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[ BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF MEETING BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2022 4:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL 2401 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM]
DE AND DISTRICT TO ORDER.COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, WE HAVE FIRST
[1. MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF CONSIDER TO CONSIDER, UH, THE MINUTES ON THE MBD REGULAR MEETING HELD ON APRIL 7TH, 2022.I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR ABSTENTIONS? IF NOT ALL IS IN FAVOR OF THE MINUTES IS WRITTEN, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
MINUTES WILL BE OR HAVE BEEN APPROVED.
MOVE ON TO ITEM TWO A DISCUSSED
[a. Discuss the Baytown Municipal Development District's Fiscal Year 2022-23 Proposed Budget and budget process.]
AT BAYTOWN MBDS, DISTRICT DISTRICT'S FISCAL YEAR 2022.PROPOSED BUDGET AND BUDGETARY PROCESS.
I'M ASSUMING WE'LL HEAR FROM OUR YEAH.
UH, MAYOR AND, UH, BOARD MEMBERS.
AS YOU REMEMBER OUR LAST MEETING, WE WENT OVER A NUMBER OF PROPOSED PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED.
I WANNA DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE REALITY THAT WE, WE KEPT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, PERSONNEL EXPENSES IN THERE.
UH, YOU REMEMBER THAT WE WERE ASKING FOR TWO POSITIONS, UH, ONE ON THE REAL ESTATE SIDE, REALLY REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT AND THE OTHER ON THE RETAIL RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION SIDE.
I PROVIDED YOU WITH A, UM, A POWERPOINT THAT DETAILED THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS OF, OF EACH ONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
UH, I DID NOT REMOVE IT, UH, PENDING OUR ABILITY, UH, TALK ABOUT IT.
WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE WHATEVER DIRECTION YOU HAVE FOR US.
UH, THE OTHER PROJECTS WE HAVE, LIKEWISE, NOT MODIFIED, MODIFIED SINCE, UH, OUR LAST MEETING.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN SOME TIME OVER TO, UH, VICTOR TO, UH, GO OVER SOME OF THE PARTICULARS OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
HAPPY TO PRESENT THE DRAFT BUDGET.
UH, AGAIN, TO YOU AS, UH, THE GENERAL MANAGER HAS INDICATED WE HAVEN'T MADE ANY CHANGES TO ANY OF THE, UH, PROJECTS.
UH, IT WOULD BE WORTH JUST, UH, TAKING A BIT OF TIME TO THINK ABOUT THE, UH, REVENUE SIDE OF THE EQUATION.
UM, THIS IS A MARK OF HOW SUCCESSFUL, UH, WE HAVE BEEN AS A DISTRICT IN GENERATING SALES TAX, WHICH IS A MARK OF THE CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH, UH, WITHIN THE CITY.
SO WE ARE ALREADY NOW OVER THE $8 MILLION A YEAR MARK FOR THE MDD.
UH, IN TERMS OF OTHER SPECIFIC EXPENDITURES, THEN IT'S WORTH NOTING UNDER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD THE, UH, REFERENCE TO THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCING THAT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO THAT.
UH, IT ALSO INCLUDES THE ONGOING DEBT SERVICE FOR THE HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER, AND WE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD 1.4 MILLION FOR THE CITIZENS BANK BUILDING, UH, PROJECT.
IF YOU REMEMBER, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD BUDGETED FOR IT WITHIN THE MDD, THERE ARE BUDGETS ALSO IN THE WATER AND SEW FUND AND IN THE GENERAL FUND.
SO THOSE FUNDS HAVE BEEN EXPANDED.
FIRST, WE'RE ONLY NOW GETTING AROUND TO USING THE M DDS PORTION, HENCE IT IS BUDGETED FOR IN NEXT YEAR.
UH, THE OTHER ONE WORTHY OF POINTING OUT TO YOU IS UNDER UTILITY PROJECTS.
IF YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE I 10 LIFT STATION, AND THERE WAS SOME AGREEMENT AT THAT POINT THAT THERE SHOULD BE A CONTRIBUTION FROM THE MDD TOWARDS THAT.
WHAT THIS 600,000 IN NEXT YEAR REPRESENTS WOULD BE THE MDD PORTION OF THE DEBT COSTS RELATED TO THE, UH, TO THE I 10 LIFT STATION, UH, THE PARKS PROJECTS.
I'LL LET MY COLLEAGUES FROM PARKS SPEAK TO THOSE.
UH, YOU WILL SEE MR. PRESIDENT THAT, UH, ALL IN ALL THE PROPOSED BUDGET WILL PROVIDE A BUFFER FOR UNFORESEEN AND NEW INITIATIVES OF A LITTLE OVER 700,000 GOING FORWARD.
UH, BUT AGAIN, I'LL, I'LL JUST EMPHASIZE THAT THE MDD HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN GENERATING REVENUE.
IT HAS ALSO BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I'M REFERRING SPECIFICALLY HERE TO THE HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE LATER.
BUT THAT SUCCESS COMES AT THE COST OF HAVING NEGLIGIBLE BALANCES GOING FORWARD.
SO, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO A QUARTERLY MONITORING, MR. PRESIDENT, I'LL BE, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE RUN A VERY, VERY CLOSE EYE OVER OUR PERFORMANCE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE, SIR, IN TERMS OF THE FORTHCOMING BUDGET.
ANY COMMENTS, UH, FROM OUR MANAGER? I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
UM, VICTOR, I WAS NOTICING THE ENDING WORKING CAPITAL FOR THE PROPOSED YEAR IS
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ZERO.IS THAT NORMAL OR, UH, OR WISE? IT, IT IS.
SO, SO WHAT WE DO, UH, AND THAT WAS THE REFERENCE I MADE TO THE 742,148.
WE'VE ALLOCATED THAT TO UNFORESEEN AND NEW INITIATIVES AND REALLY THAT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO UTILIZE THAT DURING THE YEAR.
UH, IF WE WERE TO LEAVE ANYTHING AND FUND BALANCES, UH, TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, THEY CANNOT BE COMMITTED DURING THE YEAR.
SO BY PUTTING IT INTO THIS LINE, IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO, UH, TO ACTUALLY ALLOCATE IT IN THE YEAR IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.
AND WHEN'S KIND OF A GOOD TIMEFRAME FOR US TO UTILIZE THE UNFORESEEN? I MEAN, YOU DON'T WANNA PROPOSE IT, YOU KNOW, THE WEEK, THE BUDGET IN.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING WE SHOULD JUST KIND OF KEEP IN MIND AROUND THE JUNE JULY TIMEFRAME, OR DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION? SO I WOULD SAY, UM, SIMILAR TO, UM, HOW WE DEALT WITH THIS WITH THE CRIME CONTROL SPECIAL DISTRICT LAST YEAR, UH, WHEN WE WERE TRACKING IT, UH, QUARTER BY QUARTER IN THE FIRST QUARTER, WE IDENTIFIED THAT THEY HAD SOME SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN REVENUES THERE.
UH, BUT WE LEFT IT TO THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER BEFORE WE COMMITTED.
SO I WOULD SUGGEST THAT'S A GOOD, UH, THAT'S A GOOD RULE OF THUMB TO, TO USE AND THAT'S WHY I MADE THE POINT WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUARTERLY MONITORING, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOOK AT IT VERY, VERY CLOSELY BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE LARGE FUND BALANCE THAT YOU'VE HAD HISTORICALLY BECAUSE WE'VE INVESTED IT, UM, UNDER UTILITY PROJECTS.
WHAT KIND OF PARAMETERS ARE WE CONSIDERING THAT ALLOWS PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED WITH MDD? IS IT JUST NEW DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT UTILITY PROJECT OR WHAT'S THE PARAMETERS? YES, YES.
SO, UH, THERE ARE THREE LINE ITEMS IN THERE, AS YOU WILL SEE.
ONE, UH, RELATES TO THE DEVELOPMENT COST SHARE WITH DEVELOPERS FOR UPSIZING.
UH, AND THAT IS FOR ONLY RELATED TO, UH, TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, UH, SIMILAR TO THE I 10 LIFT STATION IS FOR, UH, FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT.
AND THEN THE OTHER RELATES TO THE ONGOING DEBT COSTS FOR THE, UH, FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
SO, UM, I WOULD ALLOW, SUGGEST FRANK MAYBE SPEAKS TO THIS, UM, BUT THE PRESUMPTION ONLY IS THAT THE MDD CONTRIBUTES TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
SO IT'S NOT, UM, LEGAL OR JUST OUR OWN POLICY TO USE MDD FUNDS FOR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.
IT WOULD JUST, IT'S REALLY MAINLY FOR GROWTH.
AND AGAIN, THE ASSUMPTION BEING THAT THE, THE MDD IS A DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND ITS FOCUS MUST BE ON DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.
AND THEN MY, MY LAST QUESTION IS, AND MAYBE YOU KNOW THIS OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, MAYBE NOT.
DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE, UH, NORTHEAST WASTEWATER TREATMENT DEBT SERVICE IS SCHEDULED TO BE PAID OFF? SO, UM, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, THAT'S GONNA BE 20 YEARS FROM, UH, 2016.
SO 2036 BEFORE IT'S FINALLY EXTINGUISHED.
ALRIGHT, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING, I GUESS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS A PROPOSED BUDGET.
UM, I THINK IT WAS, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE'S, UM, $742,000 OF UNFORESEEN INITIATIVES.
SO THIS WOULD BE THE OPPORTUNITY IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU FEEL THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED IN AS A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET, THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY.
THINGS DO HAPPEN MID-YEAR, BUT CERTAINLY IF THERE'S ANY IDEAS FROM ANY MEMBERS OF, OF THIS DISTRICT THAT I WOULD SUGGEST FOR YOU TO, TO GO AND, AND SPEAK UP SO THAT WE CAN GET A KIND OF A COST ESTIMATE SO SOMETHING CAN BE BUDGETED.
UM, I CERTAINLY CAN COME UP WITH AT LEAST A FEW, BUT, UM, BUT I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM Y'ALL FIRST IF THERE'S ANY, IF NOT, I WILL GO.
I WOULD THINK, UM, SO I THINK LAST YEAR, UM, I KNOW I ATTENDED, UH, UH, SOME, A FEW EVENTS AT THE ART LEAGUE BUILDING, WHICH IS A CITY OWNED BUILDING.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD THINK THAT, UM, AND I THINK STAFF DID MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO GO AND TRY, TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE, THE NEEDED REPAIRS AND, AND SOME IMPROVEMENTS.
BUT I, I DON'T THINK WE'VE, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED FOR A BUILDING THAT, THAT, THAT REALLY IS, IS KIND OF A, A WAY TO SHOWCASE A LOT OF OUR LO LOCAL ARTISTS AND, AND OTHER TALENTS.
UM, I THINK THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THEM.
SORRY, MR. COUSIN, I DON'T WISH TO BEFORE INTERRUPT YOU, BUT BEFORE, LEMME FINISH REAL QUICK AND THEN, AND THEN YOU CAN TALK.
UM, SO I DO, I WOULD LIKE THAT, THAT WE DO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF, SOME OF THE MORE LARGER THINGS.
I THINK THERE WERE SOME FLOORING AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO REALLY PRESENT THE BUILDING A LOT BETTER.
UH, AND THEN ON THE SECOND STORY, UM, I REMEMBER WE, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE BUILDING, UM, OBVIOUSLY THERE, THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT WE WERE AWARE OF AND THINGS THAT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO LOOK, IF THERE'S ANYTHING WITHIN FINANCIAL PRUDENCE, I GUESS I WOULD SAY THAT WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE.
NO, ABSOLUTELY MR. PRESIDENT, AND WE DID PICK THIS UP, UM, AND FRANK HAS INCLUDED THAT IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
UH, I CAN'T OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, REMEMBER THE PRECISE AMOUNT, RIGHT? 600, 600,000.
SO WE HAVE 600,000 INCLUDED IN THE CIP
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FOR THE ARTS LEAGUE BUILDING.THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT I, I THINK LET'S JUST TRY TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE CAN.
AND OBVIOUSLY IF THERE'S BIGGER THINGS THEN WE'LL HAVE TO ADDRESS THOSE.
BUT, UH, I THINK A LOT OF IT WAS, YOU KNOW, NEW CARPETING, NEW FLOORING, AND THINGS THAT ARE REALLY OBTAINABLE FOR FAIRLY QUICKLY.
AND I THINK THEY HAVE AN EVENT IN THE FALL THAT, THAT IF WE CAN GET THAT SCHEDULED AND, AND ESTIMATED AND COMPLETED PRIOR TO THAT, THAT'D BE REALLY GOOD.
YEAH, MAYOR, BASED ON, UH, UH, THE PUNCH LIST THAT WE RECEIVED, THE ITEMS THAT, CRITICAL ITEMS THAT WE NEED TO, UH, PERFORM IN THE BUILDING, UH, THE 600,000 IS, IS, UH, IS ONLY AS RELEVANT AS THE BUDGET ACTUALLY TURNS OUT TO BE.
I HAD A MEETING, UH, WITH, UH, KEVIN HARVILLE AND, AND, UH, I THINK BRIAN WAS ALSO AT THE MEETING A FEW WEEKS BACK.
AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS PUTTING NUMBERS TO EACH OF THOSE ITEMS TO MAKE THE BUILDING, UH, FUNCTIONAL.
AND, UH, WE WILL RETURN THAT BUDGET BACK TO YOU ALL SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT, WHAT THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO COST.
BUT I, I PROMISE TO A NUMBER, UH, VIEW THAT, UH, WE WOULD BE AS PRUDENT AS POSSIBLE IN THE EXPENDITURE OF THOSE FUNDS AND MAKE SURE, UH, WE DID AS MUCH AS WE CAN FOR THE DOLLAR.
NO, CERTAINLY 600,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY.
THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I'M SEEKING.
UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE US TO DO IS TO DO THE THINGS THAT CERTAINLY ON THE FIRST FLOOR THAT, THAT WE CAN ADDRESS TO MAKE THE, THE GALLERY IN A SENSE MORE PRESENTABLE AND, AND MORE ACCOMMODATING FOR, FOR WHAT WE NEED.
UM, IT'S NOT ON THAT ONE, BUT I KNOW THAT WE DISCUSSED, UH, PIRATES BAY PARKING AND ALL THAT AREA AT ONE TIME.
UM, I DON'T SEE ANY DEBT, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
BUT HAVE WE CONTINUED TO RESEARCH, UH, MORE PARKING AREA AND ALSO THE CRICKET FIELD OUTSIDE OF THAT AREA AND WHERE WOULD THIS BE ADAM? SORRY.
OH, THE, THE, UH, PIRATES BAY AT PIRATES BAY.
SO WE CONTINUE TO PROBE THE POSSIBILITY OF ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING PARKING.
WE THINK THIS WILL BE VERY VALUABLE FOR, UH, FOR STAFF PARKING PARTICULARLY, THAT WILL OPEN UP ADDITIONAL PARKING.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME OTHER, UH, PLANS FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING AS WELL.
ANDREA, ON THE COUNCIL AGENDA FOR THE 14TH, WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD AN AMENDMENT FOR THE DESIGN OF ADDITIONAL PARKING TO SERVE THE WAYNE GRAY AND PIRATES BAY COMPLEX.
SO THAT'LL BE PRESENTED FOR THAT.
AND WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON, ON THAT COMPONENT.
IS THE CRICKET FIELD, UH, ALSO IT BEING EXPANDED OR ARE WE LOOKING AT ANOTHER LOCATION? UH, AT THIS TIME WE'RE NOT IMPACTING THE CRICKET FIELD OR, UM, YOU KNOW, EITHER MAKING IT SMALLER OR EXPANDING IT, BUT WE'RE PLANNING FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING AROUND IT.
I GONNA SAY SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY, I'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN THAT CRICKET FIELD AND WELL, I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL CRICKET GAMES, COULD NOT HERE, BUT ALSO IN PARALLEL, THAT'S WHAT I WAS ASKING.
ANDREA, SORRY, I, I TRIED TO TALK BEFORE YOU SAT DOWN.
UM, WAS THE REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATION FOR THE PARKING SUCCESSFUL FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION? NOT YET.
BUT WE HOPE SO THE COUNCIL ITEM, THE AGENDA ITEM THAT YOU REFERENCED IS JUST FOR A DESIGN.
IT'S EVERYTHING INVOLVED IN ACQUIRING ALL THE DUE DILIGENCE AND THE DESIGN OF, SO YOU MUST FEEL CONFIDENT THE ACQUISITION WILL GO, WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE HOPEFUL AND CONFIDENT.
I GUESS IF IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH, WE JUST HAVE A DESIGN FOR PROPERTY WE DON'T OWN.
I GUESS THAT'S KIND OF WHERE MY HEAD'S GOING.
WELL, AT THIS TIME I DON'T WANNA GET TOO MUCH INTO THE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HOW WE WANNA PROCURE REAL ESTATE, BUT YEAH.
UM, WE, WE DO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PUT FORTH A FAIR OFFER THAT'S, YOU KNOW, MARKET VALUE SO THAT WE'RE SUCCESSFUL.
IF WE GO TOO LOW, IT MAY NOT BE, BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN BE FAIR AND MEET THAT GOAL AND THE DESIGN HELPS WITH THAT.
ANY, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, UH, GUESTS ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET? UM, THERE'S A LOT HERE.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE BOTH, BOTH OUR CITIZENS AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS, THIS IS THE TIME, OR AT LEAST THIS IS THE TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT.
UM, I THINK, WHAT IS THE PROPOSED DATE FOR APPROVAL? IS THERE A DEADLINE THAT WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS? I MEAN, THINGS COME TOGETHER WITH, WITH MDD AND THEN THE GENERAL CITY BUDGET? WELL, OUR GENERAL CITY BUDGET NEEDS TO BE APPROVED IN SEPTEMBER.
UH, AND I BELIEVE THE SAME DEADLINES APPLY TO THE MDD.
SO MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE FOR MDD MEMBERS, IF THERE'S ANY IDEAS YOU HAVE THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT FUNDING FROM THE MDD DISTRICT IS, IS APPROPRIATE, THAT YOU GO AND YOU CONTACT MR. DAVIS AND LET HIM, LET MAKE HIM AWARE OF THAT SO WE CAN GET SOMETHING COST SET OUT AND BUDGETED.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT, IF I MAY, THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THIS BUDGET IS ON THE 14TH, SO YEAH.
I GUESS, UH, WITH THAT THEN WE'LL MOVE
[a. Consider a resolution approving changes to the guidelines for the Business Improvement Grant Program.]
ON TO ITEM, UH, THREE A.THERE IS NO ACTION ITEM ON TWO A.
UH, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, UH, WE HAVE MR. ISAAC THAT
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HAS SIGNED UP FOR ITEM THREE A.UM, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK, UM, I'M, I'M ASSUMING YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES AGAIN, IS THAT CASE OKAY, TESTING.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'D LIKE TO BEGIN MY THREE MINUTES.
UH, MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
UH, I'VE LOOKED, TAKEN A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS TODAY, SPECIFICALLY THREE A, IT INCREASES THE, UH, MAXIMUM ALLOTTED AMOUNT FOR THIS GRANT FROM 20,000 TO 40,000.
JUST WANTED TO GIVE MY COMMENTS THAT I APPROVE OF THIS.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING NOW.
I THINK BRETT ARDELL HAS GOT UP HERE AND SPOKEN AND SAID THAT, UH, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INTERESTED AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE APPLIED FOR THIS AND HOPEFULLY THEY WILL GET APPROVED TONIGHT.
UH, THERE'S MORE THAT WE CAN DO.
HOWEVER, TODAY I WAS HAVING, HAVING TO DRIVE FROM MY OFFICE ALL THE WAY HERE TO APPEAR BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY FOR US TO, TO APPEAR LIVE, UH, UH, HERE DURING THE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT.
AND CONSIDERING THAT THIS SPECIFIC COMMITTEE, UH, DEALS WITH OUR SALES TAX DOLLARS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT, UH, WE CAN BE AS TRANSPARENT AND PARTICIPATORY AS POSSIBLE.
UH, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THREE A? WE HAVE TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION APPROVING CHANGES TO THE GUIDELINES FOR THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
I'M, I'M ASSUMING WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM MR. ELLA TO EXPLAIN THE CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED.
UM, YES, THE PROGRAM IN AND OF ITSELF, WE'VE HAD, UM, AS YOU KNOW, SOME STRUGGLES GETTING IT OUT THERE, GETTING APPLICATIONS FILLED OUT AND GETTING BACK.
AND OUR GOAL OF CHANGING THE GUIDELINES IS TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE.
SO RAISING THE LIMIT TO $40,000, UH, ON A 50 50 MATCH STILL I THINK GIVES PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME MORE INTERIOR, UH, PROJECTS.
WE'VE, UH, EXPANDED THAT OUT FROM JUST LIFE SAFETY ISSUES TO, UH, PROVIDE THE ABILITY TO DO SOME INTERIOR IMPROVEMENTS, WHETHER IT'S PUTTING DOWN NEW FLOORING WITH EXCLUSION OF CARPET, BUT IF IT'S A HARDWOOD FLOOR TILE, IF THEY'RE PUTTING NO NEW DOORS AND WINDOWS OR BUILDING IN ACTUAL FIXTURES INTO THE UNIT, THAT WILL BEAUTIFY THE SPACE, THEN UH, WE FEEL THAT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NECESSARY AND DOABLE THAT WE CAN HELP OUT WITH.
ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE STARTING THE WORK BEFORE THEY'VE GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM.
SO I REWROTE THE GUIDELINES TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE A, A 90 DAY WINDOW, A 90 DAY GRACE PERIOD.
SO IF THEY'VE STARTED BEFORE THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE GRANT WAS AVAILABLE AND THEN THEY'VE APPLIED FOR THE PROGRAM, THEN WE STILL WANT TO BE AS AMENABLE TO THEM AS POSSIBLE AND ASSIST THEM OUT.
UM, I THINK THOSE ARE PROBABLY THE, THE TWO BIG CHANGES OUT OF THIS.
THE COMMITTEE HAS REVIEWED THE FIVE APPLICATIONS THAT WE HAVE IN RIGHT NOW, UH, THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO YOU GUYS.
A COUPLE OF 'EM WE HAVE SOME LEGAL ISSUES WITH, UH, OR WELL WE DON'T, BUT THE STATE DOES.
AND IT'S JUST SOME, UM, UH, SOME PAPERWORK FILING, I BELIEVE AND SOME NAME ISSUES.
BUT OTHERWISE IN THAT, ONCE THEY GET THOSE, UM, FIXED WITH THE STATE AND WE'RE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD TO THEM WITH, UH, THAT ON A LEGAL LEVEL, THEN WE SHOULD BE OKAY.
BUT THE FIVE PROGRAMS ARE IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ONLY ONE THAT'S LOOKING AT THE $40,000 LEVEL AND THAT WOULD BE LUCE'S.
UH, THERE WAS, UH, AN ISSUE WITH THEM HAVING TO PUT IN A SPRINKLER SYSTEM AFTER, UH, SOME THINGS HAD BEEN LOOKED AT.
AND, UM, SO LITTLE, LITTLE ACCIDENT ON, UH, THEIR END, ON OUR END, BUT WE WANNA MAKE THAT A, A CORRECTION IF WE CAN.
AND SO THEY'D BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS RATHER QUICKLY.
YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR MR. GRAD REGARDING THE CHANGES I OF THE PROGRAM? HAVE A QUICK QUESTION.
SO BRETT, AT ONE TIME WE APPROVED THE REVOLVING LOAN PROGRAM AS WELL, AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU ITERATED THAT WE'VE HAD SOME REAL CHALLENGES WITH THAT.
IT, IT APPEARS, YEAH, IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THAT WOULD BE AN OPTION.
SO WILL THAT FUNDING ROLE, COULD, COULD WE ROLL THAT, THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT INTO THIS PROGRAM? YES, SIR.
YEAH, WE HAVE, I'VE PERSONALLY APPROACHED FOUR DIFFERENT LOCAL BANKS TO TRY TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT IS OUR MONEY, 100%, UH, THAT WOULD FUND THIS, SO THERE'S LITERALLY NO EXPENSE OR, UM, UH, LIABILITY ON THEIR SIDE.
NO ONE WANTED TO GET INVOLVED AND WE WERE STILL WILLING TO GIVE THEM 2% OUT OF THE 4% BACK, UH, ON THE INTEREST RATE THAT WE WERE HOPING TO GET.
SO AS OF YET, WE DO NOT HAVE, UH, THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND SET UP.
UH, VICTOR AND I ARE, ARE APPROACHING A COUPLE OF OTHER ENTITIES THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY TO SEE IF THEY WILL, UH, JOIN FORCES WITH US, SO TO SPEAK, AND SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT REVOLVING LOAN FUND CREATED.
BUT THOSE MONIES WE HAVE ROLLED OVER INTO THIS PROGRAM AND THEN GOING INTO NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, WE HAVE NOT PUT THOSE UNDER A REVOLVING LOAN FUND, UM, LINE ITEM, WE'VE PUT THEM UNDER THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT.
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I'VE GOT A QUESTION ALSO.UH, THE LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER.
THERE WAS A, I THINK A BIG OBSTACLE THAT AN APPLICANT HAD TO COME UP WITH TO, I THINK IT HAD A CASH CONTRIBUTION BEFORE THEY COULD QUALIFY FOR THE GRANT.
WHAT, WHAT WAS THAT AND WHAT ARE WE PROPOSING NOW? WELL, THIS IS STILL A 50 50 MATCH PROGRAM.
THEY HAVE TO DO THE WORK, PAY FOR THE WORK, SUBMIT THE RECEIPTS, AND THEN WE WILL REIMBURSE THEM.
I CAN'T JUSTIFY COMING IN FRONT OF YOU AND AND SAYING, LET'S WRITE A CHECK UP FRONT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON IS GOING TO DO THE WORK THAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO.
UH, IT IS DONE, IT'S DONE AND APPROVED BY OUR DEPARTMENT, OUR CITY FOLKS SIGNED OFF, AND THEN WE WANNA REIMBURSE.
SO IT IS A MATCHING PROGRAM AND, AND I THINK THE GUIDELINES TO STAY WITH THAT ARE IMPORTANT.
SO IF I APPLY FOR THE $40,000 GRANT, I'VE GOT TO PUT IN 20,000 BEFORE I CAN BE REIMBURSED 40.
WELL, THE GUIDELINES OF THE PROGRAM, SO YOU, YOU GET ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM, YOU DO THE WORK, WHATEVER EXTENT THAT IS, YOU GET IT COMPLETED AND THEN YOU SUBMIT.
SO IT ISN'T JUST, IF YOU HAVE $80,000 WORTH OF WORK YOU'RE DOING ON YOUR STRUCTURE, WHETHER YOU OWN IT OR RENT IT, AS LONG AS YOU HAVE APPROVAL FROM THE, UH, LANDLORD, UH, THE 80,000 WOULD BE GET YOU THE 40.
WE'RE GONNA REIMBURSE HIM UP TO 40.
SO JUST TO FOLLOW UP ON, UH, DIRECTOR GERALD'S QUESTION.
SO WOULD IT, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE, BRETT, LET'S SAY LIKE ON A $40,000 PROJECT, LET'S SAY THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE 80 SITTING AROUND IN A LUMP SUM, WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY ENTERTAIN DISPENSING THE MONEY IN DRAWS OR PHASES? UH, LET'S SAY IF THEY FINISHED HALF OF THE WORK, THEY COULD GET HALF OF THE MONEY AND THEN THE REMAINING HALF WHEN THEY FINISH ALL THE WORK, WOULD, WOULD THAT BE PRODUCTIVE TO CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE THAT? UH, I HONESTLY, I WOULD HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.
I THINK THAT, UM, I MEAN, I DON'T MEAN ON ON ANYTHING SMALL SH YOU KNOW YEAH.
OBVIOUSLY IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO SPLIT UP A $5,000, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING MAJOR.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE'S TWO PHASES THAT THEY COULD CONQUER IT IN.
AND, AND YOU SEE THE, THE THING THAT I ALWAYS LOOK AT ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SIDE IS THAT THIS IS ONE TOOL AND IF WE GET INTO PROJECTS THAT ARE 80, A HUNDRED THOUSAND OR LARGER, THEN WE HAVE A SEPARATE TOOL, WHICH WOULD BE A 3 83 81 TYPE OF ARRANGEMENT WE COULD SET UP WITH SOMEBODY.
UM, SO I'M, I I WILL WORK AT WHATEVER LEVEL YOU GUYS WANT.
LET ME DO SOME RESEARCH ON THAT.
I THINK IF THESE GUIDELINES ARE, ARE, UH, ACCEPTABLE FOR NOW, WE CAN MAKE THESE CHANGES NOW AND THEN AFTER I DO SOME RESEARCH ON HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO SOME TYPE OF PHASED IN APPROACH, WE CAN, UH, RE REPRESENT THAT TO Y'ALL AND, YOU KNOW, HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION ON THAT, IF THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE.
MAYBE WE LOOK AT A LIMITED PHASES, MAYBE.
YEAH, AND, AND MY COMMENT WAS, IT SEEMS LAST TIME IT WAS JUST TOO DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO QUALIFY FOR THIS $20,000 GRANT.
WE'RE UPPING THE GRANT, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT I, I JUST, I, I WANNA FEEL BETTER ABOUT HOW THEY QUALIFY AND I DON'T WANT TO PUT IT FARTHER OUTTA THEIR REACH.
I WANNA MAKE IT ATTAINABLE FOR YEAH.
I, I THINK THE, THE ISSUE HASN'T BEEN, UM, THE QUALIFICATIONS.
I THINK IT'S BEEN A MARKETING, UM, IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR ME TO DO EVERYTHING I DO AND TO TRY TO MARKET THIS PROGRAM, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS WHY WE'RE LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THE SECONDARY ISSUE IS IT'S REALLY THE TIMING OF THE APPLICANT AS WELL.
THEY'RE BUSY TRYING TO GET THEIR BUSINESS STARTED OR DOING THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR STRUCTURE, SO THEY'RE NOT TAKING THE TIME TO FILL OUT THE APPLICATION AND I DO NOT HAVE TIME TO GO OUT THERE AND FILL IT OUT FOR THEM.
SO THAT HAS BEEN, I THINK, MORE OF THE ISSUES WHEN THEY DO HEAR ABOUT THE PROGRAM, IT TENDS TO BE AFTER THE FACT AND AS THE GUIDELINES GO RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE PROGRAM FIRST BEFORE YOU DO THE WORK.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE EDITING IT TO THE, TO THE 90 DAY LEVEL.
IN FACT, I WOULD BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN IF YOU GUYS THINK 90 DAYS IS TOO SHORT OF A PERIOD IF WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING 120 OR 150.
SO, BUT THAT'S UP TO YOU GUYS.
BUT I, I CHOSE 90 RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THAT SEEMS TO BE THE WINDOW WITHIN WHICH PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT THE PROGRAM, BUT THEY'VE ALREADY GOTTEN, STARTED DOING, UH, SOME RENOVATIONS TO THEIR SPACE.
SO I GUESS JUST A FOLLOW UP MAYOR, SO MAYBE TO RICK OR BRETT.
UM, SO IS THERE, COULD WE LOOK IN, AND MAYBE THIS HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE, BUT KIND OF AUTOMATING THE PROCESS TO WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE'S A FLORIST THAT I BELIEVE IS GONNA TRY TO OPEN UP SOMETIME BY THE END OF THIS MONTH IN DISTRICT TWO AND IT'S A PERFECT SPACE FOR A MURAL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT ACTUALLY GIVING THE APPLICATIONS WHENEVER THEY APPLY FOR A PERMIT? BECAUSE IF THEY KNOW ABOUT IT AT THAT POINT, THEY COULD POSSIBLY EXPAND THEIR SCOPE OF WORK IF THEY KNOW THAT THAT PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD JUST AUTOMATE
[00:25:01]
INTO THE PROCESS WHEN THEY APPLY FOR A PERMIT, THEY AUTOMATICALLY GET A LITERATURE ABOUT THE PROGRAM? I, I, I'D BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH MARTIN, HIS DEPARTMENT ON THAT.I POSSIBLE, MARTIN, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I, I'D HAVE TO CHECK WITH MY FOLKS AND SEE HOW THAT WOULD FUNCTION.
UM, I, I DON'T REALLY HAVE AN ANSWER.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S REALLY JUST A MATTER OF LOOKING AT THE PROCESS AND SEEING WHERE THE APPROPRIATE PLACE WOULD BE FOR THAT.
AS, AS IT STANDS, WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT NEW BUSINESSES COMING IN, WE USUALLY CHECK WITH BRETT TO MAKE SURE THAT HE'S HAD SOME CONTACT WITH THEM.
SO A LOT OF TIMES THEY'LL COME IN FOR DRC OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND WE'LL SAY, HEY BRETT, HAVE YOU TALKED TO THESE GUYS YET? AND THEN YEAH, WE, WE USE THAT AS BRETT'S IN TO SAY, HEY, HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS PROGRAM? AND THEN, RIGHT.
WE KINDA LEAVE THAT UP TO HIM.
IT, IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WILLING TO ASSIST WITH HOWEVER WE CAN.
UH, I'M JUST NOT SURE WHAT THE LIMITS WOULD BE AT THIS STAGE.
I THINK TO VALIDATE YOUR POINT THOUGH, EVEN FURTHER, SINCE WE HAVE THE UH, REINVESTMENT ZONE, RIGHT, UM, WHICH D TWO IS IN, I THINK IT'D BE VERY IMPORTANT IF ANYBODY'S STARTING A BUSINESS DOWN IN THE AREA WOULD HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY CAN GET, UH, PERMIT FEES WAIVED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IS THAT IN THE REINVESTMENT ZONE? AT LEAST THAT WOULD MAKE THEM AWARE, RIGHT.
THAT THERE WERE SOME ELIGIBILITY.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ON THREE A? SO IF NOT, I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR I FOR APPROVAL.
ITEM THREE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM THREE A SECOND.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, IF NOT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? ITEM THREE AS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? WE ITEM THREE B, CONSIDER
[b. Consider a resolution approving Business Improvement Grant applications in the amount of $40,000.00 per approved grant application.]
RESOLUTION APPROVING THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS IN THE AMOUNT OF 40,000 PER APPROVED GRANT APPLICATION.SO I'M ASSUMING, UNLESS THERE'S MORE DISCUSSION, UH, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM THREE B AS PRESENTED.
YOU WERE GONNA SPEAK? YES SIR.
UM, AND MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT BOARD.
UM, NOW BEFORE I GO ON ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I APPROVE SOME OF THESE APPLICATIONS OR WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S EVEN MY BUSINESS, I WANNA DISCUSS ABOUT PROCEDURE HERE.
WE JUST APPROVED AN INCREASE FROM 20,000 TO 40,000.
NOW WE HAVE APPLICANTS THAT ARE APPLYING FOR 40,000.
I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE SLOPPY WHEN IT COMES TO PROCEDURE.
IF WE WANT ETHICS AND GOVERNMENT AND FAIRNESS, WHICH I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF THIS, THEN WE NEED TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
I THINK WHEN PEOPLE, UH, SEE A CHANGE TO A POLICY, MAYBE THEY NEED A WEEK OR SO TO APPLY AND MAKE THIS AVAILABLE.
WE HEARD MR. GUARD TALK ABOUT THE MARKETING ISSUE.
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET OUT TO THOSE SMALL BUSINESSES AND HELP THEM? WE CAN'T BE AFRAID TO HELP PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP.
I KNOW THAT WHEN SOMEONE WHO'S A BIG DEVELOPER WHO NEEDS A PROPERTY DEVELOPED THAT THEY GET THE ATTENTION THAT THEY NEED, THE SAME SHOULD GO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP IN THIS TOWN.
AND SMALL BUSINESSES ARE SUFFERING.
WE LOOKED AT THE STRATEGIC PLAN RECENTLY.
WE SAW THAT 80% OF PEOPLE WHO WORK IN BAYTOWN DON'T LIVE HERE.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS TOWN ARE ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS AND WE HEARD THE MENTALITY COMING OUT OF THIS DEPARTMENT THAT THERE'S SOME APPREHENSION TO GIVE PEOPLE MONEY FIRST, AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE ISSUE WITH PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP.
SO I DISAGREE WITH THOSE SENTIMENTS.
I THINK WE NEED TO THINK CRITICALLY, ESPECIALLY THIS BOARD SPECIFICALLY ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP THOSE THAT NEED HELP.
NOW, KHADIJA WILLIAMS IS A, A NAME I SAW THAT APPLIED A A HAIR PLACE.
HAIR HAS A LOT TO DO WITH HERITAGE IN THIS TOWN.
YOU CAN GO DOWN TO TROPHY BARBERSHOP AND HEAR THAT THESE ARE THE TYPE OF BUSINESSES WE NEED TO HELP.
DO WE HAVE A CRM FOR THAT? LOTS OF BUSINESSES.
LOTS OF NONPROFITS HAVE CRMI WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, DO WE HAVE ACCESS TO OUR OWN DA NOT JUST THE DATABASE, BUT A CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM? THAT ONE VOTE.
MAYOR, THIS IS, THIS AGENDA ITEM IS FOR SPECIFIC APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS.
SO, UNLESS IT'S ABOUT ANYTHING SPECIFIC, MR. MAYOR, I MADE A CONTENTION ABOUT A SPECIFIC APPLICANT THAT WAS THE NATURE OF THE CONVERSATION.
RIGHT NOW I WOULD LIKE TO RECLAIM MY TIME BECAUSE THAT WASN'T FAIR FOR UH, UH, THIS COUNCILMAN TO CUT ME OFF.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WHO NEED HELP RIGHT NOW.
BUT YOU AND I WOULD LIKE TO ELABORATE ABOUT WHY THIS PERSON COULD USE THIS GRANT TO, YOU NEED TO STAY ON TOPIC.
IF NOT, THEN YOU LOSE YOUR TIME.
RE WELL, MR. MAYOR, THIS IS, THIS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS A WHOLE.
OKAY, BUT ARE YOU SPEAK ON THE ITEM OR TO IT IS YOUR TIME IS RUNNING OUT.
THIS ALL HAS MY TIME IS RUNNING OUT BASED ON YOUR, ON YOUR, YES.
SO I CAN'T TALK ABOUT KADEJA WILLIAMS OR, OR WHY THAT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE REINFORCED THINGS SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE CAN GET HELP AND NOT JUST A SELECT FEW SO THAT WE DON'T PICK WINNERS AND LOSERS HERE WE'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT AT ALL.
I CAN'T, I'D LIKE TO RECLAIM MY TIME.
IS THAT OKAY? YOU GET 10 SECONDS.
THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
NO ONE COULD ATTEND THIS MEETING AND HEAR IT ONLINE OR GO ONLINE.
MAYOR, THIS IS THE TRANSPARENCY
[00:30:01]
APPLICATIONS.SIR, I'D LIKE TO RECLAIM MY TIME.
I DROVE THREE AND A HALF HOURS IF I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO NEED HELP.
AND MR. PRESLEY WHO RECEIVED HELP FROM THE CITY POINT OF ORDER.
MAYOR, YOU ADDRESSED THE BODY AS A WHOLE, NOT AS INDIVIDUAL.
THAT'S POINT OF IS PROBABLY YOU SHOULDN'T ADDRESS THE PERSON WHO SPEAKING.
HOW YOU USE IT AND WHAT YOU SAY IS UP TO YOU.
WE'RE GOING ON TO ANY, ANY, UH, UH, MOTIONS FOR ITEM THREE B TO CONSIDER RESOLUTION APPROVING THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE AMOUNT OF $40,000 PER APPROVED GRANT APPLICATION.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ARE THOSE IN FAVOR? THE ITEM IS PRESENTED.
ARE THOSE THE OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES.
[a. Receive the Monthly Construction Status Report for the Baytown Hotel and Convention Center Project.]
A REPORTS MR. UH, CITY MANAGER, I GUESS, OR VICTOR.HAPPY TO INTRODUCE TO YOU AGAIN.
HUGH CRONIN FROM BROADUS AND ASSOCIATE TO OUR, OUR CONSTRUCTION MONITOR WHO PRODUCED THE REPORT BEFORE YOU.
UH, BEFORE I DO HAND OVER TO HUGH, I WILL LET YOU KNOW THAT, THAT EARLIER THIS WEEK, UH, I WAS ON THE CALL WITH S AND P.
UH, AND THIS IS PART OF THEIR REGULAR MONITORING OF, UH, THE BONDS HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN RESPECT OF THE HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER AND WE APPRISED THEM OF, UH, PROGRESS.
UH, TALKED TO THEM ABOUT THE, UH, UH, THE CURRENT CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES, UH, ON THE HOTEL.
UM, DISCUSSED WITH THEM ISSUES RELATING TO THE WIDER, UH, ECONOMIC, UH, GROWTH IN THE CITY.
AND THEY WERE VERY PLEASED WITH, UH, THE RESPONSES THEY RECEIVED FROM US AND, UH, WOULD BE ADVISING, UH, BOND HOLDERS ACCORDINGLY.
SO THAT WAS VERY GOOD NEWS FOR US.
UH, PART OF THE, UH, CONVERSATIONS WAS ALSO ABOUT THE FINANCIAL, UH, TRACKING OF THE PROJECT.
AND YOU WILL SEE THAT'S INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.
UM, THAT REMAINS ON BUDGET AND WITHIN THE TIMESCALES ORIGINALLY ENVISAGED, UH, IN ABOUT A MONTH'S TIME, WE WILL HAVE FROM DPR THE FINAL GUARANTEED MINIMUM PRICE.
REMEMBER, THEY CANNOT VARY THAT FROM THE INITIAL GUARANTEED MINIMUM PRICE, WHICH YOU HAVE ALREADY SET FOR THEM.
UH, BUT THAT'S THE WAY OF, UH, A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, FURTHER BACKGROUND, WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST WEEK.
HUGH, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE REPORT? THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE, WHAT THEY SAY? MAXIMUM PRICE.
OKAY, WE GONNA SHOW SOME PHOTOS AS WELL, ANDREA? YES.
ALRIGHT, I'M JUST GONNA SHOW SOME RECENT CONSTRUCTION PHOTOS.
LAST TIME WE WERE HERE WE HAD THE REPORT WITHOUT PHOTOS AND I THINK THAT'S A DISSERVICE.
AND THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S PROBABLY A WEEK OR SO OLD.
AND IS THIS THE ONE OR DO WE HAVE A COUPLE? YES, THAT ONE.
UH, SO AS OF TODAY, THE CONTRACT PRICE OR THE CURRENT IGMP OR, UH, INITIAL GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE CONTRACT IS 60,626,237.
THAT INCLUDES AMENDMENT TWO THAT THIS BOARD APPROVED, UH, BACK THE FIRST PART OF JUNE.
UH, AND THAT'S THE ONLY AMENDMENT THAT HAS BEEN APPROVED SO FAR.
THERE ARE NO OTHER OUTSTANDING OR PENDING AMENDMENTS AT THIS TIME OTHER THAN RECEIPT OF THE FINAL GMP, UH, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE, AS VICTOR SAID, THE END OF JULY.
UH, THAT AMENDMENT TOO INCLUDED, UH, TRANSFERRING THE COST OF THE KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT.
AS A REMINDER AT ALL FROM, UH, THE SOFT COST BUDGET THAT WAS IN THE TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET OVER TO DPR, THE CONTRACTOR AS OF THE END OF JUNE, THEY HAVE INVOICED FOR $20,268,021, WHICH IS ABOUT 35% OF THEIR TOTAL CONTRACT VALUE.
I SAY THAT BECAUSE AS OF THIS WEEK, THEY ARE NINE MONTHS INTO CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS.
THEY STARTED ON THE 8TH OF NOVEMBER OF 2021 WITH A VERY AGGRESSIVE 17 MONTH SCHEDULE.
UH, SO WE ARE ABOUT 53% INTO THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE AND THEY HAVE INVOICED SO FAR ABOUT 35% OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT.
UH, AS OF TODAY THEY'RE ON SCHEDULE.
UH, I WAS AT THE SITE LAST WEEK AND AGAIN TODAY THEY ARE GETTING READY TO POUR LEVEL F FOUR, THE CONCRETE, THE FIRST HALF AT THE END OF THIS WEEK OR TOMORROW.
UH, AND THEN THE SECOND HALF WILL BE NEXT WEEK.
SO THEY'RE TRACKING THEIR CRITICAL PATH AND WE FEEL PRETTY GOOD AS DOES DPR, THAT THEY'RE GONNA FINISH OR ACHIEVE SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION BY THE END OF FEBRUARY, WHICH IS AS PER THE
[00:35:01]
CONTRACT RIGHT NOW, 2023.UH, ALL THE WORK PUT IN PLACE TO DATE CONFORMS TO, UH, PROJECT DRAWINGS AND SPECIFICATIONS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THIS IS, UH, WHERE THEY HAVE COMPLETELY POURED LEVEL THREE AND ARE STARTING TO DECK THERE.
UH, AND NOW THEY'RE POURING LEVEL.
YEAH, THAT'S STILL LEVEL THREE.
AND THIS IS THE CONVENTION CENTER SIDE, THE HOTEL, THIS IS STRUCTURAL THAT'LL RISE UP SEVEN STORIES.
UH, AND THEN THE CONVENTION CENTER THAT YOU SEE JUST IN FRONT OF THE RED CRANE.
UH, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS I GUESS REGARDING THE IMAGES YOU JUST SAW OR, YEAH, I'VE GOT A QUESTION, SIR.
WE TALKED AT ONE TIME ABOUT HAVING A LITTLE TOUR OUT THERE ON SITE AND WE'RE STILL GONNA DO THAT.
UH, WHENEVER WE CAN COORDINATE THAT, I'M NOT SURE WHO WOULD BE THE RIGHT PERSON TO DO THAT, BUT, UH, I, I, ANDREA WOULD BE, BUT YES, IF I HAD TO PICK SOMEBODY
SO IF YOU WANNA CALL JASON AT ANY TIME, UH, THEY WILL ARRANGE A TOUR FOR YOU OUT THERE.
LET, I WOULD SUGGEST, LET, LET'S TRY TO PICK IT.
I WOULD SUGGEST LET'S TRY TO GET A PLAN ONE TOUR WITH, WITH MDD MEMBERS.
WE'LL SEE WHAT WORKS, OBVIOUSLY.
UM, I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH SIGN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TO GO AND, AND PUT SOME HARD HATS ON AND, AND CERTAINLY WALK THE PROPERTY.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, GOING AND, AND SPENDING A, A LITTLE BIT OF TIME OUT THERE TO SEE THE PROGRESS IS CERTAINLY BENEFICIAL TO ALL MEMBERS.
SO SIR AND I I THINK THAT'S A GREAT, THE TIMING IS PERFECT.
UH, ACTUALLY NEXT WEEK, AT THE END OF NEXT WEEK WE'RE GONNA DO THE FINAL REVIEW OF THE MODEL ROOM.
WHICH IS BUILT JUST NEXT TO THE CONSTRUCTION TRAILER.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE ROOMS WILL LOOK LIKE WHEN THEY'RE FINISHED AND THEN BE ABLE TO TOUR THE PROJECT.
AND ALSO WOULD SUGGEST, I'M NOT SURE, I KNOW SOME RENDERINGS WERE, WERE, UM, SENT TO CITY COUNCIL.
UH, AS FAR AS THE INTERIOR OF THE CONFERENCE CENTER, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ALSO BE SENT TO ALL MEMBERS OF MDD IF IT HASN'T BEEN DONE SO ALREADY.
ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS? I GUESS NOT.
[5. MANAGER'S REPORT]
MANAGE REPORT ITEM FIVE A.I WAS, UH, ON, ON THE SAME LINE AS THE, UH, CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL.
I FORWARDED TO YOU SOME RENDERINGS OF WHAT THE INTERIOR OF THE CONVENTION CENTER'S GONNA LOOK LIKE IN GENERAL TERMS OF THERE MAY BE A FEW TWEAKS OR DIFFERENCES IN THE FINAL PRODUCT, BUT I HOPE YOU'RE PLEASED WITH THAT.
IT'S JUST LOOKS TO ME LIKE A FIRST CLASS FACILITY, SO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL BUDGET, UH, ORIENTED, UH, MEETING FOR MDD ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, UH, FIVE 30 IN THIS ROOM.
QUICK, QUICK POINT OF, FOR THE UNDER MANAGER'S REPORT, IF, IF WE COULD CONSIDER HAVING THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AT MDD THAT THAT MAY BE WORTH CONSIDERATION AS WELL HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT.
ALRIGHT, BINA THAT, UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OF NOT BEING THAT MDD HAS ADDRESSED, ALL POSTED AGENDA ITEMS, THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.