Apr 04, 2023 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:02]

FIVE FOUR.

GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY, APRIL THE 4TH, 2023 MRS HILLBROOK, WILL YOU PLEASE GIVE US THE ROLL CALL? YES, SIR. COUNCILMAN DELAGARZA I'M PRESENT.

COUNCILWOMAN SOLIS HERE.

COUNCILMAN CROCKER HERE.

COUNCILWOMAN SCOTT HERE.

MAYOR PRO TEM YOUNG HERE.

COUNCILMAN LOFGREN HERE AND MAYOR BAUKNIGHT HERE.

IF EVERYONE WILL PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE IS FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

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 THE FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE.

TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MR.

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

I DO. AND THIS EVENING I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO SOLICIT THE HELP OF A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TO HELP WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I WILL READ SOME ON BEHALF OF SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS.

ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY.

THOUGH I'LL START OFF BY REMINDING EVERYONE THAT ALL NON-EMERGENCY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 7TH, IN RECOGNITION OF GOOD FRIDAY, AND THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED SATURDAY, APRIL 8TH AS WELL.

BOTH OFFICES, BOTH THE OFFICES AND THE LIBRARY WILL REOPEN ON MONDAY, APRIL 10TH.

ON BEHALF OF MUNICIPAL COURT, MUNICIPAL COURT, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AGRILIFE PASSENGER SAFETY KIT, SAFE INITIATIVE WILL BE HOSTING A PARENT AND CAREGIVER CAR SEAT CLASS ON TUESDAY, APRIL 11TH AT 6 P.M.

HERE IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT CHAMBERS.

ADDITIONALLY, A CAR SEAT INSPECTION EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE VICTORIA HOUSING AUTHORITY ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12TH, FROM 4 TO 6 P.M.

AT 4001 HALSEY STREET.

TO REGISTER FOR A CAR SEAT INSPECTION, PLEASE VISIT VICTORIA TEX.GOV/CAR SEAT.

ON BEHALF OF PARKS AND RECREATION, I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT THE CITY OF VICTORIA WILL HOST THE AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION PREVIEW TOURNAMENT ON APRIL 13TH THROUGH THE 16TH AT RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE.

THE COURSE WILL CLOSE FOR THE TOURNAMENT ALL DAY THURSDAY, APRIL 13TH, AND FROM 8 A.M.

TO 1 P.M., FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 14TH THROUGH THE 16TH, AS WE HOST APPROXIMATELY 100 GOLFERS, AGES 12 TO 19 AND THEIR FAMILIES.

ADDITIONALLY, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS IN THE PROCESS OF SUBMITTING A GRANT WITH THE PARKS TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE FOR UP TO $500,000 TO IMPROVE BOATING FACILITIES IN THE PARK.

AND WE'RE ASKING AND SEEKING RESIDENTS FEEDBACK ABOUT THE CURRENT FACILITIES AS THAT WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.

TO HELP WITH THE APPLICATION, RESIDENTS CAN EMAIL THEIR COMMENTS AT PARKS AT VICTORIA, TEX.GOV BY APRIL 15TH.

AND WE'LL ALSO PUT A NOTICE OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE HAVE BEEN ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

THE CITY IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A MURAL PROJECT THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY APPEARANCE DIVISION THAT WILL DECORATE THE LAWRENCE STREET UNDERPASS WITH COLORFUL IMAGERY THAT CELEBRATES VICTORIA'S HERITAGE.

SOME OF THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SHARED WITH YOU AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE CITY WILL APPROVE A FINAL DESIGN BY THE END OF APRIL AND IS SEEKING CITIZEN FEEDBACK ON DESIGN OPTIONS.

RESIDENTS CAN REVIEW AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE PROPOSED DESIGN OPTIONS AT VICTORIA.

TEX.GOV/COMMUNITY APPEARANCE.

THE DEADLINE TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK IS APRIL 21ST AND IN A MOMENT WHEN CHRISTY HOOKER COMES UP, SHE'LL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL UPDATE ON BEHALF OF THAT DEPARTMENT AS WELL. AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL ASK A COUPLE OF PEOPLE TO COME UP TO CONTINUE WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND REMINDERS.

FIRST, ONE, THAT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT IS A VERY IMPORTANT I WANT TO ASK I WANT TO ASK AND INVITE RAQUEL GARZA, CHAIR OF THE VICTORIA HOUSING AUTHORITY, TO COME UP FOR AN INTRODUCTION. THANK YOU, MR. GARZA, AND GOOD EVENING OR GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.

I DID WANT TO THANK THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE INTERVIEW PANEL FOR THE VICTORIA HOUSING AUTHORITY.

WE DID SELECT A CANDIDATE, MS..

TAMMY EMERSON.

SHE COMES TO US WITH ALMOST 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE FROM VARIOUS MUNICIPALITIES.

AND SO WE HOPE THAT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH VICTORIA HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE CITY OF VICTORIA, CAN CONTINUE TO FLOURISH AND GROW.

WITH THAT, I WILL INTRODUCE MISS TAMMY EMERSON AND SHE COULD INTRODUCE HERSELF AND SHARE SOME WORDS.

THANK YOU, MS.. GARZA. GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS TAMMY EMERSON.

I DO COME FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND VIRGINIA.

WITH JUST ABOUT 20 YEARS OF HOUSING AUTHORITY EXPERIENCE, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BECOMING A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY AND HELPING THE VICTORIA HOUSING AUTHORITY IN ITS NEW ENDEAVORS AND PARTNERSHIPS.

THANK YOU. WELCOME TO TEXAS.

[00:05:02]

NEXT UP, WE'LL CONTINUE, AS AS MENTIONED IN THE AGENDA.

[a. Bicentennial Celebration Update. Joel Novosad, Director of the Convent...]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING.

I'M EXCITED TO OFFER JUST SOME UPDATES ON OUR BICENTENNIAL FAST APPROACHING IN 2024.

WE'RE ACTUALLY VERY CLOSE TO APPROACHING A YEAR OUT FROM OUR FOUNDING DATE OF APRIL 13TH.

SO WE'VE BEEN MEETING AND HAVE REALLY ESTABLISHED THREE GOALS FOR THE BICENTENNIAL SHARE VICTORIA'S RICH MULTICULTURAL HERITAGE TO INCREASE VISITATION TO VICTORIA, IN TURN INCREASING ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND TO PROMOTE VICTORIA AS A MODERN CITY WITH A FANTASTIC QUALITY OF LIFE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT ARE WE WORKING ON? RIGHT? SO WE'VE HAVE GREAT PROGRESS ON THE DALIAN MARTIN DE LEON AND PATRICIA DE LA GARZA STATUE PROJECT.

I'VE BEEN IN CONTINUAL COMMUNICATION WITH MR DAVID HINOJOSA OF HINOJOSA ART LLC.

HE HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE FOAM ENLARGEMENTS WHICH WERE FROM THE 3D SCANNING PROCESS, HAVE COME IN AND THEY WILL BE WORKING.

MR HINOJOSA ARMANDO, HIS FATHER, WHO IS THE ARTIST, WILL BE WORKING ON THAT DETAIL.

AND MY RECENT COMMUNICATIONS WITH DAVID INFORMED ME THAT COULD BE READY FOR POURING AT THE FOUNDRY BY JULY SOME TIME.

SO THAT IS PROGRESSING ALONG VERY WELL.

THE BICENTENNIAL LOGO AND BRANDING IS PRETTY MUCH NEAR FINALIZED.

WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE A PRESS RELEASE APRIL 13TH TO ANNOUNCE THAT AND TO SHOW THAT TO THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S A LOT BEEN A LOT OF WORK BEHIND THE SCENES.

WE FEEL IT'S A FANTASTIC PRODUCT THAT IS VERY REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR HISTORY, VERY VISUALLY APPEALING, AND ONCE WE HAVE THOSE BRANDING AND LOGOS ESTABLISHED, WE'LL BEGIN WORKING ON A WEBSITE.

WE'LL BE UTILIZING THE EXPLORE VICTORIA, TEXAS.COM WEBSITE, BUT TO UTILIZE SOME FUNCTIONALITY THERE TO WHERE IT COULD LIVE ON THAT SITE BUT LOOK LIKE ITS OWN ENTITY WITH ITS OWN COLOR SCHEME AND LOGO AND MENU.

SO IT WILL STAND APART BUT WE'LL ALSO HAVE A LOT OF THE FUNCTIONALITY AND, AND BE ABLE TO MAKE CHANGES LIKE WE ALREADY DO WITH THE EXPLORE VICTORIA TEXAS.COM SITE ALSO WORKING ON SOME LEON ARTIFACTS FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY HERE IN CITY HALL.

I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNICATION WITH A COUPLE OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO'VE GOT SOME REALLY FANTASTIC PIECES AS WELL AS SOME THAT ARE OWNED BY THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND THEN HAVING LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AND THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR THE BICENTENNIAL YEAR.

YOU KNOW, I MENTIONED THAT DATE OF APRIL 13TH, WELL, APRIL 13TH, 2024 IS GOING TO BE A VERY BIG DAY FOR US, LOOKING TOWARDS HAVING A STATUE DEDICATION ON THAT DAY AS WELL AS A PUBLIC COMMUNITY EVENT.

AND THEN THAT EVENING, A GALA, WHICH WOULD BE INVITATION OR A LOT OF DIGNITARIES AND SPECIAL GUESTS WOULD BE IN ATTENDANCE.

AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD EVEN FURTHER, A FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD, BRINGING BACK A LARGE COMMUNITY EVENT, SOMETHING LIKE A NEW KIND OF BOOT FEST EVENT, SOMETHING THAT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, A SIGNATURE EVENT FOR THE COMMUNITY WILL BE A BIG PART OF THE BICENTENNIAL PLANNING PROCESS AND LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THAT TO THE COMMUNITY.

SOME OTHER PROGRAMS, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

WE'VE GOT A LOT ON THE RADAR.

WE'RE PUTTING SUBCOMMITTEES TOGETHER TO HELP WITH THESE SORT OF THINGS.

A NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS CELEBRATION, PUBLIC MEMORABILIA THAT COULD BE RECEIVED FROM THE PUBLIC THAT HAS DIFFERENT THEMES DISPLAYED AT CITY HALL ALONG WITH THE ALONG WITH THE DE LEON ARTIFACTS, UPDATED STREET SIGNAGE AROUND TOWN, ESPECIALLY IN HISTORIC VICTORIA, ORIGINAL TOWNSITE DIGITAL TOURS, GUIDED TROLLEY TOURS OF OLD VICTORIA.

YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT A WEALTH OF HISTORIC HOMES.

IT'D BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THOSE OFF WITH SOME GUIDED TOURS AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR TYPICAL SELF-GUIDED ACTIVITIES AND BICENTENNIAL MERCHANDISE, THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN USE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY TO SHOW THEIR PRIDE FOR VICTORIA.

SO WE HAVE A LOT THAT'S IN THE WORKS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING THOSE SUBCOMMITTEES TOGETHER TO TO GET THE BALL ROLLING ON SOME OF THOSE PLANNING ACTIVITIES.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT IN THE WORKS ALREADY, AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S IN THE WORKS THAT WILL BE COMING UP VERY SOON, ACTUALLY, AS I'D LIKE TO INVITE A SPECIAL GUEST AND CALL HER UP THIS EVENING, MISS BLANCHE DE LEON, TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT A VERY EXCITING UPCOMING EVENT.

MAYOR COUNCIL.

JESUS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITY FOR QUITE SOME TIME ON THIS MONUMENT PROJECT, AND WE KNEW WHAT MARK MARTIN LOOKED LIKE OR HAD A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT MARTIN DE LEON LOOKED LIKE.

BUT WE WERE KIND OF CLUELESS WHEN IT CAME TO PATRICIA DE LA GARZA.

SO WE THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A BIT AND I DECIDED THAT WE WOULD.

MY SISTERS AND I, WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF WINCE AND TILLY CRUZ DE LEON, DECIDED TO HIRE A FORENSIC ARTIST OUT OF HOUSTON, LOIS GIBSON FOR LOIS.

[00:10:01]

PATRICIA AND MARTIN LIVED LONG BEFORE PHOTOGRAPHY WAS DEVELOPED.

AND THIS FORENSIC ARTIST, WE WE DECIDED WE HAD A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN HER TO COME UP WITH AN IMAGE.

WELL, THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN PRODUCED.

AND I WANT TO TELL YOU, IT IS JUST STUNNING.

AND WE WE HAVE GIVEN THE IMAGE ESSENTIALLY TO THE CITY OF VICTORIA TO USE IN WHICHEVER FASHION THEY WOULD LIKE. BUT THIS IS THE FACE THAT WILL BE ON YOUR MONUMENT IN 2024.

SO TO CREATE SOME DISCUSSION AND EXCITEMENT AND SOME FIRE ABOUT THIS BICENTENNIAL, WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD, IN CONJUNCTION WITH JOE, WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD HAVE A REVEAL PARTY FOR THIS PORTRAIT OF PATRICIA DE LA GARZA.

AND THAT REVEAL PARTY IS COMING UP THIS THIS MONTH, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN PATRICIA RIGHT NOW.

AND PATRICIA IS SCHEDULED TO BE EXHIBITED IN AN AUSTIN INAUGURAL EXHIBIT AT THE DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS IN JUNE.

AND THESE PEOPLE TRACKED ME DOWN AND THEY SAID, I HEAR YOU HAVE A PORTRAIT.

WE'D LIKE TO USE IT.

NOT ONLY ARE THEY USING THE PORTRAIT, BUT THE CLOTHES WE USE TO DRESS PATRICIA AND MARTIN IN THEIR EXHIBIT THIS JUNE.

WELL, HELL, SHE'S FROM VICTORIA.

WE NEED TO SHOW HER HERE FIRST SO WE ARE NOT ONLY INVITING THIS COUNCIL, BUT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO COME AND GO PARTY. IT IS A REVEAL PARTY OF THE PORTRAIT OF PATRICIA DE LA GARZA, WIFE OF MARTIN DE LEON, FOUNDERS OF VICTORIA, 1824. IT'S GOING TO BE ON WEDNESDAY, THE 26TH OF APRIL.

THAT'S THIS MONTH FROM 6 TO 8 P.M..

AND WE'LL BE SHOWING HER AT THE VICTORIA ART LEAGUE, 905 SOUTH BRIDGE STREET, VICTORIA.

SO COME AND GO.

COME AND SEE THE FACE OF PATRICIA.

BUT I HEAR YOU'RE HAVING A LITTLE MURAL KIND OF PROJECT AS WELL.

WELL, SHORTLY AFTER THIS PORTRAIT WAS PAINTED, THE ARTIST LOIS GIBSON STARTED SENDING ME EMAILS, AND THIS PORTRAIT WAS PLASTERED ON EVERY TALL BUILDING IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA.

SO WE'D LOVE TO SEE HER FACE SOMEWHERE DISPLAYED IN THAT FASHION AS WELL, IF THERE'S STILL TIME.

SO I INVITE YOU ALL TO JOIN US AGAIN ON APRIL THE 26TH AT THE WEDNESDAY 6 TO 8 P.M.

AT THE VICTORIA ART LEAGUE.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU, MISS DE LEON.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT COUPLE OF WEEKS OR 2 OR 3 WEEKS TIME.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOOD WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS.

GONNA JUMP INTO PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS.

[2. Public & Employee Recognitions:]

[a. National Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. Jeff Bauknight, M...]

WHEREAS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS A SERIOUS CRISIS AFFECTING EVERY SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, RESULTING IN OVER 2000 REPORTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN VICTORIA COUNTY IN THE YEAR 2022.

AND FINDING RESOLUTIONS REQUIRES INPUT AND ACTION FROM EVERYONE.

AND. WHEREAS, OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES AND WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF TEXAS.

AND. WHEREAS, CHILD ABUSE CAN HAVE LONG TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS THAT HAVE LASTING CONSEQUENCES ON VICTIMS OF ABUSE.

AND. WHEREAS, PROTECTIVE FACTORS ARE CONDITIONS THAT REDUCE OR ELIMINATE RISK AND PROMOTE THE SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN.

AND. WHEREAS, EFFECTIVE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES SUCCEED BECAUSE THE PARTNERSHIPS CREATED BETWEEN CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS, EDUCATION, HEALTH AND COMMUNITY AND FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND FAMILIES.

AND. WHEREAS, COMMUNITIES MUST TAKE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROMOTE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT CREATE STRONG AND THRIVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

AS WHEREAS, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND CONTRIBUTE TO PROMOTE THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A SAFE, STABLE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT.

AND. WHEREAS, PREVENTION REMAINS THE BEST DEFENSE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES NOW, THEREFORE, I, JEFF BAUKNIGHT, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 2023 AS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH BY DEDICATING OURSELVES TO TASK TO THE TASK OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

THANK YOU. COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS MEGAN GUM.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOPE CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER.

AND JUST LIKE THIS PROCLAMATION SAYS, THE STATE OF TEXAS ALSO RECOGNIZED THE IMPORTANCE FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTERS TO PARTNER WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT,

[00:15:07]

I ALSO STAND UP HERE AS PART OF THE GOLDEN CRESCENT CHILDREN'S PROJECT COALITION.

WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER THAT WE CAN REACH MORE CHILDREN AND THAT WE CAN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU ALL TODAY IS IS TO IS WITH THIS PROCLAMATION, IS THAT RECOGNIZING CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND THAT.

WE THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US HERE.

ONE OUT OF TEN CHILDREN ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED BY THEIR 18TH BIRTHDAY.

THREE OUT OF FIVE NEVER TELL ANYONE.

IN AND OVER 90% OF ABUSE CASES ARE PERPETRATED BY SOMEBODY THEY KNOW.

SO TO GET THE WORD OUT, TO BE ABLE TO HELP ADULTS WHO WORK WITH CHILDREN TO RECOGNIZE RED FLAGS AND HAVING SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN PLACE EVEN AT HOME AND WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.

WE CAN HELP KIDS.

WE CAN HELP KIDS BY INTERVENING EARLIER.

AND WE KNOW THAT THEY WILL DISCLOSE WHEN THEY UNDERSTAND BODY SAFETY.

SO THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE HAVE MS..

[b. April 2023 Keep Victoria Beautiful Business Beautification Award. Chri...]

YES. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

BEFORE I DO THAT, I WANTED TO REMIND YOU THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER BIG CLEANUP COMING UP APRIL 22ND.

THIS IS OUR EARTH DAY CLEANUP, OUR LAST BIG ONE.

WE HAD ALMOST 400 PEOPLE AND WE CLEANED UP A LOT OF VICTORIA.

IT SAYS A LOT ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE THIS MANY TEAMS. THE MORE PEOPLE WE HAVE, WE GET THEM OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE FEED EVERYBODY AND WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD TIME.

SO APRIL 22ND, WE WANT TO INVITE ALL IN THE COMMUNITY TO SIGN UP AT KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL.ORG SO THAT WE CAN MAKE PLANS.

OKAY, SO NOW WE ARE HERE TO INTRODUCE AN AWARD, OUR APRIL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD WINNER.

AND TONIGHT I HAVE BOARD MEMBER DONALD JURKOWSKI, WHO'S GOING TO PRESENT OUR AWARD.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.

ON BEHALF OF KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL, IT'S ALWAYS AN HONOR TO RECOGNIZE BUSINESSES THAT EMBODY KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL MISSION OF ENHANCING THE LIVABILITY OF VICTORIA BY BEAUTIFICATION THROUGH A SENSE OF PRIDE AND OWNERSHIP.

OUR OUR WINNER FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL IS THE RESERVE APARTMENTS, LOCATED ON ZACK COLLINS PARKWAY.

ONE OF THE MAIN THOROUGHFARES INTO VICTORIA.

THIS 96 UNIT COMMUNITY WITH A BEAUTIFUL POOL AND FOUNTAINS IS DEFINITELY WORTHY OF THIS AWARD.

IT IS HARD NOT TO NOTICE THIS LOCATION AS YOU DRIVE ALONG THE LOOP IN FRONTAGE ROAD, ESPECIALLY THE GORGEOUS WALKING TRAIL THAT WINDS ALONG ONE SIDE OF THE PROPERTY AND THE ROSES AND LANTANAS AT THE ENTRANCE, SIGN AND DRIVE BEING NOTICEABLY COLOR ALONG THE FRONT.

SUZANNE YOUNG PROPERTY MANAGER.

NANCY GARNER, OWNER AND MATTHEW STEWART MAINTENANCE TAKE OBVIOUS PRIDE IN MAKING SURE THE PROPERTY IS WELL CARED FOR.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE BUSINESS BEAUTIFICATION AWARD FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL TO THE RESERVE APARTMENTS.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL NANCY GARNER TO PLEASE COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE THE AWARD.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL, WE APPRECIATE THIS.

THERE IS A LOT OF DETAIL THAT GOES INTO THE PROPERTY.

WE WANT TO MAKE IT MORE THAN JUST AN APARTMENT COMMUNITY, BUT A HOME AND THAT OUR STAFF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT, AS WELL AS PREMIUM LAWN CARE THAT DOES THE LION'S SHARE OF THE WORK OUT THERE.

SO WE APPRECIATE THIS VERY MUCH.

IT MEANS A LOT TO US.

WE WANT TO HELP MAKE VICTORIA MORE BEAUTIFUL.

AND I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ALL OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND TOWN THAT ARE ADDING TO THAT LANDSCAPE WE APPRECIATE AS CITIZENS VERY MUCH SO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS GARDENER.

MR. GARDNER, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHERS? NO, SIR. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE INTO ITEMS FROM COUNSEL.

[3. Items from Council:]

NO. CAN I PUT D4 AND D5? D4 AND D5.

WE'LL JUST HAVE SOME MINOR QUESTIONS.

YOU BET. NOT A PROBLEM.

D4 AND D5.

[00:20:01]

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE SOCCER FIELDS LOOKED AT IN THE PARK.

THE PARKING WAS EXTREMELY CONGESTED SATURDAY.

THERE WAS NOT ONLY WAS THE PARKING LOT FULL, BUT.

BUT THE PARKING ON A RED RIVER.

THERE WAS ABOUT 40 CARS ON RED RIVER.

THE PARKING LOT NEEDS TO BE EITHER EXPANDED OR SOME KIND OF PLAN TO TO TO FIX THE CONGESTION.

AND IT'S A HAZARD BECAUSE THERE'S CHILDREN WALKING ON ON RED RIVER.

I DROVE IT AND I TOOK PICTURES AND I'VE GOTTEN A COUPLE OF CALLS ON IT.

BUT THE SOCCER FIELDS WERE A WONDERFUL THING TO TO ADD TO VICTORIA.

AND IT'S TAKEN OFF.

AND I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME TYPE OF PLAN FROM STAFF OR THE PARKS DIRECTOR.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO REMEDY THE PARKING PROBLEM THAT'S TURNING INTO A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR THESE KIDS? UM, I DROVE IT TWICE AND EACH TIME I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT UNDER 15 MILES AN HOUR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FACTOR OF THE KIDS.

THERE ARE NO PARKING SIGNS ON RED RIVER, BUT APPARENTLY THE THE RIVERSIDE STADIUM PARKING LOT IS OVER 150 YARDS AWAY FROM THE SOCCER FIELDS THEMSELVES.

SO IT'S TOO FAR TO WALK.

SO I REALLY THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IF WE COULD GET SOME KIND OF PLAN TO COME BACK.

ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. I MEAN, WE'VE OBVIOUSLY BEEN DISCUSSING NOT OBVIOUSLY, BUT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING IT EVER SINCE, YOU KNOW, THE SOCCER FIELDS WERE WERE PUT IN.

AND SO ABSOLUTELY, WE'LL WE CAN SHARE WHAT THOUGHTS AND OPTIONS WE HAVE COME UP WITH.

AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THERE AND SOME TYPE OF FOOD TRUCK PADS WOULD BE NICE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THAT AREA IS IN THE FLOOD ZONE.

SO HOOKUPS FOR ELECTRICITY MIGHT BE A MAJOR ISSUE, BUT AT LEAST A PARKING PAD FOR FOOD TRUCKS.

IF THEY DO COME RIGHT NOW, THEY'LL HAVE TO PARK IN THE PARKING LOT AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE UP FIVE, SIX, SEVEN PARKING SPOTS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME KIND OF AREA ROPED OFF AWAY FROM THE PARKING LOT FOR FOOD TRUCKS AND MAYBE WE CAN RENT THOSE AREAS TO PEOPLE WHO OWN FOOD TRUCKS.

THAT MIGHT RELIEVE SOME OF THE COMING AND GOING CONGESTION ON A RED RIVER.

MORE PEOPLE WOULD STAY AND EAT THERE.

BUT THE YOUTH SOCCER FIELD WAS AN EXCELLENT IDEA FOR VICTORIA.

EXCELLENT. I'D LIKE TO SEE HIM SAFE.

THANK YOU. MR. CROCKER, DID YOU HAVE A GOOD IDEA FOR A LOCATION FOR THOSE FOOD TRUCKS? WELL, I KNEW THAT. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, THE FOUNDATION WHERE THE RIVERSIDE CONVENTION CENTER IS STILL THERE.

THAT WOULD SEEM TO ME TO BE AWAY FROM THE FIELDS, KIND OF OUT OF THE WAY, PROVIDE A FIRM BASE FOR THEM.

JUST A THOUGHT. MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT THAT.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S BEEN PART OF THE PLAN.

AND SO WE'LL CERTAINLY MAKE IT A POINT TO UPDATE YOU WITH THE PLAN.

AWESOME. YEAH.

AND DR. YOUNG, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR OH, THIS WAS A GROUP EFFORT PUSHING IT.

THANK YOU. LEADING US IN THAT DIRECTION.

SO THANK YOU. MR. MAYOR? YES? IF WE COULD ASK MR. FOOT TO COME ASSIST.

OH, I'LL GET IT.

MR. I MAY NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE HERE.

THANK YOU. DID YOU HIT THE BACK BUTTON? NO. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, WE'LL CLOSE ITEMS FROM COUNCIL GOING TO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.

[4. Citizen Communication:]

HI THERE. WHERE'S THE TIMER? IN FRONT OF YOU. SHOULD BE RIGHT TO YOUR RIGHT.

OH, I BETTER GET GOING.

COME UP HERE. SO I BROUGHT YOU TO BOOK TODAY.

AND IN THE COVER OF THIS BOOK, IT SAYS, SILENCE IN THE FACE OF EVIL IS EVIL ITSELF.

NOT TO SPEAK IS TO SPEAK.

NOT TO ACT IS TO ACT.

GOD WILL NOT HOLD US GUILTLESS.

I THOUGHT IT WAS AMAZING AND A GOD ORDAINED THING THAT THE YOUNG LADY THAT THE GROUP INTERESTED IN PROTECTING CHILDREN WAS HERE TODAY.

ANYWAY, SOMETIMES REALITY IS NOT WHAT WE DO SEE.

IT'S WHAT WE DON'T SEE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE HERE TODAY.

DO YOU SEE THEM? NO, BUT THEY ARE HERE.

IF WE COULD TEAR THE CURTAIN OF THE NATURAL WORLD BACK, EXPOSING THE SUPERNATURAL, THEN AND ONLY THEN WOULD WE SEE THEM.

THE REALITY IS, THOUGH, THEY ARE HERE.

HERE'S A QUESTION.

IS THERE GOOD AND EVIL AND ARE NATURAL AND SUPERNATURAL WORLD? THE ANSWER IS YES, OBVIOUSLY.

NEXT QUESTION IS THERE A NEUTRAL PLACE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, OR MUST WE CHOOSE A SIDE?

[00:25:07]

SO THERE IS THE ANSWER.

YESTERDAY WAS HOLY MONDAY.

THE CROWD YELLED, CRUCIFY HIM TO THE SON OF GOD.

AND SO THEY DID.

IT WAS GOD'S PLAN FOR CHRIST TO PAY A DEBT.

WE COULD NOT PAY FOR OUR SIN, A DEBT HE DID NOT OWE.

HE DID IT FOR LOVE.

JESUS ALSO SAID, LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME AND DO NOT HINDER THEM.

FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD BELONGS TO SUCH AS THESE.

TRULY, I TELL YOU, ANYONE WHO WILL NOT RECEIVE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIKE A LITTLE CHILD WILL NEVER ENTER IN.

LUKE 18, 16.

17. JESUS LOVED THE CHILDREN AND THEIR PURITY AND THEIR INNOCENCE.

HE HAD A DESIRE FOR ALL PEOPLE TO BE AS CHILDREN.

HE SENT HIS SPIRIT TO LIVE IN US AND GAVE US THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL.

AND SAID AGAINST SUCH, THERE IS NO LAW.

JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES THAT WHOEVER WANTS TO BE MY DISCIPLE MUST DENY HIMSELF AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.

FOR WHOEVER WANTS TO SAVE THEIR LIFE WILL LOSE IT.

BUT WHOEVER LOSES THEIR LIFE FOR ME WILL FIND IT.

MATTHEW 1622 THROUGH 24.

AND FINALLY, ECCLESIASTES 1213.

THIS IS THE END OF THE MATTER.

ALL HAS BEEN HEARD.

FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.

FOR THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN.

FOR GOD WILL BRING EVERY DEED INTO JUDGMENT AND EVERY SECRET, WHETHER GOOD OR EVIL.

ON EASTER SUNDAY, CHRISTIANS CELEBRATE THE RISEN CHRIST WHOSE RESURRECTION SYMBOLIZES THE VICTORY OVER OUR GREAT ENEMY, DEATH AND THE GRAVE.

ONE DAY, EVERY KNEE WILL BOW AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD.

DOING IT ON THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK YOU TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

WE'RE CLOSE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION AND GO INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA PULLING ITEMS D4 AND D5.

[D. Consent Agenda:]

ITEM D2 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE FY 23 BUDGET TO THE IN THE AMOUNT IN THE AMOUNT OF $98,500 TO COVER THE COST OF CONSULTING AND LEGAL FEES FOR THE LANDFILL EXPANSION PROJECT.

THIS ITEM IS ON SECOND AND THIRD READING.

ITEM D3 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH BURNS AND MCDONNELL ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC.

OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, FOR THE CONTINUED WORK ON THE LANDFILL EXPANSION PERMIT IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 81,500.

ITEM D SIX IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A VARIANCE TO SECTION 21 DASH 80 2A2 FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 104 EAST BRAZOS STREET IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR PLANNING OF A SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL LOT WITH A LOT SIZE BELOW THE MINIMUM LOT WIDTH REQUIREMENT AND ITEM D SEVEN IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SETTLEMENT PARTICIPATION AND RELEASE FORMS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS'S OPIOID LITIGATION AGAINST ALLERGAN, CVS, WALGREENS AND WALMART.

I MOVE, WE APPROVE THE AGENDA AS READ.

SECOND. A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED.

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

[4. Approve a variance to Section 21-38(22)(c), Section 21-54(b), and Sect...]

ITEM D FOUR IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A VARIANCE TO SECTION 21 DASH 3822 C, SECTION 21, DASH 54 B AND SECTION 21 DASH 54 C FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7800 NORTH NAVARRO STREET 7202 NORTHEAST PARKWAY 7306 NORTHEAST PARKWAY.

IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THE RECLADDING OF A PLANNED SHOPPING CENTER.

MY QUESTION WAS ON THAT MAP THAT YOU HAVE ON HERE.

MAYBE I'M JUST TOTALLY LOST, BUT I'M TRYING TO SEE WHERE THE CHANGE IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE I JUST SEE ALL THAT YELLOW OUTLINE.

WHAT ARE WE? IT'S A VERY INTERESTING SHAPED LOT.

IF YOU NOTICE THAT THE DILLARD'S AND THE JCPENNEY AREA, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY SEPARATELY OWNED LOTS.

SO THE MALL OWNERSHIP, IS THAT THAT LARGE SOUTH PORTION.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE INTERSECTION RIGHT THERE AT ZACK AND VICTORIA MALL DRIVE KIND OF ACROSS WHERE THE THE PIZZA HUT SHOPPING CENTER IS. THOSE ARE THE TWO.

THAT'S THE AREA WHERE THE TWO LOTS WILL BE CARVED OUT.

OKAY. THE PIZZA IS THE ONE THAT'S IN THE IT'S ACROSS THE STREET FROM VICTORIA DRIVE.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY I GUESS IT'S BETWEEN THE RED LOBSTER BUILDING AND VICTORIA MALL DRIVE.

THAT AREA WILL BE THE TWO PROPOSED LOTS.

SO WE'RE ABOUT IS THAT LONGHORN GOING TO GO? I BELIEVE IT'S THE LOT, ACTUALLY, RIGHT NEXT TO THE.

SO YOU HAVE THE RED LOBSTER AND THEN YOU HAVE THE THE DRIVEWAY THAT CONNECTS THE MALL TO ZACH.

[00:30:04]

OKAY, BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A SMALL LOT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A SMALL NO.

AND KEEP IN MIND THAT THE MALL HAS A LOT OF EXTRA PARKING.

SO THERE'S A SHARED PARKING AGREEMENT.

IT'LL LOOK VERY MUCH COHESIVE, LIKE THE RED LOBSTER AND THE OTHER OUTPARCELS LOOK ONCE IT'S ALL DEVELOPED.

SO MOST OF IT IS GOING TO BE THE LAND IS GOING TO BE FOR THE RESTAURANT AND THE PARKING IS GOING TO BE SHARED WITH THE.

THEY HAVE SOME OF THEIR OWN PARKING TOO.

YEAH. OKAY.

THAT WAS ALL A QUESTION. THE BUMP OUT FOR THE SEARS AUTOMOTIVE CENTER ALSO WAS DEMOLISHED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF MURDOCK'S.

SO THE SEARS BUILDING WON'T FEEL AS CLOSE AS IT DID AT THE TIME THAT THAT AUTOMOTIVE BUMP OUT WAS THERE.

IT'S JUST RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN'T TELL IT BECAUSE ALL THE CONSTRUCTION IS GOING ON.

YEAH, OKAY. SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO VISION AT ALL.

THANK YOU. I MOVE, WE ACCEPT ITEM C.

D4 D4.

SECOND MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM D4.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED.

SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM D5.

ITEM D5 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A VARIANCE TO SECTION 21 DASH 63 A FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE 4400 BLOCK OF STATE HIGHWAY ONE 8185.

[5. Approve a variance to Section 21-63(a) for a property located within t...]

OKAY. MY QUESTION ON THAT ONE, I SEE THAT THE CITY LIMITS ARE GOING TO BE OUTSIDE OF THAT LOT ONE AND TWO.

ONCE WE PROVIDE WELL, ONCE THEY DO THE ROAD THERE AND ARE THEY EVER GOING TO BE ANNEXED OR DO THEY HAVE TO ALSO ASK TO BE ANNEXED? BECAUSE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, THE IDEA IS THAT THEY WOULD VOLUNTARILY ANNEX AS THEY GET DEVELOPED.

OKAY. SO ONCE THEY START, SO DO WE PROVIDE THE UTILITIES AND THEN THEY GET ANNEXED.

SO POTENTIALLY, YES.

SO OUR UDO PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW WILL BE RECOMMENDING DOCUMENTING WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY ON PAPER, WHICH IS THAT AS LOTS GAIN ACCESS TO OUR UTILITIES, THAT WE REQUIRE THAT THEY GO THROUGH THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION PROCESS.

BECAUSE YOU MAY RECALL THAT SORT OF UNILATERAL ANNEXATION NO LONGER EXIST.

AND SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW OUR BOUNDARIES AS IT DEVELOPS AND AS WE EXTEND SERVICES.

AND AT THAT TIME WOULD JUST LOT ONE OR LOT TWO BECAUSE LOT TWO IS THE ONE IS GOING TO GET DEVELOPED, RIGHT? RIGHT. SO IT WOULD BE AS THEY DEVELOP AND SO EVEN LOT TWO AS LONG AS THE PROPERTY IS CONTIGUOUS TO OUR EXISTING CITY LIMITS, IT'S POSSIBLE FOR IT TO BE ANNEXED.

AND SO EVEN LOT TWO, BECAUSE IT TOUCHES THAT CORNER OF THE TEXAN PROPERTY, WOULD THEORETICALLY BE ABLE TO BE ANNEXED AND THE OTHER WOULD HAPPEN AS IT DEVELOPS.

BUT OF COURSE, AT ANY TIME THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS THE OPTION TO VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE TO BE ANNEXED REGARDLESS OF WHEN DEVELOPMENT HAPPENS.

BUT OUR PRIORITY, IF I CAN CALL IT THAT, WOULD BE MORE BASED OFF OF DEVELOPMENT, AND THAT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A DECISION THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER WOULD MAKE ON WHETHER THEY WANT TO VOLUNTARILY ANNEX THE WHOLE THING RIGHT NOW OR WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AS THINGS DEVELOP.

OKAY. AND THERE'S MORE TO THAT WHOLE SITE THAT WE CAN DISCUSS AT AN UPCOMING MEETING.

OKAY, THAT'S FINE. I JUST WANTED TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS STILL GOING TO BE ANNEXED OR NOT BECAUSE I NOTICED THE DOTTED LINE WAS OUTSIDE.

MR. GARZA, YOU MADE THE COMMENT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON THAT IN THE FUTURE.

OBVIOUSLY, WE WOULD LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN IN THIS CASE.

IS THERE ANY BENEFIT OR DETRIMENT OF CONDITIONING, THE VARIANCE ON THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION WHEN IT DEVELOPS? IS THAT EVEN NECESSARY? I DON'T THINK SO.

I MEAN, IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH BILLY KEETON LEADERSHIP, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

THEY'VE BEEN MADE AWARE FROM DAY ONE AS WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT EXTENDING UTILITIES THAT IT WOULD COME, UM, YOU KNOW, PART OF THAT ARRANGEMENT WOULD BE THE VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION PIECE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

THAT'S ALL MY QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. I MOVE THAT WE ACCEPT ITEM C, FIVE, FIVE, FIVE, D FIVE.

OKAY, I SECOND. MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

WE'RE ON TO E ONE ITEM.

[1. Adopt the 2023 Library Master Plan. Jessica Berger, Director of Victor...]

[00:35:01]

THE LIBRARY MASTER PLAN IS A FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE THE LIBRARY IN SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF SERVICES AND FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FOR OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.

IT WAS DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, LIBRARY STAFF AND OUR CONSULTANT, MAUREEN ARNDT.

THE PLAN IS GUIDED BY DATA, STATE STANDARDS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, COMMUNITY INPUT.

OUR GOAL IS THAT THE PUBLIC WILL SEE THE BENEFITS OF THIS PLAN FIRSTHAND IN YEARS TO COME.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MAUREEN ART WITH 720 DESIGN WHO WILL PRESENT THE LIBRARY MASTER PLAN.

THANK YOU, JESSICA.

THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS THIS AFTERNOON.

AND STICKING AROUND.

SORRY, I DON'T KNOW HOW.

THAT'S A GREAT INTRODUCTION.

YEAH. I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT AN OVERVIEW OF THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH FMG ARCHITECTS, STARTING WITH THE COMMUNITY INPUT SUMMARY, WHAT THE COMMUNITY SAID THEY WANTED IN A LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY SPACE, A REALLY HIGH OVERVIEW OF THE DATA FINDINGS AND THE LIST OF POTENTIAL RECOMMENDATIONS SHORT TERM, MID-TERM AND LONG TERM.

SO FOR THE COMMUNITY INPUT, WE HAD SEVEN IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL SESSIONS, TWO AT THE LIBRARY, ONE AT MEALS ON WHEELS, ONE AT VICKERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ONE WITH TWO CLASSES WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

IN ADDITION TO LIBRARY FRIENDS AND BOARDS, OVERALL WE HAD OVER 55 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN PERSON.

AND WE ALSO DID AN ONLINE SURVEY THAT WENT OUT TO THE COMMUNITY AND 556 FOLKS PARTICIPATED.

SO OVERALL, WE HAD 600 OF YOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS GIVE US THEIR INPUT AS TO THE TYPES OF SPACES THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN A LIBRARY.

SO THIS IS I WANT TO GO THROUGH THIS A LITTLE BIT QUICKLY.

WE HAVE THE TOP THREE FOR EACH CATEGORY THAT WE ASK THE COMMUNITY ABOUT.

AND WE ALSO ASK SOME OF THESE SAME QUESTIONS IN THE ONLINE SURVEY AND YOU'LL SEE THAT DATA AS WELL.

SO FOR COMMUNITY MEETING SPACES, NUMBER ONE WAS MULTIPURPOSE ACTIVITY ROOM, A PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER FOR THE LIBRARY TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

ARTS AND CRAFTS CLASSROOM.

SO A PLACE DEDICATED FOR CHILDREN TO COME TO CREATE CONTENT AND GATHER TOGETHER.

THIS WAS NUMBER FOUR ON THE ONLINE SURVEY.

ON GROUP STUDY AND QUIET SPACE.

SO A PLACE FOR STUDENTS TO COME, FOR GROUPS TO GO ONLINE, TO DO JOB INTERVIEWS PERHAPS, AND FOR PEOPLE TO ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE SEE IS MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS IN THE LIBRARY USING THAT TO ACCESS ZOOM.

WE HEARD THAT PROVIDING ACCESS FOR TECHNOLOGY TO CHILDREN WAS IMPORTANT.

THAT HAVING A SPACE FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ART AND MATH WAS IMPORTANT TO THOSE IN PERSON AS WELL AS ONLINE SURVEY THAT A PLACE FOR STUDY, FOR HOMEWORK AND FOR TUTORING WAS IMPORTANT IN THE CHILDREN'S AREA, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OUTDOOR SPACES AND CREATING AN OUTDOOR READING PORCH.

I'M HAVING A CAFE AREA WITH VENDING.

THIS WAS NUMBER ONE IN THE ONLINE SURVEY.

HAVING A QUIET SPACE.

YOUR LIBRARY IS BIG AND BEAUTIFUL.

THE SOUND TRAVELS ACROSS THE BUILDING AND SO A QUIET SPACE TO SIT AND READ WAS IMPORTANT.

I'M TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL LIGHT AND CREATING STUDY NICHES.

HAVING A SPACE FOR VIDEO OR AUDIO RECORDING FOR BOTH THE STAFF AND THE PUBLIC.

CREATING A MAKERSPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEARN JOB SKILLS LIKE ROBOTICS OR 3D PRINTING.

HAVING A COLLABORATION INSTRUCTION ROOM THAT COULD BE USED FOR TEACHING ONLINE CLASSES ABOUT COMPUTERS AND ALSO USED AS A MULTIPURPOSE ROOM. PROVIDING TECHNOLOGY FOR ADULTS, HAVING SOME EXTENDED OUR SPACES.

WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANTED MORE HOURS OR EXTENDED HOURS FOR ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY.

RELATED TO THAT 24 HOUR PICKUP LOCKERS WAS AN IMPORTANT AMENITY THAT THE COMMUNITY SAID THEY WANTED.

A PLACE TO LEARN NEW SKILLS LIKE COOKING.

A PLACE TO LEARN ABOUT THE LOCAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA.

AND THEN THE THREE OUTDOOR SPACES HAVING A SPACE FOR COMMUNITY GATHERING OUTSIDE.

[00:40:01]

AND A PLACE TO SIT OUTSIDE AND ACCESS THE WI-FI AND STUDY OR WORK.

THERE WERE THREE OTHER SURVEY RESULTS THAT WERE IMPORTANT FROM THE ONLINE SURVEY.

THE DRIVE UP BOOK RETURN, A DRIVE UP SERVICE WINDOW WHERE PEOPLE COULD PICK UP BOOKS AND THE ADDITION OF A FAMILY RESTROOM TO THE EXISTING LIBRARY.

SO WE HAVE ALSO THE SUMMARY OF DATA FINDINGS.

AND THIS LOOKS AT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IN THE REPORT THAT WAS SUBMITTED.

THERE'S A LOT MORE DETAIL ABOUT COLLECTIONS, SEEDING AND TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS.

THIS IS THE BIG PICTURE OVERVIEW OF THE SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT'S REQUIRED FOR YOUR CITY POPULATION, BUT ALSO YOUR STATE ASSIGNED SERVICE POPULATION, WHICH INCLUDES THE COUNTY.

SO AS THIS PLAN WAS LOOKING OUT TO 2040, THERE'S A RANGE OF SQUARE FOOTAGE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO SERVE JUST THE CITY AT ABOUT CLOSE TO 42,000FT², UP TO 73,000FT², DEPENDING ON IF WE LOOK AT STATEWIDE AVERAGES FOR YOUR PEERS.

THE STANDARD LEVEL FOR LIBRARY SERVICE, ACCORDING TO AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, THE ENHANCE OR THE EXEMPLARY.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE POPULATION FOR YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE AREA, WHICH INCLUDES THE COUNTY, THAT RANGE INCREASES FROM 58,000 TO ALMOST 102,000FT². THIS SUMMARY SHOWS YOU HOW WE LOOK AT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC SPACES.

SO YOU'LL SEE THE SPACES AT THE COMMUNITY AND THE IN THE ONLINE SURVEY AND IN THE IN-PERSON EVENTS TOLD US WHAT THEY WANTED IN THE LIBRARY INCLUDED IN THE SUMMARY, ALONG WITH THE COLLECTION BASED ON AN ENHANCED COLLECTION SIZE FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS FOR 2040, AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF READER SEATS, EXPANDED MEETING ROOM SPACES AND THE TECHNOLOGY SEATS THAT ARE REQUIRED PER STATE STANDARDS.

AND THAT GETS US TO ABOUT 66,000FT².

THAT IS ABOUT DOUBLE THE SIZE OF YOUR EXISTING FACILITY.

SO IT FALLS INTO BOTH OF THE RANGES OF WHAT WE LOOKED AT FROM A RULE OF THUMB SQUARE FOOTAGE STANDPOINT FOR BOTH CITY AND COUNTY. SO BASED ON THE PUBLIC INPUT, A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE STANDARDS, WE CAME UP WITH THREE CATEGORIES OF RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING SOME UPDATES TO THE SITE, INCLUDING AN ACCESSIBLE PATH FROM THE OVERFLOW PARKING.

ADDING SOME SIGNAGE AND ACQUIRING THE REST OF THE LIBERTY SITE WHERE THE OVERFLOW PARKING IS.

THERE'S SOME LOW HANGING FRUIT, LIKE ADDING SOME DIFFERENT TYPES OF FURNITURE TO MEET SOME OF THE NEEDS AT THE COMMUNITY EXPRESS, LIKE ADDING STUDY PODS, ADDING PORCH ONTO YOUR ADDING FURNITURE, ONTO YOUR EXISTING PORCH, AND REPLACING SOME OF THE FURNITURE THAT YOU HAVE NOW TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF SPACE USE.

SO THE SERVICE DESK IS AN EXAMPLE AS WELL AS SOME OF THE BIG COMPUTERS THAT YOU HAVE HAVING LAPTOP VENDING INSTEAD OF BIG DESKTOP COMPUTERS.

AND WE ALSO ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT SOME TEST MARKETS AT THE MALL LOCATION.

YOU HAVE A BOOK RETURN THERE CURRENTLY, BUT INCORPORATING THE LIBRARY PICKUP, THE LOCKERS AT THE COMMUNITY SAID THEY WERE INTERESTED IN OTHER SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE MAINTENANCE ISSUES FROM THE FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT, SHIFTING THE THE BUS DROP OFF FROM ONE SIDE OF THE LIBRARY TO THE ENTRY OF THE LIBRARY AND LOOKING AT EXPANDING THE HOURS.

THE OTHER SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATION IS THE HUMANITIES GRANT, WHICH RAN PARALLEL TO THE FACILITIES MASTER PLAN.

THE HUMANITIES GRANT LOOKED AT HOW WE COULD UTILIZE THE OUTSIDE OF THE LIBRARY MORE EFFICIENTLY.

AND SO THIS IMAGE SHOWS YOU A RENDERING OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN ON THE LIBRARY SIDE ALONG GOODWIN AVENUE.

CREATING AN ENCLOSED SPACE WHERE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS COULD HAPPEN AND PARENTS WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE KIDS GOING OUT ONTO THE STREET.

I'M HAVING SOME COVERED PROGRAM AREAS EXPANDING THE PLAZA AND EVEN CONSIDERING SOME ACCESS TO RESTROOMS AND WATER FACILITIES FROM THE OUTSIDE. WE ALSO LOOKED AT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ENTRY SIDE OF THE LIBRARY, MAKING THE ACCESSIBLE RAMP MORE VISIBLE, MORE USABLE, BUMPING OUT THE MAIN ENTRY SO IT'S MORE OBVIOUS WHERE THE FRONT ENTRANCE IS AND UPDATING LANDSCAPE.

[00:45:06]

AND THEN LONG TERM RECOMMENDATIONS IS TO DOUBLE THE SIZE OF YOUR EXISTING BUILDING.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WHEN YOUR BUILDING WAS BUILT IN 1975, IT SERVED YOU WELL FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND IT WAS DESIGNED WITH EXPANSION IN MIND.

SO WE HAVE SEVERAL OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR EXPANDING THE BUILDING OUT TOWARDS THE PARKING, EXPANDING THE BUILDING UP IN SOME LOCATIONS.

SOME OF THE CONCRETE PANELS CAN BE REMOVED TO PROVIDE MORE GLASS OR CONNECTIONS BETWEEN BETWEEN THAT ADDITION SPACE.

SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DESIGNED YET, BUT WE'VE LOOKED AT THE FEASIBILITY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPANDING YOUR CURRENT BUILDING AND THAT IS A POSSIBILITY.

SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO OPEN IT UP FOR ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

IT'S KIND OF MULTI-TIERED, BUT YOU REFERENCED STATE STANDARDS A COUPLE OF TIMES.

WHO'S OR WHAT IS CREATING THE STANDARD? SO THE TEXAS STATE LIBRARY HAS A PUBLISHED STANDARD, AND I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A LINK TO THAT IF YOU'D LIKE TO LOOK AT IT.

BUT IT ADDRESSES FACILITIES, OPERATIONS, HOURS, ACCREDITATION REQUIREMENTS FOR LIBRARY.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE STATE OF TEXAS IS THAT TEXAS STATE IS IN THE UNIVERSITY OR THE STATE OF TEXAS? THE STATE OF TEXAS.

OKAY. AND ARE THE STANDARDS RECOMMENDATIONS? THERE'S NO LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO GO TO THOSE STANDARDS.

SO THERE'S AN ACCREDITATION LEVEL.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE AUTHORITY PART OF YOUR QUESTION.

SO THERE'S AN ACCREDITATION ISSUE? YES, SIR. AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE ACCREDITED BY WHO? BY THE STATE? JUST THE STATE.

OKAY. IS THAT SOMETHING CITIES NEED OR IS THAT AN EDUCATION THING? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? ACCREDITATION.

THE THE TEXAS ACCREDITATION.

SAYING THAT YOU HAVE A SOLID FOUNDATION OF OPERATION AS A LIBRARY.

SO THEY GIVE YOU LIKE A STAMP OF APPROVAL BECAUSE WE DO SUBMIT A TEXAS AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THEM.

SO IT'S A IT'S JUST PART OF WE ARE PART OF A CONSORTIUM WHEN IT COMES TO DATABASES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO GET VIA THIS CONSORTIUM BECAUSE WE'RE ACCREDITED BY THE STATE SAYING THAT WE ARE A SOUND BODY AND A LIBRARY THAT'S OPERATING THE WAY IT SHOULD.

THANK YOU. THANKS, JESSICA.

AND THAT'S I'M SORRY, IS THAT DIFFERENT THAN THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION? YEAH, TEXAS STATE LIBRARY ARCHIVES COMMISSION.

YES, THAT'S TSLAC.

IT'S DIFFERENT. AND THAT'S THE THE OVERALL LIKE THE OVERALL ALL TEXAS LIBRARIES SUBMIT THE ANNUAL REPORT TO THEM.

AND AND THAT'S PART OF WHERE THEY GATHER ALL THAT INFORMATION AND SUBMIT THINGS TO THE TO GOVERNMENT WHICH WOULD BE GRANT FUNDING, THINGS LIKE THAT OF THE ACCREDITED LIBRARIES IN THE STATE.

OKAY. THANK YOU BOTH.

ANY QUESTION UNDER YOUR SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS, THERE'S A BULLET POINT FOR HUMANITIES GRANT PHASE ONE AND TWO, AND I MAY HAVE MISSED THAT IN YOUR PRESENTATION.

AND IF I DID, I APOLOGIZE.

BUT COULD YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE REASON THAT'S IN THERE? YEAH. SO THAT WAS THE THE SLIDES THAT ARE UP NOW THAT RAN PARALLEL WITH THE MASTER PLAN, LOOKING AT THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.

SO HUMANITIES GRANT PHASES ONE AND TWO.

PHASE ONE IS THE GOODWIN STREET SIDE, CREATING THE PLAZA FOR PROGRAMING.

AND PHASE TWO IS A LIBRARY ENTRANCE SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

THIS ONE. THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT. OF COURSE.

I HAVE A QUESTION ON ON SOME OF THE DIFFERENT ROOMS THAT YOU LISTED.

THERE WAS A MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO A COLLABORATIVE ROOM.

IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE TWO DIFFERENT ROOMS OR COULD THAT BE ONE ROOM? AND AND LIKEWISE, THERE WAS A QUIET STUDY ROOM.

THERE WAS A GROUP STUDY TOGETHER ROOM, AND THERE WAS A STUDY ROOM FOR KIDS AND THE KIDS AREA AND WAS I WAS LOOKING AT IT GOING, HOW MANY OF THESE ROOMS DO WE NEED?

[00:50:05]

I'VE BEEN INVOLVED RECENTLY WITH ROUND ROCK PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND THEY JUST OPENED THEIR NEW BUILDING AND THEY HAVE NINE STUDY ROOMS AND A QUIET READING ROOM.

AND I WAS THERE ON MONDAY FOR ANOTHER FOR A MEETING AND I NEEDED TO GET ON A ZOOM CALL AND I NEEDED ONE OF THOSE STUDY ROOMS AND THEY'RE FULL ALL DAY. THEY WERE RESERVED.

SO THEY THEY ARE SIMILAR BUT FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

SO THE REASON THERE WERE MULTIPLE THE COMMUNITY REACTED TO STUDY ROOMS FOR KIND OF THE GENERAL USE, BUT ALSO SOME THAT WERE DEDICATED TO HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, YOUNGER KIDS AND THE CHILDREN'S AREA.

NOW, COULD THOSE BE THE SAME SPACES? PERHAPS? AND AS A MASTER PLAN, WE'RE LOOKING FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL AT WHAT TYPES OF SPACES THE COMMUNITY SAY THAT THEY WANT.

WHEN THIS ALL BECOMES IMPLEMENTATION, WHAT WE'LL DO IS START LOOKING AT HOW CAN SOME OF THOSE SPACES BE MULTIPURPOSE, EVEN THE STUDY ROOMS BEING MULTIPURPOSE USE FOR DIFFERENT USES.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP OF THE PROCESS TO SEE HOW WE CAN PROVIDE ALL OF THOSE TYPES OF SERVICES IN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ROOMS. THANK YOU. MAUREEN HAD A QUESTION FOR YOU.

I MEAN, WE SEE ALL ALL OF THESE AND THESE THESE LOOK FANTASTIC.

AND I APPRECIATE IT IN SOME OF THESE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE HAD THESE BRAND NEW LIBRARIES AND MEETING THOSE NEEDS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

BUT ANY IDEA OF WHAT THE COSTS OF THIS WOULD BE? TO IMPLEMENT, WHETHER FROM IT'S YOUR SHORT TERM OR YOUR MEDIUM TERM OR YOUR LONG TERM.

SO WE'RE PRESENTED WITH THIS.

I WAS JUST WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS JUST KIND OF A GENERALIZED ESTIMATE OF COST AND THEN THEN WORKING FROM THERE, WHAT KIND OF FUNDING MECHANISMS OR OPTIONS DO WE HAVE FOR THAT? SO FOR THE MASTER PLAN, WE HAVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

AND AS WE HEAR BACK FROM MR. GARZA AND ALL OF YOU ABOUT THE OPTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED, THAT'S WHEN WE'LL START DOING THE COST.

ESTIMATING THE COST ARE ARE VOLATILE AT THE MOMENT.

AND SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LONG TERM RECOMMENDATIONS, IT'S HARD TO HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL TO LOOK OUT TEN YEARS OF WHAT CONSTRUCTION PRICES WILL BE AT THAT TIME.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT.

YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY MANY ELEMENTS OF THIS THAT WILL NECESSITATE SOME ADDITIONAL WORK AND IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT PATH WE WANT TO TAKE. WE DIDN'T WANT TO NECESSARILY GO DOWN THAT PATH RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO DO THAT.

AND SO WE DIDN'T WANT TO SLOW DOWN, YOU KNOW, THE COMPLETION OF THIS PLAN FOR THAT REASON.

I THINK THE WAY WE'RE APPROACHING THIS PLAN IN GENERAL IS THAT IT WILL HELP SET THE FOUNDATION FOR ADDITIONAL DIALOG ON THESE TOPICS, RIGHT? AND SO, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM THIS PLAN WOULD CREATE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS AND HOW WE GO ABOUT FUNDING THOSE.

RIGHT VERSUS MEDIUM VERSUS LONG TERM.

THERE'S OBVIOUSLY NO QUESTION THAT ONCE WE LOOK AT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, YOU KNOW, OVER THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS, WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU ALL ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY GETTING A BETTER PREVIEW OF THAT.

IT WILL BE VERY CHALLENGING, YOU KNOW, TO FUND SOME OF THE LONG TERM RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE LIBRARY IF WE WERE TO TACKLE IT OURSELVES.

I THINK WE ENVISION A MODEL WHERE WE PROBABLY IN A FEW YEARS INVEST SOME MONEY INTO LOOKING INTO WHAT A.

AN ENHANCED LIBRARY MIGHT LOOK LIKE AN EXPANDED LIBRARY AND POTENTIALLY LOOK AT GRANTS OR CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR LIBRARIES TO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOUNDATIONS OR NONPROFITS, NOT NONPROFITS, FOUNDATIONS, GRANTS, AND PRIVATE DONORS TO HELP FUNDRAISE, IN ESSENCE, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIBRARY.

VERY COMMON IN LIBRARY WORLDS TO DO THAT.

SO WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, ONCE WE GET THERE.

WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE.

AND I UNDERSTAND IT.

YOU KNOW, KIND OF MY BRAIN WAS WAS LOOKING AT IT GOING, OKAY, WE'VE BEEN PRESENTED WITH ALL OF OUR CIP ISSUES THAT WE HAVE OUR NEEDS AND THEN WE HAVE OUR WANTS IN THIS REGARD.

BUT IT'S KIND OF FELT LIKE TELLING A REALTOR THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A HOUSE, BUT YET YOU DIDN'T GIVE THEM, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU HAVE A LIMIT WHAT YOU CAN SPEND. AND I HATE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE WHEN YOU CAN ONLY AFFORD A $100,000 HOUSE.

SO THAT'S I DON'T WANT TO SEE A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF OR I'M SCARED TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF WHEN WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT.

AND THEY'LL BE DISAPPOINTED IN WHAT THEY GET, RIGHT?

[00:55:02]

RIGHT. BECAUSE WE AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY PUT SOMETHING OUT THAT WE CAN'T COMMIT TO THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE SHORT TERM AND MEDIUM.

TERM RECOMMENDATIONS WE THINK ARE DOABLE.

OKAY. COST WISE, TIME, TIME WISE.

AT THAT POINT, IT WOULD BE A MATTER OF SIMPLY INCLUDING IT IN THE BUDGET.

HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU IF IT'S A PRIORITY OR NOT.

RIGHT. SO AS AN EXAMPLE, THE OUTDOOR PATIO PATIO PROGRAMING SPACE THAT'S ON THE WELDER SIDE OF THE PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT THAT'S PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM HALF 1 MILLION TO $750,000 BASED OFF OF JUST SOME ROUGH ESTIMATING THAT WE'VE DONE.

YOU KNOW, WITH THAT AMOUNT, WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ABOUT INCORPORATION INTO THE CIP.

RIGHT. AND SO OBVIOUSLY, ONCE WE GET INTO THINGS THAT WILL COST MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, WELL THEN YEAH, THAT'S THAT'LL BE TRICKY.

AND SO WE WERE INTENTIONAL AND NOT WANTING TO INCLUDE A LOT OF SPECIFICS OF THINGS THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO COST MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THAT SAME REASON THAT WE DON'T WANT TO LEAD PEOPLE ON WITH THIS IS COMING AND US NOT HAVE A PLAN, BUT WE DO THINK THE SHORT TERM AND THE MEDIUM TERM RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DOABLE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW YEARS, ASSUMING THAT THEY WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ON PRIORITIES, YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE THAT.

THANK YOU. GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND PRESENTING TO US TONIGHT.

THANK YOU. MOTION TO ADOPT OR TO NOT ADOPT OR.

AND WE ADOPT ONE OR WHATEVER IT IS.

I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADOPT THE LIBRARY PLAN.

LIBRARY MASTER PLAN.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? I THINK THAT DR. YOUNG'S POINT IS WELL TAKEN.

JUST BECAUSE THE PLAN IS ADOPTED DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH EVERYTHING IN THERE AND DON'T.

JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER ONE.

THAT'S RIGHT. YES.

STORMWATER COMES TO MIND.

ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM C TWO.

ITEM E TWO IS THE RESOLUTION APPROVING A CULTURAL DISTRICT BOUNDARY EXPANSION.

[2. Approve Cultural District Boundary Expansion. Kate Garcia, Main Street...]

I'M HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY TO SEEK APPROVAL OF THE EXPANSION OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES.

THERE'S THREE FACTORS THAT KIND OF LED UP TO THIS.

THE FIRST IS THE EXPLOSION OF ACTIVITY AND DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS HAPPENED IN DOWNTOWN SINCE THE INITIAL CULTURAL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES WERE ADOPTED IN APRIL OF 2022.

THE SECOND FACTOR IS RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY TCA BASED ON THOSE THAT HISTORY OF EXPANSION AND ACTIVITY.

AND THE THIRD IS THE ACTIVITY AND DEVELOPMENT THAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

SO REAL QUICK, SYNOPSIS ON CULTURAL DISTRICT AND ITS PURPOSE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN.

THE CULTURAL DISTRICT DESIGNATION IN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA IS TO HELP PROMOTE THE AREA AS A CULTURAL ASSET AND TO DRIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY VITALITY.

TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS TO SEEK EXPANDING THE CULTURAL DISTRICT, AS PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL IN APRIL OF 2022.

THIS REQUEST IS A RECOMMENDATION OF THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS AFTER A PRE APPLICATION REVIEW.

SO SOME OF THE GOALS OF A CULTURAL DISTRICT, THEY ARE ATTRACTING ARTISTS AND CULTURAL ENTERPRISES TO THE COMMUNITY, ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES AND JOB DEVELOPMENT.

ADDRESSING SPECIFIC NEEDS OF A COMMUNITY SUCH AS DETAILED IN THE MASTER PLAN ESTABLISHING TOURISM DESTINATIONS, PRESERVING AND REUSING HISTORIC BUILDINGS, ENHANCING PROPERTY VALUES, AND FOSTERING LOCAL CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.

NOW WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THE MAP THAT WAS ADOPTED IN APRIL 2022.

SOME OF THOSE KEY SITES ARE THE MEMORIAL SQUARE ALL THE WAY TO YOUR RIGHT TOP.

THE NAVY MUSEUM IS ALSO INCORPORATED IN THAT AREA.

YOU DROP DOWN TO THE PLAZA WHERE A LOT OF CULTURAL EVENTS HAPPEN AND HAVE FOR A FEW DECADES AT LEAST.

AND IT ALSO CAPTURES THE LIBRARY AND SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.

SO WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS EXPANDING THAT BOUNDARY TO INCLUDE YOU'LL SEE A DASHED YELLOW LINE THAT'S INSIDE OF THE BLUE AREA.

THAT DASHED YELLOW LINE IS THE EXISTING ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT.

WE'RE NOT PROPOSING CHANGING THOSE BOUNDARIES.

BUT IN THIS PRE-APPLICATION REVIEW THAT WE DID WITH THE TCA, THEY SAID THAT THE CULTURAL DISTRICT, SUCCESSFUL CULTURAL DISTRICTS INCLUDE

[01:00:09]

SO WE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD FOLLOW THOSE BOUNDARIES.

WE REACH UP INTO THIS WONKY LITTLE PIECE THAT YOU SEE ON THE NORTH END THAT IS YOUR FIVE POINTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART.

SO WE REACHED UP AND GRABBED THAT.

THE LITTLE POINT YOU SEE ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT TOP, THAT'S THE POWER AVENUE WAREHOUSE.

WE GRABBED THAT. THAT'S AN ESSENTIAL EVENT SITE IN THE DOWNTOWN DISTRICT.

WE DROPPED IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO CONVENT STREET TO INCLUDE THE CONVENT AS PART OF THEIR MASTER PLAN.

THEY ALSO PROPOSE IMPLEMENTING A MUSEUM THAT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

TCA WAS STRESSED THAT WE INCLUDE THAT IN OUR CULTURAL DISTRICT, EXPANDED BOUNDARIES, AND THEN WE ALSO KIND OF CAME OVER TO LIBERTY STREET.

WE CAME OVER TO WILLIAM STREET ACTUALLY TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THE NEW BUSINESSES THAT WILL BE ON LIBERTY STREET THAT WE'RE AWARE OF AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, BRING IN SOME OF THOSE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT BUSINESSES.

SO REASONS FOR RESUBMISSION CITY STAFF MET WITH TCA DURING THAT PRE-APPLICATION CONSULTATION AND REVIEW I SPOKE OF EARLIER.

PRIOR TO FORMALLY SUBMITTING IN JUNE OF 2022, TCA STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT WE ESTABLISH KEY ITEMS THAT WOULD REFLECT NEGATIVELY ON THE APPLICATION IF THEY WERE OMITTED.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE AN ESTABLISHED GOVERNING BODY OR A BOARD MISSION STATEMENT.

VISION STATEMENT.

AT THAT POINT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS IF WE APPLIED IN JUNE.

SO THEY SAID THAT WOULD WEIGH NEGATIVELY ON THE APPLICATION.

SO BEING ESTABLISHED FOR OVER A YEAR WOULD BE A POSITIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND CLEAR REPORTING MECHANISM, WHICH WE PLAN TO ADDRESS WITH A NEW SOFTWARE.

SO WHERE WE ARE NOW, WE ESTABLISHED A BOARD OF ADVISORS CONSISTING OF TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THREE BOARDS THAT OPERATE HEAVILY IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, PLUS ONE COMMUNITY MEMBER AT LARGE.

WE'VE GOT TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHICH ARE MARK HINOJOSA AND LISA SIMMONS.

THEY BOTH EITHER OPERATE OR OWN A BUSINESS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHICH ARE SUSAN ARMSTRONG KANE AND BETH KOONTZ, TO REPRESENT REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CVB TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH ARE JAMES REARDON AND BRENDA TALLEY, AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING AN ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION, AND THAT IS TERI MURRAY, WHO IS NOW THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SYMPHONY.

WE NOW HAVE BUXTON TO HELP US WITH ACCURATE VISITOR AND ECONOMICS REPORTING.

THIS IS THE CONSUMER INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY SIMILAR TO CVBS.

DATA FOR THE CULTURAL DISTRICT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED LOCALLY FOR ONE CALENDAR YEAR.

SO THAT'S THAT'S A YAY ON OUR PART.

SO THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS RECEIVED AND ACCEPTED OUR SUBMISSION OR RESUBMITTED OUR RESUBMITTED LETTER OF INTENT TO APPLY IN JANUARY AND TO BECOME A DESIGNATED CULTURAL DISTRICT WITH THE STATE DEADLINE TO APPLY THIS YEAR IS JUNE 20TH JUNE 15TH, 2023.

SEPTEMBER 2023 IS WHEN WE WOULD BE NOTIFIED IF WE WERE ACCEPTED AS A DESIGNATED CULTURAL DISTRICT IN THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF THE ARTS AND ONCE DESIGNATED, THE TCA CAN PROVIDE SEVERAL RESOURCES AND SUPPORT TO MAKE THE DISTRICT THRIVE.

AND I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

WHAT? WHEN YOU SAY RESOURCES AND SUPPORT, WHAT DOES THAT TAKE THE FORM OF? CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE? SURE. ONE GREAT EXAMPLE WOULD BE OF GRANTS.

SO THE TCA PROVIDES SOME GRANT MECHANISMS THAT WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO US ONCE WE'RE RECOGNIZED AS A AS A CULTURAL DISTRICT AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND THOSE GRANTEES FOR WHAT PURPOSES? MULTITUDE OF DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

YEAH. ONE EXAMPLE WOULD BE TO HELP, LET'S SEE THE CHARITY CONCERT SERIES.

SO LET'S SAY THAT WELLNESS CENTER COULD APPLY TO HELP OFFSET THOSE EXPENSES.

HAVE ANY OTHER GREAT EXAMPLES? ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE ANY PUBLIC ART.

IN THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, THERE WAS PUBLIC ART RECOMMENDED OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY OR EVEN AT THE NORTH GATEWAY OR EVEN A3361 MONUMENT AND MEMORIAL PARK.

BECAUSE IT'S ALL CULTURAL AND IT'S ALL ART.

SO. SO LIKE THE NATIVE MUSEUM WITHIN THE DISTRICT, WOULD THEY BE ELIGIBLE THEN FOR ADDITIONAL GRANTS BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A DISTRICT? I'M TALKING ABOUT THE MUSEUM VERSUS THE CITY.

YES. ANY ANY ENTITY THAT IS INSIDE THE CULTURAL DISTRICT OR OPERATES INSIDE THE CULTURAL DISTRICT WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE GRANT MECHANISMS. OKAY. SO WE'RE HELPING THEIR GRANT, I GUESS, HORIZONS BY BY PUTTING THEM IN THERE.

YES. YES, SIR. PERFECT.

[01:05:01]

EVEN FOOD AND BEVERAGE.

BUSINESSES WOULD.

YES. IF THEY WERE INVOLVED IN SOME KIND OF EVENT PLANNING OR LIKE THE ART PROGRAMS THAT DANIELLE WAS TALKING ABOUT.

LIKE OUR FACADE GRANT WILL HELP FACILITATE A MURAL WHEN APPROPRIATE.

I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THIS GRANT COULD ALSO GRANTS FROM TCA COULD ALSO BE APPLIED TO THAT SAME SAME PURPOSE.

GREAT. ALL RIGHT.

MOVE WE ADOPT E2.

I'LL SECOND. ALL RIGHT, E2 IT'S BEEN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE AGAINST? SAME SIGN. SORRY, I'M STILL HUNG UP ON THE C AND E.

THANK YOU, MISS ELLIS.

MOTION CARRIES. ITEM E THREE.

[3. Award Laurent Street Water Line Replacement to Mercer Construction Com...]

GOOD EVENING. BACK TO REGULAR BUSINESS OF PROJECTS.

LAWRENCE STREET WATERLINE PROJECT.

WE FOLLOWED THE PROCUREMENT METHOD.

IF WE BID THIS JOB OR WE SENT OUT SEVERAL PROPOSALS BEFORE WE TALKED ABOUT THE 40%.

SO THIS STILL FALLS UNDER THE 50% PRICE GUIDELINE, NOT THE 40%.

AGAIN, WE RANKED THE OFFERS NEGOTIATED BEST VALUE FOR THE CITY.

VALUATION CRITERIA.

AGAIN, WE STARTED AT 50%, THE SCHEDULE AT 15 PASS PERFORMANCE AT 15 AND SO FORTH TO GET TO THE 100%.

WE RECEIVED ONE PROPOSAL FROM MERCER CONSTRUCTION OUT OF EDNA, TEXAS, SUBMITTED BY LINE ITEM.

WE EVALUATED THE PROPOSAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS WAS MYSELF, DARRELL AND MIKE AND SELECTED MERCER AS THE BEST VALUE FOR THE CITY.

PROJECT OVERVIEW.

IT'S ABOUT 3905FT OF WATER LINE.

IT'S REPLACING SOME OLD EIGHT INCH, 12 INCH AND 16 INCH CAST IRON WATER MAINS.

IF YOU REMEMBER, THREE, FOUR YEARS AGO, WE HAD A LARGE BREAK UNDERNEATH THE RAILROAD UNDER RIGHT BY THE RAILROAD UNDERPASS, PART OF THAT 16 INCH MAIN. AND AS YOU WELL KNOW, WHEN THE 16 INCH MAIN BREAKS.

WE LOSE A LOT OF WATER.

SO THIS IS MOVING FORWARD INTO OUR PROCESS OF GETTING RID OF SOME OF THESE OLD WATER MAINS.

IMPROVES OUR RESILIENCY PROJECTS SCHEDULED FOR 240 DAYS.

THAT'S THE MAP.

WE COORDINATED WITH OUR MASTER WATER PLAN TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT ALL TIED TOGETHER.

IT'S A LOOP SYSTEM.

WE'RE REROUTING SOME OF THAT WATER LINE OUTSIDE OF LAURENT JUST TO GET IT OUT OF THAT STATE RIGHT AWAY.

PROJECT TIMELINE.

AWARD THE CONTRACT IN APRIL.

OF COURSE. TODAY.

EXECUTE IN MAY.

BEGIN PROJECT IN JULY AND IN PROJECT COMPLETION IN FEBRUARY.

MOVING FORWARD WE STILL WANT TO KEEP.

COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO GET FROM 40%, HOW DO WE TAKE A PROJECT AND LOOK AT IT? IS IT GOING TO BE A 50% OR IS IT GOING TO BE THE 40%? THE 40% TAKES INTO ACCOUNT? IT DECREASES THE COST VALUE, BUT INCREASES THE PERCENTAGE FOR THE SCHEDULING.

BEST WAY TO LOOK AT IT AND WE LOOKED AT IT THROUGH OUR PROCUREMENT OFFICE IS WHEN A PROJECT INVOLVES AND DISRUPTS THE PUBLIC.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT NEED TO BE MORE SENSITIVE TO TIME.

THIS PROJECT WOULD FALL INTO THAT 40% GUIDELINE.

A PROJECT SUCH AS MAYBE REPLACING A PUMP AT A WATER PLANT OR DOING SOMETHING AT THE SEWER PLANT WHERE THE PUBLIC ISN'T INVOLVED.

THEY'RE NOT DISRUPTED.

THEIR LIFE ISN'T CONCERNED.

WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PRICE.

SO THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT 40, 50% RULING ON ON THOSE AS WE NEGOTIATE AND PUT THESE PROJECTS TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S ALL I GOT ON THIS PROJECT.

KEN, CAN YOU GO OVER THE MAP AGAIN? BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A BREAK AND IT DOESN'T GO STRAIGHT.

SO WE'VE GOT SOME CURRENT WATER LINE IN THERE.

THAT'S CORRECT. IT DOES.

THERE'S SOME OF THAT PIECE THAT SHOWS THAT IT'S NOT THERE.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN REPLACED.

THAT'S WHY THAT'S NOT SHOWN.

WE'RE JUST REPLACING THE PART THAT'S IN BAD SHAPE.

SOME OF THAT'S ALREADY BEEN REPLACED IN PAST YEARS.

BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING INTO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD RIGHT THERE, RIGHT? YES. AND THAT'S TO GET THAT WATER LINE OUT OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.

AND WE'VE ALREADY GOT A CROSSING GOING UNDERNEATH THE TRACKS.

OH, OKAY. SO YOU TALKED ABOUT THE METHOD THAT YOU'VE USED, BUT

[01:10:06]

AND I MAYBE I'M MISSING SOMETHING, BUT I'M FINDING SOME HUMOR IN YOU GOING THROUGH THE EXERCISE WITH JUST ONE BID.

SO WAS THAT COMPARING IT TO WHAT YOUR ORIGINAL X ESTIMATES WERE OR.

YES, WE ACTUALLY DO.

WE LOOK AT IT BASED ON ESTIMATES.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE GET A WE GET A PROPOSAL THAT IS WAY OUTSIDE OF OUR BUDGET, THAT'S THAT'S NOT GOING TO SCORE WELL.

AND WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW, TO GO OUT FOR A NEW PROPOSAL, MUCH LIKE WE DID BON AIR.

WE DO WANT TO LOOK AT DOES THE CONTRACT THAT'S SUBMITTED, EVEN IF IT'S JUST ONE, ARE THEY STABLE? ARE THEY A GOOD COMPANY? DO THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES? SO IT IS A VALUABLE TOOL WHETHER WE HAVE ONE OR MULTIPLE.

IT'S ALWAYS VALUABLE TO LOOK AT EACH EACH PROPOSAL WE GET, WHETHER IT'S, LIKE I SAID, 1 OR 5.

WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE? THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS, LET ME SEE.

I BELIEVE IT'S 1.7.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OVER THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WE HAD IN THE CRP WAS 1701.

AND AND THIS BID BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN FRONT OF ME RIGHT NOW.

17944. AND THAT'S JUST SOME OF THE PRICE OF MATERIALS ARE CONTINUING.

THEY'RE STARTING TO STABILIZE.

I WILL SAY THAT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THE MARKET STABILIZE IN A LOT OF THE AREAS.

STILL TOUGH TO YOU KNOW, THERE'S STILL A WAIT, BUT PRICES ARE STARTING TO AT LEAST SLOW DOWN.

HOW MANY? MORE LINEAR FEET OF CAST IRON MAINS DO WE HAVE? I'VE GOT THAT MAP AND I CANNOT RECALL.

BUT WE HAVE WE HAVE IT MAPPED OUT, THOUGH.

WE HAVE IT MAPPED OUT.

AND I DO HAVE A MAP THAT SHOWS ALL THE LARGE WATER MAINS FROM 12 INCH AND ABOVE.

AND WE HAVE THERE'S A LOT OF IT ON NORTH STREET.

THERE'S STILL A BIG CHUNK ON AIRLINE ROAD.

THOSE ARE THE TWO BIG SECTIONS THAT WE HAVE LEFT.

THE PIPE ON THIS ONE WAS EIGHT, 12 AND 16.

ARE THERE GOING TO BE CHANGED ALL TO 16 OR ARE YOU STILL GOING TO REPLACE THE EIGHT WITH THE EIGHT AND THE 12 WITH THE 12? SOME OF IT. SOME OF THE 16 WE'RE GETTING WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK WITH THE 12 AFTER THEY RAN THE MODEL.

SO WE ARE BEING ABLE TO REDUCE IT, BUT STILL PROVIDES A RESILIENCY.

SO, YES, WE'RE.

THEY RAN ALL OF THESE ALL THE SCENARIOS THROUGH OUR WATER MODEL TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING FEEDS RIGHT.

IF THERE IS, WE HAVE TO CLOSE A VALVE.

WE STILL HAVE REDUNDANCY.

OKAY. MOTION TO AWARD ITEM APPROVE.

ITEM THREE.

SECOND. AND A MOTION.

AND A SECOND TO APPROVE E THREE.

IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES. E FOUR.

[4. Award 2023 Rehabilitation and Overlay Project (Spring Creek Drive) to ...]

SAME KIND OF PROCESS AS FAR AS THE COMPETITIVELY SEALED PROPOSALS.

THIS PROJECT, IF YOU REMEMBER, WAY PROBABLY FIVE YEARS AGO, WE WERE GOING TO SEALCOAT THIS PROJECT.

WE STARTED DOING SOME TESTING.

WE OPENED UP THE ROAD IN A FEW PIECES AND WE FOUND LITERALLY UNDERNEATH THAT ROAD WAS ABOUT 2 TO 3IN OF GRAVEL AND MUD.

SO LUCKILY IT'S HELD UP AS LONG AS IT HAS.

I'M SURPRISED, BUT I THINK IT'S PARTLY JUST THE HOT MIX BRIDGED OVER IT.

AND THE RAILROAD TRACK TRESTLE KEEPS THE TRUCKS FROM GOING THAT DIRECTION A LOT.

SO THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT IN THE RECONSTRUCTION PROCESS.

PROJECT DETAILS IS FROM MAIN STREET TO COUNTRY CLUB, ABOUT 3500 LINEAR FEET.

IT'LL BE A HOT MIX SECTION.

THERE'LL BE SOME CURB THAT WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE THAT IS HOLDING SOME WATER.

IT'S REAL FLAT. WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET THAT WATER OUT OF THERE, UP TOWARDS THAT'S TOWARDS THE COUNTRY CLUB SIDE.

WE'RE GOING TO ADD A LEFT TURN LANE, A DEDICATED LEFT TURN LANE AT MAIN STREET.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO STRIPE THE PROJECT, TRY TO GET THOSE CARS, THE WHEEL PATH OFF OF THE EDGES, GIVE IT A LITTLE WHITE EDGE LINE AND GIVE A LITTLE SHOULDER.

PROPOSAL SUBMITTED.

WE HAD THREE BRANDON PAVING LESTER CONSTRUCTION AND NEWBERRY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

AGAIN THE SAME MYSELF, DARRELL AND MIKE.

WE SELECTED A PROPOSAL OF BRANDON.

PAVING IS THE BEST VALUE TO THE CITY.

THE BUDGET WAS 950,000 AND PROJECT TIME IS 120 DAYS.

WE'RE EXPECTING START MAY, JUNE AND COMPLETION IS SEPTEMBER 23RD.

I WILL EXPECT AS FAST AS THEY MOVED ON NURSERY DRIVE.

[01:15:04]

THEY WILL GET IN AND MOVE VERY QUICKLY ON THIS PROJECT.

THAT'S A PICTURE OF THE DESIGN.

ON ADDING THAT LEFT TURN LANE.

WE'RE ADDING IT TO THE SOUTH THAT MAKES THE BEST LOCATION.

IT WILL INCREASE THAT SIDE SLOPE A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT GIVES US THAT ONE EXTRA LANE AND THEN WE'LL KEEP THE RADIUS AS LARGE AS IT IS NOW.

BUT THAT DOES GIVE THAT LEFT, LEFT TURN BAY.

WE'RE ALSO INCREASING THE PARKING AT THE HISTORICAL SIGN TO INCREASE THAT AREA.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, IT'S NOT SHOWN IS AS SOLID WASTE PICKS UP THEIR TRASH FROM THAT THE DAYTON STREET, THEY HAVE TO TURN AROUND DOWN THERE BY THE RIGHT BEFORE THE BRIDGE.

SOME OF THIS RECLAIMED MATERIAL WE'RE GOING TO ADD INTO THAT AREA AND TRY TO HARDEN IT UP AS MUCH AS WE CAN SO THEY DON'T GET STUCK OR RUTTED UP AS BAD.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE ON THAT.

I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS.

COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH THE THREE BIDS? YES. I'D BE CURIOUS WHAT THE SCORES WERE.

THE SCORES FOR BRANDON, PAVING WAS A 90 5CK, NEWBERRY WAS AN 82 AND LESTER CONSTRUCTION WAS A 91. IS 50% FOR THIS.

THIS WAS 50%.

YES, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU.

NOW, CAN YOU GO BACK TO YOUR VERY FIRST SLIDE? YEAH. NO, I'M MESSING WITH YOU.

NO, NO, THAT'S THE ONE.

I WANT IT. OKAY, SO DOES THAT RACETRACK.

YEAH. STRIPE THERE INDICATE THAT MAYBE YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT SPEED BUMPS.

SPEED HUMPS? NO, I JUST PUT THAT ON THERE.

THAT'S A FINISH LINE.

THAT'S A FINISH LINE.

NO, IT'S NOT A START LINE.

IT'S A FINISH LINE. I WAS.

YOU WERE RIGHT. GO TO THE FIRST SLIDE.

THAT'S CORRECT. WHEN YOU SAID YOU WERE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THE VEHICLE WHEELS OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD, ARE YOU INDICATING WE'RE GOING TO WIDEN SOME OF THAT ROAD? WE'RE THERE'S NOT MUCH.

WE'RE GOING TO WIDEN AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

SOME OF THE DRIVEWAYS LIMITED.

WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS ON HOST ROAD AND OUT THERE WITH THOSE HEAVY TRUCKS WERE WE DID THE SAME THING IS YOU GET THAT WHITE EDGE LINE AND WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS DRIVERS BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY'LL THEY'LL STAY OFF OF THAT WHITE EDGE AND EVEN LEAN TOWARDS THE MIDDLE.

A LOT OF THE OLD COUNTY ROADS AND A LOT OF OUR, YOU KNOW, OPEN DITCH STREETS, WE DON'T HAVE THAT EDGE LINE IN ANY PART OF SHOULDER WE CAN GET IS A BENEFIT.

SO EVEN IF IT'S A TWO FOOT SHOULDER, JUST KEEP THEM OFF OF IT.

IT'S AMAZING WHAT THAT WHITE EDGE LINE, THE PERCEPTION WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THE CURRENT PROPERTY OWNERS AREN'T GOING TO LOSE ANY.

THEY'RE NOT? NO, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LOSE ANYTHING.

OKAY. MOTION.

WE APPROVE ITEM E4 AS PRESENTED BY KING GIL AND A MOTION AND A SECOND ON ITEM E4.

ONLY THING I REQUEST IS, JUST AS Y'ALL NORMALLY DO, JUST NOTIFY THOSE RESIDENTS UP AND DOWN AND BUSINESSES.

YES. AND WE'RE GOING TO COORDINATE WITH THE COUNTRY CLUB, SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY SPECIAL EVENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HIT A BIG EVENT.

WEDDING RECEPTION OR TWO.

CORRECT? YES.

BE CLOSED AT SOME POINT OR ONE WAY TRAFFIC, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

MORE THAN LIKELY, WE WOULD LIKE TO CLOSE IT TO THROUGH TRAFFIC, AT LEAST FROM MAIN TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

THE OTHER PART THAT YOU STILL GOT TO GET TO YOUR HOUSE, YOU STILL GOT TO GET TO THAT, THE COUNTRY CLUB.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT OPEN.

THERE'LL BE TIMES DURING THE DAY WHEN IT'S A LITTLE BIT ROUGH, BUT AS WE DID ON NURSERY, AS LONG AS THEY'RE OUT THERE AND THE CONTRACTORS OUT THERE WITH THEIR FLAGMAN AND THEIR THEIR ASSISTANTS GET PEOPLE IN AND OUT AND NOTIFY THEM, IT'S JUST PURE NOTIFICATION.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

WE'RE IN TO CITY MANAGER REPORTS.

[1. Update on CDBG-MIT Allocation Process. Katy Connally, Grant Administra...]

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THIS WAS A TOPIC THAT BRIEFLY CAME UP AT OUR MOST RECENT COUNCIL WORKSHOP AS WELL.

AND SO THIS IS A FOLLOW UP FROM THAT.

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

BEFORE I START ON THE ON THE UPDATE, I WANT TO SAY A HUGE THANK YOU TO COUNCILMAN LOFGREN AND COUNCILWOMAN SOLIS FOR BEING OUR ADVOCATES THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.

IT'S TAKEN A WHILE AND WE'RE STILL NOT FINISHED, BUT WE WILL GET THERE.

FIRST, I WANTED TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AND AS QUICKLY AND AS CLEARLY AS I CAN ABOUT WHAT THIS ALLOCATION MEANS, HOW IT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF

[01:20:05]

SO THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT CLASSIFICATIONS OF AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ACRONYMS. I'M GOING TO EXPLAIN THEM.

THE HUD, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT MID IS MOST IMPACTED AND DISTRESSED AND THEY WEIGHTED DIFFERENT FACTORS BASED ON THE AREAS TO DETERMINE WHO FELL INTO.

THEY'RE MOST IMPACTED AND DISTRESSED ACCORDING TO THEM.

AND THEN THE STATE ALSO MADE A SEPARATE ASSESSMENT ON MOST IMPACTED AND DISTRESSED.

THOSE TWO CLASSIFICATIONS GOT TWO DIFFERENT PERCENTAGES OF THE TOTAL POT OF MONEY.

SO WITHIN THE HUD MOST IMPACTED AND DISTRESSED, YOU HAD FOUR ENTITIES VICTORIA COUNTY, CITY OF VICTORIA, THE SEVEN, SEVEN, 979 PORTION OF CALHOUN COUNTY AND THE CITY OF PORT LAVACA.

AND THEN THE STATE MOST IMPACTED AND DISTRESSED WAS EVERYONE ELSE WITHIN THE COG, WHICH INCLUDES, OF COURSE, THE OTHER COUNTIES AND THEIR CITIES.

EACH POPULATION WAS CONSIDERED SEPARATELY CITY COUNTIES, SEPARATE POPULATION, SEPARATE OTHER FACTORS WHICH INCLUDE THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, HOUSEHOLD PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL POPULATION, THE TOTAL POPULATION.

THE THE SOCIAL VULNERABILITY FACTOR, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN A SECOND, AND THEN THE FEMA DAMAGE ASSESSMENT.

SO THE HUD MID CUT SLIGHTLY OVER 50% OF THE TOTAL.

THE REST OF THEM GOT THE REST OF IT.

THEN FOUR FACTORS WERE APPLIED THE POPULATION, THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AMOUNT, THE SOCIAL VULNERABILITY AND THE FEMA DAMAGE ASSESSMENT.

EACH OF THOSE WERE WEIGHTED DIFFERENTLY.

THE FEMA DAMAGE ASSESSMENT WELL, THE POPULATION LOW TO MODERATE INCOME AND THE SOCIAL VULNERABILITY WERE ALL GIVEN 33% WEIGHT WITHIN THE METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION.

THE FEMA DAMAGE ASSESSMENT WAS DIALED DOWN TO ONE.

AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS FOR THAT IS BECAUSE NOT EVERY JURISDICTION WITHIN THE COG HAD A FEMA DAMAGE ASSESSMENT RELATED TO HURRICANE HARVEY.

THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT.

SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THE PROCESS HAS BEEN.

THE BOARD MET ON THE 27TH OF FEBRUARY TO WORKSHOP, LOOKING AT HOW TO HOW TO WEIGHT THE FACTORS AND WHAT THAT WAS GOING TO MEAN IN TERMS OF FUNDING.

AND THEN ON THE 1ST OF MARCH, MET TO APPROVE THAT METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION.

AND WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH IT IS THE GLOW JUST THIS PAST FRIDAY 31ST IS THE DATE OF THIS LETTER GAVE APPROVAL OF IT.

SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT.

THERE'S GOING TO BE FOR 15 DAYS THAT OPENED THIS MONDAY AND WE'LL FINISH UP ON APRIL 18TH.

AT THE CLOSE OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, THE BOARD WILL MEET AGAIN TO GIVE FINAL APPROVAL.

THEY'LL PASS AN ACTUAL RESOLUTION FOR FINAL APPROVAL ON THIS FINAL METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION.

AND THEN THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL SEND OUT ACCEPTANCE LETTERS TO EACH OF THE ENTITIES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS FUNDING.

ONCE ALL THE LETTERS ARE RECEIVED AS ACCEPTED AND I HAVE AN ASTERISK THERE BY BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH GETTING GUIDANCE FROM THE GLO FOR THE NEXT STEPS.

THE REASON WHY THE ASTERISK IS THERE IS BECAUSE IF NOT ALL OF THE FUNDING IS ACCEPTED BY ALL OF THE ELIGIBLE ENTITIES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STEP BACK, ADD THAT MONEY BACK INTO THE TAKE THEM OUT, ADD THAT MONEY BACK IN, VOTE ON IT AGAIN, ANOTHER 15 DAY PERIOD, 15 DAY COMMENT PERIOD.

AND THEN AND THEN FINALLY.

ANALYZE IT AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.

SO WE STILL HAVE A LITTLE WAYS TO GO.

UM, BUT IT'S I DO HAVE SOME LINKS ON MY PRESENTATION I'LL GET TO HERE IN A SECOND ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT BECAUSE THAT IS OPEN NOW.

IF, IF ANYONE IN VICTORIA WANTED TO SUBMIT COMMENT ON IT.

BUT THE USE OF FUNDS, WHICH IS ANOTHER THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT REALLY QUICKLY, IS FOR BASICALLY FOR MITIGATION WITH AN EMPHASIS TOWARD BENEFIT TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

AND SO 50% OF EACH ENTITY'S ALLOCATION HAS TO BE SPENT TO BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

SO THE THE ACTIVITY NEEDS TO OCCUR IN THESE AREAS AND IN THESE WAYS AND AFFECT MITIGATION, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, FLOODS, HURRICANES, TORNADOES, NATURAL DISASTER OR OTHER EMERGENCY.

AND THEN BENEFITING AT 50% HAS TO BENEFIT LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.

[01:25:04]

HARDENING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS IS ALSO A PROJECT UNDER CONSIDERATION.

OF COURSE, DRAINAGE AND THE LONE TREE DRAINAGE KIND OF COMES TO THE TOP.

BUT THERE I THINK A LOT OF DRAINAGE PROJECTS THAT WE COULD CERTAINLY DO.

AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, WHICH INCLUDES THE SKATE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AND ANY RECOMMENDATIONS COMING OUT OF THE ANY STUDY.

UM, AND SO PUBLIC COMMENTS NEED TO BE RECEIVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION BY APRIL 18TH.

AND I PUT THE EMAIL ADDRESS BECAUSE IT HAS TO GO RIGHT TO MICHAEL TO THE NEXT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS ON APRIL 26TH AT 3 P.M.

AND LAURENT TOWER IN THEIR BOARDROOM AND THE IT'S FADED OUT BECAUSE IT'S A SCREENSHOT BUT THE THE RED LINKS ON THIS PAGE ARE WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE SPREADSHEET THAT SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN FOR EACH ENTITY AND THEN ALSO THE SUMMARY THAT INCLUDES THE GOALS, ALL OF THE PUBLIC COMMUNICATION AND SOME OF THE OTHER FEATURES OF WHAT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS SUBMITTED TO THE GLO.

SO WE HAVE WE HAVE A LITTLE WAYS TO GO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? WE'RE JUST HOPING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE BEST THAT WE CAN FROM THE MONEY.

RIGHT. WE'RE THERE FIGHTING FOR YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU. YOU DID A GREAT JOB.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR. CONNOLLY.

NEXT UP, HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

[2. Human Resources Department 2022 Annual Report. Cheryl Marthiljohni, Di...]

YES, SIR. AND I BELIEVE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT HR DOES AN ANNUAL REPORT.

AND SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

IT IS. IT'S GOING TO GO GREAT.

I KNOW I ALREADY CAN READ THE FUTURE NOW.

IT'S GOING TO GO GREAT BECAUSE WHEN MR. GARZA AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS ANNUAL REPORT, WE TALKED ABOUT NOT JUST FOCUSING ON WHAT HR IS DOING, BUT FOCUS ON OUR WORKFORCE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

SO I THINK IT'LL GO SUPERB BECAUSE OF THAT TOPIC ALONE, BY THE WAY, YOU GET TO FIGURE OUT WHO, WHO IS WHO ON THAT PICTURE FROM THE EXECUTIVE TEAM.

I'M THE TALLEST ONE, BY THE WAY.

YEAH, I'M JUST KIDDING.

SO IT IS MY PLEASURE.

TONIGHT, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO PRESENT THE FIRST EVER THAT I'M AWARE OF.

HUMAN RESOURCES ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 22.

I DID INCLUDE SOME CURRENT DATA AS WELL IN THE PRESENTATION JUST TO GIVE YOU A REFERENCE POINT, BUT I'LL GET INTO IT.

SO FIRST THING I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT, OF COURSE, IS WHERE I'LL TAKE YOU THIS EVENING WITH THIS PRESENTATION.

AND I WANT TO DESCRIBE WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION, WHO OUR WORKFORCE IS MADE UP OF, WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER, HOW WE FULFILL OUR MISSION OF ENHANCING LIVABILITY. AND THEN A LITTLE TEASER OF WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT IS GOING TO BE A PRESENTATION.

SO A GREAT PRESENTATION THAT WE PARTNERED WITH OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND TEAM TO DEVELOP.

THEY GET ALL THE CREDIT FOR THE FOR THE BUMP VIDEO WE CALL IT, BUT THIS IS A VIDEO THAT WE DO USE WHENEVER WE ARE INTERACTING WITH NEW EMPLOYEES OR POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE DESCRIBE OURSELVES AS A WORKFORCE.

AND SO I LIKE TO TELL FOLKS THAT WE'RE NOT ONLY YOUR MUNICIPALITY OR THE CITY, BUT WE ARE THE COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE ALSO A WORK FAMILY.

AND SO ALL THOSE TERMS THAT YOU SAW FLASH ACROSS THE SCREEN DESCRIBE WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION.

TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE WORKFORCE DEMOGRAPHICS LOOK LIKE IN FISCAL YEAR 22, THIS IS SORT OF JUST A BREAKUP OF ETHNICITY CATEGORIES AS WELL AS A BREAKDOWN OF HOW MANY MALES TO FEMALES WE HAVE IN THE WORKFORCE.

BUT I'LL DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THAT EVERY YEAR OF EXPERIENCE.

SO WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER SIX YEARS, CLOSE TO SEVEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE OVERALL IN THE ORGANIZATION.

I KNOW POLICE AND FIRE COME UP IN MIND WITH REGARDS TO YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, SO I WANTED TO PUT THAT ONE IN THERE.

AND WE HAVE EIGHT YEARS FOR ALL OF OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SO BY THE NUMBERS, WE HAVE FULL TIME BUDGETED POSITIONS FOR ONE WITH YOUR APPROVAL OF ADDING POSITIONS.

[01:30:06]

ON AVERAGE WE HAVE ABOUT 500, A LITTLE OVER 550 FOR FISCAL YEAR 22 AND CURRENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 23 VACANT POSITIONS.

WE HAVE A FEW.

SO IN FISCAL YEAR 22, WE HAD ON AVERAGE 77 PROJECTED FOR FISCAL YEAR 23.

WE HAVE 83 POSITIONS.

WE'RE NOT UNLIKE OTHER BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH REGARDS TO FINDING EMPLOYEES.

THAT'S WHY THIS IS GOING TO BE A SHAMELESS PLUG TO TRY TO GET THE PUBLIC OUT THERE TO APPLY FOR OUR POSITIONS.

AND I'LL SAY THAT PROBABLY MULTIPLE TIMES.

BUT CURRENTLY WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE 86 POSITIONS.

WE WATCH THAT ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

BUT RIGHT NOW, MONDAY'S COUNT WAS 86.

SO WE'RE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION, BUT WE'RE WORKING HARD TO GET THOSE POSITIONS FILLED.

OUR TURNOVER RATE LAST FISCAL YEAR WAS 25%.

23% IS WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING FOR FISCAL YEAR 23.

I DID LOOK UP SOME STATISTICS, AND TEXAS STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE SHOWED THAT IN 2021, THE STATE OF TEXAS WAS 21.5% TURNOVER RATE FOR THE STATE.

IN 2022, IT WAS 22.7.

SO IT ACTUALLY INCREASED AS WELL.

SO WE'RE HOVERING RIGHT AROUND THAT AREA MAYBE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER WITH REGARDS TO OUR TURNOVER RATE.

SO SOME ACTIVITY THAT WE HAD IN OUR EMPLOYEE RANKS.

GOOD NEWS IS WE HIRED 81 FOLKS TO JOIN OUR ORGANIZATION.

WE'RE VERY PLEASED ABOUT THAT.

WE ACTUALLY PROMOTED WITHIN 77 EMPLOYEES.

AND SO WE DO HAVE MOBILITY OF MOVING UPWARD IN THE ORGANIZATION.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD SOME SEPARATIONS, A TOTAL OF 140 FOR FISCAL YEAR 22, 107 RESIGNATION.

AND OUT OF THOSE, THE TOP THREE REASONS WERE BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITY, WHICH YOU'LL GET INTO BETTER PAYING JOBS AS WELL AS JUST BETTER OPPORTUNITY OVERALL FOR MAYBE WHAT THAT CAREER PATH IS FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL REASONS COULD BE MEDICAL RELATED, IT COULD BE FAMILY RELATED, BUT JUST PERSONAL AS AS A WHOLE.

AND THEN JUST MOVING FROM THE VICTORIA AREA, WE DID HAVE 20 RETIREMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 22 AND UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD TO PART WAYS WITH 13 EMPLOYEES. SO THIS CHART SHOWS JUST AVERAGE BASE COMPENSATION TO GIVE YOU A NUMBER SORT OF OF WHERE WE'RE AT IN FISCAL YEAR 22, OUR AVERAGE ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION WAS $47,113.

NOW THAT EXCLUDES EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBERS FISCAL YEAR 23, WITH THE WORK WE DID ON OUR COMPENSATION STUDY AND IMPLEMENTING THAT PHASE THREE, WE RAISED THAT TO THAT 49.5 NUMBER. I ALSO HAVE SOME CURRENT AVERAGES THERE FOR OUR CERTIFIED FOLKS AND POLICE AND FIRE.

I WILL TELL YOU, HOWEVER, THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH OUR WAGES.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S IMPACTING WITH REGARDS TO OUR VACANCY NUMBERS.

AND SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT OFTENTIMES IN MY POSITION AS A DIRECTOR, I'LL HEAR FROM OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH REGARDS TO OPEN POSITIONS AND THEN THE PAY ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE.

SO AN AREA TO CONTINUE TO TO FOCUS ON FOR SURE.

SWITCHING GEARS FROM THAT, THOUGH, AND WHAT WE DO OFFER, THIS IS A GREAT VISUAL OF A HANDOUT THAT WE PRESENTED TO NEW EMPLOYEES, PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, EVEN OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES, WE INCLUDED IN THEIR ANNUAL BENEFITS BINDER.

IT'S EVERYTHING THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR EMPLOYEES IN A WAY OF WHAT WE OFFER AND HOW WE SHOW VALUE TO THEM AS EMPLOYEES.

SO AS YOU KNOW, WE OFFER THE SUITE OF HEALTH INSURANCE, MEDICAL, PHARMACY, DENTAL VISION.

WE ALSO HAVE THE MRS AND 457 RETIREMENT PLANS.

ABSENT MANAGEMENT IS JUST THAT WE'RE PROACTIVE WITH REGARDS TO GETTING IN SHORT TERM, LONG TERM DISABILITY, BUT ALSO FIT FOR DUTY AND RETURN TO WORK TELEMEDICINE.

WE OFFER PAID LEAVE PROGRAMS. WE OFFER VOLUNTARY BENEFITS, INCLUDING PET INSURANCE, BY THE WAY, WHICH IS PRETTY POPULAR DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR PAYCHECKS, FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES FOR SOME. NOT ALL, OF COURSE, CAN MEET THAT.

BUT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT SOME DIFFERENT WORK SCHEDULES FOR DIFFERENT TEAMS. LIFE INSURANCE.

AS YOU KNOW, WE PURCHASED ONE TIMES YOUR ANNUAL LIFE IN SALARY INSURANCE FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.

AND THEN WE ALSO OFFER SAVING AND SPENDING ACCOUNTS.

SO A WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT OFFERINGS.

AND IT'S OUR JOB IN HR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING THIS NOT ONLY IN FRONT OF FUTURE EMPLOYEES THAT MIGHT JOIN OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT OUR EXISTING EMPLOYEES AS WELL, WITH EVERYTHING THAT WE OFFER TO ADD VALUE FOR THEM.

SO TAKING CARE OF OUR EMPLOYEES SO THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN A FOCUS OF.

HOURS, ESPECIALLY COMING OFF OF THE PANDEMIC.

[01:35:01]

SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT INTERNALLY EMPLOYEE FRIENDLY FOCUS.

WE'RE TRYING TO TO FOCUS ON THAT OFFERING OF BALANCE.

WE'VE INCORPORATED POLICIES SUCH AS DIVERSITY, EQUALITY AND INCLUSION POLICIES.

WE'VE LOOKED AT OUR PAID TIME OFF.

WE JUST RECENTLY, THE END OF LAST YEAR, WENT TO A PAID TIME OFF VERSUS A SICK CATEGORY AND A VACATION CATEGORY, BUT LUMPED IT TOGETHER SO THAT EMPLOYEES HAVE MORE FLEXIBILITY AROUND THE TIME THAT THEY'RE GIVEN.

PARENTAL LEAVE FOR NEW PARENTS.

WE NOW HAVE 15 HOLIDAYS THAT WE RECOGNIZE.

WE DO HAVE A POLICY AROUND TELECOMMUTE.

BUT AGAIN, THAT'S SPECIFIC TO CERTAIN WORK GROUPS AND FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES.

THE SAME THING.

AND WITH YOUR GRACIOUS AGREEMENT TO ADD A TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST IN HR LAST YEAR IS ONE OF OUR NEW POSITIONS.

WE'VE REALLY TAKEN OFF WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER AND DEVELOP IN OUR CURRENT WORKFORCE AROUND THAT PIECE.

SO AGAIN, SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE SHOWING THAT WE CARE ARE DEVELOPING INTERNAL COMMITTEES SUCH AS EMPLOYEES HELPING EMPLOYEES.

THIS COMMITTEE WAS ACTUALLY PUSHED TO THE FOREFRONT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THIS COMMITTEE WAS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES, DEVELOPING CARE PACKAGES FOR OUR THE MEMBERS OF OUR WORKFORCE THAT WERE STRUGGLING THROUGH COVID.

AND OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE WERE DOING CAMPAIGNS LIKE BACK TO SCHOOL FOR EMPLOYEES.

SO THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THIS COMMITTEE AND THIS INTERNAL, IF YOU WILL, FOCUS IS THAT EMPLOYEES ARE DONATING THEIR TIME, THEY'RE DONATING THEIR SKILLS, THEY'RE DONATING THINGS LIKE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR OTHER EMPLOYEES TO TAP INTO AND UTILIZE THAT.

SO I THINK WE'VE GOT GREAT SUCCESS.

I'M NOT THE ONLY CHAIR ON THIS, DARRYL, LISA AND TIFFANY, TO HELP SORT OF LEAD UP THE OVERALL COMMITTEE.

WE DO FUN THINGS AS WELL JUST TO TRY TO KEEP IT LIGHT IN THE WORKPLACE, LIKE OUR PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST AS WELL AS WE HAD OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY THIS PAST DECEMBER.

THAT WAS A BIG EFFORT MADE FOR THIS COMMITTEE.

SO WE CONTINUE TO WANT TO OPEN IT UP AND ENCOURAGE OTHER EMPLOYEES TO GET INVOLVED.

I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE EVEN BUILT A DATABASE OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE SPECIAL SKILL SETS, AND WE TAPPED INTO THAT DURING STORM URI.

WE HAD SOME EMPLOYEES THAT HAD PIPES BUST, OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF THE FREEZE.

AND RATHER THAN WAIT FOR A PLUMBER, WE HAD SOME EMPLOYEES THAT HAD PLUMBING EXPERIENCE AND WERE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE AND HELP THAT EMPLOYEE GET BACK UP AND RUNNING.

SO MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS AND MAKING THAT THING, MAKING THOSE THINGS HAPPEN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IS WHAT THIS COMMITTEE IS THERE TO DO.

IN ADDITION TO NOT ONLY FOCUSING ON OUR HEALTH AND OUR PHYSICAL PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, LIKE OUR HEALTH CARE REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAMS AND OUR HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, WE ALSO WANTED TO LOOK INTERNALLY TO OUR MENTAL HEALTH.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE PARTICIPATE EVERY YEAR IN OUR AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION WALK.

WE ALSO PARTNERED WITH A COUPLE OF AGENCIES LAST YEAR, ONE OF THOSE BEING DOROTHY O'CONNOR PET COMPLEX.

WE THEY HAVE SOME SHOW DOGS.

WE TAKE A FEW MINUTES OUT OF THE DAY AND BRING IN THEIR SHOW DOGS TO JUST HELP THE EMPLOYEES.

TAKE A MINUTE TAKE A BREATHER PET A FURRY LITTLE ANIMAL IF THEY WANT TO.

BY NO MEANS IS IT MANDATORY, BUT WE'VE GOTTEN SOME REALLY GOOD FEEDBACK FROM EMPLOYEES THAT THEY APPRECIATE THAT LEVEL OF TOUCH AND TAKING CARE OF THEIR WELL-BEING.

AND AGAIN, IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT'S TAKEN A LONG AMOUNT OF TIME AWAY FROM THEIR WORK, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT MEANS A LOT TO THEM.

AND THE DOGS LOVE IT, AS YOU CAN SEE, ESPECIALLY THE ONE WITH JESUS.

DIDN'T YOU ADOPT THAT ONE, BY THE WAY? NO. WISHFUL THINKING, I KNOW.

BUT ANYWAY, THEY HAVE BEEN EXTREME, EXTREMELY GOOD PARTNERS WITH US THROUGH THAT.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON OUR SECOND YEAR WITH THEM AND BRINGING IN THOSE SHOW DOGS AND PATROLLING THEM AROUND TO DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.

IN ADDITION, WE PARTNERED WITH CITIZENS HEALTH PLEX AND CITIZENS HEALTH PLEX IS COMING IN AND OFFERING SOME RELAXATION CLASSES AS WELL AS SOME CHAIR MASSAGES THAT FOLKS CAN SCHEDULE FOR.

A LOT OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN REGARDS TO THIS AREA IS WELLNESS REIMBURSEMENT MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM OUR CARRIER BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD.

SO IT'S NOTHING THAT THE CITY IS PUTTING OUT.

IT'S ACTUALLY MONEY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO REIMBURSE FROM.

SO THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A CHARGE LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, COM COM IS AN APP THAT YOU CAN GET ON YOUR PHONE.

IT'S COM FOR BUSINESS AND WE'VE BOUGHT A SUBSCRIPTION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYEES CAN USE THAT SUBSCRIPTION ON FIVE DIFFERENT DEVICES SO THEY CAN TAKE IT HOME AND USE IT WITH FAMILY AS WELL.

WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF REALLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM EMPLOYEES ON THAT APP, AND SO IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED IT, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.

[01:40:01]

SO. WITH THAT.

LOOKING AHEAD, WE ARE REVIEWING SOME ADDITIONAL HEALTH PLAN DESIGNS FOR 2024.

THAT'S ALWAYS A FOCUS FOR US EVERY YEAR IS TO LOOK AT WHAT OUR HEALTH FUND IS DOING AND SEE HOW WE CAN AGAIN CREATE VALUE IN OUR HEALTH PLAN.

WE ALSO ARE LOOKING AT EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT AS PERHAPS A POLICY.

WE HAD THIS A WHILE BACK.

WE'RE LOOKING TO BRING IT BACK.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT THAT EMPLOYEES WOULD LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENT PROACTIVE RECRUITING PRACTICES.

WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING THIS TO SOME REGARD, BUT WE'RE GETTING BETTER ABOUT IT.

AND THAT IS WE HAVE A LOT OF APPLICANTS THAT COME IN AND APPLY FOR OUR POSITIONS.

AND SO GOING BACK OUT AND TAPPING INTO THOSE SOURCES VERSUS WAITING FOR APPLICANTS TO COME TO US, WE NEED TO GO TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

SO WE'RE IMPLEMENTING THOSE PRACTICES.

EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT IS REALLY TAKEN OFF.

WE'RE GOING TO IMPLEMENT OUR FIRST LEADERSHIP ACADEMY THIS YEAR AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO BUILD OFF OF THAT FOR THE YEARS TO COME.

AND THEN WE WANT TO JUST CONTINUE WORKING ON ONLINE SOLUTIONS.

WE'VE NOT HAD THE SMOOTHEST OF IMPLEMENTATIONS WITH SOME OF OUR NEO GOV PRODUCTS, AS I'M SURE THE WHOLE AUDIENCE BACK THERE.

I CAN HEAR GRUMBLING, BUT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THE ISSUES AND WE'RE GETTING THERE AND WE HAVE SOME EXCITING ADDITIONAL ONLINE SOLUTIONS THAT THAT WE WANT TO ROLL OUT AS WELL.

AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO SAY THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON FIRST RESPONDER HEALTH AS WELL AND OUR WELL-BEING.

THERE IS AN AGENCY THAT WE TAPPED INTO CALLED FIRST RESPONDER HEALTH, WHICH REALLY FOCUSES ON POLICE AND FIRE MENTAL HEALTH.

AND WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT RESOURCES IN OUR ORGANIZATION WITH POLICE AND FIRE THAT ARE BUILDING PEER TO PEER GROUPS TO HELP WITH THAT.

SO WE'RE JUST FACILITATING SOME TRAINING, TRYING TO HELP THEM AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITH REGARDS TO THAT RESOURCE.

AND THEY'RE JUST TAKING IT AND RUNNING WITH IT.

SO IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT FOCUS.

WE REALIZE THAT THAT THOSE PARTICULAR GROUPS DON'T TAP INTO TRADITIONAL EAP TYPE PROGRAMS. SO FINDING SOMETHING THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO JUST THEM AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS IMPORTANT FOR US.

AND SO WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT AS WELL.

AND THEN A SHAMELESS PLUG IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THIS FANTASTIC TEAM, BY GOSH, YOU BETTER APPLY TODAY BECAUSE WE WANT YOU.

SO VICTORIA.GOV IS WHERE YOU CAN GO TO FIND ALL OUR JOB OPENINGS.

AND SINCE THIS IS OUR FIRST ANNUAL REPORT, IF THERE IS ANY DATA THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT I DID NOT COVER, I'LL BE GLAD TO NOTE THAT AND BRING IT BACK TO YOU FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS? THE ONLY QUESTION I HAVE, CHERYL, IS THE 86 VACANCIES.

WHAT DEPARTMENTS ARE THEY IN? SO WE HAVE THE THREE LARGEST DEPARTMENTS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO FIND YOUR VACANCIES.

PUBLIC WORKS IS NUMBER ONE.

THEY TYPICALLY ARE OUT THERE.

THEY HAVE ABOUT 34 VACANCIES RIGHT NOW.

PD IS SECOND AND THEN FIRE.

SO THOSE THREE LARGEST DEPARTMENTS ARE WHERE WE'RE AT.

HOW MANY VACANCIES IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SO WE DO HAVE I'VE GOT IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT, I'VE GOT THE MARCH.

I'VE GOT IT RIGHT HERE. OKAY. YEAH.

SO CURRENT VACANCIES IN FIRE.

WE HAVE TOTAL 1511 CERTIFIED POSITIONS IN PD.

WE HAVE A CURRENT VACANCY OF 22.

16 OF THOSE ARE CERTIFIED AND PUBLIC WORKS.

WE HAVE 34.

AND IN PUBLIC WORKS.

WHAT YOU'RE BATTLING ARE CDL DRIVERS, YOU'RE BATTLING LABORER TYPE POSITIONS, AND THE MINUTE THE MARKET PICKS UP, WE LOSE THEM.

I'M SURE. GOOD JOB.

AND WITH PUBLIC WORKS TOO, IF WE WERE TO BREAK IT DOWN, THE UTILITY DIVISION WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS IS THE ONE THAT'S HURTING THE MOST.

MOST DEFINITELY. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD HOW MANY VACANCIES ARE THERE FROM THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN UTILITIES? I'D SAY IT'S IN THE 2027.

MOST OF THEM ARE IN. YEAH.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR REPORT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

THANKS. THANKS FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR ALL THE EMPLOYEES, YOUR DEPARTMENT.

EVERYBODY THAT WORKS IN THERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S IT.

THAT'S IT. TONIGHT? YEAH, I THINK SO.

OH, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE.

[3. Environmental Services Department 2022 Annual Report. Darryl Lesak, Di...]

SO YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE REST.

TONIGHT, YOU GET TO HEAR FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL DEPARTMENT.

YOU THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GO BEST, DIDN'T YOU? I WOULDN'T DO THAT TO Y'ALL. SO, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I'M HERE TO DO OUR ANNUAL REPORT.

WE DO THIS EVERY YEAR.

AND SO, AS EVERYONE KNOWS, WE COVER A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS OUT OF MY DEPARTMENT FROM BEAUTIFICATION, SOLID WASTE, RECYCLING CLEANUPS, YOU NAME IT, WE DO IT, INCLUDING WEEDY LOTS NOW.

[01:45:07]

BUT MY NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HAS BEEN A BIG HELP ALREADY AND SHE'S MUCH APPRECIATED.

AND THANK YOU, JESUS.

SO I TAKE WHATEVER I SAID, I TAKE IT BACK.

DARRELL'S GREAT. REALLY EXCITED THAT HE'S PRESENTING TONIGHT.

SO AS WE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS, I'VE GOT MULTIPLE SLIDES ON CLEANUPS WHERE I'M GOING TO ADD EVERYTHING TOGETHER FOR YOU.

BUT THESE ARE ROADWAY CLEANUPS.

THESE ARE THE HIGHWAY CLEANUPS THAT WE DO.

WE HAD 924 VOLUNTEERS, 735 BAGS OF TRASH, AND WE CLEANED UP ABOUT 75 MILES OF HIGHWAY.

THIS IS A GOOD ONE.

IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP TOTALS.

SO WE'VE DONE FOUR CLEANUPS.

WE'VE DONE TWO IN SILVER CITY.

NOW, THE SECOND ONE, WE DIDN'T SEND VOLUNTEERS OUT DUE TO WEATHER.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO GO BACK AND HIT THAT THIS NEXT SPRING JUST TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.

AND THEN PARKWAY WAS OUR VERY ONE OF OUR FIRST ONES AND WE'VE DONE 490 VOLUNTEERS, 435 ADDRESSES.

IF YOU LOOK AT SILVER CITY, PART ONE, 160 VOLUNTEERS, 202 ADDRESSES THAT WE CLEANED UP IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

NOW, REMEMBER, THIS IS OVER A THREE WEEK STRETCH.

WE MOVE IN THERE WITH KNUCKLE BOOMS TWO WEEKS BEFORE AFTER THE DOOR KNOCKING IS DONE AND WE START PICKING UP SO THAT IT'S NOT OVERBEARING ON THE DAY THAT WE DO THE CLEANUP.

ABOUT 122 TONS OF DEBRIS, 67 OUT OF THE FIRST HALF OF SILVER CITY AND 376 TIRES.

DON'T ASK ME HOW PEOPLE HAVE THAT MANY TIRES, BUT WE HAD ONE HOUSE IN QUEENS CITY THAT HAD 83.

HOLY MOLY. SO WE DO TEN.

WE'VE DONE TEN CLEAN, CLEAN SWEEPS.

THIS IS SOMETHING CHRISTIE CAME UP WITH.

THESE ARE WE HAVE GROUPS THAT CALL US JUST OUT OF THE BLUE AND SAY, HEY, WE'D LIKE TO DO SOMETHING.

WHAT CAN WE DO? AND SO WE PICK OUT VARIOUS AREAS.

IT COULD BE A PARK, IT COULD BE JUST A STRETCH OF ROAD, IT COULD BE JUST ABOUT ANY PIECE OF PROPERTY IN TOWN THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND THEY BRING IN VOLUNTEERS AND THEY GO OUT AND TAKE THEM A COUPLE OF HOURS.

THEY CLEAN IT UP, LEAVE THE TRASH, AND THEN WE GO BY ON MONDAY AND PICK IT UP.

SO I THINK SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO MENTION HERE IS IF YOU ADD ALL THAT TOGETHER, WE'VE GOT 1550 VOLUNTEERS AT AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT THREE HOURS PER EVENT, COMES UP TO 44,650 HOURS THAT VOLUNTEERS HAVE BEEN OUT IN THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF CLEANING UP OUR CITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPRESSIVE JUST IN ITSELF, THAT ONE THAT MANY PEOPLE COME OUT.

BUT TWO, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY DONATE TO THE CITY ESSENTIALLY, AND THE CITIZENS OF VICTORIA TO BEAUTIFY OUR CITY.

SO A HUGE APPLAUD TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO COME OUT WEEKLY OR MONTHLY AND QUARTERLY FOR ALL OF OUR CLEANUPS.

SO A BIG THANKS TO THEM.

WE DO LOTS.

SO THIS WAS SOMETHING NEW THAT WE TRIED.

I'D LIKE TO STAND HERE AND TELL YOU IT'S WORKING OUT AND I WILL.

WE KIND OF LOOKED AT IT A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY THAN IT DID WHEN CODE ENFORCEMENT WAS HAVING TO HIRE CONTRACTORS, WAIT TIMES, FINDING THE MONEY TO DO IT, DIFFERENT THINGS.

AND SO WE STARTED THIS IN OCTOBER.

SO WE'VE BEEN IN THIS ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

WE'VE DONE 168 PROPERTIES.

WE'VE SENT 22 CONTRACTORS.

THE ONES WE'RE SENDING THE CONTRACTORS ARE BIG LOTS.

I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING MULTIPLE ACRES OR JUST TWO TOO BIG FOR MY TWO MAN CREW TO HANDLE.

UM, OUR AVERAGE TIME IS 1.5 HOURS PER PROPERTY.

THAT'S THE PRODUCTIVITY WE WERE LOOKING FOR WHEN WE STARTED.

THIS IS TO GET IN, GET IT DONE, STAY ON TOP OF IT.

AND. THEN GO BACK IN AT A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME, NOT HAVING TO WAIT ON CONTRACTORS TO GET THAT DONE.

NOW, OUR AVERAGE WENT FROM 1375 TO ONLY 10.75.

IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN THAT.

THAT THAT 13.75 DOWN TO TEN STILL INCLUDES US WAITING ON THOSE 20 PROPERTIES THAT WE HAD TO GET CONTRACTORS SCHEDULED TO GO TO.

SO IT'S BETTER THAN THAT AND IT'S WORKING REALLY WELL SIX MONTHS IN.

NOW WE'RE GETTING TO THE WORST TIME OF THE YEAR FOR WEEDY LOTS.

AND WE STARTED IN OCTOBER.

WE MADE IT THROUGH THE WINTER.

IT'S STARTING TO PICK UP.

I'D LIKE TO SAY IT'S GOING TO KEEP GOING AND WE'LL KEEP DOING IT.

WE ARE ONE EMPLOYEE SHORT THERE.

I'M FILLING IN WITH THE COMMUNITY APPEARANCE PERSON UNTIL WE GET SOMEONE HIRED.

GREEN RIBBON PROJECT.

WE GOT THAT FINISHED UP.

WE HAD A RIBBON CUTTING IN OCTOBER.

WE JUST STARTED PUTTING THE NEW PLANTS IN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WE'VE GOT SOME COLOR BACK NOW.

THAT WINTER'S KIND OF COMING TO AN END.

[01:50:02]

SO WE'LL BE WORKING ON THAT LATER THIS YEAR AND TRYING TO GET SOME MORE MONEY.

SO BE LOOKING FOR THAT COMMUNITY APPEARANCE.

SO SOME OF THE PROJECTS WE HAD IN THE BUDGET, WE HAVE A DEMONSTRATION GARDEN WE'RE WORKING ON.

IF YOU GO OVER TO THE HILLER HOUSE, YOU'LL SEE IN THE BACK WHERE THERE'S A BIG PLATFORM BEING BUILT OUT OF DIRT.

WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET TO TO BUILD THAT COMMUNITY A GARDEN.

IT'LL BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO, YOU CAN READ, IT'LL HAVE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THINGS, INFORMATION ABOUT PLANTS, BUT WE'LL ALSO USE IT TO KIND OF HELP OFFSET WHAT WE PLANT. SO STARTERS AND DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT IT'LL HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF PLANTS, FRUIT TREES, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THE PUBLIC TO GO OUT AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO EDUCATION ON A LOT OF THOSE THINGS.

HIGHWAY 77 SIGN.

I'VE GOT THE PLANS.

I'VE ACTUALLY WAITING ON A CONTRACTOR WHO'S GOING TO HAVE ME THE COST THIS WEEK, DEPENDING ON WHAT THAT IS, I MAY HAVE TO BID IT OUT.

IF NOT, THEN IT'LL GO A LOT QUICKER.

HIGHWAY 59 SIGN.

IT WILL BE A SMALLER, MORE TEMPORARY SIGN.

NOT ONE OF THE PERMANENT BIG SIGNS BECAUSE WE'RE WAITING ON THE, YOU KNOW.

I I 69 COURT ORDER COME THROUGH AND WE'D HAVE TO MOVE IT.

AND IT'S NOT VERY EASY TO MOVE ONE OF THOSE WITH 15 FOOT PILINGS IN THE GROUND.

SO WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY REBUILD THE ONE WE HAD THERE WITH THE SMALL BRICK AND SOMETHING SIMPLE SINCE THE PLATFORM'S ALREADY THERE.

AND THEN SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT TRIANGLE THAT SETS OUT IN FRONT OF TEJAS USED TO SAY CITY OF VICTORIA OR VICTORIA ON IT.

WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH TEJAS PRODUCTIONS AND WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO FIX THAT UP AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF IT FOR US.

SO THAT WILL BE A GOOD THING.

AND THEN OF COURSE, MAINTAIN OUR EXISTING BEDS.

LANDFILL EXPANSION PROJECT STARTED IN FOR LAST YEAR.

THEY SAID THREE YEARS. NOW IT SAYS FOUR.

IT'S TURNED INTO A LONGER PROCESS.

BUT WE'RE MOVING ON THAT AND WE HOPE TO BE TECHNICALLY COMPLETE SOMETIME THIS YEAR.

SO I TALKED ABOUT A CART AUDIT, SO WE DID A CART AUDIT.

WE BROUGHT IN AN EMPLOYEE, AN OLD SUPERVISOR THAT RETIRED AND WE HAD HIM RIGHT ON THE ROOTS BEHIND MY TRUCKS, COUNTING CARTS, MATCHING THEM TO ADDRESSES. WE FOUND 305 CARTS OUT ON THE STREET THAT WERE NOT BEING PAID FOR.

THESE ARE EXTRA CARTS THAT PEOPLE HAD.

HOW DID THEY GET THEM? THEY MOVED AND TOOK THEM WITH THEM.

DIDN'T TELL US WE HAD A FLOOD, WASHED THEM DOWN THE STREET.

PEOPLE JUST LIKE, OH, FREE CART, TAKE IT TO MY HOUSE.

SOME MAY HAVE BEEN JUST TAKEN AND VARIOUS OTHER WAYS THAT CARTS DISAPPEAR OR YOU MOVE IN LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH ME WHERE I MOVED INTO A HOUSE THAT HAD TWO CARTS.

I SIGNED UP FOR SERVICE.

YOU KNOW, DON'T KNOW THAT I'M SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR A SECOND CART SO YOU DON'T EVEN BRING IT UP AND THEN YOU JUST END UP WITH TWO CARTS.

BUT I KNEW BETTER. SO THEY PICKED IT UP.

KRISTY WAITED ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE SHE TOLD US SHE HAD AN EXTRA.

NOT REALLY. SO AFTER WE DID THIS, WE WENT THROUGH, MATCHED IT UP.

WE CALLED EVERY ONE OF THESE CUSTOMERS.

WE SENT THEM LETTERS.

146 OF THOSE PEOPLE DECIDED TO KEEP THEIR CARTS.

159 DECIDED TO.

I'M SORRY. YEAH.

FOR 146 CANCELED THEIR CARTS, 159 KEPT THEIR CARTS.

AND SO WE PICKED UP ABOUT $12,592 IN REVENUE A YEAR BY JUST BY DOING THAT AUDIT THE NEW WORK ORDER SYSTEM THAT WE ARE GETTING THAT WILL TIE US IN WITH UBO WILL HELP THIS PROCESS QUITE A BIT.

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT'S WORTH DOING THIS AUDIT PROBABLY ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 5 YEARS JUST TO SEE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE GOT A GOOD COUNT.

THE LOOP FOR 60 THREE AND MOODY STREET BRIDGE CLEANING.

SO THERE ARE SOME BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES.

MOODY STREET BRIDGE REALLY LOOKS GOOD.

IF YOU HADN'T BEEN ACROSS THERE AND IT'S HARD TO TELL WHEN YOU GO ACROSS THERE NOW HOW BAD IT LOOKED BEFORE.

TRUST ME, IT LOOKS A LOT BETTER.

AND WE WERE WE BUDGETED 125.

WE WERE ABLE TO GET A CONTRACTOR FOR 34 OR 5.

NOT ONLY DID HE DO NAVARRO AND THE LOOP, JOHN STOCKBAUER AND THE LOOP, BUT HE ALSO DID MOLETTE AND THE LOOP AND THE WALL THAT LEADS TO MOLETTE FROM NAVARRO.

THEN HE ALSO DID MOODY STREET BRIDGE BOTH SIDES.

AND SO WE ARE STILL FIGHTING.

ONE SMALL ISSUE IF YOU GO OUT THERE NOW, IT DOES LOOK A WHOLE LOT BETTER.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE VERY TOP, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOME REAL BRIGHT WHITE THAT IS BAT URINE THAT IS CALCIFIED UP THERE.

[01:55:05]

YES. I DIDN'T WANT.

YEAH, WE WALK OUT TO A GAME WARDEN.

SO RECYCLING, CURBSIDE RECYCLING.

SO USUALLY I COME IN HERE AND TALK ABOUT TONS AND TALK ABOUT THIS AND THAT.

SO WE HAULED 1721 TONS.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND THE REASON WE DID THIS AND WE DID THIS WITH CITIZENS ACADEMY THIS YEAR IS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE GETTING AND WHAT PROBLEMS WE'RE HAVING.

WE STILL HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH CONTAMINATION.

SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.

SOME OF IT IS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T CARE HOW MUCH IS EACH.

I CAN'T TELL YOU.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE GRAPH ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, 67% CONTAMINATED ITEMS. NOW THAT'S OUT OF THE ITEMS THAT WASTE MANAGEMENT PULLED TO THE SIDE AS THEY DO THEIR AUDIT, THEY PULL OUT A BIG CHUNK OF WHAT WE TAKE THEM AND THEY GO THROUGH IT BY HAND AND THEY COUNT ITEMS AND THEY WEIGH THOSE ITEMS. AND WHATEVER THAT IS, IS WHAT WE GET CHARGED FOR, FOR THE WHOLE LOAD.

AND SO WHEN THEY GO THROUGH OUT OF THE ITEMS, THAT'S NOT ACCEPTED, NOT THE TOTAL, BUT THE ITEMS THAT AREN'T ACCEPTED, 67% ARE CONTAMINATED ITEMS. THAT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM A SWIMMING, A VINYL SWIMMING POOL TO AN ICE CHEST TO A RUBBERMAID TRASH CAN TO THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS.

GLASS IS STILL NOT ACCEPTED, BUT STILL SHOWS UP IN THERE.

20% IS GLASS.

PLASTIC BAGS MAKE UP A SMALL PART, ONLY ABOUT A PERCENT UNRECOVERABLE RECYCLING.

THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ISSUES.

UNRECOVERABLE, UNRECOVERABLE RECYCLING IS RECYCLED, GOODS THAT COULD BE RECYCLED, BUT DUE TO FOOD WASTE.

PAINT SOME TYPE OF CHEMICAL.

IT COULD BE THAT IT'S IN A PLASTIC BAG AND NOT SEPARATED, NOT LOOSE.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ACTUALLY COULD BE RECYCLED THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING IN BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY'RE EITHER PACKAGED OR THEY'RE COVERED WITH SOME TYPE OF MATERIAL THAT CAUSES THEM NOT TO BE RECYCLABLE.

WE STILL GET A LOT OF YARD WASTE.

WE STILL GET A LOT OF JUST WE GET A LOT OF CLOTHING.

CLOTHING IS RECYCLABLE, BUT IT'S NOT PART OF OUR PROGRAM.

AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT OUR PROGRAM TAKES IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO RECYCLE.

AND IT'S MY JOB TO KEEP IT VIABLE FOR THE CITY AND AND INEXPENSIVE AS POSSIBLE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS.

THIS DOES NOT HELP OUR BIGGEST RECYCLING THINGS THAT WE GET.

CARDBOARD, NUMBER ONE, MIXED PAPERS.

NUMBER TWO, THAT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE LIKE THAT.

MOST PEOPLE, IF THEY GOT ALUMINUM AND TIN, THEY'LL TAKE IT IN THEMSELVES OR DO THINGS LIKE THAT.

I WILL WILL SAY THAT RECYCLE MARKET HAS COME BACK, WHICH IS GOOD IN THE LONG RUN.

IF IT STAYS THAT WAY, AS LONG AS PETROLEUM PRICES STAY UP, THE RECYCLE MARKET STAYS HEALTHY.

IF THE PRICES GO DOWN, THEN THE BOTTOM WILL DROP OUT.

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE, ABOUT 55 TONS.

THAT'S ABOUT WHAT WE AVERAGE EVERY YEAR.

AND YOU CAN SEE OUR BIGGEST THING IS ELECTRONICS, E-WASTE, YOU KNOW, SECOND, YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, FILTER SHARPS, LATEX PAINT, AND THEN THAT'S ALSO GOING TO INCLUDE YOUR, YOU KNOW, LIKE REGULAR PAINT, LATEX PAINT, YOUR TVS, STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND THEN YOUR CHEMICALS, THAT'S YOUR HERBICIDE PESTICIDES AND THEN BATTERIES.

AND WE DON'T EXPECT TO GET A LOT OF BATTERIES BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE THEM TO INTERSTATE OR WHEN YOU GET A NEW BATTERY, YOU TRADE IN YOUR OLD ONES.

SO WE DON'T EXPECT THAT TO EVER BE REALLY HIGH SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE LANDFILL EXPANSION PROJECT.

WE HOPE TO GET KEEP KEEP THAT GOING.

LAWRENCE STREET PUBLIC ART, WHICH WAS BROUGHT UP EARLIER.

SO PLEASE GO ONLINE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GOOD THING.

WE CAN TALK ABOUT POSSIBLY ADDING THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TOO LATE OR NOT.

I'LL HAVE TO GET WITH THE ARTIST.

AND SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT TOMORROW.

AND THEN KVYB WAS AWARDED THE TEXAS KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL GOLD STAR AFFILIATE STATUS THIS YEAR OR FOR 22 THAT RUNS A YEAR BEHIND. AND SO WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

WE'VE ALSO APPLIED FOR THE GOVERNOR'S AWARD, WHICH HOPEFULLY WE WOULD GET, AND THAT WOULD BE A BIG BOOST FOR COMMUNITY APPEARANCE IN THE WAY OF MONEY TO COMPLETE MORE PROJECTS.

WITH THAT, I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS I WOULD LIKE TO ADD.

[02:00:03]

LATE LAST WEEK AT ALL, NOR THIS WEEK.

YOU CLEARED IT WITH TWO SECONDS.

TWO SECONDS, I'LL TAKE IT.

THAT'S A VERY I KNEW YOU WERE TIMING ME THE MINUTE I GOT STARTED WHEN I GOT UP.

IT'S A VERY DIVERSE DEPARTMENT.

THANK YOU. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING YOUR DEPARTMENT DOES.

MR. LISA. IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IN NOT ONLY APPEARANCE BUT ALSO ATTITUDE IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

YOU DIDN'T MENTION YOU RECYCLE, PICK IT UP.

I MEAN, WHAT IS IT THAT RECYCLE IN THE 22ND FOR THE PAPER? THE ON THE 22ND IS EARTH DAY.

OKAY, BUT WHERE ARE WE TAKING THE PAPER? ISN'T IT ON APRIL? I THINK THE SHREDDING EVENT IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

THAT'S NOT US.

THAT'S NOT YOU. NO, NO, THAT'S THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, I BELIEVE, IS DOING THAT.

WHAT'S THE DATE ON THAT? SAME DAY AND WEARS IT OUT.

NO, NOT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE.

IT'S NOT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

THANK YOU. ARMSTRONG MOVING MOVERS THERE ACROSS FROM HEB.

ALL RIGHT. THE BACK OFFICE? YEAH. OH, I THOUGHT THAT WAS YOU.

I'M SORRY. EXCELLENT.

UH, MR. GARZA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO COVER UNDER CITY MANAGER REPORTS? NO, SIR. BUT WE DO HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION TONIGHT.

WE DO. AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY WORK SESSION.

SO AT 702, WE WILL RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

[H. Executive Sessions:]

THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION DELIBERATION IS AS FOLLOWS.

EXECUTIVE SESSION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551 .087551.072 AND 551.071.

LET'S TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK TO.

OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.