[00:00:01]
RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GO GET STARTED.WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE, UH, MONDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2024 REGULAR SESSION OF THE LAKE JACKSON CITY COUNCIL AT 25 OAK DRIVE, LAKE JACKSON.
AND WE'LL BEGIN THE EVENING, UH, WITH, UH, PLEDGES, UH, BY VINAY COUNCILMAN HANYA PLEASURE ALLEGIANCE.
DUE THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND DUE TO THE PUBLIC FOR WHICH ONE NATION UNDERGONE INDIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, FOR ALL HONOR FLAG, TEXAS.
ONE UNDER GOD, ONE INVOCATION THIS EVENING WILL BE, UH, GIVEN BY, UH, COUNCILMAN BAKER.
FATHER, JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED US TO SEE.
THANK YOU FOR, UH, OUR HELP AND THANK YOU FOR OUR STRENGTH.
AND, UH, JUST THANK YOU FOR, UH, JUST BEING GOD.
AND JUST WATCH US OVER US AS WE GET READY TO PREPARE FOR, UM, OUR MEETING.
AND, UH, JUST HELP US MAKE THE, UH, RIGHT AND POSITIVE DECISIONS FOR THIS GREAT CITY THAT WE ALL LIVE IN, AND THAT WE, UH, WE ALL LOVE.
AND, UH, MOST OF ALL JUST BLESS OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT EMS AS THEY PROTECT US ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND, UH, AND ALSO JUST BLESS OUR MILITARY AS THEY ALSO PROTECT AND WATCH OVER US.
[PRESENTATION]
THE AGENDA IS PRESENTATION.SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS.
FIRST ONE'S GOING TO BE PROCLAMATION FOR A MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD.
UH, CHUCK, DO YOU WANNA JOIN ME? STAND OVER HERE.
SO YOU HAVE TO WALK IN THREE TO FIVE MILES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO THIS IS, UH, PROCLAMATION I, GERALD ROSKI BY AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS THE MAYOR OF CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS.
DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL AS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD, WHEREAS FROM APRIL, FROM MONDAY, APRIL 1ST THROUGH APRIL, SUNDAY, APRIL 14TH, WHATABURGER WILL BE TEAM UP WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, UH, GRATITUDE INITIATIVE TO RAISE FUNDS THAT WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT CHILDREN OF MILITARY AND VETERAN, UH, FAMILIES IN THE HONOR OF MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD.
WHEREAS GRATITUDE INITIATIVE WAS ESTABLISHED IN 20, UH, 13.
TO HONOR OUR NATION'S HEROES BY HELPING CHILDREN OF MILITARY FAMILIES SUCCEED IN COLLEGE, THEIR CAREERS AND LIVES, THEY PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED RESOURCES TO STUDENTS AND MILITARY FAMILIES IN GRADES NINE THROUGH 12, INCLUDING 1 0 1, UH, 1 0 1, UH, COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELING SA 18 A CT TEST, PREP, FINANCIAL AID, COUNSELING, AND SCHOLARSHIPS, COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE.
WE WHATABURGER MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD FUNDRAISER WILL HELP ENSURE THOUSANDS OF TEENAGERS FROM OUR ACTIVE MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES ACHIEVE THEIR COLLEGE AND CAREER DREAMS. NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON DO, UH, CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL AS MONTH OF MILITARY CHILD IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON AND TESTIMONY AT WITNESS AND BY HAND AND SEAL AT CITY OF LEE JACKSON ON THIS DAY, THE 15TH OF APRIL, 2024.
HONOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER WHO WRITES THE CHECKS AND MAKES THINGS HAPPEN, RIGHT? IF THE CASE WOULD BE, AND CONSTITUENTS, UH, THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY.
THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS IN 1986.
UM, UH, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CASPER WEINBERGER ESTABLISHED THE MONTH OF APRIL AS MONTH OF THE MILITARY TRIAL.
IRONICALLY, TODAY IS APRIL 15TH.
IN THE IRONY OF THAT, IF YOU'RE A VET OR MEMBER OF MILITARY, TODAY IS PURPLE UP, RIGHT? THIS IS LIKE THE DAY FOR THIS EVENT.
WHY PURPLE? YOU COMBINE ALL THE COLORS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY TOGETHER, YOU COME UP WITH A COLOR OF PURPLE WHATABURGER.
ANYBODY NOT EAT AT WHATABURGER?
SO I'M A BIG FAN SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.
THROUGH MY RELATIONSHIPS WITH WHATABURGER, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO ASK THEM TO TEAM UP WITH THE GRATITUDE INITIATIVE.
[00:05:01]
I'M A BOARD MEMBER.WE'RE A 5 0 1 C3 THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 10 YEARS.
AND SO OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY OR INJURED, AND THOSE KILLED IN ACTION IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACROSS THE ENTIRE WORLD.
WE INITIATE THIS PROGRAM AND WE ASK WHATABURGER DURING THIS PARTICULAR MONTH, THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD TO DONATE A DOLLAR AND ASK PEOPLE WHO COME TO WHATABURGER AND THEY GET A FREE WHATABURGER AS THE CASE WOULD BE.
ANYBODY HAVE AN IDEA HOW MANY WHATABURGERS WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY? NOW? SOMEBODY GIMME A GUESS JUST FOR FUN.
THAT DOESN'T EVEN COVER HALF OF THE WHATABURGERS IN TEXAS.
1022 14 STATES 784 IN TEXAS ALONE IN 384 CITIES AND GROWING EXPANSIVELY.
SO I WANNA SAY PUBLICLY THANK YOU TO WHATABURGER ON BEHALF OF GRATITUDE INITIATIVE AS A BOARD MEMBER.
MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING OUT AND, UH, HAVING THIS PROCLAMATION DONE.
I UNDERSTAND YOU SAID THAT, UH, IN PAST YEARS, WHENEVER THEY SIGNED THIS, THAT THE DONATIONS IS IN THE SEVEN FIGURE AMOUNT.
SO I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN THAT CHECK SHOWS UP, BUT YES, UH, THIS, UH, THEIR DONATION, ONE OF OURS GONNA DO THIS FOR EVERY YEAR GOING FORWARD.
SO THIS PROCLAMATION WILL HOLD TRUE EVERY YEAR.
HOW MANY, HOW MANY LOCAL KIDS HAVE YOU HELP WITH YOUR PROGRAM? SO WE TALKED WITH RECRUITERS AND WE DID SOME PICTURES.
UM, SO THERE'S 1,000,800 THOUSAND CHILDREN IN THE MILITARY THAT AFFECT THIS PROGRAM.
THAT ARE BEING INVOLVED ACROSS.
WE'RE TALKING EVERY BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AND YOU GOTTA THROW A COAST GUARD IN THERE AS WELL, RIGHT? IS THE CASE.
SO THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON.
AND, UH, JUST A LITTLE NOTE ABOUT CHUCK IS IS THAT CHUCK IS FROM THE FIRST EXPLORER SCOUT AT LAKE JACKSON PD AND HE'S TAKEN THAT THROUGH HIS CAREER TO HIS BUSINESS HE HAS NOW IN, UH, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.
ALRIGHT, SO THEN WE'LL HAVE, UH, NEXT PART FORMATION IS FOR AL DAY I, GERALD ROSKI BY VIRTUE AND, UH, AUTHORITY VEST IN ME AS MARY CITY LAKE JACKSON, JACKSON DO HEREBY MAN, HE AYE,
WHEREAS ARBOR DAY IS THE FIRST, IS WAS FIRST RESERV WITH A FA OF MORE THAN, UH, A MILLION TREES IN NEBRASKA IN, UH, 1972.
AND WHEREAS TREES, UH, WHEREAS TREES CAN REDUCE THE EROSION OF OUR PRECIOUS POP SOIL BY WIND AND WATER, UH, CUT HEAT AND COOLING COSTS MODERATE THE TEMPERATURE, COOL THE AIR, UH, PRODUCE OXYGEN AND PROVIDE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE.
WHEREAS TREES ARE A RENEWABLE RESOURCE GIVING US PAPER WOOD FOR OUR HOMES, FUEL FOR OUR FIRES, AND COUNTLESS OTHER WOOD PRODUCTS.
WHEREAS TREES IN OUR CITY INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES, ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC VIRTUAL VITALITY OF BUSINESS AREAS AND BE BY OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS LAKE JACKSON HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS PRE CUSA BY THE NATIONAL HARBOR DAY FOUNDATION AND DESIRE TO CONTINUE ITS TREE PLANTING WAVE NOW.
THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF CITY LAKE JACKSON DO HEREBY FOR PLANNING APRIL 26TH, 2024 AS ARBOR DAY CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS.
AND NOW WE'VE GOT LAURA MARIE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT, UH, YES.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW ME, MY NAME IS LAURA MARIE BERNARD.
I'M THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER AND THE CITY LIAISON TO KEEP LAKE JACKSON BEAUTIFUL.
AND, UM, ON BEHALF OF AMY TESTO, OUR CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT, WE, UH, WANTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE A TREE CITY USA AGAIN, FOR 34 YEARS, THE CITY HAD BEEN YES, THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
AND BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN THE WAY THAT THEY CALCULATED THE USE OF OUR MULCH, WE LOST THAT DESIGNATION AND IT BECAME KIND OF AN OBSESSION OF AMY'S TO GET IT BACK.
SO WHEN SHE HEARD THAT THE CALCULATION HAD CHANGED, IT WAS ALL ON HER AND SHE SAID, I WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET THIS BACK FOR THIS CITY.
SO FOR THE, I SAID THIS WOULD BE THE 34TH YEAR, WE HAD IT FOR 33.
FOR THE 34TH YEAR WE HAVE OUR TREE CITY FLAG AGAIN.
AND SHE MADE SURE THAT I KNEW SHE WANTED YOU
[00:10:01]
TO SEE IT.MADE SURE I WORE LONG PANTS,
ALL RIGHT, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS VISITORS' COMMENTS.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS THAT ARE ATTENDING TONIGHT TO BRING ISSUES TO CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY WISH IF THEY WISH, UH, THAT ITEM THAT'S, THAT'S NOT ON THE CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDA, IS ANYBODY ON THE, YOU CAN'T TALK, YOU CAN'T DO VISITOR COMMENTS.
UH, ANYBODY ON IN THE, UH, THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO CITY COUNCIL ON AN ITEM THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDAS? OKAY.
MOVE ON TO DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL CAN DECLARE IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON ANY ITEM, UH, EITHER THE CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDA.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT NEEDS TO DECLARE A CONFLICT ON ANY ITEM? OKAY.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.WE HAVE, UH, ITEM ONE IS APRIL MINUTE, I MEAN APPROVE MINUTES OF APRIL 1ST, 2024.
UH, ITEM TWO IS ACCEPT BOARD COMMISSION'S MINUTES FROM PLANNING COMMISSION YAK AND THE TRAFFIC COMMISSION.
ITEM THREE IS APPROVE A SECOND CONTRACT EXTENSION OF YEAR ONE WITH, UH, CROWDER GULF FOR DISASTER DEBRIS REMOVAL SERVICES UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS NOT TO EXCEED $1 MILLION.
ITEM FOUR IS AWARD BID 24 0 3 0 0 4.
AND AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR JOINT SEALING WITH S-C-S-S-C-R CIVIL CONSTRUCTION AT $17 PER LINEAR FOOT FOR TYPE ONE AND $18 PER LINEAR FOOT FOR TYPE TWO IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 25 200 $50,000 AS BUDGETED.
ITEM FIVE IS AWARD, UH, BID 24 0 3 0 0 3 AND AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE CONTRACT, UH, FOR CONTRACT MOWING, UH, DRAINAGE AND DRAINAGE WITH LIFTING PULTE, I GUESS, UH, LLC FOR $145,000 PER AREA, UH, FOR, UH, SIX SESSIONS PER AREA IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $28,710 IS BUDGETED.
ITEM SIX IS AUTHORIZED CITY MANAGER TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO PRIME CONTROLS IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 900, I MEAN $91,020 FOR, UH, THE NORTH WATER PLANT UPGRADE, UH, TO THE SCADA SYSTEM.
AND THAT IS THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANYONE ON CITY COUNCIL THAT WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST AN ITEM TO BE REMOVED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? I HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON ITEM THREE.
ANY OTHER ITEMS? ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL, UH, I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON THE REMAINING, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.
MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS 1, 2, 4, 5, AND SIX AS WRITTEN.
SO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE ITEMS. ALL ITEMS EXCEPT FOR ITEM THREE AT THIS TIME.
I'LL SECOND AND WE HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN BROADUS.
[3. Approve a second contract extension for one year with Crowder Gulf for disaster debris removal services under the same terms and conditions, not to exceed $1,000,000.]
AGENDA.ITEM THREE IS APPROVE A SECOND CONTRACT, UH, EXTENSION.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON THAT, MODESTO.
IS THAT, UM, THAT'S THE SAME COMPANY THAT WE USED TO HELP WITH ALL THE DEBRIS AFTER NICHOLAS, IS THAT RIGHT? I'M PRETTY SURE, YES.
IS THIS JUST IN CASE WE HAVE THE CONTRACT READY TO GO? YEAH.
IN CASE WE HAVE A STORM? YEAH.
REALLY IT'S A, IT'S A PER UNIT BID ON DIFFERENT TYPES OF, OF SERVICES.
SO IT, THERE'S NO STORM, IT'S NOT ENACTED.
UM, WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT OUR HISTORY AND SO IN NICHOLAS WE SPENT SEVEN, I THINK $708,000 AND THAT WAS CONSIDERED A SMALL STORM.
IF WE HAVE A STORM, WE'RE READY TO GO.
AND THIS IS REQUIRED, WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS, THIS TYPE OF SERVICE DEFINED BY FEMA AHEAD OF TIME, DON'T WE? IS THAT THE SAME THING OR NOT? YES.
[00:15:01]
OR AT LEAST, UH, PRIOR TO US PICKING UP ANY DEBRIS.TAKE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM THREE, THEN.
MR. MAYOR MOVED THERE TO, UH, WE, UH, APPROVE THE, UH, SECOND CONTRACT EXTENSION FOR ONE YEAR WITH CROWD OR GOLF FOR DISASTER DEBRIS REMOVAL SERVICES UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS NOT TO EXCEED $1 MILLION.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA NOW.
[1. Discuss and consider approving an Interlocal Agreement with Brazoria County for tax collection – Kristin Bulanek]
ONE IS DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVING INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH, UH, MISSOURI COUNTY FOR TAX COLLECTION.KRISTEN, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM YOUR OFFICE.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ME YES.
OR NEED TO FINALLY PUT A FACE TO THE NAME.
I'M CHRIS AND ANA GEAR, BRAZORIA COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR.
UM, THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME.
SO BEFORE YOU TONIGHT YOU HAVE MY REVISED INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT FOR TAX COLLECTION SERVICES.
UH, WHEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT THESE, WE FOUND THAT SOME OF THESE WERE OVER 20 YEARS OLD.
AND SO WE, WE FOUND THAT WITH THE MULTITUDE OF LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED, UM, AND CHANGES TO THE PROPERTY TAX CODE, THAT IT WAS PROBABLY TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE AND UPDATE THEM.
SO WITH THE, UH, REVISED AGREEMENT THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, THERE ARE REALLY JUST FOUR MAIN THINGS THAT WERE ADDED OR UPDATED.
THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE THERE IS, UH, CURRENTLY WE CHARGE 32 CENTS PER PARCEL TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES FOR THE CITY.
UM, THAT WENT UNDER REVIEW AND HAD A COST ANALYSIS PERFORMED.
AND THAT WILL BE INCREASING TO 36 CENTS PER PARCEL WITH, UM, THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS THAT ARE BECOMING MORE AND MORE COMMON AMONG SOME OF OUR CITIES.
WE WENT AHEAD AND, UM, KIND OF GOT ON THE FRONT END OF THAT AND ADDED LANGUAGE TO THE AGREEMENT TO WHERE IN THE FAST FORWARD, IN THE EVENT THAT THE CITY DOES ADOPT A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE THE TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR TO COLLECT THOSE ASSESSMENTS FOR THE CITY.
IT, UM, INCLUDES LANGUAGE ON WHAT THE COST OF THAT WOULD BE TO GET IT UPLOADED AND STARTED IN OUR SYSTEM.
AND THEN CONTINUING TO COLLECT THOSE ASSESSMENTS, THE TRUTH AND TAXATION CALCULATIONS THAT HAPPEN EVERY YEAR.
AND WE ARE ABOUT TO GET INTO THAT TIME.
UM, AS WE START BUDGET DISCUSSIONS AND TAX RATE DISCUSSIONS, WE WENT AHEAD AND LOOKED AT THAT LANGUAGE TO MAKE SURE IT WAS UP TO DATE, UH, WITH THE CURRENT PROPERTY TAX CODE.
AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST, WE FINALLY ARE ABLE TO ADD LANGUAGE TO BASICALLY SUPPORT OUR CURRENT PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, WHICH IS WITH PENALTY AND INTEREST WAIVERS THAT COME BEFORE US.
UM, IT IS VERY STRICT IN THE CODE WHEN THOSE CAN BE WAIVED OR, UM, NOT WAIVED.
AND SO THOSE RIGHT NOW ARE REVIEWED BY PURDUE BRANDON, WHICH IS ALSO Y'ALL'S ATTORNEY.
UM, ONCE WE HAVE THEM REVIEW TO SEE WHAT IS ALLOWED WITHIN THE STATUTE, THOSE THEN GO BEFORE COMMISSIONER'S COURT TO THEN EITHER APPROVE OR DENY THAT PENALTY AND INTEREST WAIVER.
SO THERE'S LANGUAGE IN THIS AGREEMENT THAT NOW SUPPORTS THAT THE ACTION THAT COMMISSIONER'S COURT ACTUALLY TAKES, THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN CONSENTING WITH THAT ACTION.
SO THOSE ARE THE MAIN CHANGES, UM, AND UPDATES TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
SO ON ITEM NUMBER THREE THERE WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE PS.
SO WE HAD EXTENSIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT PS BEFORE.
AND WHO BEARS THE COST OF THAT? IS THAT THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, AKA, THE TAXPAYERS OR IS THAT THE DEVELOPER OF THE PID? SO THIS IS ONLY IN REGARDS TO, UM, DEPENDING ON THE AGREEMENT AND HOW THAT IS SET UP ABOUT COLLECTION, THERE'S YEAH, THERE'S AN ASSESSMENT, UM, THAT NORMALLY GOES WITH, UH, EACH PROPERTY THAT FALLS WITHIN THAT PI AND WE WOULD CHARGE, SO LET'S JUST SAY THERE'S A PIT THAT'S CREATED AND THE CITY ASK MY OFFICE TO COLLECT THOSE ASSESSMENTS.
THERE'S AN INITIAL SETUP FEE THAT WE WOULD CHARGE THE COUNTY AND THEN A PER PARCEL PER PIT WITH THAT WHAT'S IN THAT PIT THAT WE WOULD CHARGE TO THE CITY.
SO IT WOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PROCESS THAT WE DO FOR TAX COLLECTION SERVICES FOR THE PARCELS THAT ARE WITHIN THE CITY.
JUST AN ADDITIONAL COST TO THE CITY FOR THE WE'RE NOT PAYING THAT.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE BIG DISCUSSION AND REALLY IS THAT THAT WAS THE BIG DISCUSSION.
THE DEVELOPER CAN DEAL WITH ALL OF THAT.
IT CAN BE A DEVELOPER AGREEMENT.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO YEAH, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COME THROUGH MY OFFICE.
[00:20:03]
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? PURDUE AND BRANDON, WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED? THEY HAVE OFFICES ALL OVER THE STATE, BUT THEY HAVE AN OFFICE OUT OF HOUSTON.WE'LL NEED TO NEED A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
UH, SHERRY, HAVE YOU REVIEWED THIS DOCUMENT AND FOUND YES, IT'S FINE.
SOUNDS LIKE IT TOOK A LOT OF WORK.
SO, MR. IT WAS DEFINITELY NEEDED.
IT WAS, IT WAS QUITE SOME YEARS OLD.
SO, MR. I MOVE THAT WE, UH, INSTEAD APPROVING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH BRAZORIA COUNTY FOR TAX COLLECTION AS PRESENTED.
ALRIGHT, HAVE A MOTION FOR COUNCILMAN HANYA.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[2. Presentation and updates on TXDOT projects by Ms. Maria Pilar Aponte, P.E., Area Engineer, Brazoria Area Engineer’s Office of Houston District of Texas Department of Transportation.]
TWO IS, UH, PRESENTATION UPDATE ON TX DO PROJECTS, UH, BY MS. MARIA LAR.HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME? MARIA? ONE SEC.
UH, THE, UH, AREA ENGINEER FOR BRAZORIA AREA ENGINEERING OFFICE.
UH, OF THE HOUSTON, DISTRICT OF TEXAS DOT.
COUNCIL MEMBER, CITY OFFICIALS AND EVERYBODY HERE.
UM, WE ALWAYS LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE WHAT WE ARE DOING.
I'M, MY NAME IS MARIA PONTE, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED.
I'M THE TECH BRAZORIA ENGINEER.
I AM HERE WITH RA RA THE ASSISTANT ENGINEER IN MY OFFICE.
HE'S MY LEAD ENGINEER IN THE OFFICE AS WELL.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, FEEL FREE TO INTERRUPT ME THROUGH RIGHT THROUGHOUT THE, THE, THE PRESENTATION OR WE CAN TALK AT THE END FOR THESE TOPICS OR ANY OTHER TOPICS YOU MAY HAVE.
UM, BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT, I WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAFETY MOMENT.
UM, WE HAVE A CAMPAIGN IN TEXT STUDIES CALLED IN THE STREET.
AND IT'S BECAUSE SINCE NOVEMBER 7TH, 2000, WE HAVE NOT HAVE A DAY WITHOUT DEATH IN OUR ROADWAYS.
HOWEVER, IF WE ALL DECIDE TO TAKE SOME ACTION, WE CAN CHANGE THIS.
WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER DAY WITHOUT DEATH IN OUR ROADWAYS.
LAST YEAR IN FEBRUARY, WE CAME SO CLOSE WE HAD A DAY WITH ONLY ONE DEATH, UH, WHICH IS STILL MORE THAN WHAT WE WANT TO, BUT TYPICALLY WE HAVE 10 TO 12 DEATH BIRTHDAYS IN OUR ROADWAYS.
UH, AND WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO CHANGE.
I WANNA SHARE SOME TIPS OF DRIVING A WORK ZONE BECAUSE THIS WEEK WE ARE CELEBRATING THE NATIONAL WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK.
UH, WHEN YOU'RE IN A WORK ZONE, UH, SPEEDING IS ONE OF THE MAJOR CAUSES OF WORK ZONE CRASHES.
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU.
FROM CONTRACTOR EQUIPMENT, FROM CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETOURS AND THE TRAFFIC CONTROL.
WE MIGHT BE IN A TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR ONE WHOLE YEAR AND THEN IT CHANGE AND CONDITIONS CHANGE TO PAY ATTENTION.
UH, STAY ALERT AND MINIMIZE DISTRACTION.
PUT YOUR PHONES DOWN, PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN YOUR MAKEUP, OTHER DISTRACTIONS, AND THEN BE PATIENT, STAY CALM, PLAN AHEAD, LIVE EARLY.
UH, SO A FEW THINGS SO WE CAN GET TO ANOTHER DAY WITHOUT DEATH IN OUR ROADWAY BECAUSE I'M SURE WE ALL KNOW HAVE SOMEONE WHO WE LOST IN AN ACCIDENT AND WE WANT THAT TO STOP.
AND WITH THAT, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HOUSTON DISTRICT OVERVIEW.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, TECH STUDIES THE STATE AGENCY THAT PLANS DESIGN, CONSTRUCT A MAINTAIN, UH, THE ROADWAY STATE SYSTEM AND IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC, WE ARE DIVIDED IN 25 DISTRICT AND WE ARE IN THE HOUSTON DISTRICT, WHICH COVER SIX COUNTIES, MONTGOMERY, FORT BEND, WALLER, UH, HARRIS COUNTY, GALVESTON, AND BRAZORIA COUNTY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
AND IN ORDER ALSO TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY, WE HAVE AREA OFFICES AND I AM IN THE BRASSO AREA OFFICE.
SO IN OUR OFFICE WE DESIGN, CONSTRUCT, AND MAINTAIN ROADWAYS, UH, FOR, UH, THE STATE SYSTEM.
OKAY, SO SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE HAVE COMING UP, UH, IN LAKE JACKSON, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROJECTS COMING TO THIS AREA IN THE NEXT, UH, TWO, THREE YEARS.
UH, THIS FIRST NUMBER YOU SEE THERE IS A CSJ IS HOW WE CALL OUR PROJECTS.
ALL THAT HAVE A CONSTRUC SECTION JOB NUMBER.
[00:25:01]
FM 2004 FROM STATE HIGHWAY 2 88 TO STATE HIGHWAY 3 32.UH, WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE DOING IN THIS PROJECT, WE'RE GONNA DO PAVEMENT REPAIR AND OVERLAYS OR REHABILITATION OF THE RIDING SURFACE.
UH, THIS IS JUST UNDER TWO MILES.
UH, WE EXPECT, UH, IT'S GONNA BE AN ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST ABOUT TWO AND A $2.3 MILLION.
AND WE EXPECT THIS PROJECT TO LEAD IN THE SUMMER OF 2025.
THIS TYPICALLY THIS, SO THIS IS NOT GONNA BE WIDENING, WIDENING, IT'S GONNA BE JUST, UH, REPAY OVERLAYS ON THIS ONE IS JUST AN, AN OVERLAY TO REPAIR THE, TO REHABILITATE THE SURFACE AND THE RIDING.
AND IS THE HORSES CREEK BRIDGE GONNA BE OVERLAID ALSO? 'CAUSE WE DID THAT WORK SOME YEARS AGO.
ARE YOU JUST LOOKING THE BRIDGES? WE WILL NOT BE OVERLAYING, UH, WE, UH, GONNA CLEAN JOINTS, MAKE SURE THAT WE MAINTAIN THE BRIDGE, BUT WE ARE NOT OVERLAYING THE THE BRIDGE.
IS IT APPROPRIATE TIME TO BRING UP ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE OR SHOULD WE WAIT TILL THE NEXT TIME? IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, GO AHEAD.
ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE, THAT IS A REALLY BAD SPOT ON 2004, RIGHT NEXT TO A WATER TOWER ON, UH, WESTBOUND LANE.
WE ARE GETTING A LOT OF STAIRS AND COMPLAINTS THINKING IT'S A LAKE JACKSON ROAD AND IT'S A VERY ABRUPT PAVEMENT CHANGE WHERE THE CONCRETE MEETS THE BLACKTOP.
AND, UH, I BELIEVE MR. MUNDO HAS SENT A REQUEST AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A REALLY ACTION ON THAT, SO OKAY.
EUGENE, IF YOU CAN HELP ME MAKE A NOTE OF THAT ONE.
AND THEN I WAS GONNA ASK, WOULD THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE HERE BE SIMILAR IN SCOPE TO THE WORK THAT WAS JUST RECENTLY DONE OVER HERE? BEST BRANAN? SAME.
IT, IT WOULD BE SIMILAR IN SCOPE TYPE OF.
ALRIGHT, THAT GIVES ME A GOOD SENSE.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO, UH, IN, UH, IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE PEDESTRIAN RAMPS AT THE INTERSECTION SO THEY MEET THE LATER REQUIREMENTS.
ANOTHER PROJECT COMING TO THIS AREA, UM, IT'S JUST NORTH OF HERE, BUT IT'S STOP AT 2004.
SO STATE HIGHWAY 2 88 FROM BUSINESS TO 88 IN NORTH OF TON ALL THE WAY TO FM 2004.
WE'RE ALSO GONNA DO PAVEMENT REPAIR AND OVERLAY.
SO THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES OF REHABILITATION.
THE ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST OF THIS PROJECT IS 26 MILLION AND WE EXPECT THIS PROJECT TO LEAD IN FEBRUARY OF 2026.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
IS RI WHAT SECTION IS THIS? THIS 2 88.
STAY HIGHWAY 2 88 FROM ANGLETON TO, TO LAKE JACKSON.
RIGHT NOW THE ROAD HAS DIVOTS AND THAT YOU CAN FEEL THE CORRECT.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE REPAIRING ALL THOSE POLES, UH, REPAIRING ANY PAVEMENT DAMAGE AND THEN OVERLAYING.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A SMOOTH SURFACE, SO YOU'RE GONNA ASPHALT OVERLAY.
I WAS WONDERING WHY WE HAVEN'T DONE ASPHALT OVERLAY IN THIS AREA OF 2002 88 BECAUSE GOING HOUSTON WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN OVERLAID.
SO ALL THE WAY TO HOUSTON, WE HAVE PORTIONS THAT ARE CONCRETE PORTION THAT ARE CONCRETE OVERLAID WITH ASPHALT RIGHT.
AND PORTIONS THAT ARE ONLY ASPHALT.
UM, CONCRETE, UH, LAST LONGER.
UH, BUT WHEN YOU PUT ASPHALT, YOU HAVE A SMOOTHER RYE.
SO IT'S A WAY OF EXTENDING THE LIFE OF THE PAVEMENT AS MUCH AS WE CAN UNTIL IT'S TIME TO RECONSTRUCT.
UH, ANOTHER FUTURE PROJECT COMING IS THE WIDENING OF STATE HIGHWAY 3 32 FROM STATE HIGHWAY 2 88 TO EASE OF FM 5 21 IN BRAZORIA.
UH, WE'RE GONNA BE WIDENING FROM 2 2 4 LANE FROM FM 5 21 TO FM 2004 AND FROM 4 2 6 LANE FROM FM 2004 TO STATE HIGHWAY 2 88.
THIS IS APPROXIMATELY SIX MILES OF, UH, RECONSTRUCTION AND WIDENING.
UH, THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED TO COST $62 MILLION AND WE EXPECT THIS PROJECT TO LEAD IN SEPTEMBER OF 2027.
THE PROJECT IS JUST IN VERY EARLY STAGES OF DESIGN AT THIS TIME.
SO I SPENT, SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE HAD A PUBLIC MEETING AND STUFF TALKING ABOUT THIS AND, AND AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, Y'ALL WEREN'T ANYWHERE CLOSE TO EVEN DOING THE ENGINEERING ON IT AND STUFF.
SO IF, IF Y'ALL TRIED TO ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE CONCERNS OR ARE Y'ALL GONNA HAVE MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THOSE ON THE WORK OR I, IF I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE SOME ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE ARE CHANGING ANYTHING ON THE SCHEMATIC, WE NEED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE PUBLIC.
BUT YES, THE PROJECT WE INITIATED DESIGN IS IN VERY EARLY STAGES.
THEY ARE DOING THE VARIOUS PRELIMINARY STUDIES FOR THIS PROJECT, BUT I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL MEETINGS FOR, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE MAJOR CONCERN WAS IS THAT, UH, WITH THE WORK ON 3 32 GOING TO BRAZORIA IS THAT BASICALLY 3 32 WAS GONNA BECOME A LEVEE.
AND SO THE CONCERN IS FOR ALL THE PROPERTIES I GUESS NORTH OF THAT, THAT THOSE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP BY, UH, RESIDENTS OF THE AREA BY THE, UH, COUNTY ENGINEER,
[00:30:01]
BY THE, UH, COUNTY JUDGE.AND THAT'S WHY, UH, OUR TEAM WHO IS DOING THE DESIGN IS DOING A VERY THOROUGH HYDROLOGY STUDY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING, UH, HAS THE MINIMUM IMPACT OR NO IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND ONE OF THE THING WAS, WAS NOT ENOUGH, UH, GONNA BE A DIVIDED PERMANENT DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND THERE WERE NO TURNAROUNDS, UH, BUT CERTAIN MAYBE TWO OR THREE OF THEM, THEY WERE NOT PROPERLY PLACED.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE CONCERNS DURING THOSE PUBLIC MEETINGS.
I'M HOPING THAT WAS ADDRESSED AS WELL.
SO COMMENTS DURING THE PUBLIC MEETING GET ADDRESSED AND, UH, THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TURNAROUND OR FOR FOR CROSSING.
I JUST HOPE THAT Y'ALL DO, UH, SOME PUBLIC HEARINGS TO BRING PEOPLE UP TO DATE ON WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY GONNA PUT IN THERE.
THESE ARE THE, THE THREE MAIN PROJECTS COME INTO THIS AREA.
HOWEVER, UH, WE HAVE OUR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CONTRACT THAT WE USE IT TO MAINTAIN OUR ROADWAYS.
YOU'RE GONNA SEE A LOT OF, UH, BRIDGE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE HAPPENING IN ALL THE BRIDGE AROUND THIS AREA BECAUSE WE WANNA KEEP OUR GOOD BRIDGES GOOD.
AND ALSO, UH, WE HAVE, UH, WORKING COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY TO SEE WHAT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT WE HAVE HAD, UH, MR. MIA HAVE BROUGHT UP TO OUR ATTENTION SOME AREAS ON 3 32 WHERE WE COULD IMPROVE ILLUMINATION OR WE COULD IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS.
SO WE HAVE SUBMITTED THOSE PROJECTS ON OUR SAFETY PROGRAM CALLS.
SOME OF THEM, UM, HAVE BEEN ALREADY APPROVED AND SELECTED FOR FUNDING FOR 20 26, 20 27.
AND SOME WE ARE STILL WAITING TO HEAR IF THE PROJECT HAVE BEEN SELECTED, IF THEY ARE WITHIN THE PROJECT, LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, ILLUMINATION ON STATE HIGHWAY 3 32, UH, FROM 2 88 TO 2004, WHICH ILLUMINATION, WE'RE TRYING TO INCORPORATE IT INTO THE BIGGER PROJECT THAT WAY, UM, WILL INCLUDE WHEN WE DO THE WIDE IN THAT ILLUMINATION AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT THAT WE CAN DO USING THAT FUNDING.
THAT IS ALSO FOR THE SAME YEAR.
UH, WE'RE LOOKING TO IMPROVE SOME, UH, PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS ON FM 2004.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER AREAS WHERE YOU SEE THAT SAFETY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, PLEASE UH, SEND THEM TO OUR WAY SO WE CAN LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHAT PROGRAMS WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
WHEN YOU DO THE RESURFACING AND STUFF ON 2004 AND STUFF, THE, WE HAVE THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT, UH, LAKE ROAD.
THAT, UH, IF WE'RE LUCKY, IT LASTS A YEAR BEFORE IT'S WIPED OUT.
SO I KNOW WHEN WE TALKED IN THE PAST, Y'ALL, YOU, YOU'VE SAID THAT Y'ALL ARE ARE LOOKING AT A BETTER SOLUTION.
AND SO, UH, ARE Y'ALL PLANNING ON IMPLEMENTING SOMETHING BETTER THERE OR WITH THE, WHEN Y'ALL DO THAT WORK OR WHAT'S THE PLAN? SO WE CONTINUE WORKING WITH OUR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING TO SEE IF WE CAN MOVE THE, THE PEDESTRIAN, UM, POLES OR LOCATION, UH, OR, OR HOW IS REFUGE, UH, AWAY WHEN WE INSTALLED THE SIGN THAT HAD THE TWO ARROWS, RIGHT? ACTUALLY IT LASTED.
IT IS BEEN THE LONGEST THAT IT LASTED.
SO, BUT WE PUT THE, THE DEAL IS IS THAT WE WERE HOPEFUL ABOUT THAT, BUT THE DEAL IS THEY PUT THE, THE, THE, THE SIGNAL LIGHTS BACK UP, BUT THEY DIDN'T PUT THE, THE SIGN THAT WORKS SO WELL THAT HAS NOT BEEN PUT BACK UP.
SO THAT HAS NOT BEEN PUT BACK UP.
WE'LL, WE'LL MAKE NOTE TO THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT WON'T GET INSTALLED AGAIN.
BUT, UH, MR. MAYOR, SO YEAH, YOU HAVE TO STEP UP.
SO I LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
DO YOU, DO I NEED YOU HAVE TO COME ALL THE WAY TO PODIUM.
SO AM I OUT? I'M, I'M OUT OF ORDER.
I DIDN'T KNOW T STOP WAS GONNA BE HERE.
SO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE HERE, SO I'M GONNA CONCUR WITH THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS VERY SPECIFICALLY THAT WHAT YOU'VE PUT UP IS FAILED TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
IT JUST KEEPS GETTING RUN OVER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A DWI CHIEF OR I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON, OR JUST PEOPLE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.
THOSE SIGNS THAT ARE NOT THERE.
IF YOU'LL JUST ADD YOUR ENGINEERS WILL ADD THE ALUMINUM, RIGHT, THE, UH, LIGHTING SYSTEMS ON THE BORDER OF SAID SIGNS.
SO AS TO WARNING COMING IN, I THINK THAT'LL HELP TREMENDOUSLY.
UM, RIGHT NOW WE'RE WAITING TO SEE HOW LONG THEY'RE GONNA LAST.
BECAUSE SINCE I'VE MOVED BACK TO LAKE JACKSON AFTER 40 YEARS, IT HASN'T WORKED
SO I'D ALSO ASK THAT YOU FOLLOW UP WITH CITY COUNCIL WITH A DEFINED TIMELINE AS TO WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THAT SO IT CAN BE ADDRESSED.
BUT YOU HAD SOMETHING, OR? YES, I HAVE A COUPLE ITEMS ACTUALLY.
UH, WHEN YOU ALL RESURFACE 2004, UH, I WISH YOU HAD PUT IN A DEACCELERATION AND ACCELERATION LANE FOR DAFFODIL.
WE GET A LOT OF, UH, COM YOU KNOW, REQUESTS FROM RESIDENTS OF DAFFODIL AREA THAT THEY CANNOT GET OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE PEOPLE BEHIND THEM ARE GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR AND THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO SLOW DOWN.
AND THEN PEOPLE RIDE UP ON THEIR TAILS TO GET OFF TO GO ON DAFFODIL.
SAME THING COMING OFF OF DAFFODIL, GOING WEST, GOING EAST, I'M SORRY.
[00:35:01]
UH, THEY JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO ACCELERATE TO GET INTO THE MERGE INTO THE TRAFFIC.SO PERHAPS YOU CAN, UH, ADDRESS THAT.
SO, UM, THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO OUR ATTENTION BY, UH, MR. MUNDO, UH, MAYBE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN WE WERE PLANNING, UH, THAT PROJECT AND WE WERE LOOKING INTO THE TURNING MOVEMENTS AND TO, TO ADD TURNING LANES, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MEET THE REQUIRE CRITERIA.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE LOOKING TO SEE HOW THE CRITERIA CHANGE AND WHEN WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO ATTORNEY NAMES.
SO WHAT'S THE CRITERIA SOMEBODY HAS RUN OVER IS THE CRITERIA OR SO? SO IT HAS, UH, THERE'S VARIOUS CRITERIA, A NUMBER OF TURNING MOVEMENT, NUMBER OF CRASHES THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE AREA.
UM, THE TYPE OF, UH, MAYBE, UH, EUGENE YOU CAN HELP ME ADD, WHAT WOULD BE ADDITIONAL CRITERIA FOR TURNING LANE AND HOW LONG DID THEY TYPICALLY LOOK AT THOSE BEFORE THEY MAKE A DECISION? THESE ARE STUDIES THAT ARE MADE, UH, WITH TRAFFIC ENGINEERING.
THEY COME, THEY DO THE TRAFFIC COUNT, THEY TAKE THE CONDITION.
WE MIGHT LOOK AT, UH, CRASHES WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND THAT ALL THAT INFORMATION TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION FOR TURNING LANES.
TO ME, THE TRASH DAY DATA IS NOT VERY GOOD TO RELY ON 'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE AVOIDING THE CRASHES, SO THAT THAT'S CORRECT.
IF THEY FEEL UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN HAVE A CRASH THERE EVERY FIVE HOURS.
IF THAT'S, IF THAT'S THE CRITERIA THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
I MEAN, THAT IS KIND OF, I'M SORRY TO SAY THAT RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE BECAUSE, UH, CRASH DATA IS NOT, I MEAN, IT'S THE BEST DATA TO USE, BUT THAT'S FINE.
I, I, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT POINT OF VIEW.
UM, I ALSO, AND IN A DIFFERENT VIEW, I CAN ALSO, UH, WE ALWAYS TRY TO DRIVE SAFELY.
MAYBE WHEN WE ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
WE CAN ALSO ENCOURAGE OTHER TO DRIVE SAFELY TO FOLLOW TRAFFIC, UH, LAWS BECAUSE IT TAKES ALL OF US TO HAVING IN THAT SAFETY MODE.
AND YES, WE, WE GONNA CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ON FM 2004 AND D UH, WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I THINK WE ALL CAN MAKE AN EFFORT ALSO AND SEE HOW WE CAN BECOME BETTER DRIVERS SO WE CAN GET TO THAT POINT WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ADDITIONAL CRASHES OR FATALITIES IN OUR ROADWAYS.
THERE'S ONE MORE ITEM THEN I'LL SHUT UP.
UH, THIS IS, UH, THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AT THE RESERVE OF LAKE JACKSON.
DRIVE TO THAT, UH, CROSSOVER, UH, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THAT, UH, STORAGE, UH, REGAL STORAGE TO GO GO EAST.
AND THIS BECOME A CONSTANT PROBLEM.
THERE IS NO SIGN, NO, UH, UH, SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, NO LEFT TURN OR, UH, OR, UH, PERHAPS THERE'S SOME TYPE OF, UH, FIXED DEVICE ON THE GROUND THAT FORCES THEM NOT TO ALLOW THEM TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THERE.
SOMEBODY'S GONNA GET HURT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMING THROUGH THE BRIDGE AT PRETTY GOOD SPEED.
YEAH, WE, WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT THEY'RE DRIVING AGAINST TRAFFIC AT THAT LOCATION.
I'M NOT TALKING THANK YOU FOR COMING AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I'M HAPPY TO COME BACK ANYTIME.
I CAN'T REMEMBER SOME OTHER MAJOR PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE BRAZORIA COUNTY, NOT NECESSARILY ON THIS AREA, BUT BECAUSE, UH, WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, WE ALL COORDINATE TOGETHER AND WE MIGHT BE DRIVING TO THESE AREAS AS WELL.
SO, JUST GONNA GO OVER BRIEFLY, BUT, UH, AS YOU KNOW, STATE HIGHWAY 36 CORRIDOR IS ALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION FROM FORT BEND ALL THE WAY TO FREEPORT.
UH, WE HAVE SIX SEGMENTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON, UH, BRAZORIA COUNTY.
UH, THIS, UH, STATE HIGHWAY 36 IS ONE OF THE EVACUATION ROUTES FOR THIS AREA.
WHEN WE COMPLETE THIS PROJECT, IT'S GONNA BE TWO LANES IN EACH DIRECTION, DIVIDED HIGHWAY IN SOME AREAS, OR WITH A TURNING LANE, UH, ON THE URBAN AREAS.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL CONTRACTORS WORKING ON THE AREA, AND IF YOU DRIVE, IT IS ALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
I BELIEVE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER TRANSITION TO A NEW PAVEMENT NEAR JONES CREEK VILLAGE.
AND SO AFTER THAT, ANYTHING ON SEGMENT 14 AND 15, YOU'LL BE DRIVING IN NEW PAVEMENT ALL THE WAY FROM, UH, JONES CREEK TO BRAZORIA.
WELL, WE CONTINUE WITH THE WIDENING OF THE OTHER AREAS.
WE ALSO HAVE UNDER CONSTRUCTION, UH, SEVEN OVERPASSES ON 2 88 BETWEEN THE CITY OF IOWA COLONY AND MANVILLE.
WE HAVE ONE, UH, NEW OVERPASS ON STATE HIGHWAY 2 88 AT RODEO PALM WHERE, UH, 2 88 IS GONNA GO OVER A NEW INTERSECTION.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE A FRONTAGE ROAD, UH, SOUTHBOUND FRONTAGE ROAD FROM RODEO PALMS TO STATE HIGHWAY SIX.
WE ALSO GONNA HAVE A NEW OVERPASS ON STATE HIGHWAY 2 88
[00:40:01]
AT IA COLONY BOULEVARD OR COUNTY ROAD 48 NORTH.UH, THEN WE HAVE THREE OVERPASSES WHERE THE, UH, LOCAL ROAD IS GONNA GO OVER STATE HIGHWAY 2 88.
THIS IS AT, UH, CEDAR RAPID, MARY, DEANNA AND DAVENPORT.
THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER OVERPASS OF THE LOCAL ROAD OVER STATE HIGHWAY 2 88 AT DUB DUBUQUE.
AND FINALLY, UM, 2 88 IS GONNA GO OVER A NEW INTERSECTION AT COUNTY ROAD 60, WHICH IS POTENTIALLY, UM, FINAL CONFIGURATION FOR GRAND PARKWAY IN THE FUTURE.
MARIA, THE OVERPASSES ARE, THEY ARE, IS THAT A COST SHARING WITH TXDOT AND THE DEVELOPER OR IS IT A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDED BY THE DEVELOPER? THIS IS ALL TEXT, UH, WITH STATE FUNDINGS AND FEDERAL FUNDINGS.
SO THERE'S NO DEVELOPER NOT FOR THE OVER, LIKE, LIKE IN MERIDA, I BELIEVE? NO, THESE ARE ALL TEXT PROJECT BECAUSE OF THE GROWTH OF THE AREA TO ALLOW TRAFFIC FLOW.
UM, THERE ARE SOME DEVELOPERS, UH, TALKING ABOUT BUILDING SOME FRONTAGE ROUTES AND THAT WILL BE FUNDED BY DEVELOPERS FRONTAGE ROUTES, BUT THE ACCESS ARE A COMBINATION OF STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE, UH, SEVERAL CONTRACTORS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT.
WE EXPECT THEM TO BE ALL COMPLETED, UH, NEXT YEAR OR EARLY 2026.
UM, WE HAVE SOME OTHER PROJECTS COMING IN THE FUTURE, LIKE GRAND PARKWAY.
UH, WE ARE OPENING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS VERY SOON FOR SEGMENT B ONE THAT GOES FROM, UH, I 45 IN LAKE CITY TO STAY HIGHWAY 35 IN ALVIN.
UH, PROCUREMENT SHOULD LAST ABOUT A YEAR, THEN THEY HAVE SOME TIME TO PLAN THEIR PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S A DESIGN BUILD PROJECT AND WE EXPECT CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN IN THE YEAR 2027.
UH, WE ALSO GONNA HAVE AT THE SAME TIME, FM 5 8 17 OVER THERE FROM BETWEEN ALVIN AND LAKE CITY IS ALSO GONNA BE WIDENING AND RECONSTRUCTING.
UH, WE HAVE, WE HAVE LIKE SIX PROJECT COMING INTO FREEPORT TO RECONSTRUCT OR TO REHABILITATE SURFACE ON STATE HIGHWAY 2 88, RECONSTRUCT FM 5 23, RECONSTRUCT FM 1495, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PINE STREET BRIDGE.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF PROJECT COMING WITHIN THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS, UH, TO THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY, CLOSE TO LAKE JACKSON.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, PLEASE REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE.
I PUT THREE EMAILS HERE,
BUT IF YOU INCLUDE THE THREE OF US, WE HELP EACH OTHER TRYING TO CATCH UP WITH EMAILS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE RESPONDING PROMPTLY.
UM, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTION, PLEASE, UH, LET KNOW, WE'RE HERE.
IS THERE, IS THERE A PARTICULAR TIME OF THE YEAR WHENEVER WE SHOULD, IF WE HAVE THAT, WE SHOULD MAKE A LIST OF THINGS AND PASS IT ON TO YOUR OFFICE TO GET INTO YOUR PLANNING PROCESS? UM, ANYTIME IS GOOD.
BUT, UH, PROGRAM CALLS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM CALL OR CATEGORY ONE PROGRAM CALL, WHICH ARE ROADWAY REHABILITATION OR SAFETY PROGRAM CALLS.
ARE TYPICALLY DO, UH, IN THE FALL.
SO IF YOU SUBMIT THEM TO US PRIOR TO THE FALL, WE TRY TO LOG THEM AND CATALOG THEM AND SEE WHAT ARE GONNA BE SUBMITTING FOR, FOR FUNDINGS.
THESE PROGRAM CALLS ARE FOR FUNDINGS 4, 5, 6 YEARS RIGHT AFTER NOW.
BUT, UH, WE WANNA HAVE THEM IN, IN THE SYSTEM.
WHAT WE DO SOMETIMES IS, UH, IF WE HAVE, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, A REHABILITATION THAT WE WERE PLANNING BECAUSE IT, THE PAVEMENT HAS CERTAIN AMOUNT OF YEARS AND WE SEE MAYBE IT'S NOT THAT BAD, WE CAN PUSH THAT PROJECT ONE YEAR AND MOVE ANOTHER ONE FORWARD.
WE SOMETIMES HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL.
UH, SO LET ME JUST ASK A QUESTION.
SO, UH, SAY IF WE, LET'S JUST TAKE THE, THE LAKE ROAD AND 2004 INTERSECTION.
IF WE, IF WE, IF WEALTH, IF WE TALK AND WE AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS, AND WE'LL JUST USE AS AN EXAMPLE, WE AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ENGINEERING CHANGE TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF THAT CROSSWALK, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO IT DEPEND ON THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT AND AS AN INTERSECTION DEPENDING OF, UH, WHAT IS THE SCOPE.
IF WE ARE COMPLETELY RECONSTRUCTING THE INTERSECTION, UH, IT MIGHT TAKE, UH, MAYBE BETWEEN
[00:45:01]
THE PLANNING AND DESIGN AND THE FUNDINGS, UH, TWO YEARS.IF, IF IT IS, IF IT IS JUST ADJUSTING A SMALL PORTION IN THE INTERSECTION, THAT CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY SHORTER BECAUSE WE MIGHT EVEN USE OUR MAINTENANCE RESOURCES OR A COMBINATION OF OTHER PHONES.
OH, AND UH, AGAIN, ON THAT SAME, THAT INTERSECTION, THE, THAT I KNOW IT'S BEEN TURNED IN IS THE TIMING OF THE LIGHT HEADING ON LAKE ROAD ACROSS 2004.
IT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT NOW IT THREE CARS CAN GET THROUGH AND IT CHANGES.
AND SO IT'S CAUSES THAT TO STACK UP, UH, AT PREMIUM TIMES, UM, OF THE DAY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT, UH, BUT I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE CALLED THE, THE ONE 800 NUMBER THAT'S ON THE SIDE OF THE CONTROL BOX AND STUFF.
IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S BEEN ADJUSTED.
AND, AND IF PEOP THEY, THEY CAN CALL MY OFFICE AND VERIFY BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INTERSECTIONS WITHIN THE LAKE JACKSON, UM, AND INCLUDE AREA.
AND AS SOON AS I SEND THEM, UH, WE CONTACT WITH OUR TRAFFIC SIGNAL SECTION.
THEY ADJUST THEM OR THEY, UH, CHANGE FIX IT IF IT NEEDS SOME REPAIR.
UM, SO YOU CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO OUR OFFICE.
OUR PHONE NUMBER IS SEVEN NINE SEVEN NINE SIX EIGHT, UM, 8 6 4 8500.
AND UH, YOU CAN CALL TRANS STAR AS WELL.
THEY HAVE SOMEONE FROM TRAFFIC SIGNALS 24 7 TO GO AND ADDRESS ANY ISSUES.
AND I, AND THE OTHER INTERSECTION THAT'S BEEN A, A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM IS, IS THE ONE BY BEST BRANDON.
AND IT'S THE WAY THE, BECAUSE I I, I DON'T GO THROUGH THAT INTERSECTION A LOT, BUT ACTUALLY I WENT THROUGH IT JUST THE OTHER DAY.
AND GOING AGAIN, NORTH'S ACROSS 2004, YOU'VE GOT, IT'S A DIVIDED ROAD AND YOU'VE GOT THE TWO SIGNAL LIGHTS.
WHAT IS THAT INTERSECTION? THAT'S WHY IT'S THAT WAY IN, UH, 2004 FOR BEST BY BEST, BRANDON.
AND THE PROBLEM IS, IS IT'S ELEVATED.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ON YOUR BEST, BRANDON, YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT LOWER, UH, THAN THE ROAD IS, BUT I KNOW Y'ALL TRIED TO ADJUST THOSE LIGHTS, UH, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY, WHERE THEY, WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THE AIR AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT WHAT HAPPENED IS THE OTHER DAY WAS, IS THAT, UM, I WAS SITTING THERE AT A, AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE, THE CORRECT STOP STOPLIGHT FOR ME.
UH, AND UH, I WAS GOING TO GO ACROSS AND HEAD, UM, TO 2, 2 88.
AND, UM, THE LIGHT HEADING, THE LIGHT CHANGED FOR TRAFFIC ON 2004 TO GO, UH, TOWARD RICHWOOD AND, AND STUFF WHEN IT CHANGED TO GO GREEN, THE LIGHT ACROSS 2004 ON 2004 TURNS GREEN, TURNS GREEN.
AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN REAL EASY FOR ME NOT TO BE PAYING ATTENTION BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE SIGNAL LIGHTS HERE FOR WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT AND THE OTHER ONES ARE ARE HERE IN THE SKY.
AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN VERY EASY FOR ME TO FOCUS ON THAT ONE ACROSS THE STREET AND PUNCH IT.
AND NEXT THING I KNOW I WOULD'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
AND THAT POLE DOESN'T STICK OUT OVER THE ROAD 'CAUSE IT MAKES A LITTLE, LIKE, THAT WAY GOES AND THEN IT MAKES A LITTLE JOG TO THE MM-HMM.
AND THE POLE DOESN'T REALLY GET OUT IN FRONT 'CAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING, EVERYBODY'S LOOKING LEFT.
IT'S, UH, IT'S A WEIRD, IT'S AN INTERESTING ONE.
WE JUST HAD AN ACCIDENT NOT TOO LONG AGO, AN ELDERLY COUPLE.
UH, THEY GOT CAUGHT UP IN THAT, UH, DEAL.
AND IT'S JUST, IT'S, IT'S IT, AND I KNOW Y'ALL TRIED TO USE THE, THE BLINDERS AND STUFF TO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM SEEING THOSE LIGHTS, BUT THOSE DON'T WORK WELL EITHER.
SO IT JUST, IT'S REALLY A, IF YOU DON'T PAY ATTENTION, YOU CAN GET YOURSELF IN TROUBLE IN THAT AGAIN, ON THAT WAY HEADED NORTH ACROSS 2004.
THAT, THAT, THAT'S JUST A, A REALLY, THE WAY THE LIGHTS ARE SET UP ARE REALLY STRANGE.
AND I KNOW THAT ON, ON, UH, 2004 AND THAT WAY WE HAD A DETECTION SYSTEM THAT GOT A FIX ON MARCH 19TH, BUT IF YOU HAVE THE NEXT INTERSECTION THAT IS SO CLOSE, UH, WE NEED TO SEE HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THAT TO AVOID, MINIMIZE CONFUSION.
SO ON, ON INTERSECTION OF 2004 AND YON YES.
WHEN YOU'RE COMING EAST ON 2004 GOING TOWARDS BRAZORIA, UH, THE LIGHT SEQUENCES, A LOT OF TRAFFIC COMING FROM, UH, WEST TURNING ON YON.
AND THE WAY THE LIGHT SEQUENCING IS THAT WHENEVER THE LEFT TURN LIGHT COMES ON, IT'S THE SAME TIME.
IT'S INDEPENDENT OF BOTH LIGHTS AND, UH, SO PEOPLE STACK UP AND THE LIGHT TURNS RED AND YOU CANNOT TAKE A LEFT TURN.
AND, UH, THE LIGHT GOING TOWARDS YON IS GREEN, BUT PEOPLE ARE
[00:50:01]
STACKED UP BEHIND ON 2004, CAN'T MAKE THE LEFT TURN.AND THEN BY THE TIME THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN, NOW THE SHORT PIECE OF THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN EAST EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND, 2004 STACKS UP AND THEY STICK OUT ALL THE WAY.
SO THERE'S A BIG ISSUE THERE THAT PERHAPS, UH, THE LEFT TURN CAN CONTINUE ON.
I KNOW YOU HAVE LOOKED AT THAT PROBABLY FOR SOME REASON.
SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT THAT LOCATION AND WE CAN SEE WE, WE STILL LOOKING TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE, OR WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF THE FUTURE PROJECTS WILL ADDRESS THE WHOLE INTERSECTION.
SO WE CAN BE LIKE, UH, CONSIDERING THE WHOLE INTERSECTION AS ONE.
BUT YES, WE ARE LOOKING INTO WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THAT ONE SLOWS TRAFFIC BACKS UP, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE TURNING LEFT.
THEY ARE STACKED UP AND THEN YOU CAN'T, YOU KNOW, BLOCK THE ROAD.
SO MODESTO RHE DO WE FEEL LIKE IN GENERAL WE'VE GOT OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH TDOT THAT WE FAMILY RESPONSES IN GENERAL? WE DO.
IT IS, UM, I, I TEXT OUR ALL THAT ANYTIME I'VE GOT
I BROUGHT THAT ONE ISSUE TO YOU AND YOU CALLED HER AND SHE FIXED IT IN LIKE A WEEK.
BUT, BUT I NEED TO SAY I, I WAS NOT DOING THE BEST ANSWERING MY EMAILS.
UM, BUT I AM IMPROVING ON THAT AND I'M COUNTING ON MY TEAM AND I REALLY APPRECIATE WHEN THEY TEXT ME
AND, UH, ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO IS, 'CAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS IS WE CAN WORK WITH, I THINK WE CAN WORK WITH, UH, UH, MAYBE IF, UH, UH, R CAN BE A, A CONTACT FOR COUNSEL TO, TO, TO CREATE A LIST OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT AND HE CAN GET IT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT.
Y'ALL CAN, THAT'LL HELP, UH, YOU KNOW, GET SOME THINGS.
AND, AND I THINK IT HELPS US A LOT THOUGH, IS JUST LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN HANYA WAS TALKING ABOUT, AND YOU SAID THAT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT Y'ALL ARE, ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND THERE'S SOME PLANNING OF IT IS IF YOU CAN SOMEHOW GIVE US SOME UPDATE ON WHERE YOU'RE AT ON IT.
SO THAT, UH, WE CAN, WHEN WE GET A CALL, WE CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED TO TEX DO, IT'S THE LATEST THING WE GOT FROM TEXDOT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S ON THE, IT'S ON THE PROJECT LIST AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO IT HELPS US BE ABLE TO, TO ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS TO THE CITIZENS WHEN WE GET A PHONE CALL.
SO YEAH, I THINK, UH, LET, LET'S, LET'S MARK THIS AS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW COMM, BETTER COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US, UH, SO WE CAN HAVE BETTER COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS.
YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE OUR PROCESSES, RIGHT? SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
THE EASIEST THING FOR US TO SAY, WELL, THAT'S TECH START LIGHT, BUT WE DON'T WANNA DO THAT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANNA PASS THE BUCK TO YOU.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THEM A SOLUTION OR AT LEAST LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S BEING WORKED ON, WHICH SATISFIES THEM THAT, YOU KNOW.
OH NO, I PASS IT ON TO TEXDOT.
IF
YEAH, GO AHEAD AND SEND THEM OUR WAY.
ANYTHING ELSE? THANK ANYTHING ELSE? NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[3. Approve a second contract extension for one year with Crowder Gulf for disaster debris removal services under the same terms and conditions, not to exceed $1,000,000.]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, ITEM THREE IS, UH, PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL, UH, COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, UH, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING, UH, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2023.JAMES, YOU WANNA START US OUT? GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL WEEK.
SINCE WE HAD A CLEAN AUDIT TO INTRODUCE STEPHANIE HARRIS.
SHE'S THE PARTNER WITH BELT HARRIS AND PAHA CHECK.
AND, UH, SHE'S GONNA GO OVER THE AUDIT WITH YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THAT LOVELY INTRODUCTION.
UH, STEPHANIE HARRIS, ONE OF THE PARTNERS WITH BELT HARRIS BAEK, UH, WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND SERVE AS THE NEW AUDITOR THIS YEAR, UM, BEHIND AND BEFORE YOU WERE TWO BOUND REPORTS.
I'M GONNA PRESENT THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE, THE LARGEST ONE, AND I WILL KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF UNLESS YOU GUYS WANT ME TO ELABORATE ON ANYTHING IN HERE.
BUT OUR OFFICIAL REPORT TO COUNSEL, YOU CAN FIND BEHIND THE FINANCIAL SECTION TAB THAT IS PAGE 15.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE ARE ISSUING A CLEAN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE CITY'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AGAIN, UNMODIFIED BEING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AS THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR, THAT THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MATERIALLY CORRECT AND THAT ALL DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES WERE INCLUDED WITH THAT.
THE CITY SAW AN OVERALL POSITIVE INCREASE IN NET POSITION.
AND I KNOW YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT FUND BALANCE A LOT, AND WE'LL
[00:55:01]
GET TO THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.BUT AGAIN, THE ENDING NET POSITION, UM, REFLECTS THE ACTIVITY ON THE FIRST TWO STATEMENTS WITHIN THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
THOSE PARTICULAR STATEMENTS ARE PRESENTED FULL ACCRUAL.
UH, THEY'RE DESIGNED TO MAKE THE CITY MORE COMPARABLE TO A FOR-PROFIT TYPE ENTITY.
SO AGAIN, YOU WOULD WANT TO SEE AN OVERALL INCREASE IN YOUR ENDING NET POSITION.
UH, THE CITY SAW 10.3 MILLION ADDED TO YOUR BOTTOM LINE, ESSENTIALLY AT THE END OF 2023, WHICH REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 9% YOUR GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES ACCOUNTED FOR, UH, JUST OVER 8.2 MILLION OF THAT INCREASE IN BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES.
ACCOUNTED FOR 2.1, AND AGAIN, BUSINESS TYPE BEING THE UTILITY FUND OPERATIONS AS WELL AS THE GOLF COURSE ENDING FUND BALANCE.
AND I'M GONNA FOCUS AGAIN ON THE GENERAL FUND HERE.
UH, AGAIN, THE GENERAL FUND REPRESENTS, UH, THE FUND WITH THE MOST LEAST RESTRICTIONS IN TERMS OF OVERALL ENDING FUND BALANCE.
THE CITY ENDED THE YEAR AGAIN WITH A POSITIVE INCREASE OF JUST OVER 3.2 MILLION TO THE ENDING FUND BALANCE, UH, WHICH REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 22.1 MILLION AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND IN THAT PIE CHART, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE HOW ALL OF THAT IS DIVIDED UP, UM, WITH THE LARGEST CATEGORY REPRESENTING ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
AND YOUR UNASSIGNED COMES IN SECOND AT JUST OVER 8.4 MILLION.
AND AGAIN, ONE OF THE GENERAL BENCHMARKS THAT'S OFTEN LOOKED AT WHEN EVALUATING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IS THE ENDING UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE WITHIN YOUR GENERAL FUND COMPARED TO YOUR OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR.
SO YOU GENERALLY WANT TO SEE AT LEAST 25% IN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
THE CITY'S UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE REPRESENTED APPROXIMATELY 35%.
AGAIN, SOME OF THE DRIVERS FOR THE INCREASE, BOTH AT FULL ACCRUAL AND MODIFIED ACCRUAL.
THE CITY SAW, UH, ADDITIONAL REVENUE FUNDING THROUGH THE CORONAVIRUS LOCAL FISCAL RECOVERY FUNDS.
UH, ADDITIONALLY, AS YOU SAW THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE INCREASE IN IN INTEREST RATES FOR 2023, AND YOU SAW SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN INVESTMENT INCOME FOR THE YEAR.
UH, WE ALSO ISSUED A SINGLE AUDIT REPORT THAT IS THE SECOND SMALLER REPORT, UH, UNDERNEATH THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
AGAIN, THE SINGLE AUDIT REPORT IS NOT REQUIRED EACH YEAR.
IT'S ONLY REQUIRED WHEN THE CITY EXPENDS MORE THAN 750,000 IN YOUR FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS. WE DID TEST THE CORONAVIRUS PROGRAM AND AS A RESULT OF THAT TESTING, VERY PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE ALSO ISSUED AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE CITY'S COMPLIANCE WITH ITS FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS. OOPS.
UH, THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS.
IN THE BACK OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, REFERRED TO AS REQUIRED AUDITOR DISCLOSURE LETTER.
UH, THIS PARTICULAR LETTER, THE CONCLUSION OF THE AUDIT, AGAIN, IS MORE OF A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM, DEFINES WHAT, UH, EVERYONE'S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ARE IN THE AUDIT PROCESS AS WELL AS YOU'LL SEE ALL OF THE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE MADE DURING THE AUDIT PROCESS.
I'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE YOUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
UH, THE FIRST YEAR OF AN AUDIT IS NEVER EASY, ESPECIALLY WITH A NEW AUDITOR.
THERE'S LOTS OF INFORMATION THAT YOU DON'T TYPICALLY PROVIDE IN EVERY OTHER YEAR, UH, SO THAT WE CAN BUILD A PERMANENT FILE.
WE WENT AROUND, I THINK IN SEPTEMBER, TALKED TO VARIOUS DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT HEADS, ASKED THEM LOT, LOTS OF QUESTIONS IN TERMS OF PROCESSES, PROCEDURES.
WE THEN DREW SAMPLES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE THINGS AS WE SAW THEM THROUGH THE SYSTEM, UH, CORROBORATED WHAT THEY SAID IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, EVERYBODY DID A GREAT JOB.
I UNDERSTAND, UH, JAMES IS IMPRESSED WITH ALL Y'ALL SPREADSHEETS.
SO
WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE AGAIN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT WAS BRINGING IN ANOTHER AUDITING FIRM.
YOU KNOW, I, WE DID IT AND I THINK IT'S BEEN A GREAT THING.
I, IT'S ANOTHER SET OF EYES LOOKING AT, UH, OUR FINANCIAL.
AND IT'S, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT, UH, WE CAME BACK AS STRONG AS WE ALWAYS HAVE.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A POSITIVE THING.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE A QUESTION? ALRIGHT.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE CITY.
UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR
[4. Discuss and consider approving Ordinance No. 2284 to prohibit parking and loading/unloading on streets close to Bess Brannen Elementary – first reading – Sherri Russell]
TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPROVING.UH, OH, WE NEED TO, LET'S SEE.
DO WE NEED TO, UH, ACCEPT THE FINANCIALS OR NOT? IT SAYS APPROVAL.
DO WE NEED TO APPROVE THE FINANCIAL REPORT OR JUST THE, UM,
[01:00:01]
THE AUDIT? YEAH, THE AUDIT.OR IS IT JUST 'CAUSE IT SAYS A JAMES, DOES IT NEED FORMAL APPROVAL OR ACCEPTANCE? NO.
SOME CITIES REQUIRE, OH, IT'S, NO, THAT'S NOT IN THE CHARTER.
I MEAN, IF WE DIDN'T APPROVE IT, WOULD IT NOT STAND? NO, I KNOW.
IT'S NOT LIKE WE HAVE A CHOICE.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, ITEM FOUR.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER, UH, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2, 2 8 4 TO PROHIBIT PARKING AND LOADING, UNLOADING ON STRAIGHT STREETS, CLOSE TO BEST.
BRANDON ELEMENTARY, FIRST READING, GO AHEAD AND GO THROUGH THE READING.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, DESIGNATING CERTAIN STREETS NEAR BRANDON ELEMENTARY AS NO PARKING OR NO LOADING, UNLOADING ZONES, PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY, PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE, PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL TAKE EFFECT AND BE ENFORCED FIVE DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION.
YOU WANNA TELL US WHAT YOU DID ON THE FINAL ORDINANCE? MM-HMM.
SO, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE RED LINES ON THE ORDINANCE, UCN, CHOOSE IT STRICKEN.
WHAT I DID WAS I TOOK THE SIDE STREETS AND CHA CHANGED IT FROM SPLIT DAY SCHOOL ZONES TO THE HOURS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ASKED FOR.
AND, UM, THEN DAHLIA STREET STAYS THE SAME.
'CAUSE I DUNNO IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, THERE'S SOMEONE WHO PARKS THERE IN THE MORNING AND, BUT HE GOES TO WORK.
AND I REMEMBER THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING TICKETS.
SO I'VE, I'VE LEFT THAT IN THE AFTERNOON ONLY.
UM, AND THEN DOWN LOWER IS THE ADDITION OF, UM, THE STUDENT.
WE ALREADY HAVE A SIGN UP ON THAT WAY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A BUS ENTRANCE ANYMORE.
SO I CHANGED IT TO THE STUDENT DROP OFF PICKUP DRIVEWAY.
'CAUSE IT REALLY LINES UP NICELY.
AND THERE'S AN SHE AND TANGER.
THERE'S NOW GONNA BE NO PARKING AND NO LOADING, UNLOADING, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE JUST STOPPING AND BOOTING OUT THE KIDS.
UM, SO THAT'S, THAT'S, AND THEN THERE'S, UH, MY ILLUSTRATED MAP THAT SHOWS THE REDS OR NO PARKING, LOADING, UNLOADING THE, YOU'RE GETTING SO GOOD WITH YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS.
I'M LEARNING HOW TO DRAW THOSE PICTURES.
THE PURPLES ARE THE STRICTEST.
DON'T STOP, DON'T KICK YOUR KIDS OUT.
THE REDS ARE, DON'T PARK SPLIT DAY.
AND THE BLUE IS JUST DON'T PARK IN THE AFTERNOON.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON, UH, THIS FIRST READING? NOW I'LL TAKE A MOTION.
UH, MR. MAYOR, I'LL MOVE, UM, TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2, 2, 8, 4, UH, AS PRESENTED.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN UH, BROADUS, AND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BAKER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
[5. Discuss and consider approving Ordinance No. 2286 to establish school zones for only the streets directly adjacent to Elizabeth Ney Elementary – first reading – Sherri Russell]
FIVE IS DISCUSSED AND CONSIDER APPROVING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2, 2 8 6.UH, TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL ZONE FOR, UH, ONLY THE STREETS DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO ELIZABETH NAY ELEMENTARY.
FIRST READING, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS.
DESIGNATING THE STREETS ADJACENT TO NAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS SCHOOL ZONE, REMOVING SCHOOL ZONES FROM NA'S PERIPHERAL STREETS AND UPDATING HOURLY DESIGNATIONS FOR OTHER SCHOOL ZONES.
PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY, PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL TAKE EFFECT AND BE ENFORCED FIVE DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP, YOU CAN SEE THAT WHAT I'VE REVIEWED.
OH, KNOW THE ILLUSTRATION, WHAT STAIN? YEAH.
RATHER THAN GOING THROUGH THE ORDINANCE, UM, THE RED IS GETTING REMOVED.
THAT'S A BIG SCHOOL ZONE THAT GOES ALL THE WAY TO HEB AND THE YELLOW IS, IS WHAT'S STAYING.
SHERRY UH, COUNCILMAN SHANYA HAD A QUESTION, UH, TODAY, BUT I HAVEN'T FOLLOWED UP WITH ANYONE ON YON AT OYSTER CREEK DRIVE.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOL CROSSING, I MEAN THE SCHOOL ZONE.
UH, JUST RIGHT THERE AT THAT INTERSECTION.
SO SCHOOL ZONES ARE WHERE, UH, KIDS ARE MOST LIKELY TO CROSS THE STREET.
AND SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I, I ASSUME, I DON'T KNOW IT, IT'S
[01:05:01]
JUST ON YON AND NOT ON OYSTER CREEK, BUT DO CROSS YOU OYSTER CREEK DRIVE.THAT'S, THEY'RE ON Y POND CROSSING.
SO THEY, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT'S BEEN.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MAY NEED TO CHANGE.
THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE MAY HAVE TO, TO COME BACK AND LOOK AT.
I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU, BUT I WAS LIKE, I'VE NEVER SEEN, WE'VE NEVER HAD.
YEAH, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE THOUGH.
I AGREE ABOUT, UH, MAKING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE REMOVING SOME SIGNS FROM, UH, NA WE CAN PROBABLY JUST REMOVE THEM OVER THERE, SO, OKAY.
SO, SO WE'RE GONNA STOP THE SCHOOL ZONE RIGHT HERE AND THEN START IT BACK UP AGAIN.
RIGHT? I TOOK IT AWAY FROM THE CHURCH 'CAUSE THEY, THEY JUST WANT IT AROUND THE, THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
BUT I KEPT THE ONE ON YON 'CAUSE I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT AFFECTS KIDS.
I KEPT THAT ONE, BUT I, I TOOK OUT THE OTHER ONES THAT, THAT AREN'T ADJACENT TO THE SCHOOL.
SO WE COULD GO FORWARD WITH THIS ONE AND, UH, WE COULD LOOK AT THE WESTER CREEK DRIVE AS A SECONDARY, AS A DIFFERENT ISSUE LATER ON.
I GUESS WE COULD BRING IT UP BACK BEFORE THE SECOND READING.
WELL, UM, IF, IF YOU WANT TO, OR, UH, OR IF YOU WANNA LOOK AT THAT AND THE REALLY ODD LITTLE ONE, DO IT SEPARATE UP OYSTER, KEEP DRIVE AT THE SAME TIME.
I'LL, I MEAN, WE, WE CAN, WE CAN GET IT BACK BEFORE SHE I'LL TOLL I'LL TALK TO DEB.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S HOW FAST WE CAN EVEN MOVE THE SCHOOL ZONE, THE SCIENCE AND STUFF.
BUT I MEAN, WHATEVER Y'ALL WANT, I CAN DO IT.
IT BEEN WITHOUT ALL THIS TIME.
SO WHAT'S, ALRIGHT, SO WE, LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND GO WITH, WITH THIS READING AND, UH, IF YEAH.
LET'S JUST MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS ONE.
SO I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON, UH, THIS ITEM.
MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE, UH, APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2, 2 8 6 TO ESTABLISH SCHOOL ZONES FOR ONLY THE STREETS DIRECTLY SENT TO ELIZABETH MAY ELEMENTARY AS PRESENTED.
SECOND FROM, UH, CONSTABLE SETH.
[6. Approve Resolution No. 953 to amend the FY 23/24 budget to fund $17,000 to the Lake Jackson Volunteer Fire Department Pilot Duty Crew Program – James Bryson]
APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 5 3 TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2324 BUDGET TO FUND $17,000 TO LAKE JACKSON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT PILOT, UH, DUTY CREW PROGRAM.THIS IS THE, UH, PILOT PROGRAM THAT, UH, COUNCIL, UH, AGREED TO FUNDING FOR, UH, THIS FISCAL YEAR FOR A PORTION OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
IT'S REALLY FROM APRIL TO, UH, THE END OF, UH, UH, SEPTEMBER, UH, WITH THE STIPULATION THAT THE FIRE CHIEF WOULD REPORT BACK DURING THE, UM, UH, PROBABLY AROUND JULY.
FOUR MONTHS AND THEN SIX MONTHS, YEAH.
SO I'VE, I'VE, RIGHT NOW I'VE BUDGETED FOR, UM, SIX MONTHS.
THERE'S ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? YES.
I'VE GOT A JUST ONE COMMENT TO MAKE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS MONEY IN TERMS OF THE COUNCILS BEFORE US, OUR COUNCIL, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY, VERY GRATEFUL AND SUPPORTIVE TO OUR VOLUNTEERS.
UM, I THINK THAT'S WHY EVERYBODY, WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY PROACTIVE AND PROVIDING THE BEST EQUIPMENT, THE BEST GEAR, A NEW FIREHOUSE, AND ALL OF THOSE AMENITIES.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, WHICH I THINK IS AMAZING.
UM, JUST A LOT OF LONGEVITY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE LIKE IN LAKE JACKSON.
UM, WE ARE BEING ASKED TO AMEND OUR BUDGET TAXPAYER DOLLARS PLUS $17,000.
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO DEFER THIS UNTIL WE GET THE ACTUAL WRITTEN PLAN.
CHIEF HARVEY SAID THAT HE WAS GONNA BE, UH, DISCUSSING AND, UH, WITH HIS FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS ACTUALLY COMING UP WITH A WRITTEN PLAN ABOUT HOW THE $17,000 WOULD BE UTILIZED.
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BEFORE WE PROCEED FORWARD.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT? SO YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER IF YOU'D LIKE.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DEFER, UH, THE BUDGET TO AMEND THE BUDGET FUND, UH, $17,000 TO THE LAKE JACKSON FIRE DEPARTMENT PILOT DUTY CREW PROGRAM UNTIL WE HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK HOW IT WOULD BE UTILIZED.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IS THERE A SECOND ON THIS? SO I'M
[01:10:01]
GONNA SECOND THIS FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES, SO A SECOND DEADLINE.UH, RHONDA SAYS THERE'S YOUR MOTION.
I'LL LET YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO DISCUSS ON TO ADD TO YOUR COMMENTS? NO, I JUST WANNA BE, UM, I THINK IT'S A, I THINK IT'S A VERY UNIQUE, UM, THOUGHT PROCESS THAT THE CHIEF HAS BROUGHT TO US.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY GIVE OUR, UH, VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS A LITTLE BIT MORE INCENTIVE.
AND JUST AS HONEST A WAY THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, I DO WANNA BE VERY CAREFUL.
IT IS TAXPAYER MONEY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS EQUALLY APPLIED, UH, TO ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
SO MY, MY THINKING ON THIS IS, UH, THAT'S JUST ME.
THAT THESE VOLUNTEER FIREMEN, UH, HAVE REGULAR JOBS AND, UH, AND THEY DO RISK A LOT WHEN THEY RESPOND TO FIRES.
AND, UH, A SMALL STIPEND, UH, DOESN'T, UH, REALLY GO DO MUCH FOR THEM EXCEPT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A SMALL TOKEN OF THE GESTURE FROM THE CITY, UH, FOR THEM.
AND, UH, UH, I TRUST THAT OUR CHIEF WILL PRESENT, UH, HIS, UH, PROCESS AND HOW HE PLANS TO ADMINISTER THAT.
AND I TRUST HIM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, UH, CORRECTLY AND FAIRLY.
SO I DON'T HAVE A ISSUE WITH, UH, APPROVING THIS NOW AND GETTING IT GOING.
AND I, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO DEFER IT UNTIL NOT, NOT TO SAY NO TO IT, NOT SAYING THAT I'M VERY, I THINK IT'S A VERY UNIQUE IDEA.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND, UM, I JUST WANT TO SEE WHERE IT'LL BE SPENT.
THAT'S OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY AS COUNSEL.
I, I HEAR YOU AND I AGREE WITH WATCHING HOW OUR MONEY SPENT.
BUT WE BLEW WAY OVER $17,000 IN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS AND DIDN'T EVEN BAT AN EYE AT WHERE IT WENT.
SO, SO GIVEN TO OUR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, I DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH HEART ABOUT CHRIS.
MY 2 CENTS, LET ME BE MORE CLEAR ON THIS.
I DON'T THINK THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY TO GIVE TO OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I'D LOVE TO GIVE THIS AND FIVE TIMES THIS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS.
UM, I JUST WANT TO KNOW, BECAUSE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHIEF, I THINK THERE'S A BIG PUSH TO MAKE THIS A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THAT MAY BE WHERE WE END UP GOING IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WHAT I DON'T WANNA SEE IS I DON'T WANNA SEE, UH, FIREFIGHTERS WHO'VE BEEN WITH US FOR 50 YEARS, FOR 25 YEARS, UM, THROUGH TECHNICALITIES NOT BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY.
I WANT THIS MONEY TO GO TO ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS WHO RESPOND TO CALLS EQUALLY.
AND I DON'T WANT IT TO BE USED AS A TOOL FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THANK YOU.
AND, UM, AS THANK YOU, YOU KNOW, FOR COMING OUT TO THE CALL, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IN HOW THIS IS WRITTEN, THAT IT IS APPLIED EQUALLY TO ALL OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS WHO SHOW UP.
I THINK IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE EQUITABLE TO ALL FIREFIGHTERS.
IT'S NOT GOING TO, THAT'S, THAT'S OUR UNDERSTANDING.
'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT RULES ARE WRITTEN YET.
THAT'S THE, I JUST WANNA SEE WHAT RULES ARE WRITTEN.
WE WERE, WE WERE GIVEN A PROPOSAL.
WE WEREN'T GIVEN A, A TRUE DEFINITION, A TOTAL DEFINITION OF WHAT THE PROJECT, WHAT THE, WHAT THE PROGRAM WOULD BE LIKE.
SO THAT'S, I THINK THAT'S ALL SHE'S ASKING FOR IS, IS THAT, UH, JUST TO DEFER UNTIL WE HAVE THAT DOCUMENT IN FRONT OF US, UH, UH, AND THEN HIT THE GREEN STAMP.
I JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARIFICATION.
I KNOW IF I HAVE A FIRE AT MY HOUSE, I WANT TO FIRE WATER DRIFT FIRE BUREAU SHOW UP TO BRING THE FIRE OUT.
AND I WANT, AND I WANT ALL OF THEM.
I WANT THE ONES THAT HAVE 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
I WANT THE ONES THAT HAVE 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE TO ALSO SHOW UP.
I DON'T WANT THOSE PEOPLE PUSHED OUT THIS WELL, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE 50 YEARS AND 25 YEARS, OBVIOUSLY THEY'VE BEEN SHOWING UP ALL THIS TIME STILL.
AND I WANT, THEY WANT HAVE THE SERVICE AND I STILL WANT THEM TO BE, AND I STILL WANT THEM TO BE ELIGIBLE TO SHOW UP.
WOULD THE, LET ME ASK THIS QUESTION.
WOULD THE, UH, THE ACTION ON THIS ITEM, IF WE WERE TO ADOPT IT, WOULD THERE BE ANY OTHER, UH, POINT AT WHICH WE COULD REVIEW THAT AND WELL, THAT'S WHY WE SAID CHANGE THE IMPLEMENT OR SORT OF GO NO, GO WAS FOUR, ORIGINALLY IT WAS GONNA BE THREE MONTHS AND SIX MONTHS.
IT'S A SIX MONTH PROGRAM IS WHAT WE SAID, A PILOT PROGRAM.
AND WHAT WE ASKED WAS IF HE COULD COME IN BACK IN THREE MONTHS, HE SAID, WELL,
[01:15:01]
CAN YOU GIMME FOUR MONTHS? BECAUSE HE HAD, DOESN'T HAVE THE, THE, THE POLICY, THERE'S RULES.RULES, THERE'S NO PARAMETERS WRITTEN, THE RULES AND PARAMETERS WRITTEN.
SO, UH, SO HE SAID, CAN I COME BACK IN FOUR MONTHS, TELL YOU HOW IT'S DOING? AND THEN, AND THEN FINALLY IN SIX MONTHS, THEY'LL COME BACK TO US AND WE'LL DECIDE IF WE WANNA FUND IT FURTHER THAN THE 17,000.
WELL, WE DON'T DIRECTLY CONTROL THE CONTENT OF THE POLICY, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M GETTING AT.
SO IF WE, IF WE MAKE THIS AMENDMENT, THEN IT'S SORT OF JUST GOES AND IT'S GONE.
AS OPPOSED TO US BEING ABLE TO SAY WE HAVE TO, IF THERE WAS ANOTHER STEP OF APPROVING THE POLICY AS WELL, WHICH THEN MAY THAT GIVE US SOME MORE CONTROL.
IT, THE ONLY PIECE IS THE ONLY PART WE CAN CONTROL.
THE ONLY CONTROL WE HAVE IN THIS SITUATION YEAH.
AND, UH, SO IF, IF, UH, YOU KNOW, IF IF WE SEE SOMETHING WE DON'T, WE DON'T LIKE, UH, THEN WE COULD SAY THAT WE DON'T WANNA FUND THIS OR WE, IF WE, IF WE'RE FINE WITH EVERYTHING, WE CAN GO FORWARD.
I JUST WANNA SEE SPECIFICALLY WHAT WE'RE FUNDING.
NOT THAT I DON'T WANNA, I'M ABSOLUTELY WANNA FUND THIS.
I I COULD, LIKE I SAID, WOULD FUND 25 TIMES THIS MUCH.
THERE'S ONLY FOR FOR FOUR MONTHS THOUGH.
IT'S NOT $17,000 AND NOT THE EXCEED NUMBER, NOT RIGHT.
BUT IF HE CAN GET US THE POLICIES, THEN MAYBE NEXT MEETING WE CAN FUND IT AND BE DONE, BE DONE WITH IT.
SO BASICALLY YOU JUST ASKING, PROLONG IT TO JUST A LITTLE TIME UNTIL WE CAN LOOK IT OVER BEFORE WE RIGHT.
START THE FUNDING OR START THE FUNDING AND, AND THEN HE COME BACK WITH IT.
NO, I'D LIKE TO SEE, SEE THE POLICY AND HOW IT'S GONNA BE USED.
IS IT A CARROT OR IS IT A STICK FOR OUR FIRE? FIRE FIREFIGHTERS.
SO I MEAN, REALLY IT KIND OF PUTS IT IN, IN THE CHIEF'S COURT.
UM, IT GIVES HIM A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO KIND OF FLESH IT OUT AND HOW HE WANTS TO USE THAT.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THERE'S GONNA BE REQUIREMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST, SO IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'RE ASKING US TO, TO DELAY THIS, JUST DEFERRING AND MAYBE TO THE NEXT, NEXT MEETING NO.
UNTIL WE GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION FROM THE CHIEF.
UNTIL WE HAVE THE DEFINED PROGRAM FROM THE CHIEF, WE DON'T HAVE A DEFINED PROGRAM.
ALL WE HAVE IS, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO, IS BASICALLY WE HAD, AND, BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WHAT WE AGREED TO WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS HERE.
WE TOLD HIM THAT WE ARE GONNA DO THIS AND WE ARE BACKING OFF OF NOW.
SO NOT, WE'RE NOT BACKING OFF, WE'RE JUST, WE'RE JUST SAYING, HEY, CAN WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION? THAT'S ALL.
I'M STILL VERY PRO THE FUNDING OF THE NO, I UNDERSTAND.
NOT SAYING THAT YOU'RE NOT, BUT JUST TO ME, UH, WE ARE, I MEAN, WE, WE COULD HAVE TOLD HIM THAT, THAT DAY, THAT WHEN HE WAS HERE, THAT, HEY, YOU KNOW, IF WE ARE NOT GONNA MAKE THIS UNTIL YOU HAVE PROVIDED US THE, THE PLAN AND WE, WE TRUSTED HIS JUDGMENT THEN AND WE OUGHT TO BE TRUSTING A JUDGMENT TODAY.
AND, UH, WELL, I MEAN, WE TRUSTED JUDGMENT UP TO FOUR MONTHS.
SO, AND YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DO MORE RESEARCH AND TO THINK ABOUT IT AND TO TALK WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK WE NEED MORE INFORMATION.
AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS ELECTED FIRE CHIEF WITH ALL THOSE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE IN 25 50 BY ONE VOTE.
AND AGAIN, THAT, THAT'S THEIR OPERATION.
AND, UH, AS FAR AS SELECTION OF CHIEF AND ALL THAT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THEIR, THAT'S HOW THEY, THAT'S THEIR SEPARATE ENTITY.
SO WE WE'RE NOT INVOLVED IN ALL, ALL WE'RE, ALL WE HAVE IS, IS THEY CAME TO US, THEY WANTED FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM.
AND SO THEY'RE ASKING US FOR THE FUNDING FOR IT.
AND AGAIN, WHAT WE APPROVED LAST, LAST MEETING, I BELIEVE IS CORRECT, IS, IS THAT, UH, TO GO FORWARD WITH THE, UH, FUNDING, UH, UP TO WITH A SIX MONTHS, UH, PILOT PROGRAM, AND THAT WE WOULD REVIEW IT AT FOUR MONTHS AND WE REVIEW IT AT SIX MONTHS.
AND AT SIX MONTHS, THEN WE COULD DECIDE IF WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE ON WITH THE FUNDING OR NOT.
AND SO WHAT WE HAVE ON THE TABLE IS, UH, AS A MOTION TO, UH, JUST DEFER THIS ACTION THAT WE'RE DOING HERE OF ACTUALLY MAKING A CHANGE IN THE BUDGET UNTIL WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US WHAT THE TOTAL, WHAT THE REAL PROGRAM IS, WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE SCOPE OF IT AND, AND, AND THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEEN APPROVED.
BY THAT, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T IMPLEMENT THE POLICY ANYWAYS UNTIL IT'S WRITTEN.
WHAT GOOD WOULD HAVING THE MONEY BUDGETED CORRECT.
DO IF HE CAN'T EVEN USE THE MONEY UNTIL AFTER THE POLICY'S BEEN WRITTEN ANYWAY.
SO I WOULD THINK THAT, I MEAN, JUST GOING BY WHAT HE, WHAT THE CHIEF SAID, UH, LAST MEETING WAS, HE SAID, GIMME A MONTH TO GET THE POLICY IN PLACE.
SO THIS IS BASICALLY IS DEFERRING AT A MONTH, DEFERRING THIS DECISION TO A MONTH UNTIL HE HAS HIS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE ARE DEFINED.
AND THEN IT LOOKS, WE CAN SEE THAT, WE CAN REVIEW, WE CAN REVIEW THOSE AT THAT TIME AND, AND, UH, UH, TAKE THIS ACTION IF WE CHOOSE TO.
I JUST DON'T WANNA MISCOMMUNICATE TO OUR FIREMEN THAT WE ARE BALKING ON THIS AND I WANNA MAKE SURE ABSOLUTELY.
AND THAT I CAN MAKE THAT ANY MORE CLEAR.
[01:20:01]
VOLUNTEER.WE WANNA MAINTAIN OUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE BEST OF THE BEST, UH, IN EVERY CAPACITY, WHETHER IT BE EQUIPMENT OR TRAINING OR, UH, HOUSING ALWAYS.
AND I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS DEMONSTRATED FINANCIALLY JUST THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION THAT'S ON THE FLOOR? ALL RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO DEFER, UH, THE, UH, RESOLUTION UNTIL WE RECEIVE A, UH, UH, COPY OF THE TOTAL PROGRAM FROM THE CHIEF AND WE'RE ABLE TO REVIEW IT AND DISCUSS IT.
SO WE HAVE, UH, THREE AND, UH, NAY.
ANY OPPOSE? AND WE HAVE THREE OPPOSE.
SO THE MOTION TO DEFER AS FAILED.
SO WE GO FORWARD WITH, UH, ITEM SIX.
ON THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION, I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
9 5 3 TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 20 23 24 BUDGET TO FUND $17,000 TO THE LAKE JACKSON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I HAVE A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN BLANCHARD.
I HAVE A SECOND FROM COUNCILMAN BAKER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? OKAY.
VINNE, WHAT DID YOU VOTE? AYE.
COULD, CAN WE FOR SALLY, CAN WE SEE WHO SAID I? YEAH.
SO, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE THAT WAY.
ONLY ONE HAS TO VOTE THAT WAY IS FIRST.
I WILL STILL REACH OUT TO CHIEF HARVEY AND SEE AS SOON AS HE GETS A DRAFT COPY AND GET IT INTO COUNCIL'S HANDS.
AND YOU CAN BACK OUT ON A BUDGET AMENDMENT RIGHT IF YOU DON'T LET THE PROGRAM BE ON HIM THAT WE, WE WITHDREW THE PROGRAM.
IT'D BE ON HIM FOR NOT ADMINISTRATING THE PROGRAM LIKE WHAT WE THOUGHT HE SHOULD HAVE.
UH, HE, HE WAS DID YOU APPROVE THAT MOTION? SECOND? YES.
WELL, THE SECOND DID SECOND IS NOT YOUR VOTE, RIGHT? YOU HAVE TO VOTE.
ALRIGHT, THANKS FOR CLARIFICATION ON ITEM SEVEN, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER, OH, WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD.
WE DIDN'T READ THE RESOLUTION, PLEASE.
WOULD YOU PLEASE READ IT FOR RECORD? SORRY.
WHEREAS THE CITY WHERE THE COUNCIL MET ON APRIL 1ST 2, 20 24 APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO ADD FUNDING TO THE LATE JACKSON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT DUTY, UH, PAY PROGRAM BY AN ADDITIONAL 17,000 FOR THE 2320 4,000, UH, BUDGET.
UH, WE AMEND THE FOLLOWING, PREVIOUSLY APPROVED GENERAL BUDGET BY 17,000, UH, WITH REVENUE INCREASE IN EXPENSES AND INCREASE IN REVENUE FROM THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT PAYMENT OF 17,000.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM SEVEN.
[7. Discuss and consider approving Ordinance No. 2285 to amend Ch. 102 to enable the city to file a lien against non-homestead properties for delinquent city utility accounts – first reading – Sherri Russell]
UH, DISCUSSING, CONSIDER APPROVING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 2 8 5 TO AMEND, UH, CHAPTER 1 0 2 TO ENABLE THE CITY TO FILE A LIEN AGAINST NON HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES FOR DELINQUENT CITY UTILITIES.YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT IT A BIT OR? I THINK MODESTO NEEDS TO READ THE OH, THAT'S RIGHT.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY, LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 1 0 2 UTILITIES TO ADD THE IMPOSITION OF LIENS FOR DELINQUENT UTILITY ACCOUNTS.
PROVIDING THAT ALL ORDINANCES ARE PARTS OF ORDINANCES AND CONFLICT HERE WITH SHALL BE REPEALED TO THE EXTENT OF THE CONFLICT ONLY AND PROVIDING A SAVINGS CLAUSE.
SO, UM, THIS WILL ALLOW US TO PUT LIENS ON PROP PROPERTIES, MAINLY COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES
[01:25:01]
WHERE THEY, WHEN THEY'RE NOT PAYING THEIR WATER BILLS AND THEY START ACCUMULATING, THE PROBLEM IS SOMETIMES WITH COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, YOU DON'T WANNA TURN THE WATER OFF 'CAUSE IT AFFECTS SO MANY PEOPLE THAT AREN'T IN CHARGE OF THE WATER BILL.IT DOESN'T, HOMESTEAD IS EXEMPT.
LANDLORDS CAN BE EXEMPT IF THEY SAY NO, THAT'S A TENANT NOT PLAYING, PAYING THE WATER BILL, WE WON'T PUT A LIEN ON THEIR PROPERTY.
THIS IS, THIS IS FOR NON HOMESTEADED PROPERTIES AND LAR LARGE AMOUNTS BASICALLY WHERE WE CAN'T TURN OFF THE WATER OKAY.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ORDINANCE, MR. MAYOR? YES, SIR.
I DO HAVE, UH, WE NEED TO CLARIFY HOW MANY MONTHS, BECAUSE EACH SAY DELINQUENT, THAT MEANS FIRST MONTH AFTER FIRST MONTH IS GONNA PAY IT.
AND I DIDN'T PUT THAT IN THERE BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT STAFF SHOULD USE THIS DISCRETION.
UH, I THINK WE SHOULD GET A, I THINK DISCRETION'S WHILE WE'RE IN THIS PREDICAMENT.
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE COUNSEL DECIDE YEAH.
IF IT'S TWO MONTH OR THREE MONTH AND PUT IT IN BECAUSE IT GONNA COST US MONEY TO PUT IT IN ON THE PROPERTY TOO.
WHAT ABOUT A COMBINATION OF NOT ONLY THE MONTHS, BUT THE TOTAL VALUE, RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, IT REACHES THIS OR THAT, WHICHEVER ONE COMES FIRST.
WOULD YOU MAKE THAT MANDATORY THEN? RIGHT.
YOU'RE SAYING THIS JUST GIVES US THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.
IF WE CHOOSE TO, IF WE NEED TO.
IT DOESN'T MANDATE THAT WE DO IT.
DO Y'ALL WANT TO, ARE Y'ALL PROPOSING THAT WE PUT IT IN THE ORDINANCE TO WHERE YOU FORCE FORCE IT AT A CERTAIN TO BE FILED AT A CERTAIN POINT OR JUST TO GIVE THE AUTHORITY? WELL, WE JUST DON'T WANT TO GO SAME PLACE WE WERE BEEN BEFORE OR THIS PREVIOUS, UH, ISSUE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE FAILED TO DO THAT AND ACT ON IT BECAUSE SOME UNWRITTEN RULE.
SO WE HAVE A WRITTEN RULE THAT THAT KIND OF FORCES US TO, UH, FORCES THEM TO DO SOMETHING OTHER OR THE COUNCILS TO SAY NOT TO.
SO THIS, THIS ORDINANCE GIVES YOU THE, THE AUTHORITY TO BE ABLE TO PUT A LIEN ON IT.
AND WHAT, UH, MAYBE MODESTO COULD COME UP.
I MEAN, WE'RE WRITING POLICIES NOW.
MAYBE HE COULD SHOW YOU THE WRITTEN POLICY THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED AND I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE, Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT IF IT'S, YEAH, IF YOU PUT A, LIKE, UH, ME, YOU KNOW, MR. MU WAS SAYING IS IF, IF YOU PUT A A, A DATE OR A TIMEFRAME IN THERE, THAT'S A, THAT'S A HARD TRIGGER.
I MEAN, IT, IT, IT AUTOMATICALLY PUTS IT IN PLAY.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT, YOU'RE IN VIOLATION OF AN ORDINANCE.
AND SO, UH, THAT WOULD BE US SAYING THAT WE WANT IT, WE WANT THIS IMPLEMENTED WITHIN, YOU KNOW, TWO, TWO MONTHS OR OF DEFAULT OR SIX OR WHATEVER IT IS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT ON THIS, MODESTO? NO, I'M JUST TRYING TO THINK OF, I MEAN, I MEAN THERE ARE OTHER TIMES WE FILE LIENS, UM, MOWING LIENS AND STUFF.
BUT IS IT, IS THERE A HARD TRIGGER IN THE ORDINANCE OR CAN YOU PUT LANGUAGE IN THERE TO SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, SAY IF IT REACHED TWO MONTHS IN ARREARS, UM, AND NO REPAYMENT AGREEMENT WAS ENACTED OR SOMETHING TO GIVE THAT WAY YOU HAVE SOME LATITUDE TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION.
WE CAN SAY PER POLICY AND THEN MODESTO CAN HAVE SOME TIME TO WRITE THAT POLICY THAT, THAT, THAT WILL GOVERN BY THAT ORDINANCE.
THE ANSWER, MODESTO, IS NO, THERE'S NOT A HARD OKAY.
THING OF WHEN, WHEN DOES IT FILE THE MOW LIENS.
IT'S JUST A POLICY AND THEY DO IT.
BUT WE HAVE NO, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU WRITE POLICY, WE DON'T HAVE A SAY IN THAT.
WE CAN BRING THE, UM, WE CAN BRING THE POLICY FOR YOU AND YOU CAN, YOU CAN, COUNSEL CAN APPROVE IT.
YOU, I MEAN YOU, YOU APPROVE THE PD AND THE HRS OKAY.
WE CAN ESPECIALLY TELL YOU IF THE POLICY'S NOT WORKING.
UM, I JUST, I'M A LITTLE HESITANT ON, UM, YOU KNOW, TWO MONTHS, UM, BETTER BECAUSE THE STA IF IF WE, IF WE IMPOSE A LIEN AFTER THREE MONTHS, CAN WE STILL COLLECT THOSE, THOSE PREVIOUS ONES BECAUSE WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE.
AND THEN WE TAKE THE LIEN OFF.
THE ONLY REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE A BUSINESS, UH, A NATIONAL CHAIN THAT USES AN OUTSIDE FIRM TO PAY THEIR UTILITY BILLS AND IT TAKES THEM TWO OR THREE MONTHS TO GET THEM TO, TO GET THEM PAID.
THEY'RE ALWAYS KIND OF RUNNING BEHIND.
IT'S RARE, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.
'CAUSE THEY'RE USING A NATIONAL FIRM TO, YOU KNOW, PAY THEIR ACCOUNTS.
THE ORDINANCE IS, IS WRITTEN IS IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE THE OPTION OF PUTTING A LIEN ON A PROPERTY.
WITHOUT THE ORDINANCE, YOU CAN'T DO ON PERIOD CAN'T DO ONE AT ALL.
[01:30:01]
AND, UH, DISCUSS A A POLICY.PLUS WE GOTTA BE CAREFUL WITH THAT.
POLICY YOU SAID IS ONE COMMERCIAL, WHOEVER IT IS, UH, DOESN'T PAY IN TIME.
BUT OUR CITIZENS DON'T GET TO ALLOW TO, UH, DEFER THE COST TO THREE MONTHS ON OTHER TAXPAYER'S EXPENSE.
SO WHY ARE WE, I MEAN WE'RE, WE'RE IT'S JUST A LIEN THOUGH.
IT'S NOT GONNA NO, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THE MONEY BACK.
I'M, WE'RE TALKING NATIONAL CHAINS NEVER WILL.
I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING, YOU KNOW, THEY SHOULD BE PAYING A LATE FEE OR SOMETHING PENALTY POLICY OR NO, I MEAN, DO I THERE'S NO FREE RIDE.
I MEAN, I DON'T GET A FREE RIDE.
I DON'T CLEAN MY WATER BILL FOR THAT POLICY.
WHY SHOULDN'T ANYBODY ELSE? NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
I MEAN, UH, THAT'S JUST BE AGREEMENT THAT HE'S GONNA BRING THE POLICY BACK TO US AND STUFF THAT WE APPROVE IT AND STUFF.
UH, I GUESS THE ONLY THING THAT, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO COUNCILMAN VERNA'S, UH, COMMENT AND, AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 'CAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT ALL ABOUT, UH, THAT AND IS THAT, UH, AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, UH, FACILITIES OR BUSINESSES THAT AGAIN, WHEN, UH, THE ATTORNEY, I MEAN, UH, SHERRY WAS TALKING, SHE WAS SAYING THAT IT, THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IMPACTS MORE THAN JUST ONE, ONE PERSON AND IT IMPACTS MULTIPLE PEOPLE AGAIN, THAT, UH, IN, IN RECENT CASES OR THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN PAYING, THEY'VE BEEN PAYING THEIR BILLS AND, AND THE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OR THE OWNERS ISN'T PAYING THE BILL.
AND SO, UH, ANYWAY, IT'S, I MEAN, THEY'RE GONNA PAY THE FEE, YOU KNOW, LATE PAYMENT FEE JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CITIZEN WOULD AND THEY CAN WAIT THREE MONTHS TO PAY IT.
AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, UH, THIS IS THIS TOPIC TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU DO THE POLICY.
WE CAN TWEAK ALL THAT IN THE POLICY.
WE BRINGS IT BACK TO US AND MOTION.
I THOUGHT WE WOULD JUST PULL IT.
HUH? ARE Y'ALL GOT A MOTION? I THINK YOU SHOULD JUST PULL IT.
YOU WANNA, YOU WANNA, I DON'T WANT YOU TO APPROVE THIS UNTIL YOU SEE THAT POLICY.
YOU MIGHT HATE THAT POLICY AND YOU'VE GOT THE ORDINANCE.
SO, UH, LIKE, JUST MAKE A MOTION, BUT THE ORDINANCE IS JUST GONNA GIVE US THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
THEN WE CAN YES OR NO THE POLICY, HOWEVER WE WANT TO, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
AND THIS IS FIRST READ OKAY WITH THAT? YEAH.
THEN I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 2 8 5 TO AMEND CHAPTER 1 0 2 TO ENABLE THE CITY TO FILE A LIEN AGAINST NON-HOMESTEAD PROPERTIES FOR DELINQUENT CI CITY UTILITY ACCOUNTS.
SECOND, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCIL BLANCHARD.
SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN SETH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[8. Quarterly financial and investment report – James Bryson]
TO, AND AGAIN, WE HAVE AN ACTION FOR, UH, STAFF TO BRING BACK POLICY FOR US.WE HAVE, UH, QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INVESTMENT, UH, REPORT.
SO WE'RE ALREADY SIX MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR, AND IF THE AUDIT WASN'T EXCITING ENOUGH FOR YOU, THEN I'VE GOT THIS.
SO ACCORDING TO PUBLIC FUNDS INVESTMENT ACT, I'M PROVIDING YOU WITH THE MONTHLY INVESTMENT REPORT.
UM, REALLY THE ONLY CHANGES FROM THE PRIOR QUARTER, EXCUSE ME, IS THE COLLECTION OF PROPERTY TAXES IN JANUARY.
AND WE MOVED THAT MONEY INTO THE TAX POOL AND THE FIRST REPUBLIC BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST EARNINGS THAT WERE BETTER RATHER THAN HAVING IT IN THE BANK.
AND THEN YOU HAVE A DEBT PAYMENT IN MARCH.
SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S A REDUCTION.
SO REALLY THE ONLY TWO, THE MAIN THINGS WERE THE PROPERTY TAX AND THE DEBT PAYMENT.
OTHERWISE, EVERYTHING ELSE FOR THE QUARTERS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME IN THE PRIOR QUARTER.
WITH REGARDS TO SALES, UM, OR REVENUES, I TAGGED THE ONES THAT I SAW AS EXCEPTIONS.
YOU KNOW, 94% OF PROPERTY TAX OBVIOUSLY IS BECAUSE DECEMBER AND JANUARY IS WHEN WE RECEIVE PROPERTY TAX, UH, PERMITS AND LICENSING IS DOWN.
I TAKE THAT AS BEING PART OF, BECAUSE THE INTEREST RATES IN THE MARKET RIGHT NOW.
SO IT'S HARD FOR CITIZENS TO GO OUT AND DO SOME OF THESE, UH, HOME IMPROVEMENTS AND BY, AND DO IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROPERTY.
SO THAT'S, BUT THE OPPOSITE TO THAT IS OUR INTEREST EARNINGS ARE UP, SO, YOU KNOW, HIGHER INTEREST RATES ON OUR INVESTMENTS, BUT, YOU KNOW, LESS PEOPLE COMING IN TO BE ABLE TO DO LICENSING AND PERMITS.
AND THEN ON THE MISCELLANEOUS, THERE WAS A, UH, INTEREST, THE, UH, COLLECTION OF A, UH, INSURANCE PAYMENT THAT WE RECEIVED FOR THE AMBULANCE FOR 56,000.
AND AS FAR AS PROPERTY TAX, YOU'VE GOT ALL THE CHARTS, SALES TAX, ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE USUALLY PROVIDE FROM H-D-L-H-D-H-D-H-D-L, THE INSURANCE, THE COMPANY THAT TAKES CARE OF THE SALES TAX FOR US.
AND SO HOW'S SALES TAX OR WERE YOU IT'S ON TRENDING RIGHT? OR WE'RE DOWN.
WE'RE, WE'RE RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE, BUT WE, WE WERE FLAT LAST YEAR.
WE BUDGETED FLAT THIS YEAR AND WE'RE RIGHT AT WHERE WE WERE.
SO IT'S, IT'S NOT GREAT, BUT WE'RE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE CURVE RIGHT NOW.
[01:35:04]
AND THEN I PROVIDED, UM, SALARIES AND, AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, FOR THE QUARTER, YOU BET 25% FOR THE YEAR YOU BE AT 50%.THE ONLY, UM, DISCREPANCY I SAW WAS WITH OVERTIME AND I MADE THE NOTE AT THE BOTTOM HAVING TALKED TO, UM, CHIEF, UH, CARRIE ABOUT IT.
AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS SEVERAL MORE NARCOTIC, UH, WARRANTS THAT WERE ISSUED THIS, THIS, THIS QUARTER.
AND HE BELIEVED THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON FOR THE
AND AS FAR AS WATER AND SEWER ON THE SECOND PAGE, I PUT IN INFORMATION SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT IS IN RELATION TO THE BUDGET.
SO BUDGET FOR SALES AND WATER IS RIGHT AT 99% OF BUDGET FOR THE THIS POINT AT THIS TIME OF THIS YEAR.
AND LET'S SEE, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT BONDS AT THE END AND REALLY THE ONLY DIFFERENCE ON THE BONDS IS THAT, UM, ROBIN HAS SEVERAL OF THE PARKS PROJECTS ENCUMBERED FOR THE, UH, REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT THEY WERE BUDGETED FOR.
AND UH, DEB HAS A FEW, UM, ENCUMBRANCES AS WELL FOR THE, UH, WATER WASTEWATER PLANT AND, UH, THAT AND THE LIFT STATION.
OTHERWISE REALLY THERE'S NOT MUCH ELSE.
I MEAN, DO WE HAVE ANY BONDS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING OUT THERE THAT JUST HAVE SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND WE ACTUALLY CLEAN THOSE UP.
SO YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THE NEXT QUARTER.
JAMES, CAN YOU PUT EVERYTHING IN PORTRAIT MODE NEXT TIME? IS IT A LITTLE BIT GOING BACK AND FORTH? UH, ANY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THOUGH? NO.
[9. Discuss lead and copper updates – Debbie Webb]
UH, DISCUSS LAND COPPER UPDATES THAT HOPEFULLY WE'RE NOT FINDING ANY.UM, THIS PROJECT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE YEARS, SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE WE ARE ON IT.
UM, BASED ON THE EPA REVISIONS TO THE DRINKING WATER REGULATIONS UNDER THE SAFE WATER DRINKING ACT, UM, BACK IN DECEMBER OF 21, UH, THE LEAD COPPER RURAL REVISIONS CAME OUT AND EVERY MUNICIPALITY IS REQUIRED TO, UH, DO A STUDY AND SUBMIT THE RESULTS BY OCTOBER OF 2024.
SO WHEN WE STARTED THIS, WE UH, DECIDED TO FUND THIS IN TWO PARTS, UH, 50% YEAR, ONE 50%.
UM, WE, WE HAD NINETY FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE CONNECTIONS TO BEGIN WITH, AND WE, UM, ARE AT 86% OF PHASE TWO RIGHT NOW.
WE'LL, WE'LL MEET THE DEADLINE.
UM, SO DEB, THIS WAS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE FROM THE STATE? IT WAS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.
WE DID, UH, WE FUNDED $350,000 TO HAVE THIS DONE.
SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, UM, WE'VE GOT 4,600 REMAINING CONNECTIONS TO VERIFY.
AND WE HAVE FOUND, UM, 22 GALVANIZED PIPES IN THE SYSTEM.
UM, IN 2023, THEY UPDATED THE MANDATE AND THEY, UM, CALLED IT LCRI, WHICH THEY FURTHER SAID WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS WERE GONNA BE AND WHAT THE CITIES NEEDED TO DO TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.
SO ANY GALVANIZED PIPING WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO REPLACE ON OUR SIDE OF THE METER OR ON THEIR, ON THE RESIDENT SIDE.
SO WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT NOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT WITH WE BEING THE CITY HAS TO REPLACE IT OR THE RESIDENT CITY ON PRIVATE, ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
SO THIS IS AS THIS RULE IS STILL EVOLVING.
BUT AS OF 2023 AND NOVEMBER 30TH, 2023, THEY HAVE SAID FOR SURE THAT THE GALVANIZED PIPING WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED.
UM, IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S GONNA BE CITY RESPONSIBILITY AND THEY'LL GIVE US 10 YEARS TO REPLACE IT.
SO I HAVE, SO FAR, I HAVE 28 IF, OKAY.
SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, BUT I MEAN, HOW FAR DO WE HAVE TO REPLACE ALL THE WAY TO THE HOUSE? OKAY, SO I'M, I'M BASING THIS ON A SERVICE IS USUALLY ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET.
SO IF I, I TRIED TO DO AN ESTIMATE FOR YOU GUYS, UM, BASED ON A HUNDRED FEET, IF WE REPLACED IT WITH PVC
[01:40:01]
OR, OR EVEN PEGS, I WOULD SAY THAT'S ABOUT $6,200 PIECE PER HOME.SO WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THAT ON APARTMENT, WHEN WE'RE NOTIFYING THE OWNER SAYING THAT THEY HAVE GALVANIZED PIPE AND THAT THE CITY IS WILLING TO PAY THAT, UH, AND IF THEY DISAGREE, HELP REPLACE IT.
I MEAN, TO HELP REPLACE IT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IN THE END WHAT THE FINAL RULING'S GONNA BE.
WOULD, COULD THEY POSSIBLY, BUT WE'RE NOT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD THAT WE HAVE TO BE FIXING ANYTHING.
THAT'S IS JUST WHAT WE'RE BEING, WHAT IT COULD, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO, BUT WE'RE NOT BEING TOLD THAT NOW GO FIX ALL THESE.
YOU'RE BEING TOLD THAT THE GALVANIZED WILL COME OUT OF OUR SYSTEM.
AND IT WILL COME OUT WITHIN, BUT WE HAVE 10 YEARS TO DO IT.
SO THAT'S, BUT WHAT IF THEY GOT GALVANIZED ON THE OTHER END? STILL INSIDE THE HOUSE? ONLY IF IT'S INSIDE THE HOUSE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S BUT WHAT IS, WHAT IS THE, YEAH.
WHAT IS THE POINT, YOU KNOW? YEAH.
I MEAN, I MEAN, WHAT IF SOME FOLKS CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE GALVANIZED INSIDE THE HOUSE? THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED THE FINAL RULING ON.
YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS HAVE BEEN LEAKING AND WE HAVE TO BE REPLACED ANYWAY.
IT'S JUST A VERY STRANGE ITEM TO NOW TELL THE CITY TO, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? HIRE A CONTRACTOR TO WORK ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INSIDE THE HOUSE AND INSIDE THE YARD? IT'S NOT, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER FROM THE EPA THAT THE CITY HAS BEEN REQUIRED TO LOOK ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN UP TO THE CONNECTION.
THAT'S BEEN OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME EVER AND WE DON'T KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE RULE CAN BE REVISED AGAIN AND WILL BE REVISED AGAIN.
I'M SURE IT'S GONNA BE ARGUED.
I MEAN, JUST IMAGINE A LARGE CITY.
SO, SO LET ME, LET ME UNDERSTAND.
SO THE CITY IS GONNA REPLACE IT OR THE, AND UH, IS THE HOMEOWNER HAVE TO RE REPLACE IT THEN THE CITY, UH, GIVE THEM THE MONEY FOR REPLACING? WE DON'T, WE'LL, WE'LL DO AN ASSESSMENT.
IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S GONNA BE SOME CITY RESPONSIBILITY.
WHEN'S THE FINAL SUPPOSED TO BE? OCTOBER.
SO WE WILL SUBMIT WHAT WE HAVE IN OCTOBER.
SO, SO WE HAVE TO GO REPLACE EVERY SINGLE HOME? NO, NO, NO, NO.
WE HAVE ONLY OUT OF THOSE 9,500 CONNECTIONS, WE HAVE ONLY FOUND 22 SO FAR, SO FAR THAT HAVE GALVANIZED AND WE HAVE 4,500 MORE TO GO.
WE HAVE, UH, TO LOOK AT 45 ISH.
I DID NOT SIGN UP TO AND WHAT PART OF THE AREA HAVE YOU CHECKED USUALLY? WELL, WHAT PART, WHAT PART OF THE CITY HAVE YOU CHECKED SO FAR? WE'VE GOT 652 MORE TO GO.
WHICH PART OF THE CITIES HAVE CHECKED? HAVE YOU CHECKED THE OLDER PART OF THE CITY OR WAS IT YEAH, WE'VE CHECKED, WE, UM, WE DIVIDED IT LIKE WE ALWAYS DO NORTH AND SOUTH OF OCD.
AND SO WE TRIED TO DO THE OLDER PART OF TOWN FIRST BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE WORSE.
THAT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE REPLACED CONSIDERING HOW MANY CONNECTIONS WE HAVE.
UM, SO YOU'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW YOU FOUND 22 AND YOU JUST SAID THAT WE HAVE 600 AND SOMETHING TO GO TO CHECK.
SO, SO IF WE HAD TO REPLACE 75 AT $6,500 A PIECE, WE'RE LOOKING AT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
SO, OR I MEAN, BASED ON WHAT WE HAVE, THAT'S 173 $600.
SO, AND 10 YEARS TO COME UP WITH THAT TO GET, YOU SAID 22 HOMES ONLY 22 HAVE COME BACK POSITIVE FOR GAL POSITIVE.
SO THE ODDS ARE IN OUR FAVOR THAT IT'S NOT GONNA BE ASTRONOMICAL, WE HOPE, RIGHT? YEAH.
CHEAPER THAN THE ACTUALLY THE THAN THE EVALUATION, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, FOR SURE.
SO EVEN WITH THE STATE STILL HAS TO GOT A NEW MECHANISM FOR ASSESSMENT OR SOMETHING.
IS THE STATE EP THIS IS A FED, IS THAT CORRECT? THIS IS THE FEDS AND WE WILL HAVE TO, SO IF WE DID REPLACE A CONNECTION OF GALVANIZE, WE WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THEM A FILTER FOR SIX MONTHS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE DRINKING WATER IS GOOD.
AND THAT IS JUST A BRI OF FILTER FOR SIX MONTHS.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THAT AND THEN WE'RE REQUIRED TO TEST AGAIN.
SO, UM, TEST WHAT? TEST THE WATER AGAIN TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO LEAD IN IT.
BUT NOW THERE AGAIN, WHERE ARE YOU GONNA TEST IT? AT THE, AT THE END OF THE BRAND NEW PIPE WE PUT IN OR AT INSIDE THE HOUSE.
SEE, THAT'S, THAT'S RIDICULOUS.
'CAUSE IT'S GONNA SHOW, I MEAN, IF THEY HAVE GALVANIZED, IT'S GONNA SHOW.
SO IT'S, ANYWAY, SOUNDS LIKE WE ONLY SEPARATE DISCUSSION HERE ABOUT PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS.
[01:45:01]
HAVE.THE LAST UPDATE WAS NOVEMBER 30TH, 2023.
SO ONCE THIS IS SUBMITTED, I'M SURE THERE'LL BE GRANT MONEY AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS GOING ON AND MORE UPDATES.
I THINK, I THINK BESIDES THE MONEY, IT'S JUST THE IDEA OF US BEING FORCED TO WORK ON THE RESIDENT SIDE OF THE METER THAT JUST, THAT, THAT JUST OPENS UP A CAN OF WORMS FOR CITIES.
SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND STUFF, CONGRESSMEN AND ANYWAY, THERE'S GONNA BE BIGGER CITIES, CITIES ARE GONNA SCREAM ABOUT IT THAN JUST LITTLE BIT OF OLD CITIES LIKE US, BUT WELL, YEAH.
AND THERE, THERE'S A LOT OF CITIES IN REALLY BAD SHAPE, RIGHT.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S AN ISSUE I UNDERSTAND.
AND WE ALL UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS IT.
IT'S JUST THAT AGAIN, WHEN YOU GET GOVERNMENT INVOLVED, THEY MAKE BAD DECISIONS.
'CAUSE AGAIN, YOU'RE NOT FIXING ANYTHING.
ALL WE'RE DOING IS FIXING A HUNDRED FEET OF PIPE.
UH, THE PROBLEM IS, IS IS PROBABLY GONNA BE INSIDE THE HOME.
UNLESS, UNLESS THEY'VE DONE A RE-PIPE AND THEY, YOU KNOW, AND THEY ARE ALL PECS.
IT'S JUST THE GALVANIZES, THE LEFT LAST PIECE THAT, THAT WE, WE WILL HELP WITH.
SO WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW HOW FAR OUR RESPONSIBILITY WILL REACH.
I MEAN ME SAYING LET'S PLAN ON A HUNDRED FEET, THAT'S USUALLY, THAT SHOULD GET YOU FROM THE STREET TO THE HOUSE.
SO IN THE HOUSE, ALL RIGHT, WHAT YEAR? WHAT YEAR DID WE STOP? DO YOU, IF YOU KNOW, I DON'T EXPECT YEAR.
DID THEY STOP, UH, USING GALVANIZED NOW HOMES LIKE THE BUILDING? WELL YOU CAN STILL BUY IT.
WELL YOU CAN STILL PUT IT IN YOUR HOUSE.
LEMME TELL YOU ON THIS, ON THIS STUDY, DO YOUR WORK STUDY.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE BIGGEST STREET THAT WE HAVE AN ISSUE ON IS OLD ANGLETON ROAD.
AND SO THAT WAS PROBABLY BEFORE IT WAS EVEN REALLY LAKE JACKSON.
SO THE STANDARD HAS KIND OF CHANGED THOSE HOUSES.
SO, UH, THERE'S FOUR OF 'EM ON OLD ANGLETON ROAD AND UM, OKAY.
WELL SOME OF THOSE HOUSES ALREADY HAVE THEIR PIPE BEING REPLACED BECAUSE LOT BECAUSE OF THE CORROSION AND THE
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? NO, WE'LL BRING IT BACK AS SOON AS WE HEAR THE RULES.
[10. Staff updates]
UH, CITY MANAGER, ANYTHING STAFF, ANYTHING? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING.UH, JUST ON THE, BUT ON THE FOLLOW UP, UM, WE'LL LOOK AT THE OCD UPON SCHOOL SIGNS ON OCD.
UH, I WILL TALK TO THE CHIEF ABOUT OBTAIN UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DUTY PROGRAM GUIDELINES, WHAT'S THEIR, UH, FINALIZED.
UH, I'M GONNA SEND A FOLLOW UP LETTER TO TEXT OUT ON THE, UH, ITEMS THAT WERE ALL MENTIONED, UH, OKAY.
AND YOU'LL GET WITH INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE THAT, THAT LIKE VENET HAD A LOT ON 'EM, YOU'LL GET WITH HIM.
HAVE GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
AND THEN BRING POLICY, UH, TO CITY COUNCIL FOR UH, LIENS, UH, UTILITY LIENS.
[11. Construction/Development Updates]
SO WE HAVE ITEM 11 CONSTRUCTION AND UH, DEVELOPMENT UPDATES.ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR UH, SAL YOU HAVE SOMETHING FOR ME? I'LL TRY TO MAKE SURE.
YEAH, IF THERE'S NOTHING THEN I DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.
HOW WE LOOKING? THE SEWER PROJECT ON ANYWAY? OH YEAH, YEAH.
WELL ANYWAY, THAT'S THE SEWER PROJECT ON ANYWAY.
THAT'S WAS, THAT IS A, UH, THAT'S, UH, THAT'S MR. WILSON.
UH, THE, THE PUMPS WERE ACTUALLY REMOVED LAST FRIDAY AND THE, UH, BRIDGES THAT WERE MOVING THE FLOW FROM ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO THE OTHER WERE ALSO REMOVED LAST FRIDAY.
THEY FORMED UP THE DRIVEWAYS TODAY AND HOPEFULLY WEATHER PERMITTING, THEY, WE WILL BE POURING TOMORROW.
SO, UH, AND THEY'RE DOING, CONTINUING TO DO THE, THE YARD CLEANUP IN THE AREA AS WELL.
BUT THE OVERALL REACH OF THAT PROJECT IS, IS STILL CONFINED TO THE, TO THAT.
DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING ELSE WHEN YOU NO SIR.
WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THE FINAL SOLUTION.
THE, THE OVERALL SOLUTION IS GONNA BE A MORE AGGRESSIVE I AND I PROGRAM WITHOUT THE CITY AS THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE AND WE NEED TO RECAPITALIZE.
ANYTHING ELSE ON CONSTRUCTIONS OR PROJECTS GOING ON AROUND? DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT.
[ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
ON TO ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.UH, WE'LL START WITH, UH, MR. TIS PAY YOUR TAXES TODAY.
DON'T TO HOUSTON, BUT I'LL, AS SOON AS I GET OUTTA HERE, DON'T GO TO HOUSTON.
NOT ACCEPTING 'EM IN HOUSTON IS A BIG MESS.
[01:50:01]
THE TAX, THE IRS OFFICE IS NOT ACCEPTING RETURNS AT THE OFFICE OR SOMETHING.THERE'S A BIG, BIG MESS OVER THERE IN HOUSTON.
OTHER THAN THAT, I GOT NOTHING.
ANY, WE ALL TALKED ABOUT TAXPAYER MONEY AND THE WASTE OF THE TAXPAYER MONEY.
UH, I DIDN'T WANNA SAY ANYTHING IN FRONT OF TAX DO, BUT THEY SURE WASTED A LOT OF TAXPAYER MONEY ON 2 88.
'CAUSE ALL THOSE CROSSROADS SHE TALKED ABOUT, THEY'RE PUTTING OVERPASSES ON.
ORIGINALLY THEY WERE THROUGH OVERPASSES AND THEY PUT FLASHING LIGHTS ON THOSE OVERPASSES, THEN THEY SHUT THOSE DOWN AND PUT TURNAROUND LANES, OVERPASSES.
NOW THEY'RE BUILDING OVERPASSES.
SO THEY WOULD PLAN AHEAD AND NOT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS OUT.
THEY PROBABLY WON'T WASTE THEIR TAXPAYER MONEY.
UH, JUST POINT THESE LITTLE GUYS OUT.
USE THESE FOR, UH, SOME FIFTH GRADE CLASS AND GOT SOME SECOND GRADERS.
THERE'S SEEDS EMBEDDED IN HERE SO THE KIDS CAN TAKE THIS OFF AND PLANT IT, WHICH I THINK THIS IS A SUPER COOL LITTLE THING.
AND THIS, UM, HELPS PROMOTE AND IS, UH, WE HAVE OUR SEED LIBRARY, UH, AND THE LAKE JACKSON LIBRARY HERE, WHICH IS A REALLY NEAT THING.
YOU CAN TAKE SEEDS, DROP 'EM OFF, PICK STUFF UP.
AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A BOOKMARK, BUT YOU CAN TAKE THIS OFF AND PLAN IT.
UM, THE OTHER THING IS SHRED DAY IS NEXT SATURDAY THE 27TH.
IT'LL BE AT MCLEAN PARK, 8:00 AM TO 1130.
BUT I WOULD SUGGEST GET THERE A LITTLE BIT EARLY 'CAUSE THEY HAVE PEOPLE LINE UP EARLY.
UM, FIVE LARGE BOXES OF SHREDS.
YOU CAN ALSO, UH, USE EYEGLASSES, CELL PHONES AND STRING LIGHTS.
WE'LL TAKE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
SO IT'S ALWAYS A POPULAR EVENT.
I'VE CLEANED OUT MY STUFF THIS WEEK.
OH, MR. BAKER, WHAT IF WE JUST START WATERING IT NOW? YOU TAKE PLANTS.
I CAN SEE WHY, UH, SOME PEOPLE WORE LONG PANTS IN HERE BECAUSE WE'RE FREEZING.
WHAT ELSE YOU GOT? YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S GONNA BE IT.
I GOT JUST A FEW THINGS REAL QUICK.
UH, REMEMBER EARLY VOTING, UH, UH, BEGINS ON MONDAY.
OH, IT'S AT, UH, THE, UH, CIVIC CENTER AND, UM, I WAS AT THE V 22 EVENT, UH, TO, UH, THIS LAST SATURDAY.
I WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE, SO I WASN'T ABLE TO, TO WALK WITH, UH, V 22.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN A VERY LONG TIME THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.
THEY WANTED TO READ THE PROCLAMATION AND IT WAS GREAT TURNOUT, BEAUTIFUL WEATHER, WONDERFUL WEATHER AND STUFF.
UH, ALSO ATTENDED, UH, THE AMERICAN LEGION HAD, UH, THEIR MEMORIAL DAY EVENT, UH, ACTUALLY ON SATURDAY BECAUSE MEMORIAL DAY, UH, IT'S, IT'S HARD TO GET THEIR ORGANIZATION TOGETHER.
UH, BECAUSE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOT, IT'S A, IT'S A DAY THAT A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE, FAMILY LIKE TO STAY, SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
SO THEY HAD THEIR EVENT AND THAT WAS REALLY NICE.
UH, SEEING A LOT OF THE, A LOT OF THE, THE VETERANS AND STUFF.
AND THAT WAS, IT WAS REALLY NICE TO BE, BE INVITED TO, TO GO DO THAT.
AND, UH, STAFF, ANYTHING? STAFF, WE KID FISH THIS SATURDAY AWESOME.
AND THE FIRST A HUNDRED, UH, KIDS THAT COME THROUGH DOES A FREE EVENT ALSO GET A FISHING POLE.
SO IT'S, IT'S A REALLY FUN EVENT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR.
SO YEAH, SINCE I WAS BOBBING WHAT AGES OF THE KID? IS IT 59? 60
I WAS THINKING THEY SHOULD HAVE A SENIOR FISH.
Y'ALL WENT DOWN BY MCLEAN PARK? I WENT BY THE SKATE PARK AND IT WAS JUST LOADED UP.