[00:00:06] >> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE, WELCOME TO OUR ST. PATRICK'S DAY MEETING FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 17TH, 2026. COULD YOU PLEASE GO OVER? >> IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE JOIN ME FOR THE READING OF THE PLEDGES ALONG WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG; I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE. >> THANK YOU, PLEASE BE SEATED. AGAIN, WELCOME EVERYONE. WE WILL JUMP RIGHT INTO OUR [1. Announcements/Reminders:] BUSINESS OF THE DAY AND WE WILL PACK HAPPY TO BE HERE ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY. HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING YOUR GREEN DAY. I HAVE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR YOU THIS EVENING. HOLISTICALLY WE WANT TO REMIND THE PUBLIC THAT ALL NONEMERGENCY CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, THIRD FRIDAY AND WILL REOPEN AT 8:00 A.M. ON. TRASH RECYCLING AND YARD WASTE WILL BE PICKED UP AS SCHEDULED. THE PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, APRIL THIRD AND FOURTH. AT RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE WILL OPERATE AS ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WE WANT TO CONVEY THAT A FULL VIDEO RECORDING OF LAST WEEK'S SUMMIT WILL BE POSTED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON ON THE CITY'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL, VICTORIA, TEXAS, VIDEOS AND WILL BE BROADCAST ON TV 15, LOCAL CABLE CHANNELS 15 AND 115 AN ONLINE. THE RECORDING WILL FEATURE ALL OF THE PANELISTS AND SPEAKERS FROM THIS HALF DAY SUMMIT. THE SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION FOR THE EVENT WILL BE POSTED ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE AS WELL. IN ADDITION, CAN MEDICATION A PUBLIC AFFAIRS HAS A NEW PODCAST EPISODE ABOUT THE SUMMIT AVAILABLE NOW ON YOUTUBE AND SPOTIFY. IN THIS EPISODE, STAFF SHARE THEIR IMPRESSIONS OF THE SUMMIT AND DISCUSS IMPORTANT TAKEAWAYS FOR RESIDENTS. WITHOUT RESIDENTS WILL TUNE IN TO THE FULL SUMMIT RECORDING AND PODCAST EPISODES BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT AND LEARN HOW THEY CAN GET INVOLVED. ON BEHALF OF MUNICIPAL COURT, MINNESOTA COURT WILL HAVE LIMITED SERVICES AVAILABLE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH WITH ONLINE PAYMENTS, RECORDS AND DETAILS, CASE INFORMATION TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE. ALL SERVICES WILL BE DOWN BEGINNING AT 5:30 P.M. ON MONDAY, MARCH 23RD THROUGH THE END OF THE DAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH. FOR UPGRADES TO IMPROVE SERVICE ACCESS. STAFF WILL STILL BE AVAILABLE BY PHONE AND EMAIL FOR GENERAL QUESTIONS. FOR INFORMATION YOU MAY CONTACT THE MUNICIPAL COURT. YOU MAY ALSO EMAIL THE COURT CLERK. AND FINALLY, ON BEHALF OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, SPONSORSHIPS AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL'S EARTH DAY PICNIC FUND-RAISER TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY, AIRPORT 22ND FROM 6-8:30 P.M. ON THE CAMPUS OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY VICTORIA. LAST YEAR'S EVENT RAISED $17,000 TO SUPPORT THE BEAUTIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM AND PUBLIC ART INITIATIVE. MORE INFORMATION, VISIT KEEP VICTORIA BEAUTIFUL.ORG. [2. Public & Employee Recognitions:] >> THANK YOU MR. GARZA. WE WILL MOVE THEN TO PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS. I KNOW WE HAVE ONE. ITEM TWO. THE VICTORIA CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY DAY PROCLAMATION. >> WHERE'S VICTORIA CHRISTIAN MINISTRY -- CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY WAS FOUNDED IN 1986 AND RECEIVED ITS CHARTER ON MARCH 26TH, 1986 AND WHEREAS IT IS DEDICATED TO COMBATING HUNGER, PROVIDING ESSENTIAL CLOTHING TO THOSE IN NEED AND OFFERING A HELPING HAND TO THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHERE IS VICTORIA CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY PROVIDES SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHILE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CHURCHES, AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS, WHEREAS SUPPORTED ENTIRELY BY THE GENEROSITY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND POWERED BY THE DEDICATION OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, IT HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR 40 YEARS WHILE REMAINING TRUE TO ITS MISSION, PROVIDING COKE WHEN THINGS SEEM HOPELESS. AND WHEREAS LATER THIS YEAR VICTORIA CHRISTEN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY WILL CELEBRATE THIS MILESTONE WITH AN OPEN HOUSE AND RECOGNITION EVENT, COMMEMORATING ITS LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO THOSE IT SERVES AND THEREFORE I, DUANE CROCKER, PROCLAIM VIRTUALLY SIX, 2026 IS VICTORIA CHRISTIAN ASSISTANCE MINISTRY [00:05:03] DAY IN VICTORIA, TEXAS, AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING AND SO ABRADING THE IMPORTANT WORK AND LASTING IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY. [APPLAUSE] >> ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION, I THINK THE PROCLAMATION SAYS IT ALL AS TO WHAT WE DO AND WHAT OUR DUTY IS OR WHAT HAS BEEN BEEN FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS. THE CAST OF CHARACTERS HAVE CHANGED, LOCATIONS HAVE CHANGED BUT THE MINISTRY OF PROVIDING HOPE WHEN THINGS SEEM HOPELESS STAYS THE SAME. SO ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE, STAFF AND THE VOLUNTEERS, BECAUSE IT IS A VOLUNTEER RUN ORGANIZATION, THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH, CITY OF VICTORIA AND MAYBE I WILL SEE YOU IN THE NEXT 40, I DON'T KNOW. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] >> THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR BOARD FOR ALL YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. MUCH DESERVED ACCOLADES. THANK Y'ALL. ALL RIGHT. MR. GARZA, YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC OR EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS THIS EVENING? >> I DO HAVE ONE, MAYOR. I'M SURE YOU ALL SAW THE NEWS THAT BROKE THE INTERNET TODAY. BUT I'M PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE OFFICIAL PROMOTION, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, OF OUR NEXT CHIEF OF POLICE. CHIEF FETTERS HAS BEEN WITH HER PERFORMANCE SINCE 2008 AND HAS SERVED IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT RULES. PRIOR TO SERVING AS INTERIM CHIEF, HE SERVED AS DEPUTY CHIEF. AND IN THE CAPACITY OF INTERIM CHIEF SINCE OCTOBER 2025, HE HAS LED THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH MUCH-NEEDED CHANGE AND SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. HIS COMMAND PHILOSOPHY HAS POSITIVELY IMPACTED THE DEPARTMENT CULTURE AND MORALE PERIODS DECISIVE LEADERSHIP LED TO OPERATION CHANGES THAT DIVERTED ANCILLARY UNITS TO PATROL SHIPS, ENABLING US TO RESPOND QUICKLY WHILE ALSO BEING MINDFUL OF OFFICER SAFETY. RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION HAS IMPROVED SIGNIFICANTLY AND VACANCIES ARE STEADILY BEING FILLED UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP. AND MOVING INTO THE NEW PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS WAS NO EASY TASK. BUT JOKED THAT HE CERTAINLY MADE IT LOOK EASY. AND LASTLY,'S LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY, COMMUNICATION APPROACH, VISION AND MINDFULNESS TOWARDS PROFESSIONALLY DEVELOPING OFFICERS IS DEFINITELY TOP-NOTCH. THAT IS THE FORMAL REMARKS, RIGHT? BUT I HOPE IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT CLAY HAS DEFINITELY SHOWN GREAT LEADERSHIP OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS. IS DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO WORDS THE POSITIVE IMPACT HE HAS HAD ON THE DEPARTMENT, THE IMPACT OF THE NEW FACILITY HAS SAT ON THE DEPARTMENT. AND SO THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. SO I'M EXCITED THAT SHE FETTERS WILL BE AT THE HEAD OF THAT OVER THE NEXT MANY YEARS TO COME, HOPEFULLY. SO CONGRATULATIONS. AND I WILL NOW PUT YOU ON THE SPOT. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WANT TO THANK MR. GARZA AND THE COUNCIL AND ALL OF THE EMPLOYEES AND CITIZENS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ME SO MUCH THROUGH THE LAST SIX MONTHS. WE HAVE HAD SO MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPEN OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS OR SO. AND IT IS AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE EMPLOYEES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO COME. THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN THE CITY AND THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT. SO THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU CHIEF. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE IN THE FINAL STAGES OF FINALIZING AND US OFFICIAL SWEARINGEN SIR MONEY THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE LAST WEEK OF MARCH SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THOSE DETAILS. WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT OUT BY THE END OF THE WEEK. >> VERY GOOD AND CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF. MOVING ON THEN. ITEMS FROM COUNSEL? DO WE HAVE ANYTHING THIS [4. Citizen Communication:] EVENING? SEEING NONE, WE WILL JUMP INTO OUR CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. I HAVE TWO CARDS. WE WILL START WITH RICK. GOOD EVENING, SIR,, WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. SORRY YOU CAN'T READ MY PENMANSHIP. >> BETWEEN YOUR PENMANSHIP AND MY EYES, WE ARE IN TROUBLE. >> MY NAME IS RICK, I'M THANKFUL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. THERE ARE TWO THINGS I WANT TO DO. REPRESENT OUR CLUB IN VICTORIA. IT IS BEEN HERE SINCE 1946 AND I WANTED TO UPDATE AND EDUCATE THE COUNCIL ON WHAT OUR CLUB HAS BEEN UP TO FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. IT AMAZES ME WHAT WE HAVE DONE. WE'RE A SMALL CLUB BUT WE HAVE HAD AN IMPACT. AND I WANT TO INVITE THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC TO AN EVENT THAT WE ARE HAVING THIS SATURDAY. IT IS OUR ANNUAL KIDS FESTIVAL. AND THE BIKE RIDE, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL [00:10:01] YEARS, WE'RE HANDING THAT OVER TO THE ANOTHER CLUB. WE'RE HELPING THEM AND PUSHING THAT ONTO THEM. ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY, THE 21ST. IT WILL BE A BIKE RIDE NOW AND WE WILL STICK WITH THE KIDS FAST BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I WAS AMAZED THAT OUR CLUB HAS DISTRIBUTED A TOTAL OF $748,000 TO CAUSES HERE IN THE CITY. AND SOME OF THOSE -- I WILL SUMMARIZE SOME OF THOSE, FOSTER PARENTS OF VICTORIA, $86,000. THE SALVATION ARMY VICTORIA, 22,000. LIGHTHOUSE, 9/11, TOYS FOR TOTS, WRITING THERAPY CENTER, THAT IS IN THE YOUTH SERVICES. THE OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE GROUP. PROMISE POINT. $50,000 FOR OUR MICRO-ENTERPRISE AND A COUPLE OTHER THINGS. THE KIDS CONNECTION. $44,000, THAT IS FOR THE SEMIHOMELESS AND HOMELESS KIDS HERE IN THE VICTORIA SCHOOL SYSTEM. THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT. PAIN TO PURPOSE, $36,000. ROLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND SET FOR 31,830. AND THEN RESTORATION HOUSE MINISTRIES. THESE ARE SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE HAVE HELPED. THERE IS MORE THAN THIS BUT THOSE ARE THE PRIMARY ONES. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO INVITE EVERYBODY TO HIS OUR KIDS FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY FROM 10-2:00 P.M. AT THE PARKING LOT RIVERSIDE STADIUM. IT IS THE EVENT CENTER JUST OFF OF THAT PARKING LOT, RED RIVER AND MEMORIAL DRIVE. YOU CAN SEE IT IS THAT EXPANSE. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THESE AROUND TOWN. IT IS THE KIDS FAST AND THE THINGS THAT WILL BE GOING ON. IT IS TOTALLY FREE FOR KIDS. THIS IS NOT OUR FUND-RAISER, THIS A PROJECT WE DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. EVENTS WILL BE THERE FOR THE KIDS. FREE BARBECUE, FREE POPCORN AND SNOW CONES AND SO FORTH. EVERYTHING IS FREE, NO CHARGE FOR ANYTHING. BOUNCE HOUSE, FOAM PARTY, ARTS AND CRAFTS. THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED BULL RIDING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE BUT IT IS THEY ARE. IS FOR THE KIDS. INFLATABLES, SCAVENGER HUNT, INTERACTIVE BOOTHS, PERFORMANCES, DEMONSTRATIONS AND LOCAL AUTHOR BOOK READS, TALENT SHOW, FOOD TRUCKS. LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE SNAKE HANDLING THERE. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A PETTING'S OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. A LOT OF FUN. FROM 10-2:00. JUST WANTED TO UPDATE EVERYBODY ON WHAT THE CLUB HAS BEEN UP TO AND I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE. I GUESS THAT IS EVERYTHING I NEED TO -- I WANT TO SAY. >> THANK YOU SIR. YOU GUYS DO GREAT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATED. NOW THE SECOND CARD IS MICHAEL. >> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL, MAYOR. I LIVE AT 2107. THE PHONE NUMBER IF YOU GET BIT BY A DOG IS 578-3564. YOU CALL ANIMAL CARE SERVICES BEFORE THE POLICE. UNLESS YOU HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH ATTACKING YOU AND KILLING YOU THEN YOU CALL 911, YOU KNOW? AND IF YOU CALL ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND THEY DON'T COME FORWARD, YOU CAN CALL THE NONEMERGENCY AND THAT IS 573-3221. AND ALSO, IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW A DANGEROUS DOG AFFIDAVIT, YOU NO LONGER FOLLOW IT WITH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. YOU DO IT WITH THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND YOU DO IT WITH THE APPROPRIATE COURT IN THE AREA WHERE YOU WERE BIT. AND JOSE FLORENCE WAS THE ONE THAT MADE THAT RULING. HE WAS THE CHIEF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. HE'S NO LONGER WITH THEM. AND THERE WAS A CITY COUNCILMAN THAT CAME OUT AND DID A AUCTION FOR ONE OF MY FRIENDS. HIS NAME WAS PAUL, HE HAD CANCER AND I APPRECIATE HIM. J.D. POWER RANKED HIM THE NUMBET DAY. AND I APPRECIATE IT. HE MADE A LOT OF MONEY FOR PAUL TO FIGHT HIS CANCER. AND THEY SOLD SOME BARBECUE PLATES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND ALSO, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK CARS OFF FOR HELPING US WITH THE APARTMENTS. IT WAS LIKE A PIGSTY, THERE IS TRASH ALL OVER AND THE TENANT HAD BEEN CALLED. HAD TO BE REPORTED JUST TO GET HELP. I HOPE MANAGEMENT DIDN'T FIND OUT AND EVICT HIM OVER THAT. LET MANY PEOPLE GOT INVOLVED AND I APPRECIATE IT AND ALL OF THE CODE ENFORCEMENT AND BUILDING INSPECTORS. [00:15:03] AND I CHECKED IT TODAY AND THERE IS STILL FURNITURE ALL AROUND THE DUMPSTERS. I WISH THEY COULD DO A BETTER JOB. I THINK THOSE TENANTS NEED TO GET A 100-DOLLAR REBATE FOR WHAT THEY LIVE THROUGH AND EVERYTHING. AND THERE IS MORE TO IT BUT I CAN'T COVER IT IN 3 MINUTES. SO I WILL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MANAGEMENT HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND THE OWNER THAT BOUGHT THE ROPE APARTMENTS THE ACCOUNTABLE. THEY HAVE DONE A VERY POOR JOB OF RUNNING IT. AND ENDEAVORS ARE THE ONES THAT GET THE VETERANS DISCOUNT, IF THEY CAN'T IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE, I WOULD LIKE ENDEAVORS TO JUST APPROVE THEM TO ANOTHER APARTMENT AND STUFF. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GET THEM TO GET ALL OF THAT FURNITURE THAT IS STILL THERE IS I'M SPEAKING, THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON, APPRECIATE IT. >> THANK YOU. WITH THAT THEN, WE WILL CLOSE THE CITIZENS COMMUNICATION. [D. Consent Agenda:] WE HAVE NO ITEMS OF PUBLIC HEARINGS THIS EVENING SO WE WILL MOVE INTO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. MS. HILBERT? >> YES, SIR. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MARCH 3RD, 2026 AND THE SPECIAL WORK SESSION HELD ON MARCH SIXTH, 2026. ITEM D TO HIS APPROVE AND SUSPENDING THE APRIL 18, 2026 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PROPOSAL BY CENTERPOINT ENERGY RESOURCES CORPORATION, DBA, CENTERPOINT ENERGY AND TAX AND CENTERPOINT ENERGY TEXAS GAS HOUSTON, TEXAS COAST, IN SOUTH TEXAS AND BEAUMONT EAST TEXAS GEOGRAPHIC RATE AREAS, TO IMPLEMENT INTERIM GRIP RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR GAS UTILITY INVESTMENT IN 2025. ITEM D3 IS APPROVING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TEXAS LAND AND RIGHT-OF-WAY COMPANY LLC IN THE AMOUNT OF TWO HUNTED $71,800 FOR EASEMENT ACQUISITION SERVICES WERE PAVING, DRAINAGE, UTILITY AND SIDEWALK IMPROVE ITS ON NORTH STREET FROM BEN GEORGIA STREET TO BEN WILSON STREET. ITEM D4 IS APPROVING A CHANGE ORDER TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AMOUNT WITH MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC. FOR THE RELOCATION OF THE P25 PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO NETWORK AS PART OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS PROJECT IN AN AMOUNT OF $4669 FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $892,979. AND ITEM D5'S RECORD LUKE -- A REVOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE VICTORIA FIRE ASSOCIATION LOCAL 3679 IS A DESIGNATED BARGAINING AGENT FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH THE CITY OF VICTORIA, PURSUANT TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 174.101. >> THANK YOU. DO I HAVE A MOTION ON THE CONSENT AGENDA? >> I MOVE WE ADOPT THE CONSENT AGENDA. >> I SECOND. >> MOTION AND SECOND, ALL IN [1. Award the NE Water Street Waterline Replacement Project to Mercer Cons...] FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY POST? AND THE CONSENT AGENDA IS PAST. WE WILL MOVE INTO SECTION E WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE CITY ENGINEER SECTION TONIGHT. [LAUGHTER] THEY HAVE ALL THREE OF THESE. WE WILL START WITH E1. >> AWARDING THE NORTHEAST WATER STREET WATER LINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT TO MERCER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,135,007. >> GOOD EVENING. >> GOOD EVENING. >> TONIGHT WE WILL ASK COUNSEL TO AWARD A CONTRACT FOR THE NORTHEAST WATER STREET WATER LINE WERE PLACEMENT PROJECT. THIS PROJECT CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 3150 FEET WATER LINE ALONG WITH WATER STREET FROM CAMERON. WE'RE GOING TO TRY THE SERVERS -- WATER SERVICES, REPLACE THE METERS AND REPLACE FIRE HYDRANTS AS WELL. WE WILL HAVE A BORE UNDER THE RAILROAD AT WATER AND AN STREET. THIS PROJECT WAS PART OF THE 2025 CIBC BUT BECAUSE OF THE RAILROAD BOARD AND THE PERMIT THAT WE HAD TO OBTAIN THAT CAUSED DELAYS, THAT IS WHY WE ARE NOW JUST AWARDING THIS CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THREE BIDS WERE RECEIVED. ONE FROM MERCER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, THERE IS ALSO AN ALTERNATE ONE AN ALTERNATE TWO TOTALING UP TO 1,135,000 AND $7. THE CONTRACTING SERVICES OF VICTORIA, THAT BASE DID TOTAL TO 1,000,003 HUNTED $17,275. AND LESTER CONTRACTING BASE BID ALTERNATE ONE AND ALTERNATE TO TOTALED UP TO $1,690,405. AFTER REVIEWING THE BIDS AND RANKING AND SCORING THEM, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BASE BID ALTERNATE ONE AND ALTERNATE TO ALL BE AWARDED TO MERCER CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. QUESTIONS? >> ANY QUESTIONS? [00:20:04] THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY MOTIONS WITH RESPECT TO ITEM E1. >> MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> I'VE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? OTHER THAN -- I CAN'T IMAGINE IT TOOK THIS LONG FOR YOU TO GET A PERMIT BUT APPARENTLY IT DID. [LAUGHTER] FAIR ENOUGH. ALL RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. [2. Award the 2026 Residential Street Maintenance Project to Clark Constru...] ANY POST? ITEM TRAN5 PASSES. WE WILL MOVE THEN TO ITEM E2. >> ITEM E2 IS A RESOLUTION AWARDING THE 2026 RESIDENTIAL STREET MAINTENANCE PROJECT TO CLARK CONSTRUCTION OF TEXAS INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,208,436.40. >> WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION RECENTLY REGARDING THE 2026 RESIDENTIAL STREET PROGRAM. NOW WE ARE COMING TO COUNSEL TO ASK YOU TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO CLARK CONSTRUCTION FOR THE WORK IN TOWN. THE ORIGINAL BUDGET OF THIS PROJECT WAS 4,100,000. THE PROJECT AREAS ARE AS LISTED ON THIS SLIDE AND SHOWN ON THE MAP. THREE BIDS WERE RECEIVED FOR THIS PROJECT. CLARK CONSTRUCTION OF SAN ANTONIO SUBMITTED A BASE BID AND AN ALTERNATE ONE -- ALTERNATE ONE WAS THE PORTION TO PUT HOT MIX ASPHALT ON HORSE SIDE ROAD TO THE CITY LIMITS. THERE WERE SOME COMMENTS REGARDING THAT SINCE CITIZENS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT DONE. SO HE PUT THAT IN AS AN ALTERNATE, THE PROCESS CAME IN AS REASONABLE AND WE'RE LOOKING TO AWARD THAT. CLARK'S BID WAS $3,208,436.40. LESTER CONTRACTING BOTH OF THEIR BASE BID AND ALTERNATES WAS 4,002,001 HUNTED $75. AND CK NEWBERRY THEIR BASE AND ALTERNATE BID TOTALED $3,944,846. AFTER REVIEWING THE BIDS, SCORING THEM, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THE BASE BID BE AWARDED TO CLARK CONSTRUCTION. HERE IS SOME ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. ARE MARCH COUNSEL WORKSHOP, THERE WAS DISCUSSION ABOUT MOVING TERRA VISTA STEEL CODING FROM THIS PROJECT. WE COULD NOT DO THAT AS PART OF IT, WE HAD TO AWARD THE PROJECT FIRST AND THEN COME BACK TO YOU WITH THE CHANGE. THERE WAS ALSO OVER A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ADDITIONAL FUNDS WHICH CAME IN UNDER BUDGET AND WE DISCUSSED WITH YOU AT THE WORKSHOP REGARDING SOME ADDITIONAL STREETS WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE WORK DONE ON. RATHER THAN TRYING CHANGE INTO THIS CONTRACT, WE START TO ENCROACH THE MAXIMUM LIMIT OF 25% OVER THE ORIGINAL AWARDED AMOUNT. WE'RE GOING TO PACKAGE THIS UP INTO A NEW PROJECT BID AND WE WILL ADVERTISE THAT AND RECEIVE BIDS IN EARLY APRIL. I THINK APRIL EIGHTH IS THE DATE WE'RE LOOKING AT. ANY QUESTIONS? >> GREAT TO HEAR WE ARE ABLE TO GET SOMEWHERE STREETS DONE BASED ON OUR BIDS, THAT IS GREAT. OR OUR ESTIMATES, RATHER. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. DO I HAVE ANY MOTIONS WITH ITEM E2? >> I MOVED TO ADOPT. >> SECOND. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? [3. Award the 2026 Thoroughfare Maintenance Project to Clark Construction ...] AND ITEM E2 PASSES. WE WILL MOVE THEN TO ITEM E3. >> A RESOLUTION AWARDING THE 2026 THOROUGHFARE MAGNETS PROJECT CLARK CONSTRUCTION OF TEXAS, INC. ANY AMOUNT OF $4,154,923.15. >> FOR OUR FISCAL YEAR, 2026 FOR THE STREET PROGRAM, THE SCOPE OF THIS PROJECT FOR THIS STREETS THAT ARE LISTED ON THE SLIDES AS SHOWN HERE ALSO, WE PUT IN SOME ALTERNATE BID ITEMS WHICH ARE THE FILLING OF SIDEWALK ON SOME OF THE STREETS WHERE WE HAD THE SIDEWALKS SOMEWHERE WHERE THERE IS NO SIDEWALK AND IN SIDEWALKS AGAIN. WE WILL TRY TO CONNECT THOSE. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO PUT SIDEWALKS ON ALL OF THE STREETS BUT WE THOUGHT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO SOME INFILL ON THE SIDEWALKS. TWO BIDS WERE RECEIVED. ONE IS CLARK CONSTRUCTION, THERE BID, BASE BID AND BOTH ALTERNATES WAS TOTALED 4,000,100 WERE THOUSAND $923.15. CK NEWBERRY WITH A BASE BID AND ALTERNATES TOTALED $4,699,094. A THIRD BID WAS SUBMITTED BUT [00:25:10] WAS DISQUALIFIED DUE TO ERRORS IN THE BID. NOT ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO SUBMIT WERE SUBMITTED. SO WE HAD TO DISQUALIFY THAT. BASED UPON THE REVIEW OF THE BIDS AND THE SCORING BETWEEN THE CONTRACTORS, STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT WE AWARD THIS CONTRACT TO CLARK CONSTRUCTION. >> WHAT WERE THE BUDGETS FOR THIS? >> THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, THE BUDGET WAS $6,130,000. SO WE ARE UNDER BUDGET ON THIS ONE. BUT I WAS TOLD I CANNOT HAVE THAT MONEY TO WORK ON THE STREETS. [LAUGHTER] >> WHO TOLD YOU THAT? >> GO TO THE NEXT LINE. BECAUSE DAVID WAS GOING TO MENTION ABOUT THIS ADDITION THAT WAS DISCUSSED AT THE MARCH SIXTH WORKSHOP TO CONTINUE EDINBURG ALL THE WAY TO NAVARRO. THAT WILL TAKE UP SOME OF THE ROUGHLY $2 MILLION IN QUOTE, UNQUOTE SAVINGS. BUT WHAT DAVID IS REFERRING TO AN TERMS OF US NOT WANTING TO TAKE UP ANY MORE OF THAT IS THE SOURCE. SO THOROUGHFARE PROJECTS ARE SOURCED THROUGH THEIR AND SO WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO NOT, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, JUST UTILIZE THE ENTIRE $2 MILLION. IN LIGHT OF RECENT CONVERSATION WE HAVE HAD ON THINGS SUCH AS THE GAP WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER AS AN EXAMPLE. THAT IS PROBABLY THE LEADING DRIVER OF THAT. AS WELL AS JUST OTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOME OF WHICH I WILL ACTUALLY SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. BUT THAT WAS THE REASON BEHIND NOT WANTING TO JUST TAKE UP THE ENTIRE AMOUNT AT THIS TIME. >> COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE PRIOR SLIDE? YOU MENTIONED NORTHSIDE IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION. AND I DON'T REMEMBER WHETHER IT WAS DRAWN THERE BUT IT IS ON THIS ONE. SO I WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT CONFUSED. >> I WAS THINKING THAT WAS AN ALTERNATE ON THE RESIDENTIAL STREET. BUT MAYBE THAT WAS ON THE THOROUGHFARE PROJECT. >> SO IT IS BEING TAKEN CARE OF ONE WHERE THE OTHER? >> YES. >> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS? >> I JUST HAVE A COMMENT. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT YOU ROUTINELY HEAR QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMUNITY OR FROM COUNSEL, I HAVE ASKED IN THE PAST AND I'M FULLY AWARE OF HOW IT WORKS NOW, BUT I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T TAKE UP THAT YOU HAVE A VERY EXTENSIVE SCORING SYSTEM SO INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY WILL SAY IT JUST GOES TO THE LOWEST BIDDER. THAT IS NOT THE CASE, CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. THE BID PRICE IS A LARGE FACTOR IN THE SCORING THAT WE HAVE OTHER FACTORS THAT COME INTO PLAY. REPUTATION OF THE CONTRACTOR, SAFETY RECORD, ABILITY TO PERFORM THE WORK. YOU NEED TO HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT. THERE ARE VARIOUS THINGS THAT ALL COME INTO THIS SCORING SYSTEM. >> AND LEGALLY IT IS REFERRED TO AS BEST VALUE. THAT IS THE PART OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OR STATE STATUTE THAT WE SUBSCRIBE TO WHEN WE FOLLOW THAT APPROACH. >> I WAS THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT IS ARBITRARILY DECIDED. THERE'S A WHOLE SCORING PROCESS. >> -- >> SURE. BUT IT'S EARLY DOESN'T HURT. TO HAVE A VERY AFFORDABLE PRICE. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO? >> THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. THEN I WILL NEED A MOTION WITH RESPECT TO ITEM E3. >> I MOVE WE ADOPT ITEM E3. >> I SECOND THAT. >> A MOTION AND A SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. ANY OPPOSED? TRAN7 PASSES. LOTS OF STREET WORK AND MORE TO [F. City Manager Reports:] COME. SO WE WILL MOVE THEN TO SECTION F CITY MANAGER REPORTS. MR. GARZA, WHAT YOU HAVE FOR US? >> WE HAVE A COUPLE DATES FOR YOU THIS EVENING. FIRST IS AN OVERVIEW AROUND AN ANNUAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE EMS RATE IN ALIGNMENT WITH TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE GUIDELINES. COUNSEL ACTUALLY LAST RECEIVED A VERY SIMILAR UPDATE BACK IN 2019 , I BELIEVE IT WAS. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A COUNCIL ACTION IS Y MANAGER REPORT AND WAS ALSO UNDER CITY MANAGER REPORT BACK [00:30:01] IN 2019. SO ANYWAY, I'M SURE CHIEF WILL PROVIDE THE UPDATE ON IT. >> GOOD EVENING, WELCOME. AS ALWAYS. >> GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU, BASICALLY, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND OUR EMS BILLING AND HOW IT AFFECTS US. OKAY? SO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE REGULATES INSURERS AND OTHER COMPANIES THAT CONDUCT BUSINESS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THIS IS TEXAS-BASED INSURANCE CONSUMERS. NOW THE AGENCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE TEXAS INSURANCE CODE, REGULATES THE INSURANCE BUSINESS, PROTECTS THE CONSUMERS AND ENSURES THAT THERE IS FAIRNESS, COMPETITION AMONG THE COMPANIES AND FOSTERS THE STABILITY OF THE INSURANCE MARKET. TDI HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. BUT THIS NEW PROCESS WAS ESTABLISHED IN 20242 HELP WITH THE STATE TO CONTROL ITS MEDICAID COST BY CAPPING YEARLY INCREASES. SO WHAT TDI DOES IS THEY COLLECT THE REPORTS FROM EMS BILLING RATES ESTABLISHED BY AGENCIES AND SO OUR BILLING AGENCY REPORT THE MS PROCEDURE CODES, THEY ALSO REPORT THE BILLING FOR RESIDENT VERSUS NONRESIDENT BILLING RIGHTS. AND IT IS WHAT THEY DO IS SUBMITTED ANNUALLY. SO IF AN AGENCY DOESN'T REPORT RATES FOR A GIVEN YEAR AND DOES NOT SUBMIT THE UPDATED RATES IN THE SUBSEQUENT YEAR, THE MOST RECENTLY REPORTED RATE REMAINS IN EFFECT. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE SUBMITTED RATE EXCEEDS THE LIMITS ON ALLOWABLE INCREASES, TDI ADJUSTS THE RATE ON THE MAXIMUM COMPLIANT AMOUNT. SO IN 2025, THE INCREASE WAS 2.4%. THIS COMING YEAR, THE ALLOWABLE INCREASE IS 2%. VICTORIA FIRE HAS NOT HAD A RATE INCREASE IN EMS SINCE 2019. SO WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING IS THAT WE ADJUST OUR EMS RATES TO ANNUALLY REFLECT THE TDI ALLOWABLE INCREASE. IT IS IMPORTANT WE DO THAT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO THAT AND SAY NEXT YEAR IT IS AN ALLOWABLE INCREASE OF 2 PERCENT, CITY EUROPE THAT IS ANOTHER 2 PERCENT, OVER THREE YEARS' TIME IT IS 6%. IF YOU DON'T INCREASE WE CAN ONLY INCREASE BY THE ALLOWABLE PERCENT. SO IF THE NEXT FOLLOWING YEAR IS 2 PERCENT, THAT IS ALL WE CAN DO IS 2%. SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE KIND OF STAY WITH WHAT IS ALLOWED. SO THIS ADJUSTMENT, AGAIN, IT MAINTAINS COMPLIANCE WITH THE STATE'S REQUIREMENTS AND PREVENTS REVENUE EROSION DUE TO INFLATION. IT SUPPORTS EMS OPERATIONS AND SERVICE DELIVERY. IT ASSISTS WITH THE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT NEEDED TO PROVIDE EMS SERVICE AND SUPPORT TRAINING AND PERSONNEL COSTS. AND HERE IS KIND OF JUST A SAMPLE OF THE CURRENT RATE AND THE PROPOSED RATE FOR 2026, WHICH IS A 2% INCREASE. AS YOU CAN SEE FOR OXYGEN IT IS 135, 2% UP TO 137. IN ALS TRANSPORT OF 1500 WOULD INCREASE UP TO 1530. EIGHT BLS TRANSPORT OF 1200 WOULD INCREASE UP TO 1224. SO THE DEADLINE TO INCREASE ALL OF THIS IS MARCH 23RD. AND SO I WILL ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. >> I WILL ONLY BRIEFLY ADD THAT PER CODE, THE AUTHORITY TO SIGN OFF ON THESE INCREASES FALLS ON ME AS THE CITY MANAGER, WHICH IS WHY IT IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM FOR COUNSEL AND AN INFORMATIONAL. SO TO THE CHIEFS POINT, OUR INTENTION MOVING FORWARD IS TO MAKE THIS ADJUSTMENT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS SO WE DO A BETTER JOB OF KEEPING UP WITH THAT RATE. AS OPPOSED TO WAITING SIX YEARS OR SO TO DO IT. >> ANY QUESTIONS ANYONE HAS ON THAT? I THINK THAT CERTAINLY WE WANT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THAT SO I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT TO GET US IN COMPLIANCE AND KEEP US THAT WAY. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, CHIEF. >> OUR NEXT PRESENTER IS RUNNING A FEW MINUTES LATE, THEY'RE COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN. I SPOKE TO THEM A FEW MINUTES AGO AND THEY SAID THEY ARE ABOUT [00:35:04] TWO OR 3 MINUTES OUT. SO WE CAN JUST HANG OUT OR TAKE A BREAK, IT IS UP TO YOU. >> WHEN WE TAKE A SHORT BREAK THEN? WE WILL TAKE A BREAK >> ARE WE BACK ON? >> WE'RE BACK IN SESSION NOW AFTER A SHORT BREAK AND WE WILL MOVE ON THEN TO OUR LAST CITY MANAGER REPORT WHICH IS A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING OVERVIEW. >> I WILL TURN OVER TO ALLISON FOR THIS ONE. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS ALL OF YOU NOW IN NOVEMBER ON WAS APPROVED BY OUR VOTERS ADOPTING CHAPTER 174 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE FOR OUR FIREFIGHTERS ALSO KNOWN AS COLLECTIVE-BARGAINING. AS PART OF THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS, WE HAVE HIRED PEOPLE TO ASSIST IN THE PROCESS. THEY WILL BE REPRESENTING THE CITY AS WE WORK OUR WAY THROUGH BARGAINING WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION WHO WAS FORMALLY RECOGNIZED IN THE CONSENT AGENDA OF THIS MEETING. MR. DENTON IS A PARTNER IN HIS FIRM AND SPECIALIZES AS A LITIGATOR AND DEFENSE OF MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND AS A LEAD NEGOTIATOR AND LABOR CONTRACTOR. HE SERVED AS THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR COLLEGE STATION AND SAN ANTONIO PRIOR TO ESTABLISHING THE FIRM. MISS RODRIGUEZ IS ALSO PARTNERED WITH EXPERIENCE IN HOUSING AUTHORITIES AS A CITY ATTORNEY AND GENERAL COUNSEL. SHE HAS EXPERIENCE IN BOTH POLICE AND FIRE CIVIL-SERVICE ISSUES AND HAS SERVED AS LEAD NEGOTIATOR FOR FIRE AND POLICE IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. I HAVE ASKED HIM HERE THIS EVENING AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU AND HAVE THEM GIVE YOU A BRIEF REFRESH ON CHAPTER 174, WHAT IT ENTAILS AND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT GOING FORWARD IN THE COMING MONTHS. SO NOW I WILL TURN THE MICROPHONE OVER TO MR. DENTON. THANK YOU SIR FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, WELCOMED. >> THANK YOU, YOUR HONOUR,, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL. I WANT TO TELL Y'ALL, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS FOR CLARISSA AND I TO BE HERE, TO WORK WITH Y'ALL AND TO SERVE YOUR PUBLIC IN THIS PROCESS. I WILL GIVE YOU A BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT WHO I AM AND WHO SHE IS. I LEARNED MY EARLY STAGES OF BARGAINING WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS IN THEIR LOCAL EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATIONS IN SAN ANTONIO WHERE IS THIS THE ATTORNEY BACK IN 84 FOR ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS. SAN ANTONIO IS ONE OF THE CITIES WHERE THE STATUTE, CHAPTER 174 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE WAS FIRST IMPLEMENTED. IT WAS ACTUALLY THE PLACE WHERE THE FIRST LAWSUIT OVER THE TERMS OF THAT STATUTE BROUGHT EVERYONE TO THE COURTHOUSE. ALTHOUGH WE DIDN'T LEARN MUCH IN THAT CASE. AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT YOU WILL SEE IN THIS BRIEFING AND IN THE LATER ATTORNEY-CLIENT BRIEFING IS THAT THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF COURT DEVELOP LAW IN CONNECTION WITH THIS STATUTE. A LOT OF WHAT WE DO IS BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW BUT ALSO THE PRACTICALITIES IN THE WAY THIS IS WORK THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE AFTER WORKING WITH THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER IN SAN ANTONIO TO BEGIN WITH, TO REPRESENT CITIES ALL OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND HOUSTON AND EL PASO AND FORT WORTH AND THE WORK WE HAVE DONE FOR DALLAS EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT THE LEAD NEGOTIATOR THERE. SAN ANTONIO AND AUSTIN, CORPUS CHRISTI -- MANY CITIES ALL AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD WITH THE LAWYERS AND THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THE LOCAL EMPLOYEE OFFICERS OF THE FIREFIGHTER ASSOCIATIONS THROUGHOUT TEXAS, THE POLICE OFFICER ASSOCIATIONS AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS HAVE REALLY FACILITATED OUR ABILITY TO DO A GOOD JOB FOR YOU AND YOUR CITIZENS WHEN WE GET INTO THIS STATUTORY PROCESS OR MAKING LABOR AGREEMENTS WITH THE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SAFETY GROUPS. HERE'S THE BACKGROUND FOR NEGOTIATIONS. MISS RODRIGUEZ HAS BEEN A MEMO OF OUR FIRM FOR LONGER THAN I CAN EVEN REMEMBER. SHE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL PROTEGE AND NOW SOMETIMES I AM HER PROTEGE BECAUSE THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT WORKS. WHEN YOU HAVE REALLY PASSIONATE, DEDICATED, COMPETENT PROFESSIONALS THAT ALWAYS LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND FROM THEIR COLLEAGUES. SHE REALLY ENJOYS DOING THIS. AND SHE'S EXTREMELY GOOD AT IT. THE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, AS YOU SEE FROM THE MATERIAL IN FRONT OF YOU, SUBMITTED THEIR PETITION FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING, THAT WAS ADOPTED AND SO YOU WILL BE RECOGNIZING THE VICTORIA FIRE ASSOCIATION AS THE REPRESENTATIVE UNDER THE STATUTE WHEN BARGAINING STARTS, THERE IS A STATUTORY PERIOD THAT IS KIND OF CONFUSING BECAUSE ALMOST [00:40:01] NOBODY DOES A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT. WE HAVE SOME CLIENTS THAT ACTUALLY DO ONE YEAR LABOR AGREEMENTS WITH THESE ASSOCIATIONS. TYPICALLY A CITY IS GOING TO DECIDE THAT WE WOULD RATHER HAVE A MULTIYEAR AGREEMENT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE USING NOW AND IN THIS CYCLE AND MAYBE IN FUTURE CYCLES OUTSIDE OF VENDORS LIKE US THAT DON'T COME CHEAP, BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT EVERY YEAR IF YOU CAN HAVE A MULTI-YEAR LABOR AGREEMENT THAT IS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF YOUR EMPLOYEES AND THE CITY. THE STATUTE WAS REALLY WRITTEN FOR AN ANNUAL BARGAINING PROCESS BECAUSE IT IS BASED ON YOUR BUDGET CYCLE. YOU HAVE THIS 120 DAY PERIOD THAT YOU SEE THERE TO WHERE WE GET A NOTICE FROM THEM, WE HAVE 60 DAYS TO START THE BARGAINING PROCESS, WE HAVE A STATUTORY 60 DAYS TO MAKE A DEAL AND THEN THAT PLUGS INTO YOUR BUDGET CYCLE. MOST CITIES, ESPECIALLY THE MAJOR CITIES HAVE SUCH COMPLEXITY AND THEIR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS THAT IT SOMETIMES TAKES OVER A YEAR TO MAKE A DEAL OR TO REPLACE THE LAST DEAL THAT THEY HAVE HAD. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC HERE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A CONSIDERABLY SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME. WE DID THE FIRST FIREFIGHTER AGREEMENT FOR THE CITY OF IRVING LAST YEAR AND IT WENT QUITE WELL. IT WAS QUICK, IT WASN'T DONE IN 60 DAYS BUT IT WAS DONE IN A FAIRLY SHORT TIME PERIODS. I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY A PRETTY GOOD TARGET FOR VICTORIA TO SHOOT FOR ONCE WE GET TO THE TABLE. WHETHER OR NOT WE MAKE IT WITH THE FINAL DEER FOR YOUR -- DEAL FOR YOUR BUDGET, WITH DEADLY HAPPENS WITH THE MULTIYEAR AGREEMENT IS THAT YOU HAVE A FIRST YEAR LEVEL OF COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE BASED ON WHAT IS SHAPING UP AND GOING INTO EFFECT, EVEN IF YOUR CONTRACT IS NOT DONE YET. AND THEN IN FUTURE YEARS, YOU ENTER INTO YOUR LONG-TERM MASTER PLAN. AND BY THE WEIGHT ANY POINT, WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR I SAY SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE, JUST TELL ME TO STOP AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS. GOOD FAITH BARGAINING IS THE NEXT QUESTION. THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF BARGAINING AND TEXAS. THERE'S MEAT AND CONFIRMED BARGAINING WITH THE STATUTE SAYS YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SIT DOWN WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES AND TO TALK ABOUT MAKING A CONTRACT AND DECIDE WHETHER YOU WANT TO DO IT OR NOT, NEITHER PARTY IS UNDER RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO. THIS PETITION, UNDER CHAPTER 174 IS FOR WHAT IS KNOWN AS A LITTLE ML RB. THAT IS THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT. THAT IS THE BASIS FOR UNIONIZATION OF PRIVATE-SECTOR WORKPLACES ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES. THE MODEL UNDER THE TEXAS LAW IS A NUMBER OF ASPECTS OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT. THIS PART HERE, THE DUTY TO BARGAIN IN GOOD FAITH AT REASONABLE TIMES CONFER REGARDING COMPENSATION HOURS AND OTHER CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT INTO A WRITTEN CONTRACT AS NEEDED. THAT COMES RIGHT STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FEDERAL STANDARD FOR UNIONIZATION OF PRIVATE-SECTOR WORKPLACES. ON THE OTHER HAND, SINCE THIS IS PUBLIC-SECTOR BARGAINING, NEITHER PARTY IS REQUIRED TO AGREE TO A PROPOSAL OR MAKE CONCESSIONS. THESE ARE OPEN TO LIBERATIONS SO THE PUBLIC CAN COME AND WATCH. THEY RARELY DO. OTHERWISE I'M SURPRISED THERE IS AS LITTLE PUBLIC ATTENDANCE AND FRANKLY, MEDIA ATTENDANCE IS THERE IS IN THESE SESSIONS. ONLY IN THE PLACES THAT WE HAVE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIKE CITIZEN OVERSIGHT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN AUSTIN, WHICH YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN IN THE MEDIA HERE. WHEN WE WENT BARGAINING IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN WE HAD A VERY CONTENTIOUS POLICE CONTRACT LAST YEAR AND AUSTIN. MOST OF THE TIME THIS GOES UNDER THE RADAR. WE'RE DOING DAY-TO-DAY, PRETTY MUNDANE BUSINESS TALKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND BENEFITS AND CONTRIBUTIONS AND CO-PAYS. WE FIND WHAT DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND NOTICES. WHEN SOMEONE GETS IN TROUBLE AND GETS INVESTIGATED MAYBE IT'S DISCIPLINED BY THE CHIEF. WE SET UP A LEAD NEGOTIATOR FOR THE CITY AND ASSOCIATION AND WE WILL GET TO GROUND RULES LATER ON, WERE GROUND RULES LAYOUT THIS PROCESS SO EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE. WE SCHEDULE THESE MEETINGS IN ADVANCE, WE GET OUR DATA TOGETHER, COME UP WITH A BUDGET. TYPICALLY BOTH SIDES RELY ON EXISTING LABOR AGREEMENTS FOR OTHER CITIES THAT WE FIND TO BE COMPARABLE OR AT LEAST COMPATIBLE WITH THE PHILOSOPHIES AND THE OBJECTIVES THAT YOU HAVE FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA. AND WE USE THOSE SO WE'RE NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE PAYING LAWYERS TO SPEND TIME WRITING A NEW ARTICLE EVERY TIME YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR HEALTH BENEFITS ARTICLE SAYS. A NEW ARTICLE EVERY TIME WE WRITE A DISCIPLINARY PROVISION. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE STATUTE TALKS ABOUT HIS IMPASSE. THIS IS THE MORE COMPLICATED ASPECT OF THE STATUTE AND HOW IT WORKS. I'M HOPING AND PRAYING THAT YOU DON'T EVER GET TO LEARN ALL ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IMPASSE JUST MEANS THAT YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE A DEAL. AND THAT THERE IS A STATUTORY SET OF SOLUTIONS FOR THAT. MEDIATION IS ONE THAT IF WE HAVE SOME ISSUES, I PROMISE YOU, IT WILL BE ALL OF THE ISSUES. [00:45:03] IT TYPICALLY WILL BE A FEW OF THE THORNY ISSUES THAT WE HAVE THAT WE CAN'T RESOLVE. AND WE END UP WITH WHAT IS KNOWN AS TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS. YOU WILL HAVE AN ARTICLE AND YOU WILL SAY OKAY, WE HAVE AGREED ON THIS ARTICLE AND WE WILL CALL IT A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT AND SET IT ASIDE. AND WE HAVE A FINAL AGREEMENT WHERE EVERYTHING IS DONE, IT WILL BE IN IT. BUT WE STILL HAVE NINE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T RESOLVED YET. SO TYPICALLY YOU'RE GOING TO MEDIATION OVER ONE OR TWO OR THREE OF THOSE THINGS, ALMOST ALWAYS, OBVIOUSLY, WILL BE THE PAY RAISE. IT WILL BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS. BUT THAT IS TYPICALLY THE WAY THE PROCESS WORKS. THE ARBITRATION IS A STATUTORY OPTION. THERE ARE SOME CITIES IN THE STATE FOR WHICH ARBITRATION IS MANDATORY, EITHER BECAUSE THEIR VOTERS HAVE CHOSEN IT BY CHARTER CHANGE OR BECAUSE SOME OF THE STATUTES PROVIDE FOR THOSE. HOUSTON, FOR INSTANCE THAT I REPRESENT EVERY YEAR IN LITIGATION OVER THESE ISSUES AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR A VERY LONG TIME, DID A HEAVY STATUTE THAT REQUIRES COMPULSORY OBLIGATION TO PASS BARGAINING BUT THAT PART OF THE STATUTE DOESN'T APPLY IN VICTORIA PERIODS YOU CAN CHOOSE TO GO TO ARBITRATION IF YOU THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA OR YOU CAN SAY NO. IF YOU SAY NO AND THE ASSOCIATION IS UNSATISFIED AND WE DON'T MAKE A DEAL, THAN THEY CAN GO TO THE COURTHOUSE AND THEY CAN ASK A COURT TO APPLY THE STANDARD THAT IS REQUIRED. THIS SHOWS HOW VOLUNTARY ARBITRATION IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU GET TO CHOOSE IF YOU GO TO ARBITRATION, THAT MEANS THAT FROM SOME PEOPLE'S PERSPECTIVE, YOU ARE SURRENDERING YOUR PREROGATIVES TO SET THE BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF VICTORIA. ARBITRATION IS ALWAYS UNPREDICTABLE. ALTHOUGH IT IS COMMON ENOUGH IN BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR STANDARDS AND LOCATIONS THAT YOU CAN MAKE AN EDUCATED CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT ARBITRATION WOULD BE GOOD OR BAD FOR YOU AND YOUR CITIZENS IN THE PARTICULAR FRAMEWORK OF WHAT YOUR CONTROVERSY IS. THEY ARE NEVER THE SAME. YOU WILL NOT HAVE ARBITRATION YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR OVER THE SAME THINGS. THE STATUTORY STANDARD IS A PRIVATE-SECTOR STANDARD NEC THAT IS FROM A CASE. THAT CASE, THE CITY OF HOUSTON, THAT IS CALLED THE PROP BE CASE. IN THE CASE WITH THE SAME NAME THAT WAS HEARD BY THE SUPREME COURT AT THE SAME TIME IS THE CASE THAT I HANDLED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. WHERE WE CONTENDED THAT THIS PROVISION AND THE STATUTE WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. THE SUPREME COURT DISAGREED WITH THAT, FOUND THAT THE PRIVATE-SECTOR STANDARD FOR EMPLOYEE PAY WAS CONSTITUTIONAL. AND ANY OTHER CASE THAT IS LISTED THERE, THE PROP B CASE, VOTERS IN HOUSTON HAD DECIDED THEY WANTED FIREFIGHTERS TO BE PAID ON PARITY WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND THAT THEY WOULD GET THE SAME PAY AS POLICE OFFICERS. THE SUPREME COURT SAID NO, WE CANNOT DO THAT BECAUSE THE STATUTE SAYS THAT THE STANDARD FOR FIREFIGHTER PAY IS COMPARABLE PAY TO PRIVATE-SECTOR FIREFIGHTERS AND NOT TO PUBLIC-SECTOR POLICE OFFICERS. SO THAT CASE DEFINED A LOT OF WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPASSE MODEL, SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO GO TO ARBITRATION. OR IF THE ASSOCIATION DECIDED TO TAKE YOU TO COURT BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE A DEAL. THE LIST THERE SHOWS THE THINGS THAT THE ARBITRATOR SHOULD CONSIDER OR THAT THE COURT WOULD CONSIDER IF YOU HAD A PRIVATE-SECTOR CASE. NOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT HERE IS THAT THIS PRIVATE-SECTOR STANDARD IS ALMOST NEVER USED. THAT IS REALLY WEIRD. IS THE LAW, IT HAS BEEN THE LAW FOR LIKE 30 YEARS NOW. NOBODY DOES THAT. EVERYBODY THAT BARGAINS AROUND THE STATE, WITH A COUPLE OF EXCEPTIONS THAT I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT, LOOKS AT COMPARABLE FIREFIGHTER COMPENSATION FOR THE OTHER CITIES LIKE VICTORIA IN THE LABOR MARKET THAT YOU ARE IN WHAT IS EVERYBODY PAYING THEIR FIREFIGHTERS IN CITIES THAT YOU THINK ARE WHERE YOU ARE HIRING YOUR EMPLOYEES. >> CAN ASK ONE QUESTION ABOUT THAT? >> PLEASE DO. >> IN THIS PRECEDENT YOU CITED THERE, WHEN IT TALKS ABOUT COMPENSATION, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKET? >> THE WHOLE THING. >> SO IT WOULD BE, I GUESS THE MUNICIPALITY EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, AS COMPARED TO PRIVATE-SECTOR RETIREMENT, WHICH WE KNOW HER VERY DIFFERENT. >> ABSOLUTELY YES. A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS THAT I SAID IT ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS, WE SPENT MANY YEARS, WE WERE INTERRUPTED BY THE PANDEMIC IN THE HOUSTON CASE THAT IT WAS HANDLING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY WHERE WE BOTH HAD PRIVATE-SECTOR LABOR EXPERT WITNESSES THAT HAD DEVELOPED OPINIONS ABOUT WHAT THE PAY SHOULD BE FOR HOUSTON FIREFIGHTERS. AND I WILL TELL YOU, MAYBE I'M NOT OBJECTIVE ABOUT THIS, BUT I ALWAYS FELT LIKE WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ACTUAL PRIVATE-SECTOR LABOR MARKET WAS IN THE FIREFIGHTERS ALWAYS TRY TO CHERRY-PICK THE ONES THAT WERE THE HIGHEST AND USE THOSE AS THEIR COMPARISONS. BUT IN ANY EVENT, THAT IS WHAT [00:50:03] WE FELT LIKE WAS GOING ON IN THE HOUSTON CASE. THAT ASPECT OF THE CASE WAS NEVER TRIED BECAUSE OF THIS LITIGATION THAT I TALKED ABOUT. AUSTIN, SO FAR, IS THE ONLY CITY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT HAS EVER ACTUALLY HAD A THIRD-PARTY DETERMINATION OF PAY AND BENEFITS UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR STANDARDS. AND THERE WERE EXPERTS, AGAIN, ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT CASE, DWIGHT STEWART TESTIFIED IN THE AUSTIN CASE, USER EXPERT IN THAT CASE AS WELL, RELYING ON BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS DOCUMENTS AND TEXAS WORKFORCE COMMISSION DOCUMENTS FOR PRIVATE-SECTOR FIREFIGHTERS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE AUSTIN CASE IS THE TESTIMONY ABOUT PENSION PLANS AND RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS AND HOW THOSE WORK IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR VERSUS THE PRIVATE-SECTOR. BECAUSE OUR EXPERT TO TESTIFY FOR AUSTIN, DEMONSTRATED THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING IN THE PRIVATE-SECTOR IS THE KIND OF PENSION PLAN THAT WAS BROUGHT UP. SO YOU PRETTY MUCH NAILED THE EXACT KINDS OF DYNAMICS THAT HAPPEN AND THAT PRIVATE-SECTOR MODEL. IS A PRACTICAL MATTER, WHAT WE DO IS TALK TO THE LEAD NEGOTIATORS OR THE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES ON THE OTHER SIDE AND IN TEXAS THAT IS ALWAYS A LOCAL AGENCY OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS, SOMEBODY FROM THE TEXAS ASSOCIATION, IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE PEOPLE WE HAVE DEALT WITH BEFORE, SAME THING IS TRUE ON THE POLICE SIDE IF YOU HAVE POLICE IN THIS CONTEXT, YOU DO NOT. SO WE ASK THEM. WE ARE GOING TO BARGAIN THIS CASE OVER PUBLIC COMPARISONS, WE WILL BARGAIN OVER PRIVATE COMPARISONS. MOST OF THE TIME EVERYBODY WILL BARGAIN OVER PUBLIC COMPARISONS. I'M BRINGING THIS UP BECAUSE THAT IS ONE OF THE BRIDGES THAT WE WILL CROSS AT THE BEGINNING. I THINK THAT YOUR FIREFIGHTERS ARE PROBABLY ALREADY, IN THEIR MIND-SET, THEY ARE PROBABLY ALREADY COMPARING THEM SELVES TO OTHER FIREFIGHTERS AND ARE NOT TRYING TO FIGURE HOW THEY MAKE AT THE EXXON REFINERY WHEN THEY HAVE A FIRE CREW THERE. THEY ARE NOT TRAINED FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FIREFIGHTERS MAKE AT THE TESLA PLANT AND AUSTIN, WHICH WAS PART OF THE TESTIMONY THAT I THOUGHT WAS SILLY IN THE AUSTIN PROCEEDING THAT I REFERRED TO. SO THAT IS MY BEST WAY TO GIVE YOU, IN A NUTSHELL, THE LEGAL THEORY ABOUT HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. ANIMALS NEVER DOES AND THE PRACTICALITY ABOUT HOW IT ACTUALLY DOES WORK AND DOES WORK PRETTY EFFECTIVELY, WITH FRANKLY NOT A LOT OF DISPUTES THAT DON'T GET RESOLVED IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR POLITICS, YOUR PEOPLE THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR EACH OTHER. >> I JUST WANT TO BRIEFLY ADD, FOR THE POINT THERE, AUSTIN AND HOUSTON ARE NOT THAT. SO AUSTIN HAS THEIR OWN PENSION PLAN THAT IS BASICALLY JUST THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HOUSTON HAS THEIR OWN PENSION PLAN THAT IS BASELY JUST THE CITY OF HOUSTON. >> SEPARATE STATUTES, THAT'S RIGHT. >> SO I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT. THAT THEY DO HAVE DIFFERENT PENSION STRUCTURES THEN WE WOULD HAVE. THAT IS NOT TO SAY THAT OBVIOUSLY IT IS STILL BETTER THAN PRIVATE-SECTOR PENSION PLANS. BUT I JUST DON'T WANT US THINKING THAT AUSTIN AND HOUSTON ARE THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT. >> SO THE AGREEMENT PROCESS, AGAIN, RESULT IN MOST OF THE TIME, THE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE COMING TO THE TABLE AS A RESULT OF THE COLLEAGUES THEY HAVE HAD IN THEIR STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION. THAT IS WHERE THEY HAVE LEARNED THESE THINGS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TO THE CONFERENCES AND SEEN THESE PRESENTATIONS AND THEY KNOW PEOPLE FROM FORT WORTH, FOR INSTANCE. I CANNOT ROOM FOR THE CURRENT UNION PRESIDENT THERE. BUT THE FORMER UNION PRESIDENT WHO IS NOW A NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER IS FROM SAN ANTONIO. I HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME. THE FORT WORTH CONTRACT IS A MATURE CONTRACT. AND THIS IS REALLY THE POINT THAT I WANT TO MAKE ON THIS SLIDE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BRAND-NEW CONTRACT, OKAY? WE WILL START FROM SCRATCH AND BE USING SOME MATERIALS FROM ELSEWHERE, WE WILL COBBLE TOGETHER AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL HAVE SOME STUFF RIGHT HERE THAT IS JUST FOR VICTORIA. IT IS GOING TO HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE CUT AND PASTED AND TWEAKED A LITTLE BIT FROM ELSEWHERE. THE FIREFIGHTERS WILL BE ASKING US FOR THINGS THAT IT TOOK FORT WORTH 15 YEARS TO GET, OKAY? SO THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE ARE HOPING THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO COME TO TERMS WITH. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR EXPECTATIONS. WE ARE GOING TO ASK YOU TO TEMPER YOUR EXPECTATIONS BECAUSE THIS IS A PROCESS AND/OR LABOR RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPS OVER TIME. AND SO THE CONTRACT THAT YOU WILL HAVE IN 20 YEARS IS NOT GOING TO LOOK LIKE THE FIRST CONTRACT THAT WE MAKE HERE. AT A MATURE CONTRACT LIKE FORT WORTH MAY HAVE A NUMBER OF ADVANTAGES FOR FIREFIGHTERS THAT THEY LIKE AND THEY WANT AND THEY WANTED ALL AT ONCE AND AT THE SAME TIME. IT MAY NOT. AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE THAT PERSPECTIVE. FRANKLY, I WAS REALLY PROUD OF THE TEAM THAT CAME TO THE TABLE FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS IN IRVING. THEY HAD REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS, THEY SAID WE HAVE A GOOD ORGANIZATION AND WE HAVE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, WE LOVE IT, WE ARE GLAD WE ARE HERE, WE WANT TO KEEP WHAT WE HAVE GOT AND MAKE [00:55:01] SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE ASSURANCES AND THE INCREMENTAL PROGRESS GOING FORWARD. SO I'M HOPING THAT IS THE WAY YOUR LOCAL GROUP HERE IS GOING TO SEE THIS. BECAUSE IT WORKS REALLY EFFECTIVELY. FOR ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OTHER THINGS BY CONTRACT THAT ARE ABOVE AND BEYOND OTHER ASSOCIATIONS, THEY HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN OFFSETS THERE. WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC? COST SAVINGS IN DIFFERENT AREAS, PREROGATIVES FOR THE CHIEF. AND TERMS OF MANAGING THE DEPARTMENT THAT ARE OFFSET OF THE THINGS THAT FIREFIGHTERS MAY WANT IN TERMS OF COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS. BECAUSE IT IS A TRAIT, IT IS A HORSE TRADE. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR. WHAT IS THE VALUE TO THE CITY? WHAT IS THE VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY? AND ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT IS THE VALUE TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT WORK IN THIS DEPARTMENT? THAT IS THE OVERVIEW AND I HOPE THAT WAS HELPFUL. IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL TRY TO RESPOND TO THOSE. >> ANY QUESTIONS? >> WAS ALSO JUST REMIND ME LATER ON, OF COURSE ON THE AGENDA, YOU HAVE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE DISCUSSION WHICH IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING LEGAL ADVICE. THIS BRIEFING IS FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE I HAVE NOT BEEN TELLING YOU THINGS THAT ARE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS. WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THAT DIALOG LATER ON. >> VERY GOOD. THANK YOU FOR THE INFORMATION, VERY HELPFUL. MR. GARZA, ANYTHING ELSE? >> NO SIR. >> I UNDERSTAND THAT WE WILL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION AS WAS MENTIONED. SO WE WILL TAKE A TEN-MINUTE BREAK AND IT IS SIX OR 3:00, WILL BE BACK AT 6:13. [H. Executive Sessions:] >> THE CITY COUNCIL RECESS FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE 17TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 AT 6:03 P.M., SUBJECT MATTER IS AS FOLLOWS. EXECUTIVE SESSION DELIBERATION TEXAS GOVERNMENT 1.087, * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.