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>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S BUSINESS MEETING FOR THE AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE JOINING US TODAY AND WE WANT TO START OUR TIME TOGETHER WITH AN INVITATION,
[INVOCATION]
AND HERE TO DO OUR INVITATION FOR US TODAY IS THE DIRECTOR FROM CENTER CITY, OUR OWN, BETH DUKE.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT'S AN HONOR.
DEAR GOD, WE COME TO YOU TODAY AND PRAY FOR OUR LEADERSHIP ELECTED, OUR VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP, AND WE PRAY THAT YOU'LL KEEP US SAFE.
THANK YOU FOR OUR MANY BLESSINGS AND OUR GOOD HEALTH, AND KEEP US MOVING IN A FORWARD DIRECTION ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL.
>> THANK YOU, BETH. WE HAVE A VERY FUN PROCLAMATION ON OUR AGENDA TODAY,
[PROCLAMATION]
AND PROCLAMATIONS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A CHALLENGE IN THE ZOOM ENVIRONMENT, BUT WE ARE STILL GOING TO CELEBRATE THE SAYING.TODAY, JOINING US IS CHIEF FLIGHT DIRECTOR, HOLLY RIDINGS.
WELCOME TO OUR MEETING HERE TODAY.
WE JUST WANT TO BRAG ON HOLLY.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, HOWARD SMITH, COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH HAD BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION HOLLY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE FACT THAT HOLLY WAS BORN AND RAISED AND EDUCATED HERE IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, AND SHE HAS GONE ON TO MAKE A CAREER IN NASA AND IT'S NOT JUST A CAREER AS A FEMALE IN NASA, BUT IT'S A VERY DISTINGUISHED CAREER, AND SO HOLLY, WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.
WE ARE PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.
SHE'S A GRADUATE OF TEXAS A&M WHERE SHE STUDIED MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND SHE HAS BEEN AT NASA DOING GREAT THINGS AND MOST RECENTLY WAS NOTED APPOINTED CHIEF FLIGHT DIRECTOR.
SHE'S IN CHARGE OF ALL THE FLIGHT DIRECTORS DOWN IN HOUSTON AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL THE FASCINATING WORK THAT'S BEING DONE ON THE SPACE STATION AND OTHER THINGS THAT NASA IS WORKING ON.
HOLLY, I THINK WE WOULD BE FASCINATED IF WE JUST SAT DOWN AND HAD A CUP OF COFFEE WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GET TO SEE AND DO EVERY DAY IN YOUR JOB.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING AMARILLO OUT ON THE MAP.
LITERALLY, YOU'VE GONE OUT OF THE EARTH WITH AMARILLO'S REPUTATION, AND THAT'S NOT BEEN WITHOUT A LOT OF HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION AND JUST TO ENVISION ON YOUR PART TO DO SOMETHING THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN MAPPED OUT FOR YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE THE FIRST WOMAN CHIEF FLIGHT DIRECTOR.
SO YOU'RE TRULY FORGING YOUR OWN PATH AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU AND VERY GRATEFUL TO BE MAKING A PRESENTATION TO YOU TODAY.
WITH THAT CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND, I WANT TO INTRODUCE COUNCIL MEMBER, HOWARD SMITH, WHO IS GOING TO MAKE A PRESENTATION TO HOLLY.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, I DO WANT TO SAY SOME OTHER THINGS ABOUT HOLLY BEFORE I MAKE THE TWO PRESENTATIONS.
I MET HOLLY WHEN I WAS A VOLUNTEER IN THE CAMPFIRE PROGRAM A LONG TIME AGO.
[LAUGHTER] HOLLY WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE CAMPFIRE PROGRAM WHEN I WAS THE LEADER AND SHE GOT THE WILLOW AWARD, I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED, WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO EAGLE SCOUT IN BOY SCOUTS.
OTHER THINGS THAT SHE'S DONE AND ACCOMPLISHED, SHE WENT TO SPACE CAMP TWO TIMES.
SHE WAS A SUPERINTENDENT'S SCHOLAR IN THE AMARILLO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SHE GRADUATED FROM TASCOSA HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY WERE OVER 500 IN HER CLASS, SHE WAS RANKED NUMBER 3.
PRETTY GOOD. SHE WAS A BASKETBALL PLAYER.
SHE WON [NOISE] STAR CHAMPIONSHIP.
IN 1995, SHE WAS AN OUTSTANDING ENGINEER AT TEXAS A&M.
SHE WAS EMPLOYED AT A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN SHE'S BEEN AT NASA, AS THE MAYOR HAS JUST SAID.
[NOISE] WHEN YOU'RE IN AMARILLO SOMETIME I WANT TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT THE PARK THAT I HAD.
I WAS ON A SHIP. IT HAD APOLLO 8.
WE WERE THE PRIME RECOVERY SHIPS FOR APOLLO 9.
THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO BEFORE YOUR TIME, BUT I'D LIKE TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.
SO I'VE GOT A PROCLAMATION I'M GOING TO READ HERE.
WHEREAS IN 1961, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY BOLDLY CHALLENGED OUR NATION TO LAND AN AMERICAN ON THE MOON
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AND RETURN HIM SAFELY TO EARTH WITHIN THAT DECADE.WHEREAS ON JULY 16TH, 1969 [NOISE] WHICH IS 51 YEARS OR TWO THOUGH, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD WATCHED IN AWE AND TREPIDATION AS A TRIO ASTRONAUTS NEIL ARMSTRONG, BUZZ ALDRIN, AND MICHAEL COLLINS CLIMBED INTO THE COMMAND MODULE COLUMBIA AND LEFT EARTH FOR THE FIRST MANNED MISSION TO LAND ON THE MOON.
THERE'S NEIL ARMSTRONG'S BOOTS PRESSED IN ON THE DUST OF THE MOON'S SURFACE.
IN 1969, HE DELIVERED AN UNFORGETTABLE MASSAGE, ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT LEAP FOR MANKIND.
WHEREAS NEIL ARMSTRONG'S WORDS HAVE RESONATED AROUND THE GLOBE AND THROUGH THE YEARS TO DREAMERS AND FUTURE EXPLORERS AND TO DRAW THEIR ATTENTION TO THE POWER AND A POSSIBILITY OF THE BOUNDLESS WANDERS OF SPACE.
WHEREAS NEARLY 51 YEARS AFTER THE FIRST MOON LANDING AND [INAUDIBLE] HOLLY RIDINGS IS HONORED FOR ALL HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDING DIRECTING THE NEXT MOON LANDING AS SHE TAKES ON THE HELM OF THE FAMOUS MISSION CONTROL CENTER, AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF AMARILLO RECOGNIZES YOUR OUTSTANDING QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION, WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO THIS NATION, THE NASA SPACE PROGRAM.
NOW THEREFORE, MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AMARILLO RECOGNIZES YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CELEBRATES OUR HOMETOWN HERO FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR SO MANY.
GIVEN UNDER OUR HANDS AND SEAL OF OFFICE, THIS 14TH DAY OF JULY 2020, SIGNED BY GINGER NELSON MAYOR, ELAINE HAYS, FREDA POWELL, EDDY SAUER AND MYSELF, WE'LL GET THIS TO YOU. [OVERLAPPING]
>> EVERYBODY CLAP. [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] [APPLAUSE] [OVERLAPPING] ONE OTHER THING. YOU'RE WELCOME.
I GOT ONE OTHER PRESENTATION TO MAKE AND, WE'LL GET TO THIS IN THE MAIL TO YOU.
>> WE WERE GOING TO GIVE YOU A KEY TO THE CITY, BUT WE CHANGED OUR MIND.
THIS IS THE KEY TO THE MOON AND BEYOND.
>> IT SAYS HERE, A THE KEY TO THE MOON AND BEYOND TAKING US FROM OLSON ELEMENTARY TO OUT OF THIS WORLD, AMARILLO IS PROUD OF YOU.
>> YOU GOT A GUEST HERE THAT I TOLD ABOUT IT.
IT'S YOUR FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE MATH TEACHER, MARLA [LAUGHTER] [INAUDIBLE] AS WE SPEAK.
>> [INAUDIBLE] I STILL USE HER NAME THAT I REMEMBER, SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR INVITING HER.
>> NO PROBLEM. WE ARE VERY EXTREMELY PROUD OF YOU AS MAYOR SAID.
THANKS FOR JOINING US. BUZZ IN.
>> YES. I WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE.
HOWARD, WILL YOU HOLD THE KEY UP THAT EVERYBODY LOOKS STRAIGHT AT YOUR CAMERAS? I'M GOING TO CAPTURE THIS MOMENT.
THAT PICTURE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT IF YOU WERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY WANT TO MEMORIALIZED THIS MOMENT WITH THE PICTURE.
I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS, BUT DO YOU MIND IF I SAY JUST A FEW THINGS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR A WORD FROM YOU. THANK YOU.
>> ALL RIGHT. I'M SAPPY, YOU CAN TELL.
THE PROCLAMATION WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.
YOU MENTIONED, MY MOM AND MY DAD WAS IN THE NAVY WITH HOWARD AS WELL.
SO MY NEPHEW PLAY BASEBALL IN AMARILLO HIGH.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT HOME TOWN, SOME PEOPLE LEAVE AND DON'T EVER GET TO COME BACK.
FOR ME, THOSE ROOTS ARE STILL REALLY, REALLY DEEP.
I TOLD YOU I WAS SAPPY, JUST UP FRONT, BUT IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE, RIGHT? I MEAN, IN THIS JOB, YOU GET TO GO ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT WHERE YOU ARE FROM MAKES A DIFFERENCE, AND THE VALUES, AND THE EXPERIENCES, AND THE FAMILY, AND THEN THE FRIENDS.
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ALL OF YOU, WHO'VE JUST SUPPORTED ME MY ENTIRE LIFE.WHEN I TALKED ABOUT MENTORS, AND I MENTIONED THE [INAUDIBLE] , AND MY SCIENCE TEACHER AT OLSON PARK, AND THE FOLKS IN CAMPFIRE.
ALL OF THOSE, MY TEACHERS AT TESCO, SO MY COACHES, TOP OF THE LIST EVERY TIME I SPEAK ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE.
SO I JUST REALLY CAN'T THANK YOU GUYS ENOUGH FOR RECOGNIZING IT, AND THE TIME YOU TOOK TODAY AND FOR THE PROCLAMATION.
I DON'T OWN ANYTHING LIKE THAT KEY.
I'LL ABSOLUTELY TAKE YOU UP ON THE COFFEE ANYTIME.
HOWARD, FOR YOU, I LOOKED UP THE SHIP RATE, SO THE GUADALCANAL, IF I GOT IT RIGHT.
>> BOB AND DOUG ARE GOING TO LAND IN THE [INAUDIBLE] , AT THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, AND THEY'RE GOING TO LAND IN THE WATER.
SO YOU NEED TO WATCH, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO PULL THEM OUT OF WATER WITH THIS BIG CRANE AND SET IT ON A SHIP.
IT'S NOT A US NAVY SHIP, BUT YOU GOT TO WATCH, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COMPARE NOTES, FOR WHAT YOU REMEMBER FROM HAVING SEEN IT FOR APOLLO 9.
THAT'LL BE THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST, WE'RE GOING TO DO A SPACE FLIGHT, NEXT WEEK AND THE WEEK AFTER.
I'M HAPPY TO COME AND SHARE IT WITH YOU GUYS ANYWAY, ANYTIME.
>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU UP ON THAT FOR SURE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS OR NOT, HOLLY THAT THE MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO, IS TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVERY AMARILLO RESIDENT CAN ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS.
I AM SO PROUD AS CURRENT LEADERSHIP FOR THE CITY OF AMARILLO TO SEE THAT.
AMARILLO DID PRODUCE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR YOU TO RECEIVE AND TO ACHIEVE YOUR POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS.
NOT ONLY ARE YOU ACCOMPLISHING MISSIONS FOR OUR COUNTRY AND AT NASA AND THEN OUTER SPACE, BUT YOU HAVE HELPED AMARILLO ACCOMPLISH ITS MISSION AS WELL.
SO WE ARE SUPER PROUD, AND WE DO ACCORD TO THIS EVENING WITH OPEN DOOR.
YOU'RE WELCOME ANY TIME, AND CERTAINLY, WE WANT TO MEET YOU IN PERSON, WHEN WE'RE PAST ALL THIS COVID STUFF AND IT WORKS WITH YOUR SCHEDULE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. WELL, THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.
I APPRECIATE IT, AND YOU GUYS TAKE CARE UP THERE.
>> OKAY. CONGRATULATION, HOLLY. WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF YOU.
>> AMARILLO'S VERY PROUD OF YOU.
>> [LAUGHTER]. THANKS, MS. WAYNE.
>> OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON, THOUGH THAT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO TALK FOR THE WHOLE DAY.
I THINK WE'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN WITH THAT, AND WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC ADDRESS.
SO WE'LL JUST MOVE RIGHT INTO AGENDA ITEM 1 A.
IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD PACKET THIS WITH COUNCIL OR ANYTHING IN THE PACKET THAT YOU [INAUDIBLE].
[RECOGNITIONS]
>> MAYOR, DO YOU NEED TO SEE THE CENTRAL CITY'S RECOGNITION.
>> WE DO. I'VE MOVED RIGHT PAST HOLLY, BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY TALKED WITH BETH, I GUESS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROPOSAL BACK TO THAT.
LET'S DO CENTRAL CITY'S RECOGNITION AS A MAIN STREET CITY.
>>THANK YOU SO MUCH, FOR LETTING ME HAVE A FEW MINUTES TODAY.
OF COURSE, I'M COMING TO YOU FROM THE BEAUTIFUL HISTORICAL GIBBONS MANSION.
>> THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME RENT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OFFICE ON POLK STREET. I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT.
I'M COMING TO YOU TODAY WITH WONDERFUL NEWS, AND THAT IS THAT CENTER CITY FOR THE 19TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, HAS RECEIVED OFFICIAL DESIGNATION AS A TEXAS AND NATIONAL MAIN STREET CITY.
THIS MEANS THE WORLD TO ME, BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT WE MEET OR EXCEED ALL THE STANDARDS SET FOR A THRIVING DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET PROGRAM.
I AM STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS.
I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE THAT WHOLE 15 YEARS, BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO ME.
YESTERDAY WAS MY 15TH ANNIVERSARY IN THIS JOB, AND THIS JOB HAS BEEN AMAZING FOR ME, BECAUSE LIKE HOLLY, I GET TO SHOW HOW MUCH I LOVE MY HOME TOWN EVERY DAY.
SO IT IS OUR OFFICIAL DESIGNATION.
FORTUNATELY, THE TEXAS MAIN STREET PROGRAM HAS ALSO GIVEN US A BEAUTIFUL NEW ALUMINUM SIGN THAT WE CAN POST OUTSIDE, TO SAY WE ARE A NATIONAL AND TEXAS MAIN CITY.
SO IF THIS WASN'T ZOOM, I'D BE HOLDING THAT UP TO, BUT I KNOW THIS IS A VERY DATA DRIVEN COMMISSION COUNCIL, SO I WANNA GIVE YOU JUST A COUPLE OF NUMBERS.
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WE'VE BEEN SO PROUD TO START THE AMARILLO CULTURAL DISTRICT, THE AMARILLO COMMUNITY MARKET, THE DOWNTOWN DINING DISTRICT, OUR GREAT EVENTS LIKE HIGH NOON, THE ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE, JAZZTOBER, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU THE MOST IMPRESSIVE NUMBER, AND THAT IS THROUGH OUR REPORTING FROM TEXAS MAIN STREET.WE HAVE TO PRESENT EVERY QUARTER OUR REINVESTMENT RESULTS, OF HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN REINVESTED IN OUR DISTRICT.
SINCE, WE BECAME AN OFFICIAL MAIN STREET CITY IN 2002, WE HAVE TO DATE INVESTED MORE THAN $520 MILLION BACK IN OUR DOWNTOWN.
FOR A DISTRICT THAT WAS FLAT OR MAYBE SLIDING A LITTLE BACKWARDS, WE ARE REALLY GOING FORWARD AND THAT MOMENTUM IS TO ENLARGE PARTS TO YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP.
WE'RE SO PROUD TO REPRESENT CENTER CITY, AND THE CITY OF AMARILLO, TO TEXAS MAIN STREET, AND THE NATIONAL MAIN STREET CENTER.
SO I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL GIVE YOURSELF A BIG HAND FOR THIS WONDERFUL SUCCESS.
>>WE'RE HAPPY TO CLAP FOR IT BETH, BUT I THINK THAT IT WILL BE UNANIMOUS THAT THE COUNCIL BELIEVES, IT'S YOUR LEADERSHIP THAT'S DRIVING THIS TRAIN.
>>I'VE GOT A BIG ARMY BEHIND ME.
>> WELL, WE'RE HAPPY TO COME ALONG BESIDE THE MISSION AND THE STRATEGIES THAT YOU GUYS EXECUTED IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
IT IS A TEAM OF PEOPLE, AND SO MANY VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE PUT THEIR HANDS TO THE WORK AT CENTER CITY OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES.
NOW, WE CAN SEE THE FRUIT OF THAT AS OUR ENTIRE CITY IS SEEING REVITALIZATION, BECAUSE OF THE PROJECTS IN CENTER CITY HAS TOUCHED AND SHOWN LEADERSHIP ON.
SO I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THE PICTURE OF YOU HOLDING THAT.
IT'S SUCH A LARGE, I DON'T IF YOU CAN FIT IT IN FRONT OF YOUR CAMERA, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO TAKE THEIR PICTURE.
OKAY. GOOD. EVERYBODY LOOKS AT THEIR CAMERAS.
ANY OTHER REMARKS FROM THE COUNCIL ABOUT THE MAIN STREET DESIGNATION AND WHAT CENTER CITY DOES.
>> JUST CONGRATULATIONS, BETH.
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I WANT TO SAY WHENEVER I GIVE A SPEECH ABOUT THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM, I'M ALWAYS CAREFUL TO SAY, WE WANT TO BE AN EXAMPLE ABOUT HOW A CITY CAN IMPROVE ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AT A TIME, BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE EVERYBODY'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME THE BEST ANALOGY, YOU DON'T WANT YOUR CITY TO DEVELOP LIKE A DOUGHNUT, BECAUSE, WHAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF A DOUGHNUT? YOU WANT YOUR CITY TO DEVELOP LIKE A CINNAMON ROLL, BECAUSE WHAT'S A VERY BEST PART OF A CINNAMON ROLL, THE MIDDLE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO, IS JUST MAKE DOWNTOWN EVERYBODY'S NEIGHBORHOOD.
HOWARD SAT WITH ME SATURDAY MORNING AT COMMUNITY MARKET.
WE HAD ALMOST 800 PEOPLE WHO BRAVED THE HEAT, TO COME TO COMMUNITY MARKET THIS WEEK.
WE'RE JUST SO GRATEFUL FOR THE CITY SUPPORT HELPING US BRING EVERYBODY DOWNTOWN.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, COUNCIL, FOR THAT?
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB, BETH.
>> YOU DID A WONDERFUL JOB, EXACTLY.
>> YEAH, JUST CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
>> WE'RE GLAD YOU LOVE YOUR JOB, AND THAT YOU LOVE AMARILLO AND YOU LOVE DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE THAT'S THE KEY TO YOUR PASSION AND THE DRIVE THAT YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU FOR INVESTING THAT PASSION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE'VE GOT SOME PLANS IN NOVEMBER WE HOPE YOU ALL HELP US WITH.
>> YEAH. THANKS, BETH, AND THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT THAT I SKIPPED THAT.
[OVERLAPPING] NOW, BACK TO ITEM (1)A IN YOUR THICK PACKET.
[1A. Review agenda items for regular meeting and attachments;]
WAS THERE ANYTHING IN THAT PACKET THAT YOU HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS BEFORE WE GET STARTED WORKING THROUGH THE AGENDA? NOT SEEING ANYTHING.THEN LET'S DO ITEM (1)B, A CORONAVIRUS UPDATE.
[1B. Coronavirus Update;]
>> MAYOR, WE GOT CASEY STILL ONLINE WITH US.
WE'VE BEEN SEEING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS SOME CHANGES IN OUR NUMBERS AND TRENDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
CASEY IS GOING TO WALK US THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW, AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS YOU'VE GOT.
WE'VE ALSO GOT A NUMBER OF OTHER SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON THE LINE, OR AT LEAST CITY, SUCH A MATTER PERSONNEL THAT CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AS MUCH AS THE CITY CAN ANSWER. SO, CASEY.
>> YES, SIR. I'M GOING TO KEEP MY CAMERA OFF IF THAT'S OKAY.
I AM AT HOME, OUR LITTLE ONE HAS A COUGH THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK SO WE'RE HELPING HER RECOVER,
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SO JUST IN CASE SOMEBODY DECIDES TO COME INTO THE ROOM, I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP MY CAMERA OFF.AS UP TODAY, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 4,214 CASES OF COVID-19 RECORDED IN POTTER IN RANDALL COUNTY, 3,081 CASES IN POTTER COUNTY, AND 1,133 CASES IN RANDALL COUNTY.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 3,687 RECOVERIES AND 46 DEATHS.
THAT LEAVES US WITH 481 ACTIVE CASES.
YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY THAT RANDALL COUNTY HAD MORE ACTIVE CASES THAN POTTER COUNTY, WITH 261 CASES IN RANDALL COUNTY AND 220 CASES IN POTTER COUNTY.
EACH OF THE CASES REPRESENT A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL.
AND CURRENTLY ON THE REPORT CARD AND DASHBOARD, ONLY LABORATORY-CONFIRMED CASES ARE REPRESENTED, AND THAT INCLUDES PCR AND ANTIGEN TESTS.
HOSPITALIZATION DATA INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 44 COVID PATIENTS IN OUR AREA HOSPITAL, WITH A HOSPITALIZATION RATE OF 8.67 PERCENT.
TOTAL ADULT BED UTILIZATION IS THAT 64 PERCENT, VENTILATOR UTILIZATION IS AT 36.5 PERCENT, AND TOTAL ICU UTILIZATION AT 67.5 PERCENT.
THESE NUMBERS DO YOU REMAIN STABLE FROM LAST WEEK.
A COUPLE OF OPERATIONAL POINTS, THE PUBLIC HEALTH DRIVE-THROUGH REMAINS OPERATIONAL.
IT'S CALL 378-6300, AND TO BE DIRECTED TO THE TESTING SITE, WE HAVE MOVED FROM THE TRI-STATE FAIRGROUNDS, WHEREAS WE HELD THE CLINIC FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
WE DO APPRECIATE THE TRI-STATE FAIRGROUNDS FOR LETTING US USE THE [INAUDIBLE] SPECIAL BUILDING, THAT WAS A HUGE BLESSING.
WE HAVE MOVED TO A CITY-OWNED BUILDING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, AND WE GIVE DIRECTIONS TO CALLERS WHENEVER THEY'RE CALLING TO BE TESTED.
WE'RE WORKING THROUGH A LAB DELAY.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A TWO LABS THAT WE'RE USING TO PROCESS SPECIMEN.
WE TRANSFERRED TO THE SECOND LAB WHEN THE FIRST LAB THAT TOLD US THAT THEY WERE OUT OF REAGENTS.
HOWEVER, THE SECOND LAB IS NOW OUT OF REAGENTS, SO WE'VE MOVED BACK TO THE FIRST LAB SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO QUICKLY PROCESS SAMPLES.
SOON, I'LL BRING A CONTRACT FOR A THIRD LAB SO THAT WE HAVE ADDITIONAL FLEXIBILITY IN LAB PROCESSING.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE COUPLE OF DAYS WORTH OF TESTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DELAYED DUE TO THAT DELAY WHEN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND LAB WAS OUT OF REAGENTS.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH NORTHWEST AND BSA, THE RACK AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ON SURGE PLANNING IN THE EVENT OF BOTH PLANES ARE NEEDED.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TODAY.
>> SO CASEY, I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME ABOUT THE ANTIGEN TESTING VERSUS THE PCR TESTS.
WILL YOU JUST EXPLAIN THE DIFFERENCE IN THOSE TESTING METHODS?
>> SURE. SO THE PCR TEST FOR VIRAL PARTICLES.
THE ANTIGEN TEST IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, IT TESTS FOR ANTIGENS OR PROTEIN BETA VIRUS.
SO THOSE TWO TESTS ARE CONSIDERED DIAGNOSTIC.
THE ANTIBODY TESTS ARE NOT CONSIDERED DIAGNOSTIC, AND THAT'S WHY WE DON'T INCLUDE THOSE IN CONFIRMED CASE COUNTS.
ANY OF THE ANTIBODY TESTS THAT WE RECEIVE, WE DO CONTACT THOSE PEOPLE AND WORK THROUGH THOSE, BUT WE DON'T REPORT THOSE OUT IN OUR NUMBERS, BUT WE DO REPORT THE ANTIGEN AND PCR TESTS AS THEY'RE CONSIDERED DIAGNOSTIC.
>> CASEY, CAN YOU UPDATE US ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ANY OF OUR PLASMA DONATION LOCALLY?
>> YES. SO WE ARE WORKING WITH TEXAS TECH, SO WE'RE STILL ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DONATE PLASMA.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH TEXAS TECH.
ONE OF THE POSITIONS THERE IS WORKING ON A PHASE 2 CLINICAL TRIAL, FOR PLASMA, IT'S CALLED MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES STUDY.
SO WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PATIENTS T HELP PATIENTS TO ENTER THAT CLINICAL TRIAL.
SO WE'VE GOT SEVERAL DIFFERENT PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT.
BUT YES, WE'RE STILL ENCOURAGING OUR PATIENTS TO DONATE BLOOD, WHICH THEY CAN MAKE PLASMA OR PULL THE PLASMA OUT.
BUT THEN ALSO ANYTIME, [INAUDIBLE] MEMORIAL DOES BLOOD DRIVE.
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THEY TEST FOR THE ANTIBODIES, AND THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.SO ANYTIME [INAUDIBLE] MEMORIAL TAKES BLOOD DONATIONS ANY DAY, AND I KNOW THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY APPRECIATE ANY DONATION, BUT THEY ALSO DO THAT ANTIBODY TESTING TO SEE IF YOUR BLOOD WOULD QUALIFY FOR THAT EXTRA LEVEL OF PLASMA PART.
>> SO CASEY, WITH THE PLASMA TREATMENT, IS THAT ONLY FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED?
>> YES, MA'AM. [OVERLAPPING] THAT WOULD BE DONE IN THE HOSPITAL.
>> DO YOU KNOW IF WE CURRENTLY HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF A SUPPLY OF PLASMA TO TREAT ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE IN THE HOSPITAL THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM IT OR ARE DO WE HAVE A GREATER DEMAND THAN WE HAVE CURRENT SUPPLY?
>> NEITHER ONE OF THE HOSPITALS HAVE INDICATED THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.
I THINK THE BLOOD BANKS HAVE A REALLY ROBUST NETWORK, AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF TRANSFERRING OF PRODUCTS AMONG THE DIFFERENT BLOOD BANKS.
[INAUDIBLE] MEMORIAL IS VERY CONNECTED TO THE ONE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, AND SO THOSE PRODUCTS CAN BE TRANSFERRED AROUND.
SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE HAD A SHORTAGE, BUT WE CERTAINLY NEED DONATIONS TO CONTINUE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CASEY? THANK YOU CASEY.
>> JARED, OTHER REPORTS FROM STAFF ON CORONAVIRUS?
>> NO, NOT THIS TIME. WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH A NUMBER OF OTHER FUNDING AND OTHER THINGS RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S NOTHING REALLY TO REPORT ON THOSE ACTIVITIES RIGHT NOW.
A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, SO IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS NOW OR LATER ON IN THE MEETING, WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE WITH PRIMARY INFORMATION.
WE WANTED TO GET OUT WHAT'S CURRENT ACCOUNTS.
IT'S NOT WORTHY THAT RANDALL COUNTY SURPASSED OTHER COUNTIES AS FAR AS ACTIVE CASES.
A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH POTTER COUNTY, CONTINUING TO GO DOWN AS FAR AS NET TOTAL ACTIVE CASES.
RANDALL COUNTY IS CONTINUING TO GO NET POSITIVE EACH DAY.
LOOKING INTO THAT MORE AND FIGURING OUT HOW WE CAN HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THOSE NUMBERS IS SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO DEFINITELY FOCUS ON.
>> OKAY. ANY CHANGE IN THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER WE'RE CURRENTLY RUNNING ABOUT DAY 11 SINCE THE BASE COVERING ORDER AND EXTENSION OF THE OTHER EMERGENCY ORDERS, ANY CHANGES THERE THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF?
>> WELL, OUR EXPERIENCE HERE IN THE PANHANDLE IS UNIQUELY DIFFERENT THAN MANY PLACES IN THE REST OF THE STATE.
WHILE WE ARE IN A RELATIVELY FAVORABLE POSITION, RELATIVE TO MOST OF THE PARTS OF THE STATE, THERE'S MANY PARTS THAT ARE MAKING CALLS FOR REFRIGERATED TRUCKS AND LOT OF OTHER THINGS TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE EITHER THE FATALITIES OR TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CHALLENGES WITH HOSPITAL CAPACITY.
IT'S ANTICIPATED THAT THE GOVERNOR MIGHT MAKE A CHANGE TO HIS ORDER, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONFIRMATION OF THAT AT ALL, AND DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO PAY ATTENTION TO EVERY COMMUNICATION SOURCE WE HAVE WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE.
BUT YES, WE ARE STILL ON EXACTLY THE SAME GA-28 GA-29 COMBINATION ALONG WITH PROCLAMATION FROM THE GOVERNOR THAT WE WERE UNDER LAST WEEK.
>> I HAD SOME QUESTIONS FROM SOME PARENTS OF A YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE YESTERDAY JUST TALKING ABOUT, "WHAT ARE THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS?" I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT YOUTH SPORTS AND CITY FACILITIES.
CAN YOU JUST GIVE US A QUICK SUMMARY ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC SITUATION SO THAT EVERYBODY ON COUNCIL UNDERSTANDS HOW THAT WAS HANDLED.
THERE MAY BE A CITIZEN WATCHING WHO HAD WONDERED NOW, "WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE AND PLAYING BASEBALL AT HODGETOWN?" I THINK WE CAN BE REALLY CLEAR AND EXPLAIN THERE REALLY IS NO DIFFERENCE.
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THAT AS A COUNCIL.
>> I THINK THE FIRST THING TO SAY IS THAT YOUTH ATHLETICS AND ADULT ATHLETICS ARE ALLOWED UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER ALSO SAYS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS ON, AND I'M APOLOGIZING I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NAME, BUT THE GOVERNOR'S DOCUMENT THAT GUIDES HOW STATE OF TEXAS IS GOING TO REOPEN.
KIDS PLAYING GAMES DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A MASK WHILE THEY'RE DOING THAT.
THE OTHER PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE IN GROUPS THAT INCLUDE PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD,
[00:30:04]
ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE COMING IN CONTACT WITH PEOPLE THAT DON'T LIVE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD, ARE REQUIRED TO BE WEARING MASKS.WITH REGARD TO THE WEST TEXAS YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE, THE ORGANIZERS AND MANAGEMENT FROM ALL REPORTS TO ME HAVE BEEN GREAT PARTNERS THAT ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDELINES ARE BEING OBSERVED.
WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND I BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, PLAY WAS GOING ON, I THINK WAS SATURDAY.
WHEN CITY PERSONNEL NOTICED THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNANCE ORDER, THERE WAS WIDESPREAD NON-COMPLIANCE.
WHEN THEY DISCUSSED IT WITH THE ORGANIZERS OF THE EVENT, THE LEAGUE DIRECTORS, THEY CONCURRED.
ONE OF THE OBSERVATIONS AS WE'RE DECIDING HOW CAN WE GO FORWARD WITH THIS.
WHILE YOUTH SPORTS ARE DIRECTED THAT THEY CAN HAPPEN, THEY ARE ALSO DIRECTED THAT THEY HAVE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE AND FOR THE CITY WE'RE DIRECTED WITH VARIETY OF DEPARTMENTS, MAKING SURE THAT IN AS MUCH AS IT RELATES TO OUR FACILITIES AND ALSO IN AS MUCH AS IT RELATES TO THINGS THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
WITH REGARD TO ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH, CHECKING OUT COMPLAINTS.
AS IT COMES TO THE FIRE MARSHALS, CHECKING OUT DIFFERENT FACILITIES.
THE QUESTION WAS, IF THIS IS HOW YOUTH SPORTS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE, CAN WE IN GOOD CONSCIOUS CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE FACILITIES TO BE USED FOR THAT? WE'RE NOT SAYING THAT THOSE GAMES CAN'T HAPPEN.
WE ARE SAYING IF THEY ARE TO HAPPEN ON CITY FACILITIES, THEY MUST BE HELD IN COMPLIANCE.
THE MANAGERS AGREED WITH THAT.
SO THEY CANCELED GAMES ABOUT MIDWAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
THEY ARE BACK TO, I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE AND HAVE COMMUNICATED THAT TO ALL THEIR PARENTS AND PARTICIPANTS WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO IMMINENTLY RESUME PLAY, BUT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT DAY THAT IS.
KEVIN, YOU MAY HAVE SOME MORE UPDATED INFORMATION ON THAT.
BUT THEY IMMEDIATELY CAME UP WITH A PLAN THAT ADDRESSED ALL OF THE GOVERNOR'S CONCERNS, AND EVEN SOME THAT WEREN'T ADDRESSED, OR THAT WEREN'T EXPRESSED.
CERTAINLY WITH REGARD TO THE PART OF THE LEADERSHIP OF WEST TEXAS YOUTH BASEBALL, WE FEEL LIKE THEY'VE WORKED AS HARD AS THEY CAN, AND THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM IS TO HAVE BUY-INS FROM THE PARENTS IN THIS PLACE.
>>[OVERLAPPING] GO AHEAD, JARED.
>> WELL, I WAS JUST SAYING, "KEVIN DID I MISS ANYTHING?" I DON'T THINK I REALLY MISSED ANYTHING, BUT MAYOR, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR ANYBODY ELSE FIRE AWAY?
>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO COMMUNICATE IT IN THE MOMENT ACROSS A LARGE GROUP OF PARENTS AND PLAYERS.
CERTAINLY THE COMMUNICATIONS THAT CAME BACK TO ME WERE THAT THE CITY HAD FORCED THE LEAGUE TO SHUT DOWN.
THAT IS NOT AN ACCURATE STATEMENT.
THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS, AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY WANTING THOSE KIDS TO PLAY BASEBALL UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS.
THEY CAN PLAY, WE WANT THEM TO PLAY.
BUT WHAT WE NEED IS BUY-IN FROM THE PARENTS TO ABIDE BY THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS ABOUT FACE MASKS.
THAT'S EITHER BE SIX FEET APART.
BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO SIT IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE, NOT MEMBERS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD, IN THE STANDS CLOSER THAN SIX FEET, THEN YOU MUST BE WEARING A MASK, AND THAT'S THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER.
WE AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE CHARGED WITH ABIDING BY THAT ORDER.
IF THERE WAS MISCOMMUNICATION AND HOW THE MESSAGE LEFT OUT ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, I WANTED A CHANCE FOR THE COUNCIL TO HEAR THE STORY AND FOR US TO DIALOGUE ABOUT ANY CONFUSION ON WHAT THE MESSAGE WAS OR WHY THEY DIDN'T PLAY BASEBALL GAMES ON SATURDAY.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT COUNCIL?
>> THESE ARE ALL EVENTS OUTSIDE?
>>YES MA'AM. YOUTH BASEBALL, IT'S ALL OUTSIDE BOTH IN CANYON AND [INAUDIBLE].
>> CAN YOU JUST REVIEW THE DIFFERENCE, IF ANY, ON THOSE MANDATES, INSIDE VERSUS OUTSIDE SIZE OF EVENT.
JUST AGAIN, WHAT THE GUIDELINES ARE.
>> THERE'S DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HODGETOWN, FOR EXAMPLE, AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE SOD DOGS AND THE SOD, I FORGOT THE NAME OF THE OTHER TEAM.
BUT THE TWO TEAMS THAT ARE PLAYING OUT, IT'S EDIT HODGETOWN AND YOUTH AND ADULT SPORTS.
YOUTH AND ADULT SPORTS AREN'T OPERATING UNDER A 50 PERCENT REDUCTION IN CAPACITY.
THE HODGETOWN GAMES ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING UNDER A 50 PERCENT LIMIT ON THEIR CAPACITY.
I DON'T THINK THEY DIDN'T COME CLOSE TO THAT AS FAR AS ATTENDANCE AT THE GAMES, THEY ARE BEING ATTENDED WELL.
BUT THEY ARE ALL BEING VERY DILIGENT ABOUT ENFORCING DISTANCING, MASKS, REQUIRING GAPS AND SITTING BETWEEN DIFFERENT FAMILY GROUPS OR HOUSEHOLD GROUPS.
[00:35:03]
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THERE.BUT THEY ARE SUBJECT TO A 50 PERCENT REDUCTION IN CAPACITY OR ATTENDANCE AS IT RELATES TO THEIR CAPACITY.
THE YOUTH AND ADULT SPORTS, WELL THEY'RE NOT UNDER THAT RESTRICTION, THE OTHER ASPECTS OF THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDELINES DO APPLY.
SO MASKS WHEN NOT ACTIVELY PLAYING THE GAME.
NOW THERE'S A DEBATE ON SHOULD A KID WEAR A MASK IN THE DUGOUT OR NOT.
THE LEAGUE ADMINISTRATION IS STATING THAT THEY WANT KIDS TO WEAR MASKS WHILE THEY'RE IN THE DUGOUT.
MANY PEOPLE COULD DEBATE, "THEY'RE STILL PLAYING THE GAME WHEN THEY'RE IN THE DUGOUT." WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO THE SEMANTICS OF THAT.
WHAT WE NEED IS GOOD ASSURANCES AND GOOD COMPLIANCE FROM BOTH THE ORGANIZERS AND THE PARTICIPANTS, AND PARENTS OF PARTICIPANTS, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDELINES ARE BEING OBSERVED.
IN THIS SITUATION, WEARING MASKS WHEN YOU'RE NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE GAME, MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING, MAINTAINING SANITATION OF FREQUENTLY TOUCHED SURFACES, SO AT THE CONCESSIONS IF THEY'RE DOING CONCESSIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOTHING THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING ABOUT BEFORE.
BUT THOSE REQUIREMENTS DO EXIST IN THE OUTDOOR SPORTS FACILITIES, OR IN THE SETTING OF YOUTH AND ADULTS SPORTS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT? THANKS FOR CLARIFYING THAT, ELAINE.
THANK YOU JARED AND KEVIN, FOR JUST BRINGING US UP TO SPEED ON THAT SITUATION.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT KEVIN MADE SOME COMMENTS, BUT IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I'VE MISSED ON THAT, BECAUSE KEVIN IS OVER PARKS AND RECREATION.
HE'S BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THIS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, ASSISTING THE WEST TEXAS YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE AND WORKING WITH THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS, MICHAEL KASHUBA.
SO KEVIN, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD ADD?
>> I THINK THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS TO THIS, IS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ISSUED GUIDELINES FOR THESE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE OPEN TEXAS FORUM, AND THE ORGANIZERS OF THE YOUTH BASEBALL ADHERE TO THOSE, CREATED A PLAN ALONG THOSE LINES.
IT'S THEN INCUMBENT UPON THEM TO FOLLOW THAT PLAN AND TO IMPLEMENT THAT PLAN CORRECTLY.
THEIR PLAN CALLS FOR THE USAGE OF MASK THROUGHOUT.
PLAYERS ON THE FIELD WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING THE GAME DON'T HAVE TO WEAR MASKS, BUT UMPIRES, COACHES, ETC, ALL HAVE TO WEAR MASKS ACCORDING TO THEIR PLAN.
WHAT WAS BEING REPORTED DURING THE GAMES WAS, THAT THERE WAS, BASICALLY, ZERO COMPLIANCE WITH THAT MASK REQUIREMENT THAT THEY'RE ONLY PUT IN PLACE.
SO IT WAS BASED ON THAT, THAT THE LEAGUE MADE THE CALL, AS TO WHETHER THEY SHOULD CONTINUE PLAYING OR NOT.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE, IT'S A MATTER OF THEM CREATING A GOOD PLAN THAT FOLLOWS THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDELINES AND THEN NEEDING TO FOLLOW THAT PLAN.
>> MAYBE I SHOULD POINT OUT, I HAD THE CALLS PERSONALLY, OVER THE WEEKEND FROM A HANDFUL OF PARENTS THAT WERE FRUSTRATED THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE WERE COMPLYING WITH GOVERNOR'S ORDERS.
THEN I ALSO, HAD CALLS FROM A PARENT THAT SAID, "WHY DON'T THE ORDERS LET US PLAY?" THAT SUPPORT THE SPORTS VERY MUCH SO.
THE QUESTION IS REALLY, WHY DON'T YOU JUST NOT COMPLY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDER? I KNOW, THAT WE'VE TAKEN THE POSITION THAT THAT'S AN OPTION.
SO AT HIS HEART, WHILE NOBODY WANTS TO BE A PART OF KIDS NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAY THE GAMES, WE DO HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, WHILE BEING COMPLIANT WITH GOVERNOR'S ORDERS.
>> COUNCIL, YOU WOULDN'T GIVE ANY OTHER DIRECTION ON THAT, AS FAR AS NOT COMPLYING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S ORDERS, WOULD YOU? JUST BECAUSE YOU POSTED IT IN THE FORM OF A QUESTION, JARED I WANTED YOU TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> I WASN'T ASKING IT, EVERY CONVERSATION I'VE HAD IS, I DON'T WANT TO CHARACTERIZE CHAOS CONVERSATIONS.
NOBODY'S APPROACHED ME WITH WE SHOULD DISREGARD THE GOVERNOR'S GUIDELINES.
>> YEAH. NO, AND I DON'T THINK YOU'RE HEARING THAT TODAY.
SO I WANTED TO AFFIRM THAT FOR YOU.
OKAY, ANYTHING ELSE, COVID RELATED OR QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAVEN'T COVERED?
>> MR. CITY MANAGER, THERE WAS A BIT OF INFORMATION ON A SOFTWARE UPDATE, THAT THE CITY OR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS USING NOW TO AVOID DUPLICATE TESTS REPORTING.
DID YOU WANT TO JUST MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT? WHEN THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED, AND A LITTLE BIT ON THAT?
>> YEAH. LET ME GET CASEY BRINGING THE DETAILS THERE OR KEVIN, BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO DIRECTLY TOUCH WHAT SHE'S DOING OUT AT THE PUBLIC HEALTH. CASEY? [NOISE]
[00:40:04]
>> I'M SORRY. I'M A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.
>> DO YOU MIND JUST REPEATING THE QUESTION FOR HER JARED?
>> YEAH. THE QUESTION WAS, ARE WE USING THE SOFTWARE THAT'S GOING TO HELP US AVOID DUPLICATION OF COUNTING? WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SOFTWARE THAT WOULD HELP US BETTER ORGANIZE OUR CASELOAD.
>> WE ARE WORKING WITH CAN GET IN COUNTY, AND WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR IT DEPARTMENT TO PUT TOGETHER A SOFTWARE THAT WILL WORK [NOISE] WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING.
SO WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED, THE LINE LIST AND OUR SEARCHING GOES MANUALLY THROUGH THAT LINE LIST EVERY DAY, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE DUPLICATES.
THE PROGRAMMING THAT OUR IT DEPARTMENT WILL AUTOMATICALLY DO THAT.
THEN IT WILL ALSO, ALLOW US TO CAPTURE CONTACT AND THEN AUTOMATICALLY REPORT TO THE STATE.
SO IT WILL BE MORE OF A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL OF OUR DATA AS OPPOSED TO, RIGHT NOW, WE'RE COLLECTING DATA IN QUITE A FEW DIFFERENT SOURCES.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> YEAH, WE'RE WORKING ON IT, THE SOLUTION ON THAT [INAUDIBLE] REALLY APPRECIATE [INAUDIBLE] AND HIS TEAM [INAUDIBLE] VERY EFFECTIVE AND PHENOMENAL, THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE THING, VERY AGILE AND VERY QUICK TO RESPOND TO ALL OF THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.
[INAUDIBLE] TOTALLY APPRECIATE THEM.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU CASEY FOR JUMPING BACK ON TO GIVE THAT UPDATE.
OKAY, JARED, ANYTHING ELSE FINAL ON CORONAVIRUS?
>> OKAY. LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM 1 C THEN,
[1C. Discussion Amarillo Police Department Use of Force Policy;]
WHICH IS A DISCUSSION OF THE EMERALD POLICE DEPARTMENT, USE OF FORCE POLICY.THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I ASKED THE CITY MANAGER TO ADD TO OUR AGENDA, JUST BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE THAT WE'RE ALL WATCHING.
PROBABLY YOU'RE HAVING CITIZENS ASK AND DIALOGUE WITH YOU ABOUT, WHETHER OUR POLICIES ON THE USE OF FORCE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS VERY PUBLICLY, VERY MUCH SO OUT IN THE OPEN.
SO I ASKED THE CITY MANAGER, IF HE WOULD PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA AND INVITE THE CHIEF TO COME AND TALK WITH US TODAY ABOUT OUR POLICE FORCE.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION.
WE'VE RECEIVED; I KNOW YOU HAVE AND I HAVE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, WE'VE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR, PLEASE DESCRIBE FOR US THE USE OF FORCE POLICY.
WHAT'S IT SPEAK TO WITH REGARD TO THIS OR THAT AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
SO CHIEF BIRKENFELD, HAS BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK OVER THE LAST PERIOD OF TIME, DEFINITELY, OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
CLEARLY ARTICULATING, WHAT USE OF FORCE POLICIES ARE? NOT WRITING THEM AT ALL, BUT ARTICULATING TO THE PUBLIC IN A VERY EASY TO DIGEST WAY.
WHAT USE OF FORCE POLICIES ARE? CHIEF BIRKENFELD, IS HERE TO GO OVER THAT IN AS MUCH DETAIL AS YOU WANT.
HE'S GOING TO DO AN OVERVIEW AND THEN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. CHIEF BIRKENFELD.
>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
IT'S A VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND AS THE MAYOR POINTED OUT, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.
SO IT'S OUR GOAL TO BE VERY TRANSPARENT AND HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS ANYTIME, WE'RE ASKED ABOUT IT.
BUT WHAT I'LL DO, IS GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR DEPARTMENT HAS DONE AND IS DOING, AND THEN BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON OUR USE OF FORCE POLICY.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO, IS GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS TO LOOK AT.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH OUR VOLUME OF SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE AND MEASURED AGAINST THE AMOUNT OF FORCE THAT WE HAVE TO USE TO GET THAT DONE.
SO WE HAVE COMPLETE NUMBERS FOR 2019 AND WE HAD ABOUT A 108,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE.
THAT'S SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEBODY CALLED FOR A POLICE OFFICER, AND ONE OR MORE POLICE OFFICERS RESPONDED TO HANDLE AN INCIDENT.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE CONDUCTED OVER 44,000 TRAFFIC STOPS, AND THIS IS FOR EVERYTHING FROM MINOR VIOLATIONS TO MAJOR VIOLATIONS.
THEN IN THE COURSE OF ALL OF THOSE INCIDENTS, WE MADE ABOUT 8,529 ARRESTS.
OUT OF THOSE ARRESTS, WE HAVE TO USE FORCE A 151 TIMES, AND THAT'S FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR OF 2019.
OUT OF THOSE 151 USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS, WE HAD 14 COMPLAINTS WHERE EITHER INTERNALLY OR EXTERNALLY, WE INVESTIGATED THE OFFICERS FOR USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.
IN ALL BUT ONE OF THOSE CASES,
[00:45:01]
WE FOUND THAT THE OFFICERS HAD USED THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF FORCE.EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A COMPLAINT GENERATED AFTER WE LOOK AT ALL THE VIDEO, LOOK AT THE REPORTS, LOOK AT ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT WE HAD, WE FOUND THAT THE USE OF FORCE WAS JUSTIFIED.
IN THIS ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT, IT WAS NOT AND IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR THAT IT WASN'T, AND THE RESULT WAS, THAT THE OFFICER WAS TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT IN THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENTS.
SO I USE THESE NUMBERS TO POINT OUT THAT USE OF FORCE IS ACTUALLY FAIRLY RARE.
IT OCCURS IN ABOUT ONE OUT OF EVERY 700 CALLS FOR SERVICE, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
WE GENERALLY GET COMPLIANCE AND FORTUNATELY, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE VERY WELL TRAINED FOR IT AND READY FOR IT, THE USE OF FORCE IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO OCCUR IN MOST SITUATIONS.
BRIEFLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL TYPES OF FORCE THAT WE USE AND IT GOES ANYWHERE FROM USING PRESSURE LIKE DISCOMFORT OR PAIN COMPLIANCE.
THROUGH STRIKES, WE HAVE CHEMICAL WEAPONS, ELECTRONIC WEAPONS, IMPACT WEAPONS, AND THEN FINALLY DEADLY FORCE.
SO ANY TYPES OF FORCE THAT ARE USED ARE REQUIRED TO BE REPORTED.
THERE'S A SEPARATE REPORTING PROCESS FOR THIS, AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE REVIEW OF THAT LATER, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO US AS A QUESTION WAS, DO WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE USE OF FORCE REPORTING POLICY? THE ANSWER IS YES. IT'S NOT JUST A POLICY, IT'S A PRACTICE.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DONE ON EVERY USE OF FORCE.
THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE SITUATIONS WHERE SOMEBODY IS JUST HANDCUFFED OR IF WE PUT HANDS ON SOMEBODY AND THEY PULL AWAY AND THEN WE GET THEM HANDCUFFED, IT'S JUST REALLY A NON-INCIDENT.
WE CANNOT USE THE FORCE AS SOMETHING WHERE WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD TO APPLY PAIN OR CAUSE INJURY OR SOMETHING WHERE WE'VE USED AN ELECTRONIC OR A CHEMICAL WEAPON OR A DEADLY WEAPON.
OUR POLICY IS INLINE WITH TEXAS POLICE CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION BEST PRACTICES RECOGNITION PROGRAM.
WE'VE BEEN A RECOGNIZED AGENCY FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW AND WE CONTINUE EVERY YEAR TO LOOK AT OUR POLICIES AND MAKE SURE WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE TPCA STANDARDS FOR ACCREDITATION.
WE COMPLETED OUR LAST USE OF FORCE POLICY REVIEW IN FEBRUARY.
WE ACTUALLY STARTED IT IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR AND IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE IT'S 14 PAGES LONG AND WE NEED TO COMPARE OUR STANDARDS WITH THE TPCA, WE ALSO COMPARE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF'S OF POLICE STANDARDS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BEST PRACTICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ALSO WITH WHAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS.
SO WE COMPLETED OUR REVIEW IN FEBRUARY.
AFTER SOME QUESTIONS CAME UP OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I WENT BACK AND REVIEWED THE POLICY AGAIN AND I DID FIND ONE LITTLE GAP THAT I FELT LIKE WE COULD FIX, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT HERE IN JUST A MINUTE.
THE EIGHT SUGGESTIONS, WE'VE LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE AND THE MAYOR HAD A GREAT IDEA ABOUT ADDING THAT TO OUR WEB PAGE.
SO WE HAVE ADDED A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT USE OF FORCE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE, AND I'LL PUT THE LINK THERE ON THE PRESENTATION HERE SO THAT ANYBODY CAN LOOK AT THAT.
IN THAT PARTICULAR FAQ, WE ANSWER SPECIFICALLY EACH ONE OF THE 8CANTWAIT QUESTIONS AND HOW THAT APPLIES TO OUR POLICY IN OUR PRACTICE.
THE THING THAT WE ADDED IN POLICY RECENTLY WAS THE POLICE OFFICERS DUTY TO INTERVENE.
THAT'S IMPLIED IN OUR POLICY, IN OTHER AREAS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN OUR CODE OF CONDUCT, IF NOT SURE OBSERVES BEHAVIOR THAT'S UNETHICAL OR ILLEGAL BY A FELLOW EMPLOYEE, I HAVE A DUTY TO REPORT THAT.
I FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO BE A LITTLE MORE SPECIFIC IN OUR USE OF FORCE POLICY AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR TO EVERYBODY INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY THAT IF A POLICE OFFICER OBSERVES EXCESSIVE FORCE BEING USED, THEY HAVE THE DUTY TO INTERVENE.
SO WE CHANGED THAT RECENTLY AND ADDED THAT AND PUSHED THAT OUT ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
OUR USE OF FORCE TRAINING STARTS IN OUR POLICE ACADEMY.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE WELL OVER THE STATE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF USE OF FORCE TRAINING AND ITS CLASSROOM-BASED TRAINING ON POLICY, BUT IT'S ALSO A LOT OF SCENARIO-BASED TRAINING.
WE PUT OUR POTENTIAL POLICE OFFICERS THROUGH TRAINING THAT ALLOWS THEM TO EXAMINE A SCENARIO AND DETERMINE IF THEY NEED TO TAKE ANY ACTION AT ALL OR IF THEY NEED TO TAKE ACTION THAT REQUIRES USE OF FORCE, OR IN SOME CASES THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE.
SO WE TRY TO GIVE THEM AS MANY DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AS POSSIBLE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY COULD BE FACING WHEN THEY GET OUT ON PATROL.
IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC ACADEMY TRAINING, WE ALSO HAVE TRAINING EVERY YEAR IN OUR USE OF FORCE POLICY AND PRACTICE FOR EVERY SINGLE POLICE OFFICER FROM THE CHIEF ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE NEWEST PATROL OFFICER.
THAT'S GENERALLY AN EIGHT HOUR DAY.
IT STARTS OUT WITH SOME PHYSICAL READINESS, ASSESSMENT, AND THEN IT TRANSITIONS INTO POLICY REVIEW AND THEN FINALLY INTO PRACTICING THESE PARTICULAR SCENARIOS.
ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT I'VE POINTED OUT HERE, DE-ESCALATION, LOOKING AT OUR POLICY, LOOKING AT OUR TACTICS, PRACTICING THESE TACTICS, IN ADDITION, WE TRAIN ON SUBJECT RECOVERY,
[00:50:02]
AND I SPECIFICALLY LOOKED AT OUR LESSON PLAN THIS YEAR TO MADE SURE THAT THAT WAS IN THEIR SUBJECT RECOVERY, WHICH IS WHERE AFTER WE'VE USED FORCE ON A PERSON, WE DECIDE HOW BEST TO CARE FOR THEM.IN SOME CASES, IF THERE IS NO INJURIES THE PERSON IS SIMPLY PUT IN A POLICE CAR AND TAKEN TO JAIL.
IN OTHER CASES, WE MAY HAVE TO CALL FOR AN AMBULANCE AND TAKE THAT PERSON TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE TREATED FOR INJURIES.
BUT WE HAVE TO SPECIFICALLY TRAIN FOR THAT PRACTICE.
IN ADDITION, THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO ADD THE DUTY TO INTERVENE TO OUR IN-SERVICE TRAINING ON USE OF FORCE TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS CRYSTAL-CLEAR ON THAT POLICY.
EVERY SINGLE USE OF FORCE INCIDENT, ALL 151 LAST YEAR, WERE REVIEWED.
THERE'S ACTUALLY FOUR LEVELS OF REVIEW FOR EACH ONE.
WHEN AN OFFICER USES FORCE, THEY COMPLETE THEIR REGULAR INCIDENT REPORT, THEY ALSO COMPLETE THE USE OF FORCE REPORT.
A LOT OF THESE CASES THEY'VE ALREADY NOTIFIED THE SUPERVISOR TO COME AND HAVE SOME OVERSIGHT ON THAT INCIDENT, BUT THE SUPERVISOR HAS TO LOOK AT THE REPORTS AND GATHER ALL THE PICTURES, THE VIDEOS, AND REVIEW THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR POLICY AND THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
AFTER THIS FIRST LINE SUPERVISOR REVIEWS THAT, THEY SEND IT TO THE WATCH COMMANDER OR THE UNIT SUPERVISOR, WHICH IS USUALLY A LIEUTENANT WHO CONDUCTS THE SAME REVIEW.
IT'S A LITTLE EASIER BECAUSE THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION GATHERED FOR HIM ALREADY, THEY CONDUCT THEIR REVIEW, AND THEN THEY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR DECISION, THEY SEND THAT OUT TO THE DIVISION CAPTAIN.
THE CAPTAIN HAS TO REVIEW, AND IF NEEDED, WE CALL TOGETHER ALL THE CAPTAINS FOR A REVIEW PANEL TO LOOK AT THE USE FORCE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH POLICY.
THEN FINALLY, AN ASSISTANT CHIEF LOOKS AT EVERYONE ELSE'S REVIEW, LOOKS AT THE INCIDENT CELL AND SIGNS OFF ON THE USE OF FORCE.
THE RESULT CAN BE SOMETIMES THAT WE IDENTIFY CASES WHERE WE NEED TO RETRAIN, OR WHERE WE NEED TO CHANGE OUR TRAINING, OR WHERE WE NEED TO MODIFY OUR POLICY, OR WHERE WE HAVE A SPECIFIC INCIDENTS OF MISCONDUCT LIKE WE DID LAST YEAR.
AT ANY POINT IN THAT REVIEW, IT CAN TURN INTO AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.
SO THERE'S FOUR DIFFERENT CHANCES FOR THAT TO BE CAUGHT AND TURNED INTO AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.
WE CONDUCT THE INVESTIGATION AND WE LOOK FOR POLICY VIOLATIONS AND LAW VIOLATIONS IF THERE'S ANY, AND THEN WE DEAL WITH THAT APPROPRIATELY.
OUR GOAL IS TO INSTILL OUR OFFICERS CONFIDENCE IN THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SOUND POLICY, WE REALLY HAVE EXCELLENT TRAINING, WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE REPORTING PROGRAM, AND WE HAVE A THOROUGH REVIEW PROCESS FOR USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS.
THE GOAL OF THIS PROCESS IS TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND AT THE SAME TIME BUILD TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR DEPARTMENT AND IN OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF THAT, BUT I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO A GOOD JOB OF THAT SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE TRUST OF THE PUBLIC.
I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS [BACKGROUND].
>> [OVERLAPPING] I APPRECIATE [OVERLAPPING].
>> GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER HAYS.
>> CHIEF, I APPRECIATE YOU ANSWERING SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAD BEEN SUBMITTED AND JUST EXPLAINING THE TRAINING AND THE POLICY.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT A REMINDER THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF INTERACTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AND JUST A FRACTION END UP HAVING TO USE EXTRA FORCE, AND THEN EVEN A SMALLER FRACTION OF THOSE THAT ARE THEN FOUND TO HAVE BEEN UNJUSTIFIED.
SO IT'S GOOD TO PUT THOSE THINGS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE, IT'S GOOD TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS AND HAVE CLARITY, BUT IT'S JUST ALSO KEEPING IT IN PERSPECTIVE OF JUST BEING THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF CALLS YOU GUYS MAKE, THE INTERACTION YOU HAVE, AND JUST HOW YOU DO THAT WITH A LOT OF PATIENCE AND GRACE.
>> WE APPRECIATE [BACKGROUND] YOU'RE RIGHT.
I MEAN, THIS IS A SMALL FRACTION OF WHAT WE DO.
WE HAVE TO TRAIN FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THOSE INSTANCE WHERE IT'S VERY CRITICAL THAT THESE TYPES OF THINGS ARE HANDLED PROPERLY, BUT IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T OCCUPY ALL DAY EVERY DAY.
>> I DO APPRECIATE HAVING THAT PERSPECTIVE.
I THINK IT'S INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE.
THERE ARE MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES, I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL WOMAN PAUL'S LETTER TO THE EDITOR THAT SHE WROTE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO WHICH IS TALKING ABOUT THE FEAR THAT SHE HAS WHEN HER GRANDCHILDREN GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AND DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY.
SO PART OF WHAT I APPRECIATE ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT RIGHT NOW CHIEF, AND I DON'T KNOW, ARE YOU EIGHT WEEKS ON THE JOB YET? I MEAN, THERE WAS NO HONEYMOON PERIOD HERE.
[00:55:01]
[LAUGHTER] I GUESS IT'S YOU OR [INAUDIBLE] IT FEELS NORMAL TO YOU ANYWAY, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP.THE FACT THAT THIS POLICY HAD JUST BEEN THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS SCHEDULED OR NOT, BUT YOUR WILLINGNESS TO GO LOWER, AND YOU DIDN'T BRING BACK AN ANSWER TO US THAT SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT? WE JUST DID THAT IN FEBRUARY AND I THINK WE'RE GOOD WITH THAT." NO. YOU TOOK YOUR HANDS ON IT AND YOU SAID, "INLINE OF WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, IF YOU HAVE THIS QUESTION, I'M GOING TO REVIEW IT AGAIN AND WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AND ACTUALLY SEE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE IMPROVED AND WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT THAT." I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT APPROACH.
YES, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE.
YES, THERE ARE MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES ON THIS DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR BACKGROUND IS AND WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCE IN INTERACTION WITH THE POLICE HAS BEEN EITHER SYSTEMATICALLY OR MAYBE PERSONALLY, BUT YOU HAVE STATED THE MISSION EXACTLY RIGHT.
THAT IS THAT, "WE WANT PEOPLE IN AMORELLA TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR OFFICERS AS INDIVIDUALS, IN THEIR EXTENSIVE FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY, AND IN THE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE TREATING FOLKS FAIRLY AND POLICY IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT FOUNDATION FOR THAT." SO I WANT TO SPECIFICALLY THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING THAT POLICY, FOR THE EFFORT THAT YOU AND THE DEPARTMENT, I DON'T KNOW THAT SERGEANT OR I DON'T KNOW WHO IT WAS THAT PUT THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS TOGETHER AND COMPILED ALL THAT INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT OUT PUBLICLY [NOISE] JUST HAVING THAT OPEN DIALOGUE I THINK IS PART OF BUILDING THAT KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE APPROACH. I THINK IT'S ALSO GOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, LIKE COUNCIL WOMAN POWELL, TO SEE WHAT OUR FORCE POLICY IS, AND THEN BEING ABLE TO GIVE US FEEDBACK FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON ANYTHING THAT WE MIGHT NOT SEE OR UNDERSTAND BECAUSE OF OUR EXPERIENCE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS.
I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE OUR WORK IS DONE, IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUALLY EVOLVING PROCESS, WHICH I SENSE THAT YOU'RE IN FOR THE LONG HAUL ON THAT AS WELL.
I THINK YOU DID A GREAT JOB SUMMARIZING IT FOR CITIZENS WHO MIGHT WANT TO KNOW WHAT OUR CURRENT POLICY IS AND HOW WE ARRIVE AT THAT CURRENT POLICY.
I THINK THAT'S JUST REALLY IMPORTANT DIALOGUE THAT WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT AS AN OPEN DIALOGUE.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT COMPETENCE, AND I HAVE TO THANK THE HUNDREDS OF PROFESSIONAL POLICE OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE HERE AND THE GREAT STAFF THAT I HAVE HERE.
IT'S NOT JUST ME, IT'S OUR STAFF AND IT'S OUR POLICE OFFICERS THAT DO A GREAT JOB, AND HELP MAKE THIS WORK.
BUILDING TRUST IS ONE OF OUR CORNERSTONES HERE, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP PUSHING ON THAT.
>> CHIEF, ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK I APPRECIATE THE MOST OUT OF THIS WAS, I WAS BEGINNING TO GET SOME EMAILS FOR THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING, WE NEED TO HAVE THIS, AND THIS, AND THIS IN PLACE, I WAS JUST REALLY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THAT WE WEREN'T RUNNING TO CATCH UP BUT YOU HAD A MAJORITY OF THESE THINGS ALREADY IN PLACE.
YOU ARE ALREADY THINKING THROUGH THESE THINGS, ALREADY IMPLEMENTING THESE THINGS THAT I GUESS OTHER PLACES ARE STRUGGLING TO EVEN COMPREHEND AND TO BEGIN TO DIAL IN.
THE FACT THAT AGAIN, YOU GUYS ARE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB TO MAKE FOR SURE THAT YOU'RE STAYING ON THE CUTTING EDGE, THAT YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF THE CITIZENS, THAT YOU'RE ALSO TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY, THAT YOU ARE HAVING TO MAKE A REST WITH OR THAT YOU ARE HAVING CONFRONTATIONS WITH, AND TO SEE THAT YOU-ALL ARE GOING, "WE ALREADY HAVE A LOT OF THIS IN PLACE.
WE'RE STILL CONTINUING TO TWEAK IT," THAT MAKES ME VERY PROUD OF YOU GUYS AND VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOU GUYS. THANK YOU.
>> CHIEF BIRKENFELD, I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS BEING PROACTIVE.
YOU'RE WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON NOT ONLY THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, BUT THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.
YOU BEING PROACTIVE AND JUST BECAUSE YOU'VE LOOKED AT A POLICY, SAY LAST YEAR OR REVIEWED IT LAST YEAR, IF SOMETHING COMES UP, YOU'RE LIKE, "LET'S JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS AGAIN, I KNOW WE JUST LOOKED AT IT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO," AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT AND I THINK [NOISE] THAT YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE REALLY LISTENING.
YOU'RE LISTENING TO OUR CITIZENS AND YOU'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE COMPLAINTS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT.
[01:00:01]
AND SO I COULDN'T REALLY SAY ANY MORE THAN WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER HAYS HAS ALREADY SAID AND MAYOR NELSON HAS SAID.>> ALSO, COUNCIL MEMBER, DR. EDDY SAUER, THANK YOU.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? CHIEF, WE CAN'T LET YOU GO WITHOUT CHECKING ON THE STATUS OF YOUR OFFICER.
>> HE IS. HE'LL TO BE BACK TO WORK SHORTLY.
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR HIM OR NOT, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY GOOD NEWS THAT HE'S RECOVERING AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.
>> IT IS GOOD NEWS. I TALKED TO HIM A FEW DAYS AGO, HE'S IN VERY GOOD SPIRITS, HE'S GOT A GOOD ATTITUDE.
I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
AGAIN, IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT, BUT LUCKILY, IT WASN'T WORSE, BUT HE'S GOING TO BE FINE.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, CHIEF, AND THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TODAY TO GIVE US THAT REPORT.
>> NEXT ON OUR AGENDA IS A DISCUSSION OF A CREATION AND CHARGE FOR A UNITY COMMITTEE.
[1D. Discuss Creation and Charge of the Unity Committee;]
[NOISE] I HAVE ASKED COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL TO LEAD.THIS EFFORT WAS HER IDEA, AND I THINK IT'S AN EXCELLENT ONE, AND WE DISCUSSED IT A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND HAD GREAT SUPPORT FROM THE REMAINDER OF COUNCIL.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL AND I DISCUSSED IN GETTING THIS COMMITTEE OFF THE GROUND WOULD BE TO GIVE THEM A CHARGE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THIS CHARGE TO YOU TODAY.
FRIDA, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE NAME OF THE COMMITTEE, AND THEN LET YOU PRESENT THE REMAINDER OF THE CHARGE, AND THEN WE NEED TO REMIND EVERYONE TO FINISH SUBMITTING THEIR SUGGESTED NAMES FOR THE COMMITTEE.
I WON'T SAY THERE ARE TWO MEMBERS TO GET AN A ON THEIR HOMEWORK ON THAT.
TWO MEMBERS WHO STILL MIGHT NEED A LITTLE EXTRA TIME TO TURN THEIR HOMEWORK IN.
THAT'S COMING, AND THAT'S YOUR KIND REMINDER ON THAT.
[LAUGHTER] STEPHANIE, DO YOU MIND PUTTING UP IN FRONT OF US THAT CHARGE SO THAT EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN CONSIDERING AS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS IS JUST THE MISSION OF THE CITY.
THE CITY MISSION STATEMENT SAYS THAT WE, AS A CITY, WILL CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR EVERY AMARILLO RESIDENT TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS.
IN FORMING THIS COMMITTEE, I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE ACTUALLY CALL IT A TASK FORCE FOR GREATNESS AND TIE IT INTO OUR CITY'S MISSION STATEMENT.
RIGHT THERE AT ITEM 2, IT SAYS "THE TASK FORCE FOR GREATNESS WILL WORK TO MEET THE CITY'S MISSION TO CREATE THE BEST ENVIRONMENT POSSIBLE FOR EVERY AMARILLO RESIDENT TO FIND AND ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS." I DO THINK THAT RACIAL EQUALITY IS A COMPONENT OF BEING A GREAT CITY.
I THINK INCLUDING THAT AS THE SPECIFIC ISSUE THAT WE WANT THIS COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW IS A GOOD DIRECTION TO GO IN.
THE STATEMENT FINISHES BY SAYING, "INCLUDING TAKING A THOROUGH AND THOUGHTFUL LOOK AT RACIAL EQUITY IN AMARILLO TO RESULT IN PURPOSEFUL ACTION AND ACCELERATED PROGRESS TOWARD EQUITY".
LET'S STOP FOR JUST A MINUTE AND TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO NAME THINGS.
THERE'S A POWER IN WHAT YOU GIVE SOMETHING AS A NAME.
WE'VE ALL CHOSEN NAMES FOR OUR CHILDREN, SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WASN'T SOMETHING WE JUST DID FOR THE MOMENT.
WE WERE INTENTIONAL ABOUT CHOOSING THOSE NAMES.
I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TAKE A MINUTE AND BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT CHOOSING THE NAME FOR THIS COMMITTEE.
ANY THOUGHTS ON THE NAME AS IT'S WRITTEN INTO THIS CHARGE? DO WE NEED TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION? [BACKGROUND]
>> I REALLY LIKE INCLUDING THE WORD GREATNESS.
WE MIGHT CONSIDER REPLACING TASK FORCE, WHICH IS PRETTY GENERIC, WOULD FIT ANYTHING OF MAYBE LIKE OUTREACH FOR GREATNESS, REACHING FOR GREATNESS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT TASK FORCE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES WHAT WE'RE REACHING FOR, OR THIS IS SPECIFICALLY AN OUTREACH TOWARD EQUITY IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT EQUITY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT JUST IN CONVERSATION, BUT THEN ACTUALLY ENGAGING IN STEPS TOWARDS THAT.
I THINK THAT WITH THAT, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GRAB SOME BETTER DEFINING WORDS THAN JUST TASK FORCE,
[01:05:04]
A LITTLE BIT LIKE TRINEX.>> EDDIE, HOW DOES THE NAME LAND ON YOU OR USING THE WORD GREATNESS?
>> I LIKE THE IDEA. I THINK IT'LL BE REALLY GOOD.
I THINK THAT REALLY SUMS UP EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED TO SEE GOING FORWARD IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP FORWARD.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, IT'S TAKING THE NEXT STEP FORWARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TERM.
>> OKAY. I'M GOING TO PASS THE BUTTON TO FRIDAH.
WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HOURS SHE WORKED ON THIS.
[NOISE] BUT WHEN IT CAME TO ME, IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AND IT WAS, AS EVERYTHING THAT FRIDAH TOUCHES, DONE WITH EXCELLENCE.
I SUSPECT SHE HAD A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT SHE WAS CHECKING WITH AND BECAUSE SHE IS A GOOD CONSENSUS BUILDER.
BUT I WANT TO THANK HER RIGHT UP FRONT FOR THE TIME THAT SHE SPENT WORKING ON THIS.
THE CHARGE ITSELF IS INSPIRATIONAL BECAUSE WE AS A VISIONARY POLICY BOARD SHOULD BE CASTING A VISION FOR THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE.
AS THE GROUP GETS TOGETHER AND MEETS, [NOISE] THEY WILL COME UP WITH SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO MEET THE VISION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS SET FOR THEM.
YOU YOU SEE AS FRIDAH HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB HERE IN CAPTURING THE INSPIRATIONAL VISION PART OF THE COMMITTEE AND WHAT WE EXPECT IS THAT THE COMMITTEE AS THEY MEET WILL COME UP WITH THE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES TO MEET THESE VISIONS.
FRIDAH, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PASS THE BUTTON TO YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES, USUALLY WHAT I DO IS I COME UP WITH THE IDEAS AND THEN I JUST PUSH THOSE TO A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT I'M WORKING WITH BECAUSE I DO LIKE CONSENSUS AND I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M INCLUDING EVERYONE AND I DON'T WANT TO OFFEND ANYONE IN TRYING TO GET THE WORK DONE.
I APPRECIATE THE TEAM THAT I HAVE AND THEY KNOW THAT I'M ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE WORDS ARE GOING TO COME OUT.
WE WANTED TO COME UP WITH A CHARGE FOR THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE.
AS YOU CAN SEE THAT'S UP ON THE SCREEN AND THAT IS; TO IMPROVE AND ACCELERATE UNITY AND RACIAL EQUITY IN OUR CITY.
WHAT BETTER TIME FOR US TO BE LOOKING AT THAT THAN RIGHT NOW AND TRYING TO STEP IN AND BEGIN TO HAVE SOME VERY, VERY DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE NEED TO HEAR THE TRUTH AND I BELIEVE THAT EVERY CITIZEN CAN VOICE THEIR OPINION AND VOICE THE TRUTH BUT THERE IS A RESPECTFUL WAY TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO INSTILL IN THIS COMMITTEE AS WE MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE WE WANT TO MOVE QUICKLY AND WE WANT TO ACCOMPLISH SOME THINGS THAT THE COMMITTEE IS GOING TO LOOK AT EARLY ON.
BUT THE FIRST THING IS GOING TO BE THE COMMITTEE HAVING A CONVERSATION AND GETTING FAMILIAR WITH EACH OTHER AND UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER'S BACKGROUNDS AND WHY WE THINK THE WAY WE THINK.
BUT MORE IN A TRUTHFUL AND RESPECTFUL MANNER.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CHARGE IS THERE.
WE WANT TO DO THIS BY DEVELOPING A COMMON LANGUAGE FOR COMMUNICATING ABOUT RACIAL EQUALITY.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN CORRIDORS OF COMMUNICATION FOR DIFFICULT BUT SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE BUT NECESSARY CONVERSATIONS.
THAT'S THE KEY POINT RIGHT THERE.
WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT CULTURE.
MY BACKGROUND IS DIFFERENT THAN A LOT OF OTHERS BACKGROUNDS AND SO THAT I ALWAYS PRIDE MYSELF IN IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND OTHERS, HAVE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, UNDERSTAND THEIR BACKGROUND AND APPRECIATE WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY HAVE COME FROM.
WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO PARTNER WITH OUR BUSINESSES HERE IN AMARILLO.
WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH ALL OF OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS BECAUSE AFTER ALL, WHEN YOU START THE RACIAL CONVERSATION, HEY, IT STARTS AT HOME AND IT STARTS WITH OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN.
WE WANT TO PARTNER WITH OUR PHILANTHROPY ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE CITY AS WELL.
WE WANT TO WORK ON NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES AND AGAIN, I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, WE HAVE SO MANY CITIZENS IN
[01:10:03]
OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO REACH OUT, THAT WANT TO HELP, THAT WANT TO PROVIDE MONETARY RESOURCES FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITIES AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT TIME TO JUST HELP BUILD AND MORE THAN ANYTHING, JUST TRYING TO BLESS SOMEONE THAT IS LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOU ARE.THEN I WANT THIS COMMITTEE TO IDENTIFY DIFFERENT PROJECTS TO LOOK AT AND JUST TO NAME THE FEW HERE WHICH WOULD INCLUDE RENAMING THE MLK, A THERFARE OR FREEWAY STREET, ROAD OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
LOOKING AT THE STATUE, THERE'S A LOT OF CITIZENS THAT MAY WANT TO HELP WITH STREET TOPPERS THAT'S GOING ON IN THE NORTH HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S JUST MORE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO GIVE AND WANT TO HELP.
MAYBE THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE CAN HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE RESOURCES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY WANT TO PARTNER WITH THIS COMMITTEE TO HELP OUR CITY AND THIS IS REALLY CITYWIDE AND NOT JUST FOCUSED ON ONE AREA, ONE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEN I THINK THE OTHER THING THAT I REALLY WANT TO POINT OUT IS JUST THE MEMBERSHIP AND I WANTED IT TO BE A DIVERSE GROUP OF AMARILLO CITIZENS APPOINTED BY THE AMARILLO CITY COUNCIL WHO ARE COMMITTED TO QUICKLY EXECUTING A STRATEGY TO ACCOMPLISH THE CITY'S MISSION AND THIS CHARGE.
WITH THAT SAID, I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANY OF THE CITIZENS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE, PLEASE BE IN TOUCH WITH ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND SO WE CAN ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST.
I'VE HAD A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE CONTACTED ME AND SAID, "MAN, THIS IS GREAT.
I WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS." MAYOR, DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE?
>> I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD PEOPLE CONTACTING US AND SO JUST AS A CITIZEN, I THINK WE'RE TARGETING ABOUT A 15 MEMBER GROUP HERE TO START THIS WORK.
IT WILL BE HARD TO CREATE A SPACE AT THE TABLE FOR EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO WORK ON THE PROJECT INITIALLY.
BUT I THINK THERE WILL BE SUB-COMMITTEES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK ON INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS.
STAY TUNED IF YOU'RE A CITIZEN BECAUSE I THINK THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL TO GIVE REPORTS AND TO REVEAL THOSE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES THAT THEY WANT TO WORK ON.
IF YOU DON'T GET THE APPOINTMENT TO THE GENERAL COMMITTEE, THEN I THINK THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES STILL TO WORK ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND THAT MIGHT BE MORE INTERESTING TO CITIZENS GOING FORWARD ANYWAY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST LIKE TO GET IN AND GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY AND DO THE WORK.
THOSE SPECIFIC PROJECTS, IF THEY FORM SUB-COMMITTEES, WILL BE MORE ALONG THOSE LINES.
>> LOOKING FOR PASSIONATE CITIZENS THAT WANT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN AND QUICKLY.
>> COUNCIL, IF THERE'S ANYTHING ELSE, FRIDAH, JUST IN THOSE LAST LITTLE, THAT WE CAST OUT A TIMELINE FOR THEM WHICH TO ME LOOKS GOOD.
IT'S A STARTING POINT FOR THEM AND JUST RECORD KEEPING.
THIS IS HISTORIC IN SOME WAYS AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO BE TASKED WITH KEEPING A RECORD OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY PLAN TO WORK ON AND THEIR PLANS.
ANYTHING ELSE, FRIDAH, IF SPECIFICALLY IN THE CHARGE?
>> NO, OUR TIMELINE IS SET FOR, THE FIRST 90 DAYS WOULD BE TO CREATE A GROUP UNDERSTANDING OF RACIAL EQUITY, CREATE SPECIFIC STRATEGIES AROUND THE CHARGE, AND REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY, REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR EARLY INCLUSION.
THEN WE HAVE A 12-MONTH TIMELINE, WHICH IS TO IDENTIFY ISSUES FOR IMPROVEMENT, DEVELOP OUTCOMES.
AN OUTCOME IS A MEASUREMENT TOOL FOR THE TASK FORCE'S WORK.
BUILD MOMENTUM WITH 2-3 QUICK WINS DURING THE FIRST YEAR AND THE THIRD TIMELINE WOULD BE THREE YEARS.
THAT'S TO DEMONSTRATE SIGNIFICANT AND PROVEN IMPROVEMENT RELATED TO RACIAL EQUITY IN THE COMMUNITY.
[01:15:01]
SO LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY'S CULTURE.>> COUNCIL, ANY FEEDBACK THEN ON THE CHARGE AS IT'S PUT OUT THERE?
>> JUST LIKE NORMAL, ALL I'VE GOT TO SAY IS, FRIDAH HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF SETTING THIS ALL UP, PUTTING IT DOWN ON PAPER.
IT'S VERY EASY TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK AND THE DURATION.
IT'LL BE EXCITING TO SEE THE RESULTS THAT END UP COMING OUT AND THE CHANGES THAT IT HELPS FACILITATE IN THE CITY.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY A GREAT WAY TO GO.
>> THANK YOU. JUST AGAIN, THANK YOU TO MY TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO HELP ME AND LOOK OUT FOR ME.
>> WELL DONE, FREDA. ON THE PARTNERS, I WOULD CONSIDER OR HEARING A FEEDBACK THAT WAS A DIRECTION, BUT I WOULD THINK ONE OF OUR PARTNERS, WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE OUR CHURCHES AND OUR RELIGIOUS LEADERS, BUT THEY WERE NOT LISTED THERE.
SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME, SO THANK YOU.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY A PART OF THE CHARGE, BUT IN JUST THINKING OF WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO ASSIMILATE DIFFERENT CULTURES, DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, I THINK ANOTHER TARGET OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE OUR REFUGEES AS WELL, JUST THAT THIS WOULD POSSIBLY BE A GOOD STRUCTURE TO USE TOWARDS BUILDING A BRIDGE OF THOSE GROUPS TO HAVE MORE ENGAGEMENT AND ASSIMILATE INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
>> YES, MA'AM, I CERTAINLY AGREE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU, KEN.
>> I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR BACK FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES AS YOU ARE READING THOSE THINGS, FREDA, I'M SITTING THERE JUST GOING YES, YES, YES, AND THEN, THE OPPORTUNITIES OF WHAT'S THAT ACTUALLY GOING TO LOOK LIKE, BECAUSE I THINK MOST OF US RECOGNIZE YOU NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS.
YOU NEED TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND IS ALL THOSE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.
BUT HOW DO YOU FACILITATE THAT IS SO CRUCIAL AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THIS GROUP COMES UP WITH, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN JUST SIT IN THE STANDS AND REALLY IMPACT WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE ON THE PLAYING FIELD AND ENGAGE AND THAT'S WHAT I HEAR YOU DESCRIBING WHAT YOU'RE WORKING TO CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.
>> YES, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON.
I KNOW I WON'T MAKE [INAUDIBLE] FOR B PLUS, I GET MY LIST [INAUDIBLE] [LAUGHTER]
>> I HAVE TO SUBTRACT FIVE OR 10 FOR THE IMPRESSIVE DEADLINE, BUT [LAUGHTER] JUST CHANGING.
ONE OF THE THINGS, FREDA, I REALLY LIKE BEING AT THE TOP OF THE LIST WAS JUST DEVELOPING THE VOCABULARY.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S EASY TO SAY BUT DIFFICULT TO DO, IF WE CAN EVEN HAVE A ONE-PAGE SHEET OF VOCABULARY TERMS. SO WE'RE ALL GOING TO USE THE SAME VOCABULARY WORDS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RACIAL ISSUES AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A REALLY PRODUCTIVE PLACE TO START SO I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT LEAVING OUT IN THE CHARGE.
COUNCIL, AS FAR AS THE TIMELINE, IF WE HAVE A CONSENSUS THEN, THAT FRUIT IS HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION WITH DISCHARGE AND I THINK WE DO.
I PICK THE TIMELINE WOULD BE FOR US TO TRY AND HAVE THIS COMMITTEE UP AND RUNNING BY THE END OF JULY, WITH PERHAPS FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, INITIAL WEEK FOR THEM TO MEET, DEPENDING ON HOW HARD IT IS TO COORDINATE THEIR SCHEDULES ONCE WE GET THEM ALL ON BOARD.
WE'LL BE KEEPING YOU POSTED ON THE PROGRESS THERE AND THEN I WOULD THINK WE WOULD HAVE REGULARLY SCHEDULE UPDATES FROM THIS GROUP.
I GUESS WE DO NEED TO PICK A NAME.
SO JUST COMING BACK THROUGH LISTENING TO ELAINE'S COMMENT, ANY SUGGESTIONS?
[01:20:06]
I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT, IT USED TO BE A NOUN THAT DESCRIBES A GROUP OF PEOPLE, SO THEIR DESCRIPTION IS GREATNESS.BUT WHAT NOUN DO WE WANT TO USE TO DESCRIBE A GROUP OF PEOPLE?
>> I WENT AND LOOKED IT UP IN THE THESAURUS FOR COMMITTEE.
I STILL THINK TASK FORCE IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE, BECAUSE THE DEFINITION FOR A COMMITTEE IS A GROUP WORKING ON A PROJECT AND WHEN YOU LOOK DOWN THROUGH THE SOURCE POTENTIAL POSSIBILITIES, THAT'S BY FAR THE BEST WORD, I THINK.
>> THAT'S A REAL AND CUT AND DRY, BLACK AND WHITE WAY TO LOOK AT IT THOUGH.
[LAUGHTER] I DO ADMIT THAT'S KIND OF HOW I AM THOUGH.
>> DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A SUGGESTION, ELAINE ON A DIFFERENT APPROACH OR YOU'RE THINKING CHANGE AFTER HEARING THE CHARGE?
>> NO, I'M FINE, BUT I DO THINK THAT GREATNESS IS THE KEY.
I DO LOVE THAT BEING IN THERE BECAUSE IT DOES FIT OUR OVERALL CITY COMMISSION AND IT IS TRULY, I THINK, THE RIGHT WORD TO HAVE IN THERE, WHAT GOES IN FRONT OF IT ISN'T SO CRUCIAL.
I'M JUST A LITTLE BIT, TASK FORCE GETS USED ALL THE TIME SO I JUST WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT SUDDEN FALL EASILY, [NOISE] BUT I DON'T HAVE A GREAT SUGGESTION FOR A REPLACEMENT.
>> MAYOR, DO WE HAVE TO NAME THE GROUP RIGHT NOW OR DO WE HAVE BEFORE JULY 31ST?
BUT I THINK, FREDA, YOU'VE HEARD THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COUNCIL.
SO MOVE FORWARD WITH YOUR CHARGE.
USE AS A PLACE HOLDER "TASK FORCE FOR GREATNESS".
YOU WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH A EUREKA KIND OF MOMENT ON A NEW NOUN TO DESCRIBE THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE ACHIEVING GREATNESS, ARE BEING CHARGED WITH GREATNESS, THEN I THINK FOLLOWING THE COUNCIL WOULD BE COMFORTABLE WITH LEAVING YOU WITH THE AUTHORITY TO SHIP THAT NAME.
IF WHAT WE LACK, I THINK, IS GREATNESS, THE USE OF GREATNESS.
>> WANT TO ADD [INAUDIBLE] REACH OUT FOR THE NEW CHAMPIONS OF GREATNESS.
>> THERE MAY BE MY THOUGHT PROCESS WAS THERE MAY BE ONE OR TWO CITIZENS THAT MAY HAVE A THOUGHT TOO, YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.
>> OKAY, GOOD. WELL, WE TASK YOU WITH MAKING THAT FINAL CHOICE THERE.
>> FREDA, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK AND YOU'VE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF WORK ON IT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO BE IN THE THICK, MIDDLE OF THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> THE WORK HAS JUST BEGUN. [LAUGHTER]
YOU'RE WORTHY OF IT, AND THE WORK WILL BE WORTHY TO DO FOR OUR CITY. [OVERLAPPING]
[1E. Discuss Possible November Charter Election;]
>> OKAY. MOVING ON TO ITEM 1E, WHICH IS DISCUSSION OF A POSSIBLE NOVEMBER CHARTER ELECTION, AND WE HAVE WITH US TODAY IN THE MEETING MEMBERS OF A CITIZENS CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE.
THEY HAVE CHOSEN TODAY AS THEIR SPOKESPERSON LOCAL ATTORNEY, BILL BRIAN.
I BET BILL IS COMING ON TO THE PANEL AS WE SPEAK HERE.
THERE'S BILL. THANK YOU, BUT I KNOW WE HAVE OTHER MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE ON THE LINE WITH US AND WE APPRECIATE ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
BUT BILL, AT THIS TIME, I'M GOING TO HAND THE MICROPHONE OFF TO YOU SO THAT YOU CAN WALK US THROUGH A SUMMARY OF WHAT THE COMMITTEE HAS DONE AND WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ARE.
YOU MIGHT NEED TO UNMUTE, BILL.
SORRY. WE ALWAYS NEED THAT REMINDER WHEN WE GET STARTED HERE TOO.
>> MAYOR NELSON AND COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU.
I'M ONE OF NINE MEMBERS OF A COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER AND RECOMMEND TO YOU POSSIBLE REVISIONS TO OUR CITY CHARTER.
WE ARE FOUR WOMEN AND FIVE MEN, TWO GRAY HEADS, AND THE REST [NOISE] ARE SIX ZIP CODES REPRESENTED ON THE COMMITTEE: A RESTAURATEUR, ENGINEERS, JILL OF ALL TRADES, A PASTOR'S WIFE, A REALTOR, A PASTOR, AND LAWYERS.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS INCLUDE ROY [INAUDIBLE] , RAQUEL DE LOS SANTOS, MICHELLE EGGLESTON, LILIA ESCAJEDA, MICHAEL HANNING,
[01:25:04]
RANDY O'NEILL, DENISE PRICE, AND JAMES TODMAN.I BELIEVE FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE BESIDES ME ARE PARTICIPATING IN THIS MEETING AT THIS TIME.
THE COMMITTEE MET VIA ZOOM FOUR TIMES WITH EVERY COMMITTEE MEMBER PRESENT AT EVERY MEETING.
JOINING US FOR THOSE MEETINGS WERE THE CITY MANAGER, THE ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER, THE MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH, CITY ATTORNEY, AND/OR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY ALSO PARTICIPATING IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
THE COMMITTEE WAS CHARGED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH TO LOOK AT WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITY IN FOUR AREAS: FREQUENCY OF COUNCIL MEETINGS, HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS PRIMARILY OUT OF DATE PROVISIONS, COUNCILMEMBER TERMS AND TERM LIMITS, AND COMPENSATION OF COUNCILMEMBERS.
WE BRING TO YOU UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION OF THREE OF THESE FOUR AREAS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT EACH OF YOU HAS BEEN FURNISHED WITH A COPY OF THE TEXT FOR THESE PROPOSALS.
WE'LL HAVE SOME NOTES TO PRESENT TO YOU THAT I TOOK DURING OUR MEETINGS, AND THEN I WANT TO INVITE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE FOR INPUT, ANYTHING THAT I'VE MISSTATED OR FORGOTTEN THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN OUR REMARKS.
THEN ALSO, OF COURSE, TO ASK FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT COUNCILMEMBERS OR MAYOR NELSON MIGHT HAVE.
I'LL TAKE THESE IN THE ORDER THAT THEY WERE PRESENTED TO US, FIRST ON THE SUBJECT OF THE FREQUENCY OF COUNCIL MEETINGS.
I NEED NOT REMIND YOU THAT YOU MEET ONCE A WEEK.
THE CITY MANAGER TELLS US THAT HE SPENDS ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF HIS TIME GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS NEVER MORE THAN SIX DAYS AWAY.
AMONG TEXAS CITIES OUR SIZE, ONLY AMARILLO HAS WEEKLY COUNCIL MEETINGS.
OBSERVATIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS WERE INCLUDING FORMER COUNCILMEMBER LILIA ESCAJEDA, THAT THERE'S A FREQUENT INTERRUPTION OF A COUNCILMEMBER'S LIVELIHOOD EARNING A LIVING WITH THESE WEEKLY MEETINGS.
COUNCILMEMBERS WERE EXPECTED TO ATTEND MANY FUNCTIONS OUTSIDE OF WEEKLY MEETINGS, INCLUDING ALLEY CLEANUPS, AND DEDICATIONS, AND A HOST OF OTHER EVENTS.
ONE COUNCILMEMBER SAID THAT IT MAY ACTUALLY BE A BARRIER TO SERVICE BY CITIZENS WHO MIGHT RUN FOR THE COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY IF THEY OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESSES, BUT BECAUSE WEEKLY MEETINGS, THEY DECLINE TO OFFER THEIR NAMES FOR ELECTION.
THE PROPOSAL THAT WE BRING TO YOU REQUIRES 24 MEETINGS PER YEAR, BUT ALLOWS THE COUNCIL FLEXIBILITY IN SETTING THE MEETING DATES.
IN THE AREA OF HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS, THERE ARE EIGHT PROPOSITIONS UPDATING 31 SECTIONS OF THE CHARTER, INCLUDING REMOVING OR REVISING OUTDATED LEGAL REFERENCES OR PRACTICES SIMPLIFYING THE PROCESS FOR ISSUING BONDS, CLARIFYING AND MAKING MORE EFFICIENT THE RECALL PROCEDURE BY CONFORMING EMINENT DOMAIN AND STREET CONDEMNATION TO CURRENT STATE LAW PLUS FOUR OTHER BARRIERS.
CONCERNING LENGTH OF TERM AND TERMS OF SERVICE, THIS COUNCIL THAT I'M ADDRESSING TODAY BEGAN AS AN ENTIRELY NEW COUNCIL.
MAYBE UNPRECEDENTED IN AMARILLO'S HISTORY [INAUDIBLE] HAD A HUGE LEARNING CURVE.
THERE WAS NO CONTINUING COUNCILMEMBER TO TUTOR NEW COUNCILMEMBERS WHEN YOU CAME ON BOARD.
FOUR-YEAR TERMS WOULD PERMIT COUNCILMEMBERS TO SERVE AS [INAUDIBLE] IN THE NEEDS OF THE CITY, AND HOW BEST TO MEET THOSE NEEDS WITH SEASONED UNDERSTANDING.
STAGGERING COUNCILMEMBER TERMS GREATLY REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE ENTIRE COUNCIL ARE FRESHMEN.
STAGGERING TERMS WOULD INCREASE THE TENDENCY TOWARDS STABILITY, THE HALF RETURNING COUNCILMEMBERS.
OF 10 CITIES AMARILLO'S SIZE, ONLY ONE OTHER CITY DOES NOT HAVE STAGGERED TERMS. TWO-YEAR TERMS REQUIRE COUNCILMEMBERS TO BE GETTING READY FOR AN ELECTION WHEN YOU'VE JUST BEGUN TO GET THE FEEL FOR COUNCIL SERVICE.
FOUR-YEAR TERMS WOULD ALLOW MORE TIME DEVOTED TO COUNCIL WORK AND LESS TIME TO CAMPAIGNING.
TERM LIMITS WERE DISCUSSED, BUT THE USEFULNESS OF THOSE WAS NOT INDICATED AMONG THIS COMMITTEE BECAUSE OUR COUNCILMEMBERS ARE ELECTED AT LARGE.
[01:30:05]
UNDER THE PROPOSALS THAT YOU HAVE, NO MORE THAN THREE COUNCILMEMBERS WOULD BE ELECTED IN EACH ELECTION, EACH EVENTUALLY WITH A FOUR-YEAR TERM.FOR THE SUBJECT OF COMPENSATION, WE DISCUSSED THAT AND DETERMINE THAT IT'S AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE DIFFERED AT THIS TIME, NOT ADDRESSED AT THIS TIME.
ANY COMPENSATION ADJUSTMENT THAT WE DISCUSSED WOULD'VE BEEN IN THE MIND OF THIS COMMITTEE MEMBER MERELY STILL A TOKEN OF COMPENSATION AND NOT A MEANINGFUL COMPENSATION, AND SO THE COMMITTEE DETERMINED THAT IT WAS BEST TO DEFER THIS UNTIL SOME LATER TIME.
THE RECOMMENDATION COMES UNANIMOUSLY FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR THE FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS, COUNCIL MEETINGS, THE HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS, THE LENGTH OF TERM, AND THE STAGGERED TERMS. I WOULD ASK THEN ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO SPEAK UP IF I MADE A MISSTATEMENT OR IF THEY HAVE AN OBSERVATION THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO MAKE TO HELP IN OUR PROCESS OF INFORMING THE COUNCIL TODAY ABOUT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> WE HAVE MICHELLE EGGLESTON, [INAUDIBLE] RANDY O'NEIL, DENISE PRICE, AND JAMES TUBMAN ON THE CALL, I BELIEVE.
>> BILL, I HAD A QUESTION ON, WHEN YOU WERE READING THROUGH, THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT RECALL, AND WAS THAT THEN NOT MOVED FORWARD BY YOUR COMMITTEE? WHAT WAS THAT TOPIC?
>> RECALL, COUNCIL MEMBER HAYS WAS AMONG THOSE THAT WERE PRESENTED TO US AS HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS.
THEY WERE UNANIMOUSLY BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE COMMITTEE.
IF YOU HAVE A COPY OF THOSE, IT'S ITEM 3, A PROPOSITION TO REVISE THE RECALL PROCEDURE FOR CLARITY AND BETTER EFFICIENCY, IT'S ENTITLED.
WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THAT THAT TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD AMONG ALL THE HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MR. CITY MANAGER, CITY ATTORNEY COULD WEIGH IN ON AND TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFIC CHANGES NEEDED THERE TO BRING THAT IN LINE.
EITHER THERE'S BEEN CHANGES IN STATE-WIDE LAWS OR SOMETHING THAT'S SHIFTED IN WHILE THEY'RE RECOMMENDING, THAT RECOMMENDATION COMES FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO GET QUESTIONED ALL WAY.
>> THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT WE'D HAVE ON THAT IS MARCUS NORRIS, SORRY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THERE HE IS. HE'S FIND A WAY YOU ALL JUST APPEAR.
IT'S LIKE STAR WARS OR SOMETHING.
YOU'RE JUST, "OKAY, THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT, AND HERE HE COMES, MARCUS NORRIS.
>> WELL. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMITTEE FOR YOUR WORK.
THE REVISIONS TO THE RECALL MIRROR, THE REVISIONS MADE IN 2013 BY VOTERS ON THE SIMILAR TOPICS OF INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL, ALL THREE BEGIN BY CITIZEN PETITION.
SO IN 2013, THE CITY COUNCIL PUT FORWARD AMENDMENTS CLARIFYING STRING BONDING IN THOSE PROCEDURES, AND WE ARE MAKING SIMILAR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE RECALL PROVISION.
ONE OF THE PRIMARY CHANGES IS BEING TO EXPLICITLY GIVE THE CITY SECRETARY TIME TO VERIFY THESE PETITIONS.
WE ALL KNOW THAT UNDER THE TEXAS ELECTION CODE, IT MUST OCCUR, BUT OUR CHARTER IS SILENT ON PROVIDING ANY TIME PERIOD FOR THAT, WHETHER A LITTLE TIME TO DO IT OR DEADLINE SO THAT IT DOESN'T DRAG ON INORDINATELY LONG.
SO WE HAVE PLACED THE SAME 10-DAY RECOMMENDATION FOR RECALL AS VOTERS APPROVED IN 2013 FOR INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
>> WE CAN GO THROUGH THE TEXT LINE BY LINE, THERE ARE SOME OTHER CHANGES, BUT THAT I WOULD THINK IS THE PREDOMINANT CHANGE BUILDING IN ON A 10-DAY PERIOD.
WE'VE ALSO PUT FORWARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THAT THERE NOT TO BE A RECALL ELECTION ALLOWED DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S TERM,
[01:35:07]
OR IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TERM.WHY? BECAUSE BOTH OF THOSE ARE EITHER RIGHT ON THE HEELS OR JUST AHEAD OF A REGULAR CITY ELECTION.
SO VOTERS JUST MADE A DECISION ABOUT AN OFFICE HOLDER.
SO THOSE WOULD BE TWO OF THE OTHER CHANGES IN THE RECALL SECTION.
>> OR THEY'RE ABOUT TO, THAT'S RIGHT.
WE ALSO ARE RECOMMENDING THAT IN STATE, THAT IF YOU HAVE A RECALL PETITION PENDING AND A REGULAR CITY ELECTION OCCURS AND THAT PERSON GETS RE-ELECTED, THEN THE RECALL PETITION IS MOOT.
THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN BY RE-ELECTING THE PERSON WHILE THE RECALL PETITION WAS PENDING.
SO THOSE ARE THE NUTSHELL OF THE TYPES OF CHANGES TO ADD MORE EFFICIENCY, AVOID MONEY ON HAVING AN ELECTION ON ONE DAY OR A REGULAR ELECTION SIX MONTHS LATER.
THAT PARTICULARLY HAS GREATER VALUE IF THE VOTERS WERE TO APPROVE THE LONGER TERMS THAT THE COMMITTEE IS RECOMMENDING.
>> THANK YOU, MARCUS FOR THAT EXPLANATION.
>> COUNCIL, LET ME JUST FOR A SECOND SET A LITTLE BIT OF WHERE ARE WE TRYING TO GET TODAY WITH THIS ITEM.
I WANTED YOU TO HEAR THE PRESENTATION FROM THE COMMITTEE, AND MR. BRIAN DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF SUMMARIZING, AND I APPRECIATE EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN.
AGAIN, WE JUST HAVE BRAGGED ON THIS COMMITTEE.
THEIR QUESTIONS WERE FANTASTIC.
JUST A STELLAR GROUP OF AMARILLO CITIZENS WHO AGREE TO LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND SPEND SOME TIME THINKING ON IT AND ASKING HARD QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM WHO SERVE.
THE PURPOSE OF TODAY'S MEETING FOR THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS FOR YOU TO HEAR THEIR SUMMARY AS A COUNCIL FOR US TO BEGIN A LITTLE BIT OF PRELIMINARY CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.
WE MENTIONED LAST WEEK THAT THE TIMELINE TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER, IF THAT'S HOW THE COUNCIL WANTED TO GO, WOULD BE FIRST READING AND VOTE ON AUGUST 4TH, SECOND READING AND VOTE ON AUGUST 11TH.
SO WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHEN DO WE WANT TO HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE FOR MAKING THE FINAL DECISION IF WE WANT TO DIRECT LEGAL TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION FOR AUGUST 4TH.
THAT TIMELINE IS COMING UP QUICKLY.
I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE TYPICAL ITEM THAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON BECAUSE THIS IS ULTIMATELY DRIVEN TOWARD THE ULTIMATE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, AND THAT IS JUST VOTERS VOTING.
LIKE THOMPSON PARK, WE JUST WORKED SO HARD ON THAT SWIMMING POOL TO DO A LOT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE WE KNEW WE AS THE COUNCIL, WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING THE DECISION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
THIS IS TURNING THE OTHER WAY.
THIS IS US GOING OUT TO GET THEIR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AT THE BALLOT BOX IN NOVEMBER.
IT'S NOT COSTING US ANY EXTRA BECAUSE BECAUSE THAT ELECTION IS ALREADY HAPPENING, WE ALREADY HAVE SOMETHING ON THE CITY BALLOT FOR THAT ELECTION.
JUST TO HAVE A SET, ALL OF THAT IS CONTEXT.
YES, IT'S MOVING A LITTLE QUICKER THAN WE EXPECTED BECAUSE COVID SLOWED US DOWN, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE COUNCIL.
FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE COMMUNITY? THOSE COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT ARE SITTING HERE, I WANT TO GIVE THE COUNCIL A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THEM, THANK THEM, OR ASKING QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE OF THEM.
>> COMPLIMENTING THE COMMITTEE JUST LIKE YOU DID, THAT THEY REALLY TOOK THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I THINK PERFECT ATTENDANCE, VERY GOOD DISCUSSION, A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT I SPENT.
APPRECIATE THEM PREPARING THE PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAD TO SAY.
>> [INAUDIBLE] , DID YOU HAVE COMMENT?
>> YES, MA'AM. I WANT TO THANK THE COMMITTEE, I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT.
I KNOW THAT IT TAKES TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY, AND IT TAKES OTHER TIME THAT YOU MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS THAT NOW THEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING THIS IN YOUR OFF TIME, AND I APPRECIATE THE DEDICATION AND SERVICE THAT YOU PROVIDED.
I REALLY LIKE SEEING WHAT HAS BEEN LAID OUT.
[01:40:03]
THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE [INAUDIBLE] TIME SO WE'RE OVER AGAIN ABOUT THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN THE CITY CHARTER THAT I BELIEVE HELP MAKE THOSE OF US WHO ARE ON CITY COUNCIL GIVE US A CHANCE TO BE EVEN MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE, EVEN THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO THIS POINT IN TIME.SO I REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT I THINK IT'S PRETTY BLACK AND WHITE, CUT AND DRIED.
THERE'S NOT ANY AMBIGUITY IN IT AT ALL, THERE'S NOT ANY GRAY AREAS.
THIS VERY COMMITTEE, IT'LL BE EASY TO UNDERSTAND, IT'LL BE EASY FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION, THAT I LIKE THIS IDEA, OR I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA.
SO I WANT TO TELL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BECAUSE I THINK YOU ALL HAVE DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
>> FREDA, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD IN DIRECTION OR QUESTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE?
>> NO, THAT'S ALL EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT FIRST STEP TO UPDATING OUR CHARTER, AND MAYBE NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE SOME MORE UPDATES, WHO KNOWS?
>> MAYOR, I WOULD ALSO JUST REPEAT THE APPRECIATION TO THE COMMITTEE AND FOR THEIR TIME.
THE STATEMENT ON THE ATTENDANCE AND PEOPLE ATTENDING EACH TIME, ALL OF THEM JUST SHOWS THAT THERE WAS A TRUE COMMITMENT AND A REAL PRIORITY TOWARDS WORKING ON THIS, AND SO I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL YOU GUYS.
I HAD BEEN CONCERNED ON THE TIMING AND MOVING QUICKLY THROUGH.
BASED ON THE PROPOSITIONS THAT ARE BEING BROUGHT FORWARD, I DO NOT HAVE ANY CONCERNS MOVING FORWARD.
THE NUMBER ONE THING IS THAT THESE ARE ALL VOTED ON SEPARATELY.
IT'S NOT AN ALL OR NOTHING PACKAGE, IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT RIGHT.
IF THE COMMUNITY LIKED SOME OF THE IDEAS, DIDN'T LIKE SOME OF THE IDEAS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THOSE INDIVIDUALLY.
THE SECOND THING, I DON'T THINK IT WAS MENTIONED, BUT I THINK I READ THIS IN THE PROPOSITIONS THAT THAT'S STAGGER RIGHT NOW.
THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN IS THAT THE MAYOR AND PLACES 1 AND 3 WOULD BE, THE FIRST ELECTION, IF THEY WERE CHANGED, WOULD BE THE FIRST STAGGER.
SO INSTEAD OF A FOUR-YEAR TERM, IT WOULD BE A TWO-YEAR.SO THOSE ARE THE SEEDS THAT YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY HAVE IDENTIFIED TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THAT STAGGER MIGHT WORK.
BILL, YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADDRESS THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT.
>> SURE. [INAUDIBLE] WITH THAT.
THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE IS TO GO TO FOUR-YEAR TERMS. SO THAT MEANS THAT SINCE WE'RE NOW AT TWO-YEAR TERMS, I ASK TO BE AT, I'LL CALL IT A PHASING IN.
SO IT WOULD MEAN THAT THERE BE TRUNCATED TERMS OR THE FIRST GROUP TO BE ELECTED.
THEN AFTER THAT, IT COULD BE THAT THE FOUR-YEAR TERMS. BUT THE CITY ATTORNEY, [INAUDIBLE] ANY ATTORNEY WISELY COUNCIL AS TO SAY, "WELL, WHAT IF THE VOTERS WERE TO APPROVE THE STAGGERED TERMS BUT NOT APPROVE THE FOUR-YEAR TERMS?" SO YOU SEE BEFORE YOU, THEY HAVE PLAN FOR THAT AS WELL.
IT WOULD MEAN THAT IF FOUR-YEAR TERMS ARE APPROVED BY THE VOTERS, THEN THERE WOULD BE AN ELECTION EVERY OTHER YEAR, THAT WOULD BE THE LONG-TERM PROCESS.
IF THE TWO-YEAR TERMS ARE RETAINED BUT STAGGERED TERMS ARE APPROVED, THEN THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION EVERY YEAR IN ORDER TO STAGGER THE TERMS OF OFFICE.
SO I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
>> YES. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT BECAUSE I ACTUALLY DID NOT SEE THAT SECOND OPTION.
THEN I ALSO HAD A QUESTION ON THAT IT WOULD BE 24 MEETINGS PER YEAR.
SO MOST OF THE TIMES, THAT'S GOING TO MEAN TWICE A MONTH, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF MONTHS WITH THREE WEEKS IN IT, AND SO CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, OR MR. CITY MANAGER, YOU MAY HAVE SOME INSIGHT ON HOW THAT WORKS.
>> ONCE YOU TAKE THAT AND BROUGHT TO ME, [INAUDIBLE] PROVIDING ADDITIONAL COLOR.
>> BUT THEN AGAIN, JARED, YOU CUT OUT JUST A LITTLE BIT ON IT.
WELL, I CAN DEFINITELY PROVIDE SOME INSIGHT.
WE'RE GOING TO WRAP THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT RECENTLY FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW, MEETING WITH REGULAR MEETINGS EVERY TWO WEEKS AND WITH WORK SESSIONS ON THE OTHER WEEKS.
REALLY, THAT WAS PARTIALLY TO FOCUS OUR WORK INTO THE REGULAR SESSIONS,
[01:45:01]
BUT ALSO TO SEE HOW VIABLE THE IDEA IS, AND IT'S WORKED OUT VERY WELL.BUT FROM A WORK STANDPOINT, WE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM HITTING 24 MEETINGS.
NOW, IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT PROBABLY AT LEAST TWO OF THE MEETINGS EACH YEAR WOULD BE CANCELED, BUT THOSE CAN BE MORE THAN MADE UP FOR WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS.
BUT IT'LL BE MORE THAN MADE UP FOR BY BOTH CALLED MEETINGS AND BUDGET HEARINGS AND OTHER MEETINGS THAT COUNCIL'S CALL ON A REGULAR BASIS.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF MEETINGS THAT AREN'T COUNCIL MEETINGS.
THEY WOULD ALSO FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF THE COUNCIL MEETING, OR NOT THE TRADITIONAL REGULAR SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
SO IT REALLY WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM TO HIT THAT NUMBER, AND IT ENCAPSULATES WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEETING ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS.
IT PROVIDES THE EXPECTATION, AND IT ALSO PROVIDES THE FLEXIBILITY FOR COUNSELED MEET WHEN THEY NEED ME.
TWO, IF THERE'S A HOLIDAY OR SOMETHING THAT FALLS ON THE COUNCIL MEETING, TO BE ABLE TO CANCEL MEETING IF NECESSARY AND IF APPROPRIATE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YEAH, I THINK SO, BUT I'LL ASK A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
AS FAR AS THE MEETINGS ARE CONCERNED, THAT IS AN OPERATIONAL DUTY OF THE CITY MANAGER.
SO DO YOU HAVE IN MIND THAT THEY WOULD BE SECOND AND FOURTH? JUST TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC EVEN.
>> YES, THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS WOULD TAKE PLACE TO BE ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH TUESDAYS OF THE MONTH.
THE FIRST AND THIRD, AND THEN TWO MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, THERE'S A FIFTH, SO THOSE WOULD NOT BE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING DAYS.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HAYS, ONE OF THE QUESTION THAT WAS POSED DURING OUR PROCESS WAS WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ANY PRACTICAL RISK OF ANY BUNCHING OF MEETINGS AT ANY GIVEN POINT OF THE YEAR.
WE WERE CONVINCED BY EXPLANATIONS FROM CITY MANAGER, AND MARY NELSON AND COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH, THAT THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY IS GOING TO REQUIRE THAT THE MEETINGS BE PRETTY WELL EVENLY SPACED OUT DURING THE YEAR.
>> I WOULD SAY THREE STATISTICS USED THROUGHOUT THAT WERE DEFINITELY VERY INTERESTING TO ME.
ONE, THAT WE'RE THE ONLY CITY OUR SIZE THAT HAS WEEKLY BUSINESS MEETINGS.
THE SECOND THING IT SAYS, THERE WAS ONLY ONE OTHER CITY OUR SIZE THAT DIDN'T DO THE STAGGERED ELECTIONS.
>> SO THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME WHEN YOU JUST LOOK AT THE STATISTICS AND THE EFFICIENCY, AND THEN HEARING THE CITY MANAGER SAY THAT 40 PERCENT OF HIS TIME HE'S ESTIMATING ON A WEEKLY BASIS GOES TOWARDS PREPARING FOR THE MEETINGS.
THAT IS SUCH AN INEFFICIENT USE OF HIS TIME AND STAFF TIME, AND SO I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING THAT INFORMATION FORWARD.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER HAYS, I WOULD EVEN SAY THAT THAT'S PROBABLY A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE NUMBER.
I KNOW PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "FORTY PERCENT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" WELL, SAY TUESDAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU HAVE A MEETING EVERY WEEK, THAT DAY IS PRETTY MUCH COMPLETELY DOMINATED BY THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, BOTH PREPARATIONS IN THE MORNING, DURING THE MEETING, AND INTO THE EVENING IF NECESSARY.
BUT VERY RARELY, DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT ON TUESDAYS? THEN THERE'S MONDAY PRE-MEETINGS, THERE'S WEDNESDAY MEETINGS TO GO OVER WHAT HAPPENED AT THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, SET THE AGENDA FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
THAT MEETING, THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN FOUR OR FIVE DAYS LATER, THEN MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR, BECAUSE THE MAYOR HAS A CHARTER ROLE IN SETTING COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO BRIEFING THE MAYOR, THERE'S A LOT OF MEETINGS TO TAKE PLACE BOTH WITH THE MAYOR AND WITH ALL OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.
PART OF MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THAT I DON'T HAVE SOMETHING ON AN AGENDA THAT'S NOT RIGHT, THAT'S NOT READY FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION.
SO MAKING SURE THAT I'M DOING A GOOD JOB OF COMMUNICATING WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND PREPARING FOR THE MEETINGS, DOING THE MEETINGS, WORKING WITH STAFF, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE MEETINGS, THERE'S A LOT OF TIME TAKEN UP WITH IT.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S NOT TIME THAT'S NOT WELL SPENT, IT'S ABSOLUTELY WELL SPENT.
BUT WE COULD BE JUST AS EFFECTIVE DURING THOSE MEETINGS ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS OR TWICE A MONTH IN THIS CONTEXT.
WHAT I'M DOING IS ALSO BEING MIRRORED OR MIMICKED, OR ALSO DONE BY 30 OR 40 OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS AND THE SYSTEM DEPARTMENT HEADS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATIONS.
SO IT IS VERY TIME-CONSUMING, AND I THINK WE CAN EXTRAPOLATE IN ADDITION TO THAT EXPENSIVE, OR THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY COST, BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT SOMEONE'S SPENDING ON THOSE MEETINGS, NOT SPENDING ON DOING OTHER THINGS THAT THEY COULD BE DOING.
SO THIS IS BALANCING MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
>> WE'RE ALL ABOUT GETTING MORE VALUE OUT OF OUR CITY STAFF, THAT'S PART OF OUR MISSION.
[01:50:05]
>> MR. BRIAN, MY ONLY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, JUST THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TERM, AND THAT FOUR YEARS IS A PRETTY LONG TIME.
JUST HEARING THE CONVERSATIONS, AND FROM THE REST OF MY COUNCIL AND FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE SAME WAY AND NOT WANTING TO DETER PEOPLE FROM RUNNING, HOW THAT MEASURES UP AGAINST OTHER BOARD TYPE OF SERVICES, COMMUNITY SERVICE TYPE OF COMMITMENTS?
>> YES. IS YOUR QUESTION, DO WE CONSIDER THAT LENGTH AS BEING POSSIBLY A BARRIER TO SERVICE?
>> WELL, IT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT REALLY OF THIS LEARNING CURVE COUNCIL MEMBER PAYS AND THAT, JUST AS YOU MADE A DECISION BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR NAME AND HAD TO BE ELECTED, YOU WEIGHED IT AS MUCH AS YOU COULD ABOUT WHAT THE COMMITTEE WAS GOING TO BE TO SERVE ON THIS COUNCIL, AND SO THE COMMITTEE CONCLUDED THAT PERHAPS WITHOUT SAYING SO, THIS COMMITTEE MEMBER CONCLUDED THAT EACH PERSON THAT MIGHT PUT HIS OR HER HEAD IN THE RING IS GOING TO WEIGH THIS AMONG OTHER FACTORS AS DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THEY STAND FOR ELECTION.
BUT A FOUR-YEAR TERM LENDS ITSELF TO, I'LL USE THE WORD, A MORE LEARNED SERVICE, AT LEAST TOWARD THE END OF THE TERM THEN DO THE PRESENT TWO-YEAR TERMS, AND BY THE TIME ONE GETS TO THAT SECOND YEAR, ONCE THINKING ABOUT, "AM I GOING TO RUN AGAIN OR NOT, AND IF I AM THEN I'VE GOT TO TURN MY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS INVOLVED WITH THAT STANDING FOR ELECTION AGAIN," AND THAT OVERALL, THE FOUR-YEAR TERM SERVES THE INTEREST OF THE CITY.
THAT COMES BACK TO OUR CHARGE THAT WE RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH, AND THAT WAS THAT, WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CITY? I THINK IT'S A FACTOR THAT EVERY POTENTIAL CANDIDATE WOULD WEIGH TO WANT TO STAND COLLECTION FOR A FOUR-YEAR TERM, POSSIBLY A SECOND FOUR-YEAR TERM.
HOPE I'M ADDRESSING YOUR QUESTION.
>> I THOUGHT, ELAINE, JUST TO WEIGH IN ON THAT ONE OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS VERY ASTUTELY POINTED OUT THAT SHOULD THE CHANGE IN THE MEETING FREQUENCY PASS, THAT YOU WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE A COUNCIL MEMBER SIGNING THAT FOR THE EXACT SAME MEETINGS COMMITMENT, THE SAME NUMBER OF MEETINGS IN A FOUR-YEAR TERM THAT THEY WOULD AS WE CURRENTLY SERVE IN A TWO-YEAR TERM, AND THEN THEY FOLLOW THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE ALSO TALKING ABOUT COMPENSATION.
THEY FOLLOWED UP AND SAID, "IF WE CHANGE THE MEETING FREQUENCY BECAUSE WE GET PAID BY THE MEETING, THEN WE ALSO WOULD BE GETTING A PAY CUT." I DO THINK IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM AN EFFICIENCY POINT OF VIEW.
IN SOME WAYS, A FOUR-YEAR TERM WITH THE FREQUENCY OF THE MEETINGS CHANGED IS A VERY SIMILAR COMMITMENT TO A TWO-YEAR TERM AT THE CURRENT PACE OF THE MEETINGS.
I DON'T KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING FOR A COMMITTEE MEMBER TO POINT OUT.
>> I DO LIKE YOUR TERM, AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE AFTER YOU'VE CYCLED THROUGH THIS TWICE, TWO YEARS WORTH OF GOING THROUGH BUDGET, TWO YEARS GOING THROUGH A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS, YOU BEGIN TO SEE THE WAY TO NAVIGATE THINGS, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE'VE BEEN A LOT MORE EFFICIENT AND HAVE BEGAN GETTING A LOT MORE THINGS DONE IN THE SECOND TIME AROUND THAN IT WAS THE FIRST TIME.
I'M VERY MUCH FOR EXTENDING IT TO A FOUR-YEAR TERM.
>> LET'S TALK JUST A MINUTE THEN ABOUT WHERE YOU ALL WANT TO GO.
WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE.
WE'VE GOT THIS MEETING, JULY 21ST AND JULY 28TH, THAT WE, AS A COUNCIL, COULD HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SPECIFICS OF WHAT THIS BALLOT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A WEEK TO LOOK AT WHAT'S BEEN PRESENTED? IF YOU'VE GOT SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, MAYBE REACH OUT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE OR LEGAL ABOUT GETTING THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED, THEN WE CAN COME BACK TOGETHER AND SUMMARIZE NEXT WEEK TO HAVE MAYBE AN ITEM BY ITEM DISCUSSION BECAUSE EACH OF THESE WOULD BE INDIVIDUAL BALLOT PROPOSALS, PROPOSITIONS ON THE BALLOT.
[01:55:02]
I THINK IT MIGHT BE EFFICIENT FOR US TO SEE THEM INDIVIDUALLY, HEAR EXPLANATION, HAVE THE CITY STAFF PREPARE TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO ANY QUESTION, AND THEN WE JUST WALK THROUGH THOSE PROPOSALS ITEM BY ITEM, AND THEN GET A CONSENSUS ON WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT LEGAL TO PREPARE A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD INCLUDE THAT PARTICULAR ITEM.>> THAT WOULD BE MY PREFERENCE, MAYOR.
>> IF IT IS ON THE AGENDA THAT WAY, MAYOR, THEN WILL THAT QUALIFY THOSE FOR PUBLIC ADDRESS? OR THEN IF CITIZENS WANTED TO CALL IN AND HAVE COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, QUESTIONS, WHATEVER THAT THAT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY?
>> NEXT WEEK WILL BE A WORK SESSION AGENDA BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON UNTIL EITHER THE 28TH OR THE FOURTH.
PUBLIC ADDRESS IS ATTACHED TO ITEMS THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE TAKING ACTION ON.
NEXT WEEK WOULD BE A DISCUSSION POINT, AND THEN WHEN WE TOOK ACTION ON THAT ITEM, THERE WOULD BE PUBLIC ADDRESS ON IT.
IN THE MEANTIME, CITIZENS WOULD HAVE ALL THE OTHER AVENUES OF COMMUNICATION TO THE COUNCIL.
THIS WOULD ALLOW THEM TO HEAR US HAVE CONVERSATION ABOUT IT NEXT WEEK.
ENGAGE WITH US BY EMAIL, BY PHONE, BY WRITTEN LETTER.
[NOISE] OUR FIRST TIME TO TOUCH IT ON AN ACTION AGENDA MIGHT BE JULY 28TH, WHERE THEY COULD THEN GIVE US PUBLIC ADDRESS, AND IF WE DON'T TAKE ACTION ON IT JULY 28TH, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE THAT SAME OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC ADDRESS ON AUGUST FOURTH, WHICH WOULD BE BY THE TIMELINE, OUR REQUIRED FIRST ACTION DATE.
>> IF IT'S NOT THE 28TH, WOULDN'T IT THEN BE ON THE 11TH, NOT THE FOURTH? THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT TIME WE WOULD BE HAVING ANY ACTION AGENDA.
IF WE STUCK TO THAT SCHEDULE, WE WOULD NEED AN ACTION ITEM ON THE 28TH AND AN ACTION ITEM ON THE 11TH.
AM I DOING THAT CALENDAR MATH RIGHT, MR. CITY MANAGER?
>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT POINT, ELAINE.
THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
NEXT WEEK WOULD BE A WORK ITEM SESSION WHERE WE WOULD JUST HAVE DISCUSSION MOVING WITH A CONSENSUS TO GIVE STAFF FEEDBACK ON WHAT WE ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE AND CONSIDER FOR ACTION ON JULY 28TH, AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A SECOND ACTION ITEM ON IT, AUGUST 11TH.
IF WE GOT IN A PINCH, WE CAN CALL A SPECIAL MEETING TO COVER THIS TERRITORY.
>> MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ALONG THAT AREA.
I'VE BEEN QUIET BECAUSE EVERYONE SAID THE RIGHT THINGS.
I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, MAYBE NOT STRESS THE POINT, BUT IF YOU HAVE NEVER SERVED ON A CIVIC BOARD AT ALL OR NOT REALLY HAD A LOT OF BOARD EXPERIENCE, AND YOU'RE WANTING TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL, AND YOU GET ELECTED, THAT FIRST YEAR IS A HUGE LEARNING CURVE AND BY THE TIME YOU LEARN EVERYTHING, YOU'RE ALREADY GETTING READY TO RUN FOR OFFICE AGAIN.
THAT'S WHY I SUGGESTED AND WENT ALONG WITH THE LONGER TERM BECAUSE THAT FIRST YEAR, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER SERVED IN THOSE CAPACITIES, IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET THE GIST OF WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT, AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S A POINT THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO KEEP IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND THAT THE LONGER TERMS GIVE US BETTER EQUIPPED, TRAINED MEMBERS ON A COUNCIL WHO ARE READY TO SERVE BECAUSE THEY'RE GIVING US A COMMITMENT OF TIME, AND THAT IS BASICALLY A BIG DEAL.
I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT POINT UP BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY LIKE TO SERVE, BUT IF THEY JUST HAVE TO LEARN EVERYTHING THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN THEY HAVE TO START RUNNING FOR OFFICE THE SECOND YEAR, THEY MAY NOT WANT TO RUN AGAIN. THAT'S MY COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT WAS FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER LILIA ESCAJEDA.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE HER ON YOUR SCREEN AND YOU WONDERED WHO THAT VOICE BELONGED TO.
[02:00:03]
I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE.>> NO, IT'S OKAY. I APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE, LILIA, AND WE OBVIOUSLY APPRECIATE THE YEARS THAT YOU SPENT ON THE COUNCIL SERVING OUR CITY. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS? THEN I THINK WE'RE SETTLED INTO THINKING THEN THAT WE WILL TARGET NEXT WEEK FOR A DETAILED DISCUSSION, JULY 28 FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF ACTION TO AUGUST 11TH FOR THE SECOND WEEK OF ACTION.
MR. CITY MANAGER, ANY COMMENT ON THAT PLAN? DOES THAT SOUND WORKABLE?
>> I THINK THAT SOUNDS PERFECT. THAT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING YOU NEED WITHOUT HAVING CALLED MEETINGS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
>> MAYOR NELSON, IF I CAN HAVE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE BEFORE I SIGN OFF.
>> IF YOU ALL ARE THROUGH WITH ME.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR APPOINTING THE COMMITTEE AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE I HAD OF SERVING WITH THESE OTHER EIGHT CITIZENS.
SOME OF WHOM I'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME, MANY OF THEM I HAVE NOT KNOWN BEFORE THIS SERVICE, AND TO THANK BRIAN WILLIAMS AND MARCUS NORRIS FOR THEIR HELP WITH OUR PROCESS AND CITY MANAGER AND THE ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE OUR WORK WITHOUT THE VALUABLE WORK THAT THEY DID FOR US AND THEN ALSO, I HAVE NEVER PARTICIPATED IN A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT MORE THAN ABOUT FIVE OR 10 MINUTES BEFORE.
[LAUGHTER] IT'S REALLY BEEN A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME TODAY TO APPRECIATE ALL OVER AGAIN THE WORK THAT EACH OF YOU DOES FOR OUR CITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT, OF YOUR OWN TIME AND TALENT TO THIS EFFORT, AND I'M IMPRESSED WITH A VERY POSITIVE MEETING THAT I'VE HEARD TODAY AND ON A NUMBER OF SUBJECTS AND I FEEL ALL OVER AGAIN, THE BLESSING OF BEING AN AMARILLO CITIZEN AND HAVING EACH OF YOU AS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
>> OKAY. WELL, THAT WAS VERY A GOOD ITEM AND AGAIN, JUST TO APPRECIATE THAT COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK AND BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.
[1F. Discuss Civic Center General Obligation Bond Election; and]
WHICH IS DISCUSS CIVIC CENTER GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION.LAST WEEK WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION SURROUNDING WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF US WERE FEELING THE HESITATION ABOUT LEAVING THE BOND ELECTION FOR THE CIVIC CENTER ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
IN THAT DISCUSSION, STAFF TOOK AWAY THAT WE WERE LEANING TOWARD LEAVING IT ON THE BALLOT, WHICH MEANS THERE WOULD BE NO ACTION STEP ON AN AGENDA.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THE INTEREST RATES DROPPING.
THEREFORE, THAT MIGHT CHANGE THE LANGUAGE THAT'S ACTUALLY PRESENTED TO VOTERS [NOISE] AND IF SO, WE WOULD NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE ON THAT ELECTION BECAUSE OF THAT LANGUAGE SO WE LEFT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA SO THE CITY MANAGER COULD GIVE US AN UPDATE ON THAT.
>> YES MA'AM, I'VE GOT MARCUS NORRIS HERE TO HELP TO FILL IN THE BLANKS, AND I'M SURE I WILL LEAVE [NOISE] SOME, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE SOME ACTION, OR YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE SOME ACTION TO CHANGE THE POLLING PLACES, TO CHANGE THE DATE.
IF THERE'S CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES AND PROJECTED IMPACTS ON VOTERS' TAX RATE, NOT THE RATE BUT THE AMOUNT THAT THAT RATE IS GOING TO REPRESENT TO A REPRESENTATIVE VALUE OF HOME, ETC.
THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU PUT INTO BALLOT LANGUAGE.
THEY'RE MORE HOUSEKEEPING IN NATURE, REALLY, ASSUMING THAT THE PROJECT STAYS THE SAME, WE NEED TO CHANGE THINGS AROUND SO THAT IT REFLECTS CURRENT CONDITIONS AND CURRENT POLLING PLACES, ETC.
OUTSIDE OF THAT, MARCUS, CAN YOU GIVE A LITTLE MORE FLESH ON THAT OR A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND ON THAT BECAUSE THE COUNCIL WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE SOME ACTION, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST RESOLUTION, NOT ORDINATES.
>> THANK YOU. THERE'S AN INTERESTING DISTINCTION HERE.
IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO PROCEED WITH ONLY A BOND ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, WE'LL NEED A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THAT ELECTION.
HOWEVER, IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO GO FORWARD WITH A CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION, STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT ACTION TO BE BY ORDINATES.
WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE TWO READINGS AS THE MAYOR WAS DISCUSSING A WHILE AGO, AND WITH YOU, MR. MANAGER, ABOUT JULY 28 AND AUGUST FOUR BEING OUR READINGS.
[02:05:08]
>> BUT ACTUALLY THE 28TH AND THE 11TH.
>> THANK YOU. IF WE COMBINE THEM, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THERE MAY BE A CONSENSUS BUILDING IN THAT DIRECTION THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO PLACE A BOND PROPOSITION AND SEVERAL CHARTER AMENDMENTS, THEN THE CHARTER AMENDMENT STATUTE TRUMPS, BOTH OF THEM GO INTO ONE DOCUMENT, AND THAT DOCUMENT WILL BEGIN ORDINATES AND IT WILL REQUIRE TWO WEEKS.
I HOPE THAT HELPS CLARIFY THAT.
>> I WOULD SAY THAT'S WHY WE HAVE LAWYERS, BECAUSE [LAUGHTER] I WAS LOOKING AT THE BOND ELECTION IN A VACUUM NOT THINKING ABOUT THE IMPACTS THAT THE PROPOSED CHARTER ELECTION WOULD HAVE ON THAT PROCESS SO THANK YOU, MARCUS.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME. [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT DOES ACCELERATE THE CONSIDERATION TIMELINE FOR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW THOUGH.
>> I THINK IT'S THE EXACT SAME TIMELINE.
>> YES, BUT IT JUST MEANS TWO ACTIONS RATHER THAN ONE.
INITIALLY, IN THE VACUUM OF JUST THE BOND ELECTION, WE REALLY ONLY HAD ONE ACTION.
BUT WE'VE GOT TWO, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BOTH CHARTER AND BOND ON THE SAME ELECTION.
>> THEY WILL BE PRESENTED IN A SINGLE LEGAL INSTRUMENT, I SINGLE ORDINATES ORDERING AN ELECTION, AND YOU FILL IN THE BLANK, COUNCIL.
IF YOU WANT JUST A BOND, JUST CHARTER AMENDMENTS OR BOTH.
YOU ONLY CALL AN ELECTION ONCE WITH ONE LEGAL INSTRUMENT SO THEY WILL BE COMBINED IF YOU OFFER BOTH TYPES OF PROPOSITIONS TO THE PUBLIC.
>> IS THERE SOME MEASURE THAT WE WILL SEE NEXT WEEK AS WE LEAD THE DISCUSSION ON THAT? COULD WE SEE THAT PROPOSED DOCUMENT THAT WOULD CONSIDER ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND THAT'S THE DOCUMENT WE COULD JUST WORK THROUGH LINE BY LINE.
>> WELL, LET ME WRITE CHECKS ON LEGALS TIME, BUT I BELIEVE THAT YES, WE WOULD HAVE THAT READY FOR YOU TO REVIEW IN A DRAFT FORMAT.
UNDERSTANDING THAT COUNCIL STILL HAS THE OPPORTUNITY AT THAT POINT TO SAY, "I WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON THE CHARTER THING, OR I WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT ON THE BOND ELECTION," YOU STILL HAVE FLEXIBILITY.
WE'LL DRAFT THOSE UP AS WE CURRENTLY UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING, BOTH THE CHARTER GUIDANCE FROM COUNCIL AND/OR THE CHARTER PREFERENCES THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM COUNCIL AND THE BOND PREFERENCES THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM COUNCIL.
WE'LL HAVE A DRAFT OF THAT INSTRUMENT, READY FOR YOU TO REVIEW NEXT WEEK, I KNOW I'M WRITING CHECKS ON MARCUS AND BRIAN'S TIME AND THE REST OF THE LEGAL TEAM, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.
WE'VE DONE A LARGE PART OF THAT WORK ALREADY, THEY'VE ALREADY DONE MOST OF THAT WORK AND THE ONLY THING TO BE DONE AFTER THAT WOULD BE TO INCORPORATING ANY CHANGES COUNCIL WANTS.
>> AGAIN, NEXT WEEK WILL BE A DISCUSSION ON IT.
THEN THE FOLLOWING WEEK WILL BE AN ACTION ITEM.
THERE WOULD BE PUBLIC ADDRESS AT THAT MEETING, THEN THERE WILL BE A BREAK IN BETWEEN, AND THEN ON THE AUGUST 11TH MEETING, A SECOND ACTION ITEM AGAIN WITH PUBLIC ADDRESS AT THAT MEETING.
>> OKAY, WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL OF US, [LAUGHTER] PUTTING ON MY ALL DAY EXPRESS LEGAL HEAD.
>> OKAY. ONE OTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO GIVE THE COUNCIL A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN ON, MR. CITY MANAGER, IS JUST THE IDEA THAT IF WE'RE PROGRESSING TOWARD LEAVING THE CIVIC CENTER BOND ON THERE, THAT IS AN ITEM THAT DOES NEED PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND ACTUALLY THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS AS WELL.
JUST ASKING STAFF TO BEGIN PREPARATION, NOTHING ELSE, A LIST OF FAQS THAT WE CAN BE USING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND OBVIOUSLY, THIS CITY NEVER ADVOCATES FOR A YES POSITION OR A NO POSITION ON SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE BALLOT.
BUT THEY'RE THE BEST SOURCE OF FACTS AND INFORMATION FOR HOW IT GOT ON THE BALLOT, AND WHAT THE EFFECT OF IT WOULD BE IF IT PASSED OR IT DIDN'T PASS, AND THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR US.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO PUT OUT THERE, THAT I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO ASK THE STAFF TO BEGIN TO PREPARE SO THAT COUNCIL CAN START GETTING EYES ON THOSE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DOCUMENTS BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHAT WE DO DECIDE TO PUT ON THE BALLOT, WE WANT TO HAVE THAT IN HAND, I THINK IN AUGUST BECAUSE IT SOUNDS CRAZY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BLINK AND NOVEMBER IS GOING TO BE HERE.
>> YES, MA'AM. WE DID AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGAGEMENT AND PRESENTATIONS,
[02:10:06]
PRETTY ROBUST FAQ ALREADY.BUT I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND THAT THE SITUATION, THE CONDITIONS, THE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED SIX MONTHS AGO OR SEVEN, EIGHT MONTHS AGO ARE POSSIBLY NOT EXACTLY THE SAME QUESTIONS BEING ASKED NOW.
THOSE ARE ALL VALID THINGS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE ON THE FAQ, WE'LL DEFINITELY MAKE THAT MORE ROBUST AND INCORPORATE ANY QUESTIONS WE GET IN THE MEANTIME INTO THAT FAQ.
WE'LL ALSO HAVE EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS READY TO GO, AND WE'LL INCORPORATE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL INTO THOSE PRESENTATIONS AS APPROPRIATE, BUT DEFINITELY MAKING SURE TO FLESH OUT.
HOW DOES CORONAVIRUS AFFECT THIS? HOW HAVE THE INTEREST RATES CHANGED OVER TIME? WHAT'S CONSTRUCTION COST DOING? ANY FACT-BASED QUESTION WE CAN THINK OF THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO ADD TO THOSE FAQS, WILL DO.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADD ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE GET AND THOSE RESPONSES.
>> COUNCIL, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR YOU TO WEIGH IN ON THOSE IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS AND YOU KNOW THEM, OR YOU'RE HEARING THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
IF YOU COULD PASS THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE SO THAT THEY COULD BEGIN TO GATHER THE DATA TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS THEN BY THE TIME WE SEE IT AS A FIRST DRAFT, WE'LL ALL HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TOUCH IT AND CONTRIBUTE TO IT, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE WORKING ON IT TOGETHER AS A TEAM.
BUT THEY'LL RELY ON INPUT FROM US EVEN IN PULLING IT TOGETHER SO IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS OR YOU'RE HEARING QUESTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT THOSE SO STAFF CAN GET STARTED WORKING ON ANSWERS.
ANYTHING ADDITIONAL ON THE THAT? ANYTHING ADDITIONAL ON THE CIVIC CENTER BOND ELECTION? OKAY. GREAT.
ITEM 1G IS JUST REQUEST FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS OR REPORTS FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
ANYBODY HAVE SOMETHING? I'M NOT HEARING ANYTHING.
LET'S MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[2. CONSENT ITEMS]
ANYTHING THERE THAT NEEDS TO COME OFF FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? NOT HEARING ANYTHING, WE'LL TAKE A MOTION.>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
>> OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY [INAUDIBLE] SMITH THAT WE APPROVE THE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
OKAY. THAT PASSES WITH THE 5-0 VOTE.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 3A IS A DISCUSSION AND
[3A. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7860: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Assistant City Manager) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance discussing and considering all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of “City of Amarillo, Texas, Waterworks and Sewer System Revenue Bonds, New Series 2020,” including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such bonds.]
CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 7860, MR. CITY MANAGER.>> ITEMS A AND REALLY ITEM B AS WELL.
WE'RE GOING TO BE HEARING FROM WORLD STORES AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
TALK TO US ABOUT ORDINANCE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONSIDER ON, WELL, IT IS ON FIRST READING, BUT I'M GLAD THERE'S A SECOND READING, FIRST AND FINAL READING TO LOOK AT ISSUING DEBT.
I THINK IT'S UNIQUE IN THAT, THESE ARE SOME OF THE LOWEST INTEREST RATES I'VE SEEN IN MY ENTIRE CAREER.
IN FACT, THAT IS THE LOWEST INTEREST RATE I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE CAREER. LAURA, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, JARED.
AS HE MENTIONED, WE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF TWO DIFFERENT DEBT ISSUANCES, AND WE HAVE STEVEN ADAMS WITH SPECIALIZED PUBLIC FINANCE.
HE IS THE CITY OF AMARILLO'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR AND HE HAS A PRESENTATION TO GO OVER FOR EACH OF THESE AGENDA ITEMS. AS JARED MENTIONED, HE STILL STOLE OUR THUNDER BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LOT TO CELEBRATE TODAY BECAUSE THESE ARE VERY GREAT RECORD SETTING INTEREST RATES AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO PRESENT THESE TO COUNCIL.
THE FIRST ONE IS THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD DEBT THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR OVER A YEAR NOW.
THIS GOES THROUGH A LOAN APPLICATION WITH THAT GROUP, AND WE ARE LOOKING AT A MILLION DOLLAR IN GRANT PROCEEDS AND A TWENTY EIGHT-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR DEBT ISSUANCE TO FUND AN AUTOMATED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE A ZERO PERCENT INTEREST RATE ON THE TWENTY EIGHT-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLAR LOAN THROUGH THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
AGAIN, I KNOW, JARED, STOLE OUR THUNDER, I JUST STOLE STEVEN'S THUNDER AS WELL, BUT WE CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH TIMES; REALLY EXCITING THINGS.
I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN AND TURN IT OVER TO STEVEN ADAMS NOW FOR THE PRESENTATION.
JUST CHECKING, CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY?
[02:15:02]
LET ME GET MY SCREEN GOING.>> OKAY. AS LAURA MENTIONED, THIS IS THE LOAN WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND WE GOT SOME REALLY GOOD NEWS.
ORIGINALLY, THIS WAS A $29.5 MILLION PROJECT AND THE CITY QUALIFIED FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY BECAUSE IT'S A GREEN PROJECT.
THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THAT GRANT MONEY TO GO AROUND.
THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD DEAL TO START WITH.
THE SECOND THING, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INTEREST RATES AS IT RELATES TO OTHER ITEMS AND POTENTIAL FUTURE BOND ISSUES, BUT THIS IS A SUBSIDIZED INTEREST RATE AND SO WITH THAT SUBSIDY, THE MARKET RATES ARE SO LOW THAT THE SUBSIDY [NOISE] BROUGHT THE INTEREST RATE DOWN TO ZERO PERCENT.
I DON'T KNOW, LAURA, CAN YOU MOVE THE SLIDE ON.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN CONTROL THIS OR NOT.
ZERO PERCENT MONEY AND A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT.
THIS IS REALLY A PROJECT THAT CAME IN FAR LOWER THAN WHAT WE HAD ORIGINALLY PROJECTED IT WITH A MILLION DOLLARS MORE IN DEBT PLUS ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT INTEREST RATE IS WHAT WE PROJECTED.
THIS AGAIN, IS FOR THE ADVANCED INFRASTRUCTURE METERS AND JUST TO SAY, THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THESE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD APPLICATIONS.
I KNOW FLOYD AND THE STAFF AT THE UTILITY, WE HAD TO PUT IN A LOT OF WORK.
WE'D HAVE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION, FINANCIAL INFORMATION, ENGINEERING INFORMATION, AND LEGAL INFORMATION.
THEN IT WENT TO THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND THEN ONCE THEY APPROVE IT, IT COMES BACK INTO THE CITY SCORE TO ACTUALLY SELL THE DEBT TO THEM.
IF YOU DO APPROVE THIS TODAY, IT WILL CLOSE ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 11TH.
THE INTEREST RATE TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE A COUPON RATE.
THERE IS A RESERVE FUND REQUIREMENT OF 1.4-5 MILLION, WHICH WILL BE USED TO MAKE THE LAST PAYMENT.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S ONLY INTEREST PAYMENTS OF 1.425 MILLION ANNUALLY BETWEEN NOW AND 2040, AND AGAIN, THAT LAST ONE WILL BE MADE OUT OF THE RESERVE FUND.
THE CITY IS ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTING CASH FOR THE RESERVE FUND FOR THE COSTS OF ISSUANCE AND FOR A LOAN ORIGINATION FEE THAT IS REQUIRED AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM TO THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
THAT WILL LEAVE US WITH THE ENTIRE 28.5 MILLION FOR THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES.
THIS IS JUST A TIMELINE OF WHAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH WITH THIS PROJECT AND THE TIMING THAT WE'VE HAD COMING UP TO THIS COUNCIL MEETING.
WE ACTUALLY GOT THE RATE LAST WEEK, AND SO THEY GIVE IT TO US ONE WEEK BEFORE THE BOARD MEETING.
I HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS RATHER THAN THE LAST SLIDE, WHICH IS WE OBVIOUSLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU AWARD THE $28.5 MILLION TO SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2020 TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, AND I WOULD BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COUNCIL, QUESTIONS FOR OUR BOARD COUNCIL.
>> JUST KIND OF CURIOSITY, [NOISE] THE RATE IS SUBSIDIZED.
WHO SUBSIDIZES THAT RATE THAT IT WOULD BRING IT DOWN A WHOLE ONE-AND-A-HALF PERCENT INTEREST AND WE HAVE BASICALLY AN INTEREST-FREE LOAN?
>> ESSENTIALLY, IT'S THE EPA FROM THE CLEAN WATER ACT, WHICH WAS INITIALLY PROVED IN 1989.
THEY USED TO BE THE GRANT THAT WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO CITIES AND THEY WOULD JUST BE GRANTED EVERY YEAR.
THEY CHANGED THE PROGRAM OF THE OLD CONSTRUCTION GRANTS PROGRAM TO HELP WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THEY GAVE THE MONEY TO STATES TO LOAN THE MONEY OUT AND TO REVOLVE THE MONEY.
THE MONEY THAT WE'RE PAYING BACK WILL NOT ONLY PAY REVENUE BONDS THAT THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ISSUED, BUT THERE'S A SPREAD THAT THEY MAKE THAT THEY CAN SELL MORE AND MORE BONDS SO IT'LL REDUCE THE AMOUNT, ULTIMATELY, THERE'S A GOVERNMENT THAT'S INTO THIS PROGRAM,
[02:20:03]
BUT IT IS THE EPAS, THE QUICK ANSWER.>> I HAVE A QUESTION RELATED TO THE RESERVE FUND.
CAN YOU PLEASE MENTION THE FUNDS, WHAT EVEN THE OTHER OPTION WAS, YOU MENTIONED, STEVEN, THAT THE CITY IS GOING AHEAD AND APPLYING CASH, PUTTING THAT MONEY IN, THAT IT WILL BE THAT LAST PAYMENT OF THE LAST YEAR, AND JUST PROS AND CONS OF THE OPTIONS OF DOING THAT OR NOT?
>> TYPICALLY, WHEN THE CITY SELLS WATER AND WASTEWATER BONDS ON THE MARKET, THERE IS NO RESERVE FUND REQUIREMENT AT ALL BECAUSE OF YOUR HIGH CREDIT RATING.
HOWEVER, THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD MAKES US HAVE A RESERVE FUND.
THERE'S TWO METHODS TO GET THAT MONEY.
ONE IS TO PUT UP CASH AND THE OTHER IS TO BORROW IT FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
WE EXPECTED AN INTEREST RATE, AND THERE IS A FEE ASSOCIATED WITH BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE BONDS FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, THAT 490.
TO AVOID THE INTEREST CHARGE AND AVOID THE FEE, THE CITY IS PUTTING UP CASH.
THE CITY GETS TO KEEP THE INTEREST ON THAT CASH, IT'S HELD AT THE CITY, AND SO IT'S JUST MONEY THAT WILL BE USED TO PAY OFF THE BONDS.
>> STEVEN, YOU'VE KIND OF REFERENCING OUR BOND RATING JUST A LITTLE BIT THERE.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE A FABULOUS BOND RATING.
DOES THAT PLAY IN TO BEING ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THIS LOAN AND THE SUBSIDIZED INTEREST RATE?
>> THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD BASES THE INTEREST RATE ON THE UNDERLYING LOAN OF THE ENTITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, A LOT OF THEIR BORROWERS ARE ENTITIES THAT ARE SMALL CITIES THAT HAVE NEVER BORROWED DEBT AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE HIGH RATING THAT YOU HAVE.
A NARROW INTEREST RATE IS COMING IN AROUND ONE PERCENT.
THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A VERY HIGH AAA BOND RATING, THAT HELPS YOU TO GET TO THE ZERO PERCENT.
YES, IT DOES COME INTO PLAY, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE TO BUY A RATING AND PAY FOR IT FOR THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
>> OTHER QUESTIONS COUNCIL, ELAINE?
>> ON YOUR FIRST SLIDE, HOW LONG ARE THESE BONDS? WHAT IS THE DURATION?
WE HAVE TO LINE THAT UP WITH THE USEFUL LIFE OF THE ASSET AND THE ENGINEER'S TELL US THAT METERS HAVE A 20-YEAR LIFE.
OTHERWISE, WE WOULD HAVE ACTUALLY GONE 30 OF COURSE WITH THE ZERO PERCENT BUT A FEDERAL TAX LAW MAKES US ALIGN THE MATURITY OF THE BONDS WITH THE UNDERLYING ASSET'S USEFUL LIFE.
>> THAT'S THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED ELAINE.
HOW LONG CAN WE STRETCH THIS ZERO INTEREST MONEY? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
ANY THE OTHER QUESTIONS? I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S HISTORIC OR NOT, BUT I'VE NEVER TAKEN A LOAN OUT WHERE THE INTEREST RATE WAS ZERO, SO IT FEELS HISTORIC TO ME.
>> IT'S THE LOWEST I'VE EVER SEEN.
YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, THE CITY DID GET SOME ZERO INTERESTS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD LOANS BACK WHEN THE ARRA BILL PASSED IN 2008 AND '9 FROM THE WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD UNDER A SIMILAR PROGRAM.
SO THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THE CITY OF AMBROSE HAD ZERO PERCENT MONEY FROM THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD SUBSIDIZED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>>THAT'S GREAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STEVEN OR LAURA THEN ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.
I KNOW THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL SPENT A LOT OF TIME DISCUSSING LAST AUGUST WHEN WE WERE DOING BUDGET. IT'S A BIG NUMBER.
IT'S AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT TO REPLACE EVERY WATER METER ACROSS THE CITY AND IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING NEW WATER METERS, IT IS ABOUT IMPROVING WATER.
IT IS ABOUT DOING A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS ABOUT THEIR WATER BILLS AND THEIR WATER USAGE, AND IT'S ABOUT BRINGING OUR CITY INTO THE NEXT TECHNOLOGY ERA BY CREATING A DIGITAL NETWORK ALL ACROSS THE CITY.
THAT DIGITAL NETWORK, WHILE IT'S HOUSED IN THE WATER METERS, WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, POLICE, FIRE, TRAFFIC, TO COORDINATE BETTER CITY SERVICES ALL ACROSS OUR CITY.
SO WE DID THINK THAT IT WAS AN INVESTMENT THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET A GREAT RETURN ON AND I DON'T THINK ANY OF US EVER DREAMED THOUGH THAT WE WOULD GET A MILLION DOLLARS OF FREE MONEY AND AT ZERO INTEREST RATE.
[02:25:03]
SO WHEN WE MADE THAT DECISION BACK IN AUGUST, WE DEBATED IT, WE MATCHED AROUND ON IT, CAME TO THINKING IT WAS A GOOD INVESTMENT AND NOW I JUST FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING FAVOR AND BLESSING IN A ZERO PERCENT INTEREST RATE AND A ONE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT THAT WE WON'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY BACK.SO COUNCIL, ONCE AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOUR VISIONARY LEADERSHIP IN RECOGNIZING THE VALUE AND THE NEED OF THIS PROJECT AND SEEING THE POTENTIAL OF IT IN OUR CITY AND I JUST WANTED TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE FAVOR AND FOR THE BLESSING.
STEVEN, WE'RE ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR WORK AND THE HISTORY WE HAVE WITH YOUR FIRM, WE TRUST IT GREATLY SO THANK YOU FOR ADVISING US ON THIS.
>> WELL, VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, THE KIND WORDS.
>> THANK YOU. LAURA THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON THIS AND OF COURSE WE WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO FLOYD AND TO HIS TEAM BECAUSE WE SAY, YEAH, DO THIS AND THEN FLOYD AND HIS TEAM GO TO WORK AND I APPRECIATED STEVEN'S COMMENT THAT THIS IS NO SMALL FEAT TO MAKE THIS APPLICATION.
A LOT OF DATA GOES BEHIND IT AND THAT DATA DOESN'T JUST MAGICALLY APPEAR, IT HAS TO BE MINED OUT AND PUT TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT SUPPORTS THE DOCUMENTATION.
SO, FLOYD, GREAT JOB, WE APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR DILIGENCE IN GETTING THIS PROJECT DONE FOR CITIZENS.
ANYTHING TO ADD ON THAT COUNCIL? OKAY. IF NOT, I'M LOOKING AT MY WATCH, IT'S BEEN TWO AND A HALF HOURS, WE MIGHT NEED TO TAKE A BATHROOM BREAK.
SO LET'S COME BACK AND [OVERLAPPING].
>> MAYOR, WE WANT TO ENTER A MOTION ON THIS ITEM BEFORE WE LEAVE IT.
>> YEAH. I'M ALREADY THINKING ABOUT A BATHROOM BREAK. THANK YOU FREDA.
LET'S TAKE ACTION ON THIS AND LETS TAKE ACTION QUICKLY ON THE NEXT ONE TOO AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A BATHROOM BREAK.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M PREVIEWING FOR YOU GUYS WE'RE ABOUT TO TAKE BATHROOM BREAK.
[LAUGHTER] LETS TAKE THESE TWO VOTES REAL QUICK. THANK YOU FREDA.
>> YOU'RE MOST WELCOME, THANK YOU.
MAYOR, I MOVED TO ADOPT ORDINATE NUMBER 78-60, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF THE WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE BOND SERIES 2020 TO THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD IN THE AMOUNT OF $28,500,000.
>> MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ORDINATES MEMBERS 78-60, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT MOTION OR QUESTIONS COUNCIL? HEARING NONE, ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
OKAY. THAT PASSES WITH THE 50 VOTE.
QUICKLY, LET'S BRING UP ITEM 3B WHICH IS ORDINANCE NUMBER 78-61.
[3B. DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7861: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Assistant City Manager) This is the first and final reading of an ordinance discussing and considering all matters incident and related to the issuance and sale of “City of Amarillo, Texas, Drainage Utility System Revenue Bonds, Series 2020,” including the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of such bonds.]
CITY MANAGER, ANYTHING TO ADD TO THIS ONE?>> NO MADAM. WE HAVE THE SAME TEAM TO PRESENT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
>> REAL QUICKLY, I'LL INTRODUCE THIS ITEM.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A ANOTHER DEBT ISSUANCE IN ORDER TO FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE DRAINAGE UTILITY SYSTEM, AND THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR QUITE SOME TIME AS WELL.
THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW YEARS OF RATE INCREASES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE AND THIS IS THE FIRST OF TWO PLANNED DEBT ISSUANCES IN ORDER TO ADDRESS MORE CAPITAL PROJECTS RELATED TO YOUR DRAINAGE UTILITY SYSTEM.
SO AGAIN, GREAT NEWS, WE SOLD THESE BONDS COMPETITIVELY YESTERDAY AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO STEVEN ADAMS NOW TO GO OVER IT IN MORE DETAIL BUT AS A REMINDER, THE RATES ARE IN PLACE TO COVER THE DEBT SERVICE ON THESE BONDS.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA. MAYOR I WILL GO QUICKLY.
SO THIS IS 9.24 MILLION IN DRAINAGE UTILITY REVENUE BONDS.
WE DON'T SELL MANY DRAINAGE UTILITY REVENUE BONDS BUT WE SOLD THESE AND WE GOT A "AAA" RATING BY STANDARD AND POOR'S, SO THAT MAKES IT VERY ENVIABLE IN THE MARKET.
WE TOOK BIDS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND WE RECEIVED 10 BIDS WITH THE WINNING BIDDER BEING MORGAN STANLEY WITH AN INTEREST RATE OF 1.65 PERCENT.
WE HAVE THE ACTUAL PROJECTS LISTED ON THE PAGE ONE IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THOSE.
BUT THERE'S FIVE PROJECTS THAT ARE LISTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE ON PAGE TWO.
LAURA GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE, PLEASE.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF FIRMS THAT BID AGAIN, GREAT CREDIT RATING.
SO THE WINNING BID AND THE COVER BID WERE VERY CLOSE AND A LOT OF BIDS AND A LOT OF COMPETITION,
[02:30:02]
A REALLY REALLY LOW INTEREST RATE, MUCH LOWER THAN ANYTHING WE HAD RUN FOR ANY OF OUR ANALYSIS FOR THE RATES THAT WERE SET UP.SO THESE ARE THE COUPON RATES AND THE INTERESTS.
YOU CAN SEE THE DEBT SERVICE IS GOING TO BE $630,000 A YEAR THROUGH 2030 AND THEN IT DROPS DOWN AS SOME OF THE PROJECTS HAVE A SHORTER USEFUL LIFE TO ABOUT $568,000 PER YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE COUPON RATES ARE OBVIOUSLY HIGHER THAN THE 1.65% AND IF YOU GO TO THE NEXT PAGE I'LL EXPLAIN HOW THAT WORKS.
SO THIS IS THE SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS AND SINCE THE WINNING BIDDERS AND THE INVESTORS ULTIMATELY WANT SOME TAX EXEMPT INCOME, THEY CAN ONLY GET THAT WITH A HIGHER COUPON RATE.
SO WE'RE FUNDING $10.1 MILLION INTO THE CONSTRUCTION FUND AS YOU CAN SEE BUT THE PAR AMOUNT OF THE BONDS IS ONLY 9.24 MILLION.
SO THE WINNING BIDDER IS GIVING US A PREMIUM OF 935,000 TO ALLOW THEM TO RECEIVE HIGHER COUPON RATES THAT YOU SAW FROM THE PAGE BEFORE.
IF YOU GO THROUGH ALL THE CALCULUS AND ALGEBRA BEHIND THAT, YOU GET TO THAT TRUE INTEREST COSTS OF THE 1.65 PERCENT.
SO THAT IS THE REASON THAT IT WORKS OUT THAT WAY IN THESE LOW INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENTS, MOST BONDS ARE SELLING WITH A PREMIUM SO THEY CAN GET SOME TAX EXEMPT COUPON ON IT.
AGAIN WITH THIS ONE IF YOU AUTHORIZE THIS TODAY AFTER WE TOOK TO SAIL THIS MORNING, WE WILL CLOSE ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 11TH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OTHER BONDS, SO AN UNRELATED CLOSING BECAUSE THESE BONDS ARE SOLD ON THE MARKET.
NEXT SLIDE. SO IT IS OUR RECOMMENDATION TOWARDS THE 9.24 MILLION DRAINAGE UTILITY SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS SERIES 2020 TO MORGAN STANLEY AND COMPANY, AND MAYOR I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU STEVEN. QUESTIONS?
>> IF WE GO BACK TO PAGE TWO ON THAT SLIDE AND JUST LOOK AT THOSE PROJECTS AGAIN.
I DON'T KNOW IF FLOYD WANTED TO ADDRESS ANY OF THOSE OR JUST, I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR TAXPAYERS TO SEE WHAT PROJECTS ARE FIXING TO BE FRONT AND CENTER.
>> YES. I CAN ADDRESS THE LIST OF PROJECTS THAT [INAUDIBLE]. CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME?
THAT LIST OF PROJECTS HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED IN OUR ONGOING FIVE-YEAR CIP FOR DRAINAGE UTILITY.
WHAT YOU SEE THERE COORDINATES WITH OUR DEBT ISSUANCE FOR STREETS.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ARE STREET IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED IN ADVANCE OF PAVING OF STREETS.
SO THIS COMES IN WITH A VOTER APPROVED PROPOSITION PROJECTS THAT ARE FUNDED.
BUT YOU ALSO SEE MARTIN ROAD LAKE IS IN THERE, ONE OF OUR BIGGEST NEED IN SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
SO THIS IS IN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN OF THE DRAINAGE UTILITY.
YOU WILL ALSO SEE ANOTHER [INAUDIBLE] THAT WERE PLANED COMING NEXT YEAR.
IS THAT ENOUGH INFORMATION TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> YES, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO BE A LITTLE SLOWER ON THAT PAGE TO SEE WHAT THOSE ITEMS ARE.
I KNOW WE DO DISCUSS THESE EACH YEAR AND LOOK AT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANS, BUT SEEING WHAT IS NEXT IN LINE AND I KNOW THE CITIZENS WHO LIVES NEXT TO THOSE AREAS WILL BE INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT PROJECTS ARE COMING UP.
>> YES. MANY NEEDS IN THAT SYSTEM.
THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO IDENTIFY THESE PRIORITIES AND GET THEM BEFORE YOU.
>> HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECTS OR ABOUT THE BOND ISSUANCE? [NOISE] OKAY. WITH THAT, STEVE AND LAURA, THANK YOU.
>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 7861, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF THE DRAINAGE UTILITY SYSTEM REVENUE BOND SERIES 2020 TO MORGAN STANLEY & COMPANY LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $9,000,240.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7861.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE, ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE RAISE THEIR HAND.
[02:35:01]
I SEE FIVE HANDS. THAT PASSES WITH A 5-0 VOTE.OKAY, BEFORE WE GO TO 3C, LET'S DO TAKE A BATHROOM BREAK AND COME BACK IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES PLEASE. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING THAT BREAK AND WE'LL PRESS ON AND PUSH THROUGH THE REST OF THIS AGENDA.
[3C. PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7862: (Contact: David Wilson, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation) 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 adopting the 2020-2021 Standards of Care for recreational care programs administered by the Parks and Recreation Department as required by Texas Human Resources Code section 42.041(b)(14).]
ITEM 3C IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 7862. MR. CITY MANAGER?>> HI, MAYOR. COUNCIL YEOMAN, REMEMBER FROM ABOUT THIS TIME LAST YEAR WE CONSIDERED THE SAME ITEM, CONSIDERING STANDARDS OF CARE FOR RECREATIONAL CARE PROGRAMS AS A STATE REQUIREMENT, YOU WILL SEE IT EVERY YEAR.
TO PRESENT THE ITEM AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE PRIOR TO A PUBLIC HEARING IS WELCOME.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION, DAVID WILSON. DAVID?
>> THANK YOU, MR. CITY MANAGER.
>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS DAVID WILSON, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
LONG TIME LISTENER, FIRST TIME CALLER. HAPPY TO BE HERE.
THIS FORMAT FEELS A LOT LIKE A RADIO TALK SHOW TO ME.
TODAY WE WILL BE DISCUSSING THE STANDARDS OF CARE DOCUMENT, WHICH IS A VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT FOR OUR OPERATION.
I'LL VERBALLY WALK YOU GUYS THROUGH THIS DOCUMENT AND THEN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE AT THAT.
THE STANDARDS OF CARE DOCUMENT IS NECESSARY TO EXEMPT CITY YOUTH PROGRAMS FROM STATE CHILDCARE LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
THE STANDARDS OF CARE DOCUMENT ARE INTENDED TO BE THE MINIMUM STANDARDS BY WHICH THE CITY OF AMARILLO PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT WILL OPERATE CITY YOUTH PROGRAMS. SOMETHING I WANT TO ADD TO THAT IS, IT DOES SAY IN THERE THAT IT EXEMPTS US, WHAT IT REALLY DOES, IT ALLOWS THE STATE TO PUT SOME OF THAT AUTHORITY IN OUR HANDS AND SET A MINIMUM STANDARD, SO EVERY DOCUMENT THEY CREATE [INAUDIBLE] MINIMUM STANDARDS, WHICH IS WHAT OUR STANDARDS OF CARE IS BASED OFF, AND ACTUALLY THAT DOCUMENT IS STRICTER THAN YOU WOULD SEE AT YOUR TYPICAL DAYCARE OR OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.
FOR INSTANCE, ONCE A YEAR USUALLY DAYCARES GET CHECKED IN ON BY THE STATE.
WE DO DAILY, QUARTERLY, AND YEARLY INSPECTIONS.
SOME OF THOSE STANDARDS ARE ACTUALLY STRICTER.
THE STANDARDS OF CARE DOCUMENT PROVIDES A MINIMUM FOR STAFFING RATIOS, MINIMUM STAFFING QUALIFICATIONS, MINIMAL FACILITY HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS, AND A MECHANISM FOR MONITORING AND ENFORCING LOCAL STANDARDS.
FURTHER PROVIDES FOR NOTIFYING PARENTS THAT THE PROGRAM IS NOT LICENSED BY THE STATE AND THAT THE PROGRAM MAY NOT BE ADVERTISED AS A DAYCARE FACILITY.
BUT AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, THIS DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE CREATED FROM THE MINIMUM STANDARDS PROVIDES THAT TRANSPARENCY FOR THE PARENTS SO THEY SEE EXACTLY HOW WE'RE HANDLING, HOW WE'RE TRAINING STAFF, AND ALL OF THOSE PIECES THAT GO INTO A PROGRAM SUCH AS THE WARFORD AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.
BUT FOR US, WE LIKE TO LOOK AT THIS AS A BROAD SWEEPING DOCUMENT THAT WE CAN APPLY TO ANY PROGRAM WHERE WE'RE INTERACTING WITH YOUTH.
THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR DAVID, COUNCIL? WELL, DAVID, GOOD JOB.
>> NO QUESTIONS. THIS ITEM IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, SO AT THIS TIME, IF THERE'S ANY CITIZEN OR ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK FOR, ON, OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, YOU'LL SEE IN THE AGENDA THE NUMBER TO CALL.
WE'LL PAUSE FOR JUST A MOMENT TO SEE IF WE HAVE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK IN OUR PUBLIC HEARING AT THIS TIME, I WILL CALL AND OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM.
I'LL ASK OUR CALL ADMINISTRATOR, STEPHANIE, IF WE'VE GOT ANYBODY WHO LOOKS LIKE TRYING TO GET ON THE LINE.
>> MAYOR, IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE WE HAVE ANYONE ON AT THIS TIME.
>> OKAY. THEN AT THIS TIME, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS ITEM AND ACCEPT A MOTION IF THERE IS ONE.
>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 7862 FOR THE 2020-2021 STANDARDS OF CARE FOR RECREATIONAL CARE PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AS REQUIRED BY THE TEXAS HUMAN RESOURCES CODE SECTION 24.041 B14.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7862.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL ON THE MOTION?
[02:40:03]
HEARING NONE, ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.ITEM 3D IS CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 7863.
[3D. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7863: (Contact: Laura Storrs, Assistant City Manager) This is the first reading of an ordinance to amend the Greenways Public Improvement District 2019/2020 Budget included in the City of Amarillo 2019/2020 Budget.]
MR. CITY MANAGER?>> MAYOR, WITH ALL OF OUR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, ANYTIME THEY WANT TO EITHER ISSUE DEBT OR MAKE AN EXPENDITURE, IT DOES HAVE TO COME TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
IN THIS CASE, THE GREENWAYS PID HAS TAKEN ACTION TO RECOMMEND EXPENDITURE OF SOME OF THEIR RESERVE FUNDS.
THESE ARE FUNDS THEY ALREADY HAVE, NOT BEING REQUESTED FROM THE CITY OR FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE TO REIMBURSE THE DEVELOPER FOR ALLOWED REIMBURSEMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PID AGREEMENT.
LAURA, I PROBABLY JUST STOLE ALL YOUR THUNDER, BUT [LAUGHTER] LAURA STORRS IS GOING TO PRESENT THE ITEM. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
>> NO, THAT IS PERFECT, JARED.
I APPRECIATE IT. I THINK HE COVERED EVERYTHING THERE.
THE REASON WE'RE BRINGING THIS AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT IS THIS WAS NOT ACTUALLY APPROVED THROUGH THE NORMAL BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.
THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME UP AT A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE FISCAL YEAR AND THEY HAD SUFFICIENT RESERVES, AND THE DEVELOPER HAS REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT IF POSSIBLE.
SO THE GREENWAYS PID BOARD DID AUTHORIZE TO PROCEED WITH REIMBURSING OUT OF THOSE EXCESS RESERVES, WHICH PROMPTS IT TO COME TO COUNCIL BECAUSE THIS WOULD CAUSE THEM TO GO OVER THEIR BUDGET IN TOTAL, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN APPROVAL OF A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO JUST THAT GREENWAYS PID BUDGET, AND AGAIN, AS MR. MILLER MENTIONED, IT IS ONLY COMING OUT OF THAT PID'S RESERVES.
IT IS NOT ANY CITY FUNDS UTILIZED THROUGH THIS.
IF YOU HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS, I KNOW KELLY SHAW IS ON THE LINE AS WELL AND HE MEETS WITH THAT BOARD AND AS OUR LIAISON WITH ALL OF THOSE PIDS, SO IF THERE'S ANY MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
>> COUNCIL, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR LAURA OR KELLY ABOUT THIS ITEM? THANK YOU, THEN AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A MOTION ON ITEM 3B.
>> MAYOR, I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 7863 TO AMEND THE GREENWAYS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT 2019-2020 BUDGET INCLUDED IN THE CITY OF AMARILLO'S 2019-2020 BUDGET, AND I BELIEVE THAT'S IN THE AMOUNT OF 300,000.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7863.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ITEM 3E IS CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 7864.
[3E. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7864: (Contact: Donny Hooper, Assistant Public Works Director) This is the first reading of an ordinance amending the Amarillo Municipal Code, Chapter 18-4, Article II Sections 18-4-14 and 18-4-15 to modify residential drainage utility charge calculation and billing process.]
MR. CITY MANAGER?>> MAYOR, THIS IS A FIRST READING ON AN ORDINANCE TO MODIFY OUR RESIDENTIAL DRAINAGE UTILITY CHARGE CALCULATION BILLING PROCESS.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME.
WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS DURING WORK SESSION RECENTLY.
WE GOT DONNY HOOPER, OUR SYSTEM DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW, AND ALSO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WE'VE GOT. DONNY?
>> THANK YOU. YEAH, AND JUST A REFRESHER, THIS IS REALLY THE IDEA.
THIS IS A VERY MINIMAL CHANGES TO THIS ORDINANCE AS WE'VE GIVEN YOU IN THE PAST TWO PRESENTATIONS.
THE IDEA OF THE WHOLE THING IS TO GET THE RESIDENTIAL BILL BACK TO THE PROPERTY OCCUPANT RATHER THAN THE PROPERTY OWNER.
THERE'S REALLY NO CHANGES AT ALL TO THE COMMERCIAL BILLING AND THE RATES ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THEY WERE BEFORE.
THEY'RE JUST LABELED DIFFERENT NOW, INSTEAD OF TIER 1, TIER 2, AND TIER 3, THEY'RE LABELED AS A FLAT RATE FOR EACH OF THOSE DIFFERENT RATES.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER THEM.
HOPEFULLY WE COVERED EVERYTHING WELL [INAUDIBLE] SESSIONS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR DONNY, COUNCIL? OKAY. THANK YOU, DONNY.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM?
>> YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NUMBER 7864, AMENDING THE AMARILLO MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 18-4 ARTICLE 2, SECTIONS 18-4-14 AND 18-4-15 TO MODIFY THE RESIDENTIAL DRAINAGE UTILITY CHARGE CALCULATION AND BILLING PROFIT.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7864.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION?
>> MAYOR, QUICK QUESTION TO REMIND YOU ON WHEN THIS WOULD TAKE EFFECT AND THIS TAKES TWO READINGS.
I'M ASSUMING SINCE IT SAYS THIS IS THE FIRST, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY FIRST AND FINAL.
SO TWO READINGS, AND THEN I HAVE FORGOTTEN THE TARGET FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS.
>> WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO IMPLEMENT THIS IN SEPTEMBER.
[02:45:01]
THAT'S WHEN WE PLAN TO GO LIVE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT UNTIL [INAUDIBLE] SUPPORTS AFTER THE SECOND READING WOULD BE IN EFFECT, BUT WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO SEE ANY OF THE CHARGES CHANGE OVER UNTIL SEPTEMBER.>> [OVERLAPPING] THANK YOU, DONNY. YOU HAD TOLD US THAT BEFORE, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT REMINDER.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. I'LL CALL FOR A VOTE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ITEM 3F IS CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 7865. MR. CITY MANAGER?
[3F. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. 7865: (Contact: Anthony Spanel, Environmental Health Director) This is the first reading of an ordinance considering amendments to the Wastewater Pretreatment Ordinance, Chapter 8-5, Public and Environmental Health. This Ordinance will provide a uniform standard throughout the Amarillo Area Public Health District relating to the installation and maintenance of grease traps. In addition, it will aid in the prevention of sanitary sewer overflows and reduce the costs associated with maintenance of the City sewer system.]
>> MAYOR, JUST LIKE ITEM E, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.
WE'VE GOT ANTHONY SPANEL, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TO PRESENT THE ITEM, AND THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY BEFORE HE PRESENTS IT IS TO SAY, ANY TIME I'M A SANITARIAN PRO, AND ANTHONY IS THAT, STARTS USING ACRONYMS, THERE ARE ACRONYMS EVEN I DON'T GET.
IF HE SAYS THE WORD FOG, FATS, OILS, AND GREASES [LAUGHTER].
ANTHONY, TAKE IT AWAY. [LAUGHTER].
>> NOT TO USE ACRONYMS. BUT GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR THAT INTRODUCTION THERE.
JUST A REFRESHER, THIS ORDINANCE WOULD ADD ESSENTIALLY A GREASE TRAP ORDINANCE.
A FOG ORDINANCE: FATS, OILS, AND GREASES TO OUR MUNICIPAL CODE.
THIS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE AMARILLO PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT, MAINLY FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
PRIMARILY, WE'RE LOOKING TO PROVIDE UNIFORMITY THROUGHOUT THE AMARILLO PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT IN RELATION TO FOG: FATS, OILS, AND GREASES.
ALSO, TO PROTECT THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM IN THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE DO HAVE THREE LETTERS OF SUPPORT, ONE FROM THE PANHANDLE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, ONE FROM THE CITY OF CANYON, AND ONE FROM THE CONSTRUCTION ADVISORY AND APPEALS COMMITTEE.
I WOULD TAKE ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU GUYS HAVE THEM.
>> QUESTIONS FOR ANTHONY, COUNCIL?
>> CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING THIS PROJECT.
[INAUDIBLE] I SHOULD'VE CONGRATULATED DONNY ALSO BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE WORKS AND A LOT OF EXTRA HOURS TO MAKE THIS CHANGE.
>> THIS ONE STARTED IN 2017 THERE, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> YEAH. YOU'RE RIGHT. OVER TWO YEARS WORTH OF WORK DONE.
LOOK AT HIM, WOW, SUPERSTAR, IT POPS UP THE TIMELINE THERE.
THAT'S GREAT. DO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM THERE?
>> YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7865, WHICH IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE WASTEWATER PRETREATMENT ORDINANCE CHAPTER 8-5, PUBLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.
>> SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 7865.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
ITEM 3G IS THE FINAL THING ON OUR AGENDA TODAY.
[3G. CONSIDER RESOLUTION – 2019 EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT (ESG) APPLICATION TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS (TDHCA): (Contact: Juliana Kitten, Director of Community Development) This item considers approval of a resolution authorizing the Amarillo Continuum of Care to receive an Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) award up to $676,479 for 2020 grant year and CARES funding to provide street outreach and rapid re-housing to persons experiencing homelessness. The 2020 annual application is in the amount of: $178,947 CARES Funding in the amount of: $141,060 ESG Coordination Grant in the amount of: $356,472 Total $676,479]
THAT'S NOT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.MR. CITY MANAGER, CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS ITEM?
>> MAYOR, I'VE GOT JULIANA KITTEN, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO PRESENT THE ITEM.
THIS IS GOING TO BE DEALING WITH BOTH CARES FUNDING, FUNDING ASSOCIATED WITH CORONAVIRUS, AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR ANNUAL OPERATING FUNDS.
JULIANA, WALK US THROUGH IT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS COUNCIL HAS, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
>> SURE. ABSOLUTELY. GOOD AFTERNOON.
HELLO, MAYOR, CITY MAYOR, AND COUNCIL, GOOD TO SEE YOU-ALL, KIND OF SEE YOU.
THIS IS EMERGENCY SOLUTION GRANT FUNDING.
IT COMES FROM TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS, WHICH HAD FILED THROUGH THE STATE ESSENTIALLY.
THERE'S THREE DIFFERENT BUCKETS.
ONE IS BECAUSE WE WERE ALREADY RECEIVING FUNDING PRIOR TO COVID, THEY WENT AHEAD AND AWARDED US THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT JUST AS A WAY TO HELP US DEAL WITH THE COVID CRISIS WORKING WITHIN THE HOMELESS POPULATION.
TWO, THERE'S THE ANNUAL APPLICATION THAT WE WOULD DO EACH YEAR, AND SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE APPLIED FOR.
THEN THIRD, THEY ASKED US IF WE WOULD BE WILLING TO COORDINATE FUNDING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE COMING HOME PROJECT AND FUNDING FOR OUR DIFFERENT PARTNERS, AND SO WE RAN HOW TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, RECEIVED THOSE BACK,
[02:50:02]
AND THOSE ARE NOW BEING CONSIDERED BY TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.THE TWO OF THEM ARE SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO COVID AND WORK THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH OUR HOMELESS POPULATION TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, AND ONE IS JUST OUR ANNUAL APPLICATION, I WISH IT WOULD BE ALLOCATION.
>> OKAY. COUNCIL, ANY QUESTIONS FOR JULIANA?
>> JULIANA, YOU CUT OUT IN THE SECOND PART.
YOU SAID IT WAS THE COMING HOME PROGRAM AND SOMETHING ELSE, AND I COULDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID.
>> SURE. FOR THE THIRD BUCKET, TDHCA REACHED OUT TO US AND SAID, "WOULD WE BE WILLING TO HELP BOTH ADMINISTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT LARGE?".
THEY HAD ANOTHER POT OF MONEY TO PROVIDE THEM WITH COVID-RELATED FUNDING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND A PORTION OF THAT WOULD ALSO GO TO COMING HOME, AND SO WE SAID, "OF COURSE, ABSOLUTELY." RIGHT NOW, WHAT'S BEING SENT UP FOR CONSIDERATION IS SUPPORT OF 211 ANOTHER WAY TO DO RAPID REHOUSING, GSRC FOR ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING AND ONGOING TO MAINTAIN PEOPLE SAFELY IN THE DAY SHELTER.
ALSO, MARTHA'S HOME, WHICH IS A WOMAN'S SHELTER WHO HAS REMAINED OPEN THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS AND HAS REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB.
THOSE WERE THE THREE THAT HAD APPLIED.
>> THIS IS A NEW PROCESS FOR THESE FUNDS TO COME IN THROUGH YOUR DEPARTMENT AND THEN YOU DISTRIBUTE THEM, AND OVERSEE THAT DISTRIBUTION TO THOSE ENTITIES?
>> YES. IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN THE COORDINATOR THEN TDHCA SAID, AND THIS WAS TRUE ACROSS THE STATE, THAT THEY DIDN'T WANT TO USE THAT PROCESS ANYMORE AND SO THEN THE LAST YEAR, WE WERE NOT THE COORDINATOR FOR THE FUNDS.
FOR THIS, SPECIFICALLY RELATED TO COVID, MAYBE IT WAS JUST TO SIMPLIFY BECAUSE PERHAPS ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, THEY ASKED US IF WE WOULD BE WILLING TO BE A COORDINATOR AGAIN AND WE SAID, "SURE."
>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR COORDINATING THAT.
I KNOW THAT DOES PUT MORE WORK UNDER YOUR UMBRELLA, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S NOT THAT MUCH [LAUGHTER] COMPARED TO EVERYTHING ELSE WE DO, BUT I APPRECIATE THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT, CERTAINLY.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR JULIANA? IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU JULIANA, WE KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING SO HARD.
WE HAVEN'T SEEN YOUR FACE LATELY.
>> I KNOW. WELL, ALL YOU HAVE AS WELL AND I JUST APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO, AND HOW INSPIRING WAS THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING, SO AMAZING.
I JUST LOVED HEARING AND I READ ABOUT HER.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ARTICLES IN THE PAPER, AND JUST THAT WAS FANTASTIC.
THEN I'VE LOVED YOUR TASK FORCE FOR GREATNESS.
I WISH I WAS AN AMARILLO RESIDENT, I'M IN OLDHAM COUNTY, VEGA.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN SOME WAY WITH THAT.
>> WELL, THERE MAY BE A PLACE THERE FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE, IF NOT ON THE GREATER COMMITTEE, IN SOME WAY TO SERVE ON A PROJECT.
[NOISE] WELL, THEN I THINK, FREDA, DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
>> AFTERWARDS, OKAY. GREAT. THEN THANK YOU, JULIANA, AND I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THIS ITEM.
>> YES, MAYOR. I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AMARILLO CONTINUUM OF CARE TO RECEIVE AN EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANT AWARD UP TO $676,479 FOR 2020 GRANT YEAR AND CARE SPENDING TO PROVIDE STREET OUTREACH IN RAPID REHOUSING TO PERSONS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL AND SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER SAUER TO APPROVE RESOLUTION DESCRIBED ON ITEM 3G.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION FROM THE COUNCIL? HEARING NONE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> OKAY. MAYOR, I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY REALLY QUICK, IN RELATIONSHIP TO WHAT JULIANA WAS SAYING IN REGARDS TO HOLLY WRITING,
[02:55:04]
I MAY BE GIVING AWAY MY AGE A LITTLE BIT, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN SHE WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO COLLEGE, ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF FOR YEARS, WE ACTUALLY GAVE HER A SCHOLARSHIP DURING THAT TIME PERIOD, AND THEN I HAVE WORKED WITH HER DAD FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.IT'S VERY INSPIRING JUST TO SEE WHERE SHE IS TODAY.
>> FOR OUR GROUP TO HAVE HAD A PART IN THAT SUCCESS, WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HELP.
>> RIGHT. AGREED. THAT'S A GREAT STORY.
I LOVED HEARING THE BACKGROUND THAT HOWARD HAD WITH HER TOO AS A CHILD AND HER CAMP FIRE GROUP.
>> THAT'S PART OF THE GREATNESS OF AMARILLO.
I'M SORRY, ELAINE, I KEEP STEPPING ON YOU. DO YOU WANT TO SAY [LAUGHTER] SOMETHING?
>> JUST JULIANA, AGAIN, THANK YOU AND CONGRATS ON JUST FINDING GRANT DOLLARS TO KEEP IMPROVING THIS DEPARTMENT AND YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOUR KNOWLEDGE IN DEVELOPING THAT.
WE LOVE TO SEE YOU ON THE AGENDA.
>> [NOISE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> I KNOW. I MISS YOU-ALL TOO, AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS DEPARTMENT AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO.
WE STILL HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO GROW AND GO, AND WE WILL, WE ARE COMMITTED.
WE GOT SEVERAL YEARS AHEAD OF US, BUT WE WILL DO IT.
TELL YOUR TEAM WE APPRECIATE THEM.
>> THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM.
[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 properties located in the Central Business District.]
AT THIS TIME, OUR ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY TODAY, MARCUS NORRIS, IF YOU DON'T MIND READING OUR SPECIAL LANGUAGE.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THE CITY COUNCIL NOW CALLS ON EXECUTIVE SESSION 551072 OF THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT TO DISCUSS THE PURCHASE EXCHANGE LEASE/SALE VALUE OF REAL PROPERTY, AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF SUCH WOULD NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY'S BARGAINING POSITION IN THESE [INAUDIBLE] PROPERTIES IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU-ALL. WE'LL SEE YOU IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.