May 06, 2025 City Council

[00:00:15]

WELCOME TO OUR REGULARLY CALLED MEETING FOR TUESDAY, MAY 6TH.

MS. HILBERT WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE?

>> COUNCILMAN DE LA GARZA. >> I'M PRESENT.

>> >> HERE.

>> MAYOR PRO TEM YOUNG. >> MAYOR CROCKER.

>> HERE. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME, WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE , TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

>> THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT. SO BEFORE WE BEGIN TODAY'S MEETING, I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO IT KNOWLEDGE THE SUDDEN PASSING OF ROBBIE BIRCH. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS HARD, Y'ALL. SORRY. DEEPLY RESPECTED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO MADE A LASTING IMPACT. THERE WILL BE MUCH MORE TO SAY IN THE DAYS AHEAD TO HONOR HIS LIFE, BUT FOR NOW, WE EXTEND OUR CONDOLENCES

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND STAFF, WE SHARE IN OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE BIRCH FAMILY. WE ARE KEEPING ALL OF THEM IN OUR PRAYERS. JUST A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR YOU THIS EVENING. AS A REMINDER, CITY COUNCIL WILL CONVENE FOR A SPECIAL MEETING TO CANVAS THE ELECTION RESULTS THIS UPCOMING TUESDAY, MAY 13TH, AT 5:00 P.M.

HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS. ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO JOIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE VICTORIA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR THE NATIONAL PEACE OFFICER MEMORIAL CEREMONY THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY, MAY 15TH, AT 9:00 A.M. AT THE GAZEBO LOCATED IN OUR BEAUTIFUL DAILY ON PLAZA. THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE VICTORIA POLICE FOUNDATION HAVE PARTNERED ONCE AGAIN TO HOST THE ANNUAL FOOT PURSUIT 5K AND KIDS DONUT-THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, MAY 17TH. THE EVENT IS PART OF NATIONAL POLICE WEEK IN OBSERVANCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY. EARLY REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT THE KOREA POLICE FOUNDATION.ORG. AND LASTLY, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ALLISON FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF HER OWN.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M VERY EXCITED THIS EVENING TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEWEST ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY, KEVIN MCKEAGUE AND. PLEASE STAND UP. HE GOT HERE ON MONDAY AND STARTED, HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH US. HE COMES FROM HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS. HE HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING AN ATTORNEY FOR A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY. HE PREVIOUSLY WORKED FOR THE CITY OF ODESSA, AND SO IF YOU WILL ALL PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING HIM TO OUR TEAM.

>> VICTOR, YOU'RE RIGHT IN THE FIRE, SECOND DAY AND HERE YOU

ARE. WELCOME. >> I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MS. LACEY FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. CAME DOWN AND INTERVIEWED FOR THE POSITION, AND SO, CAME DOWN ON SUNDAY TO START ON MONDAY AND AS I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT VICTORIA A LONG TIME, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CITY. ROWING AND JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE AND HOPEFULLY I CAN HELP MS. LACEY WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENTS THAT I'M COVERING, AND WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT . AND SO, LOOK FORWARD TO BEING HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THANK MS. LACEY AND HER STAFF FOR WELCOMING ME. SO THANK

YOU. >> WELCOME ABOARD, GREAT TO HAVE

YOU. >> THOSE ARE ALL THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS EVENING.

>> LET ME REPEAT THAT. THOSE ARE ALL THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WE HAVE FOR THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, GEORGE. APPRECIATE YOU

[a. Apraxia Awareness Month Proclamation. Duane Crocker, Mayor]

>> THEN WE WILL JUMP INTO PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS, AND I KNOW WE HAVE QUITE A FEW. LET SEE. WE'LL JUMP TO ITEM 2 A.

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MS. HILL BRICK. >> ITEM 2 A IS THE APRAXIA AWARENESS MONTH PROCLAMATION SO APRAXIA AWARENESS DAY WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED IN 2012 TO BRING AWARENESS ABOUT APRAXIA SPEECH AND TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT THE DISORDER AND ITS IMPACT ON INDIVIDUALS, WHILE INCREASING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT OF THOSE LIVING WITH THE CONDITION, AND WHEREAS CHILDHOOD APRAXIA IN SPEECH CAUSES CHILDREN TO HAVE SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY LEARNING TO SPEAK AND IS AMONG THE MOST SEVERE SPEECH DEFICITS IN CHILDREN. AND WHEREAS WHILE THE ACT OF LEARNING TO SPEAK COMES EFFORTLESSLY TO MOST CHILDREN, THOSE WITH APRAXIA REQUIRE EARLY APPROPRIATE AND ATTENTIVE SPEECH THERAPY. OFTEN FOR MANY YEARS TO LEARN TO SPEAK. AND WHEREAS, WITHOUT APPROPRIATE SPEECH THERAPY INTERVENTION, CHILDREN WITH APRAXIA WILL HAVE DIMINISHED COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND ARE PLACED AT HIGH RISK FOR SECONDARY IMPACTS IN READING, WRITING, SPELLING AND OTHER RELATED SKILLS. AND WHEREAS THE IMPACTS DIMINISHED FUTURE INDEPENDENCE AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND CAN CREATE CHALLENGES FOR THOSE WITH APRAXIA TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY, IF THEY ARE NOT RESOLVED AND IMPROVED . AND WHEREAS, PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH IS SIGNIFICANT FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WITH NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER AND THE PROFESSIONALS WHO SUPPORT THEM TO ACHIEVE THE NEEDED SERVICES FOR THOSE LEARNING TO USE THEIR OWN VOICE. AND NOW THEREFORE I DUANE CROCKER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, DO PROCLAIM APRAXIA DAY IN VICTORIA, TEXAS, AND INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS OF CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH.

>> I'VE NEVER SPOKEN INTO ONE OF THESE BEFORE, SO MARK THAT OFF MY BUCKET LIST. ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE AND HIGHLIGHTING APRAXIA. I FELT LIKE IT'S ONE OF THOSE MOTOR SPEECH DISORDERS THAT ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED, AND SHOUT OUT TO OUR TWO APRAXIA LAWYERS, AND MY SON DAVID OVER THERE. THEY'RE THE REAL HEROES. THANK YOU AND I

[b. National Salvation Army Week Proclamation. Duane Crocker, Mayor]

THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. THEN WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR SECOND PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL SALVATION ARMY WEEK.

MS. HILBRICH. >> WHEREAS THE NATIONAL SALVATION ARMY'S ONLY BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY OF VICTORIA, AS EVERYWHERE, IS STILL HUMAN BUSINESS UNDERTAKEN WITH THE JOY OF THE FAMILY OF HUMANKIND . AND WHEREAS THROUGH SOUND, INNOVATIVE, AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES THE SALVATION ARMY SERVES THE PEOPLE OF THE AREA WITH UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN ALL, NO MATTER HOW DESPERATE THE SITUATION, AND VIEWS ALL PEOPLE AS PEOPLE WITH POSSIBILITIES. WHEREAS THE SALVATION ARMY ASK ON BEHALF OF ALL RESIDENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY WITH NEITHER SALVATION NOR ANY OTHER CONDITION PREREQUISITE AND NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING YET NONETHELESS WELCOMING COMMUNITY SUPPORT. NOW THEREFORE I, DUANE CROCKER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, TEXAS, PROCLAIM MAY 12 THROUGH 17TH 2025 AT SALVATION ARMY WEEK IN VICTORIA TEXAS AND DO SO URGE ALL CITIZENS TO SALUTE THE STEADFAST MEN AND WOMEN WHO BIND UP THE BROKENHEARTED AND RENEW THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY BY THEIR

QUIET SERVICE OF COMPASSION. >> I DON'T THINK CAPTAIN JONES COULD MAKE IT THIS EVENING BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE HE GETS A PROCLAMATION, AND IF HIM ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND JOIN US BECAUSE I KNOW HE ALWAYS LIKES TO BE HERE AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT THEY DO OVER THERE. SO JOIN ME IF YOU WOULD

[c. Public Service Recognition Week Proclamation. Duane Crocker, Mayor]

>> PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK CLINICIAN. MS. HILBRICH POINT

>> WHERE IS THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA ARE SERVED EVERY DAY BY PUBLIC SERVANTS AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, THESE UNSUNG HEROES DO THE WORK THAT KEEPS OUR COMMUNITY WORKING. AND WHEREAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES TAKE NOT ONLY JOBS BUT BOOTHS TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY, AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SERVANTS INCLUDING MILITARY, RESERVE PERSONNEL, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, DOCTORS, NURSES, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND OTHERS RISK THEIR LIVES, DAY IN, EACH DAY IN SERVICE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, AND WHEREAS PUBLIC SERVANTS INCLUDING TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, ADMINISTRATORS, COMPUTER TECHNICIANS, LABORERS AND COUNTLESS OTHER OCCUPATIONS, DAY IN AND DAY OUT, PROVIDE WITH EFFICIENCY AND INTEGRITY THE DIVERSE SERVICES DEMANDED OF THEIR GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA. AND WHEREAS WITHOUT THESE PUBLIC SERVANTS AT EVERY LEVEL ,

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>> PREPARED. THANK YOU. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING A MINUTE TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD-WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ORGANIZATION. I SAY IT EVERY NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO ENHANCE LIVABILITY IN OUR COMMUNITY WITHOUT THEM. EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL IN OUR ORGANIZATION PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. WHETHER IT'S, OF COURSE THE PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL OR SOLID WASTE TRUCK DRIVERS THAT PICK UP TRASH, OR COMMUNITY APPEARANCE DIVISION THAT HELPS ENSURE OUR COMMUNITY LOOKS GREAT, OUR PARKS TEAM THAT HELPS ENSURE WE HAVE GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE WITH OUR PARKS, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. AND ONE OF THE THING THAT WE SPECIFICALLY ARE TRYING TO BE MINDFUL OF FOR THIS PARTICULAR WEEK IS TRYING TO CELEBRATE OUR UNSUNG HEROES, BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS IN OUR ORGANIZATION THAT ARE IN POSITIONS THAT MOST PEOPLE RECOGNIZE, BECAUSE THEY SEE THEM ON TV, IN MOVIES, WHERE THEY SEE THEM DRIVING AROUND. BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS IN OUR ORGANIZATION THAT DO AMAZING WORK BEHIND THE SCENES, AND SO I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED LAST WEEK WHERE WE SAW A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE TRULY MEAN BY OUR UNSUNG HEROES. AND THIS IS RELATED TO AN ISSUE THAT CAME UP LAST TUESDAY, APRIL 29TH. IN THE AFTERNOON THERE WAS A REPORT THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE AT OUR SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, IS OUR SOLE SOURCE OF WATER, AND THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE THREE FOOT RAW WATER LINE THAT DIRECTLY FEEDS INTO THE PLANT. AND WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE SCIENCE OF IT, THE POINT IS THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS LINE THAT FORCED THE PLANT TO SHUT DOWN ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE NEED WATER.

WATER IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE OFTEN JOKE THAT PEOPLE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT COMES OUT WHEN WE TURN ON OUR FAUCETS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT THIS WAS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND IT WAS AN ISSUE THAT EVOLVED INTO THE LATE EVENING HOURS, TO THE POINT TO WHERE WE BEGAN TO PREPARE FOR A PRETTY SEVERE, CATASTROPHIC EVENT. WE WERE BASICALLY PREPARING FOR A SCENARIO WHERE PEOPLE WOULD WAKE UP THAT FOLLOWING MORNING, ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30TH, AND THERE'D BE NO WATER COMING OUT OF THE FAUCET WHEN IT CAME OUT. BY THE ESTIMATIONS OF OUR SURFACE WATER TREAT PLANT STAFF, THEY CALCULATED THAT THEY PROBABLY HAVE UNTIL 5:00 OR 6:00 A.M. TO GET THE WATER BACK ONLINE, IN ORDER FOR THERE NOT TO BE AN ISSUE. AND I HAPPEN TO BE OUT THERE FOR A FEW HOURS LATE INTO THE EVENING TO JUST DO MY PART IN SHOWING SUPPORT , BUT I WAS VERY, VERY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I SAW. OUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR WAS OUT THERE. OUR UTILITY SUPERVISOR WAS OUT THERE, AND QUITE A BIT OF EMPLOYEES. AND I'M GOING TO LIST THEM BY NAME SHORTLY, WERE OUT THERE TACKLING THIS ISSUE. I WAS VERY IMPRESSED AND AMAZED AT THEIR COLLABORATION, THEIR TEAMWORK, AND HOW SERIOUSLY THEY TOOK IT. AND SURE ENOUGH, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE WATER PLANT BACK ONLINE AT 4:00 A.M., JUST AT THE NICK OF TIME. AND NOBODY -- UNLESS ME TELLING THE STORY NOW, PEOPLE WOULD NEVER REALIZE THAT WE AVERTED A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY, THANKS TO OUR UNSUNG HEROES OF OUR SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND OUR UTILITY DIVISION. AND SO I'D LIKE TO VERY BRIEFLY JUST CALL THEM OUT BY NAME. THEY'RE NOT HERE. THEY'RE WORKING ON THE WATER PLANT. BUT FROM OUR UTILITIES DIVISION, SANTOS IBARRA, MARK GAITAN, LAWRENCE LOVE, CARLA DOOR, MARK VALDES, JEFFREY LEVENS, JACOB BATSON.

FROM OUR SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT, KEVIN POST, CURTIS MOYER, GORDON WILLIAMS, HARRIS WIEST, VIVIAN VILLEGAS, DANIEL ORTIZ, PATRICIA GARCIA, DOUGLAS ELLIOTT, AUSTIN AND FREUD, MATTHEW STUTZMAN, TODD A HALF AND EDA MARIE'S, AND OF COURSE I MENTIONED KEVIN GREGG ALREADY. IN THESE INDIVIDUALS, AS I SAID, TRULY EXEMPLIFIED WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO CELEBRATE THIS WEEK, WHICH IS OUR UNSUNG HEROES, AND I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH A POINT THAT WAS MENTIONED TO ME BY ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS THAT EVENING, BECAUSE I COULDN'T FATHOM THE PRESSURE THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES MIGHT HAVE FELT, BEING IN THE HOLE, TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, CONTEMPLATING THAT THE TIME WAS AGAINST THE CLOCK, RIGHT? THERE BACK WAS AGAINST THE WALL, PER SE, AND ONE OF THE SUPERVISORS WHEN I ALLUDED TO COME OF THIS MUST BE A VERY

[00:15:01]

AND SO THIS IS JUST A LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF THAT. AND SO AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PROCLAMATION, AND I HOPE THAT YOU AND EVERYBODY TUNING IN CAN HELP US CELEBRATE THIS WEEK ALL THE UNSUNG HEROES THAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU MR. GARZA AND OBVIOUSLY THANKS EVERYONE, FOR

[d. KVB Beautification Award for May. Christy Youker, Assistant Director o...]

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. ALL RIGHT. LET'S SEE. ITEM B 2 D IS OUR KVB BEAUTIFICATION AWARD FOR MAY.

>> DARA LEASEBACK IS GOING TO HANDLE THIS ITEM.

>> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. CHRISTIE IS AT A CONFERENCE SO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME OUT ON SATURDAY AND HELP WITH THE CLEANUP. IT WAS A BIG SUCCESS, SO THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT WAS ABLE TO SHOW UP AND HELP OUT CLEANING UP SEVERAL AREAS AROUND THE CITY OF VICTORIA. AND WITH THAT, FOR THIS MONTH'S AWARD, I'M GOING TO LET MEREDITH BIRD, THE CURRENT CHAIR OF KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL, COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT THE WINNER THIS MONTH. MEREDITH? WELCOME, MS.

BYRD. >> THANK YOU, AND BEFORE I GET STARTED ON THIS, I WANTED TO EXTEND A FAX FROM KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT ON EARTH DAY AND SUPPORTED OUR FUNDRAISER. IT WAS A ROUSING SUCCESS AND ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WAS RAISED, WE'RE GOING TO PUT RIGHT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH UNDERTAKING A NEW PUBLIC ART PROJECT TO BE DETERMINED, AND ALSO EXPANDING OUR BEAUTIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM THAT'S AVAILABLE TO LOCAL BUSINESSES. SO WE ARE JUST HAPPY TO CONTINUE WITH THE BEAUTIFICATION OF VICTORIA. AND SO, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THIS MONTH'S BEAUTIFICATION AWARD. WE HAD A FEW NOMINATIONS AND FOR MAY, OUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED A ONE CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE ON MAIN STREET, WHICH -- IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE PROPERTY. NOT A WHOLE LOT OF GREEN SPACE, BUT IF YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN MAIN, BEFORE YOU GET IN BETWEEN RIO GRANDE AND RED RIVER, IT'S A NICE LITTLE BUILDING THAT ALWAYS HAS A FESTIVE SEASONAL DISPLAY ON THE STEPS. THERE'S USUALLY COLORFUL FLOWERPOTS, MAYBE LITTLE BANNERS AND SUCH FOR WHATEVER SEASON. AND MS. BYRNE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB OF WORKING WITH WHAT SHE HAS. NOT A LOT OF AREA FOR BIG TREES, AND LANDSCAPING, AND ALL OF THAT, BUT REALLY IT'S A REALLY EYE-CATCHING LITTLE PROPERTY ON THERE, ON MAIN STREET, AND I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO GET UP AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE HISTORY OF IT. IT'S GOT A REALLY INTERESTING LITTLE HISTORY AND SO TONIGHT I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE FRANCIE BURN OF A ONE CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE ON OUR MAY BEAUTIFICATION AWARD.

>> THANK YOU. >> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU COUNSEL AND MAYOR AND COUNCIL, SORRY. THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS FRANCIE STRAIN VERN AND I AM VERY PROUD OF THAT BUILDING. MY GRANDFATHER BUILT THAT IN 1950. IT WAS THE FIRST DR PEPPER BOTTLING AND DISTRIBUTOR IN THE AREA, AND ALL THE LITTLE STORES BACK IN THE DAY. AND MY GRANDFATHER SOLD THE FRANCHISE IN 1973 BUT HELD ONTO THE BUILDING. AND HE LEASED IT TO GOODWILL. AND AFTER THAT, IT WAS HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AND SEVERAL MECHANICS LEASED IT. AND IN 2013 I WAS VERY HAPPY TO OPEN

[00:20:07]

IT'S SMALL. I KNOW ALL MY CUSTOMERS BY NAME. THEY KNOW ME . IT'S JUST A NICE -- I LIKE TO KEEP IT SMALL AND FAMILY KIND OF ORIENTED, AND I THANK YOU ALL AGAIN. FAMILY IS VERY HAPPY.

[e. Recognition of the 2024-2025 Mayor's Youth Council. Duane Crocker, May...]

>> GREAT, CONGRATULATIONS. >>

>> ALL RIGHT. AND THEN LET'S SEE, ITEM B 2 E, RECOGNITION OF THE 2024-2025 MAYERS YOUTH COUNCIL. THAT HAS MY NAME ON IT SO I WILL TAKE THAT. YOU GUYS SEE THE YOUNG MEN AND LADIES OUT IN THE AUDIENCE HERE. THIS IS MY YOUTH COUNCIL FOR THIS YEAR. I FELT LIKE A COLLEGE COACH. THIS IS MY FIRST RECRUITING CLASS THAT WAS ALL MINE. REALLY A GREAT GROUP. THEY LEARNED A LOT.

YOU'LL HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE BUT HOPE YOU LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, AND EACH OF THEM CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISCUSSIONS, AND WE DID A LOT OF COOL STUFF SO WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND JUST THOSE THAT MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE YOU COUNSEL, IT'S COMPRISED OF HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS FROM THE VARIOUS HIGH SCHOOLS WITHIN VICTORIA COUNTY. I THINK WE HAD SOMEBODY FROM JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM. SO JUST A REALLY GREAT GROUP AND IF YOU'LL INDULGE ME, I WANT TO HAND OUT THEIR CERTIFICATES AND LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FOR EACH OF THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT. OUR FIRST STUDENT UP IS AMANDA BUDD.

>> TONIGHT. NEXT WE HAVE -- NEITHER COULD PEYTON EMERSON. WE HAVE

PAGE FULGHAM . >>

>> NEXT IS MERCEDES GARZA. >>

>> READ GOMEZ. >>

>> AVERY HERRIMAN. >>

>> ELAINA LONGORIA. >>

>> LAUREN MONTGOMERY. >>

>> KAMI MUELLER. >>

>> MICHAEL SHAW FOR. >>

>> AND THEN LUKE SHAFFER. >>

>> SIERRA THOMAS. >>

>> KAYLEE SHERMAN. >>

>> JC VALDES. >>

>> AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ELIANA WEST.

>>

[3. Items from Council:]

>> YES. >> SO I WILL JUMP RIGHT INTO THAT WHILE WE'RE ON THE TOPIC. ITEMS FROM COUNSEL, I HAVE AN ITEM THAT'S OBVIOUSLY RELATED TO OUR MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL AND I'D ASK HIM TO GIVE YOU GUYS JUST A RECAP OF KIND OF WHAT WE DID IN THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR. SO KEISHA, TAKE IT AWAY.

>> I'LL START. GREETINGS, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS YEAR'S YOUTH COUNCIL IS THE LARGEST THAT WE'VE HAD SO FAR. AFTER THE THIRD YEAR OF DOING THIS, WE ALSO HAD A GROUP OF STUDENTS WHO WERE NOT PART OF ORIGINALLY FOUNDING THE GROUP, WHICH WAS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE THE LEGACY OF THE ORIGINAL STUDENTS WHO STARTED THE MAYERS YOUTH COUNCIL CONTINUE ON AND GROW

[00:25:02]

>> SO THE MISSION OF THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL IS TO PROMOTE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AMONG YOUTH. THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL PROVIDES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN ABOUT CITY GOVERNMENT, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND BRING AWARENESS TO ISSUES IMPORTANT TO VICTORIA'S YOUTH.

THE NYC IS MADE UP OF JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPRESENTING THE YOUTH POPULATION OF THE AREA AND IS OPEN TO STUDENTS FROM THE ISD, ST. JOSEPH EIGHTH ACADEMY, INDUSTRIAL ISD, BLOOMINGTON ISD AND OTHER HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS.

>> HI, EVERYONE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS SIERRA THOMAS AND I AM THE 2024-2025 PRESIDENT-ELECT. SO THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENT TO BE A PART OF THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL IS STUDENTS MUST BE A JUNIOR OR SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL , COMMIT TO SERVING FOR ONE SCHOOL YEAR, WHICH STARTS IN THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST TO MAY, SUBMIT A COMPLETED APPLICATION, MAINTAIN A 2.5 GPA OR HIGHER, ATTEND ORIENTATION, ATTEND AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN MONTHLY MEETINGS, AND ALSO PARTICIPATE IN MANY COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS.

>> THE 2024-2025 MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL HAS 16 STUDENTS AND NINE ARE SENIORS, SEVEN ARE JUNIORS AND THEY'RE ALL FROM FOUR

DIFFERENT SCHOOLS. >> WE'VE GENERALLY MET TWICE A MONTH ON TUESDAYS SINCE AUGUST. AT OUR MEETINGS WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE CITY FROM THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. WE ALSO START EACH MEETING WATCHING THE RUNDOWN, SO WE HAVE FOLLOWED

WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES. >> THE TWO SERVICE PROJECTS WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR IS WE WERE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER AT A HOSPICE AND WE DID VOLUNTEERING FOR KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL.

>> WE ALSO TOOK TWO FIELD TRIPS TO FIRE STATION NUMBER ONE, WHERE WE EXPLORED THE FIRE TRUCKS AND GOT TO LEARN ABOUT THE CPR BASIC TRAINING, AND ALSO TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS.

>> WE WORKED ON DRAFTING A PUBLIC POLICY AND WE LEARNED PUBLIC POLICIES HAVE A WIDE PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE, AND AFTER THOSE ARE ESTABLISHED AND YOU CAN START DRAFTING THE POLICY.

>> IN OUR DISCUSSION OF THE PUBLIC ART POLICY, WE DISCUSSED A LOT OF DETAILS, BUT MOST SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEPARTMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE POLICY. PUBLIC NOTICE REQUIREMENTS, AND HOW TO GAIN PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.

>> WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY TO KEISHA SMITH FOR COORDINATING OUR MEETINGS, AND TO MAYOR DUANE CROCKER FOR HOSTING THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL , PART OF LAST YEAR AND ALL OF THIS YEAR. THANK YOU.

>> ENJOYED IT AND I, TOO, WANT TO THANK KEISHA FOR ALL OF HER WORK THAT SHE'S DONE. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE JUNIORS, HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE YOU BACK NEXT YEAR. AND GOOD LUCK ON

FINALS, GUYS. >> I WANT TO SAY TO ANYONE LISTENING OR WATCHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HOPEFULLY OPEN UP APPLICATIONS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS FOR NEXT YEAR'S YOUTH COUNCIL. THEY'RE NOT DUE UNTIL AUGUST THAT WAY STUDENTS HAVE TIME TO GET RECOMMENDATION LETTERS AND MAKE SURE IT FITS IN THEIR SCHEDULE. BUT FOR NOW WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE BECAUSE I DID PROMISE THIS GROUP WE WOULD GO TO GREEN COW AFTER THIS, SO

WE HAVE TO GO. >> DOTO GO 2

>> KNOW, WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> GREAT JOB, Y'ALL. >> ALL RIGHT.

>>

[00:30:01]

>> YES. THIS IS REALLY AS MUCH A PUBLIC SERVICE, PUBLIC INFORMATION, AS ANYTHING, BUT I'VE BECOME AWARE THAT THERE IS A BAT POPULATION IN EAGLE CREEK AND SOME OF THE BATS ARE RABBIT.

THEY DO HAVE RABIES. THEY CAN BE SEEN FLYING ON ASHLAND CREEK EARLY IN THE MORNING, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST TWO INSTANCES I'M AWARE OF WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE RABID THAT'S AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AS A RESULT OF THAT.

THEY GET IN TOUCH WITH ANIMAL CONTROL, GET IN TOUCH WITH PUBLIC HEALTH, END UP TAKING THE RABIES SHOTS. THEIR PETS ALSO QUITE OFTEN HAVE TWO BE TREATED IN VARIOUS WAYS. SO WHY JUST WANTED TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE OF IT, BECAUSE THAT IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST OFFENSE THAT ANY OF US COULD HAVE, IS TO BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE THAT'S IN THE AREA THAT HAVE RABIES, AND FOR THOSE NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY AND THE LOCATION, EAGLE CREEK IS A SUBDIVISION ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN AND IT IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO FLEETWOOD, TO HAMLET, TO HAMLET LACE, CIMMARON IS IN THE AREA, TANGERINE IS IN THE AREA, SO A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS. BECAUSE OF COURSE THE BATS DON'T STAY IN ONE SUBDIVISION. SO I WANTED TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AWARE. THE BIGGEST THING IS TO KEEP YOUR DISTANCE IF YOU SEE AN ANIMAL ON THE GROUND. DON'T GO INVESTIGATE IT. CONTACT ANIMAL CONTROL. BUT JUST BE AWARE NOT TO HAVE CONTACT YOURSELF.

>> GREAT. THANK YOU. AND I THINK I SAW --

>> HE'S HERE, I THINK HE WAS HERE .

>> I MAY HAVE STOLEN HIS THUNDER. THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS

CITIZENS ON THIS ISSUE. >> I APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M GLAD TO BE HERE. I DO APPRECIATE HER NEED FOR KNOWLEDGE AND I JUST WANTED TO EXPLAIN THAT TEXAS IS HOME -- I SENT HER A WHOLE BUNCH OF INFORMATION. SHE PROBABLY KNOWS MORE ABOUT RABIES IN BATS NOW THAN SHE EVER WANTED TO. WE 233 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BATS. THEY'RE THE MOST POPULOUS MAMMAL, ACTUALLY IN THE WORLD, AND WE HAVE THE THREE LARGEST COLONIES IN THE WORLD ARE IN TEXAS. SO KEENLY AWARE OF BATS.

IT'S WHERE ALL RABIES INVESTIGATION STARTED, IT WAS ACTUALLY IN TEXAS, IN AUSTIN AND SAN ANTONIO WAS THE MAIN EQUITABLE KNOWLEDGE OF RADIO SO, SO FAR THIS YEAR WE'VE HAD TWO POSITIVE BATS AND TWO POSITIVE SKUNKS. WE JUST HAD A POSITIVE SKUNK AT THE ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY AND AGAIN, THIS IS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THAT BY STATE LAW, YOUR CATS AND DOGS AND FERRETS FOUR MONTHS OF AGE OR OLDER HAVE TO BE VACCINATED FOR RABIES. IF YOU REMEMBER BACK IN 2023, WE HAD AN OUTBREAK OF SKUNK RABIES, FIRST TIME IN ABOUT 12 YEARS WE'VE HAD SKUNK RABIES IN OUR COUNTY, AND WE WERE ACTUALLY MENTIONED, AS I PUT IN THE EMAIL, IN THE 2023 REVIEW OF THE ZOONOSES CONTROL, VICTORIA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES, VICTORIA COUNTY HEALTH AND ZOONOSES CONTROL'S REACTION TO THAT ACTUALLY KEPT ABLE SAFE.

IT WAS A MODEL OF EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD'VE DONE THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, LOTS OF PRESS RELEASES BY ME , AND PUBLIC HEALTH, AND JUST SHARING INFORMATION. IT'S SURPRISING THAT WE HAVE CLINICS, THEY DON'T DEAL WITH RABIES ALL THE TIME SO IF SOMEBODY COMES IN SAYING THEY GOT BIT BY SOMETHING MAYBE RABID, WE ARE THE PERSON THEY CALL. JUST AGAIN, I'M JUST HERE IF YOU GUYS NEED THE INFORMATION ON RABIES. WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T REMOVE THE WHOLE BAT COLONY. GENERALLY ABOUT 10% OF BATS TESTED IN THE U.S. COME BACK POSITIVE FOR RABIES. WHEN I WAS IN AUSTIN WE HAD ONE YEAR WHERE 52% OF WHAT TESTED WERE POSITIVE. WILLIAMSON COUNTY AND TRAVIS COUNTY LEAD THE NATION IN RABIES, SO BE GLAD YOU'RE DOWN HERE. WE DON'T HAVE IT AS BAD. BUT AGAIN, AS THE COUNCILMEMBER SAID, WE DON'T EVER WANT TO TOUCH WILDLIFE IF WE SEE IT ON THE GROUND. IF YOU GO TO MY FACEBOOK PAGE, THERE IS A VIDEO OF THE SKUNK THAT WAS FALLING OVER, TIPPING OVER AS IT WAS WALKING BY OUR FACILITY. THAT'S A CLASSIC SIGN OF OUT DURING THE DAY, AN AND ALL THAT SHOULD ONLY BE OUT DURING DUSK AND DAWN, AND PECULIAR BEHAVIOR SUCH AS FALLING OVER, WITH ITS TAIL DOWN INSTEAD OF TAIL UP, UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR. ANY BAT THAT YOU SEE DOWN SHOULDN'T BE TOUCHED. IF YOUR DOG HANDLES IT OR WHATEVER, THIS LADY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS PERSON GOT VACCINATED. HER DAUGHTER HAD TO GET VACCINATED AND THAT STARTS A WHOLE CHAIN OF EVENTS WITHIN THE STATE AND THE CITY AND THE COUNTY WHEN SOMEBODY IS EXPOSED TO RABIES. SO AGAIN, EVERYTHING WAS DONE VERY WELL THIS TIME. THE REPORTS WERE DONE ACCURATELY AND APPROPRIATELY AND SHE DID SEEK THE NECESSARY MEDICAL THING THAT SHE DID. AGAIN, I'M AVAILABLE IF ANY OF YOU WANT ANY INFORMATION. FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO ME ANYTIME AND I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO MEET YOU AND TALK ABOUT WHATEVER CONCERN YOU

HAVE WITH ANIMALS. >> GREAT, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE

[4. Citizen Communication:]

[00:35:04]

>> GOOD EVENING COUNSEL, MAYOR, I ENJOYED THE CINCO DE MAYO THIS WEEKEND THE CITY OF VICTORIA PUT TOGETHER. APPRECIATE IT AND CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING MAYOR. YOU STILL HAVE YOUR JOB, SO THAT'S GOOD, YOU KNOW. AND ANYWAY, THEY'RE LAYING CONCRETE AT 2204 EAST NORTH STREET. I'D LIKE TO THANK RICK MADRID AND STAFF FOR OVERSEEING IT WITH THE CITY OF VICTORIA. I'VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT POTHOLES FOR 6 YEARS AND IT'S FINALLY BEEN FIXED, AND I APPRECIATE, AND THE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS , HE'S GOING HIGH-LEVEL AND DOING THE CONCRETE, SO I APPRECIATE WITH THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER IS DOING FOR THE TRAILER PARK.

AND ALSO THERE'S TRAILER 29. IT'S ALL DILAPIDATED . I DON'T KNOW IF THEY COULD CALL IT A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND STUFF, BUT THE ROOF IS FALLING APART. THERE'S ABOUT 14 BROKE WINDOWS, BROKE DOORS, AND IT'S BEEN LIKE THIS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS, AND THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER HASN'T DONE ANYTHING. IF A TENANT LIVED LIKE THAT, YOU WOULD BE EVICTED, MORE THAN LIKELY. AND THE LAW SHOULD APPLY FOR THE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY WHO OWNS THE TRAILER PARK, NOT JUST THE TENANTS. IF HE'S GOING TO EVICT YOU, IF YOU HAD SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR TRAILER PARK, THERE SHOULD BE SOME REPERCUSSIONS FROM THE CITY OF VICK SORIA, AND BACK IN 2010 A GANGSTER CAME AND THEY KILLED SOMEONE IN THAT TRAILER HOUSE. IT WAS SHOT THREE TIMES. HE GOT 99 YEARS AND THE OTHER ONE THAT WASN'T THE TRIGGER MAN GOT 10 YEARS. NO, HE GOT 20 YEARS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T USE THE WEAPON. AND WHENEVER YOU LEAVE TRAILER HOUSES DILAPIDATED AND YOU TURN A BLIND EYE AND DON'T FIX IT UP, YOU CAN EXPECT THINGS LIKE THAT TO HAPPEN. TRAILERS FIVE, 10, 16, 29 AND 32 WERE CONDEMNED ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO BUT THEY GAVE THEM A CHANCE ON 29 AND 32 BECAUSE THEY DID FIX THEM UP BUT THEY'RE NOT UP TO PAR AND NOT UP TO CODE, AND I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO TELL THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER ABOUT IT, AND STUFF, AND YOU KNOW, ALSO I'D LIKE TO THANK THE S.W.A.T. TEAM ON THE DRUG BUST IN THE PLACE WHERE THEY GOT BUSTED. THEY ADDED SOME MORE CAMERAS AND STUFF, SO WHEN YOU'RE THE POLICE, THEY'RE LOOKING AT YOU THROUGH THE CAMERA AND A TENANT SAID THERE WAS THREE SHOTS ON THREE SEPARATE DAYS OF THE TRAILER PARK. AND I WOULD LIKE THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER TO DO BACKGROUND CHECKS ON THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF SKETCHY PEOPLE AND I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE, THE CITY OF VICTORIA, FOR HELPING, BOTH OF THE CITY MANAGERS BEFORE AND JESUS AND OTHER ONES, THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD ONE, APPRECIATE IT.

>> NEXT I HAVE MR. HURLEY FISK. WELCOME BACK, MR. FISK. ALWAYS

GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> EVERYONE HERE? A COUPLE THINGS, FIRST I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE CITY AS A WHOLE ON THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION ON THE COMMUNITY CENTER. AND OF COURSE YOU GETTING REELECTED, THE FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BEGINS OUR THREE TIME A YEAR BOOK SALE ON SUNDAY. SUNDAY IT'S FOR MEMBERS ONLY BUT IT ONLY COSTS $10 TO JOIN, TO BE A MEMBER. THAT'S FROM 10:00 -- I'M SORRY, FROM NOON UNTIL 2:00. THE FUNDS THAT WE RAISE DURING THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE GOES INTO SUPPORTING PROGRAMS AT THE LIBRARY, INCLUDING MY FAVORITE PROGRAM, WHICH IS THE 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET PARENTS TO READ TO THEIR CHILDREN MORE, TO HELP WITH THE WHOLE PROBLEM OF LITERACY IN VICTORIA, WHICH ACTUALLY IS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. ALSO ON BEHALF OF THEATER VICTORIA, I'M SURE THE MAYOR WOULD BE PLEASED

TO AUDITION FOR -- >> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DISASTER.

>> THURSDAY, MAY 22ND, IS THE AUDITIONS, THE ACTUAL PLAY DATES OF THE THEATER ITSELF, JULY 25TH THROUGH THE 27TH AND JULY 31ST TO AUGUST 3RD. BUT WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT TO THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE AND TO THE AUDITIONS . THANK YOU.

[00:40:09]

>> THANK YOU, MR. FISK. NEXT CARD I HAVE IS MR. JAMES RIORDAN. GOOD EVENING, MR. WEIRTON. GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. THIS IS JUST AN UPDATE ON BEHALF OF VICTORIA PRESERVATION. WE'VE BEEN WORKING PROBABLY OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR TO TRY TO SAVE ANCHOR LUMBERYARD, WHICH WAS AT RISK AFTER THE DEVELOPER OF THE NEW DOLLAR GENERAL DECIDED TO BUY THAT PROPERTY. SO WE CAME TO YOU EARLY. WE CAME TO THE CITY AND WE CAME TO THE DEVELOPER, AND I GUESS THE BOTTOM LINE IS WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE THAT BUILDING. AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE GOT NEW DEVELOPMENT OUT THERE. WE GOT A DG MARKET. WE GOT FRESH MEAT AND PRODUCE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF VICTORIA, WHICH WAS A BIG WIN, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HAD THAT IN DECADES. AND THE BIGGER THING FOR US AT PRESERVATION WAS THE STRUCTURE WAS SAVED, AND THANKS TO YOUR LEADERSHIP , AND ESPECIALLY TO COUNCILWOMAN SCOTT, WHO HELPED US WITH THIS PROJECT. JUST A BIG KUDOS AND THANKS. OUR DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR JULIE FULGHAM AND OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL RICK MADRID WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN DOING THINGS TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE, BECAUSE WE WENT OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE TO SAVE A BUILDING THAT ACTUALLY SITS IN THE RIGHT OF WAY. BUT I THINK IT'S A WIN FOR THE CITY. PRESERVATION IS IMPORTANT IN VICTORIA. WE HAVE SO MANY HISTORIC STRUCTURES AND THE GIVES US A SENSE OF PLACE TO OUR COMMUNITY WHEN WE SAVE THESE STRUCTURES AND THEY'RE REPURPOSED. BECAUSE IF WE LOST THE ANCHOR BUILDING, WE HAVE A PIECE OF CONCRETE. NOW WE'VE GOT A BUILDING THAT'S GOING TO BE RESTORED BY A PRIVATE INVESTOR AND RE-UTILIZED, SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU ALL, LET'S KEEP UP THE FORWARD PROGRESS ON PRESERVATION VICTORIA. THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW. THERE IS INTEREST FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY IN DOING SOME THINGS WITH HISTORIC HOLDINGS IN VICTORIA, SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU ALL KEEP AN OPEN MIND. KEEP THAT IDEA OF PRESERVATION AND HOW DO WE REPURPOSE ALL THESE STRUCTURES THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE SO SIGNIFICANT TO OUR COMMUNITY? AND I'M JUST GRATEFUL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND TO YOU ALL FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

>> THANK YOU MR. WEIRTON. >> I WANT TO RECOGNIZE JAHNKE SALES AND BILL MURPHY, WHO WORKED WITH PRESERVATION AND WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING US MOVE FORWARD.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THE WORK. THAN MY LAST CARD IS MR. JOHN GRIFFIN. WELCOME MR. GRIFFIN.

>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY. I ECHO JAMES WEIRTON AND WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE CITY STAFF FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK IN SEEING WHAT WAS DICK'S WEST END AND IT'S RUN IS A DOLLAR STORE AND END UP AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DOLLAR GENERAL STORE IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND WORKING WITH VPI AND THE VICTORIA COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION, OF WHICH I AM A MEMBER, BECAUSE THAT PROJECT, ALBEIT ONE AGAINST LONG ODDS, PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE THAT THIS WOULD'VE HAPPENED BUT WE'VE SAVED A BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURAL SPECIMEN FROM THE SON OF JULES LEFT LYNN, KYLE LEFT LYNN, AND AS YOU KNOW, OUR OLD COUNTY JAIL IS ALSO A KYLE LEFT LYNN STRUCTURE THAT WE ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE IS NOT DEMOLISHED AND IS REPURPOSED, SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT. NOT EVERY PROJECT COMES TO FRUITION BUT THANKS TO THE HARD WORK OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AND OTHERS WHO WORKED BEHIND THE SCENES, IT IS NOW A PROJECT EVERYONE IN THIS COMMUNITY CAN BE PROUD OF. LAST, I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE TO FEEL THIS OR SENSE THIS AND YOU SAW THIS A LITTLE BIT IN OUR MAYOR'S REACTION TO THIS BUT THE PASSING OF ROBBIE BIRCH LAST NIGHT IS WAITING A LOT OF US DOWN IN THIS COMMUNITY. IT WAS A REAL SHOCK SINCE HE WAS SUCH AN IRREPRESSIBLE, UNDENIABLE FORCE OF NATURE WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. I WILL -- I GOT GOOSEBUMPS NOW, MISSING THOSE PHONE CALLS THAT WE WOULD GET FROM HIM AND HIS CREATIVE ENERGY PER GO IT'S A REAL SHOCK. HE LEAVES US, THOUGH, WITH A LEGACY OF KINDNESS, POSITIVE THINKING, AND WARM PERSONALITY. BUT THE ONE THAT STANDS OUT TO ME THIS AFTERNOON IS HIS ABILITY TO SAY YES TO PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITY. I MADE A LOT OF ASKS

[00:45:01]

[1. An ordinance amending Chapter 24 of the City Code for Fire Department ...]

MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, JOHN. ALL RIGHT. I THINK THAT WILL CLOSE OUT, THEN, CITIZENS COMMUNICATION, AND WE WILL GO TO ITEM C 1 POINT THIS IS ITEM WITH PUBLIC HEARING.

>> ITEM C 1 IS IN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 24 OF THE CITY CODE FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT FEES. THIS ITEM IS ON FIRST READING.

>> NO PRESENTATION TONIGHT BUT GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

THIS ITEM IS JUST REVERTING ONE OF THE FEW CHANGES THAT WERE MADE, I BELIEVE BACK IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH, RELATED TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. HAD A FEW, CROWD MANAGER ON SITE THAT HAD BEEN ADJUSTED TO $75 AN HOUR, WHICH WE ARE PUTTING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL RATE TO KEEP IT MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CHARGING FOR RELATED FEES. SO THAT'S ALL

THAT THIS ITEM IS TONIGHT. >> OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS? NO? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO WITH THAT, THEN I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM C 1. IF THERE'S ANYONE THAT IT ADDRESSES THE COUNCIL PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. SEE NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM C 1.

>> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> I SECOND.

>> I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION?

[D. Consent Agenda:]

>> ITEM D ONE IS ADOPTION AND MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING, ITEM D 2 IS THE PURCHASE OF A 2024 FORD F5 50 SKEETER FLATBED BRUSH TRUCK FROM EMERGENCY GROUP LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF $160,348, ITEM D 3 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONTRACT EXTENSION WITH AGC AND INCORPORATED FOR OWNERS REPRESENTATION IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY HAD ORDERS PROJECT. ITEM D 4 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ARMCO INDUSTRIES FOR ROOFING AND WATERPROOFING CONSULTING SERVICES IN RELATION TO THE ROOF OF THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $58,000 AND ITEM D 5 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF FURNITURE FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS FROM SPENCER AND COMPANY IN AN AMOUNT

NOT TO EXCEED $799,742 POINT >> THANK MS. HILBRICH . IS THERE

[1. Approve the purchase of one Freightliner M2106 Plus with Heil Power Tr...]

>> I'M IF WE ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA.

>> SECOND. >> I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? CONSENT AGENDA PASSES. ALL RIGHT, MOVING THEN TO ITEM D 1 POINT

>> ITEM D 1 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING ONE FREIGHTLINER M 2106 PLUS FROM HYDROPOWER TRACK COMMERCIAL 25 YARD REAR LOAD TRUCK USING TIPS, THE INTERLOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM CONTRACT NUMBER 23 0802 IN THE AMOUNT OF $266,887.

>> WELCOME BACK MR. LEE SEC. GOOD EVENING AGAIN.

>> SO I'VE GOT A QUICK PRESENTATION AND I'M GOING TO COVER BOTH PURCHASES WITH ONE, IF COUNSEL IS OKAY WITH THAT. SO WE TALKED BACK WHEN I GAVE MY ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET TRUCKS AND THE NEED TO PUT IN PURCHASE ORDERS EARLY , IN ORDER TO GET IN LINE, TO GET TRUCKS IN A REASONABLE TIME.

AND SO WHAT WE ARE LOOKING TO REPLACE IS WE HAVE THREE AUTOMATED TRUCKS THAT ARE 2016 MODELS AND WE HAVE A REAR LOAD TRUCK THAT IS A 2007 MODEL. SO IT'S AN 18-YEAR-OLD TRUCK. NOW I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT A REPLACEMENT ON TRUCKS.

SO WE DO SEVEN YEARS FOR AUTOMATED TRUCKS NORMALLY. NOW IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, WHEN I TALKED I SAID THAT WE'VE PUSHED THAT OUT TO NINE YEARS. THAT WAS OKAY WHEN I COULD GET A TRUCK IN FOUR MONTHS. NOW, IF WE WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER, IT COULD BE A YEAR, A YEAR AND A HALF, BECAUSE WE ARE GETTING IN LINE WITH ALL THE OTHER CITIES THAT ARE APPROVING TRUCKS IN OCTOBER, AS WELL. SO THAT'S ONE REASON. WE DID 10 YEARS, NORMALLY ON A REAR LOADER. WHY THE DIFFERENCE? WELL AN AUTOMATED TRUCK HAS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS. A REAR LOADER REALLY HAS JUST THE PACKING LATE IN THE BACK. IT DOESN'T HAVE THE ARM AND THE PACKING BLADE, AND EVERYTHING ELSE. SO THOSE TRUCKS HAVE A LOT LESS WEAR AND TEAR. WE USE THEM TO PICK UP BRUSH AND SO THE WEAR AND TEAR IS QUITE A BIT LESS. SO AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T HAD TO REPLACE

[00:50:02]

WE ARE LOOKING TO AUTOMATE TRUCKS 8 TO 10 MONTHS, REAR LOADER 7 TO 9 MONTHS. THAT'S DEPENDING ON WHEN I GET THE PO OVER TO THEM SO THAT WE GET IN LINE. IF I WAITED UNTIL OCTOBER WE WOULD PROBABLY BE ADDING 4 TO 6 MONTHS TO THOSE NUMBERS. AND

THEN I'LL ANSWER ANY WESTERNS. >> ANY QUESTIONS?

>> WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE OLD TRUCKS?

>> THE OLD TRUCKS, SO TWO OF THE AUTOMATED TRUCKS, I HAVE RUBBED EVERY PART THAT I CAN GET OFF OF THEM. THEY WILL BE SOLD AS SCRAP. THE OTHERS WILL BE TRADED IN. THE REAR LOADER WILL BE SOLD. SOMEONE WILL PURCHASE IT AND THEY CAN PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION IN IT THAT I'M NOT GOING TO.

>> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. SO ESSENTIALLY WE ARE JUST COMMITTING TO BUDGET THESE IN OUR NEXT BUDGET CYCLE BUT WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND GET THEM ON ORDER INSTEAD OF WAITING A YEAR

AND A HALF. >> WE WOULD ISSUE THE PO. ROGER WOULD ISSUE THE PO FROM FLEET SO WHAT IT WOULD DO IS PUT US IN LINE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THESE TRUCKS. I WOULD NOT RECEIVE THEM, NOR WOULD I PAY FOR THEM UNTIL AFTER OCTOBER 1 WHEN WE

START THE NEW BUDGET YEAR. >> OKAY. GREAT. ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM D 1?

[2. Approve purchase of three (3) automated trucks- 2026 Mack LR 64 with H...]

>> MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM E 1 POINT

>> I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE AND THEN MS. HILBRICH IF YOU'LL CALL

ITEM D 2. >> A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF THREE AUTOMATED TRUCKS, 2026 MAXELL R 64 WITH THE HEIL 28 YARD PYTHON BODY FROM VANGUARD TRUCK CENTER USING THE TIPS IN OUR LOCAL PURCHASING SYSTEM CONTRACT NUMBER 2040901 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,406,947.27.

>> THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS ON THAT OR E 2 .

[1. Overview of the Compensation & Benefits Subcommittees’ recommendat...]

>> MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM E 2. >> SECOND.

>> GOT A MOTION AT A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ON ITEM E 2. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? E 2 PASSES. ALL RIGHT. JUMPING DOWN TO SECTION F, CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. MR. GARZA, I BELIEVE YOU

HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR US. >> I DO. THIS ONE PROBABLY WILL BE 30 MINUTES. BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT TOPIC. AND SO I WILL -- I AM PROVIDING AN DATE ON BEHALF OF THE COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS COMMITTEE, WHICH OF COURSE INCLUDES SEVERAL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES AND I WILL INTRODUCE THEM, I GUESS, FORMALLY HERE IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES, AND THEY MAY WANT TO INTERJECT AT THAT TIME WITH ANY COMMENTS REGARDING THIS EFFORT BUT THIS WAS AN EFFORT THAT OF COURSE BEGAN NEVER, BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- THERE YOU GO. DID YOU MOVE IT? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THIS EFFORT BEGAN AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS LAST SUMMER, LEADING INTO FALL, FOR CONTEXT YOU MAY RECALL THAT LAST YEAR WE HAD A VERY ROBUST CONVERSATION ABOUT JUST COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS, WHICH OF COURSE LED TO US OR MYSELF MAKING A PROPOSAL THAT ULTIMATELY EVOLVED OVER TIME AND IT ENDED UP CHANGING.

AND SO WE THOUGHT, AND UNDER THE MAYOR'S GUIDANCE AND LEADERSHIP, THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO INVOLVE COUNSEL EARLIER IN THE PROCESS, AT LEAST SOME MEMBERS OF COUNCIL EARLIER IN THE PROCESS, TO HELP GUIDE THAT A LITTLE BETTER THAN WE NORMALLY DO. OF COURSE NORMALLY THE PAY PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION IS NORMALLY SOMETHING THAT MYSELF ALONG WITH STAFF DEVELOP BASICALLY ALMOST ALL ON OUR OWN, AND BY THE TIME WE EXPOSE ALL OF COUNSEL, IT'S BASICALLY ALREADY BEEN SET UP. AND SO, THIS COMMITTEE HAS BEEN MEETING WITH THE PURPOSE OF BASICALLY ESTABLISHING A RECOMMENDATION THAT FURTHER ENHANCES OUR PAY PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SOME IMMEDIATE RELIEF BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM STATEMENT THAT WE SHARED LAST YEAR WHICH TO SOME EXTENT CONTINUES TODAY AND I WILL SHARE SOME FIGURES WITH YOU HIGHLIGHTING THAT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME AND PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANTLY, BEING MINDFUL ABOUT THE LONG-TERM FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE CITY, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY WE DON'T WANT TO COMMIT TO SOMETHING THAT OF COURSE MIGHT PUT US IN A BIND IN THE FUTURE. AND AS I ALLUDED TO, THE COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF THREE COUNCILMEMBERS, COUNCILMEMBER DELAGARZA, LOFFGREN AND BUTLER. OF COURSE, MYSELF, GARCIA AND OUR HR DIRECTOR. AT THIS MOMENT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ANY ONE OF THEM IF THEY WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

[00:55:08]

>> I WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY FOR 31 YEARS AND SINCE THEN A CITY COUNCILMAN FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I WANT TO SAY THIS IS THE MOST ROBUST AND TO ME VERY ELEGANT CONSULTATION PLAN. I THINK THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION DIDN'T DO ANY JUSTICE OR ANY FAVORS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. THIS PLAN DOES. WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF HOURS, AND I THINK JESUS GARZA, THE CITY MANAGER, AND GILBERT REYNA, THE FINANCE OFFICER, THAT DESERVE A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THIS, AND I WANT TO THANK APRIL BUTLER AND MARK LOFFGREN FOR ALL THEIR INPUT ON THIS. I THINK WE ARE HEADED FINALLY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT.

>> YOU KNEW I'D HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY SINCERE APPRECIATION TO MAYOR CROCKER FOR APPOINTING ME TO SERVE ON THE COMPENSATION SUBCOMMITTEE. I BELIEVE IT'S BEEN A TRULY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN THOSE OF US ON COUNCIL AND THE CITY STAFF . I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE ALL GONE INTO IT WITH THE GOAL OF ALIGNING EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION WITH MARKET VALUES. THE PROCESS HAS BEEN THOUGHTFUL. IT'S BEEN DATA-DRIVEN AND IT'S BEEN FOCUSED ON LONG-TERM IMPACT. I BELIEVE THAT THE PRESENTATION TODAY WILL REFLECT THAT DILIGENCE, THAT ENGAGEMENT, AND THAT INVESTMENT THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS BROUGHT TO THE TABLE, AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE PRESENTATION THAT MR. GARZA IS ABOUT TO GIVE, AND THAT I HOPE THAT TODAY'S DISCUSSION SETS A STRONG ACCIDENT FOR HOW FUTURE SUBCOMMITTEES MIGHT BE USEFUL IN SITUATIONS SUCH AS THIS.

>> THANK YOU. >> I HAVE SAID -- SAT IN THE AUDIENCE SINCE 2013, AND I'VE BEEN UP HERE FOR A FEW YEARS, AND THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A SUBCOMMITTEE OF COUNCILMEMBERS ON THE TOPIC. THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT WE FEEL THIS TOPIC IS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S KIND OF IRONIC THIS IS PUBLIC SERVICE RECOGNITION WEEK OR MONTH, WHEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE A GREAT CITY WITHOUT ALL THE EMPLOYEES. WE TOOK THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT, AND WE ARE NOT DONE, BY THE WAY. WE EXPECT TO MEET OR OFTEN AND DISCUSS OTHER ISSUES.

AND I HOPE YOU APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME AND ENERGY THAT WAS PUT INTO THIS. WE HAVE MORE MEETINGS THAN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. A LOT MORE THAN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. WE MET ALMOST EVERY MONDAY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD PLAN. I

THINK YOU'LL LIKE IT. >> LET ME JUST CHIME IN, THANKS TO EACH OF YOU FOR -- I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF TIME. I KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF WORK. I KNOW THERE WERE SOME HILLS AND VALLEYS, AS THERE ALWAYS ARE IN THESE THINGS, AND OBVIOUSLY THANKS TO MR. GARZA AND MR. REYNA AND MS. CAMPOS AS WELL, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS AND YOU GUYS HAVE MY APPRECIATION FOR DOING THE JOB THAT YOU WERE ASKED TO DO, AND MR. GARZA, WITH THAT, I'LL LET YOU GET ON WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO INTERJECT AT ANY POINT WITH QUESTIONS. OBVIOUSLY IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT -- EXCUSE ME, WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING. I BLAME ALLERGIES FOR THIS. I APOLOGIZE. SO I ALREADY ALLUDED TO THIS BUT I'LL REITERATE THAT SOME OF THE KEY GOALS OF THE COMMITTEE, WHICH OF COURSE IS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN HIGH QUALITY EMPLOYEES, STRENGTHEN EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION, WHICH ALWAYS ARE CORRELATED AND IS CORRELATED TO THE CONTINUITY OF ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES. ALL OF THESE GOALS ARE IN SPITE OF SOME RECENT ATTEMPTS AND MANY OF YOU HAVE SEEN ME AND KNOW THAT I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT TRYING TO PROVIDE SOME HISTORY AND SOME CONTEXT, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR US TO FOCUS AS MUCH AS WE CAN ON OUR EMPLOYEES. SO THIS IS JUST A REALLY QUICK RECAP ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO OVER OUR LAST FIVE YEARS. I'M NOT GOING TO GO INTO MAJOR DETAIL WITH IT BUT YOU MAY RECALL FROM LAST YEAR'S PRESENTATIONS THAT WE DID UNDERTAKE A STUDY IN 2020 THAT UTILIZED 2019 DATA PRE-PANDEMIC. THAT'S KEY, PRE-PANDEMIC DATA THAT BASICALLY OUTLINED THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE PROPOSED OVER SEVERAL YEARS BEGINNING WITH FISCAL YEAR 2021 SO YOU'LL SEE THAT IN FISCAL YEAR '21 WE IMPLEMENTED A NEW PD AND FIRE STAFF PROGRAM. THAT WAS IN RESPONSE TO THAT STUDY THAT WE CONDUCTED AT 2020, WHICH DID SUGGEST THAT WE WERE BEHIND MARKET BUT NOT SIGNIFICANTLY AND SO WE MADE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS --

>>

[01:00:18]

AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THOSE DEPARTMENTS BEING THE ONES THAT HAVE THE GREATEST CHALLENGE. SO, VACANCY, HISTORICAL DATA. AS OF TODAY WE DO HAVE ROUGHLY 24 VACANCIES WITH PD. AND WE HAVE 16 OR 17 VACANCIES IN PUBLIC WORKS. THANKFULLY, WE HAVE ZERO VACANCIES IN FIRE RIGHT NOW THANKS TO SOME CREATIVE RESHUFFLING OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IN GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP . BUT THAT IS STILL A CHALLENGE FOR US. SO, THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR US. THAT WAS SOMETHING THE COMMITTEE KEPT IN MIND MOVING FORWARD THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. ANOTHER -- I SEE COUNCILMEMBER LOFGREN IS SMART BECAUSE OF THE ELEMENT OF THIS, BUT WE KNOW FROM THE EXIT INTERVIEWS WHEN WE LOSE EMPLOYEES WE RATE LOW IN THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS ITEM ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE EXIT INTERVIEW. VERY RARELY IS IT AN ISSUE WITH THE ORGANIZATION. AS YOU CAN SEE WE ALWAYS RATE ABOVE FOUR STARS AND SUPERVISOR RATING OR DEPARTMENT RATING. YOU CAN SEE WE OBVIOUSLY FALL BELOW THREE STARS IN THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS WHICH, OF COURSE, TELLS US SOMETHING, RIGHT? -- WHITE PEOPLE LEAVING OUR ORGANIZATION. PEOPLE ARE STILL MARKING THE STARS. WHEN WE SHARE THE GRAPH WITH THE PRESENTATION YESTERDAY , EVERY ONE OF THOSE HAD FIVE STARS. THANK YOU, DINO, FOR ADJUSTING AND JUST SHOWING THE 2.7 STARS MARK. I TOOK A RULER AND MEASURED IT. THAT WAS THREE FOURTHS OF A STAR ON THAT THIRD STAR. SO, AGAIN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE DRIVING FORCES OF THE WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE UNDERTOOK. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ALSO DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS PROCESS WAS, IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT DATA.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT WAS THE FOUNDATION OF IT. THERE WAS MORE TO IT. THERE WERE SOME METHODOLOGY OF THE PAY PROGRAM, THE DIRECTION FROM THE COMMITTEE, AND WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT IS POLICY DIRECTION TO FOCUS ON POLICE, FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS BECAUSE THE DATA WAS TELLING US THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE, RIGHT? THERE WAS DEFINITELY AN EMPHASIS

[01:05:01]

OFTEN TIMES IT IS EASY TO THINK ABOUT, WELL, THE CITY OF VICTORIA DOES NOT PAY AS MUCH AS NEW BRAUNFELS AS AN EXAMPLE, BUT THE COST OF LIVING IS GREATER IN NEW BRAUNFELS. WE HAVE NOT REALLY ADJUSTED THE DATA TO ACCOUNT FOR THE DIFFERENCE UNTIL THIS IDEA CAME FORWARD THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE WORK. SO, WE DID DO THAT. WE ADJUSTED THE DATA TO REFLECT THAT. AND YOU MAY RECALL THAT LAST YEAR WE KEPT VERBALIZING THIS GOAL OF TRYING TO REACH 90% OF MARKET DATA. BUT ONCE WE RAN THE COST DIFFERENTIAL, IT RESULTED IN 100% OF MARKET WHEN ADJUSTED FOR COST OF LIVING IN VICTORIA. IT FURTHER STRENGTHENED IN PROVIDING SOME BACKING TO THE FIGURE THAT WAS THE GOAL IN THIS PROCESS. SO, IN ANY CASE, THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT. WE ALSO WANTED TO BE MINDFUL OF TENURE. THAT WAS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE FEEDBACKS WE HAVE GOTTEN OVER THE YEARS FROM EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE OR THIS SCENARIO WHERE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY IN A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN THE SAME POSITION MAKING THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY REGARDLESS OF HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION. I WILL GET TO THAT WHEN I GET TO THE GENERAL SLIDES, BUT THAT WAS PART OF THE METHODOLOGY. AS I ALLUDED TO, JUST BEING MINDFUL OF OUR FINANCES. IN THE PAST, THE CITY -- THESE ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF TOOLS THE CITY HAS UTILIZED IN ORDER TO PUT TOGETHER A PAID PROGRAM. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE PAST THE CITY HAS UNDERTAKING BORDER INCREASES. WE DID THAT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 WERE EVERYONE RECEIVED 3% ACROSS-THE-BOARD. IT HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE DONE THIS. IN THE PAST, THE CITY HAS DONE PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE AS A TOOL TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR PAY PROGRAM. WE HAVE ALSO UTILIZED MARKET ADJUSTMENTS ALIGNMENT WHEN WE FEEL THAT POSITIONS ARE GETTING TOO FAR AWAY. WE WILL MAKE ADJUSTMENTS BASED OFF SOLELY THE MARKET. WE HAVE DONE LUMP SUM OR STIPENDS IN THE PAST AS PART OF JUST THE CITY'S EFFORT TO TRY AND PUT TOGETHER A PAID PROGRAM. THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHAT WE ARE BASICALLY RECOMMENDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 INCLUDES AN ELEMENT OF MARKET ADJUSTMENT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME A LUMP SUM OR STIPEND OPTION. THE PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 THAT I WILL BE PRESENTING TO YOU DOES NOT INCLUDE ACROSS-THE-BOARD INCREASES AND DOES NOT INCLUDE PAY-FOR-PERFORMANCE. THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN CERTAINLY CONTEMPLATE AS PART OF PUTTING TOGETHER FISCAL YEAR 2027 AND BEYOND. FOR PURPOSES OF FISCAL YEAR 2026 THE FOCUS WAS ON MARKET ADJUSTMENT AND LUMP SUM OR STIPENDS. I WILL EXPLAIN IT FURTHER IN A SECOND. TO HELP THIS PRESENTATION FLOW IN AS SMOOTH AND EASY FASHION AS I WOULD LIKE IT TO, WE ARE PROVIDING HOW WE DIVIDE THE INFORMATION IN THESE CATEGORIES BECAUSE IT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT IMPACT ACROSS THESE DIFFERENT SUBGROUPS. IT MATCHES THE POLICY DIRECTIONS THAT FOCUS ON POLICE, FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS. I WILL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE WITH SOLID WASTE. OFTEN TIMES, OUR CHALLENGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANOTHER CITY BUT HAS TO DO WITH PRIVATE-SECTOR COMPETITION LIKE IS THE CASE WITH SOLID WASTE. AND OF COURSE I WILL SUMMARIZE GENERAL POPULATION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS ALSO DIFFERENT ABOUT HOW WE TRIED TO APPROACH THIS WAS, LET'S LOOK AT NOT JUST THE PAY, BUT LET'S LOOK AT OTHER ELEMENTS THAT IMPACT PAY MOVING FORWARD. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SECOND ITEM ON THIS TABLE SHOWS THERE IS CONCERN WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY STEPS IN THE STEP PROGRAM THAT EXISTED. AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS BASICALLY A DOZEN STEPS IN THE STEP PROGRAM. IF EVERY STEP IS SUPPOSED TO BE TWO YEARS, IT WAS OVER 20 YEARS IT WOULD TAKE A POLICE OFFICER TO SORT OF MAXED OUT WITH THEIR PAY. SO, THE COMMON SORT OF SENTIMENT I WOULD RECEIVE FROM PD WAS, YOU KNOW, I AM BASICALLY RETIREMENT ELIGIBLE AFTER 20 YEARS AND I AM STILL NOT MAXED OUT. RIGHT? AND SO, THAT WAS ONE THING THAT WE ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE STEP. SO, AGAIN, IT WASN'T

[01:10:03]

NOTHING. OKAY. SO, THIS IS BASICALLY THE RECOMMENDED STEP PROGRAM FOR POLICE. IT SHOWS SIX STEPS. SO, AGAIN, IN THE DESIGN OF THE STEP WE ARE ADDRESSING SEVERAL CONCERNS. WE ARE ADDRESSING THE CONCERN THAT THE PREVIOUS STEP PROGRAM OR EXISTING STEP PROGRAM HAD WAY TOO MANY STEPS. WE ARE ALSO ADDRESSING AND CLEANING UP THE WAY WE ILLUSTRATE THE VALLEY OF THE STEPS. SO, THE PREVIOUS STEP, FOR EXAMPLE, DID NOT INCLUDE IN THE DOCUMENT ITSELF ANY SPECIFIC GUIDANCE ON WHAT ARE THE YEARS OF SERVICE ADDRESSED TO THESE STEPS WHICH CREATED SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHICH STEP AN OFFICER FELT THEY OUGHT TO BE IN. RIGHT? SO, WE TRIED TO CLEAN THAT UP THROUGH HOW WE PRESENT INFORMATION. YOU WILL SEE WE ALSO JUST STRUCTURED IT DIFFERENTLY SO IT IS EASIER ON THE EYES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TO SHOW PROGRESSION THROUGHOUT SOMEBODY'S CAREER. AND SO, I WILL BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT THAT THE POLICE OFFICER POSITION IS PROPOSED TO GO UP BY 14%. SO, THAT'S WHAT GETS IT UP TO THE $60,000 STARTING SALARY. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE POLICE CHIEF TO HIT $60,000 MINIMUM IN ORDER TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN THE REGION. I MENTIONED EARLIER TRYING TO USE DATA TO BACK UP WHERE WE WERE INVESTING OUR DOLLARS. THE DATA CERTAINLY BACKED UP WHERE WE WERE LOSING THE MAJORITY OF OUR OFFICERS WAS THE SENIOR POLICE OFFICER DETECTIVE RANKS. THOSE POSITIONS WENT UP BY 17% TO TRY TO TACKLE THAT. SO, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF UTILIZING DATA AS WELL AS POLICY DIRECTION TO BE ABLE TO PUT MONEY WHERE WE THINK IT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH THE TURNOVER AND RECRUITMENT ISSUES THAT EXIST WITH PD. I WON'T WALK YOU THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE. JUST KNOW THAT AS PART OF LAYING THIS OUT, WE ALSO CLEANED UP ANY POTENTIAL OVERLAP THAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU WILL SEE AS A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER YOU WILL MAX OUT AT $75,000 BUT WHEN YOU PROMOTE TO SERGEANT IT JUMPS UP TO 81. SO, IT ALLEVIATES ANY POSSIBLE COMPRESSION THROUGHOUT THE PROMOTIONAL PROCESS OF ANYBODY IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO, AGAIN, IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT TRYING TO DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STARTING PAY, BUT IT WAS TRYING TO DEVELOP A STEP THAT MADE SENSE WITH LESS CONFUSING -- IT WAS EASIER TO READ AND FOLLOW FOR ANYONE INVOLVED AND IMPACTED. YES MA'AM?

>> I DON'T COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE STEP PROGRAM.

WHEN YOU ARE PROMOTED FROM ONE POSITION TO THE NEXT ON THE STEP CHART, DO YOU GO BACK TO 0 TO 2 YEARS IN THE POSITION?

>> CORRECT. IT IS FOUR YEARS IN POSITION. I WILL EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE FURTHER IN A COUPLE OF SLIDES. BUT AGAIN, FEEL FREE TO STOP AND ASK QUESTIONS WHENEVER YOU CAN OR IF YOU WANT.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU CAN'T OR WANT. ANYWAYS, THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF PD. AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO OVER SATURATE YOU WITH DATA OR NUMBERS. BUT I WILL SUMMARIZE IT AS FOLLOWS.

SO, WITH THE AUGMENTATION WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD WITH PD AND THE STEP PLAN FOR PD IT IS ROUGHLY 128 EMPLOYEES THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS, THE TOTAL COST OF THAT IS ROUGHLY $1.4 MILLION.

AND THIS WILL BASICALLY GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER FIRST, RIGHT? IT'S GOING TO BE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE BUDGET. ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE ALSO CLARIFYING WITH THIS MOVE IS CLARIFYING TO YOUR POINT, COUNCILMAN SCOTT, IT IS THE TIME AND POSITION THAT IS THE METRIC WE ARE USING TO DETERMINE WHEN SOMEBODY IS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE STEP. WE ARE ALSO CLARIFYING WHEN THEY DO THAT MILESTONE THAT IT OCCURS AFTER THE ANNIVERSARY DATE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE ALSO BEEN INCONSISTENT WITH HOW WE GO ABOUT IMPLEMENTING AND APPLYING THE STEP. THIS CLARIFIES THAT AN OFFICER WILL RECEIVE THE 3% PAY BUMP AFTER THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATE. IT MAKES IT LESS CONFUSING BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THEY KNOW WHEN THEIR ANNIVERSARY DATE IS. AGAIN, WE ARE CLEANING UP A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I FORGOT TO MENTION FROM THIS IS WE ALSO DECREASED THE VALUE OF THE STEPS FOR RANKED POSITIONS. PART OF THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THIS WAS TO EMPHASIZE ON THE LOWER RANKED POSITIONS WHICH, IN THIS CASE, WOULD BE POLICE OFFICER, SENIOR POLICE OFFICER. GETTING WITH SERGEANT AND ABOVE THE VALUE OF THOSE STEPS IS ONLY 2%. HISTORICALLY, THE VALUE HAS BEEN 3% FOR ALL

[01:15:01]

AS PART OF DEVELOPING THE STEP FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AGAIN, IT WASN'T ABOUT LOOKING AT STARTING PAY OR WHATEVER, IT WAS HOW DO WE DEVELOP A STEP STRUCTURE THAT ADDRESSES OTHER CONCERNS? SO, ONE WAY TO DO THAT WAS TO CREATE MULTIPLE STEP STRUCTURES. SO, THIS STEP STRUCTURE IS REFLECTIVE OF WHAT THE TRACK WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR A FIREFIGHTER ONLY. WHICH, AGAIN, IS ALSO SIX STEPS. IT CLEARLY DEFINES THE SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH EACH STEP . SO ON AND SO FORTH. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, LIEUTENANTS AND ABOVE ARE ALSO AT THE SUPER STEP. SO, WE HAVE KEPT THE LOWER POSITIONS AT 3% AND THE RANKED POSITIONS AT 2%.

TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE CONFUSION THAT EXISTED BETWEEN FIREFIGHTER AND EMS, WE DEVELOPED AN EMS TRACK CENTRIC STEP TO AGAIN ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES THAT EXISTED. SO, I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS FULLY STAFFED. A BIG REASON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS FULLY STAFFED IS BECAUSE NOW WE DO HAVE EMT ONLY'S WE ARE HIRING INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WHEN THE EMS DIVISION WAS CREATED A FEW YEARS AGO WE WERE BASICALLY JUST HIRING PARAMEDICS. THAT IS THE PARAMEDIC CREW LEADER POSITION. SO NOW, WE HAVE ADDED THE ABILITY TO HIRE EMTS. SO, THAT IS WHY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS FULL OF STAFF CURRENTLY. BUT THIS PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER DELINEATE A PROGRESSION PLAN FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS A CAREER IN THE EMS TRACK. SO THIS KIND OF STEP PLANNING ACHIEVES THAT. IF YOU ARE WONDERING , YOU KNOW, WHY IS THERE A COLUMN, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING OVER TIME, IT'S BECAUSE THE SHIFT SCHEDULES ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BETWEEN FIRE AND PARAMEDICS. AND THAT ALSO FURTHER VALIDATED THE IDEA OF HAVING TO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STEPS -- STEP DOCUMENTS FOR EACH. FOR EXAMPLE, ON ANY TRADITIONAL MODEL FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SIDE THEY ARE WORKING 2900 HOURS AND ON THE EMS TRACK BECAUSE THE SCHEDULE IS DIFFERENT THEY ARE WORKING WITH 2100 . AND SO, IT IS A DIFFERENT SCHEDULE ALTOGETHER. BECAUSE IT'S A SCHEDULE OF THE EMS THAT'S DIFFERENT IT COMES WITH A BUILT-IN GUARANTEED OVERTIME ELEMENT TO IT. THAT'S WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONVEY IT IN A WAY THAT WOULD TELL SOMEBODY THAT GETS HIRED IF YOU JUST WORK YOUR BASE SCHEDULE, IT CONTEMPLATES OVERTIME. THAT'S WHY IT'S REFLECTIVE OF THAT.

AND WELL, JUST TO RECAP THE FIRE, 100 23 EMPLOYEES IMPACTED, VERY SIMILAR, IT COMPARES THEM TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COST IMPACT FOR THIS CHANGE FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS $1.3 MILLION, VERY SIMILAR IN TERMS OF SIZE AND COST OF THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FOR POLICE AND FIRE. AND BEFORE I MOVE ON, ANY QUESTIONS ON THE FIRE? I KNOW I AM THROWING A LOT

AT YOU! >> NOT A QUESTION, BUT A COMMENT. FOR THOSE LISTENING AND NOT AS FAMILIAR AS SOME OF US THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING AND BREATHING IT, IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO MAYBE CLARIFY THAT THE 3% AND 2% IS JUST THE STEP.

THERE IS A MARKET ADJUSTMENT FOR OVERALL PAY AS WELL THAT VARIES DEPENDING ON THE YEARS IN SERVICE OR ENTRY-LEVEL --

>> YES THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER, COUNCILMAN BUTLER.

SIMILAR TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE DATA TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHICH POSITIONS WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE THE ONES WE ARE LOSING THE MOST. AND THAT DATA LOOKED COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHERE WE ARE LOSING THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS ON THE FIRESIDE IS IN THE RANKED POSITIONS. IT'S THE ENGINEER POSITION. IT'S THE LIEUTENANT POSITION. IT'S THE CAPTIVE POSITION. SO, WHILE WE DID

[01:20:01]

AND SO, THIS ADDRESSES THAT. SO, THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER , COUNCILMAN BUTLER. ON THE EMS SIDE, THE ADJUSTMENT IS MORE MINIMAL. IT'S IN THE SINGLE DIGITS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARNED THROUGH THE PROCESSES WE NEED TO RECALIBRATE AND ADJUST OUR PARAMEDIC CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TO MORE CLOSELY ALIGN WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE WORKING IN AMBULANCE EVERY SINGLE HOUR THEY ARE ON SHIFT WHICH, OF COURSE, ARE THE FOLKS ON THE EMS TRACK. WHILE THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES ON THE EMS TRACK ARE NOT SIGNIFICANT AS THEY ARE ON THE FIREFIGHTER SIDE WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A NEW CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT WOULD HELP CREATE THAT BETTER BALANCE AND HOPEFULLY, A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT FINANCIALLY REWARDS TO A GREATER DEGREE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THIS TRACK. OKAY. SO, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON POLICE AND FIRE? THOSE ARE OBVIOUSLY BIG ONES.

OKAY. SO, MOVING ON TO PUBLIC WORKS, WHAT ARE THERE SPECIFIC ISSUES? WAS -- AGAIN, EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUES WITH, YOU KNOW, HAVING CHALLENGES WITH TURNOVER, RECRUITMENT, ETC., EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS UNIQUE THINGS. IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THAT WAS A VERY UNIQUE ISSUE WHERE THERE WAS LACK OF CLARITY AROUND PROGRESSION , WHICH WAS VERY CONFUSING, KIND OF HANDLED AT AN AD HOC BASIS. ON TOP OF TRYING TO INVEST ON POSITIONS WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE GREATEST TURNOVER IN PUBLIC WORKS, WE ALSO TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP CLARIFY THE LACK OF CLEAR PROGRESSION WITH PUBLIC WORKS.

SO, THIS GIVES YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT THE ULTIMATE REGULATION AND THE RESULT OF THAT WAS, THAT WAS VERY CLEAR FOR ANYBODY THAT STARTS WITHIN STREETS, TRAFFIC UTILITIES WHAT THE POTENTIAL PROGRESSION WAS WITH OUR ORGANIZATION. THE DATA BACKED UP AND SHOWED WITH PUBLIC WORKS WHERE WE WERE LOSING THE MORE PEOPLE WHERE WE ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST IS IN THE MAINTENANCE WORKER VISION AND UTILITY CREW LEADER POSITIONS. SO, THE MAINTENANCE WORKER POSITION WAS ADJUSTED 7%, THE UTILITY CREW LEADER POSITION WAS ADJUSTED 13%. MOST OF THE VACANCIES WITHIN PUBLIC WORKS ARE IN THE UTILITY DIVISION SO, HENCE, THE HEAVIER INVESTMENT IN THE UTILITY CREW LEADER POSITION.

BUT AGAIN, WHAT ARE THE POSITIVE OUTCOMES OF WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER IS VERY CLEAR PROGRESSION PATH. THERE IS ROUGHLY 125 EMPLOYEES IN ITS IMPACT THAT ARE IMPACTED BY WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING FOR PUBLIC WORKS TO THE TUNE OF ABOUT $400,000. AND THEN, I MENTIONED THE UNIQUENESS OF SOLID WASTE OR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DIVISION WHERE THE COMPETITION ISN'T A CITY. IT WOULDN'T HAVE COME UP IN ANY OF THE DATA ANALYSIS WE CONDUCTED BECAUSE WE DON'T LOSE THESE FOLKS TO OTHER CITIES. WE LOSE THEM TO WASTE MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC, WHITE TRASH -- WHAT WE DID IS SOMETHING WITH THIS GROUP. WE USED A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DATA SET AND A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT METHODOLOGY

[01:25:01]

AND THEN WE GET TO EVERYBODY ELSE. AND WHAT WE REFER TO AS PART OF A CONVERSATION GENERAL POPULATION. AS A REFRESHER , OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION WAS BASED OFF THE DATA AND THE STUDY THAT WE ALLUDED TO, ALSO LOOKING AT THIS FACTOR. THE WAY WE CAPTIVATED THE TENURE FACTOR WAS BASICALLY MULTIPLYING 1.5% OF MOVEMENT INTO THE PAY RANGE OR INTO THE HOURLY RATE TO GO INTO EFFECT EVERY TWO YEARS OF SERVICE.

ALMOST HOW WE CALCULATED THAT -- AGAIN, TO TRY TO CREATE SEPARATION, THERE'S AREAS WHERE YOU HAVE INDIVIDUALS IN THE SAME POSITION BUT YOU AT DIFFERENT YEARS OF SERVICE -- AGAIN, TRYING TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT COMPRESSION EVEN IN THAT SCENARIO. AND SO, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE DID. WE PUT A FORMULA TOGETHER, AND WESLEY DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR THIS. HE TOOK A LOT OF THE DATA THAT CAME FROM OUR THIRD-PARTY CONSULTANT AND DEVELOPED HIS OWN EXCEL DOCUMENT AND CREATED HIS OWN FORMULAS. SO, WESLEY DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR WHAT THE DATA PUT OUT FOR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES.

AS YOU MIGHT SUSPECT AND HOW I HAVE BEEN ALLUDING TO, SOME POSITIONS WERE DEEMED TO BE WITHIN MARKET. SO, OUT OF THE GENERAL POPULATION THERE WERE ONLY 243 POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR ADJUSTMENTS. THESE WILL GO INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE. THESE ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE ALL OVER THE PLACE. IT IS HARD TO SUMMARIZE WHAT THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE CHANGES ARE FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS BUT WE DO HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED FOR THREE, FOUR, 5%. WE HAVE OTHERS WHO ARE SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, 10, WE HAVE A FEW OUTLIERS WHERE IT WAS GREATER THAN 15% BECAUSE THE DATA CONFIRMED THE WORK THAT BEHIND MARKET WITH THESE POSITIONS. AND WE HAVE BEEN TALKING INTERNALLY ABOUT THIS REALITY AND THIS RECOMMENDATION BEING DIFFERENT COMPARED TO THE CURRENT ONE WHERE IT WAS 3% ACROSS THE BOARD, RIGHT? SO, WITH THAT, THAT DID LEAVE 142 EMPLOYEES OF OUR ORGANIZATION WITHOUT A SPECIFIC PAY ENHANCEMENT IN SPECIFIC COMPENSATION BECAUSE THE DATA EVALUATED THEY WERE ALREADY WITHIN THE RANGE OF THAT POSITION AND EVEN ONCE YOU TOOK IT INTO CONSIDERATION, THE LONGEVITY OR THE TENURE FACTOR, I SHOULD SAY, THEY WERE STILL MAKING MORE MONEY THAN WHAT THE FORMULA RECOMMENDED. THIS WASN'T A SURPRISE IN CERTAIN AREAS OF OUR ORGANIZATION BECAUSE OVER TIME THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN FORCED TO PAY MORE THAN STARTING PAY FOR COMPETITIVE -- SO, FOR AN EXAMPLE AT UTILITY PLANTS WE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO BRING IN PEOPLE NOT AT MINIMUM OF THE PAY RANGE BECAUSE OF COMPETITION. AND SO, THESE ARE AN EXAMPLE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE LEFT OUT OF THE FORMULA THAT THAT MAKE UP THE 142. HOWEVER, WE WANTED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE COMMITTEE WANTED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE FACT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY RIGHT NOW WITH INFLATION AND OTHER THINGS.

SO THERE WAS A BASIC PREMISE AND IDEA THAT CAME OUT WHICH WAS, OKAY, WE UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE AND LOGIC AROUND WHY 142 EMPLOYEES ARE NOT BEING RECOMMENDED FOR AN ANNUAL INCREASE TO THE ANNUALLY RATE OR SALARY. WHAT CAN WE DO TO TRY TO PUT ADDITIONAL MONEY IN THEIR POCKET? THAT'S WHERE THE IDEA CAME INTO RECOMMEND A STIPEND. WHICH IS TO THE VALUE OF THE THOUSAND DOLLARS. SO, FOR THESE 142 INDIVIDUALS, WE WOULD RECOMMEND A STIPEND. SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE FUNDED THROUGH GRANTS AND OTMATH AND T AIN'T MATH -ING. WE DID AS PART

[01:30:01]

AS A WAY TO HELP FUND THIS THERE WAS ALSO A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS WE HAD TO MAKE. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE IF THE GOAL WAS TRYING TO GET SOMETHING OUT IN APRIL WHICH WE HAD DONE , WE HAD TO MAKE A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS. WE DON'T NORMALLY FINALIZE A PAY PROGRAM RECOMMENDATION UNTIL THE BUDGET, RIGHT? YOU DON'T NORMALLY GET A FEEL FOR THE COST OF WHAT THAT'S GOING TO BE UNTIL THE SUMMER TIME. WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT THE COMMITTEE AGREE WE MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS SO WE COULD COME UP --, WITH A RECOMMENDATION EARLIER THAN NORMAL SO THAT WE CAN START TO RECEIVE INPUT. BECAUSE ONE OF THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM LAST YEAR'S EXPERIENCE WAS THAT WE PERHAPS WAITED TOO LONG TO START GETTING IN FRONT OF EMPLOYEES TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE WERE DOING, WHAT WE WEREN'T DOING, WE HAD QUITE FLESHED OUT THE DETAILS TO THE EXTENT THAT IN HINDSIGHT WE COULD HAVE SO THAT LED TO CONFUSION. WE WANTED TO PREVENT ALL OF THAT CHAOS THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR FROM HAPPENING THIS YEAR, AND ONE WAY TO DO THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY, WITH THIS RECOMMENDATION SOONER THAN NORMAL, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE SOME FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS. I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE THE COUNCIL'S ROLE COMES INTO PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THE RECORDATION A REALITY. LAST YEAR, WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER THE RECOMMENDATION FOR A TWO-YEAR PAY PROGRAM, WE INTENTIONALLY LEFT A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET SOMEWHAT UNTOUCHED.

WE USED IT FOR ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES BUT WE LEFT IT UNALLOCATED FROM A RECURRING STANDPOINT ON PURPOSE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD MONEY IN FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO HONOR THE COMMITMENT WE WERE PROCESSING LAST YEAR. THAT'S WHAT THE $1.1 MILLION IS, AND WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. WE ARE ALSO CONTEMPLATING AS PART OF THESE FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW TO THE EXTENT THAT IT HAS FOR THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS THAT WOULD PROVIDE AND AFFORD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL DURING THE SUMMER TO LESSEN THE PROPERTY TAX RATE OR KEEP IT FLAT, RIGHT? AT THE SAME TIME INCREASING OUR REVENUES, RIGHT? THANKS TO AN INCREASE IN THE ASSUMING THAT WE WOULD RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $500,000 IN OUR GENERAL FUND THROUGH PROPERTY TAX REVENUE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. WE ALSO MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WILL INCREASE THE SALES TAX REVENUE IN NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS CONTINUED GROWTH WE ARE SEEING IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND INCREASING IN SALES TAX GOVERNOR, RIGHT? AGAIN, THESE ARE ALL ASSUMPTIONS. WE HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IN REVENUE FROM OUR BILLING PROGRAM. SO IT'S GOTTEN TO THE POINT -- YOU KNOW, THE FIRST YEAR WE SAW THE INCREASE AND THOUGHT, SOMETHING IS UP. NOW WE HAVE SEEN IT BECOME A PATTERN. SO NOW WE FEEL COMFORTABLE ACTUALLY INCREASING FORMALLY, IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR AN INCREASED REVENUE FROM THE AMBULANCE BILLING PROGRAM TO THE TUNE OF $171,000. IF WE SHIFT OVER TO THE RIGHT, WHAT YOU SHOULD SEE AT THE TOP, THE $225,000, THAT ACCOUNTS FOR BASICALLY US RECOMMENDING GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR 2026 WE ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE WE FEEL COMFORTABLE TRANSITIONING OUR RETIREE

[01:35:03]

THE ROYALTIES GO STRAIGHT INTO THE GENERAL FUND. THIS PROVIDES A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR US ESPECIALLY WITH THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE COMING UP IN THE LANDFILL, RIGHT? THE EXPANSION, NOT ONLY THE EXPANSION AND CAPACITY BUT THE ABILITY TO TAKE A CERTAIN LEVEL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE, THIS PUTS US IN A PRIME POSITION TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE ROYALTIES FROM THE LANDFILL, NOT TO MENTION THE CONTRACT AND THE COMPANY RUNNING THE LANDFILL EXPIRES IN 2027, THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED, WE CAN TAKE A PROCESS TO HAVE A NEW CONTRACT TO HAVE A PLAN THAT STRUCTURES THE ROYALTY TO AN EVEN GREATER DEGREE, RIGHT? INAUDIBLE ] STORMWATER UTILITY THAT WOULD PRODUCE ROUGHLY $400,000 IN SAVINGS, IF YOU WILL, COMING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND TO GO TO STORMWATER ECCENTRIC EXPENSES THAT WOULD BE TAKEN UP AND ABSORBED BY STORMWATER UTILITY ONCE THAT IS SET UP. AND I GET THAT WE HAVE NOT SET IT UP BUT THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN ASSUMPTION THAT WAS MADE AS PART OF THIS PROCESS. AND SO, BASICALLY, THE NEXT STEPS ON TOP OF FINE-TUNING THE PAID PROGRAM LIQUIDATION BASED ON FEEDBACK WE HAVE BEEN GETTING AS WE HAVE BEEN ROLLING OUT IS BASICALLY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU NOW ON THESE ASSUMPTIONS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM A REALITY. AND IF ANY ONE OF THEM DOESN'T PAN OUT , THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHERE ELSE PARTICULAR LOSS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE ARE ON THE HOOK, RIGHT? FOR THE PROGRAM WE HAVE MADE PUBLIC AND BEGAN ROLLING OUT -- AND SO, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS ON ALL OF THESE ASSUMPTIONS AND ALL OF THESE EFFORTS WHICH, OF COURSE, WOULD BE INCORPORATED AND BE PART OF THE BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR 2026.

THIS EVENING IS INTENDED TO BE AN UPDATE FOR YOU ON WHERE THIS IS. THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM, RIGHT? THERE IS USUALLY NOT AN ACTION ITEM SPECIFIC TO A PAY PROGRAM. ALL OF THAT IS HANDLED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. AND THAT'S THE WAY WE INTEND TO HANDLE IT NOW MOVING FORWARD AFTER TODAY. AND SO, I AM HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS.

>> WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK -- I KNOW YOU HAVE SHARED THIS WITH ADMINISTRATION , PD AND FIRE AND OTHER DEPARTMENT HEADS. WHAT KIND OF FEEDBACK ARE YOU GETTING JUST ON THIS CONCEPT?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE COMMON QUESTIONS WE ARE GETTING ARE, ONE, OKAY, THAT'S GREAT, I GET IT, I FOLLOW THE LOGIC. BUT WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER TO LAMENT IT. RIGHT? BECAUSE THAT DOES SEEM FAR AWAY IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, AND YOU ARE EAGER TO IMPROVE YOUR INCOME, WE ARE BASICALLY SUGGESTING THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER FIRST. AND SO, OBVIOUSLY, THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET THAT WE ARE WORKING OFF OF CURRENTLY OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T ACCOUNT FOR THIS INCREASED INVESTMENT IN PERSONAL RELATED EXPENDITURES , BUT EVEN IF WE REFERENCE THIS , HOW WE ARE

[01:40:04]

BUT, WHAT DO THE FUTURE YEARS LOOK LIKE? RIGHT? AT THE SAME LEVEL OF AGGRESSIVENESS GOING TO COME AROUND AND CATCH MY POSITION OR MY DEPARTMENT LATER? RIGHT? AND TO COUNCILMEMBER LOFGREN'S POINT, THAT IS THE KIND OF WORK THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING ON WITH THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A ONE AND DONE EFFORT.

>> THANK YOU. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK GILBERT BECAUSE THE SPENDING STRATEGY WAS REALLY GILBERT. AND A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS, AND SOME OF THEM ARE VERY SOLID NUMBERS. THERE IS ONE UP HERE DEPENDING , THE STORM IS THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE TO DECIDE ON. THE OTHERS ARE SOLID AND OTHERS ARE CONSERVATIVE NUMBERS. SO, I FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE FUNDING STRATEGY , EVEN IF ONE OF THEM FALLS THROUGH. I THINK THE OTHERS WILL COME IN , SO, JUST MY OPINION.

>> THANK YOU. >> TO SPEAK TO WHAT MISTER GARZA JUST SAID, ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL IS OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE WE CONTINUE WITH MARKET ANALYSIS, THAT WE CONTINUE LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS SO THAT THE POPULATION THAT MAY HAVE BEEN MISSED THIS TIME, SHOULD THE NUMBERS CHANGE, WE CAN GRAB THOSE THAT WE ARE NEVER IN A POSITION WHERE WE ARE SO BEHIND WITH THE TASK REGARDLESS OF WHAT DEPARTMENT IT IS THAT WE ARE PLAYING CATCH-UP, THAT WE ARE

ALWAYS AHEAD OF THAT. SO -- >> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT. I WILL AND THAT QUESTION WITH THIS, RIGHT? BECAUSE AS I MENTIONED, THESE ARE TOOLS IN OUR TOOLBOX, YOU KNOW? AND SO, AGAIN, WE ARE FOCUSING ON FISCAL YEAR 2026 WITH MARKET ADJUSTMENTS AND THE LUMP SUM ASPECT OF THIS BUT THERE MIGHT BE OPPORTUNITIES IN FUTURE YEARS TO FOCUS ON ALL OF THE ABOVE OR JUST, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ACROSS THE BOARD, RIGHT? WE DID THAT IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, RIGHT? SO, THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF CONVERSATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS? >> A COMMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS PUT IN. THIS WAS ROBUST. YOU GUYS BUSTED YOUR BUTTS. YOU TOOK THIS SERIOUSLY. I THINK YOU CAME UP WITH AN EXCELLENT PLAN. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK STAFF AS

[01:45:01]

>> SCOTT? >> I HAVE A COUPLE NITTY-GRITTY QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THIS AND I AM STILL TRYING TO PUT SOME OF IT TOGETHER. SO, MY FIRST ONE IS, AND IT'S KIND OF AN IMPLEMENTATION QUESTION. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT AN ANNIVERSARY DATE WHEN THINGS BECOME EFFECTIVE. IS THAT JUST WHEN YOU FIRST SET UP AND IMPLEMENT THIS, OR IS THAT EACH TIME THEY MOVE INTO ANOTHER STEP? AND IF THERE IS NOT AN ANSWER FOR THAT --

>> NO, NO, IT APPLIES IN THOSE SCENARIOS. SO, SOMEBODY IS MOVING FROM STEP ONE TO STEP TWO, THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THEIR WORK ANNIVERSARY. IF SOMEBODY PROMOTES AND SHIFTS, YOU KNOW, FROM POLICE OFFICER TO SERGEANT, OBVIOUSLY, THEIR PAY IS GOING TO GO UP THE MOMENT THEY PROMOTE TO SERGEANT AND THAT WILL CREATE A NEW ANNIVERSARY DATE FOR THEM BECAUSE NOW IT WOULD THEN BE BASED OFF OF THE DATE THAT THEY BECAME A SERGEANT. AND THEN IT STARTS ALL OVER FOR THEM.

>> OKAY, THAT MAKES MORE SENSE --

>> -- BASED OFF THEIR ANNIVERSARY.

>> I WAS HEARING IT AS YOU PROMOTE THEM, THEN THEY WAIT UNTIL THEIR WORK ANNIVERSARY TO GET ANY BENEFIT FROM THAT.

>> NO, NO. SOMEONE PROMOTES IN EXCHANGING JOBS -- YOU ARE GOING

TO IMPROVE YOUR PAY. YEAH. >> IT'S JUST IN THE NITTY-GRITTY OF HEARING IT. ALSO, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT IN YOUR CALCULATIONS YOU CONSIDERED COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT, I FORGET THE WORDS YOU CALLED IT. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA. I APPRECIATED YOU DOING THAT. HOW ARE YOU USING THAT IN YOUR PRESENTATION OF THIS , OR ARE THESE NUMBERS ACTUAL NUMBERS, OR ARE THEY REFLECTIVE OF

COST-OF-LIVING CALCULATION? >> THEY ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE COST OF LIVING CALCULATION. BASICALLY, THE TARGET STAYED THE SAME. SO, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR, RIGHT? WE WERE REFERRING TO THE TARGET IS 90% MARKET. WE ADJUSTED ALL OF THAT DATA FROM LAST YEAR AND ADDED 2.5% COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT TO THAT DATA. BUT THE TARGET REMAINED THE SAME BECAUSE THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT VALIDATED THAT TARGET OF 90% WAS TRULY 100% WHEN ADJUSTED FOR COST-OF-LIVING , COST-OF-LIVING FACTOR TO VICTORIA. SO, HOW IT SHOULD BE COMMUNICATED, AND MAYBE I SHOULD NOT HAVE DESCRIBED IT THAT WAY, BUT IN FULL TRANSPARENCY THAT'S HOW IT IS -- BASICALLY, THE MESSAGE WE UTILIZE IS TO VALIDATE IN THE MARKET OR NOT IS BASICALLY 100% OF THE DATA WHEN ADJUSTED FOR THE COST OF LIVING DIFFERENTIAL OF THE COST-OF-LIVING INVENTORY.

>> OKAY. >> AND WE UTILIZE THE SAME CITIES THAT WERE IN THAT STUDY WHICH IS BAY CITY, BAYTOWN, BRIAN, GEORGETOWN, MISSOURI CITY, ALL THE SAME CITIES FROM THAT STUDY FROM LAST YEAR IN CALCULATING WHAT IS THE COST OF LIVING IN ALL OF THOSE COMMUNITIES AND HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO VICTORIA? AND SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION BUT HOW IT'S EMBEDDED IN THIS IS ITS -- IT'S -- IT'S IN THE DATA.

>> SERIOUSLY, THANK YOU, COMMITTEE, FOR TAKING STUFF LIKE THAT AND UNDERSTANDING IT AND PUTTING IT IN THE DATA SO WE CAN ADDRESS THESE SIMPLE QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WELL, AGAIN, TO ECHO -- THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR US, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US WHO HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE WEEDS AS DEEP AS YOU THREE, WE WILL DO SO AS PART OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND ASK QUESTIONS. WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE WORK YOU PUT IN AND THE RECOMMENDATION. WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING SOME MORE ABOUT THE NITTY-GRITTY AS MRS. SCOTT PUT IT GOING FORWARD. SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK. AND I THINK THIS IS A BIG STEP FORWARD FOR US, AND SOMETHING WE CAN REALLY BUILD ON. ALL RIGHT.

>> THANK YOU. >> OH, ONE LAST -- THANK YOU,

[H. Executive Sessions:]

>> THANK YOU FOR THE STARS. ALL RIGHT. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES OUR ACTION ITEMS. AND CITY MANAGER REPORT. I THINK WE WILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO, WE WILL TAKE A SHORT 10 MINUTE BREAK AND BE BACK IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:00.

[01:50:02]

>> THE CITY COUNCIL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE SIXTH DAY OF MAY 2025 AT 6:00 P.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.