Jul 15, 2025 City Council

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:20]

HILL, WILL YOU CALL ROLL?

>> IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE AND JOIN ME FOR THE MERGES FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

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

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

>> THANK YOU, PLEASE BE SEATED. AGAIN, WELCOME EVERYONE.

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS EVENING IN THAT I AM GOING TO TAKE THE REINS AND MAKE THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT. I WANT TO READ SOME PREPARED REMARKS. AS YOU'RE KEENLY AWARE, OUR COMMUNITY HAS FACED A SERIOUS CHALLENGE IN RECENT DAYS WITH THE FAILURE OF OUR WATER SYSTEM TO MEET THE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY TCEQ.

THE BOIL WATER NOTICE IS NOT JUST AN INCONVENIENCE BUT A BREACH OF PUBLIC TRUST. WHILE IMMEDIATE STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR WATER SUPPLY, WE MUST BE CLEAR AND I WANT TO REPEAT MY PREVIOUSLY STATED POSITION ON THIS MATTER, WHICH IS SHARED BY ALL OF COUNCIL THAT THIS INCIDENT WITH OUR WATER SUPPLY WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND IT DEMANDS A THOROUGH REVIEW AND ACCOUNTING.

THE FIRST STEPS BEGINS THIS EVENING. I'M ANNOUNCING THE FORMATION OF A COUNCIL COMMITTEE WHICH I WILL HEAD UP AND BE JOINED BY TWO MEMBERS.

MAYOR PRO-TEM YOUNG AND COUNCILWOMAN SCOTT.

THANK YOU TO BOTH OF YOU, MISS SCOTT IN HER ABSENCE FOR AGREEING TO PARTICIPATE WITH ME ON THAT COMMITTEE.

THIS COMMITTEE IS TASKED WITH CONDUCTING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE WATER QUALITY FAILURE.

EXAMINING EVERY ASPECT OF THE SYSTEM, TECHNICAL, OPERATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL. TO DETERMINE WHAT WENT WRONG, WHY IT HAPPENED AND HOW WE PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. IT WILL FOLLOW A STRUCTURED PROCESS AND EXAMINE THE TIME LINE OF EVENTS AND REVIEW TREATMENT PROTOCOLS AND EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE. WE'LL VALUATE THE CONDITION OF OUR WATER- RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE, SCRUTINIZE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES AND ENGAGE WITH BOTH CITY STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCES AS WE MAY DETERMINE TO BE NECESSARY.

WE WILL ALSO ASSESS THE IMPACT AND FEASIBILITY OF IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN UPGRADED SYSTEM ENOTHER MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES RECOGNIZING THAT MODERNIZATION MAY BE ESSENTIAL TO ENSURING FUTURE RELIABILITY.

NO ISSUE OFF THE TABLE AND NO QUESTION WILL GO UNASKED.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE A WINDOW INTO THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE.

THE COMMITTEE'S FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE SHARED WITH THIS COUNCIL AND WITH THE PUBLIC. THE CITIZENS OF VICTORIA DESERVE ANSWERS, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACTION.

THE SAFETY AND CONFIDENCE OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE PARAMOUNT.

WE OBVIOUSLY CANNOT UNDO WHAT IS ALREADY OCCURRING, BUT WE CAN AND MUST MAKE THE CHANGES NECESSARY TO ENSURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

THIS COMMITTEE WILL HELP LEAD THAT EFFORT AND I AM PERSONALLY COMMITTED TO SEEING IT THROUGH FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR CITY AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CITIZENS SO THAT THEN SETS THE PATH FORWARD IN TERMS OF THE IMMEDIATE FIRST STEP TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I KNOW IT'S STILL ONGOING AND THIS EVENING I'VE ASKED STAFF AND MR. GARZA SPECIFICALLY TO PROVIDE US WITH AN UPDATE ON THE ISSUE AND THE PRESENT STATUS OF THE BOIL WATER NOTICE, SO I WILL TURN ANNOUNCEMENTS OVER TO MR. GARZA FOR INFORMATION ON THAT.

GOOD EVENING, MR. GARZA.

>> EVENING, MAYOR, AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE ONGOING BOIL WATER NOTICE. BEFORE I BEGIN THE

[00:05:02]

I ECHO THAT SENTIMENT, BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE CLEAR I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY AS CITY MANAGER FOR ANY ELEMENT OF IN THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTABLE, WHETHER THAT BE THROUGH LACK OF TECHNOLOGY, TRAINING, OR ANYTHING ELSE. AT THE END OF THE DAY I RECOGNIZE CITY MANAGER ISN'T MY SOLE JOB TO ENSURE THAT OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION AND CITY AND ALL THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE ARE ÷÷PERFORMED IN A PROFESSIONAL AND REPUTABLE MANNER, IN A MANNER THAT CONTINUES TO GROW THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY AND NOT LOST ON ME THAT THIS SITUATION HAS TAKEN A BLOW TO THAT TRUST.

I ASSURE YOU THAT EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH THIS SITUATION INTERNALLY HAS TAKEN THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY PERSONALLY. YOU MENTION, MAYOR, THE NEED TO POTENTIALLY IMPROVE TECHNOLOGY.

THAT IS 100% ACCURATE. IN THE ABSENCE OF HAVING GREATER TECHNOLOGY, THERE IS A VERY HUMAN CENTRIC ELEMENT TO THE OPERATION OF OUR UTILITY AND THE PRO OF THAT IS THAT IT HELPS BUILD A LOT OF OWNERSHIP AND SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE FOLKS INVOLVED WITH MANAGING AND KEEPING UP OUR WATER SYSTEM EVERY DAY ARE EQUALLY FRUSTRATED, ANGRY AND UPSET AT THE SITUATION BECAUSE THEY TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE WORK THAT THEY DO EVERY DAY. AND I WANT TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT. IT IS NOT EASY TO CONTINUE PUSHING THROUGH AND TRYING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS WHILE WE KNOW THAT IT'S CREATING A CHALLENGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IN THE MIDST OF A LOT OF QUESTIONS, CRITICISM, FEEDBACK, WHICH RIGHTFULLY SO, BUT I COMMEND THEM FOR THEIR PERSEVERANCE THROUGHOUT THE EFFORT AND GETTING US OUT OF THE SITUATION AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE FOR YOU BY THE END OF THE COUNCIL MEETING.

AND SO WITH THAT, THIS IS THE OVERVIEW OF MY REMARKS TODAY.

I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU SAW MY REMARKS OR HEARD MY REMARKS FROM OVER THE WEEKEND. TODAY'S PRESENTATION IS INTENDED TO TAKE SOMEWHAT OF A DEEPER DIVE SINCE I HAD A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND, QUITE FRANKLY, I'VE HAD MORE TIME TO LOOK INTO SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND TO CONFIRM SOME OF THE TIME LINE ELEMENTS THAT BEGAN LAST WEEK, AND SO THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT I WILL GO OVER HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY CONFIRMED BY ME AND SOLELY FOCUS ON WHAT TRANSPIRED LAST WEEK INTO THIS WEEK.

TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, THE MORE LONG- TERM TIME LINE TO HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT LED UP TO THE EVENTS IS YET TO BE FINALIZED AND THAT WILL BE, OF COURSE, PART OF THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE. I'LL TAKE A LITTLE DEEPER DIVE INTO THE CITY'S RESPONSE AND SHARE SOME INITIAL TAKEAWAYS IN THE COUPLE OF NEXT STEPS. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE AS PART OF THE SYSTEM OVERVIEW TO REMIND YOU OF THE GEOGRAPHY OF OUR SYSTEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON IN TODAY'S UPDATE THE GEOGRAPHY ELEMENT.

YOU HEARD ME MENTION OVER THE WEEKEND THIS WAS A LOCALIZED ISSUE IN A PARTICULAR PART OF TOWN AND I WANT TO SHED A LITTLE BIT MORE LIGHT ON THAT, BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING THINGS FOR ME ABOUT THIS WHOLE SITUATION WAS THE FACT THAT WE HAD TO PUT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM UNDER THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE, EVEN THOUGH WE KNEW THAT IT REALLY WASN'T A SYSTEMWIDE ISSUE. AND SEE I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TWO PRESSURE PLANTS, WE HAVE THE HIGH PRESSURE PLANT AND THE LOW PRESSURE PLAN.

THE EASIEST WAY TO THINK OF THESE IS USING MOCKINGBIRD AS A REFERENCE.

IT'S NOT IDENTICAL BUT IT'S A GOOD GUIDING LINE.

EVERYTHING ABOVE MOCKINGBIRD IS PART OF THE HIGH PRESSURE PLANE. EVERYBODY BELOW IT IS IN THE LOW PRESSURE PLANE. THIS DISTINCTION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE WAY THE WATER SYSTEM IS DISTRIBUTED AMONG OUR COMMUNITY IS VERY RELEVANT TO THIS REALITY OF THE TWO PRESSURE PLANS SO AS AN EXAMPLE, TO THE HIGH PRESSURE PLANE OR THE NORTH PRESSURE PLANE AS IT'S SOMETIMES REFERRED THOSE WATER TOWERS THAT PROVIDE WATER IN THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN ARE DIRECTLY FED THROUGH THE SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO RUN THROUGH THE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT'S A GRAVITY FED SYSTEM. GRAVITY FEEDS THE LINES ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THE LOW PRESSURE PLANE AND THE WATER TOWERS 3 AND 5 ARE FILLED UP THROUGH THE FORMER WATER PLAN 3 THAT PROVIDES THAT RESOURCE AND SO IT'S MORE THROUGH THE SYSTEM, IF YOU WILL. AND I'LL SHOW YOU A MAP IN A SECOND BECAUSE IT'S AFFECTED TO THE LOW PRESSURE PLANE THAN THE HIGH PRESSURE PLANE. YOU HEARD ME OVER THE WEEKEND TALK ABOUT A VERY SPECIFIC AREA AT THE INTERSECTION OF JOHN AND DEMURRY.

TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHERE THAT AVENUE AND INTERSECTION IS IN COMPARISON TO THE MAP I SHARED AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE HOW THIS IS THE LOW PRESSURE PLANE OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ALSO IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO WATER TOWERS NO. 3 AND 5.

[00:10:02]

I SHARED A TIME LINE THAT SUGGESTED THAT STAFF WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE ON MONDAY, JULY 7TH BUT I THINK THE DETAILS OF THE INVOLVEMENT OUGHT TO BE MORE FLESHED OUT AS PART OF THE MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER AND SO I'M FOCUSED ON THE CONFIRMED SEQUENCE OF EVENTS I DESCRIBED EARLIER AND KNOW WITH CERTAINTY THEY WERE ON SITE TUESDAY, JULY 8TH AND DID TESTING.

THAT RESULTED IN A CONCERN AROUND THE CHLORINE RESIDUAL AT THE TESTING SITE AND ONE THING COMMON WHEN ISSUES LIKE THIS ARISE, ANY WATER SYSTEM ACROSS THE WHOLE STATE IS THAT TCEQ ALLOWS SYSTEM 4 HOURS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

THIS IS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT'S AN ISSUE THEY UNCOVERED OR WE SELF-REPORT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS A COMMON 24- HOUR GRACE PERIOD THAT TCEQ GIVES YOU TO SOLVE THE ISSUE.

IN EVERYDAY OPERATIONS OF THE UTILITY SYSTEM THERE WILL BE SITUATIONS THAT WARRANT ADJUSTING CHEMICAL LEVELS OR ADJUSTING OTHER THINGS IN ORDER TO ASSURE COMPLIANCE OF THE SYSTEM. THINGS THAT MIGHT ALTER THAT, THAT MIGHT NECESSITATE A RESPONSE WOULD BE LIKE A WATER LINE BREAK.

ANY TIME THERE IS A WATER LINE BREAK AND WE HAVE JUST WATER THAT ESCAPES THE SYSTEM, IT COULD AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE WATER WHEN IT HAPPENS. OTHER THINGS THAT TRIGGER IN A MOMENT'S NOTICE TO ADJUST THINGS IS WHEN WE SWITCH FROM RIVER WATER TO OFF CHANNEL RESERVOIR WATER. WE 1250I78S RECEIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE PUBLIC THAT SOMETIMES THE WATER TASTES EARTHY, RIGHT, AND SO WE ALL RECOGNIZE THERE ARE INSTANCES THAT TRIGGER THE NEED TO ADJUST CHEMICALS OR TREATMENT PROCESSES AND TCEQ ALWAYS ALLOWS 24 HOURS TO DO THAT. THIS WAS NO DIFFERENT.

THEY NOTIFIED US AND SAID YOU HAVE 24 HOURS TO SOLVE THIS CHLORINE RESIDUAL ISSUE AT THAT PARTICULAR INTERSECTION. IMMEDIATELY STAFF INCREASED CHLORAMINE WHICH IS INCREASED THE CHLORAMINES OUT OF THE SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT TO ENSURE THEY WERE IN AS GOOD SHAPE AS THEY CAN BE AND STAFF WENT TO THE SOLUTION THAT USUALLY WORKS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.

IT IS PROTOCOL TO DO FLUSHING AND IT IS VERY SIMPLE.

ELIMINATE THE WATER NOT IN GOOD SHAPE AND REPLACE IT WITH CLEANER WATER. ANY TIME THAT STAFF AS I MENTIONED COMES ACROSS, LET'S SAY, A WATER LINE BREAK AND FIX THAT, THAT AREA IS FLUSHED.

STAFF CONDUCTED A LOCALIZED FLUSH.

ULTIMATELY ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 9TH, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THAT LOCALIZED FLUSHING TECHNIQUE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL SURPASSING THE 24-HOUR GRACE PERIOD THAT TCEQ GIVES ANY UTILITY SO ULTIMATELY WE HAD TO ISSUE THE BOIL WATER NOTICE ON JULY 9TH.

WE ENDED UP ISSUING IT AT 8:00 P.M. THAT EVENING.

IMMEDIATELY STAFF DELVED INTO THE SECOND PHASE -- NOT THE SECOND PHASE BUT THE SECOND ELEMENT OR THE NEXT BEST SOLUTION TO HELP SOLVE THE ISSUE.

AND SO AS THIS SITUATION PROGRESSED, THE SOLUTION PROGRESSED ALONG WITH IT. AT THAT POINT THEY DID A SYSTEMWIDE FLUSH AND THE LOCALIZED FLUSHING DIDN'T WORK SO CLEAN THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO HOPEFULLY HELP THAT AREA. AND THAT SYSTEM FLUSH UNFORTUNATELY IS TIME CONSUMING.

IN ESSENCE IT'S WHAT IT SUGGESTS, FLUSHING THE ENTIRE SYSTEM SO IT TAKES TWO NIGHTS, TWO OVERNIGHTS TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE CANNOT LEAVE THE SYSTEM WITHOUT WATER FOR FIRE PROTECTION OR FOR OTHER THINGS.

WE CAN'T JUST CLEAR OUT THE WATER TOWER OR THE STORAGE TANKS IN ONE GO AND SO THAT'S DONE ALWAYS IN TWO PHASES OVER TWO EVENINGS AND SO THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

A COUPLE OF THE TOWERS WERE FLUSHED OUT THROUGH THE EVENING OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THEN TWO OTHERS THROUGH THE EVENING OF THURSDAY NIGHT. IT WAS THE EXPECTATION OF EVERYBODY INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT THAT THE SYSTEMWIDE FLUSH WAS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN WE GOT INTO FRIDAY, AND WE DECIDED TO SCHEDULE THAT FIRST BRIEFING THAT TOOK PLACE ON FRIDAY AT 3:00 P.M., IT WAS OUR INTENT AND EVEN HAD SPEAKING POINTS FOR THAT PRESS BRIEFING TO CONVEY THAT WE HAD RESOLVED THE ISSUE AND THAT WE WERE SIMPLY JUST WAITING FOR THE BACTERIAL TESTING AND THAT WE WOULD BE RESCINDING THE BOIL WATER NOTICE ON SATURDAY. AT 2:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY, WE RECEIVED WORD THAT THE SYSTEMWIDE FLUSH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL SO WE HAD TO CHANGE COURSE AND AT THE PRESS BRIEFING ON FRIDAY, BASICALLY DIDN'T HAVE THE SOLUTION AND THE ORIGINAL SUCCESSFUL MESSAGE THAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING AND WERE LEFT WITH NO OTHER OPTION OTHER THAN TO CONVEY THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT. I RECOGNIZE THAT THAT IS NOT A

[00:15:01]

BUT THAT'S HOW IT PLAYED OUT. NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE HAD FULL FAITH IN THE SYSTEMWIDE FLUSH BEING SUCCESSFUL, STAFF THROUGHOUT ALL OF THURSDAY WAS ALREADY GAME PLANNING ON DIFFERENT SCENARIOS SUCH AS WHAT DO WE DO IF IT DOESN'T WORK SO THE THOUGHT HAD ALREADY CROSSED THE MIND OF STAFF TO SUGGEST WHAT IF WE MOVE UP THE CHLORINE CONVERSION, AND SO CONVERSATIONS WITH TCEQ STARTED HAPPENING ON THURSDAY ABOUT WHAT IF WE HAD TO MOVE UP THE CHLORINE CONVERSION AS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.

AND WE HAD TO ACTIVATE THAT PLAN THE AFTERNOON OF FRIDAY, JULY 11TH, SHORTLY AFTER THE PRESS BRIEFING WE RECEIVED WORDING FROM TCEQ THAT IT WAS OKAY TO MOVE THAT UP, WE MET ALL NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS, PRIOR TO LAUNCHING THAT, AND THAT EXERCISE BEGAN ON SATURDAY. NOW --

>> CAN YOU CLARIFY WHAT YOU MEAN BY MOVE UP THE CHLORINE CONVERSION?

>> SURE.

>> I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY IS CLEAR.

>> SO EVERY YEAR I'LL SLIDE TO THIS SLIDE, SO EVERY YEAR WE ACTUALLY CONDUCT A CHLORINE CONVERSION EXERCISE WHICH IS INTENDED TO CLEAN THE SYSTEM.

THIS IS LITERALLY A SCREEN SHOT OF THE WEBSITE THAT IS THE CONVERSION EFFORT WHICH IS A HIGHLY UTILIZED EFFORT, HIGHLY PROMOTED AND ENCOURAGED BY TCEQ SO THIS ISN'T ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

THIS CHLORINE CONVERSION IS SOMETHING, AGAIN, THAT WE'VE DONE EVERY YEAR FOR THE 25 YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD THE SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT.

AND THIS YEAR SPECIFICALLY WAS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON AUGUST 1ST. AND WHY A SYSTEM DOES THIS ONCE A YEAR, WELL, BECAUSE EVERY SYSTEM OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR OBVIOUSLY MIGHT HAVE SOME ISSUES THAT ARISE, YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME NITRATES, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> THE NITRATES THAT BUILD UP IN THE SYSTEM SO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO CLEAR THAT OUT ONCE A YEAR AND SO, AGAIN, IT'S A VERY COMMON PRACTICE. WE WERE SIMPLY LOOKING AT GETTING PERMISSION TO EXECUTE THAT SOONER. AND THAT'S WHAT WE ENDED UP RECEIVING ON THAT FRIDAY EVENING AND STARTED SATURDAY MORNING WHICH I'LL GET INTO.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS THAT, OF COURSE, HAS COME UP THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO GET OUT OF THE NOTICE AN ULTIMATELY AS WE'VE EXPRESSED, IT -- IN THIS INSTANCE IT WAS TWO STEPS.

IT WAS ENSURING WE MET THE CHLORINE RESIDUAL, THAT WAS STEP 1 AND THAT'S A PROCESS THAT TCEQ WAS VERY INVOLVED WITH AND WAS BASICALLY GIVING US THE GREEN LIGHT AND THEN SECOND PER TCEQ GUIDELINES IT WAS DOING THE BACTERIAL TESTING TO ENSURE THERE'S NO BACTERIA IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT'S THE TEST THAT TAKES 24 HOURS. AND IN PREPARATION OF THE SAMPLING, THERE WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN STAFF AND TCEQ TO COME UP WITH SIX SAMPLE SITES. SO TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE GEOGRAPHY OF THIS PARTICULAR CHALLENGE, 13 OUT OF THE 16 SAMPLE SITES WERE BETWEEN MOCKINGBIRD AND REDRIVER.

TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF THE LOCALIZED NATURE OF THE CONCERN WHICH AGAIN STARTED AT ONE INTERSECTION AND FOR PURPOSES OF TCEQ COMPLIANCE 13 OUT OF THE 16 WERE SORT OF SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN MOCKINGBIRD AND RED RIVER BECAUSE THIS CONCERN THEY CONVEYED WAS ONLY FOR THE LOW PRESSURE PLAN.

AND IN CASE YOU'RE WONDERING, WE DID ASK TCEQ COULD WE ISSUE A BOIL WATER NOTICE ONLY FOR THE LOW PRESSURE PLANE, BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE PLANE IS UNIMPACTED AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. AND THEY WERE INTERCONNECTED AND DON'T LOOK AT THE GRAVITY WHEN THEY MAKE THAT JUDGMENT CALL. THE FACT IT'S INTERCONNECTED IS ALL THAT MATTER TO THEM AND WHY WE WERE REFERRED TO ISSUE THE NOTICE FOR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW THAT PHYSICS DID NOT MAKE THIS AN ISSUE ON THE HIGH PRESSURE PLANE.

AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, ONE OF THE MORE FRUSTRATING THINGS ABOUT THIS WAS NOT BEING ABLE TO NARROW DOWN THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE BUT WE DID TRY.

AS I MENTIONED ON SATURDAY MORNING AT 7:00 A.M. WE BEGAN THE CHLORINE CONVERSION. IN HE TENSE IT IS A SYSTEMWIDE FLUSH. AND SO BASICALLY THE DIRECTION AND THE GOAL WAS TO GET RID OF ALL THE WATER THAT WAS IN THE SYSTEM AND REPLENISH IT WITH THE WATER THAT HAD THIS STRONGER, IF YOU WILL, CHLORINE ELEMENT TO IT. THIS IS -- YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS MIGHT BE FEELING THAT THEIR WATER TASTES LIKE CHLORINE, IT'S STILL SAFE, BUT IT TASTES LIKE COLOUR CHLORINE AND WE GO THROUGH THIS EVERY YEAR AND WE'RE ALREADY RECEIVING FEEDBACK THAT PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO TASTE THE CHLORINE. THAT'S THE CHLORINE CONVERSION

[00:20:05]

AND SO, AGAIN, THAT PROCESS TOOK TWO NIGHTS FOR THE SAME REASONS AS I DESCRIBED BEFORE FOR THE SYSTEMWIDE FLUSH AND THAT WE HAD TO DO FLUSH TWO TOWERS OVER THE NIGHT SATURDAY AND THEN TWO TOWERS OVER THE NIGHT ON SUNDAY AND THEN YESTERDAY ON MONDAY, WE MET, THE CHLORINE RESIDUALS AS EXPECTED AFTER THE CHLORINE CONVERSION DID ITS THING. SO YESTERDAY WE RECEIVED THE GREEN LIGHT TO TAKE THOSE 16 SAMPLES AS I SHOWED YOU EARLIER AND SHOWED YOU A MAP OF AND THAT PARTICULAR TEST TAKES 24 HOURS TO INCUBATE AND GET RESULTS, SO WE EXPECT TO RECEIVE THOSE RESULTS BY 7:00 P.M. THIS EVENING.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY BE ABLE TO HOPEFULLY SHORTLY AFTER THAT RESCIND THE BOIL WATER NOTICE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THAT HASN'T HAPPENED AND HOPEFULLY HAPPENS WHILE WE'RE IN THIS MEETING.

>> SO A LITTLE ABOUT THE CITY'S RESPONSE.

I WANT TO BEGIN THIS SECTION OF THE PRESENTATION BY TRYING TO MAKE A DISTINCTION. ANY TIME THERE IS A BOIL WATER NOTICE IS UNACCEPTABLE. IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE SYSTEM.

THERE'S NO SCENARIO WHERE A BOIL WATER NOTICE AND BEING UNDER ONE IS A GOOD THING, HOWEVER, THERE ARE DEGREES OF SEVERITY OF BOIL WATER NOTICES.

WITH THE TWO BIGGEST DIFFERENCES BEING YOU CAN BE UNDER A BOIL WATER NOTICE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE WATER PRESSURE OR YOU'RE UNDER A BOIL WATER NOTICE WITH WATER PRESSURE.

IN RECENT HISTORY VICTORIA HAS BEEN IN BOIL WATER NOTICES WHERE THERE'S WATER PRESSURE ISSUE, THINK HURRICANE HARVEY OR WINTER STORM URIE WHERE THERE WAS LEGITIMATE LOSS OF WATER AND IN WINTER URIE'S SCENARIO WAS LOSS OF WATER PRESSURE. AS YOU REACT AND RESPOND TO THOSE NOTICES IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT OUR RESPONSE WAS ADEQUATELY MEASURED TO MATCH THE FACT THAT WE WERE -- ARE UNDER A BOIL WATER NOTICE WITH WATER PRESSURE.

ONE OF THE VERY FIRST THINGS THAT WE DID WAS, OF COURSE, ENGAGE THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. FOR A NUMBER OF REASON, ONE, WE DIDN'T KNOW -- WE DIDN'T KNOW AND JUST THOUGHT COMMON PRACTICE IT MADE SENSE TO ENGAGE THEM IN CASE WE NEEDED TO ACTIVATE MORE ELEMENTS OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, IF WE NEEDED TO ACCESS STATE RESOURCE, A LOT COMES FROM ACTIVATING THE EOC WHICH WE NEVER DID BUT ENGAGED RICK AND HIS TEAM EARLY ON TO BE PART OF THE PROCESS FROM THE BEGINNING SO I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THEIR ROLE AND HIT ON OUR ROLE IN COMMUNICATIONS WHICH IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST THING THAT FALLS ON OUR PLATE IS JUST HOW WE COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC AND THEN I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF THE UTILITY REBATE THAT I ALLUDED TO DURING ÷÷SATURDAY'S PRESS BRIEFING. SO, AS I MENTIONED WITH RICK'S TEAM, IT WAS FOR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THEY WERE ENGAGED BECAUSE OUT OF THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STEM PARTICULAR PARTNERS ON ET MEDICAL SIDE SO DO RELY ON THE GOLDEN CRESS CENT RACK WHICH BASICALLY REPRESENTS A LOT OF HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HAS DIRECT CONTACT WITH THEM, IN ADDITION PART OF RICK'S TEAM HE HAS A FULL TIME EMPLOYEE WHO IS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PREPAREDNY COORDINATOR AND THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS THE RIGHT CONTACT WITH NURSING HOME, DIALYSIS CENTERS AND LOWER CRITICAL CENTRIC FACILITIES SO IT WAS IMPORTANT EARLY ON TO ENGAGE WITH RICK AND HIS TEAM TO ENSURE THAT THOSE FACILITIES WERE AWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY COULD IMPLEMENT THEIR RESPECTIVE PLANS AND A LOT OF -- PERSONALLY ON MY PART TO ENSURE THEIR PLANS WERE ACTIVATED TO LIMIT ANY DISRUPTIONS AT THOSE CRITICAL SITES BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT IS CRITICAL FOR ANY COMMUNITY DURING ANY TYPE OF SITUATION. AND, OF COURSE, THE EOC HAS THEIR OWN COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS THAT THEY HELPED US WITH THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE ORDEAL. ON OUR COMMUNICATION EFFORTS, I'M GOING TO SPEAK JUST ABOUT A FEW OF THESE BUT IN ESSENCE WE APPROACHED IT THROUGH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT MEANS, AND SO, OF COURSE, THERE'S THE TRADITIONAL MEDIA APPROACH WHICH IS THROUGH NEWS RELEASES AND RELYING ON CROSSROADS TODAY, HELPING THEM SPREAD THE WORD AND I AM GOING TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTOINTO ALERT CENTER.

WE, OF COURSE, USE SOCIAL MEDIA. WE DID THE LIVE PRESS CONFERENCES WHICH WERE ON TV 15 LIVE, WHICH WAS GREAT AND, OF COURSE, INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.

I DO WANT TO SPEND A MINUTE HITTING ON THE EVER BRIDGE MASS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM OR WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO AS THE CITY ALERT CENTER. THIS WAS A PROGRAM THAT WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2024, AND SO THIS ALL CAME OUT ABOUT -- ALL -- THIS CAME OUT OF WINTER

[00:25:03]

I FORGOT TO INCLUDE THE GRAPHIC THAT YOU SENT ME.

I'M NOT GOING TO FOCUS TOO MUCH ON THIS OTHER THAN TO CONVEY WE SAW HIGH LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, A LOT OF VIEWS, AGAIN, JUST VALIDATING THE FACT THAT WE WERE TRYING TO JUST REACH AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE WITH UPDATES.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE UPDATE, WAS AND REGARDLESS OF WHETHER -- HOW PEOPLE MIGHT REACT TO THE UPDATE OUR PRIORITY WAS JUST GETTING NEWS OUT SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AGAIN THROUGH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT MEANS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SOMEWHAT REFRESHING WAS THAT OUR PARTNERS OVER AT CROSSROADS TODAY PUT OUT A DAILY POLL AND IT ASKED HOW PEOPLE FELT, IF THEY FELT THEY WERE BEING KEPT INFORMED OF WATER SAFETY AND EVEN ON CROSSROADS TODAY YOU HAD 68% COMMUNICATING THAT COMMUNICATION WAS CLEAR AND IF YOU LUMP IN THE SOMEWHAT RESPONSE TO THAT IT GETS ABOVE THREE- FOURTHS OF RESPONDENTS WHO ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF INFORMATION. OBVIOUSLY THIS ISN'T A SCIENTIFIC POLL BUT GIVES US SOME INSIGHT INTO THE JOB THAT ASHLEY AND HER TEAM HELPED SPEARHEAD THROUGHOUT THIS EFFORT ON THE COMMUNICATIONS SIDE.

LASTLY, ON THE RESPONSE ELEMENT, I WANT TO HIT ON THE UTILITY ON THE REBATE PART OF IT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S GARNERED QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION AND QUITE A BIT OF FEEDBACK.

AND SO I WANT TO REMIND YOU OF A FEW THINGS, AND SO OBVIOUSLY IN OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT AS CITY MANAGER, I ONLY HAVE CERTAIN LEVEL OF AUTHORITY AND I HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THOSE BOUNDARIES, RIGHT, I, FOR EXAMPLE, DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GIFT THE PUBLIC MONEY. I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE A FINANCIAL DECISION THAT MIGHT MAKE OUR YEAR ADOPTED BUDGET MAKE IT OUT OF SYNC, RIGHT, AND SO WHEN WE WERE DELIBERATING -- WHEN WE WERE THINKING, HOW CAN WE ASSIST INDIVIDUALS, WE HAD TO TAKE A VERY METHODICAL DELIBERATE WAY INTO FIGURING OUT HOW TO DO THAT, BECAUSE IT HAD TO BE JUSTIFIABLE. AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO THIS UNILATERALLY AS A GIFT TO THE PUBLIC.

I HAVE TO JUSTIFY IT TO YOU, I HAVE TO JUSTIFY IT TO THE TAXPAYERS, TO THE RATEPAYERS, TO OUR FINANCIAL AUDITORS.

I HAVE TO JUSTIFY IT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND SO THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO COMING UP WITH A $10 REBATE THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS EVENING TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT BECAUSE I INTENTIONALLY DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW WE CAME UP WITH THE $10 REBATE ON SATURDAY BECAUSE I MADE THE CONCLUSION THAT TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHAT I'M ABOUT TO EXPLAIN TO YOU WAS THE LAST PEOPLE WANTED TO HEAR ON SATURDAY. AND I MADE THE DECISION TO CORRELATE THE $10 CREDIT TO THE COST OF A CASE OF WATER BECAUSE I MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT THAT WOULD BE A RELATABLE COMPARISON.

SO, AS I EXPLAINED THE RATIONAL JUST AS A QUICK REFRESHER, ON PEOPLE'S UTILITY BILLS THEY GET CHARGED THREE DIFFERENT THINGS, WATER SERVICE, SEWER SERVICES AND GARBAGE SERVICES.

GILBERT AND I WORKED TOGETHER ON THIS AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE DID TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE RATE, THAT IS THE AVERAGE USAGE. LET'S FIND A WAY TO COME UP WITH A REBATE. AND SO 8,000 GALLONS A MONTH OF WATER IS THE AVERAGE USE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. BASE RATE 18.21 SYSTEM.

A LITTLE INFORMATION ON THE SEWER SERVICES WITH THE BASE RATE AT $22.68. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE WATER BILL, SO WHAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT- HAND SIDE OF $31. 70 IS THE AVERAGE WATER BILL FOR OUR

[00:30:01]

PART OF THE RATIONALE THAT WE CAME UP WITH EARLY ON IS, OKAY, WE -- LOOKS LIKE WE MIGHT BE IN THE SITUATION FOR A WEEK, LET'S TRY AND BASICALLY REBATE A CUSTOMER A WEEK'S WORTH OF A CREDIT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE ONE WEEK THAT THE SITUATION WAS ONGOING OUT OF THE MONTH AND SO A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES THAT I SHARE ARE AT THE BOTTOM. IF -- BECAUSE WE RAN THESE SCENARIOS. ONE WEEK OF A WATER BASE RATE WHICH IS THAT RATE OF $18. 21 ONLY YIELDS A REBATE OF $4.55. I SAID THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

WE THEN SAID, OKAY, WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THE $31.71.

ONE- FOURTH OF THAT OR ONE WEEK WOULD BE $7. 93 AND I SAID THAT'S NOT ENOUGH. WE NEED TO THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE AND SO ULTIMATELY WE LANDED ON TRYING TO INCORPORATE THE SEWER BASE RATE INTO THE EQUATION, AND WE DECIDED TO JUST LAND ON THE BASE RATES AND SO WE BASICALLY COMBINED THE WATER AND THE SEWER BASE RATE WHICH EQUATES TO ABOUT $40 OR $10 ROUNDED UP TO ACCOUNT FOR ONE WEEK OUT OF THE MONTH. AND SO IT WAS, AGAIN, VERY INTENTIONAL, LOGICAL APPROACH TO COMING UP WITH THE $10, BECAUSE, AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY AS CITY MANAGER TO SIMPLY COME UP WITH A FIGURE TO GIFT TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

IT HAD TO FOLLOW A VERY SPECIFIC DEFENDABLE JUSTIFIABLE FORMULA AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT GILBERT AND I CAME UP WITH OVER THE WEEKEND AND THAT I ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY. NOW, IF YOU'RE WONDERING HOW MUCH IS THAT COSTING US? SO THIS REFLECTS US APPLYING THAT $10 CREDIT, NOT ONLY FOR THOSE 21,000 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES THAT I MENTIONED ARE ON THAT THREE- FOURTH SIZE METER BUT APPLIED IT ACROSS THE BOARD SO YOU SEE THAT THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT $234,000 AND WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL AT THE BOTTOM TO MAKE A NOTE THAT EVEN WITH THAT, WE STILL EXPECT, AGAIN, I HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE BUDGET THAT WE STILL EXPECT TO FALL WITHIN WHERE WE EXPECTED TO BE AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND THERE WILL BE NO NEGATIVE IMPACT TO OUR CASH FLOW OR EVEN OUR MINIMUM RESERVE.

SO, A COUPLE OF TAKEAWAYS, THE MAYOR ALREADY HIT ON SOME OF THESE BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THESE AFTER ACTION REVIEWS GO A LITTLE BIT ABOVE AND BEYOND JUST THE PARTICULAR -- JUST THE PARTICULARS AROUND THE WATER UTILITY ASPECT OF IT AND SO AS I ALLUDED TO AFTER AS WE GO THROUGH THESE SITUATIONS WE CONDUCT AFTER ACTION REVIEWS AND ANTICIPATE WE WILL DO ONE FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS SIDE OF THE HOUSE TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE FIND BETTER WAYS TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC AND FOUND KINKS WITH THE EVERBRIDGE WE'RE ADDRESSING AND KNOW WE HAVE TO IMPROVE ON.

THECOMMUNITY RESPONSE PLANS, THIS IS HUGE.

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

THE MAYOR ALREADY ALLUDED TO THE SCADA AND PLAN ON PROVIDING MORE INFORMATION ON A WAY TO POTENTIALLY EXPEDITE THE SKADA REPORT AND, OF COURSE, THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FOR ME, OF COURSE, THE WORK OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT THE MAYOR ANNOUNCED THIS EVENING.

WITH THAT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE

LAST WEEK. >> THANK YOU, MR. GARZA.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INFORMATION COVERED THERE? NO. CERTAINLY I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN GOING FORWARD, BUT YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF INFORMING US AND THE PUBLIC IN TERMS OF KIND OF HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE AT THIS POINT AND WE'LL AWAIT FURTHER NEWS ON THE BOIL WATER NOTICE, AND WE APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN, NOT ONLY YOURSELF BUT ALSO BY MR.

[00:35:03]

>> 100%. >> YES.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I BELIEVE THEN YOU MAY HAVE A COUPLE OF OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR US AS WE'RE STILL UNDER THAT ITEM OF THE AGENDA.

>> I DO. IT SEEMS A LITTLE WEIRD TO TRANSITION FROM THAT TO THIS, BUT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH AN INTEREST IN CIVIC INVOLVEMENT CAN APPLY TO SERVE ON THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS ATTENDING SCHOOL IN VICTORIA INCLUDING HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR ARE OPEN AND MUST BE RECEIVED WITH A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION BY AUGUST 31ST.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO APPLY PLEASE VISIT VICTORIA TX. GOV OR CONTACT KYESHA SMITH 361-485-3030.

IN ADDITION OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING TWO RESIDENTS TO SERVE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THREE- YEAR TERMS THAT END IN AUGUST 2028. THE COMMISSION REVIEWS AND APPROVES NEW RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS TO ENSURE THAT CITY CODES RELATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT ARE APPLIED AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ABOUT VAR ADVANCE REQUESTS AND CAN BE FOUND AT VICTORIATX. GOV OR IN THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE.

AND I DO HAVE A REMINDER ABOUT MUNICIPAL COURT AND THE CHILD SAFETY GRANTS BUT TIFFANY WILL HIT ON THAT IN GREATER DETAIL

[2. Public & Employee Recognitions:]

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING?

>> I DO. THE VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FOR ACHIEVING REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN THE 2025 MISSION LIFE LINE.

THE VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT IS PART OF AN ELITE GROUP OF PREHOSPITAL PROVIDERS RECOMMENDED BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION IN IMPLEMENTING A HIGHER STANDARD OF CARE BY ENSURING THAT EVERY PATIENT RECEIVES TREATMENT ACCORDING TO NATIONALLY ACCEPTED EVIDENCE- BASED GUIDELINE RECOMMENDATIONS AND STANDARDS.

THIS IS THE TENTH CONSECUTIVE GOLD AWARD THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED.

SO, CHIEF, THANK YOU AND YOUR CREWS FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF, AND EVERYBODY AT VPD. GOOD JOB.

OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, I'M SORRY.

>> HE'S NOT GOING TO LET GO OF THAT

ONE. >> NO, SORRY, CHIEF.

>> I DO HAVE SOMETHING --

>> YOU CAN CHASTISE ME LATER.

>> I HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN IT BUT THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS MET TEXAS GOLD STANDARD IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCREDITATION FROM THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEF'S ASSOCIATION.

YOU HEARD CHIEF YOUNG SPEAK ABOUT THIS DURING HIS BUDGET PRESENTATION. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN AWARDED THE RECOGNIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY STATUS OF THE 2800 POLICE AGENCIES IN TEXAS, ONLY 218 ARE RECOGNIZED AS HAVING MET COMPLIANCE WITH OVER 173 BEST PRACTICES THAT COVER ALL ASPECTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS.

AND SO CHIEF YOUNG, THANK YOU FOR TINGING THAT EXCELLENCE IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF.

>> THAT'S ALL I GOT IS THERE ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ARE THERE ANY ITEMS FROM

[4. Citizen Communication:]

THE FIRST ONE IS BLANCA AND BOBBY JIMINEZ.

>> THANK YOU.

>> YEAH, THE MIC.

>> GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME.

>> YOU CAN DO IT.

>> MY NAME IS BLANCA JIMINEZ. I AM 75 YEARS OLD.

DON'T REALLY LIKE THIS AGE, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, I'VE HAD SOME MISHAPS.

I'M GOING TO LET MY SON TAKE

OVER. >> I'M ROBERT R. LOPEZ.

I AM THE MIDDLE SON OF BLANCA ESTELLA JIMINEZ.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF VICTORIA, I AM A CERTIFIED MASTER CARPENTER FOR THE CARPENTER'S UNION. I'M AN INSTRUCTOR FOR THE UBC, UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND NOW I'VE BEEN HELPING OUT AT THE VICTORIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE TEACHING SOME OF THE YOUNGSTERS HOW TO BECOME SKILLED CRAFTSMEN.

I CAME BACK TO HELP MOM OUT NINE MONTHS AGO AT THE END OF NOVEMBER, DECEMBER. MOM HIRED A GENTLEMAN, AN UNLICENSED, UNCERTIFIED PLUMBER TO HELP HER AT HER RESIDENCE TO UPGRADE THE PLUMBING.

FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS, MOM HAS BEEN HAVING TO SPONGE

[00:40:01]

MOM'S ROOF IS ALSO LEAKING. I COULD BUILD MOM A BIG OLD CASTLE BUT I STILL NEED A PLUMBER AND I NEED AN ELECTRICIAN THAT ARE CERTIFIED, BUT MOM COULD USE YOUR HELP. AND IF ANYBODY TAUGHT ME HOW TO GET UP WHEN I FALL, IT'S MY MOM.

SHE WOULD SHAKE ME OFF AND DUST ME OFF AND TELL ME TO KEEP ON GOING. BUT MY SON, I'M GOING TO BE LEAVING NEXT FRIDAY, MY SON IS A FIREMAN. HIS NAME IS DYLAN LOPEZ.

HE USED TO WORK FOR VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT.

MY SON IS BROKE DOWN WITH PTSD TRAUMA FOR THE SECOND TIME.

SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GET GOING, BUT IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE COULD GET MY MOM SOME HELP TO GET HER ROOF FROM LEAKING AND GET HER -- A WORKING TOILET AND A SHOWER, NINE MONTHS YOU GUYS, NINE MONTHS MOM HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH HELL. PARDON MY FRENCH BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS, YOU KNOW, AND IF I COULD 250E67 ANY OF YOUR YOUNGSTERS TO BE A MASTER CRAFTSMEN, CARPENTER, I'M GOING TO DO IT.

YOU KNOW, AND THEY'LL BE CERTIFIED AND THEY'LL BE LICENSED AND BONDED, YOU KNOW, BUT THE GENTLEMAN THAT CAME IN FROM CORPUS CHRISTI, HE JUST -- WHEN YOU GUYS HAD THAT FREEZE OVER THE WINTER, HE JUST TOOK ALL OF HIS TOOLS AND LEFT.

LEFT A BIG OLD DITCH ALL TORN UP IN THE BACKYARD AND NO BATHROOM FACILITIES.

MOM HAS ONLY A WORKING SINK IN THE KITCHEN, A WORKING SINK IN BOTH BATHROOMS AND THAT'S IT.

ALL OF HER APPLIANCES ARE BROKEN SO MOM COULD USE SOME HELP. YES, SIR.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT. NEXT CARD I HAVE IS WILMA EDWARDS.

>> SHE'S REAL IMPATIENT, YOU KNOW.

>> MISS EDWARDS LEFT, OKAY.

>> A LONG SPEECH.

>> FOUR MINUTES.

>> YOU HAPPEN TO BE THE THIRD CARD I HAVE SO WHILE YOU'RE UP, COME ON FORWARD.

WELCOME.

>> USUALLY DON'T START SPEECHES.

EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M MICHAEL VONDRA AND THANKS FOR JESUS AND KEN FOR ADDRESSING THE WATER ISSUE, AND JESUS DON'T HAVE A BAG FULL OF $10 BILLS THAT HE'S GIVING OUT OR CASES OF WATER.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK HE'S GIVING OUT PEOPLE $10 BILLS OR CASES OF WATER.

THEY'RE GOING TO JUST REDUCE THE WATER BILL AND ALSO YESTERDAY I WAS TRYING TO EAT IN A RESTAURANT, AND THEY JUST HAVE DRIVE- THROUGHS, I GUESS BECAUSE OF THE WATER ISSUES AND I FINALLY FOUND ONE GOOD RESTAURANT TO EAT AT AND IT WAS AT THE SALVATION ARMY, YOU KNOW, AND THEY BOIL THEIR TEA AND STUFF SO YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD AND YOU CAN'T BEAT THE PRICE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A GOOD DEAL.

BUT I WOULD THANK -- I WANT TO THANK THE SALVATION ARMY FOR OPENING IT UP. THAT WAS THE ONLY PLACE YOU COULD DINE IN AND I LIKE TO DINE IN BECAUSE MY AIR CONDITIONER DON'T WORK IN MY CAR, SO I ALSO DON'T WANT THE RESTAURANTS TO HAVE TO CLOSE DOWN AND HAVE TO LAY OFF THE WORKERS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THE WAITERS ONLY GET $2.11 AN HOUR AND AIN'T MAKING NO TIPS IF IT'S JUST DINE IN AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK SERVICES FOR CONCRETING THE TRAILER PARK AT VICTORIA OAKS TRAILER PARK AND PUT ASPHALT ON THE OTHER SIDE BUT I ALSO WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TRAILER PARK OWNER. THERE'S A BRANCH THAT FOUND SOMEONE'S VEHICLE AND IT MESSED IT UP AND THE TRAILER PARK OWNER, HE'S WANTING THE TENANTS TO TAKE CARE OF THE BRANCHES AND IT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE BRANCHES, BECAUSE HE OWNS IT AND THERE'S LOTS OF BRANCHES THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AND THERE'S SEVERAL MAILBOXES THAT DON'T HAVE LIDS AND SOMETIMES THE MAILBOXES ARE OFF IT -- COMPLETELY OFF THE POST AND THERE'S A BIG HOLE ABOUT FIVE FOOT WIDE AND FIVE FOOT HIGH AND NORMALLY A CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO PUT LIKE A FENCE, LIKE A RUBBER FENCE AROUND IT, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE IT SAFE, AND HE'S NOT KEEPING THE TRAILER PARK SAFE, AND ALSO WHEN -- WHAT HE'S DOING, I CALL HIM AN ABSENT OWNER.

HE DON'T LIKE TO GET INVOLVED. YOU KNOW, ONLY WHEN THETHE CITY COUNCIL CALLS HIM UP AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM DO A BETTER JOB OF THE TRAILER PARK AND TRAILER 29, I WOULD LIKE TO CONDEMN IT AND CALL IT A PUBLIC NUISANCE BECAUSE IT'S IN -- IT'S BEEN ABANDONED FOR LIKE THREE YEARS AND HE'S TURNED A BLIND

[00:45:01]

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM TAKE CARE OF IT.

YOU KNOW, HE'S A MULTIMILLIONAIRE AND THERE'S NO EXCUSES.

THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

>> THANK YOU, MR. VONDRA. WE WILL CLOSE CITY

[1. An ordinance vacating, closing, and abandoning of 0.13 acres of public...]

>> AN ORDINANCE VACATING CLOSING AND ABANDONING OF 0. 13 ACRES OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF- WAY KNOWN AS EAST STATEN ISLAND BETWEEN 164 AND BLOCK AND RAILROAD IN RESPONSE TO A PETITION OF 100% OF THE AD JOINING LAND OWNERS.

>> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING.

THIS IS A FAIRLY SIMPLE REQUEST. JAYSON MOORE WITH MOORE LEGACY INVESTMENTS OWNS ALL OF THE PROPERTY OUTLINED IN YELLOW ON THE PICTURE, AND THE LAND THAT IS HATCHED IN RED DISSECTS HIS PROPERTY SO HE'S REQUESTING THE ABANDONMENT OF THAT.

AS WITH ALL, WE GENERALLY RECOMMEND APPROVAL IF THE CITY IS NOT USING IT SO MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDED THAT THE APPLICANTS REPLOT THE ABANDONED LAND INTO THEIR LOT SO HE HAS SUBMITTED A PRELIMINARY PLOT THAT WILL REPLAT THIS PROPERTY INTO EIGHT PATIO HOME LOTS AND THEN ONE MIXED USE LOT SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT AND DO RECOMMEND ABANDONING THE SECTION OF STAYTON STREET.

>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR MISS FULGHAM ON THIS? THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

WITH THAT, THEN I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IF THERE'S ANYONE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME ON C1. SEEING NO ONE, THEN I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM

C1. >> MOVE TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND.

>> GOT A MOTION TO SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY

AYE. >> AYE.

[2. An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Victoria, Texas, amend...]

>> ANY OPPOSED? AND ITEM

C2. >> IT IS AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF VICTORIA, TEXAS AMENDING CHAPTER 8, FINANCE AND TAXATION OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCE TO ADD ARTICLE 4, SHORT- TERM MOTOR VEHICLE RENTAL TAX TO REFLECT THE ADOPTION OF THE SHORT- TERM MOTOR VEHICLE RENTAL TAX WITHIN THE CITY TO FUND AN APPROVED VENUE PROJECT AS APPROVED BY BUILDERS AT THE MAY 3RD, 2025 SPECIAL ELECTION PROVIDING FOR THE INCORPORATION OF PREMISES PROVIDING FOR AND AMENDMENT PROVIDING A CUMULATIVE REPEALER CLAUSE PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PENALTY CLAUSE, PROVIDING FOR PUBLICATION AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

>> GOOD EVENING, MISS LACEY. CAN YOU EXPLAIN ALL

THAT. >> GOOD EVENING.

AND THANK YOU, APRIL, FOR MAKING IT THROUGH THAT.

YES, SO THIS IS THE SECOND ORDINANCE BEING PRESENTED AS A RESULT OF OUR MAY ELECTION.

IF YOU REALIZE THAT THE TITLE SEEMS A BIT MORE COMPLICATED THAN THE LAST ONE FOR THE ADDITIONAL HOTEL TAX, THAT'S BECAUSE WE HAD TO CREATE AN ADDITIONAL ARTICLE UNDER CHAPTER 8 THAT HAS ITS OWN REQUIREMENTS UNDER STATE LAW, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S A LITTLE MORE INVOLVED.

BUT THIS IS FOR THE SECTION HALF THE SHORT- TERM MOTOR VEHICLE RENTAL TAX OF 5% THE VOTERS APPROVED AND WILL BE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR JUST LIKE THE PREVIOUS ONE THAT YOU APPROVED.

>> THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS? I KNOW THERE WAS DETAILED INFORMATION IN THE PACKET SO, NO, ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

WITH THAT THEN I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING WITH RESPECT TO ITEM C2. ANYONE THAT WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS ITEM PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. SEEING NO ONE, THEN, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM C2 AND ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THIS ITEM.

>> I MOVE WE ADOPT C-2.

>> SECOND.

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

>> AYE.

[D. Consent Agenda:]

>> ANY OWE POSITIVED AND ITEM C2 APPROVED.

MISS HILBRICH.

>> ADOPTION OF THE MEETING MINUTES AND THE IRREGULAR MEETING HELD ON THE 2ST.

RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH HARRISON, WALDROP & UHEREK TO PERFORM THE CITY'S ANNUAL AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $53,300 AND A REST FOR THE VICTORIA SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

ITEM D4, RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CINEMARK PROJECT OF THE VICTORIA SALES TAX CORPORATION AND D- 5 RESOLUTION APPROVING

[00:50:04]

D8 RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH POLYDYNE FOR THE WASTEWATER SLUDGE DEWATERING POLYMER NOT TO EXCEED $64,170. D9, RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF THE CELLULAR DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $122,300.

>> THANK YOU, MISS HILBRICH. ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MOVE WE APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS READ.

>> SECOND.

>> MOTION AND SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY

AYE. >> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED. THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED SO WE'LL JUMP INTO ITEM

[1. Authorize an application to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's ...]

>> A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN APPLICATION FOR THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT'S LOCAL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR AIMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 650,000 THAT INCLUDES THE CITY'S MATCH REQUIREMENT OF $325,000.

>> EVENING, MISS CONNALLY, WELCOME.

>> I HAVE'S BEEN WORKING ON A PROJECT WITH MEADOWLANE PARK WITH FUNDS FROM THE TEXAS WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT THROUGH THEIR LOCAL PARKS DEPARTMENT.

MEADOWLANE PARK IS APPROXIMATELY AN ACRE AND IT MAY BE -- IT MAY BE THAT NOT EVERYONE KNOWS WHERE IT IS BECAUSE IT'S A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.

BUT IT'S BETWEEN BEN WILSON AND DELMAR IN THE MIDDLE OF LOVA DRIVE AND DEDICATED IN 1952.

IT WAS IDENTIFIED IN THE PARKS MASTER PLAN AS A PARK WITH KIND OF A LOW CONDITION BECAUSE OF ITS AGE.

IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED IN QUITE A FEW YEARS.

AND THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE AREA HISPANIC WITH MORE THAN 80% OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH AGES OF CHILDREN 12 YEARS AND YOUNGER. THIS IS FROM GOOGLE MAPS.

YOU CAN SEE THERE WHERE THE OUTLINE OF THE PARK AND JUST SOUTH OF THERE IS A FEW BLOCKS SOUTH OF THERE IS O'CONNOR ELEMENTARY. AND SO WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS, 50/50 SO WITH THE TOTAL OF 650, THAT MEANS THE CITY'S SHARE WOULD BE $325,000. WE PROPOSE TO UPGRADE THE SIDEWALKS AND ADD ADA RAMPS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY INTO THE PARK ALONG WITH ADDING A CONCRETE PATH THAT WILL GO FROM THE EDGE OF THE PARK AROUND UP TO THE PLAY AREA AND THEN OVER TO THE BASKETBALL COURT. THE BASKETBALL COURT WILL BE REFURBISHED, REFURBISHED WITH IMPROVED SERVICE AND NEW GOALS. NEW PLAY STRUCTURE WILL BE INCLUDED WITH A NEW SWING SET. A BENCH THAT WILL BE FACING THE PLAY AREA FOR PARENTS TO SIT AND WATCH THEIR CHILDREN.

WE'LL IMPROVE THE PICNIC TABLES AND SHADE STRUCTURE, REMOVE -- THERE'S A LOT OF OLD GRILLS THERE. WE'LL TAKE THOSE OUT AND PUT IN ONE NEW ONE AND ADD A LITTLE BIT OF LIGHTING AND A PRIVACY FENCE ALONG THE TWO SIDES OF THE PARK HAVE A BORDER, PRIVATE PROPERTY AND RIGHT NOW SOME OF THAT IS JUST OPEN TO PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS. WE WOULD ADD FENCING THERE AND THEN WE WOULD, OF COURSE, IMPROVE THE LANDSCAPING.

THE APPLICATION IS DUE AUGUST 1ST.

TPWD IS GOOD ABOUT PUBLISHING THEIR TIME LINE.

THEY'LL ANNOUNCE AWARDS IN JANUARY 2026 AND THEN THERE'S A PERIOD WHERE WE'LL DO CONTRACT AND SOME OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS BUT CONSTRUCTION COULD BEGIN SUMMER, EARLY FALL 2026. ANY RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO GIVE US FEEDBACK, HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR WANT TO EXPRESS SUPPORT PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. MY CONTACT INFORMATION IS THERE.

OR THEY CAN CALL THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AT 361-485-3200.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS?

[00:55:05]

>> NOPE. NO QUESTIONS.

I DO APPRECIATE INVESTING IN OUR PARKS AND PARTICULARLY WHERE THERE'S KIDS LOCATED.

>> ABSOLUTELY. ABSOLUTELY.

IT MAKES ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT UPGRADE FOR THE PARK AND FOR THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

IT WOULD BE FANTASTIC. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU. THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM E1.

>> I MOVE WE ADOPT E 1.

>> SECOND.

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

>> AYE.

>> ANY OPPOSED. ALL RIGHT.

[1. Update on the 89th Texas Legislative Session. Darrek Ferrell, Assistan...]

MR. GARZA.

>> GOOD EVENING, AGAIN. WE DO A GUEST WITH US.

DARREK FERRELL HAS BEEN DIRECT POINT OF CONTACT ON THIS ITEM FOR US DURING THE ENTIRE SESSION AND HE'S TUNING IN VIRTUALLY HENCE THE CAMERA SETUP.

HE'S ALREADY IN GOD'S COUNTRY AS THE MAYOR LIKES TO SAY.

BUT JOINING US IS MONTY WYNN AND JACK OF ALL TRADES AND ALSO ININ JANUARY BECOME THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE AND WELCOME AND

CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE THAT.

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL. GOOD TO BE HOME. I'M A 1990 GRADUATE OF VICTORIA HIGH SCHOOL WHEN WE WERE THE STINGEREES. MY WIFE IS LIKE ARE YOU SURE IT'S NOT THE STINGRAYS? NO.

WE'RE IN BETWEEN THIS TIME OF SESSION ENDING AND A SPECIAL SESSION STARTING, SO KIND OF WANTED TO -- I WAS ASKED BY DARREK AND JESUS TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT WENT ON DURING THE SESSION, WHAT WE CAN EXPECT AND THE SPECIAL AS WELL. IT WAS A SESSION OF BIG NUMBERS.

WE CAME INTO THE SESSION WITH A $24 BILLION SURPLUS.

THE LEGISLATURE HAD A $33 BILLION SUR SURPLUS THE SPECIAL BEFORE LAST SO HEALTHY FINANCES AT THE STATE LEVEL. THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A $338 BILLION BYENYELL BUDGET, 1. 2% OVER ALL FUNDS '24 AND '25 AND 5. 1 IN GR AND TAX RELATED FUNDS SO BIG NUMBERS, THE STATE IS ALSO SITTING ON WHAT IS ABOUT A CONSTITUTIONALLY CAPPED ESD, ECONOMIC STABILIZATION FUND AT $26 BILLION OR RAINY DAY FUND SO THE STATE IS FLUSH WITH CASH. SOME OF THE OTHER BIG ITEMS FROM THE SESSION THAT TOOK SOME OF THE OXYGEN OUT OF THE ROOM DURING THE 140 DAYS, EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED BILL 2 THAT PROVIDES FOR 100,000 EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR OUR TEXAS SCHOOLCHILDREN SO SPENT A BILLION DOLLARS TO PROVIDE THOSE TO 100,000 KIDS OUT OF THE 5.8 MILLION SCHOOLCHILDREN IN TEXAS. SO THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THAT TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT ON BEHALF OF THE LEGISLATURE. ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, IT WAS HISTORIC FUNDING ON PUBLIC ED FUNDING, $8.5 BILLION IN NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDING SO NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THIS BILLION DOLLARS SPEND FOR EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS BUT HEALTHY INFLOW OF PUBLIC DOLLARS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND A LOT OF THE ENERGY OF THE ROOM IN THE LEGISLATURE WAS HOW DO WE RETURN SOME OF THAT SURPLUS BACK TO TAXPAYERS? I THOUGHT THE LEGISLATURE MADE GREAT USE OF THAT MONEY RETURNING THAT TO TAXPAYERS AS WELL AS INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE. THE LEGISLATURE PASSED SENATE BILL 4 AND SENATE BILL 23 WHICH PROVIDES FOR $140,000 HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

23 PROVIDES FOR 200,000 FOR SENIORS AND HOUSE BILL 9 WAS THE OTHER PIECE OF THAT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF THAT WILL SOMEHOW -- WILL SOME WAY IMPACT CITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND THAT WAS AN INCREASE IN THE BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION BUT WAS CURRENTLY 2500 TO NOW 125,000 SO THE HOUSE'S VERSION WAS 250, THE SENATE'S VERSION WAS 25,000. THEY SETTLED ON THAT EXEMPTION AT 125 SO THAT WILL HAVE SOME IMPACT MOVING FORWARD ON BUDGETS.

SENATE BILL 7 WAS THE BIG WATER BILL.

THIS IS -- WAS A BIG ISSUE THIS SESSION AND LAST ON HOW DO WE PROVIDE MONEY FOR NEW WATER SUPPLY AND NEW INFRASTRUCTURE. AS WE TALK ABOUT WATER HERE TODAY IT'S A BIG ISSUE ACROSS THE STATE, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED HOUSE BILL 7 AND HGR 7, HGR BEFORE THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER BUT WILL PROVIDE FOR A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN NEW WATER SUPPLY FUNDING AND INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY.

THEY'LL TAKE THE BILLION DOLLARS OFF THE TOP OF THE SALES TAX COLLECTIONS EVERY YEAR OVER $46 BILLION AND PUT THAT IN AN ACCOUNT FOR WATER SO GOOD MONEY SPENT ON WATER AND WATER FUNDING. THE OTHER BIG PRIORITY BILL THE LEGISLATURE WAS 9 WAS BELL REFORM.

THAT'S SORT OF IN A NUTSHELL WAS LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES, THE GOVERNOR SETS THE AGENDA AND THOSE WERE SOME OF HIS ITEMS THAT WERE PASSED IN THE SESSION.

SO YOU ASK YOURSELF YOU GOT ALL THAT DONE WHY ARE WE COMING BACK IN A SPECIAL SESSION? AND WE ARE -- WE'LL BE BACK ON MONDAY.

ALL SPECIAL SESSIONS FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW ARE 30

[01:00:03]

HE VETOED A BILL THIS SESSION THAT WOULD ELIMINATE A LOT OF THESE SHOPS AROUND TOWNS SELLING THC AND CBD.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED THAT SO THAT'S BACK ON THE AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL. CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING.

UNDERTAKING A BIG LOOK AT THE MAPS THIS SPECIAL SESSION AS WELL AS SOME OF THE CITY- RELATED ISSUES LIKE REVENUE LIMITATIONS AND BUDGET EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS SO WE'LL HAVE A WHOLE HOST OF ITEMS NEXT WEEK.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION AS YOU CAN IMAGINE ON DISASTER RECOVERY AFTER THE FLOODS OF LAST WEEK SO THEY'LL SPEND A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT RESPONSE TO THAT AND HOW TO -- THE STATE AND CITIES AND OTHERS RESPOND TO A NATURAL DISASTER.

I THINK THE BIGGEST NUMBER OF THE SESSION THIS YEAR IN YOUR PACKET THAT I THINK DARREK GAVE YOU 9,014 BILLS FILED THIS SESSION. YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF 140 DAYS WITH REALLY 60 DAYS OF BILL FILING AND ABOUT 80 DAYS OF DISCUSSION, THAT WAS A NEW RECORD AND SO IT WAS ABOUT 800 MORE BILLS FILED THAN LAST SESSION. OF THOSE 9,014, 2,189 IMPACT CITIES AT SOME LEVEL SO THERE'S PROBABLY NO OTHER MORE LEGISLATIVELY SCRUTINIZED LEVEL THAN THE CITIES AND THAT WAS EVIDENT AGAIN. A FULL QUARTER IMPACTS WHAT YOU DO BACK HERE AT HOME SO LET ME TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S SPECIFIC ISSUES THE STORY OF THE SESSION WAS MORE WHAT DIDN'T PASS THAN WHAT DID.

AND SO I'LL MENTION SOME ITEMS THAT DIDN'T BECAUSE WE KNOW SOME WILL BE BACK.

EITHER NEXT WEEK OR EVEN NEXT SESSION. SO TWO BIG BUCKS I'LL KIND OF MENTION ONE, TAX DEBT AND FINANCE AND LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT, BUT TAX AND DEBT, AGAIN, WE SAW THIS SESSION PROPOSALS THAT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT DOWN YOUR VOTER APPROVAL RATE FROM 3. 5 TO SOMETHING LOWER. WE SAW PROPOSALS THIS SESSION, AGAIN, THAT WOULD PUT AN EXPENDITURE CAP ON CITIES.

THE REGULAR SESSION'S PROPOSAL WAS FOR POPULATION TIMES INFLATION CAP.

WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE THAT SAME PROPOSAL IN THE SPECIAL SESSION. LOCAL SALES TAX SOURCING WAS A BIG ISSUE THIS SESSION, CHANGING FROM ORIGIN SOURCING TO DESTINATION SOURCING. THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON MANY CITIES ACROSS THE STATE, WOULD BE LIKELY WINNERS UNDER A SCENARIO WHERE SALES TAX WAS SOURCED TO THE DESTINATION.

THAT GOT A LITTLE FURTHER THIS YEAR THAN PREVIOUS SESSIONS, DIDN'T PASS, BUT WILL BE LIKELY JUST ONE MORE STEP EACH SESSION BEFORE IT DOES.

IT'S BEEN A LONG LOOK AT SALES TAX SOURCING.

DEBT LIMITATIONS WERE A BIG ISSUE THIS SESSION. WE SAW PROPOSALS THAT WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED YOUR ABILITY TO ISSUE COS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE ISSUED ANY RECENTLY, BUT THE PROPOSALS AT THE STATE LEVEL WERE TO ELIMINATE TO USE THOSE FOR ROADS, SOME BIG ISSUES ACROSS THE STATE THAT THEY ARE ISSUED FOR AS WELL AS THE ELIMINATION OF THE MAY UNIFORM ELECTION DATE GOT FURTHER THIS GO AROUND. MADE IT OUT OF THE SENATE, WENT TO THE HOUSE. BUT THERE IS A BIG MOVEMENT TO ELIMINATE THAT MAY DATE FOR ALL ELECTIONS AND ALL DEBT ISSUANCES BUT FOR ALL COUNCIL ELECTIONS AS WELL, DIDN'T PASS THIS SESSION. BUT WILL LIKELY PROBABLY BE ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT GO AROUND AND SOME OF THESE ISSUES ARE PERENNIAL ISSUES THAT DON'T GET PASSED ONE, IT MIGHT TAKE TEN YEARS TO PASS SOMETHING, BUT IT'LL BE BACK. SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT PASSED DEALING WITH DEBT AND FINANCING HOUSE BILL 103 AND HOUSE BILL 3526 ARE DEBT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIES NOW.

YOU ARE NOW REQUIRED TO REPORT YOUR DEBT ISSUANCES AND SOME OF YOUR TAX INFORMATION FROM THE LAST TEN YEARS TO THE CONTROLLER AND BOND REVIEW BOARD. WE'LL BE RUNNING NOTIFICATIONS TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.

THAT'S NOT TILL SEPTEMBER OR JANUARY 1ST SO LOOK FOR THOSE FOR REPORTING BOTH THE CONTROLLER AND TO THE BOND REVIEW BOARD. WE TALKED ABOUT AUDITS.

Y'ALL APPROVED AN ITEM FOR AN AUDIT.

MOST CITIES DO THEIR AUDITS, BUT SOME CITIES HAVE NOT.

USUALLY THE SMALLER CITIES. AND IF YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT EVERY YEAR AND FILED THAT AUDIT WITH YOUR CITY'S SECRETARY 180 DAYS AFTER IT'S COMPLETE, CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO PENALTIES.

THEY -- SENATE BILL 1851 FROM THE LAST SESSION INSTITUTED A NO NEW REVENUE RATE PENALTY, SO IF YOU DON'T FILE YOUR AUDITS THE AG INVESTIGATES AND YOU CAN BE -- ON TOP OF THAT, I KNOW -- BUT SOME AREN'T AND THAT COULD CATCH SOME CITIES UP AS WELL AS HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATIONS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATIONS OR DEALT WITH PUBLIC STAT CORPORATIONS AND CLOSED A LOOPHOLE TWO SESSIONS AGO THAT SCUTT OFF THIS ABILITY OF

[01:05:02]

SOME OF THE LAND USE ISSUES, THERE'S A LOT OF TALK THIS LAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS ON HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND IT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE.

LARGELY IN OUR BIGGER CITIES BUT THE NARRATIVE AROUND HOUSING AFFORDABILITY WAS CITY ZONING AND DENSITY STANDARDS AND SO THERE WAS A LARGE LOOK THIS SESSION ON DENSITY, PANDATED DENSITY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, THERE WERE SOME BILLS THAT PASSED THAT DON'T IMPACT Y'ALL, THEY WERE BRACKETED TO CITIES OVER 150,000 AND COUNTIES TO 300,000 OR MORE.

I ONLY MENTION IT BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES WHAT THEY DO WITH BRACKETED BILL, THE LEGISLATURES WILL BRACKET IT ONE SESSION AND PULL THE BRACKET OFF BUT THOSE PROVIDED -- I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ABOUT THE TINY LOT BILL PROHIBITING FROM YOU HAVING LOT SIZE PREVIOUS OVER 1400.

THIS VERSION SETTLED IN ON 3,000 FEET SO SLIGHTLY LARGER BUT THERE WAS A LARGE LOOK AT THAT MANDATED DENSITY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.

SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT DIDN'T PASS THIS SESSION, WE'VE SEEN THIS REFORM OF ANNEXATION OVER THE YEARS, IN '17 WE SAW THE REMOVAL OF THE ABILITY OF CITIES TO UN LAT RALLY ANNEX AND STARTED TO SEE THE PROGRESSION BUT CALLED INTO QUESTION THE ETJ AND WHAT PURPOSE IS IT.

CITIES WOULD DEVELOP AND THEN ANNEX AND HAVE SOME UNIFORM GROWTH, BUT THEN AFTER LAST SESSION SENATE BILL 2038 THAT ALLOWED FOLKS TO GET OUT OF IT PRETTY EASILY, ALMOST THE CONCEPT OF IT IS ALMOST ELIMINATED AND THOUGHT THIS SESSION WE WOULD SEE SOME FINAL DEATH KNELLS TO THE ETJ. IT'S ON LIFE SUPPORT BUT I'M SURE YOU ARE SEEING FOLKS IN Y'ALL'S ETJ PETITION TO BE REMOVED AND SO A LITTLE LOOK AT THAT. THIRD PARTY REVIEW WAS AN ISSUE THIS SESSION THAT DIDN'T PASS ALLOWING FOR DEVELOPERS TO GO STRAIGHT TO A THIRD PARTY FOR THE REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT DOCUMENTS AND THAT SORT OF THIS PRIVATIZATION OF A PUBLIC FUNCTION SO WE'RE SEEING THIS BUT THAT DIDN'T PASS THIS SESSION AS WELL. AS WELL AS ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS BY RIGHT. THIS IS AN ISSUE WE'VE SEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS THAT WOULD HAVE SAID THAT CITIES COULDN'T HAVE ANY SAY OVER THE ALLOWANCE OF AD U.S. S IN THEIR CITIES. THAT DIDN'T PASS AS WELL.

WHAT DID? SOME OF THE HOUSING AFFORDABLE.

WE KNOW HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS A FUNCTION OF MANY FACTORS, INTEREST RATES AND INVENTORY AND, YOU KNOW, ZONING TO SOME EXTENT SO WE SAW SENATE BILL 15 WHICH IS THE TINY LOT BILL THAT DOESN'T APPLY YET TO Y'ALL BUT COULD IN THE FUTURE.

AS WELL AS ALLOWING FOR THE CONVERSION OF DOWNTOWN OFFICE BUILDINGS. A LOT OF LOOK AT AS COVID, POST- COVID HAVE OFFICE BUILDINGS CLOSE AND WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THOSE VACANT OFFICE BUILDINGS ALLOWING FOR THE CONVERSION OF THOSE INTO RESIDENTIAL AND SO THAT PASSED AS WELL.

FOR THOSE OF Y'ALL, FAST GROWING, VICTORIA IS PROBABLY OUT IN THE FAST GROWTHGROWTH CATEGORY, BUT AS WE LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT AND IMPACT FEES, IT WAS A LONG LOOK AT IMPACT FEES, PARTICULARLY THIS SESSION, IN THE INTERIM THERE WAS A LOT OF CHATTER AND SOME OF THE IMPORTANT COMMITTEES ABOUT THE ELIMINATION OF IMPACT FEES ALTOGETHER.

SO WE WERE A LITTLE CONCERNED WITH THAT DIALOGUE BUT WHAT PASSED WAS SENATE BILL 1883 AND WORKED WITH THE HOME BUILDERS ON THIS ISSUE TO SAY THAT YOU CAN'T INCREASE YOUR IMPACT FEES FOR -- UNTIL EVERY THREE YEARS AND WITH SOME PHASE IN OF THAT IMPACT FEE TO HELP DEVELOPERS BUT ALLOW YOU AND YOUR DEVELOPERS TO WORK TOGETHER ON THOSE FEES AND THEN HOUSE BILL 2559 IS A DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUM BILL. YOU CAN ONLY ISSUE TWO DEVELOPMENT ATORIA IN 180 DAYS SO A LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT.

A COUPLE OTHER BILLS AND I ENCOURAGE Y'ALL, I THINK UNDER THE -- UNDER THIS MEMO HERE THERE'S A LIST OF ALL THE BILLS THAT PASSED AND SUMMARIES AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE DO. WE READ EVERY SINGLE BILL AND SUMMARIZE IT AND KIND OF DIGEST IT SO ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE BILLS.

I'VE GIVEN THIS PRESENTATION IN SIX HOURS AND TWO HOURS AND 30 MINUTES AND I WAS TOLD I HAD 15 SO I'VE CUT IT DOWN PRETTY SHORT BUT I WANT TO MENTION A FEW OTHER BILLS THAT DID PASS.

ONE IS SENATE BILL 1173 AND THAT'S AN INCREASE IN THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING THRESHOLD FROM 50,000 TO 100,000 SO I THINK A GOOD BILL THAT UPDATES THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT 50,000 HAS BEEN UPDATED FOR 20 YEARS OR SO AND SO GIVES YOU SOME FLEXIBILITY IN PURCHASING. AND THEN I MENTIONED THIS ONE ONLY BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ASKED A LOT ABOUT IT, HOUSE BILL 762 AND SENATE BILL 2237 AND THAT DEALS WITH SEVERANCE PACKAGES.

THIS WAS AN ISSUE THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY AIMED AT CITY MANAGERS OR CITY EMPLOYEES BUT IT CAUGHT UP THOSE OF THE EMPLOYEES THAT YOU DO

[01:10:01]

QUESTIONS. >> MONTY -- SORRY.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> I THOUGHT I TALKED FAST.

>> I'M SO USED TO AFTER 30 YEARS OF LEGISLATIVE WORK TO SAY THINGS AS FAST AS I CAN SO I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF TO SLOW

DOWN. >> I KNOW OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN MORE PRESSING THINGS THAN THE FRONT OF OUR MINDS, BUT I EMAILED YOU A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM THE FRIDAY UPDATE HE'S REFERRING TO AND IF HE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS THAT DARREK ATTACHED TO THE AIM, FREEZE FEEL FREE. I WANTED TO ASK ABOUT A COUPLE BILLS SPECIFICALLY. SO CURRENTLY, WE'RE NOT A CIVIL SERVICE COMMUNITY. BUT FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION DID SUCCESSFULLY SUBMIT A PETITION AND SO AT -- ACTUALLY AT OUR UPCOMING WE WILL CALL THE ELECTION FOR CIVIL SERVICE FOR FIREFIGHTERS TO BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT SO CAN YOU SPEAK TO HB 2713 WHICH PROHIBITS THE REPEALING OF

IT. >> YEAH, I CAN -- I WAS GOING TO LOOK IT UP BUT I'LL TRY TO RECALL IT FROM MEMORY.

IN CURRENT STATUTE THERE'S PROHIBITION FOR CITIES OVER 950,000 TO REPEAL CIVIL SERVICE AFTER IT'S BEEN IN PLACE A YEAR. THIS BILL BROUGHT THAT BRACKET FROM 950 -- I FORGET WHAT THE FINAL BRACKET, MAYBE 50,000.

>> I BELIEVE SO.

>> SO JUST IF YOU HAVE CIVIL SERVICE FOR A YEAR, YOU CANNOT REPEAL THAT.

>> RIGHT, OKAY. I THINK THAT'S RELEVANT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION FOR US.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH QUITE A BIT IS EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT SPECIFICALLY AS IT RELATES TO FIRST RESPONDERS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION OR RECALL OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD DETAILS AROUND THE GRANTS FOR SUPPLEMENT

INCOME. >> THERE WERE GRANTS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY THAT WERE ALL GOOD.

THERE WERE INCOME BENEFITS FOR RETIRED OFFICERS AND I THINK THAT WAS 4414. I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK, I'M SORRY, JESUS.

>> THAT'S OKAY.

>> I'LL LOOK AT THAT ONE AND FOLLOW UP WITH

YOU. >> SORRY WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO TOUCH BASE BEFORE THIS.

>> IT'S ALL GOOD.

>> BUT IT'S 4264.

>> 4264.

>> 4264.

>> OH, YEAH, GRANTS FOR PEACE OFFICERS WITH MASTER PROFICIENCY CERTIFICATE.

>> YEAH.

>> LET ME LOOK AT THE SUMMARY IF YOU WANT TO GIVE ME A SECOND OR IF NOT, I CAN -- LET ME FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.

>> THAT'S COOL.

>> I TRY TO REMEMBER AS BILL NUMBERS AND THINGS AS POSSIBLE BUT IT'S A

LOT. >> ONE OF THE OTHER ONES -- THERE WERE 9,000.

>> YEAH.

>> VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF YOU.

>> I KNOW.

>> ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS ALREADY BEGINNING TO IMPACT SOME INTERNAL PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE IS THE CHANGE IN THE PUBLIC MEETING

NOTICE. >> UH-HUH.

>> 1522.

>> YEP.

>> I'M SURE THAT ONE YOU DO RECALL THE TOP OF YOUR

HEAD. >> CHANGES PUBLIC NOTICES FROM 72 HOURS TO THREE BUSINESS DAYS AND THE POSTING OF BUDGETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT CAME FROM SMALL CITY OF SMITHVILLE OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN WHERE THE STATE REP AND THE CITY KIND OF HAD SOME HEAD BUTTING AND IN RESPONSE TO WHAT HE PROPOSED SO THAT JUST MOVES YOUR COUNCIL AGENDA POSTING PROBABLY A DAY OR TWO.

>> RIGHT.

>> BACK.

>> SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE UP UNTIL 5:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY BASICALLY TO POST THE AGENDA AND IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, YOU KNOW, APRIL MADE A CHANGE ON SATURDAY TO ADD THE CIP UPDATE I'LL GO OVER ON THE SCADA IN A FEW MINUTES BUT THIS NEW LAW WOULD REQUIRE TO US BASICALLY POST ON THE END OF THE DAY THURSDAY.

>> THURSDAY. >> SO IT OBVIOUS MOVES UNOUR INTERNAL PROCESSES AND TIME LINES FOR JUST TO GET ANYTHING DONE.

>> IS THAT FOR ANY NOTICE OR ONLY NOTICES THAT PERTAINING TO THE TAX RATE AND BUDGET?

>> THAT'S FOR ANY NOTICE.

>> ANY NOTICE, OKAY.

>> THERE ARE PROVISIONS ON POSTING OF THE BUDGET.

>> I KNEW THERE WERE SOME SPECIFIC

ONES. >> OUR UNDERSTANDING IT ALSO APPLIES TO ALL OF THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT WOULD FALL UNDER THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT,

CORRECT. >> CORRECT.

>> OKAY.

>> WE'VE GOT SOME GUIDANCE ON OUR WEBSITE WE PUT OUT THIS WEEK SHOWING IF YOU'RE CITY HALL IS CLOSED ON FRIDAY OR IF THERE'S I HOLIDAY ON FRIDAY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK.

>> I WAS INCORRECT, WE HAVE TO POST BY WEDNESDAY AT 5:00 NOW IN ORDER TO POST BY TUESDAY AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO BUMP THAT FORWARD IF THERE IS A HOLIDAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN BETWEEN.

>> YEAH. >> GOT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

WELCOME HOME. GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO -- I KNOW THEY DO A LOT UP THERE

[01:15:03]

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO US IN THE CERTAINLY

SPECIAL. >> SOUNDS

GOOD. >> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE

IT. >> THANKS, MONTY.

>> YEAH.

[2. Child Safety Program and Proposed FY 2026 Program. Tiffany Totah, Cour...]

>> AND WE'LL KEEP ROLLING. NEXT UP, TIFFANY WILL PROVIDE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE CHILD SAFETY PROGRAM.

>> GOOD EVENING, MISS TOTAH.

>> GLEANING, OOD EVENING. I'M PRESENTING TONIGHT'S PROPOSED PROGRAM FOR CHILD SAFETY GRANTS AS THE GRANT APPLICATIONS WILL BE OPENING UP AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. ENZO THIS IS JUST A REMINDER OF SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.

THIS DISCUSSION ON THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM BEGAN BACK IN AUGUST OF 2019 WHEN COUNCIL ADOPTED A RESOLUTION THAT THE COUNTY PRESENTED IN REGARDS TO THE CHILD SAFETY FEE IT IS COLLECTED ON VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS AND THE CITY RECEIVES A PORTION OF IT TO FUND THE PROGRAM WE LET IT BUILD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND TONIGHT WE'RE PROPOSING OR SHOWING YOU ALL THE PROGRAM FOR THIS NEXT YEAR. OUR COMMITTEE IS COMPRISED OF FIVE PEOPLE. WE HAVE THREE TWO FROM THE GRANTS DECISION, KATY AND VICTORIA AND MYSELF, KEVIN WHO IS IN OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND SERGEANT ALAN OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY GOES OVER A FEW.

THOSE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY AND NONTAXES ENTITIES THAT WORK WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS AND THE NUMBERS THEY PROVIDE TO US SHOW THOSE CHILDREN, THEY'RE SERVING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS.

THE ELIGIBLE USE CATEGORIES THAT THE FUNDING IS ALLOCATED TOWARDS INCLUDES CHILD SAFETY AND/ABUSE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND DRUG AND/OR ALCOHOL OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN. THEY HAVE DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS THAT NEED TO BE SUBMITTED WHICH IS NOW GOING TO BE AN ONLINE FORM THAT WE WILL HAVE ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND THEY ALSO NEED TO SUBMIT WITH THAT THE PROGRAM BUDGET FORM, THE IRS 990 AND TAX EXEMPTION DESIGNATION LETTER AND OUR COMMITTEE DOES REVIEW THAT INFORMATION AND WE PROVIDE THEM THEIR NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING AT THE END OF THAT.

AND SO THIS IS WHAT OUR APPLICATION TIME LINE HERE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE FOR THIS YEAR.

APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN ON MONDAY, JULY 28TH AT 8:00 A.M.

THEY WILL CLOSE AT 5:00 P.M. ON FRIDAY, AUGUST THE 15TH.

OUR COMMITTEE WILL THEN MEET AND REVIEW THESE APPLICATIONS AND THEN THE FUNDING NOTIFICATION WILL BE PROVIDED TO THOSE GRANT RECIPIENTS, AND THEN WE WILL BRING THIS BACK TO CITY COUNCIL BEFORE FINAL ADOPTION OF THAT WITH THE RECOMMENDED FUNDING ALLOCATION IN WHICH CONTRACTS WILL THEN BECOME EFFECTIVE AFTER OCTOBER 1S T. AN SO FOR THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM WE ARE LOOKING AT A FUNDING FOR THE GRANTS OF 55,000 WHICH IS CONSISTENT IN YEARS PAST.

LAST YEAR WE DID INCREASE THAT NUMBER SLIGHTLY AND THEN THIS YEAR WE SHIFTED SOME FUNDING AROUND FOR A PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION FEE SO SOME OF THE FUNDING WE HAVE WILL BE ALLOCATED TOWARDS SALARIES OF STAFF THAT WORK ON THIS PROGRAM TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME GENERAL FUND SAVINGS AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THE CAR SEAT PROGRAM WHICH IS STILL PART OF THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE FUNDING ALLOCATED AND WE SHIFTED SOME FUNDING FROM THAT AS WELL TO HELP ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT. THE PROJECTED FUNDING IMBALANCE I HAVE ON THE SCREEN IS ACTUALLY FOR END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, SO $210,374 IS WHAT WE ANTICIPATE ENDING AT THIS FISCAL YEAR. WITH THE NEXT YEAR'S PROPOSED PROGRAM WE'RE LOOKING AT AN ENDING FUND BALANCE OF $192,020.93. I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT NUMBER THERE. AND I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

>> ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE HAS? NO, OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM AND WE APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO IT.

>> THANK YOU. I AM APPRECIATIVE OF COUNCIL'S SUPPORT OF THIS PROGRAM AND OUR GRANT RECIPIENTS ARE AS WELL.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MISS TOTAH. MR. GARZA, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE

[3. Capital Improvement Plan Update. Jesús A. Garza, City Manager]

US. >> YES, SIR, SO THIS IS THE ITEM THAT I ALLUDED TO ABOUT THE PRIORITIZATION OR REPRIORITIZATION OF THE SCADA OR THE SYSTEM THAT BASICALLY HANDLES THE DATA FOR OUR WATER AND OUR SEWER SYSTEM. I THOUGHT FOR THE BENEFIT OF MAYBE NEW VIEWERS AND AS A REFRESHER TO YOU, I THOUGHT I'D GO THROUGH A FEW SLIDES JUST SUMMARIZING WHAT IT IS AND WHAT THE ROLE OF SCADA IS AND A LITTLE BIT OF THE TIME

[01:20:01]

BLESS YOU. BLESS YOU. HOPE THAT WAS A SNEEZE.

SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THE SCADA SYSTEM MONITORS AND MANAGING OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN REALTIME. IT INCLUDES SENSOR, NETWORKS, CONTROL SOFTWARE. IT INCLUDES QUITE A BIT OF TECHNOLOGY. OUR CURRENT SCADA IS THE SAME SCADA THAT CAME WITH THE PLAN WHEN THE PLANT WAS COMPLETED IN 2001 SO IT'S QUITE OUTDATED WITH AS MUCH PROGRESS THERE'S BEEN IN TECHNOLOGY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES. WHERE IT'S PRIMARILY USED IT'S USED AT OUR WATER TREATMENT PLANTS, PUMP STATION, STORAGE TANKS, DISTRIBUTION NETWORK, WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND TREATMENT, IT'S USED THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM, I DON'T KNOW WHY SOME OF THOSE WORDS ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS.

THANKS, JAMES.

>> MONEY.

>> IS THAT WHAT IT WAS? STORAGE.

I GOT TO EMPHASIZE THE WORD STORAGE. ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REALTIME MONITORING OF PRESSURE, FLOW, TANK LEVELS, REMOTE CONTROL OF PUMPS AND VALVES, EARLY DETECTION OF SYSTEM FAILURE, AUTOMATED ALIFTS AND HISTORICAL DATA.

IT REALLY IS THE BRAINS BEHIND OUR WATER SYSTEM, AND WE DO HAVE ONE SO DON'T GET ME WRONG. I'M NOT TRYING TO SUGGEST WE DON'T HAVE ONE. WE DO HAVE ONE BUT, AGAIN, IT'S OVER TWO DECADES OLD. HAVING A MORE MODERNIZED SYSTEM AS JAMES HAS SUGGESTED AND PRESENTED IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS WOULD ENSURE THAT WE JUST MAINTAIN SAFE AND RELIABLE WATER DELIVERY BECAUSE IT'LL HELP US MAYBE CATCH ISSUES SOONER THAN WHAT MAYBE THE HUMAN ELEMENT OF IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO CATCH.

OF COURSE, WITH THAT ALSO COMES IMPROVED EFFICIENCY, SUPPORTS REGULATORY COMPLIANCE 23 APPLICABLE AND ENHANCES PUBLIC HEALTH AND COULD POTENTIALLY REDUCE DOWNTIME AND DAMAGE IF USED IN A PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE THAT CATCHES DEFERRED MAINTENANCE ISSUES OR ANY OTHER ISSUE.

I ALREADY MENTIONED THE AGE LIMITATION OF IT.

I KNOW THAT JAMES HAS EXTENSIVELY IN PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS COVERED THE TOPIC OF THE VULNERABILITIES OF THE SYSTEM AS IT RELATES TO CYBEREXPOSURE, I WON'T GO INTO THE DETAILS OF THAT BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT HAVING A MORE MODERN SYSTEM WOULD BE ABLE TO BETTER PROTECT US FROM THOSE CYBERTHREATS THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAVE BECOME WAY TOO COMMON.

AGAIN, I KNOW I'M BEING REDUNDANT BUT THE GOAL IS TO INVEST IN THE MODERN SCADA THAT WILL ALLOW AND IMPROVE OUR RESILIENCY, HELP BUILD REDUNDANCY AND AS I MENTIONED EARLIER HAVING A HUMAN CENTRIC OPERATION POTENTIALLY ALLOWS US TO SCALE FOR FUTURE GROWTH.

AS AN EXAMPLE, WE'RE GOING THROUGH OUR OVERARCHING WATER STUDY RIGHT NOW, RIGHT, THAT MAY LEAD TO AN OPPORTUNITY TO DIVERSIFY OUR WATER SOURCE AND IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A SOPHISTICATED SCADA SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ATTACH TO WHATEVER THAT IS, RIGHT, I MEANING, IF IT ENDS UP BEING A SEPARATE, YOU KNOW, BRACKISH WATER TREATMENT FACILITY, SOMETHING, A SYSTEM THAT WOULD BE NIMBLE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GROW WITH OUR SYSTEM AS OPPOSED TO BEING A SYSTEM THAT IS VERY SPECIFIC TO OUR WATER PLANT.

YOU KNOW, I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS EARLIER BUT CURRENTLY OUR SCADAS AREN'T IN SYNC SO IT'S A DIFFERENT SCADA FOR WATER AND SEWER AS WELL AND SO THAT ALSO JUST PROVIDES SOME INEFFICIENCIES AMONG STAFF. THE ISSUE OF HAVING AN ANTIQUATED SCADA WAS REALLY HEIGHTENED AFTER WINTER STORM URIE.

YOU MAY RECALL THAT WINTER STORM URIE AND THE EFFECT OF IT WAS THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION THAT LED TO CERTAIN GAUGES FREEZING OVER AND EVENTUALLY LED TO REALIZING THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE WATER IN SOME OF OUR STORAGE TANKS AND THE SYSTEM WASN'T ALERTING US OF IT.

AND SO AT THE TIME AFTER THE AFTER ACTION REVIEW, AFTER WINTER STORM URIE IS WHEN WE REALLY STARTED TO DO A FULL-COURT PRESS ON ANALYZING THE SCADA.

WE HAD AN INITIAL DESIGN COMPLETED.

THAT SAME YEAR IN 2021 BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE WITH TRYING TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF TECHNOLOGY IN OUR SYSTEM.

IT DID COME WITH A PRICE TAG AND SO AS AN EXAMPLE, IN ORDER TO REPLACE BOTH SCADA SYSTEMS IT'S NORTH OF $6 MILLION AND SO ONCE WE STARTED TO GET A SENSE OF THE SCOPE OF THE COST WE DECIDED TO TRY AND PURSUE GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY AND FUND IT.

AN OPPORTUNITY AROSE IRONICALLY THAT SAME YEAR IN THAT IN THAT THERE WAS LEFTOVER MONEY FROM HURRICANE HARVEY THAT HAD

[01:25:05]

AND, YES, YOU HEARD THAT RIGHT, MONEY FROM HURRICANE HARVEY THAT'S BEEN FUNNELED FOR YEARS AS PART OF THAT RECOVERY EFFORT. SO WHAT I MEAN BY LEFTOVER MONEY, MONEY FUNNELS DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE ADMINISTERS IT PREDOMINANTLY THROUGH THE GLO AND SOMETIMES COMMUNITIES DON'T ACCEPT THE MONEY OR SOMETIMES THEY DON'T COMPLY. AND BLAVENLGLY PUTS IT BACK IN.

THE STATE DECIDED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO ADMINISTERING THIS LEFTOVER POT OF MONEY AND IN ESSENCE PUT THE ONUS ON REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS.

PREVIOUS TO THIS, THE ORIGINAL ITERATION OF THE PROGRAM STEMMING FROM HURRICANE HARVEY WAS A VERY DIRECT PROCESS BETWEEN US AS THE MUNICIPALITY, AND THE GLO. SO THE DIFFERENCE HERE WAS THAT NOW YOU HAD A MIDDLEMAN BASICALLY IN THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND I KNOW MARK IS PROBABLY GETTING A HEADACHE THINKING BACK TO THAT WHOLE PROCESS BECAUSE IT WAS AA INTENSIVE PROCESS THAT OUR REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION WENT THROUGH TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ALLOCATE $80 MILLION.

OUR REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION NOT ONLY REPRESENTS VICTORIA BUT THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THERE'S JUST A DIFFERENCE IN OPINION.

WE JUST HAVE A COUPLE OF SPOTS ON THAT BOARD, RIGHT.

SO YOU MAY RECALL MARK'S EFFORTS AND JOSIE'S AT THE TIME TO ADEQUATELY REPRESENT AND FIGHT TO MAXIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY OUT OF THAT 80 MILLION ASSIGNED TO OUR COG.

ULTIMATELY WE WERE ASSIGNED FROM THAT 80 MILLION TO GO TOWARDS OUR PROJECTS. BUT YOU CAN SEE BASED OFF THIS TIME LINE HOW LONG IT TOOK TO GET FROM THE MOMENT THAT THE REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION GOT THAT CONTRACT FROM THE GLO TO THE MOMENT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SUBMIT OFFICIAL GRANT APPLICATIONS. IT WAS A WHILE.

ALMOST TWO YEARS. AND SO IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, WE SUBMITTED THOSE GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR THREE PROJECTS, FOR THE SCADA PROGRAM FOR BOTH WATER AND SEWER, AN INFLUENT SCREEN FACILITY REPLACEMENT AND FOR THE LONE TREE DRAINAGE PROJECT. REMEMBER, THESE PROJECTS HAVE TO BE ATTACHED TO FLOOD MITIGATION, PARTICULARLY CAUSED BY HARVEY, AND SO IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, SCADA DOESN'T NECESSARILY AUTOMATICALLY OFF THE TOP OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR MIND MIGHT SCREAM DRAINAGE, BUT WE -- I WASN'T HERE AT THE TIME SO Y'ALL WOULD REMEMBER BETTER THAN ME THAT THAT HARVEY CAUSED A BIG ISSUE AT THE SURFACE WATER TREATMENT PLANT WHICH CAUSED ONE OF THOSE MORE INTENSE BOIL WATER NOTICES BECAUSE IT CAME WITH NO WATER FOR A LITTLE BIT. SO, THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BASICALLY DRAGGED ON LONGER THAN ANYBODY ANTICIPATED THAT IT WOULD.

AND SO UNFORTUNATELY IT'S LED TO US JUST NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THE PROJECT AND AS TIMELY OF A MANNER AS WE THOUGHT WE WOULD IN 2021 WHEN WE DEVELOPED THE PLAN SO IN LIGHT OF WHAT HAS JUST HAPPENED WITH THIS SITUATION AND THE POTENTIAL AND I WANT TO USE THAT WORD VERY INTENTION, POTENTIAL CORRELATION BETWEEN THE LACK OF THE MODERN SCADA AND THE SITUATION THAT HAS US UNDER THE BOIL WATER NOTICE CURRENTLY AND I SAY POTENTIAL BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WHETHER HAVING A MODERNIZED SYSTEM WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE AND SOMETHING AS A COMMITTEE WE CAN TAKE A DEEPER DIVE IN BUT IT'S CERTAINLY -- IT CERTAINLY WOULDN'T HAVE HURT TO HAVE THE MORE MODERN SCADA SYSTEM IN PLACE SO RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO WAIT FOR THE GLO TO APPROVE OUR PROJECT, I'D LIKE TO PRESENT TO YOU AN OPTION THAT WOULD WITH CERTAINTY MOVE UP THE SCADA PRIORITIZATION PROJECT TO BE PART OF FISCAL YEAR '26 BUDGET WHICH, OF COURSE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF DEVELOPING AND YOU WILL BE APPROVING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. SO, AS I MENTIONED, ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING FUNDING OUT OF CDBGMIT IS AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

A ROUGHLY $6 MILLION PROJECT. NOW, LET ME TAKE A STEP BACK.

I MENTIONED THAT WE WERE APPROVED FOR $20 MILLION.

THIS IS TWO YEARS AGO SO THESE NUMBERS ARE OLD, RIGHT, BUT TWO YEARS AGO, THESE PROJECTS WERE A TOTAL OF $22 MILLION. SO, WE KNEW THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE SOME LOCAL MONEY TO BASICALLY MATCH THE $20 MILLION IN ORDER TO COMPLET

[01:30:02]

TO IN ESSENCE LESSEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS COMING FROM VSTDC TO THE COMMUNITY PROJECT AND THUS FREEING UP THAT ROUGHLY $1.6 MILLION THAT COULD MAKE US WHOLE TO PROCEED WITH THE WATER SCADA PROJECT. NOW TO BE CLEAR I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DECIDE TONIGHT BUT PRESENTING IT SO YOU CAN REFLECT ON THE OPTIONS IN THE SCENARIO WHERE WE WANT TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH PRIORITIZING DOING THE WATER SCADA ASPECT OF THE PROJECT. VSTDC IS. I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO PUT TOGETHER ADDITIONAL SLIDE TOO TALK ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS ASPECT OF THIS. THE MOMENT WE DECIDED ON SATURDAY -- HE -- I SHOULDN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS.

GILBERT WAS IN THE OFFICE. I WAS IN THE OFFICE TOO BUT HE WAS DOING THIS IN THE OFFICE SATURDAY WITH A WAY TO FUND THE SCADA PROJECT.

AND IMMEDIATELY I REACHED OUT TO ARDURA, THE FIRM WE HIRE TO HELP US AND KATY. THEY HAVE MOLLY WHO USED TO WORK FOR THE GLO AND WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ATTRACTIVE THINGS ABOUT HIRING THEM THROUGH THE PROCESS WAS HAVING MOLLY BE PART OF THAT TEAM SO MOLLY HAS DONE A LOT OF PHONE CALLS OVER THE LAST 72 HOURS TO TRY TO GET SOME DEFINITIVE ANSWERS AS TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE PULL THE SCADA PROJECT OUT OF THE CDBG APPLICATION. IT WOULD REQUIRE TO DO AN AMENDMENT, WHICH WOULD BY DEFAULT DELAY THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WOULD REMAIN BEING FUNDED OUT OF THE CDBG MIT LIST.

IT MAY NOT BE A BAD THING. IF WE'RE TAKING THAT $2 MILLION THAT WAS GOING TO MATCH THE SCREENING PROJECT, DELAYING THAT SCREENING PROJECT ISN'T -- IS PROBABLY OKAY BECAUSE WE NEED THAT $2 MILLION IN '26 ANYWAY. NOW, I KNOW THAT MARK AND I HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY MARK HAS BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED WITH THE CDBG MIT FROM THE BEGINNING. MARK, YOU ASKED A VERY POINTED SPECIFIC QUESTION, WHICH WAS OR IS, CAN WE REPLACE THE PROJECT WITH ANOTHER PROJECT? WE'VE LOOKED INTO THAT AND WHAT IS REALISTICALLY GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHAT REALISTICALLY WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT BECAUSE THE PRICING FOR THE REMAINING PROJECTS ARE TWO YEARS OLD, THE PRICING OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE LIKELY TO GO UP, AND SO IF

[01:35:03]

MOLLY AND MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO DO A FULL-COURT PRESS ON OUR STATE, SENATOR'S OFFICE, STATE REP'S OFFICE TO HOPEFULLY PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE GLO TO APPROVE THESE PROJECTS.

BECAUSE WE NEED THEM DONE AND OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE OF THINGS GOING ON ACROSS THE STATE, RIGHTFULLY SO, RIGHT NOW A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ARE BEING -- ARE VERY MINDFUL OF THE NEED TO NOT WAIT TO INVEST IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT COULD HELP COMMUNITIES DEAL WITH SITUATIONS IN A BETTER MANNER.

AND SO NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO PUT A FULL-COURT PRESS ON OUR ELECTED -- STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND PUT PRESSURE ON THE GLO SO I DO THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE MAYBE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY TRYING TO DO THAT BUT KNOW THAT THERE IS AN OPTION IN THE SCENARIO WHERE WE WANT TO PULL SCADA TO PRIORITIZE SCADA.

SO, YEAH.

>> I GOT A QUESTION. AS WE'RE AWAITING FUNDING THROUGH THAT -- THE --

>> CAN YOU HEAR ME.

>> YES.

>> OTHER COMMUNITIES, HAVE THEY RECEIVED ANY FUNDING FOR THEIR PROJECTS?

>> VERY FEW.

>> YEAH.

>> 20 SOME PROJECT S. THERE MAY BE ONE OR TWO THAT RECEIVED FUNDING.

>> IT APPEARS IT LIES AT THE GLO LEVEL IN TERMS OF DRAGGING FEET, WHATEVER ISSUES, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S PROCESS OR PEOPLE IN TERMS OF APPROVING PROJECTS TO GET THAT UPON OUT BECAUSE WE'RE NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOW IN OUR THIRD BUDGET CYCLE WAITING ON FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THEM YET. CERTAINLY I THINK THE IDEA TO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, TALK WITH OUR STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME INFORMATION, I THINK, IS A GOOD ONE AND WE WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

VERY QUICKLY TO SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME ACTION ON THAT.

>> AND I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT YOU HAVE AN OPTION BECAUSEBECAUSE YOU'RE RIGHT, MAYBE THE OTHER PROJECTS WILL COST MORE. I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALL THE MONEY GETS SPENT. IF IT DOESN'T GET SPENT, IT GOES BACK AND IF YOU DIDN'T SPEND IT YOU CAN'T GET A REALLOCATION OF THE MONEY THAT WASN'T SPENT.

>> KEEP IN MIND EVEN IF THE PRICING ON ALL PROJECTS DIDN'T CHANGE WE WERE ALREADY GOING TO HAVE TO CONTRIBUTE $2 MILLION OF OUR OWN

MONEY. >>

YEAH. >> AND SO EVEN IF WE DID JUST SIMPLY PULL OUT WATER SCADA TO FREE UP 3.6, THAT DIFFERENCE COULD STILL MAKE US WHOLE FOR THE SCREEN PROJECT THAT WOULD CAUSE US TO NOT HAVE TO LATER FIND $2 MILLION SOMEWHERE ELSE TO MATCH THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AS PART OF THE 20 NOW.

SO --

>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THE POINTS YOU

MADE. >> DOES THAT MAKE

SENSE. >> WE DO NEED A FULL-COURT PRESS.

>> YES. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS EFFORT? ONE LAST THING, LEAP -- HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE TESTS FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ALL IS GOOD SO THE PRESS RELEASE HASN'T GONE OUT ALREADY. I'M SURE ACTUALLY IS ABOUT 20 CLICK ENTER ON THAT AND SO AS, AGAIN, AS EXPECTED, WE ARE RESCINDING THE BOIL WATER NOTICE EFFECTIVE NOW.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> SO --

>> THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.

>> YEP.

>> THAT WAS THE BEST THING YOU

TOLD ME ALL NIGHT. >> I KNOW, RIGHT?

>> I UNDERSTAND WE WILL NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> MIC WAS DROPABLE, I WOULD DROP IT.

>> I UNDERSTAND WE DO NOT HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION, CORRECT?

>> NO, SIR.

>> OKAY, WE ARE OUT AT 6:39.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.