[A. CALL TO ORDER] [00:00:23] PLEASE CALL ROLE? >> COUNCILMAN DELAGARZA. >> I AM PRESENT. >> COUNCILMAN KIDDER. >> YOUR FOR CHRISTINA COUNCILWOMAN BUTLER POINT MAYOR PRO TEM YOUNG POINT MAYOR CROCKER. >> IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGES FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO COUNSEL, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE. [1. Announcements/Reminders:] >> THANK YOU POINT PLEASE BE SEATED. AGAIN, WELCOME EVERYONE. WE WILL JUMP STRAIGHT INTO OUR AGENDA FOR THE EVENING AND WE'LL START WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS. MR. GARZA, DO YOU HAVE SOME THINGS FOR US THIS EVENING? >> I HAVE SEVERAL, ACTUALLY. >> I SUSPECT THAT IS MUCH. >> THAT'S WHY IT'S A LIFE AGENDA, BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS. ON BEHALF OF MUNICIPAL COURT WE WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT THEY ARE HOSTING ADDITIONAL COURT DOCKETS DURING THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY FOR PEOPLE TO RESOLVE THEIR PAST DUE CITATIONS AND ACTIVE WARRANTS AS PART OF OR AND RESOLUTION MONTH. VISIT VICTORIA TXDOT/COURT PAY TO SEARCH FOR ACTIVE WARRANTS OR PAST DUE CITATIONS, COMMUNITY SERVICE OR REDUCED FINES MAY BE AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT MUNICIPAL COURT AT 361-45 3050. ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OUR LATEST EPISODE OF THE CITY PODCAST TOWN TALK FEATURING OUR VERY OWN MAYOR DUANE CROCKER HAS BEEN RELEASED. IN THIS EPISODE THE MAYOR COVERS 2024 HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS, THE CITY'S VISION FOR 2025, AND UPDATED US ON SOME IMPORTANT TOPICS TO OUR RESIDENTS INCLUDING GROWING VICTORIA INITIATIVE, STREET IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT. THIS EPISODE AND MORE CAN BE FOUND ON SPOTIFY OR YOUTUBE OR BY VISITING VICTORIA TX. UP/TOWN TALK. ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY WE WANT TO INVITE RESIDENTS TO JOIN US FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF THE NEWEST ANYTIME PICK UP LOCKER AT THE VICTORIA MALL ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH AT 10:00 A.M. BY THE FOOD COURT ENTRANCE. THE NEW PICKUP LOCKER WILL PROVIDE ANOTHER CONVENIENT OPTION FOR RESIDENTS TO PICK UP THEIR RESERVE LIBRARY MATERIALS 24/7. ON BEHALF OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WE WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT REGISTRATION FOR SPRING ADULT SOFTBALL AND ADULT KICK ALL LEAGUES ENDS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH AND THE SEASON BEGINS MONDAY, MARCH 10TH. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AT 361-485-3200 OR VICTORIA TX./PARKS. AND FINALLY, ON BEHALF OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH AT 2:00 P.M. IN THE 700 MAIN CENTER CONFERENCE ROOM 205 FOR ANY ORGANIZATION INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR 2025 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK AND FUNDING POINT OF THIS MEETING IS MANDATORY FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WANTING TO APPLY [a. Rotary International Day Proclamation. Duane Crocker, Mayor] FOR THIS FEDERAL FUNDING ALLOCATION TO HELP LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN VICTORIA. >> THANK YOU MR. GARZA. SO THEN WE WILL JUMP INTO PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS. WE HAVE ONE PROCLAMATION THIS EVENING. MR. HILVERT, WILL YOU HELP ME OUT WITH THAT? >> YES SIR. WHEREAS THE ROTARY CLUBS OF THE AREA ROTARY, ROTARY CLUB OF VICTORIA NORTHSIDE AND VICTORIA DOWNTOWN ROTARY CLUB HAVE PROVIDED OVER 100 YEARS OF SERVICE, DEMONSTRATING THE MAGIC OF ROTARY IN SERVING THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD AND WHEREAS ROTARY INTERNATIONAL IS A WORLDWIDE SERVICE ORGANIZATION FOUNDED ON FEBRUARY 23RD, 1905 WITH THE MEMBERSHIP OF 1.4 MILLION PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESS LEADERS IN 200 COUNTRIES ORGANIZED INTO 46,000 CLUBS, GROUPED INTO 527 DISTRICTS AND 34 ZONES, AND WHEREAS THE ROTARY MOTTO, SERVICE ABOVE SELF, INSPIRES MEMBERS TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN SERVICE, ENCOURAGING HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS AND PROMOTE GOODWILL AND PEACE IN THE WORLD, AND WHEREAS THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL'S VISION STATEMENT IS TOGETHER WE SEE A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE UNITE AND TAKE ACTION TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE ACROSS THE GLOBE IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN OURSELVES. AND WHEREAS THE ROTARY FOUNDATION IS A PUBLICLY CHARITY THAT TRANSFORMS DONATIONS INTO LIFE-CHANGING, SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS PROMOTING PEACE, FIGHTING DISEASE, PROVIDING CLEAN WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE, SAVING MOTHERS AND CHILDREN, SUPPORTING EDUCATION AND GROWING LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, AND WHEREAS ROTARY DISTRICT 3930 AND IT'S 50 CLUBS ARE INVESTING IN A LOCAL COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE PROJECTS FOR THIS YEAR FUNDED THROUGH THE ROTARY FOUNDATION, AND WHEREAS THE ROTARY DISTRICT 930 AND ALL [00:05:04] OF ITS CLUBS ARE COMMITTED TO PROMOTING PEACE IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR SCHOOLS, AND WITHIN OUR FAMILIES. NOW THEREFORE I, DUANE CROCKER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, TEXAS, TO PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 23RD, 2025 AS ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DAY IN VICTORIA, TEXAS, AND CALL UPON IT CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AND CONGRATULATE OUR ROTARIANS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. >> GREAT JOB, APRIL. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, AS MENTIONED AT ROTARY, OUR MOTTO IS SERVICE ABOVE SELF. WE REALLY ON BEHALF OF ALL THE VICTORIA ROTARY CLUBS, YOU KNOW WE ARE JUST THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN HELPING US CONTINUE TO DO SO. SO THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY. >> OKAY, MR. GARZA. ANY OTHER PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS? >> COME ON AJ. I DO HAVE A COUPLE. I'M NOT SURE WHO ALL IS HEAR FROM THE LIBRARY BUT IF YOU ARE, PLEASE RISE. THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS RECEIVED A 2024 ACHIEVEMENT OF LIBRARY EXCELLENCE AWARD FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, AND AFFILIATED WITH THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE TO SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF LIBRARY EXCELLENCE AWARD THE LIBRARY MUST EXHIBIT EXCELLENCE BY PROVIDING SERVICES TO UNDERSERVED AND SPECIAL POPULATIONS, MARKETING AND INNOVATIVE WAYS, PURSUING COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS, OFFERING ENHANCED SERVICES THROUGH UNIQUE OR EXPANDED PROGRAMMING, PROVIDING LITERACY SUPPORT, PROVIDING FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION, SUPPORTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, REMOVING CULTURAL, TOPICAL, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, COMPREHENSIVELY TRAINING STAFF AND OFFERING OTHER UNIQUE SERVICES TO THEIR COMMUNITY. OF THE 542 PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN TEXAS, ONLY 100 TO RECEIVED THIS AWARD IN 2024 POINT SO CONGRATULATIONS TO JESSICA AND HER ENTIRE TEAM FOR THIS VERY WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION. >> I'D LIKE TO ASK AUSTIN ANDERSON TO PLEASE RISE. HE IS OUR DISTRIBUTION AND COLLECTION MANAGER FOR PUBLIC WORKS. HE JUST PASSED HIS EXAM TO BECOME A CLASS A WATER OPERATOR WITH THE CITY OF VICTORIA. A CLASS A WATER LICENSE REFERS TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CERTIFICATION FOR WATER SYSTEM OPERATOR, [3. Items from Council:] TYPICALLY SIGNIFYING A HIGH LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO MANAGE COMPLEX PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS. THIS LICENSE REQUIRES SEVERAL YEARS OF HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN WATER TREATMENT OPERATIONS IN TEXAS. THIS IS A BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT FOR HIM AND FOR THE CITY AND WE THANK HIM FOR HIS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SO AUSTIN, CONGRATULATIONS. >> >> THAT'S IT. OKAY. WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEMS FROM COUNSEL. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING? OKAY. I HAVE A COUPLE REAL QUICK. I DID JUST RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT WARMING CENTERS THIS WEEK THAT I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COLD WEATHER EXPECTED TO COME IN. THERE WILL BE TWO CENTERS OPEN WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT, FROM 5:00 P.M. TO 8:00 A.M. ONE IS AT THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 407 NORTHBRIDGE. ALL ARE WELCOME THERE, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE, SAME DATES AND TIMES THAT THE SALVATION ARMY, 1302 NORTH LEWIS STREET AND THAT IS ADULT MALES ONLY OVERNIGHT SO JUST WANTED TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE. THE OTHER ITEM I HAVE WAS I WAS -- ATTENDED THE RIBBON-CUTTING FOR THE TOASTED YOLK, WHICH IS A NEW REPRESENT RESTAURANT HERE IN TOWN ON SATURDAY, AND I WANTED TO GIVE THE SHOUT OUT TO OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TEAM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TO MR. GARZA AND HIS STAFF. I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER, AND IN HIS COMMENTS BOTH TO ME, AND IN HIS PUBLIC COMMENTS, HE TALKED ABOUT HOW GREAT IT WAS TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF VICTORIA, HOW AWESOME THE EXPERIENCE WAS, AND ACTUALLY SAID THAT HE HAS WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER CITIES AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY COULD HAVE DONE WHAT THEY DID IN THE TIMEFRAME THAT THEY DID IT TO GET THE RESTAURANT OPEN ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN VICTORIA. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU ALL. JOB WELL DONE POINT THANK YOU. JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL KUDOS ON THAT. I TOLD [4. Citizen Communication:] THAT GENTLEMAN, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION WITH EVERYBODY WHO WILL LISTEN TO YOU. ALL RIGHT. WELL THEN WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE INTO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. I HAVE THREE CARDS, I BELIEVE, AND WE'LL START WITH MICHAEL FONDA. GOOD EVENING MR. ANDRA. >> GOOD EVENING, I MICHAEL MONTERO. I LIVE AT 2107 NORTH MAJORA AND. THERE LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME SEWER LEAKS AT THE TRAILER PARK WHERE I USED TO [00:10:03] LIVE. A TENANT JUST BROUGHT IT UP TO ME, AND IT'S BROWN, NASTY LOOKING WATER. IT'S STAGNANT AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. THE PERSON THAT LIVED IN THE 10 HOUSE SAID THEY WERE PAYING $800 A MONTH WATER BILLS AND THAT'S TOO MUCH, AND THEY ARE FIXING TO GET IT PREPARED SO THEY CAN RE-RENT IT BECAUSE THEY EVICTED THE LAST PERSON BUT I DO HOPE THAT THEY FIX THE WATER LEAKS AND THE SEWER LEAKS, AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT CAN GET WITH THE TRAILER PARK OWNER TO FIX IT BECAUSE ON HIS PROFILE IT SAID HE HAD $80 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS AND I KNOW IT'S HARD WHEN YOU ONLY HAVE $80 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY LEFT OVER TO FIX THE SEWER LEAKS AND WATER LEAKS, BUT I WOULD LIKE IT TAKEN CARE OF. ONE TENANT DID BRING THAT TO MY ATTENTION, AND HE DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE DON'T WANT TO GET EVICTED. BUT IT IS RAINING RIGHT NOW SO , YOU KNOW, THEY COULD USE THE EXCUSE, WELL THAT'S JUST RAINWATER. BUT BEFORE IT WAS RAINING, IT WAS REALLY BAD, AND HE DID POINT IT TO ME. IT WAS BETWEEN 2202 NORTH BEN JORDAN AND 2204, BETWEEN THE GRAY HOUSE AND THAT 10 HOUSE THAT THEY ARE RENTING, AND I REALLY DO HOPE THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY $800 A MONTH WATER BILL. A TYPICAL WATER BILL IN A TRAILER HOUSE THERE IS ABOUT $60 A MONTH, AND HAPPY BELATED VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL THE WOMEN. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS MR. HARLEY FISK. WELCOME BACK, MR. FISK. ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF AND INTERESTED CITIZENS. KNOW I'M NOT SHY ABOUT SHARING THINGS THAT I FIND THAT I THINK MIGHT HELP THE CITY OF VICTORIA. THE OTHER NIGHT I DECIDED TO GET CAUGHT UP ON SOME BACK TV EPISODES. I WAS WATCHING SUNDAY MORNING WHEN A SEGMENT CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. IT TRIGGERED A THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO CONSIDER HERE IN VICTORIA. THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN ZIMBABWE TO BRIDGE THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT GAP FOR GO THIS THING CALLED THE FRIENDSHIP BENCH PROGRAM. BENCHES ARE PLACED AROUND THE CITY IN SAFE PLACES AND TRAINED OLDER VOLUNTEERS MEET WITH VISITORS WHO MAY BE EXPERIENCE EPISODES OF DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY. THE VOLUNTEERS USE A FORM OF PROBLEM-SOLVING THERAPY OR COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AT A PRIMARY CARE LEVEL. THIS IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS TALK THERAPY. IT IS SUGGESTED THE VOLUNTEERS BE OLDER ADULTS WITH LOTS OF LIFE EXPERIENCE BEHIND THEM. TRAINING IS PROVIDED FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AND MECHANISMS ARE SET UP SO THAT MORE SERIOUS ISSUES ARE REFERRED TO PROFESSIONAL THERAPISTS. THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON WAITING LIST FOR CARE AND TO ALLOW PROFESSIONALS TO FOCUS ON THOSE WHO NEED MORE ASSISTANCE. SESSIONS USUALLY LAST ABOUT 45 AND IT'S AND ARE SCHEDULED IN ADVANCE. PROGRAM COSTS WOULD BE RELATIVELY LOW, CONSISTING MAINLY OF THE COST OF TRAINING VOLUNTEERS, THE PURCHASE OF THE BENCHES THEMSELVES, SOME ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RECORD-KEEPING. THERE'S NO COST FOR THOSE USING THE SERVICE, WHICH ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT BE PRICED OUT OF CONVENTIONAL CARE TO RECEIVE FREE TREATMENT. THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY USED IN ZIMBABWE FOR OVER 20 YEARS THE WITH DOCUMENTED SUCCESS. IS NOW BEING USED IN SOME U.S. CITIES SUCH AS WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK. I ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER TO CONSIDER DEVELOPING A PROGRAM SUCH AS THIS, TO ADD TO THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH IN THE CITY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU MR. FISK. AND THEN FINALLY MS. INGRID SPARTAN. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME. JUST WANTED TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO YOU, MAYOR CROCKER, AND OF COURSE THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND TO THE COMMUNITY HERE AND THOSE WHO ARE LISTENING TODAY. I AM INGRID SPARKMAN. I'M THE NEW DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR GOLDEN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY, MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR YOUR DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO MAKING OUR CITY A BETTER PLACE DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF GOLDEN CRESCENT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT HARD-WORKING FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO SAFETY SAFE, DECENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, NOW FOR 31 YEARS. FOR 31 YEARS WE'VE BUILT HOMES, STRENGTHENED COMMUNITIES, AND EMPOWERED FAMILIES TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF WORRYING THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, TO INSTEAD KNOWING THAT THEY HAVE ENOUGH. WE'VE DONE THAT RIGHT [00:15:01] HERE IN THE CROSSROADS COMMUNITY BUT THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN DO THIS IS WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR PROGRAMS AND YOUR BELIEF IN ALL THAT WE DO. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A VERY HARD-WORKING FAMILY WHOSE LOST THEIR HOME TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. AS WE ARE LOOKING INTO 25 AND AS WE ARE LOOKING AHEAD OF COURSE IN 2025, I'M GOING TO EMBARK ON A VERY AMBITIOUS INITIATIVE. IT'S CALLED 25 IN 2025. OUR GOAL IS TO RALLY 2500 COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PLEDGE JUST $25 A MONTH FOR 12 MONTHS. THIS GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT IS GOING TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE FUNDING TO BUILD MORE HOMES AND CHANGE MORE LIVES RIGHT HERE IN THE COMMUNITY AND OUR SURROUNDING COUNTIES. WE KNOW THAT WITH THE SUPPORT OF LEADERSHIP LIKE YOU, WE CAN MAKE THIS VISION A REALITY, AND I'M HERE TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US BY BECOMING A SPONSOR AND BY ATTENDING OUR LARGEST EFFORT TO MAKE 25 IN 25 A SUCCESS. ON FEBRUARY THE 25TH WE ARE HOSTING A TELETHON, AN OLD-SCHOOL TELETHON AT HABITAT, LOCATED AT 4103 NORTH NAVARRO SUITE 200 AND I INVITE YOU TO COME EITHER GRAB SOME OF THE NUMBERS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR LIST, OR MAYBE REACH OUT TO SOME FAMILY AND FRIENDS. AND SO THAT WAS IT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. BUT I DO HAVE INVITATIONS. ARE YOU ALLOWED TO APPROACH THE BENCHES? >> HE WILL TAKE THEM. >> OKAY, WONDERFUL. THANK YOU GUYS. PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS. I WOULD APPRECIATE SEEING YOU ALL THERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU MS. SPARKMAN AND THANKS TO HABITAT FOR ALL YOU GUYS DOING THE COMMUNITY. APPRECIATE IT. [D. Consent Agenda:] >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SIR. WITH THAT THEN WE WILL MOVE DOWN THE AGENDA. WE HAVE NO ITEMS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS AND SO WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS ON CONSENT AGENDA. MS. HILBERT, IF YOU WOULD ASSIST WITH THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> ITEM D ONE IS THE ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING FROM FEBRUARY 4TH 2025 AND MD 2 IS AN APPROVAL -- IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT VICTORIA COUNTY FOR PLAN REVIEW AND INSPECTION SERVICES FOR VICTORIA COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY PROJECT. ITEM D 3 IS IMPROVING INVESTMENT POLICY AND LIST OF QUALIFIED BROKERS AND ITEM D 4'S APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT WITH THIRD COAST SERVICES LLC FOR THE REPLACE FRONT OF A TRAFFIC SIGNAL POLE AND MAST ARM IN THE AMOUNT OF $55,053.34. >> THANK YOU MS. HILBERT. DO I [1. Municipal Court 2024 Annual Report. Tiffany Totah, Municipal Court Cle...] HAVE ANY MOTIONS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS RED. >> I SECOND. >> GOT A MOTION TO THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. CONSENT AGENDA PASSES. MOVING ON THEN WE HAVE NO ACTION ITEMS AND SO WE WILL JUMP STRAIGHT INTO OUR CITY MANAGER REPORTS. MR. GARZA. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. WE WILL CONTINUE OUR PRESENTATION OF ANNUAL REPORTS AND TONIGHT WE HAVE THREE, AND TO KICK IT OFF, I'M GOING TO ASK TIFFANY TO COME UP AND PROVIDE HER UPDATES ON THE COURTS. >> RIGHT. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M EXCITED TONIGHT TO BE REPRESENTING MUNICIPAL COURT AND GIVING YOU OUR FISCAL YEAR 2024 ANNUAL REPORT. SO THIS IS OUR TEAM HERE. WE HAVE FIVE STAFF MEMBERS IN OUR MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE WHO IS AT TRAINING THIS WEEK, AND UNFORTUNATELY UNABLE TO JOIN US, BUT WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE HER AS OUR LEADER FOR OUR COURT, TO HELP ENSURE ACCESS TO JUSTICE. OUR MISSION OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT IS TO STRIVE TO PROVIDE INCREASED ACCESS TO FAIR COURT PROCEEDINGS AND ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT FOLLOWS ALL APPLICABLE LAWS AND ENSURES THE RIGHTS OF ALL PROTECTED. OUR GOALS ARE TO ENSURE ACCESS TO JUSTICE, GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTS. THAT'S JUDGE HANDLED THERE IN THE MIDDLE WITH ONE OF HER MOCK TRIAL EXERCISES THAT SHE GOES INTO THE CLASSROOMS TO TEACH AND THEN STAFF DEVELOPMENT, TARA TENNEY THERE IS FEATURED IN THE PHOTO . LAST YEAR DURING FISCAL 24 SHE DID OBTAIN HER LEVEL ONE CLERK CERTIFICATION AS WELL AS GRADUATING WITH HER BACHELORS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION. SO WE DO HAVE A COURT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE OUR STAFF TO ATTEND AND GO THROUGH. THAT IS PART OF OUR ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT . ONE PROGRAM THAT OUR JUDGE IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, THAT WE STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO NOW, IS THE COURT TO RECOVERY PARTNERSHIP WITH BILLY TO YUCATAN AND THIS PARTICULAR PARTNERSHIP IS RELATED WITH OFFENSES INVOLVING PUBLIC INTOXICATION OR OTHER SUBSTANCE MATTER SUCH AS POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. SO FISCAL YEAR 2024 WE HAD A TOTAL OF 25 PEOPLE THAT DID COMPLY WITH ALL TERMS OF THE PROGRAM. 36 ATTENDED THE PROGRAM, WHICH WAS A TOTAL OF 144 HOURS OF CLASS TIME. SO MONTHLY BILLY TO YUCATAN OFFERS TWO CLASSES A [00:20:09] MONTH. IT IS A TWO PART PROGRAM. THEY DO HAVE TO ATTEND BOTH CLASSES TO GRADUATE. THEY ARE GIVEN A PERIOD OF TIME TO DO THAT, TO HELP PROVIDE THEM INFORMATION AND RESOURCES RELATED TO THEIR PARTICULAR OFFENSES. SO THAT IS A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT GROWING AS WE MOVE FORWARD. WE ALSO LIKE TO DO ALL KINDS OF COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVES. WE HAD TWO JAVA WITH A JUDGE EVENTS THAT I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU ATTENDED. WE HAD OUR 125TH THAT WE CELEBRATED BACK AND SET NUMBER AND DURING MUNICIPAL COURT WEEK WE ALSO TYPICALLY WILL HOST ONE OF THOSE AT THAT. WE ALSO HAD AN INTERN THAT WE HAD HELP DEVELOP A SELF-HELP RESOURCE THAT WE DID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LIBRARY AND THAT'S BEEN A GREAT RESOURCE THAT WE CAN GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SHOW THEM WHAT LEGAL RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HAVE THE CARSEY PROGRAM AND CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY GRANT THAT WE WILL RECEIVE AND THEN WE DID HOLD ONE OR TWO MOCK TRIALS IN THE PAST YEAR, AND THAT IS ALSO CAREER FAIR AS WELL SO THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF WHAT TYPES OF THINGS WE DID . WITH CAR SEAT INSPECTIONS WE HAD A TOTAL OF 70 CAR SEAT INSPECTIONS THROUGH A COUPLE EVENTS AND ON-SITE INSPECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. A TOTAL OF 40 OUTREACH EFFORT INITIATIVES BETWEEN CARSEY PROGRAMS, TRAFFIC SAFETY BOOTS, JAVA WITH A JUDGE. NOT SURE WHY THAT SAYS FIVE. I DON'T THINK WE HAD FIVE LAST YEAR. I THINK THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TO THERE AND THEN CAREER DAY PARTNERSHIPS WAS FIVE AND SO WE GO ON CAMPUS TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT EVENTS AND WE ALSO HOSTED ONE HERE, AS WELL WE DID ALSO HAVE FIVE STAFF MEMBERS BETWEEN VARIOUS DEPARTMENT'S, SO MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE CAR SEAT TECHNICIAN SO FIVE NEW STAFF MEMBERS FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA BECAME TECHNICIANS IN THE PAST YEAR, AS WELL. AND THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE CHILD SAFETY PROGRAM ITSELF. SO IN OCTOBER IS TYPICALLY WHERE THE GRANT WILL GO INTO EFFECT. IN APRIL IS WHERE WE HOSTED A CAR SEAT EVENT, A COMMUNITYWIDE CARSEY EVENT AT TARGET. WE ALSO DID A COUPLE OF BOOTHS THROUGHOUT THAT MONTH AS WELL. IN JUNE AND JULY WE DID A COUPLE OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENTS AND EDUCATED ON CAR SEAT SAFETY IN THE SUMMER, AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER WE HOSTED THAT CLASS HERE IN VICTORIA IN COLLABORATION WITH TEXAS AND I'M AGGRO LIFE AND THAT'S WHERE WE ALSO HAD A CAR SEAT EVENT AT TARGET. AND IN THE PICTURE HERE THERE IS A FEW OF THE FIVE STAFF MEMBERS ARE FEATURED IN THEIR AND THAT WAS AT OUR -- WHEN THEY GRADUATED, THEY WERE VERY EXCITED TO BE COMPLETED WITH THAT PROGRAM. WE HAVE A JUVENILE CASE MANAGER PROGRAM WHERE ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS SPENDS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF HER TIME FOCUSING ON OUR MORE USEFUL OFFENSES. THOSE THAT ARE 10 TO 16 YEARS OF AGE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF PROGRAM. WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH MIDCOAST FAMILY SERVICES, VICTORIA COLLEGE, AND UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, AND THEN VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS HOSTED SOME CLASSES FOR US AND OUR PARTNERS WITH KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL TO OFFER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM, SO WE TEND TO GO OUT TO THOSE TO HELP PROVIDE SUPERVISION FOR THOSE THAT ARE NEEDING COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS. SO THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WE HAD 11 DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WERE EITHER WITH ONE OF THESE PARTNERS HERE, A TOTAL OF 23 ATTENDED THESE EVENTS. 35 HOURS OF EDUCATION WERE PROVIDED. MIDCOAST FAMILY SERVICES DOES OFFER VARIOUS TYPES OF PREVENTATIVE CLASSES THAT THEY PROVIDE, SUCH AS SUBSTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND ANGER MANAGEMENT, EMOTIONAL MANAGEMENT, AND THINGS OF THAT SORT. SO THEY DID PROVIDE HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EDUCATION FOR THEM ON SATURDAYS AND A TOTAL OF 192 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE WERE PERFORMED BY THE YOUTH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE ALSO HOST MONTHLY WARRANT RESOLUTION DOCKETS. WHILE THIS MONTH WE ARE HAVING EXTRA DOCKETS, WE DO THIS ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE DO THIS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OFFERING VIRTUAL OPTIONS AND SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE PLACES THAT WE VISITED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE WENT TO SALVATION ARMY, MIDSIZED DELI SERVICES AS A COMMUNITY SPACE, THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN A PARTNER AS WELL. AND SO THROUGH THAT WE SPENT 570 HOURS WORKING ON THESE DOCKETS. 592 PEOPLE ATTENDED AND THESE ARE TYPICALLY WHEN SOMEBODY FELL BEHIND ON AN ARRANGEMENT OF SORTS, MAYBE FAILED TO APPEAR FOR COURT OR THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE WARRANT SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO GET BACK ON TRACK. MAYBE THEY WERE INCARCERATED. THE JUDGE CAN OFFER THE CREDIT FOR TIME SERVED FOR THAT OR COMMUNITY SERVICE OPTIONS SUCH AS THAT. AND THROUGH THOSE DOCKETS WE WERE ABLE TO CLEAR AND PROCESS OVER 1400 CASES. AND THESE ARE OUR STATS FOR THE YEAR. IF THEY ARE IN RED THAT MEANS WE WERE SLIGHTLY DOWN FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN BLACK THEY WERE EITHER FLAT OR ABOVE. SO WE DID SEE AN UP TICK IN CASES FILED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OF ALMOST 20% OF THAT POINT OUR DOCKETS WENT DOWN SLIGHTLY BUT LAST YEAR THE NUMBER WAS 125 . SO WE [00:25:07] MISSED ABOUT SIX DOCKETS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS PAST YEAR. THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ABATEMENT WARRANTS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT OUR JUDGE IS ABLE TO DO BECAUSE WE BECAME A MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORD BACK IN 2021, IS WHEN WE HAD AN ORDINANCE PASSED FOR THAT, SO THOSE ABATEMENT WARRANTS WERE UP FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. AND THEN THESE ARE JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF CASES THAT WE GET. SO WE GET CITATIONS, INVESTIGATION CASES, AND SITE ARRESTS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE DID SEE AN UPTICK IN ALL OF THESE ACROSS-THE-BOARD . WE ALSO RECEIVED CITATIONS FROM THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE AND CODE ENFORCEMENT VIOLATIONS. THAT NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE THE ABATEMENT WARRANTS. AND THEN WE DO ALSO RECEIVE VIOLATIONS FROM THE ANIMAL SERVICES, WHICH IS A COUNTY ENTITY. SO LOOKING FORWARD, THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE ARE RELATED TO STAFFING AND EFFICIENT USES OF TECHNOLOGY, AND OUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE A GRANT OPPORTUNITY AND CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT. SO WITH OUR STAFFING, THE COMPLEXITIES THAT WE EXPERIENCE IN FINE COLLECTIONS IS DUE TO THE LACK OF DEDICATED STAFF FOCUSED ON CASE COMPLIANCE. SO WE HAVE A VERY LIMITED SMALL STAFF, SO WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FOCUS ON CLOSING THOSE CASES EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, WHICH IS WHY WE MAKE IT EXTRA EFFORT TO YEAR TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO COME IN AND WITH THAT COMES LEGISLATIVE MANDATES. SO THE LEGISLATION CONTINUES TO ADD ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES THAT REQUIRE THE JUDGE TO ASSESS EACH INDIVIDUAL CASE, TO DETERMINE THEIR ABILITY TO PAY AND OUR STAFF THEN -- WE ARE LIMITED ON WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO WITH THAT. SO WITH THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED QUITE A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK IN DUTIES UNDER SENSIBILITIES BUT NO ADDITIONAL STAFFING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT. ADDITIONALLY THE EFFICIENT USAGE OF TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT IS RIGHT NOW OUR SERVER THAT OUR COURT SOFTWARE IS ON IS 17 YEARS OLD AND IT IS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED OR WE NEED TO LOOK TO MOVE THAT TO A HOSTED ENVIRONMENT THAT WOULD THEN ALLEVIATE THAT BURDEN FROM OUR INTERNAL I.T.S STAFF , AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE LOOKING TO DO BECAUSE THE WAY OUR SYSTEM IS NOW, IT LIMITS US IN OUR ABILITY TO ACCESS OUR COURT SOFTWARE WHEN WE ARE REMOTE OR OFF-SITE, OR EVEN LOCALLY. AND SO WE ARE LOOKING TO GET THAT REPLACED IN THIS NEXT FISCAL YEAR, POTENTIALLY, AND MOVING AWAY FROM OUR LOCAL SERVER TO A MORE HOSTED ENVIRONMENT, TO ALLOW MORE ACCESS TO THAT PARTICULAR SYSTEM. THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY. SO WE RECENTLY APPLIED FOR OUR YOUTH JUVENILE PREVENTION GRANT . WE ARE HOPING TO RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THIS GRANT TO HELP US MAXIMIZE OUR CAPACITY TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM, SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO THE JUVENILE CASES THAT ARE THOSE AGED 10 TO 16 YEARS OF AGE PURPOSE OF THIS PAST YEAR IN JANUARY WE WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE A YOUTH DIVERSION PLAN IN PLACE THAT WAS DONE IN THE PRIOR LEGISLATION SESSION. AND SO, THAT HAS CREATED A CHALLENGE FOR US, AND SO WE ARE LOOKING TO HAVE THIS GRANT HELP US TO DEDICATE MORE OF THOSE RESOURCES TO THOSE YOUTHFUL FOLKS TO HELP REDUCE RECIDIVISM. AND THIS WILL HELP US TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ASSURE A WORKLOAD DISTRIBUTION IS MANAGED. WITH THE NEW FACILITY COMING WE ARE HOPING TO IMPROVE OUR CASELOAD MANAGEMENT. WE WILL HAVE MORE SPACE AND MORE EFFICIENCIES IN PLACE TO ENSURE AN EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF COURT PROCESSES WITHIN THAT NEW FACILITY. SO WE ARE LOOKING TO HELP ADDRESS BACKLOG OF CASES BY IMPLEMENTING SPECIALIZED DOCKETS THROUGH ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. SOME OF THOSE SPECIALIZED DOCKETS INCLUDE A VETERANS DOCKET SO OUR JUDGE IS WANTING TO LOOK TO EXPLORE THAT, TO BRING IN ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO FOLKS THAT MAY HAVE FINANCIAL BURDENS RELATED TO THEIR CITATIONS AND BRING IN SOME COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR THAT, AND THEN WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO HOST CAMPUS DOCKETS ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES SO THAT WE ARE MEETING THE CHILDREN WHERE THEY'RE AT FOR THOSE TYPES OF CASES VERSUS HAVING TO GET THEM OUT OF SCHOOL TO COMMIT TO THE COURT ENVIRONMENT. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE LOOKING AT TO INCREASE OUR EFFICIENCIES AND MANAGE OUR OVERALL COURT BACKLOG. AND SO I AM -- WITH THAT I WILL LEAVE IT OPEN FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE BELIEF YUCATAN PROGRAM. HOW IS THAT FUNDED? >> IT IS ACTUALLY -- SO THE PARTICIPANTS, WHEN THEY ARE ORDERED TO THAT, THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PAY A FEE TO BILLY T KAZAN. IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE ARE PAYING FOR. THE JUDGE CAN -- IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD [00:30:01] THAT AMOUNT, THE AMOUNT THAT IS ASSESSED BY THEM IS $140 AND THE JUDGE CAN RECOMMEND THAT THEY WAIVE IT, AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS BILLY T KAZAN HAS A GRANT THEY RECEIVE FUNDING FOR THE THEY CAN WAIVE OBVIOUSLY A VERY BUSY YEAR. >> IT WAS. STILL TRYING TO CATCH [2. Development Services Department 2024 Annual Report. Julie Fulgham, Dir...] UP . >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU. >> SO WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ALONG AND JULIE WILL COME UP AND PRESENTER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT ANNUAL UPDATE. >> GOOD EVENING. SO I APOLOGIZE, I'M A LITTLE RUSTY ON THESE. I DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO THEM EVERY YEAR. >> EXCUSES. >> I ALWAYS LIKE TO START WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT. IT'S LONG AND OUR CORE VALUES ARE LONG BUT THE HIGHLIGHT OF IT IS THAT WE STRIVE TO APPLY CODES FAIRLY AND CONSISTENTLY IN A PROVISION OF ALL OF OUR SERVICES AND THAT WE HAVE ENFORCED CODES, THAT WE TRY TO BALANCE THAT DUTY WITH A COMMON SENSE APPROACH AND FACILITATIVE ATTITUDE, AND IF WE CONTINUE TO GET COMPLIMENTS LIKE WE DID I THINK IT SHOWS WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB AND LIVING UP TO OUR MISSION STATEMENT. SO WE HAVE 26 FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND TWO OF THOSE ARE GRANT FUNDED HIM A FULL-TIME GRANT FUNDED, AND THEN WE HAVE TWO PARTIALLY GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS, SO OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND IT EQUALS 23 FULL-TIME POSITIONS OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND WITH THREE COMING OUT OF THE GRANTS WHICH IS OF COURSE OUR IPO AND GRANTS, SO OUR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, WHICH OF COURSE IS JUST A HUGE COMPUTER SYSTEM WITH A LOAD OF DATA, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE TIME TO EVER REALLY PLAY AROUND WITH OUR MAPS BUT IF YOU EVER GET ON THEM THE DATA CAN BE OVERWHELMING AND IT'S ALSO REALLY COOL. YOU CAN FIND OUT A LOT OF INFORMATION. BUT IT KEEPS OUR GIS TEAM BUSY. THEY WORK WITH ALMOST THE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY IN MAKING SURE THAT ALL THE DATA THAT'S GOING INTO OUR SYSTEM IS FACTUAL, THAT THEY WERE A VERY PERSNICKETY TEAM WHICH IS A VERY GOOD THING WHENEVER WE ARE GOING TO LOOK IN OUR GIS SYSTEM. SO ONE PROJECT THAT HAS TAKEN AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME, THAT THEY'VE BEEN HELPING US WITH PUBLIC WORKS ON DEVELOPMENT OF IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE LAYER TO HELP WITH FUTURE DRAINAGE POLICIES AND SO FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH IMPERVIOUS COVERAGE IS IN A COMMUNITY IS ALL BEING DONE BY THE GIS TEAM. THERE IS A LOT OF BACK AND WORK WITH SERVERS AND SEQUELS AND MAKING SURE ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS TALK TO EACH OTHER, AND IT'S KIND OF EVER MY HEAD. I'M SURE EVERYONE IN I.T.S AND GIS DEPARTMENT UNDERSTANDS IT BUT EVERY TIME ADRIAN COMES TO ME WITH SERVER UP DATES, USUALLY THERE IS A LITTLE NICE DOLLAR TAG ATTACHED TO IT. JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED, ADRIAN. MOST RECENTLY THEY COLLABORATED WITH THE POLICE THE PART ON THE CHILD SAFETY ZONES MAP SO THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT WHEN DEPARTMENTS COME TO GIS IS MAKING SURE AGAIN THAT DATA IS CORRECT. WHEN THE GIS FIRST RECEIVED THAT MAP REQUEST THERE WAS A 1000 FOOT BUFFER AND KIND OF A LIST PUT TOGETHER THAT WASN'T COMPREHENSIVE, OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PLACES THAT NEEDED TO BE BUFFERED FROM. SO PART OF GIS'S ROLE IS THAT THEY MAKE SURE THAT DATA IS CORRECT. THEY WENT TO THE HUMAN SERVICES, OR TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF I THINK IT'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THE STATE AGENCY THAT LICENSED DAYCARE IS. THEY PULLED ALL THE ADDRESSES IN VICTORIA, CITY OF VICTORIA, THEY PULLED ALL THE PARKS AND THEY REALLY QUALITY CONTROL CHECKED ALL OF THAT DATA TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT FINAL MAP WAS ACCURATE SO IT COULD BE A LOT OF WORK. OUR NEXT VISION IS PLANNING SERVICES AND I KNOW Y'ALL ARE TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT THE UNIFIED DEVELOPING ORDINANCE BUT IT REALLY WAS THE THEME OF THE YEAR. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT, NOT JUST THE ACTUAL ORDINANCE, BUT ONCE IT WAS APPROVED, UPDATING ALL OF OUR APPLICATIONS AND PROCESSES, EDUCATING FOLKS, AND IT JUST CONTINUES TO REALLY BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE PLANNING SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WE NEEDED TO GET TO APA OR THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, THE STATE OF TEXAS ONE, AND IT WAS REALLY WELL ATTENDED SESSION AND TONS OF QUESTIONS AND COMPLIMENTS OF OH WELL, Y'ALL DON'T HAVE A ZONING MAP, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF ANY OTHER TEXAS CITIES ADOPT OUR MODEL. WE'VE HAD 12 PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS LAST FISCAL YEAR AND ONLY THREE SO FAR IN THIS FISCAL YEAR, AND YOU'LL SEE OUR NUMBERS AND HOW THIS KIND OF CORRELATE. SAME WITH DEVELOPMENT, PREDEVELOPMENT [00:35:02] MEETINGS WITH OUR REVIEW TEAM. WE'VE HAD 68 PREDEVELOPMENT MEETINGS LAST FISCAL YEAR AND ONLY 20 THIS YEAR SO FAR. WE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING UP THE DEMOGRAPHICS FOR THIS CITY. WE MAINLY DO THIS USING THE STATE DEMOGRAPHERS OFFICE DATA BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY SO THIS IS WHAT OUR CURRENT ESTIMATES ARE LOOKING FOR, CITY OF VICTORIA AS WELL AS THE COUNTY. WE HAVE DONE A LOT LESS ANNEXATION THAN WE HAVE IN THE PAST AND A LOT OF THAT IS THE RESULT OF STATE LAW CHANGES. IN FACT, IN MY FUTURE ANNUAL REPORTS THAT WE MAY BE GIVING, YOU MAY START SEEING THIS ANNEXATION REQUESTS BECAUSE THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION THE LEGISLATURE CREATED A PROCESS THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO PRETTY EASILY D AND ASK THEMSELVES, ESPECIALLY -- NOT AS MUCH IF YOU ARE ALREADY RECEIVING THOSE CITY SERVICES. IN 2024 WE DID ANNEX THE BILLY T KAZAN RECOVERY OUTREACH CENTER. THAT WAS A TOTAL OF 10 ACRES. SO WITHIN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT OF COURSE WE DO MANAGE THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS. EVERY YEAR WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. REMEMBER THE TIMELINE, WE PRESENT THIS FUNDING, AS JESUS JUST ANNOUNCED, IN MARCH IS WHEN WE DO KIND OF A CALL FOR RECIPIENTS AND IN JUNE BRING COUNSEL THE RECOMMENDED LIST OF WHO WE ARE GOING TO FUND FOR THAT YEAR, FOR THE MONEY BECOMES AVAILABLE OCTOBER 1ST AND THEN WE SUBMIT THAT TO HUD SO OUR 2024 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN WAS APPROVED. WE COMPLETED LAST YEAR'S AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING EVERY FIVE YEARS. WE DO A CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL -- SORRY, A CON PLAN AND WE JUST STARTED HAVING STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS AND GATHERING DATA ON THAT. WE ALSO DO THE PAPER EVERY YEAR, WHICH IS BASICALLY A REPORT THAT'S A COMPANION DOCUMENT TO THE ANNUAL ACTION PLAN, SAYING THE ACTION PLANS IS HOW WE ARE GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY. CAPERS IS THIS IS HOW WE ACTUALLY DID SPEND IT AND THEN THAT CONSOLIDATED PLAN EVERY FIVE YEARS, THE ANNUAL ACTION PLANS ALL HAVE TO TIE INTO THAT COMP PLAN. SO JUST A REMINDER, THIS IS WHO THE CDBG GRANT IS HELPING IN OUR COMMUNITY. ANYBODY BELOW 80% MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IS ELIGIBLE AND THEN IF IT'S AN AREA BENEFIT, IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE CENSUS TRACTS THAT'S COLORED YELLOW ON THE MAP. AND WE HAVE THAT MAP PUBLISHED IN OUR GIS MAPS. THESE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. WE HAVE BEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS DOING SOME REHAB PROJECTS AND SO YOU'LL SEE THE PICTURES . WE HAVE AN APA COMPLIANT WALK IN SHOWER, ENERGY EFFICIENT WINDOWS. YOU REALLY WANT TO BE MOVING AWAY FROM THAT IN THIS NEXT CON PLAN AND DOING MORE PUBLIC FACILITY PROJECTS BUT OUR ALLOCATION HAS KIND OF HELD STEADY AT THAT HALF $1 MILLION OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNER AS WELL AS PLANNING MANAGER AND MYSELF HAVE BETWEEN THE THREE OF US, WE HAVE ATTENDED 19 DIFFERENT MEETINGS. MOSTLY ZACH, FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT. AND OUR OTHER FEDERAL GRANT IS ALSO REALLY BUSY AND YOU HEARD ALL OF THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING ABOUT OUR NTP, OUR FIVE-YEAR PLAN ON THAT. WE ALSO DEVELOPED THE CURRENT TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, OUR TIP DOCUMENTS, WHICH IS HOW ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS GET FUNDED AND STARTED. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH VICTORIA TRANSIT ON THE RAIL STUDY, DEVELOPED THE YOU PWP, WHICH IS BUDGET AND THEN ADOPT ALL THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AS REQUIRED. AND THEN OF COURSE A WHOLE LAST SLIDE ON THAT NTP. IT WAS A LOT OF WORK OVER THE PAST YEAR AND WE ARE SO READY FOR THE NPO TO APPROVE IT AT THE APRIL MEETING, AND THE ONLY REASON WE HAVEN'T ALREADY APPROVED IT IS BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO MOVE UP YOUR APPROVAL DATE WITH THE FEDS. WE ARE HOPING THAT WE END UP WITH A REP THAT CAN REVIEW IT AND APPROVE IT FOR US. AS YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING IS KIND OF UP IN THE AIR WITH THE FEDERAL GRANTS BUT WE ARE JUST CONTINUING TO MOVE ALONG AS EVERYTHING STAYS THE SAME. SO OUR LARGEST DIVISION IS THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO REALLY FOCUS ON TRAINING OUR INSPECTION STAFF AND WE HAVE A LOT OF NEW ICC CERTIFICATIONS THIS YEAR. OUR ASSISTANT BUILDING OFFICIAL, ELI PRISON YO, DID COMPLETE ALL THE MODULES THIS YEAR AND GAINED THAT CERTIFIED BUILDING OFFICIAL OR CBO STANDING WITH THE ICC. COREY MULLINS IS NOW A BUILDING INSPECTOR 2, WAS PROMOTED AND HE [00:40:07] RECEIVED TWO OTHER INSPECTIONS. YEAH RAMOS AND JEFF ALLISON EACH RECEIVED RESIDENTIAL BUILDING INSPECTOR CERTIFICATION, AND THOSE ARE COMBINATION INSPECT THERE'S ONE, AND THEN RICK OF COURSE CONTINUES TO BE AN EXPERT IN ALL THINGS CODE AND IS SERVING ON ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES, AND ON HIS COMMITTEE THIS YEAR HE WAS ACTUALLY CHOSEN AS CHAIR. SO I'VE BEEN GUIDING HIM A LITTLE BIT ON ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER BEFORE HE HAS HIS MEETINGS. HE'S REALLY REGRETTING THAT BUT IT JUST KIND OF IS A TESTAMENT I THINK TO RICK'S EXPERIMENT EXPERIENCE THAT HE WAS CHOSEN. SO HERE IS SOME JUST DATA POINTS ON WHAT OUR DEVELOPMENT TEAM'S ACTIVITY IS , SITE PLANS. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE ONLY A FOUR YEAR TO DATE, WHICH IS PRETTY LOW. MAJOR AND MINOR FLATS WERE AT SEVEN, VERIFICATION SEVEN AND VARIANCES FIVE. THIS IS OUR PERMIT ACTIVITY. SO YOU WILL SEE OUR VALUES WERE ACTUALLY PRETTY HIGH. WE HAVE SOME BIG PROJECTS. OUR PERMITS ISSUED ARE A LITTLE BIT ON THE LOWER SIDE. THE SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL NEW CONSTRUCTION WAS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. 41 HOMES IS THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AND RICK BELIEVES IT'S THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN HIS 20 YEAR TENURE WITH THE CITY. YOU NOTICE OUR INSPECTIONS THAT HAVE GONE DOWN A LITTLE BIT, INTERESTINGLY OUR RATE ON INSPECTIONS IS A PRETTY SOLID STANDARD 8%, SO 8% OF THESE INSPECTIONS THAT WERE DONE RESULTED IN A FAILURE WHERE INSPECTORS HAD TO GO OUT AND REINSPECT, ACCEPT IN 2022. THAT WAS A 12% FAILURE RATE AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT AND KIND OF WONDERING WHY, WHY DID A JUMP FROM 8% TO 12%, AND THE CONSENSUS IS 2020, SOMEWHERE IN THAT 8000 RANGE OR A LITTLE BELOW, IS WHERE WE HIT MAX CAPACITY AND WE DON'T HAVE TIME . THERE'S TOO MANY INSPECTIONS ON THE LIST FOR THAT DATE. THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO PROVIDE ANY CUSTOMER SERVICE OR WORK WITH THE PEOPLE. THEY JUST SAY YOU'RE NOT READY, THEY FAIL IT AND YOU MOVE ON. SO YEARS LIKE 2020 TO KEEP US REALLY, REALLY BUSY. WE ARE NOT CLOSING OUT ROOFING PERMITS, THINGS LIKE THAT, AND IN YEARS LIKE 2024 WE WERE ABLE TO BE REALLY THOROUGH AND CATCH UP ON MAYBE SOME OF THOSE ROOFING PERMITS THAT DIDN'T GET CLOSED OUT IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS. SO THIS IS JUST A BAR GRAPH OF THAT SAME PERMIT ACTIVITY. I DID HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE LARGE PERMITS, KIND OF SHOW WHERE THOSE DOLLAR AMOUNTS WERE COMING FROM. SO OUR COMMERCIAL INSPECT AND UNDER COMMERCIAL PERMIT ACTIVITIES, THOSE VALUES ARE PRETTY HIGH. EVEN THOUGH OVERALL PERMIT NUMBERS ARE PRETTY LOW. SO IT JUST TAKES A COUPLE PROJECTS, SO FOR PERMIT ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS OUR ECONOMIC CENTER HIGHLIGHTS AS WE JUST CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AND ENFORCE THE 2021 BUILDING CODES, ICC CODES, CONTINUE TO DO OUTREACH AND TRAIN ALL OF THE PROFESSIONALS ON THAT . WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT TURNAROUND TIME FOR PLAN REVIEW. 10 BUSINESS DAYS. AND WE JUST WENT THROUGH AN AUDIT WITH ISO. THEY CAME TO OUR OFFICE AND THEY DO THAT EVERY FIVE YEARS. WE DO NOT HAVE THE AUDIT RESULTS YET BUT THEY DID LEAD US TO BELIEVE THAT WE WOULD MAINTAIN OUR RATING. SO OF COURSE WE'LL SHARE THAT AS SOON AS WE RECEIVE THOSE AUDIT RESULTS. AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE A LIST OF MAJOR COMMERCIAL PERMITS AND MAJOR DOWNTOWN PERMITS. MR. GADDY SEEMS TO BE A COMMUNITY FAVORITE. AND THEN OF COURSE THE PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS. IT'S ONLY REALLY COOL TO SEE THESE PROJECTS HAPPENING. YOU CAN CONTINUE TO BE UP DATED MONTHLY ON OUR PERMIT ACTIVITY IF YOU SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MONTHLY DIV ELEMENT AND PERMIT REPORT. IT GIVES ALL THE DATA. IN FACT, ACTUALLY THERE IS AN ATTACHMENT WITH THAT THAT HAS ALL THE INDIVIDUALLY LISTED PERMITS EVERY MONTH THAT ARE ISSUED. SO IF YOU WANT TO SUBSCRIBE TO THAT WILL GET A LINK TO THAT EVERY MONTH AND YOU CAN SEE MONTH OVER MONTH HOW WE ARE DOING. SO OUR NEXT DIVISION TO TALK ABOUT IS CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF CHANGEOVER IN STAFF IN CODE ENFORCEMENT. WE HAD A LONGTIME SUPERVISOR WHOSE CHILDREN GRADUATED AND HE DECIDED TO RELOCATE TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, SO HE ACTUALLY [00:45:10] GOT A JOB WITH CITY OF LIVE OAK IN THE SAN ANTONIO AREA, AND WITH THAT WE PROMOTED MICHELLE TYREE AS THE NEW SUPERVISOR. AND THEN ANOTHER LONG-TERM CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER ACTUALLY TRANSFERRED TO OUR GIS DEPARTMENT WITH THE RETIREMENT OF ONE OF OUR GIS ANALYSTS, AND SO WE FILLED THOSE TWO VACANCIES. WE WERE ABLE TO BRING ONE OF THE NEW HIRES, STEPHEN PRESS, IN AS A SENIOR OFFICER, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. HE IS A RETIRED SHERIFF'S DEPUTY FROM CALHOUN COUNTY SO THERE IS REALLY NO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AT ALL. HE WAS ABLE TO GET HIS LICENSE AND GET STARTED, AND HE LIKES CODE ENFORCEMENT MORE THAN POLICE WORK. SO MAYBE IF I HAVE ANY MORE OPENINGS, NOW I KNOW WHERE TO LOOK. SO ALL OF OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO WORK -- FOR A WHILE THERE WE HAD SPLIT UP WITH OUR SENIORS DOING THE MUNICIPAL COURT, PROPERTY MAINTENANCE, SUBSTANDARD BUILDING, MORE INVOLVED AND HARDER CASES, AND HAVING OUR NEW STAFF JUST WORK ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL ABATEMENTS, HIGH RATES OF GRASS AND JUNK BUT THEY ARE ALL BACK TO DOING ALL TYPES OF PACES WITH OUR SUPERVISOR, FOCUSING ON HELPING OUT WITH CASES THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT. OUR AREAS MAINTAIN THEIR AFFAIRS AND EAST SOUTHSIDE AREA THERE'S A LOT OF DEBATE OVER WHAT THE SOUTHSIDE IS. AND THEN QUEEN CITY AND SILVER CITY AREAS. >> WE DO A LOT OF CASES. THE MORE BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION OR JUNK VEHICLE OR SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURE CASES THAT WE DO REALLY KIND OF RESULTS IN LESS ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE COMPLAINTS AND THIS REALLY CAN VARY. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO THOSE TYPES OF CASES , WHERE AN ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE COMPLAINT, WE SEND A LETTER AND 10 DAYS LATER WE WERE ABLE TO ABATE IT. THAT IS NOT THE CASE WITH THE OTHER TYPES OF CASES. AND WE ARE ALWAYS LOWER IN THE WINTER MONTHS BECAUSE OF COURSE WE HAVE A HUGE UPTICK IN ENVIRONMENTAL CASES IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. EVERYTHING IS GROWING. SO HERE IS SOME EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT TAKES CARE OF. SO PROPERTIES LIKE 304 EAST MURRAY IS A KIND OF VERY LONG PROCESS, TAKES A WHILE TO GO FROM THIS TO THIS BUT WELL WORTH IT. SO, CHALLENGES. FOR GIS IT JUST THE SOFTWARE. IT'S EXPENSIVE. IT TAKES A LOT OF SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THE NEW THINGS THAT GET CREATED OR DEVELOPED IN THE SOFTWARE EVERY YEAR. IT'S SHARING THE INFORMATION , CONTINUING TO BUILD A PORTAL FOR DATA DOWNLOADS, AND COORDINATING WITH THE OTHER CITY DEPARTMENTS, OTHER AGENCIES, ON MAKING SURE THE DATA THAT WE ARE RECEIVING IS ACCURATE. FOR EXAMPLE, ARE OUTLINING THEIR PARCELS DRASTICALLY. THEY ARE COMBINING A LOT OF ACCOUNTS AND SO THAT'S GOING TO REALLY IMPACT THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT OUR GIS TEAM HAS TO DO ON OUR LAYER OF PARCELS. BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO MATCH ANYMORE. BUT PLANNING SERVICES, OUR CHALLENGE IS ATTRACTING AND KEEPING QUALIFIED STAFF. YOU LOOK AT THE DEVELOPING SERVICES DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE, WE HAVE A LOT OF TENURE. WE'VE HAD MORE OPENINGS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THAN WE'VE EVER HAD AND THAT'S MOSTLY DUE TO RETIREMENTS, WHICH IS A GREAT THING. BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF POSITIONS THAT REALLY OUR PLANNER POSITIONS ARE HARD TO KEEP FILLED. I ALWAYS JOKE THAT OUR NEW BABY PLANNERS, WE WILL HIRE THEM STRAIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE AND GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL OF PLANNING. THEY HAVE A PLANNING DEGREE. IT'S NOT THAT HANDS ON EXPERIENCE AND OF COURSE THEY GET A COUPLE YEARS AND GO ON TO OTHER CITIES BECAUSE WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY GROWING A LOT OF HOME GROWN FOLKS THAT HAVE A DEGREE IN URBAN AND REGIONAL PREVENTING OR ARE VERY CLOSELY RELATED. THAT IS ONE HOLE OR ONE CHALLENGE FOR US, AND THEN OF COURSE THE CHANGING FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND LANDSCAPE AND COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS, AND ALL OF THE GRANTS, THAT'S ANOTHER VERY CHALLENGING ASPECT OF THE PLANNING SIDE. SO FOR THE DEVELOPMENT CENTER IS OUR INSPECTIONS STAFF , ARE STARTING [00:50:08] TO BECOME ELIGIBLE, RETIREMENT AGE AND ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE FOLKS THAT CAN COME IN AND TRAIN UP AND BACKFILL THOSE POSITIONS AND I'VE BEEN HERE 10 YEARS AND THERE HAVE BEEN THREE OR FOUR YEARS OUT OF THOSE THAT REALLY BEEN AT CAPACITY WITH JUST A LOT OF PERMITS BEING ISSUED THAT YEAR, AND THEN WE HAVE THE DOWN YEARS AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF HARD TO MANAGE SOMETIMES WHENEVER YOU'RE AT THAT CAPACITY, BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO. WE HAVE IS REALLY, REALLY STRONG YEARS, WHICH IS GREAT. I WENT TO SEE A 10 YEAR HISTORY OF STRONG YEARS AND I KNOW WE CAN HIRE MORE STAFF BUT WHEN WE DO HAVE THOSE STRONG YEARS WE ARE JUST DOING LESS. WE ARE NOT DOING THOSE ROOF INSPECTIONS LIKE WE SHOULD. WE ARE JUST CLOSING OUT THE PERMITS, DOING A DRIVE-BY AND THERE'S A LOT OF SHORTCUTS THAT HAPPEN WHENEVER WE HAVE THOSE REALLY STRONG YEARS. AND THEN CODE ADOPTIONS, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ALWAYS STAYING UP TO DATE AND THEN OF COURSE OUR CODE SOFTWARE, RIGHT NOW WE ARE STILL IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT ONLINE SOFTWARE AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT BETTER THAN INTER-GOLF, WHAT WE HAVE, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT. ON JUST PREPARING MYSELF FOR ALL THE HEADACHES. YOU KNOW THAT'S HOW IT IS WITH SOFTWARE, RIGHT? AND THEN CODE ENFORCEMENT. CODE ENFORCEMENT PROBABLY HAS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IN THAT THEY'RE AT CAPACITY SO YOU'LL SOMETIMES GET A COMPLAINT OF SAY I CALLED INTO CODE ENFORCEMENT A MONTH AGO AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING, AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE ARE PRIORITIZING CASES. I TELL MY OFFICERS ALL THE TIME THAT YOU WILL NEVER WORK YOURSELF OUT OF A JOB AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MORE AND MORE CODE ENFORCEMENT CASES TO OPEN EVERY TIME YOU CLOSE ONE. SO THEY'RE WORKING AT CAPACITY. AND SO IT JUST HAS TO BE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE ALL OF THOSE COMPLAINTS. AND THEN LASTLY HIS FUTURE CHALLENGES, IS THE FACILITY. SO WE HAVE FOUR DIVISIONS AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND THAT'S FOUR DIFFERENT DOORS, AND IT'S REALLY AWESOME IN THE WAY THAT I GET MY STEPS IN EVERY DAY BUT IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE AND COMMUNICATION, TRACKING DOWN THAT STAFF MEMBER THAT YOU NEED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT. AND SO, ESPECIALLY ON THE PLANNING ADMINISTRATION SIDE OR THE DEVELOPMENT SIDE, I THINK CELESTE OR I OR RICK ARE GOING ACROSS THAT HALL ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, SO IT CAN BE DIFFICULT IN THAT WE ARE ALL REALLY FRACTURED. AND THEN OF COURSE THE FACILITY ITSELF, SO I CAME IN NOT TOO LONG AGO AND HAD SOME NEW CRACKS IN MY WALL. THE PICTURE REALLY DOESN'T DO IT JUSTICE BUT I HAVE A GREAT BOOKSHELF THAT IS NOT OUT OF LEVEL. IT'S THE FLOOR THAT IS OUT OF LEVEL. HAS A NICE LEAN TO IT AND I KNOW EVERYONE HAS THE CHALLENGES SO I WON'T BELABOR IT BUT IN A DREAM WORLD ALL OF MY DEPARTMENT WILL BE IN ONE OFFICE. SO THAT IS ALL I HAVE AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK -- PUBLICLY THANK MAGGIE BERGERON, THE IPO ADMINISTRATOR, FOR HELPING ME WITH THE SLIDE DECK WE'VE GOT. PUT ALL THE DATA IN AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR, OF COURSE I DON'T DO THIS VERY OFTEN AND SINCE THIS IS THE POWERPOINT WE REALIZED IT LOOKED KIND OF SAD, SO SHE TOOK IT THIS WEEKEND AND UPDATED IT AND CREATED A NEW TEMPLATE FOR US SO I DEFINITELY WANTED TO THANK HER FOR THAT. >> MS. FULGHUM, JUST A COUPLE QUICK QUESTIONS AND ONE COMMENT. IF YOU JOG MY MEMORY, WHEN WE ADOPTED THE UGO THERE WERE A COUPLE ITEMS THAT I THINK WE KIND OF CARVED OUT OF THERE AS A TO DO LATER. MAYBE IT HAD TO DO WITH FOOD TRUCKS. >> S, SO WE STARTED ON IT, HAD A FOOD TRUCK COMMITTEE BUT REALLY AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE FOOD TRUCK ORDINANCE AND COMMITTEE IS THE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE SO WE KIND OF STARTED IT AND THEN WITH THE STAFFING ISSUES THAT THEY'VE BEEN HAVING, IT'S BEEN PUT BACK ON HOLD AND WE DO HAVE A LIST OF AMENDMENTS THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING IN THE SPRING OF JUST MINOR TWEAKS AND THINGS AND I THINK THE CODE WE ARE LOOKING TO ADOPT IN 2024, WE'LL SEE SOME CODES, ADDITIONAL CLEANUP, VERY MINOR STUFF ON OUR PERMIT PROCESSES AND THAT WILL COME WITH US ADOPT ICC CODES. >> OKAY. AND CAN WE EXPECT THAT ALL THOSE TWEAKS AND CHANGES, [00:55:01] THERE WILL BE SOME REGULATIONS RELATED TO DATA CENTERS? I KNOW THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THAT . OKAY. FANTASTIC. WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN THE FOOD TRUCKS IN THE UGO THAT WAS KIND OF CLEANUP ITEMS HE'LL >> ONE OF THE THINGS WE SORT OF PICK OUT AND JUST PARKED AWAY, AND SAID WE MAYBE COME BACK LATER, WAS THE PARKLAND DEDICATION REPORTED TO THE PARKLAND FEE ORELAND PART OF IT SO -- AND AT THE TIME WE WERE ALSO GOING THROUGH TRANSITION WITH PARKS DIRECTOR SO SIMILAR FIRE MARSHAL, SAME THING, WE'VE GOT TO PUT THOSE THINGS ON HOLD, MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT A NEW FIRE MARSHAL AND A NEW PARKS DIRECTORY AND ON THE PARKSIDE, THOUGH, WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER KEY VACANCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT, THAT QUITE FRANKLY DOESN'T CURRENTLY ALLOW TIME FOR THE PARKS DIRECT HER TO TAKE ON AN INITIATIVE LIKE THAT BUT THAT WAS THE OTHER BIG THING THAT WE HAD TAKEN OUT . >> WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THOSE ADDITIONS COMING UP AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. THE 41 HOMES, PERMITS FOR 41 HOMES A YEAR, IT JUST KIND OF HIGHLIGHTS WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR PRO-VICTORIAN INITIATIVE THAT I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HEAR MORE ABOUT TONIGHT IN JUST A MINUTE. BUT THAT'S AN ALL-TIME LOW. THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS -- THOSE ARE THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO SAY HOW DO WE PLUG THIS IN, HOW DO WE MAKE BETTER DECISIONS BASED ON GROWTH WHEN WE ARE SEEING THOSE KIND OF DATA POINTS? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT COMMENT. SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? >> I DO. ON THE CODE ENFORCEMENT BEING AT CAPACITY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE GOING INTO THE FUTURE IS GOING TO MAYBE FLUCTUATE WHERE YOUR OFFICERS GET A LITTLE BIT OF RELIEF OR DOES THAT SEEM TO BE -- >> IT'S PRETTY MUCH BEEN AT CAPACITY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WAY MORE CASES THAN WE CAN MANAGE IN THE 10 DAY/2 WEEK TURNAROUND TIME OF WHEN LEGALLY WE CAN GET THEM TAKEN CARE OF. >> AND I THINK ONE THING THAT HAS EXACERBATED THAT A LITTLE BIT IS THAT A FEW YEARS AGO THERE WAS AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT, AND JULIE KIND OF ALLUDED TO IT WITH THE WAY THAT IT WAS STRUCTURED, BUT THERE HAS BEEN AN INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO TACKLE SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES TO A GREATER DEGREE, AND THOSE CASES ARE MORE COMPLEX, REQUIRE MORE TIME FROM THE OFFICERS TO JUST HANDHOLD, BASICALLY, THAT CASE THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. SO WE EXACERBATED THE WORKLOAD BY EXPECT BEING THEM TO TAKE ON THESE MORE SEVERE CASES, BECAUSE OUR EFFORT TO TRY AND BEAUTIFY THE COMMUNITY WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TACKLE THOSE SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES. SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WILL BE AN EXPECTATION FOR US TO CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO DO BOTH THE COMPLEX SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURE CASES BUT THEN ALSO ALL THE OTHER ONES. THAT'S WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO THIS CAPACITY ISSUE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT . THANK YOU FOR THE [3. Victoria Economic Development and Main Street Program 2024 Annual Repo...] INFORMATION. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. >> THINGS, JULIE. MAYOR, WE CAN KEEP ROCKING AND ROLLING IF YOU'RE GOOD WITH THAT. LET'S GO. AS YOU ALLUDED TO, DANIELLE WILL BE PRESENTING AN ANNUAL REPORT ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS REALLY AN UPDATE ON GROWING VICTORIA. >> ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I DO HAVE A FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT FOR 23-24 AND AS WE ROLL THROUGH THIS I'LL COVER SEVERAL TOPICS BUT KATE WILL ALSO JUMP UP WHEN IT COMES TIME TO TALK ABOUT DOWNTOWN. SO GROWING VICTORIA, TEXAS, IS A NEW INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE SET OFF TO PROMOTE AND OUT OF THAT WE IDENTIFIED THESE AREAS THAT YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON THE MOST , WITH GOALS AND OBJECTIVES, AND THAT IS RETAIL RECRUITMENT, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, QUALITY-OF-LIFE, WORKFORCE DODONA, AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. AND THE MISSION IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT WHERE COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION DRIVES MEDAL COMMUNITY PROSPERITY AND ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. SO IT'S MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. SO WE'LL START WITH RETAIL RECRUITMENT. LAST YEAR WE SUCCESSFULLY EITHER FACILITATED OR RECRUITED THESE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES THAT OPENED IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR -- LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE, WHICH WAS A SUCCESS THROUGH THE SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN HELPING FUND THE INCENTIVE TO BRING THOSE FOLKS ONLINE, CRUMBLE COOKIE, STIR SODA, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN. THEY STARTED IN DOWNTOWN AND THEN EXPENDED TO THE NORTH SIDE. FRANKLIN'S BACKYARD BY YOU, SPEED STOP LIQUORS, MURPHYS, 7/11, STRIPES AND MR. GEDDES, WE SEE HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS AS WELL WITH THE GROWTH OF ALL OF THOSE CONVENIENCE STORES ALONG BUSINESS 59. SO AS I GO THROUGH THIS, IN EACH SECTION I HAVE IDENTIFIED SOME CHALLENGES AND SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND THEN [01:00:01] WE'LL CONCLUDE THAT WITH A REVIEW AT THE END SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER VIEWS, BECAUSE AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IT'S NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE THINGS THAT I'M DOING BUT IT'S ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN COMMUNITY AND HOW WE ARE QUANTIFYING THAT AND HELPING IT ALONG, OR MAKING IT BETTER. >> >> THERE IS ALSO A CHALLENGE WITH COMPETING PRIORITIES AND STRAIN ON LOCAL INCOMES. AND WE LACK THAT POPULATION GROWTH. I THINK WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LOT ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HOUSING. WE WILL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER. IF WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE MOVING TO VICTORIA, THEN IT DOESN'T HELP TO SUSTAIN NEW RETAIL. IF WE WANT TO RECRUIT MORE RETAIL, THEY ASKED, WHAT IS YOUR POPULATION GROWTH LOOK LIKE ? THAT HAS BEEN WANING. IT MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TRY TO CREATE SOME OF THE RETAILERS A LOT OF THE CITIZENS WANT TO SEE IN VICTORIA. SOME OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES I THINK ALLY WITH INCREASING SUPPORT TO BDC AND RECORDING PRIMARY JOBS THAT HAVE A HIGHER SALARY THAT HAVE THE DISPOSABLE INCOME TO GO TO OUR LOCAL RETAILERS AND SHOP THERE. ALSO FOCUS EFFORTS ON RECRUITING BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES TO RELOCATE TO VICTORIA. I PERSONALLY THINK VICTORIA IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE. I WANT TO PROMOTE IT THAT WAY SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN RECRUIT PEOPLE TO EITHER MOVE THEIR BUSINESSES HERE OR THEIR FAMILY TO RELOCATE HERE. ALSO COLLABORATE AND EXPAND ON LOCAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, RETENTION, AND EXPANSION EFFORTS. SO LEADING INTO THAT, I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF THINGS AND THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM AND THE POTENTIAL FOR BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM. SO, TO START WITH THE ENTREPRENEUR ECOSYSTEM, WE CURRENTLY HAVE A LOT OF ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT I TRY TO MEET WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS TO TALK ABOUT, WHAT ARE THEY DOING? WHAT ARE THEIR GOALS, AND HOW DOES IT FIT INTO THIS PLAN OF AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM. I BROKE IT DOWN LIKE THIS. AMONG ALL THE PARTNERS, IF WE START WITH EDUCATION AND TRAINING, THAT IS OUR WORKFORCE PIPELINE WITH B ISD, VICTORIA COLLEGE. ALSO, IF YOU ARE GOING TO START A SMALL BUSINESS, I THINK A GREAT PLACE TO START IS OVER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, VICTORIA . THEY HELP YOU OUT WITH BUSINESS PLANS AND GET YOU STARTED ON THE RIGHT TRACK. THEN YOU LOOK TO FINANCIAL CAPITAL. LOCAL BANKS AND LOANS BUT ALSO LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE WE HAVE HELPED FACILITATE SOME INCENTIVES THROUGH THE VICTORIA SALES TAX CORPORATION WITH FACADE GRANTS. IMPROVING THE OUTSIDE EXTERIOR OF YOUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESS , BUT THEN THERE IS ALSO STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING AS WELL . CULTURE. AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WOULD BE MAIN STREET . IT'S A VERY SMALL EXAMPLE OF WHAT AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM LOOKS LIKE . WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN THAT HAVE VENDOR BOOTHS WITHIN THEM, AND THAT IS A GREAT LITTLE BUSINESS INCUBATOR FOR THEM TO TEST THE MARKET DOWNTOWN. AND JUST IN VICTORIA IN GENERAL. THEY CAN EXPAND TO THEIR OWN BRICK AND MORTAR. AND THEN REGULATION. WE HAVE OF COURSE US. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB WITH HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES ALONG THE WAY THEIR PATH WHEN IT COMES TO MOVING INTO A BUILDING. SOCIAL CAPITAL. WE HAVE VEDC AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH THOSE NETWORKING ABILITIES AMONGST OTHER LIKE-MINDED SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR TOWN . OR MAYBE EVEN EXPANSION INTO AN INDUSTRIAL SIZED PRIMARY JOB EXPANSION THROUGH VEDC THAT NETWORKING IS KEY. HUMAN CAPITAL. THAT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THE WORK FOR SOLUTIONS. THEY DO A LOT OF TRAINING AND CAN PROVIDE CERTIFICATES. THEY HELP PEOPLE FIND THOSE JOBS WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY . AND SO DOES THE UNIVERSITY AND THE COLLEGE. THEY HELP PROVIDE THAT HUMAN CAPITAL AS WELL. SO THAT IS KIND OF WHAT IN A NUTSHELL AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM LOOKS LIKE AND SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FOCUS ON AND CULTIVATE AS PART OF GROWING VICTORIA. I WANTED TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT ON BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM. TO MAINTAIN THE ROBUST ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM -- AND I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION IS TO BEGIN LOOKING AT WHAT THAT BUSINESS RETENTION EXPANSION PROGRAM REQUIRES AND WHAT THOSE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE. AND A LOT OF THAT IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO HAVING PEOPLE TO HELP CARRY IT OUT BECAUSE THROUGH THE SOFTWARE I HAVE ACCESS TO, HE [01:05:07] TELLS ME THAT WE HAVE 3543 SMALL BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY OF VICTORIA . THOSE ARE ONES THAT EMPLOY 50 PEOPLE OR LESS . OR IN TOTAL, IT IS A LITTLE OVER 30,000 JOBS THAT THEY HAVE WITH THOSE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN VICTORIA. SO IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD, ROBUST BUSINESS AND RETENTION EXPANSION PROGRAM WHEN YOU MEET WITH THESE FOLKS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, IF YOU WILL , TO REALLY DIVE INTO WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE . YOU ARE LOOKING AT A LITTLE OVER 3000 HOURS. SO IN ORDER TO TOUCH EVERY BUSINESS AND SORT OF A REALISTIC FASHION, IT WOULD BE 3000 HOURS, AND YOU HAVE TO DIVIDE THAT OUT OF MIKE'S STAFF. AND RIGHT NOW IT IS ONLY ME IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. SO SOME OF THOSE GOALS CAN LOOK LIKE CONDUCT INVENTORY, IDENTIFY THE STAKEHOLDERS, ASSESS THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES, DEVELOP SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES AND INCENTIVES, ESTABLISH STRONG COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, MONITOR AND MEASURE SUCCESS, AND PROMOTE AND MARKET THE PROGRAM. SO AGAIN, THE CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY WITH A PROGRAM FOR ALL OF OUR PORTION OF THE BUSINESSES, WE RISK LOSING REVENUE AND EMPLOYERS WITHIN THE CITY. AND HAVING DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND SOLICIT THE FEEDBACK AND TRACK THEIR PROGRESS IS KEY FOR RETAINING OUR VAST GROUP OF SMALL BUSINESSES. SO NOW WE ARE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE . AND THAT IS WHERE KATE COMES IN AND TALKS ABOUT DOWNTOWN. SHE IS GOING TO PROVIDE A REVIEW OF THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM AND ALSO A NICE REVIEW OF THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AND WHERE WE STAND TODAY. >> ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. AS DANIELLE MENTIONED, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH SOME KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM DOWNTOWN OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO. AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T COVER THAT THE VICTORIA SALES TAX CORPORATION IS A KEY TO THE DOWNTOWN SUCCESS. THEY FUNDED PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM. AND WE ALWAYS STRIVE TO MAKE DOWNTOWN AN ENGAGING AND FUN PLACE TO VISIT. SO THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN. I DID KIND OF A REAL QUICK SYNOPSIS OF PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED, PROJECTS IN PROGRESS, ONGOING PROJECTS , AND THEN PROJECTS NOT YET INITIATED. THERE'S 99 PROJECTS IN THAT MASTER PLAN. SO FAR, THE ONGOING PROJECTS ARE ONES THAT DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE AN END DATE TO THEM. THEY ARE SOMETHING THAT ALWAYS STICKS WITH US. BUT WE HAVE COMPLETED -- WE HAVE EITHER TOUCHED, COMPLETED, OR HAVE ONGOING -- I THINK THE STATISTIC IS 62% OF THE MASTER PLAN FOR LAST YEAR SOME OF THE HALLMARK PROJECTS WHERE THE DOWNTOWN EXPANSION. PUBLIC RESTROOMS THAT WERE BOTH REALLY BIG ITEMS IN THE MASTER PLAN. SO WE HAVE SEEN SOME REALLY SPLASHY ITEMS CHECKED OFF OF OUR MASTER PLAN THAT WE ARE VERY PROUD OF. SO WE GO BACK TO OUR REINVESTMENT FIGURES. THESE ARE FIGURES SPLIT BETWEEN PRIVATE, PUBLIC, AND PARTNERED AGREEMENTS. THIS IS HOW I TRACK DATA FOR OUR MAIN STREET AMERICA REPORTS . SO WHEN WE SEE PRIVATE INVESTMENT, THIS IS PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNERS REINVESTING IN THEIR OWN PROPERTY. PUBLIC REINVESTMENT IS CITY OF VICTORIA, COUNTY , VICTORIA COLLEGE. ANYTHING THAT USES PUBLIC FUNDS OR IS OWNED BY PUBLIC ENTITY. AND THEN YOUR OVERALL REINVESTMENT FIGURE. YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE BIG PRIVATE INVESTMENT THAT IS PARTNERED ABOUT 87,000 IS YOUR PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS. THAT IS FACADE GRANT TYPE OF PROGRAMS. SOME OF THOSE REALLY BIG PROJECTS WERE THE GREEK BROTHERS KITCHEN RENOVATION THAT NOW WILL ALLOW THEM TO PROVIDE A LUNCH MENU ON FRIDAYS. SO WHERE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN SERVICES BEFORE, NOW THEY CAN EXPAND THEIR MENU, EXPAND THEIR STAFF, AND EXPAND THEIR OFFERINGS. SO THAT WAS A REALLY BIG PROJECT FOR LAST YEAR THAT I THINK JULIE TOUCHED ON IN HER REPORT. AND THEN THE REALLY BIG PUBLIC REINVESTMENT FIGURES. SOME OF THAT IS THE DAILY PLAZA. THE NUMBERS WERE HIGHER THE LAST ANNUAL REPORT BECAUSE THAT IS WHEN PERMITS WERE POLLED. AND I DO USE JULIE'S PERMIT DATABASE A LOT. IT IS VERY HELPFUL IN COMPILING THESE FIGURES. BUT A LOT OF THOSE PUBLIC REINVESTMENT PROJECTS ARE PROJECTS LIKE [01:10:01] RENOVATING THE OLD VICTORIA ADVOCATE BUILDING BY THE COUNTY BUILDING THE NEW PARKING LOT THAT YOU SEE NEXT TO GREEK BROTHERS. THOSE TYPES OF PROJECTS. AND AGAIN, FUNDED THROUGH THE PS2 D.C. IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES ARE GOING TO GO OVER SOME FIGURES FOR JOBS AND BUSINESSES. JOB AND BUSINESS RETENTION. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 122 IMPLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE MAIN STREET BOUNDARIES, AND WE BOTH SAW BOTH A NET GAIN IN THE FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND THE PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT. AND I WANT TO STRESS THAT THOSE WERE NET GAINS BECAUSE ON THE NEXT SLIDE YOU'LL SEE SOME NET LOSSES. BUT SO FAR WE HAVE ABOUT 2000 FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PART-TIME WE HAVE ABOUT 150. SO NET GAIN. WE GAINED TWO FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND NET GAIN WE GAINED ABOUT 16 FOR PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT. SO THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES . YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAD 14 BUSINESSES CLOSED LAST YEAR , BUT WE ALSO HAD SEVEN NEW BUSINESSES OPEN . AND WE RETAINED 131 OF THOSE BUSINESSES. SO WE HAVE ABOUT 130 BUSINESSES WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES . AND THEN I WANTED TO ALSO STRESS -- I KIND OF BROKE OUT -- WE RETAINED FIVE BUSINESSES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. SO AS DANIELLE MENTIONED, THEY MAY HAVE OUTGROWN THEIR SPACE IN DOWNTOWN AND RELOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN STREET BOUNDARIES. SO THESE WERE NOT A TOTAL OF COMPLETE CLOSURE. SOME OF THEM DID RELOCATE OUTSIDE OF MAIN STREET BOUNDARIES FOR REASONS. AND AGAIN, I WANTED TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THOSE NEW BUSINESSES THAT DID JOIN US DOWNTOWN. REMEDY INSIDE FOR 1839 WAS. THAT IS RIGHT AROUND THE CHECKERS PROPERTY . TALKS YOU IN A LITTLE BIT WHERE THEY WERE LOCATED. THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE OVER ON THE CORNER OF FOREST AND LIBERTY. LOCKE AND TINA TACOS AND DID REPLACE TEQUILA. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS IN IS INCREASED TO PART-TIME POSITIONS. A BIG-TIME EMPLOYER DOWNTOWN. PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONCE YOU KIND OF GET OUTSIDE OF THE COUNTY -- VICTORIA COLLEGE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY. THEY ARE ONE OF OUR BIG-TIME EMPLOYERS, BUT WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF REALLY GOOD -- ACTUALLY, I THINK PARK VIEW TITLES STARTED. THEY SPUN OUT OF ANOTHER TITLE COMPANY. AND THEN AGAIN, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE BUSINESSES THAT WE DID NOT LOSE COMPLETELY BUT RATHER TRANSITIONED OVER TO NEW LIFE CHIROPRACTIC IS NOW OVER IN MITCHELL ARTISAN MARKET. I WISH THE BOUNDARIES WERE JUST A LITTLE BIT BIGGER AND I COULD HAVE COUNTED THEM AS A RETENTION. IN A COUPLE OF OTHERS YOU WILL SEE HAVE OPTED TO BECOME, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, MOBILE VENDORS. AND THEN YOU SEE ALL-STAR PROPERTIES MOVED OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN STREET BOUNDARIES BECAUSE THE BUILDING THEY WERE IN WAS PURCHASED. PLAZA BOOKINGS CONTINUE TO BE IN VERY HIGH NUMBERS. SO WE HAD A TOTAL OF 839 EVENTS LAST YEAR . THE PRIOR ANNUAL REPORT, I CAME TO COUNCIL WITH A NUMBER OF 870+ EVENTS . SO WHEN I SAY EVENTS, THESE ARE BOTH SPECIAL EVENTS THAT BRING MAYBE 500 OR MORE PEOPLE TOGETHER AND SMALLER EVENTS THAT HAPPEN WITHIN BUSINESSES . LIVE MUSIC NIGHT . INSIDE MARKETS THAT WE HAVE SEEN AT POWER AVENUE WAREHOUSE, ET CETERA. AND I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THE PLAZA BOOKINGS ARE OF APRIL 6 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH . SO THAT IS APRIL WHEN THE EXPANSION OPENED TO THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR . THAT IS A LOT. AND WE ONLY ANTICIPATE MORE . I THINK I GOT FOUR APPLICATIONS JUST TODAY FOR MAY. SO THAT NUMBER SEEMS LOW, BUT THAT IS ALSO ONLY PART OF THE YEAR. SO WE ARE STILL ON TREND TO MAYBE MEET OR EXCEED THE NUMBER THAT I CAME WITH LAST OF 870 OR SO. SO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN DOWNTOWN. WE DO LACK A RETAIL ENTERTAINMENT. INSTEAD OF JUST KIND OF GOING IN, CRUISING AROUND AND SHOPPING, IT CREATES MORE OF AN EXPERIENCE FOR THE SHOPPER. MAY BE A POP UP WHERE YOU SEE THE JEWELRY MADE CUSTOM IN FRONT OF YOU. MAYBE A HAT BAR. IT IS INCORPORATING SOME KIND OF AN ENTERTAINMENT WITH THE RETAIL SHOPPING. LACK OF RESIDENTS LIVING DOWNTOWN. I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF HOUSES THAT SURROUND DOWNTOWN, BUT I THINK THE HALLMARK OF ALL DOWNTOWNS THAT ARE THRIVING -- YOU SEE MULTIUNIT HOUSING. LEADING TO A LACK OF BUSINESS RETENTION. WE [01:15:05] DON'T HAVE THE HIGHER POPULATION TO SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN THAT PART OF TOWN NECESSARILY. SO YOU WILL SEE THAT AS A CHALLENGE. THE DOWNTOWN TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE FUND WANES IN COLLECTIONS AND STAFFING IS ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT OF A HEART ACHE FOR US. NO STAFF DEDICATED TO THE ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT. THE ARTS AND CULTURAL DISTRICT WE HAVE BEEN STRIVING FOR FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS. IT IS ESTABLISHED MUNICIPALLY, BUT WE WANT TO ESTABLISH IT AT THE STATE LEVEL WITH THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS. AND WE HAVE LEARNED THAT SOMETIMES THIS CAN TAKE YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH, AND IT NEEDS TO REALLY TRULY OPERATE AS AN ENTITY WITHIN AN ENTITY , KIND OF LIKE MAIN STREET PROGRAM DOES WITH THE CITY. THEY HAVE TO KEEP THEIR OWN BOOKS. THEY NEED TO CREATE THEIR OWN PROGRAMMING . A LOT OF -- THINK OF GEORGETOWN. A LOT OF THESE CULTURAL DISTRICTS TOWNS HAVE STAFF DEDICATED TO HELPING WITH CULTURAL DISTRICT ENTITIES OR OPERATE THE DISTRICT. AND WE ALSO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN EFFICIENCY CHALLENGE IN TERMS OF THIS IS NOT LISTED UP THERE, BUT OUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT IS SPLIT BETWEEN ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT FACILITIES . STORAGE IS AN ISSUE FOR US. I THINK IF WE GAIN ANYMORE LARGE ITEMS TO STORE, WE MADE IT WORK. WE DID SOME ADULT TETRIS AND WE MADE IT WORK THIS YEAR, BUT IT TOOK SOME LONG HOURS AND SOME VERY SKILLED BUILDING SERVICES FOR DRIVERS. SO WE PULLED IT OFF THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK THAT IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR US IN THE COMING YEARS. EFFICIENCY WITH ALL OF OUR MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT SPREAD OUT THROUGH THREE DIFFERENT FACILITIES AND STORAGE SPACE FOR ALL OF OUR EVENT EQUIPMENT. OPPORTUNITIES. WE LOOK TO FOCUS ON RECRUITMENT EFFORTS OF RETAIL ENTERTAINMENT. ADVERTISE PROPERTIES THE CITY OWNS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT TO BUMP THAT RESIDENT -- NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL UP AND PROMOTE DOWNTOWN AS A QUALITY OF PLACE AND IDEAL PLACE TO LIVE AND FOCUS ON INCENTIVES ON RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESIDENTIAL CONVERSIONS. WITH THAT, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS I CAN ANSWER SPECIFICALLY FOR MAIN STREET BEFORE DANIELLE TAKES THE WHEEL AGAIN? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> AREN'T GOOD NOW WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. SO WE SUCCESSFULLY RECEIVED THE HIGH DEMAND JOB-TRAINING GRANT AGAIN THROUGH THE SALES-TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION IN THE TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION , AND WHAT THAT DID WAS ALSO HELP CONTINUE TO FUND CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY AND THEY WERE ABLE TO RECRUIT 76 STUDENTS, AND THAT WAS 42 OVER LAST YEAR, AND IT HAS PROVEN TIME AND TIME THAT THAT IS A VERY VALUABLE GROUP AND ORGANIZATION TO CONTINUE ON THOSE EFFORTS AND THOSE TRADES IN GETTING THOSE STUDENTS APPEARED HIS SHIP . SUCH A HARD WORD FOR ME TO SAY. IN HVAC, ELECTRICAL, AND PLUMBING. AGAIN, THAT CANNOT BE MADE POSSIBLE WITHOUT KEY PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH VICTORIA COLLEGE, AND MIDCOAST CONSTRUCTION ACADEMY. SO IT HAS BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS. SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE SEE IS THAT THERE IS A LACK OF THE WORKFORCE SPECIFIC TRADES OR PRIMARY JOBS WITH HIGHER-PAYING SALARIES. GOING BACK TO HAVING THOSE PRIMARY JOBS. IT WOULD BE REALLY NICE TO HELP US SUPPORT THE RETAIL THAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY . LOW MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME AT 70,000 MAKES BUYING OR RENTING A HOME VERY DIFFICULT. THE NEXT TOPIC I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOUSING A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH. OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO GROWING PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES . SUPPORT OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS FOR BETTER WORKFORCE PIPELINE. I ATTENDED THE PARTNERSHIP MEETING THIS MORNING . THE CTE DIRECTOR PROVIDED SOME REALLY BENEFICIAL INFORMATION ON NEW PROGRAMS THEY ARE OFFERING AT CTE EDUCATION CLASSES GRID AND THEY ALIGN WITH A LOT OF THE EFFORTS THAT VC AND UHV ARE DOING AS FAR AS AGRICULTURE INTO THEIR PROGRAMS. SO THAT IS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THAT WE ARE STARTING TO ALL KIND OF GO IN THE SAME PATH MOVING FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT VEDC IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN IN RECRUITING THOSE PRIMARY JOBS. >>> HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. I'M GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME ON THIS . I REALLY WANT TO JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU A REVIEW OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND WHY IT CONTINUES TO BE A STRUGGLE. IT IS A REOCCURRING [01:20:03] THEME TONIGHT, ACTUALLY. WE GOT TO HEAR FROM SPARKMAN WITH HABITAT AND ALSO JULIE TALKED ABOUT IT AS WELL. HOPEFULLY THIS CAN DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO WHAT WE ARE SEEING OUT THERE. SUCCESSFULLY WE GOT GARDENS OFF THE GROUND THROUGH THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION. THE CITY COLLABORATION. I BROUGHT 168 UNITS TO VICTORIA FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO PROVIDE Y'ALL A LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF WHAT WE HAVE EXISTING AS AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALREADY IN VICTORIA. SO YOU SEE A LIST THERE OF OTHER APARTMENT COMPLEXES AND MULTIFAMILY UNITS THAT WE HAVE ALREADY. AND THAT IS FOR GENERAL HOUSING. WHAT WE CALL GENERAL HOUSING. BECAUSE THEN YOU ALSO HAVE SENIOR HOUSING. AND WE LOOKED FORWARD TO HAVING MORE SENIOR HOUSING WITH THE FISHPOND AT VICTORIA WITH 75 UNITS IN THE VICTORIAN ON JOHN WITH 68 UNITS. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE THOMAS SENIOR VILLAGE WITH 80 UNITS. SO SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT WITH HOUSING IS THAT THE CURRENT INVENTORY IS LOW. THE MEDIAN SALE PRICE IS ROUGHLY $226,000 , AND THAT IS A -8.5% YEAR-OVER-YEAR. 37 HOMES WERE SOLD LAST YEAR . 69 DAYS THEY STAYED ON THE MARKET . WE CURRENTLY HAVE 308 HOMES ON THE MARKET , AND THERE'S ONLY 32 NEW HOMES BUILT, WHICH ACTUALLY THIS IS FISCAL YEAR, SO JULIE'S WAS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER NUMBER THAN MINE BECAUSE SHE HAD SOME MORE MONTHS , I BELIEVE. 32. I THINK IT WAS 4041 THAT SHE MENTIONED. SO THAT IS CONCERNING. AND I DO HAVE SOME MORE SLIDES THAT SHOW A LITTLE BIT BETTER PICTURE. BUT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE VICTORIAN WITH THE SENIOR HOUSING, THAT IS NEW, AND IT WILL HOPEFULLY START CONSTRUCTION LATER THIS YEAR . THAT WAS A 9% TAX CREDIT SENIOR HOUSING MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION . 68 UNITS PER THE DEVELOPMENT COST IS GOING TO BE ABOUT $14 MILLION. HFC CONTRIBUTIVE $500,000 LOAN. AND THAT IS GOING TO BRING BACK 130,000 $394 PER YEAR AS TAX REVENUE. SO I WANTED TO DIVE A LITTLE BIT DEEPER ON THE NUMBERS OF HOUSING OVER THE DECADES. IF YOU COULD SEE IN THIS GRAPH HERE THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT PEAKS IN NEW HOMES BEING BUILT IN VICTORIA . BUT THEN YOU SEE A DRASTIC DROP THERE AT 2010 AND 2019 TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AT 274 HOMES BEING BUILT. AND WE ARE ROUGHLY BASING OFF OF THESE NUMBERS HERE THAT THERE COULD BE ONLY A TOTAL OF 685 HOMES BEING BUILT IN THE NEXT DECADE OF 2020-2029. SO , ALSO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HOUSING AND YOU LOOK TO SEE WHERE WE HAD THOSE BIG PEAKS, WE HAVE SOME AGING HOMES AND INFRASTRUCTURE , AND THAT IS ALL THE MORE REASON WHY JULIE IS DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HOUSES THAT ARE FALLING APART OR BECOMING DILAPIDATED ARE GETTING REPURPOSED OR BUILDING NEW HOMES AS INFILL HOUSING ON THOSE LOTS . AND THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU GUYS BECAUSE WE WOULD RATHER HAVE HOMES THAT ARE PRODUCING MORE OF THE TAX AND PROPERTY TAX VALUES THAN THOSE THAT ARE NOT PERFORMING AS WELL. SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD GRAPHIC JUST TO SHOW THAT HOUSING IS A BIG CONCERN FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE MOVING HERE MIGHT LOOK AT THE OLDER HOMES AND THINK, GOSH , WHAT AM I GOING TO DO AND HOW AM I GOING TO AFFORD THIS? DEMANDS AND CHALLENGES. NEW HOMES , MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME CANNOT SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF A NEW HOME AT THE MEDIAN RATE. 40% OF THE HOMES ARE RENTER OCCUPIED THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY IN VICTORIA. PAYING A MORTGAGE RENTAL RATE. MEDIAN MORTGAGE IS AT $1700. MEDIAN GROSS RENT IS $1100. JUST TO FACT CHECK MYSELF, I WAS CURIOUS TODAY. I LOOKED AT THE APARTMENT I LIVED IN 16 YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS ONLY 687 SQUARE FEET. BACK THEN, I WAS PAYING $600 A MONTH. TODAY IT IS $909 A MONTH. SAME APARTMENT. AND IT WAS OLD WHEN I MOVED IN THERE. SO THAT IS CONCERNING, AND IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR OUR MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME FOLKS TO ACTUALLY SUPPORT THOSE RATES IN TRYING TO FIND THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN VICTORIA. ALSO, WITH THE LIST THAT I PROVIDED EARLIER [01:25:05] ON THE GENERAL HOUSING AND ALL THOSE UNITS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE, I CALLED AROUND AND WE CHECKED TO SEE, WHAT ARE THE VACANCY RATES OF THOSE, THERE ARE VACANCY RATES IN THOSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE IS A LARGE POPULATION THAT IS KIND OF STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. THEY MAKE JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH MONEY TO ACTUALLY QUALIFIED TO EVEN MOVE INTO THOSE. SO THOSE PEOPLE WE CALL THE MIDDLE OR THE MIXED INCOME HOUSING UNITS. SO IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME TO EVEN AFFORD THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND SO I'M GOING TO BREAK IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT HERE. LOW INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT PROPERTIES SUCH AS ENCHANTED TO GARDENS OFTEN TARGET HOUSEHOLDS WITH INCOMES AT OR BELOW 60% OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. WHICH TO QUALIFY , TECHNICALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN VICTORIA YOU MUST MAKE ROUGHLY $40,800 WITH A HOUSE OF FOUR PEOPLE LIVING IN THEIR WITH LOWER CAPS FOR SMALLER HOUSEHOLDS. SO IT GOES DOWN. FOR AN EXAMPLE, OUR LOWEST PAID COV EMPLOYEE MAKES APPROXIMATELY $31,000 A YEAR. THEY COULD QUALIFY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IF THEY HAD THREE OTHER PEOPLE LIVING WITH THEM IN THE HOME. NOT ALSO PRODUCING INCOME. IF YOU WERE TO ADD ANOTHER SALARY , WHICH YOU WOULD HOPE BECAUSE YOU'VE STILL GOT TO BUY GROCERIES , PAY FOR INSURANCE, CAR , TELEPHONE , THAT PUTS YOU AT ROUGHLY $62,000 A YEAR IN ANNUAL SALARY, WHICH PUTS YOU OVER THAT 40% -- SORRY. 40,000 TO QUALIFY FOR THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. SO THEN THAT LEAVES YOU WITH, HOW DO I PAY FOR CHILD CARE, CATTLE I PAY FOR THE GROCERIES AND GAS, ET CETERA? SO THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE IDENTIFIED FOR THE HOUSING -- THE HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION IS STILL WORKING TOWARD ANOTHER AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNIT ON ODOM STREET. JULIE HAS DRAFTED HOUSING INFILL AND REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GUIDELINES , WHICH WE WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT TO THE HFC SOON. JUST AGAIN, IF YOU GO BACK TO THE GRAPH, I GAVE SOME NUMBERS THERE ON HOW OLD THE HOUSING IS IN VICTORIA. BUT WE ALSO LOOK TO REINTRODUCE THE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION TO ATTRACT MORE WORKFORCE HOUSING FOR HIGH-QUALITY MIXED INCOME FAMILIES THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY SERVED BY THE HOUSING TAX CREDITS OR MARKET REDEVELOPMENTS. THESE PROJECTS WOULD ALLOW FOR AN 80% AMI , WHICH OPENS THE CAP CEILING A LITTLE HIGHER TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE OTHER PROFESSIONS THAT MAKE A LITTLE TOO MUCH MONEY. THAT WOULD BE EXAMPLES OF POLICE , FIRE, AND TEACHERS, WHICH WE STRUGGLE TO RETAIN. AND OTHERS THAT FALL IN THE MIDDLE. THE CORPORATION COULD ALSO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUES TO THE CITY. THE PUBLIC FACILITY CORPORATION . YOU CAN USE THOSE REVENUES FOR PARKS, PUBLIC FACILITIES, OPERATIONAL COSTS, CIP PROJECTS, ET CETERA. SO THAT IS JUST A LITTLE DEEPER DIVE ON THE HOUSING. CONCLUSION. WE HAVE JUST A QUICK REVIEW OF EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES. WE TALK ABOUT RETAIL RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, QUALITY-OF-LIFE, WORKFORCE, AND HOUSING . BASICALLY WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO IS TIME , MONEY, AND PEOPLE. PEOPLE IS MY BIGGEST STRUGGLE TO HAVE THE STAFF TO TRY TO MANAGE ASPECTS OF ALL OF THESE AREAS THAT I AM IN CHARGE OF TRYING TO GROW VICTORIA. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS? I WILL JUST COMMENT THAT CERTAINLY HOUSING REMAINS A STRUGGLE . WHAT WE SEE IN TERMS OF NEW DEVELOPMENT I THINK HAS BEEN MOSTLY ON THE COUNTY. OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS, CERTAINLY WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON SEEING WHAT WE CAN DO TO BUMP THOSE NUMBERS WITHIN THE CITY ITSELF TO BUILD OUR TAX BASE. I'M ENCOURAGED, HOWEVER, TO SEE THE INVESTMENT WE ARE MAKING IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. YOU KNOW, WE SAW IMMEDIATE RETURN ON THAT WITH THE NUMBER OF YOUNG FOLKS THAT ARE NOW GOING TO THESE ACADEMIES AND LEARNING LIFE SKILLS AND LIFE TRADES. THAT IS GOING TO BUMP THAT 40,000 INCOME UP . AND I THINK THAT IS A GOOD PATH THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE BECAUSE I THINK THAT WILL REAP BENEFITS FOR THE CITY DOWN THE ROAD. ANYWAY. ALL RIGHT. [H. Executive Sessions:] WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR THE INTHANKS, DANIELLE. AND I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR MAJOR [01:30:02] REPORTS. WE WILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION . WE WILL TAKE A BREAK. ACTUALLY, OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION IS GOING TO BE IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM IN THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. SO WE WILL ADJOURN AT 6:30 AND RECONVENE BACK THERE IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. >> CITY COUNCIL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE 18TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025, AT 6:30 P.M. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.