[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
>> GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE DECEMBER 20, 2022 VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MS. HILBRICH, WOULD YOU PLEASE
CALL ROLL? >> COUNCILMAN DELAGARZA?
>> I AM PRESENT. >> COUNCILWOMAN SOLIZ?
>> HERE. >> I WILL INVITE YOU TO STAND AND JOIN ME W FOR THE PLEDGE AND THEN STAND FOR A BRIEF MOMENT OF
SILENCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR TEXAS FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE. TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, IF,
ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> THANK YOU.
WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TONIGHT.
WE HAVE A FULL HOUSE. GREAT TO SEE EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO THE FINAL MEETING OF THE 2022 YEAR.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE WATCHING ON TV AND ON-LINE.
I WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HANUKKAH, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR AS WELL.
[1. Announcements/Reminders:]
MR. GARZA, GREAT TO SEE YOU. >> LIKEWISE.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR REMINDERS?
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I HAVE QUITE A BIT. I ASK THAT YOU BEAR WITH ME.
WITH THE UPCOMING FREEZING TEMPERATURES, WE WANT TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND JUST PUT SOME FRIENDLY REMINDERS OUT THERE FOR SAFETY REASONS. AND HOPEFULLY, REASSURE RESIDENTS ON SOME ELEMENTS AS WELL.
I'LL START OFF BY, OF COURSE, ASKING THE PUBLIC TO BE MINDFUL OF ROADWAYS, TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO DIP BELOW FREEZING LEVELS. WE KNOW THAT CAN CAUSE SOME SLICK CONDITIONS. WE ASK FOLKS TO BE MINDFUL OF.
THAT ON THE WATER SYSTEM AND CONSERVATION SIDE, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE WINTER STORM AND WHAT WE EXPERIENCED, WE KNOW THAT MIGHT BE A CONCERN FOR THE PUBLIC.
WE WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WHAT CAUSED THAT ISSUE WAS A COMBINATION OF FROZEN PIPES AND RUNNING FAUCETS ACROSS THE CITY.
TYPICALLY, YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY "LEAVE YOUR FAUCET DRIPPING." RIGHT? THE CHALLENGE IS THAT IF EVERYBODY DOES THAT AND THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THAT, COULD DEPLETE OUR WATER SOURCE MORE QUICKLY.
THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED DURING WINTER STORMS. WE ASKED FOLKS TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT AND USE THEIR BEST JUDGMENT ON DOING SO. WE ASK THAT THEY FOCUS ON COVERING UP THE FAUCETS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, FOR INSTANCE.
KEEP THEM FROM FREEZING. OPEN UP CABINETS IN THE HOUSE TO KEEP THE HOUSE WARM. AND TO TURN OFF SPRINKLER LINES.
AS IT RELATES TO HEATING SAFETY, BE MINDFUL OF THE USAGE OF SPACE HEATERS. AND WE ASK THAT THEY DO NOT USE THE OVEN TO HEAT YOUR HOME BECAUSE OF RISKS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. WE HAVE, THROUGH OUR OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS, HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME WARMING CENTERS. SO FOR THE PUBLIC THAT DOES HAVE SOME CONCERNS ON NOT BEING ABLE TO STAY WARM, WE ASK THEM TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE OPTION THAT IS ARE AVAILABLE.
THE DAYTIME, THE SALVATION ARMY WARMING SHELTER WILL OPEN AS NEEDED DAILY STARTING ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22.
FROM 7:00 A.M. TO 4:30 P.M. THEY ARE OPEN TO ANYONE.
THE FEEDING KITCHEN WILL BE OPEN FROM 5:00 TO 6:00 P.M. AS USUAL.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SALVATION ARMY WARMING SHELTER, WE ASK THE PUBLIC TO CALL 361-572-3779.
FOR NIGHTTIME, THERE WILL BE A COMMUNITY WARMING CENTER.
FOR ANYONE IN NEED OF A WARM PLACE TO STAY AT NIGHT.
THURSDAY TO SUNDAY DECEMBER 25. FROM 5:00 TO 8:00P.M. EACH NIGHT. AND IN GENERAL, FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT HAVE, SPECIFIC TO THE WATER SITUATION AND FOR FOLKS THAT MIGHT WANT THEIR METER TURNED OFF, FOR WHATEVER REASON, PREVENTATIVE OR WHATNOT, WE ASK THEY CALL THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AT 361-485-3380.
AND GET US... HELP US POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, PREVENT US DEPLETING UNNECESSARY WATER. AGAIN, THAT NUMBER WITH PUBLIC WORKS IS 361-485-3380. SIMILARLY, AS ANY HOLIDAYS OR WHEN ANY HOLIDAYS COME UP, WE HAVE SOME CHANGE TO SCHEDULES.
WE ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT ALL NONEMERGENCY CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY DECEMBER 23 AND MONDAY DECEMBER 26 IN OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS. OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY,
[00:05:01]
JANUARY 2 IN OBSERVANCE OF NEW YEAR'S DAY.THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL CLOSE DECEMBER 23-26.
THE LIBRARY WILL CLOSE EARLY AT 3:00 P.M. ON DECEMBER 31 AND WILL BE CLOSED ALL DAY JANUARY 1-2.
ON THE SOLID WASTE SITE, THE COMPOST SITE WILL BE CLOSED DECEMBER 24-25 AND JANUARY 1. THE LANDFILL WILL BE OPEN DECEMBER 24. IT WILL BE CLOSED DECEMBER 25 AND JANUARY 1. ON THE PARK SIDE, RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23 THROUGH SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25. DUE TO WEATHER AND HOLIDAY CLOSURES. AND WILL REOPEN ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 26. DON'T ASK ME TO REPEAT ALL OF THAT. BECAUSE...
>> WE WILL REWIND THE TAPE. >> EXACTLY, YEAH.
WE DO ASK ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SIDE AS WELL, AS A REMINDER, GARBAGE AND CURBSIDE RECYCLING WILL BE COLLECTED AS NORMALLY SCHEDULED, DECEMBER 23-26.
RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXTRA GARBAGE FROM THE HOLIDAY SEASON THAT DOES NOT FIT INTO THE PROVIDED BIN MAY PLACE THE GARBAGE IN TRASH CANS OR PLASTIC TRASH BAGS.
THERE WILL BE REGULARLY SCHEDULED COLLECTION DAYS.
AS A REMINDER, WE DO THIS ONCE AFTER CHRISTMAS BECAUSE WE ARE COGNIZANT THAT THERE IS TYPICALLY MORE TRASH AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. SO WE DO ALLOW FOR THIS ONE TIME FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE THAT EXTRA TRASH, AND WE WILL PICK IT UP.
SO THAT IS WHAT I HAVE. LASTLY, I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT I WAS REMINDED OF IT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD PRESENT HERE.
NORMALLY, AFTER WE HAVE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETINGS, I HAVE PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO YOU. I BRIEFLY WANT TO MENTION THAT THERE WAS A MEETING ON DECEMBER 14.
I, UNFORTUNATELY, WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT.
AT THAT MEETING, THERE WERE POLICIES DISCUSSED.
THERE WERE SOME AMENDMENTS TO THOSE POLICIES MADE BY THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD. YOU MAY RECALL FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH MYSELF AND WITH ALLISON THAT WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD WERE TWO POLICIES.
ONE FOCUSED ON JUVENILE COLLECTION, AND THE YOUNG ADULT AND ADULT COLLECTION. BASED OFF OF THOSE CHANGES, THERE WERE THEY WERE SUBSTANTIAL TO THE INITIAL DRAFTS THAT ALLISON HAD PUT TOGETHER. WE DO ENVISION BRINGING THOSE FOR A CONVERSATION WITH YOU AT OUR JANUARY 3 COUNCIL MEETING.
AND HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED. WITH THAT... WITH THOSE POLICIES. FOR NOW, THAT IS OUR INTENT.
LY OBVIOUSLY POST IT ON THE AGENDA.
SO THERE CAN BE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT IT.
AT THIS POINT, OUR GAME PLAN IS TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOU BEFORE WE FINALIZE ANY POLICY PER CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD WITH YOU AND THE MAYOR WHO ISN'T HERE.
THAT IS HOW WE PLAN TO APPROACH THAT.
AND WITH THAT, THAT WRAPS UP MY ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[2. Public & Employee Recognitions:]
>> ALL RIGHT. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC OR
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS TODAY? >> I DO HAVE ONE.
I HOPE SHE IS HERE. SHE IS HERE.
SO CELESTE MANCHAKA. CELESTE, STAND UP.
THERE SHE IS. CELESTE, CONGRATULATIONS.
(APPLAUSE) JULIE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR HER STAFF.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PART OF THE TEAM, GETTING CERTIFICATIONS.
YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED MAGGIE'S PLANNING CERTIFICATION AT THE LAST MEETING. I KNOW CELESTE IS WORKING ON HERS AS WELL. THEY ARE DOING GREAT WORK IN
THAT DEPARTMENT. >> WONDERFUL.
WONDERFUL. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL MOVE IT
[3. Items from Council:]
INTO ITEMS FROM COUNCIL. ANYBODY?NO? >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CHIEF ARRADONDO FOR HIS SERVICE THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE ARE GOING TO MISS HIM GREATLY.
(APPLAUSE). >> WELL-STATED, MS. SOLIZ.
THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, WE WILL CLOSE
[4. Citizen Communication:]
ITEMS FROM COUNCIL AND MOVE INTO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.WHEN I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM.
STATE YOUR NAME AND LIMIT YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES, PLEASE. CASEY HARRIS.
>> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MR. MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME BEFORE YOU WITH MY CONCERNS.
MY NAME IS CASEY HARRIS. I'M A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE THREE CHILDREN, AGES 9, 6, AND 2. WE WERE GIVEN CHANCE TO HOME-SCHOOL DUE TO COVID, AND THIS PAST YEAR OUR TWO OLDEST KIDS HAVE GONE BACK TO SCHOOL. TO GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND.
I WANT TO ADDRESS THE INAPPROPRIATE AGE MATERIAL THAT IS READILY AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN AND TEENS IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SOME BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY CONTAINED THIS INFORMATION AND MATERIAL, AND THE PICTURES I WAS SHOWN SHOULD MAKE ANY ADULT BLUSH.
[00:10:01]
I WAS THEN SHOCKED TO FIND THAT THESE SAME BOOKS WERE IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION. NOW, WHEN MY KIDS AND I GO TO THE LIBRARY, THE OLDER TWO I THOUGHT WERE AT THE AGE WHERE THEY COULD LOOK THROUGH THE SHELVES AND FIND SOMETHING THAT PEAKED THEIR INTEREST ON THEIR OWN.HOWEVER, AFTER LEARNING THAT THEY COULD COME ACROSS THESE BOOKS HAS MADE ME CHANGE MY MIND.
CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN THE FREEDOM TO LOOK THROUGH BOOKS THAT THEY WILL FIND INTERESTING AND NOT LOSE THEIR INNOCENCE.
CLEARLY, CHILDREN DO NOT NEED SEXUAL PICTURES AND MATERIAL IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY. THINK BACK TO THE VIDEO RENTAL DAYS. I THINK WE ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER BLOCK-BUSTER. REMEMBER THE FORBIDDEN ROOM WITH THE BLACK CURTAIN BLOCKING YOUR VIEW FROM THE CONTENT? AS THE LAW USED TO REQUIRE? THERE IS A REASON WHY THOSE VIDEOS WERE NOT ON THE SHELVES WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.
THEY WERE ADULT-ONLY AUDIENCES. MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE VIDEO CONTENT. CHILDREN ARE NOT THE CORRECT AUDIENCE FOR MATERIAL LIKE THAT. EVEN IF IT IS IN BOOKS.
IF THERE IS A NEED FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THESE BOOKS, LET THEM BE IN THE DESIGNATED SECTION IN THE ADULT... AND THE ADULTS CAN DECIDE IF THE CHILD IS MATURE ENOUGH FOR THE CONTENT. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, I URGE YOU TO LOOK AT WHAT THESE BOOKS REPRESENT.
DOES THE GOOD OF HAVING THEM AVAILABLE TO A FEW OUTWEIGH THE CONSEQUENCES OF OPEN ACCESS FOR ALL? SO MANY THINGS IN THIS WORLD LATELY DESTROY OUR CHILDREN'S INNOCENCE AT A FRIGHTENINGLY YOUNG AGE.
WE DON'T NEED OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY FACILITATING THIS EXPOSURE.
OUR JOB AS ADULTS IS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND OUR TEENAGERS FROM ANY DAMAGING INFORMATION THAT THEY MAY GET FROM BOOKS AS WELL. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A MOTHER, AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, AND AS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN'S INNOCENCE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE FOR MANY EXTERNAL THREATS. I HUMBLY AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT YOU CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE MATERIAL THAT CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS HAVE UNCONTROLLED ACCESS TO IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY. AND THEY ARE REMOVED FROM UNCONTROLLED AREAS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS. >> MERRY CHRISTMAS.
THANK YOU, MS. HARRIS. SARAH BEAVER.
GOOD EVENING. >> HI, GOOD EVENING.
SO I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT MY WORK AS A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER. AND WHAT I DO IS I CONNECT COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO RESOURCES. MOST OF THE TIME THESE PEOPLE ARE IN CRISIS. I HAVE PROBABLY A HUNDRED STORIES THAT I COULD TELL YOU OF PEOPLE WHO ARE... HAVE BEEN EVICTED OR ABOUT TO BE EVICTED. THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN.
TWO WEEKS AGO, I WAS AT VISD. I HAD FIVE MOMMAS COME TO ME, AND ALL FIVE OF THEM WERE ON THE VERGE OF BEING EVICTED FROM THEIR HOME OR FROM T THEIR HOTEL WHERE THEY ARE STAYING.
SO I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON ONE STORY TONIGHT.
A MOM CAME IN AND SHE HAS FIVE CHILDREN.
HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN WORKING, BUT HE WORKS FOR A CONTRACTOR.
HE WASN'T WORKING ALL LAST MONTH.
THEN TWO WEEKS PRIOR, HE WAS LET GO.
SO THEY WERE ALREADY TWO MONTHS BEHIND ON THEIR RENT.
AND SHE CAME TO ME CRYING, ASKING, LIKE, ARE THERE ANY...
ANYWHERE I CAN GET ANY TYPE OF HELP WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE.
RIGHT NOW THERE IS NOT. THERE IS NO FUNDS AVAILABLE IN THE CITY. AND I GAVE THEY ARE ONLY THING THAT I COULD. I GAVE HER SOME KINDNESS, AND I SUGGESTED MAYBE SINCE SHE DOESN'T HAVE FAMILY IN THE AREA TO LEAN ON, MAYBE GO TO HER CHURCH FAMILY AND SEE IF POSSIBLY THEY COULD STAY IN A BIG LIVING ROOM OR SOMETHING.
BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TYPE OF FINANCIAL HELP AT THAT MOMENT FOR THEM TO PAY FOR THEIR RENT OR PAY FOR A HOTEL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I HAD TO GIVE HER $5 OUT OF MY OWN POCKET FOR BABY WIPES. AND IT PAINED ME THAT THAT'S ALL I COULD GIVE HER. YOU KNOW, THAT IS ALL I COULD TELL HER. I WAS, LIKE, GO ASK SOMEBODY ELSE. I DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.
AND MY CONNECTIONS DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES.
THAT IS JUST ONE OF MANY. I GET CALLS ALL DAY LONG.
MY FELLOW COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS GET CALLS ALL DAY LONG.
RESIDENTS OF VICTORIA ARE DESPERATE FOR HELP.
AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH.
THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HOUSING COMING TO HELP WITH THIS NEED.
I KNOW THAT IT'S... YOU KNOW, PUTTING OUT FIRES.
LOOKING FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE. BUT THE UPSTREAM IS TAKING TOO LONG. YOU KNOW, THERE IS NOTHING THAT IS HELPING AT THIS MOMENT. FOR THESE FAMILIES, THESE PEOPLE
[00:15:03]
THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE TURNED OUT ON THE STREETS.IT IS ABOUT TO GET VERY COLD. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. BEAVER. >> I HAVE TIRSO ALVAREZ.
GOOD EVENING. >> I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WORKS. I'M HERE TO NOT... I'M HERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THEY HAVE BEEN WHAT RASING ME FOR 22 YEARS.
THEY JUST DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE. I KIND OF LIKE TOLD THEM, YOU KNOW, THE LAST TIME I CONFRONTED THEM, I TOLD THEM WHAT I HAVE TO DO. DO I HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE A SIGN AND SAY THE CITY OF VICTORIA MADE ME DO IT.
I WAS GOING TO HANG MYSELF OUT THERE ON MY PROPERTY.
BECAUSE THEY JUST DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE.
I GOT SEVERAL VIOLATIONS. FOR 22 YEARS, THEY HAVE BEEN HARASSING ME AND HARASSING ME AND HARASSING ME.
THE FIRST TIME THEY DID IT WAS IN 2001.
I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY OFF THE CITY.
AND 2002, THE CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT WAS TEARING IT DOWN.
THEY DIDN'T NOTIFY ME. THEY DIDN'T TELL ME NOTHING.
THEY JUST SAID THEY NOTIFIED THE PREVIOUS OWNER.
I SAID "Y'ALL NOTIFIED THE CITY OF VICTORIA?" THEY SAID THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I SAID THE CITY OF VICTORIA SOLD IT TO ME. THEY JUST... YOU KNOW, I GOT IN MY POCKET RIGHT HERE... WELL, I'VE GOT... I THINK IT'S IN MY COAT POCKET. I HAVE NINE VIOLATIONS THAT I'M HERE FOR RIGHT NOW. ON THAT PROPERTY.
I'VE GOT $1,400 ON ONE. $1,500 ON ANOTHER.
THEY CUT MY YARD. THEY CHARGED ME A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CUT MY YARD. I'M, LIKE, COME ON.
I PUT TRUCKS OUT THERE. I HAD 7 VEHICLES.
THEY HAULED THEM ALL OFF OFF MY PROPERTY.
AND I WAS TELLING THEM, I'M DISABLED.
THAT IS HOW I DO MY WORK. I MAKE MONEY THAT WAY.
I TEAR THEM APART. I SELL THEM FOR JUNK.
THIS... I CAN'T DEAL WITH IT NO MORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT IS CONSTANT.
ON ME. AND MY BROTHER, I GIVE A PROPERTY TO MY BROTHER. HE'S GOT A HEART ATTACK.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO OUT THERE TO WORK ON THAT PROPERTY, I DON'T GET PAID FOR IT. I'M DOING IT, YOU KNOW, FOR MY BROTHER. THEY DON'T HELP ME AT ALL.
THEY JUST CONSTANTLY TELL ME THINGS.
FOR ONE THING OR ANOTHER. MY TREES FELL.
THEY CHARGED ME $400 TO PICK U UP... YOU KNOW, MY FIREWOOD.
I HAVE FIREWOOD STACKED UP. THEY CHARGED ME $400.
THEY WENT UP AND PICKED IT UP FOR $400.
I WAS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
THEY JUST CONSTANTLY HAUNT ME. YOU KNOW? I'M ALREADY FED UP. HOLD ON.
>> MR. ALVAREZ, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WRAP IT UP.
ANOTHER ONE FOR $1,400. I HAVE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE VIOLATIONS ON THAT ONE PROPERTY.
WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU KNOW, I TOLD THEM, YOU KNOW,
IT ALL STARTED WHEN THEY... >> MR. ALVAREZ, WE WILL DISCUSS
THIS IN ANOTHER PORTION. >> IT STARTED IN 2001.
THEY TORE DOWN MY HOUSE. I TOLD THEM I WAS GOING TO SUE THEM. THEY LOCKED ME UP AND GAVE ME TWO YEARS IN PROBATION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WAS FOR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. ALVAREZ. >> TWO YEARS.
GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
[00:20:01]
I WANT TO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND AS YOU ENJOY YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS AND OBSERVE THAT HAPPINESS IT BRINGS WHEN YOU ARE WATCHING THE CHILDREN IN THEIR INNOCENCE, JOYFULLY EXPERIENCING THE CELEBRATION, WOULD IT EVER ENTER YOUR MIND TO INVITE ANYTHING INTO THAT TIME THAT WOULD CAUSE A TRAUMA THAT WOULD IMPACT THEIR INNOCENCE? IN THAT REGARD, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST ATTENTION TO THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY WITH REGARD TO THE PROTECTION OF THE INNOCENCE OF OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN THE BOOKS, THE MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PLACED IN THE LIBRARY THROUGH DONATIONS AND/OR THAT ARE PURCHASED WITH OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS.I ATTENDED THE DECEMBER 14 VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING. AT WHICH A MOTION WAS PASSED TO ACCEPT AMENDED ADULT AND JUVENILE AND YOUNG ADULT COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICIES. THESE POLICIES, IN MY OPINION, MOVE TOWARD ACCOUNTABILITY AND SET BOUNDARIES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE INNOCENCE OF OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH.
AND IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING, AS THE CITY MANAGER SAID, THAT THESE NOW WILL COME BEFORE YOU AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THESE AMENDED POLICIES HAVE TO COME BEFORE YOU BEFORE THEY CAN TAKE EFFECT. SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE REVIEW AND APPROVE THESE AMENDED POLICIES WHICH, AGAIN, IS A START TO SET SOME FIRM BOUNDARIES WITH REGARD TO A AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS, MATERIALS, AND ACTIVITIES THAT ARE PLACED IN THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND YOUTH. AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR STANDING FIRM FOR THEIR PROTECTION.
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MICHAEL VONDRO. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
>> GOOD EVENING. >> I JUST WANTED TO THANK DR. YOUNG FOR FIXING MY LEFT FOOT.
YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T NEARLY WALK FOR, LIKE, A YEAR.
HE IS THE BEST STEROID SHOT PERSON IN THE WORLD.
I APPRECIATE IT. HE DOES WORK FOR THE V.A.
AND HE IS NOT MAKING A LOT OF MONEY.
IT TAKES, LIKE, A THOUSAND YEARS TO GET YOUR MONEY FROM THE V.A.
YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT IS THE GOVERNMENT.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ILLEGAL DUMPING.
WE HAVE PEOPLE JUST DUMPING TRASH EVERYWHERE AND JUST SO MUCH, I CAN'T DESCRIBE IT IN THREE MINUTES.
AT FAMILY DOLLAR WHERE I LIVE ON 609 NORTH JORDAN, SOMEONE DUMPED A BOX SPRING AND A COUCH. AT THE FAMILY DOLLAR.
AT THE HOPE CHARITY BEND, THEY ARE DUMPING VACUUM CLEANERS, LOOSE CLOTHES BY THE BIN. AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND BY CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND CHARITY BIN, THEY ARE DUMPING SEATS AND STUFF. AT TDECU, THEY BUSTED A WHOLE BUNCH OF BOARDS, SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH WALKWAY THE LEGAL WAY. THEY CAN GO THROUGH THAT.
EVERY TIME CODE ENFORCEMENT FIXED IT, THEY BUST IT RIGHT BACK DOWN. THEY ALSO BUSTED IT AT JACK IN THE BOX. AND IN FRONT OF THE HOSPITAL, SOMEONE DUMPED, IT LOOKS LIKE, 30-40 BEER BOTTLES.
YOU KNOW, ON HOSPITAL DRIVE. AND LET ME SEE.
NORTH BEND JORDAN. ON EAST OAK, THEY DUMPED THREE MATTRESSES. IT JUST KEEPS ON GOING MORE AND MORE. I DO APPRECIATE CODE ENFORCEMENT FOR GETTING THOSE BRANCHES PICKED UP ON... THESE BUSINESS OWNERS, THEY AIN'T GOING TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN.
THEY HAVE TO BE CITED AND STUFF. THAT IS THE WAY THE SYSTEM WORKS. I APPRECIATE RICK FOR ALL THE STUFF. HE IS IN THE PLAN DIVISION, FOR TAKING CARE OF THE TRAILER PARK. YOU KNOW? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE ONLY MAKING $400 AN HOUR, IT IS HARD TO FIX THOSE POTHOLES. YOU KNOW? I MEAN, MOST PEOPLE MAKE MORE. IT IS HARD FOR HIM.
YOU KNOW? AND YOU KNOW, HE ONLY OWNS 104615 TRAILER PARKS. IT IS HARD FOR HIM.
HE'S GOT TO SAVE UP SOME MONEY. YOU KNOW?
[00:25:02]
AND BUY ANOTHER TRAILER PARK. YOU KNOW, HE IS ALREADY EVICTED OR LOOKING FOR LEGAL TECHNICALITIES TO EVICT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE. I APPRECIATE THE... I THINK HE IS TRYING TO MAKE EVERYONE HOMELESS.I APPRECIATE THE CITY OF VICTORIA, WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR ME AND EVERYBODY ELSE. THANKS.
>> THANK YOU. YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR THREE MINUTES. (LAUGHTER) ALL RIGHT.
NEXT WE HAVE KATHERINE OLSON. GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. AND WELL, MR. MAYOR MAYOR PRO
>> YOU KNEW I WAS GOING TO DO. THAT AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR NATION.
IN EVERY STATE IN OUR COUNTRY EXCEPT ARIZONA, ALABAMA, AND ARKANSAS, THERE ARE CHILDREN BEING MEDICALLY ALTERED TO GIVE THEM THE APPEARANCE OF ANOTHER GENDER.
NOT ONLY ALLOWED BUT PROMPTED... NO.
NOT ONLY ALLOWED BUT PROMOTED MUTILATION ON CHILDREN WHOSE BRAINS ARE NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING FULLY DEVELOPED.
HOW HAS MUTILATION SURGERY EVER BECOME LEGAL? IS IT LEGAL? IN WHOSE WORLD IS THIS NOT CHILD ABUSE? DID YOU KNOW THAT 7,000 PEDOPHILES WERE JUST LET OUT OF PRISON IN CALIFORNIA AFTER SERVING LESS THAN A YEAR? THE CRIMES INCLUDED CHILD RAPE, CONTINUOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT OF A CHILD, SODOMY WITH A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 16, KIDNAPPING A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 14, WITH THE INTENT TO COMMIT LEWD ACTS. AND THEY ARE GETTING OUT OF JAIL IN LESS THAN A YEAR. HOW CAN THIS BE EXPLAINED? SEXUALIZATION OF OUR CHILDREN IS BEING NORMALIZED.
THERE IS A PLAY ON BROADWAY CALLED "DOWN-STATE." THE WHOLE DIRECTION OF THE PLAY IS TO SEE PERPETRATORS OF CHILD SEX CRIMES IN A MORE GENEROUS, FORGIVING WAY.
REALLY? YOU MAY BE SAYING I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LIBRARY. WE ARE.
THE WHOLE POINT OF ALL OF OUR EFFORTS HAS BEEN TO PROTECT CHILDREN. SPECIFICALLY, VICTORIA CHILDREN.
WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITY AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT MAINTAINED. OUR GOVERNMENT'S BUILD BACK BETTER PLAN REQUIRES THE DESTRUCTION OF WHAT EXISTS FIRST. BEFORE IT BUILDS BACK.
THE FAMILY UNIT HAS A BIG TARGET ON ITS BACK.
IT IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE TO PLAN. SO WHAT IS THE PLAN? AGAIN, SIMPLY PUT, TO DESTROY THE FAMILY UNIT.
DESTABILIZE THE FUTURE BY DESTABILIZING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN. INSTEAD, HOW ABOUT VICTORIA, TEXAS WORKED HARD TO STABILIZE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN? AND PROTECT THEM FROM VIEWING MATERIAL THAT THEY CAN'T UNSEE.
I DID APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK BY THE LIBRARY BOARD AT THE MEETING ON DECEMBER 14, AND I HOPE THAT THE... WHAT THEY ESTABLISHED AND WHAT THEY PUT FORWARD TO BE VISITED WILL GO AHEAD AND COME TO PASS. IT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD BE A POSITIVE CHANGE. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.
>> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR PRO TEM, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND INTERESTED CITIZENS. I'M HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF KELLY PIERCE WHO HAS APPLIED FOR A POSITION ON THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD REPRESENTING DOWNTOWN BUSINESS.
KELLY COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT FOR TWO REASONS.
FIRST, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY BUSY TIME OF YEAR FOR HAIRSTYLISTS.
EVERYONE LIKES TO LOOK GOOD AND SECOND, SOMETIMES A CLIENT WILL LET HER KNOW, USUALLY AFTER THE FACT, THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO ONE OF THE BUGS GOING AROUND. SHE SHUTS DOWN HER BUSINESS UNTIL SHE KNOWS SHE CANNOT PASS THIS BUG TO ANYONE ELSE.
THAT CAUSES HER SCHEDULE TO BE IN FLUX BUT KEEPS HER CUSTOMERS SAFE. SHE WANTED TO BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT YOU GET TO LISTEN TO ME INSTEAD.
KELLY OPENED HER SALON ON SANTA RITA IN 2010.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SMALL RETAIL BUSINESSES TO OPEN DOWNTOWN. SHE OPERATED IN THAT LOCATION UNTIL 2020 WHEN SHE PURCHASED AND RENOVATED A HISTORIC BUILDING ON CONSTITUTION. THIS ALLOWED HER TO ADD ADDITIONAL RETAIL PRUKS. SHE WAS A SINGLE PARENT DURING MOST OF THIS TIME. SHE WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN EXPANDING BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES DOWNTOWN, BUT CONCENTRATED HER
[00:30:02]
ATTENTION ON GETTING HER DAUGHTER THROUGH SCHOOL AND THEN THROUGH COLLEGE SHE BECAME INVOLVED WITH VARIOUS CREATIVE OUTLETS, INCLUDING ART, MUSIC, DANCE, AND THEATER.NOW THAT HER DAUGHTER HAS GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, KELLY HAS THE TIME AND ENERGY TO PUT TOWARD MAKING VICTORIA AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK. KELLY WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD.
SHE UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF TOURISM TO THE INTELLECTUAL AND SOCIAL FINANCIAL FABRIC OF VICTORIA.
TOURISM AND THE DOLLARS THAT IT BRINGS IN HELPS VICTORIA TO EXPAND ITS SERVICES WITHOUT HAVING TO RAISE PROPERTY TAXES.
IT ALSO ADDS TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CITIZENS, MAKES VICTORIA MORE APPEALING FOR BUSINESSES THAT ARE CONSIDERING RELOCATING HERE. YOU MAY HAVE APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION THAT REPRESENT LARGER BUSINESSES.
THIS POSITION IS NOT ABOUT BUSINESS SIZE.
IT IS ABOUT GETTING SOMEONE WITH HEART, SOMEONE WHO TRULY CARES.
YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANY APPLICANT MORE COMMITTED AND MORE CARING ABOUT THE WELFARE OF ALL CITIZENS THAN YOU HAVE IN KELLY PIERCE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO SELECT KELLY FOR THIS POSITION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MR. FISK. LYNNETTE ZELLER.
GOOD EVENING. >> HELLO, COUNCIL MENTION.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL LETTING ME SPEAK TO YOU GUYS.
DE-TRANSVOICES. DE-TRANSITION ADVOCACY NETWORK.
PARENTS WITH THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH ABOUT TRANSGENDERRISM.
TIDAL WAVE OF TRANSGENDER REGRET FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.
THEY HAVE DON'T FEEL BETTER. WHAT DO THESE ARTICLES, BOOKS, GROUPS, AND NETWORKS HAVE IN COMMON? ALL ARE MADE UP OF PEOPLE COMING OUT OF THE TRANSGENDER MOVEMENT.
ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF PUBERTY-BLOCKERS, CHEMICAL CASTRATION, AND THE MUTILATION OF THEIR BODIES. THEY ARE COMING FORWARD BY THE HUNDREDS, EVEN THOUSANDS WORLD WIEPPED NOW AND TELLING HOW THEY REGRET THEIR DECISION, HOW IT IRREVERSIBLY DAMAGED THEIR LIVES, HOW IT DID NOT FIX THE ROOT PROBLEM, AND HOW THEY WERE LIED TO. CHLOE COLE IS ONE SUCH YOUNG PERSON WHO AT 18 YEARS OF AGE IS A VOICE OF THIS MOVEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. I URGE YOU TO LOOK UP THE STORY OF CHLOE COLE. CHLOE AND OTHERS LIKE HER ALL ASK THE SAME QUESTION. WHERE ARE THE VOICES OF TRUTH ON THIS ISSUE? WHY WERE MORE PEOPLE NOT SCREAMING OUT THAT MEN CANNOT BECOME WOMEN.
LITTLE GIRLS CANNOT BECOME LITTLE BOYS.
100,000 YEARS AFTER WE ARE DEAD AND GONE, IF SOMEONE WERE TO DIG UP OUR REMAINS, NOT MUCH COULD BE TOLD ABOUT US.
WITH CERTAINTY, THEY COULD KNOW WHETHER WE WERE MALE OR FEMALE BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN INTO THE D.N.A. OF EVERY CELL IN OUR BODY. THE LARGEST GENDER IDENTITY CLINIC IN THE WORLD, LONDON'S CLINIC ISS CLOSING DOWN.
THE LAWSUITS BY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FOREVER INJURED ARE BEGINNING TO SNOWBALL. EUROPE IS PUTTING THE BRAKES ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE WHILE IN THE U.S., WE ARE RUSHING HEAD-LONG INTO THE MADNESS. AND WHY? DO YOU EVER ASK WHY? WELL, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY'S MEDICAL CENTER HAS DETERMINED THAT GENDER CARE IS NOW A PROFIT CENTER. ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE ONE'S SEX CREATES A PERMANENT PATIENT. WHICH IS A GUARANTEED MONEY-MAKER. WE DON'T HATE ANYONE.
QUITE TO THE CONTRARY. IT IS BECAUSE WE LOVE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, THAT WE ARE SPEAKING OUT.
IN REGARD TO THE LIBRARY, IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE CHILDREN.
IT IS ALL ABOUT... IT IS ONLY ABOUT PROTECTING THE CHILDREN.
WE ASK YOU TO STAND WITH US. >> THANK YOU.
VIRGINIA HINDMAN. GOOD EVENING.
>> GOOD EVENING. AND THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME ADDRESS YOU. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIBRARY ISSUE. AS A RETIRED TEACHER, COUNCILOR, PRINCIPAL AND WORKING WITH YO YOUTH.
LOOKING AT MY OWN GRANDCHILDREN AND LOOKING AT THE INNOCENCE OF YOUTH, IT BOTHERS ME GREATLY TO SEE THAT OUR YOUNG ONES CAN GO RIGHT IN THE JUVENILE SECTION OF THE LIBRARY, AND THEY CAN SEE BOOKS THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY ILLEGAL IF SOME PERSON CAME UP
[00:35:07]
TO THEM AND SAID "LOOK WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU." MEANWHILE, THEY CAN GO IN THERE AND HAVE IT IN THEIR LITTLE PLACE WHERE THEY GO BRUISE THEIR LITTLE AREA AND ALL.I'M DEFINITELY AGAINST THAT. IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES. THE BOOKS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR THEIR STAGES OF BRAIN DEVELOPMENT.
AND MATURITY. AND HOW IN THE WORLD YOU HAVE TO ASK CAN A PRESCHOOL CHILD OR A YOUNG ELEMENTARY STUDENT PROCESS PICTURES OF NUDITY AND MALES AND FEMALES AND EVEN EROTIC POSES.
BY NATURE, CHILDREN REQUIRE A LONG TIME TO GROW UP, AND SOMEONE MUST ACT ON THEIR BEHALF UNTIL THEY MATURE.
CHILDREN ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO SPEAK OF THEIR SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES AT AN AGE WHEN THEY CAN HARDLY THINK THEM.
AND PARENTS ARE RIGHTFULLY CONCERNED.
OUR PARENTS IN VICTORIA ARE CONCERNED.
I HAD A THIRD-GRADE TEACHER COME UP TO ME AND TELL ME SHE HAD A STUDENT WHO WAS A MALE, AND HE SAID "MA'AM, CAN I TALK TO YOU? HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE A BOY OR A GIRL? HOW DID YOU DECIDE ON THAT?" AND THAT'S RIGHT HERE IN VICTORIA. SO IT IS A CONCERN FOR ALL OF US. A BIG CONCERN FOR ME IF IS THAT AS A PARENT AND GUERRANT PARENTS, WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM THE GROOMING INFLUENCE OF NORMALIZING THE SEXUAL ACTIVITIES. SO BASICALLY, WE ARE ASKING FOR THREE THINGS ON THIS LIBRARY PLACEMENT.
KEEP THE SEXUAL GRAPHICS IN THE ADULT SECTION OR A DESIGNATED SECTION ONLY. NOT IN MAINSTREAM TRAFFIC PATTERNS OF THE YOUNG. AND SECONDLY, BE SENSITIVE TO THE MORAL STANDARDS OF OUR CONSERVATIVE COMMUNITY AS THIS IS FUNDED, OF COURSE, BY TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT BANNING BOOKS.
JUST PLACING THEM WHERE IT WILL BE AN APPROPRIATE AREA AND YOUNG PEOPLE THAT REALLY SHOULDN'T BE SEEING THEM FOR ANY PRODUCTIVE REASON, THEY WON'T COME ACROSS THEM.
AND ALL OF US CAN UNDERSTAND THIS BECAUSE WE ARE CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, LOVED ONES, LITTLE SCHOOLCHILDREN AND ALL.
AND WE LIKE TO SEE THEM ACT AS AN ADULT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE YOUR HEARING ME.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JENNIFER HYBL.
GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING.
SO MY NAME IS JENNIFER HYBL. LET ME START BY SAYING I'M A BIT NERVOUS. I'M MUCH BETTER AT GATHERING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT EVENTS THAN I AM SPEAKING TO A FEW PEOPLE AND ALL THE ATTENTION ON ME.
SO FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING ME FOR THE OPEN SEAT ON THE TOURISM BOARD. I'M A WIFE, A MOM TO THREE FANTASTIC KIDS, AND A GRANDMOTHER TO FOUR BEAUTIFUL GRANDCHILDREN. I'M A LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS OWNER RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA. MY HUSBAND AND I OPENED SOUTH TEXAS PERFORMANCE ON SOUTHWESTST MOODY 12 YEARS AGO, AND MY PARTNER JACKIE WINSTED AND MYSELF OPENED UP MOTHER CLUCKERS DOWNTOWN IN EARLY NOVEMBER. I HAVE BEEN HOSTING EVENTS AND FUND RAISERS IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR 12 YEARS WITH THE GOAL OF HIGHLIGHTING SMALL BUSINESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SINCE OPENING MOTHER CLUCKERS DOWNTOWN, WE HAVE HAD SHOPPERS VISIT AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, BUY FROM OTHER CITIES SUCH AS PORTLAND, LAKE JACKSON AND NEW BRAWN FELLS, TO NAME A FEW.
IT IS VERY HUMBLING TO SEE VISITORS TRAVEL HOURS TO SHOP OUR AMAZING DOWNTOWN SMALL BUSINESSES.
WE WILL CONTINUE THIS TREND WITH THE FULL SCHEDULE OF OUTDOOR EVENTS IN 2023. I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IF YOU HOST A WELL-ORGANIZED EVENT, THE COMMUNITY WILL SHOW UP, AND THEY WILL SUPPORT YOU. HOSTING SUCCESSFUL EVENTS MEANS WE GET HEADS IN BEDS. BOY, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE RENTABLE SPACES TO OUR GUESTS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT SMALL BUSINESS THE HEART OF ANY COMMUNITY. AS AN EXAMPLE, WHEN OUR FAMILY TRAVELS, THE FIRST PLACES WE GO ARE TO LOCAL DOWNTOWNS.
WHY? SIMPLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IS WHERE THE UNIQUE SMALL BUSINESSES ARE LOCATED, AND THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE IS ALWAYS FOUND THERE.
GROWING SMALL BUSINESS GROWS OUR COMMUNITY WHICH THEN GROWS OUR TOURISM. THE FIVE VITAL COMPONENTS TO TOURISM ARE ATTRACTION, ACCESSIBILITY, ACCOMMODATION, AMENITY, AND ACTIVITIES. WITH THE GOOD TEAM, WE CAN GROW, WE CAN PROSPER, WE CAN ALL BUILD EACH OTHER UP.
I'M READY TO TAKE THIS TASK HEAD-ON.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS. MS. HYBL, YOU DID FANTASTIC.
[00:40:04]
>> LAST, PATRICIA HASTINGS. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
>> GREAT TO SEE YOU. >> THANK YOU.
GREAT TO SEE Y'ALL, TOO. I'M HERE TO REITERATE MY COLLEAGUE SARAH BEAVER'S CONCERNS ABOUT RENT RELIEF.
RIGHT NOW I, AS DIRECTER THE OF CHRIST KITCHEN AND I'M A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER ALSO, AM FIELDING ABOUT 15-20 CALLS PER DAY FOR RENTAL HELP. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR EVICTION NOTICE.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE A THING TO TELL THEM.
WE ARE DOWN TO SUGGESTING YOUR LOCAL CHURCH FOR HELP.
AND THEN WE SIT IN THE OFFICE AND CRY.
IT'S COME JANUARY 1, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GROWING NUMBER OF DISPLACED FAMILIES. SO PLEASE KEEP THAT MANY MIND.
CONSIDERING MORE AFOSHEDDABLE HOUSING AND RENT RELIEF.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO. ALL RIGHT.
THAT WILL CLOSE THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.
WE WILL MOVE INTO ITEMS WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[1. 2021 CDBG Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER...]
>> ITEM C-1 IS THE CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT. THE CAPER.
THIS ITEM IS ON PUBLIC HEARING ONLY.
NO FORMAL ACTION WILL BE NEEDED. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL.
SO IF YOU WILL REMEMBER, THIS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT.
OUR 2021 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT IS REPORTING ON OUR 2021 ANNUAL PLAN. IF YOU REMEMBER WAY BACK IN AUGUST, OF 2021, IS WHEN WE FIRST APPROVED THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN FOR THAT YEAR. SO THESE ARE ALL OF THE FUNDS...
THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN OUTLINES HOW WE WILL SPEND THE MONEY.
THE CAPER REPORTS ON HOW WE ACTUALLY DID SPEND THAT MONEY.
SO THIS IS ALL THE MONEY THAT WE DID OVER THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR.
THERE IS AN OVERVIEW. OF WHAT IT IS.
WHAT I JUST EXPLAINED. AND AGAIN, IT IS NOT... IT DOES NOT REQUIRE FORMAL ACTION FROM COUNCIL.
IT DOES REQUIRE A PUBLIC HEA HEARING, AND THIS INFORMATION TO BE RECORDED IN A PUBLIC MEETING. SO OUR '21-'22 CITY OF VICTORIA PROGRAM... THERE IS 5 #,000 REMAINING FUNDS THAT WILL GO INTO OUR UNPROGRAMMED FUNDS BALANCE THAT WE WILL PROBABLY PROGRAM IN NEXT YEAR'S ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.
WE HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM.
WHICH IS IN PROGRESS FOR REPAIRS TO SUBSTANDARD HOUSES, ROOFS INCLUDED IN THAT. IN THAT PROGRAM.
WE ALLOCATED 125,000 THERE. HAS BEEN ONE SMALL DROP.
THERE IS CONTRACTS WITH THE CONTRACTOR FOR ALL OF THOSE HOMES. WE EXPECT THAT REMAINING FUNDS OF 123,000 TO BE EXPENDED BY MARCH.
AND THEN WE HAVE NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAMS. THE DEMOLITION PROGRAM. WHICH WE HAVE 48,000 STILL REMAINING IN THAT. WE CONTINUE TO DEMOLISH ELIGIBLE STRUCTURES. SO OUR PUBLIC FACILITY PROJECTS INCLUDED BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB PAINTING, EXTERIOR TRIM PAINTING. THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND CLOSED. THE CLINIC RENOVATION.
OUR END, THAT PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND CLOSED.
THEY STILL HAVE GRAND PLANS AND ARE STILL WORKING ON IT.
FOR THE GRAND PURPOSES, WE HA HAVE... WE PAID FOR ALL OF THE MATERIALS. OR 100,000 OF THE BUILDING MATERIALS. THAT GRANT HAS BEEN COMPLETE AND CLOSED ON OUR END. THE PERPETUAL HOME DAY CARE WE HAVE. AT SOUTH DEPOT.
THAT IS IN PROGRESS. THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF CONSTRUCTION DELAYS ON THERE. THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT.
IF GRANT IS PAYING FOR MOST OF THAT.
SO IT IS STILL IN PROCESS. WE ARE WORKING ON THEM TO GET A SMALL DRAW. THE REASON THAT PROJECT WAS IN DELAY IS REALLY BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS.
WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON RIGHT NOW. FOR A PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCY PROGRAM, YOST YOU WILL SEE THAT ALL OF THE PROGRAMS WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL EXCEPT FOR MEALS ON WHEELS, SOUTH TEXAS.
THE SENIOR CENTER CAFE TO-GO MEALS.
THEY CANCELED THE GRANTS. THAT $8,000 WILL ROLL INTO OUR UNALLOCATED FUND BALANCE. THEY STILL HAD A LOT OF COVID FUNDS AND OTHER FUNDS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO USE TO COVER THEIR MEALS. SO WE HAVE A BALANCE OF $8,021.61 THAT WILL BE ROLLED OVER INTO THE FUND BALANCE.
YOU WILL SEE THAT WEAPON ASIFSED 280 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH THESE
[00:45:01]
PROGRAMS. AND THAT IS OUR REPORT.I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE THE PUBLIC
IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, I'LL CLOSE ITEM C-1
[D. Consent Agenda:]
AND MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.>> ITEM D-1 IS THE ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING ON DECEMBER 6, 2022 AND THE SPECIAL WORK SESSION ON DECEMBER 9, 2022. ITEM D-3 IS THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF A 2007 FORD F-550 TRUCK TO THE HELPING HANDS PROGRAM AT TEXAS A.M. FOREST SERVICE. ITEM D-5 IS THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF A 350-HORSE POWER MOTOR FOR THE VERTICAL TURBINE PUMP FOR THE WATER TREATMENT PLAN FOR THE PROPOSAL AMOUNT OF $92,166. D-6 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ANNUAL WATER SYSTEM FEE FOR THE CITY'S PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM
IN THE AMOUNT OF DLFER 60,995. >> I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT
>> RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. CONSENT AGENDA PASSES.
[1. Approve a community grant agreement with South Texas Zoological Societ...]
WE MOVE ON TO ACTION ITEMS. >> ITEM E-1 IS THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMMUNITY GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND A MASTER PLAN STUDY FOR THE TEXAS ZOO IN THE AMOUNT
OF $500,000. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. YOU ARE GOING TO BE DISAPPOINTED. BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE A
>> BUT I DO WANT TO QUICKLY VERBALIZE A LITTLE BIT OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THESE ARPA FUNDS AND AGREEMENT.
YOU MAY RECALL THAT OUR WOR WORKSHOP... WE REITERATED AND REMINDED YOU ON THE ALLOCATION THAT WE HAD SET ASIDE FOR COMMUNITY GRANTS WHICH WAS $1.25 MILLION.
THOSE GOING HALF A MILLION TO TEXAS ZOO.
HALF A MILLION FOR... WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THESE ALLOCATIONS FOR, GOSH, MAYBE CLOSE TO A YEAR.
IT HAS TAKEN US A WHILE TO GET TO THIS POINT.
WE ARE FINALLY THERE. ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, YOU HAVE THIS ITEM AND THE FOLLOWING ITEM.
THE CATTAN PROJECT. THE AGREEMENT WITH SALVATION ARMY STILL IN THE WORKS. IT IS KIND OF MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THEIR STRUCTURE TO GET APPROVED BEFORE WE BRING IT TO YOU. REALLY QUICKLY, BIG PICTURE, BECAUSE OF THIS DELAY AND US GETTING THESE AGREEMENTS OUT, THE TIMELINE TO UTILIZE THE FUNDS BY THESE ENTITIES IS JUNE 30. 2024.
WE HAD ORIGINALLY... WHEN WE FIRST TALKED ABOUT THIS, HAD DISCUSSED MAKING THAT DEADLINE THE END OF CALENDAR YEAR 2023.
BECAUSE PER ARPA GUIDELINES, WE HAVE TO ALLOCATE FUNDS BY THE END OF 2024. WE WANTED TIME TO... YOU KNOW, IF THEY DON'T GET REIMBURSED THE FULL AMOUNT OR THERE IS ANY LEFTOVER OR SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THE MONEY DOESN'T GET USED, WE WANT TO HAVE TIME TO REALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS BEFORE THE DEADLINE, SO TO SPEAK. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN GETTING THE GRIEMENTS GOING, AND BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE RULES, WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT HAVING THAT JUNE 30 DEADLINE IS APPROPRIATE. 2024.
THIS W WILL BE A PROCESS IN TERS OF HOW WE REQUIRE THE REPORTING TO GET OUT. THAT WAS ONE OF THE TRICKY PARTS THAT WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH GILBERT.
HE IS NOT HERE. WE WORKED VERY CLOSELY TO GET HIM COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROCESS FOR THESE ENTITIES TO REQUEST, IN ESSENCE, THE FUNDS. THERE IS A FORM ATTACHED TO THE AGREEMENT. THAT FACILITATES THAT PROCESS.
IN TERMS OF THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES, THERE IS THE EXHIBIT A'S IN BOTH PROJECTS. I WILL BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THOSE.
LY WALK THROUGH BOTH. SINCE I'M HERE TONIGHT NOW.
ON THE ZOO ONE, THAT IS HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
PARTLY FOR THE MASTER PLAN. WE ALSO DID A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO APPROVE A NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE ZOO.
THAT WASES A PRECURSOR TO THIS. AND SO THANKS TO THAT NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY, WE HAVE TWO EMPLOYEES FORMALLY... FORMERLY ON THE BOARD OF THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A FORMAL INVOLVEMENT WITH THE ZOO.
ULTIMATELY, IT IS OUR ZOO AS WELL.
THAT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A ROLE IN THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE ZOO. ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT WE WERE GOING TO GET TO THIS POINT WHERE WE WERE GOING TO PARTNER WITH THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DID EVERYTHING WE COULD TO ENSURE THE MONEY GETS SPENT, YOU
[00:50:01]
KNOW, AS PLANNED. RIGHT? IT IS PART OF A STRATEGIC VI VISION.SO THAT IS WHY WE ALSO MADE IT A POINT TO REQUIRE THE ZOO GO THROUGH A MASTER PLAN. THEY HAVE GONE THROUGH A VERSION OF A MASTER PLAN IN THE EARLY 2000'S.
THAT WAS MORE OF AN ARCHITECT DOING SOME SKETCHES.
WE ENVISION THIS MASTER PLAN BEING ONE THAT IS MORE TRADITION MASTER PLAN LIKE THE ONE THAT IS WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THAT HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT PROCESSES THAT HAVE A SURVEY.
THAT HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS. REALLY TRYING TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED AND TRYING TO IDENTIFY, WHAT IS THE VISION FOR THE ZOO AND HOW WE WANT TO EXPAND SOMETHING THAT IS REALISTIC BUT ALSO ACHIEVABLE. WE THINK HAVING THE MASTER PLAN WILL HELP FACILITATE THEIR EFFORT TO, YOU KNOW, START A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN. RIGHT? TO FUND-RAISE MONEY FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
IT MIGHT FACILITATE OUR OWN INVOLVEMENT OVER TIME.
ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS ON OUR PROPERTY.
AND IT IS OUR ZOO. THAT IS CRITICAL.
ASIDE FROM THAT, SOME FUNDS WILL BE UTILIZED FOR HURRICANE FLOOD MITIGATION. WE KNOW THAT OBVIOUSLY, THEIR PHYSICAL LOCATION CAN BE COLLAGING... CHALLENGING BECAUSE OF. THAT A LIST OF IMPROVEMENTS FROM THE EXHIBITS. THE LINKS EXHIBIT, SOME SAFETY ISSUES WITH SOME RAILINGS. ALSO ADDRESSING THE AIF QUARRYY.
AIF QUARRIRY I KNEW I WAS SAYING IT WRONG.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. THAT IS INCLUDED.
ON THE CATTAN SIDE. THEIR HALF A MILLION IS FOR THE DESIGN PHASE. THE PROJECT, AS YOU KNOW, WOULD BE OUR FIRST EVER IN-HOUSE OVERNIGHT FACILITY.
IT WOULD BE LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST VICTORIA NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF 185 AND HIGHWAY 59. WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THAT.
SINCE OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT AREA OF TOWN FOR A WHILE. WHEN WE PART NERD WITH THE TEXAS DEVELOPMENT TO BUILD A STATION OUT THERE TO HELP FACILITATE DEVELOPMENT. WE ALWAYS ENVISIONED HAVING MORE PROJECTS OUT THERE. WHEN EINVEST IN THE INVESTMENT, IT HELPS FACILITATE THAT. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AGREEMENTS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THEM AS THEY
UNFOLD. >> EXCITED FOR THE USE OF THE MONEY. FOR US GETTING THE LONG-TERM USE OUT OF IT. THE BILLY CATTAN.
THOSE ARE ASSETS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL LAST FOR
YEARS AND YEARS. >> MAY YOUR BALK KNIGHT... THESE
FIT THE MOLD FOR THAT. >> MARK?
>> I MOVE WE ADOPT. >> I'LL SECOND.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION.
AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
SAME SIGN. >> I MOVE WE ADOPT E-2.
>> SECOND. >> WE CAN... IF YOU... WHY DON'T YOU READ IT. YES.
LET'S BREAK IT UP. ITEM E-1 PASSES.
[2. Approve a community grant agreement with Billy T. Cattan Recovery Outr...]
>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMMUNITY GRANT AGREEMENT FOR THE BILLY CATTAN OUTREACH CENTER IN THE AMOUNT OF $500,000.
SEE, HE IS NOT MAKING A PRESENTATION NOW.
I MOVE WE ADOPT ITEM E-2. >> I'LL SECOND IT.
>> ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE.
>> ITEM E-2 PASSES. >> E-3 SA RESOLUTION HEARING AND
[3. Appeal of the Building and Standards Commission's Demolition Order for...]
APPEAL OF THE BUILDING AND SAD THARD COMMISSIONS DEMOLITION ORDER FOR 250 # SOUTH LAURENT STREET.>> GOOD EVENING. SO 2507 SOUTH LAURENT STREET IS OWNED BY DO MINGO GARCIA WHO IS DECEASED.
YOU HEARD EARLIER FROM ONE OF HER HEIRS, MR. ALVAREZ.
HE LIVES AT A HOME RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED BY THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE. THIS IS NOT HIS RESIDENCE NOR HAS IT SEEMED TO BE OCCUPIED SINCE BEFORE HURRICANE HARVEY IN 2017. SO THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION ORDER WAS APPEALED BY MR. ALVAREZ' BROTHER, MR. CRUZ ALVAREZ WHO IS NOT HERE TONIGHT. THIS CODE ENFORCEMENT CASE STARTED BACK IN 2020 FOR STUB-STANDARD STRUCTURE VIOLATIONS. YOU CAN SEE THE PHOTOS ON THE SCREEN. THESE WERE TAKEN IN 2020 AND 2021. CODE ENFORCEMENT TRIED TO WORK WITH THE ALVAREZ BROTHERS TO BRING THE PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE. THE STRUCTURE HAS A LOT OF
[00:55:04]
SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS. MAINLY, A LOT OF LOOSE SIDING, HOLES IN THE WALLS, BROKEN WINDOWS.DAMAGED ROOF. DETERIORATED MATERIAL THROUGHOUT THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING. IT INCLUDES DRY-ROT AND TERMITE DAMAGE. THIS STRUCTURE IS ALSO... IT HAS SOME LEVELING ISSUES. IT IS OVERALL IN VERY POOR CONDITION. THEREFORE, THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION ORDERED A DEMOLITION AT THEIR LAST MEETING. SO THESE ARE PICTURES THAT IS WERE TAKEN TODAY. YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME METAL SIDING THAT HAS BEEN PUT OVER THE EXTERIOR OF THE PROPERTY. THE SUBSTANDARD CONDITION THAT EXISTS STILL EXISTS UNDERNEATH THAT METAL SIDING.
FOR THE PROPERTY TO TRULY... FOR THE BUILDING TO TRULY COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH OUR BUILDING CODES, THE METAL SIDING WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE ACTUAL FOUNDATION OF THE STRUCTURE WOULD NEED TO BE REPAIRED SUCH AS REMOVING OUT OF THE DRY-ROT, ROTTED WOOD, TERMITE DAMAGE WOOD, LEVELING THE FOUNDATION. MAKING THOSE REPAIRS.
THEN IF THEY WANTED TO FINISH THE BUILDING OFF WITH METAL SIDING, THEN IT COULD BE PUT BACK ON.
SO WHILE THERE HAS BEEN MINIMAL WORK WITH METAL SIDING BEING ADDED TO THE BUILDING, NONE OF THE ACTUAL REPAIRS TO BRING THE PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE WITH OUR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODES HAVE BEEN DONE. SO HERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL PHOTOS. TAKEN TODAY.
THERE IS ALSO OTHER VIOLATIONS OF A LOT OF JUNK AND DEBRIS ON SITE. AND SO BECAUSE OF THIS, STAFF DOES RECOMMEND UPHOLDING THE BUILDING STANDARD COMMISSION'S ORDER TO DEMOLISH THE STRUCTURE. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS. >> DID YOU SAY IT HAD BEEN
VACANT SINCE 2017? >> AT LEAST.
>> FOR MY CLARIFICATION, WAS THERE SOMETHING IN THE ORDER THAT THEY HAD TO PROVIDE A RENOVATION PLAN WITHIN 30 DAYS?
AND THAT HAS NOT OCCURRED? >> SO NOT WITHIN THE ORDER THE ORDER WAS TO DEMOLISH. IN THE NOTIFICATION PACKETS, WE DO ASK THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS PRESENT A DETAILED PLAN TO THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION TO HELP THE BUILDING STANDARD COMMISSION MAKE A DETERMINATION ON WHETHER THE PROPERTY SHOULD BE REPAIRED OR DEMOLISHED. THERE IS NO SUCH PLAN.
I'M GLAD YOU BRING THAT UP, TOO. WHENEVER HE CAME INTO MY OFFICE TO MAKE THE APPEAL WHAT I HELPED WRIT FOR HIM, I REITERATED.
BRING TO COUNSEL A DETAILED PLAN TO FIX THIS PROPERTY.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY SORT OF PLAN SUBMITTED.
>> AND I BELIEVE SOME OF THE MATERIALS THAT WE SAW SAY THAT AT ONE TIME, THERE WAS A PERMIT FOR REPAIRS.
>> AND WERE THOSE REPAIRS COMPLETED?
>> NO. THE PERMIT STILL REMAINS OPEN.
WORK HAS NOT COMMENCED. >> HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT?
>> I'M NOT SURE OF THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL PERMIT.
IN 2021. AND THE PERMIT WILL CONTINUE TO STAY OPEN. UNTIL THE WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED. WE LOOK AT IT IN SIX MONTHS INTERVALS. IF NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, WE
USUALLY EXTEND IT. >> I HAVE ONE QUESTION.
YOU KNOW THE BILLS THAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT? DID YOU... THAT Y'ALL CHARGED HIM FOR? I WOULDN'T THINK THE PROPERTY WOULD LOOK THAT BAD.
>> SO IT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY WORSE WHEN CODE ENFORCEMENT FIRST NOTIFIED HIM OF THAT SUB ST STANDARD CONDITIONS IN 2020.
WE DID DO CLEANUP. MR. ALVAREZ OWNS HALF A DOZEN PROPERTIES. MOST OF THEM USUALLY HAVE SOME SORT OF CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATION.
I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THOSE TOTALS ARE... IN TOTALITY OF ALL THE VIOLATIONS ON ALL THE PROPERTIES.
THEIR PROPERTY WAS CLEANED UP COMPLETELY.
BY CODE ENFORCEMENT. WHEN THE SUBSTANDARD BUILDING NOTICES WENT OUT IN 2020. IT HAS SINCE COME TO THIS CONDITION. IN THE TWO YEARS.
>> I SEE A REFERENCE TO SOME OF MATERIALS.
AS THE STRUCTURE CURRENTLY STANDS, WHAT ARE THE SAFETY
ISSUES INVOLVED WITH IT? >> WELL, WHEN YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, ROTTED WOOD, OR DETERIORATING FOUNDATION OR WOOD SUPPORTS, I MEAN, YOU ARE ALWAYS RISKING THE BUILDING COLLAPSING.
>> ARE THERE CURRENTLY UTILITIES TO THE STRUCTURE?
>> I BELIEVE SO. RICK BELIEVES THERE ARE UTILITIES. USUALLY, THERE ARE UTILITIES.
[01:00:01]
THAT IS PART OF OUR DEMOLITION PROCESS.TO DISCONNECT THOSE. >> HAS HE EVER BEEN HERE BEFORE
NOT TO... >> NOT ON THIS PROPERTY.
BUT ANOTHER PROPERTY? >> I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE DEMOLISHED ANOTHER ONE. YOU KNOW, AT THE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION... ALTHOUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS ABATED HIS PROPERTIES MANY TIMES.
WITH, YOU KNOW, MOWINGS OR PICKING UP JUNK AND DEBRIS.
>> ONE OTHER QUESTION, MS. LACEY.
YOU HAD REACHED OUT TO US. WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS THAT COUNCIL HAS ON THIS ITEM TODAY? WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPPED INVOLVED WITH THOSE OPTIONS, IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE?
THE WAY WE WROTE THE RESOLUTION WAS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO DENY THE APPEAL AND UPHOLD THE DECISION.
AT THAT POINT, THE PROPERTY OWNER WILL HAVE 30 DAYS TO ESSENTIALLY APPEAL THAT DECISION UP TO DISTRICT COURT.
AND THEN THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO RULE ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANTED TO UPHOLD THE DECISION OR OVERRULE IT AS WELL.
Y'ALL HAVE A SECOND OPTION TO GRANT THE APPEAL IN AND REVERSE THE DECISION. THAT WILL SEND THIS CASE BACK DOWN TO CODE ENFORCEMENT AND BACK TO THE BUILDINGS AND STANDARDS COMMISSION. IT WILL COME UP AT THEIR NEXT MEETING. EARN ALLY, YOU WOULD OPEN THE CASE ALL OVER AGAIN. THAT MEETING IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 28. THEY WOULD HAVE AT THAT TIME, THE CHANCE TO SEE WHETHER OR N NOT, AGAIN, ANY OF THE REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE. IN THE ROUGHLY TWO MONTHS THAT WOULD BE BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
THANK YOU. ANY MORE DISCUSSION?
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN SOME COS IN THETIC COSMETIC REPAIR WORK DONE.
BUT ALL IT DID WAS HIDE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM.
>> YES. >> AND YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE JUST GOING FOR APPEARANCE OR ARE WE GOING FOR THE SAFETY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THE BUILDING THAT... YOU KNOW, NOW LOOKS SAFER THAN IT REALLY IS.
THAT KIND OF PERSUADES ME. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> DO WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE?
>> NO, WE DO NOT. >> I WOULD AGREE THAT MY CONCERNS WOULD BE RELATED TO THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THAT.
NOT ONLY FOR THAT PROPERTY OR INHABITANTS BUT NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES. THAT WAS WHAT LED TO MY
QUESTION. >> I MOVE WE UPHOLD THE BUILDING AND STANDARD COMMISSION ORDER TO DEMOLISH THIS STRUCTURE.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, OF ITEM E-3,
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. THE ITEM PASSES.
>> MAYOR PRO TEM, IF I MAY, JUST VERY QUICKLY, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BILLY CATTAN IS HERE. HE TOOK SOME TIME TO BE HERE IN CASE YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS OR WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT PROJECT. I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT ACKNOWLEDGING HIS PRESENCE WHEN THAT ITEM CAME UP.
HE IS HERE. HE IS AVAILABLE IF YOU WOULDN'T
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME UP. SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> DID HE DO A PRESENTATION? (LAUGHTER).
>> GOOD EVENING. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YEAH. I WANTED TO SAY THAT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE STARTING THIS PROJECT, AND WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND JUST ALL THE UNWAVERING SUPPORT THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FRM THE COMMUNITY.
AS Y'ALL WILL KNOW OR MAYBE YOU DON'T KNOW, HAVING THE DETOX AND RESIDENTIALS WILL BE BIG FOR VICTORIA AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. ESPECIALLY FOR VICTORIA.
YOU KNOW, FOR YEAR, WE FACED A CHALLENGE OF FINDING A DETOX BED OR A RESIDENTIAL BED FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS NEEDING THOSE SERVICES. IT IS JUST EXCITING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
EVERYTHING GOES AS PLANNED. WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO THAT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY. WE ARE JUST EXCITED AND READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT PROJECT. RIGHT NOW, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THE COMPLETION DAY WILL BE THE SUMMER OF 2025 AS FAR AS THE BUILDING IS UP AND RUNNING. SO I KNOW TIME FLIES BY REALLY QUICKLY. BUT WE ARE PREPARED.
IT IS A PROJECT THAT WE HAVE MODELED AFTER ANOTHER PROJECT WITH SOME COWORKERS OF OURS FROM ST. ANGELO.
SO WE ARE GOING INTO THIS READY AND PREPARED TO BE OPEN HERE IN
>> HOW MANY PATIENTS? >> IT WILL SUPPORT 52 PATIENTS.
[01:05:06]
12 OF THOSE BEDS WILL BE FOR DETOX STRICTLY.THE OTHER 40 WILL BE FOR MALE AND FEMALE.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT WE ARE DOING THAT WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, WE WILL BE THE ONLY CENTER... WELL, SIX OF THE CENTERS IN TEXAS THAT WILL BE ABLE TO HOUSE WOMEN WITH CHILDREN BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT IS A BARRIER FOR WOMEN WHO ARE... SEEKING TREATMENT. BECAUSE OF THEIR KIDS THAT THEY HAVE. OUR PLAN IS TO HAVE THAT PRO PROGRAM. IT WILL BE STATE-FUNDED.
AND SO IF A MOTHER HAS A CHILD THAT IS UNDER THE AGE OF THREE, THEY ARE ALLOWED TO BRING THE CHILDREN WITH THEM.
>> CAN YOU SPECIFY WHAT PART... I KNOW YOU SAID 185 AND 59, WAS IT? WHERE IS THAT GOING TO BE?
>> THE BLOOMINGTON HIGHWAY. >> RIGHT.
I UNDERSTAND. THAT HOW FAR OUT?
>> IN ESSENCE, BEHIND THE TEXAN. >> OKAY.
OKAY. I DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER IT WAS ON THAT SIDE OF THE TEXAN OR THIS SIDE.
>> YEAH. RIGHT ADJACENT TO THE TEXAN.
TEN ACRES BEHIND THE TEXAN. >> OH, OKAY.
GOOD. >> I WILL SHOW YOU A MAP.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK.
[4. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate the terms of a professional se...]
>> THANK YOU. >> ITEM E-4 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HECM INCORPORATED FOR OWNERS REPRESENTATION SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH A PUBLIC
SAFETY HEADQUARTERS FACILITY. >> THAT WAS A LONG TITLE.
(LAUGHTER). >> TONIGHT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS PROCESS.
I'LL CHANGE IT. WE HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, IN OCTOBER THROUGH A REQUEST OF QUALIFICATIONS PROCURED, FOR DESIGN SERVICES AS AN ARCHITECT, OUR NEXT STEP WAS TO SOLICIT AN OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE TO HELP US THROUGH THE PROCESS OF ENSURING THAT WE ARE ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS, THAT WE ARE MONITORING THINGS ON THE GROUND DURING CONSTRUCTION.
THAT WE ARE CORRECTLY PROCURING THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK THAT WE USE IN THE FUTURE WHO WILL BECOME A GENERAL CONTRACTOR. SOMEONE WHO... A FIRM WHO HAS BEEN THERE. A FIRM WHO HAS DONE PROJECTS LIKE THIS MORE THAN WE HAVE. AND A FIRM WHO HAS THE CAPACITY ON STAFF TO DO THINGS WE DON'T. AND SO AS A RESULT OF THAT PROCUREMENT, IN EARLY DECEMBER, WE WERE ABLE TO INTERVIEW AND SELECT AGCM AS THE FIRM WE WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH.
THEY HAVE ALREADY STARTED WORKING WITH US.
TODAY THEY SPENT ALL DAY IN MEETINGS.
WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE ASKED YOU BEFORE THAT.
BUT THEY DID SPEND ALL DAY TODAY WITH FGMA AND WITH OUR STAFF.
AND SOME DESIGN PLANS. WE STARTED THIS DESIGN PROCESS.
REAL QUICKLY, I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THEM BEFORE I INVITE CHRIS MAJORS UP TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND LET YOU ASK US BOTH ANY QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE. THE REASON WE HAVE SELECTED THEM IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF THEIR HISTORY OF EXPERIENCE.
THEIR LOCAL OFFICES IN CORPUS CHRISTI, HOUSTON, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, AND DALLAS. THTHEY ALSO HAVE MORE THAN 70 EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE STATE. THEY LISTED SEVERAL SIMILAR PROJECTS TO OURS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A PART OF.
IT ALL CAME WITH GOOD REFERENCES WITH.
THAT, I'LL INVITE CHRIS MAJORS UP TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF AND LET YOU ASK ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
AFTER THIS, THE NEXT STEP IN JANUARY, WE WILL BRING YOU BACK A... THE FINAL TERMS OF THE CONTRACT FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
>> THANK YOU. >> APPRECIATE IT.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. TIME VICE PRESIDENT OF THE EAST AND SOUTH TEXAS OFFICE. FROM CORPUS TO HOUSTON.
BORN AND RAISED IN CORPUS. LIVE IN CORPUS.
I TRAVEL BEEN A BACK AND BETWEEN THERE AND HOUSTON TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK. I HAVE BEEN WITH THE COMPANY FOR ABOUT 13 YEARS. I STARTED STRAIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM EVER SINCE. GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THE FIRM OR QUALIFICATIONS.
>> CERTAINLY, THE RESUME IN THE PACKET THAT WE RECEIVED WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE. AND I THINK FOR ME, IT IS A CONFIDENCE-BUILDER TO SEE THE TYPES OF BUILDINGS THAT YOU GUYS HAVE PUT IN THERE. SIMILAR TO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. WE APPRECIATE THAT INFORMATION.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU, MR. MAJORS.
>> WE ARE VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO IT AS WELL.
>> WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE FACILITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE. >> THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL ASK FOR...S IF YOU ARE UP FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING US TO NEGOTIATE.
>> I MOVE WE ACCEPT E-4. >> SECOND.
[01:10:01]
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE.
>> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN. MOTION PASSES.
[5. Appoint members to the Tourism Advisory Board. April Hilbrich, City Se...]
>> THANK YOU. >> ITEM E-5 IS THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD.
>> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING.
>> THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WILL APPOINT MEMBERS TO THE TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD. YOU HEARD FROM A COUPLE OF APPLICANTS EARLIER. I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION QUICKLY. THEN WE HAVE SEVERAL VOTES TO TAKE. ON THIS ITEM.
OKAY? THE FUNCTION OF THE BOARD IS TO ADVISE THE CVB ON MATTERS THAT ARE REFERRED TO THE BOARD.
THEY ALSO ADMINISTRATE THE GRANT PROGRAMS, ADVERTISING ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES, AND THEY HELP PROMOTE TOURISM IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA. THE COMPOSITION, THIS IS A LARGE FLOOR WITH 18 TOTAL MEMBERS. 13 OF WHICH ARE VOTING MEMBERS.
FIVE EX OFFICIO MEMBERS THAT ARE MOSTLY SI EMPLOYEES.
THE MEMBERS SERVE TWO-YEAR TERMS. THEY MAY NOT SERVE MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS. THE VOTING MEMBERS INCLUDE THREE FROM THE LODGING AND ACCOMMODATION INDUSTRY. TWO FROM THE ARTS.
ONE FROM HISTORIC PRESERVATION. ONE FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT. ONE FROM THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY. ONE FROM RETAIL.
AND ONE FROM THE ATTRACTIONS AND ONE FROM SPORTS AND OUTDOOR TOURISM. THE MEMBERS ARE THE CVB DIRECTOR, THE CITY MANAGER OR DESIGNEE.
MAIN STREET EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTOR.
AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR.
SO IS APPOINTMENTS TONIGHT. THERE IS GOING TO BE EIGHT DIFFERENT APPOINTMENTS. ONE FOR THE UHB REPRESENTATIVE.
SPORTS AND TOURISM. REF TAIL SHOPPING.
ATTRACTIONS, FOOD AN BENCH IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT AND THE ARTS. SO FIRST OFF, WE HAVE SOME REAPPOINTMENTS. THERE ARE FOUR CATEGORIES THAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO CONSIDER REAPPOINTING MEMBERS THAT ARE ALREADY SERVING ON THE BOARD. THAT IS THE REPRESENTATIVE, MR. JAY LAMBERT. VICTORIA TOURISM REPRESENTATIVE, ASHLEY MCGEE AND RETAIL SHOPPING, CURRENTLY REPRESENTED BY ROW SANNA FISH. THEY HAVE ASKED TO BE REAPPOINTENED AND ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT.
ATTRACTIONS, FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY, THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT AND ARTS. FIRST OFF, I'M GOING TO LEAVE THE SCREEN ON FOR A WHILE. WE WILL BE VOTING.
THE FIRST VOTE WOULD BE A VERBAL VOTE.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER. PLACING THE NAMES OF THE FOUR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE UP FOR REAPPOINTMENT INTO THE RESOLUTION WHICH WOULD BE JAY LAMBERT REPRESENTING UHB.
SUE PRUDE HOME REPRESENTING VICTORIA COLLEGE.
ASHLEY MCGEE REPRESENTING OUTDOOR TOURISM.
AND ROSANNA FISH REPRESENTING RETAIL SHOPPING.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY SERVING ON THAT BOARD.
>> ANY OPPOSITION TO THEM BEING REAPPOINTED?
>> MOTION TO REAPPOINT THEM. >> THANK YOU.
>> SECOND. >> I THINK WE WILL TAKE THAT AS
>> THE NEXT VOTE WILL ACTUALLY DO BY BALLOT.
THE BALLOTS HAVE BEEN PLACED. THE FIRST ONE THAT WE WANT TO CONSIDER IS THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE ATTRACTIONS INDUSTRY.
WHICH IS KELSEY WILSON. AND JOHN WELCH.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT BALLOT THERE.
IT WILL SAY TOURISM. IT WILL SAY ATTRACTIONS.
IF YOU WANT TO VOTE,LY COME DOWN AND GET THOSE REAL QUICK.
>> IS THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS ON
THIS BOARD IN. >> NOT FOR THIS PARTICULAR
>> A TIE. >> I HAD A FEELING THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE HAVE A 3463-3-3 TIE.
WE CAN VOTE AGAIN TO SEE IF SOMEBODY CHANGES THEIR VOTE.
OR WE COULD DELAY UNTIL WE HAVE A FULL COUNCIL.
>> CAN WE FLIP A COIN? (LAUGHTER).
>> HOWEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO PROCEED.
>> WE HAVE ONE MORE. WE WILL GO THROUGH AND SEE IF IT
>> GIVE ME A MINUTE TO LOOK AT THE RESUMES A LITTLE CLOSER.
>> YES, MA'AM. >> WE WILL CALL JEFF RIGHT NOW.
>> THERE YOU GO. WE WILL SEE IF HE ANSWERS.
>> PUT HIM LIVE ON. >> I WILL STATE THAT THE BALLOTS
[01:15:04]
INCLUDE COUNCIL MEMBERS' NAMES AND ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW IN MY OFFICE. IF #ANYBODY CHOSE TO DO SO.YOU CANNOT VOTE BY SECRET BALLOT.
>> APRIL. >> IT IS A TIE AGAIN.
>> MAYBE TWO PEOPLE BROKE, AND IT WAS, LIKE, CANCELED EACH OTHER OUT. WE CAN JUST WAIT.
>> OKAY. >> WE WILL OLD ON THAT ONE.
>> FOR THIS PARTICULAR... >> YOU WILL HAVE TO VOTE THE SAME, THOUGH. NEXT TIME.
(LAUGHTER) WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT CATEGORY.
>> NO PRESSURE TO THE MAYOR. >> WHICH WOULD BE THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY. WHERE WE HAVE JENNIFER WILLIAMS AND BRIAN KEITH.
>> SO IT IS TIED AGAIN. (LAUGHTER) I GUESS THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE WE COULD DELAY...
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY. CAN WE DELAY THIS ITEM? PUT IT ON? WILL THAT MATTER FOR...
>> THIS PARTICULAR BOARD MEETS QUARTERLY.
>> YEAH. IT WILL BE FINE JANUARY 3.
YEAH. WE WILL BE FINE DOING IT IN
JANUARY. >> WE COULD DO JANUARY #.
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A MOTION. TO TAKE TO A CERTAIN SPEFNG
DATE. >> I MOVE THAT WE TABLE THIS UNTIL JANUARY WHAT? JANUARY 3.
OKAY. >> Y'ALL ARE GOING TO BE HERE ON JANUARY 3, RIGHT? I WAS GOING TO SAY.
PLAN TO BE HERE ON JANUARY 3. RIGHT?
>> PICK UP THE ONES THAT WE HAVEN'T USED.
>> WE NEED TO VOTE. >> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TABLING THIS ITEM FOR JANUARY 3, SAY AYE.
>> AYE. >> ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE TABLED THAT.
WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT JANUARY 3 WITH HOPEFULLY, A FULL COMPLEMENT ON COUNCIL. LET IT BE KNOWN THAT IT IS A THE MAYOR'S FAULT. (LAUGHTER).
>> MAYOR PRO TEM, IT SPEAKS TO THE QUALITY OF THE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE APPLIED... >> I DO AS WELL.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE, VERY GOOD APPLICANTS FOR THESE POSITIONS.
[1. Neighborhood Revitalization Project Updates. Mike Etienne, Assistant C...]
ALWAYS TOUGH. OKAY.MOVING ON TO CITY MANAGER REPORTS.
>> ITEM F-1 IS A NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION PROJECTS UPDATE.
>> GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
SO TODAY I WILL PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE AS TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THE EFFORT TO REVITALIZE THE QUEEN CITY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AS YOU KNOW, THE 2035 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN'S MISSION SAYS THAT THE CITY'S MISSION IS TO ENHANCE LIVABILITY. AND THAT IS LIVABILITY FOR ALL RESIDENTS. CLEARLY, WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB. THE CITY OF VICTORIA HAS A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE. HOWEVER, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NEED TO BE REVITALIZED.
THEY NEED A FACE-LIFT. BECAUSE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND. SO COUNCIL'S SUPPORT... WE HAVE TARGETED TWO NEIGHBORHOODS TO START OFF.
QUEEN CITY AND SILVER CITY. TO DO A TARGETED NEIGHBORHOOD
[01:20:03]
REVITALIZATION. SO TONIGHT, I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT QUEEN CITY AND THEN TALK ABOUT SILVER CITY.YOU SAID, WHAT IS NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION? WELL, I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION FOR A LONG TIME. ALMOST 30 YEARS.
ACTUALLY. BUT IT IS AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN, TO ENHANCE LIVABILITY IN TARGETED AREAS. BY MAKING VISIBLE IMPROVEMENTS.
WE WANT TO SEE HOUSES REPAIRED. WE WANT TO SEE STREETS REPAIRED.
THE SECOND IS IMPROVING PERCEPTIONS.
WE KNOW THERE ARE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS THAT PEOPLE SAY, WELL, DON'T GO LIVE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS.
BECAUSE OF THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS.
SO WE WANT TO CHANGE THAT PERCEPTION.
OF COURSE, THE THIRD IS MAKING LASTING IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS. THE ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO ENHANCE AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS TO REVITALIZE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
AGAIN, THE KEY WORD IS EMPOWER. YOU WANT TO EMPOWER THE RESIDENTS TO IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO VICTORIA REST VE VITALIZATION PLAN IS EQUITY-FOCUSED.
I MEAN THAT WE ARE TARGETING OUR WORST-OFF NEIGHBORHOODS.
THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN HIT HARD BY VACANT AND OVERGROWN LOTS.
VACANT RUNDOWN HOUSES. CONCENTRATION OF POVERTY, POOR INFRASTRUCTURE. THE INITIAL TWO NEIGHBORHOODS, AGAIN, ARE QUEEN CITY AND SILVER CITY.
YOU CAN SEE IT SEE THEM ON THE MAP.
QUEEN CITY, I'M SURE YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS.
AND OF COURSE, SILVER CITY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE CITY.
WITH REGARDS TO QUEEN CITY, WHERE IS IT? AND WHAT ARE THE BOUNDARIES? SO QUEEN CITY IS ESSENTIALLY IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CITY. IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUAL SQUARE MILES, ABOUT .4 SQUARE MILES. 88.4 ACRES.
THIS MAP SHOWS THE STUDY AREA. IF YOU... IN TERMS OF THE BOUNDARY, HAVE LOMA VISTA TO THE NORTH.
TO THE WEST YOU HAVE NAVARRO. TO THE SOUTH IS RED RIVER.
TO THE EAST, LAURENT. THAT IS THE BOUNDARY OF THE STUDY AREA. AND WITHIN THE MAP, YOU CAN SEE THE LOCATION OF THE QUEEN CITY PARK.
WHICH IS THE SMALLER PARK. AND ALSO WILL RODGERS PARK.
AND THE YELLOW, IT IS CHRIST KITCHEN.
CHRIST KITCHEN HAS BEEN A MAJOR PARTNER IN THIS EFFORT.
YOU CAN SEE THE DEMOGRAPHICS. IN TERMS OF WHO LIVED IN QUEEN CITY. WE HAVE ABOUT 1RBGS 585 PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE. 20% POVERTY RATE.
BUT THERE IS A GOOD THING. 60% OF THE OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS ARE OWNER-OCCUPIED. THERE IS SOME POSITIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU HAVE LOTS OF HOME OWNERS.
SO THIS REVITALIZATION EFFORT HAS TEN SPECIFIC STRATEGIES THAT IS WE ARE WORKING ON. TO ESSENTIALLY ENHANCE LIVABILITY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE VERY FIRST ONE WHICH IS CRITICAL, IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
AND THE LEAD FOR THAT IS TRISH HASTINGS WITH CHRIST KITCHEN.
IT IS CRITICAL FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE YOU WANT...
THAT IS WHERE YOU BUILD TRUST. WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
BY ENGAGING THE RESIDENTS. IF YOU DON'T ENGAGE THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THE QUEEN CITY, YOU WILL NOT BUILD TRUST.
THEY WILL NOT TRUST YOU. SO WE ARE ENGAGING THE RESI RESIDENTS. WE MEET WITH THEM REGULARLY.
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF TRISH HASTINGS.
THE SECOND STRATEGY IS CODE ENFORCEMENT.
AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, TO ADDRESS HEALTH AND SAFETY.
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VACANT HOUSES AND VACANT LOTS ARE ADDRESSED. AND OUR GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE. WE WANT THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN QUEEN CITY TO COMPLY WITH THE CODES.
THIRD, COMMUNITY APPEARANCE. WE ARE DOING NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN-UPS. AND SO FORTH.
WE HAVE TWO CLEANUPS SCHEDULED NEXT YEAR.
THE FIRST PART OF QUEEN CITY WILL BE IN MARCH.
2023. AND THAT WILL BE THE WESTERN PART OF QUEEN CITY. AND THEN THE EASTERN PART WILL BE IN THE FALL. BECAUSE QUEEN CITY IS FAIRLY BIG, WE WILL DO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP TWO TIMES.
OKAY? SO IN ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS.
A F... LITTLE PARKLETS. IT IS IMPROVING THE PERCEPTION.
[01:25:07]
WE WANT TO IMPROVE PERCEPTION. THE FOURTH ONE IS PUBLIC SAFETY.CHIEF ARRADONDO HAS BEEN A KEY PLAYER IN THIS.
ATTENDING THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS.
WE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING... WELL, THE CHIEF HAS BEEN LEADING MORE COMMUNITY POLICING. ESSENTIALLY, ENGAGING THE RESIDENTS. MORE COMMUNITY POLICING TO BUILD TRUST. AT THE SAME TIME, ENFORCING THE LAWS. FIVE IS NEIGHBORHOOD PARK IMPROVEMENTS. THAT IS A VERY BIG ONE.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO PARKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND ONE OF WHICH IS THE QUEEN CITY PARK.
QUEEN CITY PARK IS SEEN BY THE RESIDENTS AS A NONCONTRIBUTING PARK. IT IS NOT REALLY AN ASSET AT THE MOMENT. BECAUSE OF THE SAY RAN SI VAGRANCY AND THE... SO FORTH. WE ARE LOOKING AT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE, TO LOOK AT WAYS WE CAN REVITALIZE THAT PARK.
HOW CAN WE MAKE THE PARK OR TURN THE PARK INTO AN ASSET FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD? STREET IMPROVEMENTS.
AS YOU KNOW, COUNCIL, WE HAVE $1 #.5 MILLION IN THE CIP RESIDENTIAL STREET PROGRAM. AND THAT $1.5 MILLION IS GOING INTO QUEEN CITY. WE WILL DO SEAL COATS IN THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD STARTING IN FEBRUARY.
OF NEXT YEAR. SO WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF THE STREETS BEING, YOU KNOW, REPAIRS.
THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT IS A $1.5 MILLION INVESTMENT IN QUEEN CITY. NUMBER 7.
OF COURSE, IS TRANSIT. SO WE HAVE MIKE WITH GRPC.
ESSENTIALLY, LOOKING AT THE BUS STOPS.
RIGHT? WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS OR GOOD BUS STOOPS TO WAIT FOR THE BUS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BUSES, THAT THERE ARE BUS STOPS AND REGIONAL JOB CENTERS.
WHERE RESIDENTS FROM QUEEN CITY CAN CATCH THE BUS TO GO TO CATERPILLAR. THE JOB CENTER.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BUS STOPS ARE THERE.
AND ALSO THAT THE DESTINATION IS ALSO THERE.
IN TERMS OF TAKING THEM TO JOB CENTERS.
ALSO WE WANT THE RIDE TO BE PLEASANT.
NUMBER EIGHT IS THE HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS.
SO AGAIN, HOUSING IS CRITICAL. BECAUSE IT IS THE FIRST RUNG OF ANY EFFORT. IMPROVING HOUSING.
SO WE HAVE THREE PARTNERS WORKING WITH US ON THIS.
THAT IS JULIE FULGHAM, BRIAN WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. WHAT WE ARE DOING THERE IS LOOKING TO ACQUIRE VACANT LOTS TO BUILD HOUSING IN QUEEN CITY.
ALSO, PARTNERING WITH HABITAT TO RENOVATE EXISTING HOUSES.
WE HAVE A LOT OF RUNDOWN HOUSES IN QUEEN CITY.
A LOT OF THEM ARE HOME OWNERS. THE QUESTION IS HOW CAN WE HELP THOSE HOME OWNERS REPAIR THEIR HOMES? SO THEY CAN STAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN WE ARE PARTNERING. JULIE TALKED ABOUT THE PROGRAM WE HAVE WITH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY.
THEY ARE REPAIRING THE ROOFS. AND SO FORTH.
NUMBER NINE IS WORK FORECAST TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESIDENTS SCALE UP IN TERMS OF SKILLS. WE ARE PARTNERING WITH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. HENRY IS LEADING THAT EFFORT FOR US. AS THE COMMITTEE CHAIR.
TECHNICALLY, WE WANT TO CONNECT THE RESIDENTS TO JOBS.
AND THAT IS ESSENTIALLY, LIKE, FOR TRAINING.
YOU GET TRAINING. LIKE WELDING.
CORRECTION. SO THEY CAN FIND MEANINGFUL JOBS. SO THEY CAN RAISE THEIR INCOME AND IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
SO THAT IS CRITICAL, THE WORKFORCE TRAINING.
WE HAVE SOME RESIDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE A GED.
THE QUESTION IS HOW CAN WE HELP THEM GET A GED? AND ULTIMATELY, IF THEY WANT TO, GO TO COLLEGE.
AGAIN, IT IS UPSCALING THE REZ DENSE SO THEY CAN DO FOR THEMSELVES. HAVE A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.
THAT IS WHAT WE WANT. FINALLY, THE MENTAL HEALTH.
WE HAVE HEARD THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.
FOR PEOPLE THESE DAYS. BECAUSE OF THE COVID.
MENTAL HEALTH IS AN ISSUE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE ARE PARTNERING WITH JEFF TUNNEL TO ESSENTIALLY PROVIDE COUNSELING TO THE RESIDENTS SO THEY CAN HAVE GOOD MENTAL HEALTH. WE KNOW THAT ONCE WE FINISH, WE HOPE TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE MEASURE OUR SUCCESS? HOW DO WE KNOW WE ARE BEING SUCCESSFUL? SO WE HAVE EIGHT INDICATORS THAT IS WE ARE TRACKING TO SEE IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL. THE FIRST ONE IS INCREASED BUSINESSES. MENTAL HEALTH, SECOND ONE,
[01:30:02]
SAFETY. PARKS, AMENITIES, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, HOUSING. AND OF PREVENT GENTRIFICATION. TO MAKE SURE THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE, THE LONGTIME RESIDENTS ARE NOT DISPLACED.GENTRIFICATION IS DISPLACEMENT. WHEN RESIDENTS WHO USED TO LIVE THERE ARE FORCED TO LEAVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE OLD-TIME RESIDENTS REMAIN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE HOPE BY MAYBE A YEAR TWO OR THREE INTO THIS, WE WILL SEE IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE IN QUEEN CITY.
IN TERMS OF THE NEXT STEPS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MEET MONTHLY WITH THE COMMUNITY LEADERS. AND THE PARTNERS.
AT CHRIST KITCHEN. WE MEET MONTHLY AT CHRIST KITCHEN. AND ALL THE PARTNERS WE REPORT OUT. PUBLIC SAFETY, CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND SO FORTH. THEN QUARTERLY, WE MEET WITH THE LARGER NEIGHBORHOOD TO REPORT OUT TO THEM.
SO AGAIN, AS A NOTE, WE WILL BEGIN THE SILVER CITY REVITALIZATION EFFORT. IN THE SPRING.
SO THIS ESSENTIALLY CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I WOULD SAY AS WE REVITALIZE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU WILL SEE BETTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE CITY.
THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WE VITALIZATION AND THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AT THIS TIME, THE MAYOR AN COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK TRISH HASTINGS TO COME FORWARD AND SAY A FEW WORDS ON BEHALF OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
SHE HAS BEEN LEADING THE NEIGHBORHOOD ENGAGEMENT PART, MAKING SURE THE RESIDENTS ARE ENGAGED.
AND ALSO WANT TO THANK SOME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO HAVE ATTENDED THE MEETINGS. I KNOW COUNCILMAN DELAGARZA, YOU HAVE BEEN TO SOME OF THE MEETINGS.
COORDINATING MEETINGS. MARK, YOU HAVE AND JEN HAS TOO.
HOPEFULLY, WE WILL SEE YOU THERE WHEN WE HAVE THE MEETINGS.
AT THIS TIME, LET ME ASK TRISH TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO ADD TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY. JUST A FABULOUS JOB IN EXPLAINING THE PROCESS. I LOVE THAT HE USES THE WORD "EMPOWER." WE REALLY NEED TO EMPOWER.
THE QUEEN CITY WILL RODGERS AREA.
WE BEGAN OUR EFFORT ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO IN COLLABORATION WITH BE WELL VICTORIA. WE DECIDED WE WOULD FOCUS ON DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY TO EARN AND GAIN TRUST. AND IT HAS BEEN A SLOW PROCESS.
A VERY SLOW PROCESS. IT DIDN'T HELP THAT WE HAD A PANDEMIC IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. BUT WE HAVE ADDED TO OUR COLLABORATORS NOW MID COAST COLLABORATES WITH US.
THE HUMILITY PROJECT, THE HOMELESS COALITION, GULF BEND, HEALTH DISPARITIES. AS I SAID, IT HAS BEEN VERY SLOW. WE HAVE USED MONTHLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH US.
AND SO WE CAN GET TO KNOW THEM. SPECIFICALLY, WE MEET WEEKLY WITH THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER AT CHRIST KITCHEN.
WHICH HAS REALLY ALLOWED THE COMMUNITY TO BUILD TRUST WITH US BECAUSE WE ARE CONNECTING THEM WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED.
WE SAID WE BEGAN THIS ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
SIX MONTHS AGO, THE CITY ENGAGED WITH US.
WE HAVE BEGUN TO COLLABORATE WITH THE CITY.
WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO SURVEY OUR NEIGHBORS, NOT JUST TELL THEM WHAT WE THOUGHT THEY NEEDED.
BUT TO SURVEY THEM. AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY THOUGHT THEY NEEDED. WE DID JUST THAT AT ONE OF OUR MONTHLY COMMUNITY MEETINGS. MIKE, DID YOU WANT ME TO TOUCH
ON SOME OF THOSE RESULTS? >> VERY BRIEFLY.
>> VERY BRIEFLY. I THINK THAT KEISHA CAN PROVIDE THE SURVEY TO YOU AT ANY POINT. IN TIME.
SHOULD YOU WANT TO SEE IT. MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORS REALLY WANT THAT PARK CLEANED UP. AND THEY WANT TO FEEL SAFE.
THEY WANT MORE POLICE PRESENCE. AND THEY WANT THE NEIGHBORHOOD PICKED UP. SO I THINK MIKE MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE A CLEANUP SCHEDULED FOR THE SPRING.
I HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE COMMUNITY LEADERS THAT WILL BLOCK WALK WITH US. THAT THE PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW IN ORDER TO GET BUY-IN FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR THIS CLEANUP.
AND I THINK WITH THIS INITIAL CLEANUP PROJECT, WE WILL EMPOWER
[01:35:02]
QUEEN CITY AND WILL RODGERS PARK.WILL RODGERS TO TAKE BACK THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
TO TAKE IT BACK. AND THEY LIVE THE BECAUSE IT IS AFFORDABLE. AS MIKE SAID, MOST OWN THEIR HOMES. WHICH IS GREAT NEWS.
IT IS ALSO AN OLDER POPULATION. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE, AND WE NEED FULL ENGAGEMENT FROM EVERYBODY. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS. AND HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AS WELL. SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, MS. HASTINGS. ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING AND CONTINUE TO DO N AND COORDINATE.
IT IS A GREAT PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T THANK KEISHA.
SHE HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, HELPING FACILITATING THE MEETINGS AS WELL. AND CHECKING DATA.
... COLLECTING DATA. THANK YOU.
>> MR. ETIENNE, YOU HAVE DONE THIS FOR 30 YEARS NOW.
>> YES, SIR. >> IT IS NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION. DID YOU START WHEN YOU WERE
(LAUGHTER). >> ANYWAY, I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE IN THIS. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING. TO TAKE ALL OF THE ARMS THAT I THINK IT TAKES FOR THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, IT'S... I DON'T SAY IT IS HERDING CATS. FOR ONE PERSON TO DO IT OR... IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. IT TAKES EVERY ARM FOR THIS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY THAT HAS BEEN PART OF THIS.
MS. HASTINGS, WELL BEFOREHAND. BUT THANK YOU, MR. ETIENNE.
AND EVERYBODY INVOLVED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
I LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE IS BENCHMARKS LATER.
WHICH WILL SCIENTIFICALLY EL US WHETHER WE ARE BEING SUCCESSFUL OR NOT. I APPRECIATE THAT AND LOOK FORWARD TO FINDING OUT THOSE RESULTS.
AND THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE.
MR. ARRADONDO. THE CHIEF LEFT.
>> HE DID. THIS WAS HIS LAST MEETING.
>> IT WAS, YEAH. I SENT HIM A TEXT AFTER JOSEPHINE MENTIONED IT THAT, YOU KNOW, QUITE QUITTERS DON'T GET A SHOUT-OUT. (LAUGHTER).
>> WELL, I HAVE SPOKEN TO HIM PERSONALLY.
BUT PUBLICLY, I DID WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM. HIS LEADERSHIP.
SO I'LL EMBARRASS HIM WHEN HE IS NOT HERE.
AND HIS LEADERSHIP WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO BUILD UPON THE FOUNDATION THAT HE BROUGHT TO THE POSITION AND THE DEPARTMENT. SO HE IS NOT HERE TO RECEIVE THAT. BUT...
>> YEAH. OBVIOUSLY, I JOKE WITH HIM ABOUT IT. I GIVE HIM A HARD TIME ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PREPARED TO ADDRESS IT WHILE HE WAS HERE EARLIER IN THE MEETING.
I DID TEXT HIM JOKINGLY AND APOLOGIZE FOR.
THAT WE DEFINITELY ARE GRATEFUL FOR HIS TWO YEARS HERE IN VICTORIA. HE HELPED TRANSFORM AND MOVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FORWARD WHICH IS GOING TO MAKE IT THAT MUCH HARDER FOR US TO FIND OUR NEXT CHIEF.
WHICH IS A PROCESS THAT WE ALREADY STARTED.
WE APPRECIATE HIS SERVICE. I KNOW THAT HE IS GOING TO DEFINITELY STAY PLUGGED IN. I KNOW HE WANTS TO SEE THE NEW BUILDING COME THROUGH. I EXPECT THAT THIS WON'T BE THE
LAST TIME WE SEE HIM. >> WELL, I LOOK AT THAT AS HE WILL HAVE TO WATCH THE MEETING ON-LINE TO GET HIS KUDOS.
[H. Executive Sessions:]
>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> THE CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON DECEMBER 22, AT 6:39 P.M. SUBJECT MATTER OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS AS FOLLOWS: TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.087.
>> I DO PLAN ON TAKING A
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.