Apr 05, 2022 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:26]

AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY APRIL 5, 2022.

PLEASE CALL ROLL. >> RAFAEL DELAGARZA: PRESENT.

>> MARK LOFFGREN: HERE. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: HERE.

I STOLE YOUR MICROPHONE. IF YOU ALL WILL, PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE TEXAS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE. .>

>> HONOR TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO YOU TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD.

ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: THANK YOU.

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. FIRST BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION AS PART OF YOUR READ FILES, WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED A COPY OF THE 2021 STATE CONTROLLER AUDIT AT THE BOARD MEETING LAST MONTH.

THIS METHODS AND ASSISTANCE AUDIT IS CONDUCTED BY THE CONTROLLER'S OFFICE AND A PROCESS THAT OUR APPRAISAL DISTRICT GOES THROUGH. THIS IS A PROCESS FROM MY UNDERSTANDING TAKES PLACE EVERY TWO YEARS AND YOU HAVE THAT FOR A REVIEW. THE AUDIT -- THE TOPIC OF THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT HAS COME UP IN PREVIOUS COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR REPORT IN FRONT OF YOU FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE CONVERSATION FOR AN UPCOMING MEETING. SECOND UPDATE FOUR TONIGHT.

I AM SUPER EXCITED TO INTRODUCE ONE OUR NEWEST MEMBERS OF OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM, MICHELLE MYERS. SHE IS OUR NEW SPORTS TOURISM MANAGER. THIS IS A POSITION THAT WE INTENTION A LEGAL REORGANIZED OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR BECAUSE OF THE VALUE THAT WE FIND IN FOCUSING ON SPORTS TOURISM AND THE ROLE THAT IT PLAYS IN OUR OVERALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. MICHELLE IS NATIVE AND COMES TO US FOR OVER 24 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN MARKETING.

EARNED HER DEGREE IN BUSINESS MARKETING FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND HAS BEEN HELPING BUSINESSES BUILD THEIR BRANDS BY IDENTIFYING AND PROMOTING STRENGTH.

PLAN TO USE THE SAME STRATEGY TO HELP VICTORIA ATTRACT SPORTING EVENTS TO THE AREA. WITH THAT, MICHELLE.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND GOOD EVENING COUNCIL.

THANK YOU FOR THE WARM INTRODUCTION AS HAS BEEN THE FEEL OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA THIS LAST WEEK.

I AM EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE 2035 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND BRING AN INCREASE OF EDUCATION OF SPORTS TOURISM FOR THE CITY.

I DO HOPE TO BRING MY BACKGROUND AND SHOWCASE VICTORIA AND ALL THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER AND POSITION NEWS AN EVER-GROWING SPORTS TOURISM MARKET. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> WELCOME.

>> I JUST TRANSITION TO -- I WILL LOOK AT EMPLOYEE

[a. Appreciation of the internal COVID Task Team. Cheryl Marthiljohni, Dir...]

NORMALLY I STAY IN MY SEAT, BUT THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

I WANT TO ASK OUR MEMBERS OF THE INTERNAL RESPONSE TEAM, OUR INTERNAL COVID TASK TEAM TO COME UP AND JOIN ME KIND OF IN THIS AREA RIGHT HERE IF YOU DON'T MIND.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET CAMERA TIME BECAUSE I WANT THE RESIDENTS OF VICTORIA TO SEE WHO YOU ARE.

SO THEY SAY HOW DO YOU GET TO WAL-MART OR SOMETHING.

OBVIOUSLY, THE -- WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE BEING THE ORGANIZATION.

EARLY IN OUR INTERNAL RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, A TEAM WAS FORMED TO MANAGE THROUGH THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME.

THE TEAM WAS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING AREA AND INDIVIDUALS.

REPRESENTING ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER DEREK FARRELL.

REPRESENTING OUR EXECUTIVE WAS MR. FOX AND CHERYL MARTHIJOHNI.

[00:05:05]

WORKPLACE SAFETY BRIAN HANEY. ROBERT WELLER WITH BUILDING SERVICES. WE HAVE TIFFANY TODA AND LISA LESA K A NEW PROGRAM, EMPLOYEES HELPING EMPLOYEES COMMITTEE WHICH I WILL HIT ON IN A LITTLE BY THE.

WE HAD BRANDY DAVIS WITH THE VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT.

CHIEF MARTIN AND RECENTLY RETIRED CHIEF HUNT OTHER IS HERE COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT. HE LET HIS FACIAL HAIR GROW.

HE IS ALREADY BREAKING RULES.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE THEY LITERALLY PLAYED A CRITICAL ROLE IN THIS.

WE APPRECIATE EVERY ONE THAT SERVES ON THIS INTERNAL TEAM.

HELPING ALL EMPLOYEES IS AN EX-PREVTION HOW OUR EMPLOYEES CARE OF ONE ANOTHER. .

IT TRULY WAS AN HONOR FOR US AND FOR ME TO WITNESS OUR EMPLOYEES COMING TOGETHER AT THIS TIME OF NEED.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE A FAMILY AT THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND IT WAS PROVEN WITH THE LEVEL OF EMPHASIS AND WORK AND PASSION THAT ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS BROUGHT FORWARD.

WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT OUR OPERATION WAS LIMITED -- WASN'T LIMITED BY THE PANDEMIC AND NO SMALL PART DUE TO THEIR HARD EFFORTS AND WOULD LIKE FOR THEM ALL TO GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] YEAH. THAT'S RIGHT.

YEAH. [APPLAUSE] STANDING OVATION. THAT'S RIGHT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO -- ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.

I DO WANT TO ASK BRIAN, BRANDY, MARK AND TIM TO PLEASE STAY UP HERE FOR THIS NEXT PART OF THIS PRESENTATION.

SO EVERY MEMBER OF THIS TEAM WAS IMPORTANT TO OUR INTERNAL RESPONSE; HOWEVER, THESE FOUR TEAM MEMBERS SERVED IN WAYS THAT NO ONE COULD EVER EXPECT. AND I WANT TO OFFER THEM -- WE WANT TO OFFER THEM A SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

THESE FOUR INDIVIDUALS LITERALLY SERVED AS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE BETWEEN SCREENING, TESTING AND COVID TESTING, THEY HELPED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF ALL EMPLOYEES.

ONE INSTANCE THAT I AM AWARE OF SAICHBD EMPLOYEE'S LIFE BATTLING WITH COVID. THEY STEPPED UP TO HELP THAT EMPLOYEE. AND WE WANT TO THANK THEM WITH A LITTLE SURPRISE GIFT HERE TO EXPRESS TOKEN OF APPRECIATION.

SO I WANT TO ASK CHERYL AND CHIEF FOX TO HELP PRESENT THIS TO YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND. ALL RIGHT, CHIEF HUNTER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, SIR. [APPLAUSE]

>> CHIEF, THANK YOU SO MUCH. MR. HANEY.

[APPLAUSE] CONGRATULATIONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE]

>> LET'S TAKE A GROUP PICTURE REAL QUICK IF YOU DON'T MIND.

WE INTENTIONALLY DIDN'T TAKE THIS BEFORE THE MEETING BECAUSE WE WANTED THIS TO BE A LITTLE BIT OF A SURPRISE.

TAKE A QUICK GROUP PICTURE.

>> HE IS RIGHT THERE.

ONE, TWO, THREE. THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> SO LASTLY, I WANT TO SPEND A QUICK MINUTE TALKING OF OUR EMPLOYEE HELPING EMPLOYEES COMMITTEE ASPECT OF THIS TEAM. THIS COMMITTEE BROUGHT A VARIETY OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM TO OUR WORKFORCE AS I MENTIONED THIS WAS SPEARHEADED BY CHERYL, DARYL AND TIFFANY.

THIS INTERNAL TEAM IS GROWING AND THIS TEAM WILL REMAIN WITH US AND CONTINUE TO PLAY A CRITICAL PART OF HELPING EACH OTHER OUT. AS I SAID, WE ARE A FAMILY HERE IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA. WE PROVIDED CARE PACKAGES OF EMPLOYEES DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC BUT SINCE THEN THE COMMITTEE HAS BACK-TO-SCHOOL DRIVE WITH EMPLOYEES DONATE SUPPLIES AND OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYEES TO COME IN AND GET THE SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THIS COMMITTEE CONTINUES TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE WAYS TO HELP EACH OTHER AND I AM EXTREMELY PROUD AS THE CITY VICTORIA MANAGER AND THE ENTIRE GROUP TO SHARE THIS

[00:10:04]

AND I PROMISE I AM DONE FOR A LITTLE BIT.

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: THANK YOU, MR. GARZA.

[b. Child Abuse Awareness Proclamation. Jeff Bauknight, Mayor]

MISS HILBRECHT. >> THE NEXT ITEM IS PROCLAMATION FOR CHILD ABUSE MONTH. WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT EFFECTS EVERY SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY RESULTING IN 2,000 REPORTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN VICTORIA COUNTY SINCE 2021 AND FINDING SOLUTIONS REQUIRE INPUT FROM EVERYONE.

AND HELPING OUR CHILDREN AND CHILD ABUSE CAN HAVE LONG-TERM PHYSICAL EFFECTS THAT HAVE LONG-STANDING AND ELIMINATE RISK AND PROMOTE THE SOCIAL, DEVELOPMENT WELL BEING OF CHILDREN. WHEREAS EFFECTIVE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES SUCCEED BECAUSE OF THE PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATION, HEALTH, COMMUNITY AND FAITH-BASED, BUSINESSES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND FAMILIES.

WHEREAS COMMUNITIES MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROMOTE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT CREATE STRONG AND THRIVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. AND WHEREAS, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF CHILD ABUSE AND CONTRIBUTE TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A SAFE, STABLE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS.

PREVENTION REMAINS THE BEST DEFENSE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY, THEREFORE, MARE MARE DOES HEARBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2022 AS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA. [APPLAUSE]

>> THANK YOU ALL. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND ALTERED THE WAY WE EXPERIENCE EVERYDAY LIFE. SO MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

LIFE HAS GOTTEN HARDER FOR MANY AND WE FACED OUR OBSTACLES IN TRYING TIMES, IT HAS ALLOWED US TIME TO GROWTH.

TO SEE TRULY WHAT IS IMPORTANT. OUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND CHILDREN. EVERY CHILD IS WORTHY OF LOVE AND AFFECTION, OF A SAFE PLACE AND A CARING ADULT.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE CHILDREN OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA A PRIORITY AND BRINGING AWARENESS OF CHILD ABUSE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

EVERY CHILD IS ENTITLED TO A LIFE FREE OF VIOLENCE AND FULL

[c. April 2022 Keep Victoria Beautiful Business Beautification Award. Chri...]

>> NEXT UP ASK CHRISTY YOUKER TO COME UP AND PRESENT THE BEAUTIFICATION OF AWARD OF THE MONTH.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO PRESENT OUR APRIL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD WINNER, BUT I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER CLEANUP. EARTH DAY TRASH UP.

APRIL 23 WHICH TECHNICALLY ISN'T EARTH DAY BY THE WAY.

IT IS THE 22ND. BUT CELEBRATING ON SATURDAY AND IT IS A BIG ONE ALL OVER THE CITY.

WE NEED LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE GOING TO FEED THEM, MAKE THEM HAPPY, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BLAST.

WE NEED MORE TEAMS, SO YOU CAN GO TO KEEPVICTORIABEAUTIFUL.ORG AND SIGN A GROUP UP. DO IT TODAY.

IT WILL BE A LOT OF FUN. >> A MUSTER LOCATION?

>> A MUSTER? >> EVERYBODY REACHING IN ONE

CENTRALIZED LOCATION. >>.A GATHERING SPOT.

WE HAVE A MAIN LOCATION. THE MAIN LOCATION WILL BE THE TARGET PARKING LOT ON LOOP 463, BUT WE WILL HAVE OUTLYING TEAMS WHERE WE SEND THEM OUT. WE PREPARE THEM.

THEY DON'T EVEN COME TO THE MAIN LOCATION.

AND THAT IS NOW WE ARE ABLE TO GET A LOT OF THE CITY DONE.

SO THE MORE TEAMS I HAVE SIGN UP ONLINE, WE CAN GET THEM OUT.

I SET THEM UP WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND WE HAVE AMBASSADORS AND OUR TEAM GO OUT AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK IF YOU DON'T GO TO THE MAIN

LOCATION, HOW DO YOU FEED THEM? >> WE FEED THEM -- OUR COMMUNITY APPEARANCE TEAMS DRIVES AROUND AND DELIVERS FOOD.

THIS TIME CHICK-FIL-A IS GOING TO TAKE OUT FOOD TO THE REMOTE LOCATIONS AND WE WILL HAVE SALVATION ARMY PROVIDING TACOS AT THE TARGET LOCATION. SO WE WANT HAPPY WORKERS.

HAPPY WORKERS. I AM NOW GOING TO PRESENT -- LET

[00:15:03]

OUR APRIL BEAUTIFICATION WINNER. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR CO L COUNCILMEMBERS AND VICTORIA COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

I AM BETH COONZ AND I VICE-CHAIR OF THE KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL BOARD. WE INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO NOMINATE BUSINESSES THAT EMBODY KV B'S MISSION OF ENHANCING THE LIVABILITY OF VICTORIA THROUGH BEAUTIFICATION THROUGH A SENSE OF PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP. WE PRESENT OUR BUSINESS BEAUTIFICATION AWARD FOR A DESERVING NOMINEE.

OUR WINNER FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL IS COMFORT FOOD, BREAKFAST AND MARGARITA COCKTAILS. LAS RIOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT IS TO PROVIDE GUESTS WITH QUALITY MEXICAN FOOD AT COMPETITIVE PRICES IN A FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE.

THEY DO JUST THAT AND MORE. LOCATED ON THE BUSY STRETCH OF NAVARRO. THIS BUSINESS GREETS CUSTOMERS AND PEOPLE ALIKE WITH COLORFUL BUILDING AND LANDSCAPING AND FIRE BEDS. ALONG KITCHEN CHEF, THEIR LANDSCAPING IS MAINTAINED. AND WE NOTE THAT THIS BUSINESS WAS NOMINATED BY SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE TAKEN NOTICE OF THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAIN A BEAUTY PROPERTY.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE KVB BUSINESS BEAUTIFICATION AWARD FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL TO LAS REYES MEXICAN RESTAURANT.

CO-OWNER DANIELLA HERNANDEZ TO ACCEPT THIS AWARD AND SHARE A FEW WORDS. [APPLAUSE]

>> HI, I AM ANELLA HERNANDEZ. I RECENTLY BECAME CO-OWNER WITH MR. SAUL N LAMBEAU. WE CLOSED DUE TO COVID -- COVID-19 WHEN IT START AND ANOTHER RESTAURANT CAME OVER, I THINK -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MONTHS IT LASTED.

WE DECIDED TO REOPEN AGAIN BECAUSE WE MISSED THE CUSTOMERS AND I BELIEVE THEY MISSED US O TOO.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU. OKAY.

GUILT AHEAD AND READ IT. ALL RIGHT.

ME AND MY PARTNER TOGETHER WITH THE LAS REYES TEAM WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO HELPED US WIN THIS AWARD.

OUR REOPENING IS IN JULY 2021. WE STRIVE TO KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL. ESPECIALLY HIM.

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH, EVERYONE.

[APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: ALL RIGHT.

[3. Items from Council:]

ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO, SIR.

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: GO ON TO ITEMS FROM COUNCIL.

YES, MR. LOFFGREN. >> MARK LOFFGREN: IF MIKE CAN GIVE US AN UPDATE. --

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: SPEAK INTO YOUR MIC SIR.

>> MARK LOFFGREN: WHAT? >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: COULD YOU

SPEAK INTO THE MIC. >> MARK LOFFGREN: I COULD.

IF YOU CAN GIVE US A UPDATE ON LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT TO 25

IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. >> YES, SIR, AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN. BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS.

TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF SPEEDING AND CUT-THRUS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.

AS YOU KNOW COUNCILMAN LOFFGREN WOULD LIKE TO REDUCE THE RESIDENTIAL SPEED LIMITS FROM 30 MILES PER HOUR TO 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE PREMISE IS THAT LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT WILL IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN. AND ALSO REDUCE FATALITIES.

SO WHAT STAFF IS SUGGESTING BEFORE MOVING FORWARD IS THAT WE WOULD GATHER SOME DATA, BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE DATA BEFORE MAKING DECISIONS. WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IS FIRST IDENTIFY THE SUBDIVISIONS OR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE HAVE SPEEDING. WHERE SPEEDING IS AN ISSUE.

AND ALSO, WHERE WE WOULD ESSENTIALLY IMPLEMENT THIS NEW POLICY. SO WE NEED TO FIRST IDENTIFY THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE WE HAVE SPEEDING AND OUR CITY ENGINEER WILL HELP US DO THAT. ALSO IDENTIFY WHERE CURRENT -- WHERE WE HAVE CURRENT CUT-THRUS. WE UNDERSTAND FROM COUNCILMAN LOFFGREN THAT CUT-THRUS ARE AN ISSUE IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND WORK WITH STAFF AND CITY ENGINEER WHERE WE HAVE THE CUT-THRUS.

[00:20:01]

ALSO IDENTIFY HOW MANY SPEEDING COMPLAINTS DO POLICE RECEIVE IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. SO CHIEF AREDUNDO WILL DO THAT AS WELL. WE THINK ANALYZING THE DATA WILL HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM THAT COUNCILMAN LOFFGREN WANTS TO SOLVE. ONCE WE GATHERED THE DATA AND ANALYZE IT, STAFF WILL COME BACK WITH A REPORT TO COUNCIL JUST TO GIVE YOU ANY RECOMMENDATIONS. SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS DATA ANALYSIS WILL TAKE ABOUT 30 S DAYS.

SO WE CAN CONCEIVABLY COME BACK TO YOU WITH A REPORT PROBABLY IN EARLY MAY BASED ON THE DATA THAT WE HAVE GATHERED.

AND, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO KEN GILL AND CHIEF AREDUND, TO HELP

LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE. >> ANY COUNCILMEMBER WHO THINKS THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. MAKE SURE THAT MIKE KNOWS,

PLEASE. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ALTHOUGH WE MAY GET A LOT OF CONTACT. WE HAVE DISCUSS THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND NOT A SINGLE CONSTITUENT CONTACTED ME.

IF THERE IS SOMEBODY IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS A CUT-THRU THEY THINK WE ARE NOT AWARE OF AND HAS A CONCERN, PLEASE LET US KNOW. AND THEIR SILENCE MEANS, TO ME, THAT THEY ARE NOT ANXIOUS FOR US TO LOWER THE SPEED LIMIT.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO NOT JUST LOOK AT THE COMPLAINTS WE HAVE GOTTEN BUT, SERIOUSLY, IF ANYBODY HAS A CONCERN, THIS IS

THE TIME TO SPEAK UP. >> I AM TAKING THIS WE HAVE SOME SOLUTION ON THE TABLE WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE IS

REALLY A PROBLEM? >> CORRECT.

>> SO, IN MY OPINION, YOU GO FROM 30 TO 25 PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT THEY ARE SPEEDING. THEY WILL BE SPEEDING EVEN FASTER. SO I DON'T KNOW BY JUST LOWERING THE SPEED LIMIT IS GOING TO SOLVE -- IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WILL SOLVE THAT ISSUE. LET THE DATA SPEAK TO ITSELF WHEN IT COMES TO US. AND I PROMISE YOU I WILL KEEP AN

OPEN MIND AND LOOK AT THE DATA. >> OKAY.

I HAVE SOMETHING. I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I KNOW IT IS GOING ON EVERYWHERE.

WE AS A CITY ARE TRYING TO CLEAN UP THE SEWER BOXES.

BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH DIRT, GRASS, GLASS, CONCRETE.

EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF IS DOWN IN THOSE DRAINS AND PLUGGING THEM UP. WHENEVER YOU HAVE SOMEBODY CUT YOUR YARD AND THEY JUST BLOW THE LEAVES INTO THE CULVERTS THEY GET FILLED UP REAL QUICK. I TALKED TO A CITY CREW THIS WEEK WORKING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ONE PARTICULAR SPOTS FOR TWO DAYS ALREADY AND THEY HAVEN'T FINISHED CLEANING IT OUT. THAT IS BECAUSE WE ARE NOT -- NOT TAKING CARE THAT NOTHING GOES IN THOSE DRAINS BUT WATER.

THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR. IF THEY ARE PLUGGED UP WE WILL HAVE FLOODING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.

AND BEHOOVES EVERYBODY TO DO THEIR PART AND TAKE CARE OF THAT AND HELP US SO WE DON'T HAVE MANY COMPLAINTS.

IF WE HELP US, WE WILL HELP YOU SO YOU DON'T HAVE FLOODING IN THE HOUSES. THE LADY WALKING IN THE PARK PICKING UP TRASH, I WANT TO THANK HER.

I DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO STOP AND THANK HER.

A COUPLE OF LADY NOTICE PARK. MY HUSBAND AND I WERE OUT THERE SITTING AND EATING LUNCH. AND ONE OF THEM WOULD PICK UP THE TRASH AND PUT IT IN THE TRASH CAN.

WE SHOULD FOLLOW HER -- HER EXAMPLE.

THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL I GOT.

[4. Citizen Communication:]

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY, WE WILL CLOSE ITEMS FROM COUNCIL AND GO TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. TWO THIS EVENING, MR. VONDERAL.

>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AND CITY SECRETARY, WE HAVE I WAS GOING TO THANK THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SOMEBODY ROBBED THE CONVENIENCE STORE WHERE I LIVE AT LONE TREE AND STOLE $175. AND POLICE DID ARREST THE P N

[00:25:05]

I GAVE HER WATER AND SHE DRANK SOME WATER AND THREE POLICE OFFICERS CAME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY UNDERSTOOD SHE WAS SAYING. BUT SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE ID BUT THE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING THAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE.

WE CONTINUE TO HAVE RUBBISH AND TRASH DUMPED IN THE TRAILER K PARK. TWO MATTRESSES.

THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF SOFA. THERE ARE TWO BICYCLES.

AND YOU KNOW, HOW IS A FIRE FIGHTER GOING TO SELL HIS HOUSE IF THE RUBBISH IS ON THE FENCE LINE WHERE HE LIVES.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THREE YEARS, AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. ALSO ON TRAILER 32, IT GOT CITED BY CODE ENFORCEMENT MAY FOR SUB STANDARD CONDITIONS.

THEY HAD 11 MONTHS TO TAKE CARE OF IT, AND THEY HAVEN'T TAKEN CARE OF IT. IT NEEDS A DOOR.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SKETCHY PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE TRAILER PARK.

AND EVERYONE KNOWS ABOUT SQ SQUATTERS RIGHTS.

IF YOU JUST GO IN SOMEONE'S HOUSE AND YOU LIVE THERE FOR SIX MONTHS, YOU MAY -- THE POLICE MAY NOT BE VERY EASILY KICK YOU OUT, BUT I WISH THEY WILL PUT A DOOR ON IT.

THEY HAD 11 MONTHS. NO ONE LIVES THERE.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK JULIE FOR GETTING THREE TRAILER HOUSES DESTROYED. TRAILER 5, TRAILER NUMBER 10 AND TRAILER NUMBER 16 BECAUSE IT WASN'T GOING TO GET DONE ON ITS OWN BECAUSE $6,000 PER TRAILER HOUSE AND NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO SPEND $6,000 TO DESTROYS THEIR OWN TRAILER HOUSE.

THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. APPRECIATE IT, SIR.

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: THANK YOU. WE USE THE TERM "DEMOLISH." JULIE DEMOLISHES THEM. OKAY, MR. GREGORY FORD.

AND SINCE YOU ARE NEW TO THE MICROPHONE, MR. VONDERAL KNOWS

THREE MINUTES. >> MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU.

REGARDING ITEM E-2 ON YOUR AGENDA.

MY NAME IS GREG FORD. I MOVED TO VICTORIA WITH MY FAMILY FROM NEW YORK CITY IN 2018.

MY WIFE A NATIVE OF CORPUS CHRISTI AS HER GRANDFATHER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TRUSTEES OF VICTORIA COLLEGE AND HER MOTHER LIVES IN THE OLD ZERJACK'S HOMESTEAD ON MAIN STREET.

I READ WITH ADMIRATION ON THE LETTER TO THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF THE ARTS TO APPLY FOR A ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT.

VICTORIA HAS ONE THING TO OFFER IN THIS REALM.

ONE THING IS LACKING THE LITERACY ART.

I WASN'T 100% SURE THAT IT INCLUDES IN THE DISTRICT DESIGNATION AND I WENT TO THE TEXT.

THE MAIN AUTHOR IS LARRY PHILLIPS, JUDGE PHILLIPS.

IN PART HE HAS THIS TO SAY OF THE LAW'S BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE. PLAYED AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE RICH HISTORY OF OUR STATE AND IN ADDITION TO BEING A PART OF THE HERITAGE, CULTURAL A ATTRACTIONS ARE MORN TO OUR ECONOMY.

GOES ON LOTS OF DOLLAR FIGURES AND JOB NUMBERS AND SAYS THIS WHICH IS WHAT INTERESTED ME. WHEN CONSIDERED STRICTLY IN ITS TRADITIONAL SENSE SUCH AS THE VISUAL, LITERARY, MEDIA AND PERFORMING ARTS. THE EFFECT ARE AS FOLLOWS AND MORE DOLLAR NUMBERS AND JOB NUMBERS AND SO FORTH.

THAT SAID AND FOUND IN THE TEXT OF LAW, I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF CASE. WORKING ON MAIN STREET MOVED TO TUCSON, VICTORIA HAVEN'T HAD COMMUNITY SPACE DEDICATED SOLELY TO EVENTS, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN, FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY SOLELY TO EXPLORE POETRY, STORYTELLING, LANGUAGE ARTS WITH NADIA PITIWIT DIRECTOR OF ENGLISH TO HELP FILL THAT GAP. WITH THE SUPPORT OF MY FRIENDS MEREDITH BIRD AND JASON HAHN, BOTH VICTORIA NATIVES.

WE WANTED A LITERACY. AND WE TOOK IT TO A FULL-FLEDGED OPERATION WITH BIG PRESSES AND LITTLE HAND-CRANKED MACHINE AND WHAT WE NEEDED WAS A SPACE OF OUR OWN AND THATS WHAT HE WE NEED NOW. WE ARE NOWHERE NEAR THAT YET.

ONCE WE GET CLOSER TO REALIZATION, THANK YOU FOR YOUR

TIME AND ATTENTION. >> THANK YOU, MR. FORD.

ALL RIGHT, WE WILL CLOSE CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS AND WE

[D. Consent Agenda:]

[00:30:02]

WE HAVE FOUR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> SPY TEM 21, ADOPT MINUTES OF THE 11 2022 SPECIAL MEETING AND MARCH 15 2022 REGULAR MEETING.

ITEM 2, APPROVE AN AGREEMENT TO UPGRADE EXISTING LEGACY SOFTWARE WITH CENTRAL SQUARE TO THE SUPPORTED PRO SUITE SOFTWARE IN THE AMOUNT $299,216.34. ITEM D 3, RATIFY MINOR CONSTRUCTION WITH J & R CONTRACTING SERVICES.

AND ITEM D BE 4, AUTHORIZE A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE LOCAL BORDER SECURITY PROGRAM TO APPROXIMATELY AMOUNT OF $388,000

AND DESIGNATE THE CITY MANAGER. >> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENTS

AGENDA. >> SECOND.

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[1. Declare the City's intent to establish a Property Assessed Clean Energ...]

>> E 1 IS A RESOLUTION WITH THE CITY'S INTENT TO ESTABLISH A PROPERTY ASSESSED CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM OR THE PACE PROGRAM AND CALLING A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 19, 2022.

>> WE ARE HERE FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE REGARDING THIS.

I DON'T HAVE A PRESENTATION TODAY.

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: EVERYBODY REMEMBERED THE PRESENTATION?

>> GREAT PROGRAM. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS NEW TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX TO HELP BUSINESSES IN THE CITY. THIS IS CITYWIDE.

>> YES. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: NOT CO COUNTYWIDE AT THIS POINT BUT THE COUNTY COULD ADOPT A PACE

PROGRAM. >> THEY COULD.

I DO -- I ALREADY HAVE BEEN CONTACT AND NOTIFIED THAT WE HAVE A PROPERTY INTERESTED IN THE PROGRAM AND EXCITED TO ADOPT

IT SO THEY CAN USE IT. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION.

MOTION. >> MOTION TO APPROVE E-1.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

OPPOSE $, SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

>> JUST VERY QUICKLY, NO DISCUSSION.

BUT THIS CALLS FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 19.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS KNOWN TO PEOPLE WATCHING THAT WE

[2. Support of the City's Application to the Texas Commission on Arts for ...]

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: ITEM E 2. >> ITEM E 2 SUPPORTING THE C CITY'S APPLICATION OF THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ARTS FOR THE DESIGNATION OF A CULTURAL DISTRICT IN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA.

>> I AM GOING TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT AND AN OVERVIEW OF THE GOALS, PURPOSE AND TIMELINE.

A CULTURAL DISTRICTS PURPOSE IS TO ESSENTIALLY DESIGNATE AN AREA ANYWHERE IN YOUR TOWN, BUT WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE DOWNTOWN AS INDICATED IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN TO PROMOTE AS A CULTURAL ASSET AND DRIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY VITALITY. SOME OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT GOALS AS MENTIONED ON THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF THE ARTS WEB SITE ARE TO LOOK AT ATTRACTING ARTISTS AND CULTURAL ENTERPRISE TODAY THE COMMUNITY. ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES AND JOB DEVELOPMENT, ADDRESSING SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, IF NEEDED, ESTABLISHING TOURISM, PRESERVING AND REUSING HISTORIC BUILDINGS, ENHANCING PROPERTY VALUE AND FOSTERING LOCAL CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT. THIS IS THE MAP.

IT IS A 20-BLOCK AREA MAP. EVERYTHING WITHIN BLUE IS DESIGNATED AND ALSO WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. A LITTLE BIT ON THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF THE ARTS. WE HAVE SUBMITTED THE LETTER OF INTENT BACK IN JANUARY. THEY RESPONDED BACK AND SAID YOU ARE GOOD TO GO TO APPLY TO THE DESIGNATION THROUGH THE STATE.

AND WE LOOK TO SUBMIT THAT APPLICATION TO THE DEADLINE JUNE 15 OF THIS YEAR. THEY WILL HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT WILL THEN REVIEW OUR APPLICATION.

AND KNOW SOMETHING BY SEPTEMBER FOR THE END OF THE YEAR TO SEE IF WE CAN BE DESIGNATED THROUGH THE STATE'S COMMISSION OF THE ARTS. ONE DESIGNATED CAN PROVIDE SEVERAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO HELP MAKE THE DISTRICT THRIVE WITH FUNDING OR TOOL KITS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE TO HELP PROMOTE THE AREA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> YOU CAN ADDRESS MR. FORD'S CONCERNS OF THE LITERACY?

>> SO I AM REALLY INTERESTED IN HAVING A FURTHER CONVERSATION WITH MR. FORD ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS HE HAS WORKED ON IN THE PAST. FROM WHAT I CAN TELL, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN ALL-INCLUSIVE CULTURAL DISTRICT.

IT IS NOT LIMITING IT TO ONE MEDIA OR THE OTHER OR -- I CAN'T SAY IT, LITERACY. I LOOK FORWARD TO DIVING DEEP NEAR THIS AND HOPEFULLY REACH OUT TO HIM AND HAVE A FURTHER

[00:35:01]

EVERYBODY. >> GREAT, THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: MOTION? >> I LOVE WE ADOPT THIS ITEM.

>> SECOND. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: LET ME TELL YOU, I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I THINK THIS WILL BE A GREAT -- IF WE GET THE DESIGNATION WILL HELP US WITH GRANT OPPOR S OPPORTUNITIES.

AND MAKE KATIE EVEN THAT MUCH BUSIER, BUT I THINK IT HELPS TO ENHANCE AND BEAUTIFY DOWNTOWN AND VICTORIA IF WE CAN BRING IN EXTRA ARTWORK. ART WALK IS A GREAT SUCCESS AND HELD AGAIN AND VERY WELL ATTENDED.

SO I AM JUST EXCITED ABOUT THAT. NO OTHER COMMENTS? THEN ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY E AYE.

OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

[1. Main Street Program Annual Report. Danielle Williams, Director of Econ...]

BACK UP AGAIN. >> OH, YEAH.

>> GOING TO THE CITY MANAGER REPORTS.

>> THE DANIELLE SHOW. WE DO HAVE TWO ANNUAL REPORTS THIS EVENING, MAIN STREET AS WELL AS OUR CONVENTION VISITOR'S BUREAU. AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED WE WILL KEEP THEM TO 15 MINUTES APIECE, KNOCK ON WOOD.

JUST KIDDING. TO KICK IT OFF, START WITH MAIN

STREET. >> MR. FOOTE WILL HELP US.

>> WHAT HE IS THE ANNUAL ROMP FOR 2021 FOR VICTORIA MAIN STREET. YOU MAY REMEMBER WE ADOPTED THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. AND WE HAVE ALSO ADOPTED THE TERS, TAX INCREMENT INVESTMENT ZONE.

THAT IS UNDER WAY WITH FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.

WE HOSTED AS MAIN STREET, 45 EVENTS TOTAL.

THIS WAS DUE, IN PART, WITH BEING ABLE TO HIRE KRISTEN KO PEC KE TO HELP THE DOWNTOWN PLANNING.

WHICH IS QUITE AN ENDEAVOR WHEN YOU HAVE TWO FOLKS ON STAFF AND SUPPORT FROM OUR MAIN STREET BOARD THAT HELPED A LOT.

THE IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES TOUR THAT WAS FRUITFUL.

WE SHOWCASED FIVE SPACES AVAILABLE FOR LEASE AND PU E PURCHASE. FIVE OF THE SPACES HAVE BEEN EITHER PURCHASED OR LEASED. AND WE ARE STARTING TO STRUGGLE TO FIND NEW SPACES TO HOST FOR OUR NEXT TOUR IN MAY ON THE H 13TH.. LITTLE BIT OF THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE INVESTMENT WE SAW AND FOCUSED MORE ON 2021.

WE HAD A TOTAL PRIVATE INVESTMENT OF $1.1 MILLION.

WE HAD THREE BUILDINGS OR PROPERTIES SOLD AT $910,000 ROUGHLY. A TOTAL PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT OF $2 MILLION RO Y ROUGHLY.

THEN WE HAD EIGHT FACADE GRANTS OUR PUBLIC, PRIVATE INVESTMENT TOTALING 356,498. TOTAL INVESTMENT DOLLAR SPENT WAS ABOUT $2.4 MILLION. AND THIS IS THE GRAPHIC SHOWING NEW BUSINESSES, VISITOR EXPANSION, NET GAIN IN JOBS, HOUSING UNITS AND NEW RESIDENTS. STILL WANT TO SEE MORE RESIDENTS IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE THAT IS A SMALL BAR.

STILL WORKING ON THAT. WE WILL GET THERE.

WHEN WE GET TO THIS SAME ANNUAL REPORT FOR NEXT YEAR, WE WILL SEE MORE OF THOSE WITH SOME OF THE PROJECTS DEVELOPING NOW.

BUT TO SUMMER RISE, FIVE TOTAL BUSINESS STARTS AND EXPANSIONS AND RELOCATIONS IN THE ONE YEAR. WE HAD A NET GAIN OF SEVEN OF THOSE BUSINESS STARTS OR EXPANSIONS.

WE HAD A NET GAIN OF 29 JOBS. WE HAD ABOUT 79 VOLUNTEER HOURS.

AND WE HAD ONE NEW HOUSING UNIT AND TWO NEW RESIDENTS.

ALL RIGHT. THIS KIND OF GOES INTO THE NEW BUSINESSES AND EXPANSIONS. WE HAD CHICK-FIL-A THAT OPENED UP IN MARCH OF 2021. THEY RECENTLY JUST CELEBRATED THEIR ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR CORPORATE OFFICE ON CONSTITUTION STREET. THEY COMPLETELY REHABILITATED THAT BUILDING AND THEY ALSO ADDED IN APARTMENT UPSTAIRS IN THE BACK OF THAT BUILDING. AND THE INTERIOR AND DESIGN -- WAS DESIGNED BY A LOCAL DESIGNER SHELBY STANGE AND SHE IS ALSO A NEW INTERIOR DESIGNER GETTING A LOT OF WORK DOWNTOWN.

IT HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL ALL AROUND.

WE HAD H -- HARCO A BOUTIQUE. THEY WILL BE CELEBRATING THEIR

[00:40:03]

YOU CAN SEE THESE PICTURES HERE OF WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.

THAT WAS ALSO A REHABILITATED BUILDING THAT WAS COMPLETELY RENOVATED ON THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE.

WE HAD SANTA RITA MARKET ON SANTA ROSA STREET IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR. THEY HAVE CLOTHING, GIFTS, ALL SORTS OF ITEMS INSIDE THERE. AND THEY ALSO HELP PARTNER A LOT WITH OUR EVENTS AND HOSTING EVENTS AND ACTIVATING DOWNTOWN WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING. BUILDING BRANDS WAS IN THE LEON BUILDING AND EXPANDED ON TO 120 SOUTH MAIN.

FIVE EMPLOYEES TO 13 EMPLOYEES AND LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT EVEN MORE. THAT IS EXCITING.

THEY OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF MARKETING SERVICES AND CURRENTLY HELP MAIN STREET WITH MARKETING AND BRANDING AND OUR SOCIAL MEDIA SERVICES. THEY ARE LOOKING TO EXPAND WITH THEIR RECORDING STUDIO. AND JUST MORE OFFICE SPACE IN GENERAL. NOW MOVING ON TO SOME OF THE FACADE GRANT PROJECTS. WE HAD A LOT OF ROOF REPLACEMENTS THAT WERE STILL LEFT OVER FROM HARVEY.

PEOPLE WANTING TO HAVE THEIR ROOF REPAIRED THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET TO. THAT WAS A BIG HELP AND THAT TIES INTO PRESERVING THESE OLD, HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

WE KNOW THAT WATER CAN CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE AND ABLE TO UTILIZE THE FACADE GRANT TO HELP WITH THE REPAIRS, IT'S VERY BENEFICIAL FOR THE LONG-TERM USE OF THESE SPACES.

THE ROSE LEE GUESTHOUSE THAT HAD A NEW ROOF, BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER PICTURES HERE. THAT IS AN EXTENDED STAY SPACE.

THIS ONE WAS ONE OF MY FAV S FAVORITES.

THEY REMOVED THE SLIPCOVER IN FRONT OF 117 NORTH MAIN WITH A NICE FACADE THAT HAD MOST OF THE BRICK INTACT.

THE OWNER LOOKS TO MAKE THE SECOND FLOOR A RESIDENTIAL SPACE AND THE FIRST SPACE -- AT LEAST A RETAIL POSSIBLE SPACE.

THOSE ARE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES.

FACADES REACHED OUT FOR ROOF REPLACEMENT FOR THEIR FACADE GRANT AND CELEBRATED 140 YEARS. THEY DID A LOT OF WORK TO THEIR SPACE TO GET READY FOR THEIR 148 TH YEAR CELEBRATION.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HELP THEM OUT WITH A ROOF REPLACEMENT AS WELL. THE BED AND BREAKFAST, THEY HAD A NEW ROOF REPLACED ON THERE AS WELL.

BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. AND THIS WAS ONE OF MY OTHER FAVORITES. THE THEATRE WAS A VERY BIG PROJECT. AND WE HELPED THEM WITHOUT THE FACADE GRANT AS WELL. WE CAN SEE THAT THEY ADDED SOME -- THEY ADDED THE AWNING BACK. THEY ADDED SOME REALLY NEAT TOUCHES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE SEEN IT YET, BUT RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THOSE CABLES ARE THE THEATRE MASKS WHICH WAS KIND OF NEAT. IF YOU HAVE A CHANCE, GO DOWN THERE AND CHECK IT OUT. THEY MADE THIS BUILDING -- THEY -- LET'S JUST SAY THEY PUT MORE THAN ITS $10,000 NEEDED FOR THE FACADE GRANT AND A PRETTY BIG OVERHAUL AND THE OWNER LOOKS TO POSSIBLY REOPEN IT IN THE FUTURE AS AN OPERA HOUSE.

FACADE GRANT FOR WHAT WAS KNOWN FOR MEET ME ON MAIN.

CASA DELUNA WHICH OPENED UP THIS YEAR.

IT HAS RESIDENTIAL ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND NOW WE HAVE THE RETAIL SPACE ON THE FIRST FLOOR. SO THEY DID THE FACADE GRANT FOR REPAIRING THE STUCCO ON THE EXTERIOR OF THAT BUILDING.

508 NORTH MIDI USED TO BE DAYS GONE BY NOW BUT SITE CAST.

A RECRUITING FIRM FOR CON R CONTRACTORS AND THEY FOUND OLD PICTURES WHEN THIS SPACE USED TO BE A PHARMACY AND THAT IS WHAT ENCOURAGED THEM TO GO AFTER THE FACADE GRANT AND BRINGING BACK THE AWNING WHICH IS PART OF WHAT THE ORIGINAL EXETER ROAR LOOKED LIKE WHEN IT WAS FIRST BUILT BACK IN 1900.

NOW WE HAVE THE BALLET ACADEMY. THEY DID THE FACADE GRANT FOR SIGN AND PAINT ON THE EXTERIOR. THEIR BUSINESS IS DOING VERY WELL AND BRENDA TALLY IS A GREAT ASSET TO OUR DOWNTOWN.

SO NEW BUSINESSES. AS WE ALL KNOW EARLIER THIS R YEAR, EL PASO TACOS AND TEQUILA OPENED UP AND DOING VERY WELL.

PEACHES AND TORTILLA OPENED UP THIS PAST MARKET ON MAIN EVENT THAT WE HAD AND THAT WAS A GREAT CELEBRATION.

IF YOU MISSED IT, PLEASE GO BY AND CHECK OUT THESE PLACES.

CASA DELUNA A NEW ONE FROM EL PASO AND TEQUILA AND EFFORTS ON

[00:45:02]

WE ARE LOOKING TO ADD THE CROSSWALK ART TO STREETS OF MAIN AND PLAZA. WORKING ON THE ARTS FOUNDATION WITH THAT EFFORT. CVB AND I ARE WORKING ON WRAPPING THE ELECTRICAL BOXES WE HAVE DOWNTOWN WITH SOME ARTWORK.

THE MAIN STREET BOARD IS WORKING ON A PUBLIC ART TRANSFORMATION STRATEGY. ALL OF THESE PUBLIC ART PIECES WILL BE A PART OF THEIR EN R ENDEAVORS AND AGAIN FASADI'S CELEBRATED THE 140TH ANNI Y ANNIVERSARY.

FACADE GRANTS THAT ARE ONGOING, MOONSHINE DRINKERY.

A FRAME ALREADY BUILT. LOOKING TO HAVE IT IN PLACE BY THE END OF THE MONTH. LOOKS LIKE WHAT YOU KIND OF SEE ON THE PICTURE UP ABOVE. OUTDOOR SEATING FOR FOLKS TO SIT OUTSIDE AND ENDURE THE BEVERAGE AT MOONSHINE.

WE HELPED PEACHES WITH THEIR NEW SIGN.

108 NORTH MAIN IS ON THE LIST FOR A COMPLETE RENOVATION OF THEIR FACADE USED TO BE THE THOMAS BARNES JEWELRY STORE AND WORKING WITH THE OWNER OF THAT PROPERTY AND HAVE A LOT OF GOOD DESIGNS FROM SHELBY THINK THAT MENTIONED EARLIER WITH THE TEXAS COLLABORATION COMMITTEE AND DESIGN TEAM TO DO SOME NEW AND OLD, TRY TO BRING BACK THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING WHEN IT WAS A BANK. VICTORIA COLLEGE, WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THEM AND PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THEM TO START ON THEIR NEW PROJECT WITH THE ANNEX EXPANSION.

AND WE WILL HELP THEM WITH FACADE GRANT ON THAT.

CAPITAL TITLE IS GOING TO GET NEW WINDOWS AND A DOOR.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CROSSWALK ART?

>> SO CROSSWALK ART -- AND I HAVE SOME EXAMPLES.

I SHOULD HAVE PUT PICTURES IN HERE.

ESSENTIALLY IT IS WHERE THE CROSSWALK IS, YOU EITHER PAINT A PIANO KEYS OR MAYBE IT IS SOME OF OUR DESIGNS WE HAVE WILDFLOWERS. SO THAT WITHIN THE TWO WHITE LINES, YOU HAVE A VISUAL OF SOME OTHER GRAPHIC.

IT COULD BE GEOMETRIC. IT CAN BE BOOKS.

ONE OF THE DESIGN IS FOR BOOKS BECAUSE IT WOULD BE OVER BY THE LIBRARY. MUSIC NOTES.

KIND OF INTERACTIVE. BUT IT IS REALLY NICE BECAUSE WHAT IT IS DRAW THE ATTENTION TO THE ROAD, TO THE DRIVERS AND MAKES IT ESSENTIALLY A LITTLE BIT SAFER BECAUSE THEY SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE WHAT IS PAINTED ON THAT CROSSWALK.

IT IS A FUND RAISING EFFORT THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH THE FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION. AND WE HAVE AN ARTIST ALREADY LINED UP FOR THIS AND HE HAS CREATED SOME CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS.

NOW WE ARE GOING AFTER FUND RAISING FOR MATERIALS TO HAVE THAT DONE. YEAH.

BUT I CAN BRING BACK MORE INFORMATION IF NEEDED.

>> THANK YOU. SO DO THEY BECOME PERMANENT?

>> YES, WE TRY TO KEEP THEM ON THERE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

THE PAINT WE HAVE QUOTED CAN LAST BETWEEN FIVE TO EIGHT Y S

YEARS. >> ARE THOSE LOCAL ARTISTS OR

KIDS? >> LOCAL ARTISTS.

I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK TO GET THE COLLEGE AND THE UNIVERSITY INVOLVED AS WELL, BECAUSE FREE ART VICTORIA, JOSH VEGA IS THE LEAD ARTIST ON THE PROJECT BUT WILL NEED EXTRA HANDS TO HELP OUT WITH PAINTING THOSE.

WE HAVE NINE CROSSWALKS DUBBED TO BE PAINTED.

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: IS THAT THE LAST SLIDE?

>> THAT'S IT. DO YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I HAVE A COMMENT.

DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AND MAIN STREET HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. AND I JUST WANT TO APPLAUD YOU AND EVERYBODY THAT STEPPED UP, BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS THERE A VISION NOW, BUT THERE IS MOMENTUM.

AND IT IS REALLY EXCITING. AND SO I WANT TO THANK YOU.

THIS -- THE MOMENTUM THAT HAS COME ABOUT HAS COME ABOUT VERY QUICKLY AND, YES, DO WE HAVE A LOT FURTHER TO GO? ABSOLUTELY. BUT THE FACT THAT THERE IS

MOMENTUM IS VERY EXCITING. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: WELL, SAID, DR. YOUNG AND THANK YOU, DANIELLE, FOR THE VISION AND THE RESULTS THAT YOU BROUGHT TO DOWNTOWN.

>> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: ANY OTHER

[2. Victoria Convention & Visitors Bureau Year 2021 Annual Report. Joe...]

>> DANIELLE, DO YOU WANT TO DO THE NEXT ONE TOO? WE ARE ALSO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THAT IS TAKING PLACE DOWNTOWN. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF OVERLAP WITH WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO DOWNTOWN AND THE WORK THAT OUR CVB IS DOING AS WELL. TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THEY ARE DOING ASK JOEL COME UP AND PRESENT HIS ANNUAL

[00:50:03]

REPORT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

TO RUN THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE EXCITING YEAR AT THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. GREAT.

ANOTHER ROLE OF THE CVB AND WHAT WE DO.

WE HELP OTHERS EXPLORE VICTORIA. WE MARKET -- MARKET VICTORIA AS AN OVERNIGHT FOR LEISURE, SUPPORTS AND THE CVB PLAYS A IMPORTANT ROLE IN DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING THINGS THAT MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY ATTRACTIVE.

SO JUST A LITTLE BREAKDOWN OF MY PRESENTATION HERE TONIGHT.

WE WILL GO OVER OUR LODGING PERFORMANCE STATISTICS FOR VICTORIA, DEPARTMENT STATISTICS, YEAR 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND INITIATIVES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

JUST A LITTLE BIT OF THE VICTORIA LODGING PERFORMANCE.

AS YOU CAN SEE REALLY ABOUT LAST YEAR -- THE THEME WAS "REBOUND" FROM 2020. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY EX-SEATING THE OCCUPANCY RATE WE SAW OVER THE YEAR -- THE AVERAGE OCCUPANCY RATE FOR 2019.

IT WAS A A REALLY FANTASTIC YEAR AND DRIVEN BY NOT ONLY BUSINESS TRAVELER OR LEISURE TRAVELER FROM EVENTS.

OUR AVERAGE DAILY RATE IN VICTORIA IS A LITTLE -- ABOUT 78 TO $79. WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH THE RATE THAT WE SAW IN 2019. WHAT STORY DOES THIS TELL? YOU KNOW, THAT SHOWS YOU CAN GET A VERY HIGH-QUALITY ROOM IN VICTORIA AT A VERY AFFORDABLE RATE.

WE RECEIVE STATISTICS FROM OTHER DESTINATIONS THROUGH PART P PARTNERSHIPS WITH THLA AND AVERAGE DAILY RATES FOR OVER $120 TO $130 A NIGHT. THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR PRICE-COGNIZANT TRAVELERS AND YOU MET MICHELLE AND THE SPORTS TOURISM EFFORTS. THEY ARE PRICE CONSCIOUS FOLKS AND WANT TO STAY AT A HOTEL WITH A GOOD QUALITY RATE AND YOU CAN GET THAT IN VICTORIA. JUST TO SHOW THE MONTHLY TRENDS FOR OCCUPANCY RATE. YOU SEE THE DIP IN 2020, BUT YOU SEE HOW SHORT IT WAS. HOW QUICKLY IT BECAME BACK AND CORRECTED. THE MARKET CORRECTED ITSELF AND THE TRENDS FOLLOW MONTH TO MONTH ARE PRETTY SIMILAR FOR MONTH TO MONTH. JUST TO THE SHOW AVERAGE DAILY RATE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE DIP WAS NOT AS SIGNIFICANT.

SO AVERAGE DAILY RATE AND THE PRICE OF A ROOM DOESN'T NECESSARILY FOLLOW THE MARKET AND THE OCCUPANCY RATE, BUT YOU DID SEE A LITTLE BIT OF A DIP THERE BUT THEN RETURNED TO THE MARKET USUALS AND THEY ARE PRETTY SIMILAR WITH THE PATHS THAT THEY FOLLOW. JUST SOME LITTLE HIGHLIGHTS OF VICTORIA'S LODGING PERFORMANCE. YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR OCCUPANCY RATE FOR 2021 EXCEEDED THE STATE AVERAGE AND YOU CAN SEE THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE WAS FAR LESS THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.

THAT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY -- YOU CAN SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE STAYING IN VICTORIA HOTELS, BUT ALSO, OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO ATTRACT THOSE KIND OF EVENTS WITH OUR AFFORDABLE RATES.

AND THEN JUST ANOTHER THING TO SHOW.

THERE IS A PERCEPTION THAT VICTORIA IS A BUSINESS COMMUNITY, A BUSINESS TRAVEL, MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT OUR OCCUPANCY RATES ARE STRONG ON WEEKENDS. WE DON'T INCLUDE SUNDAYS BECAUSE SUNDAY IS AN OUTLIER OPINION. LEISURE TRAVELERS HAVE LEFT AND BUSINESS TRAVELERS MAY NOT HAVE ARRIVED YET, 67% IS OCCUPANCY MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND FRIDAY TO SATURDAY, THE RATE IS 64%. JUST A FEW PERCENTAGE POINTS F OFF. SOME DEPARTMENTAL STATISTICS FOR THE CVB. OUR WEB SITE IS A VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCE AND HOW WE GET INFORMATION OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

BOTH VISITORS AND RESIDENTS. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE A VERY BIG GROWTH IN 2021. THAT WAS DUE TO SOME AGGRESSIVE MARKETING THAT WE SUSTAINED ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS AND THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND ORGANIC SEARCH RESULTS AND THE GROWTH OF US AS A DESTINATION.

HOW DO PEOPLE USE OUR WEB SITE, WHAT TOOLS ARE THERE.

WE HAVE AN ITINERARY BUILDER TOOL WHERE FOLKS CAN BUILD A CUSTOM EXPERIENCE. CALENDAR OF EVENTS IS ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES AND UPDATE THAT SEVERAL TIMES W Y WEEKLY. WE SEE OURSELVES AS ONE OF THE MAIN SOURCES FOR PEOPLE. HOW THEY CAN SEE WHAT IS GOING CONTINUE TO IN VICTORIA. WE ALSO HAVE LISTING FOR BUSINESSES WE UPDATE REGULARLY NOT JUST HOTELS AND MOTELS, DINING, SHOPPING AND NIGHT LIFE AS WELL.

OUR FACEBOOK IS A VERY IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR US.

YOU CAN SEE THE REACH THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR EXCEEDED PREVIOUS YEARS. WE HAD SOME, YOU KNOW, AGGRESSIVE MARKETING WHERE THAT, BUT ALSO WONDERFUL NEW EVENTS THAT CAME TO TOWN. WE SAW VERY HIGH REACTIONS WHEN WE POSTED OF THE CRAWFISH FESTIVAL THAT CAME AND WILL BE COMING BACK IN A COUPLE OF W S WEEKS.

A LOT OF BUZZ IN THE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

AND NEW BUSINESSES JAY WELL FARMS. A POST AND ONE OF THE MOST VIRAL POST AND DIDN'T SPEND A TIME AND

[00:55:03]

AND OUR NEW BUSINESSES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR SUCCESS DIGITALLY. OUR VISITOR CENTER SAW REBOUND IN 2020 WHICH IS WONDERFUL TO SEE.

WE ARE SEEING POSITIVE RESULTS FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 2022. YOU CAN SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL -- THE NUMBERS WERE LOWER THAN 2019.

PEOPLE ARE STILL GETTING BACK IN THE SWING OF VISITING PHYSICAL LOCATIONS OPINION. THE FIRST THREE MONTHS THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN SOLID AS WELL, AND I HOPE TO SEE PREPANDEMIC LEVELS AT THE VISITORS CENTER. WE GET VERY HIGH MARKS ABOUT OUR SERVICE. YOU GO TO GOOGLE PLACES OR GOOGLE MAP OR TRIP ADVISOR. A LOT OF POSITIVE VIEWS FOR SERVICE, FRIENDLINESS AND JUST TO GIVE A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE. DEPARTMENTAL STATISTICS AS FAR AS TRAVEL INFORMATION, LEAD REQUESTS, AND WHAT ARE THESE.

THESE ARE ACTUAL MAILOUTS OF PHYSICAL, NOW KNOW, PRINTED MATERIALS, TRAVEL, BROCHURES, VISITOR GUIDES AND MAPS.

YOU SEE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A CHIP IN THAT.

WE SEE SOLID NUMBERS ON IT, BUT THE METHODS OF GETTING INFORMATION CHANGES A BIT AND GROWTH IN SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WEB SITE. HOW TO DO WE GET TRAVEL INFORMATION, ADD PUBLICATION LIKE THE TEXAS HIGHWAY EVENTS CALENDAR, PARTNERSHIPS WITH DIGITAL PROGRAMS LIKE TOUR T S TEXAS, ADS IN MONTHLY PUBLICATIONS LIKE TEXAS HI S HIGHWAYS. ON OUR WEB SITE WITH OUR FORMS AND PHONE CALLS FROM TIME TO TIME.

COUPLE OF THOSE THROUGHOUT THE MONTH.

EVEN GET PHONE CALLS -- MAILOUTS FOR PHYSICAL INFORMATION.

WE HAD A VERY EXCITING YEAR IN THE CRB.

WE ADMINISTERED THE HOT FUNDS PROGRAM A TOTAL OF 135 GRANTED 17 APPLYING ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL RECEIVED AWARDS.

WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT COME UP WITH THIS YEAR.

WE ALREADY HAVE SEVERAL APPLICANTS COMPLETE THEIR E S EVENTS. HISTORY, THE OLD VICTORIA DRIVING TOUR LAUNCHED A DIGITAL STORY MAP.

WE HAVE ACCESS TO THAT ON OUR WEB SITE AND PRINTED GUIDES WITH OUR QR CODE AND I CAN THANK THE GIS DEPARTMENT WITH THE HELP FOR THAT AND A GREAT RESOURCE SO SHOW OFF ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR ASSETS HERE IN VICTORIA. HOW WE REACHED OUT TO RESIDENTS, HAVE WEEKLY APPEARANCE ON 104.7 AND 97.5 WHICH IS A GREAT WAY TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND FUN AND ALLOW US TO COME ON FOR FREE. EXPLORE YOUR VICTORIA EPISODES THAT WE WORK WITH COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING WITH BUILDING BRANDS TO DEVELOP HAVING THAT COME EVERY OTHER MONTH AND EVERYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE DAY-TRIPPER SHOW, THAT VIBE AND FUN AND FEEL TO IT. A GREAT EXPERIENCE DOING THOSE.

WHAT KIND OF ASSETS WE CAN DEVELOP HERE? THE NATURE SANCTUARY BIRDING DECK.

AND CHRISTIE MENTIONED THE APRIL CLEANUP.

A BIRDING DECK CLEANUP ON EARTH DAY CELEBRATION AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS COMING OUT. FREE SNOW CONES.

THE WEATHER IS DOING NICE. BUILDING SERVICES.

THEY WILL REPAINT THE HILLER HOUSE AND WILL BE NICE IN A FEW WEEKS. EVENT ENHANCEMENT.

ONE THING ABOUT THE CVB THAT WE DON'T HAVE A VENUE WITH MAIN STREET AND PARKS AND REC WITH THE PARKS.

WE FIND A WAY TO PROGRAM BY ATTACHING TO THE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT PEOPLE LOVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE STARTED THAT PLANNING PROCESS WITH THE DAIRY TREAT IN DE R DECEMBER. HAD THAT EVENT ON THE 25TH.

VERY WELL ATTENDED. AND THE MOTORCYCLE CANNONBALL RUN IN LAST SEPTEMBER RECEIVED HIGH REMARKS FROM EVENT ORGANIZERS, MR. KLEIN. HUGE TURNOUT 100 FOLKS.

AND WE HELPED WITH LIVE MUSIC, LOGISTICAL PLANNING AND HELPED TO MAKE THAT EVENTS A REAL SUCCESS HERE IN VICTORIA.

WE WORK INTERNALLY WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS LIKE MAIN STREET AND THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY SUPPORTING THEIR MUSIC PROGRAMS BY PROVIDING PAYMENT FOR THESE ARTISTS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A VARIETY OF ARTISTS WHO ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY FOR THEIR PERFORMANCES AND WE PARTNER WITH THAT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE INTERESTING AND ALWAYS CHANGING LINE-UP FOR THOSE KIND OF EVENTS. SPORTS TOURISM.

AS MICHELLE MENTIONED, A HUGE DEAL FOR VICTORIA.

A BIG SUCCESS AND LOOKING FORWARD FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS OF THAT. WE IDENTIFIED AT LEAST 25 SPORTS EVENT. NICHE SPORTS LIKE DISC GOLF.

A GREAT IMPACT. WE ARE TRACKING THOSE KIND OF EVENTS AND IMPACT WITH DIRECT SURVEYS TO THOSE PRECIPITATIONS EITHER AFTER THE EVENT OR BEFORE THE EVENT.

USING QR CODES AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO TRACK HOW PEOPLE ARE VISITING OUR THINGS. THE TRAIL THROUGH TIME DISPLAYS

[01:00:01]

THEY CAN SCAN IT. A FORM TO FILL OUT FOR A FREE SHIRT AND WE CAN SEE HOW MANY SCANS A MONTH.

SOME ARE HIGHER THAN OTHER BUT AVERAGE 20 SCANS A MONTH AT THOSE LOCATIONS. 12 OF THEM.

SEVEN DOWNTOWN, FOUR AT RIVERSIDE AND FOUR AT THE VICTORIA REGIONAL AIRPORT. PROVIDING NEW INFORMATION SOURCES, CONCIERGE CENTER. A AND GREAT PARTNERSHIP THEM TO WELCOME THE TRAVELERS AS THEY DISEMBARK AS THEY NEED HELP BOOKING A HOTEL. FINDING A RESTAURANT AND PLANNING THEIR EXPERIENCE. PLANNING A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM AND LETTING THEM KNOW ALL ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

THEN PER HOUR MOTIONAL CONTESTS, BRINGING DIFFERENT BUSINESSES TOGETHER. YOU HAVE EXPLORE VICTORIA MAN MOTH HUNT BRINGING THE UNCLE MUTT'S BARBECUE AND COASTAL FWENDZ, TWO BUSINESSES THAT YOU WOULDN'T THINK WOULD HAVE -- YOU HIT THE BULLS EYE AND A FREE BARBECUE SANDWICH AT MUTT'S.

FINDING A TIME BETWEEN TWO BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATION.

SHOPPING VICTORIA PROMOTION WAS A SUCCESS.

WE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING RETAILERS TO 40.

OVER 60 ENTRIES WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 730 VISITS TO LOCAL RETAILERS. SO GREAT SUCCESS.

THOSE ARE VISITS THAT MAY NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. FINDING PROMOTIONS AND WAYS TO GET PEOPLE IN THE DOORS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES.

AND ALSO WAYS TO GET PEOPLE TO ENGAGE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

COME DOWNTOWN, PLACES LIKE THAT. OUR PROMOTION HAD 80 ENTRIES AND 240 SCANS TO THE QR CODE. ESPECIALLY HIGH TIMES DURING THE CHRISTMAS EVENTS LIKE CHRISTMAS ON THE SQUARE AND THE CHRISTMAS PARADE. SO JUST GETTING PEOPLE ENGAGED DOWNTOWN FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME.

OUR UPCOMING INITIATIVES. A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THE CVB FOR WHAT WE HAVE WORKING WITH. FIRST AND FOREMOST BICENTENNIAL 2024. A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITY. PUTTING TOGETHER THE COMMISSION FOR THAT, THE PLANNING, THE ACTIVITIES.

AND WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND THAT IS GOING TO LEAD TO CERTAIN THINGS.

PUTTING A HOLD ON THE BOOT FEST FESTIVAL WHILE WE PLAN THE BICENTENNIAL. A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW OFF OUR COMMUNITY AND CELEBRATE OUR POSITION AS ONE OF THE MOST HISTORICAL CITIES IN TEXAS.

WITH THAT A REBRANDING INITIATIVE.

AND WE THINK REBRANDING WE THINK LOGOS, SLOGANS AND PHRASES BUT THAT IS REALLY PART OF IT. REBRANDING THAT WE WILL HIRE AN AGENCY TO HELP US STUDY WHAT THE ESSENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT IS THE SOUL OF OUR COMMUNITY. WHAT -- HOW DO WE MESSAGE THAT OUT TO THE WORLD AND THE STATE. THAT IS REALLY WHAT A REBRANDING EFFORT WOULD BE LIKE AND WHAT OUR TOURISM BRAND ALSO LOOK E LIKE. CVB REORGANIZATION TO THE DEPARTMENT. MAXIMIZE OUR TIMES, ESPECIALLY WITH BICENTENNIAL COMING UP. I MENTION THE -- THE -- FURTHER EFFORTS IN TRACKING, ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM EVENTS, SPECIALTY SPORTS. WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR SPORTS TOURISM MANAGER FOR SPORTS -- REGIONAL TOURISM COLLABORATION WITH EFFORTS LIKE BIRDING WITH DESTINATIONS LIKE GOLIAD, PORT LAVACA, QUERO. AND A COMPANY CALLED BANWANGO WHERE YOU CAN DIGITALIZE THE WE LOVE SHOPPING VICTORIA EXPERIENCE AND CAPTURE THOSE FOLKS -- RIGHT NOW WE ARE ONLY GETTING INFORMATION IS FROM PEOPLE WHO TURN IN THE STAMP BOOKLET. CAPTURE EVERYBODY WHO IS REALLY DOING THE EXPERIENCE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, STILL EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW VISITORS CENTER.

AGAIN, VERY EXCITING YEAR FOR S US.

VERY EXCITING INITIATIVES THAT WE WILL BE WORKING ON.

AND AT THIS TIME, I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

>> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: YOU ARE GOING TO BE BUSY.

>> YES, SIR. >> MAYOR BAUKNIGHT: THAT'S WHY THE REORG. A LOT GOING ON.

IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THE 2024 IS A BIG CELEBRATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW IT IS A PRIORITY FOR THE MAYOR AND FOR ALL OF YOU. SO WE ARE GEARING UP TO HELP PREPARE FOR THAT YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT.

YOU DO A GREAT JOB PROMOTING VICTORIA.

GETTING THE WORD OUT AND WE ALL KNOW HOW SPECK VICTORIA IS AND APPRECIATE YOU TELLING THE STORY AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANKS.

>> HOW DID WE DO WITH TIME? >> YOU DIDN'T HEAR MY TIMER GO OFF. DID YOU GREAT.

>> THANKS. >> THANKS TEA FOR CITY MANAGER

[G. Executive Sessions:]

[01:05:06]

>> THE CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 6:05 P.M. THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE DELIBERATION, 551.072 AND 55

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.