May 12, 2020 City Council Regular Meeting

>> SO I'M MISSING THE PLEDGE,

[00:00:03]

SO GENE, DO YOU MIND OPENING US TODAY WITH AN INVOCATION?

[INVOCATION]

PERFECT. THANK YOU. TRY ONE MORE TIME.

>> ARE YOU BACK NOW?

>> YES, SIR. WE'RE BACK NOW. I CAN HEAR YOU.

>> OKAY. YOU KNOW, LORD, THAT YOUR PEOPLE SPENT AN ENORMOUS PERCENTAGE OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY DEALING WITH ISSUES CONCERNING HEALTH AND WEALTH.

DOLLARS AND DISEASES CONSUME SO MUCH OF OUR TIME, AND OUR COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, LORD, IS NO EXCEPTION.

TODAY, OUR CITY'S COUNCIL WILL CONTEMPLATE OPTIONS FOR FINANCING A GAMUT OF VERY IMPORTANT PROJECTS, LORD.

WE ASK YOU TO GRANT THEM FORESIGHT AND GOOD JUDGMENT TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS TODAY.

WE THANK YOU FOR LETTING US LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE SENSIBLE LEADERS HAVE KEPT OUR CITY FROM DROWNING IN DEBT, AS SO MANY MUNICIPALITIES DO.

THANK YOU TOO, LORD, FOR ALL THE HOURS AND THE WORK OUR ELECTED LEADERS AND OUR CITY STAFF ARE INVESTING TO KEEP US SAFE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK.

GUIDE THEM TODAY, LORD, AS THEY ENACT GUIDELINES DESIGNED TO KEEP ALL OF US HEALTHY WITHOUT MAKING A LOT OF US BROKE.

WATCH OVER OUR TOWN, LORD, IN THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

WE PRAY THROUGH YOUR SON, WHO TAUGHT US TO TRUST IN YOUR CARE. AMEN.

>> AMEN. GENE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO BLESS US WITH THAT.

[NOISE] AT THIS TIME,

[PUBLIC ADDRESS (Part 1 of 2)]

I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYONE ON THE LINE TO DO PUBLIC ADDRESS, DO WE, FRANCES?

>> NO, MA'AM. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY.

>> BUT WE DID HAVE ONE CITIZEN SUBMIT A COMMENT AND I DON'T ALWAYS READ THE ONES THAT ARE SUBMITTED, BUT SINCE WE'RE DIGITAL TODAY AND THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I THINK IS VERY PROMINENTLY, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIZENS INTERESTED IN THAT AND I'M GOING TO JUST TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS ONE OUT LOUD.

IT COMES FROM ROBIN MALONE AND SHE SAYS, "THANK YOU TO THE COUNCIL FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THE THOMPSON PARK POOL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.

HAVING GROWN UP IN NORTH HEIGHTS AND SPENDING MANY SUMMER DAYS THERE AS A CHILD, I'M HAPPY ABOUT THIS PROJECT.

I SUPPORT THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF CITY OF AMARILLO, TEXAS COMBINATION TAX OF REVENUES CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION SERIES 2020 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE POOL.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THE INCREASE IN PAYMENT ON A $100,000 HOME WOULD BE $3.25.

THIS SEEMS REASONABLE TO ME, I SUPPORT THE ACTION TO FUND THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. THANK YOU." SO AGAIN, THAT WAS EXACTLY THE QUOTE FROM HER PUBLIC COMMENT FORM AND THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY ROBIN MALONE.

SO CORRECT, FRANCES, NOBODY ELSE ON THE LINE?

>> NO, MA'AM. THERE'S NO ONE ELSE.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO AT THIS TIME, WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM 1A.

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

[B. Coronavirus Update (Part 1 of 2)]

MR. CITY MANAGER?

>> HI, MAYOR. THANK YOU. WE HAVE CASIE STOUGHTON, DR. NELSON, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO GO TO [INAUDIBLE] TO TALK ABOUT SOME CARES FUNDING THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY.

SO WITH THAT SAID, LET'S GO AHEAD AND GO TO CASIE.

>> GOOD MORNING.

HOW ARE YOU-ALL? OR GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> HELLO. GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> I HAVE A NUMBER OF DATA POINTS READY TO SHARE THIS MORNING AND THEN SOME ADDITIONAL PIECES.

SO TODAY, AS OF JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, THERE WERE 1,745 CASES OF COVID BEING REPORTED IN OUR COMMUNITY, 1,327 IN POTTER COUNTY, 413 IN RANDALL COUNTY, AND THERE ARE FIVE CASES THAT ARE STILL UNDER ACTIVE INVESTIGATION.

AS DATA COMES INTO OUR COMMUNITY FROM THE TESTING THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US BY THE TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT, THERE'S DATA POINTS THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY INVESTIGATING.

SO WE APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION AND WE'LL BE UPDATING IT AS WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION.

IN AMARILLO, THERE ARE 1,718 CASES,

[00:05:04]

WE'VE HAD SOME INTERNAL DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT ONE CASE IN MASTERSON.

WAS IT IN POTTER COUNTY? IS IT IN MOORE COUNTY? SO WE LOOKED AT THE ZIP CODE AND THE ADDRESS IN THAT CASES AND THEY WERE IN POTTER COUNTY.

THEN FOR CITIES, THERE ARE THREE CASES UNDER ACTIVE INVESTIGATION.

WE HAVE 338 RECOVERIES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND 20 DEATHS.

SO WE HAD TWO ADDITIONAL DEATHS REPORTED TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT SINCE YESTERDAY.

WE HAVE 16 DEATHS REPORTED IN POTTER COUNTY AND FOUR DEATHS IN RANDALL COUNTY.

AS FAR AS TESTING THAT WAS COMPLETED OVER THE WEEKEND AT TYSON, THE TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT DID A PHENOMENAL JOB IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

THEY COMPLETED 3,587 TESTS FROM WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

SO THAT WAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK.

WE RECEIVED OUR FIRST BATCH OF RESULTS YESTERDAY, LATE AFTERNOON, WE RECEIVED 155 POSITIVES.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED NEGATIVES YET, AND THERE WERE 39 TESTS THAT WERE COLLECTED ON THE 7TH, 111 THAT WERE COLLECTED ON THE 8TH, AND SIX THAT WERE COLLECTED ON THE 9TH.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT THAT IS THE TOTAL TEST REPORTS THAT WE WILL RECEIVE.

I THINK THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL REPORTS.

AS FAR AS HOSPITALIZATIONS, WE'VE RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION FROM EACH OF THE HOSPITALS, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 86 PATIENTS THAT ARE HOSPITALIZED AT BSA AND NORTHWEST.

THOUGH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF MATH, AND AGAIN, THE PATIENTS THAT ARE AT THE HOSPITAL AREN'T NECESSARILY JUST POTTER AND RANDALL PATIENTS, BUT FOR THE SAKE OF A HOSPITALIZATION RATE, THAT WOULD BE A FIVE PERCENT HOSPITALIZATION RATE WITH THE AMOUNT OF POSITIVES, 1,745 POSITIVES, AND 86 PERSONS IN THE HOSPITAL WOULD BE ABOUT A FIVE PERCENT HOSPITALIZATION RATE.

AGAIN, IT WOULDN'T BE A PERFECT NUMBER JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM THE REGION WHO WOULD BE IN OUR HOSPITAL, BUT NOT IN OUR TOTAL POSITIVE NUMBERS.

SO IT'S NOT A PERFECT NUMBER, BUT IT IS A HOSPITALIZATION RATE OF FIVE PERCENT.

I'LL STOP THERE AND ASK, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH QUESTIONS.

>> CASIE, WOULD YOU BREAK DOWN THE HOSPITALIZATION PART A LITTLE BIT MORE? I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE ON IF YOU DO KNOW THE COUNT IN ICU AND ON VENTS.

WHAT IS THAT DOING TO THE HEAD COUNT AND OUR ABILITY TO HANDLE WHAT OUR CAPACITY WOULD BE FOR THOSE ON VENTILATORS AND IN ICU?

>> SURE. SO IT LOOKS LIKE, ACCORDING TO THE HOSPITALS REPORTS, THEY'RE EACH BOTH AT ABOUT A HALF CAPACITY, AROUND 55 AND 67 PERCENT.

LET'S SEE. BSA IS ABOUT 76 PERCENT VENTILATION USE AND NORTHWEST IS AT 38 PERCENT VENTILATION USE.

SO I THINK AS PATIENTS RECOVER AND ARE DISCHARGED, IT FLUCTUATES FROM DAY TO DAY.

SO THAT'S JUST TODAY'S NUMBERS.

>> BUT WE STILL HAVE AT LEAST HALF OF OUR VENTILATORS AVAILABLE?

>> YES, SIR.

>> OKAY.

>> THE HOSPITALS HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB MANAGING PATIENTS, WORKING THROUGH EACH OF THOSE SITUATIONS WITH THEIR PATIENTS.

>> YEAH, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S THE MOST CRITICAL PART OF THE WHOLE DAY REALLY.

>> YEAH.

>> [NOISE] EXCUSE THE WORKERS AGAIN.

I'LL GO MUTE FOR A WHILE.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CASIE, COUNCIL? I KNOW WE HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS RELATED TO WHAT SHE'S ALREADY GIVEN US.

>> THERE'S ONE COMMENT I'D MAKE.

I UNDERSTAND, MAYOR, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR THAT IF WEE NEEDED VENTILATORS, THEY COULD PROVIDE SOME FROM THE STATE, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES. HE TOLD ME.

THEY HAD OVER 6,000 VENTILATORS AND HE SAID, "YOU'LL HAVE WHAT YOU NEED, IF YOU NEED MORE VENTILATORS."

>> YEAH.

HOPEFULLY WE DON'T NEED THEM.

>> HOPEFULLY WE DON'T NEED THEM.

[00:10:01]

>> YES, MA'AM. SO ACTIVE INVESTIGATION MEANS THAT WE HAD A CASE REPORTED TO US, BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE COMPLETE INFORMATION.

SO MAYBE THE ADDRESS WASN'T INCLUDED, OR THE GENDER WASN'T INCLUDED, OR COUNTY WASN'T INCLUDED.

SO WE'RE LOOKING THAT INFORMATION UP AS WE CALL THE PERSON AND WE'RE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THAT INFORMATION.

THAT DATA WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE INFORMATION.

I'VE SAID THE WORD INFORMATION LIKE SIX TIMES. I'M SORRY.

BUT THE DATA WILL BE CLEANED UP AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS AND THAT'S JUST A GOOD POINT TO MENTION.

ANYTIME WE REPORT NUMBERS, THE DATA IS CONSTANTLY BEING CLEANED.

SO THERE MAY BE SLIGHT CHANGES TO ANY OF THE DATA HERE AND THERE.

SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CLEANING UP THE DATA AS WE GO.

AS INFORMATION IS REPORTED US, PEOPLE MOVE, THERE ARE PHONE NUMBERS THAT CHANGE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING TO CLEAN UP THAT DATA AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REPORTING THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE AT THE TIME.

SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT'S ACTIVELY INVESTIGATING.

IF A PIECE OF INFORMATION ISN'T REPORTED TO US, THEN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND THEY WE'RE ABLE TO GET IT SO THAT WE CAN REPORT IT OUT.

>> TALK AGAIN, CASIE, ABOUT WHY THERE WERE CHANGES MADE TO THE REPORT CARD.

I THOUGHT [NOISE] THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION THAT'S STAYING THE SAME.

NUMBER ONE, IT'S A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC AND WE'RE ALL LEARNING HOW TO DO IT.

BUT THE REASON THAT THE DATA ON THE DASHBOARD IS SHIFTING AND CHANGING.

TALK ABOUT THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY. SO WE ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONSIVE TO SUGGESTIONS AND TO FEEDBACK FROM INDIVIDUALS AS THEY'RE LOOKING AT OUR REPORT CARD.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES, AGAIN, WITH THE REPORT CARD.

IT IS PART OF THIS PROCESS AND THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM ALWAYS RESPONSIVE ON THESE REPORT CARD CHANGES.

SO WE DID ADD THE ACTIVE INVESTIGATION COLUMN.

SO I ALWAYS WANT TO POINT OUT THE TEAM AT PUBLIC HEALTH, UNTIL [NOISE] JUST RECENTLY, HAS HAD VERY CLEAN DATA.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THEIR WORK.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TO ADD AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION COLUMN UNTIL VERY LATE IN THE GAME.

SO THEY'VE HAD A VERY CLEAN SET OF DATA HERE AT PUBLIC HEALTH.

SO WE NOW HAVE AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION SECTION IN EACH OF THE DATA POINTS AS WE GET NEW INFORMATION AND WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC DATA POINTS IN THAT COLUMN.

WE ALSO HAVE THE ACTIVE INVESTIGATION SECTION IN THE TOTAL CASE COUNTS.

THAT WOULD BE THE TOTAL CASES MINUS THE RECOVERIES AND THE DEATHS WOULD GIVE US THE ACTIVE CASES.

WE HAVE GENDER AND AGE REPORTED, AND IN THE DAILY PLUS OR MINUS, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT SECTION FOR US AS WELL, WE HAVE THE TOTAL NEW CASES, WHICH IS THE PLUS OR MINUS FOR THE DAYS COUNT.

AS WE RECEIVE NEW CASES IN FOR THE DAY, THAT WOULD BE INQUIRED THAT'S REFLECTED.

THEN THE NET ACTIVE CASES IS ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT NUMBER.

SO ON SATURDAY'S REPORT CARD FOR MAY THE 9TH, THAT NET ACTIVE CASES WOULD BE THE MAY THE 9TH'S ACTIVE CASES MINUS MAY THE 8TH'S ACTIVE CASES, WHICH WOULD GIVE US THE NET ACTIVE CASES.

WE ALWAYS WANT THAT NUMBER TO BE NEGATIVE.

WHEN WE START TO SEE THAT NUMBER NEGATIVE OVER LONG PERIODS OF TIME, THAT'S WHEN WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A CHANGE OCCURRING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SATURDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY THAT THAT WAS NEGATIVE.

EVERY OTHER DAY, THAT NET ACTIVE CASES HAS BEEN POSITIVE.

SO WE KNOW THAT SATURDAYS ARE GENERALLY LOWER REPORTING DAYS FOR US, BUT THAT WAS A GOOD SIGN THAT THAT WAS NEGATIVE.

SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD INTO THE NEXT WEEKS, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ADDITIONAL DAYS WHERE THAT NUMBER IS NEGATIVE.

[NOISE]

>> LET'S JUST TALK FOR JUST A SECOND, CASIE, ABOUT TESTING.

SO WE KNOW THAT OUR POSITIVE TESTS NUMBERS ARE GOING TO GO UP BECAUSE OF THE VOLUME THAT WAS TESTED AT TYSON IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

TELL US YOUR THEORY, AND DR. MILTON MAY WANT TO JUMP IN.

IS DR MILTON ON THE CALL? I DON'T SEE HIM.

>> NO, MAYOR. I DON'T THINK SO.

[00:15:01]

>> JUST TELL US YOUR THEORY ABOUT WHY WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO SEE NUMBERS GO UP.

IN OTHER WORDS, WHY IS IT A GOOD THING TO DO TESTING?

>> SO I THINK DR. MILTON PHRASES IT, "IF YOU HAVE ZERO CASES, YOU'RE NOT LOOKING HARD ENOUGH." IN PUBLIC HEALTH, WE PHRASE IT, "IF YOU LOOK FOR DISEASE, YOU'LL FIND IT." JUST BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TESTING, OR IF WE WEREN'T TESTING, OR IF WE DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY CASES REPORTED TO US, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT WE DON'T HAVE CASES.

SO I THINK IT'S MOST IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO TEST AND WE'RE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE POSITIVES ARE SO THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE DISEASE LOOKS LIKE IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO THAT WE CAN HELP PEOPLE TO ISOLATE AND QUARANTINE AND SO THAT WE CAN SLOW THE SPREAD OF TRANSMISSION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF THIS.

SO IF WE KNOW WHERE THE POSITIVES ARE AND WE KNOW WHO IS POSITIVE, WE CAN HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF TRANSMISSION IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO IN THIS SITUATION, MORE INFORMATION IS BETTER THAN LESS INFORMATION.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AND ENCOURAGED TO KNOW WHAT THOSE TEST RESULTS ARE SO THAT WE CAN ACT ON THEM, SO THAT WE CAN HELP PROTECT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> NOW, CASIE, TALK ABOUT WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE TO INCREASE TESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> SO WE'VE JUST FINISHED THIS ROUND OF TESTING AT THE LARGE EMPLOYER, TYSON, AND THEY HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS.

VERY OPEN AND VERY COMMUNICATIVE WITH THEIR EMPLOYERS IN THEIR PLANT.

WALMART WILL BE OPENING A TESTING SITE AT THREE OF THEIR WALMART LOCATIONS.

SO THAT WOULD BE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THE DRIVE-THRU TESTING, THE PUBLIC HEALTH THAT TEXAS TECH WILL CONTINUE AS ADDITIONAL LAB CAPACITY OPENS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THE TEXAS A&M VET LAB NOW HAS CAPACITY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THAT'S A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR US AS WELL.

I MAY BE MISSING SOMETHING, SO MAYOR OR JARED, IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING, PLEASE INCLUDE WHAT INFORMATION YOU MAY HAVE AS WELL.

BUT I THINK WE HAVE WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW FOR TESTING.

>> I'VE HAD SOME QUESTIONS, CASIE, IN THE COMMUNITY ABOUT, IS THE TEXAS MILITARY FORCE GOING TO STAY AND TEST OTHER BUSINESSES? TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE KNOW IF THEY'RE STAYING, WHERE THEY WOULD GO NEXT TO DO TESTING.

THEN JARED, I MIGHT EVEN ASK YOU TO WEIGH IN BECAUSE I'VE HAD SOME CITIZENS ASKING ME ABOUT, CAN WE FORCE BUSINESSES TO TEST JUST SO WE CAN IDENTIFY WHERE THE SPREAD IS AND HAVE THIS ADVANTAGE THAT CASIE IS TALKING ABOUT? I THINK WE'RE ALL LEARNING TO PUSH PAST THIS STIGMA OF HAVING A POSITIVE TEST BECAUSE WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS IS IT BENEFITS OUR CITY AS A DATA POINT THAT HELPS US BETTER PLAN AND PREPARE, BUT IT TAKES A MINUTE FOR US TO CHANGE THAT MINDSET.

I DID A BUNCH OF TALKING THERE, BUT THE INITIAL QUESTION WAS TO CASIE, ARE THEY STAYING TO TEST AND IF SO, WHERE ARE THEY GOING? THEN THE SECOND QUESTION TO JARED, CITIZENS ARE ASKING, CAN WE FORCE BUSINESSES TO TEST? FORCE IS MAYBE THE WRONG WORD, BUT LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THOSE TWO ISSUES.

>> I THINK WE ANTICIPATE SOME ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FROM THE GOVERNOR SOON RELATED TO LARGE BUSINESSES AND WHAT THAT TESTING LOOKS LIKE THERE.

RIGHT NOW, THE TEXAS MILITARY FORCE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, DOESN'T HAVE PLANS TO TEST ADDITIONAL EMPLOYERS.

THERE WAS SOME GUIDANCE THAT CAME OUT FROM THE GOVERNOR YESTERDAY THAT REQUIRES NURSING HOMES TO TEST THEIR STAFF AND EMPLOYEES.

SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT WITH OUR NURSING HOMES, DSHS, AND THE TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ARE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS AS WELL.

SO WE KNOW THAT THOSE GROUPS AND THOSE POPULATIONS WILL BE TESTED.

BUT AS FAR AS THE TEXAS MILITARY FORCE, JARED, YOU MAY HAVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

I DON'T KNOW, OF ANY LARGE BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE TESTED AGAIN.

>> NO, AT THIS POINT, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY TEXAS MILITARY FORCE DOING TESTING INSIDE THE AMARILLO PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT BEYOND WHAT THEY'VE ALREADY DONE.

NOW, THE OTHER CHALLENGE THERE, AND AND I KNOW MAYOR MENTIONED, DO WE WANT TO CONSIDER THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE?

[00:20:03]

HOWEVER, THE BIGGEST LIMITING FACTOR RIGHT NOW IS AVAILABILITY OF TESTS.

WELL, THE REASON WHY WE'RE NOT TESTING ASYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE UNIQUE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE AT TYSON, AND WITH THE CDC, AND WITH THE TEXAS MILITARY FORCES OF DOING THAT TESTING IS BECAUSE FROM A RESOURCE STANDPOINT, WE HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD ADEQUATE SUPPLIES TO TEST SYMPTOMATIC PEOPLE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DO ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING OF ANYBODY THAT MIGHT WANT IT.

SO WE'RE STILL ON THAT SAME CONDITION RIGHT NOW WHERE WE HAVE ADEQUATE TEST SUPPLIES TO DO SYMPTOMATIC TESTING, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TO DO ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING OUTSIDE OF, AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, THE UNIQUE SITUATION THAT WE HAD AT TYSON, AND THE TEXAS MILITARY FORCE, AND CDC.

>> I THINK PEOPLE ARE WONDERING IF YOU CAN GET ON THE FRONTEND OF AN OUTBREAK INSTEAD OF THE BACKEND OF AN OUTBREAK.

IF WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO TEST EARLIER AT TYSON, I THINK THEY'D FEEL SAFER INSIDE THE CITY THINKING THAT WE WOULD HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL HOT SPOTS.

BUT MY ANSWER TO THEM, UNLESS YOU GUYS ARE COUNSELING US DIFFERENTLY, IS THAT AS A CITY COUNCIL, WE HAVE NO AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE ANY EMPLOYER TO TEST.

I UNDERSTAND THAT AND I ABSOLUTELY RESPECT THE PRIVACY OF THOSE EMPLOYEES, AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS OWNERS RIGHT TO DECIDE.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY, ON THE OTHER HAND, DOES HAVE SOME EMERGENCY POWER THAT COULD REQUIRE IT.

BUT I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT THE CRITERIA WOULD BE THAT WOULD INDICATE WHEN THAT AUTHORITY WOULD BE USED OR NOT USED.

>> WHAT I UNDERSTAND, MAYOR, AND CASIE, YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THERE WOULD NEED TO BE A COMPELLING JUSTIFICATION OR REASON TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW, THE DEFINITION OF THAT COMPELLING REASON WOULD BE NUMBERS IN THAT WORKFORCE THAT WOULD WARRANT ADDITIONAL TESTING OR ASYMPTOMATIC TESTING IN THAT FACILITY.

WE HAVE SOME LARGE WORKPLACES THAT ONLY HAVE TWO OR THREE POSITIVES AND THAT PROBABLY DOESN'T MEET THE BENCHMARK OF WHERE THE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY WOULD REQUIRE THAT OR WHERE THE GOVERNOR WOULD REQUIRE THAT.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE IS PROBABLY THE TYPE OF THING THAT WE WOULD DO ALSO WHERE WE HAVE A VERY AT RISK POPULATION WITH THE ASSISTED LIVING IN SENIOR CENTERS, WHERE HE IS REQUIRING TESTING IN FACILITIES THAT HAVE POSITIVES.

SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE LOGISTICS OF THAT WITH THE GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW OR WITH THE STATE RIGHT NOW.

I'M SURE THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING DR MILTON ON HERE TODAY, BUT WE WILL HAVE HIM ON THE PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT WITH HIM THIS AFTERNOON, AND ALSO AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, WHAT WOULD BE THE CONDITIONS WHERE IT WOULD JUSTIFY A WARRANT.

HERE'S DIRECTION TO DO THAT TYPE OF TESTING IN A BUSINESS HERE IN AMARILLO.

IT'S NOT IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE'VE ALREADY DONE THROUGH THE STATE.

>> DON'T YOU HAVE SOME ISSUES WHEN YOU DECIDE THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE SOME GUIDELINES ALL SET UP IN PLACE BECAUSE IF YOU JUST HAVE TWO OR THREE IN A BUSINESS, THEN YOU GO IN AND YOU TEST EVERYBODY IN THAT BUSINESS, YOU COULD BACK A WEEK LATER AND RETEST THAT BUSINESS AGAIN AND YOU MAY HAVE A WHOLE ANOTHER COHORT THAT WOULD SHOW UP AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

SO I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD NEED SOME LEVEL PERCENTAGE OR SOMETHING OF PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW [INAUDIBLE] BEFORE YOU WOULD JUST GO IN AND MAKE, I DON'T KNOW, A JUDGMENT CALL TO DO THAT.

WOULD THAT BE CORRECT, CASIE?

>> YES, SIR. IN TESTING, IT GIVES YOU THE TEST RESULTS FOR THAT DAY.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A PROTECTIVE FACTOR FOREVER.

SO IF SOMEBODY IS NEGATIVE, THEY'RE NEGATIVE ON THAT DAY.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT EVEN IF WITH TESTING AND EVERYTHING, WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WEARING MASKS, DOING GOOD HAND WASH INCLUDED, THAT WE STAY SAFE AND WE MAINTAIN THOSE NEGATIVE TEST RESULTS BECAUSE THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE.

>> WELL, CAN I ASK YOU THIS QUESTION? DO THEY HAVE A TIMELINE YET WHEN SOMEBODY TYPICALLY IS EXPOSED, HOW LONG IT IS BEFORE THEY WOULD TYPICALLY TURN UP POSITIVE? IS IT THREE DAYS, OR FOUR DAYS, OR SEVEN DAYS? [NOISE] IS THERE A GIVEN YET AS TO WHEN SOMEBODY UPON EXPOSURE,

[00:25:04]

>> I'M PROBABLY NOT GOING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION EXACTLY, BUT THE INCUBATION PERIOD, THE LONGEST WOULD BE ABOUT 14 DAYS.

GENERALLY, IT'S GOING TO BE 2-5 DAYS.

SO I WOULD IMAGINE THAT A PCR WOULD PROBABLY PICK UP RIGHT AROUND THERE, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN THAT.

BUT I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE INCUBATED ENOUGH VIRUS, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH THAT YOU WOULD BE SYMPTOMATIC, BUT AT LEAST ENOUGH THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ENOUGH OF A VIRAL LOAD IN YOUR NOSE THAT YOU WOULD PICK IT UP ON THE PCR.

SO AT LEAST ALMOST THAT LONG.

>> YEAH.

PERFECT. [NOISE]

>> CASIE, I HAVE A QUESTION.

I WANT TO BE SURE THAT I'M FOLLOWING YOUR NUMBERS CORRECTLY.

THE REPORT CARD THAT CAME OUT YESTERDAY, WE HAD 1,255 ACTIVE CASES.

TODAY YOU'RE SAYING WE HAVE 1,745 ACTIVE CASES, SO WE HAD AN INCREASE OF 490 SINCE YESTERDAY'S?

>> I'LL PULL YESTERDAY'S NUMBERS EXACTLY, BUT I THINK YESTERDAY'S WAS A LITTLE HIGHER THAN 1,255.

>> I'M TALKING JUST ACTIVE CASES.

>> OH, I'M SORRY. ACTIVE PROBABLY, SO YES, MA'AM.

THE TOTAL CASES WAS 1,745.

SO I CAN DO THE MATH REAL QUICK.

>> WHEN YOU'RE SAYING 1,745, THE 1,745 CURRENTLY ACTIVE CASES?

>> NO, I'M SORRY, WE HAVE 1,387 CURRENTLY ACTIVE.

>> AGAIN, THAT'S ALWAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT NUMBER, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE OUR HISTORIC NUMBERS ARE ALWAYS GOING TO GET BIGGER, AND THAT CUMULATIVE PICTURE EVERY DAY THAT GOES BY, EVEN IF WE ONLY ADD ONE, THAT NUMBER ALWAYS GETS BIGGER.

SO 1,387 IS OUR CURRENT ACTIVE CASES?

>> YES.

>> OKAY. THEN OUR HOSPITALIZATION OUT OF THAT, SO IT'S 86 DIVIDED INTO 1,387 IS 6 PERCENT, BUT AS YOU STATED THAT 86 REPRESENTS MORE THAN JUST OUR ACTIVE CASES.

SO IF ANYTHING, THAT DENOMINATOR WOULD GET BIGGER, IT'S PROBABLY LESS THAN THE SIX PERCENT.

>> IT'S PROBABLY BETWEEN FOUR AND SIX.

>> SO WHICH IS GOOD, WHICH IS LESS THAN WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A WEEK AGO.

WE WERE SEEING MORE TRENDS LIKE 10 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ACTIVE CASES WERE IN THE HOSPITAL.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT? IS THAT DO YOU THINK WE'RE CATCHING PEOPLE SOONER, POSSIBLY BEFORE PEOPLE ARE IN CRITICAL MODE AND IN REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION?

>> I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY POSSIBLE.

I THINK THE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW IS A SNAPSHOT FOR TODAY'S CASES.

I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY POSSIBLE THAT ANY OF THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING OUT, SO I THINK THAT THE NUMBERS REPORTED RIGHT NOW ARE A SNAPSHOT.

I THINK IT WOULD TAKE SOME WORK TO TREND IT OVER TIME, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE MOST USEFUL INFORMATION.

AS I'M SAYING IT, I'M THINKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT IT WOULD REQUIRE FOR THAT INFORMATION, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE MOST USEFUL TO TREND IT OVER TIME.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WITH THE DATA THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> TODAY WE HAVE 1,387.

SO I GUESS YOU'RE GOING AHEAD AND GIVING US SOME INSIGHT OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE COMING OUT ON OUR REPORT CARD LATER TODAY BECAUSE OF THE EMPLOYEES ALREADY RECEIVED.

SO 1,387 LESS THAN 1,255 IS 132 NEW CASES, AND IS THAT COMING PRIMARILY FROM THE 3,587 TESTS THAT WERE DONE FROM TYSON? ARE WE EVEN GETTING ANY THOSE RESULTS YET?

>> WE HAVE RECEIVED A FEW, YES, MA'AM.

[00:30:03]

WITH THESE WERE THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAD.

I KNOW 155 POSITIVES CAME IN YESTERDAY FROM THE TESTING THAT WAS DONE AT TYSON.

WE RECEIVE POSITIVE CASES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND SO THIS IS WHAT CAME IN THIS MORNING.

[OVERLAPPING] IT SEEMS LIKE RIGHT NOW, THE MAJORITY OF OUR POSITIVE CASES THAT WE'VE RECEIVED CAME IN AS A RESULT OF THE TESTING AT TYSON.

WE ALSO HAD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WERE IDENTIFIED AS RECOVERED THAT WE ADDED ON OUR REPORT CARD.

>> OKAY. THOSE ARE TWO REALLY CRUCIAL THINGS THAT I'M TRYING TO PIN DOWN, THAT MOST OF OUR NEW ADDITIONS ARE COMING FROM THE TYSON PLANT.

>> YES, THE TESTING THAT WAS DONE IN. YES.

>> [OVERLAPPING] ANY OTHER HOTSPOTS IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW?

>> NOT RIGHT NOW. I THINK AS WE START TO TEST EACH OF THE NURSING FACILITIES, THAT MAY RESULT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY, BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO PLACES THAT WE WILL BE DOING THAT TYPE OF TESTING.

>> WITH THE DAYCARE CENTERS OPENING BACK UP AS PEOPLE ARE GOING BACK TO WORK, IS IT TOO SOON TO KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANY POTENTIAL OUTBREAKS THERE OR WOULD IT HAVE BASED ON THAT TIMELINE YOU IDENTIFIED, WOULD WE HAVE BEGUN TO SEE SOME POSSIBLE POSITIVES COMING?

>> IT'S PROBABLY TOO SOON, ESPECIALLY WITH AN INCUBATION PERIOD OF AT LEAST 14 DAYS.

IT'S PROBABLY TOO SOON TO HAVE IDENTIFIED THAT YET.

>> NATIONAL TRENDS.

I DON'T SEE A LOT OF INFORMATION RELATED TO KIDS AND GETTING SICK OR EVEN PASSING THE SICKNESS.

SO WHAT WE'RE IDENTIFYING HERE LOCALLY SUPPORTING THAT, THAT WE'RE NOT REALLY SEEING, WHERE WE'VE IDENTIFIED OUR OLDER POPULATION AND THOSE WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS AS A VERY IDENTIFIABLE POPULATION AT RISK.

KIDS SO FAR, NO INDICATION OF THAT.

>> THEY'RE NOT OUR LOWEST AGE GROUP WITH REGARD TO NUMBERS, BUT CERTAINLY IN THE LOWEST CATEGORY, AND IT'S A LARGER AGE GROUP; IT'S THE 0-19 AND SO THAT COVERS ALMOST 20 YEARS.

IT COVERS 19 YEARS AS OPPOSED TO THE OTHER AGE GROUPS WHICH MAY ONLY COVER LIKE A 10-YEAR SPAN.

THEY'RE NOT THE LOWEST GROUP, BUT THEY'RE AMONG THE LOWEST AND THEN CERTAINLY THE LOWEST AGE GROUP FOR DEATHS.

[BACKGROUND]

>> SO CASIE, ON THE TYSON POSITIVES, SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES, ARE THEY LIVING IN HUTCHINSON OR CARSON COUNTY, IN CARSON, PANHANDLE?

>> YEAH.

>> SO ARE WE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT SOME OF THOSE POSITIVES ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO HUTCHINSON COUNTY, OR CARSON COUNTY, OR ONE OF THOSE?

>> YES. JUST A VERY FEW OF THEM, [OVERLAPPING] LESS THAN A HANDFUL, SO FAR.

>> OKAY. BUT THERE IS SOME, I MEAN, IT WOULD JUST MAKE SENSE WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHERE TYSON IS LOCATED, THAT THERE WOULD BE THOSE THAT WOULD CHOOSE TO BE LIVING IN PANHANDLE OR BORDER [INAUDIBLE]?

>> YES, SIR, JUST JUST VERY FEW.

>> OKAY.

>> SO FAR IN THE GROUP THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR, A HANDFUL.

>> CASIE, BACK TO YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT RECOVERIES.

HOW DO WE FIND OUT SOMEONE HAS RECOVERED? I KNOW IF THEY ARE IN THE HOSPITAL AND THEY CHECK OUT, WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE RECOVERED.

BUT FOR ALL OF THOSE THE OTHER 94 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RECOVERING AT HOME, HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN THEY'VE RECOVERED SO WE CAN ADD THEM TO OUR NUMBERS?

>> SURE. WE HAVE A TEAM OF PEOPLE WHO CALL ALL OF OUR POSITIVES EVERY DAY, SO THAT WE [INAUDIBLE] PATIENT MONITORING TEAM.

SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THEY'RE QUITE A BUSY GROUP RIGHT NOW.

THEY CALL EACH OF THE POSITIVES EVERY DAY.

THEY MAKE SURE THAT EACH OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED,

[00:35:03]

THEY CHECK ON THEIR SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS, THEY MAKE SURE IF ANYBODY IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD IS BECOMING ILL, THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

THAT IF THEY NEED TO BE TESTED, THAT WE CAN DIRECT THEM TO TESTING.

SO THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT GROUP OF OUR STAFF.

SO TO BE CONSIDERED SOMEONE WHO IS RECOVERED, IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF 14 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THEIR TEST RESULTS AND THEN THEY ALSO HAVE TO BE SYMPTOM-FREE FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS.

IF THEY MEET THAT CRITERIA, SO 14 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF THEIR TEST RESULTS AND SYMPTOM-FREE FOR A MINIMUM OF 72 HOURS, THEN THEY WOULD BE CONSIDERED RECOVERED.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SYMPTOMATIC LONGER THAN 14 DAYS, AND SO THEY WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED RECOVERED UNTIL THEY ARE SYMPTOM-FREE FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE DAYS, AND OUR STAFF CHECK ON THEM EVERYDAY.

SO WE HAVE A VERY DEDICATED STAFF.

SO WE ALSO IDENTIFIED THAT WE HAD SEVERAL OF OUR PATIENTS WHO NEEDED DIFFERENT RESOURCES LIKE FOOD OR RENTAL ASSISTANCE, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE WERE ABLE TO PLUG THEM INTO THE RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR STAFF WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAD GROCERIES.

SO WE HAD SEVERAL CHURCHES, WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE PARTNERED WITH OASIS SOUTHWEST BAPTIST CHURCH AND SAINT STEPHEN UNITED METHODIST.

[INAUDIBLE] COUNTY DONATED GIFT CARDS LIKE T UNITED AND SOME NON-PERISHABLE FOODS AND WE APPRECIATE THEM.

THEN WE PARTNERED WITH SNACK PACK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO MEET THE FOOD RESOURCES AND FOOD NEEDS OF OUR PATIENTS.

THEY'RE VERY HUMBLE AND VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT SERVICE.

SO WE REALLY ARE GLAD TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

WE WOULDN'T KNOW IF WE DIDN'T CALL THEM EVERY DAY, BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND TALKING TO THE NURSES AND WHATNOT.

THEY ARE SWEET PEOPLE.

SO WE'RE GLAD TO BE ABLE CALL THEM EVERYDAY.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CASIE?

>> THAT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE, CASIE.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU GUYS WERE CALLING ALL OF THOSE POSITIVES.

[INAUDIBLE] THAT'S AMAZING. THANK YOU.

>> WE'RE GLAD TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

IN FACT, WE [INAUDIBLE] WITH EACH THIRD PATIENTS, WE HAVE TO BUFF UP OUR TEAM.

THEN ALSO, OUR SPACE HAS BEEN STRETCHED TO ITS MAX AS WELL.

SO IT WAS ABLE TO HELP US STAND UP AN ADDITIONAL SPACE OVER AT THE CIVIC CENTER.

SO WE HAVE MOVED OUR CALL CENTER AND OUR PATIENT MONITORING TEAM OVER TO THE CIVIC CENTER.

SO IT HAS BEEN INVALUABLE IN THIS SITUATION, WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO STAND THAT SPACE UP FOR US IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

SO WE APPRECIATE THEM.

DELL AND CAME THROUGH WITH RESOURCES AS WELL FOR US.

SO WE'VE MOVED OUR CALL CENTER AND OUR PATIENT MONITORING TEAM OVER TO THE CIVIC CENTER.

REALLY, IN A VERY SEAMLESS WAY, OUR PATIENTS DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WERE DOING THAT.

IT WAS VERY SEAMLESS TO OUR PATIENTS.

I CAN'T PROMISE THAT OUR STAFF THOUGHT IT WAS SEAMLESS, BUT DEFINITELY NOT ABOVE THE ROAD.

SO WE APPRECIATE IT AND OUR PARTNERS THERE.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FOR CASIE, COUNCIL?

>> WELL, I CAN MAKE A COMMENT.

I HEARD FROM PEOPLE LIKE DR. MILTON AND THREE OTHERS COMPLIMENT THE STUDIO WHAT WE'RE DOING AND HERE IN THIS REPORT, I CAN SEE WHY.

CASIE WITH HER STAFF HAVE DONE TREMENDOUS. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> YEAH. WE ALL [INAUDIBLE] THAT, CASIE.

WHAT WE WISH IS THAT WE WERE ROUNDING A CORNER AND THIS WAS ABOUT TO BE OVER FOR YOUR TEAM.

SO WE RECOGNIZE THAT AS THE LEADER, YOU CONTINUE TO PUSH THEM AND THEY CONTINUE TO PERFORM UNDER DURESS, AND UNDER LONG HOURS,

[00:40:01]

WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL END.

SO WE DO APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU-ALL ARE DOING, ALL THE SACRIFICES, AND YET, WE RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THAT IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND YOU GUYS ARE HAVING TO CONSTANTLY ADAPT.

JUST LIKE THE REPORT CARD IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

IT'S A CHANGING TOOL, EVEN IN HOW YOU'RE USING IT TO RESPOND TO AN ONGOING SITUATION.

SO I WANT CITIZENS TO KNOW HOW HARD YOU GUYS ARE WORKING AND HOWARD, I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

ANYBODY ELSE HAS QUESTIONS FOR CASIE? OKAY. THANK YOU CASIE.

[NOISE] AT THIS TIME, I'VE BEEN MADE AWARE BY THE MEETING HOST THAT THERE ARE

[PUBLIC ADDRESS (Part 2 of 2)]

SO COUNCIL, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IS THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD PEOPLE COME ON THE ZOOM CALL WHO WANTED TO DO PUBLIC ADDRESS.

I THINK WE AS A CITY DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB OF SAYING, YOU STILL NEED TO SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME AND THAT PART'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.

SO THEY WERE ON THE CALL, BUT THEY HADN'T SIGNED UP WITH FRANCES.

SO SHE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WEREN'T JUST CITIZENS WATCHING ON THE CALL.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS PIVOT, AND AS A COURTESY TO THEIR TIME, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT CORONA FOR A WHILE, I WOULD LIKE TO PIVOT AND GO BACK TO PUBLIC ADDRESS AND GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THEIR COMMENTS, IF YOU-ALL ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.

THEN IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN WHO'S WATCHING AND YOU THOUGHT, WELL, I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT ITEM TOO, I THINK BECAUSE WE'RE CLARIFYING THE PROCESS HERE, WE NEED TO BE VERY INCLUSIVE IN LETTING ANY CITIZEN WHO WANTS TO COMMENT COMMENT.

SO I THINK WE COULD EVEN, AT THE TIME THAT WE ADDRESS THIS ITEM, TAKE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.

IF YOU'RE JUST LISTENING AND YOU WANT TO CALL IN, THEN I THINK WE COULD PICK PEOPLE BACK UP AT THAT TIME TOO, WHICH WOULD BE A VARIANCE FROM OUR NORMAL PROCEDURE, BUT HERE WE ARE ON ZOOM.

THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME ON ZOOM TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANTED TO DO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

SO COUNCIL, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT PIVOTING BACK TO GO BACK AND TO TAKE COMMENT FROM THOSE CITIZENS? YES? ARE THEY OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY. THEN I'M GOING TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME.

I CAN SEE THE LIST BEGINS WITH JOSEPH PETERSON.

JOSEPH, ARE YOU ON? IT MIGHT TAKE HIM A MINUTE TO GET OFF MUTE.

>> I AM ON. I'M HERE. DO YOU HEAR ME?

>> OKAY. THANK YOU, JOSEPH.

TECHNICALLY, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU MAKING TIME TO MAKE A COMMENT TODAY.

YOU MIGHT BEGIN WHEN YOU'RE READY.

[NOISE]

>> THANK YOU FOR THE TIME TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL.

I JUST WANTED TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE POOL THERE IN THOMPSON PARK.

SO AS A KID, I REMEMBER GOING OVER TO THOMPSON PARK.

EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T LIVE IN THAT AREA, I HAD MANY FRIENDS THAT LIVED IN THAT AREA AND I WENT TO CHURCH IN THAT AREA.

IF I WANTED TO HANG OUT WITH MY FRIENDS AND GO TO THE POOL, THEN THAT WAS THE POOL WE WOULD GO TO.

FOR THE PEOPLE REPRESENTED IN THAT AREA TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THEIR OWN POOL AND THEIR OWN PLACE TO GO TO AND NOT SO THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TOWN TO ABLE TO HAVE FUN AND SWIM OR DO WHATEVER ACTIVITY THAT YOU WOULD DO IN A POOL, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR CITY.

I JUST WANTED TO COME ON TO SHOW UP MY SUPPORT FOR HAVING THE POOL THERE AND READ ON IT, AND GIVING THAT FACILITY THE SUPPORT THAT IT DESERVES.

>> THANK YOU, JOSEPH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS TODAY.

THE NEXT PERSON THAT I HAVE DOWN TO COMMENT FOR PUBLIC ADDRESS TODAY IS PASTOR HERMAN MOORE.

PASTOR MOORE, ARE YOU ON WITH US? I SEE YOU. I SEE YOUR BLOCK.

>> YES.

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> YES, SIR. WE HEAR YOU.

>> WELL, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'RE DOING.

[INAUDIBLE] BUT CONCERNING THE POOL IN THOMPSON PARK,

[00:45:04]

BUT ONE THING THAT IS CONCERNING ME, AND I REALLY HOPE THAT WHEN IT'S DONE, THE VIRUS WOULD BE GONE AND WHATEVER.

BUT I'M WONDERING IF [INAUDIBLE] THAT KIND OF A SOCIAL GATHERING.

DO WE HAVE ANY DATA ON WHAT THAT DOES? IS IT SAFE? [INAUDIBLE] DO WE KNOW THAT IT'S SAFE TO PUT OUR KIDS IN THE POOL LIKE THAT?

>> HI, THANK YOU, PASTOR.

JERRY, I'M GOING TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT QUESTION AND LET'S COME BACK AROUND TO IT WHEN WE'RE BACK TO TALKING ABOUT COVID, IF WE COULD.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU, PASTOR.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY.

THE NEXT PERSON FOR PUBLIC ADDRESS IS PASTOR JAMES [INAUDIBLE].

>> HELLO. CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> WE HEAR YOU, PASTOR.

>> OKAY. GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE.

I JUST WANT TO JUMP ON HERE AND JUST EXPRESS MY SUPPORT.

I AGREE WITH JOSEPH PETERSON IN THAT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO OUR CITY AND IT WILL BE A TREMENDOUS BLESSING TO THE NORTHSIDE IN GENERAL.

THIS UPGRADE, WE SHOULD ALL SUPPORT IT AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

SO I'M ALL ON BOARD AND I THANK YOU GUYS FOR EVEN CONSIDERING DOING THIS. SO I APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, PASTOR. THE NEXT PERSON FOR PUBLIC ADDRESS IS JULIAN REESE.

JULIAN, DO WE HAVE YOU ON THE LINE?

>> MR. REESE, I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD BE ON MUTE, IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO SPEAK.

>> STEPHANIE, DO YOU SEE JULIAN? THERE HE IS. I SEE YOU, JULIAN.

[NOISE] DO WE HAVE HIM?

>> HE JUST PUT A MESSAGE THAT HE SAYS HIS [INAUDIBLE]

>> OKAY. [LAUGHTER] WELL, I LOVE THE PERSEVERANCE.

THEY'RE APPARENTLY HAVING TECHNICAL PROBLEMS. YOU ALL JUST SAW HIS MESSAGE THAT HE AGREES AND HE IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.

CLEVERLY DONE, JULIAN.

THANK YOU. THE FINAL CITIZEN I HAVE FOR PUBLIC ADDRESS IS ROSIE POWELL.

[NOISE] MISS POWELL, ARE YOU ON?

>> YES. CAN YOU HEAR ME?

>> YES. FULLY HEAR YOU, MA'AM.

>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

I WANT TO THANK THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT LEADER.

SHE'S A GREAT LEADER.

I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE COUNCILMEN AND COUNCILWOMEN, OUR MAYOR, THAT YOU ALL ARE REALLY KEEPING US INFORMED.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE.

IN REFERENCE TO THE SWIMMING POOL WITH PETERSON AND HEAVEN TEDMAN, ALL OF THAT.

I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH MR. TED.

ROBERT MOORE, IT'S JUST ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR YOUR VOICE AND YOUR COMMUNITY.

COMMENTS ALSO, BUT TO OUR LEADERS.

I THINK YOU'RE DOING A FABULOUS JOB, SO I LOVE THAT YOU ALL ARE KEEPING US ABREAST ON EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON.

TO ME, IT'S LIKE YOU ALL ARE THE PARENTS, AND WE'RE THE CHILDREN, AND YOU ALL ARE KEEPING US TOGETHER.

SO I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MISS POWELL. WE APPRECIATE THOSE WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

THAT BRINGS ME TO THE END OF THE LIST THAT THE HOST HAS PROVIDED ME.

BUT AGAIN, BECAUSE OUR PROCESS IS NEW AND WE'RE STILL IRONING ON KINKS AND LEARNING HOW TO ZOOM, IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, COUNCIL, IF WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO CALL IN TO TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY THE BOND ISSUES THAT ARE LISTED IN SECTION 3 OF THE AGENDA, I THINK IT WOULD BE OKAY.

IF Y'ALL WOULD GIVE ME A THUMBS UP.

I THINK IT WOULD BE OKAY FOR US TO JUST TELL IF THE HOST NOTIFIES US THAT WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE.

SO IF YOU CALL IN AND YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THOSE, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE MESSAGE THE HOST, THEN THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SEE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GO ABOUT CATCHING YOUR COMMENTS THAT WAY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY.

[00:50:01]

[1B. Coronavirus Update (Part 2 of 2)]

I'M GOING TO HAND IT BACK TO YOU TO CONTINUE THAT 1B ITEM.

>> I'M GOING TO GO TO LAURA STORRS.

SHE'S GOING TO GIVE US SOME INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL CARES FUNDING FOR THE CITY, AND THEN WE WILL TAKE ANY MORE QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL HAS.

ONCE WE FINISH THAT, WE'LL BE READY TO MOVE ON UNLESS YOU HAVE MORE INFORMATION FOR US. LAURA.

>> WE DO HAVE AN UPDATE FROM CITY COUNCIL ON AN ISSUE THAT'S COVID-RELATED, JUST SO YOU KNOW.

>> OKAY. YES, MA'AM.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M LAURA STORRS, FINANCE DIRECTOR.

I WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION THAT WAS RELEASED FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

YOU'RE ALL AWARE CONGRESS PASSED THE CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT, KNOWN AS THE CARES GRANT, TO HELP PROVIDE RESOURCES TO HELP GOVERNMENTS, BUSINESSES, AND INDIVIDUALS ENDEMIC.

WITHIN THE CARES ACT, THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUND, THE CRS, WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

TEXAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 11.24 BILLION FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY.

FORTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THAT 11.24 BILLION STATE ALLOCATION, A LITTLE OVER FIVE BILLION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN PARTICULAR.

OF THAT FIVE BILLION, THE TREASURY SENT 3.2 BILLION TO SIX CITIES AND WEALTH COUNTIES IN TEXAS WITH POPULATIONS GREATER THAN HALF A MILLION.

THAT LEAVES 1.85 BILLION THAT THE STATE CAN MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE SMALLER CITIES AND COUNTIES, WHICH IS WHERE WE FALL.

CITIES AND COUNTIES WITH POPULATIONS LESS THAN 500,000 ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A FIRST ALLOCATION OF $55 PER [INAUDIBLE].

TWENTY PERCENT OF THAT JURISDICTIONS ALLOCATION WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY UPON CERTIFICATION INTO THE STATE THE GRANT TERMS WILL BE FOLLOWED.

SO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR AMARILLO, I'LL JUST SPLIT UP INTO TWO PIECES BECAUSE PART OF AMARILLO FALLS IN POTTER COUNTY AND PART FALLS IN RANDALL COUNTY.

NOW, THE COUNTIES ALSO HAVE AN ALLOCATION.

SO THE NUMBERS I'M GOING OVER ARE ONLY RELATED TO THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

SO THE PORTION OF CITY OF AMARILLO IN POTTER COUNTY, THE TOTAL ALLOCATION IS APPROXIMATELY $5.7 MILLION WITH THAT 20 PERCENT INITIAL ALLOTMENT BEING 1.15 MILLION.

THEN THE PORTION OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO INSIDE RANDALL COUNTY, THAT TOTAL ALLOCATION IS ANOTHER 5.3 MILLION WITH THE INITIAL 20 PERCENT IN 1.05 MILLION.

THE TREASURY HAS PROVIDED VERY STRICT GUIDELINES ON THE USAGE OF THIS FUND.

THEY'VE OUTLINED THAT ONLY NECESSARY EXPENDITURES INCURRED DUE TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE FOR COVID-19 WILL BE ALLOWED TO UTILIZE THIS FUNDING.

SO A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES.

THERE'S A VERY LONG LIST OF EXPENDITURES THAT ARE ALLOWED AND EXPENDITURES THAT ARE NOT ALLOWED.

THERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES HERE FOR YOU, THE MEDICAL EXPENSES [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE] EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPOND, MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION, AND PUBLIC HEALTH EXPENSES AND THAT COULD BE COMMUNICATION ENFORCEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS, ACQUISITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICAL AND PROTECT MEDICAL [NOISE] DISINFECTING PUBLIC AREAS, EVEN PAYROLL EXPENSES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC HEALTH, HEALTH CARE, HUMAN SERVICE, AND SIMILAR EMPLOYEES WHOSE SERVICES ARE SUBSTANTIALLY DEDICATED TO MITIGATING OR RESPONDING TO COVID-19.

ALSO EXPENSES FOR THE CARE OF HOMELESS POPULATIONS PROVIDED TO MITIGATE COVID-19, THOSE ARE ALSO CONSIDERED ALLOWABLE EXPENSES.

NOW, A COUPLE OF OTHER POINTS ON THIS IS THE EXPENSES CANNOT BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE BUDGET THAT HAS MOST RECENTLY BEEN APPROVED.

SO THESE ARE THINGS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY'S CURRENT BUDGET THAT WE'RE EXPENDING RELATED TO THIS RESPONSE.

THE EXPENSES ALSO HAVE TO BE INCURRED DURING THE PERIOD OF MARCH 1ST, 2020 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2020.

THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS TDEM, WILL ADMINISTER THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS.

SO ONCE JURISDICTIONS PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION ON THE INITIAL FUNDING,

[00:55:03]

THEN AFTER WE PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF HOW THAT INITIAL FUNDING IS SPENT, WE CAN START ACCESSING THE REMAINDER OF THE ALLOCATION ON A REIMBURSEMENT BASIS.

SO SOMETHING I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT COUNCIL IS AWARE IS, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CARES GRANT FUNDING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.

OUR AIRPORTS AND OUR TRANSIT GROUPS HAVE RECEIVED SPECIFIC CARES GRANT FUNDING ALREADY FOR THEIR AREAS.

WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED THE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AND ALSO FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

SO THE CITY IS GOING TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR COSTS UP TO THIS POINT AND GOING FORWARD AND FIGURE OUT THE BEST USE OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US.

THE GRANTS AND THIS CORONAVIRUS RELIEF FUNDING CAN'T COVER ALL THE SAME EXPENSES, SO WE WILL LOOK AT THEM VERY CLOSELY AND FIGURE OUT WHICH FUNDING SOURCE IS MOST APPROPRIATE TO COVER THE COST THAT THE CITY HAS INCURRED RELATED TO THIS RESPONSE.

SO THAT'S JUST A BRIEF UPDATE.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS? [NOISE]

>> LAURA, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA ON OUR TALLY SO FAR OF OUR EXTRA EXPENSES THAT WE HAVE INCURRED AT THE CITY DUE TO COVID?

>> YES. WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING TO THE STATE ON A DAILY BASIS.

THERE'S ABOUT A TWO-DAY LAG IN WHAT WE'RE REPORTING AND PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, THESE ARE VERY ESTIMATED COSTS.

SO THIS IS A QUICK WAY FOR US TO PULL THE COST TO GET A DAILY BASIS TO REPORT TO THE STATE.

BUT THE MOST RECENT ONE WE'VE REPORTED IS A TOTAL INCIDENT COST OF JUST OVER 1.3 MILLION.

NOW, PLEASE KEEP IN MIND ON THAT, THAT'S EVERYTHING.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY ALL ITEMS THAT WE WILL RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT FOR.

A LOT OF THEM ARE BUT THE REIMBURSEMENT MAY COME IN VARIOUS FORMS, WHETHER THAT'S GRANT FUNDING, WHETHER THAT'S CARES AT GRANT FUNDING, OR WHETHER IT COMES FROM THIS NEW RELIEF FUND MONEY THAT'S BEEN AVAILABLE TO CITIES OF OUR SIZE.

>> LAURA, JUST TO CLARIFY, THOSE ARE IN THE EXPENSE COLUMN, THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH LACK OF REVENUE IN OUR BUDGET OR GENERAL FUND FROM SALES TAX DOLLARS.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THOSE ARE TWO TOTALLY SEPARATE THINGS.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

THESE ARE COSTS THAT THE CITY HAS IDENTIFIED THAT WE HAVE EXPENDED RELATED TO THE COVID-19 RESPONSE.

THAT'S A GREAT POINT THAT YOU BROUGHT UP, MAYOR, IN THE INFORMATION FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE RELATED TO THIS RELIEF FUND, IT IS NOT MEANT TO SUPPLEMENT ANY LOSS OF REVENUE.

IT IS ONLY TO COVER AND REIMBURSE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, COUNTIES FOR DIRECT EXPENSES RELATED TO THE COVID-19 RESPONSE.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT UP.

THAT'S A REALLY GOOD CLARIFICATION.

>> AS FAR AS THE TRACKING OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH AN EMERGENCY, ANYTIME THE GOVERNOR MAKES A DECLARATION OF DISASTER, WHETHER IT'S FOR WILDFIRES OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY ACTIVATE OUR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER, OUR NUMBER ONE THING THAT WE DO RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WELL, I'M NOT GOING SAY NUMBER ONE THING TO DO BECAUSE WE RESPOND TO THE EMERGENCY THAT'S FIRST.

BUT RIGHT ALONG WITH THAT, WE START TRACKING EXPENSES IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THOSE EXPENSES AS YOU'RE ALLOWED THROUGH LAW WITH THE GOVERNOR'S DECLARATION DISASTER PROTOCOLS, WE HAVE TO ACCURATELY TRACK ALL OF THOSE EXPENSES.

SO WE HAVE A LONG STANDING POLICY AND PROCESS IN PLACE TO VERY ACCURATELY TRACK THAT THROUGH OUR PURCHASING AND FINANCE DEPARTMENTS, IN COORDINATION WITH OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAMS AND IN THIS CASE, THE INCIDENT MANAGEMENT TEAM.

>> SO LAURA, BASED ON THE NUMBERS YOU JUST STATED, WE AS A CITY SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING COVERAGE FOR THE COST OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS.

WE'VE HAD UP FRONT IT, JUST LIKE WE HAVE TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS UP FRONT AND THEN GET REIMBURSED.

BUT BASED ON THE NUMBERS YOU GAVE AND WHERE WE ARE SO FAR IN SPENDING, WE SHOULD BE FINE AS FAR AS THAT.

NOW WE HAVE OTHER BIG ISSUES RELATED TO OUR TAX COLLECTIONS AND REVENUES, BUT AS FAR AS REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> YES, MA'AM. I THINK THAT'S A FAIR STATEMENT.

ALSO, SOME OF THE GRANT FUNDING THAT WE'VE RECEIVED AS YOU ALL HAVE HEARD FROM OUR AIRPORT GROUP,

[01:00:04]

SO YES, WE FEEL CERTAIN THAT THE CITY IS GOING TO BE FULLY REIMBURSED FOR OUR COSTS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19.

I THINK THAT'S PRETTY MUCH A CERTAIN FACT AT THIS POINT.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR LAURA ABOUT THAT OR RELATED? JARED.

>> NO, MA'AM.

>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE TRYING TO SIGNAL YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY.

>> OH, NO. I'M SORRY.

>> CAREFUL, YOU'LL WIN THE AUCTION.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT, DON'T RAISE YOUR HAND.

>> THANK YOU LAURA. I WILL JUST COMPLEMENT AGAIN, JARED AND HIS TEAM.

THIS IS SUCH A FAST-MOVING [NOISE] SITUATION.

SO THIS INFORMATION CAME OUT YESTERDAY ON THE GOVERNOR'S CALL ABOUT FOUR O'CLOCK.

SO THIS IS A LESS THAN 24 HOUR TURNAROUND FOR LAURA TO DIGEST THIS INFORMATION, CRUNCH SOME NUMBERS, BEGIN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR OUR CITY AND GIVE AN INITIAL REPORT TODAY.

SO SHE DROPPED WHATEVER SHE WAS DOING, WHICH I'M SURE WAS ALSO AN IMPORTANT TASK AND GOT RIDE ON THAT SO THAT YOU ALL WOULD HAVE THIS INFORMATION TODAY AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT QUICK TURNAROUND.

THANK YOU LAURA. THANK YOU JARED

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> SO JARED, IS THAT IT FOR STAFF UPDATES THEN ON CORONA?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> THEN AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER FREDA POWELL TO GIVE THE COUNCIL AND UPDATE ON A CORONA RELATED PROJECT THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED A FEW WEEKS AGO, COUNCIL, ABOUT HAVING A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM, SOMETHING THAT WOULD PROMOTE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE AS THE CITY REOPENS.

SO FREDA HAS BEEN WORKING ON THAT AND COUNCILMEMBER POWELL, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL GIVE YOU THE MICROPHONE AND YOU CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE YOU ARE ON THAT.

>> THANK YOU MAYOR. I HOPE YOU ALL CAN HEAR ME.

I'M EXPERIENCING A LOT OF STATIC ON MY UNIT THE MOMENT.

BUT I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, FOR LACK OF TERMINOLOGY, I THINK IT COULD BE A COVID-19 PROJECT.

BASICALLY, IT'S JUST TRYING TO ESTABLISH JUST GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT NECESSARILY REQUIREMENTS, BUT THAT EACH OF OUR BUSINESSES WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW SO THAT OUR CITIZENS WILL FEEL SAFE WHEN THEY'RE GOING BACK INTO THE BUSINESSES, WHEN OUR BUSINESSES ARE RE-OPENED.

SO WHAT I'M DOING IS JUST WORKING WITH SEVERAL GROUPS, AND I KNOW MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE ACTUALLY HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY.

BUT I'M WORKING WITH THE RESTAURANTS, THE RETAIL, REALLY TURN THE TABLE OF COMMERCE.

I WANT TO HAVE TOGETHER A TASK FORCE SO THAT I CAN HAVE MAY BE AN EXPERT IN THAT FIELD TO LOOK AT GUIDELINES AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND MAKE SURE IT'S GOING TO WORK FOR THEIR BUSINESSES OR THEIR ENTITY.

THEN I'M WORKING WITH CHURCHES ON A SEPARATE BASIS TO SEE WHAT GUIDELINES WILL WORK FOR THE PASTORS.

SO THIS IS GOING BE A LITTLE BIT OF A [INAUDIBLE] PROJECT BUT IT'S GOING TO BE MOVING EXTREMELY FAST AND I WILL ALSO BE WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TOO AS WELL SO THAT WE CAN GET INFORMATION DISTRIBUTED TO THE DIFFERENT ENTITY.

SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST IN THIS.

I KNOW IT'S CHALLENGING TIMES FOR ALL OF US BUT WE DO WANT OUR CITIZENS BE SAFE, WE WANT OUR CITIZENS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN THEY'RE GOING BACK INTO DIFFERENT BUSINESSES.

SO AGAIN, THE GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS NOT NECESSARILY REQUIREMENTS.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FREDA.

COUNCIL, YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THAT? I KNOW THAT FREDA HAS A MEETING SCHEDULED WITH CHURCHES ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

THAT MAY BE SOMETHING YOU'RE GETTING INQUIRIES ABOUT FROM VARIOUS CHURCH LEADERS OR PEOPLE WHO ATTEND CHURCHES.

SO THAT MEETING IS HAPPENING ONE O'CLOCK ON THURSDAY AND OF COURSE IT'S OPEN TO ANY CHURCH OR FAITH LEADER WHO WANTS TO GET ON THERE.

[01:05:02]

SO THEY'LL HAVE A DIRECT LINE TO GETTING UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT WHERE THE DISEASE SURGE IS IN OUR CITY.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR MENTIONING THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO I'VE HAD LOTS OF MEDICAL RELATED QUESTIONS FROM A LOT OF OUR PASTORS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF AMARILLO, SO THIS WILL GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT DIRECTLY WITH DR.

MILTON AND THEN ALSO OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WITH CASIE STOUGHTON. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS THERE? OKAY. HOWARD, I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.

I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAVE AN UPDATE NECESSARILY, BUT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TELL THE COUNCIL THAT YOU WILL BE WORKING ON THE IDEA THAT WE HAD BEFORE.

CAN WE EXPAND INTERNET ACCESS ACROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE? USING COVID AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT HOWARD HAS FOLLOWED UP ON AND IS INTERESTED IN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON.

SO HOWARD, IT'S SUPER EARLY, I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE AN UPDATE.

>> I'LL MAKE A COMMENT.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TOO FAR ALONG ON IT, BUT I SERVE ON A COMMITTEE AT TEXAS REALTORS, ON AN INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE, AND THEY'RE STUDYING VARIOUS INFRASTRUCTURE LINES ACROSS THE STATE TO SEE WHAT DOORS AND MAYBE GET THE LEGISLATURE TO HELP FUND IT IF NEED BE.

ONE OF THEM THAT CAME UP RECENTLY WAS INTERNET ACCESS IN AREAS IN THE STATE WHERE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH INTERNET.

THAT'S THE WAY IT IS HERE IN THE PANHANDLE.

A LOT OF TOWNS OUT AROUND AMARILLO, THEY HAVE A WEAKER INTERNET ACCESS.

SO IT WOULD HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE, IT WOULD HELP WITH HOSPITALS IN THE AREA, HEALTH CARE IN THE AREA, AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

SO WE'RE JUST STARTED, BUT I'M GOING TO TRY TO PUT A TASK FORCE TOGETHER TO REALLY DIG IN TO THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY THERE'S MORE THINGS IN THE FUTURE TO COME.

THAT'S ALL I GOT, FOR NOW.

>> I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE AN AMBITIOUS IDEA AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO LOOK INTO IT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? [NOISE] I THINK THAT'S IT THEN.

ANYTHING ELSE ON ITEM 1B, COUNCIL, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

>> I'D LIKE TO HEAR A REPORT.

I SAW THE PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE HOMELESS FURNITURE DRIVE.

SO MAYBE A QUICK UPDATE ON THAT AND ANY PLANS FOR [INAUDIBLE] ITEMS MAYBE THAT THEY'RE STILL MISSING? [INAUDIBLE]

>> THERE WE GO. NOW WE GOT YOU, JERRY.

>> YES, THE FURNITURE DRIVE WAS A SUCCESS.

WE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT PIECES OF FURNITURE.

I'M LOOKING FOR MY NOTES ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW WE'VE ALSO THEN WE'VE ALSO GOT KEVIN STARBUCK AND JULIANA KITTEN, I BELIEVE, ON HERE.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE RECEIVED SO MUCH THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND A HOME FOR ALL OF IT.

I APOLOGIZE.

WE DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS.

I HAD A DETAILED SUMMARY OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS RECEIVED.

IT WAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR HOUSING ALL, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO COFFEE TABLES, COUCHES, SIDE LAMPS, FURNITURE.

SO IT WAS A VERY GOOD EVENT.

WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OVER AT THE CIVIC CENTER WHERE WE HAD THE DROP-OFF.

WE HAD CARPET CHECK AND ANOTHER COMPANY, I APOLOGIZE FOR FORGETTING THE NAME OF THAT OTHER COMPANY, WHO DID A LOT OF GOOD WORK TO SANITIZE EVERYTHING BEFORE IT WENT INTO A WAREHOUSE.

I SEE KEVIN. KEVIN, GO AND JUMP ON IN HERE AND BRING IT HOME FOR ME.

>> HEY, JARED, YOU'RE PROVIDING A GOOD SUMMARY.

THE BASICS OF IT IS IT WAS FURNITURE AND MATERIALS THAT WERE NEEDED TO BASICALLY PUT TOGETHER APARTMENTS FOR A NUMBER OF OUR CITIZENS HERE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE HOMELESS.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TOOK A LEAD ROLE AND HAS CONTINUED TO TAKE THE LEAD ROLE IN TRYING TO PLACE AS MANY OF THAT POPULATION INTO HOUSING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PLACE ANOTHER 30 INDIVIDUALS INTO HOUSING.

SO JULIANA AND HER TEAM COORDINATED THE FURNITURE DRIVE.

IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. WE GOT A GOOD STOCK OF WHAT WAS NEEDED TO START OFF

[01:10:03]

SO IT'S FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE THAT I THINK THEY MET THEIR OBJECTIVES RELATED TO THE FURNITURE DRIVE AND DO HAVE THOSE THINGS IN PLACE TO HELP FURNISH THOSE APARTMENTS FOR THOSE WHO WILL BE MOVED IN TO THE APARTMENT.

>> THE REASON WE'RE WORKING TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO THE APARTMENTS RIGHT NOW IS TO TRY AND REDUCE THE POPULATION OF HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT ARE STAYING IN SALVATION ARMY AND OTHER PLACES TO REDUCE THE DENSITY TO ENABLE SOCIAL DISTANCING OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

KEVIN MENTIONED CASH DONATION, WE HAD OVER $3,500 OF CASH DONATED.

WE ALSO HAD SOME CITIZENS GO TO WALMART AND JUST BUY A BUNCH OF FURNITURE.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF REALLY GOOD, CARING PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE TO THIS EFFORT, WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION, KEEP THEM SAFE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS, OR DURING THIS PERIOD.

>> I WOULD JUST ADD, I APPRECIATE JARED AND KEVIN'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS TOO, BUT [NOISE] JULIANA AND HER TEAM HAD THIS IDEA.

I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS ANYTHING WE'VE EVER DONE IN THE CITY BEFORE AND I HEARD THIS WEEK A COMMENT ABOUT, IN A CRISIS, EVERYONE TENDS TO WANT TO DROP WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND WORK ON THE STRATEGY FOR THE CRISIS, BUT WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT DURING THE CRISIS IS THAT EVERYONE KEEP DOING THE JOB THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THEN WE WORK ON THE STRATEGY FOR THE CRISIS.

JUST HAVING WATCHED JULIANA AND HER TEAM, OBVIOUSLY KEVIN IS VERY SUPPORTIVE IN THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE, I'VE BEEN WATCHING THEM EXCEL DOING THEIR JOB IN THE MIDST OF THE CRISIS.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES, VERY TANGIBLE EXAMPLE OF THEY'RE JUST DOING THEIR JOB, AND THEY'RE DOING IT WITH EXCELLENCE, AND YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF EVEN MORE PEOPLE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY MIGHT BE TEMPTED TO STOP WHAT THEY NORMALLY DO AND WORK ON THE CRISIS.

SO I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR CITY'S RESPONSE, AND REALLY, ALL THE PATS ON THE BACK GO TO JULIANA, KEVIN, THEIR TEAM, AND THEIR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT THEY WORK WITH SO OFTEN.

THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM, I WON'T TRY TO NAME THEM ALL, BUT YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

YOU ARE IN THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT WITH FOLKS WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM HOMELESSNESS AND WE COULDN'T DO IT.

THE CITY COULDN'T DO THEIR PART WITHOUT THE BIG PART THAT YOU AS COMMUNITY PARTNERS PLAY IN HELPING US TAKE CARE OF ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT? I'M REALLY GLAD YOU ASKED THAT QUESTION, ELAINE.

THANK YOU FOR IT.

ANYTHING ELSE COVID RELATED OR REPORTS THAT WE NEED? GET BACK TO MY AGENDA HERE.

ITEM 1C IS REQUEST FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS OR REPORTS.

[1C. Request future agenda items and reports from City Manager]

[2. CONSENT ITEMS]

>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS SUBMITTED.

>> SECOND.

>> THEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT-HAND.

>> AYE.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I DON'T SEE ANYONE OPPOSE THERE.

THAT WAS MAYBE NOT OUR SMOOTHEST VOTE, BUT HEY, WE'RE GETTING IT DOWN.

SO THAT'S A 5-0 VOTE TO APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MOVING ONTO ITEM 3A ON THE AGENDA, THE NON-CONSENT ITEMS.

[A. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7850: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, General Obligation Bonds, Series 2020," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such bonds. The proceeds will be used to fund the final Proposition 2 projects to address public safety as approved by voters at the November 2016 bond election. (Part 1 of 2)]

>> MAYOR, WE HAVE THREE BOND ISSUANCES AND TWO REFUNDINGS THAT FOR ALL FIVE OF THESE ITEMS, 3A THROUGH 3E, LAURA STORRS IS GOING TO BE PRESENTING THE ITEMS. SHE'S ALSO GOING TO BE WORKING WITH OUR BOND COUNCIL FROM SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE.

SO SHE'LL BE ALSO BE INTRODUCING STEVEN ADAMS TO SPEAK AFTER SHE INTRODUCES THE ITEM.

SO LAURA, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.

>> YES. SO AS MR. MILLER MENTIONED, WE HAVE FIVE DIFFERENT DEBT ISSUANCES TO GO OVER WITH COUNCIL, THREE NEW ONES AND THREE FUNDINGS.

WHAT I THINK WE'LL DO IS I WILL TURN IT OVER TO STEVEN ADAMS WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE.

THEY ARE OUR FINANCE ADVISORS THAT HAVE WORKED FOR MANY YEARS WITH THE CITY OF AMARILLO ON SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL DEBT ISSUANCES.

[01:15:01]

AFTERWARDS, WE'LL MENTION A COUPLE OF OTHER POINTS RELATED TO EACH AGENDA ITEM AND THEN WE'LL LET COUNCIL HAVE DISCUSSION OR ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE WE PROCEED TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.

SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO STEVEN ADAMS WITH SPECIALIZED FINANCE.

>> THANK YOU, LAURA AND YOU HAVE CONTROL OF THE PRESENTATION, CORRECT?

>> YES, I DO. IF YOU ALL WILL BEAR WITH US, WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS AS SMOOTHLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> OKAY. SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I LIKE TO GO OVER AND BEFORE I GO OVER THE ITEMS INDIVIDUALLY IN THE FLOOR, YOU GO TO FIRST PAGE.

THE FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS YOUR RATINGS.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, HERE ARE THE FIVE DIFFERENT AGENDA ITEMS. SO WE'LL BE DISCUSSING FIRST, A GENERAL [NOISE] WE'RE SELLING PROPOSITION 2, WE'RE SELLING 8.1 MILLION IN THOSE.

ON THAT WE RECEIVED SEVEN BIDS, WHICH WILL GO OVER GO REFUNDING BONDS, WHICH WAS 52 MILLION, THIS WAS ONLY TO SAVE MONEY.

SO WE SAVED ALMOST FOUR MILLION DOLLARS AND WE RECEIVED 12 BIDS ON THAT.

THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR THOMPSON PARK POOL, I THINK THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SOME PEOPLE COMMENT ON THAT.

WE DID RECEIVE A NUMBER OF BIDS ON THAT AS WELL, EIGHT BIDS, WE'LL BE GOING OVER THAT.

FINALLY, TAX NOTES FOR THE PURCHASE OF LAND.

RECEIVED FIVE BIDS ON THAT, WE'LL BE GOING OVER THAT.

THEN THE LAST AGENDA ITEM WILL BE A REFUNDING FOR WATER AND SEWER BONDS.

AGAIN, JUST FOR SAVINGS.

THE SAVINGS ON THAT IS ABOUT $1.31 MILLION.

SO LAURA, NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.

I THINK, GENERALLY SPEAKING, WE ARE SELLING BONDS AT THE LOWEST POINT PROBABLY THE CITY HAS EVER SOLD BONDS.

SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE'VE HAD THESE ISSUES WITH CORONAVIRUS, INTEREST RATES HAVE COME DOWN.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF THAT GRAPH, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS A SEWING MACHINE.

RIGHT WHEN THE CORONAVIRUS CAME OUT, INTEREST RATE SHOT UP AND THEN WENT UP AND DOWN AND WERE EXTREMELY VOLATILE.

IN THE MONTH OF MAY, MUNICIPAL BOND INTEREST RATES HAVE GONE DOWN EVERY DAY SO FAR SINCE MAY 1.

SO WE'RE HITTING THE MARKET AT A TIME WHERE RATES HAVE BEEN LOWER, ONLY TWO PERCENT OF THE TIME GOING BACK MANY, MANY YEARS.

SO WE ARE ABLE TO REALLY BENEFIT FROM LOWER RATES, LOWER THAN ANY OF THE RATES THAT WE'VE SHOWED THE COUNCIL AS WE WALK THROUGH THESE VARIOUS PROJECTS OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS OR IN SOME CASES YEARS WITH GO BONDS.

OKAY. NEXT SLIDE, LAURA.

ONE THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WE TYPICALLY TALK ABOUT IS THE RATINGS.

AMARILLO HOLDS AND STILL HOLDS A AAA RATING FROM STANDARD AND POOR'S.

THAT'S THE HIGHEST RATING YOU CAN RECEIVE FROM THEM AND IT'S ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN THEY RATE OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THEY DID PUT THE CITY ON NEGATIVE OUTLOOK.

THE REASON IS, COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES THAT ARE AAA RATED, MOST AAA RATED CITIES HAVE A WEALTHIER POPULATION BASES AND A MORE STABLE ECONOMY.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE SUBURBS.

SO VERY FEW OF THEM ARE CITIES LIKE AMARILLO THAT HAVE DOWNTOWN AREAS AND INDUSTRIAL AREAS, THEY'RE MORE LIKE SUBURBS OF MORE THAN DALLAS OR MAYBE WEST PART OF HOUSTON.

SO YOU'RE ALREADY STARTING OUT NOT AS STRONG AS SOME OF THEM, NOW YOU'RE GOING INTO THE SITUATION WHERE YOUR SALES TAX WERE [INAUDIBLE].

BUT DESPITE THAT, YOU MAINTAIN THE AAA RATING.

NOW IF YOU READ WHAT WE HAVE IN THE ITALICIZED THAT CAME RIGHT OUT OF THEIR WRITE-UP.

IT SAYS, "DEPENDING ON THE DURATION AND SEVERITY OF THE ECONOMIC DISRUPTION, IT MAY WEAKEN AND THEREFORE [INAUDIBLE] CHANCE OF LOWERING YOUR RATING WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

MOODY'S, ON THE OTHER HAND, DID NOT HAVE THE CITY A AAA, BUT A AA1.

[01:20:04]

YOU ALSO AFFIRM THE AAA RATING ON YOUR WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM.

HOWEVER, THAT TOO HAS A NEGATIVE OUTLOOK.

WHAT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THERE IS THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CUT CUSTOMERS OFF FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IF THEY DON'T PAY THEIR WATER BILLS.

SO TYPICALLY, THAT'S THE BIG HAMMER THAT YOU HAVE IS THAT, IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T PAY THEIR BILLS, YOU'D SIMPLY CUT OFF THEIR WATER AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND PAY IT.

WITH COVID-19, THERE ARE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND A LOT OF THE WATER UTILITIES ARE NOT CUTTING OFF THEIR WATER AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT YOU COULD HAVE NEGATIVE CASH FLOWS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THEREFORE, THE NEGATIVE OUTLET.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS AAA STABLE.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS, IT JUST HAS SUCH LITTLE DEBT THAT WITH THE MINIMAL AMOUNT THAT COULD SUFFER IF PEOPLE DIDN'T PAY AND YOU DIDN'T TURN OFF THEIR WATER SYSTEM, PROBABLY ISN'T GOING TO IMPACT THAT PARTICULAR SYSTEM.

I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT ONE THING THAT THEY SAID, THAT THE CITY'S FINANCIALS, THE AAA RATINGS, WERE AFFIRMED DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE STRONG MANAGEMENT, STRONG LIQUIDITY, STRONG DEAD CONTINGENT LIABILITY POSITION BECAUSE OF GOOD PRACTICES THAT HAD BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND REALLY DECADES AT THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

SO THE GOOD PRACTICES OF THIS COUNCIL AND MANY COUNCILS IN THE YEARS PAST AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY NOW AND IN THE PAST ARE WHAT KEPT YOU YOUR AAA RATINGS.

SO I DIDN'T WANT TO GO OVER THAT, THIS IS A TOUGH TIME FOR ALL CITIES.

GOOD NEWS IS, YOU MAINTAINED YOUR AAA RATING.

BUT EVEN IF IT HAD GONE DOWN, IT WAS GOING TO BE THE NEXT HIGHEST RATING CATEGORY, WHICH IS STILL A REALLY, REALLY, REALLY STRONG RATING.

LAURA, NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.

SO FOR THE GO BONDS, AS A COMBINED AMOUNT, WE'RE SELLING $70 MILLION IN TOTAL BONDS AND WE'RE RECEIVING A RE-OFFERING PREMIUM FROM THE BIDDERS AT CERTAIN DISCOUNTS AND OTHER FUND TRANSFERS.

SO THE TOTAL PROGRAM OF YOUR FIVE GO OR TAX BACKED BOND ISSUES IS $72 MILLION.

THAT PAYS FOR THE REFUNDING, PLUS ALL THE COSTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION, PLUS ALL THE COSTS OF ISSUANCE.

I WILL NOW GO THROUGH THEM ONE AT A TIME.

SO LAURA, NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.

OKAY. THIS IS FOR THE GO BONDS AND IT'S ORDINANCE NUMBER 7850 AND WE'LL CONSIDER THIS ONE SEPARATELY. OKAY. GO AHEAD.

SO WE TOOK BIDS ON THESE BONDS AT 9:00 AM YESTERDAY MORNING FOR THE VOTED GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, THEY WERE PASSED IN ELECTION ON NOVEMBER OF 2016.

WE SOLD AN AMOUNT THAT WE'LL FUND $8.1 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

THESE BONDS HAVE A 25-YEAR ARMOTIZATION AND ARE SOLD IN LINE WITH WHAT WAS TOLD TO VOTERS BACK IN 2016 WHEN WE TOLD THEM WE HAVE A FIVE-YEAR DEBT ISSUANCE PROCESS.

WE RECEIVED SEVEN BIDS, WINNING BID FROM ROBERT W. BAIRD AND COMPANY, AT A TRUE INTEREST COST OF 2.478 PERCENT.

AGAIN, THESE BONDS WERE RATED AAA BY S&P, AA+ BY MOODY'S.

IF YOU APPROVE THIS TODAY, THE CLOSING WILL OCCUR ON JUNE 2ND, 2020.

WE ESTIMATE THAT WITH NO GROWTH IN THE ASSESSED VALUATION, A HOMEOWNER OF A HOME WHOSE TAX VALUE IS A 100,000.

SO THAT'S AFTER ALL, THE DEDUCTIONS AND OTHER BENEFITS THAT COULD HAPPEN DEPENDING ON THEIR AGE OR WHATEVER, WILL BE $3.10 ANNUAL, THAT'S YOUR ASSESS VALUE GOES UP, IT COULD BE SMALLER.

SO NEXT PAGE.

SO HERE IS A SUMMARY OF THE BIDS.

YOU SEE YOU GOT SEVEN BIDS ON THIS ONE.

AGAIN, WITH ROBERT W. BAIRD BEING THE WINNER,

[01:25:02]

WE DID ALL THESE BIDS ON A VERY ONLINE BIDDING SYSTEM, LAURA DID OBSERVE THE PROCESS AS WELL.

SO THERE IS YOUR BIDS ON THESE.

NEXT PAGE, LAURA.

SO WITH THAT SERVICE ON THE EASE, 25 YEARS TO AN INTEREST COST OF 2.478 PERCENT, IT GOES THROUGH THE YEAR 2045.

YOU SEE THAT AFTER 2027, THE PAYMENTS GO UP SLIGHTLY FROM ABOUT $342,000 TO $490,000 A YEAR.

WE DID THIS TO STRUCTURE THESE BONDS AROUND THE SEVEN-YEAR TAX NOTES THAT YOU'LL BE CONSIDERING ON A LATER ITEM.

LAURA? MAYOR, WITH THAT, WE DO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY AWARD THE 8,105,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, SERIES 2020 TO ROBERT W. BAIRD AND COMPANY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU WANT TO PAUSE HERE AND HAVE COUNCIL DIALOGUE ABOUT THIS ONE?

>> YES. MAYOR, IF I CAN JUST REAL QUICKLY, I WANTED TO MENTION JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS.

AS STEVEN MENTIONED, THESE ARE THE PROPOSITION 2 PUBLIC THANK YOU RELATED BONDS THAT WERE APPROVED BY VOTERS BACK AT THE NOVEMBER 2016 BOND ELECTION.

THIS IS THE FINAL ISSUANCE FOR PROPOSITION 2.

ANOTHER REMINDER FOR COUNCIL IS THAT WE DID NOT ISSUE ALL OF THE DEBTS FOR THESE PROJECTS UPFRONT.

WE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL ALL OF THE PROJECTS WERE READY TO BE CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE SITTING HERE FOUR YEARS LATER NOW ASKING FOR THE FINAL ISSUANCE OF THIS DEBT, AND HAS NOT INCLUDED THIS IN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE UNTIL THIS POINT IN TIME.

THERE ARE SEVERAL PROJECTS THAT WILL BE ADDRESSED FROM FIRE STATIONS, POLICE REMODELS, AND ANIMAL MANAGEMENT AND WELFARE SHELTER IMPROVEMENTS.

IF COUNCIL HAVE QUESTIONS, STEVEN AND I ARE BOTH AVAILABLE TO ANSWER.

>> COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I HAVE ONE QUESTION, JUST A CURIOUS QUESTION.

FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN THIS BOND WAS PASSED, WHAT WAS THE PROJECTED INTEREST RATE AT THAT TIME?

>> I THINK THAT WE WERE IN THE THREE-AND-A-HALF RANGE ON THE BONDS, BECAUSE WE USED THE RATE AT THE TIME WHICH WAS HIGHER, PLUS WE ASSUMED THAT IT MIGHT GO UP.

SO I THINK WE'RE ABOUT A PERCENT TO A PERCENT-AND-A-QUARTER LOWER THAN WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PROJECTED.

>> I'M GLAD YOU WERE WRONG ABOUT YOUR PREDICTION.

>> I'M GLAD TOO. [LAUGHTER]

>> STEVEN, I KNOW IT'S THE $5 MILLION QUESTION, BUT WHAT DO YOU PREDICT BONDS ARE GOING TO DO IF WE WERE TO DELAY THIS SIX MONTHS OR SO?

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

RATES ARE REALLY LOW NOW.

I THINK THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION WILL DEPEND ON A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS IF WE OPEN UP AND THERE'S ANOTHER ROUND OF COVID, IT CAUSED A LOT OF VOLATILITY, AND IT COULD BE THAT THEY WOULD BE HIGHER.

I THINK IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND WE HAVE A SMOOTH REOPENING, I ACTUALLY THINK HIGH RATED BONDS ARE GOING TO GO DOWN.

HOWEVER, I THINK AS YOUR RATING GETS LOWER, THE SPREAD IS GOING TO BE MORE.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT A HIGH RATED BOND LIKE AMARILLO, I THINK YOUR RATES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GO UP NO MATTER WHAT, BECAUSE THOSE BONDS ARE GOING TO BE MORE SUSPECT TO HAVING FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

BUT I THINK AND HOPE THAT MOVING FORWARD, CREDITS LIKE YOURS ARE GOING TO BE, HOPEFULLY, ABOUT WHERE THEY ARE, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET OUR ARMS AROUND THE CORONAVIRUS.

>> BUT VOLATILITY IS CERTAINLY THE ONE THING WE CAN BE CERTAIN ABOUT?

>> IT SEEMS THAT WAY, BASED ON WHAT I WAS HEARING EARLIER IN THE AGENDA TALKING ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

>> I REALLY APPRECIATED THAT YOU SPENT TIME TO GO THROUGH THE RATINGS WITH US, AND JUST TO REMIND FOLKS, WHEN DID THEY RE-RATE US?

>> AS OF THIS MONTH, THESE ARE ALL BRAND NEW.

>> SO VERY RECENTLY?

[01:30:01]

>> WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR ALL OF THESE DEBT ISSUANCES AND THEY LOOKED AT EVERYTHING AS YOU MIGHT GUESS.

THE RATING AGENCIES ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE NUMEROUS DOWNGRADES OF CITIES, COUNTIES, AND STATES AROUND THE NATION.

>> THEY RE-RATED US FULLY KNOWING THAT COVID IS HERE AND CAUSING HAVOC?

>> WE GAVE THEM EVERY BIT OF INFORMATION THAT WE KNOW.

LAURA ANSWERED PAGES OF QUESTIONS ABOUT EXPECTATIONS OF THIS BUDGET, CASH FLOWS, CASH BALANCES, A LOT MORE INFORMATION THAN WE TYPICALLY HAVE GONE THROUGH, IN A LOT MORE DETAIL THAN WE TYPICALLY GO THROUGH.

WE DID HAVE MICHELLE HERE HELPING AT THAT TIME TOO, THAT WAS NICE, BUT SHE WAS OVER THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY. [LAUGHTER] MAYOR, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, I KNOW THAT THE RATING AGENCIES WERE GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE WERE DECISIONS MADE VERY EARLY ON AS CORONAVIRUS STARTED IMPACTING OUR AREA.

THOSE WERE DECISIONS MADE BY MR. MILLER, AND BY UPPER MANAGEMENT, AND COUNCIL, TO REALLY HOLD OFF AND HOLD SPENDING WHICH ALLOWED US TO COMMUNICATE SEVERAL MEASURES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND THEN ADDITIONAL MEASURES THAT COULD BE IN THE FUTURE, IF WE GOT TO A POINT THAT IT WAS NEEDED BECAUSE OF REVENUE REDUCTION.

I KNOW THAT THE RATING AGENCIES REALLY APPRECIATED THAT INFORMATION AND I KNOW THAT HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE REAFFIRMED RATINGS THAT WE RECEIVED, BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES RIGHT NOW.

>> BY "REDUCED SPENDING," LAURA, DO YOU MEAN ANNUAL BUDGET GENERAL FUND SPENDING?

>> YES, MA'AM. THE SEVERAL MEASURES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE SINCE MID-MARCH, AND THEY WERE VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THAT THE CITY WAS VERY PROACTIVE IN THE STEP TAKEN TO WITHHOLD AS MUCH SPENDING AS POSSIBLE KNOWING THAT THERE WERE UNCERTAINTIES ON HOW ADDITIONAL MEASURES WOULD COME IN THE FUTURE.

>> MAYOR, I'LL COMMENT ON A COUPLE OF THOSE.

SPECIFICS WERE THE HIRING FREEZES AND THEN ALSO THE FREEZE OUT OF OUR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION FUND ON SOME PROJECTS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED TO PUT ON THE SHELF IN THE SHORT-TERM.

>> THANK YOU. THAT'S GREAT CLARIFICATION, ESPECIALLY FOR CITIZENS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HEARD US TALK ABOUT THAT BEFORE.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STEVEN ABOUT THIS ITEM, COUNCIL?

>> MAYOR, COULD WE POSSIBLY TALK ABOUT THEM, BESIDES THIS ONE SPECIFICALLY, AS A GROUP OF ALL OF THEM? WHEN I LOOK AT THE LIST OF OUR AGENDA TODAY, I COULDN'T SEE IT AS ALL CUMULATIVE, THEY ALL LAYER ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, AND POSSIBLY DISCUSS IT A LITTLE BIT ALONG THOSE LINES?

>> YEAH, IF YOU HAVE A GENERAL THOUGHT THAT'S RELATED TO ALL OF THEM, I THINK IT WOULD BE FINE TO TALK ABOUT THAT NOW.

>> JUST IN GENERAL, NUMBER 1 ON THE FIVE, THE REFUNDING, I'M ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF THOSE.

THEY'RE ALL GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO SAVE MONEY.

I'M SURE AS WE GET TO THOSE AGENDA ITEMS, WE'LL HEAR THOSE NUMBERS EXACTLY, WHAT THE REFINANCING IS GOING TO DO TO SAVE US DOLLARS.

ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE, LAURA ALLUDED TO IT, AND IN THE NUMBERS, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT VOTED ON IN NOVEMBER 2016.

SO HERE WE ARE, THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS LATER, AND IT HAS SAVED THE TAXPAYERS A LOT OF DOLLARS DURING THAT TIME, THAT WE DIDN'T GO OUT AND ISSUE ALL OF THAT DEBT THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO.

BUT NOW HERE WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A REALLY DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIME PERIOD TO BE HAVING TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT RAISING TAXES TO FINISH THIS OUT.

SO WHEN I LOOK AT THE THREE ISSUANCES WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY, THEY ARE NOT LIKE THINGS IN THE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION FUND WHERE WE'VE IDENTIFIED WE CAN FREEZE THEM.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE'VE ALREADY STARTED, WE'RE ALREADY HALFWAY IN THE WATER, FIRE STATION NUMBER 5, THAT IS ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THESE FUNDS WOULD GO TOWARDS COMPLETION OF THAT.

WE ALREADY DEMOLISHED THE OLD STATION.

WE REALLY CAN'T JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT, AS WELL AS THE RENOVATIONS INSIDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

[01:35:01]

SO I LOOK AT LAYERING ALL OF THEM, THOUGH, AS WE GET TO EACH OF THEM, THREE DOLLARS FOR 100, THREE DOLLARS FOR ANOTHER 100, FIVE DOLLARS FOR ANOTHER 100, AND THEY DO ALL BEGIN TO ADD UP.

SO THIS PARTICULAR ONE, I DO SEE AS SOMETHING THAT VOTERS APPROVED, THAT THE RATES ARE GOOD.

IT'S NOT A GREAT TIME TO BE HAVING TO FINISH THAT OUT, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS PRUDENT FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD EVEN WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCIL?

>> IF WE COULD JUST GO TO THE "VIEW OPTIONS," OR, STEPHANIE, IF WE CAN GO BACK WHERE WE CAN SEE EVERYBODY'S, IF WE TAKE THAT INFORMATION DOWN.

>> IF YOU, ELAINE, GO UP TO YOUR TOP, THERE'S A GRID THERE.

ACTUALLY, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE IT UP THERE FOR THOSE OF US THAT WANT TO LOOK AT IT.

BUT YOU CAN MAKE IT GO AWAY, ELAINE, BY HITTING THE ONE THAT LOOKS LIKE A RUBIK'S CUBE WITH THE NINE DOTS ON IT.

THEN YOU CAN DRAG THAT WINDOW BIGGER TO COVER YOUR SCREEN TO SEE MORE OF THE FACES AND THE PEOPLE. DO YOU SEE IT ON TOP OF THAT?

>> OKAY, I'M WITH YOU.

>> THAT LEAVES THE OPTION FOR ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO LOOK AT THAT UNDERNEATH THERE.

YOU-ALL SHOULD ALWAYS FEEL FREE TO ASK A ZOOM QUESTION AT ANY TIME.

JUST A, "HEY, HOW DO WE MAKE THIS WORK BETTER ON THE SCREEN?" BECAUSE WE'RE ALL LEARNING THIS NEW TOOL.

ANYBODY ELSE HAD A COMMENT THEN, EITHER IN RESPONSE TO THE ELAINE'S COMMENTS OR JUST IN SPECIFICALLY ON THIS 7850 ORDINANCE ISSUE? HEY. THEN I'M GOING TO PASS IT BACK TO LAURA AND STEPHEN.

>> YOU WANT US TO VOTE ON NOW, LAURA? [OVERLAPPING]

>> MAYOR, LISTEN, ONCE WE GET THROUGH THE GENERAL APPOINTMENT, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME.

>> OKAY. SO DO YOU INTEND TO MOVE THROUGH THERE?

>> YEAH, WHAT I WAS HOPING, EACH ONE OF THEM I'VE GOT A SEPARATE INFORMATION FOR EACH AGENDA ITEM.

>> I THINK LAURA SAID THAT INITIALLY TOO.

LET'S MOVE THROUGH WITH YOUR PRESENTATION, AND IT'S FINE FOR US TO MAKE COMMENTS AFTER YOUR PRESENTATION, THEN WE'LL COME BACK AROUND AND CONSIDER EACH ONE OF THEM SEPARATELY.

>> OKAY.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT'S FINE. THEN LAURA, PLEASE MOVE AHEAD TO THE NEXT ONE.

>> BEAR WITH ME JUST A SECOND, STEPHEN.

>> OKAY. SO THIS IS ORDINANCE 7851,

[B. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7851: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2020," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such bonds and providing for the redemption of the obligations being refunded. (Part 1 of 2)]

THIS ONE IS PRETTY EASY, WE'RE SELLING BONDS AT A LOWER RANGE FOR EACH REFUND A NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING BOND ISSUES FOR THIS BIDDING, AND WE'RE DOING A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS WHERE WE'RE ALIGNING ALL THE PAYMENTS.

A LOT OF THESE BONDS HAVE DIFFERENT PAYMENT PAGE, AND ONE OF THEM EVEN [INAUDIBLE] WHICH FOR THE CITY'S FINANCED STAFF IF IS A BURDENSOME, AND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO AGGREGATE THEM ALL INTO TWO PAYMENTS PER YEAR WHICH WILL HELP THE EFFICIENCY FOR THE NEXT DEPARTMENT AS WELL.

SO IN THIS ONE, WE RECEIVED 12 BIDS, AND THE WINNING BID WAS CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC, AT A TRUE INTEREST COST OF 1.368 PERCENT.

NOW, YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY ARE ALL THESE INTEREST RATES DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE LENGTH OF THE BONDS ARE DIFFERENT FOR EACH ONE.

SINCE IT WAS A REFUNDING, MOST OF THE BONDS SINCE WE MATCHED THE LINK TO WHAT WE'RE REFUNDING WERE 10 YEARS OR LESS, SO THIS IS A LOT SHORTER THAN THE 25 YEARS THAT WE JUST DID ON THE OTHER GO BONDS WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THAT.

THIS ONE WILL PROVIDE DEBT SERVICE SAVINGS OF $4.350594 MILLION ON A PRESENT-VALUE BASIS, THAT'S $3,877,480.

[01:40:02]

AGAIN, OUR BONDS ARE RATED AAA BY S&P, AA1 BY MOODY'S, AND AGAIN, SET TO CLOSE ON JUNE 2ND.

LAURA. SO THESE ARE THE BIDS, AND YOU CAN SEE, THEY CAME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND ALMOST EVERY FIRM YOU'VE EVER HEARD OF.

SO A LOT OF ACCEPTANCE, AND AGAIN, CITIGROUP WINNING AT 1.368 PERCENT.

LAURA. THIS ONE IS A COUPLE OF ITEMS. ONE, ALL OF THE BONDS THAT WE'RE REFUNDING AND ALL OF THE INTEREST RATES OF THOSE BONDS.

SO YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 DIFFERENT ISSUES WITH COUPON RATES AS LOW AS 2.267, BUT IN SOME CASES, AS HIGH AS SIX PERCENT, AND WE SOLD BONDS AT 1.37 SO WE ARE ABLE TO SAVE $4.3 MILLION.

NOW, THE WEIRD STRUCTURE THAT YOU SEE AT THE SAVINGS IS BECAUSE ON EACH ONE OF THOSE LOANS, WE MATCH THEIR MATURITIES INDIVIDUALLY, AND MOST OF THEM MATURED IN 2030, AND SO THE SAVINGS IS LEVELED BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF BONDS THAT WE REFUNDED.

SO LAURA, NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

SO THIS IS THE COUPON RATES OF THE INDIVIDUAL GO BOND THAT YOU'LL BE CONSIDERING.

AGAIN, WE SEE THE COUPON RATE AT TWO PERCENT, THAT'S HIGHER THAN THE 1.3 INTEREST COST.

THE REASON IS BECAUSE THE BIDDER PAID YOU CASH UPFRONT SO THEY COULD RECEIVE A HIGHER COUPON RATE, BY THE TIME YOU TAKE THAT CASH INTO ACCOUNT, YOUR INTEREST RATE IS 1.368 PERCENT.

LAURA. SO ON THIS ONE, WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY AWARD 50,540,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION IN FUNDING BONDS SERIES 2020 TO CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

I BELIEVE THAT'S ALL WE HAD FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM.

SO LAURA, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE

>> THAT'S ALL. ANY DISCUSSION THERE?

>> WELL, JUST MY QUESTION, STEPHEN, WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING UP THE NUMBERS, ARE THESE FIVE ISSUANCES THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING BEING NETTED AGAINST EACH OTHER?

>> SO FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN WE SHOWED YOU ON THE FIRST ONE THAT IT WAS $3.20 A YEAR FOR $100,000 HOME, WE DO NOT NET THESE SAVINGS BACK AGAINST THAT.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COULD BRING THAT DOWN, THAT $3.20.

ONE, WE ASSUME THE ASSESSED VALUE DOESN'T GROW AT ALL.

IT WILL PROBABLY GROW AND HOPEFULLY, THE COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL WILL GROW MORE THAN $100,000 HOUSE.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT SECTOR OF THE ASSESSED VALUATION WILL PICK UP A LOT AND POSSIBLY WITH ALL OF THAT TAX RATE INCREASE.

THE SECOND THING, ANY SAVINGS WE HAVE FROM THIS REFUNDING, THAT'S NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THAT NUMBER ANYWHERE.

>> IS THERE A WAY TO DO THAT?

>> THERE IS A WAY TO DO THAT.

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK THROUGH THERE.

A LOT OF THE COS THAT WE'RE REFUNDING ARE ACTUALLY BID COS AND THEY'RE SELF-SUPPORTING.

SO WHAT WE'D HAVE TO DO, WHICH WE CAN'T DO IS IN FACT, USE NET OUT ALL OF THE BONDS THAT AREN'T RECEIVING MONEY FROM OTHER FUNDS JUST FROM THE I&S TAX, AND THEN WE DO SAT THEM OUT AGAINST THE NEW ONES.

>> COUNCIL MEMBER HAYES, LOOKING THROUGH THESE 10 ISSUANCES THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO RE-FUND, AS STEPHEN MENTIONED, THEY ARE OUTSIDE OUR OTHER FUNDING SOURCES BESIDES PROPERTY TAX THAT THEY ARE PAYING FOR THE [INAUDIBLE].

WE'VE GOT TWO BIDS THAT COVER FOUR OF THE 10 ISSUANCES.

WE HAVE ONE FOR THE GOLF COURSE,

[01:45:02]

THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ONLY ONE OF THE 10 THAT ACTUALLY HAS AN EFFECT ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.

SO WE CAN GET SOME ADDITIONAL [INAUDIBLE] ABOUT NETTING THAT AGAINST THE NEW ISSUANCES TO COUNSEL.

>> LAURA, YOU CUT OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT.

DID YOU SAY ONE OUT OF THE 10?

>> YES, MA'AM, ONE OUT OF THE 10.

>> ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A COMMENT OR A QUESTION ABOUT THE ITEM NUMBER? OKAY, BACK TO STEPHEN.

[C. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7852: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2020," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such certificates of obligation. The proceeds will be used for costs incurred for acquiring, construction, improving and equipping a pool at Thompson Park. (Part 1 of 2)]

>> THE NEXT ONE IS FOR ORDINANCE 7852, AND THIS IS FOR THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.

SO WE TOOK BIDS ON THESE AT 9:30 AM YESTERDAY FOR EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS FOR CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION WHICH FUNDED 7,953,000 IMPROVEMENTS TO THOMPSON PARK POOL.

WE DID THESE OVER 30 YEARS FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

ONE, WE BELIEVE THE POOL WILL LAST THAT LONG, AND NUMBER TWO, TO HELP REDUCE THE TAX RATE IMPACT ON HOME OWNERS.

WE RECEIVED SEVEN BIDS, AGAIN, ROBERT W. BAIRDS SUBMITTING THE WINNING BID WITH A TRUE INTEREST COSTS 2.591 PERCENT.

THE SAME RATING AAA S&P, AA1 MOODY'S, AND AGAIN, WE EXPECT TO CLOSE THESE ON JUNE 2ND OF 2020.

THE ANNUAL TAX RATE INCREASE ON A HOME WHOSE TAX VALUE IS $100,000 IS $3.20.

OKAY, LAURA. HERE ARE THE BIDDERS, NOT AS MANY BIDS, THE BIG FIRMS LIKE THE LARGER ONE.

SO YOU SAW THE BIG FIRMS COMING IN ON THE GO REFUNDING BONDS, BUT STILL 2.591 IS VERY COMPETITIVE.

LAURA. HERE IS THE DEBT SERVICE ON THIS PARTICULAR BOND.

AGAIN, IT GOES UP JUST SLIGHTLY AFTER 2027 STRUCTURE AROUND THE TAX NOTES THAT WE DID.

AGAIN, IT GOES OUT THROUGH 2050. OKAY, LAURA.

SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE INC, RECOMMEND CITY OF AMARILLO AWARD THE EIGHT MILLION CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION SERIES 2020 TO ROBERT W. BAIRD & COMPANY INC. THAT'S ALL THAT WE HAVE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, MAYOR.

>> THANKS. COUNCIL, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM? NO? STEPHEN, BACK TO YOU.

>> HEY, LAURA. THESE ARE THE TAX NOTES

[D. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7853: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, Tax Notes, Series 2020," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such tax notes. The proceeds will be used to reimburse the City for the purchase of property at 503-509 South Johnson Street. (Part 1 of 2)]

AGAIN, NOW TAX NOTES, THESE ONLY GO OUT SEVEN YEARS.

WE STRUCTURED AROUND A LITTLE BIT THE OTHER TWO AS YOU NOTED.

WE TOOK BIDS ON THESE AT 10:00 AM YESTERDAY FOR 3,520,000 TAX NOTES, SERIES 2020.

WE RECEIVED FIVE BIDS, AND ON THIS ONE, AGAIN, CITIGROUP WAS THE WINNING BIDDER AT A 1.099 PERCENT.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT'S BELOW THE INFLATION RATE, SO I'M BELIEVING THEY PAID YOU TO BORROW THIS MONEY.

THE NOTES WERE RATED AAA BY S&P, AA1 BY MOODY'S [INAUDIBLE] JUNE OF 2020.

NOW, THIS HAS AN ANNUAL IMPACT OF FIVE DOLLARS IF YOU WANT A HOME OF 100,000 ANNUALLY, BUT IT ONLY GOES OUT SEVEN YEARS.

NEXT PAGE, LAURA.

SO THE BIDDERS, FIVE FIRMS ON THIS ONE.

A LITTLE BIT SHORTER, A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT INTERESTS.

BUT AGAIN, CITIGROUP WINNING THIS ONE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE FOUR OF THE FIRMS HAVE BID.

THERE'S THE FIRM STRUCTURE OF THIS.

AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT A PREMIUM BECAUSE COUPON RATE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN ONE PERCENT, SO THEY WILL BE PAYING YOU CASH UPFRONT IN EXCESS OF THAT 3.52 MILLION.

[01:50:02]

SO IT'S A SEVEN-YEAR PAYMENT.

NEXT SLIDE.

FINALLY, ON THIS ONE, WE RECOMMENDED THE CITY AWARD THE 3,520,000 TAX NOTE, SERIES 2020 TO CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. MAYOR, THAT'S ALL WE HAVE ON THIS SLIDE.

>> COUNCIL, ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ONE?

>> I HAD SOME QUESTIONS.

THIS DEBT IS TO REPAIR OURSELVES FOR SOMETHING WE UPFRONTED CASH AND IT WOULD BE GOING BACK INTO OUR RESERVES.

IF WE DID NOT DO THIS, STEPHEN, DOES THAT IMPACT OUR BOND RATINGS?

>> YEAH, IT MOST DEFINITELY COULD.

TYPICALLY, I WOULD SAY YOU PROBABLY COULD HAVE MAYBE DONE THIS A YEAR AGO.

BUT LIQUIDITY RIGHT NOW AND THE AMOUNT OF CASH THAT YOU HAVE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

I DON'T KNOW EXACT PERCENT, BUT 30 OR 40 PERCENT OF YOUR GENERAL FUND REVENUES ARE FROM SALES TAX AND WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOWN.

WE KNOW THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS JUST GOING TO BE DOWN ALTHOUGH THAT'S NOT A BIG GENERAL FUND PROVIDER, IT'S STILL A REVENUE TO THE CITY.

SO I THINK RIGHT NOW HAVING CASH IS PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT'S EVER BEEN IN THIS CITY'S HISTORY.

>> SO TALK TO ME ABOUT WHY A TAX NOTE INSTEAD OF A CO?

>> YEAH, A LOT OF THAT, I'M NOT 100 PERCENT SURE ABOUT, BUT A TAX NOTE YOU CAN DO WITHOUT DOING A PUBLICATION IN THE NEWSPAPER.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE EFFICIENT.

BECAUSE OF THAT, HOWEVER, YOU DO HAVE TO REPAY IT WITHIN SEVEN YEARS.

LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, WE STRUCTURED THE OTHER DEBT AROUND THIS.

SO IT LOOKS AS IF YOU TAKE ALL THE DEBT INTO ACCOUNT, IT'S THE SAME AS IF WE HAD DONE THIS AS A LONGER-TERM MATURITY.

I THINK THAT THE PRIMARY REASON WAS IS THAT WE DEFINITELY NEEDED THIS CASH BACK AND THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO GET IT WITHIN A SEVEN-YEAR PERIOD IS TO DO A TAX NOTE.

>> COUNCIL, IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, THE PROPERTY THAT WAS PURCHASED THAT THIS IS REIMBURSING THE CITY FOR WAS AUTHORIZED BACK ON JANUARY 28TH WITH THE INTENTION THAT THE CITY WOULD [INAUDIBLE] OUT OF AVAILABLE FUNDS TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY AND THEN KNOWING THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT THAT TO REIMBURSE THE CITY GOING FORWARD.

SO THIS DID BRING DOWN AVAILABLE FUNDS BELOW OUR TARGET LEVEL FOR OUR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION FUND.

THEN ON MARCH 24TH, WE BROUGHT A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION TO COUNCIL INTENDING TO ISSUE DEBT AND REIMBURSE FOR THAT PROPERTY WITH THIS.

ISSUING THESE TAX NOTES, GETTING THIS REIMBURSEMENT BACK TO THE CITY WILL PUT VERY GOOD SHAPE TO HAVE THOSE AVAILABLE FUNDS BACK TO THOSE TARGETED AMOUNTS.

THERE WAS ALSO [INAUDIBLE] IN SOME OF OUR DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD WITH BOTH S&P AND WITH MOODY THAT THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE IN HEALTHY CONDITIONS, AND THAT IF THERE WERE DEEPER ISSUES WITH REVENUE REDUCTIONS THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED RELATED TO COVID-19, THOSE FUNDS WERE THERE AND COULD BE ON HOLD TO POTENTIALLY HELP THE GENERAL FUND IF THERE ARE SHORTFALLS IN THOSE REVENUES.

>> I KNOW ONE THING.

WHEN WE WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, WE HAVE CHANGED OUR PLAN TREMENDOUSLY.

SO AT ONE POINT, THE MARKET HAD ENTIRELY LOCKED UP AND WE COULDN'T SELL ANYTHING.

SO WE STARTED TALKING TO BANKS.

WE HAD BANKS WHO CAME TO US AND SAID, WE WILL BUY EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO SELL US, BUT IT HAS TO BE 15 YEARS OR LESS.

TO HAVE THOSE VERY BANKS TURN AROUND THE MINUTE PPM WAS ANNOUNCED AND SAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO BUY NOTHING.

SO WE AT ONE TIME ALSO CONSIDERED SELLING A DRAINAGE BOND AT THIS TIME AND THAT OTHER WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD DEAL.

WE'VE BEEN MOVING THINGS ALL OVER THE PLACE TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE COULD SELL ON THE MARKETPLACE, AND ONE THING WE KNEW WE COULD SELL TO A BANK OR TO ANYBODY WHO HAS A SEVEN-YEAR TAX NOTE.

SO A LOT OF THAT CAME JUST FROM WE

[01:55:02]

>> SO STEPHEN, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? WHEN I HEAR YOU EXPLAIN THAT, IF I'M FOLLOWING CORRECTLY, IT'S LIKE THE TAX NOTES ARE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN MOVE MORE QUICKLY ON.

OUR RISK OF NOT DOING IT NOW AND REFILLING OUR CASH COFFERS IS THAT IF WE NEEDED IT, AT SOME POINT INTEREST RATES COULD BE HIGHER, OR THAT THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANY PURCHASED BUYERS FOR THEM AT ALL?

>> THERE WAS A POINT WHERE WE COULD NOT SELL ANY BONDS BEYOND A 15-YEAR TO MATURITY LAST MONTH TO ANYBODY.

BUT WE KNEW WE COULD SELL A SEVEN-YEAR TAX NOTE TO A BANK.

SO OUR FALLBACK POSITION WAS IF WE CANNOT DO ANY OF THESE OTHER BOND ISSUES, WE CAN DO A TAX NOTE AND REPAY THE CITY THE 3.5 MILLION THAT IT SPENT ON THIS PROPERTY.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THAT WAS ALL WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO.

BEGINNING IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THE MARKET STARTED COMING BACK AND WE WERE ABLE TO SELL BONDS.

THE MARKETS ARE NOT BACK FOR CREDITS THAT ARE, SAY, BBB CATEGORY OR LOWER, SO THEY'RE NOT EVEN ALL THE WAY BACK RIGHT NOW FOR ALL MUNICIPALITIES.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TRIED TO SELL SOME SHORT-TERM NOTES LAST WEEK AND THEY PULLED THEM.

THEY COULDN'T GET IT DONE. THEY'RE A BBB CREDIT.

SO THIS WASN'T A PLAN THAT WAS JUST STATIC.

IT WAS MOVING A LOT BECAUSE OF THE CAPITAL MARKETS.

SO YES, I WOULD AGREE WITH WHAT YOUR ASSESSMENT IS.

>> HERE'S ONE OF MY THOUGHTS WHERE THAT IS LIKE DOING IT ON THE SHORT TERM, THE SEVEN YEARS, AND THIS LOW INTEREST RATE, I KNOW IT SAVES US MONEY.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT AMORTIZING IT OVER 20, 30 YEARS, THE ULTIMATE AMOUNT YOU'RE PAYING FOR IS GOING TO BE LESS.

SO I LIKE THAT ASPECTS OF IT.

BUT IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE RIGHT NOW TO OUR TAXPAYERS.

IT'S THAT FIVE DOLLARS INCREASE PER $100,000 HOME ON THE SMALLEST ISSUANCE WE'RE DOING.

PROPORTIONATELY, IT KICKS UP OUR PROPERTY TAX TO INS IN THE SHORT TERM BECAUSE OF THE SHORT TIME PERIOD, THE SEVEN YEARS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? [NOISE] OKAY.

STEPHEN. [NOISE]

>> OKAY.

LAST ONE FROM ME,

[E. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7854: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, Waterworks and Sewer System Revenue Refunding Bonds, New Series 2020A," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such bonds and providing for the redemption of the obligations being refunded. (Part 1 of 2)]

SO THIS ONE IS JUST SAVING MONEY.

LAURA? SO WE TOOK BIDS ON THIS AT 1:00 P.M.

IN THE AFTERNOON FOR 9,775,000 WATERWORKS SYSTEM REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, NEW SERIES 2020 A.

WE RECEIVED 10 BIDS, ROBERT BAIRD, AGAIN, SUBMITTING THE WINNING BID WITH A TRUE INTEREST COSTS 1.541.

FOR THOSE OF YOU KEEPING TRACK, THAT'S ROBERT W. BAIRD'S THIRD WIN AND THEY ARE WAITING ANXIOUSLY TO SEE IF YOU'RE GOING TO APPROVE THESE.

AGAIN, THEY'RE RATED AAA BY S&P.

WHAT WE DID HERE WAS REFUND THE SERIES 2011 BONDS, BECAUSE THEY HAD A HIGHER INTEREST RATE.

WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE $1.485 MILLION TO THE RATE PAYERS, WHICH IS 1.351 MILLION PRESENT VALUE, WHICH IS 13 PERCENT OF THE BONDS WE REFUNDED.

AGAIN, THESE ARE SET TO CLOSE ON JUNE 2ND OF 2020.

LAURA? HERE ARE THE BIDS.

YOU CAN SEE 10 BIDS,

[02:00:03]

ROBERT W. BAIRD WINNING AT 1.541 PERCENT.

NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE.

THE SAVINGS ON THIS OCCURS BETWEEN 2021 AND 2031.

IT'S 130- $135,000 A YEAR.

AGAIN, THE 2011 BONDS HAD COUPONS BETWEEN 3 PERCENT AND 4.125 PERCENT.

WE SOLD REFUNDING BONDS AT 1.54 PERCENT AND THEREFORE WE HAD THE SAVINGS.

LAURA? HERE IS THE PRINCIPLE AND INTEREST.

AGAIN, YOU SEE HIGHER COUPON RATES.

WE WERE PAID A PREMIUM UP FRONT, SO WE SOLD LESS BONDS TO NOT HAVE ANY EXTRA MONEY.

OUR DEBT SERVICE IS ROUGHLY 1,030,000 OR 40 A YEAR BETWEEN NOW AND 2031.

LAURA? THE SOURCES AND USES ARE ON THIS ONE.

YOU CAN SEE THE WINNING BIDDER PAID US $690,000 EXTRA TO GET THOSE HIGHER COUPON RATES FOR THEIR CASH FLOWS AND WE PAID ALL THE COSTS OF ISSUANCE OUT OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE BOND.

SO THEY'RE ENCAPSULATED IN ALL THE SAVINGS.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE CITY DIDN'T HAVE TO PUT ANY MONEY IN.

OKAY, LAURA? FINALLY, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY OF AMARILLO AWARD THE 9,775,000 WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, NEW SERIES 2020 A, TO ROBERT W. BAIRD INC. MAYOR?

>> ARE THERE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ITEM? STEVEN, YOU'RE GOING TO STAY AROUND WHILE WE CONSIDER THESE, JUST IN CASE WE COULD COME UP ON A QUESTION; IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> BY THE WAY, I'LL COMMENT. I KNOW YOU'RE SAD YOU'RE NOT HERE ENJOYING ONE OF OUR WONDERFUL RESTAURANTS, SINCE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO COME INTO TOWN TO DO THIS PRESENTATION TODAY.

>> WELL, THE ONLY THING I'LL SAY IS YOU SAID I DIDN'T HAVE TO.

I WOULD SAY I DIDN'T GET TO, BUT YES, YOU ARE CORRECT.

>> THERE YOU GO. WELL, LET'S BACK UP THEN [NOISE] AND GO TO ITEM 3A, WHICH IS CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 7850.

SINCE WE'VE ALREADY HEARD A PRESENTATION ON THIS, I DO JUST WANT TO OPEN IT UP AND CIRCLE BACK AROUND ANY CITIZEN THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ON THE LINE THAT WANTED TO COMMENT.

STEPHANIE, DO WE HAVE ANYONE THAT YOU KNOW OF WITH THESE ITEMS?

>> MAYOR, I DON'T BELIEVE WE DO.

WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE NEW FROM EARLIER.

AT THIS TIME, THOUGH, IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT HAS CALLED IN WITH REQUESTS, PRESS NINE ON YOUR TELEPHONE.

IT WILL LET US KNOW THAT YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT.

I'M NOT SEEING ANYBODY, MAYOR.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU, THOUGH, FOR MAKING THAT OPTION AVAILABLE.

SO AT THIS TIME THEN LET'S GO AHEAD AND BRING UP ITEM 3A FOR CONSIDERATION.

[A. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7850: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, General Obligation Bonds, Series 2020," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such bonds. The proceeds will be used to fund the final Proposition 2 projects to address public safety as approved by voters at the November 2016 bond election. (Part 2 of 2)]

>> YES, MAYOR.

I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 7850 TO SEND THE FINAL PROPOSITION TO PROJECT TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY AS APPROVED BY THE VOTERS AT THE NOVEMBER 2016 BOND ELECTION, THAT WOULD BE IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,105,000.

>> SECOND.

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7850.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT MOTION?

>> MAYOR, I HAD ONE QUESTION ON JUST CLARIFICATION THAT THIS IS THE FINAL INSTALLMENT FROM [NOISE] PROP ONE AND PROP TWO.

FROM THAT ELECTION IN NOVEMBER 2016, IS THIS THE VERY LAST RELATED DEBT ISSUANCE FOR THOSE VOTER-APPROVED PROJECTS?

>> COUNCIL MEMBER HAYES, THIS IS THE LAST DEBT ISSUANCE FOR PROPOSITION TWO ONLY PROJECTS.

WE DO HAVE OUTSTANDING AUTHORIZED AMOUNTS RELATED TO PROPOSITION ONE,

[02:05:02]

>> OKAY. THANKS, LAURA.

>> JUST AS A COMMENT, THIS AFFECTS A TAXPAYER WITH $100,000 VALUE INSTALLMENT $3.10 A YEAR?

>> CORRECT

>> OKAY, THANK YOU. LAURA'S DOING LOTS OF THINGS.

SHE'S BEEN RUNNING THE SCREEN, SHE'S CHECKING NUMBERS, SHE'S TRYING TO UNMUTE. WE UNDERSTAND.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS COUNCIL? ARE WE READY TO CALL THE QUESTION ON THIS MOTION?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> AT THIS TIME THEN, IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND TO INDICATE A VOTE FOR THE MOTION.

>> I SEE FIVE HANDS, SO I THINK THAT MOTION PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.

MOVING ON NOW TO ITEM 3B IS A CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 7851.

[B. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7851: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2020," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such bonds and providing for the redemption of the obligations being refunded. (Part 2 of 2)]

>> YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 7851, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF SAID BONDS AND PROVIDING FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE OBLIGATIONS BEING REFUNDED THAT'S GOING TO RESULT IN A SAVINGS OF $3,877,480.

>> SECOND.

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7851.

ANY DISCUSSION OR COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> MAYOR, MY COMMENT WOULD BE FROM THE EARLIER CONVERSATION THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US APPLY THE COST-SAVINGS, [NOISE] IF POSSIBLE, TOWARDS NETTING OUT OUR INCREASES IN OTHER AREAS.

>> YES, MA'AM. WE HAVE NOTED THAT AND WE WILL GET SOME FOLLOW UP INFORMATION TO COUNCIL ON THAT.

>> THAT WOULD BE JUST AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM, IF THIS ITEM PASSES, THE ITEMS THAT PASS HOW THEY WOULD ALL NET OUT? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, ELAINE?

>> NO, ACTUALLY MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO REQUEST THAT THAT BE APPLIED TOWARDS THE TOTAL CALCULATIONS ON OUR INS CALCULATION.

IF IT'S NOT APPLIED, IT WOULD JUST ALL RAISE.

EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE SOME LOWERING, IT WOULDN'T NET OUT UNLESS WE REQUEST IT BEING APPLIED.

>> ACTUALLY, IT WILL.

COUNCIL MEMBER HAYES, IT WILL GO AHEAD AND NET OUT.

THE INS RATE IS SET EVERY YEAR BASED ON THE UPCOMING YEAR'S DEBT SERVICE REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE BACKED BY PROPERTY TAXES.

SO IT WILL.

WE CAN PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE NET OF THE ISSUANCES THAT ARE APPROVED, BUT IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY NET OUT OF THE RATE.

>> THAT'S, I GUESS, WHAT STEVEN WAS ADDRESSING EARLIER TOO ON OTHER GROWTH AREAS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE IT CAN END UP NETTING IN ADDITION TO THE REFUND.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, YES.

IF THERE'S GROWTH IN THOSE APPRAISED VALUES, IT CAN NET EVEN MORE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> OKAY, GOOD. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE.

ARE WE READY TO CALL THE QUESTION?

>> YES.

>> ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

I SEE FIVE HANDS, SO THAT MOTION PASSES WITH THE 5-0 VOTE.

[C. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7852: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2020," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such certificates of obligation. The proceeds will be used for costs incurred for acquiring, construction, improving and equipping a pool at Thompson Park. (Part 2 of 2)]

AGAIN, WE'VE HAD PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION, BUT I THINK THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO START WITH THE MOTION.

>> YES, MAYOR.

I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER [NOISE] 7852, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF SAID CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR COSTS INCURRED FOR ACQUIRING, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVING, AND EQUIPPING A POOL AT THOMPSON PARK IN AMOUNT OF $7,953,075.

>> SECOND.

>> OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, POWELL, AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER, SAUER.

[02:10:01]

>> MAYOR, CAN WE HAVE THE CITY MANAGER ADDRESS THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED DURING PUBLIC ADDRESS?

>> YES. THAT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

>> MAYOR, YOU'RE REFERENCING THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS DUE TO CORONAVIRUS? YEAH [NOISE] EXCUSE ME.

WE'LL OBVIOUSLY TAKE GUIDANCE FROM CDC AND STATE.

IT'S A LITTLE EARLY TO KNOW WHAT OUR CONDITION IS GOING TO BE A YEAR FROM NOW.

I KNOW THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING.

WE ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH CHEMICALS FOR CLEANING IN THE POOL, BUT THAT DOESN'T ADDRESS THINGS LIKE SLIDES, HANDLES, STEPS, LAWN CHAIRS, THINGS THAT MIGHT BE AT THE POOL FACILITY.

SO OBVIOUSLY, IT'S PREMATURE FOR US TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ALL PRECAUTIONS WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE.

WE'LL TAKE ALL RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO TIME TO OPEN THE POOLS, ASSUMING WE DON'T HAVE A VACCINE AT THAT TIME.

BUT I THINK THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT EXACT PRECAUTIONS WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AT THAT TIME.

I THINK THAT EVERYONE THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO AGREES THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN POOLS AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> ARE POOLS IN [OVERLAPPING] STATE STILL CLOSED DUE TO THE GOVERNOR'S [INAUDIBLE]?

>> [OVERLAPPING] [NOISE] POOLS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE ABLE TO OPEN ON MAY 18TH, ALONG WITH GYMS AND OTHER THINGS.

NOW THAT'S ALLOWED TO OPEN.

WE'RE NOT OPENING OURS AND WE'RE NOT DOING THAT NECESSARILY FOR CORONAVIRUS REASONS, BUT FOR FINANCIAL REASONS AND ALSO FOR LOGISTICAL REASONS.

THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS, WE HAVE NO INDICATION OF WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO OPEN POOLS, SO WE HAVE NOT HIRED LIFEGUARDS AND TRAINED LIFEGUARDS AND TAKING A LOT OF THE STEPS THAT WILL BE NECESSARY TO OPEN THE OUTDOOR POOLS.

WE ALREADY HAVE THE LIFEGUARDS IN PLACE AND MOST OF THE COSTS ARE FIXED AT WARFOD'S SO THAT'S WHY THE WARFOD POOL WILL BE OPENED.

IS NOT REPRESENTED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN COST TO OPERATE IT, AND THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE PAID FOR THAT MEMBERSHIP ALREADY PAID FOR THAT AMENITY FOR THEM TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.

SO THAT'S THE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHY THE WARFOD POOL IS PROGRAMMED TO BE OPEN AND WHY THE OUTDOOR POOLS ARE NOT FOR THIS SUMMER.

>> DO THAT POOLS OPERATE AT A PROFIT? [NOISE] [INAUDIBLE]

>> [OVERLAPPING] NO, THEY OPERATE IN SIGNIFICANCE SUBSIDY.

I'M SORRY, I WAS TALKING ON YOU.

>> NO THAT'S OKAY. AS I KNOW, YOU GUYS ARE PROCESSING WHAT EXPENSES HAVE TO BE INCURRED.

THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I MIGHT COME BACK TO STEVEN ON HERE IN A MINUTE.

STEVEN, HELP ME REMEMBER TO ASK YOU THIS IN A MINUTE.

WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO INCREASE OUR CHANCES THAT OUR BOND RATING DOES NOT DROP? I WANT TO ASK YOU THAT IN A MINUTE.

BUT ALONG THOSE LINES, I WOULD THINK IS TIED TO HOW WELL WE MANAGE [NOISE] GIVE ME JUST A SECOND.

HOW WELL WE MANAGE OUR EXPENSES [NOISE] AND STAY ON BUDGET AND STAY WITHIN OUR MEANS, OUR REVENUE EVEN THOUGH THAT'S THERE ARE A LOT OF VOLATILITY TO IT WHILE WE PROCESS THIS COVID IMPACT.

SO THAT BEING SAID, IF I UNDERSTAND IS THAT YOU GUYS ARE CONSIDERING ABOUT OPENING OUR POOLS THIS SUMMER AND IT'S THREE LAYERS INTO THAT DECISION.

FIRST LAYER IS BUDGET, WHAT CAN WE CUT IN OUR EXISTING BUDGET IN ORDER TO ANTICIPATE THE INCREASE IN REVENUE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE? LAYER NUMBER 2 IS TRAINING AND SAFETY OR STAFFING UP THOSE POOLS WHICH YOU JUST TALKED ON THERE JUST BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THIS.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO CRUNCH.

THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THOSE PEOPLE HIRED AND TRAINED IN ORDER TO SAFELY OPERATE THE POOLS.

THEN NUMBER 3 BECOMES THE QUESTION OF, WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO SAFELY OPERATE THEM IN A COVID POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT WHICH WE'RE CURRENTLY IN? SO IF I'M HEARING YOU GUYS VERBALIZE SEVERAL HURDLES TO OPERATING OUR OUTDOOR POOLS THIS SUMMER.

HAVE I SUMMARIZED THAT CORRECTLY?

>> YES, MA'AM. AT WARFOD, IT'S A VERY SMALL CONTAINED ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE A VERY AGGRESSIVE SANITATION PLAN IN PLACE WHERE STAFF ARE GOING TO BE FREQUENTLY CLEANING THE EQUIPMENT THAT'S IN THERE, THE HANDLES, THE BARS, ALL THE LADDERS THAT PEOPLE USE TO GET INTO AND OUT OF THE POOL.

WE'LL ALSO BE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE OBSERVING SOCIAL DISTANCING INSIDE THERE.

SO REALLY A LOT OF THE SAME PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS ARE GOING TO BE IN PLACE FOR THE GYM IN SELF AT WARFOD.

[02:15:02]

THE DECISION ON OUTDOOR FACILITIES IS REALLY DRIVEN BY OPENING FACILITIES THAT WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON, DO WE LOSE LESS BY OPENING FACILITIES? SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A LOT OF FIXED COSTS WHEN GOLF IS CLOSED.

SO FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, A LOT OF THE DECISION HINGED UPON, DO WE LOSE LESS BY OPENING? WE LOSE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS BY OPENING, BECAUSE OUR REVENUE ADDS SIGNIFICANTLY TO A SITUATION THAT WE'RE ALREADY LOSING.

WE HAVE A FIXED LOSS THERE, AND IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY CHANGE THAT MUCH BY OPENING.

IT GOES UP JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE REVENUE OFFSETS THAT BY SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN IT COST OPENING BACK UP.

SAME IS TRUE AT THE TENNIS CENTER, THE THING IS NOT TRUE AT THE POOL FACILITIES.

WE ARE AT A VERY NEUTRAL POSITION RIGHT NOW WITH SIGNIFICANT LESS CHEMICALS AND PERSONNEL COSTS, BUT IF WE OPEN THOSE FACILITIES UP, NOT TO TALK ABOUT THE INABILITY OF US TO TRAIN ADDITIONAL STAFF AND HIRE THOSE STAFF AND GET THOSE CERTIFICATIONS DONE BECAUSE CERTIFICATION PROCESSES ISN'T GOING ON RIGHT NOW EITHER.

SO THAT'S A LOGISTICAL CHALLENGE, BUT EVEN FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION TO DO IT GIVEN THE SITUATION THAT WE HAVE WITH REDUCED REVENUES ASSOCIATED WITH CORONAVIRUS.

WE ALSO HAVE MICHAEL KASHUBA ON THE MEETING, IF YOU WANT TO BRING HIM IN TO FLESH OUT OR ADD MORE DETAIL TO WHAT I'VE SAID, BUT THAT'S PRETTY THOROUGH EXPLANATION, I BELIEVE.

>> YOU DEFINITELY WENT ON A RABBIT TRAIL, BUT I'M REALLY GLAD YOU REMINDED ME, ELAINE, TO COME BACK AROUND IN.

I MEANT TO CATCH THAT QUESTION DURING OUR COVID UPDATE, BUT IT TIES TO THIS QUESTION AS WELL ABOUT SWIMMING POOLS.

SO OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCIL, ABOUT THE THOMPSON PARK POOLS SPECIFICALLY? IT'S NOT SCHEDULED TO BE OPEN THIS SUMMER SINCE WE'RE JUST STARTING TO BUILD IT, BUT I THINK IT IS RELEVANT AND MICHAEL MIGHT COMMENT ON THIS.

IF WE DON'T START NOW, WE WON'T HAVE IT READY FOR NEXT SUMMER.

SO THIS IS THE SECOND SUMMER THAT WE'VE NOT HAD A POOL AT THOMPSON PARK.

I RECOGNIZE THAT COVID BRINGS UNCERTAINTY, BUT IF WE DON'T DO THIS NOW, THEN WE WILL BE AGAIN TOO LATE TO HAVE STARTED CONSTRUCTION FOR A POOL TO BE OPENED THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WHICH WE'RE ALL CERTAINLY HOPING THAT ALL THE POOLS WILL BE OPEN THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.

MICHAEL, CAN YOU COMMENT ON THAT FOR US?

>> MAYOR, YOU'RE CORRECT. WE ARE ON A VERY AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE TO TRY TO GET THE POOL FOR MEMORIAL DAY 2021.

WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED 50 PERCENT CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS.

BY THE END OF THE MONTH, WE ANTICIPATE 75 PERCENT CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS.

MIDDLE OF JULY, WE EXPECT THE 100 PERCENT CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS.

THEN WE EXPECT ALL THE BIDS TO BE BACK IN AUGUST WITH THE NOTICE TO PROCEED IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT, OBVIOUSLY, FOR MEMORIAL DAY 2021.

SO WE'RE ON A VERY AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE TO TRY TO GET THE POOL OPENED IN TIMELINE.

>> MICHAEL, I HAVE SEEN SOME FOLKS, AND I'VE HAD SOME E-MAILS IN THE LAST 30 OR 45 DAYS, ASKING IF WE ARE USING EMERGENCY FUNDS TO BUILD A SWIMMING POOL, TOWNS, AND PARK.

SOME PEOPLE ARE EVEN UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE'RE BUILDING THEM AN ENTIRE WATER PARK COMPLEX USING COVID EMERGENCY FUNDS.

THAT COULDN'T BE ANY FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

BUT WILL YOU JUST TALK FOR A MINUTE ABOUT HOW LONG THIS PROJECT'S BEEN ON THE TIMELINE? YOU'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT WE'RE NOW ON A CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE CRUNCH BUT WHY WE NEED TO MOVE IT FORWARD RIGHT NOW? BUT CONFIRMED FOR US, WE'RE NOT USING EMERGENCY FUNDS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM TO BUILD THIS POOL.

ALSO, CONFIRMED WHAT TIMELINE THIS HAS BEEN ON THE DRAWING BOARD.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'D JUST COME UP WITH, CERTAINLY SINCE THE VIRUS HIT.

>> THAT IS CORRECT. SO THE POOL ACTUALLY CLOSED SEPTEMBER OF 2018.

SINCE THAT DATE, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH COUNCIL TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT SOLUTIONS ON HOW TO REPLACE THAT FACILITY.

SO WE'VE BEEN IN THE PROCESS NOW FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF TRYING TO GET THIS PROJECT COMPLETE.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCIL, BEFORE LEAVING OUT? BEFORE WE VOTE HERE?

>> CLAIRE, I JUST FORGET, I HAVE SOME COMMENTS TO MAKE.

[02:20:01]

THE MAJORITY OF THE FEEDBACK THAT I'VE RECEIVED HAS BEEN WERE TOTALLY ON BOARD WITH THOMPSON PARK POOL.

WE'D GIVE PRIORITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT THE TIMING RIGHT NOW WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS WE DON'T WANT THE PROPERTY TAXES GOING UP IN THE MIDST OF ALL THESE UNCERTAINTY.

THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT I'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH JUST FROM THE BEGINNING, TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT WERE THE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE'RE BEGINNING TO THINK THROUGH, AND TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT IDEAS.

GETTING TO KNOW THOSE PEOPLE TOGETHER AT THE TABLE, I WAS A MAJOR PUSH BEHIND GOING AHEAD, AND GETTING THE SURVEY STARTED.

ORIGINALLY, OUR TIMELINE WAS ACTUALLY TO BEGIN NOW.

SOME OF THE FEEDBACK, IT WAS GOING TO BE BEHIND GETTING OUR ASSET MANAGEMENT, TAKING CARE OVER, THEN ROLLING OUT ALONG WITH OUR PARKS PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, GETTING FEEDBACK, AND THOMPSON PARK WILL BE A PART OF THAT.

I WAS INVOLVED IN GETTING THAT MOVE FORWARD, AND IN GETTING TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THE DESIGN.

THE DESIGNER THRILLED WITH OUR LOCATION, THE CHANGE IN THE SITE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD COME BACK THROUGH ALL THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT I CAN'T IN GOOD FAITH, AND IT GRIEVES ME GREATLY TO NOT BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE TIMING OF IT RIGHT NOW.

SO JUST DUMB, I KNOW WHAT WE'VE BEEN INVESTED IN IT SO FAR, ARE NOT LOST DOLLARS.

THEY'RE NOT [INAUDIBLE] DOLLARS THERE.

IT'S A GREAT PLAN.

IT WOULD STILL OPEN THE DESIGNS WOULD BE USED MOVING FORWARD.

WE'VE HAD TO PUT A LOT OF PROJECTS ON HOLD RIGHT NOW.

WE HAD TO PUT A LOT OF THINGS, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THROUGH OUR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION FUND.

A LOT OF NEEDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY THAT WERE JUST WE DON'T HAVE THE REVENUE STREAM RIGHT NOW, AND SO WE'RE PUTTING THOSE ON HOLD.

SO FOR THOSE REASONS, WITH A HEAVY HEART, I WILL NOT BE SUPPORTING THE ISSUES OF COS.

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS? I'LL JUST SHARE MY THOUGHTS ABOUT IT.

I THINK THIS IS THE SECOND SUMMER THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A POOL THERE.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT BEHIND IT IS VERY, VERY STRONG.

I AM TORN BECAUSE THE DELAY NOW WOULD COST US ANOTHER SUMMER WITHOUT A POOL IN THAT LOCATION.

I LOOK AT THE DOLLARS INVOLVED, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO MOVE FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH WE ALL WISHED THAT WASN'T HAPPENING DURING THE VIRUS.

TO ME, I AM VERY SWAYED BY A DELAY RIGHT NOW, COSTS US A WHOLE ANOTHER SUMMER WITHOUT THIS PROJECT.

SO I THINK THAT'S A TIPPING POINT FOR ME IN THE PROCESS JUST LOOKING AT THE DOLLARS INVOLVED, AND THAT DELAYING MEANING ANOTHER SUMMER WITHOUT THAT SWIMMING POOL.

>> [NOISE] I STILL HAVE TO SEE THE SEVERAL COMMENTS FROM DIFFERENT BITS OF CITIZENS, AND NOT ONLY IN NORTH AMARILLO, BUT IN SOUTH WEST AMARILLO THAT ARE IN SUPPORT OF US MOVING FORWARD WITH THE THOMPSON PARK POOL.

AGAIN, IT WILL BE TWO SUMMERS WITHOUT A POOL.

SO THE RESIDENT IN NORTH AMARILLO, THEY FEEL THE DISADVANTAGE ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS, BUT I JUST KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROJECT THAT WE AS A COUNCIL NEED TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON.

I KNOW THAT IT'S CHALLENGING TIMES RIGHT NOW IN REGARDS TO COVID-19, THAT COME AUGUST, I DON'T KNOW WHAT OUR NEXT CRISIS IS GOING TO BE, BUT I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> [NOISE] THAT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

I COUNTED UP IN THE AGENDA, THERE WERE 11 MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THIS.

AS I [INAUDIBLE] IT MOVE FORWARD ME, THIS IS PROBABLY LAST ISSUE THAT AREA PLAN HAS BEEN MISSING.

I THINK AT ONE TIME,

[02:25:05]

SO I THINK WE NEED TO GO FORWARD, AND GET THIS POOL BUILT.

>> I WOULD AGREE ALSO.

I THINK THE BEST IS WE THOUGHTFULLY PLANNED AS WELL.

EVEN IN THE FACE OF THE WAY THAT IT STARTED OUT, IT WAS A PRETTY ANNOYING, BUT I FEEL THE COMMUNITY IS WILLING TO LET US WORK THROUGH THAT, AND WE DID THE RIGHT THING.

THAT WE CAME UP WITH THE RIGHT PLAN, THAT WE PUT THE RIGHT POOL IN PLACE OR WHAT WOULD BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY THE MOST.

I THINK NOW IS STILL THE TIME.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO FOLLOWING THE MONEY PLAN, AND AT ANY BETTER PRICE THAN WE CAN GET IT RIGHT NOW.

I REALLY THINK IT'S THE TIME TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

I THINK MAY OF 2021 IS PROBABLY THE NEXT ONE TIME.

[INAUDIBLE] WE'RE GOING TO NEED THIS A MINUTE [INAUDIBLE] , AND I THINK IT COULDN'T COME AT A BETTER TIME, ACTUALLY.

SO I AGREE WITH [INAUDIBLE] IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO BUILT THE POOL.

>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR FINAL THOUGHTS? ELAINE, DO YOU HAVING ANYTHING ELSE? AT THIS TIME, THEN I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL THE QUESTION.

ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION ON ORDINANCE NUMBER 7852, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

I SEE FOUR HANDS. THOSE WHO OPPOSE? ONE HAND. SO THAT MOTION PASSES WITH A FOUR, ONE VOTE.

MOVING ONTO ITEM 3D,

[D. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7853: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, Tax Notes, Series 2020," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such tax notes. The proceeds will be used to reimburse the City for the purchase of property at 503-509 South Johnson Street. (Part 2 of 2)]

AGAIN, WE'VE HAD DISCUSSION ON THIS ALREADY.

STEVEN, I'M NOT GOING TO FORGET, I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU FOR THAT QUESTION AT THE VERY END AFTER ITEM B.

>> OKAY.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY MOTION ON ITEM 3D?

>> YES. MAY I MOVE TO THAT ORDINANCE NUMBER 7853, AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF SUCH CASH NOTE TO REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 503 AND 509, SOUTH JOHNSON STREET.

THAT WOULD BE IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,680,000.

>> SECOND.

>> TO BE MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7853.

[NOISE] CONVERSATION, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, COUNCIL?

>> YES, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR STEVEN AGAIN.

SO STEVEN, I KNEW AT THAT TIME YOU ARE BUILDING THIS PACKAGE, THIS WAS THE ONLY OPTION.

DO YOU THINK THAT WE COULD GET 15-YEAR PAPER NOW? MAYBE NOT AT THE [INAUDIBLE] BUT SOMETHING LESS THAN THE 500 OR 100,000?

>> YEAH. I MEAN, IF WE STARTED OVER AND REBID THIS AND RESTRUCTURE IT, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A CO RATHER THAN A TAX NOTE.

BECAUSE TAX NOTES UNDER STATUTE CAN ONLY GO SEVEN YEARS AND SO WE COULD DO THAT AS A CO. YES.

>> NOW, WHEN YOU SAY YARD OVER, WHAT IT MEANS? JUST THIS ONE THING? OR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE PACKAGE, ALL THE FIVE BONDS YOU'VE DONE TOGETHER?

>> EACH EACH ONE IS DONE SEPARATELY.

SO YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED AS A COUNCIL, I BELIEVE THREE OF THEM, AND THOSE ARE DONE.

SO THIS HAS ITS OWN AGENDA ITEM.

>> DOES IT IMPACT THE RAISE OR ANY OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AND STUFF THAT HAPPENED IN GETTING THOSE RATES?

>> WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IS WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BID IT.

BECAUSE BIDDERS WOULD BE CONCERNED THAT YOU MIGHT NOT APPROVE IT AFTER THEY BID IT.

SO WE WOULD DO A NEGOTIATED SALE, BUT WE COULD DO THAT.

>> STEVE, DID I HEAR YOU CORRECTLY SAY THAT, BASICALLY, AT THIS INTEREST RATE, IT'S 1.09 PERCENT, CORRECT?

>> THE 1.09 PERCENT, YES.

>> THAT THE INTEREST RATE WAS AT 1.09 PERCENT, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> SO THAT IS BELOW THE INFLATION RATE,

[02:30:01]

>> I DO BELIEVE IT'S BELOW THE INFLATION RATE, YES.

>> OKAY.

>> SO STEVEN, BASED ON TODAY'S RATES, WHAT DOES THIS 15-YEAR PAPER LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW? IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AS GOOD AS THE 1.1.

>> NO. IT WOULD PROBABLY LOOK MORE LIKE THE 1.37 OF THE GEO REFUNDING BONDS.

SORRY, DID YOU HEAR THAT?

>> YES. SO THE 1.37 ON THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE DOING, [INAUDIBLE] 15 YEARS, CAN YOU GIVE ME A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF WHAT THAT WOULD BE PER 100,000? INSTEAD OF THE $5.

I KNOW I'M ASKING INSTANT MATH.

>> YEAH, HANG ON.

GIVE ME A SECOND HERE.

>> [INAUDIBLE] TURN HIS NAPKIN OVER.

>> [LAUGHTER]

>> I'M GOING TO GO WITH ABOUT $1.50-ISH, ON QUICK MATH WITHOUT DOING IT REALLY ACCURATELY AND BUILDING A DATE SCHEDULE AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS..

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING IT WOULD DROP FROM $5 A YEAR TO 3.50 A YEAR?

>> YEAH.

WE DID THE 8 MILLION AT 3.20, SO IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY HALF OF THE 8 MILLION, GIVE OR TAKE.

>> AND TO DO THAT, WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK UP AND DO IT AS THE [INAUDIBLE] NOT TAX NOTE, AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE NOTIFICATIONS. IS THAT RIGHT?

>> YES.

SO WE WOULD TAKE 60-90 DAYS TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? LAURA, WERE YOU SIGNING ON TO SAY SOMETHING?

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK STEVEN A QUESTION.

WE COULD POTENTIALLY HAVE THE OPTION IF THIS WAS APPROVED AS YOUR TAX NOTE.

COUNCIL DECIDED TO RESTRUCTURE THIS AND MAKE IT A LONGER MATURITY AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE NUMBERS WOULD NECESSARILY ADD UP PERFECTLY, BUT IF THEY DECIDED THEY WANT TO RESTRUCTURE AND PUT THE MATURITY OUT FURTHER, WOULD THAT EVEN BE A POSSIBILITY, STEVEN?

>> YEAH. WOULD BE ONCE WE HIT THE CALL DAY, BUT THAT'S A NUMBER OF YEARS OFF.

>> OKAY.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ELAINE, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE?

>> JUST IN A NUMBER OF YEARS, IS TOTAL SEVEN.

SO ARE YOU SAYING MAYBE IN YEAR TWO OR THREE?

>> NO. I THINK IT HAS A FIVE-YEAR CALL OPTION.

>> SO WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT UNTIL YEAR 5.

WE WOULD HAVE ALREADY PAID FIVE OUT OF SEVEN YEARS AT THE HIGHER RATE.

>> YES.

>> I LOVE IT WHEN YOU ALL MUTE YOUR MICROPHONES BECAUSE THAT TELLS ME YOU ARE PROBABLY DONE ASKING QUESTIONS.

SO IS THAT WHAT THAT MEANS, ELAINE? [LAUGHTER] THERE'S SOME BENEFITS TO THIS NEW TOOL.

>> I'M ALSO GLAD WHEN SHE IS THROUGH ASKING QUESTIONS.

>> [LAUGHTER]

>> I NEED TO MUTE, MAN.

>> NO. I JUST WAS NOTING THAT SHE TURNED HERS OFF.

I GUESS THAT MEANS WE'RE DONE WITH QUESTIONS.

>> WELL, I HAVE A MORE [INAUDIBLE] BACKGROUND NOISE GOING ON AROUND ME, [LAUGHTER] SO I MUTED AS QUICKLY AS I CAN.

>> YEAH. I THINK WE ALL HAVE HAD THE LAWN MOWERS, THE ROOFERS.

MY DOG WAS ON IT THE OTHER DAY.

I WAS LIKE, CUT IT WITH THE BARKING?

[02:35:03]

EVERYONE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINATES NUMBER 7853, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

I SEE FOUR HANDS.

THOSE OPPOSED? SO THAT ITEM PASSES WITH A FOUR-ONE VOTE.

JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, STEVEN, DOES IT DO ANYTHING IF WE BACK OUT AND CHANGE OUR MIND? DO THE BOND RATING PEOPLE GET NERVOUS ABOUT US MAKING A SHIFT?

>> THE BOND RATING PEOPLE, THEY DON'T CARE.

IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT PUT THESE BIDS TOGETHER THAT CARE BECAUSE THEY HAVE CUSTOMERS TO THINK THEY BOUGHT THE BONDS.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'D SAID, IF WE HAD TO GO BACK AND DO IT, WE WOULD PRE-SELECT AND DO A NEGOTIATED SALE, AND THAT WAY WE COULD ASSURE THE UNDERWRITERS THAT IT WAS SIGNED-OFF ON BY THE COUNCIL TO THE DEGREE POSSIBLE.

WE NEVER CAN GUARANTEE IT.

SO SOMETIMES COUNCILS DON'T APPROVE THINGS.

SO THAT'S PART OF THEIR BUSINESS.

>> LAST ONE. YOU ALL HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT WITH US AND WE APPRECIATE THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.

IS CONSIDERATION OF ORDINATES NUMBER 7854?

[E. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7854: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Finance Director) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance for discussion and consideration of all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of "City of Amarillo, Texas, Waterworks and Sewer System Revenue Refunding Bonds, New Series 2020A," including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such bonds and providing for the redemption of the obligations being refunded. (Part 2 of 2)]

>> YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE ORDINATES NUMBER 7854, AUTHORIZING THE INFLUENCE OF SUCH BONDS AND PROVIDING FOR THE REDEMPTION OF THE OBLIGATION BEING REFUNDED FOR SAVINGS OF $1,351,098.

>> SECOND.

>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER SMITH TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7854.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? [NOISE] HEARING NONE, I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL FOR A VOTE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

I SEE FIVE HANDS, SO THAT ITEM PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.

STEVEN, JUST COMING BACK AROUND TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT IN YOUR OPINION DO WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO HOLD OUR BOND RATING? THEY PREDICT THAT WE HAVE A ONE IN THREE CHANCE OF HAVING A LOWER RATING IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND I'M SURE LAURA KNOWS THIS AND SHE'LL BE ON IT FOR US, BUT FROM A COUNCIL PERSPECTIVE, I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT DO WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON DOING IN ORDER TO INCREASE OUR CHANCES OF HOLDING THAT BOND RATING?

>> YEAH. LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN'T CONTROL, AND THAT'S THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND OTHER ITEMS ON YOUR REVENUE STREAMS, MEANING, MAINLY YOUR TAX REVENUES: YOUR SALES TAX REVENUES AND YOUR HOTEL TAX REVENUES, AND YOUR WATER AND SEWER, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT YOU JUST DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER.

SO IF EVERYTHING SQUARES PRETTY QUICKLY IN OUR ECONOMY AND WE GO BACK, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO BE OKAY.

NOW, IF IT DOESN'T, WHAT YOU NEED TO DO AS A CITY IS MAKE SURE YOU BALANCE YOUR BUDGETS BASED ON A NEW REVENUE REALITY, AND THEN TRY TO REBUILD YOUR CASH BALANCES IN CASE THERE'S ANOTHER REVENUE DEFICIENCY SO THAT YOU CAN WEATHER THAT STORM.

THE KEY IS CASH AND OF COURSE, BALANCED BUDGETS BASED ON WHAT YOU KNOW, AS SOON AS YOU KNOW IT.

HAVING ALL THOSE EXCESS CASH IS WHAT SAVED YOU THIS TIME, SO YOU WOULD BE WANTING TO REBUILD YOUR CASH BALANCES TO THE DEGREE POSSIBLE.

>> SO IS THAT ANOTHER REASON FOR US TO TRY TO WEATHER THE STORM WITHOUT TOUCHING OUR RESERVES? TRY TO DO IT THROUGH THINGS LIKE NOT OPENING OUR SWIMMING POOLS IN ORDER TO SAVE THAT MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND RATHER THAN TOUCH OUR RESERVES OF CASH?

>> WHEN WE TALKED TO THE RATING AGENCIES, WE TALKED ABOUT SOME ACTIONS THAT CITY MANAGER HAD ALREADY TAKEN WITH REGARD TO THE BUDGET, AND BALANCING THE BUDGET, AND CHANGING THE EXPENSE SIDE OF THE EQUATION.

SO FOR NOW, WE HAVE DONE WHAT IS NECESSARY AND KNOWING EVERYTHING,

[02:40:02]

SO WE TOLD THEM ALL OF THAT AND THEY STILL MAINTAINED THE RATINGS.

SO I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE WILL LEAD TO A BALANCED BUDGET FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR AND ALL OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, TRY TO START MOVING BACK WITHIN A 2-3 YEAR PERIOD OF REBUILDING THOSE FUND BALANCES WITHOUT LETTING THEM GO DOWN MORE THAN WHERE THEY ALREADY ARE.

[NOISE]

>> MAYOR AND MR. CITY MANAGER, ARE WE ARE PLANNING ON HAVING SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS PRIOR TO OUR NORMAL WORKSHOP AND ANNUAL BUDGETING [INAUDIBLE]?

>> SURE, WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> HEARING STEVEN TALK ABOUT IT'S FINISHING THIS YEAR AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE, I THINK IT WOULD MOVE US TO THE CONVERSATIONS BEFORE WE GET TO AUGUST, AND I DO APPRECIATE JUST ALL THE UPDATES ON THE SALES TAX CHANGES, AND HOT TAX COLLECTION CHANGES, AND ALTERATIONS YOU'VE BEEN MAKING IN RESPONSE TO THAT, BUT JUST SEEING WHERE WE ARE IN THE NEXT [INAUDIBLE] DAYS COULD BE A BIG DEAL.

>> YEAH. THE MORE FORECASTING WE CAN DO, THE MORE ACCURATE WE CAN MAKE OUR FORECASTING AS WE START RECEIVING REVISED REVENUE ON HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, ON SALES TAX, ON JUST ALL OF OUR REVENUES, ON HOW ALL OF OUR REVENUES ARE PERFORMING WILL GIVE US BETTER ACCURACY AS WE GO INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET PROCESS.

THE LESS ACCURACY WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY THE MORE CONSERVATIVE WE'RE GOING TO BE AND THE MORE SERVICES THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DIAL BACK UNTIL WE HAVE BETTER VISIBILITY ON NEXT YEAR.

IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT WE WON'T HAVE REALLY PERFECT VISIBILITY ON THE NEXT YEAR AS WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE HAVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AND THAT COULD INJECT SOME UNCERTAINTY, WHICH WILL ALSO INCREASE HOW CONSERVATIVE OUR FORECASTING IS, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME LEVEL OF ACCURACY AND CONFIDENCE IN THE INFORMATION WE HAVE AS WE GO INTO THE BUDGET NEXT YEAR.

[NOISE]

>> ANYTHING ELSE THERE? STEVEN, WE APPRECIATE YOU IN JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

IT'S A VERY VALUABLE RELATIONSHIP THAT OUR CITY HAS WITH YOUR FIRM.

IT'S THAT MUCH MORE VALUABLE NOW THAT MICHELLE IS TRANSITIONING TO A NEW THING.

I JUST TAKE A LOT OF COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT WE WORK WELL WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION AND THAT WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF DOING THAT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE THAT, AND I HOPE TO BE THERE IN PERSON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, STEVEN.

>> COUNCIL, CAN TAKE A BATHROOM BREAK? IS THAT OKAY? CAN WE ADJOURN FOR JUST A SECOND? WE'VE GOT SEVERAL ITEMS. [INAUDIBLE] I THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT MAKE IT TWO EXECUTIVE SESSIONS, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO.

SO LET'S TAKE A SECOND, MAYBE TAKE FIVE MINUTES AND COME RIGHT BACK.

>> I AM HERE.

>> THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT BREAK.

LET'S MOVE ON THEN TO ITEM 3F,

[F. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7855: (Contact: Cris Valverde, Assistant Director of Planning and Development Services) To participate in this public hearing please call 1-408-638-0968. When prompted for the meeting number dial: 330267295# and specify as to what ordinance you are referring to. This item is the first reading and public hearing to consider an ordinance rezoning Lot 18, Block 2, Town Square Unit No. 6, in Section 63, Block 9, B.S.&F. Survey, Randall County, Texas, plus one-half of all bounding streets, alleys, and public ways to change from Planned Development 373A and Agricultural District to Planned Development 373D for Mixed Use Development. (Vicinity: Town Square Boulevard and Soncy Road)]

>> ALL RIGHT. THIS ITEM IS A REZONING ITEM.

IT'S A GENERAL RETAIL STRIP IN TOWN SQUARE.

WE HAVE CRIS VALVERDE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO GIVE US THE DETAILS. CRIS.

>> THANK YOU, JARED. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

ORDINANCE 7855 IS TO CONSIDER THE REZONING OF LOT 18, BLOCK 2, TOWN SQUARE EDITION [INAUDIBLE].

IT'S LOCATED IN SECTION 63, BLOCK 9, BS&F SURVEY, RANDALL COUNTY, TEXAS.

THE VICINITY IS TOWN SQUARE BOULEVARD AND MCKENNA SQUARE.

THE REQUESTED CHANGE IS FROM PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 373A AND AGRICULTURAL DISTRICT TO PLANNED DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT 373B FOR MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT.

MUCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT ADJACENT TO THE APPLICANT'S SITE IS MIXED USE AND HAS OCCURRED TO BE A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT ZONING, SIMILAR TO WHAT IS BEING REQUESTED TODAY.

IF APPROVED, THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE EXISTING TOWN SQUARE DEVELOPMENT EASTWARD.

AGAIN, THE STANDARDS PROPOSED BY THE DEVELOPMENT ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE FOUND WITHIN THE EXISTING TOWN SQUARE DEVELOPMENT.

MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS ALLOW FOR A BLEND OF RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL,

[02:45:02]

CONSIDERING ALL THIS AND THAT THE TRACT IS BASICALLY SITUATED BETWEEN A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE IN THE EXISTING TOWN SQUARE DEVELOPMENT, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION BELIEVES THAT THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST IS APPROPRIATE AND CONSTITUTES BASICALLY A LOGICAL CONTINUATION OF THAT EXISTING DEVELOPMENT.

NOTICES WERE SENT OUT TO EVERYBODY WITHIN 200 FEET.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMENTS [NOISE] AT THIS TIME, AND AS SUCH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDS APPROVAL AS PRESENTED.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO [INAUDIBLE] YOU MAY HAVE.

[NOISE]

>> COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR CRIS? [NOISE] THANK YOU, CRIS.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM?

>> YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 7855 IN THE VICINITY OF TOWN SQUARE BOULEVARD AND [INAUDIBLE] ROAD.

[NOISE]

>> DID I HEAR A SECOND?

>> SECOND.

>> SECOND.

>> MAYOR, YOU'LL NEED TO CALL A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ONE.

>> YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THAT REMINDER.

I APPRECIATE THAT, ANDREW.

[LAUGHTER]

>> I THOUGHT MS. POWELL WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT FOR ME.

[LAUGHTER]

>> DR. [INAUDIBLE] THIS WEEK.

[LAUGHTER] AT THIS TIME, I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.

IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU CAN SEE ON THE AGENDA, THE INFORMATION IS THERE, BUT THE PHONE NUMBER IS 1-408-638-0968.

THEN THERE'S A CODE FOR YOU TO ENTER WHEN YOU DO DIAL IN AND THAT'S 330267295£.

WE'LL GIVE IT JUST A MINUTE FOR ANYBODY WHO'S TRYING TO GET OVER THERE AND DIAL ON THAT.

NO, I APOLOGIZE. I THINK THE BEST PRACTICE IS TO REMIND PEOPLE HOW TO DIAL IN WHEN WE FIRST START THE ITEM.

SO I'LL GET BETTER ON THAT.

HAVE YOU SEEN ANYBODY NEW, STEFANIE?

>> NO, MA'AM. WE DO NOT HAVE ANYBODY AT THIS TIME.

>> AT THIS TIME THEN, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS MATTER.

WE'LL GO BACK TO TAKING THE MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL.

THEN DID WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER HAYES?

>> YES.

>> EVERYONE IN AGREEMENT WITH THOSE TWO? COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, ARE YOU STILL IN AGREEMENT WITH YOUR MOTION?

>> YES, I AM.

>> OKAY. ELAINE, YOU'RE STILL GOOD? OKAY. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ITEM, COUNCIL, OR THE MOTION? OKAY. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. I SEE FIVE.

SO THAT MOST PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.

MOVING ON TO ITEM 3G, MR. CITY MANAGER.

[G. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7836: (Contact: Bryan McWilliams, City Attorney) This item is the second and final reading of a new franchise ordinance for Atmos Energy Company to continue using public rights-of-ways to provide retail gas service in the city.]

>> YES, MA'AM. SO THIS IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE FRANCHISE ORDINANCE.

THIS IS OUR SECOND READING OF OUR FRANCHISE ORDINANCE.

YOU'LL RECALL FROM JANUARY 28 THAT WE APPROVED ON FIRST READING, THIS ORDINANCE.

IT HAS A VERY UNIQUE PROCEDURE FOR APPROVAL THAT REQUIRES THE ATMOS, AND SEPARATELY, THE CITY TO DO DIFFERENT PUBLICATIONS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME.

SO THAT'S WHY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS APPROVED ON FIRST READING IN JANUARY, WE'RE JUST NOW CONSIDERING IT FOR SECOND READING.

MAYOR, I GOT TO ASK; CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?

>> YES.

>> YES.

>> OKAY. I THINK MY VIDEO MAY HAVE FROZEN.

BUT UTILITY COMPANIES HAVE THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO CONTAIN RIGHT AWAY FOR THE UTILITY LINES.

HOWEVER, THAT PROCESS IS TIME CONSUMING.

IT'S EXPENSIVE, AND THAT WOULD DRIVE UP UTILITY RATES A LOT, AND IT WOULD ALSO INCONVENIENCE CITIZENS WHO ARE IN TEXAS.

CITIES GENERALLY FIND IT BEING IN EVERYONE'S INTEREST TO ALLOW THE UTILITIES TO PLACE THEIR LINES IN THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY IN RETURN FOR A RENTAL PAYMENT AND THAT'S CALLED A FRANCHISE FEE.

HOWEVER, IF THE TEXAS COUNTY CONSTITUTION PROHIBITS THE CITY FROM GIVING AWAY THE PROPERTY TO A PRIVATE COMPANY, SO THE FRANCHISE FEE IS ESSENTIAL, BOTH BY LAW AND AT NECESSITY.

UTILITY FRANCHISE FEES ARE TYPICALLY FIVE PERCENT OF THE GROSS REVENUE RECEIVED BY THE UTILITY FOR PROVIDING SERVICES IN THE CITY.

AGAIN, IN THIS CASE, IT IS THAT WAY.

IT ALSO STIPULATES HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER IN THAT SHARED SPACE.

[02:50:03]

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS LIKE THAT THAT REALLY SPELL OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER. IT'S A 10-YEAR AGREEMENT.

IT'S A CUSTOMARY FIVE PERCENT OF GROSS REVENUE FOR THE FRANCHISE FEE.

THEN A LOT OF THE OTHER COMMON TOPICS THAT I WAS TOUCHING BASE ON EARLIER.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE NECESSARY NOTIFICATION PERIODS TO MAKE THIS FRANCHISE FEE APPROPRIATE FOR SECOND READING.

I CAN DEFINITELY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL HAS.

THIS WAS A VERY EXTENSIVE PRESENTATION IN JANUARY AND I'VE GONE OVER IT AT A SOMEWHAT HIGHER ALTITUDE.

BUT I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.

WE ALSO HAVE BRIAN ON THE CALL, BRIAN MCWILLIAMS, WHO CAN ANSWER THE QUESTIONS IN GREATER DETAIL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FROM A LEGAL ASPECT OR A LEGAL STANDPOINT.

I SHOULD ALSO SAY THAT THE FRANCHISE FEE DOES NOT ADDRESS THE GAS RATES.

THAT'S HANDLED THROUGH RATE CASES.

THIS JUST STIPULATES HOW THE RIGHT OF WAY IS MANAGED AND USED BY THE TWO PARTIES.

>> NO QUESTIONS? NOTHING FOR BRIAN? [NOISE] OKAY. THANK YOU.

AT THIS TIME, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON ITEM 3G.

>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 7836, WHICH IS A NEW FRANCHISE ORDINANCE FOR ATMOS ENERGY COMPANY TO CONTINUE USING PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY TO PROVIDE RETAIL GAS SERVICE IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO.

>> SECOND.

>> SO MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ITEM 3G.

ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION, COUNCIL? ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

>> AYE.

>> OKAY. THAT PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.

MOVING TO ITEM 3H, WHICH IS TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD CONFIRM AND CONTINUE

[H. CONSIDERATION RESOLUTION - DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING AND CONTINUING THE MAYOR'S FOURTH AMENDED DECLARATION OF DISASTER: (Contact: Bryan McWilliams, City Attorney) This resolution allows for the renewal of the Mayor's Fourth Amended Declaration of Disaster for the City of Amarillo, Texas and continues the local state of disaster pursuant to Section 418.108(b) of the Texas Government Code.]

>> THIS ITEM WOULD CONTINUE AND EXTEND THE ORDER THAT YOU MADE, MAYOR, LAST WEEK, WHICH MATCHES EXACTLY WITH THE COMPONENTS OF THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER GA 21, WHICH IS THE GUIDING ORDER FOR MUNICIPAL OPENINGS AND HOW WE'RE TO OPERATE RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE STATE.

SO WHAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE LAST FEW ORDERS IS MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WE'VE DONE HAS BEEN EXACTLY MATCHING WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS HAVE SAID.

SO THIS WILL EXACTLY MATCH GA 21, WITH REGARD TO WHAT BUSINESSES CAN BE OPEN, HOW MUCH THEY CAN BE OPEN, WHAT STEPS PEOPLE NEED TO GET TAKE TO SAFEGUARD THEMSELVES.

IT SPEAKS TO SENIORS, IT SPEAKS TO WHAT BUSINESSES WILL NOT BE OPEN, BUT IT DOES EXACTLY MATCH GA 21.

IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, I CAN ANSWER THEM OR WE CAN ALSO HAVE BRIAN ADDRESS THOSE QUESTIONS.

>> JARED, IF YOU DON'T MIND TO JUST GIVE OUT THE NEXT TIMELINES.

>> YES, MA'AM. SO THE GA 21 GOES UNTIL MAY 20TH.

IT WILL OPEN NEXT MONDAY, MAY 18TH.

IT WILL OPEN A NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT OPENED ON MAY 1ST AND ON MAY 8TH.

SO JUST IN RECAP, A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES ARE ALLOWED TO OPEN UP TO 25 PERCENT OF THEIR ALLOWED CAPACITY.

ON MAY 1ST, THAT INCLUDED IN-STORE RETAIL SERVICES, DINE-IN RESTAURANTS SERVICES, MOVIE THEATERS, SHOPPING MALLS, MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES, AS WELL AS GOLF COURSES, AND WEDDING VENUES, AND WEDDING RECEPTIONS.

ON MAY 8TH, THIS PAST FRIDAY, THAT WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE COSMETOLOGY SALONS, HAIR SALONS, BARBER SHOPS, NAIL SALONS, TANNING SALONS, AND PRIVATE SWIMMING POOLS.

ON MAY 18TH, IT WILL EXPAND FURTHER TO INCLUDE OFFICE BUILDINGS AT 25 PERCENT OF THEIR CAPACITY, MANUFACTURING SERVICES, AGAIN, AT 25 PERCENT, AND GYMS AND EXERCISE FACILITIES, AGAIN, AT UP TO 25 PERCENT OF THEIR LISTED OCCUPANCY.

THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON GYMS, LIKE THEIR LOCKER ROOMS AND SHOWER FACILITIES HAVE TO REMAIN CLOSED.

BUT IN LARGE PART, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO OPEN AGAIN AT THAT TIME.

THAT IS IT AS FAR AS WHAT GA 21 ENABLES.

HOWEVER, WE DO EXPECT SOME TIME THIS WEEK TO HAVE FURTHER GUIDANCE ON WHAT THE NEXT ORDER IS GOING TO BE, WHETHER IT WILL EXPAND THE OCCUPANCY LIMITS OR BRING ON ADDITIONAL BUSINESSES LIKE CHILDCARE AND OTHER THINGS.

THAT IS YET TO BE SEEN, BUT WE'RE EXPECTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> SO IS THE 50 PERCENT NOT PART OF THIS GA 21?

[02:55:05]

>> NO, MA'AM.

WE'RE EXPECTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE FOLLOWING ORDER, BUT I DO NOT KNOW THAT FOR SURE.

>> OKAY. SO WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW ONLY GOES THROUGH THE DIFFERENT GUIDELINES AND THE MAXIMUM SO FAR IS THE 25 PERCENT?

>> YES, MA'AM. [NOISE] IT DOES ALSO STILL INCLUDE THE PROHIBITIONS FOR BARS, MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENTS, TATTOO STUDIOS, PIERCING STUDIOS, SEXUAL-ORIENTED BUSINESSES, INTERACTIVE AMUSEMENT VENUES, BOWLING ALLEYS, VIDEO ARCADES, MUSIC PARKS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT ALSO CONTINUES TO SAY PEOPLE SHALL NOT VISIT NURSING HOMES.

SO WE DO CONTINUE TO GET PEOPLE SAYING, "HEY, YOU NEED TO REOPEN A BAR OR SOME OTHER BUSINESS," BUT WE DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY.

I KNOW THE COUNCIL IS NOT ASKING ME THIS QUESTION, I'M JUST SAYING, WHEN PEOPLE CALL US AND ASK IS THAT, THE ONLY THING WE CAN SAY IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE THAT AUTHORITY HAS BEEN VERY CLEARLY TAKEN BY THE GOVERNOR.

IT IS HIS RIGHT AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S A BAD THING.

I'M JUST SAYING THE ONLY PERSON THAT CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS PER THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR IS THE GOVERNOR.

SO WE HAVE BEEN REFERRING THOSE CALLS TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.

[NOISE]

>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, COUNCIL? DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM?

>> YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION CONFIRMING AND CONTINUING THE MAYOR'S FOURTH AMENDED DECLARATION OF DISASTER IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNOR ABBOTT'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, GA 21.

>> SECOND.

>> MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ITEM 3H.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.

THAT PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.

THAT IS THE LAST THING ON OUR NON-EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDA.

[4. EXECUTIVE SESSION: City Council may convene in Executive Session to receive reports on or discuss any of the following pending projects or matters: 1) Section 551.072 - Discuss the purchase, exchange, lease, sale, or value of real property and public discussion of such would not be in the best interests of the City's bargaining position: (a) Discuss lease of property located in the Northeast Quadrant of the Central Business District.]

>> I'LL BE GLAD TO, MAYOR.

PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS AT THE CLOSED SESSION, THE AMARILLO CITY ACCOUNTS ANNOUNCED ON MAY THE 12TH AT 04:08 PM UNDER THE FOLLOWING AUTHORITY: SECTION 551.07, "TO DISCUSS THE PURCHASE, EXCHANGE, SELL, LEASE, OR VALUE OF REAL POVERTY, A PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF SUCH WOULD NOT BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY'S BARGAINING POSITION." THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE ADJOURNED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.