* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:20] SO NOW CALL THIS MEETING THIS, UH, WORK SESSION TO THE BAY OF THE BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL ORDER. IT IS THURSDAY, MAY 27. IT'S 5:36 PM WE ARE IN BAYTOWN CITY HALL. COUNCIL CHAMBERS, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. OUR FIRST ITEM FOR [a. Receive and discuss a presentation from the Baytown Police Strategic Planning Advisory Committee.] DISCUSSION IS RECEIVE AND DISCUSS A PRESENTATION FROM THE BAYTOWN POLICE STRATEGIC PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE. MR. DAVIS? YES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. AS YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, WE EMBARKED UPON A STRATEGIC PLANNING EXERCISE AND ENDEAVOR IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY STRATEGICALLY THE THINGS THAT WOULD AID US IN ELEVATING TRUST BETWEEN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY. UH, I DIDN'T, I I'VE SEEN MANY POSITIVE EXPERIENCES IN STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUT I HONESTLY DIDN'T THINK, UH, NOT BECAUSE I'M PESSIMISTIC THAT IT WOULD GO THIS. WELL, IT HAS GONE SWIMMINGLY WELL, IF I CAN BE SO BOLD AS TO SAY THAT. AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE, UH, CHAIR, UH, THIS COMMITTEE, UH, TO YOU. YOU SEE OUR ESTEEM MEMBERS, AND SHE CAN INTRODUCE HER COMMITTEE MEMBERS, BUT, UH, LAKEISHA HOLMES IS A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BAYTOWN. SHE GRAD, GRADUATED MAGNA C*M LADA FROM SPELMAN COLLEGE IN ATLANTA AND WENT ON TO RECEIVE HER JURIS DOCTORATE MAGNA C*M LAUDE. SO DID, IS THAT ALL YOU DID WAS STUDY? YES. . OKAY. OKAY. UH, ANYWAY, UH, FROM TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY, THURGOOD MARSHALL SCHOOL OF LAW IN HOUSTON, UH, SHE IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN BAYTOWN AND THE COMMUNITY AND SERVES AS A TREASURER OF THE BOARD OF THE MONICA BOY LITERACY FOUNDATION, AND SERVES ON THE BOARD OF THE LEE COLLEGE ALLIANCE AND BAYTOWN CRIME STOPPERS. UH, SHE'S ALSO PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE BAYTOWN CHAPTER OF TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION, INC. AND SERVES AS A YOUTH LEADER AT THE PERFECT LOVE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH IN BAYTOWN. SO IT IS WITH, UH, GREAT PRIVILEGE AND HONOR TO INTRODUCE YOU TO LAKEISHA, AND SHE'S GONNA TAKE YOU THROUGH THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND, UH, ARCHITECTURE OF OUR NEW STRATEGIC PLAN. THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS FOR THE INTRODUCTION. AND THANK YOU COUNSEL FOR THE INVITATION TO COME AND GIVE THE UPDATE. SO, OUR COUNCIL, EXCUSE ME. OUR COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF FOUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND THEY INCLUDE MYSELF, ELLI , WHO'S HERE WITH US, DEREK WADE HERE WITH US, AND ALSO PRE SING. AND THERE ARE ALSO THREE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE COMMITTEE. AND THOSE, UM, OFFICERS ARE CHIEF RICHARD WHITAKER, WHO'S HERE WITH US SERGEANT AARON CROW, WHO'S HERE WITH US, AND OFFICER BILL NELSON, WHO'S NOT AVAILABLE TO BE WITH US THIS EVENING. GO INTO THE MISSION STATEMENT. I'LL READ IT FOR YOU. THE MISSION OF THE BAYTOWN POLICE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE IS TO PARTNER AND ENGAGE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE A PLAN TO ADDRESS LOCAL CHALLENGES IN ORDER TO BUILD TRUST AND MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE'LL ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH A SERIES OF DATA GATHERING EXERCISES AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. SO THE MISSION STATEMENT WAS DEVELOPED BY THE COMMITTEE WITH THE EMPHASIS ON INCREASING MUTUAL TRUST AND TRUST AND MUTUAL RESPECT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND, UM, AND WE'LL DO THAT BY BRIDGING GAPS BETWEEN THE CURRENT STATUS AND THE COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS. THERE ARE FOUR DISTINCT PHASES OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS THAT THE COMMUNITY COMMITTEE HAS AND IS CONTINUING TO GO THROUGH. WE'VE ALREADY COMPLETED THE LAUNCH PHASE, AND THAT INCLUDES FORMULATING AND PLANNING, THE, THE DATA GATHERING ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN. SO, CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS WERE IDENTIFIED AND THE PUBLIC WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE START OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS. WE'VE ALSO ALREADY COMMITTED, COMPLETED THE DATA GATHERING PHASE, AND THAT'S THE LONGEST PHASE OF THE PLANNING PROCESS. SO THE COMMITTEE WAS ABLE TO FOCUS ON COMMUNITY DRIVEN ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS SUCH AS FOCUS GROUPS, SURVEYS, WORKSHOPS, POLLS, AND PUBLIC MEETINGS. WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE ANALYSIS PHASE AS WE REVIEW AND INTERPRET THE FEEDBACK AND DATA RECEIVED FROM OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. FINALLY, WE ARE ABOUT TO ENTER INTO THE COMPOSITION PHASE WHERE THE STRATEGIC DIRECTIVES AND, AND INITIATIVES WILL BE IDENTIFIED BY THE COMMITTEE. AND ONCE THAT FINAL DRAFT OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN IS CREATED, THEN IT WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY MANAGER FOR APPROVAL. [00:05:08] SO OUR COMMITTEE, THE NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OUR COMMITTEE INITIATED AND COMPLETED A ROBUST COMMUNITY OUTREACH CAMPAIGN DURING THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY, MARCH, AND APRIL. AND I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE. SO, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMITTEE CONTACTED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE SET UP FOCUS GROUPS WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS. IN TOTAL, THERE WERE 15 FOCUS GROUPS THAT WERE CONDUCTED IN ADDITION TO THREE PUBLIC TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THERE WERE TWO IN PERSON AND ONE VIRTUAL. WE MET WITH 12 OTHER FOCUS GROUPS THAT WERE WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. WE ALSO CANVASSED A SCIENTIFIC SURVEY THROUGH A THIRD PARTY SO THAT WE CAN GET AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY. AND WE ALSO UTILIZE BAYTOWN ENGAGE AS A PLATFORM, AS A RESOURCE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO CONTINUALLY, UM, SHARE WHERE WE WERE IN THE, WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS. SO, INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS AND ALSO WITH PASTOR MONTGOMERY, WHO CHAIRS THE BAYTOWN POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. OUR COMMITTEE WORKED CLOSE CLOSELY WITH THE CITY'S PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE MEDIA, UH, A MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE THAT WE REACHED AS MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AS POSSIBLE WHO WERE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING. SO SOME OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE MET WITH DURING THE PROCESS INCLUDED THE WEST BAYTOWN CIVIC ASSOCIATION, THE ACE BUSINESS DISTRICT, THE GOOSE CREEK CONSOLIDATED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, GLEN MEADOWS, HOA, LINWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION COMMITTEE. TOP LADIES OF DISTINCTION, INC. LOCAL PASTORS AND ECCLESIASTICAL LEADERS, LADY DE GU GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE KIWANIS CLUB, THE BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE ALSO MET WITH YOUTH FROM THE THOMAS INSTITUTE OF EXCELLENCE OR THE THAI PROGRAM, AND WE ALSO RECEIVED INPUT FROM A GROUP OF, OF BAYTOWN EDUCATORS KEY FINDINGS. SO THE KEY KEY FINDINGS ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO PERCEIVED STRENGTHS AND PERCEIVED AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT FOR PERCEIVED STRENGTHS. DURING THE FOCUS GROUP, IT WAS OFTEN PHRASED AS WHAT'S GOING WELL, AND THIS FEEDBACK REFLECTS THE AREAS THAT CITIZENS FEEL STRENGTHS, UM, OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE THINGS THAT THEY'D LIKE TO CONSENT, THEY'D LIKE TO SEE CONTINUE IN THE FUTURE. PERCEIVED AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. SO IN THE FOCUS GROUPS, IT WAS OFTEN ASKED AS IF YOU WERE KING OR QUEEN FOR A DAY, THEN WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT POLICING IN BAYTOWN? SO THIS FEEDBACK CAPTURES AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT AND WHERE CITIZENS WOULD LIKE THE POLICE TO INVEST IN MOVING FORWARD. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, RESIDENTS VOICE SUPPORT OF THE INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE. SO THEY'RE APPRECIATIVE OF THE POLICE ATTEMPTS TO CREATE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY. SPECIFIC ENGAGEMENT APPROACHES THAT RECEIVED WIDESPREAD PRAISE INCLUDE COFFEE WITH A COP DARE, BLUE SANTA POP-UP PARK, AND OTHER NUMEROUS COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT POLICE OFFICERS ATTEND. IMPLEMENTATION OF BODY CAMERAS, THE POLICE, THE COMMUNITY CALLED ATTENTION TO THE IMPLE IMPLEMENTATION OF BODY CAMERAS BEFORE PATROLLING OFFICERS. IN ADDITION TO THIS STEP TOWARDS DOCUMENTATION AND TRANSPARENCY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTS RANDOM AUDITS OF THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE TO REVIEW OFFICER BEHAVIOR AND ASSURE QUALITY SERVICES FROM ITS OFFICERS YOUTH ENGAGEMENT. IN LINE WITH THE FEEDBACK FOR INCREASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, RESIDENTS EXPRESSED A DESIRE FOR MORE TARGETED OUTREACH TO THE YOUTH OF BAYTOWN. ONE OF THE SPECIFIC REPEATED THINGS THAT WE HEARD, UM, INCLUDED FEEDBACK THAT YOUTH, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS, THEY HAVE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE OFFICERS IN ELEMENTARY THROUGH THE DARE PROGRAM, BUT THAT THEY HAD LITTLE TO NO INTERACTION WITH OFFICERS DURING MIDDLE SCHOOL. AND THEN BY THE TIME THEY GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL, THEN OFFICERS WERE SUSPICIOUS OF THEM AND WANTING TO CHECK THEIR LOCKERS. AND THERE WAS A BIG, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A 180, A BIG GAP FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE. JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, EXPANDED TRAININGS. WHILE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES EXTENSIVE TRAINING, RESIDENTS FELT THAT ADDITIONAL TRAINING IS NEEDED IN SPECIFIC AREAS, INCLUDING DEESCALATION MENTAL HEALTH AND RACIAL BIASES. THESE TRAINING WERE VIEWED AS IMPORTANT ASPECTS IN ADDRESSING AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT. SO I'D LIKE TO GO OVER WITH YOU A FEW HIGHLIGHTS THAT WERE COLLECTED FROM THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT THAT WE IMPLEMENTED. SO, 71% OF RESIDENTS WHO HAD AN OPINION THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE MAKEUP OF THE BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REFLECT THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF RACE AND ETHNICITY. [00:10:02] 51 50, EXCUSE ME, 57% OF RESIDENTS WHO HAD AN OPINION INDICATED THAT THEY THINK THE BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF RACE AND ETHNICITY. WHILE 43% DO NOT THINK THE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY REFLECTS THE COMMUNITY. AND THAT WAS FOR BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT COMPOSITION. THREE AREAS RESIDENTS BELIEVE SHOULD RECEIVE THE MOST INFINITE EMPHASIS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS WERE ONE VISIBILITY OF POLICE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, TWO EFFORTS TO PREVENT CRIME, AND FOR ONE, VISIBILITY OF POLICE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WAS 50%, AND FOR EFFORTS TO REDUCE CRIME 41%. AND THREE, HOW QUICKLY POLICE RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES. 29% BELIEVE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO EMPHASIZE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THE THREE ISSUES RESIDENTS BELIEVE SHOULD RECEIVE THE MOST EMPHASIS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS ARE, ONE, BAYTOWN. POLICE PERSONNEL HAVE APPROPRIATE TRAINING ON HOW TO HANDLE CONFRONTATION WITH CITIZENS. 42%. TWO, BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL TREAT RESIDENTS OF DIFFERENT RACES OR ETHNICITIES, EQUALLY, 37%. AND THREE, THE BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TRYING HARD TO MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY. 35%. SO OVERALL, RESIDENTS WHO HAD AN OPINION 34% WERE SATISFIED, OR EXCUSE ME, VERY SATISFIED. 37% WERE SATISFIED WITH THE PROFESSIONALISM OF POLICE OFFICERS, WHICH IN TOTAL IS 71% OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE SATISFIED WITH BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR PROFESSIONALISM, STRATEGIC DIRECTIVES FOR FOSTER COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS, THE TOP TREND THAT EMERGED FROM RESIDENTS WAS THE DESIRE FOR MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND MORE POSITIVE INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE. WHILE THE RESIDENTS PRAISED THE EFFORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND BEING INVOLVED WITH THE COMMUNITY, THEY SHARED WAYS IN WHICH ENGAGEMENT COULD BE EXPANDED, ARE ENLARGED TO COVER MORE INDIVIDUALS, AND TO CREATE EVEN MORE TRUST. CERTAIN GROUPS SHARED THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER LEADERS SHOULD REGULARLY MEET WITH STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY TO MAINTAIN CLOSE RELATIONS AND TO HELP DISTILL INFORMATION TO RESIDENTS. SUCH STAKEHOLDER GROUPS INCLUDE LOCAL NONPROFITS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH ESTABLISHED CONNECTIONS TO THE BLACK AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES. MENTAL HEALTH RESIDENTS AND OFFICERS ALIKE VOICE. SEVERAL IDEAS OF HOW TO BETTER EQUIP OFFICERS AND RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH CALLS AND ENSURING THE CITY HAS THE RIGHT RESOURCES IN PLACE. THESE IDEAS INCLUDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR ALL OFFICERS ON BEST PRACTICES AND HIRING MENTAL HEALTH EXPERTS AND OR SOCIAL WORKERS WHO CAN BE ON CALL TO ASSIST OFFICERS IN THEIR ASSESSMENTS OR EVEN TRAINING THE CITY'S PARAMEDICS TO RESPOND TO MENTAL HEALTH CALLS. COMMUNITY POLICING AS A SPECIFIC DIRECTIVE AND RECOMMENDATION. RESIDENTS FAVOR INCREASE COMMUNITY POLICING. THESE DIRECTIVES FOCUS ON A PHILOSOPHY OF FULL SERVICE POLICING THAT'S HIGHLY PERSONAL, WHERE OFFICERS PATROL THE SAME AREA FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND DEVELOP PARTNERSHIP WITH CITIZENS TO IDENTIFY AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. THIS INCLUDES OFFICERS GETTING OUT OF THEIR VEHICLES IN POPULATED AREAS, WALKING AND INTERACTING WITH CITIZENS. IT ALSO INCLUDES CONTINUED RECRUITMENT WHERE POSSIBLE OF BAYTOWN RESIDENTS TO SERVE ON THE POLICE FORCE AND A POLICE FORCE THAT REFLECTS THE ETH ETHNIC DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY IN BAYTOWN, PARTICULARLY IN HISPANIC AND BLACK REPRESENTATION, ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. TRANSPARENCY INCLUDES MORE PROACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THOSE WHO SUBMIT COMPLAINTS OR ARE WITNESSES TO AN INCIDENT INFORMING THEM OF WHAT STEPS ARE TAKEN IN THE DISCIPLINARY REVIEW PROCESS. BUT COULD INCLUDE EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THE ADOPTION OF NEW POLICIES, TRAINING THE OFFICERS TO GO THROUGH AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS HIGHLIGHTING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND OFFICERS WHO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND NEXT STEPS. THE NEXT STEPS ARE CONCLUDING THE ANALYSIS PHASE, COMPOSING THE FINAL PLAN, PRESENTING THAT PLAN TO THE CITY MANAGER. AND THE ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE IS JULY, 2021. OUR COMMITTEE IS CURRENTLY COMPLETING OUR ANALYSIS OF THE DATA AND FEEDBACK WE RECEIVE FROM OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND SURVEY INFORMATION. WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF DETERMINING SPECIFIC INITIATIVES OF THE PLAN. ONCE WE HAVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, WE'LL BEGIN THE COMPOSITION OF THE FINAL PLAN. WHEN THE COMMITTEE HAS A FINALIZED DRAFT, WE WILL PRESENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDINGS TO THE CITY MANAGER. WE ANTICIPATE COMPLETING THE PROJECT BY THE, THE END OF JULY. ONCE THE CITY MANAGER APPROVES THE FINALIZED PLAN AND PRESENTS IT TO CITY COUNCIL, IT'LL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR CITIZENS TO REVIEW. OUR COMMITTEE IS ALSO WORKING [00:15:01] WITH CITY, WITH CITY STAFF TO COMPLETE A SCORECARD SIMILAR TO THE CITY'S COMMUNITY SCORECARD THAT CITIZENS ACCESS AND SEE MAY ACCESS AND SEE THE PROGRESS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS MAKING TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN. THE NEXT THING I WANNA DO IS SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AND THEN ALSO ASK OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO COME UP AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE, UM, SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE. FOR ME, IT'S BEEN AN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS. I THINK IT WAS A GOOD THING TO HAVE EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICERS ON THE COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE COMMITTEE, THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE COMMITTEE WERE ABLE TO GO TO THEM AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT, ABOUT POLICE TRAINING, ABOUT HOW MANY OFFICERS ARE ON DUTY AT A, AT A PARTICULAR TIME, UM, ABOUT POLICE PROGRAMS AND JUST ANY NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD. I THINK IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE, UM, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. IT WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR THE DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON POLICING IN BAYTOWN, ONE OF THE, UM, FOCUS GROUPS THAT I ATTENDED, THERE WERE PARENTS OF AN OFFICER WHO WAS SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY, UM, RESPONDING TO A CALL. AND SO THEIR PERSPECTIVES WERE OF COURSE, A LOT DIFFERENT FROM SOME OF THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE, UM, IN THE FOCUS GROUP. BUT WHAT I FOUND MOST INTERESTING OR UNEXPECTED, I GUESS, IS THAT THERE WERE SOME COMMONALITIES, DIDN'T MATTER WHAT FOCUS GROUP OR WHAT SURVEY, UM, THERE WERE SOME COMMONALITIES AND THOSE INCLUDED PEOPLE WANTING MORE POLICE ENGAGEMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY, WANTING MORE POLICE, UM, PRESENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, WANTING, UM, POLICE TRAINING OR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND WANTING OFFICERS WHO ENGAGE IN MISCONDUCT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AND SO I THINK THAT FOR ME, IT SAYS WHAT WE ALL KNOW, AND THAT'S, THAT WHAT UNITES US IS GREATER THAN WHAT SEPARATES US. SO THAT'S MY EXPERIENCE, NO DOUBT. THANK YOU, MS. HOLMES. SURE. AND I GUESS YOU'RE GONNA INVITE SOME OF OUR, I THINK WE HAVE TWO, AT LEAST TWO COMMUNITY, I MEAN, TWO, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS. YES. SERGEANT CROW AND DEREK WADE. OH, YOU GO. I'M AARON KROLL. I'M A SERGEANT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. IF, UH, I HAVEN'T MET Y'ALL, I BELIEVE I'VE MET MOST EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM. UH, AND YOU'VE HEARD ME TALK MORE THAN ONCE PROBABLY. I, I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF USUALLY. SO, UM, THIS WAS AN INTERESTING PROCESS TO, TO GO THROUGH. UM, AS POLICE OFFICERS, WE ARE VERY INSULAR AS A RULE, AND WE DO NOT SHARE WELL WITH OTHERS. WE DON'T COMMUNICATE WELL OUTSIDE OF A CALL FOR SERVICE. UH, WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC, WE, WE DON'T LIKE TO SHARE OUR FEELINGS AND, AND THOUGHTS OUTSIDE OF THE DEPARTMENT. AND SO WHAT THIS PROCESS HAS DONE HAS FORCED US AS OFFICERS, I THINK TO, TO BE A BIT SELF-REFLECTIVE AS A WHOLE, DEPARTMENTALLY INDIVIDUALLY, AND HAS FORCED US TO, TO ASK OURSELVES SOME UNCOMFORTABLE AND TOUGH QUESTIONS. UM, WHAT ARE WE DOING WELL? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO BETTER? WHAT DO WE NOT NEED TO BE DOING? HOW CAN WE BE BETTER? BECAUSE WE OWE THAT TO OUR CITIZENS. WE OWE THAT TO Y'ALL, WE OWE THAT TO THE TAXPAYERS. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO BE THE BEST DEPARTMENT THAT WE CAN BE AND THE STATUS QUO CAN'T REMAIN. AND SO, GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THERE WERE SOME INTERESTING THINGS THAT, THAT HAD COME UP. CREATING THE SURVEY DOCUMENT, THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS WE WANTED TO ASK, REALLY KIND OF FORCED US TO, TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WERE WANTING TO GET OUT OF THIS PROCESS. AND THEN WHEN THE SURVEY RESULTS CAME BACK, AND I'M NOT GONNA BURY ALL IN DATA, BUT WHEN THE SURVEY RESULTS CAME BACK, WHAT WAS INTERESTING WERE THE, THE FINDINGS TO A DEGREE MIRRORED THE FINDINGS INTERNALLY THAT WE'D, WE'D COME TO AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THAT WE DO HAVE TO BE BETTER. UH, WE DO NEED TRAINING. WE DO NEED TO LEARN TO INTERACT WITH CITIZENS BETTER. UH, AND WE DO NEED TO ENGAGE MORE. IT'S, IT WAS GRATIFYING TO A DEGREE TO SEE THAT THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE MOST PART IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE EFFORTS OF YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT IT ALSO DOES RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER AND WE WILL DO BETTER. SO FOR ME AS A WHOLE, THIS PROCESS WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. UM, IT WAS A WAY FOR ME PERSONALLY, TO GROW. UH, IT WAS A WAY FOR, UM, THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF. I, I THINK TO, TO REFLECT AND GROW. AND I SEE SOME REALLY GOOD THINGS COMING OUT OF THIS PROCESS. UH, IT'S BEEN A JOURNEY. UH, THERE'S STILL A LITTLE BIT LEFT TO GO, BUT I THINK THAT Y'ALL BE VERY HAPPY WITH THE PRODUCT THAT COMES OUTTA THIS COMMITTEE AND THE HARD WORK THAT THE COMMITTEE IS PUTTING INTO IT. AND, AND I HOPE THAT WE CAN USE THIS INFORMATION AND WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. THANK YOU, SERGEANT. MS. WADE. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DEREK WADE, [00:20:01] AND, UH, I WAS IN KIND OF INVITED TO THIS COMMITTEE BY THE MAYOR HIMSELF AND EVERYTHING. WE HAD A TOWN HALL MEETING AND HE'S LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, KINDA LIKE WHAT YOU SAID, I WANT YOU TO GO, YOU ASKED FOR IT. YOU REMEMBER I TOLD YOU? YEAH, YEAH. OKAY. SO, UH, IT, LIKE I SAY, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING JOURNAL JOURNEY. YOU KNOW, WE CAME ON BOARD AND STUFF AND WE'RE ALL LIKE, EVERYBODY HAD THEIR, YOU KNOW, UH, I DEAL WITH THE POLICE LIKE THIS. I DEAL WITH THE POLICE LIKE THAT. SO IT TAUGHT HOW EVERYBODY HOW TO COME TOGETHER. AND EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T GREET, HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCES, WE CAN WORK EVERYTHING OUT TOGETHER. LIKE LAKEISHA WAS SAYING ABOUT, WE WENT TO A TALL, HER MEETING AND LADY THAT HAD OUR SON THAT GOT SHOT. SO SHE HAD THIS ONE STRONG VIEW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW POLICE SHOULD DO THINGS. AND EVERYBODY ON THE OTHER SIDE SAY, WELL, WE'RE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THE POLICING IS NOT AS GREAT AS YOU SEE IT, THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER. BUT BY THE END OF THE EVENING, WE'RE ALL TALKING. EVERYBODY WAS HUGGING. AND YOU KNOW, WE GOT MASKS ON AND EVERYBODY'S STILL HUGGING BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY, WE SIT DOWN AND TALK TO EACH OTHER. AND THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS DONE, IS MADE EVERYBODY TALK TO EACH OTHER WHETHER WE AGREE OR NOT AGREE, WE CAN WORK. WE LEARN HOW TO WORK THROUGH ISSUES AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND JUST, WHEN YOU BRING A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE, EVERYBODY HAS STRONG IDEAS, BUT YOU HAVE, PEOPLE DON'T SIT DOWN AND LISTEN. AND THAT'S BEEN A BIG THING. PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED TO LISTEN TO EACH OTHER. AND IF WE CAN TAKE THIS AND HAVE THE COMMUNITY LISTEN TO THE POLICE AND THE POLICE LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY, AND WE ALL LISTEN TO EACH OTHER, I THINK WE'RE GONNA DO ALL RIGHT. ALRIGHT. I REALLY LEARNED A LOT FROM THIS, YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU PUT WITH A, YOU KNOW, AFTER FOLLOWING LAKEISHA, IT WAS PRETTY EASY AND STUFF. LIKE, ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS SMILE. BUT THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. ANYONE ELSE WANNA SHARE? IF NOT, WE'RE JUST GONNA ASK IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. UH, ANY QUESTIONS FOR, UH, MS. HOLMES? IF NOT, WE CERTAINLY THINK THE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE. WE LOOK FORWARD, I GUESS, FOR, UM, I GUESS A FINAL, FINAL REPORT, FINAL PRODUCT. BUT I HEARD IS EVERYTHING'S BEEN GOING WELL. AND SO I HOPE, HOPE, HOPEFULLY, HOPEFULLY. SO FAR THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN GOOD. UM, AND I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT DISCUSSIONS Y'ALL, Y'ALL EXPRESSED. SO I THINK IT'S REALLY GOOD FROM THAT LEVEL OF, WHEN YOU LOOK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT IN BAYTOWN FROM A VERY HIGH LEVEL AND LONG TERM, IT, IT, IT'S DIFFICULT 'CAUSE WE CAN GET FOCUSED ON INDIVIDUAL EVENTS. AND THIS IS, THIS IS BEYOND THAT. IT, IT'S, AS YOU SAY, HOW DO WE LISTEN TO EACH OTHER? HOW DO WE TALK TO EACH OTHER? AND THAT'S GOOD. EVEN IF, EVEN IF THE DISCUSSION AND TOPIC TOPICS ARE ARE, UM, DIFFICULT, UH, WE CAN STILL RESPECT EACH OTHER AND STILL TALK THROUGH IT. SO, YES. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. I JUST WANTED TO TELL ALL OF YOU, THANK YOU FOR THE TIME AND EFFORT, ESPECIALLY YOUR TIME, BECAUSE WHEN I HEARD WE WERE DOING THAT FOCUS GROUPS WERE GONNA BE CONDUCTED, AND THEN I STARTED HEARING HOW MANY FOCUS GROUPS WERE BEING CONDUCTED. THERE'S A, THAT'S A LOT OF EVENINGS THAT YOU ALL WERE NOT ABLE TO BE AT HOME WITH YOUR FAMILIES, BUT YOU WERE DETERMINED TO DO THIS. AND I'M GONNA SAY FOR THE GREATER GOOD. AND, UM, I, I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ALL APPRECIATE THE TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU HAVE PUT INTO THIS AND THAT YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUT INTO IT. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. WE ALL APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE. ALRIGHT, THANK Y'ALL. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH. OKAY, SO WE'LL [b. Receive and discuss a Legislative Update.] MOVE ON, UH, TO ITEM ONE B, RECEIVE A DISCUSSION, LEGISLATIVE UPDATE. MR. REEVES. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I'M PLEASED TO BE HERE TO PROVIDE THIS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE TO YOU. AND ALTHOUGH WE STILL HAVE FOUR DAYS LEFT OF THE CURRENT SESSION, THERE ARE SOME EARLY WINS WE CAN SAFELY CELEBRATE AT THIS STAGE. SO I'VE DIVIDED UP MY PRESENTATION TO YOU IN REALLY THREE AREAS. ONE, UH, A COUPLE OF THE BILLS OF INTEREST THAT WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING PRETTY STEADILY, TWO ISSUES THAT ARE STILL LOOMING, AND THREE, SOME NEXT STEPS. SO FIRST, THERE'S REALLY SIX SPECIFIC BILLS OF INTEREST IN BAYTOWN THAT, THAT WE HAD BEEN WATCHING, UH, TOGETHER WITH OUR ADVOCATES. AND, UH, WE ALREADY HAVE A BIT OF CLOSURE ON THESE, AND SO I WANTED TO GO THROUGH THEM WITH YOU. UH, FIRST HOUSE BILL 36 82. THIS REALLY IS OUR MAIN PRIORITY. UH, SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW IT TRULY HAS BEEN PRESENTED THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE AS THE BAYTOWN BILL. UH, AND THAT IS WHERE ESSENTIALLY IT EXPANDS THE PARAMETERS OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX REVENUES AND ALLOWS US TO USE THOSE REVENUES FOR MORE, ESPECIALLY SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARDS TO OUR, UH, ATHLETIC FIELDS AND FACILITIES. AND, UH, REPRESENTATIVE PEREZ CHAMPIONED THIS BILL IN THE HOUSE AND SENATOR ALVARADO SPONSORED IT IN THE SENATE. SO WE'RE, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE. WE'VE BEEN WATCHING IT CLOSELY. IT PASSED THE HOUSE AND JUST YESTERDAY PASSED THE SENATE. SO NOW IT GOES TO THE GOVERNOR FOR SIGNATURE AND WE'RE FEELING VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT. SO SEPTEMBER 1ST WOULD BE THE DATE WE BELIEVE THAT IT WILL START, UM, US ALLOWING TO OR, OR HAVING THE ABILITY TO USE THOSE FUNDS. HOUSE BILL 2 7 7 6 WOULD HAVE, UH, REALLY TWO THINGS. ONE, AUTHORIZED REGISTERED VOTERS IN [00:25:01] A CERTAIN AREA TO PETITION FOR RELEASE OF THE AREA FROM A CITY'S EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION. AND TWO, AUTHORIZED REGISTERED VOTERS IN A CERTAIN AREA TO PETITION A CITY FOR DIS ANNEXATION OF THE AREA. WE WERE CONCERNED, OBVIOUSLY, ABOUT THIS BILL BECAUSE OF HOW IT MIGHT AFFECT OUR INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENTS. OUR IDAS AND THE BILL POTENTIALLY HAD AN IMPACT ON OUR ETJ, SO WE WERE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. HOWEVER, IT DIED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. HOUSE BILL 10 79 WOULD'VE MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO RELOCATE THE BATTLESHIP TEXAS AFTER REFURBISHMENT, BUT IT ESSENTIALLY DIED IN COMMITTEE AS WELL. THIS MEANS THAT THE CURRENT LAW REGARDING THE BATTLESHIP REFURBISHMENT REMAINS UNCHANGED AFTER THE SESSION. AND SO THERE CONTINUES TO BE A PATH FORWARD FOR BAYTOWN IF IT SO CHOOSES TO RELOCATE THE, THE BATTLESHIP SENATE. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION SCR 29 URGES THE US BOARD OF GEOGRAPHIC NAMES TO APPROVE REQUESTS TO CHANGE RACIALLY OFFENSIVE PLACE NAMES IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS HOUSE BILL 1756, WHICH IS FROM 1991. YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS AN EFFORT BY BAYTOWN TO CHANGE THE NAME OF ONE OF OUR WATERWAYS. AND IN 1999 THAT WAS REJECTED. AND SO WE CAN CONTINUE BECAUSE THIS SCR 29 AGAIN URGES WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE FUEL, THE BOARD OF, UH, GEOGRAPHIC NAMES TO ADOPT THOSE NAME CHANGES. WE WERE PARTICULARLY INTERESTED AND CONCERNED ABOUT A COUPLE OF BILLS AUTHORED BY A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE, ESPECIALLY HOUSE BILL 1877, AND, UH, HOUSE BILL 1878 RELATED TO VACANT RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN, UH, ESPECIALLY IN BAYTOWN. AND WHICH THEN OF COURSE REDUCED MUNICIPAL OVERSIGHT OVER STRUCTURES LIKE THAT. UH, 77 WAS LEFT PENDING IN COMMITTEE, AND 78 DIED ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. SO WE ARE NO LONGER CONCERNED, OF COURSE, FOR THIS SESSION. OF COURSE, WE KNOW THAT THESE THINGS REAR THEIR HEAD AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. SO WE'LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY. SO NOW, UH, AND THESE FINAL DAYS, A COUPLE OF BILLS TO WATCH AND A COUPLE OF ISSUES THAT WE'RE PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT ARE STILL LOOMING WITH ONLY FOUR DAYS LEFT, UH, OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WE'RE LOOKING AT 1869. UH, THIS IS, UH, IT PASSED THE HOUSE AND WAS VOTED OUT OF THE SENATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE HAS ORIGINALLY FILED THIS BILL WOULD'VE MODIFIED THE DEFINITION OF DEBT FOR PURPOSES OF THE DEBT SERVICE PROPERTY TAX RATE CALCULATION TO ONLY INCLUDE DEBT APPROVED AT AN ELECTION, WHICH MEANT THE CITY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE ANY DEBT ISSUANCE TO THE VOTERS. THE BILL WAS AMENDED TO GIVE CITIES LEEWAY AND THE, AND THE ABILITY TO DEBT, FINANCE, CERTAIN INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT. SO THAT'S GOOD. THE SENATE PASSED THE BILL TUESDAY AND IT WILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE FOR CONCURRENCE WITH THESE AMENDMENTS. SO WE WERE WATCHING THAT CLOSING AND WE BELIEVE THAT WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. HOUSE BILL 42 42 OFFERED A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF THE EXPIRATION OF CERTAIN PARTS OF THE TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACT, OR 12, UH, CHAPTER THREE THIRTEENS, WHICH WE'RE OBVIOUSLY WATCHING CLOSELY FOR OUR EDUCATION PARTNERS. UH, IT PASSED THE HOUSE AND VOTED OUT OF SENATE COMMITTEE, BUT WE BELIEVE, AND WE HAVE HEARD THAT IT WILL LIKELY DIE ON THE SENATE FLOOR. SO THAT IS NOT GOOD NEWS, UH, FOR OUR PARTNERS. AND WE WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY. THERE MAY HAVE BEEN TALK, THERE WAS TALK ABOUT POTENTIALLY THE GOVERNOR BRINGING IT BACK DURING SPECIAL SESSION IN JUNE. HOWEVER, EVEN THAT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. SO WE WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT. UH, AND OF COURSE, SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR, BY NOW, YOU'VE LIKELY SEEN THE NEWS THAT YESTERDAY, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, UH, DAN PATRICK TOOK TO TWITTER TO ASK GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR REALLY THREE MAJOR ISSUES. THE FIRST BEING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, UH, IN SPORTS, UH, THE SECOND BEING, UH, THE USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR LOBBYISTS. AND THE THIRD WOULD BE, UH, PUNISHING SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES FOR CENSORING TEXANS FOR THEIR POLITICAL VIEWS. SO, UH, IN REPLY THE GOVERNOR SAID THE CALL WAS PREMATURE AND INSTEAD URGED LAWMAKERS TO WORK TOGETHER TO COME TO SOME RESOLUTION. SO WE ARE NOT CLEAR YET ON WHETHER OR NOT THOSE THREE ISSUES WILL BE TACKLED IN THE SPECIAL SESSION IN JUNE, BUT WE DO KNOW THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL SESSION IN JUNE PRIMARILY TO FOCUS ON REDISTRICTING. AND SO WE'LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY TO SEE WHAT ALSO GETS COMBINED INTO THAT JUNE SESSION. UH, AS OFTEN HAPPENS AT THE END OF A SESSION, ANY SESSION, REGARDLESS OF THE STATE, PATIENCE GROWS THIN AND TEMPERS WITHIN MEMBERS AND PARTIES FLARE UP. SO IF YOU ARE AN ENTHUSIAST OF POLITICAL THEATER LIKE I AM, THIS MAY BE QUITE ENTERTAINING TO YOU. OF COURSE, LEGISLATORS ARE ALREADY EXPECTED TO RETURN, AS I SAID, IN TO AUSTIN FOR A JUNE SESSION. AND SO FINALLY, FOR NEXT STEPS, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH ON A FEW THINGS THAT I'M WORKING ON NEXT. UH, THE, AS YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS ENDING, AND SO THE FOCUS WILL SHIFT ON [00:30:01] BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR A NEW PLATFORM. UH, THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM, OF COURSE, WAS WELL RECEIVED BY OUR LEGISLATORS AND WE WORKED HARD ON THAT, UH, TWO, TWO YEARS AGO, A YEAR AGO, TWO YEARS AGO, WHICH WAS, UH, FOR THE TWO YEAR CYCLE. AND I ANTICIPATE WE'LL START THAT PROCESS IN EARNEST NEXT SUMMER, WHICH IS A LITTLE EARLIER THIS TIME. AND WE'LL INCLUDE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF CITY LEADERSHIP AND THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND SO WE WILL START WORKING ON THAT EARNESTLY IN, IN NEXT SUMMER, AND WE'LL FOCUS ON WHAT OUR NEXT PLATFORM SHOULD BE. AND THEN OF COURSE, IN THE MEANTIME, AND AS THAT'S TAKING PLACE, I'LL BE TAKING THE NEXT YEAR OR SO REALLY TO FORM THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR LEGISLATORS AND THEIR STAFF. 'CAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. I PLAN ON MEETING REGULARLY WITH THEM AND LEARNING ABOUT THEIR PRIORITIES, BUT ALSO THEIR PHILOSOPHIES ON WHY THEY VOTE CERTAIN WAYS AND WHAT IS PASSIONATE TO THEM AND, AND WHY THEY BELIEVE CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT CITY LEGISLATION AND, AND THE PRIORITIES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US, AND SEE IF WE CAN MASH THOSE UP AND, AND, UH, AND HAVE THAT RELATIONSHIP SUSTAINED. I'VE ALREADY BEGUN MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVE MIDDLETON'S KEY STAFF. I'VE BEEN UP TO OUR CAPITAL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BOTH TO TESTIFY AND ALSO TO MEET WITH OUR STATE ADVOCATES. SO I BELIEVE, UH, WE'RE MAKING PROGRESS. O OVERALL BAYTOWN IS ON A REALLY POSITIVE TRAJECTORY. WE'RE GETTING NOTICED BY OUR LEGISLATORS AND BY OUR STAKEHOLDERS. AND AS ALWAYS, I REMAIN AVAILABLE TO YOU AT ANY TIME IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW WE CAN ELEVATE OUR PROFILE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW AND ARE AWARE OF, UH, THE BAYTOWN WAY. SO, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU TODAY IN TERMS OF A PRESENTATION. I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO TAKE NOTES OF ANYTHING THAT, UH, YOU FEEL IS IMPORTANT TODAY. UH, OTHERWISE I'M AVAILABLE TO YOU, OF COURSE, AT ANY TIME. YES, MA'AM. SORRY, I DON'T REMEMBER THE BILL NUMBER, BUT I BELIEVE REPRESENTATIVE MIDDLETON INTRODUCED IT AND IT WAS REMOVING THE CAP ON HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS. DO WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT ONE? I AM GONNA LOOK THROUGH MY NOTES HERE. I DON'T KNOW. IT, IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. IT DIED. YEAH. IT, IT REALLY, IT GOT NO TRACTION. OKAY. INTERESTING. YEAH, I DON'T HAVE THAT ONE BECAUSE I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN RECALL IF IT WENT TO, IT DIDN'T EVEN GET OUTTA COMMITTEE. IF IT WENT TO COMMITTEE, IT DID NOT GO ANYWHERE FROM THERE. NO. INTERESTING. YOU HAVE TO REALLY BE INTERESTED IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF INSTEAD OF REFORM. YEAH. YOU THINK THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE BILLS SIMILAR TO HIS THAT WERE FILED AND NONE OF THEM WERE ANYWHERE? YEAH, THEY ALL DIED. YEAH. INTERESTING. THANK YOU. MR. I HAVE A QUESTION. OH, SORRY. ON THE, UH, VACANT BUILDING YES, SIR. PROPOSALS. I KNOW ONE DIED, BUT ONE'S STILL KIND OF KICKING. WHICH, UH, CAN YOU KIND OF GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHICH OFFICE THAT CAME OUT OF THOSE PROPOSALS? 77 AND 78 BOTH ESSENTIALLY DIED AND THEY WERE BOTH REPRESENTATIVE GATES. OKAY. OKAY. HE HAD MANY, UH, BILLS. UH, SOME OF THEM I BELIEVE ARE STILL MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS, BUT NONE THAT WE'VE, UH, INDICATED INTERESTING ARE OF, ARE, ARE A THREAT TO US AT THIS POINT. OKAY. GOOD QUESTION THERE. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. VERY INTERESTING. VERY GOOD QUESTION. ALL RIGHT. WHAT COMMITTEE DOES MISS, DO YOU KNOW IF REPRESENTATIVE GATES SITS ON THAT COMMITTEE? WHICH COMMITTEE HE THAT, LIKE WHAT COMMITTEE DOES THAT TYPE OF BILL GO TO? UH, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT COMMITTEE HE SITS ON. UH, I I DIDN'T, YEAH, I UNDERSTAND. HE, HE FILED LIKE 60 BILLS OR SOMETHING THIS SESSION. SO YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY MULTIPLE COMMITTEES. UM, AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, UM, UH, BJ IS HERE ALSO. IF, IF YOU HAD ANY QUESTIONS ON THE THREE 13? YEAH. UM, HE'S HERE. HE CAN TALK TO THAT IF YOU ALL ARE INTERESTED. UM, BUT IT, AS THOMAS MENTIONED, IT'S LIKELY NOT GOING TO, UM, MOVE FORWARD. THERE'S ONLY FOUR DAYS LEFT AND YEAH, I WOULD, I WOULD HOPE, I MEAN IN ALL THE MOST PRUDENT ACTION, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT THEY WANT TO, IF, IF THE FOLKS IN AUSTIN WANT TO CHANGE SOMETHING, I WOULD THINK THEY NEED TO AT LEAST EXTEND AND, AND KIND OF RE-REVIEW AND COME UP WITH A BETTER PLAN IF THAT'S WHAT THEY THINK IS FIT. MM-HMM . RATHER THAN LET IT TO BE, TO, TO DIE ON THE VINE IN DECEMBER OF 22. BUT THEY'LL DO WHAT THEY DO. BUT MAYBE, MAYBE IT DIES NOW AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE TO REVISIT IN TWO YEARS. EITHER WAY, HE, HE WILL LIKELY BRING UP SEVERAL OF THESE AGAIN. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY. YEP. AND THE REPRESENTATIVE, HE SITS ON THE, UH, APPROPRIATIONS AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEES. OKAY. THANKS KAREN. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT COMMITTEE DOES. I THINK THEY WERE URBAN AFFAIRS, I BELIEVE THOSE WERE IN URBAN AFFAIRS. SO HE WAS ON THE COMMITTEE. SO HE'S ON THE COMMITTEE. YES. OKAY. INTERESTING. OKAY. ANYWAY, THANKS MAYOR. THANK YOU. SO IS THERE ANY OTHER ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA THAT NEEDS TO BE, UM, NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED NOW? IF NOT, WE'LL DISCUSS THEM IN REGULAR SESSION. OKAY. IF NOT, UH, THIS MEETING'S NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.