR NOT, YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEY ARE.
MR. ATKINS HAS ADVISED YOU AND YOUR BOARD THAT SEVERAL OF THESE THINGS ARE GOOD.
WE INVITE YOU TO ALLOW HIM AND YOUR BOARD TO CONTINUE TO FINALIZE THAT DOCUMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO US IN JANUARY FOR APPROVAL.
YOU COULD BRING IT BACK RIGHT AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
WE'RE NOT MEETING UNTIL JANUARY 14.
OUR EXPECTATION SHOULD BE THAT WE HAVE THE ARTICLES FINALIZED, READY TO VOTE ON JANUARY 14.
IN THE MEANTIME, YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE DIRECTION FROM THIS COUNCIL THAT WE INVITE YOU TO NOT REDRAW, BUT AMEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THOSE BYLAWS.
SOME OF THE BYLAWS YOU MAY WANT TO WORK ON OR THE ORIGINAL BYLAWS THAT YOU KNOW JUST NEED TO CHANGE PER YOUR ADVISOR.
SOME OF THE BYLAWS MAY BE WHAT MR. HYDE PUT OUT THAT YOU DON'T LIKE.
YOU AND YOUR STAFF AS WELL AS YOUR BOARD ARE GOING TO BRING BACK THOSE BYLAWS AT THE SAME TIME.
IF IT'S OKAY, WE WOULD LOVE FOR MR. CARTER TO GO AHEAD AND COMPLETE THE BUDGET.
THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY REASON THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURES ARE FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, HOW WE'RE WANTING TO PUT THOSE DOWN, AND WE WOULD INVITE THOSE TO BE BROUGHT BACK SO THAT IF IT IS A $50,000 REQUEST FOR OFFICE SUPPLIES, WE KNOW THE WAY YOU'D LIKE TO ASK.
MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT TO STIPULATE OFFICE MAX.
MAYBE YOU JUST WANT TO SAY OFFICE SUPPLIES.
WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT AS A BODY.
WE DON'T WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING TO BE SO DOGMATIC AND HARD TO GET ALONG WITH THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET A BUDGET APPROVED.
WE NEED TO GET A BUDGET APPROVED, THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY REASON IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY TO GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE THAT AND BRING THAT BACK.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS, OVERHEAD, SALARIES, WAGES, AND THEN ADVERTISING, MARKETING, THOSE OTHER SINGLE LINE ITEM MEMBERSHIP BUDGETS THAT WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH NOW.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, THEN WE'RE REALLY RELYING ON YOU AND MR. SMITH AND MR. PATEL TO HELP ASSIST IN, WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY TIGHTENING UP? WHAT ARE YOU WANTING TO REALLY HOLD ACCOUNTABLE? HOW DO WE GET THIS ENTITY TO FLY BETTER? NOT SAYING THAT WE HAVEN'T DONE A FANTASTIC JOB IN CERTAIN AREAS AND THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN WINS.
THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME TROPHIES ON THE WALL.
EVERYTHING CAN BE IMPROVED UPON.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS EXERCISE, HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE? THAT TO ME IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN HAVING THIS MESS CLEANED UP IN JANUARY WITH THE READINESS TO APPOINT A NEW BOARD.
>> YOU'D LIKE ME TO HAVE THE BYLAWS READY BY ALSO THE NEXT BOARD MEETING?
[02:00:05]
I STILL CAN TRY.>> IF IT WEREN'T FOR HOLIDAYS, I'D SAY NO BRAINER.
WE'LL WORK TOWARD THAT. LET'S ASSUME WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT DONE.
>> IF THEY'RE NOT READY, THEN PERHAPS MAYBE THEY'RE NOT READY TO BE VOTED ON OR ADOPTED.
THE ROUGH DRAFT COULD BE SO THAT WE WOULD AT LEAST AT THAT TIME ENGAGE IN A PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION.
>> IT MAY BE COMPLETELY POSSIBLE.
>> MAYOR, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY IS JUST TO MAYBE LOOK AT BEING TOTALLY TRANSPARENT ABOUT ALL THIS IS THAT IF WE CAN GET BECAUSE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU THAT I'VE HELD OFF ON DIGGING IN BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO CHANGE EVERY TWO WEEKS.
WE'VE HAD CHANGE AFTER CHANGE AFTER CHANGE AFTER CHANGE, THAT I DON'T WANT TO SPEND ALL MY TIME READING THIS, BUT IT'S NOT PRODUCTIVE IF I'M NOT READING, WHAT ARE WE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT PUTTING OUT INSTEAD OF COME OUT.
WHAT I MIGHT RECOMMEND IS IF WE CAN SET A TARGET FOR IT BEING AVAILABLE TO US AND THE PUBLIC ON THE 14TH MAYBE AS A DISCUSSION ITEM AND THEN MAYBE LOOKING AT A VOTE ON TWO WEEKS LATER JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GONE TRANSPARENT THROUGH THIS, THAT IT'S OUT THERE, THAT IF WE DO COME UP TO THE LAST MINUTE AND WE DON'T GET IT UNTIL A FEW DAYS BEFORE, WE'RE NOT RUSHING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PUBLIC'S NOT RUSHING THROUGH THIS AND IT GIVES US AN EXTRA TWO WEEKS WHERE THIS IS OUT THERE, PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT IT, WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND GO FROM THERE.
>> I THINK WE CAN TOTALLY DO THAT.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD ASK IS THAT I THINK THEY'LL NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE DISCUSSION ON OUR WAY TO THE 14TH.
IF THAT'S YOU, COLE, OR WHOEVER IT WOULD BE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND SAY, I GET THIS DRAFT AND I HAVE SEVEN THINGS I JUST THINK WE NEED TO TALK THROUGH. IS IT APPROPRIATE?
>> IT'S ALWAYS APPROPRIATE FOR CHAIR TO COMMUNICATE.
HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE SITTING ON THAT BOARD.
>> CAN ONLY TALK TO ONE OF THEM AT A TIME, RIGHT?
>> WELL, THEY'RE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE THE GREATEST LEVEL OF FAITH IN AND HELPING [INAUDIBLE] SO HELP ME GO BACK TO THEM INSTEAD OF YOU.
LET ME ASK OUR ATTORNEY, IF CHAIR TO CHAIR IS COMMUNICATING AND HE'S ALSO SPEAKING TO WE DON'T HAVE ANY QUORUMS AS THE DIRECTOR OR AS THE BOARD CHAIR?
I THINK YOU SHOULD WORK WITH THE COUNCIL THAT YOU HAVE JUST TO BE SAFE, TO AVOID ANY PERCEPTION.
>>YOU MEAN WHEN I COME BACK TO TALK, I SHOULDN'T TALK TO DON OR JOSH?
>> NO, IF WE HAVE A POSTED MEETING, YOU'RE FINE, IT'S MORE JUST YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT SHARING DELIBERATIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING WITH THEM WITH THE MAYOR IF HE'S NOT INVOLVED.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF IT'S NOT A POSTED MEETING, YOU'VE GOT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT UP TO YOU TO CHOOSE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE WITH ME, THAT'S FINE.
THEN I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT YOU'RE NOT SPEAKING TO EITHER OF MY OTHER TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS ABOUT THOSE SPECIFIC TOPICS AND WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO DO ON THEM.
HOWEVER, IF YOU WANT TO WORK WITH JOSH OR DON, EITHER ONE WOULD BE FINE.
>> BUT NOW IN A POSTED MEETING, LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING, IT'S OPEN DISCUSSION.
WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS YOU'RE GOING TO GET WE'RE BEGGING FOR YOUR BUT GOING HERE.
THEN IN OUR MEETING AT THE EDC, WE CAN ALL SIT AROUND AND TALK.
>> THAT WOULD BE TRUE IN YOU AND I BEING ABLE TO WORK THROUGH IT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE HYDE AND THE ATKINS PIECE.
>> I THINK WE PROBABLY WON'T HAVE THAT MEETING, WE HAD QUASI PLAN, BECAUSE NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO RESET, WE JUST NEED TO DO SOME WORK FIRST.
>> ONE ADDITIONAL THING I WOULD JUST ASK IS IF WHOEVER WE'RE WORKING WITH ON HERE, THAT WE ALSO INCLUDE THE CITY MANAGER IN THESE CONVERSATIONS JUST SO HE'S IN THE LOOP FROM THE CITY PERSPECTIVE ON THE STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S GOT A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THIS IS MOVING FORWARD AS WELL.
>> THE CONSIDERATION THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM, AND I TRY TO KEEP OUR CITY MANAGER TOTALLY UP TO DATE ON A LOT OF MY CONVERSATIONS AND WHERE WE'RE AT AND EXPECTATIONS.
AS MUCH AS THAT CAN BE DISSEMINATED WITHOUT VIOLATING ANYTHING, WE'LL DO IT.
COUNCILMAN KRAFT, I SAW YOU HAD SOMETHING.
>> GO AHEAD ON IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING ON THAT.
>> WELL, I WAS JUST GOING TO COMMENT ON THAT.
I'M ALL ABOUT LOOPING IN THE CITY MANAGER, BUT I DON'T MEAN THIS IN ANY WAY, DON'T HEAR IT ANY OTHER WAY.
BUT THIS DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU, CORRECT? THE EDC?
>> ONE NICE ASPECT TO BE SINCE WE ARE THE FISCAL AGENT, IF THERE ARE MATTERS THAT THE BYLAWS START TO ADDRESS IT COMES TO A FISCAL PURPOSE.
IT'D BE GOOD FOR US TO BE CLUE ON THOSE BECAUSE SO WE'LL BE SERVING THAT ROLE, SO THAT COULD BE GOOD BE CLUED ON THOSE PIECES.
>> BUT OUR JOB DOES INVOLVE OVERSIGHT OF THE EDC. HE'S OUR ADVISOR.
THAT'S WHAT THE CITY MANAGER DOES ADVISES.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CHIEF ADVISOR IS IN THE LOOP.
>> I'M ALSO AN EX-OFFICIAL ON THE BOARD AS WELL,
[02:05:01]
SO I COULD BE A PART OF THAT FOR THAT PURPOSE AS WELL. THAT'S ALL I WAS GOING TO SAY.>> LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT. BEFORE WE AMEND THESE BYLAWS, WE GOT TO HAVE ARTICLES IN PLACE FIRST, IS THE GOAL TO DO ALL THAT AT ONE TIME?
>> NO, I THINK THE GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE THE ARTICLES READY TO VOTE ON JANUARY 14 WITH EVERYTHING COMING BACK SO THAT THE BYLAWS AND THE BUDGET AND ANY OF THE OTHER IDEAS, SUGGESTIONS YOU HAVE ARE PART OF A DISCUSSION ITEM.
THOSE COULD BE DISCUSSED THAT DAY AND THEN READY TO BE VOTED ON ON THE 28TH.
YOU STILL HAVE A TWO STEP PROCESS THERE, THUS GIVING PLENTY OF TIME FOR EVERYBODY TO GET COMFORTABLE AND THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
>> NOT TO BELABOR US HERE A LITTLE BIT, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION.
WE ALSO LOOP DOWN TO ITEM 70 AND HOW THE ARTICLES AND INCORPORATION AND BY LAWS.
TAKING THAT UP AS A SEPARATE ITEM, KEEPING MR. [INAUDIBLE] ATTENTION HERE.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT YOU WANT TO ADD TO THIS OR DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE'VE GOT YOU TO A GOOD STOPPING POINT?
>> I FEEL GOOD. [INAUDIBLE] ELSE SPECIFIC.
>> WHILE YOU'RE HERE, I DO WANT TO TAKE ITEM 7F, JUST TO GET YOUR OPINION ON THIS.
THEN I THINK WHAT WE PROBABLY WILL DO IS WE'LL TAKE A QUICK RECESS AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO TAKE UP THE OUTSIDE COUNCIL.
NOW, I KNOW YOU DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO SERVE.
I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
I ALSO FIND IT HUMOROUS AS A CAMPAIGN DONOR, THIS WOULD SOMEHOW BE A GIFT TO YOU TO ASK YOU TO COME AND HELP US AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS IN NO WAY A PROMOTION OR A BENEFIT TO YOU.
WE ARE IN YOUR DEBT, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE LEADING AND THE ADDITIONAL TIME FOR COUNCIL TO BE WILLING TO GO AND DO THIS.
AS SOON AS WE CAN GET EVERYBODY PERMANENTLY PLACED, LET'S ASSUME FOR NOW THAT WE ARE PLACING ALL FOUR BOARD MEMBERS.
WE JUST MAPPED THIS OUT ALL THE WAY TO THE 28TH.
WOULD IT BE APPROPRIATE IN YOUR OPINION TO TRY TO PLACE BOARD MEMBERS IN FEBRUARY? THEN, COUNCIL, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU, ESPECIALLY TO YOU TWO THAT ARE SERVING? CAN YOU SERVE THROUGH JANUARY AND THEN WE HAVE A NEW BOARD IN PLACE IN FEBRUARY?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER SIMPSON, WHAT ARE YOU FEELING ON HOW FAST THIS TRAIN IS MOVING AND IS THAT A GOOD TIME FRAME?
>> I DO THINK TO HELP AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT THINGS ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD, THAT TYPE OF THING.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT WE'VE EVEN HEARD FROM OUR OWN ADVISOR THAT WE HIRED TO ADVISE US AND THE EDC ON HOW TO MOVING FORWARD.
MAKING SURE AND I'M GLAD NOBODY THINKS THAT ANYTHING'S GOING ON HERE.
THIS IS JUST NORMAL, THAT TYPE OF THING.
BUT TO ME, THE KEY PART IS GETTING BACK TO NORMALCY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION IS ONE AND GETTING THE BOARD THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE FULL TIME, I THINK IS TOO.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO IT TO RUSH IT JUST FOR RUSHING IT, BUT I THINK YOUR TIME FRAME WOULD WORK OUT FINE.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY THE WAY THAT WE TAKE THIS ONE STEP AT A TIME ALLOWS US TO CORRECT IF WE DON'T STEP AS STRAIGHTLY AS WE'D LIKE TO.
I DEFINITELY DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S WISDOM TO APPOINT A NEW BOARD WHILE WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING THIS.
I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ALL OF THIS FINALIZED AND AGREED UPON.
ULTIMATELY, THE WIN IN THIS WOULD BE FOR MR. CARTER AND MR. ATKINS TO BE HERE PRESENTING THIS SAYING, WE AGREE, WE CAN DO THIS, W =E CAN WORK HERE.
LET'S GO TO WORK. AT THAT POINT WHERE WE ARE, LET'S GO TO WORK, WE AS A COUNSEL WOULD BE READY TO GO AHEAD AND PLACE THE PERMANENT BOARD.
I WOULD ASK IF COUNCIL WANTS TO DIRECT THIS CONVERSATION IN ANY WAY.
RIGHT NOW, WE CAN LOOK AT IT AS JUST A BROAD OPEN NOMINATION, JUST LIKE WE ALWAYS DO.
YOU BRING A NOMINATION YOURSELF OR YOU SELECT ONE OF THE APPLICANTS, AND YOU NOMINATE.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU COULD DO INTERVIEWS WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS.
YOU COULD VET THEM IN OTHER WAYS.
THEN WE ALSO COULD DO A TIER SELECTION PROCESS.
DO WE HAVE ANY APPETITE OR NEED FOR ANY OF THAT, OR DO WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN USE STANDARD PROTOCOL? YES, SIR.
>> I WAS JUST THINKING JUST OUT LOUD.
IF WE CAME UP TO 55, IF EACH ONE OF US CAME UP WITH A TOP 10, HOWEVER THAT PROCESS IS, IF WE WANT TO INTERVIEW THEM INDIVIDUALLY, THAT'S GREAT, WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO TO COME UP WITH OUR TOP 10.
THAT WAY WHEN WE COME IN THAT FEBRUARY MEETING, IF THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ON TRACK TO DO, SEE WHAT OF THOSE TOP 10 MARRY ACROSS THE BOARD,
[02:10:02]
I THINK THAT THOSE MOVE UP.IF WE HAVE FIVE ON THE TOP 10 OR WHATEVER, FOUR ON THE TOP 10, I THINK THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE AN EASIER PROCESS AND THAT THAT'S JUST THROWING THAT OUT THERE, BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE ALL GOING TO DO THE SAME THING.
WE'RE ALL GOING TO VET HIM, TALK TO HIM AND COME UP WITH YOUR TOP WHATEVER, MAYBE YOU SAY THREE OR FIVE, DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE NUMBER, BUT JUST TO MAKE THE PROCESS EASIER WHEN WE COME OUT HERE TO GET IT DOWN FROM 55.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID, THERE COUNCILMAN.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS WE CAN DO OUR TOP 10 LIST LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, BUT I THINK AT THAT POINT, I THINK I'D LIKE TO SIT DOWN AND ALL OF US JUST INTERVIEW LIKE WE DID FOR THE CITY MANAGER, SIT DOWN THERE AND BRING THEM IN AND SEE WHAT THEY GOT TO SAY AND THEN DETERMINE OUT OF THE TOP 10 WHICH FIVE WE WANT.
THAT'S JUST MY WAY OF THINKING ADDING ON TO YOUR.
>> I WOULD ONE THING WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHEREAS BECAUSE IT WAS A PERSONNEL ISSUE, I MEAN, THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE A PUBLIC MEETING, I THINK.
BUT NUMBER 2 IS, WE COULD DO THAT, ONCE WE GET THAT LIST OF 10, I'VE ALREADY TALKED TO SOME THAT HAVE ALREADY APPLIED AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT MAY BE INTERESTED.
I LIKE HAVING THAT IDEA BECAUSE AS I SAID BEFORE, ANYONE THAT WE'RE STRONGLY CONSIDERING, I'D JUST LIKE TO TALK TO MAYBE INDIVIDUALLY MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY, AND MAY BE HARD TO GET ALL OF US TOGETHER WITH THAT TYPE OF THING.
BUT I THINK HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOOD, BUT IT JUST MAY BE MORE FEASIBLE THAT WE DO IT IN 101 BASIS THAN NECESSARILY A GROUP.
>> I'M GOING TO GO WITH COUNCILMAN SIMPSON ON THIS ONE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO LOSE IN HAVING A TOP 10 LIST AND HAVING INTERVIEW PROCESSES THAT ARE IN A WORKING SESSION.
YOU HAVE VOLUNTEERS ONCE AGAIN THAT ARE JUST VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIME.
THEY MAY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GETTING THEMSELVES INTO, THEY MAY NOT TOTALLY.
I WOULD PULL BACK AWAY FROM ANY OF THE NEGATIVITY AND THE FEELINGS OF REJECTION THAT COULD COME THROUGH THAT.
IT IS ONE THING FOR ME TO NOMINATE SOMEONE, IT'S ANOTHER THING FOR ME TO EXCLUDE.
I WOULD NEVER WANT TO BE IN THE POSITION WHERE I'M EXCLUDING INDIVIDUALS OFF.
HOWEVER WE GET DOWN TO THE NOMINATIONS I'M GREAT WITH, I COULD SEE THE BENEFIT OF MAYBE YOU BRINGING YOUR TOP 5 OR WHATEVER OR SAYING, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT I'VE SINCERELY CONSIDERED AT THAT LAST MEETING IN JANUARY.
THAT WAY WE DO GET A FORMAL DISCUSSION OUT HERE OF, I HAD HIM TO OR OH, YES, THIS LADY BE FANTASTIC AND ACTUALLY, I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT SHE WAS THAT STRONG IN BUSINESS OR IN THIS SPECIFICITY, WHATEVER IT IS.
THAT CONVERSATION WOULD BE HELPFUL IN PUTTING TOGETHER THE BEST TEAM WE COULD.
BUT THEN AT THE POINT WE WOULD MAKE NOMINATIONS, I WOULD ASK IF COUNSEL COULD STILL CONSIDER, JUST BRING YOUR NOMINATION.
LET'S KEEP THE STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE THE SAME SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY EXCLUSIONS OR CONVERSATIONS GOING BACK AND FORTH OF, WELL, THIS IS THE REASON I DON'T WANT HIM.
HOW DOES THAT HIT YOU GUYS MAYBE ON THE RIGHT SIDE?
>> I'M FINE WITH THAT, I'LL JUST BRING MY NOMINATION.
>> TO BE CLEAR, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A NUMBER WE'RE SHOOTING FOR, I WANT TO BRING THREE, I'LL BRING THREE IF I WANT TO BRING SEVEN, I BRING SEVEN, RIGHT.
WE'RE EACH GOING TO DO OUR OWN INTERVIEW PROCESS, OUR OWN COMMUNICATION AND THEN JUST COME WITH THOSE AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO BEGIN THE CONVERSATION AND GO FROM THERE.
>> WE WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION ON THE 28TH.
COUNCILMAN CRAFT, PLEASE START, WE'LL RUN THE LINE.
EVERYBODY COULD PUT OUT THEIRS, AND THEN KNOWING THAT YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THOSE NOMINATIONS FORMALLY PROPOSED UNTIL THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY. WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS?
>> WE WOULD SUBMIT OUR LIST OF 10 OFF OF THOSE YOU'VE APPLIED.
>> YOU WOULD SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS THAT YOU ARE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING ON 28 JANUARY, BUT NON FORMALLY, YOU WOULD JUST SUBMIT IT HERE AT THIS MEETING.
IT WOULDN'T BE A FORMAL SUBMISSION THROUGH CITY SECRETARY OR ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET TURNED IN.
YOU COULD BRING 1, 3, 10, HOWEVER MANY PEOPLE YOU FEEL WOULD BE THE MOST QUALIFIED FOR DISCUSSION.
>> I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER WE WOULD HAVE THAT 10 SUBMITTED BEFORE THAT MEETING TO SEE.
ARE THERE SOME AGREEMENTS IN WHO'S ON THAT LIST?
>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WAY TO DO THAT, EXCEPT THROUGH THE PUBLIC FORUM.
THE MESSAGE BOARD, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF GRAYSON HAS ANY IDEAS.
>> ONE OPTION YOU COULD DO IS THAT BIT OFF OF COUNSELOR TIPPS ROUTE IS THAT IF YOU WERE TO DO YOUR INTERVIEWS FOR THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, IF YOU WERE TO THEN IDENTIFY A LIST OF 10 EACH OF YOU, YOU CAN THEN SUBMIT THAT TO ME.
WE CAN THEN GO THROUGH THE LIST AND THEN COMPARE BECAUSE YOU HAVE 55 NAMES.
IS VERY FEASIBLE THAT I COULD HAVE DIFFERENT TOPS FROM EACH OF THE FIVE OF YOU.
[02:15:02]
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR FOUR INDIVIDUALS.THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND FOUR OUT OF OUT OF ALL YOUR LIST.
THAT EITHER ALL FIVE OF YOU LIKE OR MAYBE FOUR THE FIVE YOU LIKE THEN I CAN THEN BRING THAT NAME THAT LIST BACK TO YOU AND SAY, OUT OF ALL FIVE, 10 PERSON LISTS.
THESE 4, THESE 5, THESE 6 YOU ALL FIVE LIKED. THEY'RE ON YOUR LIST.
YOU CAN THEN WORK FROM THAT LIST OR YOU CAN THEN DECIDE WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT THERE.
THAT WAY AS A BODY IS CONSENSUS WISE, YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED, THESE ARE OUR TOP SELECTIONS THERE.
>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THE ADVISEMENT ON IT AND IT'S VERY LOGICAL AND IT'S VERY HELPFUL.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE JUST WALKED THROUGH ONE OF THE MOST POLARIZING, SENSITIVE ISSUES THAT HAS TURNED CONTROVERSIAL.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND DOCUMENTS NOW THAT CAN BE PULLED OUT AND THEN COMMENTED ON BY THE PUBLIC.
I KNOW IF I WAS SITTING ON THAT LIST AND I WAS ONE OF THOSE, I DON'T KNOW THAT I WOULD APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC SCRUTINY THAT CAN TAKE PLACE OVER THAT.
WHEN WE DO IT HERE INFORMALLY LIKE THIS, I THINK IT ALLOWS FOR IT NOT TO BE HANDED IN A DOCUMENT AND IN A PROCEDURAL FORM THAT DOESN'T INVITE THE PUBLIC SCRUTINY OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD TRY TO PULL BACK ON.
THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE JUST WILLING TO HELP, WHETHER THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING THEMSELVES INTO OR NOT, I JUST WANT TO PROTECT THAT.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE US, BRING YOUR NAMES, BUT I DON'T NEED A COMPARATIVE SHEET TO SEE WHERE THE OVERLAP IS FROM YOU GENTLEMEN.
I STRONGLY TRUST EACH ONE OF YOU IN YOUR JUDGMENT IN BEING ABLE TO INTERVIEW AND BRING FORWARD CANDIDATES THAT YOU KNOW ARE GOING TO BE GOOD TEAMMATES.
THAT'S WHERE I'M AT, I'LL TAKE DIRECTION, YOU GUYS CAN REDIRECT.
>> WE'RE RECONVENING ON WHAT DATE WITH WHAT LIST?
>> IF I HAVE MY WAY, WE WILL HAVE ARTICLES VOTED ON ON THE 14TH, AGREEABLE BY BOTH PARTIES, BY LAWS, PROCEDURES, AND BUDGETS VOTED ON ON THE 28TH, AGREEABLE BY BOTH PARTIES AND BOTH LAWYERS.
ANY INFORMAL LIST OF YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DISCUSSION ONLY, FOR NOMINATIONS FOR A PERMANENT BOARD.
THEN THE FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY, I DON'T KNOW THE DATE, BUT THEN THAT WOULD BE WHERE YOU WOULD DO BOARD NOMINATIONS PER STANDARD PROTOCOL.
>> QUESTION, WHY WOULD WE HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH ALL OF THEM AND NARROW DOWN AND NOT VOTE? ISN'T THAT THE WHOLE POINT?
>> WHY WOULD WE NARROW IT DOWN?
>> UNTIL WE POINT THE NEXT MEETING.
>> WE ARE TAKING IT SLOW AND WE'RE TRYING TO FACILITATE COUNSEL'S REQUEST TO HEAR WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE IS AND TO DO IT AT A PUBLIC MEETING IS NEEDED IN LIEU OF PUTTING IT ALL ON PAPER AND HAVING A SHARED DOCUMENT.
>> NO I GET THAT, BUT I MEAN, ONCE WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION, WHY NOT GO AHEAD AND VOTE? I'M NOT PUSHING.
I'M JUST ASKING ME BECAUSE IF WE NARROW IT DOWN TO ALL OF OUR FIVE, NOT JUST A POINT.
>> I UNDERSTAND. I HEARD COUNCILMAN SIMPSON SAY THE SOONER, THE BETTER.
BUT COUNCILMAN SIMPSON, YOU'VE BEEN THE ONE THAT WANTS TO MOVE THE SLOWEST THROUGH THIS SO WOULD YOU RATHER VOTE ON IT AND MAKE NOMINATIONS IN FEBRUARY?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE NOMINATING MORE THAN FOUR PEOPLE, THE CONVERSATION AT SOME POINT HAS TO GO, WELL, WHAT DOES THIS PERSON BRING TO THE OTHER? I WOULD THINK WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION WHERE WE ARE CRITICIZING SOMEONE, BUT IF WE ALL FORTH THAT THIS BANKER WE KNOW IS THE BEST PERSON TO HAVE OR THIS LAWYER OR WHATEVER, WELL, WE DON'T NEED FOUR BANKERS ON THERE, WE DON'T NEED FOUR LAWYERS ON THERE, ESPECIALLY.
BUT JUST FIGURING OUT HOW DOES THIS DYNAMIC WORK.
I AGREE WITH YOU, IT'S NOT THAT ONE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER, IT'S JUST WHAT IS THE BEST COMPOSITION FOR THIS BOARD AT THE TIME.
AGAIN, I WANT TO SLOW IT DOWN, BUT IF SOMEONE ELSE IS NOMINATING SOMEONE AND I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM BEFORE WE TAKE A FINAL VOTE.
>> I THINK TOO, I THINK A LOT OF IT DEPENDS ON WHERE WE ARE AT THE EDC.
ARE WE AT A POINT THAT WE ARE READY TO HAND IT OFF? I THINK TO ME, THAT'S CRUCIAL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AT A POINT TO SAY NOW IT'S TIME TO HAND THIS OFF.
>> I'M REALLY CLOSE TO GETTING THIS DISCUSSION ITEM WRAPPED UP.
ONE THING THAT WE ARE HELPING OURSELVES WITH IS WE'RE GIVING OURSELVES A LITTLE BIT OF LATITUDE TO ALLOW THE EDC BOARD AND STAFF TO GET ALL OF THESE DATES AND GET IT ALL DONE, AND THEN FOR US TO GIVE FEEDBACK, A DISCUSSION ABOUT YOUR VETTED AND SINCERELY PREFERRED CANDIDATES IS GOOD IN THE END OF JANUARY, AND THEN WE COULD PLACE NOMINATIONS IN FEBRUARY.
HONESTLY, THAT'S MOVING FAIRLY QUICK FOR THE WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT.
>> REAL QUICK, TOO PAN HANDLE DAYS.
[02:20:03]
IS THAT FIRST FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY? I THINK YOU AND I ARE BOTH SET TO BE, I DON'T MEAN I CANNOT BE HERE.>> WHAT IS THE DATE ON THE FIRST MEETING, FEBRUARY WHAT?
>> 11TH AND WHEN IS PAN HANDLE DAYS?
>> COUNSEL MAY CONSIDER MOVING THE MEETING UP.
IF IT'S THE 11TH, WHAT IS IT THE FEBRUARY 4TH? COULD WE HAVE A MEETING ON THE 28TH AND THEN THE FOURTH AND THEN THAT WOULD ALLOW PAN HANDLE DAYS AND COUNSEL TO GO TO AUSTIN? REALLY GOOD DISCUSSION, I THINK WE'RE GETTING THERE.
MR. FAIRLEY, I WOULD ASK FROM YOUR POINT OF YOUR PERSPECTIVE, YOUR POINT OF VIEW.
DO YOU NEED ANYTHING FURTHER OR YOU FEEL LIKE YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE AT?
>> NO. I THINK I GOT IT. I GOT MY ORDERS.
>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WHILE WE LOOK AT DATES AND WE FIGURE ALL THAT OUT.
LET'S TAKE A 15 MINUTE RECESS, LET'S COME BACK IN HERE AND TAKE UP THOSE DATES AND THE REST OF THE DISCUSSION.
>. WE DISCUSSED ABOUT SCHEDULES AND WE FEEL LIKE WE COULD DO A BETTER JOB OF SCHEDULES WITH SOME OTHER THINGS AND ALSO SEE HOW WE'RE COMING ON THESE ARTICLES BY LAWS, FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY.
THAT FIRST MEETING IN FEBRUARY, WE'LL GIVE EVERYBODY ABOUT A 30 DAY HEADS UP DEPENDING ON WHAT TUESDAY WE FALL ON.
WE HAVE THE DIRECTION THAT WE NEEDED ON ITEM 7F.
>> ASK ONE MORE QUESTION ON THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO GET THE DETAIL ON THIS TODAY, BUT ARE WE FILLING EXPIRED TERMS AND DO WE HAVE TO DETERMINE WHICH GOES IN?
>> YOU WILL BE FILLING A ONE, TWO AND A THREE YEAR TERM.
WHO YOU NOMINATE, YOU'D BE NOMINATING FOR THEM, YOU'D BE NOMINATING THEM FOR THOSE POSITIONS FOR PER TERM..\ YOU COULD NOMINATE SOMEBODY WHO ONLY WANTED TO SERVE A YEAR OR YOU COULD NOMINATE SOMEBODY WHO WANTED TO SERVE THREE YEARS.
IT WOULD DEPEND ON HOW WE FILL THOSE AS TO WHERE THEY WOULD LAND.
>> DO WE DETERMINE WHICH PERSON SERVES WHICH AMOUNT OR IS IT, MAYBE YOU CAN.
>> YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO IT'S GOING TO BE FIRST GUY TO THE PUNCH, AND YOU'RE GOING TO NOMINATE FOR THIS POSITION.
I NOMINATE THIS INDIVIDUAL FOR THIS POSITION, I WOULD KNOW WHETHER THAT'S A 3, 2 OR A ONE YEAR POSITION.
[7.G. City of Amarillo City Council and Staff engaging outside attorneys]
ITEM 7G.COUNCILMAN SIMPSON, COUNCILMAN TIPPS, WE HAVE A DISCUSSION HERE ABOUT HOW WE WANT TO ENGAGE WITH OUTSIDE ATTORNEYS.
COUNCILMAN SIMPSON, I THINK WE'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, LET YOU START THAT DISCUSSION AND THEN WE'LL TAKE IT FROM THERE.
>> I'LL JUST GO OVER, COUNCILMAN TIPPS AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS TO BE PLACED ON THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL CHOSE BACK IN JUNE TO HIRE OUR OWN LEGAL REPRESENTATION, BUT WHILE WE DID THAT AND WE HAD REASONS WHY WE DID AT THE TIME, WE NEVER REALLY HAD A PUBLIC DISCUSSION ABOUT THE PRACTICE AND HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING THAT AND COUNSEL HIRING ON LEGAL COUNSEL VERSUS HOW WE HIRE OTHER OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
IN FACT, I DON'T THINK A SITTING AMER COUNSEL HAS EVER HIRED HIS OWN LEGAL REPRESENTATION.
IT WAS A LITTLE BIT UNCONVENTIONAL HADN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE.
LOOKING AT THIS AND HOW WE HANDLE OUTSIDE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE BECAUSE I HAVE CONCERNS THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT MAKING THE BEST USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY FOR LEGAL SERVICES.
I JUST WONDER MAYBE IF WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS OF HOW THAT WORKS, AND IF WE HAVE A LEGAL ISSUE, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GO THROUGH THAT? HOW SHOULD WE GO THROUGH THAT TO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MAXIMIZING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
I DON'T KNOW, COUNCILMAN TIPPS, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT.
>. I THINK WE CAN START THERE, LET'S NOT TALKED ABOUT IT, AND I'VE TALKED WITH GRAYSON AS WELL.
I BROUGHT UP SOME OTHER ISSUES OF I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING THE CHARTER CORRECTLY.
IF WE ARE DOING THIS, DEFINITELY WASN'T INTENTIONAL.
I THINK WE NEEDED SOME OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WE NEEDED SOME OPINIONS AND THAT THING, BUT THAT BROUGHT UP SOME CONCERNS.
I THINK WE CAN ADDRESS THIS OR ADDRESS THE CHARTER AND HOW IT READS AND HOW IT'S INTERPRETED ON TYPICALLY HOW WE DO IT, AND IT'S MORE I THINK FOR COVERING FOR US, AND THEN ALSO HOLDING STAFF ACCOUNTABLE THAT IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE, STAFFING IS NOT OUR PROBLEM.
CITY STAFF IS NOT OUR PROBLEM, THAT'S GOING TO BE HIS AS FAR AS GETTING COUNSEL.
THEN TO LESS POINT OF FINDING THE RIGHT OUTSIDE COUNCIL THAT WE CHOSE ONE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT ANYONE COUNSEL IS GOING TO BE AN EXPERT IN ALL FIELDS.
THERE MIGHT BE A BETTER WAY TO UTILIZE THAT PROCESS,
[02:25:03]
WHICH I'VE TALKED TO GRAYSON ABOUT THIS, AS WELL AS IF WE FUNNEL THINGS THROUGH HIM, ALWAYS THROUGH HIM, THAT IF OUR COUNSEL, STAFF COUNSEL CAN'T DO IT, THAT WE HAVE A LIST OR SOMEBODY, A GROUP THAT WE'VE APPROVED THAT WE CAN GO TO THAT SAYS, HEY, THEY ARE GOOD AT THIS.>. WHAT DOES THE CHARTER SAY? I WANT TO HEAR IT.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IT'S I DON'T THINK IT'S IN THE CHARTER I THINK IT'S THE ORDINANCE.
>> I THINK THE CODE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER TIPPS IS REFERRING TO IS 2-3-4, I BELIEVE, IT'S ENGAGING OUT OTHER ATTORNEYS.
IS THAT THE ONE YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE TIPPS?
>> AS IT READS, NOTHING IN THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO ABRIDGE OR IN ANY WAY RESTRICT THE POWER OF THE CITY MANAGER WITH THE ADVISING CONSENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO EMPLOY SUCH OF ATTORNEYS AS HE MAY SEE FIT TO ADVISE CITY COUNCIL OR THE CITY MANAGER OR REPRESENT THE CITY IN ANY ACTION PENDING OR PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK THAT'S THE ONE YOU'RE REFERRING TO AS WELL.
>> THE WAY I LOOKED AT IT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING OR WHAT WE CREATED, AND I THINK UNINTENTIONALLY, IS WE'RE BYPASSING CITY MANAGER.
I THINK THE WAY THAT ORDINANCE READS IS IT'S REALLY UP TO HIM WHEN WE NEED OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WE NEED COUNSEL, WE RUN IT THROUGH HIM.
WE RUN EVERY SINGLE THING THROUGH HIM SO THAT HE'S ON ONE FOR TRANSPARENCY, HE'S ON BOARD, BUT ALSO TO MAYBE DIRECT TO THE CORRECT COUNSEL.
>> WOULD THAT PUT HIM ABOVE US?
>> DOES THAT PUT CITY MANAGER ABOVE US?
>> WOULD THAT PUT YOUR AUTHORITY ABOVE US IF WE COULDN'T DICTATE?
>> NO, BECAUSE IT IT SAYS WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ON IT.
WE GIVE THE ADVICE AND CONSENT BUT THE POWER IN THE ORDINANCE SAYS IT.
>> BUT FROM A LEGISLATIVE MANNER, I MEAN, WOULDN'T WE HAVE THE POWER AS THE GOVERNOR?
>> WE'VE GOT WE SHOULD HAVE THE POWER.
>> THE FIRM LIKE SO YOU TAKE, FOR INSTANCE, I REMEMBER WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WAY BACK WHEN DURING THE CHARTER STUFF IS WE GOT AWAY FROM PUTTING ATTORNEY APPOINTED BY COUNSEL ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY GEORGE HYDE FIXED THAT ISSUE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT THE TIME.
I THINK I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COUNSEL AS FAR AS THE COUNSEL THAT THE CITY COUNSEL WOULD NEED VERSUS HIRING OF AN ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY.
I THINK IT'S SPEAKING TO THAT VERSUS COUNSEL FOR US.
>> I KNOW OUR CITY ATTORNEY TOLD ME HE DOES NOT WORK FOR ME, HE WORKS FOR THE CITY.
>> NO. I'M TALKING ABOUT RIGHT HERE.
THIS GUY RIGHT DOWN HERE TO THE END.
>> YEAH, BUT GEORGE HYDE DOESN'T WORK FOR US EITHER.
>> YEAH. HE DOES [INAUDIBLE] HIRING.
>> HE DOESN'T HIRE FOR COUNSEL SPECIFICALLY.
>> HE DOES. HE REPRESENTS COUNCIL.
>> IF I COULD CLARIFY REAL QUICK, 2-3-2 SAYS THE CITY ATTORNEY SHALL BE THE LEGAL ADVISOR AND ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY.
THE CITY ATTORNEY WOULD ADVISE COUNCIL, STAFF.
THEN 2-3-1, THE CITY ATTORNEY SHOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE CITY MANAGER WITH ADVISING SEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
THAT'S A STRUCTURE THAT CITY [INAUDIBLE] HAS LATER.
>> BUT BRIAN HAS TOLD ME HE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE COUNCIL.
STRAIGHT OUT, IS THAT RIGHT, BRIAN?
>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT YOU TOLD ME ONE DAY.
>> NO. I DON'T REPRESENT INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I REPRESENT THE COUNCIL OR THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
THAT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY FROM THE PROFESSIONAL MODEL RULES IN TEXAS.
>> BUT THEN IF I GOT A PROBLEM, LET'S SAY I DISAGREE WITH YOU, WHERE DO I GO?
>> I KNOW IT'S MY DUTY TO FIND A LEGAL COUNCIL.
>> WE FOUND ONE. HE'S WHERE I'M.
>> I UNDERSTAND THE WAY THE ORDINANCE READS IS THAT'S HIS JOB.
>> LET'S DIG INTO THAT BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A POINT THERE.
THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO CLARIFY JUST AS A POINT.
QUITE FRANKLY, IT'S ALMOST SCARY.
THE POWER THAT RESTS HERE ON THIS DIAS WITH THREE INDIVIDUALS.
I'LL USE A DEPARTMENT THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
I'LL JUST STATE FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD, WE DO NOT HAVE AN ICE DEPARTMENT.
WE DO NOT MAKE ICE AS A PRACTICE HERE WITHIN THE CITY.
AS AN EXAMPLE ONLY, IF THIS COUNCIL CAME AND SAID, WE WANT TO REMOVE THE ICE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF ICE IS NO LONGER, AND WE VOTE THAT IN.
MR. PATH, THAT WOULD BE YOUR ORDERS, YOU'D CARRY THAT OUT.
[02:30:02]
YOU'D REMOVE AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT?>> NOW, WE DON'T HIRE AND FIRE EMPLOYEES, CORRECT?
>> YOU DO THAT. BUT IF WE WANTED TO REMOVE AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, WE CAN HAVE YOU AND INSTRUCT YOU TO REMOVE AN ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THAT WOULD REMOVE EMPLOYEES, CORRECT?
>> ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS ON COUNCIL PER THIS ORDINANCE THAT RESTRICTS COUNCIL'S ABILITIES FROM DIRECTING ITSELF?
>> SURE. DO WE TELL YOU WE HAVE AN ISSUE AND WAIT ON YOU TO DIRECT US OR DO WE DIRECT YOU?
I THINK THE WAY THAT WE'RE SAYING THIS RIGHT HERE IS THAT WE WOULD COME TO YOU AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED LEGAL ADVISEMENT.
CITY ATTORNEY SAYS, THAT'S NOT REALLY MY SPECIALTY.
LET US GO GET YOU LEGAL ADVISEMENT.
YOU COULD AND I THINK IT'S VERY HEALTHY, YOU COULD RECOMMEND AND NOMINATE, SAY, HEY, THIS IS THE FIRM THAT I WOULD LEAD YOU TO.
WE CAN ENGAGE WITH THEM IN A RESOLUTION OR A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT.
THAT'S NORMAL. HOWEVER, ARE WE RESTRICTED TO THAT PROCESS PER THE CHARTER?
>> PER THE CHARTER OR PER THE CODE?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THE WAY THE PROCESS WOULD BE IS THAT AS YOUR SENIOR ADVISOR, MYSELF AND THE JUDGE OR TWO EMPLOYEES THAT WORK FOR THE COUNCIL, YOU WOULD THEN DIRECT ME TO FIND LEGAL COUNCIL FOR YOU.
I WOULD WORK WITH A CITY ATTORNEY FIRST AND THEN WE WOULD PROVIDE COUNCIL.
I CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT HE IS NOT IN THAT WHEELHOUSE, WE THEN BRING TO EITHER AN HR SPECIALIST, A BOND COUNCIL SPECIALIST, WE THEN FIND FOR YOU AN APPROPRIATE COUNCIL FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT WHAT I'M ASKING SPECIFICALLY IS, IS THERE A RESTRICTION UPON COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY PER THE CHARTER AND PER THE CODE? BECAUSE IF WE DID HAVE A CONFLICT, WE WOULD WANT TO WORK THAT OUT.
HERE'S WHERE I WOULD GO WITH THIS.
AN EMPOWERMENT OF THE CITY MANAGER, PER YOUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IS NOT A RESTRICTION ON THIS COUNCIL.
WE'VE EMPOWERED YOU TO GO OUT AND BRING DIFFERENT RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT IF YOU BROUGHT A RECOMMENDATION OR IF A COUNCIL MEMBER, LET'S SAY, COUNCIL MEMBER KRAFT BRINGS HIS OWN RECOMMENDATION.
WE DO THIS WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
WE DON'T ONLY RELY ON STAFF TO TELL US THESE ARE THE OPTIONS OF WHO YOU MAY PICK FROM.
STAFF IS NOW TELLING YOU IT'S OUR JOB TO BRING YOU RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEN IT'S YOUR JOB TO PICK A, B, OR C. ALSO WITH OUTSIDE ENGAGEMENT, I THINK WE SHOULD STILL HAVE THE POWER.
I WOULD LIKE COUNCILMAN CRAFT, TO BE ABLE TO BRING A RECOMMENDATION TO THIS BODY THAT THEN WOULD FLOW DOWN TO YOU, THAT THEN YOU COULD GO AND VET THAT.
NOW, YOU COULD COME BACK AND ADVISE AGAINST IT.
BUT THE THREE VOTES WOULD THEN EMPLOY THAT ATTORNEY PER THE CHARTER.
>> SURE. YES. THE COUNCIL ULTIMATELY IS IN CHARGE.
>> MR. MCWILLIAMS, YOU CONFER.
DOES THAT SETTLE THAT ISSUE, OR DO WE NEED TO CONTINUE DISCUSSING THAT PARTICULAR? BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONAL BASIS OF IF WE WANT TO RESTRICT EACH OTHER WITH MAYBE PUTTING SOME HANDCUFFS ON OURSELVES, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
WE COULD DO THAT THROUGH POLICY.
BUT IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR STAFF TO RESTRICT US, I DON'T THINK IT EVER WORKS THAT WAY. AGREE?
>> IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE GOING AS WELL, COUNCILMAN CRAFT? COUNCILMAN SIMPSON WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO.
>> WELL, WHAT I WOULD JUST SAY IS, AND I GO BACK TO WE SPEND $2 MILLION A YEAR IN LEGAL SERVICES.
WHATEVER LEGAL ISSUE THAT WE HAVE, AND EVERY TIME WE GO TO OUTSIDE COUNCIL, IT'S ADDING TO THE TAXPAYER COST ABOVE AND BEYOND THE TWO MILLION.
WHAT I'M WANTING TO LOOK AT IS, BEFORE WE GO TO OUTSIDE COUNCIL, CAN WE GO TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND SAY, WE HAVE A LEGAL PROBLEM THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO SOLVE.
WE LIKE TO DO IT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE MONEY THAT WE ALREADY SPEND.
WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND ADDITIONAL MONEY.
LET HIM SEARCH HIS EMPLOYEES, HIS LEGAL STAFF, BEING ABLE TO DO WHATEVER THAT IS, AND THEN COME BACK TO US WITH A RECOMMENDATION, OR RECOMMENDATIONS.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE AN ADVERSARIAL RELATIONSHIP.
I THINK WHAT THE CHARTER SAYS IS WE WORK TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, NOT THAT YOU COULD GET INTO, I'M SURE A LONG DISSERTATION ABOUT THE COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT, AND COUNCIL AND THE COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT DOESN'T HAVE LIMITED POWERS AS OPPOSED TO A MAYOR COUNCIL FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
I'M JUST SAY WORKING TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO USE A STAFF, BUT TO ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF IT IS LET'S MAKE SURE IF WE CAN GET IT SOLD FINANCIALLY WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO ANYTHING OUTSIDE AND WE'VE GOT THE RESOURCES, OR IF WE'RE USING OUTSIDE RESOURCES ENOUGH TO SAY, MAN, MAYBE WE SHOULD HIRE A COUPLE OF ATTORNEYS OURSELVES INSTEAD OF GETTING ONE TIME ADVICE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
[02:35:03]
WHAT I'M SAYING IS LOOKING AT ADOPTING THE PRACTICE OF CHARGING OUR EMPLOYEE TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM FOR US, HE COMING BACK WITH THE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO DO IT AND WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT GOING FORWARD.>> I AGREE 100% WITH YOU, COUNCILMAN SIMPSON, THE STEWARDSHIP ASPECT OF THIS SHOULD BE IN THE WAY OF WE ARE USING THE RESOURCES THAT WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR.
YOU'VE ALREADY PAID FOR IT, GO TO THAT RESOURCE FIRST.
THE RESTRICTION OF SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE RESOURCES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN YOUR BUDGET.
THE $250,000 THAT WAS APPROVED BY THIS COUNCIL IN THE BUDGET, TO GO FOR OUTSIDE COUNCIL IS NOT JUST A CONTRACT WITH HYDE KELLY, IT IS AN ALLOTMENT SO THAT WE ARE BEING GOOD STEWARDS.
NOW, THAT $250,000 DOESN'T RESTRICT US AND OUR AUTHORITY.
IT DOES SHOW OUR WILLINGNESS TO BE GOOD STEWARDS.
IT'S WITHIN THE 1.81 POINT NINE MILLION DOLLAR OVERALL BUDGET.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, AND MS. STORE IS NOT HERE, BUT I'M SURE SHE KNOWS THE NUMBER.
I AGREE WITH YOU, STEWARDSHIP MATTERS.
OUR NEXT ITEM IS PROTOCOL, AND REALLY,
[7.H. Protocols drafted by George Hyde for engagement by City Council]
I THINK THIS IS THE DISCUSSION THAT I'M WANT TO HAVE. I'M NOT MOVING US FORWARD.I'M GOING TO STAY ON YOURS, BUT WHAT I HEAR YOU SAYING IS MORE PROTOCOL, LIKE A COUNCILMAN SHOULD BE GOING TO INSIDE PREPAID ATTORNEY FIRST.
THEN WITH MR. PATH ADVISING US AS OUR LEAD ADVISOR, US BEING ABLE TO SEE THAT'S NOT REALLY WHAT I NEEDED.
IT DOESN'T HELP ME GET TO WHERE I'M GOING.
I'M GOING TO ENGAGE WITH OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
NOW, WHETHER I WANTED TO CALL MICK MCKAMEY OR WHETHER I WANTED TO CALL GEORGE HYDE, THAT SHOULD REMAIN IN MY HANDS.
NOW, IF WE WANT TO PUT ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS UP ON THIS DIAS WHERE WE REQUIRE EACH OTHER TO GET A SECOND.
BEFORE YOU DO THAT, I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WOULD BE VERY OPEN TO RESTRICTING.
>> AGAIN, WE'RE IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY.
THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE OF A COUNCIL HIRING ITS OWN ATTORNEY.
THE TRICKY PART GETS IN, WE CAN ONLY FUNCTION AND OPERATE AS A GROUP OF FIVE.
HE'S REPRESENTING THE COUNCIL.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS, THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE BEING REFERRED TO HIM THAT I HAVE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS.
IT'S HARD FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER IF WE'RE DEALING WITH ISSUES THAT ALL OF US DON'T KNOW ABOUT OR IF THERE'S SOMETHING TO KNOW ABOUT.
IF I'VE GOT TO GET ADVICE OR FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AN ADVANTAGE OF HAVING IT THROUGH GRAYSON IS THE ABILITY NOT TO SAY, HE'S NOT IMPEDING OUR POWER, BUT HE'S A FOCAL POINT TO HELP KEEP ALL OF US INFORMED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
AT THIS POINT, WITH EACH OF US INDIVIDUALLY HAVING TO CONTACT HIM, WE GET CHARGED EVERY TIME WE GO FOR LEGAL ADVICE, AND I DON'T KNOW THE LEGAL ADVICE HE'S GIVING THE OTHERS.
TO ME, THAT'S WHY A CENTRAL FOCAL POINT OF JUST KEEPING ALL OF US INFORMED ABOUT WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, WHAT THE ADVICE IS, AS WELL AS BEING ABLE TO WATCH THE EXPENSES.
TO HELP US OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU IN THE STEWARDSHIP.
NOW, YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT BECAUSE YOU MAY BE CALLING YOUR ATTORNEY, MR. HYDE, AND SAYING, HEY, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING TO THE OTHER COUNCIL ABOUT? I WANT AN UPDATE ON ALL MATTERS LEGAL. HE CAN GIVE THAT TO YOU.
NOW, THE RESTRICTION WOULD NOT BE THAT YOU CAN'T TALK TO YOUR CITY ATTORNEY.
I DON'T REQUIRE YOU TO NOTIFY ALL OF COUNCIL WHEN YOU'RE ENGAGING WITH CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT A TOPIC THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PRESENT AT COUNCIL.
>> BUT OUR OUTSIDE ATTORNEY IS GOING TO CHARGE US FOR IT.
>> AGREED. STEWARDSHIP IS THE FOCAL POINT THERE, BUT I'M ALSO SEPARATING STEWARDSHIP FROM RESTRICTION.
I DON'T WANT TO APPLY A RESTRICTION ON OUTSIDE COUNCIL THAT I'M NOT APPLYING ON INSIDE COUNCIL.
IF WE AS A BODY ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT I'M NOT COMFORTABLE UNLESS I KNOW EVERYBODY THAT'S TALKING TO BRIAN AND I WANT BRIAN TO GIVE ME A WEEKLY UPDATE, THEN THAT'S NOT HOW THIS FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS SET UP.
I WOULDN'T APPLY THAT RESTRICTION TO A HYDE KELLY FIRM.
NOW, THE STEWARDSHIP ISSUE IS GOING TO BE THE MONIES THAT ARE BEING SPENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO PUT SOME PROTOCOLS IN AND WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH OUTSIDE COUNCIL, MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT DOING DOUBLE THE WORK OR SPENDING THREE TIMES MONEY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS?
>> WELL, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO COME TO IS A POINT WHERE OUR FIRST AVENUE IS GOING THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER AND LISTENING TO OUR ADVISOR TO SEE WHAT HE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THIS, NO MATTER WHAT THE LEGAL ISSUE IS.
THAT'S WHY WE HIRE HIM TO HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE BASE.
AGAIN, WE COULD GET INTO THE DEBATE ABOUT THE POWER, AND TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR IT, I LIKE HAVING A CENTRAL POINT OF INFORMATION.
HE'S GOT TO KEEP US ALL INFORMED.
HE DOES IT WITHOUT CHARGING US EVERY SINGLE TIME AND BEING ABLE TO
[02:40:04]
FIGURE OUT THE BEST RESOURCE FOR BEING ABLE TO SOLVE WHATEVER LEGAL ISSUE HE DOES.AGAIN, THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE GOTTEN INTO IS JUST IT'S TRICKY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ALL FIVE AGREEING TO WHAT WE'RE SENDING TO HIM.
BUT I DON'T SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE THESE DECISIONS AS IF HE'S REPRESENTING ALL OF COUNCIL THAT INDIVIDUALLY, WE CAN ASK HIM TO WORK ON WHATEVER WE WORK ON BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CHECK AND BALANCE ON HOW MUCH ARE WE GET IN CHARGE, WHAT WE'RE SITTING DOWN THERE, HOW THAT'S WORKING.
>> IF WE GO BACK TO THE EXAMPLE OF THE ICE DEPARTMENT.
LET'S SAY I AM WANTING TO REMOVE THE ICE DEPARTMENT, AND YOU LOVE THE ICE DEPARTMENT.
IT IS THE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU ADVOCATE FOR IN EVERY BUDGET SESSION.
I'M GOING TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROTOCOL WITH MY CITY MANAGER AND OR MY CITY ATTORNEY.
NOW, I DON'T HAVE TO ENGAGE MY CITY MANAGER BECAUSE MAYBE HE USED TO RUN THE ICE DEPARTMENT.
I COULD THEN GO TO MY CITY ATTORNEY AND I REQUIRE, HOW WOULD I REMOVE THE ICE DEPARTMENT? NOW, HE IS NOT GOING TO COME BACK AND TELL ALL OF COUNCIL, MAYOR IS TRYING TO REMOVE THE ICE DEPARTMENT JUST GIVING YOU GUYS A HEADS UP.
THE ADVISEMENT THAT I GET FROM HIM IS NOT GOOD.
IT'S INCOMPLETE, LET'S SAY AND SO HE MORE OR LESS SAID, HEY, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
SORRY, AND I'M, WELL, I'M PRETTY SURE I THINK I CAN.
BUT WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO IT.
WELL, GOOD LUCK. SO AT THAT POINT, THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROTOCOL IN THAT EXAMPLE? WOULD I THEN GRAB MR. TIPPS, WHO I THINK IS FRIENDLY TO THAT AND THEN WE WOULD ENGAGE WITH OUTSIDE COUNCIL? BECAUSE WE'RE NOT RESTRICTED FROM ENGAGING WITH OUTSIDE COUNCIL.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BE GOOD STEWARDS.
I'M WILLING TO FOLLOW THE PROTOCOL.
STEP 1, ENGAGE WITH CITY MANAGER AND OR CITY ATTORNEY.
STEP 2, ENGAGE WITH FELLOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBER?
>> YEAH. WHY NOT? IF THIS IS A LEGAL ISSUE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, LEGAL COUNCIL FOR AN ISSUE, CAN THAT BE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION DISCUSSION?
>> NO. BECAUSE YOU NEED THE ABILITY TO BRING SOMETHING PREPARED TO THAT BODY AND NOT UNPREPARED.
I DON'T WANT TO LIMIT COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO GO AND DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO BEFORE THEY HAVE TO GO AND IT MAY NOT BE AN APPROPRIATE EXEC.
MAY NOT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU COULD GET SUED FOR, AND SO NOW WE'RE HAVING PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD IN PUBLIC.
IN THE WILLINGNESS OF WORKING AS FIVE INDIVIDUAL ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, I WANT YOU TO REMAIN AUTONOMOUS.
I DON'T EVER WANT A MAYOR THAT CAN RESTRICT YOU FROM GETTING THE EDUCATION YOU NEED TO CARRY OUT WITH MAYBE THE ICE DEPARTMENT.
>> WELL, TO ME, THE WAY WE'VE DONE THINGS, I THINK IT'S TIME TO BRING IT FORWARD TO THIS COUNCIL AS FIVE PEOPLE AND DEBATE THE ICE DEPARTMENT.
>> IF I MAY WERE QUICK. AGAIN, A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EDUCATION AND DIRECTION.
AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CHARTER SECTIONS 20 AND 21, AS WELL AS CHAPTER 2-3 OF THE CITY CODE.
YOU LOOK AT BEING THE CITY MANAGER, THE REASON YOU HAVE A MANAGER FROM THE MANAGER FOR GOVERNMENT IS THAT I'M HERE TO COORDINATE AND HELP BECAUSE ALSO AS INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU DON'T HAVE INDIVIDUAL AUTHORITY TO DIRECT AND DO THOSE, BUT YOU CAN QUERY AND THOSE THINGS, BUT AS A BODY, YOU CAN DIRECT.
THAT'S WHEN YOU DO IN PUBLIC MEETINGS AND SO FORTH.
MY ROLE IS THAT GIVEN UNDER OUR CHARTER, AGAIN, WITH THE CHARTER IN THE CODE IS WRITTEN, UNDER THE CHARTER, GIVEN THE [INAUDIBLE] COUNSELORS CANNOT PERFORM INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS, YOU COORDINATE WITH ME.
I BRING YOU THE RESOURCES, WE WORK TOGETHER WITH LEGAL COUNCIL, AND THEN WE HELP EDUCATE AND THEN AS A BODY, WE WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP POLICY AND BUDGET AND SO FORTH.
BUT THAT'S THE KEY ROLE IN ALL OF THIS IS UNDER THE CHARTER 2021 IS KEEPING THE MANAGER INFORMED FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES.
THAT WAY, INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE COORDINATED THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> IT DOES MAKE SENSE. COUNCILMAN TIPPS, YOU'RE LEANING UP.
>> IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THE ICE DEPARTMENT, YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO CITY MANAGER BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HE CAME FROM.
YOU BYPASS HIM, AND YOU GO TO CITY ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE, WHATEVER ON HOW TO DO THIS.
TECHNICALLY, THAT'S NOT THE WAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IT.
WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO GO DIRECTLY TO STAFF, WHICH I THINK IS THAT EVEN EVEN FOR QUERY [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO YOUR CITY ATTORNEY.
>> WE CAN GO TO CITY ATTORNEY.
>> YEAH, WITHOUT GOING [INAUDIBLE]
>> WE PASS YOU TO GO TO CITY ATTORNEY?
>> YOU SHOULDN'T GO TO THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS.
I CAN TELL HIM TO TRIM THAT TREE, BUT THEN YOU CAN DEFINITELY ENGAGE WITH YOUR CITY ATTORNEY ON ANYTHING.
>> MY POINT WAS WHAT HE WAS SAYING IS THE COORDINATION PART, IS HE WORKS FOR US.
IF HE'S NOT DOING HIS JOB AND HE'S NOT EVEN TO WAY I FEEL LIKE HE SHOULD, THEN I CAN BRING IT UP BEFORE HERE AND I CAN TALK TO YOU AND SAY, MAYOR GRAYSON'S NOT DOING A GREAT JOB.
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING, A CHANGE, HIS EVALUATION, SOMETHING.
[02:45:01]
TO ME, THE COORDINATION PART'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HIRED HIM FOR THROUGH THE WHOLE INTERVIEW PROCESS, WE CHOSE HIM FOR WHATEVER REASONS, THAT IF WE DON'T FEEL LIKE HE'S DOING HIS JOB, IF WE DON'T USE HIM TO COORDINATE THROUGH A LOT OF THESE THINGS THE OPPORTUNITY.>> I AGREE WITH YOU. LET'S GO TO STEP 2.
>> I DISAGREE BECAUSE IF IT'S A POLICY MEASURE, THEN I'LL GO WITH THE CITY MANAGER WITH THE ATTORNEY.
THERE MAY BE THINGS THAT IF I WANT TO WORK ON A POLICY ISSUE, I DON'T INCLUDE OFF FOUR ON.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. I MAY GO DOWN THE WHOLE ROUTE BEFORE I EVER WANT TO BRING IT UP, VET THE WHOLE THING OUT.
[OVERLAPPING] IF I WANT A LITTLE ADVICE, I'LL GO STRAIGHT TO THE ATTORNEY.
>> I THINK I SEE A PATH FORWARD IF I COULD TAKE ONE MORE STEP.
IF YOU GO TO THE CITY MANAGER AND/OR ATTORNEY FIRST, NOT BOTH, BUT YOU COULD GO TO EITHER ONE THEN YOU'RE BACK AT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE ONCE YOU GET THAT ADVICE.
THE ASSUMPTION OR THE EXAMPLE WAS THAT I DIDN'T LIKE THE LEGAL COUNSEL I WAS GIVEN.
THIS PROTOCOL WOULD THEN REQUIRE ME TO GO TO THE CITY MANAGER AT THAT POINT.
HEY, I WENT TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, AND I DIDN'T LIKE THE ADVICE THAT I GOT ABOUT HOW TO REMOVE THE ICE DEPARTMENT AND SO I WANT YOU TO GO AND OBTAIN OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR ME BECAUSE THAT'S MY PROTOCOL.
THEN HE'S GOING TO GO OUT AND HE'S GOING TO LOOK FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL THAT KNOWS HOW TO REMOVE THE ICE DEPARTMENT.
HE'S GOING TO BRING THAT BACK AT NO POINT IN TIME, AM I RESTRICTED.
KEEP IN MIND, I KNOW HE'S FRIENDLY WITH THE ICE DEPARTMENT, I DIDN'T GET WHAT I NEEDED.
THE MEASURE DIES OR I NEED TO BE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH OUTSIDE CITY ATTORNEY OF MY OWN SELECTION.
NOW THAT'S WHERE IT GETS TRICKY.
SEE, I CAN'T GO AND CALL ANY ATTORNEY WITHOUT BRINGING IT TO YOU GUYS.
WE'RE ALMOST FORGETTING THE WAY THAT WE DID THIS.
WE DID CALL A RECOMMENDATION, WE HAD THREE.
WE ENDED UP BRINGING THE ONE BACK THAT WAS MORE SUITED.
WE ALL VOTED FOR IT BEFORE I WAS EVER ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THAT ATTORNEY FIRM.
NOW THAT THAT ATTORNEY FIRM HAS A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT AND HE HAD AN EXECUTED RESOLUTION, NOW YOU'RE ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH HIM.
WE'RE ALMOST ACTING AS THOUGH WE DIDN'T DO THAT AND IT'S NOT STILL STANDING.
YOU WOULD LITERALLY HAVE TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION RIGHT NOW TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO GO BACK TO SQUARE 1, WHERE YOU NOW NEED TO GO AND FIND AN ATTORNEY, BRING IT TO COUNSEL, AND SAY, GUYS, I'M WORKING ON A MEASURE, AND I'D LIKE TO HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL, I'M NOT GETTING WHAT I NEED FROM CITY ATTORNEY OR CITY MANAGER.
THEN I BELIEVE THAT TO BE A VERY APPROPRIATE STEP HERE.
BUT WHY WOULD WE NEED TO DO THAT IF WE'VE ALREADY HIRED HIM?
>> I GUESS WE'VE ENGAGED WITH HYDE NOT TO EXCEED WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS NOT TO EXCEED THAT NUMBER.
ONCE THAT NUMBER IS REACHED, WE CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
BASICALLY, WE HIRED HIM. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I KNOW [OVERLAPPING] BUT WE'VE GOT A NEW LIMIT.
>> IT REALLY SHOULD BE MORE TASK-DRIVEN.
EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A TASK, IT'S LIKE, HEY, ICE DEPARTMENT IS MY TASK, I WANT TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
I WENT AND RESEARCHED, IT TURNS OUT THIS IS THE BEST FIRM IN THE STATE THAT DEALS WITH ICE DEPARTMENTS.
CITY MANAGER GO AND PROCURE IT.
WELL, HE WILL TAKE THAT DIRECTIVE, EVEN THOUGH HE DOESN'T WANT TO, LET'S SAY, AND HE WOULD PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND WE WOULD VOTE FOR IT.
AT THAT TIME, THEN I'M GOING TO BE AS PREPARED AS I CAN BE TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW, I NEED AN ATTORNEY THAT CAN HELP ME WORK THROUGH THIS ISSUE.
NOW, I'M STILL LIMITED, BUT I'M ONLY LIMITED BY YOU FOUR.
NOW, IF YOU VOTE IT DOWN, IF IT'S A 1-4, 2-3 VOTE, THEN I DON'T GET THAT COUNSEL.
I DON'T HAVE THAT ATTORNEY, THE MEASURE DIES.
BUT IF WE VOTED IN AND I NOW HAVE THAT ACCESS, THAT RESOURCE, THEN I DON'T WANT MYSELF RESTRICTING YOU FROM ENGAGING WITH THAT ATTORNEY, EXCEPT FOR STEWARDSHIP.
I DO THINK THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO TRY TO GO THROUGH CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY FIRST, BUT THEN ALLOW YOU YOU GOT ELECTED.
YOU HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE, 17,000 PEOPLE, I THINK DON GOT THE MOST VOTES IN ALL OF HISTORY, OR AT LEAST HE SAYS HE DID.
THAT'S A LOT OF TRUST THAT THE PUBLIC PUT IN YOU TO BE A GOOD STEWARD.
YOU FOUND $29 MILLION IN YOUR BUDGET AND YOU RE-ALLOCATED.
YOU'RE WORKING WITH A $6 MILLION BUDGET SURPLUS RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT $7,000 OVER $100,000 CONTRACT THAT WE HAD.
ALL I'M SAYING IS YOU'VE EARNED THE RIGHT TO BE HERE THAT COMES WITH A FEW LUXURIES FOR YOUR ABILITY TO GO AND GET PROPERLY EDUCATED.
NOT TO MENTION THE DAMAGE THAT YOU COULD DO BY HAPHAZARDLY WALKING OUT INTO A PUBLIC MEETING TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND GO, THINK TODAY IS THE DAY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE ICE DEPARTMENT?
[02:50:01]
I'D LIKE TO GET RID OF IT. YOU'RE HARMING US, AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN GO AND EDUCATE YOURSELF OR SEEK WISE COUNSEL.I TRUST YOU GUYS IN RESTRICTING US, BUT NOT BEYOND THE MEASURE OF THE CHARTER AND BEYOND THE MEASURE OF THE RESOLUTION.
I FEEL LIKE RIGHT NOW AT THIS POINT, WE WOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ON, DO WE NOT LIKE HAVING AN ATTORNEY? DO WE WANT TO PUT IT BACK UP FOR VOTE? DO WE WANT TO VOTE TO AMEND THAT RESOLUTION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL? THEN WE WOULD NEED TO GO BACK AND GET THAT BACK? YOU CAN DO THAT AT ANY TIME? ANYBODY COULD BRING THAT BACK THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER.
OR WOULD WE BE BETTER TO KEEP THIS RESOLUTION IN PLACE AND JUST WORK ON BEING BETTER STEWARDS AS WE WORK WITH EACH OTHER AND SAY, ON YOUR HONOR, I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU GO THROUGH CITY MANAGER OR CITY ATTORNEY ON EVERY REQUEST FIRST.
ONCE YOU STRIKE OUT THERE, THEN YOU ALREADY HAVE RETAINED COUNSEL.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DIRECT MR. PATH TO GO GET YOU A NEW ATTORNEY. WHY WOULD YOU? WE'RE ALL GOING TO ASK YOU, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE ONE WE'RE PAYING FOR THAT'S ALREADY THERE? WHAT'S WRONG WITH MCKAMEY, WHO'S ALREADY ON RETAINER? WHY CAN'T YOU USE ONE OF THOSE TWO? WHY ARE WE ADDING A THIRD? MY QUESTION, I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.
I WANT TO KNOW HOW AGGRESSIVE WE'D LIKE TO BE ON THAT EXISTING RESOLUTION.
>> WELL, I WOULD AGREE HAVING AN ATTORNEY ON CALL IS GREAT, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT IT CAN BE ABUSED.
LIKE YOU SAID, THE POWER, I'M NOT TRYING TO USURP THE POWER UP HERE, BUT I'M TRYING TO BE SAY, I DON'T GET TO JUST DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.
NOW I AGREE WE'VE ALL APPROVED THE RESOLUTION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT'S GREAT.
MAYBE TO YOUR POINT OF WE JUST GOT TO DEVELOP MAYBE BETTER PROTOCOLS BECAUSE I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE OF THERE'S LOTS OF TIME BUT I CAN PICK UP ASKING QUESTIONS.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S BEING A GREAT STEWARD.
WE SEE THE BILLS THAT COME THROUGH.
IT IS A LOT OF MONEY, NOW WHEN YOU SAY WE FOUND $6 MILLION WERE OPERATING ON A $6 MILLION WORKING BUDGET, THAT'S GREAT.
THE LUXURY TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY ON CALL IS GREAT.
I GUESS PUTTING THE PROTOCOLS, GUARD RAILS IN PLACE TO SAY, HEY, MAYBE WE NEED TO BE BETTER STEWARDS OF THIS AND BE CAREFUL HOW WE EXPEND THE MONEY, AND ESPECIALLY LIKE YOU SAID, IF WE GO THIS ROUTE FIRST.
YOU DON'T SAY, CAN THIS BE DONE BECAUSE I THINK BY BYPASSING THAT, WE'RE BYPASSING THE ABILITY TO MAYBE GET GOOD COUNSEL OR GET BAD COUNSEL.
THEN TO ALLOW CITY MANAGER TO DO HIS JOB.
>> CITY ATTORNEY TO DO HIS JOB.
>> EXACTLY. THAT'S WHAT I MEAN.
>> I KNOW EVERY TIME I USE AN ATTORNEY, I GET 2-3 OPINIONS BECAUSE YOU CAN TALK TO ATTORNEY.
EVERY ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO READ THE LAW A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
THAT'S WHY I LIKE TO TALK TO THE ATTORNEY MYSELF BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT QUESTION WAS ASKED TO ATTORNEY NUMBER 1.
I KNOW WHAT WAS ASKED TO ATTORNEY NUMBER 2.
THEN YOU CAN DRILL DOWN TO SEE WHERE THE DIFFERENCE IS.
NOW, I KNOW MYSELF I HAVEN'T CALLED MR. HYDE, BUT TWO TIMES. THAT WAS ALL.
BUT THOSE TIMES I CALLED, I FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO GET GOOD LEGAL ADVICE BECAUSE I'M LOOKING AT IT FROM MY POINT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT I'VE GOT TO KNOW WHEN I'M VOTING, IS THIS LEGAL? IS IT NOT LEGAL? CAN WE DO IT A DIFFERENT WAY? NOW, THAT'S WHERE BRIAN, I GUESS, ME AND HIM GOT A DISCONNECT BECAUSE HE TOLD ME HE DOESN'T REPRESENT THE COUNCIL.
WELL, AT THAT POINT, IF YOU DON'T REPRESENT ME, I'VE BEEN GOING OUT AND MAKING TWO PHONE CALLS MYSELF.
BEFORE WE HAD GEORGE HYDE, I WAS PICKING UP A BILL.
I MEAN TO BE TRUTHFUL BECAUSE WHEN I'VE GOT TO HAVE REPRESENTATION AND I DON'T WANT TO, LIKE BRIAN REPRESENTS THE CITY AS HE SAYS.
HE DOESN'T REPRESENT US PER SE. I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
>> I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, SO IF WE SAY, WHATEVER IT TAKES TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS BECAUSE WE CAN'T TALK WITH THREE.
BUT IF IT TAKES TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS, THAT'S NOT ALL OF COUNCIL THAT'S JUST TWO PEOPLE.
HOW DO I AS A COUNCIL MEMBER THEN FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON?
>> AS SOON AS WE BRING IT TO THE DIAS.
I WANT TO REMOVE THE ICE DEPARTMENT AND I GRAB COUNCIL MEMBER KRAFT AND WE GO AND WE TALK ABOUT IT AND WE THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. WELL, THEN WE BROUGHT IT TO THE DICE.
>> WELL, SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT IT BEFOREHAND?
>> YOU JUST WANT TO DO IT AND THEN FIGURE OUT AND THEN?
>> THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF A PUBLIC MEETING AND YOU NEED THAT.
I AS THE MAYOR, DO NOT REQUIRE YOU TO TALK TO ME ABOUT EVERY INITIATIVE THAT YOU MAY WANT YOU MAY WANT TO RUN.
>> BUT OUR LAWYER DOES NOT REPRESENT US INDIVIDUALLY.
HE DOESN'T REPRESENT TWO OF US, HE REPRESENTS ALL OF US.
[02:55:01]
>> ALL FIVE OF US. WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IF HE'S LOOKING AT SOMETHING, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT.
>> YOU DO HAVE THE ABILITY AS HIS CUSTOMER, AND HIM AS YOUR COUNSEL TO CONTACT HIM AND SAY, HEY, I WOULD LIKE AN UPDATE ON THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON AND HE WOULD GLADLY GIVE THAT.
NOW HE'S GOING TO CHARGE YOU FOR THAT.
>> HE'S GOING TO CHARGE US. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S THE STEWARDSHIP BUT YOU'RE GOING TO KNOW NOW HE'S NOT GOING TO TELL YOU IT'S MY IDEA.
HE MAY NOT GIVE YOU DETAILS AS TO WHERE HE'S AT IN THE PROCESS.
BUT 10 COMMANDMENTS WAS A TOPIC AND YOU HAVE AT LEAST TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE LOOKING AT THE LEGAL WAY TO PUT 10 COMMANDMENTS MONUMENT UP.
>> WELL, I LIKE THE IDEA OF GOING THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER TO GET THAT INFORMATION BACK SO THAT ALL OF US CAN BE ACCESS AND PRIVY AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY ADDITIONAL MONEY FOR IT.
>> I THINK I CAN GO WITH THAT.
PROTOCOL. STEWARDSHIP CAN BE ON OUR HONOR.
YOU WOULD AGREE IF WE WRITE THIS UP AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, TO ALWAYS ATTEMPT TO GET YOUR RESOURCES AND YOUR NEEDS MET THROUGH CITY MANAGER AND/OR CITY ATTORNEY.
NOW, WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING MET OR YOU'RE UNSATISFIED OR YOU STILL DON'T KNOW, THEN YOU DO CURRENTLY HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL AVAILABLE.
WHAT WE COULD ASK IS FOR YOU TO GET A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER TO GO WITH YOU.
THAT WOULD PREVENT ANY OF US FROM JUST RUNNING, PICKING UP THE PHONE, MAYBE WASTING MONEY.
NOW YOU HAVE TWO, WHICH IF YOU'RE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GO ANYWAY IF YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK SOMETHING TO THE DIAS.
YOU'RE GOING TO END UP TALKING TO ONE PERSON.
THEN FROM THERE, YOU'D BE BRINGING IT BACK TO COUNSEL AND WE WOULD ALL KNOW.
>> DOES A CURRENT RESOLUTION ALLOW US TO GO TO ANY ATTORNEY OR ONLY TO HYDE KELLY'S?
>> CURRENT RESOLUTION ALLOWS HYDE KELLY TO BE ENGAGED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE PASSED, AND THEN WE FUNDED IT WITH $250,000 IN THE GIVEN BUDGET WHEN WE MADE THAT AMENDMENT BEFORE WE PASSED THE FINAL BUDGET.
NOW, YOU ALSO HAVE MICK MCKAMEY, WHO IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED.
CORRECT. WE'RE STILL ENGAGED WITH MICK MCKAMEY. HE'S NOT ON RETAINER.
I APOLOGIZE, WE DON'T HAVE HIM ON RETAINER.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PAY HIM AND HE COULD INVOICE.
YOU HAVE THREE ATTORNEYS RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE UNDERWOOD, AS AN EXAMPLE, THEY REPRESENT THE ADC.
IF YOU WERE WANTING TO ENGAGE WITH JOHN ATKINS, I'M NOT LIMITING YOUR ABILITY TO DO THAT, I'M ALSO NOT TELLING YOU THAT YOU GOT TO COME AND TELL ALL OF US EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE CONCERNED WITH BEFORE YOU CAN GO OUT AND GET EDUCATED.
>> THEN WHERE IS THE FINAL ACCOUNTABILITY ON HOW MUCH WE'RE SPENDING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T OVERSPEND?
>> BUT WHO'S KEEPING TRACK OF THAT?
>> YOU ARE. YOU'RE APPROVING THE BILLS AS THEY COME IN, THEY HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> IF I GO TO SOMEONE ELSE, THEN IT COMES BACK TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
>> WELL, WE ALL WOULD NEED TO APPROVE IT.
I LIKE THE PROTOCOL THAT WE HAVE IS I CAN'T APPROVE HYDE KELLY'S BILL.
HYDE KELLY SENDS THE BILL TO MYSELF AND CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGER SENDS IT TO ALL OF Y'ALL AND SAYS, PLEASE REVIEW THIS, LET US KNOW IF YOU HAD CONCERNS.
YOU HAD CONCERNS ON THE LAST BILL HE'S GETTING THOSE CLARIFIED, AND THEN IF YOU APPROVE IT, THEN HE GETS PAID.
>> IF WE DON'T APPROVE IT. [OVERLAPPING] [LAUGHTER]
>> I'M NOT SURE. I DIDN'T GET THAT FAR.
HE'S AN ATTORNEY, SO I DON'T KNOW.
>> WE'RE APPROVING IT AFTER THE FACT.
>> WELL, NO. I'M JUST SAYING, YOU SIGNED A CONTRACT WITH A GUY.
HE'S PERFORMED. THEN I THINK THE ISSUE OF APPROVAL IS IT'S AWARENESS MORE THAN ANYTHING.
WE WANT ALL FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE CITY STAFF TO KNOW THAT WE'VE SPENT THIS MONEY AND HIS INVOICES COME PRETTY DESCRIPTIVE IN TOPIC OF 1.5 HOURS CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR LEGAL ADVISEMENT ON AEDC.
>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THE LAST ONE DIDN'T HAVE THAT DETAIL, WHICH IS WHAT I WAS ASKING FOR.
[OVERLAPPING] YOU'LL HAVE TO GET SOME MORE DETAIL ON THAT.
>> YOU'LL GET THAT. I KNOW IT CAN BE CONCERNING.
NOW, HERE'S ONE THING THAT I WOULD SAY.
>> LISTEN, MY CONCERN IS, ARE WE SETTING A PRECEDENT HERE.
BUT ARE WE DOING SOMETHING AND SETTING A PRECEDENT THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE THAT ANOTHER COUNCIL COULD COME IN HERE AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY OR YOU HAVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES?
THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOREVER.
PREVIOUS MAYOR AND COUNCIL USED ALL SORTS OF ATTORNEYS FIRMS. WHAT WAS FULBRIGHT? WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT ATTORNEY FIRM? HELPED WITH THE CIVIC CENTER? WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE ATTORNEY? NORTON?
>> ENGAGED. I DON'T REMEMBER THAT GETTING VOTED ON IN A RESOLUTION.
I THINK IT JUST CAME OUT ILLEGAL.
[03:00:02]
I ASKED FOREVER AS A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR TWO YEARS.WHERE DO WE PAY FOR ALL OF THESE LAWSUITS AND ALL THESE ATTORNEYS FROM? I NEVER APPROVE A BILL, I NEVER SEE ANYTHING.
PREVIOUS MAYOR AND COUNCIL JUST DIRECTED THINGS THROUGH STAFF AND STAFF DIDN'T PUSH BACK.
THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN PAINSTAKINGLY PUBLIC IN BRINGING EVERYTHING OUT BECAUSE WE WANT ACCOUNTABILITY TO OUR TAXPAYER.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION, BUT NO, YOU'RE NOT SETTING A PRECEDENT.
EVERY OTHER COUNSEL HAS JUST DONE IT DIFFERENT IN THE GIVEN BUDGET.
GIVEN BUDGET JUST LINE ITEM TRANSFERRED A FEW THINGS, I BELIEVE.
>> WELL, TO ME, AS WE'RE SETTING THIS UP NOW WITH A PROTOCOL.
TO ME, IF THIS IS A PROTOCOL THAT WE'RE HAVING TO ENACT EVERY MONTH OR EVERY OTHER MONTH, I THINK WE'VE GOT BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN LEGAL COUNSEL.
>> I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK THAT THE GOAL HERE WOULD BE TO ONLY GET SPECIAL COUNSEL WHEN YOU NEED IT AND THEN TO ALWAYS FACILITATE THE BEST TEAM YOU CAN.
IN LETTING THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY DO THEIR JOB, IF THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB, YOU HAVE NO REASON TO GO OUT FOR SPECIAL COUNSEL.
>> BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE MONEY IF A RARE EXCEPTION HAPPENS RIGHT NOW, WE ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO GO WITH HYDE KELLY, ANY OF US AS LONG AS WE'RE TO GET SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THIS. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THE MONEY'S IN THE BUDGET, AND I THINK THAT'S THE BEST THING I'VE HEARD YOU REPEAT IN SAYING, THIS IS WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY.
I'M PROBABLY JUST NOT SAYING IT RIGHTLY.
I DON'T EVER WANT A MAYOR THAT CAN RESTRICT THE CITY, COUNCIL, MEN, OR WOMEN FROM BEING ABLE TO GO OUT AND ENGAGE WITH A GOOD ATTORNEY.
NOW, IN ORDER TO GET THAT RESOLUTION PASSED, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND TALK TO ANYBODY THAT YOU WANT IN THE SPECIALTY OF THAT FIELD AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR A VOTE.
BUT ONCE YOU GET THAT VOTE, YOU DON'T WANT A MAYOR, YOU DON'T WANT A CITY MANAGER RESTRICTING YOUR ABILITY TO TALK TO THAT ATTORNEY.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S FINE. AGAIN, AS A FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBER, IF THERE'S ALL THESE DISCUSSIONS AND ALL THIS LEGAL MONEY BEING SPENT ON A TOPIC, I JUST THINK THE SOONER ALL OF COUNSEL KNOWS ABOUT IT, THE BETTER.
I THINK WE ALL NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHATEVER THAT IS THAT'S BEING SPENT AND BEING DONE SO WE CAN ALL GOVERN AS ONE.
>> OTHER CONCERNS ON THIS OR MAYBE THE EXAMPLE OF THE PROTOCOL THAT WE'VE PUT OUT?
>> WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE PROTOCOLS OFFICIAL?
>> YOU CAN GIVE DIRECTION TO STAFF AND LET THEM TWEAK THIS AND WORK THIS OUT TO WHERE WE COULD HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE WERE WILLING TO PUT IN PLACE THAT WOULD GIVE SOME DIRECTIVES TO OURSELVES OR WE COULD CHOOSE NOT TO PUT FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON OURSELVES.
BUT, YEAH, YOU'RE CHOOSING TO RESTRICT YOURSELF BY AGREEING TO WORK THROUGH A PROTOCOL.
>> WHICH YOU FEEL LIKE IT IS A GOOD IDEA?
>> JUST THE STEWARDSHIP, MAINLY, IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?
>> I AGREE. YEAH, I DON'T MIND HAVING SOME BOUNDARIES AT ALL.
IT DOESN'T RESTRICT THE POWER OF COUNSEL.
IT JUST PUTS YOU THROUGH SOME GIVEN STEPS THAT YOU ON YOUR HONOR HAVE TO ABIDE BY.
>> WELL, AS LONG AS WE'RE GETTING COPIES OF THESE BILLS TO APPROVE, WE'RE BEING UPDATED, ARE WE NOT? IF WE SEE SOMETHING ON THE BILL I DON'T KNOW, I CAN GO ASK GRAYSON OR WHOEVER WE TALK TO.
IF HYDE'S BILL SAYS I TALKED TO JOSH CRAFT FOR 30 MINUTES ON DOT, DOT, DOT, I CAN GO TO JOSH.
THAT WAY, I'M NOT WAITING FOR THIS INFORMATION.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I MAY WANT TO TALK TO A LAWYER WITHOUT ANYBODY KNOWING I'M TALKING TO YOU.
I MAY BE WANTING TO TALK ABOUT GRACE TO THE [LAUGHTER] LAWYER INSTEAD I HATE TO GO TO GRAYSON AND SAY, "GRAYSON, I WANT TO TALK TO THE LAWYER ABOUT YOU" CAN'T DO THAT.
BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT COMMON SENSE.
WE'VE USED THIS FOR TWO ISSUES, THE SANCTUARY CITY AND AEDC.
THESE ARE BASICALLY THE ONLY TIMES WE'VE USED HYDE, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> NOT IF YOU LOOK AT THE BILL.
>> THAT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO RIGHT.
>> THERE'S BEEN OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN USED.
>> PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUESTS.
>> THERE'S SOME OTHER TOPICS THAT I THINK HAVE NOT COME UP.
>> OPEN MEETING ACT WERE SOME THINGS THAT WE NEEDED ADVISEMENT ON.
ORIGINALLY, HE WAS HIRED TO COME AND GIVE SOME TRAININGS AS A CONSULTANT.
WE WERE TRYING TO GET HIM HERE TO DO SOME TOMA AND PIA EDUCATION ON HOW WE RESPOND.
DOES COUNCIL WANT TO RESTRICT ITSELF BY PUTTING SOME PROTOCOLS TOGETHER, OR AT LEAST WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIRECT STAFF TO TYPE THEM UP AND THEN YOU COULD READ THEM?
>> YOU SAY RESTRICT OURSELVES.
YOU'RE JUST SAYING TO BE BETTER STEWARDS OF IT.
>> I THINK IT'S SEMANTICS, BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS RESTRICT OURSELVES.
>> IT'S HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE THROUGH TO A STEP OR A PROCEDURE.
[03:05:05]
WELL, YOU DON'T LEGALLY HAVE TO HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE TO.YOU'RE ALREADY BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE BUDGET, AND IT'S IN THE BUDGET.
>> I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR TRANSPARENCY, JUST FOR LIKE YOU SAID, YOU'RE IN A POSITION OF AUTHORITY, YOU'RE ELECTED, BUT THERE'S SOME POWER AND AUTHORITY THAT WE HAVE THAT'S AGAIN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT ILLEGAL OR UNLAWFUL.
>> I GOT A YES, AND I GOT A NO.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH PROTOCOL, AND THEN WE CAN VOTE ON IT.
I'M AT LEAST WILLING TO HEAR IT AND LET STAFF TYPE IT UP.
GRAYSON, IS THIS SOMETHING YOU COULD HELP US WITH?
>> I BELIEVE SO. I'LL NEED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION PROBABLY AFTER THE MEETING.
>> YEAH AND TO REITERATE IT OR RESTATE IT MORE CLEARLY SO THE PUBLIC CAN HEAR IT.
WE'RE SAYING THAT WE WOULD HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO BRINGING ANY ISSUE FIRST TO THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY ATTORNEY AND/OR CITY ATTORNEY TO SEE WHAT RESOURCES CAN BE GIVEN IN ADVISEMENT.
THEN IF WE WERE GOING TO NEED OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WE WOULD COME TO YOU AND WE WOULD ASK YOU FIRST, CAN YOU GO AND LOCATE OUTSIDE COUNSEL THAT IS AN EXPERT IN ICE? THEN YOU COULD GO AND DO THAT.
WE STILL HOLD THE AUTHORITY TO SAY, THAT'S NOT WHO I WANT.
THEN AT THAT POINT, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PRESENT OR SELECT ANOTHER COUNCILMAN.
YOU'RE IN THE PROTOCOL, YOU EITHER SELECT A COUNCILMAN AND YOU GET SOMEBODY ELSE ON BOARD, OR YOU PRESENT TO COUNCIL.
NOW, WITH THE GIVEN RESOLUTION, YOU THEN CAN ENGAGE WITH THE COUNSEL.
I SAY COUNSEL, NOT OUR COUNCIL, BUT LEGAL COUNSEL.
WHERE YOU'RE AT IN THIS CITY MANAGER, AND OR CITY ATTORNEY, IF YOU DON'T NEED OUTSIDE CITY COUNSEL BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY RETAINED IT, YOU CAN GO STRAIGHT TO LEGAL COUNSEL.
>> I THINK THE KEY POINT AND I THINK DON YOU MENTIONED THIS IS BEING GOOD STEWARDS AND GIVING OUR STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS WHATEVER IT MAY BE AND FIGURE OUT, DO WE HAVE STAFF ON BOARD? DO WE NEED OUTSIDE COUNSEL? I THINK OUR CITY MANAGER WOULD KNOW WHERE TO GET THAT.
IN A RARE EXCEPTION, THAT HE CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM FOR US, THEN THERE'S STILL THAT.
BUT AGAIN, I WOULD HOPE FOR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES, AND OTHERWISE, THAT WE CAN WORK WITH THE CITY MANAGER TO GET THOSE LEGAL ISSUES SIGNED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO INCREASE THE COST TO THE TAXPAYERS BY GOING OUTSIDE COUNSEL.
>> YEAH, AND WE IN NO WAY ARE SAYING HOW WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS PROTOCOL BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT.
WE ARE JUST GIVING DIRECTION AND GETTING A CONSENSUS ON, IS THIS SOMETHING WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH? WE WOULD DIRECT CITY MANAGER TO TYPE UP A PROTOCOL THAT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU THINK WOULD WORK BEST AND ALSO IN LINE WITH THE WAY OUR DISCUSSIONS GONE.
>> MOVING FORWARD, WE DID DO ITEM 7G, AND WE ALSO COVERED 7H.
ON ITEM 7I, DO I HAVE ANY FUTURE REQUESTED AGENDA ITEMS? WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO CONSENT ITEMS.
[8. Consent Items]
ITEM KK IS NOT READY.MS. CITY SECRETARY, AM I SAYING THAT ONE CORRECT?
>> I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE PULL ITEM KK BECAUSE IT'S NOT READY.
DO I HAVE ANY OTHER ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA THAT COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO. THEN I WOULD, ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE AGENDA AS STATED, EXCEPT FOR KK.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON CONSENT? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSE? MOVING ON TO NON CONSENT.
>> THAT'S THE FASTEST WE'VE MOVED ALL DAY [LAUGHTER].
[9.A. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8171]
ITEM 9A, PUBLIC HEARING, MR. BRADY KENDRICK, HE'S ONLY BEEN WAITING PATIENTLY.>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 81-71.
THIS IS A REZONING OF LOT 1 BLOCK 85 BELMORE UNIT NUMBER 33.
THIS IS IN RANDALL COUNTY, TEXAS, IN THE VICINITY OF DANVERS DRIVE AND OXBOW TRAIL, AND THE APPLICANT IS BARRY BEDWELL.
THEY ARE PROPOSING THE REZONE FROM PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 104 TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 104A TO CONSTRUCT A BUILDING FOR ADDITIONAL STORAGE UNITS ON THE SITE.
THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING TO CONSTRUCT AN ADDITIONAL BUILDING ON THIS SITE.
GIVEN THAT THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PASSED WITH A SITE SPECIFIC SITE PLAN, THAT IS THE REASON THAT THEY HAVE TO AMEND THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT.
THE CURRENT SITE HAS DEVELOPED WITH AN OFFICE BUILDING AND ADDITIONALLY WITH
[03:10:04]
A STORAGE BUILDING WITH 17 STORAGE UNITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR LEASE.THE PROPOSED SITE IS ON YOUR SCREEN NOW.
THEY ARE PROPOSING THE NEW BUILDING AT THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE SITE TO HAVE ADDITIONAL STORAGE BUILDINGS FOR LEASE.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID FIND THAT THIS WAS IN CONFORMANCE WITH THE CITY PLAN 2045 AND THE PLACE TYPE IDENTIFIED FOR THE SITE.
THE NEW BUILDING WOULD BE 4,320 SQUARE FEET AND WOULD CONTAIN NINE ADDITIONAL STORAGE UNITS AND WOULD BE 14 FEET TALL, AND WOULD MEET ALL OTHER DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS THAT ARE TYPICAL OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT REGARDING SETBACKS, PARKING, LANDSCAPING, ETC.
WE DID SEND PUBLIC NOTICES AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW AND DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMMENTS AS OF THIS MEETING TODAY.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM WITH A 7-0 VOTE.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. KENDRICK ON ITEM 9A? THANK YOU, MR. KENDRICK. AT THIS TIME, WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE ANYONE HERE TODAY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST ITEM 9A.
SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8171.
>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.
ITEM 9B. RICH? NO, IS THAT RIGHT?
[9.B. CONSIDER AWARD - ANNUAL RENEWAL OF DIGITAL HUMAN AGREEMENT]
YEAH. RICH IS COMING UP HERE, TALK TO US ABOUT DIGITAL HUMAN AGREEMENT.>> GOOD EVENING, RICH GAGNON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND CIO.
THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE WE'RE LAUNCHING CONVERSATIONAL CITY 1.0.
I'D LIKE TO WALK THROUGH SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOUR TEAM HAS PULLED OFF OVER THE LAST YEAR.
YOU GUYS ALL KNOW MY BACKGROUND.
I COME FROM HIGH TECH, HIGH GROWTH, INNOVATIVE COMPANIES.
THE INNOVATION PROCESS IS EASY.
IT'S NOT THAT COMPLEX, BUT BUILDING AN INNOVATIVE CULTURE IS HARD.
IT'S HARD IN PRIVATE SECTOR, IT'S SO MUCH HARDER IN GOVERNMENT.
ONE OF THE FIRST LESSONS THAT I HAD TO LEARN IS IN PRIVATE SECTOR, YOU INNOVATE IN THE DARK, YOU'RE TRYING TO GET COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OVER OTHER COMPANIES AND KEEP IT.
THAT DOESN'T WORK IN PUBLIC SECTOR.
YOU CAN'T CLEARLY DEFINE THE PROBLEM IF YOU DON'T ENGAGE WITH YOUR RESIDENTS.
WE WANTED TO BUILD ON AN INNOVATION AND A HUMAN FIRST APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY.
WE'VE BEEN IN AGREEMENT, COUNCIL AND STAFF FROM THE START THAT WE WANT TO HUMAN FIRST APPROACH AND THAT'S WHY WE PASSED AND STARTED WITH THE DIGITAL DIGNITY RIGHTS AND PRIVACY RESOLUTION.
I WILL NOTE, YOU'LL SEE THAT ALREADY ON THE WEB PAGE, WE'RE ALREADY WORKING TO ADD TO THAT THROUGH JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, YOU START TO SEE POLICIES ADDED TO THAT.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH INTERNAL AUDIT, SO IT HAS AN AUDIT PROCESS JUST LIKE CYBERSECURITY AND WE'RE TRANSPARENT WITH OUR PUBLIC AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
BUT WE'RE ALSO DEVELOPING THAT MUSCLE.
TWO CORE TENETS WHEN IT COMES TO DIGITAL DIGNITY RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ARE TRANSPARENCY AND ENGAGEMENT.
I CAN SAY FROM A TECHNOLOGY STANDPOINT, WE'VE BEEN GOING A LONG TIME AT THE INTERNAL ENGAGEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY.
BUT WE USE THIS PROJECT TO REALLY BUILD MUSCLES ON THE EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT.
NONE OF THIS WORK WAS DONE IN ISOLATION.
WE ACTUALLY DID THIS IN COMBINATION WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
WE LAUNCHED A BETA PROGRAM FOR EMMA FOR THIS PROJECT.
WE HAD OVER 100 RESIDENTS VOLUNTEER TO BE BETA TESTERS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS.
WE ACTUALLY TRAINED OUR INTERNAL STAFF.
WE WORKED WITH CATHY OUT OF DELL, WHO IS A LONG TIME USER EXPERIENCE EXPERT.
SHE HELPED US WORK THROUGH THE PROCESS OF HOW DO YOU DO USER EXPERIENCE TESTING WITH YOUR RESIDENTS? THE TEAM FROM UTILITY BUILDING, JENNIFER'S TEAM DID A PHENOMENAL JOB WORKING WITH LIBRARY TO RUN US THROUGH THE TEST PROCESS.
IT IMPACTED OUR ROADMAP BEFORE WE EVER LAUNCHED.
I'M A TECHNOLOGIST AND I'M AS GUILTY AS ALL OF THEM IF I SEE A COOL FEATURE AND I'M LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE SO AWESOME.
IF YOU REMEMBER THE EARLIER DEMOS, WE HAD EMMA, I ASKED HOW TO PAY A WATER BILL.
SHE ANSWERED THE QUESTION THEN JUST AUTOMATICALLY NAVIGATED YOU TO THAT PART OF THE SITE. THEY HATED THAT.
THEY'RE LIKE, YEAH, THAT'S REALLY COOL, BUT WHAT IF I HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION? MAYBE I DON'T WANT TO GO RIGHT NOW.
CAN'T SHE JUST ASK ME IF I'M READY AND GIVE ME THE LINK? WE DELAYED THAT.
WE DIDN'T LAUNCH THAT IN OUR SOFT LAUNCH.
THAT'LL BE THE NEXT FEATURE WE ADD.
INSTEAD OF LAUNCHING SOMETHING OUR RESIDENTS DIDN'T LIKE,
[03:15:03]
WE ACTUALLY TOOK THEIR FEEDBACK AND WE'RE GOING TO LAUNCH IT THE WAY THAT THEY WANTED.THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD WORK.
NOW THAT WE'VE BUILT THAT PROCESS, OUR NEXT STEP IS REALLY TO START FORMALIZING THAT PROGRAM.
AS NEW FEATURES FOR EMMA COME OUT AND TEST, THERE'S DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS, YOU HAVE A TEST ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU BUILD NEW THINGS IN, YOU HAVE A STAGING ENVIRONMENT WHERE WHEN CHANGES ARE MADE, YOU MAKE THOSE IN STAGING TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T IMPACT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SITE, AND THEN YOU MOVE THAT TO PRODUCTION.
WHEN WE LAUNCH THINGS AND TEST NOW, WE HAVE A BETA GROUP THAT WE CAN HAVE THEM TEST IT FOR US.
RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT ABOUT 100, MY GOAL BY THE END OF YEAR IS TO HAVE 1,000, SO THAT AS WE DO THESE PROJECTS, WE'RE REALLY TESTING IT WITH OUR OWN PUBLIC, GATHERING THE FEEDBACK AND MAKING SURE THAT WE DO TECHNOLOGY IN A WAY THAT SERVES THE NEED AND THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE WITH.
WE'RE LOOKING AT UTILITY BILLING SOFTWARE, WE'LL USE THE EXACT SAME PROCESS.
THAT WILL BE OUR PROCESS GOING FORWARD IS DOING USER TESTING AS WE ROLL OUT SERVICES TO OUR RESIDENTS.
NOW, ONE THING WE LEARNED VERY EARLY, WE GOT SOME LESSONS OUT OF EMMA, AND THE FIRST THING THAT WE REALIZED IS IF WE WERE GOING TO USE OUR WEBSITE FOR THE KNOWLEDGE BASE, WE BOLTED EMMA TO THE EXISTING WEBSITE AT THE TIME.
SHE COULDN'T ANSWER ONE QUESTION.
REALLY, THAT WAS A REFLECTION ON OUR WEBSITE.
IF EMMA CAN'T GET THE ANSWER, WE KNEW FOR A FACT OUR RESIDENTS WEREN'T.
SO WE TOOK A STEP BACK AND WE ACTUALLY REFOCUSED AND IMAGINE THIS, WE BUILT A WEBSITE THAT'S FOR OUR RESIDENTS, NOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT.
WE HAD A GOVERNMENT WEBSITE BUILT FOR GOVERNMENT, NOT A SMALL TASK.
WE DID THAT ALL IN HOUSE, BY THE WAY.
THAT WAS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE INNOVATION TEAM AND IT.
WHEN WE STARTED, THERE WERE ABOUT 1,600 PAGES WITH 20,000 DOCUMENTS AND IMAGES ON IT.
THAT TEAM WENT THROUGH, WAS ABLE TO REDUCE THOSE DOCUMENTS TO ABOUT 1,070.
ABOUT 90% OF THOSE DOCUMENTS HADN'T BEEN TOUCHED IN YEARS.
WHAT WE ENDED UP WITH WAS A BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED WEBSITE THAT'S VERY EASY TO NAVIGATE.
BEAR IN MIND, TO GET A CANNED WEBSITE, JUST FROM A COMPANY THAT DOES GOVERNMENT WEBSITES WOULD COST YOU A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS.
OUR TEAM MET WITH EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT, TALKED ABOUT, WHAT CONVERSATIONS DO YOU HAVE WITH YOUR RESIDENTS, WHAT DO THEY CARE ABOUT, AND CUSTOM DEVELOPED THE SITE.
THAT WOULD BE THREE TIMES THE COST OF A CANNED WEBSITE.
THE TEAM DID A PHENOMENAL JOB.
BECAUSE WE HAD PEOPLE DOING THE RIGHT ROLES.
WE HAD THE DESIGNERS AND THE INNOVATION TEAM THAT KNOW MEDIA AND KNOW HOW TO DO DESIGN, DOING DESIGN AND WE HAD IT BACKING THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE FUNCTIONALITY WORKING THE WAY IT NEEDS TO WORK.
NOW, WITH THE ADDITION OF EMMA, WE GET SOME THINGS WE'VE NEVER HAD BEFORE.
THE BIG CHALLENGE WITH RUNNING A GOVERNMENT WEBSITE IS YOU DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHAT PEOPLE WANT.
WHAT DO YOUR RESIDENTS WANT TO KNOW? I COULD SEE WHERE THEY CLICKED, I COULD SEE WHAT PAGES THEY WENT TO.
BUT NOW WHEN A QUESTION GETS ANSWERED, WE KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS THAT THEY'RE ASKING.
I'LL FLAG THIS. THERE'S TWO THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW.
YOU'LL SEE A USERNAME ON THAT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY EVERY QUESTION COMES IN UNDER THAT, IT'S ANONYMIZED.
I KNOW THE QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW WHO ASKED IT.
WE'VE BEEN PLAYING WITH A FEATURE THAT WILL GIVE RESIDENTS THE CHOICE OF, CAN YOU USE MY QUESTION TO IMPROVE YOUR MODEL? WE GIVE THEM TOTAL CHOICE ON DATA USAGE.
NOW, THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS WE'VE ALREADY FIXED SEVERAL THINGS.
WE SOFT LAUNCHED EMMA OVER THE WEEKEND.
SHE'S LIVE NOW ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE HAVE AT LEAST 10 ITEMS I KNOW OF WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER, WE NOW DO.
WE START TO SEE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WANT.
I WAS REALLY SURPRISED, ONE OF THE COMMON THINGS WE SAW ON BETA TESTING AND EVEN AFTER GO LIVE WAS THE QUESTION, HEY, WHEN DO I GET TRASH SERVICE AT THIS ADDRESS? I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH DONNIE THIS MORNING.
WE HAVE THAT DATA, WE'RE JUST NOT CONNECTED TO IT.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES IMMEDIATELY WHERE WE CAN GET THAT PLUGGED IN AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ASK EMMA AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU WHEN YOUR SERVICE IS SCHEDULED.
THEN WE CAN ACTUALLY DIG IN AND SEE THE EXACT ANSWERS THAT WERE GIVEN BY EMMA.
THE CONVERSATION IT'S ALREADY GOTTEN BETTER IN ONE DAY AND EVERY DAY IT IMPROVES, AND SO DOES OUR WEBSITE.
NOW WE HAVE OURSELVES ON A SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT WHERE IF WE'RE NOT ANSWERING A QUESTION, WE GET THAT FIXED.
>> THIS HAS BEEN A HUGE PARTNERSHIP GETTING EMMA TOGETHER BETWEEN THE CITY OF AMARILLO, DELL, PRYON, AND UNIQUE, MANY OF WHO ARE HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROJECT.
WE'RE THE FIRST LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS PERIOD.
IT'S BEEN GREAT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PRIVATE SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT.
BUT I WILL SAY THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
IT IS A CELEBRATION, BUT IT'S REALLY THE STARTING GUN.
WE'VE GOT THE BASE PLATFORM UP.
YOU CAN THINK OF EMMA AS A NEW EMPLOYEE.
SHE'S BEEN THROUGH ORIENTATION, WE'VE GIVEN HER HER INITIAL TRAINING,
[03:20:02]
BUT NOW WE'RE MOVING ON THE JOB TRAINING.IN THE SHORT TERM, WE ARE GOING TO RE-ENABLE NAVIGATION, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IN A WAY THAT OUR RESIDENTS WANT TO SEE IT, WHERE IT'S OFFERED, AND YOU GET THE LINK.
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ADDITIONAL SITES THAT ARE ON AMARILLO.GOV, LIKE LIBRARIES.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT ARE THE NEXT FIVE LANGUAGES TO ENABLE.
BECAUSE WE DISCOVERED THAT IT'S INTERESTING WHEN YOU CHANGE LANGUAGES, CONTEXT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WE'RE USING NATIVE SPEAKERS TO GO THROUGH AND VET TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MESSAGING WE WANT TO DELIVER IS GETTING DELIVERED APPROPRIATELY IN THAT LANGUAGE.
I LOVE TECHNOLOGY, BUT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CROSS-CHECK IT.
WE ARE LOOKING AT THE SOLID WASTE SCHEDULING, ADDING THAT.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON INGESTING OUR CHARTER ORDINANCES AND BUILDING CODES, BECAUSE WOULDN'T IT BE HANDY TO BE ABLE TO SAY, HEY, HOW HIGH CAN I BUILD A FENCE? NOT ONLY GET AN ANSWER, BUT GET REFERRED TO THE PART OF THE CHARTER, THE ORDINANCE THAT GIVES YOU THAT ANSWER OR HOW MANY CHICKENS CAN I HAVE AND GET AN ANSWER.
THEN WE'RE ALSO TESTING IT FOR WAY-FINDING.
WE HAVE A SPOT IN THE NEW CITY HALL WHERE WE CAN PUT UP A MONITOR, AND YOU COULD WALK INTO THE ELEVATORS, AND ASK, HEY, I WANT TO GO TALK TO RICH AND BE TOLD WHERE RICH LIVES IN THE BUILDING AND HOW TO GET THERE OR I WANT TO CHECK, I HAVE TO DO A PERMIT AND BE TOLD, NOW THAT'S ACTUALLY AT THE SIMS BUILDING, AND HERE ARE DIRECTIONS TO GET THERE AND HERE'S WHO YOU TALK TO.
IN THE SHORT TERM, WE HAVE SOME GOALS.
THEN IN THE MORE MEDIUM-TERM, WE'RE LOOKING REALLY IN THREE AREAS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT SERVICE INTEGRATION.
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO ASK, HEY, I'M LOOKING FOR THIS BOOK OR MOVIE, AND BE TOLD, THAT'S IT, THESE TWO LIBRARIES, IT'S AVAILABLE.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF A PERMIT? WE'RE STARTING IN THE TEST SYSTEM TO START LOOKING AT DISASTER SCENARIOS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BRIAN HAS HELPED US DO IS ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE HALLUCINATIONS IN TIMES WHEN THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY HANDY IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES TO ASK EMMA, WHERE IS THE FLOOD OCCURRING? WHERE IS SHELTER? HOW DO I GET SUPPLIES? EVEN ON THE BACK END OF THAT, WHAT FORMS DO I NEED TO FILL OUT? MAYBE HAVE SOME GUIDANCE ON HOW TO FILL OUT THOSE FEDERAL FORMS FOR AFTER-DISASTER ASSISTANCE.
WE'RE STARTING TO WORK WITH THAT AND TEST.
I COULD SEE THAT HAVING REAL HUGE IMPLICATIONS FOR OEM, FOR THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
ON THE EDUCATION FRONT, WE'RE LOOKING AT ADJUSTING OUR MATERIALS FOR ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, DIGITAL LITERACY, OUR CITIZENSHIP CLASSES, NOT TO REPLACE THE INSTRUCTORS, BUT TO GIVE OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH EDUCATION.
THAT COULD APPLY TO ANY AREA WHERE WE'RE TEACHING RESIDENTS WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A 24/7 COACH THAT IS MULTILINGUAL THAT CAN HELP IN THOSE AREAS.
THAT'S ALSO WE PARTNER WITH REGION 16.
THEY'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN HOW AI COULD BE OF ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION.
THEN, OF COURSE, FROM A PLATFORM PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT SPEED AND COST.
I THINK WE CAN ACTUALLY BRING THE SPEED UP ON EMMA, SO THERE'S LESS AND LESS DELAY AND IT FEELS MORE AND MORE CONVERSATIONAL.
SECURITY, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT.
BUT THE OTHER REALLY INTERESTING PIECE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH NOW IS, IF YOU THINK OF EMMA RIGHT NOW, IT'S A ONE-WAY CONVERSATION.
I ASK A QUESTION AS A RESIDENT, EMMA GIVES ME AN ANSWER.
WELL, WE'RE WORKING ON A VERSION OF EMMA THAT DOES THAT IN REVERSE.
SIMPLE EXAMPLE MIGHT BE I BOOK A TABLE AT A PARK, AND THE CITY HAS PARK INITIATIVES.
WHY NOT HAVE EMMA LET THEM KNOW, HEY, DID YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING THIS PROJECT IN PARKS? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? OR THINK ABOUT A CITY SURVEY THAT'S NOT CONFINED TO JUST MULTIPLE CHOICE ANSWERS, WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY HAVE RESIDENTS ENGAGE WITH EMMA.
WE COULD ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR CITY AND THEN GET OPEN FEEDBACK, LIKE, A CORPORATION DOES, AND THEN GATHER INSIGHTS.
EMMA HAS THE CAPABILITY OF BEING BOTH AN INBOUND AND OUTBOUND, A TWO-WAY CONVERSATION.
JUST I COULDN'T COMPLIMENT THE TEAM ENOUGH THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE, BOTH WITH OUR CONSULTANTS, BUT INTERNALLY, THE TEAM HAS DONE A PHENOMENAL JOB BEING UNCOMFORTABLE, LEARNING NEW THINGS.
I THINK WE'RE IN A POSITION TO REALLY KEEP INNOVATING IN A SAFE WAY WITH OUR PUBLIC. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I KNOW YOU SPOKE TO IT, AND I KNOW YOU DO ALMOST EVERY TIME WE TALK ABOUT THIS, BUT CAN YOU TALK ABOUT, JUST VERY SHORT, THE UNIQUENESS OF THE DIGITAL RIGHT OF PRIVACY THAT YOU DEVELOPED, AND HOW UNIQUE IT IS AND HOW IT PROTECTS OUR CITIZENS' RIGHTS, AND HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS?
>> IT'S ABSOLUTELY FUNDAMENTAL TO WHAT WE DO.
[03:25:03]
IT ALL STARTS WITH TRANSPARENCY.WE ACTUALLY DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE FRONT END, AND WE WORK WITH DIGITAL RIGHTS HOUSES, THAT'S THEIR ENTIRE FOCUS IS, HOW DO YOU DO TECHNOLOGY IN A WAY THAT RESPECTS PEOPLE'S RIGHTS AND PRIVACY AND THEIR DIGNITY? I WOULD SAY, I TAKE MORE PHONE CALLS ON THAT THAN I DO TECHNOLOGY BECAUSE CITIES ARE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.
EVERYONE WANTS TO INNOVATE, BUT THEY WANT TO DO IT IN A WAY THAT'S TRANSPARENT, AND YOU HAVE TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUR RESIDENTS TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND THEN YOU'RE HOLDING YOURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE TO DOING THE RIGHT THING.
THAT'S WHY THE RESOLUTION IS KEY, BECAUSE IT GETS RENEWED EVERY YEAR.
IT'S ALMOST A SIGNAL FLARE TO THE PUBLIC.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT, THEY SHOULD BE CHECKING EVERY YEAR THAT I'M BACK IN FRONT OF YOU WITH AN UPDATE TO THAT RESOLUTION, AND IT'S GETTING PASSED, BECAUSE IF IT DOESN'T, THEN YOU KNOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
AS I SAID, IF YOU LOOK ON OUR WEBSITE, WE'VE ACTUALLY CREATED A SPECIFIC SPOT FOR IT.
RIGHT NOW, THE RESOLUTION IS UP THERE.
I'LL BE BACK IN FRONT OF COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY WITH THE AMARILLO PRINCIPLES THAT WERE DRIVING BY POLICY UPDATES THAT WE'RE ROLLING OUT IN OUR AUDIT PROCESS, WHICH WE WILL ALSO MAKE PUBLIC.
EVERY YEAR, WE GET AUDITED FINANCIALLY.
I GET AUDITED ON CYBERSECURITY.
WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING FOR DIGITAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY.
WE'RE BUILDING AN AUDIT PROCESS WITH UNL'S TEAM SO THAT I'M NOT HOLDING MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE.
I'M BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY AUDIT THAT THEN GETS REPORTED TO COUNSEL.
WE'RE BUILDING IN THAT STRUCTURE IN THOSE PROCESSES TO ENSURE THAT WHEN RICH IS GONE, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO'S IN MY PLACE.
IT'S IMPORTANT, IT'S VISIBLE, AND IT GETS CONTINUED.
>> THANK YOU. WHEN YOU SAY, WE'RE THE ONLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WE'RE THE ONLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON THE GLOBE.
>> AS FAR AS I KNOW, WE'RE WAY AHEAD ON THIS.
THERE ARE GOVERNMENTS LOOKING AT IT, BUT I COULD ASK DELL, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE? NONE. [BACKGROUND] NOW, WE'RE LEADING IN SEVERAL AREAS, NOT JUST IN THE TECHNOLOGY, BUT ALSO IN HOW DO WE DO THAT IN A WAY THAT PROTECT US.
>> DO YOU MIND TELLING US WHO OUR GUESTS ARE HERE TODAY?
>> SURE. ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE PRYON.
THEY ARE THE KNOWLEDGE FABRIC IF YOU WILL.
THEN WE HAVE MICHAEL SHEPHARD, WHO IS AI AT DELL.
[LAUGHTER] WE'RE IN RARE AIR HAVING MICHAEL WITH US.
>> WELCOME. WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS ATTENDING THE MEETING.
>> THEN UNIQUE. OH, I DIDN'T THINK UNIQUE WAS EVEN HERE.
THAT'S RIGHT. UNIQUE IS HERE AS WELL.
THEY ACTUALLY DO EMMA HERSELF.
THE PERSON THAT YOU SEE, THAT IS ALL UNIQUE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. GAJON?
>> QUICK. ONCE WE GET THIS UP FULLY UP AND RUNNING, I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THIS HAS THE ABILITY TO HELP PEOPLE GET INFORMATION SOLVE PROBLEMS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO DIRECT PEOPLE TO THIS? IN OTHER WORDS, I MEAN, YOU HAVE A WEBSITE, BUT LAST I HEARD, I MEAN, LITTLE PEOPLE VERY RARELY JUST BOOKMARK SOMETHING, AND SAY, I'LL GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE TODAY.
HOW WILL WE HELP PEOPLE BECOME EDUCATED ON HOW THEY CAN BOOK THIS?
>> WE'RE DOING IT ON MANY FRONTS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS GOING ON.
THEY'RE FINDING A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING FROM AN APP TO USING EVEN WEB ON THEIR MOBILE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WEB INTERFACE YOU USE, AND SHE'S EMBEDDED INTO THE WEBSITE. THAT'S THE FIRST WAY.
BUT WE'RE ALSO DOING SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE, THROUGH OUR DIGITAL LITERACY EDUCATION, WE'RE DRIVING AWARENESS THERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO START TO SEE MORE.
NOW THAT EMMA IS ACTUALLY LAUNCHED, WE HAVE SOME OTHER INITIATIVES THAT WE'LL BRING TO COUNSEL, LIKE, SHE CAN ACTUALLY GIVE A REPORT ON COUNCIL SESSIONS, AND WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN COUNCIL, AND WHAT THE VOTES WERE.
THERE'S A LOT OF INITIATIVES LIKE THAT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO DRIVE AWARENESS ON HOW TO USE IT.
THEN THERE ARE SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF THE CITY WORKING WITH SOME OF THE PARTNERS LIKE THE PLACE.
AS THE LANGUAGES COME UP, WE'RE GOING TO DRIVE A LOT OF AWARENESS THROUGH OUTSIDE AGENCIES ON HOW TO NOW GET ACCESS TO CITY SERVICES WHILE YOU'RE LEARNING ENGLISH.
>> SOME PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW, WELL, ARE PEOPLE STILL GOING TO BE ANSWERING THE PHONES IF WE CALL CITY?
>> ABSOLUTELY. AS LONG AS I'M HERE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF TENANTS, AND THOSE WILL BE IN THE AMARILLO PRINCIPLES AS WELL.
A COUPLE OF THINGS TO NOTE, YOU SHOULD NEVER SPEAK TO AN AI AND NOT KNOW YOU'RE TALKING TO AN AI.
THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AT THE CITY.
YOU WILL ALWAYS KNOW IT'S AN AI.
IN FACT, WE DID TESTING EARLY WHERE WE USED AN ACTUAL PERSON INSTEAD OF A GENERATED CHARACTER AND USED AI TO MODIFY.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY TAKE VIDEO OF ME, AND GIVE ME EMMA'S VOICE,
[03:30:02]
AND MAKE ME SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO, AND RESIDENTS HATED IT.I DON'T LIKE IT, BECAUSE IT GOES INTO UNCANNY VALLEY, AND I DON'T KNOW AM I TALKING TO A COMPUTER OR A PERSON.
YOU'LL ALWAYS KNOW THAT, AND TOO, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE HUMAN BEINGS AVAILABLE.
IF YOU DIAL 378 3000, YOU GET A LIVE PERSON.
YOU DON'T GET A BUNCH OF CALL TREES.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE A HUMAN BEING AVAILABLE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME, I DO HAVE WHAT I SEE AS AN OPPORTUNITY.
RICH, WE RUN INTO THIS EVERY TIME.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO TECHNOLOGY, AI, SMART CITIES, SURVEILLANCE, 15-MINUTE CITIES.
ANYTHING THAT'S GLOBAL ECONOMIC FORUM OR WORLD ECONOMIC.
TELL US SPECIFICALLY, DO WE HAVE ANY RISKS WITH OUR DATA, AND ARE WE LIKE CLOSED CIRCUIT TV? MEANING, DO WE KEEP EVERYTHING TOGETHER? THEN IF YOU ALSO COULD SPEAK TO MAYBE HOW REGIONAL CRIME CENTER, AND/OR THE AMARILLO AREA REGIONAL CRIME CENTER AND THOSE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAMERAS.
MAN, I'M GOING TO SAY IT WRONG, DARK FIBER, DOES THAT STAY ON OUR OWN CLOSED? JUST TALK TO THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
>> SEVERAL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THAT.
WE HAVE ONE AGENDA, AND THAT IS THE DIGITAL DIGNITY RIGHTS AND PRIVACY AGENDA.
SMART CITY IS A COMMERCIAL THING TO BEGIN WITH.
THAT'S ABOUT SALES. WE HAVE ONE AGENDA, AND THAT'S ABOUT HOW WE DO TECHNOLOGY IN A HUMAN-FIRST WAY.
TWO, THAT'S THE REASON THAT WE PUT THAT SPACE ON THE WEBSITE, BECAUSE THOSE POLICIES THAT APPLY TO THOSE CAMERAS, THE CONTROLS THAT ARE IN PLACE, ALL THAT HAS TO BE PUBLISHED.
THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR BY AUDIT.
IS THEY'LL BE LOOKING AT EVERY PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE DEPARTMENTS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'VE DONE OUR JOB TO DOCUMENT WHO'S GOT ACCESS TO THAT, WHERE IS IT STORED, HOW LONG IS IT STORED FOR? THOSE ARE NOT QUESTIONS THAT I, AS A CITIZEN, WANT TO HAVE TO GUESS ABOUT.
WE NEED TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT IT.
THAT'S OUR EFFORT OVER THE NEXT YEAR, AND THEN WE'LL BE AUDITED AGAINST THAT.
BY AUDIT, SO THAT WE KNOW THAT THAT'S HAPPENING.
>> IF YOU TAKE THE CITY AS A WHOLE, SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO ROUND IT OFF, YOU'VE GOT 30 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, MOST OF THESE DEPARTMENTS WORK ON CITY CODE STANDARDS.
BUILDING SAFETY AS AN EXAMPLE, VERY DEEP IN NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE, INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BE DATA INPUT INTO THIS, AND WHERE IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE.
NOW YOU ARE ABLE TO GO AND MANEUVER THROUGH OUR SYSTEM TO FIND ANSWERS TO GENERAL QUESTIONS.
NOW, IF I WANTED TO SAY, HEY, I WANT TO KNOW RICH'S WATER BILL LAST MONTH, I CAN'T GET YOUR WATER BILL.
>> NO. THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THIS AS OUR FIRST AI PROJECT.
THIS WAS THE PERFECT PROJECT TO CHOOSE, BECAUSE EVERY BIT OF DATA THAT MY HOUSE HAS ACCESS TO IS ON OUR WEBSITE, BECAUSE IT IS OUR WEBSITE.
THERE'S NOTHING ON OUR WEBSITE THAT ISN'T PUBLIC DATA THAT WE AREN'T REQUIRED TO MAKE ACCESSIBLE.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO PRIVATE DATA.
THAT IS LIKE I SAID, IT'S ALL PUBLIC DATA.
IT'S ALL INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE ANYWAY.
NOW, WHEN WE START LOOKING AT INTERNAL SYSTEMS BECAUSE AI IS GETTING PLACED EVERYWHERE, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE IN AN EMMA SYSTEM.
THAT WOULD BE IN SOMETHING THAT'S ISOLATED IN INTERNAL.
>> A QUICK COMPARATIVE STATEMENT, JUST BECAUSE I'M MAKING THE MOST OF AN OPPORTUNITY.
CAN YOU APPLY THAT TO THIS? HOW MUCH DO I HAVE IN MY OWN DIGITAL PRIVACY AND KEEPING MY OWN, AND KNOWING THAT WHEN I'M ON THE PHONE, WHAT I'M DOING, WHERE I'M GOING, MY GPS, ALL THAT.
IS YOUR SYSTEM ANY WAY COMPARABLE TO THIS, AND IN THE WAY OF MY PRIVACY RIGHTS?
>> IF I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THIS DEVICE, SHOULD I BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH YOUR AI MODEL?
>> NO, BECAUSE THE FOLKS THAT MAKE THESE AND THE APPS THAT ARE ON THEM ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU.
WE AREN'T GOING TO PUBLISH WHAT THEIR PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES ARE, AND AREN'T BEING AUDITED BY A PUBLICLY FUNDED AUDITOR TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE DOING OUR JOB RIGHT.
>> I'M NOT MAKING LIGHT OF THAT.
I'M JUST SAYING WE TAKE CERTAIN RISK WITH OUR DATA JUST TO DO BUSINESS AND TO COMMUNICATE.
THE RISKS THAT WE ARE TAKING WITH THIS DATA HAVE BEEN MINIMIZED BY THE WAY IN WHICH WE'RE SETTING IT UP, AND IT'S NOT YOUR PERSONAL DATA.
I'M JUST TRYING TO ALLEVIATE THE CONCERNS.
>> NOW THEY'RE REASONABLE CONCERNS.
PART OF THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU PASSED,
[03:35:01]
WE'VE TAKEN VERY SERIOUSLY.WE'RE STARTING TO BUILD EDUCATION AROUND THAT FOR OUR OWN RESIDENTS, BECAUSE THERE ARE RISKS, AND A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS AREN'T AWARE OF THE RISKS THAT THEY TAKE WITH THEIR DATA.
WE JUST RAN OUR FIRST COURSE AT THE AXE COMMUNITY CENTER WITH OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
AS THEY GO THROUGH THE COURSE, IN EACH SECTION, THEY'RE FILLING OUT, WHEN YOU USE THESE PLATFORMS, THIS SOCIAL MEDIA, HERE'S THE DATA THAT THEY COLLECT ON YOU, AND HERE ARE THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN MITIGATE, HOW YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR EXPOSURE.
I THINK WE'RE TRYING TO GO A STEP BEYOND NOT JUST PROTECTING THE DATA WE HAVE ACCESS TO.
THE TRUTH IS OUR NUMBER 1 TENANT, AND YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE PRINCIPLES WHEN WE PUBLISH WAS, I DON'T WANT YOUR DATA.
I DON'T WANT IT ON MY SYSTEMS. IF I DON'T ABSOLUTELY HAVE A VERY GOOD REASON FOR HAVING IT, I DON'T WANT IT.
BECAUSE THEN I REDUCED MY EXPOSURE WHEN IT COMES TO CYBERSECURITY.
BUT WE WANT TO TAKE THAT OUTSIDE THE WALLS, AND WE'RE STARTING TO DRIVE EDUCATION TO OUR OWN RESIDENTS ON THE RISKS THAT COME ALONG WITH AI.
I'LL GIVE YOU A SIMPLE EXAMPLE, THE MILITARY TESTED A VERSION OF EMMA FOR PTSD PATIENTS.
THERE'S A COMPANY IN AUSTRALIA THAT'S USING IT TO DO SURVEYS LIKE WE WANT TO DO WITH INFORMATION ON PROGRAMS. WHAT THEY'RE FINDING IS, PEOPLE WILL TALK TO THAT AI, AND THEY WILL SAY THINGS TO IT THAT THEY WOULDN'T SAY TO ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.
THE SOLDIERS CAN OPEN UP BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT BEING JUDGED.
THAT'S DANGEROUS BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD WHERE WE LIVE IN THE ATTENTION ECONOMY.
IT'S WHATEVER I CAN DO TO KEEP YOU PLUGGED INTO ME AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
WELL, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT TRANSITIONS TO THE INTIMACY ECONOMY? WHAT BETTER PROFILE OF YOU CAN I BUILD WHEN YOU'LL JUST SPILL YOUR SOUL TO ME BECAUSE I'M TALKING TO YOU THROUGH AI? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR THAT BECAUSE AI IS COMING, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE AN EDUCATED POPULATION THAT KNOWS HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT FALLING INTO THE ILLS THAT COME WITH IT.
>> IN REALITY, MY OPINION STRICTLY IS PEOPLE ARE WORRIED ABOUT YOU AS BEING A BIG BROTHER.
BUT IN REALITY, WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ALL THESE RING CAMERAS.
THEY INVADE YOUR PRIVACY MORE THAN ANYTHING YOU'LL EVER DO.
I MEAN TO BE PERFECTLY TRUTHFUL, EVERYBODY THAT HAS ONE OF THESE AND THAT RING CAMERA, YOU'RE BEING PUT OUT THERE WHERE EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOU.
WE DON'T NEED TO DO THINGS IN PUBLIC THAT YOU DON'T DO BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
I AM GOING TO TRY NOT TO ENGAGE WITH OUR PUBLIC IN A DISCUSSION.
DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S SUPER QUICK? MS. CASSIE, WE TYPICALLY DON'T ALLOW CITIZENS TO RISE AND SPEAK SINCE WE GAVE YOU PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ONE ITEM.
IF YOU'LL ASK YOU ONE QUESTION, WE'LL LET RICH HANDLE IT JUST BECAUSE THIS IS BRAND NEW, AND I AM WILLING TO TAKE A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LAUNCH IT RIGHT.
>> THANK YOU. PASSY GREEN, AND I'M A AMARILLO RESIDENT.
I BELIEVE I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME THE DIGITAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY RESOLUTION.
I HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH IT.
CONSIDER ME AN OLD SOUL, LIKE I'M A RELATIVELY YOUNG PERSON, BUT I'M AN 80-YEAR-OLD WITHIN MY HEART.
ANYWAY, MY ISSUE WITH THIS IS IT'S JUST A RESOLUTION.
I WOULD LIKE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD FOR AN ORDINANCE TO BE ON THE CHARTER CONCERN.
LIKE EVEN THIS, BUT THIS TO BE AN ORDINANCE ON THE CHARTER. I FEEL SAFE.
>> IN THE ISSUE OF AN ORDINANCE CARRYING MORE POWER THAN A RESOLUTION, MR. CITY MANAGER, DO WE HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH IF COUNSEL WAS GOING TO DO THAT? I DIRECT BACK TO YOU, RICH.
THAT GOES A LITTLE FURTHER [OVERLAPPING].
>> ACTUALLY THAT'S IDEAL BECAUSE THIS WAS JUST A STARTING POINT FOR US, AND IT GAVE US DIRECTION, A COMMITMENT FROM COUNSEL TO SAY, YEAH, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.
IN FACT, I HAVE TWO DAYS DEDICATED NEXT WEEK WITH DIGITAL RIGHTS HOUSE TO DIG IN, GET THE PRINCIPLES ESTABLISHED.
WE CAN COME BACK WITH AN ORDINANCE THAT MAKES THIS LITTLE PROCESS.
>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING ELSE? I'VE HEARD NOTHING BUT GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU.
YOU'RE LIKE A GENIUS, AND YOU'RE SO NICE.
WE LIMITED YOU TO ONE PUBLIC STATEMENT [LAUGHTER].
RICH, YOU WILL DISREGARD EVERYTHING [LAUGHTER].
>> WE PARTICIPATE IN THE ORDINANCE?
[03:40:02]
>> YEAH. WHEN I COME BACK, WE ARE ACTUALLY STARTING TO BUILD PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON IT.
I'LL ACTUALLY REACH OUT TO YOU DIRECTLY AND GET INVOLVED.
>> APPRECIATE THAT. RICH, GREAT JOB.
>> NO PROBLEM. THANKS RICH. THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE FOR MR. GAGNON.
>> LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 9B.
>> I MOVE TO AWARD AN AGREEMENT FOR DIGITAL HUMAN SOFTWARE TO DELL, AND THE AMOUNT OF $553,052.
>> SECOND. MOTION IN A SECOND.
>> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ITEM 9C.
[9.C. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8172]
THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS FOR ATTENDING.WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS WEATHERING A LONG MEETING WITH US.
MISS COGGINS, ARE YOU RUNNING THIS ONE? ITEM 9C? THIS IS OUR VARIANCE. ALCOHOL VARIANCE.
>> I'M NOT SORRY, STEPHANIE COGGIN, CITY SECRETARY.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD PROVIDE A VARIANCE TO DISTANCE REGULATIONS WHICH PROHIBIT THE SALE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITHIN 300 FEET OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL.
THIS FIRST ONE, ORDINANCE 8172 IS FOR SEA MARKET.
SEA MARKET IS LOCATED NEAR 34TH IN GEORGIA.
THE APPLICANT IS OPERATING A GROCERY STORE WITH A PRIMARY BUSINESS MODEL OF OFF PREMISE CONSUMPTION THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.
IN HOPES OF ADDING OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BUY ASIAN PRODUCTS, THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING THE SALE OF ASIAN BEER AND WINE.
THE APPLICANT APPLIED FOR THEIR ALCOHOL BUSINESS LICENSE AND ULTIMATELY, THEY WERE DENIED ON OCTOBER 15TH OF THIS YEAR.
DENIAL ON THE ALCOHOL BUSINESS LICENSE WAS BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE PROPOSED SITE DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM SEPARATION DISTANCE OF 300 FEET FROM CORONADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH IS AN AISD SCHOOL THAT'S LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 17.5 FEET AS MEASURED.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE DISTANCE FROM SCHOOLS PER THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CODE IS MEASURED AS THE CROW FLIES METHOD, WHICH IS A DIRECT LINE FROM PROPERTY LINE TO PROPERTY LINE.
THE SURROUNDING AREA CURRENTLY HAS TWO ALCOHOL BUSINESS LICENSE WITHIN THIS 300 FOOT SETBACK TO THE SCHOOL.
THOSE ARE 34TH STREET DISCOUNT, WHICH IS LOCATED AT 2514 SOUTHWEST 34TH, THAT WAS ISSUED IN DECEMBER OF 2004.
TOOT'N TOTUM AT 34TH IN GEORGIA, 3320 SOUTH GEORGIA.
THAT WAS GRANTED BY A VARIANCE IN 2017.
EACH OF THESE LOCATIONS ARE CONSIDERED GRANDFATHERED, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES BOTH ON PREMISE AND OFF PREMISE.
IF YOU WERE TO GRANT A VARIANCE TO THE APPLICANT IN THIS CASE, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FROM OFF PREMISE TO ON PREMISE.
THIS LOCATION IS OPERATING IN AN AREA ZONED GENERAL RETAIL, WHICH ALLOWS FOR USE OF A GROCERY STORE WITH OFF PREMISE ALCOHOL SALES.
THIS ALSO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, ALLOWS FOR ON PREMISE SALES WITH A RESTAURANT.
IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY ON PREMISE SALES OF 50% OR MORE, WHICH WOULD BE A BAR.
THEN ON THIS PARTICULAR LOCATION, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE.
WELL, I'M SKIPPING AHEAD. I'M SORRY.
WE DID REACH OUT TO AISD TO NOTIFY THEM OF THIS VARIANCE REQUEST, AND THEY RESPONDED TO US IN AN E-MAIL, WHICH IS IN YOUR PACKET THAT THEY ARE IN SUPPORT OF ISSUANCE OF THIS VARIANCE.
I'M GOING TO SKIP FORWARD TO THE MAP REAL QUICK.
WHAT YOU'LL NOTICE, CORONADO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS HIGHLIGHTED THERE.
THEN THE RED SQUARE IS THE PROPERTY THAT IS WISHING TO APPLY FOR THIS THAT WE DENIED.
THE STAR ON YOUR MAP THERE SHOWS WHERE THEY ARE LOCATED.
THIS IS ALL OWNED BY ONE PROPERTY OWNER, AND LICENSES ARE ISSUED BY PROPERTY OWNER.
IF YOU WERE TO GRANT A VARIANCE FOR THIS, THEN EVERYTHING ELSE WITHIN THAT PROPERTY BOUNDARY WOULD ALSO BE WET FOR ALCOHOL SALES.
CITY COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER A VARIANCE IF YOU FIND THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS SETBACK IS ANY OF THE FOLLOWING.
IT IS NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC, CONSTITUTES WASTE OR INEFFICIENT USE OF LAND OR OTHER RESOURCES, WILL CREATE AN UNDUE HARDSHIP ON THE APPLICANT, WILL NOT SERVE ITS INTENDED PURPOSE, WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE OR NECESSARY, AND/OR WILL NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO CHECK, IS THE OWNER OF SEA MARKET HERE TODAY? I DON'T BELIEVE THEY MADE IT.
THEY DID PROVIDE SOME REASONING FOR THEIR REQUEST, AND THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET AS WELL.
ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER ON THIS PROCESS?
[03:45:02]
>> NO, MA'AM. COUNSEL, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE?
>> HOW MANY OF THESE EXEMPTIONS ARE THERE IN THE CITY?
I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THAT LIST, AND MAYBE AROUND 10:00 OR SO.
I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR ANTHONY BECAUSE HE'S HERE.
CITY SECRETARY TOOK OVER THIS PROGRAM ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
THERE ARE ABOUT TEN VARIANCES.
THERE ARE ABOUT FOUR ADDITIONAL ONES THAT I BELIEVE WERE DENIED ON THAT LIST.
HISTORICALLY, WHEN WE'VE HAD VARIANCES, WE REACH OUT TO THE SCHOOLS AND IF THE SCHOOL OPPOSES IT, HISTORICALLY, THAT HAS NOT BEEN GRANTED.
NOW, IN THIS CASE, AISD IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS ONE.
I WILL TELL YOU THIS SITE'S A LITTLE SPECIAL.
THERE'S A PREVIOUS REQUEST FOR PIZZA NOMAD, IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, IT'S ON THE WESTERN END OF THAT STRIP MALL.
BACK IN 2020, THAT VARIANCE WAS DENIED.
THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE FOR MIXED BEVERAGE IN THAT SAME LOCATION, AND THAT WAS DENIED BACK IN 2003.
>> THERE WAS A TOOT'N TOTUM ON THAT CORNER UNTIL ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WHICH I DID SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES.
THAT'S PROBABLY ONLY 75 FEET FROM THERE TO THE TOOT'N TOTUM.
I WOULD SAY WE NEED TO PASS IT.
>> IF WE ALLOW THIS VARIANCE, SO PIZZA NOMAD WOULD ALSO GET IT BECAUSE THEY'RE IN THAT CENTER, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> YES. I'M GOING TO LOOK AT BRIAN TO CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
THEY WOULD NEED TO REAPPLY, BUT IF THEY WERE TO APPLY AFTER THIS PASSES, THEN IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED WHAT AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO APPROVE THAT.
>> OKAY. I GUESS THAT WAS PRIOR TO US, BUT I GUESS DID AISD NOT WANT THAT ONE?
>> BUT THEY'RE OKAY WITH THIS ONE. INTERESTING.
>> TO CLARIFY NOT A MIXED BEVERAGE USE?
>> NO, IT WAS SELLING BEER AND WINE.
>> THIS ONE HERE AS WELL? BEER AND WINE?
PIZZA NOMAD APPLIED TO BE ABLE TO SELL BEER AND WINE FOR ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION.
SEA MARKET IS A GROCERY STORE AND THEY ARE SELLING FOR OFF PREMISE.
>> THEY OPPOSED ON PREMISE LICENSE, CORRECT?
>> BUT THEY'RE NOT OPPOSING BUY AND TAKE SOMEWHERE ELSE?
>> IN THIS CASE, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD BE IN EVERY CASE BIG?
>> IN THIS CASE, THEY ARE APPROVING OR THEY ARE SUPPORTING AND OFF PREMISE TO BUY IT AND TAKE IT ELSEWHERE.
>> FOR CLARIFICATION, ONCE YOU ISSUE THE VARIANCE, IT'S ALL ELIGIBLE. I UNDERSTAND, CORRECT?
>> NOT JUST OFF PREMISES, BUT OTHERS AS WELL.
>> AISD DOES UNDERSTAND THAT IN THEIR E-MAIL?
>> THEN TELL ME THE MIXED BEVERAGE WOULD ALLOW FOR THAT AS WELL?
>> IF IT'S WITH A RESTAURANT, YES, SIR.
>> ONCE ONCE A LICENSE IS ISSUED AND IT'S GRANDFATHERED INTO THAT PROPERTY, THEN IT COMES DOWN TO ZONING AND TO WET DRY STATUS AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME, GENERAL RETAIL WOULD ALLOW A RESTAURANT WITH MIXED BEVERAGE IN THAT LOCATION.
IT WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR A BAR IF THEY HAVE. ALCOHOL SELLS GROW.
>> WHAT'S THE PERCENTAGE AGAIN ON THAT AS FAR AS A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT?
>> FIFTY PERCENT. YOU DO STILL HAVE THAT RESTRICTION EVEN IF YOU PASS THIS?
>> YOU'RE STILL RESTRICTED FROM A BAR, BUT YOU'RE NOT RESTRICTING ANY KIND OF RESTAURANT?
>> BAR ESTABLISHMENT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION. THANK YOU, MISS COGGINS.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE [OVERLAPPING].
WHATEVER NUMBER IT IS, WHAT NUMBER IS IT?
>> TO ADD, YOU'VE GOT TO SELECT AT LEAST ONE OF THESE ITEMS, OR ANY OF THESE ITEMS, AND WE HAVE TO NOTE THAT IN YOUR ORDINANCE.
THE REASON THAT YOU'RE SELECTING IT.
>> I'LL PUT THAT IN THE ORDER IN EACH ONE OF THOSE.
>> YOU CAN PICK IF THERE'S ONE YOU BELIEVE OR IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE, BUT WE NEED YOU TO MAKE A MOTION WITH WHICH OF THESE ITEMS THAT YOU FIND ALLOWS FOR THE VARIANCE.
>> YOU ALL MAKE A MOTION [LAUGHTER].
THAT WE ACCEPT 8172, IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC.
HOW MANY DO I NEED TO GIVE YOU ALL 11?
>> I'LL SECOND. CAN I HAVE A MOTION IN A SECOND?
>> HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH ONE OF THESE BEFORE?
>> WE DID. WE VOTED AGAINST ONE IN COUNCIL PLACE 1.
>> WE VOTED AGAINST. NO, I'M SORRY.
WHAT I WENT THROUGH, WE VOTED FOR, BUT IT WAS PACKAGE SALES ONLY.
I HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS ONE OTHER TIME.
[03:50:03]
IT WAS THE ONE THAT WAS CLOSE TO AMTECH.>> IT WAS YEAH. WE VOTED THAT THROUGH.
YOU PLACE AN ORDER AND YOU COULD PICK UP, BUT THEN THEY DELIVERED.
THEY WERE MORE OR LESS JUST SMALL WAREHOUSING.
THIS ONE WOULD ACTUALLY BE POTENTIAL CONSUMPTION.
>> THEY DIDN'T ALLOW THEIR CUSTOMERS ON-SITE.
IT WAS THEY HAD DELIVERY PEOPLE THAT TOOK IT FROM THEIR SITE.
>> BUT IT SEEMS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON-SITE CONSUMPTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY GAVE A REASON, BUT IT SEEMS IF THEY'RE IN FAVOR OF THIS BUT OPPOSE OTHERS.
>> ACTUALLY, IF YOU GO FROM THE SCHOOL AROUND, IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT MORE THAN 200 FEET TO GET TO THAT DOOR.
>> WELL, AND ANTHONY JUST BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.
>> IF WE HAVE A MOTION, WE DON'T HAVE A SECOND.
NO, I'M SORRY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
WE MAY HAVE A LITTLE MORE CLARIFICATION.
>> ANTHONY SPINEL, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIRECTOR JUST MENTIONED, AISD MAY HAVE CHANGED THEIR APPROACH ON THESE SINCE WE HAD THAT VARIANCE IN 2020 THAT WAS DENIED.
>> THEN THERE'S NO NOTIFICATION OF THE PUBLIC, LIKE A PLANNING AND ZONING.
>> NO, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
THESE DO NOT REQUIRE PUBLIC NOTICE.
THEY DON'T REQUIRE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> TO RECAP, WE DO HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES WITH A 50 VOTE.
[9.D. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8173]
ITEM 9D IS MISS COGGINS AGAIN.>> CAFE MOONWATER HAS ISSUED A REQUEST FOR VARIANCE, THEIR ORDINANCE 8173, AND WE DO HAVE MERCY ABRAMSON HERE TODAY, SO WE'LL GIVE MISS ABRAMSON SOME TIME TO VISIT WITH YOU AFTER WE GO THROUGH THE DETAILS ON THIS.
THE APPLICANT IS OPERATING A BOUTIQUE CAFE WITH A PRIMARY BUSINESS MODEL OF ADDING ON PREMISE CONSUMPTION.
THEY'RE PROPOSING THE SALE OF BEER AND WINE.
THEY APPLIED FOR AND THEY WERE ULTIMATELY DENIED AN ALCOHOL BUSINESS LICENSE ON OCTOBER 28TH, 2024.
THE ULTIMATE REASON THEY WERE DENIED WAS THAT THE SITE DOES NOT MEET THE MINIMUM SEPARATION DISTANCE OF 300 FEET THAT A BUSINESS SELLING ALCOHOL BEVERAGES NEEDS TO MAINTAIN FROM A PRIVATE SCHOOL.
SAN JACINTO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY AT 501 SOUTH CAROLINA IS APPROXIMATELY 59.5 FEET AWAY FROM THIS BUSINESS.
AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, THIS IS MEASURED ON AN AS THE CROW FLIES BASIS FROM PROPERTY LINE TO PROPERTY LINE.
THE CAFE IS OPERATING IN AN AREA ZONED LIKE COMMERCIAL, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE USE OF A RESTAURANT WITH ON PREMISE ALCOHOL SALES.
THE SURROUNDING AREA CURRENTLY HAS ONE ALCOHOL BUSINESS LICENSE WITHIN THE 300 FOOT SETBACK.
AGAIN, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS LOCATION IS GRANDFATHERED, AND THAT'S THE OLD TESCO SUBARIAN COMPANY.
THEY ARE GRANDFATHERED IN FOR ANY FUTURE REQUESTS, AND IF YOU CHOOSE TO ISSUE A VARIANCE ON THIS ONCE ISSUED, AN ALCOHOL BUSINESS LICENSE, THEN THIS LOCATION WOULD BE ABLE TO SWITCH BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ON AND OFF PREMISE PERMITS.
ON THE MAP ON THIS ONE, YOU CAN SEE SAN JACINTO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY IS HIGHLIGHTED.
THEN THE PROPERTY JUST SOUTH OF IT THERE WITH THE RED BOX AROUND IT, AND THE STAR IS THE APPLICANT LOCATION.
CITY COUNCIL MAY CONSIDER A VARIANCE.
IF YOU FIND ANY OF THE SIX ITEMS ON THE SCREEN.
IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO READ THOSE AGAIN, I WILL, BUT THEY'RE LISTED THERE FOR YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, WE DID TRY TO REACH OUT TO SAN JACINTO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, TRIED TO REACH OUT TO THEM IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS AND NEVER DID HEAR BACK FROM THEM.
I DON'T HAVE A POSITION FROM THE SCHOOL ON THAT.
AT THIS TIME, I WOULD INVITE MERCY UP TO TALK ABOUT HER VARIANCE REQUEST.
I DO HAVE A CARD FROM THE SAN JACINTO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY.
I TALKED TO JOSH MOODY, AND HE SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T SIGN A LETTER, BUT IF YOU WANTED TO CALL HIM, HE COULD TELL YOU THAT THEY WERE OKAY WITH SELLING BEER AND WINE.
WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR SIX YEARS AND WE'VE COMMUNICATED REALLY WELL WITH THEM.
IT WOULD JUST BE FOR LUNCH, WE WERE NOT A BAR.
>> THIS ONE WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER ONE SO WE WOULD ONLY BE APPROVING JUST THIS ONE ESTABLISHMENT,
[03:55:02]
SO IT WOULDN'T BLANKET THE STRIP CENTER OR ANYTHING ELSE AROUND IT.>> THERE IS ONE OTHER PROPERTY THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE RED MAP THAT IS ACTUALLY OWNED BY THE SAME PROPERTY OWNER.
THOSE ARE CONNECTED IT WOULD INCLUDE BOTH PREMISES.
>> ON-PREMISE, NO MIXED BEVERAGE, JUST BEER AND WINE? HOW MANY FEET TO THE BAR DOWN THE STREET? DID ANYBODY LOOK? 750 FEET OR SOMETHING? DO WE KNOW HOW FAR TO THE HANDLEBAR?
>> I DIDN'T STEP IT OFF. I'M GUESSING.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MRS. COGGINS?
>> I WANT TO ADD JUST A CLARIFICATION IF I CAN.
SINCE THEY ARE IN LIGHT COMMERCIAL, LIGHT COMMERCIAL DOES ALLOW FOR BARS AS WELL, AND SO IF APPROVED, THEN THAT COULD POTENTIALLY CHANGE TO A BAR OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF ALCOHOL LICENSE.
IS THERE A PETITION PROCESS TO SAY THIS WAS APPROVED AND YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, SOMEONE GOES IN AND PUTS IN A BAR? IS THERE A PETITION PROCESS OR ANYTHING IN THE STATE OR AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TO REMOVE THAT?
>> THERE POTENTIALLY MIGHT BE AT THE STATE LEVEL BY CHANGING THE WHITE DRY STATUS.
>> ONCE THE VARIANCE HAS BEEN PASSED, IT'S IN STONE.
BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY POWER THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE OR GOVERNING AUTHORITY, WHETHER THAT BE A COUNTY OR CITY HAS ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE OF THE TBC CODE.
>> TO BE SPECIFIC TO THE MARCY THOUGH IN MOONWATER, THIS WOULD BECOME THE FIRST BAR TO ONLY SELL BEER AND WINE.
>> RIGHT, SO IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY CONSTITUTE THIS REQUEST.
I MEAN, IT'S A LEADING REQUEST.
YOU'D STILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL VARIANCE TO BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL BAR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YES, SIR.
>> I THINK IF IT'S ISSUED, IN THE FUTURE, IT COULD BE WHATEVER ELSE THEY WANT IT TO BE.
JUST SO YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE [OVERLAPPING]
>> YES, SIR. THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING.
SHE'S REQUESTING BEER AND WINE SALES ONLY, NOT MIXED BEVERAGES.
>> THEN THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SHE'S REQUESTING, WHICH IS TOTALLY OKAY.
>> OKAY. NOT WHAT I UNDERSTOOD.
CONCERNS, COUNSEL? WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 90.
>> MAYOR, ACTUALLY I DON'T WANT TO DELAY THIS ANYMORE.
I WOULDN'T MIND TAKING HIS CARD.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TALK WITH HIM, JOSH ON THAT.
WOULD DELAYING THIS A MONTH, WOULD THAT CAUSE YOU PROBLEMS?
>> OKAY. I'D JUST LIKE TO TALK WITH HIM, AND MAYBE WE COULD BRING THAT BACK ON THE NEXT AGENDA, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S ON THE SAME PAGE WITH THAT.
>> YES, SO WOULD YOU WANT TO TABLE IT?
>> YES, SO IF YOU'LL JUST MOVE TO TABLE IT, I THINK THAT WAY IT'LL COME BACK UP ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
>> OKAY. I'D MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE 90 UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND TO TABLE, ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION IS TABLED UNTIL THE NEXT SESSION, AND THEN IF WE CAN GET THAT CARD, DOES ANY OF THE OTHER COUNSEL WANT TO REACH OUT TO MR. MOODY TO VISIT WITH HIM?
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY LESS, YOU'LL BRING THAT TO US NEXT COUNSEL.
>> THE OTHER ONE WAS AUSTIN'S PUB.
I THOUGHT IT WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT IN.
>> IT'S IT'S ACROSS, WELL IT'S ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE STREET, ISN'T IT?
>> BUT I MEAN, WITH THE CAFETERIA GOING FURTHER EAST, IT'S WITHIN PROBABLY WHAT, 75 FEET.
THEY'RE JUST NOT CURRENTLY DOING BUSINESS, BUT I THINK IT'S STILL A BAR.
WE MAY HAVE THE PRECEDENT OF WHAT'S ALREADY THERE.
>> MIGHT BE INTERESTING FOR YOU TO BRING THAT BACK, MISS MARCY, OR WORK WITH STAFF, SO WE HAVE A BETTER COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT ELSE IS AROUND YOU.
[9.E. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8174]
ITEM 9.E.MISS COGGINS, ARE YOU UP ON THIS ONE? THIS IS THE CITY CHARTER, THE ELECTION FOR PROP.
[04:00:03]
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE THAT WILL AMEND OUR CHARTER BASED ON THE ELECTION THAT WE HELD ON NOVEMBER 5.THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, THE APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE.
THIS WILL LEAD US TO PROVIDE AUTHORITY TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO SHARE THAT AMENDED CHARTER WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND ENACT PUBLISH WHAT WE NEED TO PUBLISH IN THE NEWSPAPER, AND THEN ENACT THAT NEW CHARTER.
>> VERY GOOD. I THINK WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH PROMPT E, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE VOTE ON IT AFTER WE VOTED ON IT AS A COMMUNITY, BUT WE ARE GOING TO VOTE ON IT.
WE WON'T ASK THE QUESTION OF WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU VOTE NO.
>> I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8174 AS PRESENTED.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU, MA'AM.
[9.F. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8175]
>> MR. RIDDLESBERGER, IF I COULD GET YOU TO HELP ME WITH THIS ONE AND COME UP HERE, THIS IS SOME MONEY THAT MAY BE APPROVED BY COUNSEL TO HELP A STOPGAP.
YOU COULD GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE MEETING WE WERE IN TOGETHER, HOW THIS CAME TO YOU, AND WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.
>> I'M HOPING I HAVE A POWERPOINT, THERE WE GO.
YES, WE HAD A MEETING WITH SOME VERY CONSERVED FOLKS.
IN FACT, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS COMING TO US RECENTLY, CONCERNED ABOUT THE GAP THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WITH THE OPENING OF TRANSFORMATION PARK THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE COMING UNTIL THE SPRING.
THE CONCERN IS THAT WE'VE GOT OBVIOUSLY COLD WEATHER THAT'S COMING UP AND A LOT OF UNSHELTERED FOLKS THAT ARE LIVING OUT ON THE STREETS.
THEIR CONCERN IS THAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO BE RISING AND THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PLACES TO GO TO STAY SAFE.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE LACKING AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT WERE BROUGHT IS THAT A LOT OF THE ENFORCEMENT IS NOW TAKING AWAY SOME OF THEIR SUPPLIES SUCH AS TENTS, BLANKETS, THAT THING, SO THEY'RE LOSING THOSE THINGS.
THEN NOW THEY'RE LEFT WITHOUT THOSE AS THEY'RE STILL ON THE STREETS.
RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CASE MANAGEMENT OR OUTREACH THAT'S TAKING PLACE ON THE STREETS DURING THE NIGHTTIME, SO ALL OF OUR HOMELESS OUTREACH IS DURING THE DAY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THE NIGHT WHEN THE TEMPERATURES LIKE TONIGHT JUST REALLY PLUMMET WHENEVER THE SUN GOES DOWN.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TOOK A GOOD HARD LOOK AT.
THEN WE'VE GOT SOME OF OUR NONPROFIT HOMELESS AGENCIES THAT NEED TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE SOME ASSISTANCE PRETTY QUICKLY, AND I THINK THIS PLAN THAT I'VE PUT FORTH, I THINK THAT THAT'LL BE ABLE TO HELP US DO THAT.
HERE WHAT I'M REQUESTING IS A $100,000 BUDGET TO FUND TWO COMING-HOME OUTREACH STAFF, AND WE'RE GOING TO PAY THEM OVERTIME.
THE REASON I WANT TO DO THAT IS BECAUSE THESE OUTREACH WORKERS, THEY'RE PROFESSIONALS.
THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME AND THEY'RE VERY GOOD AT IT.
THEY HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FOLKS IN THE FIELD.
IF I WERE TO TRY AND HIRE NEW PEOPLE, IT WOULD BE RECREATING THE WHEEL AND IT WOULD JUST NOT BE VERY SUCCESSFUL.
WE WANT THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS WINTER AS REALLY KEY BECAUSE THE TRANSFORMATION PARK WILL BE COMING AT THE END OF THIS.
THEN THE SECOND PART IS THAT I'M REQUESTING FUNDING FOR THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THIS.
AGAIN, CURRENT STAFF VERSUS NEW HIRES, THE COMING HOME STAFF IS VERY WELL TRAINED, AND TRUSTED.
THEY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE FOLKS.
THEY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR SHELTERS WITH OUR WARMING STATION, THEY HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE AND ALL THE AGENCIES THAT WE KNOW, SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO GET THEM DIRECTLY INTO THOSE DIFFERENT PLACES.
WE CAN MONITOR THE ENCAMPMENTS AND THE ABANDONED STRUCTURES.
THE PLAN IS THAT THEY'LL BE OUT THERE ON THE STREETS, GOING TO THESE PLACES, BUT THEY'LL ALSO BE GOING TO THE SHELTERS AND MAKING GOOD HANDOFFS WITH THOSE FOLKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THEM INTO THE SHELTERS.
THAT'S THE KEY WITH THIS IS THAT I DON'T WANT TO REINVENT SHELTERS AND CODE BLUE AND ALL THAT.
I WANT TO HAVE OUR STAFF BE ABLE TO GET OUT THERE AND WORK WITH THEM, WORK INDIVIDUALLY WITH THEM, AND COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THEM.
IF IT'S FREEZING COLD, LET'S GET YOU INTO A SHELTER.
LET'S FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO GET OVER HERE.
THE SHELTERS, FAITH CITY, AND SALVATION ARMY HAVE ALREADY TOLD US THAT THEY DROP THEIR BARRIERS DURING THE WINTER, SO THEY'RE GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO COME IN, SO WE NEED TO GET THEM IN THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR STAFF THERE THAT'S GOING TO BE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT THAT TRANSACTION LOOKS LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS RIGHT AND WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING IS RIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GREASE THOSE WHEELS. LET'S SEE HERE.
AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING TIME AT THOSE SHELTERS,
[04:05:02]
SO WE'RE GOING TO ALSO BE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR VOLUNTEERS OR THEIR STAFF WITH MORE OF OUR STAFF, THEY CAN PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, THEY CAN PROVIDE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE INSIDE THOSE FACILITIES.WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY SUPPLEMENT THEIR STAFFING AND THEIR OPERATIONS WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT.
TALKING WITH OUR CODE BLUE FOLKS, THERE WAS AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 50 ACTIVATIONS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, SO THEY'RE EXPECTING THE SAME THIS YEAR.
I'M GOING TO HAVE THE OUTREACH WORKERS WORKING BEYOND THEIR CURRENT SHIFT SO IT'D BE 5:00 P.M. TO 3:00 A.M.
THEY'LL BE TWO EMPLOYEES BECAUSE WE WANT IT TO BE SAFE.
THAT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT A $50,000 INVESTMENT TO GET THEM THAT FOR THOSE 50 ACTIVATIONS.
THEN OF COURSE, THE OPERATIONS BUDGET, SOME OF THE SUPPLIES AND THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED IS THOSE FLASHLIGHTS, A LOT OF THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT THAT WE TYPICALLY CARRY.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF THAT.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DO A LOT OF THINGS INVOLVING TRANSPORTATION, SOME RAPID REHOUSING, AND HOMELESS NONPROFIT OPERATIONS.
I'M SORRY, THINGS THAT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO DO SOME OF THE OPERATIONS THERE.
THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IS I WANT TO HAVE AN EXPEDITED ABILITY FOR ME OR MY DEPUTY DIRECTOR TO MAKE DECISIONS.
HEY, THIS IS AN EXPENSE THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING RIGHT AWAY.
WE DON'T WANT TO SIT AND WAIT AND GO THROUGH A LOT OF PROCESSES.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT RIGHT AWAY.
THE TOTAL IS ESTIMATED TO BE 50,000 FOR STAFFING AND 50,000 FOR OPERATIONS, BUT I'M MAKING A SPECIFIC REQUEST TO ALLOW THAT TO BE FLEXIBLE SO THAT IF I MAYBE TO HAVE THREE STAFF MEMBERS OUT THERE, FOUR, THAT I'VE GOT THE FLEXIBILITY TO PUT MORE TOWARDS STAFFING OR MAYBE WE NEED SOME MORE SUPPLIES JUST SO THAT THAT WHOLE BUDGET WOULD BE FLEXIBLE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AT THE END OF THIS, THIS IS ONE THING WE WANT TO DO HERE IS WE WANT TO EVALUATE WHAT WE'RE DOING TO SEE WHAT OUTCOMES WE COME UP WITH.
ARE WE MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH THESE STAFF MEMBERS? ARE WE SEEING A DECREASE IN OUR UNSHELTERED? ARE WE GETTING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE SHELTERS? WE WANT TO TAKE ALL OF THESE THINGS AND PUT THEM TOGETHER.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE USING THOSE PLACES, THE FEEDBACK FROM OUR STAFF, WHAT ARE THEY TELLING US? HOW WAS IT SUCCESSFUL? WHAT WERE SOME PITFALLS? THEN, OF COURSE, SOME OF OUR FOLLOW-UP WITH THE NON-PROFITS THAT WE HELP, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WERE THEY COMPLIANT? WAS IT HELPFUL? IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD MAYBE MOVE FORWARD WITH IN THE FUTURE? THEN, OF COURSE, FIGURING OUT WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE WITH A TRANSITION TO TRANSFORMATION PARK IN THE FUTURE.
HOW DO WE TAKE WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS AND THEN MOVE THAT INTO TRANSFORMATION PARK? WHILE I'D LOVE TO SAY THAT TRANSFORMATION PARK IS GOING TO BE THE ANSWER AND IT'S GOING TO CURE EVERYTHING FOR AMBERS HOMELESSNESS, IT'S NOT.
THERE ARE STILL GOING TO BE CHALLENGES THAT ARE OUT THERE, BUT IS THIS GOING TO BE A WAY THAT WE CAN GET THOSE CHALLENGES, WORK THROUGH THEM, AND COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTIONS? I THINK IT WILL BE. I THINK GETTING PEOPLE OUT THERE ON THE STREETS, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, THAT'S THE KEY TO GETTING THIS GOING. THAT'S ALL I GOT.
>> JASON WAS GOOD TO REALLY PUT THIS TOGETHER.
I WAS PART OF THE CONVERSATION AND APPROACHED IT FROM A PRE-ACTIVE OR PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE.
I FEEL LIKE WE DO HAVE THIS WINTER GAP.
I THINK THE TRANSFORMATION PARK WILL SOLVE SOME OF THAT.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE POPULATION WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND IF WE GET INTO COLD WINTER MONTHS, WHICH WE WOULD EXPECT TO, I THINK WE COULD EASILY SEE THE BOTTOM LINE AFFECTED NEGATIVELY IN PICKING PEOPLE UP, THE MORNING OF HEALTH CARE NEEDS, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, FIRE PREVENTION.
IF YOU BURN A HOUSE DOWN, TRYING TO STAY WARM, OR WHATEVER, THEN YOU'RE ROLLING FIRE TRUCKS, YOUR CONDEMNING PROPERTY, YOU'RE DOING DEMOLITION.
WE HAVE SEEN THIS HISTORICALLY, SO I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN JUSTIFY SOME OF THIS COST JUST IN PROACTIVE REMEDIES VERSUS REACTIVE ONES.
THEN I ALSO SEE THIS AS A COMPONENT MOVING FORWARD OF GIVING TRANSFORMATION PARK THE BEST LIKELIHOOD OR CHANCE OF SUCCESS.
THIS WOULD REMAIN WITH YOUR DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
IT'D BE A FUND THAT YOU COULD EASILY GET TO IF YOU HAD SOME REALLY HOT MONTHS IN THE SUMMER, YOU'VE GOT TO GET TO A COOLING STATION.
ONCE AGAIN, WE GET BACK TO THE WINTER.
WE'VE DONE THIS BEFORE, AND I BELIEVE WE'D HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE REQUESTING THE MONEY.
NOW, IF WE GO THROUGH A LIGHT, MILD WINTER AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THIS, THEN YOU WON'T SPEND ANY OF THE MONEY POTENTIALLY.
QUESTIONS FOR MR. RIDDLESBERGER OR, COUNSEL?
>> THE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THIS IS NOT ORIGINALLY IN THE BUDGET, SO THE FUNDING SOURCE ON THIS IS [OVERLAPPING].
>> COMING FROM OUR WORKING BUDGET AND THE ONGOING,
[04:10:01]
NOT THE ONE-TIME FUND.>> WOULD NOT TRANSFORMATION PARK NEED THESE EMPLOYEES AT SOME POINT?
>> IT'S VERY POSSIBLE. I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN CONVERSING WITH MARK ZIMMERMAN AT TRANSFORMATION PARK THAT WE MAY ACTUALLY ROLL THIS INTO SOMETHING THAT THEY OPERATE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A CONNECTION WITH OUR COMING HOME TEAM AND TRANSFORMATION PARK.
AT THIS POINT, THAT'S THE WAY I PREFER IT THAT WE'VE GOT THE OUTREACH PORTION, AND THEY TAKE CARE OF THE SHELTER PORTION.
>> ARE YOU ASKING FOR ONE YEAR? $100,000? THAT'S IT. NO MORE FOR NEXT YEAR?
>> WE MAY DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.
>> THE POINT IS, WE PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THIS TRANSFORMATION PARK.
>> WE'VE ALREADY PARTICIPATED QUITE WELL.
MY OPINION IS THAT I UNDERSTOOD TRANSFORMATION PARK WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF ITSELF ONCE WE GOT TO A POINT.
NOW, MY POINT HERE, YOU'RE ASKING 100 THIS YEAR IS IT GOING TO BE 200 NEXT YEAR OR DOES TRANSFORMATION PARK ACTUALLY DO WHAT THEY WERE INTENDING TO DO?
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET A DELINEATION OF WHAT THE DIFFERENCES ARE.
TRANSFORMATION PARK IS GOING TO BE THAT SHELTER PIECE.
THAT'S THE RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THEM TO JUST LIKE SALVATION ARMY OR FAITH CITY, IT'S WHERE WE'RE TAKING THEM.
WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE OUTREACH PORTION WHICH WE ARE DOING OUT IN THE STREETS.
WE'RE GOING TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY'RE AT.
WE'RE GETTING CALLS ABOUT FOLKS THAT ARE SLEEPING IN THEIR CARS AT WALMART.
WE'RE GOING OUT THERE TO FIND THEM.
TRANSFORMATION PARK IS NOT GOING TO HAVE A TEAM THAT'S GOING OUT AND FINDING PEOPLE.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE STAYING AND DOING THEIR OPERATIONS THERE AT THE FACILITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IN THE COMING-HOME PROGRAM SINCE 2018.
VERY SUCCESSFUL, WE HAVE ONE OF THE MODELS THAT IN FACT, OUR STATE ACTUALLY LEANS ON US FOR A CITY, OUR SIZE, THAT WE'RE DOING IT WELL AND WE'RE DOING IT VERY WELL.
>> DO YOU HAVE DOCUMENTATION ON WHAT THE COMING HOME HAS BROUGHT HOME, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE NUMBERS.
>> SURE. I CAN JUST [OVERLAPPING].
>> BACK UP ON WHAT WAS BEING SAID HERE BECAUSE I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT MAYBE A YEAR AGO, I'M NOT SURE, BUT I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE BASICALLY DONE WITH TRANSFORMATION PARK.
>> WELL, BUT THE DELINEATION THAT WE'RE MAKING, WE'RE NOT DONE WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AND I'M INTENDING TO PUT THIS $100,000 IN HIS BUILT-IN BUDGET SO THAT THOSE HIRES COULD BE UTILIZED YEAR ROUND.
AND THEN WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE ROI.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STATISTICS COMING BACK.
BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE TRANSFORMATION PARK PIECE IS KEY IN HELPING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE FROM UNSHELTERED TO SHELTERED THEN BACK INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND TRANSITION AND BACK TO WORK AND VIABLE.
NOW, WHAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IS SET UP TO DO IS A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE URGENT CARE.
SO THIS IS EVERYTHING FROM AN UNSHELTERED TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S SHELTERED BUT THEN COULDN'T AFFORD THE GAS BILL AND THEY HAVE NO HEAT IN THEIR HOME AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO THESE SHELTERS TO GET WARM BEFORE THEY'RE GOING BACK HOME, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A RESIDENCE.
SO IF YOU DIDN'T LIKE THAT, COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN, I THINK WE COULD MOVE TO OUR ONE-TIME FUND AND THEN USE THIS MORE LIKE A PILOT PROGRAM, SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS, GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE, IT COME OUT OF THE OTHER THREE MILLION THAT WE'VE GOT LEFT BUT IT'LL STILL BE THE SAME FUNDING FROM THE WORKING [OVERLAPPING]
>> I COULD DO THAT. I WANT TO SEE THE SUCCESS STORY.
WE HEAR ABOUT IT, BUT I DON'T SEE IT.
>> I'M GOING TO SHOW THEM YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I'LL BRING THEM AND STAND THEM IN AND YOU'LL MEET THEM.
>> I JUST WANT TO SEE THEM. WE'RE PROVIDING A WIN.
AND I WANT THE PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE PROVIDING FOR THEIR MONEY.
AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT WITH IT.
I'M GOOD WITH THAT, MAYOR IF YOU'RE GOOD FOR YOU.
>> WE HAVE THE RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT ALREADY IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT I'M ASKING YOU GUYS TO DO IS TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE BIT OF LATITUDE WITH A FUND THAT'S MORE LIKE URGENT NEED, COLD WEATHER OPERATION.
AND SO COUNSEL, ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ON MR. IDLESBERG'S REQUEST?
>> THANK YOU. SO, COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN, I'M GOING TO ASK, ARE YOU GOOD WITH ME LEAVING IT THE WAY IT WAS PRESENTED, SO IT COMES IN THE ONGOING BUDGET?
>> GREAT. WE ASK FOR A MOTION ON 9F.
>> I MOVE TO THAT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8175 AS PRESENTED.
>> A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM 9F.
[04:15:02]
MR. IDLESBERG, THANK YOU FOR SPINNING THAT UP SO QUICKLY.[9.G. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 12-10-24-2]
ITEM 9G. MR. HARTMAN, THIS IS YOU FOR OUR TYSON WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
YES. ITEM 9G IS A RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION APPROVING A WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH TYSON FRESH MEATS.
I'M GOING TO LET BUZZ PISKER COME UP.
BUZZ IS OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE NEGOTIATION TEAM, AND I'M GOING TO LET HIM GIVE YOU THE DETAILS.
>> WHILE BUZZ IS MAKING HIS WAY UP, I BELIEVE THE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR TYSON WILL BE CALLING IN AND MAYOR THAT CONFERENCE PHONE IS RIGHT BY YOU.
SO WHEN THAT GOES OFF, JUST ANSWER THAT PHONE.
>> DO YOU NEED THIS UP HERE OR IS IT GOOD TO STAY WHERE IT'S AT?
>> BUZZ, HOW YOU DOING TODAY, SIR? I'M DOING FINE, MAYOR. GO AHEAD AND TAKE OFF.
YOU SHOULD HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU, EACH OF YOU MY PREPARED REMARKS.
MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGER AND STAFF, BUZZ PISKER, SENIOR PLANNING AND OPERATIONS CONSULTANT.
AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE REPRESENTED THE CITY IN DISCUSSIONS WITH TYSON FRESH MEATS INCORPORATED RELATED TO THE RENEWAL OF THE WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES.
MY COMMENTS TODAY ARE RELATED TO THE WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT AND ACCOMPANYING RESOLUTION COMING BEFORE COUNCIL THIS EVENING.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FOR JUST A FEW SECONDS IS SHARE SOME INFORMATION RELATED TO THE PROCESS AND THE AGREEMENT REACHED BY THE TWO PARTIES.
NUMBER 1, THE DISCUSSIONS WERE ELONGATED.
THEY WERE SPREAD OVER A 15-MONTH PERIOD.
AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, WE HAD THREE FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS HERE IN AMARILLO, WHICH WAS GOOD THAT THEY CAME AND WE SAT DOWN AND TALKED.
WE HAD THREE DIFFERENT TYSON COMPLEX MANAGERS PARTICIPATE, THREE DIFFERENT CITY MANAGERS PARTICIPATE, ALONG WITH TWO MAYORS AND TWO SETS OF TYSON LEGAL COUNSEL.
SO WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT GROUP IN TRANSITION GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE TIME.
THEY ALL PARTICIPATED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS.
THE COMMON THINGS WERE FLOYD HARTMAN WAS THE GUIDING FORCE FOR THE CITY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS, AND OF COURSE, OUR ATTORNEY BRIAN MCWILLIAMS, ALSO PROVIDED LEGAL EXPERTISE THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
IN MY OPINION, I WOULD DESCRIBE THE PROCESS AS PROFESSIONAL IN EVERY WAY. IT WAS COLLEGIAL.
THERE WERE ISSUES ON BOTH PARTIES, AS YOU KNOW, AND WE WORKED THROUGH THOSE.
I CONSIDER MYSELF REALLY PRIVILEGED TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND DURING THE ENTIRE PROJECT.
I KNOW BRIAN BACZWASKI IS ON THE PHONE OR GOING TO BE ON THE PHONE FROM TYSON, AND HE MAY HAVE SOME COMMENTS TO ADD AFTER MY PRESENTATION.
SO YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THAT.
SECTION ITEM 2, THE AGREEMENT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU INCLUDES SOME KEY THINGS THAT I WANT TO AT LEAST HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU.
NUMBER 1, IT HAS AN INITIAL TERM OF 25 YEARS, AND THEN FOLLOWED BY TWO VOLUNTARY 10-YEAR EXTENSIONS.
THE CONTRACT, AS IT SITS, COULD HAVE A 45-YEAR LIFE SIGNIFICANCE.
AND BY THE WAY, THE FIRST DRAFT HAD 20 YEARS.
TYSON HAD ASKED US TO EXTEND IT TO 25, AND AS YOU KNOW, COUNSEL WAS WILLING TO DO THAT.
A REQUIREMENT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF A BACKFLOW DEVICE, WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY TYSON AND INSTALLED.
AHEAD OF THE TIMETABLE, WE HAD BEEN DISCUSSING THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATION.
AND THAT WAS ALL DONE AT THEIR EXPENSE.
THIS BRINGS THE COMPLEX INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY'S BACKFLOW ORDINANCE. VERY IMPORTANT.
IT ALSO INCLUDES A PRICING STRUCTURE THAT GIVES TYSON THE FLEXIBILITY TO MANAGE THE RATES TO BE CHARGED DURING THE TERM OF THE AGREEMENT AND A PROLONGED TRANSITION PERIOD TO BECOME IN PARITY WITH THE CITY'S RATE ORDINANCES.
THERE'S A STIPULATION IN THERE THAT THE COMPLEX WILL ALSO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CITY WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN.
AND THEN LASTLY, AND I THINK OF NOTE, THE CITY MADE A COMMITMENT TO INSTALL METERING EQUIPMENT, WHICH WOULD ALLOW CONSTANT FLOW AND TRANSMIT THAT INFORMATION.
THIS ITEM HAS ALSO BEEN ALREADY ACHIEVED AND IS INSTALLED AND IN PLACE.
SO IN SUMMARY, I WOULD SAY THIS.
THE AGREEMENT EXTENDS A 50-PLUS-YEAR WATER SUPPLY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND A KEY CORPORATE CITIZEN, TYSON FRESH FOODS.
[04:20:03]
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, IT BECAME APPARENT TO ME THAT TYSON IS BOTH A VALUED MEMBER OF THE AMARILLO COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS AN ENGAGED CORPORATE SUPPORTER OF THE LOCAL ECONOMY, AND THAT WAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED ALL THE WAY THROUGH.THIS AGREEMENT, I BELIEVE, SHOULD FACILITATE THE CONTINUATION OF THAT LEGACY.
I DON'T KNOW IF BRIAN'S ON THE PHONE OR NOT.
>> NOT YET. QUESTIONS FOR BUZZ, GENTLEMEN.
>> DO YOU WANT TO RECAP THE FIVE-YEAR INCREMENTAL 10-YEAR, HOW THAT GOES?
>> IF YOU DON'T MIND JUST TO RUN US BACK THROUGH IT.
THE AGREEMENT HAS AN 11-YEAR WINDOW.
THE FIRST YEAR WILL BE, AND IT'S ALREADY IN PLACE, THE RATE INCREASE FOR TYSON WILL BE EXACTLY WHAT THE INSIDE CITY WATER COMMERCIAL RATE WAS.
STARTING IN YEAR 2 THROUGH YEAR 6, THE GAP BETWEEN THE CURRENT TYSON RATE AND THE INSIDE CITY RATE WILL BE REDUCED BY ONE-FIFTH EACH YEAR PLUS ANY INCREASES IN THE NORMAL RATE STRUCTURE.
HANG ON JUST ONE SECOND AND WE'LL BRING YOU ON ONE MINUTE. CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
>> AND THEN YEAR 7 THROUGH 11, IF TYSON'S COMPLEX IS STILL OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, THEY WOULD TRANSITION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO THE OUTSIDE CITY RATE SO THEY WOULD BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH YOUR RATE ORDINANCES.
>> VERY GOOD. ARE YOU READY FOR THE ATTORNEY?
>> SIR, WE HAVE YOU. IF YOU DON'T MIND, GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR NAME SO WE'VE GOT YOU ON THE RECORD.
>> GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS BRIAN BACZWASKI, AND I'M CORPORATE COUNSEL FOR TYSON FOODS, REPRESENTING THE B FACILITY IN AMARILLO.
AND YES, MAYOR STANLEY, WE'VE BEEN ACQUAINTED BUZZ.
WE'VE CERTAINLY BEEN ACQUAINTED OVER THE PAST, WOULD YOU SAY 15 MONTHS? WE'VE HAD A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THIS ONE, AND NOTABLY, PER YOUR EARLIER MENTION OF THERE BEING ON BOTH SIDES KEY INDIVIDUALS HAVING REVOLVED THROUGH FOR BOTH ENTITIES.
WE ARE OBVIOUSLY CONSIDERING WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS PHASE.
WE ARE IN FAVOR OF EXECUTING THE AGREEMENT AS IT IS.
THAT BEING SAID WE WERE HOPING TO GET TO A DIFFERENT POINT OR A DIFFERENT WAY.
PROCEDURALLY, THE ABILITY TO HAVE AN EXTENSION.
IN LIGHT OF THE NOTICE TERMINATION THAT SENT THAT HAD BEEN SENT OUT, PREVIOUSLY.
AGAIN BUZZ'S RECITATION OF THE FACTS OF THE AGREEMENT ARE ON POINT.
AND TYSON WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE DIALOGUE OPEN WITH THE CITY REGARDING ANY POTENTIAL FOR ANNEXATION AND FURTHER PARTNERING AND HOW THE TWO ENTITIES GO FORWARD IN THE MULTI-DECADE RELATIONSHIP AND IN THE DECADES TO COME.
>> BRIAN, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU JUMPING ON WITH US AND TO ADD TO THE CONVERSATION.
AND SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INVOLVEMENT IN WHAT'S BEEN A LONG NEGOTIATION, BUT IT'S WORKED OUT, I THINK AS GOOD AS WE HAD HOPED AND SO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME HERE.
I WOULD ASK COUNSEL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR EITHER BRIAN OR BUZZ ON THIS TOPIC.
>> BRIAN, SHORT AND SWEET, WE APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING THE MEETING HERE TONIGHT.
>> THANK YOU ALL. YOU HAVE A GOOD EVENING.
BUZZ, YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FURTHER?
>> NO. OTHER THAN I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE IN AMARILLO.
I'VE BEEN HERE A LOT LONGER THAN I HAD ANTICIPATED, BUT IT'S A PLEASURE TO REPRESENT YOU AND WORK WITH FLOYD AND THE STAFF.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> WELL, PLEASURE IS OURS. YOU'RE A TRUE PROFESSIONAL AND YOU
[04:25:02]
MADE IT EASY FOR US. SO THANK YOU.>> WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 9G.
>> RESOLUTION NUMBER 12-10-24-2.
>> SECOND? HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN TIPPS.
>> ANY OPPOSED? 9G PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 9H.
[9.H. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT - AMARILLO ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER]
AND IS IT MISS JOHNNY THAT'S WORKING THIS ONE? AMW. WE NEED A BOARD MEMBER, DON'T WE?WE REOPENED THE APPLICATIONS AS REQUESTED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING AND WE RECEIVED NINE APPLICATIONS.
YOUR CURRENT MEMBERS ARE LISTED ON THE BOARD.
AND AS A REMINDER, YOU APPOINTED MISS MCCART, DR SCHILLING, AND MR. SIMPSON TO SERVE TERMS THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2027.
>> THANK YOU. COUNSEL, DO YOU HAVE YOUR LIST OF APPLICANTS, AND DOES ANYBODY WANT TO MAKE A NOMINATION?
>> I'D MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT GLYNN CROWDER FOR THE VACANCY ON THE ANIMAL MANAGEMENT WELFARE ADVISORY BOARD.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? ALL IN FAVOR FOR GLYNN CROWDER, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> MOTION PASSES. YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED ON THAT ONE?
[9.I. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT - AMARILLO HOSPITAL DISTRICT BOARD OF MANAGERS MEMBER]
>> I DO. OUR NEXT BOARD IS THE AMARILLO HOSPITAL DISTRICT.
AND THIS BOARD HAS SEVEN MEMBERS, AND WE ARE SEEKING ONE MEMBER TO SERVE A TERM THROUGH 2026.
AS A REMINDER, YOU DID REAPPOINT MR. ALEXANDER AND MISS BARNER TO SERVE.
>> AND THIS WAS THE ONE I HAD APPOINTED DR. RALPH HABERSO?
>> AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SERVE?
>> CORRECT. SO WE DID RECEIVE THREE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS BOARD CURRENTLY.
>> I'LL MAKE A MOTION FOR DARRYL WORKS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
>> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. EAST GATEWAY NUMBER 2.
[9.J. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT - EAST GATEWAY TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE #2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER]
>> YES, SIR. SO INITIALLY, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY APPLICATIONS FOR THIS BOARD.
SO YOU GUYS REQUESTED WE REOPEN THE APPLICATIONS AND WE'VE DONE THAT.
WE DID HAVE ONE APPLICANT THAT THE STAFF IDENTIFIED TODAY WHO IS RANDY WHIPPLE.
AND AS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE WRCA, HE HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN SEEING AMARILLO'S ECONOMY GROW.
HE HAS ALSO SPENT MANY HOURS IN CONVERSATION WITH PLANNING ABOUT BRINGING PROJECTS TO THE TIER 2 ZONE.
AND FROM THOSE CONVERSATIONS, DREW BRASFIELD, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING FEELS VERY CONFIDENT THAT MR. WHIPPLE HAS A STRONG GRASP OF FINANCIAL ACUMEN, AND HE HAS NO DOUBT THAT HE WOULD ADD TREMENDOUS VALUE TO ANY TEARS DISCUSSION.
MR. BRASFIELD DID MENTION THAT HE'S SPOKEN WITH MR. WHIPPLE AND MR. WHIPPLE IS VERY INTERESTED IN SERVING IF APPOINTED.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT I HAD ONE INDIVIDUAL REACH OUT TO ME.
MATT TAVERN SAID HE WOULD BE WILLING TO VOLUNTEER ON THIS.
SO WE HAVE TWO. RANDY WHIPPLE AND MATT TAVERN.
>> DO I HAVE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A NOMINATION?
>> I'LL NOMINATE RANDY WHIPPLE.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND FOR MR. WHIPPLE ON EAST GATEWAY TIERS 2.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY, AYE. AYE. AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.
THANK YOU, MS. JOHNNY. ITEM 9K, AEDC, EXPENDITURE REQUEST.
[9.K. CONSIDER APPROVAL - AMARILLO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (AEDC) EXPENDITURE REQUEST]
MR. CARTER, PLEASE, COME ON UP.>> GOOD MORNING. THIS WOULD CONSIDER APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURES THAT I PUT IN THE PACKET.
I DID WANT TO GO OVER THREE OR FOUR OF THOSE BEFORE I OPENED IT UP FOR QUESTIONS IF THAT'S OKAY.
THE SECOND ITEM IS FOR MARKETING, THAT'S BASEBALL TICKETS.
I KNEW THAT THERE PROBABLY WOULD BE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WHY WE DID THAT.
I THINK THIS WAS OUR THIRD OR FOURTH YEAR TO HAVE BASEBALL TICKETS.
WE BOUGHT THESE TO ENTERTAIN CLIENTS.
WE ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT LAST YEAR.
THIS LAST SEASON, THE 24 SEASON WAS THE FIRST OF A THREE YEAR AGREEMENT.
THIS PAST YEAR, WE TOOK 21 EITHER PROSPECTS OR EXISTING BUSINESSES OR GAVE THEM THE TICKETS.
THEN WHEN WE DID NOT USE THE TICKETS, WE TRIED TO DISSEMINATE THOSE TO CITY STAFF, SO THAT WAY THAT THEY WERE BEING USED.
[04:30:02]
THE NEXT THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS ACTUALLY THE NEXT ITEM THERE FOR PROJECT SUPPORT.THAT'S APPRAISAL FOR TWO PROPERTIES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT WE'VE TALKED TO, I BELIEVE, TO OUR BOARD AND TO Y'ALL IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE'VE GOT TO GET AN APPRAISAL ON THAT TO SEE WHAT THOSE VALUES ARE BEFORE WE SEE IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A PURCHASE.
THEN YOU MOVE DOWN TO ANOTHER PROJECT SUPPORT, BUSINESS PARK RAIL MAINTENANCE.
WE HAD A RAIL ISSUE THIS PAST WEEK OUT AT THE PLANT.
ONE OF OUR SWITCHES SEIZED UP AND WE HAD TO CALL FOR AN SOME EMERGENCY WORK TO BE DONE BECAUSE GRI WAS NOT ABLE TO OPERATE BECAUSE IT COULDN'T MAKE SWITCHES.
THEN ALSO, I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE WEST TEXAS ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE.
I KNOW THEY NEED TO START WORKING ON THEIR MATERIALS TO GET THIS PROGRAM OUT, AND SO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THAT ONE.
WE DID ASK FOR THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT FROM TWO YEARS AGO THAT HAS BEEN THE HISTORIC AMOUNT.
IS THE 500,000 FOR THE GRANTS, AND THEN $80,000 IS THE ADMINISTRATION FEE THAT WE PAY THE WEST TEXAS A&M TO ADMINISTER THAT PROGRAM.
BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THE OTHERS AS WELL.
>> APPRECIATE IT, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ASK FOR A MOTION ON ITEM 9K.
>> A MOVE WE APPROVE THE AMERLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION EXPENDITURE REQUEST AS PRESENTED.
>> MOTION AND A SECOND FROM PLACE 1.
>> AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU.
>> APPRECIATE YOU STAY IN. ONE MORE HERE.
[9.L. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 12-10-24-3]
WE HAVE RESOLUTION FOR OUR GATEWAY DESIGNS, I'M GOING TO SAY.>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE LOOKED AT THIS MAYBE LAST COUNCIL MEETING OR A COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO AND HAD DISCUSSION AND WHAT WE LANDED ON FOR TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION WAS TO SEND THIS ITEM WOULD APPROVE $50,000 FOR THE DESIGN OF THOSE TWO SIGNS.
IN THAT, YOU'RE JUST DESIGNING ONE SIGN.
BUT IN THIS DESIGN OR MONUMENT, EXCUSE ME. DAN.
>> IN THAT DESIGN OF THE MONUMENT, THERE'S TWO LOCATIONS.
THERE HAS TO BE DESIGN ON THE TWO LOCATIONS.
THAT'S PART OF THE DESIGN AND WHY THE COST IS 50,000 AND NOT 25 FOR JUST ONE IS YOU'RE PUTTING THEM IN TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, THE ELECTRICITY HAS TO BE DIFFERENT.
THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF WORK IN THAT ITEM TO DESIGN THOSE MONUMENTS.
WHAT THIS WOULD DO IS THIS IS $50,000.
YOU WOULD BE AMENDING THE MARKETING BUDGET BY 50 WELL, ACTUALLY, YOU'D BE ADDING TO YOU WOULD BE ALLOWING US TO SPEND $50,000 TO PUT THE DESIGN.
WESTERN BUILDER WOULD BE THE DESIGNER OF THESE SIGNS AND THEY WOULD SUB SOME OF THAT WORK OUT.
>> I TALKED TO MIKE TODAY SAME THING, BECAUSE I ASKING ABOUT SHOULD IT JUST BE ONE? HE SAID THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE DESIGN OF ONE MONUMENT, BUT TWO SITE PLANS, BECAUSE EACH ONE IS UNIQUE.
EACH ONE REQUIRES DIFFERENT THINGS, AND HE SAID THAT 50 WOULD BE PLENTY MAKING IN UNDERNEATH THAT.
BUT THAT WAY IT WILL GIVE US A GOOD IDEA INSTEAD OF JUST THAT RANDOM NUMBER, I THINK THAT WE THREW OUT OF 650, I THINK OR WHATEVER IT WAS.
>> SIX FIFTEEN. THIS WAY, WE COULD ACTUALLY DESIGN IT, LOOK AT OUR REAL COSTS, AND HAVE A HARD NUMBER TO LOOK AT TO MAYBE HELP OUT WITH.
GIVE US SOME COMFORT WITH THAT THING INSTEAD OF IT JUST BEING THAT BIG AMOUNT.
THE PURPOSE IS TO COMPLETE A DESIGN, PAY SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GO AHEAD AND GET THESE ALL THE VARIABLES OUT OF THEM.
WE CAN GET A HARD DOLLAR FIGURE BACK BEFORE WE CAN JUSTIFY THE COST FOR THE TWO LARGE MONUMENTS.
>> YES, SIR, AND THEN WE WOULD COME BACK TO ASK FOR THE FUNDS TO ACTUALLY BUILD THEM.
QUESTIONS FOR MR. CARTER OR COUNCILMAN TIPPS.
>> I STILL DON'T THINK THIS IS ADC FUNCTION.
>> WELL, JUST TO ADDRESS THAT, WE HAD MR. HYDE ON THE PHONE LAST TIME.
>> I UNDERSTAND. WE DID THAT STILL.
>> THE THING IS, THEY'RE HERE TO CREATE JOBS.
WHY DIDN'T THE CITY CITY WANTS TO SIGN, LET THE CITY PAY FOR IT.
[04:35:02]
GIVE HIM THE $50,000 OUT OF THE CITY BUDGET.I'M GOOD WITH THAT. GIVING HIM $50,000 OUT OF THE CITY.
>> I THINK THE ADCS JOB NOT TO GET INTO AN ARGUMENT HERE OR DISAGREEMENT, BUT THE ADCS JOB IS TO MARKET AMARILLO. THAT'S THE JOB.
WHEN YOU BRING PEOPLE INTO AMARILLO TO LOOK AT MOVING A BUSINESS OR EXPANDING A BUSINESS OR MOVING PEOPLE HERE, THAT'S JUST A PART OF IT. IT'S A PIECE.
MARKETING IS A HUGE DEAL AND TALKING WITH MR. FAIRLEY.
AS WE WENT THROUGH THE EDC MEETINGS, THAT THAT IS A KEY PIECE OF WHAT THEY DO IS.
>> I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SIGN.
I THINK THE SIGN WOULD BE GREAT AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE.
IF IF WE'VE GOT OTHER I'M SORRY, MONUMENTS, GRANITE ESTABLISHMENTS, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL THEM.
I JUST FEEL IF THERE'S OTHER FUNDING SOURCES OTHER THAN THE EDC, I WOULD LIKE TO RESERVE AS MUCH MONEY FOR THE EDC TO DO THE CORE MISSION OF WHICH THE EDC DOES, AND NO ONE ELSE CAN DO.
I'M SURE WE STILL HAVE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING IN OUR CITY COUNCIL BUDGET, THAT COULD PAY FOR THIS EASILY.
THAT COULD BE DONE, AND JUST BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COST TO COME BACK.
I'D RATHER LEAVE THAT MONEY IN THE EDC AND THEN HANDLE THIS WITH THE CITY BUDGET.
LET ME DESCRIBE THE CITY PROCESS JUST TO RECAP.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE EDC IS, WE CAN PROCURE A $50,000 PAYMENT, LET THEM USE WESTERN BUILDERS, DO THEIR OWN DESIGN, DO THEIR OWN VALUE ENGINEERING, WHATEVER, THEY BRING IT BACK, AND WE EXECUTE THE ORDER.
IF WE WANT TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF THE CITY FUND, WHICH WE DO HAVE, AND I CAN SEE THE BENEFIT ON KEEPING IT OUT OF CITY DOLLARS.
BUT THE DRAWBACK THERE IS IN PROCUREMENT.
NOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS YOU NEED TO GO OUT FOR PROPOSAL OR RFQ TO GET DESIGNERS, THEN YOU NEED TO HIRE A DESIGNER, START THE PROCESS OVER, LET THEM DO THE DESIGNS, THEN YOU PUT THAT OUT FOR BID.
LET ANY AND ALL BID IT, THEN YOU AWARD THE BID, THEN WE WOULD VOTE FOR IT ONCE WE HAD THE BID SELECTED.
THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT MIGHT NOT BE AS MUCH AS WE WOULD THINK, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME STAFF'S TIME, BUT WE ALSO MAY NOT GET THE DESIGNS QUITE RIGHT.
I THINK IF YOU WERE DOING THIS PRIVATELY, YOU COULD DEFINITELY USE DIFFERENT COMPANIES THAT MAYBE ARE WILLING TO TAKE A RISK.
BUT THEN WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS PUBLICLY WITH PUBLIC MONIES AND IT IS TEXT DOT, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPHILL BATTLE TO GET PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GO AFTER A SMALL JOB WITH THIS MUCH RED TAPE ON IT. THIS ONE IS UNIQUE.
>> WESTERN BUILDERS WOULDN'T GO AFTER IT?
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, I THINK WESTERN BUILDERS IS WILLING TO DESIGN AND BUILD IT.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO FIND A DESIGNER TO DESIGN IT, WHICH I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER HAD A DESIGN DONE BY AN ENGINEERING FIRM FOR $50,000 AT THE CITY, BUT MAYBE.
MOST OF OUR LETS ARE LARGE CONTRACTS.
DO WE HAVE SMALL PROJECTS THAT WE CAN DESIGN? DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY MIDDLE GROUND? DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER WAY TO PROCURE THIS WITHOUT GOING THROUGH, I HAD TO ASK GRAYSON AS FAR AS COULD WE NOT PROCURE IT IN EDC PAY FOR IT?
>> WELL, YOU MEAN THE CITY PAY FOR AN EDC PROCURE IT.
WE WOULD ACTUALLY, JUST TO BE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST DEAL FOR OUR CITIZENS.
BECAUSE TO ME, MY WHOLE ISSUE IS THE PROCUREMENT ASPECT OF MAKING SURE MY CITIZENS ARE GETTING THE BEST DEAL AND NOT JUST USING THE EDC TO GO FUND PROJECTS WHEN WE HAVE THE MONEY TO FUND IT OURSELVES.
UNDERSTOOD. IF THE ONLY DRAWBACK IS TIME ON THE PROCUREMENT SIDE, THEN I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN A RUSH FOR SIGNS.
I THINK IT'S MORE THE PROCESS AS WELL AND THE EFFICIENCY.
>> I WOULD TELL YOU THAT WESTERN WILL NOT PUT IN A BID TO DESIGN THE PROJECT IF THEY DO NOT GET THE PROJECT.
I'M SURE HE TOLD YOU THAT, COUNCIL MEMBER TIPPS.
THEY'RE DOING THIS AS A FAVOR FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
THIS IS A SMALL PROJECT FOR THEM, AND SO THEY'RE DOING THIS KIND AS A COST PLUS.
>> AS A COST PLUS. IN MY OPINION, AND MAYOR CAN SPEAK TO THIS.
IT DOESN'T GET MORE EFFICIENT THAN THAT.
AS FAR AS CITY RESOURCES INVOLVED, CITY STAFF, THE TIMING, AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR AMARILLO.
>> I JUST THINK THE BEST THING TO DO IF WE'RE GOING TO BE TRANSPARENT, WE NEED TO PUT IT OUT FOR BID.
THE CITIZENS NEED TO PUT INTO INPUT.
[04:40:09]
JUST GOING OUT AND SAYING I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO WESTERN BUILDERS BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO PAY, BUT HE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT IF I DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM.THAT'S NOT RIGHT. I DON'T LIKE BEING PUSHED AGAINST THE WALL SAYING I GOT TO DO SOMETHING.
>> THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
>> IT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE EXACTLY.
>> IT'S SAYING IF THEY GO TO THE TROUBLE OF DESIGNING.
IF THEY GO TO THE TROUBLE OF DESIGNING IT FOR THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY MONEY.
>> ON A LOT OF BIDS, I GET A BID A LOT OF TIME TO BUILD BUILDINGS AND STUFF.
THEY DON'T CHARGE ME FOR THAT.
>> WELL THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT PROCESSES NOW IN THIS DEAL.
>> NO, I WASN'T A THREAT AT ALL.
NO, THEY'RE JUST SAYING THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL PROJECT THAT THEY DO, BUT IT IS IT'S A LARGE MONUMENT.
IT'S A CONSTRUCTION. IT'S EXTREMELY LARGE.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
>> [INAUDIBLE] SAYING THIS ISN'T TYPICALLY SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD DO, BUT WE'RE A GOOD CLIENTS.
THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK FOR US AND THEY SAID, WE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO IT, AND BE HAPPY TO DO IT.
IF IT GOES OUT FOR BID, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T PARTICIPATE IN IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AT THIS COST PLUS THAT WE'RE DOING.
THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY IT'S GOING TO BE DONE.
>> I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO COMPARE IT TO.
I'M TOLD WHAT WAS IT 600,000? IS THAT WHERE WE WERE?
>> WE CAN GET YOU SOME COMPARISONS OF WHAT ARLINGTON DID AND THEIRS WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 1.2 MILLION.
ANDREW, DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE OTHER CITY WE LOOKED AT AND IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND A MILLION.
THEY WERE ALL OVER A MILLION FOR TWO SIGNS.
>> THEY'RE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE?
>> IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT THIS PROJECT LIKE WE'RE NOT A BIG CUMBERSOME UNATTRACTIVE CUSTOMER AT TIMES.
THIS CAN BE GOING THROUGH A MUNICIPALITY, GOING THROUGH ALL THE PROCUREMENT FOR A JOB LIKE THIS, THIS CAN BE UNATTRACTIVE FOR A CONTRACTOR IN THE MIDDLE OF TEXT DOTS RIGHT AWAY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR HIGHWAYS.
I THINK WHEN YOU DO LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT, IT IS NOT AS EXORBITANT AS IT HITS YOU ORIGINALLY IN THE COST.
I AGREE IF I WAS PUTTING UP TWO SIGNS, I WOULDN'T SAY THEY SHOULD COST THAT MUCH.
BUT THEN IF I DO LOOK AT IT IN THE WAY THE MONUMENT WORKS AND THEN ALL OF THE SAFETY FACTORS IN CONSTRUCTION AND IN AND OUT, TRAFFIC CONTROL, WHATEVER YOU'RE DOING TO GET THERE.
I WOULD SAY, COUNCIL, WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT THIS IS A PROPOSAL TO USE ADC MONEY.
IF YOU'RE AGAINST THAT, THEN WE VOTE AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
BUT IF WE GET THIS PASSED, THEN IN ESSENCE, WE ARE STILL BRINGING IT BACK TO COUNCIL TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST, IS IT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF MONEY? AT ANY GIVEN POINT IN TIME, WE COULD PUSH IT BACK OVER TO THE CITY SIDE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ANY LESS MONEY.
>> AGAIN, FOR ME, IT'S NOT THE MONEY.
IT'S JUST THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM.
GRAYSON, BRIAN, ANY WAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FLEXIBILITY THAT THE EDC HAS, BUT PAY FOR IT OUT OF OUR BUCKET?
>> NOW, IF USING CITY FUNDS, YOU WOULD NEED TO DO THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
>> WHAT IS YOUR OPINION, GRAYSON ON THIS? YOU'VE SEEN THINGS DONE.
YOU ALL HAVE GOT SOME EXPERIENCE IN IT.
>> USING THE EDC VERSUS USING CITY.
WELL, OBVIOUSLY, EDC FUNDS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS, CITY FUNDS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS.
SO BOTH FUNDS ARE ELIGIBLE TO DO THIS PURPOSE HERE.
I'VE NOT BUILT A MONUMENT IN MY CAREER.
ONE THING WE COULD DO IS WE SEE SOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME EXAMPLES, PULLED TO SEE WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE.
IF YOU SEE AND OR $900 MILLION IS SO SPENT, THEN THIS DEAL MAY BE OPPORTUNITY COURSE, THIS RIGHT NOW IS JUST TO DESIGN IT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING TO BUILD IT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE LOOKING TO DESIGN IT.
YOU'VE IDENTIFIED A QUALIFIED DESIGNER, AND SO YOU'RE TASKED WITH DESIGNING IT.
THEY'RE GOING TO BRING BACK TO YOU A DESIGN WITH A COST ESTIMATE.
YOU CAN EITHER VOTE UP OR DOWN, SAY, NO, TOO MUCH OR SO FORTH AND SO MR. CARTER, WHEN THEY DESIGN IT, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE US A SET OF PLANS.
>> I WOULD GUESS THAT'S RIGHT.
>> I WOULD THINK SO. IF I'M UNDERSTANDING IT, THEY GIVE YOU A SET OF PLANS.
IF YOU SO WISH, YOU COULD THEN BID THAT OUT AT THAT POINT.
BUT I THINK PART OF THIS IS WHAT WESTERN IS SAYING IS THAT WE DESIGN IT, OUR INTENT IS TO THEN BUILD IT.
[04:45:02]
OBVIOUSLY, I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO DESIGN IT WITH THEIR OWN PROCESS DOING IT.>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT 12-10-24-3.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON 9L? ARE YOU SURE? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE.
>> ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES WITH A 50. THANK YOU, MR. CARTER.
AT THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO OFFICIALLY ADJOURN.
THANK YOU GUYS FOR STAYING LATE.
WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS WORKING THROUGH A LONG MEETING.
>> MARY CHRISTMAS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.