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[ BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT NOTICE OF MEETING BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 2022 4:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL 2401 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM ]
BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO ORDER IT, IT IS THURSDAY, AUGUST 4TH, AND IT'S 4:32 PM WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.COUNCIL CHAMBERS, UH, WE HAVE APPROVAL OF
[1. MINUTES]
THE MINUTES.I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR, UH, ITEMS ONE, A, B, AND C, UM, FOR APPROVAL.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND FOR ITEMS A, B, AND C.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR ABSTENTIONS? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN, PLEASE SAY, AYE.
NEXT WE HAVE ITEM TWO A CONSIDER
[a. Consider a resolution adopting the Baytown Municipal Development District Fiscal Year 2022-23 Budget.]
RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT, FISCAL YEAR 2223.SO, UM, I'M ASSUMING THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, UH, FROM THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, MR. PRESIDENT, NO CHANGES TO THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED TO YOU PREVIOUSLY.
IS THERE ANY, UH, ADDITIONAL ENTRIES? I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONTINGENCY THAT WAS ON THE TABLE, UH, ON, UH, IN OUR LAST MEETING.
UM, SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF MDD HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMUNICATE TO ADMINISTRATION, UH, ANY ANY WISHES WITH THAT? I WILL TELL YOU, I DID EXPRESS SOME OF, UH, SOME THINGS THAT I WANTED TO, TO GO AND HAVE INCLUDED IN MDD, BUT, UH, IT APPEARS IT IS GONNA BE CAPTURED IN OUR, IN THE COUNCIL BUDGET, THE GENERAL BUDGET ITSELF.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, I WILL OPEN IT UP TO ANY, ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING THE MBD BUDGET? YES, MA'AM.
SO I HAD AN, AN IDEA I KIND OF WANTED TO THROW AT THE BOARD AND SEE WHAT YOU GUYS THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
SO IN LOOKING AT, UM, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT BUDGET THAT STAFF GAVE US TO REVIEW, UM, I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE THREE PROJECTS LISTED THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, ARE ASKING US TO ISSUE DEBT FOR, THAT I WAS KIND OF THINKING MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE UNDER MDD FUNDING.
AND SO I WANTED TO SEE WHAT YOU ALL THOUGHT ABOUT, UM, ADDING THESE THREE ITEMS TO THE MDD BUDGET TODAY.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING TO DO, UM, A DESIGN FOR THE JENKINS PARK CLUBHOUSE, UM, FOR 270,000 AND A DESIGN FOR THE 100 BLOCK OF TEXAS AVENUE FOR 200,000.
AND THEN THEY HAD ALSO PRO, UH, PROPOSED RENOVATIONS TO THE ART LEAGUE BUILDING FOR 600,000.
AND, UM, I'D LIKE Y'ALL TO CONSIDER MAYBE, UM, PARING THAT DOWN TO 150,000, WHAT IS IT Y'ALL, THE ART LEAGUE RE RENOVATIONS, HOW MUCH? UH, FROM 600,000 TO 150.
AND SO, UM, I'D LIKE TO JUST HEAR Y'ALL'S THOUGHTS ABOUT TAKING THOSE THREE ITEMS OUT OF THE CIP AND PUTTING THEM MAYBE IN THE MDD BUDGET.
WE DO HAVE $742,000 IN UNALLOCATED FUNDS.
SO MY THOUGHTS ARE, UM, SINCE WE HAVE THAT CASH AND THESE PROJECTS SEEM TO BELONG IN MDD, MAYBE THEY DON'T BELONG IN DEBT ISSUANCE.
SO I'LL START WITH ADDRESS THIS COMMENT FIRST.
AND AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, MAYOR, YOU APPOINTED, UM, THE A AND E COMMITTEE AS THE AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE MM-HMM
TO LOOK AT THAT CIP PROJECT LIST.
AND IT'S OUR PURVIEW TO DRAW SOME CONCLUSIONS MM-HMM
AND MAKE APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE HAVE MET ONCE WE PLAN ON MEETING A SECOND TIME, MOST CERTAINLY, AND PROBABLY EVEN A THIRD TIME.
SO I, I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO LET THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT YOU TASKED TO FINISH THE PROCESS BEFORE WE DRAW ANY CONCLUSIONS OR MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.
NUMBER TWO, TWO OF THE THREE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED ARE IN MY COUNCIL DISTRICT.
AND OF COURSE THESE PROJECTS, EVEN WHEN THEY'RE IN A COUNCIL DISTRICT, THEY'RE ALL OF OUR PROJECTS, THEY'RE PROJECTS THAT ALL OF US SHOULD BE PROUD OF AND ALL OF US SHOULD HAVE INPUT ON.
BUT I WOULD ASK ADMINISTRATION, UM, TO INCLUDE THE DISTRICT COUNCIL PERSON, UM, WHENEVER PROPOSED CHA WHENEVER THERE MAY BE PROPOSED CHANGES THAT YOU'VE LEARNED ABOUT IN THAT COUNCILMAN'S DISTRICT.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD, UM, FORMALLY OF, OF THESE CHANGES.
SO I, I WOULD ASK THAT AS A, JUST A COURTESY THAT'S KIND OF A, A RULE OF THUMB, SO TO SPEAK, THAT WE TRY TO ABIDE BY HERE AT COUNCIL.
AND, UH, I WOULD ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, REMIND
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FOLKS THAT THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS BEING TASKED WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SUBJECT TO THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT AND, AND WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO ANY OTHERS, AND ANY OTHERS AREN'T ALLOWED TO TALK TO US ABOUT THINGS.SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FORMAL PROCESS IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
SO I WOULD ASK THAT, THAT THAT PROCESS BE ALLOWED TO BE COMPLETED, UM, BEFORE WE MAKE ANY REC, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST LET US MAKE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS, GIVE US THAT COURTESY AND THAT RESPECT.
AND, UH, BUT YOU KNOW, I I, I DO AGREE AND, AND CERTAINLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT LOOKING AT THE, THE, THE LARGER NUMBERS AND, AND GIVING SOME THOUGHT TO REDUCING THOSE NUMBERS CERTAINLY MAKES SENSE AS WELL.
SO CERTAINLY KUDOS ARE, ARE WARRANTED AND, AND, UH, RECOGNIZED IN THAT REGARD.
SO THAT, THAT'S REALLY MY COMMENT ON THAT.
THE ONLY OTHER COMMENT THAT I WILL MAKE IS, DO WE STILL HAVE THE TWO POSITIONS IN THE BUDGET FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT? YES, WE DO.
SO I THINK AS WE DISCUSSED AT THE LAST MEETING, I HAD SOME COMMENTS.
I BELIEVE DIRECTORS LESTER AND DIRECTOR ALVARADO HAD COMMENTS AS WELL.
I BELIEVE MAYBE THERE WAS ONE OTHER THAT HAD COMMENTS.
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A, A, A, A NEW CITY MANAGER IN 2023.
UM, I DO SUPPORT ALLOCATING MONEY FOR ONE POSITION, AND I CERTAINLY SUPPORT STARTING THAT PROCESS.
BUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS A BRAND NEW DEPARTMENT.
THERE'S BEEN SOME TRIAL AND ERROR.
UM, I GIVE RICK KUDOS FOR, FOR STARTING THAT.
BUT LIKE I SAY, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS WE COULD GO SLOW AND MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT AND, UH, JUST BE AWFULLY SURE ABOUT THE FIRST POSITION, UH, ADDING VALUE AND, AND GETTING A BIG BANG FOR THE BUCK, BECAUSE I BELIEVE WE'RE ISN'T THE EDF FULL CONTRACT IN THE BUDGET AS WELL? THE SERVICES SEC SPECIAL SERVICES SECTION IS, IS NOT, UH, THE TWO 50, WHICH IS THE BASE CONTRACT IS.
SO, LIKE I SAY, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I I I WOULD ASK THAT WE GO SLOW AND DELIBERATE, MAKE SURE NOT ONLY THAT WE GET THE RIGHT PERSON, BUT THAT, THAT THE DUTIES ARE, ARE WELL-DEFINED AND, AND EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE I DID VISIT WITH RICK ABOUT THAT, AND IT, IT, THERE'S, UH, SOME FLEXIBILITY AND WHETHER IT'S FULL-TIME OR REMOTE, THERE SEEMS TO BE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
SO I WOULD JUST, LIKE I SAY, I, I'M FULLY PREPARED TO SUPPORT ONE POSITION IN THE BUDGET, IN THE SPIRIT OF INCREMENTAL.
AND I APPRECIATE THE TIME, MAYOR.
NO, I, I WILL SAY, I'LL JUST COMMENT ON BOTH OF THOSE.
I THINK DIRECTOR KOTZ AND, AND YOUR COMMENTS ARE, ARE REALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH, UM, KINDA WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT BOTH.
I BELIEVE THE BUDGETARY ITEM IS 600 K RIGHT NOW.
IS WHAT IS, IS THAT WHAT'S IN THERE? IS WHAT WAS FOR ONE OF THE ITEMS? I'M NOT REAL, I'M KIND OF CONFUSED.
I'M, I WAS JUST SUGGESTING THAT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE FUNDING SOURCE, SO I WASN'T REALLY QUESTIONING WHETHER THE PROJECTS WERE WARRANTED OR REALLY TRYING TO DEBATE IF THE, THE COST WAS CORRECT.
I JUST THOUGHT MDD WAS A MORE APPROPRIATE FUNDING SOURCE FOR THOSE THREE ITEMS INSTEAD OF DEBT ISSUANCE.
SO THAT WAS REALLY THE, THE GENESIS OF MIKE'S SUGGESTION.
YEAH, SO I THINK I, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY BOTH OF BOTH OF Y'ALL'S COMMENTS ARE, ARE CORRECT.
I THINK WHAT, WHAT SEEMS MORE, WHAT SEEMS, UH, PRACTICAL AND PRUDENT IS KIND OF THE CHECKS AND BALANCE BETWEEN A E TAKING A LOOK AT IT.
IF, IF THERE NEEDS TO BE ANY KIND OF TRANSFER BETWEEN C-I-P-M-D-D ON ANY, ANY ITEMS ITSELF AND, AND THE DESU DEBT ISSU ISSUANCE, IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING, I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR THAT THERE'S STILL THE CONTINGENCY FUNDS, IF IT'S 642,000, THAT WILL STILL EXIST.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, UM, IF, IF, IF THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION IN A SENSE BOTH BY A AND E ON WHATEVER CHANGES MAY BE NEEDED, TRANSFER SOME THINGS FOR DESIGN THAT CAN BE CASH FUNDED BY MDD, WHICH I DO, I I WILL SAY, I BELIEVE YOUR COMMENTS ARE VERY CORRECT, UM, THAT DESIGN FOR, FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS ARE, ARE MORE APPROPRIATE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONSTRUCTION THAN CIPI BELIEVE IS ALSO MORE ALSO APPROPRIATE IF THAT'S WHAT A AND E DECIDES.
UM, SO IF WE LEAVE THE 7 42 AS UNFORESEEN OR CONTINGENCY INITIATIVES AND THERE'S A RECOMMENDATION IN 30 OR 60 DAYS, WE CAN ALWAYS TAKE ACTION ON THAT, RIGHT? THERE'S NO DOUBT.
SO I BELIEVE, UH, DIRECTOR UR AND, AND ALSO, UH, DIRECTOR PRESLEY'S COMMENTS ARE ACTUALLY IN ALIGNMENT WHAT WILL PROBABLY OCCUR, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.
AND, AND IN, IN CON IN CONSIDERATION OF COUNCILMAN BETANCOURT'S COMMENTS, I MEAN, THERE, THERE COULD VARY WELL, AND I WOULD SAY THERE'S A LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE COULD BE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AS WELL.
AND WE CAN TAKE 'EM ALL AT ONE TIME.
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ABSOLUTELY.SO, SO, YOU KNOW, IT LEAVES, IT STILL LEAVES A 7 42 ON THE TABLE.
UM, I WILL SAY THIS, I THINK THERE'S A, AT YOUR PLACE, UH, FOR ALL DIRECTORS, UM, THIS WAS, UH, THE COMMUNICATION FROM THE ART LEAGUE REGARDING THE THINGS THAT ARE, THAT ARE, THAT ARE NEEDED.
AND IT MAY BE ALL ENCOMPASSING FROM, UM, FROM SOME VERY SMALL ITEMS TO SOME VERY LARGE ITEMS THAT MAYBE WE'RE NOT READY, REALLY READY TO TACKLE.
UM, I THINK, I THINK THE 150 THRESHOLD, OR IN A SENSE THAT THAT'S A BUDGETARY ITEM, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE, ALTHOUGH WE MAY NOT TAKE ACTION ON THAT TODAY.
UM, I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE IN, IN ORDER TO CAPTURE, UH, A LOT OF THE AESTHETICS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GALLERY ITSELF.
UH, BUT THEY MAY BE SOME LARGER, UH, MORE COMPLEX, UH, ENGINEERING STRUCTURAL TYPE THINGS IF WE WANT TO ENTERTAIN THOSE THINGS LONG TERM.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE LARGER DOLLARS, UM, MAY BE IN A SENSE.
SO, UM, I THINK, I DON'T THINK WE'RE THERE YET.
I KNOW THERE WAS A FACILITIES ASSESSMENT, AND SO LET'S, LET'S KIND OF TAKE A FEW, I THINK THERE'S KIND OF A PHASE ONE, KIND OF SOME, UM, SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE IMPROVED, UH, INITIALLY.
AND THEN THERE'S THE LARGER SCHOOL.
SO, UM, I'LL GO AND I'LL, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE A AND E'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND CERTAINLY, UM, THEY WILL RECOMMEND PROJECTS IN A SENSE THAT WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN BOTH THE CITY BUDGET AND THE MDD BUDGET IN A SENSE.
AND THEN, UM, WITH THAT THEN FINANCE CERTAINLY WE'LL GO AND, AND, AND, UH, WITH MS. NC COURT AND, AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE COULD GO AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE, THIS IS WHAT WE THINK WE CAN JUSTIFY FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, ECONOMIC STANDPOINT, UH, AND THROUGH A CERTAIN FUNDING SOURCE.
AND I THINK THAT IS THE CHECKS AND BALANCE, I THINK THAT'S GONNA BE REALLY AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROCESS ITSELF.
MAYOR, JUST SO YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'LL BE QUICKER THAN 30 DAYS.
WE'LL HAVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I KNOW, I JUST, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO SCHEDULES AND SUMMER AND SCHOOLS AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT I WANNA BE REALISTIC.
BUT I DO THINK THAT KIND OF THE SCULPING OF A AND E AND, AND THEN FINANCE BEING THAT CHECKS AND BALANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE THE PRIORITIES, UH, BASED OFF CITIZEN INPUT, BASED OFF OF ENGINEERING INPUT BASED OFF, UH, ALL, ALL OUR NEEDS.
AND THEN CERTAINLY, WHAT, WHAT DO WE THINK IS GONNA BE PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE, FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE? UM, SO, UH, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL CERTAINLY BE THAT CHECKS AND BALANCE.
UM, AND I THINK WE CAN GET THERE CERTAINLY BEFORE, SO THAT COUNCIL CAN, UM, APPROVE AT, AT, AT, UM, I'M ASSUMING LATER IN AUGUST, A, A COUNCIL BUDGET.
SO WE DO HAVE TO WORK QUICKLY.
THIS IS, THIS IS KIND OF CRUNCH TIME.
THIS HAPPENS, THIS IS THE TIME THAT THINGS HAPPEN, RIGHT? SO IT'S ABOUT FUNDING MANY, MANY THINGS.
AND SO, UM, I, I DO APPRECIATE BOTH OF Y'ALL COMMENTS.
UM, AGAIN, THERE'S, THERE IS MONEY.
I DON'T, I, I ALWAYS BELIEVE IN, IN, IN SOME LEVEL OF CONTINGENCY, 'CAUSE THINGS DO HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, BUT I DO THINK THERE'S CERTAINLY A NEED WITH ART LEAGUE.
UH, THEY DO SERVE, UH, A REALLY GOOD AMENITY IN, IN, ON TEXAS AVENUE AND, AND, AND TEXAS AVENUE.
AS, AS COUNCILMAN PRESLER, DIRECTOR PRESLEY DID MENTION, ALTHOUGH IT MAY LIE WITH EVERYTHING LIES IN THE COUNCIL DISTRICT, EVERYTHING LIE LIES WITHIN THE CITY OF LIMITS.
BAYTOWN, IT IS A SHARED RESOURCE, SHARED ASSET TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THERE'S MANY, MANY INTERESTS WITH THAT.
AND, AND, UH, THEY'VE DONE A REMARKABLE JOB, UH, THE ART LEAGUE ITSELF, UH, AND, AND THE EXHIBITIONS THEY'VE HAD.
AND SO WE REALLY WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT COME AND VISIT FROM OUTSIDE OUR CITY AND INTERNALLY FROM OUR CITY, UM, THAT WE DO REALLY PRESENT OUR BEST, UH, BEST FACE, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO THE GALLERY ITSELF.
SO WITH ALL THAT, I THINK WE WILL CERTAINLY HAVE AN OUTCOME THAT EVERYBODY WILL BE PLEASED WITH.
SO WITH THAT, IF THERE'S ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT, UM, I KNOW YOU DID MENTION ABOUT, UH, THE TWO POSITIONS VERSUS ONE POSITION.
I I THINK IT, IT ALMOST SEEMED LIKE IN THE LAST DISCUSSION REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I KNOW MR. CARDELLA CONTINUES TO HAVE VERY GOOD CONTACT WITH A LOT OF POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN, IN, IN THE BAYTOWN AREA.
UM, I WOULD FULLY SUPPORT ONE POSITION AS, AS A, UM, BUDGETARY ITEM.
AND, AND, AND I KNOW THERE WAS TWO REQUESTED, I DON'T THINK WE'RE QUITE THERE YET.
UM, BUT I CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE ONE POSITION.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE REST OF M AND D THINKS, BUT THAT'S WHERE I'M AT.
WE APPRECIATE WHATEVER RESOURCES IT IS.
AND, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, UM, I KNOW COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, ALVARADO IS NOT HERE, BUT, UH, I DO AGREE WITH A LOT WHAT SHE HAS, UH, COMMUNICATE, COMMUNICATED TO ME.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO LARGE SCALE BUSINESSES, UH, THEY, THEY KIND OF ALMOST, THEY KIND OF JUST RUN SEAMLESS, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF WHAT I'M GONNA CALL MOM AND POP AND VERY SMALL BUSINESSES IN BAYTOWN.
THEY REALLY DO NEED, UH, ADDITIONAL ATTENTION, UH, AND ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND SO ON.
AND I THINK ADDITIONAL POSITION WILL HELP HELP FILL THAT GAP AND, AND HELP PROVIDE, UM, SOME DIRECTION WITH THEM.
SO I WOULD PROBABLY SUPPORT THAT.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT ON, IS THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? YES, SIR.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE POSITIONS, I THINK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS THE LIFEBLOOD OF THIS CITY.
UM, I AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS ON SMALL BUSINESS MOM AND POP, BUT WE CANNOT FORGET THE BIGGER
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BUSINESSES ALSO THAT WANT TO COME IN.AND WHEN I GOT ON COUNCIL, THEY ACTUALLY, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POSITION WAS A NEW POSITION, AND I DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WAS WARRANTED AT THE TIME.
BUT AFTER, I THINK WE'VE HAD TWO, HOW MANY HAVE, WE HAD TWO OR THREE PEOPLE IN THAT POSITION ALREADY? WE'RE ON THE THIRD, WE'RE ON THE THIRD POSITIONS.
MORPHED A LITTLE BIT, BUT YEAH, IT IS MORPHED.
BUT, BUT THE, WHEN IT COMES TO THE JOB THAT'S BEEN DONE WITH THE PERSON HOLDING THE POSITION NOW, IT FAR OUTWEIGHS WHAT THE OTHER TWO INDIVIDUALS DID.
COMBINED FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN MY SIX YEARS ON COUNCIL.
NOW, UM, YOU STAFF SAYING THEY NEED TWO POSITIONS.
I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH ASKING FOR TWO POSITIONS.
IF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS THAT IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY, WE SHOULD BE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO BE SURE THAT WE PUT AN EMPHASIS ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
THAT'S WHAT BRINGS IN THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WERE REQUESTING.
I HAD A TALK WITH SOMEONE TODAY WHO, UM, HAD SOME CON, WELL, TWO PEOPLE TODAY WHO HAD COMMENTS ABOUT THAT.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD LIKE TO, THEY THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE EXPANDED AS A DEPARTMENT FULL FUNCTIONING.
IF WE DO IT IN INCREMENTS, THEN WE'RE GONNA SEE AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE IN WHAT'S BEING BROUGHT INTO THE CITY.
AND I, FOR ONE, THINK WE NEED TO PUT EVERYTHING WE CAN BEHIND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SO THAT WE CAN FEEL THE FULL EFFECTS OF IT, THE SOONER, SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
I THINK THE SOONER THE BETTER.
THAT'S JUST HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT.
UM, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE WOULD GIVE IT SOME MORE THOUGHT BEFORE DECIDING ON THAT SECOND POSITION.
I WOULD AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN JOHNSON.
I TOO WOULD SUPPORT TWO POSITIONS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AS FAR AS THE POSITIONS GO, I THINK IT'S, IT'S A, UH, AN EITHER OR.
I THINK IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO, WE PROBABLY SHOULD PULL BACK A LITTLE MORE FROM EDF, UM, AND PUT MORE OF OUR, UH, YOU KNOW, ALLOCATE MORE FUNDS FOR DEVELOPING THAT DEPARTMENT INTERNALLY.
UM, SO BASICALLY CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER.
UM, I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF MOVING, UH, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, UM, THAT, THAT THE ANNIE'S GONNA REVIEW, UM, SEE WHAT WE CAN CASH FUND AS OPPOSED TO, UM, TO KEEPING THOSE ON THE COS.
UM, I GUESS LOOKING AT SOME OF THE PROJECTS, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE, THEY WERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF, UH, OF MONEY ALLOCATED LAST YEAR TO SOME OF 'EM.
AND YOU SEE A, A VERY LARGE AMOUNT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
UM, AND SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS CAN WE REALISTICALLY EXECUTE ALL OF THESE THINGS? UM, AND, AND IF NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE REALISTICALLY GET DONE? SO IF THERE'S TOO MANY THINGS, YOU KNOW, TO EXECUTE ON THE GROUND, MAYBE WE PIVOT AND, AND WORK MORE ON SOME OF THE, UM, DESIGN WHERE YOU HAVE SOME WORK GOING IN ON THE GROUND, SOME DESIGN GOING ON.
UM, JUST SO WE'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT TO CARRY A LARGE CHUNK OF CASH FORWARD EVERY YEAR.
WE WANT TO, IF, IF THERE'S, IF WE KNOW WE CAN'T GET THE PROJECT DONE, UM, YOU, YOU KNOW, THEN WE NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO, TO SPEND THAT.
UM, SO I MEAN, LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE, THERE'S SOME SUBSTANTIAL, UM, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE STILL SPENDING 400,000 TO FINISH UP THE TOWN SQUARE GREEN SPACE AND THEN THE OVER 800,000 FOR THE DISC GOLF COURSE.
UM, AND, AND, UM, ANOTHER DOG PARK.
AND SO I JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, I WONDER IF WE CAN GET ALL OF THAT EXECUTED IN THE NEXT YEAR.
UM, AND IF NOT, MAYBE THERE'S SOME, SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT, THAT REALLY NEED TO BE DONE THAT WE COULD MOVE THOSE FUNDS TOWARDS.
SO THAT, I GUESS THAT'S JUST A QUESTION FOR STAFF IS TO MAKE SURE THESE ARE ALL THINGS WE CAN REALISTICALLY EXECUTE THIS YEAR.
ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WELL, SINCE EVERYBODY'S WEIGHING IN ON, ON THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POSITIONS, UH, I'LL SHARE MY THOUGHTS ALSO.
UH, I'M CERTAINLY IN FAVOR OF, OF DEVELOPING AND, AND, AND WATCHING THE CITY GROW AND, AND DOING WHAT WE NEED TO THERE.
I PERSONALLY WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH ADDING ONE POSITION NOW AND MAYBE ONE POSITION LATER IF THIS POSITION IS, IS A BENEFIT TO THE CITY WITHOUT JUMPING INTO IT, UH, TOO MUCH.
BUT LOOKING AT, AT THE NUMBERS, IF I'M READING THIS RIGHT UNDER THE STAFF, WE'RE ONLY GOING FROM 1 73 TO 2 85, UH, IN THE BUDGET.
AND IF THAT'S BUDGETED FOR TWO PEOPLE, THAT'S NOT A LOT OF, NOT A LOT OF MONEY FOR TWO PEOPLE.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT INCLUDES BENEFITS OR WHETHER THAT'S JUST SALARY OR, I THINK THAT'S ALL INCLUSIVE.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S NOT A EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY IF, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO PEOPLE ANYWAY.
BUT I, BUT I'M JUST SHARING, I, I'D, I'D FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH ADDING ONE NOW IN THE BUDGET.
AND, AND I WOULD ONLY ADD, THERE'S ONLY TWO THINGS I WOULD ADD BEFORE I ADD ANOTHER COMMENT.
IT WOULD BE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ALWAYS WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY, LET'S, LET'S TRY THE ONE POSITION AND THEN WE CAN, WE CAN STILL WITHHOLD FUNDING
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AND, AND SAY, HEY, IN SIX MONTHS WE'RE LIKE, HEY, LOOK, WE, OR WHATEVER TIMEFRAME THAT WE, WE CAN SAY IT IS TIME, THINGS ARE REALLY GOING AND WE NEED ADDITIONAL HELP.AND SO, UM, WE ALWAYS HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW.
AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE, THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE MDD FUNDS, IS TO GO AND BRING THE, THE, THE ECONOMICS TO RETAIL, THE COMMERCIAL TO BAYTOWN.
SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE.
IF, IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, PLEASE KEEP PRESSING NOT TO BORROW SOMEBODY'S MICROPHONE.
UM, I SEE BOTH POINT OF VIEWS AND I MEAN, YOU GUYS ARE THE EXPERTS.
UM, BUT I DO ALSO THINK THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD START WITH ONE AS WELL, AND OBVIOUSLY YEAH, I'M SURE IT'LL WORK AND I'M SURE IT'LL BE HELPFUL.
UM, AND I DID ALSO HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, DO WE, ARE WE PLANNING ON ANOTHER DUCK PARK BESIDES THE LAKEWOOD ONE FOR FUTURE MAYBE ON THIS SIDE OF TOWN INSTEAD OF, I WOULD FOCUSING MORE ON THAT SIDE.
WHEN WE HAVE OUR PARKS DIRECTOR, WE CAN, WE CAN ASK, BUT I, I WOULD THINK THAT HOPEFULLY THAT WE DO TRY TO ADD AS MANY AMENITIES.
I WOULD IF I PROPOSE, IF I WERE TO, TO USE A CRYSTAL BALL, I THINK UNIT AND PARK, BOTH BECAUSE THEY HAVE LAND CAPACITY FOR A DOG PARK, BUT, UM, IT'S GREAT WHERE PEOPLE CAN BRING THEIR, THEIR DOGS IF THEY'RE ON A, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, I WANT A CLARITY.
'CAUSE SOMETIMES I GET CONFUSED MYSELF.
PARKS THAT WE HAVE, PUBLIC PARKS THAT WE HAVE, IF, IF AN INDIVIDUAL BRINGS THEIR PET ON A LEASH TO A PARK, IS THAT ALLOWED OR NOT? BECAUSE I GET CONFUSED WITH SIGNAGE.
'CAUSE A LOT OF TIMES IT SAYS NO DOGS LOUD AT EVERY PARK OTHER THAN A SPORTS COMPLEX.
THE SPORTS COMPLEX ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE A DOGS AT.
AND TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, UM, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING AT DOG PARKS AT DIFFERENT AREAS.
UH, DOG PARKS ARE, ARE UNIQUE AND THE SENSE THAT THEY'RE GREAT FOR A COMMUNITY IS NOT GREAT TO HAVE NEXT DOOR TO YOUR HOUSE.
SO IT'S A REALLY KIND OF A DELICATE, UH, UH, PLACE TO FIND ONE.
BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT A LOT OF DIFFERENT AREAS THAT THAT PUT THEM IN THROUGHOUT TOWN.
UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS, IS WHAT OUR CITY'S ALL ABOUT IS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS.
AND SO I AGREE WITH THE TWO POSITIONS.
UM, FUNDING ONE AT A TIME, IF THERE'S SOME TIMING ASSOCIATED WITH WHEN THE ASSESSMENT WOULD BE DONE TO SEE IF THE SECOND POSITION IS NECESSARY.
AND ALSO I LIKE THE IDEA OF, UM, FUNDING OUTTA CIP, UM, MD IS THE FUNDING SOURCE RATHER THAN CIP 'CAUSE NOBODY LIKES A LOT OF DEBT AND, UM, TAKES AWAY FROM THE DEBT LOAN FOR THE CITY.
NO, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS AND, AND I DO APPRECIATE COMING MID COURT'S REALLY, UM, COMMENTS REGARDING, I THINK THE POINT IS THAT IF, IF THERE'S SOME THINGS WE CAN CASH FUND, UM, ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE PART OF A PROJECT ASSOCIATED WITH CIP, WE CAN CASH FUND THE DESIGN, MAYBE THE CONSTRUCTION IS OBVIOUSLY A LARGER COST.
AND SO THE MORE WE CAN CASH FUND THE LESS THAT ISSUANCE.
I BELIEVE THAT'S A VERY PRUDENT APPROACH AND PRACTICAL APPROACH ON, ON MANY THINGS.
UM, SO ON THE POSITIONS, UM, UH, I KIND OF HEAR A SPLIT TWO AND ONE.
I, I NEED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT.
IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T MIND, YOU GO AHEAD AND THEN JUST, OKAY.
SO, SO, UH, AS A, AS SOMEONE WHO SERVES WITH THE EXECUTIVE BOARD WITH EDF, I WANT, I REALLY WANT EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THERE'S, THERE'S, UM, SOME DIFFERENT, UM, I I GUESS YOU'D SAY REALLY SCALE TO WHAT WE DO ECONOMICALLY IN-HOUSE WITH BRETT GARDELLA AND ANY STAFF.
IT DON'T MATTER IF IT'S ONE OR 10 PEOPLE.
AND WHAT EDF DOES, UM, EDF, UM, IS REALLY, THEY FACILITATE WHEN IT COMES TO SITE SELECTION FOR THINGS THAT ARE REALLY HAPPENING INTERNATIONALLY WHEN THEY'RE LOOKING FOR LARGE, LARGE AREAS OF ACREAGE.
UM, FOR THE BAYTOWN AREA, A LOT OF IT IS IN THE CHAMBERS COUNTY AREA.
'CAUSE THAT IS WHERE A LOT OF THE, UM, GROWTH IS OCCURRING WHEN IT COMES TO LOGISTICS AND, AND OTHER THINGS.
AND SO THEIR SWIM LANE IS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ARE ASKING, UH, OUR IN-HOUSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO DO.
AND SO THERE WE ARE TALKING MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS AND MOM AND POP DOWN TO MOM AND POP.
AND SO THERE'S, THERE'S A, THERE'S REALLY A DIFFERENCE IN, IN THE, BOTH, BOTH THEIR MISSIONS.
UH, WE ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN, IN A LOT OF AREAS THAT EDF HAS HELPED FACILITATE INTO THE ATTRACTION OF BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF INDUSTRIAL GROWTH.
UH, AND, BUT I THINK ON THE, ON THE FLIP SIDE, WHEN AS THAT HAPPENS, UH, WHEN ALSO WANT TO SEE OUR ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT GROW ALSO, AND SO THERE'S REALLY, UM, IT'S NOT ABOUT FUNDS SAYING, WELL, YOU TAKE FROM ONE AND PUT IT OVER HERE.
UH, AND YOU THINK THAT, THAT, THAT THAT, THAT YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING.
UM, AND THEY BOTH SHOULD BE FUNDED APPROPRIATELY.
[00:25:01]
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IDAS AND EDA AND, AND OTHER THINGS THAT OCCUR, UM, I WOULD SAY EDS, UM, THAT BASICALLY PROVIDE 55% OF OUR TOTAL TAX REVENUE.IT'S THE SCALE IS SO LOPSIDED IN A SENSE.
AND SO JUST BE MINDFUL OF THAT.
UM, BUT I DO TOTALLY, UH, UM, AGREE THAT WE WANNA SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OCCUR.
WE WANNA SEE ADDITIONAL RESTAURANTS, RETAIL, COMMERCIAL GROWTH, RESIDENTIAL GROWTH HAPPEN.
AND THAT'S, THAT IS IN THE PURVIEW OF, OF THE ECONOMIC, THE, THE CITY OF BAY TOWN'S ECONOMIC TEAM.
SO, UM, I'M MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE ONE POSITION TO START OFF AND THEN, UH, I WOULD, I WOULD ASK THEM THIS THAT WE WOULD, UM, BEFORE WE UTILIZE OR, UM, ALLOCATE THE 742 THAT WE AT LEAST RESERVE SOME FUNDS SO THAT IF IT'S MID BUDGET, WE KIND OF LOOK AT SOME THINGS THAT IF WE NEED TO GO AND, AND START SEEKING THE SECOND POSITION, WE CAN.
THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION, UH, CERTAINLY BASED OFF THE, THE COMMENTS THAT WAS, UH, FROM EVERYONE HERE AT MDD, WHICH I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE.
SO, SO WITH THAT, UM, WHAT WE HAVE, UNLESS THERE'S ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS YES, SIR.
OH, BESIDES YOURS, UH, I WOULD OFFER UP TO, I THINK A, A GOOD GO AHEAD AND AUTHORIZE THE TWO POSITIONS AND BEFORE WE GET THE SECOND POSITION, I THINK WE SHOULD COME BACK TO YOU AND SHOW YOU HOW WE'VE UTILIZED THAT POSITION, UH, BEFORE WE WOULD FILL THE SECOND POSITION, WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THAT, GIVE YOU SOME CONCRETE, UH, IDEA OF HOW WE'VE UTILIZED THAT.
UH, RATHER THAN HAVING TO WAIT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING A YEAR FROM OCTOBER TO GET THAT SECOND POSITION, IF YOU CAN EXTEND THAT TRUST TO US, SO THAT, WE'LL, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND FILL THAT POSITION AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK MID-YEAR AND SHOW YOU HOW WE'VE UTILIZED THAT POSITION TO SEEK YOUR, YOUR, UH, YOU'RE OKAY BEFORE WE WENT AHEAD AND, AND, UH, FILLED THE SECOND POSITION.
DOES THAT SEEM PALATABLE TO YOU? I MEAN, IT SEEMS LIKE A CON SO JUST QUESTION FOR CLARIFICATION.
SO WHEN YOU SAY MID-YEAR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT COMING BACK WHEN? WELL, IT COULD BE MID-YEAR FOR US IS MARCH.
SO IN ALL, I MEAN, THE NEXT CITY MANAGER WOULD HAVE INPUT ON THE SCOPE AND THE DUTIES OF AN ADDITIONAL PERSON AND, AND WE WOULD BE EXTENDING THAT COURTESY TO HIM.
WELL, I, I, I, YOU KNOW, NO, I, YOU KNOW, WE, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE, WE, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE TO SOME DEGREE, RICK.
SO, YOU KNOW, I, I HAVE TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS, SO YEAH, SURE.
I MEAN, I'LL TELL YOU HOW THE NEW CITY MANAGER WILL BE OFF TO A BAD START IF, IF HE START REDUCING THE POSITIONS.
SO, SO WITH THAT IN MIND, I, I THINK WHAT, WHAT'S ON THE TABLE? SO THE CURRENT PROPOSED BUDGET DOES REFLECT THE TWO POSITIONS IS CORRECT? IT DOES.
SO, SO IF EVERYTHING STATUS STAYS AS IS, WE COULD APPROVE THE MDD BUDGET, WHICH, CORRECT, WHICH WE, WHICH WHICH IS STILL FINE.
WE CAN COME BACK WITH A FEW THINGS.
ONE, I THINK WE NEED TO GO AND, AND GET A REALLY GOOD, UM, UNDERSTANDING ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE ART LEAGUE.
I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY DESERVE A BUDGET ITEM OF SOME SORT, SEE WHAT WE CAN OBTAIN AND WHAT CAN BE DELIVERED.
WHAT IS THEIR, THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS.
UM, AND THEN WHEN IT COMES TO THE POSITIONS, I THINK WE LEAVE THE TWO THERE.
LET'S TRY ONE OUT AND JUST ASK THE STAFF.
WE, WE DON'T ADVERTISE FOR THAT UNTIL MIDYEAR.
IF, AND THAT'S REALLY A REVISIT AND DISCUSSION.
I MEAN, IT'S, IS THAT FAIR? AND WE CAN APPROVE THE BUDGET BECAUSE IF WE APPROVE THE BUDGET, THAT'S GONNA BE HELPFUL FOR COUNSEL TO MAKE OTHER DECISIONS LATER THIS MONTH.
IS THAT FAIR? I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.
UM, UM, AND WE, WE KIND OF GET SOME ESTIMATES ON, ON WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU RIGHT HERE.
SO ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS? SO THEN I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM TWO A, CONSIDER RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE MBD, UH, DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR 2223 BUDGET AS PRESENTED BY STAFF MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND A.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? TWO A AS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED? WE, ITEM THREE, CONSIDER RESOLUTION
[a. Consider a resolution approving a Business Improvement Grant application submitted by Grind and Rise Inc. for an amount not to exceed $40,000.00.]
APPROVING A BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY GRIND AND RISE INC.FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $40,000.
I'M ASSUMING EITHER MR. GARDELLA OR SOMEONE ELSE HAS ANY COMMENTS ON, ON THIS, IF YOU CAN, UH, LET MVD AT LEAST KNOW THE SUMMARY OF THIS ITEM.
I, I'M, I'M TERRIBLY SORRY, I'M BEING CAUGHT OFF GUARD ON THIS.
I DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS WAS PUT ON THE AGENDA.
UH, GRIND AND RISE IS OF COURSE, THE, UH, THE NEW INDOOR BATTING CAGE COMPLEX.
UM, THEY ARE STILL WORKING ON GETTING THEIR DBA ASSIGNED AND AFTER THE DBA IS ASSIGNED, IT WOULD BE GIVEN TO ME.
UM, THIS IS ALREADY A, AN APPLICATION THAT WAS APPROVED BY YOU GUYS AT THE, AT LAST MONTH'S MEETING.
[00:30:01]
I, I DID NOT PUT THIS ON THE AGENDA.I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT THERE.
WELL, IT'S, IT'S THERE BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME, UH, I THINK, AND SCOTT, YOU COULD SPEAK TO THAT, YES, THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION, UH, WITH THE ACTUAL CORPORATE NAME, UH, WHEN THIS WAS BEFORE YOU, UH, PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS JUST AN AMOUNT AND, UH, THE COMPANY NAME DID NOT APPEAR, SO YOU'VE ALREADY APPROVED THE AMOUNT, BUT WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH THE ISSUES WITH THE LEGAL NAME OF THE COMPANY AS WELL AS THE, UH, WHETHER THERE WAS OR WASN'T, A DBA.
AND THIS IS THE LEGAL NAME? THIS IS THE LEGAL NAME.
MORE OF A RATIFICATION, SO TO SPEAK.
YES, THAT'S WHAT, IT'S, IT'S MORE OF AN ALLOCATION BECAUSE THERE WAS AN AMOUNT THAT WAS FUNDED.
UH, TWO COMPANIES WERE ACTUALLY GIVEN, UH, GRANTS AT THAT TIME.
UH, THIS ONE WAS IN THE WORKS AND THERE WAS A, A FOURTH, UH, WHO WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO, TO MAKE A DEAL WITH BECAUSE OF SOME, UH, TAX ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE CLEARED UP.
THAT'S, SO, ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS REGARDING THIS? I HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT.
UM, I KNOW IT'S ALREADY APPROVED, BUT AS FAR AS THE STUFF THAT THE BUSINESSES CAN DO, UM, REPAIRS OR IS IT, ARE WE APPROVING, UM, SPECIFICS TO THEIR BUSINESS OR JUST ANY KIND OF, UM, IMPROVEMENTS LIKE IN GENERAL? NO, IT, IT'S OBVIOUSLY SPECIFIC TO THEIR BUSINESS AND IT'S SPECIFIC TO THE GUIDELINES OF THE PROGRAM.
SO, UH, LANDSCAPING, FOR EXAMPLE, IS APPROVED.
IT'S, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE, ON THE EXTERIOR, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH COULD BE, UM, SOME PARKING LOT REPAIR RES STRIPING, UH, BLACK TOPPING, LANDSCAPING, PAINTING, SIGNAGE, THINGS LIKE THAT ON THE OUTSIDE, WHICH CERTAINLY IMPROVED THE LOOK AND AESTHETIC OF THE PROPERTY.
ON THE INSIDE WE HAVE ALLOWED LIFE SAFETY ISSUES, BUT AT OUR LAST MONTH'S MEETING, WE EXPANDED IT TO ALLOW THEM TO DO THINGS LIKE CHANGE FLOORING FROM CARPET TO A HARDWOOD SURFACE OF SOME RESPECT, WHETHER IT'S TILE OR WOOD, UH, TO PUT IN DOORS THAT MAKE, UM, UM, THE MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE BUSINESS A LITTLE BIT MORE CONVENIENT.
OR IF THEY'RE BUILDING IN SOME TYPE OF UNIT THAT IS GOING TO BE, UM, AN ACTUAL BUILT-IN UNIT, SOME BOOKCASES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT IS NOT REMOVABLE IF THE BUSINESS PERSON DECIDES TO LEAVE THAT PARTICULAR PREMISES.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE ALLOWED THIS PROGRAM TO GO.
AS YOU KNOW, WE EXPANDED THE DOLLAR AMOUNT FROM 20,000 UP TO A 40,000.
IT IS STILL ON A 50 50 REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM, BUT, UH, EVERYTHING IS SPECIFIC TO THAT INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS.
WE DON'T COMPARE IT TO OTHER PROPERTIES, UM, OR OTHER BUSINESSES THAT APPLY THAT MAY BE A SIMILAR OR LIKE BUSINESS.
CAN I REPHRASE MY QUESTION? MM-HMM
UM, I GUESS IT WOULD BE MORE OF A, LIKE YOU SAID, IF, IF THAT BUSINESS MOVES, DID WE APPROVE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GONNA HELP ANYBODY ELSE MOVING INTO THAT BUSINESS? WELL, THE IMPROVEMENTS WOULD ALREADY BE DONE TO THAT PARTICULAR PLACE, THAT PARTICULAR LOCATION.
SO, UH, THE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE TO HAVE TO STAY.
UM, IF IT'S A LEASE PREMISES, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE TO GET PERMISSION FROM THE LANDLORD OR THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY TO PAINT.
LET'S SAY YOU'RE GONNA PAINT OUTSIDE, IF IT'S BLUE AND THE LANDLORD ALLOWS YOU TO PAINT IT RED, THEN IT'S BETWEEN YOU AND THE LANDLORD IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE AND PAINT IT BLUE WHEN YOU LEAVE.
NOT UP TO US, BUT WE DO ALLOW THAT IN THE PROGRAM TO BE ABLE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THAT TYPE OF EXPENSE.
SO, SO FOR INSTANCE, WOULD WE APPROVE, UH, A BUSINESS TO GO OUT AND PURCHASE FURNITURE, IT PERSONAL PROPERTY AND ELIGIBLE EXPENSE? NO, SIR.
THE, THE REVOLVING LOAN FUND, IF WE ARE ABLE TO GET THAT PUT IN PLACE, THAT DOES ALLOW SOMEONE TO GO OUT AND BUY FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR BUSINESS.
IF IT IS, UM, MACHINERY THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THE BUSINESS, THEN WE WOULD ATTACH, UM, UH, PROBABLY A, A, A UCC NINE I THINK IS FORM ON THAT EQUIPMENT.
SO IF THEY DID GO OUT OF BUSINESS, WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO, IF WE COULD FIND IT, TRACK THAT EQUIPMENT AND TAKE IT BACK AS, UM, SOME TYPE OF REIMBURSEMENT ON THE LOAN.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE LOAN RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE JUST WORKING ON THE GRANT PROGRAM.
SO, UM, I GUESS, UH, TO ENTERTAIN, WHICH FOR ITEM THREE A, TO TO APPROVE, UH, THIS, FOR THIS LEGAL ENTITY FOR BUSINESS BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT FUNDING, UH, TO GRIND AND RISE INC.
MY ONLY ADDITIONAL COMMENT, I MEAN I DO THINK IT'S A GREAT, UH, IT'S ACTUALLY A FRANCHISE OF, OF DBA.
IT'S IT'S OPERATING NAME AND UH, I THINK IT'LL BE A VERY UTILIZED, UH, FACILITY, UH, FOR THOSE BO UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE, UM, LOOKING
[00:35:01]
TO, UM, REALLY HAVE SOME COACHING SKILLS WITH BATTING PRACTICE FOR BOTH, UH, UH, BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL.AND I THINK IT'S WELL LOCATED BETWEEN, UH, BAY, THE BAYTOWN AREA AND, AND OTHER SURROUNDING AREAS.
UH, I, I WENT, HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO AND TOUR THE FACILITY.
I THINK MR. DAVIS WENT, WENT THERE TOO.
I THINK I CAN HIT ABOUT 103 MILE PER HOUR FAST BALL WE HAD TO SEE COME ON.
SO, YEAH, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK THEY DROVE AFTER CARS.
IS THAT YOUR RECOLLECTION,
NO, BUT I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM THREE A AS PRESENTED, UH, FROM DIRECTOR BITTEN COURT.
ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NONE OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF THREE A AS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY AYE.
[a. Receive the Baytown Municipal Development District’s Quarterly Financial and Investment Reports for the Quarter Ending June 30, 2022.]
IS FOR A REPORTS RECEIVED OF A MVD DISTRICT'S COURT FINANCIAL REPORT, UH, QUARTER ENDING JUNE 30TH OF 22.THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
SO THE STORY, THE ACTIONABLE RISE OF SALES TAX CONTINUES, UH, WE ARE ON TARGET, AS I SAID AT THE LAST MEETING, EVEN CLOSER TO THAT TARGET OF ACHIEVING OVER $8 MILLION IN SALES TAX IN THE MDD IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
AND THAT IS REFLECTED IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, WE ARE JUST ABOUT WHERE WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE AND THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD, UH, FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND WE'VE ALREADY TALKED OBVIOUSLY ABOUT YOUR BUDGET.
UH, YOU HAVE A HEALTHY CONTINGENCY.
UH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT THAT WILL GROW RATHER THAN REDUCE IF SALES TAX CONTINUES AT THE CURRENT PACE.
SO AT THAT POINT, UNLESS THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, IF NOT, WE'LL CONSIDER ITEM FOUR AS RECEIVED.
[b. Receive the Monthly Construction Status Report for the Baytown Hotel and Convention Center Project.]
FOR, UH, ITEM FOUR B, RECEIVED THE MONTHLY CONSTRUCTION STATUS REPORT, UH, REGARDING OUR, UH, BAYTOWN HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER PROJECT.I'M NOT SURE IF, IF YOU'VE GOT ME TODAY, I'M AFRAID, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT'S FINE.
PER STAND IN FOR HUGH CRONIN FROM BROADUS WHO COULD NOT BE HERE TODAY, BUT SEND HIS REGARDS.
UM, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE, WHO HAVE DRIVEN PAST, YOU WILL SEE WE ARE INDEED BUILDING A FAIRLY BIG HOTEL, SIR ON BAYLAND ISLAND.
UM, IT IS LOOKING GOOD TO ACHIEVE THE TIMEFRAME THAT WAS ESTABLISHED WHEN, UH, WE COMMENCED THE PROJECT, UH, CURRENTLY ON BUDGET.
IN FACT, I RECEIVED ANOTHER REQUEST FOR, UH, THE REGULAR PAYMENTS TO THE CONTRACTOR TODAY, AND THAT WAS WELL WITHIN, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT BUDGET.
I AM ANTICIPATING THAT WE WILL RECEIVE THE, UH, FINAL GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE.
I GOT IT WRONG LAST TIME, UM, AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
AND THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT, UH, THAT WILL DEVIATE.
ADMITTEDLY, UH, I CONTINUALLY HEAR FROM, UH, A RANGE OF CONTRACTORS THAT INFLATION IS RUNNING AMOK IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
UH, NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE A NO INDICATION THAT OUR FGMP WILL DEVIATE.
UM, IF THAT PRESENTS ITSELF AS AN ISSUE, I WILL RAISE IT WITH YOU, SIR, BUT AT THIS STAGE I'M ANTICIPATING WE WILL HAVE THAT TO AGREE AT YOUR NEXT MEETING.
[5. MANAGER'S REPORT]
A MANAGER REPORT.I THINK THAT BLISSFULLY, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR YOU, ANY CONSIDERATION.
WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF, UH, OF, UH, OF COURSE, UH, MEETING WITH EXXON, UH, TO DISCUSS, UH, FUTURE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS WITH THEM, UH, IDAS AND SUCH.
SO, UH, I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS TO HOW THOSE TALKS PROCEED, BUT, UH, THEY'RE DOING VERY WELL.
MY NEXT MEETING, UH, MEETING WITH EXXON IS ON AUGUST THE 18TH.
AND, UH, OUR NEXT MEETING HERE IS, UH, JUST BEFORE LABOR DAY, SO SEPTEMBER 1ST.
ALRIGHT, SO BE THAT BAYTOWN, UH, MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT HAS ADDRESSED ALL POST AGENDA ITEMS. THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENDANCE AND YOUR COMMENTS.