Sep 02, 2025 City Council

[*A portion of this video is without audio*]

[A. CALL TO ORDER]

[1. Announcements/Reminders:]

[00:01:26]

JUMP STRAIGHT TO OUR TASKS FOR THIS EVENING. WE WILL START WITH

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS. >> EVENING, COUNCIL. I HAVE SEVERAL UPDATES FOR YOU TONIGHT. WE WANT TO ASK YOU THAT THIS UPCOMING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH, WE WILL BE HAVING A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING HERE IN THESE CHAMBERS AT 5:00 P.M., TO CONTINUE THE PROGRESSION OF OUR TAX RATE AND BUDGET TIMELINE. IN ADDITION, WE PLAN ON PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON THE UTILITIES SUBCOMMITTEE WORK THIS UPCOMING WEEK. WE COMMITTED EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS THAT WE WILL BE PROVIDING A MONTHLY UPDATE TO YOU. WE INTEND ON DOING THAT DURING THE SPECIAL MEETING NEXT WEEK. ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY, I HAVE QUITE A FEW UPDATES FOR YOU THIS EVENING. BUT I THINK IS WARRANTED, CONSIDERING THEY CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. I THINK THAT BUYS THEM A FEW EXTRA MINUTES. IN CELEBRATION OF NATIONAL LIBRARY CARD SIGN-UP MONTH, AND OF COURSE, THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY, THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY HAS MULTIPLE CELEBRATIONS HAPPENING THIS MONTH. THE LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR THE .5 K STORYBOOK FUN RUN BEING HELD ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH. THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY RUN STARTS AT THE MUSEUM AT INNS FOUR BLOCKS AWAY WITH A FREE COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY IN THE LIBRARY PARKING LOT. PARTICIPANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DRESS AS A BOOK CHARACTER.

EXCLUSIVE FLAVORS THROUGH SUCH RESECT, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CHECK IT OUT. THE FRIEND'S ANNUAL FALL BOOKSTORE WILL HE HELD SEPTEMBER 14 THROUGH 20TH, STARTING WITH THE MEMBERS SALE AND ENDING WITH THE BACK FILL UP ON THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 20TH. I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT IT IN A SECOND. TICKETS, TABLES, AND SPONSORSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR LIBRARIAN NOCTURNE, A NIGHT AT THE LIBRARY. DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? AWESOME. COCKTAIL PARTY ON FUNDRAISER HOSTED BY THE FRIENDS OF THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY AT 6:00 P.M. AS THE ICING ON THE BIRTHDAY CAKE, A GOAL OF 50,000 CARDHOLDERS FOR THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. NEWLY RENEWED CARDHOLDERS TO SIGN UP THIS MONTH CAN GET THE COMMEMORATIVE LIBRARY CARD BY RESIDENT ESTHER GRAU. ALL RIGHT. ESTHER, WHO WANTED THE LIBRARY CARD DESIGN CONTEST. PROCEEDS WITH THIS EVENT BENEFIT THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY, PROVIDING FUNDING FOR ALL AGES. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ANY OF THESE AGES, VISIT 361-485-4301. ON BEHALF OF THE COMEDIC AGENTS DEPARTMENT, HOPEFULLY YOU SAW THE RELEASE OF THE LATEST EPISODE OF TOWN TALK FEATURING OUR VERY OWN JOE NEVER SAID, DIRECTOR OF DISCOVER VICTORIA.

IT IS NOW ON YOUTUBE AND SPOTIFY. RESIDENTS CAN LEARN ABOUT ALL THE ATTRACTIONS AT THE FEST NEXT MONTH, INCLUDING THE BRAND-NEW RACES. RESIDENTS CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT OTHER FUN THINGS TO DO IN VICTORIA LIKE JACK FEST ON THURSDAY THIS WEEK AND THE TACOS AND MARKS TRAIL. I DON'T WRITE THIS. I JUST READ IT. ON BEHALF OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, PLEASE JOIN US SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TRANSIT IN VICTORIA. THE VICTORIA TRANSIT ENGAGEMENT PLAN IS NOW OPEN, GIVING YOU THE CHANCE TO INFLUENCE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW TRANSIT ROUTES. VISIT OUR ONLINE MAP TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON PROPOSED ROUTES. YOUR INPUT IS VITAL IN CREATING A TRANSIT SYSTEM THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY. PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY OR COMMENT ON THE MAP AT VICTORIA TX.GOV. THE SURVEY IS AVAILABLE IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. WE CANNOT WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU. I DID READ THAT RIGHT, IT HAS A SUMMATION POINT. WE CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU! LASTLY, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE AND

[00:05:03]

BUT WE ARE EXCITED, HE BRINGS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN CIVIL ENGINEERING. HE SERVED AS CITY ENGINEER NOT ONLY IN KINGSVILLE, BUT FOR THE CITY OF ALEX DID FOR THEM. BASICALLY HAS HIS WHOLE CAREER IN CIVIL ENGINEERING. SO I'M VERY EXCITED HE IS JOINING THE TEAM, BECAUSE I'M CONFIDENT THAT HE WILL HELP US DO BETTER AT MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS AND THE PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS AS IT RELATES TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. LIKE ALWAYS, I LIKE TO PUT PEOPLE ON THE SPOT. GLAD I GAVE HIM A HEADS UP, BECAUSE HE

HAD ALREADY WALKED UP. >> YOU ARE LUCKY YOU GOT A HEADS

UP. ONLY BECAUSE HE KNEW YOU. >> EXACTLY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME BE PART OF TEAM VICTORIA. I LOOK FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS, AND CONTINUING MY ENGINEERING CAREER WITH YOU ALL.

>> VERY GOOD, WELCOME. GREAT TO HAVE YOU. THANKS, RUDY. THAT IS

[2. Public & Employee Recognitions:]

ALL I HAVE FOR THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WILL JUMP INTO PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS. WE WILL START WITH A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS. THE FIRST ONE BEING CHILDHOOD CANCER

AWARENESS MONTH. >> YES SIR. WHEREAS CHILDHOOD CANCER IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH BY DISEASE IN CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES, IMPACTING 47 CHILDREN A DAY, WITH 2285 CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES BEING DIAGNOSED BEFORE THEIR 20TH BIRTHDAY. WHEREAS DESPITE AN INCREASE IN RATES OF PEDIATRIC CANCER, IT IS STILL GROSSLY UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERRESEARCHED. MOST PROTOCOLS AND TREATMENTS HAVE NOT CHANGED IN OVER 30 YEARS, DUE TO THE LACK OF FUNDING AND RESEARCH, AND 95% OF SURVIVORS WILL HAVE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH IMPACTS LONG AFTER THEY RING THE BELL ENDING TREATMENT, INCLUDING SECONDARY CANCERS RESULTING FROM DAMAGE TO HEALTHY CELLS DURING CHEMO TREATMENTS. WHEREAS HUNDREDS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AT THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL ARE HELPING CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES COPE THEIR EDUCATIONAL, EMOTIONAL, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT, AND WHEREAS RESEARCHERS AND HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WORK DILIGENTLY, DEDICATING THEIR EXPERTISE TO TREAT AND CURE CHILDREN WITH CANCER, TOO MANY CHILDREN AFFECTED BY THE DEADLY DISEASE , AND MORE MUST BE DONE TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FIND A CURE. THEREFORE I, DUANE CROCKER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, DESIGNATE SEPTEMBER, 2025 AS CHILDHOOD CANCER MONTH IN VICTORIA, TEXAS, AND ENCOURAGE CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THE CAUSE THAT IMPACTS FAMILIES IN EVERY

COMMUNITY. >> YOU ARE WELCOME TO SAY A FEW

WORDS. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, FOR MAKING THIS PROCLAMATION. WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT , AND AS WAS READ IN THE PROCLAMATION, 45 KIDS A DAY ARE DIAGNOSED WITH CHILDHOOD CANCER . 1800 A YEAR LOSE THEIR FIGHT. PART OF THE THING WITH OUR NONPROFIT IS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO BRING AWARENESS TO TRY TO GAIN MORE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER, PEDIATRIC CANCER ONLY RECEIVES ROUGHLY ABOUT 4% OF THE TOTAL FUNDING FOR CANCER RESEARCH. YOU KNOW 4% IS NOT ENOUGH FOR OUR KIDS. AGAIN, THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, FOR DOING THIS PROCLAMATION AND FOR DEDICATING THIS MONTH TO CHILDHOOD CANCER. THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON TO OUR SECOND PROCLAMATION TONIGHT, FOR HUNGER ACTION MONTH. MS. HILBRICH.

>> YES, SIR. WHEREAS HUNGER AND POVERTY -- ONE IN EVERY FIVE CHILDREN DO NOT KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL WILL COME FROM.

WHEREAS EVERYONE NEEDS NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO THRIVE , AND IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN AMERICA PEOPLE ARE WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. YET, IN 2023, 47 MILLION PEOPLE INCLUDING MORE THAN 14 MILLION CHILDREN FACED FOOD INSECURITY IN THE UNITED STATES. IN VICTORIA COUNTY, 97%

[00:10:03]

>> MAYOR, COUNCIL, WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM THE CITY. I BELIEVE , WELL, I DON'T BELIEVE IT, IT IS A FACT. WE HAVE THE HUNGER HEROES CHALLENGE GOING ON RIGHT NOW, AND I CAN TELL YOU, IT IS EXPLODING. WE HAVE 38 TEAMS ACROSS THE CITY AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO GREAT THINGS HAPPENING FROM THAT. BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO INVITE EACH ONE OF YOU TO COME OUT, WE WILL BE GIVING TOWARDS, SO COME ON OUT AND SEE WHAT WE DO. WE APPRECIATE YOU. THANK YOU.

>> WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, OUR NEXT ITEM IS OUR KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL MONTHLY BEAUTIFICATION

AWARD. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. BEFORE WE ANNOUNCE OUR BEAUTIFICATION AWARD WINNER FOR SEPTEMBER, I WANTED TO REMIND EVERYBODY WE HAVE ANOTHER BIG CLEANUP COMING UP. SEPTEMBER 20TH IS OUR FALL SWEEP , AND THIS IS, HISTORICALLY, OUR BIGGEST ONE OF THE YEAR. SO, WE NEED LOTS OF TEAMS TO SIGN UP , INDIVIDUALS, THE MORE PEOPLE WE GET TO SIGN UP, THE MORE PLACES WE CLEANUP. AS A REMINDER, OUR MAIN LOCATION IS AT THE TARGET . WE CLEANUP ALONG THE LOOP, BUT THEN WE PUT TEAMS REMOTELY ALL OVER CITY ROADWAYS. AND WE ALSO FEED EVERYBODY, SO EVERYBODY GETS SOMETHING. WE HAVE TACOS FROM NEW RODEO, AND WE HAVE CHICK-FIL-A AGAIN . AND SALVATION ARMY MAKE SURE WE HAVE COFFEE AND DONUTS WHEN WE GET THERE. NOBODY IS GOING TO LEAVE HUNGRY. SO IT WILL BE 8:00 A.M.

TO 10:00 ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20TH. PLEASE SIGN UP, WE REALLY NEED PEOPLE TO SIGN UP SO WE KNOW HOW TO PLAN FOR TEAMS. YOU CAN DO THAT, JUST GO TO KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL.ORG AND SIGN UP. SO, ON TO OUR BEAUTIFICATION AWARD WINNER. THIS WILL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROLONGED AWARD, BECAUSE OUR AWARD WINNER LAST-MINUTE COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT. THEY HAD AN ISSUE. SO YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE PICTURE AND THE HOOPLA AND ALL OF THAT LATER IN THE MONTH. OUR AWARD WINNER FOR SEPTEMBER, WITH GUARANTEED TITLE, WHICH IS ON EAST AIRLINE . IF YOU'VE DRIVEN BY THERE LATELY, THEY'VE DONE A REALLY NICE MAKEOVER . PAINT, NEW LANDSCAPING, AND IT REALLY SHOWS THAT AN AREA WITH JUST A LITTLE GREEN SPACE CAN REALLY DO A LOT TO IMPROVE. SO WE WILL HAVE PICTURES AND PUT A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT OUT, BUT GUARANTEED TITLE IS OUR SEPTEMBER WINNER. THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC OR EMPLOYEE

RECOGNITIONS? >> NO SIR.

>> GREAT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE CHIEF OF POLICE BACK THERE IN THE CORNER. LAST WEDNESDAY, RICKY AND I ATTENDED THE GOLDEN CRESCENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY , AND THE CHIEF WON AN AWARD FROM GOLDEN CRESCENT FOR HIS HELP WITH THE REGION . I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT FINE GENTLEMEN

BACK IN THE CORNER. >> CONGRATULATIONS. YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO FLY UNDER THE RADAR, DIDN'T YOU? ITEMS FROM COUNCIL? DO WE HAVE ANY THIS EVENING?

>> I HAVE ONE THING. I WOULD LIKE TO DIRECT THIS TO MR. FOOTE

[00:15:02]

. MY SCREEN TIMED OUT. >> THAT SOUNDED VERY SERIOUS THERE FOR A SECOND. I THOUGHT YOU WERE IN TROUBLE. DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ISSUES? ALL RIGHT, WE WILL SEE IF WE CAN GET

[4. Citizen Communication:]

WELCOME BACK. >> HI, I LIVE AT 2107 AT NORTH BEND . GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MAYOR. THANK YOU FOR WORKING ON VICTORIA OAKS TRAILER PARK. THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO WORK ON IT, SO KIND OF THE MANAGER OF IT.

MICHELLE WAS WORKING ON IT, SHE IS THE CODE ENFORCEMENT SUPERVISOR. THEY'VE GOT BANANA LEAVES GOING ACROSS THE SIDEWALK, TO WHERE IF YOU WALK, YOU HAVE TO WALK IN THE ROAD OR RIDE YOUR BIKE ON IT. AND SCHOOL HAS STARTED, IT'S A DANGER TO THE CHILDREN. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE MAILBOXES , THEY CAN'T PUT LIDS ON THEM. THEY DON'T WANT TO PUT LIDS ON THEM. AND ONE MAILBOX, ON TRAILER 32, IS COMPLETELY OFF. THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER, DESPITE BEING A MULTIMILLIONAIRE, HE REFUSES TO TAKE CARE OF HIS TRAILER PARK. IT'S REALLY UP TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND CODE ENFORCEMENT, AND EVERYTHING. I WISH YOU WOULD TAKE CARE OF HIS TRAILER PARK. JUST RECENTLY, HE MADE THIS MEMO OR SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO GET THEIR TRAILER HITCHES CUT OFF AND STUFF, AND THEY CAN AFFORD THAT . SOME CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO FIX THE ROOF TO THEIR TRAILERS. I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT THAT THEY HAVE TO CUT OFF THE TRAILER HITCH. JUST PUT A BUCKET OVER IT SO YOU CAN'T SEE IT. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE TO HIRE A WELDER TO COME AND CUT THIS OFF, AND I THINK THE REASON HE WANTS IT LIKE THAT IS IF YOU EVER WANT TO MOVE AFTER HE HAS A Q, YOU CAN'T MOVE SO YOU DON'T HAVE A HITCH, YOU HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE TO PUT IT BACK ON. IT'S A LOW INCOME AREA, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY HE WANTS TO DO THIS TO PEOPLE. IT'S NOT LIKE THESE PEOPLE ARE MILLIONAIRES. I MEAN, SOME TRAILER HOUSES COST $1 MILLION, LIKE FOR MILLION-DOLLAR MOVIE STARS, BUT THIS AIN'T ONE OF THE ISSUES. IT'S ALMOST LIKE HE'S HARASSING THE TENANTS. I MEAN , HE'S NOT HARASSING THEM, BECAUSE HE CAN LEGALLY DO THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT WHAT HE'S DOING TO THE TENANTS.

I WOULD LIKE DANA FOWLER, SHE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS, TO TAKE CARE OF THE TRAILER PARK. SOMEONE TO CALL HER AND TALK TO HER, BECAUSE OVERALL THEY'VE BEEN DOING A REALLY BAD JOB AND I WISH THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER WHO HAS 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE WOULD RISE TO THE OCCASION AND TAKE CARE OF THE TRAILER PARK, AND NOT MAKE PEOPLE CUT OFF THE TRAILER HITCH. THEY CAN AFFORD ALL THAT. NO MATTER HOW YOU PUT IT, IT IS STILL A TRAILER HOUSE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU FIX IT. THANKS AND

HAVE A GOOD EVENING. >> THANK YOU. MY SECOND CARD FOR THE EVENING IS FROM MR. HARLEY FISK. MR. FISK, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

WELCOME BACK. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND INTERESTED CITIZENS. I KNOW THAT JESUS COVERED THE EVENTS GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY. THE FUN RUN STARTS AT THE MUSEUM, BECAUSE THAT WAS THE SITE OF THE ORIGINAL LIBRARY HERE IN VICTORIA. THAT TIME IT WAS CALLED BRONTË LIBRARY. AT THE EVENT ON THE 25TH, WE WILL BE HAVING A SILENT AUCTION FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, SOME OF THE BOOKS THAT CAME FROM THE BRONTË LIBRARY. SO THOSE ARE RARE, HISTORICAL, MOSTLY TEXAS BOOKS. SO I JUST WANTED TO INVITE EVERYONE FROM THE COUNCIL TO ATTEND THE EVENT. IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN FOR EVERYONE. WE ARE HAVING SORT OF A MYSTERY PLAY GOING ON DURING THE EVENT, SO AGAIN, A GOOD TIME TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE LIBRARY. FUNDS RAISED GO TO SUPPORT LIBRARY PROGRAMS, AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR TIME. THANK

YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. FISK .

APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL CLOSE CITIZEN

[00:20:01]

>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE TWO ITEMS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS, HOWEVER, BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS WILL BE CALLED AS ACTION ITEMS LATER IN THE AGENDA. SO THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY TO HANDLE THAT IS TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, ASK FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN

[1. Public Hearing on the 2025-2026 City of Victoria Tax Rate. Wesley Jane...]

>> OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. WITH THAT, THEN,

ITEM C1. >> ITEM C ONE IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2025/2026 VICTORIA TAX RATE.

>> ALL RIGHT, IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS

[2. Budget Public Hearing. Wesley Janecek, Finance Director]

SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE ITEM C ONE. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM C

TO. >> ITEM C2 IS A BUDGET PUBLIC

HEARING. >> ANYONE HERE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS COUNCIL AND ITEM C2? PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE HEARING FOR ITEM C2. WE WILL REVISIT

[D. Consent Agenda:]

AGENDA. >> YES THERE, THE ADOPTION AND MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 19, 2025. ITEM D2 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AUTUMN OF $125,000 FOR THE PARKING LOT PROJECT AT RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE. SECOND AND THIRD READING. ITEM D3 IS ADOPTION OF THE TITLE VI PLAN AND COMPLIANCE PROGRAM. THAT'S IT . IT IS

SHORT TODAY. >> VERY GOOD, THANK YOU. ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA? I MOVED TO ADOPT

[1. An ordinance approving and adopting a budget for the Fiscal Year begin...]

THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> ALL IN AGREEMENT, SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? CONSENT AGENDA PASSED AS READ. WE WILL MOVE THE ACTION ITEMS FROM COUNCIL AND START WITH ITEM E1.

>> AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING A BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, IN AN AMOUNT OF 255,078,003 AND $48. AND THAT ITEM IS ON FIRST READING.

>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M SURE YOU NOTICED THAT THE TAX RATE AND THE BUDGET FIGURE THAT WE POSTED ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA DIFFER FROM OUR LAST CONVERSATION THAT WE HAD, SO I WANTED TO WALK YOU THROUGH MAINLY WHAT THOSE DIFFERENCES ARE. THAT TOOK ME TO QUORUM CALL. EVERYBODY IS HERE.

>> NO ONE HAS LEFT, I THINK WE ARE GOOD.

>> SO, AS SHE PULLS IT UP, YOU NOTICE A DIFFERENT TAX RATE THAT WAS POSTED WITH THE BUDGET. SO WE OBVIOUSLY PROPOSED THE VOTE APPROVAL TAX RATE OF .4820. THE TAX RATE WE POSTED AN UPDATE OF THE BUDGET TO REFLECT IS IN THE 4790, WHICH IS REFLECTIVE OF A 2.5% INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE. SO I WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE IMPACT HERE SHORTLY. OKAY . WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED ON AUGUST 5TH , THE IS WHERE THE REFLECTED AMOUNTS . IT WAS 242 MILLION IN REVENUES, AND ROUGHLY 254 MILLION IN EXPENDITURE BUDGET. THAT, AGAIN, ACCOUNTED FOR THE BOARD APPROVAL TAX RATE OF 2.820. WHAT IS IN YOUR PACKET REFLECT A COUPLE CHANGES. YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO INCORPORATE A BOND REDEMPTION PROGRAM. THIS IS REFLECTED IN BOTH REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES. IT ACTUALLY SHOWS AND EXPENDITURES TWICE, BECAUSE IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE TRANSFER FROM THE STABILIZATION FUND AS ONE TRANSACTION OF 600,000, THEN IT ACCOUNTS FOR THE SECOND TRANSACTION OF THE ACTUAL BOND REDEMPTION. SO THAT IS WHY THAT IMPACT OF AS WE DISCUSSED DURING

[00:25:02]

ADJUSTING THE EXPENDITURE SIDE. >> WHERE IS THE ADJUSTMENT AND

EXPENDITURES? >> THAT IS THE 104. GENERAL

FUND. >> A DELAY IN THE POSITIONS THAT

YOU TALKED ABOUT? >> THE BOND POSITION IS THROWING IT OFF. MY BRAIN IS NOT DOING THE MATH.

>> YEAH, DON'T FORGET THE 1.2 MILLION IF YOU ARE TRYING TO DO

THE MENTAL MATH. >> RIGHT. I GET IT, IT IS NOT INTUITIVE. BUT IF IT IS LAID OUT.

>> IT'S NOT, I WAS ASKED 1 MILLION TIMES, EXPLAIN IT, WESLEY. THIS IS WHAT THE BUDGET GETS ADJUSTED TO BY DECREASING THE TAX RATE FROM THE BOARD APPROVAL TAX RATE TO THE .4790.

I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN CONVERSATION ABOUT POTENTIALLY ADJUSTING IT BACK TO THE .4820, SO I WANTED TO, JUST FOR FORMALITY SAKE, SHOW YOU WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IN THAT SCENARIO.

AS ALL THAT WOULD BE ADJUSTED WOULD BE THE INCLUSION OF THE BOND REDEMPTION PROGRAM. BUT THE ITEM THAT IS BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, THOUGH, IS THIS ADJUSTMENT. THAT IS THE WAY IT HAS BEEN POSTED. KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS THE FIRST READING.

SO WHAT YOU WOULD BE VOTING ON HIS THIS CHANGE ABOVE. IF ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGE IS NEEDED BASED ON THE CONVERSATION ON THE TAX RATE, WE CAN MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT NEXT WEEK. I ALREADY PLAN ON MAKING AN ADJUSTMENT NEXT WEEK AS I WILL BE PRESENTING AN OPTION TO THE COMPENSATION SUBCOMMITTEE THIS UPCOMING MONDAY. TO ADJUST THE PAY PROGRAM TO INVEST AN ADDITIONAL ROUGHLY $200,000 ON UTILITY CENTRIC DECISIONS . I DO BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH OUR UTILITY CENTRIC POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT THAT THE VACANCIES HAVE ON OUR UTILITY OPERATION.

SO I ALREADY WAS PLANNING ON ADJUSTING THE BUDGET NEXT WEEK WITH THAT , AND WE WILL ADJUST ACCORDINGLY DEPENDING ON YOUR CONVERSATION ON THE TAX RATE. AGAIN, THE ACTION BEFORE YOU IS WHAT IS SHOWN ABOVE. ONE OF THE COMMON QUESTIONS I HAVE BEEN GETTING, AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF NOT HAVING COME APPEAR AGAIN, I FIGURED I WOULD PUT THIS UP NOW. RIGHTFULLY SO, ONE COMMON QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN COMING OUR WAY IS WE SEE THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING THIS, THE COLLEGE IS DOING THAT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS DOING THAT. THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE YEAR, AS WE HAVE EXPLAINED PREVIOUSLY. AND THIS SPECIFIC TABLE

[00:30:05]

BECAUSE, FOR EXAMPLE, A TAX RATE OF .80. I KNOW THAT OFTENTIMES PEOPLE HAVE THE OPINION THAT WE HAVE A HIGH CITY TAX RATE. BUT IN COMPARISON TO MANY OF THE COMMUNITIES IN OUR SURROUNDING AREA, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I DON'T HAVE A SLIDE TO SHOWCASE THAT, AS I DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY MAKE THAT THE REASON WHY THAT SHOULD ALTER OUR DECISION. WE NEED TO MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT ARE BEST FOR VICTORIA, REGARDLESS OF WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE DOING. BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE SOME SITUATIONAL AWARENESS TO THE FACT THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE BEING VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH HER TAX RATE. SO, JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT. WITH THAT, I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE. AND I WILL PUT IT BACK TO THIS SLIDE, SINCE THIS PARTICULAR ACTION ITEM IS RELATED TO THE BUDGET OF 255

MILLION. >> ANY QUESTIONS ? NO? OKAY.

THEN THE ACTION ITEM THAT IS BEFORE US IS E1, WHICH WILL BE ADOPTING THE PROPOSED BUDGET LISTED ON THE AGENDA, 255078 343. DO I HAVE ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THAT ACTION ITEM?

>> I HAVE A QUESTION. >> YES.

>> IF WE CHANGE THE TAX RATE , AND I'M GOING TO PROPOSE THAT WE GO TO THE MOTOR APPROVES TAX RATE, BECAUSE OF SB 10, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF SB 10, ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT IS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE CITY. DOES THAT AFFECT, IF WE APPROVE THIS BUDGET AS IT IS, DOES THAT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THAT?

>> IT WOULD. THAT IS WHY SHARED THIS SCENARIO. THIS SCENARIO SUGGESTS WHAT THE BUDGET WOULD BE ADJUSTED TO IF WE ELIMINATED, OR, SHOULD I SAY, IF WE REVERTED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSE TAX

RATE OF 4.820. >> BUT IF WE APPROVE IT WE CAN

REVERT BACK? >> IF YOU APPROVE WHAT.

>> WE ARE APPROVING THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW.

>> CORRECT. FIRST READING. >> SO AT THE SECOND MEETING WE

CAN AMEND IT. >> CORRECT. WE CAN AMEND THE PROPOSED BUDGET NEXT WEEK, WHICH I WAS ALREADY PLANNING ON DOING ANYWAY, TO INCORPORATE THE MORE AGGRESSIVE PROPOSED PAY PROGRAM

FOR UTILITY CENTRIC POSITIONS. >> THANK YOU.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, SO BACK TO ITEM E1 . IS THERE A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO THIS ITEM?

>> MOVED TO APPROVE ITEM E1. >> SECOND.

[00:35:05]

>> I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE , WE HAVE A MOTION AND THE SECOND FOR ITEM E1. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? >> ONE OPPOSITION. ITEM E1

[2. An ordinance setting the Tax Rate for the 2025 tax year at a total of ...]

>> ITEM E- TWO IS AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE TAX RATE FOR 2025 TAX YEAR AT A TOTAL OF .4790 PER $100 OF PROPERTY VALUATION.

>> ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN THE INFORMATION ON THIS .

FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCUSSION, DO I HAVE A MOTION WITH RESPECT

TO ITEM TWO? >> YEAH, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM E- TWO. AND I MOVED TO THE PROPERTY TAX BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF THE TAX RATE OF 0.4790, EFFECTIVELY A 1.7%

INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE. >> THANK YOU , DR. YOUNG . DO I

HAVE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO READ, INSTEAD OF .4790, TO READ THE VOTER APPROVED TAX RATE OF 4820.

BECAUSE OF SB 10. RICKY AND I AT THE GOLDEN CRESCENT GENERALLY ASSEMBLY MADE THE POINT THAT SP-10 WILL PASS . WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE 1% OR 2.5%. HE MADE THE POINT THAT THERE IS NOBODY IN THE ASSEMBLY THAT HAS EVER RUN A CITY OR COUNTY, AND YOU CAN TELL. OKAY. I'M GOING TO AMEND IT. I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF .4820, WHICH IS EFFECTIVE AS A 2.34% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

>> OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO AMEND THE PREVIOUS MOTION .

>> THE REASON I'M DOING THIS IS BECAUSE WE CAN'T GO UP . WE CAN GO DOWN . IF WE WANT TO CHANGE IT NEXT WEEK WE CAN CHANGE IT.

DO I HAVE A SECOND ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT?

>> MOTION AND A SECOND. THE DISCUSSION IS ON THE AMENDMENT.

NOW EXPLAIN THE RATIONALE BEHIND YOUR MOTION.

>> WELL, IF SB 10 PASSES, IT WILL MEAN THAT FUTURE, THE BEST IT COULD BE IS 2.5, IT COULD BE 1%. AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE REALIZE THAT IF THAT HAPPENS, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FINANCIAL CRUNCH. AND I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW AND DO 3.5. ALSO, I BELIEVE 3.5 IS APPROPRIATE AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE A LOT OF FUTURE PROJECTS . THE CITY HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO BUY A LIBRARY. WE ARE GOING TO MOVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REDO STUFF IN THERE. THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET. WE HAVE A LIABILITY OF PERSONAL TIME. WE HAVE DONE BUYBACKS, AND THERE IS A BUYBACK IN THE BUDGET. BUT THAT IS A SMALL AMOUNT. IF THINGS BECOME BETTER, THAT IS MORE MONEY TO DO STREETS AND STUFF. BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE 1% IN THE 2.5%. THAT REALLY HANDCUFFS THE CITY. THAT IS WHY I AM PROPOSING THIS. SO WE CAN CHANGE IT, WE CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS, IF YOU THINK THE COUNCIL FEELS THAT 2.5 IS CORRECT, THEN GO FOR IT. WE HAD A COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, AND THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE JUST PAST HUGE PAY RAISES. NOW, THOSE PAY RAISES, ESPECIALLY FOR POLICE AND FIRE, HAVE UP THE STEPS. SO, IN THE FUTURE, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE WILL NEED FOR PAYROLL IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST. THAT IS THE REASON WHY I THINK THAT 3.5 IS APPROPRIATE. BUT WE ALSO, IT LEAVES US THE OPTION TO CHANGE IT NEXT WEEK BECAUSE WE CAN'T GO UP NEXT WEEK IF WE GO

WITH THE PRESENT. >> OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENT,

DISCUSSION? >> I AGREE. I AM CONCERNED WITH THE AGGRESSIVE PAY PROGRAMS THAT WE ALL HAVE IN OUR HEARTS THAT

[00:40:05]

>> OKAY . THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?

>> YOU KNOW, I INITIALLY CAME IN AS A NO NEW REVENUE GUY. I FELT PRETTY STRONGLY ABOUT THAT. AS MORE INFORMATION HAS COME ABOUT, I STEPPED AWAY FROM THAT. POSSIBLY BEGRUDGINGLY. EASY FOR ME TO SAY. SO I'VE MOVED OFF OF THAT PLATFORM . I FEEL THAT 2.5 WAS A GOOD COMPROMISE. I WAS FEARFUL OF JUST MAXING OUT BECAUSE WE HAD THE ABILITY TO MAX OUT. I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THAT. I UNDERSTAND THE SENTIMENT, I UNDERSTAND LOOKING AT THE FUTURE, AS WELL. I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF OUR STATE TELLING US HOW TO RUN OUR CITIES. THAT WORRIES ME. I HOPE THAT SOME SENSE COMES OUT THERE AND SOMEBODY CAN STOP THAT AND LET US RUN OUR OWN MUNICIPALITIES. THE WAY THAT WE SEE FIT. FINANCIALLY. NOBODY KNOWS IT BETTER THAN US.

>> WELL SAID, I AGREE WITH THAT. I THINK WHAT IS HAPPENED WITH THAT, AND THIS IS SPECULATION ON MY PART. THAT THE SINS OF MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN VISITED UPON THOSE WHO WERE BEING MORE RESPONSIBLE. I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS HERE. TO THAT END, AT LEAST FROM MY STANDPOINT, I AGREE WITH DR. YOUNG ON THIS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF, I WILL JUST KIND OF ECHO A COUPLE OF THINGS I SAID BEFORE. THAT IS WE DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. I DON'T THINK THAT RESPONSIBILITY IS TO MAX OUT WHAT WE CAN GET OF THE TAX RATE. I THINK IT IS TO DETERMINE WHAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT OUR CITIZENS EXPECT TO SERVE. BASED ON WHAT I AM SEEING IN THE BUDGET, I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WITH THE PROPOSED RATE OF .4790 , AND THE BUDGET WE HAVE APPROVED . I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITY. BUT THAT FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IS ALSO TO THE TAXPAYER. AND I WILL ECHO AGAIN WHAT CONCERNS ME, A MASS TAX RATE IN THE FACE OF NOT JUST NO GROWTH, BUT NEGATIVE GROWTH. I THINK WE CAN DO BETTER. WE HAVE TO DO BETTER. I SEE THAT CHANGING COMING DOWN THE ROAD, BUT I DON'T THINK , PHILOSOPHICALLY, IT JUST STRIKES ME AS FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO MAX OUT A TAX RATE WHEN YOU HAVE NO GROWTH IN THE CITY. SO FROM THE STANDPOINT, I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO , MY OPINION IS WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO AT THE 2.5% INCREASE, RATHER THAN THE LARGER 3.5% INCREASE.

>> LET ME ADD SOMETHING ELSE. THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE , PUBLIC WORKS WAS ADDRESSED, AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS ADDRESSED ENOUGH. I DON'T HONESTLY THINK THAT IT IS GOING TO HELP THAT MUCH . AND TO ME, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO REVISIT THAT. WE NEED THE MONEY. PEOPLE WANT SERVICES. I SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN, A GERMAN SPOKE TO ME THE OTHER DAY ABOUT HIS TRASH PICKUP, AND HE SAID HE WAS UPSET THAT NOBODY WAS PICKING UP HIS TRASH IN A TIMELY MANNER. ALL THE SUDDEN THEY WERE. I TOLD HIM WE HAD TO RAISE RATES BECAUSE WE COULD NOT COMPETE. THAT WAS THE SAME FOR PUBLIC WORKS. I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO HIGHER. WE NEED THE MONEY TO DO THAT. PEOPLE WANT SERVICES. IT'S IMPORTANT TO THEM. WHETHER THERE IS GROWTH OR NO GROWTH, SERVICES ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM. ONE THING, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE APPRAISALS HAVE GONE DOWN SINCE I HAVE SET OUT THERE

[00:45:02]

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE ALL THE GREAT THINGS THE CITY EMPLOYEES DO. BUT THEY CAN'T TAKE VACATIONS. WE NEED SUCCESSION PLANNING . WE HAVE PEOPLE, THERE IS SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE, I THINK HE IS IN THE AUDIENCE. HE HAS WANTED TO RETIRE THREE TIMES AND HE HAS PUT IT OFF BECAUSE HE CARES ABOUT THE CITY. HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RETIRE. WE NEED TO REPLACE THEM. IT IS HARD TO REPLACE HIS EXPERIENCE. SO THAT IS THE REASON I WOULD PROPOSE A

3.5. >> AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. YOU KNOW, AS YOU SAID, IT DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M COMING FROM? I UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. THIS PROCESS IS, AT LEAST IN MY MIND, YOU COME UP WITH A BUDGET TO FIGURE OUT OKAY, HOW CAN WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES WE NEED? AND ONCE YOU HAVE THAT BUDGET, YOU SAY OKAY, HOW MUCH DO WE NEED TO CHARGE IN TAXES TO DO THAT? WHAT I SAW WAS THE INITIAL BUDGET WAS THAT THERE WAS A VERY CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES. WHICH I APPLAUD, I GET IT, I THINK THAT'S GOOD. I THINK WE NEED TO BE SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE. BUT I THINK SOME OF OUR ESTIMATES WERE OVERLY CONSERVATIVE IN TERMS OF SOME REVENUES , AND I SAW THAT WE COULD MAKE SOME VERY MINOR ADJUSTMENTS AND STILL DO EVERYTHING WE NEED TO DO, BASED ON THE LOWER TAX RATE. IF WE WERE A CITY THAT WAS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY, IF WE WERE A CITY THAT WAS EVEN GROWING, LET'S START THERE. VERSUS WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. I WOULD , 100%, HERE WE ARE COMING FROM AND TOTALLY GET IT. BUT BECAUSE OF WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND BECAUSE OF WHAT I SEE IN THAT BUDGET, BUT WE ARE STILL ABLE TO DO ALL THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO, AND I THINK WE ARE STILL ABLE TO MEET OUR COMPENSATION GOALS. WE ARE STILL ABLE TO MEET OUR OBLIGATIONS. BUT DO SO AT A LOWER TAX RATE TO OUR CITIZENS.

AND I THINK WE'LL IT TO THEM TO SAY THAT THAT IS THE TAX RATE WE HAVE IN PLACE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE. THAT WE CAN AND HAVE BEEN PROVIDING. SO THAT WAS MY WHOLE TAKE ON THE 2.5 VERSUS 3.5%.

>> I ATTENDED GOLDEN CRESCENT REGIONAL AND I DID HEAR THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE, AND IT WAS PRETTY GLOOMY. IF SP-10 PASSES, THAT HE DID SAY HE WAS GOING TO BE TOUGH ON THE CITIES AND ON

[00:50:03]

THAT IS WHY I SAID TO COMPROMISE WITH THE 2.5, STILL ABOVE WHAT I WOULD WANT FOR OUR CITIZENS OF VICTORIA. BUT THAT IS WHY I COMPROMISED AT 2.5. IT'S JUST, I THINK WE CAN CUT BACK ON SOME OF OUR WISH LIST THAT WE HAVE COME A BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A WISH LIST. AND IT IS GOING TO COST MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. BUT WE ARE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO HOLD BACK ON THE WISH LIST. SEE WHAT HAPPENS. I WOULD GO WITH THE 2.5.

>> OH, I DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS.

>> I DO HAVE A COMMENT. I THINK THAT BOTH MR. LOFGREN AND MR. SCOTT HAVE VALID POINTS. WE SEEM WITH A 3.5 WOULD LOOK LIKE, HAD WE ADOPTED THAT. AND WE LOOKED AT IT AS A PROJECTION. MR. GARZA WAS KIND ENOUGH TO SHOW US WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE. FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, WHERE WE WOULD BE. AND I THINK THAT , AS SOMEONE ELECTED TO THIS POSITION, I HAVE TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF VICTORIA. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, EVERYONE IN VICTORIA IS STRUGGLING RIGHT NOW. EVERYONE HAS A BUDGET THAT THEY ARE WORKING OFF OF IN THEIR HOUSEHOLDS. OR IN THEIR BUSINESSES. AND AS SUCH, IF WE ARE NOT GOING TO GO WITH A NO NEW TAX RATE, THEN THE COMPROMISE IS SOMETHING I THINK THAT THOSE OF US WHO ALIGN WITH THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH, THAT WILL STILL BE HARD, TO MEET PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND SAY I AM SO SORRY, WHETHER IT IS EIGHT DOLLARS OR $18 OR $180, IT IS STILL AN IMPACT WHEN PEOPLE ARE MAKING CHOICES RIGHT NOW OF WHAT THEY PURCHASE AT THE GROCERY STORE. SO, WHILE PROPERTY TAX VALUES, WHILE WE SAW A DECREASE IN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED WOULD COME IN, THAT IS NOT THE CASE FOR ALL RESIDENCIES. AND I THINK WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT, THAT SOME RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES APPRAISED HIGHER. AS SUCH, THEY WILL PAY MORE. WHETHER WE CHANGE THIS RATE OR NOT. SO, I HAVE TO GO WITH DR. YOUNG, MAYOR CROCKER, AND MR. GARZA, AND SAY I THINK THAT THIS IS AT LEAST A COMPROMISE, AND I AM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH A 3.5%, REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET. I THINK WE WOULD DO WHAT ANY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PERSON WOULD DO AND LOOK AT OUR BUDGET AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS ACCORDINGLY , TO WORK OFF OF

WHAT WE CAN. >> ANY OTHER COMMENT? BECAUSE IF NOT, I HAVE A PROCEDURAL QUESTION. A TAX RATE VOTE REQUIRES A SUPER MAJORITY. WHAT WE HAVE IS A PROPOSED TAX RATE, AND THEN WE HAVE AN AMENDMENT TO THAT MOTION. I AM ASSUMING THAT THE AMENDMENT WOULD LIKEWISE REQUIRE THE SUPER MAJORITY, CORRECT? OKAY, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WAS CLEAR ON THAT.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. WHAT IS BEFORE US, THE FIRST MOTION WOULD BE MR. LOFGREN 'S AMENDMENT FOR A PROPOSED RATE AT .4820. ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT AMENDMENT, SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? CORRECT . OKAY. SO, THE AMENDMENT FAILS .

THEN BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, WHICH WAS A TAX RATE AT .4790. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OPPOSED?

>> I AM OPPOSED. >> I BELIEVE SO. ALL RIGHT. I SEE DISCUSSION. HANG ON JUST A SECOND.

[00:55:02]

>> APRIL, CAN YOU READ ME THE RECORD OF HOW MANY YESES AND HOW MANY NOSE THAT VOTE WAS? YES, PLEASE. FOR THE 4.790.

>> ALL RIGHT. >> VOTING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE?

[3. Approve a program management services agreement with AG|CM, Inc. for t...]

>> OKAY, WE CANNOT HEAR IT BACK OVER HERE. WE WERE JUST TRYING

TO MAKE SURE. >> I APPRECIATE YOU CHECKING.

GOOD. ALL RIGHT, THAT TAKES CARE OF THE HEAVY LIFTING IN THE ACTION ITEMS. SO LET'S MOVE ON TO ITEM E3.

>> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH AG CM INC. FOR THE COMMUNITY CENTER EXPANSION PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $637,333.

>> MR. WELDER, WELCOME. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU FOLLOW THAT UP, BUT

I WILL DO MY BEST. >> JUST MAKE IT SIMPLE.

>> SIMPLE AND QUICK. SO, THE COMMUNITY CENTER EXPANSION. THIS IS THE NEXT STEP OF THE PROCESS, AND IT IS TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO AN OWNERS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PROJECT. SO, REAL QUICK I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE DID DO PROCUREMENT FOR THIS. WE DID AN RFQ, REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS. WE HAD A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF INTEREST. WE HAD 10 FIRMS THAT PUT IN FOR THE PROJECT. IT WAS VERY CLOSE. WE ACTUALLY WENT AS FAR AS DOING INTERVIEWS WITH THE VIEW. SO THE COMMITTEE THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO THAT CAME OVER THE RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH AG CM. THIS IS A QUICK LOOK AT THE PROJECT LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE. YOU WILL HAVE THE COMMUNITY CENTER THERE , IN THE CENTER YOU HAVE THE ARCHITECT, THE POPULACE INCORPORATED. THE OWNERS REPRESENTED, WHICH IS IF THIS CONTRACT IS APPROVED, WILL BE AG CM. THE NEXT STEP OF THE PROCESS IS TO PROCURE THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AT RISK, WHICH WOULD BE SORT OF THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR OF THE PROJECT. AG CM. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM, A PREMIER TEXAS-BASED CONSULTING FIRM. THEY SPECIALIZE IN CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, COST ESTIMATION, VALUE ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT, QA QC INSPECTION. AS YOU KNOW, THEY ARE WORKING WITH US ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS, SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. AND VERY IMPRESSED. FOUNDED IN 1996.

ON THE PRINCIPLES YOU SEE HERE ON THE SLIDE. THEY HAVE COMPLETED OVER 800 PROJECTS. SINCE 1996. SO A LONG REPUTATION IN TEXAS. A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CONTRACT, THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THE CONTRACT. FOR THE TOTAL OF $637,353, THAT IS MADE UP OF THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT SECTION, WHICH WILL BE BEGINNING AT THE INCEPTION OF THIS CONTRACT. THEY WILL HELP US PROCURING THE CMA ARE, THEY WILL HAVE DESIGN INPUT, ON-SITE PROJECT OVERSIGHT, AS WELL AS CLOSEOUT ASSISTANCE. THE SECOND PART IS THE COST ESTIMATION FEATURE, WHICH IS SORT OF A CHECKS AND BALANCES. THEY WILL GO WITH OUR ARCHITECTS AND THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGER TO VERIFY THE ESTIMATION IS DONE CORRECTLY. WHICH WILL BE A BIG HELP ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. WE DO HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES FROM AG CM HERE WITH US TODAY IN THE AUDIENCE. CHRIS REYES, SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER, AS WELL AS VERONICA? VERONICA, YES. THEY ARE HERE JUST TO SHOW SUPPORT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE, THAT I CAN'T ANSWER. THAT'S IT.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN'T ANSWER.

>> IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, SINCE THEY ARE HERE, I DON'T ME TO PUT THEM ON THE SPOT. BUT THEY MADE THE EFFORT TO BE HERE TONIGHT. SO IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO. I DON'T SEE ANY MOVEMENT.

>> YOUR REPUTATION IS GOING TO SPEAK FOR YOU.

>> GREAT, THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>> I WILL SAY THAT I KNOW THAT , IN SPEAKING WITH STAFF AND THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT, THEY HAVE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED WITH THIS FIRM. AND I THINK THEY HAVE SAVED US SOME MONEY ON THAT PROJECT. IN EXCESS OF THEIR FEE . JUST TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT THAT PROJECT IS STILL UNDER BUDGET AND PROCEEDING ON SCHEDULE . SO I THINK THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB FOR US THUS FAR. WE APPRECIATE THE WORK COMING IN. WITH THAT, THEN, WHERE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WELDER? ALL RIGHT, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM E CAPITAL THREE

. >> A MOTION IN A SECOND. ANY

[01:00:06]

EVENING? >> NO SIR.

>> I UNDERSTAND WE WILL HAVE A SHORT EXECUTIVE SESSION.

>> YES SIR. >> ARE YOU HESITATING ON WHETHER

[H. Executive Sessions:]

>> IT WILL TAKE PLACE, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL GO.

>> GOT IT. LET'S TAKE A SHORT BREAK. WE WILL MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. IT IS 6:00, WE WILL BE BACK IN 10.

>> THE CITY COUNCIL WILL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE SECOND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 AT 6:00 P.M. DELIBERATION IS A

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.