[00:00:03]
OKAY.I'VE GOT SIX 30 ON AT LEAST ONE O'CLOCK.
WELL, WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE, UH, MONDAY, MAY 5TH, 2025, UH, REGULAR SESSION OF LAKE JACKSON CITY COUNCIL AT 25 OAK DRIVE.
UH, APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BRAVING THE WEATHER, AND, UM, AGAIN, THIS EVENING, WHEN YOUR PART OF THE AGENDA IS FINISHED, FEEL FREE TO LEAVE IF YOU'D LIKE, BECAUSE THE WEATHER'S EXPECTED TO GET BAD AND IT WON'T HURT OUR FEELINGS.
BUT IF YOU WANNA SPEND THE EVENING WITH US, THAT WOULD BE JUST FINE.
UH, SPEAKING OF THE EVENING, THIS IS, UH, COUNCILMAN BROAD'S FINAL FULL COUNCIL MEETING.
SO, UM, ANYWAY, BUT, UH, WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT, UH, MR. BROADUS, UH, AT OUR, UH, 19TH MAY 19TH MEETING.
AND HE'LL, HE'LL BE JUST FOR, FOR A BIT.
WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN EVENT, UH, BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETING FOR HIM AT THAT TIME.
UH, SO, UH, I'LL LEAVE MY WORDS, UH, FOR THAT DAY.
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
UH, WITH THE, UH, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, UH, BE LED BY COUNCILMAN HANYA PLEDGE PLEASURE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH YOU STAND.ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.
HONOR, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG ALLEGIANCE DISEASE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE.
AND DIVISIBLE, UH, INVOCATION THIS EVENING WILL BE, UH, PROVIDED BY, UH, COUNCILMAN BUELL.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THIS EVENING.
AND AS OUR MEETING CONTINUES AND DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE, WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US THE STRENGTH, COURAGE, AND WISDOM TO MAKE, MAKE THOSE DECISIONS THAT WE FEEL ARE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THAT OF OUR CITY.
WE ASK THAT YOU BE WITH OUR MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR, OUR ARMED FORCES, STATE SIZE, AND ABROAD, OUR EMT FIRE POLICE OFFICERS, AND HELP US GET HOME SAFELY.
[PRESENTATION]
BEGIN WITH, UH, PRESENTATION BY BRAZOSPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL TOURISM PRESENTATION.I'M THE DIRECTOR OF TOURISM FOR THE BRAZOSPORT CONVENTION AND VISITORS COUNCIL.
WE ARE A DIVISION OF THE BRAZOSPORT AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE PROMOTE THE AREA AS A LEISURE DESTINATION.
WE CARRY OUT A STRATEGIC PLAN THAT'S PUT TOGETHER BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I MAKE AN ANNUAL PRESENTATION TO YOU AND SUBMIT QUARTERLY REPORTS SO YOU KNOW HOW WE SPEND THE FUNDING THAT WE RECEIVE.
AND WE ARE FUNDED THROUGH, UH, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES RECEIVED NOT ONLY IN LAKE JACKSON, BUT POLLUTE FREEPORT AND SURFSIDE BEACH.
SO ONE WAY WE PROMOTE THE AREA TO VISITORS IS WORKING WITH OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS.
UM, OUR LOCAL ACCOMMODATIONS AND ATTRACTIONS ARE OUR STRONGEST PARTNERS, UM, THAT WE WORK WITH THE COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT STATEWIDE WITH THE TRAVEL, TEXAS, UH, THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION WITH TDOT PARKS AND WILDLIFE.
WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH VISIT HOUSTON.
WE WORK, UM, AS A GROUP CALLED AROUND HOUSTON, THAT'S MADE UP OF VISIT HOUSTON AND US, AND ALSO, UH, ABOUT 13 OTHER REGIONAL PARTNERS AS FAR EAST AS BEAUMONT, UH, NORTH HUNTSVILLE, WEST SUGARLAND, AND WE'RE THE FURTHEST SOUTH.
ANOTHER WAY WE PROMOTE THE AREA IS THROUGH ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION.
WE HAD EITHER PAID ADS, EDITORIALS, OR LISTINGS IN THESE PUBLICATIONS AND WEBSITES.
UM, THEY HAVE A COMBINED CIRCULATION AND IMPRESSIONS OF OVER 8 MILLION AND TOTAL MORE THAN $150,000 IN, UM, ADVERTISING OR ADVERTISING BUDGET IS NOWHERE NEAR $150,000.
SO WE REALLY HAVE TO, UH, WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF, UH, OUR MARKETING OP OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, UH, THROUGH TEAM TEXAS, WHICH IS MADE UP OF OTHER DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION AROUND THE STATE.
WE PULL OUR DOLLARS TOGETHER AND, UM, GET THE MOST ADVERTISING WE CAN.
SO THIS IS WHAT SOME OF OUR ADS LOOK LIKE.
WE ALWAYS INCLUDE, UM, EACH OF OUR FUNDING CITIES IN THE AD.
WE HAVE, UM, A LINK TO OUR WEBSITE, OR IF YOU, IF THEY'RE A DIGITAL AD, YOU CLICK IT AND IT GOES RIGHT TO OUR WEBSITE.
ANOTHER WAY WE PROMOTE THE AREA TO VISITORS IS BY ATTENDING SHOWS AND CONFERENCES.
UM, LAST YEAR WE DID THE DALLAS TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE SHOW WITH OUR TEAM TEXAS PARTNERS.
WE WERE, UM, BECAME PRETTY, UH, TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT HGAC OFFERED.
WE ALSO, UM, DID THE STATE FAIR.
THAT IS A THREE WEEK SHOW WHERE WE HAVE OUR BROCHURES THERE FOR VISITORS THE ENTIRE THREE WEEKS.
HOWEVER, OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION, THEY OFFER,
[00:05:01]
UM, AN OPPORTUNITY CALLED DESTINATION DAY.SO FOR TWO DAYS, IT'S BRAZOSPORT DAY AT THE STATE FAIR, AND I GET TO ACTUALLY WORK THE BOOTH AND VISIT WITH THE, UM, VISITORS AND GIVE OUR COLLATERAL OUT AT THAT EVENT.
AND THEN THE, UM, TEXAS TRAVEL COUNSELORS EXPO, THAT IS AN APPOINTMENT STYLE SHOW WHERE I SIT AT A TABLE AND HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO TELL THESE TRAVEL COUNSELORS WHO WORK AT THE INFORMATION CENTERS, UM, IN TEXAS, THEY WORK FOR TXDOT AT ALL THE POINTS OF INTEREST.
THERE'S ALSO, UM, THE STATE PARK VISITOR CENTERS AND ALSO OTHER MUNICIPAL, UH, VISITOR CENTERS.
SO I GET TO, UM, SHOW THEM WHAT OUR COLLATERAL LOOKS LIKE AND LET THEM KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING NEW HAPPENING IN OUR AREA.
SO OUR WEBSITE LAST YEAR HAD 96,000 PAGE VIEWS AND 306,000, UM, WAS THE EVENT COUNT.
THE TOP PAGES THAT PEOPLE, UM, GO TO WHEN, ONCE THEY GET TO VISIT ESPORT, ARE THE BEACHES, ATTRACTIONS, DINING AND STAY, WHICH IS OUR, UH, ACCOMMODATIONS PAGE.
THE, WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT OUR WEBSITE, THEY'RE IN HOUSTON, DALLAS-FORT WORTH, AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO.
AND THEN OUR TOP REFERRAL SITES ARE, UH, FACEBOOK VISIT HOUSTON TEXAS.COM AND 365 THINGS IN HOUSTON.
SO TWO SPECIAL PROJECTS THAT WE DID LAST YEAR IS OUR, UM, THE TOURISM FRIENDLY TEXAS, WHICH I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER.
WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT THAT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING.
UM, BUT IT WAS, IT'S WAS REALLY IMPORTANT, UM, DESIGNATION THAT WE RECEIVED.
WE DID THAT FOR LAKE JACKSON, UH, CLUT AND SURFSIDE BEACH.
AND THEN WE HELPED, UH, THE FREEPORT MAIN STREET DO THAT FOR THEM AS WELL.
SO WE SUBMITTED A LETTER OF INTENT, FILLED OUT A SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE, DID SOME ONLINE TRAINING, UM, GOT LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM OUR TOURISM, OUR LOCAL TOURISM PARTNERS.
AND THEN DID, UM, UH, FINAL INTERVIEW WITH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR'S TOURISM, UH, TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION.
UH, SO ANOTHER PROJECT WE HAD WAS THE TEXAN RALLY, WHICH IS A HERITAGE, UH, TOURISM WORKSHOP, A ONE DAY WORKSHOP THAT'S HELD IN THE TEXAS INDEPENDENCE TRAIL REGION.
EVERY YEAR IT MOVES AROUND AND THAT REGION, UM, SPANS FROM SAN ANTONIO TO CHAMBERS COUNTY.
SO IT'S USUALLY HELD IN A HISTORIC BUILDING, USUALLY A LIKE AN OLD THEATER OR SOME SORT OF A MUSEUM OR HISTORIC HOME.
SO IN OUR BID, WE DECIDED WE WANTED TO, UM, SHOW OFF THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION THAT LAKE JACKSON COMPLETED, AND WE WERE ABLE TO HOST IT AT, UM, DER LIFE MINISTRIES.
THEY HAVE AN EVENT SPACE THERE.
SO THE VISITORS THAT ATTENDED THE WORKSHOP WERE ABLE TO, UM, DURING, WE MADE SURE WE BUILT IN A LOT OF BREAKS, SO THEY WERE ABLE TO GO LIKE TO TAMMY'S TOUCH AND REFRESH AND WORST HOUSE AND, AND SPEND THEIR TIME AND MONEY IN LAKE JACKSON.
AND THEN THE DAY BEFORE, WE DID DO, UH, TOUR OF THE PRIZE SUPPORT AREA.
SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE TRAVEL IMPACTS FROM LAST YEAR.
THIS IS, UH, THESE ARE ACCORDING, UM, FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR'S RESEARCH DIVISION.
SO IN 2024, THERE WAS NEARLY $16 MILLION IN TRAVEL SPENDING IN LAKE JACKSON.
AND THAT IS, UM, GASOLINE, CAR RENTAL, HOTEL FOOD, UH, SHOPPING.
THERE WERE 180 DIRECT EMPLOYEES IN, IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN LAKE JACKSON.
AND THEIR DIRECT EARNINGS WERE ABOUT 5 MILLION.
AND THEN THE DIRECT TAX RECEIPTS WAS 1.8 MILLION, AND THOSE WERE, UM, ABOUT THE SAME AS 2023.
SO THE LAST THING I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS OUR SHOP LOCAL WEEKEND IS COMING UP, UH, JUNE, 2020 FIRST AND 22ND.
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO HELP OUR, UH, CONSUMERS IN TOWN AND ALL TO OUR CHAMBER MEMBERS.
SO PEOPLE, WE WOULD HOPE THEY COME BY OUR OFFICE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 20TH, PICK UP A SHOPPING BAG, A LIST OF MEMBERS, AND HAVE BREAKFAST WITH US.
AND THEN THEY CAN GO ON THEIR NORMAL DAY, THEY CAN GO PAY, UM, THEIR AUTO INSURANCE OR GET THEIR HAIR DONE, OR THEY CAN GO ON A SHOPPING SPREE AND BUY, UH, ANYTHING THEY CAN THINK OF.
AND AS LONG AS THEY TURN IN THOSE RECEIPTS TO US BY, UM, THAT MONDAY, WE CAN PUT THEM IN A DRAWING AND WE GIVE OUT A CASH PRIZE ON THE, UH, THE TUESDAY THE 24TH.
WE'LL DO THAT LIVE ON FACEBOOK.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY RIPPLE'S NOT DOING THE DRAWING IS BECAUSE I, I NEVER WIN WHEN HE PULL
SO, UH, SO I'VE ALSO INCLUDED OUR MARKETING PLAN.
YOU CAN LOOK OVER THAT AND IT DOES HAVE OUR LIST OF OUR, UH, CURRENT, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THIS YEAR.
AND WE ALSO HAVE, NANCY WOOLLUM IS HERE.
SHE'S WITH REPRESENTATIVE CODY VASU'S OFFICE, AND SHE ALSO SERVES ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ON, UM, OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AS WELL.
SO I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
WE'LL, ANYBODY ELSE? WONDERFUL.
YEAH, JUST LIKE, UH, COUNCILMAN BUHLES SAID WAS, Y'ALL DO A GREAT WORK AND, AND, AND AGAIN, AND NONE OF THE CITIES THAT ARE THAT, THAT Y'ALL SUPPORT COULD DO THIS ON THEIR OWN.
AND SO IT'S ALWAYS A VALUE WHERE WE CAN PULL THE FUNDS TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO GET A BIGGER VOICE OUT IN THE, IN
[00:10:01]
THE STATE.SO HOW MUCH DO WE DO ANYTHING FOR OUT STATE THOUGH? UM, WE DO SOME, UM, IS THAT THROUGH THE, OR IS THAT THROUGH THE STATE? DOES THAT WORK? IT'S THROUGH THE STATE.
WE USED TO DO A LOT IN OKLAHOMA BECAUSE OKLAHOMA CITY WAS A GOOD MARKET WHEN THERE, WHEN WE PROMOTED A LOT OF FISHING.
BUT THE FISHING REGULATIONS CHANGED.
AND SO WE DECIDED THAT REALLY WASN'T A, A GOOD DRAW FOR US ANYMORE.
BUT WE DO A LOT, UM, WITH THE STATE ON OUR BORDER STATE, SO NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA.
AND THEN WITH VISIT HOUSTON, WE DO SOME INTERNATIONAL WHERE, UM, WE HAD A LOT OF MOMENTUM GOING WITH THEM PRE COVID, BUT THEN COVID HAPPENED AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUNDS FOR INTERNATIONAL MARKETING ANYMORE.
WELL AGAIN, THANK YOU AGAIN AS, UH, WITH THE REPORT.
WE APPRECIATE THE, UH, ANNUAL REPORT AND THEN THE QUARTER REPORTS TOO.
KEEPS US UP, KEEP TO DATE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TOO.
ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT THING WE HAVE IS WE HAVE, UH, A PROCLAMATION, UH, FOR DR.
AND, UH, WE WILL, I'LL STEP AROUND YOU.
HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO MEET YOU.
LET ME GET THIS PIECE OF PAPER THAT I'VE GOTTA READ.
EVERYBODY KNOWS I'M SMALL READING PROCLAMATIONS, BUT I SPENT THE LAST WEEK, UH, IN A BUNCH OF CEDAR TREES AND SAW MY THROAT.
ANYWAY, THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT THING FOR US AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF YOU.
UH, PROCLAMATION I GERALD ROSOVSKY BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VEST IN ME AS MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 5TH, 2025 AS PSYCHOLOGY WORKS DAYS, UH, DAY IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON.
WHEREAS THE CITY LAKE JACKSON RECOGNIZES THIS IN INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION OF THE, OF SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.
AND WHEREAS SMALL BUSINESSES ARE A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY PROVIDING GOOD SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
DE FRASER OF PSYCHOLOGY WORKS EXEMPLIFIES ENTREPRENEURSHIP, THAT'S A BIG ALRIGHT.
AND DEDICATION TO EXCEL AND RECEIVED THE 2025 SBA HOUSTON DISTRICT RURAL BUSINESS OWNER OF THE YEAR.
AND WHEREAS PSYCHOLOGY WORKS HAS ACHIEVED BUSINESS SUCCESS AND DEMONSTRATED A PRO PROFOUND COMMUN COMMIT TO ENHANCING THE WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH CHARITABLE DONATIONS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL EVENTS AND CHARITIES.
AND NOW THEREFORE, WE THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 5TH, 2025 AS THE PSYCHOLOGY WORKS DAY IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON IN TESTIMONY, WHEREAS WITNESS MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON THE FIFTH DAY OF MAY, 2025.
WE GOT SOME MORE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO STEP UP.
ALRIGHT, NANCY, WELL WE KIND OF HAVE A DITO.
REPRESENTATIVE
UHHUH, THERE'S NO PARTIALITY THERE WHATSOEVER, BUT YOU WILL BE GETTING YOURS HAND DELIVERED BY CODY.
REPRESENTED SUIT BY THE END OF THIS WEEK, IT'S STILL IN AUSTIN, MEETING HIS SIGNATURE.
AND I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN THREE WEEKS.
BUT THIS WONDERFUL DOCTOR HERE.
'CAUSE WE HAD ONE LAST YEAR AS WELL.
THAT ONE FROM OUR AREA BECAUSE THAT'S, WE'RE SO GREAT.
THAT'S WHY, ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN, JUST A LITTLE, BUT SHE DOES A LOT OF COMMUNITY WORK.
I, I WAS AMAZED OF EVERYTHING.
THE POLICE ACADEMY AND, AND GETTING TO, TO, UH, THE, UM, WHAT WAS IT? YOUR, UH, FOR CHILDREN? YOU DO ALL THE T OH, UM, AUTHORITY COUNTY FOR CHILDREN V, WHICH WE LOVE.
[00:15:01]
GREAT, I WAS THERE.THEIR MODEL THAT THEY DID, BOB, THEY DID JOB DID.
BUT I'M TELLING YOU, I'M GONNA READ THE LAST PART BECAUSE IT DOESN'T GET A, A MAYOR RESPONSE.
SO I MADE A COPY SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE IT EVEN COME IN, RESOLVED THAT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 89TH TEXAS LEGISLATORS HEREBY CONGRATULATES DR. DEBORAH FRAZIER ON HER SELECTION OF THE 2025 RURAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR.
NOW THIS INCLUDES HOUSTON AND ALL THE OTHER RURAL, IT'S NOT JUST THIS LITTLE AREA.
I LOST MY THOUGHT OWNER OF THE YEAR BY THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, HOUSTON DISTRICT OFFICE, AND EXTEND TO HER SINCERE BEST WISHES FOR THE FUTURE AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVE.
I HAVE TO PUT THAT IN THERE, THAT AN OFFICIAL COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE PREPARED FOR DR. FRAZIER AS AN EXPRESSION OF HIGH REGARD BY THE TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
AND WE'RE ALL CRAP WITH YOU TOO.
20 YEARS YOUNGER, 20 COUNT STAFF THAT'S NOT ASKING LAW.
DID WE HAVE SOMEBODY FROM SHE? SHE IS, SHE, SHE, WE'RE GONNA DELIVER THAT.
AGAIN, CONGRAT, DO YOU WANNA TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK YOU, MAYOR, DOC, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF? WE, HOW DO WE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
AND I AM A MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER, SO COME SIT ON MY COUCH.
UM, AND THEN YOU CAN GET YOUR, UH, THAT'S RIGHT.
UM, SO PSYCHOLOGY WORKS HAS BEEN HERE IN LAKE JACKSON FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS NOW.
I STARTED OVER, OVER THERE BY THE POST OFFICE, ONE SMALL LITTLE OFFICE.
I WAS JUST ME, A SOLO PROVIDER BY MYSELF.
I DIDN'T HAVE A RECEPTIONIST, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY STAFF.
IT WAS JUST ME AND, YOU KNOW, AN OFFICE AND A COUCH.
AND THERE REALLY WEREN'T A LOT OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HERE IN THE LAKE JACKSON AREA.
AND THERE ACTUALLY STILL ARE NOT FOR THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THERE ARE HERE, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS.
UM, AND SO I WAS VERY SURPRISED AT HOW QUICKLY MY SCHEDULE FILLED GO.
WITHIN THREE MONTHS, I WAS LIKE, COMPLETELY BOOKED.
LIKE, WHAT AM I GONNA DO
AND SO THEN I CONTRACTED OUT SOME OTHER PROVIDERS.
AND THEN WITHIN LIKE ONE YEAR I MOVED TO ANOTHER LOCATION OVER ON LAKE ROAD.
IT, I WAS THERE WITHIN A YEAR, UM, AFTER I, I GOT HERE AND I GOT LIKE, YOU KNOW, FOUR OR FIVE PROVIDERS OVER THERE AT THAT OFFICE.
AND NOW WE'VE JUST MOVED INTO ANOTHER LOCATION, UM, LAST MONTH.
AND SO WE'VE DOUBLED OUR SIZE.
WE ALSO HAVE A, A PRACTICE IN ANOTHER LOCATION IN PEARL LAND THAT WE EXPANDED INTO.
AND SO, UM, IT'S JUST BEEN A JOY TO WORK HERE IN LAKE JACKSON.
IT'S BEEN AWESOME DOING BUSINESS HERE.
UM, I LOVE WORKING WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
I HAVE A REALLY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LAKE JACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND I DIDN'T EVEN REALLY THINK THAT I WAS GONNA WORK WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.
UM, AND ONCE I STARTED IT, I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.
UM, AND SO, UH, WE'RE, UM, A GROUP NOW OF ABOUT 20.
UM, SO WE HAVE PSYCHOLOGISTS, WE HAVE MARRIAGE COUNSELORS, WE HAVE SOCIAL WORKER, UM, UH, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS.
WE WORK WITH CHILDREN, UM, UH, FAMILIES, ADULTS, PRETTY MUCH ANYONE WHO, WHO WHO NEEDS SOME SUPPORT.
AND SO, UM, THANK YOU GUYS FOR JUST ALL THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN.
THANK YOU TO THE CITY AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE TO MAKE IT GOOD TO DO BUSINESS HERE.
AND SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU AND I HOPE TO BE HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS NOW.
AND I REALLY, REALLY WANNA THANK JENNIFER FINN FROM THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.
SHE'S, I WENT THERE WHEN I FIRST STARTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS FREE.
I WAS LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE ADVICE I'M GETTING AND THE SUPPORT I'M GETTING IS LIKE FREE.
UM, AND IT IS REALLY BECAUSE OF HER THAT I'VE REACHED A LOT OF THE SUCCESS THAT I HAVE REACHED.
AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATE HER AND I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, LEAVE WITHOUT, WITHOUT SAYING THAT.
SO THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN SO MUCH.
ANNA'S TRYING TO HIDE BACK THERE.
[00:20:01]
NO, HE CAN'T HIDE.THESE ARE TWO LADIES THAT ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE LADY JACKSON AS OUR CITY SECRETARY, CITY SECRETARY.
AND, UH, ANNA'S HER ASSISTANT.
AND, UM, THESE LADIES RUN CITY HALL.
I MEAN, UM, THERE'S OCCASIONS WHENEVER
AND ALONG WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY SAYS, OH, YOUR AGENDA ITEM NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
SO, BUT ANYWAY, THEY, THEY HANDLE EVERYTHING FROM, AGAIN, SUPPORTING AND RUNNING CITY COUNCIL BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT THEN THEY ALSO TAKE CARE OF ELECTIONS AND, UH, ORDINANCES AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
SO I'LL LET YOU TALK ABOUT IT HERE IN A BIT BECAUSE IT'S LIKE HERDING CATS.
ALRIGHT, THIS IS A PROCLAMATION I, GERALD ROSA ASKING BY THE AUTHORITY VEST IN ME IS MAYOR CITY LAKE JACKSON.
DO HERE HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 10TH AT 2025 AS MUNICIPAL CLERK WEEK.
CLERK'S WEEK IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, WHERE AS THE PROFESSION OF MUNICIPAL CLERK IS, UH, ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN TEXAS, ENSURING TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
AND WE'RE AT THE OFFICE OF MUNICIPAL CLERK IS THE, UH, OLDEST AMONG PUBLIC SERVANTS.
TEXAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS HAVE PLEDGED TO BE, UH, EVERY MINDFUL, EVERY MINDFUL OF THEIR, UH, NEUTRALITY.
AND PARTIAL IMPART, IMPART PARTIAL IMPARTIALITY.
PARTIALITY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY TONGUE GETS TIED UP WHILE SERVING AS THE PROFESSIONAL, UH, LINK BETWEEN THE CITY CITIZENS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOVERNING BODIES AND AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT, UH, AT OTHER LEVELS.
WHEREAS TEXAS MUNICIPAL CLERKS SERVE AS THE OFFICIAL RECORD KEEPERS MANAGING VITAL DOCUMENTS, CONDUCTING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS, PROVIDING LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT AND ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN THE CITY ACROSS TEXAS.
WHEREAS IT IS FITTING THAT THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON'S TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR AND THANK SALLY VERE, CITY SECRETARY AND ANNA UNA.
UH, ASSISTANT SEC CITY SECRETARY, UH, FOR THEIR ONGOING DEDICATION, UH, KNOWLEDGE TIRELESS SERVICE NOW, THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, LAKE JACKSON AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF CITY LAKE JACKSON DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF MAY 4TH THROUGH THE 10TH 2025 AS MUNICIPAL CLERK WEEK IN THE CITY LAKE JACKSON AND TESTIMONY.
WHEREAS, UH, WHERE OF WITNESS? UH, MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF BLAKE JACKSON IS FIFTH DAY OF MAY, 2025.
TAKE IT TO THE MICROPHONE FOR THE RECORD.
STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, NAME AND ADDRESS.
JUST THANK Y'ALL FOR RECOGNIZING MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK.
UH, I, I'M SURE I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ANNA, THAT WE'RE VERY THANKFUL AND FOR Y'ALL SUPPORT, UM, AND THE TRUST THAT YOU HAVE IN US TO DO THIS JOB.
AND Y'ALL KEEP THIS ON THE STRAIGHT HERE.
YEAH, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT JOB.
OKAY, NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS VISITORS, UH, COMMENTS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY VISITORS IN, UH, THE AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO, UH, SPEAK TO COUNCIL ABOUT AN ITEM THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA FOR TONIGHT.
IS THERE ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY SIGN UP FOR BOTH.
NEXT ITEM IS A DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
THIS IS WHERE ANY MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL CAN DECLARE IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ON ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING TO DECLARE A CONFLICT ON? NO, SIR.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
TO CONSENT AGENDA.[00:25:01]
WITHIN THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE ROUTINE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAY BE ENACTED ON WITH ONE MOTION.THERE WILL BE NO, UH, SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF ITEMS UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER REQUESTS IT.
IN WHICH EVENT THE ITEM MAY BE MOVED TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
IS THERE ANYONE MEMBER OF COUNSEL THAT WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, THEN I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH NINE AS AS PRESENTED SECOND.
WE HAVE A, A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HANYA, A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BUELL.
ANY OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, THANK YOU.
[1. Discuss, consider, and take action on Resolution No. 982 and a Memorandum of Understanding for the extension of CR 220B to the Alden property south of the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport. – Modesto Mundo]
MOVE TO REGULAR AGENDA ITEM ONE, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 82 AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THE EXTENSION OF COUNTY ROAD TWO 20 B, UH, TO ALDEN PROPERTY SOUTH OF THE TEXAS GULF COAST REGIONAL AIRPORT.UM, MODESTO, WE WANNA START AND THEN WE'LL, MR. HAVE MR. TAHIR SPEAK, MAYOR CITY COUNCIL.
UM, IF YOU RECALL, UM, THE MAYOR AND I HAD, HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY, UH, A POTENTIAL PURCHASER OF THE ALDEN PROPERTY.
AND, UM, AS WE'VE BEEN, AS THE MAYOR AND I'VE BEEN VISITING, UH, WITH THEM, UM, WE WERE GOING OVER SOME OF THE MASTER PLANS AND ALSO WHAT, UH, COUNCIL HAD PREVIOUSLY, UH, ACTIONS HAD TAKEN OVER THE YEARS.
UM, ONE, UH, ONE IMPORTANT ITEM WAS THE, UM, I GUESS OBTAINING THE EASEMENT FOR A SECOND E UH, SECOND ROADWAY OR ENTRANCE, UH, INTO THE ALDEN PROPERTY BECAUSE IT'S REQUIRED, UH, FOR DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY AS YOU, UH, DEVELOP HOMES.
AND SO, UM, AND THEN SUBSEQUENT ACTION WAS PUTTING THAT ON OUR TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND, UM, AND THEN, UH, OUR TRANSPORTATION PLAN AND ALSO OUR STRATEGIC, UH, STRATEGIC PLAN.
UM, IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS, UM, UM, JACK, UM, HAD, UM, OUR POTENTIAL BUYER HAS ASKED, YOU KNOW, JUST FOR CONFIRMATION OF, UH, FROM OUR COUNCIL, WERE, WAS OUR COUNCIL STILL SUPPORTIVE OF THE SECOND ENTRANCE OF IN THE ROAD OF BEING, UH, CONSTRUCTED AND THE MAYOR.
AND I SAID, YOU KNOW, UM, YOU KNOW, WE ASSURED HIM THAT WE WERE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO GET, YOU KNOW, ASSURANCE FROM COUNCIL AS WELL, UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS STILL IN OUR, YOU KNOW, DESIGN OR OUR STRATEGIC PLAN TO, UH, DEVELOP THIS PROPERTY AND HAVE IT A SECOND ENTRANCE.
SO THAT STARTED THE DISCUSSION OF, UM, UH, HAVING A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT AND ALSO AN MOU UH, AN AGREEMENT, UH, AS THEY GO FORWARD BECAUSE, UH, YOU KNOW, PURCHASING DEVELOPMENT TAKES SEVERAL YEARS.
UM, AND WE THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO AT LEAST ALLOW SOME INITIAL GROUNDWORK WHERE THERE'S NO SURPRISE, UM, AS THE PROJECT, UH, DEVELOPS IF IT SHOULD, IF IT SHOULD DEVELOP.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'VE COME AT.
WE DID DO A FIRST TAKE AND WE THOUGHT WE GOT IT A LITTLE COMPLICATED, UH, THINGS THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE IN A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
SO WE'VE TRIED TO SIMPLIFY THAT AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE, UH, TODAY IN THE RESOLUTION IN THE MOU.
AND, UH, WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE, UH, UH, PURCHASING PARTY AND, UH, THEIR, UH, GROUP.
AND SO, UH, MR. TAHIR, IF YOU WANT TO, UH, START US OFF THERE.
UH, MAYOR ROSOVSKY, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I'M HONORED AND, UH, VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE IN CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TEAM THAT HAS WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH US.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, OUR TEAM HERE, WHICH, UH, IS LED BY JACK BECK.
UH, JACK IS THE PERSON WHO HAD THE VISION OF IDENTIFYING THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY.
AND, UH, I WAS, UH, PROBABLY, UH, CAME INTO THE LOOP ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO.
UH, WITH HIM IS ALAN HIRSCHMAN.
ALAN KNOWS THIS PROPERTY VERY WELL.
UH, AND THEN WE HAVE JOHN RICHARDS, WHO IS WELL KNOWN IN THIS AREA, WHO HAS GIVEN US A LOT OF ADVICE AND, AND A LOT OF ASSISTANCE.
UH, RANDY AND I ALSO SERVE, UH, TOGETHER ON HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.
UH, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, BUT I THINK FOR THE REGION, FOR THE SURROUNDING AREA.
UH, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE AIRPORT.
UH, THE MAIN CHALLENGE WAS HOW DO WE UNLOCK ACCESS TO THIS PROPERTY? AND, AND THAT'S WHERE
[00:30:01]
I WANT TO THANK, UH, CITY MANAGER, UH, MR. MODESTO MANO FOR, FOR HIS EXCELLENT HELP.THE, THE, UH, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY ENGINEER, SAL AND SHERRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING WITH US.
UH, DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT IS GONNA HAVE A LOT OF DETAILS AND WE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY DETAILS DOWN THAT WE DON'T DISCUSS WITH THE CITY.
I WANNA ASSURE YOU THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, EVERYTHING THAT WE PLAN WILL GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY.
WE WILL ABIDE BY ALL OF YOUR BUILDING CORES, ALL OF YOUR PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS.
WE THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.
THIS WILL BE MULTI-USE, NOT JUST RESIDENTIAL.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE AIRPORT, WHICH IS JUST TO THE NORTH, BUT ALL OF THIS CAN ONLY HAPPEN IF WE EXTEND THIS TWO 20 B SOUTH FROM THE AIRPORT TO AT LEAST TO THE PERIMETER OF OUR PROPERTY, AND THEN WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY AND WITH TECHSTAR TO SEE HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET ACCESS TO 2 88.
UM, UH, JACK IS THE ONE WHO I THINK IS, UH, IS, IS IS THE ONE WHO HAS THE VISION OF MULTI-USE, UH, KIND OF A DEVELOPMENT.
UH, BUT WE HAVE NOT REALLY, UH, MADE ANY SPECIFIC PLANS.
YOU KNOW, WE WILL WORK HAND IN HAND WITH THE CITY, WITH THE COUNTY, WITH OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THIS.
AND WE REALIZES A HUGE POTENTIAL WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ZONE AROUND THE AIRPORT.
SO THIS IS A GOOD PIECE OF PROPERTY.
WE ARE HERE TO WORK AS A TEAM, UH, MEMBER WITH THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON.
AND MAYOR, I WANNA THANK YOU AND ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS I HAD A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH COUNCIL MEMBER MATTHEWS.
UH, GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FUTURE VENTURES.
UH, BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN NOTHING BUT EXCELLENT COOPERATION FROM THE ENTIRE TEAM.
IT'S REALLY A PLEASURE TO, TO WORK WITH THIS TEAM.
AND, UM, IF ANY OF MY MEMBERS WANT TO ADD SOMETHING, PLEASE FEEL FREE.
RANDY, UH, JOHN, JOHN KNOWS EVERYBODY.
I GUESS EVERYBODY IN THE AREA HAS ONE TIME REPORTED TO JOHN.
ALAN HAS TREMENDOUS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THIS 987 ACRES, ALDEN PROPERTY, AND, AND, AND WE REALIZE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF DRAINAGE AND, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
UH, JACK, YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING? YOU, YOU GIVE REALLY GOOD SPEECH,
I SERVE ON THE HOUSTON PLANNING COMMISSION, SO I'M USED TO THIS.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, FOR MY TEAM? WE ARE HERE.
WELL, JACK, IF YOU DON'T MIND, JUST SAY A FEW THINGS.
I THINK THE KEY WITH JACK IS WHEN, WHEN I MET HIM AND, AND, AND STUFF IS, IS THAT HE DOES, HE CAME, HE SAW LAKE JACKSON.
HE'S GOT, HE BUILT, HE, HE GAINED A PASSION FOR OUR CITY REAL QUICK.
AND HE JUST, HERE BY THE WAY, HE TALKS ABOUT WHAT HIS THOUGHTS ARE, WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN HAPPEN, I GUESS IS INTERESTING.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
I AM MY TEAM HERE BECAUSE OF YOUR HELP.
AND THEN THIS HELP AND, UH, AND SOMEHOW LIKE, I LIKE THIS CITY, LIKE JACKSON.
UH, I HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE IN UNITED STATES ALMOST 20 YEAR AND, UH, AND THEN IN HOUSTON AREA OVER 10 YEARS.
SO I'M, UH, I'M IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE BUSINESS AND I WAS LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I SEE THE, THE HOUSTONS GROWING ALL THE WAY TO THE NORTH SIDE.
AND THEN SOUTH SIDE I THINK, UH, IT'S LIKE, HAS MORE POTENTIAL.
BUT PEOPLE CAN'T SEE THIS BECAUSE THIS AREA HAS POOR, THIS AREA IS, UH, NICE, UH, SETTLE DOWN CITIES AROUND.
SO I SEE THERE'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY ALSO, I CAN, UH, BRING LIKE MORE POTENTIAL, MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO THE CITY.
AND THIS 1000 ACRE TREK OVER THERE IS THE ONLY ONE BIGGEST TRACK SOUTH OF HOUSTON.
AND, UH, AS A BUSINESSMAN, I SEE THIS, UH, THE REALLY GOOD, UH, OPPORTUNITY AND THEN REALLY GOOD FOR FUTURE OF, UH, THE AREA BECAUSE I THINK IT IS THE ONLY BIGGEST, UH, CITY, I MEAN ONLY BIGGEST AREA FOR THE CITY RIGHT TO OPEN ITS, UH, DOORS TO THE HOUSTON AREA.
SO HOPEFULLY LIKE, UH, I AND MY TEAM HERE WHERE WE ARE GONNA, UH, CLOSE THIS LAND AND THEN WE ARE GONNA MAKE A BEAUTIFUL, UH, AREA FOR THE, UH, LAKE JACKSON SITE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND THANK YOU FOR MY TEAM TO BE HERE, AND HOPEFULLY WE CLOSE IT SOON.
I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SAY THAT, UH, THANK
[00:35:01]
YOU FOR BEING HERE.WE KNOW THAT THIS IS THE LAST LARGE TRACT THAT OUR AREA HAS TO DEVELOP.
SO WE HAVE REALLY TAKEN OUR TIME, YOU KNOW, IN CHOOSING WHO WE ALLOW TO DEVELOP HERE.
UM, HEARD SOME GREAT THINGS ABOUT YOU.
UM, WE ARE FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF THAT SETTLED COMMUNITY FEELING HERE.
UM, THERE'S A REASON THAT WE HAVEN'T GROWN TOGETHER YET WITH HOUSTON AND
WE KNOW IT'S COMING, BUT WE'RE VERY FIERCELY PROTECTIVE OF WHAT COMES HERE.
SO WE HOPE THAT YOU'LL JOIN US IN BEING A PART OF THAT.
UM, AND, UH, WE'LL WORK WITH YOU IN ANY WAY WE CAN.
JUST KNOW THAT WE'RE VERY PROTECTIVE OF, OF OUR CITY.
I THINK THE, WHAT JACK BROUGHT TO THE TABLE TOO WAS, IS HE'S LOOKING AT BASICALLY A MASTER PLANT COMMUNITY.
AND HE WANTS TO WORK HAND TO HAND WITH THE CITY AND WITH THE COUNTY, BUT WITH THE CITY ON WHAT THAT MASTER PLAN, WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE THERE.
SO IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A UNIQUE SITUATION I THINK.
I I'VE NEVER HEARD OF A LOT OF CITIES THAT HAVE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY SIT DOWN WITH A DEVELOPER AND DEVELOPERS WANTING TO SIT DOWN AND DO A MASTER PLAN, UH, FOR A CITY.
I DON'T, I DON'T WANT ANY, ANY ANYTHING ON THAT LAND, UH, WITHOUT C'S VISION IS MERGING OUR VISION.
SO IT'S GONNA BE BETTER TO WORKING TOGETHER AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
MAKE THIS, UH, LAKE JACKSON BEAUTIFUL AGAIN.
AND, AND ARE VERY MINDFUL OF YOUR CONCERN ABOUT BEING PROTECTIVE.
BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE SUBURBS TO MAINTAIN THEIR IDENTITY AND THEIR PROTECTIVENESS.
I THINK THAT'S, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
WE NEED TO BE SENSITIVE OF THAT.
AND, AND I ASSURE YOU WHAT I'VE SEEN FROM DIFFERENT EXPERTS IS THE BEST USE IS MULTI-USE.
YOU KNOW, UH, NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, RANDOM RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
MASTER PLANT, SOMETHING THAT CITY OF LAKE JACKSON CAN BE VERY PROUD OF, BUT IT STILL HAS YOUR STAMP ON IT, YOU KNOW, SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE JUST ANOTHER CITY CENTER.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THIS AREA DOWN HERE AND HAW CAN TELL YOU IS WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, UM, LAKE JACKSON AND ENGLETON AND FREEPORT AND SURFSIDE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT CITIES THAT ARE VERY CLOSELY RELATED.
BUT EACH OF THESE CITIES HAS A VERY UNIQUE PERSONALITY TO IT.
WE LIKE, WE LIKE THAT YOU CAN DRIVE 10 MINUTE AND, AND GO THROUGH 10 PERSONALITIES OF CITIES.
UM, EACH ONE HAS SOMETHING VERY POSITIVE TO OFFER.
UM, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF WHAT LAKE JACKSON IS.
AND, UH, WE WILL KEEP WORKING WITH YOU TO, TO MAINTAIN THAT GONNA MAKE YOU PROBLEM.
ALRIGHT, SO, UH, THE COUNCIL, YOU'VE GOT THE RESOLUTION AND, UH, THE MEMORANDUM IN FRONT OF YOU.
UH, AND, UH, IF THERE'S NOT ANY QUESTIONS, UM, IS THERE, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? HONOR? I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
MR. TAMARA, MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING CONSTRUCTION OF COUNTY ROAD TWO 20 B EXTENSION FOR ALDEN.
AND YOU'RE INCLUDING RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 82 IN THAT ALSO.
AND SECOND IS WOODS ALSO? MM-HMM
WE HAVE MOTION BY COUNCILMAN HANYA AND SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN.
SETH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
WE'RE GONNA TAKE A MINUTE BECAUSE THEY NEED TO GO AND I NEED TO SIGN THE DOCUMENT SO THEY CAN TAKE IT WITH THEM AND THEY WANT TO DO A PHOTO.
THERE'S ONE FOR US AND THEN ONE FOR ONE.
SO YOU SIGNED THE RESOLUTION INSURANCE AND THEN JACK AND YOU THE M OKAY.
YEAH, THERE'S, WE DON'T HAVE A, SURE.
WE DON'T HAVE A BIG OAK TABLE.
JOHN, ALLIE, AND COUNSEL, IF Y'ALL WANT TO, I CAN STAND UP IN THE BACK.
[00:40:08]
OKAY.AND THEN THIS ONE YOU AND I BOTH SIGNED.
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER COPY FOR BOTH OF US.
SO YOU'LL NEED TO COME SIGN TO AND SURE.
SO YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS THAN I DO.
WELL, IT'S KIND, IT IS A BIG DAY BECAUSE THIS IS THE FURTHEST THIS PROPERTY IS GONE AS FAR AS ALONG THIS PROCESS.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS VERY POSITIVE.
YOUR SIGNATURE'S LIKE MY SON'S REAL SMALL BECAUSE HE HAS TO, HE HAS TO SIGN LOG BOOKS ON SHIPS.
OH, THERE, THERE'S DATES ON HIM.
SALLY, WILL YOU COME PUT DATE? SALLY CAN TYPE MEAN WRITE HIM IN THERE AND STUFF.
DATE IT AND THEN HAND THEM THEIR COPY AND HE'LL BE GOOD.
DON'T BE SAVE MONEY WHEN WE CAN.
CAN WE JUST ME TO STAY OVER HERE? NO, COME ON.
CAN YOU SEE YOUR BUDDY DOWN? SEE FACES? OKAY.
I WAS GONNA SAY YOU SAW NATALIE FORWARD TO WORKING 30 WEEKS AGO.
SO YOU, YOU'LL SEE IT TO FRUITION AND THAT'D BE GREAT.
COUNCIL, ANYTHING UP? Y'ALL DON'T ANYTHING FROM DOWN? JUST GET ME UP.
SO ON THAT CAN HELP CONNECT YOU TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE IS ALL I'M TRYING TO SAY.
I'M NOT THE RIGHT PERSON TO THAT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE.
[2. Discuss the Lake Jackson Police Department's response to a mental health crisis. – Heather Melass]
[00:45:01]
ALRIGHT, MOVE ON TO, UH, ITEM TWO, DISCUSS THE LAKE JACKSON POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.MS. MEIS, IT'S BEEN A WHILE, BEEN A WHILE SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE AND I MISSED OUT.
I ALMOST VOTED ON SOMETHING A MINUTE AGO WHEN I SAID I WAS LIKE, NOT MY TURN.
UM, I THINK IT'S FUNNY THAT I GOT ON THE, UH, AGENDA THE SAME DAY THAT ANOTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WAS IN HERE.
AND MAY'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH.
I AM A CERTIFIED CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR.
I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIZING IN NEURODIVERGENT SUCH AS A DHD AUTISM.
I ALSO HAVE A TRAUMA SPECIALIZATION AND AN INTEGRATED, UH, NUTRITION AND MENTAL HEALTH.
I HAVE, UM, THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF SERVICE.
I'VE BEEN RUNNING THIS BUSINESS SINCE 2020.
I SEE APPROXIMATELY 30 CLIENTS A WEEK, WHICH MEANS THAT THERE'S A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF MY OFFICE EACH EACH MONTH.
LIKE SHE SAID, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF CLIENTS IN THIS TIME.
I HAVE MADE FRIENDS AND WE'VE DECIDED, UM, TO OPEN AN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT.
WHAT THAT IS, IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, THAT THEY'RE NOT READY FOR A HOSPITAL OR THEY'RE JUST COMING OUT OF A HOSPITAL BUT THEY'RE NOT READY TO RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE.
THEY WOULD COME TO US FOR THREE TO FIVE HOURS A DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK.
AND THAT'S CALLED AN INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT.
SO BASICALLY LET'S SAY THAT WE HAVE ONE THAT RUNS FROM FOUR TILL SEVEN 30 PERHAPS.
AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY NIGHT.
WE WOULD MEET ABOUT 20 HOURS A WEEK.
UM, AND SO I AM OPENING ONE OF THOSE ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER COUNSELORS.
WE JUST BROUGHT OUR FOURTH ONE ON TODAY.
UH, THERE ARE FOUR FEMALES WORKING IN THIS PRACTICE.
UM, I AM A PARTNER IN THAT COMPANY AND OUR GOAL IS TO HELP PRIMARILY CHILDREN AND TEENS.
I DO A LOT OF WORK FOR THE COURTS.
I DO A LOT OF THERAPY AND I'VE TESTIFIED IN A NUMBER OF CASES.
UM, I DO SEVERE CASES OF ABUSE, CHILDHOOD ABUSE.
AND THROUGH MANY OF THESE CASES, I WALK MANY OF MY VICTIMS THROUGH THE COURT PROCESS AND THROUGH OTHER SITUATIONS THAT MANY OF US WOULD NEVER WANNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH.
AND WHEN MY CLIENTS TELL ME I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF AND I HAVE THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF EXPERIENCE, I'M GOING TO BELIEVE IN THEM.
IT'S NOT I'M GONNA KILL MYSELF OR SCRIPTURE.
IT IS LITERALLY I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA TESTIFY AND I DON'T WANT MY DAD TO GO FREE.
IN THE OVER FIVE YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS BUSINESS, I'VE NEVER HAD TO CALL THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON.
NOT ONE TIME I'VE HAD HELP FROM SHANE VANDER GRIFT, WHO IS THE BRAZORIA COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL.
HE HAS BEEN A GODSEND TO ME TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
I'VE ONLY HAD TO ASK FOR THREE PEOPLE TO EVER BE TAKEN.
ONE WAS SCHIZOPHRENIC WITH A PLAN AND THEY CAUGHT THEM WITH PHOTOS OF THEM STANDING NEXT TO THE VICTIMS WITH A KNIFE.
THE SECOND WAS THIS YOUNG WOMAN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE DATA, BUT THIS YOUNG WOMAN WAS GOING THROUGH SOME FAIRLY HORRIBLE THINGS.
THE CLIENT TOOK A BOTTLE OF PILLS AT SCHOOL AND HAD TO BE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
HER MOTHER WITHDREW HER AGAINST MEDICAL ORDERS AND BROUGHT HER TO ME.
AND SHE STATED SHE WAS GONNA KILL HERSELF.
SHE HAD ALREADY RUN AWAY WITH A GROWN MAN, HAD SEX WITH HIM FOR MARIJUANA, VAPES, DAB PENS, AND SHE IS SCHIZOPHRENIC.
WHEN I CALLED SHANE, HE SAID, I'M OUT OF TOWN AND BOTH OF MY DEPUTIES ARE GONE.
YOU NEED TO CALL MIKE JACKSON.
AND THE OFFICER CAME AND I SAID, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL SHANE GETS HERE IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE TRANSPORTING.
BUT SHANE AND HIS DEPUTIES COULDN'T GET THERE AND IT WAS DRAGGING ON.
AND IT, THE GIRL WAS LITERALLY IN HYSTERICS.
WHEN SHE GOES INTO A SCHIZOPHRENIC STATE, WE HAVE TO PULL HER OUT AND WE SAY THINGS LIKE, I SEE YOU COME HERE, SIT.
WE HOLD, WE DO THERAPEUTIC RESTRAINT.
WE HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS REGULARLY BECAUSE THE KIDS DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.
MANY OF THEM START USING MARIJUANA.
THE DAB PENS ARE HIGHLY, HIGHLY POPULAR RIGHT NOW.
DISPOSE YOU CAN GET WEED EASIER THAN YOU CAN GET BEER.
AND SO HIGH, UH, HIGH AMOUNTS OF THC, ESPECIALLY WITH BEFORE THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX HAS FINISHED FORMING AROUND THE AGE OF 23.
UM, I MEAN JUST, UM, SO THAT PREFRONTAL CORTEX HAS CHANGED AND THEY'RE GETTING MAJOR NEUROSYNAPTIC CHANGES THAT CAUSE SCHIZOPHRENIA, MEANING THEY HEAR, SEE
[00:50:01]
OR BELIEVE THINGS OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT SEE IN HERE.THIS YOUNG WOMAN, ONE OF THEM THAT I DON'T KNOW, HAVE THEY SEEN? HAVE Y'ALL SEEN? NO.
THERE'S A YOUNG WOMAN I ASKED, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A CAMERA VIDEO BECAUSE I HAVE A RING CAMERA IN MY, IN MY OFFICE.
I KNOW I HAVE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T MAKING WISE DECISIONS.
I'M ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE WHO DOES PEDIATRIC SCHIZOPHRENIA.
SO WHEN I CALL FOR A MINOR CLIENT, AND I HAVE A, A MOTHER WHO CHECKED HER OUT A MA AND SHE'D TAKEN A BOTTLE OF PILLS TWO DAYS BEFORE AND TOLD ME SHE WAS GONNA KILL HERSELF AND HAD ALREADY ELOPED.
AND I CALLED THE CITY, I MEAN THE, THE COUNTY PERSON.
AND HE SAYS, OH YEAH, SHE NEEDS TO GO FOR OVER AN HOUR.
A LAKE JACKSON POLICE OFFICER REFUSED TO TAKE HER.
HER MOM WOULDN'T TAKE HER 'CAUSE HER MOM WAS ALREADY A MA AND THE DEMEANING TREATMENT WAS UNACCEPTABLE.
THE WAY THAT I FELT I HAD BEEN TREATED, MY CLIENT HAD BEEN TREATED, THEY RELEASED HER.
SHE, HER MOM ENDED UP, THEY GOT HER TO THE HOSPITAL EVENTUALLY THREE AND A HALF HOURS LATER.
SO I HAD TO CANCEL ALL OF MY OTHER CLIENTS.
AND SHE'S NOT MY ONLY SUICIDAL CLIENT AFTER I CANCELED ALL OF MY CLIENTS AND SPENT TIME WITH THIS FAMILY.
SO I LOST ALL OF MY WAGES AND STAYED HOME WITH THIS OR STAYED THERE WITH THIS FAMILY SO THAT THEIR DAUGHTER COULD SURVIVE.
SHE WENT HOME AND SHE LAID HER THIGHS OPEN, HAD TO GET MEDICAL PROCEDURE DONE AT THE HOSPITAL.
AND SO THE NEXT DAY THEY SENT ME A SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENT THAT I HAD NEVER MET IN ACTIVE HALLUCINATIONS AND DELUSIONS.
SHE WAS INCOHERENT AND BELIEVED SHE WAS A MEMBER OF A CARTOON AND SHE WOULD ONLY SPEAK IN CARTOON LINES.
BUT I BROUGHT HER INTO THE HOSPITAL 'CAUSE I WAS SCARED TO CALL LJPD FROM THE DAY BEFORE.
I DID NOT THINK THEY WOULD HAVE MY BACK.
AND I CERTAINLY DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE GONNA TRANSPORT MY CLIENT IN A SAFE WAY.
SO A WOMAN I DID NOT KNOW, KNOW WHO TOLD ME SHE HAD ACCESS TO A WEAPON AND WANTED TO MURDER SOMEONE, STATED PLANS, STATED INTENTION.
SO I TOOK AN ACTIVELY SCHIZOPHRENIC WOMAN IN MY CAR BY MYSELF TO THE HOSPITAL.
AND I GOT HER ADMITTED AND THEY AGREED THAT SHE WAS NEEDED TO BE HELD.
AND SOMEHOW SHE WAS BACK AT MY OFFICE FOUR HOURS LATER WHEN I HAD A GROUP OF TEENAGERS DOING AN AUTISM CLASS.
AND WHEN I CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY SENT AN OFFICER OUT WHO SMIRKED AND LAUGHED IN MY FACE.
AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, IT'S A SMIRK I'VE SEEN THROUGHOUT THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN DISCUSSING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
SO I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CULTURE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND POLICING IN OUR AREA.
SO AS SOMEONE WHO IS STATE MANDATED AND LICENSED BY THE STATE, WHEN I CALL, IT'S AN EMERGENCY.
'CAUSE I THINK IT'S FUN TO HAVE THE COPS COME OUT.
I CALL AND I AM LAUGHED AT AND TOLD THE OFFICER WON'T TAKE A REPORT.
THIS HAPPENED AT THE OFFICE WHERE, UM, SENATOR JOAN HUFFMAN'S OFFICE IS LOCATED AND SHE HAPPENED TO GO MESS WITH SENATOR JOAN HUFFMAN'S THINGS WHILE SHE WAS MESSING AROUND IN THE HALLWAY.
THE WOMAN WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL WAS LITERALLY IN MY OFFICE.
AND THE POLICE OFFICER TOLD ME, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? AND WHEN I SAID, SIR, WHAT IF THIS WAS YOUR FAMILY? AND HE SAID, DON'T YOU BRING MY FAMILY INTO IT.
AND THEN WHEN I SAID, ARE YOU REFUSING TO TAKE MY THINGS? HE SAID YES.
THE CULTURE HAS GOT TO CHANGE.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT ANYTHING HAS TO HAPPEN.
I'M NOT SAYING, OH, THEY NEED TO ARREST THE PEOPLE.
BUT WHAT I KNOW IS THAT IF I AM LICENSED AND I TELL SOMEONE WITH MY TRAINING AND YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, IF THIS PERSON IS GONNA HURT THEMSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE AND A POLICE OFFICER WHO HASN'T SPENT THREE YEARS WORKING THE CASE WITH THE KID CAN COME IN AND OVERRIDE MY DECISION AND SHE CAN GO HOME AND CAUSE SIGNIFICANT HARM TO HERSELF, THERE'S A PROBLEM.
AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN I COME IN AND I'VE HAD A SCHIZOPHRENIC WHO SOMEHOW GOT OUT AND BACK TO MY OFFICE WHEN I HAD CHILDREN THERE, MINORS, AND I WAS LAUGHED AT, IT'S NOT OKAY.
AND IT'S A FACE I'VE SEEN ON THREE OFFICERS.
NOW, TWO OF THEM HAVE BEEN AWESOME, PLEASE NOTE.
BUT OFFICER SERCH WAS DEMEANING AND HE WAS RUDE.
I WAS FAIRLY CONFIDENT WHEN I HAD TO DRIVE THE WOMAN MYSELF.
[00:55:02]
MY, MY PARTNER WHO, I MEAN HE WORKS IN THE FIFTH WARD, HE'S A PARAMEDIC.WE DON'T THINK THINGS ARE GOOD.
I AM LOSING A KID A MONTH TO DRUGS OR SUICIDE.
AND WHEN WE CALL IN AND WE SAY THIS PERSON IS A THREAT TO THEMSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE, AGAIN FIVE YEARS, 30 CLIENTS A WEEK, NEVER ONE CALL.
TWO IN THE SAME WEEK IN THE SAME TIME, WE ARE OPENING A PRACTICE THAT IS GOING TO PULL IN ABOUT 80 ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE RUNNING TWO DIFFERENT TRACKS OF IOP PLUS.
I'M GONNA KEEP SEEING MY CLIENTS FULL-TIME.
AND TWO OF THE OTHER CLIENTS, I MEAN THERAPISTS ARE GONNA SEE CLIENTS FULL-TIME.
WE'RE ALSO BRINGING ON A STUDENT, LIKE SHE SAID, I STARTED MY BUSINESS, WASN'T TRYING TO GROW IT, WHICH JUST DOING A LITTLE COMMUNITY SERVICE THING.
I DON'T WANT TO BE WRITTEN INTO COURT CASES THAT I HAVE TO COME TESTIFY.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DO THESE THINGS.
I DON'T WANT LITTLE GIRLS TO HAVE TO TESTIFY AGAINST ANYBODY.
AND WHEN THEY HAVE TO TESTIFY AND THEY SAY, I CAN'T DO IT, I'M GONNA KILL MYSELF.
AND AN UNTRAINED POLICE OFFICER CAN COME IN THERE AND SAY, I DON'T THINK MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES DO ANYBODY ANY GOOD.
AND THE MOTHER HAD TO LISTEN TO THE POLICE OFFICER 'CAUSE HE WAS THE LAW.
ONE OF THE THERAPISTS IN TOWN, ONE CITY AWAY, ANGLETON HAS BEEN ASSAULTED AND IT'S STARTING TO HAPPEN.
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO FIREARMS AND THEIR MENTAL HEALTH IS IN THE TOILET.
AND IF WE DON'T ALLY TOGETHER AND FIX THIS, SOMETHING BAD'S GONNA HAPPEN.
AND I WAS ADVISED NOT TO COME TALK TO Y'ALL.
YOU KNOW, I LISTENED TO EVERYTHING THEY TELL ME.
THEY SAID, YOU'RE NOT ON COUNSEL ANYMORE.
ACTUALLY, WHAT HE SAID WAS, LET 'EM MESS UP.
THEY'LL CLEAN IT UP AND THEY WON'T MESS UP AGAIN.
AND HE SAID, WELL, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO LEARN ON SOMEONE'S KID.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE BECAUSE IF WE DON'T HAVE A PROCEDURE AND PROCESS IN PLACE, THAT LITTLE GIRL COULD SUE THE CITY.
HER MOTHER COULD, I DON'T WANT IT THIS WAY.
I WANT US TO HAVE AN OPEN DIALOGUE.
I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHO THE MENTAL HEALTH DEPUTIES ARE.
I WANT US TO HAVE COORDINATED EFFORTS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY'S RESIDENTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE MATTER.
AND MAYBE WE COULD BE MORE LIKE SOME OF THEM.
AND SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.
I'M NOT ASKING THAT ANYTHING BE DONE.
I'M DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE FACT SO THAT IF AND WHEN SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN, THERE'S A PAPER TRAIL.
AND THAT'S WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I AM AFRAID OF WHERE I SEE THINGS GOING.
AND I GET TO BE DEEP IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.
SO I KNOW IT'S NOT GETTING EASIER OR BETTER OUT THERE FOR ANYONE.
THE PANDEMIC BROKE THE WORLD AND NOBODY'S RECOVERED.
AND THE KIDS HAVE HAD IT THE WORST.
SO PLEASE, LET'S FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
HAVE OPEN MEETINGS WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME DISCUSS THIS.
I WAS GOING TO GATHER UP A BUNCH OF PEOPLE, PEOPLE WERE, AND I WAS LIKE, NOPE, I'M GONNA MAKE A STATEMENT.
ALL I'M ASKING IS THAT COUNSEL AND CITY ATTORNEY AND EVERYBODY SIT DOWN AND DECIDE WHAT IT IS.
MODESTO'S MET WITH SHANE, UH, MR. VANDER, GRIFF A FEW TIMES.
AND NOW THERE'S SOME SEMBLANCE WOULD YOU SAY OF LIKE QUESTIONS TO ASK AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BECAUSE BEFORE WE'RE ASKING SOMEBODY WHO HAS NO EDUCATION OR INFORMATION OR VERY LITTLE TO NONE IN THIS FIELD TO OVERRIDE SOMEBODY WHO LITERALLY IS HAVE, IS PREPARING THIS CASE FOR COURT.
AND I, I'M DEEP IN THE CASE AND THIS IS A, A PLACE.
I DON'T WANNA BE WITH ANYBODY'S KID OR MYSELF.
I WAS LIKE, I KIND OF WANNA RUN AGAIN.
SO IT'S, IT'S AMAZING THAT YOU GUYS GET TO HAVE THIS IMPACT.
AND I DON'T WANNA SEE OUR CITY HAVE ANY KIND OF LAWSUITS OR ANY CHILDREN HARMED IF WE CAN BE PROACTIVE IN THIS AND FIGURE OUT A PROCESS THAT WILL BE LIFESAVING.
SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO COME SAY.
BUT I WANT TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION.
AND I WANT TO ASK THAT IT BE ADDRESSED WITH THE SERIOUSNESS THAT IT NEEDS.
[01:00:01]
AGAIN, WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WE LOSE, HOW MANY VETS WE LOSE TO SUICIDE.THE NUMBERS FOR CHILDREN ARE STAGGERING AS WELL.
WHAT SPECIFIC ACTION ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? UM, I WOULD SAY THAT, SO THE CHIEF AND MODESTA AND I HAVE MET, MET A FEW TIMES AND I WAS SAYING, I NEED SOMEONE TO TAKE THIS PERSON TO THE HOSPITAL.
I DON'T CARE IF IT'S BPORT HOSPITAL, BUT I CAN'T HAVE THEM SITE UNSEEN.
LIKE I CAN'T GO, OH, I THINK THAT THIS PERSON'S A THREAT TO THEMSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE.
SO I NEED SOME SORT OF TRANSPORT.
THEY SAID THEY CAN'T TRANSPORT.
SO IT IS, WHERE DO WE GO? I CAN'T TAKE OFF WITH THESE PEOPLE.
I CAN'T CONVINCE MANY OF THESE PEOPLE TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL ON THEIR OWN.
I CAN GO WITH THEM, THEY'LL ALL LET ME GO WITH THEM.
AND SO THIS IS MY CONCERN IS DO I NEED TO CALL AN AMBULANCE? HOW DO I, WHAT DO I DO? AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'VE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM.
SHANE WOULD COME AND GET THEM BECAUSE HE TRUSTED MY WORD.
AND I'VE NEVER CALLED THE CITY BEFORE.
AND THEY, THAT'S THE COUNTY'S PROCEDURE THOUGH, IS I HAVE TO CALL THE CITY.
AND SO IF I CALLED THE CITY AND THE CITY DISREGARDS IT, AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE TRANSPORTED TO THE FACILITY, THEN IT'S, THAT'S IT.
IT'S IN THE HANDS OF THE ER PHYSICIAN AT THAT POINT.
AND NO, NO, THE THE LAST WOMAN I SAT THROUGH THE ENTIRE INTAKE, GOT HER, CHANGED BLOOD WORK, URINALYSIS, SAT WITH HER.
SO THE SECOND DAY I GAVE UP A WHOLE NOTHER INCOME TO PROTECT SOMEBODY.
AND SO I CAN'T BE SACRIFICING A HALF DAY FOR EVERY CLIENT OR A DAY FOR EVERY CLIENT.
AND THAT'S WHERE THIS HAS BASICALLY COME DOWN TO IS WE NEED THE SERVICE, BUT IT, WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY THAT IF A PROFESSIONAL SAYS THIS PERSON IS A DANGER, THAT THEY CAN SAY, AND I THINK IT WAS IN THE WORDING THAT YOU SENT ME, UM, IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, BECAUSE THAT WAS, IT IS WHOSE OPINION AT THAT POINT MATTERS BECAUSE I HAD A LITTLE GIRL WHO I KNEW WAS GONNA HURT HERSELF.
AND IT WAS, IT WAS HORRIBLE AND I NEVER WANTED TO DO IT AGAIN.
AND I WAS ACTUALLY ABOUT TO LEAVE THE FIELD OVER THIS.
BUT I'M ASSIGNED TO TWO CASES THROUGH THE COURT.
AND SO WHY DO I WANNA LEAVE WHEN I CAN CHANGE IT? I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, BUT EDUCATION IS ALWAYS THE BEST.
LET'S SIT DOWN AND MAKE A POLICY.
LET'S SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROCESS OR PROCEDURE LOOKS LIKE.
I'VE BEEN AT ER NURSE FOR 15 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN AN ER NURSE FOR 15 YEARS, SO YEAH, YOU'VE SEEN IT.
WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WHAT I UNDERSTAND IN THIS AREA FIRSTHAND IS WE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.
NOBODY'S PREPARED TO TAKE THEM.
WE END UP WITH THEM IN THE ER AND WE'RE NOT PREPARED TO TAKE THEM THERE.
WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE TO SIT WITH THEM ONE-ON-ONE.
UM, IT'S UP TO THE ER PHYSICIAN OF COURSE, TO TRANSPORT OR TO DISCHARGE.
AND THIS WOMAN WAS TRANSPORTED.
THE PROBLEM IS, CAME BACK A LOT OF, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO FIND ANYWHERE TO SEND THEM.
SO I HAD A BED ALREADY FOR BOTH OF THEM ALREADY RESERVED AT SOME BEHAVIORAL, WELL JUST FROM, UH, EXPERIENCE, UH, I HAD THIS CHALLENGE IN MY FAMILY AND, UM, I HAD A RELATIVE, UH, WELL IT'S MY YOUNGER BROTHER, UH, AND, UH, WE, HE STRUGGLED FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL WE COULD GET HIM, UH, THE HELP HE, HE NEEDED AND HE'S DOING WELL NOW.
UH, BUT, UM, YEAH, WE HAD INTERACTIONS WITH THE COUNTY, YOU KNOW, AND WE HAD INTERACTIONS WITH, HE WAS, HE LIVED IN KLUT, SO WE INTERACTED WITH THE KLUT PD, BUT I ALSO TALKED TO OUR PD, ALSO THE CHIEFS TO GET SOME HELP AND STUFF AND TALKING ABOUT THE LADY COMING BACK AND FOUR HOURS LATER AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
IS IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY BROTHER IS, IS THAT, UH, YES, HE AGREED TO GO, HE WAS TRANSPORTED BY GULF COAST.
HE WAS TRANSPORTED GCC, UH, HE ARRIVED.
UM, AND UH, AT ANY POINT WHILE HE WAS THERE, HE COULD SAY, I WANT TO GO HOME.
THEY COULDN'T HOLD HIM THERE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THIS WOMAN ACTUALLY HAD, THEY HAD A A 72 HOUR CYCLE ON HER.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S MY LICENSE ON THE LINE AND PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT.
AND THAT'S WHY I WANNA HAVE A PROCESS BECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT.
MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE HAVE RIGHTS TOO.
BUT THIS WOMAN WHO WAS BACK AT MY PLACE, HER RIGHTS HAD BEEN TAKEN WELL, AND, AND AGAIN, I APPRECIATE, I MEAN, I REALLY DID WANT, AND YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ON THE PHONE AND I TOLD YOU, AND YOU KNOW, THAT MENTAL HEALTH, UH, IS A BIG ISSUE FOR ME.
NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF MY BROTHER, BUT ALSO MY INTERACTIONS, UH, OUT IN THE MEDICAL, UH, ARENA ALSO.
[01:05:01]
UH, BUT THE, UH, IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT'S BIGGER THAN JUST US.AND WE'VE GOT, WE'RE ALSO, I THINK WHERE WE RUN INTO CHALLENGES IS, IS WE'RE CONSTRAINED BY WHAT THE LAWS SAY WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LEARNING, WHAT THOSE LAWS SAY.
AND THEN AGAIN, WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD, UH, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT COME IN AND WORK WITH US.
UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON, AND, UH, I BROUGHT THIS TO COUNCIL AND, UH, WE ACTUALLY BUDGETED FOR IT FOR THIS YEAR.
WE'RE WORKING ON THE FINAL AGREEMENTS, BUT, UH, WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, UH, MY COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK TO, UM, BRING IN, AND BASICALLY WE WOULD PAY, THEY WOULD BE A CONTRACTOR THAT WE WOULD PAY, UH, UH, FOR PART OF THEIR, THEIR SALARY, AND THEY WOULD BE WORKING WITH, UH, WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND SO WHAT THEY DO IS NOT ONLY DO THEY DO MENTAL HEALTH, BUT THEY DO SOCIAL WORK.
AND SO THE IDEA IS, IS THAT THEY WILL WORK WITH OUR PD AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET TO A POINT WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY HOUSED AT THE PD SO THAT THE, THE PD, THE OFFICERS KNOW THIS PERSON BY FACE, FIRST NAME AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND, UH, SO, UH, BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS, IS THIS, IF, IF AN OFFICER STEPS INTO A SITUATION AND, UH, SAY IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE COME TO, UH, A, A SITUATION, AND, UM, THEY CAN GO OVER THERE AND THEY CAN, THEY CAN, UH, STEP ASIDE WITH THE INDIVIDUALS OR WITH, UH, ANYBODY THAT'S THERE AND SAY, UH, THIS IS A CONTACT THAT YOU CAN USE.
THEY CAN OFFER THESE SERVICES OR THEY CAN POINT YOU IN THESE DIRECTIONS, BUT THEY CAN ALSO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND HELP YOU.
LIKE I SAID, THEY DON'T, DON'T ONLY DO THE MENTAL HEALTH SIDE, THEY DO THE SOCIAL WORK.
'CAUSE THE SOCIAL SIDE CAN BE, THAT'S WHAT WE NEED, A BIG PIECE OF IT.
AND SO, UH, THE POLICE CHIEF IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS, AND WE'VE BEEN JUST TIED UP IN THE LEGAL PIECE OF IT.
AND THAT'S WHERE I BROUGHT IT IN, BECAUSE THAT WAS MY PART.
AND MODESTO CAME UP WITH SOME GOOD, SHANE AND MODESTO MET, AND THEY CAME UP WITH SOME GOOD QUESTIONS.
THAT I THINK ARE, ARE THEY WRITTEN IN THERE SOMETHING? UH, THE ONES THAT HE YES.
I, I PUT 'EM IN THE COMMUNICATION.
UM, THINGS THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY ASK THAT WILL HELP.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, WE HAVE TO HAVE A WAY TO COMMUNICATE.
I CAN'T, I CAN'T TURN SOMEBODY I BELIEVE IS GONNA HARM THEMSELVES OR OTHERS LOOSE WITHOUT TURNING 'EM OVER TO THE NEXT PERSON.
NOW, I DID SIT WITH THE ER DOC, HE DIAGNOSED THE WOMAN AS PSYCHOTIC AND SAID, WE'RE GONNA PUT HER AWAY.
AND THE POLICE AGREED THERE'S A FAILURE SOMEWHERE.
AND THAT'S MY FEAR IS, AND, AND SO THE NEXT DAY WHEN I'D ALREADY GIVEN UP THE DAY BEFORE AND CALLED THE POLICE, AND I WAS LAUGHED AT, AND THE SMIRK THAT I'VE SEEN REPEATEDLY IS CULTURAL.
AND, AND AGAIN, I THINK WE NEED TO BE, I THINK SOME, AND I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY ANY OF THIS IS IS RIGHT.
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK IT GET TO A POINT WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THERE IS NO OPTIONS.
AND SO THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS OPTION TO THE PD AND SAID, THIS IS A TOOL.
WELL, AND THAT'S WHAT HE BROUGHT.
HE'S FROM LA AND HE WAS A, A POLICE OFFICER BACK IN CALIFORNIA THERE.
AND HE, UM, THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE.
AND MY HOPE IS, IS THAT IF IT WORKS WELL HERE, UM, NOT ONLY WILL IT BE INVOLVED WITH THE PD, BUT I THINK ALSO WITH OUR EMS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
EVEN THOUGH EMS IS A THIRD PARTY COMPANY IS, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING.
SO IT'S, IT'S, AND I, IT'S GOT A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
AND, AND AGAIN, I THINK THE KEYS, THERE'S A LOT OF KEYS TO IT.
IT'S THE KEYS ARE GONNA BE, IS GETTING THE EDUCATION TO THE POLICE OFFICERS.
WANT, I DON'T WANT SOMEONE IN TROUBLE.
AND WHEN THE CHIEF MET WITH US THIS LAST TIME, WE TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY, I SAID, I'LL WORK ON SEEING IF THERE'S ANY FUNDING.
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH IS, I'M SITTING WITH THESE PEOPLE IN THEIR DARKEST MOMENTS.
AND THERE'S, AND TEXAS IS WAY BEHIND.
WELL, THE PENDULUM, THE PENDULUM IS SWUNG.
YOU KNOW, WE WENT FROM PUTTING PEOPLE IN, DON'T PUT PEOPLE AWAY TO, AND DON'T THINK, PUT PEOPLE AWAY, THINK TO WHERE WE'RE AT NOW.
WELL, AND THE, THERE'S NO MIDDLE GROUND RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO OPEN.
BUT YOU TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DOLLARS, YOU'LL GET ME UPSET BECAUSE I KNOW OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, LEGISLATURE WENT OVER AND, AND THEY DESIGNATED A BILLION DOLLARS OR WHATEVER FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
THE PROBLEM IS, IS THOSE DOLLARS GO TO THE WRONG PLACE.
THEY DON'T GO TO THESE, YOU KNOW, MY COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK THAT'S GOT A GREAT MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM.
IT DOESN'T GO, IT GOES TO THE BIG HOSPITALS TO GO BUILD MORE ROOMS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
WELL, I KNOW WE NEED BEDS, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE BEDS WHERE PEOPLE CAN TAKE CARE OF THE PROPERTY AND GET BETTER, BETTER.
[01:10:01]
I'M DOING THE ENTER.I'M, AND AGAIN, THE REASON WHY MENTAL HEALTH IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME IS IS THAT THE FIRST TIME WHENEVER THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT CAME DOWN AND SAID, YES, YOU KNOW, YOUR BROTHER'S IS HAVING A, A SITUATION, AND, UH, HE'S AGREED TO GO MM-HMM
JOSEPH'S, WHICH IS CLOSED NOW, I THINK.
HE SAT IN THE WAITING ROOM FOR TWO WEEKS AT ST.
THEY DIDN'T CALL ME OR ANYTHING.
HE SAT IN THE WAY, THE WAY HE SURVIVED WAS AS THE LITTLE OLD LADIES THAT CAME THROUGH AND HANDED ORANGE JUICE OUT AND, YOU KNOW, BARS.
BUT THE DEAL IS, BECAUSE HE WAS AN ADULT, I WASN'T INFORMED WHAT HIS SITUATION WAS.
AND SO THERE ARE FAMILIES OUT THERE THAT DO WANT TO, THEY DON'T WANNA JUST HAND THEIR PEOPLE PROBLEM OFF.
THEY, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
AND SO THEY COME TO PEOPLE LIKE YOU MM-HMM
THAT HAVE THE EDUCATION AND THE EXPERIENCE AND STUFF, BUT THEY MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO AFFORD YOU.
THEY JUST NEED, SO AGAIN, ANYBODY, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IS, IS THAT I KNOW THE OFFICERS ARE FRUSTRATED TOO.
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU, YOU HAD THE OFFICERS THAT YOU HAD THE GOOD EXPERIENCES.
I GUARANTEE YOU THEY'RE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THEY HAVE, THEY SEE A NEED AND THEY DON'T HAVE A TOOL.
AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS IS GONNA BE COUNCIL.
THEY'RE, WE'RE HOPING THAT THIS WILL BE A TOOL THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEY'LL GIVE FEEDBACK ON SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THE PERSON IS DOING, YOU KNOW, IS ACCEPTED RIGHT.
AND THAT'S ALL I REALLY WANTED IS SOME SORT OF, HOW DO I, WITH MY LEGAL REQUIREMENT, MY LEGAL MANDATE TO REPORT RIGHT.
TO THE DEPARTMENT I'M SUPPOSED TO REPORT TO.
AND THAT PERSON, WITHOUT ANY KNOWLEDGE, GETS TO SAY, NO, THEY'RE NOT.
EVEN IF THEY HAD ANY KIND OF THING, THEY WOULD'VE SEEN THE HYSTERIA HAPPENING.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S, WELL, I THINK, AGAIN, WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD IS, IS THAT THE CHALLENGE IS, IS, AND, AND AGAIN, PAUL AND SHERRY CAN SAY THIS BETTER AND AND STUFF IS, IS THAT THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE WITH THE LAW IS THAT WHAT WE'RE RUNNING UP AGAINST IS, IS THAT YOU AS A PROFESSIONAL CAN BE SEEING THERE IS THIS, I KNOW THIS PERSON IS DESTRUCTIVE.
THE OFFICER'S SITTING THERE LOOKING AT THAT INDIVIDUAL, THEY'RE SITTING THERE CALMLY NOT DOING ANYTHING OR WHATEVER.
AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S THIS, THIS AREA WHERE IF THEY GO OVER THERE AND THEY SAY, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THEY ARE.
AND THEN THEY TAKE THAT PERSON, BASICALLY, THEY TAKE THEIR RIGHTS AWAY MM-HMM
AND THEY MOVE 'EM FROM ONE PLACE TO THE OTHER.
THE LAW PRESIDENT, THE LAW DOESN DOESN'T PROTECT US.
AMBULANCE, THE LAW DOESN'T PROTECT US.
WHAT IF IT'S A MEDICAL TRANSPORT THAT'S CALLING EMS? THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
IS THAT WHAT I NEED TO DO? THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT, ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANTED TO BE EITHER, BECAUSE THEY SAID THEN THE POLICE HAVE TO COME OUT FIRST.
I MEAN, TRUST ME, GERALD, I FOUND, AND EVERY HOOP I CAN JUMP THROUGH.
WELL, AGAIN, APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING, I THINK WE ALL DO.
WE APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT TO US.
AND WE'VE GOTTA, IT'S, IT'S CAUSED US TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT SOME THINGS AND WE'VE GOTTA THINK OUT OF THE BOX AND SEE WHERE WE CAN, UH, WHERE WE CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS OR WHAT WE CAN DO.
OR ARE WE GONNA FIND THE SILVER BULLET? NO.
BUT WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN START FINDING WAYS TO WHERE WE CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND START TALKING TO OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF, RIGHT.
I'VE GONE TO EVERYBODY'S OFFICE.
LIKE I SAID, I'M BY HUFFMAN'S OFFICE.
UM, IT IS, IT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER.
AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE.
AND SO IF SOMEBODY, IF, IF, UM, SOMEBODY CALLED EMS AND SAID, I AM A HIGHLY TRAINED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL, AND I HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT THIS PERSON'S HAVING A HEART ATTACK, WOULD THEY SAY TO THE PERSON, DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE HAVING A HEART ATTACK? I DON'T KNOW.
I I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.
AND THAT'S THE THING IS, WHERE DOES MY TRAINING AND MY EXPERIENCE, DOES IT HAVE ANY MERIT? BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF I CALL THE POLICE, BECAUSE I THINK THIS PERSON'S A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE, RIGHT.
AND THEY POLICE DON'T DO ANYTHING, THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME BACK.
WELL, THE, THE, THE CHALLENGE IS, IS THAT I THINK THE OFFICERS GETS INTO A CATCH 22 REAL QUICK MM-HMM
AND SO THAT'S WHY I QUESTION, AND THIS IS JUST ME TALKING.
THIS IS ME AND YOU TALKING HERE.
SO I MEAN, I, AND, AND YOU GUYS CAN TELL ME TO SHUT UP.
BUT TO ME, IT'S THE OFFICER'S IN A SITUATION TO WHERE HE'S DAMNED IF HE DO, AND HE DAMNED IF HE DOESN'T.
BECAUSE AGAIN, IF THE LAW DOESN'T PROTECT HIM AND ALLOW HIM TO LISTEN TO YOU AND TAKE YOUR DIRECTIVE AND TAKE ACTION ON IT, BUT HE DOES THAT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS GONNA, RIGHT.
WELL, AND THAT'S WHY THE, THE ACTUAL VERBIAGE THAT SHANE VANDER GRUFF SUGGESTED IS IN THERE BECAUSE IT SAYS, CAN YOU SHOW THE SHANE'S THINGS THAT YOU SENT THE, THE, UH,
[01:15:01]
HE SUGGESTED IT'S IN THE COMMUNICATION.IT, IT IS A BIG LIABILITY ON THE OFFICER, ME BEING AN OFFICER, JUST TAKING YOUR, TAKING YOUR WORD, AND YOU GET TO THE SCENE AND THEN THAT PERSON IS CALM AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
WE JUST CAN'T FULLY TAKE THAT PERSON INTO CUSTODY AND JUST LOAD 'EM UP AND TAKE 'EM TOO.
SO I'M LEGALLY REQUIRED TO CALL YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT WE ARE BOUND BY LAW.
AND SO SHANE CAME IN AND SAID THAT IF A TRAINED MEDICAL PERSONNEL SAYS IT, BUT, BUT THAT'S SHANE, THAT'S THE POLICY AND DIFFERENT STUFF THAT, THAT THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT HAVE, THAT THE COUNTY HAVE.
AND THEY'RE TRAINED IN THAT PROFESSIONAL.
THESE ARE JUST STREET OFFICERS JUST ON THE STREET, AND THEY HAVE TO GO BY THE RULES AND THE REGULATIONS THAT THEY, UH, AND SO WHEN MY CLIENT WHO HAD FLAT AFFECT, AND THE OFFICER, THE FIRST TIME I DEALT WITH LJPD, THIS WAS SIX YEARS AGO, THE OFFICER SAID, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON.
AND THEN SHANE SAID, WHAT? AND I TOLD THEM, AND HE SAID, GO TO THEIR HOUSE NOW.
AND THAT'S WHEN THEY FOUND THE PHOTOS OF THE CLIENT WHO HAD VERY CALM AND TOLD THEM THAT THEY WERE NOT GONNA HURT THEMSELVES OR ANYONE ELSE WITH A KNIFE.
AND THEN THAT'S WHEN WE CALL SHANE THE SHERIFF DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE THEY'RE SET UP FOR THAT.
NO, SHANE, THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT SET UP FOR THAT, DID IT FOR THAT SITUATION.
AND IT WAS, THAT'S FIVE YEARS AGO.
AND YOU MIGHT, YOU MIGHT FIND AN OFFICER THAT'S KAREN, AND THEY, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION, BUT WELL, AND THAT'S JUST, THIS IS, THIS IS WHERE IT'S GONNA COME DOWN BECAUSE EVERYBODY'S PASSING THE BUCK.
WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING DOWN HERE.
WELL, AND THAT'S, THAT'S, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO PASS THE BUCK.
I MEAN, WHAT WE WANNA KNOW IS WE WANNA KNOW, WE WANNA KNOW THE WHOLE STORY AND THE WHOLE PIECE OF IT.
SO WE'VE GOTTA KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WE'RE GONNA KNOW WHAT THE LAW ALLOWS US TO, DOESN'T ALLOW US TO DO.
I MEAN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT, THAT IF OUR OFFICERS DON'T OBSERVE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, THEY CAN'T TAKE ANY ACTION.
THE LAW DOESN'T ALLOW US TO DO IT.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING I LIKE MENTAL ILLNESS.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT CAN DO THAT.
WELL, WHY CAN THEY DO THAT? IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE TRAN PAUL? DO YOU KNOW, KNOW, IS THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIAL TRAINING OR THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE VERBIAGE.
SO THE, SO THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH SERGEANT VANDER GRIFF AND THE CHIEF AS WELL, IS THAT SERGEANT VANDER GRIFF SUGGESTED THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ASKED, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF FURTHER QUESTIONS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE FAMILY MEMBER, IF THEY'RE PRESENT AND OR THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF SAYING, DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THEY'RE AN IMMINENT, YOU KNOW, OR, UH, UH, IMMEDIATE, YOU KNOW, DANGER.
AND THAT GIVES THE OPENING FOR THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO TELL, UH, THEIR OPINION.
BUT IN THE END, EVEN SERGEANT VANDER GRIFF SAYS, THE OFFICER STILL HAS TO MAKE A JUDGMENT THAT IS A PIECE OF INFORMATION, BUT THEY, AND THEY HAVE TO OBSERVE AS WELL.
AND THEY'RE USING THAT DATA, BUT IT CANNOT BE USED ALONE AND STUFF.
SO HE, THE OFFICER CAN'T JUST USE IT AS A CRUTCH AND JUST SAY, THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SAYS THEY NEED TO GO AND THEY MAKE THE DECISION.
IT'S STILL, IT'S ALSO THEIR EXPERIENCE WHERE THE COUNTY HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, I MEAN, THE COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER HAS AN ADVANTAGE OVER ANY OFFICER IN BRAZORIA COUNTY IS BECAUSE OF EXPERIENCE.
THAT IS FROM SERGEANT VANDER, GRIFF, SERGEANT VANDER.
GRIFF SAYS, YOU CAN DO ALL THE TRAINING IN THE WORLD.
WELL, AND I WAS GONNA SAY, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT.
YOU CAN SIT IN A CLASSROOM ALL DAY LONG, BUT UNTIL YOU'RE FACE TO FACE WITH THOSE PEOPLE.
BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT, UM, SCHIZOPHRENIA LOOKS LIKE, RIGHT.
AND YOU SEE SOMEBODY HAVING SCHIZOPHRENIA IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, YOU, THEY CAN BE VERY FLAT, VERY NON COMBATIVE, HALLUCINATING, AND SEEING AND RESPONDING TO THINGS THAT AREN'T, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
AND SO IF YOU'RE NOT EDUCATED ON THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, YEAH.
AND THAT'S THE THING IS WHEN I FINISH MY DOCTORATE AND I'M A DOCTOR, DO I GET LISTENED TO WHEN IT HAPPEN? WELL, I THINK EVERYBODY'S LISTENING TO YOU NOW.
WELL, I'M, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
I, I MEAN, I DO FEEL HEARD AND I DO, WE'RE LISTENING TO YOU AND I FEEL PEOPLE ARE MAKING THE THING THAT, THE LIST, YOU'RE MAKING INTELLIGENT DECISION.
BUT IT'S, UH, AND I'M JUST SAYING FROM THE MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE, IT'S THAT WE, WE RUN INTO THE SAME SCENARIO OF LIKE, THAT THE OFFICERS ARE RUNNING INTO.
WE HAVE A LIST OF QUESTIONS WE KNOW TO ASK.
WE KNOW WHEN TO DIG, WHEN NOT TO DIG AFTER SOME TIME.
AND ULTIMATELY, IF THEY ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS CORRECTLY, I KNOW.
AND THEIR AFFECT IS CORRECT, BUT WHAT IS THAT FLAT AFFECT? AND THAT'S WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS CLIENT, IS THAT SHE WAS SWITCHING, SHE WAS RAPIDLY CYCLING IN FRONT OF THE OFFICER, BUT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY.
AND AGAIN, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING, IF HE COULD DO PSYCHOEDUCATION AND TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT IT MM-HMM
AND YOU KNOW, IT, TO THEM IT CAME ABOUT WEED.
OH, SHE'S JUST TRYING TO SMOKE MARIJUANA.
I MEAN, SIR, IT'S THIS GIRL IS A DANGER.
BUT AGAIN, BUT I CAN'T, I CAN'T, WE'RE, WE ARE TAKING, WE ARE TAKING SOME STEPS, LIKE I TALKED ABOUT.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THAT IN PLACE AND WE CAN START DOING
[01:20:01]
THE, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE GETS, AND IT'S THE CONVERSATIONS IT GETS THE, GETS THE RESOURCE OUT THERE.AND, AND, AND WHERE THE OFFICERS CAN USE THAT.
THE OTHER THING IS, IS WHERE WE'VE GOTTA BE CAREFUL OF IS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GET BACK TO THE OLD DAYS TO WHERE A DOCTOR SITS THERE AND SAYS, THIS PERSON NEEDS TO BE, THIS PERSON NEEDS TO BE SHOT, OR THIS, THIS PERSON NEEDS TO BE TAKEN AWAY AND, AND, AND PUT INTO A HOSPITAL SOMEWHERE, RIGHT? MM-HMM
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, AGAIN, LIKE THIS LADY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, SHE WASN'T THERE WHEN THE OFFICER ARRIVED.
THE ONE THAT CAME BACK AND WAS WALKING AROUND.
AND I HAD THE VIDEO AND I SAID I WANTED TO MAKE JUST THE REPORT.
AND SO AND SO WHERE WE DON'T WANNA GET TO THE, TO THE POINT WHERE
UH, BOTH CLIENTS WERE THERE AT THE OFFICE.
AND SO WHAT I DID WITH THE SECOND ONE, 'CAUSE I WAS SO AFRAID IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN, RIGHT.
THAT I CALLED SHANE AND WE DID THE INTAKE ON THE PHONE.
EVERYTHING I'M AM TRYING HERE, AND I'M SCARED THAT THE CITY IS GONNA GET IN TROUBLE.
AND I DON'T WANT THAT FOR THE CITY.
I CARE VERY DEEPLY ABOUT THIS TOWN.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE CITY WOULD GET IN TROUBLE? BY WHAT ROUTE? IF IT WAS REPORTED BY A RELIABLE SOURCE MM-HMM
THEN THAT THEY WERE GONNA HARM THEMSELVES AND NOTHING WAS DONE, AND THEY GO HARM THEMSELVES OR SOMEONE ELSE.
IT WAS A FAILURE TO, UH, WHAT WAS IT? A FAILURE TO PROTECT AND SOMETHING, I DON'T KNOW.
AND SO IF SOMEONE HAS A CREDIBLE, WELL, WE KNOW WHAT TO ASK.
I, AGAIN, FIVE YEARS OF DOING THIS, 30 CLIENTS A WEEK, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO, I CALLED IT THE VERY BEGINNING WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA, AND I'VE CALLED THIS TIME WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA.
BUT THAT'S A BIG LIABILITY THAT YOU JUST PUTTING ON A ONE TWO YEAR OFFICER.
I MEAN, IT IS JUST A BIG LI BECAUSE THAT OFFICER IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL, JUST LIKE YOU ARE.
AND, AND YOU TRYING TO SAY, IF YOU WANT US TO BE A TEACHER, YOU WANT US TO BE A DOCTOR, YOU WANT US TO BE A LAWYER, YOU WANT US TO BE A MINISTER, YOU WANT US TO BE ALL THOSE THINGS.
AND, AND WE ARE JUST TRYING TO HEAR, PROTECT, AND SERVE AND KEEP THE PEACE.
WELL, WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS, I THINK WE, AGAIN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE BRINGING IT IN IN GREATER DETAIL OF WHAT THE CHALLENGE IS.
AND, UH, LIKE I SAID, WE'VE ALREADY STARTED SOME STUFF TO, TO, TO ADDRESS THAT AND PROVIDE SOME TOOLS TO THE PD.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET THAT IN PLACE QUICKLY.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S JUST A STARTING POINT.
I THINK, UH, WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO, UH, LOOK AT IT AS OTHER CITIES ALSO LOOK AT IT.
BECAUSE AGAIN, UM, NOT ALL THE CITIES CAN AVOID, CAN AFFORD THE SPECIALISTS OF THE COUNTY HAS.
SO IF, IF IT MEANS THAT WE GO BACK TO THE COUNTY, UH, COMMISSIONERS AND COUNTY JUDGE AND SAY, WE NEED MORE RESOURCES.
UH, SO THAT'S THAT, YOU KNOW, AND BECAUSE AGAIN, IF WE GO TO LOOKING AT US DOING SOMETHING ON OUR OWN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE START RUNNING INTO, YOU KNOW, MONEY.
WHAT DO WE DO? BECAUSE I'M, I'M REQUIRED TO REPORT.
AND IF I'M IN THAT SITUATION, NOT LISTENED TO, MY CLIENT IS GOING TO BASICALLY LOSE RESPECT.
IN THE FIVE YEARS I'VE BEEN DOING IT, THE FIRST CLIENT, SHANE CALLED THE, HE CALLED THE CITY AND SAID, GO PICK 'EM UP.
BECAUSE THE FLAT AFFECT EVERYTHING.
FIVE YEARS LATER I'M CALLING AGAIN.
IT WAS, IT WAS THE CULTURE OF IT BEFORE IT WAS VERY, MA'AM, I'M SORRY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
BUT THIS ONE WAS CONFRONTATIONAL.
THE FIRST GUY WAS SUPER, THE FIRST OFFICER WAS SO YEAH.
HE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB, EXCEPT FOR THE SITUATION WAS TERRIBLE.
AND THAT'S WHY I SAID WE HAD TO HAVE A POLICY OR PROCEDURE IN PLACE.
BECAUSE IF IT'S GONNA BE, I'M GONNA TELL THEM AND THEN THEY'RE GONNA TAKE 'EM HERE AND THIS PERSON'S GONNA GET DROPPED.
AND SO AT WHAT POINT DO I SAY I'M WORRIED FOR THIS PERSON'S LIFE? CAN I CALL THE PD? RIGHT.
WELL, MODESTO, YOU, WE DID OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS, CORRECT? YES.
AND I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT AN IN, I MEAN, I DON'T, WELL, WE MEAN WE YOU TO MAKE CLAIMS AND WE HAD TO GO.
AND SO WE DID AN INVESTIGATION.
AND SO, UH, WE'VE DONE SOME EVALUATION AND WE'VE TAKEN SOME, UH, WE'VE, WE'VE BROUGHT IN THE COUNTY FOR TELL WHAT WE'VE DONE FROM WHAT WE'VE DONE.
SO THE CHIEF HAD, UH, SERGEANT VANDER GRIFF, UH, COME IN AND ASKED FOR REFRESHER TRAINING COURSE, UH, FOR ALL OUR OFFICERS ON THE TRAINING.
UH, SERGEANT VANDERGRIFF ALSO LOOKED AT THE, YOU KNOW, THE TWO, UH, VIDEOS.
AND THAT'S WHERE HE ACTUALLY, FROM THE VIDEO OBSERVANCE GAVE US THE, YOU KNOW, THE RECOMMENDATION OF ANSWERING, ANSWERING MORE QUESTIONS WHERE HERE'S WHERE THE OFFICER COULD, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, TRY TO, YOU KNOW, OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION FROM, ESPECIALLY FROM A A, YOU
[01:25:01]
KNOW, A MENTAL HEALTH PERSON, A PROFESSIONAL LIKE MS. MEIS IS THERE THAT CAN HELP YOU MAKE A BETTER DECISION.UH, AND STUFF WHERE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CHANCE YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, ASK THESE QUESTIONS.
AND ALSO OF A FAMILY MEMBER, WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER'S PRESENT IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, IT WAS COMPLICATED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, A, A FAMILY MEMBER WAS PRESENT AS WELL.
AND I'M SURE THAT PLAYED IN THE OFFICER'S DECISION.
AND I'M SURE THAT COMPLICATED THE SITUATION WITH THE OFFICER OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, COULD BE DONE OR, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, COULD THEY USE THE PARENT WHETHER IN THE, IN THE END THEY RELIED THE PARENT TO TRANSPORT.
AND I THINK THEY THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS THE BETTER PATH.
YOU KNOW, FORWARD AT, AT THAT TIME.
AND IF I COULD GET THAT, I WOULD, TRUST ME, I'M NOT TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE POLICE.
THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT.
SO I THINK THE REVIEW HAS BEEN GOOD AND, YOU KNOW, IT GAVE US, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, THAT WE COULD DO FROM THERE.
AND THEN WE'RE COMMITTED TO, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING TO DO THIS REFRESHING, YOU KNOW, COURSE.
'CAUSE WE ALWAYS GET NEW OFFICERS.
THEY GET, YOU KNOW, A A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING AND STUFF OF, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST PUTS US IN FACE, YOU KNOW, ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE COUNTY OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
MOST OF THEM ALREADY KNOW THE, THE MENTAL HEALTH, UH, DEPUTIES.
BUT IT MAKES IT, YOU KNOW, MORE INFORMAL AND STRUCTURED.
SO AT LEAST THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.
AND THE OTHER THING THAT, UH, YOU TALKED ABOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, THE PERSONALITY SIDE AS FAR AS THE RESPONSE FROM THE OFFICERS OR WHOEVER YOU CALLED ALSO FROM DISPATCH AND STUFF, IS, I MEAN, WE CAN HANDLE THAT ONE A COUPLE OF WAYS.
ONE IS TALK TO 'EM AND SAY THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF.
BUT WHAT, BUT, BUT NO, THE RIGHT ANSWER THOUGH IS, AGAIN, I STILL THINK IS, IS THAT IF WE DO WHAT WE PLAN TO DO, IT'S A CULTURE CHANGE.
BUT THEN WE ALSO, AND WE, WE USE THAT AS AN EDUCATION TOOL AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
IS THAT WHAT WE GIVE, GET TO A POINT WHERE THE OFFICERS KNOW THAT THERE'S A SOLUTION OUT THERE THAT SMIRKING WILL GO AWAY BECAUSE THEY'LL KNOW IS IS THAT, HEY, I CAN HELP YOU.
AND THAT'S THE THING IS I'VE BEEN SO ALLY, I WANT US TO WORK TOGETHER.
I HAVE A LOT OF CLIENTS WHO HAVE PLACES WHERE THEY KNOW THEY ARE GONNA HAVE TO GO BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING AN OUTBURST AND WE HAVE GO BAGS.
WE HAVE WAYS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE POLICE.
I WORK WITH CLINICALLY MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE.
AND SO HELPING THESE PEOPLE HAVE A WAY AND HELPING ME TO HAVE A WAY.
BUT AGAIN, UH, WE APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN THANK YOU.
AND EXPLAINING YOUR SIDE OF THE WORLD.
AND, UH, IT'S SAD THAT IT IS THAT WAY, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW, AND, UH, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW BAD IT IS IN OUR CITY.
AND YOU'RE HELPING US KNOW THAT, UH, FROM YOUR FRONTLINE, UH, EXPERIENCE.
IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW WE'VE TALKED TO THE CHIEF ABOUT IN THE PAST, AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, I OFFERED UP THIS ONE SOLUTION, UH, TYPE DEAL.
BUT THE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, IF WE'VE GOT, UH, PEOPLE IN YOUR PROFESSION LIKE YOURSELF, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S INTERESTED AND WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH US AND TALK THROUGH SOME OF THIS STUFF, IS THAT, UH, WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE.
IT'S GONNA BE BABY STEPS, YOU KNOW? AND, UM, AND SO WE JUST NEED TO OPEN UP THE DIALOGUE AND, UH, AND, UH, FIND OUT WHAT, WHAT ARE THOSE BABY STEPS.
UH, BUT AGAIN, I THINK ONE, ONE THING FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IS, IS THE CHALLENGES THAT WE RUN UP AGAINST IS WHAT THE COURTS SAY WE CAN AND CAN'T DO.
AND THAT'S, SO WE NEED TO FIND OUT WHAT THOSE ARE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO, TO ADD TO THE VOICE OF SAYING SOME CHANGES NEED TO HAPPEN OUT THERE.
'CAUSE I I, FROM MY EXPERIENCE, THERE'S, THERE'S SOME CHANGES THAT NEED TO HAPPEN OUT THERE ON THE LAW, LEGAL SIDE.
SO MS. MALIS, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT.
BUT, BUT, UH, THEN BEING AN OFFICER, YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO WEAR A LOT OF DIFFERENT HATS AND THEY, WE GO TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT CRITICAL SITUATIONS AND, AND I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THAT OFFICER.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT DAY HE HAD THAT DAY.
HE, WELL, IT'S NOT, COULD'VE BEEN THAT WITH A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
HE JUST LEFT FROM THAT SCENE THAT SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE PASSED AWAY OR HE COULD HAVE SEEN A BABY THAT RIGHT.
DIED IN HIS ARM AND DIFFERENT STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO IT IS, IT IS JUST A LOT OF DIFFERENT HATS AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT TO ATTENTION.
THAT, THAT WE CAN GET MORE, THAT WE CAN GET MORE ATTENTION, THAT THEY CAN GET THE PROPER TRAINING TO HANDLE THE DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT, THAT ARRIVE IN FRONT OF THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND IT'S A BIG PROBLEMS, A TOUGH SITUATION.
[3. Presentation and approval of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2024. – James Bryson]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE, UH, PRESENTATION AND, UH, APPROVAL[01:30:01]
OF THE ANNUAL, UH, COMPENSATION, UH, COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.I TOLD MODESTO I WOULDN'T DO ACIN DE MAYO JOKE, BUT YEAH, HE WAS TELLING ME YOU WERE JUST ING I WAS, I HAD 'EM READY TO GO, BUT, OH YEAH.
UM, I KIND OF WANT TO HEAR ONE NOW TOO.
WELL THEN I'LL TELL YOU, I'M, I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AUDIT
I HOPE EVERYBODY HAD A WONDERFUL DAY.
AND I HAVE S ROBERT BELT FROM CROW HERE, AND HE'S GONNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR AUDIT, RIGHT? YOU WERE, OH, IF YOU WANTED MY BIRTHDAY GIFT, I'D HAVE LAURA MARIE WANTS A SIGNED COPY 'CAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
BEFORE GETTING INTO THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT, I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE ADMINISTRATION AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT AND ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THEY DO BEHIND THE SCENES.
YOU KNOW, STARTING FROM WHERE YOU ADOPTING THE BUDGET THROUGH ALL THE PAYROLL THAT GETS PAID DURING THE YEAR AND ALL THE PROCUREMENT CONTRACTS THAT GET DONE DURING THE YEAR AND ALL THE BILLS THAT GET PAID.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GETS DONE BEHIND THE SCENE.
AND SO I JUST WANNA RECOGNIZE ALL THEIR, THEIR HARD WORK.
THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE ISSUING A UNMODIFIED OPINION.
THAT'S THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE WE CAN PROVIDE AS YOUR AUDITORS.
THAT ALL THE DISCLOSURES REQUIRED BY GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES ARE INCLUDED AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE MATERIALLY CORRECT.
THAT'S EXACTLY THE TYPE OF OPINION YOU'D WANT TO BE GETTING TONIGHT.
THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL DATA IN THE REPORT.
I'M JUST GONNA GO OVER A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU.
OVER ON PAGE 30 AND 31 IS THE STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, AND CHANGES IN FUND OUTS.
I'M SORRY, IS IT, IS IT LOADED ONTO THE IPADS? THE A CR IPAD? NO.
AND I, WE HAD SENT IT AT A SEPARATE LINK, BUT LET US, LET US PULL IT UP SO THEN WE CAN GO TO THE PAGE SO EVERYBODY ELSE CAN SEE.
NO, WE DON'T HAVE THIS REPORT.
YEAH, WE TOOK IT OUT OF THE PACKET.
IT WAS TOO LONG AND WE PUT IT AS A, THEY'RE TOO BIG
AND WE, AND WE PUT IT AS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT.
UH, SO IT'S, I THINK IT WAS 10 MEGABYTES ON OUR SIDE OF IT.
OVER ON PAGE 30 AND 31 ON THE PRINT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GONNA APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL PDF, IT SHOULD BE THE SAME, BUT THAT'LL BE PAGE NUMBER ON THE ACTUAL PRINTED PAGE.
THE FAR LEFT, LEFT HAND COLUMN IS THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH YOUR PRIMARY OPERATING FUND, AS YOU KNOW, REVENUES CAME IN, CAME IN.
CAN YOU BLOW IT UP A LITTLE BIT? PLEASE? HIT THE PLUS BY SIGN.
THERE WE, I'M OLD THAT'S GOT HIS GLASSES ON, SO I'VE GOT MY GLASSES ON TONIGHT.
AND THE FAR LEFT HAND COLUMN IS YOUR GENERAL FUND.
ABOUT MIDWAY DOWN THE PAGE IS YOUR TOTAL REVENUES.
TOTAL REVENUES WERE $26,346,000 PER THE YEAR.
IF YOU'LL SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, YOU WILL SEE THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES CAME IN AT THREE MILLION THIRTY ONE MILLION NINE HUNDRED THIRTY SIX THOUSAND.
AND IF YOU'LL SCROLL DOWN TO THE NEXT PAGE, AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OPERATING TRANSFERS IN, RESULTED IN A NET CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE, A REDUCTION OF 4,000,040 $9,000 FOR THE YEAR.
YOU BEGAN THE, THE YEAR WITH A FUND BALANCE OF 22,148,000, AND YOU ENDED THE YEAR WITH A FUND BALANCE OF 18,000,090 $9,000.
AND CAN WE PAUSE THERE AND YES.
FE REIMBURSEMENT, IT WAS, IT'S BECAUSE OF THE STORM AND US BORROWING FROM OUR EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND.
SO I WAS JUST GONNA NOTE ALSO THAT FUND BALANCE IS YOUR PRIMARY INDICATOR OF FINANCIAL HEALTH WITHIN ANY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES WHO SOME PEOPLE WILL DESCRIBE THIS AS BEING YOUR RAINY DAY FUND, 30 DAYS OF FUND BALANCE WOULD BE CONSIDERED KIND OF A LITTLE BIT ON THE LOW SIDE.
60 DAYS WOULD BE GOOD, 90 DAYS WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.
EVEN AFTER THE YEAR THAT YOU HAD, YOU STILL ALMOST HAVE SIX MONTHS OF FUND BALANCE IN RESERVE.
SO THE CITY IS STILL IN EXCELLENT FINANCIAL, UH, SHAPE AND COULD, WHAT KIND OF FUN BALANCE WOULD, WOULD YOU MAKE A STATEMENT THAT WERE NOT IN GOOD FINANCIAL STATE OTHER THAN MAKING ONCE YOU, ONCE YOU WENT DOWN TO ABOUT, UM, 60 DAYS OR SO? IT, IT WOULD BE, I'D, I'D BE STARTING INTO A LITTLE BIT CONCERNED 30 DAYS.
UH, WHEN YOU'RE ON THE GULF COAST, HAVING A HIGHER THAN NORMAL FUN BALANCE IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE.
SO HAVING A LITTLE BIT EXTRA CUSHION THERE IS A GOOD THING TO BE AT.
AND ALSO, JUST IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU HAD, YOU HAD BUDGETED,
[01:35:01]
GONNA, I'M ALMOST KIND OF SKIP AROUND JUST A LITTLE BIT HERE.WELL, ONE REASON WHY I ASK THAT QUESTION IS, IS THIS DAY AND AGE OF, OF, AGAIN, PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TAXES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AND WHEN THEY SEE A LARGE FUND BALANCE LIKE THAT, THEY START SAYING, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHY ARE YOU TAXING ME SO MUCH WHEN YOU GOT SO MANY DOLLARS SITTING THERE? AND WHAT MY EXP MY RESPONSE BACK TO PEOPLE IS, IS WE HAVE THAT FUND BALANCE TO GET US THROUGH THESE STORMS. AND IF YOU LOOK AND SEE IS THAT USUALLY WE'RE THE QUICKEST CITY THAT'S BACK UP AND RUNNING DOWN HERE COMPARED TO THE OTHER ONES BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE.
UM, WE CALL IT THE RAINY DAY FUND, BUT ON THE GULF COAST, I'D SAY IT'S THE WINDY DAY FUND WIND, THE HURRICANE FUND.
AND A LOT OF OUR FUND BALANCES ARE ALSO, WE STILL, DESI WE APPROPRIATE THEM FOR SOMETHING.
RIGHT? SO LIKE AN EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND, IT'S NOT THAT IT'S JUST SITTING THERE, YOU KNOW, UNPLANNED.
IT'S THERE THAT WE ARE PUTTING MONEY ASIDE EACH YEAR TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT.
RIGHT? IT HASN'T BEEN SPENT YET AND ITT SPENT YET.
SOMEDAY WE WILL BE IT, SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PUTTING MONEY ASIDE EVERY YEAR FOR THAT FUTURE FIRE TRUCK OR THAT FUTURE AMBULANCE THIS YEAR WE HAD TO BORROW FROM IT.
SOMEBODY CAN PAY CASH FOR STUFF.
WE PAY CASH RATHER THAN BORROWING WITH ANTICIPATION THAT WE WOULD GET REIMBURSED FROM FEMA.
THERE'S REASON FOR THE MADNESS NO FURTHER DOWN.
JUST GONNA POINT OUT THAT IT'S PERFECT.
UH, THIS IS YOUR BUDGET TO ACTUAL PRESENTATION.
WE'RE JUST GONNA NOTE YOUR FINAL BUDGETED AMOUNTS IN COMPARISON TO YOUR ACTUAL AMOUNTS THAT YOUR FINAL BUDGETED REVENUES WAS $24,500,000 COMPARED TO EXPENSES OF, COMPARED TO TOTAL REVENUES, 26,346,000.
SO ON THE REVENUE SIDE YOU WERE $1,846,000 TO THE GOOD.
SO THAT'S EXCELLENT BUDGET VARIANCE TO HIVE PATH.
AND ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE WHERE YOU CAN TELL YOU IT BUMPED UP YOUR BUDGET MID-YEAR, YOU WENT FROM YOUR ORIGINAL BUDGET AMOUNT FROM 27.5 MILLION UP TO 34.1 MILLION.
IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, YOU ENDED UP WITH A POSITIVE BUDGET VARIANCE ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF $2,171,000 IF YOU'LL SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.
AND SO EVEN THOUGH YOU, YOU, YOU INITIALLY HAD PLANNED WITH YOUR AMENDED BUDGET TO ACTUALLY BRING DOWN FUND BALANCE $8 MILLION, BUT YOU CAME IN MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT YOU THOUGHT.
EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A REDUCTION, IT WAS LESS THAN WHAT YOU ORIGINALLY PLANNED.
SO YOU HAD A POSITIVE BUDGET VARIANCE OF SOME $4 MILLION.
SO AGAIN, ALL THOSE NUMBERS ARE GREAT THINGS, UH, JUST YOU HAD ON SOME UNUSUAL EVENTS YOU WERE WORKING WITH.
AND OF COURSE NEXT YEAR IT'LL BE ALL OUTTA WHACK WHEN WE GET OUR REIMBURSEMENTS RIGHT.
HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY I'LL TAKE THOSE PROBLEMS. JUST GONNA LOOK AT ONE MORE ITEM OVER ON THE OPERATING FUND SIDE.
ON THE UTILITY OPERATING FUND SIDE AND THE UTILITY OPERATIONS, YOUR REVENUES CAME IN AT $18,063,000.
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES WERE $16,074,000.
I'LL JUST NOTE THAT THAT INCLUDES DEPRECIATION EXPENSE OF 3.3 MILLION, WHICH IS A NON-CASH OUTLAY.
AND IF YOU'LL SCROLL DOWN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER TO THE, THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, YOU ENDED UP WITH A YEAR OF HAVING A NET CHANGE IN FINANCIAL POSITION OF $682,000.
BUT REMEMBER THAT DEPRECIATION NUMBER WAS ABOUT $3 MILLION.
SO YOU, YOU ACTUALLY WOULD'VE ACCRUED YOUR CASH POSITION BY ALMOST $4 MILLION WITHIN THAT FUND.
SO AGAIN, THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT, UH, VARIANCE TO HAVE WITHIN THAT FUND AS WELL.
MORE THAN HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE.
WELL, NO, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION.
ACTUALLY, I, UH, I LIKE THIS, UH, THE WAY WE DID IT WITHOUT THE BOOKS AND STUFF.
THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER DID THAT.
I MEAN, I, IT IS EASY TO FOLLOW, SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE DIGGING THROUGH
HOW MANY MUNICIPAL AUDITS DO YOU DO IN A TYPICAL YEAR, YOU THINK? UH, FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS I'VE DONE ABOUT 40 A YEAR.
AND WHERE DO WE FALL IN THAT IN TERMS IN, IN TERMS OF WHAT? JUST IN TERMS OF JUST OVERALL HEALTH.
UH, YOUR FUND BALANCE IS EXCELLENT.
I WOULD SAY YOU'RE PROBABLY IN THE TOP 70 PERCENTILE FUND BALANCE WISE OUT MOST GOVERNMENTS.
SO THAT'S A GREAT PLACE TO BE AT.
IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, UH, WE NEED AN APPROVAL TO, UH, ACCEPT.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
SECOND MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN SETH, SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BAKER.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
[01:40:02]
DID JAMES RUN AWAY? AYE MAN, HE'S OUT THERE TELLING CINCO TOMORROW.YEAH, HE IS GONNA GO CELEBRATE THE SONG BETTER.
[4. Discuss, consider, and take action on the first reading of an ordinance amending Ch. 10 Animals of the City of Lake Jackson Code of Ordinances to add regulations for feeding free-roaming cats, to clarify nuisance animal regulations and trapping requirements, to add procedures for animals in protective custody, and to remove outdated sections. – Sherri Russell]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR, DISCUSSING, CONSIDERING TAKE ACTION ON THE FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE, AMENDING CHAPTER 10, UH, ANIMALS OF THE CITY, OF LAKE JACKSON CODE ORDINANCE TO ADD REGULATION, TO ADD REGULATIONS FOR FEEDING FREE ROAMING CATS AND TO CLARIFY NUISANCE ANIMAL REGULATIONS AND TRAPPING REQUIREMENTS, UH, TO ADD PROCEDURES FOR ANIMALS IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY AND TO REMOVE OUTDATED SECTIONS.SHERRY, YOU WANNA, UM, NOTHING'S CHANGED.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND JAMES CAME BACK.
ALRIGHT, SO, SO YOU'RE JUST BRINGING BACK, UH, THE FINAL, AFTER WE TALKED ABOUT IT, FIRST READING OF THE FINAL VERSION OF EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE TALKING.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON, UH, DRAFT THE FIRST READING? NO, THEY DON'T.
DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THIS? YES, I FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE.
SO, UH, I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON ITEM FOUR.
WANT TO READ THE CAPTION? OH, YOU GOTTA READ IT.
THIS IS AN ORDINANCE OF SHERRY RUSSELL OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 10 ANIMALS OF THE CITY OF LEE JACKSON.
CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADD REGULATIONS FOR FREE, FEEDING FREE ROAMING CATS TO CLARIFY NUISANCE ANIMAL REGULATIONS AND TRAPPING REQUIREMENTS TO ADD PROCEDURES FOR ANIMALS IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY AND TO REMOVE OUTDATED SECTIONS.
PROVIDING THAT ALL ORDINANCES ARE PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT YOU'RE WITH SHALL BE REPEALED TO THE EXTENT OF THE CONFLICT.
ONLY PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY, PROVIDING FOR A SAVINGS CLAUSE AND PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL TAKE EFFECT AND BE ENFORCED FIVE DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION.
GOT A MOTION FROM COUNCILMAN BUELL? I'LL SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
WE GOT SECOND READING WILL BE ON THE 19TH.
[5. Discuss the appointment of a BWA representative for the city. – Modesto Mundo ]
GO MOVE ON TO ITEM FIVE, DISCUSSING IN APPOINT A BWA REPRESENTATIVE FOR CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, MODESTO, WHAT DO YOU WANNA SAY? UM, I CAN START IT OUT.MR. UH, COOK IS, UM, IS RESIGNING, UH, THIS IS HIS LAST MONTH.
HE HAD NOTIFIED US IN, UM, JANUARY, UH, THAT HE NEEDED TO, UH, STEP DOWN.
WE'VE HAD SOME PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER CITIES, UM, IN REGARDS TO OUR BWA REPRESENTATION.
CURRENTLY, THE BYLAWS ARE, UH, DO RESTRICT, UM, WHO COUNSEL CAN APPOINT.
UH, IT CANNOT BE A STAFF MEMBER OR NOR CAN IT BE A COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, THE BWA BYLAWS, THE BWA BYLAWS, UH, WE ARE TRYING TO EXPLORE TO SEE IF WE CAN HAVE THOSE REDUCED WHERE IT WOULD GIVE ANY CITY A FLEXIBILITY TO APPOINT, YOU KNOW, ANYONE.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT'LL TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME THAN I ANTICIPATED, UH, ON THAT.
SO IT WON'T BE A QUICK, YOU KNOW, DECISION, UM, IF THE OTHER, UH, OUR OTHER PARTNER CITIES ARE WILLING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE, YOU KNOW, MAKE THAT CHANGE.
UM, SO IN THE MEANTIME, WE STILL NEED TO APPOINT, UH, A REPRESENTATIVE.
UM, I'VE REACHED OUT TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE.
UM, I THINK COUNCILMAN SHANYA AND COUNCILMAN ELL HAS TRIED TO KICK THE TIRES, UH, A COUPLE, UM, OF TIMES.
UM, ONE MAY BE INTERESTED, UH, ONE IS NOT.
UM, AND I'VE TRIED MY OWN TRIED AND TROOP.
UH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING AFTER THE 19TH
SO I TRIED TO TALK TO EX COUNCILMAN BROOKS, BUT I DON'T THINK HE'S IN, BUT HE'S WITH VIDA.
HE'S WITH, HE'S GOT A BIG TIME.
HE'S, HE'S GOT A BIG TIME, TIME COME RIGHT NOW.
HE SAID HE IS GONNA CHECK WITH HIS BOSS AND LET ME KNOW.
SO IF ANYBODY HAS A RECOMMENDATION, WE STAFF DOES NOT, UM, HAVE A READY RECOMMENDATION.
WHEN DO WE HAVE TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT? BY, UH, I WOULD SAY IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO.
I MEAN, UH, MR. COOK WILL, I HAVE AN IDEA, WILL SERVE THIS MONTH OF MAY.
UH, SO IT WOULDN'T COME UP UNTIL, UM, SOMETIME IN, UH, JUNE.
HOW OFTEN DO THEY MEET? UH, ONCE A ONCE A MONTH.
[01:45:01]
A MONTH.AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, EITHER ERIC OR, UH, RHE ARE GOING, I THINK ERIC'S, UH, GOING MOSTLY, BUT OF COURSE WE'RE, WE'RE SITTING THERE OBSERVING, UH, IF WE CAN'T VOTE OR, OR SIT AT THE BOARD MEETING.
WELL, MY, UH, ON THE, ON THE, HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH CITY COUNCILS AND OR, AND, UH, ABOUT CHANGING, UH, THE BYLAWS, UH, AND STUFF IS, UH, I THINK IF WE HAD AGREEMENT WITH THE CITIES, THE CHANGE COULD BE DONE VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE YOU, THE CITIES TELL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE THIS IS WHAT WE WANT AND, UH, AND STUFF.
SO, UM, THE, NOW YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT THE ORIGINAL BYLAWS WERE ALLOWED.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING, I AM NOT SURE.
I, I DID TALK TO, UH, THE GENERAL MANAGER AND, UM, HAD BROUGHT THE IDEA.
I JUST WANTED TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THERE BE ANY OPPOSITION.
AND HE HAD BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SEVERAL YEARS AGO THERE WAS A, UM, A STAFF MEMBER OR A REPRESENTATIVE WHO THEN BECAME STAFF, A STAFF MEMBER, UH, AFTERWARDS, BUT THEY WERE ALREADY A BW MEMBER AND THAT PRESENTED PROBLEMS. SO THEY HAVE WHAT, WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS? I DIDN'T GO, IT DIDN'T GO INTO DETAILS, BUT THEY HAVE AT LEAST ONE BAD, UH, YOU KNOW.
WELL, AND THAT'S THE THING IS EXPERIENCE.
THE, THE PROBLEM MAY BE IS, IS THAT THEN THEY WERE SITTING THERE WEARING THEIR CITY HAT AND SAYING, WELL, I'M A REPRESENTATIVE.
I'M SITTING ON BWA, I'M REPRESENTING THE CITY.
I'M NOT, WHAT YOU MAY BE HAVING TODAY FOR SOME MEMBERS ON THAT BOARD IS, IS I HAVE A BWA HAT AND I'M DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR BWA AND NOT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITIES.
BECAUSE AGAIN, MY, I CONTINUE TO HAVE THE CONCERNS OF THAT.
WE HAVE A LIMITED RESOURCE, AND THAT'S WATER AND BWA MAY HAVE DIFFERENT OBJECTIVES THAN WE HAVE.
AND OUR OBJECTIVES SHOULD BE AS WE, WE BUILT THIS, WE GOT, BECAME FAR OF THIS SO THAT WE COULD MAINTAIN AND BE SURE THAT OUR CITIES HAD WATER AND BWA MAY BE LOOKING AT IT OF AS WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR BOTTOM LINE.
SO WE NEED TO GO SELL WATER SOMEWHERE ELSE.
HOW MANY OTHER CITIES ARE IN BWA? THERE'S, THERE'S SEVEN.
BUT YOU'VE GOT THE PARTNERS ARE DOW AND THEN THE, IS IT SEVEN CITIES OR SIX CITIES? SEVEN CITIES.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT MAKES UP THE PARTNERSHIP THAT THAT IS BWA.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IF THERE'S SEVEN CITIES AND NOT 70 CITIES, WHY DOES IT, WHY WILL IT TAKE A LONG TIME TO GET THEM IN A ROOM TOGETHER AND SAY, HEY, WE WANNA GO AS ONE VOICE TO BWA A AND SAY, WE WANT THIS CHANGE? IT WOULDN'T, I MEAN, IT JUST, I'VE HAD A HARD TIME GETTING ALL THE CITY MANAGERS TOGETHER, UM, LIKE THREE CATS.
IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, US REALLY SITTING, YOU KNOW, SITTING DOWN AND YEAH, I THINK IT'S GONNA HAVE TO COME WHERE, UH, THE MAYOR AND I ARE GONNA HAVE TO REACH OUT AND TRY TO GET THE MAYORS AND CITY MANAGERS TOGETHER.
IT'S REALLY GONNA COME FROM, YOU KNOW, THE COUNCILS, THEY'LL HAVE TO FILL OUT, YOU KNOW, EACH OF THEIR, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL AND SEE IF THEY WANT, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, TO CHANGE.
WELL, THE OTHER THING, WELL, THE OTHER, THE OTHER REASON FOR CHANGE IS, IS THAT WE ALL KNOW, AND THEY STRUGGLE WITH IT TOO, OF FINDING THE BEST PERSON FOR THAT POSITION.
AND TOO OFTEN I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT END UP ON THERE, SAD TO SAY, IS A LIVE BODY.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT IT, WE NEED THE OPTIONS OF BEING ABLE TO, TO PUT ANYBODY ON THAT BOARD REPRESENT.
I THINK YOU TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE WE ALREADY HAVE LIKE A LIAISON, UH, A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT ON A BOARD ON THE BOARD LIKE THAT, IT WOULD NOT BE A LIAISON, IT WOULD BE A LIAISON.
LIAISON DOESN'T HAVE ANY VOTE.
THEY'RE JUST THERE TO OBSERVE.
SO IT, IT WOULD BE A MEMBER, YOU KNOW, IT'S, WE COULD, WE WOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM OF PUTTING A COUNCIL MEMBER ON THERE, PUTTING A STAFF MEMBER ON THERE OR PUTTING A RESIDENT ON THERE.
BUT THE, THE KEY IS SORT BE ON HGA, PUTTING, PUTTING THE RIGHT, NO, H-G-H-J-C DOES HAVE A RESTRICTION.
IT HAS TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
START WITH STER CREEK LISTENING TO THEIR REPRESENTATION THAT BCCA THINK THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP COORDINATE EVERYONE.
I THINK, AGAIN, EVERYBODY STRUGGLES WITH PUTTING, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ON THAT BOARD.
AND SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, WHY RESTRICT OURSELVES? AND IF YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, IF YOU, YOU
[01:50:01]
KNOW, IF, IF A MEMBER ON THE, IF THEY'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH A MEMBER ON THE BOARD AND IT'S A LAKE JACKSON MEMBER, THEY OUGHT PICK UP THE PHONE AND SAY, HEY, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON THIS BOARD AND LET US HANDLE IT.BUT, UH, OR TURN AROUND AND SAY, NO, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE TO DO.
THEY'RE EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE BEING ASKED TO DO.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, ARE Y'ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO, UH, YOU KNOW, MODESTO AND I REACH OUT WITH THE CITY MANAGERS AND SEE AND MAYORS AND YES.
AND PURSUE THIS, AT LEAST OPENING IT UP TO WHERE IT'S MEMBERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, MEMBERSHIP CAN BE ANYBODY THAT, UH, ABSOLUTELY THAT IS A CITY RESIDENT MAKES AND IT MAKES SENSE OR AN EMPLOYEE AND IT, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY, FOR EXAMPLE, ERICA R SOMEBODY WHO'S VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT HOW THE WHOLE THING WORKS, WHY WOULD YOU NOT BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THAT RESOURCE TO REPRESENT OUR CITY? AND THAT'S WHERE THE INITIAL DISCUSSION HAD STARTED.
I HAD, I, WHEN I TALKED TO A COUPLE, UH, THE CITY MANAGERS IS, WAS, WELL, YOU KNOW, OPEN IT UP TO JUST ALLOW STAFF, BUT THEN THE MORE WE, YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO THE MAYOR IS SAYS, WHY IS THERE A RESTRICTION AT ALL? WHY JUST HAMSTRING AND LET COUNCIL PUT WHOEVER THEY WANT ON THERE? AND THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO HAVE A CYCLE WHERE YOU GO THROUGH AND YOU CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT PERSON RIGHT NOW, YOU COULD PUT A COUNCIL MEMBER ON THERE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME TO FILL THAT GAP UNTIL, YOU KNOW, WE DO FIND THAT RIGHT PERSON OR THAT RIGHT PERSON COMES UP.
YOU KNOW, I TALKED TO, TO, TO AN INDIVIDUAL THAT, UH, UH, WAS A DOW EMPLOYEE THAT WORKED IN WATERS SYSTEMS. WE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH BWA AND, UH, HE RETIRED AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT HE WAS A GOOD CHOICE, BUT HE WANTS TO STAY RETIRED.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD THING.
UH, BUT ANYWAY, JUST REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE CALL YOU SIR, CALL WHAT? HE'S GONNA BE GONE.
BUT ANYWAY, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO.
IF Y'ALL ARE OKAY WITH THAT, WE'LL, WE'LL PRESS FORWARD THAT WAY.
YOU KNOW, MODESTO'S GOT MARCHING ORDERS FROM COUNCIL, UH, AND, UH, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE WILL WORK ON THAT AND SEE WHAT KIND OF, UH, ROADBLOCKS WE RUN INTO AND WE'LL KEEP Y'ALL POSTED.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT ONE? NO.
AND AGAIN, THE GOAL IS, IS, IS WE WANT GOOD REPRESENTATION, A GOOD VOICE FOR OUR CITY, AND WE'VE BEEN LUCKY, UH, IN THE PAST.
AND SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO BE LUCKY WITH THAT.
[6. New Business Updates – David Walton]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX.DAVID, GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR.
MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE.
UM, THERE ARE SOME EXCITING, UH, ADDITIONS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP OF THE CHART, WE DID OPEN THREE BUSINESSES THIS LAST MONTH, ALL CATERING TO OUR, UH, WANT AND DESIRE TO EAT, FIND THINGS.
UH, DRE'S PIZZAS OPENED UP WHERE THE, UM, OLD SOUL PLACE, THE OLD SOUL FOOD PLACE WAS.
THANK YOU, MR. BAKER AND NANA'S HOUSE OF TREATS IS OPENED UP ON PARKING WAY.
UH, THEY WERE IN THE MALL AT ONE TIME.
UH, THAT'S A, A, UM, MOM AND POP SHOP OUT OF, UH, BAY CITY.
DREAMY'S IS OPENING UP THIS LOCATION COMING OUT OF WEST COLUMBIA.
AND THEN WE, WE HAVE RECEIVED WORD THAT JOE'S ITALIAN IS OPENING UP IN THE OLD TABLE 24.
THEY ARE ALSO A, UH, LOCAL, UM, SMALL ITALIAN FOOD RETAILER, SIR, WHO, WHO'S GOING INTO THE OLD SMITH HEARTS? I SAW SOME PEOPLE GATHERING AROUND THERE TODAY.
THAT'S N SO SO IN THE OLD SMITH HEARTS IS, IS, UH,
NANAS, YEAH, WENT TOIA, WHICH IS A, A MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE.
UH, THEY ORIGINALLY CAME OUT OF, OUT OF KLUT, UH, OPENED UP DOWNTOWN, UM, WHERE BIG TIE NOW IS WHERE BIG TIE NOW IS.
AND SO THAT THEY QUICKLY OUTGREW THAT SPACE MOVED OVER TO WHERE SMITH HEARTS WAS, WHICH OPENED UP THAT LOCATION FOR BIG TIE.
AND BOTH OF THEM ARE DOING FANTASTIC IN THOSE LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED WORD THAT AUTOZONE IS GOING TO OPEN UP WHERE THE OLD FOOD KING WAS RIGHT IN THE, IN THE EMPTY SPACE NEXT TO, UM, FREIGHT, FREIGHT HARBOR, UHY HARBOR FREIGHT.
UH, WE'VE ALSO, UH, RECEIVED, UM, A NOTIFICATION TODAY THAT WE SHOULD SHORTLY BE EXPECTING SOME PLANS FOR A OIL CHANGE FACILITY OVER IN THE SHOPPING CENTER WHERE, UH, HOBBY LOBBY IS.
NOW, OBVIOUSLY THAT WILL HAVE TO GO TO PLANTERS, BUT, UH, I DID RECEIVE NOTIFICATION THAT WE SHOULD BE EXPECTING AN APPLICATION, YOU KNOW WHERE IT'S GONNA GO, WHERE BIG LOTS WAS OR IS IT GONNA GO? NO, NO, IT'S, IT WOULD BE PARKING LOT.
I IMAGINE IT WOULD BE AN OUT PARCEL.
THE PLOT, I MEAN A PAD OR WHATEVER.
IS THE AUTO ZONE GONNA BE LIKE A, UM, O'REILLY'S?
[01:55:01]
NO, I KNOW WHAT AUTO ZONE IS.OKAY, BUT IS IT GONNA BE AN ACTUAL STOREFRONT OR IS IT GONNA BE LIKE A HOLDING WAREHOUSE? NO, IT'LL BE A STOREFRONT.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS? SO THE MOVIE, I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT THIS FAT BURGER.
WHAT'S THAT? EVERYBODY'S ASKING ABOUT IT.
OKAY, SO FAT BURGERS IS A BRAND.
SO FAT BURGERS AND ROUND TABLE PIZZA, THEY ARE OPEN, THEY, THEY WILL OPEN UP IN THE NEW CONSTRUCTION, UH, BUILDING THAT'S, THAT'S BEING PLACED BETWEEN THE HOME TWO SUITES AND THE PROPOSED MICRO HOSPITAL.
NO ONE THAT NO ONE CAN FIND IT.
YEAH, WELL THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING SOME, SOME, SOME GOOD WORK IN THERE, BUT WE HAVE GOTTEN THE TENANT IMPROVEMENT PLAN, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NO BUILDING TO PUT THEM IN YET.
SO THAT'S JUST NOT A CHAIN, IT'S JUST SOMEONE, IT'S A CHAIN.
I MEAN IT'S A WHOLE BRAND WITH AN UMBRELLA OF DIFFERENT RESTAURANTS UNDERNEATH THEM.
AND HE'S ALSO, HE'S COME IN AND ALSO LOOKING AT, UM, WHAT'S THE, I CALL IT, I CALL IT THE DOW SHOPPING CENTER.
IT, IT, UM,
AND WHAT BUSINESS IS THAT? UM, I DID HE HURRICANE GRILL? YES.
AND WE WHAT? OH, OH, CAR WASH USED TO BE NO, NO, NO, NO.
IT WAS BEFORE MY, IF YOU'RE AN OLD TIMER.
OH, OH, THAT'S WHERE CHEVY'S WAS? YES.
THE FIRST CHEVY'S DANCE NIGHTCLUB DISCO IN LAKE.
AND THE DRIVE THROUGH CAR WASH WAS RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
I I CAP OUT CAFE WAS, I'M GOING TO THE NINETIES.
I'VE ONLY GOT 10 YEARS, SO, SO I DON'T BACK.
DAVID, BELIEVE ME, I ANSWERED A LOT OF CALLS THERE WHEN I WAS A POLICE OFFICER.
SO YEAH, DAVID, THAT ON TRACK.
COUNCILMAN S HAD A QUESTION ON AUTOZONE.
ARE THEY MOVING FROM INCLUDE OR THEY'RE STAYING IN INCLUDED AND OPENING A NEW STORE? UH, MY MY UNDERSTANDING IS THIS IS A NEW STOREFRONT FOR THEM.
ADDING, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THAT, THAT THE CL LOCATION, I, I THINK IT DOES PRETTY WELL.
SO, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A PRESENCE IN LAKE JACKSON.
AND TO BE HONEST, WE DON'T HAVE AN AUTO PARTS STORE ON THAT END OF TOWN.
BUT WE SHOULD, UH, WE HOPE RALEIGH STAYS SO THEY WON'T LEAVE.
WELL, I CAN'T IMAGINE THEM LEAVING.
WE DO A LOT OF BUSINESS WITH IT.
UM, SO WHICH ONE WAS YOU SAID IS GONNA BE, OH, THE OIL CHANGE PLACE IS GONNA BE, UH, A PAD SITE.
THAT BRINGS UP, AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT.
STRATEGIC PLANNING IS, IS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THIS COUNCIL OF TALKING ABOUT, UH, CHANGING PARKING REQUIREMENTS IN THE CITY.
EXAMPLE, BEING THE MALL, NOT ON THE AGENDA.
YOU GOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF PARKING THERE.
PEOPLE DON'T GO FILL THE SHOPPING MALL UP AT CHRISTMAS TIME.
THAT'S A LOT OF PROPERTY THAT COULD BE USED FOR NEW BUSINESSES IF WE REDUCE THOSE.
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE, I KNOW WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
BUT WE NEED TO, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT DISCUSSION IN STRATEGIC PLANNING GOING FOR ON CAP OR WHEREVER IN, IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND STUFF.
SO IT, WE'VE GOTTA, WE FIND USES WAYS TO BRING MORE BUSINESSES INTO THIS CITY.
ALRIGHT, ANYTHING ELSE DAVID? WE NEED TO GIVE DAVID MORE WORK.
NOT UNLESS ANYBODY ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
WHERE'S DREAMY PIZZA? WHERE'S WHAT'S THREE CIRCLE? OKAY, SO, SO DRE'S IS WHERE IT'S THREE CIRCLE IN THE OLD, UH, LAKE FEEDER BUILDING.
THAT'S BEEN A RESTAURANT SPACE FOR, FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS.
IT OPENED UP AS AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT AFTER BEING VACANT FOR A LONG TIME.
AND THEN IT WENT TO SEO FOOD SOUL, AND NOW IT'S BACK TO ITALIAN UNDER DIFFERENT OWNERS.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE SWITCHING FROM MEXICAN RESTAURANTS TO ITALIAN RESTAURANTS, WHICH IS GREAT.
NOW, NOW I DO KNOW THAT THAT GREENIES AND JOE'S KIND OF CAME IN AT THE SAME TIME.
I DON'T THINK EITHER PARTY KNEW THAT THE OTHER ONE WAS COMING IN.
UH, AND THAT KIND OF EXPLAINS WHY WE'RE KIND OF DOUBLING UP A BRAND NEW RESTAURANT AND, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY SUPER CLOSE TO EACH OTHER.
UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S NOT A, A MESSAGE BOARD OUT THERE THAT SAYS, HEY, I'M GONNA DO THIS AND RIGHT.
PLEASE DON'T, DON'T STEP ON MY TOES.
SO, UH, BUT IT IT, IT'S EXCITING TO SEE, UH, BOTH SPACES OPENING BACK UP RIGHT.
I OUR FAMOUS EMPTY BUILDING THIS WAY IN THE FEEDER ROAD, BA BAO BNO BAIN, WHAT IS IT? TACO
[02:00:01]
BENO.UH, NO FEEDBACK ON THAT OR, WELL, TACO CABANA STILL STILL PAYS LEASE ON THAT.
SO, UM, OBVIOUSLY, UH, BETWEEN TACO CABANA AND THE OWNER OF FOUR CORNERS, I THINK THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE TENANT.
BUT, UH, I MEAN IT'S STILL GENERATING REVENUE FROM THE STANDPOINT.
IT'S MAKING MONEY THAT IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, YEAH.
THERE'S NO EMPHASIS FOR THE LANDLORD TO, AND WE DID SAY SOMETHING ABOUT RED LOBSTER LAST TIME.
UH, WELL THAT'S AN EMPTY BUILDING.
WHAT ABOUT LUBY? THAT'S AN EMPTY BUILDING.
YOU CAN BUY IT FOR $3 MILLION.
SO I, I HAVE HEARD THAT, THAT THERE IS A, UH, POTENTIAL BUYER FOR RED LOBSTER, BUT UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, I'M PROBABLY NOT GONNA SAY WHO IT IS.
THE MALL'S GONNA BUY IT OR TEAR IT DOWN.
THERE'S A, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE SPECULATION.
I WILL SAY NANA'S HOUSE OF TREATS IS KID APPROVED.
THAT PLACE IS ALSO OH, IT'S ACTUALLY VERY AWESOME.
WE WE GO AND WE GO, WE A MEETING AFTER TO THIS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE.
[7. Staff updates]
STAFF UPDATES.WE GOT CANVASSING MONDAY CANVAS OF ELECTIONS.
UM, SALLY, HAVE YOU GOTTEN CONFIRMATION FROM NEED TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS? I NEED TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS AND I DO HAVE THREE SO FAR.
SO WE, BUT EVERYBODY CAN, CAN COME 'CAUSE IT'S A POSTER MEETING.
AND THEN ON THE 19TH WE'LL HAVE SWEARING OF NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT WE WILL ALSO HAVE A RECEPTION PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
SIX O'CLOCK WE'LL HAVE FAITH PUNISHED.
WE SPIKE AND BUSTER
AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A SWEAR IN OF OUR NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD? UH, NO.
THE FOLLOW UP ITEMS. OH, I DID HAVE, UM, ONE, IT WAS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA, BUT, UH, GOOD, UH, GOOD JOB WITH STAFF ON THE, THE ELECTRICAL BID ON THE LIBRARY AT CITY HALL.
WE BUDGETED 400,000 AND IF YOU, UH, YOU IT'S $200,000 TO APPROVE AND THAT HAS A CONTINGENCY IN IT SO IT COULD COME IN LOWER, UH, ON THERE.
SO WE'LL HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS ON THAT CCIP ITEM.
SO, VERY PROUD OF STAFF FOR GETTING THAT DONE.
WE MOVE ANOTHER THING UP ON THE CIP LIST.
AND THEN, UH, NUMBER FIVE, WE WILL, THE MAYOR AND I WILL START REACHING OUT TO THE MAYORS AND CITY MANAGERS.
UH, SEE IF WE CAN PROVIDE LUNCH.
MAY MAY HAVE TO BE A TEAMS MEETING.
ALRIGHT, WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO, UH, ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST.THANKS FOR, YOU KNOW, THANKS FOR THE MEMORY FOR YEAH, THANKS FOR THE MEMORY.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT THANK EIGHT YEARS.
WELL I COMING UP, UP WITH BETTER SPEECH FOR NEXT.
NEXT, A COUPLE WEEKS TO WORK OUT.
A COUPLE WEEKS WE'LL WORK OUT.
MS. SETH, MR. BAKER? UH, IT WAS A LONG SATURDAY, BUT, UH, YEAH.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT AND VOTING.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THE COUNCIL.
STAFF? NO, OTHER THAN, UH, HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO, CINCO DE MAYO THAT'S ONLY CELEBRATED IN THE US YESTERDAY.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND THEN, OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL ADJOURN FOR BREAK AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.