[00:00:14] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? >> YES, COUNCILMEMBER DELAGARZA? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER KIDDER? >> HERE. >> COUNCILMEMBER YOUNG? >> HERE. >> MAYOR PRO TEM YOUNG? >> HERE. >> IF YOU COULD, JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE 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. GOOD TO SEE A FULL HOUSE THIS EVENING. WE'VE GOT LOTS GOING [1. Announcements/Reminders:] ON, SO WE WILL JUMP STRAIGHT INTO OUR ITEMS FOR THE EVENING. WE WILL START WITH B.1 ON OUR AGENDA, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS, YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR US THIS EVENING? >> AT EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, DO HAVE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING, ALL CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27TH AND NOVEMBER 28 IN OBSERVANCE OF THANKSGIVING, OFFICES WILL REOPEN AT DECEMBER 1ST AT 8:00 A.M. CARPETS NORMALLY COLLECTED ON THURSDAY WILL BE PICKED UP ON NOVEMBER 26TH, AND YARD WASTE NORMALLY COLLECTED ON THURSDAY WILL BE PICKED UP ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH, COLLECTIONS WILL CONTINUE AS SCHEDULED. IN ADDITION, THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL CLOSE AT 5:00 P.M. ON NOVEMBER 26TH AND OPEN AT 9:00 A.M. ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH. ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT VPD WILL BE HOSTING A LUNCH AND LEARN FOR THE PUBLIC ON NOVEMBER 19TH FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 1:00 P.M. AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER ANNEX. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS SPONSORING THE EVENT AND WILL PROVIDE HEALTHCARE INFORMATION FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES AS WELL AS GUIDANCE ON WHEN TO KNOW WHEN IT IS TIME TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM DURING THE HOLIDAYS. VPD WILL ALSO BE HOLDING A BLUE TOY DRIVE ON NOVEMBER 21ST FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. AT TARGET, LOCATED WHERE TARGET IS. READ THE ADDRESS, RIGHT? THIS TOY DRIVE IS TO COLLECT TOYS AND DONATIONS THROUGH THE REGION THROUGH EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM SERVES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 36 MONTHS WITH DEVELOPMENT OF DELAYS OR DISABILITIES. I HAVE QUITE A BIT OF EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS, AND WE [2. Public & Employee Recognitions:] WILL GET TO THOSE, AFTER WE HONOR OUR DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS. >> ALL RIGHT, SOUNDS GOOD. WELL, LET'S JUMP INTO, THEN, PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS. WE WILL START WITH ITEM B.2A, GIS DAY PROCLAMATION, MS. SILBER? >> YES, SIR, WHERE IS THE SCIENCE OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM CONNECTS PEOPLE, REGIONS, AND SYSTEMS AND WHERE GIS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF GEOGRAPHY AND AWARENESS HELPING POLITICAL PEOPLE COLLABORATE AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE RELY ON EACH DAY AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF VICTORIA IS COMMITTED TO EXPANDING GIS TO THE SCHOOLS AND GENERAL PUBLIC IN ORDER TO SHOWCASE REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS WITH GIS, AND WHEREAS HAVING A DEDICATED DAY OF GIS ACTIVITIES FOR STUDENTS, CITIZENS, AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS DEMONSTRATES THE BENEFITS OF GIS IN A UNIQUE AND CONCENTRATED WAY, AND WHEREAS GEOGRAPHY AWARENESS WEEK IS NOVEMBER 17TH THROUGH 21ST, AND PROMOTES GEOGRAPHIC LITERACY IN SCHOOLS, AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM STATE IS OBSERVED ON NOVEMBER 19TH, 2025. NOW, THEREFORE, I, DUANE CROCKER, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA, TEXAS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 19TH, 2025, AS GIS DAY AND ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN GIS ACTIVITIES. >> MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF VICTORIA GIS DIVISION WILL BE HOLDING ITS ANNUAL GIS DAY DURING THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 17TH THROUGH THE 21ST. GIS DAY IS A GLOBAL EVENT AND RUNS CONCURRENT WITH GEOGRAPHICAL AWARENESS WEEK. THIS YEAR, WE WILL BE ATTENDING TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, HOPKINS AND O'CONNOR. WHERE WE WILL PRESENT TO THE FIFTH GRADE CLASSES. THE STUDENTS WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT GEOGRAPHY AND GIS THROUGH A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION, A DEMONSTRATION ON THE CITY GIS WEBSITE, AN INTRODUCTION TO GPS UNITS AND HOW THEY INTEGRATE WITH GIS. [00:05:07] AFTER THE PRESENTATION, WE WILL TAKE STUDENTS OUTSIDE, WHERE THEY WILL PARTICIPATE IN A GEOCACHING ACTIVITY. FOR ALL STUDENTS, THERE WILL BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOCATE, GEOCACHE IN A GPS UNIT. THESE STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A GIS CERTIFICATE AS WELL AS I GIS DAY BAG, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK CPB FOR ASSISTING WITH THOSE MATERIALS. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? >> MAYOR? NO? ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANKS FOR ALL YOU GUYS DO AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS BEING INVOLVED IN THE SCHOOLS, THAT IS AWESOME. >> THANK YOU. >> >> OKAY, NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS A AND MS. STREVEL, I BELIEVE THIS IS YOURS. >> AT EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I TOLD JESUS I WOULD BE QUICK BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT SAY ANY WORDS ABOUT OUR CITIZENS AWAY TONIGHT. EACH YEAR, WE HAVE THREE CITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT THE CITY DOES OFFER TO OUR COMMUNITY AT NO COST. SO, I FIRST WANT TO GIVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE STAFF MEMBERS OF VICTORIA FIRE DEPARTMENT, VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND REALLY, A PHYSICAL STAFF MEMBER WHO IS REPRESENTED HERE FROM EACH DEPARTMENT, BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THOSE WHO PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT TO HOST THESE EVENTS. >> WE ARE HERE. SO, WE HAVE EIGHT DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS WHO TOOK THE TIME AND ENERGY OUT OF THEIR LIVES, REALLY, TO LEARN ABOUT THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. EVERYTHING FROM STREETS, THE PUBLIC WORKS, THE FIRE AND PD, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS TO LEARN ABOUT OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, RIGHT? WE HAVE A SLIDE THAT SAYS, "WHAT DOES THE CITY MANAGER DO?" WELL, YOU GET TO LEARN THAT THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THERE IS SO MUCH TO LEARN AND WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THOSE PEOPLE HERE TODAY, SO I AM GOING TO CALL THEIR NAMES AND AS I DO, THEY WILL STEP UP, RECEIVED THEIR PLAQUE, AND I WOULD LIKE JESUS, AND MAYOR -- IF YOU DON'T MIND -- TO COME HAND IT OUT. WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, AND IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER, WE HAVE MR. STEVE MEACHAM -- IF YOU COULD JUST END UP HERE? AND LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. >> PHOTO, BUT IT'S GREAT, IF YOU CAN WALK UP, RIGHT THERE. ALL RIGHT. SAY HELLO, THEN HEAD ON BACK. CYNTHIA MCCONNELL. STEP ON UP. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY "HELLO." I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO. DO WE WANT TO -- LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. >> >> YEAH, AND THEN YOU CAN HEAD ON BACK! YOU KNOW WHAT? WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT A THING. MA'AM. THOSE ARE FOR YOU. WE NEED WALK-UP SONGS, AT THIS POINT. ALL RIGHT! MS. CATALINA RODRIGUEZ. >> >> AMBER COUNTESS. >> >> CONGRATULATIONS. MR. TIMOTHY MILLER. >> REYES. >> >> CONGRATS. AND THEN, OF COURSE, ROUNDING US OFF, IS DR. PHYLLIS B KENYON. >> >> I EXPECTED NOTHING LESS. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. >> >> ALL RIGHT, SO, I WILL KEEP IT GOING, MAYOR, IF IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH YOU. I WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO RECOGNIZE SEVERAL EMPLOYEES WHO WERE RECENTLY PROMOTED, IN ADDITION TO ACKNOWLEDGE A COUPLE OF RECENT AWARDS AND VICTORIES THAT SOME OF OUR PERSONNEL EARNED. AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE RISE, I [00:10:01] ALWAYS FEEL WEIRD SAYING THAT. BUT, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STANDING, SO WE CAN ALL SHOW SOME LOVE. I WANT TO START OFF BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE RECENT PROMOTION OF ELI VESENO. THERE, HE IS. HE WAS RECENTLY PROMOTED TO OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. IN THIS ROLE, HE WILL OVERSEE THE CITY'S PERMITTING, INSPECTION, AND REVIEW PROCESS, AND COORDINATE WITH CITY DEPARTMENTS AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE TO STAFF, CONTRACTORS, AND THE PUBLIC. ELI STARTED HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY IN 2005 SERVING AS A DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST AND LATER AS A COMBINATION INSPECTOR. HE THEN DECIDED TO LEAVE US FOR A BIT, WHILE HE HELD ROLES WITH THE CITY OF ALAMO HEIGHTS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR BEFORE RETURNING TO THE CITY IN 2021 AS OUR ASSISTANT BUILDING OFFICIAL, AND NOW, HAS OFFICIALLY TAKEN OVER OUR BUILDING OFFICIAL JOB, SO CONGRATULATIONS, ELI. >> HANKINS -- THERE, YOU GO, SAM. WOO! RECENTLY PROMOTED TO COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER FOR OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. IN THIS ROLE, SHE WILL SUPPORT THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR IN DEVELOPING AND IMPLANTING CITYWIDE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY, ENGAGEMENT, AND TRUST BETWEEN THE CITY AND COMMUNITY, MANAGING DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AND ENSURING CONSISTENT, ACCURATE, AND ENGAGING MESSAGING ACROSS ALL CITY COMMUNICATION CHANNELS. SAM BEGAN WORKING FOR THE CITY IN 2020 AS THE CITY'S COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST, AND I AM SURE WE CAN ALL AGREE, HAS BEEN A VITAL MEMBER. OF OUR -- WRITING EVERYTHING. SAM, CONGRATULATIONS. >> >> I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ELIJAH RAMOS. I JOKED THAT I FELT LIKE I JUST DID SOMETHING FOR HIM. BUT, HE IS OUR RECREATION COORDINATOR, AND WAS RECENTLY ELECTED TO SERVE AS THE EAST REGION REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TEXAS RECREATION AND PARKS SOCIETIES FUTURE AND YOUNG PROFESSIONAL BRANCH. I HOPE THAT HAS AN ACRONYM. >> >> IN THIS ROLE, HE WILL ATTEND TEXAS RECREATION AND PARKS SOCIETY MEETINGS REPRESENTING THE EAST REGION, CORDONING WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES TO ENSURE PARTS AND PROSPECTIVE INDIVIDUALS FOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND HELP TO PROVIDE NEW AND UPCOMING PROFESSIONALS WITH THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED IN PARKS AND RECREATION. ELIJAH HAS WORKED FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS, AND HE HOLDS A CERTIFIED PARKS AND RECREATION CERTIFIED CERTIFICATE, WHICH IS THE REASON WHY HE WAS ACKNOWLEDGED NOT TOO LONG AGO FROM THE NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARKS ASSOCIATION, SO HE IS A RISING STAR IN PARKS AND REC AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HIM ON OUR TEAM. CONGRATULATIONS, ELIJAH. >> >> ON THE EMPLOYEE FRONT, I WANT TO CONCLUDE THE RECOGNITIONS BY ACKNOWLEDGING AND RECOGNIZING OUR MUNICIPAL COURT CLERK, VANESSA FRANZEN, WHO RECENTLY EARNED HER LEVEL ONE CLERK A CERTIFICATION FROM THE TEXAS COURT CLERK'S ASSOCIATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL COURT'S EDUCATION CENTER, AND TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY. TO EARN A CERTIFICATION, A STUDENT MUST COMPLETE 40 HOURS OF EDUCATION AND PASS A THREE-PART EXAM THAT COVERS TOPICS SUCH AS TRAFFIC PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES, COURT ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM, AND COMMUNICATION. REBECCA BEGAN WORKING FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA IN JULY OF 2024 AND AS ALWAYS, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE INVESTMENT OF TIME AND ENERGY THAT OUR EMPLOYEES PUT TOWARD THEIR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SO, REBECCA, CONGRATULATIONS. >> NOT INDIVIDUAL AWARDS, BUT SEEM RECOGNITIONS. SO, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE, THE CITY, HAVE EARNED TWO STATEWIDE AWARDS FROM THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF TELECOMMUNICATION OFFICERS AND ADVISERS, FOR ITS VIDEO PRODUCTIONS. WHICH, OF COURSE, IS NOT ANYTHING NEW. I KIND OF FEEL LIKE OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT RECEIVING AWARDS AND BEING RECOGNIZED AS BECOMING A NORM AND I THINK THAT IS AWESOME, AND OBVIOUSLY SPEAKS HIGHLY TO ASHLEY AND HER TEAM. WE EARNED THE THIRD PLACE IN THE INTERVIEW, TALK SHOW, OR PODCAST CATEGORY FOR "TOWN TALK," THE CITY'S PODCAST FEATURING CITY OFFICIALS AND LOCAL LEADERS. "TOWN TALK," WHICH RECENTLY WRAPPED UP ITS FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION PREVIOUSLY WON AN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPALITY ASSOCIATION OF OFFICERS, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED WITH OR PODCAST, "TOWN TALK." >> COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, EARNED THIRD PLACE IN THE USE OF HUMOR CATEGORY FOR "BEETLEJUICE: HALLOWEEN PSA," IN [00:15:02] WHICH BEETLEJUICE AND LADY YAK GO OVER SAFETY CHIPS BEFORE TRICK-OR-TREATING. THE VPD TEAM HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED PREVIOUSLY FOR HIS HALLOWEEN PSA'S, EARNING AN AWARD IN 2023 FOR A "GHOSTBUSTERS" THEMED PSA. SO, I'M ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHAT WE WILL DO FOR HALLOWEEN NEXT YEAR, SO CONGRATULATIONS, ASHLEY, TO YOUR TEAM, AND OF COURSE, CHIEF, TO YOU AND YOUR PERSONNEL FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT ENDEAVOR. >> COUPLE OF PICTURES FOR THIS ONE. SO, THIS WAS REALLY NEAT. SO, THE CITY OF VICTORIA ACTUALLY PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST EVER EAST REGION TEXAS RECREATION AND PARKS SOCIETY MAINTENANCE RODEO. AND SO, THIS IS AN EVENT THAT BRINGS TOGETHER PARKS AND RECREATION PROFESSIONALS, AND TO LITERALLY COMPETE IN A SLEW OF DIFFERENT MAINTENANCE COMPONENTS. THIS YEAR, IT WAS HELD IN MISSOURI CITY AND WE ACTUALLY BROUGHT HOME FIRST PLACE IN THE TRUCK AND TRAILER EVENT. SO, FIRST TIME PARTICIPATING IN THE EVENT FOR OUR STAFF, WHEN THEY CAME BACK WITH FIRST PLACE. IN ADDITION TO THE TRUCK AND TRAILER COMPETITION, SEVERAL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS ALSO SHOWCASED THEIR SKILLS IN OTHER EVENTS INCLUDING 20 TURN MOWER, BACKPACK OF LOWER, NAIL DRIVING, AND PLANT IDENTIFICATION. SO, THIS STUFF GETS REAL SERIOUS, RIGHT? SO, I CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO MAKE IT TO THE OLYMPICS AND BRING HOME THE GOLD MEDAL. PLEASE JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING ALL OF OUR AMAZING EMPLOYEES FOR REPRESENTING THE CITY OF VICTORIA WITH EXCELLENCE. >> ACTUALLY CONTINUES TO CLIMB UP AND WILL NOW PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE MAINTENANCE RODEO IN FEBRUARY BEING HELD IN CORPUS CHRISTI, SO WE HOPE THEY REPRESENT OUR CITY AND OUR [3. Items from Council:] REGION WELL IN THAT COMPETITION. SO -- EXCELLENT. THERE, YOU GO. >> EVENING, MAYOR. >> THAT'S ALL? THERE'S LOTS GOING ON, OBVIOUSLY. SO, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, CONGRATS TO THOSE RECOGNIZED. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE ONTO ITEMS FROM COUNCIL, I KNOW WE HAVE A COUPLE THIS EVENING, SO WE WILL START WITH ONE THAT IS LIFTED, WHICH IS DR. YOUNG, I BELIEVE THIS IS YOUR ITEM IF YOU WANTED TO ADDRESS THAT? >> IT WAS. I'VE HAD MULTIPLE CITIZENS OVER A COURSE OF MONTHS, PLUS, CONTACT ME IN REGARDS TO FEEDING OF FERAL CATS. AND IT HAS ACTUALLY EXPANDED BEYOND THAT, BECAUSE IT SAYS, "FERAL CAT COLONIES," HOWEVER, IT COULD BE STRAY DOGS, AND STUFF OF THAT NATURE. AND THE CONCERN -- YOU KNOW, THE REASON WE ARE HERE TODAY, WE HAVE USED EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION, AND YET, HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE WITH THAT, AND THERE IS SOME FRUSTRATION THAT IS BREWING UP IN SOME OF THE PUBLIC. AND THUS, I DID ASK MR. SLEEP TO COME HERE AND MS. LACEY, WE DISCUSSED BRINGING FORWARD SOME EDUCATION AND TALKING ABOUT WHAT OUR OPTIONS ARE, WITH REGARDS TO THAT. >> OKAY. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO TAKE A SECOND TO INTRODUCE MARK SLOPE, HE IS OUR CURRENT DIRECTOR OF ANIMAL SERVICES AND HE IS A SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ON THIS TOPIC, SO I INVITE HIM UP HERE TO SPEAK TO YOU AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION THIS EVENING. >> MR. SLOPE, WELCOME. >> APPRECIATE IT, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE TO HELP. AS THE COUNCILMEMBER SAID, WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM, IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE. FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, THERE IS A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH FEEDING ANY ANIMAL IN A PUBLIC SPACE. I THINK PETS AND ANIMALS ARE BEST KEPT AT OUR OWN HOMES, AND CARED FOR ON OUR OWN PROPERTIES. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I PUT TOGETHER A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF WHY WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT, IN VICTORIA. AND THIS IS ANYWHERE -- BUT, WHEN YOU ARE FEEDING CATS -- OR, ESPECIALLY CATS, IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, IN PUBLIC AREAS -- AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS PICTURE, I JUST SEARCHED, "FEEDING LOOSE CATS," THESE ARE INTERNET IMAGES ARE PUT TOGETHER, NOT HARD TO FIND. THERE'S TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM. WHEN YOU ARE LEAVING TRASH OUT, YOU ARE LEAVING THE CATS OUT, ANIMAL CONTROL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PICKING UP DEAD AND INJURED ANIMALS IN THE CITY AND IN THE COUNTY, AND MY OFFICERS DON'T LIKE PICKING UP, YOU KNOW, DEAD DOMESTIC ANIMALS, OR WILDLIFE. BUT, WE PICK UP A HIGH NUMBER OF ESPECIALLY CATS, RACCOONS, SKUNKS, AT CAT FEEDING STATIONS. AND YOU CAN TELL THEY ARE CAT FEEDING STATIONS, BECAUSE THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME, THERE IS CAT FOOD, THERE IS LITTER, DEPENDING ON THOSE WHO FEED, WHO LEAVE PLATES, OR CANS, OR CABLE BEHIND. SO, AS THE SLIDE SAYS, I'M NOT GOING TO READ VERBATIM WHAT THEY SAY, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE FEEDING THE CATS MEAN WELL, THEY DO REALLY WANT TO HELP THE ANIMALS, THEY DO WANT TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE CATS. BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT [00:20:01] CITY THIS IS, BUT EVERY TIME WE DO THIS, YOU START GETTING A CONGREGATION OF CATS THAT PROBABLY ARE NOT SPAYED, PROBABLY ARE NOT NEUTERED, THEY LIKELY ARE NOT VACCINATED, AND WE HAVE SKUNK RABIES IN VICTORIA, WE HAVE RABIES ALL OVER TEXAS, SO WHEN WE HAVE A CONGREGATION OF ANY KIND OF ANIMAL, ESPECIALLY DOMESTICS THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED, YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST LEADING TO A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. WE HAVE TRAFFIC HAZARDS, WITH PEOPLE HAVING TO SQUIRM AROUND THEM. I WAS AT DOUBLE DAVE'S ONE MORNING, AT PROBABLY 6:00, AND THERE WAS A CAT BEING FED RIGHT OUTSIDE OF DOUBLE DAVE'S, AND CARS WERE SWERVING AROUND IT. SO, IT IS RIDICULOUS, THAT PEOPLE THINK THIS IS BETTER FOR THE CATS, WHEN WE ARE PUTTING THEM IN HARMS WAY. SO, THE OTHER ISSUE IS, THE UNSANITARY CONDITIONS. WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, ISSUES HERE WITH VULTURES COMING DOWN AND FEEDING ON THE CAT FOOD. SOMETIMES, THEY ARE FEEDING ON THE DEAD ANIMALS, ALSO, WAS ALSO CREATES A TRAFFIC ISSUE, AND JUST THE UNSANITARY CONDITIONS LEFT BEHIND, WHEN PEOPLE DON'T PICK UP THEIR PLATES, OR THEIR CANS, OR WHATEVER THEY ARE FEEDING THEM IN. MOST OF OUR FEEDERS NOW ARE JUST FEEDING DRY KIBBLE LOOSE ON THE SIDEWALK AROUND THE STREET, SO WE ARE NOT HAVING AS MUCH OF A TRASH ISSUE, SO THAT HELPS, BUT IT STILL BRINGS THE CATS INTO THOSE AREAS. FOR ME, AS A RABIES CONTROL EXPERT, I NEVER WANT TO SEE DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE MIXING. AND WHEN YOU SEE SOME OF THESE CATS BEING SAID, HERE IN VICTORIA, ESPECIALLY BY THE STORM SEWERS, YOU WILL SEE THE RACCOONS COME UP. THEY KNOW THE CARS, THEY KNOW THE TIME -- THEY HAVE THEIR LITTLE ROLEXES ON THAT TELL THEM IT IS FEEDING TIME. THIS IS A PROBLEM, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE CATS THAT ARE BEING FED ARE NOT FERAL, THEY ARE TAME, THEY MIGHT BE A HOME CAT OR COMMUNITY CAT THAT THEN GOES HOME TO A FAMILY. CATS ARE SUPER MANIPULATIVE, SO THEY WILL HAVE MULTIPLE FEEDERS AND MULTIPLE PEOPLE LIVING ON THEM, SO THE LAST THING WE NEED IS A DOMESTIC FRIENDLY CAT, THAT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO RABIES, OR ANY OTHER OF THE NUMEROUS DISEASES THAT CATS CAN GET FROM RACCOONS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE PAN FLU, PARGO, AND DISTEMPER. THERE ARE MULTIPLE SHELTERS ACROSS TEXAS RIGHT NOW, THIS SUMMER, THAT HAVE DEALT WITH HORRIBLE CASES OF DISTEMPER. AND IF THAT WAS TO HIT US IN VICTORIA, I DON'T HAVE FUNDS TO TREAT THOSE ANIMALS, WE WOULD HAVE TO TREAT THOSE IN MASS QUANTITIES. WHEN WE HIT AUSTIN A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT WAS DISTEMPER, TO SEE WHERE IT CAME FROM, AND IT COST US THOUSANDS, AND THOUSANDS, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO TREAT THOSE ANIMALS, AND WE STILL LOST QUITE A FEW OF THEM. AND ALSO, WHY WE ARE HERE, IT CAUSES NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLAINTS AND CONFLICTS. I WAS JUST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE SOME OF THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. AND THERE IS NO REASON, THE SAME WAY WE DON'T -- YOU KNOW, I KEEP TELLING PEOPLE, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO WALK DOWN OUR STREETS OF VICTORIA WITHOUT BEING CHASED BY DOGS, OR HARASSED BY CATS, OR TRIPPING OVER DOGS OR CAT FOOD. ONE LADY THAT CALLED US THIS SUMMER HAD SLIPPED ON CAT KIBBLE THAT WAS ON THE SIDEWALK. SHE JUST DIDN'T SEE IT, AND IT WAS , LIKE, BEADS UNDER HER FEET SLIPPING. SO, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS IT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS THE PUBLIC WHEN YOU ALLOW FEEDING ON PUBLIC ROADS OR PUBLIC SIDEWALKS. AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO FEED CATS OR FEE LOOSE CATS, FEED THEM IN YOUR YARDS, FEED THEM ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. BUT, AGAIN, WE HAVE A CITY ORDINANCE, IF YOU ARE CARING FOR AN ANIMAL, IT NEEDS TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED, CATS HAVE TO BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED IF THEY ARE LOOSE, AND THEY HAVE TO BE VACCINATED, STATE LAWS THEY HAVE TO BE VACCINATED FOR RABIES. SO, I MEAN, WHEN THESE PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN WALK IN NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE FROM CAT KIBBLE, TWO DOGS, IT IS A PROBLEM. YOU KNOW, SO I CAN ADDRESS THE DOG ISSUE BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME ORDINANCES ON THAT, IT'S VERY EASY -- I SHOULDN'T SAY IT IS "EASY," IT IS EASIER. BUT, WHEN WE ALLOW THE CATS TO BE FED ANYWHERE, THERE IS NO ENFORCEMENT ACTION, YOU KNOW? ESPECIALLY NOW THAT MOST OF THEM ARE PICKING UP THE TRASH. I THINK A COUPLE OF THEM GOT LITTERING CITATIONS. BUT, RIGHT NOW, I HAVE NO ENFORCEMENT CAPABILITY. WE DO HAVE A TEAM FOR OUR PROGRAM HERE, VICTORIA GNR DOES A WONDERFUL JOB, THEY ARE PART OF THE REASON I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF LOOSE CATS THAT ARE BROUGHT INTO THE SHELTER. BUT, IF YOU ARE FEEDING CATS RANDOMLY, EVERY DAY, AND NOT TRAPPING, NEUTERING, STATING, HEALTHY CATS MAKE HEALTHY BABIES AND THEY MAKE LOTS OF HEALTHY BABIES. IN THE SOUTH, WE ARE BLESSED WITH TWO SEASONS OF KITTENS, WERE UP NORTH, THEY HAVE ONE SEASON OF KITTENS. SO, ALL THESE CATS THAT ARE FED, IF THEY ARE NOT SPAYED OR NEUTERED, THEY ARE SUPER HEALTHY AND THEY WILL HAVE MORE BABIES, THAT IS JUST THE WAY LIFE WORKS. SO, AGAIN, FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, I AM IN SUPPORT OF AND ANIMAL SERVICES IS IN SUPPORT OF SOMETHING, SOME KIND OF ORDINANCE BEING WRITTEN TO AT LEAST DISALLOW FEEDING OF ANY ANIMAL, BUT ESPECIALLY CATS, ON PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, PUBLIC STREETS, SIDEWALKS, DRIVEWAY APPROACHES, ANYTHING WITHIN THE EASEMENT OF THE CITY STREETS. ANY QUESTIONS? >> EVEN WITH A TNR PROGRAM, THERE IS STILL ISSUES, AS FAR AS WILDLIFE COMING IN WITH THE POTENTIAL DISEASES, CORRECT? >> THERE IS. THE PROBLEM -- I [00:25:04] MEAN, BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE, CATS DO SOME OF THEIR OWN PREDATION ON CERTAIN THINGS, LIKE LIZARDS AND BIRDS. BUT, WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT DOGS THAT ARE OUT ROAMING AND KILLING CATS AND A LOT OF THESE DOGS ARE GOING TO THE VERY CAT STATIONS WHERE THE CATS ARE FEEDING. AND AGAIN, THE DOGS SHOULDN'T BE EIGHT OUT CHASING CATS, BUT IT IS LIKE, ONE PROBLEM COMPOUNDS ANOTHER, AND MOST OF THESE CATS ARE EITHER FED LATE AT NIGHT OR EARLY IN THE MORNING, WHICH IS WHEN A LOT OF OUR HIGH RABIES SUSPECT ANIMALS EAT, SO IT REALLY FEEDS THE WHOLE CIRCLE OF LIFE THING THERE, AND IT JUST WOULD BE A LOT EASIER TO DEAL WITH IF THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO FEED IN PUBLIC. >> AND IN TERMS OF WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN ELSEWHERE AND, YOU KNOW, YOUR EXPERIENCE, I MEAN, WHAT IS THE BEST SOLUTION TO ADDRESS -- FOR A COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THIS TYPE OF ISSUE, WHEN IT COMES UP? >> I THINK, LIMITING THE FEEDING IS THE NUMBER ONE THING. YOU KNOW, FOR ANIMAL CONTROL, IT'S VERY HARD TO TELL IF A CAT IS SPAYED OR NEUTERED. I WAS OUT IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE, I SAW ONE, I WAS INFORMED BY MS. LACEY THAT SHE IS SPAYED, SHE HAS HER COLLAR, SHE HAS HER SHOTS, BUT WE CAN'T CATCH A CAT AND SEE IF IT IS SPAYED OR NEUTERED, SO THE LOOSE CAT PROBLEM IS A PROBLEM, BUT CATS ARE HARD TO OBTAIN, YOU HAVE AN EIGHT FOOT FENCE AND THEY ZIPPED RIGHT OVER IT, SO THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIFFICULT, BUT IN MOST CITY'S THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, THE FEEDING IS WHAT THEY STOPPED. I WILL TELL YOU, IN MY PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT, WE PUSHED FOR THIS SAME KIND OF ORDINANCE, AND WE COULDN'T GET IT PASSED, BECAUSE THE CAT FEEDERS WERE ADAMANT THAT THEY NEEDED TO BE OUT, DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING. MOST YEARS, BIG ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS RECOMMEND CAT COLLIES, IN PARTICULAR, IF THEY ARE MANAGED, IF THEY ARE FED, AND SPAYED AND NEUTERED, THAT ANY NEW TRIBES CATS COME IN, THEY HAVE TO BE REMOVED, AND IF THEIR FAMILY, THEY CAN BE REHOMED, IF THEY ARE NOT FRIENDLY, THEY HAVE TO BE PUT BACK OUT. I CAN SPEAK TO EXPERIENCE, IN AUSTIN, WE HAD A COLONY OF OVER 400 CATS IN A MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY. THE TRAPPER, OR THE PERSON THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING THE TRAPPING AND WASN'T, WAS REMOVED AND SOMEBODY ELSE WAS PUT IN, AND IN FIVE YEARS, SHE HAD THAT COLONY DOWN TO 60 CATS, SHE TOOK OUT THE FAMILY ONCE, GOT THEM ADOPTED, SOME OF THEM JUST DISAPPEARED, BUT SHE ONLY FED THOSE COUNTS FOR COUNTING AND FOR SPAY AND NEUTER COUNTS, SO WHEN YOU ARE ON TOP OF IT, THAT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER, BUT WE'VE GOT -- YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE FEEDING -- WE HAVE SEEN CAT STATIONS HERE, AND I CALL THEM "STATIONS," IT IS JUST WHERE THEY ARE FEEDING BECAUSE THEY FEED IN THE SAME SPOT ALL THE TIME, THERE IS ONE IN NAVARRO WHERE I THINK WE CAT -- COUNT 15 CATS EVERY DAY AND THEY ARE COMING ACROSS NAVARRO TO EAT, YOU KNOW? EVERY STREET THEY ARE FEEDING ON, HAS PRETTY HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC AND THAT IS WHERE WE ARE PICKING UP THE DEAD ANIMALS, AND IT IS REALLY TIRING FOR MY STAFF, TO BE OUT THERE, PICKING UP THESE BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS THAT ARE HIT BY CARS, BECAUSE SOMEBODY IS FEEDING THEM ON A BUSY ROADWAY. >> GOT JOB. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> I HAVE -- PROBABLY A FOOLISH QUESTION -- BUT, IT'S FOR MS. LACEY. I'M JUST WONDERING, WHETHER FEEDING A CAT IN PLACE WHERE YOU SHOULDN'T BE FEEDING IT, IF THAT IS LITTERING? THAT'S PUTTING SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T BELONG ON THAT SPOT -- I'M JUST WONDERING, IF WE CAN EXPAND, OR LOOK THAT DIRECTION? >> IT DOESN'T REALLY QUALIFY AS LITTERING UNDER OUR CODE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE, WHERE IS THE PROOF OF THAT? THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO DISAPPEAR, NO MATTER WHAT, EVENTUALLY. IF THE CAT DOESN'T GET IT, A RACCOON IS GOING TO GET IT, ANSWER GOING TO GET IT -- SOMETHING ELSE -- IF IT IS TRASH, LIKE HE SAID, LIKE PAPER PLATES, OR CANS, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ABSOLUTELY WE CAN CONSIDER THAT LITTERING, BUT IF IT IS JUST A PILE OF FOOD ON THE GROUND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY HARD STANDARD TO PROVE OF LITTERING BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO DISAPPEAR ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. SO, WE DON'T GENERALLY CONSIDER THAT PARTICULAR ONE THING TO BE LITTERING, BECAUSE THE STANDARD OF PROOF WOULD BE SO DIFFICULT FOR US. >> BUT, THE FURTHER ISSUES ALONG WITH THAT, IN WHAT GETS BROUGHT IN -- AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SKUNKS, AND RACCOONS, AND POSSUMS -- BUT, THERE IS A COLONY OF VULTURES THAT ARE COMING IN, AND EATING STUFF, IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY ROOST ON PEOPLES ROOFS, THEIR CARS, THEY LEAVE FECES. THERE ARE SOME OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY ISSUES THAT ARE BECOMING PAINFULLY AWARE OF, BECAUSE OF THIS -- I GUESS -- >> UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES? >> YEAH. THE ONE HOUSE WE WERE AT THE OTHER DAY, THEY HAVE SCRATCHES ON THE VEHICLES FROM VULTURES LINING UP ON THEM. WE HAVE PHOTOS OF ONE CAT FEEDER WITH THE VULTURES STANDING NEXT TO HER, WAITING FOR HER TO LEAVE, SO THEY CAN GET THE CAT FOOD. AND AGAIN, YOU ARE PUTTING A HUMAN ELEMENT -- YOU ARE GETTING THESE VULTURES -- THEY ARE GETTING VEAGGRAVATED WHERE THIS IS THEIR ONLY FOOD [00:30:01] SOURCE NOW, THEY DON'T DO WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY SUPPOSED TO DO IN NATURE, WHICH IS CLEAN UP AND CARRY. SO, WHEN WE SEE THEM AND WE TAKE THEM OUT OF THEIR NORMAL HABIT IN THEIR NORMAL GENETIC CODE OF WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO, THEY GET HABITUATED TO, THAT IS ALL THEY LOOK FOR. SO, YOU KNOW, THE VULTURE EATING THE SQUIRREL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS HOW NATURE IS SUPPOSED TO WORK, NOT THE VULTURE EATING THE CAT FOOD NEXT TO THE DEAD CAT THAT WAS HIT BY A CAR. THEY WILL GO -- THEY WILL GO THE EASY ROUTE, YOU KNOW? IT'S -- THEY ARE JUST LIKE US, IF THEY GET FOOD EASY AND FREE, IT'S ALL GOOD, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, NOTHING BETTER THAN SOMEBODY ELSE'S FOOD THAT THEY PAID FOR, RIGHT? SO, WE ARE HABITUATING ESPECIALLY THE VULTURES AND THEY HAVE A VERY GOOD COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, BECAUSE IT KEEPS GROWING. THE NUMBER OF BIRDS KEEPS GROWING. I THINK IT STARTED AT FOUR A YEAR AND HALF AGO, AND I HAVE SEEN PICTURES NOW WHERE IT IS 8 TO 10. AND THESE ARE NOT SMALL BIRDS, YOU KNOW? WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A VULTURE, THEY ARE BIG, VERY GRAND BIRDS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT A FOUR FOOT WINGSPAN ON THEM. AND EVERYTHING THEY EAT COMES OUT LATER, AND THAT IS ON THEIR HOUSE, OR THEIR GARAGE, OR WHATEVER. AND IT'S JUST -- THEY WOULDN'T BE THERE IF THIS CAT FEEDER WOULD MOVE. BUT -- >> MR. DELAGARZA? >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE COULD APPROACH IT FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE, GOT A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFICIAL FOR A PUBLIC HEALTH DOCTOR IN HERE TO SEE HOW THIS AFFECTS HUMANS, WITH ALL OF THE ANIMALS BEING AFFECTED, AND ALL OF THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, RACCOONS, AND POSSUMS, AND SKUNKS COMING INTO THE PICTURE, AND THE VULTURES. HOW IT CAN AFFECT HUMANS, AND TAKE IT FROM THAT ANGLE. IF THIS IS A HEALTH HAZARD, IN SOME SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION, IF THERE IS FECES EVERYWHERE -- AND THERE IS, HOWEVER REALLY SEEN THAT, I HAVE DRIVEN DOWN THERE -- I THINK WE NEED TO GET AN OPINION OF A PROFESSIONAL HEALTH -- >> YOUR BIGGEST HEALTH HAZARD RIGHT NOW IS RABIES. THAT IS THE MOST DEADLY HEALTH HAZARD YOU HAVE HERE. BUT, THERE IS A SLEW OF POSSIBILITIES WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BIRDS OF PREY. >> AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, MR. DELAGARZA. BUT, IT CAN BE REMEDIED -- WE ARE NOT THE FIRST, NOR THE ONLY CITY THAT HAS THIS, AND THERE ARE, TO RESEARCH MULTIPLE CITY'S, THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE ORDINANCES IN PLACE, POSSIBLY, TO RESTRICT THIS. SO, IT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, ALREADY. >> EXACTLY. >> AND WE ARE NOT ASKING PEOPLE TO GET RID OF THEIR CATS OR CONTAINED THEM, WE ARE JUST ASKING THEM TO NOT FEED THEM, RIGHT? >> IF WE COULD ATTACK IT FROM MORE THAN ONE ANGLE, THAT WOULD HELP. >> IF NEED BE, ABSOLUTELY. >> WELL, SO, IF WE COULD ARRANGE THAT, IN A NEAR FUTURE MEETING WITH A PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIAL, FOR THEM TO COME IN AND SAY, "THIS IS THE PROBLEM, YOU HAVE A LOT OF LITTLE ANIMALS AND WILD ANIMALS COMING IN AND FEEDING FROM THE SAME TROUGH." >> SURE. CERTAINLY, SOME MORE INFORMATION. I AM GOING TO ASK STAFF TO COME UP WITH AN ORDINANCE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHERS, ANYWAY. SO, I AM GOING TO ASK OF THAT TODAY, ALREADY. SO, IT MAY BE A MOOT POINT. BUT, ANYMORE INFORMATION MAY BE CERTAINLY SOLIDIFY OUR STANCE. IF ANYBODY CHOOSES THAT WAY. >> WELL, THIS HAS BEEN ENLIGHTENING, ON MY TIME ON COUNCIL, WE HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO STAY AHEAD OF PROBLEMS, INSTEAD OF REACTING TO THEM. AND DR. YOUNG HAS BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION SEVERAL TIMES. AND TO HEAR THAT THE POPULATIONS ARE INCREASING, IS VERY DISTURBING TO ME, BECAUSE IT'S DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WE DID NOT GET OUT AHEAD OF. AND SO, I -- >> YEAH, I THINK WE TRY TO LET HUMAN NATURE AND THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT, AND NEIGHBORLY KIND OF ANSWER THIS AND HOPEFULLY, EVERYBODY WOULD JUST KIND OF LISTEN, BUT IT HASN'T COME TO THAT POINT, SO HERE WE ARE, LOOKING AT A POTENTIAL ORDINANCE. >> ALL RIGHT. MR. SLOPE, AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION. APPRECIATE IT. >> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK MS. LACEY -- AND I'M HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU AND STAFF, TO SEE IF WE CAN LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS OTHER MUNICIPALITIES HAVE DONE, IN REGARDS TO CAT FEEDING AND ALL ANIMAL FEEDING. AND IF WE CAN LOOK AT SOMETHING, DRAFT SOMETHING, AND BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL AT SOME FUTURE MEETING. >> SURE, ABSOLUTELY. WE COULD CERTAINLY PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER FOR YOU, AND TO MR. DELAGARZA, I CAN CERTAINLY REACH OUT TO OUR DAVID GONZALES? >> YES. >> TO GIVE HIS OPINION ON THE SORT OF THING, ALSO, FOR YOU AND BRING THAT INFORMATION BACK TO Y'ALL AT A FUTURE MEETING. >> GREAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> AND I WOULD LIKE US TO ADD, IF I MAY, A REMINDER THAT, OF COURSE, WE, THE CITY, DO NOT ENFORCE CONTROL RELATED ORDINANCES. WE, OF COURSE, HAVE [00:35:09] AN AGREEMENT WITH ANIMAL CONTROL SERVICES, WITH THE COUNTY, AND THEY HANDLE THE ENFORCEMENT ASPECT OF IT, SO AS WE DO DEVELOP THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE MINDFUL OF WHO IS GOING TO BE ENFORCING THESE, AND WHATEVER RESOURCES WE ARE APPLYING TOWARDS THEM. >> UNDERSTOOD. >> GOOD. OKAY. >> THANK YOU. >> SO, THEN, I BELIEVE, MR. LOFFGREN, YOU HAD ANOTHER ITEM FROM COUNCIL? >> I DO. MANY YEARS AGO, MANY OF THE SERVICES THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED NOW, DIDN'T EXIST, IN THE COUNTY OR THE CITY. AND YEARS AGO, PEOPLE IN THE COUNTY, BOTH COUNTY RESIDENTS INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, AND OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS, WANTED SERVICES. AT THE TIME, THERE WAS A COUNTY JUDGE AND A MAYOR THAT GOT TOGETHER AND SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DUPLICATE SERVICES, SO THEY CAME TO AGREEMENTS, THE CITY AND THE COUNTY CAME TO AGREEMENTS. AND ONE OF THOSE, WAS AN AGREEMENT ABOUT THE LIBRARY. AND THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT THE CITY WOULD RUN THE LIBRARY. THE COUNTY OWNS THE BUILDING, NOW. IT IS THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY. IT IS NOT A CITY LIBRARY. IT COSTS MONEY, IT COSTS US TO $.6 MILLION TO RUN IT. IT IS AWARD-WINNING, LIKE MANY OF THE THINGS IN OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY. WE NEED A NEW ROOF. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE COUNTY HAS DISCUSSED, IN CLOSED SESSION, ABOUT THE ROOF. BUT, I WOULD LIKE THE COUNTY, AS THE TENANT, AND AS A COUNTY RESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DISCUSS IT IN OPEN COURT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW EACH ONE OF THEM FEELS ABOUT THE ROOF FOR THE LIBRARY. WE NEED A NEW ROOF. HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING NEW FROM THE COUNTY? >> SO, ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON PROCEEDING WITH FIXING THE ROOF, AND WE PLAN ON BRINGING AN ITEM TO COUNCIL IN DECEMBER, AWARDING THE CONTRACT TO FIX THE ROOF. ANY OTHER CONVERSATION YOU MIGHT WANT TO HAVE WITH THE ARRANGEMENT WITH THE COUNTY, WE CAN HAVE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT TO THE COUNTY THAT IF IT IS THERE BUILDING, IF IT WAS EMPTY, WITH THEY JUST LET IT GO TO POT AND NOT FIX THE ROOF? WELL, THAT'S IT. >> THERE, WE GO. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. LOFFGREN. ONE ITEM I HAVE -- AND THIS IS MORE HOUSEKEEPING MATTERS -- ON YOUR AGENDA, ITEM D.4 IS GOING TO MOVE OFF OF CONSENTS AND INTO THE ACTION ITEMS PORTION OF THE AGENDA. AND THEN, ITEM D.5 HAS BEEN PULLED FROM -- PULLED FROM THE AGENDA BY STAFF. THAT ONE [4. Citizen Communication:] WASN'T QUITE READY FOR PRIME TIME, IF YOU WILL. SO -- ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, THEN, WE WILL MOVE ON TO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. >> I HAVE TWO CARDS, AND THE FIRST ONE I HAVE IS MR. ADAM DAUGHTRY. GOOD EVENING, MR. DAUGHTRY. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, AND THANK YOU, MAYOR. TODAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT TURNING POINT USA. AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT AS A STUDENT-DRIVEN PROGRAM, LED BY, BUILT FOR THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF VICTORIA. TPUSA SUCCEEDS WHEN STUDENTS TAKE OWNERSHIP OF IT. IT IS SIMPLE IMPORTANCE, TO EMPOWER YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, TO EMPOWER AMERICANS TO THINK CRITICALLY, ENGAGED CIVIC LEAGUE, AND SPEAK CONFIDENTLY FOR THEMSELVES. AT TIMES, MANY FEEL PRESSURED TO STAY QUIET. THIS PROGRAM GIVES THEM THE SPACE TO ASK QUESTIONS AND BUILD REAL DIALOGUE WITH EACH OTHER. ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH, BETWEEN 12:00 AND 5:00, TURNING POINT USA WILL BE HERE IN VICTORIA, THEY WILL BE AT THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY COMMONS SPACE AREA, WHERE BOTH THE UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVE, AS WELL AS THE HIGH SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE, WILL BE THERE, PRESENT. THEY WILL ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH STUDENTS OF VICTORIA COLLEGE AND TEXAS A&M, FIELD REPS WILL BE PRESENT. BUT, THE REAL FOCUS IS ON THEIR STUDENTS, THEIR CHANCES TO LEARN HOW TO ORGANIZE, COMMUNICATE, AND BUILD SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THEIR CAMPUSES. WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ACROSS THE CROSSROADS REGION WHO ARE WATCHING THE DIRECTION OF THIS CITY AND THE NATION. MANY WANT TO STEP FORWARD, BUT THEY DON'T ALWAYS KNOW HOW. THAT IS WHY I AM CHALLENGING THEM -- NOT THE ADULTS, BUT THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN -- TO TAKE CHARGE OF THIS PROGRAM. FORM CHARTERS, CHAPTERS, IN THEIR HIGH SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES THROUGHOUT THE REGION, CREATE SPACES, WHERE THEY CAN MAKE DEBATES OPENLY, CHALLENGE EACH OTHER [00:40:03] RESPECTFULLY, AND GROW INTO THE LEADERS OUR COMMUNITY WILL RELY ON. AND IN THE SPIRIT OF THE CHARLIE KIRK MESSAGE, STUDENTS SHOULD REMEMBER THIS -- STRONG IDEAS GROW WHEN THEY ARE CHALLENGED. THAT IS WHY I ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNG ADULTS TO QUESTION THEIR PUBLIC OFFICIALS, ASK WHY THEY MAKE CERTAIN DECISIONS, HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THIS DIRECTION, YOUR LEADERS TAKE, USE YOUR VOICE. GET OUT". CIVIC PARTICIPATION IS YOUR RIGHT AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. FOR LEADERSHIP, IT IS A TWO WAY STREET, SO I AM CHALLENGING EVERY PUBLIC OFFICIAL TO STEP UP, MENTOR THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, SUPPORT THEM, GUIDE THEM, ENSURE THAT PRINCIPAL PUBLIC SERVICES LOOK LIKE. LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A REPUBLICAN, THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRAT PROGRAM, THIS IS A STUDENT PROGRAM. BUILT AROUND DEVELOPMENT, INFORMED, CONFIDENT, YOUNG AMERICANS WHO VALUE THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, AND HELP CIVIL DIALOGUE. IF YOU EMPOWER THE STUDENTS TO SPEAK BOLDLY, LEAD FEARLESSLY, AND THINK FOR THEMSELVES, THEN THE FUTURE OF VICTORIA WILL BE STRONGER THAN EVER. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. DAUGHTRY. ALL RIGHT, AND THE SECOND CARD I HAVE IS FROM MICHAEL DONDERO. WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL. I AM MICHAEL DONDERO, I LIVE AT 107 NORTHGLENN GARDEN. I AM TALKING ABOUT DANGEROUS DOGS. THERE IS A GROUP OF DANGEROUS DOGS, AND WHAT THEY DO, IS THEY ATTACK MAIL CARRIERS AND POLICE OFFICERS, AND JUST SATURDAY, ABOUT 4:30, 5:00 P.M., SOME DANGEROUS DOGS -- IT WAS FOUR OF THEM ON BRANDYWINE AND THE FLEETWOOD ADDITION -- THEY ATTACKED A MAIL CARRIER, AND ATTACKED SOME POLICE OFFICERS, AND THE POLICE OFFICER HAD TO SHOOT ONE DOG WITH A GUN, AND THE SECOND ONE, HE WOUNDED HIM, AND HAD TO USE THE BATON STICK. AND IN THE PAST, THE POLICE OFFICERS HOW TO USE TASERS, WHENEVER THEY CAN. AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS, FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TO JUST GIVE THEM FOUR TICKETS. ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DO NOT HAVE TO WITNESS IT, THEY CAN USE VIDEO FROM THE CAMERAS, FROM THE POLICE OFFICERS. YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST, THEY HAD TO WITNESS IT, OR THEY WOULDN'T GIVE A TICKET. I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS STILL THE SAME, BUT I DO THINK WE NEED TO PROTECT THE POLICE OFFICERS. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR PATROL CAR WITHOUT BEING ATTACKED BY THESE DOGS. I THINK THE ANSWER IS TO TAKE THOSE FOUR DOGS AND JUST PULL OUT ALL THEIR TEETH AND JUST GIVE IT BACK TO THEM, YOU KNOW? AND THEN, THEY CAN JUST EAT PURÉE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT. WE HAVE IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERS THAT REFUSE TO TAKE CARE OF IT, AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION ON IT, AT 2207 NORTH CHECKER, THERE IS 29 DOGS -- YOU KNOW, HE IS A DOG ORDER -- HOARDER AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, THEY DID GET 11 OF THEM, AND THERE IS DOG FECES AND, YOU KNOW, STUFF ALL IN THE FRONT YARD, AND, YOU KNOW, THE DOGS CAN JUMP OUT BECAUSE THE FENCE AIN'T HIGH ENOUGH AND THEY HAVE NO INTENTION OF FIXING IT, AND HE REALLY DON'T APPEAR TO CARE ABOUT THE DOGS. SO, I DON'T KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THOSE FENCES GET UP -- IF THAT IS CODE ENFORCEMENT, OR ENVIRONMENTAL, OR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT? BUT, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR -- HAVE THE DOG OWNERS ACCOUNTABLE, BECAUSE THEY GET THOSE 25 -- THOSE $25 TICKETS, OR THE $75 TICKETS FROM ANIMAL CONTROL, AND THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE -- JP, THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW? AND THERE IS WARRANTS FOR THEIR ARREST, FOR TICKETS THEY NEVER PAID. AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS JUST FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ANIMAL CARE SERVICES TO JUST MAKE ROUNDS AND LOCK THEM UP AND PUT THEM IN JAIL. THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THE LAWS, AND EDUCATION IS NOT THE ANSWER. EVERYONE KNOWS, YOU HAVE TO USE A LEASH. YOU KNOW? ENFORCEMENT IS THE ANSWER, AND THEY DON'T MIND PAYING A $25 TICKET, OR A $75 TICKET, AND LETTING THEM LOOSE. BUT, I WOULD LIKE A LAW TO PROTECT THE POLICE OFFICERS, LIKE AGGRESSIVE DOG ON A COP, $500 FINE, AND GIVE THEM FOUR [1. An ordinance amending the 2025-2026 Budget of the City of Victoria, an...] TICKETS, THAT WOULD BE $2000 -- BECAUSE CITY OF VICTORIA IS NOT ENFORCING EVERYTHING. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. OKAY, THAT WILL CLOSEOUT CITIZENS COMMUNICATION FOR THE EVENING. WE WILL MOVE ON TO SECTION C, ITEMS WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS -- AND WE HAVE ONE ITEM. IT IS ITEM C.1 POINT AN [00:45:04] ITEM AYE. THREE IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2025-2026 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA, COVERING ENCUMBRANCES OUTSTANDING ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THIS IS AN ANNUAL HOUSEKEEPING ITEM THAT WE TAKE CARE OF EACH YEAR, SO WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE IN THIS PROCESS OF CARRYING OVER FROM 2025, WE HAVE LEGAL COMMITMENTS CONSISTING OF CONTRACTS AND PURCHASE ORDERS THAT ARE UNFULFILLED, BASICALLY, AS OF THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR. SO, WHAT WE DO, IS WE REVIEW THESE WITH STAFF TO DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS TO BE CARRIED OVER, PENDING INVOICES, ET CETERA. AND ONCE WE HAVE THAT LIST CLEANED UP, WE CAN PRESENT IT TO COUNCIL TO DO THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT. IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE WORKING CAPITAL, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS AND DO OUR PROJECTIONS, WE ASSUME ANYTHING ENCUMBERED IS SPENT. SO, WHAT THIS WILL SHOW UP AS, IS A SEPARATE LEVEL ON OUR FINANCIALS AS A DESIGNATED FUND BALANCE. AND AGAIN, IT IS PRESENTED AS A BUDGET AMENDMENT AS A MATTER OF FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY. WE INCLUDED A LIST OF ALL THE PURCHASE ORDERS THAT WERE BEING CARRIED OVER, THESE WERE THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS THAT WERE IMPACTED. OVERALL, IT IS ABOUT $30.3 MILLION, YOU WILL SEE STARTING THERE WITH FUND 1215, OUR COMMUNITY CENTER TAX FUND, DOWN TO 3046, THE UTILITY CONSTRUCTION FUND FOR WATER. MOST OF THESE ARE PRIMARILY CONSTRUCTION RELATED PROJECTS. THERE IS ABOUT $26 MILLION, THERE. AND THEN, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE MAJOR ONES, THAT ARE LISTED TO THE RIGHT. SO, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS, REGARDING THE BUDGET RESOLUTION? THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT. SO, WITH THAT, THEN, I WILL OPEN UP THE HEARING WITH RESPECT TO ITEM C.1. IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER? PLEASE COME FORWARD AT THIS TIME. SEEING NO ONE. I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THIS ITEM. >> MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM C.1. >> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL IN [D. Consent Agenda:] FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? AND C.1 HAS PASSED. SO, WE WILL MOVE TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, AND AGAIN, AS A REMINDER, MINUS ITEM FOUR AND ITEM FIVE, UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA. MS. HILBRICH? >> YES, SIR, ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 4TH, 2025 AND THE SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 12, 2025. ITEM DETAIL IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14, SECTION 8 OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA , CODE OF ORDINANCES TO LEVY AND COLLECT FEES FOR LIQUOR SALES WITHIN THE CITY AS AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW. THAT ITEM IS ON SECOND AND THIRD READING. VITAMIN D3 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 24, SECTION 22 OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA CODE OF ORDINANCES TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE FEES ADMINISTERED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ITEM IS ALSO ON SECOND AND THIRD READING. ITEM D6 IS A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT WITH FUN ABOUNDS INC. FOR PINE STREET PARK FOR PARK IMPROVEMENTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $3000, FOR A TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF 365 $745. RESOLUTION 2025-124, AWARDING THE CONTRACT FOR THE DEMOLITION OF RIVERSIDE PARK BUILDING FOUNDATION TO COASTAL BEND DEMOLITION IN THE AMOUNT OF $167,500. ITEM D8 IS A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING FOR A GRANT APPLICATION WITH THE GOLDEN CRESCENT REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION FOR A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT IN THE APPROXIMATE AMOUNT OF $650,000 TO FUND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA'S EXISTING MOTOROLA GTR BASE STATIONS, AND ITEM D9 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH NEWGEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS LLC, ORC NEWGEN, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STORM WATER DRAINAGE AND WATER/WASTEWATER RATE STRUCTURES TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL COORDINATION RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO EXTEND THE CONTRACT TERM. >> THANK YOU, MS. HILBRICH. DO I HAVE A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA AS RED? >> MOVED. >> SECOND. >> THERE, YOU GO. >> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MOVED FOR! >> ACCEPTED, AS READ. >> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION [4. Approve FY 2025-2026 Annual Downtown TIRZ #1 budget. Danielle Williams...] AND A SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE.? >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT, CONSENT AGENDA IS READ, AND WE WILL JUMP BACK UP TO ITEM D4. >> ITEM D4 IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE 2020 5-26 ANNUAL DOWNTOWN TIRZ NUMBER ONE BUDGET. >> GOOD EVENING, MS. WILLIAMS. >> AT EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I HAVE, TONIGHT, A TIRZ BUDGET FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE HAVE BROUGHT THE TIRZ BOARD BUDGET, THE DOWNTOWN TIRZ BOARD BUDGET FOR YOU FOR CONSIDERATION, AND THAT IS [00:50:02] SIMPLY BECAUSE NOW THAT THEY HAVE SOME FUNDS IN THERE, THEY WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THEM. SO, WE ARE GOING TO GO BACK TO DO A LITTLE BACKGROUND HISTORY AND THEN I WILL DIVE INTO THE BUDGET AFTER THAT. SO, WHAT IS A TIRZ? TIRZ IS A TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE AND DESIGNATED IN AN AREA WHERE TAX REVENUE IS RECAPTURED AND REINVESTED INTO THE ZONE IN JUST THAT ZONE, FOR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE TIRZ WAS PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION OUT OF OUR DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, TO HELP US CONTINUE ON WITH THE EFFORTS OF PUTTING ON NEW INFRASTRUCTURE DOWNTOWN, WITH THE NEW DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATION. SO, THIS IS TRENDING VERY WELL AND IT WILL BE VERY GOOD FOR DOWNTOWN IN KEEPING THAT DOWNTOWN GOING AND ALIVE, WHICH BY THE WAY, WE ARE FIVE YEARS THROUGH THAT 10 YEAR MASTER PLAN. SO, WITH THAT, THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKED AT, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE STREETSCAPES, AND HOPEFULLY ATTRACT PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND CREATE JOBS, ULTIMATELY, DOWNTOWN. IT IS DEVELOPED WITH A PARTNERSHIP MODEL. THERE ARE MULTIPLE ENTITIES THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE TIRZ AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, THE CITY OF VICTORIA, THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT, VICTORIA COLLEGE, AND ALL OF THOSE CONTRIBUTE TO THE TIRZ. IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2021, TO REVITALIZE DOWNTOWN AND IT BENEFITS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS WE SEE DOWNTOWN CONTINUE TO GROW AND BE THRIVING. THROUGH THOSE PARTNERSHIPS AND THOSE LOCAL ENTITIES, THE ZONE HAS SUCCESSFULLY CAPTURED TAX INCREMENTS TO FUND SOME TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECTS AND I WILL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THOSE, LATER. THE MODEL HAS ENABLED VICTORIA TO LEVERAGE PUBLIC INVESTMENT TO ATTRACT PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, SPECIFICALLY HOUSING. WE HAVE HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS ABOUT HOUSING IN DOWNTOWN AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT TO HELP KEEP OUR BUSINESSES ALIVE. AND THEN, ALSO, WE WOULD LIKE TO REINVEST THAT TAX REVENUE DIRECTLY INTO THE ZONE, OF COURSE, IT ENSURES THAT GROWTH, GENERATING MORE REVENUE AND COMPOUNDING ON ITSELF OVER THE YEARS, AS THE PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE AND YOU CONTINUE TO CAPTURE THAT INCREMENT. SO, WHEN THE TIRZ WAS ADOPTED, BACK IN 2021, THERE WAS A FINANCIAL PLAN AND A PROJECT PLAN ADOPTED AT THAT SAME TIME. THE FINANCIAL PLAN CONSISTED OF THE TERM OF THE LIFESPAN, WHICH IS 25 YEARS OF THE TIRZ. IT WAS BASED OFF OF THAT '21 BASELINE PROPERTY VALUE OF $67.4 MILLION OF ALL OF THE PROPERTIES WITHIN THE BOUNDARY. AND THEN, IT HAD A PROJECTED REVENUE OF $5.9 MILLION AND THAT WAS BACK IN 2021, OF COURSE. THE PROJECTS THAT WERE LISTED IN THAT PLAN THAT WAS ADOPTED, WAS PARKS AND STREETSCAPES ENHANCEMENTS, SUCH AS LANDSCAPING, URBAN DESIGN, RECREATIONAL BENEFITS. THERE WAS INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT, SUCH AS ROADS OR UTILITY LINES. IF THAT EVER BECAME A NEED IN THE FUTURE. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS, SUCH AS INCENTIVE GRANTS TO HELP STIMULATE NEW BUSINESS GROWTH OR JOB CREATION IN THE ZONE, AND THEN SOME DEVELOPER REIMBURSEMENT, IF WE WANTED TO SEE THOSE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS CARRY THROUGH, WHENEVER THEY BUILD A NEW BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN. SO, OPERATIONAL COSTS ALSO IS A FACTOR, BECAUSE WHEN THE TIRZ WAS RECOMMENDED FROM THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, THE MAKEUP OF THE TIRZ WOULD ESSENTIALLY HELP SUPPORT AN ADMINISTRATION COSTS OF THE MASTER PLAN, THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM, AS IT GREW FURTHER DOWN THE LINE. SO, FOR TODAY'S BUDGET, THE FUND BALANCE GROWTH WE HAVE IS FISCAL '25, IT STARTED AT A BALANCE OF $78,000. AND THAT IS WITH ALL OF THE CONTRIBUTING ENTITIES. AND THEN, THE ENDING BALANCE IS $141,000, FISCAL YEAR '25, AND THE PROJECTED BALANCE IS $188,000. SO, WITH THAT, IT IS -- IT DOES DEMONSTRATE A HEALTHY GROWTH IN THE DOWNTOWN TIRZ, WITH STRATEGIC REVENUES BUILDING CAPACITY FOR LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, WHILE MAINTAINING OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY. AS WE CONTINUE TO FOCUS OUR EFFORTS IN DOWNTOWN, AND BE STRATEGIC ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS OR WHAT INCENTIVES WE GIVE TO DEVELOPERS, ULTIMATELY, WE WANT TO SEE THAT DOLLAR CONTINUE TO GROW, SO THAT WE CAN HOPEFULLY FINANCE OR FUND SOME OF THOSE LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE. HERE IS JUST A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE REVENUES THAT WE HAVE COLLECTED THROUGH THE THREE ENTITIES. WE HAVE FISCAL YEAR '25 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR '26 WITH THE CITY, THE NAVIGATION DISTRICT, THE COLLEGE. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF INTEREST INCOME BUT ALSO IN NEW REVENUE SOURCE ON THE END WHICH IS $50,000 FROM THE VICTORIA SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. SOME OF YOU MIGHT REMEMBER IN PREVIOUS [00:55:07] BUDGETS TO HELP WITH THE BUDGET FOR MAIN STREET PROGRAM, IT WAS BEING, YOU KNOW, SORT OF. THROUGH THIS SALES TAX BUDGET. AND PART OF THAT WAS THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM. AND SO, IN EFFORTS TO TRY TO STILL SHIFT BUDGETS FROM THE SALES TAX BUDGET TO THE TIRZ, WE HAVE THIS AS A ONE STEP FORWARD, IT IS SEED MONEY FOR THE TIRZ TO HOPEFULLY CONTINUE ON WITH THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM. THEY HAVE BOTH -- BOTH BOARDS HAVE DISCUSSED THIS OPPORTUNITY AND APPROVED TO MOVE ON WITH THIS MOVE FROM THE SALES TAX BOARD DOING A GRANT TO THE TIRZ FOCUSING THEIR EFFORTS ON THE FACADE GRANT PROGRAM. TOTAL EFFORTS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY FROM $65,000 OVER THAT TO $220,000, AND WE SAW THAT IN BIG JUMP LAST YEAR WITH THE PROPERTY VALUES INCREASE. AND THAT, ALONG WITH THE SALES TAX REVENUE, $50,000, IT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT OF A 235% INCREASE IN DOWNTOWN, WHICH WAS VERY SHOCKING WHEN WE FIRST SAW THE TAX RULES COME BACK THIS LAST YEAR. SO, IT'S VERY GOOD. EXPENDITURES, RIGHT NOW, THE WAY WE HAVE THE BUDGET SET UP, SINCE IT IS A VERY NEW BUDGET, WE HAVE ALLOCATED FUNDS IN DIFFERENT BUCKETS, IF YOU WILL. WE HAVE $40,000 SET ASIDE FOR DEVELOPMENT REIMBURSEMENT, $50,000 FOR FACADE GRANT. OF COURSE, THAT CAME FROM THE SALES TAX BOARD. $50,000 FOR ANY PARK AND STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS. $3500 FOR BOARD EDUCATION, AND GOING TO DIFFERENT ECONOMIC DEVELOP CONFERENCES. WE HAVE 10 GRANTS SET ASIDE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO HELP INCENTIVIZE ANY NEW DEVELOPERS IN THE AREA, AND ALSO $10,000 SET ASIDE FOR SMALL PROJECTS. THAT'S SORT OF HOW WE'VE ALLOCATED ALL OF THE FUNDS. WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFICS ON WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO SPEND, AS OF YET. BUT, I WILL BE BRINGING SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS BACK TO Y'ALL IN DECEMBER. THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT CROSS STREET LIGHTING IN DOWNTOWN, AND ALSO OUTDOOR AUDIO SYSTEMS IN DELHI ON PLAZA FOR INDIAN MUSIC. AS EXAMPLES. SO, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER REPRESENTATION OF WHAT SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE FOR SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET. I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN ADD HERE, OTHER THAN IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT BREAKDOWN OF THOSE ALLOCATIONS. AND THEN, LOOKING FORWARD, THE BOARD HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL, AND AMBITIOUS, AND I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT PLAN, MOVING FORWARD, ON HOW WE ARE GOING TO USE THESE FUNDS TO BUILD UP THE TIRZ FUNDS AND HOPEFULLY JUST CONTINUE TO GROW IT, SO WE CAN HAVE MORE DEVELOPMENT IN DOWNTOWN. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? >> QUESTIONS FOR MS. WILLIAMS? NO? OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU. >> THEN, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION, WITH RESPECT TO ITEM D4. >> I MOVE WE ADOPT D4. >> I SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT, I GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE TIRZ [1. Cast votes for the appointment of a member or members to the Victoria ...] BUDGET. ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING ON. ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? AND D4 PASSES. OKAY, WE WILL THEN MOVE TO ITEM E1. >> E1 IS A RESOLUTION TO CAST VOTES FOR THE APARTMENT OF A MEMBER OR MEMBERS TO THE VICTORIA CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING WOULD CAST VOTES FOR INDIVIDUALS NOMINATED FOR THE VICTORIA CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SO, HERE IS KIND OF THE ELECTION PROCESS THAT WE WENT THROUGH, WE KIND OF MADE OUR WAY DOWN TO THE SECOND TO LAST ITEM, TO ACTUALLY CAST VOTES FOR THE RESOLUTION. AND THEN, WE RETURNED THE BALLOT TO THE CHIEF APPRAISER. WE MUST DO THAT BY DECEMBER 15TH. SO, WE DID RECEIVE THE BALLOT, THE MAYOR, AS WELL AS MR. DELAGARZA RECEIVED THE BALLOT, SO IT HAS TWO INDIVIDUALS NOMINATED. SO, OUR OWN COUNCILWOMAN JAN SCOTT, AND MICAH PATTON. SO, OUR VOTES -- WE HAVE 987 VOTES THIS YEAR, AND THAT IS BASED OFF OF THE TOTALS FROM 2024. AND SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, VICTORIA ISD HOLDS THE MAJORITY OF THE VOTES AT 2068, VICTORIA COUNTY HAS SLIGHTLY MORE THAN US, SO WE WERE THE THREE MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE VOTING, HERE. SO, THE CASTING OF VOTES -- THE GOVERNMENT BODY MAY CAST ALL ITS VOTES FOR ONE CANDIDATE OR DISTRIBUTE THE VOTES AMONGST THE CANDIDATES, TYPICALLY CITY OF VICTORIA [01:00:01] DISTRIBUTES ALL ITS VOTES FOR ONE COUNCILMEMBER TO BE NOMINATED TO THE BOARD, BUT IN 2023, THE COUNCIL CHANGED DIRECTIONS AND STARTED TO CAST ONE VOTE FOR EACH NOMINEE TO INITIATE REMOVAL OF A BOARD MEMBER, IF NEEDED. SO, WE HAVE STARTED DOING THAT , COMPLETELY YOUR CHOICE. YOU CAN CAST ALL VOTES FOR MS. SCOTT, YOU CAN SPLIT THEM EVENLY, YOU CAN PUT ONE VOTE HERE, ONE VOTE THERE, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO, YOU JUST HAVE TO LET US KNOW SO WE CAN COMPLETE THE RESOLUTION AND MOVE FORWARD. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? >> I MEAN, I WOULD START OUT BY SAYING THAT, FROM MY STANDPOINT, IT MAKES SENSE TO CONTINUE WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WHICH IS CAST ONE VOTE FOR THE NON-CITY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE BOARD, AND THE REMAINDER OF THOSE VOTES, FOR -- IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE MS. SCOTT. I THINK THAT WAS A GOOD MOVE ON OUR PART, AND I DON'T SEE A REASON TO DEVIATE FROM THAT, UNLESS SOMEBODY HAS STRONG OPINIONS OTHERWISE, AND CAN CONVINCE US. OKAY. SO, IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN, WITH 987 VOTES -- SO, WE WOULD BE CASTING, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ONE VOTE FOR MR. PATTON, AND 986 VOTES FOR MS. SCOTT, IS THAT CORRECT, MS. HILBRICH? >> YES. CORRECT. >> OKAY, SO, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO THAT EFFECT? OTHER THAN MS. SCOTT, I GUESS? >> I'D RATHER NOT BE THE ONE TO MAKE THE MOTION. >> NO, NO, NO, NO. I MOVED TO THAT EFFECT. >> SECOND. >> ALL RIGHT, I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND THAT THE CITY WILL CAST 986 VOTES FOR MS. SCOTT AND ONE VOTE FOR MICAH PATTON. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THAT [1. Stormwater Drainage Utility Study Update. Gilbert P. Reyna, Jr., Assis...] MOTION? SEEING ON. ALL IN FAVOR SAY, AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? AND THAT IS HOW THE RESOLUTION WILL MOVE FORWARD. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL JUMP THEN, TO OUR CITY MANAGER REPORTS. MR. GARNA, YOU HAVE A COUPLE FOR US THIS EVENING? >> WE DO, AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO OUR ILLUSTRIOUS CITY MANAGER, TO WALK US THROUGH THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS AN UPDATE ON OUR STORMWATER DRAINAGE UTILITY. MR. REYNA? >> THANK YOU, MR. GARZA. OR, JUNIOR, I'M SORRY. JUNIOR. >> CPA. >> IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE, WHEN HIM AND I INTRODUCE EACH OTHER. SO, IT'S ALL GOOD. WE HAVE FUN WITH IT. >> HI, IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO BE UP HERE, IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME. I KIND OF LIKE THAT, BUT I KIND OF ENJOYED IT UP HERE, TOO. BUT, ANYWAY -- GOOD EVENING. LAST TIME, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, IT WAS BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 228, WE WERE UP HERE, MATTHEW WAS GIVEN A PRESENTATION ON THE FINAL REPORT, AND THROUGH THAT REPORT, IT CAME OUT IN A ONE TIER STRUCTURE, ACROSS-THE-BOARD, AND IN CALCULATION, HE EXPLAINED THE CALCULATION OF EVERYTHING ELSE. BUT, ONE OF THE END RESULTS FROM THAT MEETING WAS, LET'S GO BACK AND LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS TO MAYBE BE MORE EQUITABLE -- EXCUSE ME, I'M SORRY. SO, THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT. NOW, BEFORE WE GO INTO IT, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND KIND OF GO OVER SOME OF THE HIGH OVERVIEW DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, ESPECIALLY -- LET'S SEE IF I CAN USE THIS WITHOUT MISSING ANYTHING UP, BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE -- I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IMPROVING THIS AREA, BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, TOO, WE HAVE CITIZENS WHO ARE VIEWING THIS POWERPOINT, AND IN OUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, IT'S USUALLY AN OUTSTANDING, EXCELLENT PRESENTATION, BUT WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THIS AREA AND EVERYBODY TAKES IT FOR GRANTED. COMING FROM ME, I AM MORE OF A -- I HAVE TO SEE A VISUAL THING ON THIS STUFF, SO I STARTED TO THROW THIS SLIDE ON THERE, OTHERWISE WE CAN TAKE MORE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THIS NEXT PRESENTATION. IN PURPOSE, IT'S JUST THE SURFACE, THAT IS NOT AT THE WATER, OKAY? SUCH AS BUILDING STRUCTURE, OR PAYMENT, CONCRETE. AND I HOPE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OKAY? THAT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. NOW, WITH THAT SAID, ON OUR PREVIOUS CONVERSATION WITH NEWGEN, WE BASICALLY DOVE INTO OUR CITY OF VICTORIA PARCEL, WHICH WE WILL LOOK AT THE RESIDENTIAL PARCELS PER SQUARE UNIT, SQUARE FOOTAGE, AND COME OUT WITH A MEDIUM OUT OF THAT POPULATION. AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED FOR THAT THE MEDIAN RAN AROUND 1300 SQUARE FEET, FOR A REGULAR RESIDENTIAL SINGLE HOUSE, OKAY? WE DECIDED TO USE IT AS OUR ERU UNIT, OUR BASE UNIT, AND IN DOING THIS CALCULUS AND CAN HELP COME UP WITH A RESIDENTIAL, I.E. ALSO FOR THE COMMERCIAL SIDE. SO, NOW, THIS WHOLE PROCESS, WE CAN OUT WITH RESIDENTIAL ERUS, A [01:05:03] TOTAL OF 19,000.9 AND NONRESIDENTIAL WAS ABOUT 23.8. AND WE CAME UP WITH 23.7 -- 23.7 THOUSAND UNITS -- WE DID THE MATH, I WILL GO THROUGH IT IN A MINUTE -- SO, I WILL SHOW Y'ALL A CALCULATION THAT WILL GENERATE $2.67 MILLION. THAT IS THE FIVE DOLLARS -- REMEMBER, WE TALKED ABOUT FIVE DOLLARS ACROSS THE BOARD, ALL RESIDENTS PAY THAT, NO MATTER WHAT THE SIZE OF THEIR IMPAIRMENTS AREA IS. ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, IT WAS A DIFFERENT, SMALLER CALCULATION, THERE. YOU TAKE THE EXTRA SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THE UNIT, DIVIDE IT BY THE 1300 BASE THAT WE USE, THEN YOU MULTIPLIED BY THE FIVE DOLLARS TO COME UP WITH A MONTHLY FEE. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE AN EXAMPLE, THERE ON THE BOTTOM. YOU TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND THEN THERE WAS SOME TALK -- "WELL, WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE?" AND IN THE MIDST OF THAT, I'D ALSO LIKE TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT WE DECIDED, AS A GROUP, WE ARE GOING TO EXEMPT VICTORIA ISD AS PART OF THIS WHOLE PROGRAM. CITY OF VICTORIA, OF COURSE, HIGHER EDUCATION, IS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. EVERYBODY ELSE IS IN IT. NOW, I CAME UP WITH THREE OPTIONS FOR Y'ALL TO CONSIDER, OKAY? BUT, KEEP IN MIND, REMEMBER, WE STARTED OFF WITH ONE ERU EQUALS $3200, WHICH IS FIVE DOLLARS PER BASE. THE FIRST OPTION -- WELL, LET'S INCREASE IT TO 1.25 TIMES. THE BASE. AND WE WILL LEAVE THE FIVE DOLLARS, AFTER WE GO DIGGING IN, OUT OF THE 19.9 POPULATION, WE FIND THAT APPROXIMATELY 02 4000 SQUARE FEET IS THE CUTOFF FOR THE MIDDLE AND THE REST IS ABOVE THE 4000, THOSE ARE THE TWO TIERS, ESSENTIALLY, RIGHT THERE. SO, THE BASE YEAR WOULD BE AT FIVE DOLLARS, FLAT OUT. THE HIGHER TIER IS 1.25. SO, YOU TAKE THE FIVE DOLLARS TIMES 1.25, YOU COME OUT WITH 6.25. THAT MAKE SENSE? THAT KEEPS IT EQUITABLE. SO, YOU TOTAL ALL REVENUE ON THIS OPTION, IT IS $1.28 MILLION. AND OF COURSE, YOU SEE THE POPULATION, 78% ON THE BASE YEAR, 29% ON THE HIGHER TIER. SOMETHING LIKE 20-30. IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY I STARTED WITH 2.5, I WANTED TO SEE WHAT A 70-30 WOULD LOOK LIKE, THAT FACTORS INTO IT. TO GIVE YOU OTHER VIEWS OF THE OPTION TO CONSIDER, YOU HAVE THIS OTHER ONE, LET'S SAY IT IS 1.5 TIMES ITS VALUE, AND THE LARGER ONE WOULD BE 1.5 TIMES THE VALUE OF THE BASE. SO, HERE, AGAIN, YOU KEEP THE BASE AT FIVE DOLLARS, BUT THE HIGHER TIER WOULD BE 1.5. SO, FIVE DOLLARS TIMES 1.5 WOULD BE 7.5. AND AGAIN, AFTER REVIEWING AND ANALYZING THE DATA, YOUR BREAKEVEN POINT, RIGHT HERE, IT SHOWS 0 TO 4800 AND ANYTHING OVER 4800 WILL BE A SECOND TIER, AND YOU CAN SEE THE POPULATION BREAKDOWN. 83% ON THE BASE, AND 17% ON THE HIGHER SIDE. AND THE SAME CALCULATION DONE ON OPTION THREE. BUT, AT THE TWO TIMES RATE, OKAY? AND YOU CAN SEE THE MATH, RIGHT THERE. THAT IS WHEN BASE-STEALER STARTS TAKING UP THE LOAD. AND YOU CAN SEE THE SHIFT IN REVENUE AND THE HIGHER TIER IS NOT GENERATING THAT MUCH MONEY, AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN NOTICE YOUR OVERALL REVENUE STARTS TO BE DECREASING, BECAUSE ALL OF THE OTHERS ALL OF THE OTHER TIERS OR ERUS OR PUT ON THE BASE. YOU ARE ELIMINATING SOMETHING SO YOUR REVENUES START DROPPING. I WILL SHOW YOU THIS IN A MINUTE. FOR EXAMPLE, SEE ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, THE REVENUE VARIANCE? THE FULL GREEN ONE IS THE FLAT FIVE DOLLARS ACROSS THE BOARD. THE SECOND GREEN IS THE 1.25. YOU ARE GENERATING ABOUT $88,000 MORE, AT A 1.25 RATE. AND YOU DECIDE TO GO TO 1.5, YOU ARE GOING TO GENERATE ABOUT $104,000 MORE. HERE'S THE KICKER, WHEN YOU START INCREASING IT TO TWO DOLLARS FOR THAT TIERED SECTION, IT STARTS TO DROP TO $85,000. IT'S LIKE -- ANY TYPE OF ECONOMY OR MATHEMATICS, YOU START STRETCHING SOMETHING TOO QUICKLY, TO THE EQUIVALENT POINT, IT BREAKS, IT'S ALWAYS A MIDDLE POINT, AND THIS IS THE MIDDLE POINT, AROUND OPTION TWO. SO FAR, DOES THAT MAKE SENSE, WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THE TIERS? WE CAN GO ON WITH AN OPTION FOUR, FIVE, SIX, BUT IT MAKES NO SENSE GOING THAT ROUTE. SO, BOTTOM LINE, IF YOU LOOK AT, WELL, HOW DO WE COMPARE WITH OTHER REGIONS IN THE STATE? WELL, WE ARE PART OF THE BOTTOM PART, COMPARED TO THE SAN MARCUS, CORPUS CHRISTI PART, FIVE DOLLARS START. BUT, WE HAVE ANOTHER SLIDE IN HERE, WHICH I [01:10:02] WOULD LIKE TO SHOW YOU, OTHER THAN THAT ONE. COMPARE OURSELVES WITH OTHER CITY'S WHO HAVE TIERS. YOU CAN SEE SAN MARCUS HAS THE THREE STRUCTURE, CORPUS CHRISTI HAS THE THREE STRUCTURE. SYLLABLE HAS A FOUR, BERNIE HAS A FOUR. AND KEEP IN MIND, TO BE TRANSPARENT, SOME OF THESE CITY'S HAVE BEEN IN THIS PROGRAM FOR A WHILE, SO THEY HAVE A MATURE SYSTEM IN PLACE. WE JUST START TO WALK WITH THE SYSTEM. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? AND THE REASON I HAVE THE RED CIRCLE, OR THE SQUARE AROUND IT, IS THAT IS KIND OF THE MEDIUM, IF YOU START LOOKING AT HOURS, IF WE HAVE FIVE DOLLARS, SAN MARCUS HAS $10, CORPUS CHRISTI HAS A 10, WE HAVE A FIVE, BERNIE IS A FOUR, AND WE HAVE A FIVE. BUT, THEY HAVE A FOUR TIERED STRUCTURE. ANY QUESTIONS? >> I DON'T SEE ANY. >> TO RECAP, THIS IS THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WE FIRST CAME TO YOU WITH BACK IN SEPTEMBER 28TH. HEY, LET'S DO FIVE DOLLARS -- THIS IS JUST STRICTLY RESIDENTIAL FOLKS, COUNCIL. FIVE DOLLARS ACROSS THE BOARD, THAT WOULD GENERATE $1.19 MILLION. AT ONE TIME THE RATE. OPTION ONE, WHICH I JUST SUGGESTED, WELL INSTEAD OF THE ONE TIME, WE WOULD DO 1.25, CREATE YOUR TWO STRUCTURES, THAT 1.25, AND THEN YOU ALLOCATE YOUR SOURCE OF REVENUE, ACCORDING TO WHAT I SHOWED UP ON THE BASE, OF 71%, FROM ZERO TO 4000, AND 21% FOR THE HIGHER ONCE FOR 4000 ON UP. AND YOU ARE GENERATING 1.28, WHICH IS ABOUT $88,000 MORE. OF COURSE, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU CAN GO OPTION TWO OR OPTION THREE. BUT, MY PERSONAL OBSERVATION, AND MY OPINION -- WHICH, DOES IT MATTER? NO. I THINK OPTION ONE AND OPTION TWO ARE YOUR CHOICES, FOR ME, MATHEMATICALLY, AND REASONABLY FOR COMMON SENSE, BUT I WILL LEAVE THAT UP TO YOU, COUNCIL. AND THAT'S IT, FOLKS. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, OR WE CAN JUST CONTINUE WITH THIS AND TALK ABOUT IT. BUT, THAT IS WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW. WE WOULD LIKE TO GET A FEELING OF WHERE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH THIS. I WILL SHUT UP AND LISTEN. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY COMMENTS ON THE TIERED STRUCTURE FROM ANYBODY? COULD YOU GO BACK TO THAT LAST SLIDE? >> YES, SIR. AND BY THE WAY, EVERYTHING WORKS WHEN I'M DOING IT. >> BECAUSE JAMES ISN'T HERE. >> OH! THAT'S RIGHT! >> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. REYNA, EITHER WITH REGARDS TO THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL OR ANY OF THE OPTIONS THAT WERE THROWN OUT THERE? >> AND I HAVE ONE MORE THING -- I'M SORRY, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT, MAYOR. >> NO, YOU ARE FINE. >> KEEP IN MIND, THIS IS THE STARTING PROCESS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUMP IN RIGHT AWAY, IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK AND RESTRUCTURE IT LATER, YOU CAN ALWAYS RESTRUCTURE IT LATER, YOU CAN START SIMPLE AND ONCE YOU GET THE SYSTEM IN PLACE AND ONCE IT STARTS MATURING, THEN YOU CAN START BREAKING DOWN, OKAY, LET'S MAKE IT -- NOW, WE KNOW HOW THINGS ARE WORKING, BECAUSE I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THIS, ONCE IT IS IMPLEMENT IT, YOU WILL STILL HAVE PEOPLE COMING IN, "I DON'T THINK MY SQUARE FOOTAGE IS THIS," AND THAT'S FINE. THEY CAN GO AND BRING SOME ENGINEER STUDIES OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE IT. BUT, ONCE WE HAVE THE SYSTEM UP AND RUNNING ONE YEAR, THIS REVENUE WILL BE LIKE, THIS WILL BE ADJUSTED TO THE ACTUAL -- BECAUSE WE DIDN'T GO OUT THERE AND DO EVERY PARCEL. WE JUST LOOKS AT IT FROM THE RECORDS ON FILE, OKAY? JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND, THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU. >> WHAT IS THE THOUGHT FOR SOMEONE WHO OWNS THE LOT NEXT DOOR? FOR TWO LOTS TOGETHER? WOULD THAT BE LOOKED AT AS ONE ACCOUNT, OR WOULD THAT BE TWO? >> THAT WOULD BE ONE -- WELL, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, EACH ONE HAS A PARCEL. IF WE FIND OUT WHICH STRUCTURE WE WANT, AND SECOND STEP, THE BILLING -- HOW WOULD WE DO THAT, FOR THAT ONE? DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? >> I THINK SO. >> BECAUSE WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THE STRUCTURE, ITSELF. ONCE WE SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY WE GO WITH A FLAT RATE FIVE DOLLARS, THAT'S FINE. THAT CASE, I TRY TO GET THOSE TWO OWNERS INTO ONE. IF THAT OWNER OWNS TWO OF THESE PODS, I WOULD HAPPY TO HAVE ONE BILL GOING OUT TO THAT PERSON, WITH IDENTIFYING EACH PARCEL ON THAT BILL. >> BUT, IF WE WENT WITH A TIERED STRUCTURE, WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT SIZE? AND THEY WOULD EITHER HAVE TWO ACCOUNTS, OR THEY COULD COME -- >> IT DEPENDS. WE MIGHT HAVE TO DO SOME BACKGROUND. AND MY POINT IS, I WANT TO MAKE THE CUSTOMER SIMPLE, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A LOT -- >> RIGHT, YEAH. >> THAT'S THE OBJECTIVE. >> REGARDLESS OF HOW WE CONSOLIDATE, WHETHER WE BUILD OR NOT, EACH PARCEL WILL STILL BE [01:15:02] LOOKED AT, INDEPENDENTLY? >> YEAH, IT IS SIMPLE. >> OKAY. >> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS CLEAR, BECAUSE THIS CONVERSATION CAN COME ACROSS AS CONFUSING TO FOLKS FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY BE LISTENING, THINKING WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO OWN TWO PARCELS, ONLY PAYING FOR ONE. NO, NO, IT IS, EACH PARCEL WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY CHARGED, ONE MIGHT BE FIVE DOLLARS. IF WE DO THE FLAT RATE, ONE IS FIVE, ONE IS FIVE. IF ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE OTHER, MAYBE ONE IS FIVE, THE OTHER IS $6.25. SO, WHAT GILBERT IS REFERRING TO, IS JUST HOW WE BILL ONE PERSON THAT MIGHT OWN SEVERAL PROPERTIES. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> CORRECT. >> YEAH. >> SO, IN EACH OF THESE OPTIONS, OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, WE ONLY HAVE, I GUESS, TWO SUBSETS, IF YOU WILL. ONE BASED YEAR, AND ONE HIGHER TIER. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY, THERE WAS A DISCUSSION OF, YOU KNOW, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WEREN'T CREATING AN ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN THAT WAS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE. CAN YOU SPEAK TO KIND OF WHY YOU DECIDED TO GO WITH TWO FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE STANDPOINT? I AM SURE THAT THIS WAS A BETTER OPTION, VERSUS THE FOUR WE SAW. >> INSTEAD OF HAVING THREE, FOUR, OR FIVE TIER? ABSOLUTELY. SO, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS A NEW PROCESS, WE STILL HAVE TO DO SOME LEG WORK AND WE STILL HAVE TO GO INTO -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PARCELS -- WE STILL HAVE TO LOOK AT EACH PARCEL, BECAUSE WHEN WE DO THE BILLING, WE WANT TO DO AS MUCH AGGREGATE AS IS. SO, IF I GO THROUGH FIVE TIERS, THAT'S A LOT OF INTENSE WORK. ON THE OTHER SIDE, I CAN LIMIT IT TO TWO TIERS AND JUST BREAK IT OUT FROM A GROWTH STANDPOINT, OKAY, I CAN LOOK AT IT REAL QUICK AND LOOK AT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE, WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A LOT OF DETAILED WORK. ONCE WE ESTABLISH THAT, ONCE WE HAVE A MATURE SYSTEM IN PLACE, AGAIN, "MATURE" IS A KEY PART OF THIS, BECAUSE WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS, THAT'S EASY, WE CAN DO THAT, BUT YOU STILL THINK ABOUT STAFF ON THE BACKGROUND, WE HAVE SOFTWARE TO IMPLEMENT TO MAKE SURE IT WORKS WHERE WE WANT, AND THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE IN VICTORIA, REMEMBER THAT. NOW, THEY CAN'T, BUT WE HAVE TO GET THE PROCESS DONE CORRECTLY. SO, THAT IS WHY I DECIDED TWO TIERS. NOT A THREE, NOT A FOUR. BUT, DOWN THE ROAD, THAT'S AN OPTION FOR COUNCIL TO CONSIDER, ONCE WE SEE SOMETHING GROWING, AND I THINK THAT IS A FAIR STATEMENT, I THINK. >> PERSONALLY, I STILL LIKE JUST THE ONE TIER. >> THAT'S FINE, TOO. >> YOU KNOW, I SEE, BASED ON THIS, YOU KNOW, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL AND OPTION ONE BEING $88,000 A YEAR, ROUGHLY, ROUGH MATH, LAWYER MATH. WE JUST WEANED IT A LITTLE BIT. I MEAN, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT -- I MEAN, IN TERMS OF ADMINISTERED OF COSTS, IF THAT COST IS $100,000 IN ADMINISTRATIVE TIME TO GET $88,000, THEN THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. >> NO, I THINK IF YOU ARE LOOKING -- WITH ALL DUE RESPECT -- OPTION ONE, OR THE ORIGINAL, THE OTHER OPTION IS FINE, BUT MATHEMATICALLY, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, FROM A DOLLARS PERSPECTIVE. SO, IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO A TIER, I WOULD ONLY DO TWO TIER, I WOULD NOT GO TO THREE, FOUR, OR FIVE, NOT RIGHT NOW. AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION -- SORRY, MAYOR -- >> YEAH? >> THE TIME FROM THE ORIGINAL ONE, OR FROM OPTION ONE, THAT WOULD BE OKAY. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE, IN MY OPINION. >> OKAY. >> NOW, WESLEY MIGHT HAVE A DIFFERENT OPINION. AYE. SIX I'M JUST KIDDING. >> NOW, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT SPENDING HOURS, AND HOURS, AND HOURS OF TIME, YOU KNOW, THAT WE ARE PAYING SALARY ON, THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR THE DELTA BEING $88,000 -- >> NO, WE ARE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME WORKING AT THE DATA, FIRST OF ALL, THAT IS A GIVEN, BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ACCURATE ABOUT THE REVENUE, AND THE JUDGING NUMBERS. BUT, ONCE IT IS SET UP IN OUR SYSTEM, ONCE WE TALK TO OUR SOPHOMORE PROGRAM, REALLY, YOU DON'T HAVE INITIATIVE AFTER THAT, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO SET UP IN A PROGRAM, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF ADJUSTING, TWEAKING HERE AND THERE. NOW, IF YOU GO IN TO DO THREE OR FOUR RIGHT AWAY, THAT'S A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULT. I SAY, START SIMPLE, AND GROW FROM THERE. >> GOT YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? >> THIS IS RESIDENTIAL ONLY? >> CORRECT. >> CORRECT. >> COMMERCIAL STAYS THE SAME, LIKE WE MENTIONED EARLIER. THEY WILL BE BASED ON ACTUAL SQUARE FOOTAGE DIVIDED BY THE ONE ERU, WHICH WE ESTABLISHED IS 3200 SQUARE FEET. THAT CALCULATION WILL BE MULTIPLIED BY THE FIVE DOLLARS. I GAVE YOU AN EXAMPLE EARLIER. >> ONLY THE RESIDENTIAL HAVE TWO TIERS. >> I THINK COMMERCIAL COULD MAKE THE SAME ARGUMENT. YOU COULD HAVE A LARGE LOT THAT IS -- FIRST OF ALL, IT ALREADY HAS THE DETENTION THAT WE REQUIRE THEM TO BUILD, AND DOES THAT GET DEDUCTED FROM -- >> YES, MA'AM. ONCE WE GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, WHEN WE HAVE A MARKETING CAMPAIGN, PART OF THAT WILL BE SOME OF THE DISCUSSION TALKS WITH THE CITIZENS. AND IF YOU CAN [01:20:04] UNDERSTAND IT -- IF YOU HAVE A DETENTION, IT HAS TO BE A CERTIFIED DETENTION, AN ENGINEER, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANY DRAINAGE POURING OFF. IT MIGHT BE A HOSE, BUT IF YOU HAVE A DETENTION WITH A GATE OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT LETS WATER OVERFLOW OUT, REALLY, IT'S NOT A FULL HOLDING POND. BUT, IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND CAN SHOW THAT FROM AN ENGINEER'S PERSPECTIVE, THAT THIS ENGINE, THIS POND, OR WHATEVER, IS STRICTLY ZERO AND DOESN'T HAVE EFFECT ON THE SYSTEM, IT WON'T BE CHARGED. YES, MA'AM. WE WILL HAVE A PROCESS IN PLACE FOR THAT. >> OTHER COMMENTS? >> NOT MUCH, BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL, REGULAR PROPOSAL AND THIS ONE, I MEAN, IT'S ONLY $90,000 DIFFERENCE. I MEAN -- >> RIGHT. RIGHT. >> IT'S NOT A WHOLE LOT. >> AGREED. WHICH IS WHY I WAS ASKING ABOUT -- I MEAN, IS IT WORTH -- IS IT WORTH GOING THROUGH, JUMPING THROUGH THE HOOPS TO SET THESE UP? >> WE COULD DO THE ORIGINAL, AND THEN SEE HOW IT GOES. I MEAN, BECAUSE -- >> THAT'S WHAT I SAID. >> BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE, AND THEN FURTHER DOWN THE LINE, IF WE NEED TO CHANGE IT, WE CAN CHANGE IT. BUT, I THINK THE ORIGINAL OPTION IS FINE. >> I TEND TO LEAN THAT WAY, AS WELL, JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT IS SIMPLER AND EASIER TO ADMINISTER. >> YEAH. >> BUT, I THINK THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, WAS A SIX DOLLARS? >> YES, SIX DOLLARS. >> AND WE ARE STILL AT FIVE DOLLARS, THERE? >> YES, SIR. >> OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? >> THE EASE OF IMPLEMENTATION IS CERTAINLY A FACTOR, IN ME POINTING TOWARD THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL. >> OKAY. >> DID YOU GUYS GET WHAT YOU NEED FROM US, THEN? >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> SPEAKERS ] >> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT, GO AHEAD. I KNOW YOU HAD AN OPINION, COUNCILMEMBER DE LA GARZA ABOUT HAVING DIFFERENT SIZED STRUCTURES, SO I AM CURIOUS, ON YOUR TAKE ON IT. >> I LIKED THE TWO TIERED ONE, BUT THE ORIGINAL IS FINE. >> AND JUST FOR FYI PURPOSES, WE PLAN TO BRING THAT BACK AT A FUTURE LEADER MEETING, LATER IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY, WHEN WE START TO PROCESS THE ORDINANCE. SO, WHAT THAT INVOLVES IS BASICALLY, IT'S JUST ALLOWING -- APPROVING THE START OF THE PROCESS, IN OTHER WORDS, HEY, ARE WE GOING TO ADVERTISE THE MOTIVE, CAMPAIGN, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS IN LINE ACCORDING TO STATE REQUIREMENTS. RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PROJECTING MAYBE BY APRIL. BUT, GIVEN THE FACT, IT IS STILL UP TO COUNCIL, WHENEVER YOU WANT TO DO IT. [2. Civil Service and Collective Bargaining Implementation Update. Jesús A...] >> OKAY. >> I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP ON THAT. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, MR. REYNA. >> GO SIT DOWN. >> MR. GARZA, YOU HAVE ONE MORE REPORT FOR US THIS EVENING, I BELIEVE? >> I DO, ACTUALLY. >> GILBERT, YOU FORGOT YOUR WAND. >> OH, THANK YOU. >> WOULD LIKE TO SPEND A FEW MINUTES JUST PROVIDING AN UPDATE FOR NEXT STEPS REGARDING THE TWO PROPOSITIONS THAT WERE JUST RECENTLY VOTED ON AND APPROVED BY OUR RESIDENTS. AND OF COURSE, THEY WERE ALL AROUND CIVIL-SERVICE AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. AND I WANT TO FIRST FOCUS ON RECAPPING CIVIL SERVICE, FOLLOWED BY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, THEN SHARE A COMBINED TIMELINE, HIGHLIGHTING HOW I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD. SO, QUICK RECAP ON CIVIL SERVICE, THIS REQUIRES THE CITY TO FOLLOW A CONSISTENT SET OF RULES FOR HIRING, PROMOTIONS, PAY, AND DISCIPLINARY MATTERS. I VERY INTENTIONALLY UNDERLINED PAGE, BECAUSE IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT CIVIL-SERVICE WILL ACTUALLY TACKLE PAY, BECAUSE OF THE COLLECTIVE-BARGAINING COMPONENT OF IT. IT IS POSSIBLE, AS YOU HEARD FROM FRANK LAST MONTH, FOR COMMUNITIES TO BE CIVIL-SERVICE AND NOT HAVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. IN THOSE SCENARIOS, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WOULD PLAY A FACTOR IN CONVERSATIONS AROUND PAY, BUT IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, THE BULK OF THE WORK WILL BE FOCUSED ON RULES FOR HIRING, PROMOTIONS, AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION. THIS IS SOMETHING WE ALREADY ALLUDED TO IN THE COMMISSION. THIS IS PERSONAL MATTERS FOR MANAGEMENT OR THE CHIEF, TO THE COMMISSION. SO, IT IS QUITE A BIT OF WORK QUITE A BIT OF RULES THAT NEED TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE GROUP. AND AS WAS MENTIONED BY FRANK LAST TIME, FOR HB 2713, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE TO EVER REPEAL CITY SERVICE, MOVING FORWARD. SO, THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE PART OF OUR NORMAL ROUTINE. SO, NEXT STEPS [01:25:14] -- WE DID, OBVIOUSLY, CANVASS THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTION LAST WEEK, AND IN SUPPORT OF THE LAW, WE HAVE 60 DAYS TO APPOINT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. AND THEN, ONCE WE APPOINT THEM, THEY WILL OBVIOUSLY WORK HAND IN HAND WITH STAFF AS WELL AS OUR OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNCIL -- WHICH WILL BE FRANK GARZA -- TO SET UP ALL OF THE RULES IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW. AND PER STATE LAW, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND ALL THE RULES OUGHT TO BE IN PLACE WITHIN 30 DAYS, AFTER THE START OF THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS THE END OF OCTOBER. BUT, I THINK IT JUST MAKES IT -- I THINK IT JUST FLOWS AND ROLLS OFF THE TONGUE EASIER TO SIMPLY THINK OF IT AS, WE NEED TO HAVE IT IN PLACE BY THE BEGINNING OF NEXT FISCAL YEAR. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION, AS WELL AS SHARE WITH YOU THE PROCESS ON HOW SOMEBODY CAN SERVE OR GO ABOUT SERVING ON THE COMMISSION. OF COURSE, ONCE THE COMMISSION IS ESTABLISHED, THEY WILL ELECT A CHAIRMAN AND A VICE CHAIRMAN JUST FOR PROCEDURAL SAKE AND FOR SAKE OF RUNNING THE MEETING. THEY WILL HAVE TO APPOINT A CIVIL-SERVICE DIRECTOR. SO, THIS TECHNICALLY CAN BE ANY EMPLOYEE, AND IT IS MOST COMMON FOR THAT TO BE THE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, WHICH WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION. THAT IS WHAT MOST CITY'S DO. THINK OF IT AS, THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD BE THE POINT PERSON FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. SO, THIS PERSON WOULD HANDLE THE PAPERWORK, WOULD WORK HAND IN HAND WITH OUR CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE FOR LEGAL POSTINGS OF THE MEETINGS, SO ON, SO FORTH. I MENTIONED IT, I DESCRIBED IT TO THE MAYOR THIS MORNING AS, EVEN THINKING OF IT AS HOW WE HANDLE ALL THE OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, WE HAVE, OF COURSE, LISA AND OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT THAT HANDLE, YOU KNOW, THE OVERSIGHT OF THE PARKS COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, DANIELLE HANDLES SOME OF THE OVERSIGHT WITH THE GST SEE, SO THIS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WOULD BECOME THE BOARD OF HR. AND NINA. SURPRISE! SO, SOME OF THE DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION, AS I HAVE ALLUDED TO, ARE THE DUTIES TO CARRY OUT THE INTENT OF THE LAW WHICH INCLUDES DETAILING CAUSES FOR REMOVAL OR SUSPENSION, SET PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS, CALL FOR EXAMS FOR APPLICANTS AND PROMOTIONS, AND APPROVE HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL LISTS. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY CONSIDERED DISCIPLINARY APPEALS. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE ON THE DISCIPLINARY SIDE, AN EMPLOYEE TECHNICALLY HAS AN OPTION, AND I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE STARTED OFF BY SAYING THAT THIS ONLY APPLIES TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, JUST TO BE CLEAR. THE PROPOSITIONS THAT WERE VOTED ON AND WERE ON THE BALLOT, SOLELY APPLIED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO, IN THIS INSTANCE, THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WOULD REVIEW IF THE EMPLOYEE CHOOSES TO HAVE THAT APPEAL GO IN FRONT OF A CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, THEY WOULD REVEAL THOSE. NOW, THE EMPLOYEE DOES HAVE THE OPTION, THOUGH, TO GO STRAIGHT TO ARBITRATION. AND AT THAT POINT, THAT IS AN EXPENSE THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE INCURRED, HALF BY THE EMPLOYER, OR THE ASSOCIATION THAT REPRESENTS THEM, AND US. AND SO, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE DISCIPLINARY ASPECT OF IT BECOMES A VERY CRITICAL COMPONENT OF THE ONGOING DUTIES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. AND IF THAT SOUNDS VERY APPEALING TO YOU, TO BE PART OF SETTING UP ALL OF THOSE RULES, AND BE PART OF REVIEWING DISCIPLINARY APPEALS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE ARE LAUNCHING, OFFICIALLY, THIS WEEK, THE APPLICATION PERIOD. WHICH WILL RUN UNTIL DECEMBER 12. AND FOR BACKGROUND, PER THE LAW, AS CITY MANAGER, IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO APPOINT AND RECOMMEND THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, AND THEY MUST BE CONFIRMED BY YOU, CITY COUNCIL. AND SO, I AM CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF THE PROCESS THAT I HAVE CHOSEN TO FOLLOW OVER THE NEXT 60 DAYS, TO BRING TO YOU A SLATE OF INDIVIDUALS TO SERVE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. AND SO, AGAIN, WE ARE LAUNCHING AN APPLICATION ONLINE THAT WILL GO LIVE THIS WEEK. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT WILL GO LIVE TONIGHT, AND THAT WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL DECEMBER 12TH. MY INTENT IS TO REVIEW APPLICANTS AS THEY COME, AND BASICALLY JUST TAKE THE REST OF THE CALENDAR YEAR TO INTERVIEW CANDIDATES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY IMPORTANT, A VERY BIG DECISION, ON ALL OF OUR PARTS. SO, I WANT TO DEDICATE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SERIOUSNESS, DETAIL, AND ATTENTION TO THE PROCESS THAT IT DESERVES. AND ULTIMATELY, MY GOAL WOULD BE TO BRING THAT RECOMMENDATION TO YOU AT THE FIRST REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING IN JANUARY, WHICH WOULD BE JANUARY 6TH, AND JUST RIGHT IN TIME TO MEET THAT 60 DAY REQUIREMENT. JUST A COUPLE OF REMINDERS -- AND SO, IT IS A STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES THESE ELEMENTS, FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION, SAY STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT SOMEBODY BE A U.S. CITIZEN, STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT OF THE CITY YEARS, MUS THE AGE OF 25, AND NOT HAVE HELD [01:30:01] A PUBLIC OFFICE WITHIN THE LAST THREE YEARS. THINK OF THAT AS AN ELECTED POSITION. AND WE DID CONFIRM WITH FRANK, OUR OUTSIDE COUNCIL, THAT THAT DOES NOT APPLY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO MIGHT SERVE ON BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, THINGS OF THAT SORT. THE INTENT OF THAT ELEMENT IS MORE FOCUSED ON ELECTED OFFICIALS. IN ADDITION TO THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS, I AM BEING VERY INTENTIONAL WITH THE KIND OF EXPERIENCE I AM LOOKING FOR TO SERVE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. AND SO, BECAUSE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, THERE WILL BE PREFERENCE GIVEN TO CANDIDATES THAT BRING TO THE TABLE EXPERIENCE AND POLICYMAKING, AS WELL AS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH, THAT WE PREFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH ANY LAW, LEGAL BACKGROUND. IN LABOR RELATIONS, OR JUST ANY LAW PRACTICE IN GENERAL. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF COMMON, TRANSFERABLE SKILLS THAT AN ATTORNEY COULD BRING TO THE TABLE. I WILL ALSO GIVE PREFERENCE TO CANDIDATES WITH HR BACKGROUNDS, SINCE, AS I HAVE ALLUDED TO, THERE WILL BE SOME DISCIPLINARY MEASURES ATTACHED TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSION, AS WELL AS JUST CONVERSATIONS AROUND PROCESSES FOR HIRING, PROMOTIONS, ET CETERA. AND SO, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE TO ALSO GIVE PREFERENCE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH HR EXPERIENCE. AND LASTLY, I WILL GIVE PREFERENCE TO INDIVIDUALS WITH HIGH LEVEL EXECUTIVE AND MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE. IT MAY GO WITHOUT SAYING, THAT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, I CERTAINLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS THERE UNDERSTAND THE BIGGER PICTURE. THE FOCUS, HERE, WHICH OF COURSE IS THE CITY OF VICTORIA AND OUR CITY, AS A WHOLE. SO, I THINK BRINGING TO THE TABLE SOME OF THE EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE, HIGH-LEVEL EXPERIENCE, I THINK WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE GROUP. AND SO, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, IF YOU ARE TUNING IN, AND YOU HAVE MET BOTH THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENTS AND SOME OF THE PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT VICTORIATX.GOV/CIVILSERVICE OR PUT YOUR PHONE UP TO THE SCREEN AND VISIT THE SITE FROM THE QR CODE. AT THAT WEBPAGE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE COMMISSION IN TERMS OF ITS ROLE, PURPOSE, AS WELL AS SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE PRESENTATIONS THAT FRANK GAVE LAST MONTH. AND I BELIEVE WE ALSO LEFT UP AN FAQ THAT WE HAD PUT OUT DURING THE ELECTION PROCESS. AND, OF COURSE, THE APPLICATION, ITSELF. AT THE APPLICATION WILL ALSO -- IN ADDITION TO SOME BASIC INFORMATION, CONTACT INFORMATION, THINGS OF THAT SORT, IT WILL ALSO ASK A SLEW OF QUESTIONS, TO TRY AND HELP US GET A FEEL FOR AN APPLICANTS' VIEW OF PRIORITIES IN THE CITY, AND INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY AND CITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEBODY TO UPLOAD A RESUME, IF THEY WOULD LIKE TO UPLOAD MORE INFORMATION. >> CAN YOU REMIND ME -- >> ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? >> YEAH, CAN YOU REMIND ME, ARE THERE TERM LIMITS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS COMMISSION? >> OH, GREAT QUESTION. THANK YOU. I SHOULD HAVE PUT THAT UP ON THE SLIDE. OR -- MAYBE I DO HAVE IT ON THE SLIDE? I DO NOT HAVE IT ON THE SLIDE. SO, BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE WILL BE APPOINTING A CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, LAW REQUIRES US TO APPOINT THE THREE INDIVIDUALS, ONE FOR ONE YEAR, ANOTHER FOR TWO YEARS, AND THE THIRD INDIVIDUAL FOR THREE YEARS, WHICH CREATES THE STAGGERED PROCESS, RIGHT? ONCE WE GET PAST THAT INITIAL STRUCTURE, THEN EVERYBODY WILL SERVE FOR THREE YEARS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I AM GOING TO MAKE SOMETHING UP -- I DON'T KNOW -- RANDOM INDIVIDUAL SERVES FOR A YEAR, WHEN A NEW PERSON GETS REAPPOINTED, OR IF THEY GET REAPPOINTED, THAT WOULD BE FOR A THREE-YEAR TERM. >> BUT, ARE THERE CERTAIN TERM LIMITS? >> OH, NO. SORRY. NO TERM LIMITS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS ON THE CIVIL SERVICE, BEFORE I GET INTO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PART OF IT? >> FOR THE NO TERM LIMITS, IS THERE A PROCEDURE FOR THEM TO BE REMOVED? >> SO, THE ONLY PROCEDURE THERE AS FRANK DESCRIBED LAST MONTH WAS TO REMOVE SOMEBODY FOR -- LIKE -- I FORGET THE TERM -- BUT, BASICALLY, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A NEGLIGENT ACT THAT THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD HAVE TAKEN. AND THAT IS THE ONLY WAY THE INDIVIDUAL CAN BE REMOVED. AN INDIVIDUAL CAN'T BE REMOVED BECAUSE YOU DISAGREE WITH A DECISION, OR YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE COLOR OF THEIR SHIRT, OR, YOU KNOW, THEY DECIDED TO JOIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, IT HAS TO BE STRICTLY BASED OFF OF A NEGLIGENT ACT. >> YEAH, AND THAT ACT HAS TO BE RELATED TO THEIR DUTIES AS A COMMISSIONER, NOT JUST ANYTHING THAT THEY MAY DO? >> YEAH, BUT THEY DO GET REAPPOINTED EVERY THREE -- OR, SOMEBODY GETS APPOINTED -- IN [01:35:03] OTHER WORDS, THEY SERVE A THREE-YEAR TERM THAT MAY OR MAY NOT GET REAPPOINTED? >> CORRECT. CORRECT, YES. >> THANK YOU. >> YES. >> AND THE REMOVAL IS BASED ON NEGLIGENCE, NOT INTENTIONAL MALFEASANCE? >> I HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE ACTUAL STATUTE ON THAT ONE, SIR. I DON'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. >> OKAY. OKAY, NO WORRIES. THANK YOU. >> THAT IS ATTORNEY TALK. LAUGHTER ] WOULD YOU LIKE TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION? YOU CAN'T. >> I AM A U.S. CITIZEN, BUT I AM ALSO AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, SO -- >> AND IS HE OVER 25? >> BARELY. BARELY. WELL, CHANCES ARE, YOU CAN'T DO IT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THE CIVIL SERVICE ASPECT OF IT? OKAY. SO, BECAUSE THE CIVIL SERVICE REQUIRES THE APARTMENT OF THE COMMISSION, YOU KNOW, WITHIN 60 DAYS, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, MY PRIORITY IS GOING TO BE ADDRESSING THAT AND ADDRESSING THE CIVIL SERVICE ASPECT OF IT. BUT, OF COURSE, THERE WAS A SECOND RESOLUTION THAT WAS PASSED, AS WELL, RELATED TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. AND VERY QUICKLY, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ALLOWS EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH US TO REACH AN AGREEMENT ON WAGES, BENEFITS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS. THIS IS WHY, EARLIER, I UNDERLINED THE ITEM AROUND PAY ON THE CIVIL SERVICE SIDE, BECAUSE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WILL TAKE THE BURDEN OF THOSE ELEMENTS. CIVIL SERVICE RULES MUST STILL BE FOLLOWED UNLESS THE CONTRACTOR SPECIFICALLY STIPULATES OTHERWISE. AND SO, MOST COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE -- ALL COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BOTH CIVIL-SERVICE AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, END UP ACTUALLY NEGOTIATING OR BARGAINING ELEMENTS ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT MIGHT BE STATE LAW AND CIVIL SERVICE, AND SO AS AN EXAMPLE, CIVIL SERVICE MIGHT STRICTLY JUST SUGGEST THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW VERY SPECIFIC PROMOTIONAL PROCESS, VERY SPECIFIC -- EXCUSE ME -- VERY SPECIFIC TEST. WELL, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ALLOWS BOTH PARTIES TO AGREE ON A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PROCESS, SUCH AS AN ASSESSMENT CENTER, WHICH IS A MUCH MORE WELL-ROUNDED, COMPREHENSIVE WAY TO GO ABOUT DETERMINING SOMEBODY'S SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES. SO, THAT'S A VERY SMALL EXAMPLE, BUT IT CAN BE CONFUSING, IF YOU ARE STARTING IT FROM SCRATCH, BUT THINK OF IT AS, YOU KNOW, CIVIL SERVICE HAS A STANDARD STATE OF RULES THAT, FOR THE MOST PART, COME FROM THE STATE. AND THEN, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO BASICALLY CHANGE ALL OF THAT, IF YOU WANT TO. IT'S KIND OF LIKE OUR CITY CHARTER, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW CERTAIN STATE LAWS AROUND THE CITY, AND HOW WE DO IT. BUT, THEN, OUR CITY CHARTER ALLOWS US TO CHOOSE TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY. AND SO, THE CBA IS KIND OF LIKE A CITY CHARTER, AS IT RELATES TO RULES AND REGULATIONS, THE RULES AND POLICIES AROUND HIRING PROCEDURES, YOU KNOW, ET CETERA. I HOPE THAT HELPS. I HOPE I DIDN'T MAKE IT MORE CONFUSING. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT, AND THAT IS VERY SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT IN STATE LAW, IS THAT BOTH PARTIES HAVE A DUTY TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH, AND THAT JUST MEANS THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, MEETING AT REASONABLE TIMES, REASONABLE LOCATIONS, YOU KNOW, NOBODY IS TRYING TO UNDERMINE, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER. AS FRANK POINTED OUT LAST MONTH, IT'S REALLY WHEN EITHER PARTY TAKES ANY SORT OF EXTREME POSITION, THAT THINGS CAN GET VERY HAIRY, RIGHT? BUT, IF BOTH PARTIES ARE ENTERING CONVERSATIONS IN GOOD FAITH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE RIGHT MIND-SET, WITH THE RIGHT PRIORITIES, YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY, YOU KNOW, IT GOES ON WITHOUT AN ISSUE. HOWEVER, THERE MIGHT BE TIMES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, NOTHING HAPPENS AND THERE MIGHT BE AN IMPASSE, OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT, AND SO, WE CAN -- EITHER PARTY CAN REQUEST ARBITRATION, IF WE JUST FEEL LIKE WE ARE NOT GETTING -- IF EITHER PARTY FEELS LIKE THEY ARE JUST NOT GETTING TO A POINT WHERE THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE AGREEING TO TERMS. AND AS FRANK MENTIONED, LAST MONTH, NOBODY WANTS THAT, BECAUSE THEN YOU ARE PUTTING IT IN THE HANDS OF A THIRD PARTY, THAT ULTIMATELY IS PROBABLY GOING TO DECIDE SOMETHING THAT NOBODY LIKES. RIGHT? AND IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PART OF IT CAN BE REPEALED BY THE VOTERS, SO I KNOW THAT THERE WAS CONVERSATION AROUND THE MEASURES THAT WERE PASSED, NOT BEING ABLE TO BE REPEALED. THAT IS TRUE, WITH CIVIL-SERVICE, BUT NOT TRUE, FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. AND SO, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING COULD BE REPEALED, FOLLOWING THE SAME PROCESS THAT WAS FOLLOWED TO ESTABLISH IT, MEANING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES COULD BE GATHERED TO REQUEST IT COULD BE PUT ON THE BALLOT. SO, SOME NEXT STEPS, AS IT RELATES TO THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PIECE. PER THE LAW, WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE FIRE ASSOCIATION OF THE OFFICIAL BARGAINING AGENT. THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM WITH US, BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE ONE ASSOCIATION WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT I KNOW OF. BUT, IN SOME LARGER CITY'S, THIS COULD BE AN ISSUE, BECAUSE MANY LARGE ORGANIZATIONS SOMETIMES HAVE MULTIPLE ASSOCIATIONS. AND SO, THE CITY MUST OFFICIALLY DESIGNATE AN ASSOCIATION TO BE THAT BARGAINING AGENT, AND THAT IS JUST A LETTER THAT CAN BE [01:40:02] SENT BACK AND FORTH JUST CONFIRMING THAT, BUT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT STEP. AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE WILL START NEGOTIATIONS. AND THIS ALSO HAS TO BE FULLY IMPLEMENT IT WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE NEW FISCAL YEAR. BUT, AGAIN, JUST THINK OF IT AS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR US TO FINALIZE, BEFORE THE END OF OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. AND HOW WE KIND OF MESH ALL THAT TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALREADY ALLUDED TO THE FACT THAT IT MAKES SENSE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS TO FOCUS ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMISSION. AND SO, THAT IS WHAT I SHOW HERE, TAKING PLACE OVER THE MONTHS OF NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER. IN JANUARY, AS I MENTIONED, I WILL BRING FORWARD FOR CONFIRMATION, THE THREE INDIVIDUALS AT THE FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY. AND I SUSPECT THAT, BY THE END OF JANUARY, WE WILL CONDUCT THE FIRST CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. WE ASKED OUR OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL ON THEIR OPINION ON TIME COMMITMENT AND HOW MUCH TIME IT MIGHT TAKE TO SET EVERYTHING UP, HE RECOMMENDS THAT THE COMMISSION MEET TWICE A MONTH, AND THAT IT COULD TAKE ANYWHERE FROM 4 TO 6 MONTHS TO SET IT ALL UP, JUST DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH BACK AND FORTH THERE MIGHT BE. BETWEEN THE GROUP. SO, THAT IS QUITE A BIT OF MEETINGS, THAT WHOMEVER SERVES ON THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WILL HAVE TO COMMIT TO, FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, BASICALLY. NOW, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, WE ARE MORE ON THE FOUR MONTH SIDE OF THAT EQUATION, RIGHT? AND WE CAN GET IT DONE IN THE SPRING TIME FRAME. I MENTIONED IN THIS TIMELINE, DON'T HOLD ME TO IT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF FACTORS THAT MAY CHANGE THIS, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO AT LEAST GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHEN WE MAY BE ABLE TO START THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS, FOR PURPOSES OF ILLUSTRATION, I HAVE SHOWED SOME TIME FRAME IN MARCH AND APRIL. JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF OUR PRIORITIES. I THINK IT MAKES SENSE, AGAIN, TO FOCUS ON SETTING UP THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, FIRST. GET THAT OFF THE GROUND, FOCUS ON THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. AND THEN, ONCE WE GET PAST, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST SEVERAL MEETINGS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, AND WE CAN GET IN SOME KIND OF A GROUP, THEN MAYBE IT MAKES SENSE FOR US, AT THAT TIME FRAME, TO START FORMAL BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE ASSOCIATION. WE WILL HAVE TO FORMALLY APPOINT A NEGOTIATIONS TEAM. AND SO, WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET THERE. BUT, THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE PROCESS. MY HOPE WOULD BE THAT IN MAY, JUNE TIMEFRAME, WE ARE ABLE TO FINALIZE AND SETTING UP THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, AND THEN MAYBE A MONTH OR TWO AFTER THAT, WE CAN FINALIZE AND APPROVE THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. I THINK IT MAKES SENSE, TO TRY TO COINCIDE THAT WITH OUR BUDGET. SINCE, OBVIOUSLY, A BIG PART OF -- NOT THE ONLY PART, BUT A BIG PART -- OF THE BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS, WILL HAVE A MONETARY IMPACT. AND SO, WITH THAT, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON EITHER OF THOSE TOPICS. >> AND IF I MAY JUMP IN -- AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT HAVING THE EXACT LANGUAGE PREPARED EARLIER, I'M STILL LEARNING THIS AS Y'ALL ARE -- IT IS ACTUALLY, COMMISSIONERS MAY ONLY BE REMOVED FOR MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE, AND THAT REQUIRES THE FINDING TO BE MADE BY CITY COUNCIL TO REMOVE THEM, AND AT THAT TIME, THE COMMISSIONER MAY REQUEST A HEARING AT AN OPEN MEETING, THAT IS HOW THAT PROCESS WORKS. >> THANK YOU, MS. LACEY. >> YES, SIR. >> SO, IT DOESN'T SOUND EASY. AYE. SIX >> THAT'S A PROCESS, LIKE ALL OF IT IS. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR [H. Executive Sessions:] COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. MR. GARZA, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. I BELIEVE THAT CONCLUDES THE CITY MANAGER REPORTS. WE WILL HAVE A SHORT EXECUTIVE SESSION, CORRECT? >> YES. >> SO, IT IS 6:43. WE WILL TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK, AND THEN WE WILL RECONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> THE CITY COUNCIL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE 18TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025, * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.