Mar 11, 2021 BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL MEETING

IT'S 6:30 PM

[00:00:01]

[ CITY OF BAYTOWN NOTICE OF MEETING CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2021 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL 2401 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 Due to the COVID 19 Disaster and the CDC's recommendation regarding social distancing measures, the public may not be allowed to be physically present at this meeting, as there is a limited amount of space when maintaining the required 6-feet separation from others. For those members of the public that cannot or do not wish to be physically present at the meeting, they will be able to participate through two-way communications. For video conferencing, use the following website www.zoom.com, click on "join a meeting" on the top right-hand corner, and input the following Meeting ID: 814 0648 0102. For telephone conferencing please use the following toll-free number: 1-888-788-0099, Meeting ID: 814 0648 0102. Any person, who is participating through video/teleconferencing and is interested in speaking on any item on the agenda, must submit his/her request via email to the City Clerk at cityclerk@baytown.org. The request must include the speaker's name, address, and phone number that will be used if teleconferencing as well as the agenda item number. The request must be received prior to the posted time of the meeting. The agenda packet is accessible to the public in both HTML and PDF formats at the following link: https://www.baytown.org/city-hall/city-clerk/agendas-minutes. After the meeting, a video recording of this meeting will be made available to the public at https://www.baytown.org/city-hall/city-clerk/agendas-minutes. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM PLEDGE AND INVOCATION Council Member Chris Presley, District No. Two ]

PLEASE STAND AS COUNCIL MEMBER PRESLEY WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE AND PRAYER.

PLEASE FACE THE FLAG AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY, JUSTICE FOR ALL.

NOW, THE TEXAS PLEDGE, BE HONORED UNDER TEXAS FLAG ON A PLEDGE, OFE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD ONE, AND THE INVIS, IF YOU'LL PLEASE BOW YOUR HEAD.

DEAR LORD, WE'RE THANKFUL TO BE HERE TONIGHT AND TO HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF DISCUSSING AND DEBATING COMMUNITY ISSUES HELP GUIDE OUR MEETING SO THAT IT IS FULL OF PRODUCTIVITY, RICH IN WISDOM AND RESPECTFUL TO ONE ANOTHER.

PLEASE BLESS THE SICK AND THE ELDERLY, ALL OF THOSE WHO PROTECT AND SERVE THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS AND THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.

AMEN.

AMEN.

THANK YOU.

AND PLEASE BE SEATED.

ITEM ONE A.

THE CROSSING

[1. THE CROSSINGS AT BAYTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT]

THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY IS BEING HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING ALL INTERESTED PERSONS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THE REVIEWS REGARDING THE SUBJECT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

EVERYONE DESIRING TO BE A PART OF TODAY'S HEARING SHOULD HAVE EITHER ASSIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE FOYER OR EMAILED THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE POSTED TIME OF THIS MEETING.

EACH PARTICIPANT SHALL GIVE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PROPER RECORD OF THIS HEARING.

THE RULES ALLOW EACH PERSON THREE MINUTES TO PRESENT INFORMATION.

HOWEVER, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE AS BRIEF AND AS TO THE POINT AS POSSIBLE.

IF YOU ARE A GROUP OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNSEL ON THE SAME SUBJECT, PLEASE SELECT A SPOKESPERSON TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION.

AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO ME.

I NOW CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE ADVISABILITY AND THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CROSSING AT BAYTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

I'D NOW LIKE TO REQUEST THAT STAFF SUMMARIZE THE SUBJECT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

THANK YOU, MAYOR COUNCIL.

UM, AS YOU HAD MENTIONED, AS YOU HAD JUST READ, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT CREATING THE, UH, THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT FOR THE CROSSING, RESIDENTIAL, UM, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO HAVE CREATED.

UM, JUST EAST, UH, YEAH, JUST EAST OF MAIN STREET.

UH, BORDERING ALONG THE FRONTAGE ROAD.

THE DEVELOPERS MADE THE PRESENTATION TO YOU FIRST IN, UH, NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.

IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED.

I CAN SHARE WITH YOU THAT, UH, IT ALSO WENT THROUGH THE FIRST PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING.

UM, VERY WELL RECEIVED.

THE SECOND ONE WAS MISSED BECAUSE OF ISA PALOOZA A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, SO IT'LL NOW BE GOING IN FRONT OF PLANNING AND ZONING ON TUESDAY.

THIS PUBLIC HEARING WAS ALREADY ARRANGED AND SCHEDULED AND, UH, PUBLICIZED.

SO THAT'S WHY WE ARE OPENING THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS.

BOTH OF THEM ARE, UM, MEMBERS OF THE PID AND THE PUD AND THE DEVELOPMENT.

SO THEY'RE VERY WELL AWARE AND HAVE RECEIVED THE PUBLICATIONS AND THE LETTERS THAT WE SENT THEM.

SO THEY, OF COURSE, ARE AWARE AND INTERESTED IN THIS PI BEING CREATED.

OKAY.

WE DO HAVE, UH, TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

I FIRST CALL TO THE PODIUM, HARVEY OER, OER.

OER.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MR. OER.

MY NAME IS HARVEY OER.

I LIVE AT 6 7 2 2 CROSBY CEDAR BAYOU ROAD.

MY PROPERTY ADJOINS THE SUBJECT PROPERTY THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE TONIGHT.

AND I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.

UM, I'VE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A WEBSITE OR INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TWO APPLICANTS THAT SIGNED THE PETITION.

HAS THE CITY VETTED THESE INDIVID THESE COMPANIES AS TO THEIR ABILITY TO FINANCIALLY AND TECHNICALLY COMPLETE THIS PROJECT? IS IS THE DEVELOPER OR CAN BRETT ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? UM, I, I CAN ANSWER THEM.

UH, YES, WE VETTED BOTH OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS AND, UM, WE HAVE, UH, OUR PID COUNCIL WHO'S ALSO BEEN VETTING THEM AS WELL AS OUR PID CONSULTANT.

UH, A PI IS A PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, BUT YOU KNOW, SORRY TO USE THE TERMINOLOGY.

UM, BUT YES, THEY'VE BEEN VETTED.

THANK YOU.

UH, REGARDING THE, UH, MULTI-FAMILY UNITS, I'M ASSUMING THESE WILL NOT BE LOW INCOME RENT SUBSIDIZED UNITS.

AM I CORRECT IN MY ASSUMPTION? UH, YES, SIR.

YOU ARE CORRECT.

THESE ARE NOT SUBSIDIZED UNITS OR LOW INCOME IN ANY SENSE.

THESE ARE GONNA BE PROBABLY AT THE TOP END OF OUR MARKET.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM .

UH, THE LAST QUESTION.

WHAT TYPE OF FENCING BARRIER

[00:05:01]

IT'S ON THE PLANNING SIDE.

OKAY.

WHERE EXACTLY IS YOUR, YOUR HOME, SIR? MY NORTH BOUNDARY IS AT THE SOUTH BOUNDARY OF CROSBY, CEDAR BAYOU ROAD.

I'M IN THIS CAR.

I HAVE A DIAGRAM I'LL SHOW YOU.

WELL, I THINK I CAN ANSWER THE QUESTION.

IS THAT OKAY? UM, ALONG THE MAJOR THOROUGHFARES OF THE COLLECTORS THAT, THAT DO, UM, I GUESS SHARE, SHARE THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY'S DEVELOPMENT OR, UH, PROPERTY LINE, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE MASONRY TYPE WALLS, MASONRY, AND THEN ON THE BACK SIDES WHERE THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS, THEY SHOULD HAVE, UH, A WOODEN FENCE, A SIX FOOT HIGH.

OKAY.

THAT SHOULD, THAT BORDER THE REST OF THE PROPERTY AROUND.

OKAY.

OKAY.

OKAY, SURE.

UH, IS THERE AN IDEA WHEN PHASE ONE IS GONNA START? PHASE ONE CAN START AS EARLY AS PROBABLY END OF THIRD QUARTER, POTENTIALLY FOURTH QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

THAT'S ALL.

THANK YOU, MR. OILER.

UH, NEXT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER IS MR. DAVID ISAAC.

THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

I'M DAVID ISAAC.

UM, HELLO.

NICE TO SEE SOME NEW FACES ON THE BOARD.

WISH YOU GUYS, UH, THE BEST ON YOUR TENURE ON THE CITY COUNCIL.

I'D LIKE TO COMMENT ON TODAY'S, UH, PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THE BAYTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

UH, I'VE KEPT IN TOUCH WITH, UH, THESE DEVELOPMENTS THROUGHOUT THE FEW MONTHS AND KEPT A KEEN EYE ON HOW OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE SPENT.

AND I THINK THIS IS AN ADEQUATE, UH, PROPOSAL AND IT'S GONNA DO WELL AND PERHAPS EVEN CREATE JOBS AND DO THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DO AS A COUNCIL.

SO, I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL, GIVE MY COMMENTS ON, UH, THAT CURRENT PROJECT, AND WISH YOU GUYS THE BEST GOING FORWARD.

I THINK, UH, MY JOB TO REPORT, UH, TO MY CONSTITUENTS AND CITIZENS AT LARGE, AND MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE ALSO BEING SPENT IN THAT ENTITY AS WELL.

SO, THANK YOU BOARD SO MUCH FOR THE BAYTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AND, UH, WORKING TO CREATE STRATEGIC WAYS TO, UH, SPUR THE ECONOMY HERE.

WE BADLY NEED IT.

THANK YOU, MR. ISAAC.

DOES COUNSEL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NO ONE ELSE, UH, WISHES TO SPEAK, I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE AVIS ADVISABILITY OF THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CROSSINGS AT THE BAYTOWN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.

WE NOW MOVE ON TO OUR

[2. CONSENT All Consent Agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council Member requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.]

ITEMS TWO A THROUGH D.

CAN I HAVE A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS TWO A THROUGH D.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION.

SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? WE NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM

[a. Consider confirmation of the City Manager's appointment of the City of Baytown Director of Public Affairs.]

CONSIDER CONFIRMATION OF THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MR. TROLLER, MAYOR PRO TEM.

AND COUNCIL, IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE TO, UH, GIVE YOU THE, THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT.

I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS, WHICH IS A VERY DELIBERATE PROCESS THAT HAPPENED OVER FIVE MONTHS.

I WANNA START BY THANKING SPECIFICALLY OUR HR DIRECTOR, CAROL FLINT, WHO PUT IN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS, AND WORKING WITH OUR EXECUTIVE RECRUITER, RENEE NALA, WITH RENEE NALA AND ASSOCIATES.

THEY DID A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR THIS.

WE HAD OVER 100 APPLICANTS OVER A SERIES OF MONTHS.

THERE WERE SEVERAL VETTING PROCESSES THAT ULTIMATELY DETERMINED THE TOP 12.

OBVIOUSLY, WITH ALL SELECTIONS WE HAVE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A PROCESS TO DETERMINE THE MOST QUALIFIED AND BEST FIT, AND WE TAKE THAT VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR DIRECTORS WHO LEAD ALL OF OUR, OUR DEPARTMENTAL PEOPLE.

SO THEY DID A GREAT JOB.

THEY, THEY REDUCED IT TO 12.

THERE WAS MORE MEETINGS, DISCUSSIONS, REDUCED IT TO SIX.

WE INVITED THE TOP FOUR THAT WE FELT TO PERSONALLY INTERVIEW.

WE HAD ROUNDS OF EXECUTIVE PANELS, DIRECTOR PANELS, EMPLOYEE PANELS, A TOUR OF THE CITY.

WE HAD EXERCISES THAT THEY HAD TO DO THAT INCLUDED REVIEWING OUR WEBSITE WITH COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS AND OUR NEWSLETTER.

WE THEN NARROWED IT DOWN TO THE TOP THREE, TO THE TOP TWO, AND WE IN INVITED THE TOP TWO BACK A SECOND TIME.

ALL OF THOSE, THE CITY MANAGER WAS INVOLVED WITH AND HAD HIS OWN AS WELL.

AND I'M PROUD TO REPORT THAT THE CITY MANAGER SELECTED THOMAS REEVES

[00:10:01]

LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MR. REEVES.

HE HAS A BACHELOR'S IN COMMUNICATION FROM SIMPSON UNIVERSITY IN REDDING, CALIFORNIA.

HE HAS A MASTER'S IN COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP STUDIES FROM GONZAGA IN SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

OVER AN 18 YEAR CAREER, HE'S BEEN A FIELD REPRESENTATIVE OF THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, A PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION, A MANAGER OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS FOR THE RE REGIONAL RAIL COMMISSION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE FOR PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY.

HE'S CURRENTLY AN ADJUNCT PROFESSOR FOR COMMUNICATION STUDIES AT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND HE'S ALSO CURRENTLY THE COMMUNITY AND MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICER FOR MODESTO, CALIFORNIA, THE 18TH LARGEST CITY IN CALIFORNIA, WITH A POPULATION IN EXCESS OF 213,000.

IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO GIVE YOU THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT AND ASK FOR YOUR CONFIRMATION.

WE DO HAVE, UH, ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON ITEM THREE A.

MR. ISAAC, I INVITE YOU BACK TO THE PODIUM.

HELLO, CITY COUNCIL.

LONG TIME.

NO.

SEE, I SUPPOSE I WANTED TO COMMENT ON THE JOB OF DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

FIRST OF ALL, I'M DELIGHTED THAT THIS POSITION HAS BEEN FILLED AND THAT MR. TROLLER SPENT SO MUCH TIME, UH, FILLING THIS JOB OVER THE LAST FIVE MONTHS.

UH, MY COMMENTARY TODAY IS TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF ADVICE FROM SOME OF THE, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS LOCATED IN SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES, ZONE FUNDS OR OPPORTUNITY ZONE DISTRICTS OUT HERE.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, UH, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UH, JOB IS TO HELP LOBBY THE STATE PERHAPS, AND GENERATE, UM, EXCITEMENT HERE IN BAYTOWN.

SO, SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN PART OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, UH, FOR YEARS NOW IS, UH, YOU KNOW, EXCITED TO SEE THIS POSITION BE, UH, A TRANSFORMATIONAL COMPONENT TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOING FORWARD.

I VERY MUCH WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AND SOME IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL, UH, SOME GROWTH IN THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.

I THINK, UH, THEY'RE WORKING VERY HARD AND COULD USE SOME HELP.

I THINK THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AS WELL SHOULD BE ADEQUATELY STAFFED IF WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THIS JOB FOR THIS IN INDIVIDUAL, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS, UH, NECESSARY TO REACH OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND, AND, AND BE A PART OF, UH, THIS AGENDA HERE.

AND FINALLY, SORRY GUYS.

I HAVE A, MY NOTES, YOU NEED NOTES.

AND THEN FINALLY, I'D LIKE FOR THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS ROLE TO PLAY A PART OF THAT BUSINESS INCUBATION EFFORTS.

THE COUNCIL, UH, PLAYED A GOOD JOB WORKING WITH LIKE THE BRUNSON, FOR INSTANCE, AND, UH, SNAP HANGING ON TO THE RIGHT CONCEPT OF INCUBATING BUSINESSES.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT, UH, AN EXAMPLE, UH, PROPERTY SUCH AS, UH, NORTH PRUITT, WHERE THE OLD KMART WAS, THAT FALLS IN AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE.

PROPERTIES OWNED BY MR. ANTONINI.

I'VE MET WITH HIM TWICE.

UM, THOSE ARE THE TYPE OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS I'D LIKE TO COMPEL THE CITY COUNCIL TO WORK TOWARDS SO THAT WE CAN GET A QUICK VACCINE ROLLOUT, INCUBATE JOBS, AND BE A FORCE, UH, OF NATURE ON THE STATE LEVEL.

SO, ALTHOUGH, UH, TAXPAYER FUNDING LOBBYING ISN'T, UH, YOU KNOW, THE MOST POPULAR THING, I REALLY HOPE THAT THE, UH, THIS POSITION FIGHTS FOR BAYTOWN, FIGHTS FOR BAYTON AND ON A STATE LEVEL DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TODAY.

CONGRATS ON GETTING THE NEW GUY.

THANK YOU.

MR. ISAAC.

DOES COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS? I HAVE A COMMENT.

COUNCILMAN PRESLEY.

SO WE, WE BROACHED THIS SUBJECT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

UM, I WASN'T THE BIGGEST PROPONENT AT THAT TIME.

AND THE, THE REASON WHY IS THE CITY OF BAYTOWN HAS NEVER HAD A PUBLIC AFFAIRS POSITION UP UNTIL I BELIEVE, UM, PATTY IN 2009 OR SO, RIGHT? SO IN, IN MY OPINION, UH, THINGS WORKED OKAY WITHOUT A PUBLIC AFFAIRS POSITION.

UH, IN 2009, 2010, APPROXIMATELY, UH, IS, IS WHEN PATTY CAME ON BOARD.

AND, UH, I THOUGHT THINGS WORKED FINE WITH ONE POSITION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS, UM, HAVE THE, HAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN MIND AND, AND OF COURSE THAT FACTORS INTO IT.

AND THEN WE TRIED TO INCREASE THAT FROM ONE TO TO THREE POSITIONS.

[00:15:01]

SO I, I SUBSCRIBE TO THE MOTTO IF IT, IF IT AIN'T BROKE, NO NEED TO FIX IT.

UM, I ALSO SUBSCRIBE TO THE CITY MANAGER BEING FRONT AND CENTER OF, OF ISSUES THAT ARE RELATED TO THE MEDIA.

AND, UH, SO I WANNA MAKE THOSE COMMENTS.

AND I, I ALSO THINK COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ELECTED TO PLAY A ROLE AS WELL.

SO I WANNA MAKE THOSE COMMENTS.

I KNOW I WAS A LITTLE TORN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHEN WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS FROM ONE TO THREE AND, UH, I DON'T KNOW IF TORN IS THE RIGHT WORD, I GUESS MAYBE FINGERS CROSSED AND, AND HOPING IT GOES BETTER THIS TIME.

AND I WOULD HAVE THESE SAME COMMENTS.

I THINK THE GENTLEMAN IS HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND, AND I WOULD MAKE THESE SAME COMMENTS.

IF IT WAS WE WERE ABOUT TO HIRE DAN RATHER OR TOM BROCA, IT WOULD BE THE SAME COMMENTS.

SO I, I'M, I'M HOPING FOR THE BEST.

I THINK WE HAVE A QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL AND UH, I'M, I'M WILLING TO GIVE IT ANOTHER GO.

AND, AND, AND THAT'S FOR THE RECORD HERE.

I APPRECIATE THAT, SIR.

I MEAN, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM.

I'VE BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME THROUGH 2009 AND PATTY AND FORWARD, I WOULD JUST TELL YOU THE LEGISLATIVE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY, THE COMPLEXITIES THAT WE HAVE AS A CITY, AND THE CRAFTING THE MESSAGES OF SOME PRETTY CHALLENGING ISSUES.

UH, WE NEED A PROFESSIONAL THAT DOES THAT, THAT'S FOCUSED ON THAT ALL THE TIME.

CERTAINLY WILL BE HELPING THE CITY MANAGER, THE MAYOR COUNCIL WITH THOSE MESSAGES.

BUT SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN SCHOOLED AND TRAINED TO DO THAT SPECIFICALLY, UM, I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT I APPRECIATE THE COMPLI, THE COMMENTS, SIR.

THANKS, KEVIN.

DOES ANYONE ELSE? I HAVE A COMMENT.

YES, COUNCILMAN, THIS IS LAURA.

UM, YOU KNOW, I, I FIRST JUST WANNA, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE OUR INTERIM THAT HAS BEEN HOLDING THIS SEAT, UM, AS WE FIND SOMEONE TO BE PERMANENT.

I THINK ALICE HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.

UM, WE'VE, WE'VE HAD SOME INCIDENTS HAPPEN WITH THE FREEZE AND, AND EVERYTHING.

AND I THINK THAT SHE HAS TRULY HELD HER OWN.

SO I JUST REALLY WANNA THANK HER FOR THE WORK.

AND, UM, I'M HOPING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GONNA MESH WELL WITH THE NEW, UM, WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR.

BUT I JUST WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, ALICE AND, AND THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE, AND THEN OF COURSE, WELCOME THE NEW DIRECTOR.

SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

THANK YOU.

COUNCILWOMAN, CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ITEM THREE? A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM THREE.

A SECOND.

I HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSES.

MOVING ON TO ITEM FOUR, A MANAGER'S

[a. Present information regarding the opening of the City's six (6) spray parks for the 2021 Summer season.]

UH, MR. TROLLER, PLEASE PRESENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE OPENING OF THE CITY'S SIX SPRAY PARKS FOR THE 2021 SUMMER SEASON.

THANK YOU, MAYOR PROTE AND COUNCIL, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I WILL START WITH THAT.

ON BEHALF OF OUR PARKS AND REC STAFF, WE HAVE SIX SPRAY PARKS IN THE CITY'S LOCATED AT ROSELYN, BERGON, MCELROY, PELLEY CENTRAL HEIGHTS IN JENKINS PARK.

ALL SIX OF THOSE SPRAY PARKS WILL BE OPEN FOR THE 21 SUMMER SEASON THIS COMING SATURDAY, MARCH 13TH AT 10:00 AM ALL SIX OF 'EM WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE YEAR THROUGH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH.

SO, KIND OF INTERESTING THAT WE ARE FIGHTING ICE AND COLD AND SINGLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES AND NOW WE'RE TALKING SPRAY PADS AND, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THE SPRAY PARKS ARE USED ACROSS THE CITY, AND I KNOW EVERYONE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

CO.

YES, SIR.

WE PREFER TO TALK ABOUT SPRAY PADS THAN FREEZING COLD.

YES, SIR.

, ABSOLUTELY AGREE.

I'D LIKE TO BE EFFUSIVE IN MY RECOGNITION AND THANKS ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT AREAS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, AND COUNCILMAN, YOU WERE HERE FOR A MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT WAS VERY DIVISIVE.

UM, UH, AN ISSUE AND SOME CHALLENGING PERSPECTIVES THAT WERE BROUGHT FORWARD.

AND I WISH Y'ALL COULD SEE A LOT OF THE TIMES, THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT OUR STAFF PUTS INTO DEESCALATING SITUATIONS.

AND NOT JUST DEESCALATING, BUT GETTING PEOPLE TO THE POINT THAT THEY'RE RESPECTED, THEY'RE UNDERSTOOD, AND WE ACTUALLY GET RESOLUTION.

AND SO I JUST WANNA START BY SAYING TO NATHAN DIETRICH, WHO'S IN THE, IN THE AUDIENCE FOR A MEETING EARLIER THIS WEEK, DID A PHENOMENAL JOB ON A SITUATION THAT TOOK WELL OVER 45 MINUTES TO RESOLVE.

PERSONALLY THANKFUL.

HE CERTAINLY SET THE STANDARD FOR US IN THE CITY.

UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I WOULD CALL OUR WEEKEND WARRIORS.

I MEAN, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORK WHILE, UH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OFF ON THE WEEKENDS AND OUR POLICE AND FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS AND ANIMAL CONTROL.

AND WE KIND OF KNOW THOSE THINGS GO ON IN OUR CITY.

JUST THIS PAST WEEKEND, WE HAD A DOG FOOD FLEET TICK MEDICINE GIVEAWAY AT CENTRAL LEAGUE.

THAT WENT EXTREMELY WELL.

WE HAD A DOG FRISBEE TOURNAMENT AT JENKINS PARK.

WE HAD A POPUP PARK AT

[00:20:01]

WE HAD POLICE, WE HAD FIRE, WE HAD THE LIBRARY GIVING AWAY BOOKS.

UH, WE HAD THE WETLANDS AND NATURE CENTER THAT WAS OUT THERE.

JUST A LOT OF GREAT ACTIVITY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WENT WELL.

AND I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER ALVARADO THAT YOU'RE ONLINE, YOU WERE AT HEARTS AND HANDS DISTRIBUTION AT LEE HIGH SCHOOL.

THERE'S PROBABLY SO MANY MORE EVENTS THAT HAPPEN ON THE WEEKEND, BUT TO ALL OF OUR PEOPLE, WHEN EVERYONE'S RELAXING AND ENJOYING THE WEEKEND, THEY'RE HAVING TO WORK THESE EVENTS.

I JUST TIP OUR HAT TO THEM.

LASTLY, I WOULD JUST SAY IN TERMS OF ZACH START, WHO WAS COMMENDED FOR HIS CUSTOMER SERVICE TO BLANDON SCHAFER FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING, WHO GOT HIS HOT MIX ASPHALT CERTIFICATION, AND HATS OFF TO OFFICER JASON COX, WHO GOT HIS MASTERPIECE OFFICER CERTIFICATION.

WE THANK ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE AS WELL, MAYOR PRO TE.

AND COUNSEL, THAT'S ALL I HAVE THIS EVENING.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THE MANAGER'S REPORT? KEVIN, I HAVE ONE QUESTION.

WHAT IS THIS MEETING THAT YOU REFERENCED THAT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT WE'RE CONGRATULATING NATHAN ON THE MEETING WAS A BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING, AND THERE WAS A, AN ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT UP THAT WAS CONTENTIOUS BY SOMEBODY IN, IN THE AUDIENCE WHO HAD BROUGHT UP A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT HE PERSONALLY IS INVOLVED WITH HAVING TO DO WITH CONTAINERS.

CONEXES, THE BOARD OF ADJUST MADE THE EXACT SAME RULING AS HE HAD BEEN GIVEN BEFORE, BUT HE JUST PERSONALLY IS, IS INVOLVED WITH THAT ISSUE AND SOMEONE THAT ARE PLANNING TO WORK AND WORKS WITH OFTEN.

SO.

WELL, THANK YOU.

YEAH, AND I, I WAS, AND NOT JUST NATHAN AND THE, THE NEW PLANNING DIRECTOR DID AN EXCELLENT JOB AS WELL AS MR. TROLLER DID.

SO I, I WAS AT THAT MEETING AND I, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS EIGHT YEARS AND I HAVEN'T QUITE EXPERIENCED A BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING LIKE THAT.

BUT, BUT STAFF DID A GREAT JOB AND, AND I DO APPRECIATE IT.

IT WAS TWO OF MY CONSTITUENTS KIND OF PITTED AGAINST EACH OTHER AND I, I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS THE WAY YOU HANDLED IT.

SO THANK YOU, SIR.

WELL, I WASN'T AWARE, SO THANK YOU FOR MAKING US AWARE.

YES, MA'AM.

ALRIGHT, UH, THERE BEING NO FURTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.

MOTION TO ADJOURN.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE.

AYE.

WE ADUR.