[00:00:02]
OKAY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND
[Call to Order]
CALL THIS DONE.ALRIGHT, I'VE GOT SIX 30 ON MY WATCH AND ON THE WALL, SO WE'RE GONNA CALL A MEETING TO ORDER.
UH, WELCOME EVERYBODY, UH, TO THE MONDAY, AUGUST 19TH, 2024 REGULAR SESSION OF THE LAKE JACKSON CITY COUNCIL AT 25 OAK DRIVE, LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS.
UH, WE GOT SOME SPECIAL GUESTS HERE TODAY, THE TIGERS, AND WE'LL BE, UH, UH, DOING A PRESENTATION WITH THEM JUST SHORTLY.
AND, UH, IT'S NICE TO SEE THE PARENTS WITH 'EM ALSO.
I WAS READING THAT Y'ALL WENT TO THE, THE CHAMPIONSHIP WAS IN DESTIN, SO HOW MANY PARENTS WENT TO DESTIN, FLORIDA? SUFFERED TO GO TO DESTIN, FLORIDA.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITH THE PLEDGE.
PLEDGES WILL BE LED TONIGHT BY COUNCILWOMAN RHONDA.
I PLEDGE THE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND DUE THE OTHER FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR HONOR, THE TEXAS FLAG P PLEDGE RELEASE.
TEXAS, TEXAS, ONE SEAT UNDER GOD ONE.
AND WE HAVE INVOCATION THAT'S, UH, IT'S GONNA BE LED BY COUNCILMAN MULE.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY, OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THIS EVENING.
AND AS OUR MEETING PROGRESSES, DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE.
PLEASE GIVE US A STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND WISDOM TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT WE FEEL IS BEST INTEREST OF OUR CITY.
WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH ALL OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR EMT GUYS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, AND OUR POLICE, AS WELL AS MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES, STATE SIZE AND ABROAD.
PLEASE BE WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US AS WE MAKE OUR WAY HOME.
[PRESENTATIONS]
NEXT THING WE HAVE IS PRESENTATIONS.SO IF, UH, IF THE TEAM COULD COME UP HERE AND THE LINE UP ALONG HERE, FACING THAT WAY, AND COACHES AND MANAGERS AND SO FORTH, UH, JOIN HIM UP HERE AND WE'LL GET THIS, GET THIS GOING.
GRAB, GRAB SOME PAPERS UP HERE.
ALRIGHT, SO I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WE WERE GONNA DO TONIGHT,
SO THIS IS A PROCLAMATION AND I'M GONNA READ IT OUT HERE.
SO IT'S A PROCLAMATION I GERALD ROSKI IN VIRTUE, UH, OF THE, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VEST IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 19TH, 2024 AS 11 YOUTH LBC TIGERS BASEBALL DAY.
TODAY IS Y'ALL'S DAY IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON.
IT'S ALMOST OVER, BUT YOU'RE DEAD
WHEREAS THE TIGERS PLAYED IN DESTIN, FLORIDA AND CAME BACK GULF COAST WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS.
THE TEAM FINISHED SECOND IN TEXAS FOR THE YEAR AS DOUBLE A BASE IN DOUBLE A BASEBALL NUMBER THREE IN U UNITED STATES FOR AA BASEBALL AND NUMBER 24, UH, IN THE COUNTRY FOR ALL DIVISION BASED ON PERFECT GAME BASEBALL.
THREE BIG ACHIEVEMENTS THERE GUYS.
WHEREAS AS A TEAM COMPOSED OF 12 DEDICATED PLAYERS DEMONSTRATED RESILIENCE AND DETERMINATION.
EACH PLAYER CONTRIBUTED TO THE TEAM'S SUCCESS, WHETHER WITH A KEY HIT, A DEFENSIVE PLAY, OR SHEER ENTHUSIASM.
WHEREAS OUR CITY IS PRIOR PROUD OF THE TIGERS AND REC AND THE RECOGNITION BY, UH, RECOGNITION THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR COMMUNITY BY THEIR GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND INSPIRED TEAM PLAY.
WHEREAS THE CITY, UH, WHEREAS THE EXCELLENCE, PERFORMANCE, DEDICATION, AND COMMITMENT OF THESE YOUNG MEN, ALONG WITH THEIR PARENTS AND COACHING STAFF, HAVE PROVEN TO BE A SOURCE OF ADMIRATION AND INSPIRATION TO THE CITIZENS OF LAKE JACKSON.
WHEREAS THE TIGERS HAD AN EXCITING, HARD FIGHT, HARD FOUGHT AND SUCCESSFUL SEASON, AND THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON IS PRIOR PROUD OF THE RECORD THE TIGERS HAVE EARNED.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY LAKE JACKSON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM AUGUST 19TH, 2024 AS 11 YOUTH LBC TIGERS BASEBALL DAY IN THE CITY.
[00:05:06]
WHO'S THE HEAD? WHO'S THE HEAD PERSON? YOU ALRIGHT, HERE WE GO.WE'LL TAKE PICTURES HERE IN JUST A MINUTE ALSO.
SO WOULD YOU GO AHEAD AND NAME OFF YOUR, UH, ALL YOUR, YOUR MANAGERS AND COACH AND, AND SO FORTH, YOUR SUIT? SORRY, YOUR NICK TAPE.
THE MANAGER OR THE HEAD COACH? WE ALL, WELL, I WOULD CALL 'EM THE HEAD COACH OR THE MANAGER,
SO JUST RECOGNIZE IF THEY'RE HERE.
HUH? YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN UP HERE.
YEAH, SO, OKAY, SO WHAT I'VE GOT IS, AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M TERRIBLE WITH NAMES.
SO WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR EACH 20 OF YOU GUYS.
OKAY? SO I'M JUST GOING TO GO WITH A FIRST NAME IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU.
SO WE'VE GOT TRACE, THERE YOU GO.
AND WE HAVE JACE, AND THEN WE HAVE DAYTON, DANTE.
THAT'S A TOUGH, THAT'S A GOOD NAME.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD HARD HITTER.
OKAY, BRADLEY, WE GOOD? MAX AND READY? DRAKE AREA.
LET'S STAND UP AND WE'LL TAKE PICTURES HERE REAL QUICK.
SO COUNCIL, WHY DON'T Y'ALL GO AHEAD AND STAND UP AND HAVE YOU JUST HOLD YOUR CERTIFICATE, YOU WANNA, OR NOT? WHATEVER YOU WANNA DO.
I THINK THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO Y'ALL HOW TO THIS, THESE ALL, CAN YOU SEE YOU IN THE GAP? YEAH.
YOU READY? CAN GET THEM? THEY CAN GET AWAY.
ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY LOOK FOR CAT.
YOU READY TIME? ALRIGHT, SO WHO, SO WHO WAS THE CATCHER? YOU HAVE A CATCHER OR ONE CATCHER? A ALL, ALL I GOTTA TELL YOU IS I WAS A CATCHER.
YOU BE PAINFUL FOR ONE YOUR OWN, LIKE ME, EITHER THAT OR BEING A CENTER IN FOOTBALL.
MEANS LOT, EVERYBODY HOW YOU GET TO STAY.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE FILL THE ROOMS. THAT'S RIGHT.
GONNA BE HANGING MEAT IN HERE LATER.
IS EVERYBODY OKAY WITH THE TEMPERATURE IN HERE? BECAUSE I JUST SAW THE THERMOSTATS AT 68, SO IT'S GONNA GET COOL IN HERE.
NEXT THING WE HAVE VISITORS' COMMENTS.
THIS IS WHERE OPPORTUNITY WHERE, UH, PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH,
[00:10:01]
BRING A QUESTION OR COMMENT OR DISCUSSION TO COMMENT TO, UH, CITY COUNCIL.UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, SINCE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, WE CAN'T DISCUSS, BUT WE CAN LISTEN.
IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT, UH, WOULD LIKE TO BRING AN ITEM UP TO COUNCIL THAT'S NOT ON THE REGULAR AGENDA OR CONSULT AGENDA.
MANU IS DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AGAIN, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL CAN DECLARE IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDA.
ANYBODY NEED TO DECLARE CONFLICT? NOPE.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
CONSENT AGENDA.ALL RIGHT, ITEM ONE, APPROVAL OF MINUTES AUGUST 5TH, 2024.
UH, ITEM NUMBER TWO EXCEPT BOARD AND COMMISSION MINUTES FOR PLANNING, COMMISSION AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION.
ITEM NUMBER THREE IS APPROVE AMENDMENT NUMBER NINE TO THE GLO, UH, NATURAL GAS CONTRACT NUMBER 0 9 2 3 5 0 0 0 3 7 7 9 TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT FOR TWO MORE YEARS.
ITEM FOUR, APPROVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH BRAZORIA COUNTY, UH, FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE MAINTENANCE.
ITEM FIVE IS, UH, APPROVE AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE, UH, THIS, UH, THE CITY OF RICHWOOD WITH POLICE AND FIRE DISPATCH SURFACES FOR AN ANNUAL FEE OF $160,216 AND 27 CENTS.
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA GO TO ITEM SIX, APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 99 60, UH, AMENDING THE FISCAL 2324 BUDGET TO FUND THE ADDITIONAL $292,181 18 CENTS OF $642,181 AND 18 CENTS FOR THE CITY, UH, CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE FEMA, UH, HAZARD ME TO GET MITIGATION GRANT TOLLING $2,772,000.
UH, I, ITEM SEVEN IS APPROVED THE 2025 CITY OF LAKE JACKSON HOLIDAY SCHEDULED, AND THAT IS IT.
SO IS THERE A REQUEST FOR ANY MEMBER OR COUNSEL TO REMOVE AN ITEM FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? MR. MAYOR? I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST NUMBER THREE TO BE REMOVED FOR A GENERAL DISCUSSION.
WE'LL REMOVE ITEM NUMBER THREE FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA.
IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEM THAT, UH, YOU'D LIKE TO MOVE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? IF, IF NOT, I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON ALL REMAINING ITEMS. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT.
AGENDA ITEMS 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, AND SEVEN AS PRESENTED SECOND.
A MOTION CAN COUNCILWOMAN SETH SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BUELL.
[3. Approve Amendment No. 9 to GLO Natural Gas Contract No. 09-235-000-3779 to extend the contract for two more years.]
TALK ABOUT, UH, THAT ITEM THREE NOW.SO, UH, SO MAY I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON THIS, UH, THIS, UH, CONTRACT, AS YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, IT HAS A, UH, UPPER AND LOWER LIMIT CLAUSE THAT IF YOU DO NOT USE ENOUGH GAS AS YOU CONTRACT, UH, YOU HAVE A PENALTY FOR, UH, 8 CENTS, I BELIEVE, UM, PER M-M-B-T-U THAT YOU DON'T GET BACK.
SO IF I'M READING CORRECTLY, IT'S 15 CENTS A ADDER FOR M MAX AND YOU LOSE 8 CENTS FOR EACH, UH, MM BT U THAT YOU DON'T USE FOR THE MONTH.
AND ON THE O OTHER SIDE, IF YOU DON'T NOMINATE ENOUGH, YOU, UH, PAY THE ACTUAL DAY PRICE OF NATURAL GAS PLUS THAT ADDER AS, UH, PROVIDED IN THIS CONTRACT.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, UH, SOMEONE HAS LOOKED AT THIS FROM LAST PREVIOUS, UH, YEARS CONSUMPTIONS AND, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE STILL IN THE BANDWIDTH THAT WE NEED TO BE IN.
UH, WE HAVE LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS AND FOR THE LAST, EXCUSE ME, THE LAST TWO CYCLES, UH, WE HAVE BEEN PLUS OR MINUS THREE OR 4% YEAR OVER YEAR FOR OUR CONSUMPTION.
SO IT'S TRENDING, UH, WHERE IT HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.
MY, MY BIGGEST QUESTION WAS REGARDING NOT THE REC CENTER BECAUSE THE USAGE IS PRETTY SMALL.
IT'S NOT A BIG USAGE, BUT THE, UH, CNG YES.
SO RECENTLY THAT, UH, THE, UH, THE PRINCIPLE USER OF THAT HAS SWITCHED TO A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE.
THE, THE, UH, UH, ARE STILL USING THE, OUR GAS, THE, UH, FOR FOR TRUCKS? NO, THE, FOR THE BUSES.
OH, NO, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT PART OF OUR SYSTEM ANYMORE.
WE, WE TRIED TO GET THEM TO, UH, SWITCH TO C AND G, BUT, UH, UH, THEY STAYED AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT ELECTRICITY.
SO IT, SO IT'S REALLY OUR FLEET, WHICH IS PRIMARILY CHANGED.
AND THE SEC, THIRD THING, LAST THING IS THE, UH, WE NEED TO CORRECT THE EXHIBIT B ONE AND B TWO WITH THE CONTACT PHONE NUMBER
[00:15:01]
AND EMAIL.IT STILL SAYS SABRINA ENGLAND ON IT, SO THEY CAN PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND NUMBER AND SO WE CAN, THEY CAN CONTACT THE RIGHT PERSON.
SABRINA WOULD BE SURPRISED TO GET THAT CALL.
OH, WHAT WHAT'LL HAPPENED IS YOU, THEY NOTIFY YOU AND YOU NEVER GOT NOTIFIED, SO COST YOU MONEY.
WE'RE STILL ASKING THE TCU TO CHANGES FROM MAYOR REINHARDT.
I STILL GET HIS MA HE GET, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO YOU'RE OKAY WITH, UH, PASSING, UH, MAKING A MOTION WITH THAT CHANGE? YES, SIR.
SO I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON THAT THEN.
SO I MOVE THAT WE, UH, APPROVE THE, UH, AMENDMENT ITEM THREE.
ITEM THREE AS, UH, PRESENTED WITH THOSE CHANGES.
UH, MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HANYA AND SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN SETH FOR ITEM THREE.
[1. Public Hearing to consider the proposed FY 2024-2025 Annual Budget. – Modesto Mundo]
ON TO A REGULAR, UH, AGENDA.AND, UH, SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO IS WE'RE GONNA OPEN UP A PUBLIC HEARING, OPEN UP A PUBLIC HEARING AT, I'LL CALL IT, UH, SIX FORTY FIVE, UH, TO CONSIDER, UH, THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 20 24, 20 25 ANNUAL BUDGET.
MODEST DESKTOP, MAYOR, COUNSEL, UH, LET'S SEE.
WE CAN PULL UP A, A BRIEF PRESENTATION.
WE'VE GOT TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, UH, TONIGHT.
THE FIRST ONE IS ON THE BUDGET, AND THE SECOND ONE WILL BE ON THE TAX RATE.
LET ME SEE IF, UH, LEMME GET IT TO THE BIG SCREEN.
AS YOU CAN SEE, UH, TONIGHT, UH, THE LAST MEETING, UH, WE CALL THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 5TH, WE HAD OUR WORKSHOP, UH, THIS YEAR A LITTLE BIT LATER, UH, THAN NORMAL.
USUALLY IT'S THE MID JULY, WE HAD IT ON AUGUST 3RD.
THE HOPE WAS TO GET FIRMER, UM, VALUES, UH, FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
UM, FINAL VALUES ON THERE, OF COURSE, ON THE JULY 26TH, I THOUGHT WE WOULD GET AN UPDATE.
I THINK WE'LL PROBABLY GO BACK TO THE JULY, UH, MEETING SINCE IT REALLY DIDN'T DO US ANY GOOD.
AND WE HAD TO CHANGE, UH, MIDSTREAM ANYWAY, BECAUSE THE VALUES AS THEY PROJECTED WENT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.
AND YOU CAN REMEMBER, UH, IN OUR WORKSHOP, I WAS RECOMMENDING THE MAXIMUM TAX INCREASE SPLIT AT THE TIME WAS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
BUT THAT SWITCHED AND, UM, IT, UH, CHANGED TO NOW THE MAXIMUM REVENUE THAT WE COULD REALIZE WAS THE, THE DI MINIMUS RATE.
AND SO MY RECOMMENDATION CHANGED AND SWITCHED TO THE DI MINIMUS RATE VERSUS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
UM, ON TONIGHT IS YOUR PUBLIC HEARING, UH, NIGHT.
AND THEN IF COUNSEL DID NOT, UH, UM, YOU HAVE A SEVEN DAY WINDOW TO APPROVE THE TAX RATE, UH, WHICH IS EITHER TONIGHT OR UP TO THE 26TH, YOU CAN HAVE A SPECIAL CALL MEETING.
UM, IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT BY THE 26TH, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE CALL FOR ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE.
THE BUDGET CAN BE, UH, ADOPTED, UH, WITHOUT THAT, UH, REQUIREMENT.
AGAIN, OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES COMING OUT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE, UH, REMAINED THE SAME.
UH, INCREASED OUR CAPITAL INVESTMENT TO MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, IMPROVE FUNDING FOR CAPITAL MAINTENANCE AND CONTINUE TO INVEST OUR EMPLOYEES, UH, SO WE CAN, UH, ATTRACT AND RETAIN STAFF.
THE BUDGET, UH, IS COMPRISED OF SEVERAL FUNDS.
THE TWO LARGEST FUND IS THE GENERAL OPERATING FUND, WHICH IS AS YOU UNDER, UM, KNOW, WOULD BE GENERAL, UH, GOVERNMENT, OPERATIONS, POLICE, UH, ANYTHING UNDER PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, FOR US AS WELL.
UM, CODE ENFORCEMENT, UM, UH, STREETS, DRAINAGE PERSONNEL.
AND THEN WE HAVE THE UTILITY FUND, WHICH IS A STANDING FUND.
OUR UTILITY FUND HAS THREE, UM, UH, REALLY OPERATING DEPARTMENTS, WATER, SEWER, AND THEN SANITATION.
A LOT OF CITIES, UH, CONTRACT ON SANITATION.
WE DO IT, UH, OURSELVES IN-HOUSE.
[00:20:01]
FUNDS, UH, OTHER UTILITY FUND THAT'S, UH, THERE WOULD BE, UM, CAPITAL, UH, THE GENERAL DEBT SERVICE FUND IS OUR DEBT PAYMENT, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND.UM, OTHER GENERAL FUND, UH, THAT IS PROB UH, THAT IS THE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND.
UH, THE GOLF COURSE FUND IS A STANDALONE, UH, FUND.
AND THEN THE, THE GENERAL PROJECTS FUND IS A CIP, WHICH IS, IT'S A SAVINGS ACCOUNT, UH, AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO THAT'S NOT AN OPERATING ACCOUNT.
AND THEN SPECIAL REVENUE, IT'S COMPRISED OF, UH, SEVERAL FUNDS, INSURANCE, HOTEL, MOTEL, UH, PEG FUND.
UH, IT'S A SMALLER ONE, BUT PRIMARILY THE TWO OPERATING FUND.
THE TWO BIGGEST ONES ARE THE GENERAL AND THE UTILITY.
THERE ARE NO TAXES, UH, PAID INTO THE UTILITY OPERATING FUND.
IT DOES REIMBURSE THE GENERAL FUND FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES, THOUGH YOU CAN SEE GENERAL FUND REVENUES, UM, PROPOSED.
UM, THE BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND IS 27.45 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT IS A, UM, ABOUT A $1.1 MILLION INCREASE FROM LAST YEAR.
AND THE UTILITY FUND IS THE BIGGEST INCREASE AT ABOUT 3 MILLION, UM, OF 21, UM, 21 MILLION THIS YEAR.
THE BIGGEST INCREASE THERE IS, UH, THE DEBT PAYMENT FOR THE $20 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT WE'LL HAVE TO DO FOR LIFT STATION ONE AND, UH, SALARIES, UM, BWA EXPENDITURES.
AND, UM, OUR, ALSO OUR, UM, I GUESS PUTTING IN OUR 1.5 MILLION TRANSFER FOR CAPITAL PLACEMENTS EACH YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL FUND REVENUE BREAKDOWN FOR US, OUR TWO BIGGEST SOURCES OF FUNDING, OUR SALES TAX AND THE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT.
UH, PROPERTY TAX IS ABOUT 24, UH, PERCENT OF 6.4 MILLION.
AND THEN WE HAVE MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE AND THEN FRANCHISE FEES.
FRANCHISE FEES ARE FOR ANY OF THE, UH, UTILITIES THAT OPERATE IN OUR RIGHT OF WAY.
AGAIN, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, I'M RECOMMENDING THE DI MINIMIS RATE.
UH, OF COURSE IT'S DOWN, BUT IT'S STILL AN INCREASE.
I'M RECOMMENDING THREE, UH, 3, 2, 5, 9.
THE GENERAL FUNDING INCREASE IS ABOUT 1.5 MILLION, UH, MARKET.
IT INCLUDES MARKET ADJUSTMENTS OF 4% AND THEN PAY PER PERFORMANCE OF ARRANGING OF TWO TO 3%.
UH, WE'VE TAKEN THAT DOWN 1%, UH, TO STAY WITHIN BUDGET.
UH, SO, UH, IT'S EITHER MEET OR EXCEED EXPECTATION.
THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEED EXPECTATION.
UH, THE BIGGEST INCREASE, UH, IS, UH, 400, UH, A LITTLE OVER 400,000 FOR INCREASE, UH, STREET AND TRAFFIC, LIGHT MAINTENANCE.
UH, AGAIN, THE UTILITY FUND IS THE LARGEST INCREASE OF 3.1 MILLION.
THE UTILITY RATE INCREASE IS, UH, $9 AND 18 CENTS PER MONTH FOR 5,000 GALLONS.
THAT'S USUALLY THE STANDARD THAT CITIES COMPARE.
OUR AVERAGE USES IS, IS AROUND 6,000, UH, GALLONS FOR A CUSTOMER.
UH, I'M RECOMMENDING A RESIDENTIAL SANITATION RATE INCREASE OF A DOLLAR 50 TO 27 50.
UH, THIS, THAT RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE PRIOR, UH, TO THE STORM.
UH, AGAIN, WE HAD TO BORROW, UH, FROM OURSELVES OUT OF THE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND VERSUS GOING TO THE AQUA MARKET TO SAVE INTEREST RATES.
UH, INITIAL ESTIMATES THAT WE WILL HAVE TO RAISE THE RATE, ANOTHER $3 TO $3 AND 50 CENTS AFTER, UM, AFTER THE STORM.
BUT I'VE HELD OFF ON MAKING THAT RECOMMENDATION UNTIL WE, THE DUST SETTLES AND WE KNOW WHAT OUR FINAL EXPENDITURES ARE AND WE GET OUR REIMBURSEMENT.
WE MAY COME, UM, MAKING A RECOMMENDATION FOR A MIDYEAR, A ADJUSTMENT, BUT THE RATE, THE RATE WILL NEED TO GO UP, UH, SOMEWHERE AROUND $3 TO $3 AND 50 CENTS.
UH, THE COMMERCIAL SANITATION RATE INCREASE OF 5%.
AND THEN WE HAVE 25, UM, POINT, UH, 2 MILLION IN CIP PROJECTS.
20 MILLION OF THAT IS LOW STATION ONE AND THE ASSOCIATED FORCE SPAN.
WE, WE PACKAGE THEM IN AS ONE PROJECT, BUT IT'S REALLY TWO PROJECTS.
UM, AND THEN WE HAVE A $280,000 GRANT, UH, THIS YEAR, UM, THAT WE JUST RECEIVED NOTICE FOR, FOR OUR SS FOUR, UH, PLANNING GRANT.
AND THEN WE'RE DOING, UM, PROPOSAL 1.63 MILLION IN THE HALF CENT, UH, FUND FOR PARKS AND RECREATION PROJECTS.
BUT THAT'S HAS SOME MODIFICATIONS THAT WE MENTIONED AT THE LAST MEETING.
THE UTILITY PROJECTS, OF COURSE, THESE, UH, DO NOT COME OUT OF OPERATING THIS, THIS COME OUT OF, UH, SAVINGS.
UH, YOU CAN SEE, UH, MOST OF THAT IS FOR SEWER THIS YEAR, A MINOR AMOUNT FOR SANITATION AND
[00:25:01]
A MINOR AMOUNT, UH, FOR WATER.AND ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKOUT HERE.
AGAIN, THESE ARE FROM END OF YEAR SAVINGS THAT WE, UM, PUSH INTO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND.
A LOT OF THE COST RIGHT NOW IS, UM, BUILDING MA BUILDING MAINTENANCE OUT OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND.
WE'VE STAYED WITHIN THE ALLOTMENT THAT COUNCIL AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD APPROVED FOR THE HALF, UH, OUT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, WE'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING.
IF COUNSEL RECOMMENDS THIS IN RED, YOU'LL SEE THE THREE CHANGES.
AGAIN, THE BOTTOM LINE STAYS THE SAME, BUT, UH, COUNSEL APPROVED 135,000 FOR, UM, REMOVING TREES ON THE GOLF COURSE.
UH, DUE TO THE HURRICANE, THE RECREATION CENTER GRANT MATCH THAT WE HAVE, WE'RE ASKING FOR 250,000 OUTTA THERE.
AND THEN WE HAD A 700,000 EXPENDITURE FOR THE REC CENTER.
WE'RE ASKING THAT BE ALLOCATED TO HURRICANE, UH, BARREL REPAIRS TO THE CIVIC CENTER OF PARKS AND GOLF COURSE.
UH, A LOT OF THAT IS A MATCH FOR TREE REMOVAL IN THE PARKS OR, UH, REPAIR OF THE CIVIC CENTER OR, UH, GOLF COURSE.
IF, IF THE CIVIC CENTER WE'RE WORKING WITH INSURANCE, THE GOLF COURSE MAY BE A CATEGORY G PROJECT, IF THAT OPENS, OPENS UP IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE'D LIKE TO USE THAT AS A GRANT MATCH, UH, FOR THAT OR REPAIRS.
IF WE DON'T NEED IT, THEN IT WOULD COME BACK TO YOU AND, UM, IT'D BE REALLOCATED BACK TO THE, UH, REC CENTER REPAIR.
BUT RIGHT NOW, WE PUSHED THAT, WE DEFERRED THAT PROJECT FOR A YEAR.
YOU CAN SEE THE NOTE WHERE THE CHANGES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
UH, OF COURSE, I DIVIDED UP MARKET AND MERIT.
UM, FOR THOSE, THE MARKET ADJUSTMENT, UM, OUR SALARY STUDY HAD RECOMMENDED A OVER A THREE YEAR PERIOD, A 5% FOUR AND THREE LAST YEAR.
COUNCIL WAS GENEROUS ENOUGH TO, UH, I HAD RECOMMENDED THREE.
UM, WE FOUND THE DOLLARS TO DO FOUR, UH, THIS YEAR.
OF COURSE, WE WOULD'VE TRIED TO DO FIVE, BUT WE COULDN'T GET THAT IN THERE.
SO I RECOMMENDED A 4% MARKET ADJUSTMENT.
SO MY PLAN IS TO TRY TO DO IT OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, A FOUR, FOUR AND FOUR IF WE CAN NEXT YEAR.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEE THE COST FOR THE MERIT, UH, MERIT INCREASE OUT OF THOSE SALARIES.
UH, TDC PROPERTY, WE'VE, UH, WE'LL GET THAT, UH, SCHEDULED SOMETIME IN APRIL, I BELIEVE WHEN THEY OPEN UP.
UH, THAT IS FOR A HALF YEAR'S, UH, WORTH OF, UH, GROUND AND UTILITY, UH, MAINTENANCE FOR THAT PROPERTY.
AND YOU CAN SEE WE'VE HAD, UH, INCREASE FOR ELECTRICITY MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS IN GENERAL.
THE BRAZORIA COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT, OF COURSE, HITS US WITH AN INCREASE
UH, WE'VE HAD REDUCTION IN GRANT TRAINING THAT'S REALLY KIND OF AN EQUAL FOR EQUAL.
WE GET GRANT DOLLARS IN FOR TRAINING.
THAT WAS FOR CDL, AND THEN IT, IT'S DRIED UP AND GONE AWAY, BUT WE HAVE AN EQUIVALENT EXPENDITURE, SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT OUT.
UH, HEALTH AND DENTAL DID GO DOWN, SO THE EXPENDITURES WENT DOWN 3%.
UH, DRAINAGE SYSTEM REPAIRS WAS REALLY KIND OF ONE TIME FUNDS THAT, UM, WE DIDN'T NEED.
UM, AND THEN WE, WORKERS' COMP HAS GONE DOWN BASED ON OUR MODIFIER FUEL, OF COURSE HAS GONE DOWN FOR US.
AND THEN THE OUTSIDE AUDITOR, WE HAD SWITCHED.
UM, WE HAD GONE OUT FOR RFQ UH, LAST YEAR.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PRICE OF THE MARKET WOULD BE AT THE TIME.
SO WE BUDGETED, WELL, WE WIND UP BUDGETING A LITTLE BIT HIGH, AND YOU'LL SEE A CORRESPONDING, UH, $10,000 DECREASE HERE.
AND ALSO IN THE UTILITY FUND, THE INCREASE, UH, SO EVERYTHING ABOVE THE LINE, UH, WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
EVERYTHING BELOW IS, REQUIRES THE, UM, ADOPTION OF THE DE MINIMUS RATE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE ADDITIONAL STREET AND LIGHT MAINTENANCE IS 417,000.
THE DRAINAGE CONTRACT MOWING, UH, THIS WAS WHERE WE HAD A BUDGET SHORTFALL LAST YEAR WHEN WE WENT OUT FOR BID AND WE COULDN'T DO, UH, THE FREQUENCY WE WANTED.
THIS IS THE, THEN THE CATCH UP FUNDS FOR THAT.
AND THEN THE PD MENTAL HEALTH IS KIND OF A, UH, A GRANT MATCH.
UH, THAT'S FOR ASSISTANCE FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS WHEN THEY COME ACROSS A RECURRING, UH, UM, CITIZEN THAT NEEDS HELP.
AND THEY'VE DONE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN FROM A LEGAL PERSPECTIVE.
THIS GIVES THEM ANOTHER SOCIAL WORK ASPECT ASSISTANCE IN THERE.
IF THE COUNCIL DID NOT WANT TO RECOMMEND, UH, OR TAKE MY RECOMMENDATION OF THE DI MINIMUM RATE, YOU COULD SEE THE CHANGE.
I WOULD RECOMMEND NO CHANGE IN THE DRAINAGE CONTRACT OR THE PD, UH, GRANT MATCH.
I WOULD RECOMMEND A, THE, THE CUT OF 229,000
[00:30:01]
BE MADE FOR THE ADDITIONAL STREET AND LIGHT MAINTENANCE.AND SO THAT WOULD STILL GIVE A, UH, 188,000 ADDITIONAL FUNDS.
BUT AGAIN, IT WOULD BE SHORT FROM THE 417,000 ON THE UTILITY FUND.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THE NOTEWORTHY CHANGES.
AGAIN, TRANSFER TO CAPITAL, THE 1.5 MILLION, WE'RE PUTTING THAT IN THERE.
WE NORMALLY DO NOT HAVE THAT IN THERE BECAUSE WE WAIT FOR SAVINGS AT THE, THE YEAR AND HOPE THAT WE HAVE A TRANSFER.
MY RECOMMENDATION, I MEAN, MY FEELINGS ARE, THAT'S NOT A WAY TO RUN.
A UTILITY DEPARTMENT IS HOPING THAT WE CAN FIX THINGS.
SO THAT, UH, PUTS THAT IN PLACE.
THE DEBT TRANSFER THAT'S, UH, INTEREST, UH, IN THE FIRST YEAR, UH, FOR THE 20 MILLION, THAT WILL, AGAIN, GO UP AGAIN NEXT YEAR AS WE START TO BEGIN TO PAY PRINCIPAL.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE SALARY INCREASES, UH, FOR WATER, SEWER AND SANITATION.
WE ALSO HAVE, I BROKE UP THE BWA INCREASE.
THAT'S A PASS THROUGH FEE FOR US.
UH, THE FIRST ONE IS THERE 45 CENTS PER GALLON FOR THIS IS FOR TREATMENT AND OPERATIONS.
AND THEN THE HARRIS RESERVOIR, UH, THAT'S 109, UH, THOUSAND.
UH, THIS YEAR INCREASE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE, IT'S AN EIGHT YEAR INCREASE.
IT WILL, IN TOTAL IT WILL BE $850,000.
SO REALLY, IN ESSENCE, YOU CAN SAY WE, WE TOOK ON 109,000 LAST YEAR, AND WE'RE TAKING ON A NEW 109,000 THIS YEAR.
IN THE END, IT'LL BE AROUND 850 TO 900,000.
AND THAT'S FOR OUR SHARE OF THE HARRIS RESERVOIR.
EXPANSION, LANDFILL TIPPING FEES WENT UP A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
WE, UM, WE, UH, 55% IS BWA 60%, MAYBE 60%, AND 40% IS WELL, SO WE HAVE AIR HOW MANY WELLS? 11.
SO WE HAVE TO, UM, MAINTAIN OUR WELLS IN THERE.
UM, AND SO WE'RE UPPING THAT INCREASE, UH, FOR, WELL, WELL MAINTENANCE.
AND WE HAD A SCARE LAST YEAR ON, ON TWO, UH, UH, GOING DRY.
SO MY FEAR, UM, MY FEAR IS THAT THAT STILL IS OUT THERE BECAUSE WE WENT THROUGH, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A COUPLE OF YEARS OF, OF DROUGHT.
UH, AND THE WATER TABLE TAKES ABOUT TWO TO THREE YEARS, UH, REFILL TO, TO REF, TO REFILL.
UH, I THINK AT SOME POINT IN TIME WE'RE LOOKING AT A, A DEEPER, WELL, SOMEWHERE IN, IN THE CITY THAT WE WILL HAVE TO DO.
I'M UPPING THE ADMIN FEE TO THE GENERAL FUND.
UH, THIS IS FOR, UH, PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION OF THE UTILITY FUND.
SO THAT 45,000 GOES TO THE GENERAL FUND, UH, THE, UH, SANITATION CONSULTANT, UH, TO THE ROLL OFF.
UM, WE ARE, WE WANT TO STUDY GETTING OUT OF THE ROLL OFF BUSINESS AND DOING A FRANCHISE OR PERMIT FEE.
UM, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST WITH THAT WOULD BE.
UM, SO WE, UM, I THINK WE'LL HAVE, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR, SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY OR OR MARCH, UM, ON WHAT OUR, UH, NEXT STEPS WOULD BE.
AND THEN WE'VE HAD A BLESSING OF REDUCTION IN POSTAGE.
WE WENT TO THE, UM, CHARGING THE 3%, UH, TO THE CUSTOMER, UH, FOR THE ADMIN CREDIT CARD FEE.
AND THAT, UH, ENTICED EVERYBODY TO GO TO, UH, DIRECT BILLING, UM, FROM THEIR, FROM THEIR BANK.
AND THAT SAVED US $20,000 IN POSTAGE.
WE STILL HAVE A WHAT MORE TO GO.
UM, BUT, UH, THAT WAS A BIG HELP.
AND THAT SHOWS ABOUT 96% OF THE BUDGET INCREASE FOR THE UTILITY FUND WATER RATES.
UH, THAT'S THE BIGGEST, UH, INCREASE THAT A CITIZEN WOULD SEE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT, UM, UH, THE BASE, UH, BILL WOULD JUMP FROM 32 25 TO 36, 66.
AND THEN YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE PER THOUSAND GALLON RATES.
UH, THERE, UH, THIS FIRST YEAR, UM, WE DO THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY FURTHER STUDY THAT'S NEEDED WHERE WE HAVE MORE TIERS.
UH, AND THE WATER AND THE WATER, THE WATER RATE, ESPECIALLY.
THERE WAS A QUESTION ON SENIOR DISCOUNT.
THIS WAS A RUDIMENTARY SURVEY THAT WAS, THAT WE HAD.
AND ALSO WHAT NEWGEN WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE.
UM, OUR PERCENTAGE RIGHT NOW, UH, OUR DISCOUNT IS A 40%.
I'M RECOMMENDING CONVERTING THAT OVER TO A HARD DOLLAR AMOUNT.
I'M RECOMMENDING IT GOES TO $13.
SO IT'D BE SIX 50 FOR WATER, SIX 50 FOR DISCOUNT.
AND YOU CAN SEE IN THE AREA WHO HAS A DISCOUNT.
[00:35:01]
HAS A SENIOR DISCOUNT AND WHO DOESN'T? UM, WE ARE NOT THE HIGHEST.ALVIN IS THE HIGHEST AT 30% OF BASE.
BUT THEY ALSO ON THEIR WATER BILL CHARGE FOR, UM, FOR EMS ON THEIR WATER BILL, WHICH IN MY MIND NEGATES YOUR, UH, YOUR DISCOUNT FOR THEIR, BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE A 40%, AND I'M RECOMMENDING THAT IT GO TO A HARD DOLLAR, UH, AMOUNT.
WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS THE COMPARISON.
THE QUESTION WAS ASKED IF WE STATED THE PERCENTAGE, WHAT WOULD BE THE, THE COST? OF COURSE, THE REVENUE WOULD DECLINE.
WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.
UH, THE RATE ON THE REGULAR CUSTOMER WOULD HAVE TO GO UP.
SO WE'D HAVE TO MAKE THAT CHANGE IF WE WANTED TO DO THAT.
SO A GOOD TIME TO ASK A QUESTION.
SO HOW MANY OF THOSE CITIES HAVE, UH, UH, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FOR THE CITIZENS? UH, SEVERAL DO.
AND I SHOW THAT AT THE END OF THE SLIDE.
WE'RE, UH, UM, ON THE COMPARISON OF THE TAX RATE, WE'RE STILL THE LOWEST, UH, OUT OF ANY, ANY PROPERTY PAID, TAX PAID IN BRAZO COUNTY WITH ALL THE, WITH HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS APPLIED, UH, TO IT.
AND I'LL SHOW THAT AT THE LAST SLIDE IN THERE.
WE'RE STILL, WE'RE STILL THE LOWEST.
THE WATER AND SEWER MONTHLY BILL.
UH, YOU CAN SEE WE'RE, UH, MOVING UP FROM 67 29.
THIS IS A FOURTH 5,000 GALLONS TO 76, 47.
THE RED LINE SHOWS, UH, THE SENIOR RATE.
IT'S A $13 REDUCTION, UH, FROM THERE.
AND SO IT WOULD SHOW ACROSS THE BOARD WHAT A SENIOR WOULD PAY FOR THE 5,000, UH, GALLONS.
I DON'T THE, AGAIN, THE AVERAGE USE FOR A HOME IS 6,000 GALLONS.
BUT EVERY CITY SHOWS THE 5,000 IS THE, ON THE SURVEY, I DON'T KNOW THE USAGE ON FOR SENIORS, UH, WHAT THAT IS.
AND YOU GET, YOU CAN SEE, UM, UH, ALVIN IS OF COURSE THE HIGHEST IN THE REGION.
UM, AND THEN THERE ARE, UH, A FEW THAT ARE LOWER.
ROSENBERG HAS THE LOWEST GARBAGE RATES.
WE SHOW OUR COMPARISON OF, UH, WE'RE AT 26.
I'M RECOMMENDING YOU THAT WE GO TO 27 50, UH, FOR OPERATIONS.
THIS IS AGAIN, BASED ON OUR REVENUE STREAM AND EXPENDITURES.
AND, UM, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM NEWGEN LAST YEAR, I, THERE WAS A QUESTION IN THE WORKSHOP OF WHO HAD, UM, CART SERVICE.
SO THE GARBAGE CAN IS FOR EVERY CITY THAT HAS CART SERVICE, HOW MANY OTHER CITIES DO TWICE A WEEK PICK UP? UM, ALL OF THESE IN THE SURVEY ARE TWICE A WEEK.
YOU CAN DOUBLE THE SURVEY FOR ONCE A WEEK.
UH, BUT I, I, I SHOWED APPLES TO APPLES.
SO THE EVEN ONES WITH CART WITH THE, ALL OF ALL OF THESE IN THE SURVEY ARE TWICE A WEEK.
UM, IF, IF WE HAD SHOWED ONCE A WEEK, YOU COULD DOUBLE IT.
IS THAT WHERE THE TRUCK PICKS UP TRASH CAN? THAT'S THE AUTOMATED, UH, CART TRASH CAN.
YOU HAD, I'M SORRY, I HAVE TO COME UP HERE TO ASK YOU A QUESTION AND JUST GIVE US YOUR NAME.
UH, SO AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE UM, INCREASE IS FOR THE EXPANSION OF THIS, UH, RESERVOIR.
BASICALLY, THAT'S WHAT THE BIGGEST PORTION OF IT IS.
NO, ONE OF, ONE OF THE SMALL ONLY 15 CENTS, UH, FOR THE, OF THE INCREASE FROM BWA THIS YEAR IS, UM, FOR THE HARRIS RESERVOIR, BUT IT'S 15 CENTS A YEAR OVER EIGHT YEARS.
SO THIS YEAR WAS 109,000 FOR THE HARRIS RESERVOIR.
OUR BIGGEST EXPENSE THIS YEAR IN THE WATER SIDE IS A 1.5 MILLION TRANSFER TO OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS TO DO CAPITAL, OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR UTILITIES.
AND THEN WE ARE GETTING READY TO, UM, REFURBISH OUR, BUILD A NEW, UH, LIFT STATION ACROSS BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, WHICH ABOUT 60 TO 65% OF OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FLOWS, UH, GO THROUGH THERE.
SO THAT'S OUR BIGGEST EXPENSE IN, IN THAT PROJECT.
WE, BUT WE DO, UM, FOR INSTANCE, THE UTILITIES.
ALL, ALL OF OUR UTILITIES ARE CITY RUN, CITY OWNED.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE ONLY ONE THAT WE DON'T
[00:40:01]
RUN IS OUR MAIN WATER SUPPLIER IS THE BRA RIVER, I MEAN BWBW, APORT WATER BRAS, WATERSPORT WATER AUTHORITY.WE DO BUY 60% OF OUR WATER FROM THEM AS, AND IT'S, OUR BOARD IS OF SEVEN CITIES THAT BUY WATER FROM THEM.
AND THAT IS GONNA ANSWER MY QUESTION ABOUT HOW MANY CITIES HAVE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION ON THEIR TAXES.
SO THAT, UM, I CAN GO TO THAT SLIDE REAL QUICK 'CAUSE THAT'S THE, UM, IF YOU WAIT WHEN I GO THROUGH THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE TAX RATE.
I'LL, I'LL SHOW THE HOMESTEADS ON THAT.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID THAT DURING THIS PRESENTATION.
BUT THAT'S THE BUBBLE, UH, THE BUBBLE, THE BUDGET, UH, PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COUNSEL? FIRST ON, UH, UH, THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED THE PRESENTATION THOUGH.
IS THIS A GOOD TIME TO TALK? UH, LET'S SEE.
UM, YOU NEED TO TALK, UH, YOU NEED TO TALK DURING THE BUDGET OR THIS PART, OR DURING THE, UH, TAX RATE.
SO LET'S WHATEVER YOU JUST WAIT FOR TAX RATE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON ANYBODY? ALRIGHT, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT SEVEN 10 AND WE'LL MOVE
[2. Public Hearing to discuss the proposed tax rate of $0.325929 (per $100), which would increase taxes above the no-new-revenue rate by 3.26% for the City of Lake Jackson of FY 2024-2025. – Modesto Mundo]
ON TO ITEM TWO.AND I'VE GOTTA READ SOMETHING HERE.
ITEM TWO IS, UH, IT'S THE SAME THING.
I'LL READ WHAT'S HIGHLIGHTED HERE ON ITEM TWO IS, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OF, UH, $0.33 PER HUNDRED DOLLARS.
UH, WHICH WOULD INCREASE TAX TAXES ABOVE THE NON-NEW REVENUE RATE BY 3.26% FOR THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON'S FISCAL YEAR 2024.
UH, OPEN THIS PUBLIC AT SEVEN 10.
SO THIS IS THE, UM, PORTION WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE, THE TAX RATE.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER, UM, UH, TAXES GENERATE 24% OF OUR REVENUE STREAM FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
THIS IS THE AVERAGE ADVERTISEMENT THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO PUT IN THE, UH, PAPER.
AND IT SHOWS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, WHICH THIS YEAR I'M RECOMMENDING THE DI MINIMIS RATE, UH, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IT SHOWS.
AND THEN THE VOTER APPROVAL, UH, TAX RATE, AGAIN, THIS IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THE ADVERTISEMENT, UH, AND IT SHOWS THE INCREASE.
OUR AVERAGE HOME VALUE, UH, ACCORDING TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WAS 2 71 LAST YEAR.
AND IT'S, UH, JUMPED TO 290,300.
UM, THE RECOMMENDED RATE, UH, THAT I RECOMMENDED, UM, A AVERAGE HOME, UM, RESIDENT WOULD PAY $887 IF ADOPTED, THE AVERAGE HOME WOULD PAY 946 UH, DOLLARS.
THAT'S AN INCREASE OF $58 84 CENTS.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL TAX LEVY ON ALL PROPERTIES.
THEN I SHOW THE EFFECT OF EACH, LEMME BACK UP A SECOND.
SO AGAIN, SO YOU'RE SAYING FOR TOTAL, SO THE, THE TAX RATE THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING MM-HMM.
AND THEN YOU CAN SEE, UM, THE DIFFERENT, UM, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, UH, WHAT IT CAN FUND.
WE WOULD STILL BE ABLE, UH, MY RECOMMENDATION, IF THE COUNCIL WANTED TO ADOPT THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WE WOULD STILL DO THE DRAINAGE MOWING.
THAT IN EFFECT WOULD BE PAID BY NEW PROPERTY.
UH, ON THE TAX ROLL, UH, THAT'S NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE TAX INCREASE.
THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, UM, AGAIN, WOULD FUND, UH, THE DRAINAGE MOWING PD HEALTH, UH, IN 188,600 OF NEW REVENUE TO STREETS.
AND THE DI MINIMIS RATE IS, UH, ONLY ALLOWED FOR CITIES UNDER 30,000 THAT WOULD, I GUARANTEE US 500,000 REVENUE.
UM, THAT INCREASE WOULD GO TO MY, MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WOULD GO TO STREET AND TRAFFIC LIGHT MAINTENANCE AND IT WOULD JUMP IT UP TO 417,800.
SO, NO, SORRY, AGAIN, WHEN WE HAD, THE CONSULTANT CAME IN AND, UH, THEY RECOMMENDED
[00:45:01]
TO SPEND A MINIMUM OF AT LEAST $350,000 A YEAR GOING FORWARD TO JUST KEEP US AS A STEADY STATE.IS THAT 350 PART OF THE, IS THE 180 8 PART OF THE THREE 50, OR IS IT THREE 50 IN THE BUDGET AND 180 8? 180 8 IS ADDITIONAL? NO, THE THREE 50 IS NOT IN THE BUDGET.
SO THAT WOULD GET YOU 180 8, THE THREE 50 PART.
AND MY MEMORY, IT WAS, IT WAS A RANGE FROM THREE 50 TO FIVE OH TO, YEAH, FIVE TO FIVE TO 500.
AND THAT WAS A ONLY, WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO AFFORD BECAUSE WE WEREN'T SURE OF THE RAS PROGRAM.
THAT WE ONLY HAD 'EM LOOKED AT THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARE.
IT WASN'T, WE DIDN'T DO A BROAD, THAT WAS JUST TO MAINTAIN THE STREETS THAT THEY DID THE, TO KEEP 'EM, TO IMPROVE 'EM A LITTLE BIT AND THEN MAINTAIN MAIN, MAINTAIN THEM.
UM, WHERE WE DIDN'T, WHERE THEY STARTED, IT WOULDN'T FAIL ANY FURTHER.
THEY WOULDN'T FAIL ANY FURTHER THAT STUFF.
SO THEY SAID SOMEWHERE AROUND 350 TO 500,000 THAT YOU WERE GONNA HAVE TO INCREASE YOUR MAINTENANCE, UH, ON THOSE, THAT TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE BOND, UH, PROJECT THAT WE HAD OF THE 1.5 MILLION FOUR PANEL REPLACEMENTS.
SO AGAIN, WHEN I'M RECOMMENDING THE, THE TAX INCREASE, IT'S REALLY COVERING THESE THREE ITEMS. AGAIN, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, UH, THIS IS AN EXPLANATION OF THE NEW NEW REVENUE RATE.
THE TAX RATE'S REALLY DIVIDED INTO TWO RATES.
IT'S THE, UM, THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION RATE AND THE INTEREST IN SEEKING RATE, UM, WHICH IS OUR DEBT RATE, OUR BONDS, UM, OUR CITY HAS A PROUD HISTORY OF, OF EVERY PROJECT THAT'S BEEN APPROVED THERE HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.
AND AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE THE, THE RATE THERE RECOMMENDED.
UH, THE VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER, ARE THE RECOMMENDATION HERE IS THE, AGAIN, YOU SAW WHAT IT WAS FUNDING.
THIS ALSO INCLUDES ANY UNUSED INCREMENT OVER THE LAST, UH, THREE YEARS.
AND AGAIN, IT COMPRISES OF BOTH.
BUT TONIGHT YOU'RE ONLY VOTING FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AND NOT THE TOTAL TAX RATE.
BUT WE SHOWED THE, THE HOMEOWNER ONLY WANTS TO SEE THE TOTAL.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS THE DE MINIMIS, UH, TAX RATE.
THIS IS THE RATE THAT I'M RECOMMENDING TO GENERATE, UH, THE 500,417, OF COURSE, WITH MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO GO FOR, UM, STREETS AND AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
THIS RATE IS ONLY OFFERED TO CITIES UNDER 30,000.
AND THIS CAN BE DONE EVERY YEAR, OR IS THERE A IT'S EVERY YEAR.
AND SO AGAIN, THE REASON FOR THE DE MINIMUS WAS THAT THE STATE LEGISLATOR AND SENATE BILL TWO, THEY CAME BACK AND BASICALLY BY EXPERIENCE AFTER THEY INTRODUCED THE 3.5%, UH, CAP, UH, THEY REALIZED THAT CITIES OF 30,000 OR BELOW WERE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH THAT THREE AND A HALF PERCENT CAP.
UH, BECAUSE EVEN AT THREE AND HALF PERCENT CAP, THEY WERE ALL HAVING TO GO TO THE VOTERS TO PROVE THEIR BUDGETS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SURVIVE OFF THE THREE AND A HALF PERCENT.
SO THE FI SO IF YOU GO TO MINI THAT, THAT SETS YOU THAT, THAT SETS YOU AT $500,000 AND THEN YOU BACK CALCULATE WHAT THE TAX RATE IS TO GET YOU THAT $500,000 FOR THEM FOR, FOR THAT.
SO THIS SHOWS THE, UM, THE BREAKOUT OF PROPERTY VALUES.
UH, ABOUT 66% OF THE, UH, TAXABLE VALUES IS SINGLE FAMILY.
OF COURSE, OUT OF THAT, ABOUT 40 37% IS NON-HOMESTEAD, WHICH IS RENT IN MY IS RENTAL PROPERTY.
UH, I CONSIDER THAT PRACTICALLY COMMERCIAL PROPERTY.
UM, DOES NOT HAVE A HOMESTEAD ON IT.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE OUR TAX, UH, RATE IS.
UH, NOT, WE'RE OUT OF THE STATE.
AND THE REGION, WE ARE OUT OF THIS, AGAIN, POPULATION OVER 20,000.
THEY ARE GOING TO THE VOTERS THIS YEAR TO RAISE IT TO, UH, ANYWHERE UP TO 30 CENTS.
UM, BUT, UH, OVER 20,000 WE ARE LESS.
THIS IS THE RATE THAT COUNCIL VOTES ON AND CHART TRUTHS.
AND THEN COUNCILMAN SHANYA ASKED, WELL,
[00:50:01]
WHAT IF YOU TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE, UM, HOMESTEAD IN SENIOR EXEMPTIONS? SO I TRIED TO SHOW THAT THIS IS OUR AVERAGE VALUE OF TWO 90 AND TAKES INTO ACCOUNT WHAT YOU WOULD PAY IN EACH CITY.IF YOU WERE ONE A CITIZEN AND YOU GET YOUR HOMESTEAD OR A SENIOR CITIZEN, WOULD YOU GET YOUR HOMESTEAD AND YOUR SENIOR EXEMPTION? WE ARE STILL THE LOWEST BY FAR.
THE RED LINE IS THE AVERAGE THAT A, UM, HOMEOWNER WOULD PAY, UM, IN BRAZORIA COUNTY IF YOU LIVED IN ANY OTHER CITY.
AND AGAIN, WE'RE 9 46 AND A SENIOR IS 7 0 1 AND THERE, THE NEXT ONE IS FREEPORT FOR A SENIOR.
AND THEN SO THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE EXEMPTIONS IN THERE.
SO SOMETIMES WE LOOK, WE, WE GET FOCUSED ON THE TAX RATE, BUT THIS IS SHOWING THE ACTUAL BILL THAT YOU WOULD PAY.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALWAYS TOLD OUR CITIZENS THAT WE DON'T OFFER HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS ON LOCAL LAKE JACKSON CITY TAXES BECAUSE WE GIVE YOU GUYS A BREAK IN YOUR WATER BILL.
AND TO ME, THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS THAT WE'RE GONNA SAVE, IT'S NOT WORTH CHANGING IT TO A FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT.
THAT'S JUST MY THOUGHT AND OPINION BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, OUR SENIOR CITIZENS ARE ON FIXED INCOME ANYWAY.
IT'S NOT GONNA MAKE 'EM AND BREAK 'EM IN FOUR BUCKS OR THREE BUCKS, BUT IT'S JUST THE GESTURE OF IT THAT WE HAVE TOLD THEM IN THE PAST.
AND NOW TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THE BIG, BIG PICTURE HERE FOR A FEW DOLLARS MAKE A CHANGE.
WELL, THE, TO ME, IT'S NOT WORTH IT.
THE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT CAN BE CHANGED EVERY YEAR WITH EVERY BUDGET.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S FIXED FOREVER.
IT'S JUST FIXED FOR THIS BUDGET THAT THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT CAN BE ADJUSTED UP OR DOWN IN COMING YEARS JUST INSTEAD OF BEING A PERCENTAGE, A FIXED PERCENTAGE GOING FORWARD.
WHICH, UH, AGAIN, AS THE COST ARE THE UTILITY SIDE IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE SIDES OF SOME PEOPLE'S BILLS GOING FORWARD, OR IS GONNA BE A SIGNIFICANT COST.
BUT NEWGEN IN THEIR PRESENTATION SHOWED THE SAVINGS OF THEIR MONEY BY FIXING IT AT THE CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT.
SO IT IT, THEY'RE PREDICTING IT OVER SEVERAL YEARS THAT IT'S GONNA STAY THAT THEY DID.
SO TO ME, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WHAT THEY REPRESENTED IS TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
IT IS, THEY SET THE DOLLAR AMOUNT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT A FUTURE COUNCIL WILL BE.
THAT WILL BE IN THE HAND OF COUNCIL TO CHANGE THE 13.
THAT'S, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE RATE WOULD BE.
SO THEY SET IT AT THIR AND MY RECOMMENDATION, I SAID, PUT IT AT 13.
THEY KEPT IT AT 13 BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT A FUTURE COUNCIL, BUT IT WENT AWAY FROM AUTOMATIC THAT IT WAS RIGHT.
AND THEY WERE SHOWING A SAVINGS OF SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS MOVING FORWARD SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
SO TO ME THAT SHOWS THAT YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE IT AT $13 WHEN IT'S SEVERAL YEARS.
IT DOESN'T SAY IT IS NOT FIXED.
SO HERE'S THE ONE THING THOUGH, IS THAT IF YOU DO IT AS A PERCENTAGE AND NOT AS A FIXED NUMBER, WHAT THAT DOES IS WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE CANNOT CHANGE.
WE CANNOT CHANGE THE HARRIS RESERVOIR.
WE CANNOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT CHEMICALS ARE DOUBLING THAT BWA HAS ALREADY LOCKED US INTO THIS PRICE INCREASE.
SO WE KNOW THOSE EXPENSES ARE COMING.
UM, AND I LOVE THE GESTURE THAT JACKSON DOES TO OFFSET THE HOMESTEAD THING TO OFFER THAT TO OUR SENIOR CITIZENS.
AND I WOULDN'T SAY, I WOULDN'T WOULD NEVER SAY LET'S UNDO THAT.
BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND YOU ARE SUBSIDIZING A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE AT THAT POINT, AND THAT SUBSIDY IS GOING TO COME.
IT'S NOT AN IF IT'S, IT'S AN ABSOLUTE GOING TO COME TO EVERYONE ELSE.
AND SO THAT IS, I WOULD LOVE TO SAY, HEY, ANYBODY OVER 65, YOU DON'T HAVE A WATER BILL PERIOD.
THAT WOULD, I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT, TAKE THE EMOTION OUT OF IT AND SAY WE'RE SUBSIDIZING A PARTICULAR GROUP OF PEOPLE.
I WANT TO BE EMPATHETIC BUT ALSO MINDFUL OF EVERYONE ELSE'S DOLLARS.
AND SO I PARTICULARLY, WE PAID ALL THIS MONEY TO NEWGEN TO, OKAY, WHAT'S THE THE BEST THING TO LOOK AT OUR RATES OVERALL? AND I PERSONALLY THINK IT NEEDS TO BE A FIXED DOLLAR RATE.
I THINK THAT HELPS WITH BUDGETING.
AND YOU DON'T INCREASE A SUBSIDY ON EVERYONE ELSE THAT WE KNOW ARE GONNA HAVE TO PAY.
WELL, YOU KNOW, PERCENTAGE HAS NOTHING WRONG WITH PERCENTAGE OR PERCENTAGE OF WATER BILL GOES UP DUE TO HARRIS, RESERV NEW RESERVOIR AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND THE DISCOUNT RATE WILL GO UP ACCORDINGLY.
AND IN TALKING ABOUT SUBSIDY, WE SUBSIDIZE A LOT OF THINGS IN THIS TOWN.
[00:55:01]
START WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE SUBSIDIZING THAT'LL LEAD ME INTO THE NEXT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.BUT I DON'T WANNA SINGLE THEM OUT.
SO, WELL, WE ARE SINGLING THEM OUT WITH A, A DISCOUNT.
ONE, ONE OF THE ITEMS, RIGHT? RIGHT.
SO WE SUBSIDIZE OTHER THINGS FOR THAT EVERYBODY DOESN'T USE.
I LIKED THE FACT THAT WE PICKED A NUMBER AND AS HE SAID, RIGHT NOW WE KNOW SOME KNOWN COSTS ARE COMING, RIGHT.
BUT WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN NEXT YEAR.
SO MAYBE NEXT YEAR THAT NUMBER'S $15, YOU KNOW, OR BECAUSE WE CAN, MAYBE NEXT YEAR IT STAYS 13, WE DON'T KNOW THAT YET.
BUT WE DO KNOW IF YOU MAKE IT A PERCENTAGE THAT THAT IS GOING TO INCREASE THE BURDEN ON EVERYONE ELSE.
WE KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA INCREASE THEIR COST AS WELL BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE IS BASED ON PERCENTAGE.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
SO WE PAY X AMOUNT OF MONEY AND EVERY YEAR BILL GOES UP, NOT A CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNT.
IT ALWAYS GOES UP PERCENTAGE WISE, RIGHT? SO WHY THIS, THE SENIOR DISCOUNT CAN'T BE LEFT WITH PERCENTAGE.
SO IT CAN RIDE IN THE SAME BRACKET AS THE COST THE COST GOES UP IS COST MAY GO UP, YOU KNOW, TREMENDOUS AMOUNT, RIGHT? BUT SOMEBODY, WE KNOW THESE NUMBERS ARE GOING UP AND SOMEBODY HAS TO PAY THAT.
OKAY? SO IF WE KNOW OUR WATER BILL'S GONNA GO UP 40%, RIGHT? BUT WE HAVE THIS FIXED RATE OF $13 OR 15, WHATEVER, WHATEVER THE FIXED RATE IS, RIGHT? IT DOESN'T MATCH.
'CAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO END UP, YOU, EVERYBODY'S BILL'S GONNA GO UP, BUT NOW IT'S GONNA GO UP MORE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BILL, YOU HAVE TO PAY.
BUT YOU, YOU HAVE THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T KEEP PACE, I GUESS.
SO DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO WHAT THEY PRE, CAN WE GO BACK TO THE NEXT GEN SLIDE? SO NEXT YEAR IF WE LEAVE IT, PERCENTAGES OF $13 GONNA BE $14 AND 12 CENTS.
SO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DOLLARS.
WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT TENS OF DOLLARS OR 20 OF DOLLARS OR 30 OF DOLLARS.
RIGHT? BUT THEY'RE SO THERE ARE DOLLARS THAT SOMEONE ELSE IS GONNA HAVE TO PAY.
EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO THEIR THOUGHTS AND THAT DISCUSS, WELL, I, WE HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS DISCUSS AND WE'LL GO.
SO THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST ME.
AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHT BEHIND I BEING THAT BEING IN THAT CATEGORY.
I, I LOOK AT IT ANY AMOUNT HELPS.
SO I'M IN THE OTHER CATEGORY, RIGHT? YEAH.
I'M IN THE UNDER 65 CATEGORY AND EVERY, FOR NOW EVERYBODY, EVERY PART HELPS, RIGHT? YEAH.
SO I MEAN, I APPRECIATE WHAT HE'S SAYING AND WHY HE'S SAYING IT.
AND AGAIN, FROM AN EMOTIONAL STANDPOINT, I WOULD LOVE TO SAY, I AGREE, LET'S DO THIS.
AND YOU KNOW, HALF, YOU ONLY HAVE TO PAY HALF YOUR WATER BILL.
I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT.
BUT DOLLARS, EVERYBODY'S GETTING NICKEL AND DIMED SO MUCH LIKE IN OUR HOMES, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S WE GO TO THE GROCERY STORE OR GET GAS IN OUR CAR, WHATEVER WE'RE DOING.
AND THAT'S GONNA LEAD ME INTO THE NEXT PART OF THE DISCUSSION THAT I FEEL LIKE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IS, I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF WHAT YOU SAID SUBSIDIZING.
IS THIS THE TIME TO TALK ABOUT THIS? WELL, WE'RE NOT FINISHED.
LET, LET, LEMME FINISH WITH THIS PRESENTATION.
I'LL LISTED, I'LL COME THAT GET PAST THIS PIECE HERE, BUT AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID, THE TALKING ABOUT THE SLIDE THAT HAD OVER PREDICTED TOTAL SAVINGS ON IT.
AGAIN, THE, THE, THE BUDGET EACH YEAR IS SOMETHING THAT THE COUNCIL SETS.
AND SO IF YOU, IF YOU KEEP IT AT A PERCENTAGE OR IF YOU SET IT AT A, AT A SET SET DOLLAR AMOUNT, THAT THAT CAN BE, THE PERCENTAGES CAN BE CHANGED EVERY YEAR.
THE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT CAN BE CHANGED EVERY YEAR.
AND, AND AGAIN, CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CHANGE IS WHERE JUST AS EASY.
I MEAN, YOU COULD CHANGE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OR YOU CAN CHANGE THE PERCENTAGE DEPENDING ON WHAT, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR.
AND SO IT'S JUST THE RECOMMENDATION IS, IS TO GO TO, UH, A FIXED VALUE.
AND AGAIN, MY EXPECTATION IS, IS IT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST LIKE WE TALK IS EVERY TIME WE TALK AT ABOUT THE WATER, ABOUT THE UTILITY SIDE, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED.
AND ONE THING FOR SURE NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED.
AS A CONSULTANTS, WE HIRE TOO MANY CONSULTANTS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE WITH OUR EXPERIENCE AND, UH, THOUGHT PROCESS THAT WE HAVE HIRED.
UH, AND I'M JUST TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT HIRING CONSULTANTS EVERY TIME WE NEED SOMETHING.
'CAUSE I MEAN, JUST, THAT'S JUST A WASTE OF MONEY.
I THINK YOU NEED TO BE, UH, PRUDENT WITH WHICH CONSULTANTS
[01:00:01]
YOU CHOOSE OR WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE A CONSULTANT.BUT I THINK WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE A CONSULTANT, IT'S, WE'VE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF DECIDING OF IS THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO GET THE INFORMATION AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE NEED TO, TO MAKE A DECISION OFF OF.
AND YES, WE HAVE EXPERTISE IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS, BUT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE DON'T HAVE EXPERTISE IN OR WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET INFORMATION THAT CONSULTANTS HAVE.
CONSULTANTS CAN GO OUT THERE AND GET MORE INFORMATION THAN WE CAN ON A LOT OF STUFF.
BE IT SALARIES, BE IT RATES, BE IT WHATEVER.
THEY CAN, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION THAT WE AS A, AS A STAFF DON'T, EITHER DON'T HAVE ACCESS OR DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO PULL THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER.
SO THERE IS, THERE IS A TIME AND PLACE FOR CONSULTANTS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO HIRE A CONSULTANT FOR EVERYTHING.
THIS NEXT GEN CONSULTANT WAS, IN MY OPINION, A WASTE OF MONEY.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY REALLY PROVIDED THAT WAS, UH, USEFUL THAT WE DIDN'T, COULDN'T HAVE OBTAINED INHOUSE.
WE COULD NOT HAVE DONE THIS IN-HOUSE.
WE'VE, WE'VE HIRED CONSULT, WE DON'T EXPERTISE.
WE'VE HIRED A CONSULTANT FOR, EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, WE'VE HIRED CONSULTANTS.
EACH TIME I THINK THAT, UH, WE'VE DONE A RATE, UH, ANALYSIS.
I MEAN, IT STARTED WAY BACK WITH A GENTLEMAN THAT HAD HIS SPREADSHEETS THAT HE DIED MR. MCCLAIN.
AND, AND THEN WE WERE AT A, AT A LOSS.
SO THEN WE HAD TO GO FIND A COMPANY THAT COULD GO DO IT 'CAUSE WE COULDN'T USE HIS SPREADSHEETS.
AND SO, SO WE DON'T DO IT EVERY YEAR, BUT BECAUSE WE, THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS WAS A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE.
ONE WAS WE WERE GETTING READY TO DO TWO LARGE BACK TO BACK ISSUANCES WHERE THE TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD ARE, THE OPEN MARKET WOULD REQUIRE US, UH, TO USE A RATE CONSULTANT.
AND WE WERE ALSO, UM, DOING A SIGNIFICANT STUDY IN OUR LONG RANGE PLANNING OF OUR, OUR PROJECT.
SO THAT WAS GOING TO, UH, REQUIRE, UM, THE RATE CONSULTANT NEW GEN AS PART OF THE LONG RANGE PLANNING, UH, MODULE.
AND SO WE ASKED THEM TO DO THIS EARLY ON, UH, FOR THE BOND ISSUE AS, UM, UH, PRELIMINARY BEFORE THEY HELP ON THE LONG RANGE PLANNING.
WE HAVE, THE MAYOR ALLUDED TO, WE'VE, IN THE 29 YEARS OF HERE, I THINK WE'VE USED THREE TO FOUR TIMES.
THE FIRST TIME WAS MR. MCLEAN.
UH, I CANNOT REMEMBER THE THE OTHER TIME IT WASN'T NEW.
IT WASN'T NEWGEN AND NOW NEWGEN.
AND SO, SO I MEAN WE, WE USED SPARINGLY, BUT THERE WAS A BIG REASON WHY, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO BRING THEM ON BOARD THIS YEAR.
AND WE JUST DO NOT HAVE, I MEAN AFTER, YOU KNOW, WATCHING WHAT THEY DO OVER THE LAST THREE TIMES, WE DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERT, THE EXPERTISE ON STAFF TO DO THIS.
SO, AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN, IN MY MIND, THE RATE WOULD'VE BEEN HIGHER.
THEY'RE MORE CONSERVATIVE ON THEIR RECOMMENDATION WHERE I WOULD'VE BUILT IN, UM, UH, JAMES AND I PROBABLY WOULD'VE BUILT IN MORE OF A CONTINGENCY.
SO I THINK IN THE END THEY SAVE THE RATE PAYER MONEY BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING A MUCH MORE IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE CONTINGENCY IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALLGAME THERE.
RIGHT? TO ME, CONTINGENCIES TELLING THE CONTRACTOR THAT, HEY, YOU CAN GO OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT AND WE'LL PAY IT.
NOW MY MINE IS WHEN I MEAN CONTINGENCY, IT'S, IT'S MORE OF, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DOUBT OF THE RATE THAT WE THINK WILL, WILL IT GENERATE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'LL LOOK AT ONE OR TWO YEARS, THEY'RE LOOKING AT FIVE YEARS EXPENDITURES AND THEY'RE GOING IN DEPTH ON TRENDS OF USAGE.
WE ARE USUALLY LOOKING AT TRENDS OF OVERALL JUST THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OR THE BIG AMOUNT.
THEY'LL LOOK AT A MONTHLY TREND AND WEATHER RELATED.
THEY JUST GO, THEY DO A MUCH MORE DEEP DIVE IN, INTO THE RATE.
SO I I, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT THEY WIND UP COMING IN WITH A MORE CONSERVATIVE RATE THAN STAFF WOULD.
AND, AND IS IT TRUE? GO BACK ONE, I'M GONNA MAKE SURE I'M UNDERSTANDING THE, THE MATH CORRECTLY.
SO THIS IS OFF THE BILL TODAY.
THE DISCOUNT IS $12 AND 90 CENTS BASED ON 40%.
I RECOMMENDED IT TO GO TO A FIXED AMOUNT OF $13.
HAD IT STAYED PERCENTAGE, 40, UH, TO 40% WITH A NEW RATE, IT WOULD HAVE TO JUMP UP TO 1474.
SO THE SENIORS WOULD'VE GOTTEN A DOLLAR 74, UH, DIFFERENCE.
SO, PERCENTAGE OF WHAT? AVERAGE USAGE? IT'S, IT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THE BASE BILL.
SO THE BASE BILL SEND OF THE BASE BILL.
AND THE BASE BASE BILL DOESN'T CHANGE.
AND IN ESSENCE, WHEN, YOU KNOW, IN YEARS PAST, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE PLANNING THE BASE BILL, BECAUSE IT WAS 40%, WE TRIED TO SHY AWAY
[01:05:01]
FROM THE, UH, FOR THE BASE BILL ON PUTTING ANYTHING, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GENERATE THE SAME AMOUNT OF DOLLAR.SO YOU TRY, I MEAN, I MEAN THE, THE BASE BILL DOESN'T CHANGE.
THIS IS THE BASE BILL PER, PER USAGE? NO, IT'S 2000 GALLONS.
SO THIS YEAR THE BASE BILL IS JUMPING UP 32 25.
BUT, AND SO YOU WOULD GET A DISCOUNT OF 40% OF THAT, WHICH WAS 1290, AND NEXT YEAR IT WOULD GO TO 36 66.
YOU WOULD'VE EITHER, YOU'RE EITHER GETTING $13 OFF THIS OR 40.
I, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT I'M, I WHAT I'M ASKING IS WHEN I, WHEN I HEAR PERCENTAGES BEING USED IN MATH, I IMMEDIATELY THINK THAT HIGHER NUMBERS OF USAGE ARE GONNA GENERATE A HIGHER NUMBER IN THE END.
'CAUSE 40% OF A THOUSAND IS MORE THAN 40% OF A HUNDRED IN RAW RAW DOLLARS.
BUT HERE IT'S 40% OF A FIXED NUMBER, THE BASE RATE, WHICH IS ALREADY A FIXED NUMBER.
BUT NO, IT IS NOT A FIXED NUMBER.
THE BASE RATE CHANGES EACH YEAR.
BECAUSE THE, THE $13 CAN CHANGE EVERY YEAR.
SO IT'S, IT'S 40% OF A NUMBER, NOT 40% OF THE BILL.
40% OF WHAT'S THE BASE BILL? WHAT'S YOUR VOLUME ON A BASE BILL? 2000.
SO IF I USE 2000 GALLON, IF I, SO I'S THE FIRST 2000 GALLONS YOU GET 40% OFF ON, SO I, LET'S SAY I'M, LET'S SAY I'M A SENIOR AND YOU'RE A SENIOR.
AND YOU USE ON A FIXED INCOME.
WE GET THE SAME REDUCTION IN OUR BILL.
NO, BECAUSE I'M NOT GETTING, I'M JUST GETTING 40% OFF OF 2000.
AND YOU'RE GETTING 40% OFF 2000.
I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T HEAR YOUR QUESTION CORRECTLY.
I'M, I'M PROBABLY NOT SAYING IT CORRECTLY, BUT I DON'T GET 40% OFF MY WHOLE BILL FOR USING FIVE TIMES AS MUCH WATER AS YOU.
JUST SO IT'S ALREADY A FIXED NUMBER.
NO, I GUESS WHAT I'M, I'M CONFUSED ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT ALL SOUNDS LIKE A FIXED NUMBER TO ME ALREADY FIXED DOLLAR AT 13 OR 40% OF A BASE BILL, THAT'S THE SAME FOR EVERYONE FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
IT DOESN'T, IT'S NOT REALLY ERIC'S, ERIC'S CONFUSED PERCENTAGE OF ANYTHING.
I USED FIVE TIMES MORE WATER THAN HE DOES.
WHAT, WHAT DISCOUNT DO I GET AND WHAT DISCOUNT DOES HE GET? IS IT, IS IT 40% OFF STILL? EVERYBODY PAYS A BASE BILL FIRST.
SO, AND YOU WOULD GET A DISCOUNT OFF THAT.
EVERY SENIOR WOULD GET A DISCOUNT ON THAT.
BUT IF YOU'RE A SENIOR THAT USES 5,000 UHHUH, THEN YOU'LL PAY THE REGULAR RATE AS ANY OTHER CITIZEN ON 3000.
SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU DON'T, YOU DO, YOU'RE NOT ANSWERING MY QUESTION.
YOU DO NOT GET A DISCOUNT ON ANYTHING ABOVE.
THE QUESTION IS HERE NOR THERE.
WHAT'S THE AMOUNT OF THE DISCOUNT FOR HIM? IT'S THE SAME.
WHETHER YOU DO IT BY PERCENTAGE OR WHETHER YOU DO IT BY FIXED DOLLAR, THE DISCOUNT IS THE SAME FOR DOLLAR SOMETHING.
WE ARE ROWLING UP A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE ARE NOT GONNA BE HAPPY.
WELL SEE, I I WAS SEEING IT THE OTHER WAY.
I WAS SEEN AS, AS IT'S ALREADY A FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT.
SO, BUT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE YOU'RE JUST CALLING IT SOMETHING ELSE.
SO, BUT THE BASE RATE GOES UP 2000 SOME OTHER AMOUNT NEXT YEAR, THEN THE DISCOUNT GOES UP.
YOU JUST CHANGED THE FIXED DOLLAR JUST LIKE WE HAVE.
BUT THAT THIS IS NOT WHAT IS, THAT'S AUTOMATIC.
THIS ONE HAS TO BE TAKEN ACTION ON BY COUNCIL.
SO, SO, SO BASICALLY THEY, THE SENIORS PAY A DIFFERENT BASE RATE, BUT EVERYBODY PAYS IF YOU GO OVER THE SAME RATE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO SWITCHING FROM THE 13 TO A HARD DOLLAR AMOUNT THIS YEAR TO 13, TO THE 40%, THE 40% A SENIOR WOULD PAY ON THE NEW RATE, $21 AND 92 CENTS.
IF YOU, IF WE KEPT THE 40%, THE BASE RATE FOR A SENIOR WOULD BE $21 AND 92 CENTS.
AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED? THEY, THEY JUST PAID THE $23 AND 66 5.
SO ONE WAY, ONE WAY, IF THEY, IF EVERYBODY USES 2000 COLLINS, ONE WAY, YOU'RE GONNA PAY 2190 THE OTHER WAY YOU'RE GONNA PAY 2366 FOR THE SAME 2000 FOR SAME 2000.
AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT, OKAY, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA, I I'M, I'M NOT BEING VERY CLEAR.
I'M NOT ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER.
I DON'T ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT THE NUMBER.
WHAT I'M, WHAT I'M QUESTIONING IS THE IDEA THAT ONE OF THEM IS A PERCENTAGE AND ONE OF THEM IS FIXED NUMBER.
[01:10:01]
A PER A A, A SENIOR WHO USES ONE GALLON OF WATER AND A SENIOR WHO USES A HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER, THEY'RE FIXED FOR THE DAY.THEY'RE FIXED FOR THIS BUDGET.
THAT'S ALWAYS TRUE FOR EVERY BUDGET.
AND I KNOW, BUT THEN NEXT YEAR IT'S AUTOMATICALLY 40,000.
OR IT COULD BE THE THIRTEENS A YOU CHANGE, YOU COULD CHANGE EITHER ONE OF 'EM.
IT'S EITHER PERCENTAGE OR, OR IT'S, IT'S A FIXED DOLLAR.
IT'S, TO ME, IT'S, IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL.
I I, MY PREFERENCE IS NOT TO DO PERCENTAGES.
NO, I I I TEND TO AGREE BECAUSE IT, IT'S SORT OF, IT, IT, TO ME IT SORT OF HIDES IT.
'CAUSE IT'S LIKE PERCENTAGE OF THIS OTHER SUB.
WELL WHAT IT'S A, THIS ONE'S LIKE YOU'RE GETTING 13 BUCKS A, IT'S A DOLLAR 76 DIFFERENCE.
IT'S JUST WE'RE TALKING DOLLARS, RIGHT? MM-HMM.
AGAIN, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE NUMBER.
I DON'T CARE IF WE SET THE FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT TO $14 AND 74 CENTS FOR EVERY SENIOR.
I'M, I'M, I'M CONFUSED BY THE FACT THAT WE'RE ACTING LIKE THEY'RE DIFFERENT.
AND IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT OFF EVERY BILL, WHETHER YOU USE ONE GALLON OR 102,000, 10,000, EVERYBODY GETS THE SAME.
SO WHETHER YOU CALL IT A, THE PERCENTAGE CONFUSES ME BECAUSE WHEN I HEAR PERCENTAGE, SORRY, I'M THINKING IF I USE 10,000 GALLONS, I'M GETTING A BIG DISCOUNT BECAUSE I'M GETTING 40% OFF MY WHOLE BILL.
AND IT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT REALLY TRUE.
OF THE 2000, WHICH IS, THAT'S ALMOST LIKE IT'S 40% OF SOMETHING AND THE OF SOMETHING IS NOT CLEAR.
SO, AND WHEN IT BECOMES CLEAR TO ME, I VIEW THEM AS THE SAME.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDE THAT WAS IN YOUR MAIL.
OKAY? SO IT SHOWED A BIG SAVINGS AT THE END OF SEVENTH YEAR OR FIFTH YEAR THAT IF WE FIX IT AT $13.
SO I SAID HE HAS NO INTENTIONS OF RAISING THAT $13 FOR NEXT SEVEN YEARS, EVEN THOUGH THE PRICE OF WATER MAY GO UP EVERY YEAR.
BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE CHANGE THE BASE RATE? EVERY YEAR COULD CHANGE EVERY YEAR.
IT COULD CHANGE JUST LIKE FIXED DOLLAR COULD CHANGE EVERY YEAR.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT'S PROJECTED IN THE, IN THE BUDGET.
BUT WE'RE ONLY SAYING THAT BUDGET PRESENTATION.
WE'RE, WE CAN'T MAKE THAT DECISION BASED ON WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE SENIOR IS GONNA LOOK AT IT BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING AT IT AND SAYING, I AM GOING TO BE FI FIXED $13 FOR FROM NOW TO ETERNITY.
THAT'S HOW THEY'RE GONNA LOOK AT IT.
BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
WHY, WHY WOULD THEY LOOK AT IT? WELL, CAN YOU PULL UP THE SLIDE FOR ME? WE WE'RE NOT SUGGESTING THAT THEY, WE CHANGED THE BUDGET.
CAN'T, WE CAN'T, WE'RE NOT, WE CHANGED THE RATE.
WE ADJUSTED THE RATE ALMOST ANNUALLY.
WELL, I WISH THAT THE SLIDE WAS THERE BECAUSE I KNOW, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THAT'S THE, AGAIN, YOU'RE MAKING AS, AGAIN, THAT'S A SLIDE THAT SHOWED IT EXTENDED OUT FOR WHATEVER HOW MANY YEARS.
BUT IT, BUT AGAIN, THE ONLY REASON WE ARE DOING THIS IS TO SHORT SAVINGS.
OTHERWISE DOLLAR 74 DOESN'T MEAN A BE NO THING OTHER BEANS.
SO THE ONLY REASON WE'RE CHANGING THIS, BECAUSE HOW MUCH MONEY WE GONNA SAVE IN SEVEN YEARS.
SO TO ME, INTENTION IS TO FIX IT.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE TO SPEND IT.
WE STILL, THE, OUR PRICES ARE GOING UP.
SO SENIORS WILL SAVE IT, BUT ELSE SOMEONE ELSE WILL PAY IT.
I MEAN, I WAS HESITANT ON SHOWING THE FIVE YEAR RATE BECAUSE THE FIVE YEAR RATE'S TOO LOW.
UH, BECAUSE IT HASN'T TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT OUR, I THINK WE ARE WASTING ENOUGH TIME.
JUST BE PREPARED BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA OPEN UP A SET OF WORMS, CAN OF WORMS THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD NOT OPENED.
BECAUSE I'M ALREADY HEARING THOSE THINGS.
THAT ABOUT WHY WE ARE SINGLING OUT SENIORS WHO ARE ALREADY ON FIXED INCOME TO FIX THE RATES.
SO LAST, NEXT SEVEN YEARS, THEY'RE GONNA BE COSTING THEM A TON OF MORE MONEY.
NOBODY SAID IT'S GONNA BE FIXED THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS.
IT IMPLIES THAT WHEN YOU'RE SHOWING A NEW BUDGET, IT DOES.
THEY JUST, THE BUDGET, THERE'S A BUDGET DONE EVERY YEAR.
WELL, THEN YOU'RE GONNA EXPLAIN AND A BUDGET CHANGES AND THAT'S FINE.
WE'LL HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO THEM.
WELL JUST EXPLAIN IT TO EM WHEN HE, WHEN YOU TALK TO 'EM.
I HAVEN'T HAD A PHONE CALL FROM A SENIOR SAYING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME? EIGHT YEARS I WAS ON COUNCIL BEFORE.
I NEVER HAD A CALL ABOUT A BUDGET BETTER THEN LET'S MOVE ON THEN.
I MEAN, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN HESITANT ON SHOWING THE FIVE YEAR RATE UNTIL WE HAVE OUR FULL MASTER PLAN, UH, DONE.
UH, THE FIVE YEAR RATE THAT THEY HAD LOCKED DOWN, THE CONSULTANT IS ONLY SHOWING THE 1.5 MILLION THAT WE'VE PUT IN THE BUDGET AND THE TWO $20 MILLION ISSUES, THERE WILL BE MORE.
UM, SO THE RATE WILL BE HIGHER THAN THEIR PROJECTION.
BUT LIKE SOMEBODY SAID, EVERY YEAR WE'RE DOING A NEW BUDGET COUNCIL.
COUNCIL CAN, UH, IT'S NOT SET CONCRETE FOR FIVE YEARS, WHAT WE'VE DONE BY THE PERCENTAGES.
UM, BY GOING TO A DOLLAR AMOUNT, EACH COUNCIL EACH YEAR CAN CHANGE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT.
AND JUST LIKE WE, WE COULD CHANGE THE 40, WE COULD CHANGE THE 40% EVERY YEAR ALSO, BUT WE DON'T, BECAUSE IT BECOMES, IT'S JUST EASY TO JUST LEAVE IT 40%.
BUT WE COULD CHANGE THE BASE BILL CAN NOT CHANGE.
CAN YOU CAN CHANGE, YOU CAN CHANGE ANY PART OF THE EQUATION.
IF YOU DON'T CHANGE THE BASE BILL, YOU CAN CHANGE
[01:15:01]
ANY PART OF THE EQUATION.IT'S IF, IF WE, IF UNDERSTOOD, IF A IF THE SENIORS FEEL LIKE, AND I'M IN THAT FAMILY, UH, FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING PICKED ON, THEN WE WILL HEAR ABOUT IT AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT GETS BACK TO IS IT COST US X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS TO PUMP WATER THIS WAY AND SEWER THAT WAY.
AND SOMEBODY'S GONNA PICK UP THE TAB.
YOU EITHER SPREAD IT AS EQUALLY AS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE, THE, ALL THE CONSUMERS.
ALL THE USERS, OR YOU PICK A SPECIFIC GROUP AND YOU GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT, UH, UH, OFF.
AND I, I MEAN, I KNOW IT'S AN UNCOMFORTABLE DISCUSSION, BUT THAT'S WHY WHEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY THE SURVEYS ARE GOOD, EVEN FOR THE SENIORS.
YOU JUST, AS A SENIOR, YOU CAN'T GET A BETTER DEAL THAN LAKE, THAN LAKE JACKSON.
FROM A, FROM A COMBINED WATER, SEWER, SANITATION AND TAXES, WE'RE STILL THE BEST GAME IN TOWN.
WHAT ELSE DID YOU HAVE ON THIS MODESTO? UH, THE, UH, THE LAST SLIDE.
THAT WAS IT, RIGHT? THAT WAS IT.
AND AGAIN, I'M RECOMMENDING THE DI MINIMUS RATE.
UH, UH, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RATE OF UH, UH, 3, 2, 5, 9.
RHONDA, YOU HAD SOME THINGS YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT ON TAX RATE? I DO.
SO I REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THIS BUDGET A LOT.
MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS INTO IT AND UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW IT WORKS.
UM, AND I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW FOR SURE.
WE KNOW FOR SURE PRICES OF CONSTRUCTION HAVE GONE UP.
WE KNOW FOR SURE OUR WATER'S GOING UP.
WE KNOW FOR SURE THAT A LOT OF THESE COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
IT'S MORE EXPENSIVE TO RUN A CITY PROBABLY THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.
WE KNOW THAT LEE JACKSON HAS BEEN REALLY WELL RAN FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.
AND THAT HAS PUT US, 'CAUSE ALL THE CITIES ARE IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEY'RE HAVING TO LOOK AT THESE BIG NUMBERS TO FIX THINGS.
LAKE JACKSON'S A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF THE CURVE BECAUSE IT'S BEEN WELL MANAGED, BUT IT'S ALSO IN THE SAME PLACE THAT EVERYBODY ELSE, WHERE EVERYBODY ELSE HAS BEEN OF A LOT OF THE BIG PROJECTS HAVE BEEN PUSHED DOWN THE LINE.
AND WE'RE AT THE END OF THE LINE ON SOME OF THESE LIFT STATIONS THAT CARRY A HUGE LOAD.
OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANT, OUR STREETS, OUR ROADS, AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT GOVERNMENT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT ANY LEVEL.
UM, THE THINGS WE DON'T KNOW, WE'VE ALL STRUGGLED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS UNDER THE INFLATION IN THE CURRENT ECONOMY.
WE DON'T KNOW COME NOVEMBER WHAT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.
THINGS MAY GET A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE.
AND I JUST WANT US TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION OF JUST BECAUSE THIS IS THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THINGS AND IT'S WORKED WELL THIS WHOLE TIME.
I WANT US TO REALLY LOOK AT AND WHY I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE DI MINIMIS RATE.
I'LL JUST SAY IT CLEARLY IS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE MONEY THAT YOU WOULD GET, THE 500,000, THEY'RE GOING TO THE RIGHT THINGS.
THEY'RE GOING TO INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY'RE GOING TO, I MEAN, I CONSIDER THE MENTAL HEALTH THING PART OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
'CAUSE IT, IT'S PART OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY IN A LOT OF WAYS.
UM, SO IT'S ALL GOING TO GOOD THINGS.
I WOULD BE COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE SAYING, YES, LET'S DO THE DE MINIMIS RATE IF I FEEL LIKE WE HAD REALLY GONE THROUGH THE BUDGET IN TERMS OF THINGS THAT ARE ONCE AND NOT NEEDS.
AND WE COULD MAYBE COME UP WITH AT LEAST CLOSE TO THAT $500,000 IN OTHER PLACES.
AND I THINK, AND IT, I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE THE TIME HAS PASSED TO REALLY LOOK AT THOSE INDIVIDUAL THINGS FOR THIS BUDGET SEASON.
BUT I MEAN, WE REALLY, AND WE DON'T GET ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE CITIZENS.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING IS WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.
AND I DON'T KNOW, DO YOU WANT A GOLF COURSE? DO YOU NOT WANT A GOLF COURSE? I DON'T WANT A GOLF COURSE, BUT THERE MAY BE 95% OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WANT A GOLF COURSE.
BECAUSE NOBODY EVER SAYS ANYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT $30,000 FIREWORKS FOR 12 MINUTES.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANNA DO $50,000 ON PLANTING TREES.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS I DON'T KNOW.
DO WE WANNA SPEND $200,000 ON RECYCLING WHEN MOST OF THAT RECYCLING GOES IN THE, IN THE LANDFILL? WRONG? IT DOES.
WELL, IT'S, IT'S A SEPARATE PROGRAM THAT IS STILL A WANT AND NOT, I'M JUST SAYING THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW REALLY BECAUSE WE DON'T GET ENOUGH FEEDBACK.
SO I PERSONALLY AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE DI MINIMIS RATE BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A, WE COULD PROBABLY FIND CLOSE TO THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY WITHOUT RAISING PEOPLE'S TAX RATE.
[01:20:01]
YES, I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE OF LAKE JACKSON'S TAX RATE IS INCREDIBLY LOW COMPARED TO OTHER PLACES.UM, WHAT WE BRING IN FROM TAX REVENUE IS A SMALL PART OF OUR BUDGET.
THAT DOESN'T EVEN FUND OUR PD.
WHAT I WANT US TO LOOK AT IS AS GOVERNMENT AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE, ARE WE SPENDING ALL THE DOLLARS CORRECTLY? AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE TYPE OF COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE.
AND I THINK THOSE THINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND THEY HAVE VALUE.
BUT I ALSO REALLY FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS GONNA LOOK LIKE.
AND WE KNOW WE HAVE THESE BIG PROJECTS COMING UP THAT ARE WE REALLY ALLOCATING ALL OF OUR DOLLARS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE? OR HAVE WE GOTTEN USED TO HAVING PADDING AND HAVE WE GOTTEN USED TO THE WANTS ALWAYS BEING FUNDED.
SO I'VE JUST, I HAVE THOSE CONCERNS AND I THINK THESE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE.
UM, AND EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT OPINION.
JB MAY WANNA GO OUT AND PLAY GOLF EVERY SINGLE DAY ON THE CITY GOLF COURSE.
SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE PRIORITIES, BUT I WANT US TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE DRAINAGE.
'CAUSE IF I WENT OUT AND ASKED A HUNDRED PERCENT OF LAKE JACKSON CITIZENS TOMORROW, HEY, DO YOU CARE ABOUT HAVING A GOLF COURSE TO GO PLAY? THAT'S REALLY NICE.
OR DO YOU WANNA FLUSH YOUR TOILET TOMORROW MORNING? AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING TO THAT POINT WHERE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY START MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
AND PEOPLE MAY COME AND SAY, HEY, WE WANT ALL THAT STUFF, SO LET'S JUST PAY THE TAXES.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT WHERE WE'RE AT.
SO, BUT, BUT AS YOU SAID ABOUT OUR TAX RATE, WE ALWAYS KEEP OUR TAX RATE LOW.
BUT YOU MADE A STATEMENT THAT IT DON'T EVEN FUND THE PD.
SO WHY DO WE KEEP OUR TAX RATE LOW WHEN WE JUST GET FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND? WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I THINK THAT WE FUND SOMETIMES OTHER THINGS.
I THINK INFRASTRUCTURE, PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, STREETS AND ROADS, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO FUND.
SO, SO WE WANT TO HANG OUR HAT THAT WE GOT THE LOWEST TAX RATE, BUT WE JUST GET FURTHER BEHIND.
SO WHY DON'T WE JUST RAISE THE TAX RATE UP A LITTLE BIT MORE AND OR WE CAN LOOK AT THE BUDGET, WHAT WE'RE SPENDING AND MAYBE NOT HAVE TO RAISE THE TAX RATE THAT'S TRUE.
AND NOT SPEND ON SOME OF THESE OTHER THINGS.
I'M ACTUALLY CONFUSED SOME OF THOSE THINGS OF NEEDS NOT WANTS.
DO WHAT? SOME OF THOSE, A LOT OF THOSE THINGS OF NEEDS THAT WE NEED TO DO.
THEY ARE, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS, I WOULD FEEL BETTER ABOUT SAYING, HEY, WE NEED ANOTHER $500,000.
IF I KNEW THAT WE HAD LOOKED AT THIS BUDGET AND GOTTEN RID OF SOME OF THE WANTS AND NOT TRIED TO FUND ALL OF IT, I JUST THINK WE'RE COMING TO A POINT WHERE WELL GIVE A, GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS A WANT AND NOT IMMEDIATE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, 30, 30,000, YOU'RE SAYING, YOU'RE SAYING ROADS AND SEWER AND WATER.
SO ONCE I'M SAYING THINGS LIKE $30,000 ON FIREWORKS, THAT'S, THAT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND WE TALKED, WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN BUDGET WORKSHOP.
AND NOBODY TOOK ANY ACTION ON IT.
UM, THE, WHAT DO YOU CALL 'EM? THE CONCERT THINGS THAT ARE GOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY CONCERT, EVEN, YOU KNOW, GOLF COURSES, UH, $50,000 BUDGET, BUDGET ON KEY LAKE JACKSON.
I MEAN, THERE ARE THINGS IN HERE THAT IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THOSE THINGS.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE THOSE THINGS.
I THINK THERE'S ABSOLUTE VALUE IN THOSE THINGS.
BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS I THINK WE'RE COMING TO A POINT WHERE WE REALLY HAVE TO MAKE HARD DECISIONS AND LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.
CAN WE AFFORD TO DO THE LIFT STATIONS? LET ME JUST CLARIFY SOME THOSE THINGS YOU MENTIONED ALL IN THE TOTALS, NOT OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
YOU KEEP BRINGING UP THE GOLF COURSE AGAIN.
THE GOLF COURSE IS SUPPORTED BY THE HALF CENT SALES TAX.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IS NOT SUPPORTED BY, AND WE, WE SPEND OUR HALF CENT SALES TAX ON THE THINGS THAT OUR TAXPAYERS APPROVED WHENEVER, OR OUR VOTERS APPROVED WHENEVER WE APPROVE THE HALF CENT SALES TAX.
THE GOLF COURSE DOES NOT TAKE ANY, IF IT, IF IT DOES, IT'S VERY, VERY SELDOM TAKE ANY MONEY FROM THE REVENUE, GENERAL REVENUE SIDE.
IT DOESN'T TAKE ANY, IT DOESN'T TAKE ANY, OKAY.
UNLIKE OTHER ASSETS THAT WE HAVE, THE REC CENTER, CIVIC CENTER AND THOSE, THOSE TAKE THOSE, THOSE ARE FUNDED BY, EXCEPT FOR MAINTENANCE.
THOSE ARE FUNDED BY THE TAX DOLLAR.
THE, THE GENERAL, THE, THE PROPERTY TAXES.
SO, OKAY, NOW YES, WE CAN GO THROUGH
[01:25:01]
AND CAN REMOVE ITEMS AND MOST OF THE ITEMS THAT, THAT YOU, WE COULD GO OVER THERE AND LOOK AT THAT YOU COULD SAY THAT ARE ONCE INSTEAD OF NEEDS FALL IN THE CARE CATEGORY OF QUALITY OF LIFE THINGS.YOU TALK ABOUT $50,000 FOR KEEP LAKE JACKSON.
THAT'S ONE OF THE HARD KNOW WHERE WE GOING WITH THAT.
YOU'RE LIAISON WITH THAT BOARD AND YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE A VERY HARDWORKING GROUP.
AND THAT IF THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEIR PERIODIC CLEANUPS OR THEIR PLANTING OF TREES OR WHATEVER TYPE STUFF, IF WE, IF WE WANTED TO DO THAT, IF WE WANTED TO CLEAN, IF WE WANTED TO CLEAN DOWNTOWN BEFORE THE FESTIVAL LIGHTS, WHICH WE DO, WHICH KEEP LAKES ACTION BEAUTIFUL DOES.
AND THEY, THEY, THEY MAKE THAT HAPPEN WITH VOLUNTEERS.
WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE CITY EMPLOYEES, CITY WORKERS, PAY CITY EMPLOYEES, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY COST US MORE OR COME VERY CLOSE TO THAT PRICE TO, TO DO THAT TWICE A YEAR.
SO THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES WITH EVERY CUT THAT WE GO MAKE.
RIGHT? AND SO IT, TO ME, THERE GETS TO A POINT WHERE, AGAIN, WHERE WE'RE AT IS, IS BECAUSE WE HAVE HISTORICALLY HAD A VERY LOW BUDGET.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE AT, WE'RE WE'RE AT, WE'RE JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.
WE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD INSTEAD OF DOING PPM AND REPLACING PIPE BEFORE IT, WHENEVER, IF IT HAD A 25 YEAR LIFESPAN, IF IT HIT 25 YEARS, WE MAY HAVE RUN IT A COUPLE MORE YEARS.
BUT THEN YOU YANKED IT OUT, YOU SPENT THE DOLLARS, THEN WE DIDN'T DO THAT.
AND SO WE'RE NOT ANY BETTER AT THAT OTHER THAN I THINK WE'RE, UH, AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S, YES, WE COULD GO FIND $500,000 THIS YEAR TO TAKE OUT OF THE BUDGET, BUT YOU'RE NOT GONNA FIVE, FIVE, $500,000 NEXT YEAR.
THE DEAL IS, IS IF, IF WE, THE REALITY IS, IS WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO, AND WE'LL HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, UH, WONDERING WHERE WE START TALKING, UH, AFTER THIS BUDGET'S OVER WITH, WE'LL START TALKING ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
AND ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE IS LOOKING FORWARD IS WHAT, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THESE STUDIES THAT SAYS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REPLACE SO MANY, SO MUCH OF OUR WASTE DRINK, WASTE, WASTE WATER FACILITIES AND, AND WATER FACILITIES.
AND ALSO SO MUCH OF OUR STREETS.
IT'S GONNA COST US THIS MANY DOLLARS.
AND HOW ARE WE GONNA DO THAT? AND OVER WHAT PERIOD OF TIME? AND THAT'S GONNA COME BACK.
AND BASICALLY WHAT THAT'S GONNA TELL US IS, IS THAT IF WE OPERATE AT NO NEW REVENUE OR BELOW THE, AT THE THREE, EVEN THE THREE POINT A HALF PERCENT, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THOSE THINGS UNLESS WE DO LIKE THE IDS DUE.
AND THAT IS PUT EVERYTHING ON A BOND AND KEEP YOUR M AND O LOW.
SO THEN YOU CAN SAY, UH, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THE TAXPAYERS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'RE PUT, WE'RE STILL PUTTING THOSE, THE DOLLARS GOTTA BE SPENT.
THEY'RE EITHER GONNA BE SPENT AS PART OF YOUR TAX RATE FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR, FOR YOUR M AND O, OR IT'S GONNA BE SPENT AS BOND DOLLARS.
AND SO IT'S, I UNDERSTAND, BUT AGAIN, WE, YES, WE COULD GO THROUGH AND WE COULD GO FIND $500,000 PROBABLY THIS YEAR.
I THINK THAT WE'RE GONNA END UP OVER THE NEXT HOW MANY, EVERY YEARS HAVING TO RAISE THE TAX RATE JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DONE.
JUST TO PAY FOR THE PD JUST TO PAY FOR PAY INCREASES FOR PD.
I NOT, NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE REST OF THE REST OF THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M, MY FEAR IS I THINK IS KNOWING WHAT'S COMING.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO, I MEAN, THAT'S JUST GONNA BE PART OF IT.
AND I JUST WANNA BE ABLE TO SAY THAT IF WE HAVE TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO DO A DE MINIMUS TAX RATE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO BE ABLE TO GET THE LIFT STATION OR WHATEVER PRO BIG PROJECTS WE HAVE THAT WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN FINANCIALLY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SPENDING WISELY.
AND IT'S JUST A CONVERSATION AND IT'S NOT, AND I UNDERSTAND AND, AND, AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND, AND IT'S, IT'S YES.
BUT AGAIN, ALL I'M SAYING IS, IS AS YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS I DO, AND ALL OF US KNOW, IS FOR EVERY DECISION WE MAKE, THERE'S A CONSEQUENCE.
AND SO, SAY FOR EXAMPLE, WE GO OVER AND WE CUT, I JUST WANT US TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO WHERE WE KNOW WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE GONNA BE.
YOU KNOW, SO MAYBE YOU DON'T CUT SOMETHING OUT COMPLETELY, BUT YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS MORE, ONE MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A CAT.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB THIS YEAR OF OUR CONCERTS IN THE PARK WERE OFFSET BY CENTER POINT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.
BUT THERE'S OTHER AVENUES TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN SOME OF THAT QUALITY OF LIFE STUFF.
AND I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT EVERY AVENUE POSSIBLE RIGHT.
YOU JUST, WE HAVE TO HAVE THE CON WE HAVE TO KEEP, WE CAN'T JUST SIT UP HERE AND SAY, I UNDERSTAND.
WELL, WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS.
AND IT, AND THE, THE, THE THING IS JUST LIKE WE HAVE FESTIVAL LIGHTS TODAY.
OUR COMMUNITY ENJOYS FESTIVAL LIGHTS.
WELL, THE HISTORY OF FESTIVAL LIGHTS GOES BACK TO,
[01:30:01]
IT WAS ORIGINALLY SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE BY THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES.THEY STARTED IT AND IT WENT THROUGH A CYCLE OF THEY WERE DOING IT, AND THEN IT KEPT ON GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.
AND THEN THEY STARTED SAYING, WE NEED SOME HELP.
AND SO THE CITY STARTED HELPING SOME, DOING SOME OF IT.
AND THEN IT GOT TO A POINT WHERE THEY SAID, THIS IS TOO BIG.
AND ALSO THE CIVIC CENTER WAS OPENING UP.
AND SO THEN THE CITY, AND SO IT WAS BASICALLY THE CITY DECIDED WE'RE THEY, THERE WAS A DECISION SOMEWHERE THAT THE CITY WAS GONNA TAKE IT, TAKE IT OVER.
AND SO THEN IT WAS MOVED TO THE CIVIC CENTER.
AND THE CITY HAS OPERATED FROM, FROM THAT, YOU KNOW, SINCE THEN.
UH, THE FUNDS COME FROM, UH, SOME FROM THE HOT, IS THAT CORRECT? MM-HMM.
AND SO IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S AN EXPENSE, BUT IT'S A QUALITY OF LIFE THING.
AND YOU KNOW, LIKE WHEN WE WENT THROUGH THE, UH, WHEN I START TALKING, WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT CUTTING BACK ON SOME OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE THINGS IS I GO BACK TO WHENEVER WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE COVID WORLD TIME.
AND, UH, WE HAD TO DO WITH DO AWAY WITH THE, THE PARADE.
THAT WAS THE, THAT WAS A, I MEAN, IF ANYTHING LIT UP, MY PHONES WAS WHY AREN'T WE DOING THE PARADE? AND IT'S BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE ENJOY.
IT GETS PEOPLE OUT, IT GETS PEOPLE TO ENJOY THIS.
AND IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY SHOULD NOT EVEN BE INVOLVED IN, BUT WE DO.
I WISH THOSE WISH PEOPLE WOULD COME TO THE BUDGET MEETING AND TELL US WHICH THINGS THEY WANNA DO AND DON'T.
AND YEAH, AND, AND LIKE WE TALKED EARLIER IS IS THAT WHEN YOU DO CUT SOMETHING OUT, THAT'S WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE CUT IT OUT, BECAUSE YOU'LL GET, PEOPLE WILL RAISE THE QUESTIONS AND STUFF.
SO YEAH, AS WE SIT IN THE MIDDLE AND, AND AGAIN, WHEN WE'RE TALKING, WE'RE SOME OF THESE THINGS, IT'S, IT'S SPLITTING HAIRS.
IT, AND IT'S, I DON'T KNOW, I, IT IS JUST, UH, I MEAN MOST OF THE, MOST OF THE PUBLIC, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE REASON WHY I SAY THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OUT FOR ELECTIONS IS BECAUSE IF THEY FEEL LIKE WE'RE GOING IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION, THEY FEEL THAT THE CITY ENEMY'S GOING, THEY'RE FINE.
AND THE FIRST TIME WE WANNA PUT, UH, CATS ON LEASHES, WE'LL FILL UP THE WHOLE ROOM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND STUFF.
BUT, UH, ANYWAY, I'VE TALKED TOO MUCH ALREADY, BUT I UNDERSTAND WHERE, AND, AND, AND WE'LL, WE CAN DO BETTER GOING FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, THE NEXT WHAT I, WHAT, WHAT I THINK WE NEED TO DO WHENEVER WE SIT DOWN, UH, BEFORE THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PIECE OF IT, OR AT LEAST THE VERY FIRST THING WE DO THERE THAT DAY, IS WE SIT DOWN AND WE TAKE THE BUDGET, THE CURRENT BUDGET WE'RE IN, AND WE GO THROUGH IT AND WE START FINDING THINGS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING THIS, IS THIS SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO BE DOING ANYMORE? AND AT LEAST HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
BUT I GUARANTEE MOST OF THOSE ARE GONNA FALL IN THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE THINGS.
SO I, I WAS ACTUALLY THINKING, MY REAL FEAR IS THAT IN ORDER TO FUND A LOT OF THIS AGING INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILDS IN THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO, LIKE ADOPT THE, THE DI MINIMIS RATE AND STILL GO THROUGH AND FIND MORE, YOU'RE GONNA BOND MONEY THAT WE CAN, YOU'RE GONNA BOND ON TOP OF IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, JUST THE DI MINIMIS IS GONNA TAKE CARE OF JUST OUR DAY-TO-DAY M AND O.
WE NEED THE EXTRA STUFF IS GONNA TAKE ADDITIONAL BONDS.
SO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT OUR RATE, UH, UH, OF, UH, DEBT OVER, UH, REVENUES LIKE 31% OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IS THAT WHAT IT IS, JAMES? ABOUT SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.
I MEAN, 21 OF OUR TAX RATE, 21% OR 21 CENTS OR SO IS, UH, YOU HAD A CHART ON IT.
21 PER 21 CENTS IS 11 DEBT, DEBT PAYMENT IS 11.
SO 20 CENTS IS, UH, M AND O AND ABOUT 11, 11 AND A HALF CENTS IS, IS DEBT.
AND YOU GO UP THE STREET TO PEARLAND IS COMPLETELY FLIPPED OVER.
I WAS JUST SAY, THE HIGHER AND THE HIGHER YOU CHANGE THOSE NUMBERS, THE WORSE THEY GET THE HIGHER, THE MORE IT COSTS YOU TO BORROW.
AND THEN IT'S WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE.
A VERY FINE LINE OF TO TO, TO, RIGHT.
BUT WE ALSO, LIKE JACKSON HAS BEEN VERY GOOD, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT BONDS, IS I THINK A LOT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM STUFF HAVE TRIED TO TELL PEOPLE, PASS THIS BOND.
IT'S NOT GONNA RAISE YOUR TAXES.
MAYBE IT DOESN'T RAISE YOUR TAXES, BUT YOU'RE STILL GONNA PAY FOR IT.
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT LAKE JACKSON'S BEEN VERY GOOD AT, IS, YEAH, WE'VE GOT A BOND, BUT WE PAY THAT OFF BEFORE WE DO THE NEXT ONE.
AND THAT'S HELPED KEPT US SAFE.
BUT WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT ON THE SIZE OF THESE PROJECTS WHERE THE AMOUNT OF BOND, WE'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO WAIT UNTIL THIS ONE'S PAID OFF BEFORE WE START THIS PROJECT.
WELL, YEAH, THE THING IS THAT GOT BIG STUFF, WE MAY, WE MAY COME BACK NEXT, WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR, UH, FOR STREET BOND JUST TO BE ABLE TO GET AHEAD OF THE STREET REPAIRS THAT WE NEED TO DO.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S, AGAIN, THAT'S SOME OF THE HARD DISCUSSIONS THAT WE ARE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO HAVE GOING FORWARD.
AND WE JUST, YOU KNOW, NONE OF US UP HERE WANTS TO KICK THE CAN.
NOT, WE, WE WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY, AGAIN, WHY WE'RE GONNA DO THE STUDIES
[01:35:01]
AND WE'RE GONNA COME UP WITH THE PLANS AND WE'RE GONNA COME, WE'RE GONNA PUBLIC, WE'RE GONNA PUT IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC OF SAYING, THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GOTTA DO.WE'RE GONNA DO IT OVER THE NEXT 10 OR 15 YEARS, AND THIS IS HOW WE'RE GONNA STAGE IT OUT AND SO FORTH.
UH, I'M HOPING THAT WE CAN GET SMARTER AT DOING GRANTS, UH, AND STUFF.
UH, JUST WENT TO A-H-G-A-C MEETING, UH, THE OTHER DAY TALKING ABOUT WASTEWATER AND, AND WATER.
AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO START PUTTING MORE PROJECTS INTO, INTO THE QUEUE WITH HGAC.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'VE GOT DOLLARS TODAY, BUT WHAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE COMMITTED TO DO IS, IS THEY'RE GONNA KEEP THAT LIST.
AND WHEN DOLLARS BECOME AVAILABLE IS THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT LIST AND THAT'S THE LIST THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SEND FUNDING TO FIRST INSTEAD OF LAST.
AND WE NEED TO GET OUR NAMES ON THE LIST.
I NEED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT THAT, BUT, UH, ON SOME OF OUR PROJECTS.
BUT THERE'S, WE'VE JUST GOTTA GET BETTER AT, AT, UH, WHERE WE, WHERE WE, WHERE WE CAN FIND FUNDING.
BUT AGAIN, I AGREE, UH, WE NEED TO, UH, I SUPPORT GOING BACK, UH, YOU KNOW, IN FUTURE, YOU KNOW, NEXT, NEXT YEAR WE CAN GO BACK AND AGAIN, THIS YEAR, EVEN IF WE APPROVE THIS BUDGET AS WE STAND TODAY, IS WE CAN GO DOWN AS WE GO FORWARD, WE CAN MAKE, WE CAN MAKE A DECISION OF IS WE DON'T WANNA SPEND THOSE DOLLARS TODAY AND, YOU KNOW, SPEND THEM ON SOMETHING ELSE.
HEY, YOU CAN SPEND THEM, YOU WOULD SPEND THEM ON THAT.
THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO SPEND MONEY THEM, LET'S SPEND THEM ON PD.
BUT KEEP THE TAX RATE GOING, BUT SAVE MONEY AND TO, TO USE ON INFRASTRUCTURE AS OPPOSED TO OTHER NON, THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
BUT ANYWAY, I'VE DREADED THIS MEETING BECAUSE I MEAN, THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE DIFFICULT.
THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE TO HAVE BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THEIR PET THING THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
WELL, YOU KNOW, AND NOBODY LIKES RAISING TAXES, BUT EVERY WANTS, EVERYBODY WANTS TO TOILET US TO FLUSH AND EVERYBODY, I MEAN, LIKE, JACKSON OFFERS A LOT OF SERVICES.
YOU KNOW, WELL, WE'VE GOT ONE WE OFFER ARE ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE SIT, WE SIT BACK AND WE, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT MAKES LAKE JACKSON MAKE WHAT, WHAT MAKES LAKE JACKSON, LAKE JACKSON AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT FEEL GOOD ABOUT LAKE JACKSON, AND YOU ASK 'EM THAT QUESTION AND, AND IT'S HARD TO MAKE THAT AN, TO GIVE THAT ANSWER BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST LAKE JACKSON.
IT'S, IT'S THINGS THAT WE'VE, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE, WE'VE DONE, WE'VE ALWAYS DONE.
WE WE'RE, WE LIKE, WE, THEY'RE, WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH 'EM.
AND, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE I DON'T GO TO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM OR MAYBE I DO, BUT WHENEVER MY GRANDKIDS ARE IN, I TAKE MY KIDS TO, TO THE GRANDKIDS, TO THE LIBRARY SYSTEM.
IT'S A GREAT SYSTEM OR WHATEVER, OR TYPE STUFF.
SO WE ALL THINK, I'M JUST SAYING THERE'S A TON OF THINGS THAT BRING A LOT OF VALUE TO OUR CITY, BUT AT SOME POINT WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PICK AND CHOOSE.
DO WE GO TO THE MOVIES OR DO WE PAY OUR ELECTRIC BILL? IT'S EVEN HARDER WHEN YOU CAN ONLY SPEND CERTAIN MONEY ON MOVIES AND YOU CAN'T SPEND THAT SAME MONEY ON YOUR ELECTRIC BILL
BECAUSE YOU'RE BOUND BY STATE LAW OR STATE LAW OR OTHER THINGS THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT.
SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT, SO A LOT OF THINGS, A LOT OF THESE QUALITY OF LIFE THINGS ARE FUNDED BY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT ARE, HAVE RESTRICTIONS ON IT.
PARK SHARP, HOT TAX, HOT SURE.
BE IT, UH, HALF CENTS SALES TAX TYPE STUFF.
I WAS GONNA SAY, BECAUSE THE STATE IN OUR BUSINESS IN GENERAL.
ANY, ANY FURTHER? SO THIS IS STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'RE STILL ON ITEM TWO ON THIS AGENDA.
SO, UH, IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING? AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE, UH, ITEM THREES COMING UP.
I'LL CLOSE OUT THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING AT 8 0 7, ALMOST AN HOUR.
MY EYES ARE HURTING FOR SOME REASON.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S, BUT, UH, ALL RIGHT.
[3. Discuss and consider Resolution No. 959 adopting the FY 2024-2025 Annual Budget. – Modesto Mundo]
WE HAVE ITEM THREE, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 5 9, ADOPTING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.THIS IS A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
AND THEN YOU HAVE YOUR YELLOW SHEET.
SO IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, FURTHER DISCUSSION ON, UH, THE BUDGET? IF NOT, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO ADOPT A BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING ON OCTOBER THE FIRST 2024, ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
WE HAVE A, A MOTION FOR COUNCILMAN BAKER SECOND.
AND I HAVE A SECOND FOR FROM COUNCILMAN BUELL.
[01:40:03]
OKAY.JUST CLARIFY FOR ME HERE WHAT WE'RE VOTING.
THIS IS TO THE, THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED TAX.
THIS IS THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED, NOT THE TAX RATE YET.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION QUESTION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO THE BUDGET'S APPROVED AS PRESENTED.
[4. Consider ratifying the property tax rate increase of 3.26% as reflected in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget. – Modesto Mundo]
ON TO ITEM FOUR.ITEM FOUR, CONSIDER RATIFYING THE PROPERTY TAX RATE INCREASE OF 3.26% AS REFLECTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.
MODESTO, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? I DON'T HAVE A CORRESPONDING, THIS IS JUST A RATIFICATION.
THERE'S NOTHING TO ADD? NO, THERE'S NOTHING TO READ.
ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? FURTHER DISCUSSION, I GUESS.
SO I'LL TAKE A, I NEED A MOTION ON ITEM FOUR.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER I, EXCUSE ME.
WHICH ONE? ITEM NUMBER FOUR, RIGHT? YES, SIR.
I MOVE TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX INCREASE OF 3.26% AS REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024.
SO I HAD A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HANYA, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BROADUS.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SO WHAT ARE WE MOVING TO? RATIFY RECOMMENDED BUDGET.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE, THIS IS THE RECOMMENDED TAX RATE.
SO THIS IS THE DE MINIMIS TAX RATE THAT WAS, UH, PRESENTED.
SO THIS IS THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF $0.33 PER HUNDRED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE ONE NAY AND ALL OTHERS APPROVE.
MM-HMM,
DON'T ASK ME ONE AND THE DIFFERENCE, OKAY.
THIS, EVEN THOUGH LAWYER KNOWS THIS IS A, THIS IS A ONLY LAWYERS KNOW.
NO, IT AIN'T, NO, THAT'S NOT A LAWYER THING.
ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME GET THIS RIGHT.
[5. Discuss and consider the first and final reading of Ordinance No. 2288 to adopt the proposed tax rate of $0.325929. – Modesto Mundo]
ON ITEM, UH, ITEM FIVE.ITEM FIVE, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE FIRST AND FINAL READING.
IS THAT CORRECT? UH, FIRST AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2, 2 8 8, UH, TO ADOPT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF, UH, $0.33.
SO YOU WANT TO READ THE ORDINANCE FIRST? YEAH, GO AHEAD AND READ THE ORDINANCE, THEN WE'LL DO, UH, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO VOTE TO SUSPEND, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE LIVING THE AVALOR TAX OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, ON ALL TAXABLE PROPERTY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY.
NOT EXEMPT BY LAW, PROVIDING REVENUE FOR PAYMENT OF CURRENT MUNICIPAL EXPENSES AND FOR INTEREST IN SINKING FUNDS ON OUTSTANDING CITY OF LAKE JACKSON BONDS, PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT OF COLLECT COLLECTION, PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND PROVIDING THAT THE CHARTER RULE REQUIRING THAT THE ORDINANCE BE READ AT TWO SEPARATE REGULAR MEETINGS.
UH, I'LL, I'LL READ THROUGH EACH, UH, SECTION, UH, SECTION TWO, THAT THE TOTAL TAX OF 0.2 0 8 9 6 4 ON EACH A HUNDRED DOLLARS ASSESSED SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE GENERAL FUND MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS.
AND THAT THE TOTAL TAX RATE OF 0.1 1 6 9 6 5 ON EACH A HUNDRED DOLLARS ASSIST SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO PAY THE CITY'S DEBT SERVICES PROVIDED.
UH, THIS, UH, UH, IN ESSENCE CREATES A TAX RATE OF 0.3 2 5 9 2 9.
UH, THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THEN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.
AND THEN TAX WILL EFFECTIVELY RAISE BY 7.55% AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A HUNDRED THOUSAND HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $8 AND 30 CENTS.
OKAY, SO, UH, THEY TAKE A MOTION ON OR ON THE, UM, SUSPENSION.
MR. MAYOR, I WOULD MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES REQUIRING THE TWO READINGS.
MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BROADUS, SECOND BY COUNCIL.
HANYA, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
SO NOW, UH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE, UH, SO, UM, RESOLUTION, UM, ON THE ITEM, IF YOU DO WANNA PASS THE ORDINANCE, THE ORDINANCE, UH, YOU OKAY?
[01:45:01]
THERE'S A LANGUAGE THERE FOR, UM, TO MOVE, RIGHT? SO IF WE WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN, I'LL DO IT.UH, MR. MAYOR, IF YOU WOULD I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF $0.33, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 3.26% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN BROADUS AND SECOND BY HANYA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
WE HAVE, UH, ONE DESCENDING VOTE.
SO WHY, SO JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, WHAT WE JUST DID, HUH? BECAUSE WE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE AND THE RATE.
NOW WE WENT FROM A DOLLAR TO THE PERCENTAGE.
NO, HE MADE A PRESENTATION AND NOW WE HAVE TO VOTE ON IT.
UM, SO ITEM FOUR IS RATIFY, BASICALLY TO SAY THIS IS WHAT THE TAX RATE IS TO SUPPORT THE BUDGET THAT WE JUST APPROVED.
AND THEN HE'S TALKING ABOUT ITEM SIX.
AND THEN ITEM FIVE IS, I'M ASKING MODESTO, THE CLARIFICATION BETWEEN ITEM FOUR IS RATIFICATION OF A TAX INCREASE AND THEN, AND THEN I FIVE IS THE ORDINANCE TO APPROVE THE TAX IN THE TAX RATE? YES.
BUT WHY YOU NEED NUMBER FOUR? I HAVE NO IDEA.
I GUESS THAT'S IN CASE IF YOU WOULD'VE CHANGE, MADE A CHANGE IN THE BUDGET.
I THINK THEY WANTED THAT OUT LOUD.
OKAY, SO WE'RE DONE WITH THE GOING SPECIAL SHEET.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO TO TO ITEM SIX.
[6. Discuss and consider the first reading of Ordinance No. 2289 revising fees charged for water, sewer, garbage, and dumpster services. – James Bryson]
ITEM SIX IS DISCUSSING CONSIDER FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2, 2, 8, 9, REVISING FEE CHANGES FOR WATER, SEWER, GARBAGE, AND DUMPSTER SERVICE.GET STRADDLED WITH THIS ONE, JAMES.
OH, WELL, SO FAR EVERYTHING I'VE ASKED FOR, FOR MY BIRTHDAY'S COME TRUE.
Y'ALL PASSED THE BUDGET IN THE TAX WEEK.
SO AGAIN, MODESTO DISCUSSED THIS WITH HIS PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET.
I JUST WANT TO HIT A FEW HIGHLIGHTS AND THAT WOULD BE THIS BUDGET WAS BUILT ON THESE TAX RATES.
UH, MR. GARRETT AT THE NEW GEN PRESENTATION LAST WEEK EXPLAINED TO YOU WHY HE BASED THOSE RATES ON WHAT HE, JUST BASED OFF THE INFORMATION HE PROVIDED.
UM, WE HAVE THE DEBT FOR THE LIST STATION THAT WE'RE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT.
THE BWA INCREASED RATES, THE LANDFILL RATES, AND THE LABOR COST ALL FACTOR INTO THE, THE RATES THAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU FOR COUNSEL TO BE APPROVED.
AND AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED, RESIDENTIAL BILL FOR 5,000 GALLONS GOES UP ABOUT $9 AND 18 CENTS.
THAT'S JUST MY HIGHLIGHTS ON EVERYTHING ELSE.
UH, THE CITY MANAGERS PRETTY MUCH TOUCHED ON THE RATES EARLIER.
AGAIN, THIS IS THE FIRST READING, AND I'VE ALREADY CAUGHT
THE ON ITEM THREE, IT SAYS SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNT, 40%.
IT'LL LEAD TO, IF COUNCIL IS AGREE, IT'LL LEAD TO SAY 13.
ANOTHER THING, DEPENDING ON HOW THEY DEVOTE, MR. SAGIA MUST HAVE GOTTEN TO THE
THAT'S THE GOOD, I THINK IT THE POWER OF THE MIND 40%.
SO YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE A FIRST READING, RIGHT? YES.
UH, THIS IS AN ORDINANCE BY THE COUNCIL OF THE LAKE JACKSON, UH, TEXAS ADMITTING SECTION 1 0 2 0.1 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES BY REVISING THE FEES TO BE CHARGED FOR WATER, SEWER, GARBAGE, AND DUMPSTER SERVICES, AND WATER AND SEWER TAP FEES, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES AND CONFLICT HERE WITH PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE, UH, DATE.
AND THIS WILL REQUIRE, UH, TWO READINGS, RIGHT? AND THE SECOND READING WILL BE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
AND WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER, UH, CHANGES.
UM, ON HERE, JAMES, I'M ALSO LOOKING AT THE COMPACTOR CHARGES.
WERE THERE ANY CORRESPONDING INCREASES ON THOSE AS WELL? I DIDN'T SEE ANY IN THE BUDGET, BUT I, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AND SEE IF WE MISSED SOMETHING.
SO WHAT'S THE, ARE WE, DO WE HAVE A TIME CRUNCH ON THIS? NO, NO, NO.
SO COULD WE JUST BRING THIS BACK FOR A FIRST READING NEXT MEETING WITH ALL THE CHANGES? YOU, YOU COULD, WE CAN, LET'S HAVE COPY.
WE CAN, YEAH, WE CAN MAKE WE SEE THOSE TWO EVERYBODY.
SO WE CAN BRING THAT TO THE NEXT MEETING.
SO WE'RE GONNA DEFER THAT TO NEXT MEETING.
SORRY, BIRTHDAY WISH WAS NOT GRANTED.
[01:50:01]
OUT OF THE WAY.WELL, YOU CAN THINK THERE'S ANOTHER DAY.
THE BEST PART OF THIS MEETING.
I'M SURE SEVERAL PEOPLE WON THAT, RIGHT? YEAH.
IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE TASERS.
LET ASK, I'M GLAD YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY SAMPLES OF PASS OUT.
AT LEAST NOT AT THE FIRST MEETING.
[7. Presentation by Axon for PD body camera/in-car camera and taser demonstration. – Paul Kibodeaux]
ME OFFICIALLY PRESENT THIS, UH, ITEM OFF THE AGENDA AND PUT IT ON THE TABLE.SO IT'S A PRESENTATION BY AXON, IS THAT RIGHT? YES, SIR.
UH, FOR, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT BODY CAMERAS IN CAR CAMERAS AND TASER DEMONSTRATIONS.
AND HE'S GOT SOME THINGS JUST NOT LIVE DIFFERENCE.
IN, IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, OF COURSE, IN, IN EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT, THIS IS A PRETTY BIG ITEM THAT WE BROUGHT TO YOU.
I THINK IT'S PRETTY MUCH, UH, UNDERSTOOD BY EVERYONE THAT BODY CAMS AND CAR CAMS ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, UH, ESSENTIAL IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TODAY.
UH, SO WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS OR SO, UH, RESEARCHING THIS MOVE.
WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO EXTEND THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE USED THE CURRENT VENDOR'S PRODUCT, UH, BY, UH, EVEN ACQUIRING USED EQUIPMENT FROM OTHER AGENCIES.
BUT WE'VE BEEN OUTSIDE OF MAINTENANCE.
SO THIS WAS A FOCUS, UH, THAT WE KNEW WAS COMING AND WE MADE IT AS LONG AS WE COULD DOWN THE ROAD.
SO IN OUR RESEARCH AXON, UM, WAS, WE FELT THE BEST CHOICE AND, UH, FOR A FEW REASONS.
AND, AND IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT ALREADY, SO I'M JUST GONNA COVER SOME OF THE THINGS ON THE SAVINGS SIDE OF THIS CHOICE THAT WE DIDN'T GET WITH THE OTHER VENDORS.
UM, FLOCK, I THINK WE'VE WE'RE ALL AWARE WE PASSED THAT INFORMATION ALONG THE SUCCESSES WE'VE HAD WITH FLOCK CAMERAS.
UH, WE WERE CONSIDERING AN ADDITIONAL COST FOR MORE FLOCK CAMERAS TO CONTINUE THAT SUCCESS AND ADD TO IT, UM, WITH AXON, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER VENDORS.
IT COMES WITH LPRS THAT WILL BE INSTALLED IN EACH OF THE UNITS FOR THE, THE BUNDLE PRICE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO QUOTE US.
UH, AND THEN THEY'LL BE MOBILE IN EACH OF THE CARS.
SO THAT'S 14 ADDITIONAL UNITS.
SO THERE'S A SAVINGS THERE THAT'S INCLUDED IN THEIR QUOTE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND RENT.
UH, MORE FLOCK CAMERAS, UH, CRADLEPOINT ROUTERS.
JUST REAL QUICK TO TOUCH ON 'EM.
AGAIN, THAT'S INCLUDED WITH THIS, UH, PRODUCT UPGRADE.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO INVEST FOR THE MDTS AND THE CARS REGARDLESS.
UH, SO THAT PRICE HAS ROLLED IN THERE AS WELL.
UH, LONG-TERM DIGITAL STORAGE, BEING LOCAL, WE WERE GONNA HAVE TO, TO BUY SERVERS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT 55,000.
AND AGAIN, UH, THEY'LL EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT TO YOU HOW THAT WORKS, UH, IS A BIG PLUS FOR US BECAUSE THE, UH, PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE WENT TO, UH, AXON BASED, UH, SHARING TO GET OUR FILES, OUR CASES UP THERE, AND, UH, THAT'LL BE INCLUDED WITH THIS.
AND SO IT REALLY IS A BIG PLUS TO OUR EVIDENCE TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO SEND THE INFORMATION THAT WAY.
IT'S CLOUD-BASED, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THAT LOCAL STORAGE.
UM, BIG, BIG PLUS PROBABLY TO THE TUNE OF FOUR TO $500,000 IS AT THE END OF THIS FIRST FIVE YEAR TERM, UH, WITH THIS BUNDLE COST WITH AXON.
AT THE END OF THAT TERM, WE GET WHAT THEY CALL A REFRESH.
SO ALL THE BODY CAMS AND INCAR WILL GET THEIR LATEST AND GREATEST PRODUCT INCLUDED IN THIS, THIS YEAR'S, UH, QUOTE.
UH, SO WE'LL BE READY FOR YEAR SIX THROUGH 10 WITH NEW EQUIPMENT.
UH, SO IT REALLY IS KIND OF LIKE A 10 YEAR AGREEMENT.
UM, THE ANOTHER BIG THING, WE WERE LOOKING NEXT YEAR TO, UH, PURCHASE OUR TASERS, UH, A NEW SET OF TASERS.
WE'VE HAD OURS PASSED THE TIME THAT, UH, THAT THEY'RE ESSENTIAL OR, OR USEFUL, UM, THAT IS A $220,000 PLUS BECAUSE THOSE TASERS ARE ACTUALLY INCLUDED IN WHAT THEY'VE QUOTED US FOR BODY CAM AND IN CARS.
SO ALL OF THAT ROLLED UP MADE IT A PRETTY EASY DECISION THAT IT WAS THE BEST WAY TO GO.
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS A BIG TICKET ITEM.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THAT AND THE BUDGET BY THE WAY.
AND I'M GONNA TURN IT OVER TO JARED WILSON FROM AXON AS SOON AS I ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
AND ASSAD, UH, KHAN, WHO'S WITH HIM TODAY, SO I HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY LOOK THROUGH ALL OF IT TODAY.
AND SO WITH THE CHANGE OF TECHNOLOGY, ARE WE TAKING FOR ACCOUNT IN THAT, IN OUR POLICY, THE NEW TECHNOLOGY? YES.
[01:55:01]
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? YES, ABSOLUTELY.SO, I MEAN, YOU GOT NEW STAFF COMING UP, DRONES AND, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE PROPERTY AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, RIGHT? SO ALL ARE WE TAKING THOSE INTO ACCOUNT AND ALL THOSE THINGS AS THEY PROGRESS? YOU'RE RIGHT.
UH, POLICIES ARE DEVELOPED FOR, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT REASONS THAT WE, LIKE, WE WORKED WITH, UH, LEXIPOL THIS YEAR TO DEVELOP THOSE PROCESS.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT MAY BE A LITTLE NEW TO US, IT'S NOT TO OTHER AGENCIES.
AND THE BIG PLUS WITH LEXIPOL IS THEY TAKE IN ALL AGENCIES POLICIES, UH, THAT ARE PART OF THEIR PROGRAM AND BRING FORTH BEST PRACTICES, PLATES AND STUFF.
AND SO WE'RE AHEAD OF THE GAME THERE.
SO THIS IS, UH, REGARDING THE DATA.
SO I KNOW WE HAVE A 10 YEAR POSSIBLY AGREEMENT WITH THE AXON, BUT IN FIVE YEARS, IF WE DECIDE TO GO A DIFFERENT WAY, WHO OWNS THE DATA IN THE CLOUD AND HOW DO WE, UH, WHAT WILL BE THE COST TO GET IT TO US? SO, SO THAT'S MY QUESTION.
I'LL KIND OF LET THEM GO TO SOME OF THAT, BUT WE DO OWN THAT.
UH, AND OF COURSE NOW THE TRANSFERS FROM, FROM US TO AXON, I MEAN THROUGH AXON TO THE DA'S OFFICE GOING FORWARD, THAT COULD CHANGE.
AT THIS ONE QUESTION WAS THAT SOMETIMES WOULDN'T BE PROBLEM, WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.
SOMETIMES I, THE DATA IS KIND OF FUNNY.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING INTO AS WELL.
I MEAN, LIKE I SAID, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS, SINCE MY TIME HERE, OUR PRACTICE IS PUT ALL THAT IN A BIG BOX, PRINT OUT YOUR REPORTS AND ALL THE ATTACHMENTS AND ANY EVIDENCE THAT'S DIGITAL, UH, WE PUT IT DOWN ON A CD OR A THUMB DRIVE AND WE ACTUALLY DRIVE IT UP THERE.
BUT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE PROPRIETARY DATABASES AND THEN YOU GET INTO A PROBLEM THAT YOU KNOW, NO LONGER HAVE A CONTRACT OR THAT DATA KNOWS NO, NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE TO YOU.
RIGHT? SO THAT'S THE REASON I WAS ASKING THAT QUESTION.
NO, THAT IS A, A VIABLE QUESTION.
ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD, UH, GOING FORWARD WITH IT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG PLUSES BECAUSE WE WERE WITH WATCHGUARD NOW AND TRANSFERRING DIGITAL UP THERE, UH, IT'S A WHOLE TECHNICAL THING THAT ON MY SIDE, BUT IT WAS VERY, IT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO DO BECAUSE THEY'VE MADE THAT CHOICE.
THAT'S THE WAY THEY'RE RECEIVING INFORMATION NOW AND WE HAVE TO DO IT AND IT VERY TIME CONSUMING AND COSTLY.
SO I'M GOING TO LET JARED WILSON AND ASSAD HAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AND DO A LITTLE BRIEF DEMONSTRATION.
COUNCIL MEMBERS, APPRECIATE YOU, UH, LETTING US COME HERE THIS EVENING AND, UH, BE A PART OF THIS.
WE'VE GOT, UH, BE MINDFUL OF TIME, WE'LL PRESENT QUICKLY.
UM, WE'VE GOT SOME VIDEOS THAT'LL PROBABLY SUM UP WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT, A LITTLE MORE IMPACT AND, UH, OF COURSE ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
HE'LL PROBABLY SIT BACK AND FILL QUESTIONS, UH, AS NEEDED.
I'M THE LOCAL TEXAS REP IN LOUISIANA, UM, REPRESENTING AXON AND SUPPORTING LAKE JACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, ASSAD'S, OUR SOLUTIONS ENGINEER.
SO ALL THE TECHNICAL QUESTIONS HE'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER, UH, IF THERE ARE ANY.
AND, UH, HE WANTED TO COME UP AND SAY A FEW THINGS TO YOUR POINT ON WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT DATA.
UH, AND IT'S, IT'S A FIVE YEAR TERM THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
SO AT THE END OF FIVE YEARS, IF YOU DECIDE TO GO A DIFFERENT DIRECTION, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THAT, TO THAT DATA? YEAH, INDEED.
SO THE DATA'S ACTUALLY NOT OWNED BY AXON.
WE'RE ACTUALLY THE CUSTODIANS, UH, FOR THAT DATA.
SO WE'LL SET UP A SYSTEM FOR YOU WHERE YOU CAN, UH, WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN DUMP THEIR DATA, BUT AFTERWARDS, IT IS UP TO THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH IT.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY TOUCH THE DATA UNLESS A DATA CENTER'S ON FIRE, THEN OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT TO DESTROY THAT DATA.
WE'RE GONNA TRY TO SAVE THAT FOR YOU.
AND EVEN WHEN SOMEBODY TOUCHES THAT DATA, AT THAT POINT IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT'S AUDITED AS WELL TOO.
YOU DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DOWNLOAD THE DATA AT ANY POINT YOU LIKE, AND WE'RE NOT USING ANYTHING PROPRIETARY.
THERE ARE CERTAIN VENDORS THAT WILL KEEP THEIR VIDEOS IN A PROPRIETARY FORMAT, SO THAT WAY WHEN YOU DOWNLOAD IT, IT'S NOT EASILY PLAYABLE WITH OUR DATA.
WHEN YOU DO DOWNLOAD IT OFF, THEN YOU CAN PLAY IT OFF WITH COMMON VIDEO PLAYERS.
DOES THAT HELP ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES, YES.
OKAY, SO, UH, JUST REAL QUICK, WHO IS AXON? MAKE SURE I HAVE THIS, UH, OH, DO I HAVE IT RIGHT? I CAN JUST SAY NEXT TOO, IF THAT WORKS.
SO US BASED COMPANY OUT OF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA.
UM, WE STARTED FIRST AS TASER DEVELOPING TASER TASER ENERGY WEAPONS IN 1993.
UM, WE, UH, MANUFACTURE ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA.
AND, UM, THE MISSION BEHIND AXON IS VERY SIMPLE, YET VERY IMPORTANT.
EVERYTHING WE DO IS BEHIND THAT MISSION.
UH, IN 2020, IN 2023, WE MADE PUBLIC OUR MOONSHOT GOAL OF CUTTING GUN RELATED DEATHS BETWEEN OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC BY 50% IN 10 YEARS.
UM, PRIOR TO THAT, IN 2022, THE GUN RELATED DEATHS BETWEEN OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC WAS JUST OVER 1100 PEOPLE.
UM, SO WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WITH OUR TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, WITH FLOCK AND OTHERS, UM, AND WITH THE CITIZENS OF THE COMMUNITIES, WE HOPE TO BE ABLE TO REACH
[02:00:01]
THAT GOAL BY 2033.SO WHAT CHIEF WAS ALLUDING TO WAS BEING ABLE TO BUNDLE SOME OF THESE PRODUCTS TOGETHER.
WE CALL THAT OFFICER SAFETY PLAN.
UM, WHAT THAT INCLUDES IS SOME OF THE THINGS HIGHLIGHTED HERE, EVIDENCE.COM, THAT IS THE, UM, WHERE WE HOST ALL OF THE, OUR VIDEOS.
SO, UH, WE ARE ACTUALLY THE LARGEST VIDEO HOST IN THE WORLD HOSTING MORE VIDEOS THAN EVEN YOUTUBE.
UM, WHAT CHIEF ALSO ALLUDED TO WAS THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE HAVING GONE TO EVIDENCE.COM THAT GIVES THE, UH, PROSECUTORS AND THE PD THE ABILITY TO, WITHIN JUST A FEW CLICKS OF BUTTON SHARE EVIDENCE IN CASES BACK AND FORTH, WHERE IN YEARS PAST, IT WOULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ACTUALLY DELIVERING THAT BY HAND.
SO WE RAPIDLY SPEED UP THAT PROCESS, UM, AND MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THAT DATA.
UH, WE PROVIDE VERY CLEAR AND EASY TO USE AUDIT TRAILS.
SO WHETHER IT'S ACCESSING THAT DATA JUST TO REVIEW OR MAKING ANY SORT OF CHANGES OR REDACTIONS TO THAT DATA, UH, OR THAT VIDEO, YOU WOULD HAVE A FULL CLEAR AUDIT TRAIL OF WHAT HAPPENED.
THE TASER 10 WAS THE FIRST PRODUCT THAT AXON RELEASED IN A DIRECT RESPONSE TO OUR MOONSHOT GOAL.
UM, IT WAS A GIANT LEAP IN TASER TECHNOLOGY.
THE BIGGEST WAS BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE 10 PROBES AND THAT TASER WEAPON, GIVEN THE OFFICER NINE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION.
UH, LEGACY DEVICES HAD EITHER ONE, SOMETIMES TWO CARTRIDGES.
SO IF ONE OR BOTH FAILED, THEN WE HAVE TO, THE OFFICER NOW HAS TO CHANGE TO A DIFFERENT USE OF FORCE.
ANOTHER BIG KEY DIFFERENCE IN OUR LEGACY MODELS IN THE TASER 10 IS A DOUBLE AND EFFECTIVE RANGE.
GOING FROM 20 TO 25 FEET ALL THE WAY UP TO NOW 45 FEET WITH TASER 10, THAT GIVES THE OFFICERS MORE SITUATIONS AND MORE TIME TO USE A TASER, WHERE IN YEARS PAST, THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO.
A BIG THING ALSO IS ALL OF OUR TASER DEVICES, AND EVEN WHEN THE OFFICER WERE TO UNH HOLSTER, HIS SIDEARM, OUR BODY CAMERAS WILL AUTOMATICALLY TURN ON.
ANOTHER PART OF AXON IS WE NEVER WANNA MISS A MOMENT, SO WE WILL DEFAULT TO HAVING THOSE VIDEO CAMERAS TURN ON IN ANY SORT OF SITUATION THAT THE AGENCY FEELS WOULD BE NECESSARY TO DO.
SO, AXON BODY FOUR IS OUR FOURTH GENERATION BODY CAMERA.
THE TWO BIG TAKEAWAYS I WOULD SAY FROM THIS BODY CAMERA IS, AGAIN, AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION, EITHER UNH HOLSTERING OF A SIDE ARM, UM, TURNING ON THE LIGHT BAR OR UNH HOLSTERING YOUR TASER.
AND EVEN ARMING THE TASER WILL CAUSE A AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION OF BODY CAMERAS, UM, AND THE ABILITY TO LIVESTREAM INTO THOSE CAMERAS AND HAVE BIDIRECTIONAL COMMUNICATION WHERE COMMANDS CAN TALK BACK AND FORTH WITH THE OFFICERS.
SO TONS OF USE CASES, BUT SIMPLE ONES BEING YOUNG OR ROOKIE OFFICERS IN A SITUATION THEY MIGHT NOT BE VERY COMFORTABLE IN HAVING SUPPORT AT SECONDS NOTICE IF THEY NEED IT.
AND THEN ALSO BEING ABLE TO SEE ALL OF YOUR ASSETS OR ALL OF YOUR BODY CAMERAS ON A MAP LIVE.
SIMPLE WAY TO LOOK AT IT'S, THINK ABOUT APPLE'S, FIND MY FRIENDS.
BUT YOU HAVE ALL OF YOUR BODY CAMERAS BEING ABLE TO LIVE STREAM INTO AND SEE EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE.
STANDARDS, STANDARDS IS A INTERNAL REPORTING TOOL WITHIN END EVIDENCE.COM.
UM, VERY CUSTOMIZABLE, BUT ANY USE OF FORCE, INTERNAL AFFAIRS, ACCOMMODATIONS, REALLY ANY INTERNAL REPORTING OR INTERNAL FORMS THAT THE PD WANTS TO USE, UH, CAN BE RUN THROUGH AXON STANDARDS AND THEN RESPOND PLUS THAT IS THE LIVE STREAMING AND GEO MAPPING FEATURE WITHIN EVIDENCE.COM.
THERE'S A COUPLE VIDEOS AFTER THIS, BUT ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS PORTION? JUST HAVE QUESTION ON THE, I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD.
SO YOU'RE SAYING LIVE STREAMING BACK TO DISPATCH, OR IS THAT BACK TO YOUR COMPANY? NO, SIR.
SO NOT NOT, YOU MEAN COMMAND, COMMAND, COMMAND, STAFF, SUPERVISORS, SERGEANTS.
UH, SO YOU SAID YOU HAD MULTIPLE CARTRIDGES RATHER THAN JUST ONE OR TWO.
SO WHEN YOU DISCHARGE ONE OR TWO OR THREE, DO YOU HAVE A 10 YARD, THE WHOLE CARTRIDGE, OR YOU PARTIAL ONE IS STILL THERE? HOW DOES THAT WORK? YEAH, ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION.
SO JUST ONE CARTRIDGE, YOU WOULD OPEN THE MAGAZINE AND REPLACE THE SPENT CARTRIDGE AND THEN BE READY TO GO SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO CHANGE OUT THE WHOLE THING EVERY TIME, EVEN.
UH, I ASKED THE CHIEF LATER ABOUT THE COMMAND, WHO WOULD BE PART OF THE COMMAND STAFF.
WOULD THAT BE A, UH, SUPERVISOR ON DUTY OR WOULD THAT BE A LIEUTENANT SERGEANT, OR WOULD IT BE, I THINK YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE WAY DRONE SENSE WORKS IN OUR DRONES.
UM, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO LIVE VIEW THOSE AS THEY'VE BEEN APPLYING AROUND THE FESTIVALS AND, AND SUCH.
UM, SO IF YOU'RE IN THAT SITUATION, IN THAT, IN THAT COMMAND SITUATION, UH, WHOEVER HAS ACCESS, SERGEANTS, LIEUTENANTS, CHIEFS COMMAND STAFF, IF WE HAVE A MAJOR INCIDENT AND OFFICERS ON SCENE, UM, THEY CAN PASS STRAIGHT INTO THAT BODY
[02:05:01]
BASICALLY.SO, AND AS YOU ASKED, UM, KIND OF WITHIN POLICY, WE COME ON SITE AND WE'LL TOUCH ON THIS.
WE COME ON SITE AND WORK WITH THE AGENCY TO SET THESE ROLES, PERMISSIONS, SETTINGS WITHIN EVIDENCE.COM AND ALL AXON PRODUCTS TO ALIGN WITH AGENCY POLICY.
SO, UM, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE, ALONG WITH THE, WITH PD SET UP.
ANY QUESTIONS? UM, TO TOUCH ON THE TASERS INCLUDED IN THIS, WE COVER ALL CARTRIDGES.
SO TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, SITUATION BASED TRAINING, UH, LIVE DUTY CARTRIDGES, WHAT WE CALL WHEN THEY'RE IN THE FIELD, AND THEY ACTUALLY SPEND THOSE CARTRIDGES.
THOSE ARE ALL COVERED BY AXON.
SO WHEN THE PD NEEDS MORE, WE SEND MORE.
UM, THE NEXT VIDEO IS A LITTLE LONG.
UM, IT'S A SEVEN MINUTE VIDEO AND I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY SPENT A TON OF TIME HERE, BUT, UM, IT'LL CAPTURE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT TASER IS, THE VISION BEHIND TASER.
THE NEXT VIDEO WILL GO INTO EVIDENCE.COM, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO THE NEXT PORTION.
WHY DOES AN OFFICER EVER NEED TO USE A LETHAL FORCE? HEAVY POLICE DON'T USE LETHAL FORCE 'CAUSE IT'S LETHAL.
THEY IT BECAUSE IT'S RELIABLE.
IT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO STOP A THREAT TODAY.
PUBLIC SAFETY HAS LIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO STOP A THREAT WITH A LESS LETHAL WEAPON.
AND WHEN LESS LETHAL, LETHAL TOOLS DON'T WORK, PEOPLE DIE.
THAT IS THE PROBLEM WE FELT OBLIGATED TO SOLVE.
IT WAS A MATTER OF GLOBAL SAFETY.
WE WERE WORKING TRULY AROUND THE CLOCK TO FIND A SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM THAT WAS AND IS COSTING LIVES.
WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH BOTH PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE COMMUNITY.
WE REALLY INVOLVED THE TRUE END USERS.
THE ONLY MOTIVATION WE NEEDED WAS KNOWLEDGE THAT WHEN THIS PRODUCT LAUNCHES LIVES WILL BE SAVED.
WE OWE PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITIES A BETTER WAY TO STOP THREATS WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE A LIFE.
IT BEGINS A NEW ERA IN LESS LETHAL TECHNOLOGY INTRO.
UH, SO THIS IS, I GUESS, ANY QUESTIONS ON TASER TIN? OKAY.
IT ALL STARTS WITH THIS, AND ALL THIS BECOMES EVIDENCE.
AND EVIDENCE CAN'T DO WHAT IT'S MEANT TO DO WHEN IT'S DISORGANIZED, HARD TO FIND, VIEW AND SHARE.
EACH PIECE OF EVIDENCE BEGINS WITH A SINGLE SOURCE, SHOULDN'T IT END UP IN A SINGLE PLACE? THE ANSWER IS AXON EVIDENCE.
A SECURE, CENTRALIZED DIGITAL EVIDENCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM THAT ACCEPTS ALL TYPES OF EVIDENCE AND ORGANIZES IT IN ONE PLACE.
AXON EVIDENCE CAN INSTANTLY FIND THAT ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE YOU NEED TO BUILD A STRONG CASE.
AND IT'S DESIGNED WITH EASY TO USE FUNCTIONALITY LIKE DYNAMIC REVIEW AND PLAYBACK.
IT'S ALSO VERSATILE WITH BUILT-IN TOOLS LIKE AUTOMATED REDACTION.
PERFORMANCE AND SHARING PLUS TRANSCRIPTION EVIDENCE SUGGESTIONS AND MORE MAKE THE WHOLE PROCESS LIGHTNING QUICK AND WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED.
FUTURE FEATURES WILL INCLUDE VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY SCENE SCANS.
WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON EVIDENCE, TIMELINE AND MAPPING VIEWS, AND A HOST OF AI CONNECTIONS AND MOBILE EXPERIENCES FOR WORKING IN THE FIELD.
AXON EVIDENCE THE DEMS FOR THE DEMANDS OF MODERN POLICING.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? SO, SO THE REDACTION, IS THAT PERMANENT REDACTION OR JUST FOR THE COPY THAT YOU'RE GONNA SUPPLY TO SOMEONE ELSE? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO THE PERMANENT WILL ALWAYS BE STORED.
UM, AND THEN THERE WILL BE A NEW COPY FOR ANY PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, UM, INCLUDED ALSO IN THIS PACKAGE IS THE IN-CAR SYSTEMS. THIS IS OUR THIRD GENERATION OF AXON IN-CAR CAMERA SYSTEMS. FLEET THREE, UM, AS CHIEF ALLUDED TO, THESE, UH, ARE AUTOMATICALLY OUT OF THE BOX A LPR CAPABLE.
UH, WE PARTNER WITH FLOCK AND, UM, BASICALLY THE WAY IT WORKS IS ALL FLEET THREES HAVE TWO CAMERAS.
WHAT YOU'RE PROBABLY ACCUSTOMED TO THE FORWARD FACING DASH CAMERA, UM, IT'S ACTUALLY ON A 360 DEGREE PANORAMIC, UM, WHEEL THAT THE OFFICER CAN MANIPULATE TO, TO TURN AND TO SEE.
UM, JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THAT SENSOR, THAT LENS IS THE A LPR
[02:10:01]
4K CAMERA THAT'S COVERING THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AT ONCE, CAPTURING PLATES AT UP TO SPEEDS OF 140 MILES PER HOUR.UM, AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SECOND CAMERA, WHICH IS INSIDE THE CAMERA FACING THE, UM, INTERIOR, UH, SOMETIMES WE CALL IT THE PRISONER CAMERA, BUT THE INTERIOR OF THE, OF THE VEHICLE.
UH, THE PACKAGE ALSO INCLUDES CRADLE POINT R 1900 ROUTERS.
UH, THESE ARE 5G CONNECTIVITY ROUTERS, UM, PROVIDING THE UNIT WITH, UM, INTERNET AS WELL AS A WIFI BUBBLE THAT CAN, UH, USE WITH THEIR COMPUTERS AND, UH, ACTUALLY OFFLOADS THEIR BODY CAMERA AND INCAR CAMERA FOOTAGE BACK TO EVIDENCE.COM IN REAL TIME SO THAT, UM, ANY CRITICAL INCIDENTS CAN BE REVIEWED QUICKLY.
THIS IS THE SAME THING WE TALKED ABOUT WITH THE BODY CAMERAS.
THIS IS JUST FOR THE INCAR CAMERAS.
SO THE, THE, UH, COMMAND HAS THE ABILITY TO LIVE STREAM INTO THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS, UM, SEE WHERE ALL OF THE VEHICLES ARE ON A MAP IN REAL TIME FOR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.
AND THIS IS A VIDEO ON, UM, FLEET THREE AND FLOCK.
SO THIS WILL HIGHLIGHT ON EVERYTHING FLEET THREE.
THIS WAS AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT FROM THE START.
AND SO WE JOINED FORCES WITH SOME OF THE BEST PARTNERS IN THE INDUSTRY TO HELP BRING IT TO REALITY.
IN AXON, WE FOUND A PARTNER THAT HAS A VERY SIMILAR STANCE ON HOW WE MAKE COMMUNITIES SAFER, AND WE DO THAT THROUGH BUILDING GREAT TECHNOLOGY AND INTEGRATING IT TOGETHER TO ALLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO SOLVE CRIME EVEN FASTER.
WE'VE LINKED ARMS WITH FLOCK SAFETY TO PROVIDE A FIXED A LPR SYSTEM THAT COMPLIMENTS OUR MOBILE A LPR SYSTEM BE BOTH MOBILE AND FIXED.
WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE EVIDENCE THAT'S TRULY ACTIONABLE.
WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WE KNOW THAT SPEED IS SUPER IMPORTANT.
AND SO BY CONSOLIDATING ALL OF THE EVIDENCE FROM BOTH THE FLEET THREE A LPR, AND THE FLOCK A LPR INTO ONE PLACE IN THE EVIDENCE.COM SYSTEM THAT AXON PROVIDES, IT ALLOWS THEM TO SEARCH ALL THAT ACTIONABLE EVIDENCE VERY QUICKLY WITHOUT HAVING TO GO TO THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT TOOLS.
THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING FROM OFFICERS HAS BEEN VERY POSITIVE.
THERE'S A LOT OF SCARY STUFF THAT HAPPENS OUT THERE, AND WE SEE IT EVERY DAY IN THE MEDIA AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SOLVE A CRIME, BE IT KIDNAPPING OR A SHOOTING, KNOWING THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HELP IS WHY WE DO IT HOME DEAL.
THAT'S OUR FLEET THREE SYSTEM.
ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CARS? ALL RIGHT.
SO EVERYTHING WITHIN THE EXXON ECOSYSTEM, THERE'S REALLY FOUR THINGS IN MIND.
WE WANT TO GIVE THE PD THE ABILITY TO HAVE FASTER RESPONSE TIMES, PROVIDING SAFER COMMUNITIES, BETTER RELATIONSHIPS WITH MORE TRANSPARENCY BETWEEN OFFICERS IN YOUR COMMUNITY, AND A MORE EFFICIENT USE OF YOUR RESOURCES.
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN THE PACKAGE, IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE ALL OF THESE SWORN OFFICERS, THEIR BODY CAMERAS AND TASER TENS.
UM, IT INCLUDES BODY CAMERA REFRESHES AS CHIEF ALLUDED TO AT BOTH THE 30 AND 60 MONTH MARK REASON.
WE DO THE 30, JUST LIKE YOUR, YOUR PHONE BATTERY LITHIUM BATTERIES, WE'LL SEE A LITTLE BIT OF BATTERY DETERIORATION AT THAT TWO AND A HALF YEAR MARK.
SO WE PROVIDE THE HARDWARE REFRESH AT THAT TIME.
IT IS ALWAYS OUR LATEST AND GREATEST PRODUCT.
SO IF IT IS THE FIFTH GENERATION BODY CAMERA, THAT IS WHAT THE PD WILL RECEIVE, BODY SIX AND SO FORTH.
UM, IT INCLUDES ALL OF THE TASER CARTRIDGES, TRAINING DUTY CARTRIDGES, INSTRUCTOR VOUCHERS.
WE COME ON SITE AND WITH CHIEF AND PO AND COMMAND STAFF ALIGNED POLICY FOR THE SETTINGS OF EVIDENCE.COM, RESPOND GPS AND THE SIGNAL SIDEARM, WHICH IS THE AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION WHEN THEY UNH HOLSTER THEIR SIDEARM FLEET.
THREE ADVANCE INCLUDES THE IN-CAR CAMERA REFRESH AT 60 MONTHS A-L-P-R-R 19 HUNDREDS AND RESPOND AS WELL, OF COURSE, FULL WARRANTY ON ALL AXON HARDWARE FOR FIVE YEARS.
QUESTION FOR YOU ON THE OLD BODY, THE BODY CAM OLD ONES, THEY HAD A METAL PLATE OF MAGNUM TO KEEP IT TO YOUR BODY.
HOW WOULD THIS BE SECURED TO YOU? WE HAVE, UH, HUNDREDS OF MOUNTS.
SO THE, UH, LOCK ON THE BACK OF THAT CAMERA, THERE'S ANY MOUNT YOU CAN THINK OF ALL THE WAY FROM, UM, VERY EASY TO BREAK AWAY, MOUNTS ALL THE WAY UP TO DOUBLE MOLLY MOUNTS, WHICH ARE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BREAK AWAY, UH, IN EVERY VARIETY IN BETWEEN.
YEAH, I KNOW WITH THE OLD MAGNUM DEAL, YOU ALMOST GET YOUR FINGER CAUGHT UP IN TRYING TO TAKE IT OFF OF CAN'T.
AND AND THERE ARE OPTIONS AND THEY HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE YOU CAN THINK OF.
AND DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS SOMETIMES, LIKE WE, WE USE THESE EVEN FOR OUR, UH, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, AND SO THEY MAY HAVE A DIFFERENT CHOICE FOR US.
RENTAL QUESTION, WHAT IS A HALT SUIT? OH, YEAH, GOOD QUESTION.
SO WHAT THAT IS, IS BASICALLY, UM, THE CARTRIDGES WITHIN THE TASER WILL BE TRAINING STYLE CARTRIDGES, AND THEY'LL HOOK AND LOOP A, AN ACTUAL PERSON WILL WEAR A SUIT,
[02:15:01]
A VELCRO OR SOMETHING.AND, UH, YOU GET SITUATIONAL TRAINING WHERE A OFFICER, SOMEONE CAN BE PRETENDING TO BE A CERTAIN PERSON.
AND AGAIN, JUST TO, TO TOUCH BASE, I KNOW, UH, WITH OUR RESEARCH, UH, WE WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THESE PRODUCTS CAN DO.
UH, WE'RE USING SOME OF THEM, AND I THINK ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF WHEN WE STARTED WITH THE INCAR AND WE WENT WITH ONE COMPANY.
UH, THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, THERE'S ALWAYS PROS AND CONS TO STAY IN WITH ONE, AND SOMETIMES THERE'S DEVELOPMENT AX AXONS WAY AHEAD.
UH, AND THEN WE GOT BODY CAMERAS OF A DIFFERENT BRAND.
SO WE ENDED UP HAVING TO CHANGE.
I THINK THIS PUTS US READY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, REALLY, UH, WITH THE BEST PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET.
AND, UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO, TO SIGN ON BOARD WITH IT AND GET IT GOING.
UH, AND I THINK WE'LL JUST BE MORE SUCCESSFUL GOING FORWARD.
I'M JUST GLAD TO HEAR THEY DON'T HAVE THE MOTOROLA BUSINESS MODEL, AND THAT HAS CHANGED IT EVERY FIVE YEARS, AND NONE OF IT WORKS.
SO YOU HAVE TO BUY EVERYTHING NEW.
WELL, YOU KNOW, AND THAT'S WHO WATCHGUARD WAS.
A INDEPENDENT COMPANY STARTED IN TEXAS, AND EVENTUALLY MOTOROLA, UH, BOUGHT WATCHGUARD AND WE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP, BUT WHEN OUR EQUIPMENT GOT OLDER RIGHT, AND THEY WERE MOVING TO SOMETHING ELSE, THEY THEN WE WERE UNSUPPORTED.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE REALLY DID SOME SCROUNGING TO FIND EVERYBODY'S USED EQUIPMENT.
SO WE COULD GET TO THIS POINT HERE.
THE REFRESH IS VERY ATTRACTIVE IN THIS BECAUSE AT LEAST WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST, GREATEST EQUIPMENT AT THE END.
AND I THINK THAT'S, UH, KIND OF A NEGATIVE WAY, BUT I THINK WE'LL BE READY TO GO YEAR SIX THROUGH 10.
I, I'M KIND OF IMPRESSED THAT YOU HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY MUCH INSTANTANEOUS BACKUP TO THE CLOUD BECAUSE OF THE 5G CAPABILITY AND STUFF, VERSUS NOW PATROL CAR HAS TO WAIT UNTIL THEY PULL INTO THE STATION YES.
AND SO I WOULD THINK THAT IF WE HAVE AN INCIDENT OUT IN THE FIELD, I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICK THAT STUFF GOES UP IN THE CLOUD, BUT IN, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST LIKE INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR A COMMAND OFFICER TO SHOW UP OUT IN THE FIELD, YOU COULD ALMOST POP IT UP AT THE, YOU KNOW, IN MORE REAL LIFE SITUATIONS THAN I CARE TO REMEMBER.
WE'D HAVE TO ACTUALLY DRIVE THAT UNIT OR THAT CAMERA BACK TO WHERE YOU COULD DOWNLOAD AT THE PD BEFORE WE CAN EVEN START, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATION OR EVERYTHING, GATHERING INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC RELEASES AND SUCH.
UH, AND THIS IS, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT MINUTES, AND THERE ARE SOME VARIABLES THERE, BUT RIGHT.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? THANK CHIEF.
THANKS FOR SITTING THROUGH THE BUDGET.
[8. Discuss and consider an interlocal agreement with Brazoria County to assist with future mass voluntary immunizations. – Bryan Sidebottom]
ITEM, UH, EIGHT, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH BRAZORIA COUNTY TO ASSIST WITH, UH, FUTURE MASS VOLUNTARY IMMUNIZATIONS.UH, THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT IS BASICALLY BETWEEN BRAZORIA COUNTY AND LAKE JACKSON.
UH, THERE WAS TWO PRE, UH, TWO PREVIOUS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS, HOWEVER, EXPIRED.
UH, THIS ONE HERE ACTUALLY INCORPORATES THE, UH, POD AGREEMENT INTO THIS INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WHERE IT ACTUALLY EXPIRE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
BASICALLY, WHAT IT DOES, IT ALLOWS US TO PARTNER WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHO IS UNDERSTAFFED, AND THE BIG INSTANT HAPPENS TO WHERE WE WORK WITH THEM TO, TO INOCULATE OUR, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS AND CITIZENS IF NECESSARY, WHETHER IT'S PILLS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
ULTIMATELY, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP MOVING FORWARD.
AND WE ALSO HAVE THE POD TRAILER, WHICH IS ONE OF DIS UH, DISTRIBUTION WITH ALL ITS RESOURCES HERE, UH, OVER IN THE PARKING LOT IN CASE WE NEED IT, THAT'S READY TO GO.
AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
UH, SHERRY IS REALLY, UH, IMPORTANT ON THIS AGREEMENT.
WENT BACK AND FORTH TO THE DA'S OFFICE AND FINALLY WE CAME TO A GOOD RESOLUTION.
AND I THINK MOVING FORWARD, OUR INTEROP AGREEMENT MODEL WILL PROBABLY USED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST.
THE, THE FIVE, YES, WE'VE HAD TWO INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS.
THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENTS ARE FOR FIVE YEAR PERIODS.
HOWEVER, THIS PAST ONE EXPIRED, AND OF COURSE WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT, WE REALIZED THAT THERE WAS ACTUALLY A, A THIRD DOCUMENT, WHICH WAS AN INDEFINITE AGREEMENT FOR THE POD TRAILER AND ITS CONTENTS.
UH, WE DECIDED THAT REALLY WASN'T A WISE WAY TO DO THINGS BECAUSE THE TRAILER'S AGING, IT'S, IT'S BASICALLY, IN MY OPINION, REACHED ITS END OF LIFE.
AND SO WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT WHO'S GONNA MAINTAIN THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND SHERRY ACTUALLY TOOK THAT THIRD DOCUMENT AND, AND IMPLEMENTED IT INTO THE AGREEMENT.
SO NOW, INSTEAD OF AN INDEFINITE AGREEMENT FOR THE POD TRAILER, IT NOW EXPIRES EVERY FIVE YEARS AS PART OF THAT AGREEMENT.
[02:20:01]
ANY QUESTIONS, SHE TRY, EXPLAIN THAT FOR YOU.AND AGAIN, WE, THIS, WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POD TRAILER, FOR EXAMPLE, AND IF IT'S, UH, IF IT'S REQUESTED FOR IT TO BE SET UP, WE SET IT UP AND WE, WE MAN THE FACILITY, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S GONNA BE NURSES OR WHATEVER HANDING OUT ANYTHING THAT'S GOTTA BE DONE, OR THAT'S TRUE ALSO, UH, OUR EMS IS, IS PARAMOUNT IN THAT OPERATION.
UH, BASICALLY WE'VE HAD EXERCISE, IF Y'ALL REMEMBER, WE'VE HAD 'EM AT THE, UH, UH, COLLEGE WHERE WE HAD DRIVE THROUGH RIGHT SETUPS.
WE'VE ALSO USED THEM, UH, WITH, UH, THE, UH, COVID TESTING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE'VE USED THE POD TRAILER AND IT'S, AND IT'S, UH, CONTENTS.
WE'VE ALSO USED THEM AS TRAINING, UH, FOR THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS.
THEY ALLOWED US TO USE THOSE, THOSE CONES AND STUFF AS WE, UH, KIND OF USE THAT TRAILER TO MAKE SURE IT'S BEING USEFUL, UH, DURING, UH, THAT TIMEFRAME.
THANKS FOR CLEARING AND CLEANING ALL THAT UP TO WHERE IT WAS.
CLARIFICATION FOR THE DOCUMENT, RIGHT? AGAIN, THIS IS, THIS IS, UH, VOLUNTARY.
NO ONE IS BEING FORCED TO BE, UH, TAKE ANY TYPE OF MEDICINE, WHETHER IT'S ANTIBIOTICS OR SOME TYPE OF VACCINATION OR ANYTHING.
AND THEY, EVERYTHING WOULD BE COORDINATED THROUGH THE COUNTY.
OBVIOUSLY THEY DON'T HAVE THIS STAFF FOR THE VERA COUNTY OF 400,000.
SO THAT'S WHY THIS, THIS, UH, AGREEMENT'S SO IMPORTANT.
AND THIS REALLY HELPS BENEFIT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, CORRECT.
BASICALLY, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST RESPONDERS WOULD NEED TO BE VACCINATED AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND OBVIOUSLY THE, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T, WE GOTTA KEEP IN MIND OUR CITY WORKERS AS WELL, BECAUSE THEY'RE PART OF THAT FIRST RESPONDER GROUP IN THAT ESSENCE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC.
'CAUSE AS YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR, UH, CITY EMPLOYEES ARE PRETTY MUCH ESSENTIAL IN SETTING UP THAT DISTRIBUTION POD AND MAKING IT WORK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? NO, SIR.
ALRIGHT, HONOR, I'LL TAKE A MOTION.
MR. MAYOR, UH, WE, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT.
AS PRESENTED, OUR MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HANYA.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
[9. Discuss and consider an interlocal agreement with Angleton to allow them to participate in the City of Lake Jackson’s CDL training program. – Eric Wilson]
DISCUSSING CONSIDERED INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH ANGLETON TO ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON CDL TRAINING PROGRAM.UH, LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY ON THIS, UH, JOSE SET THIS PRO PROGRAM UP IN DECEMBER OF 22, AND WE HAVE BEEN INTERNAL TO THE CITY, UH, WITH THE RECENT ADDITION OF KLUT.
UH, WE'VE SENT 45 FOLKS THROUGH THE PROGRAM.
WE'VE HAD A-A-C-D-L PASS RATE OF ABOUT 70%.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM THAT, THAT WE PUT TOGETHER THERE.
UH, RECENTLY WE DID DO AN INTERLOCAL WITH CLU TO ALLOW THEIR FOLKS TO PARTICIPATE WITH OUR FOLKS ON LAKE JACKSON EQUIPMENT.
UH, IF SOMEBODY DOES HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND OUR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, OF COURSE, UH, THE OTHER CITY IS LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS TO THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
AND WE WILL BE STARTING OUR NEXT PROGRAM, UH, IN SEPTEMBER.
WE HAVE 10 LAKE JACKSON EMPLOYEES THAT WILL VIEW PARTICIPATING, AND THERE WILL BE THREE FOLKS FROM CLUT.
AND, UH, THIS INTERLOCAL WILL OPEN IT UP FOR THE CITY OF ANGLETON TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AS WELL.
HOW MANY CAN YOU HAVE IN THE PROGRAM? ABOUT 15 TO 20 IS, IS THE MAXIMUM WE CAN TEACH AT EACH SESSION.
AND YOU, YOU DO HAVE CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS? YES.
AND THE CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS ARE OUR EMPLOYEES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? EACH, EACH CITY PAYS THEIR PORTION FOR THIS PROGRAM? YES, MA'AM.
I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON ITEM NINE, MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH ENGLETON TO ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON CEL TRAINING PROGRAM.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN SETH, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BAKER.
ALL, UH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? NO.
[10. Discuss and consider approving a contract with ICS contractors for electrical wiring repair at the wastewater treatment plant between MCC#1 and MCC#2 in an amount not exceeding $140,000. - Eric Wilson]
10, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER APPRO A CONTRACT WITH, UH, ICS CONTRACTORS FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING REPAIR AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BETWEEN MC ONE MC TWO, AND THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $140,000.UH, ON JULY 28TH, WE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT,
[02:25:01]
UH, BETWEEN CC ONE, WHICH IS WHERE THE INCOMING POWER IS INTO THE PLANT, AND CCC TWO, WHICH RUNS THE CLARIFIERS AND RETURN AND WASTE BUMPS OUT THERE.UH, AT THAT TIME AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING IT, WIRES WENT TO GROUND IN THE CONDUIT BETWEEN THE TWO.
UH, SO WE IMMEDIATELY ENGAGED IICS ELECTRICAL SERVICES TO GET US ON GENERATOR FOR THAT BECAUSE THE PLANT IS BASICALLY IN OP, UH, WITHOUT THAT EQUIPMENT.
SO MY DIRECTIVE TO THEM WAS FIND A WAY FOR IT TO WORK OFF OF GENERATOR BECAUSE OF THE MAINTENANCE, OF COURSE, COMING THROUGH THE HURRICANE, WE KNOW IT'S INVOLVED IN RUNNING GENERATORS LONG TERM.
UH, WE DID HAVE ADDITIONAL WIRE AND A CONDUIT OVER THERE.
UH, NOT OPTIMUM, UH, BUT WE COULD MAKE IT WORK SHARP TERM.
AND THEN WE INSTRUCTED THEM TO GIVE US A PRICE TO GET IT OUT OF THE CONDUIT, GET IT IN CABLE TRAYS ABOVE MORE OF AN INDUSTRIAL STANDARD, UH, AS A COMMERCIAL STANDARD AND GETTING THAT SET UP, UH, TO GET THAT BACK IN OPERATION.
UH, THE PRICE CAME IN FOR THAT AT 134,300.
UH, WE'RE PUTTING A LITTLE BIT OF A CONTINGENCY ON THAT.
AND ONCE, UH, IF COUNSEL SHOULD CHOOSE TO APPROVE TONIGHT, WE WILL ISSUE THE PO IN THE MORNING SO THEY CAN GET THE EQUIPMENT ORDERED.
LEAD TIME ON THAT IS FOUR TO SIX WEEKS.
UH, AND THEY SAID IT SHOULD TAKE ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF TO TWO WEEKS, UH, TO GET THAT INSTALLED SO WE CAN GET IT BACK ON, UH, THE ELECTRICAL FEED THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON.
SO THIS CABLE RACK IS GONNA BE, UH, CAT FOUR, UH, PROTECTED HURRICANE, THE WIND LOAD ON THAT.
I WILL HAVE TO GET BACK WITH YOU.
JUST MAKE SURE I JUST, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT THAT, THAT IT DOESN'T GO AWAY.
AND, AND I HAVE LIVED THROUGH THAT.
SO, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NOW I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON ITEM 10, MR. MAYOR, UH, WANT APPROVAL TO CON CONTRACT WITH ICS CONTRACTORS FOR AL ELECTRICAL WIRING REPAIRS AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT BETWEEN MC ONE AND MCC TWO IN THE AMOUNT EXCEEDING $140,000 AS REQUESTED.
ALRIGHT, A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN HANYA.
SETH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[11. Discuss and consider the proposal to grant employees additional personal time off to recognize their commitment and hard work during Hurricane Beryl. – Modesto Mundo]
CONSIDER, UH, THE PO PROPOSAL TO GRANT, UH, EMPLOYEES ADDITIONAL PERSONAL TIME OFF TO RECOGNIZE THEIR COMMITMENT AND HARDANYWAY, THEY RECOGNIZE THEIR, UH, COMMITMENT AND, UH, HARD WORK DURING HURRICANE BUR MODESTO.
UH, COUNCIL HAD BROUGHT UP, UH, OR SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE, HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP.
UH, WHEN WE WERE DOING OUR UPDATES, UH, FOR THE HURRICANE, AND I THOUGHT I HEARD SEVERAL DAYS, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO PIN COUNCIL TO ANY ONE THING UNTIL YOU HAD A FULL DISCUSSION OF THIS.
BUT, UH, WE DID, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZE EMPLOYEES, UH, DURING THE STORM BY, UM, OVERTIME PAY AND CON AND CONVERSION DURING THE STORM.
THE COUNCIL WANTED TO DISCUSS ADDITIONAL TIME OFF BECAUSE, UM, EMPLOYEES, YOU KNOW, IT DOES, YOU KNOW, RESPONDING TO THE STORM AND ALSO RECOVERY DOES IMPACT, YOU KNOW, THEIR TIME OR THEIR WEEKEND, UH, ON THERE.
SO I, AGAIN, I DID NOT, UM, UH, PUT A TIME ON THEIR DAYS.
I HAD HEARD ONE OR TWO, TWO DAYS, UH, THAT WERE MENTIONED.
NOW, THIS, THIS ENTAILS THE, THE FOLKS THAT GET OVERTIME PAY AND THE DIS PERSON LIKE YOU.
AND THE DISCUSSION WAS, UH, FROM THE DIRECTORS.
UM, UH, THE DIRECTORS HAD RECOMMENDED TO ME THAT IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS, THAT IT WOULD BE, UH, DONE SYSTEM WIDE FOR EVERY EMPLOYEE.
SO, SO THE OVERTIME POSTS GET OVERTIME AND WE'LL GET A COUPLE DAYS AS WELL.
UH, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OVERTIME PAY OCCURRING RIGHT NOW OUTSIDE OF PARKS AND MAYBE SANITATION, BUT I THINK IT'S SMALL.
I THINK MOST OF THE OVERTIME HAS PROBABLY ALREADY OCCURRED DURING, DURING THE STORM.
BUT THEY GOT PAID STRAIGHT TIME ALSO THOUGH.
YEAH, DURING THE STORM THEY GOT PAID, UH, STRAIGHT TIME AND, AND OVERTIME THERE WAS FOR ONE DAY
[02:30:01]
OR TWO DAYS, I THINK, UM, THAT WE HAD STORM RELATED, UH, DUE, UH, PAY THEN, UM, THE EXEMPT WERE CONVERTED FOR A WEEK, UH, THAT WERE ELIGIBLE FOR REGULAR PAY, NOT OVERTIME PAY.AND THEN I REMOVED THAT AFTER, UH, AFTER THE SEVEN DAY, UH, PERIOD.
SO THIS WOULD, THEY'VE, EVERYBODY'S ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR THE STORM.
THERE HADN'T BEEN THAT MUCH OVERTIME PAID, UH, THE LAST TIME I LOOKED AT IT, BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT RECENTLY.
RIGHT AFTER THE STORM, THE EXTRA PAYROLL WAS 186,000.
JAMES, HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE NUMBER? I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THE NUMBER AS THE REASON I WAS ASKING.
I WANNA MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SALARIED DIDN'T GET COMPENSATED FOR TIME.
THEY GOT, THEY GOT, WE CHANGED IT.
SO EXPLAIN WHAT WE CHANGED ON POLICY YEARS AGO.
SO, UM, IN THE POLICY YEARS AGO, UM, YOU GAVE THE CITY MANAGER THE RIGHT TO CONVERT, UH, THOSE EMPLOYEES, UH, UM, THAT WERE EXEMPT TO BECOME NON-EXEMPT DURING A PERIOD OF TIME AS, UH, AS DECIDED UPON, WASN'T AWARE OF THAT.
BECAUSE BEFORE THAT IT WAS, THEY WEREN'T GETTING EXTRA PAY.
AND THEN COUNCIL SAID, OKAY, WELL THEN HOW MANY DAYS DO WE GIVE THEM? SO THEY WERE COMPENSATED DURING THE HURRICANE.
THEY WERE, SO COUNSEL DOES NOT HAVE TO DO THIS.
THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO, I HAD ASKED ABOUT LIKE TWO DAYS.
IF WE, IF YOU WERE LOOKING AT TWO DAYS OF PTO ADDED TO ALL EMPLOYEE SYSTEM-WIDE, DOES THAT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE, THE BUDGET OVERALL OR IS IT JUST CONSIDERED A
PROBABLY THE ONLY REALLY, THE TRUE DIRECT COST MAY BE THE PD THAT, YOU KNOW, DAYS OFF, YOU HAVE TO SCHEDULE SOMEONE TO COME IN TO COVER A SHIFT.
'CAUSE THEY USUALLY HAVE A MINIMUM SHIFT REQUIREMENT.
SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONE DEPARTMENT WHERE IT DOES, UH, AFFECT MAYBE SANITATION.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THEY TRY TO WORK WITH IT.
IT'S, IT'S HARDER ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAN ANYTHING.
SO IF YOU, IF YOU SAW AN UPTICK ON IT, UH, THAT'S WHERE IT WOULD BE.
SO IF SOMEBODY TAKES OFF VACATION, THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN THERE.
AND FOR PD I'LL, I'LL LET PAUL ANSWER THAT.
UH, AND WE TRY TO BE VERY, VERY CONSCIOUS THAT IF SOMEONE PUTS IN FOR ANY LEAVE, THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COVERED WITH OVERTIME.
BUT SOMETIMES THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SHIFTS THAT ARE SHORT NOW, AND, AND IF THERE WERE NOW, AND THEN WE JUST HAVE TO BE REAL CAREFUL, WHICH WE WOULD BE.
BUT IT, IT COULD IN A, IN A SMALL, AND AGAIN, IF COUNSEL WANTED TO ADOPT THIS, I WOULD NOT CHANGE ANYTHING ON THE SELL OF VACATION RULES THAT IS STILL LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF SIX DAYS.
SO IT WOULDN'T BE THAT IF THEY'VE ALREADY SOLD 'EM, THEY COULD TAKE THESE TWO DAYS AND SELL 'EM.
YOU ANSWERED MY QUESTION WHEN YOU SAID THAT I CALL EXEMPT FOLKS, THEY WERE COMPENSATED FOR WORKING OVERTIME.
THAT, THAT ANSWERED MY QUESTION RIGHT THERE.
I WANNA MAKE SURE SOMEBODY GET MORE THAN THE OTHER FOLKS, BUT IT'S TAKEN CARE OF.
SO CAN WE JUST MAKE A, WE JUST DON'T WANT ANY PERCENTAGES JUST FOR WHOLE DAYS.
SO CAN WE JUST, UM, I'M LOOKING, LOOKING FOR A HARD NUMBER HERE.
CAN WE JUST PICK TWO DAYS? YES.
OR PICK A CERTAIN NUMBER OF DAYS? YOU COULD PICK A CERTAIN FOR SUMMARY, I VOTE FOR THREE DAYS.
YOU WANNA MAKE A MOTION FOR THREE DAYS? YES.
SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, CONSIDER THE GRANT GRANTING ALL EMPLOYEES HOURLY AND SALARIED, THREE DAYS PERSONAL TIME FOR THE, TO RECOGNIZE THEIR COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK DURING HURRICANE BARRELL.
I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HANYA AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN ELL FOR THREE DAYS.
SO DURING THE THREE DAYS, DO THEY GET COMPENSATE FOR THAT OR DO THEY SAVE IT? IT'S, IT'S PAID TIME OFF.
SO DO THEY SAVE IT AND THEY CAN USE IT FOR LATER? UH, THEY CAN, IT WOULD GO INTO THEIR OWN PERSONAL BANK AND THEY CAN USE IT AT ANY TIME.
SO FOR A ONE TIME DEAL, IT'S A ONE TIME DEAL ONLY SAL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT SINCE HE USUALLY HITS, HE USUALLY NEVER USES, HE HITS HIS MAX EVERY YEAR.
SO, UH, EVERYBODY ELSE WOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT.
SO IT WOULD PUT THREE MORE DAYS INTO THEIR POOL.
BUT DOESN'T CHANGE ANY HOW THE, HOW THEY USE CARRY.
THEY CAN CARRY, THEY CAN CARRY IT OVER YOU.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S GOT, BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SELL IT.
WE'RE ALL LIMITED TO SIX DAYS SELLING SIX DAYS A YEAR.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YES.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR WOULD Y'ALL RATHER HAVE A PIZZA PARTY? JUST KIDDING.
NOT, I, I WOULD RECOMMEND THE PIZZA PARTY RATHER THAN THE THREE DAYS.
WE NEED TO HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE.
HOW LONG YOU GONNA GIVE THEM EMPLOYEE? LIKE A YEAR.
[02:35:01]
THAT'S WHAT I SAID.JUST I PUT IT IN THEIR BANK AND LET 'EM USE IT WILL HOWEVER THEY WANT USE IT.
SO WHY WOULD YOU, YOU NOT GIVING IT SO YOU CAN CARRY OR ROLL IT OVER? I WAS THINKING THAT IT WOULD JUST GO INTO THEIR BANK.
AND THEY CAN USE IT AS THEY DE IT, THEY CHOOSE.
WHENEVER, WHENEVER ERNESTO AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS, I WAS GIVING AN EXAMPLE, THIS IS GETTING BACK TO RE'S QUESTION WAS, IS THAT, UH, WHENEVER I, UH, WORKED IN THE CORPORATE WORLD, AT TIMES THEY WOULD GO OVER THERE AND THEY WOULD, UH, GIVE YOU ADDITIONAL, UH, VACATION DAYS.
BUT THE IDEA BEHIND IT WAS IS THEY, IS, WE WENT THROUGH A TOUGH PERIOD IN THE COMPANY AND EVERYBODY WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND AS FAR AS THEY WERE CONCERNED.
SO THEY SAID, WE'RE GONNA GIVE EVERYBODY X NUMBER OF DAYS, BUT YOU HAVE TO USE IT WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
BECAUSE THE IDEA WAS, IS YOU WORKED YOUR BUTT OFF, WE WANT YOU TO TAKE SOME TIME AWAY AND USE IT TO RELAX OR WHATEVER.
AND THAT'S WHY THEY WANTED YOU TO USE IT.
AND THEY DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SELL IT.
THEY DIDN'T WANT WHAT THEY, THEY SAID, WE WANT YOU TO USE IT WITHIN THE YEAR.
AND IT WAS THAT JUST SET, THAT WAS THEIR, THEIR PURPOSE.
THEY SAID, WE WANT PEOPLE TO GET AWAY AND TO GET SOME TIME AWAY FROM THE COMPANY.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THEY DID THAT.
SO IT, IT, THAT'S, SO SOMETIMES THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
SOME THAT, THAT, UH, REQUIREMENT IS PUT IN THERE.
BUT THIS YEAR WOULD BE FISCAL YEAR ENDING IN OCTOBER WOULD BE TOO QUICK.
SO I WOULD AT LEAST, WELL WE CAN PUT IT 12 MONTHS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FISCAL YEAR, IT COULD BE 12 MONTHS.
BUT I JUST WANNA GIVE IT TO 'EM AND LET 'EM USE IT AS THEY LET 'EM USE IT.
AGAIN, OTHER THAN MR. AGIRI, EVERYBODY WILL USE IT PRETTY QUICK.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE TABLE.
I MEAN, I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, UH, TO ALLOW FOR THREE DAYS, UH, TO GO INTO, BASICALLY GO INTO THEIR, UH, AND DO WE NEED TO CLARIFY? THAT'S THREE EIGHT HOUR DAYS.
DO WHAT? THREE EIGHT HOURS? IS THAT NORMALLY? UM, BECAUSE THE PD, 'CAUSE THE PDS DIFFERENT.
THEY DID 12 OFF, SO IT NEEDS TO BE 12.
THAT'S THE, THEY DAYS ARE DIFFERENT.
HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
LET ME ASK, I NEED THE CHIEF TO CLARIFY QUESTION.
WE'RE YOU'RE THE OUTLIER, HUH? WE DO HAVE SOME ON 10, SOME ON 12.
SO WE DO OUR, OUR HOLIDAYS THAT WAY EVERYBODY IN THE CITY GETS 11 DAYS AND WE JUST CALCULATE 88 HOURS.
IT FALLS DOWN TO A SHIFT, DOESN'T IT? 12 HOURS FOR SOME, UH, NOT EVERYBODY'S ON 12, EIGHT HOURS.
FOR OTHERS, IT'S ANOTHER BENEFIT.
LIKE, LIKE AT OUR JOB WE DO, WE GOT 12 HOURS.
BUT IF YOU TAKE A VACATION DAY, IT IS EIGHT HOURS, THEN YOU HAVE TO USE SOME OTHER TYPE.
SO IF YOU WANT TAKE A DAY OFF, YOU TAKE THE, DURING THAT SHIFT.
YEAH, BUT EVERYBODY DON'T HAVE THE SAME HOURS.
OTHER CITY EMPLOYEES ARE LIKE EIGHT HOURS.
THE KEY WORD THERE IS SHIFT THESE PEOPLE HERE EIGHT TO FIVE.
THERE'S, SO THE INTENTION IS, IS A NORMAL DAY'S WORK FOUR IF IT'S 12 HOURS OR IF IT'S EIGHT HOURS, DON'T.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I JUST WANTED, IF WE USED TO CLARIFY OUR DAY OFF, THAT'S WHAT MY MOTION IS FOR THE DAY OFF.
WE WE'RE CERTAINLY ACCUSTOMED TO CALCULATING THE HOURS THAT WAY BECAUSE WE REALIZE WORKING THE SHIFTS THAT WE DO, HEY, THERE'S, THERE'S A POSITIVE THAT'S, UH, UPSIDE DOWNSIDE SHIFT.
IT'S A, IT HELPS US TO WORK TWELVES.
SO THAT'S A PRIVILEGE IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT THAT WAY.
I HAVE ALREADY AMENDED MY MOTION.
SO NOW WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, RENEE? A SHIFT DAY, A DAY OF THEIR WORK OFF.
IF IT'S EIGHT TO FIVE, THEY GET EIGHT TO FIVE.
THEY HAVE 12 HOURS, THEY GET 12 HOURS OFF.
I MEAN, JUST LIKE SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WORK SHIFT WORK, YOU GET SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL.
I MEAN YOU DON'T ALLOCATE ALL THAT AMONG, SO, SO THE MOTION IS, IS THREE SHIFT DAYS OFF NORMAL WORK SHIFT DAY OFF.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THIS? NOPE.
WHAT'S THOSE TASERS, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
[12. Discuss health inspections and code enforcement workload. – David Walton]
12.DISCUSSED HEALTH INSPECTIONS AND CODE ENFORCEMENT WORKLOAD.
IS IT AIR, I THINK KICK IT OFF.
THIS IS A REVISIT TO AN ITEM WE DISCUSSED PRIOR TO THE STORM.
UH, AND I AM NOT THE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT FOR THIS, SO I'M ACTUALLY GONNA GIVE IT TO DAVID WHO KNOWS THAT HALLWAY AND THE WORKLOAD INSIDE AND OUT, SO,
[02:40:02]
OKAY.WELL, OH, THERE WE GO WITH THE POWERPOINT.
SO CAN I REQUEST THE NEXT THREE DAYS? NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.
SO THE QUESTION AROSE, UH, AS IN, UM, TO THE WORKLOAD FOR THE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND HEALTH INSPECTORS, WE WANTED TO GIVE A BRIEF RUNDOWN OF WHAT EACH DISCIPLINE IS AND THE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT DISCIPLINE.
WE'LL START WITH HEALTH INSPECTIONS BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN THE, THE HOT BUTTON TOPIC.
UH, OUR HEALTH INSPECTOR LESLIE, HAS BEEN IN THE POSITION FOR FOUR YEARS.
UH, SHE IS A, UH, TDLR LICENSED CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER, A CERTIFIED SWINE POOL INSPECTOR, AND HAS HAD, UM, EXTENSIVE TRAINING WITH THE TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION AND THE, UH, FDA VOLUNTARY NATIONAL FOOD RETAIL PROGRAM.
SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH TEXAS FOOD ESTABLISHMENT RULES, UH, CITY ORDINANCES AND, UM, MINIMUM STATE LAWS.
SHE INSPECTS ALL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS A MINIMUM OF TWO TIMES EVERY YEAR.
THIS YEAR SHE'LL HIT THREE BECAUSE WE DID INSPECT THAT.
THAT'S REQUIREMENT WE PUT IN PLACE.
THIS YEAR SHE WILL HIT THREE COUNCILS.
THIS YEAR SHE WILL HIT THREE BECAUSE OF, OF HURRICANE BUR AND THE INSPECTIONS INVOLVED THERE.
UM, SHE INVESTIGATES FOOD ESTABLISHMENT COMPLAINTS AND SHE PERFORMS INSPECTIONS FOR FOSTER CARE, UM, HOMES AT THE REQUEST OF DSHS.
HOW DO YOU WORK THIS THEN? OH, THERE WE GO.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, FROM 2016 WHEN, UH, WE STARTED REALLY TRACKING THIS, WE COULD ONLY GO BACK AS FAR AS DATE AS FAR AS 2016, 2024.
THE, UM, LEFT HAND, UH, BAR IN EACH ONE OF THOSE ITEMS IS HOW MANY FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS WE HAD LICENSED.
THE RIGHT HAND BAR IS OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS.
OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS INCLUDE DAY DAYCARES, NURSING HOMES, SCHOOLS AND WHATNOT.
SO YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAD, UM, 124 RESTAURANTS AND THAT WAS BACK IN 2016.
SO WE HAVEN'T HAD A WHOLE LOT OF FLUCTUATION IN THE NUMBER OF LICENSED FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
THEY GET INSPECTED EVERY YEAR.
UH, THE OTHER ONES, YOU KNOW, UM, MOBILE FOOD UNITS, THAT ONE HAS DRAMATICALLY INCREASED.
AS AN EXAMPLE, IN 2016, WE HAD 10.
IN 2024, WE'VE LICENSED 46 SO FAR THIS YEAR, 2000.
DAVID IS THE, IS THE MOBILE UNITS IN THE RIGHT-HANDED BARS? YES.
WE GOT 46 MOBILE UNITS IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON.
SOME OF THEM COME FOR CERTAIN EVENTS.
WE DO HAVE OUR, OUR STANDARD ONES THAT, THAT SET UP.
BUT YEAH, BACK LAST YEAR IN 2023, WE HAD A HIGH OF 57.
SO WHEN THEY SHOW UP TO EVENT, Y'ALL GO AND INSPECT THEN FOR THOSE EVENTS? YES.
WHEN THEY SHOW UP FOR AN EVENT, THEY DO GET AN INSPECTION.
IF THEY ARE REGULARLY OPERATING IN LAKE JACKSON AS AN EXAMPLE, SOME OF THE ONES THAT LOCATED ALONG PLANTATION, THEY'LL HAVE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AT OUR FACILITY AT DUNBAR PARK, NO, SORRY, MCLEAN PARK.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE A SECOND INSPECTION WHERE WE PAY A VISIT TO THEM IN THE FIELD.
THOSE ARE DROP-IN INSPECTIONS.
THE FIRST INSPECTION IS SCHEDULED.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET THEM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE ONE, THEY'RE THEY'RE MOBILE RIGHT.
AND THAT, THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY OPERATE ROADWORTHY.
SO WE DO HAVE A FACILITY AT MCLEAN PARK WHERE WE HAVE 30 AND 50 AMP CONNECTIONS AND WE CAN, CAN, UH, DO THEIR INSPECTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE.
DAVID, DO WE HAVE A LOT OF ONE AND DUNNS, YOU KNOW, LIKE FESTIVAL LIGHTS THAT THEY JUST COME DOWN HERE FOR ONE EVENT AND THEN YEAH.
COME DOWN? YEAH, WE, WE DO IT.
AND, AND THAT NUMBER'S INCORPORATED IN, IN THAT, UH, 46.
THEY'LL COME IN FOR ONE EVENT AND THEY'LL LEAVE OR, BUT THAT IS AN ANNUAL LICENSE.
THEY COULD COME BACK WITHOUT GENERATING AN ADDITIONAL INSPECTION.
WE HAVE, UH, UH, WE'VE, IN 2016 WE HAD 16 DAYCARES.
AND IN 2024 WE'VE LICENSED 21.
SO FAR NURSING HOMES HAS BEEN STATIC AT SIX.
BUT WE DID ADD FARMER'S MARKETS IN 2021.
UH, AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 11 FARMER'S MARKETS THAT POP UP EITHER AT THE, UH, SOUTH PARKING PLACE PAVILION, OR USUALLY AT THE MALL.
AND THEY DO ALSO GET INSPECTIONS.
DO DO, DO THE CITY INSPECT THE SCHOOLS TOO OR IS THAT DONE BY THE STATE? NOPE, THAT IS DONE BY THE, BY THE CITY.
THE STATE MAY HAVE THEIR OWN INSPECTIONS, BUT THE C UH, THE CITY HEALTH INSPECTOR DOES GO IN, INSPECT THEIR CAFETERIAS
[02:45:01]
AND THEIR KITCHENS TWICE A YEAR.THAT ONE IS SCHEDULED WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
'CAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T JUST SHOW UP AT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND SAY, HEY, I'M HERE, LET ME ON.
UM, IN 2019, WE PERFORMED A HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR, A HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE, UH, INSPECTIONS OF FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
IN 2023, WE, WE INSPECTED 351.
IS THAT IN ANOTHER SLIDE, DAVID? NO, THESE ARE, THESE ARE JUST IN THE NOTES.
THE NOTES TO THE SLIDES ARE IN YOUR PACKET.
UM, THIS YEAR SO FAR WE HAVE DONE 240 INSPECTIONS AND THAT NUMBER WOULD INCREASE BECAUSE WE, WE WERE INCREASED THE REQUIREMENT.
WELL, WE'VE HAD A STANDARD OF TWO INSPECTIONS PER YEAR.
UM, AT LEAST ALL THE WAY UP FROM, FROM 2020, UH, WHEN LESLIE TOOK OVER.
WE HAD A PRESENTATION THAT WE DID, UH, YEARS AGO.
WE ADJUSTED THE METRIC BY WHICH WE, UM, EVALUATE THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
THAT WAS BASED ON TFA RULE CHANGES.
AND THEN WE ALSO SET A STANDARD FOR, IN OUR DEPARTMENT, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE STATE MINIMUM OF TWO INSPECTIONS PER YEAR.
RIGHT NOW, UH, COMING OUT OF THE STORM, UH, DID RESTAURANTS HAVE TO BE INSPECTED BEFORE THEY OPENED BACK UP? YES.
ANYTIME A RESTAURANT IS WITHOUT POWER FOR FOUR OR MORE HOURS, IT DOES GENERATE AN INSPECTION.
AND SO LESLIE OR MYSELF, UM, 'CAUSE I, I ONLY, I ONLY DID ONE AFTER HOURS, WHICH WAS TOKYO.
BUT, UH, LESLIE DID VISIT EVERY RESTAURANT, UH, BEFORE OR RIGHT AS SOON AS THEY WERE OPENING.
WE, WE DID CATCH SOME A LITTLE BIT AFTER THEY OPENED, BUT SHE DID GO THROUGH AND SHE DID, UM, AN INSPECTION OF THE KITCHEN AND INSPECTION OF THE FOOD TO SEE WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD RECEIVED, UH, NEW FOOD, NEW PRODUCTS, UH, TO SEE THAT THEY HAD CLEANED AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE SAFE TO OPERATE.
WERE THEY THAT ATTRIBUTE TO THE, IS THAT, DID THAT ATTRIBUTE TO THE HIGHER NUMBER YEAR TO DATE? UH, FOR THIS YEAR, YES.
SO, LIKE I SAID, WE WILL HAVE DONE THREE THIS YEAR BECAUSE LESLIE WILL STILL HAVE HER SECOND DROP IN INSPECTION BEFORE THE END OF THE CALENDAR YEAR.
I'M SURE A LOT OF 'EM THOUGHT, THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS THEIR SECOND.
BUT I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS THAT WE ONLY HAVE TO INSPECT TWICE, RIGHT? NO, WE, WE SET A, A MINIMUM STANDARD FOR OURSELVES FOR TWO, BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT SAYS WE CAN'T DO MORE.
AND IN SOME CASES, A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT IS GONNA GET MORE DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ON A PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT TRACK OR, UH, WHAT ISSUES THEY, THEY ENCOUNTERED.
YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW THAT IN, IN JUNE THE DISCUSSION WAS HAD ABOUT THINGS THAT MIGHT GENERATE AN IMMEDIATE, UH, CLOSURE, TEMPORARY CLOSURE SUCH AS RODENTS AND PESTS OR, UM, UH, UNSANITARY CONDITIONS.
AND THOSE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY GENERATE ANOTHER INSPECTION ON TOP OF THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT LESLIE AND, AND HEALTH INSPECTIONS? DID Y'ALL CATCH ANY WITH BAD FOOD AFTER THE STORM? UH, NO.
I MEAN, UH, WE DID NEEDED TO GET RID OF, WE DID, UH, HAVE ONE RESTAURANT THAT, UH, WAS SERVING FOOD THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW THE DATES OF.
AND SO, UH, CAUTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN, THAN, UM, CONSEQUENCES.
AND SO WE DID HAVE THEM DISCARD THAT FOOD AND HAVE THEM SERVE FRESH FOOD THAT MAINLY HAD TO DO WITH THE DATING PRINCIPLES.
PROBABLY BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY, BUT BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.
SO WE, WE MOVE INTO MULTI-FAMILY INSPECTIONS.
OUR INSPECTOR ANGELA ANO CAME THROUGH OUR, OUR PERMITS DESK.
SHE HAS BEEN IN THE POSITION FOR ONE YEAR AND 10 MONTHS.
SHE HOLDS AN ICC PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND MULTI-FAMILY INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION.
SHE IS TDLR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER CERTIFIED.
AND, UH, SHE'S ALSO A CERTIFIED SWIMMING POOL INSTRUCTOR.
SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MULTI-FAMILY PRE OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS.
EVERY TIME YOU HAVE AN APARTMENT UNIT THAT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR 12 MONTHS, SORRY, THAT HAS, THAT IS VACANT BUT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED IN THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS, THAT WILL TRIGGER THAT UNIT TO BE INSPECTED BY OUR APARTMENT INSPECTOR.
UH, IF YOU HAVE A QUICKER TURNOVER, AS AN EXAMPLE, SOMEBODY LEAVES A SIX MONTH LEASE OR A NINE MONTH LEASE, THAT WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY TRIGGER A, UH, INSPECTION.
SO THERE COULD BE SOME CASES THEY'RE, THEY'RE PRETTY RARE, BUT THERE COULD BE SOME CASES IN WHICH A UNIT MIGHT HAVE A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN INSPECTIONS BECAUSE THEY HAD A SHORT TURNOVER.
UM, SHE ALSO INVESTIGATES RENTAL HOUSING COMPLAINTS.
SHE INSPECTS ALL SWING POOLS AND SPAS ANNUALLY, PUBLIC SWING POOLS AND SPAS ANNUALLY.
AND THESE ARE THE NUMBER OF PRE OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS THAT SHE HAS DONE
[02:50:01]
OR THAT THE POSITION POSITION HAS DONE PER YEAR FROM 2014 THROUGH THE PRESENT.UH, YOU CAN SEE IN 2014 WE DID 1075 PRE OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS.
AND AS OF LAST YEAR, 2023, SHE HAD DONE 1,895, UH, PROJECTED THIS YEAR SHE'LL REACH ABOUT THE SAME 1,871 IF, IF THE TREND HOLDS STEADY.
SO SHE IS DOING MORE INSPECTIONS EACH AND EVERY YEAR AS WELL.
AND DAVID, ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S INSPECTIONS OF THE APARTMENTS AND THE FOODS ARE NOT IN THESE NUMBERS? NO, NO.
WILL AND, AND JOHN DO A FABULOUS JOB OF ALSO DOING INSPECTIONS OF FACILITIES AND RESTAURANTS, BUT THEY'RE NOT INCLUDED IN OUR NUMBERS.
AND MODESTO, UH, IS IT CORRECT THAT, UH, THE CHARGE THAT WE HAVE FOR THE INSPECTIONS FOR THIS ACTUALLY COVERS THE COST OF THAT EMPLOYEE? YEAH.
UH, WE, YEAH, I I'VE LOOKED AT ANGELA'S SALARY TEXTILE LICENSE AND THE FEE IT DOES COVER HER IF, BUT I HAVE TO JUST ASK IF SHE'S THE ONLY ONE DOING THE INSPECTION, IF THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE SUPPLEMENTING OUR INSPECTIONS.
WE'LL HAVE TO, WE'LL HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT.
THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF REVISITING, UH, THIS FEE, UM, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF FREEPORT, UH, IMPLEMENTING THE FEE AND WAS DOUBLE OURS, UH, THAT WE THOUGHT WE NEED TO GO OUT AND SURVEY STATEWIDE AND SEE WHAT THE APARTMENT INSPECTION FEE IS.
BUT AGAIN, THE, THE INTENTION WAS EVEN WHEN WE STARTED AND WE TALKED TO, WE HAD ALL THE DISCUSSION WAS IS THAT THE FEE WOULD BE SET AT A LEVEL TO COVER THE COST.
TO COVER IT WAS ALWAYS A A COST RECOVERY.
SO IN ADDITION TO PRE OCCUPANCY INSPECTIONS, UH, SHE ALSO INSPECTS 297 MULTIFAMILY BUILDING EXTERIORS.
UM, AND THEN 162 OTHER ACCESSORY STRUCTURES ON THE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
UM, CAMPUSES, GARAGES, CARPORTS, UH, CLUBHOUSES, UH, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
AND THOSE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER? WHAT'S THAT? THOSE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER.
THOSE ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT NUMBER OR NO, NO.
THESE ARE JUST VACANT APARTMENT UNITS.
I THINK THE ONE THING THAT THE, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR ALLUDED TO, WE DIDN'T WANT, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR SPACE WHEN WE ADOPTED THIS, WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE THE FEE TO BE A SUPPLEMENTAL OF OTHER PROGRAMS. RIGHT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, AS ANYTHING, WE HAVE TO STILL DO A LITTLE BIT DEEPER DIVE.
IS THERE ANOTHER STAFF MEMBER HELPING THEM IN THE CODE ENFORCEMENT THAT WE'RE NOT COVERING OF TIME? AND ALSO IT'S PROBABLY, UH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF WILL AND JOHN'S TIME IS RIGHT.
WELL, THE REASON WHY WE THERE, THE REASON WHY WE WERE EXPLICIT IN SAYING IT THAT WAY WAS, IS THAT THERE WAS, THERE WAS SOME COMMENT FROM THE APARTMENT OWNERS OF IS THAT THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER REVENUE SOURCE.
AND WE SAID, NO, THIS WAS, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WE NEEDED TO DO BECAUSE OF THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE HAD WITH THE BATS AND ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
AND THAT WE, THE RATE WOULD BE JUST THE FEE THAT THEY WOULD PAY WOULD TO COVER WOULD BE JUST SET TO COVER THE COST.
SO IT WOULDN'T BE FOR, TO SUBSIDIZE ANYTHING ELSE IN, IN THE INSPECTION WORLD.
THAT WAS THE INTENT WITH SOMETHING TO NOTE IN THESE NUMBERS.
IN 2016, WE ADDED 523 APARTMENT UNITS.
WHEN PLANTATION PARK AND URBAN CREST CAME ONLINE IN 2020, WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL 220 APARTMENT UNITS WITH THE RESERVE OVER IN 2004.
AND WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE VILLAS BEHIND BUCKY'S, WE WILL ADD ANOTHER 234 APARTMENT UNITS.
ALL THOSE WILL TRIGGER THE PRE OCCUPANCY INSPECTION.
SO WHILE SHE'S DOING, UH, WHILE SHE'S CAPABLE OF, OF COMPLETING EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE INSPECTIONS, UH, SOMETIMES WITH THE HELP OF STAFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE'S, UH, WHEN SHE'S GONE OR WHEN WE RUN INTO A DIFFICULT SITUATION SUCH AS A COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION, UH, OFTENTIMES AN ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBER WILL GO, UM, WE ARE ADDING MORE BUILDINGS AND MORE UNITS, UH, TO THAT WORKLOAD.
I GET, THIS IS JUST MY OPINION IS ON A NEW APARTMENT COMPLEXES OPENING UP THAT THAT INSPECTION IS DIFFERENT THAN THIS ONE.
SO THIS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT'S, I WOULDN'T EXPECT THAT TO BE COVERED IN THE FEE THAT THIS, THESE, THAT THESE ARE COVERED WITH AS WELL.
SO YOUR, YOUR INITIAL INSPECTION, WHICH IS GONNA BE YOUR FINAL BUILDING INSPECTION.
THE BUILDING INSPECTOR WILL GO OVER THE, THE SAME THINGS THAT THE, TO COVER THE, THE, THE PRE OCCUPANCY, BUT WE WON'T START COLLECTING THAT, UH, $2 AND 50 CENTS, UH, INSPECTION FEE, WHICH IS COLLECTED MONTHLY PER UNIT.
WE WON'T COLLECT THAT UNTIL AFTER THE, UH, OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE HAS BEEN ISSUED.
SO GOING BACK TO THAT, YOUR, UH,
[02:55:01]
NO, NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK ON THE SLIDE.I'VE SEEN, FOR EXAMPLE, HEB, I'VE SEEN TWO OF YOUR INSPECTORS THERE AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH YOU'RE SHOWING, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON DOING THE INSPECTION.
SO OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT OF CROSS CROSSWORK HELPING EACH OTHER OUT AND STUFF.
SO ON OCCASION THERE IS, UH, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT A GROCERY STORE, BECAUSE OF HOW BIG IT IS AND HOW MANY MOVING ELEMENTS THERE ARE IN A GROCERY STORE, OFTENTIMES THERE WILL BE TWO STAFF MEMBERS WHO WILL GO A GROCERY STORE IN AND OF ITSELF.
AND WE'LL GET TO TIMEFRAMES CAN SOMETIMES TAKE AN UPWARDS OF TWO TO FOUR HOURS IF FOR ONE INSPECTOR TO DO SO.
UM, BY MEANS OF, OF DOUBLING UP ON, ON PEOPLE FOR THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
YOU HAVE AN ADDITIONAL SET OF EYES THAT CAN, UH, PERHAPS SEE SOMETHING THAT, THAT YOU MIGHT MISS.
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT JUST HELPS GET IT DONE FASTER.
I'M NOT COMPLAINING, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE TRACK THAT TIME.
WE ALSO, UH, WE, WE HAVE A, A GOAL OF, UH, TAKING UM, THE, OUR PERMIT TECHNICIANS OUT INTO THE FIELD SO THAT THEY CAN ALSO EXPERIENCE THE VARIOUS TYPES OF, OF ACTIVITIES THAT WE DO.
IT HELPS THEM ANSWER QUESTIONS BETTER.
IT HELPS 'EM UNDERSTAND WHAT THE INSPECTORS ARE DOING IN THE FIELD SO THAT THEY CAN BETTER SERVE THE CUSTOMER IN THEIR OWN CAPACITIES.
PLUS IT ALSO TRAINS THEM FOR FUTURE ADVANCEMENT, SHOULD THEY WANT TO MOVE UP INTO THE, INTO THOSE AREAS.
AND SO WE HAVE SET THAT AS GOAL ON THEIR PERFORMANCE, UM, EVALUATIONS THAT THEY SPEND TIME WITH THE INSPECTORS.
AND IT SHOULD, AND IT SHOULD BE AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF TIME AMONG THE DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.
AND, AND TO BE HONEST, IF, IF, UH, HB AS AN EXAMPLE, IF LESLIE WERE DOING IT BY HERSELF, SHE WOULD'VE BEEN THERE THE MAJORITY OF OF THE DAY.
UH, WHEREAS IN THIS CASE, SHE HAD A SECOND SET OF EYES WHO'S ALSO A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER TO, UM, HELP SEE THINGS AND HELP EVALUATE THE ESTABLISHMENT.
BUT ON A NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCE, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A BRICK AND MORTAR RESTAURANT OR A FOOD TRUCK, YOU'LL JUST SEE LESLIE OUT THERE BY HERSELF.
ANY, ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT APARTMENT INSPECTIONS THAT WE WANT TO ASK? SO THE NEXT WE'LL GO INTO CODE ENFORCEMENT.
NOW TINA IS OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
SHE'S BEEN IN THE POSITION FOR 11 YEARS.
SHE IS ALSO CERTIFIED AS A, UM, ICC PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND MULTIFAMILY INSPECTOR.
SHE HAS HER, UM, TDLR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TWO CERTIFICATION.
SHE IS A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER AND A CERTIFIED SWIMMING POOL, UH, INSPECTOR.
SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL ZONING AND ORDINANCE, NON-COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS AND ABATEMENT.
SHE ALSO HELPS WITH DANGEROUS STRUCTURE INVESTIGATIONS.
UH, SHE USUALLY ASSISTS ME IN THAT AND SHE, UH, OFTENTIMES IS ENGAGED, UH, WITH SANITATION.
PRE-COLLECTION INVESTIGATIONS.
THAT'S WHEN SOMEBODY PUTS THEIR HEAVY TRASH OUT OR THEIR GARBAGE OUT TOO EARLY.
UH, YOU CAN SEE IN 2014, SHE PROCESSED A TOTAL OF 414 CASES.
UM, 152 WERE TALL, GRASS AND WEEDS.
94 WERE, UH, OTHER TYPES OF VIOLATIONS.
UM, NOT SPECIFICALLY LISTED 96 JUNK VEHICLES, UH, 70 CASES OF, OF OF BLIGHT.
UM, IN 2024 TO DATE, SHE HAS, UH, DONE 137 TALL GRASS AND WEEDS.
AND, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW HOW TALL THE GRASS AND WEEDS ARE ACROSS THE CITY.
UH, YOU CAN PARTIALLY BLAME HURRICANE BURL ON THAT AND THE, THE CLEANUP EFFORTS AND THE DELAY IN GETTING IT DONE.
UM, 81 YARD PARKING IN 2023, YOU CAN SEE 221 YARD PARKING VIOLATIONS.
SHE, SHE HELPED, UH, INVESTIGATE.
AND, UM, 40 OTHER TYPES OF VIOLATIONS BLIGHT 17, UH, AND 38 JUNK VEHICLES.
WE DID DO, UM, HAD AN INCREASED PRESENCE LAST YEAR IN PRE-COLLECTION.
UH, WE DID, UH, GO OUT AT VARIOUS TIMES AND, AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT PUTTING THEIR GARBAGE OUT IN THEIR, THEIR, THEIR HEAVY TRASH OUT TOO EARLY.
DID SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE CITY BASED ON THAT, THAT EFFORT.
UM, AT ANY TYPICAL TIME, SHE'S USUALLY TRACKING ABOUT 40 CASES OF THE VARIOUS CASE TYPES.
UH, I, AS A MATTER OF FACT, I GRABBED HER NOTES.
IT'S FIVE PAGES LONG AND SHE'S GOT HANDWRITTEN NOTES ALL OVER IT.
SOME OF THINGS ARE BRAND NEW CASES TO START, AND SOME OF 'EM ARE JUST FOLLOW UPS ON, ON WHAT'S WRITTEN ON THERE.
UM, SHE SPENDS A LOT OF TIME OUT IN THE FIELD, A LOT OF TIME RESPONDING TO CITIZEN COMPLAINTS, A LOT OF TIME SEEING THINGS ON HER OWN.
OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU PULL UP TO
[03:00:01]
A, A SITE, BECAUSE YOU EITHER HAVE AN ONGOING CASE OR YOU HAVE A CITIZEN COMPLAINT THERE, UH, GOOD PRACTICE IS TO TAKE A 360 DEGREE TURNAROUND BECAUSE WHY WOULD I TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR, UH, VEHICLE PARKED ON THE GRASS WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOR TWO HOUSES DOWN IS ALSO DOING THE SAME THING? I NOW NEED TO GO TALK TO THEM AS WELL.UM, SOMETIMES WHEN WE DO GO AND INVESTIGATE A CASE THAT GENERATES COUNTLESS OTHER CASES BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANNA FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING PICKED ON, SO THEY'LL DRIVE AROUND AND, AND POINT OUT THINGS.
WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT EFFORT, BY THE WAY, UH, BECAUSE THAT HELPS US, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT SAVES US TIME AND MAN HOURS.
SO THE QUESTION AROSE ABOUT HOW MUCH TIME IT USUALLY TAKES TO PROCESS EACH ONE OF THESE CASES.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, LEFT HAND COLUMNS, CODE ENFORCEMENT, UPPER RIGHT, SORRY, UPPER MIDDLE IS MULTIFAMILY INSPECTIONS.
AND ON THE, UH, RIGHT HAND SIDE IS HEALTH INSPECTION.
THE BUILDING DIVISION, THEY ASSIST IN THESE CASES AS TIME ALLOWS.
THERE ARE A SECOND SET OF EYES.
JOSH CAN DRIVE AROUND THE CITY ON HIS WAY TO AND FROM BUILDING INSPECTIONS, AND HE CAN WRITE DOWN VIOLATIONS THAT HE SEES, OR HE CAN GET A LIST FROM TINA AND HE CAN, UH, GO AND DO SOME FOLLOW UP TO ASSIST HER AS TIME ALLOWS.
SCOTT USUALLY IS THE ONE WHO, HE'S OUR PLANS EXAMINER.
HE USUALLY GOES WITH ANGELA TO DO, UH, MULTI, SORRY, UH, COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS OR WALK AROUND EXTERIOR BUILDINGS AS TIME ALLOWS.
UM, BUT YOU CAN SEE A RESTAURANT TYPICALLY TAKES AN HOUR AND A HALF A FOOD TRUCK, ABOUT 30 MINUTES, A GROCERY STORE IN UPWARDS OF FOUR HOURS.
UH, SHE SPENDS USUALLY ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS AT FARMER'S MARKETS.
UM, A SCHOOL, THE CAFETERIA AND, UH, UM, KITCHEN AREAS IS ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF.
FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS IS FOUR HOURS, BUT SHE USUALLY HAS HELP ON THAT ONE.
AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE LICENSE RENEWALS IS ABOUT 20 MINUTES WORTH OF, OF FOLLOW UP WITH THE INDIVIDUAL.
AND, UM, UH, THE ACTUAL PROCESSING TIME OVER ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE, CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, EVERY ONE OF THESE CASE TYPES INVOLVES, UH, STATE STATUTORY TIMEFRAMES.
UH, AS AN EXAMPLE FOR YARD PARKING, WE HAVE IN OUR ORDINANCE THAT WE, WE NOTIFY THE PROPERTY OWNER AS WELL AS THE LICENSE, SORRY, THE VEHICLE OWNER ABOUT THE VIOLATION.
WE HAVE TO SEND CERTIFIED LETTERS TO THE LIEN HOLDER OF THE VEHICLE TO THE PROPERTY OWNER WHERE IT'S, WHERE IT'S PARKED, AS WELL AS THE, UM, REGISTERED OWNER, UH, BLIGHT AND ACCUMULATION.
YOU'VE GOTTA DO YOUR DOCUMENTATION.
OFTENTIMES YOU NEED TO GO AND GET A WARRANT TO GO ON THE PROPERTY TO, UM, DO ANY KIND OF ABATEMENT, UH, FOR MOST OTHER THINGS.
HOME, HOME OCCUPATIONS, FENCES, DUMPING LANDSCAPE, THOSE ARE USUALLY THINGS WHERE WE CAN JUST MAKE NOTIFICATION, DO OUR DOCUMENTATION AND THEY WILL RESOLVE THEMSELVES.
UM, AND A CITATION TAKES ABOUT 30 MINUTES BETWEEN THE DOCUMENTATION AND THE, UM, GETTING IT OVER TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
IT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 30 MINUTES FOR ANGELA TO DO ONE PRE OCCUPANCY INSPECTION FOR EVERY VACANT UNIT, AN EXTERIOR OF A BUILDING, AN HOUR TO AN HOUR AND A HALF, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING.
UM, SWIMMING POOL IS ABOUT 35 MINUTES, AND IT PRO TAKES CARE OF ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO PROCESS A SWINGING POOL LICENSE.
AND THOSE ARE THE TIMES PEOPLE ARE NOT EVEN INSPECTING, TRYING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING, ASKING QUESTIONS.
AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES LONGER BECAUSE YOU'RE ANSWERING QUESTIONS.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT OUR, OUR INSPECTORS DO KEEP THEMSELVES QUITE BUSY.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE VERY BUSY.
AND MY QUESTIONS IS, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO DO THESE UN RUSHED AND, UH, NOT SAYING PROPERLY BECAUSE I KNOW, KNOW BETTER, BUT, UH, WITHOUT GETTING RUSHED AND WITHOUT BEING IN THE QUADRANT, YOU KNOW, FIRST QUADRANT OF THE PROCESS THAT YOU ALWAYS JUST GOING, GOING, GOING.
AND WHAT I WOULD SAY MR. SHANYA, IN THAT REGARD, UM, OUR, OUR INSPECTORS DO KEEP THEMSELVES BUSY.
THEY ARE RECEIVING HELP FROM THE BUILDING INSPECTOR AND CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE, UH, THOSE ACTIVITIES ARE, UH, IN A LOWER PERIOD.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN, WHEN THE BUILDING INSPECTOR AND THE PLANS EXAMINER ARE ALSO HOPPING VERY, VERY FAST.
UM, BUT AS YOU KNOW, THOSE REVENUES ARE DOWN THIS YEAR.
AND THEN THEY DO FIND THEMSELVES BEING ABLE TO ASSIST, UH, WHERE THEY CAN AND HOW THEY CAN.
UM, BUT AS YOU DRIVE AROUND THE CITY, YOU'LL, YOU'LL SEE THAT THE, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ONLY TACKLE
[03:05:01]
SO MANY TALL GRASS AND WEEDS CASES.YOU STILL FIND PEOPLE PARKED IN YARDS.
YOU STILL FIND JUNK VEHICLES, UH, IN AND AROUND AND PEOPLE STORING THINGS OUTSIDE.
UM, IF, IF THERE WERE HELP TO BE NEEDED, I AND, AND YOU WERE LEAVING IT UP TO ME TO ALLOCATE IT, I WOULD ALLOCATE THE MAJORITY OF IT THERE.
YOU NEED SOMEBODY AND THAT PERSON COULD THEN ASSIST WITH, WITH THE OTHER ACTIVITIES.
WELL, NO, ONE OF THE, MY CONCERNS IS, YOU KNOW, WE DO INSPECTION, HEALTH INSPECTIONS, THE RESTAURANTS TWICE A YEAR, AND EVEN THEN YOU CATCH SOME THAT YOU SHOW UP AND THEY'RE BEYOND, I MEAN, GROSSLY MM-HMM.
AND, UH, THEY DIDN'T GET THERE IN JUST ONE DAY OR ONE WEEK.
SO, SO THAT'S THE PROCESS THAT TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THERE.
SO IT IS, I KNOW THE STATE SAYS WE ONLY HAD TO INSPECT ONCE A YEAR, AND WE ONLY DO IT TWICE A YEAR.
IS THAT SUFFICIENT TO KEEP THE PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY IN MIND? BECAUSE LAKE JACKSON IS A HUB FOR RESTAURANTS.
YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER RESERV COUNTY COME TO YOU, LAKE JACKSON, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY POST ON FACEBOOK, YOU KNOW, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
IT DOES, IT DOES NOT IMPRESS ME.
YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MAKE ME PROUD.
AND, UH, SO I WANNA AVOID THAT.
YOU KNOW, I WANNA AVOID, UH, THAT, UH, THINKING THAT RESTAURANTS IN LAKE JACKSON ARE PRETTY CRASHY.
SO THAT'S, AS DO I I I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE BENEFITS WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS WE HAVE A VERY VOCAL PUBLIC.
SO WHEN OUR, OUR PUBLIC IS VERY MUCH SEE SOMETHING AND SAY SOMETHING, USUALLY IT'S THE FACEBOOK OR NEXT DOOR, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
BUT WE DO SEE ALL THOSE, WE ARE IN THE, THOSE, THOSE SAME GROUPS.
UH, WE DO INVESTIGATE THOSE WHEN WE SEE THEM.
UH, MY STAFF, AND THIS IS THEIR OWN PERSONAL CHOICE, BUT THEY LIKE TO, UH, FREQUENT RESTAURANTS OFTEN, UM, ON THEIR OWN PERSONAL, YOU KNOW, LUNCHTIMES.
AND SO THEY HAVE THEIR FACES OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, UM, AS WELL.
SO, I MEAN, IN ADDITION TO THESE TWO MINIMUM STANDARDS, YOU WOULD THINK THAT IF THEY ALSO SAW SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED, THEY WOULD, UH, ADDRESS IT.
WHETHER IT BE THE QUALITY OF THE FOOD, CLEANLINESS OF THE DINING ROOMS. OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE NOT WALKING INTO THE KITCHENS DURING THEIR, THEIR, THEIR LUNCH BREAKS.
BUT, UH, YOU CAN TELL A LOT BY, BY JUST SITTING THERE VISUALLY SEEING HOW THINGS ARE BEING OPERATED.
YOU CAN TELL A LOT BY WE'RE USING PEOPLE'S RESTROOMS GOING INTO THE RESTROOM AND VISITING.
DAVID, TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE, HAS LAKE JACKSON OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO HAD ANY OUTBREAKS, FOOD RELATED PROBLEMS? UH, NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
THERE, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME, SOME, UM, SOME THINGS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN OUTLIERS.
AS AN EXAMPLE, UH, ONE OF OUR GROCERY STORES RECEIVED A COMPLAINT ABOUT A BAD BATCH OF, OF STRAWBERRIES.
AND, UH, WHEN LESLIE DID GO AND INVESTIGATE THAT THE, THE FOOD ATTACH, THE REST, THE GROCERY STORE HAD ALREADY BEEN INFORMED.
THEY HAVE, THEY WERE ALREADY ON IT.
THEY HAD DETERMINED THAT IT WAS, IT WAS A SINGLE INCIDENT, NOT AN, NOT A, YOU KNOW, OUTBREAK AMONGST THE ENTIRE BATCH.
UM, SO WE, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF, OF ANY FOODBORNE, A MAD RUSH TO THE HOSPITAL, FOODBORNE ILLNESSES OR, UM, YOU KNOW, OUTBREAKS OF, OF SALMONELLA OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, E COLI OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
HOW MANY CALLING COMPLAINTS DO YOU GET FROM CITIZENS? UH, MR. BUELL? I DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT I WILL FIND OUT FOR YOU.
WE GET COMPLAINTS ALL THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER MR, YOU MEAN ON CODE ENFORCEMENT OR BAD SITUATIONS OR HEALTH OR HEALTH? BECAUSE WE RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALL, ALL THREE OF THOSE THINGS CITIZENS COMPLAIN ABOUT, ABOUT CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES.
CITIZENS COMPLAIN ABOUT APARTMENTS AND RENTAL HOUSING AND ALL THAT.
OR, OR THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT, UH, UH, RESTAURANTS AND HEALTH.
BUT WE DO GET THEM IN ALL THREE REGARDS AND WE DO INVESTIGATE EVERY ONE OF THEM.
DAVID, I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
DO YOU NEED ANOTHER EMPLOYEE OR NOT? WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT? THERE'S NO WRONG ANSWER HERE.
TELL US WHAT, LEMME BACK UP HERE.
THE DEAL IS, IS THAT, IS IT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S A DAVID QUESTION OR AN ERIC QUESTION.
ERIC IS THE DIRECTOR OVER THE DEPARTMENT.
AND SO DETERMINING ON HOW HIS DEPARTMENTS ARE MANNED AND ALSO THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT, THAT ERIC WOULD HAVE WITH MODESTO.
AND SO HAVE WE HAD THAT DISCUSSION? YEAH, I HAVE IT WITH EVERY DIRECTOR.
I I WOULD SAY MS. SETH, THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER.
I CAN, I JUST, SHE KEEPS COMING UP.
SO I'M, I'M, THE ONLY THING I'VE HEARD, AGAIN, TALKING WITH MODESTO, JUST TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IS, IS THAT, THAT THE FEEDBACK YOU'VE GIVEN ME IS, IS THAT IF THERE WAS ANY KIND OF, FIRST THEY WOULD LOOK AT CROSS TRAINING, BECAUSE AGAIN, LIKE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IS THE, THE NUMBER OF NEW STARTS ON BUILDINGS IS LOW.
AND SO THERE MIGHT BE A POTENTIAL TO DO SOME CROSS TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE RESOURCES THEY HAVE AND DEPLOY THEM,
[03:10:01]
UH, WHERE NEEDED, UH, DURING PEAK PERIODS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY, THEY COULD INVESTIGATE.
AND UH, AND THEN IF, IF THEY WOULD, AND I'M SPEAKING FOR YOU 'CAUSE WE'VE SHARED, BUT IT'S IS IF THEY WOULD ADD SOMEBODY, IT WOULD BE SOMEBODY THAT WOULD BE CROSS-TRAINED, UH, TO, TO COVER BOTH, NOT ONLY HEALTH, BUT THEY WOULD ALSO BE TRAINED TO BE ABLE TO DO THE OTHER.
SO OVERALL, THE TWO BIGGEST REQUESTS I'VE HAD OVER THE YEARS CONSISTENT FOR INSPECTIONS HAVE COME FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL FOR FIRE INSPECTIONS, THAT WE DON'T HIT OUR NUMBER.
UH, THE GOAL IS TO, UH, INSPECT ALL.
AND THEN WITH ERIC AND WITH SABRINA, UH, AND UH, PRIOR TO THAT WAS, BUT MOSTLY ERIC AND SABRINA HAS BEEN THAT IF WE, IF THEY DID GET ANOTHER, UM, POSITION, IT WOULD BE PRIMARILY FOR CODE ENFORCEMENT.
YOU KNOW, ONLY, ONLY
SO KEEP THAT IN MIND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE CONSIDERING THAT, I'M NOT SAYING THIS, THAT'S NOT A GOOD WORKABLE SOLUTION.
I'M ONE OF THESE GUYS TO HAVE A QUALITY OF LIFE, ENJOY GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY.
THEY NOT SAYING, MAN, YOU GOTTA GOT 1500 THINGS TO DO AND I'M GONNA TRY TO DO MY BEST 'CAUSE I KNOW THEY WILL AND BE STRESSED OUT ALL DAY TRYING TO GET THE ALL THAT DONE.
I JUST, I DON'T LIKE TO WORK IN THAT ENVIRONMENT AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO WORK IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.
ON THE, JUST FROM A REVENUE PERSPECTIVE, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, IT DOESN'T GENERATE, UH, ANY, REALLY ANY REVENUE FROM FINES OR FEES.
UH, THE MULTIFAMILY WE'VE MENTIONED THAT IS SUPPORTED BY THE FEE, UH, THE HEALTH INSPECTION IS THREE QUARTERS FUNDED BY, UH, HEALTH PERMITS.
AND THE BUILDING DIVISION, UM, ON MOST GOOD YEARS AND MOST YEARS IT IS, IT DOES, UH, PAY FOR THE BUILDING OFFICIAL.
AND, AND THEN, THEN THE INSPECTOR, UH, THIS YEAR, MAYBE NOT
DID WE, DID WE, BECAUSE IT USED TO BE AS, WE WOULD COME BACK AS MANY TIMES AS WE HAVE TO, AND THERE WAS NO EXTRA COST.
AND WE, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET TWO REVISITS OR WHATEVER.
AND THEN AFTER THAT WAS AN EXTRA FEE.
DID WE EVER GO THAT FAR? AND I DON'T KNOW, SO SORRY.
SO, UH, LOOK AT MY FATHER RIGHT NOW.
WE DO NOT CHARGE FOR, FOR THE REINSPECTION ON RESTAURANTS.
HOWEVER, UM, I WAS ASKED TO LOOK AT, AT THE FEE SCHEDULE AS PART OF, UH, THE, UM, UH, NOT AS, NOT FOR THE BUDGET NECESSARILY, BUT I WAS ASKED TO LOOK AT THE FEE SCHEDULE WE HAVE.
I HAVE INCLUDED IN THAT, WHICH WILL BE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION LATER ON THIS YEAR.
UM, A, UH, FEE FOR THAT REINSPECTION.
UM, AS WELL AS MAYBE FOR AFTER HOURS INSPECTIONS.
WHEN, WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE TO CALL IN AN INSPECTOR TO, TO DO THAT.
OR IF, UH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT BE LESLIE OR, UH, A CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR MYSELF, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT PEOPLE, AND AGAIN, WE MAY NOT HAVE ANY REALLY BAD APPLES.
WE MAY JUST HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE HAVING A ONE OFF AND WE HAVE TO COME BACK.
BUT IF WE DO HAVE SOME, IF YOU COME BACK AND SAY THAT WE DO HAVE SOME ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE BAD APPLES, WELL THEN WE DO, I I THINK IT WOULD BE BE IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE IF THEY CHOOSE TO BE A BAD APPLE THAT THEY'RE GONNA, THE RE-INSPECTIONS ARE GONNA COST THEM.
SO THE, THE METRIC THAT WE SET YEARS AGO HAD OUR TWO, UH, SEMI-ANNUAL INSPECTIONS.
UH, BUT IT ALSO HAD A PERFORMANCE TRACK FOR THOSE RE ESTABLISHMENTS THAT RECEIVED A SATISFACTORY SCORE OF 78 OR LESS THAT TRIGGERED A INSPECTION WITHIN A THREE MONTH PERIOD.
UM, ALSO THOUGH, IF THEY DO HAVE AN IMMINENT, UH, HEALTH HAZARD OR IF THEY HAVE A CLOSURE, THAT'S ALSO GONNA TRIGGER AN INSPECTION.
SO THERE ARE SOME ESTABLISHMENTS THAT DO GET MORE THAN, THAN THE, THAN OUR MINIMUM TOO.
AND AGAIN, IF A, IF A FACILITY IS CLOSED FOR SLIMING ICE MACHINE MM-HMM.
SO WE DO WORK WITH THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS.
SO WE DO SEND AN INSPECTOR OUT EVEN AFTER HOURS SO THAT WE CAN GET THEM UP AND RUNNING AND, AND BACK OPEN.
WE WANT THEM GENERATING REVENUE THAT HELPS THEM.
APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK AND THE UPDATE.
[03:15:03]
OKAY.[13. Staff Updates]
WE'RE GONNA PRESS ON THROUGH ITEM 13.UH, ANY UPDATES ON HURRICANE MULE? I WAS GONNA RATHER, I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN UPDATE, BUT I WILL LET ERIC TOUCH ON, UH, THE UPDATE FOR, YOU'RE ON MY MIND MAN, MY ON DEBRIS.
AND THEN, UM, BRIAN CAN ALSO SHOW YOU A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF THE, UM, UH, THE TEMPORARY DEBRIS SITE.
UH, OUR CONTRACTOR IS PRETTY MUCH DONE.
UH, THEY'RE PICKING UP PUNCH LIST ITEMS NOW, WHICH ARE THE ONES THAT WE SENT OUT NOTICE LAST FRIDAY OR THURSDAY, WHATEVER DAY THAT WAS, UH, TO GET YOUR STUFF OUT.
AND WE ASK PEOPLE TO EMAIL THEIR ADDRESS.
AND I'M REMINDING PEOPLE THE EMAIL THEIR ADDRESS, BE SURE.
'CAUSE THEY COME UP THERE SAYS, WELL, THEY'RE GONNA STEP PICK UP.
I SAID EMAIL, HERE'S THE EMAIL ADDRESS.
SO, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THE INTENT OF THE STAFFORD ACT IS TO REMOVE THE HAZARD.
AND IT IS THOMPSON CONSULTING'S JOB TO KEEP US LEGAL.
AND SO IT'S TRANSITIONING BACK MORE THAT IT'S THE, THE STUFF IS INELIGIBLE.
UH, I DROVE AROUND A WHILE TODAY AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY SEVERAL DEBRIS PILES THAT HAVE GREEN VEGETATION IN 'EM THAT IS NOT HURRICANE DAMAGE'S, NO DAMAGE.
OR THEY HAVE, THAT'S NOT HURRICANE DAMAGE THEY HAVE THAT IS LANDSCAPING OR THEY HAVE MATTRESSES ON THEM.
UH, WE'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION.
WELL, THEY MOVED THE MATTRESS, UH, CARGO DOES NOT PICK UP A MATTRESS.
THEY DON'T RELOCATE IT OR, OR ANYTHING.
AND SO IF THERE'S A MATTRESS THERE, IT'S INELIGIBLE.
AND, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE, THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT, UH, SOME BASEBALL STATS.
WHAT ARE WE BATTING? UH, ACTUALLY WE'RE BATTING CLOSE TO A HUNDRED PERCENT ON OUR VEG TO DATE OR TO YESTERDAY.
UH, THEY PICKED UP 254,000 CUBIC YARDS OF VEGETATIVE DEBRIS.
UH, C AND D THEY HAD 15,000, WHICH IS LESS THAN ANTICIPATED.
UH, AND AT THIS POINT TO THE LANDFILL, UH, THEY HAVE TAKEN 14,000 CUBIC YARDS OF MULCH TO THE LANDFILL.
YOU KNOW, THEY'LL PROBABLY, YES.
UH, THEY'LL PROBABLY DOING BE DOING THAT FOR ABOUT ANOTHER WEEK AND A HALF THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW, WEDNESDAY, WE'RE GONNA BE DONE PICKING UP OUT OF THE STREET.
SO OUR TIPPING COST IS GONNA BE A LOT LESS THAN WE EXPECTED.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA BE AS MUCH VOLUME AS WE THOUGHT.
I I HAVE NOT SEEN HOW MUCH, UH, MATERIAL IS STILL ON THE OLD LANDFILL SITE.
AGAIN, WE'VE HAD REAL HIGH TURNAROUND TIMES AT THE LANDFILL BECAUSE, UH, SOUTHERN BRAZORIA COUNTY, ALL OF THE MULCH AND DEBRIS IS GOING THERE.
SO NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE REGULAR WASTE HAULS GOING THERE, ALL OF THE CONTRACTORS THAT ARE TAKING STORM DEBR GOING THERE.
UH, EXAMPLE, I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE TURNAROUND TIMES WITHIN THE LANDFILL PROPER.
UH, AND WE'VE HAD SOME TIMES UP TO FIVE HOURS AT THE LANDFILL WITHOUT A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT BREAKING DOWN.
SO THAT SITTING IN LINE WAITING TO GET TO THE TOP OF THE HILL TO DUMP.
SO WE'RE RUNNING ANYWHERE FROM AN HOUR TO THREE HOURS ON A REGULAR BASIS SINCE THE STORM.
SO IT'S, IT'S, UH, THAT THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ACTUALLY IMPACTING NORMAL OPERATIONS IS THE TURNAROUND TIME AT THE LANDFILL.
AND ERIC, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE'VE TASKED THEM WITH HELPING US, UM, UH, ROBIN'S GROUP ON, UM, HANGERS AND LEADERS AND, UM, THE RIGHT OF WAY.
IS THAT WRAPPING UP AS WELL? YES.
THE, THE PARKS, UH, THEY'RE DONE.
THE ONES, THE LIST THAT SHE GAVE IS, IS COMPLETE.
I'VE STILL SEEN SOME, LIKE, THERE'S A FEW THINGS THAT WE STILL, UM, SOME THINGS THEY CANNOT GET.
SO HERE'S THE THING TOO, WITH A LOT OF THE STUMPS AND STUFF, IF THERE ARE STILL STUMPS THERE, IT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT OUT OF, THEY MAY HAVE COME OUT OF THE GROUND A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY HAVE TO COME OUT 50% OR MORE FOR THEM TO REMOVE THEM.
AND SO WHEN WE WERE CUTTING AND GOING THROUGH EVEN OUR STAFF, WE WERE PUTTING THEM BACK IN THE HOLE BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T, I MEAN, IT WAS JUST TOO LONG TO PULL OUT.
NO, I WAS MORE WORRIED STILL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HANGERS AND LEANERS.
YOU KNOW, AS THEY START TO DIE, YOU START TO NOTICE THEM MORE.
UM, THERE'S SOME, THEY TOLD ME, 'CAUSE I HAD ASKED HIM ON SEVERAL AREAS TOO.
THEY HAVE TO BE BIGGER, WHAT, BIGGER THAN TWO INCHES OR SOMETHING? YEAH, THEY'VE, THEY'VE PULLED OUT 1200 HANGERS, UH, THROUGH THE STORM.
[03:20:01]
OF WAYS AND THE PARK.SO THE HANGAR IS WHAT? IT'S, IT'S A TWO INCH BRANCH THAT BROKE OFF, UH, THAT IF YOU WALK UNDER IT AND IT DECIDES TO LET GO, THEY'RE CALLED WIDOW MAKERS FOR A REASON.
SO THOSE ARE A BIG SAFETY HAZARD AND UH, A GOOD FOCUS WAS PAID TO THOSE.
SO IF WE START TO SEE MORE, UH, WITHIN THIS 90 DAY WINDOW, UH, CAN WE REACTIVATE THEM? UH, NOT REALLY.
THAT, THAT BECOMES CHALLENGING BECAUSE THE HAZARD IS GONE.
AND IT'S TO TRANSITION US BACK TO NORMAL OPERATIONS.
WHERE WE ARE LOOKING AT, BECAUSE SOME OF THE STUFF THAT'S COMING OUT IS BIGGER THAN OUR EQUIPMENT CAN HANDLE.
UH, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF RENTING A RUBBER TIRED EXCAVATOR, UH, THAT WOULD HAVE LIKE A CLAMS SHELL OR A CLAW OR GRAPPLE, UH, TO HELP LIFT THE LARGER STUFF UP.
MIGHT ALSO HAVE TO GET A BIGGER TRUCK, UH, TO PUT SOME OF THOSE BIG THINGS IN.
OR WE CUT IT AND REDUCE IT A LITTLE BIT OUT IN THE FIELD TO PUT IT ON.
UH, BUT EITHER WAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT A SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENT OF STAFF TIME AND POSSIBLY SOME WEEKEND OVERTIME AGAIN AS WELL.
FOR THOSE WHERE, WHERE'S THE BIG STUFF? WHERE, WHERE ARE YOU TAKING THE BIG STUFF? THE BIG, BIG STUMPS? AND WHERE ARE YOU TAKING? UH, ONCE, ONCE THE CONTRACTOR LEAVES, WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING IT ALL TO OUR REELING YARD.
WE TO BE GROUND UP TO GRIND UP.
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A MONITORING FIRM AGAIN, THE HAZARD IS GONE, UH, FOR REIMBURSEMENT.
WE'RE COMPLETELY CLEAN UP UNTIL THIS POINT.
UH, NOTHING THAT IS REALLY QUESTIONABLE.
SO WE ARE NOT AT THIS POINT FACING ANY DE OBLIGATIONS, UH, WHEN WE GO THROUGH IT.
UH, SO IF WE DON'T HAVE A MONITORING FIRM SITTING OVER THE TOP OF US AS WE PICK STUFF UP THAT OPENS A GRAY AREA AND THE STUMPS THAT THEY'VE PICKED UP, CAN THEY BE GROUND? YES.
WE GOT EQUIPMENT TO TAKE CARE OF THE, SOME OF THE DUMPS I SAW, BIG STUFF.
THE, THE, WELL, THE, THE GRINDER THAT THEY HAVE AT THE OLD LANDFILL NOW, UH, YOU COULD PUT A THREE QUARTER TON PICKUP ON THAT GRINDER AND IT'LL SPIT STUFF OUT THE OTHER END.
SO IT'S, IT'S ABOUT A 1500 HORSEPOWER, $2 MILLION MACHINE.
PLEASE SEE SAL AT THE END OF THE MEETING.
YEAH, HE HAS SAL'S GOT PICK UP.
WHEN ARE WE GONNA START PICKING UP THE FENCE STUFF ALREADY? DO YOU HAVE THE, UH, CARGO IS ALREADY, THEY C D'S ALREADY GONE.
UH, THE, A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS COMING OUT BY CONTRACTORS AND WE ARE REMINDING FOLKS, IF A CONTRACTOR DOES YOUR FENCE, THEY NEED TO TAKE WITH, THEY NEED TO TAKE IT WITH THEM.
AND, AND THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF THE FENCES THAT WE STILL SEE THAT ARE LAYING DOWN.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL FOLKS TELL US POINT BLANK, MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID, DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING UNTIL THE ADJUSTER COMES OUT.
THAT'S WHY WE'VE HAD SIDE, UH, FENCES LAYING ON SIDEWALKS.
SO THE LA THE HOMEOWNER'S RESPONSIBLE GETTING THIS OLD FENCE OUTTA THE WAY.
WELL, THEY HAD A WINDOW AND YEAH, THE WINDOW, THE WINDOW'S NOW THE WINDOW'S CLOSED.
AND, AND MOST OF THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY HAVE ALREADY CLOSED THEIR DEBRIS OPERATIONS.
THAT'S WHY WE DID THE, THE PHONE CALL, UH, JUST TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, KNEW OR I WASN'T, I WASN'T AWARE OF THAT.
IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, YOU'RE DAMNED IF YOU DO, DAMNED IF YOU DON'T, UH, YOU KNOW, THE MAYOR AND SOME OF YOU'RE GETTING COMPLAINTS THAT THE CONTRACTOR'S NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH.
NOW WE'LL START TO GET COMPLAINTS THAT WE MOVED TOO FAST.
UH, EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT SITUATION OF GETTING THEIR DEBRIS OUT ON THE FRONT.
AND IF YOU REMEMBER THE, THE FIRST MEETING WE HAD WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT DEBRIS, WE WERE SAYING THE FIRST, UH, PASS FOR VEGETATION WAS GONNA BE SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS.
WELL, WE'RE AT SIX WEEKS AND WE'RE COMPLETE.
BRIAN, DO YOU WANT TO SHOW HIM, UH, JUST SOME PHOTOS IN THE VIDEO? YES.
OF THE, SO BASICALLY WHAT, DID YOU WANT SAY ANYTHING, UH, BEFORE THE ONE? NO.
BASICALLY, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU SOME PICTURES.
UH, THIS IS ONE FROM THE, THE OLD LANDFILL.
AND THIS IS THEM ACTUALLY WORKING CROWDER GULF.
AND YOU'LL SEE ACTUALLY A SCISSOR JACK OVER HERE.
IT'S BLUE THAT'S GONNA BE THOMPSON THE, UH, OBSERVING COMPANY.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE PROCESS, YOU'LL SEE ACTUALLY THE DEBRIS, AND YOU ALSO SEE MULCH AS THEY GRIND IN IT.
AND YOU'LL SEE A BIG WHITE MACHINE, THAT'S THE GRINDER.
AND OF COURSE, THIS IS ON THE 25TH.
THERE'S THE GRINDER RIGHT THERE.
AND OF COURSE YOU CAN SEE THE, UH, MULCH
[03:25:01]
TO THE LEFT.AND YOU CAN SEE RIGHT ALONG HERE, THAT'S WHERE THEY'VE GROUNDED.
AND AS THEY TAKE THE, THE VEGETATIVE DEBRIS TO THE MACHINE, IT GRINDS IT.
AND THEN YOU JUST MOVE ALONG AS, AS THE, AS THE STUFF COMES IN.
AND OF COURSE, RIGHT THERE, THIS IS THE SPCA.
SO THAT WHITE THING EAT UP A BIG STUMP.
THIS IS THE ONE THAT ERIC SAID CAN DO A TRUCK.
AND KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THEY'RE LOOK AT THAT BIG TRUCK RIGHT HERE IN COMPARISON.
I'D SAY YOU TAKE A STONE AND AIR FORCE, IF YOU REMEMBER.
UH, HURRICANE NICHOLAS IS A REALLY A LOT SMALLER, UH, FOOTPRINT THAN THIS ONE.
AND THIS AGAIN IS, UH, BACK IN JULY 25TH.
SO WE'LL CLOSE THAT ONE OUT AND WE'LL GIVE YOU, UH, LEMME SEE THAT PURSE HERE.
NEED, NEED SHOT SHOT OF THE C CENTER THERE.
THE, I WOULD SAY THE ONE THING DIFFERENT THAN FROM THE PREVIOUS STORMS, UH, CARTER GOLF WAS MUCH MORE ORGANIZED IN, IN GETTING IT GROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COLLECTION PROCESS.
A LOT OF TIMES IT WAS PRIOR TO CROWDED GOLF, IT REALLY STACKED UP.
AND THEN THEY BROUGHT THE GRINDING IN MAYBE THREE QUARTERS IN THE OPERATION HERE.
THEY BROUGHT IT AT, YOU KNOW, 25% OF, UH, BEING FILED AND STARTED RIGHT AWAY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, HERE'S A WEEK LATER, LOOK HOW MUCH VEGETATED DEBRIS THEY BUILT UP.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'VE ALREADY MOVED ALL THAT MULCH OUTTA THE AREA AND, AND HAULED IT OFF TO THE, THE LANDFILL.
AND OF COURSE, UH, COMPLIMENTS TO, UH, JOHN KIRK, UH, OUR DRONE PILOT DETECTIVE, HE'S THE ONE WHO FLEW THESE FOUR.
HE DID ALSO BACK IN NICHOLAS, AS YOU SEE THESE WAITING TO BE GROUND RIGHT HERE.
AND OF COURSE THE GRIND IS RIGHT HERE.
AND OF COURSE RIGHT THERE IS SOME MULCH THAT'S BEEN GROUND.
AND THEN AGAIN, THIS WAS, UH, AUGUST 2ND MAY, AND RIGHT HERE IS AUGUST 9TH.
YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THEY'VE ACTUALLY DONE A LOT OF PROGRESS.
ALL THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MULCHED.
SEE THAT LONG ROW RIGHT THERE? MM-HMM.
NOW I DID NOTICE THEY BROUGHT A BIG, UH, BUCKET IN FOR THEIR FRONT END LOADER, BUT THEY'RE STEADILY MOVING IT AS IT COMES IN, MOVING IT OUT.
NOW IF YOU LOOK RIGHT OVER HERE, THAT IS THOMPSON RIGHT THERE.
SO WHEN THE TRUCKS COME IN, THEY'RE ACTUALLY READING, UH, THE TRUCK AND GETTING THAT, THAT, UH, QUANTITY BEFORE IT GOES IN HERE.
SO ACTUALLY YOU'RE LOOKING AT PHYSICALLY WHAT'S IN THERE.
BASICALLY WHAT HAPPENS WHENEVER A TRUCK COMES, THIS TRUCK COMES HERE AND THEY LOOK AT THE TRUCK AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY LOOK INSIDE AND DETERMINE THE CUBIC YARDS EACH TRUCK'S CARRYING.
AND THAT'S THE, THE MONITOR THAT JARED'S TALKING ABOUT.
THEY, THEY ALSO DO THAT ON THE WAY OUT WITH THE MULCH.
AS THEY LOAD THE TRUCKS UP WITH THE MULCH, THEY RUN IT BACK UNDER THE TOWER AND THEY'LL TELL YOU IF IT'S GOT 50, 60 WHATEVER CUBIC YARDS IN IT GOING TO THE LANDFILL.
WHAT'S THE PERSON DOING BEHIND THE TRUCKS WHEN THEY'RE PICKING THE STUFF OUTTA THE YARDS? WHAT IN THE FIELD? THEY'RE THOMPSON THEY'RE MONITORING, THEY'RE MONITORING GOING IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCKS AND THEY, THE MONITORING THAT THE MATERIAL IS ELIGIBLE.
NUMBER ONE, IS IT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY? UH, IS IT STORM DEBRIS OR DID SOMEBODY DECIDE LAST WEEK TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRIM THEIR BRANCHES AND THROW IT OUT? SO IT'S GREEN.
THAT'S INELIGIBLE TO MAKE SURE IT'S COMPLIANT WITH BEMER REGULATION.
AND THE GUY HERE MAKE SURE IT'S A FULL LOAD OR, UH, HE MEASURES, VERIFIES WHAT THE ACTUAL CUBIC YARDAGE IS IN THE TRUCK AND ONE VERIFIES IT CAN GO AND HE'S VERIFYING THE AMOUNT.
NOW THIS WAS ON THE 16TH, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S, IT'S GETTING DWINDLING DOWN, BUT THEY'RE STEADILY, UH, STAYING BUSY.
OF COURSE THE TRUCK'S OVER HERE DROPPING SOME DEBRIS OFF AND THEY'RE STILL GRINDING OVER HERE.
AND SO YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THEY'VE BEEN VERY BUSY.
GRINDING AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE.
BUT THEY'VE BEEN HAULING IT OFF PRETTY FAST AS WELL AS, SO AS SOON AS THEY GRIND IT, THEY PRETTY MUCH HAUL IT OFF.
SO THERE'S A BIG STOCKPILE THERE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY GOT A NEW BUCKET FOR THIS RUN-IN LOADER, AS I MENTIONED.
AND, UH, KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THIS IS OUR SMALL DOZER, THE CITY'S DOZER, WHICH WE CALL BABY.
KIND OF GIVE AN IDEA OF THE SCALE OF HOW BIG THIS MACHINERY IS.
AND OF COURSE Y'ALL HAVE SEEN THIS TRUCK HERE BEFORE AND SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT RIGHT THERE.
NOW I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND SHOW
[03:30:01]
YOU A COUPLE VIDEOS.AS YOU CAN SEE, THE TRUCK OVER HERE IS ACTUALLY UNLOADING.
HOW MUCH DOES GRINDING REDUCE THE VOLUME? LIKE ABOUT 70% PERCENTAGE WISE.
BASICALLY IT TURNS IN ABOUT 30% YOU HAVE FROM THE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
SO THAT IT OBVIOUSLY TAKES UP A LOT OF THAT.
SO WHAT'S THE HARD NUMBER? HERE'S THE LAST VIDEO.
DRONES COME IN HANDY, DON'T THEY? THEY DO.
AND, AND AGAIN, ALL, ALL THE WAY JOHN KIRK, HE'S BEEN VERY DILIGENT ABOUT THIS.
HE'S DONE IT EVERY WEEK FOR THE LAST MONTH.
AND ALSO KUDOS TO HIM FOR DOING THE, THE CITY FACILITIES PRIOR TO THE STORM AND AFTER HOPE.
THAT'S NOT A RECENT VIDEO 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GREEN IN THERE,
IT JUST, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT DATE HE FLEW THIS, UH, BUT JUST IT'S OKAY.
ACTUALLY IT'S PRETTY RECENT REALLY.
YEAH, THAT'S, BUT THIS MIGHT BE, AS TO WHAT ERIC SAID, UH, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO CUT THE OTHER LENS IN.
AND YOU CAN SEE UP IN THE, THE CENTER THERE TO THE LEFT OF THE, THE TRUCK UNLOADING THE BIG STUMPS AND STUFF RIGHT THERE BY OUR LITTLE DOZER OVER THERE.
AND THEY DO ACTUALLY REDUCE IT BECAUSE EVEN THAT GRINDER, IT TAKES IT A WHILE TO CHURN ON IT.
SO IF THEY CUT IT INTO LITTLE PIECES THERE RIGHT THEN IT MAKES FASTER WORK OF IT THAN THE GRINDER.
I'M, I'M GLAD TO SEE WE'RE NOT ALLOWING TO MULCH THE STACK UP AND STAY THERE FOR VERY LONG, SO THAT'S GOOD.
UH, JUST SOME REAL QUICK COMMENTS I'LL, I'LL JUST PASS ON IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO PREPARE FOR ANY FUTURE STORM IS TO, UH, PUT A CALL INTO PEARLAND AND SEE WHAT THEY DID BETWEEN THEIR ENGINEERING GROUP AND THEIR IT GROUP TO DO THEIR, THEIR INTERACTIVE TRACKING MAP.
SO THE WAY THEY WERE SET UP WAS BETWEEN THEIR ENGINEERING, ALL YOUR ALTINE STUFF, YOU KNOW, UH, THEY, UH, WHAT THEY DO IS THEY HAVE THROUGH THEIR, THEIR THEIR, UH, CONTRACTOR IS, IS WHEN THEY STOPPED TO PICK UP A LOAD, THEY HIT A BUTTON IN THE TRUCK AND IT PUTS A DOT ON THE MAP INSTEAD, THEY JUST PICKED UP AT THAT ADDRESS.
AND SO IT WAS REAL EASY FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THAT, UH, GRANTED THERE'LL BE PEOPLE THAT SAY, WELL, I GOT A DOT THERE AND THEY AIN'T PICKED UP ANYTHING, BUT IT'S STILL BETTER THAN CENTER POINT AND BETTER WHAT WE HAD OF SAYING, OKAY, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THAT AREA.
UH, THE OTHER THING THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT WHAT PEARLAND IS, IS THAT THROUGH THEIR CONTRACTOR, THEY'RE HAVING TO MULCH.
BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AGAIN, THIS IS TALKING TO THE MAYOR, SO, UH, AGAIN, I'M ASKING YOU TO, TO GET MORE CLARIFICATION ON, BUT THE WAY THEY CUT DOWN ON COST WAS, IS THAT, UH, THEIR CONTRACTOR IS PICKING UP THE MATERIAL AND THEY HAVE, UH, THEY HAVE A, UH, A THIRD PARTY THAT IS COMING IN AND IS MULCHING AND PURCHASING THE MULCH.
SO THAT'S WHAT I, SO MAYBE JUST CHECK WITH THEM AND SEE WHAT THEY DID.
UH, BECAUSE 'CAUSE THEY'RE, THEY'RE STACKING ALL THEIR DEBRIS UP.
THEY'RE NOT GRINDING IT UP YET.
SO THIS SUPPOSEDLY THIS THIRD PARTY COMPANY COMES IN AND IT'S THROUGH THIS, THROUGH THEIR CONTRACTOR THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS BEEN MADE.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUR CONTRACTOR HAS AN AGREEMENT WITH SEA BREEZE TO TAKE OUR STUFF AND STUFF.
SO ANYWAY, THAT'S JUST A, A DA UNIQUE APPROACH ON HOW TO ADDRESS THIS AND, AND STUFF INSTEAD OF SPREADING IT OUT ON THE GROUND OR PUTTING ME IN A, UH, IN A LANDFILL.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE, THE STORM AND WHERE WE'RE AT? ALL RIGHT.
AND AGAIN, EVERYBODY'S WORKED HARD TO GET THIS STUFF OUT HERE.
WE'RE ALL, WE, WERE ALL WE'RE AFRAID OF ANOTHER STORM COMING IN BEHIND IT BEFORE WE GET IT PICKED UP.
SO THAT DOESN'T MEAN A STORM CAN COME IN THOUGH.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY, THERE'S NOT ANY ACTION ITEMS I DON'T THINK FROM, UH, OUR DISCUSSION HERE OTHER THAN BRINGING THE, UH, THE UTILITY ORDINANCE BACK.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR SAL? NO.
[ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
OKAY.WE GOT ANY ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST? NO, JUST ONE ITEM IS ONE.
THERE'S A PARK ON SUMAC STREET
[03:35:01]
THAT, UH, GRASS IS PRETTY TALL.IT'S NOT CORNERED OFF OR SO, YEAH.
UM, RIGHT NOW, HONESTLY, ALL OF OUR PARKS ARE PROBABLY ABOUT THIS CALL, BUT THE GUYS, WE ARE OUT THERE NOW TRYING TO GET STUFF, IT'S VERY SLOW GOING EVEN FOR CONTRACTORS BECAUSE THE GRASS IS SO HIGH.
BIG PILE OF DEBRIS IS STILL THERE IN FRONT OF IT TOO, SO, AND IT'S PRETTY DRY.
THEY MAY HAVE JUST BEEN ONE THAT THEY JUST CLEARED TOO, SO, UM, AND, AND THEY HAVE IT ON THEIR LIST TOO.
WE STILL HAVE A FEW MORE TO DO, BUT WE ARE GETTING TO THE PARKS AS SOON AS WE CAN.
UM, BUT USUALLY YOU HAVE THEM BLOCKED OFF OR CONED OFF.
THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS PROBABLY CAN'T DO IT, SO.
WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH CONES, HONESTLY, TO BLOCK OFF EVERY PARK.
SO, BUT WE ARE, YEAH, WE SHOULD, I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU KIND OFF THE BEATEN PATH THERE, SO.
ANYTHING ELSE? HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAMES.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY CHARLOTTE.
OH, RHONDA, ANYTHING? OH NO, I WENT ON JUNE.
ANYTHING ELSE FROM YOUR GUYS? I DON'T CARE ABOUT IT.
YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING, RIGHT? NO.
THAT'S A NEW NICKNAME FOR SHOW ALL.