[ BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF MEETING BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 4:30 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: 880 2226 3664. For telephone conferencing please use the following toll-free number: 1-888-788-0099, Meeting ID: 880 2226 3664. 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 Assistant Secretary 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. For more information or questions concerning the teleconference, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at 281-420-6504. AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM ]
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I'LL CALL THIS MEETING OF THE, THE BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO ORDER.
IT IS 4:33 PM WE ARE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THE FIRST, UM, I WOULD ENTERTAIN
[1. MINUTES]
A MOTION FOR ITEMS ONE A AND B FOR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.GOT A MOTION? GOT A SECOND? SECOND.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MINUTES IS WRITTEN, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? WE HAVE ITEM TWO A, DISCUSS THE BAYTOWN
[a. Discuss the Baytown Municipal Development District's Fiscal Year 2021-22 Proposed Budget and budget process.]
MBDS FISCAL YEAR PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 2122, AND THE PROCESS.WELL MI MR. CHAIRMAN MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AS WE DID LAST YEAR, VERY, VERY PLEASED TO, UH, BE ABLE TO MAKE MY FIRST BUDGET PRESENTATION OF THE SEASON TO YOU, UH, COMPLIMENT OUR STAFF, OUR OUR FINANCE PEOPLE.
UH, DO WE EVEN HAVE A HARD COPY OF, UH, THE SLIDES PROVIDE, UH, WE, WE WERE ANTICIPATING A, UH, POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FOR YOU TO LOOK AT, BUT I'LL BE ABLE TO SUMMARIZE THE BUDGET, UH, WITHOUT THAT.
UM, I COMPLIMENT OUR STAFF OVER THE MANY HARD HOURS, UH, THAT THEY'VE WORKED IN TRYING TO ASSEMBLE THIS BUDGET.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT BUDGETS.
I WHEN WE APPROACH $7 MILLION A YEAR.
UH, YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT IN THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR, WE CERTAINLY ANTICIPATED SOME IMPACTS, UH, UH, BECAUSE OF COVID, UH, ON SALES TAX THAT, THAT LUCKY FOR US DID NOT MATERIALIZE.
SO, UH, WE ARE, UH, PROJECTING AMBITIOUSLY, UH, I THINK ABOUT $6.637 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR THE MDD.
AND IF I COULD DESCRIBE THESE, THESE THREE, UH, THE THREE MOST, UH, UH, PROMINENT PARTS OF THE MDD BUDGET, I DESCRIBED THEM AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, UTILITY PROJECTS, AND PARKS PROJECTS.
THOSE ARE REALLY, UH, THIS DOES NOT CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR OR THE CURRENT YEAR.
UH, SOME OF THE THINGS I WANNA HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU OF, OF A NEW NATURE, UH, INSIDE OF, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, UH, YOU WILL SEE THAT WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM AND THE BAYTOWN REVOLVING LOAN FUND.
AND WE ARE, WE ARE PROPOSING, OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE PROPOSING $200,000 TO BE ALLOCATED TO THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM, AND WE ARE, UH, PROPOSING $50,000 TO BE APPROPRIATED TO THE REVO REVOLVING LOAN FUND.
UH, BEYOND THAT, UH, YOU'LL SEE THE HOTEL AND COMMISSION CENTER DEBT PAYMENT OF $1.4 MILLION.
I'M PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT ALL EXPECTATIONS ARE THAT TOMORROW WE WILL ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE BOND RATING FOR THE A MB SERIES BONDS ON THE HOTEL CONVICTION CENTER, UH, FROM STANDARD AND POORS.
AND OF COURSE, THIS SETS IN MOTION A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT WILL ENABLE US, HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE WEEK TO SET A DATE FOR A GROUNDBREAKING.
UH, YOU'LL ALSO BE SEEN, UH, COMING TO YOU THE HOTEL SERVICES AGREEMENT AND A NUMBER OF OTHER ANCILLARY AGREEMENTS THAT WILL SOLIDIFY THIS, THIS PROJECT AND GET IT OFF THE GROUND AND GOING.
SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED ABOUT THAT.
UM, YOU WILL ALSO SEE ANOTHER INITIATIVE, UH, CAPTURED IN THE EXPENDITURES OR PROPOSED EXPENDITURES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
AND THAT IS THE ADDITION OF ONE PERSON, A BUSINESS RETENTION COORDINATOR.
UH, THE MDDS SUPPORTED OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, UH, FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO ADD A PERSON THAT WOULD, UH, REALLY BRING A LOT OF STRENGTH TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
UH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THIS PERSON WOULD PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOLS TO SMALL BUSINESSES AND POTENTIAL BUSINESSES, UH, INCLUDING THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT, THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND, AND THE REVITALIZATION INCENTIVE, UH, ZONE.
THIS WOULD BE A POINT PERSON FOR ALL SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEUR ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CITY, ESPECIALLY IN KEY REVITALIZATION AREAS.
THEY WOULD MEET WITH LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES FACING CHALLENGES WHO NEED GUIDANCE, WORK WITH CITY PROPERTY LISTS TO SELL COMMERCIAL AND REAL ESTATE PARCELS TO GET THEM BACK ON THE TAX ROLLS AND WORK WITH
[00:05:01]
THE OWNERS OF VACANT BUILDINGS TO PROMOTE THE UTILIZATION OF THESE BUILDINGS.IT'S JUST AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AS A COMMUNITY, THE DEMANDS, UH, UPON, UH, OR I SHOULD SAY THE DEMANDS FOR SERVICES FROM THE CITY, PARTICULARLY OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NATURE, CONTINUE TO BLOSSOM AND GROW AS WELL.
UH, THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH WHAT COUNCIL HAS IN THE PAST, UH, DESIGN AS A PRIORITY IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND I REMEMBER SEVERAL TIMES, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER ALVARADO DISCUSSING THE NEED FOR BUSINESS RETENTION SERVICES ALSO, AND TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT AT WHAT I CALL A LOWER ALTITUDE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO, UH, WE'RE PLEASED TO PROPOSE THAT IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THIS, THIS NEW DIRECTION, I WOULD SAY, OR BOLSTER DIRECTION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE'RE PROPOSING TO MAKE SOME MODIFICATIONS TO THE BRUNSON THEATER, UH, THAT WOULD, UH, PROVIDE SOME OFFICE SPACE THERE FOR OUR NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
UH, WE HAVE NOT DESIGNED THAT YET, BUT THERE IS SOME AUTHOR AUTHORIZED FUNDS INSIDE THIS BUDGET TO PROVIDE US WITH THAT LATITUDE, THAT OPPORTUNITY TO GO FORWARD, UH, TO, UH, UH, DESIGN THAT SPACE THAT WOULD, IN TURN PROVIDE MORE ENERGY TO A, UM, A BUILDING THAT HAS BEGUN TO SPROUT IN TERMS OF, UH, ITS ACTIVITY AND ITS USAGE.
I'M VERY PLEASED THAT WE, WE HAVE PEOPLE, WE HAVE MORE ON THE HORIZON THAT WANT TO UTILIZE THE BRUNSON.
UH, YOU REMEMBER THAT WE'RE BRINGING UTILITY SERVICES NEXT DOOR IN THIS, IN THE OLD CITIZENS BANK.
SO I, I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY GOING RIGHT NOW, AND THIS IS ONLY GONNA ADD TO THAT ENERGY.
SO ONCE AGAIN, PROVIDING VITAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONALITY AND PROGRAMS, AND THE OTHER ONE, OF COURSE, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ENERGY OF TEXAS AVENUE.
AND THOSE ARE THE TWO REASONS WHY I, I WOULD ADVOCATE AND ASK FOR SUPPORT IN THE, IN THESE EXPENDITURES.
UH, UNDER UTILITY, UH, PROJECTS, UH, WE HAVE, YOU'LL SEE AN ALLOCATION FOR THE I 10 LIFT STATION AT 750 PLUS THOUSAND DOLLARS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, THE, UH, CON CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEBT SERVICE, WHICH HAS BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO THE NORTHEAST WASTEWATER PLANT, UH, PROJECT OF $958,000.
UH, UNDER PARKS PROJECTS, THERE ARE SOME NEW THINGS.
UH, GOOSE CREEK TRAIL, UH, PHASE SEVEN, UH, AT $541,000.
NEW CASTLE, PHASE TWO M THREE AT 221, BAYTOWN NATURE CENTER, WETLANDS OVERLOOK WALKWAY AT 160,000 AND EVERGREEN WATER REPLACEMENT AND DECKING.
ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENT QUESTIONS WE GET AT THE CITY IS WHEN ARE YOU GONNA FIX THAT WATERFALL OR THAT WATER FEATURE AT, AT, UH, AT EVERGREEN? AND WE DO BELIEVE, UH, IT'S BEEN AN EYESORE LONG ENOUGH AND, AND WE OUGHT TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT.
THERE'S ALSO THE PERFECT TRAIL IMPLEMENTATION ON GOOSE CREEK TRAIL AND THE BAYTOWN NATURE CENTER, UH, 350,000 UH, DOLLARS.
AND THEN FINALLY, UH, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT WE ADDRESS THE LANDSCAPING AT TOWN SQUARE IN ORDER TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S MOSTLY COMPOSED OF ARTIFICIAL TURF.
AND THE REASON FOR THIS, OBVIOUSLY, IS NOT JUST TO CUT THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AT TOWN SQUARE, BUT IT'S TO PROVIDE A MORE STABLE ENVIRONMENT AND MORE SUITABLE ENVIRONMENT AND USEFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE MYRIAD OF EVENT OF EVENTS THAT WE HAVE PRESENTED AT TOWN SQUARE.
UH, I THINK THE EPIPHANY CAME TO ME, AND I THINK A COUNCIL MEMBER PRESLEY WAS THERE AT THE SAME TIME WHEN, UM, WHEN STERLING HIGH WAS OVER THERE.
UH, I THINK THIS WAS IN CONJUNCTION OF THE, UH, HERE WE GROW GIANTS CAMPAIGN, AND YOU HAD SOME OF THESE CHEERLEADERS OUT THERE AND BAND PEOPLE, AND THEY WERE GETTING MUDDIED AND MUD ON THEIR KNEES AND ALL OVER THEIR, THEIR CLOTHES.
IT ACTUALLY, IN CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR, AND I WOULD SAY EVEN MOST TIMES OF THE YEAR, IS KIND OF A MUD PUDDLE ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE THINK THIS IS, COULD CERTAINLY MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT A LOT CLEANER, NICER, LOW MAINTENANCE.
AND, UH, SO WE WERE PROPOSED SPENDING THAT MONEY TO BOLSTER THE USEFULNESS OF, UH, TOWN SQUARE.
CAN I PAUSE FOR A MINUTE? UM, COUNCILMAN JOHNSON, I MEAN, PRESLEY'S SCREEN IS LOCKED UP, SO I CAN'T QUITE HEAR YET.
WE HAVE A SCREEN THAT'S LOCKED UP, SO HE CAN'T FOLLOW THE AGENDA, BUT IT'S, IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.
I MAY, I MAY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS THAN NORMAL
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SWITCH SEATS? YEAH, I CAN SCOOT OVER.
SEE CARL COUNCILMAN JOHNSON A WHILE AGO.
SO WE LOOK, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE LOOK SO CLOSE.
YOU KNOW,
[00:10:01]
ABOUT IT.OH, IT'S THE CRUSHED MOSQUITO
I DON'T THINK CHARLES IS COMING, SO HE'S NOT, YEAH, YOU OKAY? YES.
SORRY, I'M JUST WATCHING OUT FOR YOU.
YOU WANT ME TO CONTINUE? YES, SIR, PLEASE.
SO, UH, WITH THAT AGAIN, UH, LOOKS LIKE WE ARE, UM, WE ARE, UH, BEGINNING WITH SOME UNSPENT FUNDS BECAUSE SALES TAX DID COME IN SO ROBUSTLY.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, NEW REVENUE THAT WE'RE EXPECTING OF $6.6 MILLION, AND WE ARE PROPOSING TO BE QUITE AGGRESSIVE IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, UTILITY PROJECTS, AND PARK PROJECTS.
IN FACT, 3.4 MILLION, 2.1 TO 3.6 RESPECTFULLY, UH, RESPECTIVELY.
AND THEN WE HAVE A PROJECT IN ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD OF $300,000, LEAVING AN UNFORESEEN INITIATIVE LINE ITEM OF $261,164.
WITH THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO YOU, I THINK, A VERY AGGRESSIVE BUDGET, A VERY RESPONSIBLE ONE.
AND HONESTLY, I COMPLIMENT OUR STAFF AGAIN FOR THE FEEDBACK THAT WAS NECESSARY TO BRING YOU A BUDGET THAT I THINK TRULY BRINGS A LOT OF BANG FOR THE BUCK.
UH, AND WITH THAT OTHER DETAILS, I HAVE FINANCE HERE, I HAVE PARKS, UH, PEOPLE HERE, AND ALL KINDS OF IMPORTANT PEOPLE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS.
AND, UH, WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
I WILL TAKE MY REGULAR SEAT AND, AND LISTEN TO YOUR FEEDBACK AND TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR, UM, ANY QUESTIONS WE HAVE REGARDS THE, REGARDING THE PROPOSED BUDGET, WHAT YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO, JUST A QUESTION AND THEN A FEW COMMENTS.
SO ON THE, UH, THE TWO PROGRAMS, WHAT YOU TOUCHED ON, IS THAT ANY DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE DISCUSSED AND VOTED ON AT THE, THE, THE PREVIOUS MEETING ON THE REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM AND THE GRANT PROGRAM? NO, I, I THINK IT'S CONGRUENT WITH WHAT WE HAD SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE, SO THOSE ARE THE SAME.
AND THEN SECONDLY, AS FAR AS THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT GOES, WHAT I SEE IS THAT, THAT WE'VE MADE TWO ATTEMPTS AT THAT PREVIOUSLY AS FAR AS AN EC AS FAR AS THE IN-HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT GOES.
AND THE FIRST TWO ATTEMPTS DID NOT WORK OUT, AND I KNOW WE'RE ON THE THIRD ATTEMPT HERE, WHICH IS IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT LONG AGO THAT WE INITIATED THAT.
SO THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S STILL SOMEWHAT OF A WORK IN PROGRESS.
AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE PAY HUNDREDS OF THOUSAND DOLLARS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN THE, IN THE TO EDF.
SO NOW WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING AT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN-HOUSE ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF THINGS.
I, I'M JUST, YOU KNOW,
AND, AND I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF FACTORS THAT, THAT, THAT GO INTO THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I JUST, I THINK BJ SIMON WITH THE EDF IS REALLY THE ULTIMATE PROFESSIONAL WHEN IT COMES TO ECONOMIC EVERYTHING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, I KIND OF WISH WE WOULD'VE WENT THE IN-HOUSE DIRECTION YEARS AGO, AND I, I, I, IT'S JUST ONE PERSON'S OPINION THAT BJ SIMON WOULD'VE BEEN THE ULTIMATE PROFESSIONAL TO, TO LEAD THAT, THAT EFFORT AND THOSE EFFORTS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S JUST WHERE I'M AT.
WE'RE, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR AND IN HOUSE NOW.
AND LIKE I SAY, AT SOME POINT, YOU JUST HAVE TO REALLY DIG DOWN AND LOOK AT THE VALUE PROPOSITION.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I JUST FEEL THE NEED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS.
I THINK THOSE ARE VALID COMMENTS.
AND IF, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, I'D LIKE TO, I RESPOND TO A COUPLE OF THEM AND, AND I THINK IT BETTER EXPLAINS OUR PERSPECTIVE.
UH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND, AND RESPECTFULLY, I, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE ON OUR THIRD ATTEMPT
[00:15:01]
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE.UH, IF, IF WE WERE TO CONCLUDE THAT WE CAN PROBABLY POINT TO ANY POSITION IN THE CITY AND SAY WE'RE ON THE SEVENTH OR EIGHTH GENERATION OF THAT, UH, ESPECIALLY, UH, YOU KNOW, MINE OR, OR, OR ANYBODY ELSE'S HERE, UH, I THINK WE HAVE, UH, BEGUN A, UM, TO INVEST IN A PROGRAM THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR WHAT I CALL LOWER ALTITUDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROBLEM RESOLUTION ON, ON A BUSINESS LEVEL, I THINK ALL THE RESPECT I HAVE, AND I HOPE BJ'S HERE, HE'S NOT HERE.
BUT, UH, THE RESPECT I HAVE FOR BJ IS JUST, UH, PROFOUND, ESPECIALLY AS SUCH APPLIES TO, UH, THE INDUSTRIAL RECRUITMENT.
BUT, UH, BJ HAS NEVER BEEN UTILIZED BY THE CITY FOR WHAT I CALL THAT LOWER ALTITUDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, WORK.
THAT IS, UH, WHY I REALLY DON'T THINK WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS.
WE HAVE A, A PL AND MAYBE THERE'S FIVE OR SIX SPECTRUMS OF IT, BUT WE SEE IT IN TWO.
ONE IS THE COMMUNITY-BASED, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE OTHER ONE IS INDUSTRIAL BASED, AND IT'S MORE MACRO LEVEL.
AND CERTAINLY WE NEED THE HELP OF EITHER EDF OR, UH, HOUSTON, A GREATER HOUSTON PARTNERSHIP OR SOMEBODY OF A LARGER CAPACITY THAT CAN HELP US WITH THE RGO, THE AMERI PORTS, THE K TNS OF, OF THE WORLD.
UM, WHEREAS I THINK FOR SOME TIME THAT THOSE, UH, AS YOU KNOW, LAURA WILL SOMETIMES BRING UP THE MOM AND POPS, UH, KIND OF HAVE BEEN GLOSSED OVER OR TAKEN FOR GRANTED A LITTLE BIT.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH OUTREACH TO THEM.
UH, WE HAVE VACANT BUILDINGS, WE HAVE PROPERTIES ON OUR ROLLS THAT NEED TO BE PUT BACK ON THE, UH, OR ON THAT BELONG TO THE CITY THAT NEED TO BE PUT BACK ON THE TAX ROLL.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT STILL NEED TO BE DONE, AND I THINK COUNCILS PRIORITIZE EVERYTHING I JUST SAID HERE.
THIS PERSON WOULD CERTAINLY HELP US IN, IN THAT REGARD.
SO THERE'S NOTHING I DISAGREE WITH YOU ABOUT.
AND, UH, AS COUNCIL MEMBER PRESLEY AND I TALKED, UH, EARLIER TODAY, I HARKEN BACK TO A TIME WHEN HE AND, AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MCCARTNEY HAD VOICED THE DESIRE TO GROW SOMETHING OF AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NATURE WITHIN OUR OWN CITY.
AND I THINK AS I CAME TO UNDERSTAND, I WAS QUITE NEW WITH THE CITY, AND I WAS STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
UH, I HAVE NOW ARRIVED HERE IN 2021 WITH A BETTER IDEA OF WE REALLY NEED SOMETHING LOWER ELEVATION, AND WE STILL NEED TO MAINTAIN OUR PRESENCE AND OUR EFFORTS ON THAT MACRO INDUSTRIAL LEVEL.
UH, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BRETT'S NOT GONNA GO OUT AND, AND GRAB NIAGARA, LET'S SAY HYPOTHETICALLY.
AND, UH, AND BJ'S NOT GONNA GRAB KANE'S CHICKEN.
OR TALK TO OUR BUSINESSES ALONG TEXAS AVENUE OR OUR MARKET STREET, UH, AND WE HOPE THIS PERSON WILL PROVIDE MORE OF A HOMETOWN, UH, EFFORT.
ANYWAY, THAT'S, THAT'S, I MEAN, I HAVE OTHER COMMENTS, BUT I CAN WAIT TILL THE END OR I CAN CONTINUE EITHER WAY.
SO EXCHANGE IS GO, LET ME, IF I CAN MAKE A COMMENT REAL QUICK, I, I, I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT COMMENT.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM A FEW OTHERS REGARDING THIS, AND THEN WE'LL MOVE ON.
BUT, BUT VERY VALID, UH, VERY VALID POINTS.
WELL, JUST A QUESTION AND, AND A FEW COMMENTS, BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY SEE A MORE CLEARLY DEFINED ROLE, UH, FOR THIS SPECIFIC POSITION.
AND AS I MENTIONED DURING OUR RETREAT, I, WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BOUNCE SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESS OUTREACH EFFORTS TO OUR CHAMBER AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ENGAGED WITH US.
WHETHER IT'S HELPING US WITH RETENTION, WHETHER IT'S HELPING US WITH GROWTH.
I MEAN, TO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT'S WHAT CHAMBER, YOU KNOW, CHAMBER OF BUSINESSES DO.
AND SO IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY GROW THAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AND MAYBE THAT WOULD MAYBE FACILITATE SOME OF THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE RATHER THAN BRING IN A, A BRAND NEW PERSON.
AGAIN, I'M NOT COMPLETELY OPPOSED, BUT I, I THINK I JUST REALLY WANNA SEE EXACTLY WHAT THE FUTURE IS FOR THAT AND CAN WE UTILIZE AND GROW OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CHAMBER.
SO, SO I'LL MAKE SURE YOU ALL GET A COPY OF, OF THIS THAT IT DELINEATES VERY CLEARLY WHAT THOSE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE FROM BRETT TO THIS, THIS PERSON.
AND I AGREE WITH YOU WITH REGARD TO YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE, THE CHAMBER.
I DON'T THINK IN THE END, THE CHAMBER'S GOING TO, UH, PROBABLY HELP US FILL VACANT BUILDINGS OR, OR NECESSARILY, UM, MARKET OUR, OUR VACANT PROPERTIES, LIKE THIS PERSON WOULD HELP US DO.
BUT THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME THINGS, SO YEAH.
BUT I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET ALL THIS.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OVER HERE? YES, SIR.
MR. LESSER, I'VE GOT A COMMENT
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AND I AGREE WITH WHAT LAURA SAID.I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH A BETTER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US AND THE CHAMBER IS, IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE MISSED FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, MY CONCERN, AND AGAIN, I'M NOT OPPOSED TO POSITION AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THE DETAILS ON IT, IS WHEN MDD WAS FIRST CREATED, IT WAS A, A PROJECT OR A A, THERE WERE HARD PRODUCTS PRODUCED OUT OF IT.
WE'RE SLOWLY EDGING INTO, WE'RE CREATING A DIVISION HERE, WE'VE GOT A MANAGER, AND NOW WE'VE GOT A COORDINATOR.
AND I KNOW NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA SEE A CLERK, FIVE OF 'EM, YOU KNOW, TWO OR THREE OF 'EM POSSIBLY
UH, SO, SO IT'S THE MISSION CREEP AND IF IT'S THE MISSION CREEP THAT, THAT WE WANT, THEN I'M, I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO IT.
WE JUST HAVE TO BE AWARE THAT NOW WE'RE GOING FROM A, A, A DISTRICT THAT WAS FUNDING PROJECTS TO NOW WE'RE FUNDING STAFF.
UM, BUT WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS AND GROWING THAT.
'CAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE STAFF, STAFF NOW NEEDS A NEW BUILDING, STAFF NOW NEEDS CARS.
SO IF THAT'S WHERE WE ARE, WE JUST NEED TO BE AWARE THAT THAT'S THE MISSION CREEP THAT WE'RE SEEING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I, AGAIN, I, I AGREE WITH DIRECTOR ALVARADO THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE CHAMBER I THINK THAT WE'VE MISSED OVER THE YEARS AND, AND WE NEED TO DEVELOP.
AND TO ME THAT THAT'S, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER BRETT'S MORE THAN CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.
IF IT'S NOT GONNA BE FAR REACHING ENOUGH, THEN LET'S LOOK AT A COORDINATOR.
BUT LET'S BE CAUTIOUS AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
'CAUSE ONCE WE CREATE THE POSITION, IT'S THERE, UH, BECAUSE THEN LATER, TWO, THREE YEARS FROM NOW IT COMES BACK, WELL, WE'RE GONNA ELIMINATE IT AND I'LL BE ONE OF THOSE THAT GO, NO, WE CREATED IT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA JUST NECESSARILY ELIMINATE IT.
SO WE JUST NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH THAT.
BUT THAT'S THE ONLY COMMENT I'VE GOT ON THAT, THAT ISSUE.
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS ISSUE? I AGREE WITH HIM.
I HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON THIS ISSUE THOUGH.
SO, AND I AGREE IT WASN'T ALL THAT LONG AGO, ONE YEAR AGO, TWO YEARS AGO, THAT WE CREATED THE FIRST POSITION.
NOW WE'RE BACK FOR THE SECOND.
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST, IT'S MORE OVERHEAD.
YOU KNOW, WE, WE FIGHT SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, HIGH TOOTH AND NAIL'S A STRETCH.
BUT, BUT WE FIGHT, WE ADVOCATE FOR MONEY IN THE PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, MORE MONEY TOWARDS OVERHEADS, LESS MONEY IN THE PROGRAMS. WE TALK ABOUT VACANT BUILDINGS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE THINGS AT OUR DISPOSAL.
WE HAVE A VACANT BUILDING ORDINANCE.
WE HAVEN'T HAD THE POLITICAL WILL TO ENFORCE THE VACANT BUILDING ORDINANCE.
AND I CAN TELL YOU ON VACANT BUILDINGS,
SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.
I'M GLAD THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CAME UP.
I THINK THERE'S THINGS THAT ARE SOMETIMES UNCOMFORTABLE TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I SEE THAT HAS BEEN A MISSED OPPORTUNITY, SO TO SPEAK.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, BJ GRABBING NIAGARA, YOU KNOW, I, I AM I GUESS KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE PROCESS AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES THESE, THESE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLKS DON'T GRAB THESE COMPANIES.
THEY'RE HERE LOOKING AROUND AND THEY GRAB THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLKS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A BOTH HAPPENS.
ONE OF CONTENTION ON, ON WHO GRABS WHO A LOT OF TIMES MM-HMM
AND, AND JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, AT ONE POINT IN TIME, PART OF EDFS ROLE WAS TO HELP IN NOT ONLY THE OLD DOWNTOWN AREA, BUT IN ALL PARTS OF OLD BAYTOWN, THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY GIVEN THAT CHARGE.
AND SLOWLY BUT SURELY THAT, THAT, THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT CHARGE WENT AWAY
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN A FEW COMMENTS THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO IT, BUT I'M SOMEWHAT OPPOSED TO IT.
AND LIKE I SAY, I'M ONLY ONE VOTE AND, UH, BUT, YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE TO BELIEVE IN SOMETHING TO VOTE FOR IT.
SO I'VE EXPRESSED MY HESITATION AND, AND, UH, WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
UM, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? IF NOT, I'LL MAKE MIND.
YOU KNOW, I THINK I WANNA SEE WHAT THIS ROLE WOULD LOOK LIKE, BOTH FOR, IF IT'S BRETT'S POSITION, THIS, THIS NEW PROPOSED POSITION, UM, I'D LIKE TO KNOW HOW WE, HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS OF THAT TOO? UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT.
UH, MY, I I THINK WE'VE HEARD IT BEFORE WOULD BE IF YOU HAVE VACANT BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE OURS.
BUT IF THERE'S OTHER VACANT BUILDINGS, I THINK WE GO AND LET BROKERS HANDLE THAT.
THEY, THEY DON'T GET PAID UNLESS THEY ARE ABLE TO GO AND GET THAT BUILDING OCCUPIED.
AND THEY DO THAT AT THEIR EXPENSE AND NOT OURS.
AND THAT'S A A, UM, GIVE YOU A LOT OF CREDIT
[00:25:01]
FOR SAYING THAT.AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO, TO ENGAGE SOME OF THESE CONTRACTORS ON A COMMISSION BASIS.
AND THERE'S ZERO OVERHEAD AND, AND THEY GENERATE RESULTS.
AND I, I REALLY BELIEVE IN THAT MAYOR.
SO THAT, THAT WOULD BE ONE IDEA.
UM, ANYWAY, BUT I, I THINK THERE'S GOOD, UH, CONVERSATION.
AGAIN, I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS VERY EARLY ON TO PROVIDE THE DIRECTION THAT'S NEEDED SO THAT WE, WE WERE ABLE TO MEET THE TIMELINES THAT Y'ALL PRESENTED TO US.
SO AT LEAST ON THIS ITEM, IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? I HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, WELL HOW ABOUT IF THERE WAS AN INCENTIVE FOR THESE BROKERS TO GET THESE EMPTY BUILDINGS TAKEN CARE OF, UH, UH, IN A QUICKLY MANNER INSTEAD OF JUST SITTING THERE? 'CAUSE THEY'RE, IF IT'S EMPTY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN IMMEDIATELY SELL AND GET MONEY OFF OF IT IMMEDIATELY.
SO IF IT'S AN EMPTY BUILDING, LET'S GIVE THEM AN INCENTIVE TO HURRY UP AND, AND TRY TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT? NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON.
YOU HAD OTHER LISTS, YOU HAD OTHER ITEMS? NO, SIR.
SO IS THERE ANY OTHER, UH, QUESTION OR COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET ITSELF? I HAVE A FEW, BUT YES.
I WAS JUST GONNA ASK, WHEN IS THAT, UM, WE'D GOTTEN THE INITIAL REPORT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
THE PARKS AND REC KIND OF MASTER PLAN.
WHEN'S THAT GONNA BE COMPLETED? WHEN WE SEE THAT FINAL COPY? THE REASON I ASK IS I WOULD JUST WANNA MAKE SURE ALL THESE PROJECTS ARE ALIGNED WITH THE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS WE SEE OUT OF THAT.
UH, FOR YOU, THE GUYS THAT DON'T KNOW THIS IS CORNELL GORDON, HE'S OUR PARK PLANNER, AND HE'S BEEN THE ONE THAT'S BEEN HEADING UP A LOT OF THE MASTER PLANS.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT.
AND ANY OTHER QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
WE FINALLY GOT THE, THE LAST TWEAKS AND CHANGES, UH, THIS WEEK ACTUALLY, AND I HOPE TO HAVE IT SENT OUT TO YOU BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
THERE'S, UM, THAT WAY YOU'LL HAVE IT AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE IT IN TIME FOR US TO SET THE CALENDAR DATE IN JULY, UH, FOR YOU TO ACTUALLY VOTE ON IT.
COUNCILMAN, JUST IN GENERAL THOUGH, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE MASTER PLAN AND THE MACRO NATURE OF THESE PROJECTS, THEY WOULD CERTAINLY FIT IN THERE.
ANY, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ANYBODY ONLINE? NOPE.
UM, I LIKE, I MEAN, I LIKE A LOT WHAT I SEE ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO SEE, UM, OBVIOUSLY MORE TRAIL.
I LIKE THE, UM, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NATURE CENTER, THE WETLANDS OVERLOOK.
UH, I THINK THE ARTIFICIAL TURF AT TOWN SQUARE IS VERY SORELY NEEDED EVERY TIME.
WELL, WHEN, WHEN WE HAVE EVENTS AND IF THERE'S ANY TYPE OF PRECIPITATION THAT'S OCCURRED, IT'S JUST A SOGGY EVENT ON THE GRASS.
I WOULD LIKE TO US TO CONSIDER A PET RELIEF AREA AT TOWN SQUARE.
I KNOW IT'S, THERE'S SOME SPECIAL TURF YOU CAN GET FOR THAT SO THAT IT CAN BE HOSE DOWN.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT'S GOOD FOR PEOPLE WHO BRING THEIR PETS OUT THERE.
THEY NEED AN AREA THAT'S DEDICATED TO PETS AND, YOU KNOW, GETTING THEM TAKEN CARE OF.
THAT'S AN EXCELLENT COMMENT IN AND OF ITSELF.
COUNCILMAN PRESLEY BROUGHT THAT UP AND PART OF THE TURF CONCERNS IS IF THE, THE ANIMALS RELIEVE THEMSELF ON THE TURF AND HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT OUT THERE? SO IT'S VALID, IT'S SPECIAL TURF AND IT HAS, YOU JUST, DON'T YOU, IT'S POWER WASH.
WE WENT, WE, WE, WE'VE SEEN IT.
THE EXHIBIT THAT WE SAW IT'S SPECIAL TURF.
I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT.
IT'S, IT'S, UM, INSTALLED SO THAT IT IS SAN YOU KNOW, SANITARY AND, AND SO ON.
SO ANYWAY, BECAUSE IF NOT, THEY'RE GONNA GO EVERYWHERE ELSE.
AND IN FACT, TODAY THINKS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
I DIDN'T KNOW AT OUR, AT JENKINS PARK, UM, AT OUR DOG PARK, CAN WE ALSO LOOK, 'CAUSE THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF CONTINGENCY HERE.
NOT A LOT, BUT, UM, I GUESS A DOG WASH RACK.
I'M ASSUMING IT'S JUST THE PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A WATER HOSE AND RINSE YOUR DOG OUT.
WE, WE ACTUALLY SAW THE SAME POST AND WE ALREADY SENT IT OVER THAT FORM.
YEAH, WE'VE SENT IT OVER OUR, OUR PORT FORM AND OVER THAT PARK, UH, TODAY.
AND, AND HE AND CORNELL ARE BOTH WORKING ON A PLAN FOR THAT AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF RAIN THIS WEEK, SO THINGS ARE GONNA BE MUDDY, BUT I'M SURE, UM, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, YOU KNOW, TO HAVE THAT.
UM, ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MY COMMENTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, ARTIFICIAL TURF, I THINK TRAILS AND THE UTILITIES IS FINE.
I THINK THERE'LL BE A LOT OF DISCUSSION, OBVIOUSLY ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT AS WE ARE TRYING TO INITIATE SOMETHING.
BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MEASURING, ENGAGING IT TO, TO HOW, HOW DO WE DEFINE THAT SUCCESS? I THINK AS YOU SEE THIS, UM, THIS DELINEATION OF, UH, RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TWO POSITIONS, YOU'LL ALSO SEE AT THE SAME TIME A A LOAD OF POTENTIAL OUTCOME MEASURES YEAH.
THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE TO MEASURE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THESE POSITIONS.
UNLIKE SOME DEPARTMENTS OF THE CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS FLUSH WITH, WITH OUTCOME MEASURE POTENTIAL.
WELL, JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, AS FAR AS THE MEASUREMENT GOES, IT,
[00:30:02]
YOU KNOW, IT, IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD INCORPORATE A MEASUREMENT OF, OF THE FIRST, THE NEW POSITION B BEFORE YOU KNOW, THE FORMAL VOTE ON THE SECOND POSITION AS WELL.SO I, I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME SORT OF MEASUREMENT ON THAT ACTUALLY WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO B IF THERE'S NOT.
[b. Consider a resolution setting a public hearing regarding the Baytown Municipal Development District's Fiscal Year 2021-22 Proposed Budget.]
ALRIGHT, ITEM TWO B, CONSIDER RESOLUTION SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE BAYTOWN MDD, UM, FISCAL YEAR BUDGET 21, 22.AND IT DOES LOOK LIKE THAT IS, IS IT JULY 3RD? EXCUSE ME.
SO I GUESS I ENTERTAIN A, A MOTION TO, TO SET JULY 1ST AS THAT PUBLIC HEARING MOTION TO APPROVE JULY 1ST.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF JULY 1ST FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING, PLEASE SAY AYE.
OPPOSED? ITEM THREE A CONSIDER RESOLUTION AMENDING
[3. PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS]
THE MBDS DISC, UM, DISTRICT'S FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET IN ORDER TO TRANSFER MONIES, UH, INTO UNFORMED SCENE.NEW INITIATIVES FOR THE PUR, THE PUR PURPOSE OF NEWCASTLE PARK PROJECT.
AS, UH, RICK HAS ALREADY MENTIONED, UH, WE'VE HAD THE BENEFIT OF ADDITIONAL SALES TAX REVENUES IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
UH, THIS IS AN ITEM THAT YOU HAVE CONSIDERED PREVIOUSLY.
OUR INTENTION HAD BEEN TO, UH, UTILIZE RESOURCES WITHIN THE, UH, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MONEY IN THE MDD, IT MAKES SENSE TO DO IT HERE, RIGHT? UM, THAT WOULD BE WHERE WE PREFER TO FUND IT FROM.
SO, UH, FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW, THIS MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.
IT DOES, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, I ENTERTAIN A MOTION OF ITEM THREE, A MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM THREE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ITEM THREE A PLEASE SAY AYE.
[4. REPORTS]
A REPORTS RECEIVE, UH, M DDS QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INVESTMENT REPORTS FOR QUARTER ENDING MARCH 31ST, 21.UM, MR. PRESIDENT, I MEAN, OTHER THAN MR. MAYOR ON THIS OCCASION, UM, AS WE'VE ALREADY GIVEN THE GAME AWAY, OUR SALES TAX, UH, REVENUES CONTINUE TO BE INCREDIBLY ROBUST.
UH, PANDEMIC ASIDE, UM, THAT CONTINUES, UH, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UH, THE RECENT RETURNS FOR PARTICULARLY THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH, UH, THOSE ARE ASTOUNDING.
UM, I, I'D HESITATE NECESSARILY TO SUGGEST THAT TREND CAN CONTINUE IN A, IN A STRAIGHT LINE, BUT NEVERTHELESS, GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, WE ARE ANTICIPATING ENOUGH UPLIFT OF ABOUT THREE POINT HALF PERCENT, UH, ON SALES TAX COLLECTIONS, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY HEALTHY AND LEAVES US IN A GOOD POSITION, BOTH IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT UTILIZING SOME OF THOSE RESOURCES AND IT GIVES US SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL FUNDING, UH, IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, IN THE CURRENT YEAR, WE HAVE, UH, SOME UNDERSPENDS, UH, MUCH OF THAT RELATES TO, UH, SOME OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
THE HOTEL CONVENTION CENTER BEING ONE.
BUT AGAIN, AS RICK HAS, UH, MADE CLEAR, WE ARE FULLY FUNDING THAT GOING FORWARD.
CITIZENS BANK ALSO, UH, THE REFURBISHMENT OF THAT WILL TAKE THIS NEXT YEAR.
UH, AND AGAIN, IT'S FULLY FUNDED.
UM, WE HAVE SPENT, UH, ALMOST THE MAXIMUM ON THE PARKS PROJECTS IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
SO WE HAVE GONE ON AND, UH, DELIVERED WHAT WE PROMISED YOU WE WOULD AND AGAIN, GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, THAT IS A HUGE SHOPPING LIST, UH, AND WE'RE VERY KEEN TO GET STARTED ON THAT AS WELL.
SO, ALL IN ALL, GOOD NEWS, UH, MR. PRESIDENT, A HEALTHY POSITION FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
AN INCREDIBLY ROBUST POSITION GOING INTO NEXT.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR,
[5. MANAGER'S REPORT]
UH, OUR MANAGER'S REPORT.I WISH I HAD MORE TO SHARE WITH YOU.
UH, I DON'T, SO I'LL JUST SAY THAT OUR, OUR NEXT MDD MEETING IS SLATED FOR JULY 1ST AT FOUR 30 RIGHT HERE.
DO YOU, UH, DO YOU FORESEE ANY SPECIAL MDD MEETINGS? POSSIBLY IN JUNE? UH, POTENTIALLY.
UH, IF, IF I CAN, I, I DEFINITELY WILL CALL, UH, AND ASK FOR A, UH, SPECIAL MEETING FOR US TO GET THROUGH SOME OF THE OTHER AGREEMENTS.
I WILL SAY THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME, UH, PROGRESS ON, UH, RESOLVING A COUPLE OF THE FINAL ISSUES WITH HYATT.
UH, SO, UH, UH, WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.
AS YOU KNOW, THEY'RE WORKING TWO DEALS AT THE SAME TIME.
ONE WITH, WITH THE CITY OF CONROE AND ONE WITH THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.
AND CONROE IS ABOUT TWO WEEKS AHEAD OF US IN THE WHOLE EVOLUTION, UH, OF THEIR PROJECT.
AND SO WE ARE, WE'RE BENEFICIARIES OF THEM BEING THE BATTERING RAMP TO RESOLVE THESE TWO ISSUES, WHICH ARE, UH, ALSO ONES THAT WE WOULD HAVE AND THEY HAVE TO DO WITH INDEMNITY AND WITH UH, UH, TRANSPARENCY OR THE UH, UH, CONFIDENTIALITY OF DOCUMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT I THINK IT'S MOSTLY NOW FOCUSED ON THE INDEMNITY.
UH, THAT RESOLUTION IS UH, UH, I THINK COMING.
UH, OTHER THAN THAT, THAT SHOULD BE THE ONLY THING LEFT ON THE HOTEL SERVICES AGREEMENT.
GETTING THE BOND RATING THEN ALLOWS US PROBABLY IN ABOUT ONE WEEK TO SEND OUT
[00:35:01]
AND I'LL CONSULT WITH YOU FIRST, UH, A SAVE THE DATE, UH, FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING.AND, UH, WE'RE OFF TO THE MARKET AT THAT TIME.
THE GROUNDBREAKING ITSELF IS GONNA BE MORE OF A PRODUCT OF, UM, OF LOGISTICS, GIVING US ENOUGH TIME TO SET UP A NICE EVENT, GIVING PEOPLE THE TIME, ESPECIALLY THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WE'RE INVITING.
UH, BESIDES Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY PEOPLE LIKE OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION AND OTHERS LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN GET IT ON THEIR CALENDARS TOO.
THAT TAKES THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME OKAY.
SO BE IT THAT, UH, MBD HAS ADDRESSED ALL POST AGENDA ITEMS AS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.