Feb 04, 2025 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:14]

>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY THE HILBRICH, WILL

YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? >> YES, SIR. COUNCILMAN

DELAGARZA? >> HERE, .

>> MAYOR CROCKER? >> HERE. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGE AND MOMENT OF SILENCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. THANK YOU, PLEASE BE SEATED. WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO OUR FIRST MEETING OF FEBRUARY. ALTHOUGH, IT SEEMS

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I HAVE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR YOU THIS EVENING. ON NON--- ALL NONEMERGENCY BUILDINGS WILL BE CLOSED ON FEBRUARY THE 17TH, TRASH, RECYCLING AND YARD WASTE WILL BE PICKED UP AS SCHEDULING.

THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL CLOSE EARLY ON THE 17TH AT 5:00 P.M. ENTRY OPEN AT 9:00 A.M. ON THE 18TH. ON BEHALF OF MUNICIPAL COURT, THEY WILL BE HOSTING ADDITIONAL COURT DOCKETS DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY FOR PEOPLE TO RESOLVE PAST-DUE CITATIONS AND ACTIVE WARRANTS. THE SESSIONS ARE PART OF WARRANT RESOLUTION MONTH, A YEARLY EFFORT TO ALLOW THOSE WITH OUTSTANDING WARRANTS TO SPEAK WITH A JUDGE OR PROSECUTOR TO DISCUSS RESOLUTION OPTIONS. COMMUNITY SERVICE OR REDUCED FINES MAY BE AVAILABLE. PLEASE VISIT VICTORIATX.COM FOR FOUR -- MORE INFORMATION. WE WANT TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO A SMALL OPEN HOUSE THAT WE WILL HOST AT THE VISITORS CENTER INSIDE 700 MAIN ON FEBRUARY 7TH FROM 10 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. VISITORS AND RESIDENTS WHO NEED THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT SHOP AND STAY IN VICTORIA CAN NOW ACCESS CENTER DURING THE NEW EXTENDED HOURS OF 8:00 A.M. TO 7:00 P.M. ON THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS. THEY CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED VIA THE COVER COLORFUL MAIN STREET ENTRANCE .

ON BEHALF OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, THE WINTER GAMES WILL CONTINUE, FEBRUARY 15TH THROUGH 16TH AS THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND OUR PARTNERS HOST CORNWALL, E-SPORTS, FLAG FOOTBALL, PICKLEBALL AND FAST PITCH SOFTBALL. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT VICTORIATX.COM/TOURNAMENTS . ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL, WE WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT WE ARE WELCOME AND SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR CLEANUP ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 22ND, AT THE FW GROSS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER AT 1107 SOUTH DEPOT STREET AT 9:00 A.M. INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS CAN SIGN UP AT VICTORIATX.COM/ KBB. WORKING IN TEAMS, VOLUNTEERS WILL GO TO DOOR TO DOOR, HELPING WITH BULKY TRASH AND TREES FOR PICKUP. RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONTACT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AT 361-485-3230 OR KEEP A PICTORIAL -- VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL AT VICTORIATX.COM.

[a. Keep Victoria Beautiful Beautification Award for February. Christy You...]

>> HAD QUITE A BIT. >> I DID.

>> ITEM B2, OUR FIRST ITEM IS KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFICATION AWARD FOR FEBRUARY.

>> -- WILL HANDLE THIS ITEM ON BEHALF OF CHRISTY.

>> I HAVE AN HOUR-LONG PRESENTATION. GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL. CHRISTIE IS ON VACATION, I GET TO DO HER JOB FOR ONCE. I WILL INTRODUCE MEREDITH BURKE, MEREDITH, IF YOU

LIKE TO COME UP? >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> IT IS ONCE AGAIN, MY HONOR,

[00:05:05]

SO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN NOTICING HOW GREAT THIS PROPERTY AND THIS BUILDING LOOKS AND THE IMPROVEMENT IT HAS MADE TO THAT STRETCH OF NAVARRO FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW. SO WE ARE PROUD TO PRESENT JOHN HANLEY OF COASTLINE ADVISORY GROUP THE FEBRUARY

BEAUTIFICATION AWARD. >> I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND ACCEPT IT ON BEHALF OF ALL OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES AT COASTLINE, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT WORKS THERE OR CONTRIBUTES TO OUR SUCCESS, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AS WELL. WE ARE REAL PROUD OF OUR LITTLE CORNER OF VICTORIA, ALL OF US ARE PROUD TO HAVE TAKEN THAT CORNER AND REALLY DONE SOMETHING WONDERFUL WITH IT AND MAINTAIN IT. CLEANING UP THE TRASH EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND MAKING IT LOOK PRETTY, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS RECOGNIZING THAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WELL-DESERVED, LOOKS GREAT, THANK YOU. MR. GARZA, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC OR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS? I WILL

[4. Citizen Communication:]

WILLIAM, BILL, BAKER. >> GOOD EVENING, SIR, WELCOME.

>> GOOD EVENING CON MAYOR. COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT. FOR THOSE OF YOU HAVE NOT MET ME, I AM BILL BAKER, THE EXECUTIVE TREASURER HERE AT THE TEXAS VICTORIA. GLAD TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. I WAS RECENTLY INFORMED THAT YOU NEEDED A PERSON TO SERVE ON THE TOUR IS ON THE ADVISORY BOARD IN A COMMITTEE POSITION . I DID GO AHEAD AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR THAT. DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN SERVING MY COMMUNITY, PROVIDING FOR BETTY -- BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR CITIZENS THAT LIVE HERE WITH ME. I WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT MYSELF, IF YOU HAD ANY SPECIFIC

QUESTIONS FOR ME. >> I DON'T THINK WE DO, NO. WE ARE GLAD YOU STEPPED UP AND ARE WILLING TO SERVE, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND WE APPRECIATE

THAT. >> IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE,

SIR, THANK YOU. >> CERTAINLY. NEXT CARD I HAVE

IS MICHAEL. WELCOME BACK. >> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I AM MICHAEL, I NO LONGER LIVE AT 2204 EAST NORTH STREET LOT 28, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALLISON LACEY FOR HELPING GET THE TRAILER PARK TOGETHER. IT TAKES A PERSON WITH A JD BEHIND THE NAME BEFORE ANYTHING GETS DONE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT AND APPRECIATE ADAM WEST'S HELP. THERE IS A LOT OF LOOSE DOGS OVER AT QUEEN CITY PARK, THERE'S ABOUT 15 OF THEM, SOME ARE PIT BULLS, SOME ARE HALF PIT BULLS, SOME ARE SOME OTHER NAME WHICH I DON'T KNOW ABOUT. I WISH SOMEONE COULD BRING DOWN 15 LEASHES AND 15 DOG HOUSES FOR THEM AND STUFF BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET COLD NEXT WEEK AND THEY NEED FOOD, THEY NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF, THEY NEED RABIES SHOTS, HEARTWORM MEDICINE, DOG FOOD AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS FECES ALL OVER THE PLACE AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF SOMEONE COULD, LIKE, STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND CLEAN IT UP . I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, I KNOW MARK FROM ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, HE HAS BEEN DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB, YOU KNOW, WITH EVERYTHING.

IT IS JUST GETTING OUT OF HAND, THOSE PIT BULLS ARE FIGHTING EACH OTHER, SOMETIMES THEY ARE TIED UP TO A STEAK AND OTHER PIT BULLS ARE FIGHTING IT AND THERE IS PUPPIES RUNNING ALL OVER THE

[00:10:04]

AND HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON.'S >> THANK YOU. THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS FROM HARLEY FISK. GOOD EVENING, MR. FISK.

>> GOOD EVENING. COUNCIL, MAYOR, EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, THE FINE ARTS GALLERY AT VICTORIA COLLEGE WILL KICKOFF THE SEMESTER, THE OPENING RECEPTION OF CHAMELEON. IT IS AN EXHIBITION BY CLAIRE AND JOSHUA CENTINELA, THIS THURSDAY , 5:30 TO 7:00. IT IS DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER, TUESDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM 1:00 TO 3:00 AND FRIDAYS FROM 12:00 TO 3:00.

EMPTY BOWLS IS A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT BY ARTISTS AND CRAFTS PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD TO RAISE MONEY FOR FOOD RELATED CHARITIES TO CARE AND FEED THE HUNGRY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. AS PART OF A NATIONAL GROUP, EMPTY BOWL SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE WORLD AND RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO RAISE MONEY. 11:00 TO 1 P.M. AT THE VICTORIA COLLEGE EMERGING TECHNOLOGY COMPLEX LOCATION, EACH EVENT IS LOCALLY ORGANIZED AND ALL PROCEEDS STAY IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. DEAR VICTORIA WILL PRESENT THE ADDAMS FAMILY, AT THE LEO J WELDER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS DOWNTOWN. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE BOX OFFICE OR CONTACTING THE THEATER WEBSITE. I RECOMMEND EACH OF THESE EVENTS AS A WAY TO SUPPORT ART AND ARTISTS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE MONEY STAYS WITHIN TOWN. THE VICTORIA COLLEGE EVENT IS FREE. THE ART EXHIBIT IS FREE. SPEAKING OF WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY, THE WEATHER TODAY IS BEAUTIFUL. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TYPE WEATHER, A SHORT TIME OF WE HAD COLDER WEATHER AND MANY GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS PROVIDED WARM PLACES FOR THE UNHOUSED. I COMMEND ALL THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THESE EFFORTS. I HAVE SO SEEN NO INDICATOR THAT THE NUMBERS WILL DECREASE IN THE FUTURE. I SUGGEST THE CITY CONTINUE TO WORK WITH VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WORKING WITH THE UNHOUSED TO DEVELOP SHORT AND LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO THE ISSUES SURROUNDING PEOPLE

BEING UNHOUSED. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. FISK. FINALLY, LAST CARD I HAVE IS WILLIAM OLIVER. WELCOME, MR. OLIVER.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I AM HERE ON BEHALF -- REPRESENTING THE YMCA AND ON BEHALF OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OUR MEMBERS, OUR GUESTS SCOTT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE CITY FOR INSTALLING STOP SIGNS AT BRAZOS , WE HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS AND IT IS ALREADY MAKING A DIFFERENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

>> VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES -- THAT IS ALL THE CARDS I HAVE, WE WILL MOVE ON FROM CITIZENS COMMUNICATION AND INTO SECTION CPF WE WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM C1.

>> ITEM C1 IS AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A JOINT ELECTION BETWEEN VICTORIA COUNTY AND VICTORIA SCHOOL DISTRICT ON SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2025, FOR MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS FIVE AND CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS SIX. THIS ITEM IS ON EMERGENCY

READING. >> HERE I GO.

>> 9

[00:15:12]

>> IS THERE A PRESENTATION ON THIS?

>> I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS, WE DID NOT CREATE A PRESENTATION FOR THE FOLLOWING CONSIDERING WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THESE ITEMS. WE ARE OBVIOUSLY HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY

QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? 2

[1. An ordinance ordering a Joint General Election between the City of Vic...]

THIS TIME. >> I AM MOVED WE ADOPT.

[2. An ordinance of the City of Victoria, Texas ordering a special electio...]

>> SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ITEM C1 PASSES. WE WILL

MOVE TO ITEM C2. >> ITEM C2 IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, TEXAS, ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION FOR DESIGNATING A VENUE PROJECT TO BE FINANCED WITH SHORT-TERM BRUTAL MOTOR VEHICLE TAX AND HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES WITHIN THE CITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 334, TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE: MAKING PROVISION FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE ELECTION: AND RESOLVING OTHER MATTERS INCIDENT TO SUCH ELECTION. THIS ITEM IS ALSO AN EMERGENCY READING.

>> HERE I GO, ALSO.

>> THANK YOU, MR. GARZA. THIS IS AN ITEM WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH FROM OUR LAST MEETING, SO I WILL OPEN ITEM C2 FOR PUBLIC HEARING, ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER? SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM C2, AND ENTERTAIN ANY

MOTIONS . >> MOVED TO ADOPT C2.

>> I SECOND. >> I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND,

[D. Consent Agenda:]

>> ANY OPPOSED? WE WILL MOVE TO ITEM D, WHICH IS OUR CONSENT

AGENDA. MISS HILBRICH? >> ITEM D2 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 15 OF THE CORIA CITY CODE TO INCLUDE OFFENDER RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS. ITEM D4 IS A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER AS AN AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL FOR THE AUTHORITY -- WITH THE AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY TO THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS FOR THE FY2026 CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRANT PROGRAM IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $67,000. ITEM D5 IT DESIGNATES THE CITY MANAGER AS THE AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL WITH THE AUTHORITY TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY WITH THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS FOR THE FY2026 JUVENILE JUSTICE AND TRUANCY PROMOTION -- PREVENTION PROGRAM IN AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $54,000. ITEM D6 IS TO APPROVE THE VICTORIA COMMUNITY CENTER AND FAIRGROUND PROJECT FOR THE VICTORIA SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. ITEM D7 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY PROJECT FOR THE VICTORIA SALES TAX

RELEVANT CORPORATION. >> THANK YOU, MS. HILBRICH.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND PEER

[1. Approve Change Order #1 to the 2024 Street Rehab Project (Bridle Ridge...]

>> I HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >>. ANY OPPOSED? LET'S MOVE TO

ITEM E1. >> APPROVING CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE 2024 STREET REHAB PROJECT, TRY TO REACH AND VISTA DEL SOL, IN THE AMOUNT OF $202,674 FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $5 MILLION $272,073.80 .

>> GOOD EVENING, HERE TO ASK YOU TO PROVE CHANGE ORDER NUMBER ONE TO THE 2024 STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT. JUST TO PROVIDE YOU AND THE AUDIENCE WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, THE ORIGINAL SCOPE OF WORK ON THIS PROJECT WAS FOR THE COMPLETE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PAVEMENT SECTION FROM SUBGRADE ONTO THE FINISHED ASPHALT SURFACE, ALONG WITH SOME SPOT REPLACEMENT OF THE GUTTER. THIS IS TAKING PLACE IN BRIDLE RIDGE

[00:20:04]

QUESTIONS? >> I AM SURE WE ARE ALL AWARE THAT THE HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DOES A LOT OVER THERE, WE ARE JUST TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE FOR THOSE RESIDENTS HERE. TRAFFIC THAT FLOWS THROUGH THERE, I KNOW THAT THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC TEARS THEM UP PRETTY GOOD. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM E1.

>> I MOVED TO ADOPT E1 PEER >> SECOND.

[2. Approve a Minor Construction Contract in an amount not to exceed $100,...]

>> MOTION AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING ON, ALL IN

FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? E1 PASSES. MOVING TO ITEM ME TO.

>> A MINOR CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECT, POWER SCOOP UTILITY FOR WATER LINE UTILITY REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE WITHIN THE CITY OF

VICTORIA. >> GREG RODRIGUEZ IS GOING TO HANDLE THIS ITEM AND HE IS GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE STAFFING CHALLENGES WITHIN THE UTILITY DIVISION OF PUBLIC WORKS, WHICH IS ULTIMATELY THE REASON THIS CONTRACT IS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING. GREG?

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU OVER A BRIEF PRESENTATION OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE WITH STAFFING. CURRENT STAFFING IN THE UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, IF YOU LOOK ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE CHART, VACANT, WE HAVE 13 POSITIONS, FILLED POSITIONS ARE 19. THAT IS THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT OF UTILITIES . ON THE RIGHT SIDE, WE ARE SEEING THE UTILITY CREWS ONLY, THAT IS GOING TO BE THE FIELD CREW. THE WORKERS OUT THERE FIXING WATER LINES, SEWER LINES AND WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IS 23 POSITIONS WITH 10 OF THOSE 23 THAT ARE FILLED. SO JUST TO GIVE AN IDEA, WE HAVE THREE CREWS THAT ARE FIXING WATER AND SEWER LINES THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE CITY. THE UTILITY CREWS BEFORE THE FROZEN POSITIONS, THE GRAPH IS GOING TO SHOW THE BEFORE THE FREEZING OF THE RECENT PERSONNEL, THE POSITIONS THAT ARE FROZEN ARE THE OPERATION ORDERS AND THE MAINTENANCE WORKERS. WE HAD 28 POSITIONS, OUT OF THOSE 28, WE HAVE 10 THAT ARE FILLED AND 18 VACANT. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE STOP ME. THANK YOU. THE VACANCIES BY POSITION, CURRENTLY, WE HAVE THREE CREW LEADERS. THOSE POSITIONS ARE FILLED, FIVE THAT ARE VACANT. TWO EQUIPMENT OPERATOR POSITIONS THAT ARE FILLED, THREE THAT ARE VACANT AND THE THREE I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE THAT ARE FROZEN WITH FIVE MAINTENANCE WORKERS THAT HAVE POSITIONS THAT ARE FILLED , FIVE THAT ARE VACANT AND TWO THAT ARE ALSO FROZEN. SOME OF THESE VACANCIES

[00:25:02]

WE HAVE SEEN THIS IN THE SUMMER MONTHS WITH THE SHIFTING OF THE DROUGHT, THIS YEAR HAS, OBVIOUSLY, BEEN DIFFERENT.

MOVING FORWARD. RIGHT NOW, WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE 200 HOUR CONTRACT WITH POWER SCOOP UTILITY LLC, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE PUT THROUGH THE BIDDING PROCESS, THEY WERE THE BEST VALUE FOR THE CITY. THIS CONTRACTOR WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE CITY OF VICTORIA WITH 200 HOURS OF LABOR AND EQUIPMENT TO REPAIR WATER LEAKS.

IT WILL HELP THEM PREPARE UP TO 20 WATER LEAKS WITHIN THE CITY AND ALLOW THEM TO FOCUS ON OTHER CHALLENGES WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT. THIS CONTRACT IS GOOD FOR ONE YEAR AND, AS OF RIGHT NOW, WE DO HAVE 22 WEEKS. AS OF THIS WEEKEND, WE HAD SIX WEEKS -- LEAKS THAT SHOWED UP. THIS IS JUST TO SHOW , MORE OR LESS, HOW THIS IS AFFECTING OUR STAFF. WOULD Y'ALL HAVE ANY

QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW? >> THESE MOST RECENT LEAKS, WHERE THEY FROM THE SAME CAUSE, DIFFERENT CAUSES?

>> PRETTY MUCH THE SAME CAUSE, A LOT OF JUST SLOW LEAKS. NONE OF THESE ARE CATASTROPHIC LEAKS RIGHT NOW AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND MENTION AS WELL IS THAT WE DO HANDLE THESE LEAKS ON A PRIORITY BASIS. IF IT IS A BIG WEEK, WE WILL GO FOR THAT FIRST. WE HAVE MENTIONEDSOME CUSTOMERS, THIS WEEK HAS BEEN LEAKING IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE FOR

[00:30:02]

>> THIS WOULD HELP US GET TO THE SMALLER ONES?

>> YES, IT WOULD. >> OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> IS THIS A LOCAL COMPANY? >> THIS COMPANY IS ACTUALLY OUT OF THE STAFFORD AREA. THIS COMPANY IS TC Q CERTIFIED, JUST LIKE WE ARE, THEY HAVE QUITE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE. WE HAD A 50 HOUR CONTRACT THAT WE USE THEM RECENTLY AND THEY DID A GREAT JOB. THEY WENT THROUGH THE BITNET PROCESS AND THEY WERE THE

BEST VALUE. >> VERY GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. HOPEFULLY, WE CAN APPROVE THIS.

WE WILL GET SOME OF THOSE KNOCKED OUT, I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE STRUGGLING WITH CURRENT STAFF AND DEMANDS, WE WILL SEE IF WE

CAN GET TO THEM. >> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT OF ITEM

B2. >> MOTION TO APPROVE VITAMIN E

TO. >> SECOND.

>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN

[3. Appoint/Reappoint members to the Tourism Advisory Board. April Hilbric...]

FAVOR, SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> AND HE OPPOSE? ITEM B2 IS APPROVED. ITEM E3.

>> ITEM E3 IS POINTING OR REAPPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE TAURUS AM I CRAZY AIRPORT. -- TAURUS AM ADVISORY BOARD.

>> BEING EXPOSED TO IMPORT APPOINTMENTS FOR THE SPORT.

>> THIS WILL APPOINT OR REAPPOINT SEVERAL MEMBERS TO THE TAURUS AM ADVISORY BOARD FOR PLEASE STOP ME AND LET ME KNOW, JOEL IS IN THE ALL OF THE AND -- AUDIENCE AS WELL. THE FUNCTION OF THE BOARD, IT WAS CREATED TO ADVISE THE CVB ON MATTERS THAT ARE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GRANT PROGRAM, THEY DO HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE THAT HANDLES THE HOT FUNDS AWARDS. THE ADVERTISING , OTHER ACTIVITIES OR PROMOTIONS OF TOURISM AND THEY DO OPERATE UNDER BYLAWS APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS A LARGE BOARD, 18 TOTAL MEMBERS, 13 ARE VOTING AND THERE ARE FIVE EX OFFICIO MEMBERS. THEY SERVE TWO YEAR TERMS AND THEY CAN'T SERVE ANY MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE COMPLETE TERMS. THE TERMS RUN JANUARY THROUGH DECEMBER, WE ARE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON THESE REAPPOINTMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS, AS WE DID HAVE TO GO OUT FOR ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS FOR ONE OF THE SPECIFIED POSITIONS BECAUSE OUR PERSON RESIGNED. IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT LONGER. THESE POSITIONS ARE VERY SPECIFIC, IT MAKES A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING TO FIND APPLICANTS. WE HAVE THREE POSITIONS THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LODGING AND ACCOMMODATIONS, TWO ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARTS, ONE YOU HV REPRESENTATIVE, ONE VICTORIA COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVE, ONE PERSON FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, ONE FROM THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY, ONE RETAIL SHOPPING , THE ATTRACTIONS HERE IN VICTORIA AND ONE REPRESENTING OUTDOOR TOURISM. THOSE ARE ALL THE VOTING MEMBERS, THE F EX OFFICIO MEMBERS WOULD BE THE CVB DIRECTOR, THE CITY MANAGER, HIS DESIGNEE, THE MAINSTREET EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE PUBLIC LIBRARY DIRECTOR AND THE PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR. TONIGHT YOU ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO BE MAKING APPOINTMENTS OR REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE EIGHT POSITIONS, THE POSITIONS UP FOR APPOINTMENT OR REAPPOINTMENT ARE THE YOU HV REPRESENTATIVE, FOOD AND BEVERAGE ESTABLISHMENTS REPRESENTATIVE, RETAIL SHOPPING INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVE, SPORTS AND OUTDOOR TOURISM AND THE ATTRACTIONS INDUSTRY. SO ALL OF THE APPLICANTS IN SIX OF THE AREAS ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE ASKING TO BE REAPPOINTED AND THEY HAVE SERVED ON THE BOARD AND DONE WELL. TWO OF THE POSITIONS, THEY ACTUALLY SUGGEST ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES TO REPRESENT AND THAT IS WHO APPLIES FOR THE POSITION. CURRENTLY, JENNIFER ORTIZ-GARZA SERVES, THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT, JENNIFER SERVES IN THAT POSITION AND IS ASKING TO BE REAPPOINTED, THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY IS --. OUTDOOR SPORTS AND TOURISM IS -- MARTINEZ. AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, MR. BAKER WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS DO IS OUR ONLY APPLICANT FOR THE POSITION TO REPRESENT THE ATTRACTIONS INDUSTRY. USED TO BE ONE OF THE

[00:35:06]

THAT'S ALL I HAVE, JOEL OR I WOULD BE GLAD TO ASSIST WITH ANY

QUESTIONS. >> YOU SAID EIGHT POSITIONS.

>> I KNOW, I NOTICED THAT, I MEANT SEVEN.

>> SO THE EIGHT IS WRONG? >> YES, MA'AM, I'M SORRY PICK

>> THANK YOU. >> WE CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON YOU TO

POINT THE MISTAKES OUT. >> SHOES SHARP.

>> I'M JUST THINKING OF THE MATH QUIZZES WHO ARE SAYING LOOK

AT THAT RIGHT THERE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> ANY QUESTIONS ON WHAT THE BOARD DOES? THEY MEET QUARTERLY? THEIR NEXT MEETING IS THIS MONTH?

>> ALL RIGHT, THEN WE HAVE A RESOLUTION , DO WE NEED TO IDENTIFY EACH OF THESE OR CAN WE HAVE A MOTION ?

>> THE RESOLUTION ALREADY INCLUDES THE NAMES BECAUSE THERE WAS ONLY ONE APPLICANT FOR EACH SPOT.

>> I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GOT IT RIGHT.

>> A MOTION WOULD BE TO APPROVE THIS AS CONTAINED IN THE

RESOLUTION, CORRECT? >> CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT, ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM LETTER E3?

>> MOTION TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT. ON ITEM E3.

>> AS CONTAINED IN THE RESOLUTION.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY

AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? THE APPOINTMENTS ARE APPROVED AND TO ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS , MR. BAKER, WHO IS HERE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE ON THESE BOARDS AND HELPING OUT THE

[1. Victoria Metropolitan Planning Organization's draft 2050 Metropolitan ...]

ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON, WE ARE TO ITEM F. WHICH IS A METEOR PART OF OUR MEETING TONIGHT. WE WILL START WITH ITEM F1, MR. GARZA,

CITY MANAGER? >> WE HAVE THREE CITY MANAGER REPORTS FOR YOU THIS EVENING. THE CONTINUATION OF OUR ANNUAL REPORTS FROM BOTH POLICE AND FIRE CHIEF THIS EVENING, BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT ITEM, WE ARE GOING TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON OUR METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN. TO KICK THAT TOPIC OFF, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JULIE. %-Ú

>> BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO THE CONSULTANT, WHO HELPED US DRAFT THIS 2050 METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN, I'M GOING TO GIVE A QUICK OVERVIEW AND REFRESHER OF WHAT THE MPO IS.

THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION OR THE MPO IS ONE OF THE FEDERAL GRANTS THAT THE CITY RECEIVES AND IT IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION OR GRANT OR PROGRAM IN THE CITY. THE STATE OF TEXAS DESIGNATED THE VICTORIA MPO IN 1982. THIS GRANT IS ACTUALLY FUNNELED THROUGH TXDOT, THIS GETTY -- THE CITY IS THE FISCAL AGENT, IT IS ASPIRING -- RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING STAFF AND GIVING A PLACE TO OFFICE OUT OF AND THOSE SORTS OF DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. THE VICTORIA METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATIONS PLANNING POLICY BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT THE PLANNING FUNCTIONS OF THE FEDERAL GRANT ARE CARRIED OUT.

OUR MPO BOARD IS CONSISTING OF TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS TWO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CITY STAFF, TXDOT STAFF, THE AREA ENGINEER AS WELL AS OUR PORT DIRECTOR AND AIRPORT DIRECTOR. SO THEY MEET MONTHLY AND ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE FEDERAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF THE GRANT ARE CARRIED OUT . ONE OF THAT IS THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION PLAN, WHICH IS OUR LONG-RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN. THERE IS A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERAL GRANT, OF COURSE, THIS IS THE BIGGEST ONE. IT TELLS US HOW WE PROGRAM, WE TELL THE STATE AND THE FEDS HOW WE PROGRAM OUR FUNDS INTO WONDERFUL TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO -- WITH THE ALLIANCE TRANSPORTATION GROUP TO GO OVER AND COVER WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED IN OUR VICTORIA

2050. >> ANY QUESTIONS FOR JULIE BEFORE? NO? I'M GLAD EVERYBODY FOLLOWS WHY WE ARE DOING IT.

THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME THIS EVENING, I'M HONORED TO PRESENT ON BEHALF OF THE MPO. I WILL TRY TO GO THROUGH MY SLIDES BRIEFLY, JULIE SAID, IT IS A FEDERALLY MANDATED PROCESS TO SPEND ANY OF THE FEDERAL TAX DOLLARS BACK INTO THE REGION . FEDERAL

[00:40:05]

AGAIN, IT JUST SHOWS THAT THERE IS BROAD COLLABORATION AND INVESTMENT BY THE COMMUNITY AND ALL PARTNERS INVOLVED TO MAKE SURE THE FOLKS IN VICTORIA, WHETHER THEY CHOOSE TO DRIVE OR TAKE THE BUS OR WALK OR BIKE ARE HAVING A SAFE WAY TO GET WHERE THEY WANT TO GO. WE HAVE TO HAVE A SET OF GOALS AND A VISION THAT WE TRY TO GUIDE ALL THE DECISIONS WE MAKE THROUGH, SO THESE GOALS ARE BASED OFF SOME OF THE FEDERAL PLANNING FACTORS, AS WELL AS THE OTHER PLANNING DOCUMENTS THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY AND PLANNING PARTNERS HAVE PUT FORWARD. WE LOOK AT WHAT THE AIRPORT IS WORKING ON, THE PORT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS INTO ACCOUNT AS WE CRAFT THIS VISION AND GOALS STATEMENT. WE DEVELOPED A PROJECT CALLED WEBSITE, THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE SUPPORTED DURING THIS PLANNED UPDATE BY A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT WAS COMPRISED OF TECHNICAL STAFF FROM EACH MEMBER AGENCY. BIG GUIDED THE DECISION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING THE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS AND GROUND TRUE THING THOSE PROJECTS. THIS PROJECT CALLED WEBSITE ALLOWED THE TEMPORARY TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PROJECT SPONSORS TO REVIEW THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF PROJECTS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MAKING REGIONALLY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS AND THESE PROJECTS ARE HELPING HIT THESE DIFFERENT CRITERIA. WE WANT TO IMPROVE SAFETY, OUR STATE OF GOOD REPAIR, THE RELIABILITY OF THE NETWORK, IMPROVING OUR SYSTEM RESILIENCE. SOMETIMES WE HAVE THINGS THAT ARE NOT JUST A ROAD, BUT IMPROVING SIGNALS THROUGH TOWN, UPGRADING THOSE SIGNALS SO THAT WHEN THERE IS A STORM, THEY ARE NO LONGER ON GUIDE WIRES, THERE IS MORE RESILIENCE AND LESS RECOVERY TIME. SOME OF THE PROPOSED PROJECTS ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE PROJECT SPONSORS ARE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS WEBSITE AND ZOOM IN ON THE DATA. WE PROVIDE TECHNICAL MEMOS THAT GO THROUGH THE METHODOLOGY AND THE MATS -- MAPS, THE WEBSITE ALLOWS

[00:45:01]

ULTIMATELY, THIS IS A PROCESS TO CUE UP PROJECTS FOR IMPLEMENTATION . THE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THE TIP IS HOW WE BUILD AND LET PROJECTS WITH THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS, TXDOT ADMINISTRATORS AND THE UNIFIED TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM, THEY START DOING SOME OF THAT ADVANCED ENGINEERING WORK TO GET THINGS SHOVEL READY AND THIS IS THE LONG-RANGE PLAN THAT HELPS US ENVISION, WHAT DO WE REALLY NEED FOR THE FUTURE. IT INCLUDES THOSE OTHER TWO, SMALLER PROJECTS FROM THE OTHER DOCUMENTS BECAUSE WE WANT TO KEEP IT ALL MOVING IN CONCERT. IT IS A COMPLIMENT -- COMPREHENSIVE PROJECT. IS A METHOD TO HELP US DELIVER SHOVEL READY PROJECTS TO KEEP IMPROVING THE REGION. THIS IS ALL PHYSICALLY CONSTRAINED AND YOUR INPUT AS STAKEHOLDERS HAS BEEN REALLY IMPLEMENTABLE AND IN VALUE TO THE PROCESS OF BECAUSE IT HELPS US TO WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE FISCAL CONSTRAINTS AND DEVELOP PROJECTS. THIS IS REALLY OUR PLAYBOOK FOR HOW WE GET TO DELIVERING PROJECTS WITH THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS. LOOKING AT THE FISCAL CONSTRAINTS, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IN THE FUTURE THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO BE LET, WE CREATE AVERAGES FOR PROJECTS IN THE 2035 TO 2044 STAGE, WE DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY , SO WE CREATE AVERAGES FOR INFLATED COSTS . WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO COST THE SAME IN 2045 AS THEY DO RIGHT NOW. WE ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE INFLATION COST FOR THE PROJECTS AND TAKE A CONSERVATIVE GROWTH RATE FOR THE REVENUES. WE TAKE A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH TO THIS FISCAL CONSTRAINTS SO THAT IF THERE ARE MORE FUNDS AVAILABLE, YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH MORE OF THE PROJECTS. WE DON'T WANT TO OVER COMMIT, IT IS ABOUT MANAGING EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THAT ULTIMATELY LEADS TO A PHYSICALLY CONSTRAINED LIST OF PROJECTS. THE RANKING, THERE AT THE TIP IS THE PROJECT THAT ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY THAT HAVE BEEN WORKED ON IN PREVIOUS LONG-RANGE PLANS THAT ARE GETTING PREVIOUS TO LET . THE RANKING THERE IS BASED OFF OF THE SCORE FROM THAT TECHNICAL ANALYSIS FROM THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE RANK AND THE PROJECT RATINGS ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, RANK THREE, 11, 12, A LOT OF THAT IS MAKING SURE PROJECTS THAT ARE SHOVEL READY ARE GETTING PUSHED FORWARD SO WE CAN KEEP THE FUNDING COMING INTO THE REGION.

WE DON'T WANT TO SEND IT BACK TO D.C. OR AUSTIN. AGAIN, MEDIUM-TERM PROJECTS ARE A GOOD MIX OF PROJECTS FROM ROADWAY CAPACITY PROJECTS, PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, SIDEWALK BUILDING, AS WELL AS SIGNAL UPGRADES THAT WILL REALLY HELP.

LOW-COST, HIGH AND PACKED FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SAFETY,

[00:50:03]

WE HAVE A MAP HERE, BUT WE WANT TO EXPRESS, TOO, WE COMPARE THE FORECASTED REVENUES TO TOTAL COST BY STAGE, THESE COSTS ARE INFLATED TO FUTURE YEAR DOLLARS AND JUST TO EXPRESS THAT WE ARE NOT OVER COMMITTING, THE FEDS REALLY LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT SAYING WE ARE GOING TO BUILD EVERYTHING WITH THE FEW DOLLARS THAT WE DO HAVE. AND THEN, TO VIEW THE DRAFT PLAN, THE PLAN DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE ON THE MPO WEBSITE, WE HAVE A QR CODE HERE, THE MPO WEBSITE IS ALSO ACCESSIBLE DIRECTLY THROUGH THE CITY WEBSITE. WE HAVE ALSO CREATED A PROJECT WEBSITE THAT GOES TO THE WHOLE PLAN PROCESS, WITH THE FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS ARE, THERE IS A MAP ON THERE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY ZOOM IN ON THE PROJECTS, CLICK ON EACH ONE AND IT WILL POP UP WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT. THAT MAP ALLOWS YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT, THERE IS A PIN AND YOU CAN LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE MAP, THERE IS A SURVEY THERE AS WELL.

IF YOU HAVE COMMENTS ON THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED, ANY OF THE PROJECT DETAILS THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON OR IF THE COMMUNITY HAS OTHER FEEDBACK ABOUT THE PROPOSED PROJECT, THIS IS THE 30 DAY COMMENT PERIOD. THOSE COMMENTS WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO AN APPENDIX THAT IS PRESENTED TO THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ADOPTION. WITH THAT, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION. AGAIN, YOUR MPO AND CITY STAFF HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB, AS HAS THE POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN HELPING GUIDE THIS PROCESS. I AM A CONSULTANT, I AM JUST HERE TO HELP KEEP THE PIECES MOVING.

THEY ARE REALLY THE ONES THAT DROVE IT AND MADE SURE THE VISION REFLECTED WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED, SO THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. DO YOU HAVE

QUESTIONS ON THAT? >> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION, BUT I HAVE A COMMENT. IT IS A 150 PAGE DOCUMENT, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF VERY GOOD INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT, EVERYBODY SHOULD SPEND THE TIME AND LOOK AT IT. 150 PAGES IS A LOT TO READ, BUT

IT'S A GOOD DOCUMENT. >> AGREED.

>> VERY THOROUGH, NO DOUBT. >> VERY THOROUGH.

>> ANYTHING FURTHER? THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, APPRECIATED.

>> EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU. WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR ANNUAL REPORTS, I FORGOT TO MENTION, A FEW MINUTES AGO, WE WILL BE GOING LIVE WITH A WEBSITE -- A WEBPAGE ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WILL CONTAIN LINKS TO ALL OF THE ANNUAL REPORTS, SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE ASKED TO HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY VERY LARGE TO JUST EMAIL, WE THOUGHT THE BEST APPROACH WOULD BE TO JUST CREATE A WEBPAGE WHERE THEY CAN BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE. THE VISION IS TO ACTUALLY GO BACK AND ADD PREVIOUS YEAR ANNUAL REPORTS AS WELL. I WILL EMAIL YOU THAT LINK HERE THIS WEEK SO YOU CAN ACCESS ALL OF THE ANNUAL REPORTS YOU HAVE RECEIVED UP TO NOW. AS WE GET THEM, WE WILL UPLOAD THEM TO THE WEBSITE.

>> THOSE WILL ALL BE -- HE WILL GO TO THE DEPARTMENT?

>> CORRECT. WILL BE TABBED, 2024 ANNUAL REPORTS, THE DEPARTMENTS,

[2. Victoria Police Department 2024 Annual Report. Chuck Young, Chief of P...]

>> THAT MAKES SENSE, GOOD IDEA. >> TO KICK US OFF THIS EVENING, WE ARE GOING TO BEGIN WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CHIEF

YOUNG WILL PROVIDE THIS UPDATE. >> GOOD EVENING, CHIEF. WELCOME,

AS ALWAYS. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU. BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, I AM HAPPY TO PRESENT THIS MESSAGE AS OUR 2024 ANNUAL REPORT. WITH GREAT PRIDE AND GRATITUDE, I REFLECT ON THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD AN OUTSTANDING DEPARTMENT AND SERVE THE CITIZENS OF VICTORIA. I AM PROUD TO SHARE THAT DESPITE BEING UNDERSTAFFED, WE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED CRIME IN THE CITY IN 2024. SO A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAKDOWN OF OUR DEPARTMENT, AS MOST OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, OUR DEPARTMENT IS DIVIDED INTO HALVES. THE LEFT HALF IS THE OPERATIONS BUREAU, WHICH CONSISTS OF PERIPHERAL PATROL, CANINE, MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, YOU CAN READ THEM, PRETTY MUCH. THAT IS COMMANDED BY DEPUTY CHIEF CLAY FETTERS . THE

[00:55:07]

TOTAL CLASS TO PRINT CRIMES ARE DOWN 8%, THOSE CAN BE FOUND -- A BREAKDOWN OF THOSE CAN BE FOUND ON THE FLYER THAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU. IT IS ON THIS SECOND PAGE, IT IS ACTUALLY THE PART TWO AND THE PART ONE, DIFFERENT OFFENSES. SO THE CLASS ONE CRIME BREAKDOWN, VIOLENT CRIME IS DOWN 7.12%, A REDUCTION OF 19 OFFENSES. PROPERTY CRIME IS DOWN 11.27, A REDUCTION OF 163 OFFENSES FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF 182 LES VICTORIANS AFFECTED BY CRIME LAST YEAR COMPARED TO 2023. YOU LOOK AT THE MURDERERS, SEXUAL ASSAULTS, ROBBERIES ARE A PUSH. AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS AND WE WILL LOOK AT THE NEXT FLIGHT AND GET A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER BREAKDOWN. THE ONE THING TO NOTICE IS THE DECREASE IN BURGLARIES, THE DECREASE IN THEFT. WE DID HAVE AN INCREASE OF 6.98, ABOUT 7%, IN MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT, THAT EQUATES TO

ABOUT SIX OFFENSES. >> CHIEF, FROM LAST YEAR, THAT WAS MOSTLY JUVENILES? COMMITTING THOSE MOTOR VEHICLE THEFTS,

CORRECT? >> YES, CORRECT. THE AUTO THEFTS ARE STILL RELATED TO THAT, BUT A LOT OF THE AUTO THEFTS, I MEAN, IT IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM. THAT AUTO THEFTS ARE UP NATIONWIDE

AND APPEAR. >> GOT IT, THANK YOU.

>> YES, SIR. HERE IS THE OVERALL CRIME, TRENDING DOWN. THE NUMBERS ARE IN FRONT OF YOU IN THAT BOOKLET AS WELL, THE BOOKLET PRETTY MUCH HAS A MAJORITY OF THIS PRESENTATION IN IT. AS YOU CAN SEE, SINCE 2019 TO 2024, IF YOU TAKE THE TOP CATEGORY, IT IS 3.2, 2022, SEVEN MURDERS. IN 2024, WE HAD THE NUMBER OF THREE. YOU CAN COMPARE THE LAST TWO COLUMNS OF '23 AND '24 AND COME UP WITH THE NUMBERS. HERE'S WHERE WE TALK ABOUT THE FAMILY VIOLENT ASSAULT AND THE NONFAMILY VIOLENT ASSAULT, THERE IS AN UPTICK IN THE FAMILY VIOLENT ASSAULT CATEGORY FROM 50 TO 65, DOWN IN THE NONFAMILY, THE BURGLARY , AS YOU CAN SEE. IS AN INCREASE BY SIX OFFENSES. CRASH DATA, AS THE PREVIEWS DID THE GENTLEMAN TALKED ABOUT, CRASHES ARE DOWN, 39% DECREASE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. FAILED TO CONTROL SPEED IS ABOUT 109 OF THE REASONS, YOU CAN SEE THE OTHER NUMBERS THERE.

WE DO HAVE A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC CRASHES WITHIN THE FIVE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS BEING FAILED TO CONTROL SPEED, WHICH IS THE TOP ONE. SO THE NEXT PAGE IS VERY, VERY BUSY AND HAS A LOT OF DATA ON IT, I WANTED TO PUT IT ALL ON ONE PAGE BECAUSE IT IS OUR PERFORMANCE DATA. ALMOST 160,000 CALLS IN 2024, 168,000 IN 2023. THE PD RESPONDED TO 98,000 OF THOSE CALLS AND 97,000 IN 2023. WE HAD MORE COMING IN -- I'M SORRY, LESS COMING IN, BUT WE RESPONDED TO A LITTLE BIT MORE IN 2024. SO THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME WAS ACTUALLY WORSE. IT WENT FROM FIVE MINUTES AND 55 SECONDS AND LAST YEAR IT WAS FOUR MINUTES AND 13 SECONDS, I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF STAFFING. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE PRIORITY THREES A LITTLE BIT LATER AND WE WILL DEFINE WHAT A PRIORITY THREE IS IN A MINUTE.

THAT IS ON ANOTHER SLIDE. SEPARATE CASES IN '24, CLEARING THEM. HERE IS WHERE THE RECORD SECTION, THE BLUE CENTER IN THE MIDDLE, THIS IS WHERE THE RECORD SECTION IS SHOWING A 238% INCREASE IN REQUESTS. 54% IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, YOU CAN SEE

[01:00:03]

>> TIME-OUT, CHIEF, REAL QUICK. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CRIME? THERE ARE DEFINITELY SECTIONS TO THIS PRESENTATION AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A BREATH FOR THE CHIEF AS WELL. ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THE CRIME DATA ASPECTS OF IT? THAT HE WENT THROUGH FAIRLY QUICKLY? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE AREN'T ANY

QUESTIONS? >> WE WILL GET BACK, I ASKED , SPECIFICALLY AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, I IMAGINE WE WILL

CIRCLE BACK ON THAT. >> IS, SIR, WE WILL.

>> THAT SPECIFIC THING. >> WE CAN SAY NOW THAT THE REPORT ACTUALLY SHOWS THAT CRIME IS ACTUALLY LESS NOW IN THE AREA OF THE QUEEN CITY COMPARED TO YEARS PAST.

>> IT IS. >> SO THAT WILL BE PART OF THE QUEEN CITY SPECIFIC UPDATE APPLE PROVIDE AT A LATER MEETING.

>> THIS QUESTION REGARDS TO CRASHES, THERE IS OFTEN TALK ABOUT THESE TXDOT MEDIANS, YOU SAID CRASHES HAVE OVERALL DECREASED, THERE IS AN EMOTION WHEN TALK ABOUT THINGS, BUT THEN THERE IS DATA, HAVE WE SEEN A REDUCTION IN CRASHES ALONG THAT CORRIDOR OR WHERE THERE IS MEDIANS? PEOPLE THINK THERE IS AN UPTICK AND I WAS JUST WONDERING, WHAT DID THE SHUT --

STATS SHOW? >> OVERALL DECREASE OF 30%, NOT SPECIFICALLY TO ONE SECTION OF ROADWAY, CITYWIDE IT IS DOWN 30%, THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THAT IS SPEEDING. THE SECONDARY CAUSE IS UNSAFE LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

>> WE COULD GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE CORE DOOR THAT'S MY CORA DOOR TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A DECREASE ON THAT CORRIDOR.

>> THANK YOU. >> THIS IS A -- WHAT? THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A -- THIS IS PART OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM AND WE HAVE SUBMITTED THIS FOR OUR HALLOWEEN PUBLIC

SAFETY PSA. >> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK

ABOUT TODAY? >>

>> WHAT ARE YOU DOING? >>

[01:05:35]

>> THERE WAS A TRICKSTER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, IF YOU SAY HIS NAME THREE TIMES, HE WILL APPEAR.

>> BETELGEUSE. >> DON'T EVER SAY THAT NAME.

>> BETELGEUSE. >> I'M SERIOUS, DON'T SAY IT.

>> BETELGEUSE. >> THE JUICE IS LOOSE.

>> I LOVE TRICK-OR-TREATING. >> YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO USE A CROSSWALK. YOU GOT TO REMEMBER, THE LAST TIME YOU WERE HERE WAS

40 YEARS AGO. >> YEAH, BUT I LOVE CANDY.

>> BETELGEUSE, YOU HAVE TO CHECK YOUR CANDY.

>> AND LYDIA, YOU SHOULD BE WEARING A BRIGHT COLORED

COSTUME. >> REMEMBER, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR KIDS TO ALWAYS BE WITH A RESPONSIBLE ROAD OLD -- IDOL.

>> WHATEVER. >> FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO WISH YOU A SAFE AND

HAPPY HALLOWEEN. >>

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE AWARD.

>> YES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT, BASICALLY, ANOTHER ONE OF THE CATALYSTS TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT UNIT, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TOWN WATCH FOR AREAS WITH A POPULATION BETWEEN 50 AND 100,000, WE PLACED THIRD IN THE STATE OF TEXAS, EIGHTH NATURALLY -- NATIONALLY. ON THE BOTTOM, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE PHOTOS FROM THAT. IT IMPROVES EVERY YEAR FROM THIRD TO EIGHTH NATIONALLY, WHICH IS VERY NICE.

YOU FIGURE THAT NOW THAT THERE ARE 38 MILLION FOLKS, 17,000 COMMUNITIES IN ALL 50 STATES THAT ARE PART OF THIS PROJECT.

FOR A TOWN OUR SIZE, WE ENDED UP BEING EIGHTH NATIONALLY, THAT IS VERY, VERY GOOD. SOMETHING ELSE WE HAD LAST YEAR WAS THE PATCH PROGRAM, WHICH IS A HEALTH AWARENESS PROGRAM. WE SOLD ABOUT ONE 750 PATCHES, WE PROVIDE $250 TO EACH ONE OF THE AWARENESS FOR THEIR FUTURE INITIATIVES, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE DIFFERENT SHOULDER PATCH COLORS CORRESPOND WITH THE DIFFERENT AWARENESS RIBBONS.

JANUARY IS GLAUCOMA, YOU CAN GO THROUGH THEM YOURSELF. WE ARE THE ONLY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES THAT IS DOING THIS, THAT HAS DONE THIS IN 2024. PROPS TO OUR DEPARTMENT FOR DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB. SO THE NUTS AND BOLTS, $17.4 MILLION BUDGET FOR PD AND DISPATCH, 167 BPD EMPLOYEES, 46 PROCESSIONAL -- PROFESSIONAL STAFF. CAN SEE THE VACANCY THERE, THE ACTUAL NUMBERS ARE CLOSE TO THAT, IT'S LIKE THEY CHANGE EVERY DAY. WE LOST TWO YESTERDAY, TWO OTHER AGENCIES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A MOVING TARGET , THAT IS A MOVING NUMBER. IT CHANGES DRAMATICALLY, WE ARE 17, ADDS TWO IN FTO, FIVE IN THE POLICE ACADEMY, THAT IS A NUMBER GREATER THAN 17, 24 RIGHT THERE. SO OUR DEPARTMENT, 167, WE ARE OPERATING VERY MUCH UNDERWEAR WE NEED TO BE. HOW ARE WE TRYING TO SUPPLEMENT THAT OR TRYING TO DO MORE WITH LESS WITH? ALTHOUGH, REMEMBER, WE REDUCED CRIME SIGNIFICANTLY WITH LESS, BUT WE ARE LOOKING FOR OUTSIDE WAYS OF MONEY. $700,000 LIST LAST YEAR WERE GRANT RELATED. ALTHOUGH WE WERE SIX UP, I'M GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT AND HELP THE STAFFING FOR THAT. THAT WAS $275,000. OPERATION LONE STAR IS GOING TO GIVE US THE

[01:10:07]

THE PATROL VEHICLE FLEET ACQUISITION AND THE EVALUATION AND REVIEW'S -- USE OF OUR RESOURCES. 17, A NUMBER THAT IS A VARIABLE NUMBER, FOUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF. AND OUR HIRING PROCESS FOR EACH OF THOSE IS RATHER LENGTHY. BECAUSE WE WANT TO PICK THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO DO A VERY STRESSFUL JOB, EITHER BEING AN OFFICER OR BEING A CIVILIAN STAFF OR A DISPATCHER, ET CETERA. WE WANT TO HIRE THEM, IT IS QUITE A PROCESS. ONE OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO WORK ON IS TO TRY TO STREAMLINE THAT PROCESS AND MAKE THAT A LITTLE BIT FASTER. NOT CHANGING THE PARAMETERS OR REQUIREMENTS, BUT MAKE THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT MORE STREAMLINED. OF COURSE, THE SALARY IS A CHALLENGE, THAT IS ON THE LEFT SIDE HERE AS YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, STREAMLINING THE HIRING PROCESS, OFFER OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND PATROL, DOGS, THE K9 UNIT TO WORK HIGHWAY INTERDICTION, OVERTIME OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THEM FROM GRANTS. THE STEP GRANT, THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT .

TO CONTINUE TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE GLOOM AND DOOM ABOUT THE BAD, THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK AND I AM TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THAT. MARKET THE JOB AS A CALLING RATHER THAN JUST A CAREER, MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT HE WANTS TO DO. I WANT TO BE HERE AND MY COMMAND STAFF WANTS TO BE HERE AND WE ARE TRYING TO SHARE THAT WITH THE YOUNGER OFFICER. THE SALARY IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW BY THE CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION COMMITTEE AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

YOU'RE TRYING TO EXPLORE WAYS TO ADD ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO HELP WITH THAT OPEN RECORDS RETENTION OR THAT RECORDS REQUEST. IT IS ASTRONOMICAL OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS. REALLY HUGE SINCE 2018. EMPLOYEE RETENTION, ANYBODY WITH ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FIRST PART AT ALL? OKAY, EMPLOYEE RETENTION, I CAN TALK ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME, BUT I KNOW THE FIRE CHIEF IS BACK THERE JUST CHOMPING AT THE BIT WAITING FOR ME TO SIT DOWN. THE CHALLENGES, HIGH STRESS AND BURNOUT. THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE ISSUES, IF OFFICERS FEEL STUCK IN THEIR ROLES WITH NO OPPORTUNITY FOR SPECIALIZATION OR PROMOTION, THEY MAY GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. NEARBY AGENCIES OR PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS ARE OFFERING BETTER PAY AND BENEFITS, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO THERE. THE TWO WE LOST LAST YEAR, ONE WAS TO ANOTHER POLICE AGENCY, THE OTHER ONE WHO IS NO LONGER IN OUR DEPARTMENT WENT TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR. I'M SORRY, THE PRIVATE SECTOR. AGAIN, BUILDING A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE WORK CULTURE BY HAVING SUPERVISORS AND EFFECTIVE WORK COMMUNICATION. THIS PAST FRIDAY, WE HAD AN AWARDS BANQUET. WE WERE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, THE OFFICER OF THE YEAR, ET CETERA. WE WILL BE DOING SOME FOLLOW-UP ON OUR WEBSITE FOR THE WINNERS AND RECIPIENTS OF THOSE AWARDS. OUR PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM, WE ARE WORKING ON HELPING WITH THAT, MAKING THAT A LITTLE BIT STRONGER. SALARIES ARE UNDER REVIEW BY THE CITY COUNCIL COMPENSATION REVIEW COMMITTEE. THE NEXT CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS THE PATROL FLEET, WE NEED NEW CARS. WE HAVE 31 CARS IN THE PATROL FLEET ALONE, MARKED VEHICLES, 13 ARE AVERAGING A MILEAGE OF 107,000, PROJECTING BY THE END OF THIS YEAR TO HAVE ALMOST 101,000 ON THEM. THE HIGHEST ONE IS 109,000 AND IT IS OUT ON PATROL. THE LOWEST ONE IS 60,000. WHILE AT IT, THE DETECTED NEW VEHICLES. , SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE, WE HAVE A LIEUTENANT TO MONITORY. WE HAVE A POLICE LIEUTENANT WHO SAID HIS JOB IS,

[01:15:10]

MAKE THE CALL THEMSELVES. >> CHIEF, CAN YOU GO BACK FOR A

SECOND? >> SURE.

>> TO A QUESTION ON THE FUNERAL ESCORTS, I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION THERE. A ROUGH EXPENDITURE OF ABOUT 23,000, THAT WAS TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THESE 350 X ESCORTS? AM I

READING THAT CORRECTLY? >> THAT IS CORRECT, WE DID 350 ESCORTS LAST YEAR IN 2024. OF THOSE, THEY AVERAGED ABOUT 47 MINUTES, SOME LONGER, SOME SHORTER. AVERAGING ABOUT THREE OFFICERS. IF YOU TAKE THE WEAR AND TEAR, THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, THE TIME OF THE OFFICER. 48 MINUTES, 47 MINUTES HE IS DOING THAT. THAT ESCORT SERVICE, WE HAVE EXPENDED ROUGHLY $23,000 FOR THAT PARTICULAR EVENT. NOT COUNTING THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE HAVE TAKEN , THAT IS NEARLY THREE HOURS, JUST SHY OF THREE HOURS OF MANPOWER THAT WE COULD HAVE BEEN MORE PROACTIVE IN GETTING TO THE CALLS FASTER. IT HELPS THE PRIORITY ONE RESPONSE TIME AND THE PRIORITY THREE TIME.

>> ONE THING TO BE CLEAR ABOUT AS WELL, IT IS OBVIOUSLY IMPLIED WITH THIS CONVERSATION, BUT THESE ESCORTS ARE TAKING THREE POLICE OFFICERS AND THREE VEHICLES WHILE ON THE CLOCK, RIGHT? I THINK IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO BE THAT SPECIFIC ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY HASN'T WORKED THAT WAY IN OTHER COMMUNITIES. TYPICALLY IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, OVERTIME GIG OR THERE MIGHT BE A THIRD PARTY COMPANY IN TOWN THAT OFFERS THAT KIND OF SERVICE. IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, IT IS LITERALLY A POLICE OFFICER THAT IS BEING TAKEN UP TO DO THOSE, SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR WITH THAT. ON HOW IT IS KIND OF GOING ON RIGHT NOW. WE DO ACTUALLY CHARGE FOR THAT SERVICE, I BELIEVE WE CHARGE $100 PER ESCORT. SO WE BRING IN ABOUT $12,000 EVERY YEAR TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE. I WILL MENTION TO YOU WHAT I

[01:20:07]

>> HAVE WE IDENTIFIED VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO IF WE DID NOT CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW? WHAT IS OUR NEXT AVAILABLE

OPTIONS? >> WELL, AN OPTION COULD BE, WE HAVEN'T NECESSARILY EXPLORED ALL OF THE FINITE DETAIL, BUT AS HE MENTIONED EARLIER, AS THE CITY MANAGER MENTIONED EARLIER, WE COULD TURN IT INTO AN OVERTIME ASSIGNMENT, PART-TIME ASSIGNMENT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE COULD GO UP ON THE COST OF $100 , BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT THE POINT, THE POINT IS. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER IS, TO BE FRANK. WE HAVEN'T REALLY DOVE THAT DEEP INTO IT OTHER THAN IT IS A TIME TAKER AND WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME FOR THE AMOUNT OF RETURN.

>> THE ONE OPTION WE TALKED ABOUT WAS CONVERTING IT TO AN OVERTIME GIG, WHILE IT MIGHT -- WHILE THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND AN OFFICER OFF DUTY TO DO IT, YOU ALSO HAVE TO CONTEMPLATE THE VEHICLE ASPECT OF IT AND WHAT INVESTMENT WOULD NEED TO BE MADE BY EITHER THAT OFFICER PERSONALLY OR AS AS A DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A VEHICLE AVAILABLE. YOU KNOW, AS WE HEARD, WE HAVE ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AVAILABILITY. IT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FREEING UP AN OFFICER, BUT FREEING UP A PATROL VEHICLE AS WELL. IF IT DOES BECOME AN OVERTIME THING, IT COULD BECOME COST PROHIBITIVE. FOR FUNERAL HOMES TO UTILIZE IT, RIGHT? IT IS GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN $100 IF YOU ARE HAVING TO HIRE THREE OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS AND POSSIBLY ASSESS A CHARGE FOR THE UNIT OF RENTAL FOR THAT TIMEFRAME.

>> IF THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS, AS THERE IS, CAN THEY PRIVATIZE THAT? JUST AS YOU HAVE ESCORTS FOR LARGE TRIPLE WIDE TRAILERS GOING DOWN WINDMILLS, THEY'VE GOT ESCORTS BEFORE AND AHEAD, CAN THE INDIVIDUAL FUNERAL HOMES TAKE THAT ROLE ON AND TAKE IT OFF OF OUR SHOULDERS?

>> THERE IS SOMETHING THAT MANDATES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TRAINING, YOU CAN'T JUST PUT A PERSON ON A MOTORCYCLE KIND OF THING , THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TRAINING PROCESS. I WILL HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE DIGGING, BUT I THINK IT IS ALSO A COVER BY THE STATE OF TEXAS REGULATIONS AND I BELIEVE IT IS IN THE TRANSPORTATION CODE ON WHAT ACTUALLY IS A PERSON THAT IS ABLE TO DO A FUNERAL ESCORT. I THINK THE PARAMETERS ARE PRETTY SPELLED OUT, SO JUST ANY OLD PERSON, TO SAY IT THAT WAY, IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO DO IT UNLESS IT MEETS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.

OF COURSE, A POLICE OFFICER WOULD MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS, THAT'S WHY IT IS EASIER TO DO IT THAT WAY.

>> LOOKING FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

>> OH, YES, SIR. >> I'M SORRY, GO AHEAD. I WAS GOING TO CHANGE THE TOPIC TO A DIFFERENT ITEM ON THE LIST.

>> FOR POLICE OFFICERS ON ESCORTS, IS IT POSSIBLE TO UTILIZE A PERSONAL VEHICLE IF IT IS OUTLET OUTFITTED FOR OFF-DUTY, POTENTIALLY, AS A SECOND JOB?

>> AGAIN, IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE LIGHTS, MEET REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE PROBABLY ALREADY ESTABLISHED THAT I'M UNFAMILIAR WITH, I'M SURE THE DPS HAS A REGULATORY THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, B, C AND D, WHATEVER THOSE WOULD BE, ATTEND A TRAINING CLASS ABOUT TRAFFIC CONTROL, SOMETHING PROBABLY IN THE PARAMETERS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO. ONE OF THOSE WOULD INCLUDE HAVING LIGHTS ON A CAR, SO I DOUBT THERE IS ANYTHING THAT WOULD PROHIBIT SOMEONE FROM DOING THAT, BUT IT WOULD JUST -- I MEAN, WE WOULD HAVE TO CHECK WHAT THE PARAMETERS WOULD BE. IT IS JUST AN IDEA ABOUT TRYING TO SAVE THE MANPOWER AND THE

STAFFING. >> CHIEF, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE INTERESTED IN AN ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS YOU MAY HAVE, PUT THAT BACK TOGETHER AND GET IT BACK TO US IN WHATEVER FORMAT

AND LET US LOOK AT IT. >> TO BE CLEAR, THAT IS AN OPERATIONAL DECISION ON THE CHIEFS FRONT.

>> WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT IT WILL IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR FUNERALS AND OUR COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING, THE CHIEF IS NOT GOING TO BE RASH WITH THE DECISION, THE INTENT OF TONIGHT IS TO SIMPLY

[01:25:02]

>> IF WE NEED TO CHANGE FEES, DOES THAT COME BACK TO US?

>> IF WE DECIDE TO KEEP THE SERVICE AND INCREASE THE FEE, YEAH, BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT IS NOT REALLY THE ISSUE. COULD WE INCREASE THE FEE TO THE POINT WHERE IT WOULD FORCE A FUNERAL HOME TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION? MAYBE. US GENERATING ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE OF THAT OFFICER AND THAT VEHICLE NOT BEING AVAILABLE FOR OTHER

PRIORITY CALLS. >> NO, I'M THINKING IN TERMS OF OFF-DUTY AND THAT SORT OF THING. HIGHER PAY, THAT IS GOING TO BE HIGHER FEES, SO ANYWAY. WE WILL WAIT TO GET ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION. >> TO THAT POINT, WE DO HAVE A ROLL CALL SERVICE, SO WHENEVER AN OFFICER OR AN OVERTIME OPPORTUNITY, BASICALLY, ARRIVES , IT IS HANDLED BY A THIRD-PARTY SYSTEM THAT, BASICALLY, RUNS THROUGH THE ROSTER OF EVERYBODY AND PROVIDES THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT OVERTIME. THE MANAGEMENT OF OVERTIME OPPORTUNITIES IS ACTUALLY HANDLED BY A THIRD-PARTY COMPANY. SO IF THIS WERE TO TRANSITION TO SOMETHING THAT BECOMES AN OVERTIME OPPORTUNITY, IT REALLY WOULD NOT BE ADDITIONAL WORK, PER SE, ON STAFF TO ORGANIZE OR SET THAT UP, OTHER THAN SIMPLY ADDING IT TO THE LIST OF OVERTIME OPPORTUNITIES ON THE SYSTEM. BUT AT THAT POINT, THE VEHICLE PART OF IT WOULD BECOME A CHALLENGE BECAUSE, CURRENTLY, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, I DON'T THINK THAT THE CURRENT OVERTIME OPPORTUNITIES COME WITH

A VEHICLE. >> NO.

>> OR A MOTORCYCLE. OR A BICYCLE, I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY BICYCLE. OR ROLLERBLADES, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.

>> SO IT IS A CHALLENGE. EITHER WAY, IT'S A CHALLENGE. IT IS JUST THAT AVENUE OF US TRYING TO SAVE YOUR

>> TO THAT END, IF COUNCIL DOESN'T MIND, I THINK IT IS WORTHWHILE SPENDING A MINUTE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHALLENGE AND ISSUE OF RESPONDING TO FALSE BURGLARY ALARMS. CAN YOU EXPAND ON THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> ABOUT 90, HIGH 90, 99% OF THE BURGLAR ALARMS ARE FALSE. THE WEATHER PLAYS AN IMPORTANT THING, IF THE POWER GOES OUT AND POWER COMES RIGHT BACK ON, EVERYTHING IN THAT GRADE IS GOING TO RESET THE BURGLAR ALARM AND THAT BURGLAR ALARM IS EITHER GOING TO BE CALLING YOU AT HOME OR CALLING THE CONNECTED PARTY.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE DON'T HAVE, WE DON'T HAVE PERMITS , I THINK THERE IS 18 IN THE ENTIRE CITY, 18 PERMITS IN THE TOWN AND WE HAVE A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAN THAT IN BUSINESSES AND RESIDENTS. SO MY OPINION IS, ON SOME OF THE BURGLAR ALARMS, IF THEY CAN EITHER GO TO STRAIGHT DISPATCH TO A PARTY, IF THEY WANT TO DECIDE THEY WANT TO HAVE THE POLICE DISPATCHED, WE CAN DO THAT, WE CAN GO TO THOSE, IT IS JUST THAT A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE BURGLAR ALARMS ARE NOT A GOOD ALARM, TO SAY IT THAT WAY.

SO WE WANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE EVERY ALARM THAT IS -- THAT WE ARE DISPATCHED TO AS A VALID, REAL ALARM AND NOT BE LACKADAISICAL ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE COULD GET HURT THAT WAY, BUT INDUSTRYWIDE, THERE IS SOME OVERLOOK AND SOME SIDING THAT IS BEING DONE ON THE BURGLAR ALARMS. SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT, FUNERAL ESCORTS AND WHAT KIND OF CALLS WE ARE GOING TO AND THE ONLINE REPORTING.

>> I WILL ADD, CHIEF, IF YOU DON'T MIND, THIS CHALLENGE OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH OFFICERS AND RESOURCES IS AN ISSUE IN EVERY COMMUNITY AND EVERY CITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WHAT THE CHIEF WANTS TO EXPLORE DOING ARE NOT NEW THINGS THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES DON'T ALREADY DO OR HAVEN'T ALREADY MADE CHANGES TO. AS AN EXAMPLE, ON THE BURGLARY PERMITS, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON IN LARGER CITIES TO HAVE THESE PERMITS. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE POLICIES THAT, MAYBE, SOME SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES IS, IF YOU HAVE A REGISTERED PERMIT, WE WILL RESPOND, IF YOU DON'T, YOU USE MORE OF YOUR JUDGMENT FOR IT.

THERE'S ALSO, OFTEN TIMES, FEES ATTACHED TO IT. FOR EXAMPLE, POLICE DEPARTMENT MIGHT RESPOND TO A BURGLAR EARLY ALARM ONCE, IF IT HAPPENS TWICE IN THE SAME YEAR, YOU ARE GOING TO GET A BILL FROM THE CITY, A THIRD TIME, ANOTHER BILL. THOSE TYPES OF THINGS EXIST IN OTHER PLACES TO TRY AND, BASICALLY, ENCOURAGE A BUSINESS OWNER OR RESIDENTIAL OWNER TO TAKE IT UPON THEMSELVES TO FIND A STRATEGY TO EITHER LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIMES THAT THERE BURGLARY SYSTEM MIGHT GO OFF AND NOT BE FAIR OR LEAVE IT

[01:30:04]

UNDERSTANDING. >> A LOT OF TIMES, YOU WILL HAVE AN ALARM THAT WILL ACTIVATE, AUTO ALARM THAT IS GOING TO BE A FALSE ALARM. THAT AUDIBLE ALARM WILL RING, THE OFFICERS WILL GO TO THE CALL, THEY WILL TELL THE DISPATCHER TO CONTACT THE ALARM COMPANY AND LET THE OWNER KNOW THAT THE AUDIBLE ALARM IS GOING OFF AND IT WILL GO OFF FOR A GREATER PERIOD OF TIME . IF YOU LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE A BUSINESS THAT HAS IN THE BURGLARY ALARM GOING OFF AT TWO OR THREE IN THE MORNING, THAT CAN BE A PROBLEM. THERE ARE SOME LARGER CITIES THAT ARE DOING THAT, ALSO, THEY GO TO, I ACTUALLY HAVE THE DEPUTY CHIEF, HE IS GOING TO BEGIN TO LOOK AT THAT, NOW THAT SHE IS ABLE TO DO THAT. SHE WAS REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT, BUT THE ISSUE IS THAT SHE'S GOING TO DO A DIVE INTO THAT, IT ALSO TOUCHES THE FIRE ALARMS, THE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER ALARMS THAT YOU ARE SPENDING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY ON, THAT ALSO BEING A FALSE ALARM, IT IS THE ALARMS IN GENERAL. IS WHAT WE WANT.

>> IS IT RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL?

>> THE MAJORITY ARE RESIDENTIAL. WHEN IT IS A RAINSTORM, SKY IS

THE LIMIT. IT IS JUST SILLY. >> DO WE NOT HAVE AN ORDINANCE , A BURGLAR ALARM ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW.

>> WE DO? >> I THOUGHT, IF THEY HAVE SO

MANY FALSE CALLS? >> YES, THAT'S TRUE.

>> TECHNICALLY, YES. >> OBVIOUSLY, IT NEEDS TO BE

BETTER, BUT IS THERE A REASON? >> AS THE CHIEF MENTIONED, WE HAVE HOW MANY PERMITS? 18? AND THESE STIPULATIONS ONLY APPLY TO THE ONES THAT HAVE PERMITS. SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERMIT IN ORDER TO FALL UNDER THE STIPULATIONS THAT OUR ORDINANCE HAS. THE MAJORITY OF THESE CALLS DON'T FALL UNDER ANY OF THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT REGISTERED. SO AS A COMMUNITY AND AS A DEPARTMENT AND AS A CITY, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, HOW CAN WE ACTUALLY GET PEOPLE TO REGISTER THEIR ALARM SYSTEM WITH A PERMIT. THAT IS WHAT WOULD THEN TRIGGER THEM TO FALL UNDER THESE

STIPULATIONS AND GUIDELINES. >> SO WE NEED TO MODIFY OUR

PRESENT LAW? >> POTENTIALLY. THAT IS WHAT THE CHIEF WILL LOOK INTO, WHAT FROM OUR EXISTING ORDINANCE NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED? SO, YOU KNOW, TO BE CLEAR, CURRENTLY, WHAT WE HAVE, THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME THE CLARIFICATION, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A PERMIT, PER SE, WE HAVE A REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT. SO THOSE IN THE BUSINESS ARE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS, WHAT WE ARE REFERRING TO IS EXPLORING A, BASICALLY, GRADUATING FROM A REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT TO A PERMIT REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS DIFFERENT. 2 JUST TO EVALUATE IT, THE PROCESS HASN'T EVEN BEGUN, TONIGHT IS THE INTRODUCTION.

>> WE ARE JUST LETTING YOU KNOW, COULD ALLEVIATE TIME AND RESOURCES FOR OFFICERS TO RESPOND TO CALLS.

>> I THINK I AM DONE. >> THAT'S ALL THE CHIEF HAS, HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.

>> CHIEF, MAY I ASK SOME QUESTIONS? HOW MANY OFFICERS ARE WORKING OVERTIME ON A DAILY BASIS? OF THOSE THAT YOU HAVE, THAT ARE WORKING, HOW MANY OF THOSE ARE OVERTIME DAILY?

>> WE HAVE A MINIMUM STAFFING OF, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO

SAY THIS ON THE -- >> I WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING A MINIMUM STAFFING FOR PD.

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY THAT ARE ON OVERTIME RIGHT THIS SECOND, WE MAY, DEPENDING ON PEOPLE THAT CALL IN SICK, THAT WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH THE SET NUMBER OR THE NUMBER THAT WE LOOK FOR, FOR SAFETY, ET CETERA. WE MAY HAVE TO CALL IN SUPPLEMENTAL PEOPLE FOR THAT, WE HAVE SOME OF OUR DETECTIVES THAT ARE WORKING INSTEAD OF THEM DOING DETECTIVE FUNCTIONS, THEY ARE DOING SOMETIME IN PATROL TO SUPPLEMENT THE PATROL.

>> THAT IS ACCURATE. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL FIND THAT IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN A BETTER POSITION TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE

[01:35:03]

JUST COVER A SHIFT. >> BUT IT WOULD IMPACT, OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY FOR THE DETECTIVES ?

>> IS, IN THEORY, ABSOLUTELY, YES.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE FLEET AND THE NUMBER OF FLEETS THAT YOU HAVE, HOW MANY AVAILABLE FOR USE DAILY VERSUS BEING IN A REPAIR

STATUS? >> WE HAVE 31 THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO PATROL, OF THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT THE PARKING LOT, YOU CAN SEE ANYWHERE FROM THERE BEING SIX OR SEVEN EXTRA, ON SOME DAYS, NO EXTRA. SO I THINK THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION, I MEAN, I HOPE IT DOES. IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER, TO A DEGREE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT MANY THAT ARE FACING INTO THE GARAGE, BUT WE HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH IT.

>> I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE, WELL, YES, THERE ARE -- CAN YOU GO -- I DON'T THINK IT IS AS DESCRIPTIVE, BUT THE CHIEF MENTIONED THAT WE DO HAVE AGING FLEET, RIGHT? HAVING AGING FLEET DOES NOT EQUATE TO THAT VEHICLE NOT BEING ON THE STREET, RIGHT? WHEN WE SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT HALF OF THE FLEET THAT HAS MET THIS THRESHOLD OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, WE ARE NOT SUGGESTING THAT THOSE VEHICLES ARE NOT ON THE STREET. THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. FOR INSTANCE, 31 VEHICLES ON FLEET, 13, IN THEORY, HAVE CROSSED THAT THRESHOLD OF 100,000 MILES AND COULD BE REPLACED, RIGHT? FOUR ARE PROJECTED TO REACH THAT BY THE END OF THE YEAR, LET'S JUST CALL IT HALF FOR EASY MATH. THE POINT IS, JUST BECAUSE WE ARE SAYING HALF THE FLEET NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS NOT AVAILABLE. WE HAVE VEHICLES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, OUR CHALLENGE, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, OUR CHALLENGE COULD BETTER BE DESCRIBED BY THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THE VEHICLES, ON SUNDAYS, SURE. ON SOME DAYS, WE DON'T. THERE MIGHT BE AN ACCIDENT, SOMETIMES IT IS BECAUSE THINGS ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL, PATROL VEHICLES ARE WRECKED BY A POLICE OFFICER, WRECKED INTO. SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT PART. THE BIGGEST ISSUE THAT IS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS CYCLE IS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CALLS, THAT ULTIMATELY PUTS MORE MY MILES ON THE VEHICLES. LET'S SAY IT USED TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, FIVE YEARS, FIVE, SIX YEARS TO GET TO 100,000 MILES ON A VEHICLE, NOW IT IS TAKING THREE TO FOUR YEARS. SO THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE VEHICLES IS WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE OF THE OLDER FLEET. I

HOPE THAT MAKES SENSE. >> DO THEY ROTATE -- I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND, DO THEY ROTATE DAILY OR SHIFT OR ARE

THEY IN CONTINUOUS USE? >> OF ZONE CARS, ONE THROUGH FIVE, ZONE 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, HR ASSIGNED A SPECIFIC CAR.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF TIMES, BECAUSE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF OTHER CARS, YOU ARE SPENDING 12 HOURS IN THE CAR, 7 A.M., YOU GET OUT OF THE CAR, I GET BACK IN IT AT 7 A.M. BECAUSE I AM THE DAY GUY, YOU ARE THE NIGHT GUY. YOU ARE GOING TO RUN THAT CAR FOR 12 HOURS WITH A NEED AND WE ARE GOING TO HOTSEAT THE CAR, THAT SEAT IS STILL GOING TO BE WARM FOR YOU BEING IN IT FOR 12 HOURS AND I'M GOING TO GET IT IN DRIVE IT FOR 12 MORE. THAT DOES HAPPEN, IT IS NOT EVERYDAY, BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.

>> THAT CERTAINLY CONTINUES TO CHALLENGES, CONTINUED USE OF VEHICLES THAT ARE BASICALLY RUNNING 24 SEVEN. THE MORE MILES YOU PUT, THE MORE OFTEN YOU NEED TO DO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE MORE OFTEN YOU NEED AN OIL CHANGE, IT IS KIND OF A RIPPLE EFFECT. SO I THINK ONE WAY TO DESCRIBE , I WILL JUST SHARE THIS, AS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT I KNOW THE CHIEF HAS BROUGHT UP AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO SOME OF THIS, HOW CAN WE SLOW DOWN THE WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLES, RIGHT? IT IS BASICALLY TO HAVE ENOUGH VEHICLES TO WHERE YOU DON'T USE ANY OF THE VEHICLES FOR 24 HOURS A DAY, RIGHT? THAT OBVIOUSLY IMPLIES BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO NOT ONLY REPLACE THE CURRENT AGING VEHICLES, BUT TO ADD TO THE FLEET IN ORDER TO HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF VEHICLES. PART OF THE STRATEGY THAT WE ARE

[01:40:09]

>> IT DOES, VERY MUCH, THANK YOU.

>> I WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE THE AWARDS BANQUET, WOULD YOU ANNOUNCE TO US, FOR THE COUNCIL, FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT AT THE AWARDS BANQUET, WHO WAS OFFICER OF THE YEAR AND ROOKIE OF THE

YEAR? >> IT IS ON OUR PD WEBSITE, ROOKIE OF THE YEAR WAS ETHAN AND THE OFFICER OF THE YEAR WAS MIA GALLEGOS. ETHAN IS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AND MIA IS OFFICER OF THE YEAR. IF WE ARE INTERESTED, I HAVE THE ENTIRE LIST OF THEM IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THEM. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO GIVE THEM TO YOU, OR YOU CAN CHECK THEM ON THE WEBSITE, WHICHEVER YOU WOULD PREFER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THE INVESTIGATOR IS CHRISTINA TATE.

THE CIVILIAN OF THE YEAR IS TERESA MARTINEZ. HE TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR , CYNTHIA, THE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR, SERGEANT ORTIZ. THE A LEADER SHORT AWARD WINNER IN SERGEANT DIAL AND THE TOP GUN IS SAMSON HOLD. THOSE ARE THE

RECIPIENTS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO RELATE TO THE COUNCIL, CONGRATULATE ALL OF

THEM FROM THE COUNCIL. >> ABSOLUTELY, I WILL DO THAT.

>> WITH THAT, WE APPRECIATE WHAT THEY DO.

>> SECONDLY, A LOT OF THE CHALLENGES I SAW WERE, APPARENTLY, IT SEEMS TO ME, ARE DUE TO LACK OF PERSONNEL. HE

SAID, 17 PEOPLE SHORT? >> 17 IS A MISNOMER, 17 WITHIN A MOVING TARGET, TWO MORE ON TRAINING. WE HAVE 24 TOTAL.

>> THERE COULD BE TIMES THAT THERE IS 20 PEOPLE? OR JUST 15?

>> THERE COULD, IT IS A VARIABLE NUMBER.

>> A LOT OF IT SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SALARY ISSUE. RETAINING POLICE OFFICERS. WOULD YOU AGREE WITH ME?

>> IT IS QUITE A CHALLENGE, I WOULD, YES. THE ONE THAT LEFT, THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT HE DID.

>> ONE OF OUR CHALLENGES FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, TRYING TO GET A HIGHER WAGE OR SALARY FOR THESE POLICE OFFICERS, TRYING TO

RETAIN THEM FOR LONGER. >> THAT WOULD BE SPECIAL, THANK

YOU. >> SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES WOULD BE ALSO REDUCED BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES ARE EXACERBATED BY

LACK OF PERSONNEL. >> CORRECT.

>> YES, SIR. >> I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US AS CITY COUNCIL TO MAKE SURE THESE POLICE OFFICERS GET SOME KIND OF SIGNIFICANT RAISE. SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THESE CHALLENGES THAT ARE AFFECTING THE CITIZENS OF VICTORIA BECAUSE THIS HAS GONE ON LONG ENOUGH. IT IS TIME WE TAKE ACTION AND THINK

OUTSIDE THE BOX. >> I THINK, AS YOU ARE VERY WELL AWARE, SERVING ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE, WE ARE TALKING TAKING ACTION, YOU ARE TAKING ACTION BY BEING ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE, THAT SUBCOMMITTEE IS COMPENSATION ACROSS THE BOARD, NOT JUST POLICE OFFICERS, NOT JUST FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE HEARD EARLIER FROM OUR UTILITY DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAVE A HARD TIME KEEPING THOSE POSITIONS. THEY HAVE POSITIONS OPENS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO GET THAT COMPENSATION. THAT SUBCOMMITTEE WAS PUT IN PLACE TO LOOK AT COMPENSATION ACROSS THE BOARD, THAT INCLUDES THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I DON'T THINK WE ARE NOT TAKING ACTION, YOU ARE ONE OF THE ONES THAT ARE TAKING ACTION. I APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT AND WE ARE ANXIOUS TO HEAR BACK FROM THAT SUBCOMMITTEE. CERTAINLY, COMPENSATION FOR ALL OF THE CITY EMPLOYEES IS A CHALLENGE FOR EVERY DEPARTMENT.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. >> CORRECT.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. WE ARE A SUBCOMMITTEE. A SUBCOMMITTEE CAN BE STEERED IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION AND OR THE SUBCOMMITTEE CAN BE OVERRULED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL IF

[01:45:07]

CITIZENS FOR THEM. >> I THINK WE ARE ALL ANXIOUS TO GET THE REPORT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND FIND OUT WHAT IT IS YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO RECOMMEND TO US.

>> UNTIL THEN, NONE OF US CAN REALLY -- I LOOK FORWARD TO

GETTING THAT INFORMATION. >> EXACTLY.

>> THANK YOU, CHIEF. VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, CHEEK. >> MAYOR, DO YOU WANT TO

CONTINUE? >> WHY DON'T WE TAKE A QUICK BREAK, IT IS SIX 146, WE WILL TAKE A QUICK BREAK, LET'S JUST

DO FIVE MINUTES AND >> ALL RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, MAYOR. >> HE ALWAYS SHUTS IT OFF ON ME.

[3. Victoria Fire Department's 2024 Annual Report. George Gamez, Fire Chie...]

GAMEZ. GOOD EVENING, CHIEF. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I AM HERE TO SHARE OUR ANNUAL REPORT WITH YOU ALL. JUST A QUICK MESSAGE, THE VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ALL HAZARD DEPARTMENT, MEANING WE CAN ADDRESS ANY TYPE OF EMERGENCY THAT, YOU KNOW, HAPPENS WITHIN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY. WHEN I TALK ABOUT THAT, 40 SQUARE MILES OF THE CITY, WE ALSO COVER ALMOST 900 SQUARE MILES OF THE COUNTY. THIS YEAR WAS A SIGNIFICANT YEAR, WE CROSSED 14,000 RUNS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WITH THAT, WE SAW ALL TYPES OF EMERGENCIES, FROM HEAD ON COLLISIONS TO SOME NOTABLE EMERGENCIES, WE HAD A 100 ACRE FIRE, WHERE WE ACTUALLY HAD TO COORDINATE WITH THE FORESTRY SERVICE AND DO WATER DROPS, SIMILAR TO , IF YOU WATCHED THE NEWS IN CALIFORNIA, WE WERE DOING THE SAME HERE IN VICTORIA. WE HAD A MASS CASUALTY WHERE WE HAD AN 18 WHEELER REAR END A PASSENGER VAN WITH 19 INDIVIDUALS, WE REQUIRED MULTIPLE AGENCIES TO RESPOND AND MITIGATE THAT INCIDENT. OF COURSE, THE MOST NOTABLE ONE WAS THE AIRPLANE BACK IN DECEMBER, SO THESE TYPE OF INCIDENTS AND FOR US TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THEM, AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT IS AMAZING, THEY NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME WITH WHAT THEY CAN DO AND WHAT THEY ENCOUNTER. IT IS JUST A TESTAMENT TO THEM ON THE PASSION THAT THEY HAVE. THE DEDICATION AND THE COMMITMENT TO SERVE AND TO DO THEIR BEST FOR THE CITIZENS OF VICTORIA. THIS YEAR, AGAIN, WAS A SIGNIFICANT YEAR, IF YOU LOOK OVER IN THE TOP RIGHT, WE ACTUALLY HAD AN 8 1/2% INCREASE IN CALL VOLUME NORMALLY AND USUALLY, IT IS ABOUT A 4% INCREASE ANNUALLY, THIS YEAR WAS A SIGNIFICANT JUMP, THE MOST I HAVE EVER SEEN WAS ABOUT 7%. THIS WAS SIGNIFICANT AT 8 1/2%, EMS CALLS, JUST AT 10,400 EMS CALLS, FIRE RELATED CALLS, 386, 24 OF THEM WERE STRUCTURE FIRES.

THROUGH DATA ANALYSIS, WE IDENTIFIED THAT WEDNESDAY IS OUR BUSIEST DAY AND THE BUSIEST TIME OF DAY WAS FROM 9:00 TO 6:00 P.M. WE FACED IN THE FIRE RELATED INCIDENTS, ABOUT 9.8 MILLION IN PROPERTY VALUE AND ABLE TO SAVE 74% OF THAT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT TURNOUT TIME, TURNOUT TIME IS WHAT YOU MEASURE WHEN A MEMBER -- WHEN OUR MEMBERS GET NOTIFIED AT THE STATION AND WHEN THE WHEELS ARE ACTUALLY ROLLING, THAT IS TURNOUT TIME. RESPONSE TIME IS WHEN THE REELS ARE -- WHEELS ARE ROLLING AND THEY ACTUALLY GET TO THE INCIDENT. THE NATIONAL STANDARD FOR TURNOUT TIME WAS 1:20 AND OURS, WE AVERAGED ABOUT 1:01. FOR THE RESPONSE TIME, THE STANDARD WAS FOUR MINUTES FLAT, WE WERE ABOUT 4:03. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NATIONAL STANDARD, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A STRUCTURE FIRE, THE NATIONAL STANDARD TO HAVE AN APPARATUS ON SCENE IS FIVE MINUTES AND 20 SECONDS, SO YOU COULD ADD THAT TOGETHER AND OURS WAS FIVE MINUTES AND FOUR SECONDS, DEFINITELY, WE ARE EXCEEDING THAT STANDARD. SO FOR

[01:50:02]

PHYLLIS, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFIES BUSINESSES, ESTABLISHMENTS THROUGHOUT VICTORIA AND CONNECTS WITH THEM ON WHAT TYPE OF RESOURCES, WHAT TYPE OF SERVICES THEY CAN PROVIDE. WITH THAT, SHE THEN IDENTIFIES THE REPEAT COLOR THAT IS DEPENDED ON 911. THIS PAST YEAR, SHE IDENTIFIED 26 PATIENTS COLLECTIVELY CALLED 208 TIMES. THROUGH HER INTERVENTION AND DOING A HOME HEALTH ANALYSIS, IDENTIFIED REALLY WHAT WAS DRIVING THEM TO CALL 911, ABLE TO REACH OUT AND NETWORK WITH THE ESTABLISHMENTS AND OTHER BUSINESSES HERE IN VICTORIA AND ACTUALLY DROVE THAT DOWN TO ONLY 93 CALLS. SO THAT WAS HUGE, OVER 50% REDUCTION WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, OF COURSE, OUR PRIDE AND JOY IS THE FIRE PREVENTION SHOW. IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN THERE, YOU REALLY NEED TO TAKE TIME TO COME AND ATTEND. WE PROVIDE A SHOW FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS , FOR VICTORIA, WE TRY TO IDENTIFY SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN RELATE TO AND WE USE THAT AS OUR PLATFORM TO TEACH FIRE SAFETY.

SO DURING PROVIDE ENGINE -- FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, WE DELIVERED TWO SHOWS A DAY AND WE BUS IN STUDENTS FROM THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO PARTICIPATE AND VIEW OUR SHOW. THIS PAST YEAR WAS OVER 1000, WE ARE LOOKING TO GROW THIS EVEN MORE. AGAIN, THIS YEAR, WE DID DESPICABLE ME AND THE MINIONS. YOU CAN SEE EVERY MEMBER THERE OF THE CAST, THE ONES THAT ARE BACKSTAGE HANDS, THE ONES THAT WERE THE ACTORS AND, YES, WE EVEN HAD A BAND.

ALL VICTORIA FIREFIGHTERS, THAT IS WHAT IS AMAZING, THEY TRULY HAVE A PASSION FOR THIS, FOR THE KIDS. I SWEAR, IF HE HAD GONE THIS PAST YEAR, YOU WOULD HAVE HEARD JOURNEY. YOU WOULD HAVE THOUGHT STEVE PERRY AND JOURNEY WAS THERE FOR A SPLIT SECOND. OF COURSE, WE ARE INVOLVED WITH THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT WITH POLICE AND OUR RESPONDER PROGRAM, WE HAVE 45 REGISTERED TO ATTEND THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER WE HAVE EVER HAD. AGAIN, OUR HANDS ONLY CPR, INITIALLY, WHEN WE STARTED THIS, THE GOAL WAS TO TRAIN 1000. YOU CAN SEE, WE DEFINITELY FAR EXCEEDED THAT GOAL. WE ARE USING THAT AS A PLATFORM TO CONTINUE WITH OTHERS AND INTRODUCE OTHER PROGRAMS AS WELL. I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, SEATTLE KING COUNTY, THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON BEING A COMMUNITY THAT, IF YOU WERE TO GO DOWN THERE, EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOWS HOW TO DO CPR. MY THOUGHT PROCESS IS, WHY CAN'T WE BE THAT OF THE SOUTH? WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.

OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE BIGGEST ONE, THE ONE THAT IS HARDEST TO GET IS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE, THE TEXAS BEST PRACTICES FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE YEARS, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE, IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS IN THE STATE, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, ONLY 30 CAN MAKE THAT CLAIM AND VICTORIA FIRE IS ONE OF THEM. WE WERE PIONEERS WITH BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS AND WE HAVE CONTINUED TO DO THAT, WE HAVE CONTINUED WITH THE AMERICAN HEART, SIX YEARS RUNNING. THIS YEAR, WE ACTUALLY DID A STROKE STUDY WHERE WE PARTNERED WITH UT HEALTH AND DID A DEEPER DIVE IN BEDSIDE MANNER AND ASSESSMENTS AND EVALUATIONS, ALSO PROVIDING EDUCATION ON STROKE PATIENTS.

[01:55:05]

[02:00:01]

BASICALLY, WE JUST RECENTLY INSTALLED AUTO VEHICLE LOCATORS AND WITH OUR CAT SYSTEM, IT IS IDENTIFYING THE CLOSEST RESOURCE, THE RIGHT RESOURCE FOR THE EMERGENCY. SO WE JUST INSTALL THAT HERE A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND WE ARE ACTUALLY REVIEWING AND GOING THROUGH IT. OF COURSE, TWEAKING IT. SO IT BETTER FITS THE CITY. OF COURSE, OUR FIRE STATIONS, STATION FIVE IS APPROACHING ITS END-OF-LIFE. SO WE ARE ACTUALLY REVIEWING IDEAS OF WHERE TO PLACE THE NEXT STATION FIVE. OF COURSE, IN MIND, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, WHEREVER IT IS PLACED, IT INCREASES COVERAGES FOR OUR CITIZENS AND REDUCES OUR

RESPONSE TIMES. >> CHIEF, CAN YOU GO BACK ROW QUICK AND REMIND US ON WHAT APPARATUSES ARE INCOMING?

>> I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT. WE DID GET A REFURBISHED ENGINE BACK IN OCTOBER, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT, RATHER THAN PUT IT IN SERVICE AND PUT IT AT A STATION, IT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON TOUR. SO WE STARTED OUT AT STATION ONE AND WE TOOK ENGINE ONE TO THE SHOP, SO OUR EMERGENCY VEHICLE TECHNICIAN CAN ACTUALLY DO A VERY THOROUGH BUMPER TO BUMPER. LIKE I WAS SAYING, THE GROWING PAINS ARE TAKING A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT AGAIN, CREATING A RELIABLE WORKFORCE. WE ACTUALLY RECEIVED THAT ENGINE BACK IN OCTOBER, WE RECEIVED AN AMBULANCE BACK IN FEBRUARY AND WE ARE ON THE BOOKS RIGHT NOW FOR ANOTHER ENGINE AND AMBULANCE THAT WILL BE HERE BUT, OF COURSE, THE WAIT TIME, PURCHASED WITH THIS YEAR'S BUDGET, BUT IT WON'T BE HERE UNTIL APRIL. THE FIRST PART OF 2026, WE ARE LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVE WAYS, WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE IF SOMEONE HAS ONE THAT MAY BE A GENTLY USED ENGINE THAT THEY WANT TO OFFLOAD. THAT IS

[02:05:04]

>> THAT MAKES SENSE, THAT IS A GOOD PROGRAM.

>> AGAIN, THE CALL VOLUME, WE HAD AN UPTICK, 8 1/2%, IT HAS BEEN AVERAGING AT ABOUT 5 1/2% OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. IF YOU CAN SEE, UNDERNEATH, CALLED THE UNIT OUR UTILIZATION, I THINK I HAVE EXPLAINED THIS BEFORE, BASICALLY, YOU MONITOR AMBULANCES TO SEE HOW BUSY THEY ARE. IF THEY ARE APPROACHING THE THRESHOLD OF 30%, THAT IS AN INDICATION THAT YOU NEED TO ADD ANOTHER RESOURCE. BASICALLY, YOU ARE MEASURING THE TIME THAT THEY GET ASSIGNED, THEY ARE RESPONDING TO THE EMERGENCY, WHEN THEY ARE ON LOCATION AND THEN WHAT THEY ARE TRANSPORTING TO THE HOSPITAL AND WHEN THEY ARE AT THE HOSPITAL, YOU ADD THAT ALL UP, DIVIDE BY THE AVAILABLE MINUTES IN THE DAY AND THAT GIVES YOU WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE LIGHTER BLUE, I GUESS, COLOR, THAT IS THE AVERAGE FOR THE 24 HOUR PERIOD, WHICH IS NOT BAD, 21%, 25%, 20%. IF YOU DO A TARGET, LIKE I HAD MENTIONED, OUR BUSIEST TIMES, YOU START LOOKING AT THAT AND DEEP DIVING INTO THAT, YOU START SEEING THAT THE UPTICK IS REALLY AT 30%, 34%. 32%, SO THAT IS TELLING YOU THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AND EXPLORE ADDING AN EXTRA UNIT TO SEE IF WE CAN'T BRING THAT UTILIZATION. ONCE YOU CROSS OVER THAT THRESHOLD, YOU WANT AN AMBULANCE TO BE READY 30%, BUT YOU ALSO WANTED AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT EMERGENCY 70% OF THE TIME. THAT IS THE THRESHOLD THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO CROSS, SO WE ARE EXPLORING PLACING A --. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE BUSIEST DAY, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE BUSIEST TIME, WE ARE LOOKING AT, HONESTLY, WHEN DAYS ARE OUR BUSIEST, TUESDAYS ARE THE SECOND EASIEST AND, OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS CALL MONDAY MEDICAL MONDAY, WHICH IS OUR THIRD BUSIEST DAY. WE ARE ALSO THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX AS FAR AS PERSONNEL, WE HAVE PART-TIME PARAMEDICS, MEMBERS THAT USED TO WORK FOR THE DEPARTMENT THAT HAVE GONE ON TO EITHER OTHER DEPARTMENTS OR HAVE GONE TO ANOTHER CAREER, LIKE IN NURSING OR SOMETHING, BUT THEY STILL WANT TO RETAIN -- KEEP THEIR SKILLS UP, KEEP THEIR CERTIFICATION. WE ONLY HAVE A HANDFUL AND THEY COME BACK AND WORK FOR US FROM TIME TO TIME. WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT EXPANDING THAT TO EMTS AS WELL. ALSO, I FORGOT, THE MIDDLE IS BASICALLY A BREAKDOWN OF RESPONSES IN THE CITY, WHICH IS 79.7 PERCENT AND THEN THE RESPONSES TO THE COUNTY, WHICH IS 20.3%.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT IS FAIRLY CONSISTENT, IT IS TYPICALLY AROUND 20% OF CALL VOLUME OUT IN THE COUNTY, I WOULD SAY THAT HAS BEEN FAIRLY CONSISTENT IN RECENT HISTORY.

>> LIKE I WAS TALKING ABOUT, OPPORTUNITIES, WE HAVE A TRAINING ACADEMY HERE. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE FIREFIGHTERS, THEY HAVE NOWHERE TO GO. WE SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WHERE IF WE INCREASE OUR ECONOMY TO MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR, WE BELIEVE IT WILL ALSO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF VICTORIA FIRE AND INCREASE THE RECRUITING, WHERE PEOPLE WILL WANT TO STAY AND WORK FOR VICTORIA FIRE. WITH OUR FACILITIES, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE REGIONAL TRAINING HUB TO WHERE WE ARE BRINGING FIREFIGHTERS FROM AROUND THE NEIGHBORING CITIES TO COME AND TRAIN OR WE HOST, YOU KNOW, FIRE GROUND STRATEGIES OR FORCIBLE ENTRY STRATEGIES WHERE WE ARE BRINGING OTHER FIREFIGHTER DEPARTMENTS INTO THE CITY TO TRAIN AS WELL. WE SEE THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY THERE, AGAIN, IS A RECRUITING TOOL AS WELL. DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IS THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE STARTED THIS YEAR, THE BIGGEST ONE RIGHT NOW IS PULSE POINT AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A PART OF THIS, WE HAVE THE QR CODE THERE. WHAT PULSE POINT IS IS, BASICALLY, IT IDENTIFIES ALL OF THE EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS IN THE CITY. SO IF YOU GO SCAN THAT, YOU SIGN IN, YOU ACTUALLY CAN LOOK ON A MAP AND CAN SEE ALL OF THE REGISTERED DEFIBRILLATORS AND WHERE THEY ARE. IF, BY CHANCE, YOU ARE NOT AN ESTABLISHMENT AND THERE IS A

[02:10:03]

WITH THAT. ALSO, THE SMOKE DETECTOR PROGRAM, WE RAISED OVER THOUSAND SMOKE DETECTORS BACK IN NOVEMBER AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE FUNDRAISERS FOR THAT. THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS TO GO OUT INTO NEIGHBORHOODS AND STRATEGICALLY -- BE STRATEGIC ABOUT IT AND THEN DOCUMENT WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING. LIKE, WHEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS, WE GO OUT AND INSTALL SMOKE DETECTORS, WE ARE DOCUMENTING THAT BECAUSE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT WE WANT TO SAY IS THAT AT THE END OF THREE YEARS, WE HAVE ACTUALLY TOUCHED 90% OF THE HOMES. EITHER WE TESTED AN EXISTING SMOKE DETECTOR OR WE ADDED A NONEXISTENT SMOKE DETECTOR. THAT IS WHAT OUR GOAL IS, AT THE END OF THREE YEARS, WE CAN SAY THAT.

THE ARSON INVESTIGATOR PROGRAM, THAT IS TRICKY, USUALLY, IF THERE IS A STRUCTURE FIRE AT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE DEPENDENT ON THE ARSON INVESTIGATOR TO COME IN, COME FROM HOME, SHOW UP TO THE SCENE AND THEN DO THEIR INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINE, IS THIS ARSON OR NOT? WELL, WE ALREADY HAVE OFFICERS THERE, SO WHAT WE ARE DOING IS TRAINING THEM UP TO BE ARSON INVESTIGATORS AS WELL. SO WHAT THAT DOES, IT GIVES THEM THE ABILITY TO DETERMINE IF IT IS ARSON OR NOT, IF IT IS NOT, THEN WE ARE ABLE TO GET UP OUR APPARATUSES ON IN-SERVICE A LOT QUICKER AND AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT EMERGENCY BECAUSE, SOMETIMES, WAITING ON AN ARSON INVESTIGATOR COULD TAKE AN HOUR, IT COULD TAKE UP TO TWO HOURS, IT ALL DEPENDS. THIS PROGRAM, WE ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE IF THIS IS IT WITHIN HALF AN HOUR, WE ARE BACK IN SERVICE. WE HAVE ALL OUR APPARATUSES BACK IN SERVICE AND READY FOR THE NEXT AVAILABLE CALL. AGAIN, YOU KNOW, OUR OPPORTUNITIES, WE WANT TO STAY INVOLVED WITH THE SHOW AND TELLS, WE DEFINITELY WANT TO GROW THE FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAM. IT IS A GREAT PROGRAM, THE KIDS LOVE IT. IT IS LIKE THEY ARE AT A ROCK SHOW OR A CONCERT. IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND IS FREE. OUR MEMBERS LOVE DOING THAT AND THE LAST ONE, MOBILE HEALTH, ASSISTING HOSPITALS, AS I HAD MENTIONED BACK, OUR MOBILE COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC WAS ABLE TO DO 50% CALL REDUCTION BY IDENTIFYING THE ONES DEPENDENT ON CALLING 911. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE HOSPITALS OR ARE THE SAME. THEY HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GROWN THIS DEPENDENCY WERE THEY JUST SHOW UP OUT ALL THE TIME AND THERE IS PROBABLY SOMETHING NOT WRONG WITH THEM. WE BELIEVE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY PARTNERING WITH HOSPITALS AND ACTUALLY DRIVING THEIR NUMBERS NOUN AND, IN RETURN, PERHAPS, A POSSIBLE REVENUE STREAM.

HOSPITALS ARE ON THE HOOK WITH MEDICARE, IF THEY DISCHARGE SOMEBODY AND THAT PERSON COMES BACK WITHIN 30 DAYS, THEY ARE ON THE HOOK. IT IS AT THEIR EXPENSE. WE BELIEVE THAT IF WE CAN IDENTIFY WHO THE REPEAT PATIENTS THAT ARE COMING BACK, IF WE HAVE SOME KIND OF SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, THERE COULD BE SAVINGS FOR THE HOSPITALS, WHICH IN RETURN COULD CREATE SOME TYPE OF REVENUE STREAM FOR US OR FOR THE CITY. AND WITH THAT, I THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PATIENT, I KNOW IT HAS BEEN A LONG EVENING AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS

THAT YOU HAVE. >> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> UR RESPONSE TIMES, DOES THAT TOTAL FOR CITY AND COUNTY?

>> THAT WAS ONLY CITY. >> OBESITY.

>> YES, SIR. >> WITH THAT INCREASED CALL VOLUME, I THINK YOU SAID 8.5%? FROM PRIOR YEAR? GIVEN THE STATISTICS THAT YOU JUST SHOWED US, WITH THE CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING, DO WE HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO

EMERGENCIES? >> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE MAINTAINING. WE HAVE PROCESSES IN PLACE, LIKE FOR PRO QA, WHICH IS BASICALLY A TRIAGE TOOL OVER THE PHONE, WHENEVER WE IDENTIFY, IF WE GET TO A POINT WHERE THINGS ARE LOOKING A LITTLE

[02:15:01]

>> MY SECOND QUESTION, IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO ANSWER, BUT I'M CURIOUS, WHEN WE HAVE THESE VACANCIES THAT ARE OPENING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE LONGEVITY OF THE TEAM THAT YOU HAVE, WHAT IS THE AVERAGE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT ARE COMING

OPENED AS VACANCIES? >> ARE COVERED BE -- WE CAN ALWAYS LOOK AT THAT, SOME OF THAT INFORMATION WAS PROVIDED TO THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, WE CAN CIRCLE BACK AND PROVIDE THAT SAME INFORMATION TO THE REST OF COUNCIL, FOR SURE. WE SPECIFICALLY PULL THAT INFORMATION FOR THE COMPENSATION

COMMITTEE. >> IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS, TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE ARE TENURED POSITIONS THAT ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS

LIKE. >> ONE OF THE THINGS, AS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION WITH THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE BETTER WORD? THE TENURE PART OF IT. WE DO KNOW THAT , YOU KNOW, WE LOSE FOLKS WITH EXPERIENCE. THE DATA WE PROVIDED TO THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE SHOWED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE FOLKS WE WERE LOSING, AT LEAST IN THE RECENT COUPLE OF YEARS, ARE ACTUALLY BETWEEN THE ONE AND FIVE YEAR MARK. PERHAPS, IN YEARS PAST, WE WERE LOSING MORE EXPERIENCED FOLKS, BUT IN RECENT HISTORY, WE ARE LOSING FOLKS BETWEEN THE ONE AND FIVE YEAR MARK TO A GREATER CLIP THAN THE MORE EXPERIENCED FOLKS. THAT IS TELLING OF JUST THE DIFFERENT GENERATIONAL COMPONENTS OF THE INDIVIDUALS, I PERSONALLY HAVE SET WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE HEARD A LOT OF GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THEM.

YOU, THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS WHY FOLKS LEAVE QUICKLY.

SOMETIMES IT IS FOR MANY PURPOSES, SOMETIMES IT'S TO BE CLOSER TO HOME. OFTEN TIMES TOO, IT IS FOLKS THAT , YOU KNOW, CHANGE THEIR MIND ABOUT BEING IN THE PROFESSION. SO THERE IS A MULTITUDE OF REASONS FOR THAT, BUT THE DATA THAT WE WILL PROVIDE FOR YOU WILL SHOW THAT IN RECENT HISTORY, WE HAVE LOST MORE FOLKS BETWEEN THE ONE AND FIVE YEAR MARK.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> FIRST OF ALL, THE PROGRAM THAT THE CHIEF IS INSTITUTING ARE FANTASTIC FOR RETENTION. AND FANTASTIC FOR THE EMPLOYEES THEMSELVES. SO THERE IS A LOT OF GAIN HERE. A LOT OF GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK ARE ALL OF THE AMBULANCES COMPLETELY OUT ON CALLS? WHERE WE HAVE TO EITHER RELY ON A BACKUP AMBULANCE, BACKUP PEOPLE TO COME IN OR A TRANSFER SERVICE

TO TAKE THAT EMERGENCY CALL? >> WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF DOING A STUDY ON THAT. SO WE WILL PROVIDE ANSWERS FOR YOU ON THAT SHORTLY. THE ACTUALLY JUST IMPLEMENT OF THIS STUDY BACK IN DECEMBER, WE ARE STILL DIVING INTO THAT. WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT HAPPENS, BUT WE DO HAVE CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE, WHERE WE WILL PUT THE SIXTH AMBULANCE IN SERVICE. WE HAVE PERSONNEL, AGAIN, SIMILARLY TO POLICE, WE HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT ARE MEDICS THAT CAN QUICKLY PUT THAT AMBULANCE ALSO IN SERVICE. WE ARE RUNNING NUMBERS ON THAT BECAUSE WE ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT THE DURATION IS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ARE STILL CALLING IT FLEXING THE AMBULANCE AND THE TRUCK, IF YOU ALL ARE STILL CALLING IT THAT.

THE EMS CALL COMES IN FIRST, THEY JUMP ON THE AMBULANCE AND THEN THEY ABANDON THE FIRETRUCK OR VICE VERSA. HOW MANY STATIONS ARE YOU ALL HAVING A FLEX PROGRAM LIKE THAT. ARE YOU ALL

FLEXING? >> RIGHT NOW, FLEXING, THREE STATIONS. IT IS MAINLY LADDER FOUR, THAT IS THE BIGGEST AND FULL PS APPARATUS, IT IS REALLY NOT DESIGNED FOR EVERYDAY USE TO MAKE MEDICAL CALLS. THE MEMBERS THERE ARE FLEXING, AND SUV FOR THE MEDICAL CALL. WHAT WE ARE DOING, THE REFURBISHED ENGINE WE RECEIVED THIS YEAR, THAT WAS THE DESIGN FOR IT TO GO TO STATION FOR AND YOU USE THAT ENGINE AS YOUR PRIMARY VEHICLE AND YOU PUSH THE LATTER OFF TO THE SIDE. WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BE

[02:20:05]

THE BOX. >> CHIEF, IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS AND PARTNERSHIP WITH VICTORIA COLLEGE, HAS THERE BEEN ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT OPENING THOSE PROGRAMS TO HIGH SCHOOL KIDS? YOU KNOW, JR., SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AS PART OF A DUAL CREDIT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THAT HAS BEEN -- THAT IS DONE ELSEWHERE, I DID NOT KNOW IF THAT WAS EVEN ON THE TABLE OR BEEN DISCUSSED.

I THOUGHT IF THEY GREW UP HERE AND GRADUATE FROM HERE, WE CAN

KEEP HIM HERE. >> WE HAVE DONE SOME SHOW AND TELLS WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL, THAT WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP, TALK TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF VICTORIA COLLEGE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, SEE IF THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN ENTERTAIN, CREATE A CADET PROGRAM AND DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT IT IS ON THE RADAR, WE JUST HAVE NOT MADE A MOVE TOWARDS THAT YET.

>> GOTCHA. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> IS A CENTRAL FIRE STATION NUMBER ONE? THAT IS WHERE I STARTED 49 YEARS AGO LAST MONTH AND THAT COULD BE ON ME ON THE

SECOND TRUCK, I DON'T KNOW. >>THINKING IT

WAS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

>> CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION, THANK YOU FOR THE

[H. Executive Sessions:]

GREAT JOB YOU ARE DOING. >> I BELIEVE THAT IS OUR LAST

REPORT? >> YES, SIR, WE HAVE AN

EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> IT IS 7:30, WE WILL RECONVENE

AT 7:40 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> SUBJECT MATTER IS AS FOLLOWS,

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.