[00:00:01]
THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVERYONE WHO'S ATTENDED ALL WEEK.
[1. Call to Order]
TODAY WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL CALLED MEETING WITH JUST ONE AGENDA ITEM, WHICH IS THE EDC.OR, I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMAN REID IF HE WOULD GO AHEAD AND PRAY FOR US HERE TODAY.
SO, COUNCILMAN REID, IT'S YOURS. BOW YOUR HEADS AND PRAY WITH ME.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU THIS DAY, AND WE ASK THAT YOU WATCH OVER US AND GUIDE US AS A BODY AND IMPART ON US THE WISDOM WE NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS. WE ASK THAT WE DO THIS IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, AND WE DO IT FOR THE PEOPLE OF AMARILLO, REMEMBERING THAT'S WHO WE WORK FOR, AND THE DECISIONS WE MAKE HERE WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THEM AT ALL TIMES.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
AND LOOK AT THAT. WE DID IT WITHOUT IT ON THE BOARD.
THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. THANK YOU. GUYS, PLEASE BE SEATED.
OKAY. WE'LL MOVE INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. MISS CITY SECRETARY, DO YOU HAVE MY CLOCK READY TO GO,
[2. Public Comment]
MA'AM? YES, SIR. GREAT. AND WE'VE GOT ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGNED UP TODAY.LET ME GET THIS DOWN HERE. MISS HOPE, ARE YOU THE ONE? GREAT. PLEASE GO AHEAD AND HEAD ON UP HERE. WE'LL GIVE YOU YOUR TIME.
IT'S A LOT. I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR, ESPECIALLY FOR WATCHING OUT FOR OUR WATER BILL AND SAYING NO TO THAT EXTRA BILL ON THERE YESTERDAY. AND WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY, I DON'T BLAME THIS ADMINISTRATION.
IT'S THE PAST ADMINISTRATIONS. BUT I HAD SOMEONE COME OUT AND DIG OUT A CULVERT FOR US, AND I TALKED TO A CITY EMPLOYEE, AND HE WAS LIKE, WELL, Y'ALL JUST BECAME A PART OF US LAST YEAR.
AND I'M LIKE, NO, WE, PLEASANT VALLEY'S BEEN A PART OF Y'ALL FOR 65 YEARS.
CAN PLEASANT VALLEY FOR A LITTLE BIT NOT BE CHARGED FOR DRAINAGE FEES, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY MODERN DRAINAGE SYSTEM? WE HAVE CULVERTS AND DITCHES WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN MAINTAINED.
AND SO I'VE BEEN TOLD THE CITY WILL JUST MAINTAIN US.
SO HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE, PLEASANT VALLEY WILL GET SOME MODERNIZED DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
AND SO UNTIL THEN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT OUR DRAINAGE FEES BECAUSE LIKE I SAID LAST 65 YEARS, OUR CULVERTS AND DITCHES HAVEN'T BEEN MAINTAINED, BUT THEY ARE GETTING DONE NOW, BUT THEY'RE STILL VERY MANY THAT NEED TO BE IDENTIFIED, SO I'M HOPING THE CITY WILL NOT EXPECT ME TO DRIVE AROUND AND FIND THEM ALL THAT SOMEBODY ELSE WITHIN THE CITY SYSTEM WILL DO THAT.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY BLESS YOU ALL. MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH YOU AS Y'ALL GO OVER THE BUDGET AND MAKE WELL, CONSCIOUS DECISIONS FOR THE CITIZENS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MISS HOPE. NO ONE ELSE HAS SIGNED UP, MISS CITY SECRETARY? THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR. OKAY. DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT THIS MORNING? YES, MA'AM. IF YOU'LL GO AHEAD AND COME FORWARD, WILL YOU GIVE US YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD? GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS [INAUDIBLE]. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOU ALL.
THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME HERE, SO I DO APPRECIATE IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO START OFF BY POSITIONING A QUESTION TO THE CITIZENS OF AMARILLO.
AS AEDC CHOOSES NEW LEADERSHIP, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU, WHAT DOES ROI ACTUALLY MEAN TO YOU? AS AEDC SELECTS NEW LEADERSHIP, AMARILLO RESIDENTS DESERVE TO ASK LEADERSHIP, WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?
[00:05:03]
CREATING JOBS IS NO LONGER A SUFFICIENT ANSWER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THOSE JOBS COST MORE TO CREATE THAN THE EMPLOYEE COULD POSSIBLY EVER EARN.THE NEXT TIME YOU THINK ABOUT AEDC SPENDING TAX DOLLARS ON HIGH PRICED METRICS, IMAGINE INSTEAD WHAT IF INVESTMENTS PRODUCED A RETURN THAT COULD REDUCE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES OR FINANCIALLY STRENGTHEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OR EVEN FUND THE PROJECTS THAT WE JUST HEARD ABOUT? WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE IF AEDC INVESTED YOUR MONEY IN WAYS THAT IMPROVED AMARILLO´S QUALITY OF LIFE? PARTNERED STRATEGICALLY WITH WT AND THEIR WT 125 PLAN.
TO STOP THE BRAIN DRAIN AND RETAIN INNOVATION AND TALENT HERE IN THIS AREA AND EVEN RECRUIT IT BACK.
OR WHAT IF AEDC LEANED INTO AMARILLO´S PROUD MILITARY LEGACY AND ALIGNED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S GOLDEN DOME DEFENSE STRATEGY AND THE FERMI ENERGY PROJECT THAT IS ALREADY UNDERWAY? THROUGH A LENS ON FEDERAL FUNDING, NATIONAL DEFENSE AND INNOVATION, INFRASTRUCTURE, A STRATEGIC AEDC WOULD DO ALL OF THAT. THUS, NEW AEDC LEADERSHIP AND DIRECTION NEEDS A CLEAR MISSION DRIVEN LENS. RECRUIT, ACCELERATE AND SUPPORT COMPANIES THAT DELIVER ACTUAL QUALITY OF LIFE, MEANING PENSIONS, HEALTH CARE, CHILD CARE, AND EVEN PET HEALTHCARE.
CREATE A MODERN MARKETING STRATEGY. THE BIG TEXAN AND THE CADILLAC RANCH WILL NOT ATTRACT THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, INNOVATORS, OR EVEN RECRUIT TALENT HERE. LEVERAGE FEDERAL MOMENTUM AND MEDIA VISIBILITY THAT IS ALREADY ARRIVING HERE IN AMARILLO THROUGH RICK PERRY, THE DOE, THE DOD, AND TRUMP'S NATIONAL ENERGY STRATEGY.
THESE ARE BILLION DOLLAR STORYLINES THAT ARE ALREADY ARRIVING HERE FREE OF CHARGE.
AS AEDC APPOINTS NEW LEADERSHIP, AMARILLO HAS A RARE CHANCE TO DEFINE A VISION AND DELIVER A STRATEGY THAT FINALLY CONVERTS LONG PROMISED OPPORTUNITIES INTO REAL, LASTING CHANGE. THIS ISN'T JUST A PERSONNEL CHANGE.
IT IS A MOMENT TO REDEFINE AEDC'S MISSION TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC RETURN OVER METRICS, AND TO BUILD A CITY WHERE THE NEXT GENERATION WANTS TO STAY AND THOSE THAT HAVE LEFT MIGHT EVEN RETURN. AEDC CAN RESHAPE HOW THE CITY SEES ITSELF AND EVEN HOW IT SEES AEDC.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU MA'AM. WE APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS.
SO WELL SAID AND WELL RECEIVED. DO I SEE ANYBODY ELSE HERE? MR. FISHER, IF YOU'LL COME UP. ALL RIGHT. I'LL START OUT WITH SOME COMPLIMENTS.
YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY NOT USED TO THAT. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE BUDGET MEETING, AND I MEAN, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FIND OUT HOW SMART YOUR COUNCIL IS, WATCH THE BUDGET MEETINGS, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FAKE IT FOR EIGHT HOURS.
AND I'LL JUST START OVER HERE. TIM, YOU'VE BEEN KIND OF QUIET.
SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR MORE FROM YOU. I HOPE YOU GOT SOMETHING PLANNED.
YOU KNOW, THE QUIET ONES ARE THE DANGEROUS ONES, SO I'M HOPING THAT'S THE CASE.
TIPPS, I NOTICED THE OTHER DAY WHEN YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT NOT GETTING INTO THE WEEDS AND MANAGING DEPARTMENTS, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS GREAT WHEN YOU SAID, WE'RE HERE TO MANAGE POLICY.
AND I THINK THAT WAS GOOD. AND I WAS SURPRISED AND I'M IMPRESSED.
COLE, I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH HOW YOU HANDLE THINGS.
SO TAKE YOUR TIME ON THE COMPLIMENTS. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE SEEN THIS.
THANK YOU. SO AND I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IN THE BACK, YOU ARE CURRENTLY ROLLING.
AND THIS WILL BE ON THE 6:00 NEWS. PLEASE CONTINUE.
IT'S YOUR TIME. I APOLOGIZE FOR INTERRUPTING.
WELL, I AM ALWAYS IMPRESSED WITH HOW YOU HANDLE THINGS.
I WOULDN'T DO THE SAME. I KNOW I WOULDN'T. AND THE NEW GUY.
I WAS WORRIED THE FIRST DAY, AND THEN YOU GOT MORE INTO IT, AND I SAW WHERE YOU GUYS WERE QUESTIONING THE CALL CENTER AND ADDING ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES. AND THAT WAS IMPRESSIVE ALSO. AND I THINK YOU GUYS SHOULD MANAGE THIS PLACE LIKE A BUSINESS, AS YOU SAY. AND MR. SIMPSON, SAME GOES FOR YOU.
[00:10:07]
LIKE, THREE EVENTS THERE. SO I'M IMPRESSED. SO NOW WITH THE NEGATIVE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I'M COMING WITH THAT.I'VE GOT TO RESET IT. IF DON'T HIT THE CLEAR BUTTON BECAUSE THAT CLEARS OUT PROGRAMING I GOT YOU.
SO GIVE ME JUST A SECOND. OH, I RESET THE WHOLE THING.
OKAY, WELL, I'LL JUST GET GOING AND SHE CAN START IT IF SHE CAN.
FOR FAR TOO LONG, OUR CITY HAS BEEN RUN MORE LIKE A PRIVATE BANK LEDGER THAN A PUBLIC INSTITUTION.
AND THAT'S NOT SURPRISING WHEN YOU LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN AND SEE WHO REALLY HOLDS THE POWER.
WE HAVE THE LARGEST FAMILY OWNED BANK IN THE NATION, WITH OVER 15 LOCATIONS IN A CITY OF 200,000, FAR MORE THAN ANY NATIONAL CHAIN. THEY RUN MORE THAN THE BANK.
THEY RUN CITY HALL. I USED TO WORK AT THAT BANK.
THE DATA PROCESSING CENTER FOR AMARILLO NATIONAL.
LET ME EXPLAIN. I GAVE CHATGPT THE BUDGET, AND I GAVE IT THE AUDITED YEARLY REPORT.
AND I SAID, ARE THEY USING THE SAME TACTICS THAT THE OLD SCHOOL BANKS USED TO USE BEFORE THEY WERE REGULATED? AND THE ANSWER WAS A RESOUNDING YES. EACH YEAR, MASSIVE INCREASES IN CAPITAL ASSETS SHOW UP ON THE BOOKS.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. YET THE BUDGET SHOWS NO MATCHING CAPITAL OUTLAY OR DEBT ISSUANCE TO FUND THOSE PURCHASES. WHERE'S THAT MONEY COMING FROM? IN SOME YEARS, ASSETS GROWTH EXCEED SPENDING AND BORROWING BY TENS OF MILLIONS. I BELIEVE THEY'RE MOVING CASH RESERVES OFF THE BOOKS BY RECLASSIFYING THEM AS ASSET VALUE INCREASES, MAKING IT LOOK LIKE THE CASH NEVER EXISTED. WATER AND DRAINAGE FEES ARE USED AS SLUSH FUNDS.
IT GETS WORSE BY LAW. FEES BASED REVENUE LIKE WATER BILLS AND DRAINAGE FEES, MUST BE USED ONLY TO OPERATE THOSE SERVICES. BUT AMARILLO IS USING THOSE FUNDS AS A PIGGY BANK TO BALANCE THE GENERAL FUND.
THEY SHOW SMALLER RESERVES AND WATER AND DRAINAGE THAN REALITY.
I BELIEVE THAT'S A SETUP TO JUSTIFY RAISING YOUR RATES WHILE QUIETLY SHIFTING THE MONEY INTO THE GENERAL OPERATIONS ARE INFLATED CAPITAL ASSETS. TIME TO TAKE OUR CITY BACK. THIS ISN'T FISCAL MANAGEMENT.
IT'S SPREADSHEET ACCOUNTING USED TO OBSCURE THE TRUTH AND PROTECT INSIDERS.
THAT'S NOT HONEST GOVERNANCE. THAT'S FINANCIAL GASLIGHTING.
I URGE THE COUNCIL TO RETURN TO THE CAMPAIGN PROMISES THAT GOT THEM ELECTED.
FISCAL RESTRAINT, TRANSPARENCY AND PUTTING CITIZENS FIRST.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. FISHER. 12 SECONDS LEFT.
SO. DO I SEE ANYBODY ELSE HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT? MR. BENSON, PLEASE COME FORWARD. [INAUDIBLE] BENSON, AMARILLO. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE BEEN UP HERE.
YOU GUYS HAVE PUT 12 MILLION PLUS IN THE HOMELESS CAMP AND $0 FOR SENIORS.
I WOULD LIKE YOU GUYS TO STEP UP AND DO SOMETHING FOR OUR SENIORS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING. THANKS. THANK YOU, MR. BENSON. OKAY, ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER PUBLIC COMMENT? IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO OUR EDC NOMINATION.
OKAY. WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE WHO CHOSE TO SPEAK HERE TODAY.
MOVING RIGHT ALONG. ITEM AGENDA 3.A. WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER AN APPOINTMENT.
[3.A. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT - AMARILLO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS VACANCY]
SO A QUICK SUMMARY AND RECAP HERE. WE'VE ROCKED ALONG FOR I MEAN PROBABLY A YEAR, HONESTLY, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S CLOSE TO IT.WE PLACED TEMPORARY BOARD MEMBERS. COUNCILMAN SMITH IN THE BACK.
[00:15:01]
YOU KNOW, JUST A TRUE PROFESSIONAL OLD NAVY GUY.AND, LIKE, IF THERE'S A DUTY, HE CAN GO OUT AND DO THE WORK IN.
HE'S ALWAYS UP FOR IT. AND SO HE STEPPED ON BOARD.
YOU KNOW, MISTER FAIRLEY TOOK A PHONE CALL AND WAS WILLING TO SERVE.
HE STEPPED DOWN. WE'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING WITH TEMPORARY BOARD MEMBERS.
SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT'S BEHIND US IN THAT REARVIEW MIRROR, BUT FOCUS ON WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND LET'S PUT THE STRONGEST TEAM TOGETHER THAT WE CAN.
WE'VE ALREADY PUT THE STRONGEST FORMATION AND BYLAWS AND POLICIES TOGETHER THAT WE CAN.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR WITH THOSE ISSUES THERE BEHIND US.
WE NEED A STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN, MA'AM. THANK YOU FOR BEING LASER FOCUSED AND KEEPING US GOING IN A DIRECTION WHERE WE CAN GO AND WE CAN TRULY START KNOCKING DOWN SOME OF THOSE TARGETS. IT IS NO SECRET THAT BELL HELICOPTER HAS BEEN ONE OF OUR STRONGEST, IF NOT OUR STRONGEST, RETURN ON INVESTMENT HERE IN AMARILLO. AND WE CAN'T SAY IT LOUD ENOUGH THAT WE NEED BELL HELICOPTER AND THOSE BOARD MEMBERS THAT SIT AROUND THAT TABLE WHEN THEY'RE DECIDING WHERE WILL THOSE NEXT HELICOPTERS BE BUILT, THAT THEY HEAR THAT AMARILLO, TEXAS LOVES THEM, LOVES THEIR PEOPLE, LOVES THOSE EMPLOYEES HERE, AND THAT WE'RE A PHENOMENAL HOME AND WE WILL GROW WITH THEM.
OUR EDC IS GOING TO BE HAND IN HAND WITH THEM AS THEY TAKE ON THEIR NEXT SET OF CONTRACTS.
AND WE'RE LEARNING A GREAT DEAL ABOUT THAT. BUT AMARILLO IS GOING TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR IN THAT.
SO WE TRULY HAVE TWO YEARS OF SUCCESS HERE, AND WE GET TO PLACE ONE MORE PERSON IN A POSITION.
AND THEN WE ENCOURAGE THOSE EDC BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE LISTENING, PLACE A STRONG CHAIR, PUT A STRONG LEADER, FALL IN LINE, AND YOU GUYS GO DO THE WORK AND THEN LET US COME ALONGSIDE YOU AND WORK NEXT TO YOU.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET IN YOUR WAY. SO ALL THAT TO SAY, I LOVE DISCUSSION.
I DON'T WANT TO RUSH THIS. WE WILL BE EFFICIENT.
WE'VE THROWN OUT A FEW NAMES. I HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT I KNOW WOULD SERVE VERY WELL.
AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOU MAY AS WELL. SO I'M GOING TO DIRECT THE CONVERSATION HERE IF I CAN.
I SEE COUNCILMAN SIMPSON'S ALREADY LIT UP OVER HERE.
SO WE'LL TAKE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW ANY REMARKS, AND THEN WE'LL JUST GO LEFT TO RIGHT, LET EVERYBODY GIVE A STATEMENT ABOUT WHAT THEY THINK WOULD BE THE BEST FOR THE EDC.
THEN AFTER THAT'S CONCLUDED, THEN I'LL TAKE A MOTION.
I'M PREPARED TO NOMINATE BRIAN BRUCKNER AS THE REPLACEMENT.
I THINK WE'RE AT A PIVOTAL POINT WHERE HIS EXPERIENCE AND HAVING SOMEONE WHO'S PREVIOUSLY BEEN ON THE BOARD, AND ACTUALLY SERVED ON TWO SEARCH COMMITTEES.
WE'RE ABOUT TO ENTER A SEARCH. WOULD BE GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR US TO HAVE.
WITHOUT CURRENTLY AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. WE DO HAVE STAFF THERE.
BUT YOU KNOW, THOSE THAT ARE SERVING ON THE EDC CURRENTLY SOME ARE JUST NOW STARTING TO SERVE.
ONE HAS SERVED A TWO YEAR PERIOD. NOT A LOT OF INSTITUTIONAL HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE THERE.
THANK YOU SIR. ANY REMARKS? OR IF YOU'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND COMMENT ON MAYBE YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
IF YOU HOLD THE BUTTON BACK, ON THE BACK, HOLD IT DOWN.
BOTH OF THEM WOULD BE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS.
I THINK THAT THERE'S VALUE IN INDIVIDUALS THAT CONTINUE THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
BUT EITHER ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS, I'M 50/50 RIGHT NOW ON EITHER ONE OF THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS.
OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN TIPPS. I THINK ALL THE NAMES I THINK THAT WE'VE THROWN OUT, I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB IN OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO LOOK AT ALL THE APPLICANTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERESTED.
SO I WOULD SUPPORT BRIAN BRUCKNER. AND I ALSO SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT JAY [INAUDIBLE] LAST TIME.
I THINK HE'S A GREAT BUSINESS OWNER, PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
[00:20:04]
BUT EITHER OF THOSE TWO AND AGAIN, I'M NOT AGAINST WILL EITHER.SO I THINK ALL STRONG CANDIDATES, I THINK A GOOD DISCUSSION.
WE CAN LAY IT ON SOMEBODY. RIGHT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN.
I THINK FOR THE TWO NEWEST ON THIS COUNCIL, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOUGHER THINGS TO DO.
TO COME IN NEW AND HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHO TO APPOINT.
I APPRECIATE DOUG TAKING US AROUND THE CITY TO SEE THE PROPERTIES THAT AEDC IS INVOLVED IN AND THE THINGS THAT THEY'VE BROUGHT INTO THE CITY. AND WHERE THAT PUTS US AS WE LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING. AS I VIEWED ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND TOOK THOSE IN AS TO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, I CAN´T AGREE WITH YOU LESS THAT HAVING SOME INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE WOULD BE IMPORTANT, BUT WE'RE ALSO MOVING FORWARD AND HAVING SOME NEW, FRESH EYES ON THINGS MAY BE A BETTER DIRECTION TO GO.
VERY ACTIVE FROM TWO DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE.
ONE WOULD BE, AND THE NAME HAS SURFACED HERE ALREADY, IT´S WILL MILLER.
BUT THE OTHER IS JOE ALARCON. AND I THINK BOTH OF THOSE WOULD BE GOOD.
AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, AS COUNCIL, WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
THANK YOU. SO I VISITED WITH JOE ALARCON. I AGREE, HE IS A HARD WORKER.
HE SERVES IN A NONPROFIT CAPACITY AS A DIRECTOR.
YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT A BUILDING RESUME BEHIND HIM.
AND BEING A BUILDER, I KNOW THAT WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING IS NOT LIKE CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING IS PROBLEM SOLVING. AND SO I THINK HE BRINGS THAT.
HOWEVER, I WAS REALLY UPFRONT WITH HIM WHEN I WAS TEXTING HIM BACK AND FORTH. I SAID, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T WANT TO GIVE YOU A GOOD FEELING AND THEN NOT NOMINATE YOU, LIKE, I KNOW WHAT WE NEED. I KNOW THAT THE WILL MILLER PIECE IS WHAT THAT BODY NEEDS.
BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, THAT DOESN'T JUST MEAN WELL, YOU SERVED ON THE BOARD FOR SIX YEARS, OR YOU WERE AROUND TEN YEARS AGO. THAT TRULY MEANS INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FROM A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THAT IS WHAT THAT GENTLEMAN HAS DONE FOR 30 PLUS YEARS.
AND SO HE'S A PHENOMENAL LENDER, BANKER. BUT WHAT HE DOES FOR A LIVING IS HE ANALYZES BUSINESSES TO SEE LIKE WHAT IS THEIR FINANCIAL CAPABILITY, WHAT'S THEIR STRENGTHS, WHAT'S THEIR WEAKNESSES, AND WHAT'S THE PROBABILITY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
THAT'S WHAT HE BASES LOANS ON. HE'S THE MOST CONSERVATIVE PERSON THAT I'VE DONE BUSINESS WITH, AND TO THIS DAY, I HAVE NO IDEA WHY HE LOANS ME MONEY, BUT I APPRECIATE IT.
AND I'M JUST BEING UPFRONT HONEST. LIKE THE THE RELATIONSHIP THAT I HAVE WITH HIM PERSONALLY AND THROUGH HIS INSTITUTION HAS ALWAYS BEEN LIKE 100% BY THE BOOK.
AND JUST A GUY THAT IS IN THE BLACK AND WHITE.
SO HE IS THAT MIND SET. SO I WOULD TRY TO SWAY YOU GUYS A LITTLE BIT TO.
LIKE THERE'S NO CONNECTIONS, THERE'S, NO ISSUES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'VE MADE SOME OTHER NOMINATIONS IN THE PAST THAT I DEFINITELY CAN SEE WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT CAUSES SOME OF THOSE POLITICAL RIFTS AND THIS JUST DOESN'T.
AND SO HE'S A FANTASTIC SWITZERLAND IN THE WORLD OF POLITICS.
SO I WOULD ECHO THAT SENTIMENT FOR MR. MILLER, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT JOE ALARCON STRONG, AND MR. BRUCKNER YOU KNOW, HAS HIS NAME ON ONE OF THE BEST COMPANIES THAT AMARILLO HAS SEEN AND GROWN OUT OF AMARILLO AND IS ACROSS MULTI STATES. AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT I WOULD IN ANY WAY PUSH BACK AGAINST LIKE EITHER OF THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS.
BOTH ARE GOING TO BE STRONG AND ADVANTAGEOUS.
I JUST FEEL LIKE WHAT THE TEAM NEEDS IS, IT NEEDS THAT THAT BANKER MENTALITY.
YOU KNOW, SCOTT BENTLEY WAS THERE FOR A GOOD LONG WHILE AND HE KIND OF FACILITATED A LOT OF THAT.
SO THAT'S WHY I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR MR. MILLER.
AND THEN ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT? YEAH, I WOULD ADD TO THIS AND I WOULD, WE DO HAVE FRESH EYES ON THE AEDC.
WE HAVE THREE PEOPLE WHO WERE JUST RECENTLY APPOINTED. I THINK WE DO HAVE FRESH EYES.
[00:25:06]
AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A MIX OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PROVIDING FRESH EYES TO THIS BUDGET, AS WELL AS A MIX OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE ON IT.WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IS CONSIDER PUTTING SOMEONE THAT CAN PROVIDE THAT EXPERIENCE.
I HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH WILL MILLER, WE´LL HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT IN YOU KNOW, COMING UP, YOU KNOW, SHORTLY. BUT I DO THINK WE'RE AT A PIVOTAL POINT THAT WE DO HAVE A YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THREE FRESH EYES.
WE HAVE ONE THAT'S FAIRLY FRESH. I THINK JUST LIKE IT.
IT BEHOOVES US AS A COUNCIL TO HAVE A MIX OF PEOPLE, SOME THAT ARE PROVIDING FRESH PERSPECTIVES, OTHERS THAT ARE PROVIDING SOME HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE AND KNOWLEDGE AND BACKGROUND IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED.
NOTHING AGAINST MR. MILLER AT THIS POINT. I THINK I AGREE WITH YOUR POINTS OF BEING A VALUABLE.
BUT I DO THINK AS WE'RE TRANSITIONING THROUGH THIS, SOMEONE THAT'S HAD EXPERIENCE ON SEARCHING FOR AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WHICH WILL BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THIS NEW BOARD DOES.
WITHOUT DOUBT, EVERYTHING ELSE IS A FAR SECOND.
BEING ABLE TO GUIDE THAT, KNOWING THE PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT'S WORKED IN THE PAST, I THINK IS CRUCIAL. SO I'M GOING TO SUPPORT AND I'M WILLING AND PREPARED TO NOMINATE MR. BRUCKNER TO SERVE ON THE AEDC AND FILL THE OPENING THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
BEFORE THE NOMINATION, IF YOU HAD A COMMENT. I JUST WANTED TO ECHO JOE, IS IT ALARCON? BUT AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT'S. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, WE HAVE ONE COMING UP IN DECEMBER, RIGHT? WELL, WE DO. WE'VE GOT. I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS, BUT WHOEVER WE'VE PLACED IN THAT POSITION, THERE IS SOMEBODY THAT'S FULFILLING AN END OF TERM.
AND SO IT'LL COME BACK UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL OR YOU KNOW.
I THINK WE'LL HAVE TWO VACANCIES IN DECEMBER. I MEAN, TWO TERMS EXPIRING.
THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. SO YES. IT WILL BE THIS POSITION.
WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GO OUT AND FIND YOUR LEADER, WHOEVER THAT IS.
AT THE AEDC? YES. OKAY. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, YOU KNOW.
I UNDERSTAND THAT. RIGHT? I BELIEVE WHAT MR. SIMPSON SAID ON INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
OKAY. AND I'M GOING TO. I WOULD SUPPORT BRUCKNER.
OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR ARE WE READY TO MAKE A MOTION? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WELL, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE WOULD NOMINATE WILL MILLER TO THE AEDC BOARD. AND I WOULD SECOND THAT ONE. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION, AND I HAVE A SECOND FOR WILL MILLER, AND WILL ALLOW FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO CALL THE VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF NOMINATING WILL MILLER TO THE AEDC BOARD? PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? I'M GOING TO VOTE IN OPPOSITION.
OPPOSITION. NOW, YOU COULD ABSTAIN AS WELL. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN ABSTAIN UNLESS YOU HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST. I THINK ABSTENTIONS ARE ALLOWED IN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, BUT NOT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A. TO MAKE SURE OF THAT, MR. MCWILLIAMS, COULD YOU VERIFY THAT? BECAUSE I THINK IT DOES MATTER IN HOW AN INDIVIDUAL MAY FEEL LIKE VOTED AGAINST OR FORCED.
SO COULD A COULD A MEMBER OF THE DAIS HERE TODAY ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE WITHOUT A CONFLICT? YES. OKAY. SO I JUST. I OFFER THAT. THEN I'LL RESCIND IT.
I'LL ABSTAIN FROM THIS VOTE. OKAY. SO LET ME BACKTRACK HERE FOR A SECOND.
MOTION IS FOR WILL MILLER WITH A SECOND. AND I'VE CALLED THE VOTE.
THERE'S TWO AYES, AND THEN I HAVE ONE ABSTENTION.
AND THEN YOUR VOTES ARE, IF YOU'RE READY? NO.
OKAY. VOTE AGAINST. OKAY. AND THEN. I'LL ABSTAIN.
AND ABSTAIN. SO I WOULD LIKE TO. CAN I DO AN ABSTAIN? YES, SIR. YES, SIR, YOU CAN. SO LOOK, TO CLEAN THAT UP, MOTION FAILS.
I'LL SECOND. OKAY. I HAVE A MOTION FOR BRIAN BRUCKNER TO FILL THAT SPOT ON THE AEDC, AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.
MR. BRUCKNER WILL BE OUR NEW TEAMMATE OVER THERE.
AND WE WELCOME HIM TO THAT TEAM AND APPRECIATE IT.
[00:30:01]
THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR WORKING THROUGH THAT, I THINK IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL WAY.THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT CONCLUDES ALL OF OUR BUSINESS HERE TODAY FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM.
I'M GOING TO MOVE TO ADJOURN US HERE. ANY OPPOSED OF THAT? WE'RE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.