Jan 28, 2025 City Council Regular Meeting

[00:00:05]

WE'VE GOT A FUN ONE LINED UP FOR YOU HERE TODAY.

PLENTY TO TEND TO, SOME BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF.

AND SO BEFORE WE DO THAT WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND CALL OURSELVES TO ORDER.

[1. Call to Order]

AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD.

SO IF YOU WOULD ALL PLEASE RISE AND STAY STANDING FOR THE PLEDGES.

[2. Invocation]

LORD, WE PRAY THAT THIS TIME TOGETHER AND THE BUSINESS AS IT'S CONDUCTED, WILL BE DONE IN A MANNER THAT WOULD BE HONORING AND PLEASING TO YOU.

LORD, WE DO LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY. WE THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE, A PLACE WHERE WE CAN RAISE OUR FAMILIES AND AND KNOW THAT THAT YOU ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY. LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR THE MOISTURE, THE WEATHER.

THOSE THINGS OFTEN ARE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE THE GIVER OF THE MOISTURE, THE SUN THAT IS SHINING TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND WE PRAY YOUR BLESSING ON EACH ONE HERE TODAY, LORD, THAT YOU WOULD GUIDE EACH ONE WITH YOUR LOVING, COMPASSIONATE, FORGIVING KINDNESS. AND WE GIVE YOU ALL THE PRAISE AND THE GLORY.

IN JESUS NAME, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU SIR. WE APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU GUYS JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.

PLEASE BE SEATED. MISS CITY SECRETARY, I DO BELIEVE WE

[5. Announcements]

OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR. THE ONE THING THAT WE DID WANT TO ANNOUNCE FOR EVERYBODY HERE TODAY AND EVERYONE LISTENING, WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING TO OUR NEW CITY HALL.

AND SO IF YOU'LL MARK YOUR CALENDARS BEGINNING ON FEBRUARY 25TH, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR FIRST COUNCIL MEETING ACROSS THE STREET AT 623 SOUTH JOHNSON.

AND IF AND IF YOU'LL LOOK OUT IN THE MEDIA AND ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIAS, OUR TEAMS ARE SHARING INFORMATION ON A GRAND OPENING AND TOURS AVAILABLE THAT DAY.

THANK YOU MAYOR. REALLY GOOD. THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS? YES, SIR. PLEASE COME FORWARD.

AND I APOLOGIZE. WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GET THIS THING ON THE AGENDA, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE A MOMENT HERE TO THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THIS LAST WEEK. AND SO I HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY HERE.

SO GOVERNING BODY, EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, A TERRIBLE ACT OF VIOLENCE OCCURRED WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL SHOT AND HARMED NUMEROUS OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

I'LL DEFER DETAILS OF THIS EVENT TO OUR APD. INSTEAD, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO THE MANY FIRST RESPONDERS, PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, AND CITIZENS WHO STEP FORWARD TO ADDRESS THIS EVIL ACTION.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND OUR APD OFFICERS WHO ARRIVED QUICKLY, SECURED THE SCENE AND BEGAN TO TREAT THE WOUNDED.

OUR AFD FIREFIGHTERS AND OUR EMS PARTNERS WHO QUICKLY ARRIVED TO LIKEWISE TREAT THE WOUNDED.

OUR DISPATCH AND THEIR CONTEMPORARIES WITH THE RANDALL COUNTY DISPATCH WHO TOOK A FLOOD OF CALLS BUT STILL KEPT VITAL INFORMATION GOING OUT INTO THE FIELD.

OUR PARTNERS WITH THE RANDALL COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHO QUICKLY CAPTURED THE ASSAILANTS TO GUARANTEE THAT NO FURTHER ACTS OF VIOLENCE WOULD BE DONE THAT NIGHT BY THESE INDIVIDUALS.

THE DOCTORS AND NURSES OF OUR TWO HOSPITALS, WHO WORKED HARD TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE EIGHT INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD BEEN SHOT.

OUR PARTNERS WITH THE 47TH DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, WHO ARRIVED AT THE APD IMMEDIATELY TO WORK ALONGSIDE US TO ISSUE THE WARRANTS AGAINST THESE ASSAILANTS. OUR APD DETECTIVES, WHO WORKED QUICKLY TO GATHER THE NEEDED EVIDENCE AND INFORMATION TO INFORMATION TO SUPPORT THE DA'S OFFICE IN THEIR WORK.

OUR APD PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICERS WHO GATHER THE FACTS PREPARED EXCELLENT STATEMENTS TO INFORM THE PUBLIC.

THE CITIZENS WHO STEPPED FORWARD TO ASSIST OUR EFFORTS IN CAPTURING THE ASSAILANTS, AND THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS WHO RUSHED IN TO PROVIDE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL

[00:05:07]

MY APOLOGIES FOR MISSING ANYONE ELSE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO LIKE TO LIKEWISE EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE AND THANKS TO EVERYONE ELSE WHO PLAYED A HELPING ROLE TO ADDRESS THIS TERRIBLE SITUATION. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS CONTINUE TO BE WITH THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS THE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO RUSHED IN TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. COUNCIL DO I HAVE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO OFFER REMARKS ON THAT TOPIC? NO, SIR. VERY WELL SAID, MR. PATH, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE RECOGNITION OF NOT ONLY HOW TRAGIC THIS IS FOR SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE HURT, YOU KNOW, WOUNDED AND THE LOSS OF LIFE.

BUT THEN ALSO THE RESILIENCY OF OUR COMMUNITY, THE SOLIDARITY AND PEOPLE THAT WILL PULL TOGETHER AROUND THOSE LOCAL HEROES FOR THOSE ACTIONS AND BRAVERY TO CONTINUE TO RUN INTO A SCENE LIKE THAT, AND THEN NOT TO MENTION THE INDIVIDUALS THAT PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY TO MAKE THAT 911 PHONE CALL AND THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. SO WITH THAT, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON BRINGING THAT UP HERE TODAY.

I THINK IT'S VERY FITTING TO CONTINUE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE GENTLEMEN AND LADIES.

ANYTHING FURTHER ON? ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM STAFF? OKAY. WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE OURSELVES INTO PUBLIC COMMENT.

[6. Public Comment]

OKAY. 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 YOU'RE HERE TO SHARE THEM. TODAY.

AT EACH MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CITY COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS OR ANY TOPICS RELATED TO CITY POLICY.

EVERY SPEAKER TODAY WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES AT THE END OF 2.5 MINUTES, A WARNING BEEPING SOUND TO ALERT YOU THAT YOU HAVE 30S LEFT TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS.

SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS ON PUBLIC HEARINGS TO EITHER THE PUBLIC HEARING OR THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION OF OUR MEETING TODAY, IN ORDER TO HELP US KEEP BETTER MINUTES. AND IT'S YOUR CHOICE AT WHICH TIME YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT.

WHEN YOU COME TO THE MICROPHONE TODAY, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE IN AMARILLO CITY LIMITS, AND THEN YOU MAY BEGIN ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH JOHN PRIEST.

AND AFTER MISTER PRIEST WE WILL HAVE JULIE HULSEY AND SANDY PROPHET.

AFTERNOON, SIR. HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING? GOOD.

THANK YOU. I JUST AM GETTING OVER LARYNGITIS, SO EXCUSE ME FOR THE GRUFFNESS.

I DON'T KNOW. THANK YOU FOR THAT. MR. PATH BRINGING THAT UP TODAY.

WHAT I CAME TO COMMENT ON WASN'T, I GUESS, A PART OF THE AGENDA.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THESE STATEMENTS.

IT'S REGARDING JUST THE LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL WITH THIS COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.

I MYSELF, I PREPARED A STATEMENT. IT'S A LITTLE EASIER FOR ME TO STAY ON TOPIC THAT WAY.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO START BY SAYING GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL, FOR ALLOWING ME TO EXPRESS MY AND MY GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU.

MAYOR STANLEY, WE'VE HAD A FEW CONVERSATIONS ABOUT POLICY CONCERNS I'VE HAD, AS WELL AS HAD MEETINGS WITH THE CITY MANAGER , CITY ATTORNEYS. YOU RAN ON DOING THE RIGHT THING.

AND I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE TRYING YOUR BEST TO FULFILL THAT PROMISE AS THE MAYOR AND BY EXTENSION, THE CITY COUNCIL BEING ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF AMARILLO, I HAVE TO ASK WHAT IS GOING ON WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN AMARILLO IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE? THIS ISN'T A SHOT AT APD OR ANY SHERIFF'S OFFICES IN PARTICULAR.

IT'S JUST ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A WHOLE. THIS PAST WEEKEND, AS I'M SURE YOU ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT, THERE ARE DETAILS THAT HAVE BEEN THAT HAVE INFURIATED THE PUBLIC.

WE MUST COMMEND OR COMMEND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED IN THE APPREHENSION OF THESE PUBLIC SAFETY THREATS.

BUT WHY WAS AN ACCESSORY TO MURDER ALLOWED TO POSTPONED BY THE POTTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE? WHAT EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED THAT ALLOWED YEARS AND YEARS OF LEGAL PRECEDENT TO BE THROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW WHEN IT COMES TO MURDER.

IN RANDALL COUNTY WE HAVE THE BRITTANY ALEXANDRIA CASE THAT HAS GOTTEN NATIONAL ATTENTION.

INTOXICATED MANSLAUGHTER FOR A DEFENDANT WHO HAD MADE THREATS TO KILL THE VICTIM.

THE PUBLIC IS STILL AWAITING ANSWERS TO WHY HE WAS NOT CHARGED WITH THAT CRIME.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE CITY CHURCH ASSAULT? KIP HAS BEEN PROTESTING DOWNSTAIRS FOR OVER 70 DAYS, ASKING FOR ANSWERS TO ANOTHER QUESTION, DRAWING NATIONAL ATTENTION.

CAN THE HOMELESS BE VICTIMS OF CRIME? 22 HOMELESS PEOPLE WERE TREATED FOR INJURIES RESULTING FROM BEAR MACE USED AGAINST THEM,

[00:10:07]

NO CHARGE IS BROUGHT. AND I BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION THERE.

THERE ARE SMALLER CHARGES THAT COULD ACTUALLY HELP, YOU KNOW, CALM ALL THE TENSION FROM THAT.

THEN THERE'S MADISON ANSLEY SILVA, MY EX-GIRLFRIEND, WHO RECENTLY PLED GUILTY TO ASSAULT CAUSING BODILY INJURY.

SHE ASSAULTED ME, HAD HER FRIENDS MAKE TERRORISTIC THREATS AGAINST MY LIFE AND MY FRIENDS BREAK INTO MY HOUSE AND STEAL MY DOG, WITH THAT PREVIOUS RECORD, YOU WOULD FIGURE THE RANDALL COUNTY DA WOULD TAKE A LAYUP CONVICTION, NO CHARGES BROUGHT. UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ISSUES AREN'T EXACTLY PART OF YOUR DUTIES, BUT THIS IS YOUR ADMINISTRATION, AND I THINK IT'S HIGH TIME YOU GUYS ADDRESSED THESE PUBLIC CONCERNS.

THANK YOU, MR. PRIEST. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. NEXT, JULIE HULSEY AND SANDY PROFFITT AND ON DECK WILL BE ROBERT SMITH. GOOD AFTERNOON.

I'M JULIE HULSEY. THIS IS SANDY PROFFITT. WE'RE HERE TO REPRESENT UPWARD FOR KIDS.

WE HAVE MY BUSINESS IS IN RANDALL COUNTY ON BELL STREET ACROSS FROM AMARILLO HIGH.

WE LIVE IN RIVER FALLS, BOTH OF US. WE HAVE TAKEN ON THE CHALLENGE OF HELPING AT RISK KIDS IN THE CISD SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S MANY AMARILLO SCHOOLS IN CISD.

WE ARE TAKING ALL TEN OF THE SCHOOLS, THE ELEMENTARY, THREE INTERMEDIATE.

WE HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL LUNCHES THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO BE PAID.

WE'RE HAVING THEM VETTED THROUGH THE COUNSELORS.

WE'VE PROVIDED SNACKS FOR KIDS. WE'VE ALSO BEEN BUYING LOTS OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

OUR GOAL AND WHAT WE ARE RAISING MONEY NOW FOR, AND WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, IS MONEY TO HELP BUY THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR THIS NEXT SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE PRESCHOOL KINDERGARTEN. IT'S GOING TO GO ALL THE WAY UP THROUGH SIXTH GRADE.

WE ARE TRYING TO HELP ALL OF THOSE CHILDREN. WE ENVISION THEM COMING TO GET OFF SITE SO THAT THEY KEEP THEIR HUMILITY AND THEIR DIGNITY. THEY'LL COME OFFSITE. THEY WILL GET TO SHOP FOR THEIR SCHOOL SUPPLIES, FOR BACKPACKS TO SPIRAL BINDERS TO EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THAT LIST.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO. SO, WE WOULD JUST LIKE TO REQUEST $50,000 FROM THE BUC-EES GRANT TO HELP GO TOWARDS THIS.

I EMAILED EACH OF YOU A BUDGET. WE HAVE A BUDGET OF AROUND 310,000 TO HELP THESE KIDS, AND WE'RE JUST ASKING FOR A PORTION OF THAT TO GO HELP THE UNDERPRIVILEGED KIDS. YES, AND THESE ARE AT RISK KIDS.

THESE ARE THE ONES THAT IF WE CAN FEED THEM, NOURISH THEM AND HELP THEM WITH THEIR EDUCATION, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO LEAD OUR CITIES.

AND WE FEEL THAT CALL THAT AS WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN, WE WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THOSE.

AND SO WE'RE ASKING THE CITY TO HELP US TO GIVE BACK TO THESE CHILDREN.

THERE ARE SEVERAL NONPROFITS THAT ALREADY HELP THE CHILDREN AFTER SCHOOL HOURS, LIKE FILL WITH HOPE AND BACKPACK FOR KIDS.

THEY SEND FOOD HOME WITH THEM ON THE WEEKENDS AND AFTER SCHOOL.

WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TO HELP THEM DURING SCHOOL HOURS.

THE CHILDREN THAT NOW QUALIFY FOR A FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH.

WE HAVE PAID OFF THAT BACK DEBT FOR THEM. SO WE JUST STARTED OUR NONPROFIT THE MIDDLE OF OCTOBER, AND WE'VE ALREADY PAID FOR AROUND 2000 LUNCHES, AND WE'RE NOW HAVING THOSE KIDS WITH SCHOOL LUNCHES OR WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE MONEY WILL BE USED FOR. AND 100% OF THE MONEY GOES TO HELP THE CHILDREN, ALL ADMIN FEES AND THE WORK. WE DONATE OUR TIME AND MONEY FOR THAT.

SO 100% GOES TO THE KIDS AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY.

ROBERT SMITH AND AFTER MR. SMITH WILL BE KIM BENSON.

I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA EIGHT K HAVING TO DO WITH, UNMANNED VEHICLES, FLYING VEHICLES, OR AS WE KNOW THEM, COMMONLY AS DRONES.

AND I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY LATER IN THIS MEETING OR SOME OTHER FUTURE MEETING TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS AND MAKE IT MAKE IT PUBLIC SO THE PUBLIC KNOWS WHAT. AND I KNOW WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

SO IF YOU COULD BRING THAT TO A DISCUSSION OR THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE LATER IN THE PROGRAM, I WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE HERE AND TO DO THAT. OR PERHAPS THEN WE COULD SET A SCHEDULE FOR ANOTHER TIME,

[00:15:06]

SO WE JUST WANT TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND, GO ALONG AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. YES, SIR. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON THAT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH PULLING THAT. AND I'D ASK STAFF TO BE PREPARED TO MAYBE SPEAK TO THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT.

GLAD TO DO IT. THANK YOU. KIM BENSON AND AFTER KIM WILL BE CASSANDRA GREEN.

GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL. KIM BENSON, CITY LIMITS.

I JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY. BEFORE YOU VOTE ON THE BYLAWS FOR NINE D FOR THE AEDC, I DID SPEAK TO THE BOARD A FEW WEEKS AGO ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT THE AEDC IS TELEVISED JUST LIKE THESE MEETINGS.

I THINK AS FOR THE CITIZENS THAT WORK AND CAN'T BE AT THIS MEETING, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AS CITIZENS, WE'VE DROPPED THE BALL WITH THE AEDC, AND I THINK SOME OF THAT'S DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE DON'T GET TO SEE THEIR MEETINGS.

I MEAN, YOU CAN GO, BUT IF YOU'RE AT WORK, YOU CAN'T GO.

I HAVE ATTENDED A FEW OF THOSE MEETINGS AND IT IS VERY INFORMATIVE.

YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL HAS WORKED VERY HARD ON THE TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY AND COUNCILMAN SIMPSON, I HEARD YOU JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND ON POLITICS TODAY AND SAID TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY. SO I THINK THIS IS A MISSING PUZZLE FOR THE AEDC.

AND I KNOW WITH THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THEIR CERTIFICATES OF FORMATION THAT I'VE READ THAT, THAT'S IN THERE, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DO IT. I KNOW THEY DON'T HAVE THE FACILITY TO TELEVISE THAT.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT NEW CITY HALL THAT'S ABOUT TO OPEN.

MOVE THEM OVER THERE AND LET THEM TELEVISE THEIR MEETINGS, AND THEN CITIZENS CAN STAY MORE INVOLVED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU, MISS BENSON.

CASSANDRA GREEN. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TO YOU TODAY. MY NAME IS CASSIE GREEN.

I'M AN AMARILLO RESIDENT. I ALSO AGREE WITH MISS BENSON, SO I SECOND THAT AND, BUT I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT ITEM EIGHT K, AND THAT IS THE PURCHASE OF TWO UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES.

AND SO AS I BELIEVE ROBERT SAID AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR PULLING THE ITEM, BUT HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THAT.

IF YOU COULD PLEASE ADDRESS THEM WHEN YOU DO PULL THE ITEM.

DOES IT HAVE CAMERAS AND IF SO, WHAT KIND OF CAMERAS ARE THEY JUST LICENSE PLATE SCANNERS? OR ARE THEY THE FUSION KIND, WHICH I BELIEVE HAS REAL TIME FOOTAGE OF THE CITIZENS? AND THEN NEXT, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO UPGRADE IT IF IT'S NOT GOT A CAMERA? ARE THEY FOR USE IN THE REGIONAL CRIME CENTER? I'M ASSUMING THEY ARE, BUT THAT'S MY QUESTION.

HOW MANY DO WE PLAN TO BUY BEFORE IT'S ALL OVER? WHAT I MEAN BY IT'S ALL OVER. LIKE, WHAT IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGIONAL CRIME CENTER? AND HOW MANY DRONES DO YOU HAVE DOWN THE PIPELINE OF PURCHASING AT? AND IS IT GOING TO BE AT $68,000 A POP? AND HOW DOES THAT CALCULATE AND HOW DOES IT SAVE IF IT'S GOING TO SAVE US AT ALL? SO HOW MANY DO WE PLAN TO BUY BEFORE IT'S ALL OVER? HOW MANY DO WE HAVE CURRENTLY? I BELIEVE WE ALREADY HAVE THREE.

AND SO WE'RE BUYING TWO MORE TODAY. POTENTIALLY.

AND MY SECOND QUESTION IS CAN YOU PLEASE ROLL THIS ITEM UNTIL THE ORDINANCE IS IN PLACE THAT WE'VE AGREED TO CREATE? AND IF THIS ORDINANCE WOULD HAVE TEETH PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF OUR 14TH AND FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

AND ARE THESE CAMERAS AND DRONES IN VIOLATION OF TEXAS? TEXAS HOUSE BILL 1631. I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE. I'VE READ OVER THE BILL.

IT'S THREE PAGES. I PROVIDED IT FOR ALL OF YOU GUYS.

A FEW COUNCIL MEETINGS AGO. SO I JUST THINK THIS IS IN VIOLATION TO THAT TEXAS BILL.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS CASSIE. MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES EVERYONE THAT SIGNED UP TODAY.

SHOULD NOT BE ANY PROBLEM IF MR. PATH WANTS TO TEE UP WHO WE WANT TO HAVE SPEAK ON ITEM EIGHT K WILL GO INTO THE DETAILS AS TO THE NEED FOR THOSE UAVS AT THAT TIME. DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT?

[00:20:03]

YOU STARTED MY TIME. I GOT ABOUT 10S TAKEN OFF.

OH, I'LL GIVE YOU THE TEN BACK. THANK YOU. I SHOULD GET ABOUT 30, I THINK, I'M AN ARMY VETERAN ALSO.

I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU 20 SINCE SIX YEARS.

ARMY VETERAN. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE. THAT'S WHERE I GET ALL THIS FEARLESSNESS HERE.

WE LOVE YOUR BRAVERY THERE, MIKE. YEAH. THANK YOU.

JUMP INTO IT. ALL RIGHT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GUYS ARE AWARE, BUT IT'S PRETTY A LOT IN THE NEWS.

ALL FEDERAL FUNDING OF GRANTS HAVE BEEN HALTED TODAY.

I'D LIKE FOR ITEM 8H8I TO BE TAKEN OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

WE DISCUSSED REGARDING THE $300,000 FOR THREE SIGNS TO BE REHABBED ON ROUTE 66.

MY QUESTIONS ARE IS WHERE I SPELL THAT W A R E.

WHERE ARE THESE BUSINESSES THAT ARE RECEIVING THESE GRANTS? BECAUSE THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. AND ARE WE RESTORING THEM TO BE NEON SIGNS? I MEAN, THAT'S PRETTY. YOU'RE JUST THEY'RE JUST GOING TO BE DONE. GIVE IT A YEAR.

OUR HAILSTORMS AND OUR WEATHER. I'M SURE THAT MISS KOLLER WILL COME UP HERE AND SAY NOBODY APPLIED FOR THESE GRANTS, BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS. PEOPLE JUST QUIT BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET THEM.

AND IT'S JUST THE WHO'S WHO THAT GETS THESE GRANTS.

THE NEXT THING IS REGARDING THE BUC-EE'S DEAL, AND THESE YOUNG LADIES CAME UP HERE AND TALKED ABOUT THIS, AND I'LL DONATE TO YOUR CAUSE. JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I'M TALKING AGAINST THIS DEAL.

I'M TALKING AGAINST THE BUC-EE'S GRANT. BUT I'LL DONATE. I'LL PUT MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS. IS THAT FAIR? WE'RE GOING TO GIVE $275,000 DONATION.

I PUT THAT IN QUOTES BECAUSE IT'S NOT A DONATION. IT'S PART OF A CONTRACT.

BUC-EE'S IS REQUIRED TO GIVE THIS DONATION. IT'S PART OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEAL.

SO NOW IT'S FORCED. THAT'S NOT A DONATION. IT DOESN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE IRS CALL THE DONATION.

BUT THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS. BUT IT TRANSITIONS TO MR., AH YOUR ATTORNEY MCWILLIAMS. MCWILLIAMS. YEAH. HOW DO I FORGET THAT NAME? HE SIGNED THIS AGREEMENT.

YOU'LL SEE IT. I GAVE YOU A COPY OF IT, OF THE AGREEMENT.

THE FIRST, I THINK, AND LAST PAGE AND THE MIDDLE PAGE, AND IT SHOWS.

BASICALLY, THIS IS MONEY LAUNDERING. THIS IS THE SAME THING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE ADC WHERE WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO GIVE MONEY TO A NONPROFIT. THIS IS IT'S CALLED DIRECT NEXUS.

SO IF THERE'S A REQUIREMENT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT TO GIVE SOMETHING BACK.

AND IN THIS CASE, THEY GIVE BACK JOBS, RIGHT? SO THAT'S PART OF IT. JOBS TAX AND CREATE TAX BASE.

IT GROWS IT. IT'S ECONOMICALLY FRIENDLY. YOU'RE THIS DEAL SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE IT AWAY TO A NONPROFIT.

THAT'S NOT THE DESIGN OF THIS. IT HAS TO THE DIRECT NEXUS FOR TOM SCHERLEN IS THAT IT'S PROBABLY NOT IN YOUR VOCABULARY EITHER.

IT'S NOT IN MINE. IT MEANS IT MUST HAVE A DIRECT CORRELATION, IT MUST PARALLEL.

IT MUST BE RELATED TO THE CORE OF THAT CONTRACT.

IT MUST BE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT MUST CREATE JOBS, INCREASE OUR TAX BASE.

IT MUST DO THAT. SO WHATEVER THAT DONATION THAT WE'RE CALLING IT, IT HAS TO BE THAT IT CAN'T BE TO A NONPROFIT.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING WITH THE RANGE. IT'S THE EXACT SAME SCENARIO.

AND I'VE SENT YOU AN EMAIL. IT'S GOT ALL THE DETAILS IN THERE.

AND I STILL RECOMMEND LOOK AT CHATGPT SUPER LEGAL WRITER INSTEAD OF LISTEN TO THIS GUY BECAUSE THIS SAME GUY, WE STILL GOT THE SAME GUY. HE'S GOING TO TELL YOU, IT'S OKAY, YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO END THE AGREEMENT TODAY.

I GUESS FOR THE EXTERNAL COUNSEL, I RECOMMEND KEEPING IT BECAUSE THIS GUY IS GOING TO SAY IT'S OKAY.

LET ME GIVE ONE STATEMENT OF FACT. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WORDS HERE TODAY. WE'LL TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT.

WHAT YOU HIGHLIGHTED FOR ME SAYS COMMUNITY OUTREACH DONATION ITEM 2.4 OF THE CONTRACT.

YOU HIGHLIGHTED DEVELOPER SHALL DONATE $275,000 TO BENEFIT COMMUNITY ORIENTED PROJECTS.

[00:25:01]

SURE. AND THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE. IT'S A DONATION.

IT'S NOT A DONATION, THOUGH. HOW IS THAT NOT A DONATION? DOESN'T MEET THE REQUIREMENT. IT'S REQUIRED.

YOU HAVE TO DO IT AS PART OF THIS CONTRACT TO GET THIS DEAL OUT HERE.

WELL, IN RETURN, THEY HAVE TO GIVE A DONATION.

THAT'S NOT A DONATION. IT HAS TO BE AT THEIR FREE WILL.

WOULD YOU? I WOULD SAY AS A STATEMENT OF FACT, IT'S A IT'S A TERM OF THE AGREEMENT.

SO BUT THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT FORWARD. AND WE CAN PULL THOSE TWO ITEMS. I DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE THIS WAY COLE MAN, I JUST KNOW I'LL WORK WITH YOU.

ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT HERE TODAY? PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. JAMES, PLEASE COME FORWARD, SIR.

JAMES. CITY LIMITS. I'M THANKFUL TO BE, LIVING IN THE REVOLUTION OF COMMON SENSE.

THIS SITUATION THAT HE JUST SPOKE ABOUT IS SORT OF TAG TEAMS WITH SOMETHING I WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT, AND THAT'S LIKE NINE F, WHERE MR. SIMPSON'S PUT FORWARD A RESOLUTION TO REPEAL THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL. AND I'M THINK THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF WHY YOU SHOULDN'T REPEAL IT. YOU GUYS NEED HELP WITH LEGAL ADVICE ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.

YOU NEED DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON THINGS. YOU HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THAT.

AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, HE'S ALREADY SAVED US A LOT MORE MONEY THAN THE MONEY WE'VE SPENT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A GIVEN. AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF SITUATION GO ON.

YOU NEED MULTIPLE LEGAL OPINIONS. AND EVERY TIME I'VE LISTENED TO HIM AND HEARD HIM SPEAK AND ACTUALLY TALKED TO HIM, HE'S SOLID. SO PLEASE CONSIDER A NO VOTE ON THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR. NOW HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT HERE TODAY? OKAY. THANK YOU ALL FOR SPEAKING AND EVERYBODY FOR BRINGING ADDITIONAL CONCERN AND ADVISEMENT THAT WE'LL TAKE SERIOUSLY.

SO MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE DISCUSSION ITEMS. DO I HAVE ANYONE ON COUNCIL THAT NEEDS TO BRING ANYTHING UP ON ITEM SEVEN?

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

[7.B. Local option ad valorem property tax exemption for operating a child-care facility]

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER S. I'M SKYLER GALLUP.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE. OUR FRIEND CARA LEE CLAY UNEXPECTEDLY WAS UNABLE TO JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND TAPPED ME TO DISCUSS SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLY IMPACTFUL FOR OUR COMMUNITY, OUR WORKFORCE, OUR EMPLOYERS, AND THE YOUNGEST CITIZENS OF AMARILLO AND THE PANHANDLE ARE CHILDREN, AND THAT'S CHILD CARE. I'M HERE TODAY TALKING ON BEHALF OF A COALITION OF A BUNCH OF FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN DOING WORK AROUND AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY CHILD CARE IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. WE'VE GOT WORKFORCE PEOPLE, SIMILARLY, NON FOR PROFIT CHILD CARE PROVIDERS, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECOGNIZED EARLY AND CRITICALLY HOW IMPORTANT IT IS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE THAT OUR FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE AND QUALITY CHILD CARE. AND THAT COALITION IS EARLY MATTERS.

TEXAS PANHANDLE. WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ROADS AND PUBLIC SAFETY CRITICAL INVESTMENTS FOR ANY THRIVING COMMUNITY, BUT HIGHLIGHTING TODAY ANOTHER ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT SUPPORTS ECONOMIC GROWTH AND WORKFORCE STABILITY.

QUALITY CHILD CARE. CHILD CARE IS MORE THAN JUST A SERVICE.

IT'S A CRUCIAL ECONOMIC DRIVER THAT ALLOWS PARENTS TO WORK.

BUSINESSES TO HIRE. AND OUR COMMUNITY TO GROW.

BUT DESPITE ITS IMPORTANCE, QUALITY CHILD CARE IS ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING BUSINESS MODELS TO SUSTAIN.

SUSTAIN. AND I'LL EXPLAIN WHY. FIRST, THE COSTS OF RUNNING A CHILD CARE BUSINESS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH.

AFTER STAFFING, FACILITY COSTS SUCH AS RENT, MORTGAGE PAYMENTS AND PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE SECOND LARGEST EXPENSE FOR PROVIDERS.

UNLIKE MANY OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES, CHILD CARE CENTERS CAN'T SIMPLY PASS THESE COSTS ON TO FAMILIES WITHOUT MAKING QUALITY CARE UNAFFORDABLE.

THE REALITY IS THAT MANY PROVIDERS ARE OPERATING ON RAZOR THIN MARGINS, BALANCING THE NEED TO PROVIDE A SAFE,

[00:30:08]

SECOND, STRICT REGULATIONS ADD TO THE CHALLENGE.

OUR STATE HAS RIGHTLY ESTABLISHED HIGH STANDARDS FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS REQUIRING PROPER SAFETY MEASURES, LOW TEACHER TO CHILD RATIOS AND ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND WHILE THESE REGULATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO CHILDREN'S WELLBEING, THEY DO COME AT A COST.

PROVIDERS MUST INVEST IN TRAINING, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMPLIANCE, ALL WHILE KEEPING TUITION WITHIN REACH FOR OUR WORKING FAMILIES.

THIRD, WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IN CHILDCARE IS AN UPHILL BATTLE.

THE INDUSTRY STRUGGLES WITH HIGH TURNOVER RATES BECAUSE MANY PROVIDERS SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO OFFER COMPETITIVE WAGES.

CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS ARE ENTRUSTED WITH OUR YOUNGEST COMMUNITY MEMBERS, YET THEY OFTEN LEARN EARN LESS THAN WORKERS IN RETAIL OR FAST FOOD WITHOUT SUPPORT. CHILD CARE CENTERS FACING STAFF SHORTAGES CAN LEAD TO FEWER AVAILABLE SLOTS FOR FAMILIES AND INCREASED OPERATIONAL STRAIN.

AND FINALLY, PROVIDERS ARE CONSTANTLY BALANCING AFFORDABILITY WITH QUALITY.

WE ALL WANT THE BEST FOR OUR CHILDREN, SAFE ENVIRONMENTS, SKILLED TEACHERS AND ENRICHING ACTIVITIES.

BUT PROVIDERS MUST WEIGH THESE ASPIRATIONS AGAINST WHAT FAMILIES CAN AFFORD TO PAY.

WITHOUT FINANCIAL RELIEF MECHANISMS LIKE PROP TWO, THEY ARE LEFT WITH IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES THAT THREATEN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BUSINESS OF THEIR BUSINESSES. THIS IS WHERE YOU, OUR CITY LEADERS, CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY BY ADOPTING PROP TWO AND PROVIDING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. YOU CAN HELP REDUCE THE FINANCIAL STRAIN ON THESE VITAL BUSINESSES.

THIS SUPPORT WILL ALLOW PROVIDERS TO REINVEST IN THEIR STAFF, FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS LEADING TO BETTER SERVICES FOR FAMILIES AND A MORE STABLE LOCAL WORKFORCE. NOW, THIS INITIATIVE ISN'T JUST ABOUT HELPING CHILDCARE CENTERS SURVIVE, IT'S ABOUT HELPING OUR CITY THRIVE.

MORE WORKING PARENTS MEANS A STRONGER ECONOMY.

MORE JOB CREATION AND GREATER DEMAND FOR CITY SERVICES LIKE TRANSPORTATION, RETAIL AND HOUSING.

PROP TWO IS AN INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE. I URGE YOU TO CONSIDER THIS MEASURE NOT AS A HANDOUT, BUT AS A STRATEGIC MOVE TO SUPPORT OUR WORKFORCE, STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND ENSURE OUR COMMUNITY REMAINS COMPETITIVE AND ATTRACTIVE FOR BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES ALIKE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CITY'S FUTURE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE QUALITY CHILDCARE MORE SUSTAINABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

MISS SKYLER, THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS GALLUP? SKYLER, WOULD YOU BE THE PERSON TO REACH OUT TO IF WE HAVE QUESTIONS OUTSIDE OF THIS MEETING? YES. ME OR CARA LEE CLAY. OKAY. DO YOU HAVE AN ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY FACILITIES IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO THIS WOULD AFFECT IF THIS WERE TO GO IN? I DO, AND I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING. SO IF YOU GUYS FULLY FUNDED, YOU KNOW, AT 100% THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE, THEN WE ANTICIPATE ABOUT 26 CHILDCARE PROVIDERS WOULD BE ELIGIBLE.

AND SO THE IMPACTFULNESS OF 26 CHILDCARE PROVIDERS GETTING THIS TAX BREAK WOULD ACTUALLY BE A REALLY LOW IMPACT TO THE CITY'S REVENUE. WE ESTIMATE ONLY $28,000.

YOU GUYS WOULD KIND OF BE ON THE BAG AND TO PROVIDE SUCH A LARGE IMPACT TO 26 CHILDCARE PROVIDERS.

I MEAN, I THINK EVEN WHEN MY KIDDOS WERE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THEY ENTERED PUBLIC EDUCATION, WHICH WAS JUST A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I SAW THROUGH MY NETWORK OF FRIENDS, SEVERAL CHILDCARE, HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE FACILITIES SHUT DOWN. AMARILLO, MONTESSORI, SOUTHWEST MONTESSORI, ALL SORTS OF PLACES BECAUSE THEY JUST COULDN'T MAKE ENDS MEET. AND IF THEY I CAN I SAID ON THE BOARD AT AMARILLO MONTESSORI.

SO I BALANCED AS BEST I COULD THAT BUDGET AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY WELCOME TO US WHEN WE WERE REALLY, REALLY STRUGGLING TO, AGAIN, BALANCE PAYING OUR WORKERS ANY SORT OF SUSTAINABLE WAGES TO KEEP THEM AND NOT LOSE THEM TO RETAIL AND FAST FOOD, WHILE REALLY STRUGGLING TO DO BEST TO OUR KIDDOS TO PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION CENTER.

SO AT THE COST OF 28,000, PROVIDING THIS RELIEF TO 26 PROVIDERS IN TOWN, AND WHAT OTHER MUNICIPALITIES OR COUNTIES HAVE ENACTED THIS ORDINANCE CURRENTLY? SO POTTER COUNTY HAS ENACTED IT AT 75% IN CANYON, JUST IN OUR AREA.

THAT'S ONLY THAT'S THE DATA THAT THAT I WAS GIVEN.

CANYON HAS PASSED IT AT THE FULL 100%. IS IT A IS THERE ANY TIME LIMITATIONS ON THE YEAR AMOUNT OR IS IT FOREVER? I'M NOT AWARE OF THAT, BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN FOLLOW BACK WITH THAT INFORMATION.

THIS WAS ALSO PASSED IN THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THERE'S A GOOD DEAL OF CLEANUP THAT I EXPECT IS GOING TO HAPPEN SPECIFICALLY TO OPEN IT UP TO HOME CARE PROVIDERS, WHICH WERE KIND OF LEFT OUT OF PROP TWO LAST SESSION.

[00:35:04]

SO, YOU KNOW, EXPANDING EVEN THE PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT IS GRANTED.

THANK YOU. HEY, SKYLER, DO YOU KNOW IF A NEW FACILITY WERE TO OPEN UP? DO THEY AUTOMATICALLY QUALIFY? SO IT WOULD DEPEND.

CARA LEE THREW ME INTO THIS. YES OR NO? OKAY.

SO IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON IF THEY ARE CREDENTIALED WITH THE EARLY.

WHAT IS IT? RISING STAR. RISING STAR? IF THEY HAVE RISING STAR ACCREDITATION.

WHICH IS WHY 26 RIGHT NOW. AND THAT COULD EXPAND.

AND FRANKLY, WE WANT IT TO BECAUSE THE MORE CHILDCARE FACILITIES THAT ARE AWARDED THE AWARDED THE TEXAS RISING STAR.

ACCREDITATION MEANS THAT WE ARE ATTAINING THAT GOAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TO HAVE MORE QUALITY CHILDCARE FACILITIES.

SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT IF A NEW CHILDCARE PROVIDER OPENED UP AND OBTAINED THE RISING STAR ACCREDITATION, THAT THEY WOULD FALL UNDER THAT. IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING? YES.

SO, YES, TEXAS RISING STAR IS THE QUALITY. IF YOU DON'T MIND, COME FORWARD.

THAT WAY THEY CAN GET YOUR AUDIO ONLINE. WE MAY HAVE A FEW EXTRA QUESTIONS.

SO IF YOU DON'T MIND HANGING OUT. MY NAME IS JILL GOODRICH.

I'M A MOM OF FOUR. ALWAYS USE CHILDCARE, BUT I ALSO AM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL HERE IN TOWN.

OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL DOES NOT BENEFIT FROM THIS MEASURE, BUT I'M HERE TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL CHILDCARE INDUSTRY.

TEXAS RISING STAR IS THE STATE'S QUALITY RATING SYSTEM.

SO FOR A PROGRAM TO QUALIFY FOR THIS EXEMPTION, THEY WOULD NEED TO BE PART OF THAT PROGRAM.

SO THEIR QUALITY OF THEIR PROGRAM IS MONITORED AND THEY ALSO HAVE TO ENROLL.

I THINK IT'S 20% OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES. AND SO IT IS GEARED TO HELP OUR PROGRAMS THAT SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OKAY. SO IN ORDER FOR THEM TO QUALIFY, THEY HAVE TO MEET THOSE STANDARDS.

AND THEN IT'S MONITORED AS WELL. CORRECT. SO IT'S LIFTING THE STANDARD OF ALL FACILITIES THAT ARE.

OKAY. RISING STAR IS A LONG STANDING ACCREDITATION PROGRAM.

RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, GENTLEMEN? JUST ONE ON THE RISING STAR REAL QUICK. ON THE RISING STAR, DO YOU HAVE TO PAY MEMBERSHIP ANYTHING TO BE A PART OF IT? NO YOU DON'T.

THERE'S NO MEMBERSHIP FEE. WE'RE MONITORED EVERY YEAR.

IN FACT, WE'RE GETTING READY FOR OUR MONITORING.

WE DON'T PUT A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF LOW INCOME CHILDREN THAT WE SERVE, BUT MANY CENTERS BECAUSE IT'S NOT PROFITABLE TO SERVE LOW INCOME FAMILIES BECAUSE OF THE RATES.

IT'S IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO BE SERVING LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

AND IN ORDER TO QUALIFY. OKAY. THANK YOU. MA'AM.

COUNCILMAN SIMPSON WAS THE FINAL APPROVAL. SO THIS CAME FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

WAS THAT THE FINAL APPROVAL? SO IT NEVER IT'S NOT IT WAS ANYTHING THAT HAD TO GO TO VOTERS. IT WAS JUST THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE. IT WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WAS WIDELY PASSED, PUT IT ON THERE AND VOTED TO PUT IT ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

IT WAS WIDELY PASSED, AND NOW IT'S JUST UP TO EVERY TAXING ENTITY TO LIKE TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE.

SO VOTERS THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA. WE SHOULD AT LEAST LOOK AT THE OPPORTUNITY IF WE CAN.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL? JUST TO RECAP, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OR THE OPTION TO DO 70% ABATEMENT OR 100% ABATEMENT.

ARE THOSE THE TWO? ARE THE TWO OPTIONS OTHER THAN JUST THE 100 OR RIGHT? YEAH, THE OPTION FOR THE 100 OR THE OTHER OPTION FOR THE 100.

I THINK IT'S 75 OR 100 75 OR 100. OKAY. DRAFT ORDINANCES, I DON'T THINK.

THERE YOU GO. AND SO RANDALL COUNTY HAS NOT PASSED THIS YET AS A TAXING ENTITY.

I DON'T HAVE THAT DATA. I WAS AWAITING IT. OKAY.

I THINK POTTER COUNTY, RANDALL COUNTY AND THE CITY OF CANYON HAVE ALL PASSED, HAVE ALL PASSED IT.

AND I THINK THERE'S LIKE 26 OTHER COUNTIES OR CITY MUNICIPALITIES WHO HAVE PASSED IT ACROSS THE STATE.

OKAY. COUNCIL, I WOULD ASK FOR A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION ON IN BRINGING THIS BACK.

SO WE HAVE AN ACTION ITEM, SOMETHING THAT WE COULD VOTE FOR.

WOULD YOU GUYS BE MORE INCLINED TO ENTERTAIN THE 100% ABATEMENT, KNOWING THAT IT'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR OUR TOTAL REVENUE? OR WOULD YOU GUYS WANT IT BROUGHT BACK WITH OPTIONS? WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? I'M FINE WITH OPTIONS.

OKAY. YEAH. SAME. I MEAN, I WOULD LOOK AT BOTH.

[00:40:01]

YEAH, I MEAN, I AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER STAFF HAS ANY OPINION ON THIS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER OR FEELING IF, IF IT'S DETRIMENTAL TO US TO TAKE THIS MONEY OFF OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT I'D BE INTERESTED WHEN WE GET THE FINAL PROPOSAL.

WHAT IF STAFF HAD ANY RECOMMENDATION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER OR OBSERVATIONS? OBVIOUSLY, I THINK YOU HIRE ME TO ALWAYS RAISE CONCERN ABOUT OUR FUNDING SOURCES, BUT NO TALKING TO STAFF.

I MEAN, I MEAN, THIS THIS WOULD BE A SOMETHING WE COULD DEFINITELY ABSORB.

SO. BUT I'LL GIVE IT STAFF TO. SO WHEN WE BRING THIS BACK TO YOU, WE'LL TRY TO HAVE NUMBERS TO YOU. THAT WAY YOU CAN KIND OF SEE WHAT THIS MAY IMPACT OUR BUDGET. BUT I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING.

BUT I THINK LOOKING AT OUR NOTES HERE, I THINK YOU HAVE OPTIONS BETWEEN 50% TO 100%.

SO WE'LL BRING BACK TO YOU AS KIND OF BLANKS THERE. AND THEN YOU CAN FILL THE BLANK IN THAT MEETING WITH THE SET WITH SET ORDINANCE.

REALLY GOOD. ANYTHING FURTHER COUNCIL. NO. AND YOU SAID DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE RATE WAS FOR RANDALL COUNTY'S EXEMPTION AMOUNT? I JUST TEXTED I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME. AND SHE HASN'T RESPONDED.

OKAY, WELL, WE'LL BRING IT BACK FOR AN ACTION ITEM.

AND THEN WE'LL HOPE FOR THE HIGHER END OF THAT OPTION OF 100%.

YEAH. AS WILL WE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU GUYS. APPRECIATE YOU.

ON TO ITEM SEVEN C. WE'VE GOT A STREETS AND FACILITIES UPDATE WITH MR.

[7.C. Streets and facilities after action report for recent snow event]

THIS IS AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILMAN SIMPSON AT THE TWO MEETINGS AGO THAT ASKED THAT WE WOULD COME BACK AND GIVE A RECAP OF WHAT WE DID IN THE SNOW EVENT THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY. SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS KIND OF WALK THROUGH THIS, TALK ABOUT WHAT WE DID TO PREPARE FOR IT, GO THROUGH THE ACTUAL EVENT ITSELF, AND THEN TALK ABOUT SOME LESSONS LEARNED AND SOME THINGS THAT WE LOOKED FORWARD TO FOR THE NEXT EVENT, WHICH ACTUALLY WE WERE ABLE TO PRACTICE IN THE NEXT SNOW EVENT THAT CAME JUST ABOUT A WEEK LATER TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS.

SO JUST KIND OF STARTING WITH THE LOOKING BACK OVER RECAP OF JANUARY 7TH, THERE WAS A SEVERE SNOW STORM WITH UP TO 12IN OF SNOWFALL THAT FELL ACROSS THE CITY.

THE ORIGINAL FORECAST FOR THAT WAS FOR ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF TO 2.5IN, WHICH IS WHAT WE WERE PREPARING FOR, EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THE FORECASTERS WE DID TALK TO SAID WE COULD SEE SIX INCHES IN A LIMITED, YOU KNOW, CONFIDENCE IN THAT, ABOUT A 20% CONFIDENCE IN THAT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE PREPARED FOR. WE DID SEE SOME WINDS THAT REACHED 45 MILES AN HOUR THAT WERE IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS LED TO SOME HIGH DRIFTING IN THAT FIRST NIGHT OF THE OF THE STORM, AND SOME BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES THAT PREVENTED THE NATURAL MELTING OF THE TWO DAYS OF THE EVENT. EVEN THOUGH WE DID SEE A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE OUT THERE TO HELP WITH THAT, WE STILL STAYED DOWN IN THE LOW TEMPERATURES, ESPECIALLY OVERNIGHT.

FORECASTS UNDERESTIMATED THE SNOWFALL AMOUNT IMPACTING OUR PREPARATION FOR THAT, AND WE HAD MINIMAL STREET CLOSURES.

IT'S SOMETHING WE ALWAYS LOOK BACK ON AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY STREETS WERE CLOSED? HOW MANY AREAS OF TOWN WERE INACCESSIBLE? THERE WAS ONLY ONE THAT WE KNEW OF INSIDE OF THE CITY, OF COURSE.

I-40 WAS ON THE TXDOT SIDE ALL THE WAY BACK WEST OF SONCY, BUT ON OUR END, NINTH STREET HAD SOME ISSUES GOING UP THE HILL, AND THAT WAS THE ONLY AREA THAT WE ACTUALLY CLOSED DOWN.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CLOSED THAT DOWN DURING THE STORM. THEY KIND OF JUST RUN BACK THROUGH.

THIS IS OUR INSIGHT INTO OUR PLANNING AND OUR RESPONSE.

ON JANUARY THE 7TH, WHICH WAS THE TUESDAY BEFORE THAT STORM BEGAN, AS WE ALWAYS DO, THAT'S WHEN WE START OUR INITIAL PLANNING.

WE HAVE OUR SHIFT SCHEDULING. A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE WITH OUR STREET DEPARTMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS COORDINATION AND OF COURSE, FORECAST REVIEWS WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM. SOMETHING I DO PERSONALLY IS CONTACT THE CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. I'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME. I HAVE A PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, HAVE GOOD DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, ALSO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH SOME OF THE METEOROLOGISTS HERE IN TOWN AS WELL.

I DON'T PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO SOME OF THE STUFF THAT'S OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THAT'S COMING FROM THE STORM CHASERS AT TIMES, BUT I DO AT LEAST LOOK AT IT AND KIND OF GET AN IDEA WHAT THEY'RE THINKING.

AND SO WHEN WE HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE METEOROLOGISTS, WE CAN GET A BETTER IDEA. JANUARY THE 8TH, OUR STREET DIVISION TRANSITIONED UP TO 24 HOUR SHIFTS, WHICH MEANS THAT WE CAME IN AND WORKED AT 8 P.M.

THAT NIGHT. WE HAD SENT SOME PEOPLE HOME EARLY IN THE DAY. THEY COME IN AT 8 P.M.

AND THEY START OUR 24 HOUR SHIFT ROTATIONS BEGINNING ON THE EIGHTH.

FORECAST REVIEW WITH THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AS WELL.

THEN ON THE NINTH, OF COURSE, I CALL THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AT 5 A.M.

AND THEY SAID THE SNOW SHOULD START AT SIX AND IT STARTED AT LIKE 6:01 WHERE I WAS AT.

SO THEY WERE THEY WERE SPOT ON WITH THAT. AS THE AS THE MORNING WENT, THAT SNOW INTENSIFIED AS WE ALL REMEMBER AND OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE WAS ACTIVATED.

WE HAD ALL OUR CREWS OUT OUR CITY SERVICES WERE ACTUALLY CLOSED DOWN AT NOON THAT DAY.

I THINK BY 11 A.M. WHEN GRAYSON AND I AND THE EXECUTIVE TEAM CALLED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ON A CONFERENCE CALL, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE'D ALREADY RECEIVED SIX AND A HALF, I THINK WAS THE NUMBER SIX AND A HALF, SEVEN INCHES IN SOME LOCATIONS IN AMARILLO, WHEN AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL PREDICTION WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND FOUR MAX.

OUR SALT AND SAND OPERATIONS BEGAN. THEN WE STARTED OUR DRIFT PLOWING OPERATIONS AS WELL.

CRITICAL BUILDING ACCESS FROM FACILITIES, SNOW REMOVAL FROM PARKING LOTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE DO ON AN EVERY SNOWSTORM OR ICE STORM.

WE START WORKING WITH OUR MUNICIPAL FACILITIES SO WE CAN GET THOSE BACK OPEN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

[00:45:02]

ON JANUARY THE 11TH AND 12TH, WE DID RESUME OUR SOLID WASTE SERVICES, AND WE DID OPEN UP OUR LANDFILL THAT MORNING, THANKS TO SOME CREATIVE WORK OUT THERE THAT I'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN JUST A MOMENT. THEN ON THE 13TH AFTER THIS IS POST-STORM OUR SWEEPING OPERATIONS BEGAN TO GO AND SWEEP UP ALL THE SALT AND SAND THAT WE HAVE OUT ON THE ROADS, AND WE START OUR POTHOLE PATROLS RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ANYTIME YOU HAVE THE WEATHER, YOU HAVE THE MOISTURE, YOU HAVE THE FREEZING. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME POTHOLES OUT THERE. SO WE START THAT. AND THEN OF COURSE, THAT MONDAY RIGHT AFTER THAT IS WHERE WE AND WE DO THIS EVERY EVENT. JUST SO YOU KNOW, THAT NO MATTER WHAT, WHETHER COUNCILS REQUEST THIS OR NOT, WE HAVE AN INTERNAL HOT WASH MEETING AND AN AFTER ACTION MEETING WHERE WE GO OVER EVERYTHING THAT OCCURRED WITH ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENT HEADS.

MAKE SURE THAT AND WE REALLY WE SAY THE WORDS, LEAVE YOUR EGOS AT THE DOOR AND COME IN WITH SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS AND REAL THINGS THAT WE SAW THAT WE COULD DO BETTER SO THAT WE CAN MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.

WE CONDUCTED THAT ON JANUARY THE 13TH. THEN ON JANUARY 14TH, WE STARTED EQUIPMENT REPAIRS AND STARTED REPLENISHING OUR SALT AND SAND BINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SO THAT WE COULD BE READY FOR THE NEXT STORM WHEN IT COMES.

I WANTED TO JUST GIVE YOU THIS PICTURE, JUST TO GIVE YOU A GOOD INSIGHT INTO IN THE BUILDING THAT WE HAVE OUT THE STREET MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.

WHEN ALL OF THESE TRUCKS ARE LOADED UP, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO PUT THE SPREADERS BACK THERE.

YOU'LL HEAR US TALK ON SOME OF THE EMAILS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VBOX SPREADERS.

WELL, THAT'S A VBOX SPREADER RIGHT THERE. AND THAT'S WHAT GOES IN THE BACK OF THE DUMP TRUCKS. THEY HAVE A CONVEYOR SYSTEM IN THERE, A TROLLEY SYSTEM THAT THEY CAN MOVE ALL THAT STUFF AROUND AND GET THEM ALL LOADED. THAT'S GENERALLY WHAT THE OVERNIGHT SHIFT WAS DOING WHENEVER THEY WERE PREPARING FOR RESPONSE THAT NEXT MORNING, GETTING ALL THE TRUCKS, GETTING EVERYTHING PREPARED.

WE ALSO HAVE A FACILITY WHERE WE CAN GO IN AND LOAD ALL OF THOSE TRUCKS UP WITH SALT AND SAND AND KEEP THEM INDOORS SO THAT WHEN THE SNOW BEGINS FALLING AND WE START TO SEE PRECIPITATION AT THAT. THAT MATERIAL IS DRY. SO WHEN WE GO OUT ON THE STREETS, IT'S READY TO GO.

I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU THAT THIS IS THE SALT AND SAND BINS.

I HAD SOMEBODY ASK ME THAT LAST WEEK. THEY SAID, WHAT IS THE SALT AND SAND BIN? WELL, THERE THEY ARE. THAT'S THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE WE HAVE SALT IN SOME SIDES.

WE HAVE SAND IN OTHERS. WE TAKE ALL THAT AND WE MIX IT.

WE HAVE A LOADING DOCK. THE TRUCKS PULL UP TO THAT.

AND WE'RE JUST CONTINUALLY ROTATING THOSE TRUCKS IN AND OUT AND BRINGING THEM IN AND FILL THEM BACK UP AND GETTING THEM BACK OUT ON THE STREETS. SO I WANT TO TALK ABOUT JUST DEPARTMENT. NOW YOU GOT TO KEEP IN MIND TOO, DURING THIS PRESENTATION. THERE ARE SOME DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE SKIPPED. WE THIS IS ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE UNDER MY PURVIEW. THERE'S STILL SOME DEPARTMENTS, SUCH AS UTILITIES, THAT HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PARKING LOTS. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HELPS WITH SOME OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER AREAS IN TOWN, TOO.

SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS REPORT. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT MY OPERATIONS HERE.

STAFF BEGAN 24 OPERATIONS, AS I SAID ON 12 A.M.

THURSDAY MORNING, REMAINED OPERATIONAL UNTIL 8 A.M.

ON SUNDAY MORNING. THAT'S WHEN WE FINALLY SHUT THE OPERATIONS DOWN.

WE HAD UP TO 26 PERSONNEL ON DUTY AT ANY TIME, PERFORMING ALL THE OPERATIONS LISTED BELOW.

SANDING THE ARTERIAL INTERSECTIONS, OVERPASSES, DOWNTOWN STREETS.

OUR OVERPASSES ARE GENERALLY THE ONES DOWNTOWN. WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE MAINTAIN ON I-40 OR ON I-27.

IT'S JUST THE ONES THAT YOU'LL SEE. LIKE A GOOD EXAMPLE IS COMING IN ON PIERCE STREET. THAT'S ONE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF RIGHT THERE. LOADING SAND INTO THE SPREADERS, PLOWING SOME SNOW DRIFTS. REMIND EVERYONE THIS IS A GOOD PUBLIC SERVICE PLACE TO DO IT FROM.

WE DO NOT TREAT RESIDENTIAL STREETS. WE NEVER HAVE.

WE DON'T HAVE THE HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT. OUR INTENT AND EXPECTATIONS DURING THIS STORM WAS TO TREAT THE ARTERIAL STREETS AS BEST WE CAN, DEPENDING UPON THE SITUATION, AND ALSO DEPENDING UPON WHAT WEATHER IS COMING.

WHAT DO WE HAVE COMING IN TWO DAYS? DO WE HAVE A LOT OF SUNSHINE IN 50 DEGREES, OR DO WE HAVE FREEZING TEMPERATURES FOR ANOTHER WEEK WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE ANY MELT OFF? ALL OF THAT GOES INTO THAT DECISION MAKING PROCESS OF WHAT, WHAT METHOD WE'RE GOING TO USE IN TREATING THE STREETS THAT WE WERE ADDRESSING.

WE HAVE LISTED ON HERE BUSTING SNOW AND SLUSH OUT.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR FAVORITE TERMS. WE CALL IT CURB BUSTING.

WE DO THAT AT THE ONSET OF THE MELT. WHEN IT STARTS TO MELT, WE START TO SEE OUR INLETS CLOGGED UP.

WE START TO SEE SLUSH IN THE CURBS THAT'S BUILT UP.

SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE OUR TANDEM TRUCKS, PICKUP TRUCKS, EVERYTHING WE HAVE OUT ON THE STREET.

THEIR INTENT IS TO GET IN THOSE CURBS WITH THEIR WHEELS AND CLEAN THOSE OUT.

IT WORKS VERY WELL. OPENS UP THE DRAINS AND LETS EVERYTHING DRAIN OFF SO THAT MORE MILK CAN COME AND MORE CAN GO INTO THE CURB AND INTO THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

THEN WE ALSO PERFORMING OUR EQUIPMENT REPAIRS AND SUPERVISING OUR OPERATIONS WAS ALL A PART OF WHAT WE DO.

I'D LIKE TO JUST TAKE A PAUSE TO AND INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF STAFF MEMBERS TODAY.

SITTING BACK IN THE BACK, OUR SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS IS LYNN HILL. LYNN, WOULD YOU STAND UP AND SHOW EVERYBODY YOUR SIX FOUR AND ALL THEIR.

LYNN HAS BEEN WITH THE CITY FOR WHAT WAS IT, 26 YEARS? LYNN IS THAT OKAY? CLOSE ENOUGH. IT'S OVER 20.

AND FRANK SHAW, WHO'S THE SUPERVISOR? THE GOOD LOOKING GUY IN THE WHITE SHIRT THERE.

HOW MANY YEARS, FRANK? 26. SO THERE YOU GO. THERE'S THE 26.

SO YOU HAVE. YOU HAVE 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SITTING RIGHT HERE IN THIS ROOM.

THAT'S BEEN A PART OF THAT OPERATION OUT THERE, AND WAS THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR MANY YEARS AND RAN THE OVERNIGHT OPERATIONS.

HE'S NOW THE SUPERINTENDENT, RUNS THE DAYTIME OPERATIONS OUT THERE.

[00:50:04]

BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO OUT THERE. SO WE JUST WANTED TO PASS IT ALONG TO AT LEAST THESE TWO SO THEY CAN PASS ON TO THEM. AND WE'RE SUPER PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY DID. AND YOU CAN SEE A FACE AND KIND OF PUT A FACE WITH SOME OF THE NAMES THAT WE TALK ABOUT.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT OUR STREET DIVISION OPERATIONS.

WE HAD NINE TANDEM AXLE DUMP TRUCKS WITH V BOX SPREADERS.

WE HAD THREE SINGLE AXLES SAND TRUCKS AS WELL.

WE HAVE FOUR MOTOR GRADERS, FOUR FRONT END LOADERS AND SANDING, SANDING AND ASSISTING WITH THE SNOW DRIFT REMOVAL.

ONE BACKHOE WAS CLEARING SNOW FROM THE SERVICE CENTER PARKING LOT SO THAT THEY COULD WORK EFFICIENTLY IN THERE. AND THEN TEN PICKUPS WITH SUPERVISORS AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE TRANSPORTING PEOPLE BACK AND FORTH, OR GOING OUT AND PICKING UP SOMEONE IF WE HAD AN EQUIPMENT PROBLEM, ETC., AND ALSO MONITORING WHERE WE HAVE TROUBLE, WHERE WE HAVE AREAS THAT WE KNOW THAT ARE HIGH IMPACT AREAS DURING AN EVENT LIKE THIS WE HAD OUR ABOUT 6500 MILES JUST FROM THE STREET DEPARTMENT FROM 12 A.M.

THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. WE VERIFIED ALL THAT THROUGH OUR GPS SYSTEM.

OF COURSE, WE CAN MONITOR ALL THOSE VEHICLES WHILE THEY'RE OUT ON THE ROAD AND MONITOR THE MILEAGE AND OUR RUNTIME HOURS OF THE ENGINES.

EVERYTHING ABOUT 900 TONS OF SALT AND SAND WAS APPLIED TO THE STREETS DURING THAT ONE EVENT, AND OUR OVERTIME COST WAS ROUGHLY ABOUT $35,000 ON THAT.

AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO PUT A NUMBER TO WHAT A STORM LIKE THIS COST US.

BUT WHEN YOU JUST TAKE A ROUGH NUMBER WITH EQUIPMENT, TIME, PERSONNEL, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT, IT'S A LITTLE OVER $400,000 IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE FOR OUR RESPONSE DURING THIS EVENT.

NOW, SOME OF THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NORMAL HOURS THAT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING ANYWAY.

SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO PUT A FULL COST UP. BUT DURING THOSE TIMES, DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, ABOUT $400,000 OR BETTER FOR THAT, FOR THE EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL AND AND MATERIALS.

OUR FLEET SERVICES DIVISION, THEY START 24 HOUR SHIFTS AS WELL.

AS SOON AS OUR STREET DIVISION GOES INTO 24 HOUR SHIFTS.

SO DO THEY. THEY NEED TO BE THERE TO RESPOND TO THE ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE AS FAR AS THE EQUIPMENT WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS. AND WE WERE REALLY LUCKY DURING THIS STORM, WE HAD FOUR PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, I THINK TOTAL THAT ACTUALLY HAD PROBLEMS. AND THEY'LL PULL THOSE INTO THE SHOP. THE MECHANICS ARE THERE. THEY'RE READY TO GO. THE GOOD NEWS IS, AND ALAN WAS TELLING ME THIS.

AND ALAN HARDER'S BACK THERE AS WELL, WHO RAN THIS ENTIRE EVENT AND EVENT AND DID A FANTASTIC JOB ON IT.

BUT HE WAS TELLING ME THAT HE WENT OUT AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TRUCKS THAT WERE BEING REPAIRED. BUT YET THE FLEET SERVICES DIVISION WAS ACTUALLY WORKING ON OUR TRASH TRUCKS WHILE THEY WERE OUT THERE. SO THEY FOUND THINGS TO DO.

THEY WERE EXTREMELY BUSY DURING THAT TIME, AND THEY WANTED TO COME IN AND WE'D GET IT BACK OUT ON THE ROAD. SIX PERSONNEL, 24 HOUR OPERATIONS. AND AGAIN, WE HAD VERY MINIMAL ISSUES WITH EQUIPMENT DRAINS.

UTILITY OPERATIONS ARE A PART OF THIS AS WELL.

THEY HAVE PARKING LOT DUTIES. SO THEY HAVE SEVERAL AREAS THAT THEY GO.

THEY ALSO CLEAR ALL THE CLOGGED INLETS AND THEY'RE PATROLLING FOR THOSE ALL THE TIME.

IF WE START GETTING CLOGGED INLETS, WE START GETTING OTHER ISSUES WITH THE STREETS, TOO. WE WANT THAT STUFF TO DRAIN OFF, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, BUT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOVING SNOW, REMOVING SNOW AT THE GRANT STREET FUEL ISLANDS.

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE FUEL UP OUR EQUIPMENT TO GO BACK OUT AND CONTINUE RUNNING GARFIELD FUEL ISLAND.

THAT'S WHERE WE ALSO SEE A LOT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FUELING UP THEIR VEHICLES, ETC..

ANIMAL MANAGEMENT, WELFARE TRANSIT'S MULTI-MODAL FACILITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH IS WHAT THEY DID DURING THIS EVENT, AND I GOT TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF CREDIT TOO.

THERE'S SOME THERE'S SOME AREAS THAT WE'VE EXPANDED TO, SUCH AS OUR NEW TRANSIT FACILITY.

AND CHRIS QUIGLEY CALLS AND SAYS, HEY, WHAT ABOUT OUR PARKING LOT? WELL, IT WASN'T IN OUR SNOW PLAN BECAUSE IT'S A BRAND NEW FACILITY.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU'LL SEE IN OUR AFTER ACTION REPORT THAT WE'VE GOT TO MAKE, MAKE RIGHT IN OUR REPORT.

DRAINAGE UTILITY TOOK ALL THOSE AREAS WHERE WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE ASSIGNED AND WENT AND TOOK CARE OF IT.

NOW THAD IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OUT THERE FOR DRAINAGE UTILITY? THEY HAD NINE PERSONNEL, A BACKHOE, THREE DUMP TRUCKS, TWO PICK UP TRUCKS ABOUT 186 MILES THAT THEY PUT ON THE EVENT TRAFFIC DIVISION.

YOU PROBABLY DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT THEY'RE OUT THERE. BUT A LOT. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A NORTH WIND IN THIS SNOW EVENT, A LOT OF THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS THAT FACE THE SOUTH ARE GOING TO GET OR FACE THE NORTH, RATHER, ARE GOING TO GET THEIR LENSES COVERED UP WITH SNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE HIGH WINDS OVERNIGHT. SO THEY WILL GO OUT AND THEY'RE WORKING ON THOSE TO KNOCK THE SNOW OFF THOSE AND GET THOSE LENSES CLEAR DOING THINGS LIKE THAT.

ALSO LOOKING AT SIGNAL DETECTORS, DAMAGED SIGNS, ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

SOME OF THE HIGH WIND EVENTS, WE SEE A LOT OF SIGNS THAT GO DOWN. LUCKILY WE DIDN'T IN THIS ONE, BUT THEY'RE ALSO MONITORING FOR THAT FOR PICKUPS, THREE BUCKET TRUCKS, A SERVICE BODY AS WELL, ABOUT 200 MILES FOR THE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT.

OUR FACILITIES OPERATIONS VERY IMPORTANT TO WHAT WE DO.

JERRY DANFORTH IS THE SUPERINTENDENT THERE. AND I MIGHT MENTION RONNIE WILKERSON IS OUR SUPERINTENDENT FOR TRAFFIC.

AS WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THEM, JERRY AND HIS CREWS, THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO THE SIDEWALKS AND THEY CAN GET INTO THE BUILDINGS. SO AS SOON AS THEY CAN, THEY START WORKING ON THOSE FACILITIES.

16 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AT 12 PICKUPS AND FOUR SNOWBLOWERS.

THE FOUR SNOWBLOWERS DIDN'T WORK VERY WELL. AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT AS WELL. THEY DROVE ABOUT 350 MILES.

SO SOME OF THE STRENGTHS AND WHAT WE DO IN AN AFTER ACTION EVENT IS WE SIT DOWN AND WE TALK ABOUT WHAT DID WE DO WELL AND WHAT DID WE NOT DO WELL.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON THE STRENGTHS THAT WE SAW AS A TEAM, THAT WE HAD TIMELY PREPARATION.

[00:55:02]

WE GOT INTO A 24 HOUR SHIFTS VERY QUICKLY. AND I THINK THEY DID A GOOD JOB WITH THAT.

WE FOCUSED ON OUR PRIORITIES. IT'S VERY EASY FOR US TO START GETTING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY, OR WE GET PHONE CALLS FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER OR FROM A MANAGEMENT PERSON, AND THEY STICK TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

STICK TO OUR PLAN. UNLESS WE SEE THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY FROM THAT PLAN.

OBVIOUSLY, IF WE GO OFF OF IT AND SOMEBODY MAY BE DEPENDING ON US TO GET TO WHERE WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO BE AS A PART OF THAT PLAN, I THOUGHT THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF FOCUSING ON THOSE PRIORITIES.

OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WERE GOOD BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS.

OUR LANDFILL REOPENING VERY QUICKLY WHEN IT DID WAS BECAUSE OF THE INGENUITY OF THE FOLKS AT THE LANDFILL.

THEY SAID, HEY, WE CAN GET BACK OPEN, LET'S GO TAKE A BUNCH OF WOOD CHIPS THAT ARE OVER OUR WOOD PILE, AND LET'S START COATING THE ROADS WITH THOSE SO WE CAN GET TRUCKS IN HERE AND GET TRASH EMPTIED. I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY TIMELY OF THEM, AND IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THEY DID THAT. AND WE GOT OPENED THAT NEXT MORNING. SO THAT WAS GREAT.

DRAINAGE UTILITY RESPONSE. AGAIN, FILLING THOSE GAPS THAT WE HAD, THEY JUST JUMPED UP AND JUMPED ALL OVER IT.

STREET DEPARTMENT. OVERALL, I THOUGHT THE WORK WAS IN EXECUTING THE PLAN THAT WE HAD WAS GIVEN.

THEY DID A VERY GOOD JOB WITH THAT 24 HOUR SHIFTS AND ADDRESSING THAT, THE GAPS THAT WE IDENTIFIED.

AND THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE MORE THAT COME OUT OF IT. I THINK EVERY EVENT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND GAPS. IF YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR JOB. BUT PUBLIC ADVISORIES WERE NOT ISSUED EARLY ENOUGH TO MANAGE OUR EXPECTATIONS.

AND THAT'S ON ME. THAT'S ON OUR DEPARTMENT. I WAS READY TO PUT OUT ANYTHING THAT WE WERE READY TO GIVE THEM.

WE JUST REALLY WERE NOT PREPARED FOR. OH, WE'RE GOING TO FIX AND HAVE A BIG EVENT HERE. SO ONE OF THE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY GOT TO WORK ON IS MANAGING PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS THROUGH THAT COMMUNICATION. I THINK IT WOULD HELP SO MUCH IF PEOPLE KNEW WHAT WE WERE OUT THERE DOING, WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

OUR INTERNAL COMMUNICATION NEED A LITTLE BIT IMPROVEMENT AS WELL. ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.

WE HAVE SO MANY PARTNERS THAT WORK IN THIS, INCLUDING THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AS I JUST MENTIONED, AND THAT INTERNAL COMMUNICATION NEEDS TO GET BETTER AS WELL, SO THAT YOU CAN BE INFORMED ALSO IN THAT INTERNAL COMMUNICATION, CONSISTENT MESSAGING WITH THE PUBLIC DIDN'T OCCUR AS OFTEN AS IT SHOULD HAVE, AND THAT WAS DUE TO LACK OF INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF OAI, AS I JUST MENTIONED. AND IN SITUATIONAL REPORTS, WE'VE GOT TO GET BETTER AT THAT.

AND OUR SITREP REPORTS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE PUT TOGETHER.

WE TRY TO SEND IT OUT TO MR. PATH EARLY IN THE MORNING.

WE TRY TO KEEP THEM ADVISED ALL DAY LONG SO THAT HE CAN KEEP YOU UPDATED ON WHAT WE'RE DOING.

WE'VE REVISED HOW WE'RE DOING THAT REPORT, EVEN IN THAT SECOND SNOWSTORM THAT WE GOT, AND I THINK WE'VE ALREADY MADE SOME IMPROVEMENTS. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

SOME OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES AND GAPS THAT WE SAW WAS OUR SNOW BLOWERS FOR THE SIDEWALKS WERE THEY WERE HAVING A TOUGH TIME GETTING THOSE TO WORK.

THOSE CREWS USED SNOW SHOVELS TO DO SIDEWALKS.

WELL THAT'S INEFFICIENT. WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT FIXED. THERE'S SIMPLE FIXES FOR THAT.

AND WE DO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF 4X4 VEHICLES OF GETTING CREWS AROUND TO TAKE CARE OF PARKING LOTS AND TAKE CARE OF TRANSPORTING THAT TYPE OF EQUIPMENT TO OTHER AREAS.

SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EVEN SHARING EQUIPMENT, FINDING FOUR WHEEL DRIVES WITH DRIVES WITH PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN SENT HOME FOR THE DAY. WE CAN RESOURCE THOSE OUT IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND HELP THEM GET TO THEIR PLACES THAT THEY NEED TO BE.

AND OUR PARKING LOT RESPONSIBILITIES, THOSE GAPS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, WE'VE GOT TO REVISE THAT AND WE'VE GOT TO WE'VE GOT TO GET THAT SHORED UP. SOME OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES. SNOW REMOVAL PLAN NEEDS TO BE UPDATED WITH THE ADDRESSES OF THE IDENTIFIED TROUBLED AREAS.

WE FOUND THAT THERE'S SOME NEW DEVELOPMENTS TO THAT.

OUR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T TREAT RESIDENTIAL STREETS, THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE AT THE END OF A RESIDENTIAL AREA THAT'S NEXT TO AN OPEN FIELD.

WELL, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY GOING TO HAVE SOME HIGH DRIFTING THERE. AND WE HAD WE HAD A CASE WHERE THAT HAPPENED WHERE PEOPLE COULDN'T EVEN GET OUT OF THEIR HOUSE. I MEAN, IT WAS THREE FOOT DRIFTS OUT THERE. WE DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO PLOW ALL THE STREETS IN AMARILLO.

WE JUST DON'T. BUT WE WANT TO ATTEND TO THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WE DID. SO WE'RE GOING TO REVISE OUR PLAN TO INCLUDE SOME OF THOSE AREAS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN THIS STORM AND UPDATE THAT AND MAKE IT MORE READABLE FOR THE CREWS WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE. OUR RESOURCE TRACKING I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE UTILIZE OUR GPS ENOUGH.

WE'RE TRYING TO FIND WHERE EQUIPMENT WAS, WHO WAS DOING WHAT. WELL, WE HAVE A HAVE A GPS SYSTEM AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO UTILIZE THAT BETTER IN OUR COMMUNICATION PIECES TO EACH OTHER INTERNALLY.

IT'S A TOOL THAT WE NEED TO USE DURING EVENTS LIKE THIS MORE. AND ALSO TRACKING OUR TIME AND TRACKING THE THINGS THAT WE'RE OUT THERE DOING.

OUR STREET TEAM, ESPECIALLY THE NEWER STAFF, UNDERSTANDING THE SNOW REMOVAL PLAN, INTERSECTION, STANDING TRAININGS NEEDED. THERE WERE SOME OF THE LAY DOWN AREAS THAT WERE LEADING UP TO AN INTERSECTION THAT WERE TOO SHORT.

WE NEED TO GO BACK AND MAKE THOSE A LITTLE BIT LONGER. THE IDEA IS TO GET TRACTION AS YOU'RE COMING UP TO THE STOPLIGHT, NOT AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH IT. SO EVEN THOUGH BOTH THOSE ARE IMPORTANT.

SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE RECOGNIZED.

LESSONS LEARNED. WEATHER FORECASTS ARE GREAT, BUT THEY'RE NOT 100% ACCURATE.

WE'VE GOT TO COME UP WITH A CONTINGENCY PLAN, CONSIDER WORST CASE SCENARIOS INSTEAD OF THE WORST CASE SCENARIOS I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE.

IF WE'D HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING THE WORST CASE OF THAT SIX INCHES, WE'D HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE PREPARED FOR THIS ONE AND EXERCISE MORE FREQUENT CONTACT WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. MAYBE ON AN HOURLY BASIS, I THINK IS GOING TO HELP US ONCE WE START GOING THROUGH A THROUGH A STORM, AND WE NEED TO INVEST IN SOME MODERN SNOW REMOVAL EQUIPMENT FOR OUR FACILITIES AND BUDGET FOR SOME UPGRADES AS EQUIPMENT AS NEEDED.

[01:00:03]

AS I MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, THOSE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHERE WE COULD SEE SOME DRIFTING, ADJUST OR ADJUST OUR SNOWPLOW LANGUAGE AND PROTOCOLS, AND BE MORE DEFINITIVE TO THE PUBLIC ON WHAT OPERATIONS WE'RE CONDUCTING AND WHY.

I THINK WE'VE GOT TO WE MUST DO A BETTER JOB IN LETTING THE PUBLIC KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.

CREATING A CONTINGENCY PLAN SECTION RELATED TO FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND CLEARLY DEFINED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PARKING LOT AND DRIVEWAY CLEARING.

WE'RE WORKING ON THAT PLAN RIGHT NOW. OUR COMMUNICATIONS PIECES JUST REAL QUICK, AND THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE, PROVIDE BETTER INFORMATION TO OWNERS SO THEY CAN UPDATE POSTS AND RESPOND TO EXISTING CONCERNS.

WE'VE MET EXTENSIVELY WITH OEI AND DISCUSSED EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY.

WE TOOK THE IDEAS FROM THEM, HOW THEY COULD MAKE THAT AND USE THAT, OR TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND USE IT BETTER TO INFORM THE PUBLIC.

I THINK WE CAN PUT A CHECK MARK ON THAT WHEN IT'S DONE.

UTILIZE A RIBBON ON THE FRONT PAGE OF OUR OF OUR WEBSITE.

MR. PATH CAME IN MY OFFICE. I THINK WE WERE THE ONLY TWO IN OUR OFFICE AT THE TIME, AND HE CAME IN AND HE SAID, WHERE'S ALL OUR INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THE SNOW PLAN? AND I SAID, IT'S ON THE WEBSITE. AND HE SAID, WELL, CAN YOU FIND IT FOR ME REAL QUICK? I SAID, SURE.

WELL, I COULDN'T FIND IT. IT TOOK ME A FEW MINUTES TO GET THERE.

AND SO WE WROTE THAT DOWN AND SAID, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO DO, IS PUT A RIBBON ON THE FRONT OF THAT THING THAT SAYS, FOR SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION, CLICK HERE AND WE CAN GET TO THAT AND WE CAN MAKE THAT BETTER.

UTILIZE OUR TEXT GROUPS A LITTLE BIT BETTER TO FOR PRE-EVENT ADVISORIES AND KEEPING STAFF INFORMED AND CREATING SOME BOILERPLATES WITH PRE-APPROVED MESSAGING IN THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. AND THAT IS PROBABLY ABOUT 50% COMPLETE ALREADY, WHERE WE HAVE MESSAGES THAT ARE READY TO GO AND ON ALL KINDS OF SCENARIOS THAT WE'VE ALREADY APPROVED, AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST PUT THE DATE IN IT, AND THEN OEI CAN GET THAT SENT OUT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

ON OUR DAILY SITREPS CHANGING THE WAY THAT WE DO THOSE NOTIFICATIONS, I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY POSSIBLY SEEN SOME OF THE FRUIT OF THAT DURING THE SECOND STORM WE CHANGED THE WAY THAT WE WERE NOTIFYING MR. PATH AND OAI AND OEM, WHERE WE HAD A TOP SECTION THAT SAID THIS IS FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION.

THE BOTTOM SECTION IS FOR INTERNAL CONSUMPTION, SO THAT EVERYBODY KNEW WHAT INFORMATION COULD GO OUT, SHOULD GO OUT AND WHAT SHOULDN'T. AND THE ONLY REASON THAT IT SHOULDN'T GO OUT IS THERE'S JUST INTERNAL THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH A CLOGGED SPREADER OR WE GOT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S JUST OPERATIONAL THINGS IN THERE THAT HE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE PUBLIC WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT AND ADJUST OUR FREQUENCY OF DAILY UPDATES THAT WOULD COME TO MR. PATH THAT THEN WOULD COME TO YOU MAKE THOSE AT FIVE, 5 A.M.

AND 10 A.M., 2 P.M. AND 6 P.M. AND ANY OTHER TIME IN BETWEEN THAT, WE FEEL THAT SOMETHING RELEVANT COMES ABOUT.

WE NEED TO JUMP ON THAT AND GET THAT OUT. I THINK IN THE SECOND STORM, WE DID ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND WE THINK WE DID THEM MUCH, MUCH BETTER, EVEN THOUGH WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE SAME SNOW THAT WE HAD ON THE FIRST ONE.

SO WITH ALL THAT OPEN FOR QUESTIONS AND I'LL TRY TO ANSWER ANYTHING YOU CAN, I THINK THAT THE KEY TO THIS WHOLE PRESENTATION IS AND THANK YOU FOR ASKING US TO DO IT.

WE WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT. WE WANT TO PUT OUT THERE WHEN WE SKIN OUR KNEES, AND WE WANT TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO GET BETTER AT IT.

AND. QUESTIONS, GENTLEMEN. JUST ONE DONNIE, I APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION ON THIS.

ON THE EQUIPMENT GAPS, IS THERE ANYTHING IN PLACE? YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SNOWBLOWERS AND STUFF OF THAT NATURE THAT ARE EITHER OLD OR DON'T WORK.

IS THERE ANYTHING IN PLACE WHERE WE CAN EMERGENTLY RENT THOSE FROM A LOCAL COMPANY OR SOMETHING? THERE ARE. I MEAN, THERE'S PLACES THAT WE COULD DO THAT. I THINK BY THE TIME WE REALIZED WHAT WE WERE DOING, IT WAS JUST THAT PROBABLY GOING TO BE IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND AND THE PLAN. AND I APPRECIATE THAT IDEA. WE CAN PUT THAT IN THERE, TOO, THAT IF WE HAVE EQUIPMENT THAT'S LIKE THAT, WE CAN GET IT. I KNOW THAT WE CAN, AND JERRY KNOWS THAT AS WELL.

I THINK THE MAIN THING IS WE NEED TO HAVE EQUIPMENT READY TO GO TO.

THEY MADE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT NOW THAN THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, FIVE, TEN YEARS AGO.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET A BIG GIANT SNOWBALL NOW. YOU CAN GET THESE ONES THAT LOOK LIKE LITTLE WEED EATERS. WE SAW SOMEBODY USING ONE OF THOSE AND MAN, IT WAS MOVING A LOT OF SNOW AND DOING IT PRETTY QUICK, A LOT QUICKER THAN A SNOW SHOVEL WOULD. SO THERE'S ALL KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR US THERE. BUT YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THIS FORWARD. I MEAN, I THINK IT'S INFORMATIVE. I THINK THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW IT.

I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT IT, BUT I MEAN, I THINK Y'ALL DID A GOOD JOB.

YOU KNOW, I WAS OUT THERE DOING RECONNAISSANCE AND TEXTING YOU AND LETTING YOU KNOW. SO APPRECIATE Y'ALL.

Y'ALL VERY REACTIVE TO IT. AND, I MEAN, I THINK YOU DID A GOOD JOB.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU AND YOUR WHOLE CREW. YEAH. AND THAT'S WHERE THE CREDIT GOES. IS BACK THERE. THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB. AND. THANK YOU. THEY'LL PASS IT ALONG. COUNCILMAN.

DID WE HEAR BACK FROM TXDOT? WE DID. WHAT DID WHAT DID THEY HAVE TO.

YEAH. YOU KNOW WHAT? AND I ACTUALLY HAD THAT IN MY NOTES. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING IT IN HERE. SO THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT HAPPENED ON THAT. WE TALKED TO TXDOT BEFORE THE STORM. GRACE AND I HAD ACTUALLY MET WITH HIM ON TUESDAY ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT MATTER. AND THEY SAID, WELL, WE GOT TO GO BECAUSE WE'RE FIXING TO MOVE SOME EQUIPMENT DOWN TO THE DALLAS AREA. WE'VE GOT TO START GETTING ORGANIZED FOR THAT. AND AT THE TIME, AGAIN, IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE THE SAME THING. THEY WERE SEEING THE SAME FORECAST THAT WE WERE THERE WAS A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON IN THE METROPLEX. THEY WERE SAYING THAT THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TERRIBLE CONDITIONS THERE. SO AND I AND I'VE TALKED TO TXDOT AND THEY SAID, I CAN SHARE THIS WITH YOU.

I'D ASK THEM TO BE HERE TODAY IF THEY COULD, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY I THINK HE'S IN AUSTIN TODAY.

[01:05:03]

THEY MOVED SIX OF THOSE TO THE METROPLEX. WHAT THEY ALSO CAN DO IS THERE'S NOT AS MUCH SNOW GOING ON, SAY, IN CANADIAN. THEY CAN MOVE THAT EQUIPMENT TO WHERE THEY HAVE SNOW HERE.

SO THEY DID SUPPLEMENT THAT EQUIPMENT BACK THAT THEY HAD AS FAR AS THE PLOWS WERE CONCERNED.

NOW THEY SENT SOME MOTOR GRADERS DOWN THERE AS WELL. AND THEY CONTRACTED OUT SOME MOTOR GRADER SERVICE TO REPLACE THOSE. SO THERE'S A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION THAT WAS OUT THERE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT WAS A CITY THAT HAD SENT EQUIPMENT TO DALLAS.

AND OF COURSE, I WAS SCRATCHING MY HEAD THINKING, NO, OUR JURISDICTION IS IN CITY LIMITS.

BUT HOWEVER, TXDOT'S JURISDICTION IS THE STATE OF TEXAS.

SO THEY CAN DO THAT. AND THEY WERE RELYING ON THE SAME FORECAST THAT WE WERE.

AND THEN WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME WE GOT THIS LARGE AMOUNT OF SNOW? OKAY. SO. WELL, I CAN'T GO BACK TELL YOU EVERY MONTH, BUT WHAT THE NUMBERS I LOOKED AT WERE JUST IN JANUARY IN 25 YEARS.

THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME IN JANUARY THAT WE'VE SEEN A SNOW THAT WAS OVER EIGHT INCHES.

SO THAT KIND OF GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHY WE PREPARE THE WAY THAT WE PREPARE TO, BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE BIG EVENTS LIKE THAT IN MY LIFETIME.

AND I'VE LIVED HERE ALL OF MY LIFE IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.

I CAN'T THINK OF A DOZEN OF THESE THAT WE'VE HAD THAT, YOU KNOW, GET UP THAT HIGH.

NOW. I CAN THINK OF ONE THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, 20 LIKE 23IN LIKE IN 1987.

AND IT WAS JUST EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN. SO LUCKILY WE HAD A LITTLE BIT WARMER ROAD TEMPERATURES, AND LUCKILY WE HAD SOME SUNSHINE TO GET SOME OF THAT STUFF OFF.

BUT THIRD 1 IN 25 YEARS, ACCORDING TO THE DATA THAT I SAW IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY.

THAT WAS OVER EIGHT INCHES. AND THEN HOW MUCH SNOW DO WE USUALLY HAVE TO GET BEFORE WE START TO PLOW? AND THEN WHEN DO WE START TO PLOW? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO IT DEPENDS ON A LOT OF OTHER FACTORS THAN JUST SNOW.

I MEAN WE COULD SEE LIKE WE SEE 5 OR 6IN OF SNOW IN THIS.

IT WAS A VERY WET SNOW. WE LOOK AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS IF TRAFFIC IS NOT MOVING.

IF WE LIKE, I'LL GIVE YOU A GOOD EXAMPLE. WE TALK TO OUR TRANSIT PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

IF OUR BUSSES ARE ABLE TO GET OUT AND MOVE AROUND IN THIS FAIRLY EASILY, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO INTO PLOW MODE.

IF WE START TO SEE CARS THAT ARE GETTING STRANDED ON THE ROADWAY, LIKE THE BIG HILLSIDE.

YOU REMEMBER THE PICTURES OF HILLSIDE WITH ALL THE CARS THAT WERE DEFINITELY PLOWING DURING THAT SNOWSTORM.

LYNN COULD, COULD VERIFY THIS NUMBER, BUT HIM AND I WERE TALKING AND I THINK HE SAID, WE'VE PROBABLY, SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE, MAYBE GONE INTO PLOW MODE 6 OR 7 TIMES OUT OF THAT 20 SOMETHING YEARS, BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN WE MAKE THAT DECISION TO ACTUALLY GO INTO THAT, WE KNOW WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ALL THE ARTERIALS FOR ONE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EQUIPMENT TO DO THAT. WE HAVE 13 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT ARE OUT THERE RUNNING.

WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PILE IT UP IN THE CENTER LANES OF THE ARTERIALS, BECAUSE WE CAN'T PUSH IT TO THE SIDE.

IF WE PUSH TO THE SIDE, WE CLOSE DOWN EVERY BUSINESS THAT'S ON THAT ARTERIAL BECAUSE WE'LL BE PILING UP SNOW IN ALL THEIR ENTRYWAYS.

PLOWING A HIGHWAY OR A COUNTY ROAD IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THEY TURN THE PLOWS TO THE OUTSIDE, SHOOT IT OFF IN THE DITCH, AND THEY KEEP ON GOING.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY, SO WE HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE CENTER TURN LANES, AND THEN YOU'LL SEE THESE PILES OF SNOW THAT ARE THERE FOREVER AND FOREVER.

WE HAVE SOME IN OUR PARKING LOT RIGHT NOW FROM THAT FIRST SNOW STORM THAT'S STILL OUT THERE TO THIS DAY.

THEN THAT REFREEZES OVERNIGHT WHEN IT DRAINS OFF ON THE CROWN OF THE ROAD. AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT ICE ON THE ROAD. SO WE WOULD RATHER NOT DOUBLE AND TRIPLE THAT OPERATION BY PUTTING IN THE CENTER TURN LANES IF TRAFFIC IS MOVING.

NOW, GENERALLY WHEN WE START TO SEE FIVE INCHES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, FIVE INCHES, THAT'S WHEN WE START LOOKING AT THAT AND ANALYZING THAT. WE ALSO LOOK AHEAD AND SAY, WHAT'S THE FORECAST FOR TOMORROW? WELL, AT THE TIME THAT WE SAW THIS SNOW, WE SAW THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY BE AT 38 THE NEXT DAY.

SO WE KNEW WE WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MELTING. WE KNEW SOME SUNSHINE WAS COMING, AND WE KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO HELP US MORE THAN WE WOULD EVER HELP OURSELVES BY PLOWING.

SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS. THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS THAT GO INTO THAT, BUT IT'S MAINLY WHENEVER WE SEE THAT TRAFFIC IS JUST NOT ABLE TO GET AROUND THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE TO START MAKING SOME DRASTIC CHANGES LIKE THAT.

WELL, THANKS FOR THE UPDATE BECAUSE I WAS FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD THIS SNOW A LONG TIME. AND THEN IT GOES OUT THERE AND PEOPLE DON'T IMMEDIATELY SEE A SNOW PLOW OR SOMETHING GOING ON, AND THEY THINK NO ONE'S DOING ANYTHING WHEN THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT COME INTO THAT.

SO I APPRECIATE THE UPDATE. YOU'RE WELCOME. I'LL THROW ONE MORE THING IN THERE.

THAT AND THIS WAS AT A PREVIOUS CITY I WAS AT, BUT WE HAD AN 18 INCH SNOW AND IT WAS IN APRIL.

AND YOU ALL MAY REMEMBER THAT. I MEAN, IT WAS JUST LIKE, MAN, WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH SNOW IN APRIL? AND IT WAS JUST IT WAS JUST PILED UP EVERYWHERE, SHUTTING EVERYTHING DOWN.

AND WE DECIDED TO GO INTO PLOW MODE. THE NEXT DAY IT WAS 68 DEGREES, AND SO WE SPENT A LOT OF EFFORT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MELTED OFF BY 10:00 THAT NEXT MORNING. THE WEATHER IN THE PANHANDLE IS A LOT OF FUN TO TRY TO WORK.

SO THANK YOU, MR. HOOPER. THANK YOU, SIR. APPRECIATE THE UPDATE SIR.

THANK YOU. OKAY, THAT MOVES US FROM ITEM SEVEN C TO SEVEN D.

[7.D. Transfer Station emergency electrical repairs]

[01:10:02]

I'M GOING TO WALK THROUGH A SUMMARY OF THAT DAMAGE, A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS A TRANSFER STATION, THE IMPACTS TO OUR COLLECTION OPERATIONS, WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MITIGATE THOSE IMPACTS, AND THEN AT THAT POINT THAT WILL EXHAUST MY EXPERTISE.

AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO JERRY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT NEXT STEPS TO ACTUALLY RETURNING ELECTRICAL SERVICE TO THAT BUILDING, SEE IF I CAN WORK THE SLIDE. SLOT? YES. OKAY.

SO. TUESDAY, JANUARY 21ST. TRANSFER STATION PERSONNEL OPENED THE TRANSFER STATION DOORS IN PREPARATION FOR NORMAL OPERATIONS, SOMETHING THEY DO MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR, EVEN IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES DOWN IN THE TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE LOWEST RECORDED AIR TEMPERATURE THAT MORNING WAS -FOUR DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

AND SO AN EXPOSED PORTION OF A WATER PIPE, WHICH I HAVE A PORTION OF A PICTURE OF ON THE NEXT SLIDE, WHICH IS USED TO CLEAN THE FLOOR OFF EVERY DAY, FROZE AND BURST SPRAYING WATER ON THE ADJACENT MOTOR CONTROL CENTER, WHICH POWERS TWO OUT OF THE THREE COMPACTORS AT THE TRANSFER STATION.

JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE THIRD COMPACTOR WAS ACTUALLY PART OF AN ADDITION THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 2012. SO IT'S ON A TOTALLY SEPARATE ELECTRICAL SERVICE, AND THAT'S HOW IT'S ABLE TO STILL BE IN OPERATION EVEN TODAY.

THAT PICTURE ON THE LEFT THERE SHOWS YOU CAN SEE A WHITE PIPE COMING DOWN ON THE RIGHT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY INSULATION ON THE PIPE. SERVICE IS A HOSE BIB.

THE HOSE IS WRAPPED UP THERE, AND IT WAS JUST AN AREA WHERE IT HAS TO BE EXPOSED TO GET OUT TO THAT HOSE BIB THAT ACTUALLY FROZE AND BURST, AND THEN JUST SPRAYED WATER DOWN THE WALL ON THAT MOTOR CONTROL CENTER.

THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT IS JUST LOOKING IN IN ONE OF THOSE ELECTRICAL PANELS TO THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE THERE.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S KIND OF KIND OF BURNT AND MELTED.

THIS IS ONCE WE GOT EVERYTHING THAWED OUT AND DRIED OUT THIS WEEK.

THIS IS JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF KIND OF THE SCOPE OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, NOT A SMALL ELECTRICAL PANEL LIKE WE THINK OF ON A HOUSE, A VERY LARGE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. SO JUST FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE LISTENING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TRANSFER STATION IS, IT'S A PLACE WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE OUR COLLECTION VEHICLES, DROP OFF OUR SOLID WASTE IN PREPARATION FOR TAKING IT TO THE LANDFILL.

IT'S REALLY NOT MUCH MORE THAN A LARGE OPEN WAREHOUSE WITH A TIPPING FACE AT THE END, WHICH OPENS UP TO A HOPPER WHERE IT CAN BE COMPACTED INTO THE BACK OF A TRANSFER TRUCK AND HAULED OFF TO THE LANDFILL. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE OUR TRANSFER STATION HAS THREE COMPACTORS AND WE'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH ONE.

THE PICTURE AT THE TOP IS JUST WHAT THAT OPEN FLOOR LOOKS LIKE.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE A TRUCK THAT'S ONE OF OUR ONE KNUCKLEBOOM TRUCKS DROPPING OFF IN THE BACK. THE PICTURE ON THE BOTTOM LEFT IS LOOKING OVER THE TIPPING FACE DOWN INTO A HOPPER.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE TOP OF THE COMPACTOR, WHICH IS AT THE BOTTOM RIGHT. THAT'S WHERE A TRANSFER TRUCK BACKS UP TO IT, HOOKS IN, AND IT ACTUALLY GETS LOADED UP AND READY FOR DELIVERY TO GO OUT TO THE LANDFILL.

SO JUST SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A TRANSFER STATION OBVIOUSLY OUR OPERATIONAL IMPACTS, WITH ONLY HAVING ONE COMPACTOR, WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PROCESS AS MUCH SOLID WASTE THROUGH THE TRANSFER STATION RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE DIVERTING COLLECTION VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY ONES THAT ARE RUNNING ROUTES ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN DIRECTLY TO THE LANDFILL.

THAT TAKES MORE TIME AND ALSO PUTS EXCESS MILES ON OUR OUR EQUIPMENT, WHICH WITH OLDER EQUIPMENT IS ALWAYS HARD ON THEM.

IT REQUIRES US, RIGHT NOW WE ARE RUNNING UNTIL ABOUT 6 OR 7:00 INTO THE NIGHT TO COLLECT OUR ROUTES.

AND THEN OFTENTIMES, WE'RE HAVING TO PUSH OVER INTO THE NEXT DAY TO FINISH COLLECTING SERVICE.

SO I APPRECIATE AND I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN AT THE END, I APPRECIATE OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR AND OUR BUSINESSES, OUR CUSTOMERS WHO ARE BEING PATIENT WITH US. WE ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO CATCH THEM UP.

BUT I WANT THEM TO BE AWARE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TIMES WHERE IT'LL BE A DAY OR SO DELAYED IN PICKING UP THEIR TRASH.

BUT WE ARE WORKING AND CURRENTLY ARE MAINTAINING THAT SERVICE.

I KNOW LAST WEEK WE MONITOR IT AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT OUR MONITORING.

WE MONITORED IT AND BY THE TIME WE GOT THROUGH SATURDAY, WE HAD PICKED UP EVERY RESIDENTIAL DUMPSTER TWICE, WHICH IS OUR SCHEDULE. SO HAVEN'T SLIPPED IN SERVICE THERE, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT DELAYED.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MITIGATE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST MONITORING OUR MISSED SERVICE COMPLAINTS. I SAW A SLIGHT UPTICK LAST WEEK IN OUR COMMERCIAL COMPLAINTS.

NOTHING IN OUR RESIDENTIAL COMPLAINTS. AND SO I THINK THE EFFORTS THAT OUR STAFF'S PUTTING IN IN OVERTIME AND GOING DIRECTLY TO THE LANDFILL IS PAYING OFF.

WE'RE ALL VERY AWARE OF 2022 WHEN WE GOT BEHIND IN TRASH COLLECTION BECAUSE OF EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL ISSUES.

SO LUCKILY WE HAD ALREADY BEEN TRACKING THOSE COMPLAINTS.

IT'S A REALLY GOOD PULSE FOR US TO KNOW WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS. WE'RE ALREADY TRACKING THAT SO WE CAN COMPARE WHAT WE'RE WHAT WE'RE HAVING NOW TO WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS AND REALLY NOT SEEING THAT GO UP VERY MUCH.

AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JERRY TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT KIND OF NEXT STEP FORWARD TO RETURN ELECTRICAL SERVICE TO THE TRANSFER STATION.

WELL, I HATE FALLING BEHIND DONNIE AND ALAN, BOTH BECAUSE THEY TALK A LOT FASTER THAN I DO.

SO AS YOU SAW ON THE SLIDE, THE MOTOR CONTROL CENTERS, WHAT WE'RE ADDRESSING.

WE HAVE GOT RECEIVED BIDS ON THOSE. WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY THE CHEAPER BID TO GET AN ABB MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM DELIVERED IN TWO WEEKS.

[01:15:07]

AS I SHARED WITH THE MAYOR EARLIER TODAY, WHEN YOU HAVE A ONE INCH SOLID COPPER BAR EXPLODE, THAT'S A LOT OF AMPS GOING THROUGH THAT. THIS IS A 480 VOLT SYSTEM, 600 AMP SERVICE THAT SERVICES TWO OF THOSE HYDRAULIC PLUNGERS, AS WELL AS ALL THE PUMPS THAT ARE IN THAT SYSTEM.

SO THE NEW SYSTEM WILL COME IN. BASICALLY, WE WERE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE HAD A CURRENT JOB THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE WITH AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR ON SITE.

WE TOLD HIM WE NEED THE QUOTES ON THE EQUIPMENT SO THAT WE CAN CONTROL THE PRICING ON THAT.

AND THEN ONCE WE'VE GOT THAT, DO A QUICK EXCHANGE, SET IT BACK IN PLACE AND BE BACK UP IN OPERATIONS RIGHT NOW.

IF AGREED TO WE CAN GET THAT MCC ORDERED TODAY AND HAVE IT HERE WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AND BE BACK UP AND OPERATIONAL IN THREE WEEKS AS FAR AS THAT SYSTEM GOES. BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY TECHNICAL QUESTIONS WITH REGARDS TO THE MCC IF YOU'VE GOT THEM.

WHAT'S YOUR TURNAROUND TIME? TURNAROUND TIME IS GOING TO END UP BEING FOUR WEEKS FROM THE TIME OF THE EVENT.

SO TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY. TWO WEEKS AND A HALF.

TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY. WE SHOULD HAVE THE MCCS IN PLACE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT A WEEK'S WORTH OF WORK.

AS YOU SAW. THAT'S A RATHER SIZABLE SYSTEM THAT'S OUT THERE.

OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO MITIGATE ANY ISSUES THAT WE SEE THAT COULD BE A FUTURE PROBLEM.

KEEP IN MIND THAT SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED BACK IN 1964.

SO WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF USE OUT OF IT. ALAN REFERENCED THE WATER LINE THAT BROKE THAT'S BEEN THERE SINCE THAT TIME FRAME TWO, AND WE EVEN HAVE HAD LOWER TEMPERATURES THAN FOUR DEGREES BELOW.

SO IT HAS SURVIVED. IT JUST DIDN'T SURVIVE THIS TIME.

WE APPRECIATE THE QUICK TURNAROUND. WE UNDERSTAND THAT SIX WEEKS, 6 TO 8 WAS EXPECTED ON DELIVERY ON MATERIALS.

I KNOW HOW YOU GOT TO GO OUT AND LOOK AND SEARCH AND SEE WHAT'S ACROSS THE NATION IN ORDER TO GET THOSE COMPONENTS.

SO WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS WORKING WITH THAT ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR TO GET IT HERE QUICKLY.

JERRY, YOU SAID WITH THE NEW ONE IS TO LOOK TO MAYBE FOREGO ANY FUTURE PROBLEMS. I MEAN, I KNOW THIS IS KIND OF A FLUKE THING THAT HAPPENED, BUT IS THIS NEW SYSTEM? IS IT, I HATE TO SAY WATERTIGHT. I KNOW IT'S DESIGNED FOR AN INTERIOR INSTALLATION, BUT IS IT SHIELDED FROM SOMETHING? THAT'S A VERY FAIR QUESTION. YOU GOT TO KEEP IN MIND, ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SYSTEM THAT'S 65 YEARS OLD.

AND THAT SYSTEM HAS FUNCTIONED THAT WAY. BUT OVER THE YEARS, OPENING AND CLOSING THOSE CABINETS WHERE IT'S SITUATED INSIDE HAS A VERY CORROSIVE AREA.

SO OVER 65 YEARS, IT BASICALLY REACHED WHERE IT WAS GOING TO REACH.

BUT THE NEW ONE, THE NEW ONE WILL BE BUILT BETTER THAN WHAT THIS SYSTEM IS.

AND WE'LL HAVE EPOXY COATING ON IT. OKAY. JERRY.

YEAH. I WANTED TO MENTION SOMETHING ELSE I FORGOT TO MENTION.

I'M ALSO WORKING ON AN SOP. I SAY I, WE AS A TEAM ARE WORKING ON SOP SO THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER LIKE THIS, WHAT'S A WHAT'S A THRESHOLD FOR, YOU KNOW, IF WE JUST KEEP THE DOORS SHUT TILL 10 A.M..

SEND OUR TRUCKS TO THE LANDFILL BY 10 A.M.. I THINK BY NOON IT WAS 20.

SO. COULD HAVE MITIGATED THAT WITH JUST A FEW HOURS OF THE TRANSFER STATION BEING CLOSED. SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE'RE LOOKING AT TO MITIGATE THIS AS WELL. YEAH. YEAH. SO FOR THOSE LISTENING, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE FOR YOUR SOP.

THANK YOU, SIR I APPRECIATE IT. YEAH. NO YOU'RE GOOD. APPRECIATE THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR EITHER OF THESE GENTLEMEN? NO, SIR. SO WITH THIS ITEM HERE BECAUSE OF THE BECAUSE OF THE NEED, THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR SOLID WASTE TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE DID AUTHORIZE AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE TO GET THIS THING GOING, SO WE WON'T.

BUT WE WANTED TO BRING YOU GUYS AN UPDATE GIVEN WE HAD A COUNCIL MEETING COMING UP. THAT WAY WE CAN PRESENT THIS AND ALSO TO SPEAK TO OUR CITIZENS, MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE SITUATION, AND WE WILL BRING THIS ITEM BACK TO YOU ONCE WE GET IT ALL FINALIZED AND COST DONE.

AND THEN WE WENT AND MADE AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE TO GET IT GOING.

TOTALLY UNDERSTAND, AND I THINK WE APPRECIATE THE INITIATIVE AND UNDERSTAND THAT WE CAN APPROVE THAT AFTER YOU BRING THOSE FINAL NUMBERS.

SO I THINK YOU'VE GOT GOOD DIRECTION AND SUPPORT FROM OUR SIDE OF THE OF THE DAIS.

ALL RIGHT. GREAT. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU ALL. APPRECIATE IT. IF I COULD, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THROUGH ITEM SEVEN E AND F AND THEN WE'LL PROBABLY TAKE A RECESS BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE REST OF DISCUSSION. SO ITEM SEVEN IS I THINK STEVEN THAT'S HERE AS WELL AS HIS TEAM.

[7.E. Options to purchase fire apparatus (trucks) via leasing or financing]

YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR AND COUNCIL WANTED JUST TO QUICKLY REMIND YOU, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS, AND TODAY WE WANTED TO BRING SOME UPDATED INFORMATION ABOUT SOME FINANCING OPTIONS THROUGH A DEBT ISSUANCE.

AND SO WE HAVE STEVEN ADAMS WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE, OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS, AND WE ALSO HAVE PAUL JASON AND WILL SMITH WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC

[01:20:09]

SO WE'VE GOT ALL BASES COVERED IF THERE'S QUESTIONS.

SO I'M GOING TO LET THEM PRESENT AND THEN I WILL GO OVER SOME OF THE INFORMATION THAT WAS EMAILED OUT TO ALL OF YOU REGARDING KIND OF A PLAN OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. AND THEN WE CAN HELP ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

THANK YOU. LAURA. WE BROUGHT OUR TEAM. THIS HAS BEEN OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO MEET MR. PATH, SO WE'RE HAPPY TO DO THAT. I THINK WE HAVE A PRESENTATION THAT'S COMING UP.

SO WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE ISSUANCE OF PUBLIC PROPERTY FINANCE CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE ARE, LET ME GO BACK IN HISTORY. IN THE LATE 80S AND EARLY 90S, YOU RECALL, IF YOU ARE MY AGE, THAT INTEREST RATES WERE MUCH HIGHER AND AT THAT TIME, VENDOR FINANCING FOR THINGS LIKE PERSONAL PROPERTY, WHICH IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DRIVE, PICK UP OR MOVE. A LOT OF THAT WAS DONE THROUGH LEASES LIKE IT IS EVEN TODAY, WITH COPIERS AND CARS AND VEHICLES.

CITIES AND SCHOOLS SAW VENDOR RATES TEN, 15, 20%.

THEY CAME TO PEOPLE LIKE US AND MR. DRANSFIELD.

THE BOND COUNCIL SAID, CAN WE DO SOMETHING BESIDES THESE VENDOR LEASES? YOU KNOW, WE KNOW INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH, BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

SO THE PUBLIC FINANCE COMMUNITY, THE BOND LAWYERS OF THE STATE, WORKED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY FOR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION TO DO REPLACE VENDOR FINANCING WITH ANOTHER PRODUCT FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY.

AND THAT IS WHAT PPFCOS ARE. SO THEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY.

NOW, THE KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS AND A LEASE IS IF YOU LEASE VEHICLES OR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT OR ANYTHING ELSE? YOU DO NOT OWN THAT ASSET. IT IS OWNED BY THE LEASING COMPANY AND THIS COUNCIL OR BOARD OR WHATEVER. ANY BUDGET SEASON CAN CHOOSE NOT TO APPROPRIATE AND HAND THAT EQUIPMENT BACK.

SO THAT PROVIDES A DEGREE OF RISK. THEREFORE HIGHER INTEREST RATE WITH THE PPFCO YOU ARE PLEDGING YOUR INS TAX AND YOU OWN THE EQUIPMENT. IN THIS CASE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FIRE EQUIPMENT.

YOU WILL END UP OWNING IT. THE ORY IS YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO PLAN ON GIVING THAT FIRE EQUIPMENT BACK.

AND IN FACT, IN OUR NUMBERS, WE HAVE WORKED OUT A BUYBACK FROM THE VENDOR IN OUR NUMBERS.

NOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE PLEDGING YOUR INS TAX, YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEVY IT.

EVERY BUDGET YEAR. YOU CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY THIS.

YOU CAN DO IT OUT OF YOUR OWN TAX, OTHER REVENUES IF THOSE ARE AVAILABLE, OR YOUR INS URANUS ATTACK.

SO THE DECISION TODAY, IN MY VIEW, IS CAN WE USE PPFCOS, WHICH WERE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR THE PURPOSE OF REPLACING A VENDOR LEASE FOR AN ASSET THAT YOU PLAN ON OWNING AND KEEPING FOR ITS USEFUL LIFE? AND THEN THE WAY THE CONTRACTS ARE WITH THESE, WITH THESE FIRE EQUIPMENT, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A BUYBACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

SO WITH THAT, IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT A PPFCO IS AND HOW IT'S DIFFERENT FROM A LEASE? I KNOW THAT'S IT'S VERY COMPLEX, BUT I'M TRYING TO KIND OF MAKE IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. HOW IS THE FCO DIFFERENT THAN DIFFERENT DEBT INSTRUMENTS? OKAY. SO YOU COULD SELL CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AND PURCHASE IT AND DO THE SAME THING IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THE PAYMENT THAT HAS TO BE MADE BEFORE A PRICE INCREASE ON THE FIRE EQUIPMENT. IF WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH THE PUBLICATION PROCESS FOR A CEO, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO DO A CEO STARTING IN THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING, IF THE COUNCIL MOVES FORWARD WITH THAT. SO TYPICALLY WE WOULD BUNDLE ALL THIS TOGETHER AND JUST PUT IT IN WITH THE CEO.

BUT BECAUSE OF THE TIMING AND A PRICE INCREASE, THAT WILL HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, IF WE DON'T DO THIS NOW, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR A CEO.

THE OTHER THING YOU COULD DO POTENTIALLY IS A TAX NOTE.

A TAX NOTE THEY'RE ALL THE SAME CREDIT, WHETHER IT'S A PCO, A TAX NOTE OR A CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.

BUT YOU CAN ONLY GO SEVEN YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL APPROVAL WITH THE TAX NOTE.

THIS EQUIPMENT LASTS LONGER THAN THAT. AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT A PLAN TO GO YEAR AFTER YEAR FOR,

[01:25:05]

AND SO FOR THAT REASON, AT LEAST THIS YEAR, WE'RE PROPOSING PPFCOS IF IN ANOTHER YEAR YOU HAPPEN TO BE DOING A CO ALREADY, WE WOULD JUST INCLUDE THIS WITH A CO IF WE HAD TIME TO MEET WHATEVER REQUIREMENTS WERE OF THE, OF THE CONTRACT TO PURCHASE THE FIRE EQUIPMENT.

SO, SO THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. AND THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE DOING PPFCOS RATHER THAN ONE OF THE OTHER ONES.

AND IS THERE ANY RISK OF DOING THE PPFCO VERSUS JUST WAITING TO DO A NORMAL CO, OR ARE WE NETTING THE I GUESS, THE SAVINGS BY DOING IT THIS MORE THAN YES. IN THIS CASE, MY UNDERSTANDING AND LAURA CAN CORRECT ME.

IF WE DON'T DO THE DO THIS BY THE 30TH, THERE'S A $400,000 PRICE INCREASE ON THE APPARATUS THAT WE'RE BUYING, RIGHT? THE DEMAND HAS APPARENTLY GONE UP WITH ALL THE WEATHER EVENTS THAT HAVE GONE ON AROUND THE NATION HURRICANES AND FIRES.

AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE GET THIS DONE.

THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN EVERY YEAR ALL THE TIME, BUT RIGHT NOW THAT'S THE SITUATION WE'RE IN.

SO IT'S THAT IS FAR MORE THAN THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COST OF DOING THIS VERSUS WAITING.

IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE DEADLINE AND YOU WERE COMPARING PPFCOS VERSUS REGULAR COS, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? WHICH ONE WOULD YOU USE? IF YOU WERE NOT SELLING KOS FOR OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE NOT PERSONAL PROPERTY, THEN WE WOULD USE PPFCOS IF YOU'RE ALREADY SELLING CLOSE TO IF YOU WILL MINIMIZE THE COST THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, YOU WOULD JUST THROW IT IN.

AND WHEN WE DO THOSE, WE CAN SEPARATE. WELL, 13 MILLION GOES TEN YEARS AND 10 MILLION OF SOMETHING ELSE CAN GO 20 YEARS AND SOMETHING ELSE CAN GO TEN. SO WE CAN MAKE THE DEBT MATCH THE ASSETS THAT WE'RE FINANCING AND JUST PUT IT ALL INTO ONE CO.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD DO UNDER A DIFFERENT SCENARIO.

IF WE'RE NOT SELLING COS BECAUSE THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT IT NEEDS, WE WOULD THEN DO PPFCOS.

FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS, GENTLEMEN? GO AHEAD.

PLEASE CONTINUE. OKAY, SO WE'VE RUN THREE SCENARIOS.

ONE OF THEM IS TWO YEARS INTEREST ONLY AND THEN LEVEL PAYMENTS.

THE REASON WE RAN TWO YEARS INTEREST ONLY. THE EQUIPMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE DELIVERED FOR TWO YEARS.

SO THAT'S ONE SCENARIO. THE SECOND SCENARIO, WE DID AGGREGATE PAYMENTS TO BE THE SAME.

AND LET ME TALK ABOUT THAT SCENARIO. IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO UNDERSTAND.

I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE THIS, BUT BEGINNING NEXT YEAR WE SET DEBT SERVICE ON THESE PPFCOS TO BE 2.9 MILLION. AND THEN YOU SEE THE FOLLOWING YEAR IT DROPS DOWN TO A MILLION, AND THAT MILLION GOES ON FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

THIS SUPPOSES WE HAVE EQUIPMENT LISTS. THAT GOES FOR TEN YEARS OF EVERYTHING WE'RE GOING TO BUY FOR ENTIRE TEN YEAR PERIOD. THIS ASSUMES THAT EVERY YEAR FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, YOU'RE EITHER GOING TO LEASE, PUT IN COS, OR SELL PPFCOS FOR FIRE EQUIPMENT FROM NOW ON EVERY YEAR.

THAT'S THE WAY THE EQUIPMENT WORKS. THEY IT IS PHASED AS I UNDERSTAND IT.

I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON THAT BUT BUT OUR FIRM HAS RUN NUMBERS WITH ALL OF THE DIFFERENT EVERY YEAR REPLACEMENTS THAT THAT LAURA GOT US FROM THE, FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO FOR THIS PROGRAM FROM NOW ON, THERE WOULD BE $2.9 MILLION FOR FIRE APPARATUS, EITHER IN THE FORM OF PPFCOS COS OR LEASES. IF THEY EVER COME BACK TO WHERE THEIR INTEREST RATE IS EQUIVALENT TO A TO A PPFCO WHICH COULD HAPPEN THE MARKETS THEY MOVE I MEAN DIFFERENT CREDITS.

SO THAT'S THE SECOND ONE. AND THE THIRD ONE IS THAT WE'VE TARGETED A TAX RATE ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM OF $0.08 JUST FOR, FOR THIS PROGRAM AND REMIND YOU THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS.

SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A NEW AGE SENSE. SO WITH THAT, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT

[01:30:07]

IF WE DO THAT, WE GO THROUGH HERE. I THINK YOU HAVE ISSUING THE ACTUAL PO LATER IN THIS AGENDA.

IF YOU DECIDE TO DO THAT, THEN WE WILL HAVE TO MOVE AHEAD WITH SOME WAY TO PAY FOR IT, WHETHER THIS OR A LEASE.

WE WILL HAVE TO GET A RATING FROM STANDARD AND POOR'S.

THEN WE WILL COME BACK. IF WE NEED TO. AT A JANUARY 28TH UPDATE ON THE FINANCING PLAN AND THEN COMPETITIVE BID THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 11TH, AND THEN AWARDED AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING, WHICH WILL BE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING IN THIS BUILDING, AS I UNDERSTAND, AND THEN DELIVER ON MARCH 11TH.

THESE DO HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. WHEREAS A LEASE ITEM DOES NOT BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR MAKE ANY CLARIFICATIONS THAT I CAN.

I WOULD LOVE TO GET IN THE WEEDS. CAN YOU GO BACK? I THINK TWO SCREENS. THOSE ITEMIZED. THERE YOU GO.

13 FIVE AT THE TOP OF SCENARIO THREE, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE 18 MILLION AT THE BOTTOM.

THESE ARE DEBT ISSUANCES. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT IS ONE DEBT ISSUANCE.

PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. AND THEN YOU SEE THAT 2.6 MILLION OF THE BUYBACK.

RIGHT. WE HAVE A LARGE PRINCIPAL PAYMENT DUE THEN BECAUSE THE BECAUSE THE CONTRACT, THEY ARE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED TO BUY IT BACK AT THAT AMOUNT.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO LOWER THE DEBT SERVICE UNTIL THAT AMOUNT.

BUT THAT'S SO FOR THAT PARTICULAR DEBT ISSUANCE, THE PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST IS $18 MILLION.

SO YOU'RE NETTING IT OUT AT THE 15 THREE OFF TO THE SIDE ASSUMING YOU GET THE BUYBACK.

THE BUYBACK. YES. SO NET PAYMENTS MY TOTAL DEBT SERVICE ON BORROWING THE 13.5, WHICH YOU KNOW, BRINGS ABOUT SO MANY APPARATUS, SO MANY TRUCKS, SO MANY NEEDED THINGS OVER THE YEARS.

RIGHT. THAT THAT COST ME 15. THREE. THAT IS CORRECT.

AND SO WE HAVE THE OPTION OF SPENDING CASH. LET'S SAY WE GOT TO GO SPEND 13 FIVE AND JUST SPEND THE CASH, BUY THE EQUIPMENT. AND WE'VE GOT TO TAKE IT OUT OF A BUDGET SOMEWHERE.

OR WE HAVE THE OPTION OF UTILIZING SOME OF THOSE EXPENDITURES THAT WE WOULD NORMALLY PAY CASH FOR IN SERVICING THIS DEBT AMOUNT.

AND SO, MISS LAURA, I THINK MAYBE TRY TO DIRECT BACK TO YOU FOR A LITTLE BIT OF QUESTIONING ON YOU KNOW, PREVIOUS MEETING WE HAD ALLUDED TO 1.2 MILLION THAT WAS EXISTING IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, BUT THEN THAT RUNS THEIR MAINTENANCE, RIGHT? FLEET MAINTENANCE AND PARTS AND MECHANICS.

SO THE 1.2 MILLION IN THE FIRE OPERATING BUDGET CURRENTLY.

AND THAT'S COMING FROM THE OPERATING SIDE OF YOUR TAX RATE AT THIS POINT, IT'S GOING TO FUND FUTURE REPLACEMENT OF THAT OF YOUR EXISTING FIRE TRUCKS. AND SO WE WILL START LOWERING THAT AMOUNT.

IF COUNCIL, IF THIS COUNCIL DECIDES TO GO AHEAD AND DO A DEBT INSTRUMENT OR A LEASE INSTRUMENT TO GET THIS FIRE APPARATUS, AND THEN NEXT YEAR'S COUNCIL DOES, AND THE YEAR AFTER THAT, THAT 1.2 MILLION WILL START GOING AWAY.

IT WILL NOT BE NEEDED ON THE OPERATING SIDE ANYMORE.

JUST SO EVERYBODY HEARS IT. TELL ME THE LIST OF EQUIPMENT THAT YOU'RE BUYING FOR THE 13.5.

YES, WE ARE LOOKING AT SIX ENGINES AND TWO LADDERS.

OKAY, SO EIGHT FIRE TRUCKS. THAT'S CORRECT. OKAY.

AND THAT IS THE JUSTIFIED COST OF 13.5, WHICH YOU'RE SAYING THE 13.5 WOULD INCREASE 400,000, OR THE $1.5 MILLION FIRE TRUCK WOULD GO TO 1.9.

THE NO, THE FULL EIGHT APPARATUS. SO, THE 13.5 MILLION.

SO, ALL OF THEM WOULD GO UP 400,000? THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

OKAY. SO IN THE OPTION THREE SCENARIO, WHICH SURE SEEMS TO BE THE WAY YOU'RE KIND OF LEADING AND OFFERS COUNCIL THE MOST LATITUDE IN THE FUTURE. WE COULD ALWAYS PAY FOR THAT AMOUNT DIFFERENTLY IF WE NEEDED TO.

MEANING WE COULD ALWAYS PULL CASH OUT IF WE HAD IT AVAILABLE.

PAY DOWN. IS THERE ANY PREPAYMENT PENALTIES? DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THERE? STEVEN? WELL, YES THERE ARE WE CAN ANYTIME THESE ASSUME A STANDARD TEN YEAR CALL. ANYTIME YOU SHORTEN THAT CALL IT RAISES THE INTEREST RATE BECAUSE THE PURCHASER OF THE BONDS, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT IT FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS FOR THEM TO DO ALL THEIR CREDIT ANALYSIS, EVERYTHING TO BUY THE BONDS.

[01:35:06]

WE GET WE LOOK AT THE MARKET. IF WE CAN GET IT SHORTER, WE CAN.

BUT IF YOU START GOING SHORTER THAN EIGHT YEARS, YOU WILL PAY A HIGHER INTEREST RATE, OKAY.

AND YOU'VE GOT THIS ON A 13 YEAR BECAUSE THAT'S THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE VEHICLE.

YES. WELL AND ALONG WITH THE LEAD TIME FOR ORDERING.

YES OKAY. COUNCIL AS I'M TRYING TO KIND OF GO DOWN THROUGH THAT.

OR AM I MISSING ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT TO POINT OUT IN LOOKING AT OPTION THREE, TRYING TO GIVE US THE MOST LATITUDE, BUT THEN ALSO BEING WILLING TO UNDERSTAND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BUDGET DISCUSSION THAT REALLY A LOT OF THIS IS MORE APPROPRIATE IN THE IN THE BUDGET DISCUSSION OF DO YOU PUT IT ON THE INS? DO YOU PUT IT ON THE O AND M? WELL, WE DON'T HAVE THE VARIABLES, THE SIGNIFICANT VARIABLES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN THAT BUDGET AND KNOW HOW TO BALANCE THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.

SO ASSUMING WE HAD $2 MILLION SITTING, YOU KNOW, OVER ON THE SIDE THERE WITHOUT INCREASING LET'S SAY THE, THE TAX INCREASE, LET'S SAY WE'VE JUST BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, THEN WOULD WE BE BETTER TO UTILIZE THIS MONEY IN, IN PAYING DEBT SERVICE THAN WE WOULD TO BE TRYING TO PAY CASH AND BUYING ONE APPARATUS EVERY YEAR? SO I THINK FROM, YOU KNOW, OUR CHIEF IN THE BACK AND KIND OF WHAT AFD IS LEADING US FOR, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND PLACE THESE IN ADVANCE HAVE SOME SORT OF SCHEDULE THAT'S MORE DEPENDABLE, RELIABLE FOR THESE APPARATUS THAT ARE COMING.

I THINK THE ONLY NEGATIVE I'M REALLY HEARING IS THERE BE A PREPAYMENT PENALTY. SO YOU SIGN US UP FOR THE FULL 13 FIVE ON THE FRONT END BEFORE WE REALLY GET TO GET TO BUDGET.

SO A COUPLE OF THINGS. THERE IS ACTUALLY A PREPAYMENT DISCOUNT WITH THE VENDOR.

THE MANUFACTURER, IF WE PAY, IF WE GO AHEAD AND ORDER BY AND HAVE THEM, IF WE ORDER BY THE END OF JANUARY AND WE HAVE THE MONEY TO THEM WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER THAT, WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING A DISCOUNTED RATE. I THINK ON THE QUESTION WITH STEPHEN IS IF WE TRY TO PAY BACK THE DEBT EARLY, IT WOULD MAKE THE INTEREST RATE GO UP. SO CAN I GET BOTH OF THOSE NUMBERS FROM YOU? DO YOU HAVE THEM LIKE WHAT'S THE DISCOUNT IN DOLLARS FOR THE PURCHASE? AND THEN ALSO, STEPHEN, IF YOU COULD GUESS WHAT THE PREPAYMENT PENALTY MIGHT BE IN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.

I MIGHT GET DAVID COOPER TO COME UP HERE TO HELP ME.

I DO KNOW THE PRICE INCREASE WE'RE UP AGAINST IS THE 400,000.

I'M NOT SURE IF WE WERE TO WAIT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING BEYOND REPAYMENT.

OH, GREAT. AFTERNOON, CHIEF. GOOD AFTERNOON. WE HAVE OUR VENDOR HERE, KEITH, THAT CAN WALK YOU THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT THAT DISCOUNT LOOKS LIKE ON THAT.

OKAY. YEAH. IF YOU CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT PURCHASE. YES, SIR. MY NAME IS KEITH GOULD. I'M WITH SAFE INDUSTRIES. WE'RE THE VENDOR FOR E-ONE FIRE APPARATUS FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS. SO WHAT WE BROUGHT TO YOU IS A DISCOUNT STRUCTURE ON NOT ONLY THE FIRE APPARATUS, BUT WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING A TEN YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THESE TRUCKS, AS WELL AS A TEN YEAR PPM SCHEDULE.

SO IT'S ALL ENCOMPASSED IN THE PRICING THAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE.

SO IT'S NOT JUST ON THE FIRE APPARATUS. WHEN THEY BUILT THE PRICING PROGRAM TOGETHER, THEY HAVE TO PRICE OUT THE SERVICE SIDE OF IT, THEN THE WARRANTY SIDE OF IT. WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS THE MOTOR CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH DIFFERENT MOTORS GOING IN.

SO THAT CAUSES YOUR WARRANTIES TO FLUCTUATE. SO IT'S A PRETTY EXTREME CALCULATION FORMULA.

AND HOW THEY COME UP WITH THAT DISCOUNTING ROUGHLY AND WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE PRICE INCREASE EVERY YEAR IN OUR INDUSTRY WE'VE SEEN PRICE INCREASES.

SAME THING ON GARBAGE TRUCKS, YOUR AUTOMOBILES THAT YOU'RE BUYING.

NOW HISTORICALLY THOSE ARE 5%, 7%. SINCE COVID WE'VE SEEN INDUSTRYWIDE NOT JUST OUR COMPANY, BUT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE INDUSTRY, APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35% IN THAT TIME FRAME.

IT'S MIND BOGGLING TO ALL OF US. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT WE HAVE INCREASES COMING NOT COUNTING IF WE HAVE ADDITIONAL INCREASES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHICH HAVE HAPPENED HISTORICALLY IN THE LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS, BASED ON RAW GOODS TECHNOLOGIES, THINGS OF THAT SORT. NOT TO MENTION IF TARIFFS COME INTO PLAY, SAY TWO MONTHS FROM NOW, SIX MONTHS FROM NOW, 12 MONTHS FROM NOW. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS 5%.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW TO BE TRUE TODAY. ADDITIONAL TARIFFS AND OTHER INCREASES ON MATERIALS AND GOODS COULD CAUSE THAT TO GO UP EVEN FURTHER.

SO WE'RE LOCKING THESE EIGHT APPARATUS IN POTENTIALLY LIKE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

PRICES. PRICES CANNOT CHANGE. IT'S WE WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE AN ISSUANCE OF A PO NOW THAT WE DID EXTEND A CANCELLATION CLAUSE.

[01:40:02]

SO BY ISSUANCE OF A PO BY THE END OF JANUARY, WE CAN GUARANTEE AND LOCK THESE PRICES BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN EXTENSIONS ON THESE PRICES MULTIPLE TIMES AS WE'VE WALKED THROUGH WORK THROUGH THIS FINANCE SITUATION.

NO, NO FINE PRINT IN ANY OF THAT FROM YOUR MANUFACTURERS.

MEANING THERE'S A TARIFF, THERE'S A WAR, OR SOMETHING HAPPENS WHERE THEY'RE COMING BACK TELLING US YOU DIDN'T LOCK THAT PRICE IN? NO, SIR. OKAY. QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? I HAVE A QUESTION.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE A SMART ALECK HERE, BUT MY QUESTION IS, WHY WOULD I WANT TO HIRE A MIDDLEMAN WHEN MAYBE I COULD GO BORROW THE MONEY MYSELF AND DO IT? IS THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE? NO, NO NO, NO. WE'RE ACTUALLY, IF YOU DO LEASING, THAT'S KIND OF THE MODEL THAT IS SET UP TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, BUT IT'S JUST ANOTHER TYPE OF FINANCING. WHAT WE'RE DOING, WE'RE PROPOSING IS TO DO A PCO.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE CITY WOULD BE TAKING OUT ESSENTIALLY A LOAN TO DIRECTLY BUY FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

SO OKAY, WE'RE TAKING THE LOAN FROM THE MANUFACTURER.

NO, WE ARE ISSUING DEBT THAT WE WILL HAVE VARIOUS BIDDERS.

THEY WILL GO OUT AND THEY WILL SAY, WE WILL, YOU KNOW, PURCHASE YOUR DEBT FOR THIS INTEREST RATE AND THEN WE WILL IT'S GOING TO BE A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS, AND MOST LIKELY WE WILL GO WITH THE LOWEST INTEREST RATE FROM THE BIDS THAT WE RECEIVE ON FEBRUARY 11TH.

AND THEN WE WILL BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL. THEY WILL DIRECTLY BUY OUR DEBT, AND THEN WE WILL PAY IT BACK OVER THE NEXT 13 YEARS TO THE LOWEST BIDDER.

AND THEN WE'LL TAKE THAT MONEY FROM THAT DEBT ISSUANCE, AND WE WILL PAY IT DIRECTLY TO THE MANUFACTURER WITHIN THE 60 DAY TIME FRAME.

WHY WOULDN'T WE BID ON OURSELVES? SO YOU MEAN AND JUST PAY CASH? WHY WOULDN'T I CARRY MY OWN DEBT AND PAY CASH FOR IT? WELL WE DO NOT HAVE $13.5 MILLION EARMARKED ANYWHERE IN THE BUDGET AT THIS POINT FOR IT, BUT COULD WE BORROW THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH A PPFCO. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT WE COULD DO IT OURSELVES, COULDN'T WE? ARE YOU ASKING IF WE COULD TAKE IT FROM RESERVES OR? POSSIBLY OR SOMEWHERE ELSE? SO LET ME JUMP IN HERE.

SO IN THE ISSUANCE OF A BOND FOR THE DEBT, IT'S OUR BANK.

SO I MEAN, WE'RE MORE OR LESS SELLING THE BOND TO THE PUBLIC.

AND THAT'S HOW WE GET THE LOWER INTEREST RATE.

SO IF WE WERE TO TRY TO BORROW MONEY IN ANY OTHER WAY, IT WOULD COST US MORE MR. ADAMS AND THEN I THINK IN THE, IN THE DEBT ISSUANCE PIECE, MAYBE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER IS TRYING TO GET TO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE COULD GO KIND OF DIRECT SOURCE OTHER THAN WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING? AND SO JUST TO CLARIFY THAT. I MEAN, I THINK IN THEORY YOU COULD GO BORROW FROM A BANK.

AND I BELIEVE LAURA EVEN TALKED TO SOME BANKS AND THIS WAS NOT IN THEIR AMOUNT.

IT WAS TOO SMALL OR WHATEVER. BUT I EXPECT THAT EXPECT THAT SOME BANKS WILL BE PURCHASERS OF YOUR BONDS AS WELL AS HIGH INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

THAT'S TYPICALLY WHO'S BUYING ON 13 YEARS. AND IN THE WINNING BIDDER WILL BE A BROKER DEALER LIKE RAYMOND JAMES OR BANK OF AMERICA OR WELLS FARGO. THEY WILL TURN AROUND AND SELL IT TO MULTIPLE OTHER INVESTORS.

GIVE US THE INTEREST RATE, IF YOU WOULD, ON THIS BOND ISSUANCE VERSUS LIKE AN AVERAGE FROM THE BANK.

WE RAN THESE AT 380 WITH THAT HAS 25 BASIS POINTS OR 0.25 OF CUSHION.

SO WE'D PROBABLY BE AT ARE YOU ABOUT 3.5-3-6? YES. IS THAT RIGHT? THAT'S CORRECT. TAX EXEMPT.

THAT IS CORRECT. AND THEN FROM THE LEASING MODELS THAT WE LOOKED AT WITH AND I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT GROUPS, THOSE INTEREST RATES WERE RUNNING ANYWHERE FROM 4.75 UP TO OVER 7%.

YES. SO SAFE TO ASSUME YOU COULD HAVE A LEASING COMPANY, WHICH WOULD BE THE MIDDLEMAN.

AND THAT'S NOT REALLY WHERE YOU WERE DRIVING US, RIGHT? YOU WERE. YOU WERE DRIVING US MORE TOWARDS THE APPARATUS REPLACEMENT AND GETTING SOMETHING THAT'S MORE CONSISTENT.

YES, SIR. OKAY. AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL THE WAY UP TO 7% INTEREST.

YES, POTENTIALLY. IT JUST DEPENDS. THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT ARE IN LEASING, AND WE'VE HAD A LOT REACH OUT TO US.

AND IT'S IT DEFINITELY VARIES. DID YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION? COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN. WELL, ACCORDING I'M PULLING THOUGHTS HERE THAT IN OUR BUDGET WE HAVE BUDGETED FOR FIRE EQUIPMENT

[01:45:08]

SO IT'S ABOUT 1.2 MILLION PER YEAR. OKAY. THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING ABOUT 1.2.

YES, SIR. SO IF YOU LOOK AT LOOK AT THIS SCENARIO HERE.

IS THAT COULD WE NOT APPLY THAT BUDGETED ITEM INTO SCENARIO ONE OF THESE SCENARIOS? WE ABSOLUTELY COULD. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DISCUSS AT THE UPCOMING BUDGET.

WE COULD LOOK AT TAKING A PORTION OF THAT AND ALLOCATING IT POTENTIALLY OVER.

BUT THAT 1.2 MILLION COVERS MORE THAN JUST THIS EIGHT FIRE APPARATUS.

SO WE'RE TALKING FIRE ENGINES AND FIRE LADDER TRUCKS THROUGH THIS DISCUSSION.

THERE'S ALSO GRASS RIGS THAT THEY HAVE. THERE ARE COMMAND UNITS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT THEY FACILITATE AS WELL THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

COUNCIL MEMBER SCHERLEN. YOU ARE CORRECT. YES.

I MEAN, DURING THE BUDGET SEASON IT'S ME OVER HERE.

SORRY. YEAH. VOICE OFF IN THE DISTANCE AND SO BUT YEAH, YOU ARE CORRECT.

DURING THE BUDGET SEASON, THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE TIME WILL BE ABLE TO ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHETHER THEY WANT TO UTILIZE PART OF THAT 1.2 OR SOME OTHER, SOME OTHER SOURCE TO PAY THIS DEBT. YOUR FIRST PAYMENT WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL THIS FALL OR NEXT SPRING.

IT WILL TAKE PLACE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE IN FEBRUARY OF 2026.

SO IT WILL BE IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. SO THERE WILL NOT BE AN EXPENSE THIS FISCAL YEAR.

ALL BONDS. YOU USUALLY HAVE TWO PAYMENTS. ONE IS PRINCIPAL INTEREST ANOTHER IS AN INTEREST, BUT IT HAPPENS TWICE A YEAR. SO THIS WILL NOT OCCUR UNTIL ABOUT FEBRUARY 2026.

YES. WELL, WHAT I'M LOOKING AT IS I'M TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR OUR TAXPAYERS.

AND IF WE GOT BUDGETED ITEMS LIKE WE DO HERE.

I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS A BAD DEAL. I'M SAYING IT'S SOMETHING THAT IF WE VOTE ON THIS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT FOR BUDGETING NEXT YEAR COMPLETELY.

OKAY. BECAUSE I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE COULD SAVE OURSELVES A LOT OF MONEY ON BORROWED MONEY INSTEAD OF BORROWING IT OR FINANCING A LOT OF IT OURSELVES. BUT WE GOT TO GET THOSE DATA TO WHERE WE CAN BREAK IT DOWN FROM THE FIRE.

HOW MANY TIMES AM I GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THIS SPEND HERE? IS IT EVER FIVE YEARS, EVERY TEN YEARS? OR THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BECAUSE.

WE'RE GOING TO PULL UP A PDF AND THIS WAS EMAILED OUT TO COUNCIL.

AND THIS, THIS SHOWS THE NEXT 14 YEARS OF NEEDS.

AND WHAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING IS AND PLEASE NOTE AND I APOLOGIZE, I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE SMALL ON HERE, BUT ON THE IN THE DEBT ISSUANCE COLUMN THAT COULD EASILY BE CALLED THE CASH PAYMENT COLUMN.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE NEXT 14 YEARS OF NEEDS FROM FOR FIRE APPARATUS IN ORDER TO FULLY REPLACE ALL THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT WE HAVE AND GET IT ON A CONSISTENT TEN YEAR ROTATING CYCLE. AND YOU'LL SEE THERE THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGER YEARS OF NEEDS, BUT IT DOES KIND OF STAGGER. WE'VE GOT TWO MORE YEARS COMING UP, A COUPLE OF YEARS WITHOUT, AND THEN PRETTY MUCH HAVE SOLID YEARS OF REQUESTS GOING FORWARD.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE 13.5 MILLION, WE WOULD HAVE TO GET VERY CREATIVE IN HOW WE PULL THAT OUT OF OUR EXISTING BUDGET.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD COVER EVERY SINGLE YEAR GOING FORWARD.

IN, IN JUST YOUR REGULAR OPERATING BUDGET. THAT'S THE ISSUE IS IF WE HAVE 1.2, BUT AS YOU GO YEAR TO YEAR TO YEAR, YOU'RE ADDING SIX ENGINES, THREE ENGINES, FOUR ENGINES, ONE.

EVENTUALLY YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH FUNDING THERE EXISTING TO DO THAT. SO WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS WE'RE TRYING TO START A NEW PROGRAM, WHICH WE'RE HOPING FUTURE COUNCILS WILL, WILL FOLLOW SUIT, TO WHICH WE START REVOLVING A BOND PROGRAM WHERE WE REPLACE EQUIPMENT REGULARLY, NOT GETTING 20, 25 YEARS. AND THEN SUDDENLY A SUDDENLY A BIG HIT.

AND WE DO THAT. SO THIS IS THIS IS THE FIRST BOND OF MANY BONDS.

AND I SAY SMALL THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR, 13.5.

THEN YOU SEE A 4.7 BOND, 6.6 BOND, NOTHING, NOTHING, 1.9.

AND THEN THIS COULD CHANGE AS NEEDS ARISE. BUT WE'RE STARTING TO TRYING TO GET THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND FUTURE COUNCIL STARTING A NEW, BETTER PATH OF REPLACING EQUIPMENT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S HERE, EXCEPT WHAT I DISAGREE WITH IS 13.5 MILLION, 4.76.6001.9. WHY CAN'T WE AVERAGE THAT OUT WHERE WE'RE WORKING ON AVERAGES INSTEAD OF HAVING ONE YEAR AT 31.53 MILLION? THE NEXT YEAR IS 12.72 MILLION.

[01:50:02]

YES, SIR. WHAT I, WHAT I LOOKED AT WAS I SET EVERYTHING UP ON A STRICT REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE 15 YEARS.

TAKE OUR EXISTING FLEET, WHICH IS 29 TOTAL APPARATUS BETWEEN OUR ENGINES AND OUR LADDERS.

AND I JUST SET UP SOMETHING TO GET A GOOD FORECAST SET UP.

I KNEW THAT THIS WOULD GET US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT THERE COULD BE SOME WIGGLE ROOM BASED ON WHAT WE HAD.

SO EVERYTHING WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT AND GET ALL WE CAN OUT OF IT FOR 15 YEARS WHILE WE START IMPLEMENTING A TEN YEAR ROTATION ON THIS, ON ANOTHER WAY OF PURCHASING OUR VEHICLES. I MEAN, I WANT THE ROTATION. THE REASON WHY IT'S A LITTLE BIT SCATTERED. I'M NOT AGAINST ROTATION, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING, IF WE TAKE AN AVERAGE, LET'S SAY WE PAY 6 MILLION YEAR ONE, 6 MILLION YEAR TWO, 6 MILLION YEAR THREE. WE'RE BUILDING OUR BANK UP AS WE GO.

THAT WAY, BY THE TIME I GET TO 2035, I MAY HAVE $31.53 MILLION TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT, I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO SIT DOWN AND ACTUALLY PUT TO THE LEATHER TO THE FLOOR HERE AND FIGURE IT OUT AGAIN.

PART OF THIS IS OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SIX ENGINES, TWO LADDERS WE HAVE TO REPLACE TODAY.

AND THOSE COST 13.5. THE VENDOR THEY NEED PAYMENT WITHIN 60 DAYS.

AND SO, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DECREASE PAYMENT FOR SIX AND SIX AND SIX.

AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT IS WE KIND OF DID THAT IN SCENARIO TWO WHERE WE TRIED TO DO A LEVEL AVERAGE OUT THE RATES FOR TEN YEARS WITH SCENARIO TWO AT 1.8 FOR DOWN FOR TEN YEARS. SO THAT IN A SENSE IS KIND OF WHAT I THINK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS TRYING TO AVERAGE OUT THE DEBT PAYMENTS THROUGH A SCENARIO WHERE YOU HAVE A LEVEL PAYMENT.

I'M WILLING TO VOTE TODAY TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT.

IF I HAVE A COMMITMENT BEFORE BUDGET NEXT YEAR, WE HAVE THIS BROKE DOWN CLOSER, BETTER AND KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT.

ABSOLUTELY. I MEAN, I'M WILLING TO VOTE, BUT I MEAN, THE THING IS, WHERE WE'RE AT FOUR DAYS BEFORE WE GOTTA DO THIS, OR TWO DAYS OR WHATEVER IT IS. I, YOU KNOW, I LIKE THESE DISCUSSIONS, BUT I REALLY LIKE THIS DISCUSSION BACK IN BUDGET TIME. CORRECT. YEAH. WE WOULD DEFINITELY BRING THIS BACK. AND WE WILL.

YEAH, THE COUNCIL WILL DEFINITELY BE DISCUSSING ABOUT HOW THEY WISH TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT IN BUDGET SEASON.

ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. THANK YOU. I THINK THE AVERAGE WOULD BE AROUND 6 MILLION IF I'M LOOKING AT THAT.

YOU GOT 14 PAYMENTS THERE TIMES SIX TO GET TO 100 MILLION.

IS THAT ROUGHLY WHERE WE'RE LOOKING. SO FOR COUNCIL JUST CONSIDERATION I THINK WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SUPPORT FOR THE DEBT ISSUANCE KNOWING THAT COME REALLY SEPTEMBER BUT JULY WHEN THERE'S BUDGET DISCUSSIONS YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO GO AND FIND $6 MILLION CASH AND PUT YOURSELF ON A PAYMENT SCHEDULE OF 6 MILLION EVERY YEAR OF JUST PAYING INTO KIND OF AN ACCOUNT THAT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND PURCHASE, OR YOU'RE LOOKING AT DEBT ISSUANCE AND SIGNING UP FOR THAT, AND THEN YOU HAVE A DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT THAT IS GOING TO COST THAT THAT LEVEL OF INTEREST, WHICH WE WOULDN'T AVOID ANYWAY. BUT YOU'RE I THINK MAYBE WHERE COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN'S COMING FROM IS THE, RAMP UP WHERE WE'RE PAYING 700, 700 1.5 AND THEN THERE'S A LARGER LUMP SUM PAYMENT KIND OF BALLOON STYLE AT THE END.

COULD WE HELP FUTURE COUNCILS BY AVERAGING THAT OUT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BOARD AND WORKING WITHIN OUR GIVEN BUDGET TO LOCATE THOSE MONIES? SO THE BALLOON PAYMENT IS AT THE END IS STRUCTURED TO ASSUME THAT WE'RE GOING TO SELL THAT APPARATUS BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER.

WE HAVE A GUARANTEED BUYBACK AMOUNT FROM THEM FOR THAT APPARATUS.

OR WE COULD GO OUT ON THE OPEN MARKET AND SELL IT OURSELVES, AND THAT WOULD BE USED TO MAKE THAT FINAL PAYMENT OR TO OFFSET THAT FINAL PAYMENT.

SO IT'S STILL TRYING TO AVERAGE IT OUT, AND WE DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO DIRECTLY SPEND OUR CASH TO MAKE THAT FINAL BALLOON PAYMENT. SURE, I AGREE. I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHERE TOM'S COMING FROM, I THINK.

SO THE VARIABLES THAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US, I WOULD LIKE TO ISOLATE THOSE TO THE ONE THING THAT'S NOT A VARIABLE IS THE NEED FOR THE EQUIPMENT AND THE, THE ISSUE OF, OF NO ISSUANCE AND AND NOT MOVING FORWARD PUTS US FURTHER BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON THAT. AND SO WE'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF FINDING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUR EXISTING BUDGET AND PRIORITIZING THOSE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.

I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WE CAN GET THAT DONE AGAIN THIS YEAR IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN.

SO I WHAT I'M HEARING IS OVERALL, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THE NEED.

I THINK WE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE UNDERSTAND THE NUMBERS AND THE VALUES AND HOW WE HOW WE STRUCTURE THE DEBT.

[01:55:05]

DO YOU WANT US TO COME BACK WITH A DEBT ISSUANCE? WE COULD COME BACK WITH A LEASE, POTENTIALLY.

OR YOU KNOW, DO YOU WANT US JUST TO BACK OFF AT THIS POINT AND NOT LOOK AT MAKING AN ORDER? I MEAN, THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS. AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO DO A DEBT ISSUANCE, WE REALLY WOULD JUST LIKE YOU ALL TO WEIGH IN ON IF SCENARIO ONE, 2 OR 3 IS WHAT YOUR PREFERENCE IS. IT'S A LITTLE EASIER TO SEE IT ON THE SCREEN HERE.

AND AGAIN WE JUST ARE SHOWING A POTENTIAL TAX RATE IMPACT.

BUT ON SCENARIO TWO, THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE NEEDED IS 2.95 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR LIKE THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

SO IT GOES UP IN YEAR ONE. AND THEN ASSUMING WE NEED ALL OF THIS EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS, IT WILL STAY AT THAT LEVEL AMOUNT WHERE SCENARIO THREE, IT KIND OF RAMPS UP.

AND THEN AS IT GOES UP HIGHER, THE NEED IS HIGHER, UP TO MORE.

A LITTLE OVER 4 MILLION ANNUALLY. THAT IS ALSO WHEN WE HAVE SOME DEBT ROLLING OFF THAT WILL BE FULLY PAID OFF FOR OTHER THINGS THAT THAT MONEY THEN COULD BE USED INSTEAD TO PAY FOR THIS ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE. WOULD COUNCIL BE COMFORTABLE IN MOVING FORWARD WITH PUTTING FORWARD THIS DEBT ISSUANCE UNDERNEATH THE INS SIDE? KNOWING THAT WE WOULD BE DILIGENT IN LOCATING AS MUCH MONIES AS WE CAN UNDER THE EXISTING O&M BUDGET.

BECAUSE THE BIG CONCERN HERE IS, IS, WELL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO THROW IT OFF ON THE BORROW SIDE, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THE REVENUES COMING IN THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.

AND MAYBE WE'LL MAYBE WE'LL BE LONG, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE COULD PLAN FOR WHATEVER ELSE WE, WE HAVE IN A FUTURE COST INCREASE. AND SO I'D RATHER BE MORE CONSERVATIVE ON THAT AND TRY TO BALANCE THAT INS SIDE WITH AS MUCH OF THE EXISTING TAX REVENUE AS POSSIBLE. AND WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

COUNCIL THIS SUMMER WILL BE SETTING HOW THEY WANT THAT TAX RATE TO LOOK, AND WE CAN ABSOLUTELY MAKE SURE THAT THAT IF THAT'S THE INTENTION OF COUNCIL, THAT THAT'S WHAT WE BRING FORWARD AND THEN THEY'LL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.

ANYTHING FURTHER ON THIS ONE, GENTLEMEN? AH, JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION.

TAKE SCENARIO TWO, FOR EXAMPLE. WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPLICATION ON OUR CITIZENS TAX BILL? YES. SO THAT'S THE ONE WHERE WE BASICALLY GO UP TO A LEVEL AMOUNT FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

AND ON THAT ONE IT WOULD BE WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT 1.84 PENNIES ON THE TAX RATE.

THAT TRANSLATES TO AN AVERAGE ASSESSED VALUE OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN AMARILLO IS AROUND 200,000.

I JUST USED 200,000 FOR ROUND MATH. THAT WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $36 PER YEAR, OR $3 PER MONTH.

FURTHER QUESTIONS. AND THEN ARE YOU ARE YOU RECOMMENDING SCENARIO THREE OR SCENARIO TWO WHICH WHAT'S Y'ALL'S RECOMMENDATION ON THAT? SO WE I THINK EITHER ONE, UNLESS STEVEN WANTS TO WEIGH IN I THINK WE'RE GOOD WITH EITHER ONE.

FOR JUST THE SINGLE DEBT ISSUANCE THE NET DEBT SERVICE ON SCENARIO TWO IS ABOUT MAYBE 600,000 LESS THAN SCENARIO THREE IN TOTAL FOR PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS SCENARIO HERE AND IT'S IN VERY SMALL WORDS DOWN THERE.

SCENARIO TWO FOR THE 14 YEAR, PAYING ALL OF IT ALL THE WAY OUT ON DEBT ISSUANCES, IT COMES TO TAL PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST OF 112.78 MILLION. AND SCENARIO THREE IS 113.24 MILLION.

SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CERTAINLY I THINK EITHER SCENARIO 2 OR 3 WOULD BE REASONABLE.

IT'S REALLY WHICH DIRECTION COUNCIL WANTS TO GO.

SCENARIO TWO IS SLIGHTLY CHEAPER BECAUSE YOU'RE PAYING MORE PRINCIPAL UPFRONT, AND SO IT LOWERS THE AMOUNT OF INTEREST YOU PAY SLIGHTLY.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? NO, THAT'S EXACTLY CORRECT.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN SIMPSON I SAW YOU KNOW, WELL I DO LIKE I DO LIKE THE OPTION OF BEING ABLE TO LOOK AT THIS ON THE INS SIDE AND THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, BECAUSE ANY WAY WE CAN MITIGATE THE INS SIDE ON OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE I THINK IS BENEFICIAL ALSO.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE LIMITED EACH YEAR ON HOW MUCH WE CAN TAKE ON THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE INCREASE. AND WHILE WE WANT TO KEEP IT LOW, IF WE IF WE LOWERED ON THE O&M SIDE BUT RAISED IT ALL ON THE INS SIDE, YOU'RE LOSING GROUND, YOU KNOW, DOWN THE ROAD, BECAUSE EVERY YEAR WE DON'T TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE AND WE DON'T. BUT THE GOVERNMENT IS THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IS LIMITED US TO 3.5%, WHICH IS SOME MONEY, BUT NOT A GREAT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

BUT EACH YEAR, IF WE CONTINUE NOT TO DO THAT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE LOSING MORE AND MORE MONEY. SO I THINK LOOKING AT BALANCING THIS ON THE INS SIDE AND THE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN ON O&M, I THINK WOULD BE A GOOD A GOOD SOLUTION TO FUND THIS,

[02:00:02]

ANYTHING FURTHER? YES. DO YOU ALL HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON SCENARIO 2 OR 3 THAT YOU WOULD LIKE? BECAUSE WE WILL STRUCTURE IT THAT WAY AND TAKE BIDS ON THE DEBT BEING STRUCTURED THAT WAY.

SO WE NEED SOME GUIDANCE, RIGHT? YES. CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE OTHER SLIDE? YES. STEPHANIE, CAN YOU FLIP US BACK? OKAY. ARE YOU TALKING THIS ONE HERE? YEAH. YES. SO WHAT SCENARIO TWO DOES IS IT BRINGS THE PAYMENT FOR THIS AGGREGATE PROGRAM OF ALL THOSE YEARS TO 2.9 MILLION YEAR ONE.

AND IT AND IT LEAVES IT THERE FOR THE ENTIRE PROGRAM.

THAT'S WHAT SCENARIO TWO DOES. WHEREAS SCENARIO THREE, WE TARGET A TOTAL TAX RATE, NOT ONLY THIS PROGRAM. AND THIS ASSUMES IT'S ALL IN THE INS SIDE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE A CORRECT ASSUMPTION.

RIGHT. AND YOUR EXISTING DEBT THAT IS ALSO PAID FROM THE INSIDE AND TRY TO LOWER THE ENTIRE INS RATE.

I MEAN, IN MY VIEW, YOU GET THE MOST FLEXIBILITY WITH SCENARIO TWO, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE MONEY THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO SEPARATE TAX RATES.

AND YOU'VE HIT THAT HIGHEST MARK YEAR ONE THAT IS GOING TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THIS PROGRAM FOR THE PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 14 YEARS. ASSUMING THAT WE STICK WITH THIS PROGRAM.

ASSUMING CORRECT A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS. AND WE ALSO THINK WE HAVE REALLY LOW ASSUMPTIONS IN OUR MODELS WITH YOUR ASSESSED VALUATION GROWTH TOO.

WE HAVE 25 BASIS POINTS OF INTEREST RATE CUSHION.

SO WE THINK THESE ARE PRETTY CONSERVATIVE ASSUMPTIONS.

YEAH. THAT CAN CHANGE BY FEBRUARY 11TH. BUT FOR NOW.

YEAH. WELL I THINK OPTION TWO IS GOOD. OKAY. OPTION.

COUNCILMAN CRAFT. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? I MEAN, I KNOW I ONLY HAVE CONTROL OVER THIS COMING BUDGET YEAR AS FAR AS DEBT AS WE ISSUE IT.

I MEAN, I WOULD I LIKE SCENARIO TWO FOR LONG TERM IF FUTURE COUNCILS STICK WITH THAT PLAN.

AS FAR AS SAVING MONEY, IT LOOKS LIKE IF I'M READING THAT RIGHT, SAVING MONEY WOULD BE SCENARIO THREE, RIGHT? I BELIEVE THE LOWEST IS SCENARIO TWO.

YEAH. SCENARIO TWO WAS THE WAS THE LOWEST ONE OVERALL.

SO JUST THIS ON THIS, IT'S THE DEBT SERVICE AFTER THE BUYBACK IS 14,000,750 VERSUS 15,000,347.

AND I THINK LAURA HAD IT FOR THE ENTIRE TEN YEARS UP THERE AT A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT.

YEAH. OKAY. HALF A MILLION. OKAY. HALF A MILLION.

YEAH. SCENARIO TWO IS FINE, THEN. OKAY. COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS ACTUALLY RAISING THE TAXES TO OUR CITIZENS, CORRECT? YEAH. NOT NECESSARILY. THAT WILL BE FOR COUNCIL TO DECIDE THIS SUMMER AT BUDGET.

SO THAT IF WE GO BACK TO BUDGET AND REDO, OKAY, WE TAKE THAT DEBT AWAY.

WE ABSOLUTELY COULD IF COUNCIL CHOOSES TO DO THAT.

YES. SO COUNCIL CAN CHOOSE WHETHER THEY WANT TO CAPTURE THE ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE PAYMENTS ON THE O&M SIDE OF THE RATE OR ON THE INS SIDE, WHICH WOULD ESSENTIALLY CAUSE A TAX INCREASE, OR THEY COULD LOWER THE O&M SIDE AND TAKE IT ON THE INS.

GIVE THE GIVE THE SCENARIO. SCENARIO TWO, WE CASH FUND THE 2.9 MILLION OUT OF WORKING BUDGET, AND WE PULL THE 1 MILLION PLUS OUT OF THE 1.2.

IF YOU WANTED TO JUST BE FLAT WITHIN THE GIVING DEPARTMENT BUDGET LIKE THAT IS AN OPTION, RIGHT? THAT IS AN OPTION. YES, SIR. THAT WOULD HAVE NO DEBT INCREASE ON THE INS SIDE TO THE TAXPAYER.

THAT'S CORRECT. ALL WITHIN YOUR EXISTING REVENUES? YES. THAT IS AN OPTION. COUNCILMAN YOU HAVE THAT AS AN OPTION? I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S RECOMMENDING THAT. OKAY.

BUT OBVIOUSLY I THINK THEY ARE PUSHING STAFF IS PUSHING FOR WELL MAKE THAT DECISION LATER WHEN YOU HAVE FEWER VARIABLES.

BUT YEAH, I MEAN IT LEAVES YOU THE OPTION WHEN YOU GET TO THE NEXT BUDGET.

OKAY. I WOULD GO WITH TWO. OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU.

COUNCILMAN. TWO. OKAY. STAFF HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

YES, THAT GIVES US WHAT WE NEED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GREAT. THANK YOU. WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THAT BACK AND TAKING CARE OF THOSE. I'M SORRY I DRUG THAT CONVERSATION ON TOO.

NO. YOU'RE GREAT AND WE WILL HAVE THIS SAME GROUP BACK ON FEBRUARY 11TH, AND WE HOPE TO BRING GOOD NEWS OF LOW INTEREST RATES FROM THE BIDS.

[02:05:01]

YEAH. APPRECIATE YOU. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE OUR RECESS UP INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CATCH THIS NEXT ONE.

LET'S TAKE A TEN MINUTE, 15 MINUTES. WE'LL SAY TEN.

IT'LL BE MORE LIKE 15. WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE, THANK YOU.

BACK TO OUR BUSINESS MEETING. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE DISCUSSION ON ITEM 70. I FEEL CONFIDENT WE'LL MAKE A GOOD DECISION THERE.

[7.F. Buc-ee's $275,000 Community Outreach Donation to benefit community-oriented projects, civic events, and other benevolent purposes within the City]

WHO DO WE HAVE THAT IS BRINGING THAT ONE FORWARD? I KNOW ANDREW FREEMAN WAS HERE, BUT HE'S NOT HERE TODAY.

AND HE HAD LED ON THIS ONE LAST. GRAYSON, WHAT DO YOU GOT? I THINK STEPHANIE IS GOING TO ASSIST US WITH THIS. THAT CORRECT? STEPHANIE? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

OKAY, WELL, I WILL TRY TO ASSIST THEN. SO I THINK THE COUNCIL I THINK YOU'VE EACH BEEN GIVEN A BINDER AT YOUR, AT YOUR DESK. I THINK WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING REQUESTS FOR THE, FOR THE BUC-EE'S DONATION.

OUR STAFF HAVE BEEN, HAVE BEEN COMPILING THAT FOR YOU.

WE'VE RECEIVED SOME DIRECTLY. YOU'VE RECEIVED SOME PASSED THEM ON TO US.

AND SO I THINK TODAY'S GOAL IS TO DISCUSS WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO LIKE TO SEE GOING FORWARD.

BRING BACK AS AN ACTION ITEM. I THINK KIND OF DECIDES EITHER SOME PARAMETERS.

ARE YOU GOING TO PULL FROM A HAT? ARE YOU GOING ARE YOU GOING TO PICK EACH ONE, BRING YOUR TOP ONE.

ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOME KIND OF OTHER PROCESS AND GO FROM THERE? SO THAT'S KIND OF THE GOAL FOR THE DAYS OF DISCUSSION ON HOW YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY WHO WILL GET THE FUNDS? YES. SO BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE DISCUSSION ON THE VERY WELL DESERVED SERVING ENTITIES AROUND TOWN LET ME ADDRESS MR. FISCHER'S CONCERN. SO MR. MCWILLIAMS, CAN YOU GIVE US ANY LEGAL OPINION AS TO IT RELATES? THIS IS A TERM IN AN AGREEMENT, AND WE'VE BEEN GIVEN THIS MONEY.

AND COUNCIL IS JUST KIND OF THE INNOCENT MESSENGER HERE, I THINK.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN ANY MONEY.

THIS IS A DONATION FROM A PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT CORPORATION TO A CHARITABLE, BENEVOLENT.

SO THE MONEY WILL BE GIVEN DIRECTLY FROM BUC-EE'S TO THE NONPROFIT.

ALL YOU'RE DOING, ALL THE AGREEMENT ALLOWS FOR IS FOR YOU TO GIVE THEM DIRECTION.

THEY WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO ASK YOU. THEY COULD JUST GIVE IT TO THEM IF THEY WANTED TO. RIGHT. SO IT IS A DONATION.

THAT'S WHAT. THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS. A DONATION FROM THEM TO SOME OTHER CORPORATION.

THE MONEY NEVER COMES TO THE CITY AT ALL. DO WE HAVE ANY BACKUP ON HOW THIS CAME ABOUT TO BE PART OF THE TERM? IT WAS JUST AS FAR AS I KNOW. IT WAS JUST. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT BUC-EE'S JUST WANTED TO OFFER.

ANDREW WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN BETTER. IS THIS NORMAL FOR BUC-EES WHEN THEY GO INTO A COMMUNITY TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS A SHOW OF GOOD FAITH.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YES, BUC-EES DOES DO THIS. TYPICALLY WHAT THEY WHAT THEY'VE HAD IN THE PAST IS THEY DO IT OVER A MATTER OF YEARS. IN THIS SITUATION, THEY ASK FOR IT UPFRONT, AND THAT WAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO MONITOR IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THIS IS A NORMAL THING WE SEE IN THREE CITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

AND I WON'T SAY EVERY 380, BUT IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR, FOR A CITY COUNCIL TO, TO REQUEST THAT THAT ENTITY WHO'S COMING TO OUR COMMUNITY REQUESTING INCENTIVES TO THEN TURN AROUND AND PROVIDE SOME INCENTIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF.

IT'S NOT AN UNUSUAL THING. OKAY, SO, MR. MCWILLIAMS, IS THERE ANY THING THAT WOULD LIMIT US LEGALLY IN GIVING GUIDANCE TO BUC-EE'S? OUR PREFERENCE IS FIVE DIFFERENT COUNCIL MEMBER S AS TO WHETHER WE SPLIT THE MONEY OUT OVER FIVE ENTITIES, OR PUT IT ALL TO ONE AS A RECOMMENDATION TO THEM.

THEY CAN TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT. CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. OKAY. ANY OTHER CONCERNS ON THE LEGAL SIDE WITH THIS TERM? NO CONCERNS. COUNCIL, DO I HAVE ANY CONCERNS FROM YOU GUYS AS TO THE LEGALITY OR THE WAY THAT WE COULD DO THIS IN THE MOST UPFRONT, FORWARD FACING WAY SO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY APPEARANCE OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT ITS INTENTION IS, IS FOR IT TO BE A DONATION FROM ONE PRIVATE BUSINESS INTO THE COMMUNITY.

I MEAN, I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT. I WAS JUST MORE CURIOUS AS TO I HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW TO SPLIT IT OUT AND MAYBE DIFFERENT THAN EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT I DON'T KNOW KIND OF WHERE WE'RE GOING TO LAND ON THAT.

OKAY. IF THAT'S PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION. WELL, NOW WHERE DID YOU GET SO I MEAN, MY THINKING IS IT WOULD BE GREAT TO IMPACT AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME ORGANIZATIONS, WE HAVE SO MANY WORTHY ORGANIZATIONS, AND I APPRECIATE STAFF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER ON EVERYBODY THAT HAD EITHER CONTACTED COUNCIL OR MAYOR OR STAFF.

AS FAR AS REQUESTING THE DONATIONS AND SOME ARE HERE TODAY I DON'T SEE ANYWHERE WHERE IT SAYS ONE ORGANIZATION.

AND I'LL BE HONEST. I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO SIT UP HERE AND DICTATE WHO THIS IS GOING TO GO TO.

BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S SO MANY GOOD ORGANIZATIONS.

I THINK IT PUTS US IN A REALLY WEIRD POSITION WHEN WE'VE GOT THE BENEVOLENCE OF BUC-EE'S, WHICH IS GREAT.

[02:10:05]

THAT PUTS US IN A TOUGH POSITION BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY GOOD ORGANIZATIONS CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DO SO MANY GOOD THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S HARD TO WEIGH THOSE OUT. SO, I MEAN, I'M NOT LOVING THIS POSITION.

I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT BECAUSE THERE'S EVEN SOMEBODY THAT MAY NOT HAVE CONTACTED US, YOU KNOW, IS A VERY WORTHY ORGANIZATION, BUT YET THEY'RE BYPASSED ON THIS MONEY.

AND I THINK IT PUTS US IN A BAD SITUATION. SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR OTHERS INPUT INTO HOW WE CAN DO THIS.

LIKE YOU SAID, DIVIDE IT UP, DIVIDE IT BY 20 DIVIDED BY 25.

WHATEVER. COUNCILMAN. WELL, I AGREE BECAUSE IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

AND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN ON A NONPROFIT BOARD OF ALL KINDS, YOU KNOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE EVEN $25,000 CAN MAKE.

AND I THINK WE WANT TO DO THIS IN A WAY THAT NOT ONLY REACHES THE GOALS OF WHAT BUC-EES WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT ALSO TO HAVE AN IMPACT IN THE AREA THAT WE THINK NEEDS TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

AND TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WHERE IT'S MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE.

I'VE ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE KIND OF IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD, OKAY, WHEN YOU HAVE THIS TYPE OF SITUATION, WELL, HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE WITH A FOUNDATION OR ORGANIZATION OR THAT TYPE OF TYPE OF THING.

AND, YOU KNOW, ONE SUGGESTION I GOT WAS FROM SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN THE PRESIDENT OF A COUPLE OF FOUNDATIONS AND DEALT WITH THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, FOR A FOUNDATION, THIS WOULD BE GENERALLY 5 TO 25,000.

SHE KIND OF TERMED IT SMALLER GRANTS, ALTHOUGH THIS IS BIG MONEY FOR WOULD BE BIG MONEY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, HER RECOMMENDATION IS, YOU KNOW, TO A KIND OF DETERMINE A CRITERIA, A BROAD CRITERIA OF WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY THAT WE WANT TO DO THAT WOULD SAY, THIS IS HOW WE'RE LOOKING TO ACCOMPLISH IT? IS IT FOR BASIC NEEDS? IS IT FOR, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND RECREATION, YOU KNOW, IS IT THAT TYPE OF THING? BUT TO GIVE ANY GUIDANCE THAT WE CAN BUT TO CONSIDER PERHAPS INSTEAD OF US JUST SITTING UP HERE DECIDING, YOU KNOW, WHETHER EACH OF US MIGHT WANT TO NOMINATE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY THAT MAYBE HAVE BACKGROUND IN THE COMMUNITY, KNOW ABOUT THE COMMUNITY TO WORK THROUGH THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US, AND INSTEAD OF US DECIDING, WELL, THIS IS WHAT I LIKE BECAUSE I LIKE IT THAT WE HAVE MORE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY BUY IN AND COMMUNITY INPUT.

WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. I THINK WE'D HAVE TO YOU KNOW, COME UP AND BROAD GENERALIZATION OF WHAT THE PARAMETERS WOULD BE, PROBABLY PUT SOMETHING OUT THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO SUBMIT THE SAME INFORMATION.

AND ALSO IT GIVES, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE AT LEAST A CHANCE TO LEARN THAT THIS IS AVAILABLE AND TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR IT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF US DETERMINING IT, GET THE CITIZENS TO BE INVOLVED THAT THAT WE THINK COULD REALLY DO A GOOD JOB ON THIS AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR US. OBVIOUSLY, I GUESS WE IT COMES FROM THE CITY COUNCIL.

I GUESS WE COULD CHANGE. BUT NONETHELESS, I THINK THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY LOOK THROUGH THIS.

BUT I DO THINK WE'D HAVE TO PROVIDE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE. SO I NEED TO BREAK THAT DOWN FOR A SECOND, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS TOPIC.

YOU'RE RECOMMENDING THAT COUNCIL WOULD PUT TOGETHER A SUBCOMMITTEE OF CITIZENS THAT THEN WOULD BRING BACK A RECOMMENDATION TO RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL.

THAT COUNCIL WOULD THEN ADOPT AND RECOMMEND TO BUC-EE'S, TO WHICH BUC-EE'S COULD TAKE OR NOT TAKE THE RECOMMENDATION, AND THEN THE BUC-EES CHECK WOULD GO FROM THE BUC-EES ENTITY TO THAT ONE OR MORE ENTITIES.

I'M NOT RECOMMENDING IT NECESSARILY. I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S AN OPTION.

OKAY. YOU KNOW, SO THAT THAT'S JUST ONE OPTION THAT YOU'RE PUTTING OUT AS A CONSIDERATION.

CORRECT. OKAY. I THINK I GOT THAT ONE. COUNCILMAN.

I. I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

WE WERE ELECTED. BUC-EES REACHED OUT TO THE COUNCIL FOR US TO DO THAT.

I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS BY US GOING TO A SUBCOMMITTEE.

I'M PUTTING A SUBCOMMITTEE IN THE SAME PLACE I'M AT TODAY.

NOT NECESSARILY THAT I WANT TO MAKE PICK THIS ONE OR THAT ONE, BUT I'M ASKING SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO THE THING I DON'T WANT TO DO.

SO I THINK THAT COMES BACK TO US. OKAY, I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

COUNCILMAN I MEAN. JUST IN THE BACK OF MY HEAD WAS SIMILAR WITH DON MAKING A BIG AS MUCH OF AN IMPACT AS WE CAN. MY RECOMMENDATION WAS FIVE NONPROFITS PER COUNCIL MEMBER SPLIT OUT, YOU KNOW, $11,000 EACH, AND YOU HIT 25 NONPROFITS. I MEAN, IT'S SPREAD THE WEALTH.

REALLY? OKAY, SO YOU'RE SAYING GO AHEAD AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION BACK TO BUC-EE'S.

[02:15:06]

SO LIKE, I DON'T THINK I HAVE AN ACTION ITEM TO BRING BACK.

I THINK WHAT I HAVE IS A TERM IN AN AGREEMENT WHERE THEY'VE SADDLED US WITH SOME NEED THAT THEY THAT THEY FEEL IS BENEFICIAL BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO LIKE, YEAH, IT MAY PUT US IN A HARD SPOT, BUT IT IS A SPOT WHERE YOU VOLUNTEERED TO SIT IN A HARD SPOT SOMETIMES.

AND SO YOURS. YOURS IS SPREAD THE WEALTH. COUNCILMAN TIPPS.

WHAT IS YOURS? I WOULD AGREE. I THINK SPREAD IT JUST MY AGAIN, I WOULD SAY SPREAD IT.

AND INSTEAD OF GOING ALL TO ONE, JUST IMPACT AS MANY AS WE COULD.

OKAY, NOW HOW DO WE GET THERE? GREAT QUESTION.

WELL, I WILL ADD, I MEAN, JUST AS A MATTER OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE BEFORE, I DON'T THINK ASKING FOR COMMUNITY ADVICE IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE NOT LOOKED AT BEFORE.

WE DO IT EVERY DAY THROUGH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

AND ALSO WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE CHARTER, WE APPOINTED CITIZENS FROM THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE THOUGHT COULD BRING VALUE TO THIS.

OBVIOUSLY, AT THE AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL IS THEY'VE GIVEN THE AUTHORITY TO COUNCIL.

BUT WE AND WE HAVE THE FINAL SAY. WE'RE NOT ABDICATING IT.

BUT I'D LIKE TO HAVE MORE COMMUNITY INPUT IN THIS THAN JUST PEOPLE CALLING US OR DOING IT, AND THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE. BUT THAT'S JUST MY PREFERENCE.

HOW MUCH COMMUNITY INPUT HAVE YOU GOTTEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS? I MEAN, I'VE GOT EMAILS EVERY DAY. I'VE GOTTEN PHONE CALLS EVERY DAY.

I'VE GOT I'VE GOT THE LIST HERE. YOU KNOW, MORE THAN A DOZEN SPECIFIC COMMUNITY REQUESTS.

OKAY. YOU KNOW, IF I WERE TO DO THIS, I DO THINK AGAIN, I JUST THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME PARAMETERS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING.

YOU KNOW, IF EVERYBODY WANTS TO SPEND THE TIME TO CALL ALL OF THESE THEMSELVES TO DETERMINE IT. BUT I THINK I THINK IT WOULD BE PRETTY EASY TO GET A GROUP OF CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO HELP US WORK THROUGH THIS. AND IT JUST NOT BE OUR DECISION ONLY, BUT USING THE RESOURCES OF THE PEOPLE AND THE CITIZENS, BECAUSE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE CITIZENS. AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY INPUT.

I AGREE. I MEET WITH THE CITIZENS EVERY TWO WEEKS, AND THEY COME AND TELL ME A LOT OF THINGS, AND THEY TELL ME A LOT OF TIME WE NEED TO STEP UP AND DO OUR JOB, AND THAT'S WHERE I'M COMING FROM.

OKAY. I'M GOING TO CONCUR WITH SCHERLYN. I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE ANYTHING THAT I WOULD ASK ANYONE THAT I LIKED TO SERVE ON THAT SUBCOMMITTEE.

THERE MAY BE SOME POLITICAL COMBATANTS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE FOR THAT.

HOWEVER, I WOULDN'T DO THAT TO THEM EITHER. SO YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THEM.

WELL, YOU'VE ALREADY WRITTEN A $25,000 CHECK I HEARD EARLIER.

SO THAT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, ANY TIME YOU WANT TRANSPARENCY.

I KNOW YOU ARE RULES FOR EVERYONE, I LOVE IT.

OKAY. SO, LOOK, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY LESSON THAT I'VE LEARNED IN THIS IS WHEN YOU HAVE WHEN YOU'RE PUT IN A POSITION LIKE THIS, USUALLY GOOD LEADERSHIP REQUIRES SOME SORT OF DECISIVE ACTION AND THAT PEOPLE FEEL MORE LET DOWN, MORE FRUSTRATED WITH A LACK OF GOOD DIRECTION AND A LACK OF ACTION.

AND SO I FEEL LIKE YOU, YOU TAKE THE GIFT, YOU RECEIVE IT AS A GIFT, AND THEN YOU DISSEMINATE IT, DISPERSE IT. YOU GET THE MONEY OUT OF YOUR HANDS.

YOU DON'T TIE IT UP IN IN FURTHER DELAY, BECAUSE I THINK THAT ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE THAT CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARDS LIKE CONSIDERATION OR PLEASE, PLEASE, I FEEL LIKE THEY FEEL MORE LET DOWN. SO I WOULD SAY I DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE 11 OR, YOU KNOW, THE, THE 25 NONPROFITS. WELL, I MEAN, YOU'RE SAYING YOU GO 11,000.

I DO BELIEVE WE LET SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IN THE LAST MEETING THAT WE WERE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DISPERSE THIS UP INTO $55,000 CHUNKS.

SO I THINK WHAT WE WOULD BE DOING IS, IS RECALLING THAT DISCUSSION SAYING, YOU KNOW, WE'VE RECONSIDERED THAT.

SO I KNOW I HAVE ONE ENTITY THAT THAT I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PROBABLY VERY, VERY MUCH REPRESENTED BY, BY, LIKE, THE BUC-EES FAMILY. AND, AND BUC-EES WOULD BE HONORED TO HAVE THEIR LOGO, YOU KNOW, SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO THEM. THAT ENTITY IS KIDS, INC..

I THINK IT DOES A TON FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE HERE.

WE ALL TRAVEL AND GO TO GAMES ALL OVER AND WE COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.

AND SO I THOUGHT THAT THAT WOULD BE GOOD. SO I MEAN, LIKE I WAS INTENDING ON GIVING THE FULL 55 TO KIDS INC.

AND I KNOW THAT THAT THAT IS A WORTHWHILE PROJECT OUT THERE AND IT WILL MAKE A SMALL DROP IN THEIR BIG BUCKET, BUT IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION BASED ON IF I WAS BUC-EE'S, WHO WOULD I WANT TO BE INVESTING IN?

[02:20:04]

SO I WOULD WANT TO SEE DO YOU GUYS WHO ARE THINKING MAYBE WE GO TO 11,000.

DO YOU FEEL LIKE WE'VE, WE'VE GOT SOME LEVEL OF EXPECTATION AT THE 55.

WELL WHAT IF EACH COUNCIL MEMBER HAD 55 TO GIVE HOW THEY SEE FIT? I MEAN, SO THAT EQUALS THE 275. IF YOU WANT TO GIVE 55 TO KIDS INC, YOU CAN GIVE 55 TO KIDS INC.

IF I WANT TO GIVE 22 TO 1 AND THEN 11 DISPERSED AMONG THREE OTHERS, I COULD DO THAT.

BUT WE COULD DO THAT THAT WAY WE TAKE THE LEADERSHIP. THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY DON TIPPS WILL MAKE A GREAT MAYOR OF THIS TOWN ONE DAY.

SO I THINK THAT'S GOOD. SO I LIKE THAT IDEA. COUNCILMAN CRAFT THAT GIVES YOU SOME LATITUDE AND AND KIND OF YOUR AUTONOMY.

YEAH. I MEAN, I NEVER FELT LIKE WE HAD SET IN STONE ABOUT THE 55,000.

SO AS FAR AS GIVING IT TO ONE ORGANIZATION. OKAY.

COUNCILMAN. I'M GOOD. OKAY. I'M GOING TO TRY TO LEAD THROUGH THIS IN THE WAY OF I FEEL LIKE THE MORE WE DELAY THIS AND TALK IT OUT AND BRING IT BACK, THE HARDER THIS CAN BECOME.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, DO YOU GUYS HAVE FIVE? AND DO YOU HAVE A COUPLE THAT YOU'RE OR DO YOU LIKE FIVE? YEAH. OKAY. OR WOULD YOU BE PREPARED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TODAY? NO O F WHO WE WOULD GIVE THE MONEY TO. CORRECT.

NO. OKAY. SO. MR. CITY MANAGER COULD YOU TAKE DIRECTION FROM THOSE THAT ARE READY HERE TODAY? THAT WAY THIS COMES OFF OF THE DAIS. IT GOES BACK TO YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO WORK WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SIMPSON IN ORDER TO WAIT ON THAT ONE RECOMMENDATION FROM HIM.

AND THEN YOU COULD HAVE STAFF DELIVER THAT TO BUC-EES.

YEAH. I BELIEVE WHAT I'M HEARING , IS THAT EACH OF THE FIVE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH ME EITHER TODAY OR IN THE NEAR FUTURE WITH YOUR ONE, TWO, THREE, UP TO FIVE, WHATEVER YOU'RE THINKING. AND THEN I WILL THEN COMPILE THAT AND GIVE IT TO BUC-EES. THEN I CAN REPORT BACK TO YOU THE AMOUNTS AND WHO ALL WAS ALL RECOMMENDED. CONCERNS ON THAT COUNCIL. AND JUST TO BE JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE DON YOU SAID HOW MUCH IS GIVEN TO WHOM IS LEFT UP TO EACH COUNCIL MEMBER ? WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT THAT WAY, SAY 55, EACH COUNCIL MEMBER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALLOCATING $55,000, HOWEVER THEY SEE FIT TO ONE ORGANIZATION, FIVE TO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO.

THEY DO 11, I GUESS, AT 5000 APIECE. WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO, THEY COULD DO.

BUT EACH ONE'S ALLOCATED TO YOU GOT 55 TO DO IT.

AND THEN ONCE AGAIN TO GO TO MR. FISHER'S POINT, I THINK THAT THIS COULD LOOK A WAY THAT IT WASN'T INTENDED TO IF IT COMES FROM COUNCIL.

SO THE MONEY DOESN'T COME THROUGH THE CITY. THESE ARE JUST RECOMMENDATIONS.

SO I, AS AN EXAMPLE, WOULD RECOMMEND THAT ALL $55,000 GO TO KIDS, INC.

I THINK THAT THAT'S A WORTHY CAUSE AND ALIGNS WITH BUC-EES FAMILY AND VISION.

AND SO THEN YOU WOULD TAKE THAT ALONG WITH THE OTHERS.

AND THEN I WOULD ASK THAT COUNCIL MEMBER S WOULD CONTACT THOSE ENTITIES TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

AND THEN IF YOU'RE NOT CONTACTED BY A COUNCIL MEMBER , THEN YOU WOULD BE ASSURED THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST, AND THAT WE GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'D LOVE TO HAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO GIVE AWAY.

WE DON'T. SO I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE THAT THERE, BUT I'LL ASK IF COUNCIL HAS ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION.

I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION. IS THERE A DEADLINE WE'D WANT TO SET TO HAVE THIS WRAPPED UP? HOW MUCH TIME WOULD YOU NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE? WELL, SINCE I'M ABOUT TO HEAD TO NORTH CAROLINA FOR MY GRANDSON THAT WAS JUST BORN ABOUT AN HOUR AGO.

CONGRATULATIONS I MIGHT BE OUT OF POCKET FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, BUT I COULD WORK ON IT.

I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO HAVE IT HAVE IT BACK FOR THE, YOU KNOW, AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, BUT I'LL DO IT AS QUICKLY AS I DON'T WANT TO HOLD IT UP BECAUSE I THINK, LET'S GET IT DONE AND GET IT WRAPPED UP. AND SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT. SO I FEEL LIKE WE COULD PROBABLY GET THIS MOVING SO THAT THEY COULD MAKE THOSE DONATIONS.

OKAY. MR. PATH, YOU NEED ANYTHING FURTHER ON ITEM 7 F, SIR? OKAY. I WOULD STATE ON THE RECORD YOU KNOW, WE RUN A PRETTY NOT CASUAL, BUT, FAMILY FRIENDLY MEETING, AND WE'RE NOT TRYING TO PUT ON AIRS OF BEING TOO PROFESSIONAL.

WE'RE ALSO NOT EVER TRYING TO MAKE LIGHT OF ANYTHING.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF A $275,000 DONATION INTO OUR COMMUNITY IS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY OUR NEW PARTNER OUT THERE THAT IS INCREASING OTHER ENTITIES BUSINESS REVENUES BY 12 TO 18% AROUND IT.

AND SO THOSE ARE MONIES THAT WEREN'T STOPPING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE THAT WE'RE SEEING AND THAT WE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY TRACK.

[02:25:03]

WE ARE TRACKING THE NUMBERS TO SEE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THAT 380 AGREEMENT PROVIDED THROUGH THE CITY.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 7G. DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR CITY COUNCIL ON COUNCIL PROTOCOLS.

[7.G. Draft resolution for city council legal counsel protocols]

MAYOR, IF I COULD HAVE ONE REQUEST JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO DO THIS IS AND I THINK ALL OF COUNCIL MAY HAVE RECEIVED THIS TODAY.

IT WAS A REQUEST FROM GEORGE HYDE OF HYDE KELLEY, WHO WROTE A LETTER AND REQUESTED THAT THE MAYOR READ THIS LETTER AT THE MEETING BEFORE OUR CONVERSATIONS AS WE LOOK INTO THIS.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS ASK THE MAYOR TO HONOR THAT REQUEST OF GEORGE HYDE, JUST TO GET THIS ON THE RECORD.

AND THEN AFTERWARDS, I'D JUST LIKE TO HAVE A MINUTE TO SAY A FEW THINGS ABOUT THAT.

SURE, I DID ASK STEPHANIE, JUST SO IF ANYBODY WANTS TO READ ALONG, WE DO.

SHE HAS A COPY OF IT, AND IF WE WANT TO SHARE THAT.

SO YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CAN READ THE LETTER ALONG AS YOU'RE READING IT.

I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, SIR. THIS IS CONFIDENTIAL BETWEEN MY LAWYER.

NO? HE SAID HE WANTED THE PUBLIC TO READ IT. LET ME FINISH.

DON'T INTERRUPT. OKAY. MY QUESTION IS, I'M SAYING THAT HE REPRESENTS US.

WE VOTED ON IT IN JUNE 25TH. WE VOTED IT THROUGH THE BUDGET.

HE IS MY LAWYER. BY HIM BEING MY LAWYER, THAT IS ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.

WELL, NOT ACCORDING TO HIM. BECAUSE WHEN HE SENT THE REQUEST, WE GOT A LAWYER DOWN HERE.

LET'S SEE WHAT HE SAYS. SO HE SAID, WELL, WHEN HE SENT THE REQUEST TODAY, HE ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED THAT THIS MAY BE MADE PUBLIC.

SO IF IT IS ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, HE JUST VIOLATED YOUR ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE BY SAYING IT.

BUT WELL, BY RELEASING IT TO THE PUBLIC AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO RELEASE IT TO THE PUBLIC.

IT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT. WHY? HOW IS THAT A PUBLIC DOCUMENT? WHO IS VIOLATING [INAUDIBLE]? WELL, I THINK IT'S YOUR.

IT'S GEORGE HYDE, BUT I WOULD JUST WANT IN RESPECT TO GEORGE.

I SAW IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT WAS SENT TO US IN THE CITY.

SO SOMEBODY SLIPPED IT TO THE MEDIA. WELL, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? HE WANTED IT TO GET OUT. HE ASKED US. HE ASKED IT TO GET OUT.

DID YOU SEE IT. I SENT IT TO PEOPLE. I SURE DID.

OKAY. SO. BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET THEIR OPINION. WE HAVE A LEAK ON THIS DAIS, LES AND IT'S YOU.

NO. YES, SIR. YES, SIR YOU ARE A LEAK. R EAD THE EMAIL THAT YOU SENT.

THIS WAS SENT TO THE COUNCIL. IT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT.

LES HOLD ON. IT'S A PUBLIC DOCUMENT. IT'S NOT A PUBLIC.

BRYAN, I WANT A RULING. COUNCIL MEMBER CRAFT YOU WERE ASKING BRYAN FOR A QUESTION.

CAN I ASK COUNCIL MEMBER CRAFT WHAT YOUR QUESTION IS? NO, MY QUESTION WAS.

LEGAL COUNSEL PROTOCOLS? I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS PLACED HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

IT HAS IT HAS TO DO WITH THAT ITEM AND ANOTHER ITEM MORE PARTICULARLY THAT'S ON THE AGENDA FOR ACTION.

SO, I MEAN, YOU COULD TALK ABOUT IT IF YOU WANTED TO.

IF WE WANT TO. YES. YES, I PLACE AN OBJECTION.

CAN I AGAIN CAN I GET A LEGAL OPINION FROM YOU ON, DOES THIS VIOLATE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE SINCE COUNCIL AS A BODY IS HYDE KELLEY'S CLIENT, AND WE HAVE ONE IN THE BODY, AT LEAST THAT HAS SAID NOT APPROPRIATE FOR DISCUSSION HERE TODAY.

THE LETTER THAT HE SENT. THE PRIVILEGE IS HELD BY COUNCIL AS A BODY IF THE MATTER IS CONFIDENTIAL.

ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE INFORMATION, THEN ONLY THE COUNCIL CAN WAIVE THAT PRIVILEGE.

THE COUNCIL AS A BODY. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? IT DOES. I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD LEGAL ADVISEMENT.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. COUNCIL, I WOULD ASK FOR A CONSENSUS HERE.

I BELIEVE I HAVE ONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO RELEASE IT AND READ IT HERE TODAY, SIR.

I BELIEVE I HAVE ONE THAT IS WANTING NOT TO READ THIS.

I NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU WOULD SIT COUNCIL MEMBER CRAFT.

I MEAN, I DON'T INTEND TO RELEASE IT. NO, I DON'T.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER TIPPS. WELL, I'M LOOKING AT THE EMAIL HERE, AND IF THE DOCUMENT IS TITLED PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM GEORGE HYDE.

SO I WOULD SAY IF IT NEEDS TO BE MADE, HE REQUESTED THAT IT BE MADE PUBLIC OR HE TITLED IT PUBLIC STATEMENT.

SO I THINK THAT THAT IS HIS. SO I'M FINE IF IT'S READ OUT LOUD.

OKAY. COUNCIL MEMBER SCHERLEN, IF I COULD ENGAGE WITH YOU IN THIS.

IN, I HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE DON'T BREAK THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT TO DISCUSS THIS LETTER WITH YOU.

[02:30:08]

I WOULD SAY THAT IN READING THIS, I THINK IT'S VERY POINTED TO MAYBE HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH COUNCIL MEMBER SIMPSON NOT NECESSARILY YOU INDIVIDUALLY. AND I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN TO THE MEDIA AND OUR PUBLIC WHY WE CHOSE NOT TO READ IT ALOUD WHEN IT'S AVAILABLE, AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN GIVEN TO THE MEDIA.

SO I WOULD PREFER NOT TO HANDLE ON CAMERA MEDIA AFTER THIS MEETING, TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHY WE VOTED AGAINST SHARING IT WHEN IT'S ALREADY BEEN SHARED. SO YOU MAY HAVE A POINT THAT THIS IS ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE INFORMATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT MOST OF HYDE'S EMAILS. YES. ON THE BOTTOM, THEY SAY THEY ARE TO THE PERSON INTENDED.

OKAY. THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY. I DO KNOW THAT HE AND I DISCUSSED THIS AND HE IS COMFORTABLE WITH ALLOWING ME TO READ IT. OKAY. IF HE'S COMFORTABLE I'M COMFORTABLE BECAUSE I'M NOT PROTECTING MYSELF AT ALL.

I'M NOT BROUGHT UP IN THERE, I DON'T THINK. GO AHEAD.

NOW. AND SO CAN WE GET THAT PUT UP, MISS STEPHANIE? SO I THINK THAT, PER COUNCIL MEMBER SIMPSON'S REQUEST TO GO AHEAD AND READ THIS PREVIOUS TO GRAYSON'S PROTOCOLS. MR. PATH, I APOLOGIZE THAT WE ARE DOING CONDUCTING SOME FAMILY BUSINESS BEFORE YOU GET TO DO YOUR PROPER PRESENTATION.

IT'S ALL GOING TO RUN TOGETHER. WE'LL WORK THIS OUT IN THE END.

AND THOUGH IT MAY NOT BE AS BE AS PROFESSIONAL IN THE PRESENTATION AS I HAD HOPED.

I DO WANT TO HONOR COUNCIL MEMBER SIMPSON'S REQUEST, SO I'LL READ ALOUD.

ATTENTION ALTERATION OF SPECIAL COUNCIL ENGAGEMENT UNWISE.

MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. I FOUND MYSELF SURPRISED AND MYSTIFIED WHEN I LEARNED FOR THE FIRST TIME, SECOND HAND, THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIMPSON WAS SEEKING TO END OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT WITHOUT EVEN A CONVERSATION, HE DEVOTED ALL THE TIME AND EFFORT TO CONCOCT A SCHEME TO DISARM THE REST OF CITY COUNCIL.

FROM WHAT I BELIEVE FROM THE STATEMENTS OF OTHERS IT'S A MOST VALUED ASSET, IT'S OWN HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED ATTORNEY.

WHEN A PERSON WITH MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE WHO REPRESENTS HIMSELF AS AN EXPERT ON CAREER OWNERSHIP COACHING DOES NOT EVEN PROVIDE THE MOST BASIC COURTESIES, SUCH AS A PHONE CALL TO DISCUSS SOMETHING BEFORE CONSIDERING A DEATH PENALTY SANCTION, THERE HAS TO BE AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE IN PLAY ARGUING THE RELATIONSHIP SHOULD END BASED ON TRANSPARENCY AND STEWARDSHIP AS FRAUD ON ITSELF.

MR. SIMPSON IS NOT A LAWYER AND APPARENTLY DID NOT SEEK THE LEGAL ADVICE OF ANYONE BEFORE HE ELECTED TO CHALLENGE THE ATTORNEY CLIENT RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ATTORNEY LIKE ME, WHO MAINTAINS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO, WILLING AND INTERESTED IN ABIDING BY THEIR OATH OF FICE.

EACH OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO ELECTED OFFICIALS TOOK AN OATH IN FRONT OF GOD AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMARILLO RESIDENTS TO FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE AND WILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF THIS STATE.

SO HELP ME GOD. ONE CANNOT FULFILL THEIR OATH WITHOUT THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF LEGAL ADVICE AVAILABLE, TO GUIDE THEM AS TO WHAT THEY ARE TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND.

THAT IS THE ROLE I PLAY FOR THIS COUNCIL. IF THEY HAVE AN INITIATIVE OR A POLICY THEY WANT TO EXPLORE, I CAN PROVIDE THE LEGAL ADVICE NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT BEFORE SOMETHING TAKES PLACE ON THE AGENDA, IT IS LEGALLY SOUND, AND THE LEGAL RISKS AND BENEFITS OF PROPOSING SUCH ACTION OR LEGISLATION IS FULLY UNDERSTOOD BY THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER , SO THAT THE COST OF THE TIME OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF AND OTHERS THAT ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS NOT WASTED.

AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE COST OF ALL THOSE ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS, CITY STAFF AND CITIZENS WHO PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY OVER 20 TIMES SUCH THE COST THAT THAT PAYS TO MY FIRM TO HAVE THE ITEMS VETTED BEFORE THEY GO TO COUNCIL.

SO MUCH FOR STEWARDSHIP OF THE PEOPLE'S TAX DOLLAR IF DONE WITHOUT VETTING.

THE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN ONE'S ATTORNEY AND CLIENT ARE CONFIDENTIAL AS A MATTER OF LAW.

IF WE PLACE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION IN OUR INVOICES AND A REQUEST IS MADE FOR THOSE INVOICES PURSUANT TO THE TPI WE WOULD HAVE TO EXAMINE THE INVOICES, IDENTIFY THE CONFIDENTIAL PORTIONS, PREPARE LEGAL DOCS TO SEND TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WAIT 45 BUSINESS DAYS, AND THEN FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT RELEASE, PER THE LETTER RULING.

THIS, I WOULD ARGUE, IS NOT TRANSPARENT INSTEAD, WE PREPARE OUR INVOICES SO THAT THEY MAY BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY TO THE PUBLIC BY LEAVING

[02:35:05]

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT ALL YOUR COLLEAGUES ARE DOING, I'M ASSUMING THIS IS DIRECTED TO COUNCILMAN SIMPSON THROUGH LEGAL INVOICES, IT APPEARS THAT YOU DESIRED TO VIOLATE THE PROHIBITION OF THE SERIES OF COMMUNICATIONS LAW FOUND IN THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT BY READING OUR INVOICES.

I WILL NOT KNOWINGLY BE AN ACCESSORY TO OR PLACE ANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AT RISK OF RISK OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION THROUGH ANY ACT OR DEED I PERFORM AS YOUR ATTORNEY.

DOING SO WOULD VIOLATE THE LAW AND THEIR OATH OF FICE.

THE ONLY PROTOCOL THAT IS SIMPLE AND WORKS IS THE ONE FOUND IN THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION ENGAGING OUR SERVICES.

IT SIMPLY READS SECTION TWO OF THAT RESOLUTION THAT HYDE KELLEY LLP SHALL REPORT TO SHALL REPORT TO AND BE DIRECTED BY ONLY THE CITY COUNCIL. AND IN THE PERIOD THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT CONVENED, THE MAYOR OR IN HIS ABSENCE, THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AS APPROPRIATE, SHALL PROVIDE ANY NECESSARY DIRECTION AND OVERSEE THE ENGAGEMENT UNTIL THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WHEREIN ANY DIRECTION MAY BE PROVIDED BY THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.

Y'ALL HANG IN THERE WITH ME. WE'RE ABOUT HALFWAY DONE.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROTOCOL AND REQUESTED A CITY COUNCIL MEETING? DISCUSSION OF THE WORK ASSIGNED TO OUR FIRM. HOW MANY TIMES HAS ANY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOUND IT NECESSARY TO FOLLOW YOUR APPROVED PROTOCOL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO PROVIDE ANY NECESSARY DIRECTION OR OVERSEE THE ENGAGEMENT IN ANY EXEC SESSION AS PROVIDED BY EXISTING PROTOCOL.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SIMPLY GONE TO YOUR FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIAL AND ASKED THEM WHAT LEGAL SERVICES THEY'VE REQUESTED? ISN'T IT NONE? WOULDN'T THAT BE THE EASIEST, QUICKEST, AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO STAY INFORMED? WHEN YOU POINT YOUR FINGER AT ME, YOU HAVE FOUR POINTING BACK AT YOU.

YOU HAVE HAD THE TOOLS NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING, WHEN IT IS PROPER TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS IN EXEC SESSION IN A PROPERLY CALLED MEETING CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE NOT USED THE TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN LAID OUT IN FRONT OF YOU THAT WOULD EASILY ACHIEVE THE RESULT DESIRED, IS ANOTHER PIECE OF EVIDENCE THAT TRANSPARENCY AND STEWARDSHIP IS NOT WHY YOU ARE WEAPONIZING AND CHALLENGING THE OTHERWISE SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP.

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THAT THROUGH MY ADVICE TO CITY COUNCIL DURING THE LAST BUDGET WORK, THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMAN CRAFT WAS ABLE TO FUND APPROXIMATELY $2 MILLION IN NEEDED RAISES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES. THAT WAS MY WORK IN ACTION.

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN FROM READING THE INVOICES AND APPROVING IT PRIOR TO COUNCIL MEETINGS, WHERE I WAS TASKED WITH THE NURSE NAVIGATOR PROJECT BY COUNCILMAN CRAFT OUT OF THE HOLDING PATTERN THAT IT HAD BEEN IN FOR MONTHS WITH CITY LEGAL, AND GET THE PROJECT DONE.

NOW WITH NURSE NAVIGATOR. WITH MY HELP, YOU HAVE REDUCED THE WORKLOAD OF YOUR EMS TEAMS, BETTER PROTECTED THEIR LIVES SO THEY ARE NOT RUNNING CODE THREE AND END UP IN AN ACCIDENT ON A CALL THAT IS NOW HANDLED BY NURSE NAVIGATOR.

AND THE PROGRAM REDUCES THE BURDEN ON EXISTING EMS, AS WELL AS REDUCES THE BURDEN TO GROW THE RANKS OF EMS, WHICH REDUCES THE BURDEN ON THE VERY TAX DOLLARS YOU ARE STEWARDING.

SO IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS, I HELPED FIND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS USED TO HELP THE CITY STAFF GET PAID AND PUSHED THROUGH A PROGRAM THAT IS COST EFFECTIVE, PROTECTS FIRST RESPONDERS, SAVES LIVES. NOW YOU WANT TO CALL IT QUITS.

WHAT IS THE REAL REASON? FINALLY, WHY HAVE YOU SINGLED MY LAW FIRM OUT? YOU KNOW, FROM THE BUDGET YOU APPROVED AND THE PROTOCOL CITY MANAGER RECENTLY PROPOSED IN THE FOLLOWING LAW FIRMS, IN ADDITION TO MINE, PROVIDED SPECIAL COUNSEL SERVICES TO THE CITY AND OTHER AREAS.

WHY ARE YOU NOT QUESTIONING THOSE COSTS? HOW ARE YOU BEING TRANSPARENT AND A GOOD STEWARD OF PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS WHEN YOU FOCUS ON 188 K, WHEN OVER 1 MILLION IS POURING OUT OF THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND THOSE OTHER FIRMS ARE LISTED BELOW, IF YOU CARE TO READ THOSE. I'M NOT CHALLENGING THE USE, JUST BEING TRANSPARENT AND BRINGING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION WHERE YOU CAN BE A GOOD STEWARD OF THE PUBLIC MONIES.

HOW IS SINGLING MY FIRM OUT WHEN YOU ARE SPENDING AT LEAST FIVE TIMES THE AMOUNT BUDGETED WITH OTHER SPECIAL COUNSEL FIRMS, PLEASE BE TRANSPARENT AND SHARE WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC WHAT YOUR REAL REASON IS FOR UNANNOUNCED SNEAK ATTACK ON THESE SERVICES I PROVIDE TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

EVERYONE IS A SNOWFLAKE. BY MAKING THIS STATEMENT, I AM NOT SAYING I AM SPECIAL, I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WITH YOU WHAT YOU ARE ASKING OTHERS TO GIVE UP. I HAVE UNIQUE COMBINATION OF QUALITIES THAT OTHER ATTORNEYS MAY SHARE IN PART, BUT VERY FEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS POSSESS.

FIRST, I WAS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR 23.5 YEARS WITHOUT BEING SUED OR BEING DISCIPLINED OR ANY ALLEGED MISCONDUCT.

THE INITIAL APPLICATION OF LAW TO FACT IS WHAT POLICE OFFICERS DO AND MUST DO QUICKLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

IT IS JUST NOT THE COMPLETE APPLICATION WITH PROBABLE CAUSE.

IT STARTS WITH THE LEGAL PROCESS AND IS DONE WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF THE EDUCATION PROVIDED TO ATTORNEYS.

[02:40:06]

BUT NOW, IN MY CASE, I STARTED LAW SCHOOL WITH 269 CLASSMATES.

I GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL SIX MONTHS EARLY WITH 148 REMAINING.

OF THE 149 THAT GRADUATED, I WAS NUMBER 15 AND RECEIVED A DEGREE WITH HONORS.

I WAS ONE OF THE TOP 15 IN MY WHOLE CLASS OF 270, ONE OF THE ONES WHO BEST DEMONSTRATED THEIR CAPABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE LAW AND SECURED THE MEANS TO THINK LIKE A LAWYER. ONE OF THE TOP 5.6% OF THE ORIGINAL CLASS.

THIS ACHIEVEMENT NARROWS THOSE COMPARABLE TO MY ACHIEVEMENT IN EDUCATION.

I'M ALSO ONE OF THE FEW LOCAL GOVERNMENT ATTORNEYS THAT PRACTICES ATTORNEY, LITIGATOR, AND A LEGAL COUNSELOR, WHICH ACTIVATES BOTH ATTORNEY SIDE AND COUNSELOR SIDE OF MY TEXAS STATE BAR LICENSE.

AND HAVING BEEN A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS STATE BAR COLLEGE FOR OVER FIVE YEARS.

I TAKE THREE TIMES THE CONTINUING LEGAL ED REQUIRED FOR ATTORNEYS.

I ALSO WRITE, PRESENT, AND CONDUCT LECTURES ABOUT THE LAW, TEACHING OTHER ATTORNEYS AND CONTINUING LEGAL ED.

MANY OF THE PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS AND UNIVERSITIES OFFERING MASTER'S DEGREES IN GOVERNMENT ADMIN.

ALMOST THERE. THESE QUALITIES ALLOW ME TO HAVE FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE COURTS WHO MAKE THE COMMON LAW OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATED MEN COMMISSIONS.

IN ADDITION TO UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETING THE PLACE, LOCAL LEGISLATION HAS IN IT SINCE 2001 AND HAVE DEFENDED SUCH LAW IN COURT FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME. MY UNIQUE COMBINATION OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, GOOD JUDGMENT AND COMMON SENSE, COMBINED WITH EXPERIENCE OF PRACTICING LAW FOR FOUR DECADES 90S AND TO THE 20S TEACHING LAW TO THE OTHERS, AND HAVE EARNED A JURIS DOCTOR WITH HIGH HONORS, MAKES MY SERVICE TO THIS CITY COUNCIL IRREPLACEABLE.

WHILE OTHER ATTORNEYS CAN ASSUME THE ROLE, THEY WOULD NOT BE, NOR PRACTICE THE LAW WITH MY UNIQUE COMBINATION OF TRAITS, BECAUSE I VALUE ELECTED OFFICIALS TIME, WHICH WOULD BE BEST USED TO CONDUCTING REAL CITY BUSINESS.

FOCUSED ON THE PEOPLE OF AMARILLO INSTEAD OF TRYING TO DISARM YOUR COLLEAGUES BY THIS ATTEMPT TO SEVER THEM FROM A LIFETIME OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEGAL EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND TRAINING USED TO SUPPORT CITIES ALL OVER THE GREAT STATE OF STATE OF TEXAS THAT I BRING WITH ME TO EVERY COMMUNITY I SERVE.

MY QUESTION IS, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU DO THAT TO YOUR FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS? WHY HAVE YOU WEAPONIZED THE CITY COUNCIL'S SPECIAL COUNSEL LEGAL SERVICES UNDER A DISGUISE OF TRANSPARENCY AND STEWARDSHIP OF MUNICIPAL FUNDS? DESPITE THIS APPARENT ISSUE, I CONTINUE TO STAND READY TO WORK WITH YOU, AS I HAVE FOR ALL THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER S, WORK WITH THE CITY STAFF AND ANY OTHERS TO SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, GUIDING YOU AND THE OTHERS IN MAINTAINING YOUR OATH OF FICE, AND I'M PREPARED TO DO SO FOR YEARS TO COME.

I THINK YOU LOVE AMARILLO AND WANT TO DO GOOD.

I JUST CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD DO THIS, AS IT IS NOT FOR TRANSPARENCY AND IT IS NOT GOOD STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING MY VIEWPOINT ON THIS MATTER.

HYDE KELLEY FIRM. COUNCILMAN SIMPSON. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

THANK YOU MAYOR, I APPRECIATE THAT. SO LAST YEAR, THIS COUNCIL APPROVED AN UNPRECEDENTED RESOLUTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AMARILLO'S HISTORY, THE CITY COUNCIL HIRED AN OUTSIDE LEGAL FIRM, AS WE HEARD, EXCLUSIVELY FOR ITS OWN USE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS RESOLUTION HAS TURNED TAXPAYER DOLLARS INTO A POORLY MANAGED SLUSH FUND WITH NO OVERSIGHT EXCESS SPENDING AND A TROUBLING LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. ABOUT HALF OF THE $186,000 PAID SO FAR TO HYDE KELLEY.

AT LEAST 85,000 BY MY COUNT, WAS FOR WORK THAT WAS NEITHER BROUGHT BEFORE THE PUBLIC, NOR THIS COUNCIL, NOR DIRECTED BY THIS COUNCIL AS REQUIRED BY THE RESOLUTION.

AND THE LACK OF OVERSIGHT HAS LED TO OVERSPENDING, LIMITS THAT WE ESTABLISHED, PAYING FOR WORK THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE OR COULD HAVE BEEN DONE, MUCH CHEAPER, OR EVEN IN ONE CASE, FOR FREE.

I WANT TO STRESS VERY CLEARLY I DO NOT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH USING OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF USING OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

WE USE OUTSIDE COUNSEL ALL THE TIME AND THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU'RE PAYING OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL $395 AN HOUR OF TAXPAYER MONEY, YOU WANT TO BE PRUDENT ABOUT THAT.

THIS IS ABOUT WISE USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY AND TRANSPARENCY WITH THE PUBLIC AND WITH EACH OTHER AS COUNCIL MEMBER S.

TWO YEARS AGO, WE ALL CAMPAIGNED ON THOSE TWO VERY IMPORTANT TOPICS.

TRANSPARENCY AND WISE USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY, AND FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THAT WE ALL REMEMBER.

TODAY'S ACTIONS WILL DETERMINE WHERE EACH OF US STAND INDIVIDUALLY AND A COUNCIL ON THOSE ISSUES.

HOW IS THIS PRACTICE ANY DIFFERENT THAN A CITY COUNCIL HIRING A LEGAL FIRM TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO USE TAX ANTICIPATION NOTES TO FUND A CIVIC

[02:45:08]

WHILE PERHAPS NEEDED INITIALLY FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE THIS PRACTICE HAS TURNED INTO A WASTEFUL AND BACKDOOR ARRANGEMENT THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO END.

I WANT A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO PRESENT. I'VE GOT A COUPLE OF SLIDES HERE THAT I'D LIKE TO GO OVER TO MAYBE ANSWER A COUPLE OF MR. HYDE'S QUESTIONS. THIS FIRST ONE JUST KIND OF GIVES A SUMMARY OF WHERE WE ARE.

I DON'T HAVE US AT 188. I WENT THROUGH EVERY BILL, PUT IT IN A SPREADSHEET.

I HAVE IT AT 186 9 9280. IS THIS ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE.

IT IS. HAS IT BEEN REQUESTED BY THE PUBLIC? YES.

WHO REQUESTED IT? I DON'T KNOW, YOU'LL HAVE TO LOOK IN THE OPEN RECORDS REQUEST.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE. I MEAN, IN MY OPINION, AS I SEE IT.

CAN YOU LET ME FINISH? NO. AND THEN I THINK AT THIS TIME, I NEED TO INTERRUPT BECAUSE YOU MISLED QUITE A FEW PEOPLE IN YOUR STATEMENT.

WELL, CAN I FINISH? NO BECAUSE. MAYOR I'M GOING TO I WOULD ASK, STATEMENT AND WE WILL TAKE OTHERS. THANK YOU. YOU'LL LET ME GO? OH, YEAH. SO THE OVERSIGHT ON SPENDING. LET'S GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.

WE PASSED A RESOLUTION THAT SAID WE WERE GOING TO SPEND AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $95,000 WITH HYDE KELLEY IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE ARRANGEMENT. IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE BILLS, $109, 255.88, ABOUT 15,000 OR 15% OVER BUDGET. ON THE NEXT ITEM, WE HAD A $10,000 LIMIT FOR DRAFTING THE ADC ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION THAT IS ALMOST DOUBLED IN COST. ADDITIONAL JANUARY EXPENSES FOR WHAT WE PAID FOR THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INCLUDED.

GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. YES, THIS SAYS IS TO BE DIRECTED BY ONLY THE CITY COUNCIL.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE DIRECTION IS TO COME FROM.

BUT IN THE PERIOD THE CITY COUNCIL WAS NOT CONVENED, THE MAYOR OR IN HIS ABSENCE THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AS APPROPRIATE, SHALL PROVIDE ANY NECESSARY DIRECTION AND OVERSEE THE ENGAGEMENT UNTIL THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WHERE IN ANY DIRECTION MAY BE PROVIDED BY THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.

SO ALL THESE THINGS HAVE COME UP, AND I'LL GO TO THE LIST THAT HAS NOT COME BEFORE THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.

GEORGE HYDE MENTIONED ONE OF THEM, NURSE NAVIGATOR, THAT THAT REQUEST DID NOT COME FROM COUNCIL, NOR FOR THE MAYOR OR MAYOR PRO TEM. YOU WERE THE MAYOR PRO TEM, I THINK, AT THE TIME THAT IT WENT.

OH, I'M GUILTY. NO YOU'RE NOT. WELL, LET ME LET ME MAKE A STATEMENT WHILE WE'RE DOING THIS.

ON THIS. LET ME GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE . LET ME FINISH. YOU BROUGHT MY NAME UP, AND I GOT THE RIGHT AT THIS TIME TO DEFEND YOUR STATEMENT TO ME.

OKAY. CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE? SO THIS IS WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE WITHOUT ANY COUNCIL DIRECTION OR APPROVAL THAT DID NOT COME TO THIS BODY. OPEN RECORDS REQUEST AND MEETINGS ABOUT $32,000.

A LOOK AT THE ADC CREDIT CARDS FOR $18,000 LEAD AND COPPER PIPE RULING $13,000.

PHYSICIAN TRANSPARENCY ACT $10,000. NURSE NAVIGATOR $5,700.

TEN COMMANDMENTS $4,700. I JUST WANT TO PUT DOWN HERE THE YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW AGAIN, HOW A REQUEST WAS MADE TO HAVE A PARALEGAL GO OVER CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM. WE NEVER WE NEVER VOTED ON THAT.

BUT THAT COST US $18,272 TO PAY HER $165 FOR 98 HOURS TO LOOK THROUGH CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS.

OUR TRAINED INTERNAL AUDIT DEPARTMENT SPENT 200 HOURS LOOKING THROUGH ALL THE TRANSACTION RECORDS NOT TO THE CREDIT CARD.

IT ONLY COST US $7,000. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. NOW, NOTHING I'VE TALKED ABOUT SO FAR HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH GEORGE HYDE. THIS IS REALLY ABOUT HOW COUNCIL CONDUCTS THE BUSINESS.

AND I'M GOING TO LET MR. HYDE'S LETTER STAND FOR ITSELF.

I DON'T THINK ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO IT.

BUT I WILL ADDRESS A COUPLE OF ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO TRANSPARENCY AND STEWARDSHIP.

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE IS A HIGHLIGHTED STATEMENT THAT CAME TO GEORGE HYDE TO US ON MAY 30TH.

WHEN GEORGE HYDE WAS ENGAGED BY COUNCIL IN JUNE.

HE ADVISED US NOT TO USE OUR CITY EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR COMMUNICATION WITH HIM.

INSTEAD, HE SAID, AND I QUOTE, WE ASK THAT EACH OF YOU CREATE AN EMAIL ACCOUNT, SUCH AS A GOOGLE GMAIL ACCOUNT OR SIMILAR ACCOUNT THAT IS ONLY USED FOR OUR COMMUNICATION AND IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY YOU.

[02:50:04]

NOT IF IT'S ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, SIR. CORRECT.

THANK YOU. BUT THEN IF IT'S ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVILEGE, IT COULD BE IN IT COULD BE IN OUR REGULAR EMAILS.

SHOULD BE. SHOULD BE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE'RE GETTING ADVICE TO CIRCUMVENT THAT.

WELL, I THINK IT'S AN INTERESTING POINT YOU MAKE. DID ANYBODY SET THIS UP, SIR? TRANSPARENT FUNDING. DID YOU SET UP A GMAIL ACCOUNT, SIR? I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T. SO. SO EVEN THOUGH THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE MAKING A POINT OF.

I'M NOT. BUT YOU'RE MAKING A POINT ON IT. BUT I DO WANT TO CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, NOBODY DID THIS. OH, I DIDN'T SAY THEY DID. I DIDN'T SAY THAT. I DON'T THINK THEY DID.

WHAT I SAID IS WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY THAT IS ADVISING US TO DO THAT.

THAT'S NOT TRANSPARENCY. SO WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? WHY WOULD WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WHENEVER YOU.

CITY MANAGER STARTS? THEY WANTED A PERSONAL EMAIL. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. THAT WAS QUICK TO INDICT THE ADC FOR LINE ITEM TRANSFERS.

HE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE COUNCIL USING IT TO GET HELP AND PAID AS HE SAID THIS.

AND THEN THE INVOICES AND HE MENTIONED THIS. SO WHEN THE PUBLIC AND THIS IS AN EMAIL THAT HE SENT ME, WHEN THE PUBLIC BEGAN ASKING FOR THESE INVOICES, HE SAYS, RIGHT HERE, HE BEGAN LIMITING THE INFORMATION THAT WAS TO BE SENT OUT TO THE PUBLIC. LET'S ALSO LOOK. AND THAT'S ALL FOR THE SLIDES I HAVE.

LET'S ALSO LOOK AT GEORGE HYDE AND HIS TRANSPARENCY WITH US.

FROM THIS DAIS HE TOLD US THAT HE HAD WRITTEN ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR SEVEN OTHER CITIES, EXACTLY LIKE HE WAS DOING HERE. BUT WHEN ASKED TO PROVIDE COPIES OF THOSE, HE COULDN'T FIND THEM.

IN FACT, HE HAD TO PAY A PARALEGAL 3.7 HOURS AT $165 PER HOUR TO FIND IT, AT A TOTAL COST OF MORE THAN $600.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE FINAL PARTS OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, ALL THAT MONEY WE INVESTED IN GEORGE HYDE'S EXPERTISE MUCH OF WHAT HE HAD IN THERE.

THANKFULLY, WAS STRIPPED OUT BY THE ADC BOARD.

ALEX FAIRLEY AND JOHN ATKINS. WE'VE BEEN PAYING A HYDE KELLEY PARALEGAL $165 TO DO ALL KINDS OF WORK, JUST TO PROVIDE SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THAT. THAT'S A PAY RATE HIGHER THAN ANYONE IN OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

ACTUALLY, THAT'S A PAY RATE HIGHER THAN EVERY CITY EMPLOYEE, INCLUDING THE CITY MANAGER .

AND I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THERE AREN'T MANY OF OUR TAXPAYERS WHO ARE FOOTING THE BILL FOR THIS, BY THE WAY, ARE GETTING $165 AN HOUR TO RECAP WHETHER THIS IS 165 PER HOUR OR $395 AN HOUR.

WE ARE WASTING TAXPAYER MONEY. COUNCIL IS NOT FOLLOWING ITS OWN RESOLUTION AND BEING TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC'S BUSINESS.

WE ARE EXCEEDING BUDGETS. WE HAVE AN ENTIRE. AN ATTORNEY WHO INSTRUCTED US TO USE PRIVATE EMAILS TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM AND GIVE AS LITTLE INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE.

WHY ARE WE BEING TOLD TO OPERATE IN THE DARK WITH ZERO TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY? WELL, I GUESS HIS NAME IS HYDE FOR A REASON. OKAY.

THANK YOU SIR. THAT'S PRETTY PRETTY LOW THERE LES.

COUNCIL MEMBER SCHERLEN. LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION BEFORE YOU RESPOND.

IT'S PROBABLY MORE APPROPRIATE RIGHT NOW TO ALLOW THE PROTOCOL PRESENTATION TO BE DONE BY PATH.

AND THEN WE COME BACK TO THE DISCUSSION. SOUNDS GOOD.

YOU OKAY WITH THAT? MR. PATH, IF YOU WOULD CONTINUE WITH YOUR PRESENTATION.

ALL RIGHT. CITY COUNCIL. YES. AT YOUR DECEMBER 10TH OF LAST YEAR COUNCIL MEETING, YOU REQUESTED THAT I DEVELOP SOME WRITTEN PROTOCOLS TO BRING BACK TO YOU REGARDING THE USE OF LEGAL COUNSEL. AND SO I WENT BACK TO THAT MEETING, AND I RE-LISTENED TO THE VIDEO.

AND JUST TO MAKE SURE I TRY TO CAPTURE ALL THE CONCERNS BEING RAISED AND SO FORTH.

SO WHAT? YOU WERE, WHAT YOU WERE GIVEN. I'M NOT GOING TO READ THROUGH IT ALL.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL JUST KIND OF TOUCH ON THE HIGHLIGHTS OF EACH SECTION HERE. SO WHAT YOU'VE GOT IN FRONT OF YOU HERE IS I'VE GONE BACK TO THE CHARTER, THE CITY CODE, AND REFERENCE ITEMS IN RELATION TO THE COUNCIL MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY, OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

SO THAT'S THE FIRST PAGE THERE. YOU'LL SEE THAT YOU GET DOWN TO SECTION TWO OF THE BODY.

YOU'LL SEE HERE THAT I TRIED TO COVER DEFINE WHAT IS IN-HOUSE COUNSEL VERSUS OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

AND, SO WITH THIS I GO THROUGH AND I TRY TO IDENTIFY THE PROS AND CONS.

AND I SAY ACTUALLY THE PURPOSES AND USES OF BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

SO YOU SEE THAT SECTION THERE FOR HOW EACH ONE IS BENEFICIAL IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

SECTION THREE. YOU'LL SEE I GO INTO TALKING ABOUT WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS A WRITTEN OPINION.

AND UNDER THE CHARTER, CITY COUNCIL HAS EVERY RIGHT TO REQUEST WRITTEN OPINIONS.

AND SO THAT'S DONE ALSO THROUGH DISCUSSION AS A BODY.

[02:55:03]

AND THEN I WOULD THEN WORK WITH, IN-HOUSE LEGAL COUNSEL, MR. MCWILLIAMS AND HIS TEAM. AND THEN IF NECESSARY, WE WOULD ADDRESS WE WOULD BRING IN OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

WE WOULD THEN BRING BACK TO YOUR WRITTEN OPINION. IF THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED A SECOND OPINION, WE WOULD THEN SHALL OBTAIN A SECOND OPINION THROUGH AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL, AND THEN THE COUNCIL CAN CHOOSE WHICH ONE THEY PREFER.

SECTION FOUR IS WHERE I TRY TO ADDRESS WHAT IF A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS A WRITTEN OPINION OUTSIDE OF A COUNCIL MEETING? I KNOW THAT WAS AN ITEM DISCUSSED IN THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I COVERED THAT. AND SO WITH THIS AGAIN, THE WRITTEN PROTOCOLS HERE AND AGAIN, I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS IS ALL JUST DRAFT. THIS IS ALL I WAS ASKED TO BRING FORWARD SOME SOME PROTOCOLS, SOME PROCEDURES. AGAIN CITY COUNCIL CAN TAKE THESE.

ADD TO THEM, REMOVE THEM. SAY THANK YOU, GRAYSON, BUT NO, IT'S TOTALLY YOUR DOCUMENT.

AND DOCUMENT AND I'M JUST HERE TO FACILITATE THAT. SO IN SECTION FOUR WITH THIS, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WOULD THEN APPROACH THE CITY MANAGER .

WE HAVE A CONVERSATION, DISCUSS THE PARAMETERS.

WHAT'S THE ISSUE. BECAUSE SOMETIMES SOMETIMES WITH MY KNOWLEDGE AND MY ABILITIES, I MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OR PROVIDE GUIDANCE BEFORE WE BRING LEGAL COUNSEL IN. BUT ULTIMATELY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THE REQUEST IS MADE FOR LEGAL COUNSEL, I WOULD THEN APPROACH MR. MCWILLIAMS. WE WOULD THEN BRING BACK A WRITTEN OPINION TO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER .

AGAIN, IF WE DETERMINE THAT WE WOULD NEED AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WE WOULD DO THAT.

BRING BACK TO YOU THE OPINION. IF YOU THEN THINK, YOU KNOW WHAT, I APPRECIATE THIS, BUT CAN WE GET A SECOND OPINION FROM AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL? WE WOULD THEN DISCUSS THAT. AND SO EITHER I WOULD THEN PROCEED WITH GETTING OUTSIDE COUNSEL, WORKING WITH MR. MCWILLIAMS OR AND I KNOW ONE OF THE CONCERNS HERE WAS WHAT IF I SAID NO TO THAT WHAT'S THE COUNCIL'S RECOURSE? COUNCIL'S RECOURSE? I REALLY DON'T SEE A SITUATION WHERE I WOULD SAY NO UNLESS I KNOW THE REST OF COUNCIL IS OPPOSED TO THAT.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY, I WORK FOR ALL FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

SO I'M CONSTANTLY IN COMMUNICATION WITH ALL FIVE OF YOU.

TRYING TO READ YOUR CUES AND SO FORTH. AND SO IF I CAN ONLY SEE THE SITUATION, IF I COULD BE IN A SITUATION, I WOULDN'T GET OUTSIDE COUNSEL. HOWEVER, JUST TO ADD SOME SOME LANGUAGE HERE SO THAT THE COUNCIL HAD SOME RECOURSE.

ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP IN THE LAST MEETING WAS GETTING A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER TO WEIGH IN ON THIS, AND SO I WROTE THAT IN HERE, OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE OVERALL COUNCIL AND SAY, HEY, I GOT A WRITTEN OPINION FROM, FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

I'D LIKE TO GET A SECOND OPINION. CITY MANAGER SAID NO.

AGAIN, I DON'T SEE WHY I WOULD DO THAT. BUT COUNCIL COULD WEIGH IN ON THAT TOO.

OR A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER CAN THEN DRIVE THAT TO DO THAT AS WELL.

I WOULD THEN GET THAT SECOND OPINION AND BRING IT BACK TO THE COUNCIL MEMBER .

ALL THE WHILE ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WAS EXPRESSED IS MAKING SURE THAT THE WHOLE COUNCIL IS AWARE OF THAT.

I WOULD THEN RELAY TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL, EITHER THROUGH EMAIL OR SO FORTH.

OKAY. WE THIS IS A THIS IS A QUESTION. HERE IS THE RESPONSE.

HERE IS THE WRITTEN OPINION. AND HERE'S THE OUTSIDE WRITTEN OPINION. THAT WAY THE WHOLE COUNCIL IS KEPT INFORMED OF THAT. SECTION FIVE IS OBVIOUSLY THERE'S SITUATIONS TO WHERE YOU MAY NEED TO SPEAK WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT MY EMPLOYMENT.

SAY, I'M NOT PERFORMING TO YOUR STANDARDS AND SO FORTH.

SECTION FIVE WOULD COVER THAT TO WHERE YOU CAN THEN APPROACH THE CITY ATTORNEY AROUND ME, BECAUSE THE CITY ATTORNEY, PER THE CODE DOES, IS BOTH THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY COUNCIL'S LEGAL COUNSEL.

SO THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN APPROACH HIM DIRECTLY.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU REQUEST OUTSIDE COUNSEL, THE LANGUAGE HERE SAYS THAT MR. MCWILLIAMS SHALL GET OUTSIDE COUNSEL IF YOU DIRECTED THAT.

LIKEWISE, SECTION SIX IS WHERE IF AN INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER WERE TO REQUEST A WRITTEN OPINION REGARDING MY EMPLOYMENT OR MY SERVICES, THIS IS WHERE, AGAIN, I'M THE EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE.

AND SO WHAT I WROTE IN HERE AGAIN, THIS IS ALL SUBJECT TO YOUR TO YOUR DIRECTION.

WHAT I WROTE IN HERE IS THAT YOU WOULD THEN APPROACH THE CITY COUNCIL AS A WHOLE.

YOU WOULD HAVE A CLOSED MEETING WITH LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THE COUNCIL WOULD THEN DECIDE WHETHER YES TO PROCEED OR NOT, BECAUSE THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHEN MYSELF AND A COUNSELOR MAY GET CROSSWAYS AND THEY MAY REPRESENT ALL THE COUNCIL.

AND SO THAT WAY THE CITY COUNCIL CAN WEIGH IN WHETHER THEY WISH FOR LEGAL COUNSEL TO BE SOUGHT IN REGARDS TO MY EMPLOYMENT.

AGAIN, JUST TRYING TO SET SOME PARAMETERS. THERE'S SOME PROTOCOLS FOR COUNCIL SECTION SEVEN AGAIN, IN MY DAILY DUTIES AND AS WELL AS MR. MCWILLIAMS DO DAILY DUTIES.

I MEAN WE'RE HANDLING HR MATTERS. WE'RE HANDLING LOSS CLAIMS. AND SO THERE ARE TIMES IN WHICH THROUGH OUR DAILY DUTIES WE HAVE TO APPROVE, WE HAVE TO APPROACH OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

SO THIS SECTION SEVEN ALLOWS US TO DO THAT AS THE CITY CODE DISCUSSES.

SECTION EIGHT IS WHERE UNDER OUR CODE SECTION 2-34, IT SAYS THAT THE CITY MANAGER MAY EMPLOY OTHER ATTORNEYS WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL. THEREFORE, IN ORDER TO CREATE SOME EFFICIENCY WITH THIS, OBVIOUSLY IT WOULD BE A BIT CHALLENGING TO PAUSE EVERY TWO EVERY TWO WEEKS IN ORDER IN ORDER TO BRING IT BACK FOR DISCUSSION. AND SO WITH THIS, WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS WE'VE DEVELOPED A LIST.

WE'RE WORKING, MR. WILLIAMS, WE'VE IDENTIFIED ALL THE LEGAL ATTORNEYS THAT WE CURRENTLY WORK WITH.

YOU'LL SEE. I HAVE HYDE KELLEY IN THERE. WE HAVE BIGBY CURTIS ON TOP THERE BECAUSE I JUST DID ALPHABETICAL HERE.

[03:00:05]

I JUST HAVE A LIST HERE. SO BASICALLY WHAT THIS SECTION ALLOWS IS THAT IS THAT ANYWHERE IN THIS, IN THIS PROTOCOL, WHENEVER OUTSIDE COUNSEL IS NEEDED, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH MR. MCWILLIAMS MYSELF OR WORKING WITH CITY COUNCIL OR THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER .

WE WOULD THEN PULL FROM THIS LIST THAT WAY. THE CITY COUNCIL HAS WITHDREW CONSENT AND ADVISED APPROVED A LIST HERE.

WE WOULD NOT USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO USE ANY OTHER LEGAL COUNSEL UNLESS THE COUNCIL AMENDS THIS LIST.

WE BRING THAT BRING THAT NAME BACK TO YOU. AND I THINK THEN OF COURSE, SECTION NINE IS OBVIOUSLY ANY COUNCIL MEMBER CAN APPROACH THE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES AT ANY TIME. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION LIKE, HEY, WHAT'S THIS? WHAT'S THAT? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS? THAT'S ALWAYS OKAY.

SO WE HAVE A SECTION HERE FOR THAT. AND AGAIN THIS IS GENERAL INQUIRIES VERSUS WRITTEN OPINIONS.

AND THEN I WENT AHEAD AND ADDRESSED LET'S SEE HERE AGAIN SECTION TEN COVERS.

IF YOU MEAN AS A CITY COUNCIL YOU CAN DECIDE GRAYSON, YOU MUST USE HYDE KELLEY OR YOU MUST USE BIGBY & CURTIS.

YOU MUST USE SO THE COUNCIL ALWAYS HAS THE ABILITY TO SAY, YOU SHALL USE THIS PARTICULAR LAW FIRM.

YOU DON'T. I MEAN, YOU CAN LEAVE IT TO ME TO DECIDE OR THIS SECTION HERE ALLOWS YOU TO SAY, NO GRAYSON, WE WILL SAY THIS FIRM AND WE WOULD USE THAT.

SECTION 11 THAT COVERS LITIGATION. THAT'S COVERED UNDER STATE LAW.

SO I COVERED THAT JUST GENERALLY SAYING THAT THAT LITIGATION, WE HAVE SOME PROTOCOLS IN PLACE FOR THAT.

THEN SECTION 12 IS IF THERE'S EVER A SITUATION IN WHICH I FEEL THAT THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WITH WORKING, MR. MCWILLIAMS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, I HAVE THE AUTHORITY THEN TO BYPASS HIM AND GO TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

OBVIOUSLY, IF THERE'S A THERE'S A CONFLICT, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE TO USE HIS LEGAL SERVICES.

I WOULD THEN USE ANOTHER COUNSEL TO DO THAT. SO OTHERWISE THAT'S A SUMMARY OF IT.

SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. AGAIN. THIS IS ALL SUBJECT TO YOUR DECISION YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS YOUR REQUEST EDITS.

AND SO THIS IS JUST ME BRINGING BACK A WRITTEN DOCUMENT FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.

WHO MADE THE APPROVED LIST OF LAWYERS. THIS HERE WORK OF MR. WILLIAMS. THIS IS OVER THE YEARS WE'VE USED THESE FIRMS OVER TIME.

AND SO WE JUST COMPILED ALL THE ONES WE KNOW WE'VE USED IN THE LAST 5 OR 10 YEARS, AND SOME WE HAVEN'T USED IN A WHILE.

SO. BUT WE BROUGHT THAT TO THIS LIST HERE. MY QUESTION, HAVE YOU ALL GOT APPROVAL FROM THE COUNCIL TO USE THOSE FIRMS? I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE SIX MONTHS. I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. I DON'T KNOW, I APOLOGIZE, I MEAN, TO ME WE DO HAVE APPROVAL FROM COUNCIL FOR HYDE KELLEY.

COUNCIL AS FAR AS I KNOW, I COULD BE WRONG. YOU'VE BEEN HERE LONGER.

IF WE HAVE A LIST OF LITIGATORS HERE OR FIRMS THAT WANT TO HANDLE THIS CITY BUSINESS.

I THINK WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO WEIGH IN ON THAT.

ABSOLUTELY. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS WILL DO. SORRY.

I FEEL I DON'T WANT ANYTHING SHOVED DOWN MY THROAT.

I'M A VERY INDEPENDENT THINKER. I BELIEVE IN CALLING WHO I WANT TO CALL.

NOW, IF THERE'S A LIST AND I'VE APPROVED THE LIST, I'D BE MORE APT TO DO THAT.

YES. BUT FOR ME, IT'S ONE. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I DON'T LIKE THIS.

UNDERSTOOD. AND AGAIN, NONE OF THIS. NONE OF THIS PREVENTS THE COUNCIL FROM PURSUING YOUR OWN PRIVATE COUNSEL. THIS ALL ADDRESSES THIS PUBLICLY FUNDED COUNCIL.

OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR. PATH. NO. JUST WHAT'S THE REASON FOR TWO COUNCIL MEMBER S? AGAIN, THAT WAS THAT WAS THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. AND SO I INCORPORATED THAT INTO THIS LIST. IF YOU GO TO THREE YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

AND SO AGAIN THIS WAS THE DISCUSSION LAST TIME WAS, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE RECOURSE IF THE CITY MANAGER WERE TO SAY NO.

NOW FIRST OFF AGAIN THE COUNCIL IS IN CHARGE, NOT ME.

I DON'T OVERRULE YOU. I'M NOT IN CHARGE OF YOU.

AND SO I AM YOUR EMPLOYEE. AND SO ULTIMATELY, IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT I BELIEVE AND WHAT I THINK I PROVIDE ADVICE.

SO I DON'T SEE A SCENARIO WHERE THIS WOULD BE A PROBLEM UNLESS, AS I SAID, IF I AGAIN, SINCE I COMMUNICATE WITH ALL OF YOU, IF I FEEL THAT THAT A MAJORITY OF YOU ARE OPPOSED TO SOMETHING, THAT WOULD BE A SITUATION WHERE I MAY SAY, TAKE IT TO THE WHOLE COUNCIL. BUT AGAIN, I PUT SOME PROTOCOLS IN THERE JUST TO GIVE, JUST TO PUT SOMETHING RIGHT. BUT WE COULD CHANGE THAT HOWEVER YOU LIKE. COULD I, CAN I ASK A QUESTION? DOES THIS CONSIDERATION, THIS PROTOCOL ALLOW FOR DIRECT CONTACT AND DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL? FOR TO TALK TO LEGAL COUNSEL? YES. SO, I MEAN, YOU'VE GIVEN A PRETTY GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF HOW YOU GO OUT AND YOU OBTAIN THIS COUNSEL.

ONCE THAT'S HERE, THE THING I'M DRIVING AT IS WHAT WOULD BE ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE CURRENT CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH HYDE KELLEY? SO CAN YOU DESCRIBE TO ME ANY OF THESE ENTITIES THAT ARE ON THIS LIST? BIGSBY OR WHOEVER, THEY'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND DISCUSS EVERYTHING DIRECTLY WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS?

[03:05:06]

SO THIS WOULD ACTUALLY REPEAL THE EXISTING RESOLUTION WITH MR. HYDE, BECAUSE THAT THAT WOULD NOT FOLLOW THE PROTOCOLS AS WRITTEN.

SO WE NEED TO AMEND THIS TO. SO HOW WOULD YOU FACILITATE YOUR EMPLOYMENT AS YOUR FIVE BOSSES HERE? BY GOING OUT AND GETTING THE RESOURCE THAT WE NEED, BUT THEN REMAINING THE GO BETWEEN FROM, YOU KNOW, COUNCILOR TO COUNCILMAN. AGAIN, PER THE PROTOCOL, IF A COUNCILOR REQUESTS AN OPINION AGAIN, THE PROTOCOL TALKS ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD THEN APPROACH ME. I WOULD THEN INCORPORATE MR. MCWILLIAMS, AND THEN WE WOULD GIVE YOU A WRITTEN OPINION ON THE MATTER. IF THAT IF THE COUNCIL WOULD REQUEST A SECOND OPINION, WE WOULD THEN AS COUNCIL MEMBER MYSELF TALK ABOUT THAT.

IF WE AGREE, I THEN GET AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL OPINION.

IF AGAIN IF WE DISAGREE, THAT'S WHERE EITHER YOU GET A SECOND COUNCIL MEMBER TO WEIGH IN OR THE COUNCIL COMES IN.

SO THIS DOES NOT CONSIDER ANY MORE THAN MAYBE JUST A LEGAL OPINION.

YOU'D BRING BACK THIS. THIS DOESN'T WORK OR FUNCTION FOR A RELATIONAL ASPECT OF LIKE A COUNCILOR ADVISING FOR EVERYTHING FROM OPEN MEETINGS, ACT FURTHER EDUCATION OR LOOKING AT POTENTIALITIES FOR NEW POLICIES.

RECONCILING AN ISSUE. THIS PROTOCOL ALSO DOESN'T CONSIDER MAYBE OTHER RESOURCES LIKE CONSULTING FIRMS. YOU KNOW, AUDIT FIRMS, FORENSIC ACCOUNTANTS, MAYBE EVEN LIKE A MEDICAL ADVISOR.

IF WE HAD, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT AGAIN, LIKE WE DID BACK IN 2020, YOU'RE NOT CONTEMPLATING ANY OF THAT.

WHAT YOU'RE REALLY SAYING IS, IS WE COULD COME TO YOU IF WE DIDN'T LIKE THE LEGAL OPINION WE WERE GIVEN ON A SUBJECT WITH A QUESTION.

YOU WOULD THEN GO OUT AND PROCURE A SECOND LEGAL OPINION.

AGAIN, THIS IS WRITTEN AGAIN WHILE I WAS ASKED TO DO IS TO PROVIDE PROTOCOLS FOR GETTING WRITTEN OPINIONS FROM LEGAL COUNSEL.

THIS DOESN'T CONTEMPLATE CONSULTANTS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

NO, THIS IS JUST BUT IT DOES IN THE WAY IN WHICH YOU'RE SERVING THE COMMUNITY HERE.

IT DOES RECOGNIZE THE AUTHORITY OF COUNCIL AS A BODY THAT IF COUNCIL COMES TOGETHER AND WE VOTE, YOU KNOW, 3 TO 2 TO GO OUT AND HIRE A FIRM, PUT IT IN THE BUDGET, THAT THEN THOSE MONIES ARE TO BE EXPENDED WITH THAT FIRM.

FOR ANY OF THOSE COUNCIL MEMBER S, IT STILL RECOGNIZES THAT THIS PROTOCOL WOULD NEED TO BE AMENDED TO THAT, BECAUSE THE PROTOCOL DISCUSSES THAT. YOU WOULD COMMUNICATE THAT THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER WHEN YOU HAVE REQUESTS FOR WRITTEN OPINIONS. SO WE NEED TO AMEND THAT TO ALLOW THAT TO BE ALLOWABLE. OKAY. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER TIPPS.

WELL, SO MY QUESTION IS GOING TO BE FOR YOU AND YOU, GRAYSON.

JUST BECAUSE YOU ALL HAVE MORE EXPERIENCE. WITH THIS COUNCIL CITY MANAGER FORUM THAT WE ARE.

DOES THIS PROTOCOL AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS UP HERE, MAYOR.

TO UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS PROTOCOL, ONE, IT PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF SAFETY.

AND THIS IS JUST ME TALKING, SO JUST PROVIDES A LITTLE BIT OF SAFETY.

I'LL TELL YOU, I'M SUPER FRUSTRATED. THE LAST MEETING WE HAD THAT WE'VE GOT TWO ATTORNEYS.

OKAY. WE'VE GOT BRYAN. THEN WE HAD HYDE. THEY BOTH WEIGHED IN ON A ON A POSITION, RIGHT.

OR GAVE AN OPINION AND THEY WERE OPPOSING POSITIONS.

SO WE COULDN'T MOVE FORWARD AS A COUNCIL BECAUSE THEN WE FIVE WERE EXPOSED BECAUSE WE GOT LEGAL COUNSEL FROM ONE AND LEGAL COUNSEL FROM TWO. SO NO MATTER, NO MATTER WHICH WAY WE WENT, WE ARE GOING AGAINST COUNSEL.

SO WE'RE EXPOSED. I DON'T LIKE THAT. I'LL JUST BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I CAN'T STAND THAT, ACTUALLY. AND I FEEL LIKE IF WE CALL TEN ATTORNEYS ON CERTAIN ISSUES, WE'RE GOING TO GET TEN DIFFERENT OPINIONS.

SO WHEN WE GOT TWO THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO AND I'M NOT I'M NOT KNOCKING THAT DON'T HEAR ME SAY THAT.

BUT I DO THINK WE NEED SOME CLARIFICATION OF IT CREATES SO MUCH, SO MANY PROBLEMS FOR THOSE OF US SITTING HERE ON COUNCIL OF GOING, MAN, BECAUSE I'M GOING TO DEPEND ON THE ATTORNEY RIGHT.

THAT'S MY I'M GOING TO DEPEND ON, A, ATTORNEY TO SAY, LISTEN, I'M NOT AN EXPERT HERE.

I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. I JUST NEED YOUR GUIDANCE.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO LOOK IT UP. IF I'VE GOT SOMEBODY ON STAFF OR ON RETAINER, I'M GOING TO USE THEM AND ASK THEM, AND I'M GOING TO. THEN I'M DONE. THAT WAY, IF I IF I DO SOMETHING BASED ON THE OPINION THAT I SOUGHT AND IT WAS BASED ON THE ATTORNEY, WHEREVER THE ATTORNEY IS, MAN, THAT'S NOT THAT'S OFF ME.

THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING AN ATTORNEY RIGHT THERE ACTING ON BEHALF OR GIVING YOU COUNSEL SO THAT WHEN YOU ACT, I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO GET YOU BACK. SO, SO IN THAT WAY, I AND AGAIN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THESE DON'T NEED TO BE REVISED OR WE CAN REVISE THEM AND THAT KIND OF THING. BUT THE PROTOCOL I DO LIKE BECAUSE AGAIN BACK TO THE COUNCIL MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT.

SO I THINK THAT THERE'S SAFETY IN THAT FOR US, FOR US FIVE.

AND I WOULD GO TO YOU KNOW, THE EXPOSURE, THE SAFETY.

[03:10:01]

IF WE DISTRUST STAFF, IF WE IF WE THINK THEY ARE COMPLETELY INEPT, BUT YET WE BYPASS THEM AND WE DON'T ALLOW THEM TO MAYBE SHOW THEIR INEPTNESS OR NOT DO THEIR JOB WELL, THAT DOESN'T BENEFIT THE ORGANIZATION AT ALL.

IT DOESN'T HELP ANYTHING. NOW, IF WE MAKE A BIG BLUNDER, WE MAKE A BIG MISTAKE BASED ON COUNSEL THAT WAS GIVEN.

THAT'S A PROBLEM, RIGHT? BUT AGAIN, THAT AGAIN, THAT DOES NOT FALL ON THE INDIVIDUALS MAKING THE DECISION.

IT FALLS ON THE ATTORNEY THAT GAVE THE OPINION.

I DO WANT TO GIVE A RESPONSE THERE. AND THEN GRAYSON CAN WEIGH IN BECAUSE I THINK YOU DIRECTED IT AT ME.

SO YOU DO REALIZE WE DIDN'T DO THAT. WHAT? WELL, WE DIDN'T DO WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

BYPASSED. WELL, WE DID NOT TRUST STAFF, SO WE HAD NO TRUST WITH PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER .

WE HAD ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT WEREN'T TRUTHFUL.

YOU KNOW, IN, IN THEIR SUBSTANCE THAT WE WERE DEALING WITH.

AND, AND YOU CHOSE NOT TO GO TO BRYAN AND TO GO OUT AND HIRE A CONSULTANT.

AND THEN THAT IS HOW HE ARRIVED. AND SO, LIKE, WE HAD TO ACT AS AN AUTONOMOUS BODY IN ORDER TO GO OUT AND PROCURE A NEW CITY MANAGER . AND WE CAME TOGETHER AND WE DID IT ALL AS A BODY.

SO WE WENT AND WE CONTRACTED WITH A CONSULTING FIRM, JUST LIKE WE'RE CONTRACTING WITH A CONSULTING FIRM IN HYDE KELLEY, A LEGAL CONSULTANT. AND SO, LIKE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, AND I THINK YOU'RE DRAWING A BOX THAT IF IT FITS IN THE BOX, IT'S FINE. BUT I THINK ANYTIME YOU'RE OUTSIDE OF THE BOX OR YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE AN ISSUE FROM, SAY, ME TO YOU AS A COUNCIL, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PUT BRYAN BETWEEN US.

NOW, BRYAN COULD GIVE A LEGAL OPINION ON A MATTER.

BUT THEN AS FAR AS ADVISING YOU OR ME. AND SO I THINK IN THE WAY IN WHICH MR. PATH ARRIVED HERE, IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE NEED FOR TRUE ELECTED REPRESENTATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE THING THAT'S GOING ON HERE THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IS IT'S NOT MY ATTORNEY THAT I'M RUNNING THE RISK OF LOSING.

IT'S YOURS. SO YOU GUYS GET TOGETHER AND YOU VOTE FOR YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTATIVES.

YOU'RE TAXED FOR THIS SERVICE. AND THEN WE ARE NOW BEING TOLD THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO BE EDUCATED BY AN INDEPENDENT PARTY TO US DIRECTLY.

YOU REALIZE THAT, LIKE IN THIS PROTOCOL? WELL, NO, I THINK THAT IS WHAT IT'S SAYING.

IT'S SAYING THAT IN THIS PROTOCOL, ALL EDUCATION HAS TO RUN THROUGH ONE PERSON WHO IS A CITY STAFF MEMBER.

AND THAT IS NOT THE BALANCE OF POWER, THE SEPARATION OF DUTIES THAT WE NEED.

WE DON'T DO THIS AT THE JUDICIAL BRANCH. YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE A MUNICIPAL COURT THAT CONSTITUTES THE JUDICIAL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE OVER THERE DIGGING INTO THAT JUDGE'S PROTOCOL AND PUTTING THESE PARAMETERS ON THAT JUDGE TO ONLY TALK TO A SPECIFIC ATTORNEY ON A PROCEDURAL MATTER THAT SHE MAY HAVE IN A CASE. WHY IS THIS FIVE BODY INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS PROTOCOL WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUT OUT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, YOU HAVE TO NAME THE FIRM, YOU HAVE TO BUDGET IT.

AND IF IT GETS APPROVED, THEN WE WANT TO SOMEHOW SHORT CIRCUIT THAT AND PUT IT BACK IN UNDERNEATH WHAT COULD BE A BUREAUCRAT.

BUT I'M NOT. I MEAN, I LOVE GRAYSON AND HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT HIS ROLE IS BUREAUCRATIC TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

HE HAS TO BE MORE CONCERNED WITH THE ORGANIZATION.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT WE ARE THE LAST LINE OF DEFENSE FOR YOU WHEN YOU ARE IN OPPOSITION TO THE CITY STAFF? SO IF YOU HAD AN ISSUE AND YOU NEED AN ADVOCATE, WE ARE YOUR ADVOCATES.

YET WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY ADVISE US OR WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT LIMITATION ON THAT.

I IN NO WAY WANT TO LIMIT THIS BODY OTHER THAN THIS BODY HAS TO AGREE.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COUNT TO THREE. YOU GOT TO HAVE TWO MORE PEOPLE PLUS YOURSELF VOTE TO HIRE A FIRM IF YOU WANT IT PAID FOR BY THE CITY.

AND THEN THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SAYING HERE. YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF AN INDIVIDUAL FROM THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN WHO DOESN'T HAVE A THICK CHECKBOOK AND CAN'T GO OUT AND PROCURE THESE RESOURCES, THAT HE DOESN'T GET THE SAME TREATMENT THAT ANY OTHER COUNCIL SHOULD? WHAT I'M SAYING IS, IS COUNCIL. WE OWE IT TO EACH OTHER TO ALWAYS DO OUR BEST TO RESOURCE EACH INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBER .

EVEN IF THEIR AGENDA IS OPPOSITE OF MINE. AND SO IF THIS WAS THE HYDE KELLEY FIRM THAT I DIDN'T LIKE, BUT LESS LIKED THEM, I'M GOING TO WORK WITH THEM BECAUSE HE GETS EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD HIS AUTONOMY AND EDUCATE HIMSELF.

AND I DON'T GET TO KNOW EVERYTHING THAT HE'S DOING AND WORKING ON.

YOU KNOW WHY IT'S CALLED THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT? SO, OKAY, MY ISSUE IS AND AS LONG AS WE'RE ACTING AS A COUNCIL, I WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.

BUT AS I AS I REMEMBER, WE'VE ONLY PUBLICLY, AS A GROUP, COME TO A CONSENSUS TO ASK THEM TO WORK ON THREE THINGS.

[03:15:03]

AND NONE OF THESE OTHER THINGS HAVE COME TO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

IT TAKES ALL OF US INDEPENDENTLY. WE HAVE NO POWER.

WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY. AS EACH OF US ARE INDIVIDUAL.

WE ONLY HAVE AUTHORITY WHEN WE'RE MEETING IN A GROUP OF FIVE, AND WE ONLY HAVE AUTHORITY WHEN THREE ARE DOING.

THAT NEEDS TO BE CHALLENGED. YOU'RE AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE, SO NOT ONLY DO YOU HAVE AUTHORITY, YOU HAVE LIABILITY.

WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, IS THAT WE COULDN'T GET IN TROUBLE UNLESS ALL OF US DID IT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE. YOU CAN GET YOURSELF IN TROUBLE.

AND DO YOU NEED AN ADVISOR TO KEEP YOU OUT OF TROUBLE? YOU DO. DO YOU? DO YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THAT I'M DOING? YOU DON'T. AND YOU CAN'T LOOK TO ME TO BE THAT COVER FOR YOU.

SO US FIVE IS A BODY. THAT'S HOW WE. BUT HE'S GOING TO CHARGE ME 3.95 AN HOUR EVERY TIME I TALK TO HIM.

BUT WE'VE PUT IT IN THE BUDGET, SO IT'S IN THE BUDGET.

YOU'RE WELL WITHIN IT AND IT IS GOOD STEWARDSHIP.

WELL, I KNOW IN YOU NEEDING RESOURCES ALL THE TIME.

AT 3.95 AN HOUR, YOU SAID YOU NEVER YOU CALLED AND TALKED TO HIM THEM ONCE.

DON, YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO THEM. I MEAN, I TALKED TO HIM TO ASK HIM FOR INFORMATION, TO GIVE ME SOME BACKGROUND ON HIS EXPERIENCE.

THE NURSE NAVIGATOR IS A GREAT EXAMPLE COUNCILMAN.

NEVER CAME. HOW DID THAT CAME FROM, THAT CAME FROM COUNCILMAN CRAFT.

AND THAT CAME AS A DERIVATIVE THROUGH THE PUBLIC THAT HAD A NEED, AND THEY GOT HUNG UP IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S OUR FAULT. I MEAN, MAYBE THEY DIDN'T PROVIDE THE RIGHT DOCUMENTATION OR WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE, BUT IT SURE GOT DONE QUICKLY WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER CRAFT GOT INVOLVED AS AN ADVOCATE SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE OUR CITY.

SO ARE YOU TRULY ELECTING ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND YOU WANT US TO DO OUR JOB, OR IS THIS CEREMONIAL? DO WE JUST CUT RIBBONS? AND YOU'VE GOT A CITY MANAGER .

WE TURN THE KEYS OVER. AM I NOT RESPONSIBLE? BECAUSE EVERY TIME I TURN AROUND, EVERYBODY'S THREATENING ME WITH GOING TO JAIL.

I MEAN, I GET ON FACEBOOK ALL THE TIME. WELL, HERE'S ANOTHER ILLEGAL THING. YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

YOU GO TO JAIL. WELL, HOW AM I DOING THAT IF IT TAKES ALL FIVE OF US AND WE DIDN'T SAY IT TOGETHER.

SO YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. WHY? WHY DID WE NOT BRING THE NURSE NAVIGATOR PROGRAM TO FULL COUNCIL? TO SAY, HEY, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON? WHY? WHY DO WE NOT BRING THE PHYSICIAN TRANSPARENCY? YOU DID. AND IT GOES EXACTLY LIKE THIS. PROTOCOL CALLS IT OUT.

SO WHAT HAPPENED WAS, COUNCIL MEMBER CRAFT EXERCISED HIS RIGHT TO REACH OUT TO LEGAL COUNSEL.

ASK A ASK AN OPINION. I HAVE THAT RIGHT. NO, HE DOES NOT.

NOT ACCORDING TO THE ONLY. THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT HAVE THAT RIGHT TO MANAGE THIS RELATIONSHIP IN THE INTERIM IS MAYOR AND PRO TEM.

NO. THAT'S WHAT THE THAT'S WHAT THE ORDINANCE SAYS. NO.

ANY OTHER TIME IT WOULD TAKE THE APPROVAL. THIS IS THIS IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL CALL THE QUESTION.

THERE'S NO QUESTION YET. SO ON THIS, IF YOU ARE READY TO END DISCUSSION, WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

BUT ON THIS COUNCILMAN CRAFT CONTACTED ME AND HE SAID, HEY, I NEED A SECOND OPINION.

I'VE GOT THIS, I'VE GOT THIS OVER HERE IN THE LEGAL. I SAID, YEAH, THAT'S GREAT, MAN. GET WITH IT. SO YOU'VE NEVER CALLED ME.

SO I MEAN I WOULD HAVE EXERCISED THAT WITH YOU.

BUT YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT. THE RESOLUTION IS WRITTEN IN A WAY FOR US AS A BODY TO UTILIZE THAT.

NOW, IT DID COME TO YOU AFTER THE FACT, AFTER WE SPENT, WHICH IS HOW EVERYTHING HAS TO COME TO YOU.

YOU REALIZE YOU CANNOT KNOW WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER CRAFT IS WORKING ON UNTIL HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT HE'S DOING.

THERE HAS TO BE AN ALLOTMENT FOR TIME. YOU'RE ASSUMING THAT TIME DOESN'T EXIST, THAT HE SOMEHOW HAS KNOWLEDGE BEFORE HE EVER THOUGHT THE THOUGHT HE HAS TO BE ALLOWED TIME TO GO AND RESEARCH AND EDUCATE HIMSELF. AND THAT COST MONEY.

YEAH. AND I'M NOT SAYING, BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS ESTABLISHING A PROTOCOL THAT FUTURE COUNCILS COULD USE AND POTENTIALLY ABUSE.

AND WE'VE ALREADY AGAIN, I GO BACK WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FEW COUNCIL MEMBER S WORKING ON A LEGAL ISSUE, GETTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY? I AGREE WITH YOU TO DO SOMETHING. I AGREE WITH YOU. THIS THIS PROTOCOL COULD BE ABUSED.

LET'S NOT DO THIS AND HERE'S WHY. YOU HAVE AN EXISTING PROTOCOL.

CALL YOUR CHARTER AND IT WORKS VERY WELL. YOU HAVE AN EXISTING PROTOCOL CALLED THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, AND ALL SORTS OF PRIVACY ISSUES THAT YOU MAINTAIN AS RIGHTS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER .

SO YOU DIDN'T GIVE UP YOUR RIGHTS WHEN YOU GOT ELECTED.

YOU'RE JUST AN ADVOCATE. SO LET'S STICK TO THE FULLNESS OF THE PROTOCOL OF THE CHARTER, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE ALLOWED TO WORK ON ANYTHING YOU WANT TO WORK ON.

AND IF WE PUT IT IN THE BUDGET NOW, THIS IS WHAT IS CONSIDERED LATER.

DO WE NOT FEEL LIKE THIS IS MONEY WELL SPENT FOR OUR CITIZENS? THEN LET'S CANCEL IT. LET'S TERMINATE IT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T AFFORD $100,000 WORTH OF LEGAL FEES.

THAT JUST SAVED YOU $2 MILLION. OKAY, IF THAT'S YOUR ROI, I GET IT.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME LOOKING AT THE PDP MONIES BECAUSE THE SAME LEVEL OF TRANSPARENCY THAT YOU'RE EXERCISING ON ME AS YOUR MAYOR, YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO LOOK BACK AT PDP. MR. SKANK, YOU SPENT HOW MANY MEETINGS OUT THERE WITH PDP? 30. OH, YOU REALIZE WE SPENT WITH THAT FIRM, THAT CONSULTING FIRM, $241,000.

[03:20:08]

SO NOW COUNCIL HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO WORK THROUGH YOUR BUDGET, ALONG WITH HYDE, TO TAKE AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE COULD USE THIS FRANCHISE FEE OVER HERE ON THIS ENTERPRISE BUSINESS AND WE COULD PULL THAT MONEY OVER.

DO YOU KNOW THAT $1.4 MILLION WAS SPENT WITH NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT? I NEVER VOTED ON THAT. THAT WAS YOUR TAX NOTES FOR THE CIVIC CENTER AND THE DEFENSE OF A LAWSUIT.

NOT ONLY THAT, THEN WE WERE ADVISED TO APPEAL THE LAWSUIT.

AND THAT WAS ONLY AFTER IT WAS ALREADY APPEALED THREE TIMES.

WE DIDN'T EVEN GET TO VOTE ON THAT. SO ARE YOU GOING TO EXERCISE THE SAME LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITH YOUR CITY ATTORNEY AND WITH EVERYBODY ELSE THAT YOU'RE DOING BUSINESS WITH? BECAUSE I THINK YOU SHOULD. I LOVE THIS, I'M BEING TOTALLY TRANSPARENT.

YOU CAN SEE EVERY DOLLAR. YOU CAN PULL EVERY BILL.

I'M JUST WILLING TO DEFEND THE FACT THAT I'M SPENDING YOUR MONEY WELL.

EVERYTHING I SPENT WITH HYDE KELLEY HAS A RETURN ON THE INVESTMENT.

EVERY DOLLAR. YEAH. GOOD. I NEVER KNEW THAT. BECAUSE HE NEVER TALKS TO ME, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT CALLING HIM UP, AND I DON'T HEAR FROM ANYBODY ELSE. THE THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS IS, AGAIN, REMEMBER, EVERY TIME WE CALL 395 AN HOUR, 395 AN HOUR, 395 AN HOUR. I MEAN, IF I'M CALLING HIM TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, I REALLY DON'T.

THE PROBLEM IS, HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON? THE NURSE, NAVIGATOR, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS.

WHAT ARE THE WHAT? YOU DON'T GET TO THE LEGAL ADVICE BEING GIVEN.

HAVING A CENTRAL LOCATION TO GO THROUGH THAT.

AND AGAIN, THIS, THIS RESOLUTION THAT HE'S SAYING TAKES NOT ONE IOTA OF POWER AWAY FROM THIS COUNCIL.

PROTOCOL STILL HAS THE POWER. WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE, YOU KNOW.

BUT YOU GET IT. YOU UNDERSTAND IT. BUT THIS THIS COUNCIL DOES HAVE THE POWER.

OUR POWER IS. OUR POWER IS MORE LIMITED THAN YOU THINK.

OUR POWER IS. THIS IS THE GENTLEMAN WE HIRE AND FIRE AND EXPECT TO EXECUTE ON THE JOB.

NOT AT ALL. NOT AT ALL. TRUE. COUNCILMAN, YOU CAN GO OUT AND YOU CAN PAY YOUR OWN LEGAL FEES IF YOU CAN AFFORD THEM.

BUT I'M JUST TELLING YOU, IF YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR OWN LEGAL FEES AND YOU BRING IT TO THIS COUNCIL, WE'VE BUDGETED THAT.

YOU DIDN'T CALL ME ONE TIME AND YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO KNOW WHAT I'M WORKING ON, AND I'M NOT NECESSARILY ALLOWED TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON. AND IF I'M WORKING ON THE SAME ISSUE WITH SOMEBODY ELSE, IF HE'S COUNCIL'S ATTORNEY, ALL OF OUR ATTORNEY. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO USE THEM AS YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT THAT SHOULD NOT BE ON THE TAXPAYER. BUT I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING HERE.

YES, SIR. RYAN, ONE TIME I ASKED YOU. ARE YOU A LITIGATOR? YEAH. HE HAS TO BE A LITIGATOR. ARE YOU A LITIGATOR? YES. THAT WAS MY FIRST JOB. YOU TOLD ME YOU WEREN'T.

YOU TOLD ME NOT A YEAR AGO. YOU SAID I'M NOT A LITIGATOR.

I GO OUTSIDE FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL. IS THAT TRUE? NO, I, I WAS A LITIGATOR BEFORE. OKAY. WHEN YOU TAKE THE CITY ATTORNEY, ARE YOU LITIGATING OUR CASES TODAY? YOU TAKE THE CITY ATTORNEY JOB ON. YOU OVERSEE LITIGATION WHEN YOU'RE NOT THE CITY ATTORNEY.

YOU TYPICALLY ARE DRIVING THE LITIGATION. OKAY.

SO YOU'RE INVOLVED IN ALL OF IT. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF OVERSIGHT AND AND GETTING UPDATES AND THEN AND THEN SUGGESTING THINGS, YOU KNOW, RELATED TO THE TO THE LITIGATION. I'M GOOD WITH THAT.

NOW, IN ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION A WHILE AGO, HE SAYS, EVERY TIME WE CALL, WE'RE SPENDING 395.

WHAT IS MY COST IN HOUSE? I'M PAYING NO, NO ADDITIONAL COST TO TAXPAYERS.

NO, WE'RE PAYING YOUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE.

THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL COST WE'RE GOING TO PAY. NO, BUT YOU'RE OVERLOADING THE DEPARTMENT. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE. WE'RE HIRING MORE PEOPLE. NO. WELL, LISTEN, I'M NOT GOING TO ARGUE THAT POINT WITH YOU.

AND I HAD A CALL TO QUESTION A WHILE AGO, AND I CALL THE QUESTION.

WE STOPPED DISCUSSION. THERE'S NOTHING TO CALL, TOM.

YEAH, WELL, WE'RE DISCUSSING. WE GOT A DISCUSSION.

MY QUESTION IF WE WANT TO MOVE FORWARD, IT'S JUST LET'S BE TRANSPARENT WITH EACH VOTING ITEM.

I MEAN, INSTEAD OF TRANSPARENCY PUTTING STUFF IN A PUBLIC NOTICE THAT REALLY BUGS ME.

YOU KNOW WHY IT BUGS ME? YOU BROKE A DEAL WITH ALL FIVE OF US.

NO, NO, YOU GOT AHEAD OF THE STORY. YOU'RE A NEWSMAN.

YOU'RE AHEAD OF THE STORY. YOU RUN AND GET IN THE PAPER.

I GOTTA GET IT OUT. THANK YOU, MR. PATH. I THINK WE'RE DONE WITH OUR QUESTIONS. WITH YOU, SIR. COUNCIL, WE'VE HAD A DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. YOU HAVE SOME PROTOCOLS SET BEFORE YOU.

WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A TRUE ELECTED FORM OF REPRESENTATION.

AND THIS IS AN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

AND THERE ARE THREE BRANCHES HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR STAFF CONSTITUTES THE EXECUTIVE SIDE, AND THEY WORK UNDERNEATH THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY.

AND WE ARE BEING REQUIRED TO CONDUCT OURSELVES LIKE A SMALLER STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE.

YOU KNOW THAT NONE OF THESE PARAMETERS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PLACE ON US LESS, YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT WITH FAIRLY OR SPARKS OR ANY OF THEM.

[03:25:09]

YOU UNDOUBTEDLY ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT VIEWS THAN I'M GOING TO HAVE.

I DON'T EVER WANT YOU TO BE UNDERNEATH A MAYOR THAT CAN CONTROL YOU.

AND RIGHT NOW, YOU'VE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THAT $250,000 BUDGET, RIGHT? AND WHATEVER IS REMAINING OF IT, 150 OF IT ON THE ATTORNEY FIRM THAT YOU WANT TO CALL.

SO NOTHING'S KEEPING YOU FROM CALLING UNDERWOOD AND SAYING, HEY, I GOT A QUESTION I WANT TO WORK ON. YOU KNOW, THIS NEXT INITIATIVE. AND SO WE HAVE A BUDGET ITEM IN THERE, AND WE'VE REMOVED IT FROM WITHIN OUR BUDGET.

WE DIDN'T RAISE YOUR TAXES TO GO OUT AND PAY FOR AN ATTORNEY, AND WE'RE NOT USING THEM ON THINGS THAT WE DON'T NEED.

AND WE'RE GOOD. WE'RE GOOD FINANCIAL STEWARDS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT THIS GOES TO. IT'S JUST A POLITICAL HIT JOB ON US.

NOT DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB OF TAKING CARE OF YOUR MONEY.

YOU CANNOT LOOK AT THAT BUDGET. THE THINGS THAT ARE UNPRECEDENTED.

IT'S UNPRECEDENTED WHAT'S HAPPENED FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

IT'S UNPRECEDENTED THAT OUR AFD BOARD IS GOING UP TO DC TO GIVE A DISCUSSION ON HOW THEY SINGLE HANDEDLY TURNED AN ENTIRE GOVERNMENT THAT THEY COULDN'T GET ALONG WITH IN A LAWSUIT FOR SEVEN YEARS.

FIRE MARSHALL ISSUES AND ALL SORTS OF STUFF. AND NOW THEY HAVE A PRO LOCAL HERO BODY THAT THEY'RE WORKING WELL WITH.

SO EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE, THE ROAD REPAIRS THAT ARE GOING ON, THE ANIMAL MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENTS, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON, THE PAY INCREASES TO ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, POLICE AND FIRE.

EVERYTHING SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. NOW WE NEED TO KEEP AN ATTORNEY FOR EXACT REASONS LIKE THIS.

YOU AND I HIT THE SKIDS WHEN THE AEDC WAS THE ISSUE, AND THE ISSUE CAME BECAUSE WHAT WAS DONE AT THE RANGE WAS WRONG, AND WE WANTED TO INVESTIGATE THAT. AND WHAT YOU'RE POINTING TO WAS MY DIRECTION TO GO THROUGH AND GO THROUGH THOSE CREDIT CARDS, GO THROUGH AND PULL ALL THOSE ITEMS BECAUSE I NEEDED TO KNOW IF I HAD AN ISSUE OR IF ANOTHER AGENCY HAD AN ISSUE.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THAT BECAUSE WHAT I KNEW HAPPENED WAS WRONG.

I DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS CRIMINAL. I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS JUST UNETHICAL.

AND SO ALL OF THAT WAS PROCURED, AND I SPENT THE MONEY ON THAT BECAUSE I NEEDED TO HOLD THAT THAT ENTITY ACCOUNTABLE.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'VE DONE. AND ALL THE BYLAWS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BEEN WORKED ON WILL WORK OUT FOR THE GOOD OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

AND I DON'T BACK DOWN FROM THAT AT ALL. THIS IS WHAT AGENTS OF CHANGE LOOK LIKE, AND PEOPLE DON'T LIKE IT.

AND WE'RE NOT UP HERE BECAUSE WE WANT YOU TO LIKE US.

WE'RE UP HERE BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TURN THE LIGHTS ON, AND WE'RE GOING TO OPERATE WITH THE LIGHTS ON.

AND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IS TURN THE LIGHTS BACK OFF. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY WRONG.

AND TELL ME ABOUT THIS POLITICAL HIT JOB. YEAH, OKAY.

I MEAN, CHANNEL FOUR HAS RAN MULTIPLE ITEMS IN DEEP, DEEP SEARCH OF ALL OF THE EXPENDITURES.

AND THEY'VE GOT ME AND YOU OPPOSING EACH OTHER ON CAMERA MULTIPLE TIMES.

DIFFERING OPINION. NO, WE CAN. I'M JUST SAYING YOU SENT THE LETTER TO THE MEDIA BEFORE WE CAME OUT.

I DID NOT SEND IT TO THE MEDIA. YOU CANNOT DENY THE FACT THAT THIS IS POLITICS.

THE MAN WANTED IT OUT THERE. I HE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT ME AND I.

NOT YOURS TO SHARE. HE DIDN'T ASK YOU TO READ IT AT COUNCIL.

HE ASKED ME TO READ IT. I WOULD HAVE SHARED IT. ALL I'M SAYING IS THE HIT JOB HERE IS POINTING TO STEWARDSHIP.

IT'S NOT POINTING TO ACTUAL LEGAL COUNSEL BECAUSE WE HAVE LEGAL COUNSEL ALL OVER.

WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET RID OF UNDERWOOD, AND WE'RE YOU'RE NOT YOU KNOW, HERE'S THE PROOF IN THE PUDDING.

YOU'RE NOT EXERCISING THIS LEVEL OF INVESTIGATION ON ANYTHING ELSE.

WHY NOT? WHAT ITEM DO YOU DO YOU WANT TO INVESTIGATE? WELL, I LIKE THE AEDC, AND I LIKE THE RANGE, SO LET'S START THERE.

YEAH, AND WE'VE INVESTIGATED THAT, HAVEN'T WE? WELL NOT REALLY. YES WE HAVE.

WE'VE INVESTIGATED ALL THE TRANSACTIONS. SO EVERYTHING.

NO, EVERYTHING'S NOT OUT YET, IS IT? WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW, TOM? I DON'T KNOW NOTHING. OKAY.

I DON'T KNOW A THING, BUT THE STORY IS STILL OUT THERE.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW. LET'S TALK SPECIFICALLY. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY I DON'T HAVE THE RANGE'S FINANCIALS.

SO, LIKE, WHAT DO YOU. CAN WE AS A BODY AGREE? WE NEED TO GO GET THOSE. OKAY. PAUSE. CAN I JUST PAUSE? YES. THIS IS NOT THE SUBJECT MATTER. OKAY? I'M NOT THE MAYOR.

I'M NOT THE MAYOR PRO TEM. BUT THIS ISN'T THE SUBJECT MATTER.

IS THAT BRYAN? THIS IS WHERE I WOULD LIKE YOU TO STEP IN AND DIRECT THE MEETING.

WELL, IF YOU'RE DISCUSSING ABOUT MATTERS RELATED TO THE PROTOCOLS OR THINGS THAT ARE FROM A RESOLUTION HAVING TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, AS A, AS A GUY WHO'S JUST OUT HERE LEARNING AND, AND, TRYING TO SWIM AROUND IN THE WEEDS THAT SOME LIKE TO THROW ON TOP OF ME.

I'M GOING TO TAKE MY COUNCIL MEMBERS ADVISEMENT, AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU I'M COMFORTABLE WITH ENDING THE DISCUSSION HERE.

COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT ON ITEM 7G.

[03:30:03]

IF AS FAR AS PROTOCOLS GO, SOME THINGS THAT I DO HAVE ISSUES WITH THAT I THINK NEED TO BE DISCUSSED IS WHEN WE HAVE OUTSIDE COUNSEL, OKAY. IF WE STICK WITH WHOMEVER, WHATEVER IN THE BUDGET I'VE GOT, I WOULD LIKE DIRECTION ON OR WE NEED TO COME TO CONSENSUS ON AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL PAYING THEM 395 AN HOUR WHATEVER TO DO THINGS THAT ARE INSIDE CAN DO THE PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST.

I MEAN, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE WHEN WE COULD DO THEM IN HOUSE.

NOW, IF THERE'S A REASON TO BE DONE OUTSIDE, SO BE IT.

BUT I THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE IN AGREEMENT ON THAT.

THERE ARE. IT IS PRETTY. IT'S KIND OF SLOPPY.

I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF SLOPPY ON SOME OF THE USES OF HYDE.

I DON'T LIKE IT. I MEAN, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHEN WE'VE GOT STAFF INSIDE THAT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING A PRETTY HEFTY SALARY.

NOT EVEN SAYING OUR ATTORNEY, BUT STAFF THAT THAT ARE PERFECTLY CAPABLE TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE DOES.

I DON'T LOVE THAT. SO I NEED TO GET THAT OUT THERE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THESE PROTOCOLS, IF WE ADOPT THEM, DON'T MASSAGE THEM, WHATEVER.

I DO THINK THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME GUARDRAILS WE JUST EXPERIENCED, TO YOUR POINT.

YOU KNOW, WE JUST EXPERIENCED THE EDC, SOME THINGS OF WELL, THERE WEREN'T REALLY GUARDRAILS. I MEAN, THEY DID SOMETHING THAT REALLY WASN'T RIGHT BUT WASN'T WRONG BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THERE. WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING THERE.

AND I TRUST OUR COUNCIL, RIGHT? I TRUST OUR COUNCIL.

BUT FUTURE COUNCILS THAT COME FORWARD, I THINK WE'VE GOT TO SET A GOOD PRECEDENT AND MAYBE PUT SOME THINGS UP TO SAY, HEY, MAYBE, MAYBE WE DO NEED TO BE ABLE TO USE OUTSIDE COUNSEL.

WHETHER WE DO OR WE DON'T, WE CAN FINISH THAT DISCUSSION WHENEVER, BUT WE DO NEED TO HAVE SOME GUARDRAILS PUT UP OF GOING.

YOU CAN'T JUST IF WE'VE GOT OUTSIDE COUNSEL, BUT WE HAVE INSIDE THAT WE'RE ALREADY PAYING STAFF FOR.

WHY WOULD WE USE OUTSIDE COUNSEL UNLESS IT'S AN EXPERTISE ISSUE, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER ELSE.

WHAT ABOUT A CONFIDENCE ISSUE?WHAT DID YOU SAY? A CONFIDENCE ISSUE. CONFIDENCE. YEAH. WELL THEN, I THINK THAT THAT GOES TO THE CITY MANAGER .

I THINK THAT GOES TO GRAYSON AND SAY, GRAYSON, I DON'T TRUST THESE PEOPLE.

I DON'T TRUST AND IT GOES TO THE PROTOCOL OF GOING, IF I'M GOING TO GO OUTSIDE, THEN I GO TO GRAYSON AND SAY, I DON'T TRUST THE PEOPLE. YOU GOT NOTHING PERSONAL AGAINST BROWN, BUT I'M SAYING, LIKE, IF YOU ASK A QUESTION AND YOU AND IT'S A YES OR NO ANSWER AND YOU DON'T GET THAT. FRUSTRATES ME TO NO END. RIGHT.

SO, I MEAN HOW DO YOU REBUILD THAT CONFIDENCE IN ATTORNEY? DON'T REBUILD THAT CONFIDENCE IF I'M NOT GETTING WHAT I WANT.

IF WE'RE GOING TO USE BRYAN AS AN EXAMPLE, THEN I GO TO GRAYSON.

SAY, GRAYSON, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH YOUR ATTORNEY.

WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY. HE IS NOT ANSWERING MY, HE'S NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS.

HE'S NOT GIVING ME GOOD COUNSEL. LIKE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

YOU NEED TO WRITE HIM UP. YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING. LET'S GET A MEETING TOGETHER. LET'S SIT DOWN. LET'S DO SOMETHING. THAT'S THE WAY I THINK THAT IT SHOULD WORK.

SO THAT WE HELP IMPROVE OUR ORGANIZATION. BUT IF WE JUST END AROUND SOMEBODY BECAUSE WE DON'T TRUST OR WE DON'T, WE DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY SAY OR HOWEVER A CONFIDENCE ISSUE, WE DON'T GET BETTER.

I MEAN, WE JUST THE ORGANIZATION DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER. BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S OUR JOB. TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR, TO HOLD THE ORGANIZATION ACCOUNTABLE. WE'RE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THIS ORGANIZATION IS FUNCTIONING RIGHT.

BUT IF WE JUST KEEP GOING OUT AND FINDING SPECIALIST TO DO JOBS THAT WE'RE PAYING FOR, I THINK THAT THAT'S GOOD.

I HAVE A POTENTIAL SOLUTION. AND I THINK WE WERE WORKING TOWARDS THIS LAST TIME.

SO IT'S FOUR STEPS. IT'S SUPER SIMPLE BECAUSE I'M ALSO NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD JUST WORK WITH NO GUARDRAILS.

I'M FINE WITH HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE. WHAT I WANT IS PROTOCOL THAT COUNCIL PUTS IN THAT WE HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE TO, AND IT DOESN'T EVER PUT COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO GO OUT AND GET ANYTHING DONE UNDERNEATH OUR MANAGEMENT.

SO IT'S FOUR SIMPLE STEPS BEFORE YOU CONTACT YOUR OUTSIDE ATTORNEY OR CONSULTANT OR AUDITOR OR ACCOUNTANT, ANYTHING THAT IS AN OUTSIDE BEFORE YOU CONTACT THEM, ASSUMING THAT THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SET UP BY YOUR CITY COUNCIL, YOU GO TO GRAYSON. GRAYSON, I GOT A PROBLEM WITH X, RIGHT? HE HELPS YOU BY GOING TO MCWILLIAMS. MCWILLIAMS HELPS YOU, AND YOU'RE DONE.

OR HE DOESN'T. THEN YOU GO TO YOUR OUTSIDE CONSULTANT OR ATTORNEY, AND THEN YOU BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL.

THIS BODY. AND SO WHAT WE COULD DO IS WE COULD SET A VERY EASY, SIMPLE, LOGICAL, COMMON SENSE THING.

WE COULD JUST TELL OUR CITY OR OUR OUTSIDE COUNCIL, OUR ATTORNEY, HEY, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO SPEND ANY MORE THAN $1,000 WITH ANY INDIVIDUAL BEFORE THEY BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL. THAT GIVES YOU A TIME TO GO AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH, UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND THEN TO GO AND SPEND $10,000.

WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IS COUNCILMAN CRAFT WOULD HAVE COME IN.

HE WOULD HAVE SAID, HEY, I WANT TO WORK ON NURSE NAVIGATOR. MAN I'M GOOD WITH IT.

IS IT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE FIXED WITH GRAYSON? NO. GRAYSON SAID NO. OKAY. WELL, DID YOU GO TO BRYAN?

[03:35:02]

SO THEN IT WOULD HAVE COME TO THIS BODY. THAT'S THE STEP WE MISSED.

IT WOULD HAVE COME TO THE BODY AND WE WOULD HAVE SAID, HEY, DO WE WANT TO SPEND $10,000 OF THAT BUDGETED MONEY ON THAT? I MEAN, YOU CAN GET YOUR VOTE AT THAT POINT. THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP FOR ME.

THAT'S THE ONLY THING I'M WILLING TO DO. BUT I'M FINE WORKING WITH A BODY OF FIVE PEOPLE UP HERE THAT IF WE HAVE A $250,000 BUDGET AND YOU'RE RINGING HIM UP ALL THE TIME, SO BE IT. WELL, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD START. WE'RE GOING TO GOING TO PUT THAT IN WRITING AND MAKE IT A I GOT IT WRITTEN DOWN RIGHT HERE.

I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD. LET'S, LET'S LAST TIME.

LAST TIME WE TRIED TO HAND IT OFF AND IT TURNED INTO SEVERAL PAGES.

AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN FOR IT, GRAYSON.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT THAT WAS REALLY WHERE WE NEEDED TO LAND. SO GO TO GRAYSON, GO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, GO TO YOUR OUTSIDE COUNSEL, AND THEN BRING IT TO THIS COUNCIL BEFORE WE SPEND MORE THAN $1,000.

THOUSAND DOLLAR LIMIT. AND WE GO PUT THAT ON HYDE KELLEY RIGHT NOW.

HEY, YOU GOT $1,000 WITH ANYBODY. IF WE'RE JUST CALLING SAYING, HEY, I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS OPEN MEETING ACT IS SOMETHING I NEED TO WATCH OR FOLLOW.

THAT'S PLENTY OF MONEY TO GET ANY OF THOSE ANSWERS.

BUT IF YOU GO TO THEM AND YOU SAY, HEY, I'M INTERESTED IN CHANGING THE CHARTER HOW DO WE GO ABOUT ALL THAT? HE MAY TELL YOU THE NUANCES, BUT THEN YOU'VE GOT TO COME BACK AND PUT IT ON AN AGENDA, AND IT COMES BACK IN FRONT OF THIS BODY.

I'M FINE WITH THAT. SO. SO, WE WOULD STILL WITH THOSE.

WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE LIST THAT'S IN HERE OF WHATEVER OF APPROVED ATTORNEYS.

I GUESS THAT CAME FROM SOMEWHERE. TOM I DON'T KNOW WHERE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE APPROVED LIST OF LIST OF ATTORNEYS CAME FROM.

BUT IF WE'RE SAYING, HEY, THAT'S WHO WE GET TO CHOOSE.

IF HYDE KELLEY'S ON THERE AND YOU WANT TO USE HYDE KELLEY, I DON'T EVEN. I DON'T EVEN THINK IT MATTERS. IF YOU WORK ON THAT LIST. I THINK YOU CAN BRING ANYBODY TO YOU THAT YOU'D LIKE. BUT WE HAVE A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE HYDE KELLEY FIRM.

THAT'S WHAT'S BEING ASSUMED, IS THAT YOU CAN GO AND CALL THAT PERSON.

SO WHAT WE'VE ALL KIND OF CONVENIENTLY FORGOT IS WE DID THIS RIGHTLY.

WE BROUGHT IT TO THIS BODY, AND WE ENGAGED WITH HIM AND WE ALL VOTED FOR IT FIVE ZERO.

NOW, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE DON'T WANT A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT WITH HIM, OR THAT'S AT LEAST THE DISCUSSION LATER TODAY.

AND SO YOU GOT TO BRING A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT WITH A NEW ATTORNEY FIRM.

IF YOU WANT TO USE SOMEBODY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT WITH.

YEAH. AND I THINK, I THINK THAT'S FINE. BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T HAVE IS THE ABILITY TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT WAS BEING WORKED ON WITH EACH OTHER AND TO MAKE A DECISION AS A GROUP AS TO WHETHER WE WANTED TO SPEND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THAT.

MAN, I DISAGREE, BUT I DO, I DO TELL YOU THAT THIS WILL IMPROVE IT.

AND NONE OF US ARE SITTING HERE TELLING YOU THAT WE'RE BEYOND IMPROVEMENT. ALL I'M SAYING IS, IS I DON'T WANT TO BE HANDCUFFED AND THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING IS NOT HEALTHY.

WELL, THE OTHER DIRECTION THAT I WOULD SAY IF WE'RE GOING IF WE'RE GOING TO THE CITY MANAGER .

WELL, NUMBER ONE, WE SHOULD BE GOING TO THE CITY MANAGER TO GET HIS ADVICE AT ALL TIMES.

THAT'S WHY WE PAY HIM WHAT WE DO. HE'S A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL THAT HE'S DONE THAT, YOU KNOW.

BUT WE RUN OUT THESE SCENARIOS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO JUST BE CONSTANTLY GOING TO THE CITY MANAGER AND HE'S GOING TO BE TELLING US, NO, NO, NO, NO OR THE ATTORNEY. WELL, THAT'S NOT AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL PROBLEM.

THAT'S A CITY MANAGER PROBLEM. AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE HAVING IF WE'RE RUNNING THROUGH THOSE SCENARIOS, IF WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING THE ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION PROBLEM, THAT'S NOT AN OUTSIDE COUNSEL PROBLEM.

THAT'S AN ISSUE TO DEAL WITH. THE CITY MANAGER AGREED.

WHAT DID YOU HAVE CRAFT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM SEVEN G? NO. OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS FOR ENDURING THAT WITH US.

[7.H. Amarillo Economic Development Corporation Board of Director applicants]

I THINK WE RAN OFF ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS SUCCESSFULLY NOW.

NO I'M KIDDING. MISS STEPHANIE, DO WE HAVE YOU COMING UP FOR THIS ONE? YES. AND I'M JUST GOING TO INTRODUCE IT AND THEN LET OUR GOVERNING BODY DISCUSS.

WE HAD 55 APPLICANTS. WE PROVIDED YOU ALL WITH THOSE APPLICATIONS BACK WHEN WE STOPPED ACCEPTING THEM BACK IN, I BELIEVE IT WAS DECEMBER. THE LIST OF THE 55 IS ON THE SCREEN HERE.

AND SO TODAY WAS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO SPEAK WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT THOSE CANDIDATES, TALK THROUGH THEM. AND OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO BRING THIS BACK FOR ACTION AT OUR NEXT MEETING TO APPOINT.

OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT IF I COULD WE'VE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.

WE HAVE BYLAWS AND SOME AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT I THINK ARE READY TO BE UPDATED AND MOVE US FORWARD.

WE'VE GOT YOU KNOW, MORE CHANGE HAPPENING OVER THERE, AND WE'VE GOT A TEMPORARY BOARD.

MY INTEREST IS PULLING THE TWO COUNCIL MEMBER S OFF OF THAT AND BRINGING THEM BACK UP TO THE DAIS.

MY INTEREST IS ALSO IN A DISCUSSION OF SHOULD THIS COUNCIL APPOINT ALL BOARD MEMBERS, OR SHOULD WE APPOINT A FEW AND LEAVE TEMPORARY MEMBERS THERE UNTIL AFTER THE MAY ELECTION, GIVING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY, MORE WILLINGNESS TO LET YOUR VOTE COUNT?

[03:40:04]

DO WE WANT TO PUT THESE BOARD MEMBERS IN PLACE IN FEBRUARY? WOULD WE BE READY, OR SHOULD WE LET THE TEMPORARY BOARD WORK THROUGH FEBRUARY, PLACE THEM IN MARCH KNOWING THAT YOU'RE NOT GETTING A POTENTIAL UNTIL THE UNTIL THE 11TH OR THE 25TH. SO THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THERE THAT I'VE FLOATED OUT.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY OPINION ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THAT TEMPORARY BOARD? AND MAYBE WE COULD HEAR FROM OUR TWO TEMPORARY COUNCIL MEMBER S THAT ARE DOWN THERE.

WHAT HAVE YOU GUYS SEEN AND WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO? WELL, I KNOW WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE WORK LEFT OVER THERE.

I KNOW WE HAVE THE BYLAWS STILL. AND THEN WE HAVE THE BUSINESS MAIL STUFF TO GO THROUGH.

I DON'T KNOW THAT. IT'S GREAT. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GREAT TO HAND THIS OFF. JUST. I'M NOT. TRUST ME.

I'M NOT ONE TO SERVE ON LOTS OF BOARDS AND YOU KNOW, THE TIME AND THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO SET A TIME FOR SURE. I DON'T THINK CRAFT AND I WANT TO SIT ON THAT BOARD.

I THINK IT CREATES SOME ISSUES AND THAT KIND OF THING.

BUT I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME MAJOR CHANGES COMING.

AND TO PUT BRAND NEW PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THE, HOW THAT OPERATES IS GOING TO BE ROUGH.

SO I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, I'M OKAY WITH THROWING NAMES OUT OR WHEREVER WE WANT TO GET TO.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO. I THINK CRAFT AND I ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHOOSE AN OFF RAMP AT SOME POINT, THAT MAKES SENSE FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO HELP THAT THING CONTINUE TO OPERATE.

I DO HAVE A REALIZATION THAT THESE ARE PRETTY BIG POSITIONS EVEN TO SIT ON THE BOARD.

THEY'RE NOT JUST CEREMONIAL POSITIONS. I MEAN, YOU'RE DEALING WITH A LOT OF STUFF. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S.

IF THAT'S. I AGREE. I DON'T KNOW WHEN TO. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT OFF RAMP IS.

YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME YOU NEED. NO, BUT, I MEAN, THERE WAS A PRETTY BIG, YOU KNOW ANNOUNCEMENT, THE AGENDAS COMING OUT, YOU KNOW, FOR YOU KNOW, LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING BIG IS GOING TO HAPPEN FRIDAY.

I THINK THAT WE NEED TO WALK THROUGH THAT. OKAY.

SO I HATE TO SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF CRAFT FEELS ANY DIFFERENT.

AND I'M OPEN. I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY SET A DEADLINE.

MAYBE. CAREFUL. YEAH. I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PICK A DATE AT SOME POINT, EITHER MARCH 1ST OR WHENEVER THESE.

I DON'T KNOW, I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE REST OF OUR WORK FINISHED AND THEN WHATEVER TRAINING STUFF.

I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER TIPPS HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT ON THE BOARD DOWN THERE IS GET WHATEVER TRAINING LINED OUT IN PLACE FOR THAT WAY WHENEVER THESE NEW BOARD MEMBERS COME IN, THEY HAVE A TRAINING PLAN. YOU KNOW, NOVEL IDEA.

GOT DOUG SITTING OUT THERE, WE DO HAVE WE DO HAVE SOME STAFF HERE.

HOW ABOUT SOME REPRESENTATION FROM THE EDC? IF Y'ALL WOULD COME AND MAYBE GIVE YOUR INPUT ON WHAT YOU THINK.

IS THAT FAIR? I HATE TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. SORRY.

COUNCIL MAYOR. I'M NOT SURE THAT WE'RE IN THE SPOT TO GIVE YOU FEEDBACK ABOUT WHEN Y'ALL SHOULD EXIT THE BOARD. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY Y'ALL'S DECISION.

WE'RE HERE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT US TO DO. WE HEAR THAT.

BUT WHAT ABOUT STABILITY FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION? WHAT, I MEAN, GIVE US SOME INPUT. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THAT YOU DICTATE TO US AND TELL US A DATE, BUT STABILITY FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION, DOES IT MATTER IF WE STAY ON THAT? YOU'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE THAT KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON.

DOES IT NOT MATTER? AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE OFFENSE.

I DON'T THINK CRAFT WILL TAKE AN OFFENSE. NO, WE WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

SURE. AND I THINK THAT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHO YOU CHOOSE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME PEOPLE THAT CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND SOME THAT WILL REQUIRE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GET THEIR FEET. YOU GUYS HAVE A PREFERENCE? NOT ON WHO WE CHOOSE, BUT DO YOU GUYS HAVE A PREFERENCE ON WHEN WE WOULD EXIT.

BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S GOING TO BE IN PLACE OR YOU JUST DOESN'T MATTER.

I'M NOT SURE THAT IT DOES MATTER. THERE IS A TRAINING.

WE HAVE A PROCESS TO TRAIN BOARD MEMBERS, NEW BOARD MEMBERS, TO BRING THEM UP TO SPEED.

NONE OF OUR CURRENT TEMPORARY BOARD HAS ELECTED TO GO THROUGH THAT.

SO. I'M NOT SURE. I GUESS THAT'S WHERE I FEEL LIKE WE WE AT LEAST UNDERSTAND THE INNER WORKINGS OF IT.

PROBABLY BETTER THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON, BECAUSE. YES, SIR. WE SIT BACK HERE AND WE DISCUSS WITH YOU GUYS THE DEALS.

[03:45:03]

LET'S NARROW IT TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT BETTER TARGET, BECAUSE I THINK YOU COULD GIVE FEEDBACK. I THINK WE'RE JUST SO BROAD RIGHT NOW.

IT'S MAYBE NOT FAIR TO YOU. IF WE COULD WORK IT INTO MAYBE AN EITHER OR SO TO KEEP YOU FROM HAVING TO SIT AT THE PODIUM FOR A MINUTE.

WE'RE GOOD FOR A SECOND, AND I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME FEEDBACK AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION. SURE.

SO HEARING YOU GUYS SAY, LIKE, LET'S FINISH CLEANING UP THE MESS.

LET'S FINISH MAKING THE CHANGES, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO TERM IT.

THAT WAY YOU CAN ONBOARD SOMEBODY THAT THAT HAS SOMETHING THAT'S READY TO DRIVE FORWARD.

YOU KNOW, MARCH 11TH, I THINK WOULD BE OUR FIRST MEETING IN MARCH.

THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

YOU COULD LOOK AT MARCH 25TH MAYBE IF WE WANTED TO GIVE OURSELVES TWO WEEKS OF A BREATHER TO KIND OF HAVE.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S TOO LONG. I THINK THAT WHAT I DON'T WANT IS I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO FEEL LIKE WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP COUNCIL MEMBER S ON THAT BOARD, AND WE'RE NEVER REALLY LETTING THOSE OTHER LEADERS LEAD.

AND SO YOU GOT A GROUP OF REALLY GOOD, HIGH QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS THAT WE CAN CONSIDER.

I HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU DOWN THERE THAT LONG, THAT IT'S BENEFICIAL TO TALK NAMES AND WHO I THIS OR WHO I THAT AT THIS POINT.

I THINK WHAT WE WOULD BE HAVING IS A LIMITED CONVERSATION HERE ON IS WHAT IS THE LONGEST TEMPORARY BOARD THAT YOU FEEL LIKE WE COULD LEAVE THIS HEALTHY? IS MARCH 25TH TOO LONG TO LEAVE A TEMPORARY BOARD TO GO THROUGH AND FINISH THIS WORK AND THEN REVISIT THIS CONVERSATION? I REALLY FEEL THAT IF THEY'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF STUFF, THEY NEED TO FINISH IT UP AND GIVE A NEW BOARD A CLEAN SLATE TO WORK WITH AND KNOW WHAT DIRECTION WE'RE GOING.

THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. I WOULD HATE TO PUT SOMEBODY IN RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT, THINGS STILL IN TURMOIL OR WHATEVER. THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT.

COUNCILMAN SIMPSON. YOU GOT A FEELING ON IT? YOU KNOW, I THINK WITH A POST NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH WE STILL HAVE TO DO.

I MEAN, WE'VE GOT THE BYLAWS TODAY AND WHAT OTHER ISSUES ARE THERE, BUT I SAY WE I MEAN, THE GREAT THING IS YOU LOOK AT THIS AND WE HAVE GOT A LOT OF REALLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THAT LIST. I'VE TALKED TO ABOUT A DOZEN OF THEM, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THERE THAT I THINK.

SO TO YOUR POINT, I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE ON HERE THAT ARE VERY SMART, THAT KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THAT KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, THAT I THINK WOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE PICKING UP QUICKLY ON TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO WORK IN MOVING THINGS FORWARD, I, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, TO ME THE SOONER THE BETTER.

IF IT TAKES US A MEETING OR TWO TO WORK THROUGH THIS.

AS I SAID BEFORE, I'VE TALKED TO A DOZEN OR SO.

MY ONLY REQUEST WOULD BE IF SOMEONE ELSE HAS SOMEONE THAT THEY'D LIKE TO NOMINATE.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THEM BEFORE WE TAKE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE GO INTO IT FINALLY.

THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY THING. BUT WHATEVER, HOWEVER WE THINK THAT. BUT I THINK GETTING A BOARD ON AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS GOING TO SET IT ON A, ON A NEW CHART FOR, FOR THE FUTURE. CAN I GET YOUR OPINION JUST AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND YOU KNOW, YOU'RE REPLACING FOUR MEMBERS OUT OF THE BOARD THAT'S TEMPORARY OR YOU'RE REPLACING TWO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT JUST DOING THE TWO IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE AND THEN ALLOWING THE OTHER TWO TO BE PLACED AFTER.

I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE GOING TO PUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THERE? AND I THINK WE WOULD I THINK WE'VE GOT WE'VE GOT A JOB TO DO, AS TOM SAID.

SO I MEAN, I DON'T THINK WE NECESSARILY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT.

YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO JUST LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHO WE MAY, YOU KNOW, PUT IN THERE. BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK LET'S JUST DO A GOOD JOB OF PUTTING A REAL STRONG BOARD IN PLACE.

I THINK WE'RE I THINK WE'RE AT A CRUCIAL CROSSROADS WITH IT.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK OUR SELECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK LET'S AT LEAST HAVE THE DISCUSSION.

MAYBE WE WALK THROUGH IT AND WE MAYBE SAY, HEY, MAYBE THERE'S ONLY WE ONLY DO WANT TO DO TWO RIGHT NOW, AND MAYBE WE WANT TO LOOK. BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH DISCUSSING THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY PUTTING A FULL BOARD IN THERE.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN, WHERE ARE YOU AT? I THINK FOR COHESION TWO AND THEN TWO.

PLUS, IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY FOR A NEW COUNCIL TO SAY, I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL BE REELECTED OR WHAT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I THINK FOR COHESION, BRINGING TWO IN AT A TIME WOULD BE EASIER THAN BRINGING TWO IN AT ONE TIME.

OKAY. AND WE ARE REPLACING MEMBERS FOR CERTAIN TERMS. WE NEED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. THERE'S SOME ONE YEAR TERMS TWO YEAR TERMS THREE AND FOUR, THREE.

SO WE'RE SO EACH POSITION IS GOING TO HOLD A DIFFERENT TERM.

[03:50:03]

AND HANG ON JUST A MOMENT. LET ME CLICK OVER HERE COUNCILMEMBER TIPPS. TWO OF THOSE POSITIONS HAVE TECHNICALLY ALREADY EXPIRED.

THEY EXPIRED AT THE END OF 2024. THE OTHER TWO EXPIRE AT THE END OF 2025.

SO JUST BASED ON OUR CITY CODE, AND I WOULD ASK BRYAN TO CORRECT ME IF I SAY SOMETHING WRONG, WE WOULD FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM WHENEVER WE REPLACE THOSE TEMPORARY APPOINTMENTS.

CORRECT. OKAY. LET'S TALK ABOUT LIKE, WHAT'S TOO LONG? DO WE COULD WE AT LEAST GIVE SOME EXPECTATION HERE, OR DO WE WANT TO JUST LEAVE NO EXPECTATION OF, LIKE, WE'LL DO IT AS SOON AS WE CAN? YEAH, WE'LL JUST LET YOU KNOW WHEN WE'RE DONE, OKAY? I MEAN, BUT SOONER THAN LATER. I AGREE WITH LES LIKE WE DON'T WANT TO STAY ON THERE TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPECULATE, BUT WE WILL WORK DILIGENTLY SO THERE TO SPECIFY.

SO WE WON'T HAVE AN WE WON'T HAVE AN ITEM THE NEXT MEETING.

THEN WE'LL KIND OF WAIT UNTIL THE TILL THE COUNCIL IS READY FOR IT.

WOULD, WE WOULD AND DOUG, THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE SOMETHING BACK TO YOU AND HEARING THAT BRIEF CONVERSATION.

DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION? AND IF YOU DON'T, IT'S FINE.

BUT DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON IF YOU FELT LIKE SOMETHING WOULD TAKE TOO LONG, OR ARE YOU GUYS COMFORTABLE AS STAFF AND AS THAT BODY DOWN THERE OF JUST PUSHING THROUGH THIS? AND, AND YOU GUYS LIKE THE WORK THAT WE'RE GETTING DONE AND YOU WANT TO SEE IT MOVE FORWARD.

SO COHESION WOULD BE OUR PRIORITY. SURE. AND I THINK THE PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH ARTICLES BEING COMPLETED BYLAWS DISCUSSED TODAY. I THINK WE'RE READY TO PUSH THROUGH.

OKAY, GREAT. WELL, I THINK WE TAKE THE ADVISEMENT.

THANK YOU, SIR OF STAFF AND THEN ALSO. SO, GRAYSON, IT'LL JUST BE TO BE DETERMINED ONCE THEY HAVE A FEW THINGS IN PLACE DOWN THERE WHERE THEY'RE COMFORTABLE. THEN THEN WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK TO COUNCIL.

SO AT THIS POINT, WE DO NOT HAVE A NEXT STEP.

OUR NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO WAIT TO HEAR FROM THAT TEMPORARY BOARD.

SO WE NEED TO DEFER TO THEM ON WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE READY TO ROLL OFF, YOU KNOW.

SO WHAT THEY WOULD DEFINE AS A SUCCESSFUL HAND OFF AND HAVING THE ENTITY READY TO HAND OVER TO NEW BOARD MEMBERS.

OKAY. OKAY. ANY ANYTHING FURTHER? OKAY. WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO A LITTLE BIT OF BUSINESS.

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

OKAY. I'D LIKE TO SEE. TALKING ABOUT TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

YEAH. TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORT. BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE HAVING A LARGE NUMBER OF DEATHS WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO HAVE A BRIEF REPORT BY TRAFFIC, I GUESS.

I GUESS THAT'S YOU, DONNIE. OKAY. THANK YOU. DOES THAT DOES THAT REPORT INCLUDE WHEN ALCOHOL OR ANYTHING IS I MEAN, A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR? YEAH. YES. WE HAVE.

WE JUST HAD A MEETING TO DISCUSS SOME OF THIS STUFF RECENTLY.

SO IT HAS CAUSE OF ACCIDENT, THAT'S ALL PD SIDE OF IT.

WE HAVE THE TRAFFIC SIDE OF IT, TRAFFIC COUNTS, SIGNAL COUNTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE CAN GET SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR YOU. VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU, MR. HOOPER. ANY OTHER ITEMS? I'VE GOT TWO IF I COULD, PLEASE, MAYOR.

YES, SIR. ONE IS I WOULD LIKE, BECAUSE I THINK MR. BENSON BROUGHT UP A VERY GOOD IDEA ABOUT NOT ONLY THE ADC BEING TELEVISED, BUT AND I THINK I'VE ASKED THIS BEFORE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SETUP IS IN THE NEW CITY HALL.

AT ONE TIME, I THOUGHT MULTIPLE ROOMS MIGHT HAVE CAMERAS TO BE ABLE TO VIDEO MEETINGS OUTSIDE OF JUST THE CHAMBERS, BUT IN MY MIND NOW, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE SOMEBODY BACK THERE LIKE WE DO NOW, THAT WOULD BE CHANGING CAMERAS AND SWITCHING.

BUT I WOULD SAY AS MANY MEETINGS THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT COULD BE RECORDED, WHETHER IT'S ANIMAL MANAGEMENT, WELFARE, WHETHER WHATEVER THE PARKS AND RECREATION, YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF THING TO GO FOR THAT AND TO, TO DO THAT BECAUSE I THINK EVERYBODY'S GOTTEN YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN HERE, BUT YOU HEAR OF A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WATCHING THIS ON.

AND IF WE'RE AND WE BROADCAST THE BUDGET MEETINGS.

SO, IF WE COULD KIND OF TALK ABOUT MAYBE AGAIN, AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS ANYTHING URGENT, WE NEED TO REPORT IN TWO WEEKS. WE'RE JUST MOVING OVER THERE AND THAT TYPE THING. BUT IF WE COULD TALK ABOUT HOW MAYBE THAT COULD LOOK AND MAYBE WE COULD DO THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD AS MUCH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN, I THINK WOULD BE REALLY BENEFICIAL.

THE SECOND ITEM I HAVE IS RELATED TO WHAT HAPPENED IN DOWNTOWN OVER THE WEEKEND.

THIS HORRIFIC THING THAT HAPPENED. AGAIN, I'M WITH YOU, GRAYSON, AND THE COUNCIL SAYING, BOY, YOU KNOW, THANKFUL FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. PEOPLE WERE THERE, BUT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THIS AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO SOMETHING WITH THIS,

[03:55:03]

WE HAVE WE HAVE WE HAVE CRIME THAT IS GOING ON THERE.

AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THE STAFF TO PUT TOGETHER IS, AND I DO THINK THIS IS IT SEEMS TO ME, AND I MAY BE OFF, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE MOST OF THIS IS HAPPENING IN ONE SPECIFIC AREA OF DOWNTOWN.

NOW, MAYBE THERE'S SOME OTHER AREAS THAT WE'RE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH, AND I'D JUST LIKE TO KNOW THAT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AND OUR STRATEGIES ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO COMBAT THAT, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THAT AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE A SAFE DOWNTOWN. AND I WANT IT TO BE SAFE NOT ONLY AT 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON, BUT 2:00 IN THE MORNING.

NOW, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T BE OUT THERE, BUT AND THE OTHER THING IS, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER BECAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT DOWNTOWN.

IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER HOTSPOTS IN TOWN WHERE WE CONTINUALLY SEEM TO HAVE TO HAVE PROBLEMS OF WHAT THOSE ARE AND HOW WE MAY BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THEM.

AND, YOU KNOW, ARE THERE, YOU KNOW, AND I KNOW PEOPLE THAT GET LIQUOR LICENSES.

IT GOES ALONG WITH THE PROPERTY, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO BE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN WE CAN MAKE ALL AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY SAFER, SAFER DOWNTOWN, THE CENTRAL GATHERING PLACE. BUT ANY OTHER PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES. COLONEL JOHNSON. AT ONE TIME.

I MAY BE WRONG, BUT I THINK THAT DIDN'T. WE INSTRUCT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE EXTRA PATROLS ON POLK STREET ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT? DO YOU. ARE Y'ALL STILL DOING THAT? ARE WE HAVING EXTRA PATROLS? JUST FOR POLK STREET IN THAT AREA DOWNTOWN? I THOUGHT WE INSTRUCTED Y'ALL AT ONE TIME.

I MAY BE TOTALLY OFF. I DON'T REMEMBER IF IT WAS AN WAS AN INSTRUCTION FROM THE COUNCIL OR WHAT? BUT WE THAT'S PART OF WHAT OUR DOWNTOWN NPO UNIT HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IS THAT CORRECT, JOE? SO WE HAVE POLICE OFFICERS DOWNTOWN FROM, WHAT, 10 TO 2 OR 10 TO 3? CAPTAIN LOFTUS IS HEAD OF OUR SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIT.

OKAY. OUR NIGHTTIME NPO HOURS. THEY WORK WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, AND THEY WORK FROM 6 P.M.

TO 4 A.M.. OKAY. SO FOR THE MOST PART, WE DO HAVE THEM DOWN.

HOW MANY ARE DOWN THERE? CURRENTLY ON NIGHTTIME MPO THERE'S TWO OFFICERS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED.

WE HAD OTHER OFFICERS ASSIGNED, BUT ONE RECENTLY RESIGNED TO GO TO A DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT AND ANOTHER ONE RECENTLY TRANSFERRED TO A DIFFERENT SHIFT.

OKAY. INCLUDE THE SUPERVISOR. COUNTY SUPERVISOR.

I'M SORRY. WE HAVE THREE. OKAY. WE HAVE TWO OFFICERS AND ONE SUPERVISOR.

YEAH, I'VE BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION BY A LOT OF CITIZENS IF WE DO HAVE.

I THOUGHT WE DID. AND I JUST WANTED THE CITIZENS TO HEAR THAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING ANY OTHER REQUESTED FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. OKAY. YOU GOOD? YEAH. BRYAN, IS THAT IS THAT AN OKAY DISCUSSION TO HAVE SINCE THAT WASN'T NOTICED ON THE AGENDA? YES. STATEMENT OF FACT. OKAY. OKAY. ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, I NEED TO PULL ITEM 8F.

[8. Consent Items]

WE'RE GOING TO PULL ITEM EIGHT F OFF NOT TO VOTE ON.

I'M GOING TO ASK FOR ITEM 8K TO BE PULLED OFF AND DISCUSSED, THEN VOTED ON AND PULL ITEM 8 H AND I TO BE DISCUSSED TOGETHER AND THEN VOTED ON. OKAY. SO I WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION FROM COUNCIL.

WAIT, WAIT, CAN WE TAKE OFF O TOO? I'VE GOT A COUPLE.

OH YOU GOT, I'M SORRY. WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO PULL? JUST O, I JUST GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS. OKAY, WE'LL PULL ITEM 8O, IS THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS? NO OTHER REQUESTS. THEN WE WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION FOR THE REST OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AS DESCRIBED.

I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF 8K, 8H, 8I AND 8O, AS WELL AS 8F. YEAH. THERE WE GO. SECOND. OKAY, I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. EIGHT F IS PULLED FOR FUTURE, EIGHT K, WE WILL GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP MR.

[8.K. CONSIDER PURCHASE - SKYDIO X10 SYSTEM]

[04:00:03]

I WON'T GO LONG, I PROMISE YOU. BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THIS. SO WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TECHNOLOGY AT THIS LEVEL? NOT IN DRONES, ANYWAY. FIRST FLIGHT THAT WE DID WAS SEPTEMBER 7TH OF 2022.

CHIEF HAD SENT ME ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THANKFULLY, WE WERE PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERSHIP, ALSO PART OF PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY GAVE US FUNDING TO GO SEE WHAT THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES WAS DOING.

ONE OF THOSE WAS THE DRONES. AT THE TIME, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY DRONES IN THE PD SINCE SEPTEMBER 7TH OF 2022 WE'VE FLOWN 3923 MISSIONS. WE'VE GOT 859 FLIGHT HOURS. WE'VE GOT 530 REMOTE FLIGHTS.

AND BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER OF 2022, WE BEGAN WORKING ON THE REGULATORY SIDE WITH THE FAA SO THAT WE COULD DO DRONES AS A FIRST RESPONDER.

THE IDEA OF THE DRONES, AT LEAST IN OUR WORLD, IS THAT A DRONE CAN RESPOND TO A CALL IF THEY'RE PROPERLY PLACED THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITHIN ABOUT TWO MINUTES. AVERAGE TIME FOR AN OFFICER TO ARRIVE AT A CALL ABOUT 5 TO 6 MINUTES ON A PRIORITY CALL.

AND THE IDEA FOR US IS AN OFFICER SAFETY PUBLIC SAFETY IDEA THAT WE HAVE EYES ON SCENE ROUGHLY 3 TO 4 MINUTES BEFORE AN OFFICER ARRIVES. THE TECHNOLOGY IS CHEAP. A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN USING HELICOPTERS TO DO THIS FOR DECADES.

I DON'T THINK TOM'S GOING TO LET ME GET A HELICOPTER.

BUT THIS TECHNOLOGY, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS RELATIVELY CHEAP.

JUST FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION OF WHAT WE USE THEM FOR.

JUST THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY. WE'VE USED THEM FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRE MARSHAL SERVICE, CITY MARSHAL SERVICE. WE'VE USED THEM FOR THE EOC.

WE'VE USED THEM FOR THE CITY. WE'VE USED IT FOR THE AIRPORT WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

ATMOS. EXCEL. WE DO MAPPING WITH THESE DRONES.

THERE'S A FIRE. THERE'S A FLOOD. WE'VE SENT OUR DRONE AND DRONE PILOTS AT THE REQUEST OF OTHER CITIES FOR TORNADOES.

LIKE WE SAID TO PERRYTON TO SEARCH FOR BODIES.

THE CAPABILITIES OF THE DRONE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, THEY PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT EXAGGERATED THAT THINGS CAN STAY IN THE AIR ABOUT 35 TO 40 MINUTES. BATTERY TECHNOLOGIES TO STILL THE THING THAT THAT KEEPS THEM FROM BEING, YOU KNOW, CRAZY USEFUL. IT'S ALSO THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE TO HAVE A BUNCH OF THEM IF YOU'RE GOING TO COVER THE ENTIRE CITY.

AND I'VE GIVEN TO STEPHANIE THE IDEA OF WHAT WE'RE WORKING TOWARD IS JONES AS A FIRST RESPONDER.

WHERE THERE DOCS. YOU GUYS HAVE APPROVED SOME DOCS BEFORE. TO YOUR POINT, MAYOR.

OF COURSE WE'VE BEEN LIKE I SAID, WE'VE BEEN VERY SLOW AND METHODICAL IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT DRONES IN OUR SERVICE.

I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THEY HAVE DEFINITELY SAVED OUR OFFICERS LIVES.

WE'VE USED THEM WHEN OUR OFFICERS HAVE BEEN SHOT AT TO TRACK SUSPECTS THAT ARE DANGER TO US.

WE COULD SEE PEOPLE THAT SECRETE THEMSELVES EVEN IN THE DARK. SO THEY'RE VERY HANDY FOR US IN THAT RESPECT.

RIGHT NOW, WE CURRENTLY ONLY HAVE NINE. WE HAVE FOUR THAT WE PUT ON PATROL.

THE TRUNK LAUNCHED. THE OFFICERS IN THE FIELD ARE PILOTS.

WE HAVE ROUGHLY 20 PILOTS THAT ARE EITHER COVERED AS 107 PILOTS WITH THE FAA, OR THEY'RE UNDER OUR CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORIZATION THROUGH THE FAA.

WE HAVE A COUPLE MATRICE 30TS, THAT ARE USED BY US FOR TRYING DFR AND BUILDING THAT PROGRAM OUT ALSO FOR ALSO FOR SWAT.

WE HAVE TWO MAVIC THREE MS WHICH ARE USED BY TRAFFIC AND CSI TO DO MAPPING.

SO TRAFFIC FATALITIES, HOMICIDES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT THE CITY NEEDS MAPPED FOR THEIR PURPOSES.

AND WE HAVE ONE OF DRONE THAT THE SWAT TEAM HAS.

IT'S AN INDOOR INTERIOR DRONE. AND THOSE ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SCALE OUT A LITTLE BIT.

JUST IT'S BETTER TO STICK A DRONE AROUND THE CORNER THAN AN OFFICER'S HEAD.

SO WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE IDEA OF IT.

A LOT OF THE THINGS, LIKE I SAID, THAT WE'VE USED THEM FOR IS CITY FLOODING.

WE USED THEM FOR LOOTING DURING THE CITY FLOODING. WE SENT IT OUT TO XCEL POWER PLANT WHEN THEY THOUGHT THAT THE FIRES, THE WILDFIRES WERE GOING TO POSSIBLY AFFECT THAT PLANT.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU GUYS, SOMETIMES IT'S THE ONLY EYES THAT THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE EOC HAVE.

I MEAN, IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S OUT THERE.

SO WE'VE COME TO FIND IT. IT'S INVALUABLE. BUT TO BE FRANKLY HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S NOT CHEAP.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. THESE TWO FROM SKYDIO.

EVERY SINGLE DRONE THAT WE HAVE HAS BASICALLY THE SAME CAPABILITY.

MY SUSPICION IS, AND I'M A FAN AND A LOVER OF OUR PRESIDENT, BUT MY SUSPICION IS AND HAS BEEN SINCE I STARTED THIS, THAT HE'S GOING TO GET RID OF DJI. THEY ARE THEY MAKE UP 80% OF THE MARKET SHARE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[04:05:02]

SKYDIO IS AN AMERICAN COMPANY. IT'S THE BIGGEST AMERICAN MADE MAKER OF DRONES IN THE UNITED STATES.

I'VE BEEN TO THEIR MANUFACTURING FACILITY. I CAN PERSONALLY TALK TO THEIR CEO, WHICH IS PRETTY RARE.

WE'RE ALSO MIXED IN WITH A LOT OF OUR OTHER TECHNOLOGY COMES FROM AXON.

AXON AND SKYDIO HAVE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO THAT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, PROBABLY BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, IF AN OFFICER NEEDS A DRONE, HE'LL SIMPLY TAP HIS BODY CAM AND A DRONE WILL GO TO HIM WITH THE ALL'S APPROVAL.

I MEAN, THAT'S WHERE THE TECHNOLOGY'S GOING. AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD.

THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE. BUT AGAIN, WE'VE SLOW ROAD THE IDEA OF THE TECHNOLOGY.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM HAVE A WIDE FOCUS CAM THAT'S ABOUT 65 MEGAPIXEL, HAS A TELEPHOTO LENS THAT'S ABOUT 50 MEGAPIXELS.

AND THEN IT HAS A THERMAL LENS THAT YOU CAN SEE BASICALLY HEAT.

AND WE CAN USE THEM FOR ALL KINDS OF THINGS TO FIND A HOT SPOT IN A FIRE OR FIND A HUMAN HIDING IN A BUSH.

WE PUT THEM OUT FOR MISSING PERSONS, YOU NAME IT.

I MEAN, WE GET ALL KINDS OF REQUESTS FOR THESE DRONES.

SO RIGHT NOW WE SEE THAT THAT A DRONE CAN BE USED IN ABOUT 50,000 CALLS THAT ARE PRIORITY ZERO, ONE AND TWO. AND SOME OF OUR FUTURE LEANINGS ARE, WHICH WE HAVEN'T BROUGHT TO YOU GUYS YET.

SOME OF IT'S JUST BEEN THE TECH SIDE OF IT. BUT EVENTUALLY WHAT WE WOULD LIKE IS TO HAVE DOCKS AT OUR FIRE STATIONS WHERE WE CAN COVER MOST OF THE CITY IF AND WHEN A DRONE IS NEEDED, WHETHER IT'S MAPPING, CRIME, FIRE, YOU NAME IT, WHATEVER THE CITY NEEDS THAT WE CAN BRING THEM TO BEAR.

OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR LIEUTENANT CHADWICK. I GOT A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

HOW MANY LIVES DO Y'ALL EXPECT YOU MIGHT SAVE WITH THIS TECHNOLOGY? I WISH I COULD, I'M GIVING YOU ALL THE SLIDES, TOM.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, BECAUSE WE'RE LATE TO THIS GAME.

CHULA VISTA SAYS THAT IT'S REDUCED THEIR THE CRIME AGAINST THEIR OFFICERS BY 50%.

IT SAYS IT SAVES THE MONEY JUST FROM SENDING A DRONE TO SOME OF THESE LOW LYING CALLS, LIKE A DOG BARKING AT NIGHT ENDS UP BEING A POSSUM OR A CAT.

IT SAVES A $1.2 MILLION A YEAR JUST IN ANSWERING THESE LOW CALLS ALLOWS OFFICERS TO GO TO BIGGER CALLS, I SUPPOSE. OKAY. IS THIS MORE INVASIVE THAN OUR DRONES ARE? 100%. OKAY. THAT'S THE POINT I WANTED TO BRING.

YEAH. IS THAT THE CELL PHONE WE CARRY IN OUR POCKET TELLS YOU TELL SOMEBODY WHERE YOU ARE.

THEY CAN FIND YOU ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. HOW MANY TIMES ARE YOU BEING FILMED BY SOMEBODY WALKING BY? WE DON'T KNOW. SO WHEN PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT INVASION OR INTRUSION OF PRIVACY, YOU CARRY IT WITH YOU EVERYWHERE.

THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. THANK Y'ALL. APPRECIATE IT.

CAN I SAY SOMETHING? YES. AND IT GOES DIRECTLY TO WHAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT, MR. SCHERLAN. WE HAVE HEARD THE CONCERNS FROM THE COMMUNITY, BOTH IN THESE PUBLIC COUNCIL MEETINGS AND OUT IN THE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. AND WE SHARE THOSE SAME CONCERNS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND THIS IS THE THING THAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE OVERLOOK IS WE'RE POLICE OFFICERS.

WE'RE ALSO CITIZENS OF THIS CITY, IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND LET'S FACE IT, THIS COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE WERE BIRTHED THROUGH A REVOLUTION FROM A TYRANNICAL GOVERNMENT, IS DISTRUSTFUL OF OUR GOVERNMENT. IT'S IN OUR DNA.

THERE'S NO WAY AROUND THAT, BECAUSE OF OUR HISTORY.

WE SHARE THAT CONCERN AS WELL. SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

THE CONCERNS THAT CASSIE THAT YOU HAVE, I APOLOGIZE.

I DON'T REMEMBER YOUR LAST NAME, BUT THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING US TO THE FOLKS OUT THERE.

SO WE CAN KIND OF TRY TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS.

WE'VE HAD COUNTLESS MEETINGS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THEM ON BECAUSE REALLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE DRONES.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CAMERAS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE GOING TO OPERATE THEM, THAT HAVE CONTROL OF THEM.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. I WILL HAVE BEEN AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR 37 YEARS IN APRIL.

I HAVE SEEN TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES FROM THE COMPUTERS IN THE CARS TO CELL PHONES TO CAMERAS TO TASERS.

I'VE SEEN THE TECHNOLOGY ADVANCE. IT'S FRIGHTENING NOW BECAUSE IT'S COMING SO MUCH FASTER.

AND MR. GAGNON CAN TESTIFY THAT HOW MUCH FASTER IT'S COMING.

BUT, MR. SIMPSON, TO YOUR POINT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE AGENDA ITEM.

AND ARE WE EXPERIENCING HOTSPOTS IN TOWN SOMEWHERE ELSE? THAT IS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN HEADING SINCE CHIEF DRAIN WAS HERE.

DATA DRIVEN POLICING, TRYING TO INSTEAD OF JUST ALLOCATING BY HOLDING OUR THUMB UP IN THE AIR AND SEE WHICH WAY THE WIND IS BLOWING.

WE'RE ACTUALLY USING THE DATA WE COLLECT. THIS WILL HELP US DO THAT.

THE DRONES, THE CAMERAS, THINGS LIKE THAT. LIEUTENANT CHADWICK TALKED ABOUT INCIDENTS WHERE WE CAN POINT TO SPECIFIC INCIDENTS AND TALK ABOUT HOW THAT'S

[04:10:08]

I JUST WANT TO GIVE ONE QUICK EXAMPLE OF HOW WE'RE USING THESE DRONES.

IT WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST ONES THAT WE EVER SENT UP.

THE FIRST ONE I'M AWARE OF, IT WAS A MISSING TODDLER.

MOM CALLS MY CHILD GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE. I DON'T KNOW DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT.

THAT'S A TERRIFYING ORDEAL FOR A MOTHER OR ANYBODY TO GO THROUGH.

IN YEARS PAST, BEFORE THE DRONES, WE WOULD HAVE TIED UP PROBABLY HALF A SHIFT OVER THERE, STARTING FROM THE HOUSE AND WORKING OUR WAY OUT, CANVASING THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, GOING THROUGH OUR AMBER ALERT PROTOCOL TO TRY TO FIND THIS LITTLE GIRL.

WE SENT A DRONE UP AND WITHIN JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES, USING THE CAMERA THAT DETECTS HEAT, WE FOUND THAT SHE HAD CRAWLED UP UNDER A BUSH OUT IN THE FRONT YARD AND GONE TO SLEEP, TAKING A NAP.

SHE'S PERFECTLY FINE. THAT IS HOW THAT USUALLY HAPPENS IN 99.99% OF MISSING KIDS.

THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENED. SHE'S CRAWLED SOMEWHERE AND IS DOWN.

BUT I TELL YOU WHERE THAT WASN'T THE CASE. IT WAS IN 1992.

WHEN AUDREY REEVES FIVE YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL WAS SNATCHED OFF OF ONE OF OUR STREETS WALKING TO THE PARK.

SHE WAS TAKEN AWAY, SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND MURDERED, HER LITTLE BODY STUFFED IN THE ICE CHEST AND THROWN IN A DUMPSTER LIKE A PIECE OF TRASH.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO US THEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE ANYWAY, BUT IF YOU ASKED ME IF I WISHED, I'D HAVE HAD IT. YOU BET YOUR ASS, Y OU BET YOUR LIFE. I WISH WE'D HAVE HAD THAT TECHNOLOGY BACK THEN.

WE SHARE YOUR CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE. WE SHARE EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS.

IT COMES DOWN TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OPERATING IT.

ARE WE HIRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE? ARE WE TRAINING THEM THE RIGHT WAY? ARE WE SETTING THE RIGHT POLICIES? ARE WE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THEY VIOLATE THOSE? THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. SHANE TALKED ABOUT GOING TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND SEEING HOW THEY'RE SET UP, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE DOING THAT. BUT WE NOW HAVE DEPARTMENTS COMING TO US TO SEE HOW WE'RE DOING.

WE'RE NOT EVEN 100% OPERATIONAL YET. WE HAVE WE HAVE DEPARTMENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY COMING HERE TO SEE HOW WE'RE SET UP AND HOW WE'RE LAUNCHING THIS.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN BE PROUD OF AS A COUNCIL.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITIZENS CAN BE PROUD OF.

I WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR TONIGHT. VERY ENTERTAINING AS IT ALWAYS IS.

BUT THE PASSION THAT YOU APPROACH YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES WITH, THAT'S THE PASSION WE APPROACH OURS, IS WE DON'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY, THE TRUST THE CITIZENS HAVE PUT INTO US.

AND THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CHIEF. CHIEF, WE APPRECIATE YOU. YEAH. LIEUTENANT, THANK YOU.

MAYBE FOR SOME OF THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING AND HAVE CONCERNS, THE DELINEATION OR THE LINE COULD BE KIND OF THAT AI TECHNOLOGY, YOU KNOW, WHERE I THINK I HAVE A LOT OF COMFORT IN KNOWING IT'S THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT ARE WORKING THAT JUST LIKE THAT PISTOL ON YOUR HIP IS A DANGEROUS WEAPON.

BUT I TRUST THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO HANDLE IT. AND SO MAYBE THAT WEAPON ISN'T NECESSARILY THE ISSUE, BUT IF YOU SAID THAT WEAPON WAS GOING TO BE CONTROLLED BY AI AND MAYBE IT WAS JUST PROGRAMED AND THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING THERE THAT WE REALLY WOULDN'T CONTROL, MAYBE THAT'S THE LINE WE WANT TO DRAW RIGHT NOW.

SO FROM THIS COUNCILMAN IN THIS SEAT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE APPRECIATE THE UTILIZATION FOR TECHNOLOGY, FOR FIGHTING CRIME, BUT WE WANT IT TO COME UNDERNEATH YOUR AUTHORITY AND BE DRIVEN THROUGH PERSONNEL.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND ONE THING I FAILED TO MENTION IS WE'RE HAVING AN OPEN HOUSE FOR OUR ART CENTER.

WE'VE NOTIFIED, MADE A PUBLIC NOTICE, BUT WE'RE FIXING TO PUT THAT OUT.

AND SO WE'LL HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ONES FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

BUT CERTAINLY THE CITIZENS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT. COME UP AND SEE WHAT WE'VE DONE, WHAT THEY'VE PAID FOR AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO BE USING IT.

ARC IS AMARILLO REGIONAL CRIME CENTER, AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO FEED A LOT OF INFORMATION TO OUR PUBLIC ABOUT HOW THIS IS OUR DATA.

IT STAYS WITHIN OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES THAT ARE HERE AND THAT THIS IS NOT UPLOADED TO THE TO THE CLOUD.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SPECULATED ON.

IT'S BEING MANAGED VERY WELL. SO I THINK THIS IS GREAT.

IT WOULD BE SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ENGAGE.

AND I KNOW WE HAVE CITIZENS THAT ARE THINKING THIS WAY.

SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. LET'S TAKE UP H I AND OR H AND I AS WELL.

[Items 8.H. & 8.I.]

I WAS GOING TO VOTE ON THEM ALL TOGETHER IF YOU THINK WE'RE OKAY.

SO I WAS JUST GOING TO GET DISCUSSIONS OUT OF THE WAY AND THEN GET ONE MOTION TO GET THE REST OF THEM. SO MISS KOHLER, ARE YOU GOING TO COME UP AND EDUCATE US ON THESE? THANK YOU MA'AM. YES. YOU'RE WELCOME. SO THESE TWO ITEMS GO TOGETHER.

[04:15:02]

I KNOW THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT GRANT FUNDING BEING PAUSED CURRENTLY.

THESE ARE STATE FUNDS. THIS IS COMING FROM A STATE AGENCY.

THESE ARE SPECIFICALLY EARMARKED FOR THE PANHANDLE THROUGH THAT AGENCY.

THERE'S $500,000 THERE. THERE'S A LIST OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, AND IT'S PROVEN HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO ACCESS THESE FUNDS. THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THEM BECAUSE OF THE HISTORIC REQUIREMENTS IS CHALLENGING.

SO THERE ARE THREE SIGNS. THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS? THESE ARE ALL LOCAL, HISTORIC, WELL-KNOWN BUSINESSES THE NAT, CATTLEMEN'S CLUB AND EASTRIDGE LANES.

THESE ARE DESIGNATED AS HISTORICAL SIGNS AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR FUNDING.

I KNOW THAT IT DOES SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT THESE ARE BEING RESTORED TO SPECIFIC HISTORIC PRESERVATION STANDARDS.

SO WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION.

THEY WOULD NOT APPROVE THIS FUNDING IF WE DIDN'T MEET THAT HIGHER LEVEL OF STANDARD FOR RESTORATION.

AND I THINK THE OTHER QUESTION WAS WHY NEON? WELL, THE ORIGINAL MATERIAL IS VERY IMPORTANT IN THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROCESS.

WE ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY DRAFTED THIS SCOPE WITH LED AND RECEIVED SOME RESISTANCE FROM THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION ON THAT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO POSSIBLY DO, LIKE, CLEAR PLASTIC COVERS TO PROTECT THE NEON.

OR POTENTIALLY HELP THE BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE A SECOND SET OF NEON TUBING MADE.

AS PART OF THE GRANT PROGRAM. AND WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH OUR WEATHER.

BUT WE SHARE THAT CONCERN AND ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MITIGATE THAT.

AND SO I THINK THAT ADDRESSES. I GUESS I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE MORE THING.

I KNOW IT'S JUST THREE BUSINESSES, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT THIS AS AN INVESTMENT IN ROUTE 66 AS A TOURISM ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK THIS IS REALLY GOING TO IMPACT THE ENTIRE CORRIDOR.

IN ADDITION TO THREE WELL DESERVING LOCAL BUSINESSES FOR THE CITY.

QUESTIONS FOR MISS KOHLER. SO YOU SAID Y'ALL ARE LOOKING AT I MEAN, I SHARE SOME CONCERNS.

THE INSURANCE GUY, RIGHT OF HELL. SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT SOME WAYS TO PROTECT THAT BECAUSE I THINK NEON AT FIRST HAIL STORM WE GET I MEAN, TO MIKE FISHER'S POINT, THAT'S TRASH. AND I GUESS THIS IS A MATCH, RIGHT? WE'RE GOING TO PUT UP 145,000 IN GRANT MATCH CORRECT? CORRECT. I JUST LOOKED AT $145,000 FOR A SIGN THAT THE FIRST HAILSTORM.

IT'S DONE. LIKE THEY'RE JUST GONE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING.

IF THE HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY WOULD SAY, HEY, THIS IS IT'S OKAY TO.

I MEAN, I KNOW WE DON'T WANT TO DETRACT FROM THE WAY IT LOOKS, BUT I MEAN, THERE'S A PROTECTION ISSUE AND AN INVESTMENT ISSUE HERE OF GOING, HEY, WE GOT A $145,000. AND I MEAN, THIS SPRING IT COULD BE GONE.

RIGHT. DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. SO I WOULD SAY IF WE CAN, LIKE, REALLY PUSH FOR SOME TYPE OF PROTECTION OF THAT NEON BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. NOT IN OUR CLIMATE. NOTED. WE WILL. YEAH.

WE I THINK PROBABLY THE CLEAR COVER MIGHT BE THE EASIEST AND MOST COST EFFECTIVE.

IT DOES DETRACT A LITTLE BIT FROM THE HISTORIC RESTORATION, BUT I THINK THAT'S THE SMARTEST PATH FOR REPLACING.

ARE THEY TRASHED RIGHT NOW? OH, YEAH. THERE'S NO.

NOTHING LEFT. CORRECT. OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU.

OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MISS KOHLER. HOW COME WE CHOSE THE CATTLEMEN'S CLUB AND EAST RIDGE BOWLING.

SO THEY'RE THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION HAS A SURVEY.

AND SO THE SIGNS ARE ACTUALLY LISTED SEPARATELY ON THAT SURVEY THAN THE BUILDINGS THEMSELVES.

SO IN ORDER TO EVEN QUALIFY FOR THE FUNDING, THEY HAD TO BE IN THAT SURVEY.

SO WE HAD KIND OF A LIMITED NUMBER OF SIGNS TO WORK WITH.

I THINK WE STARTED WITH NINE, AND WE WENT TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS ASKING IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS, IN THIS PROGRAM WITH US. AND SO THESE WERE THE THREE OF THAT ORIGINAL NINE THAT WERE WILLING TO PARTNER WITH US THROUGH THIS PROCESS. AND SO THE, THE, THE BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE TO AGREE TO A 30 YEAR EASEMENT.

SO THESE SIGNS HAVE TO STAY LOOKING JUST LIKE THEY DO THE DAY WE FINISH THE RESTORATION FOR 30 YEARS.

[04:20:02]

INSURANCE ON THEM. HAVE WE DONE A TRAFFIC SURVEY TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD SEE THESE SIGNS THAT ARE BASICALLY OUT OF TOWN AND MAYBE EVEN IN TOWN? BOTH. NO, NOT YET, BUT WE COULD DEFINITELY WORK TO DO SOME BEFORE AND AFTER YOU KNOW, BEFORE THE SIGNS ARE RESTORED. WHAT THOSE TRAFFIC COUNTS ARE LIKE AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE RELIT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT JUST MEASURING THE IMPACT TO THE BUSINESSES THEMSELVES. I JUST WOULD THINK WE WOULD WANT TO PUT THEM AT THE HIGHEST TRAFFIC LEVEL POSSIBLE.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE TRAFFIC FLOW OUT TO CATTLEMEN'S CLUB IS OR EAST RIDGE BOWLING ALLEY, WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU START WITH SIXTH STREET HERE, GO THROUGH OLD SAN JACINTO, WHICH I KNOW IT GETS A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

AND THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING I'D BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS I WOULD WANT HIM TO BE IN THE HIGHEST VISIBILITY PLACES IN TOWN.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST MAYBE GETTING A TRAFFIC FLOW AND SEE WHAT WE GOT GOING WHERE.

THANK YOU. OKAY. OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, SIR. COUNCIL, WOULD YOU GUYS LIKE TO TAKE THESE INDIVIDUAL.

SO I THINK WE PROBABLY WOULD. I GUESS ITEM EIGHT WOULD BE THE OTHER ONE FOR DISCUSSION.

[8.O. CONSIDER AWARD - DESIGN CONTRACT FOR PARKING LOT DESIGN ON CITY OF AMARILLO PARK PROPERTIES]

WOULD THIS BE MR. KASHUBA? SO, MR. KASHUBA, IF YOU WALK US THROUGH THAT ONE, THEN I THINK COUNCIL, I THINK WE BRING THOSE UP INDIVIDUALIZED MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MICHAEL KASHUBA, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND REC. SO THIS ITEM IS FOR THE DESIGN OF PARKING LOTS AT BOTH JOHN STIFF AND RICK KLEIN.

THIS WAS THEY WERE SELECTED THROUGH THE RFQ PROCESS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES.

SO WE SO WE ACTUALLY DID AN RFQ NUMBER 303 DASH 25.

AND THE WHOLE GOAL IS TO BRING THOSE PARK SPACES MORE COMPLIANT WITH OUR PARKING ISSUES.

SO RICK KLEIN, THE ISSUE WE RUN INTO THERE IS THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE SOCCER FIELDS IS JUST DIRT, WHICH IS DOESN'T MEET OUR DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS.

AND THEN THE ISSUES WE'RE RUNNING INTO AT JOHN STIFF IS REALLY TRAFFIC RELATED. SO WE, WE HAVE ISSUES WHEN WE'VE GOT THOSE YOUTH SPORTS GROUPS OUT THERE AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF CONGESTION. I THINK LAST YEAR WE ENDED UP APD WAS TOWING CARS AND WRITING A BUNCH OF CITATIONS.

SO IT BECOMES A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. SO WE WOULD BE PROPOSING ONE ON THE SOUTH SIDE TO KIND OF HELP FACILITATE FOR THOSE FIVE FIELDS ON THE SOUTH, AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE FOR THE THREE FOOTBALL SOCCER FIELDS ON THE NORTH SIDE.

SO REALLY, JUST TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE CURRENT USERS AND ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS CONCERNS.

I REALLY JUST I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. AND SINCE YOU DID AN DID AN RFQ.

I MEAN, I'M GUESSING IT WAS JUST CONFUSING TO ME WHY WE USED AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM, NOT A CIVIL ENGINEER, WHEN WE'RE JUST DEALING WITH PARKING LOTS AND TRAFFIC FLOW AND THAT KIND OF THING. I DON'T IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE OVERPAY FOR AN ARCHITECTURAL FIRM.

SO IT WAS ACTUALLY FOR A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES.

SO THAT WAS THE RFQ. THEY HAD SUBMITTED THEIR NAME AS A PART OF THAT PROCESS.

BUT ON THEIR TEAM THEY DO HAVE MAPS, THEY DO HAVE STRUCTURALS, THEY DO HAVE CIVIL ENGINEERS AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS. SO THEY HAVE THAT TEAM AVAILABLE TO ADDRESS ANY OF THOSE CONCERNS SO. SO THROUGH THE RFQ PROCESS, THE Y WERE THE BEST.

THEY WERE THE BEST. OKAY. THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAD.

JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO MY BRAIN. UNDERSTOOD.

COUNCILMAN SCHERLEN. THANK YOU, SIR. OH HANG ON MICHAEL.

YEAH. THE WAY I LOOK AT THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

YOU PROBABLY. KNOW THAT BY NOW. WHAT? BUT IF YOU FIND A GOOD GUY WITH A BLADE THAT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS ABOUT 20 YEARS, YOU COULD PUT FOUR STAKES IN THE GROUND AND SAY, I WANT A PARKING LOT HERE.

AND HE COULD DO IT WITH HIS BLADE. I MEAN, SPENDING THAT KIND OF MONEY TO HAVE A PARKING LOT.

I JUST THINK IT'S HIGH. BUT THAT'S ME. THANK YOU.

OKAY. OKAY. COUNCIL, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ITEM EIGHT ZERO? NO. OKAY. WOULD ASK FOR MOTION ON EIGHT K, PLEASE.

I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM EIGHT K AS PRESENTED. SECOND.

MOTION AND A SECOND ON 8K. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. GOING TO GROUP EIGHT.

H AND I TOGETHER ASK FOR A MOTION ON THOSE TWO.

MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM EIGHT H AND EIGHT I AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ON EIGHT H AND I. PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ASK FOR A MOTION ON EIGHT.

OH. MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM EIGHT ZERO AS PRESENTED.

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED?

[04:25:04]

[9.A. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8178]

WE'LL PUSH THROUGH THOSE. WE'LL PROBABLY END UP TAKING ONE MORE RECESS BEFORE WE GET THROUGH THE WHOLE THING.

NINE. AYE, SIR. YOU'RE UP. YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. COUNCIL.

NINE A IS THE PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 8178.

THIS IS CONSIDERING THE REZONING OF LOT TEN, BLOCK FIVE EDGE HILL ADDITION, UNIT SIX.

THIS IS IN RANDALL COUNTY, TEXAS, INSIDE THE CITY.

PLUS ONE HALF OF ALL BOUNDARY STREETS, ALLEYS AND PUBLIC WAYS TO CHANGE FROM PLANNED DEVELOPMENT. DISTRICT 89 A TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 89 B TO CONSTRUCT A NEW AUTO ZONE ON THE SITE. THIS IS IN THE VICINITY OF GEORGIA STREET AND SOUTHWEST 35TH, AND THE APPLICANT IS WESLEY BERLIN FOR THE FIRM AND FAMILY PARTNERSHIP.

THE APPLICANT IS PROPOSING THIS NEW AUTOZONE AND IS REPLACING A SHOPPING CENTER THAT PREVIOUSLY BURNED DOWN, AND THE SITE IS CURRENTLY VACANT. SINCE THIS SITE HAD A SPECIFIC SITE PLAN ASSOCIATED WITH IT WITH THE PLAN DEVELOPMENT, THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE REQUEST. THE ITEM WAS FOUND TO COMPLY WITH CITY PLAN 2045 AND THE ASSIGNED PLACE TYPE FOR THE LOT, AND THIS PROPOSED SITE WILL FEATURE A FEW DIFFERENCES AND IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE PREVIOUS SHOPPING CENTER THAT OCCUPIED THIS SITE.

THE AUTO ZONE IS GOING TO PROVIDE FULL LANDSCAPING.

THE PREVIOUS SITE DID NOT. THE BUILDING WILL BE SMALLER AND THERE WILL BE INCREASED SETBACKS ALONG THE EAST AND SOUTH PROPERTY LINES, WHICH THOSE ARE THE PROPERTY LINES CLOSEST TO NEARBY SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.

ADDITIONALLY, THE SIGNS WILL SIGNS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ON THE SOUTH OR EAST SIDES OF THE BUILDING TO PROTECT THOSE HOMES.

THERE IS ONLY ONE DRIVEWAY FOR PUBLIC ACCESS ON 35TH.

THE SECOND DRIVE IS A FIRE DEPARTMENT ONLY ACCESS POINT.

THAT WAY, WE'RE LIMITING THE TRAFFIC ON 35TH NEXT TO THOSE HOMES, AND ACCESS BETWEEN THIS SITE AND THE SHOPPING CENTER TO THE NORTH WILL BE MAINTAINED TO ALLOW CONTINUED CROSS ACCESS. WE DID SEND NOTICES AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.

ONE CALL IN OPPOSITION WAS RECEIVED. IT WAS NOTED THAT THE COMMENTS IN THE OPPOSITION LETTER, WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, WERE PRIMARILY RELATED TO THE EXISTING LEASE BETWEEN AUTOZONE AND THEIR CURRENT LANDLORD, AND WERE NOT WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION OR A ZONING CASE.

AND THE LETTER WAS PROVIDED THOUGH WITHIN YOUR PACKET.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THIS ITEM WITH A70 VOTE.

QUESTIONS? COUNCIL FOR BRADY. YES, SIR. OKAY.

THANK YOU, MR. KENDRICK. AT THIS TIME, I'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NINE A.

DO I HAVE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, WE GET TO CLOSE THAT PUBLIC HEARING? AND I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON NINE. A MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8178.

AS PRESENTED. SECOND. GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM PLACE THREE.

ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED?

[9.B. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 8179]

UNIT 33. LOTS FOUR AND FIVE. BLOCK 356. LOT 24.

BLOCK 352 OF HOLLAND'S EDITION. LOTS 13 THROUGH 24 OF BLOCK 352 PLUS THE ADJACENT 11 FOOT WIDE VACATED PORTION OF GRAND STREET.

LOTS SIX THROUGH TEN OF BLOCK 377 LOTS 13 THROUGH 24.

BLOCK 398. LOTS ONE THROUGH FIVE PLUS THE EAST HALF OF VACATED ALLEY A BLOCK 144.

ALL THOSE LOCATED WITHIN MEARS ADDITION IN POTTER COUNTY, TEXAS, PLUS ONE HALF OF ALL BOUNDARY STREETS, ALLEYS AND PUBLIC WAYS TO CHANGE FROM LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT TO CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

THE VICINITY IS SOUTHEAST EIGHTH AVENUE AND SOUTH JOHNSON STREET, AND THE APPLICANTS ARE THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND CURTIS SINCLAIR FOR BG REAL ESTATE, LLC. AND THIS REZONING CASE STARTED WITH A APPLICANT AT 701 SOUTH JOHNSON THAT OWNS THE WAREHOUSE HERE EAST OF HODGETOWN. THEY ARE PROPOSING TO OPEN A RESTAURANT AND EVENT CENTER IN THIS BUILDING.

HOWEVER, BEING THAT IT IS ZONED LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, THAT MEANS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE ON SITE PARKING.

AND GIVEN THAT THE BUILDING ESSENTIALLY OCCUPIES THE ENTIRETY OF THE SITE, AND THERE ARE NO OTHER LOTS IN THE AREA THAT COULD BE PURCHASED FOR PARKING, THAT WOULD MAKE THE PROJECT VERY DIFFICULT TO COMPLETE. SO THAT IS THE REASON FOR THE ORIGINAL REQUEST AND ANALYZING THIS STAFF.

P&Z AND CITY MANAGEMENT SAW THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO INCLUDE THE CITY OWNED PROPERTIES THAT ARE OWNED THERE EAST OF HODGETOWN.

AND THERE'S A FEW REASONS FOR THAT. AND THEY'RE ON THE SCREEN NOW. THE BLUE PROPERTIES ARE THE CITY OWNED PROPERTIES AND THE ONE IN TAN, THEY'RE EAST OF THE BALLPARK IS THE ORIGINAL APPLICANT'S PROPERTY.

WE ARE PROPOSING TO REZONE ALL THIS, THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

[04:30:01]

CURRENTLY A LOT OF THESE PROPERTIES IN DOWNTOWN BETWEEN HODGETOWN AND THE RAILROAD TRACKS, THEY ARE 100% LOT COVERAGE LOTS, MEANING THE BUILDINGS OCCUPY THE ENTIRETY OF THE LOTS, WHICH MEANS THERE'S NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR PARKING, AND PARKING WOULD HAVE TO BE PROVIDED FOR ALL THOSE LOTS. BY EXPANDING THE FOOTPRINT OF THE AREA THAT IS ZONED CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, FUTURE PROPERTY OWNERS CLOSER TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO REQUEST CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT IN THE FUTURE, AS THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN INTEREST IN DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA, AND PARKING IS OFTEN THE HURDLE TO REDEVELOPMENT IN THIS PORTION OF DOWNTOWN.

SO BY ALSO INCLUDING THE INCLUDING THE CITY OWNED PROPERTIES IN THIS REQUEST.

IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR MORE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE ADJACENT WOULD BE ADJACENT TO THAT PROPERTY TO ALSO BE ABLE TO REQUEST CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

SO IN OUR EYES, IT COULD HELP SPUR SOME ADDITIONAL REDEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.

AS I HAVE PERSONALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE MET WITH OTHER OTHERS THAT HAVE WANTED TO DEVELOP IN THIS AREA, AND THAT PARKING ISSUE IS OFTEN THE BIG ONE THAT COMES UP.

AND THEY WOULD ALSO THE REQUEST WOULD ALSO BRING A NUMBER OF THOSE CITY OWNED PROPERTIES INTO ZONING CONFORMANCE, AS CURRENTLY THERE'S SEVERAL OF THEM THAT ARE 100% LOT COVERAGE LOTS, MEANING THE BUILDING OCCUPIES THE ENTIRETY OF THE LOT, WHICH MEANS THOSE ARE TECHNICALLY LEGAL NONCONFORMING AT THE MOMENT.

SO IT WOULD BRING SOME OF OUR CITY OWNED PROPERTIES ALSO INTO CONFORMANCE WITH ZONING REGULATIONS.

ADDITIONALLY IF WE WERE TO EXPAND THAT FOOTPRINT OF THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WE WOULD PROBABLY SEE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA, AND IT WOULD ALSO OPEN THE DOOR FOR DOOR FOR MAYBE SOME MIXED USE OR LIVE WORK DWELLING TYPE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE, AS LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT ONLY ALLOWS FOR APARTMENTS AND MANUFACTURED HOMES.

SO OVERALL, THE CURRENT USE OF THE BUILDINGS THAT THE CITY OWNS THAT ARE PROPOSED FOR REZONING THOSE USES WOULD BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.

I COORDINATED WITH JERRY DANFORTH ON THAT AND CONFIRMED THAT THE WAY THE CITY IS USING THE BUILDINGS WOULD STILL BE LEGALLY ALLOWED IN CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, AND HE CONFIRMED THAT THAT WOULD BE THE CASE BASED ON HOW THEY'RE BEING USED TODAY.

AND IF THE CITY EVER, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO REDEVELOP OR POTENTIALLY SELL ANY OF THESE PROPERTIES.

IT WOULD ALSO HYPOTHETICALLY MAKE THEM MORE MARKETABLE AS ANYBODY WANTING TO BUY ONE, THOSE SITES WOULDN'T HAVE TO PROVIDE PARKING FOR THE SITE.

SO IT GETS BACK TO THAT DEVELOPMENT BARRIER THAT WE SEE HERE SOMETIMES IN THIS AREA WITH THE PARKING ISSUE.

SO THAT'S A BRIEF RUNDOWN ON THE REQUEST. I KNOW THE TRANSMITTAL MEMO HAD A LOT MORE IN THERE, BUT THOSE ARE THE MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS.

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AGREED THAT THIS IS A LOGICAL CONTINUATION OF ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS FOR THIS AREA IN DOWNTOWN, AND THINKS THAT IT COULD SPUR SOME ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THIS AREA.

WE DID SEND NOTICES AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW.

NO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED ON THIS REQUEST, AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL WITH A70 VOTE.

VERY GOOD, MR. KENDRICK. AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM NINE B.

DO I HAVE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? OKAY, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. KENDRICK ON THIS ONE? BRADY. IS THIS IN THE DOWNTOWN TIERS? IS IT INCLUDED IN THERE? I BELIEVE SO, YES. SO ALL THOSE BUILDINGS THAT YOU SAID THAT THIS WOULD AFFECT OR COULD AFFECT.

IT'S IN THE TEARS. YES. OKAY. JUST. THANK YOU.

IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR BRADY? THANK YOU, SIR. NO PROBLEM. ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON NINE B.

MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE 8179 IS PRESENTED. SECOND.

A MOTION AND A SECOND FROM PLACE ONE. ALL IN FAVOR? PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

[9.C. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 01-28-25-2]

OH THAT'S KASHUBA. COME ON BACK. HEY, MAYOR. YES, SIR.

COULD I ASK ONE IDEA MAYBE? I NOTICED THAT JOHN WARD'S WIFE AND A FRIEND OF HERS WERE HERE EARLIER.

I THINK THEY DIDN'T STAY AROUND. I JUST WONDER IF MAYBE BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF ANY OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE WANTED TO BE HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT DOING THIS AT A DIFFERENT TIME.

SO SHE COULD BE HERE FOR THIS. AND THEN MAYBE IF WE RESCHEDULE IT TO DO IT AT ONE ACTION ITEM REALLY EARLIER.

SO IF SHE AND FRIENDS AND OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO BE HERE, THAT MAYBE MAY BE MORE APPROPRIATE.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. THAT'S I THINK VERY CONSIDERATE AND APPROPRIATE.

WE DIDN'T GET TO THE ITEM AS EARLY IN THE EVENING AS WE WOULD LIKE TO.

I WOULD THINK THAT IT WOULD BE GO AHEAD. IT WOULD BE GOOD TO GO AHEAD, SINCE WE MAY HAVE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THIS.

WE ALLOW YOU TO DO YOUR PRESENTATION, GIVE THE UPDATE, AND THEN WE COULD JUST TABLE THIS AND PUT IT UP FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETING.

SINCE THERE'S NO RUSH ON THIS. YEP. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MICHAEL KASHUBA, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.

THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS RESOLUTION ONE, DASH 28, DASH 22.

[04:35:04]

SO IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS, WE WERE DIRECTED BY COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE SOME NAMING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MR. WARD. STAFF REVIEWED THE COUNCIL GUIDANCE AND WE SHARED IT WITH THE BOARD.

SO THESE WERE THE GUIDELINES THAT WE REVIEWED IT FOR IN TERMS OF THE CRITERIA THAT ARE REQUIRED TO NAME SOMETHING AFTER AN AFTER AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SERVED AS A CITY OFFICIAL OR AS A CITY EMPLOYEE. WE FEEL THAT MR. WARD HAS MET MULTIPLE OF THOSE CRITERIA.

ONLY ONE OF THEM HAS TO BE MET. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WITH OUR PARK BOARD AS WE REVIEWED THIS IS WE LOOKED AT FACILITIES THAT COULD BE RENAMED.

WE REALLY LOOKED AT THE BIGGER PARKS. SO THINGS LIKE REGIONAL PARKS, COMMUNITY PARKS, AND THEN OTHER CITY OWNED FACILITIES.

WHAT WE DID WAS WE LOOKED AT THE PARK NAME, AND THEN IF IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RENAMED, OBVIOUSLY IT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY RENAMED.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO CONSIDER THAT. AND BEFORE WE HAD DONE THIS, I'D ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO MRS. WARD TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM HER AS TO WHAT HER RECOMMENDATION MAY BE AS WE PRESENT IT TO THE PARK BOARD.

FROM THIS LIST, MEDICAL CENTER PARK WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT SHE HAD RECOMMENDED.

THE NEXT OBVIOUSLY, THE NEXT ONE IS THE COMMUNITY PARKS, THE ONES THAT WERE NAMED UNNAMED.

AND THEN OBVIOUSLY SOME OTHER CITY OWNED FACILITIES THAT REPORT TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.

COMANCHE TRAIL WAS THE OTHER ONE THAT WAS CONSIDERED FOR THE POTENTIAL RENAMING AGAIN.

MRS. WARD HAD INITIALLY INDICATED SUPPORT FOR EITHER MEDICAL CENTER AND OR COMANCHE.

SO WE SHARED THIS INFORMATION. WE PRESENTED IT TO A PARK BOARD ON DECEMBER 11TH.

AND THIS WAS JUST A DISCUSSION ITEM TO GET THEM THINKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR RENAMING A FACILITY.

AGAIN, WE WENT THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION WITH ALL OF THOSE LOCATIONS.

AND SO THE BOARD DECIDED THAT WE GO AHEAD AND POST NOTICE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO IS POST 15 DAY NOTICE.

SO WE POSTED 15 DAY NOTICE AT BOTH COMANCHE TRAIL AND MEDICAL CENTER TO MAKE SURE WE WERE COMPLIANT.

AND THEN THEY ALSO SCHEDULED THE PARK BOARD MEETING TO DO A PUBLIC HEARING ON JANUARY 15TH.

SO ON JANUARY 15TH, THE BOARD AGAIN REVIEWED THAT PROPOSAL.

WE WALKED THROUGH BASICALLY THE SAME LIST OF LOCATIONS.

AGAIN, THE TWO THAT WE HAD POSTED NOTICE FOR WERE COMANCHE TRAIL AND ALSO MEDICAL CENTER PARK.

WE HAD TWO CITIZENS THAT DID SPEAK. ONE OF THEM WAS MRS. WARD. SHE DID ATTEND. AND HONESTLY, I THINK THE BOARD WAS LEANING TOWARDS COMANCHE TRAIL AT FIRST.

BUT AFTER HEARING A STORY THAT SHE TOLD THE BOARD, THE BOARD SHIFTED AND WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON MEDICAL CENTER PARK.

IT WAS A VERY TOUCHING STORY. AND I THINK SHE WANTED HER HUSBAND TO BE RECOGNIZED BEYOND JUST THE GOLF COURSES.

HE REALLY LOVED THE COMMUNITY. HE WANTED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY WELL. AND SO THAT WAS HER RECOMMENDATION AS MEDICAL CENTER IS A LITTLE BIT MORE VISIBLE FOR ALL USERS, NOT JUST GOLFERS. AND SO THE RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU IS TO RENAME MEDICAL CENTER PARK IN HONOR OF MR. JOHN WARD. SO WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL SAY IS THAT IN THE RESOLUTION, YOU CAN GET A LIST OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED DURING HIS TENURE.

WHETHER IT'S THE THREE NEW LIBRARIES, THE DOWNTOWN BUS TERMINAL, SIX NEW PARKS, TWO NEW GOLF COURSES, TENNIS CENTER, POLICE AND COURT BUILDINGS, THREE NEW FIRE STATIONS.

FIRE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. YOUTH BASEBALL COMPLEX.

ALSO THE AEDC WAS CREATED. AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING WAS RENOVATED AND THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY RESERVOIR WAS GUARANTEED FOR 300 YEARS.

ALSO, THE 911 COMMUNICATIONS DISTRICT WAS INITIATED.

THE AMARILLO ZOO WAS EXPANDED, NORTHWEST TEXAS HOSPITAL WAS CONSTRUCTED AND SOLD, AND DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION.

REVITALIZATION ORGANIZATION CENTER CITY WAS ESTABLISHED.

SO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY AS A BOARD AND AS STAFF, WE WERE HONORED TO CONSIDER RENAMING THIS IN HIS HONOR.

SO WITH THAT, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER COUNCIL DIRECTION.

QUESTIONS? COUNCIL? NO. LET'S DO ALL THAT AGAIN WHEN WE CAN INVITE MRS. WARD BACK TO GET TO BE A PART OF THAT. OKAY, SO COUNCIL WOULD ASK FOR US TO TABLE THAT IF SOMEBODY AGREES, MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE RESOLUTION NUMBER 0128252.

YOU. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE, AYE. WE'LL TAKE IT UP IN THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

AS LONG AS THAT WORKS WITH HER SCHEDULE. WE WILL HAVE TO CHECK ON PUBLIC NOTICING AS WELL.

WE'LL HAVE TO RE NOTICE THE PUBLIC HEARING. IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT TURNAROUND.

SO WE'LL CHECK THOSE DATES FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND THEN WORK WITH MICHAEL ON MISS WARD'S SCHEDULE.

WE APPRECIATE THAT. ALL RIGHT EVERYBODY DOING OKAY? Y'ALL WANT TO KEEP PUSHING OR Y'ALL WANT TO TAKE A BREAK AND COME BACK? TAKE A BREAK. OKAY, LET'S TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS. WE'LL COME BACK. THANK YOU.

[04:40:01]

WE KNEW WE WERE THERE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE KNEW THE AGENDA WOULD GO ON THERE ACTUALLY, IN A RESTAURANT RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S COMING UP. SO SHE SAYS, PLEASE JUST GO AHEAD AND IMPROVE IT.

AND THEN I THINK THEY'RE TRAVELING. SO IF WE WANT TO GO BACK AND HANDLE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO IS AT A FUTURE MEETING, MAYBE IN THE NEW CITY COUNCIL THAT WE JUST DO A RECOGNITION, MAYBE BECAUSE, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THE STORY THAT SHE TOLD. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT MAYBE WE COULD DO A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IN HONOR OF HIM IN THE NEW CITY.

I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. WHAT I WOULD SAY REAL QUICK WE WERE JUST TALKING A LITTLE BIT AGO.

I MEAN, PART OF THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE MAY HAVE LOST SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

SO I KNOW IT'S A TABLE, BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU MOVE TO THE NEXT MEETING OR SO BECAUSE WE DID ANNOUNCE A TABLE THAT INDIVIDUALS COULD HAVE LEFT.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT TO BE THE CASE OR NOT, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS THE RISK.

OKAY. WELL, I THINK WE PROBABLY BETTER TAKE THAT UNDER ADVISEMENT.

SO IF YOU'LL LET THEM KNOW, WE APOLOGIZE. I THINK WE GOT A PROCEDURAL ISSUE.

YEAH. AND I THINK IF, IF I GUESS MAYBE THEY'RE OKAY WITH APPROVING IT, WE CAN CHECK THE BASE AND SEE HOW SORRY ABOUT THAT.

MAYBE WE COULD DO A RECOGNITION WHEN WE BRING IT BACK AND STILL DO THAT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE GOOD TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE REALLY HAD ALL THAT WORKED OUT.

[9.D. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 01-28-25-3]

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THEM. I THINK WE MAY HAVE ONE, ONE ITEM.

WELL, I DO HAVE JOHN ATKINS HERE WHO ASSISTED WITH THE PROCESS OF REWRITING THE AMENDED BYLAWS.

BUT JUST TO LET YOU ALL KNOW, THE AEDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS DID REVIEW AND APPROVE THE AMENDED BYLAWS ON JANUARY 15TH AND MOVED THEM FORWARD FOR Y'ALL'S CONSIDERATION.

AND I KNOW JOHN WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT Y'ALL HAVE ABOUT THE BYLAWS.

WELL, LET'S DO THIS. I KNOW I'M IN POSSESSION OF A PIECE OF PAPER HERE FROM COUNCILMAN CRAFT WITH A SUGGESTION.

SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO CRAFT AND SEE IF HE'D LIKE ATKINS TO COME FORWARD OR IF YOU'RE GOOD JUST MOVING ON YOUR REDLINE.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I'M TRYING TO FIND THE SECTION HERE IN THE BYLAWS, SO I JUST HAD SOME PUBLIC FEEDBACK AFTER OUR LAST MEETING ABOUT ONE SECTION INSIDE THE BYLAWS, AND IT WAS PERTAINING TO BASICALLY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.

SEE IF I CAN FIND IT REAL QUICK. SORRY. THERE IT IS.

SO JUST IN THAT SECTION THAT WE HAD TALKED AT WITH MR. HYDE AND MR. ATKINS TOGETHER THERE WAS ONE THERE WAS ACTUALLY TWO PROPOSED CHANGES.

ONE CAME FROM MR. MCWILLIAMS AND ONE CAME FROM GEORGE HYDE.

AND I PLACED THE ONE THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU ON THE DICE.

IT SAYS PUBLIC INFORMATION. THAT'S ONE FROM HYDE. AND THEN WE RECEIVED THE ONE FROM MR. MCWILLIAMS ON JANUARY 22ND. SO OKAY, I CAN READ THE CHANGE OUT LOUD, I THINK SO, I THINK IF YOU GO AHEAD AND READ IT OUT LOUD AND THEN WE COULD GET ANY ADVISEMENT THAT WE NEED.

OKAY. I APOLOGIZE. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND OFFICIALLY CALL US BACK INTO SESSION.

SO THANK YOU. SO ITEM NINE D IS THE DISCUSSION.

WE ARE BACK IN SESSION. COUNCILMAN CRAFT. WOULD YOU READ YOUR CHANGE? YEP. SO IT JUST STATES PUBLIC INFORMATION, ANY INFORMATION WHICH IS SUBJECT TO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE BY AN APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT, AS AMENDED, IS PRESUMED TO BE INFORMATION WHICH IS RELEASABLE TO THE PUBLIC IF REQUESTED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT. ALL INFORMATION WHICH IS DETERMINED TO BE CONFIDENTIAL BY ANY APPLICABLE LAW WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNLESS IT IS ORDERED BY A COURT TO DO SO, OR DIRECTED TO DO SO BY THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, AND WHICH IS NOT APPEALED TO THE HIGHER COURT UNTIL A FINAL JUDGMENT IS RENDERED.

THE CORPORATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE THE DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY CONFERRED UPON IT BY THE ACT TO DETERMINE IF.

CIRCUMSTANCES. WARRANT TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION FROM DISCLOSURE TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL A FINAL LETTER, RULING OR APPELLATE ORDER REQUIRES THE CORPORATION TO RELEASE THE INFORMATION.

AND SO THAT WOULD JUST REPLACE AND THE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, THE ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION ONE.

YEAH. COUNCILMAN. YEAH. SO ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION ONE WOULD BE REPLACED AS PRESENTED HERE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL ON THE DAIS BROUGHT FORWARD BY COUNCILMAN CRAFT. WE PROBABLY WOULD ASK IT, DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THIS? WOULD YOU LIKE TO READ IT? I'VE NOT SEEN THAT. NO. HERE YOU GO. AND THEN IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANGE OR RECOMMENDATION AND THEN COUNCILMAN CRAFT, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE HEART OF THE ISSUE OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THAT, LIKE WHAT YOUR CONCERN WAS AND WHY YOU FEEL THE NEED TO PUT IT IN.

[04:45:07]

SO IF IT'S GOING TO BE CONFIDENTIAL, IT'S GOING TO BE IT'S GOING TO BE DETERMINED BY THE AG'S OFFICE BEFORE IT'S RELEASED.

MR. ADKINS, ANY CONCERNS WITH WHAT HE'S PUTTING OUT THERE? NOT AT ALL. MAYOR, THE PREEXISTING SECTION HAD HAD A QUALIFIER UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY LAW, BUT I GET HOW THE CASUAL READER MIGHT SEE THAT AND NOT READ INTO IT WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE READ INTO, WHICH IS THAT THE PUBLIC INFORMATION INFORMATION ACT, OF COURSE YOU KNOW, GOVERNS OVER ANYTHING THAT WE COULD PUT IN THESE BYLAWS.

VERY GOOD. THAT'S THE ONLY SUGGESTION I WOULD MAKE TO AMEND ON THAT.

OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS, CONCERNS ON THE BYLAWS AS PRESENTED? NO, SIR. PROBABLY JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHAT OF A VOICE OF APPROVAL FROM YOU.

I THINK YOU'VE HAD QUITE A HAND IN THIS. YOU GUYS REALLY, ALONG WITH MR. FAIRLY WORKED THESE OVER. DIDN'T NECESSARILY TAKE WHAT I'D HAD KIND OF SPIT OUT ORIGINALLY.

AND SO I THINK YOU AND YOUR BOARD WOULD AGREE THAT THESE ARE WORKABLE DOCUMENTS.

THEY GO TO THE HEART OF THE VISION OF THE AEDC AND ARE KEEPING EVERYBODY IN LINE WITH WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE ARTICLES.

ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. ANY CONCERNS THAT YOU HAVE BEING THEIR REPRESENTATION ONLY? JUST REAL QUICK, JOHN, JUST ONE THING I JUST THOUGHT OF WHEN I WAS READING THIS IN RESPECTS TO I THINK IT WAS MR. FREDA OR AEDC MEETING, BUT I NOTICED IN HERE THERE'S WORDING ABOUT THE NDA ON THE ORIGINAL BYLAWS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT NEEDED TO STAY OR NOT, BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE RECOMMENDED CHANGE HE THAT THE BOARD HAD APPROVED TALKING ABOUT THE NDAS.

PRESIDENT CORPORATION MIGHT SIGN ANY NON-DISCLOSURE AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS PROVIDED BY PROSPECTIVE COMPANIES.

I AM NOT SURE IF THAT WAS THE PIECE THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED IN OUR BOARD MEETING, OR IF THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? REMEMBER THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NDAS AND ELOISE WERE ELOISE.

YEAH, THAT MAY BE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT SECTION THOUGH. SO THAT'S THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD HERE. I THINK THAT'S I THINK THAT'S CORRECT. WE DO MENTION NDAS AND ELOISE SEPARATELY.

LET ME FIND SEE IF I CAN POINT YOU TO THAT. I NOTICED IT EARLIER TODAY, IN FACT.

YEAH. I THINK IT MAY BE IN A DIFFERENT SECTION.

LET'S SEE WHERE I'M SORRY. GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT.

I NEED A WORD SEARCH FEATURE. YEAH.

OH, OKAY. YEAH. HERE. EARLIER IN ARTICLE FOUR.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE MARKUP, IT'D BE ON PAGE TEN, SECTION FIVE WHERE WE MENTION THE LANGUAGE READS THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE EDC CAN ENTER INTO NDAS, NON-DISCLOSURE, CONFIDENTIALITY AND SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS WITH BUSINESS PROSPECTS WITHOUT BOARD APPROVAL.

IT FURTHER GOES ON TO PROVIDE THAT THE ENTRY BY THE CORPORATION OF LLOYD'S LETTERS OF INTENT, MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING, AND SIMILAR ARRANGEMENTS MUST BE APPROVED BY THE BOARD. IS THAT THE SECTION YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT? YES. I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO STAY AND THEN JUST ADD THIS EDIT IN THERE.

THAT WAS IT. THAT'S A DIFFERENT SECTION, RIGHT? YEAH. YEAH. I THINK DOUG SAYING SO THE ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION ONE THAT WOULD BE REPLACED BY THIS NEW LANGUAGE INCLUDES A SIMILAR MENTION ABOUT THE EXECUTION OF NDAS, BUT I BELIEVE SECTION FIVE AND ARTICLE FOUR WOULD ADEQUATELY COVER THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

OKAY, THERE WE GO. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. OKAY. ANYTHING FROM ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER ? MR. ATKINS, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU VOICING YOUR OPINION ON IT.

AT THIS TIME, I THINK COUNCIL, WE ARE ACTUALLY COMPLETE WITH THOSE BYLAWS.

SO COUNCILMAN CRAFT, YOU MIGHT MAKE A MOTION ON THAT TO APPROVE AS YOU'VE REDIRECTED.

YEP. LET'S SEE. MOVE TO APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER

[04:50:07]

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES WITH A50 VOTE.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL AND MAYOR. JUST PROCEDURALLY THESE ARE PREPARED AS IF THEY'LL BE EXECUTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE EDC BOARD.

AND SO I'LL TAKE THIS COUNCIL'S APPROVAL TO INSERT THE SUGGESTED LANGUAGE TO REPLACE ARTICLE FIVE, SECTION ONE. TAKE THIS BACK TO THE BOARD FOR FINAL ADOPTION AND EXECUTION AT THE NEXT MEETING.

THAT'D BE GREAT. AND THEN I'M SURE WE CAN RECORD THE DOCUMENT WHEREVER WE NEED TO HERE AS WELL.

ABSOLUTELY. YEP. OKAY. THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.

MR. NELSON. YOU WANT TO HANG OUT FOR NINE E? YES, SIR.

[9.E. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 01-28-25-4]

YES, SIR. SO BASED ON COUNCIL'S FEEDBACK STAFF HAS GONE IN AND CREATED A BUDGET THAT MATCHES THE CITY OF AMARILLO'S. OUTLINE, THEIR STYLE.

THE WHOLE THING. SO I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS QUICKLY.

HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. BUT BASICALLY OUR BUDGET IS BROKEN UP INTO SEVERAL SECTIONS.

SO THE FIRST IS OPERATIONS. BECAUSE WE ALLOCATE 12% OF OUR REVENUES TO OPERATIONS.

OUR ANTICIPATED REVENUE IS $3.24 MILLION FOR THE YEAR THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN.

WE'VE GOT EXPENDITURES AND PERSONNEL OF 1.2287 20.

GENERAL SUPPLIES OF 20,000. CONTRACTUAL SERVICES OF 158 500.

REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF 18,000. RENTALS OF 105.

OTHER CHARGES OF 62 FIVE AND INSURANCE OF $75,000.

TOTAL EXPENDITURES 1.6677. 20. THAT WOULD LEAVE A NET INCOME IN THAT FUND OF A MILLION. 572 280. THE SECOND SECTION OF OUR BUDGET IS THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SECTION.

THAT'S PAGE THREE. THAT IS $800,000. THAT'S BROKEN DOWN AMONG EIGHT CATEGORIES.

THOSE EIGHT CATEGORIES ARE ALSO DELINEATED ON YOUR EXHIBIT, WHICH IS THE LAST PAGE OF YOUR DOCUMENT IN VERY SPECIFIC DETAIL. SO WE'VE GOT MARKETING SUPPORT OF 150 CONTENT DEVELOPMENT, 25,000 COLLATERAL MATERIALS OF 30 BUSINESS RETENTION OF 60 WORKFORCE INITIATIVES OF 60 MARKETING TECHNOLOGY AND SOFTWARE, 45 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OF THREE 60 AND LOCAL MARKET DEVELOPMENT OF 70 TOTALING $800,000.

AGAIN, YOUR EXHIBIT GIVES YOU MUCH MORE DETAIL IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT THAT.

THE TPRDC CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP. I KNOW Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THAT AS YOU MAY WANT TO BE, BUT BASICALLY, AEDC SIGNS AN AGREEMENT WITH TPRDC, WHICH IS ANOTHER NONPROFIT CORPORATION THAT DELIVERS THE SBA 504 LOAN PROGRAM. THAT PROGRAM HAS 1.35 EMPLOYEES.

IT PAYS 35% OF MY COST. AND THEN WE HAVE A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE THAT DOES THIS.

SO THAT BUDGET IS $237,000. AND IT'S BROKEN DOWN.

$194,000 IN PERSONNEL. BASICALLY $31,000 OF CONTRACTUAL.

AND ABOUT $9,000 OF INSURANCE AND OTHER. SO TOTAL EXPENDITURES OF 237.

SO IT'S BASICALLY A REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT. SO THE EXPENSES THAT THAT ENTITY HAS ARE CHARGED THROUGH AEDC AND THEN TPRDC REIMBURSED AEDC FOR THOSE EXPENSES.

FINALLY, IS THE PROJECT BUDGET. THAT'S PAGE SIX OF YOUR HANDOUT.

REVENUES ARE PROJECTED AT 24,000,805,385. EXPENDITURES ARE BROKEN DOWN THROUGH REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE FOR 50,000 PROJECT FUND EXPENSES OF $570,000.

[04:55:05]

QUESTIONS, COUNCIL. I KNOW WE'VE BEEN VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS AND WORKED THROUGH IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

NOTHING FOR MR. NELSON. YES, SIR. OKAY, ONLY ONE QUESTION ON THE.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE MONEY THAT'S BUDGETED FOR CVMR. THAT WAS IN THERE.

IT GOES AWAY. OKAY. SO THAT WAS A $20 MILLION OBLIGATION ON OUR PART. WHEN THOSE PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS WEREN'T MET AND THE BOARD DECIDED NOT TO EXTEND THE TIME FRAME TO ALLOW THEM TO MOVE FORWARD, POTENTIALLY IN THE FUTURE THAT OBLIGATION GOES AWAY.

ANYTHING FURTHER? CRAFT. NO, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON A BUDGET FINALLY.

I MAKE A MOTION. WE ACCEPT RESOLUTION NUMBER 01-28-25-4.

SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES FIVE ZERO VOTE.

PARDON ME. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NINE F. MR.

[9.F. CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NO. 01-28-25-5]

CAN I HAND THIS ONE OVER TO YOU, SIR? THIS WAS REQUESTED BY COUNCILMAN SIMPSON.

THEY PUT MY NAME ON THERE. BUT I'M GOING TO DEFER TO COUNCILOR SIMPSON. OKAY, SO FROM OUR EARLIER DISCUSSION, THE NEW PROTOCOLS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN PLACE IS ANY OF US ARE FREE TO CALL ANY OUTSIDE COUNSEL UP TO THE POINT OF $1,000. AND THEN AFTER THOSE CONVERSATIONS, IF THERE'S A FEELING THAT WE NEED MORE WORK DONE BY THE OUTSIDE COUNSEL, THEN IT WOULD BE BROUGHT BACK TO THE FULL COUNCIL.

YEAH, I DON'T MIND REREADING IT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE KIND OF HAVE IT DOWN.

SO STEP ONE WOULD BE TO CONTACT GRAYSON FOR THE REQUESTED ITEM, SEE IF YOU CAN GET SATISFACTION THERE THROUGH CITY MANAGER . STEP TWO WOULD THEN BE TO GO TO THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR THAT ITEM.

SO EXAMPLE WOULD BE GRAYSON SAYS, WELL, LET'S TALK TO BRYAN, I DON'T KNOW.

STEP THREE, IF YOU'RE DISSATISFIED WITH THAT OPINION OR THAT OUTCOME, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH ANY COUNSEL THAT WE HAVE A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT WITH. THAT MAY MEAN YOU HAVE TO BRING A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT BACK TO COUNCIL AT THAT TIME, JUST LIKE WE DID WITH HYDE KELLEY. YOU THEN WOULD ENGAGE WITH THAT COUNSEL FOR UP TO $1,000 WORTH OF ATTORNEY FEES.

THAT'S ALREADY PRE-APPROVED AND SET FORTH YOU KNOW, PROTOCOL.

AND THEN THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY GET YOU THE EDUCATION THAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO SEE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'D LIKE TO BRING BACK TO COUNCIL, FOR COUNCIL TO BE UPDATED ON, AWARE OF, AND THEN ALLOW YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AN EXPECTED BUDGET.

SO YOU MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, 40 OR $50,000 WORTH OF LEGAL FEES OUT OF THAT $250,000 BUDGET GOING TO NOT HYDE KELLEY .

LET'S SAY IT HAPPENED TO BE THE UNDERWOOD FIRM.

AND THAT WAS THEIR ESTIMATED AMOUNT. AND YOU'RE GOOD TO WORK UP INTO THAT.

COUNCIL KNOWS WHAT WHAT'S GOING ON AND THAT BASICALLY ENDS THAT THE FULLNESS OF THAT PROTOCOL.

SO BUT COUNCIL BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THE POINT, IF IT'S 40 OR $50,000 HAS, HAVE WE LOOKED TO SAY, WELL, BECAUSE I MAY COME UP WITH SOMETHING AND THEN I MAY CALL THE ATTORNEY OF MY CHOOSING, TALK TO THEM FOR THREE DAYS AND RUN UP A BILL.

BUT IS THERE A CAP TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SPEND OR HOW DO WE MONITOR THE SPENDING.

SURE. SO MY ISSUE WOULD BE THAT YOU ARE APPROVING THAT ATTORNEY TO GIVE YOU A CURSORY REVIEW OF UP TO $1,000 AND THEN, BASED ON THEIR PROPOSAL, COMING BACK TO COUNCIL, THAT WOULD SET THE AMOUNT OF THE EXPENDITURE.

OKAY. AND WE WOULD LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, SO LET'S SAY THAT YOU HAD AN ITEM THAT YOU WANTED,

[05:00:06]

SO Y'ALL GO AND YOU TALK TO BRYAN. AND SURE ENOUGH, BRYAN TELLS YOU PINK FIRE HYDRANTS ARE ILLEGAL.

YOU CAN'T HAVE THEM WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. BUT YOU DON'T.

YOU DON'T AGREE. SO YOU CALL, LET'S JUST SAY XYZ LAW FIRM.

YOU SAY, HEY, DO WE HAVE A LETTER OF ENGAGEMENT? THEY SAY WE DO.

ALL RIGHT. I HAVE $1,000 BUDGET FOR YOU TO GIVE ME A LEGAL OPINION ON PINK FIRE HYDRANTS.

LEGAL OR ILLEGAL? WILL THEY PROVIDE THAT FOR YOU? SO YOU BRING THAT BACK TO THIS COUNCIL, YOU PUT IT ON AN AGENDA AND THEY PROVIDE A BUDGET.

FOR $20,000 WE THINK WE CAN SHOW YOU HOW YOU CAN WORK FIRE HYDRANTS INTO YOUR COMMUNITY.

AND THEN IF WE VOTE IT DOWN, YOU DON'T GET TO GO AND SPEND THAT MONEY.

YOU GOT TO HAVE THE BODY'S APPROVAL. WE DON'T THINK PINK FIRE HYDRANTS ARE IMPORTANT.

AND SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU SPEND 20 GRAND ON IT.

SORRY. IT ALSO MEANS THAT IF YOU DID THE ADDITIONAL LEGWORK, IT PROBABLY ISN'T GOING TO PASS ANYWAY.

SO I THINK THAT GOES TO YOUR GOOD STEWARDSHIP.

YEAH, I WOULD SAY THIS WITH THAT. I THINK THAT THAT THAT LOOKS AT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE ON THE TRANSPARENCY AND WATCHING AND THAT THERE ARE GUARDRAILS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN PLACE. SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, AT THIS POINT, I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO TAKE THIS ITEM OFF.

I THINK WE'VE COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. THAT'S A IT'S A POINT TO BEGIN WITH.

WE MAY GET INTO IT AND REALIZE MAYBE SOME THINGS THAT NEED TO BE ALTERED, BUT AT THIS POINT, I WOULD BE WILLING TO SAY, LET'S, LET'S TAKE NINE F OFF AND LET'S PUT IN THESE NEW THESE NEW PROTOCOLS AND GET THEM, GET THEM, GET THEM IN WRITING. SO WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE PLAYBOOK THAT WE'RE PLAYING BY AND MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. SURE.

SO COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY DISCUSSION ON PULLING ITEM NINE F.

I AGREE. AGREE. GOOD. ALL GOOD. OKAY. COUNCIL WILL TAKE NO ACTION ON ITEM NINE F.

AND THEN I'M GOING TO HAND THIS VERY THOROUGH LEGAL DOCUMENT HERE TO SOMEONE THAT COULD TYPE IT UP AND PUT IT ON SOME OR SOME CITY LETTERHEAD.

AND I THINK WE WOULD CHOOSE TO ADOPT THAT IF NEEDED.

[9.G. CONSIDER PURCHASE - FIRE APPARATUS (TRUCKS)]

YES, SIR. THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF THE OF THE PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS ON PURCHASING THESE FIRE TRUCKS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M BRINGING HERE FOR YOU GUYS TODAY, WALKING THROUGH WHAT THIS PURCHASE LOOKS LIKE AND SEEKING Y'ALL'S APPROVAL.

I THINK IT'D BE IMPORTANT TO DO A QUICK REVIEW OF OUR MOST COMMON FIRE TRUCKS THAT ARE OUT ARE OUT THERE.

SO THE COMMUNITY SEES AND YOU GUYS SEE. SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT APPARATUS. THE FIRST ONE UP THERE ON THE TOP LEFT IS OUR ENGINES.

THAT'S A FIRE ENGINE. IT'S THE WORKHORSE FIRE TRUCK THAT GOES TO ALL INCIDENT TYPES.

THESE TRUCKS ARE EQUIPPED AND STAFFED TO ALSO PROVIDE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE, INCLUDING PARAMEDIC SERVICE, ON MANY OF OUR ENGINES. ON THE TOP RIGHT, THAT'S A LADDER TRUCK.

THESE TRUCKS ALSO GO TO ALL INCIDENT TYPES. THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSE IS STRUCTURE FIRES AND OTHER TYPES OF RESCUE INCIDENTS.

THESE TRUCKS ALSO ARE CAN PROVIDE ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT.

ON THE BOTTOM LEFT IS A LADDER. A PLATFORM LADDER TRUCK RESPONDS JUST LIKE EVERY LIKE A REGULAR LADDER TRUCK, BUT IT HAS A PLATFORM AT THE TIP OF THE LADDER.

THAT PLATFORM PROVIDES A SAFE SERVICE WORKING AREA FOR TO PERFORM NUMEROUS TASKS, INCLUDING THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK OF VICTIM RESCUE.

DOWN AT THE BOTTOM CENTER ARE OUR GRASS RIGS.

GRASS RIGS ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND THEY'RE EQUIPPED FOR THE WILDLAND OR WILDLAND FIREFIGHTING AND FOR THE WILDLAND ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEN FINALLY ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT, OUR COMMAND UNITS.

THOSE ARE WHERE OUR BATTALION CHIEFS RIDE IN. AND THEY ARE THE INCIDENT COMMAND VEHICLE THAT'S ON SCENE, THAT'S WHO'S USUALLY GOING TO RUN THE SCENE IF YOU SEE THAT THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH ENHANCED COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT AND ALSO HAVE SUPPLIES PRIMARILY FOR FIRE INCIDENTS.

OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE CONDUCTED A COMPREHENSIVE FLEET EVALUATION.

INITIAL DISCUSSIONS BEGAN WITH A CITY FLEET TEAM AND LATER PROGRESSED WITH CONVERSATIONS WITH CITY MANAGEMENT, FOCUSING ON HOW THE FIRE FLEET REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE COULD ALIGN WITH THE OVERALL CITY FLEET REPLACEMENT PLANS.

THIS APPROACH CONSIDERS THE ESCALATING CHALLENGES OF EXTENDED BUILD TIMES AND RISING COSTS.

WHILE WE'RE HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE ALSO WERE LOOKING AT NATIONAL STANDARDS, OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND TRENDS THROUGHOUT THE FIRE SERVICE ON FIRE FLEET REPLACEMENT SCHEDULES AND HOW THEIR FOLKS WERE HANDLING ESPECIALLY BATTLING SOME OF THESE RISING COSTS.

THE EVALUATION FOCUSED ON AGE, MILEAGE, HOURS, REPAIR, AND OWNERSHIP COSTS.

OTHER AREAS WE ASSESSED WERE FIRE TRUCK MANUFACTURERS AND VENDORS.

WE ALSO LOOKED AT OUR FIRE TRUCK SPECIFICATIONS.

WE WANTED TO ENSURE THAT OUR SPECS FOR OUR TRUCKS AND OUR EQUIPMENT WERE MATCHED UP WITH OUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS.

WE WENT THROUGH AND EVALUATED SEVEN THROUGH 15 YEAR REPLACEMENT CYCLES, AND WE CONCLUDED THAT THE TEN 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.

[05:05:09]

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE NOTICED A DECLINE IN QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT, IN ADDITION TO THE INCREASED COST 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 FERRARA APPARATUS.

E-ONE STOOD OUT AS A FRONT RUNNER FOR THEIR SUPERIOR BUILD QUALITY THAT ENSURES FIREFIGHTERS ARE IN A SAFE, RELIABLE AND DURABLE FIRE TRUCK. THEIR QUALITY CONTROL IS EXCEPTIONAL.

THEY RELIED ON A DETAILED, PROCESS DRIVEN APPROACH AND THAT ARE MORE PROCESS DEPENDENT THAN INDIVIDUAL DEPENDENT THAT WE'VE SEEN IN SOME OF OUR OTHER MANUFACTURERS.

AND THEIR TRUCKS WERE ALSO COMPETITIVELY PRICED COMPARED TO OTHER TRUCKS THAT WE WERE EVALUATING.

SAFE INDUSTRIES IS THE VENDOR FOR E-ONE FIRE TRUCKS IN THE LAST YEAR, OUR LONG STANDING FIRE TRUCK VENDOR, LONE STAR APPARATUS, MERGED WITH SAFETY INDUSTRIES.

WITH THAT MERGER, WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OUR LONE STAR REP, WHICH IS HERE TODAY. AND THIS WAS A BIG ADVANTAGE SINCE HE ALREADY KNOWS A LOT ABOUT OUR FLEET AND A LOT ABOUT OUR CHALLENGES. BY MOVING TO SAFE, WE GAINED A MUCH MORE ROBUST SUPPORT SERVICE PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM AND TRADE IN OPTIONS ON OUR CURRENT FLEET.

SO TODAY WE'RE HERE REQUESTING APPROVAL TO PURCHASE SIX ENGINES AND TWO LADDERS.

THIS PURCHASE INCLUDES EQUIPMENT AND A TEN YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL ON EACH TRUCK.

AND IF ORDERED VERY SOON, WE ANTICIPATE THE DELIVERY OF THESE FIRE TRUCKS THREE YEARS FROM NOW IN 2028.

AND I JUST KIND OF WANT TO GIVE YOU GUYS AN IDEA.

I'VE SHOWED THIS SLIDE BEFORE OF WHERE WE'RE AT NOW AND WHERE WE'LL BE AT IN 2028 WHEN THESE TRUCKS ARRIVE.

WE'LL HAVE IT'S HIGHLIGHTING THAT THREE YEAR BUILD TIME OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR TO GET TO GET THESE TRUCKS.

IN 2028 EIGHT OF OUR FRONT LINE ENGINES WILL BE TEN OR MORE YEARS OLD, AND SEVEN OF OUR RESERVE WILL BE OVER 20 YEARS OLD.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE FRONT LINE FIRE TRUCKS, THEY DON'T HAVE A BRAKE UNTIL WE GET SOME NEW TRUCKS COMING IN.

SO WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THEY'RE GOING TO BE EXTENDED IN THEIR USE.

AND THESE 13 FRONT LINES UNTIL WE GET SOME RELIEF ON THESE SIX ENGINES AND THEN HOPEFULLY FURTHER PURCHASES EACH YEAR.

SAME COMPARISON ON OUR LADDER TRUCKS. A LOT OF OUR LADDER, THE AGE OF OUR LADDER TRUCKS IS A LOT IN OUR RESERVE.

BUT THOSE THAT DO GET USED QUITE A BIT. AND THEN LADDER ONE IS ALSO IN THAT TEN YEAR POINT.

IT'LL BE UP FOR REPLACEMENT AS WELL. AND THEN SOME OF OUR TIMELINE HERE.

TIMELINE IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE. JANUARY 28TH IS WE'RE LOOKING FOR APPROVAL TO PURCHASE THESE FIRE TRUCKS.

AND THEN KIND OF GOING OFF OF THE FEBRUARY 11TH DATE THAT MRS. STORRS DISCUSSED ON BRINGING A COUNCIL AWARD OF DEBT FINANCING AND THEN MARCH 11TH, PROCEEDS SUBMITTED TO SAFE INDUSTRIES FOR THAT PREPAYMENT DISCOUNT.

THAT WAS A QUICK RUNDOWN. YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN SOME OF THIS BEFORE. YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? QUESTIONS FOR CHIEF? NO. I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR WORK ON THIS, SIR.

YES, SIR. YEAH. THANK YOU. WELL DONE COOPER. WE HAD A LOT OF, I HAD A LOT HAVE A REALLY GREAT TEAM.

I HAVE A FIRE FLEET TEAM THAT DOES EXCEPTIONAL WORK, AND THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK ON GIVING ME A LOT OF INFORMATION COMING IN AND LEARN A LOT ABOUT FIRE TRUCKS. OVER THE LAST YEAR, I'VE LEARNED MORE THAN I EVER THOUGHT I COULD ON FIRE TRUCKS FOR SURE.

AND JUST ON THE WARRANTY IS TEN YEARS BUMPER TO BUMPER.

IT COVERS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. IT'S THE SHORT LIST OF WHAT IT WAS, WHAT IT DOESN'T COVER PRIMARILY WEARABLES, TIRES, BELTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WE'LL BE ABLE TO COVER A LOT OF THOSE EXPENSES.

AND THEN ONE OF THAT, THAT OTHER PART OF IT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE OUR MECHANICS DO SOME OF THAT WARRANTY WORK AND BE REIMBURSED FOR IT.

AND JUST SOME, YOU KNOW, THAT GIVES THEM A LOT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK.

AND WORKING WITH SAFE INDUSTRIES IS GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO THAT.

THAT MAINTENANCE SAVINGS IS HUGE, ISN'T IT? YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE.

I'M LOOKING AT SOME OF IF WE COULD START JUST REDUCING THOSE COSTS AND THEN COLLECTING MORE AND MORE DATA ON HOW WE COULD SAVE THESE AND HOW WE CAN ROTATE, ROTATE THESE TRUCKS AROUND, WE'RE GOING TO WE CAN HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD SAVINGS.

AND, YOU KNOW, EVEN ON THAT WARRANTY REIMBURSEMENT ONE HOUR A WEEK PRODUCES OVER THE LIFETIME OF THAT PRODUCES A LOT.

IT'S A LOT OF SAVINGS ONE HOUR A DAY. AND THEY AND THEY ANTICIPATE THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO MORE WARRANTY WORK THAN THAT.

THAT'S GREAT. YEAH. THANK YOU SIR. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE SIR. OH, SORRY TO KEEP YOU SO LATE.

[05:10:03]

OKAY. THAT'S HOW WE KEEP YOU ONE MORE NIGHT. WE'RE HELPING THE ECONOMY.

YES, SIR. OKAY. YEAH. HOT TAX BABY. OKAY. ITEM NINE G REQUEST A MOTION.

MOVE TO AWARD A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $13,553,090 TO SAFE INDUSTRIES FOR PURCHASE OF FIRE APPARATUS.

SECOND. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND FROM PLACE TWO.

ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE, GENTLEMEN? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. ITEM NINE H.

[9.H. CONSIDER APPROVAL – AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO LOCATION INCENTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMARILLO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND PLANT-AS-DNPS-003-02 LLC]

OUT ACROSS FROM CENTREPORT BUSINESS PARK, ACROSS FROM THE PRISON.

EAST OF THE PRISON. THEY HAVE REQUESTED, AND OUR BOARD APPROVED A SIX MONTH EXTENSION ON JANUARY 15TH OF THIS MONTH. AND THE SIX MONTH EXTENSION EXTENDS ALL THE DATES IN THE AGREEMENT.

BUT PRIMARILY IT DOES NOT EXTEND ALL THE DATES IN THE AGREEMENT.

EXCUSE ME, IT ONLY EXTENDS THE DATE THAT THEY CAN COMMENCE CONSTRUCTION.

SO FROM DECEMBER 31ST, 2024 TO JUNE 30TH, 2025.

THIS PROJECT IS ALSO HAS A SISTER PROJECT IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS.

THEY ARE UNDERWAY IN LUBBOCK IN THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE PLANS TO BE APPROVED BY THE CITY.

THEY HAVE NOT MOVED DIRT YET, BUT HAVE A GROUNDBREAKING SCHEDULED FOR THE FIRST WEEK IN APRIL.

THEY'VE REALLY MOVED FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT, AND WE EXPECT OURS TO BE THREE MONTHS BEHIND ISH 2 TO 3 MONTHS.

SO BY JUNE 30TH, 2025, THEY WILL BE COMMENCING CONSTRUCTION IN AMARILLO.

THIS DOCUMENT, THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

FOR ME. WE APPRECIATE THE UPDATE ON IT, KNOWING IT'S SOLID AND I THINK WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THAT.

SO LOOK FOR A MOTION ON ITEM NINE H GENTLEMAN.

I MOVED TO APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER THREE TO THE LIA BETWEEN THE AMARILLO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND PLANT ASD, NPS 3-2, LLC. SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND ON NINE H.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. WE'VE GOT A FEW BOARD APPOINTMENTS.

[9.I. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT - BEAUTIFICATION AND PUBLIC ARTS ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS]

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL START WITH BEAUTIFICATION AND ARTS.

OKAY. THESE ARE SOME MID-YEAR APPOINTMENTS FOR SOME VACANCIES THAT CAME FROM RESIGNATIONS, BEAUTIFICATION AND PUBLIC ART. WE HAD SOMEONE RESIGN FOR A TERM THAT SERVES THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2026.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE.

EXCUSE ME. HANG ON ONE SECOND. WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE THAT INDIVIDUAL VACANCY.

SO THEY WOULD SERVE THE REMAINING TERM THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.

AND IN YOUR PACKET, YOU'VE GOT A LIST OF THE APPLICANTS THAT WE HAVE ON FILE FOR THAT SINCE WE JUST DID APPOINTMENTS IN NOVEMBER.

THIS IS A TYPICALLY A THREE YEAR TERM. IT'S A NINE MEMBER BOARD.

A COUPLE OF THE POSITIONS ON THE BOARD ARE SPECIFIC TO CENTER CITY AND CVB, AND ALL OTHERS ARE APPOINTED BY COUNCIL.

CRAFT ARE YOU CURRENTLY ON THAT ONE? YES, SIR.

OKAY. QUESTIONS FOR MISS CITY SECRETARY. CRAFT YOU GOT ANYBODY YOU'D LIKE TO NOMINATE SINCE YOU SIT ON THAT BOARD? I HAVE NO PREFERENCE. NO, SIR. UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE DOES. OKAY.

OKAY. I MOVE TO APPROVE OR APPOINT LINDA ALLEN TO THE BEAUTIFICATION AND PUBLIC ARTS ADVISORY BOARD.

WITH A TERM ENDING. 12/31 OF 26. SECOND. OKAY.

[05:15:02]

[9.J. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT - PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEMBERS]

WE HAVE A VACANCY FOR A POSITION THAT ALSO ENDS DECEMBER OF 2026.

ON THIS BOARD, THERE IS A LIST IN YOUR PACKET OF APPLICANTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

THIS BOARD MEETS MONTHLY AND IT HAS A TOTAL OF 11 MEMBERS.

I MEAN, YOU KEEP SAYING HIS NAME AND LOOKING AT HIM, BUT YOU KNOW YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.

YOU MAY NOT LIKE MY RECOMMENDATION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ACTUALLY FELT WAS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL FOR THE PARK BOARD WAS HAVING A COUNCIL MEMBER SERVE ON THAT BOARD TO BE ABLE TO RELAY AND COMMUNICATE BACK WITH BACK WITH THE FULL COUNCIL. SO THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION FROM THE STAFF PERSPECTIVE.

YEAH, PROBABLY DIDN'T LIKE THAT ONE. I KNOW WE'RE SPREAD THIN.

I DON'T KNOW OF ANYBODY THAT THAT COULD HONESTLY AND STILL KEEP THE WORKLOAD THAT THEY'VE GOT.

BUT I APPRECIATE YOU AT LEAST BEING UP FRONT AND TELLING US WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO SEE.

OTHER THAN THAT, WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS. OKAY. COUNCIL.

I GUESS WE'LL HANG OUT AND WAIT TILL SOMEBODY COMES UP WITH TWO NAMES.

HOPEFULLY A FIRST AND A LAST OF SOMEONE WHO IS A REAL PERSON THAT LIVES IN THE CITY.

I MOVE TO APPOINT JEREMY PICAR TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD WITH THE TERM ENDING OF 12/27 OF 26.

SECOND. VERY GOOD. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. LAST ONE. VINEYARDS PID.

[9.K. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT - VINEYARDS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS]

WE DID HAVE SOMEONE RETIRE FROM THIS BOARD, AND THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED MIKE MAYS TO REPLACE THIS VACANCY.

IT IS A HOMEOWNER VACANCY AND IT WILL ACTUALLY GO THROUGH DECEMBER OF 2027.

SO IF COUNCIL AGREES WITH THAT, WE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND MIKE MAYS TO YOU.

WELL, I HADN'T GOT TO MAKE A MOTION ALL DAY, SO I'LL MOVE TO RECOMMEND MIKE MAYS.

I'LL SECOND. GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ONE? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN. WE GOT A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. YOU'RE ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH US. APPRECIATE YOU.

OKAY.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.