Jan 07, 2025 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:11]

>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO THE FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF

2025, PLEASE CALL ROLE. >> YES, COUNCILMEMBER

DELAGARZA. >> PRESENT.

>> COUNCILMEMBER BUTLER. >> HERE.

>> YOUNG POINT >> HERE.

>> CROCKER POINT >> HERE.

>> WRITES FOR THE PLEDGES IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

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

>> THANK YOU , PLEASE BE SEATED. WELCOME, EVERYONE AND

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR , I HAVE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING.

NON-EMERGENCY CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 20 IN OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN IS THE KING JUNIOR DAY. THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL OPEN BUT CLOSE EARLY AT 5:00 P.M. THAT DAY. OFFICES WILL REOPEN AT 8:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY JANUARY 21ST. ADDITIONALLY COUPLE OF UPDATES YOU MAY HAVE SEEN IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER . AND PRESS RELEASES THAT WERE PUT OUT. THE CITY IS LIFTING ALL MANDATORY RESTRICTIONS ON WATER USAGE AFTER RECENT RAINFALL THROUGHOUT A REGION, HELP TO REPLENISH THE CITY'S WATER SUPPLY. UNDERSTATE ONE OF THE PLAN RESIDENTS ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO LIMIT THEIR NON-ESSENTIAL WATER USAGE. THE CITY STILL IS ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO BE MINDFUL OF THEIR WATER CONSUMPTION AND PRACTICE VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION MEASURES EIGHT TO SIGN UP FOR WATER WISE VISIT DEBBIE W. VICTORIA WATER WISE.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE JOB CONTINGENCY PLAN VISIT -- .

ADDITIONALLY YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THAT OUR DUCK POND HAS BEEN RE-STOCKED. RESIDENTS CAN ONCE AGAIN CATCH RAINBOW TROUT AT THE RIVERSIDE PARK DUCK POND. TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE STOCK THE PARK WITH 1000 RAINBOW TROUT, THERE IS AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF CHILD AND ADULT FISHING POLES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE. THE OFFICE AT 53 THROUGH MAKE RIGHT DRIVE. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE PARKS OFFICE AT -- OR PARKS THAT VICTORIA TX.GOV. THOSE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT THEY HAVE FOR

[a. Keep Victoria Beautiful Beautification Award for January. C hristy You...]

THE EVENING. >> THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ON TO PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS. FIRST , STARTING THE YEAR OFF, SO, FIRST WE WILL TACKLE THE KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL AWARD AND I WILL ASK CHRISTY YOUKER TO COME UP TO

ADDRESS THAT. >> THANK YOU, HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. HAPPY NEW YEAR. BEFORE WE ANNOUNCE OUR BEAUTIFICATION AWARD WINNER I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY OF OUR VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT OR KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL, THIS WILL BE OUR THIRD TIME TO HAVE IT AND EVERY TIME IT IS BETTER AND BETTER. IT WILL BE NEXT TUESDAY AT 5:30 AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND IT IS TO HONOR AND HIGHLIGHT OUR VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THIS PAST YEAR, WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AND THINK OUR SUPPORTERS AS WELL. WE HOPE MANY OF YOU CAN BE THERE AND OF COURSE ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY COME , THEY CAN RSVP BY GOING TO VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFICATION.ORG AND SIGN UP THERE. I AM A ONE PERSON SHOW TODAY BECAUSE MEREDITH BYRD IS NOT HERE AND I AM ANNOUNCING OUR BEAUTIFICATION AWARD WINNER. FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY WE ARE AWARDING THIS TO A LOCATION THAT IS IN A VERY BUSY SPOT AT -- PARKWAY, WHICH IS LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE AND I'M NOTICING HOW INTERESTING THAT PHOTO LOOKS.

THE SIGN IS THERE. AS YOU KNOW THIS OPENED LAST MARCH, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY BUSY . IT IS IN A GREAT LOCATION BY THE MALL AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND AS THE MANAGER JOHN PENDLETON SAID TODAY , THEY GET A LOT OF TRASH BLOWN IN THERE FROM THE WIND, IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SPOTS WE LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT BECAUSE JUST KEEPING IT TRASH FREEZE BIG ENOUGH AND WE KNOW PLACES THAT DO NOT DO THAT OR

[00:05:02]

CONGRATS. THANK YOU, YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU , NEXT TIME LET THEM KNOW I'M HAPPY TO SWAP, I CAN GO BE AT THE RESTAURANT. I DO HAVE AN EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION VERY QUICKLY, KEN GILL, I LIKE TO RECOGNIZE CAPTAIN JASON TURNER WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IF YOU WOULD NOT MIND STANDING BRIEFLY, HE COMPLETED THREE PARTS OF THE FBI TRILOGY PROGRAM, THE FBI EMPHASIZES PURPOSEFUL GROWTH FOR POLICE LEADERS THE CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT, THE TRILOGY SERIES INCLUDE THE SUPERVISOR LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, COMMAND LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE AND EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, OFFERS A COMPREHENSIVE LEADERSHIP EDUCATION PROGRAM. COMPLETING ALL PRECOCIOUS PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK FOR LEVELS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WE ARE ALWAYS APPRECIATIVE OF OUR EMPLOYEES THAT CHOOSE TO CONTINUE THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

CATHERINE TURNER, THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION . THAT IS ALL I

[3. Items from Council:]

GOT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. ITEMS FROM

COUNSEL, ANYBODY? >> I DO, MR. MAYOR.

>> YES. >> I HAVE NOTICE OR AT LEAST HAVE RECEIVED NERVOUS AND I MIGHT BE INCORRECT, AN INCREASE IN SOME OF THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN QUEEN CITY NEIGHBORHOOD. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK STAFF TO LOOK INTO TO THAT , IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN ADDRESSING WHAT DO WE DO TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATE ISSUES? ARE THERE UNDERLYING PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA THAT WE DO NOT KNOW WERE MAYBE WE DO KNOW AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO ADDRESS THOSE IF THAT IS THE CASE?

>> SURE. THERE IS A LOT ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ITSELF. AND I

AM AWARE OF SOME ISSUES. >> AS YOU KNOW AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE TUNING IN, IT HAS BEEN A FOCUS AREA FOR QUITE SOME TIME TO TRY TO RE-DEVELOP THE QUEEN CITY NEIGHBORHOOD, IT INCLUDES LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE DIFFERENT, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT GROUPS AND DEPARTMENTS. LET US HUDDLE, INTERNALLY, WE WILL PLAN ON PROVIDING AN UPDATE TO YOU ON THAT EFFORT, SPECIFICALLY ADJUSTING YOUR QUESTION ON CRIME , MAYBE IN THE NEXT MEETING OR TWO. IF THAT IS

OKAY? >> NO RUSH BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO ADDRESS THAT GOING FORWARD.

>> I APPRECIATE THE REMINDER IT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST AND WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT IT IN A WHILE.

[4. Citizen Communication:]

>> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, DR. YOUNG, ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, WILL MOVE INTO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. WE WILL START WITH MICHAEL --. OUR FIRST COMMENT OF 2025. WELCOME

BACK, SIR, HAPPY NEW YEAR. >> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM MICHAEL VADROR , I DON'T WANT TO SAY WERE MY NEW PLACES BECAUSE MANAGEMENT REALLY DON'T LIKE ME, I DON'T KNOW WHY, TRY TO GET ALONG WITH EVERYONE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE COOK AT THE SALVATION ARMY , THEY MADE SOME LINGUINE CHICKEN, YOU KNOW, I GIVE IT FIVE STARS , IT'S THEM YESTERDAY AND IT WAS VERY GOOD, IT WAS LIKE A $20 MEAL AT A RESTAURANT, VERY GOOD. ALSO, I DON'T HAVE TO PAY THE LIGHT FEE ANYMORE BECAUSE I SOLD MY TRAILER AND IT APPEARED THEY WERE TRYING TO GET ME TO STILL PAY MY LIGHT FEE, SO, I WENT TO THE PERSONAL INJURIES LAW FIRM, I DROVE THERE TO HOUSTON , YOU KNOW, THEY LOCK THE DOOR WHERE NOBODY COULD GET IN BUT IF YOU BANG ON IT ENOUGH YOU CAN EVENTUALLY GET IN AND THE PARALEGAL LET ME IN, SHE TALKS TO ME AND SHE WAS VERY PROFESSIONAL. SHE ASKED, IS THERE ANY MESSAGES YOU WANT TO GIVE HIM? I SAID JUST DO YOUR JOB AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM FIX UP HIS TRAILER PARK, YOU KNOW AND STUFF LIKE THAT. I AM NOT PAYING, I TOLD HER STRAIGHT UP, I AM NOT PAYING THE LOT FEE, I SOLD IT AND THEY ALSO HAVE IT BLOCKED TO WHERE YOU CANNOT EVEN MOVE YOUR TRAILER AND SOMEONE ELSE BOUGHT IT AND I WAS HOPING THEY COULD KEEP IT THERE BECAUSE I HAVE A FEELING WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO IS THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE LOT FEES AND THEY WON'T LET THE MOVIE BECAUSE IT IS BLOCKED UP.

IT LOOKS LIKE A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY THERE AND I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS BEEN THERE BUT I WOULD ADVISE YOU DON'T GO

[00:10:04]

>> THANK YOU MR. VADROR . ONE OTHER CARD, MR. HARLEY FISK.

HELLO, MR. FISK, WELCOME BACK AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

>> HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU. HI. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT IN TWO PARTS. I'M TRYING TO KEEP MY LEGAL STATUS CORRECT. FIRST, AS A MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY I WISH TO THANK EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE GINGERBREAD EVENT AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. THAT INCLUDES THE CENTER STAFF, THE LIBRARY STAFF, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SET UP BOOTHS, THE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDED MUSIC AND SECURITY AND FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE FRIENDS OF THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY AND ANYONE WHO I MIGHT'VE MISSED. TEAMWORK INVOLVED LED TO A SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOYABLE TIME FOR THE CITIZENS OF VICTORIA. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THE FRIENDS WILL HAVE OUR NEXT BOOK SALE ON JANUARY 19TH THROUGH THE 25TH. THE FIRST IS RESERVED FOR MEMBERS ONLY, WHICH I BELIEVE YOU ARE A MEMBER. IF I

REMEMBER CORRECTLY. >>

>> MEMBERSHIP IS ONLY $10.00 A YEAR AND YOU CAN JOIN THE DAY OF THE EVENT. WE ARE WELL STOCKED IN MOST CATEGORIES OF BOOKS AND THIS TIME WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF CDS, DVDS, ALL RIGHT, I MEAN A LOT OF THEM. HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE GENERALLY $2.00 WITH MOST OTHERS, MOST OF THE REST OF THE ITEMS ARE $1.00. THE EXCEPTION BEING SOME SPECIAL BOOKS THAT ARE PRICED A LITTLE HIGHER. PROCEEDS FROM OUR SALES ARE USED TO FUND LIBRARY EVENTS SUCH AS THE GINGERBREAD EVENT. SUMMER READING PROGRAM, AND THE 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM. ALL RIGHT. SWITCHING GEARS AND SPEAKING ONLY AS AN INDIVIDUAL NOW. NOT AS AN REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ORGANIZATION I'M A PART OF. I READ RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF OVER 18% IN THE NUMBER OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE NATIONALLY. THIS NUMBER FOLLOWS A 12% INCREASE THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND IT IS THE HIGHEST SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BEGAN AN ANNUAL COUNT OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN 2007.

THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF REASONS FOR THE INCREASE WHICH HAS AFFECTED OVER 770,000 PEOPLE, MANY OF WHICH ARE WORKING ADULTS AND FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. I AM NOT GOING TO PRETEND THAT I CAN OFFER ANY SOLUTIONS. I DID READ THAT A GROUP OF AMISH MEN MANAGED TO BUILD 12 TINY HOUSES IN 48 HOURS AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $25,000. PERHAPS SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED AS A PART OF PROJECT HERE IN VICTORIA. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY INTELLIGENT INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS IN THE CROSS WORKS THAT CAN DEVELOP COST-EFFECTIVE, INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE WARMING EVENTS DURING THIS COLD

SPELL, AND THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU , MR. FISK. ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. I

[D. Consent Agenda:]

>> YES, ITEM D1 OF THE ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 7, 24, A RESOLUTION OF IMPROVING THE MINUTE TO RESOLUTION 2024 E- 190 , UPDATING THE CONTRACT AMOUNT WITH POWER SECURE INC. FROM 85,003 $45 212 20 $45.56 , ITEM D THREES A RESOLUTION APPROVING A VARIANCE TO SECTION 21 138 A, TABLE 2-1 MINIMUM LOT WITH FOR AC. SUBDIVISION, RE-SUBDIVISION NUMBER TWO LOCATED AT 706 AND SEVEN WHAT IS CONSTITUTION AND 101 NORTH CAMERON STREET. ITEM D FOR THE

[00:15:03]

>> THANK YOU , AND EMOTIONS WITH THE RESPECT TO THE CONSENT

AGENDA? >> I MOVED TO APPROVE THE

CONSENT AGENDA. >> SECOND.

>> ALL IN FAVOR SAY I. >> ANY POST? CONSENT AGENDA

[1. Appeal of the Board of Adjustments and Appeals recommendation to deny ...]

[2. Appeal of the Planning Commission's recommendation to deny a variance ...]

>> ITEM E 1 'S APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS RECOMMENDATION TO DENY VARIANCES TO SECTION 21 DASH 63 A SEVEN AND 21-6311 FOR PROPERTIES LOCATED AT 201 CHANTILLY STREET. ITEM E2 IS A RESOLUTION HEARING OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION TO DENY VARIANCE OF SECTION 21 DASH 38 A LAND-USE TABLE MINIMUM OFFSTREET PARKING FOR A TOWNHOUSE LOCATED AT 209

CHANTILLY STREET. >> THANK YOU, WE NEED TO ACT ON THE SEPARATELY BUT -- THANK YOU.

>> ULTIMATELY THESE THREE VARIANCES FOR THE PROPERTY AT 209 CHANTILLY STREET, THE WAY THE UTO IS STRUCTURED EVERYTHING IN ONE DIVISION WHICH IS BUILDING CODES GOES TO OUR CONSTRUCTION BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT APPEALS AND MORE OF YOUR DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUE TO GO TO THE TRAINING -- THAT WAS HOW HE HAD THE ORDINANCE SET UP IN DIFFERENT CHAPTERS AND WE KEPT THAT BECAUSE OUR BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS OR THE EXPERTS ON BUILDING CODES AND A PLANNING COMMISSION ARE THE EXPERTS ON PLANNING RELATED ITEMS. THE THREE TYPES OF VARIANCES THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED IS AN EMERGENCY VARIANCE TO FIRE SEPARATION, SEPARATION FIRE CODE, OFFSTREET PARKING. THE PROPERTY OWNER ORIGINALLY CAME TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO ENCLOSE A CARPORT, HER PROPERTY IS A TOWNHOME THAT WAS DEVELOPED IN THE EARLY '80S IN A LARGE TOWNHOME DEVELOPMENT, YOU CAN SEE THE AERIAL ON THE PHOTOGRAPH. THESE TOWNHOMES ARE ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED WITH STEEL CARPORTS, WHICH OF COURSE ARE NOT ENCLOSED AND BECAUSE THEY ARE A SEALANT MADE OF NON-COMBUSTIBLE THEY MET ALL THE BUILDING AND FIRE CODE SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS AT THE TIME AND OF COURSE TOWNHOMES HAVE FIRE SEPARATION, FIREWALLS THAT SEPARATE EACH UNIT. SO, THE PROPERTY OWNER APPLIED FOR A BUILDING PERMIT AND WAS DENIED BECAUSE WE DID NOT SEE A PATH FORWARD, THE PERMIT WAS TO ENCLOSE THE CARPORT INTO A GARAGE. THAT PERMIT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT A WAY TO MEET ALL APPLICABLE CODES.

ABOUT A YEAR LATER WE RECEIVED A COMPLAINT FROM A NEIGHBOR THAT THE CARPORT HAD BEEN CLOSED INTO A GARAGE , OUR INSPECTORS WENT ON SITE TO ISSUE A -- AND OTHER PROPERTY OWNER IS APPLYING FOR VARIANCES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THOSE BUILDING PERMITS. SO, THE SPECIFIC VARIANCES THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED -- WITH SOME MODIFICATIONS THEY ARE REALLY NOT EGREGIOUS OR A SAFETY CONCERN, ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY , LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT THAT TWO THAT ARE NOT AS BIG AN ISSUE.

THE OFFSTREET PARKING, THE DEVELOPMENT CODE REQUIRES THAT ALL SINGLE-FAMILY UNITS IN ONE TOWNHOME HAVE TWO ABSTRACT -- STREET PARKING SPACES AND IF THEY ARE NOT ENCLOSED IN GARAGE, DAKOTA SPECIFIC THAT A GARAGE DOES NOT COUNT FOR TWO OFFSTREET PARKING SPACES. THAT IS ONE VARIANCE. THERE IS A LOT OF ON STREET PARKING. WE DO REGULAR PARKING VARIANCES TO SPOTS IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND IT WILL NOT OVERWHELM THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE OTHER VARIANCE IS TO THE ACTUAL FIRE SEPARATION. CURRENTLY THE CARPORT AS CONSTRUCTED DOES NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FIREWALLS. FOR FIRE SEPARATION. MODIFICATIONS COULD BE DONE TO THE STRUCTURE TO COMPLY WITH THE FIRE SEPARATION , ADDING ADDITIONAL DRYWALL , OR MODIFYING THE STRUCTURE SO THAT YOU DO HAVE FIREWALLS BETWEEN THE STRUCTURES. THOSE TWO THINGS COULD POTENTIALLY, NOT A HUGE DETRIMENT TO THE AREA, OR WE CAN OVERCOME WITH ADDITIONAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE STRUCTURE. I WANT TO REMIND COUNSEL THAT WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING SCALE IS A FACTOR. IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THIS VARIANCE FOR THOSE TWO ITEMS FOR THIS ONE TOWNHOME, IT IS PROBABLY NOT A BIG ISSUE BUT IF YOU WERE TO

[00:20:02]

YOU CAN SEE THOSE ARE NOT FIREWALLS. AND THE WAY THE TOWNHOMES ARE CONSTRUCTED IS THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW A SEPARATION BETWEEN WHERE THE BACK ALL OF THE TOWNHOME WAS ON THE CARPORT. SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN COVERED, WHICH A COVERED PORCH IS STILL EGRESS TO THE EXTERIOR , SO, THIS ONE HAS BEEN COVERED BUT WHEN YOU ENCLOSE THE CARPORT INTO THE GARAGE BECOMES LIKE A FULLY ENCLOSED STRUCTURE AND YOU CANNOT REALLY SEE VERY WELL BUT YOU CAN SEE THE FRIDGE IN THE CORNER OF THE PHOTO AND YOU CAN SEE THE TRIM AND THAT IS THE TRIM TO A WINDOW THAT IS ACCESSING A BEDROOM . SO, ONE OF THE VARIANCES OR THE COLD REQUIRES THAT THE BETTERMENT OF EGRESS TO EXTERIOR AT ALL TIMES. SO, WITH THE ENCLOSURE OF THE CARPORT INTO A GARAGE , FULLY ENCLOSING THE SPACE, IT IS NOT CONSIDERED , THAT BEDROOM NO LONGER HAS EGRESS TO THE EXTERIOR. THAT IS THE CODE THAT WE REALLY CANNOT GET AROUND. ESSENTIALLY EGRESS TO THAT BUILDING IS NOW INTO A TRAP SPACE. SO, HERE IS THE REST OF THE PHOTOS. AND A SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE THAT CLEARLY DEFINES GARAGES THAT DO NOT COUNT AS OFFSTREET PARKING FOR RESIDENTIAL USAGE. AND OF COURSE , THEY ALL BACKUP TO A COMMON ALLEY, COMMON DRIVE, THERE IS STILL NOT ENOUGH ROOM, EVEN IF THE GARAGE WERE TO BE ENCLOSED FOR THE OFFSTREET PARKING TO BE MET.

>> HOW MUCH SPACE IS NEEDED? >> OFFSTREET PARKING SPACES 10

BY 20. >> OKAY. 10 BY 20.

>> GOING BACK TO THE HAND-DRAWN A SITE PLAN , YOU CAN SEE THAT ENCLOSED PORCH WHERE WE HAVE EGRESS, THE BEDROOM, EMERGENCY

EGRESS THAT IS TRAPPED. >> IS THERE A CLICKER? BECAUSE JUST TALKING ABOUT THESE THINGS DOESN'T --

>> TO HIGHLIGHT IT, I DON'T THINK SO .

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT 209 THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED THERE, CORRECT?

>> I GOT ONE. OKAY. HERE'S THE TOWNHOUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE DID NOT DRAW THE INTERIOR LAYOUT BUT THIS IS A BEDROOM WINDOW THAT GOES INTO THAT ENCLOSED AREA , THIS IS THE BACK DOOR AND THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE AND YOU SAW IN THE PHOTOS THERE WAS A WALKWAY TO THE SIDE OF THE GARAGE AND THIS IS THE CARDBOARD THAT WAS ENCLOSED INTO A GARAGE, NOT FULLY ENCLOSED YET BECAUSE THE GARAGE DOOR IS NOT YET BEEN PLACED ON IT. YOU CAN SEE THE RED LINES ARE FIREWALLS , THAT OF COURSE COMPLY WITH FIRE CODE . THERE ARE NO FIREWALLS WITH THE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL THAT THE GARAGE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED OUT OF. REMEMBER THESE WERE STEEL CARPORTS, STEEL IS NONCOMBUSTIBLE , IT MEETS FIRE CODE AND CAN BE BUILT UPON EACH OTHER. THERE ARE NO FIREWALLS AT THESE WALLS, THIS BEDROOM DOES NOT HAVE EGRESS TO THE OUTSIDE AND THEN THERE ARE OFFSTREET PARKING THAT IS NO LONGER IN COMPLIANCE BECAUSE GARAGES DO NOT COUNT AS OFFSTREET PARKING. IN SUMMARY THOSE OF THE THREE VARIANCES THAT ARE BEING REQUESTED. AS THE AGENDA ITEM MEMO STATES, BUT THE BOARD OF APPEALS AND PLANNING COMMISSION, BOTH DID RECOMMEND DENIAL EACH OF THE RESPECTIVE VARIANCES AS WELL AS STAFF AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO

ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. >> DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS

FOR MISS FULGHAM ? >> THEY EMERGENCY EGRESS , THAT IS THE ISSUE THAT CANNOT BE, IF THAT WALL WAS REMOVED, DOES

THAT SOLVE FOR THAT? >> BUT THEN IT IS NO LONGER A

[00:25:08]

>> THE ENCLOSED PART IS ALSO --

>> THE WALL TO THE GARAGE. >> THERE'S NO WAY TO PUT THE GARAGE UP? I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IN MY FRAMING IT CORRECTLY, THE WALL THAT IS MAKING IT AN ENCLOSED PORCH, THAT WAS

REMOVED? >> IT WOULD THEN BE GOING INTO A GARAGE . BECAUSE YOU ARE ENCLOSING THAT EFFECTIVELY ENCLOSING THAT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE BEDROOM TO OUTSIDE.

>> THAT ENCLOSED PORCH WAS NOT PRESENT ? PREVIOUSLY?

>> IT WAS A COVERED PORCH BUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS WALL AND THEN PUTTING IN A GARAGE DOOR IS WHAT MAKES THAT ENCLOSED. WHEN IT WAS ALL OPEN AND WAS BASICALLY A COVERED PORCH AND THAT COUNTS AS EGRESS TO THE OUTSIDE.

>> SO, MS. FULGHAM, ON THE FAR RIGHT OF THAT I SEE THE WALL THAT IS I GUESS , WHAT I WILL CALL THE SIDEWALL ON THE GARAGE. WHAT IS BETWEEN THE END OF THAT WALL AND THE WALL OF THE ACTUAL UNIT ITSELF? RIGHT THERE WHERE YOUR CURSOR IS.

>> THAT IS OPEN. I MEAN IT IS COVERED, SO, IT IS A COVERED

WALKWAY. >> I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS CONFUSING IS, THE PICTURE YOU POINTED OUT WE SAW DAYLIGHT AND SO, I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS CONFUSING US. IF YOU GO BACK TO

THE ONE AT THE REFRIGERATOR. >> THIS WAS BASICALLY WHAT

ENCLOSES THAT SPACE. >> GO BACK TO THE PICTURE

THOUGH. >> I'M TRYING TO GO THERE.

>> KEEP GOING. ONE MORE. >> THAT IS ONE END, THE OTHER

END IS OPEN. >> THAT DOES NOT COUNT AS

ACCESS TO THE WINDOW? >> NO, AND THIS IS THE WINDOW.

>> I THINK THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO ACCEPT .

>> MY QUESTION IS , EXPLAIN, IF YOU CAN TO ME, IF YOU CAN, WHY IS THAT NOT ACCESS TO THE OUTSIDE?

>> I WILL HAVE TO CALL ON RICK. >> WE NEED RICK.

>> THE BUILDING OFFICIAL. IT IS SUBSTANTIALLY ENCLOSED.

>> GOT IT. >> THE BUILDING CODE AND FIRE CODE BOTH REQUIRE THE WINDOW TO BE AN EMERGENCY EGRESS, DIRECTLY TO THE OUTSIDE , OPEN AND UNOBSTRUCTED TO THE SKY , AND THAT IS WHAT IS REQUIRED BY A CODE, THAT THERE , ONCE YOU PUT THREE WALLS UP, WE CONSIDER THINGS ENCLOSED AND THAT IS NOT ONLY AN EGRESS WINDOW FOR SOMEBODY TO GET OUT BUT AN EMERGENCY INGRESS WINDOW, IF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS TWO ACCESS WITH THEIR BACKPACKS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THERE TO GET INSIDE THE WINDOW TO RESCUE PEOPLE

THAT ARE OVERTAKEN BY SMOKE. >> OKAY.

>> AND I COULD SEE THAT COULD EASILY A FIRE IN THAT AREA. IT

IS NOT JUST OUTSIDE. >> WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE SCALE, YOU KNOW, GRANTING THIS VARIANCE DOES NOT NECESSARILY POSE A HUGE SAFETY RISK WHEN IT COMES TO BASICALLY THE OFFSTREET PARKING, WE CAN GET THE WALLS THERE BUT IF YOU WERE TO GRANT A VARIANCE TO ALL 42 OF THESE TOWNHOMES THEN WE WOULD HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECT.

>> THE WALKWAYS NOT OPEN ON BOTH ENDS?

>> NO, IT IS NOT. >> ONLY ON THE FAR END WE ARE

LOOKING AT. >> I WANT TO HEAR FROM MS. REID BUT ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR MS. FULGHAM?

>> THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL IS THE NEIGHBOR?

>> YES. THAT IS ONE END AND ANY OTHER END IS THE ONLY OPEN END THAT YOU THEN TURN DOWN THE CORRIDOR .

>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT, I MEAN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE OFFSTREET AS WELL, EVERY TIME I GO DOWN THE STREET IT IS ALREADY FULL OF CARS. THERE IS NO EXTRA PARKING SPACES.

>> RIGHT, IT IS TWO SPOTS PER TOWNHOME THAT ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE OFFSTREET , OF COURSE I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF TOWNHOMES THAT PROBABLY HAVE MORE THAN TWO CARS , PEOPLE THAT OWN MORE THAN TWO CARS ARGUE PAYING IT OR STAYING THERE . IT IS ALWAYS A SCALE THING WITH PLANNING , IF YOU WERE TO GRANT A VARIANCE TO ALL 42 FOR OFFSTREET PARKING THEN THERE WOULD DEFINITELY BE A PARKING ISSUE IN THE

NEIGHBORHOOD. >> ALL RIGHT. I UNDERSTAND THAT MS. REID IS HERE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD TO SPEAK TO US? PLEASE DO, PLEASE DO. I KNOW YOU HAVE COME AND SPOKEN

[00:30:03]

>> I APPRECIATE THAT, HAPPY NEW YEAR. THE ONE POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT THE BACK WALL, IF IT COMES DOWN IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A PRIVACY FENCE, A PRIVACY FENCE IS WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE. EVERY ONE OF THOSE TOWNHOMES HAS A PRIVACY FENCE ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE PORCH. TO ME IT IS LIKE , ALMOST THE SAME AS THE WALL, I DON'T SEE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMING THROUGH A PRIVACY FENCE. I MEAN IT HAS A GAIT NOW AND IT WOULD HAVE A GATE THEN BUT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COME THROUGH THE WALL, THEY GOT TO COME THROUGH THE GATE. AND THE AIR HANDLER ON THE PORCH WILL BE MOVED TO THE OUTSIDE , I HAVEN'T HAD IT DONE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING

IT WITH THE GARAGE. >> OKAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT, I APPRECIATE IT. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GET INTO MOTIONS AND

DISCUSSION? >> FOR JULIA AND RICK, SO, THE ADJOINING TOWNHOUSES , THEY HAVE A PRIVACY FENCE WHERE THE WALL IS NOW , IS IT OPEN ON BOTH ENDS? THE PRIVACY FENCE ON THE OTHER TOWNHOUSES , ARE THEY OPEN AT BOTH ENDS ARE ALSO ON

ONE END? >> SOME ARE, SOME AREN'T , MAYBE, BUT DRIVER DEFENSES ARE NOT PROHIBITED IN THAT PLACE.

SO, THAT DOESN'T APPLY AND IT IS SIMPLER FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ACCESS THROUGH A PRIVACY FENCE THEN A SOLID WALL.

>> A PRIVACY FENCE DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OR STRENGTH AS A WALL.

>> OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? AND MS. LACEY, SO WE ARE ALL CLEAR, WHAT IS BEFORE US AS PROPOSED IS A RESOLUTION THAT IS DENYING THE VARIANCE, CORRECT?

>> TWO RESOLUTIONS ARE IN FRONT OF YOU, ONE FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND ONE FROM THE BOARD OF APPEAL RECOMMENDATION, BOTH OF WHICH ARE UPHOLDING THE RECOMMENDATION OF EITHER OF THOSE BOARDS AND DENYING THE

VARIANCES AS REQUESTED. >> OKAY, JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL CLEAR WHAT THE RESOLUTIONS ARE. WITH THAT , LET'S TAKE THESE IN ORDER AND WE WILL START WITH P.1, DOES ANYBODY HAVE A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ITEM E1?

>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION , I AM NOT ON THE PATHETIC BUT WE HAVE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND A PLANNING COMMISSION WHO TAKE THEIR JOB SERIOUSLY ALSO , THEY MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US AND

SO, I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT E1. >> EMOTION, DO I HAVE A SECOND?

>> I THINK YOU NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.

>> I CAN GIVE YOU EXACT LANGUAGE . BASICALLY AS WRITTEN IT IS THAT YOU UPHOLD THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS AND DENY THE VARIANCES POINT

>> I MOVE THAT WE UPHOLD THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND DENY THE VARIANCES.

>> I SECOND THAT FOR THE SAKE OF DISCUSSION.

>> OKAY, MOTION TO SECOND, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THAT THEY

WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THIS? >> I CAN START OFF . WHAT CONCERNS ME ABOUT THIS IS A CERTAINLY I UNDERSTAND MS. REID'S , AS WAS SO ELOQUENTLY PUT, SYMPATHY FOR THE SITUATION. WHERE I STRUGGLE WITH THIS IS THAT THE PERMIT WAS DENIED AND IN THE FACE OF A DENIAL THE CONSTRUCTION WENT FORWARD . YOU KNOW, I STRUGGLE WITH THAT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF WHAT WE HAVE THESE IN PLACE, WE HAVE PERMIT REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE FOR A REASON. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT REASON WHICH IS FIRE SAFETY. NOT ONLY FOR THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS UNIT BUT ALSO FIRE SAFETY FOR THE OCCUPANTS OF THE OTHERS IN THE OTHER ADJOINING TOWNHOMES. YOU KNOW, IF THERE WAS A WAY TO MEET THE FIRE SAFETY ISSUE , YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR THAT AND TO BE MORE IN FAVOR OF THAT BUT I JUST, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED I DON'T KNOW WE CAN GET THERE. BUT I AM OPEN TO ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION.

>> NO, YOU ACTUALLY SAID WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY. THE FACT THAT THIS WAS BUILT AFTER A DENIED PERMIT STRIKES ME. I KNOW THERE IS A NEIGHBOR WHO HAS A GARAGE AS WELL BUT I DON'T KNOW WHEN

[00:35:04]

DECISION. >> MY ONLY QUESTION OR PART OF THE DISCUSSION WOULD BE, IS THERE A COMPROMISE THAT CAN BE MADE AS FAR AS ENCLOSING THE CARPORT WITHOUT THERE BEING A GARAGE? IF SHE MEETS ALL OF THE FIRE SAFETY CODE AND THE EGRESS IS OPEN BACK UP, ESSENTIALLY IT IS A COVERED AND HAS SIDEWALLS ON THE CARPORT BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE A GARAGE DOOR, IT IS STILL OPEN, WHETHER THAT IS A DIALOGUE YOU HAVE HAD OR THAT

SHE HAS BEEN OPEN TO . >> THE EGRESS TO THE BEDROOM IS THE ISSUE. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO GARAGE DOOR. IF WE COULD COME UP WITH A SOLUTION IT WOULD'VE NEVER EVEN MADE IT TO ME OR EVEN GOT TO THE PERMITTING STAFF, I WOULD'VE SAID YOU NEED TO DO THESE MODIFICATIONS AND WE CAN GET YOU A PERMIT. BUT BECAUSE OF THE EGRESS TO THE BEDROOM WE DO NOT SEE A WAY TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS TO BE ABLE TO ISSUE A PERMIT WITHOUT VARIANCE TO THAT SPECIFIC ONE. LIKE I SAID, THE OTHER ONES THE WALL COULD'VE BEEN MODIFIED SO THAT THEY DID HAVE A FIRE SEPARATION, IT IS THAT EGRESS REALLY THAT IS THE FATAL FLAW.

>> REID, JEFF AND DAD? PLEASE DO.

>> THE REASON I WENT AHEAD WITHOUT A PERMIT AFTER WAITING A YEAR IS THAT WHEN I ASKED FOR THE ORIGINAL PERMIT I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE GARAGE NEXT DOOR WAS GOING TO BE TOLD TO BE TAKEN DOWN BECAUSE IT IS NOT PERMITTED EITHER, AND IT WAS INSTALLED 12 YEARS AGO , WHEN THAT WOMAN BROUGHT THE PROPERTY. I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY LOOKING AT HER GARAGE THINKING I COULD DO THE SAME THING. THE OTHER IRONY OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT SHE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD , SHE'S THE NEIGHBOR WHO COMPLAINED. SHE DOES NOT HAVE BOTH OARS IN THE WATER BUT YOU CAN SEE FROM MY PETITION, I AM ASSUMING YOU ALL GOT THE PACKET

THAT I TURNED IN. >> YES, MA'AM.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE MAJORITY OF THE NEIGHBORS THERE ARE LIKE,

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? >> THANK YOU MS. REID . ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

>> HOW MANY OTHER HOMES IN THAT AREA HAVE A GARAGE?

>> THREE AND WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE, LOOKS LIKE HER NEIGHBORS MAY BEEN THE LATEST ONE BUILT IN 2016 BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ONE AND THEN A COUPLE OF YEARS LATER IT WAS REMOVED OR MAY BE ADDED BACK . SO, TWO .

THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT LIST ONE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED IN 2016 AND THEN TWO OF THE SAME CONSTRUCTION DATE AS THE TOWNHOMES IN 1982, '83, OR 'EIGHTY FOUR, I CANNOT REMEMBER EXACTLY BUT ONE OF THOSE '80 DATE IS CORRECT. IT IS HARD TO KNOW BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PERMITTED, SO WE DON'T HAVE RECORDS. AND YOU CANNOT TELL FROM THE AREA BECAUSE THEY WERE COVERED CARPORTS. IT IS NOT LIKE ALL THE SUDDEN A ROOF STRUCTURE APPEARED AND IT IS ALSO DIFFICULT TO TELL FROM THE STREET VIEW BECAUSE IT IS FACING AN INTERIOR ALLEY , YOU CANNOT SEE ALL OF THE GOOGLE STREET VIEWS. BUT THERE ARE THREE. THAT IS WHERE WE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PURSUE ENFORCEMENT ON THOSE THREE AND THAT IS WHERE OUR CONCERN REALLY IS, A SCALE ISSUE. IF WE GRANT VARIANCE FOR THIS, , THE OTHER THREE AND MAYBE MORE AND HAVING 42 ENCLOSED GARAGES THAT DO NOT MEET FIRE CODE AND BLOCKING EGRESS TO BEDROOMS AND WHATNOT IS A REALLY BIG CONCERN

FOR US. >> YES. EVEN THOUGH IT IS A CONCERN, TO BE CLEAR, DOES NOT MEAN THAT IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN, RIGHT? IT IS OBVIOUSLY YOUR PREROGATIVE AND FUTURE COUNCILS PREROGATIVE TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU APPROVE THIS ONE, NOT THAT ONE, OR THIS ONE AND NOT THAT ONE, RIGHT? SO, DON'T THINK IT IS BLACK AND WHITE, YOU REALLY DO HAVE THE DISCRETION TO APPROACH IT HOW YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

>> RIGHT. CERTAINLY WHAT IS BEFORE US TODAY I THINK IS THE EXISTENCE OF THESE OTHERS THAT WERE PREVIOUS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ON , YOU KNOW IT IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN REALLY DIVE INTO AND MAKE A DECISION AT THIS POINT. I THINK WHAT WE ARE TASKED WITH IS MAKING A DECISION TO THE

[00:40:03]

>> I THINK WE ARE ALSO TASKED WITH USING INFORMATION WE DO HAVE AND SOME OF THAT INFORMATION IS THE INFORMATION OF OUR STAFF WHO HAVE THE UNDERSTANDING OF FIRE CODES, UNDERSTANDING OF LANDING, THE REASONS FOR SOME OF THESE ORDINANCES THAT WE HAVE THAT THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD MAY THINK, WELL, AESTHETICALLY I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH IT AND IT MAY NOT HAVE THE ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE BEHIND IT WITH THE REAL ISSUES ARE FOR PROTECTION OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND FOR THEIR PROTECTION. EVEN THOUGH IT IS A TOUGH CALL THAT IS WHAT WE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS GET TO DEAL WITH .

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, FROM MY STANDPOINT, THE FIRE CODES ARE THERE FOR A REASON. THERE ARE SOME VERY REAL REASONS BEHIND IT THAT DEAL WITH PEOPLE'S LIVES AND THEY ARE NOT SOMETHING TO TAKE LIGHTLY AND BRUSH ASIDE. IN MY OPINION.

>> TO BE CLEAR, JULIE , REGARDLESS OF HOW THIS GOES YOU CAN STILL WORK WITH MS. REID FOR AN OUT HIM THAT MIGHT PROVIDE RELIEF AS FAR AS THE CARPORT ITSELF.

>> THE CARPORT WAS IN COMPLIANCE, JUST NEED THOSE

WALLS TO BE REMOVED. >> ALL RIGHT, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, I HAVE MOTION AND A SECOND TO DENY THE REQUESTED VARIANCES. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. ANY POST? ALL RIGHT. LET'S MOVE TO ITEM E2, WHICH IS FOR THE OFFSTREET PARKING. AND MS. FULGHAM, IF ITEM E1 WAS DENIED IS ITEM , DO WE STILL NEED TO ACT UPON E2?

>> I WOULD ASK ALLISON FOR DIRECTION BECAUSE IT KIND OF

BECOMES A MOOT POINT. >> PRACTICALLY BECOMES A MOOT POINT BUT IT IS STILL AN ACTION ITEM ON THE AGENDA AND THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE A VOTE FOR THE ITEM.

>> OKAY. JUST CLARIFYING. DO I HAVE A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO

ITEM E2? >> I MOVE WE UPHOLD THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND DENY THIS

VARIANCE REQUEST. >> GO TO SECOND .

>> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM E2? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED. ALL RIGHT,

[3. Authorize the City's grant application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife...]

>> ITEM E THREES THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY'S GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT FOR RECREATIONAL TRAILS GRANT TO IMPROVE THE TRAIL AT -- REID PARK FOR AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $312,570 WITH THE CITY BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR 20% COST SHARE OF $62,514 .

>> HELLO, CONNOLLY. >> HELLO, GOOD EVENING. I RECENTLY WORKED WITH THE PARKS DEPARTMENT IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP A GRANT FOR TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE RECREATIONAL TRAILS PROGRAM. TO IMPROVE THE TRAIL AT 10 BE READ PARK , THE RECREATIONAL TRAIL AT -- PARK. THE PARK IS ABOUT 10 ACRES, ON SALEM ROAD AND IS RIGHT NEXT TO A FIRE STATION, FIRE STATION NUMBER FOUR. A WALKING TRAIL IS ABOUT .30 MILES BUT PROBLEM CURRENTLY IS THAT IT IS NARROW, A LOT OF IT IS LESS THAN THREE FEET WIDE. THE COMPOSITION IS ALSO KIND OF A CHALLENGE, IT IS MADE OF CRUSHED GRANITE, FINE FOR WALKING BUT YOU WILL NOT ROLL ANYTHING ON IT VERY EASILY. AND THEN OF COURSE IT NEEDS SOME A.D.A. ACCESSIBILITY UPGRADES.

THE PROPOSAL IS, BASICALLY WE ARE JUST GOING TO CONCRETE OVER THE EXISTING TRAIL AND MAKE IT WIDER. THE WIDTH IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MULTIUSE HAS TO BE 10 FEET WIDE , WHICH MEANS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF YOU'RE WALKING ALONG AND SOMEBODY'S COMING WITH THE BIKE, THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM TO GO.

>> AND YOU ARE WRITING YOUR BIKE WITH THE ARMS OUT LIKE

THIS. >> IT IS REALLY WIDE, IT IS SORT OF AN EXTRA MEASURE OF SAFETY THERE. BUT YOU WILL SEE IN THE PICTURE, THE 10 FOOT WIDE IS GOING TO BE THE LOOP THAT GOES AROUND AND THEN WE WILL ADD FIVE FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK TO CONTINUE ALONG THE FRONT OF THE PARK, RIGHT NOW YOU CAN GET TO THE TRAIL BUT YOU HAVE TO ACCESS IT FROM THE PARKING LOT. WE WOULD ADD THE SIDEWALK TO GO ALL THE WAY FROM

[00:45:05]

AS WELL. ANY QUESTIONS? >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THE SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS AND UPGRADES THAT KATIE IS REFERRING TO IN THESE NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS ARE INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE TRAILS THAT WE HAVE ?

>> THE NETWORK, YES. >> IN OUR NETWORK, THOSE ARE SMALL PARKS AND THEY WILL NOT BE 10 FOOT SIDEWALKS OR TRAILS BUT LIKE BRONSON PARK FOR EXAMPLE, CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN THE FORM OF A SIDEWALK/TRAIL/ROUTE OR PATH AROUND IT. THAT IS WHY WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE AN UPDATE ON THESE PARKS BECAUSE THERE IS A MUCH BROADER, BIG PICTURE EFFORT THAT WE ARE UNDERTAKING TO IMPROVE AND ADD MORE TRAILS , REGARDLESS OF THE WIDTH OF THEM.

>> RIGHT. AND I THINK THE LIGHTING IS IMPORTANT FOR EACH

OF THESE AS WELL. >> ABSOLUTELY, THAT IS A HUGE

SAFETY ISSUE. >> RIGHT. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYBODY HAS? ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT , ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM ME THREE, AUTHORIZING THE GRANT APPLICATION?

>> I MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM ME THREE.

>> SECOND. >> A MOTION TO SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> E3 PASSES. I THINK IT WOULD

[1. Communications & Public Affairs 2024 Annual Report. Ashley Strevel...]

REPORTS. MR. DELAGARZA. >> I AM ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR'S ROUND OF ANNUAL REPORT UPDATES TO YOU.

[00:50:07]

NO PRESSURE. >> I WOULD LIKE A WALK-UP SONG.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I'M EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT THE COMMUNICATION PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANNUAL REPORT. I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH STATING OUR MISSION WHICH REMAINS THE SAME , THAT IS TO INFORM AND ENGAGE OUR RESIDENTS TO HELP FOSTER PRODUCTIVE EDUCATION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO THAT THROUGH THREE PRIMARY GOALS. OF COURSE WE LIKE TO PROACTIVELY TELL OUR STORY ABOUT WHAT THE ORGANIZATION DOES AND THE EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE GOING ON. AND THEN WE DO SO THROUGH ENGAGING CONTENT THAT WE PRODUCE AND OF COURSE EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENTS. IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN IT , YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR DESKS ARE INFO GRAPHIC, KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING LIST OF DATA THAT WE USE BUT IT HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF THE KEY PERFORMANCE METRICS THAT WE USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE ARE BEING SUCCESSFUL AND PERFORMING YEAR-OVER-YEAR. I'M GOING TO GOING TO EACH SECTION TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK BEHIND EACH OF THE DATA, FIRST I WANT TO START ON THE FAR LEFT, WHICH IS COMMUNICATION SERVICES BREAKDOWN. IT IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE, IT IS ANY CITY DEPARTMENT THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED RESOURCES TO. OF COURSE YOU WILL SEE ON THE PIE CHART THE MAJORITY OF WHICH IS OUR OWN DEPARTMENT AND ULTIMATELY WE DO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC. SECOND TO THAT IS OF COURSE PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH INCLUDES FIRE, PD AND MINNESOTA COURT. THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT AND I WILL TALK ABOUT IT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION. BUT FIRST WHAT DO WE DO DURING THE YEAR? WHERE DOES OUR WORK GO? THE FIRST I WANT TO MENTION A CITIZENS ACADEMY, OUR FREE FIVE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT IS AVAILABLE TO OUR RESIDENCE AT NO COST. WE LIKE TO EMPOWER THEM TO HAVE SOME OF THE CONTEXT AROUND SOME OF THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS THAT WE SEE OFTEN IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE LIKE THEM TO KNOW THE WHY BEHIND THE WHAT, THE CONTENT, THE CONTEXT AROUND IT. AND THEN HAVE THEM BE OUR BRAND AMBASSADORS TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, CLARIFY INFORMATION AND SIMPLY BE MORE INVOLVED AT THE END OF THE DAY. ULTIMATELY THEY CAN EVEN SORT ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, THAT IS THE GOAL. WE EVEN HAD A FORM TO SUBMIT WHO IS NOW A COUNCILMEMBER, MARK LOFGREN. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE US LET'S HEAR FROM A FEW RECENT PARTICIPANTS.

>> CITIZENS ACADEMY IS VERY INFORMATIVE AND IT HELPS YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR GOALS ALL ALIGNED.

>> I LEARN THINGS THAT WILL HELP ME TO BE A GREAT CITIZEN.

>> THE CITIZENS ACADEMY IS GREAT. WE SEE VICTORIA AND HOW

IT IS GROWING. >> I RECOMMENDED FOR ANYONE IF

[00:55:01]

>> WE DO NOT STOP THERE. WE LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ATTEND ALL THREE OF OUR CITY'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. CITIZENS ACADEMY IS ONE HOST THE BECKY MEDICATIONS. THE OTHER TWO BEING FIRE AND PD. ONCE A CITIZEN COMPLETES ALL THREE WE HELP COORDINATE RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENT. IT TAKES TIME AND ENERGY AND WE LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THEM FOR CHOOSING TO SPEND TIME WISELY IN THIS AREA. AND AGAIN THE FUND DOES NOT STOP THERE. WE DID INITIATE A FEW YEARS AGO AN ALUMNI PROGRAM, SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR DEPARTMENT'S PROGRAM. WE LIKE TO STAY CONNECTED WITH THEM, ONE, THERE ARE A LOT OF NEW UPDATES TO THE INFORMATION THAT WAS ORIGINALLY SHARED WITH THEM. ONE OF THE WAYS WE LIKE TO DO THAT IS THROUGH OUR ALUMNI LUNCHEON IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER YOU CAN SEE A PHOTO THERE, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ONES WE OFFER EACH YEAR AND IT FEATURES OUR OWN CITY MANAGER, GIVING A SUMMARY FROM OUR MAYOR STATE OF THE CITY, IT IS EACH NOVEMBER. SO, OF COURSE OUR DEPARTMENT DOES LIKE TO PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IN PERSON EVENTS AND INTERACTION IS SIMPLY ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY NO MATTER WHAT WE DO , NO MATTER THE INCREASING DIGITAL TRENDS THAT ARE COMING UP AND ONE OF THE NEWER ONES WE WERE ASKED AND ARE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF WAS AN EIGHTH GRADE REGIONAL JOB CAREER FAIR. AS YOU CAN SEE EVERY SINGLE CITY STAFF MEMBER TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE DO AS A DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE DO IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT .

SPEAKING TO THE NEXT GENERATION ABOUT THAT WAS AN HONOR AND OF COURSE THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDING TALKING TO OUR LOCAL MEDIA PARTNERS THAT WE LIKE TO DO EACH YEAR.

OKAY. I WANT TO PAUSE AND MOVE INTO A DIFFERENT SECTION. I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT ALSO ANSWERS THE QUESTION ABOUT ARE INFO GRAPHIC EARLIER, ABOUT WHY WE HAVE ABOUT 21% OF OUR RESOURCES BEING DEDICATED TO THE AREA OF PUBLIC SAFETY. A FEW YEARS AGO I CHALLENGED US TO LOOK AT THIS. OF COURSE WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY MANAGER WE WERE ABLE TO INITIATE THIS NEW ROLE, THIS NEWER ROLE, CALLED PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE CAYSON'S MANAGER. WHO BETTER TO HAVE THAT AND HELP US BRING THOSE RESOURCES TO FRUITION THEN LAUREN MEL. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I WANT TO ASK HER TO COME TALK ABOUT WHAT ALL THAT ENTAILS.

>> GOOD EVENING , MAYOR AND COUNSEL, HAPPY NEW YEAR. THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER POSITION STARTED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, I WORK CLOSELY WITH ASHLEY IN THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM BUT I AM ALSO VERY INGRAINED IN PD AND FIRE AS WELL AND I AM SURROUNDED BY GREAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF PLANNING MEETINGS AND COORDINATING EVENTS AND OF COURSE HELPING ONE -- WITH CRISIS COMMUNICATION. A COUPLE OF EVENTS I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE ON OUR UP-AND-COMING FEMALE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, WE HELD OUR SECOND ONE LAST SUMMER, WE INVITED TEENAGE YOUNG LADIES TO COME OUT , THEY GOT EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT JOB EXPERIENCES, MOCK INTERVIEWS AND GET THE FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF LIFE AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL. ANOTHER ONE THAT WE WILL BE DOING, I THINK OUR FOURTH YEAR, THE CASTING WITH COPS, WE INVITE CHILDREN TO THE COMMITTEE TO COME OUT AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO FISHING WITH OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THIS YEAR WE DID A NEW EVENT, WHICH WAS OUR SMOKE DETECTOR DRIVE, WE PARTNERED WITH WALMART AND WE DID A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO IN OCTOBER FOR FIRE PREVENTION MONTH. WE WERE ABLE TO GET BETWEEN HUNDRED AND 50 TO 200 DETECTORS THAT DAY. IN ADDITION TO THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID BRING BACK THERE FIRE PREVENTION SHOW AND WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IN THE COMMUNICATIONS TEAM TO RECORD IT, GET THE AUDIO AND UPLOAD IT TO OUR CHANNEL AS WELL SO PEOPLE CAN VIEW IT THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND. SO , OVER THE LAST YEAR MYSELF ALONG WITH MY PARTNER DAVID BROCKNER AND THE FIRE COMMAND STAFF, WE RESPONDED TO OVER 200 MEDIA INQUIRIES FROM LOCAL MEDIA.

THIS DOES NOT CAPTURE NATIONAL MEDIA OR INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WE RECEIVED INQUIRIES ON, WHETHER IT WAS THE PLANE CRASH, SOLELY LOCAL MEDIA INQUIRIES. YOU CAN SEE THE DAILY INTERACTION WITH OUR LOCAL MEDIA PARTNERS.

HURRICANE BERYL WAS A SIX-DAY PREPARATION, KEN GILL -- TRENIN I WORKED CLOSELY ON THAT I THINK EVERYONE WAS FATIGUED AFTER WE WERE IN THE OC FOR SEVERAL DAYS, ONE THING WE WANT TO TOUCH ON WAS THE PLANE CRASH ON DECEMBER 11TH. I KNOW THAT OTHERS HAVE COME UP TO PROVIDE A HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF THE INCIDENT. I WANTED TO TAKE A DEEP DIVE ON WHAT WE

[01:00:04]

BELIEVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I WANT TO SAY QUICKLY BEFORE WE MOVE ON FROM THIS SECTION, IT TRULY WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. WE HAVE BUILT SO MANY GREAT RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST THIS COLLABORATIVE RESPONSE GROUP THAT ALL IT TOOK WAS ONE CALL TO LET US KNOW THIS WAS GOING ON AND I INSTANTLY KNEW, OKAY, WE DO ACTIVATE STAFF TO SUPPORT LAUREN , FIRE DEPARTMENT, EVERYBODY ON THE SCENE, ALL HANDS ON DECK AND IT WAS A GREAT RESPONSE. KUDOS TO THEM AND THE WHOLE GROUP. ONE LAST THING I WANT TO MENTION. WHILE WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO CONTINUE GROWING THIS POSITION AND THE EMBEDDED PROGRAM, LAUREN WILL ACTUALLY BE LEAVING US, YOU GUYS, TO GO TO AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY WITH THE VICTORIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, WE THANK HER FOR HELPING BRING THIS VISION UP TO

FRUITION GRADE >> WHAT ?

>> WE DO CONTINUE TO WORK HAND-IN-HAND IN THIS COMMITTEE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE DOING THAT WHILE BUILDING THIS POSITION AND PROGRAM. ALL RIGHT. ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT SECTION? WERE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE RIGHT FOR INFORMATION CHANNELS. THAT IS A LOT OF DATA, A LOT OF BIG NUMBERS. THE RED INDICATES SPECIFICALLY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT'S OWN PAGES, SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. THE BLUE INDICATES CITYWIDE. WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL CITY DEPARTMENT PAGES AND THE ONE I WANT TO CALL OUT IS 100% GROWTH AND COMMUNICATION VIDEO VIEWS. PRIMARILY WE HAD A LOT GOING ON IN BICENTENNIAL. WE PRODUCED HIGH-QUALITY VIDEOS AND THE TRACTION THAT WE HAD DURING THE YEAR BECAUSE OF ALL THE ATTENTION HAPPENING, WE WERE ABLE TO BUILD MOMENTUM THROUGH SOME POPULAR VIDEOS, ONE OF WHICH YOU WILL SEE A CLIP HERE IN A SECOND AND SO, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I WILL SHOW YOU GUYS A CLIP OF THAT SOME OF OUR TOP THREE.

>> HEY, I AM CHIEF FOX, WELCOME TO -- CRIBS. OUR LATEST INSTALLMENT OF OUR NEWEST FIRE STATION, FOLLOW ME. BELIEVE IT OR NOT WE HAVE BEEN MAKING SOME SERIOUS HEADWAY IN STREET PROJECTS. FOR INSTANCE, CRESTWOOD DRIVE, THAT'S RIGHT . WE RECENTLY FINISHED THE THIRD AND FINAL PHASE OF THIS PROJECT. LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, DOESN'T IT?

>> IT ALL STARTED HERE. A TINY MEXICAN SETTLEMENT IN THE GUADALUPE RIVER. 200 YEARS AGO MARTIN LYONS AND PATRICIA

DELAGARZA. >> IF YOU WANT TO CATCH THE FULL VIDEO, I WAS NOT GOING TO PLAY ALL OF THE MAYOR IN COUNCIL BUT YOU CAN WATCH THEM ON YOUTUBE AT VICTORIA , TEXAS VIDEOS. THE OTHER FUN EFFORT, DIFFERENT WAY OF MEDICATING WITH RESIDENTS THAT WE LAUNCHED RECENTLY THIS PAST YEAR IS OUR NEW, EXPANDED CITY ALERT CENTER. THIS ALLOWS US TO DIRECTLY COMMUNICATE WITH BOTH UTILITY AND WASTE CUSTOMERS , WHICH TARGETED NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CITY SERVICES. WE DO SO BASED ON THEIR RESIDENCE. THE SOFTWARE GIVES US THE GUILTY TO GEO-TARGET, WHICH WE HAVE NEVER HAD BEFORE. I AM VERY EXCITED TO BRING THIS TO FRUITION AND I WANT TO THINK ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS AND I.T. OF COURSE FOR HELPING MAKE THIS A REALITY FOR OUR RESIDENTS. IT IS A BIG DEAL AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE BUILDING IT OUT, THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER OPTIONAL ALERTS THEY CAN SIGN UP FOR LIKE CITY NEWS, ROAD CLOSURES AND SO MUCH MORE.

THAT IS ANOTHER FUN THING WE BROUGHT YOU FOR RATION THIS YEAR. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS WE COMMUNICATE WITH RESIDENTS. OF COURSE THE WRITTEN WORD IS ANOTHER WAY. WE HAVE A STELLAR WRITER NAMED SAM HANKINS AND SHE DOES ALL OF OUR CONTENT VARIED IF YOU DID NOT SEE THE NUMBER, THAT IS 200 YEAR OR MORE, I DON'T REMEMBER. SOME OF THE MOST ENGAGED NEWS RELEASES ARE POSITIONED HERE AND OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT OUR COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THE DUCK POND. LAST YEAR IT WAS ABOUT A NEW RETAILER THAT OPENED UP, EVERY YEAR WE LIKE TO LOOK AT THE TOP THREE ENGAGED NEWS RELEASES TO SEE WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT IS NOT BUT ALSO WHAT DOES OUR COMMUNITY CARE ABOUT? THEY LIKE TO SEE THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO ENJOY. OKAY. THIS IS A FUN SECTION. TEAM AWARDS.

[01:05:06]

FOR THOSE NEWER COUNCILMEMBERS, LAST YEAR WE DID LAUNCH A NEWSROOM WEBPAGE. THAT IS A CENTRALIZED WEBPAGE ON OUR MAIN WEBSITE. BASICALLY IT IS A CENTRAL HUB OF INFORMATION, THAT MOST ANYONE IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO INTERNET, CAN ACCESS.

YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE TO VARIOUS INFORMATION SOURCES THAT WE PROVIDE TO OUR RESIDENTS AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US, DO ALL OF THE THINGS, EVEN SIGN UP FOR THE NEW CITY ALERT CENTER. THE REASON I BROUGHT THIS UP IS BECAUSE WE REMAIN THE NUMBER TWO MOST VISITED WEBPAGE, ASIDE FROM THE HOMEPAGE. OKAY. THE LAST FUN EFFORT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IS OUR BRAND-NEW TOWN TALK PODCAST. IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD OF IT OR SEEN IT OR ANYTHING ABOUT IT I HAVE A SLIDE WITH A BRIEF CLIP. I WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU BUT I WANTED TO SAY THAT WHEN STAFF AND I FIRST STARTED THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO, WHETHER WE WANTED TO DO IT A FEW YEARS AGO WE SAID WE WANT TO DO THIS. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AND FEEL IT? WE SAT DOWN AND STORYBOARD IT, WE SAID WE NEED TO LOOK AT OTHER CONTENDING PODCAST THAT ARE POPULAR AND THAT ARE COMMON TODAY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MAINTAINING THE STANDARD OF EXPECTATION TO THE PUBLIC AND WE DID JUST THAT, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS MODERN, RELEVANT, AND IT WAS INSIGHTFUL AS AN EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOOL AND ENTERTAINING. WE KNOW THAT PODCAST HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND IT IS GROWING SIGNIFICANTLY EVERY YEAR. I THINK I READ HALF 1 BILLION WORLDWIDE USERS. THAT IS SIGNIFICANT , SINCE COVID, THE PANDEMIC. WE ARE PROVIDING ANOTHER TOOL FOR OUR RESIDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN AN ENGAGING MANNER, KIND OF LIKE A FLY ON THE WALL I LIKE TO SAY. MAYBE THEY CAN LEARN BETTER THAT WAY. WE KNOW IT IS BECOMING MORE AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL FOR PEOPLE . HERE IS A CLIP AIRED ALREADY.

>> I THINK THE IDEA, I THINK THE CONCEPT IS FOCUSING ON GROWING OUR COMMUNITY REALLY CAME OUT OF THE BUDGET CONVERSATION, RIGHT? WE MENTIONED EARLIER ABOUT HAVING LIMITED RESOURCES AND THE REALITY IS THAT THERE IS A POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN GROWTH IN THE CITY AND FINANCES. IT IS PRETTY SIMPLE, OBVIOUSLY THE MORE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT IS THE MORE PROPERTY THAT IS BEING BROUGHT UP AND THE VALUES. IT GENERATES MORE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE, MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN YOUR COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTES MORE TO RETAIL AT ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ALSO CREATE AND ENHANCE OUR SALES TAX REVENUE SIDE.

>> OF COURSE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO ANY OF OUR EPISODES WITHOUT THE WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THAT OUR GUESTS HAVE. YOU SAW IN THE PRIOR PHOTOS ARE CITY MANAGER AND A FEW OTHERS, DANIELLE OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AND THEY HAVE SO MUCH INSIGHT INTO THEIR WORLD THAT WE EVEN GET TO SIT IN ON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT. WE ARE VERY GOD -- GLAD TO BRING THAT TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THIS GUY IS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, TO HAVE HIM ON THE SHOW WAS AWESOME. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE EPISODES. ALL RIGHT, ENOUGH ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. WHAT ARE OUR CHALLENGES? TO BE QUITE HONEST, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A BIT OF A PLATEAU IN THIS AREA, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE DEMAND FOR THE SERVICES. EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON THE FIRST, UPPER LEFT-HAND CORNER IS BEING OUT-PASTE BY AVAILABLE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE. WE ARE A DEPARTMENT OF SEVEN, THAT SOUND LIKE A LOT, THERE ARE OTHER CITIES IN COMPARABLE SIZES THAT HAVE TWICE THAT . I WAS JUST TALKING TO JESUS ABOUT THAT TODAY AS I EXPLORED THIS REPORT AND SO, SOME OF THE RESULTS OF THAT IS ENDING UP BEING THAT , NOT ONLY OURSELVES BUT OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS OFTEN OUTSOURCE THE SERVICES. WHEN I SAY SERVICES I AM TALKING ABOUT MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION SERVICES, CONSULTATION, STRATEGIC THOUGHT, TO MESSAGING, WRITTEN CONTENT, PHOTOGRAPHY COVERAGE OF EVENTS, TO VIDEOGRAPHY, WHICH TAKES A LOT OF TIME . YOU SEE HERE THAT THE COST , THIS IS A REPORT I DID LAST YEAR, WE

[01:10:02]

IT WAS A SHORT TERM SOLUTION TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS PODCAST, THE VISION WE HAVE HAD FOR YEARS TO FRUITION. I SAID THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO IT, WERE GOING TO BRING IT UP AND MAKE IT GET ON ITS LEGS. IT IS NOT A LONG-TERM, VIABLE SOLUTION BUT IT DOES HELP US IN THE INTERMEDIATE. THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS A DEDICATED JUDEO WILL HELP US WITH ALL DIFFERENT CITY DEPARTMENT SERVICES. BEYOND THE PODCAST.

WITH THAT I WANT TO SAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HEARING ME. I AM VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE DO WITH THIS COMMUNITY, YOU ALL, THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND EVERYONE WAS SITTING HERE .

THANK YOU AGAIN AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER

THEM. >> ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, SO MUCH. WELL-DESERVED APPLAUSE. OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM CONTINUES TO DO A GREAT JOB AND THE PRODUCT IS ALWAYS PROFESSIONAL. YOU GUYS HELP MAKE THE CITY

LOOK GOOD AND WE APPRECIATE IT. >> THEY 100% DO I WANT TO TAKE A MINUTE TO THANK ASHLEY AND HER LEADERSHIP, IT STILL BOGGLES MY MIND HOW JUST 5.5 YEARS AGO, THE DEPARTMENT DIDN'T EXIST AND IT IS EXISTING , YOU KNOW, WHEN I ARRIVED 5.5 YEARS AGO COMMUNICATIONS WAS COMBINED WITH OUR CONVENTION VISITORS BUREAU , IN ONE OF THE VERY FIRST RE-ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE UNDERTOOK WAS SPLITTING THAT UP. SO THAT THE CONVENTIONS VISITOR BUREAU COULD SOLELY FOCUS ON THEIR SCOPE AND WE CAN EXPAND EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE SEEN EXPANDED OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND THAT IS ON THE UP AND UP AND THAT IS WHY THIS DEPARTMENT IN PARTICULAR IS IN A POSITION TO WHERE THAT UP AND UP IS THE PRIORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY WITH PERSONNEL AND AS I POINTED OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ANNUAL REPORTS I WANT TO MAKE IT AS EASY FOR YOU AND THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS OF THE DEPARTMENT IS AND ODYSSEY FOR THE KEY MEDICATIONS DEPARTMENT IT IS THE PERSONNEL PEACE BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT IS NEW AND ON THE UP AND UP. THE STUDIO ELEMENT OF IT, WE HOPE TO INCLUDE AS A PART OF THE RENOVATION OF THE BUILDING WE ARE IN NOW, WHEN MUNICIPAL COURT AND POLICE MOVED TO THE NEW BUILDING THE IDEA IS TO RENOVATE THE SPACE, IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THE STUDIOS TO BE OFF TO THE SIDE OF LIKE A COUNCIL CHAMBER AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THERE IS A LOT OF

[01:15:02]

BUT THANK YOU, VERY PROUD, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY. I PERSONALLY FEEL VERY PROUD OF ASHLEY AND THE WORK SHE HAS DONE, THE FIRST EXECUTIVE HIRE I HAD OVER FIVE YEARS AGO AND

ALSO WORK. THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO THROW SOMETHING IN, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE REPORT WAS GREAT EXCEPT FOR THE NEWS ON --, WE WILL MISS YOU BUT WE WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.

[2. Victoria Public Library 2024 Annual Report. Jessica Berger, Library Di...]

>> I FORGOT ABOUT IT. NO, JUST KIDDING. NEXT UP , OF COURSE WE WILL HIT ON OUR LIBRARY, JESSICA IS GOING TO KICK IT

OFF. >> HELLO, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE LIBRARY ANNUAL REPORT. AS JESUS SAID WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME SUCCESSES, WERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME CHALLENGES BUT I AM HOPING THAT THE REPORT WILL SHOW YOU HOW PEOPLE USE THE LIBRARY. I WANT TO START OFF WITH A QUICK REMINDER, AS SOON AS THIS , OH, NO. ONCE AGAIN, THERE WE GO. I WANT TO START OFF WITH A REMINDER OF THE MISSION STATEMENT, OUR HOPE IS THAT THE LIBRARIES THE WELCOMING HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHERE WE ALL COME TOGETHER TO IMAGINE, DISCOVER, AND CONNECT. YOU ALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND OUR PRIORITIES THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN THAT AND YOU WILL SEE THESE WORDS THROUGHOUT THE PRESENTATION, OUR GOALS ARE THAT , WE PRIORITIZE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES, FOSTERING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR LEARNING AND READING , AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SERVING AS A RELIABLE ANCHOR. HOPEFULLY THE PRESENTATION WILL SHOW YOU HOW WE DO THAT AND HOW WE DID THAT THIS PAST YEAR. SO, IMPROVING ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY AND RESOURCES. THERE IS A SNAPSHOT OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE INTRODUCED. OUR ANYTIME PICK UP LOCKERS AND OUR NEWLY RENOVATED OR NEW TABLES AND CHAIRS IN THE COMPUTER AREAS. SO, TECHNOLOGY IMPACT, JUST A HIGH OVERVIEW SNAPSHOT OF THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, 2024. WE SAW OVER 17,000 COMPUTER SESSIONS, WHAT IS THAT? THAT IS AND 70 COMES INTO THE LIBRARY AND LOGS INTO OUR DESKTOP COMPUTER OR LAPTOP .

COMPUTER QUESTIONS, THOSE ARE THE THINGS OR PEOPLE COME IN AND SAY, I NEED TO CREATE A RESUME, WHERE DO I FIND THAT? HOW DO I GET THIS INFORMATION ONLINE? THIS IS A QUICK READY REFERENCE MARTIN GOES TO THE COMPUTER AND HELPS OUR PATRONS WITH PEWTER QUESTIONS. WI-FI SESSIONS AND WEBSITE VISITS , THAT IS WHERE WE ARE SEEING A BIG INCREASE. I WILL NOT GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL BUT I WANT TO PROVIDE VISUALS THAT SHOW IT. OUR WI-FI STATS. THOSE ARE PEOPLE LOGGING INTO OUR FREE WI-FI. YOU CAN SEE THE LAST FIVE YEARS IT HAS JUMPED. WE HAVE REALLY FAST INTERNET. I AM BRAGGING ABOUT IT BUT WE HAVE REALLY GOOD WI-FI SPEED, AS YOU CAN SEE WE ARE A RELIABLE SOURCE. SOME PEOPLE WILL COME TO USE THE WI-FI.

>> WE SHOULD HAVE OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS OVER THERE.

>> YES, YOU CAN. AND THAT OUR WEBSITE VISITS. YOU CAN SEE THERE IS AN INCREASE IN WEBSITE VISITS, WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE WE OFFER OUR LIBRARY CATALOG OR PEOPLE CAN GO RENEW, CHECKOUT, RESERVE ITEMS, JUST LOG INTO THE LIBRARY CATALOG AND DO MUCH OF THE SERVICES THEMSELVES. THEY CAN RESERVE OUR MEETING ROOMS. THEY CAN GO ON OUR WEBSITE TO SEE WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE SEEING A TREND WHERE PEOPLE ARE USING THE WEBSITE MORE AND MORE. AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO STOP ME ANYTIME AS I KNOW I AM JUST BLOWING THROUGH THIS. ACCESS TO LIBRARY MATERIALS. AS YOU CAN SEE THAT IS OUR RIBBON-CUTTING, THOSE WERE VERY LARGE SCISSORS, THANK YOU, PARKS AND REC FOR LETTING US BORROW THOSE. WE INSTALL THE ANYTIME PICK UP LOCKER AT THE LIBRARY. WE SECURED THE FUNDING FOR OVER $41,000 . WE DID GET THE SECOND GRANT TO HAVE THE OFF-SITE LOCATION IN THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN, THE MALL, WE ARE IN THE WORKS OF COMPLETING THAT PROJECT BUT AS YOU CAN SEE WE ARE EXTENDING OUR REACH AND EXTENDING OUR SERVICES BY ADDING THESE ANYTIME PICK UP LOCKERS. I WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU WITH, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? SO, THESE ANYTIME PICK UP LOCKERS, AS YOU CAN SEE THESE ARE ALL THE RESERVES THAT WE HAVE AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW.

THAT MEANS THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT MAYBE DO NOT WANT TO COME INTO THE LIBRARY OR MAYBE WANT TO GET ACCESS TO OUR COLLECTION BUT IS IT AFTER HOURS OR WHEN THE LIBRARY IS CLOSED. YOU CAN SEE THE COMMUNITY IS FINDING OUT ABOUT IT AND USING IT. IT DID PROVIDE, I DID PROVIDE MORE OF A SNAPSHOT FOR FISCAL YEAR

[01:20:01]

FOSTERING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND SUPPORT. THESE PICTURES ARE FROM OUR SEPTEMBER, SHOW YOUR LIBRARY CARD PROMOTION. THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS A LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD, MAYOR CROCKER IN THE MIDDLE AND OUR FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY AS WELL TO THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT AND I JUST WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY ITSELF AND THE LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT OFFER THE DISCOUNT FOR SHOW YOUR LIBRARY CARD PROMOTION, THIS WAS A SUCCESSFUL PROMOTION IN THAT PEOPLE CAME IN TO NOT ONLY GET A LIBRARY CARD BUT RENEW. THIS IS A REMINDER TO GO ROOM RENEW YOUR CARD. IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. I WANT TO SAY IT WAS OVER 100 THAT ONE MONTH, WE GOT TO SEE RENEWALS AND NEW CARDS. COMMUNITY AWARENESS, HOW ARE WE GETTING OUT THERE AND TELLING PEOPLE WHAT WE DO. AND REMINDING THEM OF THE LIBRARY IS THERE. REFERENCE REQUESTS, WHAT THAT IS , THAT IS ANYTIME A COMMUNITY MEMBER ASKS US A QUESTION. WHETHER IT BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS, CAN YOU HELP ME FIND INFORMATION ON THIS? CAN YOU TELL ME FIND A BOOK ON THIS? IT IS NOT ONLY PEOPLE WALKING IN TO THE LIBRARY ASKING QUESTIONS, IT IS EMAIL, PHONE CALLS , TEXT MESSAGES, AND CURBSIDE QUESTIONS. THESE ARE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, HELP AND DIRECTION OF QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE. THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR WE SAW 3200 NEW CARDHOLDERS. BUT WITH THE TOTAL OVER 36,000 REGISTERED CARDHOLDERS THAT WE HAVE ACTIVE IN THE LIBRARY RIGHT NOW. IN OUR OUTREACH EVENTS, THIS IS WHEN WE ARE PARTNERING , NOT PARTNERING, DOING INFORMATIONAL BOOTHS, ACTIVITY BOOTHS OUTSIDE OF THE LIBRARY. WE WERE ABLE TO GO 232 OUTREACH EVENTS . PARTNERSHIPS EVENTS, WHEN WE PARTNER WITH OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS. WE HAD 151 EVENTS .

AND IN SCHOOL TOURS WHICH WE OFFER ALL YEAR LONG, WELCOMED IN 460 STUDENTS. THESE ARE NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT OUR LIBRARY RESOURCES AND SERVICES, AND WHAT WE OFFER, BUT REMINDING PEOPLE WHAT WE HAVE AND THIS IS INTRODUCING THAT WE HAVE ACTIVITIES, STORYTIME, JUST ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY , WHEN IT COMES TO FOSTERING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND SUPPORT TO RECOGNIZE THE FRIENDS OF THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. AS HARLEY SAID EARLIER, THEY ARE ABOUT TO GEAR UP FOR THEIR NEXT ANNUAL BOOK SALE BUT I WANTED TO JUST SHOW THAT THEY WORKED OVER 1000 HOURS OF VOLUNTEERING HOURS, WHETHER IT BE THOSE THREE

[01:25:03]

NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT WHY YOU SHOULD BE A FRIEND OF THE LIBRARY BUT TALKING ABOUT THE 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN, I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT LATER. AND JUST ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME USE THE LIBRARY. THEY FUNDED THE NEW COMPUTER TABLES AND CHAIRS IN THE COMPUTER AREA, THE PICTURE RIGHT THERE.

AND THEY FUND SOME OF OUR LARGER PROGRAMS, LIKE THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM AND THE GINGERBREAD HOUSE PROGRAM. SO, I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR FUNDRAISING , SEVERAL OF THE BOARD MEMBERS ARE IN THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW , I ASKED THEM NOT TO CHEER, DO A WAVE, THEY ARE THERE TO, THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT AND ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR. INSPIRE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, WHAT HAVE WE DONE? LET'S SEE. WE WELCOMED OVER HUNDRED AND 54,000 VISITORS IN THE LIBRARY. OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ASK, HOW DO PEOPLE USE THE LIBRARY? WHEN DO THEY COME TO THE LIBRARY? WE AVERAGE ABOUT 400 VISITORS PER DAY . IN THE SUMMERTIME THAT DOUBLES. WE SEE ABOUT 800 VISITORS PER DAY. WE SELL OVER 20,000 ATTENDEES TO OUR PROGRAMS. AGAIN, THIS IS , HOW ARE WE INSPIRING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT? WE ARE THERE, THE LIBRARY IS THERE, COME IN, FIND INFORMATION OR WHATEVER INTEREST YOU. ATTEND ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS, OUR KNITTING EVENT.

OUR COLLAGE KNIGHTS. IT IS JUST A DIFFERENT THING THAT WE OFFER. AND THEN INTERLIBRARY LOAN, WE DON'T HAVE A CERTAIN ITEM ON THE SELF WE WILL BORROW IT FROM ANOTHER LIBRARY FOR YOU. WE WILL FIND WAYS TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES YOU NEED.

WE BORROWED 2000 ITEMS FROM OTHER LIBRARIES AND WE SENT OUT AND LENT OUT 3000 ITEMS FOR OTHER LIBRARIES AS WELL. OUR READY TO READ INITIATIVE. AS YOU ALL KNOW OR MAY NOT KNOW WE OFFER BABY TIME AND STORYTIME ALL YEAR LONG AT THE LIBRARY, AS WELL AS WE VISIT EIGHT DAY CARES A MONTH. SO, WE SAW OVER 4000 ATTENDEES AT OUR STORYTIME'S. THE 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY HAS SHOWN THAT IF YOU READ 1000 BOOKS TO YOUR CHILD BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN THERE WELL AHEAD OF THE GAME AND READY TO GO, WE ARE ENCOURAGING THAT PROGRAM AS WELL. AND OUR SUMMER READING PROGRAM. THAT IS OUR, I WOULD SAY OUR MOST HIGH-ENERGY TIME OF THE YEAR AND WHEN I SAY THAT, I WANT TO SHOW YOU OR TELL YOU THAT USUALLY EVERY MONTH WE OFFER 25 TO 30 PROGRAMS AND WE SEE SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE. IN JUNE WE HAD 54 PROGRAMS AND IN JULY WE HAD 53 PROGRAMS. IN JUNE WE SAW 4600 PEOPLE COME TO OUR PROGRAMS AND IN JULY WAS ALL 4196 . SO, WE OFFER PROGRAMS ALL YEAR LONG BUT JUNE AND JULY IS OUR GO TIME. SO, WE INVITE YOU ALL TO COME TO SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS AND TO SEE HOW FUN THEY ARE. THIS IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE FISCAL YEAR OF PROGRAMMING LOOKS LIKE. AS YOU CAN SEE OUR MOST ATTENDED IS OUR CHILDREN/FAMILY PROGRAMS BUT I WANTED YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT TEENS DO COME TO OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS AS WELL AND ADULT PROGRAMMING, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF GROWTH WITH THE TEEN AND ADULT PROGRAMMING SINCE 2019 , AND THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GO UP. YES, WE ARE KNOWN FOR OUR FAMILY PROGRAMMING BUT THE OTHER NUMBERS ARE GOING UP AS WELL. SERVE AS A COMMUNITY ANCHOR. MY TEAM, THE LIBRARY TEAM HAS DONE A GREAT JOB OF BEING VERY CREATIVE ON SOME OF THE THINGS WHERE WE RE-USE SPACE AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS WITH. PART OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS , AND OUR MASTER PLAN OF TECHNOLOGY AND THE SPACE THAT WE HAVE, THERE WAS SOME REQUESTS FOR HOMEWORK SPACES, YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY RE-WORKED SOME OF OUR TABLES TO PUT DRY ERASE CONTACT PAPER ON THEM. WE CREATED LIKE HOMEWORK PLACES .

WE HAVE DRY ERASE MARKERS AND ERASERS AT THE DESK AND ANYBODY CAN COME IN AND SAY, I NEED TO USE THAT TO DO MY HOMEWORK AND WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME STUDY. WE HAVE SEEN TUTORS COME TO USE THE TABLES, WE TRY TO MAKE HOMEWORK TYPE SPACES. WE ADDED A SMART TV TO THE YTIME R MEETING ROOM A, HIGH USAGE AND

[01:30:04]

>> JESSICA, THE ONLINE RESERVATIONS, YOU JUST STARTED

THAT TWO YEARS AGO? >> YES. WE STREAMLINED THE PROCESS, YOU GO ONLINE, HIT THE BUTTON TO RESERVE THE ROOM YOURSELF AND WAIT FOR US TO APPROVE IT AND THAT HAS MADE IT SO MUCH EASIER. SO, WE HAVE A LOT OF REOCCURRING STUDY GROUPS AND THINGS BUT ALSO A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE, PEOPLE SAY, I NEED A SPACE AND WORD-OF-MOUTH HAS REALLY SPREAD. TRY THE LIBRARY, TRY THE LIBRARY, THE PROCESS IS PRETTY EASY. WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE GROWTH THERE. SOME HIGHLIGHTS. SOME THINGS I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT. WITH THE ALL THE SUPPORT WE WERE ABLE TO SECURE THE FUNDING FOR AN AV SET UP, THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ON HOLD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS , WE ARE SO EXCITED THAT THE PROJECT IS GOING TO GET STARTED SOON. OUR NEW 3-D PRINTER , WE WERE ABLE TO 3-D PRINT 24 COMPUTER MOUNTS. YOU SEE THE BLUE PICTURE, THE FILE, AND THEN THE PICTURE NEXT TO IT IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AT THE DESK. SO, WITH OUR NEW COMPUTER DESK WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CREATE MORE USABLE SPACE. KUDOS TO I.T. , THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND THESE BOXES THAT WE COULD SECURE THE COMPUTER BOX TO THE BACK OF THE TABLE AND THEY SAID, IT WILL COST $1000 BUT WE GOT THE FILE, THE 3-D FILE IF YOU WANT TO 3-D PRINT THEM YOURSELF. SO, OUR TEAM 3-D PRINTED 24 COMPUTER MOUNTS AND THE COST WAS $60 .

SO, WE WERE EXCITED FOR THAT AND IT WAS A GREAT COLLABORATION WITH THE I.T. TEAM.

>> ARE THERE OTHER LIBRARIES WE CAN MAKE SOME AND SELL THEM TO?

>> THE WEBSITE , THE STATISTICS WILL GO RIGHT UP. AS YOU CAN SEE , THE PICTURE AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAD AN AGING A SELF CHECKOUT MACHINE AND WE REMOVED IT AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET TWO NEW SELF CHECKOUT MACHINES RIGHT THERE AND YOU SEE THE KIOSK TO THE RIGHT, THE LITTLE SCREEN , THAT IS THE PAPERLESS SIGN UP FOR A LIBRARY CARD. RIGHT THERE. WE ARE GETTING REALLY HIGH TECH AT THE LIBRARY, COME USE IT. I ENCOURAGE YOU. COME CHECK IT OUT. OKAY, I GOT TO CLICK , OKAY. CHALLENGES. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE SEEING, OUR FACILITY MAINTENANCE, ROOF DAMAGE. THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT AND IN THE MIDDLE , THOSE ARE LEAKS UPSTAIRS THAT ARE NOT VERY VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. THE ONE TO THE RIGHT IS CLOSER TO THE GOODWIN MAIN STREET SEVEN LIBRARY AND THAT WAS MORE VISIBLE. AS YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE. THESE ARE NOT LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS BUT THIS IS WHAT HAS TO BE NOW BECAUSE ANY TIME ANY RAIN COMES WE HAVE REPLACED COUNTLESS TILES AND IT IS JUST WHERE IT IS RIGHT NOW. AND THEN MODERN SPACES, YOU KNOW, SPACE IS A CHALLENGE FOR US. WE HAVE ALREADY REDUCED THE FOOTPRINT OF THE SERVICE DESK AND YOU KNOW, THE PICTURES WHERE WE SHOWED YOU, WHERE I SHOWED YOU WE ARE RE-WORKING SPACES, WE ARE TRYING TO JUST DO WHAT WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE. THOSE

[01:35:04]

PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR THE DATE WHEN WE LAUNCH THAT. SUMMER FUNFEST, OUR SUMMER KICKOFF WILL BE MAY 31ST. PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR INFORMATION ON THAT AS WELL. ON OCTOBER 4TH IT IS THE LIBRARY'S BIRTHDAY AND ANNIVERSARY. BEFORE OCTOBER 4TH , 50 YEARS AGO, IT WAS THE VICTORIA BRONTË LIBRARY.

VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY TURNS 50. SO, PLEASE LOOK OUT , WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE PROGRAMS AND EVENTS THAT ARE AROUND THE CELEBRATION, SO, NOT ME, THE BUILDING TURNS 50, VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. SOME MASTER PLAN PROJECTS IN 2026 AND THINGS LOOKING AHEAD. WHAT WE ARE WORKING ON. WE ARE LOOKING AND TRYING TO PURSUE A GRANT FOR A BOOK MOBILE. THE SMALLER VEHICLES ARE CALLED SPRINTERS. AS I MENTIONED BEFORE , WE ARE IN NEED NEED OF MORE WHEELS. WE ARE LOOKING AT APPLYING FOR A BOOK MOBILE GRANT. THE EXTERIOR , CUT ON THE EXISTING WALL FROM THE HANDICAP RAMP. AS YOU CAN SEE THE WALLS ARE PRETTY THICK AND SOMETIMES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIBERTY SIDE OF THE BUILDING , IT IS HARD TO EVEN SEE WHERE THE RAMP IS.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE ASK ABOUT THAT. THE MASTER PLAN MENTIONS ABOUT HAVING MORE OF A RAIL SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE END . THIS PAST YEAR WE ARE SEEING, WE HAVE SEEN A LOT MORE HOMELESS ACTIVITY AT NIGHT. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND WE HAVE HAD TO CLEAN UP THINGS IN THE MORNING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS ON HOW TO OPEN THAT UP. DO A MASTER PLAN PROJECTS WITH THAT AS WELL. FUTURE NEEDS. WE ARE HOPING THAT THE BOOK LOCKER AT THE VICTORIA MALL WILL SHOW US SOME INTERESTS AND SEE HOW MUCH IS BEING USED. WE WANT TO LOOK AT, HOW CAN WE POTENTIALLY LOOK AT A SATELLITE LOCATION IN THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN? WE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT THAT JUST TO SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE THERE BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF THE MASTER PLAN AND EXTENDING OUR REACH WITH SERVICES. AND EXPLORING OTHER OPTIONS FOR ADDING THE MULTI-PURPOSE OUTDOOR SPACE. THAT PICTURE IS FROM THE LIBRARY MASTER PLAN, WHERE IT TALKED ABOUT ACTIVATING THAT SPACE THAT IS ON THE CORNER OF GOODWIN AND MAIN STREET. JUST AN IDEA OF WHAT IT COULD LOOK LIKE. THIS IS THE TIME THAT I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL, MAYOR AND COUNCIL FOR THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN US THIS YEAR , TO HAVE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR AND ALSO THANK THE STAFF , MY TEAM AT VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY ON ANOTHER GREAT YEAR. AND JUST PROVIDING THE SPACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO IMAGINE, DISCOVER, AND CONNECT. THANK YOU.

[01:40:01]

>> THANK YOU, MUCH APPRECIATED. OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR THE LIBRARY, DOES ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR STAFF FOR CONTINUING TO BE A VALUABLE ASSET FOR OUR COMMUNITY, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> STAY UP THERE FOR A SECOND. I WANT TO THANK JESSICA FOR HER LEADERSHIP BECAUSE YOU MAY OR MAY NOT RECALL THAT IN FISCAL YEAR '22 WE ACTUALLY REDUCED THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AT THE LIBRARY BY TWO. SO, LITERALLY OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS UNDER JESSICA'S LEADERSHIP WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LITERALLY DO MORE WITH LESS OF THE LIBRARY. AS YOU CAN TELL . SO, THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THAT FRONT. AS YOU CAN SEE BY HER PRESENTATION, THE NEEDS FOR THE LIBRARY ARE FACILITY IN NATURE, NOT NECESSARILY PERSONNEL, RIGHT? TO MY POINT, I WANT TO MAKE IT AS EASY FOR EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS ARE FOR EACH DEPARTMENT. TODAY HOPEFULLY YOU GOT A SENSE OF WHAT TO EXPECT IN FUTURE PRESENTATIONS FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO UP ALL OF US UNDERSTAND , IS IT PERSONNEL? EQUIPMENT? FACILITIES? BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP . I WAS ADDRESSING THE FACILITY NEEDS FOR THE LIBRARY GETS TRICKIER AS YOU DO NOT OWN THE BUILDING, PROBABLY GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO COLLABORATE WITH THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING, WHICH IS VICTORIA COUNTY, SPECIALLY TO ADDRESS CRITICAL NEEDS LIKE THE ROOF. IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING THE STATUS OF THAT, WE REALIZED THAT THE ISSUE MIGHT BE MORE ROBUST AND WE'VE HAD TO ACTUALLY HIRE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS TO LOOK AT THE INTEGRITY OF THE BUILDING TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OF WHAT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO TAKE PLACE TO PROPERLY FIX AND/OR REPLACE THE ROOF , WE ARE GOING THROUGH ASSESSMENT NOW AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WE WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH YOU AND VICTORIA COUNTY ON HOW TO ADDRESS THAT

PRESSING ISSUE. >> THANK YOU, JESUS .

[H. Executive Sessions:]

>> NO, THANK YOU. >> VERY GOOD. I BELIEVE THAT REACHES THE END OF OUR AGENDA.

>> YES, SIR. >> WILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS 6:42, WE WILL CONCLUDE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF THE MEETING, TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK AND THEN RECONVENE INTO

EXECUTIVE SESSION AT THAT TIME. >> CITY COUNCIL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF JANUARY 2025 AT SIX 142, SUBJECT MATTER IS AS FOLLOW, TEXAS

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.