Sep 07, 2021 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:06]

>> WELCOME TO THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR CITY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2021, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL.

STANDS 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, FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

>>> PLEASE REMAIN STANTING AS WE HOLD A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO GET OUR MINDS CORRECT TO DO THE

CITY'S BUSINESS. THANK YOU. >> AGAIN, WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 7TH MEETING RIGHT BEFORE WE SWEAR IN MR. CROCKER JUST FOR LET Y'ALL KNOW ERR GOING TO MOVE ITEM E2 TO C4. THERE WILL BE A PUBLIC HEARING WITH IT.

JUST TO LET Y'ALL KNOW THAT, OKAY. >> RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAN AND REPEAT AFTER ME MY, DWAYNE CROCKER DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT 3 FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF &

LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE SO HELP ME GOD. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH COMMUNICATIONS, SO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS WE HAVE VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL BUSINESS.

[a. Present the September Keep Victoria Beautiful Business Beautification ...]

>> YES, KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL BUSINESS. I DO WANT TO ASK CHRISTIE IEWKER

TO COME UP AND MAKE THAT PRESENTATION. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE AGAIN IN SEPTEMBER. AND BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU WE HAVE A CLEANUP SEPTEMBER 25TH, CITYWIDE CLEANUP, THE FALL SWEEP AND I WOULD INVITE ALL OF YOU TO HAVE A TEAM, WE'RE CLEANING UP ALL SPOTS, DIFFERENT AREA IN VICTORIA, NOT JUST THE LOOP, WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND AND MAKE IT A BIG DEAL SO YOU CAN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SIGNED UP ON OUR WEBSITE. AND I'M GOING TO INTRODUCE SHANNON LONGORIA TO ANNOUNCE OUR WINNER. THANK YOU, CHRISTIE, WANT TO TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO THANK Y'ALL FOR MAKING BEAUTIFY INDICATION PRIORITY IN VICTORIA WE BELIEVE A PARTNERSHIP CITY AND RES AGAINSTS TO KEEP A CULTURE THAT WHEN PUSHED TO THE LIMITS LIKE WE HAVE. TO REBUILD AND REBUILD AND RESTORE.

VOLUNTEER AT THE EVENT LIKE CHRISTIE ANNOUNCED A FEW MINUTING ES AGO ON SEPTEMBER 25TH, AND YOU CAN SIGN UP AT KEEPVICTORIABEAUTIFUL.ORG. EVERY LITTLE BIT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE A PART, BECAUSE EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS CONTRIBUTES TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS, WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE EVERY EFFORT, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY USING TO MAKE VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL.

[00:05:02]

THE PARKING AREA IS LITTER-FREE AND THEY DEMONSTRATED THEIR BELIEVE TO THE AMERICAN DREAM AND TEXAS PRIDE WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG AND TEXAS FLAG POSTED ON THEIR PROPERTY.

WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO A LEVEL OF EXCELLENCE THAT ELEVATES THE CITY OF VICTORIA COMMUNITY APPEARANCE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATIONING APPLIANCE PRO AS RECIPIENT OF THE SEPTEMBER KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL,

BEAUTIFY INDICATION AWARD. [APPLAUSE] >> OKAY, ALREADY GOT IT?

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]

[a. Proclamation for Hunger Action Month. Jeff Bauknight, Mayor]

HUNGER ACTION MONTH. >> WHEREAS HUNGER AND POVERTY ARE ISSUES OF VITAL CONCERN IN TEXAS WHERE 14% OF PEOPLE FACE HUNGER AND ONE IN EVERY FOUR CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF VICTORIA IS COMMITTED TO TAKING STEPS TO COMBAT HUNGER IN EVERY PART OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHEREAS THE CITY OF VICTORIA IS COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH THE FOOD BANK OF THE GOLDEN CRESCENT IN EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF FOOD BANK AND ADDRESSING HUNGER. WHEREAS MORE THAN 30,000 FAMILIES IN THE GOLDEN CRESCENT REGION RELY ON FOOD PROVIDED BY THE GOLDEN CRESCENT REGIONAL EACH MONTH WHERE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS HAD DEVASTATING IMPACTS ACROSS THE CAN'T AND THE FOOD BANK OF THE GOLDEN CRESCENT DISTRIBUTED 6 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD TO SIX PEOPLE IN 11 COUNTIES THIS MONTH WHERE THE ASTMONTH OF SEPTEMBER HAS BEEN DESIGNATE AS HUNGER ACTION MONTH IN ORDER TO BRING ATTENTION TO FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN ACTION, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER SHIFTS, SOCIAL MEDIA SHARES AND DONATIONS, WHEREAS FOOD BANKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY INCLUDING FOOD BANK OF THE GOLDEN CRESCENT CONTINUE TO WORK TIRELESSLY THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER TO BRING AWARENESS AND HELP ENDS HUNG IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY. NOW THEREFORE I JEFF BUT A KNIGHT MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA DO HEREBY CALL THIS ATTENTION TO CITIZENS OF TEXAS AND PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER, HUNGER ACTION MONTH. APPLAUSE APPLAUSE -- [APPLAUSE].

>>> FIRST OF ALL ON BEHALF OF MY STAFF WANT TO THANK THE CITY SUPPORT FOR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP. WE ARE SEEING OUTRAGEOUS NUMBERS.

WE ARE ON TARGET TO DO 9 TO 10 MILLION POUNDS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTED THIS YEAR.

WHEN I STARTED IN 2013, WE DISTRIBUTED LESS THAN THREE MILLION POUNDS.

HARVEY GOT US ON THE ROAD AND THE PANDEMIC HAS KEPT US BUSY. YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATSLY APPRECIATED AND HUNGER ACTION MONTH GIVES US THAT TIME TO BUILD AWARENESS AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING. ANY TIME YOU WANT TO TAKE A TOUR, COME BY AND SEE US, THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO.

[b. Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission – Annual Award s . Jesús ...]

>> GOLDEN CRESCENT REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION ANNUAL AWARDS.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WELCOME COUNCIL MEMBER CROCKER.

>>> THANK YOU. >> LAST WEEK A FEW OF US HAD AN AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL BANQUET. AND THERE WERE FEW AWARDS THAT WERE HANDED OUT.

A COUPLE OF THEM RELATED TO CITY INDIVIDUALS AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SIMPLY VERBALIZE WHAT THOSE WERE. THE FIRST IS A REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP AWARD.

THIS AWARD IS MEANT TO RECOGNIZE A MEMBER OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHO HAS DISPLAYED EXEMPLARY COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION TO THE PURPOSE AND MISSION OF THEIR COMMITTEE AND REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE. THE RESIPIENT OF THAT AWARD WAS DARRYL ITSAC FOR DEDICATING 20+ YEARS FOR MEMBER OF THE REGULARRAL ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMITTEE HAVE IMPROVED THE ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES PROGRAM AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE GOLDEN CRESCENT REGION FOR YEARS TO COME WE THANK MR. LISAC FOR HIS SERVICE. LASTLY, THEY ALSO HANDED OUT A SAM D. SEAL PRESIDENT'S AWARD. THIS AWARD IS TO A PERSON IN HIS OR HER EYES CONTRIBUTED THE MOST TOWARDS THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOLDEN CRESCENT REGION THIS AWARD WAS NAMED FOR JUDGE SAM SEAL, A LONGTIME SUPPORTER AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION WHERE HE SERVED FOUR TERMS AS PRESIDENT. JUDGE SEAL SERVED AS JACKSON

[00:10:03]

>> MAY I SAY SOMETHING? IS MY MIC ON? >> YES.

>> I JUST WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR HOSTING THE 54TH ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE GOLDEN CRESCENT REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION ON BEHALF AS THE PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT PARTICIPATED AND DID HARD WORK FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE GENERAL

ASSEMBLY. THANK YOU. >> GREAT, THE.

ITEMS FROM COUNCIL IF THERE IS NO OTHER RECOGNITIONS? >> I WOULD LIKE TO PULL D8.

>> YES, MA'AM, GOT IT. ANYBODY? MR. CROCKER?

>> I THOUGHT YOU HAD A 10-MINUTE SPEECH PREPARED,. >> OKAY, WITH THAT I'LL CLOSE

[4. Citizen Communication:]

>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN THIS IS MIKE, I LIVE AT 2204 EAST NORRIS STREET LOT 20A. THERE IS A LOT OF TRAILER HOUSES THAT NEED TO BE CONDEMNED AND SPECIFICALLY 10, 16, 29 AND 32. TRAILER NUMBER 10 IS ON THE LIST TO BE FOR THE BUILDING AND STANDARDS COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 15TH, AND THE TRAILER PARK OWNER, HE ISN'T TAKING CARE OF HIS TRAILER PARK LIKE HE'S SUPPOSED TO. AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THEY JUST MOVED OUT, YOU KNOW, AND NO ONE LIVES THERE. THERE IS AN OPEN DOOR TO FOUR OF THEM AND PEOPLE CAN JUST COME OUT IN AND OUT AND IT IS KNOWN FOR A PLACE WHERE SKETCHY AND SHADY PEOPLE COME AND I WOULD AT LEAST LIKE TO GET THE DOORS SECURED TO THEM.

ON MAY 21ST, CODE ENFORCEMENT DID CONDEMN THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES FOR HELPING WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THE CITY AND MAYOR'S OFFICE FOR HELPING, YOU KNOW, GET THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE RIGHT JOB.

AND THIS TRAILER 10, NO ONE HAS LIVED THERE FOR 18 MONTHS AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S PAYING RENTER OR NOT. BUT IT WOULD BE SILLY TO PAY $285 A MONTH FOR 18 MONTHS FOR A PLACE YOU DON'T LIVE AT. AND I WISH SOMEONE COULD KNOCK THESE BUILDINGS DOWN AND MAYBE GET THE BEAUTIFY INDICATION COMMITTEE TO COME AND DOCUMENT EVERYTHING AND SEND IT TO CODE ENFORCEMENT TO GET MORE BUILDING INSPECTORS AND PEOPLE FROM CODE ENFORCEMENT.

THIS PLACE IS BEEN KNOWN FOR LOTS OF PROBLEMS AND BEEN KNOWN FOR THE YOU KNOW, FELL APART SINCE THE NEW OWNER TOOK OVER AND HIGHS AN ABSENT LANDLORD DELETE S LORD.

BUT THANK, APPRECIATE IT AND APOLOGIZE FORGOING OVER TWO MINUTES LAST TIME.

>>> THANK YOU. >> YOU DID WELL I'LL SEND YOU MY.

>> HE ASKED ME TO PREPARE HIS SPEAKING POINTS FOR HIM. >> REMIND EVERYONE WE DO HAVE A 3-MINUTE LIMIT AND CITY COUNCIL DOES NOT TYPICALLY PROVIDE ANY FEEDBACK AFTER COMMENTS.

MR. ALVAREZ? I'LL GET YOU A NEW FACE MASK. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I LIKE THIS ONE. I WORE IT ESPECIALLY FOR YOU, MAYOR.

WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU'RE A DIE-HARDING AGY -- AGGIE, ALL KINDS OF DEGREES FROM A&M.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. EMIT ALVAREZ, CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN MR. BUT A KNIGHT -- BUT A

[00:15:02]

BUT A IMIEGHT. I SAID THERE IS THE NEW BY. >> SOUNDS LIKE TROUBLE.

>> GET READY, I,U THOUGHT YOU WOULD DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU GOT HERE.

BUT ANYWAY, GENTLEMEN AND LADIES, I COME TO YOU TONIGHT NOT OFTEN, BUT TONIGHT IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED ON A COUPLE OF ACTION ITEMS Y'ALL ARE GOING VISIT TONIGHT. ACTION ITEM E, 1 AND E6. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ARRANGEMENT OF THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD,IS DELETE S ITS MAKEUP, HOW IT CAME ABOUT, HOW IT WAS DEVELOPED, WHICH LEADS ME TO THE BIGGER ISSUE, BECAUSE APAPPARENTLY THERE WAS A SUBCOMMITTEE FROM THAT BOARD THAT MADE UP THE HOTEL/MOTEL TAX AND IN PAST I KNOW THIS COUNCIL OR PREVIOUS COUNCILS AND MAYOR HAVE ALWAYS SELECTED THE MEMBERS TO SERVE ON THE HOTEL/MOTEL TAX.

BUT GETTING BACK TO THE ITEM NUMBER 1 SEEING THE ARRANGEMENT THERE OF HOW THESE MEMBERS ARE PICKED AND WHAT INTERESTS THEY REPRESENT I HAVE A SLIGHT ISSUE WITH IT.

THERE IS NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC PER SE. THEY MAY BE CITIZENS AND MAY BE FROM VICTORIA THE NUMBERS YOU'RE GOING APPOINTED TO THIS ADVISORY COMMITTING BUT HOW ABOUT SOMEONE FROM THE PUBLIC INTEREST. IT MAY NOT BE REQUIRED BY LAW BUT NO ONE A GENERAL CITIZEN WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THIS COUNCIL TO SERVE AND MAYBE THERE IS, BUT I COULDN'T SEE IT BECAUSE IT SEEMED LIKE EVERY MEMBER APPOINTED WAS A HAD AN INTEREST IN MIND.

NOW THAT THEY'RE A CITIZEN OR TAXPAYER OF VICTOR BACKTHEY MAY NOT BE.

I BROUGHT UP THAT QUESTION AS WELL THEY MAY LIVE ELSEWHERE AND LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT BOARD WILL REPRESENT SOME OF THOSE AND WILL REPRESENT THE HOTEL/MOTEL TAX COMMITTEE IN READING THE MUM FROM E6, IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS JUST BECOME A STAFF-DRIVEN PROCESS. STAFF REVIEWED THE APPLICANTS THE STAFF SCORED THE APPLICATION REQUESTFOR FUNDS. THE STAFF RECOMMENDED TO THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND IT WAS JUST RUBBER STAMPED. I FIND THAT VERY UNREPRESENTATIVED OF THE PROCESS IN THE PAST. AND MAYBE I'M LIVING IN THE PAST, BUT I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE MORE TRANSPARENCY. YOU RAN ON THAT ISSUE. I SEE NO TRANSPARENCE ANY THIS PROCESS. ALSO, I WANT TO OBJECT TO THE THREE MINUTE OR LESS TIME PERIOD. I THINK IN THE PAST IT WAS FIVE MINUTES.

I THINK CITIZENS SHOULD ALWAYS BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS AND BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO WITH SOME TIME LIMIT BUT THREE MINUTE, COME ON? THAT'S WHY I DON'T LIKE TO PREPARE MY REMARKS. WHEN I END, I END. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU MR. ALVAREZ. MS. RAMOS. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE. I WOULD LIKE TO KIND OF LIKE PIGGYBACK OFF OF MR. ALVAREZ ON E6 ON THE HOT FUNDS. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE COMMITTEE, THERE IS NO HISPANIC REPRESENTATION WHATSOEVER. I MAY BE WRONG, MAYBE SOME ARE, MAYBE THERE IS A HISPANIC, BUT I USUALLY GO BY THE SURNAMES AND THAT COULD PRETTY WELL BE, YOU KNOW, IT WILL THROW ME OFF SOMETIMES. BUT IF THERE IS ONE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO IT IS, BECAUSE BY LOOKING AT THE LIST, I COULDN'T TELL.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF EVENTS OUT THERE THAT YOU KNOW, HISPANICS HOLDS AND YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THESE EVENTS. FOR EXAMPLE, THE LATIN BOWLERS, THEY BRING IN A LOT OF OUT OF TOWNERS. THEY'VE NEVER APPLIED OR MAYBE THEY'VE WANTED TO, BUT FOR SOME REASON BECAUSE OF THE FACT THEY SEE WHAT WE GO THROUGH, AND I'M HERE AND FOR THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND BASH. THAT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS HELD HERE IN VICTORIA.

WE HAVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF HEADS AND BEDS. BUT, SINCE DAY ONE, I HAVE HAD

[00:20:06]

IT SEEM LIKE THE VERY FIRST YEAR WE DID WELL, AS FAR AS THE REWARDS, OR THE AWARD THAT WE GOT, AND THEN BUT FROM THEN ON IT STARTED GETTING LESS AND LESS.

AND NO UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHY. I'VE ASKED. WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG? INSTEAD OF GETTING MORE MONEY, WE'RE GETTING LESS AND LESS. AND I WAS APPEALING THE AWARD THAT WE JUST RECEIVED, BUT IT IS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY. IT IS ABOUT THE PRINCE PAL OF -- PRINCIPLE OF THE THING. YOU GUYS NEED TO KNOW WE'VE GONE THROUGH HELL AND HIGH WATER TO TRY TO HOLD THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND BASH. OKAY.

I'VE ASKED FOR INFORMATION ON THE LIVESTOCK SHOW BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE MOVED AFTER THE 1990 -- 2008 FLOOD, WE WERE MOVED TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER IN THE BACK, NO SHADE NO NOTHING.

BUT THEY MADE US. THE PARKS AND RECREATION MADE US RENT THE WHOLE AREA.

I'M TALKING SOCCER FIELD, THE BASEBALL FIELD, THE DOME, THE ANNEX AND THE ARENA.

BUT WE COULDN'T USE ANY OF IT, ONLY THE BACK. AND WE PAID A LOT OF MONEY.

AND SO I QUESTIONED IT, BECAUSE I WANTED TO KNOW, WAS THE LIVE STOCK BEING TREATED THE SAME WAY? OWN THOUGH THEY USED THE FACILITIES WE DIDN'T, THEY WOULDN'T ALLOWS. WE COULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING THE DOME.

IF WE WANTED TO HAVE A DANGEROUS THAT SAME TIME AS THE EVENT FOR THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND BASH, WE WERE TOLD NO. THESE ARE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS NEED TO KNOW.

AND I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO GET ANSWERS FOR ME OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WE KEEP GETTING LESS AND LESS. I ASKED JOEL FROM THE AND I ASKED HIM, WAS IT THE POINTS.

HE SAID, OH, NO, YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY POINTS DEDUCT. THEN WHAT IS THE DEAL? THERE ARE NEWCOMERS COMING IN THAT ARE GETTING TWICE AS MUCH AS WE ARE.

NEWCOMERS. OUT OF TOWNERS THAT ARE COMING IN AND GETTING OUR HOT FUNDS AND

TAKING THEM OUT OF TOWN AND SPENDING THEM ELSEWHERE. >>> TAKE THE NEXT 15, 20 SECONDS

TO WRAP UP YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE. >> BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST ASKING FOR Y'ALL HELP. HELP US TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WHAT ARE WE DOING WRONG.

HELP US TO GET THE NUMBERS, OKAY. THE NUMBERS IN THE MOTELS.

THERE HAS GOT TO BE A WAY. I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING AND NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER. THANKS.

>> THANKS, MS. RAMOS. MS. EDWARDS. >> WHILE SHE'S COMING UP WOULD

YOU EITHER GIVE US THEIR FULL OR ASK THEM THEIR NAMES. >> WILMA EDWARDS.

>> I'M GOING HAVE TO REPEAT MY NAME AGAIN. BUT I CAN TELL YOU, 3503 VICTORIA, TEXAS. AND I'M HERE BECAUSE -- LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, FIRST, HAVE Y'ALL EVER HEARD OF FREE CLOSED MINISTRY? ANYBODY? OKAY. AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THANKS TO THE STAFF THAT HAS BEEN WORKING WITH ME TO KEEP THE PROGRAM GOING. WHAT WE DO -- I LEFT MY GLASSES.

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN FREE CLOTHES AND OTHER ITEMS SINCE 2012. UNDER THE ORDER OF AMARILLO AND THE UNITED MOST WESTERN SCOUT GRAND LLOYD AF AND AM OF TEXAS THIS IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WE HAVE DONE THIS BY VOLUNTEERS, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY VOLUNTEERS AND MONEY GIVEN TO US BY SPECIAL PEOPLE. I'D LIKE TO SHARE SOME INFORMATION. I THINK I SAW TWO HANDS GO UP A WHILE AGO.

[00:25:02]

WE HAD SOME PEOPLE COME OUT AND FIX IT AND CHARGE US AND SOME PEOPLE COME OUT AND FIX IT FREE.

AND IT IS STILL NOT THERE. BECAUSE WE ASKED THE CITY. THEY Y'ALL HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY. WE KNOW.

THAT BUT WHEN THERE IS A NEED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND A NEED IN THE CITY THAT PEOPLE NEED CLOTHES AND ITEMS AND INFORMATION THAT WE GIVE THEM, THE BETTER THEMSELVES, WE NEEDED HELP. NOW NOT ABLE TO HAVE TRASH PICKED UP.

WE HAVE TO PAY A WATER BILL, BUT THAT IS SOME RULES SAYING THAT WE'RE NOT QUALIFIED FOR THAT.

OKAY. NOT ABLE TO HAVE PICK UP TRASH. NOW THIS IS THE POINT I WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER AND YOU CAN DO THIS IN AS A WHOLE. YOU CAN DO IT INDIVIDUAL WE NEED A BUILDING AND WE'RE ASKING EVERYBODY HERE KNOWS HOW TO GET THIS DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WE'LL BE ASKED TO DESTROY THE BUILDING. AND THAT WILL BE HURTING ME BECAUSE IS MY HEART AND IT WOULD BE HURTING THE PEOPLES. AND THAT IS ALL I WANT TO SAME I JUST WANT YOU TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF IT BUT WE NEED A BUILD LIKE YESTERDAY THANK YOU.

PLEASE HELP. >> THANK YOU, MS. EDWARDS. >> ANYONE ELSE THAT HAS NOT FILLED OUT A CARD? AND WE ARE AREN'T ON ZOOM ANYMORE.

SO WITH THAT WE'LL CLOSE CITIZENS' COMMUNICATION AND GO INTO ITEMS WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[1. An ordinance increasing solid waste fees for hazardous household waste...]

>> ITEM C1 IS AN ORDY INSTANCE INCREASING SOLID WASTE FEES FOR HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLDS WASTE

PICKUP AND RECYCLING. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

MS. SOLIZ I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE AGAIN. >> IT WASN'T THAT MUCH OF AN INCREASE I'LL LET YOU DO IT THIS TIME. WHEN WE BID OUT THE CHOSE OUR PROVIDER. PART OF THOSE PROGRAMS THAT CURRENT PROVIDER PROVIDES.

AND WITH THE BIDS THAT CAME IN, THERE WAS A SLIGHT INCREASE. I BELIEVE WHEN I TALKED DURING OUR BUDGET MEETINGS WERE WE WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT A 20 CENT INCREASE.

AND SO AFTER DOING SOME SOME TALKING WITH GILBERT AND GOING BACK AND CHECKING THE NUMBERS AGAIN, GILBERT DID, I DIDN'T. SO YOU KNOW THEY'RE RIGHT WHAT WE CAME OUT WITH IS A TENG CENT INCREASE ON THE CURBSIDE RECYCLING RATE, PER HOME PER MONTH.

RAID WILL GO TO $3.02. AND A 5 CENT INCREASE FROM 65 TO 70 CENTS ON THE HOUSEHOLDS HAZARDOUS WASTE. THAT IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM BECAUSE IT KEEPS OVER 50 TONS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE OUT OF OUR LANDFILL ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. NEVER HAVE WE BEEN BELOW 50 SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT A TOTAL INCREASE OF ABOUT 15 CENTS PER HOME PER MONTH AND THE EFFECTIVE DATE WOULD BE OCTOBER 1ST IF APPROVED TONIGHT. AND I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

ASK. >> THANK YOU FOR RERUNNING THE NUMBER WE'RE HAVING IT DONE.

>> GILBERT GETS THAT. ALL RIGHT, NO QUESTION FOR MR. LESAK.

LY OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING WITH ITEM C ONCE IN AWHILE. SEE NOTHING ONE WE'LL CLOSE ITEM

C1 AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION. >>> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE C1. >> SECOND.

>> THANK YOU, MOTION AND SECOND ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT SIT IN OKAY ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, AAYE THOSE OPPOSE, SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIED. ITEM C2.

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

>> ITEM C2 IS THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING. >> SO THIS IS JUST A PUBLIC HEARING. AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET.

ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THE BUDGET MAY STEP FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE CLOSE THE PUBLIC

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

HEARING AND GO TO ITEM C3. >> ITEM C3 IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2021-2022 CITY OF

VICTORIA TAX RATE. >> AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE.

ANYONE WISHING TO ON ITEM C3 PLEASE STEP FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE WE'LL CLOSE THE

[2. Support for Odem Street Apartments, Ltd development of a workforce mul...]

[00:30:10]

>>> ARMY C4 IS A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE OATOM STREET APARTMENTS DEVELOPMENT OF A

WORKFORCE MULTFY HOUSING COMPLEX ON ODOM STREET. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MIKE ETIENNE, CITY MANAGER. WITH THIS ITEM TODAY THE NRP DEVELOPMENT GROUP IS REQUESTING COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THEIR OF A RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION, ESSENTIALLY STATING THAT COUNCIL DOES NOT OBJECT TO THEIR APPLICATION TO THE STATE FOR THE 4% HOUSING TAX CREDITS PROGRAM TO FINANCE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OWEDEM STREET APARTMENTS WHICH IS -- ODEM STREET APARTMENTS. I HAVE A QUICK PRESENTATION, THE NRP GROUP IS ONE OF THE LARGEST BUILDERS IN THE UNITED STATES. THEY ARE A FULL SERVICE AGENCY THAT HANDLES DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION, AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. THE NRP GROUP IS VERY ACTIVE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MAP WHERE THEY ARE WORKING.

THEY ARE VERY ACTIVE, PARTICULARLY IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE THEY'VE BUILT NUMEROUS UNITS. OVERALL SINCE THEY'VE BEEN IN TEXAS, THEY'VE BUILT OVER 20,000 AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR TOTAL DEVELOPMENT VALUE OF 2.5 BILLION DOLLAR, YES, WITH A B.

THEY HAVE 450 EMPLOYEES IN TEXAS AND THEY'VE WON NUMEROUS AWARDS. SO THE NRP GROUP TODAY IS PROPOSING TO BUILD 354-UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX. IT WILL BE A AFFORDSABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING PARTICULARLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WORKING. THAT DEVELOPMENT WILL BE IN SILVER CITY NEIGHBORHOOD THE DEVELOPMENT IS CALLED FOR NOW ODEM STREET APARTMENTS AND IT IS OAKED ON 18 ACRES AT 2303ODEM STREET. YOU CAN SEE THE MAP TO THE RIGHT OF THE SCREEN. ESSENTIALLY IT IS AT THE CORNER OF CHALICE AND ODE4 STREET.

THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $57 MILLION. AND NRP INTENDS TO FINANCE THE PROJECT USING THE STATE'S 4% TAX CREDIT PROGRAM AND PRIVATE ACTIVITY BONDS, TAXES BONDS ISSUED BY THE VICTORIA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. AS YOU KNOW, BACK IN JUNE 25, 2021 THE HFC PASS PASSED A RESOLUTION TO ISSUE $32 MILLION IN TAX-EXEMPT BONDS AND SERVE AS A GENERAL PARTNER. THIS PROJECT IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THE ENCHANTED GARDENS.

SO IT REALLY THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN THE STRUCTURE OR THE PROCESS.

THE HFC ISSUES THE BONDS AND SERVINGS AS A GENERAL PARTNER SO NOTHING IS DIFFERENT.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THIS PROJECT IS ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND IT IS MUCH LARGER.

AND AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE HFC MEMBERS THEMSELVES FOR SUPPORT THIS PROJECT, THE PRESIDENT, MR. DELAGARZA, VICE PRESIDENT MISS SCOTT AND COUNCIL MAN YOUNG WHO SERVED ON THE HFC BORDER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SUPPORTING THE PROJECT.

SO IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC LOCATION, A CLOSER VIEW, AGAIN, THE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE ON THE SOUTHSIDE, OWEDOM STREET. IT IS NEXT TO DUDLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

AND THIS IS THE SITE PLAN. SO AGAIN, 324 UNITS, 600 PARKING SPACES.

IT WILL BE 123-STORY ONE TO 4-BEDROOM UNITS AND WILL HAVE NUMEROUS AMENITIES TO INCLUDE A BUSINESS CENTER, 24/7 FITNESS CENTER, SWIMMING POOL, WALK-INCLOSETS, THE LIKES.

YOU CAN READ IT ON THE SCREEN. WASHER AND DRIER HOOKUPS. MODERN AMENITY WILL BE IN THE PROJECT THIS IS SOME RESHEDZINGS OF THE -- RENDERINGS OF WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT WILL LOOK LIKE.

SO YOU CAN SEE IT WILL HAVE A RESORT-STYLE POOL, GRANITE COUNTER TOPS IN THE KITCHEN.

A BUSINESS CENTER, PLAYGROUND FOR THE CHILDREN AND ALSO AND ESL TO THE ADULTS AND POTENTIAL HEALTH SCREENING FOR THE RESIDENTS. IN TERMS OF BEDROOMS AND MONTHLY RENTS SO THE DEVELOPMENT WILL HAVE 12, ONE BEDROOM, ONE BATH UNIT AND THIS IS THE MONTHLY END RENT FROM $312 A MONTH TO $813 A MONTH. 132, TWO BEDROOM, 2 BATH AND VEN

[00:35:12]

SO THAT IS THE MAIN GOAL ESSENTIALLY OF THE HFC, THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION.

SO THIS IS THE ESTIMATED TIMELINE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT. SO TODAY WE ARE REQUESTING THE PRESENTING THE RESOLUTION OF NO OBJECTION, SEPTEMBER 7TH. THE NEXT STEP IS THAT THE NRP GROUP WILL SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION TO THE STATE. SO THEY NEED THE RESOLUTION IN ORDER TO APPLY TO THE STATE. SO THEY WILL SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION TO THE STATE FOR BOND RESERVATION. THEY SHOULD HEAR FROM THE STATE EARLY SPRING PROBABLY MARCH, APRIL. AND THEN THEY WILL BREAK GROUND SUMMER 2022.

IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 16 TO 18 MONTHS TO BUILD. SO BREAK GROUND SUMMER 2022 AND BEGIN LEASING 2023 AND COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION SPRING 2024. SO STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THIS RESOLUTION, BECAUSE AGAIN THIS PROJECT WILL IMPLEMENT OUR 2035 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. AS YOU KNOW THE COMP PLAN CALLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF MORE AFFORDABLE WORKFORCE HOUSING. AND THE COMP PLAN WAS SOMETHING THAT RECEIVED A LOT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. SO THAT THIS PROJECT WILL HELP US IMPLEMENT IT.

AND ALSO, IT WILL BE A CATALYST FOR REVITALIZING THE SOUTHSIDE. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR QUITE A LONG TIME THAT WE NEED TO ARE VITALIZE THE SOUTH SIDE AND WE THINK THIS PROJECT COULD BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL PROJECT. IT WILL BE THE PROJECT HOPEFULLY IF ALL GOES WELL, THAT WILL HELP WITH REVITALIZING THE SOUTH SIDE.

IT WILL ALSO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ONE, IT WILL CREATE 400 CONSTRUCTION JOBS BECAUSE AGAIN YOU 324 DEVELOPER IS LOOKING TO HIRE LOCAL CONTRACTORS.

IT WILL HELP ATTRACT UNION EMPLOYERS AND COMPANIES TO VICTORIA.

AND FINALLY IT WILL HELP EXISTING BUSINESSES GROW BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE.

SO THE DEVELOPER IS HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.

THE DEVELOPER IS THE NRP GROUP MAX WHIPPLE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT AND ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK HFC DELA GARZSA TO LEADING THE AND BOARD MEMBERS FOR SUPPORT OF THIS IMPORTANT

PROJECT FOR THE SOUTHSIDE. >> MAX, DO YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING?

>> I JUST WANT TO THANK BOTH THE COUNCIL AND THEN ALSO OF CITY MANAGER GARZA AND ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ETIENNE FOR THEIR TIME. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR ABOUT CLOSE TO TWO YEARS IN TRYING TO MAKE THIS DEVELOPMENT A REALITY. LOOKING AT DIFFERENT AREAS ACROSS THE CITY WHERE THIS MAY BE A POSSIBILITY. AND I THINK WE'VE GONE TO THE POINT A PROPOSAL WE THINK WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE CITY. HOPE YOU FEEL THE SAME, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE PROPOSAL AT THIS TIME.

[00:40:06]

>> I HAVE A QUESTIONING WHEN WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT ENCHANTED GARDENS AND NOW ODEM APARTMENTS, SEVERAL PEOPLE ON SOCIAL SECURITY OR RETIRE HAVE HAD ASKED IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE

ALLOWED TO MAKE APPLICATIONS. >> YEAH, SO WE ACCEPT ALL FORMS OF PAYMENT, WHETHER IT COMES IN THE FORM OF HOUSING VOUCHER, SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENT, THOSE ALL COUNT TOWARDS YOUR ELIGIBLE I GUESS INCOME. RESIDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE APPROXIMATE WILL 2 AND A HALF TIMES THE RENT IN MONTHLY INCOME IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RENT A UNIT, THOUGH.

>> OKAY. >> PROJECT DOESN'T HAVE ANY REQUIREMENTS OR MINIMUM AGE

RESTRIGHTSDIONS OR NOTWITHSTANDING THAT EFFECT. >> YOU SO HAVE A NAME FOR IT?

>> FOR NOW THE NAME IS ODEM STREET APARTMENT. >> VERY ORIGINAL.

>> CREATIVE. >>> I COULD HAVE COME UP WITH THAT ONE.

>> WE TYPICALLY HAVE A WORKING DEVELOPMENT NAME, BUT AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE CLOSING TABLE WE'LL COLLABORATE WITH COUNCIL ON A NAME THAT BENEFITS THE COMMUNITY AND IS SUPPORTED BY

EVERYONE. >> THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING VICTORIA AND LOOK FORWARD TO

CONTINUE WORKING WITH YOU. >>> ABSOLUTELY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT.

>> AND NOT ONLY A, THANK YOU, BUT B, JUST EMPHASIZE THIS PROJECT IS STILL CONTIN GENTLEUPON THE RESERVATION THAT NRP EXPECTS TO RECEIVE COMPLETELY IN MARCH.

THIS IS STILL JUST A PROPOSAL, SOMETHING IS STILL IN THE WORKS. AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE ALL VERY OPTIMISTIC THAT THAT RESERVATION WILL COME TO FRUITION, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CLARIFY THAT.

>> VERY GOOD POINT, THANK YOU. IF NO FURTHER QUESTIONS FOR THEM WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM C4. ANYBODY WISHING TO PEAK SPEAK OBTAIN C4, PLEASE COME FORWARD.

SEEING NO ONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN ANY MOTION.

>>> SO MOVEED. SECOND. >> MOTION TO APPROVE AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU ALL ON THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION BOARD, APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE THERE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >>> THOSE OPPOSE SAME SIGN MOTION CARRIES.

[D. Consent Agenda:]

CONSENT AGENDA LESS ITEM C8. >> ITEM D1 IS THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 17TH 2021 REGULAR MEETING. ITEM D2 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHEARPT 14 OF THE CITY CODE TO

ELIMINATE GAME ROOM PERMIT. >> ITEM 3 APPROVE VARIANCE OF SUCCESSION 21-82 FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1307 JULIUS STREET IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PLAT THE PROPERTY INTO A SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT WITH A TOTAL LOT SIZE OF 4,454 SQUARE FEET AND 45 FOOT LOT WIDTH BOTH BEING BELOW THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT ALLOWING FOR 3-FOOT ENCROACHMENT INTO THE

REAR YARD SETBACK. >> ITEM D4 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT FOR THE GREEN RIBBON PROJECT. ITEM D5 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE USE OF CITY OF VICTORIAS' PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM.

ITEM D6 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $11,256.05 TO THE MCCI CONTRACT CONVERTING MICROFILM TO ELECTRONIC FORMAT FOR THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $62,855.

ITEM D7 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE VICTORIA SALES TAX GOT CORPORATION'S FY202120-2021 EXPENDSTURE BUDGET FOR VSTDC MUNICIPALLY OWNED IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AT FIRE STATION 1. AND TELL D9 IS APPROVING THE CITY PROPERTY LOCATED 6103 DAIRY

ROAD FOR $160,000. >>> MOTION TO APPROVE? >> SO MOVE.

>>> SECOND. >> THANK YOU. >> A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED AND A SECOND, ALL KNOWS FAVOR SAY AYE.

[8. Approve the FY2021-2022 Victoria Sales Tax Development Corporation Bud...]

>>> AYE. >>> THOSE OPPOSE SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT, ITEM D8.

>>> ITEM D8 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVALLING THE FY-2021-2022 VICTORIA SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION BUDGET. >>> A MOTION AND A SECOND AND WE SCAN DISCUSS IT.

>> SO MOVEED. SECOND. >> MOTION AND A SECOND,

MS. SOLIZ. >>> YES, I HAVE A QUESTION, ON THE BUDGET, THE SCHEDULE OF FUND BALANCE POSITION, LINE-ITEM ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAM WAS NOT ON THE ORIGINAL PRISON AUGUSTS

[00:45:06]

YOU GAVE US FOR THE $100,000. SO I KNOW YOU'VE CORRECTED IT. >> YES, MA'AM, ARE YOU TALKING

ABOUT THE VARIANCE? >>> YES. >> NO, THE VARIANCE.

>>> THE FORMULA WAS MISSING FROM THAT AND WE WENT AHEAD AND ADDED IT, IT CHANGED THE TOTAL

EXPENALTYTURE VARIANCE FROM $1.3 MILLION TO 1.4 MILLION AS WELL. >>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON ITEM D8? ALL RIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR

SAY AYE. >>> AYE. >>> THOSE OPPOSE SAME SIGN.

[1. Appointment of members to the Tourism Advisory Board. April Hilbrich, ...]

MOTION CARRIES ITEM E1. >> MAYOR, ITEM E1 IS THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE

TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO NIGHT COUNCIL WILL NEED TO APPOINT TWO MEMBERS TO THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD ONE REPRESENTING THE ATTRACTIONS INDUSTRY AND ONE REPRESENTING THE LODGING INDUSTRY. BOTH VACANCYS ARE DUE TORESS SIGNATIONS. WE ONLY HAVE ONE APPLICANT FOR ATTRACTIONS INDUSTRY.

MS. ELIZABETH TICE IS DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND APPLIED FOR APPOINTMENT.

IF THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS COUNCIL CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH PLACING HER NAME IN THE

RESOLUTION FOR THE ATTRACTION APPOINTMENT. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> OKAY. AND THERE ARE TWO APPLICANTS FOR THE LODGING INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE, WE HAVE BRENDA GAJARDO AND ROBINSON AND BOTH ARE CURRENTLY EMPLOYED AT HOTELS HERE IN VICTORIA. BALLOTS WERE PLACED BEFORE THE MEETING PLACE YOUR NAME ON THE BALLOTS, BALLOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN MY OFFICES THE NAME OF THE TWO APPLICANTS ISLITIONED ON THE BALLOT. PLEASE CHOOSE ONE PERSON THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT TO THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD AND ANGELA WILL COLLECT SHOWS AND TALLY THE VOTES. IF THERE DOES MAP TO BE A TIE, COUNCIL WILL BE ASKED TO VOTE

BETWEEN THE APPLICANTS THE TWO MOST INITIAL VOTES. >> HOPEFULLY THERE WASN'T A TIE.

WITH HAVE A PROBLEM. >> I THINK WE FIXED THAT. >> I MEAN COUNCIL MEMBER CROCKER

IS. JUST A MOMENT TO TALLY. >> I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD IN THE MEANTIME. >> LIST ON THE WEBSITE, I DON'T

KNOW THAT I COULD FINDITY THE LIST. >> FOR THE MEMBER?

>> I'M NOT CERTAIN OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT IT IS.

ABSOLUTELY. >> PUT IT UP HERE WHILE WE'RE TALKING.

SO THE COUNCIL HAS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO PUT MS. BRENDA GAJARDO, HER NAME WILL BE ENTERED INTO THE RESOLUTION REPRESENTING THE LODGING AND CONTINUEDATION POSITION ON THE

BOARD THAT IS OPEN. >> THANK YOU, TO EVERYBODY THAT DID APPLY, APPRECIATE THAT.

AND IFIO DIDN'T GET IT THIS TIME, TRY AGAIN, PLEASE. EVERYBODY THAT SEEMS TO SUBMIT THAT'S DAYS IS EXTREMELY QUALIFIED AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT.

>> THANK YOU. >> ITEM E3. >> DON'T WE VOTE ON THAT?

>> I'M SORRY, YES, I GUESS WE SHOULD DO THAT. >>> I LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THAT RESOLUTION WITH THE NAMES FILLED IN OF MS. TICER AND MR. GAJARDO.

>>> SOCKED. >>> MOTION AND A SECOND. STILL NEW TO THIS.

I'LL TRY TO MOVE IT ALONG FAST. ALL KNOWS FAVOR SAY AYE. >>> AYE.

[3. Approve and adopt a budget for the Fiscal Year beginning on October 1,...]

>>> THOSE OPPOSE SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRY, ITEM E3. >>> ITEM E3 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2021 IN THE

TOTAL AMOUNT OF $171,254,369. >> JUST UP THERE FOR QUESTIONS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY. >> GREAT. >> ALREADY DONE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND READY. I MOVE WE ADOPT THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED.

>> THANK YOU. >> SECOND. >> MOTION AND A SECOND TO

APPROVE IT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT IT? >> MAYOR, ON ITEM 3, 4 AND 5, I WILL BE IN ABSTENTION ON THOSE, OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO ON THOSE THAT I WASN'T A PART OF, CERTAINLY I'M FAMILIARIZED MYSELF WITH IT BUT HAVING HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY

[00:50:04]

ABSTENTION ON ITEMS 3, 4 AND 5. >> ALL RIGHT, APPRECIATE THAT. SO WITH THAT I'LL DUAL VOTE ON

ITEM E3. >> THAT JUST MEANS THERE CAN BE A TIE NOW, THANK YOU.

>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >>> AYE. >>> THOSE OPENS SAME SIGN, NONE.

>> IT WAS CLOSE. >>> 6 PASS. >> ITEM E4 RATIFY PROPERTY TAX.

[4. Ratify Property Tax. Gilbert Reyna, Chief Financial Officer]

>> ITEM E4 IS RATIFY OF PROPERTY TAX. >>> I MOVE THE PROPERTY TAX RATE

BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF.0. >> IS THAT FOR E4?

OR E5? >> THAT IS FOR E5, I'M SORRY. >> E4 IS JUST THE RATIFICATION

OF THE PROPERTY TAX. >> CORRECT. >> I SO MOVE.

>> SECOND. 1KWR I CAN'T SECOND. SO USED TO THAT SITTING NEXT TO

YOU. ANYBODY LIKE TO SECOND. >> THIS IS JUST TO MOVE TO

RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX. ALL KNOWS FAVOR SAY AYE. >>> AYE.

>>> THOSE OPPOSE SAME SIGN. ALL RIGHT, 6 AYES. ITEM E5.

[5. Set the Tax Rate for the 2021 tax year at a total rate of $0.5882 per ...]

>>> AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX RATE FOR THE 2021 TAX YEAR AT A TOTAL RATE OF $0.5882 PER $100

OF PROPERTY EVALUATION. >>> I MOVE THE TAX RATE BE INCREASED $SEW 5882 WHICH IS AN

INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. >>> I SECOND. >> THANK YOU.

ANY DISCUSSION ON IT? >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF E5 SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >>> THOSE OPPOSE SAME SIGN. >> CARRIES 6-0 ALSO.

[6. Allocate funding to outside agencies for 2021-2022 from the Hotel Occu...]

AND ONTO E6. >> ITEM E6 IS A RESOLUTION ALLOCATING FUNDS TO OUTSIDE

AGENCIES FOR 2021-2022 FOR THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING AND I HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION PREPARED FOR YOU ON THE 2021-2022 HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX AWARD PROCESS. THE HOT FUNDS PROCESS YOU SEE HERE BEFORE YOU A TIMELINE OF THE PROCESS IN MID-JULY. WE ADVERTISE A PROGRAM AND HAD AN OPEN APPLICATION SUBMISSION PERIOD. IN LATE JULY WE HAD HELD FOUR APPLICANT WORKSHOPS AND CLOSED THE APPLICATION PERIOD ON JULY 30LET.

IN EARLY AUGUST CVB STAFF PREPAREDS CALCULATIONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE SOLELY OBJECTIVE DATA PROVIDED BY APPLICANTS. IN EARLY AUGUST THERE IS A HOT FUNDS SUBCOMMITTEE OF OUR TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD MEETS EARLY SEPTEMBER TONIGHT THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION AWARDING FUNDS TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES AND EARLY OCTOBER.

DRAFT AGREEMENTS WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL AWARD DEE. SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION, THERE WAS 135,000 IN TOTAL AVAILABLE FUNDING THIS YEAR, WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS YEARS. ACCOMMODATES AVAILABLE FUNDS BALANCE AND INSPECTED REVENUES AND APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL AT THE AUGUST 3RD, 2021 MEETING THIS YEAR WE DID RECEIVE 17 APPLICATIONS WHICH IS PRETTY CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS YEARS. ALL APPLICANTS WERE RECOMMENDED FOR SOME LEVEL OF FUNDING. WE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 295,466 IN FUNDING REQUESTS AN AVERAGE AWARD SIZE OF 7,941 DOLLARS. JUST A LITTLE INFORMATION ON THE SCORING PROCESS THIS YEAR.

WE LOOKED UP SOLELY AT OBJECTIVE DATA FROM APPLICANTS. WE HAD A PERCENTAGE OF AVAILABLE FUNDING THAT WAS EVENLY SPLIT AMONGST APPLICANTS HITTING FOUR MARKERS THAT INCLUDED WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE, DOCUMENT COMPLIANCE, THAT MEANT INCLUDING THEIR APPLICATION, BUDGE ICK FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HOTEL DOCUMENTATION, CREDIBLE AND TRANSPARENCY WHICH REFER TO PROVIDING A PROFESSIONAL BUDGE AND HAVING NUMBERS OF THE BUDGET MATCH WHAT THEY HAD IN THEIR BUDGET AND PRIOR USE OF FUNDS IF THEY WERE AWARDED HOT IN UNDER THE PREVIOUS YEAR IF THEY DID UTILIZE THOSE HOT FUNDS. THERE WERE EXCEPTION MADE FOR EVEN CANCEL 8S DUE TO COVID-19.

WE HAD ANOTHER PERCENTAGE OF FUNDING ALLOCATED ON SUBMITTED HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS FROM THE PREVIOUS THREE FISCAL YEARS. WE ALSO INCLUDED THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022 PROJECTED ROOM NIGHTS AS PART OF THE CALCULATIONS FOR NEWER EVENS OR EVENTS THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAD HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. LOOKING AT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THIS IS JUST A LIST, A GRAPHIC LIST OF WHAT IS IN THE RESOLUTION. AND YOU SEE THE LEVEL OF FUNDING

[00:55:05]

AN APPEALS PROCESS, APPLICANTS ARE NOTIFIED OF THEIR AWARD ON AUGUST 23RD.

APPLICANTS WERE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TOW SUBMIT TO THE COMMITTEE AND NO LATER ON AUGUST DELETE S, 2021 AND RECEIVED ONE APPEAL FOR THEM MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND BASH WHICH WAS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACT. CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT THIS YEAR, AGAIN, THE PREVIOUS REIMBURSEMENT METHOD TWOWZ PAY IN QUARTERLY INSTALLMENTS BASED ON THE CURRENT HOT FUNDS THAT WE WERE COLLECTING THAT YEAR. A NEW METHOD WOULD BE TO UTILIZE FUNDS ARE THE MOTEL TAX RESERVE FOUND PAY THEM IN A SINGLE INSTALLMENT. THAT IS ALSO ESPECIALLY BENEFICIAL TO SPORTING EVENTS, EVENTS THAT JUST OCCUR OVER A FEW DAYS AND THEN THEY SUBMIT THEIR EXPENSES TO US AND THEY DON'T HAVE OPERATIONS STRETCHED OUT OVER AN ENTIRE YEAR WHICH WE DO HAVE SOME APPLICANTS ESPECIALLY IN THE ARTS WHO APPLY IN THAT METHOD.

THE RECOMMENDED ALLOCATION 135,000, 17 TOTAL AWARE, 17 APPLICATIONS AND UPDATE CONTRACTS AND DID UPDATE THE CONTRACTS TO ALLOW FOR NEW APPROACH TO AWARDEE REIMBURSEMENTS AND AT THIS TIME I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.

>> JOEL, HAVE A QUESTION. >> YES, MA'AM. >> THIS YEAR WAS A TIME LIMIT FOR THEM TO APPLY, WAS IT SHORTER THAN IT NORMALLY IS? I THOUGHT WE ALWAYS STARTED IN

JUNE? >> NO, MA'AM, LAST YEAR APPLICATIONS OPENED IN LATE JULY AS WELL AND WE HELD ADDITIONAL WORKSHOPS THIS YEAR AS WELL. STEP MAGICALLY WE DID HOLD TWO WORKSHOPS AND THIS YEAR HAD HELD FOUR WORKSHOPS THE TIME FRAME WAS THREE WEEKS TO TURN IN

APPLICATION AND CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS YEARS. >> THIS IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE IT

HAD BEEN LIKE REALLY FAST. I DON'T KNOW, JUST -- OKAY. >> JOEL.

>> YES, SIR. >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHO MAKES UP THE HOT FUNDS SUBCOMMITTEE AND.

>> YES, IT WAS MADE OF MEMBERS OF OUR TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD WHO DID NOT APPLY FOR HOT FUNDS, THERE WOULD BE NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST THERE. SO THOSE MEMBERS INCLUDED RAJ PANCHAL OF THE COMFORT INN, ASHLEY MANAGE GEE OF FLOW PATACO AND CHRIS MACDOWEL OF ARROW CRAFTERRERS AND SARAH VELA WHO WAS UNABLE TO MAKE OUR MEETING TO DISCUSS THE HOT FUNDS RECOMMENDATION, IT WAS THOSE MEMBERS OF OUR TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD WHO DID APPLY FOR HOT FUNDS AND SO IN ANY YEAR THAT WOULD INCLUDE LODGING MEMBERS ANY OF OUR NEW SPLINTS TONIGHT APPROVED WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT PROCESS FOR NEXT YEAR AS WELL IF WE HAD THE SAME

APPROACH. >> ONE GET I -- QUESTION I HAD, YOU SAID THERE WERE FOUR MARKER AND ONE WAS PRIOR USE WHAT SPECIFICALLY ARE YOUR PARAMETER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

>>> PRIOR USE IS WE WANT TO SEE, OUR THOUGHT PROCESS ON THAT IS WHEN YOU HAVE AN APPLICANT AND THEY'RE AWARDED FUNDS THAT IS TAKING AWAY FROM FUNDS THAT SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THAT SPREAD AMONGST THE GROUP. WE WANT THEM TO WHEN THEY APPLY FOR HOT FUNDS AND RECEIVE HOT FUNDS WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO HAVE THEIR EVENT.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT IF THERE IS COVID CANCELLATIONS THAT IS AN EXCEPTION WE'LL COMPLETELY MAKE AND WE DID THAT THROUGH THIS YEAR'S PROCESS AS WELL. WE'RE COUNTING THAT IN THE PRIOR YEARS IF YOU HAVE HOT FUNDS THAT YOU DID HAVE YOUR EVENT AND SUBMIT A POST EVENT REPORT AND

SUBMIT EXPENSES FOR REIMBURSEMENT. >> IS THERE ANY MECHANISM IF YOU DON'T USE THOSE IN UNDER IS SOME TYPE OF HOOK ON IT OR JUST ALLOCATED?

>> THIS THIS TIME THE FUNDS IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR EVENT AND THEY'RE NOT AWARDED THEIR FUNDS IT GOES BACK TO THE RESERVE FUNDS. THAT IS CURRENTLY HOW THE MONEYS

THAT AREN'T USED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS TO THEM. >>> OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT IF THERE IS NO OTHER QUESTIONS WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON E6.

>> ACTUALLY I HAVE ONE MORE. >>> JOEL, LET'S SAY NEXT YEAR, WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE ARE MORE MEMBERS OF THE HOTEL TOURISM BOARD THAT ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN SEEKING MONETARIRY THINGS FOR THIS, IS THERE -- OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE A FEW HOTELLIERS THAT CANNOT.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR LIST OF SUBCOMMITTEE COULD GET SMALLER AND SMALLER AND SMALLER.

>>> THAT COULD BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER, YES. >> I'M LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL

PROBLEM. >> IN THE FUTURE, RIGHT IN A COUPLE OF OUR SUBCOMMITTEE FEBRUARIES WERE MEMBERS OF SECTORS THAT YOU WOULD ANTICIPATE NOT TO APPLY FOR HOT FUNDS, RETAIL LOCATIONS, FOOD AND NIGHTLIFE OR EXCUSE ME, RETAIL SHOPPING, FOOD AND

[01:00:05]

POINT AND SOMETHING TO CONSIDER. >>> WHO KNEW NIGHTLIFE WAS AT THE FOREFRONT OF JOEL'S MIND I DO WANT TO ADD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS IF I MAY JUST BRIEFLY. SO THE TOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS CREATED IN 2019. IT FORMALLEY DID NOT EXIST TO THAT LEVEL OF FORMALITY BEFOREHAND. AND SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE DRASTIC DIFFERENCES OF THOSE INVOLVED NOW VERSUS BEFORE. PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS A PROCESS AS YOU KNOW WAS SPEARHEADED OUT OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT UNDER THOMAS.

AND THERE WAS A GROUP OF FOLKS WHO ON AN AD HOC BASE --ED A HOCK BASIS WOULD GET TOGETHER ONCE A YEAR AND HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS.

THESE WOULD BE INDIVIDUALS THAT WOULD BE LITERALLY THE ONLY TIME DURING THE CALENDAR YEAR THAT THEY WOULD BE ASKED TO TALK OBTAIN SOMETHING IS TOURISM IN NATURE.

NOW WITH THE TOURISM AND ADVISORY BOARD THAT MEETS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS, YOU HAVE A GROUP OF FOLKS IN A PUBLIC SETH, I MAY ADD, BECAUSE IT IS A GROUP WHERE THE AGENDA GETS POSTED PUBLICLY. IT IS MORE TRANSPARENT, MORE ACCESSIBLE.

GET TOGETHER, FOUR TIMES A YEAR, TO TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ISSUES AND TOPICS THAT MIGHT BE GOING ON RELATED TO TOUR UP ON WITH THE INTENT WHEN THE TIME COMES TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS PROCESS THIS SUBCOMMITTEE WHICH THAT MEETING IS ALSO POSTED PUBLICLY.

SO IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND MORE ACCESSIBLE AND TRANSPARENT AS IT EVER WAS BEFORE, CAN MAKE A MORE EDUCATED DECISION ON THE RECOMMENDATION TO YOU, BECAUSE THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT TOURISM-RELATED MATTERS YEARAROUND.

AND NOT JUST A GROUP AN AD HOCK GROUP AD HOC GROUP THAT GETS TOGETHER ONCE A YEAR.

WE FEEL THE CHANGES IN TERMS OF THAT GROUP-YEAR-OLD A -- YEELD YIELD A BETTER PRODUCT IS IT PERFECT? NO. WE'RE OPEN TO ANY SUGGESTIONS COUNCIL MIGHT HAVE TO STRENGTHEN THE INTENT OF THE BOARD AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE.

>> SO DOES THE BOARD GET INVOLVED IN THE DECISION FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR THE FUNDS? BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF PEOPLE, RIGHT? A BOARD AND A SUBCOMMITTEE.

SO DO THEY COME TOGETHER WHEN THEY MAKE THE DECISION? OR IS THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT

DECIDES? >> THE SUBCOMMITTEE IS THE ONE THAT SUPPORTS THE RECOMMENDATION THAT COMES TO COUNCIL TO DO WHAT JOEL MENTIONED WHICH IS ELIMINATE THE PERCEPTION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST OF HAVING THE FULL MEMBERS OR ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ON THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, VOTE FOR SOMETHING THAT BENEFITS THE ORGANIZATION OR AN EVENT THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED WITH.

NA IS THE WAY IT HAS BEEN DONE NOW. WE CAN FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO IT I KNOW HISTORICALLY THIS PROCESS HAS EINVOLVED IN MANY WAYS, BECAUSE, IT IS A VERY, YOU KNOW IN THE TERM I THINK USED WAS OBJECTIVE, IT IS VERY BLACK AND WHITE PROCESS IN TERMS OF,SCORING MATRIX DEVELOPS. YOU MAY RECALL THAT THAT IS HOW TOMS SPEAR HAD THAT PROCESS AND THAT CAME FROM TWO YEARS AGO PROCESS TOWARDS GOING TOWARDS A SUBJECTIVE APPROACH TO IT AS WELL AND COUNCIL REMINDED US. WE NEED TO STAY TO AN OBJECTIVE PROCESS.

ON THE DATA IN THE NUMBERS AND THAT IS THE PROCESS WE CAME BACK TO.

THAT IS WHY THE SPROSES WHAT IT IS. AT ANY POWNL COUNCIL WISHES THE PROCESS NOT BE AS OBJECTIVE AS IT IS IN ITS CRITERIA, THEN COMMUNICATE TO THAT AND WE'LL

HAPPILIED A JUST ANY COMPONENTS. >> I STILL DIDN'T GET MY ANSWER. DO YOU USE THE BOARD AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE TO DECIDE? OR JUST THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT DECIDES?

>> THE SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD. THEY'RE REGULAR MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD. THEY'RE JUST THE ONES THAT DON'T AL PLY FOR HOT FUNDS.

>> AND JUST THE SUBCOMMITTEE FROM STAFF TO CITY COUNCIL. THAT'S IT.

>> WE DO HAVE SOME MEMBERS OF OUR TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD THAT REPRESENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLY FOR HOT GROUNDS AND IF THEY'RE VOAD VOTING FOR IT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ABSTAIN.

>> NORMALLY YOU GIVE US THE ACTUAL AMOUNT PEOPLE APPLY FOR AND NOT AT THIS TIME.

AND I THINK THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF, YOU KNOW WHAT WE SEE.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE PEOPLE COME UP AND COMPLAIN, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE COMPLAINING OBTAIN BECAUSE ALL WE SEE IS YOUR FIGURES. SO I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT

THAT WE GET BOWE SIDES. >> WE COULD PROVIDE THAT TO YOU. >>> PLEASE.

>> AND PLEASE DON'T FORGET, BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS FORGET TO SENDS US THAT INFORMATION.

[01:05:05]

ON DOCUMENTATION. >>> AND IF IT MAKES COUNCIL MORE COMFORTABLE, I MEAN, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE DISCRETION TO DELAY THE ACTION IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION. THAT IS OBVIOUSLY YOUR DISCRETION AS COUNCIL.

>> I HAVE A COMMENT ON A PROCEDURE AND I FLOW IS A DRIVE TO MAKE THINGS TALENT THAT DRIVEN AND OBJECTIVE AND PREDICTABLE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF AVAILABLE FUNDING THAT WAS EVENLY SPLIT. I'M HOPING IT IS A SMALL AMOUNT SO WHAT I'M GOING SAY IS REALLY KIND OF IRRELEVANT. I JUST FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY COULD COMPLY WITH THOSE FOUR THINGS.

I'LL SHOW UP AT THE WORKSHOPS AND I CAN GIVE YOU GOOD PAPERWORK AND MAKE SURE MY BUDGET MATCHES AND IF I'M A NEW PERSON APPLYING, I GUESS I CAN'T MEET THE PRIOR USE OF FUNDS.

BUT IF I HELD THIS ONE TIME BEFORE, I CAN MEET ALL THAT. SO I'M GOING GET SOME MONEY EVEN IF MY PROJECT IS NOT AT ALL ONE THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO ENCOURAGE OR, YOU KNOW, ONE THAT IS NOT AS RECIPIENT WORTHY ADDRESS SOME OF THE OTHER. AND SO, AGAIN, WHILE I SEE THE DRIVE FOR DATA-DRIVEN OBJECTIVE, I JUST KIND OF QUESTION SOME OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

>> SKIL JUST BRIEFLY ADD, EVEN THOUGH, YES, WE LIST SEVERAL. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR THAT INFLUENCES THE RECOMMENDATION IS THE HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS. SOME OF THESE OTHER ELEMENTS ARE MORE OF CHECK THE BOX, OKAY, YOU GOT THOSE, GREAT. BUT ULTIMATELY THE DIFFERENTIATING FACTOR IN THE FORMULA GOES BACK TO THOSE ROOM NIGHTS. AND OOZE YOU -- AND AS YOU HEARD EARLIER TODAY SOME EVENTS HAVE BETTER SUCCESS AT GATHERING THAT DATA THAN OTHERS.

>> WHAT MAKES IT SO DIFFICULT FOR SOMEBODY TO GATHER DATA WHEN EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE THE SAME

ACCESS? I DON'T CARE WHAT EVENT IT IS. >> AND WE WOULD BE HAPPY ENOUGH TO DISCUSS THIS TO HELP THEM TO TRACK THAT DATA. I KNOW THEY DO ON-LINE TICKET AILS, A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO CAPTURE DATA HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STAYING IN HOTEL ROOMS. WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SUCCESS AT CAP MEASURING DATA IT IS INTRINSIC MAGICALLY EASIER FOR LIKE A SPORT ESTROABT CAPTURE DAT TALENT WHEN THAT PERSON SIGNS IN, CHECKS IN AT THE TOURNAMENT THEY CAN SAY HOW MANY ROOM NIGHTS? WHAT HOTEL ARE YOU STAYING AT? HOW MANY ROOM NIGHTS FOR THE EVENT IN AND ALL OF THOSE SPORTING EVENT PARTICIPANTS CAN GET THAT DAT FA AND THE EVENT CAN CAPTURE IT RIGHT THERE. WHEREAS WHEN YOU HAVE A LEISURE EVENT YOU'RE TRYING TO CAPTURE A CROWD COMING TO YOUR EVENT. AND IT CAN BE MORE DIFFICULT TO DO THAT. THE MORE WE CAN BASH WITH THEIR TICKETING, THEY HAVE A TICKING SYSTEM. THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO CAPTURE THE DATA.

ABOUT. WHY IS IT EASIER FOR ONE EVENT TO HAVE? LIKE YOU SAY, CAPTURE IT AT THE ENTRANCE. THEY CAN CAPTURE IT THEN.

DO THEY HAVE TO GO AND CONFIRM THAT WITH THE HOTEL? >> I'M NOT -- I DON'T THINK IT IS OUR ROLE TO SPECULATE WHAT EXACTLY THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZERS A DOING IN TERMS OF COLLECTING DATA. ULTIMATELY IT IS THE RESPONSIBLE OF THE EVENT ORGANIZER TO COLLECT THE DATA. WE'RE HAPPY FOR SUPPORT IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.

BUT ULTIMATELY THE ROLE THAT WE CURRENTLY PLAY IS SIMPLY A FACILITATE THE PROCESS THAT THEN COMES BEFORE YOU. IF COUNCIL HAS AN EXPECT NATION STAFF WORK MORE, I GUESS, INTIMATELY WITH ALL OF THE EVENTS, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE, RIGHT? BUT AGAIN, CURRENTLY OUR ROLE IN THIS PROCESS IS SIMPLY TO FACILITATE THE DATA, COLLECT IT AND THEN TAKE THAT OBJECTIVE

APPROACH THAT COUNCIL HAS GUIDED US ON TAKING. >> I WOULD THINK THAT TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD WOULD BE A GOOD SOURCE TO HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM WHERE THEY COULD DISCUSS PERHAPS HOW THE HOTELS COULD HELP AND COULD FACILITATE THIS. I KNOW EVERY TIME I CHECK INTO A HOTEL NOWADAYS, THEY SMILE AND SAYS WHAT BRINGS YOU TO TOWN TODAY? AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, KEEPING DATA FOR VARIOUS THINGS. SO IT JUST OCCURS TO ME THAT PERHAPS THE ADVISORY BOARD COULD LOOK AT THAT TOPIC AND SEE IF THERE ARE CONSULTIONS THAT -- SUGGESTIONS THEY HAVE TO SHARE WITH EVENT COORDINATORS. I AGREE WITH MR. GARZ SA. I

[01:10:05]

SUCCESSFUL WITH. >> AS I ELUDED TO EARLIER, IF COUNCIL WANTS TO CHANGE HOW OBJECTIVE OF AN APPROACH WE TAKE ON A SPECIFIC ITEM, WE CAN DO THAT.

BUT THE DIRECTION UNTIL THIS POINT HAS BEEN VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD FROM COUNCIL TO FOCUS ON THAT ONE ELEMENT IN MAKING THIS RECOMMENDATION TO YOU.

>> YES. >> I LIKE THE OBJECTIVE APPROACH.

I THINK OUR FIRST YEAR ON COUNCIL, DR. YOUNG, AND MS. SOLIZ YOU PROBABLY HAD AT LEAST TWO YEARS OF IT WHEN IT WAS JUST SUBJECTIVE AND EVERYBODY CAME UP HERE AND SPOKE ABOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION AND WHAT THEY WERE ASKING FOR. AND WHEN YOU'RE IN THE COMMUNITY YOU GOT HAMMERED ON IT. AND GOING WITH THE OBJECTIVE ROUTE TO ME IS MORE FAIR.

IT ALLOWS FOR MORE ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AND STAND ON LEVEL GROUNDS.

SO I LIKE STICKING WITH THE OBJECTIVE SIDE OF IT. >> WE'VE COME A LONG WAY.

I COULD REMEMBER NIGHTS AND NIGHTS AND NIGHTS. SO YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST THAT TO MARKET MORE OF AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD. I'M SURE SOMEBODY THAT IS NEW WOULD BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND UNTIL THEY GET FAMILIARIZED WITH THE PROCESS.

>> JOEL, HOW DO OTHER MUNICIPALITY? THIS ISN'T UNIQUE US.

I CAN'T IMAGINE ABOUT COLLECTING DATA FROM HOTELLIERS AND PEOPLE THAT COME TO CERTAIN EVENTS.

HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANY OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT WHAT GOES ON AND HOW THEY COLLECT DATA AND

WHAT THEY FIND MOST SUCCESSFUL, BEST PRACTICES? >> IT HAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BEFORE, DIFFERENT CONFERENCES I'VE BEEN TO CAPTURING DATA FROM THE LEISURE EVENTS I THINK LOOKING AT THE NEW PROCESS IS SOMETHING I WOULD BE THEME POSE TO DIFFERENT GROUPS WE HAVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING AS WE GO ALONG

IN DEVELOPING DEVELOPING THE MEO HELP APPLICANTS TRACK DATA. >> IF I MAY ADD TO THAT YAWS FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND I KNOW WE CAN'T COMPARE OURSELVES IN TERMS OF RESOURCES. BUT MOST COMMUNITY OR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT COLLECT HOTEL AUTOPSY TAX AREN'T COLLECTING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY. WE COLLECT $1.7 TO $1.9 MILLION.

WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUPS AND OTHER COMMUNITIES. THE BIGGEST ONE IS RELATED TO HOTELS. COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OF OUR SIZE OR LARGER HAVE LOCAL CHAPTERS OF HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATIONS THAT HELPS ENSURE THE HOTELIERS ARE ORGANIZED ON THE SAME PAGE AND HAVE A PROCESS AND A MECHANISM TO DISTRIBUTE INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE WORKS. COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THAT LEVEL OF STRUCTURE IN TERMS OF THAT COHESION AMONGST HOTELIER, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING BECOMES MORE CHALLENGING BECAUSE THERE IS NO MECHANISM FOR CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE BOARD. IT IS POSSIBLE, BUT IT JUST FACILITATES -- NECESSITATES MORE WORK ON STAFF'S PART TO BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO INDIVIDUALLY GO AROUND AND GET THE HOTELS TO SUPPORTSOME SOMETHING OR FOLLOW A PROCESS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE. SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IF WE THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS GETTING INFORMATION FROM IF HOTELS, IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE MIGHT HAVE A COUPLE OF HOTELS THAT ARE 100% ON BOARD. ESPECIALLY THE ONES ON THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD, RIGHT, AND THE HOTEL THAT THEY'RE WITH. BUT THE OTHER HOTELS IT MIGHT NOT NOT BE AS EASY. THAT IS A STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY FROM WHAT WE NOTICE FROM DAY ONE IF LACK OF HAVING A FORMALIZED LOCAL HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION IS FRICKE.

THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND AS WELL IS AS WITH ANY HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX EXPENSE THERE IS A SPECTRUM OF INTENT VERSUS I GUESS A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH. AT THIS POINT IT IS A POLICY DECISION, RIGHT, IF WE WANT TO MAKE INVESTMENTS UTILIZING OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX DOLLARS CENTERED AROUND INTENT AND AREN'T AS DATA DRIVEN OR HAVING AN APPROACH LIKE WE HAVE WHICH IS DATA DRIVEN. THOSE ARE POLICY DECISIONS. BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING THAT --

[01:15:01]

BUT THERE ISN'T ANY LAW THAT TALKS ABOUT CONSEQUENCES OR ANYTHING TO THAT EFFECT.

IT IS WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE IT. >> I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. >> RIGHT NOW THE TRACKING THAT DATA IS 100% LEFT TO WHOEVER IS PUTTING ON THE EVENT; IS THAT CORRECT?

>> DATA FOR A SPECIFIC EVENT, YES. >> OKAY.

AND BY THE WAY, OUR HOTELIERS ARE GREAT PARTNERS OF OURS. I DON'T MAKE THAT COMMENT TO IMPLY SOMETHING THAT IT IS NOT. BUT IT DUDS MAKE IT MORE CHALLENGING WHEN -- DOES MAKE IT MORE CHALLENGING WHEN THEY ARE NOT AS ORGANIZED COLLECTIVELY AS A GROUP AS THEY ARE IN OTHER

COMMUNITIES. >> LOVE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION AT THIS POINT.

>> I GOT 10 MINUTES MORE, THOUGH. JUST KIDDING.

>> SO MOVED. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT, A MOTION AND A SECOND IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALM KNOWS FAVOR SAY AYE.

>>> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSE SAME SIGN. THAT CLOSES THE ACTION ITEM FOR

[1. Update on EDA Grant Opportunities. Jesús A. Garza]

>> MAN, TOUGH CROWD. >> MR. MAYOR THAT IS STILL SHORTER FROM MOST OF OUR

PREVIOUS HOT FUNDS DISCUSSION. >> YOU CAN PUT 10 MINUTES ON THE CLOCK, IF YOU WARRANT, JAMES.

ALL RIGHT, I WANTED TO PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON JUST THE EDA GRANT OPPORTUNITIES THAT STEM FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT. THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE BEEN A PART OF BEHIND THE SCENES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND MORE FRONT AND CENTER WITH GROUPS LIKE THE SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND RECENTLY WITH MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS. I FELT THE TIMING WAS APPROPRIATE TO LOOP YOU IN THIS SETTING IN TERMS OF WHAT THE PROGRAM IS AND WHERE WE ARE WITH IT.

SO REALLY BRIEFLY, THE EDA'S MISSION IS TO REALLY BE INVOLVED WITH ALL ASPECTS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HELP PROMOTE, COMPETITIVENESS, THEY HELP DO INITIATIVES TO CREATE JOB, PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. THE THING TO NOTE ON THIS SLIDE IS FOR OUR SPECIFIC LOCATION, THE REGIONAL OFFICE THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO US IS BASED OUT OF AUSTIN AND THAT AUSTIN OFFICE ACTUALLY SERVES FIVE STATES, SO IT IS NOT JUST TEXAS. THAT IS THE WAY THE EDA DECIDED TO SPLIT THINGS UP THAT WILL PUT THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE WHEN I TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THE AUSTIN REGIONAL OFFICE RECEIVED BECAUSE IS NOT JUST THE STATE OF TEXAS, IT IS FIVE STATES.

OBVIOUSLY TEXAS IS THE BIGGEST ONE AND MOST IMPORTANT ONE OUT OF THAT GROUP IF YOU ASK ME.

SO REALLY QUICKLY FOR CONTEXT. AS YOU KNOW WE FORMALIZED OUR GRANT OPERATION JUST LAST YEAR AND INDICATETY CONNELLY WHO HAD BEEN WITH US FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND PROMOTED TO BE OTHER GRANTS ADMINISTRATOR AND RECENTLY APPROVED FUNDS TO ADD TWO GRANT SPECIALISTS SHE ACTUALLY HAS INTERVIEWS FOR THAT POSITION THIS WEEK. SO WE'RE FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE TEAM. ONE OF THE CORE OBJECTIVES OF CREATING THIS OFFICE WAS TO CENTRALIZE OUR GRANT SERVICES, FRIAR THAT ALL THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WERE LEFT TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT HAD ONE PERSON ASSIGNED, YOU KNOW, THAT GRANT, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. FROM THE FINANCIAL STANDPOINT FINANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HISTORICALLY INVOLVED WITH THAT. THAT IS MORE THE FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION PART OF IT MAYBE NOT SO MUCH ON THE OTHER ELEMENTS. THAT HAS BEEN HUGE HELP.

OF COURSE, WE WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOW-HANGING DISPUTE SOME OF THOSE WE'VE DISCUSSED AND BRING THEM BEFORE YOU WHETHER PUBLIC SAFETY-RELATED GRANTS OR THE DUCK POND WE RECEIVED AT TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AND BEAUTIFY INDICATION IN THE LOOP THAT INDICATETY WAS INVOLVED WITH. WE'RE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

IN PARALLEL TO THAT THERE ARE EXPECTATIONS OF THAT OFFICE COMING FROM THE SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, BECAUSE THE SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FINANCIALLY HELPS PAY FOR THAT OFFICE. AND FINANCIALLY HELP PAY FOR THAT GRANT STRAID STRAITIVE POSITION. SO FROM DAY ONE, THERE WAS ALSO AN ELEMENT OR AN EXPECTATION THAT THIS PERSON IN THE CITY PROVIDED VERY SPECIFIC FOCUS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, QUALITY OF LIFE AND MORE SPECIFICALLY AN INTEREST IN ENSURING THAT WE SEEK EDA GRANTER OPPORTUNITIES. BECAUSE AFTER THE FIRST CARES ACT CAME OUT THAT ALSO CAME WITH FUNDING THAT DELETE S WENT TO EDA AND WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION APPLY FOR GRANT DOLLARS THROUGH THAT PROCESS. YOU MAY RECALL AT THE PORT OF VICTORIA APPLIED FOR A GRANT.

THROUGH THAT PROCESS. THEY RECEIVED IT. THE PORT.

VICTORIA COLLEGE HAS APPLIED FOR EDA FUNDING. AND THEY'VE RECEIVED THAT FOR

[01:20:02]

THE REGIONALMANNING COMMISSION ALSO SERVES IN THE SAME FUNCTION, BUT THEY'RE GEOGRAPHIC AREA IS MUCH LARGER THAN VICTORIA. AND SO THE IDEA IS THAT WE PIGGYBACK OFF OF THE WORK THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION ALREADY DOES IN TERMS OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SOME OF THAT AND FOCUS MORE ON VICTORIA TO MAKE SURE VICTORIA HAS COMPETITIVE PROJECTS TO SUBMIT THROUGH THESE EDA GRANT OPPORTUNITIES.

RECENTLY SEPTEMBER 24TH WE HELD A MEETING REFERRING TO COMMUNITY PARTNER MEETING -- SOIRKS AUGUST 24TH. YES IN THE FUTURE. I'M SURPRISED NOBODY CAUGHT THAT EARLIER, BY THE WAY? ANY CASE WE HAD REPRESENTATIVE FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

IT WAS A PRETTY DIVERSE LARGE GROUP. AND IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY GOOD MEETING. WENT OVER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND PROJECTS EVERYBODY IS WORKING ON AND ROBERT PECHE OUR CONTACT OUT OF THE EDA OFFICE CAME AND ENJOINED THE MEETING VIDEO DELETE S VIA ZOOM TO SHARE INFORMATION AS WELL. AND SO SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE PROVIDED THE GROUP WAS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS. NOW HISTORICALLY, JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, EDA LEARNS FROM PREVIOUS PROCESSES AND SO THEY DIVIDED ALL THE MONEY THAT THEY'RE GETTING THESE SIX DIFFERENT CATEGORY, SOME OF THEM AS YOU SCAN SEE ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO US SO I WON'T SPENDS ANY TIME TALKING ABOUT THEM BUT I'LL SPEND TIME TALKING ABOUT THE ONES THAT DO AND SHARING A LITTLE BIT OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE CONSIDERING APPLYING FOR AND TIMELINES ASSOCIATED MOST APPLICABLE TO US, BECAUSE ON THE LEFT I'VE PUT IN BOLD STAIR AND AT THE END OF THE DAY AS A CITY THAT IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO. REALLY QUICKLY, THOUGH, THIS SPECIFIC CATEGORY RECEIVED $500 MILLION. BUT THE AUSTIN REGIONAL OFFICE WHAT THE ARO STANDS FOR ONLY RECEIVED SHY OF 64 MILLION FOR THIS CATEGORY AND THE AMOUNT IS $5 MILLION AND TO 2TO WHEN YOU HAVE $64 MILLION TO WORK, OVER FIVE STATES, YOU KNOW, IT CAN GET PRETTY COME PET ACTIVE.

SPECIFIC DEADLINE IS MARCH 15TH, BUT BECAUSE IT IS COMPETITIVE, THEY REVIEW APPLICATIONS ON A ROLLING BASIS AND FULLY RECOMMENDED TO US IF WE WANT TO BE COMPETITIVE WE NEED TO GET SOMETHING IN THIS FALL. IF WE REALLY WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR, THEY PROBABLY ARE GOING BE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY. AND SO WE REALLY NEED A RUNNING GUN IN TRYING TO GET THESE PROJECTS GOING. ONE OF THE OTHER THING INDICATETY HAS LEARNED IN HER INVOLVEMENT IN THE WEBINARS AND TALKING WITH ROBERT IS THAT THE MINIMUM IS AN 80/20 SPLIT, BUT YOU'RE ACTUALLY MORE COMPETITIVE IF YOU PUT MORE MONEY IN.

AND SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE PROJECT LAST YEAR THEY WENT 50/50. IN THEIR MATCH.

AND SO ANY TIME THAT THE EDA SIE SEES YOU'RE THROG PUT IN MORE THAN 80%.

>> MORE THAN 20%. >> I'M SORRY, MORE THAN 20%, YES, THANK YOU.

JUST MAKING SURE YOU'RE AWAKE. MORE THAN 20%, YOU KNOW, THEY LOOK AT THAT FAVORABLY.

AND SO WE'RE KIND OF APPROACH EVENING THESE LOOKING AT MORE OF 75/25 JUST TO HOPEFULLY GET US SOME ADDITIONAL POINEDS ONCE WE GET TO IT. SOME OF THE PROJ JECTS WE'RE CONSIDERING SUBMITTING FOR THESE ARE THE FOLLOWING: ONE IS A CITYWIDE LED PROJECT, A PROJECT STAFF HAS SPENT SIGNIFICANT TIME LOOKING INTO BECAUSE IT IS IN THE CIP.

YOU MAY RECALL IN FISCAL YEAR 2022 THERE IS 250,000 FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IN TOTAL THAT IS A $1.25 PROJECT. AND THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE COULD PROBABLY INCORPORATE IN ADDITION TO REPLACING THE EXISTING LIGHTS LIKE ADDING NEW LIKES AND PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE LIGHTS THAT COULD BUMP THAT PROJECT UP TO BE 1.5 TO 1.75 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT.

[01:25:03]

NOT EASY TO TAKE THE EXIT IS AND TAKE THE TURN AND YOU'RE THERE. WE THINK THAT THAT COULD REALLY HELP THE AIRPORT OUT A LOT. ONE OF THE OTHER CONVERSATIONS THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, OF COURSE, TOO, IS THE SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, PANDING THE INDUSTRIAL PARK AND REALLY JUST EXPANDING THE AREA, BECAUSE SOME OF THAT AREA IS BEING TAKEN UP SLOWLY BUT SURELY THERE. IS A THOUGHT TO LOOK AT EXTENDING LONE TREE ROAD THAT YOU SEE THERE AS PHASE 2, IT SHOWS PHASE 3 BUT SHOULD BE PHASE 2 THAT WOULD EXTENDS LONE TREE ROAD ALL THE WAY TO THE NEW ROAD WHICH IS CURRENTLY CALLED HANGAR DRIVE AND CREATING BELTER CIRCULATION IN THAT AREA AND CREATE BETTER CIRCULATION BETWEEN AIRPORT PROPERTY AND EVEN THE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL PARK. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AS WELL WITH CATERPILLAR AND OTHER POTENTIAL SUPPLIERS AND I'D LOVE THE IDEA OF JUST HAVING MORE OF A DIRECT ACCESS, STRAIGHTFORWARD SHOT BETWEEN THE AIRPORT AND THE SITE.

AND SO THAT SPECIFIC PER ENGINEERING STUDY IS PRIORITIZING THAT WHAT IS REVERED TO AS HANGAR DRIVE OR PHASE 1 AND EXPECTS TO BE COMPLETED A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO POTENTIALLY BE ABLE TO SUBMIT A GRANT IF WE WANTED TO BY END OF THE YEAR OR EARLY JANUARY ASSOCIATED WITH THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT. THE OTHER ONE THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS UTILITIES FROM ONE 85 ALL THE WAY TO TUFFNER THERE ARE LIMITATION TO WATER AND SEWER.

HENCE, THE PROJECT WITH TEXAN. VARIANCES THAT SOMETIMES COME BEFORE YOU AS WELL BECAUSE PROJECTS NEED TO BE ON SEPTIC TANK. AND FOR US IF WE REALLY WANT TO DEVELOP THAT INTERSTATE WE NEED HAVE MORE LEGITIMATE UTILITIES OUT THERE.

URBAN WHO ARE THE DEVELOPERS AND AUTHORS OF THE 2018 WATER AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN ARE THE BEST FOLKS TO HELP US FIGURE THIS OUT IN A QUICKER MANNER. BOTH FUNDED THROUGH THE SALES TAX CORPORATION. LASTLY WE'RE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF THE BROADBAND STUDY WHICH AS YOU KNOW COBBFENDLEY STARTED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. WE EXPECT THAT STUDY TO BE PUBLISHED BY THE OWNEDF THIS MONTH AND PRESENTATION MADE TO YOU AT THE FIRST MEETING IN OCTOBER WITH THE RESULTS OF THAT STUDY AND HELP US PAINT THE PICTURE AS TO WHETHER THERE IS TRULY A NEED OR OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR A GRANT FOR BROADBAND OR NOT.

AND SO WE'LL KNOW THAT, SOON. SOME OTHER POSSIBLE PROJECT RELATED TO FRAWR ARE RELATED TO DOWNTOWN. I HAVE A FEW GRAPHICS TO SHOW YOU THAT ARE A SNEAK PEEK OF WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION COMING UP AT THE SECOND MEETING IN SEPTEMBER. THIS MAP SHOWS THE WAY THAT THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN IDENTIFIES PRIMARILY CORRIDORS VERSUS SECONDARY. THE RED IS THE PRIMERARY CORRIDOR AND YOU AND IN SORT OF THAT CORE AREA BETWEEN BRIDGE AND MAINE.

AS YOU DRIVE INTO DOWNTOWN, THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOESN'T REALLY START FEELING LIKE YOU'RE IN DOWNTOWN, UNTIL MARSHAL. WHERE UTILITIES GO UNDERGROUND, BRICK PAVERS AND TREES AND THE IDEA BEHIND THE RECOMMENDATIONS COMING FROM THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN IS TO EXTENDS THAT FUEL DOWN TO RIO GRANDE AND MAKE IT CLEAR YOU'RE ENTERING DOWNTOWN AS SOON AS YOU TURN OR GO STRAIGHT INTO MAIN FROM MOODY AND I AREIO GRAND WE KNOW THAT F THESE CROSSING STREETS BETWEEN BRIDGE AND MAIN THAT ARE IN RED, THERE ARE SOME ADA ISSUES AND OTHER THINGS THAT COULD REALLY

[01:30:05]

PART OF THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN ALSO TALKS ABOUT GATEWAY SIGNAGE AND JUST REALLY IMPROVING UPON THE CONCEPT OF ESTABLISHING A SENSE OF PLACE WHICH IS A BIG DEAL.

AND SO ONE OF THE BIG ENTRY OPPORTUNITY GATEWAY OPPORTUNITIES IS, OF COURSE, ON THAT END WHICH WE'RE REFERRING TO THE NORTH GATEWAY ENTRANCE THAT IS THE AREA AS YOU APPROACH 700 MAIN. IF YOU CAN VISUALIZE WHAT THAT LOOK LIKE IF YOU HAD REALLY NICE SIGNAGE THAT SAID LACK TO DOWNTOWN VICTORIA IF YOU COULD VISUALIZE WITH UTILITIES NOT PRESENT AND VISUALIZE IT WOULD LOOK REALLY NICE. IF YOU ARE HAVING A HARD TIME VISUALIZING WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE HERE IS ANOTHER SNEAK PEEK THAT SHOWS YOU WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE IF WE DID EXTEND THAT BRICK BEHAVER LOOK ALL THE WAY TO MOOD IVORYIO GRAND, HAD THE GATEWAY SIGNAGE FIT, THE TREES AND REALLY JUST ENHANCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE COMING INTO DOWNTOWN. SO THAT IS ONE OF THE DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS WE'RE DEFINITELY EYING FOR QUICK SUBMITTAL, CIVIL SORE IS THE CIVIL ENGINEERING COMPANY ASSOCIATED WITH THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON FINALIZING SCOPE, COST ESTIMATES, THINGS OF THAT SORT, THING THEIRS ALREADY DOING AS PART OF THE SCOPE FOR THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AND GOING TO FINE TUNE IT TO PREPARE IT INTO A FORMAT WE CAN UTILIZE FOR

SUBMITTAL TO THE ADA GRANT. >> I NOTICED IT LOOKS LIKE MAIN STREET HAS BEEN REPAVED BY THE

TIME THIS COMES TO FRUITION. >> YES. >> AND REPAINTED.

>> E. >> SO IN THE SCOPE OF THE GRANT TWO WOULD BE REPAVING OF THE STREET AS WELL. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MESS WITH EVERYTHING.

AND YOU'LL SEE NOR RENDERINGS LIKE THIS -- MORE RENDERINGS LIKE THIS NEXT TIME WE TALK ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. THAT'S -- OOPS. THAT IS THE BIGGEST ONE IN TERMS OF HAVING A LOT OF PROJECTS TO CONSIDER, BECAUSE, AGAIN, THAT IS THE ELEMENT THAT HITS US PERSONALLY THE MOST BECAUSE IT IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE ONE, BUT QUICKLY I'LL RUN THROUGH A FEW OTHERS. THERE IS A CATEGORY FOR THE CATEGORY TOURISM RECREATION, SAME CONCEPT IN TERMS OF IMPROVING UPON OUR COMPETITIVENESS BY APPLYING SOONER, PUTTING MORE INTO THE PROJECT AS IS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT.

THIS ONE WHAT IS INTERESTING IT IS 16.6 MILLION FOR THE AUSTIN REGIONAL OFFICE FOR FIVE STATES.

SO AGAIN, VERY COMPETITIVE. SO NOT A LOT OF MONEY BUT IT IS THERE.

AND SO FOR THIS SPECIFIC CATEGORY, WE POTENTIALLY CAN TAKE A PROJECT OR TWO FROM THE PARKS MASTER PLAN WHICH WILL BE PRESENTED TO YOU AT THE SEPTEMBER 24TH WORKSHOP.

WE WOULD BE IN THE TIMELINE TO BE ABLE TO GET SOME GOOD INFORMATION FOR THAT FOR AN OCTOBER SUBMITTAL FOR A PARKS RELATED PROJECT AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT VISITOR'S CENTER WHICH IS AN ELIGIBLE EXPENSE FOR THIS CATEGORY. THAT IS WHY EXPLORE VICTORIA SPEAKING WITH ROBERT PECHE WE UNDERSTAND POTENTIALLY SUBMITTING A GRANT FOR THE GOLF COURSE WOULD BE BECAUSE OF HITTING ON ALL THE ELEMENTS THIS CATEGORY IS INTENDED TO HIT.

THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HELP CREATE CAPACITY FOR NOT TAKE UP CAPACITY IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE IN THE CIP THERE HAD BEEN AN INCLUSION OF GREENS RENOVATION THAT TOLDED ALMOST A MILLION DOLLAR. THERE IS A POTENTIAL IF WE PUT TOGETHER A GRANT APPLICATION FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE GOLF COURSE WE CAN OBVIOUSLY ADD A FEW MORE ELEMENTS TO MAKE IT A $1.5 MILLION GRANT. BUT THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY WE'RE EXPLORING NOW.

THE REGIONAL AIRPORT, BECAUSE OF, OF COURSE, ITS CONNECTION TO TRAVEL, IS LOOKING TO APPLY FOR A NEW HANGAR. THAT IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE TAKEN TO COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AND APPROVED ON A POTENTIAL MATCH. AND HE IS SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO APPLY FOR THAT GRANT OPPORTUNITY. WE'VE DISCOVERED THAT THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO COLLABORATE WITH THE TEXAS ZOO TO POTENTIALLY ALSO PUT IN FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SOO. AS YOU KNOW WE HAVE AN OWNERSHIP STAKE IN THE ZOO BECAUSE OF OWNING THE LAND AND STRUCTURES.

THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COLLABORATE WITH THE ZOO IF WE WANTED TO PURSUE THAT OPPORTUNITY. I HAD A REALLY GOOD MEETING WITH THE ZOO LEADERSHIP THIS MORNING, ACTUALLY, JUST TO KIND OF BRAINSTORM THROUGH SOME OF THAT I MENTIONED WHEN I PRESENTED ON THE RESCUE PLAN ACT FUNDS THAT THE ZOO HAD SUBMITTED REQUEST FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ZOO

[01:35:03]

>> THE NEXT TWO CATEGORIES ARE REALLY MORE ON OUR REGIONAL PARTNERS AND OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. SO THIS IS MORE OF AN FYI. BUT THE BUILDBACK BETTER REGIONAL CHALLENGE IS INTENDED TO TAKE PROJECTS THAT ARE RELATED AND ALIGNED, BUT AS PART OF A HOLISTIC VISION IN A COMMUNITY OR REGION. AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE DESCRIPTION THERE IS THAT THIS IS 3 TO 8 DISTINCTION BUT RELATED PROJECT, THIS COULD BE THINGS LIKE BROADBAND, OBVIOUSLY THERE COULD BE OTHER BROADBAND OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR REGION AND TYING THEM ALL TOGETHER COULD POTENTIALLY BE SOMETHING WE SUBMIT IN THIS REGARD, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION WOULD BE THE ONES TO TAKE THE LEAD LOOKING AT IT MORE FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE. KIND OF MORE OF LEAD FOLKS THAT RELATES TO -- EXCUSE ME TO THIS

CATEGORY. >> GOOD JOB CHALLENGE. THIS IS A LOT HAVING TO DO WITH WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. SO YOU AS YOU CAN IMAGINE UHV, VICTORIA COLLEGE WOULD BE THE PRIMARY ENTITIES THAT WOULD APPLY FOR THIS CATEGORY OF FUNDING AND WE DO KNOW BASED ON THE MEETING THAT WE HAD LAST MONTH, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT APPLYING FOR PROGRAMS FROM THIS CATEGORY THIS SPECIFIC CATEGORY IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS ONE HAS A HARD DEADLINE OF JANUARY 26TH THESE DEADLINE DOS HAVE TIME TO BETTER PREPARE AN APPLICATION.

REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITIES STEMMING FROM THIS CATEGORY. AND AS I MENTIONED THESE ARE THE ENTITIES MORE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THOSE CATEGORY SO WHERE WE ARE IS FINALIZING SOME OF THE PROJECTS. BECAUSE WE WILL NEED TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU, COUNCIL, TO SIGN OFF ON THE PROJECT AND HELP US FINE TUNE HOW WE WOULD SECURE THE MATCH DOLLARS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE GRANTS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIGURE THAT OUT AHEAD OF TIME.

SO WE DO PLAN ON HOPEFULLY FINALIZING SOME OF THAT SOON. AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE RIGHT THERE ARE A FEW PROJECTS WE FEEL CONFIDENT TO SUBMIT IN THE SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER TIME FRAME SUCH AS DOWNTOWN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT I MENTIONED. THE LED PROJECT, MAYBE A PARKS PROJECT OR TWO. SOME OF THE OTHERS WOULD NECESSITATE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT URBAN ENGINEERING IS DOING ON THE I-69 RELATED PROJECTS AND WE STILL NEED TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT YOU KNOW, FINE TUNING THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ON THE VISITOR'S CENTER. AND THAT IS A CONVERSATION WE PLAN ON HAVING WITH YOU BRIEFLY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

ANYBODY MIGHT HAVE. >> THANK YOU. >> IS THAT A SMILE FROM

MR. LOFGREN. >> YES, THANK YOU, MS. CONNELLY, TOO.

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS. ALL RIGHT NO FURTHER QUESTIONS,

[G. Executive Sessions:]