Jul 16, 2024 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:09]

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY, JULY 16TH. IS HILBRICH, LEO PLEASE CALL

THE ROLE? >> YES.

MAYOR YOUNG WILL BE JOINING US MOMENTARILY.

>> IF YOU WILL PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGES AND 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. UNDER THE TEXAS FLAG, I BELIEVE IN THE PURE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE.

>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, WELCOME, EVERYONE. WE WILL MOVE STRAIGHT

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING? >> I'M WELL. HOW ARE YOU, SIR?

>> I AM WELL. ANNOUNCEMENTS OR REMINDERS FOR US?

>> I HAVE A FEW. ARE DEPARTMENT ARE WRAPPING UP THEIR REALLY GOOD PROGRAMS AND THEY ARE BEGINNING THEIR FALL PROGRAMS. WITH THAT, WE HAVE APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2024-2025 MAYERS YOUTH COUNCIL. IT WILL BE OPEN ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 1ST. WE WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 30TH. THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL IS AVAILABLE TO JUNIORS AND SENIORS WHO RESIDE IN VICTORIA COUNTY. FOR MORE DETAILS, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE. TURN EIGHT. FROM THE CITY SECRETARY, WE ARE SEEKING APPLICANTS TO SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. TO APPLY, WE HAVE VICTORIA.GOV/BOARDSANDCOMMISSIO NS OR YOU CAN APPLY IN PERSON AT THE HALL. THE FINAL INFORMATION WORKSHOP FOR APPLICANTS FOR THE HOTEL TAX FUNDS WILL BE HELD AT 700 MAINE, UPSTAIRS IN ROOM 205 ON MONDAY, JULY 22ND. APPLICATIONS FOR THOSE FUNDS ARE DUE JULY 31ST. JOE WILL TELL YOU ALL THIS AGAIN IN A LITTLE WHILE IN A MUCH BETTER PRESENTATION.

BUT, FOR MORE DETAILS, GO TO VICTORIA.GOV/BUSINESS OR CONTACT THE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU AT 361-415-3777. FOR ME TO CIVIL COURTS, SIMILAR TO THE TEXT, WE HAVE CHILDHOOD TO GRANTS FOR 2024-2025. APPLICATIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON MONDAY, JULY 29TH AND THEY CLOSE AUGUST 16TH AT 5:00 P.M.. INFORMATION FOR POTENTIAL APPLICANTS WILL BE HELD, AN INFORMATIONAL SESSION WILL BE HELD IN MUNICIPAL COURT CHAMBERS AT 107 ONE WIN ON JULY 31ST, AUGUST 7TH, AND ON THE 14TH. FOR MORE DETAILS, YOU CAN VISIT ONLINE OR TIFFANY TOTA AT 361-485-3050. FROM OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, AFTER A SUMMER FULL OF GREAT ACTIVITIES, WE WANT TO INVITE PEOPLE TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATION OF PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 24TH AT 7:00 P.M. AT RIVERSIDE STADIUM. FOR PARKS AND RECREATION, GO TO VICTORIA.GOV/GENERAL . BACK TO SCHOOL BASH ON THE 26TH AT QUEENS CITY PARK AS PART OF THE QUEENS CITY SUMMER SERIES. THE EVENT WILL FEATURE LIVE MUSIC BY ROSEMARIE, A BOUNCE HOUSE, FOOD TRUCKS, AND MORE. FINALLY, THE LIBRARY. AGAIN, A GROUP THAT HAS BEEN BUSY ALL SUMMER LONG. WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO JOIN THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY ON FRIDAY JULY 26 AT 2:00 P.M. FOR AN ALL AGES FOAM PARTY, FEATURING A FOAM CANNON, DUNKING BOOZE, JOUSTING RING, AND MORE. THE FIRST 25 PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE A FREE SERVING OF CONE ICE. THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS AT THE LIBRARY FOR HELPING FIND FREE, FUN PROGRAMMING ALL SUMMER LONG.

>> THANK YOU. LOTS GOING ON STILL.

>> I HAVE ONE ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT. MR. GILL? THIS ONE IS LESS FUN.

[00:05:02]

>> FAIR ENOUGH. >> THIS WILL BE PRETTY QUICK. I JUST WANT TO GO OVER, AND THE CITIZENS ARE WONDERING WHY WE ARE IN CROWD STAGE ONE AND IT IS RAINING. JUST REAL QUICKLY, STAGE 1 IS WHEN THE RIVER FALLS BELOW NORMAL. FLOW IS BASED ON THE CITY OF VICTORIA'S LARGEST WATERFRONT. RIGHT NOW, IN JULY, THE RIVER HAS TO BE ABOVE 540 CFS. THAT IS THE NORMAL FLOW BASED ON OUR PERMANENT. GETTING TO THE NEXT SLIDE , THESE ARE THE RESTRICTIONS. OF COURSE, EVERYBODY KNOWS IT IS VOLUNTARY FOR STAGE ONE. 6:00 A.M. TO 10:00 P.M. AND 10:00 P.M. TO 12:00 A.M. AS YOU CAN SEE, IT GOES ALL THE WAY UP, STRETCHES ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE KERRVILLE AREA. GONZALES, GAINES . WHAT GOES ON IN THIS RIVER BASICALLY IS THAT PART OF THE RIVER IS VERY, VERY DRY. CANYON LAKE IS IN STAGE THREE AND THEY ARE HEADED TOWARDS STAGE FOUR. WHICH MEANS THE LAKE IS GETTING REALLY LOW. WHEN WE HAVE WATER AND RAIN AND IT HIT THE VICTORIA AREA, IT HITS THE RIVER AND IT IS GONE QUICK. IT DISAPPEARS. WE ALWAYS LOOK AT FORECAST, WHAT IS IT DOING IN GONZALES? WE LOOK AT IT UPSTREAM. AND THIS SHOWS, STARTING JUNE 22ND THROUGH JULY, THE RIVER FLOWS. AS YOU CAN SEE IN JULY, IT DROPPED FROM 300 CFS, WHICH IS STILL BELOW NORMAL, IT WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO WRITE AT 160. THAT IS WHEN WE SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEEDED TO GET INTO STAGE ONE.

RIGHT AFTER HURRICANE BERYL. IF WE HAD IT, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY, LIKE, REALLY? A HURRICANE? SO WE WAITED, THEN WE GOT THE RAIN. WE ARE BLESSED, WE KEEP THE RAIN GOING. BUT THAT IS AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT STAGE ONE IS. STAGE TWO IS WHEN WE GET BELOW THAT LOW-FLOW PERIOD, WHICH IS 300 CFS. SO THERE IS A FINE LINE OF STAGE ONE AND STAGE TWO. AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO HOW WE DETERMINE WHICH STAGE WE WILL GO INTO. BUT THAT IS A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF WHY WE WENT INTO STAGE ONE. YES IT IS RAINING AND THE RIVER FLOWS ARE GOOD, KEEP THE CONSERVATION THOUGHT PROCESS. THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO TELL THE PUBLIC. IT IS, CONSUMPTION PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN

HOW WE USE OUR WATER. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR

[2. Public & Employee Recognitions:]

>> OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER EMPLOYEES, THEY COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY ARE ACTUALLY, OH, THEY ARE? OKAY.

OH, MATTHEW IS HERE. OKAY, GREAT. THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE OUT FOR WORK AND THEN WE WILL LOCK YOU IN THE PLAN. I AM GLAD YOU WERE HERE. MATTHEW WORKS IN OUR WATER SERVICE TREATMENT PLANT. HE IS ONE OF THE OPERATORS. HE RECENTLY EARNED HIS CLASS B WATER OPERATOR LICENSE FROM TCU PEER TO CLARIFY THAT, THERE IS D THROUGH A. AND B REQUIRES SEVERAL YEARS OF SERVICE PLUS PASSING A PRETTY DIFFICULT TEST. SO THE FACT THAT MATTHEW DID IT IS A TESTAMENT TO HIS EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITY. AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THAT, TO GUYS LIKE MATTHEW, TO DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT COMPLEX PROBLEMS AND PERFORM HIGHER-LEVEL DUTIES AT OUR SERVICE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. SO, YOU KNOW, WE WILL CELEBRATE MATTHEW. I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING. NOW WE DO HAVE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE THAT DID NOT ESCAPE -- OKAY. HE IS LOCKED IN THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

CODY VALLEY EARNED HIS CLASS B. B BEING PRETTY DIFFICULT. I THINK IT IS A THREE OR FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE TO THREE YEARS OF SERVICE BEFORE THEY EVEN LET YOU TAKE THE TEST AND THEN YOU HAVE TO PASS IT. BUT HIS CLASS B WASTEWATER TREATMENT LICENSE.

IT IS AN ADVANCED OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE CERTIFYING THAT HE HAS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE IN THE WASTEWATER FIELD, INCLUDING KNOWLEDGE OF TREATMENT AND LABORATORY PROCESSES IN SEVERAL YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. I KNOW HE IS NOT HERE, MAYBE HE IS WATCHING TV, SO WE WILL CELEBRATE CODY AS WELL. AND

[3. Items from Council:]

THAT IS ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THOSE GENTLEMEN. MOVING ON THEN. ITEMS FROM COUNSEL. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING?

[00:10:05]

>> I JUST HAVE ONE THAT I WANTED TO THROW OUT THERE. I KNOW IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS BEEN FOREVER SINCE THE DRAMA AND CONCERNS ABOUT HURRICANE BERYL, BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST READING IT SINCE THEN. AND I JUST WANTED TO RELAY THANKS TO ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES WHO PREPARED AND WORKED HARD, LATE HOURS, OVERNIGHT. YOU KNOW, GETTING READY FOR THAT. MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY DO NOT KNOW, IT TOUCH REALLY, VIRTUALLY EVERY DEPARTMENT TO GET READY FOR A CATASTROPHIC EVENT LIKE THAT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF HOURS PUT IN. A JOB VERY WELL DONE.

MCGRUDER AND HIS TEAM DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. I KNOW WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT LATER ON IN THE EVENING. BUT I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY SAY THANKS TO BOTH THE CITY AND COUNTY EMPLOYEES, RICK AND HIS TEAM FOR A JOB WELL DONE. OBVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A SHIFT. MOTHER NATURE MOVED IT AWAY FROM US.

BUT I CERTAINLY FELT GOOD ABOUT THE PREPARATIONS THAT WERE PUT IN, AND I WAS PROUD OF THE EFFORT. SO THANK YOU ALL VERY

MUCH. >> I WAS DOWN THERE AND SAW THE COMMUNICATION AND THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN ALL OF THE ENTITIES. IT WAS INCREDIBLY IMPRESSIVE. THE CITIZENS SHOULD FEEL REALLY, REALLY GOOD KNOWING THAT WE HAVE SUCH PROFESSIONALS HANDLING THAT, AND THAT WE ARE IN SUCH GOOD

[4. Citizen Communication:]

HANDS. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER ITEMS FROM COUNSEL? ALL RIGHT. I WILL MOVE ALONG TO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. I HAVE A FEW CARDS HERE. WE WILL START WITH MISS CATHERINE OLSON. GOOD EVENING, MS. OLSON. WELCOME

BACK. >> GOOD EVENING. IT IS NICE TO BE HERE. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR CROCKER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE STARTING PAY FOR POLICE OFFICERS IN THE DORIA ANNUALLY IS $50,970, AND FIREMEN'S STARTING PAY IS $2412. THIS AMOUNT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE SURROUNDING AREAS, INCLUDING SUGAR LAND, COLLEGE STATION, BAY CITY. IT IS ALSO THE REASON THAT OFFICERS THAT GET THEIR TRAINING THEN MOVE ON TO BETTER PAY AND MORE SUPPORT SOMEWHERE ELSE. I GUESS NOT HAVING ALL OF THE OFFICERS BUDGETED FOR, HIRED AND ON THE JOB IS ONE WAY TO HELP THE OVERALL BUDGET. WHERE DO THE LEFTOVER BUDGETED FUNDS GO ON ANY GIVEN MONTH OR YEAR? 17 OFFICERS TIMES $50,970 EQUALS $866,490 ANNUALLY. WHY NOT BONUS OFFICERS MONTHLY FOR WORKING SHORTHANDED? AT LEAST IT WOULD HELP MORALE, WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. I ASSUME THE ANSWER TO THAT IDEA WOULD BE NO. SO I WILL ASK AGAIN. WHERE WILL THE EXCESS UNUSED BUDGETED SALARIES GO? THE BUDGET IS 193,485,877 AND EXPENSES. I HAD TO PRACTICE THAT. OF THIS, 52,394,440S SIX IS PERSONAL COST, PERSONNEL COSTS. THE CAP CURRENTLY IS 45,000,300 ONE THOUSAND $704. THE REST, ALMOST $96 MILLION IS MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS HERE TO THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED TO DEAL WITH THE SHORTFALL OF FUNDS FOR POLICE, WHICH OF AMOUNTS TO REARRANGING FUNDS WITHOUT ADDING ANY FUNDS. BUT INSTEAD, BORROWING FROM THE OFFICERS RETIREMENT FUNDS TO GIVE A RAISE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT. THE WORST THING ABOUT THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO RISK THEIR LIVES, THEIR BODIES, THE RISK TO THEIR FAMILY UNIT, AND ON AND ON IT, ARE THE PRICES THEY ARE WILLING TO PROTECT US. SHOULDN'T WE DO BETTER BY THEM? THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY 17 OFFICERS SHORT AND THEY ARE ALWAYS ON AVERAGE 4 TO 5 OFFICERS IN FIELD TRAINING, WHICH AMOUNTS THEN TO A 21 OFFICER SHORTAGE. THE FIELD TRAINING TAKES 4 TO 5 MONTHS AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MORE OF THOSE TO COME. BEING A FIRST RESPONDER IN ANY TOWN IS A ROUGH JOB. THANKFULLY THERE ARE MEN AND WOMEN WILLING TO SERVE.

BUT WE CAN AND SHOULD DO BETTER. OBVIOUSLY, OUR CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER NEED A NUDGE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

>> THANK YOU, MS. OLSON. THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS JANE

[00:15:01]

COLUMNS. WELCOME. >> MAYOR, COUNCIL. HOW ARE YOU ALL TONIGHT? CITY MANAGEMENT. I AM JAMES COLLINS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE VICTORIA POLICE OFFICER ASSOCIATION. AND TO THIS POINT, THREE PAY PLANS HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO COUNSEL. AND THE VICTORIA POLICE OFFICER ASSOCIATION WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR THE ALTERNATE PAY PLAN THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT. SINCE A CHANGE TO THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT AFFECTS EMPLOYEES VERY DIFFERENTLY, THE WAY TO ENSURE THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT EMPLOYEES IS TO NOT CHANGE THAT PART OF OUR RETIREMENT PLAN. ADDITIONALLY, WE WOULD LIKE TO AS COUNSEL AND CITY MANAGEMENT, AS THESE DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE, TO PRIORITIZE GENERAL FUND RESOURCES TOWARDS PAY. DEPENDING ON GROWTH AND CHOICES, WE MAY BE ABLE TO REALIZE A BIGGER COMPENSATION PACKAGE WERE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY THEN WE SEE BEING POSSIBLE TODAY. LEAVING THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT ALONE AND REPRIORITIZING GENERAL FUND DOLLARS WILL ALLOW ALL EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE A RAISE AND RECEIVE THE BENEFIT OF SAID RAISE AT THE END OF THEIR CAREER. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK COUNSEL FOR LISTENING AND CITY MANAGEMENT FOR BEING OPEN TO DISCUSSION AND PROVIDING ALTERNATIVES. I AM HOPEFUL THAT RELATIONSHIPS IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS WILL CONTINUE. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. MICHAEL

VAUGHN DARA? GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL.

I AM MICHAEL, I LIVE AT 2204 EAST NORTH STREET, LOT 20 A. IF THE POLICE OFFICERS NEED MORE MONEY, THERE IS PLENTY OF OVERTIME THEY COULD WORK AT CHRIST KITCHEN AND VICTORIA CITY PARK. THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON THERE. DRUGS, THEY MADE A FENTANYL BUST OVER IN QUEENS A CITY PARK. AND CHRIST KITCHEN, THEY'VE GOT A MATTRESS THERE WITH WATER ALL OVER IT, LG, A BICYCLE ON TOP OF IT. AND I WISH CODE ENFORCEMENT OR THE POLICE COULD COME AND CLEAN ALL THAT UP.

THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUING TICKETS AND ARRESTING PEOPLE FOR VIOLATING THE CURFEWS. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GET OUT OF THE PARK BETWEEN 11:00 P.M. AND 6:00 A.M., AND THEY STILL DO NOT PAY ATTENTION. AND AT CHRIST KITCHEN, FROM 5:00 P.M. TO 7:00 A.M., YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. THEY ARE STILL THERE.

AND THE SUPREME COURT JUST MADE A RULING 06-3 THAT GIVES THE CITY AND THE POLICE MORE RIGHTS TO ENFORCE LAWS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND I WISH SOMEONE COULD COME AND CLEAN IT UP. THEY DID CLEANUP THAT BIG PILE BY CHRIST KITCHEN, YOU KNOW, WITH A TON OF JUNK AND STUFF. THE CONTRACTORS DID IT. BUT I WISH THEY COULD KEEP ON DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING. I APPRECIATE THE POLICE IN THEIR EFFORTS AND STUFF. THERE IS JUST A LOT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT CHRIST KITCHEN AND QUEENS CITY PARK.

JUST RECENTLY, THEY JUST MADE AN ARREST AT CHRIST KITCHEN REGARDING AN ASSAULT . AND LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A SHOOTING AT CHRIST KITCHEN. AND SHE GOT FIVE YEARS. THE HIGH INTENSITY DRUG TRAFFICKING WITH TROOPERS, LOCAL POLICE, DEPUTIES, AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT MADE SOME ARRESTS AND STUFF. I DO APPRECIATE IT. AND THE DEA DID MAKE A SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA ARREST AND STUFF. BUT I WISH SOMEONE COULD, YOU KNOW, CLEAN THAT QUEENS CITY PARK IN CHRIST KITCHEN UP. BECAUSE IT IS REALLY GETTING BAD. BUT IT IS BETTER BASED UPON ALL THE ARRESTS. BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE ENFORCING THE LAWS AND THE RULES. YOU KNOW, I WISH PEOPLE COULD TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THE CURFEW. I MEAN, THERE ARE FOUR BIG GIANT SIGNS AT QUEENS CITY PARK. YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE FROM 11:00 P.M. TO 6:00 A.M. AND LAST YEAR, SOMEONE WAS LIVING AT QUEENS CITY PARK AND DIED AND STUFF. YOU KNOW, I AM NOT SAYING IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS VIOLENCE, HE COULD'VE DIED IN HIS SLEEP. THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD DAY. APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, SIR. MR. PENA? >> GOOD EVENING.

>> WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY MANAGEMENT. MY NAME IS JOSE PENA. I AM THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE VICTORIA FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. I AM JUST HERE TO EXPRESS SOME CONCERNS FROM OUR ASSOCIATION MEMBERS. I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VICTORIA FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. WE WOULD LIKE TO

[00:20:01]

OTHER THAN THAT, WE APPRECIATE ALL YOUR TIME AND EVERYTHING YOU ALL DO FOR THE CITY. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. PENA. JENNIFER PEREZ. GOOD EVENING,

MS. PEREZ. >> GOOD EVENING.

>> MY NAME IS JENNIFER PEREZ AND I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 PROPOSED PAY PROGRAM AND THE LACK OF SUPPORT REGARDING THE CURRENT STRUCTURE AND PROPOSAL. IN THE PAST YEAR, THE CITY OF VICTORIA HAS ASSESSED TECH SPACE GREW BY 20%, SO THE CITY SHOULD HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN TOTAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. VALLEYS OF NEW AND EXISTING COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES INCREASED AT A GREATER RATE COMPARED TO RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, WHICH IS A REVERSE OF TRENDS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX VALUES AND NEW DEPARTMENT GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME FOR OUR RESIDENTS WHILE CONTINUING TO INVEST IN OUR FUTURE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THOSE SERVICES WE PROVIDE. LAST YEAR'S RATE SHOULD HAVE MARKED THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW THAT THE CITY HAS EITHER DECREASED THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OR KEPT IT THE SAME. THE CURRENT YEAR'S BUDGET RAISED MORE TOTAL PROPERTY TAXES THAN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET BY $1.4 MILLION, OR A FIVE POINT 21%. OF THAT AMOUNT, 220,000 IS TAX REVENUE TO BE RAISED BY NEW PROPERTY VALUES ADDED TO THE TAX ROLL LAST FISCAL YEAR. MY CHALLENGE TO YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA IS TO RECONSIDER OPTIONS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CITY SERVICES TO VICTORIA RESIDENTS THAT ENHANCE THE LIVABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY. I ASK YOU TO RECONSIDER POTENTIAL OVERSPENDING IN OTHER AREAS TO PROVIDE A FAIR AND MUCH-NEEDED RAISE FOR OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE, AND PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES. I TRUST YOU WILL BE PRO AT , ETHICAL, AND EFFECTIVE IN THE DAYS TO COME AS YOU SEE CREATIVE WAYS TO SHOW GRATITUDE, APPRECIATION TO OUR CURRENT EMPLOYEES THOMAS OBESITY OF VICTORIA IS SEEN AS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE NOT ONLY WANT TO RAISE THEIR FAMILIES, BUT FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. FINALLY, I HAVE KAREN ADAMSON . GOOD EVENING,

MS. ADAMSON. >> IT EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN. MY NAME IS KAREN ADAMSON. I LIVE AT 604 MASTERS DRIVE, HERE IN VICTORIA. I AM HERE THIS EVENING AS REGENT OF THE GUADALUPE VICTORIA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. ON SATURDAY, JULY 4TH, 2026, WE WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 250TH BIRTHDAY, HERE IN AMERICA. SO I AM HERE BEFORE ALL OF YOU TONIGHT TO ASK YOU TO BEGIN PLANNING, THINKING ABOUT PLANNING COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS TO CELEBRATE THAT YEAR AND THAT DAY, SO THAT WE CAN COMMEMORATE AND HONOR OUR REVOLUTIONARY PATRIOT AS WELL AS OUR AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I WILL CLOSE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. WE

[D. Consent Agenda:]

INTO THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> ITEM D ONE IS ADOPTION MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL COURT SESSION HELD ON JUNE 28, 2024 IN THE REGULAR MEETING HELD JULY 2ND, 2024. ITEM D 2 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE UNIFIED ELEMENT ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA CODE OF ORDINANCES.

[00:25:02]

>> THANK YOU. MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> IS THERE ANY WAY THE PUBLIC

-- >> I'M GETTING TO THAT, BUT I

NEED A SECOND. >> I SECOND IT.

>> A MOTION IN A SECOND. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN WALKER. EACH OF US UP HERE HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT IS CHEMICAL COST ANALYSIS THAT LISTS THE NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHEMICALS THAT THE CITY REQUIRES EVERY YEAR FOR OUR WATER SUPPLY. I WILL NOT PRETEND TO PRONOUNCE MOST OF THESE, BECAUSE I CANNOT. BUT IT SHOWS PRICE INCREASES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. RANGING FROM THE LOWEST OF WHICH I BELIEVE ON HERE INCREASED 119%.

AND I AM LOOKING, I THINK THE, YEAH, THE HIGHEST WAS 292% INCREASE. THERE WAS 281, 277, 159, 138. SO BUILDING ON MY COMMENTS FROM THE LAST MEETING THAT WE ARE SEEING INCREASES IN THESE, I THINK WE HAVE SEEN SOME HUGE INCREASES IN THESE SUPPLIES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. I AM HOPING THAT WE CAN SEE THOSE HITTING IN A MORE POSITIVE DIRECTION IN THE FUTURE. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS AT THIS POINT. ANYWAY. WITH THAT THEN, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVAL, SAY

[1. Appoint a nominee to be considered by the Victoria Central Appraisal D...]

E 1? >> ITEM E ONE IS APPOINTING A NOMINEE TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE VICTORIA CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO FILL THE VACANCY ON THE BOARD.

>> A GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND BOARD. JUNE, THE CITY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT CONCERNING THE RESIGNATION OF VICTORIA SANDOVAL FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD. SANDOVAL SERVED ON THE BOARD AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EYE AS HE. THE UNINSPIRED TERM WILL END THIS YEAR ON DECEMBER 31ST. IN THE PROCESS TO FILL A VACANCY IS OUTLINED IN THE TEXAS TAX CODE. AS A TAXING ENTITY, THE CITY IS ABLE TO SUBMIT A NAME OF A NOMINEE TO FILL THE VACANCY TO THE CHIEF APPRAISER. WITHIN 45 DAYS OF RECEIVING NOTIFICATION OF THE VACANCY. ONCE NOMINATIONS ARE ALSO PUT IN, THE APPRAISAL BOARD IS A ONE WHO VOTES ON WHO GETS TO FILL THE VACANCY. ONCE WE SUPPORT OUR NAME, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER ENTITIES THAT CHOOSE TO SUBMIT A NAME, THE BOARD WILL VOTE ON THAT. I BELIEVE IT IS FIVE DAYS YOU HAVE TO HAVE GIVEN TO THE BOARD AND THEN THEY WILL VOTE ON IT. SO JULY 24TH. IF WE HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS, I JUST NEED A NOMINATION.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? >> OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU. WITH RESPECT TO THE NOMINEE POSITION, I KNOW RECENTLY, MAYBE YESTERDAY, THE COUNTY NOMINATED MR. JOHN MICK NEIL , WHO I UNDERSTAND IS WILLING TO FILL THE POSITION. I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN EXCELLENT NOMINATION. I THROW TO THE DAIS, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD CONSIDERATION FOR US. BUT CERTAINLY WILLING TO HEAR ANY OTHER POTENTIAL NOMINEES THAT ANYONE MAY HAVE.

[00:30:01]

>> I APPRECIATE DR. MCNEIL'S WILLINGNESS. HE HAS MORE HOURS IN THE DAY THAN I DO. THEN ALL OF US.

>> AS I MENTIONED RECENTLY, IF HE IS WILLING TO DO IT, I AM WILLING TO LET HIM. SO FROM THAT STANDPOINT THEN, I GUESS WE WOULD NEED A MOTION ON A NOMINEE.

>> WELL, I MOVE TO RECOMMEND DR. MCNEIL FOR THAT POSITION.

>> SECONDED. >> A MOTION IN A SECOND ON DR.

MCNEIL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ANY

[2. Award the Tanglewood Phase I Street Reconstruction Project to Clark Co...]

AND THANK YOU. >> YES, YES.

>> ALL RIGHT. ITEM E 2. >> THIS ITEM IS THE AWARD OF THE TANGLEWOOD PHASE ONE FEET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO CLARK CONSTRUCTION OF TEXAS AND THE AMOUNT OF $7,316,069.80.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TONIGHT, WE PROPOSED TO RECOMMEND THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT FOR THE TANGLEWOOD SUBDIVISION STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WILL CONSIST OF APPROXIMATELY 49,500 SQUARE YARDS OF STREET RECONSTRUCTION. WITH 24,000 LINEAR FEET OF CURB AND GUTTER REPLACEMENT. THERE WILL BE SOME MINIMAL STORM DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS AS PART OF THIS PROJECT. THE STREETS WE ARE LOOKING TO REBUILD HERE ARE TEAKWOOD DRIVE, MAPLEWOOD DRIVE, AND TANGLEWOOD TO TEAKWOOD, SHERWOOD DRIVE, FROM TANGLEWOOD TO TEAKWOOD, BEACHWOOD DRIVE, WESTWOOD TO MAPLEWOOD, WESTWOOD DRIVE FROM SHERWOOD TO MAPLEWOOD, EITEL WOULD PLACE AND STONEWOOD PLACE. TWO BIDS OR TWO PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED. ONE FROM CLARK CONSTRUCTION OF TEXAS. BASED OUT OF SAN ANTONIO WITH A BRANCH OFFICE HERE IN VICTORIA. AND LESTER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INCORPORATED. CLARKE'S BID WAS $7,316,069.80. THE ENGINEERING STAFF RECOMMENDS AN AWARD OF CONTRACT TO CLARK CONSTRUCTION BASED UPON THE EMENDATION OF THE SCORING COMMITTEE. THIS PROJECT HAS A TIMELINE OF 365 DAYS FOR CONSTRUCTION. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THEY WILL BEGIN IN OCTOBER. THE CONTRACTS ARE PREPARED, EXECUTED, AND SUCH, THEN IT WOULD BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER OF 25. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> ANY QUESTIONS? NO? THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. AND THANK YOU. I HAD REACHED OUT JUST TO ASK ABOUT THE COMPLETION TIME ON THAT. AND I THINK THAT THE PROPOSED COMPLETION TIME, YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH AND FEEL THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE

TIMEFRAME? >> YES. ACTUALLY, I AM HOPEFUL THEY CAN COMPLETED IN LESS TIME, BUT YES. NO, I DO NOTHING

THAT IS OUT OF LINE. >> IT IS A BREAK PROJECT. OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR CONFIRMING THAT.

>> MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THIS ITEM.

>> THAT IS AN APPROPRIATE MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND?

>> SECONDED. >> A MOTION IN A SECOND ON ITEM

[1. Overview of City/County Emergency Management Operations. Rick McBrayer...]

EVENING? >> SO YOU ALLUDED TO EARLIER, WE WILL ASK NICK MCBRAYER AND JENNA MCMAHON TO COME UP AND GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HOW OUR SHARED CITY, COUNTY, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAWORKS. AND MAYBE A LITTLE INSIGHT INTO SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES WE ARE INVOLVED IN.

>> THANK YOU. MR. MCBRAYER, WELCOME. THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT. CAN WE GO TO THE NEXT LIGHT? HE WAS CONTROLLING ME SLIDES? A CLICKER IS HERE ? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRAISES EARLIER IN THE RECOMMENDATION OF HOW MUCH HARD WORK WAS GOING ON DURING HURRICANE BERYL. WITHOUT THE SURROUNDING PEOPLE APPEAR ON THE SCREEN, WE COULD NOT DO IT AT ALL. THE TEAM THAT WE HAVE, VICTORIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING TEAMS I HAVE EVER BEEN AROUND. I WILL TURN OVER TO THE DEPUTY MANAGER JUST A FEW MINUTES. ALEX WHO IS ART COORDINATOR, AND JESSICA, WHO BASICALLY KEEPS US GROUNDED AND ROOTED WITHIN OUR OFFICE. WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER AND ASSISTANCE TO THE CITY MANAGER, WE ARE ASKING TO

[00:35:01]

SPECIFICALLY, WE COORDINATE. THERE ARE SOME VERY SPECIFIC LAWS THAT INDICATE WHY WE HAVE TWO -- FIVE, SEVEN, AND EIGHT.

THEY GIVE US THE AUTHORITY TO DO WHAT WE DO. WAY BACK FROM THE DAYS OF CIVIL DEFENSE DAYS, WHERE RISK MANAGEMENT WAS BORN OUT OF, WE PULL ALL OF THESE BODIES TOGETHER, YOU SHALL DO CERTAIN THINGS. COMING FROM BEING A FORMER POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, IT IS VASTLY DIFFERENT THAN BEING A POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. LAWS ARE SIMILAR AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT CHANGE. SO HOW WE COORDINATE AND HOW WE COMMUNICATE AMONGST OURSELVES, THESE PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVES DROVE OUT OF THE VERY SPECIFIC EVENT AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR CORE KNITTING BODIES ARE OUT THERE IN THE RESPONSE AGENCIES ARE THERE TO DO THE JOB AND CAN DO THEM EFFECTIVELY TOGETHER. THESE LAWS INDICATE TO US, WE SHALL GET THESE THINGS DONE. WE HAVE GROWN OUT OF THAT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT IS A BIG SLIDE, SO I WILL NOT SIT HERE AND READ EVERY WORD ON IT, BUT AUTHORITIES COME DOWN FROM THE ROBERT T. STAFFORD ACT. THAT GIVES FEMA THE ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOB. BELOW THAT IS THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 4.18. IT REALLY OUTLINES WHAT WE DO. HE GIVES THE AUTHORITY DURING A MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION OR EMERGENCY TO THE COUNTY JUDGE AND ALSO THE MAYOR. IT SETS FORTH A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. EITHER AFFECTING MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE TO THE PROCUREMENT AND CUSTODY OF PRIVATE PROPERTY , WHICH WE ARE NOT GOING TO. AND WE WOULD NEVER SUGGEST THAT. IT ALSO HELPS US IDENTIFY THE OPERATIONS PLAN. PARTS FOR THE FOUNDATION OF OUR BUSINESS AND WE WORK WITH DOING THAT ORIGINAL DAY. WE HAVE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLANS, IT IS HUNDREDS OF PAGES LONG, AND MANY PRACTITIONERS BEHIND US SIGN OFF ON THOSE EVERY 4 TO 5 YEARS. THEY HAVE TO GO IN AND REVIEW THOSE ANNEXES AND SAY, YES, THIS IS HOW WE WILL DO OUR GENERAL BUSINESS GUIDELINES. SO WHO DO WE REPORT TO? OBVIOUSLY, WE FALL TO THE COUNTY JUDGE AND THE MAYOR THEMSELVES WITH THE HEAVY HAND BEING ADDED IN BY THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM. WE HAVE A BUDGET BETWEEN THE TWO. IT IS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IT GETS SUPERVISED WITH CITY FINANCE AND ULTIMATELY COMES TO YOU FOLKS FOR YOUR APPROVAL. SO WE GET OUR DAY IN AND DAY OUT DIRECTION FROM THE CITY MANAGER, CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM AS WELL AS THE COUNTY JUDGE ON THE MAYOR THEMSELVES. MOST OF THE TIME, OUR JOKE IS THAT YOU NORMALLY DO NOT YES UNLESS IT HAS GOTTEN BAD. SO LET'S HOPEFULLY NOT RUN INTO EACH OTHER TOO OFTEN. SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JENNA FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES AND THEN I WILL COME BACK TO GET INTO THE HURRICANE STUFF.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. SO KIND OF ALLUDING TO WHAT RICK WAS TALKING ABOUT AND HOW WE CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, ESPECIALLY BEING IN THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCE OF BEING IN THE COUNTY AND CITY JOINT OFFICE, IT IS WHAT THIS TRAFFIC IS DEPICTING. EVERYTHING IS COLLABORATIVE. AND I WILL TOUCH ON THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN SOME FUTURE SLIDES AS WELL. BUT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO IS COMPREHENSIVE. SO WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT THOSE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES WHENEVER WE ARE GOING INTO THINGS LIKE RESPONDING TO OR PREPARING FOR HURRICANE BERYL OR ANY OF THE OTHER NATURAL, MAN-MADE, TECHNOLOGICAL HAZARDS THAT WE MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO. SO LOOKING AT THAT, WE REALLY TAKE THAT COMPREHENSIVE COLLABORATION WHEN WE ARE IN THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER CAN SURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING AS A TEAM, AND MAKING SURE THAT THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION REMAIN OPEN, THAT WE ARE SHARING INFORMATION EARLY AND OFTEN, WE ARE MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS EBBING AND FLOWING TOGETHER AS WE ARE GOING THROUGH THESE PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS OF RESPONSE AND OBVIOUSLY INTO A RECOVERY PHASE. SO AS I MENTIONED, IT IS THROUGH THAT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, WE TRY TO TAKE A DECENTRALIZED EMERGENCY

[00:40:01]

AND OF COURSE, THE CODE OF CONDUCT, MAKING SURE TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND THOSE PROPER CHANNELS WHEN IT COMES TO THE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS OR TOPICS. THE BIGGEST THING FOR US, WE ALWAYS KNOW, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO OUTRUN SOCIAL MEDIA. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OUTRUN THE COMMUNICATION THAT PEOPLE HAVE. WE ARE ALL INHERENTLY GOOD AT COMMUNICATING, FOR THE MOST PART. BUT MAKING SURE TO SHARE THAT OFFICIAL PUBLIC INFORMATION, I KNOW WE HAD A VERY ROBUST AND STRONG PUBLIC INFORMATION TEAM WORKING THROUGH THAT PREPARATION FOR HURRICANE BERYL, AND MAKING SURE THE INFORMATION THAT WE ARE GETTING AS WE GO THROUGH THOSE PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS, OR EVEN INTO POTENTIAL RESPONSE, THAT WE ARE SHARING OFFICIAL INFORMATION. IF IT IS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, OR WHOEVER IT MAY BE, TO MAKE SURE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION REGULARLY. KNOWING THAT YOU ALL HAVE A VERY STRONG PLATFORM TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION. AND AS WE ARE GOING TO THOSE RESPONSES, THAT IS ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PIECES, IS PUBLIC INFORMATION.

I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO RICK.

>> VERY BRIEFLY, MENTIONED ABOUT THE EFFECTS THAT WE HAVE COME I THINK MANY OF YOU PROBABLY SAW US DURING COVID.

USING THE EVENT, WE HAVE PROBABLY BEEN THERE. COVID, FLOODING, SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA, OUR WHOLE PROCESS IS TO BRING THE BODIES TOGETHER, PUT THEM IN ONE ROOM COMMENTS OR TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE IT. WE ALSO THEN STARTED REACHING OUT TO OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, VERY UNIQUE EXTERNAL PARTNERS WE HAVE OUT THERE FROM UTILITY COMPANIES ONLY DOWN TO FORESTRY SERVICES. WE NOTE JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT EVERYTHING, SO THAT IS WHAT WE DO. WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERSHIPS. ONCE AGAIN, YOU SAW DURING THE HURRICANE MOTHER THERE WAS A LOT OF RESPONSE AGENCIES IN THERE. WE PROBABLY STILL MISSED A FEW. WE WILL GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT AND SAY, HOW DO WE CORRECT THOSE ACTIONS? SO ONCE AGAIN, THE TEAM THAT IS AROUND US DOES A FANTASTIC JOB. AS YOU CAN SEE, I WILL NEVER TAKE THE LIMELIGHT FOR IT, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TEAM IS RECOGNIZED FOR THE HARD WORK THEY HAVE DONE. ONE THING WE DID WANT TO TALK ABOUT WAS HURRICANE 2024 SEASON. SO I KNOW THE NEXT SLIDE OVER, WE ARE IN THE HURRICANE SEASON, WE HAVE BEEN SHOWING PREDICTIONS FROM THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY DOWN TO THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, WE WILL BE

[00:45:01]

REMINDING OURSELVES IT WAS AN IMPACT CATEGORY 4 FOR ROCK PORT. THERE WERE SOME POCKETED AREAS. BUT THE LAST MAJOR HURRICANE WE HAD WAS 1961 HURRICANE CARLA. SO IN THE DESTRUCTION AND DEVASTATION THAT BROUGHT, WE HAVE TO REMIND OURSELVES, BUT HERE IS HURRICANE BERYL. IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT FORECASTING TO TRACK AS YOU CAN SEE. I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR AND THE PRO TEM WERE THERE. BY FRIDAY, THURSDAY AFTERNOON, FRIDAY, FOLKS WERE THERE. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFICULTY WE HAD FIGURING OUT WHERE THIS THING WOULD GO. WE STARTED WATCHING THE FORECAST WHICH IS THE PROBABILITY OF THE AREA, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT NORTHERN MEXICO, SOUTHERN TEXAS. AS IT STARTS TO SHIFT, THAT BRINGS A LOT OF RESPONSE COMPONENTS TO US, AND SOME HEAVY DECISIONS HAD TO BE MADE BY THE POLICY TEAM, WHICH IS THE MAYOR, CITY MANAGER, AND THE JUDGE. SO THEY HAD TO MAKE SOME UNIQUE DECISIONS BASED UPON THE INFORMATION RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE INFORMATION. AND THOSE DECISIONS FOR THE COMMAND STAFF, PUBLIC HEALTH, PUBLIC WORKS , WE HAVE TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REACT TO THE DECISIONS THEY ARE ASKING US TO MAKE. AND TRY TO COORDINATE THOSE BODIES. AS YOU CAN SEE, WITH THE HURRICANE THERE, ON WEDNESDAY, WE WERE LOOKING SOUTH TEXAS, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU FAST FORWARD TO SUNDAY AND IT IS ALMOST ON TOP OF US. THE NEXT SLIDE OVER IS IMPORTANT. THERE IS THE OFFICIAL TRACK OF IT AFTER THE HURRICANE. BUT THE ONE ON THE RIGHT IS 1:15 IN THE MORNING. ON THE WEE HOURS OF JEN AND I TRYING TO GRAB SLEEP HERE AND THERE, WE WENT IN AND TALK TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. I SAID, CAN YOU GRAB ME A PHOTO OF WHAT HURRICANE BERYL LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW? GIVE ME THE UNDERSTANDING OF IF IT WAS TO SHIFT BACK TO THE WEST, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO US. AND SO THEN THE INDICATOR WAS 15 MILES. 15 MILES WOULD HAVE PUT US INTO WIND SPEEDS OF 75 OR GREATER. I WILL SAY THIS FIGURE HERE, LIKE TECH CENTER, 10.5 INCHES IN FOUR HOURS. SO WE COULD HAVE HAD QUITE A BIT OF RAIN AND A LOT OF WIND ON US WITHIN JUST A 15 MILE SHIFT. I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE PERSON CRYING WOLF, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT OUR PARTNERS TO THE EAST RECEIVED, WE WERE SPARED BY JUST 15 MILES. SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE CORRECTION CENTER IN HOUSTON, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LOST POWER FOR 5 TO 7 DAYS. WE WOULD BE IN THE SAME SITUATION. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN VICTORIA, BUT THAT IMPACT COULD HAVE BEEN HERE. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND IT ONLY TAKES ONE.

TRUCK MODELING IS IMPORTANT FOR US AND WE HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED TO US. THE MAYOR, MAYOR PRO TEM, AND THE JUDGE ALL DID FANTASTIC JOBS. THEY HAD TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE. WE WORKED WELL WITH COMMAND SEVEN POLICYMAKERS TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SO BASICALLY, WHAT WE COME DOWN TO IS WHAT WE TALKED TO WITH CITY REPS. GETTING ALL INFORMATION IN ONE AREA SO EVERYONE CAN SEE WHAT EVERYBODY IS DOING. IT IS SO DIFFICULT WITH SO MANY MOVING PARTS. THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS I GET ASKED. HOW DO WE OPERATE SAFE ROOMS? WHERE DO WE GET ROOMS FOR SAFE ROOMS? HOW DO WE GET TRANSPORTATION? I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF ALL THE TIME, JENNA AND I HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK MANY TIMES AND SAY THERE ARE PEOPLE BEHIND US DOING THOSE JOBS. THEIR SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS THAT WHAT THEY DO AND WE WILL ALLOW THEM TO DO IT. THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THE LUXURY AND LATITUDE TO DO JUST THAT. THE CITY MANAGER, THE MAYOR, THE JUDGE, ALL OF YOU FOLKS DO A GREAT JOB IN ALLOWING US TO MOVE FORWARD. WHEN WE ARE WRONG, WE SIT DOWN TO TALK ABOUT IT. BUT THE CORONATION WE HAVE GOING UP TO THIS POINT IS CRUCIAL FOR US TO MAKE SURE WE ARE EXCHANGING INFORMATION. SO ALL OF THAT DRIVES WHAT WE DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. I WILL TURN IT BACK OVER TO JENNIFER FOR A COUPLE

OF MINUTES. >> AS I HAVE ON THE SLIDE HERE, OUR OFFICE, WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION FROM EITHER FEMA OR

[00:50:01]

>> ONCE AGAIN, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR HAD MENTIONED EARLIER. ALL THE CITY STAFF YOU ARE SEEING OUT HERE, FANTASTIC JOB. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY IN A MODE OF COORDINATING WEIRD WE CANNOT DO THE THINGS WE DO WITHOUT EVERYBODY'S PARTNERSHIP AND ABILITY TO BE SITTING AT THE TABLE TO SAY, ARE WE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS? SO THAT WAS GOING TO BE THE END OF OUR REPORT. I THINK NOBODY ELSE HAS THIS, IF YOU DON'T, SCAN ME OR SCAN JENNA. HERE'S CONTACT INFORMATION. FEEL FREE TO GIVE US A CALL. WE ARE USUALLY UP MOST OF THE TIME, 24 HOURS AROUND THE CLOCK. BUT IF NOT, FEEL FREE TO GIVE US A

TEXT. ANY QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

>> ABSOLUTELY. AGAIN, YOU AND YOUR TEAM DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> WE WILL CONTINUE DOING IT.

THANKS. >> THANK YOU.

>> THE ONLY THING I WILL ADD TO THIS PRESENTATION IS THEY DO OPERATE ONE OF THE BEST, WELL ORGANIZED OPERATION CENTERS AND OFFICES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE STATE AND ACROSS THE CITIES THAT I HAVE SEEN. ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS, YOU GET TO SEE A LOT OF THE COOL STUFF THEY DO DURING A DISASTER. BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE MENTIONED ALSO, THEY SPENT A LOT OF THEIR TIME THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ENSURING THAT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING. THEY MENTIONED THE ICS SYSTEM, AND MAKING SURE WE UPDATE OUR HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS. THEY HELP US NAVIGATE THE FUNDING CAN ISMS THAT REIMBURSE US WHEN WE HAVE TO RESPOND TO DISASTERS. AND THEY DO THAT WHEN WE ARE NOT IN A DISASTER. AND SO THE VALUE THESE FOLKS ADD TO OUR CITY IS TREMENDOUS.

[2. Overview of Annual City of Victoria HOT Funds Awards Program. Joel Nov...]

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR.

>> THINK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. SO NEXT, WE WILL TALK

[00:55:04]

FANTASTIC ACTIVITIES. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR H.O.T. FUNDS AWARD PROGRAM. THIS IS BEEN A TOPIC WE HAVE BROUGHT TO COUNSEL A COUPLE OF TIMES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. I AM HAPPY TO SAY THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. IT WILL BE MORE OF AN EDUCATIONAL THING THAT THE PROGRAM IS TO CONTINUING AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS TO EXPLAIN HOW WE ACCEPT APPLICATIONS IN WHAT THE CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IS. SO JUST SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT H.O.T. FUNDS. SINCE FOR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. AND HOTEL ROOM STAYS IN VICTORIA ARE ASSESSED AT A 13% TAX, 6% OF THAT GOES TO THE DATE, 7% GOES TO THE CITY. PER STATE LAW, THEY CAN ONLY BE USED TO PROMOTE TOURISM IN THE CITY. AND THE VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL DETERMINES HOW MUCH TO ALLOT EACH YEAR. THE CALCULATIONS ARE DONE BY MYSELF AND THE SUBCOMMITTEE. WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MINUTE. ULTIMATELY, THE POWER LIES WITH YOU GUYS ABOUT HOW MUCH WE ARE TO A LOT IN TOTAL AND TO THE RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS. WHEN I MENTIONED IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR TOURISM, STATE LAW ACTUALLY OUTLINED THAT IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. SOME OF THESE ARE APPLICABLE TO THE H.O.T. FUNDS AWARDEES, SOME OF THEM, SOME OF THESE ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO OUR HOT FUND AWARDEES. ONE OF THOSE IS CONVENTION CENTERS AND VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS. FOR INSTANCE, H.O.T. FUNDS BEING USED FOR THE VISITOR CENTER, EXPENSES RELATED TO CONVENTION AND MEETINGS. EVERY NOW AND THEN, WE HAVE AN APPLICANT WHO APPLIES UNDER THIS PROVISION, ADVERTISING SOLICITATIONS AND PROMOTIONS. THAT IS ANOTHER ONE. THE NEXT THREE ARE VERY CRUCIAL BECAUSE THESE ARE THE MEAT OF OUR APPLICANTS AND AWARDEES. PROMOTION OF THE ARTS, HISTORICAL RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION, AND ESPECIALLY SPORTING EVENT EXPENSES. THAT IS A GROWING ONE AND A VERY SUCCESSFUL ONE IN TERMS OF REGENERATION. LAST ONE IS DIRECTIONAL SIGNS. AWARDEES APPLY UNDER THAT PEER THAT CAN REFER TO THINGS LIKE WAYFINDING SIGNS, GAIT FINDING FIND -- GAIT FINDING SIGNS. IN THE LAST ONE IS TRANSPORTATION OF TAURUS. WHICH IS A REALLY FUNNY ONE. BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY IS VERY SPECIFIC IN LANGUAGE IN SAYING THAT THE ROUTE THAT THE TRANSPORTATION HAS MUST INCLUDE A HOTEL. IT IS A REALLY WEIRD ONE. IT IS VERY SPECIFIC. JUST SOME THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE I BREAK DOWN THE PROCESS. OUR SUBCOMMITTEE IS COMPRISED OF BOARD ADVISORY MEMBERS. I THINK THIS IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT WITH THE WAY THE PROGRAM IS TO BE DONE A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN THE AD HOC H.O.T. FUNDS COMMITTEE WAS APPOINTED EVERY SUMMER.

THESE ARE IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY IN SOME CAPACITY, OUR TOURISM ADVISORY BOARD IS BROKEN DOWN INTO 13 SPOTS EVERYBODY ON THEIR IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE INDUSTRY.

THOSE FOLKS WHO DO NOT APPLY FOR H.O.T. FUNDS ON OUR SUBCOMMITTEE ALMOST ALWAYS INCLUDE HOTELIERS, WHICH ARE THREE POSITIONS ON OUR SUBCOMMITTEE BOARD, WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AND USUALLY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT IS NOT THE FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE BOARD REPRESENTING ARTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THEY USUALLY ARE APPLYING FOR HOT FUNDS. THE APPLICATION THROUGH DOCUMENTATION THAT THE ORGANIZATIONS WILL SUBMIT TO THE CURRENT TIME PERIOD , ONE THING TO NOTE FOR THE HOT FUNDS, WHEN AMOUNTS ARE IMPROVED, THEY DO NOT GET TO CUT A CHECK RIGHT AWAY. THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR EVENT AND SUBMIT THEIR DOCUMENTATION. THAT IS VERY INTENTIONAL BECAUSE IF SOMEBODY DECIDES TO NOT HAVE THEIR EVENT AND WE HAVE CUT THEM A CHECK ALREADY, WE WOULD HAVE TO TRY TO GET THAT MONEY BACK. RIGHT? IF THEY TELL US, WE ALREADY SPENT IT, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO? ONE THING WE MAKE CLEAR IN OUR WORKSHOPS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE AWARDED HOT FUNDS DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE GETTING A CHECK ON OCTOBER 1ST.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE POTENTIAL SOLVENCY TO HAVE IN THE UPCOMING AWARD PERIOD A BIT ABOUT THE SCHEDULE IS BREAKING DOWN FOR THE PROGRAM. PRETTY FAST AND FEARS INCH AND WE START COMMUNICATE WITH POTENTIAL APPLICANTS. FOLKS WHO HAVE APPLIED BEFORE AND AWARDED , THE APPLICATION IS OPEN UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH. WE HAVE FOUR WORKSHOPS WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CHANGE. THE LAST IS ON THE 22ND. WE MAY ADD ANOTHER BECAUSE WE HAD TO CANCEL ONE ON THE EIGHTH WHEN THE HURRICANE

[01:00:01]

DOCUMENT COMPLIANCE, TURNING IN ALL THE FORMS, EVERYTHING THEY NEED. CREDIBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY SO THE BUDGET NEEDS TO BE PROFESSIONAL NOT SOME SCRIBBLE TO DOWN NUMBERS ON A PIECE OF PAPER. AS WELL AS WHAT THEY HIGHLIGHT IN THE BUDGET FOR REIMBURSEMENT NEEDS TO EQUAL WHAT THEY ASK FOR. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM ASKING FOR $10,000 AND THEY HIGHLIGHT 5000 WORTH OF EXPENSES. IT SHOWS THEY ARE TAKING TIME TO GO THROUGH THE DOCUMENTATION AND SHOWING US WHAT IT WILL USE THE MONEY ON. LAST IS UTILIZATION OF PRIOR AWARD.

WITH THE NEW PROGRAM THIS IS NOT SO MUCH OF A CONCERN BUT IN THE PAST WE WOULD HAVE AWARDEES WHO DID NOT DO THE EVENT OR DID NOT TURN IN THE DOCUMENTATION BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO PUT IT TOGETHER. THE THING ABOUT THE HOT FUNDS PROGRAM IS WHEN THE AWARDEE DOES NOT TO THE EVENT OR TURN IN THE REPORT

[01:05:05]

THESE FOLKS COULD BE NONPROFIT OR FOR-PROFIT, ABLE TO PROVE OF THAT 65% OF THE 135,000 , 70% WAS EVENLY DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN THE GROUPS AND 30% OF THAT WAS THE STUPID IT BASED ON ROOM NIGHTS AND THE LIMITING FACTOR IS ONLY THE TOP 10 ROOM NIGHT GENERATORS ARE ELIGIBLE. THERE WERE A FEW APPLICANTS NOT AWARDED LAST YEAR. THAT WAS TOUGH, A FEW FOLKS WHO HAD BEEN AWARDED BEFORE YEARS PRIOR , BUT THIS REALLY AWARDED OR REWARDED THE PEOPLE IN GROUPS WHO PRODUCED THE ROOM NIGHTS.

AND GROUP 2. AS WE WERE DEVELOPING THE PROGRAM ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANTED TO ACCOUNT FOR WAS GROUPS LIKE ARTS AND HISTORIC RESERVATION AND CULTURAL GROUPS PERHAPS THEY DON'T PRODUCE AS MUCH IN ROOM NIGHTS BUT THEY ARE HERE YEAR-ROUND DOING EXHIBITS AND EVENTS. A GOLF TOURNAMENT IS GREAT FOR ECONOMIC IMPACT, BUT THEY ARE HERE THREE OR FOUR DAYS AND OF COURSE A GOLF TOURNAMENT WILL HAVE MORE ROOM NIGHTS. SO WE CARVED OUT A PIECE IN THE PROGRAM FOR THESE GROUPS AS WELL. THERE IS SOME LIMITING FACTORS THAT MAKE IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT. THEY HAVE TO BE A REGISTERED NONPROFIT, ORGANIZATION WHOSE GOAL IS TO ARTS OR PRESERVATION. MINIMUM OF TWO EXHIBITS OR OPERATE ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. THEY HAVE TO BE OF THE PROVE ROOM NIGHTS FOR THE MOST RECENT EVENT OR SEASON. AND AGAIN LIKE WITH GROUP 1, 70% OF THE 35% OF THE 135,000 WAS EVENLY DISTRIBUTED BY ALL OF THEM HITTING THOSE MARKERS. AND 30% OF THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED BASED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE SHARE OF THE ROOM NIGHTS. SO IN SHORT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL LAST YEAR. AWARDEES WERE REDUCED FROM 27 TO 17. THE AVERAGE AWARD AMOUNT GROUP ONE WAS 8775 THE AVERAGE AWARD OF A GROUP 2 WAS 6750. THE AMOUNT MUCH BETTER MORE HELPFUL. THESE AWARDEES HAVE PROVEN ROOM NIGHTS SO WE WILL NOT RUN INTO THE THE ISSUE OF THEM BEING AN AWARDEE COMING UP WITH A NEW EVENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND LO AND BEHOLD THEY DON'T PRODUCE ROOM NIGHTS. IT STILL CARVES OUT A LITTLE SPACE FOR THE ARTS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION WHILE REWARDING A PORTION OF THE APPROPRIATE LEE THE FOLKS WHO ARE PRODUCING THE MOST ROOM NIGHTS. SOME THINGS THAT WERE PART OF THE PROGRAM

[01:10:03]

AWARDEES ARE PAID IN FUNDS AFTER THE SEASON OR EVENT AND THE POSTEVENT REPORT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED AND APPROVED WITH A SYSTEM OF CHECKS. I LOOK AT IT, FINANCE APPROVES EVERYBODY IS IN AGREEMENT AND THE PROCESS THE PAPERWORK TO THE PAYMENT.

SO WHAT WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE CURRENT SEASON IS TO NOT SINCE THE PROGRAM. VERY SUCCESSFUL, THE FEEDBACK WE GET IS EVERYONE LIKES IT, THEY LIKE THE OBJECTIVE SCORING AND IT MAKES THE PROCESS PAINLESS FOR COUNCIL WHEN IT'S TIME TO APPROVE AND THERE'S NOT A STREAM OF PEOPLE COMING UP TO TALK ABOUT IT, IT IS VERY OBJECTIVE AND A VERY FAIR PROCESS. WE APPRECIATE YOUR GUIDANCE AS WE DEVELOPED IT. IT IS SOMETHING I AM PROUD OF FOR THE DEPARTMENT AND I THINK IT IS A GREAT THING FOR ALL PARTNERS. I CAN ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW. >> I WOULD JUST SAY THAT YOU KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE TWEAKED THOSE CRITERIA AND THE PROGRAM AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN FOR THE BETTER. I THINK IT IS A BETTER PROGRAM WE HAVE HAD AND APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU ALL PUT IN ON IT. I THINK YOU HAVE IMPROVED THE PROCESS WITHOUT A DOUBT.

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT, THANK YOU FOR DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU, APPRECIATE YOU.

[3. FY 2025 Proposed Pay Program Overview. Darrek Ferrell, Assistant City ...]

>> WELL REAL QUICKLY I'M GOING THROUGH THE PAY PROGRAM. HERE IS SORT OF MY DISCLAIMER ON THIS. YOU HAVE HEARD IT ALL, THERE'S ONE PIECE OF INFORMATION IN THE ENTIRE PRESENTATION YOU HAVE NOT HEARD YET AND IT IS THE 75% OPTION YOU ASKED FOR LAST MEETING. SO I'M NOT GOING TO PROVIDE ANYTHING NEW. I'M GOING TO SORT OF LAY OUT AND RECAP WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GO TO DISCUSSION WHERE YOU HELP US DECIDE WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON AUGUST 6. REAL QUICKLY WANT TO REESTABLISH THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES WE FACE WE KNOW ABOUT INFLATION WITH THE PRICES OF EVERYTHING GOING UP JUST ASK THE GUYS AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. OR EVERYONE OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WHO HAD TO BUDGET A SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTION THIS YEAR. OR ANYTHING WE HAVE BUILT AND HAVE TO MAINTAIN. WE HAVE SEEN PRICES GO UP. THE CHALLENGE IS HOW DO YOU CONTINUE PROVIDING THE SAME SERVICES WHEN THE PRICES GO UP AND RAISING SALARIES TO REACH COMPETITIVE LEVEL AT THE SAME TIME? KNOWING THAT FOR THINGS WITH INFLATION THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR US WITH INFLATION ASIDE FROM THE EXPENSE SIDE IS ON THE REVENUE SIDE. WHEN THE COST OF MILK, EGGS, FOOD GOES UP THOSE THINGS ARE NOT CHARGED SALES TAX BUT IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF DISPOSABLE INCOME IN THE COMMUNITY THAT CAN THEN BE USED FOR SALES TAX. THAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH INFLATION ON THE REVENUE SIDE.

INTEREST RATES HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE HOUSING MARKET AND PROPERTY VALUES. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO COULD BUY A $300,000 HOUSE FIVE YEARS AGO IS DRAMATICALLY LOWER OR WAS DRAMATICALLY HIGHER THAN IT IS TODAY. AT 3% INTEREST RATE THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN 7% AND SUPPLY AND DEMAND SAYS WHEN THERE IS LESS DEMAND FOR THE PRODUCT THE

[01:15:01]

THAT'S NOT THE CASE WHEN WE ARE SELF-INSURED. SO THE SELF-INSURED TITLE IMPLIES MORE CONTROL THAN WHAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE. SO WHAT WE DID, WE WORKED WITH A NEW BENEFITS ADMINISTRATOR WE PROCURED IN 2020 TO IMPROVE OUR BENEFITS PROGRAM. WE ENTERED A CONTRACT WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD AND WE MADE CHANGES. NOW SINCE 2020 WE HAVE MADE THOSE CHANGES, IT IS NOT THE CASE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASES TO THE COST OF BENEFITS. IT IS THE CASE THE EMPLOYEES HAVE NOT SEEN INCREASES THE COST OF THOSE BENEFITS. THE CITY HAS EATEN THE COSTS EVERY YEAR THEY HAD THEM. AND AGAIN BEING SELF-INSURED, THE CITY IS COVERING THOSE COSTS FROM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD AND THE OTHER PROVIDERS ARE GIVING US , OTHER PROVIDERS DELTA DENTAL, VISION, OTHER INSURANCE PACKAGES THAT WE OFFER. NOW, THAT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW BECAUSE IN 2025 OUR CONTRACT THAT WE NEGOTIATED IN 2020 WILL END WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD. AS WE'VE SEEN WITH THEIR CONTRACT AND EVERY OTHER SERVICE THAT WE DO WE WOULD ANTICIPATE THE PRICE OF THE CONTRACT TO GO UP. WHILE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND WE ARE UNDER THE CURRENT CONTRACT WITH FAVORABLE

[01:20:01]

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE WAY ONE COVERS THE FAMILY VERSUS NOT, ONE IS MORE INDIVIDUAL WHERE THE FAMILY HAS TO HIT THE DEDUCTIBLE BEFORE IT STARTS TO PAY OUT AND THE OTHER IS WHERE FAMILY MEMBERS COLLECTIVELY ARRIVE AT THE DEDUCTIBLE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025 IT IS OUR INTENTION TO OFFER A THIRD PLAN THAT IS MORE TRADITIONAL THAN A EXCLUSIVE PROVIDER OPTION AND IT WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE FOR EMPLOYEE PREMIUMS AND CITY PREMIUMS. BUT IT IS NOT AS SUBSTANTIAL OF AN INCREASE AS WE WOULD EXPECT BUT IT DOES OFFER MORE TRADITIONAL CO-PAYS SO EMPLOYEES RECEIVE THAT INFORMATION AS WE PREPARE FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT THE SAME WAY WE DO WITH BENEFITS THIS YEAR. WE WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TIME WHILE WE ARE UNDER BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD CONTRACT WE HAVE HAD FOR A WHILE TO BE ABLE TO UPDATE OPTIONS AND PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN. IS NOT FOR EVERYONE SOME PEOPLE INSIDE THE PREMIUMS ARE NOT WITH IT AND SOME PEOPLE DECIDE THE MORE TRADITIONAL COVERAGE IS WORTH THE INCREASING PREMIUMS. I WANT TO BRING IT UP BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TALK THROUGH WHAT PLANS ARE FOR ADDRESSING HEALTH BENEFITS AND OTHER THINGS. THAT LEAVES THE TWO OTHER COMPONENTS WE HAVE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING WITH THE EMPLOYEES. WAGES AND RETIREMENT. WE DID THE 2024 COMPENSATION STUDY UPDATE TO THE 2020 STUDY. WE EXPANDED THE LIST OF CITIES FROM THE 2020 COMPENSATION STUDY. INCLUDING SEVERAL BROUGHT TO US BY SOME OF THE ASSOCIATIONS, POLICE AND FIRE. IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE CITIES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BAY CITY ON THE LIST IS GROWING FASTER THAN WE ARE. THEY HAVE A TAX BASE BENEFITING FROM THAT NEW CONSTRUCTION PIECE I MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO WHERE THEY GET THE FULLTEXT VALUE. THEY ARE NOT CAPPED AT 3.5% CONSTRUCTION SO THE GROWTH OF THOSE CITIES IS IMPORTANT IN THAT WE WILL NOT KEEP UP WITH THEIR ABILITY TO PAY THE WAGES THEY ARE PAYING WHICH IS WHY WE'RE AIMING FOR THE 90% OF MARKET RATE AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO MEET THE MARKET. THE OTHER THING WORTH NOTING IS VICTORIA COUNTY IS ADDED ON THE LIST. WE ADDED VICTORIA COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST SEVERAL POLICE OFFICERS THROUGH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. WORTH NOTING THEY RECEIVE 1/3 OF THE CALLS THAT OUR OFFICERS RECEIVE AND IN THE LAST YEAR THEY RECEIVED A GRANT FROM THE STATE TO INCREASE THE WAGES OF THEIR DEPUTIES. SO ESSENTIALLY VICTORIA COUNTY DEPUTIES ARE BEING PAID TO DO LESS. BEING PAID MORE TO DO LESS. THAT'S WORTH NOTING IN COMPENSATION STUDIES. THIS STUDY EVALUATED 159 POSITIONS, WITH THAT MEANS IS 159 POSITIONS AND WE FOUND ONLY 20 OF THEM FALL INSIDE OF WHAT WE CONSIDER DEFINITION OF COMPETITIVE. THE PLAN TO BRING EVERYONE UP TO 90% OF MARKET REQUIRES A $3.2 MILLION CASH INFUSION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. TWO FISCAL YEARS. THERE IS A FUNDING STRATEGY LAID OUT. ONE IS TO DEFINITELY FREEZE 10 VACANT POSITIONS. WE SHOW YOU THE CHART LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

WE SHOWED PUBLIC WORKS , THE GROUP THAT STRUGGLES THE MOST WITH TURNOVER AND SIMILAR POSITIONS WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FILL. FREEZING THOSE POSITIONS MAY ALLOW OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS. WE WILL DECREASE ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES IN FISCAL YEAR 25. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE NOTE DECREASING ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES FISCAL YEAR 2025 IS NOT A SOLUTION TO RECURRING SALARY EXPENSES. IT IS A STRATEGY FOR THE COMING YEAR. IN ORDER TO ALLOW US THE CHANCE TO PROCEED GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AND FIND WHAT MAY COME IN FISCAL YEAR 26. IT IS A ONE-TIME STRATEGY THAT WE CAN EMPLOY THIS YEAR SO THERE ARE A

[01:25:01]

WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY BUDGETED CONSERVATIVELY SALES TAX REVENUES AND WE COME IN WAY OVER IN THAT CATEGORY. WE ARE GOING TO GET A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE LINE THIS YEAR. BECAUSE OF ALL THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH DISPOSABLE INCOME. BEFORE I JUMP INTO WHAT THE OPTIONS LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. SO, THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL , WE TALKED ABOUT $3.2 MILLION NEED WOULD BE THAT WE ADDED 5% ACROSS THE BOARD RACE TO POLICE AND FIRE , FOLKS IN THE STEP PROGRAM. THAT WILL ALSO HONOR THE 1.5% STEP IF APPLICABLE. POLICE AND FIRE ACHIEVE A NEW STEP EVERY TWO YEARS OF SERVICE OR IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE POLICE OR FIREMEN ON THE STEP THIS YEAR YOU WOULD RECEIVE 5% PLUS A STEP. AND THEN TO ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES WE WOULD GIVE PERCENT ACROSS THE BOARD. IMPORTANTLY, AS A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, IT DOES NOT LOOK OR HAVE THE RIGHT FEEL WHEN WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES. SO WE ARE WORKING TO BRING MINIMUM WAGE ABOVE THE THRESHOLD. SO ESTABLISHING A $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE FOR THE CITY IS AN IMPORTANT STEP THIS YEAR. WE WOULD EXPLORE NEW CERTIFICATION PAY FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FOLKS AS THEY HAVE CDL'S AND OTHER LICENSES AS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH OUR OPERATORS BUT WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR THAT ACCOUNT SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS. GOING FORWARD INTO NEXT YEAR, NEXT YEAR WOULD BE THE FISCAL YEAR 26 WHERE WE WOULD ACHIEVE THAT 90% OF MARKET AND THAT'S ANOTHER ONE ALMOST $1.5 MILLION FOR SOME OF THE SAME MARKET ADJUSTMENT THAT WILL GO TO EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION BY POSITION. SO THAT PROPOSE FUNDING STRATEGY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS DOES REQUIRE THE REDUCTIONS OF THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT FROM 100% TO 50%. REMEMBER THIS IS NOT A CHANGE TO THE TWO TO ONE CONTRIBUTION, BUT A CHANGE TO 6% SO EMPLOYEES 6% WITH ELIGIBLE REQUIREMENT IT IS NOT A CHANGE TO ANY OF THAT. ALSO NOT A CHANGE TO 70% COLA. OUR RETIREES WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE SAME 7% COLA IN A NON-RETROACTIVE STATE GOING FORWARD. THAT THEY WOULD'VE RECEIVED BEFORE. THIS PLAN REDUCES SO IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAD TO PAY 17.9% OF OUR PAYROLL AND THIS PLAN BY REDUCING UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT TO 15% WOULD REDUCE THE COST OF 14.29 MILLION. 14.29% AND I BELIEVE UNFUNDED LIABILITY AT 30 MILLION. AND AGAIN THAT PRODUCES THE SAME EFFECT WE TALK ABOUT A MINUTE AGO BRINGING EVERYONE 90% MARKET, 3% GENERAL POPULATION OR CIVILIAN PAY, PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE STEP PROGRAM 5% PLUS THE STEP. AND A $15 HOUR MINIMUM WAGE. THE ORIGINAL ALTERNATIVE WE TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME WAS AND THIS IS THE ALTERNATIVE YOUR HURT BOTH ASSOCIATIONS ENDORSE. LEAVING RETIREMENT ALONE. EVERYONE GETTING ONLY 3% ACROSS-THE-BOARD ADJUSTMENT. SO THE CHANGE THAT HAPPENS THERE IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, THE RAYS WOULD BE REDUCED TO THE 3% ACROSS THE BOARD WITH 1% STEP INCREASE REACHING 87% OF MARKET IN THE SAME COMPENSATION GROUP WE TALKED ABOUT. THAT LEAVES UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT 100%. IT INCREASES OUR RATE TO 17.24% AND UNFUNDED LIABILITY WE FACE IN THAT IS $37 MILLION. AGAIN THE ONLY CHANGE IS ON THE RISK TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY SITE.

[01:30:04]

WE SEE NO CHANGE TO WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GIVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE SENSE OF RAISES. WE DO REDUCE HURRICANE BERYL RATE DOWN TO 15.6% AND UNFUNDED LIABILITY REDUCED TO 33 MILLION FROM 37 MILLION. AGAIN THIS MAY BE SOMETHING THAT CAN SOMEWHAT INSULATE US FROM FUTURE CHANGES TO HURRICANE BERYL RATES AND OTHER THINGS WE ANTICIPATE COMING BUT IT DOES NOT OFFER ENOUGH OF A CHANGE TO CHANGE WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PAY IN THE FORM OF RAISES. DO YOU HAVE A COMPARISON CHART HERE, THE THING THAT IS WORTH NOTING IN THIS PLACE IS OUR CONFIDENCE BEING ABLE TO ACHIEVE FISCAL YEAR 2026 GOALS. THE PAY PROGRAM IS TWO YEARS OUR ABILITY TO DO WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IN FISCAL YEAR 2026 UNDER THE PROPOSED OPTION WE FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE THAT. UNDER THE OPTION WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WITH LEAVING RETIREMENT ALONE, THERE IS LESS CERTAINTY IN WHAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IN 2026. IN FULL DISCLOSURE THERE IS LESS CERTAINTY ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN 2026 ACROSS-THE-BOARD IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE. THE ONLY THING THE FIRST OPTION GIVES US IS A SAFETY OR SECURITY NET THAT GIVES A BIGGER GAP BETWEEN THOSE INCREASES AND RECURRING COST. AND THEN THE ALTERNATIVE OPTION OF 75% ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT AFFORD US THE ABILITY TO CHANGE WHAT WE WOULD DO IN TERMS OF RAISES WITH ALTERNATIVE ONE AND ALTERNATIVE TWO IT DOES GIVE SOMEWHAT MORE PADDING BETWEEN POTENTIAL INCREASES SO IT INCREASES CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY TO FUND THE SECOND-YEAR COMPONENT OF THE PROGRAM. SO THE ONLY NEW INFORMATION IS WHAT COMES FROM 75% OPTION EVERYTHING ELSE IS WHAT YOU HEARD BEFORE. CAME

ACROSS ALMOST AS GOOD . >> THE ADOPTED, THE PROPOSED BUDGET ONLINE, WHAT DOES IT REFLECT? REDUCING ANYTHING? IS IT 100% AND IS IT THE PAY RAISE AS PROPOSED IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN OR WHAT DOES THE BUDGET REFLECT?

>> THE PROPOSED BUDGET YOU ALL SAW IN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WITH BUDGET STORIES INCLUDES THE 50% PROPOSE RECOMMENDED OPTION.

>> HOW MUCH MONEY , WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN MONEY BETWEEN THE 50 AND 100% THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH TO DO 100% AND

DO THE 5% INCREASE? >> THERE IS A SLIGHT .

>> THE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION. >> LIKE 800,000 THE FIRST YEAR

AND 400,000 THE NEXT DAY. >> THE PROPOSED OPTION SAVES

ABOUT 1.25 MILLION. >> OVER A PERIOD OF TIME RIGHT?

HOW MUCH IN THE FIRST YEAR? >> 1.25 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR. THE PERIOD IS THAT IT IS RECURRING SO THE RATE GOING FROM 17 GOING FROM 17.24% ALL THE WAY BACK TO 14.6% IS THE 1.25 MILLION THAT WE HAVE TO WORK THROUGH. OPTION FOR THE 75% IS AROUND 700,000 THAT'S WHY WE ARE NOT ABLE TO INCREASE RAISES WE CAN DO THAT ACROSS THE BOARD YOU WON'T FIND POLICE AND FIRE ACROSS-THE-BOARD.

>> AS UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THIS EVENING IS DIRECTLY FROM COUNCIL IN TERMS OF IN WHICH ONE OF THESE SEEMS TO BE THE MOST FAVORABLE TO US AT THIS POINT TO PLUG INTO THE BUDGET AND THOSE NUMBERS WOULD COME BACK TO US TO BE SHARED FOR CONSIDERATION AS IT LEADS TO THE BUDGET PROCESS IS THAT

[01:35:03]

CORRECT? >> AS ALLUDED TO THE BUDGET NUMBERS YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE PRESENTATION YOU HAVE SEEN INCLUDING PROPOSED NUMBERS BUT ON AUGUST 6 IT WILL HELP US TREMENDOUSLY TO BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A BUDGET THAT'S PROPOSED BASED ON THE PAY PROGRAM YOU WANT US TO BUILD. JOEL IN THE PRESENTATION A MINUTE AGO MENTIONED WHENEVER THE PEOPLE AT EVENTS RING OUT JUST STARS, SO IN THAT VEIN I WILL TELL YOU HE IS ON A ZOOM CALL SO HE IS AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AS THE GUEST PERFORMER FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. LOOKING AT THIS I RECOGNIZE EACH YEAR WE ARE LOOKING TO HIT 90% BUT THE MARKET IS GOING TO CHANGE SO HAVE WE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THAT CHANGE FOR US TO HIT 90% AND SECONDARY IS THAT , WHEN I LOOK AT THAT THERE IS SOME DISPARITY BETWEEN SAY WHAT A CAPTAIN MAKES AND WHAT A INITIAL ENTRY LEVEL POSITION IS IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE WE ARE AT 90% ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL RANKS.

>> SO THE ANSWER DOESN'T KEEP UP WITH THE CHANGE, NO. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE COMPENSATION STUDY EVERY FEW YEARS. I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU UNTIL YOU THE COMPENSATION STUDY IS BASED ON LAGGING INDICATOR WHEN WE SURVEY CITIES THEY TELL US WHAT THEY PAY NOW NOT WHAT THEY PAY NEXT YEAR. WE WILL THEN SPEND TWO YEARS TURN TO GET TO 90% TO ESTABLISHED BY THAT STUDY. FROM THE RINK QUESTION IT DOES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RANK BECAUSE IT'S BASED ON A STUDY BY POSITION. SO AT EACH LEVEL WE EVALUATE WHAT DOES THE CAPTAIN THOUGH CITIES MAY COMPARED TO A CAPTAIN HERE , WHAT DOES A LIEUTENANT IN THOSE CITIES MAKE COMPARED TO HERE. AND YOU SAW THE TABLE I WAS TRYING TO GO BACK TO A MINUTE AGO WE SAW THE TABLE THAT SORT OF COMPARES THAT COMPARES THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS SO IN THAT NUMBER YOU MIGHT SEE 38 OF THOSE POSITIONS ARE 10 TO 15% BEHIND THE MARKET. SOME OF THOSE MAY BE THE CAPTAIN POSITION SO IT IS A

BY POSITION STUDY. >> I GUESS I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THAT. BUT I LOOK AT IT , NOT THIS PARTICULAR ONE BUT IN 2020 WE WERE PRESENTED AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE NEGATIVE -31% BEHIND SO WE WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THAT OVERALL WHEN YOU TAKE ALL THE DIFFERENT, ALL THE DIFFERENT RANKINGS WE ARE 31% BEHIND SO IN ORDER TO GET TO 90% YOU HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT. PLUS WHATEVER ON TOP OF THAT. SO I AM CONCERNED WE WILL BE CHASING NUMBERS TO GET THERE WITH ALL THE OTHER UNEXPECTED JUST LIKE YOU INDICATED . ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACED BY EVERYONE AND I THINK OUR ROLE AS CITY COUNCIL WILL BE TO PRIORITIZE AS STEWARDS BASED ON WHAT WE ANTICIPATE IT MIGHT BE AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE THEY STAND AND WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. I WOULD ASK WESLEY IF WE DID NOT DO THIS, IS THERE MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO ALLOW FOR THE 3% THAT THOSE DEPARTMENTS ARE SAYING THEY WOULD BE OKAY WITH?

>> YES EACH OF THE OPTIONS WE PRESENTED WE WOULD BE ABLE TO

FUND. >> I HAVE A COUPLE COMMENTS I WANT TO SHARE. FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY MANAGER OFFICE AND WESLEY GILBERT AND FINANCE TEAM THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF WORK AND A LOT OF HOURS AND A LOT OF WHAT ABOUT THIS QUESTION OR THAT QUESTION AND GOING BACK TO CRUNCH THE NUMBERS AND GO BACK TO THAT. AND I KNOW ALL OF YOU HAVE PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO THIS AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE IT. I THINK EVERYONE HERE RECOGNIZES FROM OUR STUDY THAT WE ARE BEHIND NOT JUST FOR POLICE AND FIRE. OUR ROLE IS NOT TO JUST CATER TO ONE GROUP WITHIN THE CITY, BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES AND WE RECOGNIZE WE ARE BEHIND ACROSS-THE-BOARD , YOU KNOW. QUITE HONESTLY OF THE

[01:40:03]

THIS IS A WAY WE CAN DO THAT. BASED ON WHAT WE WERE HEARING THEN. FOLLOWING THAT I KNOW SEVERAL OF US HAVE HAD VARIES DISCUSSIONS. CERTAINLY WAS SUNNI MANAGEMENT, WITH THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, TALKING WITH STAFF AND REPRESENTATIVES OF PD AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ABOUT HERE ARE THE OPTIONS, HERE IS WHAT WE ARE HEARING ON REVENUE, GIVE US SOME FEEDBACK. TO YOUR POINT MISS BUTLER. ALL OF US WANTED TO GIVE FEEDBACK ON WHAT CAN WE SUPPORT, WHERE ARE YOUR PRIORITIES IN THIS SO WE CAN CONSIDER THAT. OUR JOB IS TO SAY WHAT'S THE BEST THING FOR THE CITY OVERALL AS A WHOLE AND WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE AND MAKE SOME DIFFICULT DECISIONS. CERTAINLY THE GOAL OF 90% OF MARKET IS WHAT WE ARE ALL SHOOTING FOR. BUT, THROUGH THAT PROCESS WE DID ASK FOR ALTERNATIVE OPTION ONE AND IN THE LAST MEETING ALTERNATIVE OPTION TWO. I SAY ALL OF THAT JUST TO SAY THAT DURING THIS PROCESS WHERE WE ARE CONSIDERING GRINDING OVER THE NUMBERS, THINKING ABOUT ONE OF THE APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR AND YOU'RE AFTER, THE NUMBERS WE GOT FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT CHANGED. ALL OF A SUDDEN I DON'T KNOW IF THEY FOUND A MAGIC BEING OR A BETTER PENCIL OR WHAT HAPPENED BUT THE NUMBERS STARTED LOOKING MUCH MORE FAVORABLE. SO GIVEN THAT I THINK THAT FACTORED INTO LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE ALTERNATIVES AND LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. I THINK MR. GARZA HAD EXPRESSED TO US AND RIGHTFULLY SO CONCERNED ABOUT THE TMRS RATE. I DON'T THINK ANY OF US CANNOT PRETEND THAT RATE IS NOT GOING UP, IT ABSOLUTELY IS BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW, THE ECONOMY AND EVERYTHING ELSE INVOLVED AND I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE A CONCERN. FROM MY STANDPOINT , GOING BACK TO LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS , THE INITIAL PROPOSED OPTION LOOKED LIKE A HAVE TO AT THE TIME BECAUSE OF WHAT THE NUMBERS LOOKS LIKE, THE NUMBERS CHANGED AND NOW WE HAVE SOME ALTERNATIVES THAT HAVE COME FORWARD. MY POSITION , MY THOUGHTS ON THIS AND I WANT EVERYONE TO SHARE IT I HAVE NOT WANTED TO IMPACT RETIREMENT UNLESS WE HAD TO. OKAY? I KNOW THAT , THAT THE PROPOSED , THE INITIAL PROPOSED PLAN WOULD DO THAT AND IN SEEING THE ALTERNATIVE OPTION ONE IF WE DID LEAVE AT 100%, WE COULD NOT NECESSARILY GIVE AS GOOD OF A RAISE AS WE COULD WE COULD STILL MEET THE 3% ACROSS THE BOARD. FROM MY STANDPOINT BASED ON THE NUMBERS WE RECEIVED, I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH RETIREMENT UNTIL WE HAVE TO AND I DON'T KNOW WE HAVE TO RIGHT NOW. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO? POSSIBLY. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO? MAY BE PROBABLY, BUT THAT IS, THAT IS NEXT YEAR AND POSSIBLY THE YEAR AFTER. I THINK, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT IT , AT SOME POINT , BUT I THINK DIPPING INTO OR

[01:45:02]

>> I DON'T LIKE THE IMPACT ON THE TMRS RATE IF WE DON'T DO WHAT THE HARD WORK HAS GOTTEN US TO THIS POINT. IF WE DON'T JUST BITE THE BULLET AND DO IT. I'M THINKING NOT JUST ABOUT THE CITIZENS, EVERYONE IMPACTED, BUT I AM REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE TAXPAYERS BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST REPRESENT THE CITY EMPLOYEES. WE REPRESENT CONSTITUENTS. MY CONSTITUENTS DON'T EXPECT 3% ACROSS THE BOARD RAISE THIS YEAR, THEY DO NOT GET ONE LAST YEAR , THEY DON'T EXPECT WHEN EVERY SINGLE YEAR. THEY DON'T HAVE 2 TO 1 MATCHES ON 6% ON RETIREMENT ACCOUNT. THEY DON'T EXPECT A BIG BONUS AND THE ONES THAT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT IS ALL ABOUT ARE SHOCKED. THE RETROACTIVE TO IT. IT IS A WONDERFUL BENEFIT OF BEING A MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE WHICH NOT EVERYBODY CAN BE. BUT I HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT WHO WE ARE ASKING TO PAY FOR IT. THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR NINE YEARS TO GET TANGLEWOOD PAVED AND I FINALLY GOT TO APPROVE IT TODAY, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME MAKE THAT MOTION. THEY WANT THE ROADS PAVED, THEY WANT CITY FINANCES TO BE HEALTHY SO THAT THEY ARE NOT LOOKING AT POTENTIAL INCREASES IN THEIR TAXES EVERY YEAR. IN TERMS OF PROPERTY VALUES, I SERVE ON THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD AND THE NUMBER OF PROTEST CONTINUES TO RISE. I THINK WE HAD 9000 PROTEST SO, THE FACT OF WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE OUR TAX BASE VALUE IS GOING TO END UP, BUT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE IN FLUX. I JUST, I REALLY FEEL, I CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY RAISES. I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO HURT INDIVIDUALS, WHAT MR. GARZA TOLD US, THINK ABOUT POSITIONS NOT PEOPLE. IF I THINK ABOUT PEOPLE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MY TAXPAYERS AS WELL. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY ALL OF THAT.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY , BESIDES THE ANSWER OF A LOT MORE MONEY, AND IT IS UNFORTUNATE WE CANNOT DO A GRANDFATHERED TMRS SYSTEM . I HAVE OSCILLATED BACK AND FORTH IN THE ARGUMENTS AND THEY HAVING GOOD ARGUMENTS AND I RESPECT WHAT CITY MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE, HR BOTH POLICE AND FIRE IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS. I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT CUTTING. AND UNDERSTAND MISS SCOTT, WHAT YOU ALLUDED TO, BUT I DO KNOW YOU'RE TALKING SO TAXPAYERS ARE REPRESENTING THEM. ALONG WITH THAT, THAT IS ALSO IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THE PUBLIC SECTOR DOES TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A HIT AND WE CAN SEE WITH THEIR WAGES THEY ARE LOWER COMPARED TO MARKET, WE EXPECT SAFETY FROM POLICE AND FROM FIRE. AND WE HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT, I BELIEVE IN WHAT THE RETIREMENT PACKAGE IS AND THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE A LESS WAGE TO MAINTAIN THAT AS THEY HAVE,. S2 BODIES AND SAID THAT.

PERSONALLY I MAY PUT WAGES ABOVE CERTAIN THINGS, BUT I AM LISTENING TO THEM AND , WE MAY HAVE TO COME BACK AND HAVE

[01:50:07]

NUMBER ONE. >> I AM ALSO FOR THE, I DON'T WANT TO TOUCH RETIREMENT. AND LIKE THE MAYOR SAID WE MAY HAVE TO, THE NEXT BUDGET , SO WE HAVE GROWTH. I WOULD LIKE , THE WHOLE PLAN IS TO REDUCE TURNOVER AND VACANCY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE SPECIFICALLY WHERE LIKE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MY UNDERSTANDING IS A LOT OF SENIOR PATROL OFFICERS. IF THAT'S WHERE THE TURNOVER IS, THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS ON WAGES NEEDS TO BE. IF IT'S IN A CERTAIN PLACE THAT'S WHERE THE FIRE NEEDS TO BE, IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT FIXING VACANCIES AND TURNOVERS. SO WHERE'S THE TURNOVER? AND YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD GET A RAISE, BUT SOME POSITIONS WE CANNOT FILL , THEY DEMAND MORE MONEY AND THE MONEY SHOULD BE TAKEN FROM THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE TAKING THE RAISE, THEY SHOULD STILL GET A RAISE DON'T GET ME WRONG. I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE FIVE OR 10%. THE MONEY IS NOT THERE. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE THE TURNOVER IS AN IN FIRE WHERE THE TURNOVER IS. NOT JUST WHERE IT IS, BUT WHY IT HAPPENED, FOR EXAMPLE, I UNDERSTAND IN FIRE, A LOT IS PEOPLE GET A JOB CLOSER TO HOME BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF FIREMEN WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE COUNTY, THE DRIVING. A JOB CLOSER TO HOME. WHAT POSITIONS DID WE LOSE IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT? SO I DON'T WANT TO JUST RAISE EVERYBODY A CERTAIN AMOUNT LACROSSE, I WANT SOME OF THE MONEY TO GET TARGETED TO THE VACANCY AND TURNOVER IS. IF YOU RUN A COMPANY, YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY MORE TO FILL CERTAIN POSITIONS. YOU DON'T JUST GIVE EVERYBODY A RAISE AND HOPE YOU WILL FILL THE POSITIONS. SO THAT SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO KNOW WHERE THE TURNOVER IS AND WHY. NOT JUST WHERE IT IS WHY IT HAPPENS AND THE REASON I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE RETIREMENT BENEFITS, THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD TALK UP WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO HIRE PEOPLE. BECAUSE I HAD GOOD RETIREMENT BENEFITS TAKING FROM ONE AND PUTTING THE OTHER DID NOT ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING IF YOU WANT TO STAY HERE LONG TERM, BUT WE NEED TO KNOW THE REASONS

WHERE AND WHY . >> TO COMMENT ON SOME OF THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE DATA WE HAD AVAILABLE. RELATED TO PEOPLE IN AND OUT. NOT NECESSARILY WHY, BUT WHO. IT IS WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT AT LOWER LEVELS IN THE ORGANIZATION. THERE ARE HIGHER DEGREES OF TURNOVER THAN HIGHER LEVELS OF THE ORGANIZATION.

THAT HAS A BIT OF A RIPPLE EFFECT IN THE SENSE THAT IT MAY HELP EXPLAIN WHY. WHEN I AM A POLICE OFFICER AND I WANT TO PROMOTE SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS THAT'S A MATTER OF TIME. THEN WHEN I WANT TO PROMOTE FROM SENIOR POLICE OFFICER TO SGT.

AND SGT. TO LIEUT., LIEUT. A CAPT. THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS GETS FEWER AND FEWER AND WE KNOW THE TURNOVER OF THOSE POSITIONS WITH PEOPLE IN THOSE POSITIONS THEY HOLD ONTO THEM LONGER. SO THOSE OPENINGS MAY COME ELSEWHERE IN ANOTHER CITY OR ANOTHER PLACE QUICKER THAN THAT COME HERE. THE OPPORTUNITY MAY ARISE SOMEWHERE ELSE. THE FACT THAT THAT SOMEONE ELSE MAY PAY MORE THAN WE DO DOES TEND TO HAPPEN. IT IS MY BELIEF AND HAS BEEN THAT PEOPLE BEGIN LOOKING FOR THOSE OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY'RE READY TO MOVE UP OR SOMETHING ELSE HAS CAUSED THEM TO WANT TO SEEK APPOINTMENT ELSEWHERE. WHETHER LACK OF RESOURCES OR GENERAL UNHAPPINESS OR CHANGE IN THE FAMILY DYNAMIC. AT THE SAME TIME THIS WAS MENTIONED IN THE LAST PRESENTATION. IN POLICE AND FIRE THEY ARE ON A CAREER PATH FROM THE MOMENT THEY WALK IN THE DOOR, NICOLE IS CONSTANTLY PROMOTE BY RANK. IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS AT SOME LEVEL IT'S MORE OF A JOB. JUST FEELING POTHOLES, VERY FEW OF

[01:55:03]

LEVEL OF DISSATISFACTION. >> IF YOU GO TO OTHER CITY WEBSITES FOR EXAMPLE SAN MARCOS. ALWAYS , THEY WANT TO HIRE SENIOR POLICE OFFICERS. FOR THE BONUS, SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S AN AREA WHERE THERE IS TURNOVER , THAT TURNED OVER THAN THEY FILL THEM UP WITH NEW PEOPLE, THEY GET TRAINED AND LEAVE. MY POINT IS MORE MONEY NEEDS TO BE DIRECTED THERE THAN TO THE CHIEF OF POLICE OR WHATEVER. NOT SAYING THEY SHOULDN'T AT A RAISE. PLEASE DON'T TACKLE ME WHEN WE LEAVE.

BUT, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MONEY DIRECTED TO WHERE WE HAVE THE TURNOVER AND WHEN I LOOKED AT THE PLAN IT DID NOT SEEM THAT WAY. WHEN I SAW THE ACTUAL THINGS. ALL I AM SAYING IS I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE MONEY DIRECTED AT THOSE, EVERYBODY ALSO GET A RAISE MAYBE NOT AS MUCH. THAT'S JUST MY POINT, THE WHOLE OBJECT IS ABOUT TURNOVER AND VACANCIES SO WE SHOULD IDENTIFY THOSE POSITIONS AND TRY TO TARGET THEM.

>> I WILL GO AHEAD AND GO NEXT.

>> BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A BETTER OPTION, AND RIGHT NOW THE FIRE ASSOCIATION AND POLICE ASSOCIATION MORNING OR LESS AGREE THAT OPTION ONE ALTERNATIVE OPTION ONE IS BEST FOR ME, IT NEEDS TO BE 100% ACROSS THE BOARD ON THE UPDATED SERVICE CREDIT. DO NOT TOUCH RETIREMENT AT ALL IN ANY SHAPE, FORM OR FASHION. ACROSS-THE-BOARD 5% AND 1% AFTER. FOREVER SINCE 1976 I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CITY.

THAT'S WHEN I WAS EMPLOYED. THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PUT SECOND OR LAST. THE BUDGET IS DETERMINED AND AFTER DETERMINED THEN THEY FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO GO TO STREETS, EVERYTHING ELSE, HOW MUCH NEEDS TO BE BUDGETED FOR EVERY OTHER DEPARTMENT AND THEN THEY SIT BACK AND LOOK AT WELL WHAT WE WANT TO GET POLICE, FIREFIGHTERS AND PERMANENT. WE NEED TO REVERSE THAT AND DO THIS FIRST. WE ARE IN A BIND AND IT'S GETTING WORSE AND WORSE AND WORSE AND IF WE KEEP WORRYING ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE FIRST INSTEAD OF PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST, THESE SHORTAGES ARE GOING TO COST A LOT OF ISSUES WITH CITIZENS OF VICTORIA, WITH SAFETY, WITH FIRE PROTECTION AND POLICE PROTECTION. IT IS AFFECTING US NOW. EVERY CITIZEN IN VICTORIA IS AFFECTED BY OUR POLICE FORCE, EVERY CITIZEN. FROM THE TIME THEY CAN PICK UP A CELL PHONE AND DIAL 911 AGE 3 OR FOUR WHEN THEY DIAL 911 THEY WANT FIRE PROTECTION THERE. THEY WANT SOMEBODY TO COME RESUSCITATE THEIR FATHER OR MOTHER. NOT EVERYBODY LIVES IN TANGLEWOOD AND WILL WORRY ABOUT THE STREETS OF TANGLEWOOD NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO WORRY ABOUT THE DISCREPANCY IN THE VACANCIES IN CERTAIN POSITIONS. I'VE TALKED WITH PLENTY OF

[02:00:05]

RESPONSE TIME OF 15 MINUTES TO 20 MINUTES FOR EVERYONE'S OR FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HAPPENING BECAUSE OF A LACK OF PERSONNEL AND LACK OF EQUIPMENT. THAT'S GOT TO STOP. WE'VE GOT TO PUT PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL FIRST. I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE OTHER EMPLOYEES, BUT EVERY PERSON IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO POLICE ACADEMY AND BECOME A POLICE OFFICER AND MAKE THE PAY THAT THESE POLICE OFFICERS GET PAID.

WHEN A POLICE OFFICER LEAVE THE HOUSE IN THE MORNING THEY KISS THEIR WIFE GOODBYE AND SAY I LOVE YOU WHY? BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT COME HOME. THEY MAY NOT COME HOME. SOME IDIOT IS GOING TO TAKE A POP SHOT AT THEM. FIREFIGHTER THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY GET TO THE CALL THAT THERE WON'T BE AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE. EMS PERSONNEL. THEY DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO COME HOME EITHER. THESE ARE DIFFERENT CAREERS AND OCCUPATIONS THAN EVERY OTHER CAREER OR OCCUPATION THAT THE CITY HAS. PUTTING THEM LAST OR SECOND AFTER THE BUDGET HAS ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 1976 THAT'S WHY WE ARE IN THIS BIND TODAY IN THIS ISSUE IT'S TIME WE CHANGE. IT'S TIME WE PUT THE FIREFIGHTERS AND PARAMEDICS AND POLICE OFFICERS FIRST. THEY'RE THE ONES EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN VICTORIA IS GOING TO CALL WHEN THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. NOT EVERYBODY NEEDS THE WATER OR PARKS DEPARTMENT ALL THE TIME, BUT THEY NEED A RAISE TOO BUT OUR EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC SAFETY NEED TO BE THOUGHT OF FIRST BEFORE WE COME UP WITH THE BUDGET , THAT'S MY OPINION. BUT AFTER 40 SOMETHING YEARS , ALMOST 50 YEARS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS BEING PUT SECOND, IT GETS OLD AND TIRING. ALWAYS SECOND, THEY ARE SECOND, NO THEY ARE NOT, THEY ARE FIRST. THAT'S MY OPINION.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS ALTERNATIVE OPTION ONE WITHOUT TOUCHING RETIREMENT , BUT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM RAISE

>> ACROSS THE BOARD AT 5%. I UNDERSTAND IT MAY NOT HAPPEN AT 5%. THAT'S THE ONLY THING KEEPING SOME OF THESE EMPLOYEES

HERE. >> BETWEEN THE 5% RAISE AND NOT TOUCHING RETIREMENT WHICH OF THOSE YOU PRIORITIZE .

>> THEY ARE BOTH PRIORITIES. >> YES SIR, THANK YOU.

>> IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SENSE OF THE COUNCIL, I THINK KEEPING THE RETIREMENT AT 100% SEEMS TO BE CERTAINLY ON MY MIND AND I NOTICE I DON'T KNOW WHY I DID NOT NOTICE LAST TIME BUT I NOTICED THIS TYPE THE WAY YOU WILL FIND THAT 100% IS BY FIRE AND POLICE REDUCING WHAT WOULD BE THEIR PAY RAISE BY 2%.

SO YOU KNOW, I KNOW MARKET RATE COMES DOWN A LITTLE BIT ALSO.

THAT'S A LONG WAY OF SAYING I AM IN FAVOR OF ALTERNATIVE

OPTION ONE AS WELL. >> TO BE CLEAR. ON THE FUNDING 100% VERSUS NOT WE ARE ALREADY FINDING 10%, THE THING THAT , THE THING , THE REDUCTION THE ONLY THING THAT ACHIEVES IS GIVING THE ADDITIONAL 2% RAISE TO POLICE AND FIRE. SO THE BACKWARDS OF THAT SO WE ARE NOT TAKING AWAY POTENTIAL RATES FROM THE POLICEMAN TO FUND THE 100% IT WAS SORT OF THE OPPOSITE, BUT WE CAN'T FUND THE ADDITIONAL 2% AND ADD THE 100% BASED ON THE MODELS WE HAVE TODAY.

>> RIGHT. >> I AM OPPOSED TO TOUCHING RETIREMENT FOR THIS , I THINK THAT THERE ARE , THERE ARE VALID POINTS THAT WERE MADE BY COUNCILMEMBERS REGARDING ROADS

[02:05:04]

DIFFERENT EYES. >> OBVIOUSLY I THINK THE CONSENSUS IS LET'S LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE OPTION ONE GOING FORWARD ON THE BUDGET NUMBERS THAT COME IN. AGAIN I WILL STRESS THIS IS A DECISION MADE AT THIS POINT AND TIME THAT IS NOT SET IN STONE FOR NOW FOREVER BECAUSE AT SOME POINT WE MAY VERY WELL BE BACK HERE LOOKING AT THIS SAME THING.

WHAT I HOPE IT DRIVES HOME , FOR ALL OF US IS THE IMPORTANCE OF GROWTH WITHIN CITY. AND GROWTH TO THE CITY. YOU KNOW WE ARE SEEING THE MARKET DRIVEN BY THE CITIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED MORE GROWTH THAN WE HAVE. SOMETIMES EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IT IS A VERB, NOT JUST A NOUN. IT IS IMPORTANT AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A BAD GRAB IN TERMS OF THIS IS JUST A BUNCH OF TRYING TO RECRUIT AND TRYING TO DO THIS AND THAT SORT OF THING. I THINK THIS DISCUSSION AND THE SITUATION HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF , THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAYS IN TERMS OF HELPING THE CITY TO GROW. SO I THINK ALL OF US, I HOPE UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. AND SEE THIS IN A REAL-WORLD SETTING IN CONTEXT THAT , THAT SORT OF WORK PEOPLE PUT IN TO TRY TO DRIVE GROWTH HAS REAL BENEFITS AND REAL IMPLICATIONS. NOT JUST TO THE CITIZENS AS A WHOLE, BUT TO THE CITY AND ITS ABILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICES, TO PROVIDE FIRE AND POLICE PROTECTION. SO I THINK

YOU HAVE YOUR ANSWER. >> YES SIR. WE REALLY APPRECIATE , THE TIME AND CONSIDERATION YOU HAVE SPENT THINKING THROUGH , TALKING, ANSWERING PHONE CALLS TEXT MESSAGES AND ALSO, WE ARE GRATEFUL TO POLICE AND FIRE ASSOCIATIONS, THEY HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO FOLKS.

THE LEADERSHIP JAMES AND DUSTIN AND WHENEVER HE IS NOT RUNNING ASSOCIATION BUSINESS. HE HAS GOTTEN PRETTY GOOD AT THAT. WE ARE GRATEFUL. FOR THEM ENGAGING IN THE DIALOGUE, HAVING THE CONVERSATION. STAYING AT IT AND KEEPING US INFORMED AND ENGAGING THOSE FOLKS TO SAY I'M THE UNION PRESIDENT I WILL DO THIS. THEY HAVE HAD LEGITIMATE DECISIONS AND THEY PUT IN EFFORT AND TIME. THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ACKNOWLEDGE IS WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THOSE NUMBERS BECAUSE SOMEHOW MAKING IT COME BACK WITH THE INCREASE AS OPPOSE TO THE DECREASE ON THE REVENUES. I WILL REITERATE THAT THEY FINISHED ALL OF THEIR PROTESTS AND GIVE US CERTIFIED TAX ROLLS ON JULY 25. SO UNTIL THAT TIME NOTHING IS SET IN STONE. SO WE ARE GRATEFUL WE HAVE SHIFTED POSITIONS FROM WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE FIRST STARTED MAKING THIS PROPOSAL AND HAVING THIS CONVERSATION. SO EVERYBODY WHO PUT THEIR TIME IN FINANCE AND HR AND OUR OFFICE, FOR ALL OF YOU FOR ALL THE CITIZENS, FOR ALL THE ASSOCIATION FOLKS AND THE CIVILIAN AND SAFETY EMPLOYEES , WE ARE GRATEFUL.

[02:10:03]

>> VERY GOOD. I UNDERSTAND THEN YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. WE DO NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION SO WE ARE ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.