[00:00:28] >> IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, RISE, JOIN ME FOR THE PLEDGES 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. HONORABLE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS, ONE STATE, UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT. AGAIN, WELCOME, [1. Announcements/Reminders:] EVERYONE. WE WILL JUMP STRAIGHT INTO OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING AND WE'LL START WITH ITEM B CAPITAL ONE, MR. GARZA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR US THIS EVENING? >> I DO HAVE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR YOU THIS EVENING. I WANT TO BEGIN BY REMINDING THE PUBLIC THAT ALL NONEMERGENCY CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24TH, AND THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25TH, IN OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY. OFFICES WILL REOPEN DECEMBER 26TH. ON NONEMERGENCY CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY, JANUARY 1ST AS WELL, IN OBSERVANCE OF NEW YEAR'S DAY. OFFICES WILL REOPEN IT:00 A.M. FRIDAY, JANUARY 2ND. IN RELATION TO THOSE HOLIDAYS, GARBAGE NORMALLY COLLECTED ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25TH WILL BE PICKED UP ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24TH. CURBSIDE RECYCLING AND YARD WASTE SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 25TH WILL BE COLLECTED SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27TH. ALL COLLECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26 WILL CONTINUE AS SCHEDULED. EXTRA HOLIDAY TRASH WILL BE COLLECTED ON THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 29TH, THROUGH JANUARY 2ND. AND LASTLY, YARD WASTE WILL NOT BE COLLECTED DECEMBER 29TH THROUGH JANUARY 2ND, SO ACCOMMODATE THOSE EXTRA GARBAGE COLLECTION SERVICES. LASTLY THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED AS OF THE 24TH AND 25TH AND REOPEN IT REGULAR HOURS ON DECEMBER 26TH. I KNOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LOT, FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OUR WEBSITE, FOR MORE INFORMATION. IN ADDITION, ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMISSION VISITORS BUREAU, THE LAST DAY TO CHECK IN TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR SHOPPING CAMPAIGN IS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20TH. THE DRAWING FOR GIFT BAGS WILL TAKE PLACE DECEMBER 22ND. TO JOIN BEFORE THE PROMOTION ENDS, HEAD TO FIX OVER AND CLICK ON YOUR LOVE SHOPPING VICTORIA. ON BEHALF OF WE LIKE TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO HELP US RING IN 2026 AT THE ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S EVE BLASTOFF THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN RIVERSIDE PARK FROM 6:00 TO 9:00 P.M. ENJOY LIVE MUSIC FROM CROWBARS AND VELVET DRIVE ALONG WITH INFLATABLE'S, A FREE PHOTO BOOTH AND FACE PAINTING, AND GIVEAWAYS FROM THE COVER. GRAB A BITE TO EAT FROM SOME OF THE FOOD TRUCKS ON-SITE AND FIND A GREAT SEED FOR A FRONT ROW VIEW OF THE FIREWORKS SHOW AT 9:00 P.M. LASTLY ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, ALL RESIDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN A KEEP VICTORIA CLEANUP EVENT IN 2025 ARE INVITED TO JOIN US ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 22ND, FROM 5:30 TO 7:30 P.M. FOR THE ANNUAL KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT. THIS IS ALWAYS A GREAT EVENT, THAT OF COURSE HONORS ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DOING THAT ONCE AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY [2. Public & Employee Recognitions:] YOU'RE ABLE TO JOIN US AS WELL. THOSE ARE ALL THE ANNOUNCEMENTS I HAVE FOR THIS EVENING. >> THANK YOU, MR. GARZA, WE WILL MOVE TO PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS, AND WE WILL START WITH ITEM 2A, RECOGNITION OF OUTGOING BOARD COMMISSION MEMBER. >> COUNCIL AND STAFF WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE MISS SARAH ZELLER, MISS ZELLER SERVED ON THE LIBRARY ADVISORY BOARD TO 2025, THE CITY APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY AND PRESENTS YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR TIME IN SERVICE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THIS RECOGNITION, AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD. I GREW UP IN VICTORIA AND MY MOM TOOK US TO THE PUBLIC LIBRARY AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. IT'S WHERE I INTRODUCED MYSELF TO LOTS OF GREAT MYSTERY SERIES, AND AMERICAN GIRLS AND ALL THESE OTHER WONDERFUL BOOKS. I'M SO THANKFUL THAT WE HAVE A LIBRARY IN VICTORIA. MY INTEREST IN SERVING ON THE BOARD WAS SPARKED BY MY OWN CHILDREN TAKING THEM TO THE LIBRARY FREQUENTLY, AND WANTING TO SEE THE LIBRARY BE [00:05:05] THE BEST IT CAN BE FOR PEOPLE OF VICTORIA. I WISH ALL THE BEST TO THE ONGOING BOARD MEMBERS, I KNOW THEY'LL DO A GREAT JOB, THANK YOU TO JESSICA AND HER STAFF FOR THEIR HARD WORK, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND FOR VOTING ME IN ON THE BOARD, THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. MR. GARZA, DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS? >> I DO HAVE A COUPLE. I WANT TO FIRST INTRODUCE TO YOU AND TO THE PUBLIC OUR NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, WITH OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, HE HAS BEEN HIRED AS OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE AND GOLF SERVICES ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, AS YOU KNOW RECENTLY WE RESTRUCTURED OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND NOW HAS TWO ASSISTANT DIRECTORS RECENTLY BEING PROMOTO THE SECOND. IN THIS ROLE HE WILL OVERSEE THE CITIES MAINTENANCE OPERATION IN RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE ENSURING THAT FACILITIES ARE WELL-MAINTAINED AND MEET THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS. PREVIOUSLY SERVED THE CITY OF MADISON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR SEVEN YEARS STARTING UP TO THE ROLE OF OPERATION SUPERINTENDENT. PARKS AND REC IS A SECOND CAREER, HE HAD A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PRIOR TO THAT, AND HAS OVER 25 YEARS THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IN HIS NEW ROLE. IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, GIVING A 20 MINUTE SPEECH. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE IN VICTORIA WORKING WITH Y'ALL, FOUND OUT A GREAT STAFF WE'VE GOT IT PARKS AND REC, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THE PUBLIC, AND VISIT OUR GREAT PARKS. THANK YOU. >> THANKS, RANDY. >> RECENTLY I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND OUR VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT PROMOTIONAL SAMARA CEREMONY THAT PLACE ON DECEMBER 4TH AND IT WAS VERY INSPIRING. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE GREAT THINGS GOING ON WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT RANGING FROM THE NEW PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTER FACILITY NEARING COMPLETION TO THE ENHANCED PROGRAM THAT WENT INTO EFFECT ON OCTOBER, INTERIM CHIEF FETTERS HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB LEADING THAT DEPARTMENT. PART OF THAT IS HAVING THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON THE BUS AND IN THE RIGHT SEATS ON THE BUS, AND CERTAINLY THIS PROMOTIONAL CEREMONY FALLS WITHIN THAT, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND ASK THEM TO STAND IF THEY'RE PRESENT TO RECOGNIZE THEIR PROMOTIONS. JAMES COLLINS, WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE VPD AND WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT AND SUPERVISED TRAINING AND RECRUITING UNIT. ROBERT DAYAL, WHO HAS BEEN WITH VPD FOR 17 YEARS, PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT AND WILL SERVE AS THE WATCH COMMANDER FOR PATROL, I BELIEVE HE'S HERE. THANK YOU, CONGRATULATIONS. AND MIKE HERNANDEZ, BIG RACKET. BIG RACKET, THANKS FOR THE CLARIFICATION. HE'S BEEN WITH VPD FOR 36 YEARS, PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN AND WILL SERVE AS A PATROL DIVISION COMMANDER. THESE LEADERS WILL PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE BRIGHT FUTURE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR LEADERSHIP. WORDS CAN'T BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE FEELING THAT EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM FELT LISTENING TO THEIR PASSIONATE SPEECHES AS THEY RECEIVE THESE PROMOTION, EARN THESE PROMOTIONS, THEY'RE VERY COMMITTED, VERY LOVING TO OUR DEPARTMENT, WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE THEM, PROTECTING AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR LEADERSHIP AND HOPEFULLY, UNDER INTERIM CHIEF FETTERS LEADERSHIP AND THEIR PROMOTION WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE OUR YOUNGER OFFICERS TO MAKE A LONG CAREER OUT OF THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE A GREAT COMMUNITY, GREAT DEPARTMENT, AND THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO PROGRESS. CONGRATULATIONS AND WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. [4. Citizen Communication:] >> THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, WE'LL MOVE ON. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS FOR COUNCIL THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE, WE WILL JUMP INTO CITIZEN COMMUNICATION. I HAVE QUITE A FEW CARDS THIS EVENING, SO AS A REMINDER, TO THOSE OF YOU WHO INTEND TO SPEAK, PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF TIME, FOR ALL INVOLVED. WE WILL START WITH MR. STEVE MOSES. WELCOME, MR. MOSES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF ME. I WANT TO ADDRESS THE HONORABLE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR. ALWAYS WISH THE BEST FOR Y'ALL. JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I DID TRY TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE INTERIM CHIEF, BUT, I WAS DENIED [00:10:01] . SO, YOU DO HAVE WHAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU FROM TWO WEEKS AGO, AND THAT IS PART OF PROTOCOL FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO FILL OUT. EITHER YES OR NO , STARTING WITH WHAT'S ON THERE. AND, SINCE I CAN'T ADDRESS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT , I WILL CONTINUE TO DO MY BEST TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS WHAT Y'ALL HAVE THERE, IS PROPER PROTOCOL, THAT'S PART OF THE VICTORIA POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT IT WILL BE SIGNED EITHER YES OR NO. AND OF COURSE I WILL ACCEPT WHATEVER IT SAYS ON THERE, I WILL CONTINUE TO DO MY BEST. FOR MY LOVED ONE , THAT I MISS AND I LOVE VERY MUCH. THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAVE TO SAY. I WANT TO WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS. AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. THANK YOU. >> SAME TO YOU, SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IS MISS WILMA EDWARDS. WELCOME, MISS EDWARDS, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> GOOD EVENING. EVERYBODY, GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING. >> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I CAME, I PUT MYSELF ON THE PAYROLL. I PUT MYSELF ON THE PAYROLL, YOU REMEMBER THAT? SOMEBODY DID. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY MONEY YET. BUT, I WAS OUT AGAIN AND FOUND SOME LAND, THAT COULD BE USED TO BUILD A BUILDING, AND YOU CAN BUILD A BUILDING BUT THEN WHEN YOU PUT THE PEOPLE IN THERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT GOES IN THERE. SO, I'M ASKING YOU TO FIND SOMEPLACE TO MOVE THOSE PEOPLE OUT OF QUEEN CITY, LET THEM KNOW THERE'S A BETTER PLACE THAN WHERE THEY ARE. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A GOOD PART LOOKS LIKE. I DON'T THINK THEY EVER WAS TAUGHT OR EVEN HAD A GOOD PLACE TO GO. IF WE DO SOMETHING, I THINK I SAID I USED THE WORD, DO SOMETHING TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THEY CARE FOR YOU. WE WENT OVER AND TALKED TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM WANT TO GET OUT OF THAT POSITION, WHERE THEY GOING TO GO? SOME OF THEM CAME TO SILVER CITY. BUT THEY ALL WENT INTO ONE BUILDING, ONE HOUSE. SO, THERE IS A NEED FOR US TO DO SOMETHING, SOMETHING SO THEY KNOW THAT WE CARE FOR THEM. ALL THE PEOPLE THAT'S NOT ON DRUGS, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE SOME TALENTS. THEY NEED ENCOURAGEMENT. I'VE DONE MY BEST TO DO THAT, BUT I NEED MORE HELP. I KNOW Y'ALL KNOW ABOUT THE FOOD STORE WAS CLOSED DOWN. AND I HAVE THE REAL ESTATE ADDRESS, Y'ALL CAN CALL AND SEE IF WE CAN AFFORD IT. AND THEN WE HAVE 104 SOUTH, AND THAT PLACE, THE LAND IS FILLED UP WITH GRASS, THAT'S ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN. NOBODY'S DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. MY DESIRE IS THAT WE AND VICTORIA CITIZENS STOP TALKING AND LET'S DO SOMETHING. SO THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM. YOU GOT TO SHOW PEOPLE. YOU HAVE TO SHOW THEM, US. AND THAT'S THE JOB TO HELP EACH OTHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR. >> THANK YOU, MISS EDWARDS. >> I'M GOING TO GIVE THIS ADDRESS TO THE MAYOR. SO HE CAN GIVE IT TO YOU. >> NEXT CARD I HAVE IS FROM STEPHEN. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M HERE AS A FATHER TO ADVOCATE FOR MY CHILDREN, AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN. SO, THIS IS IN REGARDS TO THE TORY PUBLIC LIBRARY, WE [00:15:02] WERE HERE LAST MEETING THERE IS AN OPPOSITION AGAINST WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE AS FAR AS WITH THESE BOOKS IN THE CHILD'S ACTIONS. JUST TO MAKE IT CLEAR, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BAN THESE BOOKS, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO NOT MAKE THEM AVAILABLE AT ALL, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THEM FROM THE CHILDREN'S SECTION A FEW FEET DOWN THE HALL TO THE ADULT SECTION. THAT'S WHERE THEY SHOULD BE, BECAUSE WHAT'S IN THESE BOOKS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN. MAYBE IF YOU HAD TIME YOU CAN LOOK AT THEM AND SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT'S BEING, BEING PUT IN THE CHILDREN'S SECTION. THERE WAS A FEW REMOVED, THAT HELPS. I SAY REMOVED, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WERE REMOVED FROM THE LIBRARY OR OUT OF THE SECTION OF THE CHILDREN'S AREA. THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE. SO, STILL GOT THE TIME ACTIVELY PROHIBITING BEING USED, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO BAN, WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE THESE BOOKS FROM THE CHILDREN'S SECTION TO THE ADULT SECTION. SOME OF THE OPPOSITION IS USING THE TERM EDUCATION AND FREEDOM TO ALLOW THESE BOOKS TO BE THERE. LIKE IT'S UNDER A GUYS. IT'S A LOOPHOLE. THERE'S NO EDUCATION THERE. THESE KIDS DON'T NEED TO READ ABOUT THE STUFF IN THESE BOOKS, THEY NEED TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE, ADVENTURES, NOTHING OF THE KIND THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT OUT THERE. AS I READ SOME OF THE OPPOSITION POSTS, I RAN ACROSS A COMMENT THAT'S MORE COMMON THAN NOT, IT'S, THESE ARE OUR TROOPS, OUR TRUTH TO THIS, TRUTH THAT, THESE ARE FULL-BLOWN ADULTS SAYING THESE ARE OUR TROOPS. BE THAT AS IT MAY, YOUR TROOPS ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S TRUTHS, AND WHY VOICE THOSE TRUTHS TO THE CHILDREN? CHILDREN, THEY'RE INNOCENT. THEY DON'T NEED TO KNOW YOUR TROUBLES THAT YOU HAD AS A CHILD, YOUR PERSONAL SELF. THEY MAY NOT RELATE TO THAT. YOU'RE CAUSING MORE CONFUSION THAN ANYTHING. WHEN IT COMES TO RACISM, IF SOMEONE WAS RACIST TO YOU AS A CHILD IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU NEED TO PUT OUT A BOOK THAT PROMOTES RACISM. THAT'S SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE IF SOMEONE WAS IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY KIND OF GENDER CONFUSION AS A CHILD, THAT DOESN'T MEAN ALL THE CHILDREN ARE GOING THROUGH THAT AS WELL. JUST LOOK AT THE EMAILS WE'VE BEEN SENDING, WE SENT Y'ALL A FEW EXAMPLES, THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT BANNING IT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON, YOUR KINDLE, YOU WANT THEM, BY THEM. DON'T USE THE CITIZENS TAX DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THIS NONSENSE ON OURSELVES. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT. THANK YOU ALL. >> THANK YOU. MY NEXT CARD IS MCKINSEY. GOOD EVENING, WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING. MY HUSBAND JUST SPOKE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION GROWING TO WHAT WE'RE DOING AT VICTORIA PINES BOOK COALITION. I KNOW Y'ALL HAVE BEEN GETTING EMAILS. I BELIEVE MAYBE SOME OF THEM ARE HERE TONIGHT. YOU ALREADY KNOW OUR PURPOSE, AND WHAT OUR GOALS ARE. I WANT TO READ TO YOU SOME OF THE BOOKS THAT OUR OPPOSITION WANT BACK IN THE LIBRARY OR BOOKS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR CHILDREN'S SECTION RIGHT NOW AVAILABLE FOR OUR KIDS. AND I EMAILED Y'ALL. I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THE NAMES HERE BUT I EMAILED THE ALL THE NAMES AND SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT ARE IN THESE BOOKS. ONE OF THESE BOOKS IS CALLED AUNTIE UNCLE, A STORY ABOUT A DRAG QUEEN, A BOY WHO HAS A DRAG QUEEN FOR AN UNCLE. IF YOU EVER BOOK THAT TALKS ABOUT BABIES BEING RACIST, I DON'T BELIEVE BABIES ARE RACIST. I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO PROMOTE TO CHILDREN ABOUT RACISM , THOUGH SOME PEOPLE BEING OPPRESSED OR OPPRESSORS BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN, THERE IS A PUBERTY BOOK THAT HAD DETAILED IMAGES OF WHICH GOES AGAINST THE LIBRARIES OWN POLICY, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW IT MADE IT INTO THE CHILDREN'S SECTION. AND IT HAS THINGS ABOUT TRANSGENDER, NON-BINARY, AND CHILDREN. THERE IS A BOOK CURRENTLY IN THERE RIGHT NOW, A PUBERTY BOOK FOR GIRLS, THAT, AGAIN, MENTIONS THAT YOU DON'T, MAYBE YOU WERE BORN A GIRL THAT YOU'RE NOT A GIRL AND HAS LINKS AND INFORMATION FOR TRANS YOUTH, WHICH OBVIOUSLY CAUSES CONFUSION. SOME GIRLS ARE TOMBOY IS, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU'RE TRANS IF YOU'RE NOT A GIRLY GIRL. I GREW UP WHERE YOU HAD TOM BOYS, NOT TRANSGENDER BOYS. ONE OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS BOOKS I FOUND TODAY THAT I CANNOT BELIEVE IT IS IN OUR LIBRARY FOR [00:20:01] CHILDREN, IS A BOOK ABOUT ANIMALS, WHICH THE COVER SEEMS, IT'S ABOUT ANIMALS, THIS BOOK , AND PART OF MY LANGUAGE, THIS BOOK SHOWS ANIMAL PICTURES DETAILED ILLUSTRATIONS OF ANIMALS HAVING , DEARS HAVING THREESOMES, A BEAR , DETAILED ILLUSTRATIONS AND ANATOLIA, COMPARING DIFFERENT SIZES OF ANIMALS, AND A GIRAFFE HOLDING A PRIDE FLAG AS IF ANIMALS THINK THAT WAY. ALL OF THESE BOOKS, OUR CHILDREN, CAN WE JUST STOP SEXUALIZING OUR CHILDREN? WE DON'T NEED TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PROMOTE THIS IDEOLOGY TO CHILDREN, THEY NEED TO COME TO THE LIBRARY TO LEARN, TO BE ENRICHED. IF YOU WANT TO BUY THOSE BOOKS FOR YOUR CHILDREN THAT IS YOUR RIGHT, BUT IT IS NOT THE LIBRARY'S JOB AND NOT OUR TAX FUNDS JOB TO DO SO. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. NEXT CARD IS SYDNEY ZEPPELIN, I BELIEVE. DID I GET THAT RIGHT? >> YOU GOT IT RIGHT. I HAVE PETITIONS, HERE, SIGNED. >> IF YOU'D HAND THEM TO THE OFFICER. THANK YOU. >> AND THERE'S OVER 500 SIGNATURES ON THERE. THERE ARE MORE SIGNATURES ON THIS PETITION THEN THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP THAT WANT TO BAN BOOKS. THIS IS A MATTER OF RESPECTING EDUCATED, EXPERIENCED CITY COUNTY EMPLOYEES OVER AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP WITHOUT THE REQUIRED RELEVANT EDUCATION OR EXPERIENCE TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. THE LEADER OF THIS GROUP JUST STARTED A BOOK CLUB TO READ THE CLASSICS, BECAUSE SHE, HERSELF, HAS NOT READ THEM. WILL WE BE LETTING A PERSON OR SMALL GROUP MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT OUR WATER SUPPLY INSTEAD OF THE PEOPLE WE HIRED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE ? WILL WE LET A PERSON FROM OUR COMMUNITY, TAKE AWAY THE POSITION OF OUR ROAD REPAIR WORKERS BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT WE ARE REPAIRING ROADS THAT THEY DO NOT VALUE? WE HAVE QUALIFIED PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR PUBLIC SERVICE AREAS , AND IF THE BOOK BANNER WANTS TO BE IN CHARGE OF A LIBRARY COLLECTION, SHE NEEDS TO EARN A DEGREE IN LIBRARY SCIENCE AND APPLY FOR THE JOB. AND MAYBE SHE CAN GET STARTED AFTER READING JANE EYRE OR 1984. I'M HERE TO SPEAK UP FOR OUR LIBRARY, OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY, AND OUR CITY GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO INTERVIEW AND HIRE THE BEST PEOPLE FOR THE JOB , BASED ON KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HEARING ME. >> THANK YOU. MY NEXT CARD IS MICHAEL VON THERE. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, AND THE REST OF CREW. I LIVE AT 2107 NORTH JORDAN. I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT THAT THE CITY OF VICTORIA HAS TO PAY THE 800,000 SINCE THEY DON'T OWN IT, IT SEEMS LIKE THE COMMISSIONERS COURT SHOULD HAVE TO PAY AT LEAST 400,000, AT LEAST HALF. IT REMINDS ME, I WENT ON A BOAT TRIP WITH MY BUDDY, HE WOULD TAKE ME FISHING ONCE A MONTH, AND HE WANTED ME TO BUY A NEW TIRE FOR HIS BOAT, I SAID YOU ON THE BOAT AND THE TRAILER IS YOURS. AND HE SAYS YEAH, BUT YOU GO WITH ME ONCE A MONTH, SO I SAID I'LL PAY FOR HALF OF IT. HALF OF THE NEW TIRE AND THAT'S HOW, I THINK IT SHOULD BE. I DON'T SEE WHY THEY COULDN'T JUST BUILDING YOUR LIBRARY AT THE DPS FOR 4 MILLION INSTEAD OF PAYING 800,000 FOR A ROOF JOB THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE HIGH-QUALITY, JUST A JURY RIGGED ROOF, AND THAT'S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT IT. ALSO WE CONTINUE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH LOOSE DOGS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ANIMAL CONTROL, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES ENFORCE THE RULES. THEY'RE NOT ENFORCING THE RULES. ONE EXAMPLE IS A NURSERY WHEN A DOG NEARLY KILLED ANOTHER DOG, ONE OF THOSE $286 TICKETS. WHEN WE GO TO THE MUNICIPAL COURT OR THE JP, AND JUST A WARNING. AND IT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO RUN THE DOGS LOOSE, $25 FINE IF YOU RUN YOUR DOG LOOSE, AND HAS ALL THE CREDENTIALS WITH THE DOG IS FIXED, $75 IF IT'S NOT FIXED. I [00:25:02] THINK THEY SHOULD START WRITING THOSE $286 TICKETS TO THE JP AND MUNICIPAL COURT, AND LET THE JUDGES TAKE CARE, THEY'VE BEEN WAY TOO LENIENT AND IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO CHASE DOGS DOWN AND GIVE IT TO THE OWNERS AND SAY, IS THIS YOUR PIT BULL? I AIN'T GOING TO CHASE NO 70 POUND PIT BULL, AND GO DOOR TO DOOR LOOKING FOR WHO IT BELONGS TO. THAT'S ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. AND A LOT OF THEM WON'T TAKE DOGS, SOME PEOPLE IN THE TRAILER PARK WANTING TO GIVE CATS TO THEM, THEY SAID NO. TWO APARTMENT COMPLEX, SOME DOGS, THEY SAID NO. THAT'S WHY THE INTAKE IS MUCH LOWER BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ACCEPTING THAT MANY DOGS AND CATS, THEY EXPECT US TO FOSTER CARE THEM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T HAVE THE PLACES OR THE MANPOWER TO DO IT. THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD DAY, APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. NEXT CARD I HAVE IS JEFF. DID I PRONOUNCE THAT RIGHT? >> IT'S CLOSE. >> WELCOME, SIR. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS. VERY DIFFERENT POSITION TO BE IN TONIGHT, JUST ASK FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TO JOIN THE SALES TECH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. I THINK THAT MY EXPERIENCE SERVING IN THE PAST AS WELL AS ON THE BOARD AND KNOWING ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY WOULD HELP OUT A LITTLE BIT ON THE SALES TAX. I CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING FROM DAY ONE, JUST KNOWING THE ISSUES ALREADY, AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE CITY IS. THANK YOU ALL, AND Y'ALL HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS. >> SAME TO YOU, THANK YOU. MY NEXT CARD IS WILLIAM MYERS. GOOD EVENING, MR. MYERS, WELCOME. >> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME. LIKE JEFF, HERE TO REQUEST CONSIDERATION FOR FILLING A SPOT ON THE SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD. I'VE BEEN IN VICTORIA SEVEN YEARS, WORKED FOR FROST BANK ALL THOSE YEARS, CURRENTLY THE MARKET PRESIDENT, AND PRIOR TO THAT, FORMAL EDUCATION, I HAVE A MASTERS IN ECONOMICS, SERVED ON SEVERAL BOARDS IN THE COMMUNITY. I THINK MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER AND I ARE COMMITTED TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND I'D LIKE TO USE MY SKILL SET TO BETTER IT AND GROW IT THE BEST I CAN. THANK YOU ALL, MERRY CHRISTMAS. >> THANK YOU, SAME TO YOU. THE FINAL CARD I HAVE TONIGHT IS MICHAEL REYES. >> GOOD EVENING, THANK YOU. I'M MICHAEL REYES I RESIDE IN VICTORIA, 122 CREEKSIDE DRIVE. MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, BRIEFLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I AM INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THE TAX BOARD, I RECENTLY MOVED BACK TO VICTORIA, I'VE LIVED IN DALLAS FOR 20 YEARS, AND I WORKED IN MOST MAJOR CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, AND OVER A DOZEN COUNTRIES OVERSEAS AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT HAVING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY CITY, IT REALLY MAKES IT GREAT, AND INSPIRING TO GET UP AND GO TO WORK EVERY DAY. SO, I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESSES, AND I KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT PAYING DUES. I ALSO AM THINKING ABOUT, WORKING TOWARD CONSOLIDATING MY BUSINESSES IN MANUFACTURING, A.I. AND BIOTECH HERE TO VICTORIA. IF I'M NOT PUT ON THIS BOARD, I KNOW THAT MY GOOD FRIEND, MY BANKER, WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. HAVE A BLESSED HOLIDAY. >> THANK YOU, SIR, APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS. THAT IS ALL THE [1. 2024 CDBG Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER...] CARDS I HAVE, SO WE'LL CLOSE OUT CITIZEN COMMUNICATION AND WE WILL MOVE ON TO SECTION C, WE'LL BEGIN WITH , THIS IS ITEMS WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WILL BEGIN WITH ITEM C1. >> THE 2024 CDBG CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT. THERE'S NO VOTE ON THIS ITEM, IT'S SIMPLY A REPORT. >> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TONIGHT WE ARE GOING OVER THE 2024 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT, THE END-OF-THE-YEAR REPORT THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR CDBG GRANT. AS A REMINDER, THIS 2024 COVERS OCTOBER 1ST, 2024, TO SEPTEMBER [00:30:02] 30TH, 2025 PROGRAM YEAR. SO THE CONSOLIDATED REPORT IS THE END-OF-THE-YEAR REPORT THAT EVALUATES OUR PROGRESS CARRYING OUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES THAT WE IDENTIFIED IN OUR ANNUAL ACTION PLAN. IS REQUIRED BUT WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE WE SUBMIT AND THERE IS NO FORMAL ACTION REQUIRED. OKAY, FOR OUR CITY, CDBG ACTIVITIES WE HAD OUR ADMINISTRATION TO BE CLOSED OUT WHERE WE WILL MOVE REMAINING FUNDS TO ANOTHER CDBG ACTIVITY, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD DEMOLITION AND CLEARANCE, WE HAD TWO SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURES DEMOLISHED USING 2024 FUNDS. WE'LL KEEP THAT PROGRAM OPEN UNTIL FUNDS ARE DEPLETED, AND OUR BRUNSON PARK SIDEWALK INSTALLATION PROJECT IS COMPLETE, AND WE'RE WAITING ON FINAL INVOICES . BUT THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE. FOR PUBLIC FACILITIES THAT WE FUNDED THIS YEAR, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, THE ROOF RESTORATION, THEY CAME IN UNDER BUDGET, COMPLETED THEIR PROJECT, WE COMPLETED OUTDOOR SECURITY WITH FENCING, CAME IN UNDER BUDGET AS WELL, ALONG WITH HOSPICE OF SOUTH TEXAS. AND MEALS ON WHEELS, AND MIDCOAST, THEY SPENT ALL THEIR MONEY ON THEIR INDUSTRIAL KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY FACILITY PROJECT, AND THE SALVATION ARMY UNFORTUNATELY HAD TO CANCEL THEIR PROGRAM THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY HAD STAFFING CAPACITY ISSUES , BUT WE'LL REALLOCATE ALL THOSE UNALLOCATED FUNDS TO FUTURE CDBG ACTIVITIES. AND THEN FOR PRIOR YEARS, WE HAD FROM 2023 FUNDS, WE GOT OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM DOWN PAYMENT AND CLOSING COST ASSISTANCE. WE ASSISTED ONE FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER, WE'LL KEEP THAT PROGRAM OPEN UNTIL ALL FUNDS ARE DEPLETED FOR THAT ONE, WE KEEP LOOKING FOR THAT UNICORN OUT THERE. FOR THOSE FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS. WE ALSO HAD AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM, THE OWNER OCCUPIED HOME REHAB, WE ASSISTED SEVEN HOUSEHOLDS, WITH HOME REHABS, THE REMAINING FUNDS WILL BE REALLOCATED, ALONG WITH YOU'LL SEE DOWN IN 2021, OWNER OCCUPIED, WE ALSO ASSISTED SIX, IN TOTAL, ALL HOMES WERE COMPLETED, THE REHAB WORK WAS COMPLETED THIS PROGRAM YEAR. FROM 23 AND 22. AND FROM 21. FROM 23 FUNDS, ONE FROM 22 FUNDS, AND ONE FROM 21 FUNDS. IN TOTAL I BELIEVE IT WAS SEVEN, WE DEMOLISHED SEVEN STRUCTURES THIS PAST YEAR WITH OUR DEMO FUNDS. WE WILL KEEP THAT PROGRAM OPEN UNTIL WE DEPLETE ALL THOSE FUNDS. AND THEN, PAST YEAR PUBLIC FACILITY PROJECTS, THE FIRST PHASE OF THE FAMILY SERVICES CENTER/RESOURCE HUB, THEY COMPLETED THAT PROJECT AS WELL. AND THEN OUR PUBLIC SERVICES , ALL OF THEM COMPLETED THEIR PROGRAMS, ASSISTED 25 INDIVIDUALS WITH BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB, 34 CHILDREN/YOUTH WITH THEIR SUMMER CHILDCARE PROGRAM AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM. COMMUNITY ACTION WITH THE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPED 19 HOUSEHOLDS WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE , FOOD BANK WAS ABLE TO ASSIST 126 CHILDREN AND DELIVERED 2566 MEAL PACKS WITH THEIR PROGRAM THIS YEAR. ABLE TO ASSIST 25 CHILDREN UNDER THEIR CARE, WELLNESS CENTER ASSISTED 10 INDIVIDUALS AT THEIR WELLNESS COMMUNITY. MEALS ON WHEELS ASSISTED EIGHT INDIVIDUALS, AND DELIVERED 714 MEALS THIS PAST PROGRAM YEAR. OLB CONFERENCE OF ST. VINCENT DEPAUL, ONE OF OUR NEWER RECIPIENTS ASSISTED 25 HOUSEHOLDS WITH UTILITY ASSISTANCE. AND SALVATION ARMY ALSO HAD TO CANCEL THEIR PUBLIC SERVICE PROGRAM AGAIN DUE TO THEIR STAFFING CAPACITY. AND UNITED WAY ASSISTED 22 INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAM AND THE ISD KIDS CONNECTION ASSISTED 50 CHILDREN WITH THEIR PROJECT SUCCESS PROGRAM. WE HAD A GOAL WITH ALL OF THEM COMBINED, THE GOAL WAS TO ASSIST 325, WE ASSISTED 344 TOTAL. WE EXCEEDED THAT BY 19. AND FOR IMPORTANT DATES, WE HAD THE PUBLIC COMMENT [00:35:05] PERIOD ON THIS REPORT FROM NOVEMBER 22ND. THROUGH DECEMBER 9TH. AND THEN WE'RE HAVING OUR PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, AND THEN WE HAVE THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT THE CAPER BY DECEMBER 29TH, BUT I PLAN TO HAVE THAT SUBMITTED BY THE END OF THE WEEK FOR SURE. AND THEN, PROGRAM YEAR 2025 UPDATES FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, WHICH STARTED TECHNICALLY OCTOBER 1ST, BUT WE COULDN'T START RIGHT AWAY, WE HAVE THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN OCTOBER 1ST, ALL NONESSENTIAL FEDERAL AGENCIES WERE CLOSED, WHICH INCLUDED THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, PLAN YEAR 2025 GRANT ENTITLEMENTS WERE NOT SENT OUT TO GRANTEES PRIOR TO THE SHUTDOWN, WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR GRANT AGREEMENT YET. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REOPENED NOVEMBER 12, OUR SAN ANTONIO FIELD OFFICE CURRENTLY , THEY'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON A SKELETON CREW THROUGH THE END-OF-THE-YEAR. AND ALL FIELD OFFICES ARE UNABLE TO PROCESS GRANT AGREEMENTS AT THE MOMENT. AND THE HUD HEADQUARTERS HAS TO APPROVE THEM BEFORE WE CAN GET THAT SIGNED. THERE WAS NO TIMELINE, BUT WE DID RECEIVE OUR GRANT AGREEMENT YESTERDAY. SO, WE ARE GETTING THAT SIGNED, AND AS SOON AS WE HAVE IT SIGNED WE HAVE TO SEND IT BACK TO OUR SAN ANTONIO FIELD OFFICE AND THEY'LL SIGN IT, GET IT PROCESSED AND SENT BACK THE FULLY EXECUTED GRANT AGREEMENT. >> I SIGNED IT TODAY. >> WE'LL SEND THAT TOMORROW. >> THAT WAS BREAKING NEWS, THERE. >> AND THEN, ONCE WE GET THAT BACK I'LL START SETTING UP THE ACTIVITIES, GETTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL DONE BEFORE WE START EXECUTING LOCAL RECIPIENT GRANT AGREEMENTS. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. >> ALL RIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN UP A PUBLIC HEARING WITH RESPECT TO ITEM C ONE, IF ANYONE WISHES TO ADDRESS COUNCIL ON THIS ITEM, PLEASE COME FORWARD. YES. COME ON UP, HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU. >> YOU, TOO, MY NAME IS BRETT JONES, I'M THE CEO OF MIDCOAST FAMILY SERVICES, BUT YOU MAY RECOGNIZE ME FROM VICTORIA BALLET THEATERS, THE NUTCRACKER. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT. WE WERE A VERY PROUD AND GRATEFUL RECIPIENT OF THE CDBG FUNDS THIS YEAR, AND THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND MANY YEARS INTO THE PAST WE'VE COMPLETED MANY PROJECTS ALONGSIDE THE CITY. THIS YEAR WE COMPLETED A PROJECT IN APRIL OF OUR COMMUNITY HUB. OUR COMMUNITY RESOURCE HUB. AND ARE REALLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE AND I WANTED TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. THE COMMUNITY RESOURCE HUB ORIGINALLY STARTED TO BE A DAY CENTER FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE, IT IS VERY MUCH THAT. WE'VE ALSO DONE OTHER THINGS LIKE POSTED THE VICTORIA HOMELESS COALITION, OR THE HOMELESS COALITION OF GOLDEN CREST NOT, NAME CHANGE, THERE. WE HAVE PARENTING CLASSES, WE ALSO HOST THE MUNICIPAL OUTREACH DOCKET, THERE, WE TRIED TO OPEN IT TO ANY COMMUNITY MEETINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN. PRIMARILY IT IS A HOMELESS DAY CENTER, AND EVERY DAY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN QUEEN CITY PARK COME IN, THEY CAN GET THEIR MAIL THERE, IT'S AN IMPORTANT PLACE TO CONNECT AND FIND COMMUNITY. SINCE WE OPEN IN APRIL, WE HAVE SERVED 321 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS. UNIQUE HOMELESS PEOPLE IN VICTORIA AND WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT. WE HAVE SERVED THEM WITH OVER 4200 INDIVIDUAL SERVICES AND THOSE INDIVIDUAL SERVICES WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT GET TO TAKE A SHOWER, FOR ME, A HOT SHOWER CAN BE LIFE-CHANGING. I'M JUST HERE TO SAY THANK YOU, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE IN THE FUTURE AS WE CONTINUE TO MAKE VICTORIA A HOSPITAL AND COMPASSIONATE PLACE. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'LL DO. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD WISH TO ADDRESS COUNCIL IN THIS MANNER? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM C ONE, WE DON'T [D. Consent Agenda:] NEED A VOTE ON THIS, CORRECT? WITH THAT WE WILL JUMP TO SECTION B, THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> ITEM D ONE IS THE ADOPTION OF MINUTES HELD ON DECEMBER 22ND 2025, D2 IS AWARDING THE PINE STREET PLANT NUMBER TWO DEMOLITION PROJECT TO LELAND LAND FORMERS LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF 117,000, ITEM D3 IS THE AMENDMENT, AMENDING THE AUTHORIZING RESOLUTION FOR THE [00:40:04] FY 2026 TRUANCY PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAM TO ADD THE ASSIGNED GRANT NUMBER AS REQUIRED BY THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR. >> THANK YOU. I'LL ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS RED. [1. Appoint/Reappoint members to the Victoria Sales Tax Development Corpor...] >> I'LL SECOND. >> ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE CONSENT AGENDA IS APPROVED. ALL RIGHT, WE WILL MOVE INTO ACTION ITEMS AND BEGIN WITH ITEM D ONE. >> A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT OR REAPPOINT MEMBERS OF THE VICTORIA SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. >> GOOD EVENING, THE RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT WILL APPOINT ONE COUNCILMEMBER AND TWO CITIZENS TO THE VICTORIA SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SO, THE TERMS, FOUR MEMBERS ON THAT BOARD, FOUR MEMBERS SERVE THEIR TWO YEAR TERMS THAT EXPIRE ON THE ODD YEARS AND THE OTHER THREE EXPIRE ON THE EVEN YEARS. THE TERM LIMITS, THE MAYOR DOES SERVE FOR THE DURATION OF HIS TERM AS MAYOR, AND DIRECTORS MAY NOT SERVE MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE TWO YEAR TERMS. FORMER DIRECTORS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AGAIN UNTIL THEY ABSTAINED FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF THEIR TERM EXPIRATION. THE DIRECTORS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED TO FILL THE VACANCY FOR PARTIAL TERM MAY SERVE THREE MORE FULL TERMS IF THE VACANCY IS LESS THAN 12 MONTHS, BUT THIS TIME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FULL TERMS. FOR ALL THREE TERMS. ALL THREE POSITIONS. SO, CURRENTLY MR. RUSSELL DEMPSEY, SHERRY MCCAFFREY, COUNCILMAN LOFGREN, COUNCILMAN BUTLER, AND MAYOR CROCKER SERVE ON THIS BOARD. AND AS YOU SEE, AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, THREE OF THEM ARE EXPIRING. SO, MR. DEMPSEY, COUNCILMAN LUFFGREN, AND MS. MCCAFFREY'S TURNS ARE EXPIRING. AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY WE NEED TO APPOINT ONE COUNCILMEMBER TO REPLACE MR. LUFFGREN, BECAUSE HE UNFORTUNATELY HAS TURNED OUT ON THAT BOARD AND CANNOT SERVE ANY LONGER. WE TALKED ABOUT TERM LIMITS A SECOND AGO AND WE WOULD NEED ALSO TWO CITIZENS TO FILL THE POSITION. MR. DEMPSEY HAS TURNED OUT AS WELL, AND IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT, AND AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE TERMS WILL AND IN TWO YEARS, DECEMBER 31ST OF 2027, AND REELS WILL AND HAS EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO BE REAPPOINTED IF WE SHOULD SO CHOOSE. SO, WE DID RECEIVE SEVERAL APPLICATIONS FOR POSITIONS, FOR THE TWO CITIZEN RELATED POSITIONS. FROM ADAM DAUGHTRY, MICHAEL REYES, WILLIAM MYERS, DAVID MURPHY AND SHERRY MCCAFFREY. WE HEARD FROM A FEW OF THEM TONIGHT. WE HEARD A REALLY GOOD POOL OF APPLICANTS THIS TIME, IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH DECISION. THE BALLOTS ARE PLACED ON THE DAIS, YOU CAN SEE THE APPLICANTS, THE BALLOTS REPLACING, THEY DO INCLUDE YOUR NAME BECAUSE YOU CAN'T VOTE BY SECRET BALLOT AND THE BALLOTS WILL BE IN MY OFFICE FOR REVIEW IF ANYONE SHOULD SO CHOOSE TO REVIEW THOSE. YOU'LL BE ASKED TO CIRCLE THE NAME OF THE TWO APPLICANTS THAT YOU WANT TO SERVE IN THE CITIZENS POSITIONS, AND THE MAYOR WILL DISCUSS THE COUNCIL POSITION WITH YOU. BUT, FOR THE TWO CITIZENS POSITIONS IF YOU WILL USE YOUR BALLOT TO CIRCLE THOSE. JUST REMEMBER THAT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS TO RECEIVE FOUR VOTES OR MAJORITY IN ORDER TO HAVE THEIR NAMES LISTED IN THE RESOLUTION. >> THIS IS WHERE WE NEED THAT JEOPARDY MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND. >> THAT WAS EASY, WITH ONE VOTE, THE NAME THAT WILL BE LISTED IN THE BALLOT WILL BE JEFF AND SHERRY FOR THE CITIZENS POSITIONS, AND I'LL LET MAYOR CROCKER TALK TO YOU . >> THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE TWO, TO THOSE THAT APPLIED, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR STEPPING UP. IN THE TIME AT LEAST THAT I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL, THIS IS THE DEEPEST AND MOST TALENTED BALANCE THAT I'VE SEEN. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOU, VERY TOUGH CHOICES, A LOT [00:45:03] OF QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS. AND WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS TO APPLY FOR OTHER POSITIONS WITHIN THE CITY AS WELL, ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOOD HELP. CONGRATULATIONS. THEN, WE'LL NEED TO APPOINT SOMEONE FROM COUNCIL, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOMINATE COUNCILMAN KIDDER FOR THAT POSITION ON THE SALES TAX BOARD. >> I ACCEPT. >> I'LL SECOND. >> UNLESS YOU WERE SECONDING. >> I WAS JUST SECONDING. I WAS LETTING THE MAYOR KNOW. >> WE DIDN'T ASK YOU IF YOU ACCEPT. NO, I'M KIDDING. WE HAVE A NOMINATION AND A SECOND, ARE THERE ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS FOR COUNCILMEMBER FOR APPOINTMENT? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR OF COUNCILMAN KIDDER BEING PLACED ON THE SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? CONGRATULATIONS, COUNCILMAN KIDDER. I GUESS WE WILL MEET A RESOLUTION THAT PUTS THOSE THREE NAMES IN AND WILL NEED A MOTION AND VOTE ON THAT RESOLUTION AS WELL, CORRECT? GO AHEAD. >> I MAKE THAT MOTION THAT WE APPOINT SHERRY , JEFF, AND STEVEN KIDDER TO THE SALES TAX BOARD . >> ALL RIGHT, I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. [2. Approve a Construction Contract with Rain King, Inc. to replace the ro...] >> ANY OPPOSED? VERY GOOD, THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL. WE WILL MOVE ON, THEN, TO ITEM E2. >> A RESOLUTION APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH RAIN KING, INC TO REPLACE THE ROOF OF THE DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 798,000. >> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME, IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE ALL OF YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A LENGTHY PRESENTATION, I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS STUFF FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, SO I MAY RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE TECHNICAL STUFF QUICKLY, IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF IT, PLEASE STOP ME. AND I'LL DO MY BEST TO EXPLAIN. WE'LL GET STARTED WITH A HISTORIC TIMELINE, WE STARTED SEEING THE MAJOR ROOF FAILURE OCCUR SUMMER 2024, EVERY ROOF IS GOING TO HAVE A FEW LEAKS HERE AND THERE WHEN THEY START AGING. THIS ROOF WAS PURCHASED IN 2005, IT'S PRETTY OLD. BUT IN THE SUMMER OF 2024 WE STARTED SEEING A LOT OF FAILURE AREAS IN THE ROOF. SO, WE STARTED TO EXPLORE OPTIONS TO GET THAT ROOF FIXED OR REPLACED, IN FALL OF 24 AS USUAL I TRY TO DO IT MYSELF, AND QUICKLY LEARNED THAT IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OVER MY HEAD. WE WENT OUT TO AN ENGINEERING FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN BUILDING ENVELOPES, WINNING THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING, WATERPROOFING, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. IN FEBRUARY OF 2025, WE GOT A , A ROOF EVALUATION COMPLETED AND TURNED INTO US I THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING FIRM WITH A CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATE. WE USED THAT ENGINEERING FIRM TO HELP US DEVELOP A PROCUREMENT. WE WENT OUT FOR BIDS, RECEIVED SEVERAL, WE HAD FIVE. WE FINALIZED THE COST AT THAT TIME. WE'LL GET INTO THOSE COSTS AND WHAT THOSE SCOPES OF WORK LOOK LIKE IN THE PRESENTATION SO YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES. FROM THEN AND NOW. AFTER WE FINALIZED THE COST, A REQUEST WAS SENT TO THE COUNTY FOR COST SHARING. IN THE PROJECT. IN FALL OF 2025, WHICH WAS RECENTLY, WE HEARD BACK ON THAT REQUEST, AND IT WAS DENIED BY THE COUNTY. WE BEGAN WORK WITH OUR CONTRACTOR TO DECREASE THE SCOPE AND MAKE THIS JOB A LITTLE BIT MORE AFFORDABLE WHILE NOT SACRIFICING TOO MUCH QUALITY. IN WINTER 2025, HERE WE ARE, BRINGING THIS CONTRACT TO YOU. A QUICK EXCERPT FROM THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WHICH I WILL READ TO YOU, FROM THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY, AS FAR AS THE LIBRARY IS CONCERNED. THE CITY WILL ASSUME 100% OF THE COST OF THE VICTORIA PUBLIC LIBRARY INCLUDING PAYMENT FOR INSURANCE, ON THE CONTENTS OF THE BUILDING. MAJOR X MANAGERS ON THE BUILDING AT THE COST LEVEL OF $100,000 OR MORE IN ANY ONE YEAR WILL BE DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY FOR AN AGREEMENT ON COST-SHARING. THE COUNTY WILL RETAIN OWNERSHIP OF THE PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS. SO, ON TO OUR EXISTING ROOF. WHAT WE HAVE UP THERE RIGHT NOW, THE TOTAL AREA OF ROOF IS 27,180 SQUARE FEET. WHAT IS THERE IS A RECOVERY SYSTEM, THE ORIGINAL ROOF IS [00:50:01] UNDERNEATH THIS RECOVERY SYSTEM. WHAT IS THERE THAT YOU SEE IS A MECHANICALLY ATTACHED 40 MIL PVC SINGLE MEMBRANE. AS IT'S USED IN ROOFING TO DESCRIBE THE THICKNESS OF THE MEMBRANE THAT IS ON THE ROOF, DEFINED AS ONE THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH. THIS MEMBRANE THAT'S ON THE ROOF NOW IS 40 THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH. THAT ROOF IS 20 YEARS OLD AS OF THIS YEAR, IT'S IN POOR CONDITION, THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WAS 15 YEARS. WE GOT A FEW MORE YEARS OUT OF IT AND THE WARRANTY WAS WORTH. THERE ARE NOW MULTIPLE LOCATIONS OF WATER PENETRATION, EXPOSED DUCTWORK IN POOR CONDITION ON THE ROOF, I'LL SHOW YOU PICTURES. THIS PICTURE IS LOOKING SOUTH TOWARD PROSPERITY BANK. WHICH YOU SEE IN THE BACKGROUND, AS YOU CAN SEE THIS GRAY COLOR IS THE ACTUAL MEMBRANE, IT WAS WHITE. THIS IS MOLD AND MILDEW AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE GROWN ON IT FROM WATER SITTING ON IT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S VERY FLAT, THERE IS LITTLE PITCH TO THE ROOF SO WATER CAN POOL IF YOU SEE THE DARK SPOT TO THE RIGHT, THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WATER PONDS ON THE ROOF NOW. THIS IS A PICTURE SHOWING SOME OF THE DUCTWORK, AND HOW IT'S LAID OUT, EXPOSED ON THE ROOF. THE CLOSE-UP IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN WRAPPED WITH THE ROOFING MEMBRANE. 20 YEARS AGO WHEN HIS ROOF WAS INSTALLED, THEY KNEW THAT THIS DUCTWORK WAS A PROBLEM, THEY WERE WRAPPING IT WITH THE MEMBRANE TO KEEP IT FROM LEAKING. NOT ALL OF THE DUCTS ARE WRAPPED AND YOU CAN SEE THE EXPOSED EXTERIOR, THEY'RE CRACKED AND ROTTED AND BRITTLE. I'M SURE THAT THOSE ARE AREAS THAT ARE LEAKING AS WELL. CURRENT BUILDINGS ARE NOT BUILT LIKE THIS, THERE ISN'T ANY DUCTWORK UP ON THE CEILING OF THE BUILDING, ON THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING. SO, OUR ORIGINAL SOLUTION IN OUR FIRST PROCUREMENT DOCUMENT WAS TO REMOVE ALL EXISTING ROOFING MATERIAL INCLUDING INSULATION DOWN TO THE DECKING. WE DID TESTING ON THE DECKING TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING THE LOAD AND HAD BEEN DAMAGED BY WATER OR ANYTHING ELSE. PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS, WE KNOW THE SUBSTRUCTURE IS GOOD, THE IDEA WAS THEN TO FASTEN NEW TAPER INSULATION, BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO ADD PITCH TO THE ROOF TO HELP WITH DRAINAGE. THIS COMES AT SOME COST, THE INSULATION ON THE ROOF IS AN INCH THICK. WHAT WAS GOING TO GO BACK ON THE ROOF WAS A MINIMUM OF FOUR INCHES THICK TO BRING THE BUILDING UP TO THE ENERGY CODE REQUIREMENTS. ON TOP OF THE INSULATION WAS A HALF-INCH GYPSUM FIBER COVER BOARD AND AT 80 MIL, SINGLE PLY PVC MEMBRANE. THIS MEMBRANE WAS A CADILLAC MEMBRANE AS THEY CALL IT IN THE ROOFING INDUSTRY. IT HAD A COMPONENT IN IT WHICH WOULD HELP US RESIST BREAKING DOWN IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT OCCURS WHEN WATER PONDS ON THE ROOF, AND THE SUNLIGHT IS MAGNIFIED ONTO THE ROOFING MEMBRANE AT THAT POINT, IT BECOMES BRITTLE UNDERNEATH AND CAN BREAK, JUST FROM STEPPING ON IT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IN THE ORIGINAL SCOPE WE WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE EXISTING DUCTWORK WITH NEW DUCTWORK, SO THAT IT WOULD BE SEALED OFF TO THE WEATHER AND THINGS LIKE THAT WHICH WE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT DURING THE PROCESS, WHICH I'LL EXPLAIN IN THE NEXT SLIDE. WE WERE ALSO GOING TO SEAL THE PARAPET WALL ON THE INSIDE OF THE ROOF, ON THE PICTURE YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT WALL EXTENDS UP, IT'S FIVE FEET TALL. WE WERE GOING TO REWORK ALL OF THE EXPANSION JOINTS BETWEEN THE CONCRETE, AS WELL AS PUT A COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THAT WALL, THAT WOULD RESIST WATER PENETRATION, WE WERE GOING TO PUT A COPING CAP ON TOP AND REWORK ALL OF THE JOINTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING AS WELL. THE SCOPE WAS DEEP, WE WERE GOING TO TRY TO WATERPROOF THE WHOLE BUILDING. ALL OF THIS FOR THE COST OF $1.487 MILLION. SO AFTER THIS IS WHERE WE HAD THE BACK AND FORTH WITH THE COUNTY, WE WENT FOR SOME OPTIONS AND WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING NOW TODAY IS BASICALLY A 1 FOR ONE SWAP. THIS IS ALLOWED, AFTER SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. MADRID, WE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ALLOWABLE PROCESS, TO OLDER FACILITIES. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS, WE WERE GOING TO REMOVE THE EXISTING MEMBRANE AND FASTEN A NEW COVER BOARD, AND NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE ROOF DECKING, LEAVE THE OLD ROOF THERE, INSTALL THE NEW 60 MILL SINGLE PLY PVC MEMBRANE, BECAUSE THE LIBRARY IS IN A FIRE DISTRICT AND YOU MUST HAVE [00:55:03] MATERIALS ON THIS BUILDING THAT ARE SO TEXTING WISHING. PVC WILL NOT BURN WITHOUT A FUEL SOURCE. IT'S SELF-ESTEEM WISHING, EFFECTIVELY. AS YOU CAN SEE WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE THICKNESS RANGE COMPARED TO WHERE WE ARE NOW AND WHERE WE WERE GOING WITH THE ORIGINAL SCOPE. WE ARE GOING TO ELIMINATE ALL OF THE EXPOSED DUCTWORK THE AIR-CONDITIONING UNITS WILL BE RAISED, THE DUCTWORK WILL BE MOVED, AND WE WILL SET THOSE MOMENTS ONTO NEW CURBS AND CHANGE THE WAY THE AIR FLOWS. THE AIR WILL FLOW DOWN AND UP, INSTEAD OF OUT TO THE SIDE. SO EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE THERE WILL BE BACK IN SERVICE, IT WILL BE SITTING ON TOP OF THE CURVE THAT ACTS AS THE DUCT, THEREFORE IT IS NOT EXPOSED TO THE WEATHER AT ALL. THE VERTICAL JOINT REPAIRS, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IN THIS JOB ARE GOING TO BE ON THE INSIDE OF THE PARAPET WALL AND THE TOP, BUT WE ARE ELIMINATING THE COATING. THE NEW COST IS $798,000. THIS IS A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. THE SCOPE OF WORK ALIGNS WITH CURRENT BUILDING CODES, WE DID SPEAK WITH DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PRIOR TO DEVELOPING THIS SCOPE OF WORK. THE JOB COMES WITH A TWO YEAR WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY AS WELL AS THE 20 YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY IN THE MEMBRANE ITSELF. THE CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE, IF AWARDED TODAY, WE WOULD BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN JANUARY, MID TO LATE JANUARY OF 2026. CONSTRUCTION WOULD BE COMPLETED NO LATER THAN MAY 30TH, 2026. HOWEVER I FEEL LIKE WE WOULD BE A FEW WEEKS AHEAD OF THAT. SCHEDULE. SO, THAT'S MY PRESENTATION. LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO DO MY BEST TO ANSWER THEM. >> QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? MISS BUTLER. >> FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED WITH THE LIBRARY, THEY MIGHT BE ASKING, IF THEY'RE WATCHING AT HOME, INSURANCE, IS THERE ANY INSURANCE THAT PLAYS INTO THIS, THINGS LIKE THAT? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE REASON WE'RE MOVING TO THIS WITH THIS COST AND WHY THERE'S NOT THAT? >> AS FAR AS , >> WHY WOULD OUR INSURANCE NOT BE ASSISTING IN THIS? THINK OF SOMEBODY AT HOME. AND WHAT THEY THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF ROOF REPLACEMENT. DOES THAT HELP? >> THIS IS IN THE NORMAL REPLACEMENT CYCLE, THIS IS NOT DUE TO ANY ACT OF GOD, NATURAL EVENT THAT WOULD HAVE DAMAGED THE ROOF. THIS IS DUE TO ITS AGE AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. THERE IS NO ONE EVENT THAT OCCURRED, IT WILL ALLOW INSURANCE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THIS. THIS IS A NORMAL REGULAR ROOF REPLACEMENT BASED ON ITS FAILURE DUE TO AGE. YES, MA'AM. >> QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROOFING PROCESS, CAN YOU GO BACK, THE TIMELINE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> THERE WE GO, GOOD. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DISCUSSIONS THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE COUNTY , JUST FOR CLARIFICATION , THIS IS A COUNTY OWNED BUILDING. THIS BUILDING IS NOT OWNED BY THE CITY. THE DISCUSSIONS THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE COUNTY ABOUT THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE FOR THEM FOR THESE LARGE REPLACEMENT ITEMS, EITHER YOU OR MR. GARZA, WHOEVER, WALK US THROUGH WHEN THAT TOOK PLACE, DID THAT TAKE PLACE WHEN WE HAD THE $1.4 MILLION OPTION AND WHEN WE HAD THE OPTION BEFORE US TODAY, THE 700,000? >> ABSOLUTELY. I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT, I PERSONALLY WAS THE ONE ENGAGING IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY JUDGE. IN RESPECT TO THE LIBRARY ROOF. TO YOUR POINT, WE BEGAN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COUNTY SHORTLY, EVEN BEFORE WE COMPLETED THE STRUCTURAL REPORT THAT WAS COMPLETED IN FEBRUARY 2025. TWO ROGERS POINT WE STARTED LOOKING AT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LIBRARY IN THE FALL, STEMMING FROM OPERATIONAL ISSUES BY JESSICA AND HER TEAM LAST SUMMER. CERTAINLY THOSE CONVERSATIONS BEGAN THEN UNDER THE ORIGINAL SCOPE, IF WE CAN CALL IT THAT. THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SPLITTING THE EXPENSE 50-50, YOU MAY RECALL 1.5 MILLION, THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SPLITTING THAT 750, 750, BUT AS YOU'RE ALSO AWARE, THE AGREEMENT [01:00:01] INCORPORATES OTHER COMPONENTS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE LIBRARY, IT INCORPORATES COMPONENTS WITH FIRE AND EMS, ON OUR SIDE, IT INCORPORATES COMPONENTS OF ANIMAL CONTROL ON THE COUNTY SIDE, SO THE MORE THOSE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUED, THE MORE IT BECAME APPARENT THAT IN ORDER FOR THERE TO BE AN AGREEMENT ON THE SPLIT OF THE LIBRARY ROOF WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER ASPECTS OF THE AGREEMENT AND WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME. AND ULTIMATELY, WHEN WE PRESENTED THE LOWER-COST OPTION, THAT'S WHEN THE REQUEST WAS BASICALLY DENIED. BECAUSE OF US NOT BEING READY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT, BASICALLY. >> IT WAS PRESENTED AS A SINGLE ATOM REQUEST FOR THE RESPONSE BACK WAS, WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SINGLE ITEM UNLESS WE CAN BRING UP A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS IN THE CONTRACT. >> CORRECT. >> TO GIVE US A SENSE, THOSE OF US UP HERE ARE SOMEWHAT AWARE, YOU CAN HELP US HERE. WE TALKED ABOUT THE OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES, THE CONDITION, THE EXISTING CONDITION OF THE ROOF, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THAT ? WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? IN TERMS OF IF YOU'RE IN THE BUILDING. >> IF YOU GO IN THERE TODAY ON THE FLOOR, THE MAIN FLOOR NEAR THE STREET SIDE OF THE BUILDING, WE CALL IT A RAIN BUCKET BUT IT'S A TRASH CAN, REALLY, IT'S A HUGE TRASH CAN CATCHING RAINWATER. IT IS DAMAGING THE DRYWALL ON THE CEILING OF THE BUILDING. IT IS ALLOWING WATER TO COME IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE MAIN FLOOR, AND IF ANYBODY'S EVER BEEN IN THE UPSTAIRS OFFICE AREA, THE CEILING GRID HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM A WHOLE SECTION OF THE UPSTAIRS DUE TO A MASSIVE LEAK THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET SLOWED DOWN IN ANY WAY. ANYTIME IT RAINS, PEOPLE ARE SCRAMBLING TO GET BUCKETS UNDERWEAR WATER IS FALLING. POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUES IF IT WERE TO GET ON ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE ELECTRIFIED, THAT COULD BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. NOT TO MENTIONING OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT. FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT, IT'S PRETTY SAD TO GO IN THERE AND SEE THE BROWN SPOTS AND THE HOLES IN THE CEILING AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THE MISSING CEILING GRID. BUT ALSO IT'S DISRUPTIVE. IF IT'S RAINING AND THERE ARE FOLKS IN THE LIBRARY AND YOU HAVE STAFF RUNNING AROUND, TRYING TO CATCH WATER FALLING INSIDE THE BUILDING, IT'S JUST NOT CONDUCIVE TO OPERATIONS. >> AND IF THIS ISN'T FIXED NOW, WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE THAT THIS IS GOING TO GET WORSE? WORSE AND WORSE CONDITIONS? >> I BELIEVE IT WOULD CONTINUE AND GET WORSE OVER TIME. MORE LEAKS WOULD SHOW UP, THE MEMBRANE IS FAILING AT EACH TIME THAT IT RAINS, WE HAVE A NEW SPOT SHOW UP. >> HAVE WE HAD ANY BOOK DAMAGE AS A RESULT? >> NONE THAT I'M AWARE OF. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH, APPRECIATE THE INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU. >> WITH THAT, IF THERE'S A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO D2, AND ANY DISCUSSION, WE CAN BEGIN THAT PROCESS. >> I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE E2. >> I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND WITH RESPECT TO ITEM E2, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? >> OTHER THAN DISAPPOINTMENT THAT WE'RE BURYING THE FULL BRUNT OF THIS, BUT OUR CITIZENS DESERVE THIS. WE HAVE TO MOVE FORWARD. >> 100% AGREE. 100%. >> I'D LIKE TO GET BACK TO THE ISSUE OF THE INTERLOCAL, AND HOLDING, WHILE THEY ARE TIED IN ONE CONTRACT, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE OTHERS AFFECT THE ROOF ON THIS BUILDING. >> THAT'S A GREAT POINT. >> I'M STRUGGLING WITH THAT WHEN THERE'S A RESPONSIBILITY TO AN ASSET, THAT THEY OWN, AND NOT FULFILLING THAT. AND WATCHING THAT ASSET REALLY DECREASE IN VALUE , LOSING ITS VALUE WITHOUT IT. I STRUGGLE WITH THAT, AND I STRUGGLE WITH THAT BEING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITIZENS, THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY. SEEING AS THAT IS A COUNTY OWNED ASSET. >> TO THAT POINT, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS REQUEST FROM STAFF. I KNOW WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE INTERLOCAL, SOME OF THE INS AND OUTS, COUNCILMEMBERS MAY NOT [01:05:01] HAVE WALKED THROUGH, AS MUCH AS SOME OF US HAVE BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT YOU GUYS BRING TO US A PRESENTATION , PREFERABLY SOMETIME FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR, AND LET'S TAKE A DEEP DIVE INTO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, I'D LIKE TO KNOW THE INS AND OUTS. I'D LIKE TO KNOW SPECIFICALLY, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN, TO PLACE DOLLAR AMOUNTS, SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNTS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CITY AND PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY, I THINK IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO DIVE BACK INTO THAT INTERLOCAL AND FIGURE OUT, IS THIS REALLY STILL A GOOD CONTRACT? I THINK IT PROBABLY PREDATES ANY OF US, WITH AMENDMENTS HERE AND THERE, IF WE COULD GET THAT ON THE AGENDA, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ALL OF US. >> WITH THE PROVISION THAT WE SAW, THAT SAYS WE WILL DISCUSS IT, AND AGREE TO AGREE IN THE FUTURE, AN AGREEMENT LIKE THAT IS DEPENDING ON THE QUALITY OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AT THE TIME THAT YOU'RE DISCUSSING IT. THAT JUST LEAVES ME DISAPPOINTED. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? I WILL ECHO THAT I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE COUNTY HAS CHOSEN TO TAKE THE ROUTE THAT THEY HAVE, IN TERMS OF NOT PARTICIPATING, EITHER IN THE FULL FIX OF THE ROOF ON THEIR BUILDING, BUT ALSO IN WHAT I UNDERSTAND WILL BE A 20 YEAR FIX. I WILL 100% ECHO YOUR SENTIMENTS, THAT IT BOTHERS ME, IT CONCERNS ME THAT IS A CITY WE'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO AN ASSET OWNED BY THE COUNTY, BUT IS CLEAR FROM CONVERSATIONS THAT THE COUNTY DOES NOT INTEND TO DO ANYTHING WITH RESPECT TO THE BUILDING. THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO PUT OUT TRASH CANS AND BUCKETS AND THAT SORT OF THING WHEN IT RAINS IS FRANKLY EMBARRASSING. AND KUDOS TO HER STAFF FOR REALLY HAVING TO WORK AROUND THAT, AND I THINK OUR CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHERE THEY LIVE IN THE CITY OR THE COUNTY DESERVE BETTER. IF THE CITY IS THE ONE THAT HAS TO STEP UP, AND DO THIS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THEN SO BE IT. HERE WE ARE TO DO THAT TONIGHT. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR OF ITEM D2, INDICATE BY SAYING AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED, SAY AYE. [3. Approve an interlocal agreement with the Texas Department of Transport...] >> >> AYE. >> PASSES WITH ONE NO BOAT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM E3. >> A RESOLUTION IMPROVING AND HER LOCAL AGREEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE REGIONAL P 25 RADIO SYSTEM. >> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS IS GOING TO BE COMBINING CAPITAL E3 AND E4 TOGETHER. FOUR I GET INTO THESE ACTION ITEMS, I WANT TO START BY THANKING THE MANY PEOPLE AND AGENCIES WHO HAVE HELPED US GET TO THIS POINT. THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING TO THIS. THIS HAS BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR OVER A YEAR, TONIGHT REPRESENTING MAJOR MILESTONE FOR VICTORIA. FIRST I WANT TO THANK WITH BPS, THEY CAME IN HERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR TO HELP US PROGRAM ALL OF OUR RADIOS, TOOK 2 1/2 DAYS TO PROGRAM THE RADIOS, AND HE ALSO PARTICIPATED AT OUR RADIO ROUNDUP. THAT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. THAT RADIO ROUNDUP GAVE US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY WEAKNESSES IN OUR IN OPERABILITY PLAN, AND IT WAS GREAT. IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY. ALSO WANT TO THANK ASSISTANT CHIEF FERGUSON, FIRE CHIEF FERGUSON, AND THEY ALSO WERE INSTRUMENTAL WHEN PUTTING THIS RADIO ROUNDUP ON, IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS, NOW THAT IS BEING MODELED BY THE STATE TO VERIFY WITH OTHER AGENCIES. IT'S BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS. I WANT TO THANK GORDON HARKEY WITH TXDOT FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT AND PARTNERSHIP. TXDOT'S WILLINGNESS TO DO THIS AND THE STATE'S WILLINGNESS TO DO THIS , TO TAKE THIS INITIATIVE ACROSS TEXAS, IT MATTERS. THIS HAS BEEN THEN REACHING OUT TO US, AGENCIES TO BRING US TOGETHER, SOLVE ISSUES, QUITE FRANKLY WE HAVE HAD IN PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS, AND THAT'S INTEROPERABILITY. I WILL ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL, LAST FISCAL YEAR, YOU ALLOWED US TO PURCHASE THOSE MOBILE RADIOS, THAT WAS A HUGE PART OF OUR [01:10:01] PLAN, AND IT USED TO TAKE US WEEKS TO PROGRAM RADIOS, WE'RE NOW PROGRAMMING RADIOS IN HOURS. THAT GOES A LONG WAY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES, WHO'S BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROGRAMMING THESE RADIOS. HE'S NOT ONLY PROGRAMMED IT BUT HE'S ALSO PROGRAMMED WITH ALL THESE STATE AND FEDERAL CHALLENGES. HE'S A TRUE GURU WHEN IT COMES TO PROGRAMMING, AND OUR ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH ASSISTING AGENCIES ARE NOW LIMITED BY OUR COVERAGE, REGIONAL AREA AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN ADDRESS THAT TONIGHT. WITH THAT, WE'RE ASKING COUNCIL TO APPROVE THREE RELATED ACTIONS, AND AMENDMENT TO OUR EXISTING AGREEMENT, OUR INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND THE CITY OF VICTORIA PER DISSIPATION REGIONAL SYSTEM. SO, THIS INTERLOCAL ESTABLISHES AN INITIAL SEVEN-YEAR TERM BETWEEN THE CITY AND TXDOT. THIS AGREEMENT INCLUDES RENEWAL OPTIONS AND IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINUE THROUGH ANNUAL RENEWALS BEYOND THE INITIAL TERM. AT NO POINT DOES THIS AGREEMENT TRANSFER OWNERSHIP OR CONTROL OF OUR SYSTEM. THE CITY WILL RETAIN FULL OPERATIONAL CONTROL AND ALL ARE IN FOR STRUCTURE. UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, TXDOT AND DPS WILL DISSIPATE IN A COST-SHARING AGREEMENT TO ASSIST THE CITY WITH MOTOROLA SYSTEMS COSTS, THE CITY WILL REMAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING RADIO SITES AND INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDING GENERATORS, U.P.S., TOWER MAINTENANCE AND COMPOUND UPDATES. THESE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE ALREADY PART OF OUR EXISTING OPERATIONS AND DO NOT REPRESENT ANY UNANTICIPATED COSTS. AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT, DPS WILL UTILIZE VICTORIA'S CORE AS A DYNAMIC SYSTEM RESILIENCE, FOR THERE ZONE TWO. THEIR PRIMARY ZONE TWO IS IN SAN ANTONIO AT THE QUARRY RUN REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER. SO, VICTORIA'S ROLE PROVIDES REDUNDANCY, AND CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS AND ALL THE STATE AGENCIES THAT UTILIZE THAT. SO, BY JOINING TXDOT STATEWIDE RADIO SYSTEM, VICTORIA GAINES SEAMLESS WITH STATE AGENCIES, WE CURRENTLY HAVE MORE THAN 300 STATE RADIOS ON OUR SYSTEM AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE HAVE MORE STATE RADIOS ONCE WE JOIN. THIS PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS OUR TOP GROUPS EXTENDED TO TXDOT TOWERS WHEN NECESSARY IMPROVING COVERAGE AND FLEX ABILITY. THIS AGREEMENT ALSO DIRECTLY SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY COOPERATIONS DURING EMERGENCIES, OUR PRIMARY EVACUATION WHICH IS TO SAN ANTONIO WE WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS RADIO COVERAGE. BACK TO BOTH OUR CITY AND COUNTY DISPATCH CENTERS , IMPROVING COORDINATION DURING LARGE-SCALE EVACUATIONS. THAT'S A BIG WIN FOR US RIGHT THERE. FROM A FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVE, THE STATE'S WILLINGNESS TO SHARE MOTOROLA'S SYSTEM COST ALLOWS THE CITY TO REINVEST THOSE SAVINGS INTO CRITICAL RADIO INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. THERE ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO REPLACE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS. AND WE HOPE THESE SAVINGS CAN GO TO ADDRESS THOSE. SORRY. ADDITIONALLY, THE STATE IS LINKING GRANT OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATION IN SYSTEMS, THAT'S ANOTHER REASON. COUNCIL MAY RECALL THAT LAST MONTH WE HAD YOU ALL APPROVED A GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR RADIO EQUIPMENT. FINALLY, THIS POSITION , THIS AGREEMENT POSITION , RATHER THAN DUPLICATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS MULTIPLE COUNTIES, A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THIS, TXDOT IS PLANNING ON BUILDING A NEW TOWER SITE ALONG THE COUNTY LINE. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE ABLE TO USE, THAT IS AN AREA THAT WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY ALWAYS HAD POOR COVERAGE, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO NOW UTILIZE THAT TOWER SITE WITHOUT US HAVING TO BUILD A SITE AND MAINTAIN. THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN UTILIZE THEIR EQUIPMENT AND OUR LOCATIONS. SO, GROWING REGIONAL PER DISSIPATION, GONZALES HAS ALREADY JOINED THE STATE SYSTEM, CALHOUN COUNTY IS ACTIVELY WORKING WITH TXDOT TO CONNECT, AND DISCUSSIONS ARE ONGOING WITH JACKSON COUNTY. THIS APPROACH MAXIMIZES TAXPAYER INVESTMENT, STRENGTHENS REGIONAL COOPERATION AND ALLOWS VICTORIA'S EXISTING CORE TO BE USED TO ITS FULLEST CAPACITY. IN SUMMARY, THIS AGREEMENT PRESERVES LOCAL CONTROL, REDUCES LONG-TERM COST, IMPROVED SYSTEM RESILIENCE, ENHANCES IN OPERABILITY AND ESTABLISHES VICTORIA AS A REGIONAL LEADER IN PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS. THESE ARE THE [01:15:03] THREE ACTION ITEMS WE HAVE FOR YOU. I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> TO CLARIFY, YOU'RE NOT RETIRING, RIGHT? OKAY. >> THAT'S STEP FOUR, ON HERE. >> IT WAS A GREAT SPEECH. >> I HAVE NO POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS. >> BUT I DO WANT TO ECHO, JAMES DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT. THIS HAS BEEN A PERSONAL LONG-TERM GOAL OF HIS TO GET TO THIS POINT, AND HE'S NOT KIDDING WHEN HE SAYS IT'S BEEN A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF WORK THAT'S TAKEN PLACE OVER A YEAR. HE DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT, HE'S HAD GREAT SUPPORT FROM GILBERT, RUBY, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB. IT'S ALWAYS EASY TO CRITICIZE CONNECTIVITY OF RADIOS OR INTEROPERABILITY AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER. THE FACT THAT WE'RE AT THIS POINT DOING THIS PROACTIVELY, TO SOME EXTENT BEFORE ANYTHING SERIOUS HAPPENS AGAIN, IS JUST KEY TO OUR MIND-SET OF BEING PROACTIVE, BEING INTENTIONAL, AND JUST NOT WAITING FOR SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN FIRST. KUDOS TO YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, I KNOW IT WAS A WHOLE LOT OF WORK. I THINK THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A COMMITMENT OF THE CITY TO PUBLIC SAFETY. THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY, AND THIS IS JUST THE NEXT STEP THAT I THINK WILL ENHANCE THAT EVEN FURTHER. THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK YOU PUT IN ON THIS, I KNOW IT WAS A LOT. >> MAYER, FOR CLARIFICATION, PIGGYBACKING OFF OF AN EARLIER REQUEST ABOUT GOING THROUGH THE AGREEMENT, THAT TOUCHES ON FIRE, EMS, ANIMAL CONTROL, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNTY AS IT RELATES TO RADIOCOMMUNICATION. WILL IT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT UPDATE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 26 TO ALSO INCORPORATE THESE OTHER AGREEMENTS? >> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. >> ANY QUESTIONS ON THESE TWO ITEMS? WE'VE ONLY GOT ONE NOW BUT ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW? >> THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT LOOKS BETTER THAN WHAT WE JUST SAW. >> I HEAR YOU. THANK YOU. SO, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE CARE OF ITEM E3, DO I HAVE A MOTION? >> MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM D3. >> SECOND. >> ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR [4. Approve a change order to the Motorola System User Agreement (SUA II) ...] SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? CAPITAL E3 PASSES AND WE'LL CALL UP ITEM E4. >> A CHANGE TO INCLUDE THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT AND TRANSPORTATION AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN A COST-SHARING AGREEMENT. >> DO I HAVE A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ITEM E4? >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MOTION, SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION ON U4? ALL IN FAVOR [5. Set Public Hearings on a Proposed Stormwater Drainage Utility and Drai...] SAY AYE . >> AYE. >> E4 PASSES. HE WILL JUMP TO OUR LAST ACTION ITEM WHICH IS ITEM E5. >> A RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A PROPOSED STORM WATER DRAINAGE UTILITY AND DRAINAGE UTILITY FEE. >> GOOD EVENING, MISS LACEY. >> GOOD EVENING, NO PRESENTATION TONIGHT, I WANTED TO CLARIFY FOR BOTH COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION SETTING TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, THIS DOES NOT SET THE STORM DRAINAGE UTILITY THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS, IT DOESN'T SET ANY FEES IT DOES NOT DO ANY OF THAT. ALL THIS DOES IS TRIGGERS A TIMELINE THAT WE'RE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO ENACT THIS UTILITY AND THIS FEE. CHAPTER 552 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE REQUIRES THAT WE FIRST CALL TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, SO THOSE ARE GOING TO BE FEBRUARY 3RD AND FAIRBURY 17TH AS OF NOW. WHAT WE'LL DO NEXT IS, WE WILL PUBLISH DRAFTS OF BOTH ORDINANCES IN THE ADVOCATE, WE ARE REQUIRED TO PUBLISH THAT THREE TIMES BEFORE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE ORDINANCES ARE SET IN STONE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE PUBLISHED, THESE ARE DRAFTS. WE CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THEM AFTER FEEDBACK AT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS WHEN WE DECIDE WE WANT TO CHANGE IN EITHER OF THEM, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT. ALL I'M ASKING YOU TO DO TONIGHT IS TO APPROVE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, WE'LL HAVE IN FEBRUARY. AND WE CAN AT ANY TIME CHANGE THE TIMELINE THAT THIS WILL TRIGGER US GETTING STARTED ON GETTING BOTH OF THOSE PUT IN PLACE LATER NEXT YEAR. JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR TO EVERYONE AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC THAT MIGHT BE WATCHING. THAT WE ARE NOT CONNECTING A NEW ORDINANCE TONIGHT. >> ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT PROCESS? THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. I WILL NEED A MOTION TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A PROPOSED STORM WATER DRAINAGE UTILITY AND DRAINAGE UTILITY FEE FOR FEBRUARY 3RD AND FAIRBURY 17TH. [1. 2025 Tejas Fest Report and Considerations for 2026 Tejas Fest. Joel No...] [01:20:05] >> MOTION TO APPROVE E5. >> MOTION AND THE SECOND, ANY DISCUSSIONS? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. >> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? THE HEARINGS ARE SET. WE WILL THEN MOVE TO CITY MANAGER REPORTS, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE A COUPLE THINGS FOR US THIS EVENING. >> WE DO. WE ARE FIRST PROVIDING, JOLIE IS PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON TEJAS FEST AS WELL AS MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT TO DO THIS YEAR. WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE FROM YOU ON THAT, AND WILL CONCLUDE THE CITY MANAGER REPORTS SECTION WITH AN UPDATE THAT I'LL BE PRESENTING ON BEHALF OF THE COLLABORATIVE WORK BETWEEN STAFF AND THE COMPENSATION SUBCOMMITTEE. AT FIRST, JOEL. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TONIGHT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TEJAS FEST 2025 AND HAVE SOME RESULTS FROM THE EVENT. AS WELL AS DISCUSS OUR RECOMMENDATION PROPOSALS FOR 2026 AND TO GET FEEDBACK AND DIRECTION FORWARD. WE HAD A WONDERFUL EVENT, AGAIN, IN 2025 ON OCTOBER 3RD AND FOURTH IN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA. WE HAD A REALLY GREAT PERFORMANCES BY OUR HEADLINERS, ON SATURDAY, YOU SEE PICTURE THERE, AND ON FRIDAY, WE BROUGHT BACK THE NIGHT ON FRIDAY WHICH WE SAW GREAT SUCCESS WITH THAT, IN 2024. AND MOSTLY A COUNTRY FOCUS ON SATURDAY, HAD GREAT CROWDS, THERE, AND HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT. AS FAR AS OUR FESTIVAL FEATURES, WE HAD ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT, 26 TEAMS AND AN UNDERWRITING SPONSOR FOR THAT WHICH WE DIDN'T HAVE LAST YEAR. AS WELL AS THAT WAS PRESENTED BY CROSSROADS HALL AND KEVIN HENDERSON. A WONDERFUL CAR SHOW WITH 72 ENTRIES MANAGED BY BOBBY SPARKMAN AND HOT ROD TEXAS. WE HAD AN UNDERWRITING SPONSOR FOR THAT ONE IN GARAGE TRANSFORMERS. OUR VENDOR MARKET WAS MANAGED BY DOWNTOWN, 55 10 BY 10 SPACES WERE FILLED, AND WE HAD 15 FOOD VENDORS WHICH WERE MANAGED BY CITY STAFF AS FAR AS APPLICATIONS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. I DID DO A SURVEY TO THE FOOD VENDORS AND A FEW OF THEM GOT BACK TO ME, THEY HAD GROSS SALES TYPICAL OF WHAT THEY HAD LAST YEAR, SOME OF THEM REPORTED IN THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. THEY ALL DO WELL CONSIDERING THE APPLICATION FEE IS ONLY 400 TO 450. $400-$450 DEPENDING ON WHAT TYPE OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTION THEY NEED. THAT VENDOR FEE IS IN LINE WITH WHAT THE OTHER FESTIVALS CHARGE AROUND HERE. AS FAR AS OUR KIDS CORRAL WE BROUGHT OUR MAGICIAN BACK, HAD FOUR LOCAL ENTERTAINERS ON THE STAGE THERE, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THE KIDS CROWD IS UNDERWRITTEN BY A NEW SPONSOR THAT CAME IN LATE , A $10,000 SPONSOR. WONDERFUL NEW COMPANY AND THEY WERE GREAT TO WORK WITH. WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT ACTIVITY PROVIDERS, 11 INFLATABLE'S FROM PARTY RENTALS, AND TWO ACTIVITIES FROM CREATIVE STAGE EVENT CO., BOTH LOCAL COMPANIES. AND THE JUST FOR FUN PHOTO BOOTH HAD 364 FOLKS COME BY AND TAKE TEACHERS , CAME BY TO TAKE PHOTOS , THAT WAS A VERY WELL RECEIVED, A RECURRING THEME WHICH I'LL TOUCH ON, WE HAD AN UNDERWRITING SPONSOR FOR THAT ONE WITH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. I'LL TOUCH ON THIS IN A MINUTE BUT ARE SPONSORSHIP ACHIEVEMENTS WERE VERY EXCITING THIS WE HAD OUR PETTING ZOO SPONSORED BY URBAN ENGINEERING FROM WILD THINGS, OUR TRICK BACK, AND THE CHIHUAHUA RACES WHICH I CAN SAY WERE MORE ENGAGING THAN THE ARMADILLO RACES. WE HAD EIGHT ENTRIES, THAT WAS MANAGED COMPLETELY BY THE PET RESORT ON MAINE, SO IT'S QUITE A CROWD AROUND THAT, THEY EXPRESSED THAT THEY BE EXCITED TO BRING THAT BACK. OUR OTHER FESTIVAL FEATURES WE HAD, LOCAL TALENT SUCH AS BALLET FOLKLORE, WE HAD MARGARITA CONTEST UNDERWRITTEN BY SPEEDY STOP SPIRITS, AND THE CONTEST SPONSORED BY VENTURA TAMALES. EXPLORING POSSIBLE CHANGES WITH THOSE, THE TAMALE CONTEST AT 50 PEOPLE SIGNED UP BUT ONLY FIVE SHOWED UP. THE WINNER HAD 63 IN 10 MINUTES, HE ADDED ANOTHER 20 TO HIS BELT, AND WE HAD SIX OR SEVEN MARGARITA CONTEST, WE ARE DISCUSSING THE COMPETITIONS ARE VERY FUN, IT BRINGS PEOPLE OUT AND THERE'S WAYS WE CAN SHAKE THAT UP A LITTLE BIT AND BRING NEW THINGS, THERE. AS FAR AS LOCAL MEDIA SPENDING, WE ENGAGE IN WORK WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERY LOCAL MAJOR MEDIA OUTLET, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY OFTEN COME BACK AND GIVE US A SPONSORSHIP , BETWEEN WHAT WE SPENT, AND WHAT WAS DONATED TO US, THE $31,000 IN LOCAL MEDIA VALUE, THERE. WE RUN THOSE THROUGH OUR CDB ACCOUNT, AND YOU GET A LOT OF BANG FOR YOUR BUCK, OUR MAIN AD WAS $2000 AND HAD 15,000 VISITS TO THE FEST WEBSITE. WE ALSO DID A DIGITAL DISPLAY CAMPAIGN [01:25:05] THROUGH CDB, WITH OUR ANNUAL CAMPAIGN THROUGH MEDIA, WE HAD A DIGITAL DISPLAY, IT WAS PROBABLY NOT AS IMPRESSIVE AS THE FACEBOOK RESULTS, LESSON LEARNED, THERE. WILL DIRECT MORE MONEY TO FACEBOOK, THE VIDEO CAMPAIGN DID SEE A VERY GOOD COMPLETION RATE IN A LOT OF IMPRESSIONS, THERE. THAT WAS NOT COST ATTRIBUTED TO THE FESTIVAL, THAT WAS THROUGH THE BUDGET, SOME OF THAT CREATIVE WAS DEDICATED TO TEJAS FEST. OUR LOCAL EXPENSES, ONE THING WE'RE PROUD ON HIS HIRING AS MANY LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS AS WE CAN. OF OUR EXPENSES APPROXIMATELY 105,000 OF THAT WAS TO LOCAL COMPANIES , WORK SHIFTS COVERED BY VOLUNTEERS 139 , YOU CAN SEE QUITE A FEW OF THOSE, 93 ARE COVERED BY STAFF. I'LL TOUCH ON THAT BUT THAT IS A CHALLENGE, VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND I'VE HEARD THAT FROM NONPROFITS AND EVENT ORGANIZERS, IT SEEMS LIKE SINCE THE PANDEMIC ONE THING THAT HASN'T REBOUNDED IS VOLUNTEERING. IT'S BEEN HARD TO GET VOLUNTEERS BACK. WEBSITE STATISTICS FOR THE MONTH LEADING UP TO TEJAS FEST, WE HAD, AGAIN, VISITATION ON OUR WEBSITE, 22,000, 22,000 TEJAS FEST PAGE VIEWS. AS WELL AS A LITTLE OVER 3200 VIEWS OF THE TEJAS FEST'S SCHEDULE. OUR FACEBOOK PAGE , THROUGH THE MONTH LEADING UP TO TEJAS FEST HAD OVER 634,000 VISITORS. A LOT OF EXPOSURE OUT THERE FOR THE EVENT. THIS IS A NEW TOOL TO UTILIZE AND I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THIS, THIS IS CALLED PLACER. YOU'RE ABLE TO WITH THIS PROGRAM, CREATE CUSTOM POINTS OF INTEREST, AND USE THEIR TOOL TO DEVELOP A MAP, SO THAT AREA COMPRISES MOST OF THE MAIN FESTIVAL AREA OF TEJAS FEST, YOU HAVE THAT SECTION AT THE BOTTOM LEFT, THAT IS THE KIDS CORRAL. WE HAVE OUR CAR SHOW IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE TAX OFFICE BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO INCLUDE THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO INCLUDE PEOPLE DOING THEIR REGULAR BUSINESS THROUGHOUT THE DAY FRIDAY BEFORE THE EVENT KICKS OFF. THE WAY PLACER DOES THIS IS TRACK CELL PHONE DATA AND EXTRAPOLATE, IT IS AN ESTIMATION, IS NOT AN EXACT COUNT OF PEOPLE. WE'VE USED DIFFERENT TOOLS IN THE PAST AND IS THE FIRST ONE IS BEEN GIVING US NUMBERS OR AN IDEA OF NUMBERS ON WHAT THE VISITATION COULD BE FOR THE EVENT. YOU CAN SEE VISITORS AT 25,000 OVER THE TWO DAYS OF THE EVENT. AN AVERAGE STAY TIME OF ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS. WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE DOWN THERE AND THEY'RE STAYING THERE. WHAT IS OUR MOST VISITED DAY? WE HAVE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3RD, AND ATTENDANCE ON THAT DAY WAS 8 1/2 THOUSAND, SATURDAY, 14 1/2 THOUSAND ACCORDING TO PLACER. SATURDAY WAS OUR MORE VISITED DAY, NOW, COMPARED TO TEJAS FEST 2024, IT WAS A DECREASE IN 2024, FRIDAY HAD 9 1/2 THOUSAND VISITORS AND SATURDAY HAD 17.3 THOUSAND VISITORS. I WANTED TO INCLUDE THIS LINE GRAPH, HERE, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE TWO HIGH MARKS OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 13TH, 2025. THOSE HIGH MARKS ARE TEJAS FEST. THE OTHER HIGH POINTS ARE OUR CHRISTMAS PARADE FOLLOWED BY THE CROSSROADS BARBECUE AND BREW FESTIVAL, CINCO DE MAYO, THAT MAIN PLAZA EVENT AREA IS THE MOST ATTENDED EVENT IN THAT AREA. THIS IS A GRAPH OF WHEN WE SAW WHAT TIMES WE SAW THE MOST VISITORS THROUGHOUT THE EVENT. THIS CAN BE A USEFUL TOOL FOR SCHEDULING, YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THAT THE MOST ATTENDANCE WAS AT 9:00 P.M. AND IT STARTS TAILING OFF. SO, IF WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT OUR STRATEGY FOR BOOKING ARTISTS, PERHAPS WE DON'T THROW SO MUCH MONEY AT A HEADLINER AND NOT HAVE MUCH LEFT FOR A DIRECT OPENING BUT WE BALANCE IT OUT A LITTLE BIT IN TERMS OF THE SPEND, AND THE REACH, THE FAN OF THAT ARTIST. THE PEAK TIME IS 9:00 P.M., AND BY THE END OF THE FESTIVAL, IT'S GONE DOWN A BIT. >> PART OF THE ATTENDANCE DRIVEN BY THE ARTIST IS THERE. >> WE HAVE OUR ARTISTS THIS YEAR, THEY STARTED THEIR SET AT 10:15 AND WENT UNTIL 11:30. WE SEE A LOT OF THE FAMILIES STARTING TO LEAD BY THAT POINT. THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE THERE [01:30:02] WITH THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN, REALLY ENJOY AND MORE EXCITED TO SEE HIM, AND IT APPEALED TO THAT 40+ AGE BRACKET IN THE PECOS AND ROOFTOP APPEALS MORE TO THAT TWENTYSOMETHING SET. A LOT OF FOLKS WITH FAMILIES WERE LEAVING BY THEN. IT DOES DEPEND ON THE ARTIST, IT'S ALWAYS YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST, YOU NEVER BEEN QUITE SURE HOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO STAY AND ATTEND THE FESTIVAL. ONE THING I'VE SEEN AT TEJAS FEST, AND I EVEN SAW IT THE YEAR BEFORE WITH JOSH ABBOTT, IS THAT IT SEEMS LIKE AT THE END OF HIS PERFORMANCE, THAT'S WHEN THE MOST PEOPLE WERE THERE . ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THAT JOSH ABBOTT PERFORMANCE PEOPLE STARTED TRICKLING OUT A LITTLE BIT. SO DO WE THROW, MAYBE IT'S NOT WISE TO THROW SO MUCH MONEY AT A HEADLINER, AND THEN NOT HAVE AS MUCH FOR THEIR DIRECT SUPPORT, WHO'S IN FRONT OF THEM. MAYBE WE BALANCE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT. >> TO YOUR POINT, WHEN PEOPLE GO OUT, IT'S DRIVEN BY TALENT. ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU NOW IS BECAUSE LAST YEAR, GOING INTO THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL, THE RECRUITMENT FOR TOWN STARTED REALLY LATE. SO, COMPARED TO THE TALENT THAT WE HAVE IN 24, WE SPENT MORE MONEY ON TALENT IN 24 AND STARTED TRYING TO FIND TALENT SOONER IN 24. YOU SEE THAT WE HAVE NUMBERS TO BACK UP WHEN YOU HAVE BETTER TALENT LIKE WE DID IN 24, WE HAD A GREATER TURNOUT THAN THIS YEAR. THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION TO GET SOME DIRECTION ON WHAT TO DO SO WE CAN START THAT RECRUITMENT, HE'S GOT A SLIDE THAT WILL HIT ON THAT LATER IN THIS PRESENTATION. >> AND THIS WAS PRESENTED, THAT FIRST SLIDE, WE'RE GETTING PEOPLE DOWN AND THEY'RE STAYING THERE. THE AVERAGE TIME IS OVER 2 1/2 HOURS. LOOKING BACK AT HOW THE FESTIVAL WENT THIS YEAR, SUCCESSES, SPONSORSHIP WAS A BIG ONE. WE INCREASED, OUR GOAL WAS 75,000. WE BEAT THAT. OUR TOTAL SPONSORSHIP WAS 87,610. FROM JUST LESS THAN $14,000 THE YEAR BEFORE. CHIHUAHUA RACES WERE MORE ENGAGING THAN THE ARMADILLO RACES, AND WE ALSO HAD A BOTTLE WATER AND SODA SALES BOOTH, SO AS PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE AT A FOOD VENDOR IF THEY JUST WANTED A BOTTLE OF WATER. THAT WAS MANAGED BY THE WALK TO ATTEND ALZHEIMER'S, THAT PARTNERSHIP ALLOWED US TO BRING IN ANOTHER SPONSOR BECAUSE THEY HAVE A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH WALK TO AND ALZHEIMER'S, WHEN THEY HEARD THAT WE WERE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT HOW TO HELP, BECAUSE THEIR WALK WAS THAT SAME DAY, OCTOBER 4TH, THAT MORNING. THAT MADE THEM INTERESTED ABOUT COMING IN AS A SPONSOR. THEY WALKED IN, ALZHEIMER'S USE THEIR BOOTH SPACE WHICH IS PART OF THE SPONSOR BENEFITS. CHANCES TO IMPROVE, THE PERMANENT RESTROOMS WE NEED TO MAKE THOSE AVAILABLE FOR ALL ATTENDING DURING ALL HOURS OF THE EVENT. WE MADE THOSE FOR VIP THIS YEAR, PAST YEAR THAT SEEMED TO BE ONE OF THE MAIN STICKING POINTS IF YOU LOOK OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IS THAT THOSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE FOR ALL STAFF, FOR ALL PEOPLE DURING THE EVENT. THAT'S A LESSON LEARNED. OUR VIP AREA VISITATION, I'LL TOUCH ON THIS IN A MINUTE, WASN'T AS BIG AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE. YOU SEE THE SPONSORSHIP NUMBERS, WE GAVE OUT 250 VIP PASSES EACH NIGHT, THE SPONSORS DON'T USE THEM AS MUCH. IF I'M GUESSING THE MAX AMOUNT OF PEOPLE, THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN 100 PEOPLE IN THERE ON SATURDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER THING IS TO CREATE A WAY FOR FOOD VENDORS TO SELL BOTTLED WATER AND SODA WHILE AVOIDING CUTTING INTO THE FUNDS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BROUGHT IN DEL PAPA WAS THAT WE WERE GIVING EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO SELL BOTTLED WATER AND SODA TO WALK TO AND ALZHEIMER'S, THAT WOULD HELP THEM. THERE WAS AN IDEA FROM ONE OF OUR FOOD VENDORS DURING THE EVENT, HE HAD A PRETTY GOOD IDEA, SOME FOOD VENDOR WANTS TO SELL BOTTLED WATER AND SODA, CHARGE THEM AN EXTRA $50 WITH THE STIPULATION THAT THAT CAN GO TO THE CHARITY. I SAID THAT'S NOT A BAD IDEA. THAT'S GUARANTEED MONEY FOR WHATEVER CHARITY MIGHT BE RUNNING THAT BOTTLED WATER AND SODA BOOTH. THAT'S STILL A GOOD THING TO HAVE ESPECIALLY DURING PEAK TIMES, THE WAIT FOR A FOOD VENDOR IS LONG AND SOMEBODY WANTS A SODA OR WATER. THAT THERE IS A WAY TO MAKE THAT ALSO WORKED FOR THE FOOD VENDORS BECAUSE THEY WERE GETTING COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE, I'M WALKING UP AND BUYING MY PLATE OF FOOD AND I'D LIKE TO GET A WATER, YOU HAVE TO WALK TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FESTIVAL AND GET A WATER AT THE BOOTH. THERE'S A WAY TO MAKE THAT WORK FOR EVERYBODY. AND THEN [01:35:01] LOCATIONS FOR THE PORTABLE TOILETS THAT ARE LEAST DISRUPTIVE TO DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. THERE'S SOME SECTIONS WHERE WE PUT PORTABLE TOILETS THAT WERE AN ISSUE ON MAIN STREET, SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH CHRISTIE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND LOOK AT THE FESTIVAL MAP, AND FIND A PLACE THAT IS OUT OF THE WAY FOR EVERYBODY. EVEN WITH THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS, THE PERMANENT RESTROOMS, YOU NEED TO HAVE PORTABLE TOILETS. THOSE PERMANENT RESTROOMS CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO MANAGE THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. YOU WILL HAVE BREAKDOWNS IF THAT'S THE CASE. ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE I BREAK INTO THE FINANCIAL NUMBERS? GREAT. SO, YOU CAN SEE THE ALLOTMENT FROM CITY VICTORIA LAST YEAR, WAS $150,000. OUR GOAL FOR SPONSORSHIP WAS 75, WE EXCEEDED THAT. BEER SALES AND ICE SALES, OUR GOAL WAS 70, WE DID NOT DO WHAT WE HAD HOPED FOR. THAT'S A TOUGH ONE, YOU CAN'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DRINK MORE. IT'S, HOW DO YOU FIND POSSIBLY NEW REVENUE STREAMS TO MAKE UP FOR THESE TRENDS YOU'RE SEEING IN DECREASED BEER SALES WHICH I'LL TOUCH ON IN THE MOMENT. VENDOR FEES WE DID BETTER THAN BUDGETED, WE HAD MANY VENDORS, MOST OF THEM WERE THE 250 VOLT CONNECTIONS. THAT WAS A $450 FEE VERSUS 400. AND THEN SHIRT SALES WE NEED TO REVISIT OUR SHIRT DESIGNS, WE STILL HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF SHIRTS FEATURING A FESTIVAL LINEUP IN THE OFFICE. AS FAR AS THE FESTIVAL MERCHANDISE IS STILL A GREAT THING TO PROVIDE, WE MAY JUST WANT TO REDUCE THE QUANTITIES WE PURCHASE ONCE WE'RE SOLD OUT, WE'RE SOLD OUT. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE REVENUES? GREAT. ALL RIGHT. I WILL TOUCH ON FESTIVAL EXPENSES, IT'S QUITE A BIG GRAPH, HERE. I'LL TOUCH ON MOSTLY, THIS COULD TAKE A WHILE TO GO DOWN LINE ITEM BY LINE ITEM, I'LL TOUCH THE ITEMS THAT HAD THE BIGGEST VARIANCES AS FAR AS EXPENSES GO, MIXED BEVERAGE SALES TAX, THAT WAS A VARIANCE OF OVER $9000. THAT'S A REPORTING CHANGE FOR THE 24 REPORT AND THE 25 BUDGET. THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE BEER FOR RESALE LINE ITEM, BROKEN OUT IN THE REPORT BY FINANCE THIS YEAR, AND YOU CAN SEE THE BEER FOR RESALE EXPENSE WAS $10,000 LESS. THAT ACCOUNTS, THE MIXED BEVERAGE SALES TAX WAS SOMETHING WE PAID IN 24 AS WELL. SOUND AND LIGHT PRODUCTION, THAT WAS ALMOST $7000 MORE THAN WHAT WE ANTICIPATED. THAT CAN BE A VARIABLE COST DEPENDING ON WHAT THE ARTIST ARE REQUIRING. AND THE INCREASE IN COST FOR MATERIALS, THAT SORT OF THING, RENTING THINGS. WE USE A LOCAL COMPANY FOR THAT, THEY HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB , CLAY CROCKETT AND HIS CREW HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB , AND WHEN WE RECEIVE QUOTES FROM OTHER ENTITIES WANTING TO DO PRODUCTION, THEIR QUOTES ARE $50,000 OR MORE. WE GET A REALLY GOOD DEAL FROM CLAY, AND HIS CREW. SHOOT -- SHIRT PURCHASE RESALE, IN THIS STAFF AND VOLUNTEER SHIRTS WERE COMBINED, SO THAT'S WHY IT EXPLAINS THE VARIANCE. VIP FOOD, WE HAVE A VARIANCE OF OVER 1800 BECAUSE WE DID REALLY GOOD IN SPONSORSHIP. IF YOU DO GOOD IN SPONSORSHIP THERE'S MORE VIPS. AND THEN SUPPLIES, WE HAD A VARIANCE OF 17, A LITTLE OVER 1700. THAT WAS DUE TO SOME PAST PRACTICES WITH PURCHASING TRASH CARTS FOR THE EVENT. I WORKED WITH ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, WE SET ASIDE 50 CARTS TO BE DEDICATED FOR TEJAS FEST USE, TYPICALLY YEAR IN, YEAR OUT THE CARTS WILL BE PURCHASED AND WAS THE FESTIVAL IS OVER THEY'LL BE PUT INTO CIRCULATION. THOSE ARE GOING TO BE SET ASIDE IN STORAGE, SO WE WON'T HAVE TO PURCHASE TRASH CARTS FOR THE EVENT NEXT YEAR. THAT WILL CUT DOWN ON OUR SUPPLIES COST. ANOTHER ONE IS CITY OVER TIME, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE MOST OF THIS IS PD INSECURITY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO CUT, SECURITY IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE. IT'S BETTER TO OVERSPEND AND HAVE A VERY SECURE EVENT, THEN TRY TO BE SAVING MONEY IN SOMETHING SO CRITICAL AS SECURITY. WE'RE EXPECTING THAT COST TO REMAIN THE SAME. BEING WHAT IT COST TO PAY OUR OFFICERS TO KEEP US SAFE AT THE EVENT, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENTS TEJAS FEST GETS IS HOW SAFE PEOPLE FEEL, THERE. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE EXPENSES? GREAT. SO, WHAT ARE SOME CHALLENGES AS WE LOOK FORWARD TO 2026? OF COURSE, HIGH COST FOR LIVE MUSIC FEES. I DO THE PRICING FOR THE ARTIST AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY [01:40:04] ARTISTS OUT THERE COST $100,000 OR MORE. IT'S DEFINITELY A BALANCING ACT. WE WORK CLOSELY WITH CLUB 106.9 TO GET THEIR FEEDBACK ON ARTIST AND WHO ARE DOING WELL, AND WE'LL DO THE SAME AGAIN THIS YEAR. COST FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS CAN BE APPLICABLE, VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT CAN BE TOUGH, AND WE HAVE TO FILL THOSE CRITICAL ROLES WITH CITY STAFF. AND OF COURSE , THE DECREASING BEVERAGE SALES, SOME OF THAT COULD BE , SOME OF THAT COULD BE CULTURAL. YOU ARE SEEING YOUNGER GENERATIONS ARE DRINKING LESS. SO WHAT IS THE ANSWER? HOW DO WE CATCH BACK UP ON REVENUES? THE LOW HANGING FRUIT IS SELLING VIP PASSES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THIS IS BEEN SOMETHING BROUGHT UP BY FOLKS FOR YEARS, WE HAD MORE IN SPONSORSHIP THIS PAST YEAR THAN WE HAD ANY TEJAS FEST OR BOOT FAST TO MY RECOLLECTION GOING BACK. THAT VIP AREA TO THE LEFT OF THE STAGE HAD A LOT OF ROOM IN IT. IF YOU IMAGINE, IF YOU CHARGE $150 A NIGHT OR HAVE A DISCOUNT FOR A TWO NIGHT TICKET, I DID THE BREAKDOWN, THIS IS NOT JUST A RANDOM ESTIMATE, THE 35,000. I LOOKED AT THE AREA IN THAT A VIP AREA, THE AREA AVAILABLE, 12 SQUARE FEET PER PERSON. AND LOOKED AT THE MAX NUMBER OF MONEY WE COULD MAKE FOR SELLING. THAT WOULD FIT, PLUS 250 VIP PASSES AGAIN, , THAT AREA COULD FIT ABOUT 385 PEOPLE. RIGHT? IF YOU HAD 250 FROM VIP PASSES, A GOOD ROUND NUMBER, 125 VIP PASSES WE COULD SELL EACH NIGHT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IF YOU SOLD ALL OF THEM, ALL 125 FOR $150 A NIGHT, THAT'S 37,000 AND SOME CHANGE. IF YOU SOLD ALL OF THEM AS TWO DAY PASSES FOR $250, THAT'S 32,000. $35,000 IS IN THE MIDDLE, THERE. THAT COULD BE OUR POTENTIAL REVENUE FROM SELLING VIP PASSES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND I THINK PEOPLE WERE COMING UP TO THE BEER BOOTH AND TICKET BOOTH SAYING, HOW DO WE GET IN THAT VIP AREA? I'LL PAY YOU RIGHT NOW TO GET IN THERE. IF YOU THINK IT SOUNDS A LOT FOR TICKET, THAT'S WHAT THE CROSSROADS BARBECUE AND BREW FESTIVAL CHARGED. FOUR THERE VIP AND IN OUR VIP YOU GET FREE FOOD. WE CAN BREAK OUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPONSORS COULD GET UNLIMITED DRINKS, A LIMITED NUMBER OF DRINKS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC VIP, THAT SORT OF THING. THAT, THAT'S THE LOW HANGING FRUIT AS FAR AS REVENUE STREAMS THAT WE'RE MISSING OUT ON. ANOTHER ONE COULD BE A PROFIT SHARE WITH THE BARTENDING BUSINESS, THIS IS JUST AN IDEA BUT COULD PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT COULD PROVIDE A VARIETY OF DRINKS FOR PEOPLE, AND THEN, JUST, SHARING THOSE PROFITS WITH THEM, THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO EXPLORE. MOVING ON TO OUR PROPOSAL AS FAR AS THE STRUCTURE OF THE EVENT, NOTHING WOULD CHANGE AS FAR AS THE DAYS AND TIMES. MAINSTAGE, FRIDAY NIGHT, SATURDAY NIGHT COUNTRY, THAT STRUCTURE HAS WORKED WELL FOR US. LOTS OF DAYTIME ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE EVENT. KEEP THAT VIP AREA WHILE OPENING UP FENCING IN A WAY THAT OPENS UP THE RESTROOMS COME OF THE PERMANENT RESTROOMS FOR THE PUBLIC. AND THAT WOULD NECESSITATE BUYING A LUXURY RESTROOM TRAILER, YOU CAN RENT THOSE FROM THE VIP AREA. AND YOU CAN GET THOSE FOR A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A WEEKEND. SO, GOING ON TO THE 2026 PROPOSAL. LOOKING AT THE REVENUE LINE ITEM, RIGHT NOW AS IT STANDS, THE PROPOSED REQUEST FOR COUNCIL FOR ALLOTMENT WOULD NOT BE AS MUCH AS LAST YEAR. 135,000, THE EVENT SPONSORSHIPS TO BE CONSERVATIVE, I KEPT THAT TARGET AT 85,000 BUT WE WOULD WORK TO ECLIPSE WHAT WE DID THIS PAST YEAR, BEVERAGE SALES , CONSIDERING IF WE HAVE VIP TICKET SALES, YOU COULD HAVE SOME OF THOSE FOLKS NOT PRODUCING BEER, GETTING FREE DRINKS, THAT SORT OF THING. I WAS VERY CONCERNED AS FAR AS BEVERAGE SALES AT 60,000, VIP SALES WHICH I MENTIONED AT 35, VENDOR FEES AND MERCHANDISE SALES. GOING ON TO ANTICIPATED COST, MAINSTAGE SECOND STAGE LIVE MUSIC FEES, I INCLUDE IN THEIR ENTERTAINER HOTELS, HOSPITALITY, MEALS FOR THEM. OVER TIME, KEEPING THAT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE HAD THIS PAST YEAR. AGAIN, I'M NOT GOING TO GO DOWN EVERY LINE ITEM, BUT, THERE WEREN'T , THE TOTAL EXPENSES YOU SEE AT THE BOTTOM AT 314,000, 950, OUR TOTAL REVENUE AT 315,000 FOR PRETTY MUCH BREAKEVEN AMOUNT. AND I CAN'T TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THIS TIME. >> BRIEFLY, CAN YOU GO BACK? [01:45:01] >> SURE. >> I DON'T HAVE A SLIDE FOR THIS BUT YOU MAY RECALL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF FISCAL BUDGET PRESENTATIONS, US TALKING ABOUT OUR OCCUPANCY TAX FUND. AND THE REVENUES, AND THIS REALITY THAT IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM UNLESS WE SEE AN INFLUX OF INCREASED REVENUE FOR US TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE FESTIVAL AT 150, CONTINUE TO DO THE SUPPORT FOR THE OUTSIDE AGENCIES ON TOP OF DOING EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO. IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT, THAT'S LESSER THAN 150,000, THAT'S TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THAT IN MIND, IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM TO RELY EVERY YEAR FOR THE FESTIVAL. WE'RE ALL , I BELIEVE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WITH TRYING TO CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO LESSEN THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT COMES FROM THE HOT FUNDS. SO OBVIOUSLY JOE HAS IDEAS FOR THIS YEAR, WE'RE CURIOUS TO GET FEEDBACK OR INPUT. WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING, SO THAT ALL CAN START DOING THAT RESEARCH FOR ARTISTS. >> WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE, IN ATTENDANCE. WE WILL CALL IT THAT FOR ROUND NUMBERS. TWO WE HAVE AN IDEA, THE MAJORITY OF THAT IS LOCAL FOLKS, DO WE HAVE AN IDEA OF OUT-OF-TOWN ATTENDANCE THAT CAME TO VICTORIA AND STAY THE WEEKEND? >> THE MAJORITY OF IT IS RESIDENCE. OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY WAS DOWN A BIT THIS YEAR, COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. IT IS A MAJORITY RESIDENCE. >> I FIGURED IT WOULD BE MOSTLY LOCAL. >> THEY ARE COMING FROM LOOKING AT THE HEAT MAPS ON PLACER, AREAS 30 MINUTES OUT FROM US, SMALLER TOWNS. THAT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT MORE, IF YOU ADD THOSE UP THAT'S THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TOGETHER. THERE ARE PEOPLE WILLING TO MAKE THAT 30 MINUTE TO 45 MINUTE DRIVE, AND THAT SHOWED IN THE MAPS. >> OKAY, THANK YOU. OTHER QUESTIONS? >> JOEL, YOU DID A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A ONE DAY VERSUS TWO DAY EVENT IF I RECALL. I DON'T REMEMBER THE SPECIFICS IN THAT REGARD, I KNOW THAT FRIDAY ATTENDANCE IS ALWAYS LESS THAN SATURDAY, WHETHER THAT'S ARTISTS, I IMAGINE FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AND THE OTHER EVENTS GOING ON IN COMMUNITY TEND TO PULL AWAY FROM THAT. I GUESS IT'S JUST ABOUT REVISITING THAT, I KNOW THERE'S A COST DIFFERENCE. YOU CAN GET AS MUCH BANG FOR THE BUCK. >> WHEN I REACHED OUT TO OUR SERVICE PROVIDERS, MOST OF THEIR EXPENSES, WHETHER ONE DAY OR TWO DAY, THE ONLY PLACE YOU'RE REALLY SAVING MONEY IS CITY STAFF PAY, AND ENTERTAINMENT FEE. THE 32,000, THE SOUND LIGHT AND VIDEO, IT'S THE SAME IT'S ONE DAY OR TWO DAYS. THEN YOU'RE MISSING OUT ON THE REVENUES , SO, IT'S NOT A MAGIC BULLET TO SAY LET'S MAKE IT A ONE DAY, AND THAT WILL CUT DOWN OUR COST BY A LOT. >> I RECALL SOME OF THAT, THE SPECIFICS IN THAT REGARD. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COMMENTS, IN TERMS OF MOVING FORWARD? I THINK YOU'RE SEEKING FEEDBACK ON IS THIS SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO EXPLORE FOR THE COMMUNITY , AND BUILD ON THE SUCCESS OF THE LAST COUPLE YEARS? ULTIMATELY YES, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TONIGHT, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT WE LIKE TO GET FEEDBACK ON OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS SO THAT AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, WITH TRYING TO FIND SOME OF THAT TALENT. >> I CAN START DOING THE PRICING AND EVERYTHING IF WE'RE GETTING THE FEELING THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS I CAN START REACHING UP TO THE BOOKING AGENCIES AND GETTING PRICING. JANUARY IS THAT MONTH YOU WANT TO START MAKING OFFERS AND BOOKING PEOPLE. BY FEBRUARY THEY'RE STARTING TO GET HOOKED UP, BY MARCH, APRIL, IT STARTS GETTING HARD TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE AVAILABLE. IT'S GETTING THAT WAY, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE ARTISTS, WE CAN AFFORD. THAT GROUP IS GETTING SMALLER. THE LIVE MUSIC, FEES ARE GOING UP. THEY'RE NOT GETTING SO MUCH MONEY FOR THE RECORD COMPANIES ANYMORE. THEY'RE GETTING FRACTIONS OF ASSENT FROM SPOTIFY. THEY'RE MAKING THEIR BREAD WITH LIVE MUSIC. ARTISTS WHO ARE NOT OUT THERE WINNING ACM AWARDS ARE $500,000. SO, THAT SMALL TO MIDSIZE FESTIVAL , THEY'RE COMPETING FOR A SMALLER POOL OF ARTISTS. GETTING OUT THERE AHEAD OF THE GAME AND GETTING OUT THERE EARLY IS KEY. >> I WOULD JUST SAY FROM MY STANDPOINT, AGAIN, TO ECHO WHAT WE SAID AFTERWARD, I THINK YOU [01:50:03] GUYS DID A FANTASTIC JOB. I THINK WE HAD TWO YEARS OF VERY SUCCESSFUL EVENTS. THAT, AS YOU POINTED OUT, WE LEARNED SOME LESSONS AND CAN DO IT BETTER, SOMETHING TO BUILD ON. PERSONALLY I THINK A COMMUNITY EVENT LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT. I THINK IT BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, CREATES A SENSE OF UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUE TO EXPLORE . HOW DO WE MAKE THIS BIGGER AND BETTER? I THINK IT'S A GREAT EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, AND I'M GLAD THAT IT'S BACK, PERSONALLY. >> I THINK AT 135,000, WE'RE INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME OUT A LITTLE OVER $5.50, AS AN INVESTMENT ON OUR PART FOR THEM TO HAVE SOMETHING ENGAGING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THAT THEY CAN LOOK FORWARD TO. >> IT'S NOT EVERYWHERE YOU CAN SEE CHIHUAHUA RACES. >> THAT'S WHERE I THINK YOUR T-SHIRT SALES NEED TO BE. >> THAT'S CREATIVE, THAT WOULD BE FUN. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT. [2. Compensation and Benefits Subcommittee Update. Jesús A. Garza, City Ma...] >> GILBERT SAID I HAVE TWO MINUTES. >> HE'S GENEROUS. >> WHEN THE GODFATHER GIVE YOU DIRECTION. YOU KNOW. READY? ALL RIGHT. I'M GOING TO PROVIDE YOU AN UPDATE ON BEHALF OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE WHICH INCLUDES COUNCILMEMBERS BUTLER, DELAGARZA, AND LOFFGREN. AS YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR, BY MAYOR CROCKER, TO HELP US LOOK AT HOW CAN WE BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND MORE INTENTIONAL AND MORE TARGETED WITH OUR RECOMMENDATIONS IN OUR PROGRAM? WE DID A HISTORIC PROGRAM THAT WENT INTO EFFECT THIS FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS THAT'S BEEN VERY WELL-RECEIVED, SPECIFICALLY BY POLICE AND FIRE. NOTHING BUT GREAT FEEDBACK ON THAT FRONT. HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, SPECIFICALLY, I'D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT TWO OF THOSE AREAS. FIRST TALK TO YOU ABOUT PUBLIC WORKS, SPECIFICALLY THE UTILITY DIVISION, YOU MAY RECALL WHEN I PROVIDED THE UPDATE AT OUR LAST MEETING, TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HAVING ON THE UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER POSITION, AND THAT DIVISION IN GENERAL. YOU MAY RECALL THAT VERY LAST MINUTE, WE ENDED UP ADDING OVER $200,000 IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET TO DO AN ADDITIONAL ENHANCEMENT TO THOSE UTILITY CENTRIC POSITIONS. I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT. SECOND, I WANT TO HIT ON DISPATCHERS. DISPATCHERS WAS A GROUP THAT , THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CHANGE IN THAT MARKET, SO THERE IS A NEED FOR US TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE AND INTENTIONAL WITH PAPER DISPATCHERS, BUT ALSO, VIEWING THEM AS FIRST RESPONDERS. AND FOLLOWING A SIMILAR MODEL WITH THEM THAT WE CURRENTLY DO WITH POLICE AND FIRE. BOTH OF THE UPDATES I'LL BE PROVIDING THIS EVENING WITH THAT GROUP OF EMPLOYEES, WE PLAN ON MAKING EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST. SO, FIRST WITH PUBLIC WORKS, I'M NOT GOING TO READ EVERY SINGLE LINE OF THIS, BUT BASICALLY WE WANT TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE. WE HAVE SOME VACANCIES IN THAT AREA. AND THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE WE START TO LOOK AT THINGS DIFFERENT. ORIGINALLY, WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT ENHANCING PAY FOR THE UTILITIES DIVISION, WE LOOKED AT THAT DIVISION AND WE SIMPLY LOOKED AT THE STRUGGLES TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT INDIVIDUALS. THE MORE THAT WE TALKED TO THE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE ISSUE, THE MORE WE REALIZE THAT WE REALLY NEEDED TO COMPARE THAT POSITION WITH OTHER SIMILAR POSITIONS IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS. I MENTIONED AGAIN, COUNCILMAN BUTLER HAD AN EXCELLENT IDEA TO RE-EVALUATE WHAT WE CALL THE POSITION. SO, AS PART OF THAT EXERCISE, WE STARTED TO PUT TOGETHER A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS, IF YOU WILL, BETWEEN CERTAIN POSITIONS ACROSS OUR ORGANIZATION THAT TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD MIGHT SEEM LIKE THEY'RE VERY SIMILAR BUT, IN FACT, ARE VERY DIFFERENT. FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, WE GOT INFORMATION ON PARK MAINTENANCE WORKER, STREET MAINTENANCE WORKER, BUILDING MAINTENANCE TECH, UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER, THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN AT EITHER OF OUR PLANS. AS YOU SEE THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES, I WANT TO INTENTIONALLY NOTE THAT AS YOU PROGRESS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, THE LEVEL OF REQUIREMENTS, SKILL SET, CHALLENGES, RESPONSIBILITIES, EVOLVES. AND GROSS. SO ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE YOU START WITH OUR PARKS [01:55:01] MAINTENANCE WORKER WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING OUR PARKS, THEN YOU MOVE TO STREETS AND THEY START TO MAINTAIN ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, OBVIOUSLY STREETS ARE CRITICAL, NOT THAT PARKS AREN'T, BUT YOU START TO SEE THIS ELEVATION OF THE CRITICAL SENSE OF INFRASTRUCTURE. YOU START TO GET A SENSE OF THE REQUIREMENTS. ONCE YOU START GETTING INTO STREETS, YOU START GETTING INTO POTENTIALLY REQUIRING A CDL BECAUSE OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY OPERATE. YOU CONTINUE ON. BUILDING MAINTENANCE TECH, THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT WORK FOR ROGER, WHICH HANDLE A LOT OF OUR MAINTENANCE AND OUR FACILITIES WHICH REQUIRES A SPECIFIC SKILL SET AND KNOWLEDGE BASE TO HANDLE WORK, PLUMBING, CARPENTRY, ELECTRICAL, ET CETERA. AGAIN, AS YOU PROGRESS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, THE LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS STARTS TO INCREASE. WE GET TO THE UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER POSITION, WHICH IS ONE THAT WE'RE PREDOMINANTLY GOING TO FOCUS ON, THAT'S THE ONE THAT FOCUSES ON MAINTAINING THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, HANDLES WATER MAIN BREAKS, WASTE WATER MAIN BREAKS, THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT OBVIOUSLY HANDLE CRITICAL INFRA STRUCTURE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE INSTANCES WHERE THEY'RE WORKING ALL NIGHT. TWO ENSURE THAT OUR WATER QUALITY SYSTEM IS INTACT. OBVIOUSLY THAT POSITION EQUALLY IMPORTANT AS OUR PARKS MAINTENANCE WORKER BUT THE NATURE OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT WITH OUR WATER SYSTEM ELEVATES THE LEVEL OF IMPORTANCE, SKILL SET, CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, ET CETERA THAT ARE NEEDED. THEN WE GET TO OUR MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN. WHICH ARE HANDLING AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF COMPLEXITY WITH THE SYSTEMS THAT EXIST. HIGH LEVEL OF CERTIFICATIONS, HIGHER LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE NEEDED FOR THOSE POSITIONS. YOU WOULD THINK THAT BASED OFF OF THAT, THAT THE PAY WOULD GRADUALLY INCREASE AS THAT PROGRESSION OCCURS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT ALL OF THIS, BUT THIS GRAPHIC WAS PUT TOGETHER BY STAFF TO BASICALLY ILLUSTRATE HOW YOU GO FROM PARKS MAINTENANCE WORKER, YOU'RE WORKING AN EIGHT HOUR STANDARD DAY, THERE IS STANDARD EXPOSURE TO YOUR ENVIRONMENT, TECHNICAL, BASIC TECHNICAL SKILLS, AND YOU GRADUALLY START TO MOVE YOUR WAY TO THE RIGHT, WHERE NOW YOU'RE WORKING MORE HOURS PER DAY. NOW YOU'RE BEING EXPOSED TO HAZARDS THAT ARE MORE CHALLENGING, WORKING CONDITIONS THAT ARE MORE CHALLENGING. AND THE SKILL SET BEGINS TO REACH AN ADVANCED TO EXPERT LEVEL. THE PAY DOESN'T MATCH THAT. YOU'LL SEE AT THE VERY TOP, IT WORKS REALLY WELL FOR THOSE THREE POSITIONS, BUT THEN YOU GET TO UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER AND IT DROPS BACK DOWN. AND THEN PICKS BACK UP, FOR THE MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN AT THE PLANTS. SO, SPOILER ALERT, WE'RE WANTING TO BEEF UP THE UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER PAY SO THAT IT MORE NATURALLY AND ORGANICALLY CLOSE , FILLING THAT GAP BETWEEN 36 AND ALMOST 40. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? EXCELLENT. SO, PART OF WHAT'S DRIVING THIS IS OF COURSE, VACANCIES. WE SHARED A DIFFERENT ITERATION OF THIS WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE, AND THERE WAS SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT THE WORD TERM THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THAT. WE FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE THE TERMINATION NUMBER. THIS TERMINATION NUMBER IF WE WERE TO OVERLAY IT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ACTUALLY TRIPLES. AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. THAT SPEAKS TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER POSITION. THE REASON WHY THERE IS A LOT OF TURNOVER IN BOTH RESIGNATIONS AND WHY THERE IS A HIGH TERMINATION RATE IN THE DIVISION IS BECAUSE OF THE WORK SCHEDULE. IT'S DIFFICULT TO HAVE WORK-LIFE BALANCE WHEN YOU'RE ON CALL AND YOU GET CALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, CALLED ON THE WEEKEND, WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT INTENTIONALLY, IF I GO BACK TO THIS, WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT INTENTIONALLY GO FROM UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER TO STREET MAINTENANCE WORKER. MAKING LESS MONEY ONCE YOU ACCOUNT FOR OVERTIME. BECAUSE THEY PREFER A BETTER STABLE SCHEDULE THAN HAVING TO BE ON CALL. THE REASON WHY WE END UP TERMINATING A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS IS BECAUSE WE CALL PEOPLE IN AND THEY DON'T COME IN. THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY SOMEBODY GETS TERMINATED IN OUR UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER POSITION IS BECAUSE THEY BECOME NO-SHOWS. THEY'RE CALLED IN, AND THEY DON'T SHOW UP. AND IF WE CAN'T RELY ON THESE INDIVIDUALS TO COME IN AND ADDRESS SUCH CRITICAL INFRA STRUCTURE , OUR WATER SYSTEM, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO CUT IT FOR US. SO IT SPEAKS TO THE HIGH SKILL AND , THE RELIABILITY NEEDED FROM THIS POSITION. SO [02:00:10] LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OVERTIME ASPECT OF IT, IN COMPARISON SPECIFICALLY TO STREETS, IT'S LITERALLY THE CLOSEST THINGS WE HAVE TO COMPARE IT TO. THESE OVERTIME HOURS ARE SPECIFICALLY DRIVEN BY CALLOUTS. WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL WITH TRYING TO PULL OUT OVERTIME HOURS CAUSED BY LOW PERSONNEL. THIS GIVES YOU A SENSE OF HOW OFTEN THE UTILITIES DIVISION FOLKS ARE CALLED. AFTER HOURS. AND THE NUMBER OF OVERTIME HOURS. THE RIGHT CHART GIVES YOU A SENSE OF HOW LONG THEY'RE CALLED OUT WHEN THEY'RE CALLED OUT. YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK ABOUT INSTANCES WHERE THEY'RE WORKING ALL NIGHT. IT'S JUST A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT EXPECTATION THAT WE HAVE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS AND IT FLIES UNDER THE RADAR. SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IT'S A VERY UNIQUE EXPECTATION THAT WE HAVE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, AND IT DOES REQUIRE AN INDIVIDUAL THAT'S COMMITTED AND RELIABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT CAN BE HARD TO FIND. WE'RE HOPING BY MAKING A PAY ENHANCEMENT WE'RE ABLE TO ATTRACT A DIFFERENT TIER OF INDIVIDUAL AND BACKGROUND. BUT ALSO BE ABLE TO RETAIN MORE INDIVIDUALS, BECAUSE AS WE'VE MENTIONED, IT'S A CRITICAL PART OF OUR OPERATION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON TOP OF, BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO COMPLICATIONS IF WE DON'T. WHAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS CHANGING THE JOB TITLE FROM UTILITY MAINTENANCE WORKER TOOK UTILITY SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN. IF I WERE TO GO BACK, I JOKED WITH COUNCILMAN BUTLER AND THE COMMITTEE, BECAUSE IT OBVIOUSLY FLOWS REALLY NICELY TO CHANGE THE JOB TITLE TO INCLUDE THE WORD TECHNICIAN, BECAUSE CURRENTLY, IT'S SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO TECHNICIAN POSITIONS. SO, SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT SOONER, BUT, THIS EXERCISE WAS REALLY HELPFUL. TWO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDED TO CHANGE. WE'RE PROPOSING AND WANTING TO MAKE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1 CHANGING THE JOB TITLE TOOK UTILITY SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN, INCREASING THAT PAY, THE STARTING PAY FROM 34.8 TO 38 WHICH WOULD, I KEEP USING THE WORD SANDWICH NOW. >> HUNGRY? >> I THINK I AM. TUNA, PLEASE. BUT, WOULD SANDWICH THE PAY IN BETWEEN THE BUILDING TECH AND THE PLANT TECH. NATURALLY, WHEN WE ENHANCE PAY FOR OUR FRONT-LINE EMPLOYEES, THERE IS A COMPRESSION ISSUE THAT THAT BRINGS TO LIGHT, SO WE ARE ALSO SUGGESTING THAT WE BEEF UP THE PAY FOR CREDIT OPERATORS, UTILITIES DIVISION, AS WELL AS THE CREW LEADERS. IN ORDER TO AVOID THAT COMPRESSION THAT COULD BE CAUSED IF WE DIDN'T ADDRESS THOSE THINGS. AND AS MENTIONED, WE INCLUDE IT IN THE BUDGET, OVER $200,000 FOR ENHANCED PAY, AND THIS FALLS WITHIN THAT RANGE. NO BUDGET AMENDMENT NEEDED FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THESE POSITIONS. BEFORE I GET AWAY FROM THESE POSITIONS, HAPPY TO TURN IT OVER TO ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE FOR ANY INSIGHTS OR ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD SPECIFIC TO THE UTILITY MAINTENANCE COMPONENT. FOUR JUST ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE. >> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING AT THIS, AND GOING BACK AND FORTH, AND I THINK THIS IS NEEDED. VERY NEEDED. I THINK IT WILL SERVE THE PURPOSE THAT MR. GARZA JUST ALLUDED TO AS FAR AS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION. AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT GROUP THAT ARE LOOKING AT THIS POTENTIAL POSITION JUST BASED ON THE TITLE ALONE. THE TITLE CHANGE, PLUS THE PAY, PLUS ADJUSTING FOR THAT MOVE WITH ANY OTHER AREAS, I THINK IS REALLY ESSENTIAL. JUST KNOW THAT WE PUT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO IT. >> SURE. >> GREAT. MOVING ON TO DISPATCH. NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT THEY ARE A VERY CRITICAL PART OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE. THIS OF COURSE IS A 24 SEVEN OPERATION. AND WE'VE GOT SOME CHALLENGES, SOME CHALLENGES WITH VACANCIES, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. IT CAN BE A VERY STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT TO BE IN. AND LOOKING AT WHAT'S TO COME IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE FIND OURSELVES WITH A CHALLENGE. WE ALREADY HAVE TWO OPEN POSITIONS BUT WE DO EXPECT RETIREMENT AND TRANSITIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHICH WILL ONLY EXACERBATE THAT ISSUE. SO, WE WANT TO BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS WE CAN BE WITH PAY FOR THESE [02:05:01] POSITIONS, IN SEVERAL WAYS. ONE OF WHICH IS THE INITIAL HOURLY RATE, AND THEN A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS. BUT REALLY QUICK BEFORE I GET INTO THAT, WE'RE ALSO IN A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE, CURRENTLY. WHEN WE PROPOSE THE FISCAL YEAR 26 PAY PROGRAM, WE DIDN'T RECOMMEND CHANGING THE HOURLY RATES FOR DISPATCHERS. ALL WE DID THAT WENT INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST WAS ESTABLISH A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR THEM. BECAUSE SIMILAR TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEY CAN ALSO ATTAIN INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED, LICENSES. OR CERTIFICATIONS, SO WE INCORPORATED THAT. THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS MADE THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER WAS BASED OFF OF A COMPENSATION STUDY THAT WE HAD DONE 18 MONTHS AGO THAT WAS BASED OFF OF DATA FROM TWO YEARS AGO. SO, SINCE THEN THERE'S BEEN MAJOR CHANGES IN THE SURROUNDING MARKET, AS IT RELATES TO DISPATCH. AS AN EXAMPLE, OUR BIGGEST COMPETITOR FOR DISPATCH IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. IN THAT TWO YEAR TIME FRAME, THEY'VE INCREASED THEIR STARTING PAY FOR DISPATCHERS FROM ROUGHLY 19 TO 23. SO, OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT WENT INTO EFFECT DIDN'T ACCOUNT FOR THAT CHANGE. SO, WE NEED TO CATCH UP. AND I WOULD SUGGEST, NOT ONLY CATCH UP, BUT, IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY THE WAY THAT WE'RE COMPENSATING OUR DISPATCHERS IN A WAY THAT NOT ONLY MATCHES THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, BUT, ENHANCES AND HOPEFULLY RECRUITS OR HELPS US RECRUIT SOME DISPATCHERS. BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THE HOURLY ASPECT OF IT. AS I MENTIONED, I DIDN'T MENTIONED, BUT CURRENTLY ARE STARTING PAY IS ROUGHLY $19 AN HOUR. WHAT IS IT, WESLEY? OKAY. 1960, THANK YOU. CURRENTLY WE ONLY HAVE A POSITION FOR DISPATCHER AND WE HAVE A LEAD. SO, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR US, HISTORICALLY ON HOW WE ACCOUNT FOR TENURE, AND HOW WE PAY OUR EXPERIENCED DISPATCHERS. WE DON'T HAVE LEVELS. DISPATCHERS DON'T HAVE A STEP PLAN LIKE POLICE AND FIRE THAT CREATES SEPARATION BASED ON YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE. WE ARE IN ESSENCE RECOMMENDING THAT WE INCREASE STARTING PAY TO $23 AN HOUR TO MATCH WHERE THE COUNTY IS AT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, CREATE A STEP STRUCTURE FOR DISPATCHERS, THAT CREATES OFF OF YEARS OF SERVICE AND I'LL SHOW YOU A BETTER TABLE THAT SHOWS THAT HERE SHORTLY. IT ALSO CREATES A SENIOR DISPATCH POSITION SO THAT IT CREATES PROGRESSION. WE WERE VERY INTENTIONAL AND WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH INTERIM CHIEF ON THIS, VERY INTENTIONAL IN WHAT WE'RE REQUIRING. WE HAD A CERTIFICATION PROGRAM THAT WENT INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST THAT I MENTIONED, WE WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL WITH, IN ADDITION TO HAVING THE INCENTIVE TO RECEIVE THESE , IN ADDITION TO HAVING THAT INCENTIVE BEING THE ANNUAL CERTIFICATION, YOU NEED THAT INCREASED CERTIFICATION TO PROMOTE TO SENIOR DISPATCHER, AND AN ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION TO PROMOTE TO LEAVE DISPATCHER. WE'RE CREATING LEVELS THAT MAKE MORE SENSE. AND MAKE IT MORE CONSISTENT WITH THE WAY THAT WE'RE APPROACHING HEATING AND FIRE BECAUSE OUR DISPATCHERS TRULY ARE FIRST RESPONDERS. SIMILAR TO THE POLICE AND FIRE STEPS WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THERE IS AN EMBEDDED 3% STEP INCREASE FOR DISPATCHER AND FOR SENIOR DISPATCHER. AGAIN. THE SAME AS IS THE CASE FOR PDM FIRE, AND ONCE YOU BECOME A LEAD DISPATCHER THAT DECREASES TO 2% BETWEEN STEPS WHICH IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT WE DID FOR COMMAND STAFF FOR POLICE AND FIRE THIS YEAR. SO, THIS GIVES YOU A SENSE OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ONCE WE LAY IT OUT IN THE EXACT SAME FORMAT THAT WE RELEASE THE STEP STRUCTURE FOR POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL. AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU'LL COME IN AS A TRAINEE, AND IT USUALLY TAKES A YEAR TO GET FULLY TRAINED. AND THEN YOU START AT THAT RATE, AND AS YOU PROGRESS IN YOUR YEARS AND POSITION, YOU GET THAT PABON. AND THE MOMENT THAT YOU QUALIFY TO BECOME A SENIOR TCO, THAT'S BASED OFF OF YEARS OF SERVICE AND CERTIFICATION, YOU [02:10:01] CAN MAKE THAT JUMP AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. OUR HOPE IS THAT , BY HAVING A STRUCTURED STEP, WE BECOME A DESIRABLE PLACE TO WORK, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR COMPETITORS IN THE REGION DO NOT OFFER A STEP STRUCTURE FOR DISPATCHERS, OR CERTIFICATION PAY. IN ADDITION, WE ARE GOING TO ALSO SOON LAUNCH A SIGN ON BONUS EFFORT, FOR DISPATCHERS, IN AN EFFORT TO TRY AND RECRUIT EXPERIENCED DISPATCHERS TO OUR DEPARTMENT. SIMILAR TO WHAT WE RECENTLY LAUNCHED FOR A SIGN-ON BONUS FOR EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS, SAME THING FOR DISPATCHERS. WE ARE JUST REITERATING TRAINING BUT DISPATCHERS AS WE ASK FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THE SIGN-ON BONUS MECHANISM AS WELL AS THE STEP STRUCTURE. ALL IN ALL, WE ARE RECOMMENDING MAKING THAT ADJUSTMENT GENERATE FIRST AS I ALLUDED TO. THE ANNUAL COST OF THIS HOVERS AROUND $200,000. A LITTLE OVER THAT. BECAUSE THIS WOULD GO TO JANUARY 1ST, WE DON'T NEED 100% OF THOSE FUNDS IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT IT. UNLIKE THE UTILITIES DIVISION, WE DID NOT INCLUDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO BUDGET TO AND FUND THIS ENHANCEMENT, SO WE WILL BE BRINGING FORWARD A BUDGET AMENDMENT IN JANUARY, TO ACCOUNT FOR THAT $160,000 TO MAKE THIS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1. AND IN ADDITION, THAT'S GREAT FOR THOSE GROUPS, WHAT GROUP IS NEXT? WE'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR WITH THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE, THAT AFTER COMPLETING THESE TWO ENHANCEMENTS JANUARY 1ST, OUR FOCUS SHIFTS. THE FISCAL YEAR 27. IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY BUSY SPRING WITH CIVIL SERVICE, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, WE WON'T EVEN HAVE THE CAPACITY TO TAKE DEEP DIVES INTO ANY PARTICULAR SUBGROUP IN OUR ORGANIZATION, ALL OF OUR EFFORTS WITH THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND AFTER THE HOLIDAYS WILL TRANSITION TO SOLELY FOCUSING ON THINGS THAT WOULD GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER 1ST. WITH THAT, I'LL GLADLY TURN IT OVER TO ANY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING RELATED TO THIS. >> I LIKE THIS WITH THE DISPATCHERS, IT'S CREATIVE. IT PUTS THEM IN LINE WITH OUR OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY. I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS PART OF THE SAME ORGANIZATION, AND I KNOW THAT IT IS, TO GIVE THIS ADDITIONAL CREDIT, I LIKE THAT, I APPRECIATE IT. >> GREAT. >> ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? >> IT'S AN EXTENSION OF OUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY. AS A REMINDER, THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WHEN OUR COMMUNITY CALLS IN AN EMERGENCY, WE WANT THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE, WE WANT TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST. THAT IS A REFLECTION OF NOT JUST FIRST RESPONDERS, BUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE. >> I CERTAINLY WISH THE BEST TO THOSE THAT ARE ABOUT TO RETIRE EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO MISS THEM. >> HOPEFULLY WE CAN CONVINCE THEM NOT TO. WORKING ON THAT. >> THIS HELPS BE AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE. >> AGREED. >> AND THANKS TO THE COMMITTEE, I KNOW THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS, AND I THINK BOTH OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS MAKE A LOT OF SENSE BASED ON WHERE THE HOLES IN THE ORGANIZATION ARE, THANK YOU FOR IDENTIFYING THAT, AND FIGURING OUT A WAY TO ADDRESS THAT. AT WORK. >> IT WAS A JOINT EFFORT, MR. GARZA, AND MR. GILBERT, OVER THERE. REALLY GAVE US A LOT OF VALUABLE INFORMATION TO PROCESS, AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK FOR. IT WAS A COLLECTIVE UNIT. >> AND WESLEY BEHIND-THE-SCENES. IF I DON'T CALL HIM OUT HE'LL BENCHPRESS ME OUTSIDE. OKAY, GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. [H. Executive Sessions:] >> ALL RIGHT, ANY OTHER REPORTS , MR. GARZA? >> NO, SIR, WE DO HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION. >> WE DO HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION. LET'S TAKE A 10 MINUTE BREAK AND WE WILL RECONVENE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:25. >> THE CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION ON * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.