Oct 02, 2023 City Council

AWESOME.

EVERYBODY GETS A SWORD BAG, A BAG OF CHIPS.

THAT'S THE WAY TO POWWOW POWWOW .

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.

WE'LL PUT THOSE OUT.

HELLO, MY NAME IS LYDIA PEREZ AND I'M BRA WITH STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT AT BROWNWOOD.

WE HOST BLOOD DRIVES EVERY OTHER MONTH IN OUR FRESHMAN CAMPUS LIBRARY, AND WE PARTNER UP WITH THE GULF COAST REGIONAL BLOOD CENTER, AND WE OPEN UP OUR BLOOD DRIVES TO EVERYONE, AND IT'S OPEN TO ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 16 WHO MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

OUR BLOOD DRIVE WAS LAST SEPTEMBER ON THE 12TH AND 13TH, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DONATE 128 PINTS OF BLOOD, WHICH SAVED 546 LIVES.

OUR NEXT BLOOD DRIVE IS NOVEMBER 15TH THROUGH THE 16TH.

IF Y'ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME AND JOIN US, AND IF YOU KNOW ANYONE THAT GOES TO BRASSWOOD, YOU CAN DONATE FOR THEM.

IS THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL, THE LEAD DRIVE? YES.

SO ALSO IN SEPTEMBER, WE HELD OUR HOMECOMING DANCE.

SO IT WAS ON SEPTEMBER 23RD AND IT STARTED AT EIGHT 30.

SO IT IS OPEN TO THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY.

SO GRADES NINE THROUGH 12TH ALL COME.

WE HAD 986 STUDENTS SHOW UP ALL THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

IT WAS A VERY CROWDED EVENT.

STUDENT BODY LOVES IT.

UM, THEY CHOSE THE THEME GOLDEN MELODIES.

SO THIS WAS KIND OF AN OLD HOLLYWOOD STYLE, UM, RED, GOLD, SILVER, UH, AND IT WAS A HIT.

HI EVERYONE, I'M ALLISON AVER.

I'M THE STUDENT BODY PARLIAMENTARIAN FOR RAS WOOD HIGH SCHOOL.

SO, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE STATE OF TEXAS IS UNDER A BURN BAN.

SO WE OPTED TO HAVE A NON-FIRE RATHER THAN OUR TRADITIONAL BONFIRE.

SO NOT BEING ABLE TO BURN WAS A REALLY BIG LETDOWN FOR OUR CLASS, BUT WE TURNED THE DISAPPOINTMENT INTO A CELEBRATION.

SO THIS NON-FIRE EVENT WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 21ST AT CLUT PARK.

MANY PARENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES DONATED FOOD AND DRINKS.

WE HAD A LOT OF FUN GAMES, AND WE EVEN CROWNED OUR HOMECOMING KING BRANDON.

DURING THIS EVENT, SENIORS WHO MADE BONFIRE BOARDS WERE ABLE TO HANG THEM ALONG BRAESWOOD DRIVE SO THAT EVERYONE CAN SEE THEM AND ADMIRE THEM, AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY STILL HUNG RIGHT NOW.

SO IF YOU GUYS WOULD LOVE TO GO CHECK THEM OUT, WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THAT.

AN UPCOMING EVENT THAT BRAS WILL START AFTER HALLOWEEN IS OUR MILITARY MOMS AND WIVES SUPPLY DRY.

WE HOST A CONTEST AT BE WOOD IN THE CLASS THAT BRINGS THE MOST ITEMS FOR MILITARY MOMS AND WIVES.

WE'LL PRESENT THEIR CLASS WITH A SURPRISE, WHICH LAST YEAR THEY WERE SURPRISED WITH DRINKS AND COOKIES.

AND WE PARTNER UP WITH THE ZORIA COUNTY ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN, AND WE HELP COLLECT TEEN OR CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE TEENS SINCE THEY'RE OVERLOOKED AGE GROUP WHEN IT COMES TO CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

SO A PRETTY FUN COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT THAT BRAESWOOD WILL BE INVOLVED IN IS THE LAKE JACKSON MONSTER DASH FIVE K.

SO BRAESWOOD STUDENT COUNCIL, PALS AND NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY WILL BE HELPING OUT WITH THE 11TH ANNUAL MONSTER DASH.

WE'LL ALL BE DRESSED IN COSTUMES ALONG THE RUNNING, ALONG,

[00:05:01]

ALONG THE PATH.

SO IF Y'ALL HAPPEN TO BE RUNNING, LOOK OUT FOR BRAESWOOD, WE'LL BE THERE.

LASTLY, WE HAVE THE S P C A FUR BALL ON OCTOBER 26TH.

SO STUDENT COUNCIL, THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY WILL BE HELPING SERVE FOOD AND WORK THE AUCTION.

SO IF YOU ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO COME OUT TO SUPPORT AN AMAZING COST, PLEASE COME.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU GUYS THERE.

YEAH, THE PALS PROGRAM'S ALWAYS BEEN A, A GREAT PROGRAM, UH, NOT ONLY FOR PUTTING ON PROGRAMS FOR UH, STUDENTS, BUT ALSO AT THE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT Y'ALL ALSO INTERACT WITH THE OTHER SCHOOLS ALSO AND DOING MENTORSHIP AND STUFF WITH THE OTHER SCHOOLS.

SO THAT'S REALLY GREAT.

GOOD TO SEE THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UH, NEXT TIME WE HAVE ON THE AGENDA IS A PRESENTATION AND IT'S, UH, PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS.

UH, MONTH PROCLAMATION, AND I'LL GO READ THIS.

UH, I GERALD ROSOVSKY BY AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS DUE, HEREBY PROCLAIM OCTOBER, 2023 AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

WHEREAS WHILE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER, IT REMAINS THE MOST FREQUENTLY DIAGNOSED TYPE OF NON-KIN CANCER AND THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATHS AMONGST, UH, WOMEN IN OUR COUNTRY.

WHEREAS UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF US KNOW SOMEONE OR HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE OR HAVE HAD CANCER.

BUT THANKS TO EARLY DETECTION AND BETTER TREATMENTS, MORTALITY RATES FOR BREAST CANCER HAVE STEADILY DECREASED IN THE LAST DECADE, WHEREAS KNOWING WHAT, UH, MAY CONTRIBUTE TO BREAST CANCER SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT ARE IMPORTANT PARTS OF ITS PREVENTATIVE PREVENTION, AS WELL AS HAVING AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION FOR ALL WOMEN, UH, IS ESSENTIAL COMP IS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER.

WHEREAS DURING BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WE STAND WITH OUR MOTHERS DAUGHTERS, SISTERS AND FRIENDS, AND WE RECOGNIZE ALL WHO HAVE JOINED, UH, ALL WHO HAVE JOINED THEIR LOVED ONES, UH, IN FIGHTING THEIR BATTLE AS WELL.

NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY OF LAKE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON DUBAI HERE PROCLAIMED THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2023 AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON.

OKAY, UH, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA WE HAVE IS, UH, VISITOR'S COMMENTS.

UH, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE ANYONE THAT'S ATTENDING THE MEETING TODAY, UH, IF THEY HAVE SOMETHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO COUNSEL TO THAT IS NOT ON THE CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDA, THIS IS THE TIME TO DO SO.

IS THERE ANYBODY A VISITOR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT.

NOT SEEING ANYTHING.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

THIS IS WHERE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECLARE IF THEY HAVE CONFLICT OF INTEREST, UH, CONCERNING ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA OR THE REGULAR AGENDA.

IS THERE ANYONE THAT NEEDS TO DECLARE CONFLICT OF INTEREST? MOVING ON TO

[CONSENT AGENDA]

THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ITEM ONE IS APPROVED MINUTES.

SEPTEMBER 18, UH, 2023.

UH, ITEM TWO IS ACCEPT BOARD AND COMMISSION MINUTES.

UH, CHARTER, UH, KEEP LAKE JACKSON BEAUTIFUL PARKS AND TRAFFIC.

ITEM THREE, UH, AUTHORIZED KEPPER SPORTS TO APPLY FOR A T A B C MIXED BEVERAGE WITH FOOD AND BEVERAGE LICENSE AT THE WILDERNESS GOLF COURSE LOCATED AT 5 0 1, UH, TEXAS, UH, 3 32 LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS.

UM, ITEM FOUR, APPROVE ANNUAL REQUEST TO CLOSE THE ALLEY BEHIND LAKE JACKSON HEAD.

START LOCATED ON 3 0 3 GARLAND DRIVE FROM THREE FROM 9:00 AM TO 10:30 AM FOR A PRIVATE TRUCK, UH, TRUCK OR TREAT EVENT ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31ST.

ITEM FIVE, APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 2 7 7 AMENDING THE B TWO CENTRAL BUSINESS ZONE TO ALLOW SPECIAL EVENT VENUES AS CONDITIONAL USE SECOND READING.

AND FINALLY, ITEM SIX IS AUTHORIZED AN INCREASE IN PRICE FOR FROM, UH, GOODBYE PURCHASING COOPERATIVE FOR A UTILITY TRUCK, UH, FROM 500, I MEAN $51,957 TO $74,000.

IS THERE A REQUEST FROM COUNSEL TO REMOVE AN ITEM FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? YES.

YES, MA'AM.

I DO ITEM NUMBER SIX.

WE'LL MOVE ITEM SIX TO, UH, FIRST RECORD AGENDA.

IS THERE A MOTION FOR ANY OTHER FOR THE REST OF THE AGENDA? SAM? MAYOR, I MOVE THERE.

WE APPROVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE OF CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN HANYA TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE THROUGH FIVE ON CONSENT AGENDA.

I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SETH.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

REGULAR AGENDA, WHICH WILL INCLUDE THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM SIX, IS THE AUTHORIZED AND INCREASE IN PRICE FROM GOODBYE PURCHASING COOPERATIVE FOR, UH, UTILITY TRUCK FOR 51,000 FROM 50 1095, $51,957 TO $74,000.

ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.

UH, MOVE ON TO

[6. Authorize an increase in price from GoodBuy Purchasing Cooperative for a utility truck from $51,957 to $74,000.]

[00:10:01]

SO, MR. MAYOR, UH, I JUST HAVE CONCERN, UH, ABOUT, UH, THESE, UH, PURCHASING COOPERATIVES TO TAKE ADVANTAGES OF CITIES BECAUSE THEY'RE HUGE AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO USE THEM AND EXCLUSIVELY USE THEM.

SO I'M LOOKING FOR, UH, SOME WAY THROUGH, UH, SEND THEM A NOTICE OR SOMETHING WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY ABOUT.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY HAVE DONE THAT TO US.

AND, UH, DUE TO THEIR NOT PERFORMING PER, PER OUR REQUEST, SENDING US WRONG VEHICLES AND NOT CHARGING US EXTRA AND FURTHER DELAYING THE PROJECT.

SO I'M NOT ADVOCATING THAT WE NOT ACCEPT THIS, BUT I, BUT I AM ADVOCATING IS THAT WE SOMEHOW, UH, SEND THEM A LETTER OR, UH, SOME TYPE OF NOTICE SAYING THAT, UH, SHOWING OUR DISPLEASURE, UH, 'CAUSE WE HAVE ONLY TWO OPTIONS TO BUY THESE VEHICLES.

ONE THROUGH SCHOOL BOARD, WHICH IS THIS ONE, AND THROUGH OTHER ONE IS THE T M L, WHICH BOTH ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, LOCAL CONTROL, AND WE HAVE TO PAY WHATEVER THEIR CHARGE IS, AND THEN THEY DO NOT PERFORM, AND THEN WE END UP PAYING MORE.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

DO WE HAVE TO BUY THROUGH BY BOARDS? WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BUY THROUGH THE BY BOARD IS WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT, UM, THE COOPERATIVE PURCHASES HAVE GOTTEN QUITE BIG.

AND SO WHEN THEY GO OUT FOR BID, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THREE OR FOUR DEALERSHIPS IN THE STATE THAT GET THESE BIDS, AND THEY, THEY DO CORNER THE MARKET AND THEY DO USUALLY HAVE THE BEST PRICE.

THEY USUALLY CAN BEAT THE SMALLER MARKET, BUT YOU KNOW, WHEN, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BIG THAT WHEN THERE IS A MISHAP, IT'S HARD TO CORRECT IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LIST OF CLIENTS THAT IF YOU DON'T WANT THIS, WE'LL REORDER IT FOR YOU AND THEY'LL, THEY'LL SELL IT.

UH, THAT'S JUST, UH, SEEMS TO BE PART OF, UH, THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS OF, YOU KNOW, THE DEALERSHIPS, UH, DEALERSHIPS DEALING WITH LARGE FLEETS, THEY'RE WINDS UP JUST BEING FEW OF THEM.

AND THEN THE STATE OF THE INDUSTRY ALSO, UM, WE HAD A SPECIALTY ORDER AND MR. S UH, COUNCILMAN S IS CORRECT.

UH, IT'S BEEN MESSED UP, YOU KNOW, TWICE, BUT ALSO ON THE REORDER, WE WERE TOLD IT STILL COULD BE ANOTHER SIX MONTH OR A YEAR DELAY BASED ON THE STRIKE.

SO WE MADE, YOU KNOW, THE DECISION, UH, TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION.

IT WAS BETTER JUST TO SWALLOW AND TAKE THIS ONE RATHER THAN WAIT A YEAR AND WE'D WIND UP SAVING $5,000.

UH, I MEAN, IS CAN WE, DO YOU JUST REQUEST REQUESTED, UH, TO SEND A LETTER TO WE CAN TO JUST, AND, AND I KNOW, UM, UM, MR. MIA, YOU KNOW, TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, EXPRESSED HIS DISAPPOINTMENT.

THEY CAME DOWN ON THE PRICE, A COUPLE OF THOUSAND, UH, DOLLARS.

BUT AGAIN, WHEN WE ORDER, WE CAN STILL, YOU KNOW, EXPRESS THEIR DISAPPOINTMENT.

UH, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S STILL, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST THREE DEALERSHIPS, YOU KNOW, THAT GET DIFFERENT COOPERATIVES.

WE CAN START, YOU KNOW, LOOKING, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, ELSEWHERE.

ALSO, SEE, I'M NOT ADVOCATING SHOOTING OURSELVES ON THE FOOT AND NOT ACCEPTING THIS OFFER, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT HAPPY TO JUST TAKE WHATEVER THEY SHOVE DOWN THEIR THROAT.

SO I JUST WANT THAT TO BE KNOWN.

AND MR. MAYOR, IF I MAY, WE DID GET PRICE FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT WAS $2,000 MORE.

AND THIS DOOR IS A $74,000, BUT THIS IS A DIESEL TRUCK.

SO WHEN YOU HAD DIESEL, THAT'S A EXTRA $10,000.

SO WE DIDN'T SAW ANY BENEFIT TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR.

GOD KNOWS, BECAUSE THEY STRIKE WHEN THEY'RE GONNA COME.

SO, AND WE NEED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE UTILITIES VEHICLE IS DAMAGED, THEY CAN'T PULL ANY TRAILER.

PLUS, YOU KNOW, THE COST OF DIESEL IS HIGHER THAN THE GASOLINE AND C AND G, SO IT'S GONNA COST THE CITY MORE TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE, THEN IT WOULD HAVE WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY ORDERED.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMY TO MAKE WE PAYING MORE.

IT'S GONNA COST US MORE TO OPERATE IT.

SO, AND THE TYPE OF VEHICLE WE WAS ORDERING WAS A GAS, GAS VEHICLE, AND WE ENDED UP WITH A DIESEL.

IS, UM, THIS IS PAR FOR THE COURSE FOR AMBULANCES, FIRE TRUCKS, EVEN, EVEN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I BELIEVE IT WAS C M G CMG.

IT WAS C G AND THE FIRST ONE THEY DELIVERED TO US.

THERE WAS A MISHAP, I CAN'T REMEMBER, THAT WAS A SINGLE CAB.

THERE WAS A SINGLE CAB , AND WE DIDN'T ACCEPT THAT WE COULDN'T USE A SINGLE CAB.

AND SO WE, OUR INITIAL ORDER WAS IN 2020 , AND WE'RE JUST, AND THAT WAS A MISHAP.

AND SO WE'RE, NOW, WE'RE JUST GETTING THIS VEHICLE AND THIS

[00:15:01]

WE'RE ALSO HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS YEAH.

IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLES.

UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE TWO VEHICLES AT YEAH.

OUR OFFICE AND WE CAN'T GET THE EQUIPMENT FOR YEAH.

IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW.

UH, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM, I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON, UH, MR. MAYOR MOVE THAT WE, UH, AUTHORIZE THE INCREASE IN PRICE FROM GOODBYE PURCHASING COOPERATIVE FOR UTILITY TRUCK FROM $51,957 TO $74,000.

HAVE A MOTION.

I'LL SECOND AND SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, SETH.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? OKAY.

UH, ITEM ONE, DISCUSSED AND RECONSIDER, UH, REMOVING THE SPEED HUMPS IN FRONT OF, UH, 2 24.

WE'LL MOVE INTO REGULAR AGENDA.

[1. Discuss and reconsider removing the speed humps in front of 224 Any Way Street – Mr. Hampy.]

ANY WAY STREET, UH, MR. HAMP, YOU WANNA STEP UP? UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS AT, UH, LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

UH, STAFF CAME BACK WITH THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAD REQUESTED THEM TO COME BACK TO US FROM, I'M SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG.

UH, BUT, UH, WE, UH, HAD TO GO OUT WITH MAILERS TO GET THE INFORMATION FROM, UH, CITIZENS.

GO AHEAD AND GO TO THE NEXT PAGE REAL QUICK WITH THE MAP.

SO THIS IS THE DATA WE GOT BACK FROM FOLKS, UH, BASICALLY IS WE WENT TO, UH, 10, 10 NEIGHBORS AROUND THAT.

WAS IT 10 TOTAL THAT SURROUNDED HIM OR IS IT 10? UM, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

THERE'S 12 ON THERE.

12 OR SO.

WE DID NOT CONTACT THE RESIDENT DIRECTLY ACROSS RIGHT.

FROM MR. HAMEY.

ALRIGHT, SO 11.

ANYWAY, SO WHAT WE RESPONSES, THESE ARE RESPONSES WE GOT BACK AS FAR AS IF PEOPLE WERE WILLING TO HAVE THE SPEED HUMP, UH, OUR TABLE MOVED INTO FROM THEIR PROPERTY.

AND SO, AS YOU CAN SEE THERE, UH, WE HAD, UH, BASICALLY TO GET THIS TO WORK BEST WITHOUT ANY CONFLICT WOULD BE, IS TO HAVE NEIGHBORS ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER TO AGREE.

AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY SITUATION, UH, AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, UH, WITH FOLKS, WE HAD TWO NON-RES RESPONDENTS AND THE REST OF 'EM, YOU SEE THEIR RESPONSES THERE.

SO YOU'RE BACK BECAUSE YOU, DURING THIS TIME, UH, YOU'VE BEEN TRYING SOME STUFF ON YOUR OWN SIDE TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE IT FOR YOURSELF WITH MEDICAL.

THEY, AND SO THEY'VE BEEN IN PLACE FOR SEVEN MONTHS NOW AND, UH, THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A LONG TIME, BUT SOMEBODY WITH SLEEP ISSUES, UH, TRYING TO GET TO SLEEP WITH THE NOISE, TRAVELING OVER THESE, IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE.

AND, UM, FRUSTRATING.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT I ATTENDED, THE YOUNG MAN THAT, UH, SPOKE ABOUT THE STUDY ON THOSE SAID THAT, UH, THERE WAS ABOUT A FOUR MILE AN HOUR REDUCTION BEFORE AND AFTER THE, UH, SPEED HUMPS WERE THEN.

SO I'M THINKING IF THERE WAS JUST FOUR MILES AN HOUR, IF WE COULD REMOVE THOSE.

NO.

EVERYBODY THAT SAID THEY WANTED THEM, DON'T WANT 'EM NOW.

BUT, UH, IF WE COULD REMOVE THAT ONE IN FRONT, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

THAT WE CONTACT THEM, UH, NOTIFY THEM, JUST CHANGE, YEAH, CHANGE UP OUR PROCESS FOR SURE.

AND AGAIN, UH, WHENEVER STAFF PRESENT THIS MATERIAL BACK TO US, UH, LAST MEETING, STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT SINCE THIS WAS ON THE BEGINNING OR THE INDUSTRY, WHICH WAY YOU'RE GOING WAS THAT, UH, THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO GO AHEAD AND REMOVE IT, UH, BECAUSE IT WASN'T, PROBABLY WASN'T HAVING MUCH IMPACT ON, UH, FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD WHERE WE WERE HAVING THE ISSUES.

UH, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S, AND SO COUNSEL AT THAT POINT, UH, AFTER THEY SAW THE PRESENTATION, THEY DECIDED NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION THAT EVENING.

OF COURSE.

YES SIR.

DID WE CONTACT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE BEFORE WE PUT ALL OF THIS, THESE SPEED BUMPS UP FROM THE VERY GET GO? NO, THIS WAS AFTER THE FACT.

THIS WAS AFTER MR. HAN.

IS THERE ANY REASON WHY WE DIDN'T CONTACT ALL OF THEM? IS THERE A REASON WHY WE DIDN'T? UH, OUR UNDERSTANDING WAS, IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE RESIDENTS ON THE STREET HAD AGREED TO, UH, THE NEED FOR SPEED HUMPS.

SO WE STAFF PICKED LOCATIONS THAT WERE, UH, GAVE THE RIGHT DISTANCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS SPEED TABLES TO BE, MAKE THEM MOST EFFICIENT.

IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING? YEAH.

HISTORICALLY, WE HAVE NOT CONTACTED, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS.

YOU MAY COUNSEL MAY GET FEEDBACK IN, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT WAYS, BUT WE'VE NOT EVER PUT IN OUR PROCEDURE MANAGER, WE DON'T HAVE A PROCEDURE THAT, UM, SAYS THAT WE'LL CONTACT AND SURVEY EVERY RESIDENT, THE RESIDENT CAN, WHO'S MAKING A REQUEST.

THEY CAN SUBMIT A PETITION, UH, FOR THE, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT BOUND CITY COUNCIL FROM HAVING TO DO, DO THAT.

BUT CAN WE PUT FORWARD SOMETHING THAT WE WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROBLEM IN THE, IN THE FUTURE THAT,

[00:20:01]

YEAH, I WAS GONNA SAY, SO, SO PART OF THE REASON THIS IS COMING BACK TO Y'ALL AGAIN IS 'CAUSE I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING THE LAST TIME IT WAS ON, BECAUSE I HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO, UM, SHERRY ABOUT THE FACT THAT MR. HAMEY IS MY WIFE'S STEPDAD.

AND SO, UM, I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, SPEAKING DURING THAT ONE, BUT I SPOKE TO HER AFTER AND, AND WE SQUARED AWAY THAT THERE'S NOT ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST HERE.

AND SO, UM, THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE REASONS THIS HAS COME UP AGAIN SO QUICKLY, AND ONE THING I I WANTED TO, TO ADD ONTO THAT WAS THAT YEAH, NO, REGARDLESS OF HOW THIS TURNS OUT TODAY, I DO THINK WE SHOULD, UH, LOOK INTO UPDATING THE PO OF COURSE IT'S NOT ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, BUT UPDATING THE POLICY TO INCLUDE, UM, SURVEYS IS, IS ONE ITEM.

AND I KNOW RHONDA HAD HAD SAID SOMETHING ONE OF THE PREVIOUS TIMES WE TALKED ABOUT THIS THAT STUCK OUT TO ME.

AND THAT WAS THAT WHEN YOU'RE ASKING THESE PEOPLE WHETHER OR NOT THEY REALLY WANT THESE THINGS, A COMPONENT OF THAT SHOULD BE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT 'EM IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE.

BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO SAY, I WANT, I WANT SPEED BUMP ON MY STREET, YOU KNOW, BUT I DON'T WANT 'EM RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.

AND I KNOW THERE'S BEEN, UM, AND I WASN'T AROUND WHEN THE SPEED BUMPS WENT UP ON WALNUT, WALNUT, BUT I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS SOME, SOME DISCUSSIONS ALONG THESE SAME LINES.

UM, AND I REMEMBER WHEN THE TRAFFIC ENGINEER, WHO WE HIRED TO COME AND STUDY THIS, WHO CAME TO THE COUNCIL AND DID NOT RECOMMEND PUTTING SPEED BUMPS OUT.

AND ONE OF THE REASONS HE GAVE WAS THAT SOMETIMES THEY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

UH, AND THIS, THIS BEING ONE OF THE INSTANCES AND, AND WAYS THAT THAT HARM MANIFEST.

AND SO, YEAH, I, I DO THINK THAT, THAT THIS BODY SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER SOME UPDATES TO THE POLICY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS. IT WOULD'VE BEEN GREAT IF WE HAD THAT IN PLACE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE MOTION THAT THAT LAID THESE SPEED BUMPS DOWN IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS FOR A TEMPORARY, TEMPORARY IN NATURE.

UH, WE CAME BACK AND WE, WE TALKED ABOUT IT AFTERWARD, AND YES, IT, OF COURSE IT'S GOING TO, UM, LOWER SPEED.

THAT'S WHAT SPEED HOMES ARE DESIGNED TO DO.

BUT IT'S SOME OF THE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE INTANGIBLES IN LINE WITH WHAT THE ENGINEER SAID AND, UH, WHAT OUR CITIZENS ARE EXPERIENCING THERE.

AND THAT, THAT I THINK IS, UH, JUSTIFIES REVISITING THIS ISSUE.

AND I, AND I I ALSO AGREE OF COURSE, THAT THE, UM, THE MAJOR DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR THAT SORT OF PUSHED IT OVER FOR A LOT OF US, INCLUDING MYSELF INCLUDED, WAS THE, UM, THE BIG WRECK THAT HAD JUST HAPPENED.

AND I'M NOT INSENSITIVE TO THAT.

AND I KNOW THERE WAS HAD BEEN ANOTHER ONE ON SIMILAR FACTS NOT THAT LONG BEFORE THAT, BUT THAT'S ALL THE WAY DOWN SORT OF ON THE OTHER SIDE OF, OF ANYWAY, UH, THIS BEING THE, THE FIRST SPEED HUMP YOU GET TO FROM THAT WAY, UM, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE NOISE, I WOULDN'T HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE SPEED HUMP.

AND I'LL, I'LL SAY TOO AGAIN, MORE, MORE, MORE .

I HAVE A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF FAMILY ON ANYWAY, IF YOU KEEP GOING DOWN ANYWAY, RIGHT WHERE THE ISLAND IS, MY WIFE'S BIOLOGICAL DAD LIVES ON THAT CORNER AND THERE IS A SPEED BUMP RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS HOUSE AS WELL.

UM, BUT HE HASN'T SAID ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT IT.

AND CERTAINLY HE'S NOT SHY OF SHARING HIS OPINIONS WITH ME ABOUT THINGS HE DOESN'T LIKE.

AND SO, UM, I, I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM THERE.

BUT HIS HOUSE IS SITUATED WAY DIFFERENTLY.

HIS MASTER BEDROOM IS AS FAR AWAY FROM THE ROAD AS, AS YOU COULD BE, NOT SO FOR, FOR MIKE'S.

SO, UM, AND I THINK THOSE ARE, ARE BIG DIFFERENCES THAT, THAT WE MIGHT FACTOR INTO A FUTURE POLICY.

AND AS SUCH, THERE'S NO REASON WE COULDN'T FACTOR THEM INTO OUR ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY WHEN, IF I CAN RECALL THE TRAFFIC, UH, STUDY WAS DONE THAT THAT DIDN'T REALLY THOUGHT THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE SPEED HUMP ON THE STREET ANYWAY, THAT, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, BUT WE, WE DID SURVEYS FROM RESIDENTS ON THE STREET AND THEY SAID, OH YEAH, THEY WOULD STILL WANT THOSE.

AND WE WENT ALONG WITH THAT.

SO WE DID A SURVEY.

NO, NO, NO, NO.

I THOUGHT NO, NO, I DON'T THINK WE DID A SURVEY.

NO.

MR. WAIT, COUNCILMAN BLANC, HOLD ON.

WE DID TRAFFIC STUDIES, CORRECT.

BUT THAT THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND ANY ACTION BECAUSE WE WERE WITHIN THE 85TH TALK.

RIGHT? RIGHT.

BUT, BUT I WAS SAYING COUNCILMAN BLANCHARD WENT DOOR TO DOOR AND DID A SURVEY AND THEY WANTED, THAT'S A SURVEY I'M TALKING ABOUT.

AND WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND PUT THOSE IN AND IT COST MONEY TO PUT THESE ON AND TAKE 'EM OFF.

SO I'M SENSITIVE TO THAT.

AND I'M ALSO SENSITIVE TO YOU FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO SPEAK.

NOBODY CAME TO MY DOOR .

SO, SO I GUESS MY THING IS, YEAH, WE OUGHT TO REMOVE THIS, BUT IN THE FUTURE WE OUGHT TO BE, UH, TAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

IF WE SEEK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM TRAFFIC STUDIES, THEN WE OUGHT TO USE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND, UH, GO FROM THERE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.

SO I'M GONNA JUST SAY I'VE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF SPEED BUMPS.

I THINK THEY'RE TERRIBLE FOR OUR SANITATION TRUCKS.

I THINK THEY'RE TERRIBLE ON OUR, UH, EMERGENCY VEHICLES, EMERGENCY OR FIRE TRUCKS OR E M S TRUCKS.

I HATE SPEED

[00:25:01]

BUMPS.

UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD REMOVE THESE AND NEXT TIME, I THINK IT SHOULD BE A TWO-PRONGED PROCESS OF IF WE HAVE TO DO THE SURVEY AND THEY SAY YOU'RE WITHIN 85 PERCENTILE, GREAT.

UM, ALONG WITH EVERY RESIDENT ON THAT STREET WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED BY IT, WOULD GET A LETTER AND OPPORTUNITY TO SAY YES OR NO.

AGAIN, PUT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS THERE JUST A MINUTE WAS BRINGING UP, AGAIN, REMEMBER THE, THE, THE AGENDA ITEM IS JUST FOR THE, IS WE'RE SPEAKING OF THE SPEED HUMP IN FRONT OF MR. EYS HOME.

UH, IF WE WANNA GO FURTHER THAN WE, THAT'S, THAT'S DOWN THE ROAD.

AND I, I THINK THERE ARE LOTS OF IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE TO THE POLICY WHEREBY WE GET A LOT OF THIS DATA AHEAD OF TIME TO SAVE THE MONEY OF INSTALL AND UNINSTALL AND, AND, AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO I THINK IN THAT SENSE, THERE ARE A LOT OF, UH, POTENTIAL THINGS WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE POLICY GENERALLY, UM, , BUT YEAH, AND I, I HEAR EVERYBODY'S FEEDBACK.

I JUST, AND I, I DO REMEMBER, YES, THAT'S WHAT THE STUDY SAID, BUT I'LL POINT YOU TO THE PACKET IN FRONT OF YOU FROM PAGES 46 TO 55 ARE THE MINUTES FROM THAT MEETING.

AND THERE'S, THERE WERE TONS OF CITIZENS THAT WERE HERE IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WANTED IT, THAT WERE FOR IT.

UM, SO THAT'S WHY WE ENDED UP DOING THAT.

I'LL GIVE IT TO SIR, I'LL GIVE THEM MINE .

AND, AND I'M NOT, AND PLEASE DON'T THINK THAT I'M TRYING TO DISMISS WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING TO US.

I'M NOT AT ALL, MY ONLY CONCERN IS, FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE PHONE CALLS THAT COME FROM, UM, AVOCADO, THAT AREA OVER THERE BY THE POST OFFICE, THAT THERE'S PEOPLE THAT CAN'T SLEEP AND ARE ANGRY WITH THE LIGHTS AND THE NOISE FROM MCLEAN PARK.

SO DO WE SHUT MCLEAN PARK DOWN? I MEAN, THAT'S NOT FAIR TO EVERYBODY THAT'S USING THAT, RIGHT? SO IT'S, IT'S A TOUGH BALANCE HERE TO TRY AND MAKE EVERYBODY HAPPY.

WE'RE NEVER GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

RIGHT? SO I DON'T, I WAS THERE 30 YEARS AND THEN, AND I UNDER, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

I'M NOT TRYING TO DISMISS WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON.

I JUST, WE TRY AND DO WHAT WE CAN FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT BRING US A CONCERN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID HERE.

AND WELL, I THINK WE JUST, NEXT TIME WE DO NEED TO DO IT IN A MORE SYSTEMATIC, OFFICIAL CAPACITY.

AND I'LL, I'LL ADD TO THAT, RHONDA, THAT I LIAISE TRAFFIC AND THERE'VE ALREADY BEEN, UH, NUM I THINK AT LEAST THREE.

I THINK THERE WAS THREE IN ONE MEETING WHERE PEOPLE WERE REQUESTING SOME SORT OF REVIEW TO TRY TO ADD SPEED HOMES TO THERE.

SO I, I THINK THIS IS GONNA GET, UM, COME BACK MORE.

THERE'S GONNA BE MORE OF THESE.

AND, UM, SO CERTAINLY SHAPING UP THE POLICY IN ADVANCE OF THOSE KINDS OF REQUESTS, I THINK IS A GOOD, A GOOD THING FOR US TO DO.

UM, AND I THINK IF WE WERE TO HAVE A POLICY LIKE THAT AND APPLY IT TO THESE FACTS, I THINK IT, IT WOULD SHOW THAT, THAT THIS ONE PROBABLY CAN GO AGAIN, THIS BEING THE, THE, THE FARTHEST ONE AWAY FROM THE EVENTS THAT REALLY CONVINCED ME, AND I DON'T KNOW OTHER MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD, BUT CERTAINLY ME TO SORT OF KICK THIS ONE OUT FROM THE NORMAL RECOMMENDATION OF THE, THE ENGINEER.

AND I DON'T THINK REMOVING THIS ONE MAKES THAT AREA MORE DANGEROUS, FRANKLY.

SO HOW MANY SPEED HOMES ARE THERE ON, DID WE END UP INSTALLING FOUR? OKAY.

AND THIS WILL BE THE FIRST ONE.

BUT ALL WE EVER ASK, ALL OF US ASK UP HERE IS FOR THE MOST FEEDBACK WE CAN GET FROM OUR CITIZENS MM-HMM.

, THIS INSTANCE, I HAD PEOPLE COME TO ME IN THE BARBER SHOP AND IN H E B AND ON THE PHONE.

SO I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, I'M GONNA GO ABOVE AND BEYOND AND I'M GONNA WALK THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I WENT DOOR TO DOOR JUST TO TRY AND GET AS MUCH FEEDBACK AS I COULD.

THAT'S WHY I DID THAT SO THAT WE WOULD MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AND NOT JUST, SO WAS THAT SIX OF US ANY DIFFERENT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE ACCIDENT THAT WAS SPEEDING? I MEAN, NOT SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNSEL, ANYBODY CANVAS, RIGHT? ANYBODY ELSE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNSEL, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD A CAR GO THROUGH A HOUSE.

YES, SIR.

BUT WELL, 6 0 9 THAT WAY, UH, THERE WAS A ISSUE AND, UH, OF A CAR THROUGH A HOUSE FRIEND.

RIGHT? UH, A CAR WENT THROUGH HIS HOUSE LIKE TWO YEARS LATER.

BUT IF, IF IT WILL BENEFIT YOU AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO IT, THEN YEAH.

AND I, I, I DO TOTALLY, COMPLETELY AGREE THAT CITIZEN INPUT IS PARAMOUNT ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND AND THAT'S WHY I THINK DOING A, A DETAILED ON THE RECORD, SO TO SPEAK, ANALYSIS OF THIS IS, UH, SQUARELY THE RIGHT, THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

AND FOLLOWING UP, SENDING OUT THE EMAILS AND LETTERS, AND THEN FOLLOWING UP THE PHONE CALLS IF NECESSARY, LIKE THEY DID WITH THIS HERE.

AND THAT, THAT'S SORT OF WHAT WAS DONE HERE.

AND THE EVIDENCE IS PRETTY PERSUASIVE.

AND AGAIN, AGAIN, THE OTHER THING THAT, UH, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS, I THINK WE'VE BOUNCED AROUND A FEW TIMES, IS THAT WHEN WE DO, UH, CANVASING, CANVASING, CANVASSING, UH, NEIGHBORHOODS OR SURVEYING AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT ACTUALLY, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD HAND OFF TO STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF THAT AND COLLECT THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THEY'RE BETTER SET TO DO THAT BY MAKING THE, UH, PHONE CALLS

[00:30:01]

THE RESOURCES IS TO MORE THOROUGHLY, UH, STUFF DOWN.

BUT THERE'S, AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TOO, IS, IS THAT AS WE GO TO CHANGE THIS PROCESS UP IS, IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A PROCESS FOR THAT DETERMINES WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO, WHAT ACTIONS YOU DO, UH, TO GO.

IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA FILE, IF YOU'RE, IF YOU DECIDE TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER THAN TAKING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE 85% OFF FROM THE ENGINEER, IF YOU'RE GONNA TAKE IT ANOTHER STEP, THEN THERE SHOULD BE A PROCEDURE ON HOW YOU DO THAT.

MM-HMM.

AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO REVERSE IT, THERE SHOULD BE A PROCEDURE ON HOW YOU'RE GOING TO REVERSE IT.

COMPLETELY AGREE.

I MEAN, WHICH IS ALL, AGAIN, IF YOU GO BEYOND WHAT WE, THE DATA THAT'S PRESENTED, IF YOU'RE GOING BEYOND THAT AND YOU'RE GOING OFF OF A MOTION OR FEEDBACK, THEN WE SHOULD TAKE IT ON BOTH ENDS, GET FEEDBACK ON BOTH ENDS.

SO THIS POLICY THAT WE HAVE ABOUT PUTTING SPEED HUMPS THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME BECAUSE I WAS ON TRAFFIC COMMISSION BACK THEN BEFORE MY COUNCIL DAYS, AND, UH, MAYBE WE REALLY, I KNOW IT'S NOT PART OF THE AGENDA, BUT THEY NEED TO READDRESS THAT AND HAVE TRAFFIC COMMISSION LOOK THROUGH THAT AGAIN, AND HAVE INSTANCES THAT IF WE DON'T, IN THIS CASE, WE DIDN'T FO WE DID NOT FOLLOW THE POLICY BECAUSE WE WAS NOT RECOMMENDED.

AND WE STILL DID PUT IT SPEED DUMPS ANYWAY ON ANYWAY.

SO, UH, WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING IN THERE TO FACILITATE THAT WE EVER NEED TO DO THAT.

THERE'S ANOTHER PROCESS ON HOW WE SUB SUPPORT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE GO BE BEYOND THE PROCESS AND, AND STAFF HAS LOOKED AT SOME OF THAT AND THAT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE BACK THE TRAFFIC OF, OF EXAMPLES THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE.

AND IT GETS TO WHERE THEY START TO FIND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS TO AGREE TO PLACING THEM AND A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE HAS TO AGREE TO REMOVE THEM.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? MS. RA? MOVE, DID WE, UH, REMOVE, UH, THE SPEED HUMPS IN FRONT OF 2, 2 24 ANYWAY, STREET SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN SANJANA AND A SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER, SETH, ANY FURTHER COMMENTS, DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP, MR. HANDY SOON PLEASE.

HE HAS TO BABYSIT MY KIDS.

YEAH, BABYSIT YOU AND HIS WIFE'S OUT OF TOWN, SO.

OH, .

AND CONSIDER RESOLUTION NUMBER, UH, 9 2 5 NOMINATING CANDIDATES FOR BRAZORIA COUNTY APPRAISAL BOARD.

UH, ITEM TWO IS DISCUSS

[2. Discuss and consider Resolution No. 925 nominating candidates for the Brazoria County Appraisal Board.]

SO THIS IS, AGAIN, UH, THIS IS JUST FOR US TO DETERMINE IF WE WANNA NOMINATE ANYBODY, THIS GOES TO THE, UH, APPRAISAL DISTRICT AND THEN IT'LL COME BACK ONCE THEY HAVE ALL THE NOMINATIONS FROM ALL THE GOVERNING BODIES, THEN IT'LL COME BACK TO US FOR, TO CAST OUR 43 VOTES.

UH, AGAIN, WE CAN, UH, WE CAN NOMINATE UP TO FIVE PEOPLE.

UH, SO IT'S NOT JUST A PERSON FROM LAKE JACKSON, WE CAN NOMINATE FIVE PEOPLE FROM LAKE JACKSON IF WE WANT TO OR FROM ANYWHERE.

SO THAT'S, THAT IS AN OPTION.

WE, THERE'S FIVE SLOTS ON THE, ON THE RESOLUTION THAT WE CAN PUT NAMES ON.

SO, SO I, I HAD SOME THOUGHTS ON THIS ONE.

UM, FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY SERVING ON THE BRAZORIA COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, THERE'S ABSOLUTELY ZERO PERSONAL, UM, REASONING FOR NOT WANTING THOSE PEOPLE OTHER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN PART OF A PROCESS OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT I FEEL LIKE IS NOT GOING IN THE DIRECTION AS A TAXPAYER THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GO.

UM, I ALSO RECOGNIZE, LIKE WE SPOKE ABOUT LAST TIME, THAT REALLY, WE'VE GOT A VERY SMALL VOICE IN THE, UH, GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, BUT WE DO STILL HAVE A VOICE AND I THINK WE WOULD BE NEGLIGENT TO NOT USE IT.

UM, AND THEN THIRD AND FINAL IS, I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY MAKE A NOMINATION TONIGHT FOR COUNSEL'S OPEN TO THAT.

IN, UH, PUNISHING SOMEONE, UH, FOR SOMETHING THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH.

FIRST I WANNA ASK A QUESTION FROM ANYBODY ON COUNCIL, 'CAUSE I DID, I DID TALK TO MS. ROBINSON.

SO I WANT TO ASK IF ANY MEMBERS ON COUNCIL TALK HAS TALKED TO MS. ROBINSON EITHER RECENTLY OR AS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT SHE SERVED ON THIS BOARD.

SO, MR. MAYOR, I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY TALKED TO MS. MRS. ROBINSON, BUT I DO KNOW OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW HER.

AND I, I PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE THAT SHE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN THAT POSITION.

IT'S NOT HER FAULT THAT OUR TEXAS LEGISLATURE HAD DECIDED TO DO WHAT WITH APPRAISED VALUES THAT HAPPENED THAT'S AFFECTING ALL OF OUR CITIZENS.

AND, UH, I DO NOT BELIEVE

[00:35:01]

SO, AND I'M OKAY WITH NOMINATING ANOTHER PERSON FOR THAT JOB.

I JUST WANNA MAKE THAT CLEAR THAT, UH, IT IS NOT MS. ROBINSON'S FAULT THAT, UH, THE PRI THE APPRAISAL VALUES WHAT THEY ARE.

AND I HAVE 100% AGREE WITH THAT.

THIS IS SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE.

100%.

I DO, HOWEVER, FIND A PROBLEM WITH, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE IN REAL ESTATE, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE WHO ARE IN DEVELOPMENT, ANYBODY WHOSE INDUSTRY BENEFITS FROM HIGHER APPRAISALS, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE THAT'S A FOX IN THE HEN HOUSE.

I DON'T, I DON'T LOVE THAT CONCEPT.

UM, AND I STILL DISAGREE WITH THE FACT THAT I DO NOT LIKE THE PREMISE OF I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB.

WE HAVE EVERY ONE OF US UP HERE COULD SAY THAT AT SOME POINT I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB.

BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND THE RIGHT THING IS TO HAVE PUSHED BACK ON THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE IN ANY CAPACITY THAT WE CAN.

SO OUR CITIZENS HAVE COME TODAY AND SAY, WE ARE STUDYING TAX RATES FOR CITY OF LAKE JACKSON.

SO, AND WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.

ABSOLUTELY.

BUT, BUT WE ARE, UH, NOT, UH, A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN'T DO BECAUSE TEXAS LEGISLATOR DOES NOT ALLOW US TO DO.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN DO TO PROMOTE THAT PROCESS.

NOW I'M SAYING THAT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, PLEASE.

DON'T TAKE THAT PERSON.

NO, I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS A DISCUSSION WE NEED TO HAVE.

AND I MEAN, UM, AGAIN, THERE'S ZERO PERSONAL ANIMOSITY IN ANY OF THIS.

UM, IT IS STRICTLY, I THINK WE NEED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS KILLING US.

AND THAT'S FINE.

I MEAN, I JUST WANNA MAKE THIS STATEMENT.

NO, YES, I AGREE.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT, BUT EVERYBODY UP HERE HIRES OUR CHIEF APPRAISER AND THEN THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE APPOINT, THEY'RE NOT ELECTED.

THEY APPOINT YOUR A R B BOARD, WHICH IS IF YOU GO PROTEST YOUR TAXES, THAT'S WHO YOU DO IT IN FRONT OF.

BUT THESE PEOPLE APPOINT THEM.

BUT THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THIS PAST LEG, THAT'S CHANGING BECAUSE, SO YOU HAVE THESE FIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE APPOINTED, AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE THINGS.

SO STARTING WITH THIS, NEXT TIME YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THREE THAT ARE ELECTED.

SO YOU'RE NOW GONNA HAVE, WELL, REALLY SIX PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH CHRIS AND NIK IS NON-VOTING, SO SHE'S REALLY JUST STUCK ON THERE.

SO YOU'LL HAVE WHAT, EIGHT PEOPLE? BUT I JUST THINK IT'S REALLY FUNNY THAT THEY, IT ALMOST FEELS TO ME LIKE THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATOR SAYING, OH SURE, WE'LL THROW YOU A BONE HERE.

Y'ALL CAN ELECT SOME OF THE PEOPLE, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING.

YOU'RE STILL GONNA BE, ALWAYS BE OUTVOTED.

SO, SO THEY'RE ADDING THREE NEW POSITIONS.

THERE'LL BE THREE NEW POSITIONS COMING UP, I THINK THAT WAS JUST SIGNED IN AND THREE ELECTS.

AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS LIKE THAT ARE, THAT ARE GONNA BE CHANGING.

BUT I'LL BE CLEAR TOO.

SO THIS GROUP APPOINTS THE CHIEF APPRAISER.

AND THE CHIEF APPRAISER IS WHO SETS THE RATE.

THAT IS WHERE THE BUCK STOPS EXCEPT FOR THE TEXAS STATE COMP TRAILER DICTATES COMP.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY STATEWIDE.

WHAT THEY SAY .

AND SO YOU SAY, OKAY, WHAT IF THEY SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US TO DO, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA DO IT.

SO WHAT HAPPENS THEN? IT'S EXACTLY WHAT BRAZO COUNTY IS IN DANGER OF DOING.

NOW THEN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TO PAY BACK A TON OF MONEY IF, IF YOU GO AGAINST WHAT THE TEXAS STATE COMP CONTROLLER.

SO IT'S, IT'S, IT IS SUCH A RIGGED SYSTEM.

IT DRIVES ME CRAZY AND I JUST WANT US TO START FRESH.

DO DO WE, IT'S JUST NOT AFFECTING OUR COUNTY.

IT'S AFFECTING COUNTY.

IT'S IT'S STATEWIDE.

IT IS STATEWIDE.

BUT I DON'T, I DON'T LIVE, IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE WHAT WE DO OR NOT DO.

BUT I'M NOT, I DON'T ACCEPT THOUGH THAT, SO IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

SO WE SAY NOTHING AND DO NOTHING.

WE, WE DO DO SOMETHING AND THEN YOU GET ENOUGH PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING, THAT'S WHERE YOU MAKE A, A BIGGER CHANGE.

AND NOT ONLY THAT IS I JUST WANNA BE, BRING CLARITY TO THE FACT OF THE WIZARD BEHIND THE CURTAIN, WHICH IS THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS WILL TAKE THE, THE WRAP OF THE BLAME FOR DECISIONS THAT I'VE MADE.

BUT WHEN YOUR DECISIONS, YOU, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO MAKE THEM WITH ANY KIND OF FREEDOM BECAUSE YOU ARE BEING GIVEN THESE MANDATES AND GUIDELINES.

I DON'T ACCEPT THAT.

DO, CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHAT ALL BODIES LIKE OURS GO INTO ELECTING THIS FOR THIS POSITION? WE HAVE 43 VOTES.

BUT I MEAN, WHAT IS IT? IS IT US FREEPORT? IT'S IN, IT'S ALL THE CITIES.

IT'S THE COLLEGE, IT'S THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE COUNTY.

BUT JUST, BUT NOT AND THE COUNTY.

YEAH, BUT WE ONLY HAVE 43 WORDS.

DO YOU HAVE DOESN'T HAVE EMAIL THAT BREAKS DOWN

[00:40:01]

HOW MANY VOTES EVERYBODY GETS.

IT'S IN THE JAIL.

IT'S IN THE PACKET.

I MEAN, IS THERE ANY WAY IF WE ALL TEAMED UP AGAINST THE, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT WE NO, BUT I DON'T THINK MATHEMATICALLY NO, NO, NO.

MATHEMATICALLY, NO.

I JUST WONDERING.

I THINK THE KEY IS UNLESS THE COUNTY JOINED IN MATH.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

SO MATT, IN, IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I DON'T, I THINK THE KEY IS NOT FOR US TO TEAM UP AGAINST THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

I THINK THE KEY IS BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HAMSTRINGING JUST AS MUCH AS THE CITY IS.

TRUST ME, I HEAR YOU .

BUT I THINK THAT IF WE PRESENT SOME OPTIONS TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE, WE PULL THEM ON BOARD AS WELL BECAUSE IT'S GONNA TAKE THE PEOPLE WITH MORE VOTES AND WITH A LOUDER VOICE FOR US TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX A LITTLE BIT AND GET OUT OF THIS IF YOU REALLY WANT, IF YOU REALLY WANT, UH, OUR NOMINEE TO MAKE IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE OTHER ENTITIES AND SAY, THIS IS WHY WE THINK THIS PERSON'S A IS A GOOD PERSON TO BE ASK WITH THE NOMINEE.

AND WE'RE JUST NOMINATING FOR THAT ONE POSITION.

NO, YOU CAN NOMINATE UP TO FIVE.

OH, FOR ALL FIVE SLOT.

YOU ONE PERSON IN EVERY YEAH.

SLOT.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

IS THERE FIVE SLOT, CAN WE CAST OUR VOTES FOR ALL OF THEM OR JUST FOR ONE? YOU CAN SCATTER YOUR VOTES ANYWHERE.

YOU CAN SCATTER 'EM OR YOU CAN PUT 'EM BEHIND ONE SECTION.

SO IT'S LIKE TOP FIVE VOTE GETTERS.

I, THAT'S A STRANGE PROCEDURE.

AND AGAIN, KRISTEN NIK, SHE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE ON THERE, BUT SHE'S NON-VOTING.

SHE'S NONVOTING, RIGHT? SHE'S THE COUNTY LEVEL ELECTED.

SHE'S OFFICIAL.

SHE'S ELECTED OFFICIAL.

AND I WILL SAY, I'M THRILLED THAT ANYBODY WOULD WANNA SIT ON THIS BOARD EVER, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHY ANYBODY WOULD WANNA SIT ON THIS BOARD.

CAN AT THAT, CAN I MAKE A NOMINATION? CAN YOU MAKE A NOMINATION? DO YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT, UH, YEAH, HE CAN, UH, I GUESS, UH, WE'LL DISCUSS.

YEAH, SO, SO I WOULD ACTUALLY LIKE TO, UH, NOMINATE AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH HIM AT LENGTH.

HE'S AGREED TO DO IT, UH, GLEN JONES.

SO CAN WE ALLOW HIM TO, WELL, WE HAVE A, SO IS THAT A MOTION OR THAT'S JUST A NOMINATION.

SO WE'RE, UH, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO, SHERRY? WELL, THE DEAL IS, IS THAT YOU'RE NOMINATING, BUT THEN WE'RE GONNA FINISH BY WITH A MOTION.

SO, OKAY.

SO YOU'RE IF, SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW IS YOU'RE NOMINATING.

SO HE CAN COME FROM TALKING THEN YOU CAN FINISH IT UP WITH A MOTION THEN.

IF IT'S OKAY.

SO GLEN, YOU WANNA COME TALK TO US? YOU REALLY WANT ME TO COME? COME ON MR. JONES.

I WANT TO HEAR IT.

I MEAN, YOU GOT ALL DRESSED UP.

HE PUT PANTS ON YOU.

OH MY GOSH.

SHINE HIS SHOES LOOKING SHARP.

MR. WHO NOTICED THE SHINE SHOES TAKES EXTRA EFFORT.

I'M GLENN JONES, ONE 18 CYPRUS.

AND ODDLY ENOUGH, I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT AND I KNEW THERE WERE A LOT OF VOTES THAT WENT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

BUT I AM WITH RHONDA.

I MEAN, THERE'S JUST A LOT WRONG.

AND I, AND TO, TO, I GUESS TO PREFACE SOME OF THESE COMMENTS, I'VE BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

AS I LOOK AROUND THIS ROOM, I'VE PROBABLY BEEN AROUND AND DEALT WITH STUFF IN THE COMMUNITY BY VIRTUE OF MY DAD WAS VERY ACTIVE BACK AT THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES.

SO I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LOT.

I'VE WALKED THE CALLS OF CONGRESS AS A LOBBYIST FOR A, B, C AT THE STATE LEVEL.

SO I'VE SEEN HOW THESE LAWS AND THESE RULES ARE PROMULGATED.

I MAY BE THE ONLY ONE IN HERE THAT'S GONE TOE TO TOE WITH THE STATE COMPTROLLER THREE TIMES, LOST ALL THREE TIMES TO THE 10 OF A ROUND, A HUNDRED GRAND.

BUT IT'S THE PRINCIPLE.

AND SO WHEN YOU DEAL WITH THE COMPTROLLER, WHO'S PROMULGATED ALL THIS STUFF, AND, AND, AND AGAIN, LIKE I SAY, I'VE BEEN AROUND SO I'VE SEEN IT, I'VE WATCHED IT HAPPEN.

UH, WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, WHETHER WE GET A VOICE OUTTA THIS THING MEANS NOTHING.

IT, THE ODD IS TO GET SOMEBODY TO BE INTERESTED IN DOING THE RIGHT THING.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU GO TO THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD, THE FIRST THING THEY TELL YOU IS, WE'VE GOTTA DO THIS OR WE'RE GONNA LOSE OUR FUNDING.

YOU REALLY, I DON'T REALLY BUY ALL THAT.

I'M NOT SURE THAT'LL HAPPEN.

BUT I GUESS THEY TOOK AS AN EXAMPLE.

NOW WHEN YOU GET TO THIS STUFF AS AN EXAMPLE, I HAVE PROPERTY IN FREEPORT OF BUSINESS PARK, BEEN ON THE TAX ROLLS FOR AROUND $1.9 MILLION.

I'VE TRIED TO SELL IT FOR TWO.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH 6.992 THIS YEAR.

NOW THAT WAS SUCH A BAD DEAL.

I KNEW I WASN'T GONNA COME OUT OF THAT BECAUSE THEY'D HAVE HAD TO ADMIT BEING RIDICULOUS.

SO THAT STORY LEADS ME TO THE FACT THAT WHEN Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT ABOUT, WELL THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL, ALL THE PLACES.

I HIRED TWO COMPANIES TO REVIEW THIS FOR ME AND TO FIGHT IT FOR ME.

AND I'M WINDING UP GOING TO DISTRICT COURT, WHICH IS PROBABLY GOING TO, THEY THINK I MIGHT WIN.

POINT IS BRAZORIA COUNTY.

THEY SAID, HANDS DOWN, WE HANDLE 10 OR 12.

WERE THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES.

AND THEY SAID, BRAZORIA COUNTY IS HANDS DOWN, ABSOLUTELY THE WORST IN RESPONDING TO, TO TAXPAYERS COMPLAINTS

[00:45:01]

ABOUT THEIR VALUATIONS.

THEY SAID THAT IN FACT, IMMEDIATELY HE SAID, DO NOT GO TO ARBITRATION.

YOU GO TO ARBITRATION.

THEY'RE THE, THE THE KIND OF, THEY'RE GONNA SAY NO.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD ARBITRATOR, YOU'VE LOST, HE SAID, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SUE 'EM IN DISTRICT COURT.

THIS MEANS ENOUGH TO ME THAT THIS IS MY INHERITANCE.

I'VE GOTTA SELL IF I DOUBLE MY TAXES.

'CAUSE THERE'S NO WAY THAT I'M GONNA GET, COMPTROLLER TELLS ME I NEED TO GET A DOLLAR A SQUARE FOOT, FOR EXAMPLE.

IF I DON'T GET IT.

THEY SAID, THAT'S TOO BAD.

WE'RE GONNA VALUE YOUR PROPERTY ON THAT.

I HAVE A FLEX PROPERTY.

SO IT MEANS NOTHING UNLESS IT'S RENTED.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEY GO ON.

AND THE VALUATIONS AND TO SEE HOW BAD, HOWEVER THEY PROMULGATED THE ACCOUNTING REVIEW BOARD IS TO SEE HOW BAD IT IS.

I'M SHOWING 'EM NUMBERS THAT ARE $111,000 LESS IN REVENUE THAN FROM 2022.

YET THEY LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, YEAH, BUT IS STILL WORTH AT LEAST THREE AND A HALF MILLION.

WELL, THOSE SAME NUMBERS IN 2022 SAID 1.9 OR BIGGER NUMBERS.

SO I DROP 'EM DOWN AND NOW I CAN'T GET ANY RELIEF.

SO I'M NOT A FAN OF AVALOR TAXES.

I COULD TELL YOU RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT IF ANYTHING COULD BE GRUMPED ABOUT WITH THESE PEOPLE, I'LL DO.

AND I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS WAY TO TRY TO FUND ANYTHING AND WITNESS THAT.

WE'RE ONLY ONE OF WHAT, UH, I THINK FIVE OR SIX STATES THAT STILL DO IT.

THE REST OF 'EM HAVE OTHER MEANS THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE CONSISTENT AND BETTER WAYS TO DO IT.

SO THERE CAN'T BE EVERYTHING.

ALL THOSE OTHER STATES CAN'T BE WRONG.

BUT, AND I'VE FOUGHT THESE PEOPLE, I MEAN, FOR 35 YEARS IN THE COMMERCIAL ARENA.

AND I DON'T, I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T EVEN FUSS ABOUT MY HOUSE UP UNTIL THIS YEAR.

AND I WAS IN A BIG ROLL.

I WAS ON A ROLL FROM OTHER TWO BUILDINGS AND OUR OTHER THREE BUILDINGS.

AND SO I JUST WENT AHEAD AND CHALLENGED MY HOUSE.

I DID PRETTY GOOD ON IT, BUT, BUT SO I KNOW WHAT GOES ON.

OR AT LEAST I'VE LOOKED THEM IN THE EYE.

AND THIS YEAR WAS THE, THE WORST.

I MEAN, NORMALLY THEY'VE VISIT AROUND A LITTLE BIT AND WE CHALK IT AROUND, WE THROW A FEW NUMBERS OUT AND MASSAGE A FEW THINGS AND WE'RE OFF AND RUNNING.

BUT THIS YEAR IT WAS JUST COLD AS ICE AND THEY KEPT BLAMING IT ON THE COMPTROLLER, WE'RE GONNA LOSE OUR FUNDING.

I I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT FUNDING I DIDN'T ASK 'CAUSE I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT MY FUNDING.

BUT THAT'S, IT'S SUBJECTIVE.

IF THE COMPTROLLER PROMULGATES RULES FOR THE ENTIRE STATE UNDER THESE, FOR THESE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS, WHICH IS I UNDERSTAND IT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

EVERY COUNTY'S NOT THE SAME.

SO WHAT YOU'VE DONE IS YOU'VE CREATED A BIG SUBJECTIVE POOL.

JUST SOMEBODY LOOKS DOWN THERE AND SAYS, THIS IS WORTH THIS, THIS IS WORTH THAT.

THEY TOLD ME, WE DON'T HAVE A COMPARABLE FOR YOUR PROPERTY.

YOU'RE RIGHT LYNN.

WE DON'T HAVE A PROPER, UH, COMPARABLE IN LOWER MISSOURI COUNTY.

SO THEY SHOWED ME SOME STUFF IN PARA LAND.

AND THEN WHEN I ASKED TO GET THAT INFORMATION TO GIVE TO MY PEOPLE TO FIGHT IT, THEY SAID, OH, WE DIDN'T SHOW YOU THAT.

WE DIDN'T SHOW YOU THAT.

I SAID, YEAH, YOU DID.

I SAW IT.

MOMMY DIDN'T.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

NOW I KNOW IF ANYBODY THINKS THEY'RE ALL JUST DOING THEIR JOB, BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS NOT NECESSARILY THERE'S A JOB TO DO, BUT THERE'S A WAY TO DO IT.

AND THEY'RE RUNNING AFRAID.

THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE COUNTY HAS FAILED THAT TEST AND THEY'RE SCARED TO DEATH.

AND AND THEY'VE TOLD ME THAT BEFORE.

AND WHEN I SAY I'VE BEEN DOING THIS, THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT LIKE 34 YEARS BY MYSELF.

MY DAD DID IT WITH ME FOR A WHILE, BUT THEN THEY, UH, ASKED ME NOT TO BRING HIM ANYMORE , WHICH HE GOT LOUD .

BUT SO, SO YEAH, WHEN, WHEN RHONDA ASKED ME TO DO THAT, I FELT LIKE I'D PROBABLY JUST BE A LONE VOICE.

BUT AT LEAST IT'S A VOICE.

AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT.

I MEAN, I'M NOT, MOST PEOPLE YOU'LL DRAG UP HERE WILL HAVE FUSSED AROUND WITH THEIR HOUSE.

AND THEY, MOST OF THEM, IF THEIR HOUSE STAYS UP THERE, THEY'RE NOT GONNA HAVE A PROBLEM.

WELL, I'M STARING DOWN THE BARREL IF I DON'T WIN THIS, I MEAN, SERIOUSLY, IF I DON'T WIN THIS ONE, THEN I'M, I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SELL IT.

AND YOU KNOW, AND I, AND I'VE GOT A SIZABLE AND THAT'S MY INVESTMENT IN THAT THEY TAKE YOU ANOTHER STEP FURTHER.

THEY'RE TRYING TO BRING EVERYTHING TO A HUNDRED PERCENT.

I HAVE A TWO STORY OFFICE BUILDING INCLUDE THAT THEY HAVE TRIED MIGHTILY FOR 10 YEARS TO GET THE APPRAISED VALUE UP TO A MILLION BUCKS.

EVERY YEAR I GET THE NOTICE MILLION BUCKS, 800,000, 900,000.

SO I TROOP UP THERE.

IT'S AGAIN, IT'S JUST A PURE BUILDING WITH TENANTS.

I TROOP UP THERE, SHOW 'EM MY NUMBERS AND WE BEAT IT DOWN.

WELL, I'VE BEATEN THAT POOR BUILDING DOWN TO 500 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND BUCKS AND I WOULDN'T TAKE LESS THAN NINE FOR IT.

BUT THE POINT IS TO

[00:50:01]

SHOW HOW UNFAIR IT IS.

THEY'VE BEEN TRYING FOR YEARS TO GET THAT TO A MILLION.

THEY LOWERED IT.

NO RHYME OR REASON MORE INCOME LOWERED IT.

I, I DIDN'T FUSS ABOUT IT.

BUT THE POINT IS, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT, DO IT EVERYWHERE.

AND FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, AGAIN, RHONDA'S CORRECT, RHONDA AND I MAY NOT SEE EYE DOWN ON A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS.

SHE BOTH, AND I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE A VALOREM TAX MUCH.

AND I BELIEVE, IF I'M CONCERNED AS I'M CONCERNED, I BUY A HOUSE FOR $50,000.

IT'S WORTH THAT TILL I DIE.

AND THAT'S THE WAY I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE.

BUT I IF IF SOMEBODY, IF WE NEED TO HAVE A VOICE UP THERE, MAYBE NOBODY WILL CARE.

MAYBE I WON'T GET PUT ON THERE.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT I WILL AT EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, GO UP THERE EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.

AND THIS YEAR I MAY PUT ON MY OLD A, B, C RED AND WHITE BUTTON THAT SAYS GET INTO POLITICS OR GET OUT OF BUSINESS.

AND THE NEXT GO ROUND AT THE, AT THE SESSION, I MAY TROOP THE HALLS AGAIN, WHICH I'VE DONE A LOT.

AND SO, AND I'VE LEARNED ABOUT PRAGMATIC POLITICS FROM THE BEST OF THEM.

BUT I THINK SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO SOMETHING.

THIS IS A REALLY RIDICULOUS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER BEEN WORRIED.

UH, GLENN, THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR YOU IS, IS THAT WHEN YOU'VE BEEN AROUND AND YOU'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL BEFORE YOU AND SO FORTH, AND, UM, AND THE REASON WHY I ASKED IS IF ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAS TALKED TO MS. ROBINSON BECAUSE, UH, THE QUESTION OF REMOVING HER AND NOT NOMINATING HER IS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE DECISIONS THAT THE BOARD HAS MADE.

NOW THEY HAVE NOT TALKED TO THE BOARD AND THEY'VE NOT TOLD THE BOARD WHAT THEIR WILL, WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO DO.

SO MY QUESTION FOR YOU IS, ARE YOU OKAY WITH IN A YEAR OR TWO DOWN THE ROAD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS TERM, IF IT'S ONE YEAR, TWO YEAR, WHATEVER, TWO, TWO YEARS, IS, IF YOU DON'T DO THE WILL, IS THAT THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE PUTTING, WANTING TO PUT YOU IN THIS POSITION MAY POSSIBLY EVEN TAKE YOU OFF THE POSITION? SURE.

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DOING THEIR WILL.

SURE.

AND YOU KNOW, AND IT'S GONNA BE A VERY DIFFICULT THING TO DO WITHOUT, WITHOUT DISCUSSING WITH.

I MEAN, I, I MEAN I, I MEAN I, AGAIN, I, I LOOKED UP THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BUT WHEN YOU SAID COUNTY APPRAISAL BOARD, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ALL THIS VOTING THING AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT ON THERE.

I'VE BEEN BEFORE THE COUNT APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD, AND I'M GOOD CLOSE FRIENDS WITH BOBBY BROWN.

WE ROOMMATES IN COLLEGE.

SO I KNEW ABOUT THE BOARD AND I WAS, I SHOULD HAVE TALKED TO HIM A LITTLE BIT THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN I TALKED TO HIM.

BUT THE POINT IS I DIDN'T REALLY, HADN'T DIDN'T HAVE A REAL GOOD FEEL WHERE I WAS GOING.

I KNEW SHE REPRESENTED THIS AREA.

AND IF YOU, IF YOU KNOW, I'M SURE SHE IS TRYING TO DO A GOOD JOB.

SO, SO HAVE YOU SEEN THE, THE BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES? NO, BECAUSE COULDN'T FIND, UNLESS THEY'RE LIMITED TO.

WELL, I HAVE OR WHAT THEY ARE TO DO.

I HAVE, I DID PRINT THEM BECAUSE, BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER BOARD BECAUSE I WAS UNDERSTANDING ALL THESE, UH, THE APPRAISAL BOARD VOTES, WHICH I DIDN'T SEE.

I SAW SEVEN PEOPLE.

THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

AND YOU HAVE A REVIEW BOARD.

THE APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD IS APPOINTED BY A JUDGE.

AND YEAH, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER, THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER BALLGAME.

BUT YEAH, I, I SAW THAT AND I PRINTED THE INFORMATION OFF OF THAT AND LOOKED AT IT TO SOME EXTENT, BUT I, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT, AGAIN, I KNEW ABOUT FROM YEARS PAST IT ALL THE, THE, UH, IMBALANCE IN VOTES, SO TO SPEAK, THROUGH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

AND SO, BUT I KEPT LOOKING FOR SOME OTHER OVERARCHING BOARD, UH, THAN FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN OTHER, I WAS LOOKING FOR A BIG BROTHER AND THEN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WHAT WAS APPOINTED BIG BROTHER IS THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

YEAH, WELL I WAS LOOKING, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THERE BETWEEN, AND IT'S, IT'S NOT UNREASONABLE TOO TO ASSUME THAT THE WILL IS CUT THIS OUT.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T CONTINUE TO UNFAIRLY, ARBITRARILY TAX PEOPLE ON THEIR HOMES.

I MEAN, I'M, I'M GONNA GUESS THAT'S GONNA BE THE WILL OF MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR COUNTY IS STOP TAXES TO DEATH ON OUR HOME.

AND I THINK THIS YEAR IT'LL BE MORE, I THINK THIS YEAR THAT REALLY CAME HOME.

I MEAN, I, FOR A LOT, I, I MEAN THERE'S STILL TONS OF PEOPLE FIGHTING THAT.

AND UHLIN, I APPRECIATE YOU BEING WILLING TO STEP UP TO TAKE THIS ON.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS GONNA, I HANG AROUND THE COUNCIL, Y'ALL MAY AS WELL GIVE ME SOMETHING ELSE TO DO, SAYS GLEN, JUST WANNA CLARIFY, I'M NOT HAPPY WITH THE BOARD.

AND I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED.

LAST YEAR I PROTESTED AND THEY PLAYED NUMBER GAMES WITH ME.

SO AFTER SPENDING TWO AND A HALF HOURS DOING THEIR, GOING THROUGH FRONT OF A R B, THE BOTTOM LINE WAS STILL THE SAME BECAUSE OH YEAH, WE'LL LOWER YOUR VALUE.

AND THEN THEY PUT SOME MAGIC FUDGE NUMBER IN THERE AND CAME UP WITH THE SAME NUMBER.

[00:55:01]

THEY ALMOST THOUGHT THAT I'D HAVE TO CARRY ME OUT BY A BAILIFF BECAUSE, UH, I TOLD THEM, YOU WANNA PLAY GAMES? YOU'VE TOLD ME FOUR AND A HALF HOURS AGO I WOULD'VE SAVED ME A BUNCH OF TIME.

AND SO I'M NOT FAN OF THOSE.

SO JUST WANTED TO VERIFY THAT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, AND THE THING WE'VE, THAT YOU PEOPLE FORGET IS EVERY TIME YOU ABATE, UH, OR IF YOU WANNA LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, LET'S SAY IN SOME WAY REDUCE YOUR HOME TAXES, OR EVERY TIME WE DEAL WITH AN ABATEMENT, WHICH IS I WAS AROUND WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED THAT AND THOSE, THOSE DEBATES.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT ALL BEGINS TO FALL BACK ON SMALL BUSINESS.

THE BIG BUSINESSES, THEY'RE COVERED.

THEY GOT AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT, BUT THE SMALL GUY, HE STARTS TO PICK UP THE SLACK.

THERE'S JUST NO OTHER WAY AROUND IT.

AND SO YOU'VE GOT THE SOONER OR LATER WAY, I MEAN, I'M, WE'RE LITTLE, I MEAN, I'VE SOLD EVERYTHING.

I GOT THREE BUILDINGS AND I'M ROCKING ALONG THERE ENJOYING MY LITTLE OLD MESSY RETIREMENT.

BUT WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE I'M BEING THREATENED TO LOSE HALF OF IT OVER, YOU KNOW, AN ONEROUS AT VERY BEST EVALUATION, AND THERE'S JUST NO WAY THAT YOU CAN, IF THE, IF WE WANTED TO GO TO LEGISLATURE, MY THOUGHT WAS, AT THE VERY LEAST, MAKE 'EM PROMULGATE A SET OF RULES FOR EACH APPRAISAL DISTRICT, EACH ONE, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT.

AND THERE OUGHT TO BE A WAY TO DO THAT INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, BUT THE, AGAIN, THE WORST STATEMENT THEY MADE TO ME WAS TOUGH.

GLEN, YOU OUGHT TO BE GETTING NOBODY IN FREEPORT ISS GETTING A DOLLAR A SQUARE FOOT.

I, I AM IN ONE BUILDING, I MEAN, ONE LITTLE UNIT, AND I PAY ALL HIS BILLS SO I DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY.

BUT, BUT THEY JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, THE STATE SAYS, AND I DON'T KNOW, AND THEY COULDN'T TELL ME WHERE THE STATE CAME UP WITH A DOLLAR, SOME ALGORITHM, I SUPPOSE I SAID, SO A DOLLAR SQUARE FOOT A MONTH IS WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO GET, BUT I'M NOT GETTING IT.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER, WE HAVE TO VALUE YOUR BUILDING AS IF YOU ARE.

SO I'M ANYWHERE SOMEBODY HAS TO FUND THE $32 BILLION SURPLUS.

OKAY, SURE.

BUT DON'T, THAT'S SUCKS.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I THINK GLEN WILL DO A GREAT JOB SINCE HE DRESSED UP TO COME HERE.

NOT WHEN YEAH.

UP.

BUT, BUT, UH, AND HE, HE HERE TELLING US WHAT HE CAN DO OR WHAT HE WILL FIGHT FOR, BUT WE'RE NOT GIVEN A FAIR SHAKE ON THIS AND LETTING MS. ROBINSON TELL HER SIDE OF THE STORY BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING.

AND, AND WE, WE DON'T KNOW HER SIDE OF THE STORY.

UH, BUT AGAIN, WE CAN NOMINATE MORE.

WE CAN NOM HIM BOTH.

YOU CAN NOMINATE NO HER, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.

NOMINATE HER AGAIN, IF THAT'S THE NOMINATES.

BUT I DO THINK THEY NEED TO BE SEPARATE MOTIONS.

THEY'LL BE SEPARATE MOTIONS.

SO ANY, ANY DISCUSSION CAN, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO DESCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER, I MIGHT START WRITING ABOUT AVALOR AND TAX.

LET ME KNOW ALL.

THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU, GLEN.

ALRIGHT, THANKS GLEN.

SO, UH, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? IF NOW I'LL TAKE MOTIONS FOR, UH, NOMINEES FOR, UH, FOR THIS RESOLUTION.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO NOMINATE GLEN JONES, UM, FROM THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON FOR THE BRAZORIA COUNTY ARISAL DISTRICT BOARD.

WE HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER, SETH.

I'LL SECOND AND A SECOND FROM PROTEST.

UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON GLEN? I'M, I LIKE THE IDEA THAT, RHONDA, THAT YOU HAD THE LAST MEETING WHERE WE DON'T NOMINATE ANYBODY.

I THINK IT MADE A STATEMENT.

SO I'M, I'M GONNA GO AGAINST ALL THE NOMINATIONS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS MOTION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY.

AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINEES MOTIONS FOR ANY FURTHER NOMINEES? MR. MAYOR? I NOMINATE, UH, GAIL ROBINSON FOR THIS BOARD.

I'LL SECOND THAT ONE TOO.

AND WE HAVE A SECOND.

SO WE HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON MS. ROBINSON, WHO IS A, HER BACKGROUND IS A REAL ESTATE AGENT, CORRECT? YES.

UH, NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS.

ALL IN FAVORS OF MS. UH, THE NOMINATION OF MS. ROBINSON'S.

SO WE HAD, WAS THERE, WE HAD FIVE, ONE ON THE FIRST ONE AND FOUR TWO ON THE SECOND, CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT? IS THAT CORRECT? YES.

TURN YOUR FACE OVER THE CITY ATTORNEY.

DOES LEGAL HONOR, I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HEARD ALL THE VOICES.

ANY OTHER NOMINEES OR MOTIONS? ALL RIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO THAT.

MOVE ON TO ITEM

[01:00:01]

THREE.

SO WE'LL ADOPT A RESOLUTION FOR THAT OR IS THAT COMING UP? UH, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER RESOLUTION.

IS THERE AN ACTUAL THERE YEAH.

IS A RESOLUTION THAT WE OUT THE DEADLINE.

THAT'S THE 15TH.

AND WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE, YEAH, WE'LL FILL OUT THE, THE, THE NAMES.

WE HAVE A RESOLUTION HERE, SO WE'LL FILL OUT THE NAMES AND WE'LL GET THE MAYOR AND THE CITY ATTORNEY AND THE CITY SECRETARY TO FILL IT OUT.

WELL, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD, PASS IT, PUT THEIR NAMES ON THERE AND READ THE RESOLUTION WITH THE, THE TWO NAMES ON THERE, PLEASE TO MAKE IT KOSHER.

I'LL READ THEM.

IS THIS, UH, BE RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, THAT THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS BE AND ARE HEREBY NOMINATED AS CANDIDATES FOR POSITIONS ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BRAZORIA COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO BE FILLED BY THOSE ELIGIBLE TAX UNITS PARTICIPATING IN THE BRA COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT FOR A TWO YEAR TERM OF OFFICE.

COMMENCE ON JANUARY VERSE 2024.

UM, AND, UH, THE TWO, UH, NOMINEES ARE GLENN JONES AND GAIL ROBINSON.

ALRIGHT, I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON THAT RESOLUTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT RESOLUTION 23 R 9 25 AS WRITTEN.

I SECOND.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? NAY.

ALRIGHT, FIVE ONE.

WAS THAT FAVOR FOR THERE? YES.

ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO

[3. Discuss and consider Resolution No. 928 authorizing the City Manager to submit a solid waste management grant application to the Houston‐Galveston Area Council (HGAC) for $126,000 with an inkind match for a vehicle and fuel provided by the city ‐ Riazul Mia.]

ITEM THREE.

DISCUSS AND CONSIDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 2 8 AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT IT.

UH, YEP.

UH, A SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT GRANT APPLICATION TO, UH, HOUSTON, GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL, H E A C, UH, FOR $126,000 WITH AN IN-KIND MATCH OF A VEHICLE AND FUEL, UH, PROVIDED BY THE CITY, UH, R MAYOR.

UM, THIS IS A SOLID WASTE GRANT.

UM, CITY NEVER APPLIED FOR THIS KIND OF PROGRAM.

I MEAN, AS, AS WE KNOW, WE DO NEED ADDITIONAL PEOPLE FOR COURT ENFORCEMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE SOLID WASTE BECAUSE THE CITIZENS ARE, THEY DON'T PUT IT ON TIME AND WE DON'T HAVE A REALLY FULL-TIME PEOPLE TO GO AND EDUCATE THEM.

SO THIS IS A GRANT WE ARE ASKING TO PAY FOR THE OFFICER, UH, SO THEY CAN DO ENFORCEMENT AND ALSO EDUCATION.

THIS GRANT WILL PAY FOR THE SALARY FOR 18 MONTHS AND THE BENEFIT.

AND SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE BUDGET.

THE SALARY WILL BE ABOUT 73,000.

BENEFIT WILL BE ABOUT 30,000.

AND WE ARE ASKING SOME MONEY FOR TRAINING, UM, COMPUTER AND ALSO THE EDUCATION TO EDUCATE THE CITIZENS.

UH, $126,000.

WE WILL EVALUATE IF THE GRANT IS FUNDED, AND, UH, IF THE PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL, WE'LL BRING BACK TO COUNCIL TO FUND IT THROUGH THE SOLID WASTE, UH, UH, FEES IN FUTURE.

BUT WE DO BELIEVE WE CAN USE AN ADDITIONAL COURT ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE, YEAH.

AND ALSO IF WE WOULD CHOOSE NOT TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS PARTICULAR ACTIVITY, IS THAT PERSON MAY BE A CANDIDATE TO ABSORB INTO, INTO ANOTHER ROLE IN THE CITY AS A POSSIBILITY.

THAT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.

IT'S ALWAYS A POSSIBILITY.

RHE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU WENT AFTER YOU DID THE RESEARCH AND WORKED ON THIS GRANT.

GOOD JOB.

YES, MA'AM.

AND WE IN LAREDO, WE ALWAYS APPLY FOR THIS GRANT.

THAT'S GOOD.

WHEN I'S GOOD.

WHEN I CAME HERE, I ASK MAYOR, MAYOR SAID, YEAH, THERE IS A GRANT COMING UP.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT IF THIS, WE GO THROUGH WITH THIS AND DO THIS, THAT WHOEVER ENDS UP IN THIS POSITION, THAT IT'S MADE VERY CLEAR TO THEM UPFRONT.

SO THERE'S NO SURPRISES THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THIS IS ONLY AN 18 MONTH POSITION, OR THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY BE, I WOULD JUST COMMUNICATE THAT OUT OF FAIRNESS.

WE WILL POST A POSITION IT WITH A GRANT FUNDING.

CAN YOU, UM, IF YOU GET A GRANT LIKE THIS, I DON'T KNOW TREMENDOUS AMOUNT ABOUT GRANTS, BUT IF YOU GET A GRANT LIKE THIS, CAN YOU CONTINUE TO REAPPLY FOR IT YEAR AFTER YEAR? UH, YES MA'AM.

EVERY TWO YEAR THEY, THEY, THEY COME UP WITH THIS GRANT.

WE, ONCE WE GET THE GROUND, IF WE SEE THE NEED WEEKEND, ROTATE THE OFFICER AND BRING IT THE WEEKEND.

AND IT'S AN A T S E GET MILLION DOLLAR FROM THE STATE.

SO THEY ALLOCATE THE MONEY AND WE, I SEE ALL THE COMMUNITIES, THEY RECEIVE THIS KIND OF GRANT EXCEPT US.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS IS OUR TIME TO GET THE MONEY.

SO VEHICLE, WHAT KIND OF VEHICLE WOULD, WOULD JUST A TRUCK? WE'LL, WE WILL PROVIDE A VEHICLE, WELL, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A TRUCK THAT WON'T HAVE A LOT OF MILEAGE, A TRUCK THAT'S ROTATING OUT OF THE SYSTEM, WE MAY JUST HOLD OKAY.

YOU KNOW, FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS OR A YEAR.

AND SO THAT WOULD BE JUST LIKE A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

THEY GO OUT ISSUE CITATIONS AND ISSUE OR EDUCATE.

MOST THE GOAL IS TO EDUCATE PEOPLE AND IF THEY DON'T LISTEN, THEN CITATION WILL BE DONE.

BUT ALSO THEY CAN BE, THEY BE ANOTHER SET OF EYES OUT THERE.

AND SO IF THEY DO SEE THAT MORE THAN THE APPROVED AMOUNT OF HEAVY TRASHES SET OUT, THEY CAN ADDRESS THAT BEFORE WE SEND CREWS OUT THERE AND STUFF AND WASTE THE CREWS TIME.

SO WOULD THAT BE A MONDAY TO FRIDAY JOB, OR WAS THAT BE WEEKEND SOMETIME OR

[01:05:01]

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS, UH, REQUEST TO, UH, SUBMIT FOR THIS GRANT? HAVE NO OTHER DISCUSSION.

I'LL TAKE A MOTION, MR. MAYOR.

I MOVE THAT WE, UH, APPROVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 28 AUTHORIZING A CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT GRANT APPLICATION TO THE H G A C FOR $126,000 WITH AN IN KIND MATCH FOR A VEHICLE AND A FUEL PROVIDED BY THE CITY.

ALL RIGHT, SECOND.

WE HAVE A SECOND FROM, UH, COUNCILMAN BLANCHARD.

ALRIGHT, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? IS THERE ANYTHING TO READ ON THIS RESOLUTION OR IS IT JUST, UH, I DON'T THINK SO.

UH, THE CITY OBJECT HEREBY AGREES THAT THE FUNDS RECEIV WILL ONLY USE FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING THE LOCAL ENFORCEMENT EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

THE CITY WILL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANT PROGRAM AND FISCAL REIMBURSEMENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FROM H G A C AND T C E Q.

ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION, SAY AYE.

UH, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 2 7, UH, REAPPOINTING, UH, GERALD ROSOVSKY AS THE REPRESENTATIVE, AND HANYA AS ALTERNATE TO THE H G A C, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR YEAR 2024.

ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT.

[4. Discuss and consider Resolution No. 927 reappointing Gerald Roznovsky as the representative and Vinay Singhania as an alternate to the Houston‐Galveston Area Council Board of Directors for 2024.]

AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE BOARD I'VE BEEN ON, AND THIS IS THE BOARD THAT I BROUGHT THIS TO EXAMPLE OF THIS PROJECT TO, UH, UH, MAKE RENEE AWARE OF IT AND OTHER ONES, BUT, UH, AND ALSO SIT ON OTHER BOARDS THAT, UH, TAKE CARE OF, UH, HOMELAND SECURITY, UH, TYPE FUNDING ALSO ON THAT BOARD TOO.

BUT ANYWAY, SO, UH, RENEE HAD, UH, OFFERED TO, UH, BE THE, UH, UM, ALTERNATE THE ALTERNATIVE, UH, LAST YEAR.

AND, UH, LUCKY FOR HIM, UH, I DIDN'T HAVE TO RELY ON HIM.

DIDN'T HAVE TO ASK HIM TO FILL IN FOR ME.

AND SO, UH, I JUST WENT AHEAD IF IT'S OKAY WITH HIM.

I DIDN'T TALK TO HIM, BUT, NO, THAT'S FINE.

UNLESS SOMEBODY ELSE WANTS IT.

THEY'RE MORE THAN WELCOME TO IT.

BUT, UH, ANYWAY, SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS? ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL NEED, UH, UH, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO, UM, APPROVE THE RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 27 REAPPOINTING GERALD ROSOVSKY AS A REPRESENTATIVE, AND VENE SHANYA AS AN ALTERNATE TO THE HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR 2024.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

APPROVE, UH, SELECTION OF CONSULTANT S AVITAS AVITAS.

ANY OPPOSED? ITEM FIVE, UH,

[5. Approve the selection of consultant Civitas Engineering Group and authorize the City Manager to negotiate a contract under RFQ No. 001‐2023 for the City of Lake Jackson’s Wastewater Master Plan – Riazul Mia.]

OKAY, I'LL TRY.

AVITAS ENGINEERING GROUP AND AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT UNDER, UH, R F Q NUMBER 0 0 1 2 0 2 3.

UH, FOR THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN R MAYOR, WE, UH, IN JULY, END OF JULY, WE WENT OUT FOR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION FOR CITY'S WATER MASTER PLAN AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN.

WE DID RECEIVE FIVE, UH, PROPOSALS, UH, FROM, THESE ARE THE FIVE NATIONAL FARM AURA, , GARBER, LAUNA, AND W G A STAFF, UH, FROM ENGINEERING, FINANCE, UH, AND UTILITIES AND CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

WE GRADED.

AND THIS IS, UH, WE RECOMMENDING NUMBER ONE CAME IN, UH, AVITAS FOR WASTEWATER.

SO WE RECOMMENDING YOU TO APPROVE THE SELECTION, AND THEN WE CAN SIT DOWN AND NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT AND BRING THAT TO COUNCIL.

SO, MR. MAYOR, I WAS SPEAKING TO MR. MUNDO THIS MORNING TALKING ABOUT, UH, SOME ITEMS AND, UH, JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE, UH, UH, STATE FUNDED, UH, STATE MANDATED, UH, REQUIREMENTS, THE WAY WE SELECT, UH, OF THIS VENDOR, UH, BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE NO SELECTION BECAUSE, UH, UH, I LET TO EXPLAIN THAT TO AS LITTLE BETTER THAN I CAN.

SO YEAH, THE, I MEAN, THE LAW IN THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, UH, ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES, IS THAT WE HAVE TO ONE, GO OUT FOR REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS, AND THEN WE, THE STAFF INTERVIEWS THE ENGINEERING FIRMS AND THEN RANKS THEM BASED ON THEIR EXPERTISE.

[01:10:01]

WE BRING THAT BACK TO COUNSEL AND, UH, UH, WE MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR OUR TOP FIRM.

AND WE, AND THEN WE HAVE AN ALTERNATE AS WELL, UM, IF IT SHOULD GO THAT FAR, BUT WE CANNOT DISCUSS PRICE.

AND SO WE SELECT OUR FIRST FIRM, AND THEN WE GO AFTER YOU APPROVE THAT, THEN WE NEGOTIATE PRICE FOR THIS FIRM.

AND IF THE, IF IT DOES NOT, UM, WORK OUT, THEN WE HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT FIRM IS THEN SET ASIDE AND THEN WE'RE ALLOWED TO GO TALK TO THE SECOND FIRM.

WE ARE NOT ALLOWED BY LAW TO GET PRICES FROM, IN THIS INSTANCE, ALL FIVE FIRMS. SO WE'RE PICKING SOMEBODY BASED JUST ON THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, AND THEN THEY NEED TO GIVE US A NUMBER, WHETHER IT'S GONNA COST US, IF WE, IF WE DON'T SELECT THE FIRST FIRM, WE CANNOT GO BACK TO THEM AFTER WE HAVE REJECTED THEM.

SO THIS IS, YOU'RE THE CHEAPEST AND YOU'RE REALLY DOUBLING.

YEAH, MAN.

SO THIS IS A, ANOTHER STATE MANDATED SYSTEM THAT REALLY WE'RE IN THE WRONG BUSINESS PUT SYSTEM, THEY'RE BAD.

THIS, I, WE CANNOT MAKE A GOOD DECISION FOR OUR CITIZENS.

I MEAN, YOU, I MEAN, THROW SPAGHETTI ON THE WATER.

PICK SOMEBODY.

WHAT DIFFERE, WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES THE PRICE MAKE? IT'S OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, RIGHT? THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND IT IS NOT.

THAT'S, THAT'S NOT RIGHT.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE NEXT TWO ITEMS I HAVE, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH EITHER ONE.

I MEAN, AGAIN, I'M JUST SPEAKING MY MIND.

SO I'M NOT SAYING DON'T APPROVE IT.

I'M JUST THIS MAKING A STATEMENT THAT, WHICH IT JUST, TO ME, IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND.

THIS IS COMING FROM PURCHASING PROFESSIONAL FOR ALL MY 20, 40 YEARS.

IT IS, IT JUST BLOWS MY MIND.

IT IS A LOT DIFFERENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAN IT IS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

BUT IT'S MONEY FOR PEOPLE'S MONEY.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE SPENDING PEOPLE'S MONEY.

IT SHOULDN'T BE ANY DIFFERENT.

I MEAN, WE SHOULD BE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON WHAT'S THE BEST FOR THE CITIZENS OF A CITY WHO WE SIT HERE TO REPRESENT.

AND WE CAN NEGOTIATE THE PRICE USUALLY THAT WHEN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE, IT'S THEN SCOPE OF SERVICE.

YOU CAN NEGOTIATE WHAT THEY'RE, WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

IT IS, BUT WHAT THESE COMPANIES, I MEAN THE STUDIES, THE SURVEYS, THE, THE SERVICES, WHAT THEY CHARGE IN MUNICIPALITY OVER WHAT THEY WOULD CHARGE SOMEBODY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS EGREGIOUS IN MY OPINION.

AND I DO THINK THAT WHEN THEY DEAL WITH MUNICIPALITY, THEY'VE GOT A LOT MORE HOOPS THEY PROBABLY HAVE TO JUMP THROUGH.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY WORTH A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I MEAN, ESSENTIALLY WE'RE, WE'RE, IT'S, WE'VE THROWN CAPITALISM OUT THE WINDOW AND WE'RE ON MONOPOLIES.

THERE'S JUST NO COMPETITION ON PRICE.

NO, ABSOLUTELY NONE.

THAT'S FASCINATING.

IT'S A MONOPOLY.

BUT YOU, BUT YOU'RE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH THE BID PROCESS.

SO WHAT'S THE BID PROCESS ON? I MEAN, IT IS, IT IS RIDICULOUS.

IT JUST A THIS IS, WE'RE COMING OFF TOPIC, AREN'T AT THIS MOMENT.

WE HAVE IS R F Q IS A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION BASED, BASED, WHAT WE WANNA DO.

WE DON'T HAVE A DETAILED SCOPE OF THE WORK.

SO ONCE WE SIT DOWN WITH THEM, WE WILL HAVE A DETAILED SCOPE OF THE WORK AT THAT TIME.

WE'LL, WE'LL GET THE PRICE.

IF THERE IS SOME SKIP THING, WE SAYS, NO, WE DON'T NEED THIS AT THIS MOMENT.

WE DON'T HAVE TO AWARD THAT.

BUT WE ARE NOT NEGOTIATING A PRICE ON ONE VENDOR TO THE OTHER.

WE, WE WILL BE, ONCE THE COUNCIL GIVE US THE GREEN LINE, THAT'S THE TIME WE'LL SIT DOWN.

WE'LL BE NEGOTIATING THE PRICE.

AND WE HAVE TO DO THE, HOW LONG'S IT BEEN SINCE WE'VE DONE THIS UPDATED MASTER PLAN? I DON'T THINK WE, WE'VE NEVER, WE NEVER HAVE.

AND THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S ABOUT TIME.

NOW THAT WE LOOK AT A 25 YEAR, WE NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT OUR SYSTEM AS A WHOLE AND TRY TO, WE DO NEED TO DO THAT.

MAKE A PLAN.

MARIA BROUGHT THAT UP DURING BUDGET MEETING.

I THINK IT'S, IT'S A GOOD EXERCISE.

WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, YOU KNOW, A MASTER PLAN FOR IT.

IT'S NOT AN EXERCISE.

IT'S A GOOD STRATEGY, RIGHT.

WE, WE'VE DONE IT FOR, YOU KNOW, GROWTH AND STUFF, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME NOW THAT, UH, OR IT'S PAST TIME, WE NEED TO DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AND START LOOKING AT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PER SE.

BECAUSE YOUR, UM, YOUR CITIZENS ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHAT GONNA COST US.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE DEAL.

KEEP THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, MAINTAIN THE EXPECTATION IS, THE EXPECTATION IS, IS YOU'RE GONNA DO AN, YOU'RE GONNA DETERMINE HOW BAD IT IS.

AND THEN FROM THERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PRIORITIZE THE BA HOW BAD IT IS, WHAT WE'RE GONNA GO FIX.

AND IT IT'S GONNA BE BY HOW BAD IT IS AND BY PRICE.

AND SO SEVERAL DIFFERENT CRITERIA.

AND THEN, UH, THAT'S, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA COME BACK WITH A PLAN THAT SAYS, THIS IS THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO.

AND IT'S GONNA TAKE 10 YEARS, 15 YEARS TO DO IT.

DIDN'T WE DO A STUDY ON THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT? JUST THE PLANT TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO? YES.

JUST THE PLANT.

PLANT.

AND BASICALLY THE BOTTOM LINE WAS WE NEED TO WHOLE NEW WIND.

'CAUSE WE'VE REACHED THE NO, NO, THAT IS, UH, WE'VE REACHED THE END INTO THE LIVE SPAN.

WE'LL USE THAT, THAT THING AS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN.

BUT THAT WAS JUST FOR THE WASTEWATER PLAN.

JUST FOR THAT ONE.

YOU CLOSE TO 50 LIFT STATION, YOU HAVE ALL THE SEW.

SO IT WAS JUST A PIECE OF IT.

[01:15:01]

GOTCHA.

SO WE WILL, THIS CONSULTANT WILL NOT DO THAT ONE.

THEY JUST UPDATE THE COST.

'CAUSE THE COST WE HAVE IS ALREADY UP ALMOST 30% MM-HMM.

AND PART OF THIS STUDY, THEY WILL DO A RATE STUDY FOR LONG-TERM RATE INCREASE AND PRESENT TO CITY COUNCIL.

BUT THAT'S HOW YOU WILL FUND IT.

EITHER YOU GO FOR A LOAN OR GRANT OR BOND.

IT NEEDS TO TIE TO A, YEAH, I THINK WE'RE PAST DUE ON THIS.

AND, AND AGAIN, THIS IS A, THE PROCESS.

I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING THE PROCESS IS, IS IS BAD, BUT ACTUALLY IT COULD BE WORSE.

AND THE WAY IT COULD BE WORSE IS IF ANY ONE OF THESE ORGAN, ANY OF THESE, ONE OF THESE COMPANIES WOULD, IS A MINORITY OWNED COMPANY, THERE IS NO REQUEST THEY CAN TAKE THE JOB.

SO IT'S WORSE.

AND THIS PROCESS, I MEAN THE R Q PROCESSES AND STUFF AND THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IS, IT'S BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I'VE HAVE, HAVE BEEN HERE.

I I HAVE STARTED THE PROFESSION.

SO THIS ALRIGHT.

SO, UH, AGAIN, THE REQUEST IS, UH, FOR US TO APPROVE, UH, FOR, UH, STAFF TO MAKE THE NEXT STEP, UH, ON THIS.

AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM FIVE AS WRITTEN A SECOND.

WE HAVE COUNCILMAN FROM, UH, A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BLANCHARD AND A SECOND BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER SETH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

SIX, APPROVE THE SEC SELECTION OF CONSULTANT, UH, LOCKWOOD ANDREWS AND NEWMAN.

ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT.

ITEM

[6. Approve the selection of consultant Lockwood Andrews & Newman, Inc. (LAN) and authorize the City Manager to negotiate a contract under RFQ No. 001‐2023 for the City of Lake Jackson’s Water Master Plan. – Riazul Mia.]

UH, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT UNDER R F Q NUMBER 0 0 1, UH, 2 0 2 3.

THEY'RE ALL BOTH UNDER THE SAME RQS.

UH, FOR, UH, CITY LAKE JACKSON WATER MASTER PLAN.

YES, MAYOR, THIS IS THE SECOND PART.

THIS IS FOR THE WATER MASTER PLAN, WHICH WE HAD COMPLETED THE, THE MODEL.

AND SO YES, WE DID THAT ONE R F Q, BUT THERE WAS TWO SETS OF REQUIREMENT.

SO THIS IS, UM, THE SAME THING.

THERE WAS FIVE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED AND AFTER GRADING, UM, LOCAL ANDREW CAME IN NUMBER ONE.

SO WE ARE RECOMMENDING THEM.

MR. TOMATO, FRESH WATER, FRESH WATER VERSUS WASTEWATER.

YEAH, THIS IS WASTEWATER.

GOTCHA.

MEAN FRESH FRESHWATER.

RENEE, YOU HAD SOMETHING? YES, YES.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SELECTION CONSULTANT, ANDREW LOCKWOOD ANDREWS, AND NEWMAN, AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT UNDER R F Q 0 0 1 DASH 2 0 2 3 4.

CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, LAKE JACKSON WATER MASTER PLAN AS REQUESTED.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION ON ITEM SIX.

SECOND, SECOND, SECOND BY BROADUS.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

SEVEN, AWARD, PROJECT NUMBER 2 3 0 7 1 1 9 6, UH, TO J M UH, CONSTRUCTION FOR THE CITY HALL RESTROOM RENOVATION PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $160,500.

ANY OPPOSED? ANY, WE'LL BRING THESE BACK TO YOU ONCE WE, WHICH NUMBER HAVE THE SCOPE AND PRICE? YOU LADIES ARE HANGING IN THERE.

YOU HADN'T FALLEN ASLEEP YET.

IT'S EXCITING STUFF HERE.

ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE REALLY GET EXCITED.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT RESTROOMS. ALL RIGHT.

ITEM

[7. Award Project No. 23‐07‐1196 to GAM Construction for the City Hall Restroom Renovation project in an amount not exceeding $160,500 – Sal Aguirre.]

UH, THIS IS A, UH, REBID OF THE, UH, OF A PRIOR PROJECT, UH, THAT WE PUT OUT.

AND, UH, WE, UH, HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTRACTOR, UH, TO PERFORM AFTER WE HAD CHOSEN AND GIVEN THEM, UH, ORDERED THEM TO CONTRACT, THEY, UH, THEY REFUSED TO SIGN IN THE SIGN OFF ON THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT.

SO WE HAD TO REJECT THAT AND HAD TO PUT IT BACK UP FOR BID.

AND THIS IS THE RESULTS OF THAT SECOND BID.

WE HAD THOSE, UH, FIVE RES, UH, RESPONDENTS THERE, THREE AND THREE, THREE LOCAL AND THREE FROM, UH, FROM OUT OF TOWN.

UH, THE APPARENT BLOW BIDDER AT THIS PARTICULAR, AT THIS PARTICULAR BID OPENING WAS A, UH, WAS A STACK OF DESIGNS AND CONSTRUCTION.

UH, THEY, UH, CAME IN AT 150, BUT THEY CAME IN THERE WITH 30 DAYS AS THEIR CALENDAR DAYS SCHEDULE.

UH, THAT RAISED, UH, THE, UH, RAISED THE FLAGS FOR US AND THE, UH, UH, AND THE, AND THE ARCHITECT PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE FELT THAT IT WAS UNREASONABLE TO, UH, TO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK.

IN 30 DAYS, WE, UH, WENT BACK OR THE, UH, UH, ARCHITECT WENT BACK TO THEM TRYING TO GET A GOOD HANDLE ON WHAT IT WAS THAT THEY HAD PUT IN THERE, BECAUSE WE FELT LIKE THAT WAS, LIKE I SAID, UNREALISTIC.

[01:20:01]

UH, OF COURSE, THEY, UH, AFTER LOOKING AT THE, UH, AT THE OTHER PEOPLE AND SEEING THAT THE, UH, NEXT, UH, NEXT LOW BIDDERS WERE, WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HAD MORE TIME TO DO THE WORK THERE, THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, WELL, UH, WE PUT IN OUR, WE PUT IN OUR WORKDAY BASED ON THE FACT OF ACTUALLY WORK TIME, OF ACTUALLY WORK ON THE, YOU KNOW, ON THE PROJECT ITSELF, NOT IN THE PROCUREMENT OF THE MATERIALS AND EVERYTHING.

THAT USUALLY TAKES SOME TIME, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, UH, BECAUSE OF THAT, UH, THEY, UH, DECIDED TO, OR THEY ASKED US TO, IF THEY COULD, UH, REVISE THEIR PROPOSAL.

UH, THEY OF COURSE KEPT THE SAME AMOUNT, BUT THEY CAME BACK WITH, UH, 90 DAYS AS AN, UH, AS AN AS AS THEIR CALENDAR DAY, UH, REVISION.

UH, WE FELT AT THAT TIME, STAFF AND, UH, ADMINISTRATOR, I MEAN, STAFF MET WITH THE ARCHITECT AND WE ALL DECIDED THAT, THAT WE, THAT WOULDN'T BE, UH, JUSTIFIABLE TO THE SECOND LITTLE BIDDER THAT THEY, THAT, UH, THAT THAT WAS A NO NON-NEGOTIABLE, NOT NEGOTIABLE TYPE OF AN OFFER.

SO WE DECIDED TO RECHECK THAT PARTICULAR, UH, BIDDER.

YOU REALLY, YOU CAN'T REWRITE THE BID.

IT'S NOT A MINOR THING JUST TO CHANGE THE DAYS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A, YOU KNOW, THE UNIT PRICE WAS DIFFERENT, BUT THE OVERALL, YOU KNOW, ON A LIGHT ITEM IS CORRECT AND STUFF.

THIS IS LIKE, IT'S A BIG CHANGE.

YEAH, IT'S A BIG CHANGE.

AND, UH, WHAT WE DECIDED WAS TO, SINCE THE AMOUNT, THE DIFFERENTIAL AMOUNT BETWEEN THAT AND THE SECOND LITTLE BID WAS $10,000, WE FELT THAT IT WOULD BE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE PROJECT ITSELF TO MOVE INTO THAT ONE INSTEAD OF GOING AGAIN FOR REBID AND THEN, UH, LOSE, UH, PROBABLY LOSE THE, UH, THE, UH, THE BID PROBABLY RISK.

THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD PROBABLY COME BACK WITH A HIGHER NUMBER TYPICALLY WORKS THAT WAY.

TWO QUESTIONS.

NUMBER ONE, JUST MY OWN KNOWLEDGE, WHAT IS A BID BOND? THE, THE BID BOND IS WHAT THE, THE, UH, SPECIFICATION AND THE CONTRACT REQUIRES THAT EVERYONE SUBMIT A BID BOND, 5% OF THE AMOUNT BID THAT, UH, IN ORDER TO EARNEST MONEY CALL IT, IF ANYTHING.

SO THAT'S THE 5% THAT THEY DROP ON WHATEVER THE AMOUNT THAT THEY BID.

AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, SO I CAN SEE WHY THE 30 DAYS RAISE RED FLAGS FOR YOU, BUT WHEN YOU GET THESE NUMBERS AND THE CALENDAR DAYS AND ALL THAT, DO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO IN AND BASICALLY LOOK FOR REFERENCES? SO AS TECH IS, I MEAN, CAN YOU GO IN? YES.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, UH, THE ARCHITECT WENT TO THAT SECOND LITTLE BIT.

G A M I SAW THAT MR. BOWLES YEAH.

TO CONFIRM, FIRST OF ALL, WHETHER THEIR NUMBERS WERE STILL GOOD BECAUSE THE TIME HAD, I MEAN, NOT TIME HAD EXPIRED, BUT HE HAD GONE SOME TIME BEFORE.

SO, AND ALSO TRY TO CONFIRM THEIR, ACTUALLY REFERENCE THEIR WORK REFERENCES.

AND THERE WAS A SUPPOSEDLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED THIS THING BY HIS COMMENTS.

WE, HE WAS, SO REFERENCES ARE CHECK.

SO, UM, DOES, I MEAN, COULD WE HAVE CHECKED, SO I AD I A D CHECKED ON AZTECA? YES.

BUT THEN, BUT WHILE THEY WERE ALSO CHECKING ON THE DAYS, THEN THE DISCREPANCY WAS BROUGHT TO US, WE DISCUSSED IT, WE SAID, NO, WE CAN'T DO THAT, THAT, SO THEN I E D THEN WENT TO THE NEXT ONE.

AND WE, WE GAVE HIM AUTHORITY TO PLEASE OUR DIRECTIONS.

PLEASE CHECK ON REFERENCES ON THE SECOND CARRY ON THE SECOND ONE.

AND ONCE THEY POST THE BOND MONEY, IF THEY DON'T PERFORM, THEY, WE GET TO KEEP THE BOND MONEY.

SO IN THIS CASE, WHEN THE LAST VENDOR DIDN'T PERFORM, DID WE GET TO, WE KEEP THE BOND MONEY? WE COULD HAVE, WE COULD HAVE, BUT WE DIDN'T.

WHY? UH, IT WAS JUST, UH, I THOUGHT THAT THERE WAS, UH, KIND OF A, A LITTLE BIT OF DISCREPANCY ON OUR PART AS WELL.

IT TOOK FOREVER TO GET REFERENCES AND STUFF FOR THEIR REFERENCES TO RESPOND.

AND BY THE TIME WE, UH, WERE GETTING SOMETHING, IT WAS AFTER THE 80 OR 90 DAYS.

UH, SO IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT THE BIDDER DID.

IT WAS MORE OF HIS REFERENCES WEREN'T RESPONDING TO US.

AND BY THE TIME WE WERE READY TO DO IT, HE SAID, I CAN'T YOU, IT TOOK YOU TOO LONG TO GET RESPONSES.

UH, I CAN'T DO IT FOR THAT PRICE.

I CAN'T WORK, I CAN'T WORK ON THAT PRICE.

SO IT WASN'T ANYTHING THAT HE WAS RETRACTED, IT JUST, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF THE BIDDER PROVIDES THE REFERENCES, HIS ONUS IS ON HIM TO SAYS THE REFERENCES TO RESPOND.

AND HE WAS SHOWING A REFERENCES.

HE WAS SHOWING, UH, MY, I THINK THE, YEAH, HE DID GIVE HIS REFERENCES, BUT THE REFERENCE THAT HE GAVE HAS NEVER ANSWERED THE ARCHITECT.

GET THEM TO EXPEDITE THE REFERENCE RESPONSE.

AND IT JUST KEPT ON PROLONGING AND PROLONGED.

THAT SHOULD BE HIS RESPONSIBILITY THAT YOU PROVIDE THE REFERENCE, THAT YOU

[01:25:01]

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING A REFERENCE, ISN'T IT? YEAH.

SO I MEAN, SO I MEAN, I JUST DON'T WANT TO GIVE AWAY OUR MONEY, OUR CITIZENS' MONEY AWAY, YOU KNOW, JUST, UH, I MEAN, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE PROCESS TO HAVE THE BOND MONEY.

THEN WE OUGHT TO REALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST GIVE THAT UP.

WELL, CORRECT.

AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN A MATTER OF GOING, GOING TO COURT WITH HIM AND US HAVING TO, OF COURSE, EXPENSE.

THEY NEVER GIVE UP BOND MONEY EASILY.

YOU DON'T WRITE A LETTER AND THEY GIVE YOU THE BOND MONEY.

THAT'S, IT'S ALWAYS A FIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.

ITEM SEVEN IS WRITTEN ALL HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN BLANCHARD FROM ITEM SEVEN TO APPROVE.

HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN BROADUS.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AWARD BID TO MATERIAL MATERIAL FOR CONCRETE REPAIRS NOT TO EXCEED $200,000, SABRINA.

ANY OPPOSED? BILL? ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE ITEM, UH, EIGHT

[8. Award bid to Matula & Matula for concrete repairs not to exceed $200,000 – Sabrina England.]

SO THIS BID HAS GONE OUT TO DO, UM, THE SMALLER REPAIRS LIKE THE SIDEWALK REPAIRS, CURB REPAIRS, UH, THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED IN THE COURSE OF DOING OTHER REPAIRS.

FOR EXAMPLE, A WATER REPAIR OR A TRUCK HAS RUN OVER A CURB SOMEWHERE.

UM, WE HAVE A FUND THAT, UH, WE WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND USE FOR THIS, BUT IN THE NEW STATE LAWS ARE SAYING THAT IF YOU ARE OVER $50,000 WITH ONE VENDOR, THEN YOU MUST BID.

SO WE DID, UH, RECEIVED A BID FROM MATULA AND MATULA, WHO THE CITY HAS USED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST AND HAS ALWAYS FOUND THEIR WORK TO BE MORE THAN ACCEPTABLE.

UM, AND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH STAFF, IT WAS PRESENTED TO GO FORWARD TO GO AHEAD AND ACCEPT 'EM TO THE LIMITA FOR THIS CONTRACT.

YEAH, AND I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY.

THIS IS A VENDOR AND WE'VE SET UP, UH, OBTAINING A PRICE WHEN WE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GO OVER, YOU KNOW, 50, 50,000 IN MOST INSTANCES, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, WE'RE LIKE, WE HAVE 200,000 SET ASIDE THIS YEAR FOR SIDEWALK REPAIR, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC SIDEWALK REPAIR.

SABRINA AND HER GROUP ARE WORKING WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY THOSE AND MAKE THAT A SPECIAL PROJECT THAT WE WILL GO OUT FOR FOR BID AND NOT USE THIS.

THIS IS MORE TO USE ON THOSE SMALL THINGS WHERE WE NEED TO HIRE SOMEBODY QUICKLY.

WE NEED TO FIX IT AND, AND, AND GET THE ITEM, YOU KNOW, FIXED.

AS YOU CAN SEE THOUGH, WE STILL TRY TO PACKAGE 'EM TOGETHER AND GET THE BETTER PRICE, UH, ON THAT.

SO WE HAVE A PRICE, WE'RE, WE'RE LEGAL, BUT WE'LL TRY NOT TO USE IT UNLESS WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BECAUSE IT IS, IT'S A PREMIUM.

SO WE'RE NOT GONNA JUST GO OUT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, A THOUSAND LINEAR FEET, PLEASE DO IT AT THIS PRICE.

RIGHT? WE'LL GO OUT FOR BID, UH, AND STILL TRY TO PLAN, YOU KNOW, PLAN, PLAN THOSE.

THIS IS WHEN WE ARE JUST, WE'VE GOTTA GET IT FIXED.

WE GOTTA HIRE A CONTRACTOR AND WE, WE'VE MET ALL THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT IT'S BEEN BID PROPERLY.

SO BASICALLY THIS IS JUST US SIDEWALKS, NOT OUR ROADWAYS THAT NOT THE ROADWAY.

SO IT'S FOR, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE HAVE CURB REPAIRS, UH, WE MAY HAVE TO FIX, BRING IN AND FIX A, A D A RAMP OR SOMETHING.

WELL, LAST WE HAD, BECAUSE WE HAD SO MANY WATER BREAKS, DIDN'T WE USE ULA LAST YEAR ALSO, WHEN WE DID, THEY WENT IN, THEY FIXED ALL CONCRETE ULA THIS, AND THIS WOULD'VE BEEN AN INSTANCE WHERE WE COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD BE USING THIS BID IF WE HAD A LOT OF 'EM LINED UP.

BUT WE'LL STILL TRY TO PACKAGE THEM, YOU KNOW, TO GET THE BEST PRICE, YOU KNOW, VERSUS CALLING FOR ONE HERE AND CALLING FOR ONE THERE, UH, BECAUSE IT'S A LARGE CONTRACTOR THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY GET A BETTER PRICE WHEN THEY GET AN ORDER, A WHOLE TRUCK, AND THEY WON'T COME OUT FOR ONE LITTLE ONE, RIGHT? CORRECT.

RIGHT NOW WE STILL HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY UNDER, I TALKED TO THE CITY ATTORNEY TODAY.

WE STILL HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY, UH, THAT FIRST 50,000, YOU KNOW, OF HIRING, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY, UM, ANYBODY.

AND WORKING WITHIN OUR QUOTE SYSTEM, WE HAVE TO GET THREE QUOTES.

UM, AND, AND WE CAN STILL WORK WITH MAUL ON THAT.

IT GIVES US A CHANCE TO WORK WITH A SMALLER VENDOR, UH, STUFF.

BUT DEFINITELY ONCE WE GET THE 50,000, UH, WE, IT DOES NEED TO BE BID.

AND SO WE'RE, UH, WE HAVE THAT INTO IN ADVANCE.

WELL, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, WALK THE BID TO MATU AND TOULA FOR CONCRETE, PREPARING NOT TO SEE 200,000.

SECOND ALL.

I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN BAKER AND A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN HANYA.

ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

UH, HAVE, WELL, WE ARE QUITE BUSY.

ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, DAVID.

NEW

[9. New Business Update – David Walton]

BUSINESS.

GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, WE,

[01:30:01]

UM, A COUPLE OF THINGS OF NOTE, NINA'S HAS NOW FORMALLY, UH, MADE REPRESENTATION DOWNTOWN WITH A BIG MURAL ON THE SIDE OF THEIR BUILDING.

UH, WE HAVE GOTTEN THEIR CONSTRUCTION PLANS, WE HAVE ISSUED PLANS FOR THAT.

WE'RE, UM, WORKING WITH THEM TO, UH, OUTFIT THAT SPACE FOR THEIR NEEDS.

UH, THE RESTAURANT AT ONE 15 PLANTATION IS AGAIN, WHERE THE OLD CHURCH'S CHICKEN WAS.

THAT'S STILL A BOX.

UH, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF ESTABLISHMENT THAT WE BE, UH, THAT'S OWNED BY, UH, MR. TIAN, WHO ALSO RUNS WAYSIDE PUB AND, UH, SHANGHAI.

SHANGHAI.

COUNCIL MEMBER.

SETH, IF YOU GO DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, WE HAVE RECEIVED, UH, FOUR PLAN REVIEW, BOTH OF OUR NEW CONVENIENCE STATIONS, THE ONE ON THIS WAY, UH, LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE RICOCHETS WAS, AND THE LARGER ONE AT THE, UH, CORNER OF 2004 AND 3 32.

UH, THAT ONE IS, WILL BE CATERING MORE TOWARDS, UM, LARGER VEHICLES AND, AND, UH, INCLUDING TRUCKS.

ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS OF WHAT YOU SEE? UH, WHAT IS SUPER YUMMY? YEAH, THAT'S MY, OKAY.

SO SUPER YUMMY WILL BE A, UM, MONGOLIAN GRILL STYLE RESTAURANT OPENING WHERE THE CC'S WAS.

LET'S PICK OUT ALL YOUR PROTEINS AND HAND IT TO 'EM WHEN THEY THROW IT ON A BIG OLD GIRL.

NO, CORRECT.

AND WHAT'S R C R Y O? THAT'S I CRYO.

THAT'S THEIR, YEAH, I, I CRYO IS A, UH, REHABILITATION, UM, STUDIO THAT'S GONNA BE OVER BY MARCOS PIZZA, LIKE COLD.

THEY'RE ALMOST READY TO MOVE IN LIKE THAT.

YEAH, THEY, THEY FREEZE YOU UNTIL YOU TELL YOU I FEEL BETTER.

YOU CRY.

I DO WANNA MAKE NOTE THAT, UH, THE MALL IS WORKING WITH A LOCAL PLUMBER TO REPLACE, TO REPLACE THEIR GREASE AND INTERCEPTOR, WHICH SHOULD SIGNIFICANTLY, UM, INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY, UH, REDUCE SOME OF THE ISSUES THEY'RE HAVING INSIDE OF THE RESTAURANTS AND REDUCE FAT, REDUCE FATS, OILS AND GREASES THAT, UH, ARE ATTRIBUTED DOWNSTREAM FROM, FROM THEIR FACILITY.

THAT WILL NECESSITATE A CLOSURE OF THE FOOD COURT, UH, FOR SEVERAL DAYS WHILE THEY DIG OUT THE OLD ONE AND PUT A NEW ONE IN.

UM, I KNOW THAT THEY HAD AN ISSUE LAST WEEK.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, UH, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO REMAIN OPEN WHILE DOING DAILY PUMPING OF THE INTERCEPTOR.

UH, THE PLUMBER HAD ACTUALLY PLUGGED THE OUTLET PIPE TO ALLOW THE INTERCEPTOR TO JUST BE A HOLDING TANK AT THAT POINT, ALLOWING FOR DAILY, UH, SERVICING.

UH, BUT THAT WILL BE REPLACED HERE IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO.

UH, REGAL STORAGE, ARE THEY EXPANDING BEHIND THEIR CURRENT FACILITY OR TO THE SIDE? IT'S ON, IT'S ON THE BACKSIDE.

YEAH, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BACKSIDE.

SO YOU WON'T, WON'T REALLY BE ABLE TO SEE IT FROM, FROM 2004, BUT THEY ARE ADDING A COUPLE OF NEW S BACK THERE.

AND THEN, UH, THE OLD NEIGHBOR'S FACILITY, IT SAYS PENDING PAYMENT AND IT LOOKS LIKE, UH, IT'S READY TO FALL DOWN ANYTIME NOW.

SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE PAYMENT? WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? SO THAT ONE HAS GONE THROUGH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ITERATIONS SINCE THE NEW OWNERS TOOK OVER.

UH, THEY'VE COME IN AND ADJUSTED THE PLAN SEVERAL TIMES.

SO THEY'RE, WHEN WE SAY PENDING PAYMENT, IT'S, IT'S, UM, PLAN REVIEW FEES BASED UPON ALTERATIONS, REVISIONS TO THE APPROVED PLANS THAT THEY HAVE.

AND LASTLY, THE KAREEM CONVENIENCE STORE, IS THAT GONNA BE A GAS STATION OR JUST A LITTLE CORNER TYPE STORE THAT IS THE, UH, THE ONE ON THIS WAY THAT'S GOING TO BE A, IT, IT'S A GAS STATION.

IT'S GONNA HAVE FUEL PUMPS IN THE FRONT WITH A, A STATION IN THE BACK, KIND OF A CIRCLE DRIVE AROUND.

UM, THEY WORKED EXTENSIVELY WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON TRYING TO DEVELOP A, A PLAN THAT WOULD, UH, FIT THE NEEDS OF THE SITE TILE THEIR NEEDS AS FAR AS SPACE IS CONCERNED, AND ALSO, UH, INGRESS AND EGRESS FOR, YOU KNOW, TRUCKS, FIRE APPARATUS AND WHATNOT.

NOW OUR QUESTION ABOUT THE CHUCK E CHEESE REMODEL THAT I, I WAS IN THERE JUST THE OTHER DAY, SO THEY, THEY COULD DO THAT SAME TIME, I GUESS.

SO THAT IS A, A LONG RUNNING PROJECT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT START.

I MEAN, IT SAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE SHEET, BUT THEY HAVEN'T REALLY STARTED ANYTHING, BUT THEY DO HAVE PLANS IN TO MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS.

GOTCHA.

UH, DO YEAH, GO AHEAD.

DO TACO CAB BUILDING? YES, WE DON'T HAVE ANY.

IT STANDS, YES, IT'S EMPTY.

WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY, NO, NOT, NOT AT THIS TIME.

MY UNDERSTANDING ON THAT IS, AND THIS IS NOT SET IN STONE, IS THAT WHOEVER GOES IN THERE BASICALLY HAS TO TAKE OVER THE LEASE THAT TACO CABANA HAD.

SO IT'S NOW, I DON'T KNOW, I I HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO MR. NAGAR SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE TACO CABANA BUILDING.

UM, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THAT, UH, TACO

[01:35:01]

BUENO IS STILL PAYING.

TACO CABANA.

TACO BUENO, WHAT DID I SAY? TACO CABANA.

WAIT, TACO BUENO IS STILL PAYING TACO CABANA, SO IT, IT, IT CAN BE KIND OF CONVOLUTED.

YEAH, AND THE, OF COURSE, THE RESTAURANT THAT KEEPS ON TICKING IES IS OBVIOUSLY STILL UP AND RUNNING, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A WINK FROM THEM RECENTLY AS FAR AS THEY'RE STILL SERVING FRIED FISH.

YEAH, YEAH.

SO, AND YOU KNOW, IT WORKING OUT ALMOST A YEAR, IT'S THE BUILDING'S NOT WORKING OUT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOOKED AT IT SO FAR.

SO THAT'S BEST I CAN TELL YOU, UH, ON IT.

FISH.

UM, ONE THING REAL QUICK YES, SIR.

IS, IS I JUST WANNA COMPLIMENT, UH, YOU ALONG WITH, UH, JUST THIS PAST WEEK, I GUESS IT WAS YOU AND FREEPORT AND ANGLETON AND CLUT, UH, BUILDING OFFICIALS AND FIRE MARSHALS PUT TOGETHER A SEMINAR.

IS THAT CORRECT? UH, TO BE HONEST, THAT WAS MOSTLY SPEARHEADED BY, BY CASEY ROMAN WITH THE CITY OF FREEPORT.

BUT WE DID PARTICIPATE AND IT WAS A VERY GOOD, UH, ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION WITH THE BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE SMALL BUSINESS, UM, DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.

UH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THAT RESOURCE EVEN EXISTED, THAT IT WAS THERE, BUT I WOULD, UM, UH, HIGHLY ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO'S LOOKING TO OPEN UP A BUSINESS OR TO FURTHER THEIR SMALL BUSINESS TO GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM.

IT'S A FREE RESOURCE AND, UH, IT'S LIKE PURPOSE SEMINAR, EDUCATE SMALL BUSINESSES OF THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET ROLLING, PUT A BUSINESS IN AS FAR AS, UH, BUILDING CODES AND SO FORTH.

ANYWAY, APPRECIATE IT.

UPDATES, MODESTO, UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER, UH, REALLY UPDATES.

UH, STAFF

[10. Staff Updates]

THE, UH, I THINK THE FOOD TRUCK, UH, FESTIVAL, UH, WAS SUCCESSFUL.

THE ART SHOW, UH, UH, IT WAS GOOD.

WE GOT GOOD COVERAGE FROM THE NEWSPAPER, UH, PRE AND PRE AND POST, UH, UH, FOR THE EVENT, UH, RIGHT NOW STAFF'S GETTING READY, PREPARED FOR, UM, FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS.

HOW DO WE, AND THE, I GUESS THE, THE BOASH BOASH BULA BOASH.

UM, AND THEN ON THE ACTION SUMMARY, WE'LL SEND A LETTER TO, UH, THE DEALERSHIP THAT WE'RE ORDERING THAT WE'LL, UM, REMOVE THE SPEED UP.

I'LL GET AS SOON AS, UH, I'LL, WE'LL MEET WITH SABRINA AND SEE WE CAN, UH, GET THAT ON SCHEDULE.

SO WE'LL LET YOU KNOW, UH, ON THAT WHEN IT WILL BE REMOVED.

UM, AND THEN WE'LL ALSO ASK, I WE'LL PUT ON THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION TO REVIEW THE SPEED UP POLICY AND SEE IF THEY HAVE, YOU KNOW, ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES, ESPECIALLY ABOUT MAYBE FORMALIZING, GETTING INPUT, YOU KNOW, FROM CITIZENS.

YEAH, PROBABLY YOU NEED TO BRING SOME REC, YOU NEED TO BRING SOME EXAMPLES FROM OTHER CITIES THAT YOU ALREADY, THE IRONICALLY THE ONE THAT I'VE SEEN THAT IS, UM, VERY, UM, REGIMENTAL, BUT IT'S, IT'S LAID OUT IS THE, THE CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS.

UM, I GUESS THEY HAVE, I MIGHT BE ON MUCH .

UH, UM, AND THEN, UH, WE'LL SEND THE, OF COURSE, THE RESOLUTIONS FOR THE B A NOMINEES AND THE REPS TO H J C AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO PAY THE H J C DUES.

YEAH, AND IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY THEY'D LIKE ME TO PASS ON TO TRAFFIC AS I LIAISE WITH THEM, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL MAKE SURE THEY GET IT.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR SAL ON PROJECTS DOWN? I'VE ALREADY SENT YOU A NOTE.

UH, SAL PROJECTS.

[11. Construction Updates]

DOWNTOWN'S STARTING TO LOOK REALLY GOOD WITH THE PEDESTRIAN LIGHTS.

WE'RE ALL LIT UP.

UH, IT REALLY BRIGHTENED UP.

BUT THAT IS GONNA BE, AND THEN IT'LL BE THE STREET SIDE OF THINGS, AND THAT USUALLY IS THE FASTEST, UH, OPERATION IN A CONSTRUCTION JOB.

VERY NICE.

IT'S LOOKING REALLY, REALLY NICE.

THE ONLY THING GOING ON THERE RIGHT NOW, AND WE'RE STILL WAITING, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE LONG DRAWN OUT, UH, LANDSCAPE, UH, OPERATIONS THAT THESE PEOPLE COME IN AT 10 O'CLOCK AND LEAVE AT ONE O'CLOCK.

THAT TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, THE HANDRAIL, WHERE'S IT AT? THE HAND RAIL SLOW BOAT FROM CHINA? WELL, UH, YES, I SET A SLOW, SLOW BOAT FROM CHINA, UH, BECAUSE, UH, THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE DONE THAT THING, UH, A WEEK OR SO AGO.

THAT'S THE LAST TIME THAT, UH, THAT THE CONTRACTOR, YOU KNOW, GAVE ME A SCHEDULE ON THAT.

THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED.

UH, WE ASKED FOR MORE HANDRAIL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY CALLED FOR, BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THAT HANDRAIL BY NOW.

UH, I'LL BRING THAT UP TOMORROW AND, AND SEE WHAT, UH, WHAT IT IS THAT THEY TELL ME THIS TIME.

UH, AS FAR AS THE OTHER JOBS ARE, UH, UH, THE AZA STREET PROJECT IS PROGRESSING ON THE PROGRESSING VERY NICELY.

UH, THEY HAVE DONE, UH, MOST OF THE STORM WORK, UH, IS UNDERGROUND.

UH, THE WATERLINE IS ALMOST ALSO, UH, COMPLETE, BUT OF COURSE THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF TESTING AND A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE YET.

AND, UH,

[01:40:01]

SAL UM, COUNCILMAN SHANYA SHOWED ME A PICTURE, UH, FROM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, AND I FAILED TO SEND IT TO YOU.

IT WAS, IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS SOME LIME OR STUFF THAT WAS GOING INTO THE, UM, STORM DRAINS ON GRAPEVINE TERM FOR THE PROJECT.

CAN WE JUST MAKE SURE THAT LIME, LIME OR SUB IF, IF THEY HAVEN'T, THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT, THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT OPERATION YET.

I'LL SEND YOU THE PICTURES IF YOU CAN LOOK AT IT.

JUST SEE IF, IF WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, GOOD STORM, THEY'RE POLLUTION PREVENTION, YOU KNOW, PLAN ON THAT.

WELL YES, THERE IS A STORM, STORM WATER POLLUTION PREVENTION.

JUST ONE OF THE PICTURES IT DID, IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THERE WAS ANY POLLUTION PREVENTION ON THOSE STORM INTAKES.

SO THAT MAY BE SOMETHING OKAY.

WHERE IT WAS JUST LIKE SOMEBODY HAD POURED A BUNCH OF LINES BECAUSE RUNNING DOWN THE STREET INTO THE STORM DRAIN, WONDER IF THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY ALARM APPLIED THERE AT ALL.

THERE ISN'T ANYTHING IN THERE.

IT'S ONLY IF THEY'RE CUTTING CONCRETE OR SOMETHING UNDERGROUND.

WE'LL SHOW YOU THE PICTURES AFTER ME.

OH YEAH, WE'LL, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

ALRIGHT, WE, UH, WE ARE ALL SET ALREADY PUTTING OUT THE, UH, FIRE STATION.

WE ARE PLANNING ON PUTTING THAT OUT FOR BID, UH, UH, THIS, THIS WEEK.

SO THAT SHOULD BE GOING OUT FROM THERE.

THAT'S THE PLUMBING REPAIRS AND THE PLUMBING REPAIRS? CORRECT.

ONE ITEM IN DOWNTOWN, UH, ON PARKING WAY WHERE THE FRANKLY AGENCY AND ALL THAT STUFF IS MM-HMM.

, THAT CURB STICKS OUT WAY INTO THE INTERSECTION.

IT'S REALLY ODD WHEN YOU ALMOST LOOK LIKE YOU'RE TURNING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC COMING FROM THE OLD POST OFFICE.

UH, IT'S JUST DESIGNED IS THAT ON PARKING WAY? YES.

PARKING WAY.

YOU KNOW WHERE FRANKLIN? YEAH.

MM-HMM.

IS THAT WILL CURB AS A SO YOU LEAVE AS YOU LEAVE THE THAT WAY? YEAH.

INTO, INTO PARKWAY GOING TOWARDS, UH, WHERE, WHERE THAT LOCAL, IF YOU'RE COMING AND MAKE THE U-TURN, IT'S JUST A CURB STICKS WAY OUT THERE.

I NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE.

IT'S JUST WEIRD.

YOU KNOW WHERE THE PARKING ISSUE WAS? THAT PARKING SPOT WAS MM-HMM.

MM-HMM.

, CORRECT.

RIGHT AT THE LOCATION TO MAKE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING U-TURNS.

IT'S VERY AWKWARD BECAUSE YOU, THE CURB, UH, IS WAY OUT THERE.

IT'S THE BIG JUD OUT ACROSS FROM R M TELEPHONE.

IN THE, YEAH.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NOSE OF THE MEDIAN THERE.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

THAT'S VERY AWKWARD.

I'M SURPRISED, UH, PEOPLE HAVE NOT RUN OVER THAT.

THAT IS, THAT IS THE SAME SIZE AS THE OTHER ONES.

THAT'S, THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M ASKING.

WHY IS IT ANY DIFFERENT THERE? IT'S JUST, IT'S IT'S THE SAME RADIUS, IT'S THE SAME.

MAKE A LEFT TURN, WE COME DOWN AND MAKE A U-TURN AND YOU'LL SEE WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

WELL, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT ONE AND SEE WHETHER ANYTHING CAN BE DONE AT THIS TIME.

MAYBE PAINT A LITTLE YELLOW OR SOMETHING JUST TO KIND OF MAKE IT MORE OBVIOUS AS A CURB THERE.

WE'LL SEE.

WE DON'T WANNA STICK CURB.

YEAH, WE DON'T WANNA SPOIL THE, THE VISUAL THERE ALSO.

BUT I MEAN, WE'LL LOOK AT IT.

ANYTHING ELSE ON PROJECTS? ALRIGHT.

THANK, SO, ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO, UH, ITEMS OF COMMUNITY

[ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]

INTEREST.

UH, MATT, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? UH, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I'VE, I'VE CALLED IN A FEW, TEXTED IN A FEW BROKEN WATER LINES AS I DRIVE AROUND TOWN, AND THEN NEXT DAY THEY'RE ALL FIXED.

AND SO MAKE SURE THE CREWS KNOW, WE KNOW THEY'RE DOING GREAT JOBS AND, UH, KEEP IT UP PLEASE.

'CAUSE JUST, WE GOTTA STAY AHEAD OF THAT STUFF.

AND Y'ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.

TELL 'EM THANKS.

UH, THE ONLY THING I HAVE IS, UH, THERE IS A, UH, MAYBE THIS IS A THING PROBABLY.

UH, THERE, THERE WAS APARTMENTS ON 2004, UH, THE, THE RESERVE AT LAKE JACKSON, WHATEVER.

PEOPLE ARE COMING OUT OF THERE AND GOING LEFT ON WESTBOUND 2004 TO GOING, TRYING TO MAKE THAT CUT ACROSS AND NOT GOING TO THE, TO THE LIGHT.

AND SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HURT THERE.

THEY'RE AWARE.

WE, WE HAD A SAFETY MEETING WITH TXDOT AND BROUGHT THAT UP.

I'VE SENT 'EM EMAILS AND PICTURES AND TALKING ABOUT THE GUN AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT WHEN THEY WERE DOING THE WHOLE PAINTING AND STRIPING.

THEY HAD DONE ALL THAT, BUT THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED ANYTHING BECAUSE WHAT WE RECOMMENDED WAS THAT MOST LIKELY THEY NEEDED, YOU KNOW, IT WAS JUST PAINTING ON THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, AT THE PARKING LOT.

MOST LIKE IT NEEDED A CURBING STUFF THAT PREVENTED YOU FROM TURNING, UH, LEFT.

AND THEY PROMISED THAT WE WOULD LOOK AT IT, BUT WE CAN BRING IT BACK, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, SOMEBODY SITTING THERE DO A VIDEO, I CAN SHOW YOU MAYBE 50, 20 CARS MORE PER DAY MAKING THEIR LEFT TURN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE TOLD HIM.

I SAID WE WERE, YOU KNOW, PUTTING PATROL OFFICERS OUT THERE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

BUT WE CAN'T HAVE A PATROL OFFICER OUT THERE 24 HOURS A TIME.

NO, NO, THAT'S NOT, 'CAUSE THAT WAS TEXT OUT.

IF YOU COULD PROBABLY, WE'LL BRING IT UP TO HIM AGAIN.

[01:45:01]

HE PLAYED JACKSON BEAUTIFULS PARTNERED WITH TEXAS GULF BANK FOR OUR LAST SHRED DAY OF THE YEAR ON 11 FOUR.

UH, IT'LL BE AT MCLEAN PARK.

UH, IT'S THE SAME THING.

YOU CAN BRING FIVE BOXES OF SHRED STUFF.

YOU CAN DO OLD GLASSES, OLD CELL PHONES, AND UH, CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

IT'S, UM, IT'S A REALLY SMOOTH OPERATION NOW.

WE'LL UNLOAD YOUR STUFF.

AND IT'S A, IS IT LIKE PRINTERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC THINGS? NO, IT'S ALL PAPER.

THEY DID THAT ONE THE ON PAPER, BUT PAPER, GLASSES, LIGHTS AND, UH, CELL PHONES THEY'LL TAKE.

MR. BAKER, UH, THE ONLY THING I GOT, UH, I'D LIKE TO THANK COUNCILMAN CINDY FOR INVITING ME TO, UH, THE MUSEUM STORY TALK.

I THINK THAT'S WAS THE STORY TALK.

AND THE SPEAKER WAS, UH, I RETIRED CITY MANAGER AND HE GAVE A GREAT TALK ABOUT THE, UH, CITY EX, THE EX NOT EX RETIRED CITY MANAGERS, UH, MAYORS AND COUNCILMEN AND THE GROWTH OF THE CITY.

AND, UH, HE TALKS SO LONG THAT WE RAN OUT, THEY RAN OUT OF TIME THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PART B, PART B AND, AND ON A SIMILAR NOTE, SORRY, I FORGOT TO MENTION THE, UM, THE FALL FASHION SHOW THAT THEY HAD AT THE MUSEUM THAT I WENT TO ON, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, UM, WENT VERY WELL.

AND I THINK THAT MUSEUM STAFF'S DOING A GREAT JOB OF, I DON'T KNOW IF MONETIZING THAT VENUE IS THE CORRECT VERBIAGE, BUT GETTING MORE COMMUNITY USE OUT OF THAT VENUE.

AND I, THEY'VE GOT SOME IDEAS TO INCREASE THAT AND THEY'RE DOING A VERY GOOD JOB OF WHAT THEY'VE GOT.

AND I THINK WE SHOULD, UM, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR MORE EVENTS LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IT WAS STORY TIME OR WHAT, WHAT WAS IT CALLED? COUNCIL CHEW ON SOMETHING.

CHEW ON, YEAH.

HE WAS, HE WAS REALLY CHEWING ON SHIMMERS DOWN DID BILL PASS THE OFFERING PLATE WHILE HE WAS DOING IT.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S GOOD.

UH, JUST A FEW THINGS REAL QUICK.

UH, MODESTO TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHALK, UH, CHOCOLATE BLOCK AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND IT WENT REALLY WELL.

UH, I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAD PROBABLY MORE CHALK ON THEM INSTEAD OF ON THE GROUND, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS GOOD, GOOD EFFORT.

AND HOPEFULLY IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN BUILD ON.

UH, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IS, UH, UH, TOMORROW.

AND SO THAT'S, UH, OUR PD IS WORKING ALONG WITH THE PARKS AND SO, UH, THAT'S GONNA BE FROM SIX TO EIGHT TOMORROW.

UH, ALSO THIS WEEK, UH, WE HAVE, UH, I DID A PROCLAMATION FOR WORLD TEACHERS DAY, WHICH IS OCTOBER 5TH.

AND SO, UH, JUST A, IT'S A RECOGNITION WORLDWIDE, JUST RECOGNIZING THE, THE, UH, THE VALUE OF TEACHERS, UH, AND STUFF.

SO.

AND THEN, UH, WE'RE ALSO, UH, LATER THIS WEEK, UH, WE'RE GOING TO BE RECEIVING IN, UH, DALLAS, UH, THE, UH, SCENIC CITY AWARD BRONZE LEVEL IN DALLAS.

AND SO ERNESTO AND RIA ARE GOING TO T M L AND THEY'LL BE PICKING THAT UP FOR US, UH, WHILE THEY'RE THERE.

COOL.

AND THEN, UH, MATT, IF YOU HAVE IT, UH, YOU NEED TO BE SURE AND GET YOUR DAUGHTERS IN THE PRO PRINCESS MAKEUP SIGN UP.

SO THAT'S ON IT.

IT'S IS THAT WHEN THEY DO MY FACE WITH MAKEUP OR LIKE THEY DO NORMALLY? YEAH.

OR THEIR OWN, IT'S AN EXTRA FEE FOR THAT.

THAT'S FOR, SO I GOT PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE TO SIT STILL, JUST SIT STILL AND LET 'EM DO IT GENTLY CLOSE.

ANYWAY, AGAIN, PARK DEPARTMENT'S ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING GREAT.

THERE'S NOT A BORING MINUTE TO, AS FAR AS, UH, THEY'RE CONCERNED.

SO A LOT OF HARD WORK THERE.

UH, ANYTHING ELSE? IF NOT, WE'RE GOOD.