* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] . [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ] NOVEMBER 3RD, 2025. REGULAR SESSION OF LAKE JACKSON CITY COUNCIL AT 25 OAK DRIVE, LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS. UH, WE'LL BEGIN THE EVENING WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, UH, GIVEN BY COUNCILWOMAN SETH. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE STATES, STATES OF AMERICA AND TWO REPUBLIC. WHICH, WHICH ONE? ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND THE OF THE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE, ALL HONOR THE FLAG. P. SEE, TEXAS. TEXAS IS ONE STATE UNDER GOD. ONE IN INVOCATION. THIS EVENING WILL BE, UH, LED BY COUNCILMAN MUELL. LET US PRAY. DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THIS EVENING. AS OUR MEETING CONTINUES AND DECISIONS HAVE TO BE MADE, WE ASK THAT YOU GIVE US THE STRENGTH, WISDOM, AND COURAGE TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT WE FEEL ARE THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR RESIDENTS AND THAT OF OUR CITY. P BE PLEASE BE WITH OUR EMT FOLKS, FIRE AND POLICE, OUR MILITARY SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN, AND AS WE TRAVEL HOME, BE WITH US AND GET US HOME SAFELY. IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. UH, PRESENTATIONS. [1. Annual Brazosport Fine Arts Council Report – Wes Copeland ] WE'LL HAVE THE ANNUAL ANNUAL BRA SUPPORT, UH, FINE ARTS COUNCIL REPORT. UH, MR. COPELAND. GOOD EVENING COUNSEL. MR. MAYOR, EVERYONE HERE. UH, MY NAME IS WES COPELAND. I THINK MANY OF YOU HEARD MY PRESENTATIONS BEFORE, SO IT MAY NOT BE NEW, BUT WE HAVE SOME, SOME, UH, SOME, UH, PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO MAY WANT TO HEAR SOME OF THIS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. UM, MY NAME IS WES COPELAND. I'M, IT IS MY ABSOLUTE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND SCIENCES AND BRAZOSPORT FINE ARTS COUNCIL. UH, FOR ANYONE WHO HAS NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY YET TO VISIT THE CENTER, LEMME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US. WE ARE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS ALL ROLLED INTO ONE VALUABLE PROGRAMS THAT WE HOPE BRING A LOT OF VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY, UH, AND RAISE THE STANDARD OF LIVING AND GIVE PEOPLE A GOOD REASON TO LIVE, WORK, PLAY, AND VISIT LAKE JACKSON. WE HAVE BRAZOSPORT CENTER STAGES, WHICH IS ONE OF THE LONGEST CONTINUALLY RUNNING COMMUNITY THEATERS IN THE NATION. UH, WE'VE BEEN GOING SINCE 1943. UH, WE HOUSE THE BRAZOSPORT MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE. ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE STATE SHELL OF TEXAS IS? WELL, IT'S A LIGHTNING WELK AND THAT VERY NICE. AND THAT WAS STARTED THERE AT THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE WITH ONE OF ITS FOUNDERS. WE HAVE A FULL DOME PLANETARIUM, THE BASF PLANETARIUM. WE HAVE THE BRAZOSPORT ART LEAGUE, WHICH JUST CELEBRATED ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND WE ALSO, UH, HAVE BRAZOSPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WHO PLAYED THEIR FIRST 25 YEARS AT THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND SCIENCES, AND THEN MOVED PERFORMANCES TO THE CLARION ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AT BRAZOSPORT COLLEGE. WE WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD OUTREACH, NOT WE DON'T HAVE EVERYTHING JUST THERE AT THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND SCIENCES, BUT OUTSIDE IN THE FULL COMMUNITY AS WELL. UH, SO WHAT DOES BRAZOSPORT FINE ARTS COUNCIL DO? WE PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES AND MARKETING SUPPORT FOR ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT BRING VITALITY AND ELEVATED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. AND OF COURSE, PROVIDE REASONS FOR VISITORS TO TRAVEL TO OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS BEING A, AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR VISITORS WHO ARE ALREADY HERE LOOKING FOR ENRICHING EXPERIENCES TO DO. WE DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE TOURISM, TO THE BRAZOSPORT REGION, KNOWING THAT TRAVELERS HERE WILL SPEND THEIR MONEY IF WE GIVE THEM ENOUGH REASON TO STICK AROUND. IT IS IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO HAVE THE HOTELS FILLED WITH VISITORS, AND IT IS OUR GOAL TO PROVIDE ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND ATTRACTIONS THAT ENCOURAGE HOTELS STAYS. UH, I AM ACTUALLY ON THE NOW ON THE BOARD OF TEXANS FOR THE ARTS AND THERE IS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING DRAFTED AND SIGNED BY BOTH TEXANS FOR THE ARTS AND THE TEXAS HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION THAT PROVIDES SOME GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE IMPACT ON TOURISM FOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE ONE I REPRESENT. I AM VERY PROUD TO REPORT OUR ROBUST CAMPAIGNS TO PROMOTE CULTURAL TOURISM AND HOTEL STAYS WITH THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS. AND I WILL READ THIS A LITTLE QUICKLY, SO, 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE A LONG AGENDA. ONE IS THAT THE RECIPIENT WORKS WITH ITS AREA LODGING OPERATORS AND OR CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU TO PROMOTE LOCAL ARTS EVENTS THROUGH HOTEL CONCIERGE SERVICES, TRAINING OF HOTEL STAFF, LOBBY AREA FLYERS, OR SIMILAR MEASURES TO BETTER SERVE VISITORS TO THE AREA [00:05:01] AND ENCOURAGE THEIR EXTENDED STAY OR TO STAY IN AREA LODGING FACILITIES. WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST HOTEL RELATIONS CAMPAIGN TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH HOTEL STAFF AND MANAGERS, ALERTING THEM TO THE ACTIVITIES, EXHIBITS, AND EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CENTER. EVERY MONTH WE BRING THEM LISTS OF EVENTS HAPPENING AT THE CENTER, UM, AND WE ALSO BRING THEM FOOD. SO THEY LOOK FORWARD TO US BEING THERE. UH, I HAVE PROUDLY SERVED ON THE LAKE JACKSON HOT COMMITTEE AND OTHER TOURISM FOCUS GROUPS FOR MANY YEARS NOW, AND WILL CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS FOR US TO LEVERAGE AND AMPLIFY EACH OTHER'S MESSAGES. ANOTHER IS THAT THE RECIPIENT BOOKS, HOTEL ROOMS FOR VISITING ARTISTS AND OFFERS HOTEL RELATED INFORMATION TO ATTENDEES OF THE ORGANIZATION'S HOTEL TAX FUNDED EVENTS. WE MAKE IT A STANDARD PRACTICE THAT BOTH OUR CONSTANT CONTACT MASS EMAIL CAMPAIGNS AND IN OUR TICKETING SYSTEMS, UH, UH, CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGEMENT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE ATTENDING EVENTS TO STAY IN AN AREA HOTEL, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE LOCAL AND HAVE OUT OF TOWN GUESTS COMING TO THE EVENT. THERE'S NO REASON WHY SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO SHARE SO FEW BATHROOMS WHEN WE HAVE REALLY WONDERFUL HOTELS AROUND. AND WE LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THAT THE RECIPIENT MARKETS ITS EVENTS OUTSIDE THE LOCAL AREA THROUGH STANDARD MEDIA PRO PROMOTION OR ADVERTISING WEBSITES, MAILING LISTS, LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LISTINGS. WE REGULARLY PUT ADS IN TEXAS HIGHWAYS MAGAZINE TO PROMOTE THINGS SUCH AS THE ELIZABETH MAD FEAST. WE ALSO HAVE MEDIA OUTREACH FOR REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS AGENCIES. THE RECIPIENT THROUGH AUDIENCE OR ATTENDEE QUESTIONNAIRES DEMONSTRATES THAT TOURISTS OR OTHER OUT OF TOWN VISITORS HAVE ATTENDED ITS HOTEL TAX FUNDED EVENTS. WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS VISIT THE MUSEUM AND THE GALLERY. WE NOW HAVE AN AVERAGE OF 30% OF OUR VISITORS THAT COME DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS TO VISIT THE MUSEUM OR THE HOTEL. 30% ARE FROM OUT OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE WE ASK THAT QUESTION WITH CENTER STAGES, OUR MUSICALS AND, UH, OUR PENGUIN PROJECT AVERAGES 19% OUT OF COUNTY GUESTS. AND EVERY OTHER YEAR WHEN WE DO OUR ELIZABETH THEMATICAL FEAST, 25%, ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR AUDIENCE MEMBER COMES FROM OUT OF THE COUNTY. SO WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO BRING VALUE TO THIS COMMUNITY IN THAT WAY, A PER ANOTHER. UH, ANOTHER WAY TO SHOW IMPACT IS THE PERFORMANCE EX EXHIBITION OR OTHER EVENTS SPONSORED BY THE HOTEL OEE TAX RECIPIENT HAS BEEN REVIEWED OR OTHERWISE NOTED IN THE PUBLICATION THAT CIRCULATES OUTSIDE THE RECIPIENT'S LOCAL COMMUNITY. WE ARE RIGHT NOW DEVELOPING PROMOTIONAL PIECES FOR BOTH THE CENTER AND THE ELIZABETH MAD FEAST TO ATTRACT THE ATTENTION OF MEDIA GROUPS OUTSIDE THE AREA. IN ADDITION, WE REFRESH OUR PUBLICATIONS FOR INCLUSION AT TRA TEXAS TRAVEL CENTERS AROUND THE STATE TO HIGHLIGHT HOW A WEEKEND OR VACATION STAY IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN SATISFY THE DESIRES OF TRAVELERS. AND HERE'S SOME NEW NEWS. NOW THAT THE BRAZOSPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS AN OFFICIAL PROGRAM OF BRAZOSPORT FINE ARTS COUNCIL. THEY SIGNED THE PAPERS IN DECEMBER. I WAS ABLE TO WORK WITH THEM TO SECURE A GRANT FROM THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS FOR THEIR FEBRUARY CONCERT CALLED PULLING STRINGS WITH TWO GUEST, UH, GUITARISTS PART OF THE GRANT. WHAT THE GRANT IS FOR IS TO ENHANCE MARKETING EFFORTS TO ATTRACT OUT OF TOWN GUESTS. WE ARE UNDERWAY ON THAT AND WE ARE ALSO PARTNERED WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH THROUGH OUR PROGRAMMING AND SPECIAL EVENTS SO THAT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO HIT THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CULTURAL TOURISM COMPONENT. I WANNA THANK, UH, MAYOR ROSOVSKY FOR PROVIDING A LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE. WITH HIS HELP AND WITH THE HELP OF THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED ME PUT, PUT THIS TOGETHER AND OTHER LETTERS, WE RECEIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF FUNDING REQUESTED FOR OUR ENHANCED MARKETING EFFORTS. WE'VE NEVER GOTTEN THAT BEFORE, SO I REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THAT. WE HAVE SOME GREAT THINGS COMING UP. THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND SCIENCES IS COMING UP AUGUST 15TH, 1976. THE CENTER OPENS, SO WE'RE PLANNING SOME GREAT EVENTS FOR THAT. WE'LL HAVE ONE LARGE EVENT AND THEN EVENTS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE, THE FOLLOWING YEAR. UM, RECENTLY WE INVITED, UH, VOLUNTEER STAFF AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. MS. SILVAS WAS PART OF THIS AND I APPRECIATE HER EFFORTS, UH, TO DO A THREE-YEAR VISIONING ROADMAP OF STRATEGIC PLAN. AND SOME CHANGES INCLUDE HIRING PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP TO ANSWER OUR COMMUNITY'S DEMAND FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN THE ARTS AND SCIENCES, AND TO BRING IN, UH, AN ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR, AN ORGANIZATIONAL ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR TO HELP US DIVERSIFY AND GROW OUR FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I HAVE DEVELOPED A FUND DEVELOPMENT PLAN. I CAN GIVE YOU A COPY OF IT IF YOU NEED SOMETHING TO [00:10:01] SLEEP BY. IT'S ONLY 186 PAGES, BUT IT'S BEEN DEVELOPED SO THAT WE CAN HELP BOOST FUNDING SO THAT WE CAN REENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY AND LAUNCH OUR ORGANIZATION INTO ITS NEXT 50 YEARS. WE ALSO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE OPEN WHEN VISITORS ARE AVAILABLE TO COME. SO WE ARE WORKING WITH THE ART LEAGUE AND THE MUSEUM TO EXTEND HOURS WITH NEW EVENING HOURS ON SELECT DAYS OF THE WEEK. WE'RE WORKING ON THAT. UH, WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT. AND RECENTLY LOOK ON, ON FACEBOOK AND SOCIAL MEDIA. YOU WILL START TO SEE NEXT WEEK OR THE WEEK AFTER. UH, BRADS PORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HAS KICKED OFF PART OF OUR NEW, MY HOMETOWN MARKETING CAMPAIGN. SO LOOK FOR THAT. IT WILL BE MY HOMETOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, MY HOMETOWN COMMUNITY THEATER, MY HOMETOWN PLANETARIUM, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IF THE LOCAL PEOPLE REALLY ENGAGE AND LOVE THE, WHAT WE DO AT THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS AND SCIENCES, THEY ARE GOING TO SAY, HEY FAMILY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO YOU TO VISIT Y'ALL. COME TO US. 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT LOTS OF GREAT THINGS TO DO. SO THAT'S WHAT OUR GOAL IS. UH, THE BRAD SPORT ART LEAGUES RECENTLY CELEBRATED THEIR 70TH ANNIVERSARY. AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE, WE'RE PLANNING A 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMING UP. I JUST WANT TO, ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, ON OUR VOLUNTEERS, ON OUR PATRONS, AND ON OUR DONORS, TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE ARTS AND SCIENCES AND CULTURE ARE VIBRANT IN THIS COMMUNITY AND THAT THAT, THAT YOU RECOGNIZE IT AS A VERY CRITICAL PIECE OF, UH, THE PIE THAT MAKES A, A GOOD COMMUNITY TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN. SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH. YOU KEPT YOU AN AMAZING JOB. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. YEAH. DOING HOW YOU DOING? HOW AM I DOING? NO, NO. THE WHOLE THEATER PEOPLE OH, YEAH. DOING WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING IS YOU BET IT, YOU BET. IT'S FUN. YEAH. WELL, I THINK ALL OF US AGREE, BUT IT'S BEEN SOMETHING I'VE ALWAYS SAID. WHAT TO WES IS, IS THAT, UH, UH, A A COMMUNITY CAN'T GROW AND AND THRIVE WITHOUT ARTS. AND, UH, IT TAKES A LOT OF VOLUNTEERISM. I MEAN, TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OF, OF THE PROGRAM AND THE SYSTEM THAT THAT'S THERE. AND IT, IT'S BEEN THERE, LIKE I SAID, FOR MANY YEARS, AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE AROUND A LOT MORE YEARS BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE. THANK YOU. AND, UH, THAT, AND, AND IT'S THROUGH GREAT LEADERSHIP LIKE YOURSELF. SO, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. THANK YOU. AND KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TELLING YOU THAT. AND, UH, YOU JUST NEED TO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE, UH, AGAIN, UH, UH, THE, YOU HAVE THE HEART TO, TO CARRY THE PROGRAM. AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED. THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU MADAM. AND I, AND I LOVE ALL YOUR STATS THAT YOU DO AND STUFF, BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S EASY TO TELL SHOW PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE DOING GREAT THINGS WITH THE STATS BECAUSE YOU CAN BACK IT UP. SURE. WELL, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT. OH, I'VE BEEN IN MY FUNDRAISING CLASSES I'VE BEEN TAKING RECENTLY. THEY SAY NO STORY WITHOUT DATA. NO DATA WITHOUT A STORY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALRIGHT. YOU KNOW, SO. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I APPRECIATE THAT. COME SEE US AT THE CENTER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. [2. Proclamation – Festival of Lights ] UH, NEXT TIME ON THE AGENDA IS A PROCLAMATION FOR FESTIVAL LIGHTS AND, UH, BECAUSE OF MY, UH, RECOVERY, I'M GOING TO READ THIS FROM HERE INSTEAD OF HOBBLING UP TO THE FRONT. IF YOU DON'T MIND. UH, PROCLAMATION I, GERALD AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME AS, UH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER, 2025 AS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS MONTH IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON. URGE EACH CITIZEN TO JOIN US THIS MONTH IN CELEBRATING THE 36TH ANNUAL, UH, FESTIVAL LIGHTS. WHEREAS WE COME TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER AS A FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND NEIGHBORS. IN THE SPIRIT OF THIS SPECIAL SEASON, THE 36TH, UH, ANNUAL FESTIVAL LIGHTS, UH, WHERE YOU WILL ENTER A WORLD OF HOLIDAY MAGIC AND THOUSANDS OF FESTIVAL LIGHTS, UH, CREATE A WINTER WONDERLAND FOR ALL TO SEE. AND WHEREAS ON NOVEMBER 22ND, THE CITY'S DOWNTOWN AREA WILL BE FILLED WITH HOLIDAY SPIRIT AS PEOPLE ENJOY THE ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD, AND FOOD PLAN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. AND WHEREAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL WILL BE ON THE EVENING OF THE 22ND AS PEOPLE WATCH WITH FACES OF GLOW, THE PARADE WITH FABULOUS DISPLAYS OF LIGHTED FLOATS AND HOLIDAY CHEER. THIS HOLIDAY, UH, PROCESSIONAL WILL INCLUDE AREA, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SCHOOL GROUPS WITH CHILDHOOD FAVORITES, OLD ST. NICK, IN WHICH HE WILL MAKE HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE SEASON. ANN, WHEREAS, OR ANN NOW THEREFORE, WE THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL OF SEA LAKE OBJECTION, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 2025 AS FESTIVAL LIGHTS MONTH IN THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON, TEXAS. IN TESTIMONY WERE, UH, WITNESSED IN MY HAND AND THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF LAKE JACKSON ON THE THIRD DAY OF NOVEMBER 25TH. SO LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT, LIKE ALWAYS. AND, UH, EVERYBODY COME AND TAKE [00:15:01] ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO SHARE TIME WITH THE COMMUNITY. ALRIGHT, AND WE'LL [VISITOR COMMENTS ] MOVE ON TO, UH, VISITOR'S COMMENTS. UH, WE'VE GOT ONE VISITOR THAT SIGNED UP FOR COMMENTS AND AS, UH, UH, MS. TEMPLE COMES UP TO THE PODIUM, I'LL GO AHEAD AND HAVE YOU READ THIS STATEMENT. THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE CITIZENS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON AN ISSUE NOT ON THE AGENDA. THE CITY COUNCIL MAY NOT DISCUSS ANY, UH, ANY PRESENTED ISSUE, NOR MAY ANY ACTION BE TAKEN ON ANY ISSUE AT THIS TIME. ANY ITEM PRESENTED COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR PLACEMENT ON AN AGENDA OF A REGULAR SCHEDULED FUTURE MEETING. MS. TEMPLE. OKAY, UH, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY I ATTEND A LOT OF DIFFERENT PUBLIC MEETINGS. Y'ALL HAVE SOME OF THE BEST SEATS I'VE EVER SAT IN, COMFORTABLE. SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY I SECOND WHAT THE MAYOR HAD TO SAY ABOUT WES. HE, UM, MY HUSBAND ACTS AND PLAYS OUT THERE ON A SEMI-REGULAR BASIS. HE'S ALSO MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR. OH. SO , UH, WE SEE A LITTLE BIT OF HIM, BUT HE REALLY DOES AN EXCELLENT JOB OUT THERE. BUT WHAT I'M REALLY HERE ABOUT, I CAN'T MAKE THE MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT ABOUT THE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, ABOUT THE BUILDING, THE MCDONALD'S DOWN ON THE CORNER OF YON IN 2004. UH, I LIVE A MILE FROM THERE. I THINK IT WILL BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR COMMUNITY TO ALLOW IT TO GO IN THERE. UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY RESTAURANT THERE. WHY DON'T THESE PEOPLE BUY LAND THERE AT 2004 AND 2 88? MUCH BETTER TRAFFIC FLOW FOR THEM TO GET BUSINESS THAN RIGHT THERE IN OUR RESIDENTIAL AREA. AND I, I JUST THINK IT WILL BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR COMMUNITY. AND, YOU KNOW, WEEKNIGHTS, I SOMETIMES HAVE DRIVEN DOWN AND TO DOWNTOWN AND I JUST, I MARVEL AT IT COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES, THERE'S NO NIGHTLIFE IN OTHER PLACES. IT'S GOT SUCH A UNIQUE ARRANGEMENT THAT IT'S CONDUCIVE. IT MAKES THIS COMMUNITY VERY UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL. WE'VE GOT A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN. OTHER PLACES LOOK DEAD. AND WHEN I SEE THAT AND THEN I SEE PLUNKING A MCDONALD'S DOWN ON A CORNER IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. AND ON THAT MATTER, THE LAST THING I WILL SAY ABOUT THAT IS, WHAT WOULD ALDEN DOW THINK ABOUT IT? I DON'T THINK HE'D LIKE IT. NEXT, THE SECOND ITEM I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT VERY QUICKLY. ALL OF THE OVERGROWTH IN OYSTER CREEK IS BECOMING A REAL ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL HAVE NOTICED IT, BUT I LIVE ON THE CREEK AND IT IS JUST FULL OF WHAT I CALL WATER LITTLE LEAGUES. THAT'S NOT THEIR REAL NAME. THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE. AND THEN WE ARE GETTING ALGAE AND SOONER OR LATER THAT THING IS GONNA START STINKING UP THE TOWN. AND, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED A NAVIGABLE WATERWAY APPARENTLY. AND YET THE, UM, I CAN'T THINK OF THE NAME OF THE, THE GROUP. UH, IT'S A FEDERAL AGENCY, ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. THANK YOU. THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE LAST TIME WE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, THE CITY SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. AND SO SOME OF US CITIZENS DID GET TOGETHER AND WE FORMED THE OYSTER CREEK CONSERVANCY. IT'S KIND OF DEFUNCT RIGHT NOW, BUT I KNOW IN A COUPLE YEARS Y'ALL PLAN ON HAVING THE CREEK CLEANED OUT OF TREES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT ISN'T THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER? I THINK IT IS COULD ALSO BE BAD FOR THE HEALTH OF THE CITIZENS OF LAKE JACKSON. SO I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL TO LOOK AT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. AND IF ANY OF YOU WANNA ACTUALLY COME SEE IT, YOU'RE WELCOME TO COME TO MY HOUSE AND WALK IN MY BACKYARD AND SEE IT. YEAH. AND JUST BRING UP TO DATE IS IS THAT THE CITY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT IS ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. WE HAVE TO GET A PERMIT FROM THEM AND THE COAST GUARD ACTUALLY TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT. UH, WE'RE WORKING, WE STARTED TO WORK WITH, UH, COUNTY COMMISSIONER, UH, LENDER. RIGHT. UH, DURING THE STORM, THE HURRICANE, FOLLOW UP WITH THE HURRICANE. AND WE WERE HOPING THAT WE COULD, UH, TAG ONTO A PREVIOUS PERMIT THAT WE USED TO CLEAN IT LAST TIME, BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO. SO WE HAD TO GO BACK. THE COUNTY HAD TO GO BACK AND RESUBMIT. THAT'S BEEN DONE. THEY'RE HOPING TO LET CONTRACT BY BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR AND START CLEANING AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. AND WILL THAT ALSO INCLUDE GETTING ALL OF THIS OVERGROWTH? WELL, IT'S GONNA BE ALL THE, ALL THE DEBRIS THAT'S, THAT'S CLOGGING UP THE CREEK AND, AND, UH, ANY TREES THAT HAVE FALLEN INTO THE CREEK, THEY'LL TAKE OUT YES. WILL THEY TAKE OUT THAT OVERGROWTH OF THE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THE CONTRACT. YEAH, BUT IT SHOULD IMPROVE THE FLOW BY REMOVING THOSE TREES AND STUFF. BUT, UH, IT'S, IT IS WHAT IT IS THAT, AND WE, WE CAN'T TOUCH IT. WE LEGALLY CANNOT GO INTO THAT CREEK AND DO ANY WORK ON IT. SO NOTHING HAS CHANGED. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO WE NEED TO REACTIVATE. ALRIGHT. THANK. ALRIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. WE'LL [DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST] MOVE ON TO, UH, DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. [00:20:01] UM, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL TO DECLARE IF THEY HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, UH, ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT OR REGULAR AGENDA. UH, AS ANYBODY ON COUNCIL NEED TO DECLARE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, NOT HEARING ANY, WE'LL MOVE ON [CONSENT AGENDA ] TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. UH, DOES ANY MEMBER ON CITY COUNCIL LIKE TO REMOVE AN ITEM ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR OH, FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION, HEARING ANY? I'LL TAKE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. MR. MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 1, 2, 3, AND FOUR AS PRESENTED. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE COUNCIL, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILWOMAN SETH. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BUELL. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. [1. Discuss and consider the first reading of Ordinance No. 2310, amending Chapter 78 Signs, Sec. 78 10 of the Code of Ordinances, to allow 32 sq. ft. commercial real estate for sale and lease signs. – Sherri Russell] ALL RIGHT. GO INTO REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS. ITEM ONE IS DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED THE FRONT, UH, THE FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 2310. AMEN. UH, CHAPTER 78, SIGN SECTION 78 10 ON CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ALLOW 32 FOOT COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FOR SALE OR LEASE SIGNS. MS. RUSSELL, A DRAFT FORCE, OR NOT A DRAFT, BUT A PROPOSED? YEAH, IT'S A VERY SIMPLE CHANGE. WE ONLY NEED TO CHANGE ONE SECTION, UM, TO SAY THAT THE SIGNS CANNOT EXCEED 32 SQUARE FEET. ALRIGHT, ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE? NO, SIR. MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, COUNCILMAN SHANYA DID BRING UP A, UH, HAD A, A QUESTION THAT I DIDN'T HAVE A READY ANSWER FOR, BUT WENT BACK IN AND DISCUSSED IT, UH, WITH DAVE AS WELL. WE DO, UH, THE QUESTION WAS, DO WE HAVE A LIMIT ON THAT? AND IN THIS SECTION WE DO AND FOR LEASE, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE OF WHY IT'S, UH, FOR SALE AND UNDER CONSTRUCTION, RIGHT, WE DO ALLOW A 32 SQUARE FOOT SIGN EVERY 200 FEET. AND THEN WE ALLOW A BIGGER SIGN WHEN IT'S OVER THREE THREE ACRES. ACRES. SO THERE'S A DIFFERENT PROVISION FOR A SIGN DURING A PERIOD OF, FOR CELL CONSTRUCTION THAT WHICH IS, AND WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS ONE ONCE IT'S CONSTRUCTED AND THERE'S SOMETHING THERE AND IT'S BEING, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR LEASE. UH, SO, SO I JUST WANTED TO POINT, POINT THAT OUT. OKAY. ANY COMMENT? NO, SIR. ALRIGHT. I'LL TAKE MOTION ON ITEM ONE, MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE FIRST READING THE ORDINANCE NUMBER 2 3, 1 10 AMENDING CHAPTER 78, SIGN, SECTION 78 DASH 10 OF THE COURT OF ORDINANCES TO ALLOW 32 SQUARE FEET COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATES FOR SALE AND LEASE SIGN AS PRESENTED. ALRIGHT, I HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN SHANYA. SECOND. SECOND BY, UH, COUNCILWOMAN SETH, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, UH, HEARING ANY, I'LL TAKE A A VOTE ON THIS ITEM. UH, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION'S APPROVED. THANK YOU. THIS IS FIRST DRAFT AND I'LL COME BACK TO US. UH, NEXT COUNCIL MEETING FOR SECOND. ALL [2. Discuss and consider the adoption of utility policies and procedures related to utility bill leak adjustments. – James Bryson] RIGHT. ITEM TWO, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER ADOPTION OF, UH, UTILITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO UTILITY. UH, BILL, UH, LEAK ADJUSTMENTS. GOOD EVENING, MADAM COUNSEL. SO AT THE LAST MEETING, WE DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE BIT, BUT YOU DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE POLICY AND PROCEDURES. AND I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A COUPLE WEEKS NOW THAT YOU'VE, OR AT LEAST SINCE LAST TUESDAY, UH, CHANCE TO REVIEW THE MATERIAL. AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS JUST COME UP WITH A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT POLICY, UH, SO THAT WE CAN TREAT EVERYBODY FAIRLY. AND WITH REGARD TO THE POLICY, IT'S ADDRESSING A LEAK ADJUSTMENT ONE OF EVERY 12 MONTHS AND A HIGH USAGE THAT'S UNEXPLAINED ONCE IN A LIFETIME. AND, UM, WE'RE ASKING COUNSEL IF THEY WOULD PLEASE ADOPT THIS POLICY FOR US. AND BEHIND THE, IT'S A TWO PAGE POLICY, AND THEN BEHIND THE POLICIES, A, A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE AS TO HOW WE WOULD IMPLEMENT THE POLICIES IF Y'ALL ASSOCIATE US TO APPROVE IT. I DID BRING, UH, WESLEY HERE WITH ME. SHE'S OUR UTILITY SUPERVISOR. SHE'S NOT THE HORRIBLE MONSTER THAT YOU READ ABOUT ON THE NEWS . SHE'S VERY AMICABLE. SO SHE WILL WORK WITH PEOPLE. SO I JUST WANTED YOU TO SEE, UH, THAT THE, THAT THE CITIZENS ARE IN GOOD HANDS IN HER SHAPE, AND SHE'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. AND AGAIN, JAMES, I MEAN, IF YOU COULD EXPLAIN, WE'VE HAD THIS PRAC, WE HAVE IT AS A PRACTICE YES. AND FOR A LONG TIME, BUT WHEN WE GO BACK, WE'VE NEVER, WE COULDN'T FIND WHAT WE'VE . AND IN REALITY, WE'VE HAD A FEW POLICY ADOPTED BY COUNCIL. AND SO WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, A POLICY, BUT A LONGSTANDING PRACTICE, WE REALLY DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A FEW REPEAT [00:25:01] OFFENDERS. AND THEN IT'S HARD TO TELL THEM NO. AND THEN WE CAN'T TELL SOMEONE ELSE. NO. IF SOMEONE ELSE HAS HAD A COUPLE. SO BY SETTING THIS IN PLACE, THEN WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, LIKE, OKAY, EVERYBODY, YOU GET ONE. WE HAVE 'EM BACKSTOP. AND HOW, HOW IS IT DOCUMENTED? LIKE THE NOTES ARE ON THE CA ON THE, AND THEY, EVERYBODY'S FILE HAS NOTES THAT ARE PUT IN THERE. SO WE TRACK EVERY TIME SOMEONE GETS A, AN ADJUSTMENT ON THEIR ACCOUNT. BUT INVARIABLY WHAT HAPPENS IS SOMETIMES WE HAVE SOME REPEAT, UH, CUSTOMERS THAT WILL HAVE A LEAK PROBLEM AND IT'LL GO TO WESLEY FIRST, AND THEN SHE'LL WORK WITH 'EM. AND THEN SOMETIMES IT GETS RAISED AND IT'LL GO TO JAMES AND JAMES PAY. YOU HEAR IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, OR THEN IT GETS TO ME AND I HEAR IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THEN I'LL MAKE, I'LL ALLOW ONE. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE RECORD. IT'S LIKE, WE'VE GIVEN FOUR LEAK ADJUSTMENTS. IT'S LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE, WE'VE VIOLATED OUR OWN PRACTICE, BUT NO ONE'S, UH, AND IT SAYS, OKAY, WE NEED TO REALLY HAVE A CLEAR POLICY. WE THAT WHEN WE TELL THE CITIZENS, AND HERE'S OUR POLICY, IF AND IF YOU REALLY, YOU KNOW, ARE IN DISAGREEMENT WITH IT, THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS TO COME TO COUNCIL AND ASK FOR THE POLICY TO BE CHANGED. UM, AND SO, SO I JUST HAVE ONE CONCERN ABOUT THIS. WE AS A COUNCIL, AS THE ELECTED BODY, I THINK THE BUCK STOPS AT THE COUNCIL, NOT AT THE STAFF. SO I DON'T WANT THE STAFF TO TAKE ALL THE HEAT. SO THE POLICY IS GREAT, AND I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A PROVISION THAT IF A CITIZEN WANTS TO APPEAL TO THE COUNCIL, THEY CAN. AND, UH, AND THE COUNCIL SHOULD STAND BEHIND THE BACKBONES OF THE STAFF AND SAY NO. BUT THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD LIE TO THE COUNCIL, NOT THE STAFF. WE SHOULD NOT SHIRK IT OFF TO THE STAFF TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. I'M JUST THINKING OUT LOUD HERE. MY, MY ADVICE IS, IS THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD WE WOULD TELL COUNCIL, WE WOULD TELL A MEMBER THEY REALLY WANTED TO APPEAL. THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE POLICY AND NOT APPEAL INDIVIDUALLY. BECAUSE I THINK INDIVIDUALLY YOU WOULD AT LEAST HAVE ONE OR TWO CUSTOMERS A MONTH. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE PREMISE SAYS IS THAT IT, IT, THEIR BURDEN SHOULD REC RESIDE TO THE COUNCIL. AND THE POLICY IS GREAT. AND YOU KNOW, POLICIES ARE JUST POLICIES AND THEY ARE MEANT TO BE AMENDED TIME TO TIME IF NECESSARY. SO, AND, UH, I WOULD JUST SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE THAT OPTION AND THE COUNCIL, I HOPE, WILL STAND BY THE STAFF AND SAY NO. BUT AGAIN, THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE THE COUNCIL. WELL, RESPECTFULLY, COUNCILMAN AND HANIA, I'M GONNA HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH THAT. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY. IS BECAUSE WE HAVE A MILLION POLICIES THAT, AND, AND ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE OR PREVIOUS COUNCILS HAVE PUT IN PLACE. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE GIVING STAFF CLEAR PARAMETERS TO DO THEIR JOBS. UM, AND I MEAN, I THINK THAT IS A STANDING BEHIND THEM. AND I MEAN, WE NEED TO SET THE, SET THE POLICIES, AND THEN STAFF HAS THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED. IT'S JUST LIKE PD OR WHOEVER ELSE. THEY HAVE THOSE TOOLS. WE'VE GIVEN THEM THOSE TOOLS. UM, I THINK THE WAY IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, PRIOR TO THIS, THEY DON'T HAVE THE TOOLS. SO THIS IS US STANDING BEHIND THE STAFF BY SAYING, HERE'S THE, HERE'S THE GUIDELINES, LET'S STICK BY THIS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT AGAIN, THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POLICY TO GO RUN THE CITY, CITY EMPLOYEES AND CITY STAFF. BUT THIS IS GOVERNING THE CITIZENS ITSELF. SO IT'S A DIFFERENCE HERE. SO I THINK THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY TO ANSWER TO CITIZENS, IF WE ARE THE ELECTED BODY STAFF IS NOT ELECTED. OKAY. SO WE, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS AN ELECTION ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS FAIRLY BLACK AND WHITE WITH WATER USAGE. I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT WHEN THE, WHEN THE CITIZEN IS UNHAPPY, HE IS GOING AFTER FOR HIS ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO HE VOTED TO ELECT. WELL THAT'S A, BUT I GUESS WHAT, WHAT THE DEAL IS WITH THIS POLICY IN PLACE IS THAT WHENEVER STAFF INTERACTS WITH A CITIZEN AND THAT, AND THEY SAID, THIS IS THE POLICY THAT COUNCIL HAS PUT IN PLACE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT. IF YOU HAVE A, IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION ABOUT THAT OR YOU WANT THAT TO BE CHANGED OR WHATEVER, THEN YOU NEED TO GO TALK TO CITY COUNCIL. YEAH. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT'S IN THERE. LAST TIME WE SPOKE ABOUT WAS WE ARE NOT GOING TO ENTERTAIN THAT THEM, UH, THE OPTION FOR THEM TO GO TO THE COUNCIL. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE OPTION TO CHANGE THE POLICY. TO CHANGE THE POLICY, NOT TO, I MEAN, THEY WOULDN'T, WELL THEY, THEY WOULD'VE THE OPTION TO COME AND SPEAK AT COUNCIL. BUT TO ME THAT PROCEDURE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER PROCEDURE. RIGHT. UM, IT, IT SHOULDN'T BE UP TO COUNCIL FOR, FOR US TO, UM, ENFORCE POLICY. YES. TO MAKE JUDGEMENTS ABOUT THE POLICY AND SHOULD BE [00:30:01] OUR JOB. THE CITIZEN WANTS TO CHANGE THE POLICY TO COME TO US, AND THEN WE DISCUSS WHETHER THAT POLICY NEEDS CHANGING. I I UNDERSTAND. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M ASKING FOR. I'M NOT ASKING FOR THEM TO DEVIATE FROM THE POLICY, BUT TO CHANGE THE POLICY. RIGHT NOW, SEVERAL ISSUES HAVE COME UP, WILL COUNCIL IT RISKS CERTAIN THINGS WITH THE COMMISSION OR, OR THE STAFF, BUT IT REALLY CANNOT GO TO THE COUNCIL BECAUSE THE PERMISSION SAYS THAT IT CAN'T. SO I'M JUST TRYING TO AVOID THAT ISSUE. MY UNDERSTANDING IS ANY CITIZEN CAN ALWAYS COME TO COUNCIL TO QUESTION AN ORDINANCE RULE POLICY. IS THAT CORRECT? THAT THAT, THAT'S CORRECT. SO THEY CAN ALWAYS, AND WE ALWAYS TELL CITIZENS THAT, OKAY, SO LEMME GIVE YOU THE EXAMPLE. I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THIS MCDONALD'S ISSUE. SAY, WELL, WE CAN'T GO TO THE COUNCIL 'CAUSE COUNCIL HAS NO AUTHORITY. THEY SAID THE PLANNERS OR SO PLANNERS IS JUST A, UH, A BODY LET YOU KNOW, PUT TOGETHER FROM THE, FROM THE COUNCIL. SO CITIZENS FEEL LIKE THE COUNCIL IS SHIRKING OFF THEIR, THEIR DECISION MAKING AND JUST PUTTING IT BACK ON THE PLANNERS OR STAFF? NO, BECAUSE IF YOU EXPLAIN, IF IT'S EXPLAINED TO THEM CORRECTLY, IS THAT THE, THIS IS THE WAY THE PROCESS IS SET UP AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING. WE'RE FOLLOWING THE PROCESS ON THAT SITUATION, LIKE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AS IT'S SET UP. SO AGAIN, WE ARE, WE'RE GETTING WAY OFF IN THE WOODS HERE, BUT WE AS A COUNCIL, WE DEFINE WHEN YOU HAVE A CITY THAT IS OPERATES OFF OF ZONING, YOU HAVE A CITY COUNCIL THAT DEFINES ZONINGS, WE SIGN OFF ON IT AND WE HAND THAT OFF TO PLANNERS AS PLANNER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FI TO FOLLOW THOSE, TO WORK WITHIN THOSE BOUNDARIES THAT WE SET AS A COUNCIL AS FAR AS MEANT AS ZONING TO GO WORK WITHIN THOSE BOUNDARIES TO ADDRESS ANY KIND OF CONCERNS OR ANY KIND OF GROWTH. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. WE'RE NOT SHUCKING ANYTHING. AND EVERYBODY I'VE TALKED TO, WHEN I'VE EXPLAINED TO 'EM THIS IS THE WAY IT, THE PROCESS WORKS, THEY'RE OKAY WITH THAT. THEY JUST WANNA KNOW WHO TO GO TALK TO SO THAT IT CAN BE, THEY CAN BE HEARD AND THAT IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO WORK THROUGH ANY OF THOSE ISSUES WITH A NEW DEVELOPMENT, THEY CAN, WE CAN WORK THROUGH. THAT'S ALL PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW. AND TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE, THE WIRE ISSUE THAT'S ON THE AGENDA IS THAT'S THE EXACT SAME THING. WE'RE JUST SETTING, WE ARE, WE, THE BUCK DOES STOP WITH US AND WE ARE SETTING THOSE PARAMETERS AND GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO WORK WITHIN THOSE PARAMETERS. AND IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THE PARAMETERS, THAT'S WHEN THEY COME BACK TO US. BUT WE CAN'T HAVE 800 PEOPLE COMING TO DISCUSS THEIR THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING INDIVIDUAL THAT'S ASKING FOR OKAY. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING. I'M ASKING FOR, I JUST DON'T WANT THE POLICY BEING CONCRETE. THE COUNCIL HAS NO INTERACTION WITH CITIZEN TO ONE TO CHANGE HERE. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS SAYING. THAT'S NOT WHAT THIS IS SAYING. WE AVERAGE ABOUT 25, UM, ADJUSTMENTS A WEEK. SO IF EACH ONE OF THOSE PERSONS WAS TREATED DIFFERENT OR EACH ONE REACHED OUT TO EACH DIFFERENT COUNCIL PERSON, IT'S A MESS. IT'S A SO KNOW WHAT ASKING CASE, WE HAVE TROUBLE, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT ASKING FOR, BUT THIS ALREADY, I MEAN, IT'S JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER POLICY THAT WE HAVE, ANYBODY CAN ALWAYS COME QUESTION THE POLICY. IF THEY DON'T, AND IF, IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE DECISION THAT WE MAKE, THEN THEY CAN ALWAYS APPEAL TO COUNSEL ON THE POLICY. YEAH. ON THE POLICY. AND THAT'S, AND THAT'S WHAT WE, AND THAT WOULD BE COUNCIL WOULD BE WHITE MAKE YOUR EXCEPTION ANY DIFFERENT THAN SOMEBODY ELSE THAT COMES IN THE DOOR. SO, AND THAT'S HOW WE WOULD DIRECT A CITIZEN IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE CITIZEN WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE POLICY. WE DIRECT, YOU ALWAYS HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO TALK TO COUNSEL TO CHANGE THE POLICY, BUT IT WILL NOT BE SPECIFICALLY TO THEIR SITUATION. RIGHT. AND THAT'S, AND AGAIN, THAT'S WHY THE SAME THING WITH ANY ORDINANCE THAT WE ALSO PUT IN PLACE IS MOST OF, IF NOT ALL OF OUR ORDINANCES DO NOT HAVE A VARIANCE COMPONENT IN THEM. SO IF A CITIZEN COMES IN AND SAYS, OR IF A CITIZEN THIS, THIS SITUATION HERE IS THEY GO TO TO STAFF AND STAFF AND THEY WANT THEIR, THEIR BILLING ADJUSTED AND THEY SAY, WE'VE ALREADY DONE IT ACCORDING TO POLICY. WE'VE, WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN. AND IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE THAT POLICY, THEN YOU CAN, THE ONLY WAY THAT CAN BE, UH, ANYTHING DIFFERENT CAN BE DONE IS THE POLICY HAS TO BE CHANGED AND YOU HAVE TO GO TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THAT. AND THEY WOULD COME TO US AND THEN THEY WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE POLICY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. AND THIS REMINDS ME OF THE ISSUE THAT CAME UP WHEN I WAS FIRST ON COUNCIL, WHEN DAVID CAME UP AND THEY WERE HAVING A HARD TIME ENFORCING THE YARD PARKING. SO WE STRENGTHENED THE POLICY TO GIVE THEM THE TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE CITIZEN COMPLAINTS. AND THAT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT IS WE ARE GIVING STAFF THE TOOLS TO HANDLE IT IN AN ORDERLY, CONSISTENT MANNER, WHICH IS WHAT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S THE CONSISTENCY. YEAH. I, AGAIN, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CONCERN IS. AGAIN, IT'S JUST, THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER POLICY WE PUT IN PLACE OR ANY KIND OF ORDINANCE WE'VE PUT IN PLACE. AND THAT IS, IS THAT GIVES DIRECTION TO STAFF AND STAFF GOES AND IMPLEMENTS THAT POLICY OR ORDINANCE. AND THE ONLY CONCERN I HAVE, LAST DISCUSSION WE HAD, ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE STIPULATED IN THAT, THAT THEY CANNOT GO TO THE COUNCIL TO APPEAL THIS IN. CORRECT. THEY, THEY CAN'T APPEAL THEIR INDIVIDUAL, THEIR DECISION. I'M NOT ASKING FOR INDIVIDUAL, I'M ASKING FOR THE POLICY [00:35:01] IF THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE POLICY, BUT WE ALL THIS CAN DO THAT. I DON'T THINK, I DON'T, WHENEVER THAT STATEMENT WAS MADE, IT WAS NOT TO CHANGE THE POLICY, IT WAS TO APPEAL THEIR OWN PERSONAL SITUATION. THAT'S PROBABLY A MISUNDERSTOOD, I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT, THERE'S, UH, CHANGE IN POLICY. ANYBODY CAN APPROACH THE COUNCIL FOR A CHANGE. YEAH. I I DON'T THINK THAT WAS EVER SAID. YEAH, IF IT WAS, THAT WAS NOT THE INTENTION. ANY POLICY THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL IS ADOPTED, ANY CITIZEN CAN ASK FOR IT TO BE CHANGED. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE ASK, ASK . OKAY. THERE'S, YEAH. AND NOWHERE IN THIS POLICY DOES IT STATE THAT, THAT THEY CANNOT COME TO COUNCIL. SO THAT, THAT'S, THAT'S NOT WRITTEN ANYWHERE. I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR AND CONSISTENT POLICY. ALRIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS A, A POLICY, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE TO REQUIRE FIRST AND SECOND OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. NO, BUT WE WOULD LIKE A, I MEAN AS FAR AS, AS FAR AS READINGS, I MEAN, UM, SHERRY, MS. RUSSELL, DOES THIS HAVE TO BE A POLICY? PUT AN ORDINANCE FORM THERE. THEY'RE ARE SMALL PARTS AND I'LL PICK THEM OUT AND BRING THAT TO YOU. BUT DOES POLICY, YOU JUST DO THE ONE READING RIGHT NOW. OKAY, SO WE'RE JUST GONNA DO THIS, RIGHT. AND TO ADOPT THIS POLICY, THEN I'LL GO THROUGH IT AND, AND SEE, I REMEMBER SEEING ONE THING AND THEN I THOUGHT, WELL, WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING SEVERAL OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THEY'RE, I DON'T IF, AND I'LL WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE FINISHED, COMBINE 'EM ALL TOGETHER, THAT'LL BE PERFECT. UM, WEDNESDAY AND JAMES HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER ADJUSTMENTS, LIKE METER TESTING, LIKE WRITE OFF AND METER TESTING WRITE OFF AND STUFF. AND SO ONCE WE GET THOSE ALL, BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO HIT YOU WITH ALL THREE OR FOUR POLICIES. UH, AND THEN SHERRY WILL SEE IF THERE NEEDS TO BE ANY ORDINANCE PROVISIONS. I MEAN, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE, UH, WE HAVE A TESTING, UH, PORTION OF OUR ORDINANCE THAT WE CAN CHARGE AND I THINK IT'S LIKE $2 $2 AND THE ACTUAL FEE RENDER TEST TODAY IS $120. OKAY. WELL, SO THIS AGENDA ITEM WAS TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER, UH, OPPOSED JUST THIS POLICY. SO YOU JUST WANT US TO SAY, SOUNDS GOOD. MOVE FORWARD DIRECTION RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE CAN ENFORCE IT WITH THE, AND THEN WE'LL BRING, SO THE CUSTOMER COMES IN, WE CAN SAY, YOU NOW HAVE TO GO TO COUNCIL IF YOU WANNA MAKE A CHANGE. BUT AT SOME DATE YOU'RE GOING TO WANT US TO SAY THAT COUNCIL ADOPTS THIS POLICY. THAT'S TODAY IS WHAT I'M SAYING FOR THIS POLICY BROUGHT RIGHT. I WOULD SAY TODAY, YES. AND THEN, OKAY, THERE'S ANY PROVISION, GROUP THEM TOGETHER. OKAY. THEN I'LL BRING THAT. SO YOU NEED A MOTION TO ADOPT. MOTION TO ADOPT THIS. OKAY. I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO, A MOTION TO ADOPT THE UTILITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES RELATED TO UTILITY BILL ADJUSTMENTS. ALRIGHT. HAVE A MOTION WITH COUNCILWOMAN SETH. SECOND, I SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BUELL. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITHOUT HEARING ANY TAKE VOTE? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ITEM [3. Approve Resolution No. 997, authorizing the City Manager to submit a grant to the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for Comprehensive Master Planning. – Modesto Mundo] THREE IS, UH, APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 9 7 AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGERS TO SUBMIT A GRANT TO TEXAS, UH, GENERAL LAND OFFICE, UH, FOR, UH, COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLANNING. MODESTO, WE WERE NOTIFIED A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, UH, MAYBE TWO OR THREE WEEKS AGO FROM, UH, LANGFORD AND ASSOCIATES ARE, UM, UH, I GUESS OUR CONSULTANT THAT'S WORKING WITH US ON OUR GLO MID MOD, THAT THERE WAS AN EXPIRING GRANT FROM THE GLO TO HELP, UH, CITIES, UH, ON CODE DEVELOPMENT. AND THAT WHAT WE'RE SPECIFICALLY INTERESTED IN, I WANTED TO BRING TO COUNCIL ATTENTION WAS COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLANNING. UM, AND IT'S A $300,000 GRANT, NO MATCH RE REQUIREMENT. UH, CITIES DO A MASTER PLAN EVERY 20 YEARS. WE ARE 10 YEARS INTO OURS. IT'S PROBABLY DUE FOR REFRESH, YOU KNOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT. UM, MY FIRST HESITATION WAS DO WE REALLY NEED, YOU KNOW, TO DO IT AT THIS STAGE, IT'S A LITTLE EARLY, BUT AFTER, UH, TALKING WITH, UH, A CITY MANAGER AND THE ENGINEER AND THE FORMER CITY, UH, MANAGER, ALL THREE WERE KIND OF THE ADVISEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, A LOT'S CHANGED, UH, SINCE, UM, 2016. AND THAT, UM, WE'RE MORE IN A, UM, NOT IN A GROWTH MODE, BUT A REFURBISHMENT MODE THAT IT WOULDN'T BE A BAD IDEA POSSIBLY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AND, UH, AND FOCUS ON, YOU KNOW, UH, A LOT OF OUR INTERIOR GROWTH AND, UH, AND SEEING IF, UM, UH, WE WANTED TO LOOK AT MORE INTERNALLY THAN, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, IN OUR ETJ OR OTHER, UH, GROWTH AREAS. SO I WANTED TO BOUNCE IT OFF COUNSEL AND SEE IF YOU WERE INTERESTED. UH, IN THE PAST WHEN WE HAVE DONE, UH, COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN, IT IS USUALLY A LITTLE UNDER A DRAIN A THOUSAND. AND BECAUSE IT'S SO EXPENSIVE, WE DO IT OVER [00:40:01] A TWO YEAR, UH, PERIOD. IT'S NOT REQUIRED BY LAW. UM, IT IS INITIALLY WHEN WE DO ZONING, UH, BUT IT IS A GOOD PRACTICE, UH, FOR US TO DO. BUT I WANTED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, UH, WITH YOU TO SEE IF, UH, COUNSEL WANTED US TO ENTER THE GRANT OR IF NOT, SO MY ONLY CONCERN ABOUT THAT IS, SO 10 YEARS AGO IT WAS JUST UNDER $300,000. CAN WE DO IT TODAY WITHIN THE BUDGET OF THIS GRANT? OR WOULD IT REQUIRE MORE MONEY? UM, WE WOULD STAY WITHIN THE AMOUNT WE, I MEAN, WE WOULD CUT THE SCOPE OF SERVICES BACK. I THINK, SAL DO YOU REMEMBER? I THOUGHT IT WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 225,000. UM, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY GO BACK AND LOOK WITH, UH, KIND KEYS, BUT I REMEMBER IT WAS SOMEWHERE, YOU KNOW, AROUND THE PRICE RANGE. YEAH. I THINK, I THINK IF WE CAN KEEP THE SCOPE TO WHERE THE COST IS NOT IN EXCESS OF THE, THE GRANT FUNDS, UH, I THINK IT WAS, IT'S A POSITIVE THING TO GO DO. AND I THINK IT'D BE EASY TO CUT THE SCOPE BECAUSE AGAIN, JUST LIKE YOU SAID IS THAT 10 YEARS AGO WE WERE LOOKING AT THE, AT, AT THE, THE WORLD A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN WE ARE TODAY. I MEAN, WE'VE, WE'VE ALL SAT HERE IN THE SAME MEETING AND WE SAW THAT WE HAVE OVER $200 MILLION WORTH OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'VE GOTTA DO. AND SO THAT'S, THAT BECOMES PART OF YOUR MASTER PLAN. IT DOES. AND SO REALLY, IF EVEN IF WE JUST CUT THE SCOPE DOWN TO WHAT DO WE DO, HOW DO WE GET FROM POINT A TO POINT B TO COVER, TO TAKE CARE OF THIS $200 MILLION, THAT WOULD BE A, A GREAT VALUE OF, OF, UH, OF, UH, GOING BACK AND DOING A MASTER PLAN, UH, TO JUST FOCUS ON IF NOTHING ELSE ON INFRASTRUCTURE. THE TWO THINGS, AFTER I READ THE GRANT, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY ASKS YOU, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT YOUR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AREAS, RIGHT? IN 2016 WE HAD ONE. TODAY WE HAVE FIVE. RIGHT? UM, AND THEN IT ALSO ASKS YOU TO INCORPORATE A LITTLE MORE HEAVILY AND FOCUS ON, UH, MITIGATION STRATEGIES, UH, FOR, UH, UM, YOU KNOW, YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT. SO FLOODING AND ANYTHING LIKE THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO BE INCORPORATED. SO YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK MORE AT, A LITTLE MORE AT THE LMI AREAS AND ALSO, UM, UM, HAZARD MITIGATION WOULD BE QUITE GOOD. SO MY OTHER COST RELATED KIND OF QUESTION ON THIS IS, IS OUR GLO REPRESENTATIVE GONNA HELP DO THE GRANT WRITE THE GRANT, DO ALL THAT? OR IS THAT GONNA COST US ADDITIONAL? RIGHT? NO, RIGHT NOW WE, UH, SO I, UH, WE STARTED OUT A, UM, UM, REQUEST FOR, UM, UH, PROPOSALS. UH, RIGHT NOW WE'VE ADVERTISED, UH, IF CA IF COUNSEL, UH, SAID, UH, PROCEED JUST TO SEE IF WE CAN GET A CONSULTANT ON EARLY ON, UH, TO HELP US FOR THE DECEMBER 31ST, THAT IS PART OF THE GRANT. YOU KNOW, THE SUBMITTAL IS WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR THEIR SERVICES FOR FREE, BUT THEN THE, UM, THE PLANNING PORTION WOULD ALL BE, YOU KNOW, PAID FOR BY THE GRANT. SO I THINK THE ANSWER, THE SETS QUESTION IS, IS IT GONNA COST US MONEY TO FILE FOR GRANT? NO. UH, WE ANTICIPATE EVERYTHING BETWEEN THREE. IT WOULD NOT BE AN ADDITIONAL COST TO, TO WRITE. AND YEAH. AND, AND AGAIN, I THINK WE CAN SMARTLY, UH, ADJUST THE SCOPE, UH, TO STAY WITHIN THAT BUDGET. YES. UH, AMOUNT AND I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S ENOUGH, UH, SMALL, THERE'S A SMALL NUMBER OF HOT TOPICS THAT THIS WOULD BE OF VALUE FOR US IS, IS WHAT I THINK. BUT THAT'S JUST ME. I LIKE FREE MONEY. I JUST ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE STREAMS ATTACHED. AND MARY. YEAH. AND COUNCIL, THIS WILL, UH, COMPLIMENT THE, THE SS FOUR GRANT, WHICH WE RECEIVE. WE FINALLY GETTING THE CONTRACT AFTER ALMOST A YEAR. RIGHT. THAT'S THE TRAFFIC SAFETY YOU HAVE WATER WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN. SO I THINK ALL THESE THINGS GONNA COME TOGETHER VERY NICELY. ALRIGHT. DO WE KNOW IF THERE'S ANY STRINGS ATTACHED TO THE $300,000 YET? IT'S, IT'S HAVE TO BE ON THE MID MODE AREA. YEAH. HAS TO BE WHAT IT HAS TO FOCUS ON. THE LONGER MODERATE INCOME AND, UH, HAZARD INDICATION IT AT LEASE HAS TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE TWO THINGS. RIGHT. RIGHT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. UH, GET A HEAD NOD ON IF Y'ALL WANNA GO FORWARD WITH THIS, UH, REQUEST FOR GOING FORWARD ON THIS GRANT. SO MR. WOULD MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, WE APPROVE RESOLUTION NUMBER 9 97 AUTHORIZING CITY MANAGER, SUBMIT A GRANT TO THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE FOR COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLANNING. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN SCHOOLER AND SECOND BY COUNCILMAN BAKER. UH, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RESOLUTION'S APPROVED. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THING THAT EVERYBODY CAME HERE TO HEAR ABOUT IS NEW BUSINESSES, [4. New Business Updates. – David Walton] MR. WALL, [00:45:02] NEW BUSINESSES. WE LOVE 'EM. UM, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE A BUILDING GOING UP RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DOLLAR TREE AND THAT IS THE, UH, TAKE FIVE OIL CHANGE. LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT ONE. WHAT'S GOING THERE? WHAT'S GOING THERE? ? YEAH. TAKE FIVE. OIL CHANGE. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING THERE. UM, IT IS, IT WAS A CARVE OUT, CARVE OUT PARCEL THAT, UH, UH, THEY SOLD OFF. UM, OTHER THAN THAT, BURLINGTON'S OPEN DOING FABULOUS. THERE WAS, THERE WAS A LINE OUT THERE ON SATURDAY. YEAH, A LINE OUT FOR THE BURLINGTON. IT'S, UH, FANTASTIC. UH, AND YOU CAN SEE THE GAS STATIONS BOTH COMING ALONG. UM, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS? I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON ANYTHING? NO. GOOD STUFF. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. UH, GO ON [5. Staff updates] TO ITEM FIVE, CITY MANAGER. YOU HAVE ANY UPDATES FOR US? UM, YOU'VE PROBABLY HAVE GOTTEN IN THE MAIL A NEW CALENDAR FROM KLJB AND . I DID THAT PROJECT, UH, FOR THEM. THAT, UH, GIVES YOU A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS, BUT ALSO WHAT WE NORMALLY ALWAYS GET WHEN MY LARGE TRASH DAY, ESPECIALLY ON FIFTH, UH, YOU KNOW, THE FIFTH WEEK OF THE MONTH CONFUSES EVERYONE RIGHT. AND STUFF. SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL CLARIFY THAT. BUT, UH, THAT WAS OUR FIRST TIP. I, IT LOOKS, UH, VERY NICE. YEAH, I MEAN, MOST OF THE FEEDBACK I'VE GOTTEN ON IS THEY APPRECIATE IT. OF COURSE YOU HAVE THE OCCASIONAL PERSON THAT DOESN'T LIKE IT, BUT MOST OF THE FEEDBACK HAS BEEN POSITIVE. AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY WHENEVER, UH, UH, FRIDAY WE HAD, UH, TRICK OR TREATING IN CITY HALL. THE CALENDARS THAT WE HAD HERE OUTSIDE DISAPPEARED REAL QUICK. SO PEOPLE WERE PICKING THEM UP AND, UH, COMPLIMENTING 'EM. SO WE'LL SEE WHAT KIND OF FEED, CONTINUOUS FEEDBACK WE GET ON IT. THAT'S GREAT. UH, ANYTHING ELSE CITY MANAGER WISE? AND THEN, SO, OKAY. UH, ACTIONS FROM TONIGHT. UH, SECOND REVIEW ON THE LEASE SIGNS AND WE WILL SUBMIT OUR GLO UH, GRANT. OKAY. ALRIGHT. AND THEN, UH, WE'LL MOVE ON TO, [ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST ] UH, ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST. AND WE'LL START WITH MR. BULE. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. ALRIGHT, MR. NIA. UH, JUST A COUPLE ITEMS. THESE ARE FOR TEXT DOTS. I'M STILL WAITING ON THE, UH, NO ENGINE ENGINE BRAKE SIGN ON 2 88 IS STILL MISSING. AND THERE NO U NO U-TURNS ON 3 32 AT WALMART. THE SIGNS ARE GONE AGAIN, AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ARE MAYBE THAT ARE PUT UP ON THE LIGHT INSTEAD OF THE POST. MAYBE LASTS LONGER, I DON'T KNOW. BUT IT DOES IMPEDE TRAFFIC AND A SHORT LIFECYCLE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THERE, U-TURN THERE. EXCUSE ME. THAT'S ALL I HAD. THANK YOU. UH, MS. SETH, UH, JUST A WORD FROM KEITH LAKE JACKSON. BEAUTIFUL. THEY ARE GOING TO MEET ON SATURDAY, I BELIEVE 1115 TO DO A DOWNTOWN CLEANUP. PICKING, PICKING STUFF UP. AND IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE, THEY'RE GONNA SPREAD OUT A LITTLE BIT. OKAY? THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING. EQUIPMENT PROVIDED. EQUIPMENT PROVIDED, YES. EQUIPMENT, EVERYBODY GETS A FANCY VEST AND MM-HMM . ALL RIGHT, MR. SCHOOLER. UH, NOTHING AT THE STOP SHOW. ALL MR. BAKER, UH, HAD A GREAT, UH, WEEK IN FORT WORTH AT TLL CONFERENCE. IT WAS VERY COLD, VERY WET, AND GLAD TO BE BACK SOUTHWEST LONG. ALRIGHT, MAY I HAVE ONE MORE ITEM? SURE. I WILL ADD THAT WE HAD, I WAS THERE AS WELL. SOME GOOD CLASSES. WE HAD SOME REALLY GOOD SPEAKERS, DIDN'T WE? YES. SOME GOOD CLASSES. ALL RIGHT, MR. JUST TO THANK THE STAFF FOR ORGANIZING THE, UH, HALLOWEEN TRICK OR TREAT THING FOR THE, FOR THE KIDS, CITY KIDS. AND IT WAS VERY, UH, SUCCESSFUL AND DID A GREAT JOB DECORATING AND, UH, AND GOING THROUGH ALL THAT. SO THAT WAS GREAT. THANK YOU. YES, I ECHO THE SAME THING WAS, UH, STAFF WENT, UH, WAY OUT THIS YEAR. I THINK IT'S, UH, VERY INTERESTING, VERY GOOD STUFF. A LOT OF EFFORT AND KIDS REALLY ENJOYED IT. DID MR. AGUIRE, DR. UH, DRESS UP? NO. CAME AS HIMSELF OH, PICTURES OR HE DIDN'T HAPPEN SOUTH. AND, UH, UH, TWO THINGS REAL QUICK. UH, REMEMBER THAT TOMORROW IS, UH, UH, TUESDAY, ELECTION DAY, AND IT'S AT THE CIVIC CENTER FROM SEVEN TO SEVEN. UM, YOU KNOW, UH, VOTE WITH YOUR VOTE, NOT WITH YOUR KEYBOARD, I GUESS IS WHAT I'M GONNA SAY. SO GO OUT THERE AND VOTE. AND, UH, IT'S, IT'S ALL AMENDMENTS, I [00:50:01] THINK, FOR EVERYBODY, ESPECIALLY IN LAKE JACKSON ON STATE AMENDMENTS, UH, TO CONSTITUTION. UH, THE OTHER THING IS, IS ON, UM, THURSDAY AT 1130 TO 1230 FOR COUNCIL. WE'VE GOT, WELL, AND CITIZENS ARE INVITED TOO, IS GULF COAST TRANSIT. UH, DISTRICT IS, UH, GONNA HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DEDICATION FOR THEY'VE, THEY'VE GOT A, UH, UH, IN, UM, PREPARATION OF, UH, UM, SUPPORT OF OUR VETERANS AND STUFF. THEY'VE, UH, THEY'VE GOT A, ONE OF THEIR BUSES THAT THEY'VE, THEY'VE DONE ALL THE, UM, DECALS, DECALS COVERING AND STUFF ON IT. AND SO THERE'S GONNA BE A, UH, JUST A BIG RECOGNITION, RECOGNITION FOR, UH, THE VETERANS. AND, UH, SO IF YOU'RE AVAILABLE AT THE CIVIC CENTER, IT'S 11 30, 12 30, UH, ON THURSDAY. UH, STAFF. STAFF. DO WE HAVE ANYTHING? YEAH, SALLY, JUST A REMINDER THAT YOU HAVE A WORKSHOP NEXT MONDAY. YES. FIVE 30, UH, DINNER WILL BE PROVIDED AT FIVE THIS NEXT MONDAY. HARD TIME. THAT'S A DOG POUND. OKAY. UH, WITH THAT, WE'LL, UH, CLOSE, UH, THE REGULAR AGENDA, I MEAN, YEAH. REGULAR SESSION AND WE'LL GO INTO [EXECUTIVE SESSION] EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND SO AT, WHAT IS IT, EIGHT 18, I'M GONNA CALL IT EIGHT 18. UH, WE'RE CLOSING. 7 21. OH, MY CLOCK IS WRONG. 7 21. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.