Sep 12, 2023 City Council on 2023-09-12 2:00 PM (Budget Workshop)

[00:00:02]

GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THIS MEETING OF THE DENTON CITY COUNCIL.

IT IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2023.

IT'S 2:01 P.M..

WE DO HAVE A QUORUM, SO I'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.

IT'S JUST JUST A WORK SESSION TODAY.

AND THE FIRST THING ON THE AGENDA IS WORK SESSION REPORTS.

[A. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding voting locations for the November 7, 2023 Special Election. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 15 minutes]]

RECEIVE REPORT HOLD DISCUSSION.

GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING VOTING LOCATIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023 SPECIAL ELECTION.

NOW. GOOD AFTERNOON. CITY COUNCIL JESSE SALAZAR CITY SECRETARY.

CITY OF DENTON. I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE SPECIAL ELECTION POLLING LOCATIONS.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, ON AUGUST 15TH, 23, YOU CALLED THE ELECTION FOR A FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION, AND IT WAS ORDINANCE 23, 1566 ON THAT ORDINANCE.

WE IDENTIFIED THE ELECTION DAY OF NOVEMBER 7TH, 2033, WITH THE POLLING LOCATIONS BEING OPEN 7 A.M.

TO 7 P.M.

AND EARLY VOTING WILL BE HELD OCTOBER 23RD THROUGH THE 27TH, 8 A.M.

TO 5 P.M.

OCTOBER 28TH, 7 A.M.

TO 7 P.M. OCTOBER 29TH, 11 A.M.

TO 5 P.M. AND OCTOBER 30TH THROUGH NOVEMBER 3RD, 7 A.M.

TO 7 P.M..

HISTORICALLY, THE STAFF HAS PROVIDED COUNCIL WITH THE VOTING LOCATION INFORMATION.

AND WE'RE DOING AGAIN, WE'RE DOING THIS EXERCISE AGAIN.

THE COUNTY DID PROVIDE US A LIST WITH THE EARLY VOTING AND ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS WERE LISTED HERE.

AND WE WILL COME BACK TO THIS SLIDE.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS DIRECTION.

WHAT WE ARE BEING TOLD BY DENTON COUNTY ELECTIONS IS THAT WE MAY SUBSTITUTE AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION THAT MEETS THEIR CRITERIA AND ITS AVAILABILITY AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE WITH OTHER ENTITIES.

WE MAY SUBSTITUTE OR ADD AN ELECTION DAY LOCATION AS LONG AS IT MEETS THOSE THEIR CRITERIA AS WELL.

AND ONCE YOU BE MADE AWARE THAT THE REQUEST TO USE ANOTHER LOCATION WILL HAVE TO BEAR HALF THE COST WITH THAT ENTITY.

AND THOSE LOCATIONS FOR ELECTION DAY ARE AN ESTIMATED $3,000 APIECE.

SO ANY SUBSTITUTIONS, ADDITIONS YOU MAY SUGGEST TODAY WE WILL IMMEDIATELY GET TO DENTON COUNTY ELECTIONS FOR THEM AND OUR OFFICE TO CHECK AVAILABILITY, CHECK TO SEE IF IT'S ARE WILLING TO BE USED.

AND THAT DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE BY THIS FRIDAY SO THEY CAN FINALIZE ALL OF THE LOCATIONS FOR THIS ELECTION.

SO. SO HERE'S THE LIST OF EXCUSE ME, OF PROPOSED VOTING LOCATIONS.

AND IF THERE IS ANY SUGGESTIONS OR ADDITIONS, WE WILL ENTERTAIN THOSE AND MOVE THOSE FORWARD TO DENTON COUNTY ELECTIONS.

OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS? BETTER SAID FOR LOCATIONS.

COUNCIL MEMBER. ESSER.

FIRST. DID YOU GET A MORE FULL EXPLANATION OF WHY THEY COULDN'T? I CAN'T MAKE ANY SENSE OUT OF THE EXPLANATION THAT BECAUSE OF A DEADLINE THAT THEY COULDN'T ADD A LOCATION, BUT THEY COULD SUBSTITUTE BECAUSE TO SUBSTITUTE, YOU'D HAVE TO CHECK OUT THAT LOCATION.

I MEAN, EVERYTHING THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED IN ADDING A LOCATION WOULD BE INVOLVED IN SUBSTITUTING.

SO HOW DOES THE DEADLINE WEIGH IN ON THAT? WHAT THEY EXPLAINED TO US IN CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD IS FOR EARLY VOTING DUE TO THE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS HAVING TO BE SENT OUT, THAT HAD TO BE SOLIDIFIED FIRST FOR EARLY VOTING.

THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.

OKAY. I UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING YOU SAID EXCEPT HOW IT EXPLAINS WHY THAT WOULD MATTER FOR SUBSTITUTING VERSUS ADDING.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, DOES IT? THERE IS THERE IS A PROVISION, STATE LAW, I BELIEVE, THAT MANDATES THAT A PRECINCT CANNOT HAVE TWICE AS MANY LOCATIONS, VOTING LOCATIONS AS ANOTHER PRECINCT OR IT HAS TO BALANCE.

BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO STRIKE THAT BALANCE, I BELIEVE THAT IS WHY THEY CAN'T.

KEEP ADDING, BUT YOU WOULDN'T NECESSARILY KNOW IF YOU WERE APPROACHING THAT ISSUE UNLESS UNTIL YOU KNEW WHAT WAS BEING PROPOSED.

I'M PROPOSING MLK CENTER, WHICH WE'VE HAD WITHIN MEMORY.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ONE TIME BEFORE OR MANY TIMES BEFORE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVE TO KEEP ASKING FOR IT.

I THINK YOU KIND OF GET USED TO IT AFTER A WHILE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST KIND OF GO BACK AT HIM AND SAY, THIS EXPLANATION DOESN'T ACTUALLY MAKE ANY SENSE AND PROPOSE ADDING MLK CENTER.

[00:05:02]

MR. MAYOR, CAN I JUST ASK, IS THAT FOR EARLY OR IS THAT FOR EARLY? OKAY. SO IT'S INCLUDED IN IT'S INCLUDED IN ELECTION DAY.

OH, YEAH. THANK YOU.

YEAH. OKAY, SIR.

OKAY. ANYWAY, I HAVE A QUESTION.

I'LL COME BACK TO IT. COUNCILMAN MCGEE, THEN MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. WITH EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS, IS THERE ANYTHING IN STATE LAW THAT LIMITS THE NUMBER TO SIX? THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR A FACT, BUT I CAN CHECK FOR YOU.

OKAY. BECAUSE I WAS. I WAS THINKING, LISTENING TO COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.

MAYBE THAT WAS ACCOUNTS FOR.

ONE OF THE REASONS THAT PERHAPS MLK WAS NOT ON THE LIST.

SO I BELIEVE THE BALANCE IS IT CAN'T BE TWICE AS MANY AS ANOTHER AS ANOTHER PRECINCT, SO THERE CAN'T BE SIX AND ONE, TWO AND ANOTHER.

OKAY WITH ELECTION DAY LOCATIONS, ARE WE LIMITED IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF LOCATIONS FOR THAT? I BELIEVE SO.

WE ARE LIMITED. OKAY.

MAYOR PRO TEM. JESSE.

I'M JUST MAKING SURE THAT YOUR SLIDES HAVE A STAR ON THE GATEWAY CENTER.

DOES THAT MEAN ANYTHING? BECAUSE THE ONLINE SLIDES DON'T, AND I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M KEEPING I ADDED THAT THAT IT MAY BE A POSSIBILITY THAT YOUR GATEWAY DOES NOT GET USED, BUT.

THEN COUNTY ELECTIONS HAD MADE US AWARE, BUT THEY WON'T KNOW UNTIL FRIDAY, AND THEY HAVE FINAL ELECTION DECISION OVER ALL LOCATIONS.

OKAY, SO IF IF FOR SOME REASON THAT'S JUST A STRAIGHT UP ELIMINATION, NO, I BELIEVE IT WILL BE A SUBSTITUTE WITH ANOTHER LOCATION.

IT WON'T BE AN ELIMINATION.

TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT THEIR EXPLANATION WAS, WE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM AND.

UNT AND I BELIEVE WESLEY FOUNDATION ARE.

VERY CLOSE IN PROXIMITY.

SO I BELIEVE THEY WERE GOING TO JUST DECIDE ON ONE OR THE OTHER.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. I WAS JUST MAKING SURE THAT THAT WE, YOU KNOW, KEPT OUR COVERAGE.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE ASTERISK MEANT.

SO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, HIDE.

HIDE AND WATCH IS WHAT THE ASTERISK MEANS.

THE OTHER THING THAT I'M GOING TO ASK IS WE'VE USED MOST OF THESE ALL THE TIME, BUT WE WE'RE DROPPING AROUND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS.

IT KIND OF EVERY ELECTION WE CHANGE A LITTLE BIT.

AND I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE TO PLAY THE CARDS WE'RE DEALT SOMETIMES, BUT IT DOES MEAN THAT WE NEED TO DO A LITTLE EXTRA WORK FOR THOSE PRECINCTS THAT GET USED TO GOING ONE LOCATION AND END UP HAVING TO GO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

WE DON'T GO TO THE OPTIMIST CLUB ALL THAT OFTEN, OCCASIONALLY.

SO I MEAN, THERE'S THINGS LIKE THAT WHERE I'M JUST REQUESTING AS MUCH LEAD TIME FOR THE PUBLIC AS TO AVOID CONFUSION AS POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? SO COUNCILMAN.

MCGEE. YOU WANT TO GO BEFORE ME? NO, SIR. GO RIGHT AHEAD. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR. TAMARA PRO TEM'S POINT.

I'M LOOKING AT.

SERVE DENTON. AND SINCE I LIVE IN THIS AREA, I BELIEVE NORMALLY WE'VE GONE TO GRACE POINT CHURCH.

OKAY. ANY ANY ANY IDEA WHY THAT CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE? NO, SIR. WHEN WE SUBMITTED THE LIST TO COUNSEL COUNTY, THAT'S THIS IS WHAT THEY PROVIDED.

YEAH. GOOD. I DON'T WANT TO.

A LOT OF THIS IS STAFF BEING THE MESSENGER.

I DON'T WANT WE'RE NOT QUITE AS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN A LOT OF THE LAWS THAT FACTOR INTO HOW DENTON COUNTY MAKES THESE DECISIONS.

THE MAIN POINT OF BRINGING THIS FORWARD TODAY WAS TO PRESENT WHAT THE LOCATIONS WERE AND IF COUNCIL WANTED TO MODIFY IT, TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT BACK TO THE COUNTY, THAT REQUEST BACK TO THE COUNTY, THEY DO HAVE THE FINAL CALL, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF COUNCIL WANTS THEM TO CONSIDER A NEW LOCATION, WHETHER FOR EARLY VOTING OR ELECTION, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE SHARED WITH US THAT EARLY VOTING, ADDITIONAL EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS MAY WE MAY BE PAST THAT TIME.

WE CAN STILL MAKE THAT REQUEST ON COUNCIL'S BEHALF.

AND SO IF THERE ARE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED, WE CAN DO THAT.

WE JUST AREN'T QUITE AS KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THEIR PROCESSES.

WE WE CONTRACT WITH THEM TO RUN THE ELECTIONS BECAUSE IT IS A VERY COMPLEX, LEGALLY DRIVEN PROCESS AND WE CAN ASK THEM THE QUESTIONS.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO PUT STAFF IN THE POSITION WHERE WE ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A LOT OF THOSE ANSWERS BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DON'T.

I APPRECIATE THAT. SO THEN I GUESS THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS I WILL ABSOLUTELY COSIGN ON MLK BEING AN EARLY VOTING LOCATION AND I'M GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR HAVING A LOCATION ON CAMPUS FOR ELECTION DAY AS WELL.

I UNDERSTAND THAT CIVIC CENTER IS MEANT TO CAPTURE THOSE KIDS, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO WORK HARD TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A LOCATION, THAT GATEWAY CENTER

[00:10:09]

WE BELIEVE IN VOTING. LET'S TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HOLD FAST TO PUTTING A LOCATION FOR ELECTION DAY ON CAMPUS.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. OKAY.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCILMAN BYRD. NO, I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR CLARIFICATION.

IF WE REQUEST THAT MLK IS USED FOR A EARLY VOTING, THIS IS NOT GOING TO.

REMOVE. REMOVE THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY OF THOSE OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WE HAVE THERE.

ARE WE. ARE WE? DID I HEAR RIGHT THAT IF WE PUT MLK UP THERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUBSTITUTE? WE MAY HAVE TO MLK.

OKAY. SO MAKE US AWARE.

OKAY. SO THAT IS THE THING THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

AND THEN WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHICH ONE OF THOSE OTHER AREAS THAT IS CLOSE TO, I GUESS, THE CIVIC CENTER AND THE COUNTY ELECTIONS OFFICE THAT'S CLOSER TO MLK COULD POSSIBLY POSSIBLY BE SUFFICED FOR A SUBSTITUTION.

OKAY. SO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU ALL WANT TO HOW ARE WHAT ARE YOU ALL THINKING ABOUT THAT? I MEAN, WE'RE SAYING WE WANT MLK AND WE WANT IT THERE.

BUT IF THE PROCESS IS SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CHOOSE TO SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER LOCATION, THEN WE'LL ALL OF US WILL HAVE TO COME TO THE MINDSET OF WHICH ONE OF THOSE AREAS WOULD WE WANT TO SUBSTITUTE FOR MLK JUST FOR EARLY VOTING? WE KNOW MLK IS THERE FOR ELECTION DAY.

YEAH. VALID POINT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? SO TWO TWO COUNCIL MEMBER.

BIRDSEYE POINT. THERE'S BEEN THREE PEOPLE, INCLUDING MS..

BYRD, THAT SAID.

THEY WOULD ASK THAT MLK BE CONSIDERED FOR EARLY VOTING.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE? THE THREE OF YOU NEED TO COME TO A CONSENSUS ON WHAT YOU WOULD REQUEST.

BE REMOVED. COUNCIL MEMBER ESSER.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I VERY EXPLICITLY SAID THAT I DON'T FIND THE EXPLANATION MAKES ANY SENSE WHATSOEVER ABOUT THE NEED TO REMOVE.

SO MY REQUEST IS TO ADD IT AND TO CHALLENGE THAT.

ALL RIGHT. SO I WOULDN'T SAY THE SECOND PART IF I WERE IN THAT CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, UNLESS LIKE SOMEONE NOT MAKING SENSE PREVAILS, MAYBE THEY'LL MAKE SENSE OUT OF IT.

BUT IT JUST HASN'T BEEN MADE CLEAR TO ME.

IF WE END UP IN THAT POSITION ANYWAY, I WOULD SAY THAT DENTON COUNTY ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION IS LESS LIKE A NEIGHBORHOOD LOCATION THAN THE OTHERS.

SO THAT'S WHERE I WOULD GO.

BUT I WOULDN'T.

I DON'T I'M NOT YET CONVINCED OF THE NEED TO GO THERE.

I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO PROLONG THE DISCUSSION, BUT I JUST NEED TO HAVE A HEALTHY UNDERSTANDING OF.

SO YOU'RE SAYING.

YOU DON'T ACCEPT THE FACTS AS STAFFS LAID THEM OUT.

AGAIN, THEY'RE JUST PASSING THEM THROUGH.

YOU DON'T ACCEPT THOSE FACTS.

AND EVEN THE ANSWER IS GOING TO BE THE ANSWER.

RIGHT? AND SO LET'S JUST FOR HYPOTHETICAL CIRCUMSTANCES, SAY THE ANSWER IS.

WE ASK AND ANSWER.

THE ANSWER IS NO.

AND NO.

WE DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU OR YES.

THE EXPLANATION DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO YOU STILL.

WHAT IS THAT? I'M TRYING TO PROCESS THAT NEXT STEP.

SO ASSUME.

ASSUME THEY GIVE YOU A COMPLETE.

THE PARAGRAPH. WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY SENSE.

YEAH, AND IT MAKES NO SENSE.

YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT THOSE FACTS? WELL, I ALREADY GAVE YOU WHAT I WOULD DO IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCE.

PERFECT. OKAY, SO THEN THE OTHER TWO.

ARE YOU IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT? DIDN'T COUNT. THE ELECTIONS WOULD BE REMOVED.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR WOULD BE ADDED.

I AGREE WITH THAT. OKAY.

IS THERE A FOURTH? JUST.

IT'S COUNCILMAN.

WHAT'S. I'M ALL FOR WHATEVER THE NOMENCLATURE IS ADDING.

OF COURSE, THEY'VE SAID IN OUR REPORT THAT THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

WHETHER IT'S ADDING OR SUBSTITUTING.

[00:15:01]

WE'RE SAYING WE WANT TO ADD ONE AND WE WANT TO TAKE OFF YOUR COUNTY ELECTION ADMINISTRATION BUILDING.

THAT THAT'S THREE.

AND THERE'S NOT A CONSENSUS THERE YET, BUT YES.

OKAY. YEAH. IS THERE A FOURTH? YEAH. MAYOR PRO TEM, I WOULD NEED CLARITY BECAUSE I HAVE A SIMILAR QUALM AS IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE COUNCILOR WATTS DOES, AND THAT IS I'M NOT SURE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MLK ADDED.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN TAKE OUT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION LOCATION, SO I WOULD NEED CLARIFICATION BEFORE GIVING THAT DIRECTION.

OKAY. WELL, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON.

IF THERE'S NOT A FOURTH, WE WILL WE WILL POSE THE QUESTION TO.

I SUPPORT ADDING.

OKAY, I GOT IT. COUNCILMAN MCGEE, JUST QUICKLY, JESSE, YOU'RE GOING TO ASK, SO YOU'LL ASK AND YOU'LL HAVE AN ANSWER TO US BY TUESDAY.

SO WE'LL. NO, NO, SIR, WE'LL HAVE AN ANSWER TO YOU HOPEFULLY THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

IT HAS TO BE DONE BY FRIDAY.

OKAY. SO GO, GO.

SO I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND.

SO IF IF WE CAN ADD COOL AND HOPEFULLY DENTON COUNTY WILL GIVE US THE OPTIONS OF WHAT WE HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT ADDITION.

BUT IF WE CANNOT ADD, THEN WE ONLY HAVE THREE.

THAT'S NOT THAT'S NOT A MAJORITY.

IS THAT CORRECT? CORRECT.

I DON'T I DON'T KNOW WHAT WHAT WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING, BUT THERE'S NOT A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL IS ASKING FOR IT, SO STAFF'S DOING IT.

THEN YOU NEED TO SUPPORT IT, POSITION IT AS STAFF.

I DON'T WANT IT TO SAY. THE COUNCIL ASKED IF THERE'S NOT A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL.

I JUST WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW THAT MESSAGE IS SENT.

YES, SIR. AND AND BECAUSE JUST GOT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW THAT MESSAGE IS SENT.

COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND. I WOULD HATE TO LOSE A VOTING FACILITY WHOSE MIDDLE NAME IS ELECTIONS.

I THINK THAT'S JUST THE MOST OBVIOUS PLACE TO HOLD AN ELECTION IN.

ANYWHERE. ANYWHERE.

OKAY. SO.

MAKE. CATHERINE WATSON.

SO I'M CONFUSED.

I'M CONFUSED WHAT WE'RE GIVING DIRECTION ON.

ARE WE GIVING DIRECTION ON STANDING ALONE? WE'RE REQUESTING IT TO BE ADDED WITH NO CONDITION.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

IT'S AN UP OR DOWN VOTE FOR THEM.

WHETHER IT'S BEING ADDED. IS THAT IS THAT IT? OR ARE WE SAYING WE'LL ADD IT? IF WE WON'T ADD IT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO SUBSTITUTE.

WE'LL ASK DENTON COUNTY ADMINISTRATION TO BE TAKEN OFF.

AN ARE THESE TWO SEPARATE DIRECTIONS OR IS THIS ONE DIRECTION? THERE'S THERE'S MAJORITY THERE'S MAJORITY THAT SAYS COUNCIL MEMBER MAYOR PRO TEM COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE, COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER AND COUNCILMAN BYRD HAVE ALL GIVEN AN INDICATION THEY'D LIKE TO ADD MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

THERE HAS BEEN THERE'S NOT A MAJORITY THAT SAYS THEY WANT TO SUBSTITUTE THAT FOR DENTON COUNTY ELECTIONS.

I WILL ADD MY VOICE TO THE FIRST CONDITION OF JUST ADDING IT.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY. SO THERE'S A MAJORITY AROUND ADDING IF STAFF WANTS TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT REMOVING AND REPLACING, THAT'S A STAFF DECISION.

BUT THERE'S NOT A MAJORITY OF COUNCIL.

SO WE WILL SEE WHAT THE COUNTY OFFERS AS OPTIONS.

OKAY. GOT IT.

OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE? THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

NO, THAT'S GREAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

UM, TAKES US TO ITEM B, ID 231596.

[B. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding City Council Key Focus Areas and Specific Priorities for FY 2023-24. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 1 hour]]

OKAY. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

AMY KASTELIC CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER.

AND I'M HERE THIS AFTERNOON TO PROVIDE YOU WITH A FOLLOW UP ON THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAD AT THE WORKSHOP ON AUGUST THE 5TH REGARDING THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND COUNCIL PRIORITIES.

SO BEFORE WE BEGIN, I WANTED TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CLARIFICATION ON THIS PARTICULAR SLIDE THAT WE SHARED WITH YOU AT THE.

YOU'RE WELCOME THAT WE PROVIDED YOU AT THE WORKSHOP.

SO WHEN WE DISCUSS STRATEGIC PLANNING AS A PROCESS, WHILE IT IS COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ESTABLISH FOCUS AREAS AND OBJECTIVES, THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT COUNCIL DOESN'T INFORM AND HELP TO DRIVE INITIATIVES FORWARD.

THIS IS DONE WHEN COUNCIL PROVIDES FEEDBACK ON THEIR PRIORITIES FOR THE COMING YEAR AND IN HOW DOLLARS ARE ALLOCATED IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET.

COUNCIL DISCUSSED A TOTAL OF 26 PRIORITIES AT THE WORKSHOP.

OF THESE, 21 HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS BEING READY TO MOVE FORWARD AS MANAGEMENT LED PRIORITIES.

YOU'LL SEE THESE LISTED ON THE HANDOUT THAT PROVIDED IT'S JUST UNDER YOUR AGENDA IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET.

[00:20:06]

THESE INCLUDE DEVELOPING A DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION STRATEGY, DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A ROADWAY FUNDING STRATEGY IN ORDER TO ADDRESS ROADWAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE NEEDS.

IMPLEMENTING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES EFFORTS TO ATTRACT MAJOR EMPLOYERS AND TO BOLSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

DEVELOPING A DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, IMPLEMENTING THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STRATEGIC TOOLKIT AND CREATING THE CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN. THERE ARE A FEW OTHERS LISTED THAT STAFF WILL NEED TO CREATE ALIGNED INITIATIVES FOR IN ORDER TO MOVE THOSE FORWARD.

ALL OF THESE WILL BE TAGGED IN THE CITY'S PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE AS COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND INCLUDED ON QUARTERLY REPORTS TO COUNCIL.

IN SOME INSTANCES, WE'RE GOING TO BE PROVIDING DATA VISUALIZATIONS BECAUSE SOMETIMES THAT'S THE BETTER WAY OF REALLY TELLING THE STORY OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORK BEING DONE.

THERE WERE FIVE PRIORITIES DISCUSSED AT THE WORKSHOP THAT STAFF IS SEEKING CONSENSUS ON POLICY POLICY DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL TODAY.

SO HERE IS A LIST OF THOSE FIVE PRIORITIES.

I'M GOING TO COVER EACH ONE OF THESE SEPARATELY, AND THEN I'LL PAUSE IN ORDER TO HAVE COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND THEN RECEIVE DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL ON THESE ITEMS. THE FIRST OF THESE IS ABOUT WORKING WITH DCTA IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO EASE TRAFFIC THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

STAFF IS PROPOSING THAT WE SET A MEETING WITH DCTA TO DISCUSS WHERE THERE IS ALIGNMENT WITH OUR GOALS AND THEN TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL AT A LATER DATE.

BUT AT THIS POINT I WANT TO OPEN THIS ITEM UP FOR DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL.

OKAY, SO STAFF YOU SEE THE STEPS IN PROPOSED.

SO IT'S JUST REALLY ABOUT CONCISE AS POSSIBLE.

YES, WE SUPPORT THIS AS WE GO THROUGH THESE OR NO.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING MISSING ON NEXT STEPS, I'M SURE STAFF WOULD WOULD TAKE THOSE NOTES AS WELL.

SO, YES, I SUPPORT IT.

NO, I DON'T SUPPORT IT.

I THINK A STEP SHOULD BE AND WE'LL WEIGH CONSENSUS ON THOSE THINGS.

COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OF YOU OR ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES OR STAFF.

I WASN'T HERE THE FIRST TIME.

YOU ALL WHEN THE MOST RECENT TIME YOU ALL LOOKED AT THIS, THE CITY'S TREE CODE.

IS THAT REALLY A COUNCIL PRIORITY? OH, WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

WE'RE TAKING THEM.

OH, ONE MORE TIME.

YES, ONE TIME. YES.

YEAH, JUST KIDDING.

HOLD THAT THOUGHT. OKAY, YOU GOT IT.

DCTA QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUPPORT OR NO? COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

NO, NO. I'M SORRY. DO YOU HAVE.

YES. SUPPORT? OKAY. GOT IT. THANK YOU.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YEAH, I ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT WHAT'S ON THERE.

I THOUGHT OUR DISCUSSION HAD BEEN SORT OF BROADER ABOUT MULTI-MODAL AND TRANSIT IN GENERAL.

THIS IS I MEAN, WE DO HAVE TO BE TARGETED.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE MASS TRANSIT PROVIDED BY DCTA IS A BIG, BIG COMPONENT.

BUT I RECALL AND YOU ALL CORRECT ME IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING, BUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS THIS WAS THIS. YES.

SO I SUPPORT THIS TO GET A SUMMARY.

BUT BUT I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LARGER DISCUSSION THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE AND PRIORITIZE ABOUT MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION.

MY READ AND YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THAT'S THE GOAL ALIGNMENT COMPONENT, RIGHT? DCTA HAS DONE THE STUDIES.

THEY THEY HAVE ALL THE DATA THAT THEN THEY'LL HAVE OBVIOUSLY MULTI-MODAL GOALS ESTABLISHED AND DATA AROUND THAT.

AND WE WOULD MEET WITH THEM TO DISCUSS THOSE AND THEN HOW TO EXECUTE ON THOSE.

SO SO I BELIEVE IT'S CAPTURED IN NUMBER ONE.

BUT TELL TELL ME IF I'M WRONG.

I WOULD BELIEVE IT'S CAPTURED IN THAT ONE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT SHARED SHARED GOALS BETWEEN THE TWO ENTITIES.

SO IF I MIGHT AND I'LL JUST THROW THIS OUT AND IF THERE'S NOT CONSENSUS ON IT, FINE, SO BE IT.

BUT I THOUGHT THE THE DISCUSSION HAD BEEN ON MULTI-MODAL OUTSIDE DCTA IS GOING TO PROVIDE BUS GOES ON AND TRAIN THAT'S AND THE ANCILLARY SERVICES BUS STOPS AND AND THINGS RELATED TO THAT I THOUGHT THE DISCUSSION AT THE TIME AND MAYBE I WAS WRONG WAS THAT ALIGNMENT THAT THE MAYOR WAS REFERRING TO.

BUT BROAD OR WRIT LARGER IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, OTHER PRIORITIES THAT WE HAD TALKED ABOUT FOR THE CITY IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, TRANSIT ORIENTED DESIGN AND, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL WHAT'S AND I BOTH BROUGHT UP ELECTRIC VEHICLE ISSUES THAT, YOU KNOW, YES, WE CAN PUT THOSE INTO SOME OF THOSE

[00:25:09]

BUT BUT THERE'S SORT OF I GUESS I FEEL COMFORTABLE IF THAT ALIGNMENT WAS BROADER, LIKE IT WAS OUR OUR ALL OF OUR MODE TRANSPORTATION ALIGNMENTS RATHER THAN SIMPLY WHAT IS OUR ALIGNMENT WITH DCTA? AND I WELCOME OTHER COMMENTS.

ARE YOU TALKING, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE BIKE? YEAH, WE HAVE OTHER MODES THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH DCTA.

BIKE PED OTHER.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DISCUSSED UPON A TIME AND ABANDONED AND RE DISCUSSED AND ABANDONED VARIOUS FORMS OF OF MICROMOBILITY LIKE SCOOTERS AND ELECTRIC BIKES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THERE ARE OTHER I GUESS I'M ASKING IS, IS THERE CONSENSUS ON A BROADER ALIGNMENT OR I MEAN I DO WANT THIS SO IT'S EASY TO SAY, YES, I WANT THAT LINE ITEM, BUT I THOUGHT WE WERE DISCUSSING SOMETHING BROADER.

IS THAT CAPTURED IN IN YOUR OTHER I'M ASSUMING THAT'S CAPTURED IN OTHER GOALS.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS.

BUT I WOULD ASSUME FROM A TRANSPORTATION STANDPOINT, WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT INCREASING PATHS, ETCETERA, ETCETERA.

BUT I JUST DON'T I JUST DON'T KNOW IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, IT'S IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

YES. YEAH. OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER JUST STEPPING OFF THIS CONVERSATION HERE, I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT OUR DCTA GOAL ALIGNMENT IS JUST GOT TO BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY RIGHT NOW AS WE ARE PUTTING THESE OTHER THINGS IN THE THE BIKING AND WALKING AND TRAILING AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT DCTA, WE NEED TO WE NEED TO PUT SOME FIRE UNDER DCTA FOR THIS COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW.

SO I WOULD WANT TO BRING THIS AS A HIGH PRIORITY TO FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON.

PEOPLE ARE STILL NOT GETTING THEIR NEEDS MET AND I'M NOT HEARING WHAT I WANT TO HEAR IN REGARDS TO, YOU KNOW, IN REGARDS TO ME BEING COMFORTABLE WITH SAYING THAT I'M PROUD OF DCTA.

THERE'S STILL SOME A LOT OF THINGS MISSING.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, I WOULD DEFINITELY WANT THIS TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY GOAL ALIGNMENT.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN ESSER.

YEAH, DEFINITELY SUPPORT AND, AND I UNDERSTAND MEMBER TOM'S CONCERN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOAL ALIGNMENT, LIKE WHAT WE BRING TO THE TABLE IS THE FULL TRANSPORTATION MOBILITY PLAN, THE FULL COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THAT'S OUR SET OF GOALS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO IF WE'RE LOOKING AT DCTA GOAL LIME, IT'S NOT JUST ALIGNMENT AROUND THINGS DCTA GOVERNS, BUT IT'S HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO THE THE WHOLE MOBILITY TOPIC? SO ANYWAY, SUPPORTIVE.

OKAY COUNCILMEMBER WHAT'S QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION AND THEN I'LL GIVE MY DIRECTION.

EACH ONE OF THESE HAS A COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROVIDE FOLLOW UP.

SO WHAT WE'RE DECIDING ON IS THE OVERARCHING POLICY CATEGORY.

BUT THEN WHEN WE GET DOWN TO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE, WHERE DOES THE RUBBER MEET THE ROAD THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE IN A COUNCIL WORK SESSION WHERE YOU'RE BRINGING BACK EITHER SPECIFIC PROPOSALS? OR IS THAT IS THAT MY UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PROCESS? IS THIS A PRIORITY FOR COUNCIL? AND THEN THESE ARE THESE ARE OUR THOUGHTS ON IF IT IS WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS WOULD BE.

RIGHT. BUT MY QUESTION IS IT CAN BE A PRIORITY, A GENERAL PRIORITY, AND I CAN SUPPORT THE GENERAL PRIORITY.

BUT DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU BRING BACK OR WHAT STAFF BRINGS BACK AS THE SPECIFIC DETAILS OF IMPLEMENTATION, THEN THAT'S WHERE THERE COULD BE SOME GIVE AND TAKE AND SO FORTH.

OKAY. SO YEAH, HONESTLY, MAYOR, I MEAN, IT MIGHT BE OUT OF LINE, BUT I SUPPORT ALL OF THESE GIVING THAT ANSWER BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THEM.

BUT WE GO ONE BY ONE.

I SUPPORT THAT. OKAY.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILWOMAN. I'M EXCITED TO MEET WITH THE DCTA AND AND DISCUSS MUTUAL MUTUAL GOALS.

IT'S IT'S NOT A IT'S NOT A HIGH PRIORITY FOR ME, THOUGH.

OKAY. GOT IT.

OKAY. MAYOR PRO TEM, I APPRECIATE COUNCILOR WATTS TRYING TO MAKE THIS MEETING EFFICIENT.

SO IF IF IF THAT WOULD HELP, THEN, YOU KNOW, AT THAT LEVEL OF ABSOLUTELY WANTING MORE DISCUSSION AND SETTING THIS AS A PRIORITY, THEN THEN YEAH, I WOULD I WOULD JUST DO THE ENTIRE TABLE AND SAY, YES, THESE ARE ALL PRIORITIES OF MINE AS WELL.

OKAY. COUNCILMAN MELTZER YEAH, I'LL FOLLOW SUIT, BUT WITH ONE BIG ASTERISK BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT

[00:30:04]

AND THEN THE SUGGESTION WAS, WELL, WE'D ADDRESS THAT IN BUDGET.

NOW IT'S LIKE WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT DOWN THE ROAD AND WE'RE GOING TO DO DONATED LAND FIRST.

I ASSUME THAT MEANS CHRONOLOGICALLY FIRST.

SO AT SOME LATER POINT WE'LL LOOK AT OTHER THINGS THAT ACTUALLY.

ARE A GOOD FIT FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT WAY OF THINKING ABOUT IT IS IN FIVE YEARS, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THERE.

SO IF YOU'RE SERIOUS, I MEAN, HEY, IF YOU IF YOU DON'T SHARE THAT OBJECTIVE AND YOU WANT TO JUST TOTALLY MAXIMIZE THE SORT OF BUILT LAND VALUE AND SO ON.

OKAY, BUT BUT IF THAT IS A VALUE TO YOU AND YOU WANT THE LARGER DENTON TO HAVE CONSCIOUSLY PLANNED OUT WHERE ACCESSIBLE GREEN SPACE WILL BE AND SO ON, THEN THEN IT CAN'T JUST BE WE SAY WE WANT IT, BUT WE WILL ONLY LOOK AT IT IN SOME FUTURE TIME WHEN IT WON'T EXIST.

I'VE SAID MY PIECE.

OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? ANYTHING? IS THERE.

SO LET ME LET ME JUST DO THIS.

SO I'LL SUPPORT ALL OF THEM.

SO YOU HAVE A MAJORITY OF SUPPORT THEM.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE CAN FAST FORWARD PAST THAT PART.

SO THEN, YES, WE'LL JUST.

ANY COMMENTS ALONG THE WAY? GREAT. WE HAVE WE HAVE MAJORITY SUPPORT, SO.

OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AND AGAIN, PERHAPS I NEED HELP, BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MAYBE THIS IS A PROCESS QUESTION BEFORE THE ENTIRE BODY DISCUSSES THE TREE CODE.

SHOULDN'T THIS COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT FIRST? BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS ON OUR MATRIX YET WHERE WE SHOULD BE GETTING INTO THE MINUTIA OF IT BEFORE WE HAVE THE POLICY DISCUSSION AT A LARGER LEVEL FROM THIS BODY OR HAS IT ALWAYS HAPPENED THIS WAY IN THE PAST? I'M FINE. IT JUST PROCESS.

SO PROCESS WISE, THE COUNCIL AT ANY TIME A COUNCIL MEMBER COULD BRING UP THE IDEA OF LOOKING AT THE TREE CODE AGAIN, IT WOULD COME BACK TO THE TO THE COUNCIL TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND THAT COUNCIL COULD SEND IT BACK TO PLANNING AND ZONING OR OTHERS.

AND THAT'S WHO IT WOULD GO THROUGH AS IT'S LISTED HERE.

WE WANT TO ALL WE'RE DOING IS MAKING SURE YOU'RE UP TO SPEED ON WHERE THE CURRENT REALITY IS, WHICH IS WE SPEND AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME IN 2019 DEVELOPING REDEVELOPING THE TREE CODE. IF YOU WANT TO PROCEED THIS TIME, IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE OF THE AREA PLANS.

BUT IF WE DO IT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN EXISTING CODE, WHICH MEANS HAVING COUNCIL SHARE WITH US WHAT THAT IS.

TALKING TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING, TALKING TO ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE, ALL THOSE GROUPS TOGETHER, THAT STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK, AND THEN WE WOULD IDENTIFY RESOURCES AND AVAILABILITY AND THEN BRING IT BACK FOR A COUNCIL DISCUSSION TO THEN LOOK AT HOW AND WHEN TO MAKE CHANGES IF NECESSARY AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO IT IS A PROCESS, BUT THAT'S HOW WE WOULD DO IT.

AT ANY POINT, A COUNCIL MEMBER COULD DO A TWO MINUTE PITCH OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO BRING SOMETHING FORWARD, TO HAVE IT UPDATED.

IN THIS CASE, IT WAS BROUGHT UP AS AN ITEM FOR A TWO SET AS A PRIORITY AND RELOOK AT THE TREE CODE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE ARE.

AND I'LL PICK UP ON THAT AS I'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE, I DO NOT SUPPORT REWRITING IT THIS EARLY INTO IT.

I DO SUPPORT STEP ONE, WHICH IS A LOGICAL STEP.

DO WE HAVE GAPS? OUR CITY'S CHANGED A LOT.

IT'S GROWN A LOT. IT'S BUT ALSO, I THINK OUT OF THAT GAP ANALYSIS, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND AND I'LL REPRESENT TO YOU THAT WE'VE INCREASED OUR TREE CANOPY WITH THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE. RIGHT? AND SO ULTIMATELY, THE ANSWER MAY BE, ARE THERE GAPS? NO, KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING, IT'S GREAT.

OR, HEY, HERE'S A WAY TO IMPROVE WHAT WE'RE DOING.

I JUST WANT THAT.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE I AM.

BUT IT'S IT IS IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS AND WHERE IT FITS IN THE DEVELOPMENT CODE.

TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, IT GOES BEFORE DEVELOPMENT AND CODE REVIEW ALL THESE STEPS.

AND IT'S IT'S I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS IT TOOK TO GET IT TO IT WAS A NEVER ENDING STORY.

YEAH. SO, SO IT'S, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING.

I JUST I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAY CURRENT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD NOTE AND A GOOD TIP OF THE HAT TO WHAT STAFF IS DOING CURRENTLY.

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OUR CODE IS PRODUCING NOW.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A CHECK IN AND THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I SEE IT.

AND SO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT DISCUSSION.

BUT NO, I THINK IT'S PREMATURE TO SCRAP YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS OF WORK AT THIS PHASE, JUST JUST SO STAFF KNOWS WHERE I'M COMING FROM ON SUPPORT GENERALLY TO TO IDENTIFY AND GET UPDATE ON WHERE WE ARE.

[00:35:09]

COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I'M INCLINED TO AGREE WITH YOU AND I'LL JUST SAY THIS IF THERE IS NO APPETITE FOR THIS BODY TO CONSIDER IT, THAT I'M FINE WITH THAT.

I'M NOT SURE THAT I WANT THIS TO BE A COUNCIL PRIORITY.

I'D RATHER THIS BE A PRIORITY OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

LET US ORGANICALLY LOOK AT IT AND GET INTO THE MINUTIA AND PERHAPS THIS BODY CAN TAKE UP ANOTHER PRESSING NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, LIKE HOUSING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I'M FINE. I'M NOT GOING TO CRY IF WE DECIDE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD THIS THIS PATH.

BUT I'D LIKE FOR US TO CONSIDER LOOKING AT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND NOT SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO REALLY GET INTO THE MINUTIA BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMITTEE FOR THAT. WE HAVE SEVERAL COMMITTEES FOR THAT TO THE CITY MANAGER'S POINT.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GOT IT.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YEAH, I AS I SAID ALREADY, I SUPPORT ALL THESE, BUT I THINK TYPICALLY ONE DOES A RELOOK EVERY FIVE YEARS ON A LOT OF THESE THESE CYCLICAL CODES, AND THAT'S NEXT YEAR.

SO WE'RE BUDGETING FOR NEXT YEAR.

FIVE YEARS IS IS 2024.

SO THAT'S THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, A SORT OF PRO FORMA APPROACH TO WE'RE REVISING THESE KINDS OF THINGS.

I THINK THERE IS A PRIORITY BECAUSE AS COUNCILOR MELTZER SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A DWINDLING RESOURCE.

I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES.

AND AND I THINK SETTING THIS AS A PRIORITY NOW SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO KICK THIS DOWN THE ROAD FOR FOREVER.

THIS THAT IS IT IS AN UPCOMING PRIORITY FOR THE COMING YEAR TO TO LOOK AT AND DO NOT NECESSARILY ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT HOW STAFF WILL ADMINISTRATE THAT PROCESS.

OH, AND THEN I DO THINK FOR FOR SIMILAR REASONS, AS I DO THINK WE DO PROBABLY NEED TO DISCUSS HOW HOW, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF I ALSO I SAID I SUPPORT EVERYTHING ON THERE BUT IF WE'RE DOING LAND BANKING FOR FOR BOTH MUNICIPAL GOOD AND GREEN SPACE, YOU KNOW, WE YOU KNOW THE THE REPORT IN THE IN THE QUESTIONS FOR STAFF WHICH WHICH WHICH HAD THAT THAT LAND ACQUISITION CHART SHOWS US, YOU KNOW, THE RESPONSE WAS ON TRACK BUT WE'RE LEVELING OFF OR LEVELING OFF EXACTLY WHEN WE'RE DWINDLING.

AND SO THAT CONCERNS ME THAT FOR BOTH PUBLIC GOOD AND FOR GREEN SPACE PRESERVATION, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT WE JUST FINISHED OUR WILDLIFE CORRIDOR MAP AND WE GOT TO WORK ON GETTING THAT INTEGRATED, IT IS THE TIME TO INCLUDE IT IN THESE PRIORITIES AS WELL AS IN BUDGET PRIORITIES.

SO I DO NEED TO, IF YOU CAN.

WHAT ARE YOU WHAT ARE YOU USING AS A REFERENCE? YOU SAID COATS ARE NORMALLY VISITED EVERY FIVE YEARS.

WHAT DO YOU WHAT ARE YOU USING AS A REFERENCE FOR THAT? A LOT OF OUR CODES, WE LOOK AT THEM ABOUT EVERY 5 TO 10 YEARS DEPENDING ON THE CODE.

AND SO PART OF THE THINGS, SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT FROM THE 2019 CODE BECAUSE I WAS INVOLVED AS A CITIZEN AND THEN ON P AND Z AND THEN LATER WITH AS COUNCIL WAS THAT WE WE DEFINITELY IMPROVED THINGS AND I DON'T TAKE AWAY ANY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, BUT THAT THERE WAS CONTINUED ROOM FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT.

AND AS WE ARE LOSING GREEN SPACE, THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE FOR US TO TO REFINE THAT CODE TO TO FIND THOSE PLACES WHERE WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER AND SAY MORE FLEXIBILITY FOR DEVELOPERS.

AND AND ONE AREA OF THE CODE AND AND MORE ECOLOGICAL SENSITIVITY SUSTAINABILITY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CODE.

I UNDERSTAND THOSE THINGS.

I JUST I WANT TO GO BACK BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR IS THERE A IS THERE A SITE OR A REFERENCE OR A I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU YOU FEEL THAT WAY.

NOTED. IS THERE IS THERE A DOCUMENTED STAFF SAYS WHEN YOU WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS BEFORE IT WAS ARTICULATED THAT, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS EVERY FIVE YEARS GOING FORWARD? IS THERE ANY ANY ANYTHING THAT IS DOCUMENTED THAT SUPPORTS THAT? THERE'S THERE'S AN ONGOING YOU KNOW, ALL ALL THE ALL OF OUR CODES SAY ONGOING FOR PERIODIC REVIEW.

SO YOU KNOW YOUR I GUESS YOUR YOUR QUESTION IS WHY FIVE YEARS.

NO, NO.

YOU JUST I JUST YOU MADE THE STATEMENT THAT THEY'RE DONE.

TRADITIONALLY EVERY FIVE YEARS.

I JUST I'M SEEKING TO CODIFY THAT.

OR BECAUSE I'VE NOT SEEN THAT WRITTEN, I'VE NOT I'VE NOT READ THAT.

AND SO I WANT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT AND EXPLORE THAT.

BUT I DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN YOUR STATEMENT.

AND SO I'M TRYING TO SAY, HEY, IF YOU'VE READ THAT SOMEPLACE, PLEASE INDICATE SO SO THAT I CAN GO READ IT.

IF YOU RECEIVED CORRESPONDENCE TO THAT DEGREE OR IF YOU TALKED ABOUT IT IN YOUR LAST REVIEW, THE TREE CODE, WHAT DATE WAS THAT?

[00:40:08]

I JUST I NEED SOME.

I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING TO READ IT FOR MYSELF SO THAT I CAN EDUCATE MYSELF.

AND IF THAT DOES NOT EXIST, THEN THAT'S JUST YOUR FEELING.

THEN SAY THAT. BUT I DON'T WANT TO.

I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

I WILL GET YOU FEEDBACK ON THAT QUESTION AS SOON AS I CAN.

SO TODAY YOU DON'T HAVE THAT, BUT YOU MADE THE STATEMENT, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE IT TODAY.

I DO NOT HAVE A LINE ITEM IN A PIECE OF CODE THAT SAYS THAT.

OKAY, GOT IT. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE. COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON.

AND THEN COUNCILMAN WATTS.

YEAH. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO RESPOND A LITTLE BIT TO CONCERNS THAT COUNCILMEMBER MCGEE RAISED.

THE WAY I UNDERSTAND THIS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TOPICS THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON OVER THE YEAR AND COMMITTEES, COUNCIL COMMITTEES ARE ONLY GOING TO WORK ON THINGS THAT FIT INTO THINGS THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO WORK ON ANYWAY.

THEY'RE PART OF COUNCIL.

SO BUT SAYING THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON SOMETHING HERE DOESN'T SAY AT ALL WHAT THE PROCESS IS THAT WE'LL CHOOSE TO ADOPT AS FAR AS WHAT THE STEPS ARE.

IT COULD VERY WELL INCLUDE, AS CITY MANAGER SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'D LIKE THE COMMITTEE TO LOOK AT THIS MORE CLOSELY TO COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION.

BUT THIS IS JUST ESTABLISHING WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE CARE ABOUT.

IT'S NOT IT'S NOT IN CONFLICT WITH COMMITTEE WORK.

AND NOR SHOULD COMMITTEES BE WORKING ON THINGS THAT COUNCIL HAS NO COUNCIL, NOR SHOULD COUNCIL COMMITTEES BE WORKING ON THINGS THAT COUNCIL HAS NO INTEREST IN BECAUSE THEY'RE PART OF COUNCIL. THAT'S THAT'S MY OPINION.

IF I IF I MAY, MAYOR, I ALSO HAVE JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON THE THE MANAGEMENT LED LIST.

SURE. YEAH. FIRST OF ALL, I'D SAY WHAT A GREAT DOCUMENT.

VERY HAPPY TO HAVE TO HAVE RECEIVED IT.

AND PART OF WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT IS, OF COURSE, THAT IT CHECKS OFF MANY THINGS THAT WERE ON MY LIST, LIKE, OH, THEY'RE ON A LIST SOMEWHERE.

IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD. YEAH, YEAH.

SO A COUPLE OF POINTS OF CLARIFICATION OR AT LEAST ABOUT MY HOPES ON 13, WHICH IS DEVELOP A DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN, WHICH I SUPPORT. I HOPE THAT'S UNDERSTOOD TO, TO ADDRESS TOPICS LIKE THE FINE ARTS, THE DARK SPOTS ON THE SQUARE.

YEAH. OKAY.

ALL THAT GREAT ON ON POINT TEN.

IT'S A STREAMLINED SPONSORSHIPS TO ATTRACT MORE FESTIVALS AND I'M NOT SURE IF THAT WAS COMING FROM A DIFFERENT COMMENT OR IF THIS WAS MEANT TO REFLECT MY OWN.

I'M LOOKING FOR I'M HOPING TO READ INTO THIS THAT WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO MAKE IT EASIER TO DO FESTIVALS, TO TAKE A BIT MORE OF AN AMBASSADOR APPROACH, YOU KNOW, TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS THAT WANT TO DO IT.

IT'D BE KIND OF IF YOU TALK TO PEOPLE THAT PUT ON FESTIVALS, YOU KNOW, WE ERECT RIGHTLY, YOU KNOW, SET OF OBSTACLES.

BUT, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF WE CAN BE KIND OF LIKE IN THERE WITH YOU TRYING TO HELP YOU GET OVER THEM, I THINK THAT WOULD JUST HELP KEEP THAT KEEP THAT FESTIVAL CALENDAR FULL. AND THAT'S GOOD FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, YOU KNOW, AND OUR GENERAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEN ON 19, WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO FIRST RESPONDERS.

NOW, I BROUGHT THIS UP AND IT'S VERY EARLY, SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT MIGHT BE JUST TOO EARLY TO MAKE IT HERE, BUT WHAT I TALKED ABOUT WAS THE POTENTIALLY TAKING AN INTERCITY APPROACH TO THE GAP IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES GENERALLY.

AND THE RELATIONSHIP TO FIRST RESPONDERS IS THAT THEY'RE RESPONDING SO HEAVILY TO CALLS THAT ARE DRIVEN BY MENTAL HEALTH GAPS.

SO IF THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE INTENDING TO CAPTURE THAT, THAT'S THAT'S WHERE I WAS AT.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE OF BOTH.

ONE IS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS FROM THEIR THE TRAUMA OF THEIR WORK, POLICE, FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES.

OTHER SIDE OF IT IS AND WE DO THIS NOW, QUITE FRANKLY, I HAVE SOME INFORMATION HERE BECAUSE I ASKED FOR IT IS LOOKING AT THE GAPS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND PARTICULARLY IF YOU GO TO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IF YOU'VE GONE TO UNITED WAY BANQUET OR YOU'RE GOING YOU'LL HEAR THE TALK ABOUT THE RISE IN MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW IT'S GOING TO TAKE A VILLAGE TO FIX THIS OR TO ADDRESS IT.

ACTUALLY, I THINK SEVERAL VILLAGES.

YEAH, A LOT. SO OBVIOUSLY FROM A CITY PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE LOOKING AT IT A LITTLE MORE SELFISHLY FROM HOW WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO OUR STAFF AND FIRST RESPONDERS.

BUT THOSE RESPONDERS ARE DEALING WITH ON A DAILY BASIS INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT WE WORK VERY HARD WITH OUR PARTNERS TO TRY TO ADDRESS.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, I WILL SAY TO COUNCIL, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A MORE HOLISTIC APPROACH WITH OUR FRIENDS AROUND THE AREA TO ADDRESS IT.

[00:45:07]

OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN. WHAT'S.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO JUST SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, SO THESE FIVE PRIORITIES WILL BE TECHNICALLY ADDED TO THESE, WHICH MAKES 26.

NOW, I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT AT LEAST PERTAINING TO THESE FIVE, THAT THEY WILL BE DONE IN A YEAR.

I'M NOT SAYING IN MY SUPPORT OF THESE PRIORITIES THAT MY MY SUPPORT IS CONDITIONED UPON IT BEING IS THAT STAFF'S PRESENTATION HERE THAT THESE WILL BE DONE IN A YEAR? NO, WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS ONCE COUNCIL CAN AGREE ON THESE, OBVIOUSLY THESE ARE ALREADY WHERE WE SEE ALREADY AREAS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

BUT WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT HERE ARE THE FIVE NEW ONES THAT WE WANT COUNCIL TO GIVE US DIRECTION ON THAT WE WILL INCLUDE IN OUR LIST AND THEN WE WILL START PUTTING A TIMELINE WITH THAT COME BACK TO REPORT TO COUNCIL ON.

LIKE AMY'S ALREADY GOING TO BE SCHEDULING AN UPDATE ON OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES HERE IN THE FUTURE.

WE WANT TO KEEP COMING BACK TO COUNCIL ON THESE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES TO MAKE SURE YOU ALL HAVE THE INFORMATION YOU NEED AS TO AN UPDATE OF WHERE WE ARE.

SO THESE WILL GO IN THE MIX.

WE'LL START WE'LL START DOING SETTING A SCHEDULE.

IF YOU APPROVE THE TREE CODE, WE WILL SET A SCHEDULE TO SAY HERE'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO START THE IDENTIFICATION OF GAPS.

HERE'S WHEN WE'RE GOING TO START PULLING STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER.

WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK WITH SORT OF A ROADMAP ON WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO HOW TO EFFECTIVELY GO FORWARD.

AND THAT'S ON ALL 26, IT'S ON THESE AND THEN ON THESE, THERE'S SOME OF THESE THERE'S ALREADY A ROADMAP, I THINK ABOUT 15 OF THEM ADDRESSING THESE IN HER REPORT. SO SOME OF THESE HAVE HAVE WE'RE ADDING MOVED FORWARD FROM PREVIOUS PRIORITY LIST.

SO SOME OF THESE ARE OLDER THAN.

YEAH I JUST I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YEAH, WE'RE NOT MAKING A DECISION OR MY MY SUPPORT IS NOT TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO GET THESE DONE IN A YEAR.

NO, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU TIMELINES.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU PLANS OF ACTIONS WE'RE GOING TO KEEP.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP INFORMING YOU OF WHERE WE ARE ON THINGS AND MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PULSE ON WHAT WE'RE DOING SO THAT WE WE'RE NOT LEAVING SOMETHING OUT OR MAKING SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING IT THROUGH. BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY AND ALL OF THIS WILL GO ON OUR DASHBOARD FOR THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN BYRD.

SO WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO ALL OF THESE THINGS AND THOSE ARE GOING TO FIT IN HERE.

ARE THOSE ARE GOING TO I MEAN, ARE THESE.

IN A PRIORITY ON NUMBER ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

IS THAT IN A PRIORITY LISTING? NO. AND THEY ARE JUST BY FOCUS AREA.

THEY'RE JUST ORGANIZED BY FOCUS AREA AT THIS POINT.

OKAY. SO THOSE ARE GOING TO START 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.

THAT'S HOW IT'S GOING TO LOOK OR IS IT GOING TO BE WE'LL PUT THEM IN THERE AND PART OF THE LIST.

HERE'S THE OTHER THING THAT MAYBE HELPS WHEN WE DO THESE.

THESE ARE SIGNED EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE UNDER THE DIFFERENT FOCUS AREAS, THEY'RE ASSIGNED TO, LIKE REAFFIRM DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION EFFORTS, THAT'LL BE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND HUMAN RESOURCES.

AND THEN FROM AN OUTREACH PERSPECTIVE, COMMUNICATIONS, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, THAT'S THE WHOLE CITY.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE LED BY THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WHEN AMY GIVES YOU AN UPDATE, SHE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHO'S THE LEAD OR WHO'S THE LEAD DEPARTMENT.

WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY ARE, IS.

AND YOU'LL SEE THE SCALE OF HOW MUCH WORK THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED, IF THEY'RE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, BEHIND SCHEDULE OR ON SCHEDULE.

AND THEN THAT WAY YOU CAN, ON AN ONGOING BASIS, WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHERE WE ARE ON THINGS AND HOW MUCH PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING.

AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO GET YOUR PULSE ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

AND IT GIVES US, TO BE QUITE HONEST, IT GIVES US A GREAT LIST OF ITEMS THAT WE KNOW ARE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES FOR US TO WORK ON, AND THAT'S WHERE WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION.

SIR, CAN I ASK ONE OTHER QUESTION? SO I'M LOOKING AT NUMBER NUMBER SIX OVER HERE ON THIS LIST.

PRIORITIZE STREET MAINTENANCE AND ROADWAY FUNDING.

SOMEHOW IN MY HEAD I WANT TO SAY THAT WORK WITH DCTA TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO EASE TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE CITY GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

IS THAT HOW YOU ALL ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT? IT WOULD GO UNDER ENHANCE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MOBILITY.

IT WOULD GO UNDER THAT KEY FOCUS AREA.

OKAY. AS A SEPARATE ITEM.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SLIDE THESE IN.

YES. WHERE THEY NEED TO GO.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO RIGHT NOW.

SO SO WE'VE ALREADY SAID THAT WE LIKE ALL I MEAN, WE WANT TO DO ALL OF THEM.

SO WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT NOW? I MEAN, WE ARE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT WE NEED TO DO THESE FIVE THINGS HERE.

[00:50:03]

AND THEN WE START DOING OUR MAGIC.

AND I WANT TO FOLLOW THAT UP TO SAY, LIKE I DID AND THE TREE CODE, I DON'T I DON'T EXPECT US TO TEAR IT DOWN.

AND RESTART.

AND SO I THINK THOSE DETAILS HELP STAFF AS WELL.

BECAUSE WHAT I THINK THIS AND I THANK YOU FOR AND THE CITY MANAGER FOR ALL OF THIS BECAUSE I BELIEVE WHAT IT DOES IS PREVENT US FROM GOING FROM AN IDEA OR A CONCEPT TO A NO VOTE AFTER ALL THE HARD WORK.

RIGHT? IF YOU TAKE THIS STEPPED APPROACH, WE DO A LITTLE ANALYZE, HEY, ARE WE ON THE RIGHT PATH? YES OR NO? REDIRECT.

THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH.

THOSE SORT OF THINGS. SO IT KEEPS US FROM WORKING SOMETHING ALL THE WAY UP TO COMPLETION.

ONLY FOR A NO VOTE.

IT'S KIND OF IT SETS THESE MILE MARKERS AND CHECKPOINTS.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT.

IT'S VERY SURGICAL IN ITS APPROACH, HOLISTIC IN ITS APPROACH, SO THAT WE MAKE SURE WE DON'T WASTE ENERGY, TIME, EFFORT, ETCETERA.

IT HAS THESE CHECK INS THAT ARE WELL IDENTIFIED AND THEN THOSE ARE GOING TO EXPAND.

YOU KNOW, THERE'LL BE SOME SUB POINTS OF THOSE.

SO REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND WATCHING THESE IDEAS MATURE.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE AND THEN MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. JUST TWO SMALL QUICK QUESTIONS.

PICKING UP RIGHT WHERE YOU LEFT OFF.

I HEARD YOU SAY THIS, BUT I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY ELSE SAY THIS.

I JUST WANT TO ASK CITY MANAGER TO THE MAYOR'S POINT, YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY PLANNING ON STARTING OVER FROM SCRATCH WITH THE TREE CODE, RIGHT? WHAT WE'LL DO IS COME BACK WITH AN OUTLINE AND A PLAN OF WHAT WE SUGGEST.

BUT THE FIRST THING IS TO IDENTIFY WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE GAPS IN EXISTING CODE.

IF YOU HAVE SOME THAT SOMEBODY WANTS TO SUGGEST, I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE US PUT IN THERE RIGHT OFF THE BAT AS HAVING DIALOG WITH DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDER GROUPS, INCLUDING YOUR USUAL SUSPECTS, BUT ALSO PROBABLY A FEW MEETINGS AND THEN BRING BACK SORT OF WHAT HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE FROM A RESOURCE PERSPECTIVE.

HERE'S WHAT WE FOUND OUT.

COUNCIL WHAT DO YOU THINK? AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW IT WILL WORK.

SAME THING ON THE OTHERS THAT WE WILL MAKE AN OUTLINE AND SORT OF CHECK IN WITH YOU ALL TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH BEFORE WE SPEND AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME.

OKAY. I TOO AGREE.

I DON'T I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR STARTING OVER, JUST MOVING FORWARD FROM WHERE WE HAVE NOW.

AND JUST A QUICK QUESTION, JUST TO JOG MY MEMORY.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WE DID NOT DECIDE ON A ROADWAY FUNDING STRATEGY.

CORRECT. LET ME JUST SAY HOLD ON TO YOUR BRITCHES BECAUSE WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR BUDGET.

YES. COMING UP.

YES. SO WE'RE GOING TO WE WE HOPE WE'VE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD FOR YOU.

YEAH. FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS BORN IN THE 80S.

WHAT DOES BRITCHES. WHAT ARE BRITCHES AGAIN? SORRY. SORRY. WE'RE A BELT AND WE SHOULD BE OKAY.

WHATEVER YOU GOT. PUT A BELT AROUND IT.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YEAH. NO, I WANT TO REINFORCE THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE JUST BEEN HAVING.

IF I. IF I SAID SOMETHING THAT LED SOMEONE TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SPECIFICS, THAT THERE'S NO SPECIFICS IN THIS MEETING, THIS IS JUST IS IS THIS TOPIC AREA A PRIORITY OF THE CITY'S.

YES, IT IS.

ALL RIGHT. NOW NOW WE TAKE STEPS.

AND ACTUALLY, TO THAT POINT, I THINK MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL THE FIRST TIME YOU GIVE US A REPORT IS ARE THERE AREAS THE LAST TIME YOU GAVE US A REPORT, YOU YOU SHOWED US SEVERAL OF THE TOPIC AREAS THAT DIDN'T HAVE HAD NOT ACHIEVED VERY MANY OF THEIR MILESTONES OR SOME WERE BRAND NEW, SO THEY COULDN'T HAVE ACHIEVED ANY OF THEIR MILESTONES.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IF THERE WERE OLDER COUNCIL TOPICS, PRIORITIES THAT BECAUSE OF NEW AND INTERMEDIATE COUNCILS, THAT'S JUST WE DON'T WE'VE MOVED ON AND CITY STAFF HAS MOVED ON.

I'D BE INTERESTED IN THAT SORT OF PERSPECTIVE WHERE WHAT IS FALLING OFF THE END THAT THIS COUNCIL NO LONGER IS INTERESTED IN AND MAYBE NOT FROM PRIORITY, BUT JUST FROM LACK OF ACTIVITY, WHAT GOT SHELVED AND I THINK THAT KIND OF REVISIT MIGHT BE INFORMATIVE, JUST JUST SO THAT WE KNOW. I MEAN, I WANT TO I WANT TO PAY FAITH AND CREDIT TO PREVIOUS COUNCILS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADOPT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DID, BUT WE SHOULD BE AWARE WHEN WE'RE CHANGING.

THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN.

BYRD. SO I'M LOOKING OVER HERE AT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNCIL PRIORITIES MANAGEMENT PAGE HERE, AND WE HAVE ONE THROUGH 21 AND WE HAVE THESE DIFFERENT AREAS.

ARE THESE DIFFERENT AREAS PRIORITIZED OR ARE THEY JUST IN HERE JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE IN HERE? THEY'RE THEY'RE IN HERE BECAUSE THEY WERE IDENTIFIED DURING OUR LAST MEETING.

AND THE NUMBER IS JUST SO YOU CAN SAY ON THIS NUMBER AND THAT NUMBER AND IT JUST EASES THIS CONVERSATION.

[00:55:02]

OKAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY. ANYTHING ELSE, COUNCILMAN WATSON? WELL, AND THIS IS REALLY A QUESTION FOR STAFF.

AND IF YOU COULD MAYBE SEND OUT JUST A BRIEF DATA TO ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I WAS READING IN ONE OF THE RESPONSES ON COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER'S QUESTION, 23 1596 ABOUT ADOPTING PARKS MASTER PLAN THAT IT SAYS WE WANT TO PURCHASE LAND WITHIN THE ETJ TO PRESERVE FUTURE PARK SPACES AS THE CITY GROWS.

IF I COULD GET SOME INFORMATION ON THAT.

NUMBER ONE, HOW MUCH PARKLAND DO WE HAVE IN THE ETJ, WHICH IS NOT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS? I DON'T NEED THAT ANSWER NOW.

YEAH. AND ALSO ONCE IF WE DO THAT, WHAT'S THE ANNEXATION PLAN IN ORDER TO BRING THAT INTO THE CITY? SO THAT'S JUST I FOUND THAT INTERESTING.

SO DON'T WANT TO SPEND MUCH MORE TIME ON THAT.

YEAH. OKAY. THANK YOU.

OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? SEEING NONE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT. TAKES US TO ITEM C ID 231407.

[C. Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding the preliminary FY 2023-24 Proposed Budget, Tax Rate, Capital Improvement Program and Five-Year Financial Forecast. [Estimated Presentation/Discussion Time: 1 hour]]

GIVE STAFF DIRECTION REGARDING THE PRELIMINARY FY 20 2324 PROPOSED BUDGET TAX RATE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL FORECAST.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR.

COUNCIL. CASSIE OGDEN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND CFO.

SOON TO NOT BE CFO.

I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT. THAT WENT WELL.

YES. WE JUST RECENTLY WE MADE AN OFFER AND SHE ACCEPTED.

SO NEXT BUDGET YEAR YOU'LL BE SEEING A NEW CFO.

GOT IT? YES, I'M HAPPY.

SO BRIEFLY, WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER AGAIN, GIVE YOU JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROPERTY AND SALES TAX INFORMATION.

GENERAL FUND FORECAST WILL GO OVER THE ELECTRIC FUND FORECAST, GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FUND, AND THEN GO OVER SOME RATE AND FEE CHANGES. SO AGAIN, JUST LOOKING AT THE APPRAISED VALUES, WE DID INCREASE OUR VALUES BY 15% FROM LAST YEAR.

SO THOSE ASSESSED VALUES ARE COMING IN STRONG.

THESE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE HAD A LARGE INCREASE IN NEW VALUES.

SO 1 BILLION IN NEW VALUE THIS YEAR.

AND THEN AGAIN, THE AVERAGE TAXABLE HOME VALUE INCREASED FROM 307,000 TO 344,000.

SO LAST TIME WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET, THE QUESTION CAME UP ABOUT HOW DOES SB TWO THE APPRAISAL CAP, IMPACT US? SO WE HAVE DISCUSSED, WE HAVE TRIED TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT.

WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS.

THEY'RE NOT AT THIS TIME READY TO PROVIDE US ANY ESTIMATES.

THEY SAID THAT THEY'RE JUST NOT IT'S NOT IN A FORMAT THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE US THAT WOULD MEAN ANYTHING TO US YET.

SO THEY ARE WORKING ON IT AND PROMISE TO HAVE US INFORMATION IN APRIL.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOUR DECISION ANY EASIER TODAY, BUT WANTED TO GIVE YOU THAT UPDATE.

LAST TIME WE HAD A QUESTION ABOUT SALES TAX COLLECTION, HOW IT COMPARED TO BUDGET.

SO I WANTED TO PROVIDE JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW.

THIS IS JUST THE LAST 12 MONTHS, SO IT'S NOT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, IT'S JUST THE 12 MONTHS OF BUDGET VERSUS ACTUAL.

SO YOU CAN SEE JULY TO NOVEMBER, OUR ACTUAL RECEIPTS WERE IN OUR BUDGET, BUT THEN JANUARY TO MAY, THEY'VE BEEN THE ACTUAL RECEIPTS HAVE BEEN BELOW BUDGET.

SO AGAIN, JUST SALES TAX IS VOLATILE.

THIS IS WHY WE TRY NOT TO BE VERY AGGRESSIVE IN OUR FORECASTING OF SALES TAX.

I TRY TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE JUST IN CASE THINGS CHANGE.

SO LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE.

YOU MAY RECALL THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION RATE OF 35, ALMOST 35.5 CENTS.

AND THEN THE PORTION DEDICATED TO DEBT SERVICE IS A LITTLE OVER $0.20.

SO WE ARE PROPOSING TO KEEP THE SAME TAX RATE AS CURRENT YEAR.

YOU CAN SEE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS A LITTLE OVER $0.49.

THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE IS $0.57.

AND THEN WE DID PUBLISH OUR MAX TAX RATE AT 56.5 CENTS JUST TO GIVE US SOME BUFFER.

BUT AGAIN, PROPOSING THE 56 CENT TAX RATE.

SO YOU'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE, BUT WE UPDATED IT FOR THE NEW TOTALS FOR FY 24 SUPPLEMENTALS.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, GIVEN THE FUNDING OF ALL OF THE SUPPLEMENTALS, THERE'S STILL ABOUT $930,000 LEFT ON THE BOTTOM LINE.

SO WE'LL DISCUSS WHAT COUNCIL WANTS TO DO WITH THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT IF THERE WAS A HALF CENT INCREASE, THAT WOULD INCREASE TO ABOUT $1.8 MILLION OF NET INCOME VERSUS THE GOING DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE,

[01:00:01]

SO THIS IS YOUR UPDATED GENERAL FUND FORECAST.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE $930,000 SHOWN ON FY 24.

THE CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE, THAT'S YOUR NET INCOME IN FY PROPOSED AND FY 24.

AND THIS IS AT THE 56 CENT TAX RATE.

WE'VE WANTED TO SHOW YOU THE ADOPTED BUDGET IN FY 23 VERSUS WHERE WE'RE ESTIMATING TO END THE YEAR.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE DRAWDOWN OF $666,000.

COUNCIL GAVE DIRECTION TO DRAW DOWN THE FUND BALANCE FOR THE BEZOS ACADEMY PROJECT.

SO THAT'S $1.5 MILLION THAT WILL BE COMING OUT OF FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR.

SO THAT'LL DECREASE OUR FUND BALANCE.

BUT AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE OUR TARGET IS 25%.

SO WE'RE RIGHT AT THAT SLIGHTLY BELOW THROUGH THOSE FIVE YEARS.

LAST TIME WE DISCUSSED BUDGET, THE QUESTION WAS ASKED WHAT WAS WHAT WAS DRIVING THOSE INCREASES FROM BUDGET TO BUDGET.

YOU CAN SEE THE VAST MAJORITY IS OUR PERSONNEL SERVICES.

SO THE COMP AND CLASS INCREASES WERE ABOUT $8.4 MILLION.

WE'RE ALSO PROPOSING TO DISSOLVE THE REC FUND, MOSTLY BECAUSE THE REC FUND WAS SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL FUND ANYWAY, WE WERE TRANSFERRING THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MONEY INTO THE REC FUND, SO WE FELT LIKE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT.

WE WANTED TO DISSOLVE THE REC FUND AND JUST BRING IT BACK INTO GENERAL FUND.

JUST LIKE ALL OF OUR OTHER PROGRAMS. WE'LL LOOK AT THE REVENUES VERSUS THE THE EXPENSES BY PROGRAM.

BUT THAT WAY THAT MONEY IS NOT LEAVING THE GENERAL FUND.

IT'S STAYING IN THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WAS REALLY PAYING FOR IT ANYWAY.

WE ALSO HAD SOME MID-YEAR ADDITIONS OF PERSONNEL AND THEN THE SUPPLEMENTALS THAT WE'RE PROPOSING IN 24.

THOSE PERSONNEL COSTS ARE BUILT INTO THAT $127 MILLION THAT YOU SEE IN THE FORECAST.

SO YOU CAN SEE I WON'T GO LINE BY LINE, BUT YOU CAN SEE REALLY WHAT'S DRIVING THOSE INCREASES.

THE VAST MAJORITY, AGAIN, WAS COMP AND CLASS.

AND WE HAVE HAD OUR BALANCING ACT, WHICH IS OUR BUDGET SIMULATION TOOL, LIVE FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW.

AND WE'VE RECEIVED SO FAR WE'VE RECEIVED 58 SUBMISSIONS.

WE'VE HAD 100 PLUS TOTAL PAGE VIEWS.

WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU JUST A QUICK SUMMARY OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED.

SO 11 RESPONSES ACTUALLY SAID TO INCREASE THEIR PROPERTY TAX RATE, BUT TO PUT THAT MONEY INTO ROADWAY FUNDING.

SO THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY A HIGHER PROPERTY TAX RATE IF YOU INCREASE THE MONEY GOING TO ROADWAYS TO FIX THE ROADS.

34 RESPONSES SAID TO KEEP THE PROPOSED RATE AT $0.56.

SEVEN RESPONSES SAID TO DECREASE THE RATE BY ONE HALF A CENT AND THEN SIX RESPONSES SAID TO DECREASE THE RATE BY $0.01, THE ONES THAT WANTED TO DECREASE THE RATE.

THE MAJORITY CUT FUNDING FOR PERSONNEL SPECIFICALLY THE ONE OF THE QUARTERMASTER POSITION AND FIRE.

WE'VE WE FELT LIKE THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN MORE OF WHAT THE QUARTERMASTER DOES.

SO WE WERE LOOKING AT HOW WE COMMUNICATED THAT INFORMATION.

IT SEEMED LIKE WE GOT A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON BALANCING ACT ABOUT WHAT A QUARTERMASTER DOES.

THAT'S THE POSITION THAT FIRE IS PROPOSING TO HANDLE ALL OF THEIR GEAR SAFETY, KEEP TRACK OF THOSE ASSETS AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ARE MAINTAINED PROPERLY. WELL, AND I DO WANT TO ADD TO THIS, BECAUSE I LEARNED THIS WHEN WE BECAME ACCREDITED AS A FIRE DEPARTMENT.

BUT IT IT ISN'T JUST THAT THERE IS A SEQUENCE OF THINGS THAT A QUARTERMASTER, PARTICULARLY IN FIRE, HAS TO DO, WHICH IS MAKE SURE THAT THE EQUIPMENT THAT THEY'RE USING IS STILL VALID FOR USE.

THEIR HELMETS, THEIR COVER GEAR WEARS OUT.

AND THERE'S THEY HAVE TO IT HAS TO BE TESTED IN ORDER FOR THEM TO USE IT EFFECTIVELY.

SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO BE THROWN AWAY AND DISCARDED IN A WAY.

SO IT ISN'T JUST KEEPING UP WITH THE MATERIALS AND STUFF.

IT'S LITERALLY MAKING SURE THAT THE THE EQUIPMENT AND THE CLOTHES THEY WEAR ARE ACTUALLY GOOD TO BE ABLE TO GO INTO A FIRE.

AND THERE'S A PROCESS TO GO THROUGH IT.

YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY SAFETY POSITION.

SO AGAIN, I HIGHLIGHTED THIS IS THE SAME LIST OF SUPPLEMENTAL PACKAGES THAT YOU'VE SEEN BEFORE, EXCEPT I HIGHLIGHTED THE CHANGES FROM THE LAST TIME YOU SEEN IT.

SO STREETS HAVE REMOVED THE MILLION DOLLARS FOR ROADWAY FUNDING STRATEGIES.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

WE HAVE ADDED TWO MORE POSITIONS FOR ANIMAL SERVICES.

SO YOU CAN SEE ANIMAL SERVICES TECHNICIAN, AN OFFICER AND A VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR JUST BASED ON SOME OPERATIONAL NEED.

RIGHT NOW IN ANIMAL SERVICES.

WE'VE ALSO ADDED FIRE.

I'LL PUT AN ASTERISK NEXT TO THE FTE COUNT.

[01:05:02]

SO THAT'S NOT THOSE ARE PAYING FOR PERSONNEL COSTS, BUT IT IS INCREASING OUR TOTAL FTE COUNT.

SO WE WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.

SO NOW I JUST WANTED TO HAVE COUNCIL DISCUSSION, GET DIRECTION ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.

SO BASICALLY THE NET INCOME LEFT ON THE BOTTOM LINE FOR FY 24 AS PROPOSED.

SO THERE'S $930,000 BASED ON COUNCIL'S DISCUSSION ON YOUR PRIORITIES, COUNCIL COULD OPT TO LEAVE THAT IN THE FUND BALANCE.

YOU COULD PUT IT AS A PLACEHOLDER FOR THOSE PRIORITY DISCUSSIONS THAT YOU JUST TALKED ABOUT.

IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED IN SOME OF THOSE FIVE PRIORITIES THAT YOU IDENTIFIED THIS NEXT YEAR, WE COULD WE COULD PUT THAT TOWARDS THOSE PRIORITIES.

THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD FROM COUNCIL ARE PARKLAND PROPERTY ACQUISITION, INCLUDING OR AND CITY PROPERTY ACQUISITION.

SO CURRENTLY THOSE ARE NOT FUNDED IN THE BUDGET, BUT THAT COULD THAT $930,000 COULD BE EARMARKED FOR THOSE PURPOSES.

I WILL SAY THAT NEXT, THE 26TH, WE'RE COMING BACK IN A CLOSED SESSION ON AN ACQUISITION FOR A PROPERTY.

SO. AND.

RIGHT AND COUNCIL'S GIVEN US DIRECTION TO PROCEED LOOKING AT PROPERTY.

BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO IDENTIFIED FUNDING FOR THAT PROPERTY.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO I'M GOING TO PICK UP HERE WHERE I LEFT OFF IN OUR CONVERSATION BEFORE WE GO INTO THOSE.

SO GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET OR SPECIFICALLY THE 935,000 THAT STAFFS IDENTIFIED IF WE MAINTAIN THE RATE. SO MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE GENERAL SUPPORT? SO THE NUMBER IS $25,000 FROM STAFF FOR SOME SORT OF SIGNAGE EITHER ON TRASH CANS OR OTHERWISE FOR NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SAY SLOW SCIENCE KIDS? AND I'M THINKING JUST A LOGO KID SLOW, SOMETHING REAL SIMPLE, EASY MESSAGING.

I'VE MENTIONED IT A FEW TIMES.

I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF THERE IS SUPPORT FOR IT OR NOT.

IT IS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE THAT I HEAR ABOUT A LOT IN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SO I'M PUTTING IT FORWARD.

BUT I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF THERE'S CONSENSUS.

IF THERE'S NOT, THAT'S GREAT.

JUST NEED TO DOCUMENT THAT.

SO IS THERE CONSENSUS FOR THE 25,000 ALLOCATION, FOR SIGNAGE, FOR SLOW KIDS PLAYING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD? MELTZER ACTUALLY, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT NOTICING IT.

IS IT ALREADY IN THERE OR ARE YOU SAYING YOU'D LIKE THAT TO BE ADDED? IT IS NOT. YEAH, I'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT THIS IS THE POINT WHERE I'VE GOT TO TRY TO MAKE THE SALES PITCH.

YEAH. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, JUST TO BE TO BE BLUNT, IF I SUPPORT IT, I CAN I CAN SUPPORT IT.

IT WOULD BE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU OUGHT TO GET TO TRY AN IDEA.

YOU KNOW, I'M NOT 100% HONESTLY CONVINCED THAT IT WOULD STILL BE SEEN IF IT'S SORT OF IF IT'S EVERYWHERE.

I FEEL LIKE IT'S PROBABLY PEOPLE WOULD TUNE IT OUT.

BUT I COULD BE WRONG.

IT'S JUST IT'S JUST A GUESS AND IT'S NOT AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY.

AND I HOPE THAT OTHER PEOPLE GET TO TRY OUT CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS, TOO.

SO YOU CAN PUT ME IN THE YES COLUMN.

CAN I? AND YES, YOU CAN.

YOU CAN, YEAH. AND I WANT TO SAY I AGREE.

AT THAT LEVEL. AT THAT LEVEL.

YEAH. NO, NO, I AGREE WITH YOU.

THAT IS A CONCERN. I TALKED TO THE CITY MANAGER ABOUT HOW DO WE STAGGER IT SO THAT IT'S NOT JUST OVERLOOKED, IT BECOMES WALLPAPER, RIGHT? YES. WOULD YOU LIKE COMMENTS ON THAT AS WELL? SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'S A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENT IN THE PREVIOUS SLIDE DECK WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PARKLAND, WHERE IT SAID THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO JUST LOOK AT LAND BANKING IN GENERAL.

AND I KNOW MAYOR PRO TEM HAS BROUGHT THAT UP BEFORE, THAT IT FILTERS THROUGH EVERYTHING AND SORT OF ANYTHING WE NEED LAND FOR IS A BIT UNDER PRESSURE.

SO WOULD WE HAVE TO SAY LAND FOR THIS OR LAND FOR THAT, OR COULD WE OR I COULD BE SUPPORTIVE OF STEERING EVERYTHING BUT THE 25,000 TOWARD LAND BANKING NOW PROBABLY MAKE.

PEOPLE, SOME PEOPLE EVEN IN THIS ROOM, VERY HAPPY IF SOMETHING WAS SPECIFICALLY ALREADY EARMARKED FOR ROADS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH HOW MANY WAYS YOU CAN SLICE 900, 100,000 AND HAVE IT BE MEANINGFUL.

SO THAT'S MY CONCERN. DO YOU HAVE TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE ROADS? I DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ROADWAYS OUTSIDE OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL.

OKAY. OKAY. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. BREECHES HELD.

GOTCHA. I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT.

BUT I DO HAVE A PLAN. I THINK THAT THE LAND BANKING HAS COME UP IN ENOUGH WAYS, IN ENOUGH CONTEXTS VIA PARKS THAT I THINK THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, UNSPECIFIC LAND BANKING. I COULD DEFEND TO VOTERS WITH THE SAME OBSERVATION I SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE THAT, YOU KNOW, LAND IS GETTING ALL SPOKEN FOR.

[01:10:03]

COUNCIL MEMBER. I CAN AGREE WITH THE CHILDREN'S SIGNS.

I'VE BEEN ASKED ABOUT THAT.

BUT NEIGHBORHOODS TURN OVER AND CHANGE OVER AND GRANDPARENTS MOVE OUT AND KIDS MOVE IN AND AND ALL OF THAT.

SO I'M NOT REAL SURE HOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO KIND OF KEEP UP WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, UNLESS WE JUST DO EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD BECAUSE THERE ARE CHILDREN IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD EXCEPT FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD. I DON'T HAVE MANY KIDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT THE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION.

SO MAYOR, I'M IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT.

SURE. SO THE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS I HAD A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE FIRE STATION PROPERTY.

WE KNOW THAT THIS LARGE COMMUNITY IS IS WELL ON ITS WAY UP OVER HERE OFF OF I-35W.

THE HILLWOOD PEOPLE. WILL WE DO WE ALREADY HAVE FIRE STATION PROPERTY ALREADY SET UP FOR THESE GROUP OF PEOPLE OVER HERE NEXT TO THE AIRPORT. I KNOW THE AIRPORT HAS.

YES, THE AIRPORT STATION NUMBER NINE.

SO THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THEY WOULD BE SERVICED FROM STATION NUMBER NINE.

AND IT'S BUILDING IN PROGRESS RIGHT NOW.

KASEY GOT A CHANCE TO SEE IT.

OKAY. SO THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT.

YOU'RE ASKING FOR ABOUT HUNTER COLE.

THERE WILL BE A FIRE STATION.

SO THERE ARE. THERE ARE.

YES, THERE ARE PLANS FOR FIRE STATION.

OKAY. SO THAT WOULDN'T WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM IN THIS IN THIS AREA, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS KIND OF THINKING ABOUT.

IF YOU RECALL, THIS IS THE THIS IS A PROPERTY ACQUISITION FOR REPLACEMENT OF FIRE STATION SIX.

OKAY. AND THAT WILL BE COMING BACK TO COUNCIL NEXT ON THE 26TH.

OKAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS FIVE AND SIX.

FIVE AND SIX. OKAY.

SO I MEAN, I KNOW BOTH OF THEM ARE ARE VERY MUCH NEEDED.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY BECAUSE WE NEED BOTH OF THEM.

BUT I DEFINITELY WOULD APPRECIATE THE MORE.

SO THE PARKLAND PROPERTY ACQUISITION, I THINK IS A BIT MORE IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

AND JUST TO BEFORE WE MOVE ON, IT IS A GOOD NOTE AND CREDIT, I THINK IT WAS UNDER MAYOR WATTS'S WATCH, BUT WE PARTNERED WITH ARGYLE ON THAT FIRE STATION JUST ACROSS THE FIELD FROM ROBSON RANCH.

BUT NOW THERE'S A STREET BEING MADE.

SO THERE'S ALSO A WAY TO HAVE SOME AGREEMENT OR UPDATE THAT AGREEMENT AND THEY CAN GET THERE PRETTY QUICK.

SO IT'LL BE WE'LL HAVE GREAT COVERAGE IN THAT AREA.

SO THAT'LL BE REALLY NEAT TO SEE HOW THAT MATURES.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE MAYOR PRO TEM, THANK YOU.

I JUST HAVE TO YOUR, YOUR SIGNAGE POINT PUT ME IN THE GUEST COLUMN.

I APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY.

I WOULD JUST SAY THAT YOU WANTED IT ON TRACK AND YOU WANT IT ON TRASH CANS, RIGHT? YEAH, INITIALLY I TALKED ABOUT THAT.

BUT THEN THERE'S A ROLLOUT ISSUE WHERE IT'S ONLY ON THE NEW ONES AND IN LOCATION.

AND SO I'M JUST GIVING STAFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO RESEARCH AND SEE WHAT'S MOST EFFECTIVE.

BUT CAP IT AT, IF WE DO IT ON TRASH CANS, IT'S 25,000 PER STAFF.

AND SO THAT'S THE MAX.

AND THEN THEY'LL FIGURE OUT HOW TO BEST GET THE COVERAGE.

TO COUNCILMAN BIRD'S POINT, I WILL SAY THAT WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN MANY OTHER CITIES THAT I'VE TRIED TO WORK IN IS THAT THEY PUT SIGNAGE ON THE BACKSIDE OF OTHER SIGNS, TOO.

SO TWO WAY SIGNS.

SO YOU KNOW THAT THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE BACKSIDE OF AN EXISTING SIGN.

OKAY. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR FOR STAFF.

YES. CAN YOU JUST EXPLAIN TO ME THOSE STAFFING POSITIONS, THAT STAFFING SLIDE YOU HAD UP? YOU'RE PUTTING THREE POSITIONS WITH ANIMAL SERVICES TECHNICIANS VERSUS OFFICER THE DIFFERENCE? SO YOU HAVE TO BE SPECIFIC.

JUST JUST GENERALLY YOU WANT TO DO IT OR DO YOU WANT ME TO? YEAH. HERE HE IS.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR. COUNCIL.

FRANK DIXON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

SO THE DIFFERENCE IN BETWEEN THE TECHNICIAN AND THE OFFICERS, THE ACOS, THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS GO OUT AND ACTUALLY RESPOND TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.

THE TECHNICIANS WORK INSIDE THE FACILITY DOING INTAKES, CHECKING THE CAGES, THE KENNELS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO THEY WORK INSIDE THE BUILDING AND THE ACOS WORK OUTSIDE.

OKAY, I'M GOOD.

UNLESS YOU WERE GOING TO SAY SOMETHING, TOO.

OKAY. ONE MORE QUESTION, FRANK, WHILE YOU'RE UP THERE.

THE QUARTERMASTER POSITION IS THE QUARTERMASTER A A STAFFER WHO WORKS, WHO WORKS, HANDLES THE EQUIPMENT, OR IS IT A FIREFIGHTER WHO HANDLES THE EQUIPMENT BUT ALSO REGULARLY RESPONDS TO FIRES, TOO? SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A FIREFIGHTER.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RESPOND TO CALLS, BUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? SO THROUGH THE NATIONAL FIRE SERVICE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, THEY FOUND THAT CONTAMINATES GET INSIDE THEIR BUNKER GEAR WHEN THEY'RE OUT WORKING FIRES.

SO NOW IN ADDITION TO THEM HAVING TO COMPLETELY WASH DOWN DECON AT THE SCENES, THEY CAN NO LONGER WEAR THAT APPARATUS BACK INTO THEIR TRUCKS AND DROVE BACK TO THE STATION.

[01:15:02]

THEY'RE PROBABLY SAY A LITTLE MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN I DID, ALTHOUGH WHENEVER HE SPEAKS, HE'LL PROBABLY WALK OUT HERE WITH SIX MORE POSITIONS.

BUT WHAT THIS NEW POSITION WILL DO IS THEY ACTUALLY CARRY OUT FRESH GEAR SO THEY CAN TRADE OUT AT THE SCENE.

AND THAT CONTAMINATED BUNKER GEAR GOES WITH THE QUARTERMASTER.

THEY GO BACK, DECONTAMINATE IT AND THEN ROLL IT BACK INTO SERVICE.

SO THERE'S A LOT TO IT.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT? NO NEW POSITIONS. KENNETH HEDGES FIRE CHIEF, ONE QUICK THING.

OUR PROGRAM FOR OUR PPE AND UNIFORMS HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN MANAGED BY ON DUTY PERSONNEL THAT WE PAID OVERTIME FOR THE PAST 30 PLUS YEARS.

SO WE DID NOT HAVE A DEDICATED PERSON TO MANAGE THIS.

RIGHT NOW. WE ACTUALLY HAD A LIGHT DUTY PERSON THAT'S BEEN ON FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND THAT'S BEEN HIS PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY.

SO WE'RE BIG ENOUGH NOW AND ACTUALLY REQUIRED BY THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION TO HAVE ALL OUR RECORDS AVAILABLE.

THEY COME ON SITE, DO A SURPRISE INSPECTION.

WE GOT EVERYTHING READY TO GO. IF NOT, WE ARE FINE.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR.

I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.

MAYOR PRO TEM. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND FOR THE THE TWO PIECES OF DIRECTION AND QUESTIONS.

YEAH, I APPRECIATE WHERE YOU THE NUANCE THAT YOU'VE ADDED TO YOUR PROPOSAL WHERE WHATEVER WORKS TO KEEP THE KIDS SAFE.

I'M ON BOARD WITH THAT.

SO ADD ME TO THE LIST OF YESES.

I'M I TAKE STAFF'S POINT ABOUT NOT BEING SURE WHETHER TRASHCANS ARE THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, BUT I'M OKAY WITH TRYING OUT SOMETHING TO IMPROVE.

SAFETY GOES ALONG WITH OUR VISION ZERO GOALS.

SO YEAH, I'M IN SUPPORT OF IT.

AND THEN I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK I SAID IT EARLIER AND IT'S ONLY LIGHTLY REITERATE THOSE POINTS. I THINK WE DO NEED TO DO A LOT OF LAND BANKING, LAND ACQUISITION FOR, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST GREEN SPACE, BUT JUST IN GENERAL, OUR HOMELESS INITIATIVES, FIRE LIBRARY, WE HAVE WE HAVE NUMEROUS ISSUES THAT KEEP COMING UP WITH OUR WITH OUR DWINDLING LAND RESOURCES.

AND I WOULD ASK, SO I GUESS I'M LENDING MY SUPPORT MORE TO PARKLAND THAN OTHERS, BUT OBVIOUSLY BOTH OF THOSE ARE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS. I WOULD ASK THAT FOR WHATEVER BUDGET THAT WE DO CARRY FORWARD FOR LAND ACQUISITION, PARTICULARLY IF IT'S FOR GREEN SPACE ACQUISITION, I.

I DON'T KNOW.

A LOT OF IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE FOCUSING ON BUYING AND BANKING AND THEY'RE WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS USE CONTROL.

WE DON'T CARE THAT YOU OWN A GREEN SPACE OR WE OWN A GREEN SPACE.

WE WANT IT TO BE A GREEN SPACE.

AND THERE ARE OTHER MECHANISMS. YOU KNOW, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, YOU KNOW, PURCHASE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS, TDRS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE'S, YOU KNOW, TAX DEDUCTION, CREDITS AND THIS AND THAT.

THERE'S THERE IS A WHOLE PANOPLY OF NOT JUST BUYING LAND OPTIONS, INCLUDING OPTIONS THAT WE CAN USE TO LEVERAGE WHATEVER DOLLARS WE FINALLY DECIDE FOR THAT TO TO TO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN EXTEND THAT TO THE EQUIVALENT OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF WE ARE SMART ABOUT HOW BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO CONTROL USE NOT THAT YOU OWN THE TREES OR WE OWN THE TREES.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. AND THAT'S EXACTLY I MEAN, I THINK THAT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, IS PUT THAT TOOLKIT TOGETHER THAT SAYS YOU CAN DO ACQUISITION, THERE'S CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ACTUALLY PRESERVE MORE LAND AND HAVE IT.

AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO JUST ALWAYS BE BUYING IT.

BUT THIS GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY IF THAT'S APPROVED FOR USING, BECAUSE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT MAY COST A SMALL AMOUNT, A TINY AMOUNT OF MONEY.

IT COULD BE A TRADE OF LAND.

THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE WELL.

AND EVEN IN THE NON GREEN SPACES, WE'VE BEEN CREATIVE IN THE PAST.

LIKE THE WHOLE POINT OF THE HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION IS TO GIVE TO A AUTHORIZE TAX INCENTIVES SO THAT WE CAN PRESERVE THOSE PROPERTIES AND THOSE OWNERS STILL OWN THOSE PROPERTIES AND OFTEN FINANCIALLY BENEFIT IN THE CITY FINANCIALLY BENEFITS.

SO I THINK WE CAN I WANT US TO BE SMARTER AND USE MORE LEVERS IN OUR TOOL KIT.

I'M MIXING METAPHORS THERE.

BUT BUT BE BE A LITTLE SMARTER IS WHAT I'M ASKING.

AND NOT NECESSARILY THAT THAT THAT EXTENDS OUR BANKING DOLLARS FOR WHEN WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO BANK.

SO THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

OKAY. ANYONE COUNCILMAN.

WHAT'S. MY FIRST QUESTION IS IN THIS MACK IF I SAY TOO MUCH, THEN LET ME KNOW. THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING DOWN IN AUSTIN THAT AFFECT THE GENERAL FUND.

AND HAS THAT BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE CURRENT BUDGET PROPOSAL IN THE REVENUE? AND IF SO, I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST AT SOME POINT HAVE AN IDEA OF HOW THAT WAS WORKED OUT.

[01:20:06]

IF I IT CAN BE MENTIONED GENERALLY, THAT'S FINE.

BUT IF NOT, THEN THAT'S OKAY TOO.

YES, I UNDERSTAND.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO THE SECOND TO ADDRESS THE MAYOR'S REQUEST.

SURE. THAT'S I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

AND I THINK THAT FOR 20, 25,000, YOU CAN YOU CAN GET A LOT DONE, EVEN IF IT'S PUT UP PERMANENT SIGNS IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO THE SECOND OBSERVATION, WELL, THE SECOND DIRECTION IS PARKLAND PROPERTY ACQUISITION.

THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT MAYOR PRO TEM MENTIONED.

MAYOR PRO TEM MENTIONED A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WHICH, YOU KNOW, PRESERVATION OF GREEN SPACE.

BUT PARKLAND PROPERTY ACQUISITION MEANS PARKLAND THAT THE CITIZENS CAN USE FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS DON'T NECESSARILY IMPLY THAT DEPENDING ON COUNCIL MEMBER.

MAUSER THAT'S, THAT'S NEGOTIATED IN THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT DISCUSSION.

YEAH. SO IT'S NOT A GIVEN IS WHAT I'M SAYING.

SO JUST BECAUSE IT'S GREEN SPACE DOESN'T MEAN IT'S PARKLAND THAT'S USABLE.

THAT'S WHEREAS IF WE BUY PARKLAND, WE'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO USE IT IF WE HAVE THE MONEY.

SO YEAH.

IS THERE. NO, NO, NO. I GOT SOME OTHER STUFF.

GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. YES.

YEAH, YEAH. I'M NOT TRYING TO CREATE A CONTROVERSY, BUT I CERTAINLY WANT TO HEAR YOUR INPUT.

BUT THAT'S THE TRUTH.

THAT IS. AND PLUS, I WANT TO MAKE AN OBSERVATION THAT ON THE CHART IT SAYS, WILL THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION FOR PARKLAND ACQUISITION LIKELY MEET, NOT WILL LIKELY MEET, NOT MEET OR EXCEED THE MASTER PLAN TARGETS? WELL, THIS WAS STAFF'S RESPONSE, AND I'M JUST GOING TO READ IT.

THE CITY IS CURRENTLY ON TRACK TO MEET ITS FUTURE TARGETED, TARGETED GOALS OF HAVING 6840 ACRES PARK ACRES, BY 2040.

IN ADDITION, WE EXCEEDED THE ANNUAL TARGET OF ANNUAL OF ADDITIONAL PARKLAND PER YEAR IN FY 2122, DURING WHICH TIME WE ADDED 239 ACRES IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

AND I'M ASSUMING THAT MEANS THIS FISCAL YEAR THE CITY HAS ACQUIRED 344.7.

SO I GUESS I'M HEARING A LOT THAT THERE'S A CONCERN THAT WE'RE NOT DOING THAT.

BUT I COULD BE WRONG.

BUT WHAT I'M SEEING IS THAT WE ARE DOING IT.

SO AND IF IT NEEDS I MEAN, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S A PRIORITY.

I'M JUST SAYING WE ARE DOING IT CURRENTLY.

I THINK I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS, IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING OUT IN THE FUTURE TO HAVE LAND BANK FOR THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THE CITY AS IT'S GROWING AND ENSURING THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE PROPERTY TO EITHER HAVE FROM A CONSERVATION POINT OF VIEW OR FROM A PARKLAND POINT OF VIEW, AND MAYBE EVEN FROM A FUTURE CITY GROWTH THAT WE HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD.

BUT CURRENTLY WE ARE ON TRACK.

BUT IT'S FOR LOOKING AT THE FUTURE.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. I'M JUST SAYING THAT FUTURE FUTURE PREDICTIONS CAN BE BASED ON PAST PERFORMANCE OR HOWEVER THAT CLICHE SOUNDBITE GOES.

JUST SAYING THAT WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING UP WITH WITH WHAT OUR MASTER PLAN TARGET IS, IS WHAT I WOULD SAY.

I WOULD SAY IN THE LAST YEARS SINCE GARY'S BEEN HERE, WE'VE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB AND A LOT OF THAT GOES THE CREDIT GOES TO GARY PACKAN.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW.

I. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE PIGEONHOLED INTO SAYING WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT PARKLAND PROPERTY ACQUISITION OR FIRE STATION PROPERTY ACQUISITION.

BECAUSE IF I'M GOING TO BE ASKED TO PUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND ALL THAT ABOVE.

SO THAT'S NOT WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT THAT IS PRIMARILY THEIR FIRE STATION PROPERTY ACQUISITION FOR THE DISCUSSION WE HAD FOR FIRE STATION SIX AND FIRE STATION SIX.

GIVEN THAT DISCUSSION WAS GOING TO SAVE THE CITY 20 OR SO MILLION DOLLARS OF MONEY BY NOT TEARING SOMETHING DOWN THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE TORN DOWN.

SO TAKE THAT AS IT'S WORTH.

AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION IS, MAYOR, I KNOW THAT DURING THE BOND DISCUSSION, THE CITY HALL DISCUSSION, YOU KNOW, I SAID ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I WOULD SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO.

GET EITHER SITE PLANS OR ENGINEERING STUDIES OR THINGS SUCH AS THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF LATER IN THE BUDGET PRESENTATION THERE'S ANYTHING ON THAT.

AND IF THERE IS, THAT'S FINE.

IF THERE'S NOT, I WOULD SAY THAT OUT OF THIS 930,000, CAN WE LOOK AT SETTING ASIDE SOME THAT WOULD ADDRESS YOUR DESIRE? AND THAT IS HOW DO WE PUT THIS MOTION, THIS IN PLACE AND CREATE A PLAN IN ORDER TO DO THAT? SO SO IF YOU'RE IF YOU'RE SUPPORTING THE NUMBER IS $100,000 IS WHAT'S NEEDED.

YOU GOT AHEAD OF ME. BUT YES.

[01:25:01]

NO. YES, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.

YES, SIR. OKAY. AND THOSE ARE ALL MY COMMENTS.

AND LET ME MAKE A CAVEAT BEFORE COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER REALLY STARTS, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HUNTER AND COAL RANCH HAS A BIG CONSERVATION EASEMENT AND THE CITIZENS ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE IT. SO MY MY MY COMMENT WAS NOT MEANT TO PUT A DAMPER ON CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.

I'M JUST SAYING THAT IN IN THE NEGOTIATION OF THAT, THAT HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS SPECIFICALLY SPELLED OUT THAT THAT'S NOT A GIVEN.

WHEREAS IF WE'RE BUYING PARKLAND, WE PROBABLY PRETTY MUCH CAN CONSIDER THAT THE CITIZENS CAN DO IT.

SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY.

THAT'S FINE. THAT'S GOOD.

YEAH. NO, I'M GOOD. COUNCILMAN BURT, ARE YOU STILL SUPPORTIVE, JUST COMING BACK TO YOU DIRECTLY BECAUSE YOU WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE BOND? ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF THAT 100,000? I AM. OKAY.

AND THEN ADD ME TO THAT.

SO THAT'S THAT'S.

THAT'S FOR COUNCILMAN.

MCGEE GAVE ME THE NOD FOR THE RECORD.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

SO, COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLAND, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING BEFORE I GO BACK AROUND? THERE. FIX MY SWITCH, PLEASE.

I WANT TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I AM NOT ANTI CHILD.

I USED TO BE A CHILD.

MY MOM WAS A CHILD.

MY CHILDREN WERE CHILDREN.

SO I'M NOT ANTI.

I THINK YOU CAN STILL PRODUCE THEM.

THE SIGN SAYS, I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

I HOPE THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

I THINK THE I THINK THE TRASH CAN IS THE TRASH CAN PROPOSAL IS IS FUN.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE.

THE TRASH IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, TRASH CANS GO OUT ONCE A WEEK.

I DO NOT SUPPORT THAT.

I KNOW YOU GOT THE VOTES FOR THAT.

YES, SIR. I'M IN FAVOR OF FIRE STATION ACQUISITION.

AND AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO FIREFIGHTERS AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT STREETS LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT TALK TO ME IN MY DISTRICT.

THAT'S ALL I EVER HEAR.

PEOPLE STOP ME WHEN I'M WALKING MY DOG.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIX THE STREETS? SO THAT'S MY CONCERN, TO KEEP FIRE TRUCKS SAFE AND I THINK SMOOTH STREETS, KEEP CHILDREN SAFE.

OKAY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MELTZER.

THANK YOU. I CONTINUE TO HOLD ON TO MY BRITCHES OR WHATEVER I WAS SUPPOSED TO HOLD ON TO REGARDING STREETS.

NO, ALL I WANTED TO MENTION RELATED TO THE PARKLAND THING, I THINK IT GOES BACK TO 2019.

I'M GOING TO BE A LITTLE SKETCHY ON THIS, BUT I RECALL GARY PACKAN COMING IN OR MAYBE IT WAS IN A DOCUMENT, BUT THAT THERE WERE LIKE THREE OFFICIAL TYPES OF PARKLAND. SOME IS FOR RECREATIONAL USE.

YOU KNOW, YOU THINK OF BALL FIELDS, THAT KIND OF THING.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MIDDLE ONE IS, BUT SOME IS JUST NATURAL SPACE.

SO CONSERVATION EASEMENT COULD BE JUST CONSERVATION.

IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE FOR ACTIVE USE.

THAT'S ALL IT'S GOING TO CHIP IN.

AND I'LL REITERATE, YOU KNOW, I WAS I WAS SUPPORTING THE IDEA OF SAYING FOR LAND BANKING, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT WE'LL FIGURE OUT THE THE NEEDS IF IT NEEDS TO BE FOR FIRE, IT'S GOING TO BE FOR FIRE, YOU KNOW, BUT THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT NEED IT.

AND THERE ARE ALSO LOTS OF CLEVER WAYS TO EXTEND THE IMPACT OF THOSE DOLLARS, I FULLY ACKNOWLEDGE.

ALL RIGHT. SO HERE'S HERE'S HERE'S WHAT I HAVE.

AND WE JUST NEED TO CLARIFY THIS BEFORE WE GO.

SO. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW BEST TO DO THIS OTHER THAN TO READ MY NOTES.

SO GOING IN ORDER.

COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER YOU TALKED ABOUT THE THE REMAINDER OF ANY FUNDS GOING TOWARDS LAND BANKING GENERALLY, ANY, ANY FORM COUNCILMAN BYRD YOU TALK, YOU PUT A PRIORITY ON PARK LAND.

MAYOR PRO TEM TALKED ABOUT LAND BANKING PARKS GENERALLY AS A PRIORITY.

THEN COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND, YOU TALKED ABOUT LAND FROM A FIRE FIRE PERSPECTIVE, BUT NOT REALLY LAND, BUT REALLY ABOUT FIRE.

AND STREETS.

YES. SO SO WE'LL COME BACK TO STREETS.

BUT SO THERE'S THERE'S THREE KIND OF INDIRECTION FOR LAND GENERALLY.

I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER WHAT'S TALKED ABOUT FIRE DEPARTMENT LAND.

AND SO I'M READING THERE'S FOUR FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT LAND.

THERE'S THREE AS I'M READING FOR JUST GENERAL LAND, HOWEVER WE SEE IT NEEDED AND AND WE'RE NOT CLOSE ON JUST

[01:30:09]

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE.

IF ANYONE WANTS TO CORRECT ME, I'M WRONG.

CHANGE WHERE THEY ARE, THAT THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY.

OTHERWISE, WE HAVE CONSENSUS ON FIRE LAND.

WE DON'T HAVE CONSENSUS.

ANY OTHER PREFERENCES WITH ALLOCATION TO TO LAND.

SO. MADAM MAYOR, IF I COULD JUST POINT OUT, WE HAVE LAND IDENTIFIED FOR FIRE RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S ANY LAND RIGHT NOW FOR PARKS THAT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED.

SO MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO USE THE REMAINING FUNDING TO GO TOWARDS THE LAND IDENTIFIED FOR FIRE FIRST.

AND THEN IF THERE'S ANY REMAINING, THEN WE COULD CATEGORIZE THAT FOR PARKLAND.

OKAY. THAT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.

RECOMMENDATION COUNCIL MEMBER.

WHAT'S? SORRY.

SORRY. SO I GUESS MY ONLY QUESTION ON THAT IS IF THAT LAND COSTS MORE THAN $930,000, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE $25,000 FOR THE SIGN AND THE 100,000 FOR THE CITY HALL, WHATEVER WE CALL IT, DOES THAT MEAN THAT THOSE GO AWAY? IS THAT IS THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE BUDGET? NO. I WOULD TAKE THE $25,000 FIRST AND THEN THE CITY HALL, SINCE I HAVE FOUR FOR EACH OF THOSE.

AND THEN THAT MONEY WOULD GO AND THEN WHATEVER'S LEFT, GO.

GOTCHA. JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.

OKAY. AND THEN JUST A REMINDER, WE'LL BE COMING IN CLOSED SESSION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PROPERTY ACQUISITION, WHICH YOU HAVE OTHER YOU MAY HAVE OTHER OPTIONS AT THAT TIME TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY. ONE FOLLOW UP COMMENT, IF I COULD, MR. MAYOR. THAT DOES NOT PRECLUDE THIS COUNCIL NOR STAFF.

IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COMES UP, AS WE DO EVERY YEAR THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR PARKLAND OR CONSERVATION EASEMENT, THAT DOESN'T WE'RE NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING. IT'S JUST THE EITHER THE PRIORITY OR THE BUDGET.

AND THEN THERE'S OPPORTUNITY IF THINGS COME UP, THAT WE CAN MAKE A DECISION TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE MADE, WE'VE DONE CAPITAL BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO PURCHASE LAND SPECIFICALLY FOR PARKS MIDYEAR AS THEY CAME UP.

AND WE'RE GOING TO KEEP COMING BACK.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP COMING BACK.

YOU KNOW, GARY, GARY'S VERY PERSISTENT LITTLE FELLOW, AND HE'S GOING TO COME BACK WHEN THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE OR PARTNER OR EASEMENTS OR ANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO PRESERVE LAND, PERIOD.

AND WE'LL DO THE SAME WITH YOU WHEN WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE PROPERTY THAT WE THINK MAY HELP US FROM A GROWTH PERSPECTIVE.

WE WILL NOT STOP DOING THAT AND WE WILL COME TO COUNCIL AS OFTEN AS WE HAVE TO TO BRING THOSE THINGS FORWARD.

YEAH, AND JUST TRANSPARENCY ALONG THOSE LINES FOR ME.

I'VE BEEN TALKING TO EVERYONE THAT WILL LISTEN ABOUT RECAPTURING PARKING LOTS.

WE HAVE SOME GIANT PARKING LOT AREAS WHERE WE HAVE SOME SPRAWL RECAPTURING THOSE.

LET'S BREAK UP THAT. LET'S THEN REPLANT SOME TREES AND GET SOME GREEN SPACE WHERE WE HAVE THESE GIANT PARKING LOTS.

SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THAT DONE AS WELL, JUST BECAUSE I THINK IT SOME AREAS WERE OVER PARKED, JUST KIND OF HOW THE CITY'S DEVELOPED.

AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE THINGS.

SO REALLY A REALLY IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE DO YOU HAVE DIRECTION OR DO YOU NEED ME? SO WE THE DIRECTION IS SO I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

IF YOU DISAGREE WITH STAFF'S SUGGESTION ON APPLYING IT TO THE FIRE LAND OR FIRE PROPERTY ACQUISITION.

THAT'S WHAT THAT'S WHAT I NEED.

AFTER YOU SUBTRACT THE 25.

YEAH. AFTER YOU SUBTRACT THE 2120 5000.

25,000 FOR SOME SORT OF SIGNAGE THING.

THE 100,000 FOR THE BEGINNINGS OF ARCHITECTURAL OR ENGINEERING FOR CITY HALL? YEAH. SO $810,000 IS WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GOING TOWARDS FIRE STATION PROPERTY ACQUISITION.

JUST A QUICK COMMENT.

WELL, ME I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE FUTURE AND LOOK FOR MORE FIRE STATION LAND.

CAN WE DO KIND OF A JOINT FIRE AND POLICE STATION LIKE SOME OTHER CITIES DO, OR IS THERE A REASON WHY WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT THUS FAR? NO, AND IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING FRANK AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT IS LOOKING AT AS WE GROW, WHERE WE HAVE A NEED FOR MAYBE A FUTURE SUBSTATION THAT WE DO CO-LOCATE FIRE AND POLICE.

IT ISN'T UNCOMMON.

I'M ACTUALLY WORKED IN A CITY WHERE WE BUILT FIRE POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES IN ONE AREA.

I THINK BOTH CHIEFS ARE VERY AMENABLE TO THAT.

IT'S JUST WHERE WE AS WE GROW, WE LOOK AT THAT.

AND I DO WANT TO POINT OUT ALSO, YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS, BUT WE HAVE FOR THOSE WHO ARE WATCHING, WE DO HAVE THE OFFICES.

WE'VE BEGUN TO KIND OF SLOWLY INCORPORATE THAT, WHERE OFFICERS CAN POP INTO A FIRE STATION AND THERE'S AN OFFICE THEY CAN PLUG IN AND DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO IN THOSE ENTRYWAYS. THEY'VE BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT BUILDING THOSE IN.

SO. I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD.

I APPRECIATE THAT. AND SINCE CHIEF IS SITTING OVER HERE AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO CALL MY BROTHER, I WILL ALSO COSIGN FOR THE FIRE STATION PROPERTY ACQUISITION,

[01:35:06]

SHOUT OUT TO WAYNE EMERSON. NO ONE SAID THAT.

IT'S OKAY. I WON'T SAY THAT I HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THAT.

IT'S HOLDING. IT'S COMING.

JUST HOLD ON. JUST I.

I LOVE THE CATALYST FUND.

YES. YES, IT'S IMPORTANT.

ANYONE ELSE? IS THAT OUR NEW THEME FOR THE CITY, SIR? YEAH. OKAY.

MAYOR, YOU NEED. ADDITIONAL FOR THE PROPERTY.

GO WITH THAT. YES. YES.

NO, I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT.

DISAGREE WITH. OKAY. GOT IT.

OKAY. YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING.

YES. I STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE SLIDES.

CERTAINLY. SO THE LONG ANTICIPATED STREET FUNDING DISCUSSION AND I SENT I SENT OUT SOME INFORMATION FOR CLOSED SESSION.

WE DO HAVE A PLACEHOLDER DISCUSSION FOR CLOSED SESSION IF YOU WANT TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL ON THIS, BUT BASED ON OUR DATA CENTER REVENUE, I'M PROPOSING THIS ALLOCATION SPLIT.

SO 16% GO TO SUSTAINABILITY FOR NEXT YEAR FOR FY 24 STREETS, 62% OF THAT FUNDING AND THEN 21% GO TO THE CATALYST FUND.

YOU HAVE. OKAY, LET ME IT'S IN THE EMAIL THAT THEY JUST.

SO YOU SHOULD HAVE AN EMAIL IF YOU'LL CHECK THAT FROM CASSIE AT 2:07 P.M..

TODAY. THAT'S THE NUMBER.

THAT'S A CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSION.

SO DON'T SAY THE NUMBER.

BUT THAT'S THE NUMBER.

IT'S OUR WAY OF.

EDUCATING YOU ON THE NUMBER WITHOUT GOING INTO CLOTHES IF YOU NEED TO SEE IT DURING CLOTHES.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY PURPOSE WOULD BE TO SHOW THE SAME THING THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR EMAIL.

SO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR EMAIL AND THEN YOU CAN APPLY THOSE PERCENTAGES.

IF WE NEED TO GO AND CLOSE, JUST SAY SO WE'LL DO THAT.

MAYOR PRO TEM I THINK I HAVE ENOUGH DISCUSSION WHERE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT NUMBERS.

I APOLOGIZE, BUT I DO WANT TO GO INTO CLOSED ON THAT JUST BECAUSE THE NUMBERS AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE NUMBERS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR EMAIL ARE CONFIDENTIAL.

THE POLICY DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW THAT GETS SPENT IS NOT CONFIDENTIAL.

THAT WILL BE OPEN AND DISCUSSED IN OPEN SESSION.

OKAY, THAT'S FAIR.

CAN WE THEN SAY CAN WE CAN WE CAST THE PRIOR VALUES IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGES? WHAT ARE THE OLD PERCENTAGES? AND THESE ARE THE NEW PERCENTAGES.

WHAT ARE THE OLD PERCENTAGES? I DON'T HAVE THEM OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.

I COULD CALCULATE THEM. THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO MYSELF.

ALL RIGHT. ANYONE ELSE? WE.

IF I MIGHT. YES, SIR.

OKAY. SO.

IN IN IN THIS DISCUSSION.

I THINK THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO WE ACT LIKE THOSE ARE THREE SEPARATE CONCEPTS AND AND THEY ARE THREE SEPARATE TARGETED SORT OF AREAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, MOBILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY.

BUT THOSE OVERLAP EACH OTHER TO A LARGE DEGREE.

SO I WOULD LIKE US TO CONSIDER WHERE WE CAN LEVERAGE AND SAY A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF, YOU KNOW, ONE THING HAS TO BE DEDICATED TO KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN THE OTHER.

SO FOR INSTANCE, YOU COULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE, OKAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN CONSISTENT DESIRE TO MOVE TRANSITION TO MOBILITY PROJECTS THAT ARE MORE SUSTAINABLE, MORE 21ST CENTURY.

SO IF A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THOSE I'M GOING TO MAKE A NUMBER UP 10% AND YOU ALL CAN GO OR NOT GO WITH ME ON THAT ONE.

BUT IF 10% OF THE STREETS FUNDS WERE FOR STREETS SUSTAINABLE, THAT COULD ALSO SATISFY OUR KPIS IN SUSTAINABILITY.

THEN WE WOULD BE DOUBLE DIPPING.

AND THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT KIND OF FUNDING.

AND YET IT STILL EXTENDS AND LEVERAGES OUR CAPITAL AVAILABLE FOR STRAIGHT UP ORDINARY POTHOLE REPAIR BECAUSE WE'RE NOW LEVERAGING AND EXTENDING.

AND THE SAME WITH OUR CATALYST FUND.

WE WE COULD SAY AGAIN, I'M GOING TO THROW OUT THAT SAME NUMBER, 10% OR SO OF, YOU KNOW, SHOULD BE DEDICATED TOWARDS TRYING TO LEVERAGE BUSINESSES THAT ALSO LEVERAGE SOME OF OUR STREETS OR SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK FUNDS.

AND THAT WAY WE ARE A WIN WIN, DOUBLE DIPPING IN GOOD WAYS.

AND SO THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I ASK US TO CONSIDER IS IS FLAT OUT EARMARKING CERTAIN THINGS.

[01:40:04]

THANK YOU, MISTER MAYOR. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE COMMENTS ON THESE PERCENTAGES? COUNCILMEMBER HOLLAND.

YEAH, IT'S OKAY.

WE HAVE BANDIED ABOUT $5 MILLION FOR FOR ROAD.

HOW DOES HOW DOES THE 62% JIVE WITH THE WITH THAT $5 MILLION? SO I CAN'T GIVE YOU THE FULL NUMBER IN OPEN SESSION.

I CAN GIVE YOU THE NUMBER IN CLOSED SESSION, BUT THIS AMOUNT GETS YOU CLOSE.

IT GETS YOU CLOSE.

BUT THIS AMOUNT ALLOWS US TO START EXCUSE ME, ADDRESSING THE BACKLOG OF POOR STREETS THAT ARE ABOUT 15% OF OUR NETWORK RIGHT NOW.

OKAY. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW CLOSE AND CLOSED SESSION? YES. OKAY. LET'S JUST DO THAT.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

BUT AGAIN, AGAIN, WE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PRETTY LIMITED TO NUMBERS ON DISCUSSION.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE OTHER STUFF THAT'S OPEN SESSION STUFF.

JUST FULL DISCLOSURE.

DO YOU WANT ME TO GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE SLIDES FIRST BEFORE WE GO INTO CLOSED? I JUST HAVE A FEW MORE UPDATES.

YEAH. OKAY.

JUST A QUICK UPDATE OF THE ELECTRIC FUND.

I KNOW LAST TIME YOU SAW THIS, THE TOTAL RATE INCREASES WERE ABOUT 12%.

WE'RE NOW LOOKING AT 16%.

COUNSEL'S BEEN BRIEFED ON SOME OF THE THE REASONS FOR THAT.

BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT A 4% RATE INCREASE NEXT YEAR.

SO FY 25 AND AGAIN, WE DISCUSSED SEVERAL TIMES ALREADY THIS SUMMER, BUT HOT, DRY SUMMER, THIS IS WHEN ELECTRIC AND WATER MAKE MOST OF THEIR MONEY. SO WE'LL JUST WE TRY TO WAIT TILL CLOSER TO THE END OF THE YEAR TO SEE HOW WE COME OUT.

WE'VE GENERALLY BEEN ABLE TO DO TO NOT HAVE THOSE RATE INCREASES.

THE LAST THREE YEARS WE HAVE NOT HAD A RATE INCREASE IN ELECTRIC BECAUSE OF HOW WE'VE ENDED THE SUMMER.

SO WE'RE WE'RE TRYING TO BE CONSERVATIVE, BUT WE DO HAVE A FUNDING GAP OR REVENUE GAP RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE PROPOSING 4% NEXT YEAR.

AND THEN JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE WE'LL BE BRINGING AN ITEM TO YOU ON THE 26TH TO ESTABLISH A FREE STANDING ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES FUND.

RIGHT NOW IT HAS BEEN COMBINED WITHIN WATER WASTEWATER, GENERAL FUND AND SOLID WASTE.

SO ADMINISTRATIVELY IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.

WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A STANDALONE FUND SO THAT YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES JUST IN ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, BUT WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT THAT'S COMING BACK ON THE 26TH FOR COUNCIL ACTION.

AND THEN JUST YOU'VE SEEN THESE BEFORE, BUT PROPOSED FEE CHANGES SPECIFICALLY FOR SOLID WASTE AND THEN WASTEWATER AND ELECTRIC.

WE HAVE SO $50 CART CHANGE FEE FOR ON DEMAND NEXT DAY CART REPLACEMENT, $15 RECYCLING CART FEE JUST IN EXCESS OF TWO AND THEN REMOVING FEES FOR THE CONTAMINATED YARD WASTE, WHOLE TREE STUMPS AND CONCRETE WASTEWATER, REMOVING THE RATE FOR DYNO DIRT OVERS.

AND THEN ELECTRIC IS ELIMINATING THE ROOFTOP SOLAR REBATE PROGRAM AS OF OCTOBER 1ST.

AND THEN YOU'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE WE HAVE HAD NO RATE INCREASES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

WE ARE PROPOSING AN 11% RATE INCREASE IN WASTEWATER NEXT YEAR.

I KNOW WE'VE RECEIVED THE QUESTION SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT HOW CAN WE SMOOTH THOSE RATE INCREASES OUT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT.

WE'RE GOING THROUGH A COST OF SERVICE STUDY BOTH IN ELECTRIC AND SOLID WASTE RIGHT NOW.

SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO WAIT UNTIL THOSE COST OF SERVICE STUDIES ARE COMPLETED BEFORE WE MAKE ANY RATE CHANGES IN THOSE FUNDS.

AND THEN NEXT NEXT WEEK ON THE 19TH, YOU HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE AND THE BUDGET.

AND THEN SEPTEMBER 26TH IS SCHEDULED FOR BUDGET ADOPTION.

AND WITH THAT. TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.

OKAY. ANY OPEN SESSION QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO ON TO MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. AND I'M JUST CONFIRMING THAT THE PREVIOUS BUDGET THAT WE USED FOR SOLAR REBATES IS NOW BEING THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT IS BEING ROLLED INTO THE GREEN SENSE TO LEVERAGE THOSE DOLLARS FURTHER.

CORRECT. BUT THE VALUE THAT WE'RE SPENDING IS THE SAME VALUE.

YES. OKAY. THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OPEN SESSION BEFORE WE GO.

COUNCILMAN MCGEE. YEAH.

MAYOR PRO TEM. I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU WERE PROPOSING WITH THE DOUBLE DIPPING.

MR. MAYOR, IT'S OKAY IF HE GOES BACK INTO THAT AGAIN.

ARE WE MOVING ON? THAT WAS THAT CLOSED SESSION.

I WAS WAITING TO SEE.

WELL, YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE. AND THEN, BECAUSE I WAS WAITING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY.

[01:45:03]

IF IF YOU DON'T, YOU NEED CLARIFICATION TO DECIDE IF YOU SUPPORT IT OR NOT.

YEAH. YEAH. SO LET'S, LET'S HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE NUMBERS AND THEN WE'LL COME OUT AND EXPLORE THAT FURTHER.

OKAY. EVERYTHING ELSE? EVERYONE GOOD? OKAY, GREAT.

ALL RIGHT. THE COUNCIL WILL NOW, AT 11:08 P.M.

[1. Closed Meeting:]

COMPETITIVE MATTERS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 551.086 CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.

SECTION 551.07.071.

DELIBERATIONS REGARDING REAL PROPERTY UNDER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE 551.072.

OKAY. IT IS 408.

WELCOME BACK TO THIS COUNCIL MEETING.

WE WE ARE JUST RECONVENING FROM CLOSED SESSION.

NO OFFICIAL ACTION WAS TAKEN.

AGAIN, IT'S 408.

AND COUNCILMEMBER MELTZER, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR.

UH, SO, YOU KNOW, REFERENCING BACK TO THE PRIOR ITEM, WE WE GAVE DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A LIST OF PRIORITIES THAT INCLUDED NUMBER 20, WHICH WAS TO DEVELOP POLICIES TO ALIGN WITH CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN GOALS.

SO WAS THIS ALLOCATION ARRIVED AT BY LOOKING AT THE CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN GOALS WITH SOME CONCEPT OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO FULFILL THOSE.

I. I COORDINATED WITH MICHAEL GRANIER.

HE BELIEVES THAT THIS ALLOCATION CAN ACHIEVE WHAT HE'S PROPOSING FOR THE NEXT YEAR, RIGHT, FOR FY 24.

EXCELLENT. OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? MAYOR PRO TEM.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. SO I THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING, ASKING THAT.

COUNCILOR MELTZER, I HAD A SIMILAR QUESTION BECAUSE WE HAD SOME OUTSTANDING REPORTS THAT ARE TRICKLING IN THAT THAT ARE THAT ARE BUDGET EFFECTIVE AND IT'S HARD TO THEN ALLOCATE.

BUT SO SO YOU SUSTAINABILITY THINKS THAT THEY CAN OPERATE WITHIN THAT THAT FRAMEWORK.

OKAY, EXCELLENT.

I JUST WANT SOME CLARITY ON THAT.

AND THEN MY, MY OTHER RECOMMENDATION TO US, I STATED IT BEFORE WE WENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT I'LL STATE IT IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGES HERE.

AND SO WE STAY HONEST IS THESE ARE CLEARLY IMPORTANT ELEMENTS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CARRY FORWARD.

AND SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO TRY TO LEVERAGE ONE PROGRAM INTO ONE, A KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATOR, ONE ONE PRIMARY KEY PRIORITY INTO ANOTHER TO GET, YOU KNOW, AMPLIFICATION OF EFFORT.

AND SO I WAS I WAS RECOMMENDING THAT WE TAKE SOME AND POTENTIALLY DEBATABLE NUMBER, BUT LIKE I THREW OUT 10% FOR CONVENIENT MATH OF ANY ONE FUND BEING DEDICATED TO PROJECTS IN THE OTHER AREA BECAUSE THEY DO OVERLAP.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE IF WE'RE INCENTIVIZING A BUSINESS, MAKE IT SOMETHING THAT'S SUSTAINABLE OR STREETS RELATED.

IF WE'RE IF WE'RE GETTING A ROAD, MAKE IT SOMETHING AGAIN THAT'S SUSTAINABLE OR LEAD TO THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

AND AGAIN, THAT THAT AMPLIFIES OUR INTENSITY ON EACH ONE OF THESE AND TIES THEM HONESTLY IN A WAY THAT AMPLIFIES FORWARD PROGRESS ON ALL OF THEM. OKAY.

MY QUESTION IS THEY HAVE TO GO TO SPECIFIC FUNDS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE WE.

TRY TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE THINGS NORMALLY, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO.

I DON'T KNOW. THEY HAVE TO GO TO A FUND.

EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THOSE FUNDS WOULD WOULD CROSS OVER.

THEY CROSS OVER ANYWAY, BUT I THINK YOU HAVE TO ALLOCATE IT TO A PARTICULAR FUND.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE ALLOCATED FROM A FROM A SPENDING STANDPOINT.

I WOULD RECOMMEND, IF THAT'S COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, TO SAY, YOU KNOW, GIVE US A PERCENTAGE TARGET AND LET STAFF GO BACK AND WORK ON A PROGRAM PLAN FOR EACH OF THOSE FUNDS TO ALIGN WITH THE OTHER FUNDS.

SO IF OUR GOAL IS 10% OF OUR ROADWAY PROJECTS ARE TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY, LET US LOOK AT HOW WE COULD ACCOMPLISH THAT WITH THE FUNDING AVAILABLE AND THEN COME BACK WITH TO COUNCIL WITH A NO, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

[01:50:02]

AND IT COULD, I GUESS THOSE ADDITIVES COULD BE CHARGED TO THE SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK FUND, BUT THEY ALSO MIGHT MORE APPROPRIATELY BE CHARGED TO THE STREET FUND WHILE WE ARE FIXING THE STREET SO THAT WE ARE NOW DOUBLE DIPPING, WE ARE GETTING NEW SURFACES THAT ARE REFLECTIVE.

NOW, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THAT WOULD BE A COUNCIL DECISION.

I'M NOT SAYING WE DO THAT.

I'M SAYING THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A THING THAT WE COULD DO.

THAT IS WHERE I'M WHERE MY THINKING IS.

I JUST WANT TO GIVE ONE POINT.

CHRISTINE TAYLOR, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER ON THE SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FUND OUT OF THAT IS A SPECIFIC PLAN WITH THE ACTION ITEMS THAT WENT THROUGH THE SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SO THOSE ARE SPECIFIC CALLED OUT PROJECTS.

SO I JUST WOULD WANT TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY WE'RE DEDICATING COVERS THOSE PROJECTS AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT REDUCING ANY OF THAT TO POTENTIALLY GO TO ANOTHER PRODUCT.

AND ON THE CATALYST FUND, SUSTAINABILITY IS ONE OF THOSE FOUR GROWTH AREAS THAT WE WOULD BE TARGETING INCENTIVES FOR AND WOULD BRING BACK.

SO I WOULD, SINCE THAT FUND IS NEW, I WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT RESTRICTIONS ON IT HAS TO BE FOR THIS TYPE OR WHATEVER WE'D BE BRINGING BACK SHOWING, OKAY, IT'S IN THIS INDUSTRY, IT'S PART OF OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.

IT'S A GROWTH AREA WE'RE INTERESTED IN.

SO I JUST HAVE CONCERNS ON LIMITING OR TRYING TO DOUBLE DIP OR RESTRICT ON THE TWO NEWEST FUNDS.

GOT IT. OKAY.

AND JUST SO TO KIND OF REPEAT WHAT I WHAT I.

HEARD THEY'RE USING A DIFFERENT EXAMPLE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE SAFETY IS A PRIORITY OF ALL THINGS, RIGHT? SO IT'S LIKE THAT THAT SUSTAINABILITY IS IN BAKED INTO ALL THINGS WE DO, BUT WE HAVE A SPECIFIC PLAN WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

BUT THAT DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, IN MY EXAMPLE, DOESN'T SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT WITH THE SAFETY MINDSET.

WE'RE GOING TO DO IT WITH THE SUSTAINABILITY MINDSET.

UNDER ACHIEVING THESE GOALS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

I JUST HAVE TO WORK THROUGH THAT IN MY MIND.

SO OKAY, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR STAFF DIRECTION? COUNCILOR WATSON? YEAH.

WHAT WERE THE PERCENTAGES AND THAT WERE APPROVED ORIGINALLY FOR THESE PARTICULAR DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNDS? OH, YOU HAVE THEM 37%.

YEAH. DO YOU KNOW GO AHEAD.

I WAS JUST GOING TO REPEAT, IT'S 28 OUT OF THE ORIGINAL NUMBER THAT I CAN'T SAY.

IT'S IT'S 28, EIGHT, 14, FOUR AND 36 FOR IN THAT ORDER.

OKAY. AND THE REASON THAT I'M FOR KEEPING THE PERCENTAGES THE SAME, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY.

AND I KNOW JOE IS GOING TO I'M WAITING FOR HIS HARD HAT TO COME OUT.

SINCE 2014, WE HAVE SPENT $250 MILLION, AND THAT INCLUDES THAT INCLUDES THE $50 MILLION THAT IS ON THE CURRENT BOND ELECTION, NOT ADVOCATING FOR OR AGAINST IT.

THAT'S JUST THE FACTS.

$250 MILLION.

WHEN IT COMES TO SUSTAINABILITY AND CERTAINLY WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE HAVE SPENT VIRTUALLY NOTHING COMPARED TO THAT NUMBER. AND SO I THINK FROM A POLICY PERSPECTIVE, I JUST DON'T THINK WE NEED TO BE TAKING, NUMBER ONE, A POTENTIAL REVENUE STREAM THAT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GUARANTEED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S DOING AND USING THAT TO REALLY PROMOTE A STRONG POLICY OF MAINTAINING FUNDING FOR ROAD RECONSTRUCTION OR IMPROVEMENT AT $5 MILLION A YEAR.

IN TEN YEARS, WE DID TEN 250 MILLION.

IF THINGS WORK OUT.

IT WOULD TAKE. WHAT IS THAT? 5 MILLION, 250 MILLION.

IS THAT 40, 45, 50, 60 YEARS? WE ARE BEHIND IN OUR SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS.

I MEAN, WE'RE NOT WE'RE NOT BEHIND.

WE'RE GETTING GEARED UP FOR THEM.

YOU KNOW, THEIR PROJECTS ARE COMING FORWARD.

WE'RE WAY BEHIND IN OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES, WHETHER THEY BE CASH INCENTIVES OR COMBINATION OF WHATEVER.

SO I KNOW EVERYBODY WANTS THE STREETS FIXED, BUT OVER TEN YEARS WE SPENT $250 MILLION.

AND I GUARANTEE YOU, WHAT ARE THE MOST COMPLAINTS YOU PROBABLY GET YOU LOCUST AND ELM, WHICH ARE TEX-DOT ROADS WHICH ARE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE IN ORDER TO TAKE OVER THOSE ROADS ONCE THEY FIX THEM.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THAT, BUT WE GOT TO AND PROBABLY MINGO AND YEAH WELL AND MINGO'S PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS.

YEAH. SO WE'VE MADE TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT.

[01:55:03]

AND ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION ON YOUR RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE BEFORE WE ADD, WE HAD AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT OF ONE TIME CAPITAL.

ARE YOU PROPOSING TO LEAVE THAT PERCENTAGE ALLOCATED TO ONE TIME CAPITAL? WHAT IS ONE TIME CAPITAL? WHAT WOULD THAT BE? AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, WE HAD A PARK NEW PARK PROJECT.

THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO SELL BONDS.

DOESN'T SOUND LIKE YOU'RE RECOMMENDING IT IN THE CURRENT PROPOSAL.

YOU'RE SAYING THESE ARE THE THREE PRIORITIES FOR THIS? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

SO, YES, I WOULD SAY MOVE THAT OUT AND SPLIT IT UP PERCENTAGE WISE BY HOW THEY WERE IN THE TOTAL LAST TIME.

ONLY BECAUSE TO CLARIFY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT IT WAS PERCENTAGE WISE, HOW MUCH WAS IT IN THE 21, 21 TO 60? IS THAT RIGHT? NO. WHICH THE TIMES WERE 21? NO, THE STREETS. THE STREETS WERE 14.

14 TO 16 TO 14%.

14 ORIGINALLY 60 TO NEW.

OKAY. SO WE'LL ADD SOME OF THAT FROM THE ONE TIME CAPITAL AS WE WOULD ADD TO ALL THREE OF THEM.

SO WE'RE INCREASING THE PERCENTAGE OF THE STREET FUNDING BY FOUR TIMES MORE THAN FOUR, FIVE, 3 OR 4 TIMES.

IS IT? WELL, I MEAN, IF WE GO FROM WHAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT, A DIFFERENT TOTAL NUMBER.

SO. NO, NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT PERCENTAGE WISE, PERCENTAGE WISE, IF WE'RE GOING FROM 16% TO 62%, WHETHER THE NUMBER IS $100 OR $100 MILLION, THE PERCENTAGE IS YOU'VE GOT A FOUR TIMES ALMOST INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE.

AND I JUST THINK THAT THE OTHER TWO COMPONENTS, THEY ARE THINGS THAT HAVE ALSO HAD A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIND OR TO HAVE BOND PROPOSALS FOR STREET CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.

AND I JUST I'M GOING TO SAY, EVERYBODY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE ROADS AND I GET IT.

BUT WE'VE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN THE ROADS.

WE SPENT $250 MILLION ON THE ROADS AND WE'RE GOING TO BONNIE BRAY FIXING BONNIE BRAISON PROCESS, DEPENDING ON.

SO I'M JUST SAYING I'M PROPOSING I JUST WANT TO KEEP THE PERCENTAGES THE WAY THEY WERE AND MOVE THE ONE TIME CAPITAL AND ADD TO EACH ONE OF THEM THE PERCENTAGE OF WHAT IT WAS.

CITY MANAGER I DON'T I'M NOT INTO THE WHAT HOW YOU WANT TO ASSIGN THE FUNDS BUT I WANT TO I WANT TO SAY THIS.

THE BOND CANNOT, CANNOT DO.

ALL YOUR STREETS CAN'T.

THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN FLOAT AS MANY BONDS.

YOU CAN FLOAT A BOND EVERY YEAR AND YOU'RE STILL NOT GOING TO WE'RE STILL SHORT ON BONNIE BRAE.

WHICH ONE? BONNIE BERRY.

BONNIE BERRY THREE, WHICH I'VE ASKED THE COUNTY TO HELP.

THIS FUNDING HELPS US.

PIECED TOGETHER THE ABILITY TO COMPLETE SOME OF THESE ROAD PROJECTS BECAUSE OF SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND OTHER THINGS.

WE'LL NEVER HAVE A STREET COMPLETE PROGRAM.

COMPLETE STREET PROGRAM.

EITHER WAY, YOU WANT TO SAY IT WITHOUT A BALANCE OF YES, MOSTLY BONDS, BUT SOME FUNDING FOR STREETS, FOR MAINTENANCE, RENOVATION.

AND WHEN WE HAVE FAILURE, WHICH WE HAVE AND WE SEE A LOT OF SO WHATEVER YOU DECIDE IS FINE.

BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR AND I AGREE WITH YOU 100% ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ON ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A PRESENTATION ON THAT IN A IN A WHILE ABOUT OUR VACANCIES AND THINGS.

WE'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

SO I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANT TO LEAVE IT AT THAT.

YEAH. SO I'M GOING TO LET'S START IF THERE'S OTHER QUESTIONS, GREAT.

BUT LET'S START KIND OF DIRECTION TO, TO WRAP UP.

AND I'LL SAY THIS, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT STAFF'S NEW NUMBERS AND HERE'S WHY WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AND WE'LL HAVE THIS DISCUSSION EVERY YEAR.

BUT I CANNOT GO TO THE CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE AND SAY THAT WE HAVE A SUSTAINABILITY OR CATALYST PROJECT SHOVEL READY RIGHT NOW, SO WE'D BE ACCRUING MONEY FOR SOME FUTURE PROJECT.

SO, HEY, WHERE DID THAT MONEY GO? WELL, WE PUT IT IN THE BANK ACCOUNT, WAITING FOR A OPPORTUNITY TO BE IDENTIFIED.

WE'VE TALKED TO SUSTAINABILITY, THEY SAY, OF THEIR LIST THAT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THIS GETS THEM WHERE THEY WANT TO GO TO HAVE SHOVEL READY PROJECTS.

WE'RE SPENDING THAT MONEY RIGHT NOW.

STREETS. THIS INFUSION CAN BE PUT TO WORK.

BONNIE BRAY THREE. AND THAT'S CRITICAL IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE.

SO I JUST WANT EVERYONE HERE TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT SPEAKING TO OUR AUDIENCE, IF UNDERSTAND THIS.

EVERY SCHOOL THAT WE BUILD WERE BEHIND RYAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

WE JUST FINISHED A SIDEWALK AND THAT'S A TECH STOCK PROJECT.

[02:00:01]

SCHOOL'S BEEN OPEN FOREVER, BUT HERE'S THE UNIQUE SITUATION WE FACE ON BONNIE BRAE.

THAT AND IT'S GOING TO BE REEVES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS GOING ON THE CORNER OF RYAN RINEY AND BONNIE BRAE.

YOU GO DRIVE IT AND SEE WHAT WE'RE HEADED FOR.

EVERY OTHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WE HAVE HAS A NEIGHBORHOOD TO ABSORB TRAFFIC.

NETTIE SCHULTZ ABSORBS TRAFFIC DURING DROP OUT, DROP OFF DAY AND ALL THESE THINGS AND PLAYS AND ALL THOSE FUN EVENTS.

RONNIE ROAD HAS ZERO ABSORPTION.

THERE'S NO NEIGHBORHOOD THERE.

IF BONNIE BRAE IS NOT DONE IN TIME AND RONNIE ROADS NOT DONE IN TIME AND THE PARKING CONNECTED TO NORTH LAKES OR WHATEVER WE HAVE TO DO, MAN, YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT AND YOU HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL AND AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RIGHT NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND IT WILL ABSOLUTELY CRUSH THAT AREA. I MEAN, IT'S JUST IT'S THERE'S NO MARGIN FOR ERROR.

SO TO HAVE THE 3 MILLION AVAILABLE UNDERSTANDING, WE'RE SHORT AND I UNDERSTAND AND WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE COUNTY, BUT WE WE HAVE TO GO ON THIS SO WE HAVE A SHOVEL READY PROJECT THAT WE CAN THEN MAKE THE ADJUSTMENTS ON THE PERCENTAGES ON THE BACKSIDE.

AND I'M ALL FOR HAVING SUSTAINABILITY AND CATALYST FUNDS BE QUEUED UP AND READY TO GO SO THAT WE CAN ACT ON THEM OR DRAW DOWN FUND BALANCE IF THEY IF THEY COME READY BEFORE. BUT FOR THIS DISCUSSION, I'M GOING TO SUPPORT STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT I KNOW WE'RE SHORT ON BONNIE BRAE AND WINDSOR IS A NIGHTMARE.

BONNIE BRAE IS A NIGHTMARE.

AND WHEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMES, THAT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER PROBLEM.

WE, YOU KNOW, SO REALLY, REALLY CRITICAL STUFF THAT'S SHOVEL READY.

SO THAT'S THAT'S MY RECOMMENDATION DIRECTION.

ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMEMBER MELTZER. YEAH, SORRY.

I HAVE ONE QUESTION IN THE WAY OF MY MAKING.

GIVING DIRECTION. WHEN DOES THIS DECISION HAVE TO BE MADE? I NEED THE DECISION TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE WE'RE PREPARING THE BUDGET DOCUMENT THAT'S GOING TO GO ON THE 26TH FOR YOUR ADOPTION.

SO THE THE ALLOCATIONS NEED TO BE LOCKED DOWN IN THE BUDGET.

OKAY. BECAUSE WHAT I'M WEIGHING IS, FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S PRETTY HEARTENING.

AND IT WASN'T WHAT I EXPECTED WHEN YOU SAID THAT WHAT SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT ANTICIPATES IS COVERED IN THIS ALLOCATION.

SO THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

I'D BE INTERESTED TO SEE IN THE FULLY BAKED VERSION IF YOU KNOW SORT OF WHAT THE NEXT TRANCHE WOULD BE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THAT FACT AND THE FACT THAT IT DOES SORT OF GET CLOSE TO GOALS ON STREETS, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION VERY APPEALING.

AND I'M KIND OF LEANING THAT WAY, ALTHOUGH I YOU KNOW, I DO I DO FIND THE CASE YOU MAY THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WHAT'S MADE VERY COMPELLING TO SO YOU KNOW THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD KIND OF. MAKE IT EASIER TO TIP ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AS IF I KNEW THAT THERE WERE THAT THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WOULD SPEND MORE ON.

AND. AND FRANKLY.

THAT PHILOSOPHICAL BIT WE GOT FROM FROM MAYOR PRO TEM ABOUT WHERE WHERE THERE OVERLAPS THERE ABSOLUTELY OVERLAPS IN THESE AREAS WHERE YOU DO SUSTAINABILITY. RIGHT THAT HELPS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU KNOW YOU DO YOU DO CATALYST FUND.

RIGHT. IN TERMS OF WHO YOU ATTRACT, IT HELPS SUSTAINABILITY.

SO, YOU KNOW, I FIND WHAT YOU SAID VERY ATTRACTIVE, BUT THE THING THAT MAKES ME LEAN TO THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS JUST THAT IT COVERS WHAT THEY'VE SAID THEY CAN SPEND MONEY ON, YOU KNOW. SO, YOU KNOW.

DO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLOCATE LATER IF WE KNOW MORE? SO. OKAY.

ANYONE. COUNCIL MEMBER HOLLOW.

I ALSO SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND I APPRECIATE THE SPIRIT OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

STREETS HAVE BECOME OUR LEGACY AND AND I HEAR THIS ALL THE TIME.

I'VE BEEN HERE ALL MY LIFE.

I'VE HEARD THIS FOREVER.

BOY, YOU HAVE GREAT SCHOOLS IN DENTON LOUSY STREETS.

I MET MY SWEETHEART AT NORTH TEXAS.

DO YOU Y'ALL STILL HAVE LOUSY STREETS? I LOVE TO COME VISIT THE SQUARE.

WHEN ARE YOU ALL GOING TO FIX YOUR STREETS? THAT THAT HAS BECOME OUR IDENTITY.

AND AND AND IT'S BEEN.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN NEGLECTED FOR WAY, WAY TOO LONG.

IT'S TIME TO FIX IT.

IT'S TIME TO IT'S TIME TO FIX IT AND THEN TO SUSTAIN IT.

I SUPPORT THAT.

THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? AND I LOVE CHRIS WATTS.

SO DOES EVERYBODY ELSE.

COUNCILMAN. COUNCILMAN.

MCGEE. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I APPRECIATE THAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION, ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATE THE WORK.

[02:05:02]

WORKING PEOPLE NEED SOMEPLACE TO WORK.

SO WE NEED TO INVEST MORE MONEY IN THE CATALYST FUND.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE.

AND STREETS.

YES, STREETS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY WE DUMP IN THE STREETS BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT DECIDED AS A BODY ON A CONTINUING ROADWAY FUNDING STRATEGY.

IF WE FIGURE THAT OUT, WE FIGURE OUT A LOT OF OTHER PROBLEMS. AND I HEAR THE CITY MANAGER SAYING THAT DISCUSSION IS COMING.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE US ALL TO COME TO SOME PLACE OF AGREEMENT ON THAT BECAUSE WE COULDN'T DO THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR.

THE FACT, AS I REMEMBER, I THINK WE WERE PRETTY FAR APART.

SO LET'S LET'S FIGURE THAT OUT.

I'M WE MIGHT WE MIGHT BE ALONE ON ON THIS.

I'M. I'M FLEXIBLE ON NUMBERS.

I'M. I HEAR I HEAR THAT MICHAEL GONYEA THINKS WE CAN MAKE 16% WORK.

SO JUST SIMPLE ROUND NUMBERS.

TAKE THAT. TAKE THAT OUT.

THAT LEAVES US WITH 84% LEFT.

LET'S SPLIT IT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

FOUR STREETS AND A CATALYST FUND.

I'M FOCUSED ON THE CONTINUING STRATEGY MORE THAN I AM.

JUST THE ONE TIME DUMP.

OKAY, THAT MAKES SENSE. 16 AND THAT MAKES SENSE.

THOSE NUMBERS. YES.

NO. ANY ARE YOU SAYING NO? YES. SO NO.

RIGHT. I'M GOING TO SUMMARIZE.

SO WHAT'S BEEN PROPOSED IS 16% FOR SUSTAINABILITY, 40%, 42% FOR STREETS, 42% FOR CATALYST.

YEP. SO, OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

COUNCILWOMAN BYRD. I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATION.

BECAUSE I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE THE STREETS.

CAPITAL IN THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT IS THE OLDER PART OF THE CITY AND WE NEED OUR STREETS DONE. SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT AND THEY'RE BECOMING MAJOR STREETS AND WE'RE PUTTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ON THOSE STREETS WITH THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES COMING UP AND AND NEW BUSINESSES COMING IN INTO THIS AREA.

SO I WOULD DEFINITELY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE NUMBERS THAT I SEE.

AND I THINK THAT THAT 62% WILL GO A LONG WAY TO MAKING SURE THAT THE CORE OF THE CITY I'M HOPING THAT WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT THE CORE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

THE CITY WILL BE, YOU KNOW, BE ABLE TO USE THOSE EFFECTIVELY.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

COUNCILMAN WATSON. I CAN SUPPORT COUNCILMEMBER MCGEE'S PROPOSAL ON, AS HE DESCRIBED IT, UNDERSTANDING THAT WE PROBABLY AREN'T GOING TO WIN THE DAY.

SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT.

WE ARE KEEPING TRACK OF, BECAUSE WHAT I'VE HEARD A LOT IS THIS $4 BILLION IS GOING TO DO A LOT.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET SPECIFIC ITEMIZED KIND OF, YOU KNOW, IF WE IF WE'RE TAKING MONEY OUT OF THAT FUND.

OH, SORRY. OKAY. IF WE'RE GETTING OUT OF THAT FUND, WHATEVER IT IS, WHATEVER THE AMOUNT IS THAT IT'S DETAILED, WE'RE TAKING OUT X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SIDEWALKS OR THE THE ROADS ON WINDSOR IF WE'RE BECAUSE I THINK WE CAN HAVE A LOT OF ASPIRATION. BUT IN THE END, HOW DOES IT WORK OUT IN REALITY? AND I'M NOT SAYING IT WON'T, I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE GOOD DECISIONS IS OKAY, SO WE MADE THIS DECISION BASED ON THIS RATIONALE LAST TIME.

DID WAS THE RATIONALE PRODUCTIVE OR IS IT NOT? SO THE CONVERSE OF THAT IS IF WE HAVE A SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT OR A CATALYST FUND PROJECT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT THAT COMES WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY OR WE'RE NOT GIVING ENOUGH MONEY TO THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO GO OUT AND SOLICIT GOOD SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS OR, YOU KNOW, GET OUT THERE TO PRESENT AND TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORLD.

WE NEED TO KNOW THAT, TOO.

SO THAT'S MY POINT.

SO I'M OKAY WITH WITH COUNCIL MEMBER.

IN FACT, COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE.

I'M GLAD YOU SPOKE FIRST BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO AND WOULD BE WILLING.

I'M NOT GOING TO NOW BECAUSE I SUPPORT YOUR, YOUR PROPOSAL TO JUST ACCEPT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO ACT LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT FOR ANY OF THIS.

BUT TO ME IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE LINE ITEM FOR HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT AND IS IT DOING EXACTLY WHAT WE THINK IT'S DOING? BECAUSE IF THIS IS ONLY A MAKE UP FOR SHORTFALL OF PROJECTS BECAUSE OF, WELL, THEN WE'VE GOT A BIGGER PROBLEM.

SO THAT'S ALL I ASK, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DATA IS CLEAR ON WHAT WE'RE SPENDING IT ON AND THAT IT LINES UP WITH THE DISCUSSION ON WHAT CONVINCED US TO DO THAT. OKAY.

[02:10:02]

WE'VE ALL SAID IT UPON A TIME THAT A LOT OF OUR CONUNDRUMS AND AWFUL STREETS ARE NOT OURS AND THAT WE ARE.

WE'RE GETTING THEM BACK OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, AT LEAST FOR THE THINGS INSIDE THE LOOP.

DO WE KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGES OF OUR ONGOING PROJECTS AND DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EXACT.

DO WE SORT OF KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE WE'RE WE'RE THINKING WE NEED TO SPEND ON ON SOME OF THESE ROADS IN TERMS OF OUR GENERAL GOAL? WE'RE COMPARING PERCENTAGES.

SO WHAT SORT OF WHAT WHAT WILL 2 MILLION VERSUS 3 MILLION VERSUS 4 MILLION IN IMPACT INDIVIDUAL STREET PROJECTS? AND WHERE I'M GOING TO PROVIDE CONTEXT WITH WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS IS AND COUNCILOR WATTS JUST SAID THIS.

THIS IS THIS IS SORT OF ONE TIME MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF.

AND AND THAT'S AN ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION ISSUE.

AND WE DO NEED TO FUND ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION ISSUES WITH ONGOING REVENUE STREAMS. AND SO AND WE WANT TO FUND ONE OFF PROJECTS WITH ONE OFF REVENUE STREAMS. AND SO I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, GHOSTBUSTERS ANALOGY.

I DON'T WANT TO CROSS THE STREAMS OR UNLESS AND OF COURSE WE CAN PROGRAMMATICALLY DO IT LIKE WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SUGGEST, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF A TYPE OF PROJECT GOES TO ANOTHER AND THAT GETS SORT OF WHERE.

SO LET ME LET ME LET YOU ASK THE QUESTION.

DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH WE'RE SORT OF BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON OUR STREETS? YES, WE HAVE THAT. I MEAN, WE KNOW YOU'VE SEEN THE LIST WHERE WE TALK ABOUT OUR STREET RECONSTRUCTION, WHAT THE LEVEL OF THE STREET IS AND WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. BUT HERE'S THE OTHER THING.

THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IN PLAY HERE.

EVERY TIME A ROAD FAILS AND IT FAILS DURING THE HEAT THAT WE GET THE CALL, THERE'S A THERE'S A HOLE IN THE ROAD.

AND JUST GOING OUT AND PUTTING ASPHALT IN IT DOESN'T ALWAYS FIX IT.

IT CAN BE A BIGGER CAPITAL MEASURE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT FOR ROAD FAILURE.

EVERY TIME SOMEONE SAYS, WILL YOU DO SOMETHING, THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE SPEEDING ON THE ROAD OR ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAPPENS AND WE HAVE TO PUT SPEEDING STUFF UP THERE OR THERE'S NO SIDEWALK CONNECTING FROM HERE TO HERE.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT GO INTO OUR QUEUE OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO SPEND THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY IN OUR CAPITAL PROGRAM, BUT WE FIND ARE NECESSARY. THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE SHORT ON CAPITAL PROJECTS LIKE BONNIE BRAY THREE TO THE TUNE OF APPROXIMATELY $3 MILLION. RIGHT? 13. 13 OH.

13 MILLION. I LEFT.

THE TEN THOUGHT WAS BIGGER THAN THAT.

I LEFT THE TEN OUT.

YEAH. SO, I MEAN, WE HAVE A LIST OF THINGS, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE LIST THAT SAYS, HERE'S THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND MONEY ON.

THANK GOODNESS FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTY, WHO HELPED US WITH SOME OF THE PROJECTS AND THANK GOODNESS FOR HOPEFULLY FINDING SOME FUNDING TO HELP BRIDGE THIS GAP FOR BONNIE BERRY THREE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, WE WILL WE WILL CONSTANTLY HAVE A LIST OF THINGS WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND WE HAVE THAT LIST AND WE HAVE THE LEVEL OF THE ROAD STRUCTURE AND WE'VE STRETCHED THEM OUT, TO BE REAL HONEST WITH YOU, TO SAY WE'RE GOING TO STICK IT OUT ANOTHER YEAR AND HOPE IT DOESN'T FAIL.

SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT ANSWER BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU INTENDED IT TO, BUT IT ACTUALLY GOES TO THE POINT I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IS IF IF WE HAVE X MILLION DOLLARS IN IN ANTICIPATED CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THEN AS WE LOOK BACK OVER TIME, WE HAVE, I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER I'M GOING TO MAKE UP A NUMBER 15% OVERAGE DUE TO ONE TIME.

OH MY GOD, WHY DID THAT ROAD EXPLODE PROJECTS THEN? THEN IF WE HAVE THAT GENERAL THING, THEN WE CAN WORK THAT INTO OUR ANNUAL BUDGET AND WORK IT INTO OUR TAX PREDICTIONS AND OUR AND OUR, YOU KNOW, JUST ONGOING REVENUE STREAM. SO I GUESS I'M SORT OF I DON'T WANT TO BE THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT HERE, BUT I DO SORT OF SEE THE VALUE OF THE SORT OF ADJUSTING THE RATIOS A LITTLE BIT MORE TOWARDS.

SO I JUMP ON BOARD THE WHAT DID WE SAY, 40, 42, 4216? YES. THAT WAS WHERE I WOULD JUMP ON BOARD JUST BECAUSE I THINK THAT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO DO THE DOUBLE DIPPING THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

IT GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO STILL PRIORITIZE ROADS, BUT IT SAYS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT THOSE IN OUR COSTS, NOT IN OUR ONE TIME COSTS.

ALL RIGHT, COUNCILOR MELTZER, THEN I NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU.

YOU DIDN'T GIVE AN ANSWER? OH, WELL, I DID, BUT IT'S KIND OF FUNNY.

YOU MAY HAVE SENSED THAT I WAS RE REEVALUATING IT.

[02:15:03]

OKAY. WELL, SO I DON'T KNOW.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD FROM? NO, THAT'S JUST ME.

MAN WE'VE HAD AROUND 38 COUNCILMAN MCGEE.

THANK YOU, MR.. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GET THE MIC ON.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. GUYS, DENTON RIGHT NOW IS AT 151, RIGHT.

DO Y'ALL REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE HAD THE JOINT MEETING WITH DISD? WHAT? THEY SAID THE POPULATION IS PROJECTED TO BE IN 2050.

WE'RE GOING FROM 151 TO 303.

WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE.

THOSE FOLKS NEED TO HAVE A PLACE TO WORK.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN DENTON WHO ARE DOING WELL RIGHT NOW.

BUT THAT'S RIGHT. NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE NIGHTS TO COME? WE CAN ADDRESS A LOT OF THIS WHEN WE HAVE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT CONTINUING STRATEGY.

BUT WE CANNOT MORTGAGE OUR FUTURE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A FUND READY JUST BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A PROJECT.

WE KNOW THAT THIS IS HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED.

THIS IS WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.

THIS IS WHY THEY'RE GETTING THE GROWTH THAT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND I CONCEDE THE RIGHT KIND OF GROWTH.

YES. BUT THIS IS WHERE WE NEED TO GO, LIKE THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.

LET'S I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

COME ON. HOW MUCH HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU ANTICIPATE SPENDING ON CATALYST PROJECTS IN 2024? WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

WHAT I'M ASKING YOU.

WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A PROJECT THAT WOULD WHICH WHICH PROJECT? WHICH RANGE OF PROJECT, BECAUSE YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING.

YOU'RE SEQUESTERING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT IF THE PROJECT DOESN'T COME? DO YOU ADVOCATE SPENDING MILLIONS ON A BAD PROJECT OR WAITING FOR A RIGHT ONE? WAITING FOR THE RIGHT ONE.

AND IF WAITING FOR THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG AND WE GO TO STAFF AND SAY, HEY, WE NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE MOST BUDGET, MOST PROJECTS, EVERY INCENTIVE WE'VE HAD IS A TAX REIMBURSEMENT REINWAND RE ABATEMENT.

SO, SO WE DON'T NEED UPFRONT MONEY FOR THAT.

MOST OF THE MOST PROFITABLE ONES WE HAVE ARE PROJECTS WHERE WE SAY WE'RE GOING TO FOREGO YOUR TAX IN THE FUTURE.

THERE'S BEEN PRECIOUS FEW PROJECTS WHERE WE GOT TO CRANK OUT A $5 MILLION CHECK.

SO THEN WHY DO WE HAVE AND I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE RIGHT DEAL, BUT I'M SAYING MOST DEALS THAT WE'VE HAD ON AND STAFF, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, DON'T REQUIRE UPFRONT PAYMENT.

THEY THEY WANT A REIMBURSEMENT.

THEY WANT TO WAIVE THIS FEE OR DO THOSE THINGS THOSE CREATIVE WAYS.

AND SO THAT'S MY QUESTION.

BACK TO YOU IS I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE A ROAD FOR A KNOWN PROJECT IN 2024 RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU'RE ASKING ME TO NOT SEQUESTER THAT MONEY.

IT IS A KNOWN EXPENSE.

WE WILL ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO SPEND SOME NUMBER OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COMPLETE BONNIE BRAY AND FINISH RONNIE ROAD OR THAT SCHOOL.

THAT SCHOOL IS COMING.

AND YOU'VE DISD HAS SHOWN.

NO, THEY'VE PUSHED IT BACK A YEAR BECAUSE I RAISED CAIN, BUT THAT THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PUSH IT FURTHER THAN THREE YEARS.

AND SO I HAVE A KNOWN PROJECT THAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH VERSUS A POSSIBILITY OF A CATALYST PROJECT.

HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY I'D PUT MONEY IN A SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT A DEAL MAY NOT COME.

IF YOU IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A DEAL, IF YOU IF YOU'VE IDENTIFIED SOMETHING WE NEED TO GO BY, WE CAN ALSO STILL GO BY IT.

SO WE CAN DO BOTH.

BUT THAT'S MY PROBLEM WITH WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING IS I'M NOT FOR ITS EVERY YEAR PROPOSITION.

WE'RE NOT PLANNING THREE, 4 OR 5 YEARS OUT.

IT'S AN ANNUAL BUDGET.

SO I'M TAKING BOB SMITH'S TAX MONEY THIS YEAR AND I GOT TO SPEND IT ON SOMETHING OR I'VE GOT TO GIVE IT BACK.

AND SO FOR ME, THIS STREET PROJECT IS SHOVEL READY.

GOOD TO GO. LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND IF A DEAL COMES AROUND FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, LET'S MAKE THAT HAPPEN TOO.

WE MAY HAVE TO DIP INTO THE COUCH CUSHION, BUT THAT'S NEVER STOPPED US BEFORE.

THERE'S NOT ONE DEAL THAT WE LIKED THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN AND WE DIDN'T SPEND $5 MILLION ON THE FRONT END OF IT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO THAT'S THAT'S MY THAT'S MY ANSWER.

I APPRECIATE THAT. I WANT TO TAKE UP EVERYBODY ELSE'S TIME AND SPEAK TOO LONG.

BUT YOU SAID A LOT THERE.

BOB SMITH SHOULD BE HAPPY THAT HE LIVES IN THE CITY THAT IS NOT ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS PRESENT, BUT IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS AND HIS CHILDREN'S AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN'S FUTURE AND MAKING SURE THAT THERE WILL BE JOBS IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR THAT FUTURE.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK I THINK IT WAS CITY MANAGER ACTUALLY TOLD ME THIS WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED AND WE HAD OUR INTRODUCTORY MEETING.

I REMEMBER ASKING YOU SARA, HOW MUCH IS A MILE OF ROAD COST? AND I THINK YOU TOLD ME THAT A MILE OF ROAD, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, STAFF A MILE OF ROAD COST LIKE $800,000 TO MAINTAIN, TO MAINTAIN, TO MAINTAIN

[02:20:08]

I CAN'T SAY THAT IN OPEN SESSION.

THAT'S RIGHT. YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO DO.

YEAH, MAYBE.

APARTMENT THREE. SO WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT A LOT HERE THAT WE COULD THEN APPROPRIATE MONEY FOR WHEN WE COME UP WITH THE CONTINUING FUNDING STRATEGY, WHICH WE'VE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON.

LET'S FOCUS ON THAT.

I'M GOING TO REMIND US WHEN WE COME BACK TO THAT DISCUSSION IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, HEY, THIS IS WHERE RUBBER MEETS ROAD.

WE MIGHT HAVE TO COMPROMISE ON SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO COMPROMISE ON BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WE FAILED TO DO THAT BACK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

OKAY, I'M STILL GOING TO GO WITH WHAT I PROPOSE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE FUTURE IS IMPORTANT.

AND IF AND YOUR BEST ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

THE HEAD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS RIGHT OVER THERE.

I'M NOT THE EXPERT HERE, BUT IF WE WANT TO ASK HIM, YOU CAN ASK HIM THOSE QUESTIONS.

CERTAINLY. YEAH. I'D LOVE FOR HIM TO COME UP AND TELL YOU THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE A PROJECT IDENTIFIED AND THAT WE AND THAT HE'S LOOKING FOR DEALS.

I THINK THAT'S TRUE. BUT YOU DIDN'T ASK ME HOW THE PROJECT YOU SAID, WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? HE CAN EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE A CATALYST FUND IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WELL, NO, NO, I'M NOT ARGUING AGAINST THE CATALYST FUND.

WHY? WE INVEST IN A CONTINUALLY INVEST IN THE CATALYST.

I'M NOT ARGUING AGAINST INVESTING IN THE CATALYST FUND.

WHAT ARE YOU ARGUING FOR? I'M ARGUING FOR LESS.

I'M ASKING FOR LESS MONEY.

NO, NO, PLEASE. BY ALL MEANS.

I'M ASKING FOR.

AND LESS IS NOT.

IT'S JUST. I'M NOT ASKING FOR MORE THAN I BELIEVE WE CAN ALLOCATE IN ONE YEAR.

THAT'S THAT'S WHAT I JUST DON'T SEE A WORLD WHERE WE CAN ALLOCATE WHAT'S ALREADY BUDGETED IN ONE YEAR.

AND AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, WE DO ANNUAL BUDGETS.

AND SO I CAN'T I JUST CAN'T BE COMFORTABLE HAVING BECAUSE MONEY IS SITTING IN THE BANK ACCOUNT IS NOT GOING TO PRODUCE JOBS.

IT'S NOT. I AGREE.

SO I THINK THIS IS A FASCINATING CONVERSATION BECAUSE I HAVE IT WITH MYSELF ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT'S VERY STRATEGIC.

BUT I THINK MR. MAYOR IS CORRECT THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE CATALYST FUND AND WHAT IT'S A TOOL AND THE WAY THAT YOU WANT TO USE THAT IS IT'S FOR INJECTING CASH INTO A PROJECT UP FRONT. BUT WE HAVE OTHER TOOLS THAT WE CAN USE IF WE NEED TO, ESPECIALLY ON LARGE CAPITAL INTENSIVE PROJECTS.

THOSE ARE THOSE ARE GOOD FOR REBATES.

BUT TYPICALLY WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN A CATALYST FUND MIGHT BE A RISKY PROJECT THAT THAT YOU JUST THE CASH FLOWS JUST AREN'T THERE.

SO YOU NEED TO INJECT THE CASH IN THERE.

SO IT'S MAYBE LIKE A STARTUP OR SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO USE THE CATALYST ONE FOR.

IT'S ALSO REALLY GOOD FOR JOB BASED GRANTS, A WAY A LOT OF OTHER CITIES ARE USING.

THAT, THOUGH, IS THEY HAVE CONTINUING REVENUE SO THEY KNOW THAT REVENUE IS GOING TO BE THERE THE NEXT YEAR.

SO YOU CAN YOU CAN KIND OF DO THAT FOR JOB BASED GRANTS, BUT I THINK THAT'S WHY THE COUNCIL'S HERE.

Y'ALL ARE KIND OF HAVING THAT CONVERSATION.

BUT THERE'S A BALANCE THERE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO STRIKE IT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER TOOLS THAT WE CAN USE.

AND CALLISON IS JUST IS JUST ONE OF THOSE TOOLS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT THAT HELPED.

SURE. YEAH. NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I APPRECIATE IT. GOOD INSIGHT, COUNCILMAN HOLLAND.

WELL, YOU KNOW.

YEAH, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I YOUR FRIEND BOB SMITH, PAYS TAXES IN DENTON, TEXAS RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT NOW, HIS KIDS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL IN DENTON RIGHT NOW.

HE'S WORKING IN DENTON RIGHT NOW.

HE'S GOT A BUSINESS RIGHT NOW.

GIVE THIS GIVE THIS GUY SOMETHING TO DRIVE ON AND LET'S TRY TO GET GET AWAY FROM THIS LAUGHINGSTOCK.

THE THE THE IDENTITY.

THAT'S ALMOST LIKE HAVING A SIGN ON I-35.

WELCOME TO DENTON.

WE HAVE LOUSY ROADS.

THAT'S OUR IDENTITY.

LET'S. LET'S DO SOMETHING.

LET'S DO SOMETHING NOW FOR THE TAXPAYERS THAT ARE HERE RIGHT NOW, NOT THE GUY THAT MAY COME.

THE GUY THAT'S HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU. YEAH.

COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.

DO YOU HAVE SOME DIRECTION FOR US, PLEASE? I'M CLOSING IN ON IT.

I THINK THIS ONE LAST QUESTION WILL GET ME TO THE DECISION.

SO I ASKED BEFORE IF SUSTAINABILITY FEELS THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THAT THE THINGS THEY ANTICIPATE NEEDING TO FUND WOULD BE FUNDED WITHIN THE RECOMMENDATION.

AND THE ANSWER WAS YES.

SO SIMILARLY ARE THE ARE THE ENVISIONED NEEDS FOR USES OF THE CATALYST FUND FUNDED? WITHIN THE ALLOCATION THAT'S IN THE RECOMMENDATION.

[02:25:08]

I MEAN, THAT THAT'S WHY WE PRESENTED THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION AS WE'VE WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THE WORK PLANS, WHAT WE ANTICIPATE, WHAT WE KNOW RIGHT NOW FOR NEXT YEAR.

AND THIS IS WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING THESE PERCENTAGES.

OKAY. BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE CONTEXT OF LIKE, THIS IS A GOOD THING AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THAT'S NOT REALLY NECESSARY.

THERE'S A BUNCH OF GOOD THINGS WE ALL AGREE ON THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST A IT'S A IT'S KIND OF A MANAGEMENT ISSUE HOW WE BALANCE THEM.

BUT IF I'M HEARING THAT THE ANTICIPATED NEEDS FOR THE YEAR FOR THE CATALYST FUND ARE COVERED IN THIS RECOMMENDATION AND THE ANTICIPATED NEEDS FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY FUND ARE COVERED IN THIS RECOMMENDATION.

AND AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY CAN DENY THAT STREETS ARE.

VERY TOP OF MIND WITH.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHOSE DOORS WE KNOCK, I SUPPORT.

I JUST FOR THIS YEAR, I SUPPORT THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.

SORRY. ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION TO CLOSE US OUT? COUNCIL MEMBER MCGEE ANYONE ELSE TO CLOSE OUT THIS ISSUE? YEAH. YEAH. I THINK THIS IS EVERYTHING.

THIS IS THE LAST ISSUE. SO, YEAH, WE'RE.

WE'RE HEADED HOME.

NO, NO, YOU KNOW, AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT DECISION, BUT I REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID THAT I DON'T THINK IS VERY SHORT TERM AND DOES NOT REALLY CONSIDER THE LONG TERM SUSTAINABILITY.

I KNOW WE ALL REALIZE THAT PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

MOST OF THEM ARE ALICE HOUSEHOLDS.

WHICH MEANS THAT ASSET LIMITED INCOME.

YES, 5040 TO 50% OF THE CHILDREN WHO GO TO THE DENTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THIS CITY ARE ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCHES.

SO THE NOTION THAT WE'RE PUTTING MONEY AWAY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A USE FOR IT NOW AND I GOT TO SAY, I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.

I MEAN, WE WERE TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET MORE INTO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THIS CITY HAS FAILED. IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.

THERE'S NOT MONEY HERE.

AND THE JOE SMITH, THE JIM SMITH PAYING TAXES.

YOU KNOW WHAT? STREETS ARE NOT GOING TO LOWER TAX RATES.

GOOD JOB. AND YOU KNOW THAT JOKE.

GOOD JOBS AND UPWARD FINANCIAL MOBILITY ARE GOING TO LOWER TAX RATE AND PROVIDE PEOPLE A LIFESTYLE THAT THEY MAY NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO ENVISION.

SO I'M OKAY WITH THIS DECISION, BUT I THINK SOME OF THE RATIONALE USED TO SUPPORT IT IS SHORTSIGHTED AND IT'S NOT REALLY LOOKING IN THE FUTURE.

WE ALL HOPEFULLY WE ALL KNOW THAT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, SO I'M GOOD WITH IT.

BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID REALLY, I THINK DISMISSES.

THE LACK OF OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE HERE.

AND I'M SORRY WE HAVE OTHER TOOLS FOR THAT.

BUT AND YES, WE DO PROVIDE MAINLY INCENTIVES FOR TAX REBATES AND SALES TAX.

WHY DO WE DO THAT? BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE.

WE HAVE ZERO.

SO I WILL KEEP.

PUTTING FORTH THIS MANTRA BECAUSE I THINK WE'VE ALL GOT A GOOD HANDLE ON EVERYTHING ELSE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

BUT THIS.

SO THE LEGACY OR OUR REPUTATION WITH BAD STREETS, WE ALSO HAVE A REPUTATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE GOOD PAYING JOBS.

WE ALSO HAVE A REPUTATION THAT ALL OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS BECOMING INDUSTRIAL BASED, INDUSTRIAL, WAREHOUSE BASED.

SO I JUST WOULD LIKE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO GIVE A LITTLE LOVE SOMETIMES, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO A LONG WAY TO HELPING IT.

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OVERNIGHT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN WHERE NOBODY'S GOING TO COME KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR.

SO I REALLY WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING.

I SUPPORT THIS DECISION.

IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL.

BUT BASED UPON SOME OF THE COMMENTS, I JUST I COULDN'T REMAIN SILENT.

SO THANK YOU, MAYOR, FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.

SURE. ANYONE ELSE? COUNCILMAN. MCGEE. I APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION.

I'M OBVIOUSLY FINE WITH IT TOO.

I APPRECIATE STAFF AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE US TO HAVE MORE HONEST AND CHALLENGING DISCUSSIONS LIKE THIS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THIS COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS.

AND THE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PERCEPTION OF THE STREETS ARE IN DENTON FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DENTON.

TAKE IT FROM A GUY WHO DRIVES ALL OVER TEXAS.

THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY NOT THE WORST STREETS IN TEXAS.

NOWHERE NEAR EVEN CLOSE TO THAT.

[02:30:03]

WAYNE, I DO WANT I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

AND I KNOW THIS PREDATES YOU, BUT I KNOW YOU PROBABLY GOT UP TO SPEED ON IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AS YOU WERE KIND OF GETTING SETTLED.

THE TOUR'S WESTERN BOULEVARD AREA.

YOU GOT UP TO SPEED ON THAT KIND OF HOW IT CAME TO BE.

MY UNDERSTANDING CORRECT ME WHERE I'M WRONG, WESTERN BOULEVARD WAS WIDENED, EXPANDED, ETCETERA.

AND THAT WAS KIND OF THE QUOTE UNQUOTE CATALYST FOR, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN COCAINE FIRST.

NOW WE HAVE A 1,000,000 SQUARE FOOT THING.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE. BUT BUT THE CATALYST WAS THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

AM I WRONG? WELL, YES, BUT ALSO THE INVESTMENTS ARE ARE MADE UP FRONT BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THAT SENSE.

RIGHT. SO THEY'RE THEY'RE PAYING FOR IT AND THEN WE'RE REIMBURSING THEM ON THE BACKSIDE.

BUT THOSE INVESTMENTS WERE INTO THE ON THE USAGE SIDE.

YEAH, BUT THE TOURS, THAT'S THE FUNCTION OF THE TOURS.

BUT I BELIEVE.

DID THE TOURS PAY FOR WESTERN BOULEVARD OVERSIZING.

I DON'T KNOW. I'M ASKING.

SO YEAH, THAT SO WE'RE, WE'RE STILL CURRENTLY REIMBURSING THE DEVELOPER BACK ON THAT.

SO WE JUST MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT THIS FISCAL YEAR.

AND THEN I THINK NEXT YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT A 6.6 I BELIEVE IS THE NEXT PAYMENT THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ON THAT.

GOT IT. GOT IT. AND THEN FROM A I TAKE COUNCIL MEMBER WATTS POINT, OBVIOUSLY THE MARKET IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT WE WANT TO KIND OF PUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE BASE OUT THERE.

SO EVERYONE I TALK TO TALKS ABOUT KIND OF THIS EBB AND FLOW OF WHAT OFFICE SPACE LOOKS LIKE NOW, YOU KNOW, REMOTE WORKFORCE IN OFFICE, SOME OUT OFFICE, SOME WHAT'S KIND OF THAT FORECAST JOBS FOR THE CITY OF DENTON.

OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE WORKED ON THAT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.

WHAT'S YOUR SUMMARY OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING? OR BETTER SAY OPPORTUNITIES MISSED OR YOU KNOW, WHAT KIND OF THE HOTSPOT WHEN PEOPLE ARE KICKING THE TIRES ON DENTON, WHAT ARE THEY? WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR? SO I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, I KIND OF GO BACK TO THAT.

WE'RE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION AND I SAID KIND OF LIKE A JOB SPACE GRANTS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT REVENUES.

THINK ONE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT IS BECAUSE WE'RE BEING STRATEGIC RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OUR FUNDS ARE LIMITED.

BUT IF WE KNEW IF WE HAD A COMMITMENT AND WE SAID, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO DEDICATE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS EVERY YEAR, KIND OF LIKE WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE TOURS, RIGHT? IT'S EASIER TO PLAN WHEN WE KNOW WHERE THOSE DOLLARS ARE GOING.

WE CAN BE WE CAN WE CAN MAKE MORE STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS WHERE RIGHT NOW WE'RE KIND OF JUST OR I'M SAYING WE HAVE TO BE MUCH MORE STRATEGIC WITH THOSE INVESTMENTS.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION RIGHT NOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OFFICE, EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW IS FLIGHT TO QUALITY.

PEOPLE WANT TO WORK WHERE THEY WANT TO WORK, RIGHT? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE COMPETING WITH PEOPLE'S HOMES.

SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A VALUE ADD IN YOUR WORKPLACE OVER SOMEONE'S HOME.

AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S ABOUT CREATING AN INVITING PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO HANG OUT WITH THEIR COWORKERS.

THEY WANT AFTERWARDS THEY WANT TO GO HAVE DRINKS WITH THEIR FRIENDS OR THEY WANT TO DO THEIR SHOPPING.

AND SO SO IT'S ALL ABOUT BEING VERY CONVENIENCE ORIENTED.

AND SO.

A LONG WAY TO SAY IS THAT IT'S THERE.

IT'S JUST THAT IT'S NOT AS ABUNDANT AS IT ONCE WAS.

AND YOU'VE YOU'VE, YOU'VE IT'S AND IT TAKES MORE INVESTMENT TO MAKE THAT WORK.

RIGHT. SO HIGHER, HIGHER QUALITY INVESTMENT THERE.

AND IT JUST IT'S MORE INVESTMENT FROM THE DEVELOPER AND MORE INVESTMENT FROM CITIES ON ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE YOU.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH.

UM. COUNCIL MEMBER MELTZER.

AM I RIGHT IN SAYING THERE MAY BE SIGNIFICANT UPSIDE POTENTIAL ON THE TOTAL DOLLARS WITHOUT SAYING WHAT THAT NUMBER WOULD BE? YES. OKAY.

SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT.

THAT YOU'VE GOT DIRECTION FOR A DIVISION FOR UP TO THE BUDGETED NUMBER.

BUT THAT THE UPSIDE ON TOP OF THAT.

I COULD GO.

LET'S SAY, EVENLY BETWEEN CATALYST FUND SUSTAINABILITY AND STREETS.

YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK.

BUT IN ANY EVENT, THAT THE AUTHORIZATION BEING GIVEN TODAY DOESN'T GO TO EXCESS ABOVE THE THE BUDGETED NUMBER.

YEAH, I LIKE THAT TOO.

IF THAT'S OKAY TO TO, TO TRUNCATE A CONVERSATION.

THIS CONVERSATION AGAIN.

RIGHT. I'D LOVE NOT TO HAVE IT AND JUST SAY YEAH IT'S ALMOST LIKE IT FUNCTIONS LIKE A CAP RIGHT THE THE STREETS COMPONENT CAP AND THEN EVENLY CARRY OVER.

[02:35:04]

YEAH, I KNOW YOU HAVE IT AS A PERCENTAGE, BUT IF THAT IS KIND OF LIKE.

WHAT IS THAT? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? WHEN YOU'RE NOT EXCEED.

TYPE THEM OUT. TYPE APPROACH.

SO ONCE IT GETS TO THAT FULLY FUNDED, IT SPLITS AND EVERYONE OKAY WITH THAT? YEAH. WHAT WAS THE SPLIT? IT'S JUST THE OVERAGE EVENLY, EVEN SPLIT ANYTHING.

THERE WOULDN'T BE ADDITIONAL MONEY GOING INTO THAT STREETS PERCENTAGE IF WE IF THE.

IF THE 62% IS SATISFIED, THEN IT'S CAPPED AND THEN ANY OVERAGE WOULD GO TO THE OTHER TWO FUNDS EVENLY.

EVERYONE TRACKING WITH ME.

EXACTLY WHAT I SAID, BUT I THINK WE'RE AT LEAST THE FIRST PART OF LIKE THIS DECISION ONLY APPLIES UP TO THE NUMBERS WE'VE SEEN I THINK IS EASY FOR PEOPLE TO AGREE WITH.

YOU ALL HAVE DISCUSSED, YEAH.

EVENLY BETWEEN CATALYST AND SUSTAINABILITY.

CORRECT. IF THERE'S OVERAGE, I MEAN, NOT SAYING THERE WILL BE, BUT JUST.

OKAY, I'M OKAY WITH THAT. YEAH.

OKAY. WELL, JUST BRING IT BACK.

I HADN'T HEARD. YEAH, IT MIGHT BE.

YEAH, IT'S HOT OUT THERE.

YEAH. I JUST WANT TO JUST SAY THIS ONE THING AND IT GOES TO MY MINDSET THAT I'VE SAID THAT.

DIXON IS I'VE DESCRIBED DENTON AS A PIMPLE FACED TEENAGER THAT'S TRYING TO FIND THEIR WAY.

AND WE'RE NOW, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE WE TURN 19 AND WE GRADUATED AND WE'RE NOW, YOU KNOW, OUR FIRST STEPS ARE IN COLLEGE AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW BECAUSE WE NEED EVERYTHING.

WE WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING AND WE NEED EVERYTHING AND WE NEED IT NOW.

WE NEED THE HOUSING NOW.

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR WESTERN PART OF OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP THAT WAY SO WE CAN PULL THOSE DOLLARS IN TOO, FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE THEY WANT THINGS I KNOW THEY WANT THEIR H-E-B AND THEIR TRADER JOE'S.

AND SO WE JUST WE JUST I'M GLAD TO BE SITTING IN THIS MEETING.

AND THAT'S JUST FROM A PERSONAL STANDPOINT WITH ME BEING IN BEING BEING IN AND LOOKING OUT VERSUS BEING OUT AND LOOKING IN.

SO I'M GLAD WE'RE FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO, YOU KNOW, ME SAYING YOU DIDN'T NEED TO GROW THE HELL UP.

AND SO HERE WE ARE TRYING TO DO THAT.

SO IT'S A GOOD DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU. AND I AGAIN AGREE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND EVEN EVEN IT OUT, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID, WHEREVER WE NEED TO.

IT'S JUST WHATEVER IT TAKES, WHATEVER IT TAKES FOR US TO JUST KEEP GOING FORWARD.

YEAH, NO GREAT DISCUSSION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYTHING ELSE? WE'RE ALL GOOD. OKAY.

AT 459, JUST LIKE THE CITY MANAGER CALLED IT.

WHAT ARE YOU ABOUT TO CLOSE THE MEETING? WE DON'T NEED TO CLOSE. OH, CLOSE.

WE DON'T HAVE TO. NO, I.

WE'RE NOT. WE'RE NOT HAVING WHATEVER THE FINAL ITEM IS, WE TYPICALLY HAVE CONCLUDING REMARKS.

NO, NO, THIS IS NOT.

THEN I'LL BRING IT UP INDEPENDENTLY.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

AT 5:00 NOW, WE'LL CONCLUDE TODAY'S MEETING.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.