* 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. [ CITY OF BAYTOWN NOTICE OF MEETING CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2024 2:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL 2401 MARKET STREET, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 77520 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM PLEDGE AND INVOCATION ] [00:00:05] SO WHEN I CALL THIS SPECIAL MEETING, THE BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL ORDER, IT IS THURSDAY, MAY 2ND, 2:33 PM WE DO HAVE A, A QUORUM. WE'LL BE LED IN OUR PLEDGE AND INVOCATION, UH, BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOB POWELL, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AN INDIVISIBLE. TODAY, UH, IS ACTUALLY THE, UH, NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. UM, FIRST THURSDAY IN MAY, UM, WHICH WE NORMALLY WOULDN'T HAVE A MEETING. BUT NOW WITH OUR SPECIAL MEETING, WE GET TO GATHER ON THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. UM, SO IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME IN PRAYER, PLEASE DO THANK YOU FOR THE STAY GUIDE. AND I JUST THANK YOU, UM, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO GATHER IN A FREE NATION, LORD. AND, UM, I JUST THANK YOU FOR, UM, ALL THOSE BEFORE US THAT HAVE, UM, FOUGHT FOR THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY GOD. AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE THAT ARE STILL FIGHTING TODAY. GOD, ALL THOSE THAT SERVE US IN THE, IN THE MILITARY, GOD AND LORD, I JUST WANNA LIFT UP, UM, ALL OF OUR LEADERS AT THE LOCAL, THE STATE, THE NATIONAL LEVEL. GOD, I JUST PRAY FOR, UM, WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, UM, AND I JUST PRAY THAT, UH, WITH EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE, UH, THAT YOU'RE A GLORIFIED GOD AND WE JUST PRAY THAT, UM, IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, UM, OUR NATION WILL LOOK TO YOU LORD, UM, AND LOOK TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE. AND GOD THAT, UH, WE WILL JUST KNOW YOUR LOVE AND WILL LOVE, UM, OUR NEIGHBORS IN IN THE SAME WAY THAT YOU LOVED US. GOD. UM, GOD GIVE US WISDOM HERE TODAY AS WE, UM, UH, DISCUSS THE ITEMS WE HAVE BEFORE US ON THE AGENDA. AND WE PRAY ALL THIS IN YOUR SON JESUS' NAME. AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU COUNCILMAN. OKAY, SO OUR FIRST, OUR [1. 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.] FIRST ITEM WE HAVE IS OUR CITIZEN COMMENTS. UH, I HAVE, THIS IS THE LIST. WELL, THIS IS, THIS IS THE LIST FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS. UM, YEAH. OKAY. SO LET ME READ A SCRIPT. SO, PERSISTENT COMMENT. I HAVE ONE PERSON THAT SIGNED UP. THE PURPOSE ASSISTANT COMMENT IS GIVE IS TO GIVE ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO, TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. EVERYONE DESIRE TO SPEAK SHOULD EITHER SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE FOYER OR EMAILED 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 ONE, EACH PERSON ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK ASSISTANT MAY PASS HIS OR HER TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO WAS REQUESTED TO ADDRESS COUNSEL. HOWEVER, NO CITIZEN'S REMARKS SHALL EXCEED THREE MINUTES IN TOTAL. EITHER THE ONE MINUTE OR THE THREE MINUTE LIMIT MAY BE EXTENDED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF COUNSEL. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE AS BRIEF AND TO THE POINT AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND COUNSEL CANNOT DISCUSS THE BILL RATE ON ITEMS FOR WHICH THE PUBLIC NOTICE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN ON THIS AGENDA. SO I HAVE MR. INE, UH, THAT IS SIGNED UP FOR ASSISTANT COMMENT. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE. UH, MY NAME IS HERBERT LOING. I LIVE AT 29 0 5 PARKLAND DRIVE HERE, RIGHT HERE IN BAYTOWN. UH, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I'D LIKE TO THANK, UM, MR. POWELL. UH, WE HAD A, UH, DRAINAGE, UH, ISSUE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. HE ADDRESSED THAT. AND DURING THE RECENT STORMS, IT'S BEEN VERY NICE. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TREE REMOVAL SERVICE. WE HAD A LARGE TREE FALL IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY HAD IT PICKED UP AND CUT UP, UH, BEFORE DAYLIGHT. IT WAS IMPRESSIVE. UM, THE ONLY THING I REALLY WANTED TO SAY, UM, I WON'T PRETEND TO KNOW, UH, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE, THE SITUATION WITH THE GOLF COURSE THAT'S GOING ON. UM, SO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M AGAINST GIVING ANY MORE POWER OR AUTHORITY TO THE CITY MANAGER TO ADDRESS ANYTHING THAT'S NOT OPENLY TRANSPARENT WITH THE PUBLIC. UM, AND I'M ALSO AGAINST, UH, ANY MORE MONEY GOING TO THAT. WE SEEM TO HAVE A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE SPEND THAT WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE. AND THAT SOMEHOW, USUALLY ALWAYS TRANSLATE TO MORE TAXES, WHICH I PAY ENOUGH OF. AND, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. ALRIGHT, SO THAT, THAT'S ALL THAT HAS SIGNED UP FOR THE SYSTEM COMMENT PERIOD. I KNOW THERE'S OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT SIGNED UP FOR ITEMS THAT ARE LATER IN THE, THE AGENDA. SO FOR NOW, [2. EXECUTIVE SESSION] WE WILL NOW RECESS INTO AND CONVENE EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TAXAL GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 5 51 0.071 AND OH EIGHT SEVEN. THE FIRST ONE IS TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF CITY ATTORNEY REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION, AND ALSO TO DELIBERATE, UH, DELIBERATE, UH, SUBJECT MATTER REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS. SO IT IS 2 38. WE'LL NOW BE IN RECESS. I NEED THIS. [00:05:06] ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA RECONVENE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND, UH, THERE WAS NO ISSUES. UH, D DETERMINED, I'M LOOKING FOR THE SCRIPT. NO ACTION WAS, DO WHAT I THINK NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. YEAH, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. AND, UH, WE'LL RECONVENE. UH, NO, I AM NOT MAYOR CAP, I'M MIKE LISTER. I'M, UH, MAYOR PRO TEM REMOVED. UH, AND SINCE OUR MAYOR PRO TEM IS NOT PRESENT, IT FALLS TO ME. SO WE'RE BACK IN SESSION AND THAT SINCE ALL ISSUES ON THE EXECUTIVE SESSION WERE DISCUSSED AND, AND, UH, NO ISSUES, WERE DETERMINED. WE'LL MOVE TO THREE [a. Consider an ordinance authorizing an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2024 budget authorizing a transfer from the General Fund to establish a new fund specifically designated for the Golf Course and other Special Recreation Projects. ] A PROPOSED ORDINANCES, AND WE HAVE A LIST OF FOLKS HERE TO TALK ON THREE A AND WE'LL START WITH, UH, MR. O BRIAN BECK. YEAH, AND I'M LOOKING FOR THE SCRIPT. IT'S NOT HERE, HERE WE GO. PURPOSES. WELL, THIS IS CITIZEN'S COMMENTS. IT'S SAME THING. IT IS THE SAME THING. PURPOSE OF CITIZEN'S COMMENTS GIVE ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. EVERYONE DESIRING TO SPEAK SHOULD EITHER HAVE SIGNED IN OR THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE FOYER OR EMAILED 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 TO THESE COMMENTS. THE RULES ALLOW FOR EACH PERSON ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK. A CITIZEN MAY PASS HERE OR HER TIME TO ANOTHER MEMBER WHO HAS REQUESTED TO ADDRESS COUNSEL. HOWEVER, NO CITIZEN'S REMARKS SHALL EXCEED THREE MINUTES IN TOTAL. EITHER THE ONE MINUTE OR THE THREE MINUTE LIMIT WILL BE EXTENDED BY MAJORITY VOTE OF COUNSEL. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE AS BRIEF AND TO THE POINT AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND COUNSEL CANNOT DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE ON ITEMS OF WHICH PUBLIC NOTICE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN IN THIS AGENDA. AND ISSUES THAT CAN NOT BE REFERRED TO ADMINISTRATION FOR ACTION MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR PLACEMENT ON AGENDA IN THE FUTURE CITY COUNCILMAN. SO, MR. BECK, UH, THANK YOU MR. MAYOR PRO TIM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS BYRON BECK, 47 27 BLACKSTONE STREET AND BEAUTIFUL EAST POINT SUBDIVISION. SO WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY? TRYING TO PUT DUCT TAPE ON A BROKEN DEAL. UH, IT LOOKS LIKE PART OF THE AGENDA IS TO DIVERT GENERAL FUNDS FOR A BAILOUT OF A GOLF COURSE THAT'S TOO BIG TO FAIL. UH, ANOTHER REASON IS THAT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR, AND IT'S KIND OF HARD TO RUN ON A RECORD OF FAILURES OF A FAILED OR FAILING HOTEL CONVENTION CENTER, A STALLED SAN JACINTO MARKETPLACE PROJECT, AND NOW A FAILED GOLF COURSE DEAL THAT WAS PUSHED HARD DESPITE ALL THE WARNINGS AT THE TIME. AND THAT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD ON THE RECORD. WE'RE ALSO HERE BECAUSE THREE SITTING MEMBERS OF THIS BODY VOTED FOR THE DEAL THAT IS IN DEFAULT. NOW. AT THAT TIME, WE WERE TOLD THIS IS A GREAT DEAL AND THAT WE JUST HAD TO TRUST THE EXPERT AGAIN FOR THE SECOND MEETING. I DON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE EXPERTS HERE TONIGHT. WE'RE TOLD THAT ALL LOSSES FOR THIS PROJECT WOULD BE ABSORBED BY THE DEVELOPER. DID THAT HAPPEN? WE'RE ALSO TOLD THAT THIS DEAL WAS THE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE THING TO DO, BECAUSE IF THE CITY HAD TO RUN THE GOLF COURSE, IT WOULD COST A LOT MORE THAN $6 MILLION. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THAT. DID WE SUDDENLY FIND THE MONEY? YET? HERE WE ARE. THE $6 MILLION APPEARS TO BE GONE, AT LEAST SOME OF IT. AND THE SAME PEOPLE THAT TOLD US IT WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA FOR THE CITY TO OWN A GOLF COURSE ARE NOW TELLING US THIS IS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD. IF YOU VOTED FOR THIS DEAL BACK THEN, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO REDEEM YOURSELF. IF YOU VOTE YES AGAIN, THEN YOU TOTALLY OWN THIS, AND EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD, IT'S YOUR BABY. IF YOU WEREN'T ON COUNCIL AT THE TIME, BUT YOU TOLD VOTERS WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING FOR OFFICE THAT YOU WOULD'VE VOTED AGAINST THE DEAL BACK THEN, THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST THIS DEAL. NOW IT'S IN A LOT OF WAYS, MUCH WORSE THAN THE FIRST ONE. DON'T GO BACK ON THAT TO PROTECT SOMEBODY ELSE'S POLITICAL AMBITIONS. THEY MAY NOT BE AROUND LATER TO PROTECT YOU. THERE ARE TOO MANY QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ANSWERED ABOUT THE LAST CONTRACT BEFORE A BLANK CHECK FOR A NEW ONE IS WRITTEN. HOW MUCH DID THE DEVELOPER GET FROM US? HOW MUCH IS LEFT? HOW MUCH CAN WE GET BACK THROUGH LEGAL ACTION? DID ANYONE AT THE CITY NOW OR IN THE PAST, UH, IMPROPERLY USE THEIR INFLUENCE TO GET THIS UNUSUAL ONE-SIDED DEAL WITH THE DEVELOPER? DONE? WE NEED TO FIND ALL THIS OUT BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OUTSIDE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION BEFORE YOU SPEND ONE MORE DIME. AND ALL SIMILAR PROJECTS, INCLUDING PROJECT VECTOR, NEED TO BE PUT ON HOLD UNTIL WE GET THOSE ANSWERS. DO THE RIGHT THING. VOTE NO ON BOTH THREE A AND THREE B. [00:10:01] THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. HERBECK. AND THEN WE HAVE DAVID ISAACS. I THINK THAT'S YOU. YES, SIR. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. IT'S BEEN A WHILE, HASN'T IT? UM, I'M GONNA TRY TO MAKE THIS QUICK. I GOT A, UH, CAMPAIGN DINNER TO GO TO AT EL TORO'S RIGHT AFTER THIS, SO I'LL I'LL WRAP IT UP. UM, I, I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE TO BE AGAINST THIS MEASURE TODAY, MOVING MONEY FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO PAY FOR THIS, WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER ONE OF OUR BOONDOGGLES. WE, AS MR. BECK STATED, WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE IN THE PAST, SOME OF WHICH AREN'T, UH, A TESTAMENT TO SOME OF YOUR LEADERSHIP BEHIND THIS DIOCESE. I KNOW TWO INDIVIDUALS WHO VOTED FOR IT, UH, COUPLE YEARS AGO. MANY MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, MANY ESTEEMED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, EVEN, UH, WERE AGAINST THIS DEAL. THEY WERE WEARY OF THIS DEAL. MR. DON AKEY, WHO I PROBABLY WOULDN'T CONSIDER TO BE ESTEEMED, BUT UH, DID HIS RESEARCH AND SHOWED TO ME THAT THIS COMPANY FROM TENNESSEE WAS SHADY TO BEGIN WITH. AND SO, UH, NOW, UH, THERE'S A, A BIG, UH, PUBLIC SENTIMENT OF I TOLD YOU SO, UH, UH, UH, MOVING THROUGH THE TOWN, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE HAPPY TO TELL THE COUNCIL. UH, I FIND MYSELF, I CONSIDER MYSELF TO BE A COMMUNITY ADVOCATE, BUT IF YOU ASK MY FAMILY, THAT'S JUST THE WAY OF SAYING I AIN'T GOT A JOB. BUT, UM, , I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY TODAY TO PROTECT OUR GENERAL FUND. NOT TO GO TO THIS. WE DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER REALLY WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE DON'T WANNA PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T THINK IS GONNA BE FEASIBLE. WE DON'T WANNA PAY FOR SOMETHING WHEN OUR MDD HAS BEEN DISSOLVED TO PAY FOR A HOTEL CONVENTION CENTER. THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY PROFITABLE AT THIS MOMENT. WE DON'T WANNA PAY FOR SOMETHING WHEN PARKS AND REC AND OTHER SERVICES ARE THREATENED BY THE ALREADY SQUEEZED GENERAL FUND. OUR MDD WAS DISSOLVED. ALL MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE MDD, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE HOTEL BOONDOGGLE. NOW, PARKS AND REC HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THE GENERAL FUND INSTEAD OF WHAT OUR SALES TAX DOLLARS WAS GOING THROUGH. THIS IS THE POSITION THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW. I JUST WENT TO A PARKS AND REC MEETING LAST NIGHT. I GO TO MORE MEETINGS, MORE COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAN ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM, INCLUDING YOURSELVES BEHIND THAT DAIS. SO I'VE SEEN HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THAT GENERAL FUND BE CONTRIBUTED TO PARKS AND REC AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS. WE HEARD VICTOR BROWN, UH, UH, UH, BROWN LEASE, WHO'S NO LONGER HERE. THERE'S A BIG TURNAROUND, UH, PAST COUPLE YEARS. I THINK YOU UNDERSTAND WHY SAY THAT 60% OF THE GENERAL FUND GOES TO PUBLIC AND SERVICE AND SAFETIES ALREADY. SO NOW WE HAVE TO COMPETE. THIS GOLF COURSE HAS TO COMPETE WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY. NOW IT HAS TO COMPETE WITH OUR PARKS AND REC. NOW IT HAS TO COMPETE WITH, WITH EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE TOWN. NOW WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS A PRIORITY. I READ A QUOTE TODAY AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE BEFORE I CAME HERE THAT SAID, YOUR LACK OF PLANNING SHOULD NOT CONSTITUTE AN EMERGENCY FOR ME. AND THAT'S THE STATEMENT THAT I WANNA MAKE TODAY. THE LACK OF PLANNING FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION OR WHOEVER WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. WE CAN CLEARLY SEE, NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. IT SHOULDN'T BE AN EMERGENCY ON THE, ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THAT IS ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AS WELL. OKAY. WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND, AND LISTEN TO SOME OF THE PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THREE B, MR. S SCHACK, YOU'RE, YOU'RE BACK ON THE LIST. I, I DON'T, I DON'T NEED THREE MINUTES. UH, BUT I'LL, I'LL GET THE CLOCKS. IT'S AT ZERO. I, UH, THANK YOU AGAIN. BYRON SHEEK, 47 27 BLACKSTONE STREET. UH, THE, THE REASON I SIGNED UP ON THIS AGENDA ITEM, AND, AND LOOK, I, I, I, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I ACTUALLY, I, I TRY TO BE BELIEVE IN THE BEST IN FOLKS. I, I HOLD EVERYBODY TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD. AND IT'S BECAUSE I, I BELIEVE AT IN PEOPLE'S INTENTIONS, AND UNTIL THEY DO SOMETHING THAT SHOWS ME WHAT THEIR REAL CHARACTER AND, AND POSITION IS. AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I THINK ALMOST EVERYBODY OR MAYBE EVERYBODY HAD THE BEST OF INTENTIONS GOING INTO THIS FIRST DEAL. SO, AGAIN, I SAY LIKE I DID LAST TIME, NOBODY IS HAPPY ABOUT THIS. WE'RE NOT THRILLED ABOUT BEING RIGHT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT THERE WERE WARNINGS. WE HAD WARNINGS THAT WERE NOT HEATED. I'M HOPING WE'RE NOT GOING TO REPEAT THE, THE SAME THING. I'M PARAPHRASING YOU, COUNCILMAN POWELL, BUT I THINK HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE, WE SHOULDN'T WANT A DEAL SO BADLY THAT WE DO THE DEAL BADLY. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I, [00:15:01] I A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE. I, I GET THE FEELING THAT MAYBE THAT THIS RUSH EMERGENCY MEETING, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THE DETAILS ARE. UH, MAYBE THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH TRYING TO, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A, A, YOU KNOW, GONNA BE A PROPOSED CONTRACT WITH TRU, THE GOLF COURSE, UH, MANAGER. UH, I HOPE WHEN WE'RE NOT RUSHING INTO ANOTHER BAD CONTRACT LIKE WE DID BEFORE, JUST IN THE HOPES OF THAT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING AND KEEP IT HERE. I HAVE CONCERNS THAT IF I WAS THIS COMPANY, AND I UNDERSTAND FROM WHAT THE CITY SAID AND WHAT'S BEEN OUT THERE, THAT CONTRACTORS, SOME CONTRACTORS HAVEN'T GOTTEN PAID. I HOPE THAT, UH, IT, IT WOULD BE A LOGICAL ASSUMPTION THAT MAYBE THAT TROON IS ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT HASN'T GOTTEN PAID. I'M HOPING THAT THERE'S NOT A DEAL OR SOMETHING NEGOTIATED TO WHERE WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OF THE DEVELOPERS BAD DEBTS. I HOPE, WHATEVER THE CONTRACT IS, WE DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF ISSUE WHERE WE'RE PAYING, THROWING EXTRA GOOD MONEY AFTER EXTRA BAD MONEY. UM, SO I, I WOULD SAY I'M ALSO A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT IT JUST, IT SEEMS LIKE IT GIVES A, A, A BLANK CHECK TO THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO A CONTRACT. I THINK COUNCIL REALLY NEEDS TO HAVE FINAL SAY ON THAT. I DON'T THINK WE'VE DONE A CONTRACT LIKE THAT BEFORE. UH, BUT I WOULD SAY VOTE BOTH OF THESE ITEMS DOWN IF YOU CAN TODAY AND, AND COME BACK AND GET IT RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. TURNBACK. AND THEN ON [b. Consider an ordinance authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and enter into a golf facility management agreement with Troon Golf, LLC in accordance with discussions held in executive session.] ITEM THREE B, WE HAVE CALVIN BUNGER, CALVIN COUNSEL, HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING THIS EVENING? GOOD TO BE HERE. GOOD TO SEE Y'ALL. KENDRICK. DON'T EVER CHANGE. UH, I'M, I'M HERE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT ARE WE ON A THREE A OR B-B-B-B-B? THAT'S THE ONE YOU SIGNED UP FOR. OKAY, HERE'S MY CONCERN. CONSIDERING AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO A GOLF FACILITY MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THRUN GOLF LLC, ACCORDING, WITH THE DISCUSSIONS HELD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, THAT CIRCUMVENT TRANSPARENCY. I HOPE Y'ALL AREN'T GONNA AUTHORIZE HIM TO DO THAT WHEN THAT'S YOUR JOB. IT'S OKAY FOR JASON TO GO AND NEGOTIATE WITH TRU. COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH A RECOMMENDATION. COUNSEL REVIEWS AND CONSIDERS THAT RECOMMENDATION AND ACTS ACCORDINGLY. AND IF THEY APPROVE IT, THEN JASON CAN EXECUTE IT. OKAY? BUT TO SEND HIM OUT AS ONE PERSON IN THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT TO SEND ONE PERSON WHO'S NOT AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO NEGOTIATE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITHOUT ANY SUPERVISION, WITHOUT ANY INPUT, AND COME UP AND THEN EXECUTE THAT AGREEMENT, IS POLITICAL MALPRACTICE. IT IS MUNICIPAL MANAGEMENT MALPRACTICE. IT, IT AVOIDS TRANSPARENCY. AND THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE. THAT'S, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. YOU GUYS NEED TO ASK HIM FOR A RECOMMENDATION. Y'ALL REVIEW HIS RECOMMENDATION, AND THEN YOU EITHER APPROVE OR DON'T APPROVE IT. AND GUESS WHAT ELSE HAPPENS IN THAT PRO PROSPECT IS NOW CITIZENS, IT'S ON THE AGENDA. AND NOW CITIZENS GET TO REVIEW AND HAVE INPUT INTO THIS AGREEMENT. PLEASE, I'M ASKING Y'ALL NOT TO CIRCUMVENT TRANSPARENCY AND, AND DO THE JOB AS IT HAS BEEN DONE. THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE TO ASK THE CITY MANAGER GO OUT AND DO THIS WITHOUT GUIDANCE FROM COUNCIL. SO PLEASE, I WOULD URGE ANY OF YOU, IF YOU WANNA SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, YOU CAN SAY, OKAY, WE MAKE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE JASON TO GO NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT AND THEN MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNSEL FOR COUNSEL'S CONSIDERATION. THAT'S HOW YOU SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, AND THAT'S HOW YOU'LL STAY WITHIN THE REALM OF TRANSPARENCY. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU CALVIN. AND MR. MR. LOING, IS HE STILL HERE? HE SPOKE EARLIER, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE A THREE A OR B. OKAY. OKAY. WITH ALL THAT SAID, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE CITY MANAGER TO REPORT AT THIS TIME, BUT WE WILL RECESS. THE MAJORITY OF [00:20:01] COUNSEL HAD INDICATED THEY WOULD LIKE TO RECESS UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING AT 9:00 AM FRIDAY, MAY 3RD, 2024. AND AT THAT TIME WE'LL RECONVENE, UH, IN THIS MEETING WITH THAT, ALL OF THE BUSINESS TAKEN CARE OF THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. RECESSED, RECESSED, I'M SORRY, RECESSED TILL 9:00 AM TOMORROW MORNING. MAY 3RD, 2024. ALRIGHT, SO I CALLED THIS, UM, I GUESS THIS SPECIAL MEETING, THE BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER, I THINK IT WAS IN RECESS SINCE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON OR EVENING. SO WE'LL NOW RECONVENE. UM, I GUESS I THINK WE DID WHERE WE WENT, CITIZEN COMMENTS YESTERDAY. SO I'M GONNA MOVE BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO WE WILL NOW RECESS INTO AND CONDUCT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SESSIONS 5 5 1 0.071 AND 5 5 1 0.087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEYS REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION AND OR DELIBERATE REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS. SO, WE'LL NOW, RECESS, IT'S 9 0 3 POINT OF BOARD. IS IT ON? IS THAT ON THE AGENDA? WELL, THIS IS, I'M JUST READING IT FROM YES. FROM YESTERDAY. JUST TO GO BACK TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO WE CAN RECONVENE TO SECOND SESSION TWICE. YES, WE CAN THE SAME MEETING CONTINUE. YES. SHE CAN GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT ANY TIME YOU NEED TO. OKAY. SO, SO RECONVENE THIS OPEN MEETING OF THE BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL AND ANNOUNCE THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 5 5 1 0.102, OTHER TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. SO WE'LL RETURNED TO ITEMS, I GUESS THREE A AND B. SO I GUESS I'LL JUST PUT ITEM THREE A ON THE TABLE. IS THERE ANY, UM, ANY MOTIONS TO BE MADE ON THAT? I MAKE A MOTION. WE DENY ITEM THREE A SECOND. OKAY. SO THERE'S A MOTION TO DENY ITEM THREE A, A MOTION TO SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, I GUESS, REGARDING THAT? SO I'LL MAKE COMMENT, MAYOR. YES. UM, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED, UH, TO BASICALLY TO WALK AWAY FROM, FROM THE GOLF COURSE, UM, IN MY OPINION IS BASICALLY WE'RE, WE'RE, THIS COUNCIL IS BASICALLY TAKING THE POSITION OF WE'RE GONNA WALK AWAY FROM THE SOUTH SIDE. AND WE'VE HEARD THE DISCUSSIONS, WELL, NOTHING'S HAPPENING ON THE SOUTH SIDE. WELL, IT'S A CHICKEN AND EGG THING. NOTHING'S HAPPENING BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING THERE. WE CAN'T GET ANYTHING THERE 'CAUSE THERE'S NOTHING HAPPENING. SO, A AGAIN, AND I GOT A NUMBER OF CALLS LAST NIGHT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. UM, AND THE CONCERN FROM A MAJORITY OF MY CONSTITUENTS THAT, THAT LIVE IN EVERGREEN AND THE OTHER SUBDIVISION THAT'S DOWN THERE IS THAT WHAT THEY SEE IS IF WE WALK AWAY FROM THE GOLF COURSE, WE'RE WALKING AWAY FROM THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN AND THEM, AND THEY'RE NOT REAL HAPPY WITH THAT. SO I JUST WANNA MAKE THOSE COMMENTS 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M RECEIVING AND I HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT. SO THAT'S MY POINT. ANY, ANY, YES, MA'AM. UM, I, I JUST WANNA SAY QUITE A BIT. SO IF EVERYBODY WILL JUST SIT BACK AND LISTEN, I FEEL LIKE THIS VOTE, UM, SHOULD NOT BE MINE. UH, I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE ORIGINAL GOLF COURSE DECISION THAT INVOLVED A BOND FOR I THINK, 12 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS. BUT I WILL SAY I DO HAVE A HARD TIME, UM, ANSWERING TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT LIVE BORDER WITH THE GOLF COURSE WHO WE NOW KNOW THANKS TO SOME DATA PRESENTED BY TRU THAT IS CONSIDERED AN ASSET TO THE CITY. UM, I I PUT ON A SURVEY WHEN I WAS BEING ELECTED THAT I WOULD'VE VOTED NO TO THE GOLF COURSE. AND I STAND BY WHAT I SAID WITH THAT. BUT I DON'T THINK THAT I'M VOTING TO BUILD OR NOT BUILD A GOLF COURSE RIGHT NOW. I'M VOTING WHETHER I WANT TO PROTECT OR NOT PROTECT AN ASSET THAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD FROM LOTS OF CONSTITUENTS BETWEEN ALL OF US FOR YAY AND NAY. AND I APPRECIATE EVERYONE THAT HAS COME OUT HERE AND SPOKE. BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW, EVEN THIS MORNING AS I WAS WALKING INTO WORK, I WAS BEING FOLLOWED BY SOMEONE QUESTIONING WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A COUNCIL, WANTING TO KNOW HOW TO KEEP THE GOLF COURSE GOING. UM, I HAVE PEOPLE THAT TELL ME THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, IF YOU SEE A DIFFERENT VIEW THAN WHAT YOU'RE HEARING HERE, THEN WHY DON'T YOU COME SPEAK? THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO BECAUSE THEY SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT THEIR FAMILY BULLIED ONLINE. I MEAN, I HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE TELLING ME THAT. SO ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT I'M TRYING TO HEAR FROM BOTH SIDES. BUT THIS IS A VERY, VERY, VERY CHALLENGING DECISION. [00:25:01] AND, UM, WE'RE NOT VOTING ON A GOLF COURSE. WE ARE VOTING TO TRY TO EITHER ALLOW NEGOTIATIONS TO MAINTAIN AN ASSET, WHETHER YOU AGREED OR DIDN'T AGREE YEARS AGO WHEN IT WAS VOTED ON, OR WE'RE VOTING TO SAY, WE'RE DONE. HOW MANY MORE EMPTY LOTS DO YOU WANT OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THAT ARE STILL GONNA COST THE CITY MONEY? YOU REALLY NEED TO ASK YOURSELF THAT. IT'S GONNA BE ANOTHER EMPTY LOT WITH NOTHING IF WE DON'T ALLOW THE ASSET TO CONTINUE BEING NEGOTIATED FOR. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. COUNCILWOMAN, ANYTHING? YES, SIR. YEAH. YES, SIR. UM, A COUPLE THINGS. JUST FIRST, I WANNA, UH, THANK ALL THOSE THAT CAME OUT TO SPEAK YESTERDAY. I KNOW TWO 30 MEETING'S NOT IDEAL, AND, UH, SOME OF YOU MADE IT BACK TODAY AS WELL. SO THANK Y'ALL FOR MM-HMM . UM, JUST TAKING THE TIME TO, TO BE INVOLVED. UM, SECOND THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS I WANTED TO THANK STAFF FOR THE AMOUNT OF WORK THEY PUT INTO THIS. UM, I THINK SOMETIMES THEY TAKE SOME, SOME HEAT FOR SOME OF THE THINGS WE DISCUSSED, BUT THE REALITY IS, UM, MEETINGS SCHEDULED WHEN THEY ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA, THAT'S ALL BEING DIRECTED BY A MAJORITY OF, OF THE SEVEN INDIVIDUALS UP HERE. SO JUST WANTED TO, UH, THANK STAFF, UM, FOR THE AMOUNT OF WORK THEY PUT IN ON THIS, MAKING SURE WE HAD THE, THE INFO WE NEEDED TO MAKE, UH, AN INFORMED DECISION. UH, WITH THAT BEING SAID, UM, YOU KNOW, I WAS OPPOSED TO THIS, UM, DEAL ORIGINALLY A COUPLE YEARS AGO. AND, UH, NOTHING, UH, THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS HAS HAS CHANGED THAT FOR ME. UM, UM, I MEAN IF I, I WENT BACK AND WATCHED THE, THE MEETING FROM APRIL OF 22, AND, UH, SOME OF THE REASONS GIVEN FOR SUPPORTING THE COURSE AT THE TIME, UM, THESE ARE QUOTES. IT WOULD FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA THAT HAS NOT HAD IT, UH, $6 MILLION FOR A COURSE THAT SOMEBODY ELSE IS GONNA OWN AND OPERATE. IF THERE IS A LOSS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, THEY ARE GOING TO ABSORB THAT LOSS. THE CITY'S NOT. AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANY MUNICIPAL COURSE IN THIS AREA THAT DOESN'T SUSTAIN A LOSS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. THAT WAS A QUOTE. UM, IT'S ALSO STATED, THIS IS NOT OUR COURSE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOOD ABOUT IT. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE GUYS ARE ON THE HOOK FOR THAT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS. UM, AND SO REALLY THE, THE, THE TWO MAIN REASONS THAT I HEARD THAT NIGHT FOR SUPPORTING THE ORIGINAL DEAL WERE THAT, UM, WE WOULD NOT OWN AND MAINTAIN IT. AND IF THI IF WE WERE TO PASS THIS ITEM TODAY, THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE, WE WOULD BE OWNING A MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE. UH, THE SECOND ITEM WAS THAT IT WOULD BRING DEVELOPMENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN FROM THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS. IT WAS NOT A GENERAL STATEMENT. IT WAS, THIS IS GONNA BE MORE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP OF WHAT THEY'RE GONNA BRING. AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WITH A STRAIGHT FACE COULD SAY THAT THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE BRINGING DEVELOPMENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN. UM, AND SO I, TO ME, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S NOT A VOTE ABOUT A GOLF COURSE OR NOT, IT'S A VOTE ABOUT A CONTRACT, UM, THAT IS GONNA COST US MONEY ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. UM, AND I'M OPPOSED TO THAT. UM, AND SO I JUST ASK EVERYONE IF, IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF THIS TODAY, TO TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHY. UM, IF YOU, IF YOU WERE IN FAVOR OF IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND YOUR REASONS WERE GROWTH ON THAT AREA AND, AND THE FACT THAT WE WOULDN'T OWN IT, WELL THEN OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, YOUR GOALS OR OBJECTIVES HAVE CHANGED. 'CAUSE THOSE TWO THINGS ARE NO LONGER TRUE. UM, AND SO, UM, LIKE I SAID, I'M VOTING, NO, I THINK THIS WAS A BAD DEAL, AND I THINK MOVING INTO A NEW CONTRACT, UM, IS NOT GONNA MAKE IT ANY BETTER. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YES, SIR. UH, IN THE SPIRIT OF QUOTES, I WANTED TO QUOTE SOMETHING THAT I HEARD FROM THE APRIL 22ND MEETING, UM, FROM A COUNCIL MEMBER. UH, W IT'S OKAY. WHEN IT'S MY MONEY, IT'S NOT OKAY WHEN IT'S SOMEBODY ELSE'S MONEY. UH, IT'S A PARAPHRASE. UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MONEY TO MAINTAIN THIS IS GONNA COME FROM OUR GENERAL FUNDS, THAT'S OUR TAXPAYER'S MONEY. UH, I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT. UM, FROM THE BEGINNING, I, UH, JUST STUDY THE HISTORY OF THIS. I FEEL LIKE THIS, THIS WHOLE GOLF COURSE WAS BUILT ON A LOT OF, UH, HALF TRUTHS AND, UM, UH, IMPROPER DATA. UH, I, I, I CAN'T IN CONFIDENCE MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH SUPPORTING ANY KIND OF FUNDING FROM THE TAXPAYER'S HARD-EARNED MONEY TO SUPPORT THIS GOLF COURSE. [00:30:02] AND THAT'S WHERE I'M AT. YEP. ANYBODY ELSE? SO MY ONLY COMMENTS WOULD BE, UH, WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING AS A MAYOR IN GENERAL HERE IS, UH, IS IS BIGGER THAN A GOLF COURSE, RIGHT? IT'S EVEN BIGGER THAN A CONTRACT. IT'S A STRUGGLE BETWEEN A LITTLE BIT WHAT, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, SARAH GRAHAM HAS SAID IS INVESTING IN THE SOUTH SIDE OF TOWN. AND THAT'S THAT THE ALEXANDER DRIVE AREA, THAT'S CERTAINLY THE EVERGREEN AREA, BAYLIN ISLAND, EVERYTHING OVER THERE FOR ME THE PAST FEW YEARS IS TO TRY TO GO AND, AND BRING THINGS THAT I KNOW THE CITIZENS DESERVE ON THAT SIDE OF TOWN. THERE'S IMPROVEMENT ALONG ALEXANDER, THERE'S, UH, SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA. AND I THINK THIS, I'M NOT GONNA SAY THIS IS GONNA BE THE MAGIC CORNERSTONE OF ANY TYPE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT I DO BELIEVE IT, IT DOES. IT'S A COMPONENT OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND IT NEEDS THAT, UM, A LOT OF GROWTH IS HAPPENING ON THE NORTH SIDE. I GET THAT. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF WHAT, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE SOUTH SIDE OVER THE, THE DECADES. IT'S JUST THE GROWTH HAPPENS ON THE NORTH SIDE. AND, AND A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT I'VE ALWAYS HEARD FROM, UH, ALONG THE ALEXANDER CORRIDOR OR HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHAT ABOUT US? YOU KNOW, WE GET TIRED OF DRIVING TO GARTH ROAD FOR EVERYTHING. AND SO I'M STILL, UM, OPTIMISTIC THAT THIS NOT THE ONLY THING, BUT THIS AND, AND OTHER THINGS COULD HAPPEN ON THE SOUTH SIDE. AND, AND I DO, I DON'T WANNA SEE DECAY OR DETERIORATION FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT IN THE OLDER AREAS OF TOWN. AND THAT'S STILL WHERE I'M AT ON IT. BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS. UH, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT, UH, THE DEVELOPER, RIGHT, UH, I WAS, I WAS OPTIMISTIC ON THEM. AND, AND I'LL TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT. UH, I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN, IN THAT ABILITY. BUT THEN YOU JUST HAVE THE GOLF COURSE ITSELF AND THAT I STILL HAVE CONFIDENCE IN. I HAVE CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE IN TRU AND WHAT THEY HAVE PRESENTED US AS FAR AS THIS IS THE STATUS TODAY. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S OCCURRED OR WHAT QUOTES MAY BE OUT THERE, I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE CARDS THAT ARE ON THE TABLE TODAY AS A MAYOR, AS ELECTED OFFICIAL. UH, AND THAT'S INCORPORATING ANYTHING THAT, UM, I BELIEVE IF I WERE TO GO AND I WOULD SAY IF I WERE TO GO AND LIKE WHAT LOSES MONEY IN THE CITY AND WHAT MAKES MONEY IN THE CITY, IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE PARKS, RIGHT? PARKS DON'T MAKE NOT, NOT A DIME. THERE'S, THEY'RE AN AMENITY TO, TO OUR CITIZENS AS PART OF QUALITY OF LIFE. AND I SUPPORT THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT IN FULL, LIKE MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, I, YOU CAN APPLY THAT TO ANY OF OUR PARKS, INCLUDING PIRATES BAY, WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. UM, DISC GOLF, ALL THOSE THINGS, RIGHT? AND SO I STILL SEE THE GOLF COURSE AS THAT. UM, AND SO THAT HASN'T CHANGED. AND SO I CONTINUE WANT TO WANT TO INVEST, INVEST IN THE SOUTH SIDE, AND THAT'S THE OUR AT. SO WITH THAT, UM, I GUESS WE ARE, WE'LL TAKE A VOTE. IS THAT CORRECT? 'CAUSE THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE, UM, FOR THAT. I WILL SAY THAT ANYWAY. SO, UM, I WILL SAY I DO HAVE ONE RESERVATION ONLY BECAUSE ON THE, EVEN ON THE GOLF COURSE BOAT ITSELF, ONE THING THAT I'M, I'M DISSATISFIED ON A BOAT RIGHT NOW IS THAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER IS NOT HERE. UM, AND SO I, I THINK ANYTIME WE'VE HAD A A, AN IMPORTANT VOTE IN BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL, REGARDLESS OF I GUESS THE PERSPECTIVE OR OPINION, WE'VE ALWAYS ALLOWED EACH COUNCIL MEMBER TO CAST THE BALLOT. AND BECAUSE THE CITIZENS THAT THEY, THAT THEY REPRESENT, IF THAT'S FOR OR AGAINST, I THINK WE'VE ALWAYS RESPECTED THAT. I'M NOT SURE THAT'S NO, NO LONGER, WELL, I WILL SAY THAT'S PROBABLY NOT NO LONGER THE CASE, AND THAT'S JUST SOMETHING INTERNAL THAT COUNSEL WILL HAVE TO ADDRESS THEM AMONGST OURSELVES. SO WITH THAT, UM, THERE'S A MOTION FOR ITEM THREE A THAT IS TO DENY, UH, THE, I GUESS YOU'D SAY THE, THE CONTRACT OR CONTINUING CONTINUING A CONTRACT, CORRECT? OR MAY AND SORRY, CAN I YES. CAN I SAY SOMETHING? SURE. AM AM I ALLOWED TO MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT? OKAY. UM, IT WAS DISTRICT TWO THAT VOTED ME IN, AND WE ARE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF BAYTOWN. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN, EVEN FROM SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT HELPED MY ELECTION WAS THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE PROGRESS. THEY WANTED TO SEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPUR, AND THEY DIDN'T WANT MORE OF THE SAME. AND I'M QUOTING UP CONSTITUENTS, SO NO DISRESPECT, BUT THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T WANNA SEE ANY MORE OF THE GOOD OLD BOYS SYSTEM. AND FOR ME, IT WAS REALLY, I WAS, I WAS LISTENING TO EVERYBODY IN HERE AND SOME OF [00:35:01] THE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN HERE, UM, AND WERE OPENLY AGAINST SUPPORTING US NEGOTIATING, MOVING FORWARD WITH THE, UM, GOLF COURSE PROPERTY ARE PART OF THE PAST TWO DECADES WHERE DISTRICT TWO HAS NOT SEEN THE KIND OF SPUR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT THE CONSTITUENTS WANT. I WAS HOPING TO MOVE THINGS ALONG A LITTLE FASTER FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON MY SIDE OF TOWN AND TO HELP US GET THINGS, GROCERY STORES, PLACES TO GO WHERE WE DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE DOWN GARTH ROAD ON ALEXANDER. FOR ME, THIS IS SUCH A COMPLEX SITUATION AND I'M SORRY THAT I HAD TO SPEAK AGAIN, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT I GET THIS ODD HERE. THIS IS NOT A BLACK AND WHITE VOTE. THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER BIGGER ISSUES HERE. AND COUNCIL MEMBER POWELL HAS VERY GOOD POINTS, VERY GOOD POINTS, BUT SO DOES COUNCIL MEMBER LESTER, WE HAVE TO ANSWER TO EVERYONE, EVERYONE. AND IN MY PARTICULAR SITUATION, THE PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY VOTED FOR ME LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW GUYS, I MEAN, YEAH, IT MAY NOT HAVE SPURRED ANYTHING IN TWO YEARS, BUT DID WE, DID WE GIVE IT, DID WE REALLY, REALLY GIVE IT ENOUGH CHANCE? I DON'T KNOW. I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT I'M, I'M JUST REALLY, UM, THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS THAT COME OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND THE MAYOR WAS TALKING ABOUT PARKS AND REC. I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE, UM, THIS IS TO ME A SAD DAY FOR US BECAUSE WE ARE NOW, UM, NOT SHOWING A LOT OF COHESION AS A COUNCIL. AND, UM, I FEEL LIKE SOME OF US ARE SAYING THAT THEY'RE WILLING TO JUST ACCEPT THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD MOVING FORWARD. UM, AND IF, IF THAT'S WHAT THE MAJORITY WANTS. I, I THINK THAT WHEN WE MAKE VOTES LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE, UM, TALKING ABOUT EXCLUDING AN ENTIRE VOTE FOR DISTRICT ONE, I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN, WHERE ARE WE AT? EVERYBODY DESERVES TO BE HERE AND BE REPRESENTED. MAYOR, I DON'T DISAGREE THAT EVERYONE, UM, HAS A CHANCE TO BE REPRESENTED. I MEAN, I, BUT I BELIEVE WE, IT WAS TIME TO TAKE ACTION ON THIS. I MEAN, IT WAS ON AN AGENDA YESTERDAY, WE RECESSED UNTIL TODAY AND THE, AND THE COURSE IS IN DEFAULT TODAY. AND SO WE NEEDED TO DECIDE HOW WE WERE GONNA MOVE FORWARD. I, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND COUNCILWOMAN ALVARADO WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE. UM, AND IF, IF, YOU KNOW, IF I HAD TO MISS A VOTE LIKE THIS, I WOULD PROBABLY BE UPSET. BUT WE HAVE, WE HAVE A DEADLINE. I MEAN, WE HAVE TO DECIDE HOW WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD. UM, THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS CAN ALWAYS BE TALKED ABOUT IN THE FUTURE, UM, OR, OR OTHER, BUT, BUT FOR WHAT WE HAD TODAY, THE COURSE IS IN DEFAULT AS OF TODAY, AND WE NEEDED TO DECIDE HOW TO MOVE FORWARD. AND SO I, I'M NOT TRYING TO EXCLUDE ANY DISTRICT FROM BEING REPRESENTED, BUT I JUST BELIEVE IT WAS TIME TO TAKE ACTION. UM, AND, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT TODAY. YEP. ALRIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, I GUESS? ALRIGHT, SO THEN WE'LL GO AHEAD AND VOTE. SO THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE TO DENY THREE A, WHICH THIS IS THE, THE FUNDING PIECE I GUESS. UM, AND SO WE CAN, I'M JUST GONNA DO A SHOW OF HANDS. I THINK IT'LL JUST BE EASIER, FAIR FOR EVERYBODY. SO SHOW OF HANDS, UH, ITEM THREE A. SO IF YOU ARE AN ITEM TO DENY ITEM THREE A, THEN RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. OKAY. AND IF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF, I GUESS IF YOU'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION TO DENY, THEN RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND. I'M ABSTAINING FROM THIS VOTE. OKAY. ALRIGHT. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST DENIAL I GUESS. CORRECT. OKAY. ALRIGHT, SO NEXT WE HAVE ITEM THREE B. AND THIS ONE'S GONNA BE TO, THIS WOULD BE TO CONSIDER ORDINANCE, AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO GOLF FACILITY MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH TRU GOLF LLC IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DISCUSSIONS HELD IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. MAYOR? YES. IF IT'S NOT FUNDED, THIS IS MUTE. WELL, I, I AGREE. AND SO IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS IT. WE HAVE TO DO ANYTHING WITH IT. IT'S, IT'S ON THE AGENDA, SO YOU CAN EITHER VOTE ON IT OR YOU CAN, UM, TAKE NO ACTION, DECIDE TO TAKE NO ACTION. BUT I AGREE WITH THE COUNCIL MEMBER, LESTER, WITHOUT MAKE SURE, UH, AN AFFIRMATIVE VOTE TO UH, AUTHORIZE FUNDING, UH, I GET CONTRACT RELATED. MAKE SURE YES MA'AM. JUST TO BE CLEAR, SINCE WE JUST, UM, VOTED DOWN A, THE AND SPECIAL RECREATION PROJECTS THAT DOES NOW MEAN THAT PARKS AND REC JUST LOST SOME OF THEIR FUNDING, CORRECT? UH, YES MA'AM. UNLESS WE BRING IT BACK FOR, UM, UH, COUNSEL TO, UH, TO APPROVE THAT IN IN A FUTURE AMENDMENT. YES MA'AM. DO YOU KNOW WHICH PROJECTS WERE INCLUDED IN THAT? UM, IN [00:40:01] THAT SENTENCE? IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT CAN SPEAK ON THAT? SIR, DO YOU HAVE A MISTAKE? CAN YOU HEAR ME? IT'S ACTUALLY NOT A PROJECT THAT IS, UM, FOR THE CONSULTANT SERVICES FOR AQUATICS. OH, OKAY. SO IT'S FOR PIRATES BAY, THE CONSULTANT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP WITH PIRATES BAY. UH, SO WE'RE MOVING INTO TO GET MORE REVENUE SEASON AND WE JUST VOTED DOWN MONEY FOR PIRATES BAY. OKAY. ALRIGHT, WELL, UH, THANK YOU MA'AM. SO THREE A, UH, IN A SENSE, UM, THEY DIDN'T PASS OR FAIL, BUT IT'S JUST, THERE WAS, IT, IT FELT, WELL, IT FELL, IT FAILED. AND SO B IS IS NEGATED, SO THERE'S NO ACTION NEEDED ON THAT. AND SO UNLESS THERE'S ANYTHING NEW ON THE MANAGER REPORT THAT YOU'D LIKE TO EXPRESS. SO, BEING THAT THIS MEETING IS FINALLY WE ADDRESSED ALL AGENDA ITEMS ON THIS, UH, AGENDA, UH, 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.