May 08, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING

[00:00:06]

I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE JOINT CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AT THE BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT MEETING ON THURSDAY, MAY 8TH, 2025, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL, BAYTOWN, TEXAS, AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM AT 6:38 PM WE WILL NOW HAVE PLEDGE AND INVOCATION WITH COUNCIL MEMBER JACOB POWELL, DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE, PLEASE STAND AND 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 UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

AND NOW THE TEXAS FLAG, HONOR, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.

I LEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER TO A, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS EVENING THAT WE'RE JUST ABLE TO GATHER AGAIN HERE AND, UH, DISCUSS HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD, UM, A BETTER BAYTOWN LORD.

AND UH, GOD, WE JUST PRAY FOR YOUR GUIDANCE.

WE PRAY FOR, UM, JUST WISDOM AS WE CONSIDER EACH OF THE ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

GOD, UM, LORD, THIS, THIS WEEK AS WE RECOGNIZE MOTHERS, UM, ON SUNDAY, GOD, WE DO JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL THOSE, UM, WOMEN IN OUR LIVES THAT HAVE JUST POURED INTO US AND, AND MADE US THE, THE FOLKS THAT WE ARE.

AND GOD, I JUST PRAY FOR A, A SPECIAL BLESSING THIS WEEK FOR EACH AND EVERY MOTHER.

UM, GOD, WE JUST, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THIS CHANCE TO GATHER TOGETHER AND WE JUST PRAY ALL THIS IN JESUS' NAME.

AMEN.

AMEN.

WE'RE GONNA OPEN UP WITH CITIZEN COMMENT.

DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK? GOOD DEAL.

THERE BEING NO ONE DESIRING TO SPEAK.

THIS CONCLUDES THAT CITIZEN COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA TO A MUNICIPAL

[a. Consider a resolution approving corrections to the Baytown Municipal Development District's Hotel Services Agreement, Pledge and Security Agreement, Asset Management Agreement, and Indenture of Trust to reflect the proper fiscal year end.]

CONSIDER A RESOLUTION APPROVING CORRECTIONS TO THE MAY BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT'S HOTEL SERVICE AGREEMENT PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, ASSET MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT, AND INDENTURE OF THE TRUST TO REFLECT THE PROPER FISCAL YEAR END.

CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH ADMIN C-F-O-L-L-C TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT SERVICES RELATED TO THE HYATT REGENCY BAYTOWN HOUSTON PROJECT.

MR. LAMONT MAYOR AND COUNSEL, THIS IS A PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO CORRECT SOME OF OUR LEGAL DOCUMENTS WITH REGARD TO THE, UH, DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOTEL.

UH, THIS IS, UH, JUST A PURELY, UM, UH, IT'S, IT'S TO CORRECT, UH, SCRIVENER'S ERROR.

THE FISCAL YEAR IN SHOULD HAVE DOVETAILED WITH THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR IN.

SO WE ARE MAKING THOSE CORRECTIONS TO THESE DOCUMENTS AND FOR NO OTHER PURPOSE.

MAYOR, I JUST, I HAD A QUESTION THAT I WAS NOT ABLE TO ANSWER UNTIL TODAY, UH, THAT WAS ASKED ME EARLIER THIS WEEK, WAS HOW IS IT GONNA IMPACT THE BUDGETS? UM, THE, THE BUDGETS HAVE ALREADY BEEN CORRECTED ALREADY.

THIS IS THE ACTUAL ADMINISTRATOR PIECE ON THE BACKSIDE JUST TO GET IT ALL GOING.

SO WE, WE SHOULD NOT SEE ANY, UH, HICCUPS OR DIFFERENCES IN THE, THE BUDGET REPORTING GOING FORWARD.

SO IT'S ALREADY BEEN FIXED IN THE PAST.

GOOD DEAL.

THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO CITY COUNCIL ITEMS RECOGNITIONS AND CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS.

WE NEED A MOTION THAT'S RIGHT.

CAN I GET A MOTION? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU MR. POWELL.

NOW WE WILL MOVE

[a. Present a proclamation designating May 6 - 12, 2025, as National Nurses' Week and May 11 - 17, 2025, as National Hospital Week.]

PRESENT A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING MAY 6TH THROUGH THE 12TH 2025 AS NATIONAL NURSES WEEK AND MAY 11TH THROUGH THE 17TH 2025 AS NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK.

WE HAVE SOMEONE HERE FROM METHODIST.

YES.

YES, WE DO.

NOW, AS ALWAYS SAY, THIS IS MY LAST WARNING.

, IF YOU DON'T COME DOWN, YOU WON'T BE IN THE PICTURE.

THAT BE OH, IT'S NICE FOR YOU TO INVITE US .

YEAH, I MIGHT.

AS SO, MS. TERRY, HOW ARE YOU TODAY? DOING? GOOD.

[00:05:01]

I'M FINE, THANKS.

OKAY, THANKS.

OKAY, WELL, UM, I'M NOT GOING TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS.

I'M NOT GONNA CONDUCT AN INTERVIEW TONIGHT, BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE FOR YOUR AWARD CEREMONY FOR YOUR NURSES, AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY HAD FROM FELLOW, THEIR FELLOW COWORKERS AND FROM FAMILY AND THE HOSPITAL STAFF THERE TO CONGRATULATE EACH OF THEM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DID.

UM, WHAT OUR NURSES DO HERE IN OUR CITY NOT ONLY BENEFITS US IN OUR CITY, BUT IT BRINGS IN PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY FOR CARE.

AM I RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THIS PROCLAMATION MEANS A LOT BECAUSE IT DEALS WITH THE WELLBEING OF OUR HOSPITAL, THE WELLBEING OF US AS INDIVIDUALS, AND THE WELLBEING OF THE SURROUNDING AREA.

WHEREAS THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS AND TEXAS HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION HAS PROCLAIMED NATIONAL NURSES WEEK AS MAY 6TH THROUGH THE 12TH, 2025.

NURSES PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN HEALTHCARE BROUGHT BY, BY PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE, KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND OFTEN LIFESAVING CARE TO PATIENTS IN EVERY SINGLE STAGE OF LIFE.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL NURSES WEEK IS A TIME TO HONOR THE REMARKABLE INDIVIDUALS WHO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO THE CARE, COMFORT, AND WELLBEING OF OTHERS, OFTEN GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.

AND WHEREAS THROUGHOUT TIMES OF CRISIS, NURSES HAVE BEEN, HAVE RISEN TO MEET EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES, PROVIDING CRITICAL CARE, COMFORT LEADERSHIP, AND SERVING AS TRUSTED ADVOCATES AND CAREGIVERS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.

AND WHEREAS IT IS FITTING THAT WE TAKE THIS WEEK TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE DEDICATION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND COMPASSION OF NURSES, AND TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP GRATITUDE TO THE VITAL ROLE THEY PLAY IN OUR COLLECTIVE HEALTH.

NOW, THEREFORE, OUR CHARLES JOHNSON MAYOR OF BAYTOWN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM MAY 6TH THROUGH THE 12TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL NURSES WEEK, AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE NURSES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTSTANDING HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DON'T CLAP JUST YET.

WE GOT ONE MORE FOR THEM.

NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK, AND I THINK THIS IS SELF-EXPLANATORY.

WE'RE CELEBRATING THE HOSPITAL AND WE HAVE OUR HOSPITAL IS RANKED WHAT IN THE, UH, METHODIST.

WE'RE NUMBER THREE IN THE NATION.

NUMBER THREE IN THE NATION RIGHT HERE IN BAYTOWN.

I THINK THAT DESERVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

WHEREAS THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, OF WHEREAS THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION AND THE TEXAS HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION HAS PROCLAIMED NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK AS MAY 11TH THROUGH THE 17TH THROUGH 2025, HOSPITALS ARE VITAL TO THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES, PROVIDING LIFESAVING CARE, SUPPORTING PUBLIC HEALTH, AND ADVANCING MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION.

AND WHEREAS THE DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK IN HOSPITALS, INCLUDING PHYSICIANS, NURSES, TECHNICIANS, SUPPORT STAFF, ADMINISTRATORS AND VOLUNTEERS AND BODY COMPASSION, PROFESSIONALISM, AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PATIENT CARE.

AND WHEREAS HOSPITALS SERVE AS CRITICAL CENTERS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE, CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT, MATERNAL AND PEDIATRIC CARE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND PREVENTED HEALTH EDUCATION.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES HOSPITALS PROVIDE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THEM, WHO MAKE THEM WORK EVERY DAY, OFTEN IN THE FACE OF GREAT CHALLENGE.

NOW, THEREFORE, I CHARLES JOHNSON, MAYOR OF BAYTOWN, DO HERE PROCLAIM MAY 11TH THROUGH THE 17TH, 2025 AS NATIONAL HOSPITAL WEEK AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR APPRECIATION FOR THE PEOPLE, FACILITIES, AND TECHNOLOGIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OUTSTANDING HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

YES.

ALRIGHT, TAKE TWO SETS.

[00:10:11]

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ARE YOU SMILING? KEEP SMILING, .

ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE GO.

UNTIL I TAKE A LOT OF IT'S QUICK.

YEAH.

THAT GOES THERE.

TWO STEPS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE YOU TOO.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

HELLO NEIGHBOR .

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK, I KNOW SHE DID.

ONE MORE.

ONE MORE.

OH, WE DO HAVE ONE MORE PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING

[b. Present a proclamation designating May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Baytown.]

MR. FRANCO, COME ON DOWN.

COME ON DOWN.

YOU'RE THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON.

YOU CAN LAUGH OUT THERE, Y'ALL.

I'M LAUGHING.

OKAY.

SERIOUS.

OKAY.

THANK YOU MAYOR.

THANK YOU FOR THE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

MAYOR.

UM, MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS IS A, IS KIND OF PERSONAL FOR ME, UM, THIS MONTH AND I'M GLAD WE'RE CELEBRATING IT.

UH, DISTRICT FOUR, WE LOST, UH, ONE OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, RICHARD INGER LAST YEAR IN AUGUST.

AND WE FA WE HAD ANOTHER FATALITY ON BUSH ROAD, UH, WITHIN THIS, WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

UM, I ALSO WANNA BRING UP A DEAR FRIEND OF MINE THAT I LOST ON AUGUST 1ST, 1998.

UH, IT WAS MY SON'S FOURTH BIRTHDAY, AND THAT MORNING I LOST ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS.

ROSS DYER WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED MOTOCROSS CHAMPION.

HE WAS AN EIGHT TIME TEXAS SERIES CHAMPION, A 12 TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION.

HE WAS, HE WAS A WINNER OF THE WORLD OF MANY OLY, UH, WORLD OF MANY OLYMPICS, WAS A SUPERCROSS RIDER, ALMOST EVERY MAJOR CITY, EVERY MAJOR US CITY.

IN 1997, HE WAS ALSO INVITED TO TO RACE IN FRONT OF 70,000 FANS IN COSTA RICA.

HE RODE FOR KAWASAKI AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING WITH HONDA TO CONTINUE HIS CAREER.

HE RODE ALONG THE SIDE LONG RIDERS LIKE COLIN EDWARDS, WHO WENT ON TO RACE MOTO GP AND WAS A TWO TIME SUPER BIKE WORLD CHAMPION.

I SAY THESE THINGS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT EVEN THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED TRAINED RIDER CAN BE INJURED OR KILLED.

MOTORCYCLE DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS ARE ON THE RISE.

ON AVERAGE, ONE MOTORCYCLIST DIES IN A CRASH IN TEXAS EVERY DAY.

IN 2024, WE HAD, WE LOST 581 RIDERS.

WE ALSO HAD 2,534 WHO WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN CRASHES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THESE THINGS HAPPEN AT MAJOR SPEEDS, BUT IT DOESN'T.

THE AVERAGE SPEED IS LESS THAN 45 MILES.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF A RIDER WHO'S INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IS 43.

MORE THAN HALF A FATALITY MOTOR, FATAL MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT CRASHES HAPPEN AT, AT A, AT AN INTERSECTION.

DRIVERS SIMPLY DON'T SEE THE MOTORCYCLIST OR THEY MISJUDGE THE DISTANCE AND SPEED.

THE SMALL SIZE AND STATURE OF MOTORCYCLISTS CAN MAKE THEM APPEAR FARTHER WHEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY CLOSER.

THE COMBINED CONGESTION OF ROADWAYS DISTRACTED DRIVING AND DIFFICULTY OF SEEING MOTORCYCLISTS IN TRAFFIC HAS LED TO MANY PREVENTABLE FATALITIES EACH YEAR.

I KNOW WHEN I WAS FIRST IN, IN, GOT INTO WAS IN DEFENSIVE DRIVING.

I WAS ALWAYS TAUGHT TO PUT YOUR HAND UP.

AND IF YOU LOOK OUT, YOU COULD ACTUALLY BLOCK A RIDER.

NOWADAYS WITH CELL PHONES, IT'S EVEN WORSE.

PLEASE, AS TIPS FOR DRIVERS, PLEASE TAKE AN EXTRA TURN.

EXTRA CARE WHEN TAKE, WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS, IT IS THE SAFEST.

IT IS SAFE.

IT IS SAFEST TO LET MOTORCYCLES PASS AROUND.

PASS TO AVOID TURNING IN FRONT OF THE RIDER, PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO INTERSECTIONS.

40% OF MOTORCYCLE FATALITIES HAPPEN IN A ROADWAY INTERSECTION.

GIVE DRIVING, GIVE DRIVING YOUR FULL ATTENTION.

EVEN A MOMENTARY DISTRACTION SUCH AS ANSWERING A PHONE CALL OR CHANGING THE RADIO STATION CAN HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES.

TRAIN YOURSELF TO NOTICE MOTORCYCLISTS, THEY'RE SMALLER AND LOWER TO THE GROUND THAN CARS.

AND BY REMINDING YOURSELF TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THEM, YOU'LL TRAIN YOUR EYES AND YOUR BRAIN TO NOTICE THEM MORE EASILY.

LOOK TWICE, ALWAYS USE YOUR TURN SIGNALS AND CHECK YOUR MIRRORS AND BLIND SPOTS BEFORE CHANGING LANES.

USE CAUTION WHEN TURNING DRIVERS HAVE TROUBLE JUDGING THE SPEED AND DISTANCE OF MOTORCYCLES.

AND NEVER TRY TO RUSH TO TURN IN FRONT OF ONE.

DON'T TAILGATE THEM.

KEEP SAFE DISTANCE FROM THEM.

MOTORCYCLES CAN SLOW DOWN BY DOWNSHIFTING, WHICH DOESN'T ACTIVATE THEIR BRAKE LIGHTS.

DON'T CROWD.

IF YOU NEED TO PASS A MOTORCYCLE, TREAT IT LIKE A CAR AND GIVE IT A FULL LANE SPACE.

NEVER CROWD THEM.

SLOW DOWN.

SPEEDING.

MAKES EVERY TYPE OF CRASH MORE DEADLY.

OTHER POSTED SPEED LIMITS AND DRIVE, DRIVE ACCORDING TO THOSE, THOSE CONDITIONS.

I BELIEVE IF ROSS WAS HERE TODAY, HE WOULD TELL YOU TO ENJOY THE THRILL AND INDEPENDENCE OF A MOTORCYCLE, THE PERFORMANCE AND THE SHEER FUN IT IS TO RIDE THEM.

HE WOULD ALSO TELL YOU TO RESPECT THE BIKE

[00:15:01]

PLEASE BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, WHERE ALL YOUR PROTECTIVE GEAR AND DRIVERS, PLEASE BE AWARE OF THESE MOTORCYCLISTS ON THE ROADS.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

NOW, DO WE HAVE SOME MOTORCYCLISTS HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO COME UP? YES, SIR.

WHO ARE YOU ALL REPRESENTING? WARRIOR CYCLIST SECURITY.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A FEW WORDS? YES, RIGHT HERE.

THANK YOU.

ON BEHALF OF THE UM, WARRIORS BIKES FOR CHARITY, WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY OF BAYTOWN FOR THE MONTH OF MAY.

SAFETY AWARENESS.

WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET OUT THERE IS IT'S DANGEROUS, AND AS GENTLEMAN SAID, UM, WE CAN EASILY BE MISSED OUT THERE.

UM, AND US, WE DO THE SAME THING.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN FOR OUR SAFETY AND BE AWARE OF OUR SURROUNDINGS AND WHO'S AROUND US.

UH, THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS, .

WHEREAS MOTORCYCLES ARE A COMMON AND ECONOMICAL MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS OUR STATE NATION OFFERING FREEDOM AND EFFICIENCY ON OUR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.

AND WHEREAS THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND THE MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATION HAVE DESIGNATED MAY AS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH, THE SAFE OPERATION OF MOTORCYCLES IS ESSENTIAL TO THE WELLBEING OF ALL ROADWAY USERS AND MOTORCYCLISTS ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE DUE TO THEIR SIZE AND LIMITED PROTECTION.

AND WHEREAS MOTORCYCLE AWARENESS MONTH INCREASES PUBLIC AWARENESS ABOUT MOTORCYCLES ENCOURAGING THEIR SAFE AND PROPER USE AMONG MOTORCYCLE RIDERS AND HEIGHTENED ALERTNESS TO THE PRESENCE OF MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROAD.

AND WHEREAS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GOVERNMENT LAW ENFORCEMENT, SAFETY ADVOCATES, AND THE COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE GREATER AWARENESS AND INFORCE SAFE RIDING AND DRIVING BEHAVIORS.

NOW, THEREFORE, I CHARLES JOHNSON, MAYOR OF BAYTOWN DO HERE PROCLAIM MAY, 2025 AS MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH AND URGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF MOTORCYCLE SAFETY, RESPECTING ALL ROADWAY USERS AND WORKING TOGETHER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS AND SAVE LIVES BEHIND.

TURN THIS WAY PLEASE.

YOU.

I'M JUST GONNA CATCH THIS LITTLE WINDOW.

GONNA STEP IN.

COME ON IN.

I JUST NEEDED A LITTLE OPENING.

THERE WASN'T ONE.

IT WAS HERE WE READY? HERE WE GO.

OKAY.

AND ONE MORE.

OKAY.

WE GET ONE MORE PICTURE.

YES.

IT'S A DOLLAR PHOTO .

THAT'S HOW WE GET OUR MONEY BACK.

SO WE PRAY FOR THE CANDY.

OKAY, HERE WE GO.

BIG SMILES.

OH, HANG ON.

THIS THE MIDDLE.

SLOWER.

HE'S TAKING HIMSELF.

THAT'S WHAT MY KID DOES.

TURN THE CAMERA AROUND LIKE ALL THOSE ARE ON ME.

.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU GUYS.

YOU GUYS, THANK YOU GUYS.

THANK YOU.

Y'ALL STAY SAFE.

OH YEAH, MAN.

EXCELLENT JOB.

SOME GOOD INFORMATION GIVEN ACTUALLY THAT'S YOU DID.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS THAT GOOD.

YEAH.

YEAH.

FOUR

[a. Conduct a public hearing regarding nominating Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC for the Texas Enterprise Zone Program.]

[00:20:01]

GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

UH, BRIAN MORAN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER.

UH, TONIGHT'S HEARING.

ONE SECOND.

MM-HMM .

THIS PUBLIC HEARING TODAY IS HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING ALL INTERESTED PERSONS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS REGARDING THE SUBJECT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.

EVERYONE DESIRING TO BE A PART OF TODAY'S HEARING SHOULD HAVE EITHER SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST AND THE FOUR YOU OR EMAIL THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE POSTED TIME OF THIS MEETING.

EACH PARTICIPANT SHALL GIVE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PROPER RECORD OF THIS HEARING.

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 ARE A GROUP OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNSEL ON THE SUBJECT, PLEASE SELECT A PER SPOKESPERSON TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION.

AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO ME.

IT IS NOW SIX FIFTY NINE AND I CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING NOMINATING CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LLC FOR THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM.

I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A STAFF SUMMARIZE THE SUBJECT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. O'BRIEN MORAN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO, UH, AS YOU INDICATED, TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNS THE NOMINATION FOR, UH, NOMINATING CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY FOR THE DESIGNATION, UM, AS A QUALIFIED BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE PROJECT UNDER THE TEXAS ENTER ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM, UH, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM.

UH, THIS IS A STATE, UH, LEVEL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SALES AND USE TAX, UH, REFUNDS ON QUALIFIED, UH, TAXABLE EXPENDITURES TO COMPANIES, UH, THAT COMMIT AND PROVIDES SUBSTANTIAL, UH, CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND THE CREATION AND RETENTION OF JOBS.

UH, BAYTOWN HAS PROUDLY PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM FOR MANY YEARS, PREVIOUSLY NOMINATING, UH, MANY OF OUR INDUSTRY PARTNERS IN OUR AREA.

UM, THESE DESIGNATIONS HAVE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN SUPPORTING, UH, LONG-TERM INVESTMENT, JOB RETENTION AND GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

UM, THE ORDINANCE FOLLOWING TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING IS APPROVED.

UH, CHEVRON PHILLIPS WOULD BECOME ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE, UM, STATE SALES AND USE TAX REBATES ON THOSE QUALIFYING PURCHASES DURING THEIR FIVE YEAR PERIOD.

WE ALSO HAVE, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM CHEVRON PHILLIPS WHO ARE HERE WITH US THIS EVENING TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS, UM, ON THEIR PROJECT AND INVESTMENT, UM, AT THEIR CEDAR BAYOU PLANT.

HELLO, MY NAME'S CLAIRE WALTER.

UM, I AM, UM, WITH GRANT THORNTON ADVISORS HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF CHEVRON PHILLIPS.

UM, JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU GUYS SOME INSIGHT INTO THE PROJECT THAT THEY'RE CONSIDERING.

UM, AT THE BAYTOWN FACILITY, UM, WE HAD, THEY HAD A PRIOR DESIGNATION THAT EXPIRED IN MARCH OF 2024.

UM, THEY MET THE COMMITMENTS OF 500 RETAINED JOBS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF 550 MILLION.

UM, SO NOW THEY'RE REQUESTING, UM, A NEW DESIGNATION THAT WOULD START IN JUNE OF 2025.

UM, AND IT WOULD EXPIRE IN MAY, 2030.

UM, THE COMMITMENT IS FOR A CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF 250 MILLION TO UPGRADE THE FACILITY AND ACQUIRE NEW MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, UM, AND THE RETENTION OF 500 FULL-TIME JOBS.

UH, PLEASE NOTE THAT, UM, 500 JOBS IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT CAN BE, UM, AWARDED UNDER THE A SINGLE ENTERPRISE ZONE DESIGNATION.

UM, THAT'S NOT A REFLECTION OF THE TOTAL RETENTION AT THE FACILITY.

UM, SO JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION AND WILLINGNESS, UM, TO PARTNER WITH THE COMPANY.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

WE HAVE, WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO ONE AT ALL.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE DESIRING THIS TO SPEAK.

I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:02 PM REGARDING NOMINATING CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LLC FOR THE TEXAS ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM.

NOW TO FOUR

[b. Consider an ordinance to summarize local incentives available and nominating Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LLC, to the Governor's Office of Economic Development, for designation as a qualified business and an Enterprise Project under the Texas Enterprise Zone Program.]

[00:25:02]

NEED A MOTION? MAKE A MOTION.

WE APPROVE.

ITEM FOUR B.

SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.

ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU MR. MORAN.

ON THE

[a. Consider a resolution authorizing the publication of the Notice of Intent to issue Certificates of Obligation; approving the preparation of one or more preliminary official statements; and providing for the effective date thereof.]

MS. MCKENZIE? UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

THIS RESOLUTION IS BEING BROUGHT TO YOU BASED ON DISCUSSIONS, UM, AT THE COUNCIL RETREAT AND THE RECENT BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MOVING FORWARD WITH THE 2025 CO.

SO, UM, THIS RESOLUTION IS THE INITIAL STEP IN THE PROCESS AND IT ALLOWS US TO PUBLISH THE NOTICE OF INTENT UP TO $83 MILLION.

THE PROJECTS WE HAVE LISTED HERE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEBT.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT ALTHOUGH THESE PROJECTS ARE GENERAL FUND AND WATER AND SEWER, THE WATER AND SEWER, UM, PROJECTS, I MEAN, DEBT IS CONSIDERED, UH, SELF-FUNDING OR SELF-SUPPORTING, WHICH MEANS THAT THE WATER AND SEWER REVENUE WILL PAY FOR THAT DEBT.

SO WE SIMPLY COMBINE THESE JUST TO SAVE THE, UH, CITY FUND MONEY ON THE ISSUANCE COSTS.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE ADDED TOGETHER.

BUT THE WATER AND SEWER DEBT WILL BE PAID BY WATER AND SEWER REVENUE.

GOOD DEAL.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I, I HAD A QUESTION.

UM, I DON'T RECALL.

OKAY.

AT THE FEBRUARY, UH, 27TH MEETING OR WORK SESSION, UH, WE DISCUSSED THE ISSUANCE FOR THE FIRE STATION AND THE DRAINAGE AND THE AMOUNT OF 17 MILLION, WHICH I SEE REFLECTED AT THE TOP, BUT I DON'T REMEMBER ANY CONVERSATIONS REGARDING ANY OF THESE ITEMS, UH, THAT ARE TOTAL 65 MILLION.

UM, WHY, WHY IS THAT? DID I, DID I MISS SOMETHING? UH, FROM MY RECOLLECTION, RECOLLECTION, ALL THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED.

SO THE CIP COMMITTEE PUT EVERYTHING FORWARD.

WE, I BELIEVE I EVEN DREW IT ON A BOARD.

THAT WATER INSURER WOULD BE HANDLED BY COS GENERAL FUND FOR THE FIRE STATION.

AND THIS GARF PORTION, OR THE 4 MILLION WOULD BE HANDLED BY THIS PORTION, UH, UH, FOR THIS CO THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE FIRE STATION TWO HAS BEEN IN PLAY FOR ABOUT A YEAR, UH, IF NOT LONGER.

AND SO THROUGH ALL OF OUR MEETINGS, WE'VE DISCUSSED THAT THESE THINGS WERE COMING.

UM, I DON'T DON'T KNOW IF THIS WAS FURTHER DISCUSSED IN THE CIP COMMITTEE.

I REMEMBER THEM BEING DISCUSSED.

MR. LESTER, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY INPUT ON THAT.

I, I'M TRYING TO RECOLLECT MYSELF ON A LOT OF THIS STUFF.

A LOT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, SO, BUT I, I DO REMEMBER THIS ALL BEING DISCUSSED AT SOME POINT IN TIME, THE CIP IS, WAS MAINLY FOCUSED ON THE GEO.

AND I'M LOOKING AT MY COLLEAGUE WHO'S ON THEIR OWN, THE GEO STUFF.

WE, WE DID TALK ABOUT WATER AND SEWER, BUT THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND WATER AND SEWER, THEY WERE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT BECAUSE THEY WERE SELF-FUNDING.

RIGHT.

UM, AND THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE THEM FOR THE GEO PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE OF LEGALITY ISSUES IF THEY FAIL.

SO I REMEMBER WE TOUCHED ON THOSE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE BROUGHT IT TO FULL COUNSEL FOR DISCUSSION.

I BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THIS WAS DISCUSSED IN OUR, UH, RETREAT.

MM-HMM .

I DO REMEMBER THE STUFF ON THE BOARD, BUT WE, WE DID TALK ABOUT THIS IN CIP, FOR ME, THE ANSWER IS SHE JUST TOLD US THAT IT'S SELF-FUNDING.

SO IT WAS VERY SEPARATE IN CIP MM-HMM .

UM, I THINK MAYBE THE REASON IT, UM, SEEMS STRANGE IS BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S ON THIS, BUT IT WAS TALKED ABOUT MM-HMM .

UM, IN THE LIBRARY AT THE RETREAT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

AT THE, WE TALKED ABOUT THERE, UM, THE ACTUAL, AND, AND, AND I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE THAT THE ACTUAL NUMBER FOR FIRE STATION TWO WAS ORIGINALLY HIGHER MM-HMM .

BUT THERE WAS SOME REWORK AND SOME WORKING WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO, TO BRING THAT COST DOWN.

RIGHT.

SO THAT WAS GOOD THAT THEY DID THAT.

AND GARTH ROAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN AROUND THE 4 MILLION MM-HMM.

THE A AND B AND, AND THE REASON, AGAIN, WE PUSHED THAT TO THE CO I, I THINK I REMEMBER THE DISCUSSIONS WAS BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY COMMITTED TO THOSE EXPENDITURES OF COURSE.

SO THE CO IS THE WAY TO GO WITH THAT.

BUT, UM, YEAH, SO, AND, AND I THINK HIS QUESTION WAS, I THINK HE WAS OKAY WITH THE GENERAL FUND ITEMS. IT WAS MAINLY THE WATER AND SEWER AND SEW PROJECTS.

SEWER.

YEAH.

AND WE DID DISCUSS THAT AT OUR RETREAT AND, AND THEY WERE SEPARATE AND DISTINCT.

SO MM-HMM .

WE SHIFT, WE SHIFTED FROM THOSE TO THE GEO CONVERSATION PRETTY QUICKLY AND CONCENTRATED ON, ON THOSE ITEMS VERSUS THE WATER AND SEWER.

SO WE DID, I THINK WE DID DISCUSS 'EM, I THINK I REMEMBER SOME OF THAT AT

[00:30:01]

DID, WE JUST DIDN'T EMPHASIZE IT SO IN DEPTH BECAUSE THEY WERE SELF-FUNDING.

YES.

OKAY.

AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER OUT OF THAT.

MM-HMM .

I REALLY THINK THAT, THAT, THAT'S THE ISSUE WITH, WITH THE MEMORY THE RECOLLECTION IS BECAUSE IT JUST WASN'T BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT WHEN WE WERE DEALING SPECIFICALLY WITH COS.

THAT'S CORRECT.

'CAUSE WE WERE VERY MUCH TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE OTHER, THESE OTHER PROJECTS.

AND IF WE GO BACK EVEN FURTHER TO LAST YEAR WHEN WE DECIDE, OR MAYBE EVEN TWO YEARS AGO AT THIS POINT, THAT WE WOULD, WHEN WE MOVE FORWARD WITH DEBT, COS ANYTHING GENERAL FUND WOULD GO THROUGH A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND OUTSIDE OF THIS LAST ISSUANCE.

AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE LEGALITIES WITH WATER AND SEWER THO, THOSE WERE GONNA STAY ON THE CO PROCESS.

AND THAT'S BEEN DISCUSSED, I WOULD SAY, ALL THE WAY BACK UNTIL THE LAST YEAR BUDGET PROCESS, EVEN AT LAST YEAR'S BUDGET MEETINGS.

AND THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE SELF-SUSTAINING AND, UM, I I I PROBABLY DO AGREE THAT THE WATER AND SEWER CONVERSATIONS HAVE PROBABLY BEEN QUICK BECAUSE THEY, WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE NEEDED PROJECTS AND THEY'RE NOT DO, THERE'S NOTHING EXTRA IN THE, THESE PIECES.

AND WHEN THE CFP WENT TO IT YEP.

NEEDED AND MOVED ON.

AND SO OUTSIDE OF THAT, I DON'T RECALL ALL THE OTHER SPECIFICS, BUT I KNOW IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED MM-HMM .

YES, SIR.

SO I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND WE NEED THESE PROJECTS.

UM, I I, WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THESE.

WE NEED A FIRE STATION AND, UM, WE NEED THESE, THESE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

UM, I WOULD PERSONALLY LIKE TO SEE THESE ON A GEO.

UM, IT, IT, I JUST, I, I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH OTHER PROJECTS SITTING OUT THERE THAT WE'RE DOING TO FOR SAY $82 MILLION CO DEBT ON THE PUBLIC.

SO, UM, I'LL JUST RETIRE WITH THAT, SO.

OKAY.

ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, I MEAN I'VE BEEN, UM, CONSISTENT THROUGH THE YEARS, UM, THAT I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO USE GOS INSTEAD OF COS UM, NO NEED TO BEAT A DEAD HORSE.

UH, EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE I STAND ON THAT AND SO THAT WON'T CHANGE TONIGHT.

OKAY, MAYOR? YES, MA'AM.

UM, COULD STAFF CLARIFY WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT? BECAUSE, UM, I'M UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS WAS ALREADY VOTED ON ON A FIVE TO TWO, UM, OVER A MONTH AGO.

SO CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW SPECIFICALLY? YES.

YES MA'AM.

SO I BELIEVE THAT'S WHY, WHY THERESA STARTED OFF THE WAY THAT SHE DID THAT THIS HAS BEEN THE GIVEN DIRECTION BY COUNSEL.

THAT THIS IS THE WAY TO MOVE FORWARD MM-HMM .

UH, FOR THE PAST YEAR.

AND SO WHEN, THE LAST TIME THAT WE SPOKE, WE SPOKE ON THIS AT BOTH BUDGET RETREATS, UH, OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

AND THEN AT THE VERY LAST ONE, OR I BELIEVE IN FEBRUARY, MAYBE, UM, MARCH, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW, I'M SORRY, COUNSEL.

BUT RECENTLY IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, COUNSEL DID MAKE A, UM, ALMOST A VOTE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CO PROCESS.

IT WASN'T AN OFFICIAL VOTE, BUT IT WAS A, UH, A CONSENSUS OF FIVE TO TWO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS DEBT DEBT ISSUANCE.

THERE WAS A CONSENSUS OF THIS GROUP TO MOVE FIVE TWO WITH THIS DEBT ISSUANCE.

NO, I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE ON THE DIET.

THAT'S I AM TOO.

IT'S, IT, I DON'T REMEMBER IT WAS VOTE, IT WASN'T A BOAT.

IT IT, IT WAS A CONSENSUS TO GIVE.

IT WAS A WORK SESSION.

YEAH.

IT WAS IN PERSON.

IT WASN'T AN ITEM ON, IT WAS AN ITEM, BUT I BELIEVE IT WAS A WORK SESSION TO DEFINE THAT WE MOVE FORWARD.

YES.

THE FEBRUARY 27TH.

YEAH.

BECAUSE WE NEEDED, UM, I BELIEVE I ACTUALLY SPOKE OVER ON THAT SECTION MM-HMM .

TO TALK ABOUT FIRE STATION TWO.

AND MR. LUER TALKED ABOUT, UH, THE TIMING AND IF IT'S GONNA BE PUSHED INTO LATER THE SUMMER, THAT HE WOULD LIKE THE FIRE STATION TO BE ON THE GO PROCESS.

BUT WE UNDERSTOOD THAT IT WAS GONNA BE STARTING AROUND MAY.

AND SO IN FEBRUARY, I I I STILL THINK IT WAS FEBRUARY THAT IT WAS SPECIFIC DIRECTION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS DEBT ISSUANCE.

THE FIVE TWO.

FIVE TWO.

YES.

YEAH.

UM, COULD WE ELABORATE ON THE LEGALITIES IN TERMS OF, UM, THE REASON TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS UNDER THE WATER SEWER? UH, THE FACT THAT THEY'RE SELF-FUNDED? I HEARD THAT YOU, I'LL JUMP IN.

YOU MENTIONED THE LEGALITIES.

THE LEGALITIES.

YEAH.

IF, IF WE GO FORWARD WITH THE GO GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ELECTION FOR WATER AND SEWERS AND A SECTION OF IT FAILS FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEN, THEN WE'RE STUCK WITH THREE TO FIVE YEARS BEFORE WE CAN GO BACK AND ADDRESS THAT.

MM-HMM .

I 10 LIFT STATION NUMBER ONE IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT'S, THAT'S NEEDED.

YEAH.

AND IF IT HAPPENED TO FAIL, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TOUCH IT FOR THREE TO FIVE YEARS.

MM-HMM .

WE CAN'T DO THAT WITH WATER AND SEWER.

IT'S NOT LIKE A ROAD THAT YOU CAN, OKAY.

YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE POTHOLES, YOU CAN DEAL WITH THAT.

IF SEWER LINES OR LIFT STATIONS NEED REPAIR AND GO DOWN,

[00:35:02]

MM-HMM .

AND, AND, AND AGAIN, THIS IS, THAT'S WHY THEN CONSENSUS WAS FOR WATER AND SEWER ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE SUCH CRITICAL NEED TYPE, YOU KNOW, EXPENDITURES.

WE WOULDN'T TAKE THE CHANCES OF PUTTING THEM ON A GO.

WE WOULD CONTINUE WITH THE COS FOR THE TIME BEING.

THAT'S THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD THE DISCUSSIONS WENT.

YEAH.

AND, AND THERE WAS A CONSENSUS THAT, THAT KIND OF MADE SENSE.

'CAUSE THERE, THERE ARE NO OPTIONAL OR FLUFF IN, IN WATER AND SEWER ISSUES.

MM-HMM .

I MEAN, YOU EITHER HAVE A WATER LINE THAT WORKS OR A SEWER LINE THAT WORKS.

RIGHT.

AND, AND THOSE ARE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES FOR OUR CITIZENS.

IF WE CAN'T PROVIDE 'EM WATER AND SEWER.

YEAH.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT ELSE ARE WE DOING AGAIN, ROADS OR, OR, UM, OTHER AMENITIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN DEAL WITH.

IF IT FAILS, WE COULD PROBABLY STRUGGLE THROUGH IN THE LAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS DEPENDING ON WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES.

SO THAT'S WHAT I MEANT BY THE LEGALITY ISSUES AND, AND THAT WAS THE DISCUSSION WE HAD AND THAT'S WHY THE, THE, IT WAS A FIVE TWO.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND OKAY, BEFORE I'M ASK MY NEXT QUESTION.

YOU HAD A, A COMMENT, A FOLLOW UP, RIGHT.

JUST ON THE LEGALITIES OF THIS AS WELL, IF Y'ALL THIS, IT'S BRINGING BACK SOME MEMORY HERE MM-HMM .

MM-HMM .

PART OF THIS AS WELL WAS THAT THESE PROJECTS ARE PART OF OUR PRE-ACTION PLAN FOR THE SSO STUFF, WHICH IS WHY THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS MM-HMM .

BECAUSE THIS IS A PLAN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN IN PLACE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CITIZENS ASKING THE QUESTIONS ON THE SS O WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A DECADE PLUS ALREADY MM-HMM .

AND WE'VE COMMITTED OVER 89 MILLION ALREADY TO ADDRESS IT.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST POPPED UP A LAST YEAR OR TWO, BUT PART OF THIS IS THE PLAN THAT WE AGREED TO, TO ADDRESS THAT SSO.

AND SO SOME OF THOSE THINGS IN THERE ARE PART OF THAT AND WE COULDN'T TAKE A RISK ON THAT NOT BEING APPROVED.

RIGHT.

UH, AND THAT WAS MY FOLLOW UP QUESTION, UH, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I REMEMBER US DISCUSSING IN THE FACT THAT WE ARE ALREADY INVESTING IN WATER AND SEWER, UM, AND WITH ISSUES ON SSOS, WE NEED TO SHOW THAT WE ARE BEING PROACTIVE AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN PROACTIVE AND FIXING THESE ITEMS. AND I, I WANNA UNDERSTAND MY COLLEAGUES IN TERMS OF THEM SAYING, OH, I I, MY PHILOSOPHY IS I JUST DON'T WANT, COS I GET IT.

BUT FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND, AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH WITH SSO, UM, WE'RE ALREADY HEARING RAMBLINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA BONDS.

NO, WE'RE ALREADY HEARING IT.

BEFORE WE EVEN SAID YES, WE'RE WE'RE GONNA GO FOR BONDS, THEY WERE ALREADY SAYING BONDS.

NO.

UM, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE IN, IN MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS, I DO WANNA TRUST OUR, OUR RESIDENTS AND, AND THE FACT THAT, THAT WE WANT THEM TO BE A PART OF THE DECISION MAKING, BUT THIS, UM, THE SSO ISSUES ARE VERY CRITICAL FOR US RIGHT NOW.

UM, AND SO I I FEEL THAT WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT THAT THREE AND POSSIBLY FIVE YEARS THE WAY THE STATE HAS BEEN MOVING RIGHT NOW.

AND, AND SO I I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A, A BIG DRAWN OUT EXPLANATION, BUT I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON MY COLLEAGUES OR OR AGAINST THE CO FOR THESE PARTICULAR ISSUES.

NOT YOUR GENERAL PHILOSOPHY AROUND COS BUT, UM, WHAT IS YOUR TRUE HESITATION ON THESE? WELL, MY COLLEAGUE IS A PHILOSOPHICAL, I'M, I'M NOT OVERLY HARD, PHILOSOPHICALLY OPPOSED COS MM-HMM .

UM, WHAT I AM OPPOSED TO IS DO AND, AND I'M, AND TO MY OTHER, MY COLLEAGUES' POINT, I SEE THAT THERE ARE SOME IMMEDIATE NEEDS ON THE CO AND I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A CO, UM, THAT, THAT ADDRESSES SOME IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY NEEDS AS SOME OF THESE, THE LIST STATION PROJECTS DO.

WHAT I'M IMPOSE IS, IS TO THE ADD-ONS OF THIS AND WHAT EXACTLY ARE THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS THAT ARE ON HERE VERSUS SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE ADD-ONS THAT REALLY DRIVE THAT CAUSE.

CAN WE PIT THE FIRE STATION TO ALL THE GO? I, I THINK WE CAN.

I FEEL LIKE WE CAN.

UM, UH, AT THE FEBRUARY 24TH MEETING, ALL WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE FIRE STATION TWO AND THE, THE, UH, DRAINAGE, WHICH WAS $17 MILLION.

I DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THIS ITEMIZED TILL TONIGHT.

WELL ACTUALLY YESTERDAY WHEN I, WHEN I END MY MEETING.

SO, UM, I AM NOT OVERLY OPPOSED TO COS BUT MM-HMM .

BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THAT C THOSE COS REALLY GO TO EMERGENCY NEEDS MM-HMM .

UH, FOR THE CITY THAT WE JUST CAN'T, WE CAN'T WAIT FOR GO, YOU KNOW, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE STATION, GOING TO TOUR THE FIRE STATION, THAT WAS A NEED BACK WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL.

I TOURED THE FIRE STATION THEN I TOURED IT HERE RECENTLY BACK IN

[00:40:01]

AND THOSE FIREFIGHTERS NEED AND DESERVE BETTER LIVING QUARTERS.

UM, THAT BEING SAID, PUT IT ON A GO BOND AND IT FAILS.

THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO BE THERE THREE TO FIVE MORE YEARS.

I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT OR EVEN LONGER BECAUSE, UH, WE WON'T GET THE MONEY UNTIL SIX MONTHS AFTER.

RIGHT.

AND I GOT YOU LOOKING AT, WHAT IS THIS HERE? TRANS SITE PIPELINE PIPELINE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR BAYWAY.

UM, CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT? BECAUSE I I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON, ON SOMETHING AND, AND, AND BE INACCURATE.

YES, SIR.

UM, SO THE TRANSI PIPE IS A, IT'S AS ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPE.

IT WAS, UH, COMMON IN THE SEVENTIES.

UH, SO THIS IS A LINE THAT RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE BIG WAY.

IT IS A 16 INCH LINE.

MM-HMM .

UH, WE HAVE, IT IS MADE OF, UH, ASBESTOS CEMENT, WHICH IS VERY, UM, AS IT AGES IT'S BRITTLE AND SUBJECT TO, UH, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

SO AS YOU TRY TO FIX IT, IT, IT TENDS TO BREAK MORE.

MM-HMM .

UM, THIS IS THE ISSUE.

THIS SAME TYPE OF PIPE WE HAD, UM, OFF OF BAYWAY.

YEAH.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT POPPED IN.

YES.

WE HAD TO ISSUE THE BOIL WATER NOTICE.

AND SO THIS, UH, IS ONE PROJECT TO REPLACE, UM, PART OF THAT TRANS PIPE.

AND THAT'S WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THIS.

I WENT OUT THERE AND SAW PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES IN CHEST DEEP WATER AND IT WAS 40 DEGREE WEATHER.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

40 DEGREE WEATHER.

AND THE PIPE KEPT BREAKING AS THEY FIXED IT.

I WOULDN'T WANNA SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ON A GO BOND BECAUSE WE, OUR CITIZENS COULD BE WITHOUT WATER.

HOW LONG WERE THEY WITHOUT WATER WHEN THIS BROKE? UM, I WAS ACTUALLY OUT OF TOWN, MAYBE THREE, WELL, WAS IT, WAS IT MAYBE THREE OR FOUR DAYS? GOOD PORTION OF A WEEK.

I THINK THERE WERE PORTION OF WEEK, MAYBE A DAY OR LOW PRESSURE.

AND THEN THE BOIL WATER NOTICE WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE TEST TO COME BACK.

YEAH.

SO IT WAS ABOUT THREE DAYS I THINK.

SO.

SO THERE YOU GO.

I, AND I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING AND I WOULDN'T BE OPPOSED TO AMENING IT TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE ON A CO BOND.

IT'S SOMETHING IMMEDIATE.

SO I, THE, THE, THE ITEMS ON THE WATER AND SEWER ARE ALL NECESSARY.

UM, I 10 LIFT STATION IS THE LIFT STATION THAT SERVES SAN JACINTO BOULEVARD.

MM-HMM .

AND AREAS NORTH OF I 10.

UH, THE I, THE CURRENT I 10 LIFT STATION IS AT CAPACITY.

SO, UH, AS THAT AREA ALONG SAN JACINTO DEVELOPS, THAT IS GONNA BE, UH, OUT OF CAPACITY AND WE'LL HAVE TO NOT ALLOW DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE WASTEWATER CAPACITY.

UM, TAKES AVENUE LIFT STATION IS, UH, SSO EARLY ACTION PLAN ITEM.

WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, SSOS ATTRIBUTED TO THAT LIFT STATION.

AND THIS IS ONE WE FELT, UH, WOULD BE A HIGH IMPACT TO, UM, YOU KNOW, MITIGATING SSOS.

AND WE WANT TO SHOW GOOD FAITH THAT WE'RE, UM, AS WE NEGOTIATE THIS AS CONSENT DECREE, THAT WE ARE SHOWING PROGRESS IN TRYING TO MITIGATE OUR SSOS.

AND SO THAT ONE IS VERY CRITICAL TO THAT.

WE TALKED ABOUT TRANS WATER LINES.

I, UM, LEAD SERVICE LINE IS ANOTHER REQUIREMENT.

UM, A NEW LEGAL REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE TO EVALUATE THE WHOLE CITY FOR ANY LEAD IN THE WATER PIPES.

AND SO THAT, THAT, UM, IS TO FINISH THAT ASSESSMENT AND THEN THERE'LL BE ANOTHER PHASE WHERE WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY REPLACE THOSE LINES.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I SEE THE NEED FOR IT.

COUNCIL MEMBER GRAHAM, YOU HAD SOMETHING.

WELL, ACTUALLY I DON'T THINK WE FINISHED WITH LAURA.

LAURA WAS ASKING, UM, FOR THERE TO BE AN ELABORATION AND THEN I WANTED TO COMMENT AFTER THEY BOTH HAD THEIR CHANCE TO TALK.

OKAY.

BUT YES.

OH, YES, SIR.

UM, DOESN'T GO WE'LL PICK.

I CAN ELABORATE A LITTLE MORE.

UM, JUST ON MY SENSE.

SO THE ISSUE HERE IS IT ALL BEING COMBINED, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND IT'S FOR THE, UH, YOU KNOW, LIMITING THE, THE COST OF ISSUANCE, WHICH I'M ALL FOR SAVING MONEY.

UM, I JUST DON'T AGREE WITH THE ENTIRETY OF THE LIST.

RIGHT.

AND SO, UM, IF WE TAKE JUST THE WATER AND SEWER, WHICH IS ALL BACKED BY REVENUE AND WE CAN USE REVENUE BONDS FOR THAT.

I BELIEVE I'VE VOTED ON THAT IN THE PAST AND WOULD AGAIN, UM, THE ISSUE FOR ME IS THE, THE GENERAL FUND PORTION.

UM, I DO THINK THOSE, THOSE ITEMS, YOU KNOW, COULD BE ON THE, THE GO.

UM, I KNOW THE FIRE STATION TWO, WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT HOW PAST DUE IT IS TO BE

[00:45:01]

UM, BUT I MEAN, IF WE'VE LET IT, WE AS A BODY HAVE LET IT GET TO THIS POINT, THEN SHAME ON US, UM, FOR LETTING IT GO SO LONG.

UM, I I DON'T, WE KICKED THE CAN, KICKED THE CAN AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT'S AN EMERGENCY THAT WE NEED TO GO OUT FOR A CO ON.

WE SHOULD HAVE, UM, WE SHOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, ACTED ON THIS SOONER.

UM, AND SO I DON'T THINK WAITING AN ADDITIONAL, UH, SIX, EIGHT MONTHS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE FOR THE GO, UM, AT THIS POINT, I DON'T THINK IT, IT, IT IS THAT LARGE OF A DIFFERENCE.

UM, SO LIKE I SAID, THE ISSUE FOR ME COUNCILWOMAN, UM, IS JUST WITH IT ALL BEING COMBINED INTO ONE.

OKAY.

COUNCIL MEMBER FRANCO.

YEAH.

SO SHE WAS NEXT.

NO, HOLD ON.

SHE WAS NEXT.

I WAS NEXT.

UM, THE FIRE STATION TWO FOR ME, UM, IS I WOULDN'T SAY IS AN EMERGENCY FOR ME.

WHAT IT IS IS THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY TOLD US THEY'RE READY TO BREAK GROUND.

THE BLUEPRINTS ARE DONE.

UM, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF THAT, BUT I'M, I'M NOT WILLING TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ANYMORE.

SHAME ON US, BUT I'M NOT GONNA SHAME ON ME.

I AM DEFINITELY GONNA BE VOTING FOR THAT FIRE STATION TO BE COMPLETED.

UM, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST AS FAR AS THE WATER AND SEWER AND THE OTHER ITEMS ON THE LIST.

I AGREE THAT SIX MONTHS, UM, PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE A BIG DEAL FOR WAITING FOR ANY OF THE ITEMS. WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT IS IF, WHAT IF IT'S NOT SIX MONTHS? WHAT IF IT'S THREE TO FIVE YEARS? AND FOR ME, THAT'S WHERE THE PROBLEM COMES IN.

I CAN'T PREDICT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.