Apr 01, 2025 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:25]

WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY CALLED MEETING FOR TUESDAY, APRIL MICHELLE BURKE, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?

>> COUNCILMAN DELAGARZA? >> I AM PRESENT.

>> COUNCILMAN KIDDER? >> HERE.

>> COUNSEL WALMER BUTLER. >> PRESENT.

>> COUNCILMAN SCOTT . >> EAR.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM YOUNG. >> COUNCILMAN LOFFGREN.

>> IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE

OF SILENCE. >> PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND

JUSTICE FOR ALL. >> HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE.

>> THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED. AGAIN , WELCOME EVERYONE. I SEE A COUPLE OF OUR COUNTY OFFICIALS HERE. WANT TO WELCOME JUDGE ZELLER AND COMMISSIONERS ORR AND MARTIN AND SEXTON. WELCOME,

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. MR. GARZA, BEFORE WE JUMP INTO THE AGENDA, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS TONIGHT?

>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I DO HAVE QUITE A BIT FOR YOU THIS EVENING SO I ASK FOR SOME GRACE BUT ON BEHALF OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND MAINSTREET WE WANT TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO ATTEND AN EVENING OF AWARDS AND RECOGNITION COMMEMORATING 15 YEARS OF THE VICTORY MAINSTREET PROGRAM ON THURSDAY, APRIL 3RD AT THE LEO J WELLER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. DOORS OPEN AT 6:00 P.M. FOR LAST-MINUTE CIRCUIT PURCHASES IN THE EVENT BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED ON THE WELDER CENTER WEBSITE AT WELDER CENTER.ORG OR BY PHONE AT 361-570-TKTS, OR AT THE BOX OFFICE. THAT SPELLS TICKETS, BY THE WAY.

>> ALMOST, ALMOST, MINUS THE VOWELS. ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WE WANT TO INVITE OUR RESIDENTS AND THE PUBLIC FOR OUR SECOND COME AND GO MEETING ON THE COMMUNITY CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT THAT WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 14TH, FROM 1:00 TO 3:00 P.M. THE MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE VICTORIA COMMUNITY CENTER AT 2905 EAST NORTH STREET. CITY STAFF WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS INITIATIVE. WE OF COURSE HAD OUR FIRST SESSION YESTERDAY EVENING SO THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT CAME THROUGH. IT WAS A GREAT EVENT. WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH SEVERAL RESIDENTS, TAKE THEM ON A TOUR AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE ON THE PROJECT. SO IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT AND WE HOPE THAT THEY HAVE ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL EVENT ON APRIL 14TH. WITH THAT WE WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT ELECTION DAY IS MAY 3RD. EARLY VOTING WILL TAKE LACE APRIL 29TH WITH APRIL 3RD AS A LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE, AND RECALL THAT ONLY CITY RESIDENTS MAY VOTE ON THIS PROPOSITION ON THE MAY BALLOT . ON BEHALF OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, WE WANT TO INVITE OUR RESIDENTS TO SHARE THEIR INPUT ON HOW FEDERAL FUNDS SHOULD BE SPENT ON LOCAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, SUCH AS HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION, PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND NONPROFIT SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES WILL HOST, AND GO MEETINGS ON THE 2025 THROUGH 2029 CONSOLIDATED PLAN AND THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY'S BROWN TABLE ROOM ON THURSDAY, APRIL 3RD FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M. AND 2:30 TO 3:30 P.M.

RESIDENCE CAN ALSO PROVIDE INPUT BY FILLING OUT THE SURVEY THAT WAS MAILED WITH THEIR UTILITY BILLS. SURVEYS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE AT VICTORIA TX.LOVE/CBG PLAN. COMPLETED SURVEYS CAN BE MAILED TO CITY OF VICTORIA -- THIS IS TOO MUCH READING -- DROPPED OFF AT 702 NORTH MAIN STREET, SUITE 129 OR EMAIL AT Z WENDELL AT VICTORIA TX.OF. GOT ONE MORE. ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL, WE'RE CELEBRATING EARTH DAY WITH A PICNIC FUNDRAISER AND RAFFLE BENEFITING PUBLIC ART PROJECTS AND BEAUTIFICATION GRANTS FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND PROFITS. THE PICNIC WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 22ND FROM 5:30 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M. AT KAYS GROVE ON THE YOU HV CAMPUS, WHICH IS LOCATED BETWEEN UNIVERSITY CENTER AND UNIVERSITY NORTH BUILDINGS. TICKETS ARE $75 PER PERSON. TO BUY TICKETS TO ATTEND OR FOR THE RAFFLE, OR TO BECOME A SPONSOR, OR JUST TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE, VISIT

VICTORIA TX.GOV/K.B. BE. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. JUMPING

[a. National Library Week Proclamation. Duane Crocker, Mayor]

[00:05:05]

LIBRARY WEEK. >> WHEREAS KNOWLEDGE AND OPEN ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE IS A CORNERSTONE OF A FREE SOCIETY , AND WHEREAS PUBLIC LIBRARIES ARE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN IMAGINE, DISCOVER, AND CONNECT TO EDUCATION, FELLOWSHIP, AND ENTERTAINMENT, AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. AND WHEREAS IN 1958, PRESIDENT DWIGHT D EISENHOWER PROCLAIMED THE FIRST NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. AND WHEREAS IN THE 67 YEARS THAT HAVE PASSED SINCE THE FIRST PROPOSITION, LIBRARIES INCLUDING OUR OWN VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY HAVE EFFECTIVELY EVOLVED AND INNOVATED TO MEET CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY CURRENTLY OFFERS OVER 93,000 PHYSICAL MATERIALS AND ACCESS TO ALMOST 19,000 DIGITAL MATERIALS FOR CHECKOUT. AND WHEREAS IN FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY OFFERED OVER 500 PROGRAMS THAT WERE ATTENDED BY ALMOST 29,000 PEOPLE. AND WHEREAS THE VICTORIA COMMUNITY IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT PUBLIC LIBRARY STAFFED BY EXCEPTIONAL AND DEDICATED LEADERS AND EMPLOYEES OFFERING COLLECTIONS, PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND AMENITIES THE COMMUNITY SEEKS. NOW THEREFORE , I DUANE CROCKER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE WEEK OF APRIL 6TH THROUGH 12TH AS NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK IN VICTORIA, TEXAS, AND EXTEND THE THANKS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOR

THEIR SERVICE TO VICTORIA. >>

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. I AM HONORED TO ACCEPT THIS RECOGNITION DURING NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK AS WE CELEBRATE AND HIGHLIGHT THE VALUABLE ROLE LIBRARIES, LIBRARY WORKERS, AND LIBRARY VOLUNTEERS PLAY IN THIS COMMUNITY. AT THIS TIME I WANT TO THANK AND RECOGNIZE THE MEMBERS OF THE STAFF THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE AS WELL AS THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, AND VOLUNTEERS LIKE THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD, AS WELL, AND REMIND THEM THAT THEIR WORK DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED. SO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING US AND HELP US BE THE LIBRARY WE

[b. Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Duane Crocker, Mayor]

ARE TO THIS COMMUNITY. >>

>> LET'S SEE, ITEM 2 B IS ANOTHER PROCLAMATION. THIS IS FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH.

>> WHEREAS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH IS INTENDED TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS WIDESPREAD AND IMPACTS EVERY COMMUNITY MEMBER OF VICTORIA, AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, AND WHEREAS , SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITY AS SEEN BY STATISTICS INDICATING THAT 1 IN 5 WOMEN AND 1 IN 4 MEN EXPERIENCE SOME KIND OF CONTACT SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THEIR LIFETIME. AND WHEREAS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND PREVENTION MUST BE IN A PRIORITY TO CONFRONT THE REALITY THAT 1 IN 4 BOYS AND 1 IN 3 GIRLS WILL EXPERIENCE RAPE OR ATTEMPTED RAPE BEFORE THE AGE OF 18. AND WHEREAS WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION, SUPPORTING SUPERVISORS, AND SPEAKING OUT AGAINST HARMFUL ATTITUDES AND ACTION. AND WHEREAS WITH LEADERSHIP AND DEDICATION, AND ENCOURAGEMENT, THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL IN PREVENTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE CROSSROADS AREA THROUGH INCREASED EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF VICTORIA STRONGLY SUPPORTS EFFORTS OF NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PARTNERS, AND OF EVERY CITIZEN TO ACTIVELY ENGAGE IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EFFORTS TO PREVENT SEXUAL VIOLENCE. IT'S TIME FOR ALL OF US TO START CONVERSATIONS, TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION, AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER TO CREATE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL. NOW THEREFORE I DUANE CROCKER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 25TH AS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH IN VICTORIA, TEXAS.

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW YEARS AND IT STILL MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE SOMETIMES TO HEAR THOSE WORDS BECAUSE THOSE DON'T COME UP IN PLEASANT CONVERSATION. I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT. APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH BUT FOR VICTORIA, I HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S SEXUAL ASSAULT ACTION MONTH BECAUSE SOME GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HAVING DONE THIS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE WERE STAGNANT FOR A WILD. WE HAD A HARD TIME BECAUSE EACH AGENCY AND EACH LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND ALL OF US CAREGIVERS WERE WORKING IN SILOS. WE PUT AN END TO THAT. IS NOW GOT A REGIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE TEAM AND WE'VE GOT PEOPLE IN THE SAME ROOM TALKING TO EACH OTHER, PEOPLE LIKE THE DA AND PEOPLE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, PEOPLE FROM AGENCIES LIKE MIDCOAST FAMILY SERVICES, AND WE ARE TAKING ACTION TO ENSURE THAT OUR

[00:10:04]

WORK ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >>

[c. KVB April Beautification Award. Christy Youker, Assistant Director of ...]

>> THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THEN, ITEM 2 C IS GOING TO BE THE K.B. BE APRIL BEAUTIFICATION AWARD, MS. UECKER. WELCOME.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL. BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WANTED TO ECHO MR. GARZA'S ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT OUR FIRST-EVER FUNDRAISER . KV B HAS NOT DONE ONE AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY PARTNERING WITH YOU HV. IT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY FUN EVENT ON EARTH DAY AND CELEBRATING ALL THAT KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL DOES, AND BEING THANKFUL TO ALL OUR PARTNERS. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO QUICKLY REMIND THE PUBLIC IS THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER CLEANUP COMING UP. THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIG ROADWAY CLEANUPS.

THIS IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TXDOT, WITH THE TRASH OFF CLEANUP, AND ALSO WITH THE GULF, TRASH FREE GOLF INITIATIVE THAT WE ARE A PART OF AS WELL, THIS YEAR. SO WE ARE REALLY PARTNERING WITH OTHER GROUPS TO MAKE THIS REALLY BIG SO WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO COME OUT. WE ARE HOPING TO GET BETWEEN 300 AND 400 PEOPLE. AND REMEMBER, THE MORE PEOPLE WE GET, THE MORE WE CLEAN UP. WE ALWAYS FEED EVERYBODY AND MAKE IT REALLY FUN. SO MAY 3RD IS THE DAY. SATURDAY, MAY 3RD. THAT IS ELECTION DAY. EVERYBODY HAS LET YOU KNOW AND THAT'S PERFECT BECAUSE YOU GO CLEAN UP, YOU FEEL LIKE A GOOD CITIZEN, AND THEN YOU GO VOTE. SO THAT'S THE IDEA. SO WE'LL MAKE SURE EVERYBODY LEAVES AND GOES AND VOTES. SO NOW I WILL ASK MEREDITH TO COME UP, OUR BOARD CHAIR, TO ANNOUNCE OUR WINNER.

>> HELLO , WELCOME. >> THANKS. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE ARE DOING THE AWARD A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY TONIGHT, BECAUSE OUR WINNER CAN'T BE HERE, BECAUSE THEY'RE CELEBRATING THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY, JUST COINCIDENTALLY. AND SO -- BUT I AM STILL HERE. YOU GUYS, BASICALLY YOU ARE STUCK WITH ME FOR A FEW MINUTES. SO OUR APRIL AWARD WINNER IS COTTON BELL ESQUE BOUTIQUE IN THE TOWN 'N' COUNTRY SHOPPING CENTER, AND ASHLEY HENDERSON'S BOUTIQUE IS A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF A BUSINESS WITH ABSOLUTELY ZERO GREEN SPACE, SURROUNDED BY CONCRETE ON ALL SIDES, BUT THE CARE THAT SHE TAKES TO MAKE HER LITTLE PORTION OF THAT SHOPPING CENTER INVITING AND BEAUTIFUL REALLY SHOWS,S, AND SO WE'RE AL COVERING UP ALL OF HER NICE DECOR IN THE PHOTO, BUT SHE HAS PLANTERS OUT. SHE HAS LITTLE PATIO TABLES AND LITTLE FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS, AND THIS KIND OF STUFF DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED BY THE COMMUNITY. SO I ASKED ASHLEY FOR A COUPLE OF TALKING POINTS THAT I DID COMMUNICATE TO YOU GUYS . BECAUSE, LIKE I SAID, JUST COINCIDENTALLY, 10 YEARS AGO TODAY SHE WAS OPENING HER BOUTIQUE. AND WITH A SIX-WEEK-OLD BABY GIRL IN HER ARMS. SO ASHLEY IS A GOOD NATO NATIVE AND HER DREAM SINCE SHE WAS IN FIFTH GRADE WAS TO OPEN UP A CLOTHING BOUTIQUE. SHE WENT TO FASHION SCHOOL IN NEW YORK CITY AND THEN CAME BACK HOME TO SOUTH TEXAS, AND OPENED UP HER BOUTIQUE. SHE WAS GOING TO NAME IT SWEET THE AT FIRST BUT THEN SHE REALLY WANTED TO HONOR HER FARMING ROOTS AND HER DAD, WHO IS ACTUALLY IN HIS 50TH YEAR OF FARMING THIS YEAR, NAMED HER BOUTIQUE COTTON BELL'S . SO SHE REALLY DID WANT TO BRING IT ALL BACK HOME, BACK TO HER ROOTS, AND ANYWAY, IT'S A GREAT LITTLE SHARP SHOP. LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL CLOTHING AND GIFTS INSIDE AND REALLY DOING A FANTASTIC JOB OF SPRUCING UP HER SPACE OUTSIDE, AND SO TONIGHT'S AWARD WINNER FOR APRIL IS COTTON BELL'S BOUTIQUE, AND WE ARE SO PROUD OF

THEM. >>

>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. MR. GARZA, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS?

>> THANK YOU. I DO HAVE ONE EMPLOYER RECOGNITION. I WANT TO

[00:15:01]

DANIELLE, CONGRATULATIONS. >>

>> CONGRATULATIONS. >> ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING FURTHER

[4. Citizen Communication:]

ON THAT TOPIC? >> AND OSER.

>> ON THERE ANY ITEMS FROM COUNSEL THIS EVENING? SIMON, WE WILL MOVE INTO CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS. I HAVE TWO CARDS. WE'LL START WITH MICHAEL BONDURANT. WELCOME.

>> GOOD EVENING. I MICHAEL BINDER. I LIVE AT 2107 NORTH JORDAN. GOOD EVENING GENTLEMEN AND LADIES. ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, AND FRIDAY THERE WAS LOTS OF RAIN AND BECAUSE OF THAT RAIN THERE'S A LOT OF MUD PITS IN VICTORIA OAKS TRAILER PARK.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE TRAILER PARK OWNER WON'T FIX IT. BUT IT'S HARD WHEN YOU ONLY OWN 17 TRAILER PARKS AND YOU ONLY MAKE $80 MILLION IN INVESTMENTS A YEAR. THERE'S NO MONEY LEFT OVER TO BUY SOME GRAVEL OR ASPHALT, OR ANYTHING.

BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY HE DON'T FIX IT. HE MAKES ALL THAT MONEY. HE'S A MULTIMILLIONAIRE AND HE JUST DON'T WANT TO FIX IT. HE HAS NO INTEREST IN IT. HE'S STONEWALLING AND IT'S JUST RIGHT NOW THERE'S JUST RUTS AND MUD ALL OVER THE PLACE . AND THERE IS SOME VANDALISM IN TRAILER 29. I MEAN IT SHOULD BE CONDEMNED OR BE CALLED A PUBLIC NUISANCE. A DOOR OPEN. 12 BROKEN WINDOWS. DIFFERENT DOORS OPEN AND THERE'S A LOT OF CRIME AND VANDALISM IN IT. S.W.A.T. TEAM MADE A DRUG RAID AND STUFF.

LUCKY FOR THE TENANTS, HE DIDN'T MAKE PAROLE AND STUFF, AND I WOULD LIKE HIM TO TAKE CARE OF HIS TRAILER PARK. PEOPLE CAN'T COMPLAIN BECAUSE THEY MIGHT GET EVICTED, AND YOU KNOW I THINK HE SHOULD JUST CHANGE THE MONTHLY RATE TO $410 A MONTH, TO MAYBE $300 A MONTH, JUST FOR THE INCONVENIENCE OF IT. I MEAN IF YOU WERE EATING IN A RESTAURANT AND YOU SEE MUD HOLES ALL OVER THE PLACE YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T GO THERE, BUT IT'S KIND OF HARD TO MOVE A TRAILER HOUSE. YOU KNOW, $4000 TO MOVE AND THEY RAISE IT LIKE $50, YOU'RE SCREWED IF YOU STAY, YOU'RE SCREWED IF YOU MOVE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS AND INSTEAD JUST MINIMUM REQUIRED , AND IT'S A SHAME, THE ONLY REASON HE FIXES IT UP, BECAUSE THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT GET INVOLVED BUT I WOULD LIKE HIM TO TAKE CARE OF HIS TRAILER PARK, BECAUSE HE HAS DONE A VERY POOR JOB AT TAKING CARE OF IT. THANKS

AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. >> THANK YOU. AND THEN THE LAST CARD I HAVE IS MR. LEE KEELING.

>> WELCOME. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. HOW ARE YOU ALL TODAY?

>> GREAT. >> GOOD. LOOK, UNLESS IT'S A PRETTY GOOD APRIL FOOLS PRANK, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR MS. CONNOLLY TALK TO YOU LATER ON TONIGHT ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE LONG TREE WALKING AND BIKING TRAIL AND I HEARD ABOUT THAT TODAY, AND I WANTED TO BE SURE I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME EXPRESS MY INTEREST IN THAT, AND MY SUPPORT FOR IT. I THINK IN THE COURSE OF GOING THROUGH THE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN THAT THE CITY HAS GONE THROUGH, ONE OF THE THINGS VICTORIANS WERE QUITE CLEAR ABOUT WAS THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DEVELOP MORE TRAILS. THE GREAT THING ABOUT TRAILS IS, COMPARED TO OTHER PUBLIC AMENITIES THAT CAN BE RELATIVELY EXTENSIVE, BECAUSE A LARGE PART OF WHAT YOU DO THERE IS JUST SIMPLY IMAGINATION AND USING SOME IMAGINATION TO CREATE A WAY TO GET ACROSS WHERE NOBODY THOUGHT OF BEFORE. AND THIS IS A GREAT

[00:20:01]

BUT I'VE PASSED IT MANY TIMES. I LOOKED OVER THERE AND THOUGHT, WOULDN'T IT BE COOL IF SOMEBODY PUT A LITTLE TRAIL RIGHT ALONG THAT BANK. IT WOULD BE GREAT. WELL HERE YOU GO. THIS IS A GREAT PROJECT. I'M VERY MUCH SUPPORTIVE OF IT AND I THINK YOU'LL FIND THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE THE SAME. THANKS

[1. An ordinance amending Chapter 21, The Unified Development Ordinance, o...]

>> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THAT WILL CLOSE OUT CITIZENS COMMUNICATION AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM C, WHICH IS ITEMS WITH PUBLIC HEARING, AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH ITEM C 1 POINT

>> ITEM C 1, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOP AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA CODE OF ORDINANCE. ITEM ON FIRST READING.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO IF YOU CAN BELIEVE IT, IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE WE FIRST ADOPTED THE JUDEO AND THERE ARE A FEW HOUSECLEANING ITEMS I HAVE FOR YOU TONIGHT. I PROMISE YOU THEY ARE PRETTY PAINLESS. JUST JUMP RIGHT IN, THE FIRST AMENDMENT WE ARE ASKING FOR APPROVAL ON IS TO CHANGE THE MINIMUM SIZE FOR CLUSTER HOMES. IT WAS INADVERTENTLY PUT AS 4000 SQUARE FEET PER LOT SIZE. THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 4000 PER DWELLING UNIT . IF YOU LOOK IN THE SPECIFIC LAND-USE SECTION FOR CLUSTER HOMES, YOU HAD TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF 4 FOR CLUSTER HOME DEVELOPMENT, FOUR UNITS ON A 4000 SQUARE FOOT LOT IS JUST NOT FEASIBLE WITH PARKING AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU HAD TO. SO WE ARE ASKING TO MAKE THE MINIMUM LOT AREA 12,000 SQUARE FEET AND THEN ALSO ADD BACK COTTAGE LOTS. COTTAGE LOTS WERE IN OUR PREVIOUS ORDINANCE FOR NETTLE DISTRICTS ONLY. WE THOUGHT WITH THE RELAXED PLATTING STANDARDS WE WOULD KIND OF TAKE CARE OF THE SMALL LOTS BUT WE FOUND A LOT OF THOSE EXISTING LOTS THAT ARE BELOW 5000 SQUARE FEET THAT WOULD REALLY QUALIFY FOR THESE COTTAGE LOTS WERE PLATTED AFTER THE FIRST SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE IN THE 1950S. SO WE HAVE FOUND THAT WE NEED TO BRING BACK THE COTTAGE LOT STANDARD AND THAT IS AGAIN, COTTAGE LOTS ARE ONLY ALLOWED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS. AND THEN WE ARE ALSO ADDING THE LAND-USE OF DATA CENTERS AND CRYPTO MINING FARMS UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE TAB OF THE LAND-USE TABLE. SO ALL OF THESE HAVE SPECIFIC USE STANDARDS AND AND WE GET TO DIVISION THREE, SO AGAIN, THIS IS THE COTTAGE HOME REGULATIONS THAT WE JUST COPIED AND PASTED FROM OUR OLD ORDINANCE BUT IT IS A 4000 SQUARE FOOT LOT IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, PROVIDED THAT THEY HAVE AN ENTRY-LEVEL FRONT PORCH THAT COVERS NEARLY 50% OF THE BUILDING FACADE AND AT MINIMUM DEPTH OF FIVE FEET. AND THEN VEHICULAR ACCESS FROM THE FRONT, LIKE FOR GARAGES OR CARPORTS, HAVE TO BE SET BACK. THE STRUCTURES HAVE TO BE SET BACK AT LEAST SEVEN FEET FROM BEHIND THE FRONT FACADE, AND THAT'S ALL IN KEEPING WITH THE DOWNTOWN CHARACTER, HISTORIC DISTRICT CHARACTERS. FOR USE SPECIFIC CENTERS FOR DATA CENTERS AND CRYPTO MINING FARMS, ALL OF OUR RESEARCH POINTED THAT THE NOISE, THE HUM OF THE UNITS, TO KEEP THE UNITS COOL, IS REALLY WHAT IS THE NUISANCE COMPLAINTS THAT OTHER CITIES HAVE HEARD AND THAT SORT OF KICKS IN ON A 60 DECIBEL LEVEL.

SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO -- HOW TO LIMIT THAT ANY DATA CENTER OR CRYPTO MINING FARMS SHALL NOT PRODUCE MORE THAN 55 DECIBELS OF SOUND AT ANY TIME. THE CRYPTO MINING FARMS WERE DEFINITELY THE MORE EGREGIOUS OFFENDERS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, SO WE ALSO PUT A STIPULATION THAT THEY HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 500 FEET FROM ANY RESIDENTIAL USE AND IN SPECIFIC USE STANDARDS. DATA CENTERS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE FIXABLE BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES THE DATA CENTERS ARE ACTUALLY IN BUILDINGS, AND SO THE ENERGY CODE AND INSULATION AND ALL OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS GENERALLY MEAN THAT DATA CENTERS INSIDE BUILDINGS DON'T PRODUCE ANY SORT OF NOISE, SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT RESIDENTIAL SEPARATION REQUIREMENT. SO THE NEXT PROPOSAL IS TO EXPAND THE ORIGINAL TOWN SIDE HISTORIC DISTRICT . A LOT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IT ACTUALLY STOPS AT WATER STREET AND HAS BEEN SINCE IT WAS FIRST CREATED, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THERE IS A PROHIBITION ON MANUFACTURED HOMES WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICTS, WITH THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN, ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF WATER STREET IN PREDOMINANTLY FLOODPLAIN. AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF FLOOD BUYOUT LOTS DOWN THERE.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF REDEVELOPMENT BECAUSE OF THE FLOODPLAIN AND BECAUSE OF FLOODPLAIN REQUIREMENTS WITH MANUFACTURED HOMES, WE THOUGHT THIS REALLY APPROPRIATE TO JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE THE ORIGINAL TOWN SITE A HISTORIC STRICT, THE

[00:25:02]

AND THEN THERE IS QUITE A FEW DEFINITIONS THAT WE NEEDED TO TWEAK. ACCESSORY USE IS A PRETTY SIMPLE ONE BUT WE REALIZED IT WAS COMPLETELY MISSING IN THE DRAFT SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY A USE THAT'S SUBORDINATE TO THE PRIMARY USE OF A PARCEL OF LAND.

OF COURSE WE ADDED THE CRYPTO MINING FARM AND DATA CENTERS. WE HAD TO DEFINE THOSE. ALSO ADDED THE COTTAGE HOMES ARE SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLINGS. AND THAT IS ALL OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES I HAVE FOR TONIGHT ON THE UTO AND HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T SEE ME AGAIN FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.

>> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. WITH THAT THEN I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE. IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT, PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. SEE NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM C

1. >> I'M IF WE ADOPT ITEM C 1

[D. Consent Agenda:]

POINT >> SECOND.

>> I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN

FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED? C 1 PASSES FIRST READING. ITEM D, THE CONSENT

AGENDA. >> D 1, ADOPTION OF MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON MARCH 14TH, 2025, AND THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MARCH 18TH. D 2, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 24 OF THE CITY CODE FOR VARIOUS CHANGES IN PARKS AND RECREATION FEES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT FEES. SECOND AND THIRD READING. D 3, AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING A REINVESTMENT ZONE THAT THE REAL PROPERTY AND STRUCTURES TO BE LOCATED ON A COMBINED 67.57 ACRES LOCATED IN LONE TREE INDUSTRIAL PARK 2 ON WAYNE WATKINS DRIVE, VICTORIA, TEXAS, ESTABLISHING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE OTHER MATTERS RELATING THERETO, PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. SECOND AND THIRD READING. 4, APPROVING RESOLUTION OF VENDOR AGREEMENT FOR CITY OF VICTORIA FIREWORKS WITH ADVENTURE FIREWORKS IN THE AMOUNT OF $75,348. 5, APPROVING RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH CALHOUN COUNTY FOR THE USE OF CITY OF VICTORIA'S PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM. D 6, A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER IS THE AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL TO ACCEPT AN AWARD FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS FOR FISCAL YEAR '26 OPERATION LONE STAR GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $756,271.71. D 7, APPROVING A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE CITY MANAGER IS AUTHORIZED OFFICIAL FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 MOTOR VEHICLE CRIME PREVENTION AUTHORITY MV CPA GRANT DESIGNATING SERGEANT ROBERT ROGERS AS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND DESIGNATING CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER GILBERT P REYNA JR. CPA AS FINANCIAL OFFICER. D 8, APPROVING THE ANNUAL PURCHASE OF UNIFORMS FOR THE VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT FROM GAELS INCORPORATED IN ESTIMATED AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $90,000. D 9, APPROVE A RESOLUTION TO PURCHASE A MOTOROLA APX NEXT RADIOS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS IN THE

[00:30:03]

>> THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA?

[1. Support for House Bill 4222, which is a Victoria County led effort tha...]

>> MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA AS READY.

>> SECOND. >> I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A

SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> HI.

>> ANY OPPOSED? OUR CONSENT AGENDA PASSES. WE WILL JUMP INTO SECTION E, ACTION ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION. OUR FIRST ITEM I'LL GO AHEAD AND CALL IT BECAUSE MY NAME IS ON IT FOR SOME REASON. THAT IS SUPPORT FOR HOUSE BILL 4222, WHICH IS A VICTORIA COUNTY LED EFFORT THAT WOULD IMPLEMENT A COUNTYWIDE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. YOU ALL HAVE INFORMATION THERE IN FRONT OF YOU. IT WAS PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY AND I KNOW JUDGE ZELLER IS HERE TO GIVE US SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT

THIS. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD AFTERNOON , MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. I APPRECIATE THE CHANCE TO BE HERE AND I ALSO HAVE THREE OF OUR FOUR COMMISSIONERS HERE WITH US AS WELL AS OUR AIRPORT DIRECTOR, LINEAL ARENA HERE WITH ME TODAY. AS THE MAYOR SAID, OUR PURPOSE IN BEING HERE IS TO REQUEST A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL FOR THE COUNTY'S EFFORT IN PURSUING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ENABLE US TO IMPLEMENT A COUNTYWIDE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. THE PURPOSE AND USE DOCUMENT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU SPELLS OUT THE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND OF THAT, BUT FOR THOSE IN ATTENDANCE OR THOSE WATCHING IT ONLINE, WHO MAY NOT HAVE SEEN THAT, VICTORIA COUNTY CURRENTLY HAS THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THIS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS , BUT TO DO SO WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS WOULD REQUIRE SPECIAL ENABLING LEGISLATION. THAT LEGISLATION IS HOUSE BILL 4222, WHICH WOULD GIVE COMMISSIONERS COURT THE ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT THAT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. THE LEGISLATION ADDITIONALLY ADDS, AS AN ELIGIBLE CATEGORY OF USAGE, REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS AT A COUNTY OWNED AIRPORT, WHICH IS OUR PRIMARY EFFORT FOR HAVING RESEARCHED THIS OVER THE YEARS, AND OUR PRIMARY REASON FOR PURSUING IT NOW. IT WOULD ENABLE US TO ALLOCATE THESE FUNDS TO SOME MUCH, MUCH NEEDED CAPITAL PROJECTS AT THE AIRPORT, WHICH WE FEEL IS IN KEEPING WITH THE PURPOSE OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TO BEGIN WITH. THAT IS TO PROMOTE TOURISM, AND THEN THE HOTEL AND CONVENTION INDUSTRY.

WE ARE ALSO PREPARED TO PLEDGE, IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS EFFORT, IN THE CITY IS SUCCESSFUL IN ITS EFFORT WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT, WE ARE PREPARED TO PLEDGE $100,000 A YEAR FROM THIS NEW REVENUE SOURCE, GOING TOWARDS THAT CONVENTION COMMUNITY CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT . SO WE SEE IT AS A WIN/WIN FOR REALLY ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY AT OUR COUNTY OWNED AIRPORT. I KNOW THAT EACH OF Y'ALL ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT THAT HAS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE STUDY THAT WE DID ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO SHOWED ABOUT $40 MILLION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT'S GENERATED FROM THE AIRPORT AND WE SEE THIS AS A WAY TO FURTHER ENHANCE THAT WHILE ALSO BEING IN KEEPING WITH THE PURPOSE AND GOAL OF THIS REVENUE SOURCE. I MENTIONED LINNIE IS WITH US TODAY. I DON'T WANT TO STEAL HIS THUNDER IN REPORTING THIS BUT MARCH ENDED WITH A RECORD NUMBER OF EMPLOYMENTS AT THE AIRPORT. 1363, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, A RECORD NUMBER, SO WE PLAN TO BUILD UPON THAT. THE SUCCESS IS THERE, BOTH IN THE NUMBER OF IN PLANE MEANTS AND THE ENHANCEMENTS AND STRUCTURES THERE AT THE AIRPORT. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE RELATED TO THAT. I WILL NOTE THAT THE VICTORIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE VDC AND THE PORT OF VICTORIA AS WELL AS THE STATE HOTEL AND LODGING ASSOCIATION HAVE PASSED EITHER LETTERS OR RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS EFFORT AND WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO INCLUDE THE CITY COUNCIL'S RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT ALONG WITH THOSE AS WE PUSH THIS FORWARD IN THE

LEGISLATURE. >> VERY GOOD. I NOTICED THAT YOU DIDN'T WANT TO STEAL LENNY'S THUNDER BUT YOU TOTALLY DID.

>> BUT I DID ANYWAY. >> WAY TO GO, LENNY.

>> WE APPRECIATE LENNY. HE'S DOING FANTASTIC WORK OUT THERE AND REALLY WEIRD SEEING A LOT OF INCREDIBLE THINGS HAPPENING, AND HE RUNS A GREAT OPERATION OUT THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, NO, AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS,

[00:35:02]

VICTORIA COUNTY PLANS TO CONTRIBUTE $100,000 ANNUALLY FROM THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUE TOWARD THE COMMUNITY CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT PLANNED BY THE CITY OF VICTORIA, ITEMIZING THE IMPACT OF THIS OCCUPANCY TAX FUNDING FOR BOTH COUNTY AND CITY PRIORITIES. WHEREAS VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THE PASSAGE OF HB 4222 WILL ENHANCE REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, ATTRACT NEW TOURISM, INCREASE BUSINESS ACTIVITY, AND IMPROVE KEY PUBLIC RESOURCES TO THE BENEFIT OF BOTH RESIDENTS AND VISITORS. THEN IT CONCLUDES WITH NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VICTORIA CITY COUNCIL THAT IT HEREBY EXPRESSES FULL SUPPORT FOR HB 4222 AND THE ABILITY OF VICTORIA COUNTY TO IMPLEMENT A COUNTYWIDE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, INCLUDING AUTHORIZATION FOR USE FOR AIRPORT RELATED IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE ENCOURAGE OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO MOVE THIS LEGISLATION FORWARD SWIFTLY ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY. SO I THINK THAT'S PRETTY WELL THE GIST OF IT THERE AND I THINK IT CAPTURES WHAT YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO DO HERE.

>> YES INDEED. >> ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> I WOULD BE ADOPTING ONE POINT

>> I SECOND. >> I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

[2. Approve a Budget Amendment to the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corpo...]

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THERE YOU ARE.

WE WISH YOU LUCK. >> THANK YOU, YOU ALL FOR BEING.

ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU GENTLEMEN. ALL RIGHT. THEN LET'S MOVE ON. ACTION ITEMS 2.

>> E 2, APPROVED A RESOLUTION AND BUT AN AMENDMENT TO THE VICTORIA SALES-TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION FISCAL YEAR 2024 TO 2025 ADOPTED BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND FAIRGROUNDS PROJECT IN THE AMOUNT OF $3 MILLION.

>> I DON'T HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION FOR THIS ITEM BUT I DID WANT TO REMIND COUNSEL THAT AS PART OF THE $35 MILLION BUDGET FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT WE ARE TARGETING FIVE TO SIX MILLION DOLLARS COMING FROM THE VICTORIA SALES-TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. TO BE CLEAR, THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT IS NOT IN ADDITION TO THE $35 MILLION BUDGET. THIS IS INCLUSIVE OF THAT AND THIS IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME BECAUSE IF THE VENUE TAX EFFORT IS SUCCESSFUL OUR TIMELINE HAS US AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO THE ARCHITECT IN MAY. AND SO WE NEED THAT CASH TO BE ABLE TO DO THE CONTRACT. SO WE ARE BASICALLY LINING UP THE DUCKS IN A ROW, LEADING UP TO THAT, BEING OPTIMISTIC THAT WE'LL GET TO THAT POINT. THIS MONEY ALREADY -- THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT, I SHOULD SAY, WAS APPROVED BY THE SALES-TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AT THE RECENT MEETING AND THIS IS PART OF THAT FORMAL STEP WHICH BRINGS IT IN FRONT OF YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.

>> ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS? ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS

WITH RESPECT TO E 2. >> MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM E 2.

[3. Authorize the City Manager to execute a professional services agreemen...]

>> SECOND. >> GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? E 2 PASSES.

>> E 3, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH VICTORIA ENGINEERING INCORPORATED DBA URBAN ENGINEERING FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR IMPROVEMENT TO THE CITY'S BOAT RAMP AND KAYAK TAKE-OUT POINT IN RIVERSIDE PARK IN THE AMOUNT OF $105,389 POINT

>> GOOD EVENING MS. CONNALLY. >> GOOD EVENING. I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AS WE ARE AWARDING THIS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT TO URBAN FOR A GRANT FUNDED PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SUCH A REALLY LONG TIME THAT I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS TO COUNSEL AND PUBLICLY AND SO I WANTED TO KIND OF WALK

[00:40:05]

WE APPLIED IN SPRING 2023. WE WERE AWARDED THE PLANNING PHASE ONLY AND THAT TOTAL WAS $84,500. SO THE C.O.P. SHARED THAT AS 25%, WHICH IS 21125. THE ACTUAL PAYMENT OBVIOUSLY OVER THE 84 FIVE WHICH IS WHY THE TOTAL CONTRACT IS MORE THAN THAT. BUT WE HAVE BUDGETED, THE CITY HAS BUDGETED FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT.

SO THE EXCESS FUNDS THAT WE NEED TO COVER THE REST OF IT WILL BE COMING FROM THE CONSTRUCTION PORTION FOR NOW AND THEN WE CAN READJUST THAT IN THE FUTURE. ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THE TERM.

IT ACTUALLY STARTED LAST APRIL BUT IT GOES THROUGH 6-30-27. SO THAT'S THE POINT AT WHICH WE WOULD NEED TO BE COMPLETE WITH THE PLANNING PHASE BEFORE WE COULD APPLY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE. SO THE CONTRACT AMOUNT FOR THE ENGINEERING IS THE 105 389 AND I HAVE THAT STARED BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME POSSIBILITIES OF THINGS WE CAN DISCOVER ALONG THE WAY THAT MAY INCREASE THAT. IF THAT HAPPENS OF COURSE WE'LL COME BACK TO WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO IN TERMS OF THE COMMITMENT ON THAT. THE TBW D PORTION DOESN'T CHANGE. THAT'S STILL THE 6375 OF WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY AWARDED, WHICH IS 75%. AND THAT INCLUDES WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE IS THE ENGINEERING AND SURVEYING, THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND THE PERMITTING, WHICH INCLUDES -- THE PERMITTING IS PRETTY HEAVY-DUTY BECAUSE IT'S ON THE WATERWAY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THE CURRENT KAYAK TAKE-OUT POINT IS MOVING TO A DIFFERENT PLACE ALONG THE RIVERBANK AND WHERE IT'S MOVING TO IS PREVIOUSLY UNDISTURBED SO WE'LL HAVE TO DO EXTENSIVE WORK THERE AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IS COMPLETE AND WON'T CAUSE PROBLEMS ALONG THE BANK THERE, SO WHERE THE KAYAK TAKE-OUT POINT NOW IS PROPOSED IS KIND OF A CROSS THE STREET IN THE GRASSY PORTION FROM WHERE THE TEXAS ZOO IS AND THAT LIONS CLUB PAVILION.

WHERE IT IS NOW IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PUMP HOUSE AND SO WE ARE GOING TO PUT IN A FLOOD RESISTANT FLOATING DOCK, 88 ACCOMMODATIONS, PARKING AND LIGHTING. IT'S HUGE. IT WILL BE A HUGE IMPROVEMENT OVER THE CURRENT SITE. THE CURRENT SITE IS PRETTY DANGEROUS AND STEEP AND IT'S ALSO HORRIBLY OVERGROWN OVER THERE . IT'S SORT OF LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF TREES OVERHANGING AND STUFF. AND THEN THE BOAT RAMP IS NOT GOING TO MOVE BUT IT WILL BE VERY MUCH IMPROVED. IF ANYONE HAS BEEN OUT THERE, IT'S JUST BEEN -- IT'S KIND OF DETERIORATED OVER TIME.

YOU NEED TO DO ALL THE CONCRETE, EXPAND THAT. THERE'S GOING TO BE A WOODEN DOCK AND SOME OTHER THINGS OVER THERE BUT THAT SITE IS ACROSS FROM WHERE THE ROSE GARDEN IS. AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE FOR THAT ITEM. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LIKE I SAID, I MOSTLY JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A RECAP OF HOW THE GRANT PROCESS

IS GOING. >> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. CONNALLY?

>> I HAD A QUESTION SIMPLY JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY. WILL THE CURRENT SITE TO BE SHUTTERED OR DECONSTRUCTED , THE ONE THAT'S

-- >> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND I'M NOT REALLY SURE ABOUT THAT. THERE IS SOME INFRASTRUCTURE.

THERE'S SOME CONCRETE AND THEN THERE'S SOME METAL STEPS. IT WON'T GO TO ANYWHERE BUT THAT COULD ALSO BE A COST. THAT PORTION OF IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET SO THAT WOULD BE A

PARKS ITEM. >> ANYTHING ELSE? MUCH-NEEDED.

>> YES, AGREED. I KNOW THAT TAKE-OUT POINT NOW IS A CAUSE OF

CONCERN. >> ONE OF THE REASONS WHY TP WB WAS INTERESTED IN FUNDING THIS IS BECAUSE THERE AREN'T MANY -- ALONG THE RIVERBANK THERE AREN'T MANY EASY AND ACCESSIBLE PLACES TO TAKE KAYAKS OUT AND THAT AFFECTS THE TEXAS SAFARI ALL THE WAY FROM, I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT STARTS, IT'S WAY

UP IN GUADALUPE. >> IN SAN MARCUS, I BELIEVE.

>> IT'S A REALLY LONG WAY TO GO.

>> WHEN YOU'RE ON THE RIVER THAT'S A LONG WAY.

[00:45:03]

>> YEAH. >> THAT'S WHY IT'S THE

TOUGHEST RACE. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE

INFORMATION. ANYTHING FURTHER? >> I'M JUST GOING TO STAY BECAUSE MY OTHER ITEM IS ALSO NEXT.

>> OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ITEM D 3.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM E 3. >> SECOND.

[1. A report on the City's application to the Texas Department of Transpor...]

>> GOT A MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY

AYE. >> AYE.

>> ITEM E 3 IS APPROVED AND THEN CITY MANAGER REPORTS. YOU WANT THIS ONE? YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THIS?

>> IT'S OKAY. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR YOU THIS EVENING.

>> YOU ARE NEXT. >> DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT.

>> YOU ARE NEXT. WE HAVE TWO CITY MANAGER REPORTS FOR YOU THIS EVENING AND OF COURSE KATIE ALREADY MENTIONED TO YOU SHE'S FIRST TO PROVIDE ANOTHER UPDATE TO DO. ON A TRAILS GRANT

OPPORTUNITY. KATIE? >> OKAY.

>> THAT'S FROM LAST -- >> I MEAN WE COULD DO IT AGAIN BUT I THINK WE HIT THAT ONE PRETTY HARD.

>> OKAY. >> HERE WE GO.

>> HERE WE GO. >> OKAY. I'LL WAIT UNTIL YOU PUT UP -- THERE WE GO. SO AS WE'VE DISCUSSED AND YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THE CITY IS PUTTING TOGETHER A GRANT PROPOSAL TO TXDOT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND I THOUGHT , YOU KNOW WHAT, I SHOULD PROBABLY MENTION THIS GRANT ONLY COMES UP EVERY TWO YEARS. IT'S NOT AN EVERY YEAR GRANT. SO WHAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS WHAT IT IS, WHERE IT IS, WHY IT IS, HOW MUCH WE THINK IT'S GOING TO COST, HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE HIM A THINGS LIKE THAT, SO THIS PORTION, AND I HAVE A PICTURE OF IT. IT'S GOING TO SHOW IT BETTER BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY, AGAIN THE 10 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK IS WHAT'S CLASSIFIED AS A MULTI USE TRAIL AND THAT IS FOR WALKING AND BIKING, AND THE BIG WIDTH OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH SAFETY. BUT IT'S GOING TO GO FROM GUY GRANT, THROUGH THE SHENANDOAH NEIGHBORHOOD, ALONG THE GREENBELT PARK AND THEN IT'S GOING TO GO ACROSS MOCKINGBIRD LANE AND I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SAFETY MEASURE THERE, ALONG THE DRAINAGE OUTFALL BORDERING THE KEEP SMART STORAGE. THEN IT'S GOING TO GO ACROSS ERIE LANE AND CONTINUE ALONG ANOTHER OUTFALL THAT'S IN BETWEEN TWO PRIVATE PROPERTIES, AND IT'S GOING TO CHEAT INTO THE LONETREE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, SO IT WILL CONNECT TO THAT. SO THIS IS A PICTURE, THE ORANGES WHERE THE TRAIL WILL ACTUALLY RUN AND IF YOU SEE, THE INTERSECTION THERE, I WANTED TO USE THIS LASER POINTER, WHERE IS THAT? WHICH MONITOR? THERE IT IS. THIS PORTION HERE, THIS IS WHERE THE CROSSING IS GOING TO GO, THE SAFETY CROSSING, THAT'S THE PORTION THAT GOES ACROSS MOCKINGBIRD LANE. THESE LITTLE PIECES HERE, THE SIDEWALK STOPS AT THE END OF PRIVATE PROPERTY THERE SO THERE'S A GAP BETWEEN THE SIDEWALKS THERE AND WHERE IT WOULD NEED TO CONNECT WITH THE TRAIL HERE. SO THOSE LITTLE PIECES WILL BE ADDED, AND THIS OF COURSE WILL GO ALL THE WAY ACROSS HERE. AND THE CITY IS PLANNING TO REDO GUY GRANT ROAD WITH A 10 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK ACROSS THIS FURTHEST SIDE OF IT, SO WHEN THAT'S COMPLETE, THIS WILL ALL CONNECT THROUGH HERE TO THE TRAIL AND THEN ALL THE WAY OUT TO -- THERE WILL BE THE SIDEWALK ALONG ALSO FROM MOCKINGBIRD, ALL THE WAY OVER TO SALEM. SO THAT'S -- THIS PORTION OF THE PROJECT IS A LITTLE OVER 3600 LINEAR FEET OF CONCRETE SIDEWALK. WE WILL OF COURSE BE ADDING THE A.D.A.

RAMPS. THE PEDESTRIAN HAWK SYSTEM, WHICH IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE HAWK SYSTEM, THERE IS ONE AT UH BE THAT'S BASICALLY JUST A SIGNALIZED CROSSING TO HELP PEDESTRIANS GET ACROSS SAFELY.

AND THEN THERE WILL BE A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, I BELIEVE IS ACROSS LONETREE CREEK BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE DITCH THERE SO WHEN IT TEASE INTO IT, THERE WILL HAVE TO BE A LITTLE BRIDGE OVER WHERE IT'S SUPER DEEP, AND OF COURSE ALSO LIGHTING.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHTING THROUGH THE SHENANDOAH PORTION BUT THE REST OF IT WILL NEED SOME TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE SAFE WHEN THEY'RE WALKING AT NIGHT. THE TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT IS $2.1 MILLION. LOCAL COST SHARE IS 20% SO THAT PUTS US AT $429,000. THIS PROJECT ALIGNS -- IN FACT

[00:50:05]

IT WILL EASE THE CONGESTION FOR RESIDENTS BECAUSE THIS IS A TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVE. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO HELP RESIDENTS WHEN THEY FUND THESE PROJECTS, WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE NOT TAKE MOTORIZED VEHICLES, SO THAT'S A BIG DEAL IN INCREASING THE TRAIL NETWORK IS ANOTHER THING THAT'S OUR GOAL, THAT MATCHES THEIR GOAL. AND OTHER PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS -- I FORGOT ABOUT THIS, I ADDED THIS LATE. THE GUY GRANT IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO GO BETWEEN SALEM AND MOCKINGBIRD, THEN IT ALSO INCLUDES A 10 FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK SO THAT WILL BE CONNECTING.

IT'S ALSO A BIG DEAL AGAIN IN TERMS OF SAFETY BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS THAT WILL CONNECT, ALONG WITH IT WILL ALSO HELP -- THERE WILL BE SOME CONNECTIONS, KIND OF A LONG WAY BUT WITH EAST HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AND THEN OF COURSE THERE'S SHOPPING IN CHURCHES, EVERYBODY KNOWS ALONG MOCKINGBIRD LANE, AND THEN OF COURSE OVER ON SALEM AS WELL. SO IT BRINGS ALL THAT TOGETHER. AND I WANTED TO MENTION BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE ABOUT THE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT. THE MAIN ISSUE WAS IS THIS PORTION RIGHT DOWN HERE BECAUSE IT'S VERY OVERGROWN AND THIS WAS THE PORTION THAT'S BETWEEN LEARY LANE AND LONETREE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL. THESE ARE TWO PRIVATE PROPERTIES. THIS PORTION OF THE DRAINAGE THAT NEEDS TO BE CLEARED IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE HANDLED BY THE DRAINAGE DISTRICT BEFORE THIS PROJECT WILL BE GOING FORWARD.

>> DO WE OWN THAT FULL SUFFICIENT RIGHT-OF-WAY THROUGH

THEREFORE THE PROJECT? >> THERE'S A TINY PIECE THAT WE WOULD NEED TO GET, ONE TINY PIECE, BUT MOST OF IT, YES.

>> WHICH DRAINAGE DISTRICT? >> I DON'T KNOW.

>> THREE. >> THREE, OKAY.

>> SO THE PROCESS AND THE TIMELINE IS THE PRELIMINARY APPLICATION I SUBMITTED ON FEBRUARY 18TH. WE SHOULD KNOW BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK, BEFORE THE END OF NEXT WEEK, WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT A DETAILED APPLICATION, WHICH THEN THAT WILL BE DUE JUNE 20TH. AND THEN WE WOULD HEAR ABOUT IN A WORD IN THIS COMING UP SOBER. AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE. ARE

THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? >> WE'VE ALREADY SUBMITTED BUT I'M CURIOUS WHY HE COULDN'T HAVE INCLUDED THE TRAIL ALL THE WAY UP TO SALEM ROAD AS PART OF THE GRANT, INSTEAD OF JUST FROM

GUY GRANT. >> THAT PORTION IS GOING TO HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME THE STREET RECONSTRUCTION HAPPENS.

>> YEAH, BUT IF IT COULD'VE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE GRANT, COULDN'T THE GRANT HAVE PAID FOR THE PORTION AND THEN IT WOULD'VE BEEN LESS FOR THE CITY TO PAY FOR THE REST? IT'S TOO LATE. YOU ALREADY SUBMITTED THE THING BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS AND MAYBE THAT'S A SELLING POINT FOR THE TRAIL. I DON'T KNOW, FOR THE GRANT THAT IT'S GOING TO BE EXTENDED BY THE CITY, BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS WHY WHEN YOU SUBMITTED THE GRANT IT WASN'T FOR ALL THE WAY UP TO SALEM ROAD.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT TIMING. >> I BEG YOUR PARDON?

>> I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THAT AND I START THIS PROJECT TO GET NOTIFICATION. WE GOOD ENGINEER COMING UP THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THEY HAD AN AWARD BUT TAKE LONGER.

>> IT WOULD EXTEND -- >> THE OPTION WOULD BE TO BUILD BACKGROUND WITHOUT A SIDEWALK IN THE HOPES THAT THE GRANT WOULD COME LATER. I GUESS. BUT WE WERE PURSUING IT AS TREATING THE GUY GRANT PROJECT WITH THE SIDEWALK AS ITS OWN PROJECT, SINCE THE

TIMELINES ARE OFFSET. >> OKAY.

>> WE APPLY FOR THAT IN THE PAST. IT HAD FEEDBACK FROM TXDOT THAT THEY WEREN'T REALLY HAPPY WITH THE PROJECT.

[00:55:05]

>> CERTAINLY YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE GUY GRANT PROJECT IN THE PAST, ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP IS THE LACK OF SIDEWALKS AND YOU POINTED OUT HERE THERE IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

>> AND A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL IN BETWEEN THE TWO.

>> SO CERTAINLY I COULD SEE WHERE THIS WOULD SCORE HIGH ON

THE IMPROVING SAFETY METRIC. >> IT ACTUALLY DOES HIT PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR -- WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF THE PROJECT READINESS, WHICH THEY'VE LOOKED AT THE ACQUISITION OF RIGHT-OF-WAY BUT IT'S SUCH A TEENY PIECE THAT I DON'T EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR OTHER CRITERIA IN TERMS OF MERIT.

>> GOOD, GOOD. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU HEAR.

[2. Information Technology Department 2024 Annual Report. James Foote, Dir...]

>> I CERTAINLY WILL. >> GREAT. THANK YOU.

>> AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO FINISH IT OFF WITH ANOTHER ANNUAL REPORT. I BELIEVE THIS ACTUALLY IS THE LAST ONE.

>>

>> THAT'S BUDGET, NEVERMIND. >> THEY'LL HAVE PLENTY TO FUSS ABOUT. SO, GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT MY ANNUAL REPORT ON MY TEAM. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I'M JUST GOING TO GO THROUGH AN OVERVIEW OF OUR GOALS AND METRICS. ONE THING ABOUT THE METRIC IS WHILE THEY ARE THERE, I'M NOT REALLY GOING TO HIGHLIGHT ON THEIR BUT I'M GOING TO USE THEM TO TELL A STORY ABOUT WHAT ARE OUR CHALLENGES WE'VE HAD AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES COMING THROUGH. SO I.T.S DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE 11 STAFF MEMBERS AND WE MAINTAIN THAT SAME STAFFING LEVEL FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, EXCLUDING OUR TECHNICIAN WAS A NEW ONE BUT WE'VE HAD 12 PERSONNEL FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS AND DURING THAT TIME, AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE GREATLY INCREASED. WE'VE GOT NOW OVER 31 NETWORK LOCATIONS. WE SUPPORT ACCESS POINTS 20 PRINTERS. SUCH A CRAZY NUMBER, COUNCILMAN LOFFGREN USED OUR A.I. TO DETERMINE THEM BUT THEY WERE RUNNING ON MACHINES WE HAVE TO KEEP UP ANYTHING. AND SINCE IT'S ONE OF THE METRICS I WAS TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR VULNERABILITIES AND I'M USING THAT TO TELL SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES, SO WE REALLY FACE THE SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES. WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEHIND THE CURVE BALL AS FAR AS GETTING THESE UP IT'S DONE. CONSTANTLY COULD NEVER GET THEM PATCHED. AS SOON AS WE COULD GET MOST OF THEM PATCHED, NEW ONES NEXT MONTH AND WE'D BE BACK BEHIND THAT CURVE.

IN THIS CASE SITUATION WE PARTNERED WITH A PROVIDER, A VENDOR , SO THEY ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH, THEY ENABLED US TO GET OUR PATCHES DOWN SO NOW IF YOU LOOK AT IT COMING INTO THEIR, WE ARE DOWN ON OUR SIGNIFICANT AND HIGH DOWN SO THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE SAW A CHALLENGE AND WE REACHED OUT TO A VENDOR RATHER THAN USING FD PERSONS TO HELP US WITH THAT. THIS IS ANOTHER INSTANCE WHERE THESE ARE SECURITY LOGS SO WE HAD A SAME SITUATION WHERE I'M GOING TO USE JOON AS AN EXAMPLE. THAT IS 732 MILLION IN THAT EVENT LOGS WE HAVE TWO SORT THROUGH TO FIND OUT WHERE WE HAVE SECURITY ISSUES AT . SO WE PARTNERED WITH THAT SAME VENDOR. WE WENT BACK TO THEM AND SAID, LOOK, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING, WE TRIED THIS, IT'S LITERALLY LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK. SO WE REACHED WITH THAT VENDOR AND SAID 732 MILLION THEY CAME BACK AND THEY WERE ABLE THROUGH THE USE OF A.I. AND THEIR SOFTWARE TO BRING THAT DOWN TO 3500 INVESTIGATIONS IN JUNE THAT THEY HAD TO LOOK AT AND WHEN IT FINALLY FILTERED DOWN TO US WE HAD FOR THAT MONTH LESS THAN 29 INSTANCES WHERE WE HAD TO GO AND ACTUALLY LOOK AND SEE WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. SO A GREAT RESOURCE THERE. THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY WITH OUR EMAIL FILTERING, WE HAVE AN EMAIL FILTERING SOLUTION ON HERE AND IT ILLUMINATES A LOT OF OUR MALWARE THAT'S COMING IN FROM OUR EMAIL . AND AS THE BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND SIDE YOU CAN SEE WHERE THAT GREEN REGION AS FAR AS OUR REGION INDUSTRY AND SIZE, WEARING THE GREEN, SO THE SOLUTION IS DOING A GREAT JOB.

IS DOING A REALLY FANTASTIC JOB. BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE UPPER RIGHT-HAND SIDE WAS TALKING ABOUT TOTAL CLICKS PER MONTH. THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART BECAUSE THAT IS ALMOST 5500 CLICKS PER MONTH. THESE ARE CLICKS THAT OUR EMPLOYEES CLICK ON BALLOT LINKS AND ATTACHMENTS.

THESE MALICIOUS LINKS. THESE ARE NUMBERS THEY HAVE TO CLICK ON TO DO THEIR DAILY JOB, IS CLICKING ON THESE LINKS, IT'S A PDF, EXCEL SPREADSHEET OR A LINK.

>>

[01:00:14]

TIME. >> DID YOU GET ME?

>> IT TOOK HIM FOUR YEARS, THOUGH.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF THEM. IT'S REALLY HARD BECAUSE II STAND ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH FISHING OR HUNTING. HOW CAN I FISH THIS? THIS IS AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN SEE MEDIUM RISK. THE BOTTOM SIDE, WE'RE NOT DOING SO GREAT THERE AND WHAT IT IS WITH THESE PHISHING EMAILS WHEN THEY CLICK AND SO THE VERY LITTLE BIT OF RED, THAT REPRESENTS HOW MUCH AN EMPLOYEE WILL CLICK ON ONE OF OUR PHISHING EMAILS. THAT REPRESENTS ABOUT TEN TO 15 A MONTH WHICH ISN'T'S LOT, NOT A LOT, BUT GRANTED ALL IT TAKES IS ONE MALICIOUS EMAIL TO CLICK ON AND THIS IS AN AREA THIS WE ARE CONCERNED WITH THAT AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS A CHALLENGE AND WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT.

SO THIS NEXT SLIDE, WE ARE TRANSITIONING INTO ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IT'S ALSO HAVING TO DEAL WITH, AND IT'S ALSO DEALING WITH THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT THOSE CLICKS. SO THIS IS THE D- MARK FILTER AND THE MESSAGE AUTHENTICATION REPORTING COMPLIANCE. SO THIS IS A REALLY GREAT WAY TO BE ABLE TO USE WITH THE OTHER WEB FILTER SOLUTION, EMAIL FILTRATION SOLUTION TO HELP KEEP US FROM HAVING THOSE CLICKS OCCUR. THIS ONE ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO ASSURE THAT IF MR. GARZA SAYS HE SENDS AN EMAIL WE KNOW IT'S COMING FROM HIM.

IT'S NOT BEING SPOOFED BY SOMEONE ELSE, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY TO SEE IT'S COMING FROM SOMEBODY WITH AN ORGANIZATION AND THEY'LL CLICK ON IT. SO WE'VE ALSO PERMITTED NETWORK TRANSITION AND WE IMPLEMENTED OUR MULTI- FACTOR AUTHENTICATION. SO NOW ALL CITY EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO USE MULTI- FACTOR AUTHENTICATION WHEN THEY'RE OFF THE NETWORK. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO USE MFA WHEN LOGGING ON A COMPUTER IF THEY'RE IN THEIR OFFICE OR IN A PATROL CAR OR THEIR HOME. IT'S REQUIRED FOR THEM. SOME OF THE OTHER UPGRADES WE DID WITH SECURITY WAS OUR CAMERA UPGRADE PLAN.

THOSE CAMERAS WERE OVER TEN YEARS OLD.

THIS ALLOWS THEM BETTER VISIBILITY AND INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY. BEFORE THEY COULD ONLY VIEW THOSE CAMERAS IN THE SESSION AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE VIEWS THAT THEY CAN VIEW FROM ANY OTHER OFFICES THAT ARE THERE. THE BIG IMPROVEMENT IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE BOTTOM RIGHTHAND SIDE, IT'S HARD TO SEE, BUT THERE'S A TEAL- COLORED TRIANGLE, AND THAT IS AS THE VEHICLE IS MOVING THROUGH THE PLANT IT'S HIGHLIGHTING AND PINPOINTING AND DETECTING THAT AND YOU CAN SEE THE VEHICLE AND TRACE BACK ITS MOVEMENTS. SO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY THERE.

NETWORK, WE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPGRADE THE FIREWALL AND THIS PARTICULAR FIREWALL AT THE PLANT HAS ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS AND ARE STRICTLY DESIGNED FOR SCATO AND IT'S DETECTING MALWARE, AND IT'S THE CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION THAT WE HAVE. WE ALSO REPLACED OUR SWITCHES.

WE HAVE GREATER BANDWIDTH FOR THE CAMERA FEEDS AND THEY ARE DIRECTLY INTO THE FIRE WALL TO INTEGRATE INTO THEIR NETWORK.

>> INTERNET, WE ADDED ADDITIONAL INTERNET CONNECTION AND THIS IS THE SECOND ONE HERE AT 700 MAIN THAT ALLOWS US TO KEEP US FROM LOSING OUR CONNECTION. IT'S THE SOFTWARE-DEFINED WIDE AREA NETWORK AND IS PUTTING THOSE TWO TOGETHER AND MAKING IT ONE SOLUTION. WHEN THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS COMES ONLINE WE WILL BRING THAT INTO THAT AND MAKE THAT JUST A PART OF THE LINE. VOICE OVER IP AND THIS IS OUR PHONE SUSPECT.YSTEM. THAT PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE SERVERS WERE OVER FIVE YEARS OLD. THE SERVERS WERE REPLACED DURINGDURING THIS UPGRADE ALSO.

WE ALSO, PRIOR TO THAT, MICROSOFT HAD CHANGED THE AUTHENTICATION METHOD HOW WE WERE DELIVERING VOICEMAILS TO EMAILS AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR EMPLOYEES GET THEIR VOICEMAILS THROUGH EMAIL VERSUS ON THE PHONE, AND SO MARCH OF LAST MONTH THEY ACTUALLY BROKE IT THROUGH AN AUTHENTICATION METHOD AND LUCKILY WE WERE HAD SCHEDULED THIS OUT AND NOW VOICE MAILS ARE NOW GOING TO EMAILS.

[01:05:01]

AND THEN THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE, THE RADIO REFRESH. SO ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RADIOS. THIS IS INCLUDING POLICE, FIRE, SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ANYONE WITH A PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO WAS UPGRADED WITH NEW TALK GROUPS AND THIS IS WITH DPS AND A GREAT, HUGE SHOUT OUT TO THOSE GUYS THAT HELPED US AND WE HAD 629 PROGRAMS WITH STATE- ISSUED ENCRYPTION KEYS AND NEW TALK GROUPS THAT ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND NORMALLY THE DPS.

SO 46 DPS RADIOS WERE ADDED TO OUR SYSTEM AND IT TOOK TEN DPS TECHNICIANS AND TWO CITY EMPLOYEES, TWO COUNTY EMPLOYEES, AND TWO AND A HALF DAYS TO PROGRAM THESE RADIOS.

AGAIN, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT DBS, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

OKAY. WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED AN AI- BASED TICKETING AND ASSET TRACKING SYSTEM SO NOW EMPLOYEES CAN SERVE THE KNOWLEDGE BASE BEFORE SUBMITTING A TICKET AND BETTER VISIBILITY INTO THE TECHNICIANS. IT'S LIKE HOW MANY SOFTWARE INSTANCES THAT WE HAVE AND WE HAVE 250,000 SOFTWARE INSTANCES AND IT'S PRETTY COOL.

OKAY. NOW WE'RE GOING TO TRANSITION TO SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES. SO OUR CHALLENGES IN I.T.

ARE JUST LIKE ANY OF THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT YOU HEARD AND WHETHER IT'S INCLUDING TURNOVER AND LIMITED BUDGETS AND HOW IT IMPACTS OUR DEPARTMENTS. SO WE'VE GOT RAPID TECHNOLOGY CHANGES AND REQUIRE CONSTANT UPDATESES UPDATES AND TRAINING FOR I.T.

THAT THEY HAVE TO ROLL OUT AND LIMITED BUDGET CONSTRAINTS AND MY BUDGET IS ALWAYS GOING UP AND IT'S ON THE SOFTWARE SIDE SO IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO GET THE EQUIPMENT UPGRADES THAT WE SHOULD IN A TIME AND MANNER. STAFF TURNOVER IMPACTS PROJECT CONTINUITY AND KNOWLEDGE RETENTION AND THAT'S A BIG ONE WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE LEAVING IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND I'M STRUGGLING TO MAKE SURE I RETAIN AS MUCH KNOWLEDGE BEFORE THAT GENTLEMAN LIVES, AND WE HAD TO RELY ON VENDORS. MOO IN THE PAST WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP IT GOING SOFTWARE, VENDOR, USING TECHNOLOGY TO REDUCE THAT COUNT AND IT'S COME AT A PRICE. THAT'S WHAT WE SEE, EVERY YEAR VENDORS CONTINUE TO RAISE THEIR PRICES AND WE ARE BECOMING OVERRELIANT ON THEM AND THOSE PRICE INCREASES HAVE PUT A STRAIN ON OUR BUDGET.

THE BIG ONE IS THE ADA COMPLIANCE AND THESE ARE NEW LAWS THAT BECOME EFFECTIVE NEXT YEAR AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS WE DO HAVE A POSITION RIGHT NOW THAT IS OUR WEB TECHNICIAN THAT'S SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH THAT, BUT WE HAVE OVER 800 PAGES CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE OVER 400 DOCUMENTS.

THE WEB PAGES ARE OKAY. WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON THAT.

IT'S JUST THE DOCUMENTS AND THE PRESENTATION THAT WE CONVERTED WITH THE PDF AND A LOT OF THIS IS NOT ADA COMPLIANT. WE'VE RUN SOME OF THE NUMBERS AND WE'RE GETTING ANYWHERE FROM A TYPICAL DOCUMENT FIVE TO NINE HOURS TO CONVERT AND MAKE IT ADA COMPLIANT.

WE ARE EVALUATING THAT RIGHT NOW AS FAR AS WHETHER OR NOT IT'S IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO REACH OUT.

WE ARE REACHING OUT TO VENDORS RIGHT NOW TO SEE IS IT BETTER TO GO WITH A VENDOR AND WE'RE TOSSING NUMBERS AROUND TO SEE WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

>> CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU WOULD -- WHAT THAT MEANS TO MAKE THIS ADA COMPLIANT?

>> RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THIS SCREEN RIGHT HERE.

I HAVE ONE OF MY TECHNICIANS IS DOING THAT RIGHT THERE AND HE SCREAM AT ME WHEN I PUT THE PRESENTATION UP. WHITE ON YELLOW AND THAT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT CROWE CAN DESCRIBE. ANYTHING -- IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT'S HARD OF READING AND THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THAT AND SEESEE HAPPENING OVER THERE.

IT HAS TO BE ALL TEXT AND EASIER READABLITY, GREATER READABLITY, AND IT'S JUST NOT -- JUST SAYING THAT YOU CAN PUT IT ALL IN BLACK AND WHITE TEXT. THERE ARE MORE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YOU BET. OKAY. WE DO HAVE SOME CHALLENGES IN I.T. ON THE SKATE SIDE.

WE ARE STILL WAITING ON THE GRANT FUNDING AND THAT'S STILL A PART OF THAT UPGRADE AND

[01:10:01]

>> AND I KNOW -- WHAT HAPPENED?

>> NO. >> OH! AHH! SOMEBODY THOUGHT THAT WAS FUNNY! MY BLOOD PRESSURE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS FUNNY.

NEVER MIND. GO AHEAD. SORRY.

GOING TO -- PROBABLY SOMETHING NEW TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND WE'LL MAKE IT A POINT AT THE NEXT MEETING TO CATCH YOU UP ON THE HISTORY OF THE SYSTEM AND THE COST TO UPGRADE IT AND WHERE WE SIT ON THAT, BUT LONG STORY SHORT, WE ARE PURSUING SOME GRANT FUNDS TO HELP PAY FOR THAT, AND THESE GRANT FUNDS TAKE FOREVER, BASICALLY, BUT WE CAN GET MORE INTO THAT IN OUR MEETINGS.

>> OKAY. SOME OPPORTUNITIES.

OBVIOUSLY, ONE OF THE BIG ONES IS MORE MONEY FOR, ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE. WE HAVE TO HAVE MORE SOFTWARE IN OUR LAPTOPS TO TRACK AND REMOTELY WIPE IF WE NEED TO.

THAT'S ANOTHER FUN THING. WE NEED TO LOOK AT A REPLACEMENT OF OUR AGING NETWORK SWITCHES.

WE HAVE SWITCHES THAT ARE APPROACHING END OF LIFE AND THEY'RE CORE SWITCHES AND THEY'RE THE ONES CONNECTING CITY HALL TO 700 MAIN AND CONNECTING TO ALL OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND PUBLIC WORK ND SUCH AS THAT.

AS FAR AS MR. GARZA, WE'LL BE ADDING AN ASSISTANT I.T.

DIRECTOR. >> THAT SOUNDED WEIRD.

>> MR. GARZA'S SUCCESSION PLANNING PROGRAM.

>> YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE THE SUCCESSION PLAN FOR ME.

THE NEXT ASSISTANT DIRECTOR AT I.T. WILL BE THE NEXT CITY MANAGER. YES.

>> WOW.

OKAY. I'M SORRY. AS PART OF THE SUCCESSION PLANNING WE WILL BE --

>> THAT SOUNDS BETTER.

THANK YOU. >> IF WE CAN GET FUNDED FOR IT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE STAFF --? HE SAID THAT WRONG, TOO. IT'S NOT AN ADDITIONAL I.T. , IT'S THE ADDITION OF A NEW POSITION. I GOT YOU. WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS TOGETHER,

JAMES. >> I HAVEN'T HAD ONE OF THOSE BEFORE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

>> I THOUGHT WE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST, BUT NOW I'M RE- THINKING THIS.

>> AND LASTLY, WE ARE GOING REGULARLY ASSESS OUR INITIATIVES AND EFFECTIVENESS AND COST. SO WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT VENDORS THAT WE'RE USING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING OUT THERE THAT WE CAN DO CHEAPER. AND THEN THE LAST SLIDE IS A BLATANT UPCOMING CYBERSECURITY TRAINING FOR EVERYONE IN JUNE. PLEASE, YOU ALL DID A WONDERFUL JOB LAST YEAR. THIS IS A YEARLY THING.

WE ARE MANDATED BY THE STATE TO SUBMIT THIS, SO IT'S GOING TO BE COMING OUT.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR EFFORT AND THAT'S IT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

>> SO YOU DON'T WANT US TO REPORT THAT AS PHISHING?

>> PLEASE DO NOT REPORT THAT AS PHISHING.

THAT WOULD NOT BE GOOD.

THANK YOU. >> ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'LL BRIEFLY SAY, MAYOR, BRIEFLY IF YOU DON'T MIND SINCE THIS IS OUR LAST ANNUAL REPORT THAT YOU OBVIOUSLY HEARD SOME CONSISTENT THEMES THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE PRESENTATIONS, RIGHT? ISSUES WITH RETENTION, WITH RECRUITMENT, CHALLENGES WITH KEEPING UP WITH THE RISING COSTS OF CERTAIN ITEMS AND SOME CHALLENGES JUST ASSOCIATED WITH REALLY JUST MAINTAINING WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, RIGHT? SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE MINDFUL OF AS WE GO INTO THE PROCESS TO DEVELOP NEXT FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET BECAUSE WE PLAN ON BEING VERY INTENTIONAL WITH FOCUSING ON ROLLING OUT A PAY PROGRAM WHICH IS, OF COURSE, WORKING HAND IN HAND TO HIT ON THE CHALLENGES AND MANY OF THE DEPARTMENTS DESCRIBED AND ALSO HITTING ON BASICALLY TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASED COST OF THINGS LIKE FLEET VEHICLES AND OTHER ONE- TIME EXPENDITURES.

SO FOR US AND FOR ME IT'S A PRIORITY TO ENSURE THAT WE FOCUS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE ON GETTING ON A SUSTAINABLE PATH TOTO MAKING SURE WE CAN AFFORD WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW WHILE FOCUSING THE ADDED PARTS ON THINGS THAT

[01:15:03]

[H. Executive Sessions:]

>> VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

AND WE DO HAVE A SHORT EXECUTIVE SESSION, I UNDERSTAND?

>> YES, SIR.

>> SO IT IS 6:15. WHY DON'T WE TAKE A TEN-MINUTE BREAK AND WE'LL BE BACK HERE AT 6:25 IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL OF 2025 AT 6:15. THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THE EXECUTIVE SUCCESSION IS AS FOLLOWED TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.087, 551. 072

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.