* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. THAT'S PRETTY AMAZING. [00:00:01] SO I'LL CALL THIS MEETING THE BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL ORDER. IT IS 6:46 PM WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. WE'LL BE LED IN OUR PLEDGE IFICATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE LESTER OF DISTRICT NUMBER SIX. YOU WOULD PLACE THE FLAG PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, THE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AMERICA, AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. NATION, NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY. JUSTICE FOR ALL TEXAS. FLAG, HONOR, HONOR, TEXAS FLAG MY LEDGE, ALLEGIANCE TO GE, TEXAS ONE, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE IN INDIVISIBLE. I WOULD BOW YOUR HEADS JUST FOR A BRIEF PRAYER. DEAR LORD, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT LIE BEFORE EACH OF US ON A DAILY BASIS. PROVIDE US YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE IN OUR DISCUSSIONS HERE TONIGHT, TO MAKE POSITIVE DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY. PLEASE KEEP ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND ALL PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND IN YOUR IN YOUR HANDS IN THIS WE NA IN THIS WE PRAY IN YOUR NAME. AMEN. THANK COUNCILMAN. [1. MINUTES] ALRIGHT, THE FIRST ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION IS APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION AND REGULAR MEETING HELD ON APRIL 27TH, 2023. I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM ONE A. MOTION SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR ABSTENTIONS? IF NOT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ONE A. AS AS WRITTEN, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED WE HAVE. ITEM TWO [a. Recognize City of Baytown Employees for their Years of Service.] A IS TO BE RECOGNITION OF CITY OF BAYTOWN EMPLOYEES FOR THE YEARS OF SERVICE. MR. LOPEZ BRADLEY BRYANT, FIREFIGHTER WITH FIRE, BRIGHTON SEABIRD, FIREFIGHTER WITH FIRE. CHRISTOPHER DENBERG, FIREFIGHTER WITH FIRE. LEONARD ORTIZ, HEAVY EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST. TWO WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING. MORGAN STICKLEY, PATROL OFFICER WITH POLICE, BERT AND HENLEY. CONCRETE TECHNICIAN WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING. THOMAS PHILLIPS, FIREFIGHTER WITH FIRE. KURT WOOLRICH, FIREFIGHTER WITH FIRE. THOMAS ARMINO, FIREFIGHTER WITH FIRE. SHANE DUNLAP, DETENTION OFFICER WITH POLICE. REGINA . FIREFIGHTER WITH FIRE. ANDREA GIRON, FIREFIGHTER WITH FIRE. JOE CORDOVA, FIREFIGHTER WITH FIRE HEAD. CODY COCHRAN, PATROL OFFICER WITH POLICE. IVAN MARTINEZ, LIEUTENANT WITH POLICE. ROBIN HARDIS, COMPUTER USER SUPPORT SPECIALIST. TWO WITH ITS. SO NEXT SIMPLY WE HAVE, WE HAVE OUR [b. Recognize the Youth Leadership Academy participants. ] RECOGNITION OF THE YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A FEW MINUTES TO RECOGNIZE THE PARTICIPANTS. UH, FROM THE SPRING SEMESTERS YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, WE HAD 27 AMAZING STUDENTS REPRESENTING ALL OF THE GOOSE CREEK HIGH SCHOOLS PLUS ACADEMY AND LOCAL HOMESCHOOL PROGRAMS. THE KIDS LEARNED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING BAYTOWN BUCKS, A PLAN, A PARK EVENT, AND A PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS MEET AND GREET. I'D LIKE TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE DEPARTMENTS WHO HELP MAKE THESE EXPERIENCES POSSIBLE FOR THE TEENS AND OF COURSE TO SABRINA MARTIN, THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, AND KATIE BEVERLY, THE TEEN LIBRARIAN. ALSO, I WANNA SEND A SPECIAL THANKS TO ASSISTANT CHIEF TUCKER FROM FIRE FOR HOSTING THE YLA GRAD MINUTE GRADUATION [00:05:01] KIND OF LAST MINUTE, UM, AND TO COUNCILWOMAN ALVARADO, GRAHAM AND GRIFFITH FOR ATTENDING THE CEREMONY. THE KIDS COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, UH, AS THEY'RE WRAPPING UP THE SCHOOL YEAR, BUT REST ASSURED THEY WERE RECOGNIZED ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES AT THE MAY 11TH EVENT. UH, THIS PROGRAM IS PROVING TO BE REALLY SUCCESSFUL, REALLY POPULAR, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING AGAIN NEXT YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM THREE A, WHICH IS A PUBLIC HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING [a. Conduct a public hearing concerning the proposed adoption of guidelines and criteria governing tax abatement agreements by the City of Baytown.] TODAY IS BEING HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING ALL INTERESTED PERSONS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS REGARDING THE SUBJECT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING. EVERYONE DESIRING TO BE PART OF TODAY'S HEARING SHOULD HAVE EITHER SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE FOYER OR EMAILED THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE POSTED TIME OF THIS MEETING. UH, UH, LET'S SEE, UH, THIS, OF THIS MEETING, EACH PARTICIPANT SHALL GIVE HI HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PROPER RECORD OF THESE HEARINGS. THE RULES ALLOW EACH PERSON THREE MINUTES TO PRESENT INFORMATION. HOWEVER, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE AS BRIEF AND TO THE POINT AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU'RE A GROUP OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE COUNSEL ON THE SAME SUBJECT, PLEASE SELECT A SPOKESPERSON TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION. AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DIRECT 'EM TO ME. SO IT IS NOW SIX FIFTY TWO AND I CALL THE ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA GOVERNING TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS BY THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. AND I'LL NOW ASK STAFF TO SUMMARIZE THE SUBJECT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. AS YOU WILL REMEMBER, EVERY TWO YEARS, THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO REVIEW ITS GUIDELINES IN RESPECT OF TAX ABATEMENT AND TO READOPT IF IT WISHES. UH, THOSE GUIDELINES, UH, THESE HAVE BEEN REVIEWED THIS YEAR IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, AND IT IS PROPOSED TO MAKE ONE CHANGE TO THOSE GUIDELINES, WHICH WOULD REMOVE THE UPPER LIMIT ON, UH, THE INVESTMENT, UH, AVAILABLE, UH, FOR CONSIDERATION FOR ABATEMENT, UH, HEATHER TOO. THAT WAS CAPPED AT 100 MILLION. WE ARE PROPOSING TO REMOVE THAT, UH, CAP, LEAVING THE MINIMUM REQUIRED INVESTMENT AT 5 MILLION, BUT HAVING NO MAXIMUM. THAT'S THE ONLY, UH, CHANGE THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO WE DO HAVE ONE SYSTEM THAT'S SIGNED TO SPEAK. MR. ISAAC. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. DAVID ISAAC, 28 12 LANDMARK DRIVE, UH, REGARDING THIS TAX ABATEMENT, UH, UH, ADOPTION THIS EVENING. I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY POINT OF VIEW. UH, WE HEARD, UH, OUR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, UH, EXPLAIN, UH, WHAT HE INTENDS TO DO WITH, UH, THE CHANGES, THE ONE CHANGE THAT'S REQUIRED OR THAT HE'S ASKING TO DO. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY, UH, THAT THRESHOLD IS BEING MOVED UP TO 5 MILLION. UH, IF THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, IF THAT'S WHAT I HEARD CORRECTLY, THE SAME THING YOU GUYS HEARD. UH, WHY IS THAT THE CASE? ARE SMALL BUSINESSES OR BUSINESSES THAT ONLY GARNER $1 MILLION OR LESS, UH, GONNA BE AFFECTED BY THIS? UH, I HAVE AN EYE FOR, UH, THOSE SITUATIONS. I HAVE A PENSION FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW, UH, IF THEY'RE GONNA BE LEFT IN THE DARK IN THIS TAX ABATEMENT SITUATION. TAX ABATEMENTS ARE MEANT TO SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH. WE KNOW THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE WORKFORCE. AND ALTHOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF BIG BUSINESSES HERE IN TOWN THAT EMPLOY PEOPLE, SMALL BUSINESSES DO TOO, WHO ARE SUFFERING, WHO ARE HURTING, WHO COULD USE SOME ECONOMIC SPUR AND GROWTH. MOST RECENTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE THAT WE'VE HAD THIS WEEK, UH, WE HAD $500 TAKEN AWAY FROM A NONPROFIT JUST TO TAKE A SHOWER HERE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. SO I'D LIKE FOR US TO SCRUTINIZE THE MONEY THAT WE'RE, UH, UH, USING FOR BUSINESSES, UH, JUST AS MUCH AS WE ARE FOR, UH, UH, THE LITTLE GUY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL. THANK YOU, SIR. ALRIGHT. BEING THAT THERE IS NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK ON OUR CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA, YOU COVER ANY TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS BY THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. WE MOVE ON TO ITEM [b. Consider a resolution confirming that the City Council of the City of Baytown elects to become eligible to participate in tax abatement pursuant to the Property Redevelopment and Tax Abatement Act and adopting guidelines and criteria for granting tax abatement in a reinvestment zone created in Harris and/or Chambers Counties.] THREE B, WHICH IS CONSIDERED RESOLUTION CONFIRMING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF CITY OF BAYTOWN ELECTS TO BECOME ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN TAX ABATEMENT PURSUANT TO THE PROPERTY REDEVELOPMENT AND TAX ABATEMENT ACT, AND ADOPTING GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR GRANTING TAX ABATEMENT IN A REINVESTMENT ZONE CREATED IN HARRIS AND OR CHAMBERS COUNTY. AND I BELIEVE YOU, YOU'VE ALREADY, UM, BEEN TOLD KIND OF WHAT WAS THE ONLY CHANGE TO THIS. AND SO I WOULD OPEN IT UP FOR DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDING EITHER THAT CHANGE OR ANY OTHER PROPOSED CHANGES BY COUNSEL. IF I MAY. UH, MR. MAYOR, JUST SO WE HAVE CLARIFICATION, THE ONLY CHANGE WAS TO THE UPPER LIMIT HEATHER TWO WAS CAPPED AT $100 MILLION OF INVESTMENT. WE'RE PROPOSING TO REMOVE THAT THE LOWER THRESHOLD, THAT 5 MILLION IS UNCHANGED FROM PREVIOUS ABATEMENT GUIDELINES. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SIR, FOR THE CLARIFICATION. AND SO I GUESS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REGARDING ITEM THREE B BEING THAT THERE ISN'T ANY, I GUESS I'D ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM THREE B AS PRESENTED WITH WHAT WAS EXPLAINED BY MR. BROLEY. MOTION TO FOR SECOND. MOTION TO SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? NOT ALL THOSE? ALL THOSE [00:10:01] IN FAVOR OF ITEM THREE B AS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? ITEM CARRIES. MOVE [a. Consider an ordinance authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with HDR Engineering, Inc., for the West Baker Road from Garth Road to Decker Drive Reconstruction Project.] ON TO ITEM FOUR. A CONSIDER ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED IN PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH HDR ENGINEERING INC. FOR THE WEST BAY, WEST BAKER ROAD, UM, FROM GARTH ROAD TO DECKER DRIVE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT. YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, MICHAEL LEACH FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. UH, THE REQUEST YOU HAVE FOR YOU BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS TO, UH, APPROVE OR WE'RE REQUESTING APPROVAL OF A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT FOR WEST BAKER FROM GARTH ROAD TO DECKER. THIS PROJECT WAS INCLUDED IN THE 2023 CIP. A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT THIS PORTION OF WEST BAKER. IT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE EARLY 1980S AND PRESENTLY, UH, CARRIES TRAFFIC VOLUMES BETWEEN 15 AND 18,000 CARS PER DAY. UH, WEST BAKER HAS PROBLEMS TYPICAL OF A ROADWAY OF THIS AGE AND CONDITION. UH, IT'S GOT AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, AGING WASTEWATER AND WATER INFRASTRUCTURE, PAVEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE, DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE. THERE ARE ALSO SOME CHALLENGES WITH THE TRAFFIC GEOMETRY ALONG THIS SECTION OF ROAD. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, SINCE THE 1980S, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT ALONG WEST BAKER. THE MEDIAN OPENINGS, TURN LANES AND THINGS LIKE THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY EXACTLY ALIGNED WITH, UH, WHAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL SITUATION FOR OUT THERE. SO IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT, WE MIGHT AS WELL STUDY THAT AS WELL. UH, HERE'S AN EXHIBIT SHOWING THE LIMITS OF THE PROJECT FROM, UH, DECKER DRIVE TO, UM, GUARDS ALONG WEST BAKER. UH, THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT, UH, INCLUDES, UH, A SERIES OF THINGS YOU MIGHT EXPECT. IT'S CONDITION ASSESSMENT, CONDI, UH, ASSESSMENT OF THE EXISTING CONDITIONS. IT ALSO PROVIDES A RANGE OF SOLUTIONS FOR THE ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE. UH, THOSE ARE FOR, UH, DRAINAGE, TRAFFIC SAFETY, THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT THERE ARE INHERENTLY UNSAFE CONDITIONS OUT THERE, BUT WHEN YOU'RE PREPARING A PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT LIKE THIS, YOU REALLY WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ARE, ARE OPTIMIZED. UH, SO THAT FLOW IS AS EFFECTIVE AS IT CAN BE AND SAFETY IS OPTIMIZED. UH, IT ALSO INCLUDES NATURALLY COST ESTIMATES FOR SUBSEQUENT DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT ONLY THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT ITSELF IS FUNDED THROUGH, UH, THE CIP. THERE'S NO OTHER MONEY FOR THIS, UH, IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION OR DESIGN DOWN THE ROAD. THE REASON FOR THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT IS THAT IT PUTS THE CITY IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION TO BE COMPETITIVE TO APPLY FOR GRANTS, FEDERAL FUNDING, FUNDING THROUGH HGAC PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS RECOMMENDING FOR YOUR APPROVAL OF THIS PRELIMINARY ENG ENGINEERING REPORT SO THAT WE CAN POSITION OURSELVES TO GET THIRD PARTY FUNDING TO DO THIS ROADWAY RECONSTRUCTION WHEN THE TIME COMES. UH, HDR AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM HDR IS HERE. MR. JOHN PETERSON, UH, WAS THE ENGINEER WE'VE SELECTED FOR THIS PROJECT. UH, THEY HAVE SOLID EXPERIENCE WITH PROJECTS LIKE THIS. UH, HDR ALSO SCORED WELL IN OUR CONSULTANT EVALUATION THAT TOOK PLACE TOWARDS THE LATTER PART OF 2022. UH, THEIR PROPOSAL IS IN THE AMOUNT OF $447,765 AND 60 CENTS. AND WITH THAT, WE REQUEST CITY COUNCIL, UH, AUTHORIZE APPROVAL OF THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING REPORT WITH HDR ENGINEERING. ALRIGHT, THAT CONCLUDES THE PRESENTATION. HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. THANK YOU. I'M CERTAINLY HAPPY TO SEE THAT WE ARE AT THIS STAGE REGARDING WEST BAKER ROAD. CERTAINLY FROM THIS PARTICULAR STRETCH, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR APPROVAL FOR, UM, EITHER DISTRICTS THREE AND FOUR SINCE THIS IS, I BELIEVE, SO THE DIVIDING LINE FROM THOSE DISTRICTS. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. NO. MOTION TO SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES. YES, MA'AM. SO, I, I AM REALLY HAPPY TO SEE THIS FINALLY KICKING OFF BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, THIS IS THE CATALYST FOR US TO APPLY FOR FUNDING, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE. AND THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY, UM, IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR US TO DO. ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, WE HAD A TOWN HALL WITH THE CITIZENS IN THE COUNTRY CLUB OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD, REGARDING THIS WITH PUBLIC WORKS. AND I JUST WANNA KEEP AT TOP OF MIND SOME OF THE FEEDBACK FROM THAT. OKAY. WHICH IS, THEY DON'T LIKE THAT THEY HAVE A, A NO RIGHT ON RED SIGN WHEN TRYING TO COME OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, AT THOSE STOPLIGHTS. BUT THE REASON FOR THOSE IS BECAUSE THE LINE OF SIGHT IS NOT SAFE MM-HMM . FOR THEM TO MAKE A RIGHT ON RED. AND SO THAT'S WHY THOSE SIGNS EXIST. AND SO IN, IN WORKSHOPPING THAT ISSUE DURING THAT TOWN HALL, ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT CAME UP WAS WHEN THIS ROAD IS RECONSTRUCTIONS, UH, RECONSTRUCTED, THE MEDIANS WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH WOULD IMPROVE THE LINE OF SIGHT AND ALLOW THE CITY TO TAKE THOSE NO RIGHT ON RED SIGNS. SO JUST PLEASE KEEP THAT FEEDBACK IN MIND. UM, BECAUSE THE MEDIANS ARE OVER-ENGINEERED FOR THAT ROAD, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE THAT WIDE. AND IF WE COULD IMPROVE THE LINE OF SIGHT, THERE'S A SAFETY, SAFETY IMPROVEMENT THERE AS WELL. THAT'S TERRIFIC FEEDBACK. WE'LL DEFINITELY INCORPORATE THAT. AND I KNOW SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAVE TOWN HALLS AND TWO YEARS LATER WHEN WE FINALLY APPROVE A DESIGN AND THEN THREE YEARS LATER WE FINALLY CONSTRUCT IT, THAT STUFF GETS LOST. SO PLEASE TRY TO REMEMBER THAT. ABSOLUTELY. AND, UH, WORKING WITH THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ADJACENT BUSINESSES IS SOMETHING THAT'S ALWAYS HIGHER ON OUR PRIORITY LIST AT PUBLIC WORKS. WE'LL MAKE SURE TO SOLICIT INPUT AGAIN, [00:15:01] UH, AS THIS PROJECT GOES FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. UM, I, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MY COLLEAGUES SAID. UM, I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT STRETCH OF, OF OF ROAD, UH, IN BETWEEN, UM, BAKER AND HEMLOCK. IT'S BEEN A PROBLEMATIC INTERSECTION. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF FATALITIES OVER THERE IN THE, IN THE PA IN THE PAST, UH, COUPLE YEARS. UH, HOPE WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AS WE, WE, UH, BEGIN TO STUDY THAT, THAT AREA, THAT STRETCH. OH, I, I LIKE, I LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING. WE CERTAINLY WILL, SIR. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OF THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM FOUR A IS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, UM, CARRIES WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR [b. Consider an ordinance authorizing a Professional Services Agreement with Volkert, Inc. for the Fire Boat House and Lift Project.] B. CONSIDER ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH ERT INC. FOR THE FIRE BO FIREBOAT HOUSE AND LIFT PROJECT. YES, SIR. UH, GOOD EVENING AGAIN. UH, THIS PROJECT WAS REQUESTED BY THE BAYTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS INCORPORATED INTO THE 2023 CIP. UH, THIS IS FOR THE DESIGN OF A BOATHOUSE FLOATING DOCK AND LIFT STATION FOR THE FIREBOAT. UH, PRESENTLY THE BOAT IS STORED IN THE WATER AT THE BAYTOWN MARINA. UH, THERE IT'S EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT AND WEATHER, WHICH BOTH DEGRADE, UH, THE CONDITION OF THE BOAT. UH, THERE'S ALSO CHALLENGES WITH THE SECURITY, UH, OF THAT, UH, PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THERE. UH, THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO DESIGN A FACILITY THAT'LL ENSURE THE MAXIMUM LIFE OF THAT, OF THE ASSET. SO BY COVERING THE BOAT, UH, THAT'LL CERTAINLY PROLONG THE LIFE OF IT AND DELAY ITS REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. IT'S JUST, IT'S GOOD ASSET MANAGEMENT PRACTICE. UH, SO HERE'S OUR HANDFUL OF EXHIBITS FOR YOU THERE. UH, HERE'S THE PROJECT LOCATION DOWN AT THE BAYLIN MARINA. AS YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM THE, UH, BRAND NEW AND BEAUTIFUL HOTEL CONVENTION CENTER. UH, AND THERE'S A IMAGE OF THE FIREBOAT ITSELF. UH, THE DESIGN DETAILS, UH, WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING LIST OF ITEMS, UH, PROTECTIVE BUILDING STRUCTURE TO COVER THE BOAT ITSELF. IT'LL BE CLOSED ON THREE SIDES TO ALLOW, UH, EGRESS TO THE WATER. UH, THE, THERE'LL BE FLOATING DOCKS IN A FLOATING LIFT TO ACCOMMODATE THE TIDES, UH, SO THAT THE BOAT CAN GO UP AND DOWN AS NEED BE. UH, IT'LL KEEP THE BOAT OUT OF THE WATER, BUT IT STILL WILL ALLOW FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT, UH, WHEN REQUIRED. UH, THERE WILL ALSO BE SOME SECURITY FEATURES BUILT INTO IT THAT'LL, UH, LIMIT ACCESS TO THE BUILDING, UH, AND PROVIDE, UH, FOR THE ABILITY FOR ENHANCED SAFETY FOR EQUIPMENT STORAGE IN THE BOAT ITSELF. UH, VOLCAN INCORPORATED IS AN ENGINEERING FIRM THAT WE'VE DONE BUSINESS WITH IN THE RECENT PAST. THEY'VE DONE A GOOD JOB FOR US AT PUBLIC WORKS. UH, THEY'VE SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL FOR THIS WORK IN THE AMOUNT OF $162,243 AND 8 CENTS. UH, WE'RE REQUESTING CITY APPROVAL, UH, CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL OF THE DESIGN OF THIS BOAT HOUSE AND FLOATING DOCK, UH, WITH VOLCKER ENGINEERING INC. BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM VOLCKER IS HERE TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS AS WELL. OKAY. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, UH, FOR STAFF OR THE CONSULTANT, IF NOT, ON ENTERING A MOTION FOR ITEM FOUR B. MOTION TO SECOND. SAY AGAIN A MOTION TO SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE A COMMENT. MAYOR. YES, SIR. OR QUESTION, UM, SAW IN THE, IN THE PICTURE WHERE I BELIEVE THAT THE BOAT IS LOCATED, IS THAT THE, THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE BOAT IN THE DOCK AREA? CHIEF, I'LL ASK OUR CONSULTANT TO BROCK, IF YOU WANNA COME DOWN, DOWN AND ADDRESS THAT, OR THE, OR THE CHIEF OF COURSE, PLEASE. I MEAN, IF, IF WE'RE GONNA SPEND THIS MUCH MONEY FOR, TO ENHANCE IT, I WANNA MAKE SURE IT'S IN THE BEST LOCATION YOU WANNA GO. I'LL JUST MENTION SURE. WE WERE OUT THERE AND WE DID LOOK AT A FEW DIFFERENT, UM, SPOTS FOR THE BOAT AND WE DETERMINED THAT THIS IS PROBABLY THE, THE EASIEST ACCESS IN AND OUT. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE NEIL PROBABLY MENTION PROBABLY THE, THE EASIEST PLACE TO PUT THE FLOATING MECHANISM OTHER THAN, UH, ON THE, SOME OF THE SIDE DOCKS THAT WE LOOKED AT WHERE WE'D HAVE TO TAKE OUT SOME OF THE SLIPS. SO THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT WE CAME UP WITH. MM-HMM . YES. TO JUST ECHO WHAT SHE SAID, THE LOCATION HERE IS AT THE DEEPEST PART OF THE MARINA. SO THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR, YOU KNOW, BEING ABLE TO GET THE BOAT IN AND OUT AND TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO GO MUCH FASTER. NOT BEING INTER INTERFERING WITH ANY OF THE OTHER BOATS THAT ARE OUT THERE. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH IN THEIR BOATS AND THEIR EMERGENCY HAPPENS, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THEM SEPARATED SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES DURING GOING IN AND OUT. UM, WE DID LOOK AT AREAS, LIKE I SAID, OFF THE SIDE OF THE DOCK, UM, AND THEN LOOKING AT ONE OF THE OTHER FINGERS, BUT WITH ALSO CONCERN ABOUT DREDGING AND NOT HAVING DEEP ENOUGH TIDE AT A LOW TIDE DOING, WE WANNA BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT BOAT TO GET OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME OF THE DAY. YOU KNOW, HIGH OR LOW TIDE. ALRIGHT. MM-HMM . ALRIGHT. ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NOT, THERE IS MOTION ON THE FLOOR. SO WITH THAT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM FOUR B IS PRESENTED. PLEASE SAY, AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? [c. Consider an ordinance to waive the remaining reimbursement payments for two (2) Pierce Velocity Pumper Trucks (Engine 1 and Engine 6) and the payment to the Vehicle Replacement Fund for Engine 7 from the Baytown Fire Control, Prevention and EMS District ("FCPEMSD"). ] MOVE ITEM FOUR C, CONSIDER ORDINANCE TO WAIVE THE REMAINING REIMBURSEMENT PAYMENTS FOR TWO PI VELOCITY PUMPER TRUCKS, ENGINES ONE AND ENGINE SIX, AND THE PAYMENT TO THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND FOR ENGINE SEVEN FROM THE BAYTOWN FIRE CONTROL PREVENTION AND EMS DISTRICT. MS. UH, CHIEF DOBSON. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNSEL. [00:20:01] UH, YOU, THIS IS, UM, JUST AS YOU READ IT, I'LL, I'LL GIVE YOU A QUICK HISTORY. UM, FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE'VE BEEN WORKING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON AN APPARATUS REPLACEMENT PLAN. OUR GOAL WAS TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THAT FIRE CONTROL PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY SERVICE DISTRICT, UH, FUNDS COULD BE USED FOR THAT. SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME TO COUNCIL THROUGH SUPPLEMENTALS AND THE GENERAL FUND. UM, WE WORKED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MOVE OUT RECURRING COSTS LIKE PERSONNEL AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. WE'VE GOTTEN TO A PLACE NOW WHERE THAT'S ALL MOVED OUT AND THE ONLY THING THAT'S THE RECURRING COST IN THAT BUDGET IS THE, UM, THE DEBT PAYMENT FOR THE TRAINING FIELD. SO, UM, WE THINK WE'RE IN A PRETTY GOOD PLACE ON THE LAST COUPLE YEARS. WE'D, UM, WORKED THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS TO PURCHASE ENGINE ONE AND ENGINE SIX. THE AGREEMENT WAS THAT, UH, FIRE CONTROL WOULD PAY BACK THE CITY ON THREE PAYMENTS OVER THREE YEARS. AND WE'VE MADE THAT FIRST PAYMENT LAST YEAR. UH, WE HAVE NOT MADE THE PAYMENT THIS YEAR AND THEN ALSO A PAYMENT TO THE, UM, REPLACEMENT FUND FOR ENGINE SEVEN THAT WAS IN THIS YEAR. SO THE REQUEST IS TO WAIVE THOSE PAYMENTS SO THAT WE CAN BE RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE WITH THE REPLACEMENT PLAN AND WE THINK WE'LL BE IN GREAT SHAPE MOVING FORWARD. THE PLAN WOULD BE, UM, MOVING THROUGH THE YEARS AS REPLACEMENT OF THE SEVEN FRONTLINE ENGINES, THE LADDER TRUCK, HAZMAT TRUCK, AND ALL THE AMBULANCES. AND IT WOULD ALL BE DONE THROUGH THE FIRE CONTROL VERY WELL. OKAY. SO WE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE THIS TO CONSIDER, ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM FOUR C. MOTION TO SECOND. THE MOTION TO SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I DO, I DO, YES. AND IT IT'D BE FOR OUR FINANCE FOLKS, HOW, HOW, IF WE WAIVE THEIR PAYMENT BACK TO THE CITY, WHAT IMPACT DOES THAT HAVE ON OUR, THE CITY'S BUDGET? SO THE, UH, IF I REMEMBER RIGHTLY, THE TOTAL COST OF THIS WAS ABOUT 1.5 MILLION THAT IS ALREADY SPENT, UH, FROM THE GENERAL FUND, UH, IN THE PRIOR YEAR. UH, SO THERE'S NO ONGOING EFFECT. UH, ALL IT WOULD MEAN IS YOU WON'T OBVIOUSLY HAVE THE MONEY COMING BACK FROM, UH, FROM THE FIRE CONTROL DISTRICT. HOWEVER, OUR VIEW IS THAT THIS OVERALL IS A GOOD WAY TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE A PLAN GOING FORWARD TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE REPLACEMENTS ALL ARE FUNDED FROM THE, FROM THE SPECIAL DISTRICT. SO WE, WE SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL, PHIL. OKAY. AND, AND, AND AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH THE ACTIONS. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT DOESN'T HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR OVERALL GENERAL FUND BUDGET. AND IF FINANCE IS GOOD WITH IT, I'M GOOD WITH IT. ALRIGHT. SO THERE IS A MOTION, I BELIEVE, FLORIST. SO ALL THOSE IN FAVOR HONOR FOUR CS PRESENTED, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. ITEM CARRIES. [d. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 90 "Taxation," Article II "Ad Valorem Taxes," Section 90-27 "Exemptions," Subsections (a) "Disabled adults" and (b) "Adults 65 years or older" of the Code of Ordinances, City of Baytown, Texas to (i) increase the exemption from taxation for disabled adults to $100,000 and (ii) to increase the exemption from taxation for adults sixty-five (65) years or older to $100,000, for residential homesteads.] MOVE TO ITEM FOUR D CONCERNED ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 90, TAXATION ARTICLE TWO, TAXES SECTION 90 DASH 27. UM, I WOULD ASK YOU TO GO AHEAD AND DESCRIBE THIS. OKAY, MR. MAYOR, AGAIN, YOU'LL REMEMBER THAT LAST YEAR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD THE PROPOSAL TO THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, TO TAKE A THREE YEAR APPROACH TO INCREASING THE EXEMPTIONS FOR OVER 65 AND DISABLED ADULTS. UM, LAST YEAR YOU AGREED TO INCREASE THAT EXEMPTION FROM 60,000 TO 80,000. THE PROPOSAL THIS YEAR IS TO TAKE THAT FROM 80,000 TO 100,000. UH, AND THERE WILL ALSO BE A PROPOSAL COMING TO YOU NEXT YEAR FOLLOWING THE, UH, THE TERMS OF THAT POLICY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, THIS IN THE CURRENT FORTHCOMING BUDGET YEAR WILL INCREASE THE OVERALL EXEMPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO OVER 65 OR HAVE DISABILITIES TO 100,000. THAT IS IN ADDITION TO THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. OKAY. UM, THANK YOU. I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION ON THAT FIRST. SO I THOUGHT, I KNOW IT WAS A, AN APPROACH THAT WE WERE TAKING. SO I THOUGHT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, WHAT WAS, WHAT, WHAT WAS THE EXEMPTION THAT WE APPROVED? SO THE EXEMPTION YOU APPROVED, UH, LAST YEAR WAS 80,000. THAT WAS AN INCREASE FROM 60 TO 80. OKAY. RIGHT. AND THE PROPOSAL THIS YEAR IS FROM 80 TO 100. AND WITHOUT PREJUDGING, UH, WHAT NFP MIGHT DELIBERATE OVER THE COURSE OF THIS COMING BUDGET. I'M ANTICIPATING THAT NEXT YEAR WILL RAISE IT TO 120. RIGHT. SO YOU'RE SAYING NEXT YEAR, MEANING NOT, NOT THE COMING BUDGET THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED IN THE FALL AT SOME POINT, BUT THE FOLLOWING, SO I GUESS THAT'D BE THE 24 25 BUDGET? YES. BUT FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THIS WILL INCREASE THE EXEMPTION TO 100,000. OKAY. ONE QUESTION. YES, SIR. UH, VICTOR, SO WHEN WE KIND OF LAY THIS PLAN OUT OF INCREASING, UM, EACH YEAR BY 20,000, I KNOW THE TARGET WAS TO GET TO WHERE, GET TO THE AVERAGE HOME VALUE OF EVERYONE WHO IS IN THAT 65 OR OLDER, RIGHT? BUT I'M SURE THAT'S A MOVING TARGET AS VALUES INCREASE. SO OFF THE TOP OF YOUR HEAD, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT AVERAGE VALUE IS NOW? BECAUSE I KNOW WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS A COUPLE. THAT'S OKAY. AND I'M SURE IT'S INCREASED. I, I I DO KNOW IT'S ABOUT 128,000 RIGHT NOW. OKAY. [00:25:01] OKAY. SO WE'RE GETTING CLOSE. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW THESE EXEMPTIONS WORK ON TOP OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTIONS. 'CAUSE I THOUGHT 65 AND OLDER, THEY, THEY DIDN'T PAY ANYTHING IF IT'S THEIR HOMESTEAD. SO HOW DOES THIS HELP DISABLED OR OVER 65? SO THEY GET THE, UH, THEY GET THE 25, UH, THE 20%, UH, HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FIRST, AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL A HUNDRED THOUSAND WILL BE ADDED TO THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH, BUT I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEM FOUR D. MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM FOUR D, SECOND. NO MOTION. SECOND. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NOT ALL. THOSE IN FAVOR OF ITEM FOUR D IS PRESENTED. PLEASE SAY, AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? [a. Consider a resolution for the acceptance of a donation that will be used toward the purchase of Playground Fitness Equipment for the Baytown Soccer Complex, from S. E. Harris County Community Coalition - Bay Area Council on Drugs & Alcohol (BACODA).] ITEM CARRIES. NEXT WE HAVE ITEM FIVE, A CONSIDER RESOLUTION FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION THAT WILL BE USED TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF PLAYGROUND FITNESS EQUIPMENT FOR THE BAYTOWN SOCCER COMPLEX FROM SE HARRIS COUNTY COMMISSION COALITION, BAY AREA COUNCIL ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, ALSO KNOWN AS KODA. UM, MR. FRY? YES. UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UH, AS YOU JUST STATED, YES, THIS DONATION WOULD BE GOING TOWARDS, UH, THE PURCHASE OF FITNESS, UH, AND PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT OUT AT THE BAYTOWN, UH, SOCCER PARK LOCATED AT 4,700 VILLAGE LANE. UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH CDBG AND A PORTION OF A PLAYTIME GRANT. UH, THERE WOULD BE NO, UH, COST MATCH REQUIREMENT, UH, FROM THE CITY IN ORDER TO ACCEPT THIS DONATION. UM, SO, UH, UNFORTUNATELY NO ONE FROM HARRIS COUNTY ORKO IS HERE THIS EVENING, BUT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING, UH, APPROVAL. CERTAINLY. WE LOVE IT. YEAH. UM, NO MATCH. SO, UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR FIVE A AS PRESENTED. MOTION TO APPROVE. OKAY. MOTION TO SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THOSE IN FAVOR? FIVE A IS PRESENTED. PLEASE SAY AYE. A THOSE [a. Receive and discuss a presentation about Broadband in Baytown.] OPPOSED. MOVE ON TO ITEM SIX A TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS A PRESENTATION ABOUT, UH, BROADBAND IN BAYTOWN. MR. MORAN. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. ON MARCH 9TH OF THIS YEAR, YOU APPROVED A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH HR GREEN TO COMPLETE A BROADBAND, UH, NEEDS ASSESSMENT. UH, BROADBAND IS AN AREA THAT COUNSEL HAS BROUGHT UP IN PRIOR RETREATS AS A PRIORITY. AND, YOU KNOW, OUR GOAL IS TO CONTINUE TO UNDERSTAND, UM, WHAT OUR CURRENT CONDITION IS, UH, REGARDING HIGH SPEED INTERNET AND ACCESSIBILITY TO IT. UH, TONIGHT WE HAVE MR. UH, KIM DILO, WHO'S THE SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER WITH HR GREEN, UH, WHO'S WORKING WITH US. UH, MR. DILO COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FROM, UH, OTHER MUNICIPAL CLIENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. UM, HE'S GONNA LEAD YOU THROUGH A BRIEF PRESENTATION, UH, REGARDING THE PURPOSE AND GOAL OF THE PROJECT, THE OBJECTIVES, AND HOW THE PUBLIC WILL BE ENGAGED, MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND STAFF. UH, I WANT TO START MY COMMENTS BY, FIRST OFF, JUST THANKING YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THIS. YOU, YOU KNOW, I I WORK IN BROADBAND, UH, ACROSS THE COUNTRY. AND AGAIN, MY NAME IS KEN DELOW. I'M A SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER WITH HR GREEN. AND THIS MATTERS, YOU KNOW, IT, IN LOOKING AT BROADBAND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT THEN ALSO LOOKING AT BROADBAND IN TEXAS AND BROADBAND IN, IN THIS COUNTY AND BROADBAND HERE. UM, WHAT HAPPENS IN BROADBAND? UH, WE, WE LEARNED, WE LEARNED VERY CLEARLY IN THE, UH, UH, IN THE LAST FEW, IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS HOW INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THIS IS. AND WE, WE'VE STARTED THE, I'LL GO THROUGH, LIKE BRIAN SAID, I'LL GO THROUGH JUST SOME QUICK PIECES, BUT EVEN IN THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD SO FAR, EVEN IN TALKING ABOUT WITH THE, UH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HERE, UM, DURING THE PANDEMIC, THEY HAD TO WORK WITH PARENTS AND, AND, AND BEING ABLE TO GET INFORMATION OUT SO THAT YOUNG PEOPLE COULD COME TO THE PARKING LOTS TO, TO, TO DO THEIR WORK. UM, AGAIN, THE POINT IS THIS MATTERS. AND I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE LEADERSHIP AND GETTING THIS PROJECT GOING. AND I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU FOR SELECTING US BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE VERY, OUR, OUR MISSION AND VISION, OUR, OUR MISSION IS, UH, BUILDING COMMUNITIES AND IMPROVING LIVES. AND, UH, WE'RE, WE'RE VERY GLAD TO BE PART OF THIS, UH, IN BAYTOWN TO SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND OUT AND HOW WE CAN HELP AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN BAYTOWN. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE, THE PURPOSE, UM, IS KNOWING HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS, THE PURPOSE IS. SO NOW WHAT STEPS DO WE TAKE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CAN, TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT WE CAN DO, UH, AND, AND WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS WE CAN HAVE FOR YOU. SO THE INTENTION, UM, AND, AND I CAN KIND OF SUMMARIZE JUST, JUST TO VERY CONCISE, THE INTENT, THE INTENTION. AND THE FIRST PART OF THE INTENTION IS JUST TWO PARTS, REALLY, UH, AT THE MOST SUMMARY LEVEL. THE FIRST IS JUST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE CLEAREST PICTURE WE CAN GET OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING WITH BROADBAND IN THE CITY. UM, AND THEN IF WE CAN GET A CLEAR PICTURE OF THAT, [00:30:01] THEN HR GREEN WILL MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO WHAT OPTIONS YOU HAVE, UH, THAT, THAT YOU CAN PURSUE, UM, OR THAT YOU CAN LEAD IN, IN HELPING TO HELPING IMPROVE BROADBAND IN THE CITY. THE REASON WHY WE HAVE TO START WITH THE FIGURING OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IS GETTING GOOD DATA AND GETTING GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING IN BROADBAND IS JUST NOT AN EASY THING TO DO. UM, THE WAY THAT THE, THE, SO, SO LIKE THE FCC TAKES A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN, IN GETTING DATA, AND THEN THAT FLOWS THROUGH THE STATE AND THE STATE, UM, WORKS SOME ON, ON TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT DATA. BUT THE CHALLENGE IS, IS THE, THE PROCESS FOR THAT, WE ALL KNOW THAT THE DATA AND ACROSS THE INDUSTRY, WE ALL KNOW THE DATA IS NOT VERY GOOD. AND SO THE DATA WE WOULD USE TO SAY, OKAY, LET'S, LET'S SEE, UH, WHAT, WHAT THE BROADBAND CONDITIONS ARE IS KNOWN TO BE FLAWED. AND SO, SO WITH THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN COMPLAINTS DO COME IN OR RESIDENTS DO TALK ABOUT, UH, PROBLEMS THERE ARE WITH BROADBAND, BUT THAT'S KIND OF ANECDOTAL. SO, SO THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT REALLY IS GOING ON? AND SO WE HAVE TO TAKE THAT CURRENT STATUS AND SAY, OKAY, LET'S FIGURE OUT, UH, LET'S USE THE TOOLS WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ACTUALLY IS GOING ON TO PAINT AS CLEARER PICTURE AS WE CAN. SO WE START WITH, UH, AN ENGAGEMENT PLAN AND, UH, WE WORK THROUGH THAT WITH STAFF AND THAT GOES THROUGH, UH, IN THE ENGAGEMENT PLAN, WE GO THROUGH AND WE TAKE WITH STARTING WITH THAT FCC DATA AND THE STATE DATA. SO WE START WITH THAT, AND THEN WE START PUTTING TOGETHER, UH, BLOCKS OF INFORMATION TO SAY, OKAY, DOES, DOES WHAT WE'RE FINDING OUT THAT'S FIELD VERIFY, DOES THAT, UH, VERIFY THAT FCC DATA? DOES IT VERIFY WHAT, WHAT THE INDUSTRY DATA OR DOES IT CHALLENGE THAT? AND SO IN THE ENGAGEMENT PLAN, UH, WE HAVE SEVERAL STEPS THAT ARE THAT, UH, THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, UH, WITH, WITH STAFF AND GOING THROUGH IN BAYTOWN. AND ONE IS TO HAVE A SURVEY. AND THE SURVEY, UH, UH, IS OPEN. THE SURVEY WAS, UH, WAS OPENED ON, UH, THE 23RD. SO JUST, UH, JUST VERY HERE RECENTLY. AND THE PLAN AT THIS POINT IS TO HAVE THE SURVEY OPEN THROUGH, UH, JULY 5TH. I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT. UM, I DO ALSO WANNA THANK STAFF AND WORKING TOGETHER TO GET THIS DONE. AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK IN THE SURVEY AND GETTING THE SURVEY INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THE SURVEY AND THE ONGOING PROCESS OF THAT. I ALSO WANNA THANK THOMAS REEVES. HE'S, I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE THIS EVENING, BUT HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN GETTING THE PIECES PUT TOGETHER OF WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORD IS GETTING OUT. SO THE WAY WE'RE DOING THAT, GETTING THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE, UH, ABOUT THE SURVEY IS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. AND ALSO, UH, IN THE UTILITY BILLS, WE HAVE A FLYER THAT'S GONNA GO OUT, UH, IN THE NEXT ROUNDS OF UTILITY BILLS. UH, AND THEN AGAIN, THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'LL HAVE OTHER PROMOTE, UH, PROMOTION TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT. UM, AND AGAIN, I'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT 'CAUSE WE COULD USE YOUR HELP ON, ON, ON THE PROMOTION OF THAT. AND SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT HERE IN A LITTLE BIT TOO. BUT, SO IF, YOU KNOW, AND JUST KIND OF THINKING THROUGH THE PROCESS THERE, IF WE HAVE THIS DATA THAT'S THE FCC IS COLLECTING AND THROUGH REPORTS FROM PROVIDERS AND STUFF, AND THE, AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S FAIRLY FLAWED, ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO GET ON THE GROUND INFORMATION THROUGH SURVEYS OF SAYING, HERE'S ACTUALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING. HERE'S HERE, HERE IS DETAIL OF WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT'S, UH, WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING FOR BROADBAND. AND THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'LL HAVE, UH, IN, IN WORKING WITH BRIAN, WE'VE BEEN SCHEDULING MEETINGS, UH, THAT'LL GO, UH, THAT WE'LL HAVE, UH, WHILE THE, WHILE THE SURVEY IS OPEN. AND THE KEY WITH THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A SURVEY AND THE SURVEY'S AVAILABLE, BUT ARE WE REACHING ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE SURVEY, UH, AND ARE WE GETTING FEEDBACK ABOUT THINGS THAT WOULDN'T SHOW UP ON A SURVEY? AND SO, YOU KNOW, HAVING MEETINGS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS, HAVING MEETINGS WITH FOLKS WHO, UH, WHO CAN HELP US WITH, WITH KNOWING, UH, FOLKS THAT, THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME BARRIER TO TAKING THE SURVEY, UM, THAT, THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN TO GET TO HAVE THEIR, THEIR PARTICIPATION TOO. AND SO THE COMBINATION OF A SURVEY AND THEN MEETINGS WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS AND AGENCIES, UH, THE SCHOOL. UH, WE ALSO HAVE MEETINGS WITH PROVIDERS AND THE KEY WITH THAT, AGAIN, IS TO FIND OUT SOME INFORMATION THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO FIND OUT JUST THROUGH A SURVEY. AND ALSO TO TRY TO ADDRESS OR TO TRY TO GET A GOOD PICTURE OF, UM, ARE THERE DIGITAL EQUITY ISSUES, UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN ABOUT WHO HAS AND WHO DOESN'T AND WHO CAN'T AND WHO CAN'T AND WHO CAN'T EVEN, MAY MAYBE EVEN TAKE THE SURVEY. UH, THAT I CAN TELL YOU, JUST IN WORKING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, UM, THERE ARE DIGITAL EQUITY ISSUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THERE ARE DIGITAL EQUITY ISSUES ACROSS TEXAS. AND I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE DIGITAL EQUITY ISSUES IN BAYTOWN. AND WHAT WE WANNA DO IS TO TRY TO FIGURE THOSE OUT AND, AND COVER THOSE AND GET GOOD DATA ON THOSE. THERE'LL BE OTHER PIECES OF WHAT WE DO ALONG WITH THAT, OF LOOKING AT POLICY [00:35:01] AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS. UM, AND, AND SO THERE'LL BE SOME OTHER STEPS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT. BUT REALLY, I'M SORRY, RUNNING AWAY HERE PRETTY QUICK THOUGH. MY APOLOGIES. GO AHEAD. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. UM, BUT, UH, UH, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE THERE'LL BE SOME OTHER PIECES OF, OF, OF, YOU KNOW, THINGS WE'LL BE LOOKING AT, LIKE POLICIES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, UH, AGAIN, JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING AS CLEAR A PICTURE ON THE THINGS THAT IMPACT BROADBAND AS WE CAN. AND THEN FROM THERE, ONCE WE HAVE, UM, THAT ONCE WE HAVE THAT, THAT CLEAR PICTURE, THEN AGAIN, WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL FORMULATE WHAT WE SEE YOUR OPTIONS TO BE AND WE'LL GO THROUGH THOSE WITH STAFF AND THEN COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE, THE OPTIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO, UH, TO, TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON, ON BROADBAND. SO I MENTIONED, UH, THAT THERE'S SOME HELP THAT WE COULD USE AND THERE IS, SO A SURVEY IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE DATA YOU GET BACK, RIGHT? AND, AND SO, SO WE HAVE THE DIFFERENT CHANNELS THAT WE'RE USING TO GET THE WORD OUT. BUT, UH, AND AGAIN, IT WAS OPEN, UM, JULY, IT WAS OPEN, UH, ON, ON MAY 23RD. AND THERE IS A FLYER THAT IS GONNA GO OUT IN THE, UM, UTILITY BILLS. AND WE CAN HAVE PRINTED SURVEYS TOO. BUT ANY, THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL THAT WE WANT TO JUST EXPLORE ALL THE OPTIONS WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS, UM, TO TAKE THE SURVEY OR IF THERE'S SOME REASON WHY THEY CAN'T TRICK, TAKE THE SURVEY TO HAVE IT BE, UM, TO, TO MAYBE BE ABLE TO TAKE A PRINTED SURVEY THAT WE CAN THEN GO INPUT. ALSO, I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE, THE PLATFORM WE'RE USING, UH, TRANSLATES THE SURVEY TO WHATEVER THE LANGUAGE IS ON THE DEVICE. SO WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, AGAIN, WE, WE TAKE AWAY WHATEVER BARRIERS WE CAN, BUT IF YOU CAN GET THE WORD OUT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE THE FLYER YET, BUT OKAY. YEAH. IF YOU HAVE THE FLYER, WHATEVER, IN TALKING TO YOUR, UH, CONSTITUENTS AND TALKING TO, UH, FOLKS THAT, THAT YOU HAVE CIRCLES OF INFLUENCE ON, IF YOU CAN BE TALKING ABOUT THIS AND IF YOU CAN BE PROMOTING IT, UH, OVER THE NEXT MONTH AND A HALF, UM, THAT WOULD, WOULD BE A BIG HELP IN, IN, IN MAKING SURE THAT WE GET ALL THE BEST DATA THAT WE CAN CAN, CAN I PAUSE YOU ON THAT? I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU, BUT JUST BEFORE I FORGET THAT OF COURSE. CAN I ASK BAYTOWN, SEE THAT QR CODE, I KNOW NOT EVERY READER HAS IT, BUT CAN YOU PUT THAT QR CODE SOMEWHERE IN YOUR PAPER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE SURVEY? 'CAUSE 'CAUSE I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, I, I WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE ABOUT QR CODES 'CAUSE, AND IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING WE DO NOW IS QR CODES. UM, BUT THERE'S SOME PEOPLE PROBABLY LIKE MY FATHER THAT THEIR PHONE DOESN'T DO QR CODES, BUT FOR YOUR READERS, IF THEY CAN DO THAT OR IF THERE IS A LINK OR SOMEWHERE THAT THEY CAN GET TO, AND I'M SURE PUBLIC AFFAIRS CAN, CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BUT ANYWAY, GO AHEAD SIR. YEAH, WE DO HAVE A LINK AND, AND THAT, UM, AND SO BOTH OF THOSE ARE AVAILABLE, SO YEAH. YEAH. GOOD, GOOD POINT. UH, SO, YOU KNOW, AS YOU THINK THROUGH THE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THROUGH, UH, RESIDENTS AND, AND BUSINESSES AND, UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE, THE MORE YOU CAN HELP GET THAT WORD OUT, THE BETTER. UM, SO JUST, JUST TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THE NEXT STEPS. SO AGAIN, WE'LL WILL, THE SURVEY IS OPEN, WE'LL GET THE SURVEY RESULTS, UM, AND THEN WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THOSE AND THEN ALSO WITH THE MEETINGS, AND WE'LL GET THE RESULTS, UH, FROM THE MEETINGS THEN. AND AGAIN, THE, THE OTHER PIECES THAT KIND OF GO ALONG WITH KIND OF BUILDING OUT THAT INFORMATION, WHAT THEN WE'LL DO IS WE'LL ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE FINDING AND AND DEVELOP SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR, UH, FOR HOW BROADBAND COULD BE IMPROVED, INCLUDING ACTUALLY DOING A DESIGN, WE'LL DO A HIGH LEVEL DESIGN OF, OF WHATEVER SOLUTIONS THERE COULD BE ALONG WITH COSTING. SO, SO WE DO THAT JUST SO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS ARE, YOU KIND OF KNOW WHAT THE BIG PICTURE IS, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PIECES ARE, YOU, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE DETAILS OF THAT. AND SO THEN WE'LL BRING BACK, UH, THESE DIFFERENT, THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS. UM, WE DON'T, JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE, WE DON'T HAVE, UH, IDEAS IN MIND OF WHAT THOSE OPTIONS WOULD BE YET. 'CAUSE WE GOTTA GET THE DATA FIRST. UM, SO WE'LL JUST BRING BACK, HERE'S WHAT WE SEE AS ARE THE ISSUES. HERE'S SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS THAT YOU COULD, UH, COULD PURSUE AND TALK OVER, UH, AND WORK THROUGH TO MAYBE, YOU KNOW, TO, TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BEST FOR, FOR BAYTOWN. UM, UH, BUT, UH, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE INCLUDED THAT ANY INTERACTION WITH, UH, WITH PROVIDERS THAT YOU WANT. WE'VE, WE'VE INCLUDED A PROCESS FOR INTERACTION WITH THE PROVIDERS ONCE YOU HAVE ALL THAT DATA. UM, BUT THAT'S JUST AGAIN, IN THE, IN THE REALM OF OPTIONS. SO THAT REALLY IS, UM, IS KINDA THE UPDATED WHERE WE'RE NOW, THE TIMELINE IS, UH, AGAIN, THE, THE SURVEY'S OPEN THROUGH THE FIFTH. ONCE, ONCE WE GET THAT DATA, UM, IT USUALLY TAKES US A MONTH OR TWO TO GET THE, THE DESIGNS DONE AND THE, AND THE, THE OPTIONS PUT TOGETHER. [00:40:01] SO, UM, IF YOU TAKE A COUPLE, COUPLE MONTHS PAST JULY 5TH, UH, WE SHOULD BE HAVING SOME OPTIONS TO TALK ABOUT. SO THAT'S IT FOR THE PRESENTATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES, MA'AM. YES, SIR. THANK YOU. UM, I'VE HAD A, A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT WANTED TO KNOW WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN ADDRESS. UM, I, I KNOW THE ANSWER, BUT, UM, CAN YOU KIND OF TALK ABOUT THAT? SURE. AND WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO GET THE SAME RESULTS IF YOU JUST ASKED FOR A ZIP CODE VERSUS THE ADDRESS? NO. UM, WE, SO IN THE SURVEY, FOLKS CAN, CAN OPT OUT OF THAT IF THEY WOULD LIKE. UM, IF, BUT IF WE DON'T, LIKE, THIS IS GRANULAR. I MEAN, THIS IS SPECIFIC DATA AND, AND, AND BY THE WAY, ANY DATA THAT WE, WE, UH, PUT IN REPORTS OR WHATEVER WILL BE AT AN AGGREGATE LEVEL MM-HMM . BUT AS FAR AS OUR ANALYSIS, LIKE, LIKE REMEMBER I SAID THAT, THAT WE WOULD DO EVEN A DESIGN MM-HMM . THAT, THAT SAYS, OKAY, HERE'S WHERE, LIKE AN AREA WHERE THERE'S A GAP AND HERE'S A DESIGN. WELL, IF WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DESIGN TO THEN, AND AT A ZIP CODE LEVEL, IT, IT, IT, THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION TO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE COULD COME UP WITH THEORETICAL CONCEPTS OF HERE'S SOME THINGS YOU COULD DO, BUT WE CAN'T GET TO A DETAILED, HERE'S WHAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE. AND SO, SO THAT IS ACTUALLY CRITICAL INFORMATION AND I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IF FOLKS CAN BYPASS IT. BUT I WOULD JUST ASK, WE WON'T SHOW THAT, WE WON'T SHOW ANY OF THAT TYPE OF INFORMATION. IT'LL BE ALL AGGREGATE, BUT WE'LL USE IT IN OUR CALCULATIONS AND IN THE WORK THAT WE DO. WITHOUT THAT, YOU GET A MUCH LESS DETAILED SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS. THANK YOU. MAY, MAY I ASK A LITTLE BIT? COULD, COULD. UM, I, I THINK THE IDEA IS MAYBE SOME PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE NOT APT TO SHOW THEIR EXACT ADDRESS, COULD THEY JUST MAYBE LIKE SAY, YOU KNOW, 5,400 BLOCK, IS IT SOMETHING WHERE IT COULD STILL BE, BE DATA THAT, THAT, THAT IS STILL USEFUL, BUT NOT WHERE SOMEBODY SHOWS THEIR EXACT ADDRESS? JUST ASKING. UM, SO, SO I WILL TELL YOU THIS, JUST A COUPLE A COUPLE THINGS. ONE IS WE, WE DO THIS ACROSS THE NATION AND I DO PROBABLY SEVERAL LEADS A MONTH. UM, AND THERE'S EVER ACTUALLY NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE DATA, RIGHT? BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE DO USE IT AS AGGREGATE. SO, SO WE'VE EVER, NEVER ACTUALLY HAD AN ACTUAL PROBLEM ARISE FROM THAT IN THE SEVERAL YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS, NO. OKAY. BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, MY, SO ANY ADDRESS THAT DOESN'T ACTUALLY, OR, OR ANY LOCATIONS THAT DON'T ACTUALLY, UM, UH, THAT, THAT AREN'T, THAT AREN'T THINGS WE CAN LIKE, DO HIGH LEVEL DESIGN TO, UM, IF IT'S IN THE BLOCK OR SOMETHING, THEN WE CAN, WE CAN KIND OF PUT IN INFORMATION THAT THE, WE CAN THEN USE. THE PROBLEM IS, IS IF IT'S TOO GENERAL THEN WE HAVE TO KICK IT OUT. 'CAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY, IT'S NOT ACTUALLY USABLE. AND SO, SO THE, THE NUMBER OF RESPONSES WOULD PROBABLY GO DOWN OR NUMBER OF ACTUAL RESPONSES WOULD PROBABLY GO DOWN. SO I WOULD SAY IF SOMEONE, THAT'S BETTER THAN NOTHING. BUT THE QUESTION IS WOULD IT CAUSE IT TO BE KICKED OUT OR NOT? WELL, I WOULD JUST ASSUME IN, IN BROADBAND, JUST IF YOU HAD SOMEBODY'S JUST REALLY TELL YOU THE TRUTH, JUST THEIR STREET THAT'D BE MORE APT TO, I GUESS LET US KNOW THEIR STREET YEAH. AND NOT OPT OUT COMPLETELY, WHICH IS, WHICH I'M ASSUMING I'M, I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE PERCENTAGE IS FOR US. I'M ASSUMING THEY MAY OPT OUT. SO I WOULD EITHER BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH JUST EITHER STREET NAME OR A 100 BLOCK TYPE NUMBER. YES MA'AM. CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS, IS THAT YOUR SYSTEM WILL KICK IT OUT IF IT'S NOT SPECIFIC AND DOESN'T RECOGNIZE IT. IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN ACTUALLY WORK WITH, OUR SYSTEM WILL KICK IT OUT. OKAY. YEAH. AS A FOLLOW UP MAYOR, MAY I? YES, PLEASE. UM, I, I THINK EVEN HAVING A BROAD AREA, UM, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A FOR INSTANCE. YOU WOULD THINK THAT IF YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS BROADBAND, YOU WOULD, UM, THERE'S ACTUALLY A BUILDING ON MARKET STREET RIGHT NOW. ONE HAS BROADBAND, THE OTHER ONE TRIED TO GET INTERNET AND THEY WERE TOLD BY THE PROVIDER THERE'S NO INFRASTRUCTURE THERE, SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT INFRASTRUCTURE IN IT CAN COME DOWN TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET. EXACTLY. IT REALLY CAN. AND, AND, AND WE'RE, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS KIND OF SAY, OKAY, WE'RE, WE'RE, AND IF, IF, AGAIN, IF YOU REMEMBER KIND OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING, WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, VERIFY OR, OR CHALLENGE THE EXISTING, EXISTING DATA AND YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF WE KNOW, OKAY, THERE'S THESE CERTAIN LOCATIONS AND HERE'S WHO THE PROVIDER IS AND HERE'S WHAT THE SERVICE IS, THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE PUT A LOT OF THAT TOGETHER. I JUST THINK THE COUNCILMAN'S COMMENT, ORIGINAL COMMENT WAS THE FACT THAT PEOPLE, THEY JUST WANNA FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT, THAT THEIR EXACT HOME ADDRESS IS NOT BEING USED USEFUL FOR, FOR PURPOSES. SO IF YOU CAN EXPRESS SOMETHING [00:45:01] LIKE THIS IS ONLY USED TO BE ABLE TO PINPOINT EXACTLY WHERE THEY, WHERE BROADBAND MAY NOT CURRENTLY EXIST. YEAH, I, I CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE. 'CAUSE AGAIN, WE DO THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I, I CAN TELL YOU FOR SURE FOLKS', ADDRESSES WON'T BE PRINTED IN ANY MATERIAL. OKAY. THOSE ARE FOR US TO USE FOR ANALYSIS BEHIND THE SCENES. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE PRESENTATION? ALRIGHT, I, I DO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, SIR. YEAH, THANK YOU. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OUTCOME OF YOUR PRESENTATION. OH YES, I DO HAVE, UM, THE CITIZEN THAT DID SIGN UP FOR ITEM SIX A. SO, MR. ISAAC, GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. DAVID ISAAC, 28 12 LANDMARK DRIVE. I WANNA THANK THE GENTLEMAN FOR, UH, GIVING HIS PRESENTATION TO OUR COUNSEL. UH, I JUST WANNA FORESHADOW SOME OF, UH, WHAT'S GONNA BE ON THAT SURVEY OR WHAT SOME OF THE OUTCOMES OF THAT SURVEY MAY BE. UH, I'VE KNOCKED ON A FEW DOORS OR TWO AND, UH, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF DIGITAL EQUITY AND ECHO THE SENTIMENTS, UH, BY THE GENTLEMAN, UH, ABOUT DIGITAL EQUITY. WHERE I LIVE SPECIFICALLY HAS VERY LITTLE COMPETITION WHEN IT COMES TO BROADBAND INTERNET. THEY, THEY'RE RAKING US OVER THE COALS. WE HAVE NO ONE ELSE TO CALL IF, IF WE DON'T LIKE OUR SERVICE WHEN OUR INTERNET GOES OUT. IT'S OVER BY SHO LANDER AND A LOT OF, UH, UH, COUNCILMAN POWELL'S, UH, DISTRICT AREA. AND SO, UH, IT IS A DETRIMENT. WE ARE IN THE WORLD OF AI RIGHT NOW. WE ARE IN A WORLD OF EXPONENTIAL GROWTH. A SINGULARITY IS AMONG US AND WE NEED ACCESS TO BROADBAND ACROSS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS, UH, PRESENT DIGITALLY, UH, VIA FIBER OPTIC CABLE. AND, UH, A PRESENTATION WAS GIVEN HERE ABOUT FIBER, FIBER OPTIC CABLE, WHICH IS SOME TYPE OF BROADBAND INTERNET THAT'S EXTREMELY FAST AND THEY HAVE AVAILABLE IN PLACES LIKE AUSTIN. AND I'D LIKE TO GET AN UPDATE ON THAT, MR. MAYOR AND OR COUNSEL, UH, ABOUT THE, UH, DEVELOPMENTS OF THAT DISCUSSION THAT TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR. THE GENTLEMAN, I ALSO ASKED FOR THE, THE COUNCIL TO HELP PROMOTE SOME LITERATURE. I THINK, UH, AS A, AS A CITIZEN, I WOULD LIKE FOR THE COUNCIL TO HELP AS WELL PROMOTE, UH, UH, THIS SURVEY, BUT ALSO PROMOTE THE FACT THAT SENIOR CITIZENS AND, AND FOLKS THAT ARE DISABLED, MUCH LIKE THE HOMESTEAD AGREEMENT THAT WE JUST ENACTED, UH, UH, HAVE DISCOUNTS AND THEY'RE LARGELY UNAWARE OF GETTING A $30 DISCOUNT OR SO. AND I THINK THE CITY COULD HELP WITH SOME OF THAT COMMUNICATION. AND SO, UH, FOLKS SPECIFICALLY IN THE ETJ WHO ONLY HAVE THE HARRIS COUNTY TO RELY UPON, BUT HAVE A BAYTOWN ADDRESS, SOME OF THEM PAY BAYTOWN TAXES, SOME OF THEM, UH, PAY BAYTOWN UTILITY FEES, UH, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE SERVICES. AND WE'D LIKE TO KNOW WHO IS GOING TO SERVICE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. FOLKS ARE AFRAID THAT, UH, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MAY REPLACE US, BUT IT'S GONNA BE HUMANS THAT USE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THAT REPLACE US. AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED BROADBAND INTERNET. NOT, NOT, NOT YESTERDAY, BUT TOMORROW OR WAIT, NOT TOMORROW, BUT TODAY, . AND SO, UH, I, I URGE THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO, UH, PROCEED. THANK YOU. THANKS SIR. ALRIGHT, WE WILL CONSIDER ITEM SIX A IS RECEIVED AND [7. CONSENT All Consent Agenda items listed are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Council Member requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.] WE MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA. WE DO HAVE ITEMS A THROUGH P, HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE, UM, CITIZENS SIGN UP FOR THREE ITEMS. SO IF YOU WILL COME UP, MR. ISAAC, YOU HAVE, YOU'VE SIGNED UP, IF I'M READING THIS CORRECTLY, ITEM, UH, SEVEN, IS THAT S OR J? EXCUSE ME. THAT'S J, N AND P. YES, SIR. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. UM, SO THE, THESE ARE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AND UH, AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE HERE, WE HAVE ONE FULL PAGE AND A HALF OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, AND IT SAYS, UH, UH, THEY'RE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY. UH, SO THAT MAY BE THE CASE, BUT IN TERMS OF THE, THE GENERAL PUBLIC, JUST A LITTLE LOUD IN TERMS OF, YOU CAN START THE TIMER, BY THE WAY, THE CITY CLERK. THANK YOU. UH, IN TERMS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, UH, I, I BELIEVE THESE THINGS SHOULD BE DISCUSSED, UH, SPECIFIC. WELL, STARTING WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO, UH, PRESCRIBE THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN CLASSIFICATION SERVICE GROUP POLICE, UM, I'VE BEEN TO JUST ABOUT EVERY, UH, UH, POLICE, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING, UH, THIS YEAR. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT ON HERE. I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR SOME SORT OF, UH, ARTICULATED, UH, DETAILS ON, ON WHAT'S GOING ON WITH POLICE. I KNOW THAT, UH, WE DISCUSSED THAT, UH, POLICE AND FIRE ARE 60% OF THE BUDGET. THEY'RE NOT IN THE MASTER PLAN. SO IF WE'RE GONNA START TRYING TO INCORPORATE THEM IN THE MASTER PLAN, MAYBE WE WANT TO HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFIC CHANGES THAT ARE BEING MADE. UH, ONE OF THESE I THINK IS IMPORTANT. WE JUST HIRED THREE MORE OFFICERS LAST WEEK THAT'S GONNA HELP FILL THAT, UH, VOID THAT WE HAD. BUT, UH, I WANT, I WANNA KNOW IF WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE GOAL POLES HERE OR IF WE'RE GONNA LOWER THAT NUMBER OR, OR WHAT. SO I'D LIKE TO HEAR A REPORT FROM THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, NEXT, NEXT ITEM. N THANK YOU [00:50:01] MR. MAYOR. COUNSEL. DAVID ISAAC. SO, UM, I, I WANT TO, UH, EXTEND A, UH, AN APPRECIATION OR GRATITUDE TO, UH, THE COUNCIL OR TO THE, TO THE CITY FOR, UH, NOT ACCEPTING THIS BID FOR THE NUISANCE MOWING SERVICE CONTRACT. UH, THAT'S TRANSPARENT. UH, THAT'S THE TYPE OF TRANSPARENCY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN GOVERNMENT. IN THIS CASE, ONLY ONE PERSON APPLIED TO BE THE SERVICE, UH, TO MOW NUISANCE YARDS. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THAT'S HOLDING UP BUSINESS IN THE CITY. UH, HOWEVER, I I DO APPRECIATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO PULL BACK AND NOT ACCEPT THIS UNTIL AND LET THE FREE MARKET, MAYBE THE CITY CAN GET A CHEAPER MOWING CONTRACT. UH, MAYBE WE CAN GET BETTER SERVICES GOING THAT WAY. WE COULD BE MORE TRANSPARENT, MORE INCLUSIVE ABOUT THE BUSINESS IS BEING USED. THERE ARE PLENTY OF LAWN MOWING BUSINESSES IN THIS CITY, AND I THINK MANY OF THEM COULD DEAL WITH, UH, THE SOCIAL CAPITAL OF HAVING A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANKS SIR. AND NEXT ITEM, UH, BELIEVE MS. WAS IT PETE? PETE? YES. MR. MAYOR. UH, WHEN I SPOKE WITH, UM, A, A SENIOR OFFICIAL HERE AT THE CITY AND, AND, AND ASKED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE IDA AGREEMENT WITH EXXON. IN THIS CASE, WE'RE MAKING AN IDA AGREEMENT HERE THAT AGAIN, UH, UNDER A CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, UH, THAT THAT WASN'T INTENDED TO BE DISCUSSED, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. IDA, HOW'S IT GONNA HELP THE CITY? HOW'S IT GONNA HELP THE TAXPAYER? HOW'S IT GOING TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE ISSUES HERE IN TOWN? UH, HOW LONG WILL THE CONTRACT LAST? FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THERE'S A LOT OF DETAILS THAT HAVE SHIFTED, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS IN REGARDS TO FINANCING. AND SO I WOULD LOVE FOR THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR TO, UH, UH, GIVE A REPORT ON THAT. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR ITEMS A THROUGH P. IT'S A CONSENT AGENDA. I, UH, CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION. YES. UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING NEEDS TO BE PULLED. OKAY. I'LL MAKE THAT MOTION WITH THE ABILITY TO AT LEAST DISCUSS A OKAY, WELL THEY NEED TO, WE HAVE TO PULL. OH, PULL A, IS THERE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ITEM NEED TO BE PULLED THEN. I WANTED, I WANTED TO PULL IN AND O JUST TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS. OKAY. SO TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO PULL A AND O MOVE TO APPROVE ITEMS SEVEN A THROUGH P, SAVE AND ACCEPT A N AND O. THANK YOU, MA'AM. SECOND. OKAY. MOTION A SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF THAT MOTION, PLEASE SAY AYE. MS. OPPOSED? ALRIGHT, [a. Consider an ordinance authorizing an Engineering Services Agreement with BGE, Inc., for the Baytown Area Water Authority (BAWA) East Surface Water Treatment Plant Phase 2 Expansion Project.] SO, UM, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND, UH, FIRST WE'LL START WITH A AND, AND, AND MAYOR, I'LL JUMP IN THERE. REALLY JUST COMMENT. I, I WANTED TO PULL THIS ONE JUST FOR KIND OF JUST BRIEF DISCUSSION. THIS IS, UH, AS WAS BROUGHT UP, SOMETIMES THE CITY IS THE WORLD'S WORST TO BRAG ON ITSELF. AND, AND WE JUST VERY RECENTLY, A FEW YEARS AGO, FINISHED THE BAWA EAST PLANT AND NOW WE'RE HERE EXPANDING THAT PLANT. THAT'S NOT A BAD THING. THAT'S A GOOD THING. BASICALLY WE'VE SO HAD SO MUCH GROWTH IN THAT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT THAT WE HAVE TO EXPAND THE EAST PLANT TO ACCOMMODATE THAT. SO AGAIN, THAT'S A POSITIVE AND, AND WE SHOULD KIND OF LET OUR CITIZENS KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WE TALK ABOUT GROWTH IN THE CITY A LOT, AND THEN WE PASS THIS MAJOR THING, KIND OF JUST LET IT SLIDE ON THROUGH. BUT I WANTED TO BRAG ON PUBLIC WORKS AND, AND FRANK'S CREW AND SOME OF THE OTHER EFFORTS THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT HERE WE ARE. AND WE'RE BASICALLY DOUBLING THE CAPACITY OF THAT WATER PLANT BECAUSE THE DEMAND OUT THERE NEEDS IT. AND THAT'S JUST A GOOD THING. I DO APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENT. YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. I BELIEVE, I THINK IT WHEN WE STARTED OFF, ALTHOUGH IT CAN CONTINUE TO BE EXPANDED, IT GENERATES SIX MAIN GALLON, SIX MAIN GALLONS A DAY OF WATER. AND I THINK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE HAD A CUSTOMER THAT WAS ALREADY REQUIRING TWO MAIN GALLONS. WOW. IMMEDIATELY. SO WITH THAT, UH, APPRECIATE THE COMMENT. WE'LL GO ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM OF N UH, FOR DISCUSSION. UH, COUNSEL. YEAH, I JUST, I ACTUALLY JUST WANTED TO PULL THIS TO ASK, UM, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT MR. ISAACS WAS SAYING. I WAS WANTING TO KNOW, UM, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS, WHY THE, WHY IT WAS REJECTED IF WE HAD MORE THAN ONE BID. AND THEN THE, THE OTHER THING IS I HAD A CITIZEN, UM, SENT ME AN EMAIL REGARDING THE GRASS BEING TOO HIGH AT THE LIBRARY. AND SO I CALLED OVER HERE AND HAD TALKED TO SOMEONE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT'S BECAUSE IT'S A CONTRACTOR THAT MOWS OVER THERE. SO I JUST SAW THIS AGENDA ITEM AND KIND OF WANTED TO KNOW IF THAT WAS SOMEHOW TIED TO THE LIBRARY AND JUST, I DON'T KNOW, GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO EXPLAIN AND YES, NO PROBLEM. [n. Consider an ordinance to reject the received bid for the Annual As-Needed Nuisance Mowing service contract. ] SO ITEM N BASICALLY WHEN WE WENT OUT FOR BID ON THAT, WE ONLY RECEIVED ONE VENDOR. AND DUE TO THE VOLUME OF WORK, WE FELT LIKE WE NEEDED MORE THAN ONE. OKAY. SO WE WENT OUT FOR, YOU KNOW, REJECT THIS INITIAL AND THEN BASICALLY REACH OUT AND REBID. UH, SO WE DID RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE VENDOR. AND SO PURCHASING IS WORKING ON THE AGREEMENTS [00:55:01] TO PUT THOSE IN PLACE. AND THE PLAN IS TO BRING IT BACK TO COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL ON THE JUNE 22ND COUNCIL MEETING. AND IS IS THE, THE FACT THAT WE HAD TO GO BACK OUT TO BID, IS THIS, UM, MAYBE IMPACTING SOME OF THE MOWING JOBS THAT WE DO ON CONTRACT? NO MA'AM. IT WAS STRICTLY TO MAKE SURE WE HAD A CONTINGENCY OR A BACKUP FOR OUR PRIMARY VENDOR. OKAY. UM, BUT THE OTHER THEORY WAS RAIN. I THINK RAIN PLAYED A ROLE TOO, SO I JUST WAS WANTED TO GO ON RECORD TO TALK ABOUT IT. YES, MA'AM. CONCERN, DEFINITELY THE WEATHER. UH, THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT, IT WOULD, WOULD NOT COVER AND DOES NOT COVER THE MOWING AT THE LIBRARY. OKAY. THAT WOULD BE UNDER A DIFFERENT CONTRACT. OKAY. THANK YOU. MAYOR. IF I MAY, UM, JUST TO FURTHER CLARIFY, IF I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY, NUISANCE IS THOSE THAT WE HAVE TO DO AN ABANDONED PROPERTIES OR SOMEONE THAT'S NOT RESPONDING AND WE HAVE TO GO IN AND AND CUT THE YARD? YES MA'AM. THAT'S FOR THE ABATEMENT TO, TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY. MM-HMM . OKAY. THANK YOU BOTH. ALRIGHT, WE'LL [o. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 74, "Peddlers and Solicitors," of the City of Baytown Code of Ordinances, to eliminate provisions related to open air vendors from Chapter 74.] MOVE ON TO, I THINK YOU SAID O YES. AND THEN O AGAIN, I JUST, I WANTED TO DISCUSS THIS. I KNOW WE, UM, I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS ITEM WAS DOING OR SAYING 'CAUSE I THOUGHT WE ALREADY SAID THAT WE WEREN'T ALLOWING PEDDLERS AND SOLICITORS AND SO I JUST WANTED SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN YES MA'AM. WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS ? RIGHT. SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. SO BACK ON THE APRIL 13TH MEETING MM-HMM . YOU GUYS VOTED TO PROHIBIT THAT. AND SO WHAT THIS IS, IS A CLEANUP OF THAT ORDINANCE OKAY. PROHIBITING THE OPEN AIR VENDORS AND, UH, CREATING A, A, AN OFFENSE SECTION, UH, FOR THAT PARTICULAR, UH, TYPE OF VENDOR. SO IT'S JUST A CLEANUP THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT DID. I THOUGHT SO, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T MISSING SOMETHING. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. SINCE, SINCE I WAS BROUGHT UP AND, AND MAYBE STAFF, I'M NOT SURE IF THOMAS IS HERE. UM, I DO THINK THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION REGARDING THIS ORDINANCE, BUT IT'S ALSO MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE WAS, THERE IS SOME LEGISLATION, I'M NOT SURE IT'S STATUS. UM, WE'RE DOWN TO UPDATE ME HOW THIS ORDINANCE OR CAN YOU UPDATE COUNSEL, HOW THIS ORDINANCE ALONG, MAYBE SOME OTHERS COULD BE IMPACTED BY OUR FINE FOLKS IN AUSTIN. RIGHT. UM, UH, WE DO PLAN TO BRING A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE TO THE COUNCIL. UH, THE SECOND MEETING IN JUNE, I BELIEVE IS WHAT IT'S ON THE, ON THE WORK SESSION CALENDAR. UM, BUT, UH, THE RECENT BILL, HOUSE BILL 2127 THAT HAS MADE IT THROUGH THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE IS A STATE PREEMPTION BILL THAT PREEMPTS CITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS THAT ARE NOT LAID OUT BY THE STATE OR YEAH. THAT ARE NOT LAID OUT BY THE STATE. SOME OF THOSE, UH, PIECES INCLUDE REGULATIONS ON SHORT TERM RENTALS OR AIRBNBS, UH, REGULATIONS ON PEDALERS AND SOLICITOR, UH, ORDINANCES. AND, UM, JUST A WIDE RANGE OF, OF OTHER PIECES THAT ARE NOT AS IMPACTFUL. UH, THERE ARE SOME PIECES WITH SOME, UM, UH, BUILDING CODES THAT ARE IMPACTED WITH THIS, WITH THIS LAW. UH, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR BAYTOWN, UM, IT NEGATES THIS ORDINANCE. AND, UM, SO ONCE THAT BILL IS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR, AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, UM, THAT BILL HAS WRITTEN AS OF LAST WEEK, WE'LL NEGATE THIS BILL OR WE WILL NEGATE THIS ORDINANCE. THEREFORE ANYBODY IN BAYTOWN WILL BE ABLE TO SOLICIT ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET ANYWHERE WITHIN THE CITY. UM, AND THE, THE ORDINANCE IS NOT ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT. SO. ALRIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND DID THIS ONE CAPTURE, WAS THERE A SEPARATE, I KNOW THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY AN UPDATE, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S SOMEWHAT TIED TO IT IN THE ABILITY FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE. WASN'T THERE ONE WHERE COUNCIL MEMBERS COULD BE CIVILLY SUED? THAT WAS THIS BILL. THERE WAS A LATE AMENDMENT TO THE HOUSE BILL 21, 27 THAT, UM, THAT ORIGINALLY AS IT WAS WRITTEN, YOU WERE ABLE TO SUE ANY COUNCIL MEMBER OR STAFF MEMBER PERSONALLY. UM, SO YOU COULD SUE THEM AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND NOT AS A, AS A MEMBER OF, OF, OF THE ORGANIZATION. THAT BILL WAS REMOVED WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO SUE THE CITY, UH, AT THIS POINT, UM, INSTEAD OF AN INDIVIDUAL. OKAY. AND SO, UH, THAT IS STILL GOING, WAITING FOR THE GOVERNOR TO SIGN. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. BUT THAT, THAT WAS ALL THE SAME HOUSE BILL? CORRECT. ALRIGHT. SO THEY ONLY WANTED TO MAKE THE POINT THAT ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE WE ARE IN STATE, THAT WE WERE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE THAT WE MAY HAVE. WE MAY LOSE THE ABILITY TO GOVERN THAT TO ORDINANCE IN THE FUTURE. HOPEFULLY NOT, BUT WE'LL MOVE ON. WE HAVE A CONSENT. WE HAVE, YES MA'AM. SO TO CLARIFY THOUGH, RIGHT NOW, THIS IS STILL IN, IN EFFECT IN BAYTOWN UNTIL THAT BILL IS SIGNED? THAT'S TRUE. THAT IS CORRECT. YES, MA'AM. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION, UH, FOR ITEMS A THROUGH P MOVE MOVE TO APPROVE ITEMS A, N AND O SECOND. OH, OKAY. A WHAT WAS THAT? A, N AND O. [01:00:01] OKAY. BUT DID WE ALREADY APPROVE THE, THE REST OF CONSENT? OKAY. YES, WE ALREADY DID THOSE. ALL RIGHT. SO THEN THESE THREE, ARE THOSE IN FAVOR THEN? OF THOSE THREE PARTICULAR, THERE WAS A MOTION. WAS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. AND THEN IS THERE, ALTHOUGH IN FAVOR OF THOSE CONSENT ITEMS, PLEASE SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE POST. ALRIGHT, [8. CITIZEN COMMENTS Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, prohibits the City Council from discussing, deliberating, or considering, subjects for which public notice has not been given on the agenda. Issues that cannot be referred to the administration for action may be placed on the agenda of a future City Council Session.] WE'LL MOVE ON TO CITIZEN COMMENTS. SO THE PURPOSE OF CITIZEN'S COMMENT IS TO GIVE ALL INTERESTS TO CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. EVERYONE DESIRING TO SPEAK SHOULD HAVE EITHER SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE VOYEUR OR EMAIL THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE POSTED TIME OF THIS MEETING. EACH CITIZEN SHALL GIVE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PROPER RECORD OF THESE COMMENTS. THE RULES ALLOW EACH PERSON ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK AS SEND MAY PA A CITIZEN MAY PASS HIS OR HER TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAS REQUESTED TO ADDRESS COUNSEL. HOWEVER, NO CITIZEN'S REMARKS SHALL EXCEED THREE MINUTES IN TOTAL, EITHER, EITHER THE ONE MINUTE OF, OR THE THREE MINUTE LIMIT MAY BE EXTENDED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE CI OF THE COUNCIL. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE BRIEF TO THE POINT AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THE CITY COUNCIL CANNOT DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE ON ITEMS FOR WHICH PUBLIC NOTICE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN ON THIS AGENDA. ALL RIGHT. UH, SO I BELIEVE THERE'S TWO INDIVIDUALS THAT, THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, UM, AND FOR COUNCIL'S, UH, INFORMATION. SO IF THERE'S, IF THERE IS, UM, INTEREST MY COUNCIL MEMBER, PLEASE DIRECT THAT COMMENT TO ME IF YOU'D LIKE THIS TO BE PLACED ON A FUTURE AGENDA FOR CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. SO FIRST I HAVE MR. ISAAC. YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE. I WASN'T CALLING MATTHEW FIRST, ACTUALLY, BUT I APPRECIATE, I I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, MR. MAYOR, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I SAW YOU SWEATING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. . UH, THAT MAKES ME THE FIRST PERSON EVER TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON, UH, COMMENT JUST TONIGHT, BUT, OKAY. SO, UH, TODAY, TODAY, TODAY IS THE GREATEST, GREATEST, GREATEST . I WAS ACTUALLY GONNA USE THIS TIME TO, UH, UH, REQUEST A LEGISLATIVE UPDATE AND, UH, MR. REYNOLDS HAD, UH, USED THAT TIME, UH, HIS TIME THERE TO, TO DISCUSS IT BRIEFLY. SO I GUESS I'LL BE PATIENT AND WAIT TILL THE 22ND WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO. UH, BUT WHILE I DO HAVE THE TIME, UH, YOU KNOW, THE ELECTION CYCLE JUST PASSED RECENTLY WHERE 87 VOTES GOT A WINNING, UH, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE COUNCIL THINKS ABOUT THE MAYOR'S PROPOSITION, UH, FROM A FEW MONTHS AGO ABOUT TRYING TO MOVE THE ELECTION CYCLE POSSIBLY TO MAY AND HOW THAT WOULD AFFECT VOTER TURNOUT. UH, YOU KNOW, SEE HOW THAT HOLDS UP WITH, UH, WHAT HE HAD SAID THAT ONE TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. GLAD YOU'RE INTERESTED. ALRIGHT, MOVE ON TO, UH, TO THE NEXT CITIZEN, MATTHEW. IS THAT OH, SKELTON? YES, SIR. OKAY, THANK YOU. UH, GO AHEAD AND JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. OKAY, SIR. YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING, GUYS. GOOD EVENING. UH, MATTHEW SKELTON, 17 0 1 ADAM STREET. UH, I HAVE A FEW THINGS TO, TO GO OVER, BUT, UH, I LEARNED TONIGHT HOW I'M SUPPOSED TO GO ABOUT IT. SO I'LL JUST ADDRESS THE WATER ISSUE. UM, EXTREMELY HIGH. UH, WE JUMPED FROM 7,000 GALLONS TO 15,000 GALLONS AFTER A COMPLAINT BACKED DOWN TO 5,000 GALLONS BEFORE THAT AVERAGED ABOUT 3,700 TH 3,700 GALLONS. ONLY TWO TIMES THAT I'VE SEEN THIS THING JUMP OR SPIKE THIS HIGH IN LAST YEAR. UH, MY WIFE DOES, UH, TRAVEL NURSING, SO WE WEREN'T HERE. SHE, UH, WE HAD A WATER MAIN THAT WAS BROKEN AND IT HAD BEEN FLOODING FOR SIX OR SEVEN DAYS. WE HAD TO PULL THE CITY ENGINEER OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, COME OVER AND CALL PUBLIC WORKS TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF. FREE FLOWING THE ENTIRE TIME. OUR BILL, SEVERAL NEIGHBORS, IT ALL WENT UP. UH, SAME THING WITH A FIRE HYDRANT. NOT SURE IT'S NOT, I'M NOT CONSPIRACY OR ANYTHING. THERE'S A FIRE HYDRANT THAT WAS BAGGED FOR OVER A YEAR, TOOK THE BAG OFF, DID A TEST, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE THIS AS MY WATER BILL. I DID CHECK IF I GET FIVE MORE SECONDS. I DID CHECK WITH A COUPLE NEIGHBORS AND THE 90-YEAR-OLD LADY THAT LIVES NEXT DOOR, UH, BY HERSELF, HER HUSBAND'S A DECEASED FOR OVER A YEAR. UM, HER BILL WAS ABNORMALLY HIGH LAST MONTH AS WELL. OKAY. SO YOUR TIME IS UP. I KNOW IT'S QUICK. UM, IS THERE ANY COUNCILMAN WHAT, UH, YOU HAD THE ADDRESS? I'M NOT SURE WHAT COUNCIL DISTRICT THAT WAS. 17 0 1 ADAM STREET. IT'S IN PLUMWOOD. OKAY. I BELIEVE IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. ALRIGHT, SO MS. GRAHAM, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN AT LEAST REACH OUT TO THE CITIZEN. HE, I HAVE HIS INFORMATION, THEN PLEASE SPELL IT OUT. DID YOU SPEAK BEFORE? NO. OKAY. WELL, I'LL CONTINUE. NO, I JUST WANTED TO SPELL HIS LAST NAME. OKAY. SKELTON. S-K-E-L-T-O-N. OKAY. I'LL ASK YOU TO CONTACT HIM AND YES, SIR. AND CERTAINLY GET A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WE CAN IN ONE MINUTE. SO WITH THAT, WE, WE ON TO OUR NEXT. THANK YOU, SIR FOR COMING. THANK YOU. BEING PATIENT. THANK YOU. OH, HOLD ON. MY AGENDA IS IN HERE SOMEWHERE. SO [9. MANAGER'S REPORT Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 551.0415 of the Texas Government Code, the City Council of the City of Baytown may receive a report about items of community interest from City staff and/or a member of the City Council, but no action or possible action shall be taken or discussed concerning the subject of such report, except as provided by Section 551.042 of the Texas Government Code.] WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR MANAGER'S REPORT. MS. CITY MANAGER? YES, MAYOR COUNSEL. JUST WANT TO, UM, UH, CONTINUE TO THANK PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UM, PARKS AND STAFF FOR ALL THE EVENTS THAT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN TO CELEBRATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY. UH, MOST RECENTLY, UH, HAD A FEW DONUTS MYSELF [01:05:01] AROUND THE, UH, DONUT TRAIL AT THE POPUP PARK. UH, FANTASTIC STUFF, UH, UH, TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT, UH, ALONG WITH A VERY, UH, UM, GOOD TOWN SQUARE THAT WENT OFF OVER THE WEEKEND AS WELL. SO, UH, A BIG THANK YOU TO PARKS AND, AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR CONTINUE TO PUSH STUFF, UM, AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE STAFF THAT, THAT IS INVOLVED WITH, UH, MAKING THESE COME TO LIFE. I WANT TO RECOGNIZE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE. UM, FIRST WE HAVE, UH, MICHAEL GARCIA WHO RECEIVED, UH, HIS MASTER'S IN ENGINEERING AND AND MANAGEMENT. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM. UM, WE HAVE, UM, OUR INTERIM ATTORNEY, UM, MICHAEL PETERSON, OR HE'S ACTUALLY AN INTERN, EXCUSE ME, MICHAEL PETERSON. HE GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL AND, UM, WITH THE HELP OF KRISTEN. YES. UH, HE WON HIS VERY FIRST CASE IN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. SO AS AN INTERN HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE ON A CASE AND THEY WORKED TOGETHER AND HE WON HIS VERY FIRST ONE. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO HIM. UM, I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE FIVE EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE THAT WERE RECOGNIZED IN THE 44 UNDER 40, UH, FRANKIE LINDER, UM, GINA FAITH, COURTNEY BONZO, LAWRENCE S AND AMY SHIPLEY. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THEM AS WELL. IT'S FANTASTIC THAT WE HAVE, UM, THAT MANY PEOPLE SHOWING UP IN, IN THE 40, UNDER 40 AND, UH, SPEAKS HIGHLY TO, UH, THE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE WORKING FOR THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. WE HAVE THREE EVENTS, UH, FOUR EVENTS THAT I WANT TO, UM, UH, HIGHLIGHT. UM, UH, TOMORROW WE HAVE TOUCH A TRUCK AND, UH, THAT IS, UH, FROM NINE TO ONE, I BELIEVE, UH, NINE TO ONE. THEN WE HAVE, UM, THE HURRICANE WORKSHOP ON SATURDAY. SO HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO ALL THESE EVENTS. THEN WE HAVE THE STEWART CAREER HIGH SCHOOL ON THE 31ST. THAT, UH, INVOLVES THE POLICE FIRE AND IT ALONG WITH GU CREEK IST. SO THAT'S, UH, IT'S A TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND WE ARE INVOLVED WITH, UH, HELPING THEM, UH, WITH SHOWCASING A FEW ITEMS. AND SO, UH, LOOK FORWARD TO THAT ON THE 31ST. AND THEN FINALLY ON MONDAY, THE MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES, UH, RIGHT IN FRONT OF BICENTENNIAL PARK AT 11:00 AM THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR. THANK YOU. I JUST WANNA PIGGYBACK ON, ON TWO THINGS REAL QUICK, BUT, UM, THE, THE TOUCH OF TRUCK, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT IS? UH, I WILL PASS THAT ON TO FRANK FROM HERE. ALRIGHT. IF YOU MAY. AND WHERE AND WHERE? YES, I THINK I HEARD 9 0 1, BUT NO, WHAT IS IT? YES SIR. UH, THAT IS PART OF, UH, NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK. UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT OUT IN TOWN SQUARE AND HAVE SOME, UH, ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS, SNOW CONES, UM, POPCORN, HOT DOGS, AND SOME LIKE REMOTE CONTROL VEHICLES. COOL. UH, BUT JUST TO GET THEM TO, UH, BE ABLE TO SEE ALL THE PUBLIC WORKS EQUIPMENT AND KIND OF CLIMB ON IT AND TOUCH THE TRUCK. OKAY. WHEN IS THAT AGAIN? TOMORROW, NINTH NINE ONE IN TOWN SQUARE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO, UM, JUST GIVE SOME RECOGNITION TO PARKS AND REC. UM, I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR, THEIR 5K NATURE RUN AT THE, THE BAYTOWN NATURE CENTER, WHICH I THINK WAS HANDLED VERY WELL, WAS A GOOD PARTICIPATION. AND I THINK THAT AND THE TURKEY TROTT THAT, THAT I THINK WILL STILL TAKE PLACE AT JENKINS IN NOVEMBER. SO, UM, I'M ON MY, ON MY WAY OF DOING AT LEAST THE THREE, FIVE KS A YEAR, BUT, UH, IT, IT REALLY, IT WENT OFF REALLY WELL AND THEY DID A REALLY FINE JOB TO, UH, TO FIND A PATH TO SAFELY RUN IN THE WOODS AT THE NATURE CENTER. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND ALSO, UH, FOR COUNCIL, I BELIEVE IT WAS, UH, COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM AND ALVARADO WHO WEATHERED THE STORM, UH, FOR THE OPENING OF THE ART ALLEY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE WAS THERE. I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT AT THAT TIME AND IT WAS, IT WAS CERTAINLY RAINING. UM, PRETTY HARD WORK UMBRELLA. AN UMBRELLA, OLD UMBRELLA. YEAH. SO I WAS TOLD, OH, THEY SAID IT WAS CLEAR BY FIVE 15 AND I SAID, I DON'T THINK THAT OUR WEATHER FORECAST IS THAT ACCURATE, BUT YES. BUT NO THANK YOU Y'ALL FOR, PREPARED FOR YES, Y'ALL DID LOOK PREPARED, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. SO, UH, VERY EXCITING. SO, UH, FOR OUR CITIZENS, PLEASE GO AND VISIT ART ALLEY AND CERTAINLY THE NEW, UM, SCULPTURE TRAIL THAT'S IN OUR TOWN SQUARE. SO WITH THAT, UM, UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL, IF NOT, UM, BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL HAS ADDRESSED ALL POSTED AGENDA MEETING ITEMS, UH, THIS EVENING. SO THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.