[A. CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:08]
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. WELCOME TO OUR FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR. OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 6TH.
>> IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE RISE AND 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.
HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
>> THANK YOU. PLEASE BE SEATED. ALL RIGHT, AGAIN, WELCOME,
[1. Announcements/Reminders:]
EVERYONE. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL. WE WILL JUMP RIGHT INTO OUR TASKS FOR THE EVENING AND WE'LL START WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS. MR. GARZA, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR US THIS EVENING?>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I HAVE A COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING.
FIRST, WE WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT ALL NONEMERGENCY CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON MONDAY, JANUARY 19TH, IN OBSERVANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY.
OFFICES REOPEN AT 8:00 A.M. ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 20TH.
ON BEHALF OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, VICTORIA RESIDENTS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE THE STATE'S TOP AMATEUR ATHLETES COMPETE DURING THE FIRST WEEKEND OF THE 2026 TEXAS AMATEUR ATHLETIC FEDERATION GAMES OF TEXAS. THIS WILL TAKE PLACE AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND THE CITY ON JANUARY 17TH AND 18TH. THE SECOND WEEKEND OF THE WINTER GAMES WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 14TH AND 15TH AND WILL INCLUDE E- SPORTS, ADAPTIVE BASKETBALL, FLAG FOOTBALL, SOFTBALL AND TENNIS. REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR ATHLETES TO COMPETE DURING BOTH WEEKENDS AND RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE.
INFORMATION ABOUT INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS INCLUDING REGISTRATION INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT VICTORIATX.GOV/TOURNAMENTS.
THE CITY IS SEEKING FOR VOLUNTEERS TO HELP DURING BOTH WEEKENDS. FOOD WILL BE PROVIDED AND EVERY VOLUNTEER WILL RECEIVE A FREE T-SHIRT. CAN'T SAY NO TO A FREE T-SHIRT.
TO SIGN UP, CONTACT PARKS AND RECREATION OR THEY CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL AT PARKS@VICTORIATX.GOV.
AND FINALLY WE WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT THE DEADLINE TO RSVP FOR THE FOURTH ANNUAL VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT IS THIS FRIDAY, JANUARY 9TH, ANYONE WHO VOLUNTEERED WITH KBB THROUGHOUT 2025 CAN RSVP. AND THOSE ARE ALL
[2. Public & Employee Recognitions:]
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS I HAVE FOR THIS EVENING, MAYOR.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL MOVE ON THEN TO PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS. I KNOW WE HAVE ONE THAT WE MAY NEED TO PUSH FOR A MOMENT, MR. GARZA, DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS?
>> I DO HAVE SEVERAL EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS.
SEVERAL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT HERE AND SO I WILL BEGIN WITH THE INDIVIDUAL THAT I KNOW FOR SURE IS HERE. AND THAT IS HAYLEY PALMIERI.
SHE IS WITH OUR 911 DISPATCH CENTER.
IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STANDING, SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE YOU. BUT, HAYLEY GRADUATED FROM OUR TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR TRAINING PROGRAM ON DECEMBER 17TH. AND WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE SECOND PLATOON AT THE 911 CENTER. THIS TRAINING PROGRAM CAN TAKE SOME EMPLOYEES UP TO 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
BUT HAYLEY COMPLETED HERS IN NINE MONTHS.
AND SO WE'RE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF HAYLEY FOR HER HARD WORK AND DEDICATION AND AS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING IN RECENT MEETINGS, OUR TELECOMMUNICATION OPERATORS, OUR DISPATCHERS ARE FIRST RESPONDERS AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR HER SERVICE. HAYLEY, CONGRATULATIONS, WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD.
APPLAUSE ] IN ADDITION, FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR TRAINING BATTALION CHIEF DANA WOODWARD RECENTLY COMPLETED THE FIRE SERVICE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM IS DELIVERED BY PROFESSORS FROM THE TEXAS A&M MAYS BUSINESS SCHOOL, FOR ADVANCED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO SHARPEN LEADERSHIP SKILLS WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE. I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S HERE, RIGHT? LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE ANYWAY.
DEPARTMENT, THEY RECENTLY CONDUCTED SEVERAL PROMOTIONS AND SO WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE ANGELA STAFFORD, BRANT DUNAVAN TO THE RANK OF FIRE ENGINEER AND TYLER
[00:05:04]
VAKUA TO FIRE LIEUTENANT, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM ALL.I THINK WE HAVE ONE ON THE AGENDA, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT RUSS IS HERE YET. WE'LL CIRCLE BACK TO IT WHEN WE NEED
TO. >> I ACTUALLY FORGOT ONE THAT WAS KIND OF IMPROMPTU AND IN MY NOTES, BUT I CAN'T READ APPARENTLY, BUT I WANTED TO ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL OF THE PERSONNEL THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH OUR NEW YEAR'S EVE BLASTOFF EVENT. JOEL WITH OUR CVB WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT EVENT. KUDOS TO HIM AND HIS STAFF.
I HAD A CHANCE TO GO WITH MY SON AND IT WAS AN AMAZING EVENT. YOU MAY RECALL THAT WE HELD THE FIRST ONE JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND SO IT SLOWLY BUT SURELY IS BECOMING AN EXPECTATION NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS EVENT ON NEW EVE, AND SO JUST KUDOS TO ALL THE STAFF INVOLVED.
IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT AND SO WE CAN JUST GIVE EVERYBODY INVOLVED A ROUND OF APPLAUSE, THAT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT.
>> DID THAT GIVE RUSS TIME TO SHOW UP?
>> WE WILL HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON
ON -- >> I DIDN'T SEE YOU GO LIKE THIS. TAKE YOUR
WE'LL HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON ON RECOGNITIONS AND WE WILL JUMP INTO ITEMS FROM COUNCIL, ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THIS
[4. Citizen Communication:]
EVENING? SEEING NONE, THEN, OKAY.LET'S GO ON TO CITIZENS COMMUNICATION THEN.
>> GOOD EVENING. GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.
I'M MICHAEL VONDERA, 2107 NORTH BEND, JORDAN.
I STILL THINK THE COMMISSIONERS SHOULD PAY FOR THAT ROOF AND THEY'RE PROBABLY SPENDING ALL THAT MONEY ON THE HOSPITAL, SO I DO HAVE A SUGGESTION THEY COULD WORK IT OFF THROUGH SWEAT EQUITY. WE COULD GIVE THEM, LIKE, FIVE RAIN KING UNIFORMS AND THEY COULD GET ON THE ROOF AND HAVE A ROOFER SUPERVISE THEM AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THEM EARN THEIR MONEY, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY MAKE ABOUT 20 TIMES MORE THAN THE PEOPLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL. AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LAW PASSED, YOU KNOW, WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEGALLY RIDE A BICYCLE ON A SIDEWALK, YOU KNOW, AND THE PERSON THAT GOT KILLED RECENTLY, HE WAS FOLLOWING ALL THE LAWS BY RIDING IT ON THE ROAD LIKE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO, BUT IF HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ILLEGALLY RIDING HIS BICYCLE LIKE I DO ON THE SIDEWALK, HE PROBABLY WOULD STILL BE ALIVE.
I WISH SOMEONE COULD PUT STENCILS ON THE SIDEWALK WITH SOME PAINT AND SAY, YOU KNOW, BICYCLE ON THE SIDEWALK IS ENCOURAGED AND HAVE A LAW TO MAKE IT LEGAL, YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN GET OFF THE SIDEWALK, RIDING BIKES, YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS PEDESTRIANS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, AND IT IS JUST TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE GETTING KILLED ON BICYCLES AND VICTORIA AND WE DON'T REALLY NEED ANY MORE SURVEYS AND STUFF. WE ALREADY KNOW IT'S DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW. AND I WISH SOMEONE COULD DO SOMETHING AND I WISH THAT THE CITY COUNCIL COULD PUT IT ON THE AGENDA AND MAKE A MOTION TO VOTE ON IT TO WHERE IT IS LEGAL TO RIDE ON A SIDEWALK, YOU KNOW? MOST PEOPLE DO RIDE ON THE SIDEWALK, BUT LEGALLY A POLICE OFFICER CAN GIVE YOU A TICKET FOR RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT LAW IS NECESSARY.
AND I DO APPRECIATE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR NOT ENFORCING IT, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO RIDE A BIKE, YOUR CAR IS GETTING FIXED OR SOMETHING AND YOU JUST NEED A SAFE PLACE AND THAT PLACE WHERE HE WAS KILLED IS NOT A SAFE PLACE TO BE RIDING, YOU KNOW, ON THE ROAD, IT WAS ON 2700 SOUTH LORENT AND THEY HAVE TO SOLVE IT IN TWO OR THREE YEARS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON MANSLAUGHTER AND STUFF, YOU KNOW.
SO I DO HOPE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN SOLVE IT AND THEY FIND OUT WHO DID IT.
I HEARD IT WAS A FLATBED TOW TRUCK THAT HIT IT AND IT WAS REAL FOGGY THAT DAY AND THEY GOT A VIDEO, BUT IT IS NOT THAT GOOD. ANYWAY, HAPPY NEW YEAR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. VONDERA. THE NEXT CARD I HAVE IN IS FROM JENNIE STAFFORD.
>> GOOD EVENING, MISS STAFFORD. WELCOME.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF YOUR TIME. JENNIE STAFFORD WITH FAMILY SERVICES. NOT THE CEO ANYMORE.
I'M THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT -- FORGOT WHAT I NAMED MYSELF, COORDINATOR. I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT HOMELESS SERVICES. THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
[00:10:03]
HOUSING AND BEFORE I FINISH THIS, I HAVE MORE THAN THREE MINUTES WORTH OF WORDS TO SAY. I HANDED YOU A HANDOUT SO YOU HAVE SOME BULLET POINTS YOU COULD LOOK AT LATER.THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT HAS RECENTLY RELEASED A NOTICENOTICE OPPORTUNITY THAT WILL REALIGN HOW HOMELESS SERVICES ARE DELIVERED NATIONWIDE.
CHANGE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL NATURALLY RAISES CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY INCLUDING HERE. WE CURRENTLY OPERATE TWO HUD FUNDED HOUSING PROGRAMS, THE FIRST WE CALL NEXT STEP IS A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM WITH 56 RENTAL UNITS FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS. THE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS MEANS THEY HAD LONG PERIODS OF BEING UNHOUSED ALONG WITH THE DISABILITY THAT PREVENTS THEM FROM BEING EMPLOYED AND THEREFORE HOUSED.
AND OUR SECOND PROGRAM WE CALL PATHWAYS IS A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROJECT TO SERVE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL STALKING WHO HAVE BECOME HOMELESS BECAUSE OF THEIR DIRECT RESULT OF THEIR VICTIMIZATION.
TOGETHER THESE PROJECTS OPERATE ON AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF ABOUT $1. 3 MILLION, WHICH REQUIRES US A MATCH OF $133,280 EVERY SINGLE YEAR. WE MAKE THAT MATCH THROUGH UNITED WAY, THROUGH OUR THRIFT STORES AND THROUGH OUR ANNUAL FUND-RAISER. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COST PER HOUSEHOLD, WE PROVIDE HOUSING AND SERVICES FOR ABOUT $20,000 PER HOUSEHOLD PER YEAR. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD BARGAIN. IT COVERS RENT, UTILITIES, INSURANCE, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND WE FILL IN THE GAPS WHEN THERE IS MEDICAL NEEDS OR FOOD COSTS THAT AREN'T BEING MET.
WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S A BARGAIN COMPARED TO HOSPITAL STAYS, REPEATED EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, INCARCERATION OR OTHER INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE A MEMBER OF THE TEXAS HOMELESS NETWORK AND SUBMIT QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE SCORE CARDS TO MEASURE OUR OUTCOMES.
WE ARE ALSO MONITORED BY HUD SAN ANTONIO FIELD OFFICE THROUGH REGULAR AUDITS AND I GOT TO DO TELL YOU, THOSE ARE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST TOUGHEST AUDITS I'VE BEEN THROUGH. I'M HAPPY TO REPORT WE HAVE NOT HAD A FINDING IN DECADES. ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER ARE USED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT WE GET FUNDED YEAR AFTER YEAR. HOWEVER, UNDER THE PENDING HUD NOFO, BOTH PROGRAMS WILL BE TERMINATED.
AS WILL MOST PERMANENT HOUSING PROJECTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IN MY 26 YEARS OF WORKING IN NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP, I'VE LEARNED THAT WE GOT TO BE FLEXIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE. WE'RE PREPARED TO DO THAT BUT WE'RE VERY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND.
I BELIEVE WITH MY WHOLE HEART A STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE BY HUBERT HUMPHREY BACK IN THE 1970S, THE MORAL TEST OF GOVERNMENT IS HOWHOW TREATS THOSE WHO ARE IN THE DAWN OF LIFE, THE CHILDREN, THOSE IN THE TWILIGHT OF LIFE, OUR ELDERLY, AND THOSE WHO ARE IN THE SHADOWS OF LIFE, THE SICK, THE NEEDY AND THE HANDICAPPED.
STABLE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO CANNOT CARE FOR THEMSELVES IS NOT THE PROBLEM, BUT IS RATHER THE SOLUTION.
THANK YOU AND I APOLOGIZE FOR GOING OVER ON MY TIME.
>> NO, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
>> I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. THERE IS A POSTER REISSUE ON I THINK ON THURSDAY AND WE'LL KNOW FOR SURE THEN WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO LOSE OUR PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.
>> PLEASE KEEP US INFORMED. YES, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. THE FINAL CARD I HAVE THEN IS RICHARD DEOSIS. DID I GET THAT RIGHT?
SIR. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, I APOLOGIZE, I'LL -- I WANT TO SAY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND FORGIVE ME IF I DON'T STAY FOR OUR ENTIRE MEETING.
IT IS MY BETTER HALF'S BIRTHDAY AND IF I DON'T MAKE OUR DINNER RESERVATION, I'LL BE THE NEXT OBITUARY YOU READ IN "THE ADVOCATE. " IF YOU'RE WATCHING, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEY, I LOVE YOU.
BUT I FELT THE NEED TO BRING UP SOMETHING I HEARD IN THE LAST MEETING, AND IT SPOKE TO ME AND I NEEDED TO ADDRESS IT.
IT REGARDS THIS NEW PUSH ON ATTEMPTING TO ALTER OR GET RID OF BOOKS IN OUR PUBLIC LIBRARY. IT STRUCK TO ME SOMETHING THAT I REALLY FELT THAT I NEEDED TO ADDRESS AND SO I JOTTED DOWN SOME NOTESNOTES ON MY PHONE.
IF I'M LOOKING DOWN, THAT'S WHAT I'M READING.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I COME BEFORE YOU BECAUSE I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT BANNING BOOKS IS HARMFUL TO OUR COMMUNITY.
OUR STUDENTS AND THE DEMOCRATIC VALUES WE SAY FOR WHICH WE STAND. BOOK BANS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT REMOVING PAGES FROM SHELVES.
THEY'RE ABOUT LIMITING VOICES, IDEAS AND PERSPECTIVES.
HISTORY HAS SHOWN US THAT WHEN SOCIETY BEGINS RESTRICTING ACCESS TO INFORMATION, IT IS NOT PROTECTING ITS PEOPLE, IT IS WEAKENING THEM.
A STRONG COMMUNITY IS BUILT ON OPEN DISCUSSION, CRITICAL THINKING, AND THE FREEDOM TO LEARN NOT ON FEAR AND
[00:15:01]
CENSORSHIP. OUR LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS SERVE PEOPLE OF EVERY BACKGROUND, NO ONE SINGLE GROUP SHOULD DECIDE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO READ. PARENTS ALREADY HAVE THE RIGHT TO GUIDE WHAT THEIR OWN CHILDREN READ, AS WE RECENTLY REAFFIRMED IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION, BUT BANNING BOOKS TAKES AWAY THE RIGHT OF ALL PARENTS AND ALL FAMILIES.IT ASSUMES ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE CANNOT HANDLE DIFFICULT TOPICS WHEN IN FACT READING ABOUT THOSE TOPICS IS OFTEN HOW WE LEARN, GROW, AND EMPATHIZE.
BOOKS GIVE STUDENTS A CHANCE TO SEE THEMSELVES PRESENTED AND TO UNDERSTAND PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEM, REMOVING THESE STORIES TELLS SOME KIDS THEIR LIVES DON'T BELONG ON A SHELF. IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT CERTAIN IDENTITIES, HISTORIES, OR EXPERIENCES ARE EITHER INAPPROPRIATE OR UNWORTHY OF UNDERSTANDING. THAT IS NOT A MESSAGE A HEALTHY COMMUNITY SHOULD SEND. IF WE TRULY WANT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE INFORMED, THOUGHTFUL CITIZENS, AS WE ALL SHOULD HOPE, WE MUST TRUST THEM WITH KNOWLEDGE, NOT SHIELD THEM FROM IT.
EDUCATION IS NOT ABOUT AVOIDING CHALLENGING IDEAS.
IT IS ABOUT EQUIPPING PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE THEM RESPONSIBLY.
SO I URGE THIS COUNCIL TO REJECT ANY ATTEMPT TO BAN BOOKS IN OUR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
INSTEAD, LET US FOCUS ON SUPPORTING PARENTS, STRENGTHENING LITERACY, GIVING OUR COMMUNITIES THE FULL RANGE OF TOOLS THAT IT NEEDS TO LEARN AND TO THRIVE. AFTER ALL, FREEDOM OF THOUGHT IS A CORE AMERICAN PRINCIPLE. PROTECTING THE ACCESS TO BOOKS PROTECTS THAT FREEDOM. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MRS. DEOSIS.
ALL RIGHT. THAT IS ALL THAT I HAD FOR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. WE WILL MOVE BACK UP INTO PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS AND I THINK WE DO HAVE AN OUTGOING BOARD OF COMMISSION MEMBER RECOGNITION THIS EVENING.
>> YES, SIR. COUNCIL AND STAFF WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE RUSSELL DEMPSEY. HE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM 2020 TO 2025. THE CITY DOES APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY, SIR AND PRESENTS YOU WITH THIS PLAQUE IN APPRECIATION OF YOUR TIME AND SERVICE.
>> WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE? NO PRESSURE.
>> SORRY. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING PREPARED.
>> YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> OKAY.
KEEP IT UNDER. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR ENTRUSTING ME WITH THIS POSITION ON THE SALES TAX DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
I THINK IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS.
JUST LOOKING THROUGH THE PROJECTS, AS I PASS THROUGH THEM EVERY DAY, REALLY GIVES ME A LOT OF PRIDE. WHEN I WAS NEW TO TOWN ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, I WAS REALLY IMPRESSED. IT WAS SO FUNNY, I WOULD -- PEOPLE WERE, LIKE, THERE IS NOTHING TO DO HERE AT TIMES WOULD BE THE ACCUSATION. I WAS, LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? THIS CITY HAS ONE OF EVERYTHING AT LEAST AND IT HAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE BONES WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE INFRASTRUCTURE HERE FROM PORTS TO RAILS TO MAJOR HIGHWAYS, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AND OCCUR IN MANY PLACES. AND SO I'VE BEEN THRILLED TO TAKE PART OF THE PLANNING OF THAT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANS.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, REALLY ENJOYED GETTING TO KNOW ALL YOU GUYS AND I JUST HOPE THAT IT HAS BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A LOT OF IMPACT ON MY NEW COMMUNITY.
SO, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> NOW, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME ON THE SALES TAX BOARD. YOU DID A GREAT JOB AND WE WILL MISS YOU. SO THANK YOU, WE APPRECIATE IT.
[1. An ordinance amending Chapter 21, The Unified Development Ordinance, o...]
ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, THEN, WE WILL MOVE INTO SECTION C, ITEMS WITH PUBLIC HEARINGS AND BEGIN WITH ITEM C-1.>> AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 21, THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT OORPS OF THE CITY OF VICTORIA CODE OF ORDINANCES. AND FIRST
READING. >> GOOD EVENING, MISS
FULGHAM. >> I APOLOGIZE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIT DRY. MOST ORDINANCES ARE. THE MAJORITY OF THE ORDINANCES AND AMENDMENTS IS A LOT OF CLEANUP, A LOT OF CLARIFYING LANGUAGE. BUT I DO HAVE A SHORT 24- SLIDE PRESENTATION TO GO THROUGH.
SO, JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY, THE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN POSTED SINCE EARLY DECEMBER ON OUR WEBSITE. AND OUR ENTIRE UDO CAN BE ACCESSED THERE, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE TIME TO GO READ THROUGH THOSE LATER. SO I'LL JUST RIGHT INTOINTO
[00:20:03]
MODIFICATIONS AND GO THROUGH ONE BY ONE.THE FIRST IS IN OUR NONCONFORMING SECTION.
SO WE DID WHAT THE UDO CREATED A SITE MODIFICATION PERMIT WHICH ALLOWS A PROPERTY TO DO A LESSER SITE PLAN WHENEVER THEY'RE ONLY PROPOSING 30% OR LESS CHANGES TO THE SITE.
BUT, OF COURSE, ALWAYS HAVE FOLKS THAT WANT TO PUSH THE LIMITS AND SO WE HAD SOME FOLKS TRY TO DO 30%, BIG AMENDMENT, AND THEN COME IN JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER AND REQUEST ANOTHER 30%, WHICH THEN OF COURSE AMOUNTS TO 60% CHANGES TO THE OVERALL SITE, WHICH IS NOT THE INTENT OF THE SITE MODIFICATION PERMIT.
IT IS TO DO THESE SMALLER MODIFICATIONS WITH EASING THE BURDEN BECAUSE OF THE SCALE, SO WHEN YOU'RE DOING A LARGE SCALE RENOVATION OR CHANGE, THEN IT NEEDS TO BE A FULL SITE PLAN.
SO WE LIMITED IT TO ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.
THE SECOND PART OF THE SECTION IS A VARIATION I'M ALLOWED TO GRANT AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE ORDINANCE WE HAVE ALWAYS LIMITED THAT TO 15 -- 10%, BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, IN THE NONCONFORMING SECTION IT WAS WRITTEN AS 15%.
AND THAT'S JUST KIND OF A CONFLICT, SO WE'RE REDUCING THAT DOWN TO 10%. KIND OF ALONG THE SAME VAIN, BILLBOARDS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE'RE CONTINUALLY SEEING APPLICANTS TRY AND KIND OF PUSH THE LIMITS AND THE INTENT OF THE LIMIT AND THE INTENT OF NONCONFORMING BILLBOARDS IS ESSENTIALLY NONCONFORMING BILLBOARDS BE REMOVED AND GO AWAY.
ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF THE DIGITAL BILLBOARDS.
THE COST TO REVAMP THEM BASICALLY MEANS NEW BILLBOARDS ARE BEING ERECT AND SO THEN YOU HAVE A WHOLE NEW LIFE SPAN OF A BILLBOARD. AND SO WE HAD SOME APPLICANTS TRYING TO FAZE OUT BILLBOARD REPLACEMENTS OR REPAIRS THAT WERE NOT FAZES BECAUSE THEY WERE CONDITIONAL ON EACH OTHER. PHASE ONE WASN'T COMPLETE UNTIL PHASE TWO IS COMPLETED. THEY SHOULD BE INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER. SO WE'RE ADDING IN A FIVE- YEAR PERIOD WHERE ALL ALTERATIONS OVER A FIVE- YEAR PERIOD THAT EXCEED 50% OF THE CURRENT VALUE MEANS FOR THE BILLBOARD SHALL BE REMOVED AT THE END OF ITS USEFUL LIFE.
WHAT PROMPTED ALL OF THIS CLEANUP AND ALL OF THESE ORDINANCE CHANGES IS THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW ICC CODES. CURRENTLY WE'RE ON THE 2021 VERSION. SO WE WILL BE ADOPTING THE 2024 VERSION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE, THE INTERNATIONAL MECHANICAL CODE, THE PLUMBING CODE, FUEL GAS CODE, ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE, AND I DID NOT INCLUDE EVERY SINGLE RED LINE IN THIS DIVISION BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY HIGHLY TECHNICAL AND I COULDN'T EXPLAIN THEM, BUT IF ANYBODY DID READ THROUGH AND HAS ANY QUESTIONS, WE DO HAVE OUR NEWLY MINTED BUILDING OFFICIAL ELI HERE AND HE'LL BE HAPPY TO DELVE INTO ANY OF THOSE CHARTS CHARTS THAT TECHNICAL LANGUAGE. AND IF YOU ARE WONDERING, IF YOU FEEL LIKE THERE IS SOME MISSING ON THESE DIVISIONS, THERE ARE, WE ARE NOT MAKING CHANGES OR ADOPTING THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE OR EXISTING BUILDING CODE OR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.
THAT WILL BE COMING AT A LATER DATE, BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY THERE IS A LOT OF CHANGES TO THE INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE THAT WE WANT OUR BUILD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS TO GET A GOOD HANDLE ON BEFORE WE PROPOSE ANY AMENDMENTS TO YOU.
AND THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS DID HOLD AT LEAST TWOTWO FOR EACH OF THESE BOOKS.
EACH OF THESE CODES. AND THEN HELD A MEETING WHERE THEY RECOMMENDED, YOU KNOW, TO ADOPT ALL THE CHANGES THAT ARE IN THIS DIVISION. THE NEXT IS A SMALL CHANGE TO OUR LAND USE TABLE REGARDING IN HOME CHILD CARE. SO THE STATE HAS MADE TWEAKS TO THEIR IN HOME CHILD CARE LICENSE RULES.
AND SO BECAUSE OF THEIR PERMIT CHANGES, WE ARE EXPLICITLY STATING THAT CHILD -- IN HOME CHILD CARE CENTERS SHOULD COMPLY WITH IN HOME BUSINESS REGULATIONS WHICH HAVE A LIMITATIONS THAT YOU CAN'T USE ACCESSORY STRUCTURES, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE ONE SMALL SIGN. YOU NEED TO KEEP A HOME BUSINESS WHERE THE PRIMARY USE IS THE HOME AND IT LOOKS LIKE A HOME AND SO WE ARE ADDING THAT CAVEAT THAT CHILD CARE FACILITIES MUST COMPLY WITHIN THE IN HOME BUSINESS S AS WELL.
SO, THIS IS STRAIGHT CLEANUP. IF YOU REMEMBER WE HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY CODE.
AND ONE OF THOSE IS AN ENTIRE CHAPTER ON MANUFACTURED HOMES THAT WE ROLLED IN TO CHAPTER 21,
[00:25:04]
THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE, BUT DID NOT CLEAN UP THE REFERENCES. AND SO CHAPTER 12 NO LONGER EXISTS. IT IS NOW DIVISION 17.IF YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING STATE LAW CHANGES, THERE WAS SOME STATE LAW CHANGES REGARDING FOOD TRUCK INSPECTIONS AND SO THE NEXT SECTION JUST REALLY MAKES US COMPLY WITH STATE LAW AND AS FAR AS THE HEALTH INSPECTION AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PERMITS THAT ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED. THE LAST ONE, 14, SHOULD BE VERY SELF- EXPLANATORY OF INTENT, BUT WE ALWAYS GET A LOT OF PUSHBACK.
IT DOES SAY THAT FOOD TRUCK SITES SHALL ONLY OPERATE ON CONCRETE AND ASPHALT AND IT REQUIRES DRIVEWAYS BE PAVED, BUT THE PORTION OF LAND BETWEEN THE RIGHT OF WAY AND THE FOOD TRUCK, WE'RE ALSO SAYING INGRESS AND EGRESS, THAT PORTION, WE WOULD CALL A DRIVE AISLE OR FULL DRIVEWAY, THAT SHOULD ALSO BE PAVED. THIS IS TO MAKE ORIGINAL TOWN SITE HISTORIC EASIER, SO WE HAVE A PLANNED SHOPPING CENTER REGULATION THAT ALLOWS US TO RECOMMEND A PLANNING COMMISSION OF REDUCED SETBACK OR OTHER BULK STANDARDS TO FIT WITHIN A SPECIFIC TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT. AND SO WE'RE BASICALLY JUST COPIED THAT LANGUAGE OVER FOR THE ORIGINAL TOWN SITE HISTORIC DISTRICT KNOWING THERE ARE DIFFERENT BLOCKS THAT NEED DIFFERENT TREATMENTS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE VERY DENSE AREA THAT IS OUR FIRE DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, NO SETBACKS REALLY MAKE SENSE. BUT WHEN YOU EXTEND OUT TO THE EDGES OF THE ORIGINAL TOWN SIDE DISTRICT THAT ARE MORE RESIDENTIAL AND YOU HAVE AN ESTABLISHED BUILDING LINE OF 20 FEET OR SO, THAT SETBACK WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE IN THAT AREA AND SO THIS ALLOWS STAFF TO MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION DIRECTLY TO PLANNING COMMISSION OF WHAT THOSE SETBACKS SHOULD BE BASED OFF THE CHARACTER OF THE AREA WITHIN THE ORIGINAL TOWN SITE WITHOUT HAVING TO HAVE ONE ESTABLISHED 20- FOOT SETBACK, WHAT CURRENTLY IT IS FOR THE MOST PART AND VARIANCES. WE CAN REDUCE THOSE BASED OFF CHARACTER, WITH PLANNING COMMISSION APPROVAL.
SO THIS NEXT SECTION REALLY SAVED US AFTER HURRICANE HARVEY WHEN ALL THE FUEL CANOPY PUMPS, ALL THE FUEL CANOPIES FELL DOWN.
WE WERE ABLE TO JUST ISSUE PERMITS, TO STAND THEM BACK UP.
WE HAVE THIS REDUCTION WHERE THEY CAN BE LOCATED WITHIN 12 FEET OF THE PROPERTY LINE. THERE IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST THE CANOPIES THAT COME UP. A LOT OF ORDER BOARDS AND PAY STATIONS, SO WE EXPANDED THAT LANGUAGE TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT WE MEAN ALL OF THOSE INCIDENTAL SORT OF STRUCTURES.
SO WE ALSO HAVE CREATED THE ESTABLISHED BUILDING LINE FOR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHICH BASICALLY IN AREAS THAT DIDN'T HAVE SETBACKS ESTABLISHED -- HAVE AN ESTABLISHED BUILDING LINE, YOU CANNOT BUILD A NEW STRUCTURE THAT DEVIATES GREATLY FROM THAT ESTABLISHED BUILDING LINE.
SO, THIS IS JUST CLARIFYING THAT LANGUAGE SO THAT OUR PERMIT TECHS STRUGGLED A LOT WITH THE LANGUAGE. WE HOPE IT MEANS THE SAME THING AND JUST CLEANED IT UP AND WORDSMITHED IT SO THAT THEY -- THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING THEY UNDERSTOOD.
ON SITE VISIBILITY, THE INTENT HAS BEEN CURB LINE, NOT PROPERTY LINE . BECAUSE IN SOME INSTANCES YOU CAN HAVE A REALLY LARGE UNDEVELOPED RIGHT OF WAY. YOUR PROPERTY LINE CAN BE SET BACK 10 OR 15 FEET AND SITE VISIBILITY IS INTENDED SO THAT CARS COMING UP TO INTERSECTIONS CAN SEE IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND SO THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CURB LINE IN THE ORDINANCE. THIS HAS BEEN DELETED FOR ACCESS MANAGEMENT. IT IS DRIVEWAY SEPARATION.
BECAUSE IT IS DUPLICATED IN A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE. SO WE DIDN'T NEED IT IN TWO PLACES. ON LANDSCAPING, WE HAVE RUN INTO A FEW INSTANCES WHERE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE CHOOSING TO COMPLETELY REMOVE ALL OF THEIR LANDSCAPING. AND WITHOUT FINDING OLD SITE PLANS AND IT IS JUST VERY DIFFICULT TO TELL PEOPLE, YOU REALLY CAN'T DO THAT WHEN THE ORIGINAL SITE PLAN IS FROM THE '80S OR '90S AND WASN'T VERY EXPLICIT YOU COULDN'T DO THAT. WE'RE MAKING IT VERY CLEAR THAT REMOVAL OR MAJOR REVISIONS OF 30% OR MORE OF YOUR LANDSCAPING, YOU HAVE TO RESUBMIT A NEW SITE PLAN, YOU CAN'T JUST TEAR OUT ALL OF YOUR LANDSCAPING. AND THEN THE OTHER PART IS THE
[00:30:04]
ZERO SCAPE PRINCIPLES. SO WE REALIZED WE HAD A PRACTICE IN OUR OFFICE THAT WAS NEVER ACTUALLY CODIFIED, BUT HAS BEEN INHERITED FROM PAST DIRECTORS OVER AND OVER AND THAT IS WHEN -- I'LL SKIP AHEAD -- WHEN AN APPLICANT IS REQUESTING ZERO SCAPE, WE SAID YOU NEED TO HIRE A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT TO PREPARE A ZERO SCAPE PLAN.WE'RE CODIFYING THAT AND ALSO BEING CLEAR THAT IN THE STREET YARD, YOU CAN ONLY LIMITLIMIT NONLIVE VEGETATIVE MATERIALS S S TO 25% BECAUSE FAMOUS EXAMPLE WOULD BE THE WALGREENS AT NAVARRO.
AND AIRLINE, THE ENTIRE LANDSCAPING IS ROCK.
I BELIEVE AT ONE POINT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN PLANTS SPACED IN THERE, BUT THAT'S NOT THE INTENT.
THE INTENT OF LANDSCAPING IS TO BEAUTIFY THE STREET CORRIDORS. LIMITING THAT NONLIVE VEGETATIVE MATERIAL TO 25% IN THE STREET YARD AND THEN ACTUALLY CODIFYING OUR PRACTICE OF REQUIRING REGISTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT WHERE ZERO SCAPE PLANS ARE FOR THESE TWO SECTIONS.
FENCES AND SCREENING, IT IS IN THE SCREENING FENCES SECTION OF THE TITLE. SO WE JUST CLARIFIED THAT THIS IS ABOUT SCREENING BECAUSE THERE IS A SECTION IN THE OVERALL ORDINANCE THAT SAYS TITLES DON'T ACTUALLY MEAN OUR PART OF THE CODE.
AGAIN, JUST A LOT OF THISTHIS VERY NITTY- GRITTY CLEANUP THINGS BECAUSE OF A PUSHBACK IN THE PAST. AGAIN, ON FENCES AND SCREENING, THE INTENT IS OPAQUE FENCES SHALL NOT BE HIGHER THAN THREE FEET.
AS YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF WROUGHT IRON FENCES AROUND TOWN AND FENCES YOU CAN SEE THROUGH THAT ARE PLACED WITHIN THE FRONT BUILDING SETBACK AND IT IS MORE ABOUT VISIBILITY. AND SO MAKING IT CLEAR THAT OPAQUE FENCES IS THE INTENT FOR THAT REGULATION.
AND THEN THIS FENCE IS CONSTRUCTED OF PLYWOOD, METAL PANELS, CORRUGATED STEEL SHEETS ARE PROHIBITED.
THAT ORDINANCE WAS FIRST CREATED IN THE '80S.
AND MESH WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS USED THEN, BUT WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR MESH AND IT REALLY FITS IN THAT SAME -- IT IS NOT A PERMANENT TYPE OF FENCING MATERIAL.
SO WE'RE ADDING THAT TO THE PROHIBITION.
THE INTENT OF THE UDO ON THE NEXT SECTION IS THAT NO NEW DUMPSTERS SHALL BE SET WITHOUT OUTSIDE OF DUMPSTER ENCLOSURES.
THAT'S WHEN WE HAD NO PROVIDER ACCOUNT, BUT IF YOU HAD AN ACCOUNT AND JUST REQUESTING A NEW SERVICE, THEN WASTE MANAGEMENT, A NEW SERVICE, NOT A NEW ACCOUNT, AND THEY WOULD SET THE DUMPSTERS WITHOUT AA ENCLOSURE. THE INTENT IS NEW DUMPSTERS SHALL NOT BE SET WITHOUT AN ENCLOSURE TO PREVENT WIND BLOWN TRASH FROM, YOU KNOW, DIRTYING UP VICTORIA AND THE AESTHETICS OF DUMPSTERS. SHIELDING AND CUTOFF STANDARDS FOR LIGHTING, THE L.E.D. LIGHTS ARE VERY BRIGHT. AND WE HAVE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE, CUSTOMERS ARE UPGRADING THEIR LIGHTS THAT THEY HAD FOREVER, BUT JUST BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH BRIGHTER L.E.D. IS.
WE MADE -- ADDED THE SENTENCE TO BE THAT LIGHTS SHALL BE DIRECTED AWAY FROM RESIDENTIAL USES BECAUSE IT IS ALWAYS THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORS CALLING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE COMMERCIAL NEIGHBORS NEARBY.
AND THIS IS ALSO CONSISTENCY. AGAIN, THE SITE MODIFICATION PERMIT IS A 30% TRIGGER.
AND SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO PLAT IF YOU WERE ADDING 25%, BUT YOU ÷÷DON'T HAVE TO DO A SITE MODIFICATION UNLESS YOU'RE DOING 30%. SO, WE CHANGED THAT TO UP THAT TO 30%, SO JUST MAKE IT REAL CONSISTENT WITH 10% NUMBERS, 30% NUMBERS, MAKE IT CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT AND IT IS MUCH EASIER FOR ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF. AND SO WE HAVE LONG REQUIRED SIX SETS OF APPROVED SITE PLANS. CURRENTLY ONE OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT RECEIVES AN APPROVED SITE PLAN DOES NOT -- NO LONGER WANTS THEIR COPY. WE MADE THIS MORE FLEXIBLE IN THE ORDINANCE WE CAN DO -- WE CAN REQUIRE UP TO SIX SETS AND THE NUMBER OF SITE PLANS ARE REQUIRED IN ANY GIVEN TIME IS DETERMINATIVE AT THE TIME OF APPROVAL. RIGHT NOW WE'RE ONLY REQUESTING FIVE SETS. IF ADMINISTRATION CHANGES AND ALL DEPARTMENTS WANT SIX SETS AGAIN, IT IS STILL IN THE ORDINANCE.
ONE OF MAYBE THE BIGGEST OOPS WE DID WHEN WE CREATED
[00:35:01]
THE ORDINANCE -- REDID THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE IS NOT BEING EXPLICITLY CLEAR ABOUT THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS AND APPEALS ROLE. SO DIDN'T GO AWAY.IT IS IN CHAPTER 2 OF THE ORDINANCE, ESTABLISHES ALL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FOR THE CITY, SO THEIR ROLE AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION'S ROLE IS CLEARLY OUTLINED IN CHAPTER 2. BUT UNDER THE RELIEF PROCEDURES OF THE UDO, WE JUST COPIED OVER THE OLD LANGUAGE FROM CHAPTER -- OUR OLD CHAPTER 21, ALL VARIANCES GO TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. BUT THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS NEVER CONSIDERED VARIANCES TO BUILDING CODES, THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN THE ROLE OF THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS. AND SO THIS CLARIFIES THAT.
AND SAYS THAT ANYTHING IN DIVISION 3 WHICH IS THE WHOLE PURVIEW, EVERYTHING THAT USED TO BE IN CHAPTER 5, OUR BUILDING CHAPTER, CONTINUES TO GO, WILL GO TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS AND THE REST OF THE UDO GOES TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR VARIANCE REQUEST AND RELIEF.
AND ULTIMATELY EVERYTHING COMES TO CITY COUNCIL.
SO THIS IS JUST A CONTINUATION OF WHERE WE EXPLICITLY STATE THAT.
THE -- AGAIN, WE'RE NEARING THE END IN THE DEFINITIONS.
THIS CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE 3, REFERENCES TO NEW LAWS WITH FOOD TRUCK PARKS, COMMERCIAL AMUSEMENT, OUTDOOR, IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS SELF- EXPLANATORY THAT AN OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUE WOULD BE COMMERCIAL AMUSEMENT, BUT WE HAVE PUSHBACK ON THAT, SO WE'RE BEING VERY CLEAR.
OUTDOOR MUSIC VENUES FITS INTO THE CATEGORY OF COMMERCIAL AMUSEMENT OUTDOOR DEFINITION.
AND THEN JESUS ALSO ASKED ME TO KIND OF COVER WHAT SOME OF THE UDO CHANGES AND HOW THEY RELATE TO THE STUDY. I APOLOGIZE FOR MISSING THE WORKSHOP MEETING. IT WAS A BUSY TIME.
>> BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, JULIE, ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF ALL OF -- ANY OF THOSE PROPOSED
CHANGES? >> I HAVE A REAL PICKY QUESTION -- OR COMMENT AND I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T CATCH IT AND BRING IT UP BEFORE.
BUT IN 21, 148, DEALING WITH PROPERTIES DOWNTOWN, THERE IS JUST -- THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GRAMMAR. AND SO IF YOU COULD JUST LOOK AT THAT LATER, SPECIFICALLY THE WORD SUCH DOESN'T FIT AND WE DON'T REALLY NEED TO DISCUSS IT, IF YOU CAN JUST MAKE A NOTE OF THAT AND --
>> I CAN CHANGE IT TO THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY BE REDUCED.
>> YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND IT JUST -- IT BOTHERED ME WHEN I SAW IT AND I COULDN'T GET PAST
IT. >> WE PROBABLY NEED TO GO BACK AND CHANGE IT IN THE PLAN SHOPPING CENTER TOO.
I THINK I COPIED AND PASTED IT. I'LL LOOK AT BOTH OF THOSE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SOME OF THESE ARE VERY TECHNICAL REVISIONS AND --
>> VERY EXCITING STUFF. WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THIS WHEN WE ADOPTED THE NEW -- THE NEW CODE ORIGINALLY. WE HAD SOME TIME WITH THEM AND KIND OF FIGURED OUT, OKAY, WHERE ARE THE HICCUPS IN THERE, SO --
>> FOR A LONG TIME, WE DIDN'T REALLY BRING THESE TYPES OF CHANGES, BUT IT IS SO MUCH EASIER FOR THE STAFF MEMBER THAT IS ADMINISTERING THE ORDINANCE TO BE, LIKE, VERY CLEAR, LIKE, NO, THIS IS WHAT WE MEAN, AND INSTEAD OF HAVING THE CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH WITH THE APPLICANTS.
>> ON A LOT OF THESE CHANGES, LIKE THE CHILD CARE FACILITIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IS THERE A TIME PERIOD ALLOTTED FOR, SAY, THERE IS A CHILD CARE FACILITY THAT MAYBE FALLS WITHIN A RESIDENTIAL THAT IS NOT BEING USED IN THAT RESIDENTIAL
CAPACITY. >> THERE SHOULD NOT BE BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS LICENSING LAWS.
>> OKAY. SO WITH ANY OF THESE, ARE THERE
TIMELINES? >> IF THEY WERE CURRENTLY OPERATING IN AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE AND THEY WOULD -- UNLESS THEY OPEN IN THE LAST MONTH OR TWO, THEY WOULD BE ILLEGAL.
>> IS PART OF YOUR QUESTION ALSO ASKING --
>> NOT REALLY GRANDFATHERING. I'M NOT REALLY ASKING ABOUT GRANDFATHERING. I'M JUST ASKING WHAT SORT OF TIME ALLOTMENT. YOU GAVE THE EXAMPLE OF WALL GREENS. IF WE MAKE THE CHANGES TO THE LANDSCAPING, AND THEY'RE NOTIFIED THESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR THAT?
>> IF THEY WERE ORIGINALLY APPROVED WITH THAT TYPE OF ZERO SCAPING, AND UNTIL THEY MAKE A CHANGE THAT TRIGGERS SOME OTHER SUBSEQUENT PERMIT, THAT'S -- THEY'RE LEGALLY NONCONFORMING. THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO.
IT IS WHENEVER PERMITS AND APPLICATIONS AND THINGS, CHANGE HAPPENS, TRIGGERS SOMETHING, AND THEN THEY HAVE TO COME INTO
>> AND SO WITH THE LIGHTING, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY ALREADY INSTALLED, YOU KNOW, LIGHTING, WE CAN'T NECESSARILY GO BACK AND HAVE THEM CHANGE THE LIGHT.
[00:40:02]
APPLICATION. >> SOME OF THOSE, WE HAVE IN THE LIGHTING, THERE IS SOME DOUBLE DIPPING, AND WE ACTUALLY TO HAVE SOME RULES IN THE BUILDING CODE. AND IN THE ACTUAL NATIONAL IRC OR THE ACTUAL BUILDING CODE. BUT THE BUILDING CODE IS NOT VERY EASILY FOUND FOR JUST THE GENERAL POPULATION OR UNDERSTOOD OR --
>> SO SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT WE ARE PUTTING IN -- SOME OF OUR RULES IN THE UDO ARE DUPLICATIONS S IT IS EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND AND SEE AND
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. I THINK YOU HAD A FEW MORE THINGS TO SHARE WITH US.
>>÷÷ THE STUDY AND, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY THE FISCAL COSTS, THE FUTURE FISCAL COSTS OF DEVELOPMENT, SO, ONE THING THAT WE HAVE I THINK REALLY HELPED WITH THE UDO, THERE WAS A LOT OF VARIETY THAT WAS ALLOWED IN OUR OLD ORDINANCE, BUT WITH UDR LAND USE CHART, REALLY EXPANDED, MADE IT VERY CLEAR ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HOUSING UNITS THAT WERE -- THAT ARE ALLOWED IN VICTORIA. ESPECIALLY THE ALLOWANCE OF OUR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND HOW RELAXED THOSE RULES ARE IN COMPARED TO A LOT OF CITIES THAT HAVE A TRADITIONAL ZONING ORDINANCE. WE ALLOW THEM BY RIGHT ANYWHERE AS LONG AS THERE IS SOME PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT ARE MET.
AND SO THAT'S, OF COURSE, VERY HELPFUL IN INCREASING THE DENSITY THAT HELPS WITH THE OVERALL COSTS.
ONE COMMENT I HAVE ON HERE, 50 FOOT LOT WITH MINIMUM, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM DEVELOPERS A REQUEST FOR 30 FOOT LOT WITH MINIMUM.
AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE HEARTBURN OVER RECOMMENDING THAT REDUCTION. MAINLY BECAUSE A 40 FOOT LOT CAN REALLY OVERWHELM A NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THINK OF A NEIGHBORHOOD LIKE TANGERINE OR SOMETHING, WHERE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PARKING PROVIDED ON SITE AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE DOUBLE CARS EVERY NIGHT, CLOGGING UP THE STREET, YOU KNOW, SAFETY, JUST GENERAL, YOU KNOW, AMBIENCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THAT REALLY STARTS TO CHANGE, SO IF WE WERE TO REALLY LOOK AT A 40- FOOT LOT, WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE SOME TRADE- OFFS SUCH AS A DEEPER LOT THAT ALSO ALLOW A REQUIREMENT OF MORE PARKING AND THEN IS IT REALLY -- ARE YOU REALLY GETTING THE TRADE- OFF BECAUSE THE REASON THE REQUEST FOR THE 40- FOOT T CONTINUES IS THE COST OF THE STREET AND THE COST OF THE DEVELOPMENT.
SO YOU START ADDING A DEEPER LOT OR ADDITIONAL OFF STREET PARKING. YOU'RE ADDING THOSE COSTS BACK.
SO, THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT BECAUSE THERE CONTINUES TO BE A HUGE PUSH NATIONALLY FOR THE SKINNIER LOTS. THE OTHER BENEFIT TO VICTORIA, THIS IS SOMETHING WE FLOOR AREA RATIO REGULATIONS AND
[00:45:28]
WHAT THOSE REGULATIONS ARE, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE A 5,000 SQUARE FOOT LOT, A LOT OF SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS AND OTHER CITIES WILL SAY YOU CAN ONLY DEVELOP[2. An ordinance approving an amendment to the FY2025-26 Budget in the amo...]
[00:51:25]
AND FIGURE OUT WHO IT IS GOING TO ASSIGN IT TO THEM SO THE MAJORITY OF THE REQUEST WOULD GO STRAIGHT TO THEM, MORE EFFICIENT FOR THEM AS WELL AS FOR US AND THE REQUESTERS.>> AND I'LL ADD TO THAT, COUNCIL.
THE SOFTWARE WE CURRENTLY USE FOR INFORMATION RESPONSES IS THE SAME SOFTWARE WE USED FOR OUR AGENDA PACKAGE CREATION.
THAT SOFTWARE IS ACTUALLY INTENDED FOR AGENDAS CREATION, NOT FOR RFIS.
WE MANIPULATED IT TO MAKE IT WORK WELL ENOUGH FOR US, BUT WE FEEL LIKE WITH THIS NEW SOFTWARE THAT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THIS PROCESS WILL BE A LOT MORE EFFICIENT, LIKE APRIL SAID, AND A LOT MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE PUBLIC WITH THE REQUESTS THAT ARE MADE TO US.
>> ONE THING FOR HISTORICAL CONTEXT, I MENTIONED IT TO THE MAYOR WHEN WE TALKED, THERE HAS BEEN AN EVOLUTION IN THE LAST SIX YEARS OF HOW WE TREAT REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION. PART OF ONE OF THE CHANGES THAT I IMPLEMENTED SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVING WAS SHIFTING THE REQUEST FOR INFORMATION PROCESS AWAY FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND TO THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE TO HAVE MORE OF A CENTRALIZED PROCESS.
IT IS MORE COMMON TO HAVE THESE PROCESSES UNDER THE CITY SECRETARY'S OFFICE, AND OBVIOUSLY SHE WAS ALWAYS INVOLVED TO SOME EXTENT, BUT NOW OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS IT HAS BEEN MORE OF A PRIMARY ROLE ON HER PART. AND SO HAVING THE SOFTWARE IS HELPING TO CONTINUE MOVINGMOVING DIRECTION, FURTHER CENTRALIZING THIS PROCESS FOR CONSISTENCY SAKE ACROSS OUR ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
ANYONE? >> NO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, FROM MY STANDPOINT, WE NEED TO DO THAT TIMELY, WE NEED TO DO THAT EFFICIENTLY AND WE NEED TO BE UNIFORM SO THAT DIFFERENT RESPONSES FOR SAME INFORMATION GET THE SAME INFORMATION AND ARE, YOU KNOW, PUT OUT THE SAME WAY. I VIEW IT AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION DEFINITELY, YEAH.
>> SO I JUST NOTE THAT BOTH OF THESE ITEMS REPRESENT REOCCURRING ITEMS THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE INCLUDED IN FUTURE BUDGETS. FOR FISCAL '27, ABOUT $224,000 OF AN ONGOING COMMITMENT TO CONTINUE FUNDING THESE TWO ITEMS. AND THE LAST ITEM IS IN OUR CONSTRUCTION FUND, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR REDEMPTION PROGRAM, AND UTILIZING SOME EXCESS FUNDS ON SOME PROJECTS THAT HAD CLOSED OUT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FISCAL YEAR.
WE HAD PROPOSED USING ADDITIONAL $700,000 TO ADDADD TO REDEMPTION PROGRAM BRINGING THAT TOTAL TO 1. 3 MILLION AND ALSO USING THE REMAINDER OF THE EXCESS FUNDS, JUST ALLOCATING THEM TOWARD FUTURE CIP PROJECTS THAT WILL BE DETERMINED AS THE YEAR GOES ON.
SO, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> ANY QUESTIONS? NO? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION.
SO, THEN WITH THAT, I WILL OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM C- 2, THE BUDGET AMENDMENTS.
IF THERE IS ANYONE WISHING TO SPEAK TO COUNCIL ON THIS MATTER, PLEASE COME FORWARD. SEEING NO ONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ENTERTAIN A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO THIS ITEM.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM C-2.
>> MOTION AND SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[D. Consent Agenda:]
>> ANY OPPOSED? AND C- 2 PASSES.
THAT MOVES US ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA, MISS
[00:55:03]
HILBRICH. >> D- 1, ADOCHGS OF MINUTES FOR SPECIAL WORK SESSION. D- 2, APPROVE AN AGREEMENT TO LEASE 20 CLUB CARCAR 2 LITHIUM GOLF CARTS THROUGH CLUB CAR, LLC WITH A SERVICE PLAN THROUGH CLUB CAR AND VISAGE FT AND SCREENLESS FLEET MANAGEMENT TRACKING FOR RIVERSIDE GOLF CLUB IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $130,564.80. NUMBER THREE APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO THE SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH DAT VIOXX INC.
FOR EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS IN AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OFOF $10,468. 44 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
$418,640.91. >> DO I HAVE A MOTION?
>> A MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
[1. Consideration and possible action on the confirmation of City Manager ...]
>> ALL RIGHT. CONSENT AGENDA PASSES.
WE MOVE TO ACTION ITEMS AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH ITEM
E-1. >> CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE CONFIRMATION OF THE CITY MANAGER APPOINTMENTS TO THE FIREFIGHTERS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND RESPECTIVE STAGGERED TERMS.
>> ALL RIGHT. SO, GOOD AFTERNOON, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. JUST A BRIEF UPDATE FOR YOU THIS EVENING ON THE PROCESS TO ESTABLISH CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AND I HAVE MY APPOINTEES I'M PRESENTING TO YOU FOR CONVERSATION.
JUST BRIEFLY, TO RECAP, THESE ARE THE SAME SLIDES THAT I SHOWED IN NOVEMBER, BUT I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE SINCE IT IS A NEW THING TO JUST RECAP IT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE AND SO AS A REFRESHER, THE CIVIL SERVICE PROPOSITION AS YOU KNOW PASSED IN NOVEMBER. AND THAT WILL REQUIRE US TO FOLLOW CONSISTENT SET OF RULES FOR HIRING PROMOTIONS PAY AND DISCIPLINARY MATTERS WITHIN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
I NED PAY BECAUSE WE HAD THE PROPOSITION ON COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PASS, SO IT PROBABLY WILL BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE PAY ELEMENT OF IT.
BUT CERTAINLY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE HIRING, PROMOTION AND DISCIPLINARY ASPECT OF IT. THE CIVIL SERVICE LAW REQUIRES US TO ESTABLISH A THREE- MEMBER CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TO OVERSEE THESE RULES. ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES THAT COMES WITH THIS, IS IT SHIFTS THE AUTHORITY OVER PERSONNEL MATTERS FROM MANAGEMENT AND THE CHIEF TO THE COMMISSION. WE ARE READY, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE PROMOTIONAL PROCESSES THAT TAKE PLACE, WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR HIRING, WE HAVE PROCESSES FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND APPEALS PROCESS, AND UP UNTIL THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, THOSE RULES AND PROCESSES HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND PUT INTO PLACE BY THE FIRE CHIEF. THAT NOW TAKES THAT AWAY FROM THE FIRE CHIEF AND PUTS IT SOLELY ON THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION TO ADHERE TO THE CHAPTER 143 RULES.
AND AS WE DISCUSSED, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REPEAL CIVIL SERVICE IN A COMMUNITY OF OUR SIZE.
SO, NEXT STEPS, AFTER WE CANVAS THE ELECTION RESULTS IN NOVEMBER, WE HAD 60 DAYS AND THAT PUTS US AT MID- JANUARY, WHICH BRINGS US TO TONIGHT.
AND, AGAIN, CIVIL SERVICE AND THE COMMISSION WILL DEVELOP POLICIES AND THE RULES, WE PLAN TO DO THAT IN COORDINATION WITH LEGAL -- WITH OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL FRANK GARZA, WHICH YOU MET A FEW MONTHS AGO.
AND ALL AND ALL, THESE NEW CIVIL SERVICE RULES NEED TO BE IN PLACE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF NEW FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS THE END OF OCTOBER.
BUT THE WAY THAT I'M CHOOSING TO VIEW IT IS BEGINNING BY OCTOBER 1ST, SO THAT IT ALIGNS WITH OUR FISCAL YEAR.
SOME OF THE DUTIES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF IT, THEY'LL HAVE TO ELECT A CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.
THEY'LL HAVE TO APPOINT A CIVIL SERVICE DIRECTOR, WHICH IS USUALLY THE HR DIRECTOR. THIS INDIVIDUAL IS THE PERSON THAT WOULD BASICALLY PROFESSIONALLY STAFF THE BOARD, ENSURE THAT THE MEETINGS ARE TAKING PLACE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ENSURE THAT ALL THE RULES THAT ARE ADOPTED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ARE IMPLEMENTED ACCORDINGLY. SOME OF THOSE RULES WILL DETAIL CAUSES FOR REMOVAL OR SUSPENSION OF FIREFIGHTERS, SET PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS, CALL FOR EXAMS FOR APPLICANTS AND PROMOTIONS, AND APPROVE HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL LISTS.
AS WELL AS CONSIDER DISCIPLINARY APPEALS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO RE- EMPHASIZE AS PART OF THE SLIDE IS THAT IN THE PROCESS OF INTERVIEWING INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, I -- IT BECAME MORE OBVIOUS TO ME WHERE THE ELEMENTSELEMENTS CONFUSION ARE AS IT RELATES TO THE ROLE OF THE BOARD, AND SO I WANT TO PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO CLARIFY THAT, YOU KNOW, AFTER WE GET THE -- AFTER WE GET THROUGH THE INITIAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RULES, WHICH WE THINK WILL TAKE FOUR TO SIX MONTHS AND WE'LL GET TO THAT LATER THE ONGOING BUSINESS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WILL REALLY FOCUS MORE ON THE LAST TWO BULLET POINTS ON THIS SLIDE. THE RECURRING BUSINESS OF
[01:00:03]
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WILL SOLELY FOCUS ON APPROVING THOSE HIRING AND PROMOTIONAL LISTS, SO THE FREQUENCY OF THEIR MEETINGS WILL DEPEND ON HOW OFTEN WE HAVE NEW LISTS TO APPROVE. AND THE PURPOSE OF THEM APPROVING THEM IS FOR THEM TO SERVE AS THAT CHECKS AND BALANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO HELP ALL OF US ENSURE THAT THOSE LISTS WERE DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES THAT THEY ESTABLISHED.AND THEN ON THE CONSIDERATION OF DISCIPLINARY APPEALS, THOSE, OF COURSE, COME EVERY SO OFTEN.
IN THE SIX AND A HALF YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE, I THINK I'VE ONLY HAD THREE OR FOUR APPEALS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COME TO MY OFFICE, JUST TO GIVE YOU A SENSE OF HOW FREQUENT THESE APPEALS MIGHT COME UP. AND NOBODY KNOWS, YOU KNOW, IF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE WILL LEAD TO LESS OR MORE DISCIPLINARY APPEALS.
BUT THAT WILL BECOME SORT OF SOME OF THE ONGOING RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I WAS VERY INTENTIONAL A FEW MONTHS AGO IN PROVIDING YOU A LITTLE BIT OF PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ESTABLISHING THE RULES FOR THE FIRST TIME, I DO THINK IT NECESSITATED INDIVIDUALS WITH -- IDEALLY WITH EXPERIENCE IN POLICYMAKING, IMPLEMENTATION, LEGAL OR LABOR RELATIONS, HR, OR JUST EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE. AND I WAS VERY CLEAR ABOUT THESE PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS IN NOVEMBER, AND THAT CERTAINLY WAS TOP OF MIND THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. IN NOVEMBER, I SHARED THAT WE HAD OPENED AN APPLICATION PERIOD, THAT ORIGINALLY WAS INTENDED TO BE CLOSED IN MID-DECEMBER. BUT QUITE FRANKLY I JUST DID NOT GET ENOUGH APPLICANTS.
SO WE EXTENDED THAT THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND EXTENDED IT THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST.
IN THE TIME PERIOD, WE RECEIVED 12 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS. I SHARED WITH YOU VIA EMAIL WE RECEIVED 18. FOUR WERE INELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF STATE RULES THAT REQUIRE INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE INSIDE CITY LIMITS. FOUR INDIVIDUALS DO NOT LIVE INSIDE CITY LIMITS.
AND I PERSONALLY HAD TWO -- CHOSE TO MAKE TWO INDIVIDUALS INELIGIBLE BECAUSE OF THEIR CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH AN ACTIVE FIREFIGHTER, WHICH I FEEL IS A HUGE CONFLICT OF INTEREST. AND, OF COURSE, HERE THIS EVENING, WE ARE HERE TO MAKE MY RECOMMENDATIONS ON MY APPOINTEES, AND SO THEY'RE ALL HERE THIS EVENING.
THEY'RE NOT READY TO GIVE SPEECHES, BUT I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE IN THE ROOM. BUT FIRST I WANT TO START WITH MR. LEE KEELING.
HE'S THE INDIVIDUAL I APPOINTED TO AND SEEK CONFIRMATION FOR THE THREE- YEAR TERM.
MANY OF YOU KNOW LEE. HE IS AN ATTORNEY WITH WALKER KEELING AND HATLY. HAS OVER 35 YEARS PRACTICING LAW. SOME OF WHICH FOCUSES MOSTLY ON BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL LAW. BUT AS PART OF THAT, HE ACTUALLY DOES DELVE INTO ADVISING EMPLOYERS ON EMPLOYMENT MATTERS EMPLOYMENT÷÷ ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IN MY CONVERSATION WITH HIM WAS HIS ROLE IN THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE WITH THE STATE BAR.
HE HAS SOME VERY RELATABLE EXPERIENCES AS IT RELATES TO JUST HEARING, YOU KNOW, CASES COME OR APPEALS COMING TO A BOARD AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.
SO THAT REALLY STOOD OUT. BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STOOD OUT ONCE I ASSESSED THE ENTIRE APPLICANT POOL WAS HOW IMPORTANT I ENDED UP REALIZING PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AS AN APPOINTEE, JUST HOW IMPORTANT THAT COULD BE IN THIS PROCESS.
AND SO HE HAS SERVED WITH THE VICTORIA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AS A CITY EMPLOYEE AND HE SERVED ON THE PARKS COMMISSION FROM 2017 TO 2023, SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY INVOLVED WITH REVAMPING THE PARKS COMMISSION. AND RE- ESTABLISHING THE BYLAWS AND ALL OF THE -- AND JUST EVERYTHING INVOLVED WITH THE PARKS COMMISSION.
SO, WHEN I MENTIONED HAVING EXPERIENCE IN POLICY DEVELOPMENT, HE CERTAINLY FITS THAT MOLD, NOT ONLY IN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER, BUT IN HIS PREVIOUS -- YOU GOT A MESSAGE ON TEAMS. BUT IN HIS PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AS AN APPOINTEE AS WELL. SECOND, I'D LIKE TO APPOINT AND SEEK FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION FOR MR. DECATUR JOSEPH, WHO I AM WANTING TO PLACE IN THE TWO- YEAR TERM SLOT. MANY OF YOU KNOW HIM AS WELL.
HE'S A CHARTERED FINANCIAL CONSULTANT WITH OVER 30 YEARS SERVING OUR COMMUNITY. AS PART OF HIS FINANCIAL CONSULTING CAREER, HE MANAGES BENEFITS INCLUDING GROUP HEALTH, LIFE AND RETIREMENT PLANS AND ALSO MANAGES RETIREMENT PLANS AND INSURANCE PLANS. AND I JUST FELT THAT HIS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE WOULD BE VERY INSTRUMENTAL TO THE WORK OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION. HE ALSO HAS EXTENSIVE
[01:05:02]
EXPERIENCE HAVING SERVED AS CITY APPOINTEE.HE SERVED ON THE SALES CORPORATION FROM 2014 TO 2020 AND MORE RECENTLY SERVED ON THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE IN 2021 WHICH FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR, THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE PROCESS IS A VERY METICULOUS DETAILED CENTRIC PROCESS.
AND SO, IF WE WANTED SOMEBODY WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF BEING METICULOUS AND DETAILED IN THEIR REVIEW OF COMPLICATED SUBJECT MATTERS, MR. DECATUR JOSEPH FITS THETHE MOLD.
AND THEN LASTLY, I AM SEEKING THE CONFIRMATION OF MR. CASEY CULLEN FOR THE ONE- YEAR TIME SLOT, AN ATTORNEY WITH CULLEN AND HOME.
WHILE HE MAINLY FOCUSES ON CIVIL LAW, HE ALSO REPRESENTS CITIES, COUNTIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES ON EMPLOYMENT MATTERS. HE ACTUALLY HAS VERY RELEVANT EXPERIENCE AS IT DEALS WITH GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE MATTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. SO VERY PRACTICAL AND APPROPRIATE EXPERIENCE. HE ALSO HAS EXPERIENCE SERVING AS AN APPOINTEE OF THE CITY, SERVING ON THE VICTORIA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION SINCE 2021.
AND SO LASTLY, ASSUMING YOU CONFIRM THE THREE APPOINTEES, OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS WOULD BE TO SCHEDULE THE BIMONTHLY MEETINGS, MEETING TWICE A MONTH, AND AS I ALLUDED TO EARLIER, FORMALLY ELECT A CHAIRMAN, A CIVIL SERVICE DIRECTOR, AND THE INTENT IS TO GET RIGHT TO WORK IMMEDIATELY AND AGAIN, OUR OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL FRANK GARZA SAID IT MAY TAKE FOUR TO SIX MONTHS TO SET IT ALL UP. AND A REMINDER THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION DOES NOT PLAY A ROLE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
AND THROUGH MY CONVERSATIONS WITH APPLICANTS, I LEARNED THAT WAS ANOTHER CONFUSING ELEMENT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE -- SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE DOING SOME OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING FOR US. AND SO I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AND THAT SAY PROCESS WE INTEND TO HOPEFULLY START IN MARCH OR APRIL OF THIS YEAR. SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDRESS ANY CONCERNS YOU MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THREE APPOINTEES I'M SEEKING CONFIRMATION ON.
>> SO, I ASSUME SINCE WE'RE ALL HERE, THEY'RE WILLING TO BE APPOINTED. WE'RE NOT JUST THROWING THEM IN THERE?
>> OKAY. WE AT LEAST HAVE THAT COMMITMENT. YES.
>> I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.
>> WHO ALL WAS INVOLVED IN THIS ELECTION PROCESS?
>> JUST YOU? ALSO, THE MEETINGS THAT THE COMMISSION HAS, DO THEY HAVE TO BE IN PERSON OR CAN THEY BE VIA ZOOM OR TEAMS AND EVALUATED OR VIEWED OR DO THEY HAVE AN AUDIENCE IN ANY SHAPE, FORM OR FASHION?
>> SURE, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETINGS ARE PUBLIC MEETINGS. AND SO THEY WILL BE TREATED LIKE EVERY OTHER BOARD OR COMMISSION WITH AN AGENDA THAT IS POSTED, YOU KNOW, I FORGET HOW TO DESCRIBE THE RULES NOW, I'M USED TO SAYING 72 HOURS, BUT NOW THREE BUSINESS DAYS IN ADVANCE.
BUT THOSE MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
I WOULD NOT EVEN OPEN THE DOOR TO TRY AND CREATE WAYS TO HAVE THOSE MEETINGS VIRTUALLY.
OUR INTENT WOULD BE TO HAVE THOSE MEETINGS IN PERSON.
>> YEAH, WELL, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE COULD HOLD THEM VIRTUALLY, JUST THE SAME AS WE CAN'T HOLD CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS VIRTUALLY. WE CAN INVITE PEOPLE TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL VIRTUALLY. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT. THAT EXCEPTION WAS DURING COVID WHEN NOBODY COULD BE TOGETHER AND THAT'S BEEN PULLED BACK. THEY HAVE TO BE THERE IN PERSON.
>> I THINK, APRIL, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE 12 OTHER CANDIDATES.
HOW MANY OF THOSE 12 OUTSIDE OF THE THREE SELECTED MET THE CRITERIA THAT YOU HAD
ESTABLISHED? >> I THINK THE BEST WAY I COULD ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS THAT THE THREE APPOINTEES THAT I'M RECOMMENDING FOR CONFIRMATION WERE THE ONLY APPOINTEES THAT HAD THE COMBINATION OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE I WAS LOOKING FOR, AS WELL AS THE TRACK RECORD OF HAVING PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AS A CITY APPOINTEE.
AS WELL AS BEING A VERY INVOLVED CITIZEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, HAVING SERVED ON MULTIPLE NONPROFIT
BOARDS. >> I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION.
I DO HAVE A COMMENT. I AM INCREDIBLY THANKFUL AND IMPRESSED BY THE APPLICANTS THAT YOU BROUGHT FORTH AND APPRECIATE THAT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO
[01:10:02]
SERVE, IF WE SO VOTE THAT WAY. I DO APPRECIATE THAT.>> I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT DR. YOUNG SAID.
I COULDN'T QUITE GET THE WORDS FIGURED OUT.
BUT I AGREE ON -- I'M PLEASED WITH THE PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE INITIATED.
I'M PLEASED WITH THE CRITERIA THAT YOU DEEMED WORTHY, IMPORTANT ONES, AND I'M VERY PLEASED AND APPRECIATIVE OF EVERYONE THAT APPLIED, BUT CERTAINLY THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT TO US.
>> IT CERTAINLY IS A STRONG AND QUALIFIED GROUP, NO DOUBT.
THIS -- GENTLEMEN, THIS WILL NOT BE A FUN JOB. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS TO IT, I'M SURE. BUT THANK YOU.
MUCH APPRECIATED. AND NOT ONLY FROM US, BUT FROM THE COMMUNITY. SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WITH THAT, THEN, ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM E- 1 OF THE SLATE OF CITY MANAGER APPOINTEES?
>> I MOVE THAT WE CONFIRM THIS CITY MANAGER APPOINTEES TO THE FIREFIGHTERS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
>> ALL RIGHT. A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE. >> ANY OPPOSED? AND THOSE THREE GENTLEMEN ARE CONFIRMED.
SO, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MUCH APPRECIATED.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOU GUYS CAN PUT TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. WE DO HAVE A SHORT EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> OKAY. SO NO CITY MANAGER REPORTS,
[H. Executive Sessions:]
CORRECT?SO, THEN WE WILL TAKE A QUICK TEN- MINUTE BREAK AND AT THAT POINT RECONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
>> THE CITY COUNCIL STEPS OUT FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON JANUARY
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.