Aug 31, 2021 Special City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

>> WRIGHT CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER. I'M SORRY.

WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?

>> THANK YOU. IF EVERYBODY WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AND REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD. INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING AS WE PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO DO THE CITY'S BUSINESS.

THANK YOU. WELCOME, EVERYBODY, TO THE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON AUGUST 31, 2021. WE WILL START WITH THE ELECTION RESULTS, MS. HILBRICH.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TONIGHT MS. HILL IS HERE TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF THE RUNOFF ELECTION. COPIES HAVE BEEN PLACED FOR

EACH OF YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS FROM THE SPECIAL RUNOFF ELECTION PRECINCTS COUNTED WERE THREE. REGISTERED VOTERS WERE 12,307.

BALLOTS CAST, 1786. COUNCILMEMBER DISTRICT NUMBER THREE.

DUANE CROCKER, 975. CHAD HALL, 809. AND TO UNDER VOTES.

>> I THINK YOU, MS. HILL. YOU ALL DID A GREAT JOB. >> THANK YOU.

>> SO NO ACTION IS NEEDED ON PART OF THE COUNCIL OTHER THAN ACCEPTING THE RESULTS.

OR RECALCULATE IF DESIRED. WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK MS. HILL AND HER STAFF FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK DURING THIS ELECTION PROCESS. MR. BAUKNIGHT DOES HAVE THE

CERTIFICATE TO PRESENT. >> AND WHILE THEY DO THAT, I WILL JUST MENTION THAT THE SWEARING IN IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE NEXT TUESDAY. AND SO, WE WILL TAKE CARE OF

THAT NEXT WEEK. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT. WE WILL MOVE INTO

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

WE STILL HAVE REMOTE ACCESS IF ANYBODY WANTS TO PARTICIPATE BY ZOOM.

[a. City's Animal Control Ordinance - Next Steps. Jeff Bauknight, Mayor]

PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL'S. WE DON'T HAVE ANY RECOGNITIONS SCHEDULED FOR THIS EVENING.

>> OKAY. THANK YOU. ITEMS FROM COUNSEL.

I HAVE ONE ITEM LISTED THAT I HAD SPECIFICALLY ON THERE. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE I HIT IT? NO? OKAY.

A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT SENT ME AND THE OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED ANIMAL CONTROL ORDINANCE. IT IS A TRUE PLEASURE, REALLY, TO SEE THE AMOUNT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. BECAUSE OF ALL THE GREAT FEEDBACK, THE ANIMAL CONTROL DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD TO JOINT TOWN HALLS TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO GET THE ORDINANCE CRAFTED CORRECTLY. THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER ANNEX. THE FIRST ONE WILL BE HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, AT 6:30 PM. AND THE SECOND ONE WILL BE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 6:30 PM. ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS IN THE CITY PROSECUTOR WILL TAKE COMMENTS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE. CITY ATTORNEY WILL BE THERE TO MODERATE DISCUSSION.

[00:05:15]

THE COMPILED FEEDBACK WILL BE SHARED WITH COUNSEL ON SEPTEMBER 21.

AND MAY BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT DRAFT OF THE ORDINANCE. THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO THAT I SEE IS EITHER WE HAVE A WHOLESALE CHANGE OUT OF THE ORDINANCE.

WE MAY JUST LET THE ONE THAT WAS PROPOSED AND VOTED ON AT THE LAST MEETING DIE FOR LACK OF FURTHER ACTION. AND BRING CLEAN COPY BASED ON THE COMMENTS.

WHICH IS, IN MY OPINION, THE EASIEST WAY TO DO IT. AND THEN, WE WOULD HAVE THE FIRST READING, THE SACRAMENT READING AND THE THIRD RATING. WE CAN BREAK THOSE ALL OUT.

AGAIN, I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S INVOLVEMENT. THAT HAVE SENT ALL THE FEEDBACK AND CALLED AND EMAILED AND TEXTED. IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO SPEAK TONIGHT, PLEASE DO SO. JUST REMEMBER THAT COMMENTS ARE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.

AND THERE WILL NOT BE RESPONSE FROM CITY COUNCIL DURING OR AFTER THE COMMENT SECTION.

I THINK THE TOWN HALLS WILL PROVIDE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY FOR PROVIDING THE FEEDBACK THAT WE NEED. AND IF YOU STILL WANT TO SPEAK TONIGHT, FEEL FREE TO DO IT.

IT IS YOUR TIME TO US. THE ORDINANCE IS NOT ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

SO THERE WILL BE NO DISCUSSION OR VOTES PERTAINING TO IT FROM COUNSEL THIS EVENING.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I DON'T SEE THIS PROCESS DIFFERENT THAN I DO IN THE STATEHOUSE. THEY HAVE A FIRST READING THAT'S A BILL TO INTRODUCE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. IT GETS SENT TO A COMMITTEE. WE HAD OUR FIRST READING.

THERE IS OBVIOUSLY MAJOR FLAWS WITH THE ORDINANCE. OUR COMMITTEE IS A TOWN HALL.

SO WE WILL HAVE A COUPLE TOWN HALLS AND GET PROPER FEEDBACK. WE DON'T HAVE A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE TO COME BACK WITH. THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO START BACK OVER WITH THE FIRST READING, GO TO THE SECOND READING IN THE THIRD RATING. NO DIFFERENT THAN HOW THE STATEHOUSE DOES IT. SO EVERYBODY GETS TO PARTICIPATE IN SAUSAGE MAKING THIS TIME AND IT'S WONDERFUL! I APPRECIATE IT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS I SEE WRONG AND ANTICIPATE CHANGING WITHIN THE ORDINANCE AS IT IS NOW.

THE NUMBER OF CHICKENS FOR THE YOUTH ACT PROGRAMS. THE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS.

PROPOSED FEES. ANIMAL ABANDONMENT. THOSE ARE THINGS I KNOW WE HAVE TO TACKLE. AND I KNOW THERE ARE MANY OTHERS.

AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING IT RIGHT FOR THE COMMUNITY. DOES COUNSEL HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THEY WANT TO ADD?

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY I AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT. WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GO BACK

TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND LET'S GET IT RIGHT. >> I THINK SO TOO.

>> MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD BECAUSE I BELIEVE THIS IS OUR SENTIMENT AND WE HAVE GOTTEN QUITE A BIT OF FEEDBACK. AND PEOPLE ARE CERTAINLY WELCOME TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY AND TO THE TOWN HALLS. BUT BECAUSE WE ARE INITIATING THIS PROCESS DOESN'T MEAN WE ARE IGNORING EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN TOLD TO US. SO THEY SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE

THEY HAVE TO COME AND MAKE THEIR COMMENTS AGAIN. >> YES.

WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE DOCUMENTED. BUT AGAIN, REALLY APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND ENGAGEMENT. IT IS HELPFUL FOR US.

WITH THAT, ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM COUNSEL? >> MR. MAYOR, THE EMAILS I HAVE

RESPONDED TO, TALKING ABOUT. [INAUDIBLE]. >> I JUST WANT TO REITERATE

[4. Citizen Communication:]

AND TAKE YOUR SENTIMENTS INTO ACCOUNT. THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ARE NO OTHER ITEMS FROM COUNSEL, WE ARE GOING TO DO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. I'M GOING TO CALL THESE NAMES. I HAVE FOUR OR FIVE CARDS.

IF YOU WISH TO NOT SPEAK, I'M GOOD. MS. JENNIFER STASTNY?

>> I'M GOING TO HOLD MY COMMENTS. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. >> THANK YOU.

>> MS. MEGAN DRIVER. >>. [INAUDIBLE].

[00:10:45]

I HAVE SEVERAL AREAS OF CONCERN WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 4 OF THE CITY CODE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A FEW TONIGHT. AS PROPOSED, VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL FORMALLY BE ABLE TO ENFORCE CHAPTER 4. WHEN AN ANIMAL OFFICER IS NOT AVAILABLE. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.

BUT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, NO FORMAL TRAINING HAS OCCURRED TO BEST EQUIP THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HANDLE THESE ANIMAL RELATED ISSUES.

THERE COULD BE BETTER COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.

BETWEEN THE SHELTER AND VICTORIA PD IN ORDER TO ENSURE EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE.

UNTIL SUCH TIME AS EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION HAS IMPROVED, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT CHANGES OCCUR ON PAPER. IT WILL ONLY SET UP VICTORIA PD FOR FAILURE IF THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED. IF TRAINING AND CLEAR EXPECTATIONS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENTS HAS NOT OCCURRED TODAY, WHAT DIFFERENCE WILL OCCUR WITH THE ADOPTION OF THE CODE OTHER THAN TO SHIFT BLAME AND CAUSE A RIFT BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS.

THE LIMITATIONS ON ANIMALS ARE ALSO CONCERNING FOR RESCUERS AND PET OWNERS FOR NUMEROUS REASONS CURRENTLY THERE ARE OFFENSES LISTED THAT COULD BE STRENGTHENED TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS WITH THE COMMUNITY. ANIMALS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RUN AT LARGE OR BARK TO BECOME NUISANCES TO THEIR NEIGHBORS. THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CHASE ATTACK OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO PUBLIC PROPERTY. BUT THIS IS NOT REALLY ENFORCED. PROPOSING SOMETHING THAT COULD LIMIT PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE KEEPING NUMEROUS PETS IN A HEALTHY MANNER THAT DOES NOT CAUSE NUISANCES AROUND THEM .

AS IT READS NOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THE ANIMALS ARE A NUISANCE OR CELT IN A HEALTHY MATTER OR NOT. IT IS SOLELY BASED ON THE NUMBERS.

GIVEN THAT ANIMAL CONTROL IS THE ONLY GOVERNMENT FUNDED PUBLIC SHELTER AND THE SHELTER IN THE COUNTY THAT INTAKES ANIMALS FROM THE PUBLIC. I SEE THAT AS A CONFLICT.

THERE ARE NO OTHER RESOURCES FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE COUNTY.

IT TARGETS SPECIFIC MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE SHELTER EVEN ATTEMPTED TO DENY A FOOD COLLECTION THAT I TRIED TO GIVE THEM. IT HELPED FREE FOOD FOR THE PET OWNERS. IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE WORKING LESS AND LESS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BENEFIT THE MOST. I'M NOT SURE HOW ANYONE EXPECTS BETTER REGULATION FROM THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS. THE GOAL OF THE CODE AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAFF AND SERVE BETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF VICTORIA. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

>> MS. BELANGER? >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY TO VOICE OUR CONCERNS.

I AM A VOLUNTEER WITH VICTORIA TRAP NEUTER AND RETURNED. I FOSTER FOR THEM AND WORK WITH ALL THE VETS LIKE DR. COCHRAN AND WHOEVER ELSE USES A VET. AND HELP WITH OUR ANIMALS.

I'M CONCERNED FOR THE NUMBER OF CATS AND DOGS. WELL, WE REMOTELY DO CATS IN VICTORIA. HOW MANY WE ALLOW IN ADDITION TO OUR OWN.

AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, I LIVE OUTSIDE THE COUNTY, AND I'M WONDERING -- I DON'T THINK IT BOTHERS US SO MUCH. BUT IN ADDITION TO OUR OWN AND THE ONES I FOSTER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE IN REGULATION. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THIS GOES THROUGH, THAT SINCE I LIVE FURTHER OUT, THERE WILL BE MORE DUMPING OF ANIMALS. WHICH IS NOT OKAY.

WE REALLY PROPOSE AND REALLY PUSH SPAY AND NEUTER. WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT.

[00:15:07]

WE HAVE A VERY, VERY SMALL FOSTER GROUP AND CAN'T TAKE THEM ALL.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORKING WITH EVERYBODY WE CAN. BOTTLE BABIES.

ALL MY GOSH! BOTTLE BABIES ARE SO BAD! THEY TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

WE KEEP THEM AND WE KEEP THEM AND WE GET THEM VETTED. THEN WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO BE OLD ENOUGH TO BE FIXED. SO WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THEM FOR A LONG TIME.

WE ARE ALSO PULLING FROM ANIMAL CONTROL SOMETIMES WHEN THEY NEED US TO.

IT'S JUST A BIG, ONGOING PROBLEM THAT REALLY, REALLY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

PLUS I SUGGEST THAT MAYBE HAVING THE OTHER VETS IN TOWN HELP TO DO LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER? IT WOULD BE SO HELPFUL. A MANDATORY SPAY NEUTER FOR VICTORIA? I WENT TO KNOW -- IRD ASKED THAT.

HOW MANY OF US FOSTERS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS? AND HOW MANY WILL WE BE ALLOWED

TO HAVE? AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. >> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOLUNTEERISM AND YOUR PASSION. >> I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT

(LAUGHING)! >> I CAN TELL. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.>> MS. CARNEY? >> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SAVING ANIMAL LIVES 24 SEVEN.

I'D LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 4 OF THE CODE.

THERE'S A PROPOSAL TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF TIME ANIMALS ARE KEPT IF FOUND RUNNING AT LARGE.

FROM THE CURRENT THREE WORKING DAYS TO THE THREE CALENDAR DAYS.

THIS MEANS AN ANIMAL CAN BE PICKED UP UP FRIDAY RUNNING AT LARGE, ADOPTED OR TRANSFERRED OUT OR EUTHANIZED ON THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. ONCE THE THREE CALENDAR DAY HOLD IS UP. THIS METHOD IS USED IN MANY LARGER METRO AREAS.

HOWEVER THOSE COMMUNITIES HAVE SHELTERS THAT ARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

WE ARE PROPOSING A CHANGE TO KEEP THE SHELTERS OPEN TO CHECK FOR THEIR ANIMALS WHO MIGHT HAVE ESCAPED. IF THE SERVICE DOESN'T FULLY CLOSE A GATE TO A FULLY FENCED YARD, A PACK COULD BE ESCAPED AND PICKED UP BY ANIMAL CONTROL WHILE THEIR OWNER IS AT WORK.

THEY DON'T GET HOME UNTIL AFTER FIVE. THE SHELTER CLOSES AT THREE AND DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL 10 AM AT MONDAY. I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING HOW THE PROPOSED THREE CALENDAR DAY HOLD IS GOING TO WORK FROM STAFF AND IF THERE WILL BE OPERATIONAL CHANGES TIED TO IT? I ALSO THINK IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO KNOW WHICH COMMUNITIES WERE LOOKED AT AND HOW THEIR SHELTERS OPERATE? ARE THERE COMMUNITIES SIMILAR TO VICTORIA IN SIZE AND RESOURCE? CHANGE ISN'T ALWAYS BAD. HANGE CAN IMPROVE THE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

BUT WITHOUT HAVING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE CODE CHANGES WILL WORK, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WILL OCCUR. AND IT IS RECKLESS TO APPROVE CHANGES WITHOUT ASKING

QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MS. CARNEY.

MS. FENTON? >> I'M JULIE FENTON. I ACTUALLY LIVE OVER THERE ON BOTTOM WHERE THE OLD ANIMAL CONTROL USED TO BE WAS RIGHT THERE.

FOR SOME REASON, PEOPLE JUST CONTINUE TO LEAVE ANIMALS THERE KNOWING THERE ISN'T A SHELTER THERE. ME AND MY PARENTS HAVE LIVED THERE FOR 30 YEARS.

IN MY GRANDPARENTS AS WELL. WE FOSTER I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CATS OR DOGS.

MY DAD EVEN HAD 25 AT ONE POINT. HE HAS CALLED MANY TIMES AND ANIMAL CONTROL REFUSES TO PICK THEM UP. AFTER SO MANY TIMES OF CALLING, MY DAD SAYS WE WILL KEEP THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM. MY QUESTION WOULD BE, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE AREN'T REALLY A FOSTER HOME? BUT WE ARE NOW.

[00:20:04]

I PAY FOR ALL OF THEIR FOOD AND MEDICAL BILLS. I'M A WELDER AND MY HUSBAND IS AN INSURANCE AGENT. I CAN COMPLETELY PROVIDE FOR MINE.

THEY ARE ALL IN GREAT HEALTH AND IN A LOVING HOME. I'M NOT COMPLAINING.

I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE. FOR INSTANCE, I HAVE TWO NEIGHBORS WHO LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO ME. THEY HAVE TONS OF CHICKENS, TONS OF DUCKS AND EVERYTHING. THEY LET THEM RUN WILD. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

THEY DO NOT FEED OR WATER THEM. PEOPLE LIKE THAT DO NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT PEOPLE LIKE ME -- WHY WOULD I HAVE TO GIVE THEM UP WHEN I CHOOSE NOT TO, NOR AM I COMPLAINING? BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THE PET OWNERS WHO DO NOT ATTEND TO THEIR ANIMALS. OTHER THAN THAT, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THERE ARE MANY TIMES WHERE -- I WANT TO SAY A MONTH AGO I CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ANOTHER NEIGHBOR WHO LIVES TWO BLOCKS OVER, A FERAL PITBULL ALMOST ATTACKED ME AND DID ATTACK MY DOG. I GOT FLAT OUT TOLD BY THE OFFICER TO SHOOT IT. I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO DO THAT.

I WOULD'VE RATHER GOTTEN BIT. AND I'M STANDING THERE LIKE, YOU JUST TOLD ME TO SHOOT IT.

TWO MONTHS BEFORE MY INCIDENT, MY FATHER HAD THE SAME THING. HE WAS GOING TO SHOOT IT.

THE COP TOLD HIM IF HE WOULD'VE DONE THAT, THEN HE WOULD'VE BEEN ACCOUNTABLE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED. BUT IT HAPPENS TO ME, AND I'M OKAY TO DO THAT? SO I'M HAND-IN-HAND. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. BUT THE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T COMPLAINING -- WHY TAKE THEIR ANIMALS AWAY FROM THEM? ESPECIALLY IF THEY DON'T ASK FOR ASSISTANCE. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT TO SPEAK THIS EVENING.

[APPLAUSE] >> THAT'S ALL THE CARDS THAT I HAVE.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO ONE ELSE. I DON'T WANT YOU TO NOT FEEL LIKE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK. I SEE NO ONE. SO WE WILL CLOSE CITIZENS

COMMUNICATION. >> MAYOR, I JUST WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK IF THERE IS ANYBODY

ONLINE. >> OKAY. WITH THAT, CLOSING CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. AGAIN, THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM MORE PEOPLE AT TOWN HALLS SEPTEMBER 14, AND SEPTEMBER 16,

[2. Update on BootFest 2021. Darrek Ferrell, Assistant City Manager]

ANSWERED. AND BE HERE FOR RESOURCE. >> HE DOES HAVE A FEW SLIDES TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE WITH BOOT FAST AND WHAT HAS GONE INTO IT.

AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE HAD TO CANCEL THE EVENT. >> GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US TIME TO TALK THROUGH THIS AND BEING WILLING TO DELIBERATE ON THIS. IT'S BEEN SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND HEAVILY SO IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AS CONDITIONS HAVE CHANGED. OUR SITUATION IS THIS. AND AS I FRAME EVERYTHING, I WILL DO MY BEST TO DO IT WITH STRAIGHT FACTS. WE HAVE PLANNED A BOOTFEST LINEUP. AN ACTIVITY WE HAVE ALL BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE BEEN SEEING THE NUMBERS OF COVID IN VICTORIA COUNTY ADS OR NEAR THE SPIKES THAT WE SAW AT THE PEAK OF THE PANDEMIC LAST SUMMER. WE HAVE SEVERAL CONCERNS THAT WE ARE WORKING THROUGH AND TALKING THROUGH. THE FIRST CONCERN OBVIOUSLY BEING HEALTH AND SAFETY. SECOND IS STAFFING. THE WEEKEND ITSELF USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 700 BODIES TO WORK THAT SPACE THE WHOLE WEEKEND. TYPICALLY 3 TO 400 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERS. WE WOULD EXPECT THAT VOLUNTEERING IS PROBABLY GOING TO REACH AN ALL-TIME LOW EITHER BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EXPOSURE OR THEY ARE BURNED OUT FROM DEALING WITH EXPOSURE, SUPPLY CHAIN SHORTAGES AND THOSE KINDS OF

[00:25:02]

WE DON'T INTEND TO SAY YOU MUST WORK THIS. BUT WE WILL ASK FOR STAFF TO WORK THAT TIME. WE ALSO HAVE SOME CONCERN THAT THE EVENT ITSELF MIGHT SEE LOWER THAN NORMAL ATTENDANCE FOR THE SAME REASONS THAT WE WILL SEE LOWER THAN NORMAL VOLUNTEERING. THE CONCERN IS HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE PERCEPTION OR QUALITY OF THE EVENT ITSELF WHEN FEW PEOPLE ATTEND AND FEWER PEOPLE ENJOY IT.

IT MIGHT NOT GET THE POSITIVE IMAGE THAT WE WOULD LIKE IT TO HAVE.

IT MIGHT NOT BE ENJOYED TO THE FULLEST POTENTIAL. AND TIMING AND COSTS.

BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS SOONER THAN LATER IN ORDER TO AVOID SPENDING MONEY THAT WE WILL NOT GET BACK. SO I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN TERMS OF THE EVENT LAYOUT. WE BEEN MAKING CHANGES AND TRYING TO MAKE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS IN OUR PLANNING TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE. ONE IS MAKING MASKS AVAILABLE.

WE CAN'T REQUIRE THEM. BUT MAKING THEM AVAILABLE. AND IF YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, THERE ARE LITTLE GUITARS IN A BLACK CIRCLE. THERE ARE FOUR PERFORMANCE AREAS. AND THOSE WOULD BE SPREAD WITH DIFFERENT TIMINGS SO PEOPLE AREN'T CONGREGATING AROUND A SINGLE PERFORMANCE AREA AT ONE TIME.

ALL THE ACTIVITIES WILL BE IN OUTDOOR SPACES. WE WILL MINIMIZE THE ENCLOSED SPACES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. FINALLY, THE SCHEDULING OF ACTIVITIES WILL GO ALONGSIDE WITH KEEPING -- CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF PEOPLE. SO WE SCHEDULE ACTIVITIES SO PEOPLE IN ONE AREA OR ANOTHER AREA -- WE DIVIDE THEM BETWEEN THE AREAS BASED ON INTEREST.

N TERMS OF COSTS. LET'S SAY WE DECIDE TO CANCEL BOOTFEST.

LET ME GIVE YOU THE CAVEAT ON THE CASA NUMBERS. I'M GIVING YOU CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS. WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECOVER SOME OF THESE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE NUMBERS AS THEY ARE ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT WE CAN'T RECOVER THEM.

BECAUSE IF I TELL YOU THE NUMBERS WITH RECOVERY AND WE CAN'T, THEN I'M IN TROUBLE.

SO I'M SORT OF KEEPING MYSELF SAFE GIVING YOU THE CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS.

IF WE CANCEL TODAY, WE WOULD'VE SPENT $40,000 IN DEPOSITS, STAGE MANAGEMENT, T-SHIRTS AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. IF WE CANCEL IT SEPTEMBER 15, THAT NUMBER GOES UP.

SOME OF THAT'S VENDORS AND THINGS AT T THE PURCHASE. SEPTEMBER 17 IS WHERE WE SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE. UP TO 123,700. SEPTEMBER 21, 129,700.

SEPTEMBER 24, 143,457. IF WE CANCEL AT THE LAST MINUTE, A WEEK OR SO BEFORE, THEN WE WOULD BE OUT $157,000 FOR AN EVENT THAT WOULD HAPPEN. THAT'S WHY THE TIMING MAKES SENSE. THE OTHER REASON IT MAKES SENSE AND IS CRITICAL IS THAT BOOTFEST IS ALSO PUT ON WITH GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY SPONSORS.O WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE WHO SPONSORS WILL GET THEIR FUNDING BACK.

BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HONEST AND OPEN AND TELL THEM THIS IS WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WHY. SO GOING FORWARD, WHEN THEY ARE CHOOSING TO SPONSOR, THEY HAVE FAITH AND TRUST IN US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THEIR FUNDING. WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING SEVERAL SURROUNDING EVENTS. OUR STAFF, JOEL, HAS BEEN IN TOUCH OF OUR ORGANIZERS.

ALL OF THE FIVE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRACKING ARE PLANNING TO PROCEED AS PLANNED.

AS OF NOW. THERE ARE SEVERAL LOCAL EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN

[00:30:03]

ONE, SOME OF THEM HAVE MADE CHANGES. THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ALTERED THEIR GALA. THEY REDUCE THE TICKETS TO HALF THE PRICE AND MADE IT A DRIVE-THROUGH EVENT. THE ZOO IS STILL AN IN PERSON EVENT PROCEEDING AS NORMAL.

THERE IS A MOTORCYCLE CANNONBALL RUN EVENT SEPTEMBER 24.

THE SAME NIGHT AS THE ZOO. BUT THAT EVENT STARTS I THINK IN PORTLAND MAINE AND HOW IT'S DOWN TO SOUTH PADRE ISLAND. SOME MULTIPLE CITIES IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

THERE ARE A FEW OTHER EVENTS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF. WE HAVE THE DOWNTOWN ART WALK.

AND DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT ARE ALSO GOOD EVEES OF THE SAME THI. THE SELECTION.

BUT THE EVENTS WILL BE INDICATORS OF ONE OF TWO THINGS.

SOMETHING NEGATIVE HAPPENS AFTER THESE EVENTS -- IF NOTHING HAPPENS AND PEOPLE ENJOY THEM AND THERE IS NO ESCALATION OR CHANGE IN NUMBERS, THAT COULD BE AN INDICATION OF WHAT TO EXPECT. IT'S ALSO AN INDICATION OF ATTENDANCE.

OF THESE EVENTS SEE NORMAL ATTENDANCE WE MIGHT SEE NORMAL ATTENDANCE AT BOOTFEST.

WE ARE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A NETWORK OF PARTNERS WHO ARE OPEN TO TALKING TO US.

SO WE ARE HAPPY TO PLAN WITH THOSE FOLKS. WITH ALL OF THAT SAID, YOU KNOW THE SITUATION. YOU KNOW SOME OF OUR CONCERNS. AND AS STAFF, WE ARE JUST HAPPY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANY GUIDANCE OR THOUGHTS YOU CAN GIVE. EVEN IF IT'S NOT DO IT OR DO IT.

DR. MINEO, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD? OR IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC

QUESTIONS.>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO ASK DR. MCNEIL THAT. THANK YOU, MR. FARRELL.

MY CONCERN ON IT IS -- I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE STAFFING SIDE OF IT.

I ALMOST HAVE NO OPINION EXCEPT I SEE WHERE THE ISSUE IS GOING TO BE IF WE HOLD IT.

IT'S ON THE STAFFING SIDE. I'M TORN. >> IF I COULD ADD JUST A BRIEF COMMENT TO THAT? WE ARE SPEAKING IN HOLISTIC TERMS IN LIGHT OF THE STAFF WHO WORKS THE EVENT. BUT AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC PERSONNEL? POLICE AND EMS WHO WORK THE EVENT? IN THOSE SPECIFIC INSTANCES, AT THAT POINT IT'S MORE THAN A REQUIREMENT AS OPPOSED TO VOLUNTEERING.

AND AS I HAVE SHARED WITH YOU, THERE IS ALREADY A HIGH -- WHAT'S THE RIGHT WORD? THERE IS ALREADY A HIGH DEMAND JUST BASED OFF OF THE CALLS THAT BOTH POLICE AND FIRE ARE DEALING WITH. SO THERE WOULD BE A CONCERN ON OUR SIDE WITH POLICE AND FIRE ON JUST TRYING TO FIND AND FILL IN THOSE SHIFTS. BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES ARE BURNT OUT FROM HAVING TO WORK WITH THE VACANCIES. AND SOME OF THE OTHER COVID IMPACTS. THESE ARE THINGS WE CAN WORK THROUGH.

BUT I WOULD AGREE WITH MAYOR BAUKNIGHT, THAT THE STAFFING PART IS PROBABLY THE ONE THAT

IS THE MOST CONCERNING TO US. >> THE SAME IS TRUE OF SOLID WASTE.

AND WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN THE EVENT OF AN EXPOSURE? NOT NECESSARILY CONTRACTION OR TRANSMISSION, BUT EXPOSURE MIGHT SIDELINE FOLKS AND DETER FROM NORMAL OPERATIONS AFTER

THE EVENT. >> TYPICALLY, THIS EVENT WE KNOW IT'S A COST TO THE CITY EVERY YEAR. ONCE WE GO THROUGH THE INCOME AND EXPENSES.

WHAT IS THAT AVERAGE, IF YOU WILL, EXPENSE AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE?

>> A LOSS. >> YES BUT MAGNITUDE? >> I WOULD SAY 175,000.

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO IT FOR ALL THE REASONS LISTED. NOT JUST STAFFING, BUT HEALTH AND SAFETY. ATTENDANCE. IT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO BE DOING IT. I'M SORRY. I WISHED IT WASN'T.

I WISH WE COULD DO IT. BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK WE SHOULD HAVE BOOTFEST THIS YEAR.

> I'VE TALKED ABOUT WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL BOOTFEST. [INAUDIBLE] THERE USED TO BE A

[00:35:05]

I SEE THIS IS GOING TO BE A LARGE COST FOR ATTENDEES. (INDISCERNIBLE) IT SOUNDS NICE,

BUT I DON'T THINK -- (INDISCERNIBLE). >> I APPLAUD THE CONCEPT.

SO MUCH OF IT IS OUTSIDE. WHICH IN THEORY MEANS WE COULD BE DISTANCED.

BUT IT'S A SOCIAL EVENT.ND IT LOSES THE FUN OF IT WHEN EVERYBODY HAS TO, YOU KNOW, STAY THIS FAR AWAY FROM EVERYBODY ELSE. AND I'M ESPECIALLY PERSUADED, LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, THE DOLLARS THAT THE SOONER WE MAKE THIS DECISION, THE SMARTER WE ARE. I THINK MY ONLY QUESTION -- WE TALKED A LONG TIME AGO ABOUT -- THAT THE CONTRACTS WOULD HAVE A CLAUSE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO TERMINATE.

WHICH SOUNDED LUDICROUS AT THE TIME. WE THOUGHT SURELY, THIS WOULD BE A THING OF THE PAST. BUT I WANT TO APPLAUD STAFF. ECAUSE I'M SURE THAT'S IN THE CONTRACTS WHICH ALLOWS US TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. WITH THE NUMBERS AS LOW AS THEY

ARE. I ASSUME THAT'S THE CASE? >> YES, I WAS REACHING TO TURN ON MY MICROPHONE TO CONFIRM. THAT IS SOMETHING WE INSURED THAT WAS PUT IN THE CONTRACT AFTER LAST YEAR'S EVENT. MY STAFF AND I WERE JUST LOOKING AT ALL THE FORMER CONTRACTS THIS WEEK. TO CONFIRM THAT THEY INCLUDE THAT CLASS.

>> SO, SADLY, I HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE TWO GENTLEMEN BEFORE ME.

>> THE FIRST NUMBER THAT YOU HAVE ON THERE, MR. FARRELL, FOR THE 40,000 -- YOU SAID SOME OF

THAT COULD BE RECAPTURED? OR IS THAT ALL GONE? >> IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT SOME OF THAT COULD BE RECAPTURED. THOSE ARE MOSTLY FORMER DEPOSITS.

IT DEPENDS ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS. IT WAS A LOT EASIER LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WAS A GOVERNOR'S ORDER THAT SAID YOU CAN'T DO IT.

SO NOW, WE RELY ON THE CONTRACTS. MOST OF THE FOLKS HAVE BEEN UNDERSTANDING. JOE HAS HAD THE SAME CONVERSATIONS WITH THE ORGANIZERS. I DON'T THINK IT'S FULLY 40,600.

I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU LESSON THAT IF IT'S NOT. >> I AGREE THAT WE SHOULD CANCEL IT. THERE ARE TOO MANY FACTORS THAT CAN IMPACT THE PARTICIPATION.

HEALTH AND SAFETY. AND MAINLY FOR OUR STAFF. WE ARE READY HAVE SOME THAT ARE OUT. AND THEN WE WILL INCREASE IT? AND THEN WE WILL REALLY BE

STRAINING OUR CURRENT STAFF -- IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. >> I WANT TO FURTHER ECHO WHAT MR. FARRELL SAID ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS AND RECOVERING THAT MONEY.

I THINK HE IS SPEAKING VERY CAUTIOUSLY DELIBERATELY. I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE DO HAVE CLAUSES IN OUR CONTRACTS. AND WHEN HE SAID ABOUT IT BEING CLEAR LAST YEAR MAKES IT MUCH CLEAR THAT IT FALLS UNDER THE CLAUSE AS OPPOSED TO THE CANCELLATION CLAUSE. AND SO, THE REASON HE IS SPEAKING CAREFULLY WHEN HE SAYS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ONE ON ONE INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS UNDER EACH OF THOSE CONTRACTS ABOUT HOW THAT PLAYS OUT. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE MADE SURE THERE ARE FORCE MAJEURE CLAUSES IN THERE, BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT'S NOT CUT AND DRY.

>> I CONCUR. >> ALL RIGHT. >> WE ACTUALLY DIDN'T COME INTO THE CONVERSATION THINKING WE WOULD GET THIS SPECIFIC GUIDANCE.

WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF IT BECAUSE IT HELPS US FIGURE OUT HOW TO PROCEED NEXT.

>> BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS ITEM, BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK ON THIS, WOULD YOU GO BACK TO THE PICTURE OF THE LAYOUT? IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ARE CONSIDERING ON THE FUTURE?

OR IS THAT JUST CONSIDERED FOR COVID? >> WE ACTUALLY FOUND A NUMBER OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THAT. WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, I HAD NEVER SEEN BOOTFEST.

WE PLANNED TO AWESOME ONES. UT THEY DIDN'T HAPPEN.> I'M SO GLAD THAT I CAME TO MY

FIRST ONE! >> BUT I HAD CONVERSATIONS. I SIT ON THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM BOARD. AND I ASKED WHY ARE THEY NOT MORE ENGAGED IN BOOTFEST? BUT THEY SAID THERE'S NOT MUCH WE CAN DO WITH KIDS OVER THERE. SO JOEL AND HIS TEAM WORKED TO MOVE THE KIDS CORRAL. AND TERM OF SCHEDULING AND STAFFING THAT I TALKED ABOUT?

[00:40:09]

THE MULTIPLE STAGES? BY PUTTING THEM IN PROXIMITY TO OTHER BUSINESSES? IF THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES PARTICIPATE, WE ARE PUTTING PEOPLE AT THEIR FRONT DOOR.

THE BEST THING ABOUT THE EXERCISES WE HAVE DONE IS WE BELIEVE WE HAVE IMPROVED AN EVENT THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN. [LAUGHTER]

>> IT GIVES US SOME OPPORTUNITY TO REIMAGINE IT. AS WE GO FORWARD.

THE RESURRECTION OF BOOTFEST IN 2022 MIGHT BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

IT MIGHT BE NAMED DIFFERENT. IT MIGHT BE TOTALLY DIFFERENT. IT MIGHT BE HARD TO RESURRECT

IT AS IT WAS IN 2019. >> YEAH. >> I LOVE THE IDEAS OF UTILIZING MAIN STREET AND THE LOCAL BUSINESSES. THAT'S FANTASTIC MARKETING.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER FEATURES THAT WE WERE REALLY PROUD OF THIS YEAR, WE HEARD A LOT OF FEEDBACK ABOUT NONPROFITS WANTING TO BE MORE ENGAGED. THERE IS AN ENTIRE STRIP OF BOOTHS FOR NONPROFITS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGAGED AND INVOLVED.

AND YOU COULD GET WHATEVER OUTREACH MATERIALS OR ENGAGEMENT MATERIALS.

WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THAT ENTIRE SECTION. >> WHEN IT GROWS MUCH BIGGER,

WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE STAGES GOING AT ONCE. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

[1. FY 2022 Proposed Budget Update. Jesús A. Garza, City Manager]

>> THANK YOU. AND DR. MCNEIL, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT! [LAUGHTER]

>> THANK YOU ALL. >> ALL RIGHT, MR. GARZA? >> OKAY.

I'M GOING TO TRY AND MAKE THIS JUST AN HOUR! SO WE DO HAVE TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT WILL FOLLOW THIS PRESENTATION. BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I PROVIDED THIS BRIEF PRESENTATION PRIOR TO THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN MINOR CHANGES TO THE BUDGET THAT WAS PROPOSED ON AUGUST 3. STEMMING FROM THE CONVERSATION WE HAD AT OUR LAST MEETINGS WITH ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CIP.

SO I WANT TO SHOW YOU THE NEW TOTALS FOR THE PROPOSED BUDGET. BEFORE I GET TO THE SLIDES, I WANT TO MENTION THAT WE PUT THIS FLYER IN FRONT OF YOU. THIS IS OUR OFFICIAL PROPOSED BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS FLYER.AFTER COUNCIL ADOPTS THE BUDGET, IT WILL CONVERT INTO AND ADOPTED BUDGET FLYER. THIS JUST GOES HAND-IN-HAND WITH OUR CONTINUED WORK AND TRYING TO CONDENSE THE INFORMATION. THIS WILL BE A GOOD TOOL TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS OR ANY OF US WHO ARE SPEAKING AT ENGAGEMENTS TO USE AS A REFERENCE GUIDE.

YOU'LL SEE IT HAS INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUDGET, SALES TAX, PROPERTY TAX, CIP'S, WHICH ARE ALWAYS A BIG PART OF OUR BUDGET. AND A LITTLE STRATEGY WITH THE RESCUE ACT FUNDS AND COMPENSATION. WHICH IS A BIG INVESTMENT IN THE FISCAL YEAR OF 22 BUDGET. WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE THE SAME APPROACH THAT I TOOK ON AUGUST 3. JUST HITTING ON THE THINGS THAT OF CHANGE. AUGUST 3 WE PROPOSE THE HUNDRED $66 MILLION BUDGET. THAT IS NOW HUNDRED AND $71 MILLION BUDGET.

AND I WILL HIT ON WHAT HAS CHANGED. SO YOU MAY RECALL FROM OUR CIP CONVERSATION THAT WE TALKED ABOUT INVESTING MORE FUNDS -- I SHOULDN'T SAY MORE FUNDS -- INVESTING FUNDS INTO TOURISM RELATED FACILITIES. SO THAT'S THE 750,000 YOU SEE THERE. I'LL GO THROUGH THEM IN A COUPLE MORE SLIDES.

BUT THAT'S REALLY THE DIFFERENCE. OF COURSE THE FIRE STATION PROJECT. AND WE HAD TO ADD THE TWIN 90S AS AN EXAMPLE.

YOU CAN SEE THEM MORE CLEARLY HERE. THE 750 AS I MENTIONED.

THE FIRE STATION PROJECT. YOU MAY RECALL WE INCORPORATED SOME ADDITIONAL DESIGN WORK FOR TANGLEWOOD? SO THAT IS ACCOUNTED FOR IN HERE AS WELL.

WE ACTUALLY ELIMINATED SOME THINGS. YOU RECALL WE PUSHED OUT ANTHONY ROAD. AND WE ALSO REMOVED PAYING UPFRONT FOR SOME GENERATORS TO

CREATE CAPACITY FOR THE FIRE STATION PROJECT. >> WOULD YOU REMIND ME WHAT

THOSE GENERATORS WERE AGAIN? >> THE TWO EXISTING GENERATORS THAT WE HAVE. THINK IT'S

[00:45:03]

ARE ON A LEASE TO PURCHASE AGREEMENT. >> THEY ARE NEW GENERATORS AND

WE ARE JUST NOT BUYING OUT THE LEASE? >> CORRECT.

>> I REMEMBER NOW. THANK YOU. >> AND THAT'S THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THE UPDATED BUDGET FROM WHAT YOU SAW ON AUGUST 3. I'D BE HAPPY TO

ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON ANYTHING. >> REALLY GREAT JOB WITH THE FLYER. IT'S ALWAYS HANDY TO HAVE. IT TELLS A GOOD STORY.

>> GREAT. I'M HAPPY TO STAY HERE AS WE RUN THROUGH THE PUBLIC

HEARINGS. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MR.

[1. Budget Public Hearing. Gilbert Reyna, Chief Financial Officer]

D1, MS. HILBRICH. >> IT'S THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARINGS.

>> OKAY. NO PRESENTATION. I WILL OPEN THIS ITEM, D1, UP FOR PUBLIC HEARING. ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET? PLEASE STEP FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE. SEEING NO ONE, WE WILL CLOSE

[2. Public Hearing on the 2021-2022 City of Victoria Tax Rate. Gilbert Rey...]

THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GO TO ITEM D2. >> ITEM D2 IS A PUBLIC HEARING

ON THE 2021 2022 CITY OF VICTORIA TAX RATE. >> WE WILL OPEN PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THE PROPOSED TAX RATES IS GOING

TO BE.5882. >> YES SIR. WHICH IS A DECREASE OF CLOSE TO

2.3 CENTS. >> YES. SO ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON

[1. Approving and adopting a budget for the Fiscal Year beginning on Octob...]

SEEING NO ONE RISE UP WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AND MOVED TO ACTION ITEMS FOR

DISCUSSION, ITEM E1. >> IT'S AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1, 2021 AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF 171 MILLION,

$254,269. >> THANK YOU. NO PRESENTATION WITH THIS.

SO WE JUST NEED TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >> I MOVE WE ADOPT.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE MOTIONS AND A SECOND (LAUGHING). IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON IT? I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO STAFF. I KNOW THIS IS A LONG AND ARDUOUS PROCESS. I ENJOY THE NEW TOOL THAT YOU ALL HAVE.

[3. Discuss and approve a resolution authorizing the redemption of a porti...]

>> BUT THANK YOU. SO WITH THAT, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION.

ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THANK YOU.

OKAY WE WILL GO WITH E3.> SO ITEM E3'S RESOLUTION TO DISCUSS AND APPROVE AUTHORIZING THE REDEMPTION OF A PORTION OF THE OUTSTANDING CITY OF VICTORIA OBLIGATION SERIES OF 2012

DURING THE CITY'S 2021-2022 FISCAL YEAR. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE ARE REPRESENTING A RESOLUTION THAT IS AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO REDEEM OUTSTANDING PRINCIPAL ON ITS 2012 SERIES CERTIFICATE OF OBLIGATION.

IT AUTHORIZES THE CITY TO -- I'M GOING TO GO OVER TO SCENARIOS OF REDEEMING THE BONDS VERSUS NOT REDEEMING THE BONDS. OUR BOND COUNSEL IS ALSO HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM. A BOND REDEMPTION, SINCE WE ARE RETIRING BONDS EARLY, IT'S SIMILAR TO MAKING EXTRA PAYMENTS ON A HOME MORTGAGE.

BY DOING THIS, IT WILL PROVIDE INTEREST SAVINGS TO THE CITY. AS WELL AS CREATE FUTURE DEBT CAPACITY FOR FUTURE INSTANCES. WE WOULD BE REDEEMING TO OUTSTANDING ON THE SERIES 2012.

AND THEY ARE PLAN TO BE MADE WITH OUR REGULAR DEBT SERVICE PAYMENT ON FEBRUARY 15, 2022.

THE FIRST SCENARIO IS NO REDEMPTION. NOT PAYING OFF THE BONDS EARLY.

OUR CURRENT DEBT PAYMENT SCHEDULE REQUIRES (INDISCERNIBLE) IN ORDER TO

[00:50:12]

IF WE DON'T REDEEM THE BONDS IN 2024, WE WOULD HAVE $23 MILLION IN DEBT CAPACITY.

WHICH HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN PRESENTED WITH THE CIP. IF THIS RESOLUTION PASSES IT WOULD INCREASE OUR DEBT SERVICE TO $9.9 MILLION. THIS WOULD CREATE AN ADDITIONAL 7 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT CAPACITY FOR FISCAL 24 PROJECTS AND PROVIDE SAVINGS OF HUNDRED AND $86,000 THROUGH MATURITY OF THE BONDS. IN ORDER TO GENERATE THE FUNDING NECESSARY, WE WOULD HAVE TO RAISE THE DEBT SERVICE TAX RATE 2.89 CENTS OR 23.76 CENTS. THIS OPTION WAS RTE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FROM AUGUST 3. THIS LAST SLIDE IS JUST A COMPARISON OF THE TWO OPTIONS. AGAIN, WE WOULD BE INCREASING THE TAX RATE LESS THAN A PENNY. THE SERVICE WOULD GO UP (INDISCERNIBLE) AND WE WOULD BE CREATING 7 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN CAPACITY. WITH THAT I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER

ANY QUESTIONS. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> OUT OF THE 58.82,

(INDISCERNIBLE) GOES TO THE DEBT SERVICE? >> CORRECT.

[2. Setting the Tax Rate for the 2021 tax year at a total rate of $0.5882 ...]

>> ALL RIGHT. IF THERE ARE NO MORE QUESTIONS WE CAN ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I MOVE WE ADOPT THE ITEM. >> SECOND. >> THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ON ITEM E3? HEARING NONE, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM E2. I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE YELLOW PIECE OF PAPER. IF ANYBODY CARES TO MAKE A

MOTION, WE NEEDED IN THAT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE. >> ITEM E2 IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX RATE FOR THE 2021 TAX YEAR AT A TOTAL RATE OF .5882 PER $100 OF PROPERTY VALUATION. THIS ITEM IS ON THE FIRST READING.

>> ARE READ IT. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 0.5882, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY A 4.07 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE

TAX RATE. >> SECOND. >> IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN? ITEM E2 CARRIES.

[4. Approve a professional services agreement with Garver, LLC for an engi...]

>> ITEM E FOURS RESOLUTION SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH GARVER LLC FOR ASSESSMENT AND MASTER PLAN FOR SKATE A SYSTEM FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER IN THE AMOUNT OF $149,870.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS ONE IS ABOUT THE. [INAUDIBLE].HE COMPANY THAT WE ARE SELECTING WAS ON A PREAPPROVAL LIST. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT IN THE SALES TAX. THIS IS A COMPANY THAT WE HAVE REVIEWED IN THE PAST AND PUT ON OUR MASTER ENGINEERING LIST TO DO ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR US. WHAT WILL WANT TO DO IS DO A CONDITION ASSESSMENT FOR THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT. BASICALLY THE SKATE A EQUIPMENT INCLUDES THE WATER PLANTS, THE WASTEWATER PLANT, THE WATER TOWERS.

IT INCLUDES THE LIFT STATIONS. IT IS ALL ENCOMPASSING. AND WE WANT TO DO A CONDITION ASSESSMENT OF WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY. NEXT THEY WOULD DO A FIELD INVESTIGATION OF THE COMPONENTS. AT ALL OF THOSE LOCATIONS.

THEY HAVE COMPUTER PARTS WITH THEM THAT HAVE OUR NETWORK SYSTEM.

THEY WILL LOOK AT OUR PROGRAM AND PROVIDE US A MASTER PLANNING REPORT.

KEY COMPONENTS IS THEY WILL LOOK AT THE SURFACE WATER PLANT.

ELEVATED TOWERS. AND WHAT THEY WILL DO IS LOOK AT TWO TOWERS.

THEY DON'T WANT TO LOOK AT ALL OF THEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE COST.

BUT THEY WILL LOOK AT TWO THAT WILL GIVE THEM A GENERAL IDEA OF WHAT THEY WILL SEE IN OTHER TOWERS. AGAIN LOOK AT A COUPLE OF THE WATER WELLS.

LOOK AT THE PUMP STATIONS WHICH WE HAVE. LOOK AT THE REGIONAL WASTEWATER

[00:55:03]

AGAIN, FOR CONNECTIVITY, SIZE, AND DISTANCE. THE NEXT PART IS THEY WILL LOOK AT THE MASTER PLAN WHICH WILL INCLUDE EXISTING EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT DUE TO AGING.

THE SKATERS SYSTEM WAS BUILT WHEN THE WATER PLANT WAS BUILT. WE HAVE DONE SOME UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS. BUT GENERALLY IT'S AS OLD AS THAT.

WE NEED TO GET UP TO CURRENT INFORMATION. GET CURRENT WITH THE DATA OUT THERE IN THE DATA WE CAN ACQUIRE. THE MORE DATA WE CAN GET, THE BETTER WE ARE IN EMERGENCIES AND OPERATIONAL. EQUIPMENT ADDITIONS REQUIRED FOR THE SKATE OF FUNCTIONALITY. CONTROL FEATURES, STANDARDIZATION.

AGAIN, WE WANT TO GET THESE COMBINED TOGETHER. SO IF WATER PLANT NEEDS TO LOOK AT WASTEWATER PLANT, THEY CAN DO THAT.VERYBODY CAN LOOK AT EACH OTHER'S.

OPEN ARCHITECTURE CAPABILITY FOR FUTURE EXPANSION. AND UNIFICATION OF THESE INTO A SINGLE PLATFORM OF WATER AND WASTEWATER.TIMELINE -- PROJECT KICKOFF IS OCTOBER.

NOVEMBER THEY WILL COME IN AND DO THE CONDITION ASSESSMENT. NOVEMBER, AGAIN, CONDITION ASSESSMENT. MAKE SURE WE REITERATE THAT. MARCH, MASTER PLAN SUBMITTAL.

AND APRIL IS THE PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

IT IS LONG OVERDUE. AND THIS GETS US ON THE FIRST STEP SO WE CAN DEVELOP THE CIP PROJECT TO GET THIS UPGRADED AND GET THE CITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

>> AND I WANT TO BRIEFLY REMIND COUNSEL WHAT BROUGHT US TO THIS.

LET'S NOT FORGET THE FREEZE PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALIZE THAT WE NEED A MORE MODERN SKATERS SYSTEM. THE SKATE A SYSTEM WITH THE WATER PLANT IS OVER 20 YEARS OLD. IT'S THE ORIGINAL SKATERS SYSTEM WHEN THE WATER PLANT WAS BUILT IN 99. YOU MAY OR NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE FACT THAT CURRENTLY, THE SKATERS SYSTEM FOR THE WATER AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS ARE NOT THE SAME.

SO WHAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT DOING IS NOT ONLY MODERNIZING THE SKATERS SYSTEM, BUT HAVING EVERYTHING UNDER THE SAME SKATERS SYSTEM SO WE CAN HAVE FULL CONTROL IN MANAGING THE WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS IN A TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE MANNER. THIS IS ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WAS ALSO IDENTIFIED AS A POTENTIAL PROJECT FOR THE RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS.

SO WE HOPE THAT WITHIN THE NEXT SIX OR SEVEN MONTHS, WE WILL HAVE THE INFORMATION TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT HOW TO SPEND THE REMAINING BALANCE OF THOSE FUNDS. WE KNOW GOING INTO THIS THAT THIS WILL COST US MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO UPGRADE. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TO WHAT EXTENT AND HOW WE CHOOSE TO PHASE IT OUT AND THINGS OF THAT SORT. WE'RE EXCITED FOR IT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE UPGRADE. AND IT TRULY WILL HELP US

MANAGE SITUATIONS IN THE FUTURE. >> IS THIS GOING TO ALLOW SOMEONE SITTING AT ONE STATION THEN TO BE ABLE TO MONITOR BOTH WATER TREATMENT AND WASTEWATER

TREATMENT? >> YES. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY WELL, IS THAT INCLUDED IN OUR SKATERS SYSTEM?

OR SHOULD IT BE OR WILL IT BE? >> YES AND YES. THAT IS ONE OF THE WELLS WE WANT TO LOOK AT. BECAUSE IT'S GOT SO MANY UNIQUE FEATURES.

BUT YES, IT WILL BE. >> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION TO YOU.

>> IT'S IN THERE. THAT ONE'S IMPORTANT. THAT ONE IS ESPECIALLY UNIQUE.

>> AND THE OTHER ONE IS ONE THAT BACK FEEDS THE RIVER IN TIMES OF DROUGHT?

>> THE OTHER ONE IS 21. WHICH WE USE TO SUPPLEMENT OUR WATER SYSTEM.

BUT I THINK THE ONE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IS WHEN WE DO THE WATER EXCHANGE.

THEY'LL BE INCLUDED AT THE FINAL. >> BUT NOT LOOKED AT DURING --?

>> RIGHT. >> I KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE THERE TWICE IN NOVEMBER --?

[LAUGHTER] >> WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DRIVE THAT POINT HOME! AT LEAST I READ THROUGH THE THING DURING IT AND I MADE SURE!

[LAUGHTER] >> THANK YOU. >> IS THERE A MOTION FOR E4?

>> I'LL MOVE. >> I'M JUST GOING TO ADD THAT THE FUNDS PAYING FOR THIS ARE

COMING FROM THE RESCUE ACT FUNDS. >> I WAS GOING TO ASK HOW SOON.

BUT IF WE ARE GETTING THE RESCUE PLAN MONEY NEXT YEAR, IF WE GET EVERYTHING STARTED --

[01:00:02]

NEXT YEAR? >> THIS STARTS NOW. WE RECEIVED HALF OF OUR RESCUE

FUNDS IN JUNE. SO THIS IS COMING FROM -- >> FUNDING RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH. FROM MONEY THAT WE HAVE IN THE BANK.

SO THERE IS NO NEED TO WAIT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM MS. SOLIZ.

[5. Approve a professional services agreement with Thirkettle Corporation ...]

ITEM E- FIVE? >> IMPROVING FOR INSTALLATION AND CONFIGURATION OF M400

BASESTATION NOT TO EXCEED $54,766.05. >> GOOD EVENING.

REAL QUICK. BEFORE I HAVE JAMES GET UP HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE RESOLUTION E- FIVE, WHICH IS REQUEST AND INSTALLING AN ADDITIONAL AMR BASESTATION, I WANT TO GIVE COUNSEL A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE AMR SYSTEM PROJECT STATUS. MR. GARZA BROUGHT UP WE EVALUATED THE SYSTEM. AND WE WANT TO BRING COUNSEL UP-TO-DATE.

MY PART IS GOING TO BE BRIEF BUT I CAN'T GUARANTEE WHAT JAMES IS GOING TO DO.

I PLAN TO GIVE YOU A QUICK BACKGROUND ON AMR.'M GOING TO IDENTIFY SOME OF THE DEFICIENCIES WE CAME ACROSS. I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT SCOPE THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED AND TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE MOVING FORWARD. IN THE TEXT THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED TO ADDRESS DEFICIENCIES.THE AMR WAS IN PROCESS, PROBABLY 2013.

IT WAS FINALIZED IN 2013. IT'S A TWO BASESTATION. ONCE NORTHSIDE AT GLASCOW STREET AND THE OTHER AS (NAME) TOWER. THE SOUTHSIDE AREA.

THE SYSTEM WAS IMPLEMENTED. IT HAS BELLS AND WHISTLES BUT IT WAS USED AS A METER READER.

JUST A BILLING SYSTEM. I WILL EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THAT AS I FURTHER GO INTO THE PRESENTATION. BEFORE I MOVE ON, THIS IS ONE BIG KICKER.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES. IT'S PART OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

INCLUDING MYSELF -- I DO MAKE MISTAKES! YES, I DO.

BUT THE BEST THING ABOUT IT IS YOU NEED TO LEARN FROM THEM AND GROW FROM THEM.

YOU DON'T WANT TO REPEAT THEM AGAIN. WITH THAT SAID, IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT THE DEFICIENCIES WITH THE MR WAS, I'D LIKE TO DO WHAT EVERYBODY KNOWS AS THE 5W'S. WHAT TOOK PLACE? WHAT HAPPENED? WHERE DID IT HAPPEN? WHY DID IT HAPPEN? AND WHAT'S IT ABOUT? WHERE DID IT HAPPEN? THE PUBLIC WORKS OPERATION. WHEN? FEBRUARY OF THE WINTER FREEZE. THE WINTER FREEZE BROUGHT IT TO THE SURFACE.

WHAT HAPPENED?POINT-BLANK? THE MR SYSTEM WAS NOT USED EFFECTIVELY.

THE SYSTEM ITSELF WAS PERFECT. THE OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM FAILED.

WHY? LACK OF TRAINING. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM. I WAS SURPRISED AS WELL. THE LACK OF HAVING AN OPERATION PLAN WHICH BOGGLES MY MIND. WE HAVE PLANS ESTABLISHED FOR THE WATER OPERATION AND SEWER OPERATION. ALSO, THE MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT OF THIS EQUIPMENT.

IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS. THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A GIVEN TIMEFRAME.

WE DO HAVE A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. BUT IT'S ALWAYS BEEN REACTIVE AND NOT PROACTIVE. SO WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT. AS A RESULT OF THESE DEFICIENCIES, STAFF CAME UP WITH THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TECHNOLOGY IS UP-TO-DATE FIRST OF ALL. EFFECTIVELY COLLECTING THE DATA, DIAGNOSTICS OF THE SYSTEM, THE METER STATUS. IF A METER IS GOOD OR BAD OR IS STAGNANT -- WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. THE OTHER OPERATION EFFECTIVELY, WE WANT TO DO HEAVY TRAINING. ANNUAL TRAINING.

WE ALSO WANT TO DO PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS. WE DO WANT TO REPLACE SOME OF THESE METERS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

[01:05:05]

WE ALSO WANT TO IMPLEMENT AN AMR MARKETING CAMPAIGN PROGRAM. WE WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THE BENEFITS OF THIS SYSTEM.HOW THEY CAN USE IT AND MONITOR THEIR OWN WATER USAGE.

AND MAYBE THEY COULD TELL WHEN THEY HAVE A LEAK, ESPECIALLY AFTER FREEZE.

BUT OVERALL, I THINK EVERYBODY WHO WALKS AWAY WITH THIS MEETING, IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE BILLING AND COLLECTION SYSTEM. IT'S INTEGRATED WITH THE WHOLE SYSTEM. IT'S PART OF THE WHEEL OF THE WHOLE OPERATION.

WHEN THAT WHEEL GOES OUT, EVERYTHING GOES OUT. SO MOVING FORWARD, THESE ARE THE TASKS WE CAME UP WITH. FIRST, STAFF TRAINING. THAT'S PRIMARY.

IN THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN HAVING TRAINING. IT HAS TRAINING, AND PUBLIC WORKS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S BEEN ALTOGETHER.

BUT NOW INDIVIDUALLY THEY WILL HAVE THEIR OWN TRAINING. THE CENSUS DATA COMPANY WILL COME DOWN AND MODIFIED THE TRAINING TO YOUR NEEDS. OF COURSE, IT HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS FROM PUBLIC WORKS. SO WE WANT TO CURTAIL TO THE ACTUAL OPERATION ITSELF.

THAT'S PRIMARY.E ALSO WANT TO IDENTIFY THE (INDISCERNIBLE).

IN OTHER WORDS, IT HAS ALERT SYSTEMS. IT SENDS EMAILS OUT TO PEOPLE TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG. IT HAS A GIS MAPPING SYSTEM AS WELL. ALL 22,000 METERS ARE MAPPED IN THE GIS.

AND WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AT AND WHICH ONE GOES BAD. ON TOP OF THAT, WE ALSO WANT TO DO A PROACTIVE MR OPERATION MAINTENANCE DEAL. WE WANT TO LOOK AT AUTOMATIC METERS. IS IT EFFECTIVE TO BUY SOME OF THESE AUTOMATIC METERS? THEY HAVE THE SHUT OFF OR ON AUTOMATICALLY. WE LOOKED INTO IT.

THEY GO UP TO A CERTAIN SIZE BY ONE HALF INCH. WE NEED A LITTLE BIGGER FOR THE BIGGER INDUSTRIAL DEALS.BUT WILL STILL LOOK INTO IT. WE ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT THE TYPE OF METERS WE ARE BUYING. WE EVALUATE THEM. AND THIS -- I THINK STAFF KNOWS I BEEN HARPING ON THIS A LOT -- WE HAVE A PUBLIC WORKS MEETING POSITION.

WE ALSO HAVE THE EPO METER READER POSITIONS. TO ME, WE NEED TO INTEGRATE THIS SOMEHOW. SO WHEN THESE FOLKS GO OUT THERE AND TOUCH THAT METER, THEY TOUCH IT ONE TIME. THE READERS GO OUT -- COME ON. LET'S BE MORE EFFICIENT.

HOW CAN WE DO SOME SYNERGY? AND THE BIGGEST PART HERE, WE WANT TO INTEGRATE THE CENSUS DATA THAT IS COLLECTED FROM THESE METERS INTO THE NEW WORK SYSTEM.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? KEN HAS A LIST OF ITEMS THAT WILL TALK COUNSEL WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IN THE PAST TWO OR THREE MONTHS. CORRECTLY.

>> CORRECT. SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE IS ON YOUR METER LEAD, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THERE IS A PLASTIC -- WE CALL IT A DISC. WE FOUND THAT THOSE DISCS SIT ABOVE THE METAL OR PLASTIC LID JUST A LITTLE BIT. IT HAS A PLASTIC LIP ON IT.

ART OF OUR ISSUE IS WHEN THAT GETS KNOCKED OFF, THE BATTERY THAT IS UNDERNEATH THE LID HANGING ON BY THAT DISK FALLS DOWN. AND THE ANTENNAS CAN'T PICK IT UP. SO WE ARE CHANGING OUR LIDS AND THEY WILL BE BLUE.

THEY WILL HAVE RECESSED -- PUCK IS BASICALLY WHAT I CALL IT. SO AS YOU ARE MOWING OR WEED EATING OR SOMEBODY KICKS IT, IT WON'T HAVE THAT KICKOFF. HAT'S ONE BIG THING.

AS GILBERT MENTIONED, WE ARE CROSSTRAINING OUR GROUP SO THEY ARE WORKING WITH YOU PO DURING EMERGENCIES. THAT WE HAVE OUR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION.

THEY ARE TAKING TRAINING CLASSES ON THE MR AND PORTALS. WE PURCHASED A NEW TEST BENCH LAST YEAR WITH YOUR APPROVAL. THAT'S ALLOWING US TO TEST MORE METERS AT ONE TIME.

CHECK THEM FOR ACCURACY. AND THEN, GET ON A REGULAR HIGH-LEVEL NEATNESS PROGRAM AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. AGAIN, WE ARE CROSSTRAINING OUR PUBLIC WORKS WITH THE METER READERS SO WE ONLY HAVE TO GO OUT ONE TIME. GILBERT IS RIGHT.

GOING BACK AND FORTH GETS OLD FOR US AND FOR THEM. AND REALISTICALLY, IT'S A PROBLEM SOMETIMES FOR THE PUBLIC. THEN, WE WANT TO DO A METER

[01:10:04]

ONE AND DONE. AND GIVE CREDIT -- THAT COMPANY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB FOR WHAT THEY DID. BUT NOW, IT'S TIME TO START REPLACING THOSE METERS.

REPLACING THE BATTERIES AND THINGS. AND THEN, ONCE WE START DOING THE METER REPLACEMENT, ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO DO AND THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT.

IF WE ARE REPLACING THE METER, LET'S PLACE A CUT OFF FOR ALL THE CITIZENS.

SO THEY KNOW IF THEY NEED TO CUT THE WATER OFF TO THEIR HOUSE THEY DON'T NEED TO CALL THE CITY. THEY'LL HAVE A CUT OFF. IT'S RIGHT THERE.

WE CAN HELP THEM IF THEY CALL AND SAY I HAVE A LEAK IN MY HOUSE.HOW I SHUT OFF THE WATER? AND ONCE WE GET THE NEW ANTENNAS INSTALLED, IDENTIFY AND INVESTIGATE THE METERS THAT ARE UNREAD. AND I'LL STOP RIGHT THERE.

BECAUSE I COULD KEEP GOING! >> THANK YOU, KEN. THANK YOU, KEN! [LAUGHTER] > I KNOW YOU WILL! THIS CAN BE PUSHED OUT TO THE VARIOUS PEOPLE WHO CAN USE THEM OTHER THAN THE BILLING SIDE. THAT'S CRITICAL.

THE OTHER PART, WHICH I THINK IS VITAL IS WE NEED TO DEVELOP AN EMERGENCY PLAN PROCESS OPERATION FOR THE YOU PO SITE. WE NEED TO BE PREPARED THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A FREEZE.

OR HOW WE WILL DEAL WICONFERENC FOR EXAMPLE. WE NEED TO IDENTIFY STAFF WHO WILL RECEIVE AN ALERT. IT WILL SEND ALERTS OUT TO EMAILS.

AND WHEN SENDING OUT TEXTS AND EMAILS -- BUT THE PERSON IS IN HERE.

IT WAS WORKING. (LAUGHING) IT JUST WASN'T THE RIGHT EMAIL.

ANOTHER BIG THING IS THAT LET'S TRY TO GROUP THESE METERS IN GROUPS.

WHAT I MEAN IS, LET'S TRY TO IDENTIFY THE METERS WITH LARGE USERS.

BUT THESE SCHOOLS -- WHERE WE CAN IDENTIFY THE SCHOOLS QUICKLY.

WE CAN IDENTIFY APARTMENT COMPLEX. WHY? SO IF WE HAVE ANOTHER FREEZE, WE CAN ZOOM IN AND FIND THEM FASTER.

SO WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. SO IT HELPS US TO BE MORE PROACTIVE AND IDENTIFY ISSUES.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND AGAIN, WE NEED TO COME UP WITH A TURNOFF WATER METER PLAN. WE MIGHT NOT HAVE ALL THE AUTOMATIC METERS INSTALLED.

BUT THERE IS A WAY AROUND THAT. SINCE WE HAVE THE GIS MAP IN THE METERS, WE CAN IDENTIFY THE METERS.E MIGHT HAVE TO DO IT MANUALLY, BUT AT LEAST WE GO MANUALLY.

THE ITEM KEN WAS TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IN A SHUT OFF AND THE CUSTOMER'S HOUSE? THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. THE OTHER ITEM THAT WE PLAN STARTING SEPTEMBER 6, I BELIEVE, IS DEVELOPING THE OUTREACH MARKETING CAMPAIGN. JUST TO EDUCATE CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE MR CAPACITY. THE BENEFITS AND HOW THEY CAN GET INFORMATION OUT OF IT.

AND HOW TO CONTROL THEIR WATER. AND HOW TO DETECT LEAKS. WERE GOING TO USE BILLBOARDS,

MEDIA, LOGOS. JESUS LOVED IT! >> INSIDE JOKE THAT I WILL

SHARE WITH YOU OFF-LINE! >> PUBLICATIONS. BUT WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON RIGHT NOW IS THE CITY WEBSITE WITH A VIDEO SHOWING THEM HOW THE SYSTEM ACTUALLY WORKS.

WHAT STEPS ARE DONE. HOW YOU DO IT. EVERYTHING, A TO Z. PUT INFORMATION OUT THERE SO IF WE HAVE ANOTHER WINTER FREEZE, WE CAN HIT THEM OUT THERETO.

IN THE LAST TASK IS PROPAGATION STUDY. I COULD DO IT BUT I PROBABLY WOULD BE BE GUESSING. SO I'LL LET JAMES HANDLE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,

COUNSEL. >> THANK YOU, MR. REYNA.E FAILED TO POINT OUT THAT ALL THE TECHNICAL HARD STUFF, HE LEFT TO ME!

[LAUGHTER] >> SO WE WILL TRY TO WORK THROUGH THIS AND GET THROUGH THIS IN A QUICK MANNER. PROPAGATION STUDY. WHAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN THE SYSTEM AS PART OF WINTER FREEZE. WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT, WE HAVE

[01:15:04]

THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON IS IF WE HAVE A LOSS OF ANY TOWER, THEN THE OTHER TOWER HAS TO TRY TO PICK UP THOSE ADDITIONAL METERS. AND I WILL SHOW YOU IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES LATER THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY THE CASE. AND WE CAN DO THAT.

ALSO, AS WE LOOK MORE AND MORE INTO THE DATA, WE DETERMINED THAT HEAVIER SUSTAIN RAINFALL ALSO AFFECTED THE METER READS. A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE METERS THAT HAVE ACTUALLY FALLEN DOWN. THE ACTUAL HOLE THEY ARE IN IS FILLED WITH WATER.O IT'S A GROUND SATURATION THAT CAUSES THE METERS TO NOT READ IN A TAMELY MANNER.

WHAT WE ARE FINDING WITH THIS LAST EVENT, IN JULY, IT WAS TAKING ALMOST A FULL WEEK FOR THOSE METERS TO COME BACK TO NORMAL. AND I WILL SHOW YOU THIS AND

SOME OTHER SLIDES. >> BECAUSE OUR RAINDROPS ARE TOO BIG?

[LAUGHTER] >> ABSOLUTELY. AND TOO MANY RAINDROPS! THIS DASHBOARD IS THE OPERATOR DASHBOARD. THIS DASHBOARD IS WHAT YOU BE OH SEES. I'M GOING TO GO INTO THE DEFINITIONS OF THE METERS.

BUT I REALLY WANT TO SHOW -- AND I BROUGHT THIS UP AS FAR AS JULY 9. JULY 9 WAS WHAT WE CALL A PERFECT STORM. WE HAD SIX CONTINUOUS DAYS OF RAIN.S YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE 23,000, METERS IN THE SYSTEM. AND WHEN WE ADD THE NO READS, THAT ENDED UP TO BE 43 PERCENT

OF OUR BEATEING READ IN A TAMEL MANNER. >> WHAT DOES STEEL MEAN?

>> STALE METERS ARE METERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED IN THREE DAYS.

THAT CAN BE FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE LINEMAN. HOW WE ARE SET UP WITH OUR TOWERS.

AND ALSO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME METERS THAT ARE NEAR END OF LIFE.

WE ALSO HAVE THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY FALLEN DOWN. SO ONE OF THE THINGS ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE IS THE CLUSTERS. THIS IS ONE OF THE PORTIONS OF THE DASHBOARDS THAT STAFF HAS THE ABILITY TO LOOK INTO. AND THOSE CLUSTERS CAN BE DRILLED DOWN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ACTUAL METER. I KEPT IT AT THIS HIGH LEVEL BECAUSE I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT A LOT OF OUR METERS THAT ARE SHOWING AS STALE ARE IN THAT SOUTH CENTRAL PART OF TOWN. ALMOST STALE METERS. THESE ARE THE METERS THAT HAVE NOT REPORTED IN 48 HOURS. IF THEY DON'T REPORT IN THE NEXT 24 THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY TRANSITION INTO 72 HOURS. AND THEN WE HAVE THE NO READS AVAILABLE.

THESE ARE THE READS THAT ARE NOT COMMUNICATED WITH THE TOWERS.

NO READS DOES NOT EQUATE TO NO BILLING. WE DO GET THE BILLING.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS SINCE WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE READS AUTOMATICALLY, STAFF HAS TO DRIVE THOSE READS AND GET THOSE READS 3 TO 5 DAYS BEFORE BILLING.

>> ONE THING -- WHEN HE SAYS DRIVE BY, THEY DRIVE BY BUT THEY HAVE A DEVICE.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO PHYSICALLY OPEN UP THE METER AND DO THE OLD READ.

THEY CAN STILL DRIVE BY. IT'S THAT ANTENNA ISSUE. >> THANK YOU.

BUT THEY ALSO MAYBE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING BLOCKING THAT METER. MY POINT IS THAT -- I HAD A POINT -- AND I FORGOT.

THANKS, KEN! >> YEAH. LAUGHTER]

>> THEY DO A MANUAL OPERATION ON THAT. WHICH DEFEATS THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF WHY YOU HAVE AN AUTOMATIC METER READER SYSTEM. ALL OF THESE STEELS -- WE HAVE TO GO OUT THERE.ELL, WE DIDN'T GAIN ANYTHING THEN. SO THAT'S WHY WE HAD TO MAKE

[01:20:02]

SURE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AND IMPROVE THAT. >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION?ON THESE NO READS AVAILABLE, ARE THEY IN THE SAME AREA BECAUSE OF THE TOWERS?

OR ARE THEY SCATTERED? >> THEY ARE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> OKAY. >> THIS IS A COUPLE OF GRAPHS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PULL TOGETHER. THE TOP INDICATES THE PERCENTAGE OF THE DAILY READS THAT OCCUR ON A DAILY BASIS. YOU CAN SEE JULY 9 WE DROP DOWN TO 56 PERCENT DURING THAT INCIDENT. THE BOTTOM GRAPH WITH THE BARS DESK OF THE BLUE BARS IS SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF RAINFALL THAT FELL IN THAT. OF TIME.

THE YELLOW LINE IS THE STEEL READS. THE TEAL IS THE ALMOST STALE.

AND THE NO READS AS YOU CAN SEE IS KEEPING VERY FLAT ACROSS THE BOARD.

THIS IS A CASE WHERE WE SAW IT TOOK ALMOST A FULL WEEK FOR THOSE STILL READS TO RECOVER BACK TO NEAR NORMAL. THAT DROP THAT TOWN. SO 56.7.

WE HAD 9.2 INCHES OF RAIN DURING THAT WEEK? THE AVERAGE FOR THE FIRST TWO WEEKS IN JULY -- THOSE TWO WEEKS DROP FROM 86 PERCENT, WHICH WE HAD IN JUNE, DOWN TO THAT 77 PERCENT.THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER DASHBOARD THAT IS AVAILABLE WITHIN THE SYSTEM.

THIS ACTUALLY SHOWS THE TOWERS THAT THE METERS ARE SPEAKING TO.

THAT'S GOT THE BUS SNR. THAT'S THE SIGNATURE NOISE RATIO.

THE GREEN TOWER AT THE TOP IS WATER TOWER FOUR. THE YELLOW TOWER AT THE BOTTOM.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THESE CLUSTERS. SOME OF THESE METERS ARE ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO A TOWER THAT IS FURTHER AWAY FROM THE CLOSEST METER.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, BUT IT'S BASICALLY BASED UPON WHAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY SEE AND WHAT'S GOT THE BEST SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO. SO A GOOD SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO IS GREATER THAN 20 PERCENT. ND WE ALSO HAVE A READ IN ROW SUCCESS WHICH IS 100 PERCENT.

IN THIS CASE, THIS TOWER CAN SEE BOTH TOWERS -- THIS METER CAN SEE BOTH TOWERS.

I'M SORRY. IT'S COMMUNICATING WITH BOTH TOWER BECAUSE IT'S GOT THE BETTER SNR RATIO. A READ INTERVAL SUCCESS RATE IN A PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT IS 95 PERCENT OR BETTER. THIS IS WHAT WE WANT ALL OF OUR METERS TO LOOK LIKE.HE METERS I WILL POINT OUT -- THE DATA ITSELF IS COLLECTED EVERY 15 MINUTES.

HOWEVER, THE DATA UPLOAD ONLY OCCURS EVERY 4 TO 5 HOURS. ON A GOOD METER READ.

SO THIS PARTICULAR METER IS SENDING ITS DATA EVERY 4 TO 5 HOURS.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR -- CORRECT ME. THE DATA IS NOT LIVE DATA RIGHT

THERE ON THE SPOT? IT'S FOUR HOURS AFTER THE FACT? >> AND THE REASON ON THAT IS WE CAN OBVIOUSLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF METER READS. IF YOU DO THAT, YOU DECREASE THE BATTERY LIFE. SO THE BALANCE WAS IF WE CAN DO IT AT 45 HOURS, WE STILL GET THE DATA. AND WE STILL GET OUR 10 YEAR LIFE OUT OF THE BATTERIES.

SO THERE'S THE BALANCE. A BAD SNR IS ANYTHING LESS THAN 15 PERCENT IN THIS CASE, EVEN THOUGH THIS METER CAN SEE BOTH TOWERS, IT'S SNR IS STILL A.3. WHICH IS BELOW THE LEVEL.

I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THE POWER LEVEL. IF YOU NOTICE IT IS SHOWING A NEGATIVE ONE. THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A BOOST MODE.

IT WON'T TRY TO COMMUNICATE EVERY 4 TO 5 HOURS BECAUSE IT CAN'T COMMUNICATE.

SO IT WILL BOOST ITS SIGNAL ONCE EVERY 25 HOURS TO TRY TO GET A SIGNAL OUT.

TO GET THE READER CROSS. IN THIS CASE YOU CAN SEE WAS 96.8 PERCENT.

BUT THE TRANSMISSION COUNT WAS ONLY FOUR. SO I DO WANT TO POINT OUT, IT STILL WORKED WITH THE SYSTEM. IT WAS THE PRIMARY DESIGN FOR METER READS.

SO AS LONG AS WE CAN GET A READ WITHIN A 72 HOUR., IT SATISFIES OUR REQUIREMENTS AS FAR AS

GETTING THE METER READS.>> WHAT WE HAVE TO CHANGE BATTERIES? OR CHANGE METERS? AND IT SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF THEM ARE ALL GOING TO GO AT

ONCE? >> THERE ARE BATTERIES THAT WE ARE CHANGING OUT NOW.

[01:25:02]

>> THAT'S PART OF THE METER TEST BENCH. WE GO TEST IT AND MAKE SURE IT'S READING ACCURATE. AND WE CAN PUT IT BACK IN. IF IT'S BAD, WE WILL PUT IT ON THE SHELF. GET THREE CYCLES BECAUSE IT'S BRASS AND GET A NEW METER.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. WE KNOW WE HAVE TO REPLACE A BUNCH OF THEM. BUT IN THE INTERIM WE ARE TESTING THEM.

>> BUT THESE METERS ARE STILL STATE-OF-THE-ART? >> YES.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT ALL THE AVAILABLE METERS. WHAT'S THE BEST KIND.

THE CURRENT ONE WE ARE PUTTING IN IS A VERY GOOD, CURRENT MODEL.

IT'S NOT AN OLD ANTIQUE. LOT OF CITIES USE THEM. IT'S SOLIDLY BUILT.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, IT'S GOING TO BE 10 YEARS THAT THESE METERS HAVE BEEN ON THE GROUND.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT. WE DON'T EXPECT THESE METERS, ALL OF A SUDDEN 11 YEARS AND IT'S OUT. BUT IT'S VERY CRUCIAL FOR US TO HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM NOW. NEXT YEAR, WE WILL TRY TO DO THE REPLACEMENT (INDISCERNIBLE). THEN WE WILL BE SPACED OUT AND CONTINUE IN A MORE NORMAL FASHION. RIGHT NOW WE IMPLEMENT THEM ALL ONE TIME.

WHICH YOU LEARN FROM YOUR LESSON. BUT WE ARE STILL GOOD.

FROM AN EQUIPMENT STANDPOINT. AND ONCE WE GET TO THE REPLACEMENTS, THAT WILL HELP US WITH ADDRESSING MORE PROACTIVE METERS THAT GO BAD FOR SOME REASON OR ANOTHER.

>> ONCE IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS FOR INSTANCE. >> WHAT'S THE COST OF A METER?

>> ABOUT $130. >> THE ONES WE USE? >> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT. GO ON. >> OKAY.

AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THE SUCCESS RATE WAS ZERO PERCENT ON THIS ONE.

SO WITH THE TWO BASE STATIONS WE ARE SEEING WE HAVE LIMITED OVERLAP IN COVERAGE.

SO WE HAVE TO THEN DO THE DISPATCH TO ROLLOUT FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO READ THOSE METERS. OBVIOUSLY, THE BIG ISSUE THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS IS THE FACT THAT THE LOSS OF ANY TOWER WOULD DRASTICALLY AFFECT OUR CAPACITY TO READ THOSE METERS.

THIS IS -- WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE TWO WAY COVERAGE AND ONE-WAY COVERAGE.

THIS IS A METER COVERAGE AS OF AUGUST 13. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR PROPAGATION STUDY. IT'S JUST ASSIMILATION OF THE TYPE OF COVERAGE A RADIO SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE BASED UPON THE ANTENNA IT'S TALKING TO. AND THAT'S BASED UPON THE TYPE OF ANTENNA AND THE HEIGHT OF THE ANTENNA. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE METERS HAVE TWO WAY COVERAGE WHICH INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESSFUL METER READS. AS PART OF A PROPAGATION STUDY, WE ASKED (INDISCERNIBLE) TO COME OUT. WHEN THEY DO THE PROPAGATION STUDY, THEY AUTOMATICALLY HAVE TO DO A -- IT'S CALLED A TOWER RECERTIFICATION PROCESS.SO THEY CAME OUT IN JUNE AND RECERTIFIED BOTH TOWERS. PART OF THE PROCESS IS THEY HAVE TO GO IN AND DO WHAT'S CALLED A LINE SWEEP. THIS IS FROM THE EQUIPMENT THAT IS IN THE TOWER ITSELF ALL THE WAY UP TO THE ANTENNA. GOING THROUGH THE CABLE TO MAKE SURE ALL THE CABLE IS GOOD AND THERE ARE NO ISSUES. JUNE, WE PASSED CERTIFICATION. SO EVERYTHING WAS GOOD.

THEY CAME ACROSS WITH PROPAGATION STUDY. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE IDENTIFIED, THOUGH, WAS THAT WE WERE HAVING ISSUES. AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THIS LATER ON. BUT WE WERE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE METER READS.

WE KEPT SEEING THAT THE METER READS WERE STILL NOT AS HIGH AS IT SHOULD BE.

SO WE CAME BACK. AND WHEN THEY DID THEIR STUDY, THERE SOLUTION WE HAD WERE TO OMNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNAS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TOWN. THEY ARE 360 DEGREES SO THEY CAN SEND A SIGNAL OUT BOTH WAYS. BUT IT MAKES NO SENSE WHEN THERE IS NO METERS BEHIND VOGUE. SO WE SAID LET'S GO IN AND LOOK AT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO REPLACE THE ANTENNA. SO A LOT OF THE SIGNAL STRENGTH TO GO FORWARD. SO THEY DID THE PROPAGATION. IT JUST SO HAPPENED TO COME OUT DURING THAT WEEK OF JULY 9. ENTER THAT RECERTIFICATION ON THE TOWER SUITE.

[01:30:11]

THEY WERE REPLACED LAST THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. WE PUT THE SECTIONAL ON VOGUE AND WE WILL SHOW WHAT THOSE RATES ARE. WE CAN SEE WAS 51 PERCENT.

AND IT'S ROUGHLY ABOUT THE SAME. SO NOW THIS IS THE METER READS AS OF AUGUST 28. AND YOU CAN SEE NOW THAT WE HAVE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED OUR CAPABILITY. SO THE NUMBER OF SALES AND ALMOST SALES HAVE DRAMATICALLY DROPPED FROM THE JULY 9 FROM EIGHT 8072. THEY DROPPED ONTO 580.

NOW, THAT'S GREAT BUT IT'S STILL NOT INCREASE OUR TO A METER COVERAGE AS MUCH AS WE WOULD'VE LIKED. IT DEFINITELY DID DECREASE IT. AND IT WENT DOWN FROM THAT 51 PERCENT TO 35 PERCENT. BUT WE ARE STILL SEEING ONE WAY COVERAGE.

WE ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS WITH THE ADDITION OF 1/3 BASESTATION.

THIS THIRD BASE STATION WOULD ALSO BE LOCATED ON TOWER ONE, WHICH IS OFF OF WEST STREET.

WHICH IS RIGHT OUTSIDE THE PARK. THAT'S WHERE THAT WOULD BE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO GET SOME HISTORICAL DATA. THIS IS JUST JANUARY 1 TO AUGUST 28. YOU CAN SEE THE NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL READS.

AND AT THE BOTTOM, THE COMPARISON. THE ONE BREED THAT WE HAVE WAS ON THE MAY 7. THAT WAS NOT WEATHER-RELATED. THAT WAS A NETWORKING ISSUE THAT WE IDENTIFIED. SO THAT DROP DOWN TO 53 PERCENT.

BUT JULY 9 WAS A 56.71 PERCENT. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S TOOK A WHILE FOR THAT RECOVERY.

SO OUR AVERAGE READS FOR THIS YEAR CURRENTLY IS 87.44 PERCENT.

THIS IS ALSO SHOWN YOU THE READS THAT HAPPENED IN FEBRUARY.

EVEN THOUGH WE HAD FREEZE, WE WERE SO ABLE TO GET READS. WE PROBABLY WEREN'T GETTING MUCH DATA, BUT WE WERE GETTING READS FROM ALL THE METERS. SO WE HAD ALMOST 90 PERCENT ON THE READS. AND GOING BACK TO A YEAR PRIOR. YOU CAN SEE 91.8 PERCENT ON OUR METER READS. WE HAD PARTS OF WHERE WE DID HAVE RAINFALL, WE DID HAVE STILL METER READS THAT WERE OCCURRING. BUT INSTEAD OF ONE WEEK, WE

WERE ABLE TO RECOVER THOSE READS WITHIN 2 TO 3 DAYS. >> I THOUGHT THERE WOULD'VE BEEN A DROP FROM LAST YEAR? WHY WOULD THERE BE A DROP IN RE-PERCENTAGE FROM LAST YEAR?

>> FROM LAST YEAR? REMEMBER, THESE READS TOOK IN ACCOUNT THAT WE HAD A DAMAGED ANTENNA. WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE WAS WE ARE THINKING THAT IN APRIL, WE HAD SOME EQUIPMENT GO BAD. OUR LIGHTS AT BOTH ROAD WENT BAD. IT WAS A LIGHTNING STORM. THE READS WERE STILL COMING THROUGH SO WE DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ANTENNA.

ONCE WE DID THE RECERTIFICATION AND THE LINE SWEEP, WE IDENTIFIED THAT THAT ANTENNA IS

BAD. SO THAT SKEWED THE NUMBERS. >> LET'S GET TO THE END, JAMES.

>> YES SIR. SO THIS IS OUR PROPAGATION STUDY.

THEY ARE BASICALLY SAYING WE SHOULD HAVE A 95 PERCENT TWO WAY COVERAGE.

IF WE GO WITH THE THREE TOWER METER COVERAGE, WE CAN GO TO 99 PERCENT.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE GETTING THAT KIND OF INCREASE ON THAT PART.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD. BUT I DO THINK IT WILL DEFINITELY INCREASE TO 95 PERCENT PROBABLY, THAT WE CAN EXPECT. OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN PUT THE ADDITIONAL TOWER -- TOWER ONE TO INCREASE OUR TWO-WAY COVERAGE AND DAILY METER READS.

SO AS A RECAP, WE ARE GOING TO START WORKING ON PROGRAMS WITH LEAD TO TENSION MANAGEMENT.

WE WILL ADD ADDITIONAL DEVICES FOR PRESSURING MONITORING INSTEAD OF RELYING ON SKATER DATA. WE WILL RESEARCH WHICH METERS WOULD BENEFIT FROM REMOTE DISCONNECTS.E WILL ACCOUNT FOR UNBILLED WATER. AND MORE CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENTS ABOUT CAPABILITY OF THE SYSTEM. AND REDEVELOP THE REPLACEMENT METERS OVER A FIVE YEAR.

[01:35:02]

I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT.

BECAUSE I WANT TO COMMEND GILBERT FOR TAKING THE LEAD WORKING WITH JAMES AND KEN IN FINDING A SOLUTION TO THIS CHALLENGE. BECAUSE AS YOU ALL KNOW, OVER THE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION BEHIND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE SYSTEM.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT TOOK THE WINTER FREEZE EVENT TO HAVE ALL OF THIS STUFF CREEP UP.

ENGELBERT HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WORKING WITH JAMES AND KEN AND FINDING A SOLUTION TO ENSURE WE HAVE AN MR SYSTEM THAT IS TRULY MORE RESILIENT AND MORE DEPENDABLE.

AND QUITE FRANKLY, MORE EFFICIENT. SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THEM FOR TAKING THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT VERY SERIOUSLY. BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH IT HAS TAKEN THIS LONG FOR YOU TO GET A DETAILED UPDATE, THERE IS BEEN A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES SINCE THE FREEZE TO GET TO THIS POINT. SO I JUST WANT TO COMMEND THEM

FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS MATTER. >> THANK YOU, ALL. >> YOU TALKED ABOUT PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN PUBLIC TRAINING. WILL THERE BE MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC? I KNOW THAT NOW WE CAN GET NOTICES WHEN WE ARE USING MORE WATER THEN WE HAVE SCHEDULED AND SO FORTH. BUT WILL THERE BE MORE?

>> YES, MA'AM. ALLISON AND HER CREW ARE HERE BUT I THINK THEY ARE ON A

CONFERENCE RIGHT NOW. >> HER QUESTION IS THE CAPABILITIES -- IT'S THE SAME SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM IS WE JUST DON'T HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTS THAT SIGN UP FOR IT AND USE IT. SO THEY DON'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOU ARE REFERENCING.

WHERE YOU GET NOTICES IF YOU PASS OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WATER.

OR IF YOU WANT TO SET TRIGGERS IF YOU GO ON TRIPS AND THINGS OF THAT TYPE.

THAT SYSTEM IS NOT CHANGING. BUT OUR STRATEGY IS HAVING MORE PEOPLE SIGN UP.

AND HAVING MORE PEOPLE SIGN UP AND KNOW THE CAPABILITIES OF THE SYSTEM AND BE EDUCATED ON

HOW TO USE THOSE TOOLS. >> THANK YOU. >> WHEN WE GET TO READ MORE METERS THAT TRADITIONALLY HAVE NOT BEEN READ BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BE CAPTURED FROM TOWERS? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO IF THERE IS A HUGE DISCREPANCY ON WHERE THE METER IS VERSUS HOW THEY HAVE BEEN BUILT? IF THE NUMBERS DON'T LINE UP --

>> SO THERE WOULD BE TWO SCENARIOS. IN INSTANCES WHERE THERE CAN'T BE A READ, STAFF TAKES A VERY CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO THAT BILLING.

SO IT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN IS THAT THE BILL IS GOING TO COME IN HIGHER.

SO WE WILL SEND IT WITH A NOTE SAYING HEY, YOU'VE BEEN PAYING LESS FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND IT'S TIME TO PAY WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN PAYING. I SAY THAT SHE CAN TONGUE, BUT THOSE ARE THE SITUATIONS THAT I THINK YOU ARE REFERRING TO? TONGUE-IN-CHEEK -- DID I SAY THAT BACKWARDS? SHE CAN TONGUE, TONGUE-IN-CHEEK -- WHATEVER (LAUGHING)! SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE SITUATIONS YOU ARE REFERRING TO, RIGHT?

>> SO THERE IS A CONSTITUENT IN MY DISTRICT THAT I HAVE A FEELING MAY NOT BE READ.

BECAUSE EVERY MONTH, THE BILL IS EXACTLY THE SAME TO THE PENNY.

>> IT'S BEING READ. IT COULD BE THE MINIMUM THAT HE IS PAYING STEP BUT IT IS BEING READ. GIVE ME THE ADDRESS AND WE WILL VERIFY IT.

THE BILLING PART IS CONSISTENT. >> OKAY. SO WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OH, YOU'VE BEEN UNDERPAYING FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS AND NOW YOU OWE $10,000?R THE CITY OWES

YOU $10,000 BECAUSE YOU'VE OVERPAID? >> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IT'S PICKED UP ON THE SYSTEM ITSELF. AS A MATTER FACT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WALK AWAY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE UBL MANAGER AND THEIR STAFF LOOKS AT THIS DATA. IF THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE BILLING RATES (INDISCERNIBLE), THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY HIT THE ROAD AND GET THE METERS READ. THEY DON'T WAIT FOR THE INFORMATION TO COME IN. SO THOSE METERS ARE ACCURATELY READ.

THERE SHOULD NOT BE A SITUATION WHERE YOU READ A METER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE MISREAD IT.

NO, SIR. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.

[01:40:07]

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? IF NOT, LET'S ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

[F. Executive Sessions:]

>> ITEM D5? >> C5. >> I SECOND.

>> THANK YOU. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. P5 PASSES.

AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULAR MEETING. DO WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION

THIS EVENING? >> YES, SIR. VERY SHORT.

>> SO AT THIS TIME, 6:41, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. IN WHATEVER LANGUAGE YOU NEED

TO SAY. >> THE CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS AT 6:41 PM.

THE DOUBLE RATION AS FOLLOWS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.