Mar 04, 2025 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:12]

MARCH 4TH, 2025 VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MISS HILBERT,

WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL ROLE? >> COUNCILMAN KIDDER? COUNCILMAN BUTLER? COUNSELOR LOFFGREN? COUNCILMEMBER DELAGARZA WILL NOT BE JOINING US.

>> AT THIS TIME, I WELCOME YOU TO STAND FOR THE PLEDGES, AND PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR A BRIEF 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 THE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

>> THANK YOU. FIRST, LET ME SAY HOW PROUD I AM OF EVERYBODY FOR RECITING THE TEXAS PLEDGE WITHOUT THE WORDS UP THERE. MR.

GARZA, GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING. HOW ARE YOU?

>> I AM LOSING MY VOICE, SO WE PICKED THE WRONG DAY TO DO THAT.

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

>> WILL GET RIGHT IN TO IT. >> ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OR

REMINDERS? >> I HAVE SEVERAL. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND COUNSEL THAT WE WILL

>> WATER. WE PLAN ON HITTING ON THOSE TWO SUBJECTS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION. WE HAVE DEVELOPED SERVICES, WE WANT TO REMIND OUR LOCAL NONPROFITS THAT TOMORROW, MARCH 5TH AT 2:00 P.M., AND MAIN CONFERENCE ROOM 205, WE INVITE NONPROFITS TO COME FOR AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING. BUSINESS FOR ANY ORGANIZATION INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING. THIS MEETING IS MANDATORY FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WANTING TO APPLY FOR THIS FEDERAL FUNDING ALLOCATION TO HELP LOW TO MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN VICTORIA. ON BEHALF OF THE INDICATIONS DEPARTMENT, THE NEWEST EPISODE OF THE CITY'S TOWN TALK PODCAST WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR DANIEL WILLIAMS AS A FEATURED GUEST IS NOW AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE AND SPOTIFY. RESIDENTS CAN TUNE IN TO LEARN ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FRANCHISEES AND FRANCHISES IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHY BUSINESSES DO OR DO NOT COME TO VICTORIA AND HOW QUALITY-OF-LIFE PROJECTS ARE CONNECTED TO BUSINESS

[a. Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Duane Crocker, Mayor]

HAVE FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS. >> ALL RIGHT. WE DO HAVE ITEM B-1 FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. DO WE HAVE THE

POPULATION? PROCLAMATION? >> CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS A SERIOUS CRISIS AFFECTING EVERY SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, REFLECTING 1275 REPORTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA IN THE YEAR 2024, FINDING SOLUTIONS REQUIRES INPUT AND ACTION FROM EVERYONE. WHEREAS OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR MOST VALUABLE RESOURCES, AND WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF TEXAS , AND WHEREAS CHILD-ABUSE CAN HAVE LONG-TERM PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND PHYSICAL EFFECTS THAT HAVE LASTING CONSEQUENCES FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE, WHEREAS PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND CONDITIONS PREVENT ABUSE AND ELIMINATE THE SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL GROWTH OF CHILDREN. WHEREAS ABUSE SUCCEEDS BECAUSE OF -- IN SPITE OF THE ABUSE CREATED BY HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FAMILIES, AND WHEREAS COMMUNITIES MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO PROMOTE PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT CREATE STRONG AND THRIVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AND WHEREAS WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE MUST WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND CONTRIBUTE TO PROMOTING THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN A SAFE, STABLE, AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT , AND WHEREAS PREVENTION REMAINS THE BEST DEFENSE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. NOW THEREFORE, I CROCKER MAYOR OF VICTORIA, TEXAS, DECLARE APRIL 2025 AS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH IN THE CITY OF VICTORIA, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THIS MONTH BY DEDICATING THEMSELVES TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ,

[00:05:04]

ON FRIDAY, APRIL 4TH, 2025. >> GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM YOUNG, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS , IT IS A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE AS A VICTORIA CITY GUESTBOOK THANK YOU. MY NAME IS BECHARD YOUNG. I AM THE COORDINATOR FOR THE CHILDREN'S OUTREACH CENTER, AND I WORK WITH A GROUP OF OTHER CHILD SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WE COMBINE TO MAKE A GROUP CALLED GOLDEN CRESCENT CHILDREN'S PROJECT. IN 1982, JUNE 6TH, IT WAS DECLARED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE'S AND THE SENATE AS A CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS WEEK. THE FOLLOWING YEAR, RONALD REAGAN DECLARED APRIL TO BE CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH. ON APRIL 1ST, WE WILL SOUND THE ALARM, ALLOWING STATES AND COMMITTEES ACROSS THE NATION AT 12 NOON, INDICATING THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH. WE ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT SPIRIT WEEKS. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS GO BLUE DAY, YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR BLUE. WE WILL BE PUTTING UP CUTOUTS, RIBBONS AROUND CITY SQUARE, THERE WILL BE DAYS WHERE YOU CAN WEAR NEON . THE SPIRIT WEEK ITSELF IS ENCOMPASSED WITH MANY DIFFERENT SPIRIT EVENTS. IN ADDITION TO THOSE THINGS, WE ALSO PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING OUR CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES HERE IN VICTORIA, TEXAS, AND THEY WILL TURN LIGHTS BLUE FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF APRIL. PEOPLE WHO HAVE INDIVIDUAL HOMES ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO THE SAME. I AM NOT PLUGGING ANY PARTICULAR STORE BUT I KNOW THAT LOWE'S AND HOME DEPOT DO HAVE LIGHTS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET THOSE. BLUE HAS BEEN CHOSEN AS THE COLOR FOR CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH , SYMBOLIZING THE BRUISES, BOTH SEEN AND UNSEEN THE CHILDREN ENDURE. AS A COMMUNITY, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE IMPOTENCE OF THIS. THE SIGNING OF THE PROCLAMATION, AND THE READING OF THIS MONUMENTAL -- IT'S PUTTING THOSE THINGS INTO ACTION.

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN AND ENSURING THEY HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE IS SOMETHING WE STRIVE FOR ON A DAILY BASIS. SOME THINGS WE CAN DO IS LEARNING ABOUT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF CHILD ABUSE, ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE IN THE PLACES THAT THEY ATTEND SCHOOLS, WHERE THEY WORSHIP AND PLAY, LIMITING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ABUSE . OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS A PARTNERING WITH LOCAL AGENCIES.

THERE ARE SEVERAL AGENCIES IN THIS AREA, THOSE THAT ENCOMPASS THE GOLDEN CRESCENT PROJECT FOCUS ON TEXAS AND OTHERS SUCH AS THE LUNG, CASA, THE WORKFORCE CENTER, PAIN AND PURPOSE, THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, JUVENILE, MUNICIPAL COURT AND MANY MORE. IF I LEFT ANYONE OFF THE LIST -- OF THE PROBLEM AND YOU START LISTING PEOPLE. THE SIGNING OF THIS MACHINATION IS INDEED MOMENTOUS. AS THE COMMISSION STATED, 1275 CHILDREN WERE AFFECTED BY CHILD ABUSE LAST YEAR. STUDIES TELL US THAT ONLY 2 OF 5 CHILDREN MAKE A REPORT OF CHILD ABUSE, SO THERE ARE SO MANY THAT WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT.

AS A SHAMELESS PLUG, ONE WAY YOU CAN ALSO HELP WITH CHILD ABUSE IS TO HELP US NOW TEXAS IS SPONSORING OUR FIRST CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MEETING AT THE AWARENESS BUILDING WHICH IS PART OF THE VICTORIA CAMPUS, IT IS THE NORTH CAMPUS. TICKETS ARE $60 AND AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, AND YOU CAN PURCHASE THEM THERE. IT IS A DAY FULL OF ACTION. WE WILL HAVE SPEAKERS PRESENTING ON GROOMING, THAT IS JENNA QUINN, THE NAMESAKE FOR JENNA'S LAW WHICH MANDATES CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS EDUCATION.

THERE WILL BE CASE STUDIES, INFORMATION ON CYBERSECURITY, AS WELL AS FAMILIAL SEX TRAFFICKING, WHICH IS SEX TRAFFICKING CHILDREN THROUGH FAMILY MEMBERS. I THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. AND, THE CITY COUNCIL MEN AND WOMEN FOR ACKNOWLEDGING APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH. WE INVITE EVERYONE TO JOIN US IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE. THAT ONLY SOME CHILDREN IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, BUT ALL CHILDREN, EVERY

DAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE CHILDREN

INTERCOMMUNITY. >> CAN WE GET HIM TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION REGARDING THE CONFERENCE ONE MORE TIME?

>> SURE. >> THE CONFERENCE IS MARCH 6TH,

[00:10:06]

[2. Public & Employee Recognitions:]

INFORMATION. >> GOOD.

>>> TO GAZA, DO WE HAVE A PUBLIC OR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION?

>> YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASK LIEUTENANT MARK HAYDEN AND LIEUTENANT CHRISTINA TATE TO PLEASE RISE. THAT SOUNDS SO FORMAL. IN THE BACK, THERE, I WILL TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME BUT I WILL BEGIN WITH DETECTIVE CHRISTINA TATE. ON FEBRUARY 28TH, SHE COMPLETED THE SEXUAL ASSAULT FAMILY VIOLENCE INSTIGATION'S COURSE INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION, ALLOWING HER TO TEACH THE MANDATED SEXUAL ASSAULT FAMILY VIOLENCE INVESTIGATORS COURSE TO OFFICERS WITHOUT AN INTERMEDIATE LICENSE OR HIGHER. SHE IS NOW THE ONLY INSTRUCTOR IN VICTORIA, AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND IS ELIGIBLE TO TEACH STATEWIDE. THE COURSE COVERS CRUCIAL ASPECTS OF LAW-ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND FAMILY VIOLENCE CRIMES.'S ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS HER DEDICATION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, TRAINING, AND REFLECTS WELL ON OUR ENTIRE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND KENNEDY. DETECTIVE TATE, GRADUATIONS. THANK YOU. FURTHERMORE, ON FEBRUARY 21ST, LIEUTENANT MARK AIDAN GRADUATED FROM THE PHIL BLACK WOULD LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERSHIP COLLEGE , THE MOST CONFERENCE OF PROGRAM OFFERED , AND IS COMPARED TO THE FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY. IS NINE WEEK PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR LEADERSHIP IN A MODERN LIFE WAS AGENCY. TARGETED FOR COMPLETION OVER A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, THIS PROGRAM CONSISTS OF THREE MODULES, HELD AT PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES ACROSS OUR STATE INCLUDING TEXAS AND HIM, SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY AND TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY, WHICH EACH FOCUS ON THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF EACH INSTITUTION. LIEUTENANT HAYDEN, GRADUATIONS, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AS WELL. AND THAT IS IT.

[a. Keep Victoria Beautiful beautification award for March. Christy Youker...]

>> WE DO HAVE ITEM 2 A , THE KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL

BEAUTIFICATION AWARD. >> WE FORGOT ABOUT THEM, THAT'S

MESSED UP. >> WE WON'T LET YOU FORGET. WE KEEP SHOWING UP. BEFORE WE DO THE AWARD, TONIGHT, I HAVE TWO DATES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO PUT OUT THERE FOR KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL. THE FIRST IS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL IS HOSTING OUR FIRST EVER FUNDRAISER , SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE AT LEAST, IT WILL BE APRIL 22ND, IT HAPPENS TO BE EARTH DAY, AND IT WILL BE A PICNIC AT UH VK'S GROVE. WE ARE VERY EXCITED, YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE, KEEPVICTORIA.ORGFOR TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIP INFO. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LET EVERYONE KNOW, OUR NEXT BIG ROADWAY CLEANUP, THE BIG ONE WHERE WE WANT EVERYONE OUT CLEANING UP ALL OVER VICTORIA WILL BE MAY 3RD. THAT WILL BE OUR TRASH OFF CLEANUP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH D.O.T. SO, MAY 3RD, WE HAVE OUR NEXT BIG ROADWAY CLEANUP AND WE WILL HAVE A SIGN-UP AVAILABLE SOON. SO, I WILL NOW LET MEREDITH WORD, OUR BOARD CHAIR COME UP TO INTRODUCE

OUR MARCH WINNER. >> THANK YOU, KRISTI. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL AND MAYOR PRO TEM.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> BEFORE I GET ON WITH THIS MONTH'S AWARD, I DO WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT WE WELCOME NOMINATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, FROM ANYBODY. ANY BUSINESS IN VICTORIA THAT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS IS ELIGIBLE FOR THIS AWARD, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A SET AMOUNT OF GREEN SPACE, THEY CAN BE A SHOP THAT IS IN A STRIP CENTER OR JUST HAPPENS TO BEAUTIFY THEIR STOREFRONT, OR WHATEVER, ANY BUSINESS THAT YOU NOTICE, WHICH STRIKES YOU AS, OH, THAT LOOKS REALLY NICE. WHATEVER IT IS. AND, WE TAKE NOMINATIONS, YOU CAN CONTACT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, YOU CAN MESSAGE THE KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL FACEBOOK PAGE , OR, THERE IS A NOMINATION FORM ON THE KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL WEBSITE. WE WILL TAKE THEM. WE LOVE TO GET AS MANY NOMINATIONS AS WE CAN, AND RECOGNIZE AS MANY DESERVING BUSINESSES AS WE CAN.

AND SO, SPEAKING OF DESERVING BUSINESSES, THIS EVENING, WE ARE HERE TO CONGRATULATE THE TEAHOUSE COMPANY ON MAIN STREET . JOHN SHUFFLE AND MARY JO SIRI STARTED THIS BUSINESS OF MAKING SPECIALTY TEAS AT HOME , USING A VARIETY OF HERBS AND SUCH, AND

[00:15:08]

CONGRATULATE HIM, YOU GUYS. IT'S YOURS.

>> WE ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF VICTORIA, BECAUSE WHEN WE DECIDED TO DO THIS, THEY WERE VERY INCREMENTAL TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND PLANNING DEPARTMENT IN HELPING US GET THE BUILDING UP AND RUNNING. IT WAS -- IT TOOK US SEVERAL MONTHS TO MEET ALL OF THE CHALLENGES OF DOING THAT. THIS ALL STARTED AS A DREAM OF MY WIFE'S. SHE GOT A DEGREE FROM THE HERBAL ACADEMY OF AMERICA, IN HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SHE WAS RECENTLY ABLE TO GET A CERTIFICATE FROM CORNELL UNIVERSITY , SO IT IS ONE THAT WE WORK ON. AT THE TEAHOUSE, WE STARTED OUT WITH HERBALS AND HOLISTIC TEAS. WE HAVE EXPANDED THAT INTO FUN TEAS, WE HAVE A LOT OF -- SHE HAS A BOUTIQUE IN THEIR. IT'S HER STORE, I AM JUST THE SUPPORT BEHIND IT. IT IS ONE WE REALLY ENJOY, IF YOU COME IN, WE HAVE A T BAR WHERE YOU CAN COME IN AND GET A GLASS OF TEA. WHEN WE FIRST OPENED, SOMEBODY ASKED US IF WE HAVE A DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW, WE SAID NO, THIS IS A TEAHOUSE, THIS IS WHERE YOU COME AND SIT DOWN AND HAVE A GLASS OF TEA, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO RELAX. T IS NOT LIKE COFFEE, WHERE YOU'RE ON THE GO. T IS FOR RELAXING. SO, IT HAS BEEN A VERY INTERESTING JOURNEY, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IT.

MARRIED HIS DAUGHTER HELPS US OUT, AT THE TEAHOUSE, AND ALSO, THIS IS FITTING, BECAUSE THIS IS CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH, WE SUPPORT , 10% OF OUR PROFITS GO TO THE JOHN PAUL II CHILDREN CENTER IN EL SALVADOR. SO, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO CHILDREN AS WELL. THAT'S A PLEASANT SURPRISE, BUT WE WANT TO THANK THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL. IT WAS A SURPRISE AND A BLESSING TO THANK YOU.

>> MARY JO AND JOHN, WELL-DESERVED. YOUR PLACE LOOKS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, AND WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO VISIT

Y'ALL. >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. MOVING ON , TO THREE ITEMS FROM COUNSEL. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS FROM COUNSEL? SEEING NONE, WE WILL CLOSE B 3 AND MOVE

[4. Citizen Communication:]

>> GOOD EVENING. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, INTERESTED CITIZENS. I AM HERE TONIGHT TO SPEAK ABOUT THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION. YOU WILL HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD IDEA OF WHO I AM BUT YOU KNOW I AM THE KIND OF PERSON WHO WILL SHOW UP, I'M NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK MY MIND, AND I HAVE THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA IN MIND. I AM FAIRLY NEW TO VICTORIA, HAVING BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 5 1/2 YEARS YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AS EITHER A POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE, I'D DO NOT REMEMBER GOING TO THE OLD SKATE RINK AFTER SCHOOL. I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WAS , WHEN IT CLOSED, OR WHY. ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, I HAVE LIVED IN MANY OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY, AND I HAVE SEEN WHAT WORKED, WHAT DIDN'T WORK AND WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL. YOU WILL NOT HEAR ME SAY THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT THIS WAY. I WILL ADMIT THAT I HAVE NO DIRECT CONSTRUCTION

[00:20:03]

PLACE TO LIVE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. FISK. NEXT,

MICHAEL DONDERO. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL AND PODIATRIST YOUNG. I LIVE ON 2107 , WE HAVE A PROBLEM OF MASSIVE ACTIONS AT THE TRAILER PARK. IF YOU REPURPOSE A TRAILER PARK, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO GIVE SOMEONE SIX MONTHS NOTICE ON MOTION TO VACATE, BUT IF YOU DECIDE YOU ARE AND YOU DON'T WANT A TRAILER HOUSE MORE THAN 20 YEARS YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE THEM, NOT TWO MONTHS, BUT SIX MONTHS, I SOLD A TRAILER HOUSE FOR $4000 LAST DECEMBER TO SOMEONE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE. WELL, THAT THEY MAY NOT HAVE $4000 TO MOVE THE TRAILER HOUSE. YOU KNOW? THEY JUST BOUGHT IT IN DECEMBER. AND, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY ARE HAVING THESE MASSIVE ACTIONS. SOMETIMES, THEY DON'T EVEN GIVE A REASON . NOW, I JUST SPOKE TO A LAWYER FROM TORA, SHE WAS VERY HELPFUL, BUT I DID NOT NEED HER HELP WITH THE PROBLEM IS, IF YOU CAN TEST AN EVICTION, EVEN IF YOU WIN YOUR CASE, IT STILL GOES ON YOUR RECORD, YOU KNOW? THAT DON'T MAKE YOU LOOK GOOD. IT CAN AFFECT YOUR CREDIT SCORES. SO, THAT IS WHY I JUST DID THE 60 DAYS MOTION TO VACATE , AND GOT THE HECK OUT, YOU KNOW? THE TRAILER PARK OWNER IS A MULTIMILLIONAIRE, AND A PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY, AND I FEEL HE IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF POOR FOLKS, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE, THEY CANNOT TALK TO CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE CITY COUNCIL IS, YOU KNOW? AND, SOME OF THEM ARE NOT EVEN FROM THE UNITED STATES.

SOME OF THEM ARE FROM MEXICO, AND THEY DON'T KNOW THE LANGUAGE VERY GOOD, AND ALSO, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO MOVE THESE TRAILER HOUSES, BECAUSE, THEY HAVE NOTHING BUT DIRT IN THE TRENCHES WHERE THE PLUMBERS DO THEIR WORK, AND ONE CITY OF VICTORIA GARBAGE TRUCK GOT STUCK BECAUSE THEY WON'T PUT DOWN GRAVEL BECAUSE THAT'S TOO EXPENSIVE. THEY JUST PUT DIRT DOWN AND THE CITY OF VICTORIA HAD TO CALL ALLEN'S RECORD TO GET IT UNSTUCK. SO, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO MOVE THESE BIG LONG TRAILER HOUSES WITHOUT GETTING STUCK? I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY, AT MINIMUM PUT IN SOME GRAVEL BUT HE HAS BEEN A VERY POOR JOB OF THE TRAILER PARK. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH HIM, AND I WISH SOMEONE -- I DO APPRECIATE ADAM WEST, WHO IS THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA, WHEN HE DID IT FOR THE CITY, BUT I WISH THE RICH, POWERFUL PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY CAN AT LEAST PUT DOWN SOME GRAVEL IN THESE SPOTS WHERE THEY TOOK CARE OF THE SEWER LEAKS AND WATER LEAKS.

THANKS, AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

>> THANK YOU. >>> NEXT, WE HAVE MR. JOHN SWANSON. GOOD EVENING. MR. SWANSON.

>> GOOD EVENING. GOOD TO MEET WITH YOU ALL. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU DO. I NOTICE A LOT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE DO, BUT I HAVE HAD AN EXPERIENCE HERE, RECENTLY, I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY FIRES WE HAVE HAD IN VICTORIA , AND THE CAUSES OF THOSE FIRES. YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE FRONT-PAGE NEWS AND EVERYBODY WOULD KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT THE MEDIA LETS ME DOWN, BECAUSE THEY DON'T TELL ME. AND I LOOK TO LEADERSHIP, TO KNOW . DO YOU ALL KNOW HOW MANY FIRES WE HAD LAST YEAR? CAN SOMEBODY GIVE ME A NUMBER? 50? 100? 2000? NOBODY KNOWS ? I DON'T EITHER. I WANT TO KNOW. SO, I VENTURE OUT ON MY REQUEST TO FIND OUT, AND I RUN INTO A NICE LADY , AND SHE KNOWS , YEAH, I HAVE THE INFORMATION.

AND I SAYS, CAN YOU TELL ME? NO. OKAY. BECAUSE WHY? BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED THAT I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO . MY JOB IS TO DO THE PERMITS, I AM NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DOING -- DEALING

[00:25:03]

I JUST KNOW THAT WHAT THEY SENT ME WAS A PR SLIDESHOW OF WHAT THEY WOULD PRESENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL, FOR A BUDGET. REVIEW.

YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD BE IMPRESSED ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM, TO INCREASE THEIR BUDGET. SO, ALL RIGHT, IT'S NOT WORKING, COMING UP ON THE BOTTOM, BECAUSE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS NOT GOING TO GIVE IT TO ME. SO, I GO, THEN, OUT TO THE CITY MANAGER. NICE GUY.

OKAY? BUT, IT IS CHALLENGING TO GET THROUGH TO THE CITY MAYOR BUT HE'S GOT GOOD PEOPLE WHO TELL -- TO PROTECT HIM AND SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY EVER GET TO HIM. DON'T EVEN BOTHER HIM. SO, LET ME WRAP IT UP. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET THROUGH TO THE CITY MANAGER, BUT, MY QUEST IS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO TELL ME HOW MANY FIRES WE HAD, AND WHAT WERE THE CAUSES ? WHY DO I WANT TO KNOW THAT? I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY ILLOGICAL FIRES WE HAVE HAD. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY COMBUSTIBLES WE HAVE HAD.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW, HOW MANY FIRES WE HAVE GOT, BECAUSE I GENERALLY HAVE A PERCEPTION, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR INDULGENCE OF ME GOING OVER EXPIRED TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY FIRES THEY ACTUALLY GO TO, BECAUSE I HAVE THIS MISPERCEPTION, THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS GOT AS BIG A BUDGET AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT , AND I'M GOING, YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH FIREMEN . YOU CAN NEVER AFFORD THE FIRE

DEPARTMENT. >> MR. SWANSON, I'M SURE WE CAN GET YOU SOME ASSISTANCE, SINCE WE HAVE HAD A PRESENTATION , LAST YEAR, I WILL SEE IF I CAN HELP YOU THERE. OKAY?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH BUT I APPRECIATE IT.

[1. An ordinance declaring unopposed candidates elected to the offices of ...]

>> ALL RIGHT, WE WILL CLOSE CITIZENS MUNICATION AND MOVE ON TO ITEM C, ITEMS WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THIS LIST.

>> C1, AND ITEM FOR UNELECTED -- CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 6, THIS IS

ON EMERGENCY MEETING. >> AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP PUBLIC HEARING FOR ITEM C1. SEEING NOBODY, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THIS ITEM.

>> I SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MISSION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? MR. LOFFGREN, I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE. REGULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY, AT THIS TIME --

>> GRADUATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WILL CALL FOR

[2. An ordinance amending the 2024-2025 Budget of the City of Victoria to ...]

FIRST READING. >> AT THIS TIME I WILL OPEN UP A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING ITEM C2. SEEING NOBODY, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> WE DO HAVE A PRESENTATION. >> OH. WE DO THAT BEFORE WE OPEN

IT UP? OKAY. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I AM NOT WITH THAT BUT THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THIS EVENING. I WANTED TO PROVIDE A SHORT PRESENTATION TO GIVE YOU A RECAP OF OUR 2024 FESTIVAL , TO GO OVER THE FEATURES THAT WE HAD, AND HOW TO GAIN THE BUDGET AMENDMENT. IF YOU ATTENDED TEXAS FEST, OUR INAUGURAL EVENT THIS PAST

[00:30:06]

WITH THE NEW DE LEON PLAZA EXPANSION , THE STAGE AND EVERYTHING THERE, EVERYTHING FLOWED SO SEAMLESSLY, AND IT WAS A HUGE HELP FOR US, IN TERMS OF LOGISTICS AND SET UP, TO HAVE THAT NEW FEATURE IN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO WITH THIS FEST WAS TO MAKE IT BIG.

IT'S OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR. YOU KNOW, WE HAD APRIL 13TH, WE HAD THE BICENTENNIAL BALL WHICH WAS A BIG EVENT, HOWEVER , TICKETED.

THIS WAS A FREE, TRUE, COMMUNITY EVENT BUT EVERYONE WAS INVITED TO ATTEND, AND THEY SHOWED UP, BIG TIME. SO, MUCH LIKE BOOT FEST, WE NOT ONLY HAD GREAT MUSIC ON OUR STAGE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE FEATURED TEJANO ON FRIDAY. I CAN SAY THAT FRIDAY NOT CLOUD CROWD WAS BIGGER THAN ANY I'VE SEEN AT BOOT FEST. WE SEE THE IMPACT OF THE TEJANO MUSIC IMMUNITY , THE WEEKEND BASHES ONE OF OUR BIGGEST HOTEL I CAN SEE NIGHTS OF THE YEAR, OUR WEBSITE VISITATION ALWAYS SPIKES AROUND SINKER DEMAIO , WE WANT TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO OUR EVENT AND IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS. WE ALSO WANTED TO FEATURE SOME VERY PROMINENT TEXAS COUNTRY ARTIST. WE DID THAT WITH JOSH ABBOTT AND CHRIS CAGLE, AND I CAN TELL YOU, THE COSTS ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE BACK IN THE DAYS OF BOOT FEST. ENTERTAINER COSTS HAVE RISEN SHARPLY ACROSS THE BOARD . BUT, ONE THING WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT WAS BRINGING IN COMMUNITY PARTNERS, TO HELP LESSEN THE LOAD ON CITY STAFF. I HAVE , PICTURED THEIR ACORN ALTERNATE, AND THE BIKE STRIKES AND POWER WHEELS CAR SHOW BECAUSE WERE TYPICALLY HANDLED BY OUTSIDE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE IN THE COMMUNITY. EVAN HENDERSON WITH CROSSROADS PORTHOLE MANAGED OUR CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT. BOBBY SPARKMAN AND THE CREW FROM HOT ROD TOUR OF TEXAS HAD OUR POWER WHEELS CAR SHOW. THAT WAS A SUCCESS NOT ONLY TO LESSEN THE WORKLOAD EDITORIAL STAFF BUT ALSO TO INVITE COMMUNITY PARTNERS FROM BEING A PART OF THE EVENT. WE ALSO HAD OUR MOTHER CLUTTERS DOWNTOWN VENDOR MARKET BUT THEY COMPLETELY HANDLED THE VENDOR SIGN UP AND PLACEMENT PROCESS. THAT WAS A VERY BIG RELIEF TO US WITH THE CITY. THE ONLY THING WE MANAGED WERE THE FOOD VENDORS. I WILL HAVE SOME STATISTICS IN A MINUTE BUT THEY ALL DID VERY WELL. THEY HAD WONDERFUL THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE FESTIVAL. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS INCORPORATE NEW FUTURES FEATURES ON SATURDAY. WE FELT WITH BOOT FEST THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS A BIT OF A LULL ON SATURDAY. IN THE DAYTIME HOURS BETWEEN 10 AND WHEN THE MAINSTAGE KICKED OFF AROUND 4:00 OR 5:00 , SO, WE REALLY WANTED TO LIVEN UP THE PLAZA . WE INCORPORATED A PHOTO BOOTH, WE BROUGHT A MAGICIAN, THE KIDS CORRAL WITH ALL THE FREE INFLATABLE'S. AND WE EVEN HAD A SECOND STAGE WITH LOCAL ACTS, THAT WAS PROVIDED, GRACIOUSLY BY MOTHER CLUTTERS DOWNTOWN. WE ALSO HAD A PETTING ZOO WHICH WAS WELL ATTENDED, PEOPLE LOVE THAT. OUR TRICK ROPER, WE BROUGHT HIM BACK. WE USED TO HAVE HIM AT BOOT FEST AND WE INCORPORATED ARMADILLO RACING, SO WE DID WANT TO CELEBRATE OUR PRESENT AND OUR PAST. WE REALLY WANTED TO SHOW OFF OUR CULTURE, EMBRACING OF THE TREE TO TEXAS BRANDING WITH DISCOVER VICTORIA. WE HAD OUR TAMALE EATING CONTEST, A MARGARITA CONTEST, TRAVEL MARIOTTI, IT JUST ADDED A LOT OF LIVELINESS TO DOWNTOWN DURING THE FESTIVAL. AND, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE TO THE FESTIVAL? WE WERE VERY STRATEGIC IN INTENTIONAL WITH OUR ADVERTISING, WE PUT A LOT INTO IT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO DO IS TO INVOLVE OUR LOCAL MEDIA PARTNERS, AND THEY OFTEN SPONSOR, SO, YOU KNOW, WE GET ADDITIONAL BENEFITS ON TOP OF WHAT YOU SEE BEING PAID THERE, SO WE INCORPORATED THE ADVOCATE, TELEVISION GROUP, ALL THE RADIO STATIONS, DIGITAL BOARDS, AND OF COURSE, WE PROMOTE HEAVILY FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. WE ALSO UTILIZED A NEW PROGRAM THIS YEAR WITH OUR DATA RGI MEDIA DIGITAL PLATFORMS, ARE SMALL AND PAINTED WELL. WITH OUR PLATFORM WE WERE ABLE TO TRACK PEOPLE WHO HAD SEEN OUR ADS AND THEN CAME TO VICTORIA. SO, 218 INDIVIDUALS WHO SEE OUR ADS CAME TO VICTORIA, AND THEIR STATISTICS SHOWED AN ESTIMATED HOTEL ROOM IMPACT BY ABOUT 50 AND A TOTAL ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER 36,000. SO, FOR EVERY $12 -- FOR EVERY ONE DOLLAR WE SPENT ON THE CAMPAIGN WE GOT $12 IN RETURN. SO, WE WERE REALLY INTENTIONAL ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN, AS WELL. WITH THE LINEUP THAT WE HAD WE DEFINITELY INTERESTED

[00:35:02]

WE DETERMINED THAT WAS PRETTY EVEN OVER BOTH NIGHTS. FRIDAY NIGHT HAD A HUGE CROWD AS DID SATURDAY. BUT REALLY, IT HELPS THE EVENT TOTAL WAS THE DAYTIME CROWD ON SATURDAY. THAT WAS AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, LARGER THAN I HAD EVER SEEN WITH PREVIOUS FESTIVALS. AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THE FESTIVAL IMPACTED OUR HOTELS. WE ARE ABOUT 25% UP FROM THE SAME WEEKEND THE PREVIOUS YEAR IN 2023 WHERE WE DID NOT HAVE AN EVENT. AND I CAN SAY THAT WE DID NOT REALLY HAVE ANY OTHER EVENTS GOING ON IN TOWN THAT WEEKEND, SO, A LOT OF THAT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE EVENT.

WE USE LOCAL BUSINESSES, AS MUCH AS WE CAN. YOU CAN SEE, OF OUR EXPENDITURES, A LITTLE OVER 128,000 WAS SPENT WITH LOCAL COMPANIES. SO, A LOT OF OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS WERE LOCAL.

AND THEN OUR WEBSITE STATISTICS , OUR BIGGEST SPIKE OF THE YEAR WAS AROUND THE TIME OF TEXAS FEST AND THE WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT, SO IT WAS A HUGE DRIVER TO OUR WEBSITE , DURING THAT TIME FOR THE EVENT. AND, OF COURSE, WE CANNOT DO THIS EVENT WITHOUT OUR VOLUNTEERS, OVER 234 SHIFTS, COVERED BY VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF, SO AGAIN, DEFINITELY BRINGING THE COMMUNITY OUT. SO, A LITTLE BIT OF SOME NUMBERS ON WHO WE HAD, WE HAD 17 FRUIT VENDORS, 53 MERCHANDISE VENDORS, WE REACHED OUT TO FOOD VENDORS RIGHT AFTER THE EVENT, AND OF THE 17 VENDORS , 14 RESPONDED TO OUR SURVEY AND THEY ALL SAID THEY WOULD LOVE TO COME BACK. A NUMBER OF THEM TOLD US THEIR GROSS SALES AVERAGED 6000, SO IF YOU EXTRAPOLATE THAT OVER THE REST OF THE VENDORS, 14 OF OUR 17 VENDORS WERE LOCAL. THAT IS $84,000 , FOR OUR LOCAL FOOD VENDORS, THAT THEY MADE FROM THE EVENT. THEY ALL JUST HAD RAVE REVIEWS TO GIVE FOR US, ONLY MINOR THINGS TO WORK ON. SO, THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE EVENT. WE HAVE SOME FUN STATISTICS HERE, THE TAMALE EATING CONTEST HAD 15 REGISTRANTS, 15 MACS AND ABOUT HALF OF THAT SHOWED UP, I JUST GOT NERVOUS BUT THE WINNER HAD 44 TAMALES, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT. IT WAS ACTUALLY A REALLY FUN THING TO WITNESS. THE MARGARITA CONTEST HAD 11 PRECEDENTS IN THAT , THE COURT HAD 23 TEAMS IN THE CAR SHOW HAD 52 ENTRIES. THAT IS LOW, BUT THERE WAS A HUGE SHOW GOING ON THAT WEEKEND. SO, CONSIDERING THAT WE STILL HAD A GOOD TURNOUT FOR THE CAR SHOW. OKAY. LOOKING AT THE ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT, WHAT DO THESE NUMBERS MEAN? WE USED A SIMPLE ONLINE TALK YOU LATER, ESTIMATING THE ATTENDANCE AT 15,000 , AND SPENDING ABOUT $50 PER PERSON.

YOU CAN SEE THE TOTAL DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT , LOOKING AT THOSE 15,000, HAVING SAY 5% OF THAT COMING FROM OUTSIDE VICTORIA. THE TOTAL OUTSIDE ECONOMIC IMPACT FROM OUTSIDE VICTORIA IS 180,000. AND OF THOSE , LOOKING AT THE ADR, ABOUT 90 IN VICTORIA, THE ESTIMATED LODGING SPEND IS A LITTLE OVER 67,000. SO, IT DOES CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMY, AND IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR. WITH THAT, THERE WERE SOME EXPENSES, THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW, WHEN WE BUDGETED FOR THE FESTIVAL IN THE BEGINNING, YOU CAN SEE, THERE, THAT WE HAD SOME MONEY LEFT OVER FROM BOOT FEST. ACTUALLY BOOT FEST 2021, WE DID NOT SPEND A DIME, WE CANCEL THAT BECAUSE OF THE COVID VARIANCE, SO WE ROLLED THAT MONEY LEFT OVER INTO THE FESTIVAL. WE DID HAVE AN ALLOTMENT FROM THE BICENTENNIAL FUNDS, AND YOU CAN SEE, EVENT SPONSORSHIP, WE WOULD HAVE HOPED TO SEE THAT BEING BIGGER. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE FIGHTING AS OF THE BICENTENNIAL BALL DID SO WELL, 150,000 AND SPONSORSHIP SO, WE WERE NOT REALLY GOING AFTER TEXAS FEST SPONSORSHIPS UNTIL THAT EVENT HAD PASSED, AND AT THAT POINT, OUR COMMUNITY SHOWED UP VERY WELL FOR THAT, BUT HE DID IMPACT THE EVENTS ABILITY TO RAISE FUNDING. REMEMBER SALES WERE LOWER THAN ANTICIPATED, AND MERCHANDISE SALES, AS WELL, THE GREAT THING ABOUT MERCHANDISE SALES IS THAT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF MARCH LEFT OVER, SO WE CAN ROLL THAT INTO NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS EXPENSES THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE BEEN, AND THEN STREET VENDOR PERMITS, THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO HAVE MOTHER CLOCKERS DUTY FOOD VENDORS, WAS TAKEN ON BY THE CITY, SO THEN YOU CAN SEE THAT MONEY GIVEN TO US BY OUR FOOD VENDOR PERMITS. FOOD VENDOR FEES, AND CONSIDERING THE GROSS SALES OUR FOOD VENDORS MAKE, WE CHARGE FOR 50 DEPENDING ON POWER NEEDS WHICH IS IN LINE WITH OTHER FESTIVALS, SO THEY ARE DOING VERY WELL. OKAY. THIS IS A PRETTY BIG BREAKDOWN. IF YOU

[00:40:08]

HAPPY TO -- >> JOE, I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GIVE A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES. YOU KNOW, WE SHOWED THAT FOR 2024, THE LIVE MUSIC ACTS BUDGET WAS $136,000, BASICALLY. HOW MUCH WAS THAT, BEFORE?

>> WITH FEST? 70. >> SO, A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE TO THAT BUDGET LINE ITEM? YOU ALSO HEARD JOEL TALK ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT AMENITIES THAT WERE ADDED THROUGH THE DAY , THAT WERE HISTORICALLY NOT A PART OF THAT, SO, YOU CAN SEE THAT IN , WHICH LINE ITEM WITH THAT SHOW UP AS --

>> THAT WOULD BE KIDS ACTIVITIES, CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES. THE LITTER LIBRE, ARMADILLO RACING, PETTING ZOO, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT WE USE TO CREATE A REAL QUALITY EVENT DURING THE DAY ON SATURDAY. EXPENSES THAT BOOT FEST TYPICALLY DID NOT HAVE PICS BUT THAT WAS 20 GRAND WITH BOOT

FEST, IT WAS PROBABLY -- >> 10, MAYBE HALF THAT?

>> THE APPETITE IS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND , THE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO DO FOR 2024 WITH BRINGING BACK, YOU KNOW, A BIGGER, BETTER FESTIVAL , WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A DIRECT CORRELATION WITH ATTENDANCE, RIGHT? I THINK THE INCREASED INVESTMENT IN IMPROVED MUSICAL ACTS, AS WELL AS ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, WE CAN POINT TO , LED TO AN INCREASED ATTENDANCE. SO, I THINK THAT IS IN ACCORDANCE TO CONNECT THOSE DOTS.

>> I CAN NOTE THAT, THE COST OF SERVICE PROVIDERS HAS RISEN DRAMATICALLY, TO. WHAT WAS 5005 YEARS AGO IS NOW 10,000. IT IS JUST THE COST OF PUTTING ON AN EVENT THESE DAYS. AND SO, WE SAW THAT ACROSS THE BOARD, AS WELL. SO, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE PREPARED FOR, FOR 2025 GOING FORWARD.

>> IF YOU ARE WONDERING, WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR 2025, IS THERE A SEPARATE PRESENTATION OR DISCUSSION? WE PLAN TO ROLL THAT INTO RIGHT AFTER WE GET THROUGH THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT. SO, FOR NOW, WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE BUDGET AMENDMENT JUST SOLELY RELATED TO THE 2024 FEST. SORRY, TEXAS FEST.

>> THERE IS ANOTHER SLIDE THAT FINANCE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE, JUST TO SHOW OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY, TAX RECEIPTS, AND HOW THEY PERFORM IN HIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. YOU CAN SEE, OCTOBER , FISCAL YEAR 2025 IN OCTOBER WAS ABOUT 50,000 HIGHER THAN THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 OCTOBER. SO, OCTOBER WAS VERY STRONG AND TEXAS FEST OF COURSE CONTRIBUTED TO THAT. YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE REBOUNDING FROM SOME LOWER YEARS. SO, THAT WAS SOME INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FINANCE, TOO, AS A BACKGROUND. AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT WAS OUR HIGHEST ATTENDANCE IN YEARS PAST? I UNDERSTAND THIS PAST YEAR, BUT PRIOR TO THAT?

>> RIGHT. SPEAKING FROM MEMORY, I'M NOT GOING OFF OF EXACT NUMBERS, BUT I DO REMEMBER, IN THE PAST, THEY WOULD -- THE BOOT FEST STEPS SHOWED ABOUT 20,000 IN THE EARLY DAYS. NOW, THAT WAS DONE WITH SOME DIFFERENT CAMERA TECHNOLOGY, AND SO OUR COUNT THIS YEAR WAS FROM TALKING TO POLICE AND BEING OUT THERE GETTING THEIR ESTIMATES. SO, IT HAS BEEN IN LINE WITH PREVIOUS BOOT FEST EVENTS. IT WAS HIGHER IN THE EARLY DAYS OF BOOT FEST, NOW BECAUSE OF THE METHODOLOGY IS ALL LINED UP AND IT'S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A FREE PUBLIC EVENT. SO, IT IS LOWER THAN THE SUM OF WHAT THE PREVIOUS EVENTS HAVE SHOWN, BUT THE METHODOLOGY IS THERE.

[00:45:04]

>> THE FIRST YEAR OF BOOT FEST WAS 2011.

>> I REMEMBER THIS BEING TALKED ABOUT IN INTERNAL MEETINGS, THE FOR THE FIRST TWO OR THREE YEARS IT WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENT BUT THEN IT STARTED TO SLOW DOWN FOR AFTER THAT.

>> I CAN ANECDOTALLY SAY THAT, BEING OUT THERE , THERE WERE A TON MORE PEOPLE AT THIS LAST ONE, THEN THERE WAS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS OF BOOT FEST, CERTAINLY.

>> SO, THERE IS A LOT MORE EXCITEMENT, THE WEATHER WAS GREAT, TOO. SO YOU CAN PULL THAT OFF ?

>> I HOPE SO. >> BEYOND JUST THE COST OF GOODS AND THE PARTICIPANTS WHO WERE THERE, WHERE THERE SOME LESSONS LEARNED? WAS THERE A DEBRIEF THAT HAPPENS, LOOKING AT COSTS TO KNOW WHAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADJUST?

>> ABSOLUTELY. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A COMMITTEE MEETING A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE EVENT. I CAN DISCUSS IN THE NEXT PRESENTATION, ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT I LOOKED AT THAT SAID OKAY, WE CAN CUT HERE, OR HERE, SO THERE IS SOME BUDGET OPTIMIZATION I WENT THROUGH.

>>. >> YOU ARE ASKING EVERYTHING I HAVE ON THERE BUT A NEW THAT I HAVE THE VISITATION AFTER THIS,

SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. >> I WILL POINT OUT TO PEOPLE LISTENING, THIS IS POT FUNDING, THIS IS NOT A GENERAL FUND MONEY, NOT PROPERTY TAX MONEY , THIS IS MONEY FROM HOTEL TAXES AND IT CAN ONLY BE USED FOR CERTAIN THINGS. AND MOHAMMED I'M SO USED TO SIT IN THE AUDIENCE, AND SOMEBODY WOULD REMIND ME OF THAT, EVERYBODY WOULD SAY, WHY ARE YOU SPENDING MY PROPERTY TAX THINGS ON A FESTIVAL, AND THIS IS HOT TAX,

THAT'S WHAT IT IS FOR. >> YES, SIR.

>> THANKS, JILL. >> THANK YOU.

>> AT THIS TIME I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I DIDN'T HEAR WHAT YOU SAID?

>> I SAID I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

>> I WILL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THIS ITEM.

>> I SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT. MOTION AND SECOND.

ARE THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS? SEEING NONE, I WILL CALL FOR THE VOTE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR ? ALL AS OPPOSED? ITEM C2

[1. 2025 Tejas Fest Update. Joel Novosad, Director of the Convention and V...]

FEST UPDATE. >> TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> LONG TIME NO SEE. >> SO, WE HAVE SEVERAL PROPOSALS FOR YOU ALL TO SEE TONIGHT. ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE FESTIVAL, WITH THESE COST IN MIND THAT WE EXPERIENCED THROUGH THIS LAST YEAR'S EVENT. SO, AS I MENTIONED IN MY PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, CHALLENGES OF THE EVENT. RISING COST OF LIVE MUSIC FEES, RIGHT? I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME EARLY PRICING AND THERE ARE ENTERTAINERS OUT THERE ASKING FOR 400 AND $500,000. AND I AM NOT TALKING JASON NOTING KIND OF THING. IT IS A TREND IN THE INDUSTRY. A LOT OF THESE ARTISTS, THAT'S HOW THEY MAKE THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER, THEY ARE NOT SELLING CDS ANYMORE, WHERE THEY ARE GETTING PAID A FRACTION OF A CENT FOR SPOTIFY STREAMS. RIGHT? SO, THAT IS JUST THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS THESE DAYS. I MENTIONED THE RISING COST OF SERVICE PROVIDERS.

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT IS FELT ACROSS THE BOARD IN THE COMMUNITY. ESPECIALLY AFTER COVID, GETTING THOSE PEOPLE BACK OUT AND VOLUNTEERING IS A CHALLENGE, AND MOVING FORWARD WITH THE FESTIVAL, WE WILL NEED FINANCIAL SUPPORT. I MENTIONED THREE PROPOSALS, TWO OF THEM HAVE ONE SET OF CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE CITY AND THEN ANOTHER ONE. AND THEN LAST YEAR IN PARTICULAR, COMPETITION FOR SPONSORSHIPS, DUE TO THE BICENTENNIAL BALL. SO IF WE WERE TO HAVE TEXAS FEST 2025 WHAT WILL CONTINUE? THE VARIETY OF LIVE MUSIC. THE TEJANO NIGHT ON FRIDAY IS VERY SUCCESSFUL, BRINGING THE COUNTRY ON SATURDAY, I THINK THOSE ARE OUR MAIN TWO MUSIC GENRES IN VICTORIA THAT WILL BRING PEOPLE OUT BUT I KNOW PEOPLE LOVE A VARIETY OF MUSIC. WE DO INCORPORATE THAT ON THE SECOND STAGE THROUGH THE DAY WITH LOCAL ACTS, WE FEATURE LOCAL ACTS ON THAT STAGE. PARTNERING AGAIN WITH MOTHER CLUCKER'S TO BRING BACK THE MARKET VENDORS, PARTNERING WITH HOT ROD TOUR IN TEXAS FOR THE BIKES TRACKS AND POWER WHEELS CAR SHOW AND PARTNERING WITH CROSSROADS CORN HOLE AGAIN TO BRING THE CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT. THE KIDS CORRAL WAS A BIG HIT LAST YEAR, AS WAS THE PETTING ZOO AND THE TRICK ROPER . AND OF COURSE, BRINGING

[00:50:08]

>> WHAT IS WEIJIA LIBRE? >> WRESTLING.

>> I DID GET A CHANCE TO WATCH, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAD THE MASKS ON. THE PHOTOS I SAW DID NOT HAVE THE MASKS.

>> WHAT DO WE CHANGE ? IN TALKING WITH MAINSTREET DEPARTMENT, WHO MANAGED OUR VIP AREA, SEEING IF ANY OF YOU WILL HAPPENED TO ATTEND THE BARBECUE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL AND HOW THEY HAD THEIR VIP AREA, INCORPORATING PERMANENT RESTROOMS AND A WATER FEATURE, THAT WAS A REALLY FANTASTIC AREA . IT MADE THE VIPS FEEL MORE LIKE PART OF A FESTIVAL. AND, WE WANT TO HAVE THE SAME THING. SO, NO LONGER UTILIZING THE WELDERS CENTER, FOR THE VIP AREA, THAT WILL CUT DOWN ON SOME EXPENSES THAT WE SPENT ABOUT $2000 WITH THE WELDERS CENTER RENTAL, NOW, THEY DID GRACIOUSLY DONATE A PORTION OF THAT FEE AS A SPONSORSHIP THAT STILL MONEY THAT WE HAD TO PAY WHICH WE WOULD HAVE TO NEXT YEAR. BOTTLE WATER AND SODA SALES, POSSIBLY RELYING ON A YOUTH NONPROFIT TO DEAL WITH THAT BECAUSE SOME FOLKS WERE WAITING IN LINE FOR BOTTLE OF WATER, WAITING IN LINE OUT OF THE TRUCK TO GET A DIET COKE FOR 20 MINUTES, YOU KNOW, HAVING SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE CAN QUICKLY GO GET WATER AND SODA, THAT SORT OF THING. THIS ONE , I HAD A SPARK OF INSPIRATION AT THE LIVESTOCK SHOW THE OTHER DAY. CHIHUAHUA RACING . I GOT TO SEE HOW THE COMMUNITY REALLY CAME OUT, AND THE EXCITEMENT THE PEOPLE HAD FOR THAT, AND I OBVIOUSLY DON'T WANT TO RIP OFF THE LIVESTOCK SHOW, SO WE WILL BE DOING OUR OWN THING, JUST AN INTERESTING SHOW IDEA I HAD. THEN BRINGING A FESTIVAL MASCOT, BRINGING THE TEXAS ZOOS ARMADILLO AS WELL AS A COMMITTEE MASCOT RACE TO SEE THE VC PIRATE, JACKSON JACK, COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER I THINK WILL BE A FUN THING THAT GETS THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED. SO, WHAT DO WE DISCONTINUE? ARMADILLO RACING. WHAT I HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY AND ATTENDEES WAS THAT IT WAS UNDERWHELMING. THE COST OF THAT WAS A LITTLE OVER $2300. I DON'T THINK WE GOT BANG FOR THE BUCK THERE. AND HAVING SOME OTHER KIND OF RACING , LIKE THE CHIHUAHUA RACING WHICH WOULD NOT COST , IT WOULD JUST BE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT, BRINGING THEIR OWN PETS. IT COULD STILL BE AN EXCITING THING FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT HAVING TO DO THAT. THEN THE SHUTTLE SERVICE.

WE HAD 300 PEOPLE USING THE FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE, FROM PATTY DODDS DOWNTOWN OVER BOTH DAYS BUT THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. WE HAD PLENTY OF PARKING DOWNTOWN AND PEOPLE DIDN'T REALLY NEED THAT SERVICE. SO, THAT IS SOMETHING WE PROPOSE CUTTING IN THIS YEAR'S EVENT. SO, HAVE THREE PROPOSALS FOR YOU ALL, AND THIS IS PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE. KEEP THE FESTIVAL AS IT WAS LAST YEAR. A FREE TWO-DAY EVENT, FRIDAY EVENING, SATURDAY, STARTING AT THE MORNING UNTIL 11:30, TEJANO ON FRIDAY AND COUNTRY ON SATURDAY, THE SECOND DAYTIME STAGE FOR THE KIDS CORRAL , AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE MOST OF THOSE DAYTIME FESTIVAL FEATURES ON SATURDAY THAT I JUST MENTIONED. LOWERING THE AMOUNT OF FOOD VENDORS, 17 TO 15, I THINK THAT'LL JUST HELP THEM DO BETTER WITH SALES, WE HAD A COUPLE OF VENDOR DUPLICATIONS DOING DRINKS AND THAT IS SOME FEEDBACK WE GOT FROM FOOD VENDORS, SO WE COULD REDUCE THOSE NUMBERS, TO HAVE LESS COMPETITION AND PEOPLE SELLING THE SAME KIND OF THING. I MENTIONED MOVING THE VIP AREA, TO USE THE NEW DE LEON PLAZA RESTROOMS AND DISCONTINUE OFF-SITE PARKING. SO, THE BENEFITS, MAINTAINS ITSELF AS A TRUE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL . IT CONTINUES WITH THE FESTIVAL FORMAT THAT OUR ATTENDEES AND VISITORS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO, AND I MENTIONED LOWERING THE NUMBERS OF FOOD VENDORS, SO THAT WOULD INCREASE SALES BUT THE DISADVANTAGE, THIS WOULD REQUIRE A HIGHER CONTRIBUTION FOR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDS, COMPARED TO THE OTHER TWO PROPOSALS. YOU CAN SEE, THERE, THIS ONE WOULD REQUIRE A $150,000 CONTRIBUTION TO HOTEL FUNDS TO THE EVENT. YOU CAN SEE OTHER REVENUE EVENTS BEING EVENT SPONSORSHIPS, BEVERAGE SALES, WE PLAN TO USE THE MAINSTREET PROGRAM TO COLLECT FOR US. THE MAINSTREET PROGRAM WILL KEEP 5% OF THOSE PROCEEDS. THAT WILL ALLOW US TO GO AFTER SOME DISTRIBUTOR SPONSORSHIPS, BECAUSE WE ARE THE ONES , THE CITY IS THE ONE WHO PULLS THE BEER PERMIT, SO THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAXIMIZE OUR ABILITY TO GET OTHER SPONSORS, WHO WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN COMING TO THE FESTIVAL, AND THAT WILL HELP US REMOVE THEIR.

BEVERAGE SALES AT 70,000, THAT WAS WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR, OVER TWO DAYS. YOU CAN SEE SMALLER REVENUE SOURCES LIKE VENDOR FEES

[00:55:01]

WE SAVED MONEY FROM THE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE AND WE DROPPED THE AMOUNT WE WOULD SPEND ON ENTERTAINING, BECAUSE WE DID IT REAL BIG FOR OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR LAST YEAR. THIS IS PROPOSAL

NUMBER ONE. >> COMPARATIVE, REALLY QUICK, THE ONE WE HAD IN 2024, WAS 380,000? HENCE WHY WE NEEDED THE BUDGET AMENDMENT OF THE AMOUNT THAT YOU JUST APPROVED . AND SO, WE ARE BASICALLY TRYING TO FIND THE COMPROMISE, BETWEEN HAVING A BUDGET THAT IS BETTER THAN WHAT IT WAS WHEN IT WAS BUDAPEST, BUT NOT AS EXPENSIVE AS WHAT IT WAS IN 2024, FOR OUR BICENTENNIAL YEAR, WHICH WAS INTENTIONAL LET'S GO ALL OUT. THIS IS A REGRESSION BACK TO THE MEDIAN, IF YOU WILL, AT LEAST THAT IS

THE THOUGHT PROCESS? >> WERE. THIS IS A GENERAL FESTIVAL LAYOUT. THE ONLY REAL CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR IS THIS AERIAL VIEW OF DE LEON PLAZA, YOU CAN SEE THAT DARK PURPLE BOX NEXT TO THE LEFT OF THE STAGE, THAT WOULD BE THE VIP AREA. ALL THOSE PURPLE DOTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CLOSET WITH OUR THE SATURDAY DAYTIME ACTIVITIES BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE UNDER THE TREES IN THE SHADE DURING THE DAY. PROVIDING FOR SOME COMFORT, OF COURSE WE PROVIDE A BIG TENT IN THE KIDS CORRAL, ON THE LEFT, THE PINK AREAS ARE VENDORS, SO WE WOULD HAVE FOOD VENDORS ON BRIDGE STREET AND ON ONE SIDE OF MAIN.

MARKET VENDORS ALONG CONSTITUTION STREET, THERE, THE BIG PURPLE L IN THE CORNER IS THE CAR SHOW AND ALL THE BLUE DOTS ARE BEVERAGE OPERATIONS. NOT A BIG CHANGE , REALLY JUST ACCEPTING THE VIP AREA. PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO. THIS WOULD BE TO MAKE TEXAS FESTIVAL A ONE-DAY NIGHT. WE WOULD ELIMINATE THE FRIDAY NIGHT PORTION OF THE EVENT? IT WOULD BE SATURDAY FROM 10:00 TO 11:30. WE WOULD CONTINUE WITH MOST OF THE DAYTIME FESTIVAL FEATURES ON SATURDAY . THE MAINSTAGE WOULD STILL HAVE A VARIETY OF MUSIC GENRES. WE WOULD NEED TO COMBINE THE GENRES INTO ONE NIGHT. THE FIRST TWO WOULD BE TEJANO, THE SECOND TWO WOULD BE COUNTRY. THAT WOULD FALL FROM 17 TO 10.

AGAIN, JUST LIKE PROPOSAL ONE, MOVING THE VIP AND IS CONTINUING OFF-SITE PARKING. BENEFITS -- SORRY. BENEFITS MAINTAINING COMMUNITY FESTIVAL? IT DOES LOWER-COST IN SEVERAL AREAS.

MAINSTAGE SOUND AND LIGHTING AND VIDEO PRODUCTION AND STAGE MANAGEMENT FEES, A LOCAL COMPANY LAST YEAR DID A FANTASTIC JOB.

LOWERS COST FOR OVERTIME , AND LOWERS COST FOR THE FESTIVAL YOU CAN SEE, THERE, WHICH WOULD BE LESS EXPENSIVE IF NOT, LOGISTICAL FESTIVALS THINGS LIKE TENT AND TABLE RENTAL, PORTAL RENTAL, THOSE ARE HIGHER, NOT THE HOURLY BASIS, THAT SORT OF THING. THERE ARE SOME AREAS WE SAVE MONEY ON AND SOME THAT WE DON'T. OTHER EVENTS WOULD DO PRETTY WELL, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE 10 AND IT WOULD REDUCE OVERALL VOLUNTEER NEEDS.

>> IT REQUIRES TO BOOK LESS NOTABLE ACTS. SO, WE DO HAVE A BIT OF A DOWNWARD SHIFT FROM THE QUALITY, A BIT MORE OF A DOWNWARD SHIFT FROM THE QUALITY WE HAD LAST YEAR. MUSIC QUALITY. NOTORIETY.

THAT SORT OF THING. NOW, THE BUDGET. WE WOULD HAVE A

[01:00:10]

750. THE OVERTIME IT IS CUT PRETTY SIGNIFICANTLY. AND, THEN, WE WOULD, WITH OTHER EXPENSE AREAS, ADVERTISING, OF COURSE, THAT IS A, NOT GOING TO CHANGE. YOU CAN SEE IT ALL. I AM NOT GOING TO GO LINE ITEM, LINE ITEM. YOU CAN SEE IT THERE.

HAPPY TO SEND THEM A DETAILED REPORT OR ANYTHING. LAYING OUT EXACTLY WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS IN PRICE. YOU CAN SEE THE OVERALL COST. THE $226,000 COMPARED TO REVENUES OF $223.

THE MONEY BALANCES OUT. THE P&L BALANCES OUT. YOU ARE GETTING A ONE-DAY ONLY VERSUS TWO DAY. THE FESTIVAL LAYOUT DOES NOT CHANGE.

FOOD VENDORS ON BRIDGE STREET. THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROPOSAL 1 AND 2 AS FAR AS THE EVENT GOES.

THIS IS PROPOSAL 3. THE MOST RADICAL OF THE THREE. TWO-DAY EVENT. BUT A FENCED IN AREA CHARGING ADMISSION. FRIDAY TICKETING UNTIL 11:30. LOOKING AT THE MATH. THE TARGET PRICE WOULD NEED TO BE BETWEEN $10 AND $15 A PERSON. IDEALLY $15. MAIN STAGE MUSIC, FRIDAY NIGHT. TEJANO AND SATURDAY NIGHT COUNTRY. LOWER THE FOOD VENDORS FROM 17 TO 15. BENEFITS? CREATES ANOTHER REVENUE STREAM. ADMISSIONS TO THE CONCERT AREA COULD BE SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS PACKAGE. RIGHT NOW THEY GET VIP PASSES, TWO LEVELS, YOU GET THAT AND TICKETS TO THE CONCERT AREA.

DISADVANTAGE. NO LONGER A TRUE COMMUNITY FESTIVAL, RIGHT? YOU WOULD NEED TO INCREASE SECURITY NEEDS, INCREASING COV OVERTIME.

NEED TO INCREASE STAFFING NEEDS FOR TICKETING THOSE SORTS OF OPERATIONS. SO, THEN, OVERTIME COSTS EVEN MORE, NOT RELATED TO SECURITY. REQUIRES THE FENCE RENTAL. I GOT A QUOTE ON FENCING. WE ARE $11,000. AND, IT REDUCES, AGAIN, ALSO THIS FENCED IN AREA, I WILL SHOW YOU IN A MINUTE, REDUCES SATURDAY DAY TIME ACTIVITIES OR REQUIRE CLEARING OUT THE CONCERT AREA WHICH COULD BE AN AWKWARD PROPOSITION, RIGHT? WE ALREADY HAVE TWO MUSIC FESTIVALS THAT CHARGE ADMISSION. WE HAVE THE WEEKEND BASH, MUSIC FESTIVAL, COUNTRY MUSIC EVENT. OF THE THREE IT IS THE RISKIEST PLAN. YOU ARE BANKING ON AT LEAST 4500 TICKETS PURCHASED AT $15 FOR NIGHT. WHEN PEOPLE ARE USED TO A FREE EVENT. THIS WOULD BE THE EVENT MAP. ON THE EDGES OF THE SQUARE IS A LINE, THAT IS THE FENCE LAYOUT. UP AT LEAST HALF OF IT TO WHERE PEOPLE COULD NOT STAND OUTSIDE OF THE FENCE AND WATCH THE CONCERT, RIGHT? THEN AGAIN, CREATING A BARRIER BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE AND THE PEOPLE INSIDE, RIGHT? AND, AND WE WILL HAVE DAY TIME ACTIVITIES AND HAVE THEM AT 4:00 AND CLEAR OUT THE AREA. I AM NOT SURE. WE HAVE LIMITED SPACE DOWNTOWN. WE DON'T HAVE THE SATURDAY DAY TIME ACTIVITIES OR FIND A WAY TO CLEAR THE AREA OUT BEFORE THE TICKETING BEFORE THE CONCERT BEGINS. AND THE BUDGET WITH THAT. $100,000 ALLOTMENT, AGAIN, ASSUMING $4500 A NIGHT. TOOK THE ATTENDANCE, 60% OF THE PEOPLE WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR THE TICKET. THAT, TIMES TWO AND COMES UP WITH THAT $135,000. YOU HAVE OTHER EXPENSES, OTHER

[01:05:04]

BUT, I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THIS TIME.

>> MY FIRST REACTION IS OPTION NUMBER ONE AS WELL. I THINK THE IDEA OF RUNNING A BRAND-NEW EVENT. ALL OF THE EXCITEMENT THAT WE HAD GOING ON. DID WE GET A TRUE NUMBER? DID WE GET A TRUE OUTLOOK ON WHAT THIS FESTIVAL TRULY IS? I HATE TO MAKE A KNEE JERK REACTION WITHOUT MORE STATS, MORE INFORMATION IN A MORE NORMAL YEAR, I WOULD SAY. IT IS A GREAT EVENT. I WOULD HATE -- I UNDERSTAND IF IT NEEDS TO GO DOWN TO ONE DAY OR BE FENCED IN. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT REGARDING OUR LOCAL MAINSTREAM BUSINESSES. EVEN THOUGH THESE EVENTS DO DRAW MORE PEOPLE DOWN THERE. BUT THE FENCE TENDS TO SCARE SOME OF THEM OFF AS WELL. MY FIRST IDEA WOULD BE OPTION ONE.

>> I DON'T DISAGREE. CAN WE SEE OPTION ONE AGAIN?

>> ARE YOU REFERRING TO THE BUDGET SPECIFICALLY?

>> YES, YES. WE WERE REINTRODUCING THE SHUTTLE IF I

READ THAT RIGHT ON PROPOSAL TWO. >> I WILL GO BACK AND CHECK.

>> IT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM ALL OPTIONS.

>> SORRY. THERE WE GO. AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE FOR THE MAIN STAGE PERFORMERS THAT BUDGET IS ? SUFFICIENT?

>> I DO. I SEE THE PRICING I AM GETTING FROM ARTISTS AND WHO IS STILL AVAILABLE. I THINK I WILL HAVE A SOLID LINEUP.

>> OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO SEE IT ONE MORE TIME SO I CAN SEE IT

VISUALLY. >> I THINK THE THING THAT STRUCK ME, I AM NOT COMPARING. THE THING THAT STRUCK ME WAS THE COMPARISON. THE ONE DAY TO THE TWO DAY EVENT. YOU DID NOT TALK ABOUT HOTEL NIGHTS AT ALL. WE WILL PROBABLY LOSE SOME. IT SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE MIGHT COME BOTH DAYS

>> OR COMING IN FOR ONE AND JUST ONE FOR THE DAY TRIP.

>> I THINK IN THE PAST THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SPORTING EVENTS AT THE SAME TIME. WE DON'T CONTROL THAT.

>> RIGHT, THERE USED TO BE A SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT BUT IT IS

[01:10:02]

NOT THE CASE LAST YEAR. >> IT WAS MORE OF A QUESTION

THAN A COMMENT. >> EXCELLENT COMMENT. THE ECONOMIC DRIVER OF PEOPLE STAYING HERE, YOU SHOWED THE MONETARY VALUE OF THAT. I DO APPRECIATE YOU AND STAFF COMING UP WITH IDEAS. IT WILL NOT DIMINISH THE EXPERIENCE,

HOWEVER. >> I GUESS IT IS USE OF HOTEL OCCUPANCY FUNDS THAT COME TO US FROM OUTSIDE OF THE COMMUNITY BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. THAT IS WHAT I ALWAYS LIKED ABOUT THE FESTIVAL.

>> WITH THE FREE OPTION WE ARE NOT CHARGING RESIDENTS F. YOU ARE CHARGING ADMISSION YOU ARE PUTTING THE BURDEN ON THEM THAN

A FREE OPTION. >> RIGHT.

>> WHILE OTHERS ARE THINKING ABOUT IT .

>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT ME? >> I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE TWO DAYS TO CELEBRATE. WE HAVE A TOUGH YEAR HERE. AND IT IS $50,000 FOR ANOTHER DAY. LET EVERYONE HAVE A NICE PARTY.

>> A CELEBRATION. >> YES. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER GREAT EVENT AND THEN LOOKING BACK AND SEEING WHAT THOSE NUMBERS BEAR OUT. WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION IN REGARDS BUT MAKING A KNEE-JERK DECISION IS NOT WISE.

>> THAT IS WONDERFUL, A DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD SO I

CAN MAKE THE CALLS AND EMAILS? >> COUNCILMEMBER DID YOU HAVE

ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO AD? >> NO, I DON'T.

>> I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR AND HE WAS OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS THAT OPTION ONE MAKES THE MOST SENSE. I THOUGHT I WOULD EXPRESS THAT ON HIS BEHALF. ADDITION ALLEY I WANTED TO ELABORATE -- ADDITIONALLY I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT HOW JOEL TALKED ABOUT THE $150,000 MOVING FORWARD. AND PURSUING THE CENTER PROJECT. SO IN THE BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER WE ARE CONSIDERING CONTRIBUTING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FROM OUR EXISTING COLLECTION FROM THE OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE TO GO TOWARDS THAT IMPROVEMENT. SO, THAT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO INCREASE TO THE $150 IF THAT WERE TO TAKE PLACE. WE HAVE THE COST OF THE RENOVATION, RATE, RIGHT? AND NEXT YEAR WE WOULD KNOW FOR SURE WHERE WE SIT. KEEP IT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND WHILE IT IS OKAY TO INCREASE IT, $150 FOR THE 2025 EVENT. IT MAY LEAD US TO HAVING THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN NEXT YEAR. TO

BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT. >> WE CAN BE FLUID.

>> EXACTLY WHY THE PENSIVE THOUGHT OVER HERE. TO BE

[D. Consent Agenda:]

DETERMINED. >> OKAY, THANK YOU.

>> AT THIS TIME WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> THE ADOPTION OF THE REGULAR MEETING. D2, A POINT PERSIDING JUDGES AND ALTERNATE JUDGES FOR THE MAY 3, 2025 JOINT ELECTION AND SPECIAL ELECTION. D3, APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SESSION WITH VICTORIA ENGINEERING INCORPORATED URBAN ENGINEERING TO PERFORM PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING IN SURVEYING SERVICES FOR THE ARE RECONSTRUCTION OF BURROW ROAD IN THE AMOUNT OF $163,700. D4, RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE. MOTOROLO, IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $468,000, YEAR ONE OF REPLACEMENT, D5, A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MUNICIPAL MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. D6 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CHANGE TO INCREASE THE DURATION OF THE CONTRACT OF GLASS CONTRACTORS INCORPORATED FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS FACILITY. D7, RESOLUTION APPROVING A CHANGE ORDER TO THE CONTRACT WITH CONSULTANTS INCORPORATED FOR MATERIALS TESTING AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $49,519. D8, RESOLUTION FOR THE DESIGNATION OF THE CITY OF

[01:15:02]

DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. >> ALL RIGHT, DO I HAVE A MOTION

FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> MOTION.

>> AND TO SECOND. ALL OF THIS APPROVED. OPPOSED. ALL RIGHT,

[1. Appoint a Member to the Planning Commission. April Hilbrich, City Secr...]

COMMISSION. >> DO WE HAVE A PRESENTATION?

>> YES, SIR. A SHORT ONE. RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT APPOINT A NEW MEMBER TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE PURPOSE OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, IT WAS ORGANIZED TO EXERCISE CONTROL OVER THE PLOTTING AND SUBDIVISION OF LAND IN THE CITY AND 3.5 MILE. IT MEETS MONTHLY AND THEY REVIEW SUBMITTED PLATS AND VARIANCE REQUESTS THE DUTY IS TO APPROVE A PATH THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENT DETAIL BY THE CITY CODES AND THE COMMISSION MAY NOT APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE BASED ON ITS OWN DISCRETION. EVERYTHING IS BASED ON THE CODES THAT HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY YOU. IT MUST BE APPROVED CONSIDERING THE CRITERIA OUTLINED IN THE CITY AS WELL. SO, THE COMPOSITION, NINE MEMBERS, THEY SERVED THREE YEAR STAGGERED TERMS. YOU MAY NOT SERVE MORE THAN TWO CONSECUTIVE THREE-YEAR TERMS, IF AN APPOINTEE FILLS VACANCY THEY CAN FILL TWO TERMS. THEY MAY SERVE IF THE APPOINTMENT TO THE VACANCY HAS LESS THAN 18 MONTHS REMAINING. THE VACANCE WE ARE CONSIDERING TONIGHT HAS MORE THAN 18 MONTHS REMAINING. IT GOES THROUGH AUGUST OF 2027. IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED THE FIRST TIME OF THE APPOINTEE. SO, CURRENT MEMBERS. VACANT SPOT WAS DUE TO SOMEONE MISSING TOO MANY MEETINGS. SO, THEREFORE THEY HAD TO RESIGN THEIR POSITION FROM THAT BOARD. WE DO HAVE ONE APPOINTEE ENDING IN AUGUST OF 2027. IT WILL BE THEIR FIRST TERM AND THREE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED FROM MR. RODRIGUEZ, FISK AND ROBERTSON. THE BALLOTS PLACED BEFORE THE MEETING. SO, THEY INCLUDE YOUR NAME AS WELL AS THE TOP BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE BY SECRET BALLOT. IF YOU WILL CIRCLE THE NAME OF THE ONE PERSON YOU WOULD LIKE TO APPOINT TO THIS COMMISSION. I WILL COME AROUND AND GRAB THE BALLOTS. THE PERSON DOES HAVE TO GET A MAJORITY OF

THE VOTES. >> I WILL ALSO CONVEY THAT IT IS YOUR PREROGATIVE TO, IF YOU WANTED TO WAIT TO HAVE A FULL COUNCIL HERE. IT IS YOUR PREROGATIVE. DON'T FEEL LIKE, IT IS 100% YOUR PREROGATIVE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND

YOU HAVE OPTIONS. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. WE LIKE OPTIONS.

>> WITH A MAJORITY OF THE VOTES ROBERTSON'S NAME WILL BE ENTERED IN. HE GOT THREE VOTES AND THE OTHERS EACH GOT ONE.

>> WHERE AM I AT ON HERE? ITEM E1.

>> NEXT IS THE MOTION. >> YEP.

>> I MOVE THAT WE APPOINT BRADON ROBERTSON TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED TERM.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR THE COMMISSION OF PLANNING COMMISSION. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR. THOSE OPPOSED. ITEM E1 PASSES WITH ROBERTSON.

CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM AND THANK YOU TO MR. FISK AND MR. RODRIGUEZ FOR PUTTING THEIR NAME AND VOLUNTEERING FOR THAT

[2. Award the contract for the 2025 Mill and Overlay Project to CK Newberr...]

>>> RESOLUTION AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR 2025 OVERLAY

[01:20:05]

>> EQUIP GOOD EVENING. THIS IS THE FIRST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OF THE '25 CIP YEAR. THE ROADS, THE STREETS THAT WE ARE WORKING TO WORK ON THIS YEAR ARE MELLET DRIVE. ON TO BRICKS ROAD. THE ONE FROM BALL WILL FACILITATE TRAFFIC AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE MORNING AND THE AFTERNOONS WHEN THE SCHOOL IS OUT. HUVAR STREET TO NAVARRO ROAD. DAIRY TO BEN JORDAN STREET. AND ODEM STREET TO LAURENT STREET TO PORT LAVAC AHOY. ALLOTTED FOR 240 DAYS OF CONSTRUCTION TIME AT $6,400,000.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. I AM CONFUSED BY IT. TO THE LOOP THAT

ENTIRE PROJECT DRAWN OR . >> NO IT IS NOT. I FIGURED IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH. I WOULD EXPLAIN IT. WE ARE GOING ALL OF

THE WAY TO 463. >> NOT DRAWN TO SCALE.

LAUGHTER ] WE RECEIVED TWO PROPOSALS ON THIS. CLARK CONSTRUCTION COMPANY OF TEXAS AND ONE FROM NEWBERRY, CK NEWBERRY PROPOSED THE LOW BID. AND PROPOSED A CONTRACT TIME OF 180 DAYS. CK NEWBERRY WAS $1.5 MILLION UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET. I KNOW PEOPLE WERE HAPPY WHEN THEY SAW THESE NUMBERS.

THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS. YES. IT IS GOOD TO HAVE AT LEAST THE FIRST PROJECT COME IN UNDER BUDGET THAN START OUT THE OTHER WAY. THE NEGATIVE. ANY WAY, AFTER REVIEWING AND SCORING THESE PROPOSALS FROM THE TWO CONTRACTORS IT WAS DETERMINED CK NEWBERRY PROVIDED THE BEST VALUE AND PROPOSES THE AWARD $TO CK

NEWBERRY. >> HAVE THEY DONE ANY OTHER WORK

HERE IN THE CITY? >> THEY HAVE. THEY HAVE NOT WORKED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HERE. I HAVE GONE BACK HERE AND THEY SUBMITTED BIDS ON PROJECTS JUST NOT SUCCESSFUL

BIDDERS ON THOSE. >> GOOD TO SEE OTHER COMPANIES, LOVE TO SEE CLARK CONSTRUCTION CONTINUE TO BID BUT LOVE TO SEE COMPETITION AS IT BRINGS DOWN PRICE AND HEALTHY COMPETITION WHICH IS GREAT FOR OUR TAXPAYERS. ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION WE ADOPT THIS ITEM AND AWARD

THIS CONTRACT TO CK NEWBERRY. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND.

ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM E2. OPPOSED? IT PASSES. ITEM E3?

[3. Approve a contract with Thirkettle Corporation d/b/a Aqua-Metric Sales...]

>> RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH THIRKETTLE FOR THE

[01:25:01]

>> GOOD EVENING. I GET TO TALK ABOUT METERS. THIS IS THE METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR FOR THIS PROJECT .

WAIT, HANG ON. OKAY. WENT A LITTLE FAST. OVERVIEW OF THE WATER SYSTEM. WE HAVE A TOTAL NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS OF 23, 610, DIVIDED UP INTO A LOT OF DIFFERENT SIZED METERS. MAJORITY OF THEM ARE THE 3/4S OF AN INCH. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT I WOULD SAY MOST, 99% OF THE PEOPLE HAVE GOING TO THEIR HOMES, A LOT OF 1 INCH METERS, SPRINKLER METERS. AND 1 1/2 INCH METERS. SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES HAVE THOSE THEN GO THAT IS OURS. WE HAVE TO METER OUR WATER. AND YOU HAVE THE FLIP OVER THE LID. AND ONE OF THE THING THAT WE CHANGED ON THIS THAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT IS NEW. A LITTLE BLACK ANTENNA. IT IS USUALLY SITTING ABOVE THE LID. WE HAVE BEEN USING THE NEW LIDS THAT ARE RECESSED. THOSE ARE NOT GETTING KNOCKED OFF AS OFTEN. WHEN YOU OPEN UP THE LID THERE ARE COMPONENTS THAT ARE UNDER THE LID AND IT IS A RECEIVER AND A BATTERY. BELOW THAT, IT IS CONNECTED TO THE WATER METER. ALL OF THIS IS DONE WITH REMOTE ACCESS FOR REMOTING IT THROUGH THE SYSTEM. AND WATER CONSUMPTION. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE USING WHAT WE CALL A CENSUS SR2 METER. THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE '85. RELIABLE, SOLID, THEY ARE FROM SENCUS. 15 YEAR ACCURACY WARRANTY. FIVE YEAR RENEWAL FOLLOWED BY A 10 YEAR REPAIR PERIOD. I WANT TO SHOW WE WANT TO GO FROM THIS PROJECT, A SMART METER. A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THE FACT IT IS A COMPOSITE METER. THE INTERNALS ARE STILL BRASS. THAT WAS IMPORTANT. YEARS AGO THEY STARTED OUT WITH THIS METER AND YOU WILL SEE THOSE BRASS CONNECTIONS THOSE WERE PLASTIC. AND A LOT OF CITIES WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEM.

WE STAYED AWAY FROM THEM. THEY HAVE SINCE CHANGED IT BECAUSE THEY WERE HAVING ISSUES. THEY BEEFED UP THE INSIDES. THESE HAVE A 20 YEAR ACCURACY WARRANT AND A 20 YEAR BATTERY LIFE WARRANTY. AND THE OTHER DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS METER AND THE SR2, THIS ONE IT WILL ABSOLUTELY REGISTER THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF WATER WHERE THE OTHER ONES, IF IT WAS A DRIP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AT YOUR HOUSE IT MAY NOT REGISTER IT.

PROJECT HISTORY, LAST YEAR. SAME THING. THE VENDOR FOR SENSOR METERS, THE SOUL SOURCE. WE HAD IT IN 2024, A PROJECT FOR 600, ROUNDED UP TO 650. REPLACE 1700 METERS. 1700 TRANSRECEIVER, THAT IS THE ANTENNA WITH THE BATTERY UNDERNEATH. IT INCLUDED PARTS, LABOR, MATERIALS, THE PEOPLE TO PUT THOSE IN. IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE. PEOPLE SAY IT SHOULD BE EASY BUT YOU HAVE TO GO IN THERE AND CHANGE OUT THE METER BUT YOU HAVE TO PROGRAM THAT METER TO THAT HOUSE. THERE IS PROGRAMMING IN THERE THAT IS INVOLVED THAT TAKES A LITTLE TIME. WE ALSO DID THIS YEAR A CONTRACT FOR LARGE METER. THE CHAMBER REPLACEMENTS AND WE DID ABOUT 179 OF THOSE 2"

AND ABOVE FOR $210,000. >> THE ONES IN 2024 WERE THOSE

THEM? >> NO. IT IS JUST BEGIN WITH THIS PHASE OF IT IS WHERE WE ARE PROPOSING CHANGIYOU. WHERE WE A

[01:30:02]

YOU WILL SEE THE NO READS. IT IS ABOUT 4,000. ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY OR THE UNIT. COULD BE WHERE THE ANTENNA IS KNOCKED OFF OR WIRES ARE CUT. THEN, THAT INCLUDES SOME OF THE METERS IN THAT REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A LOCATION MAP. WE HAVE IDENTIFIED WHERE WE WANT TO REALLY FOCUS OUR EFFORTS. YOU CAN SEE, THE, I CALL IT THE MXU. IT IS THE PART THAT IS ON THE TOP. THAT IS THE BLUE. WE ARE FOCUSING THAT, THAT PART OF TOWN. THE MOST NO READS.

FOCUSING THERE. THEN, ON THE METERS WE WANT TO DO A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH RATHER THAN HODGEPODGE THE METERS EVERYWHERE. START WORKING IN WHAT WE CALL BOOKS WITH OUR UTILITY BILLING SYSTEM. AND, THIS YEAR AND I WANT TO REPLACE 3,000 OF THE TRANSRECEIVERS. IT INCLUDES THE BATTERIES. THAT IS THE MAIN ISSUE DRIVING THE NO-READ SYSTEM. IN ADDITION WE WANT TO REPLACE 650 OF THE ARE RESIDENTIAL METERS WITH THE NEW I PEARLS. ALL LABOR, PARTS, MATERIAL. TRANSFERRING AND THIS YEAR, AGAIN, FOCUSING MORE ON THE NO-READ ANALYTICS. AND THIS METERS, AGAIN, WE GOT A 20 YEAR WARRANTY ON THESE METERS. AND THAT IS IT. QUESTIONS? THIS IS AN ONGOING PROJECT EVERY YEAR TO REPLACE THEM. THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS.

THERE IS JUST ONGOING MAINTENANCE.

>> THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING TO ASK. I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU TO PROVIDE HOW OLD ARE THE METERS IN THE GROUND. YOU SEE THE AMOUNT OF METERS THAT ARE NO-READS. IT IS DRIVEN BY THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE GROUND FOR LONGER THAN THEIR LIFE SPAN, IF YOU WILL. SOME OF YOU MAY RECALL GILBERT'S PRESENTATION ABOUT YEAR AND A HALF AGO LEADING UP TO THE PHASE ONE OF THIS. WHERE WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE, I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT A MISTAKE BUT WE WANT TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL GETTING IN A REPLACEMENT CYCLE SO THAT WE DON'T RUN INTO THIS ISSUE AGAIN OF HAVING SO MANY METERS THAT ARE THAT OLD AND IN THE GROUND.

SO BASICALLY YOU CAN EXPECT EVERY YEAR TO HAVE A INVESTMENT IN REPLACING THE METERS. BUT IN YEARS 10 OR SO YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO START LOOKING AT REPLACING SOME THAT WE INSTALLED, RIGHT? THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTMENT IN REPLACING METERS. IT IS COST PROHIBITIVE. ONE DEAL, THAT IS WHY THEY ALL REACHED THE SAME AGE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> GOOD POINT. >> I AM ALWAYS SHOCKED AT THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS HOWEVER, I DO LIKE THE 20 YEAR WARRANTY ON THERE. IN REGARDS TO THE MAINTENANCE, INCREDIBLY

IMPORTANT TO STAY ON TOP OF IT. >> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT. NO QUESTIONS, I WILL ASK, I WILL ASK FOR A

MOTION. >> MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM E3.

>> I SECOND IT. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL OF THOSE IN FAVOR. ALL THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION ITEM

[2. Building and Equipment Services Department 2025 Annual Report. Roger W...]

WE HAVE DONE THE OTHER. >> THIS IS THE LONGEST ANNUAL REPORT THAT YOU WILL -- THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE.

PRESSURE. NO: GOOD EVENING. I WAS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, GO LONGER BUT WHETHER I WALKED IN HERE I DECIDED TO COUNT HOW MANY PEOPLE TOLD ME TO KEEP IT SHORT BUT I HAD MY SHOES ON SO I COULD NOT COUNT THAT HIGH. GOOD EVENING. GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL. WE WILL GET RIGHT INTO IT. MY NAME IS ROGER WELDER, DIRECTOR OF

[01:35:03]

THEY HAVE LONGER LIVES. DON'T NEED AS MUCH DIRECT MANAGEMENT.

SO, WE WILL GET INTO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES. FOR OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT THERE IS NOT A TON. THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO IDENTIFY FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS IT IS THE FIRST ONE. WE KIND OF BUDGET HISTORICALLY FOR MAINTENANCE ON ALL OF OUR FACILITIES. IT WORKS OKAY. WE, WE KIND OF ARE TRENDING UPWARD.

THE COST OF THINGS IS JUST GOING UP. SO, SOME YEARS WE MAY HAVE TO KIND OF PUT THIS OR THAT OFF UNTIL WE GET INTO THE NEXT YEAR.

GO LADY AND MAKE THAT REPAIR. WE DO OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE IT IS NONCRITICAL. YOU KNOW. PLANNING FOR INCREASE COST OF MAINTENANCE IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL HAVE TO GET IN FRONT OF PRETTY SOON. STAFFING FOR ADDITIONAL FACILITIES. THE HEADQUARTERS WILL COME ONLINE THIS YEAR. WE ARE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

WE WILL BE TAKING CARE OF PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE IN THAT FACILITY AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES WE PLAN TO DO THAT IN HOUSE. WE WILL REARRANGE OUR CUSTODIAL STAFF. WE HAVE THEM TRAVELING TO TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THE FACILITIES TO TAKE CARE OF THE FIVE STAFF BUT WE WILL HAVE THEM MORE STATIONARY. IT A LARGE FACILITY AND WILL NEED FULL TIME CARE. WE MAY NEED TO LOOK AT ADDING STAFF AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. WE REALLY NEED TO GET A HANDLE ON WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO. ALSO, WE KIND OF HAVE PLAYED A DEAL WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE TAKE CARE OF ALL OF THE FIRE STATIONS. BUT, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE WERE UNABLE TO HELP THEM WITH. JUST OUR LIMITED STAFF LEVEL. WE DON'T HAVE ANY TRADESMAN IN OUR GROUP THAT ARE QUALIFIED, LICENSED TRADES PEOPLE. THEY ARE ALL GREAT AND JACKS OF ALL TRADES, THEY CAN DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING BUT, SOME OF THE STUFF THAT CAME UP WITH THE FIRE STATIONS WAS A LITTLE BEYOND OUR CAPACITY. THEY ARE HELPING US TAKE THE LEAD ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COME UP WITHIN THE FIRE STATION. THAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING. AS SOON AS WE ADD MORE FACILITIES WE WILL NEED TO LOOK AT THE STAFF LEVEL.

OPTIMIZING SPACE USAGE FOR FUTURE GROWTH. SO WE DID START

THE PROCESS. ANY WAY. >> IT WAS A STUDY

>> YES. ONE OF THEM WAS STUDY ANALYSIS. IT WENT TO THE WAYSIDE. THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WERE PERFORMING THAT FOR US. HOPE TO GET THAT BACK IN FRONT OF US. INCREASING MAINTENANCE COSTS IS STARING US RIGHT IN THE FACE. WE DID SORT

[01:40:03]

WE LIKE TO REPLACE, FOR INSTANCE, GARBAGE COLLECTION VEHICLES. I THINK WE ARE GOING NINE YEARS RECENTLY. WE NEED TO SHORTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT. NINE YEARS TURNED INTO 11 REALLY QUICK WHEN A 24 MONTH LEAD TIME SHOWS UP. SO, THEN YOU ARE JUST KIND OF A DEAD HORSE AT THAT POINT. ANOTHER PART OF THE FLEET SITUATION THAT HAS COME UP RECENTLY IS THAT WE HAVE DECENTRALIZED DATA. WITH THE MULTIPLE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS AND WITH THE VEHICLE LEASING CONTRACTOR THE MAINTENANCE DATA IS STORED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. THOSE VENDORS ALL HAVE THEIR OWN RECORD KEEPING SYSTEMS WHICH WE HAVE ACCESS TO, WHICH IS WONDERFUL, ALL SEPARATE. NOWHERE TO TIE IT ALL INTO ONE FORMAT WHICH MAKES REPLACEMENT CHALLENGING. SO, A FEW ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THIS LAST YEAR. MOST OF THIS WILL BE FOR OUR FACILITIES DEPARTMENT. BUT WE BEGAN OUR MAINTENANCE CONTRACT WITH SINS MARTINS MAINTENANCE GROUP. THEY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. BEGAN A SUPPLY CONTRACT WITH NEW DISTRIBUTING, THEY ARE AN AMAZING VENDOR. THEY HELPED US OVER THE YEARS WITH THINGS THAT COME UP. WE LOVE DOING BUSINESS WITH THEM. WE UPGRADED ALL OF OUR FACILITY FIRE ALARM PANELS FOR CELLULAR. THEY ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS THAT COME UP AND TAKE CARE OF THOSE QUICKLY. WE REMODELS THE CITIZEN FESTIVAL. WE HAVE ACCESS CONTROL IN PLACE. CAMERAS, TVS, ALL OF THAT HANDLED. THAT IS WORKING GREAT AND UPGRADED AND REMODELED THE ENGINEERING CONFERENCE ROOM AT 700 MAIN. SO, OPPORTUNITIES.

LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE WE REALLY ARE STRONGLY LOOKING AT THE ADDITION OF A FLEET MANAGER POSITION. SOMETHING THAT I WAS HIRED AT THE CITY OF VICTORIA TO DO. WE HAVE GROWN INTO THIS DEPARTMENT NOW THAT IS GREATER THAN JUST FLEET MANAGEMENT AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO TACKLE ALL OF THAT. THERE IS A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT. THIS IS DISPOSITION OF ASSETS, DATA MANAGEMENT, PLANNING, BUDGETING, THERE IS JUST A LOT OF STUFF THAT NEEDS ATTENTION. WE BELIEVE AT THIS POINT WE ARE READY FOR A MANAGER TO COME IN AND ALSO LOOK AND BE AVAILABLE TO LOOK AT THE DEPARTMENTS AND MAKE SURE UTILIZATION IS PROPER. NOT UNDER UTILIZING OR OVER UTILIZING VEHICLES AND PROPER AMOUNT OF ASSETS. FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE. I HAVE IT HERE AS KIND OF A DREAM MORE THAN ANYTHING. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE IT. I WOULD THINK IT WOULD HELP STREAMLINE A LOT OF OUR PROCESSES AROUND PLANNING AND REPLACING VEHICLES. JUST KNOWING WHERE EVERYTHING IS. SOMETHING THAT WE LOOKED AT IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE TO LOOK AT IS IN-VEHICLE DATA ACQUISITION. THAT IS WHAT WE CALL TELEMATICS. IT IS A DEVICE THAT WEB BASED THAT CAN DOUBLE AS FLEET MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE. IT GIVES YOU SO MUCH DATA, THERE IS

[01:45:03]

ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SOMETHING WRONG.

LOW-LEVEL BUT IT IS STILL GIVING YOU SOME INFORMATION. IT CAN GIVE YOU RUN TIME, IDOL TIME, LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE. SO, WE CAN CATCH ALL OF THOSE GUYS OUT THERE PARKED AT THE THREE HOUR LUNCH IN RIVERSIDE PARK, YOU KNOW.

THEY DON'T DO THAT.

>> SO. >> HE LOOKED RIGHT AT US AND WE DON'T HAVE A CITY VEHICLE.

>> ANOTHER THING THAT CAME UP IN ANOTHER REPORT WAS A CENTRALIZED FLEET FACILITY. SOMETHING WE LOOKED AT DURING THE SPACE USAGE STUDY. WE IDENTIFIED A LOCATION FOR THAT. IT WAS OVER BY THE PUBLIC WORKS OPERATION HEADQUARTERS ON SOUTHWEST JORDAN. IT WOULD ALLOW US AN OPPORTUNITY TO TIE ALL OF THE OPERATIONS EXCLUDING PD AND FIRE. MOST OF THEM ARE LOCATED AT THAT SITE. THE IDEA BEING THAT WE WILL BE RIGHT THERE WHERE THOSE VEHICLES SPEND THE NIGHT. SOMETHING THAT CAME UP THAT I THINK MAY BE A GOOD IDEA, A NIGHT SHIFT, A SPLIT SHIFT WHERE WE CAN PERFORM PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AND NOT HAVE TO THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS THAT CAN COME OUT OF THAT ALL IN ONE PLACE. FINALLY, TALKING ABOUT ELECTRIFIED FLEET VEHICLES. IT IS A BIG HOT TOPIC. ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE BUZZING, SEEING A LOT OF CYBERTRUCKS SHOWING UP AROUND TOWN. THEY ARE PRETTY COOL. BUT IN, IN REALITY WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW THERE IS, THERE IS SOME MUNICIPAL USAGE OF VEHICLES REALLY ON PAPER LENDS ITSELF TO THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE. A LOT OF STOP AND GO. NOT A LOT OF MILEAGE. THE BRAKING ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES IS THE REASON THAT IT WORKS IN OUR APPLICATION. I BELIEVE IT WORKS NOT ONLY IN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUT EVEN IN HEAVY EQUIPMENT. MAC STARTED TO -- MACK STARTED TO MAKE AND IN DEVELOPMENT THAT ARE FULLY ELECTRIC GARBAGE TRUCK. THAT STOP AND GO APPLICATION IS THE FUTURE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

HOWEVER, I DON'T THINK THAT THE TECHNOLOGY IS THERE FOR US. THE COST IS STILL VERY HIGH UP FRONT. AND, WE JUST DON'T SEE THE LIFE OUT OF THE BATTERIES THAT WE NEED YET. THE SOLID STATE BATTERIES IN DEVELOPMENT NOW ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE THAT FOR US. SO, I AM EXCITED. WE KEEP OUR THUMB ON THAT ALL OF THE TIME LOOKING AT WHEN MAYBE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DO THIS.

SPEAKING TO THAT, TOO AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS WE HAVE ACTUALLY PUT INTO THE SCOPE OF WORK A SINGLE POLE DOUBLE CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE STATE OF MICHIGAN IS TESTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR POLICE CARS. THAT ALSO IS LOOKING PROMISING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE PRICE TO CONSUMERS COMING DOWN. BUT THAT IS PRETTY MUCH IT. FOR THE BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> QUESTIONS? >> GREAT JOB.

>> THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES THE CITY MANAGER REPORTS.

[H. Executive Sessions:]

>> THAT WILL COMPLETE THE PUBLIC PORTION OF TONIGHT'S MEETING.

WE WILL RECESS. TAKE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. I WILL LET YOU CALL

>> THE CITY COUNCIL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE 4TH DAY OF MARCH 2025. 6:49 P.M. THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS AS FOLLOWS, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.