Dec 19, 2023 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:10]

>>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2023. WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLL?

BE JOINING US THIS EVENING. >> IF EVERYONE WILL PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGES FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

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

HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE; TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

[1. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERS]

>>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING.

DO YOU HAVE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS AND/OR REMINDERS?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I SURE DO. OBVIOUSLY WITH THE HOLIDAYS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, WE HAVE SEVERAL UPDATES BECAUSE OF IT.

ALL CITY NONEMERGENCY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY DECEMBER 25TH AND 26TH IN OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS.

OFFICES WILL REOPEN AT 8:00 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27TH.

OFFICES WILL CLOSE ON JANUARY 1ST AND BE OPENED JANUARY 2ND. THE RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE WILL BE CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS DAY BUT OPEN ON JANUARY 1ST.

ONE OF THE MOST I THINK IMPACTFUL SERVICES AROUND THE HOLIDAYS OF COURSE IS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES.

AND SO WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF INFORMATION THAT WE WANT TO PUT OUT THERE FROM THEM. GARBAGE AND CURBSIDE RECYCLING SCHEDULE WILL BE COLLECTED ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23RD.

YARD WASTE WILL NOT BE COLLECTED DECEMBER 25TH THROUGH THE 30TH TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXTRA GARBAGE COLLECTION SERVICES WE'LL OFFER THAT WEEK. RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXTRA GARBAGE FROM THE HOLIDAY SEASON THAT DOES NOT FIT INTO THE PROVIDED BIN MAY PLACE THEM IN TRASH BAGS AND THE EXCESS GARBAGE WILL BE PICKED UP ON THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED GARBAGE COLLECTION DAYS. YOU MAY RECALL WE ALSO PICK UP LIVE CHRISTMAS TREES AND THOSE WILL BE COLLECTED ON RESIDENTS REGULARLY DESIGNATED YARD WASTE COLLECTION DAYS BEGINNING JANUARY 2ND. MATERIALS MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE TREE. GARBAGE PICKED UP ON JANUARY 1ST WILL BE PICKED UP ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30TH.

DON'T ASK ME TO REPEAT THAT AGAIN.

WE OF COURSE ARE PUTTING THAT INFORMATION OUT THROUGHOUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY SEASON. WITH THE NEW YEAR COMING UP, OF COURSE IT'S A BIG YEAR FOR US WITH THE BICENTENNIAL.

SO WE ALSO WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT AS PART OF THAT CELEBRATION, WE WILL BE HAVING HISTORIC MEMORABILIA DISPLAYS AT CITY HALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND WE CONTINUE TO SEEK OUT ITEMS THAT CELEBRATE OUR MULTICULTURAL HERITAGE TO BE DISPLAYED IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 2024.

THE CITY IS ALSO SEEKING RESIDENTS TO INTERVIEW FOR VICTORIA STORIES. TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO BE INTERVIEWED OR TO SHARE MEMORABILIA AND TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH PLANS FOR THE BICENTENNIAL, WE ASK YOU TO VISIT VICTORIATX.COM. LASTLY, UNDER REMINDERS, THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU WILL HOST ITS INAUGURAL NEW YEAR'S EVE FIREWORKS SHOW AT THE RIVERSIDE EVENTS CENTER NEAR THE PARKING LOT OF RIVERSIDE STADIUM.

THE FIREWORKS WILL BEGIN AT 9:00 P.M. WITH PRIME VIEWING AREAS WITHIN RIVERSIDE STADIUM. THIS OF COURSE IS ALSO PART OF OUR KICKING OFF OUR BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AND WE HOPE THAT IT'S A SUCCESSFUL EVENT SO THAT WE CAN EXPLORE DOING IT EVERY NEW YEAR'S EVE GOING FORWARD ESPECIALLY INTO OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR. SO WE HOPE EVERYBODY CAN COME OUT TO THAT. AND THOSE ARE ALL OF THE

[a. Recognition of Outgoing Victoria Sales Tax Development Corproation Board Member.]

>> GREAT, THANK YOU. WE'LL GO INTO PUBLIC AND

EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION. >> THE FIRST ITEM IS ITEM 2A.

B 2A WHICH IS SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD

[00:05:07]

MR. BLANCHARD SERVED AS THE PRESIDENT THROUGHOUT HIS TIME ON THE BOARD AND HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF LEADING THAT BOARD.

THE CITY APPRECIATES YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND PRESENTS YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR TIME, SERVICE, AND LEADERSHIP.

FOR THEIR SUPPORT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

I THINK VICTORIA IS STARTING TO CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.

WE SAW A LOT OF PROGRESS BACK IN THE 80S.

BUT A LOT OF THE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT OF THINGS LIKE THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS AND THE PORT AND THE AIRPORT AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS HAVE REALLY BEEN STAGNANT OVER THE YEARS AND I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH A FEW NEW IDEAS AND MAKE A FEW NECESSARY CHANGES IN THE WAY WE SPEND THE SALES TAX CORPORATION'S MONEY. OF COURSE WE HAVEN'T STRAYED TOO FAR. WE STILL FIX THE ROADS AND FIX THE SEWERS AND DO A LOT OF THINGS LIKE THAT.

SOME OF THE CREATIVE THINGS WE'VE DONE TO MATCH STATE FUNDS AND LOCAL FUNDS HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO THE CITY.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU'VE SEEN THE CHANGE.

I THANK THE COUNCIL BECAUSE WE'VE COME TO YOU WITH NEW AND DIFFERENT IDEAS AND YOU'VE BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE.

AND I WANT TO THANK MAYOR BAUKNIGHT.

AND LOOKING BACK TO RALEIGH MCCOY, RALEIGH REALLY CHANGED THE WAY WE THOUGHT ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT IN OUR CITY. I KNOW THAT HE FOUNDED DEVELOPMENT CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE DONE A REALLY GREAT JOB WITH OUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO MAKE IT MORE OF A REGIONAL ORGANIZATION AND I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR LEADING THAT CHARGE.

SO IT'S A TEAM EFFORT AND I HOPE THE COUNCIL AND SALES TAX CORPORATION CARRY ON WITH A LOT OF THE PROJECTS WE'VE INITIATED SO FAR. AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO

SERVE. >> MR. BLANCHARD, LET ME TELL YOU A WHOLEHEARTED THANK YOU. YOU WERE A GREAT STEWARD OF SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

A GREAT LEADER FOR IT FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

WE'VE GOTTEN A LOTOT OF GREAT THINGS ACCOMPLISHED BECAUSE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR PERSISTENCE.

WHETHER IT'S OUR PLAN OF WORK THAT'S ALL LAID OUT FOR US TO KEEP FOLLOWING. THE REGIONALIZATION OF VDC.

YOU ALSO SERVE ON VEDC'S BOARD AS PRESIDENT OF SALES TAX CORPORATION. YOU'VE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING THEM RESHAPE AND REFORM HOW THEY ARE.

YOU'VE DONE A GREAT HONOR TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND A GREAT SERVICE TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

[Additional Item]

>> MR. GARZA, DO YOU HAVE ONE MORE?

>> I DO. SO I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AN EMPLOYEE. OUR ONE AND ONLY -- I'M GOING TO ASK HER TO STAND UP BECAUSE SHE SHOULD.

BUT SHE RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM THE TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY'S WILLIAM P. HOBBY CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE WITH HER CPM CERTIFICATION ON DECEMBER 4, 2023.

THIS PROGRAM IS A SEVEN COURSE SEQUENCE WHICH LEADS TO A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED PUBLIC MANAGER CERTIFICATION.

THIS PROGRAM IS AN INVESTMENT IN TIME FOR ANY STUDENT.

SHERYL BEGAN HER JOURNEY DURING THE SPRING 2021 SEMESTER AND GRADUATED THIS MONTH IN THE FALL OF 2023.

THE CPM PROGRAM IS A SYSTEMATIC TRAINING PROGRAM TO IMPROVE PROFESSIONALISM AND EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT MANAGERS. AND FIRST OF ALL CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SPECIFICALLY IN WANTING TO DIVERSIFY YOUR EXPERIENCE AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE BEYOND HR.

WE OBVIOUSLY TALK ABOUT EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INVESTED IN THEMSELVES BUT IN OUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL AND SHERYL IS ONE OF THEM. HAVING GONE THROUGH THE CPM CERTIFICATION MYSELF I KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF COMMITMENT AND TIME BECAUSE IT DOES TAKE EASILY A COUPLE OF YEARS TO COMPLETE. AND SO KUDOS TO YOU, SHERYL, AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO OUR ORGANIZATION.

SO THANK YOU.

[3. ITEMS FROM COUNCIL]

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR ITEMS FROM COUNCIL.

[00:10:03]

IF ANYBODY HASN'T GONE OUT THERE YET, THE DUCK POND AND THE DOG PARK ARE FULLY OPEN NOW. THEY'RE NOT 100% COMPLETE.

THERE'S SOME MINOR THINGS, BUT IT WON'T STOP THE PEOPLE'S ENJOYMENT OF THOSE LOCATIONS. LONG TIME PROJECTS AND THEY LOOK BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING

TONIGHT? >> WITH IT BEING THE LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR, MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR ESPECIALLY TO THE STAFF WHO ARE JUST OUTSTANDING.

THANK YOU. AND FOR YOU GUYS, WE'RE ALL HERE AND FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

[4. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION]

>> THANK YOU, MS. SOLIS. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

WITH THAT WE'LL GO INTO THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION.

MR. STEPHEN ROGERS. >> HI FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL THAT I HAVE NOT MET YET, MY NAME IS STEPHEN ROGERS.

I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE APPLIED FOR A POSITION ON THE SALES TAX CORPORATION. I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST OFF START OFF BY SAYING Y'ALL FOR ALL OF YOUR SERVICE.

IT'S PART OF THE REASON WHY I DECIDED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM MR. BLANCHARD HELPED OUT QUITE A BIT AS WELL. THAT BEING SAID, A LITTLE QUICK RUN DOWN ON WHO I AM, I'M A LIFELONG VICTORIAN OUTSIDE OF A FEW YEARS IN COLLEGE AND EARNING AN MBA IN SAN ANTONIO AND PRACTICING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE.

I THEN MET OR RAN INTO MY WIFE AND 15 YEARS AGO WE DECIDED WE WERE GOING TO MOVE BACK TO VICTORIA TO START AND RAISE A FAMILY. WE ARE A PART OF THE ROGERS PHARMACY BUSINESS. I'VE BEEN WORKING THERE FOR 15 YEARS. WE ARE INVESTED IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE FUTURE OF VICTORIA.

WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO LEND SOME OF MY EXPERIENCE IN HELPING RUN THAT BUSINESS TO PROMOTE THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF VICTORIA.

AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S CONSIDERATION AND I WISH EVERYONE A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. ROGERS.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. MICHAEL VANDERAUX.

I WANTED TO THANK THE THREE MEMBER BEAUTIFICATION TEAM.

THEY CLEANED UP EAST RIO GRANDE. A LOT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE WERE LIVING THERE AND THEY TRASHED IT ALL UP.

I DON'T MIND THEM BEING HOMELESS, JUST CLEAN UP YOUR TRASH. THE POLICE CAME AND PICKED UP 20 BAGS OF TRASH. I WISH THEY WOULD KEEP IT CLEAN.

BUT I REALIZE THEY WON'T SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MONITOR THEM EVERYWHERE. AND I LIVE IN MY TRAILER PARK, I HAD A GAS LEAK AND IT'S ON THE TRAILER PARK OWNER'S PROPERTY AND HE REFUSES TO FIX IT AND HE'S A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY AND HE MAKES ABOUT $400 AN HOUR AND HE REFUSES TO FIX THE GAS LEAK EVEN THOUGH BY LAW HE'S REQUIRED TO.

SO I HAVE AN ELECTRIC HEATER AND I'M TAKING A COLD SHOWER AND I DO NOT PLAN ON PAYING FOR IT. I PLAN ON HIM PAYING FOR IT AND THERE'S PLUMBING LEAKS ON TRAILER 18 AND HE'S NOT TAKEN CARE OF THEM. AND THERE'S POTHOLES ALL OVER THE TRAILER PARK ON BOTH SIDES AND HE'S NOT TAKING CARE OF THEM. AND HIS PLUMBERS, SUNSHINE PLUMBERS LEFT A WHOLE BUNCH OF A DIRT PILE BETWEEN TRAILER 18 AND TRAILER 19 A MONTH AGO AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

AND ALSO I CALLED SUNSHINE PLUMBING, THAT'S THE PLUMBING GROUP HE USES AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO COME AND LOOK AT MY GAS LEAK AND THEY STILL HADN'T DONE ANYTHING.

AND I'M GLAD I DON'T LIVE IN CHICAGO, I PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE HERE. THANK GOD I LIVE IN VICTORIA WHERE IT ONLY GETS IN THE 30S. BUT I DO EXPECT HIM TO FIX THE POTHOLES AND IF HE DON'T, MAYBE CODE ENFORCEMENT CAN CITE HIM AND STUFF. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S SPECIFIC CODES ON POTHOLES, BUT THEY'RE VERY SERIOUS AND HE DON'T WANT

[00:15:01]

AND WHEN I HAVE TALKED TO HIM, HE HAS THREATENED TO EVICT ME AND IT'S ILLEGAL FOR HIM TO EVICT ME OR ANYTHING ELSE.

THAT'S CALLED RETALIATION. AND I WISH HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT AND DO HIS JOB. THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. MERRY CHRISTMAS.

>> MERRY CHRISTMAS. I DO HAVE ONE OTHER, M MS. MCSHAFFERY WAS GOING TO BE HERE, BUT SHE HAD A DEATH IN THE FAMILY TODAY SO SHE ASKED ME TO READ THIS FOR HER.

I'M GOING TO READ STRAIGHT WHAT SHE SENT ME.

HELLO AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

MY NAME IS SHERRY MCSHAFFERY, AND I SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION FOR THE BOARD OF THE SALES TAX CORPORATION.

I'M A NATIVE VICTORIAN, BORN AND RAISED HERE AND WENT ON TO FURTHER MY EDUCATION AT TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY WITH A DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING. AFTER THAT I WENT TO ONE OF THE BIG ACCOUNTING FIRMS IN HOUSTON, KPMG AS A FINANCIAL AUDITOR.

I EARNED MY CPA AND HAVE MAINTAINED MY LICENSE EVER SINCE. AFTER A FEW YEARS, I MOVED, I'M SORRY I JUST CLOSED IT. AFTER A FEW YEARS, I MOVED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND WORKED FOR 25 YEARS FOR A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY AS THEIR CONTROLLER AND A FINANCIAL STATEMENT MANAGER WHERE MY PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES WERE TO PREPARE THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY, PREPARE AND WORK WITHIN BUDGETS, AS WELL AS WORK WITH FINANCIAL AUDITORS AND SALES TAX AUDITORS FROM VARIOUS STATES.

OVER THE PAST YEARS, I HAVE SERVED IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES ON BOARDS AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AND I ALSO RAISED THREE KIDS. MY FATHER UNEXPECTEDLY PASSED AWAY AND I MOVED BACK TO VICTORIA TO RUN OUR FAMILY BUSINESS, REGIONAL STEEL. MY FATHER WAS A WELL KNOWN COMMUNITY LEADER THAT EVERYONE COULD COUNT ON AND I HOPE TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED ARROW CRAFTERS FURTHER MAKING VICTORIA OUR PERMANENT HOME. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, I'VE BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER IN THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THIS PAST YEAR, I WAS ASKED TO BECOME A BOARD MEMBER WHICH I GLADLY ACCEPTED. I AM INTERESTED IN THIS BOARD POSITION AS I HAVE SEEN A SURGE OF ACTIVITY THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF THE VEDC, THE CHAMBER AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO GROW VICTORIA AND MAKE IT A VIABLE FOR JOB GROWTH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU FOR NOT TIMING ME. WITH THAT, WE WILL CLOSE

[1. 2022 CDBG Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER). Celeste Menchaca, Planning Manager]

ITEM C1. >> ITEM C1 IS THE 2022 CDBG CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT OR THE CAPER. THIS IS ITEM THAT IS ONLY ON A

PUBLIC HEARING. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WILL BE COVERING OUR CDBG END OF THE YEAR CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT.

OUR 2022 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN RAN FROM OCTOBER 1, 2022, TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2023. WHAT IS OUR CAPER? IT'S OUR END OF THE YEAR REPORT TO DISCUSS OUR PROGRESS THAT WE MADE OVER THE PAST YEAR. THE CAPER REQUIRES FOR US TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING BUT DOES NOT REQUIRE ANY ACTION FROM COUNCIL. I'M GOING TO GO OVER A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT PROGRAMS WE HAD. AS A REMINDER, OUR ADMINISTRATION IS CAPPED AT 20%. WE HAD SET A BUDGET OF $115,301.

WE STAYED UNDER OUR 20% CAP AND STILL HAD REMAINING FUND OF $23,053.54. THOSE WILL BE REPROGRAMMED AT A LATER TIME PROBABLY WITH NEXT YEAR'S ANNUAL ACTION PLAN.

WE STILL HAVE OPEN OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHICH HELPS FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS WITH DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COSTS.

WE'VE SAID TO HELP TWO, WE'VE ONLY HELPED ONE SO FAR.

THAT PROGRAM IS KIND OF THE UNICORN WHERE THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR A MORTGAGE BUT STILL BE UNDER THAT MODERATE INCOME LIMIT. WE ARE STILL REMAINING, KEEPING THAT ONE OPEN WITH $5,000 STILL IN THAT BALANCE.

OUR DEMOLITION PROGRAM, WE HAVE DEMOLISHED FOUR SUB STANDARD STRUCTURES. THAT PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE ONGOING. WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. SO FOR OUR PUBLIC FACILITY PROJECTS, WE HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THEM EXCEPT FOR THE VICTORIA HOUSING AUTHORITY. THEY HAVE STARTED AS OF LAST WEEK, WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT COMPLETED BY THE END OF PLANNED

[00:20:07]

WE HAVE FIVE HOUSEHOLDS. WE STILL HAVE REMAINING FUNDS OF $48,365.61. WE ARE IN THE REVIEW PROCESS OF SOME APPLICATIONS WE HAD THAT WE ARE COMBINING WITH OUR CURRENT 23 FUNDS. SO WE HOPE TO GET THAT PROGRAM COMPLETED AS WELL AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR WHEN WE GET THOSE APPLICATIONS REVIEWED. OUR ROOF REHAB, WE WENT AHEAD AND FINALLY COMPLETED THAT. WE HELPED THREE HOUSEHOLDS WITH NEW ROOFS. OUR 21, 20, AND 2019 DEMOLITION PROGRAMS ARE ALL STILL OPEN. WE HAVE DONE A TOTAL OF THREE SUB STANDARD STRUCTURES FOR OUR 21 YEAR, THREE FOR OUR 2020, AND 5 FOR OUR 2019. THOSE REMAIN OPEN.

WE ARE CONSTANTLY ACCEPTING NEW APPLICANTS FOR THAT PROGRAM.

ONE OF OUR ONGOING PROJECTS FROM PRIOR YEAR IS OUR PERPETUAL HELP HOME. WE HAVE FINALLY GOT THAT PROGRAM OFF AND RUNNING. WE ARE PENDING A DRAW FOR $71,000 SO THEY STILL HAVE A REMAINING BALANCE OF $24,000 THAT NEEDS TO BE SPENT. THAT SHOULD BE COMPLETING BY THE END OF PLANNED YEAR 23 AS WELL. THIS IS KIND OF SOME OF OUR PROGRESS FOLDERS PHOTOS. WE HAVE OUR DEMOLITION AND CLEARANCE. YOU KIND OF SEE THE CLUTTER OF THE HOUSE, THE HOUSE WAS LEANING.

AND THE BOTTOM PICTURE THERE IS WHERE WE HAVE CLEARED IT OUT COMPLETELY. ON THE LEFT THE OWNER OCCUPIED.

THIS WAS A DISABLED CITIZEN WHO NEEDED A WALK IN SHOWER.

SHE HAD FALLEN MULTIPLE TIMES TRYING TO GET IN AND OUT OF HER TUB. SO OUR FUNDS WERE ABLE TO HELP HER WITH THAT AND PROVIDE THE HANDRAILINGS.

OUR PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCY PROGRAMS ARE CAPPED AT 15%.

THEY HAD PROPOSED TO ONLY ASSIST 210 INDIVIDUALS, THEY EXCEEDED THAT BY ACTUALLY ASSISTING 309 INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR PROGRAMS. WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT REMAINING FUNDS LEFT OVER FROM THE UNITED WAY PROGRAM. THEY CANNOT CARRY THOSE FUNDS OVER. THOSE ARE LIMITED TO THAT YEAR, SO THOSE FUNDS WILL ALSO BE REPROGRAMMED NEXT YEAR INTO ELIGIBLE PROGRAMS SUCH AS PUBLIC FACILITY DEMOLITION OR HOME REHAB. SOME IMPORTANT DATES ARE OUR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. IT ENDED ON DECEMBER 15TH.

AS OF NOW, WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE CAPER THEY HAVE TO BE WRITTEN.

BUT WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY, NOR DID WE RECEIVE ANY PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS. TODAY IS OUR PUBLIC HEARING, THE DEADLINE IS SET BY STATUTE WHICH IS TO BE SUBMITTED ON DECEMBER 29TH. WE PLAN TO ACTUALLY SUBMIT THIS FRIDAY THE 22ND. I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.

>> NO QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, AT THIS TIME WE'LL CALL PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM C1.

ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK FOR OR AGAINST THIS ITEM, PLEASE STEP

[2. An ordinance approving a budget amendment to the FY24 budget in the amount of $210,651.52 to cover the cost of a dump truck for the Public Works Utilities Division and the cost of the mayoral election. Wesley Janecek, Assistant Director of Finance ]

>> ITEM C2 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE FY24 BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $210,651.52 TO COVER THE COST OF A DUMP TRUCK FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS UTILITY DIVISION AND THE

COST OF THE MAYORAL ELECTION. >> THE FIRST ITEM IS FOR THE MAYORAL ELECTION THAT WILL BE OCCURRING THIS FEBRUARY.

THE $60,000 WOULD COVER THAT COST PLUS A POTENTIAL RUNOFF.

THE FISCAL 24 ORIGINAL BUDGET ALREADY INCLUDED $60,000 FOR THE REGULAR ELECTION THAT'S OCCURRING THIS YEAR.

SO THERE'S NO EFFECT ON THAT. AND THE SECOND ITEM IS FOR THE PURCHASE OF A DUMP TRUCK FOR PUBLIC WORKS.

THIS WAS AN ITEM THAT WAS ACTUALLY BUDGETED IN THE 23 BUDGET. THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT UNIT. SO THOSE FUNDS WENT BACK INTO WORKING CAPITAL FOR THE FUNDS. SO BRINGING THIS BACK NOW BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A REPLACEMENT UNIT AND THE CONDITION OF THE DUMP TRUCK JUST KIND OF NECESSITATED GETTING IT DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE REASON THAT WE HAVE TO AMEND TWO FUNDS FOR THE PURCHASE OF JUST ONE DUMP TRUCK IS OUR PRACTICE IS TO PURCHASE AND CAPITALIZE ALL OF OUR VEHICLES WITHIN OUR BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES FUND.

ONCE THOSE UNITS ARE RECEIVED AND PAID FOR, THEY ARE THEN

[00:25:03]

SO IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

>> THANK YOU. SO AT THIS TIME WE'LL OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM C2. ANYBODY WISHING TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE.

SEEING NO ONE COME UP, WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND

ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS. >> SO MOVED.

>> SECOND. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM C2. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION?

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.

[D. CONSENT AGENDA]

>> THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN. THE MOTION CARRIES.

THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> ITEM D1 IS THE ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DECEMBER 5, 2023.

ITEM D2 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF THE ELECTION SERVICES CONTRACT WITH THE VICTORIA COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR FOR ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS.

ITEM D3 IS APPROVE TCEQ ANNUAL WATER SYSTEM FEE FOR THE CITY'S PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM IN THE AMOUNT OF $60,995.20.

ITEM D4 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FIRST CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR MOWING AND MAINTENANCE OF EVERGREEN CEMETERY WITH WCD ENTERPRISES IN THE AMOUNT OF $56,388.

ITEM D5 APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH ACTZERO FOR THEIR MANAGED DETECTION AND RESPONSE SOLUTION THROUGH RESELLER.

AND ITEM D6 APPROVE A CONTRACT WITH SCHROEDER REFRIGERATION COMPANY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF FOUR HVAC SYSTEMS.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

[1. Appoint/Reappoint members to the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corporation, Board of Directors. April Hilbrich, City Secretary]

>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ALL OPPOSED SAME SIGN. ITEM IS APPROVED.

ITEM E. >> ITEM E1 APPOINT AND REAPPOINT MEMBERS TO THE VICTORIA SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,

BOARD OF DIRECTORS. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WILL APPOINT THREE MEMBERS TO, REAPPOINT OR APPOINT THREE MEMBERS TO THE VICTORIA SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE MEMBERS SERVE TWO YEAR TERMS. THE MAYOR DOES SERVE THE DURATION OF HIS TERM AND THE DIRECTORS ALL SERVE TWO YEAR TERMS THAT ARE STAGGERED AND THEY MAY NOT SERVE MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE TERMS. FORMER BOARD MEMBERS DO HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM SERVING FOR ONE YEAR PAST THEIR EXPIRATION DATE.

AND PARTIAL TERMS ARE COUNTED AS ONE OF THE TERMS IF THERE'S A YEAR LEFT ON THE TERM. SO THE CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDE BILL BLANCHARD, RUSSELL DEMPSEY, JP HALL, AND MAYOR JEFF BAUKNIGHT. SO ONE OF THE THREE APPOINTMENTS MUST BE HELD BY A COUNCIL MEMBER THIS CYCLE.

SO COUNCILMAN LOFFGREN HAS EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO BE REAPPOINTED AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT.

WE DID GET A REAPPOINTMENT REQUEST FROM RUSSELL DEMPSEY AS WELL. HIS APPLICATION WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET AS WELL. HE HAS REQUESTED A DESIRE TO BE REAPPOINTED AND IS ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT.

AND WE DID RECEIVE APPLICATIONS FROM SHERRY MCSHAFFERY, SUZETTE HENRY, AND STEPHEN ROGERS FOR CONSIDERATION.

WE HAVE TWO CITIZENS APPOINTMENTS TO DO FROM THOSE FOUR APPLICANTS AND THE TERMS WOULD END ON DECEMBER 31, 2025.

FOR VOTING I GUESS THE FIRST QUESTION I HAVE IS IF YOU WANT TO REAPPOINT COUNCILMAN LOFFGREN TO HIS POSITION?

>> I WOULD. >> IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S CONSENSUS TO THAT. SO THE SECOND PART OF THIS IS THERE ARE BALLOTS PLACED ON THE DAIS BEFORE THE MEETING THAT INCLUDE YOUR NAMES BECAUSE YOU CANNOT VOTE BY SECRET BALLOT.

THE BALLOTS WILL BE IN MY OFFICE FOR REVIEW IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THEM AND I WOULD ASK AT THIS TIME TO CIRCLE THE NAME OF TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT TO THOSE TWO CITIZEN POSITIONS. I'LL COME AROUND AND GET THE

BALLOTS. >>> IT LOOKS LIKE SHERRY

[00:30:26]

>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO APPLIED AND ASK YOU TO KEEP APPLYING BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO FILL SPOTS AND I AM IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY OF OUR APPLICANTS.

>> I WOULD SECOND THE MOTION AND MS. SCOTT'S COMMENT.

>> GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE SHERRY MCSHAFFERY, RUSSELL DEMPSEY AND COUNCILMAN LOFFGREN.

[2. Approve a renewal contract with Sun Life Financial for Stop Loss insurance in the amount of $845,790.00. Cheryl Marthiljohni, Director of Human Resources]

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN. MOTION CARRIES.

ITEM E2. >> ITEM E2 IS A MOTION TO APPROVE A RENEWAL CONTRACT WITH SUN LIFE FINANCIAL FOR STOP LOSS INSURANCE IN THE AMOUNT OF $845,790.

>> FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO DO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WELL. THAT WAS A LONG TWO YEARS, BUT I'M GLAD IT'S DONE. TONIGHT WE JUST BRING FORTH A CONTRACT FOR STOP LOSS. IT'S THAT TIME EVERY YEAR WHERE WE HAVE OUR LOCKED IN PARTNERS SEARCH THE MARKET FOR US AND BRING FORWARD OUR BEST DEAL. WE DO HAVE A LOCKED IN REPRESENTATIVE IN THE AUDIENCE. OUR TEAM MEMBER LISA HAS COME DOWN FROM HOUSTON. SHE'S A VICE PRESIDENT, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EXCUSE ME, WITH LOCKED IN.

I DON'T HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION, BUT I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS. I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE AIMS ITEM. AND AGAIN THIS YEAR RENEWING WITH OUR CURRENT CARRIER SUN LIFE FINANCIAL.

THERE IS A 17% INCREASE, BUT THAT IS A NEGOTIATED RATE WITH LOCKED IN'S HELP. THEY NEGOTIATED THAT DOWN FROM THEIR 31% INCREASE THEY INITIALLY QUOTED US AS WELL AS SOME OF THE OTHER CARRIERS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AS WELL.

SO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, WE'LL BE GLAD TO ANSWER

THEM. >> EVERYBODY GOOD? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU.

>> MOTION? >> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> THANK YOU.

MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM E2.

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

[3. Approve a professional services agreement with Alliance Transportation Group, LLC, for the development of the Victoria MPO's 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan, in the amount of $204,000. Julie Fulgham, Director of Development Services]

>> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN? THE MOTION CARRIES. ITEM E3.

>> ITEM E3 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ALLIANCE TRANSPORTATION GROUP, LLC, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE VICTORIA MPO'S 2050 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN IN THE AMOUNT OF $204,000.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. I DON'T REALLY HAVE A PRESENTATION OVER ALLIANCE OR WHY WE SHOULD CHOOSE THEM.

WE HAVE CONTACTED THEM IN THE PAST AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY WITH THEIR WORK. JESUS DID ASK I GIVE COUNCIL AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN IS AND HOW THAT WORKS. SO MY PRESENTATION IS COMPLETELY TAILORED TO THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.

FIRST, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A MANDATED PLAN.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES US A GRANT AND SAYS THIS IS HOW YOU SPEND THE MONEY, YOU NEED TO PERFORM THESE ACTIVITIES.

AND ONE OF THOSE ACTIVITIES IS OUR LONG-RANGE PLAN THAT WE UPDATE EVERY FIVE YEARS. THEY ALSO TELL US A LOT OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP THIS PLAN.

SO WHAT WE DO IS STRUCTURED IN EITHER AUTHORIZATION BILLS OR REGULATIONS. WE START WITH A VISIONING PROCESS, GO THROUGH NEEDS ASSESSMENT, SYSTEMS-LEVEL ANALYSIS, COORDINATION WITH THE LOCAL PLANS AND PROGRAMS, DO A FISCAL ANALYSIS, TRAIT ANALYSIS AND THEN SELECTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS IS THE OVERALL PLANNING PROCESS FOR A METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN.

SO WHAT DOES THAT REALLY LOOK LIKE? SO WE START BY CREATING A TEMPORARY TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. LARGE NPOS THAT ARE MADE UP OF MANY COUNTIES HAVE A LOT OF COUNTY JUDGES OR COMMISSIONERS OR ELECTED OFFICIALS ON THEIR POLICY ADVISORY BOARD AND THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE ROOM ON THOSE BOARDS TO HAVE THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS IN THE ROOM, THE ENGINEERS AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNERS. AND SO YOUR LARGE MPOS WILL HAVE

[00:35:03]

SO WE DON'T HAVE A LONG-TERM OR A PERMANENT TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. BUT BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NTP IS SO DATA DRIVEN AND MANDATED BY LOTS OF FEDERAL RULES, WE NEED A LOT MORE OF THAT TECHNICAL EXPERTISE SO WE STAND UP EVERY FIVE YEARS, WE STAND UP A TEMPORARY TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WILL -- WE'LL HAVE THE POLICY BOARD FINALIZE IN JANUARY. BUT HISTORICALLY IT CONSISTS OF REAL ESTATE EXPERTS, AS MANY ENGINEERS IN TOWN AS WE CAN GET TO START ON IT. THIS BOARD DOES A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF DRY, PAINFUL WORK QUITE HONESTLY.

SOME OF THESE MEETINGS ARE VERY LONG.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. SO THEY ATTEND THE MEETINGS, ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROJECT SELECTION WAITS, SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST PAINFUL TASK OUT OF THE ENTIRE NTP.

REVIEWS THE PROJECT SUBMISSIONS AND MAKES THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE POLICY COMMITTEE.

AND THEY'RE ALSO CONDUCTING TRANSPORTATION CRITERIA, PROVIDING INSIGHT INTO THE COMMUNITY'S TRENDS AND PRIORITIES, AND SCORING AND EVALUATING THOSE PROJECTS THAT DO GO IN THE NTP. SO FOR OUR 2045 VISIONING PROCESS WHICH WE PLAN TO CARRY FORTH WITH JUST A FEW TWEAKS INTO THE 2050 PROCESS, LOTS OF LOCAL EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE FROM OUR MEMBERS THAT ARE IN LIKE I SAID DEVELOPMENT SECTORS OR ENGINEERS DOING A LOT OF PROJECTS IN VICTORIA COUNTY.

WE ALSO HAVE ONE ON ONE MEETINGS.

SO THIS COUNCIL IS DEFINITELY A STAKEHOLDER.

AND WHAT WE'LL BE DOING DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR IS PROBABLY HAVING ONE ON ONE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS LIKE WE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK PROCESS.

WE'LL BE REACHING OUT TO ALL OF Y'ALL TO HAVE INDIVIDUAL STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE PROCESS. AND THEN GATHERING COMMUNITY NEEDS AND VALUES. SO I KEEP ALLUDING TO THAT CRITERIA. SO OUT OF ALL OF THE INPUT THAT WE RECEIVE, THE COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING THAT VISION AND SAYING THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TYPES OF FACTORS WHEN WE ARE CONSIDERING ROAD PROJECTS.

SO THIS IS A SCREENSHOT FROM OUR 2045.

WE ACTUALLY USED A TXDOT DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE CALLED DECISION LENS. SO THOSE RANKS ARE WE PUT THEM ALL INTO THE DECISION LENS AND THEY PUT IN THE RANKS BASED OFF THE VOTING AND THIS GOES ON MULTIPLE TIMES.

REALLY WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS BEFORE YOU EVEN TALK ABOUT A PROJECT. BEFORE YOU SAY WE NEED, WHEN WE FLY OVER YOU HAVE TO SET YOUR WAITS AND SAY THESE ARE THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT WE WANT OR WE'RE GOING TO EVALUATE PROJECTS AND RANK THEM. OUT OF THE 25 PROJECT EVALUATION CRITERIA, FOR THE 16 RANKS IN THEIR RANKING ORDER.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE SAFETY WAS THE NUMBER ONE CRITERIA.

YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE OTHER RANKS REALLY HIGH WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR JUST MOVING TRAFFIC AND GOODS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY. WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT FEDERAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

THESE ARE THE FEDERAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT THEY MANDATE US TO CONSIDER. AND SO WE HAVE OUR OWN PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR VICTORIA COUNTY FOR EACH OF THESE PRIORITY OR CRITERIA. THEN ONCE WE'VE SET OUR VISION AND WE'RE SAYING THESE ARE THE WAITS, THEN WE BUILD OUR PROJECTS. SO IT STARTS WITH A PROJECT CALL AND PEOPLE SUBMIT PROJECTS. THEY REVIEW THESE PROJECTS AGAINST THAT CRITERIA. IF YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT'S VERY NEAR AND DEAR AND WE RANK IT AGAINST THE CRITERIA AND IT DOESN'T RANK HIGHLY, THEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND CHANGE THE PROJECT. THERE IS SOME PART OF THAT PROJECT THAT IS NOT MEETING THE VISION THAT WE SET AND SO YOU DON'T CHANGE YOUR VISIONING CRITERIA, YOU CHANGE THAT PROJECT. BY SAY WE WANT TO REDUCE CONGESTION, WE WOULD MAYBE ADD A LANE TO THAT PROJECT AND

[00:40:01]

I-69 MAIN LANE PROJECT, IMPROVED SAFETY AND REALLY INCREASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

SO I-69 WAS A HUGE THEME. AND OF COURSE WE CAN'T PAY FOR ALL OF I-69 WITH THE ALLOTMENT OUR MPO RECEIVES IN CATEGORY 2 FUNDS. SO WE ONLY PUT $5 MILLION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT I-69 IS GOING TO BE SPECIAL FUNDING ALLOCATED. AS WE'VE SEEN ELSEWHERE WHERE IT'S BEING DEVELOPED OUT. BUT OUR COMMITMENT OF SAYING YES, IT'S OUR NUMBER ONE PROJECT AND WE'RE PUTTING MONEY TO IT HOPEFULLY THAT SPEAKS TO THE COMMISSION WHEN THEY'RE DOING THOSE SPECIAL FUNDING PROJECTS. THEN YOU SEE THE LIST OF OTHER PROJECTS. WE ALSO THEN REEVALUATED PROJECTS THAT HAD NOT BEEN COMPLETED IN OUR 2040 NTP.

THESE WERE THE PROJECTS THAT WERE CARRIED FORWARD.

AND SOME OF THEM HAD SOME TWEAKS OR CHANGES OUT OF THAT VISIONING PROCESS BETWEEN THE 2040 AND THE 2045.

AND FOR EXAMPLE NUMBER FIVE THE PORT OVERPASS, THAT PROJECT ACTUALLY CARRIED OVER FROM THE 2035 NTP.

BUT AS THE PORT IS DEVELOPING AND ARE NOT SURE WHAT THEIR TRANSPORTATION NEEDS ARE, IT'S REALLY A PLACE HOLDER BECAUSE THAT COULD MOVE TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS FOR THEM AND WE ARE JUST KEEPING IT IN ITS PLACE HOLDER SO WE HAVE THE FUNDS TO PULL THAT TRIGGER IF THEY SAY WE NEED AN OVERPASS HERE. SO THEN AFTER WE THE PROJECTS ARE EVALUATED, THEY WERE EVALUATING THAT VISIONING.

THEN WE GOT A LIST OF THESE 11 PROJECTS.

SO YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS THAT WERE ON THE 2040, THEY'RE STILL NOT BUILT. AND FOR EXAMPLE FM 236 WIDENING PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S BEEN OBLIGATED. BUT I SAY THAT IN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IS A VERY SLOW PURPOSEFUL PROJECT, THE WAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS MANDATED YOU FOLLOW THIS PROCESS THROUGH THE MTP AND TIP AND JUST THE ENTIRE PLANNING PROCESS.

AND IT DOES MEAN THAT ALL OF THE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS HAVE TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL. THERE IS ONE CAVEAT TO THAT, SAFETY FUNDS. WE'RE NOT SPENDING CATEGORY 2 FUNDS AND TX DOT HAS CATEGORIE OF FUNDS.

BUT SAFETY FUNDS IS THE ONE CATEGORY OF FUNDING THAT CAN ACCELERATE A PROJECT. IT'S LIKE THE AMBULANCE RUNNING TO THE SCENE. WE HAVE THREE VERY SIGNIFICANT SAFETY PROJECTS THAT IF YOU HAVE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO TRANSPORTATION OVER THE LAST DECADE OR THINK WOW THAT PROJECT WENT IN REALLY FAST, WONE OF THM IS THE OVERPASS AT NURSERY.

LIGHTNING SPEED BUT IT WAS DUE TO SOME FATALITIES AND SAFETY FUNDS. HOUSTON HIGHWAY BOULEVARD, THE MEDIAN ONHOUSTON HIGHWAY. AND THEN THE WIDENING PROJECT.

ALL THREE OF THOSE WENT AT LIGHTNING SPEED BECAUSE THEY HAD SAFETY FUNDS. OTHER THAN THAT TRANSPORTATION PLANNING IS MEANT TO BE VERY PURPOSEFUL AND METHODICAL.

SO AFTER WE EVALUATE ALL OF THE, WE GET A LIST, THEN WE HAVE TO RUN IT AGAINST A PHYSICAL CONSTRAINT AND ANALYSIS BECAUSE WE HAVE A BUDGET. GOOD NEWS IS FROM OUR 2045 TO NOW, WE ARE PROJECTED TO RECEIVE 65 OR 67 MILLION OVER THE LONG TERM AND WE'VE ACTUALLY RECEIVED MORE MONEY.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE APPROPRIATIONS.

SO THIS IS WHAT OUR BUDGET LOOKS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION YEAR TERM, MEDIUM AND LONG TERM. OUR TIP IS OUR IMPLEMENTATION.

THOSE ARE PROJECTS THAT ARE ABOUT TO BE LET.

THEN YOU HAVE THE STATE TIP AND THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN THIS GOES THROUGH 2029. AND THEN OUR NTP IS OUR LONG TERM AND THE NEXT ONE WILL GO TO 2050.

AND THEN YOU END UP WITH A FINAL LIST OF PROJECTS.

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS, THE YELLOW HIGHLIGHTED PROJECTS,

[00:45:04]

AS YOU KNOW, I-69 MAINLY PROJECT IS REALLY A PLACE HOLDER.

WE JUST REALLY WANT TO LET TXDOT KNOW ANYTIME THEY CAN FUND ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY FUNDS AND TAKE US INTO BEING A HIGHWAY THAT MEETS ALL FEDERAL GUIDELINES TO BECOME AN INTERSTATE. THE AIRPORT EXTENSION OVERPASS, THAT IS GOING TO NECESSITATE A CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL FOR THE FUNDS. IF WE MOVE UP THAT PROJECT INTO A MORE SHORT TERM OR NEAR TERM THEN WE NEED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH COUNCIL ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AS FAR AS CONNECTING TROPICAL TO THAT OVERPASS TO RELIEVE SOME OF THAT WEST HIGH SCHOOL CONGESTION. THE LOOP 263 TURNAROUND AND EXTENSION IS THE BRIGGS BOULEVARD PROJECT.

AS YOU KNOW BRIGGS BOULEVARD IS VERY CLOSE TO THE RAILROAD CROSSING AND 87 AND THE FRONTAGE ROADS ALSO NARROW DOWN WHEN YOU LOSE A LANE. SO WE'RE LOOKING, TXDOT HAS HIRED A CONSULTANT TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH CAN WE EXTEND THE FRONTAGE ROADS AND CREATE MAYBE A ONE-WAY SITUATION AT BRIGGS.

SURPRISINGLY, THE CRASH DATA IS REALLY HIGH AT BRIGGS BUT IT DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR SAFETY FUNDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT SERIOUS INJURY TYPE ACCIDENTS, WHICH IS GOOD THEY'RE JUST FENDER BENDERS. BUT WE WANT TO FIX THAT.

SIDEWALKS ON MAIN STREET. WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING AT THE NEXT MPO IF WE WANT TO MOVE THAT UP TO A SHORT-TERM PROJECT.

AND THEN SOME OTHER VERY MUCH LARGER PROJECTS.

87 CAPACITY CORRIDOR STUDY IS ALSO A BIT OF A HOLDOVER.

IT WAS ACTUALLY DOWNGRADED. IT ACTUALLY SHOWED WIDENING 87 THERE. BUT YOU HAVE THE RAILROAD ON ONE SIDE, THE HIGH SCHOOL AND IT'S ALREADY VERY LARGE ROADWAY.

SO MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE BEST AND THAT WAS ALSO EQUAL FOR HEIGHT DAYS. THAT WAS DOWNGRADED IN THIS LAST NTP. IF IT'S IN THE NTP, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT WILL BE BUILT.

THESE THINGS GET REEVALUATED AND LOOKED AT AGAIN SO THIS LIST MAY CHANGE FROM THE 2045 NTP TO THE 2050 NTP.

AND SO THIS IS A MAP OF ALL OF THE PROJECTS.

I KNOW I REALLY COVERED OUR 2045 NTP, BUT I THINK IN COVERING THAT, IT REALLY EXPLAINS HOW THAT PROCESS PLAYED OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING ESSENTIALLY THE SAMEE PROCESS FR

OUR 2050. >> CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE THAT SHOWS THE TIP, THE UTP AND THE -- YES.

SO YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, JULIE, BUT IN ORDER FOR SOMETHING TO MAKE THE TIP OR MAKE THE UTP, IT HAS TO BE IN

THE NTP? >> YES, THEY ALL FEED INTO EACH

OTHER. >> THIS IS WHY IT'S CRITICAL THAT COUNCIL BE MORE INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2050 NTP. BECAUSE IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH COUNCIL, UNINTENTIONALLY I THINK HISTORICALLY THERE PROBABLY HAS BEEN NOT ENOUGH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WHAT THE MPO IS DOING WITH THE REST OF COUNCIL.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S RECTIFIED GOING INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2050 NTP. PART OF THE REASON WHY I ASKED JULIE TO GO INTO GREATER DETAIL HERE.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THE NTP IS THAT GREATER DOCUMENT THAT HAS TO CONTAIN WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROJECTS ARE BROAD ENOUGH IF I CAN USE THAT WORD, SPECIFIC BUT ALSO BROAD ENOUGH TO WHERE FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE WE CAN MOVE UP PROJECTS BECAUSE WE CAN QUALIFY THEM AND FIND A WAY TO TIE THEM TO THE NTP WITHOUT HAVING TO AMEND THE NTP.

THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WE'RE HAVING NOW THAT TO JULIE'S POINT WE RECEIVED A GREATER ALLOCATION THAN WE THOUGHT FROM THE UTP, BUT THINGS THAT WE THINK ARE GOOD IDEAS AREN'T NECESSARILY IN THE NTP. SO WE CAN'T JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE AT LEAST IN A QUICK MANNER OF THESE AVAILABLE FUNDS.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE NTP IS TRULY ALL INCLUSIVE OF WHAT OF COURSE THE PRIORITIES ARE THROUGH THE TECHNICAL EXERCISE THAT JULIE EXPLAINED. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU'RE AWARE OF IT SO THAT WHEN WE BRING THINGS TO YOU, YOU HAVE GREATER APPRECIATION FOR THE WHY.

[00:50:01]

STAFF TRULY FAILED IN CONNECTING THOSE DOTS WHEN WE PRESENTED THE SIDEWALKS ON MAIN STREET, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO A GOOD JOB OF PROVIDING THAT CONTEXT TO YOU AS TO THE REASON FOR THAT.

SO I WANT TO PREVENT THAT MOVING FORWARD.

SO I EXPECT THAT THIS IS SIMPLY GOING TO BE ONE OF SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS AND UPDATES THAT WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GIVE COUNCIL AS THIS PROJECT UNFOLDS TO ENSURE MORE ALIGNMENT THAN EVER BEFORE AS IT RELATES TO THE NEW NTP.

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO KEY POINTS FOR COUNCIL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 2050 NTP. AND THAT WILL BE THE ONE ON ONE STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS. SO COME PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK AND THINGS THAT YOU SEE AND THEN THE CALL FOR PROJECTS THAT YOU'D LIKE.

>> WHAT SHE'S SAYING IS WHATEVER YOUR PRIORITIES ARE, GET A LIST

OF THEM. >> START THINKING ABOUT THEM.

>> BE PREPARED. >> I WILL BE ALSO MEETING WITH THE COUNTY. BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE MPO BOUNDARY ISN'T VICTORIA COUNTY. SO THOSE ARE ALREADY IN OUR CURRENT NTP. SO WE WILL BE CREATING A NEW LIST WITH THIS NEW PLANNING EFFORT WITH THE 2050 NTP.

TONIGHT'S AGENDA ITEM IS JUST TO APPROVE THE CONSULTANT TO CREATE

A DOCUMENT. >> GO BACK TO THE 2040 NTP.

LIST OF PROJECTS THE 11. I GUESS MAYBE IT WAS A PREVIOUS

ONE THEN. >> THAT'S DONE.

THAT'S HIGHLIGHTED. >> I KNOW, BUT MY POINT IS THAT THE MEDIAN PROJECT MADE IT ONTO AN NTP WHICH THE NTP IS APPROVED BY THE MPO. I'M NOT SURE THAT COMES TO

COUNCIL. >> NO.

>> AND SO WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS GOING ON ABOUT THE MEDIANS, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDIANS AND THAT KIND OF THING. WELL THE MEDIANS MADE THE NTP THAT WAS APPROVED BY OUR LOCAL MPO.

AND SO THAT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ALL OF COUNCIL IS AWARE OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN LINE TO MAKE THE

NTP. >> THAT'S ALSO WHY WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT EXTRA MONEY AND NOT A LOT BUT BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THE HOUSTON HIGHWAY MEDIAN PROJECT WAS PULLED OUT WITH SAFETY FUNDS, THAT FREED UP THE BUDGET IN THE NTP.

>> DID YOU GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH THE WAITS ON IT? BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. AND YOU MADE THE POINT THAT IF A PROJECT DOESN'T FIT, YOU FIGURE OUT A WAY TO LIKE SAFETY IS ALWAYS ON THERE. SAFETY IS THE BIGGEST WEIGHT.

SO IF YOU CAN MAKE A PROJECT HAVE A BIG SAFETY CONCERN, IT WILL GO TO THE TOP OF THE LIST. SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT.

>> DO THEY GO BACK AND EVALUATE THOSE THAT HAD MOVED TO THE TOP OF THE LIST OR WERE LISTED ON THERE FOR SAFETY REASONS AND

THEY ACTUALLY IMPROVED SAFETY? >> SO I THINK FOR THE MEDIANS, IT'S A LITTLE PREMATURE. WE PROBABLY NEED TO WAIT A COUPLE OF YEARS. BUT IF YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE DOING THE NAVARRO MEDIAN, THERE WAS A 40% DROP IN CRASHES FROM WHEN THE MEDIAN THAT WAS INSTALLED FROM THE LOOP OUT TO WALMART WAS INSTALLED, A FIVE YEAR PERIOD BEFORE AND FIVE YEAR PERIOD AFTER, IT WAS A 36% REDUCTION IN CRASHES.

SO YES, WE WILL EVALUATE, BUT WE NEED A FEW MORE YEARS OF DATA.

>> I THINK THE PRELIMINARY DATA WE GOT WHEN THE NAVARRO MEDIAN WAS PUT IN, THE REST OF IT WE SAW INCREASED NUMBERS.

SO I'M WAITING FOR A BIGGER DATA SET ON THAT.

AND I'M WORRIED THAT HOUSTON HIGHWAY WHILE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FATALITIES THERE, THE BEHAVIOR IN THE AREA BY HEB HAS NOT CHANGED. AND SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THE MEDIAN OR EVEN THE LIGHT THAT WE INVESTED IN IS ACTUALLY DOING ANYTHING. BUT THANKFULLY WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY FATALITIES THERE. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DATA.

>> DEFINITELY. AND THE NURSERY OVERPASS, WE

HAVE NOT HAD ANY FATALITIES. >> THAT'S A GOOD LOCATION FOR IT. THAT'S A GOOD DEAL.

THANK YOU. >> SO MOVED.

I MISSED THE WHOLE THING BUT -- >> SO YOUR MOTION IS TO APPROVE

[00:55:05]

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

[4. Approve a contract amendment with Hinojosa Art LLC for the Martin De Leon and Patricia de la Garza statue project to allow for an additional incremental payment of $40,000 for sculpture design and production services. Joel Novosad, Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau]

>> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN.

E4. >> ITEM E4 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH HINOJOSA ART LLC FOR THE MARTIN DE LEON AND PATRICIA DELA GARZA STATUE PROJECT TO ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL $40,000 FOR SCULPTURE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

SERVICES. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING. I HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON JUST THE PROGRESS OF OUR MARTIN DELEON AND PATRICIA DELA GARZA STATUE. ARMANDO IS CURRENTLY FINALIZING DETAILS ON THE FIGURES. I MYSELF WENT DOWN TO LAREDO IN OCTOBER AND WENT TO THE STUDIO. WE SAW THE PROGRESS ON THE STATUE WHICH I CAN SAY LOOKS INCREDIBLE RIGHT NOW.

IT WILL ACTUALLY BE GOING TO THE FOUNDRY IN JANUARY.

I JUST SPOKE TO DAVID A LITTLE EARLIER THIS WEEK.

BUT IT IS ON SCHEDULE FOR THE FEBRUARY 2024 COMPLETION.

AND WE ARE WORKING THROUGH MONUMENTS IN VICTORIA.

WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THEM AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY BUILDING THE GRANITE BASE FOR THE PROJECT. SO WHEN I WENT TO LAREDO, DAVID ASKED ME IF AN ADDITIONAL PAYMENT WAS POSSIBLE.

I HAD TOLD HIM THAT AS THE CONTRACT WAS STRUCTURED, IT CURRENTLY ALLOWS UP TO $200,000 IN PAYMENTS AND THEN THE FINAL $100,000 IS PAYABLE AT THE COMPLEX OF THE PROJECT.

THAT IS HOW THE CONTRACT IS CURRENTLY STRUCTURED.

SO JUST TO CLARIFY, WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR THE CONTRACT TO BE INCREASED FROM $300,000 TO $340,000.

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE'RE ASKING THIS EVENING.

WE'RE JUST ASKING THAT THAT ADDITIONAL PAYMENT OF $40,000 BE MADE AVAILABLE BY MAKING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT.

THEY ARE REQUESTING IT DUE TO UNFORESEEN EXPENSES, MATERIALS AND CASTING WAS THE QUOTE THAT I HAD FROM AN EMAIL WITH DAVID.

AND THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME IN 55 YEARS THEY'VE HAD TO AMEND THE CONTRACT DUE TO MATERIALS GOING UP SEVERAL TIMES THE PRICE. THE SCULPTURES ARE READY TO GO TO THE FOUNDRY. I'LL BE ATTENDING THOSE POURING SESSIONS AS WELL AND THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO FINISH ON TIME.

THESE ARE THE MOST RECENT IMAGES FROM DAVID THAT HE SENT ME A FEW WEEKS AGO. YOU CAN SEE ON THE BREAST OF MARTIN DELEON, THE CATTLE BRAND E.

YOU CAN SEE PATRICIA, A LOT MORE FINE DETAILS ADDED SINCE I'VE BEEN IN OCTOBER. AND YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE CLASPING HANDS, THERE WILL BE A CANE ADDED THERE AS WELL.

SO A LOT OF AMAZING DETAIL ON THESE STATUES.

THE PROCESS IS GOING ALONG VERY WELL.

AND WE ARE CONSIDERING ALLOWING AN ADDITIONAL $40,000 PAYMENT TO HIM AND THEN THE FINAL $60,000 WILL BE PAYABLE UPON THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT. AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> JUST TO REITERATE, WE'RE NOT GOING UP ON THE PRICE OF THE STATUES, IT'S JUST AN EARLY PAYMENT ON THE FINAL $100,000.

>> $40,000 OF THAT AND THEN $60,000.

>> SO WE WILL HAVE THE STATUE IN FEBRUARY?

>> YES. >> GOOD WORK, JOEL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MOTION TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE ITEM E4. IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> THOSE OPPOSED SAME SIGN?

[1. Convention & Visitors Bureau 2023 Annual Report. Joel Novosad, Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau]

I WILL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THERE ARE 15 MINUTES ON YOUR PRESENTATIONS FOR THE CITY MANAGER REPORT.

>> WE MEET AGAIN. COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'M GOING TO DO A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON OUR FISCAL YEAR 2023 ANNUAL REPORT.

I HAVE SOME VERY EXCITING FIGURES TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL AND UPDATES ON PROJECTS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE CVB THESE DAYS. THAT'S A PICTURE OF MYSELF AND MY STAFF ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS. THAT'S ACTUALLY ONE OF THE CHRISTMAS, YOU MAY BE SEEING THOSE DOWNTOWN THAT FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ENJOYING. WE'VE PURCHASED A COUPLE MORE AND PUT THEM AROUND DOWNTOWN THIS YEAR.

MYSELF, AND FROM LEFT RIGHT, ELIZABETH, NANCY OUR MARKETING MANAGER WHO IS KILLING IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'VE BEEN DOING SO FANTASTIC THERE.

AND THEN BRIDGET WHO IS OUR WELCOMING FACE IN THE VISITOR'S CENTER. I KNOW COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL KUDOS FROM RESIDENTS ON HER SERVICES SHE PROVIDES IN THE VISITOR'S CENTER. WE SERVICE MANY GROUPS.

[01:00:01]

AND WE WORK TO DEVELOP THE TOURISM ASSETS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. JUST A BREAKDOWN OF HOW THE PRESENTATION IS GOING TO FLOW TONIGHT.

OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY RATES ARE HOLDING SOLID.

YOU CAN SEE THEY'VE PRETTY MUCH HOVERED AROUND THE LOW 60S.

WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A DIP THIS LAST YEAR, BUT LOOKING TO RECOVER WITH THAT WITH OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR WITH OUR HEAVY MARKETING WE'RE GOING TO DO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

A LOT OF GREAT EVENTS LINED UP. I CAN TALK TO THOSE A LITTLE MORE LATER. BUT TYPICALLY OUR STRONGEST NIGHTS ARE YOUR MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, BUT WE DO HAVE SOME VERY, VERY STRONG EVENTS AS WELL.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE RECEIVE WEEKLY STAR REPORTS AND WE SEE WEEKENDS LIKE THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND BASH WHERE WE HAVE HIGH 80S OR LOW 90S IN TERMS OF OCCUPANCY.

SO THERE IS A HUGE IMPACT FOR US ON EVENTS ON WEEKENDS.

AVERAGE DAILY RATE, WE ARE AT A VERY REASONABLE RATE AND THIS MAKES US ATTRACTIVE AS A DESTINATION FOR GROUPS, MEETINGS, SPORTS. WE RECEIVE A QUARTERLY REPORT FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE TEXAS HOTEL LODGING ASSOCIATION AND AVERAGE DAILY RATES IN AUSTIN ARE 160, 130 IN SAN ANTONIO, 115 IN HOUSTON. SO THIS DOES MAKE US COMPETITIVE AS A SPORTS TOURISM DESTINATION. YOU'RE THINKING OF BUDGET-MINDED TRAVELERS, FAMILIES. AS WE GROW OUR SPORTS TOURISM EFFORTS, THAT IS GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF OUR SELLING POINT IS YOU CAN FIND A VERY NICE AFFORDABLE ROOM IN VICTORIA FOR A LITTLE OVER $80. TOTAL HOTEL ROOM NIGHTS, WE CALCULATE THESE BY LOOKING AT OUR WEEKLY STAR REPORTS.

WE HAVE 27 HOTELS AND MOTELS IN VICTORIA.

18 OF THOSE DO REPORT TO THE STAR REPORTS.

THEY PULL THE INFORMATION. THOSE ARE FLAGGED PROPERTIES.

A LOT OF THEM ARE REALLY NICE TOURIST QUALITY HOTELS.

LIZ DOES A GREAT JOB ON THIS VERY PAINSTAKING.

WE LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF HOTEL ROOMS REPORTED FOR THAT NIGHT, TIMES IT BY THE OCCUPANCY RATE FOR THAT NIGHT AND GET A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY HOTEL ROOMS ARE BEING FILLED IN OUR COMMUNITY. LIKE I SAID WITH THE OCCUPANCY RATE WE'VE BEEN PRETTY STEADY. YOU ONLY SEE THE DIP THERE IN THE COVID YEARS. AND THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO TO PROVIDE SOME NUMBERS FOR HOW OUR HOTELS ARE PERFORMING IN VICTORIA.

WEBSITE VISITS, WE HAD A BANNER YEAR.

BROKE THE RECORD AGAIN FOR ANNUAL VISITATION IN FISCAL YEAR 23. OVER 132,000.

OUR MOST POPULAR PAGE BY FAR IS OUR EVENTS CALENDAR.

WE LIKE TO BRAG THAT WE'RE THE BEST EVENTS CALENDAR IN VICTORIA FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

ALSO VERY POPULAR IS OUR DINING LISTINGS.

AND EVEN SOME INDIVIDUAL EVENTS ARE IN OUR TOP VISITED PAGES LIKE THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND BASH AND SIN CO -- CINCO DE MAYO.

SAME THING WITH FACEBOOK REACH, OVER 6,300,000 VISITS OR PEOPLE REACHED IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 23. SO PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL RETURNS THERE. NANCY DOING A GREAT JOB WITH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING. WE HAVE A LOCAL PARTNERSHIP WITH BUILDING BRANDS MARKETING. THEY PRODUCED 20 POSTS FOR A MONTH FOR THOSE FEES. THEY GO TO CONFERENCES AND SAY IF YOU'RE NOT BOOSTING EVERY POST YOU DO, YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME. WE KIND OF SCRATCH OUR HEADS BECAUSE OURS DO VERY WELL. IT SAVES OUR STAFF IMMENSE TIME.

ALL WE DO IS TELL THEM WHAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON FOR THAT DAY AND THEY GO OUT AND GET IT. MOST OF OUR SUCCESSFUL POSTS ARE SMALL BUSINESSES. YOU SEE THE WATERWELL CAFE THERE, THE MINES. WE SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK FEATURE SMALL BUSINESSES AND THOSE DO THE BEST AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING THAT. VISITOR CENTER VISITS TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF A DIP IN FISCAL YEAR 23.

THAT'S STILL REBOUNDED FROM THE COVID YEARS.

WE'RE STILL EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF A NEW VISITOR CENTER. WE MIGHT SEE HIGHER VISITOR CENTER NUMBERS IF WE HAD A MORE VISIBLE VISITOR CENTER.

SOMEWHERE DOWNTOWN THAT COULD BE CLOSE TO EVENTS.

>> AND ACCESSIBLE, OPEN ON THE WEEKENDS.

>> ACCESSIBLE, OPEN ON THE WEEKENDS, EVENINGS, THAT SORT OF THING. RIGHT NOW WE'RE STUCK TO AN 8:00 TO 5:00 SCHEDULE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY AT OUR VISITOR CENTER.

TRAVEL INFORMATION LEAVE REQUESTS, THESE ARE DIPPING AND I WOULD THINK THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO STAY LOW.

THESE ARE THE REQUEST FOR PRINTED MATERIALS.

YOU SEE OUR WEBSITE VISITATIONS GO UP.

PEOPLE ARE JUST GETTING THEIR INFORMATION DIGITALLY NOW.

WE'RE STILL GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO THIS.

WE GET THESE THROUGH MAGAZINE ADS OR OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH TOURTEXAS.COM. IT SHOWS THE CHANGE IN THE TIME

[01:05:01]

WE HAD BEEN DOING A WEEKLY TOPICAL EMAIL, NOW IT'S MONTHLY.

SAME THING WITH THE MONTHLY EVENTS CALENDAR BECAUSE WE NOTICED AFTER AWHILE WE WERE ALMOST SENDING OUT TOO MANY EMAILS. OUR OPEN RATE WAS GOING DOWN PRETTY PRECIPITOUSLY. WE'VE SEEN THOSE OPENS GO UP BY SEVERAL HUNDRED NOW. ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD OF FOR OUR STAFF THIS PAST YEAR AND OUR TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD WAS THE OVERHAUL TO THE HOT FUNDS.

WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WE KIND OF LIMITED FOLKS ON HOW MANY ROOM NIGHTS THEY PRODUCED. IF YOU RECALL WE HAD THEM SPLIT INTO TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS, GROUP ONE AND GROUP TWO.

GROUP ONE COULD BE FOR PROFIT OR NONPROFIT WITH EVENTS.

GROUP TWO NON-PROFITS HAD TO BE BASED AROUND ARTS OR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION PROMOTION. I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT NINE OF THE TEN IN GROUP ONE, TO BE ELIGIBLE YOU HAD TO BE A TOP TEN ROOM NIGHT GENERATOR. NINE OF THOSE ARE RETURNING AWARDEES. AND ALL OF THEM GOT MORE MONEY THAN THE YEAR BEFORE. ONE OF THE DIRECTIVES FROM COUNCIL WAS TO MAKE IT WORTH THE WHILE OF THESE APPLICANTS AND WE DID THAT WITH THESE NEW PROCESS. IT WAS A HARD DECISION TO TELL PEOPLE NO BASED ON ROOM NIGHTS, BUT YOU SEE THE RESULTS.

THAT'S A PICTURE RIGHT THERE OF THE HOT ROD TOUR OF TEXAS.

THAT WAS A NEW APPLICANT AND ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ROOM NIGHT GENERATORS AT WELL OVER 200 ROOM NIGHTS.

THEY WERE I BELIEVE NUMBER THREE IN TERMS OF ROOM NIGHTS.

SO THOSE FOLKS ARE GETTING REWARDED APPROPRIATELY FOR WHAT THEY'RE PRODUCING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OF COURSE WORKING HARD THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR ON BICENTENNIAL 2024, WE HAD OUR BRANDING AS WELL AS THE DE LEON STATUE. THE HISTORIC STREET NAME SIGNAGE, YOU CAN SEE SEVERAL OF THOSE GOING UP NOW AS WELL AS THE SOUTH PART OF THE GRID DOWN THERE.

ON MURRAY STREET, IT'S VERY EXCITING, WE DID A PRESS RELEASE ON THAT TODAY AND THAT PROJECT IS ALREADY GETTING OFF THE GROUND. ALL OF Y'ALL SHOULD HAVE SOME BICENTENNIAL PINS AT YOUR SEAT ON THE DAIS AS WELL AS SOME STICKERS. WE'RE PRODUCING MORE MERCHANDISE. PURCHASED A TIME CAPSULE, WE'RE WORKING TO HAVE ITEMS AND COMMUNITY INPUT ON WHAT TO PUT IN THOSE. THE BICENTENNIAL BALL.

HOPE YOU'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

I WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO KESHA SMITH WHO'S BEEN LEADING THAT AND I'VE BEEN ASSISTING WITH THAT.

AND THE COMMITTEE YOU ALL APPOINTED HAVE BEEN DOING SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB HELPING US. LIVE ENTERTAINMENT, GREAT FOOD, IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT WAY TO CAP OFF A DAY OF FUN IN VICTORIA. IN A FEW MINUTES, I'LL BE INTRODUCING DARREL WHITWORTH. THEY CAME IN JANUARY AND HAD A FANTASTIC TIME IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE SENT ONLINE SURVEYS TO ALMOST 200 CONTACTS. IT WAS A LOT OF EFFORT TO GET THE PUBLIC INVOLVED AND OUR TOURISM PARTNERS INVOLVED.

WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER ON LOGOS AND FINAL REVISIONS TO THAT. I'LL LET DARREL DO A BETTER JOB OF EXPLAINING IT HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.

OUR SPORTS TOUR ASME CONTINUES TO -- TOURISM CONTINUES TO FLOURISH. ALEX AND LIZ MEET SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. YOU SEE EVENTS LIKE OUR FAST PITCH TOURNAMENT WHICH BRINGS IN WELL OVER 60 TEAMS. YOU'RE TALKING PROBABLY 100 ROOM NIGHTS FROM THOSE KIND OF EVENTS. WE HAD A BOXING TOURNAMENT THAT HAD WELL OVER 50 LAST NOVEMBER. AND DISC GOLF CONTINUES TO DO VERY GOOD AS WELL. THAT WAS A PICTURE FROM THE VICTORIA OPEN. THEY WERE A HOT FUNDS AWARDEE AND PRODUCED ABOUT 120 ROOM NIGHTS.

BACK TO OUR MUSIC FRIENDLY. WE ARE EXPANDING THAT, MEETING WITH OUR ADVISORY BOARD REGULARLY.

LIZ LEADS THAT ADVISORY BOARD. WE HAD A MUSICIANS MEET UP IN AUGUST SO A NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE IN JANUARY.

WE BOOKED AND PAID FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE PARKING LOT PARTY SERIES WHICH WE FELT WAS VERY IMPORTANT WITH THE PLAZA BEING CLOSED FOR AWHILE TO HAVE THAT TO HELP SUPPORT THAT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES WHICH BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE INTO THOSE BUSINESSES AND RETAIL LOCATIONS AND BARS AND SUCH DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHICH ACTIVITY CAN BE HARD SOMETIMES TO GET PEOPLE TO COME OUT ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER.

OUR TECHNOLOGY, WE ACTUALLY GOT T TWO AWARDS IN THE DESTINATION AWARDS.

[01:10:02]

SO WE'RE WORKING AGAIN TO DO AN ORIGINAL TOWN SITE TOUR FOR OUR BICENTENNIAL WHICH IS GOING TO LAUNCH IN THE SPRINGTIME.

UPCOMING INITIATIVES, WE'LL BE WORKING VERY HARD IN OUR BICENTENNIAL, LAUNCHING OUR TOURISM REBRAND.

TRYING TO MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS WITH EVENTS.

WE'RE SPONSORING THE COMIC-CON WHICH IS GOING TO BE COMING BACK. A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT THAT.

SUPPORTING THE ART WALK AND WHAT CROSS ROADS ART HOUSE DOES DOWNTOWN AS WELL AS THE LIVESTOCK SHOW.

I'LL PROBABLY GET AN EMAIL TOMORROW FROM AIRBNB BECAUSE EVERY TIME APPARENTLY YOU MENTION SHORT-TERM RENTAL COMPLIANCE, THEY HAVE A TECHNOLOGY, I BET AT THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS, I GOT AN EMAIL ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER.

SO APPARENTLY THEY'RE OUT THERE LISTENING.

WORKING ON OUR TOURISM PROJECT LAUNCHING THAT THIS YEAR.

NANCY HAD SOME IDEAS WITH REGIONAL TOURISM COLLABORATIONS, LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE RANCHING HISTORY AND CATTLE HISTORY.

AND THEN AGAIN THE OPPORTUNITIES AND POSSIBILITY OF A NEW VISITOR CENTER. WE'RE STILL HOLDING THAT OUT THERE. AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> ON THE FACEBOOK --

>> YES, SIR. >> HITS, YOU HAVE 6 MILLION.

HOW MANY ARE UNIQUE VISITORS? >> THAT IS UNIQUE VISITORS.

THAT'S A CONSERVATIVE NUMBER. THAT'S A REACH.

THERE'S IMPRESSIONS WHICH I THINK IS OVER 10 MILLION.

SO THE REACH IS A PERSON. IMPRESSIONS IS HOW MANY TIMES THAT PERSON COULD BE GETTING HIT MULTIPLE TIMES.

SO I TEND TO USE THE MORE CONSERVATIVE NUMBER WHEN I'M

USING REACH. >> ALL RIGHT.

[2. Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Tourism Branding Study Recommendations. Joel Novosad, Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> I'LL PULL UP A CHAIR HERE.

THIS EVENING WE HAVE A VERY EXCITING PRESENTATION FOR Y'ALL.

IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG PROCESS. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO A COUPLE OF FOLKS WITH THE CITY THAT HAVE HELPED GET THIS OFF THE GROUND. INPUT FROM JESUS AS WELL AS ASHLEY OUR COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR.

MY STAFF, THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM, DANIELLE WILLIAMS, WE HAD A LOT OF FOLKS THAT WORKED ON THIS PROJECT.

WE WILL BE UNVEILING THE RESULTS OF OUR TOURISM BRANDING STUDY AND I WILL LET DARREL WHITWORTH TAKE IT AWAY.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL.

JESUS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN NOT ON A VIDEO CALL.

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO BE HERE BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING TO UNVEIL THE NEW TOURISM BRANDING AND LOGOS AND BRANDING FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA. PERSONALLY I LIVE IN FREDERICKSBURG. WE ARE A NATIONWIDE DESTINATION MARKETING AGENCY. WE STARTED 41 YEARS AGO IN TUCSON. WE NOW HAVE OVER 200 STAFF SCATTERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND WE SPECIALIZE IN TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MARKETING. SO TONIGHT I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE PROCESS WE'VE DONE.

IT HAS BEEN A BIT OF AN EXTENDED PROCESS, BUT WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT, WE GET THE INPUT, WE GET THE DATA AND WE GET EVERYTHING SO WE'RE BRINGING YOU THE MOST EFFICIENT AND INLIGHTENING WAY TO PRESENT VICTORIA GOING FORWARD. STARTING OUT THIS IS KIND OF THE TIMELINE. I ACTUALLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF STANDING BEFORE YOU ABOUT 11 MONTHS AGO AND CAME OVER AND PRESENTED WHAT WE WERE GOING TO DO.

SINCE THAT TIMEFRAME, WE'VE HAD AN ONGOING PROCESS.

WE TOOK ONE LITTLE SIDESTEP THAT JOEL MENTIONED AND THAT WAS THE BICENTENNIAL BRANDING WE DID FOR Y'ALL.

THAT WAS IN SPRING OF THIS YEAR. WE JUMPED BACK INTO ALL OF THE RESEARCH DATA AND EVERYTHING WE NEEDED AS WELL AS SURVEYS, FOCUS GROUPS, ET CETERA, TO GET ALL OF THE GOOD INFORMATION THAT WE COULD FROM PEOPLE WHO VISIT VICTORIA, THOSE WHO LIVE HERE, AND GET THEIR FEEDBACK. NOW I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE YOU READ THROUGH ALL OF THIS. BUT JUST SO YOU KNOW, THIS IS A SNIPPET OF THE BRAND DATA THAT WE BROUGHT AND THE VISITOR DATA THAT WE BROUGHT IN IN MAY AND PRESENTED TO JOEL, HIS TEAM, JESUS, AND EVERYBODY THAT'S INVOLVED WITH IT THAT HE SHARED.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, SOME OF THIS WE TRACKED THEIR DEVICES. WE FOUND WHERE THEY WENT HERE IN TOWN WHETHER IT WAS TO THE SHOPPING AREA OR THE OUTDOORS

[01:15:03]

86% OF YOUR VISITORS COME FROM TEXAS.

OF THAT PERCENTAGE ABOUT A FOURTH OF THOSE COME FROM THE HOUSTON AREA, SAN ANTONIO, ET CETERA.

IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHO WAS TRULY VISITING VICTORIA. ONE THING TOO, WHEN WE'RE DOING A BRANDING STUDY WE ARE ALSO GOING TO LOOK AT THE HONEST TRUTH OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO. WE WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY'RE COMING, WHAT THEY'RE DOING. CANDIDLY A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO VICTORIA ARE PASSING THROUGH ON THEIR WAY TO THE COAST. IT IS A PASS THROUGH CITY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE TOOK INTO ACCOUNT AS WE BEGAN TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN POSITION VICTORIA TO BE A DESTINATION OF LEISURE AND INCREASE THE WEEKEND BOOKINGS THAT JOEL WAS SPEAKING OF. WE HAD SIX DIFFERENT VIDEO FOCUS GROUPS. AND WE HAD 500 FOLKS THAT WERE INTERVIEWED ONLINE AND SURVEYS THAT WERE SENT OUT.

WE GATHERED AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE COULD ABOUT YOUR CORE AND SECONDARY MARKETS. WE FOUND OUT WHAT PEOPLE SAID WAS GOOD ABOUT VICTORIA. AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN ON THOSE FOCUS GROUPS AND IT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT WHAT THEY HAD TO SHARE ABOUT VICTORIA. WHEN YOU'RE LIVING HERE, THEY WERE VERY CANDID. THEY TOLD US THE WONDERFUL THINGS THEY LOVED ABOUT VICTORIA, WHY THEY WOULD NEVER LEAVE. THEY ALSO TOLD US ABOUT A FEW OF THE WARTS ALONG THE WAY. WE IDENTIFIED YOUR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY VALUE PROPOSITIONS AS TO WHY SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO COME TO VICTORIA FOR LEISURE. AND WE FOUND OUT WHY PEOPLE CHOSE TO COME TO VICTORIA. WE GATHERED SUGGESTIONS FROM ALL OF THESE FOLKS AND KIND OF GOT A BRAND VOICE THAT WE WOULD USE GOING FORWARD FOR VISUAL AND BRANDING HOW WE WANT TO POSITION THE COMMUNITY GOING FORWARD. I'M NOT GOING TO HAVE YOU READ ALL OF THESE, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THIS IS A LOT OF WHAT WE USED IN THE BACKGROUND DATA AS FAR AS WHAT VICTORIA BROUGHT FORWARD. IT'S A SMALL TOWN FEEL, BUT THE RESIDENTS ENJOYED IT. IT HAS THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, THE SMALL TOWN CHARM. ONE THING I LEARNED, THERE'S A LOT MORE TEXAS INDEPENDENCE HERE IN VICTORIA THAN I REALIZED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE THAT EITHER.

THAT IS KEY IN WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT GOING FORWARD.

THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

Y'ALL ARE A SMALL BUSINESS TOWN. ONE OF THE THINGS WE BROUGHT FORWARD AS WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT VICTORIA IS WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE DIFFERENT. FOLKS WANTED TO SEE A BRIGHTER MORE ENGAGING COLOR PALETTE TO HARKEN TO THE HISPANIC HERITAGE.

THERE WAS A GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONGST THE RESIDENTS IN VICTORIA THAT THERE'S A HISPANIC HERITAGE HERE IN YOUR COMMUNITY BUT IT IS OFTEN GLOSSED OVER AND OVERLOOKED.

WE TOOK THIS INTO ACCOUNT AND WE ALSO STARTED LOOKING AT A LOT OF THE THINGS WE SEE AROUND HERE TO USE FOR INSPIRATION.

THE COLORFUL SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS.

WHAT WE SAW IN THE OUTDOORS, THE ACTIVITIES WE WENT TO, AND THE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

BASICALLY WE TOOK ALL OF THAT INFORMATION TOGETHER.

WE TOOK WHAT PEOPLE TOLD US ABOUT VICTORIA, WHAT OUR DATA SHOWED, WHAT WE WERE LOOKING TO DO AND THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF BEGINNING TO POSITION VICTORIA AS A LEISURE DESTINATION FOR TRAVELERS THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND BEYOND.

WITH THAT, WE'VE COME UPP WITH THE FOLLOWING BRAND WE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL TONIGHT. THIS IS THE NEW DISCOVER VICTORIA TEXAS BRANDING. THIS IS GEARED AS THE LOGO AND TAG LINE GOING FORWARD. EVERYTHING YOU SEE ABOUT THIS BRAND HAS SOMETHING ABOUT VICTORIA INCORPORATED IN IT.

THE HERITAGE FONT SPEAKS TO THE RANCHING HERITAGE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE FLOWER, THE INDIAN BLANKETS THAT COVER THE AREA. THE HEART SPEAKS TO TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, THE HEART OF SOUTH TEXAS.

VICTORIA WE HEARD IN A LOT OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WAS THE HEART OF SOUTH TEXAS. WE ALSO HEARD THAT WHAT PEOPLE LOVED MOST ABOUT VICTORIA WAS THE WARM INVITATION THEY FELT WHEN THEY VISITED HERE. WE ALSO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF DISCOVERVICTORIATEXAS.COM.

AND TRUE TO TEJAS ON THE SITE. THE WORD DISCOVER, IF YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE USE VISIT, EXPERIENCE, EXPLORE, WE FELT WITH SUCH A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF YOUR VISITORS PASSING THROUGH VICTORIA AND NOT TAKING THE TIME TO DISCOVER WHAT THEY WERE MISSING, DISCOVER WAS AN IMPORTANT WORD WE WOULD USE TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO COME HERE. NOW THERE'S MORE TO THIS THAN JUST A SIMPLE LOGO. BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT JOEL AND HIS TEAM AND ANYBODY GOING FORWARD IN TOURISM MARKETING ARE ARMED WITH WHAT THEY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND THEREFORE WE PRODUCED A 32 PAGE BRAND GUIDELINE.

NOW I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE THING TONIGHT, BUT I

[01:20:03]

ONE THING, WE DO HAVE SOME BRAND STANDARDS THAT ARE GOING TO BE KEY. AND THOSE ARE ACTUALLY DOWN THERE A LITTLE BIT AT THE BOTTOM, YOUR BRAND COLORS.

AND EXCUSE ME, HERE YOU CAN'T READ THEM THERE, BUT SMALL TOWN CHARM. THE TRUE TO TEJAS, BEING FOUNDED BY MARTIN DE LEON, 200 YEARS AGO.

YOUR CULTURAL HUB OF SOUTH TEXAS.

WE DISCOVERED THERE'S A LOT OF ART ACTIVITY HERE.

NOT ONLY VISUAL ARTS, BUT THE PERFORMING ARTS, ET CETERA.

THINGS PEOPLE CAN COME ENJOY ON THE WEEKENDS TO GET AWAY FROM THE BIG CITIES. IT IS TRULY THE HEART OF TEXAS INDEPENDENCE. WE REALIZED VICTORIA PLAYED A MUCH LARGER ROLE THAN MANY PEOPLE REALIZED.

AND YOUR SHOP AND DINE INDEPENDENT VICTORIA.

THOSE ARE THE PILLARS WE WANT TO USE GOING FORWARD IN PROMOTING THE TOWN. AS YOU LOOK UP THERE, YOUR TAG LINE TRUE TO TEJAS. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PAYING AN HOMAGE TO THE HISPANIC HERITAGE.

THE COLORS ARE BRIGHT AND THEY'RE GOING TO STAND OUT IN A BANNER AD ON A WEBSITE. WE HAVE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN UTILIZE MERCHANDISING. IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOP RIGHT, DISCOVER VICTORIA IF YOU WANT TO DO IT JUST AS THE FLOWER.

SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE CASUAL AND SUITABLE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA, ET CETERA. DIFFERENT THINGS AS FAR AS HOW YOU'RE NAMING AND ALL WILL BE DONE AND HOW YOU CAN USE IT.

IF YOU'RE DOING THE PROMOTION FOR A DESTINATION, YOUR BRAND GUIDELINES, THIS BOOKLET THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED TO THE TEAM IS HOW ANYONE CAN COME IN AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE STAYING ON THE BRAND MESSAGE FOR THE COMMUNITY SO THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS THE SAME, SO THAT YOUR COMMUNICATING THE SAME IDEAS, THE SAME TAG LINES AND EVERYTHING MOVING FORWARD.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY KEY THAT IF THEY HIRE A NEW MARKETING AGENCY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEY HIRE A NEW SOCIAL MEDIA PERSON. THIS WILL ENSURE ALL COMMUNICATIONS GOING FORWARD WILL LOOK SIMILAR FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR VICTORIA. WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE YOU A COLOR PALETTE TO USE.

YOU ALWAYS WANT TO STAY CONSISTENT IN YOUR COLORS.

WE DID PICK A FEW MORE COLOR, BECAUSE WE FEEL THE VIBRANCY OF THE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE COMMUNICATED GOING FORWARD. SO WE TOOK INSPIRATION FROM DIFFERENT THINGS WE FOUND AROUND TOWN IN THIS.

WE CAME UP WITH SOME WHAT WE CONSIDER APPROPRIATE COLORS.

WE FELT THINGS LIKE THAT WERE APPROPRIATE FOR THE COMMUNITY SO THAT THESE ARE THE KIND OF COLORS THAT JOEL AND HIS MARKETING TEAM CAN SHARE AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE GOING FORWARD PROMOTING VICTORIA.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME IDEAS HOW THIS CAN GO FORWARD IN MARKETING FOR GROUPS COMING IN CAR CLUBS, SPORTS GROUPS, ET CETERA.

AND WE ALSO INCORPORATED VARIOUS BRAND PATTERNS AND GRAPHIC ELEMENTS SO THAT AS THE CREATIVE TEAM CAN BE MOVING FORWARD, THIS CAN MAKE MORE ENGAGING ADS, ICONS THAT YOU CAN USE ON THE WEBSITE, DIFFERENT WAYS SO THAT ANY TYPE OF COMMUNICATION COMING OUT OF HERE WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SAME LOOK, FEEL, COLORS, AND THEN LIKE THE ICONOGRAPHY AT THE BOTTOM, THIS IS GREAT BECAUSE IT ALLOWS YOU TO GIVE SORT OF A MORE FUN WAY OF COMMUNICATING THE SHOPPING, THE OUTDOORS, THE HERITAGE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SUGGEST TOO THAT THEY USE AS THEY'RE GOING FORWARD ON MARKETING. AND MORE WAYS IT CAN BE FROM A WEBSITE TO BROCHURES TO KEY CHAINS, EVERYTHING ELSE.

USING ALL OF THE COLORS, THE ICONOGRAPHY AND THEN THE COLOR PALETTES. JUST A FEW EXAMPLES GOING FORWARD. THE TRUE TO TEJAS, BRINGING IN SORT OF THE TAGLINE AS VICTORIA. THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IS A QUICK PRESENTATION. HAPPY TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS AT

THIS TIME. >> I KNOW IT'S A LOT.

BUT WE WANTED TO GET IT IN FRONT OF YOU TO OBVIOUSLY GET YOU EXPOSED TO IT, GET YOUR INPUT, OBVIOUSLY YOU WERE INTERVIEWED AS PART OF THE PROCESS, PROVIDED INPUT THEN.

BUT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE FIRST EXPOSURE TO WHAT THIS BRAND COULD LOOK LIKE. AND REALLY THE THE ONLY WAY THAT I FELT WE COULD GET THE INPUT NEEDED FROM YOU WAS TO JUST BRING IT TO YOU. BECAUSE IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SOLICIT INPUT OTHERWISE UNTIL WE PUT IT OUT THERE AND TEST IT AND GET REACTIONS FROM IT. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO

[01:25:07]

ACHIEVE WITH TONIGHT. >> I CAN SHARE WITH YOU THAT PART OF THE PROCESS AND PART OF OUR CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS WHICH ACTUALLY OVERDELIVERED WAS WE WANTED TO GIVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS WHEN IT CAME TO THE LOGO.

I HAVE ANOTHER SCREEN I CAN'T SHARE WITH Y'ALL UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT IT'S ONES THAT WERE SHARED WITH JOEL AND JESUS AND FOLKS WHO WERE PART OF THE PROCESS ALONG THE WAY.

AND THERE ARE, LET'S SEE THERE'S 10, 11, PROBABLY ABOUT 17 DIFFERENT ONES THAT -- 17 DIFFERENT LOGOS THAT WERE SHOWN AND PEOPLE WORKED THROUGH AND DID VARIOUS ITERATIONS.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE WENT THROUGH A PRETTY EXTENSIVE PROCESS OF CREATIVITY TRYING TO BRING DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY PART OF THE PROCESS WE WENT THROUGH BRINGING MULTIPLE LOGOS AND HAVING THEM WORK THROUGH ON THE GROUP.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE THE ONE AT THE BOTTOM LEFT IS WHERE WE ENDED UP AT. IT'S MUCH LIKE WATCHING SAUSAGE BEING MADE, SO FORGIVE ME, MAYOR.

>> MY SCREEN IS THE ONLY ONE THAT DIDN'T COME UP.

>> YOU'RE THE MAYOR, WE DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON. IT'S A VERY EXTENSIVE PROCESS.

LIKE I SAID, WE HAD NUMEROUS THINGS WE DID FROM A BRANDING STUDY PERSPECTIVE WHERE WE LOOKED AT WHERE PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM, WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND ALL OF THAT.

A LOT OF WHAT WE DID WITH THIS, EVEN THOUGH IT COMES OUT AS A CREATIVE ASPECT, EVERYTHING WE DO IN THIS BRANDING ASPECT IS BASED ON DATA. AND THERE'S SOME ART THAT COMES IN IN THE END ON WHAT WE'RE WANTING TO COMMUNICATE.

>> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER BECAUSE JOEL GAVE A PRESENTATION JUST BEFORE THIS ONE. IT'S THE SAME WORDS, IT WAS

DISCOVER VICTORIA TEXAS. >> YES, MA'AM.

WE WENT THROUGH, WE HAD MULTIPLE OPTIONS WE GAVE TO THERE AS FAR AS THE VERBIAGE WE WANT THERE. WHETHER IT BE EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE, VISIT, SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE.

>> SO WE DO HAVE THE CONSISTENCY FOR EVERYTHING WE BUILT UP, BUT THIS IS BRIGHTER COLORS AND IT IS A DIFFERENT PATTERN, BUT IT'S

THE SAME WORDS? >> YES, MA'AM.

>> CURRENTLY WE'RE EXPLORE VICTORIA.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT MS. SCOTT IS ASKING.

>> CURRENTLY WE'RE EXPLORE VICTORIA.

>> I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN SEEING.

>> CURRENTLY WE'RE EXPLORE VICTORIA.

AND WE'RE SUGGESTING CHANGING IT TO DISCOVER VICTORIA AS PART OF A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO MESSAGE AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME DISCOVER WHAT VICTORIA HAS TO OFFER.

>> THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS BASICALLY IS TO BEGIN TO PUT VICTORIA IN A NEW LIGHT TO POTENTIAL VISITORS.

THIS WAS STARTED 15, 16 MONTHS AGO THROUGH THE BID PROCESS AND EVERYTHING. THEY SELECTED MULTIPLE BIDS THROUGHOUT TEXAS AND BEYOND AND WE WERE THE ONES THAT WON THAT BID PROCESS. IT'S BEEN A FAIRLY EXTENSIVE PROGRAM NOT ONLY FROM THE TEAM BEING IN TOWN HERE AND MYSELF COMING IN IN JANUARY, AND THEN THE AMOUNT OF COMMUNICATIONS, NOT ONLY WITH LOCALS, BUT REACHING OUT TO PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO VICTORIA AND WHAT THEIR PERCEPTIONS WERE.

>> TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE SOLELY TALKING ABOUT THE BRANDING FOR CVB, NOTHING WOULD CHANGE WITH THE CITY OF VICTORIA'S LOGO.

THAT'S COMPLETELY SEPARATE, GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKEE THAT CLEAR.

>> IF I COULD ADDRESS WHAT JESUS IS SPEAKING OF THERE, IN THE TOURISM MARKETING WORLD AND DOING WHAT WE DO, DESTINATION MARKETING, IT IS TYPICALLY NOT A BEST PRACTICE TO HAVE THE SAME BRAND LOGO AND MESSAGING FOR THE CITY AS YOU DO FOR THE DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATION.

THE REALITY IS YOU ARE SPEAKING TO TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AUDIENCES. AS A CITY, YOU ARE SPEAKING TO YOUR RATE PAYERS, YOUR CITIZENS, YOUR TAXPAYERS.

THOSE WHO EXPECT YOU TO KEEP THEIR LIGHTS ON AND THEIR WATER RUNNING. ON THE DESTINATION MARKETING SIDE, WE ARE SPEAKING TO THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT LIVE THERE, WE WANT TO INSPIRE THEM TO COME TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND WE WANT TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TOURISM.

SO WE ARE LOOKING AT TWO DIFFERENT MESSAGES, TWO DIFFERENT LOOKS IN THAT RESPECT. NOT SAYING YOU CAN'T HAVE THE SAME THING, BUT IT IS TYPICALLY A BEST PRACTICE FOR THE CITY'S AUDIENCE AND MESSAGING OR THE CITY'S MESSAGING TO BE SEPARATE FROM THE CVB'S MESSAGING BECAUSE YOU HAVE TWO COMPLETELY

DIFFERENT AUDIENCES. >> OKAY.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN GET THAT REPORT ELECTRONICALLY SENT

TO US? >> THIS, YES.

100%. >> NOT THE PRESENTATION TONIGHT

-- >> THE BRANDING ONE, THE ONE THAT HAS ALL OF THE COLORS AND EVERYTHING GOING FORWARD?

>> YEAH, WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN IT.

[01:30:01]

>> YEAH, YOU MEAN THE RESULTS OF THE -- YEAH.

YES. >> GREAT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> YES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR PRESENTING IT.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING. >> IT'S DIFFERENT.

>> IT'S COLORFUL. >> I LIKE THE COLORS.

>> I THINK IT HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL.

>> YES, IT DOES. >> A LOT OF POTENTIAL.

>> THAT HOT PINK LOOKS GOOD. >> FINAL CITY MANAGER REPORT,

[3. Municipal Court 2023 Annual Report. Tiffany Totah, Municipal Court Administrator]

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

I AM EXCITED TONIGHT TO BE PRESENTING THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR MUNICIPAL COURT ANNUAL REPORT. THIS IS OUR TEAM HERE.

WE DID HIRE OUR MOST RECENT TEAM MEMBER IN SEPTEMBER.

SO I WAS EXCITED TO COMPLETE OUR TEAM AND BRING MONICA ON BOARD.

A COUPLE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS DID COMPLETE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. IN FISCAL YEAR 23 INCLUDING DAVID WHO GOT HIS LEVEL TWO CERTIFICATION, AND MARIA BELL WHO GOT HER LEVEL THREE CERTIFICATION AND COMPLETED TWO LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS. OUR STAFF ALWAYS DOES CONTINUE TO CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED. SO THE PRIMARY GOALS FOR THE MUNICIPAL COURT DEPARTMENT IS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN CREATIVE WAYS SUCH AS ALTERNATE DOCKETS LIKE THE ONE YOU SEE HERE. CONTINUING COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS, THIS IS JUDGE HIELD IN THE MIDDLE AT A CAREER DAY EVENT. AND OUR STAFF DEVELOPMENT.

THESE ARE JUST SOME IMAGES OF VARIOUS EVENTS THAT WE DID THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE DID A TOTAL OF 20 EVENTS EITHER ONES WE HOSTED OURSELVES, ONES WE DID WITH OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS THE KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM AND THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM AT THE LIBRARY.

THE CAR SEAT PROGRAM, WE DID A COUPLE OF EVENTS OURSELVES AND WE PARTNERED WITH A COUPLE OF AGENCIES THIS YEAR.

ONE OF THE IMAGES YOU'LL SEE IS AT THE VICTORIA HOUSING AUTHORITY, WE HOSTED AN EVENT THERE.

AND WE PARTNERED WITH THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM TO HAVE A CAR SEAT EVENT WITH THEM AS WELL. THIS IS SOMETHING WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR AND WE NEARLY DOUBLED OUR EVENTS THAT WE ATTENDED OR HOSTED IN THIS PAST YEAR. SO WE REALLY CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO MAKE THIS AN ONGOING EFFORT. ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT THE JUDGE HELPED TO SPEARHEAD IS THE COURT TO RECOVERY PROGRAM WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP. THIS PROGRAM BEGAN IN MAY.

SO THE NUMBERS YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN ARE FROM PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE IN THE PROGRAM BETWEEN MAY OR TECHNICALLY JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER. SO THE COURT TO RECOVERY PROGRAM IS A COURT-ORDERED PROGRAM FOR THOSE CHARGED WITH SUBSTANCE RELATED VIOLATIONS. SO YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAD 20 ATTENDEES DURING THAT TIMEFRAME. THE CLASSES BEGAN IN JUNE.

THAT'S A TOTAL OF 72 HOURS OF CLASS TIME.

ADDITIONALLY, THEY ARE ALSO COURT ORDERED TO BE ON A DEFERRED DISPOSITION WHICH HELPS TO KEEP THAT VIOLATION OFF OF THEIR RECORD. AND OF THOSE THAT WERE REFERRED TO THE PROGRAM, WE HAD AN 80% SUCCESS RATE OF SUCCESSFUL F COMPLIANCE. TO DATE FROM OCTOBER THROUGH DECEMBER, WE HAVE HAD ABOUT 40 ATTENDEES COMPLETE THE CLASSES.

SO WE FIND IT TO BE A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP AND WE DO CONTINUE TO BE THAT BEING A GOOD PROGRAM THAT OUR COURT IS OVER.

THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF OUR OUTREACH DOCKETS.

JUST AS A REMINDER, THIS ACTUALLY BEGAN IN MIDYEAR OF FISCAL YEAR 22. SO WE HAD A FULL YEAR OF THE PROGRAM THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR AND WE PARTNERED WITH ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS YOU SEE HERE ON THE SCREEN TO HOST AN OUTREACH DOCKET MONTHLY. THESE ARE DOCKETS THAT ARE HELD ON SITE AT THESE LOCATIONS. THESE ARE FOLKS THAT GENERALLY DO NOT HAVE THE THE TRANSPORTATION OR MEANS TO GET TO US. SO WE GO TO THEM AND HELP THEM TO TRY AND RESOLVE THOSE CASES. THROUGH THE 12 DOCKETS WE HELD, OVER THE YEAR WE HAD 259 PEOPLE APPEAR AT THESE WHICH DID GENERATE ABOUT 240 HOURS OF STAFF TIME.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE STAFF ON SITE AT THE DOCKET ITSELF, BUT WE HAVE THE STAFF REMAINING HERE AT THE OFFICE THAT'S HELPING TO PROCESS. AS WE ARE REMOTE IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT TO DO THAT REMOTELY.

WE ALSO CLEARED 301 WARRANTS AS A RESULT OF THIS PROGRAM.

SO IT CONTINUES TO BE A SUCCESS. OUR MOST RECENT PARTNERSHIP IN JULY WAS WITH THE LIBRARY. WE FOUND THAT TO BE A REALLY GREAT LOCATION TO PARTNER WITH. I KNOW IT'S ONE OF OUR OWN

[01:35:03]

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF OUR QUARTERLY DESTINATION.

THEY HAVE SOME GREAT SPACES THERE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO UTILIZE. SO WE'VE BEEN THERE ABOUT THREE TIMES ALREADY JUST THIS YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER PROGRAM. SO THIS IS FOR OUR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS THAT ARE AGE 10 TO 16 YEARS OF AGE.

WE HAVE FOUND THAT OFTENTIMES THEY HAVE LESS OPPORTUNITIES TO DO COMMUNITY SERVICE TO DISCHARGE THEIR FINES AND COSTS.

SO WE HAVE A STAFF MEMBER DEDICATED TO COORDINATING EFFORTS WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES AND OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. SO MID COAST FAMILY SERVICES IS THE ONE THAT WE HAVE HAD THE MOST INTERACTIONS WITH.

THEY'VE ACTUALLY HELD 16 CLASSES IN THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR FOR OUR YOUTHFUL FOLKS. THESE CLASSES COVER A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING ANGER MANAGEMENT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, THINGS SUCH AS EMOTIONS AND ANXIETY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. SO THEY'VE BEEN BENEFICIAL FOR THOSE FOLKS AND IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET HOURS BECAUSE OUR STAFF MEMBER IS THERE TO HELP SUPERVISE AND ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL CONTINUES TO BE A GREAT PARTNER WHEN IT COMES TO OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.

THERE WERE SIX DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE OUR STAFF MEMBER SERVING IN THIS ROLE WENT OUT WITH OUR YOUTHFUL FOLKS TO CLEAN UP THE HIGHWAY. VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO OFFERED A CLASS INTERACTING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WE HELD ONE WITH THEM IN THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR.

AND COLLEGE OF HOUSTON VICTORIA ALSO OFFERED CLASSES FOR OUR YOUTHFUL FOLKS ON WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER.

SO THAT HELPS TO GIVE THEM INFORMATION THEY NEED.

THOSE ARE USUALLY COURT ORDERED SO IT HELPS TO ENSURE ATTENDANCE AND ALSO GIVES THEM CREDIT TOWARDS THEIR FINES.

THEY DON'T TYPICALLY HOLD JOBS AT THE AGE OF 10-16.

ESPECIALLY AT THE AGE OF 10-14 RANGE.

THIS IS JUST A TIMELINE OF DIFFERENT MILESTONE EVENTS THAT WE HAD IN THIS PAST YEAR. SO EVERY OCTOBER IS WHEN THE AWARDS ARE AWARDED TO THE GRANT AWARDEES.

SO IN OCTOBER OF THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR, WE HAD FOUR AWARDEES FOR THAT CHILD SAFETY GRANT THAT USUALLY OPENS IN AUGUST. IN APRIL WE HELD A CLASS WITH TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE, THEY HELD A SAFETY CLASS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS. AND ON THE FOLLOWING DAY IS WHEN WE HAD OUR CAR SEAT EVENT WITH THE VICTORIA HOUSING AUTHORITY.

IN MAY, WE ALSO HAD ANOTHER CAR SEAT EVENT.

SO WE PARTNERED WITH THE CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM AND HELD THE EVENT IN THEIR PARKING LOT.

THAT SEEMED TO BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT AS WELL.

IN JUNE, WE HAD TWO NEW TECHNICIANS GET CERTIFIED.

ONE WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ONE WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL COURT STAFF. THAT ADDED STAFF BACK TO OUR OFFICE AS WE HAD A STAFF MEMBER LEAVE US THIS SUMMER, BUT ALSO AN ADDITIONAL ONE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS THEY ALSO INTERACT WITH FOLKS THAT ARE IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED.

AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER, SEPTEMBER IS TRADITIONALLY CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK. THERE IS A WEEK DEDICATED JUST FOR THOSE EFFORTS. SO WE PROMOTED THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA DIFFERENT TIPS AND TRICKS ON HOW TO PROPERLY USE CAR SEATS AND WE ALSO HELD AN EVENT DURING THAT WEEK AS WELL.

WE HAD A TOTAL OF THREE CAR SEAT EVENTS.

I DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF ME.

BUT I KNOW THAT WE HAD JUST OVER 50 INSPECTIONS OVER THE YEAR AND WE CONTINUE TO FIND ON AVERAGE TWO OUT OF THREE FOLKS THAT COME THROUGH DO NOT HAVE THEIR CHILDREN PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

SO WE DO CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THIS PROGRAM TO HELP EDUCATE THOSE THAT COME THROUGH. AND THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF OUR STATISTICS AND SO THE NUMBERS IN BLACK ON THE TOP ROW WERE GREATER THAN THE NUMBERS FROM THE PRIOR YEAR AND THE NUMBERS IN RED ON THE BOTTOM ARE DECREASES.

THE PRETRIALS IS A LITTLE MISLEADING.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO LESS THAT WE GENERATE.

THEY'RE ALMOST EVERY OTHER THURSDAY, WE HAVE ABOUT THREE OF THOSE A MONTH. SO THAT'S NOT AS MUCH OF A DECREASE. BUT THESE HERE JUST KIND OF SHOW YOU THAT WE DO CONTINUE TO HAVE HEARINGS AND COURT DATES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE AND WHAT THOSE NUMBERS LOOK LIKE.

AND THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE OUR CASES COME FROM.

AGAIN THE NUMBERS HERE IN RED ARE THE NUMBERS THAT WERE A DECREASE. AND THE NUMBERS IN BLACK OR EITHER FLAT OR AN INCREASE. THE INVESTIGATION REPORTS, I FEEL THERE'S A DECREASE THERE SINCE THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS WERE AN INCREASE. SO IN THOSE MATTERS, WE'LL GET A REPORT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, OFTENTIMES THOSE MAY HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LIKE A FIELD RELEASE WHERE THEY WERE NOT ACTUALLY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. BUT THERE WAS AN UPTICK IN SITE ARRESTS WE RECEIVED WITHIN OUR COURT.

CODE ENFORCEMENT NUMBERS WERE FLAT.

THAT DOES INCLUDE ABATEMENT WARRANTS THAT WE RECEIVED AND CASES FILED RELATED TO CODE ENFORCEMENT.

[01:40:01]

AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD, THE JUVENILE CASE MANAGER PROGRAM IS SOMETHING WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP.

THERE IS NO LEGISLATION THAT JUST WENT INTO EFFECT.

WE HAVE A YEAR ESSENTIALLY TO DEVELOP A JUVENILE DIVERSION PROGRAM BEGINNING IN JANUARY AND IT WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2025. SO WE WILL HAVE TO IMPLEMENT A JUVENILE YOUTH DIVERSION PROGRAM FOR OUR MORE YOUTHALAL FO-- YOUTHFUL FOLKS. CONTINUING TO UTILIZE AND MAXIMIZE OUR EFFICIENCIES THROUGH USES OF TECHNOLOGY.

I KNOW JAMES IS PROBABLY TIRED OF HEARING FROM ME.

BUT I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE WHAT WE DO AND THE SERVICES WE OFFER. AND THEN CONTINUE TO GROW OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. AND I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS. >> DOING A GOOD JOB.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, TIFFANY.

YOU DO A LOT. >> THANK YOU, MS. TOTAH.

[EXECUTIVE SESSIONS]

SO WE WILL NOW RECESS INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.

IT'S 6:41 AND WE WILL ALSO TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS TO CLEAR

THE CHAMBER. >> CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE 19TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2023 AT 6:41 P.M. SUBJECT MATTER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.