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[Call to Order]
RECOGNIZE A QUORUM SEATED UP HERE READY TO GO, CALL OURSELVES IN SESSION, INTO ORDER. WE'LL START TODAY A[1. Ceremonial Items ]
LITTLE AFTER 3 O'CLOCK WITH OUR INVOCATION. IF YOU GUYS WOULD PLEASE STAND AS WE HAVE THE INVOCATION BY LESLY BROADBENT, AND THEN REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGES, PLEASE.GOOD AFTERNOON. I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO NOT JUST PRAY THIS AFTERNOON, I'VE BEEN ASKED TO SHARE A WORD OF SCRIPTURE AND A COUPLE OF WORDS BEFORE I BEGIN.
IN THE LETTER TO ROMANS, THE 14TH CHAPTER, VERSE 19, THE APOSTLE PAUL WRITES, "LET US THEREFORE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO DO WHAT LEADS TO PEACE AND TO MUTUAL EDIFICATION." IN THIS SECTION OF THE LETTER, PAUL TELLS THE ROMANS THAT PETTY DISAGREEMENTS SHOULD NOT CREATE DIVISION AMONG BELIEVERS. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT DIETARY LAWS AND RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS. HE MAKES THE CASE THAT DISAGREEMENTS OVER SUCH TRIVIAL MATTERS MUST NOT DIVIDE US THERE MUST BE UNITY AMONG US. AND TO THIS I CHALLENGE THIS COUNCIL, EVEN THIS CITY, TO BE UNIFIED. 13 YEARS AGO, THE AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS NAMED AN INTERESTING NEWS STORY AS THEIR STORY OF THE YEAR.
IN FACT, THE REPORT WAS PICKED UP BY NATIONAL MEDIA. THE STORY SEEMS FAIRLY MUNDANE UPON FIRST LOOK. THE STORY WAS THAT 4 DOWNTOWN PROTESTANT CHURCHES 3 OF THEM, AMARILLO'S VERY FIRST CHURCHES, WERE FORMING A RELATIONAL ALLIANCE WITH ONE ANOTHER. FIRST BAPTIST, FIRST PRESBYTERIAN, CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST, POLK STREET METHODIST CHURCH, OF WHICH I AM THE PASTOR, HAD FORMED A STRONG BOND WITH ONE ANOTHER AND HAD DECIDED TO HOLD AT LEAST A COUPLE OF WORSHIP SERVICES PER YEAR TOGETHER TO BE INVOLVED IN MISSIONAL OUTREACH TO OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT IT WAS A STORY WAS MUNDANE, BUT IT WAS SURPRISING ENOUGH THAT THE AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS NAMED IT THE STORY OF THE YEAR AND ACTUALLY WAS PICKED UP BY NATIONAL MEDIA. FOUR CHURCHES OF DIFFERENT DENOMINATIONS WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO BE UNIFIED, AND IT MADE THE STORY OF THE YEAR IN AMARILLO. THE STORY OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF THESE FOUR DOWNTOWN CHURCHES, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, AMARILLO'S OLDEST CHURCHES DATING BACK TO 1888, SHOULD BE THE STORY OF AMARILLO AND THIS COUNCIL. THOUGH WE MAY DIFFER IN OPINIONS ON MINOR DETAILS, THOUGH WE MAY DISAGREE ON HOW TO REACH OUR GOALS, THOUGH WE MAY EVEN HAVE FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENTS THAT ARE PART OF OUR CORE VALUES, WE HAVE THE SAME GOAL IN MIND.
FOR THE DOWNTOWN CHURCHES, IT IS TO REACH AMARILLO AND TEXAS PANHANDLE WITH THE GOOD NEWS OF SALVATION OF JESUS CHRIST.
WITH THIS COUNCIL, IT'S TO MAKE AMARILLO A SAFE PLACE TO RAISE A FAMILY, WHERE BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES CAN THRIVE AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. AS CITIZENS OF AMARILLO, OUR GOAL MUST BE TO, MUST BE TO BE UNITED AND HELP THE CITY THRIVE. NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS, AS WE SAY IN AMARILLO. WE MUST ALL, CITIZENS AND GOVERNMENT ALIKE, RECOGNIZE WE ALL WANT THE SAME THING, AND THAT IS THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT UNITES US THAN DIVIDES US. AND SO, COUNCIL, I CHALLENGE YOU, USING THE WORDS OF THE GREAT METHODIST JOHN WESLEY, FROM THE YEAR 1771. HE WROTE, THOUGH WE CANNOT THINK ALIKE, MAY WE NOT ALL LOVE ALIKE? MAY WE NOT BE OF ONE HEART THOUGH WE ARE NOT OF ONE OPINION? WITHOUT DOUBT WE MAY.
IN THIS, ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD MAY UNITE, EVEN THOUGH THEY RETAIN THESE SMALLER DIFFERENCES. THESE REMAINING AS THEY ARE, THEY MAY HELP ONE ANOTHER INCREASE IN LOVE AND IN GOOD WORKS, BE UNIFIED AMARILLO, LEAD US FORWARD, COUNCIL, TO A NEW DAY. LEAD US FORWARD TO A UNIFIED FUTURE TOGETHER.
WOULD YOU BOW WITH ME? ALMIGHTY GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT CITY IN WHICH WE ARE PRIVILEGED TO LIVE. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SCHOOL LEADERS AND TEACHERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, FIRST RESPONDERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER CITIZENS THAT HELP MAKE UP THE FABRIC OF AMARILLO. OH GOD, WE ASK FOR PROTECTION UPON OUR CITY.
THE VIOLENCE THAT WE READ ABOUT AND SEE IN OUR CITY IS HEARTBREAKING.
WE PRAY AGAINST THOSE FORCES THAT BRING VIOLENCE INTO OUR CITY. WE BIND THE EVIL ONE AND HIS MINION IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, FOR YOU HAVE OVERCOME THE ENEMY AND PROMISED US AN ABUNDANT LIFE. WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GRANT US HERE IN AMARILLO AN ABUNDANT LIFE.
LET US LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL, FILLED WITH FREEDOM AND PEACE AND FAITH AND PROSPERITY.
BLESS THIS COUNCIL AND THEIR IMPORTANT WORK TODAY. PROTECT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND BLESS THEM AS THEY SELFLESSLY SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST WE PRAY. AMEN.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE
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REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
COUNCIL, THE FIRST THING WE'RE GOING TO DO IS RECOGNIZE AND ALSO RECOGNIZE SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS.
NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH. IF YOU GUYS WILL MEET ME DOWN HERE, AND MIKE, IF WE CAN GO AHEAD AND BRING YOU AND YOUR TEAM UP.
OKAY, WELL, IT IS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH. SO, I WILL READ THIS PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS; PROFESSIONAL PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT OPERATIONS OF GOVERNMENT BY ENSURING THE TIMELY, ETHICAL, AND RESPONSIBLE ACQUISITION OF GOODS AND SERVICES NECESSARY TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, AND WHEREAS; PUBLIC PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS ARE ENTRUSTED WITH SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC FUNDS AND PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS, COMPETITION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE EXPENDITURE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND WHEREAS; PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS PROVIDES STRATEGIC LOGISTICAL AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION WHILE ALSO DEVELOPING SOUND PURCHASING PRACTICES, ADMINISTERING CONTRACTS, AND FOSTERING STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SUPPLIERS AND INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS. AND WHEREAS; THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENTAL PURCHASING, KNOWN AS NIGP, THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC PROCUREMENT, HAS DESIGNATED THE MONTH OF MARCH AS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE PROCUREMENT PROFESSIONALS SERVE IN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS; NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND VALUE OF THOSE WHO WORK IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO GOOD GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC TRUST.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MARCH 2026 AS NATIONAL PROCUREMENT MONTH.
THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR THE RECOGNITION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TRUST WITH THE TAXPAYER DOLLAR. I'LL JUST SAY THERE'S A LOT OF BOXES TO CHECK IN THIS, THIS WORLD OF PROCUREMENT, AND IT COULDN'T BE DONE WITHOUT THIS TEAM BACK HERE.
OKAY, THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S ATTENDED THE MEETING HERE TODAY AND PARTICIPATES REGULARLY WITH US. YOU KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO START OUR MEETINGS IN UNISON AND WITH THE RIGHT TARGET THAT WE'RE SHOOTING AT.
AND SO, IN SERVICE TO YOU GUYS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS, MEN AND WOMEN THAT SERVE YOU DAILY IN A LOT OF AREAS THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED. PROCUREMENT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE IMPORTANT AREAS. SO, THANKS FOR LETTING US DO THAT. MISS CITY SECRETARY, DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? OR MR. CITY MANAGER? NO, SIR.
[3. Public Comment ]
INTO PUBLIC COMMENT. MISS CITY SECRETARY, IF YOU'LL READ US INTO THAT, WE'LL GET GOING.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.
AT EACH POSTED MEETING, WE INVITE OUR FELLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADDRESS CITY
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COUNCIL REGARDING POSTED AGENDA ITEMS OR TOPICS RELATED TO CITY POLICY. DURING BOTH PUBLIC COMMENT AND ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY, EACH SPEAKER WILL HAVE 3 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL AT THE END OF 2.5 MINUTES, A WARNING BEEP WILL SOUND TO ALERT YOU THAT YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT TO WRAP UP YOUR THOUGHTS. WE DO HAVE MULTIPLE PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY. IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM WITH A PUBLIC HEARING, WE ASK THAT YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENT ON THAT ITEM DURING EITHER PUBLIC COMMENT OR THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT NOT BOTH, IN ORDER TO HELP US KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS. IT IS YOUR DECISION AT WHICH POINT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK. WE WILL UTILIZE BOTH PODIUMS TODAY. WHEN WE CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE EMPTY PODIUM. UPON YOUR TURN, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIVE WITHIN AMARILLO CITY LIMITS, THEN YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR COMMENTS TO CITY COUNCIL. IF YOU ARE SPEAKING ON AN ITEM NOT ON TODAY'S AGENDA, THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT LIMITS HOW ELECTED OFFICIALS MAY RESPOND.COUNCIL MAY RESPOND WITH STATEMENTS OF FACT, THEY MAY ASK YOUR TOPIC BE ADDED TO A FUTURE AGENDA, OR THEY MAY REFER THE MATTER TO THE CITY MANAGER WHO CAN HAVE STAFF STEP OUT AND VISIT WITH YOU REGARDING YOUR TOPIC.
IF YOU'RE HERE TO SPEAK TODAY AND HAVE NOT YET SIGNED UP, IF YOU'LL PLEASE COME SEE ME UP HERE AT THE DAIS AND FILL OUT A FORM WE WILL GET YOU ADDED TO THE LIST SO YOU CAN SPEAK.
AT THIS TIME, OUR FIRST SPEAKER WE WILL INVITE UP IS CATHERINE BELL. AND AFTER CATHERINE WILL BE DARREN AND MELISSA JONES. CATHERINE BELL. OKAY. IN THAT CASE, DARREN AND MELISSA JONES. AND ON DECK AFTER THE JONES WILL BE KIM BENSON.
THE COPIES? YEAH, I HAVE COPIES THAT ARE REFERENCED IN MY DISCUSSION.
COULD I HAND THEM? YOU'LL GIVE THEM TO THE OFFICER HERE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TODAY. I AM DARREN JONES. THIS IS MY WIFE MELISSA. WE'RE BOTH LIFETIME RESIDENTS OF THE PANHANDLE, LIFETIME OF AMARILLO. I WANTED TO BRING UP THAT I HAD A MISFORTUNATE INCIDENT THE OTHER DAY, FEBRUARY 27TH SPECIFICALLY. WHEREBY CODE ENFORCEMENT EXECUTED A WARRANT AT MY RESIDENCE AND A LOT OF PROPERTY WAS REMOVED. THE POINT OF CONTENTION WAS THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED, AND I, I FORMULATED A LIST OF THAT WHICH WAS ENCUMBERED UH, ONE OF THE RESERVATIONS I'VE GONE FROM DEALING KINDLY WITH JACOB DIAZ TO BEING HANDED TO DAVID SANCHEZ WITH RISK MANAGEMENT. HE IS IN AN AWKWARD POSITION OF WANTING OR BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO VALIDATE THAT WHICH WAS REMOVED BY EITHER PHOTO PROOF OR RECEIPT. I DON'T HAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF OF ITS EXISTENCE IN THE PILE, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE RECEIPTS ON MANY OF THE ITEMS THAT WERE FAMILY-RELATED IN THE SENSE OF COMING FROM GRANDPARENTS OR FATHERS THAT ARE NOW DEAD. ALL I WOULD ASK IS THAT IF SOMEONE COULD PROVIDE DAVID AN ALTERNATIVE AS TO HIS DISCUSSION OF THE AUDIT AND HOW IT MIGHT SEEK RESOLUTION.
OKAY, MR. JONES, DOES THAT COMPLETE YOUR COMMENTS? UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY TO ADD? GO AHEAD.
THE DEPARTMENT WITH MR. DIAZ HAS ALREADY ADMITTED THAT THEY DID NOT NOTIFY US.
THE LETTER WAS NEVER SENT OUT.
THEY HAD A NEW PROGRAM COME INTO PLACE, AND SOMEHOW WE FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS OF THAT PROGRAM.
THE LETTER WAS NEVER SENT OUT.
THEY WENT TO THE JUDGE TO BE ABLE TO GET A WARRANT TO REMOVE THOSE ITEMS, AND THEY TOLD THE JUDGE THEY HAD NOTIFIED US 4 SEPARATE TIMES.
WE NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER. WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION.
NOW THE JUDGE IS IN AN AWKWARD POSITION BECAUSE SHE SIGNED THAT, AND, UH, WE'RE IN AN AWKWARD POSITION AS WELL.
OKAY, WELL, WE DEFINITELY WANT
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RESOLUTION, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. IT'S THE FIRST THAT I'VE HEARD OF IT, I BELIEVE. I DON'T THINK I'VE RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE, EMAIL. I DON'T KNOW IF OUR CITY MANAGER HAS HEARD.I'M NOT AWARE OF THE SITUATION, BUT WE CAN GET I'LL GET WITH THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, ANDREW FREEMAN. WE CAN LOOK IN THE SITUATION AND CONTACT Y'ALL FURTHER TO TALK ABOUT IT FURTHER.
DO WE HAVE ALL OF YOUR CONTACT INFO, SIR? YES, SIR. OKAY WE WILL DEFINITELY ADDRESS IT AND REACH BACK OUT TO YOU PROMPTLY.
OKAY, KIM BENSON, AND ON DECK AFTER KIM WILL BE MIKE FISHER.
GOOD AFTERNOON, KIM BENSON. I CAME BEFORE YOU LAST THE TWO WEEKS AGO TO ASK FOR Y'ALL TO CONSIDER STREAMING THE BOARD MEETINGS, AND MR. PRESCOTT WAS NICE ENOUGH TO ASK FOR THAT TO BE PUT ON, I THOUGHT, THIS AGENDA, BUT WHEN I READ THE AGENDA FOR THIS WEEK NOT THERE. SO, I COME BEFORE Y'ALL TO CONSIDER THAT IF YOU WOULD STREAM THESE BOARD MEETINGS THERE'S CONDEMNATION BOARD MEETINGS YOU WOULD HAVE THAT RECORDING TO SEE, MAYBE TO GET THEIR ANSWERS. THE BOARD MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT. I MEAN, THEY'RE MAKING DECISIONS. I MEAN, WE FOUND THAT OUT WITH THE PRAIRIE DOGS.
CITIZENS WERE THERE THAT WAS ME THAT WAS THERE AND SAW THAT DECISION AND ASKED THEM TO PLEASE CONSIDER SOME OTHER OPTIONS. THE CITIZENS DON'T KNOW THESE THINGS. THEY'RE NOT EQUIPPED TO KNOW THESE THINGS UNLESS THEY ATTEND THESE MEETINGS. I DO APPRECIATE, MR. PRESCOTT, YOU DO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO CITIZENS, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT. YOU KNOW, WE'VE NOT ALWAYS SEEN EYE TO EYE, BUT YOU ARE LISTENING. THERE'S BEEN MANY TIMES THAT I'VE COME BEFORE THIS THAT YOU'RE LISTENING TO US, SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT. PUT IT ON THE AGENDA, GUYS.
THANK YOU, MRS. BENSON. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING. MR. CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU GIVE AN UPDATE? YES, IT IS PLANNED TO COME, I BELIEVE, THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
MY NAME IS MIKE FISHER. I LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS OF AMARILLO. I GUESS YOU GUYS ARE PROBABLY PAYING ATTENTION ABOUT THE PRAIRIE DOG THING.
MY PAGE GOT OVER HALF A MILLION VIEWS ON TWO POSTS THAT I MADE ABOUT THE PRAIRIE DOGS. THERE WERE 3,283 VERIFIED SIGNATURES ON THE CHANGE.ORG PETITION. IF YOU GUYS DON'T MIND, IF YOU WOULD READ THAT, I CAN GIVE YOU A COPY IF YOU WANT IT.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY, THAT BOARD VOTED TO KILL ALL THOSE PRAIRIE DOGS.
AND NOW THE CITY CHANGES THE NARRATIVE. AND I'M ASSUMING IT'S DONNIE HOOPER BECAUSE HE WAS THERE THAT DAY. AND NOW THE CITY'S POSITION IS QUITE DIFFERENT. YOU KNOW, THE PRAIRIE DOGS, IT SEEMS LIKE WE WENT FROM WANTING TO KILL THEM TO WE NEVER SAID THAT. WE'RE COMING UP WITH A PLAN TO MOVE THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT COMES BACK TO I THINK THAT YOU GUYS SHOULD CONSIDER A NEW POLICY ON HOW TO PICK BOARDS. AND IT'S NO FAULT OF YOUR OWN. I'M NOT BLAMING YOU GUYS FOR THIS.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST LIKE, LET'S GET MIKE. YEAH, IT SOUNDS GOOD. AND EVERYBODY VOTES. YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE HEARD THAT THERE'S A GUY ON THE BOARD FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING WHERE WE DECIDE WHAT PEOPLE CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH THEIR LAND. HE, I WON'T NAME HIM BECAUSE HE SEEMS TO BE COMING AROUND A LITTLE BIT, BUT HE SAID, I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY SHOULD BE TOLD WHAT TO DO WITH THEIR LAND. HE'S ON THE BOARD. LIKE, MAYBE WE NEED TO ASK PEOPLE SOME QUESTIONS.
LIKE, WHEN THEY MAYBE WE NEED AN INTERVIEW PROCESS, A BOARD FOR BOARDS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD IDEA, BUT MAYBE ASK PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE PARKS AND RECS, DO YOU GO TO THE PARK? DO YOU USE THE PARK? HOW OFTEN DO YOU GO TO THE PARK? DO YOU HAVE KIDS? DO YOU TAKE YOUR KIDS TO THE PARK? AND I'VE GOT A PRETTY COOL IDEA FOR THE PRAIRIE DOG THING, BUT I THINK EVERYBODY JUST KIND OF LOOKS AT ME LIKE I'M NUTS, LIKE DON TIPPS DOES ALL THE TIME WHEN I SUGGEST SOMETHING.
AND I REALLY THINK WE SHOULD EMBRACE IT. I THINK THAT, LIKE, THAT'S WHY THOSE GUYS PROBABLY SPENT A LOT OF MONEY NAMING THE BASEBALL TEAM. WHY DON'T WE EMBRACE THAT, CREATE A LITTLE PRAIRIE DOG TOWN? I THINK IT WOULD DRAW IN PEOPLE. WHY NOT? IT'S VERY LOW COST BECAUSE THEY ALREADY SURVIVE HERE. THEY LIVE HERE. ALL WE NEED TO DO IS PUT UP A WALL AND DIG DOWN MAYBE 6 OR 8 FEET TO KEEP FROM GETTING OUT. BUT I THINK IT'D BE A GREAT IDEA. BUT WHO AM I? I'M JUST A CRAZY GUY, I THINK, TO HALF THE PEOPLE.
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FOR LETTING ME SPEAK, AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS LISTENING.APPRECIATE THE IDEAS AND THE CONTINUED COMMUNICATION.
MAYOR, THAT CONCLUDES EVERYONE THAT SIGNED UP TODAY.
I SEE MR. FEINGOLD IN THE BACK. IF YOU DON'T MIND COMING UP, YOU CAN SPEAK NEXT, ALAN, AND THEN IF YOU WOULD, IF YOU'LL FILL OUT OUR PAPER SO WE'RE ALL KIND OF FOLLOWING THE SAME RULES FOR EVERYONE.
HELLO, ALAN FEINGOLD. I DO LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS. I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO ITEM 4.6 IN THE CONSENT AGENDA. IT SAYS CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION NUMBER SOMETHING SOMETHING. THIS ITEM IS A SECOND AND FINAL READING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION CONSIDERING THE ACCEPTANCE, PLACEMENT, AND PUBLIC DISPLAY OF A DONATED TEN COMMANDMENTS MONUMENT TO BE INSTALLED ON CITY PROPERTY. IT DOES SEEM TO ME THAT'S A SLIGHT REDUNDANCY. A FINAL READING TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION CONSIDERING. SO, MY INTERPRETATION OF THIS IS THAT YOU HAVE NOT YET SELECTED THE MONUMENT. IF MY INTERPRETATION IS WRONG, THEN YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT. BUT MY GUESS IS YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING ACCEPTING A MONUMENT, SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT THE MONUMENT.
TO BEGIN WITH, ANY MONUMENT OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS THAT'S WRITTEN IN ENGLISH IS A HISTORICAL INCONGRUITY. THE ORIGINAL TEN COMMANDMENTS WERE WRITTEN, OR PERHAPS CARVED, IN HEBREW, IN FACT ANCIENT HEBREW. I DOUBT THAT YOU WOULD PUT UP A MONUMENT OF THAT SORT EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BE CLOSER TO THE ORIGINAL, BUT LET'S SAY FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT YOU PUT UP ONE IN ENGLISH, THEN I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING: DO NOT USE ANY ROMAN NUMERALS. TO PUT ROMAN NUMERALS NEXT TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IS NOT MERELY A HISTORICAL INCONGRUITY, IT'S AN INSULT. IF YOU MUST USE NUMERALS, AND THERE AREN'T ANY IN THE BIBLE FOR THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, BUT IF YOU MUST USE NUMERALS, USE ARABIC NUMERALS, YOU KNOW, 01, 2, 3, 4, 5, AND 6, AND SO ON. THE NUMERALS WE USE EVERY DAY IN EVERY DOCUMENT FOR ALL KINDS OF ACCOUNTING, THEY ARE ACTUALLY ARABIC NUMERALS THAT WERE IMPORTED INTO WESTERN EUROPE SOMETIME IN THE 7TH OR 8TH CENTURY, EXCEPT FOR ZERO. ZERO CAME FROM INDIA. APPARENTLY, CERTAIN INDIAN PHILOSOPHERS DECIDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE A NUMBER REPRESENTING THE ABSENCE OF ANYTHING, SOMETHING WHICH DID NOT OCCUR TO ANY CULTURE PREVIOUS TO THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WAS IMPORTED TO THE ARAB COUNTRIES THAT THEN IMPORTED THEIR NUMERALS TO WESTERN EUROPE THROUGH SPAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MR. FEINGOLD, WE APPRECIATE YOU ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL AS A STATEMENT OF FACT. THE MONUMENT APPLICATION THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE STAFF AND THAT COUNCIL APPROVED IS IN THE PREVIOUS MINUTES, SO IF YOU WANT TO LOOK BACK, IT DOES HAVE A PHOTO OF WHAT THE MONUMENT LOOKS LIKE. THE VERSION BEING THE SUPREME COURT VERSION THAT'S ON THE CAPITOL DOWN IN AUSTIN. SO, THANK YOU. AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT COMMUNICATION'S OUT THERE FOR ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO LOOK.
THANK YOU, SIR. DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE? MR. ADAIR.
I FIRST OF ALL WANTED TO COMMEND TIM REED ON THE PRAIRIE DOG THINGS. I SAW THE VIDEO WHERE HE WAS OUT THERE HELPING THEM CATCH THEM AND EVERYTHING. AND I WANTED TO BRING THIS UP BECAUSE WHEN THIS WENT TO THE PARKS AND REC BOARD, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE DISCUSSION OR ANYTHING, AND THERE WAS A VOTE TAKEN TO JUST KILL THEM. AND THEN LATER I LEARNED THAT I THOUGHT I KNEW A LOT ABOUT THESE BOARDS, BUT I LEARNED SOMETHING NEW ABOUT ALL THESE BOARDS THAT IF THEY SPEND UNDER $50,000, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME TO THE CITY COUNCIL. UM, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE 5 BOARDS THAT SPEND $45,000 TWICE
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A YEAR, THAT'S $450,000.THAT'S GOT TO BE A GOOD IMPACT ON OUR BUDGET. AND I WAS JUST WANTING TO ASK THIS COUNCIL IF WE COULD HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AND MAYBE DROP THAT AMOUNT DOWN TO A LOWER AMOUNT, BECAUSE THAT'S A SITUATION THAT COULD KIND OF GET OUT OF HAND WITH A LOT OF THESE BOARDS AND THE SPENDING, JUST TO JUST THEM DOING THAT TO KEEP STUFF AWAY FROM THIS COUNCIL. IF WE COULD MAYBE PUT THAT ON A FUTURE AGENDA OR HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THAT SEEMS LIKE A LOT. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BOARDS, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A LARGE AMOUNT THAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT BOARDS COULD SPEND IMPACTING OUR BUDGET. SO, THAT'S WHAT I HAD TO SAY.
APPRECIATE YOU, JOHN. THANK YOU. DO I HAVE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE PUBLIC COMMENT HERE TODAY? OKAY, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THAT SECTION AND MOVE FORWARD WITH,
[4. Consent Agenda]
NUMBER 4, OUR CONSENT AGENDA.DO I HAVE, ANYTHING THAT COUNCIL HAS FURTHER QUESTIONS ON LISTED ON YOUR CONSENT AGENDA. WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. WE WILL MOVE OVER INTO OUR DISCUSSION ITEMS.
[5.1. Presentation of the Amarillo Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) ]
ITEM 5.1, MISS CITY SECRETARY, I KNOW THAT FOR THAT ONE WE HAVE AN AUDITOR WHO'S OUT OF TOWN AND WE NEED TO ZOOM HIM IN. DO YOU NEED A FEW MINUTES TO GET THAT SET UP? YES, IF WE COULD TAKE MAYBE A 5-MINUTE RECESS, WE'LL GET THE AUDITOR CONNECTED.OKAY, RECESS, OR DO YOU JUST WANT TO MOVE ON AND COME BACK TO THIS ONE? IF MRS. GONZALEZ IS READY, DO YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GO OVER THAT ONE FIRST? DOES THAT MATTER, STEPHANIE, EITHER WAY? I JUST NEED A MOMENT TO GET HIM INTO THIS ROOM.
OKAY, SO SHE NEEDS A MINUTE TO SET IT UP.
OKAY, YES, WE DO NEED SOME TIME TO SET UP. SO, YEAH, GIVE MISS COGGINS A COUPLE MINUTES, WE CAN GET THAT SET UP.
OKAY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A 5-MINUTE BREAK, NOT REALLY GOING TOO FAR. IF YOU'LL HANG TIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GET HIM LOADED UP AND BROUGHT IN, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD.
AND KIND OF START THIS BALL ROLLING, AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF MAYBE IF MRS. OWENS IS GOING TO SPEAK OR IF WE NEED TO HAND IT TO HIM.
YEAH, IT'LL JUST BE ME. SO, YEAH, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, YES, WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON OUR, ON OUR 24-25 FISCAL AUDIT.
AND, AND SO WE HAVE OUR AUDITOR SCOTT KRCHNAK FROM CLA HERE TODAY. THE CURRENT PLAN RIGHT NOW IS THAT WE DO HAVE AN ITEM ON OUR AGENDA. WE ARE GOING TO TABLE IT AND NON-CONSENT TO FRIDAY. THEY NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO PRESENT TO YOU ALL A DOCUMENT. AND SO, THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO SCOTT WILL GIVE YOU ALL A QUICK UPDATE OF THE STATUS OF WHERE THE AUDIT'S AT, INCLUDING THE SECOND REVIEWER.
AND THEN THE PLAN IS TO BRING YOU GUYS A DRAFT ON FRIDAY AND TO REVIEW AND ACCEPT RECEIPT OF. WE WILL THEN FILE THAT FOR OUR DEADLINE. AND THEN WE'LL BRING BACK THE FINAL PRODUCT AFTER THAT. SO, SCOTT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
OK, THANK YOU, GRAYSON. AND THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR ALLOWING CLA, OR CLIFTONLARSONALLEN, TO PERFORM THE CITY OF AMARILLO'S 2025 AUDIT. THE STATUS OF WHERE WE ARE NOW IS ON FRIDAY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, WE WILL PRESENT TO YOU A DRAFT OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT TO BE FILED WITH THE CITY SECRETARY. AND KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS A DRAFT. IT IS NOT THE FINAL COMPLETED PRODUCT. THE AUDIT IS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED. WE ARE GOING THROUGH AT CLA NOW WHAT WE CALL OUR SECOND REVIEW PROCESS, WHERE SOMEONE COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF THE AUDIT OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO LOOKS AT THE TESTING PERFORMED AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THEMSELVES, AND ANY QUESTIONS HE MAY HAVE WILL BE ADDRESSED. AND ONCE WE GET THROUGH THAT PROCESS, WE WILL BE IN A POSITION TO ISSUE THE FINAL ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, NEXT MONTH. AND AT THIS POINT THOUGH,
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I DO WANT TO THANK KATRINA OWENS AND ALL OF THE STAFF WITHIN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR LONG HOURS AND EFFORT TO ENABLE US TO BE IN A POSITION ON FRIDAY TO RELEASE A DRAFT. WE WOULD NOT BE IN THAT POSITION WITHOUT THE LONG HOURS AND HARD WORK OF KATRINA AND HER TEAM, IF YOU WILL. AND I KNOW THE CLA TEAM HERE TO GET TO THIS POSITION HAVE ALSO, PUT IN SOME LONG HOURS AND TO ENABLE US TO RELEASE A DRAFT ON FRIDAY.AND THAT IS KIND OF THE STATUS OF WHERE THE AUDIT IS RIGHT NOW. AND I WILL BE IN AMARILLO IN PERSON ON FRIDAY FOR THE 2 O'CLOCK MEETING TO ANSWER ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.
OKAY, THANK YOU. GO RIGHT AHEAD, MR. KRCHNAK.
THANK YOU. AND THAT IS BASICALLY THE STATUS OF THE 2025 AUDIT AS WE SPEAK.
COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR, SCOTT? NO. OKAY MR. KRCHNAK, I KNOW I'VE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH YOU MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THIS. YOU, YOU CAME AS A NEW, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AUDIT FIRM.
COUNCIL MADE THE CHOICE TO, TO HIRE YOUR FIRM AND MAKE A CHANGE. IT'S A FRESH SET OF EYES ON EVERYTHING. IT'S GOING BACK AND COMBING BACK THROUGH NOT ONLY THE NUMBERS BUT ALSO THE PRACTICES, WITH THE HOPES OF IMPROVING AND CONTINUING TO GET BETTER SO THAT WE CAN FULLY RESOURCE ALL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT PROVIDE OUR CORE SERVICES HERE IN AMARILLO.
SO, YOU'RE VERY IMPORTANT TO US. I KNOW YOU'VE GOT A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
I SAT IN A MEETING WITH YOU LAST THURSDAY FOR THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, AND I BELIEVE WHAT I HEARD WAS THERE MAY BE CLOSE TO 5,000 HOURS WORTH OF MAN-HOURS IN THIS PROJECT BETWEEN THE TWO FIRMS, OURS AND YOURS. AND SO, IN SAYING THAT, MY POINT IS, IS THAT COUNCIL STILL DOESN'T HAVE THE PRODUCT. WE, WE HAVE SOME OF THE PRODUCT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN US. MOST OF IT IS ALL LINING OUT AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE I KNOW I HAVE QUESTIONS ON AND, AND WANT TO DIVE DEEPER IN.
AND SO, IT'S DUE DILIGENCE FOR US. WE DON'T WANT TO BRING SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL HASN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO FULLY DIGEST, UNDERSTAND, EVALUATE, AND APPROVE. SO, WE APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION ON YOUR SIDE. SO, WE WILL BRING QUESTIONS ON FRIDAY AT 2 O'CLOCK, ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT WE MAY HAVE THAT, THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU TO ANSWER IN THAT AUDIT, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK ON APRIL 14TH TO DO ANOTHER PRESENTATION, TO HAVE EVERYTHING FINAL, TO SHOW US IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT CHANGED, ANY, LET'S SAY, REMARKS THAT YOU MAY HAVE OR ANY INSTRUCTION THAT YOU COULD GIVE US MOVING FORWARD. AND SO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WALKING THAT OUT. I ALSO UNDERSTAND IN DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY, WE HAVE SOME OBLIGATIONS IN FILING AND GETTING THINGS IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S HANDS.
ON TIME. AND SO, WE'RE ABLE TO, TO TAKE THAT APPROPRIATE ACTION TO JUST HAVE A MOTION TO FILE THIS WITH THE CITY SECRETARY ON FRIDAY. THAT WON'T HAPPEN TODAY. OUR DEADLINE IS FRIDAY FOR THAT. AND SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT DONE AND THAT WE WALK THIS OUT ONE STEP AT A TIME WITH THAT DUE DILIGENCE. AND SO, THANK YOU FOR BEING A GREAT PARTNER AND, AND A NEW ASSET FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO. AND WE APPRECIATE YOU ZOOMING IN HERE. WE WANT TO BE EFFICIENT WITH YOUR TIME AS YOU'RE CONTINUING TO WORK FOR US. SO, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO ADD BEFORE WE LET YOU JUMP OFF? WELL, THANK YOU, MAYOR. AND AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE, ON FRIDAY I THINK EVERYONE DOES HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING BUT ON FRIDAY, THIS WILL BE A DRAFT OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, AND IT BEING A DRAFT, THERE COULD BE SOME CHANGES MADE PRIOR TO THE FINAL ISSUANCE, BUT THIS WILL BE A GOOD DRAFT DELIVERED ON FRIDAY. PROBABLY A PDF WILL BE SENT EITHER LATE THURSDAY OR FRIDAY MORNING SOMEONE ELSE
[00:35:04]
COULD SEND THE PDF IF IT'S NOT READY YET. I THINK IT SHOULD BE, BUT I WILL DEFINITELY BE COMING TO AMARILLO WITH A PAPER COPY, AND THE PDF WILL BE AVAILABLE AS WELL.SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS.
REAL GOOD. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS HERE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD? OKAY, MR. KRCHNAK, THANK YOU FOR JUMPING ON WITH US. WE'LL SEE YOU FRIDAY, 2 O'CLOCK.
ANYTHING FROM, FROM YOUR END BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD? NO, SIR.
OKAY, THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR DISCUSSION ITEM HERE TODAY, AND THEN COUNCIL, YOU'LL SEE WE HAVE AN ITEM WE NEED TO TABLE UNTIL, FRIDAY.
[5.2. Presentation of New Customer Portal for Utility Billing ]
5.2, THIS IS OUR NEW CUSTOMER PORTAL. AND SO, DO WE HAVE MISS JENNIFER GONZALEZ COMING FORWARD BACK THERE? YES, MA'AM.GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JENNIFER GONZALEZ. I'M THE UTILITY BILLING MANAGER HERE FOR THE CITY, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO GIVE YOU SOME UPDATES ON OUR NEW CUSTOMER PORTAL AS WELL AS OUR CIS SYSTEM GO-LIVE, WHICH IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 31ST. OKAY, SO WHY DOES THIS MATTER? THIS IS AN IMPORTANT UPGRADE BECAUSE IT MODERNIZES OUR UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM BY IMPROVING SOME INTERNAL AUTOMATION, WHICH ALSO IMPROVES OUR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE. THIS ALSO PROVIDES DIGITAL ACCESS ENHANCED DIGITAL ACCESS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS WITH THE INTEGRATION OF OUR AUTOMATED METERING TECHNOLOGY.
SO, RIGHT NOW I'LL GO AHEAD AND PLAY A SHORT VIDEO THAT'S GOING TO SHOW SOME UPDATES TO OUR PORTAL AS WELL AS SOME INFORMATION FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.
UTILITY BILLING PORTAL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MORE USER-FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE FOR CUSTOMERS. AS PART OF THIS TRANSITION, ALL UTILITY BILLING CUSTOMERS WILL RECEIVE A NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER WHICH CAN BE FOUND AT AMARILLO.GOV/UTILITYPORTAL AND ON THE PAPER BILL YOU RECEIVE IN APRIL. CUSTOMERS WILL NEED THEIR NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER TO MANAGE THEIR ACCOUNT AND REGISTER FOR THE ONLINE PAYMENT PORTAL.
THE NEW PORTAL WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER THE CONVENIENT FEATURES CUSTOMERS ALREADY USE, INCLUDING ONLINE PAYMENTS, PAPERLESS BILLING, AND AUTOPAY. IT WILL ALSO INTRODUCE NEW OPTIONS SUCH AS VIEWING AND COMPARING WATER USAGE AND SUBMITTING SERVICE REQUESTS LIKE SERVICE TERMINATION, PAYMENT PLAN REQUESTS, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUESTS.
CUSTOMERS WILL STILL HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO PAY, INCLUDING ONLINE, IN PERSON, BY MAIL, BY PHONE, OR AT APPROVED DROP-OFF LOCATIONS.
THE NEW PORTAL LAUNCHES MARCH 31ST, AND OUR UTILITY BILLING TEAM WILL BE READY TO HELP CUSTOMERS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT AMARILLO.GOV/UTILITYPORTAL.
HEY! THE CITY OF AMARILLO SORRY.
OKAY, SO WHAT DO CUSTOMERS NEED TO KNOW WITHIN THIS TRANSITION? EVERY CUSTOMER WILL BE GETTING A NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER, AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS THAT CUSTOMERS CAN RETRIEVE THAT NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER. THE CITY WILL HAVE AN ONLINE LOOKUP TOOL THAT WILL BE ON OUR WEBPAGE WHERE THE CUSTOMER WILL NEED THEIR CURRENT ACCOUNT NUMBER AS WELL AS THEIR SERVICE ZIP CODE, AND THEY CAN GET THEIR NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER THAT WAY. OR THEY CAN WAIT UNTIL THEIR APRIL BILL IS ISSUED, AND THEY CAN ALSO RETRIEVE THEIR ACCOUNT NUMBER THAT WAY AS WELL. ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING TO KNOW FOR CUSTOMERS IS THAT IF THEY ARE A CURRENT PORTAL USER, THEY WILL HAVE TO RE-REGISTER FOR THE PORTAL. THAT ALSO INCLUDES RE-REGISTERING FOR AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS WITHIN THE PORTAL AS WELL.
SO, THAT FIRST PAYMENT WILL NEED TO BE A MANUAL PAYMENT, AND THEN YOU CAN SET UP YOUR PREFERENCES FOR AUTOPAY AFTER THAT. WE WILL BE ISSUING A ONE-TIME $10 CREDIT TO CUSTOMERS WHO OPT IN FOR PAPERLESS BILLING AS WELL.
OKAY, SO THIS IS SOME IMPORTANT UPDATES. UTILITY BILLING OPERATIONS WILL BE PAUSED FOR SERVICE BEGINNING MARCH
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26TH THROUGH MARCH 30TH. SO, THAT MEANS THAT DURING THIS TIME FRAME, THE PHONE AND ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEMS WILL BE TEMPORARILY PAUSED, AS WELL AS EMAIL AND IN-PERSON SERVICES WILL ALSO BE PAUSED, PAUSED DURING THAT TIME FRAME.THE PHONES WILL STILL BE UP, BUT WE WILL ONLY BE WORKING WITH URGENT NEEDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS AT THAT TIME. SO, THAT INCLUDES LIKE LEAKS OR MAIN BREAKS WHERE WE HAVE TO GO AND TURN OFF SERVICE FOR AN EMERGENCY.
DURING THIS TRANSITION, WE WILL NOT BE ASSESSING ANY SORT OF LATE FEES TO ASSIST THE CUSTOMERS. SO, WE HAVE WORKED WITH THE OFFICE OF ENGAGEMENT AND INNOVATION TO PREPARE A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION PLAN. CURRENTLY, WE'VE ALREADY SENT OUT BILL INSERTS TO CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE UPDATED OUR CITY WEBSITE. WE WILL BE PUSHING OUT SOME SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION THAT HAS SOME INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEOS WITH THAT QR CODE. AND AS ALWAYS, WE'RE HERE TO HELP.
SO, CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE BY PHONE, IN PERSON, OR BY EMAIL TO ANY CUSTOMERS WHO NEED HELP WITH THIS TRANSITION. SO, AGAIN, OUR GO-LIVE IS MARCH 31ST. I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE OUR TEAM, OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS WHO HAVE WORKED WITH US TO GET THIS PROCESS UP AND GOING. STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY IN PREPARING FOR THIS, TRAINING FOR THIS, TESTING FOR THIS FOR THE PAST YEAR.
AND SO, IT'S, IT'S A GOOD POINT THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, FINALLY GOING LIVE. SO, WITH THAT, DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? SO, IN THE, IN THE ROLLOUT, I MEAN, WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO NOTIFY PEOPLE, BUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE PROCESS IF SOMEONE WHO'S ON AUTOMATIC PAY JUST DOESN'T SEE IT, DOESN'T RECOGNIZE IT, HOW DOES THAT WORK? DO WE DO, THEY JUST WILL THEY GET A BILL SAYING THEY HAVEN'T PAID THEIR BILL, OR HOW IS THAT GOING TO WORK IF PEOPLE DON'T PICK UP ON IT THE FIRST TIME? YES, ABSOLUTELY. SO, WITHIN THIS NEW SYSTEM, WE DO HAVE A LOT MORE A LOT OF COMMUNICATION. SO, WE WILL BE SENDING OUT NOTIFICATIONS BY EMAIL TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR PAYMENT IS NOT HAS NOT BEEN MADE. SO, THERE ARE THOSE UPDATES THAT WE WILL HAVE FOR CUSTOMERS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE SITUATION IS.
AND DO WE HAVE EMAILS FOR ALL CUSTOMERS? SO, WE PULLED FROM OUR CURRENT PAYMENT PORTAL, THERE ARE 34,000 PORTAL USERS. SO, WE HAVE EMAILS FOR ALL OF THOSE, AND THEY MAY BE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE EMAIL ADDRESSES, BUT WE DO HAVE A GOOD LIST OF EMAILS FOR CUSTOMERS.
SO THEN, BUT THEN WE WOULD HAVE USERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN USING THE PORTAL THAT JUST GET A POSSIBLE POSSIBLY THEY MAY HAVE SIGNED UP FOR THE PORTAL AND THEN FOUND THAT THEY WANTED A PAPER BILL BACK, SO WE SET THEM BACK UP ON PAPER BILL.
DO YOU KNOW KIND OF A BALLPARK OF WHAT PERCENTAGE OF OUR CUSTOMERS JUST MAIL IN THEIR PAYMENT? THAT I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND I CAN GET WITH YOU ON THAT.
THE REASON WHY I ASK ABOUT THAT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THAT, BUT I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY'RE GETTING THEIR BILL ON THE DUE DATE. I DON'T KNOW HOW OFTEN YOU HEAR THAT OR KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, IT LEAVES US AND THEN IT GOES TO THE POSTAL SERVICE. ONCE IT GOES TO THE POSTAL SERVICE, THERE'S NOT REALLY ANY TRACKING FOR US. NORMALLY WE ARE BILLING ON A DATE, AND THE DUE DATES ARE NORMALLY ABOUT 8 TO 10 DAYS AFTER.
BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH OUR AUTOMATED METERING TECHNOLOGY, THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT CAN IMPROVE.
SO, I GUESS WE'RE JUST AT THE MERCY OF THE POST OFFICE AS TO WHEN THEY DELIVER IT.
THERE'S NO UNFORTUNATELY, YES.
IS IT BECAUSE OF THE POSTAGE RATE WE PAY, I GUESS, OR I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE POSTAGE RATE THAT WE PAY. IT'S JUST SOMETIMES IT JUST TAKES LONGER TO GET TO SOMEBODY THAN DIFFERENT TIMES, I GUESS, OF THE YEAR.
OKAY, BUT I GUESS IF SOMEBODY'S GETTING A PAPER BILL, WOULD THEY ALSO BE GETTING AN EMAIL, OR WOULD THEY HAVE TO SIGN UP TO GET AN EMAIL, OR DOES IT AUTOMATICALLY DO THAT FOR THEM? THEY WOULD SIGN UP FOR AN EMAIL BILL, AND THAT NORMALLY HAPPENS WITHIN THE PORTAL. SO, IF THEY'VE IF THEY HAVE AN ACCOUNT WITHIN THE PORTAL,
[00:45:02]
THEY'LL RECEIVE THAT EMAIL BILL NOTIFICATION, AND THEN THEY'LL, THEY'LL GET A PAPER BILL IF THEY'RE IF THEY'VE OPTED FOR THAT AS WELL.SO, SIGNING UP TO THE PORTAL DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO USE THE AUTODRAFT? THAT'S CORRECT.
BUT SIGNING UP IN THE PORTAL WOULD GIVE YOU THE, THE EMAIL BILL THAT MAYBE YOU WOULD GET MUCH SOONER THAN IF YOU'RE DEPENDING ON THE MAIL BILL? CORRECT.
COUNCILMAN. AND I NOTICE HERE THAT THERE ARE NO LATE FEES DURING THAT, THAT ONE-WEEK PERIOD, BUT WILL LATE FEES BE WAIVED IN CASE THERE ARE INCIDENTS RESIDENTS WHERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AREN'T ON THE INTERNET AND AREN'T RECEIVING THOSE BILLS? RIGHT.
NO, THAT'S A NORMAL PRACTICE OF OURS RIGHT NOW. IF, IF WE DO GET A CALL FROM A CUSTOMER, YOU KNOW, SAYING THAT THEY JUST RECEIVED THEIR BILL, WE WORK WITH THEM ON IT AND WE'LL NORMALLY WAIVE THOSE FEES FOR THEM.
SO OPTION, RIGHT? YOU CAN CONTINUE TO GET YOUR PAPER BILL CONTINUE TO MAIL IT BACK IN, BUSINESS AS USUAL. DO WE USE THE DRIVE-UP TRAILER QUITE A BIT? ARE WE NOT DOING THAT AT ALL RIGHT NOW? WE ARE. THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WE HAVE NOT BEEN CONSISTENT WITH OPENING IT JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN FINALIZING EVERYTHING WITH THE DATA CONVERSION. AND SO, OUR PLAN IS NEXT WEEK, ONCE WE GO LIVE ON THE 31ST, THAT WILL BE OPEN ALL DAY FOR CUSTOMERS TO UTILIZE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
OKAY, SO WE APPRECIATE THE COMMUNICATION. I THINK GETTING THE COMMUNICATION OUT THERE IS GOING TO BE THE HARDER THING. TELL US, AS EASILY ACCESSIBLE COUNCIL MEMBERS, OR WE GET A TEXT MESSAGE, A PHONE CALL, OR AN EMAIL, YOU KNOW, HEY, THERE'S BEEN AN ISSUE, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN RESOURCE DIRECTLY TO YOU? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT US HANDLING DIFFERENT, MAYBE OTHER THAN JUST GOING THROUGH CITY MANAGER? BECAUSE TYPICALLY IF WE HAVE, WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW, OR WHATEVER, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOPING THAT THROUGH CITY MANAGER AND THEN DOWN THE CHAIN ALL THE WAY TO YOU. IS THERE ANYTHING SET UP WHERE WE COULD HELP HANDLE THAT MAYBE MORE ONLINE FOR THEM? SO PART OF THIS NEW PORTAL THEY DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUBMIT CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUESTS, AND THAT COULD BE, WHY IS MY BILL HIGH? OR, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A METER LID MISSING.
SO, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY REPORT ON THE PORTAL, AND THEN IT'LL COME TO OUR OFFICE AND WE CAN SEND OUT WORK ORDERS FOR THOSE.
NOW, TO YOUR QUESTION ON IF IT IS, YOU KNOW, A CUSTOMER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING OR NEEDS ASSISTANCE WITH SOMETHING, THERE'S NOT ANYTHING CURRENTLY THAT WE HAVE ONLINE OTHER THAN EITHER GOING THROUGH CITY MANAGEMENT OR YOU CAN CONTACT ME DIRECTLY AND WE CAN DISTRIBUTE THAT TO STAFF.
OKAY, WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION TO IT. YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE PROBABLY A HEAVY LIFT WITH, WITH SOME OF THE CHANGE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH IT. WE WANT TO BE, UH, WE WANT TO BE A HAND FOR YOU AND HELP AND THEN JUST RIGHT OFF THE BAT TO KIND OF SEPARATE, LET'S SAY, UTILITY BILLING FROM UTILITY SERVICES. SO, YOU'RE REQUESTING A WATER METER SET, YOU'RE REQUESTING A SEWER TAP, ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THOSE ARE STILL SEPARATE SERVICES THAT'S NOT COMING TO YOU, OR THIS WOULD BE MIGRATED INTO THAT? SO IF IT'S A ESTABLISHED, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY, YES, THAT WOULD COME TO US STILL.
BUT IF IT'S A CONSTRUCTION, THAT NORMALLY GOES TO DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES.
ALL THAT'S STILL STAYING SEPARATE? CORRECT.
JUST WANTED THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THAT ALL THOSE CONSTRUCTION SERVICE REQUESTS, NEW REQUESTS WOULD STILL GO THROUGH UTILITY SERVICES.
GIVE ME THE CORRECT NAME SO I SAY IT EXACTLY RIGHT.
IS THAT FOR EXACTLY WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO FOR THE WATER TAPS? IT'S NOT UTILITY SERVICES.
WHAT'S THE EXACT NAME? DIRECTOR OF UTILITIES.
JUST MAKING SURE I SAY THAT RIGHT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR, YES, SIR? HOW MANY UTILITY ACCOUNTS DO WE HAVE? IT VARIES.
IT'S NORMALLY RANGING BETWEEN ABOUT 75,000 TO 80,000 UTILITY ACCOUNTS.
AND SO WE HAVE, IN THE PRESENTATION, MOST OF US ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO ONLINE AND CHANGE IT OUT WITHOUT HUMAN INTERACTION.
SO WHAT IS THE POPULATION YOU THINK THAT ARE GOING TO NEED HUMAN INTERACTION TO GET THIS DONE? 20%? I WOULD SAY ABOUT MAYBE 10 TO 15 PERCENT.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE IN ONE OF THE MEETING ROOMS HERE FOR THE FIRST MONTH AFTER GO
[00:50:02]
LIVE TO ASSIST IN THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS.IF SOMEBODY NEEDS HELP RE-REGISTERING OR THEY WANT TO COME IN AND JUST GET THEIR ACCOUNT NUMBER, WE CAN HELP THEM WALK THEM THROUGH THAT.
I'M JUST LOOKING AT IF IT'S 12,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE GOING TO NEED, YOU KNOW, HUMAN-TO-HUMAN HELP ON THAT.
AND AS COUNCILMAN REID SAID, DO WE HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO HELP WITH THAT? AND WHAT IS THAT LATENCY PERIOD GOING TO BE FOR GRACE? SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SCHEDULE TIMING TO GET IN.
I MEAN, IS IT A 90-DAY GRACE PERIOD? HOW LONG IS THAT GOING TO BE? CORRECT.
RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS THE FIRST 30 DAYS WE WILL NOT BE ASSESSING ANY SORT OF LATE FEES.
AND IF THAT CHANGES AND WE STILL SEE AN INFLUX OF CUSTOMERS NEEDING ASSISTANCE, THEN WE CAN WORK WITH THEM ON THAT AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THAT NEEDS TO BE, I THINK THAT'S A VERY OPPORTUNISTIC WINDOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET DONE WITH, IF IT'S 12,000 INDIVIDUALS, THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.
AND EACH ONE OF THEM AT 10 MINUTES IS GOING TO, I MEAN, WE START DOING THE MAP ON IT, THAT'S A LOT OF FOLKS AND A LOT OF TIME.
SO I HOPE YOU HAVE CONSIDERATION FOR THAT.
THE CONSUMER DIDN'T ASK FOR THE CHANGE.
ANYTHING FURTHER? MS. JENNIFER, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
I KNOW YOU RUN A LARGE DEPARTMENT, AND YOU GUYS PROBLEM-SOLVE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE TRANSITION.
OKAY, REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS FROM COUNCIL.
[6.1. Consideration of Ordinance No. 8241.]
OKAY.ALL RIGHT, NON-CONSENT AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO JUMP INTO ITEM 6.1, MS. KATRINA OWENS.
ORDINANCE 8241 IS FOR BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY'S 2425 BUDGET.
I'M KATRINA OWENS, DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, INTERIM CFO.
THIS IS THE FIRST READING OF THIS ITEM AND THE SECOND AND FINAL WILL BE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FINAL STEPS THAT WE TAKE IN ORDER TO CLOSE OUT THE PRIOR YEAR.
THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT IS FOR THE LEGALLY ADOPTED BUDGET THAT WENT INTO EFFECT 10-1 OF 24.
WE WILL PRESENT THIS BUDGET IN THE AUDITED FINANCIALS FOR THE 9-30-25 THAT WE'LL PRESENT TO YOU ON FRIDAY.
NOW THIS FINANCIAL POLICY DID CHANGE IN NOVEMBER.
THAT DEPARTMENTS CAN NO LONGER TRANSFER WITHIN THE FUND AND THOSE BUDGET AMENDMENTS NEEDED TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
I WANTED TO REMIND YOU OF THE ORGANIZATION CHART AND THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE ARE REPORTING.
NOW THIS IS A GOOD SLIDE SO STAY FOCUSED ON THIS SLIDE.
SO GENERAL FUND REVENUES AS A FUND.
EXCEEDED BUDGET, ACTUAL EXCEEDED BUDGET BY $14.3 MILLION.
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES, SO ACTUALS WERE LESS THAN BUDGET BY $4.5.
SO YOU WERE GOOD TO THE BUDGET OF $18.9 MILLION.
I AM ASKING FOR PROPOSED GENERAL FUND AMENDMENTS OF $5.4 MILLION.
AND THEN THERE'S SOME OTHER FUNDS THAT WE HAVE TO REPORT IN THE AUDIT AS WELL, AND THAT IS $482,000.
SO THE GENERAL FUND, CITY SECRETARY HAD TWO ELECTIONS THAT WERE NOT FORESEEN, SO THAT WAS $106,000 THAT WE NEED TO INCREASE THEIR BUDGET TO COVER THAT DEPARTMENT.
POLICE, NOW WE LOOKED AT ALL THE REVENUES AND NETTED THAT WITH EXPENDITURES.
WE NEED ADDITIONAL $241,000 FOR THEIR BUDGET TO HAVE THEM BREAK EVEN.
ON FIRE, NOW THEIR RAISES WERE NOT FACTORED INTO THEIR OVERTIME PAY, AND SO THERE'S...
SOME OF THAT IS NOT GETTING THE RAISES IN THAT DOLLAR VALUE, BUT THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS OVERTIME LABOR.
AND THE CITY MARSHAL, WE COULD NOT FORESEE HOW MUCH VOLUME THAT THE CITY MARSHAL, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF THAT DEPARTMENT, SO IT'S FANTASTIC THEY DID THAT MUCH OUTPUT.
WE NEED ADDITIONAL $965,000 TO COVER THAT DEPARTMENT.
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, WE NEED $26,000 MORE TO COVER THAT.
THEY HAD SOME STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
FOR SOME SIGNS THAT WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO CAPITALIZE.
SO GOLF, ALL OF THE PARKS AND REC ARE ABOUT INFLATION.
WE COULDN'T FORESEE HOW MUCH INFLATION COST ON SUPPLIES WOULD AFFECT THESE DEPARTMENTS.
WE NEED ADDITIONAL 226,000 TO COVER GOLF.
MAJORITY OF THAT DRIVER WAS GROUND CARE.
THE ZOO, WE NEED ADDITIONAL 58,000.
MOST OF THAT WAS FOR ANIMAL CARE FOR SUPPLIES TO FEED THEM.
[00:55:01]
ABOUT REPAIRS.WE NEED ADDITIONAL $69,000 TO COVER THAT DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN THE TENNIS CENTER, WE PAID OUT MORE IN SUPPLIES AND WE NEED ADDITIONAL $9,000 TO COVER THAT DEPARTMENT.
SOME OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS IS GOING TO BE PIDS.
NOW THESE ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT.
THEY ARE PAID FOR THROUGH THEIR ASSESSMENTS.
WE NEED ADDITIONAL $5,000 FOR HERITAGE HILLS.
THAT IS, THE DRIVER WAS TEMPORARY LABOR, WAS NOT BUDGETED.
BUT THAT IS WITHIN THEIR EXCESS RESERVES.
POINT WEST PID NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL $10,000 TO COVER THEIRS.
THAT DRIVER WAS TEMPORARY LABOR, WAS OVER-BUDGETED.
AND THEN TOWN SQUARE PID, WE HAD AN UNFORESEEN REPAIR THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE ON THAT ONE, SO WE NEEDED AN ADDITIONAL $125,000 TO COVER THAT PID.
TWO MORE FUNDS, COMPENSATED ABSENCES.
WE HAD $180,000 THAT WE NEED TO COVER THAT FUND.
WE PAID OUT MORE IN SEPARATION OF EMPLOYMENT THAN BUDGETED, AND THEN THE BONDED DEBT SERVICE OF $162,000.
WE PAID OUT MORE IN DEBT SERVICE THAN BUDGETED, BUT THAT WILL BE REIMBURSED BY WATER SEWER REVENUES.
WHAT QUESTIONS CAN I ANSWER FOR YOU? QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? CAN WE GO BACK ABOUT FOUR SLIDES, PLEASE? KEEP GOING, PLEASE.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION WHILE HE'S DOING HIS MATH OVER THERE? SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DO IS DO THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS LIKE WE USED TO DO TO JUST KIND OF TRUE EVERYTHING UP, CORRECT? YES.
YOU JUST DIDN'T USED TO SEE THEM BECAUSE YOU COULD DO IT AS A FUND.
SO MY QUESTION IS WHERE WE'RE OVER BUDGET IN A LOT OF THESE OR RIGHT OR WE'RE JUST OVER BUDGET NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS DUE TO.
IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE EXCESS IN THE GENERAL FUND OR A REDUCTION IN EXPENDITURES WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY COME FROM? IT WOULD COME OUT OF RESERVES.
SO IT WOULD COME OUT OF RESERVES AND THEN WHEN WOULD WE THEN TRUE UP THOSE RESERVES NEXT BUDGET SESSION? YES.
YOU WOULD SEE LESS THAT YOU COULD HAVE ONE-TIME SPENDING.
SO WE WOULD ALLOCATE THAT MONEY TO THERE TO SHORE IT BACK UP? RIGHT.
AND, I MEAN, UNLESS I MISSED IT.
WHERE ARE WE? HOW FAR ARE WE WHEN WE DO ALL THE PLUSES AND THE MINUSES? YOU'RE TO THE GOOD FOR 18.9 ON GENERAL.
WE'RE TO THE GOOD 18.9 EVEN AFTER WE TRUE UP EVERY ONE OF THESE SUBTRACTIONS? WELL, YOU HAVE TO TAKE OUT THE 5.4, SO 13-ISH, 12-ISH.
I'M NOT GOOD AT DOING MATH ON THE FLY.
OKAY, SO WE'RE TO THE GOOD OF 13-ISH. WE CAN JUST SAY ISH.
SO WE'RE TO THE GOOD OF 13.5, AND THEN THAT WILL GO TO? RESERVES, AND YOU'LL SEE IT DURING THE BUDGET.
RESERVES TO TRUE THEM UP? I THOUGHT THAT WE JUST TRUED THEM UP.
YOU GROW YOU GROW THE RESERVES SO WHEN YOU GET THE BUDGET THIS NEXT TIME YOU HAVE THIS EXTRA MONEY THAT YOU CAN DO.
SO THIS IS OUR ONE TIME SPENDING THAT WE DID NOT LAST BUDGET BUT THE BUDGET BEFORE THAT WE CALLED IT ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS BUT WE HAD THE ACCOUNT THAT WE COULD PRIORITIZE AND USE THAT MONEY FOR THOSE ONE PRIORITIES.
AND THAT WILL ALSO DEPEND ON WHAT THE NECESSARY RESERVE IS FOR NEXT YEAR.
BUT WE WILL REBALANCE ALL THAT, AND THE EXCESS FROM THIS IN COMBINATION OF WHAT WE NEED FOR NEXT YEAR WILL BE THAT ONE TIME FOR CIP.
THIS IS AFTER WE PASS THE RESOLUTION TO ADJUST OUR RESERVES, CORRECT? YES.
DIDN'T WE ADJUST OUR RESERVE POLICY? WE DID.
PART OF THE FINANCIAL POLICY, YES.
SO THIS WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AFTER THIS, YES? THIS IS 24-25 IN THAT RESERVE POLICY.
SO WHEN WE DO THE BUDGET THIS SUMMER, YES, WE WILL FACTOR IN THE LESS OF, BECAUSE WHEN THE CHANGE THERE WAS, WE DECREASED THE RESERVE BY HOW MUCH WE WERE GOING TO KEEP FOR OTHER FUNDS FOR TRANSFERS.
SO THAT WILL BE PART OF THE CALCULATION THIS SUMMER FOR THE BUDGET PROCESS.
THIS RIGHT HERE IS JUST A STRAIGHT UP, WE JUST NEED TO AMEND FOR THESE DEPARTMENTS.
THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE TO FIGURE OUT THE TRUE UP FOR THE RESERVE FOR NEXT YEAR FOR YOUR ONE-TIME SPENDING.
PROBABLY SHOULDN'T COME INTO PLAY SINCE WE ADJUSTED THOSE RESERVES.
YEAH, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE $13.5 MILLION.
AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE BASED OFF OF WHAT THE RESERVE NEED FOR NEXT YEAR IS BECAUSE YOU BASE IT OFF OF WHAT YOU RESERVED FOR THAT YEAR.
SO IT MAY BE $13.5 MILLION, MAYBE $12 MILLION, MAYBE $14 MILLION.
[01:00:02]
COUNCILMAN, BACK TO YOU.SO IT'S A GOOD THING THAT OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE HAS EXCEEDED BUDGET BY $14 MILLION.
AND THAT WE HAVE THE EXCESS, BUT CAN WE LOOK AT THE PROPOSED GENERAL FUND AMENDMENTS OF 5.4? I MEAN, WHEN WE SET BUDGETS, WE SET BUDGETS BECAUSE THAT'S THE AMOUNT.
AND AS WE GO THROUGH, WHAT CONTROLS ARE IN PLACE? WHAT IF WE HAD NOT HAD THE GENERAL FUND REVENUES EXCEEDING BUDGET? WHAT IF THEY HAD FALLEN BELOW? AND THEN WE OWED $5.4 MILLION.
WELL, THE MAJORITY OF THOSE YOU CAN TAKE OUT OF THE CONVERSATION LIKE YOU COULD NOT.
FORESEE THAT WE NEEDED TWO ELECTIONS.
YOU COULDN'T HAVE FORESEEN TO BUDGET THAT.
NOW YOU CAN HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OVERTIME.
THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE CONVERSATIONS YOU CAN HAVE.
YOU COULDN'T FORESEE MARSHALL WOULD DO THE ACTIVITY LEVEL THAT IT DID.
YOU COULD NOT FORESEE THAT SUPPLIES WERE GOING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT THAT THEY DID WHEN YOU BUDGETED THAT.
SO YOU HAVE TO FACTOR IN THE DRIVER OF THAT CHANGE.
HAVING CONVERSATIONS ON PAYROLL CONTROL, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
YOU COULD HAVE THAT WITH ACMS AND DEPARTMENTS.
IN BUSINESS, AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A BUDGET, IT'S X, YOU DON'T GO OVER THAT, RIGHT? I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT THE BUDGET, SO IS IT NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE? I MEAN, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME, MY FIRST YEAR THAT I'VE GONE THROUGH THIS.
IS THIS NORMAL OPERATING PROCEDURE THAT WE HAVE THESE SWINGS LIKE THIS OVER BUDGET WHEN WE SET BUDGETS? THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE WE WORK WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, SO WE DO TRY AS A GENERAL FUND TO KEEP THE BALANCE WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND ITSELF.
BECAUSE, AGAIN, WE'RE HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.
AND SO SOMETIMES THAT REQUIRES US TO MEET.
I COULD SAY, CITIZENS, WE'RE GOING TO STOP FILLING POTHOLES BECAUSE WE RAN OUT OF MONEY.
I COULD DO THAT OR I COULD KEEP GOING KNOWING I'VE GOT TO CUT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
OR I COULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, CITIZENS, WE'VE GOT TO STOP MOWING YARDS IN THE PARKS BECAUSE WE RAN OUT OF MONEY.
OR I HAVE TO NOW SEND POLICE OFFICERS HOME BECAUSE I RAN OUT OF MONEY.
SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT DOING BUSINESS AS A GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES.
WE DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO PREPARE THE BUDGET TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY, BUT WE KNOW THAT WHEN REALITY HITS OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.
AND THAT'S WHY MY JOB COMES IN WITH MY STAFF.
OKAY, HOW DO WE KEEP IT WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND? HOW DO I KEEP IT WITHIN THE REVENUES I'M GETTING? AND THAT WAY, AT THE END OF THE YEAR, I DON'T EXCEED THE REVENUES I RECEIVED OR THE GENERAL FUND ITSELF.
AND HISTORICALLY, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE TYPICALLY DON'T EXCEED THE GENERAL FUND ITSELF.
BUT WE DID PULL THE LAST FEW YEARS TO OFFER SOME PERSPECTIVE, AND IT RANGED FROM $2 MILLION TO $2.6 MILLION.
OKAY, SO THIS WAS A LITTLE, I MEAN, IT'S A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THE LAST FEW YEARS, BUT WE'RE ALSO MORE FULLY STAFFED AND POLICE AND FIRE.
AND WE, IT'S HARD TO BUDGET FOR OVERTIME POLICE AND FIRE BECAUSE IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND WHAT'S TAKING PLACE.
THAT WAS A LARGER FACTOR THIS YEAR.
AND OF THESE, YOU'RE SEEING PROBABLY, WHAT, EIGHT, NINE DEPARTMENTS OUT OF ABOUT 20 OR SO OR 30 OR SO IS IN THE GENERAL FUND.
SO IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S, WHILE YOU SEE SOME OVERAGES, THERE ARE OTHERS THAT CAME IN UNDER.
SO EVERY DEPARTMENT IS TASKED WITH, OKAY, WATCH YOUR BUDGET.
SOMETIMES SERVICE CALLS FOR EXCEEDANCE.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS HERE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT MAKING SOME CHANGES ON AND SOME SOFTWARE CHANGES WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH WITH WORKDAY AND JUST SOME OTHER OVERSIGHT THINGS.
SO IT'S NOT OUR GOAL TO EVER GO OVER.
BUT, AGAIN, I TRY TO STAY WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND SO THAT I CAN PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
BUT THE RESERVES ARE A SAFETY NET.
I MEAN, I THINK TO DAVID'S POINT, AS IN BUSINESS, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT TYPICALLY.
LIKE, IF YOU'RE OUT OF MONEY FOR MARKETING OR WHATEVER, YOU DON'T JUST CONTINUE TO SPEND.
SO, BUT WE HAVE THE RESERVES, SO WE DIP INTO THE RESERVES.
WE'VE GOT THAT KNOWLEDGE OF, WELL, WE'LL JUST SPEND RESERVES DOWN.
HOPING THAT THE GENERAL FUND IS UP, BUT IT'S NOT UP THEN WE'RE GONNA BE WE'RE GONNA BE DOUBLE NEGATIVE FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR BECAUSE WE GOT A SHORT FOR RESERVES. YEAH, WE'RE SHORT AND THERE ARE THINGS WE DO STOP DOING THERE ARE THINGS OKAY. WE DON'T THIS ISN'T A CRITICAL SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.
I CAN STOP DOING THIS BUT OTHERWISE BUT FOR EXAMPLE I I GOT TO KEEP BUYING FUEL.
I HAVE TO KEEP I GOT TO KEEP THE TRUCKS ROLLING I GOT TO KEEP I GET IT WHATEVER IT IS AND SO IN THESE THINGS HERE I KNOW WE GAVE YOU KIND OF AN IDEA.
THIS IS ACTUALLY A COMBINATION OF LOTS OF THINGS IN THAT DEPARTMENT THAT CULMINATED INTO THAT EXCESS THERE.
SO I REALLY, WHILE LIKE, SECRETARY, WE CAN PINPOINT THAT ONE, LIKE FIRE, YES, A LOT OVER TIME, BUT THERE'S OTHER THINGS IN THAT.
AND GOLF, TRAFFIC, AND SO THERE'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS THAT PLAY INTO THAT.
BUT NO, THE GOAL IS ALWAYS TO COME IN WITHIN BUDGET, WITHIN DEPARTMENT. OKAY.
JUST A 1%, YOU KNOW, OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.
ON THIS AND THEN HEARING PREVIOUS YEARS THAT GAVE SOME CLARITY AT 0.5 YOU KNOW PERCENT OR ONE PERCENT YOU KNOW VERSUS ONE PERCENT SO WHAT IS, WHAT IS A AN ACCEPTABLE AMOUNT TO BE OVER. I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S,
[01:05:01]
IS THAT HARD? I MEAN ONE PERCENT TWO PERCENT. I COULDN'T GIVE YOU AN IDEA. SO, AGAIN IT'S, I MEAN THE OVERALL GENERAL FUND IS WHAT 300 MILLION OR SO OR 280 OR SOMETHING YEAH YEAH YES AGAIN, WE CAME IN UNDER OVERALL EXPENSE.IT'S JUST WITHIN THAT OVERALL EXPENSE, THERE WERE SOME CATEGORIES THAT WENT OVER.
AND EVEN WITHIN DEPARTMENTS, THERE ARE LINE ITEMS THAT GO OVER, BUT THEN THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T GO OVER.
AND SO WE COME UNDER SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND SO THIS IS WHY WE TRY TO SAY WITHIN GENERAL FUND, UTILITY FUND, DRAINAGE FUND, WITHIN THOSE FUNDS, BECAUSE THOSE FUNDS, BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE NOT DEDICATED TO ONE THING, THEY'RE DEDICATED TO ALL THINGS.
KEEP IT WITHIN THE GENERAL FUND, KEEP SERVICE GOING, BUT KEEP IT UNDER THE REVENUE I'VE GOT TO WORK WITH.
SO IT'S NOT A PERFECT THING, BUT MY GOAL, MY EXPECTATION AS A COUNCIL TO ME IS KEEP PROVIDING SERVICES WITHIN REASON.
DON'T EXCEED YOUR OVERALL REVENUES, BUT DON'T STOP PROVIDING SERVICES THAT YOUR CITIZENS ARE DEMANDING THAT YOU PROVIDE.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? THANK YOU.
THE DEPARTMENTS THAT COME UNDER BUDGET.
DO THOSE FUNDS GO BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND? YES.
THEY DON'T KEEP SOME SPECIAL RESERVE FOR, I DON'T KNOW, A CITY SECRETARY, LIBRARY.
THEY DON'T GET THEIR OWN BOUNCE NEXT YEAR.
IT'S ALL PART OF THE POT OF FUNDS.
SO THAT'S SWEPT BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND IF THEY COME UNDER BUDGET.
COUNCILMAN? SO THESE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS THAT FINISH TOTAL OVER BUDGET.
SAYING THIS WAS A MAJOR FACTOR.
I MEAN THERE COULD HAVE BEEN OTHER THINGS.
I GUESS WE LINE ITEMS WE WERE OVER BUDGET, BUT WHEN I LOOK AT THIS SO THE FIRE SO THE 3.7 MILLION THAT WAS BECAUSE WHEN WE ENTERED WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR OVERTIME ON THE INCREASED PAY RATE WELL, WE DIDN'T BUDGET FOR OVERTIME, BUT WE DIDN'T TAKE THAT RAISE TO THE ANY SORT OF TO PROJECT OUT THE LARGE AMOUNT.
ANOTHER LARGE COMPONENT, THEIR WORKERS' COMPENSATION WAS A MILLION JUST BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE LONG-TERM ON-THE-JOB INJURIES.
SO THEY JUST HAD MULTIPLE FACTORS THAT TRIGGERED INTO THEIR PERSONNEL LINE ITEMS. RIGHT.
AND SO THIS YEAR THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE CAN CORRECT ON THE BUDGETING OF OVERTIME? WELL, IT'S REALLY NEVER BEEN.
OKAY, I MAY BE CONFUSED BECAUSE WHAT I THOUGHT I HEARD IS THAT WHEN WE GAVE THE RAISES, WHATEVER FACTOR IT IS, WE WEREN'T COUNTING THE RAISES AND HOW MUCH WE BUDGETED FOR OVERTIME AND FIRE.
THAT'S ONE COMPONENT, BUT THEN TYPICALLY WE UNDER-BUDGET FOR OVERTIME JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T.
DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS TO COVER IT, AND WE JUST HOPE, BASICALLY, THAT THOSE WILL BE OFFSET BY INCREASED REVENUES, LESS EXPENSIVE, JUST BECAUSE HISTORICALLY WE'VE NOT FUNDED OVER TIME THE LEVEL THAT WE'VE HISTORICALLY SEEN, JUST DUE TO BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS.
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT ON THE POLICE SIDE.
THEY HAD SOME REVENUES ON A GRANT THAT CAME IN TO HELP OFFSET THEIRS.
BUT IT WOULD BE, IF IT DIDN'T HAVE THE REVENUE, IT WOULD BE VERY TERRIBLE.
SO IF NOT FOR THE GRANTS? WOULD POLICE HAVE $3 MILLION MORE IN OVERTIME? YES.
LIKE LAST YEAR, THEY WERE $1.3 MILLION OVER.
POLICE WAS, AND FIRE WAS ACTUALLY TO THE GOOD $190,000.
WELL, I JUST WONDER BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE STILL GOT FAR MORE SHORTAGES IN POLICE STAFFING THAN I THINK WE DO FIRE, WHICH WAS KIND OF INTERESTING WHY WE WOULD HAVE SO MUCH MORE OVERTIME IN FIRE IF WE'RE UP TO LEVELS OF STAFFING AND NOT SEE IT IN THE POLICE AREA.
WAS THIS THE FIRE YEAR? NO, THE WHOLE TABLE.
AND THEN WE DO HAVE SOME OFFSET THAT COMES FROM THE STATE ASSIGNMENTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WITH STAFFING UP IN BOTH POLICE AND FIRE, THAT HAVING TALKED TO BOTH CHIEFS, THAT WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO FINE-TUNE OUR OVERTIME GOALS THIS UPCOMING YEAR BECAUSE WE ARE STAFFING UP.
AND SO I KNOW CHIEF HOVER HAS ANNOUNCED SOME CHANGES FOR PATROL AND SO FORTH.
AND SO I'M HOPING TO BRING TO YOU ALL SOME DIFFERENT EXPECTATIONS THIS NEXT YEAR IN THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AND THEN ON THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE, THAT'S JUST BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE TO GET MORE CONTRACTORS, WE HAD MORE REQUESTS, I GUESS, WITH THE WEATHER LAST YEAR AND THE RAIN.
WE STILL BILL OUT FOR IT, BUT COLLECTIONS ARE DELAYED IF THEY'RE COLLECTED.
ULTIMATELY, MANY END UP BEING LIENS THAT WILL BE COLLECTED YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, SO IT'S NOT AN IMMEDIATE REVENUE SOURCE TO OFFSET THOSE.
AND A LOT OF LIENS ARE IN PAYMENT PLANS, AND SO PARTICULARLY IF WE END UP REMOVING A STRUCTURE.
THE PROPERTY OWNER MAY NOT PAY
[01:10:02]
IT ALL UP FRONT.SOMETIMES THEY DO, BUT WE WILL GIVE A PAYMENT PLAN, SO YOU'LL SEE THAT REVENUE COMING OVER TIME, BUT IT WON'T BE IN THE SAME FISCAL YEAR THAT THE WORK HAPPENS.
SO THERE'S A DELAY IN THE REVENUE ON THAT ONE.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE 5.5 OR 5.4, REALLY $4 MILLION OF THAT IS OUT OF THE THREE CATEGORIES, FIRES THE MOST, AND THEN THE OTHER TWO WE'RE ADDING TO THAT.
SO WE SHOW A GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES THAT ARE UNDER BUDGET 4.5 MILLION.
RIGHT? AND IT'S NICE, THE EXHIBIT A, THIS IS EVERYBODY THAT WAS OVER BUDGET.
YOU COULD SAY THEY DIDN'T RUN THEIR APARTMENTS VERY WELL.
BUT YOU COULD SAY THAT, AND THE PUBLIC COULD SAY THAT.
DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE UNDER BUDGET, DO WE HAVE A SIMILAR LIST TO SHOW WHAT DEPARTMENTS THOSE WERE? THAT WAS NOT NECESSARILY THE NEED.
I KNOW FOR THIS EXERCISE, I CAN GET THAT FOR YOU.
WE COULD? I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING.
YEAH, WE CAN GET SOME TO THE COUNCIL, WE CAN SEND THAT TO YOU ALL.
BECAUSE, I MEAN, IF THERE'S A PATTERN EACH YEAR THAT THOSE ARE THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE ALWAYS UNDER BUDGET, EITHER THEY'RE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB OR WE'RE BUDGETING TOO MUCH.
YEAH, AND I KNOW HISTORICALLY MY EXPERIENCE WORKING IN BUDGETS IS IT'S HARD TO ALWAYS PREDICT THOSE THINGS.
AND SO ONE YEAR YOUR FUEL PRICES ARE DOWN, NOW THEY'RE UP.
AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR IS INSURANCE, NOW IT'S UP.
AND THEN SO IT FLUCTUATES FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
BUT, NO, PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS IS TO TRY TO PINPOINT THE ONES YOU CAN TREND.
ONES THAT TRULY ARE GOING UNDER OR OVER AND ATTACK THOSE.
BUT WITH A BUDGET, AGAIN, HOW DYNAMIC WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY, 200,000 PEOPLE, VISITORS VISITING EVERY DAY, THE DEMAND ON OUR SERVICES, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW EXACTLY.
BUT I LOOK AT IT, TOO, IS WE BUDGET PRETTY CLOSE.
IF THE GENERAL FUND WAS $275 OR SO MILLION AND WE CAME THAT CLOSE, THAT'S A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS OFF OF THAT.
SO WE WERE PRETTY ACCURATE ON THAT.
BUT YOU'LL NEVER GET IT ONE-TO-ONE.
WHEN DID WE HAVE THESE NUMBERS, MRS. OWENS? OVER THE LAST WEEK TO WEEK AND A HALF.
SO I JUST WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE NEED FOR COUNCIL TO HAVE ACTUALS.
AND SO A COUPLE THINGS THAT WOULD BE VERY, VERY HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US, HAVING ACTUALS.
AND BEING ABLE TO RENDER THOSE IN A TIMELY MANNER, NOT NECESSARILY SIX, SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET HAS PASSED.
SO IF I WERE TO ASSUME THAT 25, 26 BUDGETS DON'T HAVE THESE ADJUSTMENTS IN THERE.
I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD TIME TO LOOK AT THEM.
I'M GOING TO ASSUME THEY DON'T.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD EXERCISE IN HOW WE ARE DOING THIS NOW.
IT'S IN THE GENERAL FUND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S REALLY GOOD TO HAVE IT DEPARTMENT BY DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ON BALANCING THOSE APPROPRIATED AMOUNTS.
SO IN THE OVERALL, WE HAVE AN EXCEEDED BUDGET BY $14.3 MILLION.
CAN WE GET THE DETAILS ON THOSE REVENUES? THOSE ARE REVENUES.
AND THAT'S JUST GENERAL FUND? YES.
SO CAN WE ALSO GET THE DETAILS ON THE SEWER AND WATER? YES.
NOW, UNDERSTAND ON THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT, I DON'T PUT BUDGET FOR ENTERPRISE OR INTERNAL SERVICE.
IT'S JUST GENERAL FUND AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER ONES.
SO THE AMENDMENT HERE FOR TODAY IS ONLY REQUIRED TO AMEND THE GENERAL FUND.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE ONLY ADDRESSING THESE.
BUT THEN WE DO HAVE THE SEWER AND WATER ACTUALS.
YES, I'LL HAVE TO PULL THE BUDGET FOR THEM, BUT YES, I HAVE THE ACTUALS.
DO WE HAVE ALL OF THE INTERNAL SERVICES ACTUALS? ACTUALS, YES.
I'LL HAVE TO PULL THE BUDGETS FOR THOSE AS WELL.
SO, COUNCIL, IT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LOOK FORWARD, NOT TO WAIT UNTIL JULY, AUGUST, TO HAVE TO START CONSIDERING THIS AND REALLY BE ABLE TO EDUCATE OURSELVES.
IF WE COULD GET THE ACTUALS, EXPENDITURES OR REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES.
FOR ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS, MUCH LIKE WHAT COUNCILMAN REED WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT ARE UNDER ARE GREAT.
THE ONES THAT ARE OVER ARE OVER.
SO POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU HAVE THE ACTUALS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, RIGHT? YES.
MAYOR, ARE YOU ASKING FOR CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET? NO, I'M ASKING FOR A YEAR END OF 24-25.
NOW THAT WE'RE BASICALLY FINISHING THE AUDIT, WE HAVE THOSE ACTIONS AVAILABLE TO GIVE TO YOU ALL.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE GIVE THEM TO YOU ALL.
BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE THE PROCESS ALMOST DONE, WE CAN START GIVING YOU ALL THESE REPORTS FROM 24-25.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS IF WE BUILD IN THIS PRACTICE, WE DON'T WAIT A YEAR FROM NOW.
[01:15:01]
TO COME BACK AND FORECAST THESE, WE GO AHEAD AND START NOW FOR THE BUDGET CYCLE THAT'S COMING UP.SO, AS AN EXAMPLE, IF FOR, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY FIRE DEPARTMENT, 3.7 OVER WITH OVERTIME AND WHATNOT, DO WE WANT TO START LOOKING AHEAD AT ADJUSTING CURRENT BUDGET IN A MID-YEAR BUDGET AMENDMENT, RIGHT? AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT WE CAN DO THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT AS WE LOOK TOWARDS A MID-YEAR PLAN, SO WE DO BUDGET ONCE A YEAR.
BUT WE COME BACK AT SIX MONTHS AND WE DO A MID-YEAR LOOK BACK.
WE HAVE TO HAVE ACTUALS IN ORDER FOR THAT TO BE BENEFICIAL, RIGHT? YEAH, WHEN A NEW CFO COMES ON BOARD, WE CAN TASK HER WITH LOOKING AT THAT PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
AND, AGAIN, WE CAN'T DO MULTIPLE BUDGET CYCLES IN A YEAR, SO A LOT OF THESE THINGS NEED TO BE GROUPED AT ONE TIME BECAUSE IT'S ONE BIG PROCESS.
SO, YEAH, THIS BUDGET CYCLE THIS SUMMER, YES, WE CAN LOOK AT IT.
IF BASED OFF LAST YEAR'S ACTUALS, CURRENT YEAR, YEAR TO DATE, IF WE ARE SEEING A NEED TO DO THAT, WE PROBABLY CAN.
BUT AGAIN, YOU WON'T KNOW IF YOU GO OVER UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THAT'S JUST THE TRUTH OF IT.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND, AND I LIVE IN THAT WORLD.
BECAUSE YOU'LL PROBABLY BE AMENDING TWICE AT THAT POINT.
WE WOULDN'T BE DOING AN AMENDMENT.
WE'D BE DOING A MID-YEAR REVIEW.
AND SO I LIVE IN THAT WORLD OF PROJECTIONS, AND HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT SO FAR, AND A LOT OF, WELL, I CAN'T GUARANTEE, BUT THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD, OR WE'RE ALREADY OVER BUDGET, THINGS ARE CONTINUING TO TREND.
AND SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR OUR DEPARTMENTS.
AS WE CONTINUE TO ISOLATE THESE DEPARTMENTS AND HAVE THEM STAND ALONE, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE THEM THOSE TOOLS AS WELL AND RELY ON THEM SO THAT WE CAN PLAN FOR THAT.
I AM GOING TO STATE, AND YOU CAN CORRECT ME, THESE REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES DO NOT ACCOUNT FOR RESERVES.
SO THE EXISTING RESERVES THAT ARE IN THE FUND BALANCE, THESE ARE ADDITION.
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THE EXISTING RESERVES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE WE ADJUSTED THE RESERVE MINIMUMS. THAT IS CORRECT.
THIS IS JUST THE INCOME STATEMENT.
THE EXCESS WILL ROLL INTO THE RESERVES.
SO WHAT WE COULD HEAR TODAY IS ON THE HIGH NOTE, THE GOOD SIDE IS THAT WE ARE WALKING AWAY WITH $13.5 MILLION NET EXCESS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
LET ME MAKE A STATEMENT AND YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
EVERY YEAR WE TAKE THAT EXCESS AND WE ROLL IT INTO ONE-TIME SPENDING FOR WHAT WE CALL CIP.
AFTER REBALANCING THE BUDGET PROCESS, YES.
AGAIN, IT FACTORS IN WHAT THE RESERVE NEED IS FOR NEXT YEAR BASED OFF THAT BUDGET SIZE.
THESE BUDGET MONIES ARE ONLY CONSIDERING GENERAL FUND, WHICH ARE ANNUALIZED REOCCURRING BUDGETS.
AND ANNUALIZED REOCCURRING EXPENDITURES? CORRECT.
SO WHEN WE TAKE THE MONEY OUT, THE $13.5 THAT WE HAVE IN EXCESS, WE ROLL IT OVER TO CIP FOR ONE-TIME SPEND.
ROLL IT TO FUND BALANCE, THEN APPROVE CIP, AND THEN MOVE IT OUT OF FUND BALANCE TO CIP PROJECTS.
THEN PART OF OUR GOAL IS IF WE'RE SEEING A TREND THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT A POSITIVE 13, POSITIVE 13, WE MAY NEED TO ADJUST OUR REVENUE FOR THE OPERATION.
OKAY, SO WE DON'T NEED TO KEEP GETTING $13 MILLION EVERY YEAR OVER.
SO IF WE SEE A STABLE TREND THAT WE CAN RELY UPON AND FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH, I'M ALWAYS CAUTIOUS ABOUT SALES TAX.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BUDGET 100% BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IT'S GOING TO COME OR NOT.
BUT IF WE START SEEING SOME COMFORT ROOM THAT WE'RE GETTING CONSISTENT, WE CAN UP OUR OPERATIONAL REVENUE TOWARDS OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.
RIGHT, AND CURRENT SALES TAX IS UP SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS RIGHT NOW IN THE YEAR, AND PROJECTING, KATRINA, WHAT, $9 MILLION, $10 MILLION? I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT IT.
I'VE BEEN SO BUSY WITH AUDIT, I HAVEN'T EVEN LOOKED AT IT.
I THINK THE LAST ONE I LOOKED AT WAS $83 MILLION, $84 MILLION.
WE HAD PROJECTED, WHAT, $79 MILLION? GOING REALLY THINGS ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD ON SALES TAX SO IF WE TAKE THIS THIRTEEN POINT FIVE AND THEN WE ALSO LOOK AT LIKE YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT MID-YEAR I THINK WE CAN GET A BETTER GAME PLAN WHAT WHAT I HAVEN'T LIKED IS THAT EVERY TIME WE LOOK AT THIS EXCESS IN THE GENERAL FUND WE PULL IT OUT AND WE PUT IT OVER FOR A ONE-TIME SPEND AND WE COMMUNICATE TO COUNCIL YOU CAN ONLY SPEND THAT MONEY ONE TIME THAT'S ASSUMING THAT YOU REMOVE IT FROM THAT GENERAL FUND UH...
FUND BALANCE IF YOU LEAVE IT IN THAT FUND BALANCE, THEN IT REOCCURS EVERY YEAR, AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL MONIES THERE THAT WE CAN APPROPRIATE TO DO MORE SERVICES.
THAT $13.5 IS A FINITE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT YOU RECEIVED LAST YEAR.
AND SO, AGAIN, YEAH, THE GOAL WOULD BE THAT IF WE DO SEE A CONSISTENT REVENUE, IF REVENUE WAS MEETING A CERTAIN POINT, A CERTAIN LEVEL, YEAH, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES TO MEET THAT.
BUT THAT $13.5 FROM LAST YEAR IS A FINITE RESOURCE.
THAT YOU CANNOT SPEND MULTIPLE TIMES.
OKAY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE IT'S IN THE GENERAL
[01:20:01]
FUND THAT WE JUST IDENTIFIED, REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES.AND THEN I'M ASSUMING THAT WE PULLED THOSE BALANCES FORWARD WITHOUT THESE ADJUSTMENTS, SO WE DIDN'T ADJUST THE FIRE UP $3.7 MILLION.
SO WITH OUR REVENUES CONTINUING TO EXCEED WHAT CURRENT WAS OR WHAT PREVIOUS YEAR WAS, THEN OUR EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN BALANCED.
THEN THAT $13.5 MILLION NET STAYS IN THAT FUND BALANCE UNTIL WE REMOVE IT OUT FOR A CIP FUND.
WE DIDN'T COME TODAY WITH A 25-26 BUDGET.
AND SO I DON'T WE MADE DURING THE BASH BUDGET PROCESS LAST YEAR, WE ALL MADE CHANGES BASED OFF REVENUE PROJECTIONS.
SO IT'S I CAN'T TELL YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE 13.5 THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
ALL I KNOW IS WHEN IT ALL NETTED OUT SEPTEMBER 30, 2025, YOU ENDED UP WITH TO THE TO THE POSITIVE 13 AND A HALF THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO USE ONE TIME IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR 26 27 OKAY UM POLICE ARE UNDER BUDGET FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR IS THAT CORRECT MISS OWENS. YOU HAVE THAT OR NO? FOR 24 25 JUST TRYING TO GET CONFIRMATION ON WHERE MY POLICE BUDGET ENDED UP WELL, I GUESS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER $241,000.
YEAH, WE NEED ADDITIONAL $241,000 FOR POLICE.
I WAS THINKING YOU WERE SAYING $23,000, $24,000.
POLICE IS OVER BUDGET, $241,000.
TIE INTO THE ACT FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD.
YES, AND THEN ROUNDED FOR PRESENTATION.
SO LET ME RECAP AND MAKE SURE I'M CATCHING IT ALL.
COUNCIL, ACTUALS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AS CLOSE TO A CURRENT UP-TO-DATE AS POSSIBLE.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'VE STRUGGLED WITH THE LAG ON THAT.
COUNCIL, DOES EVERYBODY AGREE THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED, IN ORDER TO GO THROUGH THE GROWTH AND ALL OF THE MANAGEMENT AND THE TIGHTNESS OF HOW YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO DIRECT THIS SHIP, WE ARE GOING TO NEED ACTUALS.
DOES EVERYBODY AGREE TO THAT? THAT WAS A TAKEAWAY WE RECEIVED FROM THE PRE-BUDGET WORKSHOP IS UPCOMING FISCAL BUDGET PROCESS.
WE'LL BE BRINGING ACTUALS TO YOU ALL PLUS FORECASTED AMOUNTS.
AGAIN, FORECASTS, NOT ACTUALS.
AND SO WE'LL BE BRINGING TO YOU ALL IN THE BUDGET PROCESS THE 22-23, 23-24, 24-25 ACTUALS, AND THEN WE'LL DO OUR BEST GOOD FAITH ON 25-26 FORECASTED EXPENSE AND REVENUES, WHICH WILL BE A COMBINATION OF...
ACTUALS TO A CERTAIN POINT IN TIME.
WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE BOOK TO GET THE BUDGET STARTED, AND THEN WE'LL DO OUR BEST GUESS FOR THE REST OF FISCAL YEAR FOR THE ALSO.
AND I WOULD SAY ACTUALS ON INTERNAL SERVICES, ENTERPRISE FUND, AND GENERAL FUND.
EVERYBODY'S AGREEING WITH THAT.
I WOULD, ONE THING I WOULD COUNTER, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT IN A LOT OF THESE, THAT ENDING THE YEAR OVER BUDGET MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T SEE UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.
I MEAN, AS WE GET EXPENSES IN AND WHAT WE'RE RECOGNIZING IN THAT.
BUT I WOULD COUNTER, TO ME, IT WOULD SEEM SAFE TO SAY THAT IN FIRE AND MAYBE THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE, WE WOULD HAVE SEEN SOME TRENDING DURING THE YEAR THAT WE WERE GOING TO BE $3.7 OR $965,000 OVER BUDGET.
I MEAN, WE JUST DIDN'T GET TO THE END OF THE YEAR AND SAY.
PART OF THE PROBLEM IS OUR SOFTWARE WAS TRANSITIONING AND DEPARTMENTS DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE NUMBERS.
AND SO THAT'S TRANSITIONED OR IS TRANSITIONING, SO DEPARTMENTS ARE GETTING MORE AWARENESS OF THEIR BUDGET.
SO MY EXPECTATION OF DEPARTMENTS IS THEY'LL BE STARTING TO SEE MORE OF THEIR DATA IN REAL TIME WITH THE NEW SOFTWARE.
BUT THIS FISCAL YEAR WAS THE YEAR THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF ACCESS TO STUFF.
IT'S A GREAT THING THAT WE CAME IN WHERE WE DID THE WAY WE DID.
WELL, I SEE PROBABLY FOUR OF THESE AREAS THAT PROBABLY YOU COULD HAVE SEEN SOMETHING HAPPEN DURING THE YEAR.
GOLF MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THEM BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF THEM, AND I UNDERSTAND THE OTHERS MAY BE.
AND I THINK IT'S NOT A CASH FLOW PROBLEM.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO PAY OUR BILLS, BUT I THINK IT'S JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE WE'RE SHOWING A SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND KEEPING UP WITH IT, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEAR.
I THINK AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE MAY BE THINGS THAT GO OVER BUDGET.
I'M GLAD WE SPENT MORE IN THE CITY MARSHAL'S OFFICE TO CLEAN WEEDS AND DO THAT.
THAT'S A GOOD EXPENSE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING YOU SAY, THAT'S MONEY WELL SPENT, AND WE FIGURE OUT AT THE END, YOU KNOW, HOW TO RECONCILE IT.
BUT I JUST THINK BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE NOW TO BE ABLE TO TRACK THE EXPENSES SO THAT WE ARE.
REALLY ON TOP OF THAT, I THINK WE'LL BE AN ASSET TO HELP PEOPLE DO THAT.
AND AS YOU RECALL BACK IN THE PRE-BUDGET WORKSHOP, ONE OF MY THREE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE NEW CFO IS TO FINALIZE THAT TRANSITION PROCESS BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET THAT COMPLETED SO THAT STAFF HAVE THAT WINDOW INTO THEIR LINES BETTER.
SO THEY'RE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO MANAGE THAT, BUT ONCE THEY HAVE FULL VIEW ACCESS,
[01:25:01]
IT'LL BE MUCH EASIER.AND REALLY, ACTUALS, I MEAN, WHEN YOU GET INTO IT, SIX, SEVEN MONTHS OF ACTUALS DON'T REALLY TELL YOU A WHOLE LOT.
I MEAN, MAYBE YOU'D SEE THAT, BUT WHEN YOU'RE STARTING TO GET TO THE BUDGET AND YOU'RE STARTING TO FORECAST OF A SEVEN PLUS FIVE OR EIGHT PLUS FOUR OR NINE PLUS THREE, WHICH I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'D WANT TO DO AS YOU'RE, A, AS YOU'RE GETTING TOWARDS THE BUDGET, BUT B, ALSO THAT YOU'RE JUST FORECASTING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO REMAIN UNDER BUDGET OR YOU'RE ADJUSTING THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE UNDER BUDGET.
MS. OWENS, WHEN DO YOU BELIEVE YOU COULD GET US THOSE? IF I MAY, I KNOW SHE'S BEING HUMBLE RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD REQUEST THAT SHE BE ALLOWED TO FOCUS ON AUDIT TO GET THAT COMPLETED.
AND I KNOW SHE'S CRANKING THAT OUT, BUT DEFINITELY IN APRIL I THINK WE CAN GET THAT TO YOU ALL.
OKAY, AND EVERYTHING THAT WE JUST DISCUSSED IS ALL REPRESENTED IN THAT AUDIT, IN THAT ACFER? YES, OTHER THAN THE BUDGETS FOR WATER, SEWER, AND INTERNAL SERVICE.
BUT WE CAN WORK ON THOSE AND GET THOSE TO YOU IN APRIL, I THINK.
DOES THAT SOUND OKAY, KATRINA? YEAH.
ANYTHING FURTHER, COUNCIL? MS. OWENS, THANK YOU.
CONSIDERATION OF ADOPTION WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON THESE, COUNCIL, IF YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED, OR A TABLE IF YOU WANT TO TABLE IT AND BRING IT BACK ONCE YOU HAVE THE DOLLARS.
I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8241 AS PRESENTED.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON 6.1? ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE.
YOU GUYS WANT TO KEEP CRUISING OR YOU WANT
[6.2. Consider Filing of City of Amarillo Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. ]
TO TAKE A BREAK? EVERYBODY KEEP GOING.THAT IS IN RELATION TO OUR AUDITOR FROM CLA AND THE DISCUSSION WE HAD EARLIER.
FOR FRIDAY AT 2 O'CLOCK TO BRING THIS ITEM BACK, WE WOULD REQUEST A TABLE ON THIS ITEM.
REQUEST A TABLE, ITEM 6.2. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON 6.2.
[6.3. Public Hearing and Consideration of Ordinance No. 8242. ]
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION IS TABLED UNTIL FRIDAY AT 2 P.M.I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR FAVORITE PRESENTER, NONE OTHER THAN THE BRADY KENDRICK.
DID I GET THAT NAME RIGHT, SIR? YOU DID.
YES, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
6.3 IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 8242.
IT IS 2.63 ACRES OF LAND BEING ALL BLOCKS 6 THROUGH 10, BLOCK 153, AND THEN BLOCKS 1 THROUGH 5, BLOCK 154, PLUS VACATED RIGHT-OF-WAYS.
THIS IS LOCATED IN POTTER COUNTY, TEXAS, IN THE VICINITY OF SOUTH HARRISON STREET AND SOUTHWEST 12TH AVENUE.
THE APPLICANT IS OJD ENGINEERING LLC FOR FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND THEY'RE REQUESTING THE REZONE FROM MULTIPLE FAMILY DISTRICT TWO TO CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
THE APPLICANT HAS A PROJECT THAT IS PLANNED FOR THIS PROPERTY AND CURRENTLY IS SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO ZONING DISTRICTS SO THEY ESSENTIALLY HAVE TWO SETS OF DEVELOPMENTS.
STANDARDS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO FOLLOW SO THEY WANT TO MAKE THEIR WHOLE SITE ONE ZONING DISTRICT THAT WAY THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO NAVIGATE TWO SETS OF REGULATIONS DEPENDING ON THE ZONING DISTRICTS.
THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FOUND THAT THIS WAS ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE EXISTING CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT AND THE REQUEST WOULD MAKE SENSE GIVEN THE EXISTING ZONING AND DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS FOUND IN THE AREA.
THERE'S STILL A BUFFER THAT WOULD EXIST TO THE WEST BETWEEN THIS SITE AND THE ELLENWOOD PARK.
SO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION BELIEVED THE REQUEST WAS APPROPRIATE.
REGARDING PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ON THIS REZONING REQUEST, AND THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND TO APPROVE IT WITH A 7-0 VOTE.
ANY QUESTIONS FOR BRADY? SEEING NONE, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE ANYONE HERE TODAY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? HAVING NO ONE PRESENT, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 8242 AS PRESENTED.
MOTION AND A SECOND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE.
[6.4. Public Hearing and Consideration of Resolution No. 03-24-26-1. ]
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.MRS. STEPHANIE COGGINS, ITEM 6.4.
IF I CAN HAND THIS ONE OVER TO YOU, MAYOR.
OKAY, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
[01:30:01]
THIS ITEM IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND FIRST READING OF A RESOLUTION CONSIDERING THE ACCEPTANCE, PLACEMENT, AND PUBLIC DISPLAY OF A DONATED 66 STORIES FROM ROUTE 66 MURAL TO BE INSTALLED ON CITY PROPERTY.THE ARTWORK DISPLAY WILL BE PRIVATELY FUNDED AND INSTALLED AT NO COST TO THE CITY.
PLACEMENT OF THIS MONUMENT WILL BE ALONG THE 6TH STREET UNDERPASS BELOW THE NEW TRANSIT MULTIMODAL STATION AND TRANSFORMATION PARK NEAR THE CROSS STREET OF BOWIE.
THE ARTWORK DONATION APPLICATION WAS RECEIVED BY THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE ON MARCH 13, 2026.
IT WAS REVIEWED FOR COMPLETENESS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICY AND IS BEFORE YOU TODAY.
THE APPLICANT IS BLANK SPACE MURALS, INC.
THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SEAN KENNEDY, IS HERE TODAY TO SHARE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSED ARTWORK TO BE DONATED AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
AFTER MR. KENNEDY'S PRESENTATION, WE WILL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY'S POLICY ON DONATION OF ARTWORK AND MONUMENTS.
AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR. KENNEDY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
TURN IT OVER TO HEATHER FINSTERWALD, WHO IS ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND IS PART OF THIS PRODUCTION, AND THEN I WILL CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOU AFTER SHE'S FINISHED.
MR. MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE TODAY ABOUT 66 STORIES FROM ROUTE 66, A RICH TAPESTRY OF STORIES TO BUILD A CENTENNIAL LANDMARK FOR THE CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND BETTERMENT OF THE GREATER AMARILLO AREA.
THIS IS A COLLABORATION AMONG MULTIPLE ORGANIZATIONS, BLANK SPACES MURALS LOCALLY AND THEN NATIONALLY WITH 2892 MILES TO GO WHICH IS PARTNERED WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THIS SLIDE OUR VISION IS THREEFOLD.
THE PURPOSE IS TO CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF ROUTE 66 WITH LASTING PUBLIC ART AS WELL AS DIGITAL STORYTELLING AND CREATED WORKS TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITY, INCREASE TOURISM AND ENRICH THE I-40 EXPERIENCE FROM DOWNTOWN TO HISTORIC 6TH STREET.
IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS IN OCTOBER WE PLACED A CALL FOR YOUTH FELLOWS AND STORYTELLERS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE ONCE BEEN PART OF THE GREATER AMARILLO AREA IN CONNECTION TO ROUTE 66.
WE SELECTED THESE YOUTH FELLOWS.
THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE MADE THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS.
THEY HAVE RESEARCHED EXTENSIVELY OUR COMMUNITY AND THE PRESENCE OF ROUTE 66.
THEY HAVE INTERVIEWED ALMOST 66 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND INTERNALIZED THOSE ENCOUNTERS TO NOT ONLY HAVE THE DIGITAL INTERVIEWS, BUT TO ALSO HAVE ORIGINAL CRAFTED WORK.
ALL OF THIS WILL BE HOUSED DIGITALLY.
ON A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STORY MAP SO THAT ANYONE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE PRESENCE OF ROUTE 66 AND HOW IT'S IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITY OVER TIME.
THE THIRD COMPONENT, WHICH WE'RE REALLY HERE TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY, IS ABOUT THE ARTIST.
THE ARTISTS AT BLANK SPACE'S MURALS ARE UTILIZING THE 66 COMPELLING VISUALS AND ESSENTIAL DETAILS REFERENCED IN THE INTERVIEWS TO REFLECT THE COLLECTIVE FINE ARTS, CULTURE AND COMMERCE OF ROUTE 66 THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GREATER AMARILLO AREA OVER THE LAST 100 YEARS TO OFFER A VISUAL HISTORY OF THE MOTHER ROAD CENTRAL TO OUR CITY.
SO FAR MANY OF OUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
AMARILLO HAS BEEN PUT ON THE MAP FROM THIS PROJECT THAT JUST WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
POWERFUL RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BETWEEN STORYTELLERS AND YOUTH FELLOWS.
IT'S CREATED CONNECTIONS THAT SPAN GENERATIONS.
YOUTH FELLOWS HAVE ACQUIRED SKILL SETS BEYOND WHAT OUR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM PROVIDES, THANKS TO THE NETWORK OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC WITH VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS THAT TOOK PLACE IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY THROUGH 2982 MILES TO GO, AS WELL AS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PANHANDLE PLAINS HISTORICAL MUSEUM RESEARCH ARCHIVE.
WHO INVITED US IN IN FEBRUARY, AS WELL AS RESOURCES FROM THE AMARILLO PUBLIC LIBRARY.
PROFESSIONALS IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE PARTNERING WITH YOUTH FELLOWS TO PROVIDE REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES, FINANCIAL COMPENSATION, AND ALLOW THIS COMMUNITY-DRIVEN, INCLUSIVE WORK TO BE YOUTH-LED AT A PROFESSIONAL GRADE.
BEFORE YOU ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE WE'VE INTERVIEWED SO FAR.
NOTICE THIS IS A RICH, INCLUSIVE HERITAGE.
WE'VE AMPLIFIED THE GENEROSITY OF THE PANHANDLE SPIRIT TO SHARE STORIES THAT HAVE CHANGED
[01:35:01]
LIVES, SHAPED FAMILIES, AND CREATED CONNECTIVITY ACROSS ROUTE 66 CENTRAL, REALLY HIGHLIGHTING AMARILLO'S IMPACT ON THE MOTHER ROAD.WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE JUST A BRIEF LOOK INTO SEVERAL OF THESE INTERVIEWS.
THEY'VE BEEN BOLDED FOR YOU, JUST SO YOU CAN HAVE A GLIMPSE FOR YOURSELF OF WHAT THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN LIKE FOR US THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
WE'LL START WITH AN INQUIRY FROM YOUTH FELLOWS ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AMARILLO ON THE ROUTE.
SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN EMBEDDED LINK.
YOU'LL SEE AS THESE VIDEOS APPEAR, WE REALLY TRIED TO CAPITALIZE ON LEADERS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAVE BEEN STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE LAST CENTURY.
WE WANTED TO MAKE IT RELEVANT TO THE YOUTH OF TODAY SO IT WASN'T JUST PEOPLE FROM THE PAST, IT'S NOT ANTIQUATED STORIES, BUT INSTEAD IN A WAY TO EMPOWER THE RICH HISTORY OF ROUTE 66, BUT ALSO HOW IT COULD MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT 100 YEARS.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO REVIEW THOSE CLIPS.
WE CAN RESEND THAT PRESENTATION.
THIS IS BOB CROCODILE LYLE, IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HIM, AN INCREDIBLE BUSINESSMAN AND ARTIST ON HISTORIC ROUTE 66, REALLY SPEAKING TO THE MAGNITUDE OF WHAT THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY IS GOING TO DO FOR OUR CITY IN TERMS OF THE MILLIONS OF ADDITIONAL VISITORS THAT WILL BE COMING.
THE NEXT VIDEO THAT YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE GOT VERY CREATIVE IN TERMS OF MEETING WITH MANY PEOPLE OVER ZOOM THAT WEREN'T ABLE TO RETURN TO AMARILLO, BUT WERE VERY WILLING TO PARTNER WITH US.
THIS IS WYATT MCSPADDEN, WHOSE PHOTOGRAPHY HAS GAINED WORLDWIDE.
RIDE ACCOLADE BECAUSE OF THE PROGRESSION OF CADILLAC RANCH, BUT HE HIMSELF SAID THAT UNTIL THIS PROJECT OF WORKING WITH THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, HE HAD NOT SEEN THE PRESENCE OF AMARILLO IN TERMS OF THE ENTIRE ROUTE 66 NARRATIVE, BUT IT IS THE MOST VISITED PLACE DAILY OF THE ENTIRE PATH OF ROUTE 66 BECAUSE OF THE LANDMARKS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR VERY CITY AND THE OUTER CITY LIMITS.
AFTER THAT, YOU'LL SEE BEN FONG TORRES.
NOW, MANY OF YOU WILL KNOW PRECISELY WHO THIS IS.
SOME OF OUR YOUNGER FOLKS WOULD NOT.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S GIVING A GLIMPSE TO WHAT WAS AND THEN ALSO WHAT IS.
THIS WAS REALLY SPEAKING TO THE FUTURE, THE HISTORY AND THE MAKING, ALL BECAUSE OF WHAT CAN BE LAUNCHED FROM AMARILLO.
AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO SEAN.
WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HER TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE SHE'S REALLY HELPED TO HEAD UP THE STORYTELLING PART OF THIS PROJECT AND WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC AND DR.
SHANNA PEOPLES, WHO WAS OUR NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR, WHO WAS ALSO PART OF OUR COMMITTEE.
I WANT TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BLANK SPACES MURALS.
IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH OUR PROGRAM, WE'RE A LOCAL NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING LOCAL YOUTH BY PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL-GRADE ACCESS TO THE CREATIVE ARTS.
THROUGH A PAID INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
BY PAIRING STUDENT INTERNS WITH PROFESSIONAL MENTORS, WE TEACH THE REAL-WORLD TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS ASPECTS OF MURAL PRODUCTION.
FROM DESIGN AND BUDGETING TO CLIENT COLLABORATION, SPECIFICALLY TO HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS AND PURSUE CREATIVE-BASED EMPLOYMENT.
ULTIMATELY, BLANK SPACES AIMS TO CULTIVATE A SOCIALLY AWARE AND WELL-BALANCED GENERATION OF ARTISTS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY DRIVING CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION YOU AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT THROUGH THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.
YOU'LL SEE MANY OF OUR WORKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY JUST DRIVING DOWN HERE.
WE'VE COMPLETED OVER 125 MURALS HERE IN TEXAS, OR HERE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, OVER LAST YEAR.
WE CONTRIBUTED OVER $180,000 IN PAID INTERNSHIPS, SO THE MONEY THAT WE SPEND CULTIVATING THESE KITS, WE'RE PUTTING BACK
[01:40:01]
INTO THEM AS WE'RE PUTTING THIS PUBLIC ART BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.THIS IS THE LOCATION WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT PUTTING THE MURAL.
IT WILL BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THIS.
EACH SIDE IS ABOUT 215 FEET, SO A LITTLE OVER 400 FEET IN TOTAL, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT THE LARGEST MURAL IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE.
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE OTHER LARGEST ONE, AND THAT'S OUT AT TRI-STATE FAIR AT ABOUT 200 FEET.
THE PURPOSE OF A MURAL LIKE 66 STORIES IS TO CREATE A LIVING LANDMARK, AN INTERACTIVE ECOSYSTEM.
TO CONNECT, EDUCATE, AND ENGAGE VIEWERS AND LOCALS ALIKE.
THE MURAL ALLOWS VIEWERS TO CONNECT MORE RICHLY WITH THE HISTORY AND THE PEOPLE OF THE HIGH FLAMES.
THIS LOCATION NATURALLY CONNECTS DOWNTOWN TO HISTORIC 6TH STREET, MINDFULLY SLOWING PEOPLE DOWN FOR A BETTER EXPERIENCE OFF 540, ENCOURAGING A LONGER STAY TO SHOP, EXPLORE, AND ENCOUNTER AMARILLO IN AN ENTIRELY NEW WAY.
SO SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE ACQUIRED FROM THE CITY...
ON AVERAGE, AT THAT INTERSECTION WHERE 6TH STREET IN GEORGIA IS, WHERE HISTORIC 6TH STREET STARTS, YOU SEE ABOUT 6,282 CARS DAILY.
AT THE LOCATION THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING, YOU SEE ABOUT 03,479 CARS PASS THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION.
SO WE'RE HOPING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DRAW SOME OF THAT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DOING THE COAST-TO-COAST.
OF THE ROUTE 66, THAT WE CAN PULL THEM DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TOWARDS THIS AREA AND THEN, OF COURSE, TOWARDS DOWNTOWN.
MANY OF YOU ARE PROBABLY CURIOUS ABOUT, WELL, WHAT IS THIS GOING TO LOOK LIKE? WE'VE SPENT THE LAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS CULTIVATING THESE STORIES, COMBING THROUGH THEM, PULLING OUT THE CONTENT.
AND SO I'M GOING TO LEAVE IT TO OUR PROJECT DIRECTOR, SHANDA O'NEILL, TO TALK ABOUT...
WHERE WE'RE AT IN THIS PROCESS AND HOW YOU CAN TRUST OUR VISION TO WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET TO BY THE CENTENNIAL DATE.
NOW THE FUN PART, WE GET TO TALK ABOUT ART.
I'M THE PROJECT DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER OF BLANK SPACES MURALS, AND I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PRELIMINARY DRAWINGS THAT WE HAVE HERE.
AND HOW IT RELATES TO OUR 66 STORIES ON ROUTE 66 MISSION.
WE'LL START FROM THE LEFT AND GO RIGHT.
FROM THE LEFT, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S UNEVEN RECTANGLES, WHICH REPRESENT LAYERS OF COLORFUL SPRAY PAINT COLLECTED FROM CADILLAC RANCH TO MAKE BOB CROCODILE LYLE'S BEAUTIFUL AND UNIQUE JEWELRY, WHICH IS DISPLAYED AT HIS GALLERY ON ROUTE 66.
MR. LYLE IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND EACH LAYER OF PAINT EXPRESSES A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AND A STORY, AND THIS IS OUR WAY OF VISUALIZING THAT.
CHRIS GRIFFIN OF BLUE CRANE BAKERY SPOKE ABOUT THE COORS RANCH RODEO CATTLE DRIVE, WHICH IS A SOUGHT-AFTER EVENT IN DOWNTOWN AMARILLO.
THE CATTLE DRIVE TREKS THROUGH DOWNTOWN, WHICH BRINGS MANY VISITORS TO THE AREA.
WE CHOSE A BEAUTIFUL WEST TEXAS SUNSET TO BACKDROP THE LONGHORNS, AS WELL AS A YUCCA IN BLOOM TO BRING FOLIAGE AND TEXTURE TO THE FOREGROUND.
THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO STOP FOR GAS AND SNACKS THAN IN AMARILLO, SO WE CHOSE THE NOSTALGIA OF AN ANTIQUE TRUCK AND GAS PUMP SITTING ON TOP OF BOLD CURVES THAT REPRESENT THE MOTHER ROAD BEING TRAVELED.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE INTERVIEWS IS OF DAVID WADDELL.
HE'S A FIDDLE PLAYER, 2019 WESTERN SWING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE, AND AN ALL-AROUND JOY TO TALK TO.
DAVID WALTZED ACROSS TEXAS FROM CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO TO HOLLIS, OKLAHOMA IN 1970, AND I IMAGINE, AFTER A LONG DAY OF DANCING, DAVID KICKED UP HIS BOOTS JUST AS OUR BELOVED COWBOYS WOULD.
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE BIG TEXAN STEAK RANCH IS THE MOST FAMOUS STEAKHOUSE FOR MILES AND MILES.
ORIGINALLY PLACED ON ROUTE 66, PEOPLE TRAVEL FAR AND WIDE TO EXPERIENCE THE BIG TEXAN AND ITS NOVELTIES.
FUN FACT, THE FUNK FAMILY WOULD BRING FELLOW WRESTLERS TO THE BIG TEXAN TO TAKE ON THE 72-OUNCE STEAK CHALLENGE.
OUR MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT CULTURE IN AMARILLO STARTED AT THE AVIATRIX AND THE NOTORIUM.
THE AVIATRIX HOSTED NAMES SUCH AS LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND VELMA MIDDLETON, LES BROWN, WILLIE NELSON, AND CHARLIE PHILLIPS IN THE SUGAR TIMERS, WHILE THE NAT WELCOMED ACTS SUCH AS THE DORSEY BROTHERS, BOB WILLS, LITTLE RICHARD, AND EVEN ELVIS PRESLEY.
WHILE THERE WILL BE SEVERAL MORE INTERPRETATIONS OF AMARILLO'S ROUTE 66 MUSICAL ROOTS, THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE OF THE PASSION, THEATER, AND VITALITY THAT WE NEVER WANT TO FORGET.
YOU'LL ALSO SEE A COUPLE OF SPRIGS OF SAGE, OR AS SOME CALL IT, COWBOY PERFUME, ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT, AGAIN REPRESENTING OUR BEAUTIFUL FOLIAGE LINING THE HIGHWAY.
WE'VE INCLUDED A SAMPLE COLOR PALETTE HERE THAT WE ARE TESTING.
AS DESIGNERS, WE'VE CONCLUDED THAT VIBRANT REDS, SOOTHING BLUES, AND CRISP GOLDS ARE ESSENTIAL IN CAPTURING OUR STRETCH
[01:45:01]
OF THE MOTHER ROSE VIBRANCY.THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT OUR SUNSET'S FOLIAGE AND DIVERSITY BRINGS A UNIQUE AND STUNNING COLOR PALETTE TO US EACH DAY.
LET ME SWITCH SLIDES REAL QUICK.
WHILE THIS IS NOT THE DESIGN FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A SIMILAR MOCK-UP SHOWING VARIOUS OBJECTS AND HOW THEY MIGHT INTERACT AND FLOW TOGETHER TO TELL A STORY.
WHILE SOME PIECES ARE LITERAL AND RENDERED, WE ALSO LIKE TO ADD IN GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATIONS SUCH AS THE BOLD CURVES FOR THE ROAD TO KEEP THE INTEREST OF THE VIEWER AS WELL AS GIVE ROOM FOR OTHER INTERPRETATIONS.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE COULD HAVE A FULL 400-FOOT COMPLETED RENDERING FOR OUR NEXT...
CITY COUNCIL MEETING BUT WE'RE ASKING IF WE COULD SUBMIT A CONCEPT THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENT JUST TO SHOW YOU SOME IMPORTANT ASPECTS AND SOME IMPORTANT POINTS THAT WOULD BE IN THE MURAL FOR Y'ALL TO SEE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REPRESENT AS MANY STORIES THAT OUR YOUTH FELLOWS HAVE TAKEN ON AS POSSIBLE AS WELL AS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MURAL IS DIVERSE AND INTERESTING AND REPRESENTS MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WE'RE SUPER EXCITED FOR THIS EVENT.
WE'RE VERY THANKFUL THAT YOU TOOK TIME TO LISTEN TO OUR PROJECT TODAY.
I'M GOING TO PASS IT ON TO CASHIN.
YOU KNOW ME, I DON'T HAVE SLIDES, SO...
HEY, LOOK NO, I MEAN, I KNOW YOU GUYS KNOW THIS, BUT THIS IS REALLY SPECIAL FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CENTENNIAL MURAL LIKE THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF ROUTE 66 COMMUNITIES SAYING THEY'RE DOING A CENTENNIAL MURAL.
IT IS NOT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER YOU THINK ABOUT THESE ARE OUR STORIES AND THESE ARE OUR KIDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING IT UP, IT'S REALLY SPECIAL.
BUT I THINK WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT FROM MY OFFICE AND HOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS AND WHY WE'RE SUPPORTING IT, IS REALLY BEING ABLE TO TAKE PEOPLE WITH THOSE BUCKET LISTS, CHECK MARKS THAT THEY WANT TO PUT ON THE LIST AS THEY'RE DOING ROUTE 66.
THIS IS ANOTHER REASON TO GET OFF OF I-40 AND TO REALLY SLOW DOWN.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT REMINDS THEM THAT CADILLAC RANCH AND BIG TEXAN ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE ONLY THINGS ROUTE 66, AND YOU REALLY NEED TO SLOW DOWN AND SPEND SOME TIME IN AMARILLO.
SO THIS HELPS US MOVE PEOPLE FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT AND HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK AT AND TO CHECK OFF YOUR LIST AS YOU DO THAT.
YOU THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT MAINLY FOR JUST THE AREA, THE YEAR, EVERYTHING'S COMING TOGETHER.
BUT THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, THERE'S US, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PARTNERS COMING IN AND MAKING THIS LOOK REALLY SPECIAL.
THAT PARKING LOT HAS BEEN CLEANED UP THAT IS RIGHT THERE, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS SOME LIGHTING CONSIDERED, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND JUST KIND OF PUT THAT BACK ON Y'ALL'S RADAR IF WE'RE GOING TO...
PUT THIS BIG AMAZING MURAL OUT THERE.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE LIGHTING ON THAT BRIDGE TO GO WITH HOW WE'RE INVITING PEOPLE IN TO PARK AND TAKE TIME AND SEE THAT AND TAKE PICTURES.
I HOPE Y'ALL ARE AS EXCITED ABOUT THIS AS I AM.
MR. KENNEDY, IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK UP.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO IT? NO, WE'RE JUST VERY EXCITED TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.
AS YOU'VE HEARD, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF PARTNERS, AND TO PARTNER WITH SOMEONE LIKE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TO GET THIS ON THEIR PLATFORM EXTENDS THE REACH OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS.
SO WHEN TOURISTS COME THROUGH TOWN, THEY'RE DRAWN DOWN TO THIS 400-FOOT MURAL THAT'S REALLY TELLING THE HISTORY AND STORIES OF OUR CITIZENS.
THEY CAN GO DEEPER IF THEY WANT TO.
THERE WILL BE LIKE A QR CODE THERE THAT THEY CAN SCAN.
IT WILL TAKE THEM TO THE STORY MAP.
IT WILL TAKE THEM TO THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SITE WHERE THEY CAN REALLY DIG IN DEEP TO ALL.
OF ALL OF THE RICHNESS THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE MOVED OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE BEN FONG-TOURS, WHO LIVES IN SAN FRANCISCO AND WAS THE FAMOUS FIRST MUSICAL EDITOR OF ROLLING STONE.
HE'S GOT STORIES TO TELL ABOUT EMERALD.
IT'S JUST THINGS LIKE THAT THAT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
THEY'RE THINGS THAT WE'RE UNCOVERING TOGETHER, AND WE JUST THINK IT'S A REALLY SPECIAL PROJECT AND HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND TRYING TO GET BACK TO OUR...
COMMUNITY WITH COUNCIL ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR MR. KENNEDY JUST HOW WAS THAT LOCATION CHOSEN I MEAN WHY THAT I MEAN WHAT JUST IT WORKED WE HAD 400 FEET NO I'VE HAD MY EYE ON THAT BRIDGE FOR YEARS NOW BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS A SPECIAL PLACE BECAUSE WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN DOWNTOWN PUTTING UP MURALS AND THERE'S A LOT OF REVITALIZATION THAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN I'M A FAN OF WHAT GOES ON IN 6TH STREET AS WELL.
I KNOW A NUMBER OF BUSINESS OWNERS THAT HAVE BUSINESSES
[01:50:01]
ON 6TH STREET AND I JUST KNOW THE AMOUNT OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AND NATIONAL TRAVEL BUT THE AMOUNT OF TOURISM THAT COMES THROUGH 6TH STREET AND IF WE COULD FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THOSE TWO SECTIONS YOU KNOW THOSE TWO DISTRICTS YOU KNOW TO INTERACT BETTER AND TO PULL PEOPLE FROM ONE DESTINATION TO THE OTHER DESTINATION I JUST THOUGHT THAT CORRIDOR SPACE IS A BRILLIANT SPOT GRANTED I WOULD HAVE LIKED IT TO BE SHORTER THAN 400 FEET SO THANK YOU ANY OTHER QUESTIONS COUNCIL SO IN CONSIDERATION OF THIS ONE WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER MEETING ON APRIL 14TH YOU'LL HAVE A RENDERING OF SOME SORT INCLUDED AT THAT TIME? IS THAT THE GOAL? SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE QUESTION WE ASKED WAS, WOULD IT BE SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO HAVE THE LINED OUT ARTWORK THAT MAYBE NOT NECESSARILY HAVE ALL THE COLOR IN IT, BUT YOU COULD SEE THE LAYOUT OF EVERYTHING.WHERE TO BE TRUSTED WE'VE DONE PROJECTS THAT ARE VERY YOU KNOW VERY LARGE AND IF WE COULD HAVE THE LINE ART THAT RENDERING TO YOU BEFORE THAT DATE WOULD THAT BE SUFFICIENT TO COUNSEL TO BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THIS PROJECT FOR COUNSEL ANY CONCERNS ON THAT OR IS EVERYBODY GOOD TO HAVE THAT BROUGHT BACK AT THAT TIME OKAY.
SO, DON TIPP'S MORE OF A RED GUY.
SO, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND WHAT YOU DO.
YOU HAVE PHENOMENAL PIECES ALL ACROSS AMARILLO AND HAVE DONE GREAT THINGS.
SO, I THINK THAT'S A REALLY COOL CORRIDOR WITH THAT OLD...
LOOKING KIND OF RETRO RAILROAD THAT RUNS ACROSS IT RIGHT THERE AND THE STEEL AND THE BOLTS.
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PRETTY COOL PIECE.
SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BEFORE WE VOTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
BUT I THINK THE RECOMMENDATION AND CONSENSUS HERE IS WE OUGHT TO GET YOU THE APPROVAL YOU NEED TO GET STARTED.
THAT'S OUR CONCERN IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO GET IT DONE BY THAT 13TH.
WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU INVESTING YOUR TIME AND TALENTS IN AMARILLO.
COUNCIL, ITEMS BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
AT THIS TIME, WE WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
DO I HAVE ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM? SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND NOW, COUNCIL, WE WOULD HAVE AN ITEM BEFORE YOU.
I'D MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 03-2426-1.
LET'S TAKE A QUICK 10-MINUTE BREAK.
WE'LL COME BACK AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE THIS ONE OUT.
BEFORE COUNSEL CONTINUES TO COMMENT OVER THE MICROPHONES, WE WILL CALL OURSELVES BACK INTO SESSION AND GET BACK TO OUR BUSINESS MEETING AT HAND.
[6.5. Consideration of Resolution No. 03-24-26-2]
FOR STICKING AROUND AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING ONLINE.WE'VE GOT, WHAT, ONE, TWO, THREE ITEMS LEFT TO GO.
MR. BRADY KENDRICK, YOU'RE UP AGAIN ON ITEM 6.5.
ITEM 6.5 IS A RESOLUTION TO CONSIDER DISSOLVING AND ABANDONING THE DEDICATION OF AN UNACCEPTED PUBLIC STREET TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND CONVEYING THE STREET TO THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.
THIS IS AN UNBUILT SEGMENT OF SOUTHEAST 28TH AVENUE WHERE IT INTERSECTS WITH OLIVE STREET IN POTTER COUNTY, TEXAS.
IT'S LOCATED BETWEEN LOT 6, BLOCK 8, AND LOT 1, BLOCK 9 OF GLENWOOD ADDITION.
AMTEX LIQUID WASTE PROCESSING LLC.
THAT COMPANY, THEY OWN THE LOT IN THE BUILDING TO THE NORTH OF THIS SEGMENT AND ALSO THE EMPTY LOT TO THE SOUTH.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT TO MOVE INTO THAT SITE WITH A NEW INDUSTRIAL USE AND WANT TO CREATE ONE LARGE SITE THAT THEY CAN FENCE IN.
SINCE THAT'S TECHNICALLY A PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AT THE MOMENT, THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.
THEY REACHED OUT TO US AND WE REVIEWED THE REQUEST.
OTHER THAN THERE BEING A WATER MAIN LOCATED WITHIN THAT SEGMENT, THERE WERE NO OTHER UTILITIES IN THERE, SO THEY...
GRANTED AN EASEMENT TO THE CITY AT NO COST AS PART OF THIS REQUEST AS WELL.
AND ADDITIONALLY, THEY DID PAY THE FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR THAT SEGMENT OF STREET, WHICH CAME OUT TO $2,091.
NO OTHER FRANCHISE UTILITY COMPANIES OR CITY DEPARTMENTS EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THIS.
SO THE STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST AS PRESENTED, AS WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
MR. KENDRICK, WE APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY, THANK YOU, SIR.
AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING? WE DO NOT.
OKAY, IT IS NOT A PUBLIC HEARING, SO WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
[01:55:03]
DON, GO AHEAD.I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 03-2426-3 AS PRESENTED.
AND FOR CLARIFICATION, IT WAS ACTUALLY TWO, NOT THREE.
THIS WOULD BE 03-2426-2. I KNEW THAT.
I WAS JUST MAKING SURE YOU WERE STILL PAYING ATTENTION TO THE MEETING.
I ATTENDED FOR A SECOND THERE.
YOU HANDLE IT FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING, DON.
[6.6. Consideration of Resolution No. 03-24-26-3. ]
THE REFEREE'S NOT COMING TO OFFICIATE THE MATCH HERE.THIS ITEM IS THE FIRST READING OF A RESOLUTION TO CONSIDER SUSPENDING FOR 45 DAYS THE EFFECTIVE DATE PROPOSED BY ATMOS ENERGY WEST TEXAS DIVISION IN ITS APPLICATION FILED ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 20TH PURSUANT TO SECTION 104.301 OF THE GAS UTILITY REGULATORY ACT.
ATMOS ENERGY'S WEST TEXAS DIVISION HAS FILED A GAS RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM OR GRIP APPLICATION UNDER STATE LAW.
THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS UTILITIES TO ADJUST THEIR RATES BETWEEN FULL RATE CASES TO RECOVER INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT COSTS.
THEY HAVE PROPOSED AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF APRIL 21ST, 2026 AND IF APPROVED TODAY THIS RESOLUTION THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING WILL SUSPEND THE PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE FOR 45 DAYS TO JUNE 5TH, 2026.
IF THIS RATE INCREASE IS APPROVED BY THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, THE FILING WOULD INCREASE THE AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER SPACE RATE BY ABOUT 13.59% OR APPROXIMATELY $6.45 PER MONTH.
IT WOULD ALSO INCREASE ATMOS' SYSTEM-WIDE REVENUES BY ABOUT $30.57 MILLION, WITH APPROXIMATELY $14.69 MILLION OF THAT ATTRIBUTABLE TO AMARILLO AND OTHER COALITION CITIES, WHICH INCLUDE CHANNING, DALHART, AND LUBBOCK.
THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT IMPROVE THE RATE INCREASE.
IT SIMPLY SUSPENDS THE PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE FOR 45 DAYS TO ALLOW TIME FOR OUR SPECIAL COUNSEL TO REVIEW ATMIS' DATA AND CALCULATIONS AS PERMITTED UNDER STATE LAW.
IT ALSO AUTHORIZES HERRERA LAW AND ASSOCIATES TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND PROVIDES FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF REASONABLE RATE CASE EXPENSES ALSO AS ALLOWED BY LAW.
UNDER OUR LOCAL RESOLUTION, THIS ITEM WILL REQUIRE TWO READINGS.
TODAY WILL BE THE FIRST READING AND THE SECOND AND FINAL, SHOULD YOU APPROVE TODAY, WILL BE ON APRIL 14TH. AND STAFF RECOMMENDS ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION AS PRESENTED.
MS. COGGINS, THANK YOU FOR WALKING US THROUGH THAT AND I APPRECIATE THE SLIDES THAT VERY SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT IT'S NOT AN APPROVAL OF THE RATE, JUST THE SUSPENSION.
WILL THIS COME BACK TO THIS BODY FOR AN APPROVAL OR WILL IT NOT COME BACK FOR A RECOMMENDATION OR AN APPROVAL OF ANY KIND AND IT STAYS WITH THE RAILROAD COMMISSION? IT STAYS WITH THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
SO OUR ABILITY IS TO PROVIDE COMMENT, TO STUDY, TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE.
THAT'S WHAT HARRELL LAW FIRM DOES FOR US.
BUT ULTIMATELY THE RAILROAD COMMISSION, THAT OR PUC.
RAILROAD COMMISSION, YES, THEY MAKE THE ULTIMATE DECISION ON THAT.
AND MY EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST WITH THIS IS THAT WE AS A BODY LET THAT ENTITY KNOW THAT WE ARE USUALLY NOT IN FAVOR OF RATE INCREASES.
THEY CONSIDER THAT BEFORE THEY EITHER VOTE FOR IT OR AGAINST IT, RIGHT? YES, AND SO THAT'S THE GOAL WITH THE RAILROAD LAW FIRM IS TRY TO DRIVE THIS DOWN AS FAR AS WE POSSIBLY CAN GET IT.
I MEAN, THEY ARE ALLOWED CERTAIN INCREASES UNDER THE LAW.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY THE LAW IS WRITTEN, BUT HERE OUR LAW FIRM WORKS ON OUR BEHALF FOR ALL THE ACTSM COMMITTEES TO TRY TO DRIVE THAT COST FURTHER DOWN TO MORE FAVORABLE.
SO I WOULD JUST STATE FOR THE RECORD, THIS BODY HAS NOT BEEN IN FAVOR OF ANY OF THESE RATE INCREASES IN MY EXPERIENCE AND NORMALLY ADVOCATE FOR THE VERY, VERY MINIMUM THAT'S ALLOWED FOR THOSE INCREASES.
THE HERRERA LAW FIRM REPRESENTS OUR INTEREST IN THAT.
THEY DO THAT OUTSIDE OF THIS CHAMBER.
AND SO TODAY ALL WE'RE DOING IS JUST VOTING FOR A SUSPENSION FOR AN AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THEM TO CONSIDER WHETHER THEY WILL OR WILL NOT APPROVE THIS BASED ON THE DATA THAT THEY'RE COLLECTING.
ANY QUESTIONS? IS THERE A PARTICULAR REASON IT'S THESE FOUR CITIES THAT THEY NAMED? NO OTHER CITIES ARE AFFECTED BY THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE BUILD? CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
I'M GUESSING THOSE ARE THE FOUR CITIES THAT ATMOS HAS INFRASTRUCTURE IN.
THERE ARE OTHER GAS PROVIDERS THAT MAY PROVIDE TO OTHER CITIES IN THE REGION.
I KNOW WHEN WE WORK WITH EXCEL, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEIR RATE INCREASES, IT'S TYPICALLY A LARGER NUMBER
[02:00:01]
OF CITIES.ITEM 6.6 IS BEFORE YOU, COUNCIL.
MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 03-2426-3.
[6.7. Consideration of an Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Amarillo and the Amarillo Independent School District. ]
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.MR. FREEMAN, WILL YOU WALK THIS ONE OUT FOR US? YES SIR, SO THIS BEFORE YOU TODAY IS AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT PROPOSED TO BE BETWEEN THE CITY OF AMARILLO AND AMARILLO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
IT'S RELATED TO THE AMTECH CAMPUS.
THEY HAVE A COUPLE OF DIGITAL DISPLAYS THAT DO NOT CURRENTLY MEET SIGN CODE FROM WHEN THEY WERE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED BACK IN 2021, I BELIEVE.
WHAT SIGN CODE WOULD ALLOW FOR AND TODAY IF IT WAS BUILT TODAY IS 275 SQUARE FEET THE CHALLENGE WITH THE DIGITAL SIGNS, THEY CAN...
THEY CAN SHRINK THE DIGITAL DISPLAY ON THEM TO TO CONFORM WITH SIGN CODE BUT THE BORDER THAT WOULD BE LEFT AROUND IT IS HOW WE WOULD MEASURE A SIGN SO THAT WOULD COUNT AGAINST THE SQUARE FOOTAGE WHAT'S PROPOSED TODAY WOULD ALLOW FOR THEM TO GO AHEAD AND TURN THE SIGNS ON AT 275 SQUARE FEET DISCOUNTING THAT THAT BLACK BORDER THAT GOES AROUND THE SIGN SO WE DO HAVE DR PARISH HERE AS WELL TODAY WITH AISD THEIR SUPERINTENDENT IN CASE YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HER SHE'D LIKE LIKE TO SPEAK.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY? GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO I AM DEIDRE PARRISH, SUPERINTENDENT OF AMARILLO ISD.
I HAVE BEEN IN MY ROLE NOW FOR ONE YEAR, AS OF MARCH 18TH.
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE, AS A CITY AND A SCHOOL DISTRICT, ARE INTERDEPENDENT.
SO OUR COOPERATION, OUR PARTNERSHIP, THEY'RE ESSENTIAL TO WHAT WE DO FOR THE FUTURE OF AMARILLO, BUT ALSO I WOULD ADD TO THE SAFETY OF AMARILLO, AND THAT'S NOW.
AND SO, YES, THE QUESTION TODAY IS MAY WE TURN ON THE SIGNS TO SHOWCASE WHAT WE DO AT AMTECH, NOT ONLY TO SHOW THE STORIES OF OUR CURRENT STUDENTS, BUT ALSO TO SHOW THE OPTIONS.
THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR STUDENTS INCLUDING BIZTOWN, RIGHT MAYOR? THAT'S CORRECT.
SO TRULY THE PARTNERSHIP, THE COOPERATION, I FEEL WOULD BE REFLECTED IN BEING ABLE TO USE OUR SIGN.
SO DOCTOR, DO US A FAVOR HERE REAL QUICK AND JUST BRAG A LITTLE BIT ON AMTECH, WHAT IT DOES OVER THERE AND THE TYPE OF UPSKILLED WORKERS THAT YOU'RE YOU'RE TURNING OUT THERE.
ABSOLUTELY, WE HAVE 26 DIFFERENT PATHWAYS THAT STUDENTS CAN FOLLOW.
SO THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM CULINARY TO AUTO TECH TO HEALTH SCIENCES TO VET TECH TO ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE, JUST A VARIETY OF THINGS FOR STUDENTS TO CHOOSE.
BUT WHAT'S SAD ABOUT THAT IS NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS, RIGHT, JUST BY ASKING.
AND AS YOU KNOW, SECURITY THESE DAYS REQUIRES MANY STEPS, SO PEOPLE HAVE TO BE HOSTED, RIGHT, WHEN THEY COME IN TO TOUR THE BUILDING.
SO THIS WOULD ACTUALLY ALLOW US TO SHOWCASE.
SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THERE, BUT MANY COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS, AMARILLO COLLEGE, WT, THE WORKFORCE.
YOU KNOW, WE WORK WITH A VARIETY.
WE HAVE A, RIGHT NOW, WITH PANTEX, WITH BELL HELICOPTER, MANY, MANY PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE COULD SHOWCASE BY TURNING OUR SIGNS ON.
YEAH, AND IT IS A LITTLE UNFORTUNATE THAT WE BRING BUSINESSES.
TO AMARILLO THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SITE LOCATIONS AND RELOCATIONS, GROWTH, THEY'RE GOING OUT TO AMTECH AND THEY'RE FINDING OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, OH, YOU GUYS HAVE THIS HERE.
WE DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WERE THIS FAR ALONG.
WHAT A GREAT THING FOR OUR BUSINESS.
IF WE ARE TO LOCATE HERE, YOU'RE ALREADY SPUN UP AND YOU'RE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE THOSE WORKFORCE AND LABOR SKILLS AVAILABLE.
AND SO WE HEAR THAT FROM THE AEDC.
YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATE HIDDEN SECRETS, RIGHT? LIKE IT'S A REALLY HIDDEN GEM OVER THERE OF WHAT YOU GUYS DO.
THE LITTLE MAYORS, AS WE CALL THEM, THAT ARE COMING HERE ON MAY 6TH AT 4 O'CLOCK, THEY GET TO COME INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THAT IS YOUR JA BIZTOWN WHERE YOU'RE BRINGING IN A FIFTH-GRADE CLASS MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK FOR THEM TO OPERATE AND RUN NOT ONLY A CITY BUT A COMMUNITY.
SO WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS.
THAT SPONSOR DIFFERENT BUSINESSES IN THERE.
AND SO YOU MAY BE A CFO OF A BANK OR A CEO OR THE POLICE CHIEF THAT'S OVER THERE THAT I MET TODAY.
AND SO WE HAVE A GOOD COLLABORATIVE SUPPORTING ROLE WITH YOU GUYS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, WAS IN ERROR IN THE WAY
[02:05:02]
IN WHICH IT WAS APPLIED FOR.AND SO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAVOR OF GETTING.
THIS TURNED ON AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT BLACK BORDER ALL THE WAY AROUND IT.
AND SO THAT'S STILL A REALLY LARGE SCREEN.
THE 275 I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT MEETS EXISTING CODE AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANY DEVIATION.
HOWEVER, COUNCIL, IT'S A VARIANCE SO IF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE A VARIANCE ON HOW THEY MEASURE THAT SIGN, WE COULD GIVE A VARIANCE EASILY ENOUGH ON ADJUSTING THE SIZE.
I'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU DOCTOR, AND YOU'VE SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD ASK FOR MORE, BUT YOU APPRECIATE THE 275.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALLOW COUNCIL TO SPEAK TO THAT IF THEY WANTED TO.
THE ALL-TIME SIGN GUY AROUND TOWN IS A GUY NAMED RANDY BURKETT, WHO ALSO VOLUNTEERS FOR US OVER AT THE EDC.
AND SO AS A POTENTIAL SIGN COMPANY, HE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE SIGN BEING TURNED ON TO THE FULL SIZE.
I'M NOT SAYING WE WANT TO DO THAT HERE, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER FEEDBACK COMING FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WANTS TO KEEP THOSE SIGNS INACTIVE.
AND THEN I THINK THAT YOU GUYS BEING ABLE TO SHOWCASE WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING OVER THERE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
WELL, AND I LOVE THAT WE WERE AT THE SAME MEETING AS BLANK SPACES AND THE MURALS.
AS I SAID, I'M NEW TO AMARILLO, AND SO COMING INTO AMARILLO AND SEEING ALL THE MURALS.
I MEAN, HOW BEAUTIFUL, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY AS YOU DRIVE AROUND TOWN? AND TO ME, YOU KNOW, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
THE MURALS TELL A STORY, RIGHT? AND THAT'S WHAT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HOPE OUR BOARDS WOULD DO IS TELL A STORY.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE OUR GOAL.
SO LET ME GO BACK TO THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THESE BOARDS ARE NOT MOVING.
EVEN THOUGH IT COULD DO ACTIVE IMAGES, THESE ARE FIXED IMAGES THAT YOU GUYS WILL PORTRAY.
BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE PLANES RUNNING RIGHT THERE, AND WE WANT TO BE CONSCIENTIOUS OF THE SAFETY ASPECT FOR DRIVERS AND DISTRACTED DRIVING.
WE ALSO HAVE RESIDENCES THAT ARE OVER THERE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE LIGHTS AREN'T AN ANNOYANCE.
SO IS THAT ALL GOOD ON YOUR SIDE? ABSOLUTELY.
YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE SO OFTEN, RIGHT, SO WE CAN ADJUST THAT AS WELL.
OKAY. COUNCIL, I KNOW I'M JUST WALKING US DOWN THE ROAD.
QUESTIONS FOR THE GOOD DOCTOR HERE BEFORE WE? ANYTHING? COUNCILMAN? WELL, WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TODAY AND THIS IS A LONG TIME IN COMING. I DO THINK THE MAYOR NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE FOR YOU. YOU PUT AT THE END OF THE AGENDA, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS USUALLY THIS IS 8.30, IT'S ONLY 5.30, SO GLAD FOR THAT. BUT REALLY I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT SAYING ALL THE TIME. WELL WE JUST HAVE TO DO THIS JUST BECAUSE WE DID I'M SURE THERE ARE LOTS OF RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE STUDENTS THAT MAY COME IN OR PARENTS AND YOU KNOW YOU SAY WELL WOW I'D REALLY LOVE TO DO THIS FOR THEM BUT YOU'RE UNDER CONSTRAINTS TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS SO I THINK STAFF AND WORKING WITH YOUR STAFF HAS COME UP WITH AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION HERE AND I'LL BE GLAD TO SUPPORT THIS AND GET THAT UP AND RUNNING SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. SO WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'RE DOING OVER THERE. AISD IS A LARGE EMPLOYER AND YOU GUYS MEAN A LOT TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO, COUNCIL, THE ONLY THING BEFORE YOU HERE WOULD BE A CONSIDERATION. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO MODIFY TO THIS ITEM OR ARE WE GOOD MOVING IT FORWARD AS PRESENTED? OKAY. WELL, YOUR LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS BEFORE YOU, COUNCILMAN. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AS WRITTEN. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND APPRECIATE EVERYONE ELSE FOR TUNING IN. COUNCIL, CAN I GET A MOTION TO ADJOURN, PLEASE? SO MOVED.
YOU ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.