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I NOW CALL TO ORDER THIS JOINT CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AND THE BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT MEETING ON THURSDAY, JUNE 12TH, 2025, AND THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL, BAYTOWN, TEXAS.
AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM AT 6 32.
WE WILL HAVE PLEDGE GIVEN BY MS. JC THOMAS AND OUR INVOCATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER MIKE LESTER.
MS. THOMAS RIGHT HERE AT THIS PODIUM, PLEASE LET ME SAY THIS.
SHE IS A, WELL, SHE WAS A CURRENT STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBER, RIGHT? SO IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU TONIGHT.
WOULD YOU LEAD US? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE ALLEGED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC VOTE SUSTAIN ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I ALLEGIANCE TO TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVIDUAL STATE, INVISIBLE.
ALL RIGHT, IF YOU'LL JOIN ME IN QUICK PRAYER.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE STAND BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND WE ASK YOU FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE AS WE BEGIN THIS MEETING, PHYLLIS, WITH, WITH YOUR GRACE, AS WE MAKE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, PLEASE WATCH OVER THOSE WHO SERVE AND PROTECT US ON A DAILY BASIS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND EACH FROM EACH ONE OF US.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, SIR.
WE NOW CONCLUDE THE CITIZEN COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
WE WILL NOW GO TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, A MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ITEM.
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN AND BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT.
[a. Consider approving the minutes of the City Council Work Session and the City Council Regular Meeting held on February 13 and 27, 2025.]
[b. Consider approving the minutes of the City Council Work Sessions and Regular Meetings held on March 13 & 27, 2025.]
[c. Consider approving the minutes of the City Council Work Session and Regular Meeting held on May 8, 2025.]
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO OUR CITY COUNCIL ITEMS NOW.WE WILL TAKE ITEMS THREE A THROUGH C TOGETHER, CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORKS SESSION AND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETINGS HELD ON FEBRUARY 13TH AND FEBRUARY 27TH.
MARCH 13TH, MARCH 27TH, AND MAY 8TH, 2025.
[a. Present Baytown's 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration concert line-up that will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at Bicentennial Park.]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR A RECOGNITIONS AND CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS.WE'RE GONNA PRESENT BAY TOWN'S FIFTH ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION CONCERT LINEUP.
THAT WILL BE HELD ON THIS SATURDAY, JUNE THE 14TH, 2025 AT BICENTENNIAL PARK.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AS YOU SAID, WE WERE JUST HERE, UM, WITH SOME OF THE MEMBERS FROM OUR JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE TO, TO, UH, RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE EVENT THIS WEEKEND.
UH, WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAVE VINCENT NORMAN HERE THAT'S GONNA SAY A FEW WORDS AND WE'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE AFTERWARDS.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS TIME TO SPEAK.
UH, THE CITY'S JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION HAS REALLY SCALED TO BE ONE OF THE LARGEST, UH, MAJOR EVENT FOR THE CITY, UH, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE LARGEST EVENTS, UH, IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
OUR PERFORMERS HAVE GONE ON TO ACHIEVE GREAT HEIGHTS.
UH, THEY PERFORM, UH, EVERYWHERE FEATURING ON BEING FEATURED ON HOUSTON'S LARGER STAGE, THE, THE RODEO, AS WELL AS WOMEN WINNING GRAMMY AWARDS.
OKAY, UH, THOUSANDS ATTEND THE EVENT EACH YEAR FOR FAMILY FUN AND CULTURAL CULTURAL CONNECTION.
UM, THE EVENT THAT HAS SUCCESSFULLY BOOSTED THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND SUPPORTS BUSINESSES, VENDORS, LOCAL MUSICIANS, AS WELL AS YOUTH PROGRAMMING.
UM, WE AIM TO, UH, EXPAND THE JUNETEENTH EVENT BY ADDING, UH, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTENT FEATURING MORE LOCAL AFRICAN AMERICAN AND BAYTOWN SPECIFIC HISTORY.
AND, UH, ALSO I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE WITH THE, UH, WITH THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PROPOSE AN ADDITIONAL A SECOND NIGHT OF ENTERTAINMENT CENTERED AROUND GOSPEL AND PRAISE, HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL CHURCHES, CHOIRS, SPIRITUAL ARTISTS, AND ENGAGING WITH LOCAL RELIGIOUS, UH, LEADERS.
UH, THE EVENT WILL ALWAYS FEATURE LIVE MUSIC, FAMILY
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FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES, DIVERSE VENDORS, CULTURAL SHOWCASES AND REMAIN WILL ALWAYS REMAIN THE CORE OF THE CELEBRATION, AND THE EVENT WILL CONTINUE TO BE INCLUSIVE, SAFE, AND UPLIFTING.UH, WE THANK THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, ALL OF THE COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR ESSENTIAL ROLES IN THE EVENT SUCCESS.
UH, WE ALSO INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, CHURCHES, VENDORS, ARTISTS, VOLUNTEERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE EVENT, PLEASE CONTACT THE, UH, BAYTOWN PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
UM, AND IN CLOSING, UH, THE BAYTOWN JEW TRI CELEBRATION.
CELEBRATION IS MORE THAN AN EVENT INTO THE REFLECTION OF OUR SHARED VALUES, HISTORY AND FUTURE.
UH, AND THANK EVERYBODY FOR HAVING ME.
WE HAVE, WE HAVE TWO INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS AGENDA ITEM.
PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR RECORD AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THREE MINUTES.
MY ADDRESS IS 6 0 6 EAST REPUBLIC AVENUE IN BAYTOWN.
I AM HERE TO STATE THAT I'M AGAINST THE JUNETEENTH EVENT HERE IN BAYTOWN.
DUE TO THE FACT THERE WAS NO OVERSIGHT OF THE PLANNING AND THE AMOUNT SPENT, WHICH IS OVER $121,000 OF OUR TAXPAYER MONEY.
HERE WE HAD COMMITTEE MEMBERS THAT DO NOT LIVE IN THE CITY LIMITS, MAKING DECISIONS, AGAIN, WITH NO OVERSIGHT, SPENDING OUR HARD EARNED TAXPAYER MONIES.
ALSO, THIS EVENT IS NOT A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BANS PICKED OR KNOWN TO HAVE FOUL LANGUAGE.
THIS EVENT ONLY HAS FIVE MINUTES OF HISTORICAL HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH FIVE MINUTES, IF ANY.
IF ONE WANTS TO SEE THESE FOUL LANGUAGE BANS, THEY CAN PAY FOR THEMSELVES, BUT NOT ON OUR TAX MONEY.
ALSO, THERE'S A MEMBER OR TWO OF THE JUNETEENTH COMMITTEE THAT MAY BE PROFITING FROM THIS EVENT, AND THAT IS UNETHICAL AND AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE DONE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THE BAIRD COMMUNITY, WHICH IS KNOWN AS BAIRD STATION AND GALVESTON JUNETEENTH IS A FAMILY EVENT.
THEY ARE PRESENTING THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH, WHICH IS LACKING HERE IN BAYTOWN.
AND ALSO WANNA STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT IF Y'ALL LOOKED AT THE BAYTOWN STATISTICS, THEY DID A SURVEY.
AND I KNOW THAT MATT SAID IT WAS JUST CERTAIN PEOPLE FROM BAYTOWN SOON, BUT YET YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER, UH, 83% SAID NO TO JUNETEENTH AND ONLY 16% SAID YES.
SO ALSO I WANNA STATE FOR THE RECORD THAT THE COMMITTEE WAS NOT DIVERSE, AND I THINK THAT ALL CITY COUNCIL SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR PEOPLE TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A WORD AND A SAY IN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CITY EVENTS SINCE IT'S OUR TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
AND SINCE WE'RE DOING THINGS THAT, UH, CONCERN OUR TAXPAYER, WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN A SAYING THIS NOT OUTSIDERS COMING IN, USING OUR TAXPAYER MONEY TO BRING THEIR OWN AGENDAS HERE AND TO HAVE KIND OF MUSIC THAT WE DO NOT LISTEN TO FOR FAMILIES.
NEXT, WE WILL HAVE MS. DENISE GRAVES.
PLEASE STATE YOUR, MY TIME IS TO BE YIELDED TO SHE'S OKAY.
ANY COMMENTS FROM COUNSEL? I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, I GUESS IT'S TO CLIFFORD HATCH.
UH, MR. HATCH, UH, HOW ARE THE BAND'S CHOSEN, UH, FOR THE JUNETEENTH CONCERT? SO FOR JUNETEENTH AND, AND G***O FEST, THE COMMITTEE OF, UH, UM, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, UH, SELECT THE BANDS.
A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE DO IS WE AS A, AS A DEPARTMENT, WE WORK WITH A PROMOTER.
IN THIS CASE IT WAS VINCENT, UH, FOR, UH, JUNE FOR G***O FEST.
THAT'S, UM, PARENT, UH, LONGTIME PROMOTER WE'VE HAD, AND THEN FOR 4TH OF JULY, TSE.
AND THEY BRING US A SHORT LIST OF NAMES.
UH, FROM THAT POINT, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS KIND OF CHOOSE FROM THAT LIST, AND THEN WE START DOING THE PROCESS OF, UH, DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN COME AND TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS AND BOOKINGS AND ALL THAT STUFF THAT PLAYS INTO ALL OF THAT.
AND THEN WE MAKE SURE THAT IT'S WITHIN BUDGET AND THEN WE, UH, WE EXECUTE A CONTRACT.
SO, SO THE DECISIONS I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY.
SO THE DECISIONS FOR THE BANDS ARE MADE BY ALL OUTSIDE COMMITTEES FOR ALL THE EVENTS FOR JUNETEENTH
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AND G***O AND G***O.THIS COMMITTEE LED FOURTH JULY.
WHO MAKES THAT DECISION? FOURTH JULY'S INTERNAL WITH PARTIAL INTERNAL MM-HMM
UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ALL OF OUR EVENTS DECISIONS BE MADE INTERNAL MM-HMM
UM, I FEEL IF WE'RE USING PUBLIC DOLLARS TO FUND THESE EVENTS AND A LOT OF IT SURE.
THAT, UM, I DON'T THINK THERE SHOULD BE, UH, COMMITTEES WITH SO MUCH AUTONOMY TO CHOOSE AND PICK, UM, WHAT EVENTS THAT THAT ARE, THAT ARE HERE.
ESPECIALLY, WE'RE GONNA BE ADVERTISING IT AS A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.
WE, UM, WE ALSO PARTNER WITH VARIOUS GROUPS IN, IN A VARIETY OF MANNERS.
UM, FOR INSTANCE, LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL, UH, AND GIRLS FE PIT SOFTBALL, THOSE ARE PARENT RUN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE FULL AUTONOMY TO RUN THE, UH, BASEBALL PROGRAMS AT OUR FACILITIES.
THE SAME WAY, THIS IS THE SAME WAY WITH THE GIRLS' SOFTBALL THAT WENT GREAT SPORTS COMPLEX.
SAME WAY WITH A PARK RUN THAT'S AT, UM, JENKINS PARK NOW.
THAT'S A VOLUNTEER LED, VOLUNTEER LED ORGANIZATION.
SO IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR US TO PARTNER WITH A GROUP THAT HAS A DEMOGRAPHIC THAT THEY ARE MORE IN TOUCH WITH.
AND IT'S A WAY THAT OUR DEPARTMENT CAN BE BETTER INGRAINED TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S NOT JUST ONE OR TWO PEOPLE THAT ARE ON A PARKS AND REC STAFF.
WE'RE ACTUALLY LEADING A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE, ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROJECT IN WHICH THEY'RE, THEY'RE INVOLVED IN.
BUT YOUR POINT IS, IS THERE A WAY THAT, THAT THESE OUTSIDE COMMITTEES THEN COULD PROVIDE A SHORT LIST THAT COULD BE APPROVED BY SAY THE PARKS COMMITTEE AND YEAH, WE, WE CAN START, WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK INTO TO THAT FOR SURE.
UH, WE CAN TALK TO OUR, UM, OUR PARKS BOARD AND SEE IF, UH, ONCE WE GET THE LIST OF ENTERTAINERS FROM THE PROMOTERS, WE COULD VET IT THROUGH PARKS BOARD.
I MEAN, THERE'S A VARIETY OF THINGS WE COULD DO.
YEAH, I THINK THAT AND YOUR POINT IS, IS HER I UNDERSTANDING.
I THINK THAT'S IN ORDER WITH ALL OF OUR, OUR ENTERTAINMENT TO PROPERLY VET, UM, THESE, THESE EVENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CONTENT OF THE MUSIC IS IN FACT FRIENDLY.
UH, I FEEL IF YOU HAD TO EDIT OUT A CURSE WORD IN A LYRIC OF A SONG THAT IS NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY.
UM, EVEN IF, EVEN IF THE, YOU TAKE OUT THE CUSS WORD, THE CONTEXT IS MAYBE NOT SOMETHING I WOULD WANT MY NIECES OR OR TO HEAR.
SO, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE, WE'RE USING PUBLIC DOLLARS TO FUND THESE EVENTS.
SO MAYOR AND COUNSEL, WE ARE ULTIMATELY ALREADY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENT, REGARDLESS IF IT'S THROUGH HOW IT'S CURRENTLY SET UP OR IF IT GOES TO A DIFFERENT BOARD OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT BECAUSE WE ARE THE FINAL SAY AND WE ARE FUNDING THE EVENT.
SO WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS, IS CURRENTLY ALREADY HAPPENING OR ASKING FOR MR. GRIFFITH IS ALREADY HAPPENING BECAUSE STAFF IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE.
ME, I'M LY ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE EVENTS BEING CHOSEN.
WE HAVE TRUST OR HAVE FAITH AS WHAT MR. HATCH IS SAYING, THAT THERE IS A COMMITTEE THAT GOES THROUGH THIS THAT IS CLOSE TO, UM, THE, UH, THE AUDIENCE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ATTRACT TO CELEBRATE WHATEVER THE EVENT IS, REGARDLESS IF IT'S RECREATION, REGARDLESS, IT'S THE, IF IT'S AN EVENT OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE, IT'S ULTIMATELY STOPS WITH ME AUTHORIZING WHAT ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE SAYING, HEY, WE FEEL THAT'S FINE.
WE UNDERSTAND MR. HATCH HAS HAD A VERY GOOD TRACK RECORD WITH ENSURING THAT IT'S A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT WITH THE PAST EVENTS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT HAVE COME UP AND THE ARTISTS HAVE A CLAUSE IN THE CONTRACT THAT THEY HAVE TO PROVIDE A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT.
IF THEY DON'T PROVIDE IT PER THEIR CONTRACT, THEN THEY ARE HELD LIABLE TO, TO WHATEVER THEIR CONTRACT SAYS.
SO THERE ARE STANDARDS IN PLACE THAT WE FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN SET UP.
AND THEN THE ASK OF THE STAFF OR OTHER BOARDS, YOU ARE THEN SETTING UP A, A MORALITY POLICE, WHICH YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ON 'CAUSE WHO'S DECIDING OR WHO'S DEFINING WHAT MORALITY IS, UM, ON MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
AND IT'S GONNA DIFFER FROM THE SEVEN OF YOU UP HERE AND THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE CROWDS.
WE HAVE TO WORK ON OUR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT WE CAN TO HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THE CONTRACT LANGUAGE THAT'S PUT IN PLACE, WE FEEL COVERS THAT.
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S, IT'S ALREADY IN PLACE OF WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE IT'S IN PLACE.
'CAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HUNDRED, 122 A HUNDRED, TWO $22,000.
AND, AND NO COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL DECIDES OR CHECKS OFF ON YOU DO DECIDE WHEN Y'ALL ADOPT THE BUDGET, SIR.
SO WE DON'T DECIDE ON THE ACT ITSELF.
YOU, YOU, WHEN YOU ADOPT THE BUDGET, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MONEY IS GOING TO THESE EVENTS OKAY.
UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT HAS BEEN FOR THOSE EVENTS.
AND THOSE EVENTS ARE BASED OR CONTINUE TO BE REPEATED BASED ON HOW IT'S OPERATED IN THE PAST.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME WE GOTTA MAKE A DECISION DURING OUR BUDGET MEETING.
I JUST, I JUST WANTED TO SAY ONE, ONE OTHER POINT REAL QUICK.
THE 1 22 NUMBER THAT YOU'RE QUOTING THAT'S IN THE TITLE, OR I'M SORRY, THE, THE ENTIRE EVENT THAT COVERS PORTA POTTY RENTALS,
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OUT THERE.SO JUST AS A POINT OF CLARITY, COUNCILMAN FRANCO, UM, THAT DOESN'T COVER OUR COST FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IS IT, IS IT ONE? NO, THAT IT HAS, THAT HAS JUST HARRIS COUNTY PATROL.
I ACTUALLY ASKED OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT DOES NOT COVER THEIR COST, BUT IT COVERS THE CONSTABLES ARE IT DOES CONSTABLE DOES NOT COVER CITY OF BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT OR CITY OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
MY MY POINT WAS THAT IT DIDN'T GO STRICTLY TO THE ENTERTAINMENT.
I APOLOGIZE ABOUT MISCONSTRUED THAT.
I, I I JUST WANNA MAKE CLEAR, UM, THE LINEUPS FOR THE MOST PART I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH, UM, JUSTIN GOODO WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH HIM.
I HAVE NO DOUBT HE'LL DELIVER A GREAT CONCERT.
AND THE PAST I'VE, YOU KNOW, THE VIBE DURING THE DAY.
IF WE'RE GONNA BE FAMILY FRIENDLY, THEN, UH, YOU KNOW, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE PROVIDING FAMILY FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE WITH OUR MUSIC.
UH, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF, UM, EITHER MR. HATCH OR THE COMMITTEE COULD SHARE WITH ME SOME OF THE, UM, ITEMS THAT ARE DONE DURING THE WEEK LEADING UP TO JUNETEENTH AND ON JUNETEENTH THAT ARE TIED TO JUNETEENTH HISTORY.
WELL, I WILL SAY THIS, THIS YEAR WE HAVE AN AUTHOR THAT'S GOING TO BE PRESENT, THAT'S DOCTORATE LEVEL WHO WROTE A CHILDREN'S BOOK ON WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS IN THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH.
SHE'S, UM, GONNA BE OUT THERE DOING AUTOGRAPH SIGNINGS.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE FREE COPIES OF HER BOOK AWAY THAT I'M GOING TO PURCHASE AND HAND HANDOUT.
AND IN PREVIOUS YEARS, UH, THE FIRST YEAR WE ACTUALLY HAD IMPACT RENTED OUT AND WE HAD VENDORS THERE TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH, VOTER REGISTRATION, BUFFALO SOLDIERS, THE BLACK MADONNA.
IT WAS COUNTLESS, UM, INDIVIDUALS WE HAD THERE.
THAT'S WHEN IT WAS A TWO DAY EVENT.
WE ALSO HAD GREG ELLIS FALL OF YOU COWBOY FANS.
HE SHOWED UP THE FIRST DAY AND TALKED ABOUT, TALKED US THROUGH SOME SCENES OF A PLAY THAT DEALT WITH BLACK HISTORY AND MENTAL ILLNESS.
ALSO, IF WE CAN GET BACK TO DOING THE TWO DAY EVENT, THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO.
UM, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE ATTENDED THAT DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS A JUNETEENTH FLAG AND WHAT EMANCIPATION STOOD FOR.
UM, I WOULD, I, WOULD I ENCOURAGE ANYONE OUT THERE TO LOOK UP WHAT EMANCIPATION MEANS.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY, IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM, UM, FINANCIALLY, SOCIALLY, AND FREEDOM FROM SLAVERY.
WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS.
THIS IS A, IT IS A DAY OF CELEBRATION.
JULY 4TH IS A DAY OF CELEBRATION.
AND WE'RE NOT ASKING TO BE EDUCATED ON JULY 4TH.
I THINK JULY 4TH IS IMPORTANT.
AND I ALSO BELIEVE JUNETEENTH IS JUST AS IMPORTANT BECAUSE FREEDOM WAS NOT INCLUSIVE IN AMERICA UNTIL JUNETEENTH.
NOT, WE WERE NOT ABLE TO SAY THIS WAS LAND OF THE FREE UNTIL AFTER IT HAPPENED ON JUNETEENTH.
SO CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH, CELEBRATING JULY 4TH, CELEBRATING GRITO FEST.
I THINK THAT'S A, A BIG PART OF WHO WE ARE AND WHAT MAKES US A COMMUNITY IS TO, WE CAN BE ABLE TO, I ENJOY GOING TO G***O FEST.
I ENJOY GOING TO JULY 4TH, AND I ENJOY CELEBRATING JUNETEENTH THE FIVE YEAR.
THIS WILL BE THE FIFTH YEAR WE'VE CELEBRATED IT AND WE HAVE ENTERTAINERS ASKING US.
JUSTIN GOOD OLD, THIS IS HIS SECOND TIME COMING BACK.
WE MAKE IT A POINT TO BRING IN ARTISTS THAT ARE LOCAL, TO GET THEM AROUND THESE BIGGER ARTISTS SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE A STAGE AND THEY WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THEIR NAME OUT THERE.
BUN B WAS OUR FIRST YEAR AFTER BUN B DID OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION.
HE WAS CALLED TO DO THE RODEO AND HE'S DONE THE RODEO EVERY YEAR SINCE.
THERE'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
NO ONE THOUGHT HE COULD GIVE A CLEAN SHOW, AND HE DID THE NEXT YEAR TO CELEBRATE THOSE WHO WENT THROUGH SEGREGATION.
WE BROUGHT THE MOST POPULAR BAND AT THEIR TIME.
NOT EVERYONE LIKED THEM, BUT THEY WERE POPULAR AT THEIR TIME AND WE BROUGHT THEM.
WHO WAS THAT? WAS THAT THE FOUR TOPS? THE TEMPTATIONS? YES.
WE BROUGHT THEM IN AND THEY HAD A GREAT TIME THE NEXT YEAR.
LITTLE KIKI SLIM THUG, THE BIGGEST CROWD WE'VE HAD.
AND THIS IS AN AWARD-WINNING CELEBRATION.
CLIFF, CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE AWARD THAT WAS WON FOR OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION? IT WAS THE TEXAS RECREATION AND PARK SOCIETIES, UM, UH, REGION WON, UM, ARTS AND CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT, AWARD ARTS AND CULTURAL ENTERTAINMENT.
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GOES INTO THEM DECIDING THAT AWARD? UH, IT IS JUST WE'RE, IT IS JUST A WRITEUP OF, OF ALL THE COMPONENTS IN IT WITH THE VOLUNTEERISM.WE USE THE, UH, THE COMMITTEE AS A VOLUNTEER GROUP, UH, THE SPONSORSHIPS THAT FIRST YEAR.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF SPONSORSHIPS AROUND IT.
UH, CROWD SIZE, UM, THE AMOUNT OF CROWD VERSUS THE AMOUNT THAT SPIN ON IT, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, AND I WILL EVEN GO AS FAR TO SAY, TALKING WITH OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HAVE WE EVER HAD ANY INCIDENTS AT OUR JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION? NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.
EVEN WHEN WE HAD 27, 30,000 PEOPLE TWO YEARS AGO, NOT ONE INCIDENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF, THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THIS CITY AND NOT HAVE ONE INCIDENT.
AND IT'S A CELEBRATION OF EVERYTHING THAT THIS COUNTRY STANDS FOR, STARTING WITH FREEDOM.
COUNCILMAN GROUND, COUNCILWOMAN GROUND.
UM, I JUST TO FINISH OFF MY, MY QUESTIONS AND, AND MAKE A STATEMENT, YOU SEGUED INTO IT.
I DID REACH OUT TO, UM, THE CHIEF AND ASKED ABOUT ALL THE MAJOR EVENTS THAT WE'VE HAD.
UM, THEY INCLUDED G***O, 4TH OF JULY, HOLIDAY HANGOUTS, UM, JUNETEENTH AND CHRISTMAS PRAYED.
THOSE WERE THE ONES THAT I PUT IN THE EMAIL.
UM, AND HE DID GET BACK TO ME, THE CHIEF OF POLICE DID IMMEDIATELY, AND HE SAID THAT IT WOULD TAKE HIM A WHILE TO GET THE DATA.
THE REASON I ASKED FOR THE THREE YEARS DATA, I WAS TRYING TO RESPOND TO CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE EMAILING SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, UM, ABOUT INCIDENCES.
AND I JUST WANTED TO, I KNOW YOU ANSWERED, UM, MR. DORIS, BUT I, I DO WANNA SAY THAT THE ONLY THING THAT STOOD OUT TO, UM, LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN I REACHED OUT TO THEM WAS AN INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AT OUR CHRISTMAS PARADE OUT OF THOSE EVENTS.
SO, UM, I, I DON'T PERSONALLY WANT TO HEAR FOUL LANGUAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND I WANT US TO CONTINUE TO GIVE FAMILY FRIENDLY, UM, EVENTS.
BUT I, I'VE BEEN TO EVERY JUNETEENTH EXCEPT ONE.
AND I'VE HAD THE SAME FAMILY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT THAT I'VE HAD AT EVERY RETO AT EVERY 4TH OF JULY.
UM, AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE CHRISTMAS PARADE WAS WHEN WAS RIGHT IN LINE WITH, UM, WITH WHAT THE CHIEF HAD TOLD ME.
AND, UM, SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING.
I'M NOT EVER GOING TO DICTATE HOW ANOTHER CULTURE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING SOMETHING THAT'S CLOSE TO THEM.
SO, UM, I DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT'S PUT SO MUCH INTO THIS.
JUST KIND OF COMING BACK ON THAT PART.
UM, JULY 4TH IS A CELEBRATION FOR EVERYBODY TO ENJOY, UH, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE STARS AND STRIPES THAT MY FATHER WORE.
THOSE ARE THE STARS AND STRIPES THAT MY UNCLES WORE, THAT MY COUSINS WORE WEAR AND THAT MY NEPHEWS WERE WEARING.
SO JULY 4TH IS THE DATE OF CELEBRATION FOR IT.
IT IS FOR ALL COMMUNITIES IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND I, I UNDERSTAND THE DIVERSITY WE WANT TO TRY TO HEAR, BUT MY BIGGEST CONCERN, AND, AND I GET IT, THAT 120.
AND THEN THE OTHER PART IS, AND I UNDERSTAND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO GROW THINGS, BUT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WE GOT A LOT OF THINGS THAT NEED TO BE PAID BEFORE WE START THINKING ABOUT EXPANDING THINGS.
WE HAVE TO GET OUR CONTROL, OUR COSTS UNDER CONTROL BEFORE WE START TRYING TO EXPAND ANYTHING.
SO I'M JUST GONNA MAKE THAT STATEMENT BEFORE ANYTHING GETS EXPANDED.
WE HAVE, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR HOUSE CLEAN FIRST.
WE GET OUR HOUSE IN ORDER, AND ONCE THOSE ARE IN ORDER, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE OTHER THINGS.
WE ACTUALLY CUT BACK, IT WAS A TWO DAY EVENT.
IT WENT TO BEING A ONE DAY EVENT AND NO ONE'S COMPLAINING ABOUT IT BEING A ONE DAY EVENT.
UM, YOU JUST, WE TALKED ABOUT WE'RE STILL LOOKING, EXPANDING, AND WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT CORPORATE SPONSORS.
AND A SUGGESTION, IF THAT'S ALL IT WAS.
AND, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO MAKE A LITTLE CLEAR, JUST LETTING UNDERSTAND RIGHT.
THAT IS WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, AND WE WILL, THERE'S, AND THERE'S SOME CORPORATE SPONSORS THAT CAN BE DONE.
AND I, SOME CORPORATE SPONSORS WE NEED TO LOOK AT FOR JULY 4TH TOO, IF WE WANT TO EXPAND ANY OF THAT STUFF, BECAUSE NEXT YEAR'S, 250 YEARS.
SO I, I JUST, THAT WAS MY STATEMENT ON THAT.
JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF, OF CLARITY ABOUT THE BUDGET, UH, THE JUNETEENTH BUDGET HAS BEEN DECREASED YEAR OVER YEAR PRETTY MUCH, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH SELECTING.
AND I DO, I MEAN, THIS IS PERSONALLY AGAINST ME.
I DO SELECT ALL THE ENTERTAINERS SINCE 2023.
SO, UM, EVEN WITH THE REDUCTION IN THE BUDGET, UH, I'VE OVERPRODUCED, UH, I'VE HAD TO MANAGE CONTRACTS.
I'VE HAD TO DO THINGS TO EVEN COME IN UNDER BUDGET AT TIMES AND SAVE THE CITY MONEY.
I'D LOVE TO SEE THE SALES TAX RECEIPTS FROM THE LOCAL BUSINESSES AFTER THESE EVENTS TO SEE WHAT WE GENERATE FOR THE CITY AND SEE WHAT GOES BACK INTO THE CITY'S POCKETS.
[00:25:01]
THE ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET THAT I SPENT ON THOSE ENTERTAINERS WAS $23,000.AND, AND I'D LIKE TO SEE THE, THE POSITIVE RETURN THAT THE CITY RECEIVED FROM THAT AMOUNT.
AGAIN, WE'RE SPEAKING JUST ABOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET.
THAT'S WHAT I HAVE AND THAT'S WHAT I'M, UH, RESPONSIBLE FOR.
UH, THE, THE LARGER BUDGET, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REALLY SPEAK ON THAT PROBABLY, UH, CLIFF AND, AND KYLE WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK ON THAT.
BUT AGAIN, THE ENTERTAINMENT BUDGET HAS DEFINITELY BEEN REDUCED IN MY TIME AS, AS BEING, UH, IN THAT POSITION.
AND WE'VE HAD TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
AND AGAIN, WE'VE OVERPRODUCED WITH THAT.
THESE GUYS THAT COME IN AND, AND DO THIS ENTERTAINMENT, THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL ENTERTAINERS.
I KNOW THIS IS NEW TO BAYTOWN.
BAYTOWN HASN'T REALLY SEEN EVENTS OF, OF THIS SCALE BEFORE, BUT THESE GUYS DO THESE EVENTS ACROSS THE NATION AND ACROSS THE WORLD.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SCARFACE IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE, UM, M MCS, UM, DEAD OR ALIVE.
HE TRAVELS ACROSS THE WORLD AND DOES THIS, WHETHER IT'S IN NIGHTCLUBS OR WHETHER IT'S AT, UH, FOR OTHER GOVERNMENTS AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
THESE GUYS UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE AND IF THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO GET THESE TYPE OF, UH, OPPORTUNITIES, THEY KNOW HOW TO COORDINATE THEMSELVES.
UM, AGAIN, AS, AS YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY STATED, I CAME IN AND WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE MY EXPERTISE AND MY, UH, AND MY RESOURCES TO THIS EVENT.
THE REASON I'VE BEEN TASKED WITH THIS IS BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY PROBABLY SINCE I WAS ABOUT 18 YEARS OLD.
UM, A STORY THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TELL EVERYBODY.
I DID TRY TO BRING ARTISTS HERE TO BAYTOWN WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD.
AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP OUTSIDE OF THE EVENT WITH THEIR LIGHTS ON AND TOLD EVERYBODY TO GO AWAY.
THAT ARTIST AT THE TIME IS NOW A WORLD RENOWNED KNOWN ARTIST, PLATINUM SELLING RECORD ARTIST WE HAD HERE IN BAYTOWN WHEN NOBODY KNEW HIM.
SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH OVER MY TIME, YOU KNOW, LIVING AND BEING BORN AND RAISED IN BAYTOWN.
AND I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED THESE GOALS, YOU KNOW, WITH AN UPHILL BATTLE A LOT OF TIMES.
UM, AND I'M HERE MYSELF AS A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER AND BEING, UH, BORN AND RAISED HERE IN BAYTOWN.
ALTHOUGH I MAY NOT LIVE IN BAYTOWN ANYMORE.
I MEAN, THERE MAY BE REASONS I LEFT, AS YOU ALL HEARD TONIGHT.
SO, UH, I, I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITH A BUDGET THAT IS THE FRACTION OF THE COST OF GREENO FEST AND THE 4TH OF JULY.
I THINK FOR ME, MAYOR, UM, HONESTLY, I HAD TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOME OF THESE SONGS I DIDN'T KNOW MM-HMM
AND I HAD TO ASK YOU, THIS IS NOT THE TYPE OF MUSIC I LISTEN TO, BUT THAT'S A CHOICE NOW.
AM I GONNA SUPPORT IT? 'CAUSE IT'S PART OF THE CITY? ABSOLUTELY.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE UPSET ABOUT THE BUDGET.
'CAUSE AGAIN, WE ALL VOTED ON IT.
WE ALL AGREED THIS IS WHAT WE WERE GOING TO ACCEPT FOR THIS PARTICULAR EVENT AND FOR RITO AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO, 4TH OF JULY INCLUDED.
UM, AND SO, UM, AS, AS LONG AS THEY'RE UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE A FAMILY FRIENDLY EVENT, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN YEAR AFTER YEAR, THEN I HAVE NO ISSUES.
UM, Y'ALL, Y'ALL KNOW WHO I AM.
Y'ALL HAVE NEVER HEARD ME CUSS.
AND I CLOSE MY EARS WHEN Y WHEN SOME PEOPLE DO.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, IF I DON'T LIKE THE MUSIC AND I DON'T KNOW THE ARTISTS, I JUST WON'T GO.
UM, THAT'S JUST MY PERCEPTION.
UM, BUT YES, I, I WILL BE ATTENDING, UM, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S, IT'S A CELEBRATION THAT THE CITY IS RECOGNIZING, UM, AS MANY HAVE SHOWN UP TO SUPPORT.
UM, I DO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF, SOME OF THE COMMENTS MADE FOR THOSE THAT ARE QUESTIONING, UM, WHETHER WE SHOULD HAVE THIS TYPE OF EVENT IN OUR COMMUNITY OR WHO'S A PART OF THE COMMITTEE.
UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THAT WORKS, BUT, OR HOW ALL THAT WORKS.
BUT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO BE A PART OF THE COMMITTEE, I DON'T THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE SOMEONE SAYING, NO, YOU CAN'T COME AND JOIN AND LISTEN TO US TALK ABOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA BE A HARD NO.
AND AGAIN, I'M JUST SAYING THAT, BUT, UH, FOR ME AND MYSELF, UM, I WISH ALL LUCK WITH THE EVENT.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO PUT THIS ON.
THE PARKS DEPARTMENT DOES AN AMAZING JOB BEING A PARTNER WITH THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT
[00:30:01]
WANNA BRING STUFF TO OUR CITY, UH, FOR, UM, OUR CITIZENS WHO WANT TO ATTEND TO ENJOY.UM, SO THANK YOU CLIFF AND, AND AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH, UM, THESE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES.
AND, AND I'VE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
UM, WHEN I VISIT OTHER CITIES AND I ASK QUESTIONS, I ASK ABOUT THEIR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND SOME NEIGHBORING CITIES ARE ACTUALLY TRYING TO MIMIC OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT AND WHAT WE DO HERE WITH OUR EVENTS, UM, THEY BRING PEOPLE IN, AWARD-WINNING.
WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES COMING INTO OUR CITY TO ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE HERE BECAUSE OF OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT.
FIRE AND POLICE, MOST DEFINITELY.
WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU ALL ALSO.
AND, UH, JUST TO KIND OF GIVE CREDIT TO OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT, LAST YEAR'S JULY 4TH ENTERTAINER, UH, HAD PLAYED AT THE RODEO TWICE.
HE ACTUALLY ALSO DID A, A, UH, CROSSROADS WITH, UH, BOYS TO MEN AND HE'S ALSO A WORLDWIDE ARTIST TOO.
SO WE HAVE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THOSE.
[b. Present a proclamation designating June 21, 2025, as International Day of Yoga.]
WE WILL MOVE ON TO FOUR B.PRESENT A PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING JUNE 21ST, 2025 AS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA.
COUNSELOR, Y'ALL GONNA JOIN ME DOWN HERE? I'M NOT DOING ANY YOGA PUZZLE.
WHY NOT
I DID NOT BRING MY TIGHTS ON MY WE'LL TRY LITTLE STRETCH.
HOW YOU DOING, MAN? HOW YOU DOING, SIR? YOU GOT ME LOOKING.
I TAKING SOME CLASSES TO TEACH.
HOW ARE YOU? SO I'M GOING TO START.
DO YOU ALL MIND IF I TALK ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU CAME BY CITY HALL? NOT AT ALL.
THEY, THEY CALLED ME ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTER I HAD WON THE ELECTION AND INVITED ME OUT FOR YOGA.
AND IT SCARED ME BECAUSE I DO NOT WEAR TIGHTS.
AND I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ANY POSES, BUT THEY SAID AS IT, IT GOES BEYOND THAT.
IT'S ABOUT ME, MEDITATION, PEACE, AND INNER JOY AND HAPPINESS.
AND I DID NOT KNOW THAT WE, THAT YOU ALL DO, UM, DO THIS ONCE A YEAR AT BICENTENNIAL PARK.
THIS WAS, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR.
AND WHAT HAPPENS? OKAY, I WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES.
PROBABLY THAT IS GOING TO GIVE YOU 1 0 1 OF YOGA.
SO I WILL FIRST START WITH NAMASTE.
BECAUSE NAMASTE AND THE WORD YOGA THAT GOES TOGETHER, WHAT NAMASTE MEANS IS THAT MY CONSCIOUSNESS IS BOILING DOWN TO YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS, WHICH IS NOT DIFFERENT FROM MINE.
OKAY? SO YOGA IS A JOURNEY WHICH TAKES YOU TO, TO YOUR TRUE CONSCIOUSNESS EVERY DAY.
WAKE UP, YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING.
HOW DO WE DO? WE IDENTIFY WITH OUR BODY, WE IDENTIFY WITH OUR MIND, WE IDENTIFY WITH OUR EGO, WE IDENTIFY WITH OUR INTELLECT.
I AM THIS, I AM THAT YOGA TAKES YOU BEYOND EVEN THE GENDER.
YOGA TAKES YOU BEYOND THE COLOR, COLOR OF YOUR SKIN BECAUSE WHAT YOU ARE IS A PURE CONSCIOUSNESS.
AND YOGA IS A JOURNEY WHICH TAKES YOU THERE AND THEN JOINS YOU WITH THE UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS.
BECAUSE WE ALL ARE BOUND BY THE UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS, WHICH PERS IN ALL LIVING BEINGS, NOT JUST THE HUMANS.
SO THAT MEANS YOU START RESPECTING THE NATURE, YOU START RESPECTING THE UNIVERSE.
ULTIMATE GOAL OF YOGA MAY ALL BE HAPPY.
MAY NO ONE SUFFER FROM ANY ILLNESS.
MAY EVERY ONE OF US SEE OPIC IN EVERYTHING.
AND EVERYONE AROUND US, WE, WE GO TO, WHEN WE CLOSE OUR EYES,
[00:35:01]
WE SEE DIVINITY WITHIN, WE OPEN OUR EYES, WE SEE DIVINITY IN EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING AROUND US.SO NO ONE SHOULD SUFFER FROM ILLNESS.
NO ONE SHOULD SUFFER FROM ANY MISERY.
AND MAY EVERYONE SHOULD SEE WHAT IS APIC IN EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AROUND US.
AND YOGA IS A JOURNEY FOR YOU TO TAKE THAT PERSPECTIVE AND THAT ATTITUDE.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO BE PEACE, PEACE AND PEACE IN THIS UNIVERSE.
NOW DON'T YOU ALL FEEL A LITTLE BIT CALMER
SO THIS IS A PROCLAMATION FROM THE CITY OF BAYTOWN FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA.
Y'ALL LAUGHING BECAUSE I GOT A OKAY
AND WHEREAS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THIS DAY, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE HAVE BEEN UNITED BY THE PRACTICE OF YOGA AND CELEBRATE THIS OCCASION ANNUALLY PROMOTING HEALTH, HARMONY, AND PEACE.
AND WHEREAS THIS YEAR MARKS THE ONE, THE 10TH INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA, SERVING AS A TESTAMENT TO THE ENDURING VALUE OF THIS HOLISTIC PRACTICE AND THE COMMITMENT OF PRACTITIONERS WORLDWIDE.
AND WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA WELCOMES AND VALUES THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF AGE, ABILITY, OR BACKGROUND, FOSTERING INCLUS INCLUSIVE.
OH LORD, SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND UNITY THROUGH THE SHARED EXPERIENCE OF YOGA AND WHEREAS THE PRACTICE OF YOGA HAS BEEN SHOWN TO IMPROVE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING CONTRIBUTING TO OVERALL HEALTH AND FOSTERING RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF BAYTOWN RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF PROMOTING THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF ITS RESIDENTS AND THE VALUE OF EMBRACING CULTURAL TRADITIONS THAT ENRICH OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, THEREFORE, I CHARLES JOHNSON, MAYOR OF BAYTOWN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JUNE 21ST, 2025 AS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA.
AND I ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN THIS GLOBAL CELEBRATION BY PARTICIPATING IN YOGA EVENTS AND EXPLORING THE BENEFITS OF THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PRACTICE SERVICE.
LET'S GIVE 'EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
SQUEEZE TOGETHER LIKE YOU LIKE EACH OTHER.
OF COURSE THAT WOULD HAPPEN, RIGHT? I'M GETTING READY.
DOES THAT WORK? OH, YOU NEED A PHOTO TOO? DON'T WE CHARGE $5 PER SHOT? WE GIVE YOU A BLANK CHECK.
YOU CAN HEAR THE CLICK ON MINE.
YOU SEE, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT SATURDAY, BUT I WILL NOT.
21ST, YOU NOW WE ARE ON TO FIVE A.
OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS
[00:40:01]
TODAY ARE BEING HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING ALL INTERESTED PERSONS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS REGARDING THE SUBJECT OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.EVERYONE DESIRING TO BE A PART OF TODAY'S HEARINGS SHOULD HAVE EITHER SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE FOUR YEAR OR EMAILED 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 THE COUNCIL ON THE SAME SUBJECT, PLEASE SELECT A SPOKESPERSON TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION.
AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO ME.
[a. Conduct a first public hearing regarding the Strategic Partnership Agreement with Chambers County MUD No. 1.]
CONDUCT A FIRST PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH CHAMBERS COUNTY MUD.IT IS NOW 7:13 PM AND I CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE, THE STRATEGIC AGREEMENT WITH CHAMBERS COUNTY MUD.
I WILL NOW LIKE TO REQUEST THAT STAFF SUMMARIZE THE SUBJECT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
MR. LAMOND, WELL, THIS IS, I THOUGHT THAT MR. SCRIBNER WAS GONNA DO THAT, BUT I CAN HANDLE IT.
UM, THIS IS A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN, UH, MUD NUMBER ONE AND THE CITY.
IT IS PRIMARILY DEALING WITH, UH, THE SOUTH WINDS PROPERTY AND, UH, LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEXATION INTO THE MUD AND TO ALLOW, UH, THAT ANNEXATION TO CONTINUE INTO THE CITY WITHOUT HAVING TO GO THROUGH A ZONING PROCESS.
INSTEAD, IT WILL BE ZONED AS DELINEATED IN EXHIBIT, OH, I DON'T SEE IT IN MY COPY, BUT THERE SHOULD BE A SITE PLAN.
AND THAT WILL, UH, DELINEATE THE ZONING FOR THAT SPECIFIC SITE.
WAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON FIVE EIGHT? NO ONE THERE BEING, NO ONE THERE BEING NO ONE DESIRED TO SPEAK.
I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:14 PM REGARDING THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH CHAMBERS COUNTY MUD.
[b. Conduct a public hearing concerning a request to approve a Special Use Permit (SUP) to allow the continuation of existing wrecked vehicles processing-related operations in the Light Industrial (LI) Zoning District, located at 4701 Decker Drive, Baytown, Texas 77520. ]
TO FIVE B, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING A REQUEST TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW THE CONTINUATION OF EXISTING WRECKED VEHICLES PROCESSING RELATED OPERATIONS IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT LOCATED AT 47 0 1 DECKER DRIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 7 7 5 2 OH.IT IS NOW 7:15 PM AND I CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING A REQUEST TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT LOCATED AT 47 0 1 DECKER DRIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS.
MR. SCRIBNER, I'LL LET HIM DO THIS ONE.
THANK YOU MARTIN SCRIBNER PUTTING IN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
I DID, I WAS GONNA GIVE SCOTT A. LITTLE SHOUT OUT.
SAY, THANKS FOR THROWING ME UNDER THE BUS.
UM, SO, UH, THIS IS A, ABOUT A SIX ACRE PARCEL, UH, AT 47 0 1 DECKER DRIVE.
UM, SO THE, UH, THE SHORT VERSION OF THE STORY IS THAT THE USE THAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE PROPERTY IS A SALVAGE YARD WHEN THE, UM, WE'VE PROBABLY BEEN TRACKING THIS FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS NOW.
AND ORIGINALLY IT CAME UP AS A CODE ENFORCEMENT CASE BECAUSE BEFORE THE CURRENT OWNER WENT IN, HE ASKED US IF HE COULD HAVE A CAR LOT THERE, A CAR SALES LOT.
AND WE SAID, YEAH, SURE, ZONING ALLOWS FOR CAR SALES.
AND THEN WHAT ENDED UP ON THE PROPERTY, THEY APPARENTLY SELL THE CARS, BUT THEY ARE, UM, THEY'RE LARGELY INOPERABLE AND, AND JUNK VEHICLES, UM, THAT GET LOADED INTO SHIPPING CONTAINERS AND SHIPPED OFF SITE.
THAT IS NOT ALLOWED BY OUR CODE.
IT OPERATES AND LOOKS LIKE A SALVAGE YARD.
SO WE SAID UNDER THE OLD CODE, UM, IN ORDER TO HAVE A SALVAGE YARD IN THIS LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
SO WE SAID, ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO BACK OFF ON THE CODE ENFORCEMENT, LET YOU GO THROUGH THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT PROCESS, AND THEN, UM, PROVIDE THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE CODE.
SO, UM, THERE'S YOUR, THERE'S YOUR KIND OF BACKGROUND AND I'LL GO THROUGH THE REST OF IT HERE.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE PROPERTY IS ZONED LIGHT INDUSTRIAL.
[00:45:01]
IS A HEAVY INDUSTRIAL, AND ACROSS THE HIGHWAY IS THE ORANGE, WHICH IS A FREEWAY COMMERCIAL.UM, SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING IS NOT OUT OF CHARACTER FOR THE, FOR THAT PART OF TOWN.
UM, THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE SITE FROM THE DECKER ENTRANCE, AND THIS IS THE ENTRANCE FROM THIS SITE, UH, AT THE WEST BAKER ENTRANCE.
SO YOU JUST, YOU CAN GET A FEEL FOR, UM, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS THE SITE PLAN, UH, THAT WE HAVE BEEN OPERATING WITH.
THEY'VE APPLIED FOR THE SITE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND SO RIGHT NOW THEY'RE IN THAT PROCESS.
UM, AND WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF LINKING THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AND THE SITE IMPROVEMENT, UH, PERMIT TOGETHER BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE LIKE SPECIFIC THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE SITE PERMIT REVIEW THAT WE DIDN'T FEEL.
UM, WE WANTED TO GET IN THAT LEVEL OF GRANULARITY IN THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
BUT INSTEAD TO KIND OF REFER BACK TO THAT ONE TO SAY, OKAY, HERE'S ALL THE CONDITIONS THAT, UM, NOT CONDITIONS, BUT REQUIREMENTS BY CODE THAT STAFF HAS LISTED OUT FOR THEM.
UM, SO THIS WENT TO PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION IN MAY, AND, UM, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORS THAT, UH, SHOWED UP IN OPPOSITION TO THIS, UH, PROJECT, UM, CI CITING MOSTLY, UH, TRAFFIC ISSUES, UH, ON, ON THE, UH, THE ROADS NEARBY.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, UM, STAFF AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL.
APPROVAL BASED ON FOUR CONDITIONS.
THIS IS WHAT CAME OUT OF THE P AND Z MEETING.
UM, THE APPLICANTS HAVE TO REVIEW, HAVE TO ADDRESS ALL THE REVIEW COMMENTS IN THE SITE WORK PERMIT, UM, TO MEET THE CITY'S STANDARDS BY NOVEMBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, REMEMBER WE'VE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH THE APPLICANT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
THIS IS NOT NEW INFORMATION AND WE'RE KIND OF LIKE, OKAY, WE, WE EITHER NEED TO DO THIS OR, OR, OR DO SOMETHING ELSE.
UM, THE SECOND CONDITION IS NO ADDITIONAL PERMIT APPLICATION SHALL BE CONSIDERED PRIOR TO APPROVAL OF THE SITE WORK PERMIT APPLICATION PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 1ST.
UM, SO GIVING THEM UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST TO MAKE ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS AND BE DONE, UM, THEY, THE APPLICANT HAS, UM, SUGGESTED THAT THAT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TIME FOR HIM TO FINISH THAT.
SO, UH, PNZ SAID, UH, MADE A, MADE A RECOMMENDATION FOR A CONDITION THAT THEY CAN REQUEST A ONE TIME THREE MONTH EXTENSION.
IF THEY GET TO NOVEMBER 1ST AND THEY'VE MADE SOME PROGRESS, UM, BUT HAVEN'T QUITE GOTTEN IT DONE, THEN THEY CAN COME TALK TO THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND I CAN GO AHEAD AND, AND GIVE THEM A THREE MONTH EXTENSION IF I THINK THAT THEY'VE, YOU KNOW, MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO, TO GET THE WORK DONE.
AND THEN AT THE, THE LAST CONDITION WOULD BE AT THE END OF A THREE MONTH EXTENSION.
IF GRANTED, UM, IF THE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLETED, THEN THE SUP WOULD BE RESCINDED.
UH, AND THEN WE WOULD BASICALLY RED TAG THE OPERATION AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CEASE OPERATING, UH, THE PROPERTY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
AND THEN WE'D PROBABLY END UP IN CITY COURT FOR ANY SUBSEQUENT ACTIONS.
SO, UM, SO LEMME GO BACK OVER THAT REAL QUICK.
THE RECOMMENDATION IS FOR APPROVAL, BUT WE ARE PUTTING SOME HARD DEADLINES ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE THIS HAS BEEN SITTING OUT THERE QUITE A LONG TIME.
SO, UM, AS A, A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, I MENTIONED IN THE WORK SESSION A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, YOU ARE ALLOWED TO PLACE CONDITIONS ON THAT APPROVAL.
UM, YOU CAN JUST SAY, NO, WE DON'T WANT TO APPROVE THIS, BUT YOU CAN ALSO TAKE THE CONDITIONS THAT STAFF AND P AND Z ARE RECOMMENDING AND YOU CAN REMOVE SOME OF THEM, YOU CAN ADD TO THEM IF YOU THINK THAT THAT'S REASONABLE.
UM, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU ARE KIND OF LOOKING AT THAT.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, THAT'S MY PRESENTATION.
I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
IT'S YOUR DISTRICT THAT'S, THANK YOU.
MR. SCRIBNER IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY HERE.
I BELIEVE THEY'RE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE APPLICANT HERE TONIGHT.
WILL, WILL YOU COME FORWARD? SIGN UP? DOES HE SIGN UP TO SPEAK? IS HE I DON'T THINK HE NEEDS TO PUBLIC HEARING.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE THAT SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? ALRIGHT, SO SOEL, THAT'S ME.
ARE YOU SIGNED? HE SIGNED TO SPEAK WITH YOU.
JUST PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD.
MY FULL ADDRESS IS 3 9 2 2 WEEKLY PARKWAY FULL.
UH, I WORK AS A PROJECT MANAGER IN THE COMPANY AND DUE TO SOME, UM, EMERGENCIES, OUR CEO
[00:50:01]
HAS TO FLY TO DUBAI.SO I JUST SIGNED UP FOR REPRESENTING THE COMPANY HERE.
SO IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, FEEL FREE TO ASK.
YOU YOU WANNA GO FIRST? I'LL GO FIRST.
UM, AND I, IT MAY BE A QUESTION FOR SCRIBNER, BUT UM, UNDER THE PREVIOUS SPECIAL USE PERMIT, UM, WHAT WAS THE CRITERIA THAT WAS NEED TO, THAT WAS NEEDED TO BE MET UNDER THE SPECIAL USE OF PERMIT? WHAT, WHAT? THERE IS NO SPECIAL USE PERMIT ON THIS PROPERTY.
WE'RE, WE'RE DOING THE PREVIOUS.
SO I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION.
SO IS THIS A RENEWAL OF A SPECIAL USE PERMIT? NO, THERE NEVER WAS ONE.
WE'RE DOING A SPECIAL NEEDS FOR, THEY, THEY BEGAN, IT BEGAN THE OPERATION OF THIS, UM, USE UNDER THE, UNDER THE AUSPICES THAT IT WAS A USED CAR LOT.
AND SO THEN WHEN STAFF MADE THE REALIZATION THAT IT'S NOT A USED CAR LOT, THEN WE BEGAN CODE ENFORCEMENT.
CODE ENFORCEMENT KIND OF FORCED THE APPLICANT TO COME IN AND TALK TO US.
AND ONCE WE TALKED THROUGH IT, WE SAID, YOU CAN HAVE THE USE, BUT ONLY IF YOU GET A SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
SO TECHNICALLY WE COULD HAVE SHUT THEM DOWN RIGHT THEN, BUT WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND LET THEM CONTINUE OPERATING BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS, BUT WE WANT THEM TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
WHEN, WHEN WAS THIS, WHEN DID THEY COME IN? UH, ALMOST A YEAR AGO.
AND THEY WERE NOT UP, MY, MY MEETING WITH THEM WAS A YEAR AGO.
I'M PRETTY SURE THEY MET WITH STAFF.
THEY WERE NOT UP TO CODE FOR, FOR A USED CAR LOT.
WELL, WELL IT'S, IT'S NOT BEING OPERATED AT.
THEY WASN'T OPERATED AS THEY USED CAR LOT AS THEY SAID.
AND CODE ENFORCEMENT PUT IN ASKED THEM TO MEET CERTAIN CONDITIONS, IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH.
ASKED CERTAIN, WE ASKED THEM THEM TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CODE, UH, THE, THE CODE.
AND IN THAT YEAR, WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MEET, TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS IS WHAT I, I GUESS WHAT I'M GETTING.
UM, THEY'VE, THEY'VE APPLIED FOR THE, FOR THE SITE WORK PERMIT.
BUT AS FAR AS I KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'VE MADE ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SITE SINCE THEN.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE CONTRACTORS.
WE HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THEM.
BUT NO IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
NOTHING'S BEEN DONE IN A YEAR SINCE.
UM, SO LOOKING AT, SO YOUR, YOUR ESSENCE TO EXTEND IT TO NOVEMBER.
SO KIND OF MY, MY ISSUE IS GONNA BE WITH THAT IS THAT, UM, HERE'S A COP PETE, ONE OF THE VEHICLES YOUR TRAILER'S HIT AND HIT AND RAN.
UH, I'VE ACTUALLY ALMOST BEEN HIT THREE TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
UH, MY DAUGHTER'S ALMOST HIT ONE TIME BY ONE OF THE DRIVERS COMING IN THERE BECAUSE THEY PARK ON THE ROAD AND THEY COME OUT ACROSS AND THEY PARK ON THE DECKER.
YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN THE PROPER PARK, THE ENTRY AND EGRESS FOR THIS PROPERTY TO BE USED.
UM, I'M GONNA SAY NO TO IT UNTIL YOU GET THAT DONE AND THEN MOVE FORWARD.
SO I'M JUST LETTING THAT KNOW, BE KNOWN RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD FOR, FOR PEOPLE FROM MY COMMUNITY GOING INTO DISTRICT FOUR COMING OUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, Y'ALL PULL OUT IN FRONT OF U-TURNS, YOU COULD HAVE FLAGGERS OUT THERE, YOU'RE A PROJECT MANAGER, YOU SHOULD HAVE PEOPLE OUT THERE CONDUCT WITH THE TRAFFIC.
YOU DON'T, YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT.
YOU'RE NOT BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR TO THE PEOPLE AND NEIGHBOR TO THE COMMUNITY.
SO THAT DOESN'T SHOW ME THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ACTUALLY GONNA DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
IF YOU SHOWED ME YOU WERE DOING THAT, I COULD SEE THAT.
BUT YOU HAVEN'T DONE IT IN TWO YEARS AND YOU REALLY HAVEN'T DONE IT IN THE PAST YEAR.
TO ADD ON THAT, UM, REGARDING THE TRAFFIC, THE MAIN CONCERN FOR THE TRAFFIC WE ALREADY DISCUSSED IN THE LAST MEETING IS FOR THE TRAIN THAT USED TO STOP IN BETWEEN.
AND ONCE THE TRAIN STOPS FOR AN HOUR OR 40 MINUTES, FIVE OR SIX TRAILERS STOPS BACK AND WE CAN HAVE FOUR OR FIVE TRAILERS OR FOUR OR FIVE TRUCKS IN OUR YARD TO OFFLOAD CARS.
BUT IF THE TRAIN STOPS THERE, FIVE OR SIX TRAILERS STOPS BACK RIGHT THERE AND IT TAKES ABOUT LIKE 15, 20 MINUTES TO GET DONE WITH ONE TRAILER AND HAVE NEXT TRAILER COME IN.
SO FOR AVOIDING THE TRAFFIC, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE MADE SOME APPOINTMENT SYSTEMS. SO EVERY HOUR WE HAVE THREE APPOINTMENTS.
SO WHENEVER THE, THE PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE APPOINTMENT A DAY BEFORE OR WHENEVER THEY PICK UP THE CAR FROM THE AUCTION, AND EVER SINCE LIKE EIGHT MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN DOING THE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM TO AVOID THE TRAFFIC, TO AVOID CONGESTION IN THE YARD.
I UNDERSTAND THIS, THIS IS WITHIN THE PAST MONTH, TWO MONTHS THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ME.
AND I'M GONNA LET YOU KNOW, I I I, I WORKED IN THE CONCRETED INDUSTRY, I DID IT FOR 20 YEARS.
I CAN POUR CONCRETE WITHOUT HAVING TO BLOCK PEOPLE'S ROADS.
I CAN GET, I CAN GET 112 TRUCKS IN AND OUT OF A, IN AND OUT OF A, OF AN AREA AND NOT STAGE 'EM ON THE ROAD.
THAT IS YOUR JOB TO STAGE THEM OFF OF MY ROADS TO HELP THIS TRAFFIC.
IF YOU HAVE SIX PEOPLE THERE, THERE AND YOU CAN ONLY PUT FOUR IN THERE, YOU NEED TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU NEED TO PUT THE OTHER TWO AND THE OTHER THREE, THAT IS NOT THE ROAD IS NOT YOUR PARKING LOT.
COUNSEL MORGAN, UM, JUST A QUESTION, MARTIN, UM, BECAUSE WE'RE WORKING ON THE SUP RIGHT NOW, UM, COULD THERE
[00:55:01]
BE AN AMENDMENT TO ADD AN EGRESS? IS THAT RECOMMENDED BY STAFF OR EVEN PNC? DID WE THINK ABOUT THAT? THAT WAS, THAT'S ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.SO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE WORK SESSION WAS SPECIFIC TO THE BATTERY ENERGY STORAGE STUFF.
SO IT, IT WOULD BE, THIS WOULD BE A SEPARATE, UH, SEPARATE CONVERSATION MM-HMM
UM, THERE ARE CURRENTLY, AND I'M NOT, UM, I, I DON'T, OUR CITY ENGINEER'S NOT HERE TONIGHT.
UM, SO I DON'T WANNA SPEAK FOR THE FOLKS THAT ACTUALLY DO THE, THE, UM, THE ENFORCEMENT OF THAT, OF THAT STUFF.
UM, WE WOULD ORDINARILY REQUIRE A TRAFFIC IMPACT ANALYSIS FOR A SITE LIKE THIS AND THEN THAT WOULD DICTATE WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE GOING TO BE THAT ARE REQUIRED MM-HMM
SO WE WOULD, WE RELY HEAVILY, HEAVILY ON THOSE TYPES OF STUDIES TO TELL US, OKAY, WHAT IS IT? BECAUSE WE PUT IN A, A BLANKET STATEMENT ABOUT EGRESS, IT EITHER IS TOO BROAD AND DOESN'T HAVE ANY TEETH OR IT'S TOO SPECIFIC AND IT, AND IT WON'T WORK FOR A LOT OF SITES, SO MM-HMM
WE, WE DO RELY ON THE TRAFFIC STUDIES FOR A LOT OF THAT.
AND AT THIS POINT WE DID NOT DO A TRAFFIC STUDY.
I DO NOT KNOW THAT FOR THIS SITE.
SO, UM, I, IF WE HAVEN'T ALREADY, IT'S PROBABLY BEEN REQUESTED, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT'S AT IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT.
UM, AND THEN MY SECOND QUESTION IS, Y'ALL DID HAVE RESIDENTS COME IN TO SPEAK, UH, AT PNC WHO HAD CONCERNS ABOUT TRAFFIC? SO WERE THERE CONCERNS ADDRESSED? WERE THEY OKAY WITH THEIR RESPONSES? WHAT HAPPENED THERE? UH, THE ONE THAT I REMEMBER WAS THE OWNER OF THE VET CLINIC NEXT DOOR MM-HMM
OR RIGHT, RIGHT DOWN THE STREET THERE MM-HMM
UM, AND IT SOUNDED LIKE THE MAJORITY OF HIS ISSUES WERE WITH THE TRAIN TRAFFIC, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS NOT PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
UM, I KNOW THAT ONE OF OUR P AND Z MEMBERS WAS PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON THE, THE TRAFFIC ISSUES BECAUSE HE SAYS HE, HE, UH, ALSO GOES PAST THERE QUITE A LOT.
UM, SO WAS IT ADDRESSED SPECIFICALLY? NO.
THERE WERE NO RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING TRAFFIC THAT CAME OUT OF THAT MEETING OR OUTTA THAT HEARING? NO.
AND, AND I, I THINK MY FINAL COMMENT, MAYOR, SORRY.
UM, IS, UM, I KNOW THE AREA AND I KNOW THAT TRAIN CAN SIT THERE FOREVER AND BACK UP MM-HMM
AND GO FORWARD AND STAY STAGNANT.
UM, BUT I I, THAT IS AN INDIRECT IMPACT TO THE TRAFFIC AND TO THIS POTENTIAL BUSINESS.
AND WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE TRAIN.
UM, IT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO HAVE, UM, CLEAR CONVERSATIONS WITH UP OR ANY OF THE, UM, UH, RAILROADS, UH, ABOUT THE BLOCKING AND THE TRAFFIC THAT THEY DO.
AND SO I AM, I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW WE CAN HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR ISSUES WITH THE TRAIN.
NOW IF, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE DOING WRONG IN TERMS OF THE HOLDING UP TRAFFIC WHEN THERE'S NO TRAIN, THIS IS WHEN THERE'S NO TRAIN, UM, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
BUT, UH, I, I THINK TO ME THAT WOULD BE MORE OF A POLICE MATTER, UM, OR EVEN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.
I'M JUST TRYING TO KIND OF GATHER THE PIECES.
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THEM TRYING TO GET A LANE CLOSURE, SOME TYPE OF PERMIT ON THAT PART.
'CAUSE THE PROBLEM IS IT'S, I'M COMING LIKE AT 40 MILES AN HOUR AND YOU COME UP WITH RAILROAD TRACKS AND THEY'RE COMING U-TURN AND JUST PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.
AND, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SIR, YOU AS THE BUSINESS OWNER NOW KNOWING THIS INFORMATION, UM, SOME PRACTICES THAT PERHAPS YOU MAY NEED TO TAKE WITHIN YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
UM, BUT, UH, I, I JUST, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR ANY ISSUES WITH THE TRAIN, BUT IF IT'S HAPPENING WITH NO TRAIN AT ALL, THEN AGAIN THAT'S, THAT'S ON YOU, SIR, TO, TO KIND OF ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES AND, AND, YOU KNOW, REMEDY ANY OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED.
BUT WITHOUT THE TRAFFIC COUNT, I CAN'T SAY WHETHER THIS IS A ONE-OFF SITUATION OR IF IT'S AN ONGOING ISSUE.
SO I, I CAN'T REALLY ANSWER TO THAT.
UM, THE TRAFFIC THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT STOPPED, ARE Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT ON THE FEEDER ROAD BY THE VET ON THREE 30 MM-HMM
SO IS THERE ANY WAY TO CREATE, UM, AND I KNOW THE TRAIN IMPACTS BOTH SIDES OF YOUR PROPERTY, BUT IS THERE ANY WAY TO CREATE, UM, ANOTHER ENTRANCE OR EXIT ON THE BAKER SIDE SO THAT YOUR TRUCKS MOVE THROUGH AND DON'T HAVE TO GO IN AND OUT OF THE SAME AREA? TO BE HONEST, I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE, UH, THE PICTURE WHICH YOU SEE HERE, UH, WE USUALLY USE THIS FOR
[01:00:01]
EXITING FOR OUR TRUCKS WHO SCANNING CONTAINERS AND FOR THE CAR HOLDERS, WHICH BRING CARS TO OUR PROPERTY.SO WE USE THE FIRST ENTRANCE AT THE, UH, DECKER ROAD FOR ENTERING TRUCKS, UH, FOR ALL THE DRIVERS, OUR DRIVERS AND THE CAR HOLDERS.
AND THERE'S NO WAY WE HAVE ANYONE TAKE U-TURN FROM THAT ROAD, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE CONGESTED, UH, CARS IN, IN THIS AREA.
WE ASK THEM TO MOVE FORWARD FROM THIS EXIT.
SO IF YOU MAKE ENTRANCE FROM HERE, IT'S GONNA IMPACT, UH, A LOT BECAUSE EVERYONE COMING FROM TWO DIFFERENT ENTRANCES, IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA MAKE MORE CONGESTED.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING, I CAN'T TELL IF YOU LOOKING, LISTENING TO YOU AND LOOKING AT THIS, CAN PEOPLE, IT, CAN IT BE A ONE WAY THEY ENTER FROM THE, FROM THE FEEDER AND THEY EXIT THROUGH BAKER, ENTER THROUGH FEEDER EXIT THROUGH BAKER.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING, MA'AM.
OH, THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THEY'RE STILL GETTING BACK UP.
AND THEN THE, THE NEXT QUESTION IS, I'M, I'M HEARING TOO, I'M, I'M KIND OF GONNA REPEAT WHAT LAURA SAID.
I'M HEARING TOO DIFFERENT THINGS.
I'VE GOT, UH, COUNCILMAN FRANCO TELLING ME THAT IT IS NOT RELATED TO THE TRAIN, BUT YOU'RE SAYING IT'S RELATED TO THE TRAIN.
SO MR. SCRIBNER, WHEN PNZ WAS HERE, AND YOU ALREADY SAID THAT SOMEONE FROM THE VET, UM, WAS THERE ANY AGREEMENT OF WHAT IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC? UH, WE DID NOT HAVE THE HARD, UM, TRAFFIC NUMBERS IN FRONT OF US, SO I, I, I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT, BUT I MEAN, QUALITATIVELY WAS THERE, WAS THERE AGREEMENT BECAUSE EVERYBODY DRIVES IN THAT AREA.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THAT TRAIN IS, IS, IS A PAIN FOR EVERYONE.
BUT WHAT I I'M REALLY WANTING TO KNOW IS IF IF THE, IF, IF IT WASN'T HIS BUSINESS, WOULD THERE STILL BE TRAFFIC BACKED UP WHEN THERE'S A TRAIN? UH, THAT, SO WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS TO SUPPORT THAT.
I, I CAN'T REALLY ANSWER THAT FOR YOU.
IF YOU'D LIKE, WE CAN COME BACK NEXT TIME AND, AND SEE IF I CAN GET THAT INFORMATION FROM ENGINEERING.
SUP, WOULD WE STILL BE ABLE TO GET A TRAFFIC STUDY OR CAN YOU CHECK TO SEE IF ONE'S ALREADY BEEN, BEEN DONE? I, I CAN CHECK SEE.
AND IF, IF WE DON'T APPROVE THIS SUP, WILL HE HAVE TO SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY? YES.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, UM, I DRIVE THIS ROUTE DAILY.
AND I'M HEARING YOU SAY THAT YOU GO IN OFF OF THE FEEDER, YOU EXIT OFF OF BAKER, IS WHAT I'M HEARING YOU SAY? YES, SIR.
AND YOU'RE THE PROJECT MANAGER.
YOU ARE OVER THE SITE, CORRECT? YES.
I WAS JUST TRAVELING THIS ROUTE YESTERDAY, AS A MATTER OF FACT WITH MY DAUGHTER.
EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, AGAIN AT 12.
AND I THINK AGAIN AT FOUR, THREE OR FOUR, AND EVERY TIME WE CAME OFF OF WADE ROAD ONTO THAT FEEDER, THERE WAS A TRUCK EXITING WITH CARS ON THE FEEDER ROAD.
AND IT WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS TO THE POINT TO WHERE WHEN PEOPLE WERE COMING, THERE WERE NO FLAGGERS.
AND I'M AMAZED THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT THERE.
I'LL SAY THIS, I REALLY, HOW CAN I PUT THIS? DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT SOMEONE CAME TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND BASICALLY TOLD THEM THEY WERE GONNA DO SOMETHING THAT THEY KNEW WAS NOT ACCURATE.
WHEN WE, WHEN I HEAR USED CAR LOT, I THINK OF COMMUNITY, UM, HYUNDAI AND KIA, WHOEVER, OPIA, THAT'S WHAT I, WHEN I HEAR YOU USE CAR LOT, THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
UM, AND I'VE DRIVEN BY HERE WONDERING HOW IN THE WORLD THIS WAS ALLOWED TO OPEN IN THIS CITY.
I'M DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THAT YOU CAME IN, OR WHOEVER FROM YOUR TEAM CAME IN AND SAID THIS WAS GONNA BE A USED CAR LOT.
'CAUSE I DON'T, I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE CAR DRIVE OFF OF THAT LOT.
I'VE SEEN THEM DRIVEN OFF OF THE LOT, BUT I'VE NOT SEEN ANYONE BEHIND THE WHEEL.
AND HONESTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK PLANNING.
WHY DIDN'T WE JUST, WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST DECIDE? YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY LIED.
WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY.
THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING.
WE TRY TO BE A DEVELOPMENT FRIENDLY COMMUNITY.
BUT THEY ARE, THEY WERE NOT BEING NEIGHBORLY, UH, THEY WEREN'T BEING FRIENDLY OR HONEST WHEN THEY CAME AND, AND BASICALLY LIED TO US.
UM, I WAS GONNA ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE DID NOT APPROVE THIS SUP? WOULD THEY HAVE TO SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY? AND IF THEY DIDN'T SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY, LET'S SAY A MONTH GOES BY AND THEY DON'T SHUT DOWN, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? UH, WE WOULD GO THROUGH OUR NORMAL CODE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS, WHICH WOULD INVOLVE US GOING TO COURT.
AND, AND I I WANT TO CLARIFY, UM, IF THIS WAS A USE THAT NEEDED A
[01:05:01]
REZONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN ORDER TO GO MM-HMMBECAUSE UNDER THE OLD CODE, THIS WAS A USE THAT IS ALLOWED, I CAN SEE WITH AN SUP.
THAT'S WHY WE ALLOWED THEM TO CONTINUE.
UM, BECAUSE WE DO WANT TO BE FRIENDLY TO DEVELOPMENT.
WE WANT, WE, I, IT IS NOT OUR GOAL TO SHUT A BUSINESS DOWN.
UM, THEY'D OBVIOUSLY ALREADY BEEN OPERATING.
THEY'VE, THEY'VE GOT A ROBUST BUSINESS HAPPENING THERE.
AND, AND TO BE, TO BE FAIR, THE OVERALL SITE, OTHER THAN SOME, SOME SPECIFIC DETAILS LIKE THE TRAFFIC IS NOT A TERRIBLE SPOT FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE IT WORK BETTER, BUT IT'S NOT AS THOUGH THIS IS, UH, IN THE MIDDLE OF A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO WE FELT THAT THERE WAS STILL A PRETTY GOOD ARGUMENT TO HAVE THAT USE THERE, BUT WE NEEDED TO NAIL DOWN ALL THESE DETAILS SO THAT THAT'S WHY WE'RE WHERE WE'RE AT NOW INSTEAD OF HAVING SHUT THEM DOWN A YEAR AGO, A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, WHATEVER IT WAS.
SO, SO WHEN WE LOOK TO DO THIS SUP, ARE THERE, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL WOULD RECOMMEND TO MAKE THIS MORE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING? BECAUSE IT DOES NOT LOOK GOOD COMING WHEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DRIVE MILES SPUR THREE 30, BUT JUST EVEN AT STREET LEVEL DRIVING BY.
IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
THE, BECAUSE IT'S IN LIGHT INDUSTRIAL, BECAUSE IT'S ADJACENT TO THE FREEWAY, BECAUSE IT'S ADJACENT TO OTHER INDUSTRIAL, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TEETH IN THE CODE TO MAKE IT LOOK NICER OR PRETTY.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING AND, AND YOU KNOW, MY, MY TIME AT BAYTOWN IS, IS LIMITED TO THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT PRIOR TO THIS, THAT SITE HAS LOOKED MUCH LIKE THAT FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.
SO NOT TO SAY THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE IT LOOK NICER, UM, BUT AGAIN, IT'S IN AN INDUSTRIAL AREA.
UH, IT, IT, THERE'S, THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT IN THE CODE THAT WE'D LOVE TO SAY, OKAY, YOU GOTTA DO A BUNCH OF SCREENING AND MM-HMM
A BUNCH OF LANDSCAPING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THERE'RE JUST THE, THE CODE IS, IS PRETTY LIMITED THERE.
WE, BECAUSE IT'S IN LIGHTENED INDUSTRIAL.
BUT COUNSEL CAN ADD THAT IF THEY SO CHOOSE FOR THIS SUP YEAH, WE COULD.
YOU ABSOLUTELY COULD ADD THAT AS A CONDITION IF YOU'D LIKE.
I WANT TO ECHO WHAT MAYOR JOHNSON SAID.
YOU, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS WHOLE SITE WAS, WAS IN MY MIND, STARTED ON A LIE TO THE CITY.
UM, YOU BASICALLY SAID IT WAS A CAR LOT.
ON TOP OF THAT, WHEN THE CITY GAVE YOU CERTAIN CONDITIONS A YEAR AGO, THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING DONE TO MEET THAT.
SO EVEN IF WE PUT IN CONDITIONS TONIGHT, WHAT GUARANTEE DO WE EVEN HAVE THAT YOU'RE GONNA MEET THOSE CONDITIONS IN 90 DAYS WHEN YOU HADN'T EVEN MET THE CONDITIONS WITHIN A YEAR? WHAT, HOW, HOW, I MEAN, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE GUARANTEE THAT HE'S DONE NOTHING TO MEET THESE CONDITIONS? SO, I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN CODE ENFORCEMENT SINCE THE DAY ONE AND HE'S NOT MET THE CONDITIONS.
SO I'M NOT READY TO APPROVE THIS.
I'M READY TO DENY ANY, ANY OTHER COMMENTS THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK.
I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
[c. Consider an ordinance to approve a Special Use Permit (SUP) on an approximately 5.94-acre parcel, at 4701 Decker Drive, Baytown, Texas 77520, to allow the continuation of existing wrecked vehicles processing-related operations in the Light Industrial (LI) Zoning District.]
CONCERNING A REQUEST TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT LOCATED AT 47 0 1 DECKER DRIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS.CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT ON AN APPRO APPRO APPROXIMATELY 5.94 ACRE PARCEL AT 47 0 1 DECKER DRIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 7 7 5 2 OH TO ALLOW THE CONTINUATION OF EXISTING WRECK VEHICLES PROCESSING RELATED OPERATIONS IN THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
I NEED A MOTION I MOVE TO I HO HO, QUESTION.
UM, SO IF MARTIN, SO IF WE TABLE THIS TO ONE REVIEW THE TRAFFIC STUDY, SHOULD THERE BE ONE OR TWO? UM, TO, I DON'T KNOW.
I'M, I'M JUST TRYING TO GRASP BECAUSE, UH, I, I WANT TO BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY
UM, AND, UM, I, I'M JUST TRYING TO DETERMINE IN INSTEAD OF VOTING IT DOWN RIGHT NOW, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN GO BACK TO THE TABLE ON THAT WOULD MAKE EVERYONE HAPPY? UM, BEFORE WE VOTE IT DOWN? A, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT SEEMS LIKE THE, UM, THE TRAFFIC ISSUE AND MORE CLARITY ON THAT SEEMS TO BE A REAL STICKING POINT.
UM, SO, UH, WE CAN GO BACK AND SEE WHAT INFORMATION WE HAVE SO FAR AND IF WE, UH, WE DID SUGGEST, I KNOW AFTER THE, THE PUBLIC HEARING AT P AND Z, UH, I
[01:10:01]
DID SUGGEST TO THE OWNER THAT THEY KIND OF DO SOME OF THEIR OWN, UM, STUDIES, EVEN IF IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, A FULL TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY, BUT TO GET OUT THERE, MARK THE TIMES WHEN THINGS WERE CONGESTED, MARK, HOW MANY THINGS WERE LIKE IF IT WAS THEIRS OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S, OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WAS CAUSING IT.UM, WE SUGGESTED TO HIM THAT THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO BE HERE AND BE PREPARED FOR THAT CONVERSATION.
UM, OBVIOUSLY THAT GENTLEMAN WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TONIGHT, SO, UM, WHO'S NOT EVEN CONCERNED ABOUT US THAT NEED TO KNOW.
SO, SO IF, IF YOU WANTED TO DELAY A VOTE, UM, THAT'S PERFECTLY WITHIN YOUR AUTHORITY MM-HMM
UM, AND WE COULD SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND IN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN IF, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.
UM, I, I DO LIKE THE, THE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, GRAHAM TO EVEN JUST MAKE THEM A ONE WAY.
THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE A ONE WAY.
IF PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND OUT OF ONE AREA, AND THAT COULD EASILY BE DONE IN, AND NOT JUST SIGNAGE, BUT HAVING BARRIERS THAT WOULD MAKE IT JUST A ONE WAY.
OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE, THAT, I MEAN, BECAUSE THE ENTRY FROM DECKER HAS TO BE ONE WAY.
UM, BUT OUR UNDERSTANDING FROM THE OWNER WAS THAT THEY'RE ALREADY DOING THAT.
THEY'RE ALREADY ONLY IN OFF OF DECKER AND ONLY OUT AT, AT BAKER, BUT APPARENTLY IT'S NOT BEING PRACTICED.
SO IT, IT MAY BE IN, IN THEIR EYES OR, OR ACCORDING TO THEIR BUSINESS RULES, IF THEY HAVE ANY.
UM, IT'S A ONE WAY TO THEM, BUT IT'S NOT BEING PRACTICED AND IT'S NOT A VISUAL, IT, IT, THERE'S NOTHING TO DELINEATE THAT, HEY, YOU CAN'T GO OUT THIS WAY OR IN, YOU COULD INCLUDE THAT AS A CONDITION, UM, TO THE SUP AS WELL, IF THAT'S, IF THAT HELPS.
UM, I KNOW THAT WE'RE, WE, WE HAVE A MOTION CORRECT ON? NOT YET.
SIR, WHAT YOU SAY IS HAPPENING IS JUST VERY DIFFERENT FROM, I MEAN, IT STARTS AT THE VERY BEGINNING.
THE COMPANY SAID THAT IT WAS GONNA BE A USED CAR LOT.
IT'S NOT A USED CAR LOT BY DEFINITION.
UM, YOU'RE TELLING US THAT IT'S ONE WAY TRAFFIC, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE VISUALLY SEEN TWO WAY TRAFFIC.
SO, UM, ALTHOUGH I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE BUSINESS FRIENDLY, IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT.
AND, AND THEN WITH THE, THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, HAVING OTHER BUSINESS AND SOMEWHERE ELSE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO BE HERE, IT FEELS LIKE, UM, SOME OF US ARE WANTING TO FIGHT HARDER FOR YOU THAN YOU'RE WANTING TO FIGHT FOR YOURSELF FOR, FOR THE BUSINESS.
SO IT DOES MAKE IT HARD TO WANT TO, FOR MYSELF TO APPROVE AN SUP, UM, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS THAT ARE ON THE ROAD NEAR THERE.
SO IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN OFFER US RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE I, I HAVE NO CLARITY IN THIS.
I'M, I'M HEARING VERY DIFFERENT SIDES FROM YOU VERSUS WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE SEEING.
JUST TO MAKE, UH, CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THE GENTLEMAN SAID ABOUT THE TRAFFIC, IT'S ALWAYS ONE WAY, AND I REALLY APOLOGIZE.
I DON'T KNOW, UH, WHEN YOU SAW THAT, AND SOMETIMES DRIVERS, THEY COME IN EVEN THOUGH, EVEN AFTER OUR LAST PNC MEETING AND EVEN BEFORE THAT, OUR TEAM, OUR WORKERS OUT THERE ARE CLEARLY ADVISED THAT NOBODY SHOULD LEAVE OUTSIDE FROM DECA ROAD.
BUT SOMETIMES WHEN THEY, THEY MOVE INSIDE TO WORK OR SOMETHING, SOME CRAZY DRIVERS, THEY MOVE OUT.
IF THEY'RE NEW, ALL OUR DRIVERS COME HERE FROM A VERY LONG TIME.
OKAY, SIR, I'M GONNA STOP YOU.
YOU ACTUALLY JUST ANSWERED MY QUESTION VERY CLEARLY AND THAT'S GONNA GO BACK TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY.
I'M JUST GONNA SUGGEST TO YOU THAT FOR ME, IT'S ALSO GONNA BE A NO TONIGHT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE PROPER MANAGEMENT BECAUSE YOU JUST ACTUALLY SAID EXACTLY WHAT'S TAKING PLACE.
SO THANK YOU THAT THAT'S JUST ONE, ONE OR TWO INSTANCES AND, UH, WE ARE NOT PRACTICING THAT.
AND IT MIGHT HAP IT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED.
I NEED A MOTION, I MOTION TO DENY THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR THIS PROPERTY.
[d. Conduct a public hearing concerning the proposed adoption of guidelines and criteria governing tax abatement agreements by the City of Baytown. ]
A PARENT, UH, OH, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PRO PROPOSED ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA GOVERNING, GOVERNING TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS BY THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.REALLY? UM, IT IS NOW SEVEN FORTY SIX I CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED ADOPTION OF GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA GOVERNING TAX ABATEMENT AGREEMENTS.
I WILL LIKE TO NOW REQUEST STAFF SUMMARIZE THE SUBJECT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
HELLO MAYOR AND COUNCIL BRIAN MORAN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, TONIGHT FOR YOUR, UH, CONSIDERATION IS TO, UH, CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF THE REVISED, UH,
[01:15:01]
TAX ABATEMENT, UH, GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR 2025 THROUGH 2027, UH, AS REQUIRED BY CHAPTER THREE 12 OF THE TEXAS TAX CODE.UH, BAY TOWN'S CURRENT, UH, TAX ABATEMENT GUIDELINES, WHICH WERE ADOPTED IN 2023, UM, EXPIRED AT THE END OF MAY IN ORDER FOR THE CITY TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE TO OFFER TAX ABATEMENTS, UM, TO DIFFERENT BUSINESSES.
UM, EXPLORING BAYTOWN AS A LOCATION.
UH, TEXAS LAW REQUIRES THAT, UH, WE ADOPT OR REAFFIRM, UH, THE GUIDELINES EVERY TWO YEARS.
UM, THE UPDATED GUIDELINES, UH, I BELIEVE REFLECT BAY TOWN'S ONGOING COMMITMENT, UH, TO ENSURING, UH, NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENT AS WELL AS SPUR, UH, JOB CREATION, UH, AS WELL AS MAINTAIN A FAIR AND TRANSPARENT AND COMPETITIVE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT.
UH, SOME OF THE KEY REVISIONS, UM, IN THE POLICY INCLUDE RAISING THE MINIMUM CAPITAL INVESTMENT FROM, UH, 5 MILLION TO 7.5 MILLION FOR QUALIFYING FOR, UH, THE MINIMUM FIVE YEAR PERIOD.
INTRODUCING A NEW SEVEN AND 10 YEAR ABATEMENT OPTIONS, WHICH DO REQUIRE, UH, MINIMUM INVESTMENTS OF 15 MILLION AND 50 MILLION, ALONG WITH JOB REQUIREMENTS OF 25, UH, FULL-TIME JOBS AND 75 FULL-TIME JOBS.
UM, EXPANDING THE ELIGIBLE PROJECT TYPES, UM, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE DATA CENTERS, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, INCREASING THE MINIMUM ASSET LIFE, UM, FOR THE PROJECTS FROM 15 TO 20 YEARS.
AND THEN ALSO ADDING SOME LANGUAGE ON RECAPTURING PROVISIONS.
UM, FOR PROJECTS THAT FAILED TO MEET, UM, THE PRESCRIBED JOB CREATION OR REPORTING OBLIGATIONS, UM, PER STATE LAW ONCE ADOPTED, THE GUIDELINES WILL BE IN EFFECT, UM, FOR TWO YEARS UNLESS AMENDED BY THREE QUARTERS OF THE COUNCIL.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT GUIDELINES DON'T, UH, COMMIT THE CITY TO APPROVE ANY SPECIFIC TAX ABATEMENT REQUEST.
UH, NOR DOES IT CREATE ANY TYPE OF AUTOMATIC RIGHT, UH, TO RECEIVE AN ABATEMENT.
UM, IF APPROVED, IT WOULD TAKE EFFECT, UM, AS OF TODAY AND REMAIN IN PLACE, UH, THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2027.
TALKING ABOUT AMENDING THIS, LET'S SAY SOMEONE WANTED TO GO IN, IN A, ON A SIDE OF TOWN WHERE WE DON'T SEE MUCH DEVELOPMENT, COULD WE AMEND IT TO LOWER THE AMOUNT, UM, BEING SPENT TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO THERE OR WITH THIS IS THIS, WE, WE, WE DO HAVE OTHER TOOLS, UM, AVAILABLE.
USUALLY WE WOULD GO WITH, WITH THE CHAPTER THREE 80 AGREEMENT IN, IN THAT INSTANCE, UH, WHICH IS WHAT, UH, A COUNCIL AUTHORIZED WITH, UH, BAYTOWN ANIMAL HOSPITAL, UM, A FEW MONTHS AGO.
DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? GOOD DEAL.
THERE BEING NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 7 55 E
[e. Consider a resolution adopting revised Tax Abatement Guidelines and Criteria for 2025-2027, in accordance with Chapter 312 of the Texas Tax Code.]
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING REISE TAX ABATEMENT GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR 20 25 20 27 IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER THREE 12 OF THE TEXAS STATE CO TEXAS STA TAX CODE.MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM FIVE E.
[a. Consider an ordinance repealing Ordinance No.16,028, which authorized the sale of city-owned property located at 527 S. Burnett to Donald Ray Morara and authorizing the declaration of surplus property and approving the sale of approximately 0.3432 acres of land located at 527 S. Burnett Drive, legally described as (Lot 14, Block 61, of the Lakewood Subdivision Section G) to Madrigal Signature Homes, LLC.]
SIX A CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1 6 0 2 8, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE SALE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 5 27 SOUTH BURNETT TO DONALD RAY MORA, AND AUTHORIZING THE DECLARATION OF, OF SURPLUS PROPERTY AND APPROVING THE SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 0.3432 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 5 27 SOUTH BURNETT DRIVE, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 14 BLOCK 61 OF THE LAKEWOOD SUBDIVISION SECTION G TO MANDRI GOLD SIGNATURE HOMES LLC MR. MORAN.SO, UH, REALLY ITEM SIX, UH, A THROUGH F UH, ARE SIX PROPERTIES, UH, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT.
UM, THAT, UH, IF APPROVED WOULD BE, UH, RETURNED TO A PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, UM, WITH THE CITY HAVING, UM, BEEN IN POSSESSION WITH, UH, MANY OF THESE, UH, PARCELS FOR MANY OF YEARS.
UM, THIS DOES MARK A POSITIVE STEP IN, UH, TRANSITIONING, UNDERUTILIZED, UH, PROPERTIES, UH, VACANT PARCELS BACK INTO, UH, PRODUCTIVE USE.
AND THEN, UH, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, MARLE SIGNATURE HOMES.
UM, THEY ARE A LOCAL, UH, BAYTOWN, UM, HOME BUILDER.
AND THEY'VE PURCHASED OR, UH, PROVIDED OFFERS, UH, TO PURCHASE SEVERAL, UM, OF THESE PROPERTIES FOR, FOR
[01:20:01]
REDEVELOPMENT.UM, THEIR PLANNED CONSTRUCTION, UM, FOR THESE HOMES RANGES ANYWHERE FROM AROUND A HUNDRED THOUSAND TO, UM, ONE 50, UH, JUST DEPENDING ON, UH, LOCATION.
AND SO NOT ONLY WILL THIS, UM, ENHANCE, UH, NEIGHBORHOOD STABILITY, BUT THEN ALSO, UM, GENERATE, UM, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY TAX REVENUE ANYWHERE FROM 700 TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS AND NO LONGER, UM, HAVING THE CITY TO, UH, MAINTAIN, UH, THESE PROPERTIES.
UM, IN RELATION TO, UH, 5 2 7 SOUTH BURNETT.
UH, THIS PROPERTY ORIGINALLY WAS, WAS AUTHORIZED BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2024 AND DID NOT CLOSE.
UM, IN THIS INSTANCE, UH, THE ORDINANCE, UH, WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS TO A NEW, TO A NEW OWNER WHO IS AWARE OF THE, UH, FLOOD MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS AND THE ELEVATION, UH, REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROPERTY.
ANY OPPOSED? SIX B, CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY APPROVING THE SALE OF APPROXIMATELY ZERO.
DON'T WE NEED TO DO SIX G AND H? DID YOU SAY SIX G? NO, WE'RE ON SIX B.
HE MENTIONED SIX EIGHT THROUGH F.
YEAH, HE SAID SIX A THROUGH F.
SO I THOUGHT WE, I WAS LIKE, WE'RE DOING THEM INDIVIDUALLY, SO SORRY.
[b. Consider an ordinance authorizing the declaration of surplus property and approving the sale of approximately 0.1147 acres of land located at 0 S. Airhart, legally described as (Lot 8, Block 13, of the Airhart Amelia Addition).]
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED IN A DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY APPROVING THE SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 0.1147 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT ZERO SOUTH ERHARDT LEGALLY DE DESCRIBED AS LOT EIGHT, BLOCK 13 OF THE ERHARDT AMELIA EDITION.MR. MORAN? UH, YES, MR. MAYOR.
UM, THIS PROPERTY, UM, ALSO, UM, MET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.
UM, WE HAD A LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER, UH, LIST THIS PROPERTY FOR A MINIMUM OF 30 DAYS ON THE MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE.
AND, UM, THE HIGHEST CASH OFFER FOR THIS IS, UH, $10,000.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? DO WE, DO WE KNOW WHO? YES.
THIS WAS ALSO, UM, MAGICAL HOLMES.
THAT JUST, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WAS CONFUSED 'CAUSE WHEN YOU MENTIONED THEM ALL, I WAS FOR SOME REASON THOUGHT WE WERE JUST GOING THROUGH ALL OF THEM.
SO IS A THROUGH F GONNA ALL BE MEASURABLE? NO.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[c. Consider an ordinance authorizing the declaration of surplus property and approving the sale of approximately 0.1631 acres of land located at 620 N. Main, legally described as (Lot TR 1A, Block 75, of the Goose Creek Addition).]
C.CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY AND APPROVING THE SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 0.1631 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT SIX 20 NORTH MAIN, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT T TRACK ONE.
A BLOCK 75 OF THE GOOSE CREEK EDITION.
MR. MAYOR, UH, MAGICAL SIGNATURE HOMES ALSO SUBMITTED THE, UH, HIGHEST UH, CASH OFFER, UM, FOR THIS PROPERTY AT $14,000 AND $14,200.
UM, AND ALSO, UH, FOLLOW THE SAME, UH, POSTING REQUIREMENTS, UM, USING A LICENSED REAL UH, REAL ESTATE BROKER.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND.
[d. Consider an ordinance authorizing the declaration of surplus property and approving the sale of approximately 0.1147 acres of land located at 1213 Daniel Street, legally described as (Lot 7, Block 1, Oakwood Addition).]
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZED AND A DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY AND APPROVING THE SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 0.1147 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT 1 2 1 3 DANIEL STREET, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT ONE BLOCK, ONE LOT.SEVEN BLOCK ONE OAKWOOD EDITION.
MR. MAYOR? UH, MR. OSWALDO GONZALEZ, UM, PROVIDED THE, UH, HIGHEST CASH OFFER, UM, FOR THIS PROPERTY OF APPROXIMATELY $20,000.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND MOTION TO APPROVE.
NO IDEA WHAT? ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? SIX.
[e. Consider an ordinance authorizing the declaration of surplus property and approving the sale of approximately 0.1269 acres of land located at 0 W. Nazro, legally described as (Lot TR 1, Block 22, of the Middletown Amend Addition).]
E CONSIDERING ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY AND APPROVING THE SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 0.1269 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT ZERO WEST NS R LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT TRACK ONE BLOCK 22 OF THE MIDDLETOWN AMENDMENT AMEND ADDITION MR. MORAN? UH, YES.[01:25:01]
UH, SIGNATURE HOMES, UH, FOR THIS PROPERTY.UM, SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST CASH OFFER AT $11,000.
I NEED A MOTION AND A SECOND MOTION TO 60.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[f. Consider an ordinance authorizing the declaration of surplus property and approving the sale of approximately 0.1147 acres of land located at 0 Miriam Street, legally described as (Lot 15, Block 2, of the Lamar Court Addition).]
CONSIDERING ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A DECLARATION OF SURPLUS PROPERTY AND APPROVING THE SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 0.1147 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT ZERO MIRIAM STREET, LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS LOT 15 BLOCK TWO OF THE LAMAR COURT EDITION.UM, UH, MR. LENORA RAZZO, UM, SUBMITTED THE HIGHEST, UH, CASH OFFER FOR THIS PARCEL, UM, AT $20,000.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, THANKS TO STAFF AND, AND ALSO I'M GLAD THAT WE'RE ABLE TO APPROVE THESE 'CAUSE I KNOW WE WERE WORKING ON, UM, GETTING RID OF SOME OF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE HAD FOR A WHILE.
SO, AND ALSO, UM, SEVERAL OF THEM I THINK ACCOUNTED FOR ARE IN DISTRICT TWO, SO IT'LL BE GREAT TO SEE SOME DEVELOPMENT BACK ON THAT LAND.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES SIX G
[g. Consider an ordinance repealing and replacing Ordinance No. 15,981 which authorized an Industrial District Agreement with National Oilwell Varco, LP.]
CONSIDERING ORDINANCE, REPEALING AND REPLACING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1 5 9 8 1, WHICH AUTHORIZED AN INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL OIL WELL VARCO, LV, MR. MORAN, UH, YES, MR. MAYOR AND, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS.UM, SO THIS ITEM IS MORE OF A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM, UM, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
UM, AFTER FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE, UM, BUSINESS AND VERIFICATION WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, UM, WE IDENTIFIED THAT, UM, THE BASE VALUE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL AMENDMENT, UM, WAS OVERSTATED.
UM, REPEALING THIS ORDINANCE WILL ALLOW US TO BRING FORWARD AND, UH, A CORRECTED AMOUNT, UH, ADJUSTING THE BASE VALUE FROM, UH, 13.8 MILLION TO 2 MILLION.
UM, ADDITIONALLY, AT THE REQUEST OF THE BUSINESS, UM, THEY DID, UM, THEY DID REQUEST THE AGREEMENT, UH, TO BE REDUCED FROM 15 YEARS TO 10 YEARS.
UM, THESE CHANGES THAT, YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE ENSURE THAT THE AGREEMENT, UM, WILL FOSTER A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP, UM, WITH NATIONAL OIL WELL AND THE CITY.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
[h. Consider an ordinance repealing Ordinance No. 15,992 which authorized an Industrial District Agreement with SBR Cedar Port Owner, LP.]
H.CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE REPEALING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1 5 9 9 2, WHICH AUTHORIZED AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT WITH SBR CEDAR PORT OWNER LP.
MR. MORAN? UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, THIS ITEM ALSO IS, UM, A HOUSEKEEPING, UH, ITEM TO, UH, CORRECT, UH, THE REGISTERED NAME OF THE COMPANY, UM, TO SBR CEDAR PORT TWO OWNER LP.
UM, THIS IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY'S RECORDS AND AGREEMENTS ARE ACCURATE AND THAT THE NEW ORDINANCE WITH THE CORRECTED COMPANY'S NAME, UM, WILL BE SUBMITTED FOR Y'ALL'S CONSIDERATION.
MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM SIX H SECOND.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[i. Consider an ordinance authorizing an Industrial District Agreement between the City of Baytown and SBR Cedar Port 2 Owner, LP.]
AYE.CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF BAYTOWN AND SBR CEDAR PORT TWO OWNER LP MR. MORAN? UH, YES, MR. MAYOR, UH, THIS, THIS INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT, UM, REPLACES THE, UH, PREVIOUS ORDINANCE, UM, 15 9 9 2, UM, WHICH Y'ALL JUST REPEALED, UH, DUE TO THE INCORRECT COMPANY NAME.
UH, THE NEW ORDINANCE WILL NOW REFLECT THE, UH, ACCURATE NAME OF THE BUSINESS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
[j. Consider an ordinance to amend the Fiscal Year 2025 budget to account for CIP encumbrances carried forward from Fiscal Year 2024, awarded grant budget modifications, other contributions, and funding adjustments to address financial obligations.]
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE PHYSICAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET TO ACCOUNT FOR CIP ENC CONFERENCES CARRIED FORWARD FROM FISCAL, FISCAL YEAR 2024, AWARDED GRANT BUDGET MODIFICATIONS, OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS AND FUNDING ADJUSTMENTS TO ADDRESS FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.MS. MCKENZIE? UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE THIRD AMENDMENT FOR
[01:30:01]
FY 25.UM, THIS IS, AS YOU SAID, AS YOU READ, THIS IS REGARDING THE ENCUMBRANCES FOR DEPARTMENT ITEMS, ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND MODIFICATIONS TO GRANTS AND INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENTS.
I WANNA POINT OUT THAT $3.1 MILLION IN REDUCTION IS RELATED TO ACCRUALS THAT WERE RE UM, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH THE FY 24 AUDIT.
AND THE 9.1 MILLION IS RELATED TO, UM, THE WATER AND SEWER IMPACT FEES.
THERE WAS $7.8 MILLION THAT WAS NEEDED FOR THE EAST DISTRICT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
UM, AND ALL THE OTHERS ARE RELATED TO THE MODIFICATIONS AND THE OTHER, UH, ADDITIONAL ITEMS THAT I MENTIONED.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I NEED A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM SIX J SECOND.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[k. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 2 “Administration,” Article IV “Boards and Commission,” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Baytown, Texas.]
K.CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE FOUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, MISS FLINT.
SO, UH, WE ARE BACK TO HOPEFULLY TAKE ONE LAST PASS AT THE, UH, ETHICS CODE OF ETHICS AND THEN ALSO THE, THE BOARD.
AND SO AS YOU'LL REMEMBER, WE SPENT A NUMBER OF MEETINGS GOING THROUGH ALL OF THAT.
SO WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU, UM, WITH THIS IS THE FINALIZED VERSION.
UM, HOPEFULLY Y'ALL HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT.
IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR FURTHER COMMENTS, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE IF WE NEED TO MAKE ANY FURTHER MODIFICATIONS.
IF NOT, THEN I'LL ALSO HAVE A TIMELINE, UM, OF THE NEXT STEPS TO PRESENT.
WELL, I, OR WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR THAT AFTER WE GET THE MOTION, UH, FOR QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
SO I NEED A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE SECOND, SECOND QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
I GUESS, YOU KNOW, AFTER KIND OF THINKING ON SOME THINGS, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, UNDER THE CODE OF CONDUCT, UM, MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, I KNOW WE'VE MADE A MOTION IN A SECOND, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR TRANSPARENCY PIECE, UH, SOME KIND OF LANGUAGE THAT SUPPORTS, UM, ANY TYPE OF, UM, MISREPRESENTING OF FACTS.
UM, IF, IF, UM, IF A, UM, CITY OFFICIAL MISRE MISREPRESENTS FACTS, I WOULD, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT ADDED TO THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
HAS SOME QUESTIONS TOO ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THE LANGUAGE, A LITTLE TICKY TACKY.
I KNOW, BUT, UM, UH, JUST LIKE TO SEE MAYBE IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD TO, I THINK THIS ITEM'S SPECIFIC TO THE, THE BOARD.
UM, AND I HAVE NO OTHER QUESTIONS.
ANYONE ELSE? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES SIX
[l. Consider an ordinance amending Chapter 2 “Administration,” Article VIII “Code of Ethics” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Baytown, Texas.]
L.CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER TWO ADMINISTRATION, ARTICLE EIGHT, CODE OF ETHICS OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES AND THE CITY OF, OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS.
SO THIS IS THE
SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, UM, AND, AND THEN I'LL DO THE TIMELINE.
SO, UH, I WAS WANTING TO HOPEFULLY SEE PERHAPS US LOOKING AT PERHAPS PUTTING THE LANGUAGE INTO THE CODE OF CONDUCT REGARDING, UM, TRUTHFUL STATEMENTS BEING MADE, UM, AND IF FACTS WERE MISREPRESENTED IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT TO BE, TO, TO BE REVIEWED, UH, BY THE COMMITTEE COMMISSION.
UM, I DON'T HAVE THE, THE, THE REVISED ARTICLE HERE, BUT, UM, THERE WERE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT, UM, AS FAR AS RECOMMENDATIONS AS FAR AS, UM, THE, IS, AS FAR AS WHAT DEFINES, OR AS FAR AS I THINK SOME OF THE LANGUAGE AS FAR AS, UM, THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDINGS AS FAR AS, UM, I'M TRYING TO FIND THE WORDS HERE.
UM, AS FAR AS THE, THE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN,
[01:35:02]
UM, AN A, A, A LETTER OF ADMONITION AND A LETTER LETTER OF REPRIMAND, UM, IT SEEMS KIND OF RE THE, THE LANGUAGING SEEMS KIND OF REDUNDANT.AND MAYBE YOU COULD TAKE SOME OF THAT OUT TO KIND OF CLEAN IT UP.
OTHER THAN THAT, I FELT LIKE YOU DID A GOOD JOB AND, UM, I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THAT YOU SPENT ON THIS.
I DO LIKE COUNSEL CAN CONSIDER TO MAYBE AMENDING THE CODE OF CONDUCT TO PUT THE LANGUAGE IN.
UM, AS FAR AS FACTS MISREPRESENTED, I KNOW Y'ALL EXPLAINED WHY THAT WE CHOSE TO TAKE IT OUT, BUT I THINK AS FAR AS PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY WITH OUR CITY, THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
SO I'LL LEAVE THE FLOOR OPEN FOR ANY KIND OF REBUTTAL FOR MY COLLEAGUES ON THAT.
BUT, UM, MAYOR, IF I MAY, YES, MA'AM.
UM, UH, I, I THINK I STILL STAND BY MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS THAT, UM, I THINK IT PUTS NOT JUST COUNCIL, BUT STAFF AND ANY OF OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IF YOU KNOW, THEY JUST, LIKE YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE THE DOCUMENTS THAT HAD IN FRONT OF YOU.
UH, SOMEONE COULD MISREPRESENT SOMETHING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEIR DOCUMENTS EITHER.
AND SO, UM, I, I THINK THAT'S A FINE LINE AND I, I, IT'S VERY HARD SOMETIMES TO PROVE INTENT.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
DID YOU INTENTIONALLY MISREPRESENT FACTS OR DATA? AND SO I THINK WE WOULD BE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME POLICING THAT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT WE MAY SAY UP HERE THINKING WE HAD ALL THE FACTS AND WE COME BACK AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT, HERE WE HAVE NEW INFORMATION SO SOMEONE CAN GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE MAY HAVE SAID ON THE DAAS, UH, YOU KNOW, TWO WEEKS PRIOR AND INTO.
SO I THINK I'D LIKE FOR US TO KEEP THAT OPEN, UM, FOR US TO, TO KIND OF NAVIGATE AS ANY ISSUES COME UP.
I I THINK I STILL STAMP BY MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS ON THAT, SO THANK YOU.
ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, I MEAN, I, I'LL AGREE WITH WHAT COUNCILWOMAN SAID.
I MEAN, I, I I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE TRUTHFUL, UM, AS YOU KNOW, ALL THE TIME, RIGHT? UM, BUT I DO THINK THERE ARE SOME ISSUES WITH THAT AS FAR AS, UM,
LIKE I SAID, WE SHOULD ALL BE TRUTHFUL, BUT, BUT THERE'S UNDERSTANDING OF FACTS ON HOW WE INTERPRET THINGS.
UM, WE, WE VOTE ON THINGS ALL THE TIME WHERE WE'RE ALL GIVEN THE SAME FACTS AND WE VOTE OPPOSITE WAYS.
AND SO THAT'S, UM, PROBABLY INTERPRETATION OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE FACTS, RIGHT? UM, AND SO WHEN WE, WHEN WE SHARE, UM, ON ANY TOPIC, UH, SOMEONE IN THE PUBLIC ASKS US A QUESTION ABOUT A, A, A DEVELOPMENT OR A PROJECT, UM, YOU KNOW, AND WE, WE SHARE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF IT.
UM, I, I DO THINK, UM, THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY WE MISUNDERSTAND SOMETHING, RIGHT? AND WE, AND WE MISSPEAK.
UM, I I, I'M SURE I HAVE MISSPOKEN AT SOME POINT IN THE FOUR AND A HALF YEARS I'VE, I'VE BEEN ON HERE, RIGHT? UM, AND THEN YOU GET INTO INTENT.
DID I INTENTIONALLY TRY TO MISLEAD SOMEONE OR WAS I JUST MISINFORMED? UM, AND SO I, I DO THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, IT, IT WOULD, IT'D BE DIFFICULT FOR AN ETHICS BOARD TO TRY TO, TO, TO SIFT THROUGH THAT OF, TO GET INTO INTENT.
ARE YOU INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO MISLEAD SOMEONE? BUT BY ALL MEANS, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE SHOULD BE, WE SHOULD BE TRUTHFUL AT ALL TIMES.
UM, BUT SOMETIMES WE JUST GET OUR FACTS WRONG, RIGHT? UM, AND SO I I I DO THINK THAT COULD CAUSE AN ISSUE FOR THE, FOR THE ETHICS BOARD IF THEY HAVE TO START GETTING INTO INTENT OR WHAT DID YOU KNOW AT THE TIME YOU MADE THIS STATEMENT? UM, I, I THINK WHEN WE CHANGED IT, WE, WE LISTED THINGS THAT ARE ALL MM-HMM
BASICALLY TIED TO A LEGAL REQUIREMENT.
UM, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT STATING FACTS CORRECTLY ALL THE TIME.
I, I, I MEAN, AGAIN, WE SHOULD ALL BE TRUTHFUL, RIGHT? WE SHOULD TELL THE TRUTH AT ALL TIMES.
BUT, UM, YEAH, I, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A, A SPECIFIC LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE THAT, THAT WE CAN POINT TO, TO THAT.
UM, AND IN NO WAY WOULD I, WOULD I, YOU KNOW, AGREE WITH SOMEONE MISLEADING.
UM, BUT I DO THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO, UH, FOR THE ETHICS BOARD TO, TO, YOU KNOW, GET INTO INTENT, UM, UM, FOR US, FOR, FOR, UH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS, FOR ALL OF IT.
SO I, I AGREE WITH HOW IT'S WRITTEN.
[01:40:01]
GIVE A TIMELINE REAL QUICK? OH, I'M SORRY.SO WE ARE, UM, HOPEFULLY YOU WILL ADOPT IN JUST A MOMENT.
UM, AFTER THAT, UH, THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE HAS ALREADY PUT TOGETHER, UM, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE APPLICATION TO POST ONLINE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN START APPLYING TO BE ON THE ETHICS BOARD.
SO THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON MONDAY TO BEGIN FILLING OUT THAT APPLICATION AND SUBMITTING THOSE.
OUR INTENT IS TO HAVE SOME MEMBERS TO PROPOSE TO Y'ALL FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING SO THAT Y'ALL CAN GO AHEAD AND SELECT THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THAT BOARD.
ONCE THAT IS DONE, THEN WE'LL TRY TO GET THEM TOGETHER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO HOLD THEIR FIRST MEETING SO THEY CAN ESTABLISH THEMSELVES, THEIR RULES OF PROCEDURES AND, UM, ELECT THEIR OFFICERS.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, UM, WE WILL HAVE THE COMPLAINT, UH, FORM AVAILABLE SO THAT IF THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS, UM, WHO DESIRE TO FILE ANY COMPLAINTS AT THAT POINT OR AT ANY POINT IN THE FUTURE, IT WILL BE READY.
UM, WE DIDN'T WANT TO GO AHEAD AND PUT EVERYTHING OUT ALL AT ONCE BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME TIMELINES.
SO IF WE PUT A COMPLAINT FORM OUT RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A BOARD, WE WON'T MEET TIMELINES, THAT SORT OF THING.
SO JUST KIND OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR, UM, WORK AND DILIGENCE AND, AND GETTING THIS DONE.
I KNOW YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON IT, AND I JUST WANNA PERSONALLY THANK YOU FOR, FOR YOUR TIME AND, AND COMING THROUGH THIS AND YOUR EFFORTS.
UM, MY COMMENT WOULD BE WHEN WE RECEIVE, WHEN WE CONSIDER THESE APPOINTMENTS ON THE 26TH, PLEASE TAKE TIME TO LOOK OVER THESE APPLICATIONS SO THAT WE'RE NOT TABLING THIS LIKE WE HAVE IN OTHER APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T TAKEN THE TIME TO REVIEW THESE APPLICATIONS.
PLEASE PUT THE TIME IN TO REVIEW IT SO WE CAN STAY WITH THIS TIMELINE AND HAVE THIS, UM, SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THEIR FIRST MEETING ON JULY, THE, THE WEEK OF JULY 7TH.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR WORK.
YOU'VE HAD COME UP WITH SOME GREAT IDEAS, UM, SOME THINGS I DID NOT EVEN REALIZE COULD BE OPTIONS WITH THIS ETHICS COMMITTEE AND COUNSEL.
THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR THE EARLY START TIMES FOR THE WORK SESSION SO THAT WE COULD WORK THROUGH THIS AND GET IT DONE.
I, I DON'T THINK WE'VE GOTTEN ANYTHING DONE IN THIS SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THAT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO THE CITY, SO THANK YOU.
MAYOR, I'LL, I'LL JUST MAKE ONE COMMENT AS FAR AS I, I AGREE WITH YOU 100% THAT AS WE GET THE APPLICANT'S IN, IF WE COULD GET THEM AS SOON AS YOU GET THEM SO WE HAVE MORE TIME TO REVIEW THEM.
HOWEVER, IF WE GET TO THE 26TH AND WE HAVE FEW APPLICANTS, OR WE HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE APPLICANTS THAT WE HAVE, I'M NOT GONNA VOTE JUST TO FILL THE BOARD.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE AND WE NEED TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WE PLACE ON THIS ARE THE CORRECT INDIVIDUALS.
SO I, I APPRECIATE TRYING TO ADHERE TO THE TIMELINE, BUT IF WE GET FIVE APPLICANTS, AND I HAVE QUESTIONS ON TWO OF 'EM, I'M, I'M NOT GONNA RUSH TO, TO FILL THE SLOTS AND THIS, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE UP HERE WILL EITHER.
I'M NOT ASKING US TO DO THAT, BUT THERE'S BEEN TIMES WE'VE GOTTEN APPLICATIONS AND NO ONE'S LOOKED AT THE APPLICATIONS.
IF WE GET 20 OR PLUS APPLICANTS AND, AND WE CAN SIFT THROUGH IT, EDIT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO FIND FIVE VIABLE CANDIDATES FOR THIS, THIS COMMITTEE.
BUT I'M NOT GOING TO STICK TO A TIMELINE.
I, I JUST DON'T WANT US TO GET APPLICATIONS AND THEN WE DON'T CONSIDER THOSE APPLICATIONS, UH, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
OH, I AGREE WITH YOU A HUNDRED PERCENT.
UM, WELL, WE ALSO HAVE THE PRIVY TO SEEK OUT, UM, INDIVIDUALS BEF AND NOT WAIT UNTIL WE GET THE APPLICANTS.
AND SO WE CAN GO OUT INTO OUR DISTRICTS AND, YOU KNOW, TELL PEOPLE AND REACH OUT TO FOLKS AND HAVE THEM APPLY.
THAT WAY WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE AT LEAST TRY TO GET, UM, SOME APPLICANTS.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK THAT YOU ALL WOULD HAVE ISSUES WITH US TELLING PEOPLE TO APPLY.
I, I I, I WOULD HOPE THAT WE'RE SEEKING, UM, APPLICANTS FOR ANY APPOINTMENT.
UH, NOW I NEED A MOTION, MOTION TO APPROVE.
SECOND, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL IN FAVOR?
[01:45:01]
AYE.[a. Consider a resolution granting the petition for the proposed annexation of approximately 19.86 acres of land located on the north side of Interstate Highway 10 (IH 10), approximately 1,925 feet east of Garth Road, addressed as 5401 IH 10.]
TO SEVEN A CONSIDER A RESOLUTION GRANTING THE PETITION FOR THE PROPOSED ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY 19.86 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 10 APPRO APPROXIMATELY 1,925 FEET EAST OF GARTH ROAD, ADDRESSED AS 5 4 0 1 INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 10, MR. SCRIBNER.UM, I, I'M, I'M GOING TO HIT THIS AT A REAL HIGH LEVEL, UM, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T SEEN AN ANNEXATION IN A MINUTE.
UH, REMEMBER THAT TONIGHT ALL IS BEING ASKED IS BASICALLY TO ACCEPT THE PETITION AND SAY, OKAY, STAFF MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ANNEXATION PROCESS.
YOU WILL SEE THIS, UH, ON I THINK, SIX MORE, UH, ITEMS ON YOUR AGENDA OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
SO YOU WILL HAVE CHANCES TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFICS ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
YOU WILL ALSO SEE, UH, ON THIS PROPERTY A REZONE APPLICATION, WHICH WILL REALLY LET YOU DIVE INTO SOME OF THE SPECIFICS.
SO AGAIN, TONIGHT IS JUST THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS.
SO THIS IS SUPER HIGH LEVEL, UM, BUT I WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF, OF INFORMATION ON THE PARCEL.
UM, THE PARCEL IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF I 10, ABOUT HALFWAY ISH BETWEEN, UH, GARTH ROAD AND NORTH MAINE.
UH, IT'S ABOUT 20 ACRES, AND IF YOU LOOK NEXT DOOR HERE, IT'S PART OF THIS OVERALL DEVELOPMENT SITE THAT IS, UH, OVER 80 ACRES TOTAL.
AND THAT IS BEING, UM, PROPOSED BY PULTE GROUP.
SO PULTE HOMES, IF YOU'VE, I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD OF THEM, UM, THEY WOULD LIKE TO DEVELOP THIS AS A, LET'S SEE, THEY'D LIKE TO DEVELOPED US AS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, UM, SUBDIVISION.
UM, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THAT PROPERTY, SO AGAIN, THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IS BEING ANNEXED IN, SO IT DOESN'T HAVE A ZONING DESIGNATION RIGHT NOW.
UH, BUT THE REST OF THAT IS ACTUALLY ZONED FREEWAY COMMERCIAL.
SO THEY WILL HAVE TO REZONE THAT TO SOMETHING ELSE, UH, IN ORDER TO, TO PUT RESIDENTIAL ON IT.
AGAIN, WE'LL KIND OF GET INTO THAT AT A LATER DATE.
UM, THIS IS THE, UH, HIGH LEVEL CONCEPT PLAN THAT THEY'VE SHOWN US.
UH, AND WE'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 300 UNITS, UH, OVER THAT, UH, TOTAL OF 86 ACRES.
SO AGAIN, WE'LL COME BACK TO THIS, UM, BUT I WANTED YOU TO GET JUST A, A LOOSE IDEA OF WHAT IT IS THAT THEY'RE, THAT THEY'RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO PROPOSE.
SO, UM, WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE A COMMENT.
UM, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID, MARTIN, LIKE, WE'RE JUST ACCEPTING THE PETITION TONIGHT AND I INTEND TO DO THAT.
UM, BUT JUST LOOKING AT THE SITE PLAN, UM, I KNOW WE'VE TYPICALLY TRIED TO HAVE LIKE TWO MEANS OF EGRESS.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ONLY HAVE A SINGLE ROAD, SO I'M SURE IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING YOU'RE ALREADY DISCUSSING WITH 'EM, BUT I WOULD WANNA SEE THAT AT SOME POINT AS IT'S COMING BACK TO US.
ANYONE ELSE? UH, JUST TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON HIS, ON THE, ON THE MAIN THOROUGHFARES, UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE THAT THEY'RE WIDE ENOUGH FOR, FOR WHAT WE'VE SEEN THAT WE DON'T.
'CAUSE LIKE I SEE ON MY INNER DRIVE AND ON OTHER DRIVES WHERE IT'S, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BE END UP BEING CUT THROUGHS TO GET THROUGH FOR TRAFFIC, AND THERE'S GONNA BE SOME ISSUES THERE.
SO WE MAKE SURE THAT THOSE MAJOR ROADS ARE, ARE A LITTLE BIT WIDER THAN THE NORMAL ONES.
THEY, THEY WILL BE APPLYING FOR A PUD FOR THIS.
SO YOU GET, YEAH, YOU'LL GET YOUR SHOT AT IT.
UH, THAT'S WHEN I FIGURED I WAS GOING TO.
[a. Receive the City of Baytown's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and Single Audit for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2024.]
I KNOW RECEIVE THE CITY OF BAY TOWN'S ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE, COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT AND SINGLE AUDIT FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.UM, WE ARE FINALLY HERE TO, UH, PRESENT THE ANNUAL, UM, AUDIT FOR FY 24 FOR SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2024.
UM, AS YOU RECALL, WE ENGAGED WITH NEW AUDITORS THIS YEAR, WEAVER AND TIDWELL AND GREG PETERSON AND STEVEN SMITH IS HERE TO PRESENT TO YOU TONIGHT.
BUT BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANNA SAY THAT, UM, ANYTIME YOU ENGAGE WITH AUDITORS, YOU WANT THEM TO BE THOROUGH IN THEIR APPROACH TO THE WORK.
AND THIS AUDIT HAS BEEN VERY INTEN INTENSIVE FOR OUR STAFF, BUT WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE, UM, THEY HAVE PUT THE CITY IN A BETTER POSITION AND WE ARE ENSURING THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE, WHICH IS WHAT WE WANT, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM IN THE NEXT ENGAGEMENT.
UM, AS THERESA MENTIONED, MY NAME IS GREG PETERSON.
[01:50:01]
I'M THE AUDIT PARTNER ON THE ENGAGEMENT.IT IS MY ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO COME PRESENT THE RESULTS OF OUR AUDIT.
SO WE CONDUCTED OUR AUDIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS AND JOURNALLY ACCEPTED AUDITING STANDARDS.
UM, ES THERESA MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, NEW AUDITORS HAVE DIFFERENT APPROACH.
UH, OUR OUR APPROACH TO AUDITING, UH, IS A RISK BASED APPROACH WHERE WE IDENTIFY THE AREAS WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE THINK ARE THE MOST RISKY, AND WE FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS TO CONDUCT OUR AUDITS ON.
UH, IN ADDITION TO FOCUSING ON THE NUMBERS, WE ALSO EVALUATE THE CITY'S INTERNAL CONTROLS.
UH, INTERNAL CONTROLS ARE BASICALLY THE FOUNDATION FOR WHICH ALL THE TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE CITY BUILD UPON TO ULTIMATELY RESULT IN THE REPORT THAT, THAT YOU HAVE TONIGHT.
UM, AS PART OF OUR TESTING, WE DO SUBSTANTIVE TESTING IN ORDER TO OBTAIN SUFFICIENT AUDIT EVIDENCE TO RENDER AN OPINION, AND THAT IT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE AUDITOR TO RENDER AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS TO SAY THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT IS MATERIALLY CORRECT.
UM, SO I'M PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE ARE RENDERING AN UNMODIFIED OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
SO AN UNMODIFIED OPINION IS ALSO KNOWN AS A CLEAN OPINION AND IS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF ASSURANCE THAT YOU CAN RECEIVE IN AN AUDIT.
AS I MENTIONED, WE ALSO EVALUATE THE CITY'S INTERNAL CONTROLS OUTSIDE OF JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS.
THIS YEAR, WE DID HAVE A FINDING, UM, AND WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT ON THE NEXT SLIDE.
UM, BUT IN ADDITION TO LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS, INTERNAL CONTROLS, WE DO EVALUATE COMPLIANCE, UH, WITH CITY REGULATIONS, CONTRACTS, AND AGREEMENTS.
WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY NON-COMPLIANCE, UH, ASSOCIATED WITH THE FINDING THAT WE HAD.
UM, DURING OUR AUDIT, WE DID IDENTIFY CERTAIN ACCOUNTS THAT REQUIRED ADJUSTMENT AS PART OF OUR AUDIT PROCEDURES.
UM, THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON, UH, TO FIND, UH, CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED, ESPECIALLY IN A FIRST YEAR ENGAGEMENT.
UM, WE'VE TALKED WITH MANAGEMENT AT LENGTH ABOUT OUR FINDING, AND THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER A VERY COMPREHENSIVE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE SAME CONTROL DEFICIENCY MOVING FORWARD.
UM, THERESA AND HER GROUP INTEND TO IMPLEMENT A STANDARDIZED CHECKLIST, UH, TO ENHANCE THE MONTHLY AND YEAR CLOSING PROCEDURES.
THIS WILL ENSURE THAT TRANSACTIONS ARE TIMELY AND ACCURATELY REPORTED WITHIN THE GENERAL LEDGER.
UH, I, AGAIN, I'VE TALKED WITH THERESA.
I REALLY FEEL THAT THIS CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN IS COMPREHENSIVE AND SHOULD MITIGATE THE ISSUES THAT WE IDENTIFIED.
GREG, CAN I STEP IN REAL QUICK? YES.
THE FINDING IS WE WERE AWARE OF THIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THERESA FOUND BACK IN 2022, AND AS THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE SWITCHED TO NEW AUDITORS AS WELL TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE, UM, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED A LONG TIME AGO, AND OUR NEW AUDITORS HAVE HELPED US, UH, RESET WHERE WE WANT IT TO BE.
WE'RE HAPPY THAT, UH, WITH THE WORK THAT WEAVER'S DONE AND, UH, THIS WILL BE CORRECTED.
AND, UH, THIS WAS THE, THE LAST YEAR THAT WE WERE EXPECTING THIS TO POP UP ON THIS AUDIT AND, AND FOR GOING FORWARD, WE DON'T EXPECT THIS ANYMORE.
SO IN ADDITION TO RENDERING AN OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS THEMSELVES, WE'RE ALSO REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A, A FEDERAL SINGLE AUDIT.
UM, THAT'S BECAUSE THE CITY EXPENDS OVER $750,000 OF FEDERAL AWARDS.
UM, SO IN THAT AUDIT, WE ARE ALSO RENDERING AN UNMODIFIED OPINION.
THE PROGRAMS THAT WERE SELECTED FOR TESTING WAS THE COVID-19 ARPA FUNDING AND THE CDBG FUNDING.
WE DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY CONTROL MATTERS ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE PROGRAMS, NOR DID WE IDENTIFY ANY NON-COMPLIANCE.
WE'LL TAKE JUST A QUICK MOMENT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FINANCIAL RESULTS.
UH, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS THE STATEMENT OF NET POSITION.
SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE ENTIRE CITY, UM, UH, REPRESENTED ON THE FULL ACCRUAL METHOD.
SO THIS IS WHAT WOULD BE COMMONLY, UH, PRESENTED, UH, FOR A FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.
AND WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL FOCUS ON THE TOTAL, THE TOTAL COLUMNS TO THE FAR RIGHT.
UM, AND FURTHER TO THAT POINT, WE'LL LOOK AT NET POSITION.
SO THIS IS ESSENTIALLY THE EQUITY THAT'S LEFT AFTER WE TAKE ALL OF OUR ASSETS AND SUBTRACT ALL THE LIABILITIES.
SO THE CITY'S TOTAL NET POSITION WAS $585 MILLION.
UM, THE UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION, SO THESE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE ESSENTIALLY UNENCUMBERED WITH CAPITAL ASSETS OR RESTRICTED FOR GRANTS OR DEBT SERVICE, IS $22.3 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT WAS A POSITIVE SWING FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, WHICH WAS A NEGATIVE $6 MILLION.
UM, IT WAS VERY COMMON FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE IN A NEGATIVE UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION BECAUSE OF CERTAIN ACCOUNTING STANDARDS THAT REQUIRED THE RECORDING OF PENSION AND OPED LIABILITIES.
UM, AND WE'RE JUST NOW SEEING, UM, GOVERNMENTS STARTING TO RECOVER FROM THOSE, UH, RECORDING THOSE LARGE LIABILITIES.
AND THEIR NET POSITION STARTING TO GO BACK TO BEING POSITIVE.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THE, THE OVERALL NET POSITION DID INCREASE BY $37.6 MILLION, UH, LARGELY DRIVEN BY PROPERTY
[01:55:01]
TAXES, SALES TAX, EMS REVENUE AND WATER SEWER REVENUE.THE NEXT SLIDE IS A SNAPSHOT OF YOUR DEBT BY TYPE.
UM, THIS INCLUDES BOTH YOUR GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES AND YOUR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES.
THE GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES TOTALED 150.5 MILLION, UH, BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES TOTALED 92.3 MILLION.
UH, BRINGING YOUR TOTAL TO 2 42 0.8 MILLION.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT WAS AN INCREASE FROM PRIOR YEAR, AND THAT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE OF YOUR 24 CO BONDS OF ABOUT $56 MILLION.
UH, NEXT WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR GENERAL FUND.
UH, THIS IS A FIVE YEAR TREND ANALYSIS.
WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES.
UM, AND REALLY WE'RE TAKING THE NET OF THOSE TO LOOK AT YOUR TOTAL FUND BALANCE AND THEN DRILLING DOWN EVEN AT A MORE GRANULAR LEVEL AND LOOKING AT YOUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
UM, AS AUDITORS, WE LIKE TO LOOK AT WHAT YOUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE IS, IS A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR OPERATING EXPENDITURES WITHIN YOUR GENERAL FUND.
UH, FOR FY 24, THAT WAS ABOUT 23%, WHICH REPRESENTS, UM, ABOUT THREE MONTHS OF OPERATING EXPENSES, WHICH IS A GREAT POSITION TO BE IN.
UM, THAT'S A HEALTHY POSITION FOR YOUR FUND BALANCE.
UM, YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO DIP BELOW THAT.
Y'ALL ARE WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO CALL IN THE SWEET SPOT OF HAVING ABOUT 90 DAYS OF OPERATIONS, UH, IN YOUR GENERAL FUND.
AND THEN FINALLY, WE'LL LOOK AT YOUR GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO ACTUAL RESULTS.
YOU CAN SEE THE, THE VARIANCES IN YOUR REVENUES, YOUR EXPENSES, AND YOUR, UM, OTHER FINANCING SOURCES AND USES AND TRANSFERS, WHICH ALL NET TO A POSITIVE VARIANCE FROM YOUR ADOPTED BUDGET.
UM, ESSENTIALLY THE, THE CITY WAS CONSERVATIVE IN THE ESTIMATES FOR BUDGET, BUT I THINK THE, THE BIGGER POINT TO LOOK AT IS, IS THAT YOU'RE NOT NEGATIVE ON ANY SIDE OF THESE, WHICH REALLY KIND OF SHOWS FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY MANAGEMENT WAS ABLE TO OPERATE WITHIN THE BUDGET THAT'S APPROVED BY THE BOARD.
SO THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF MY PRESENTATION AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
OH, THERE'S JUST SOME INTERESTING.
AND I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THERESA AND HER GROUP.
YOU KNOW, HAVING NEW AUDITORS, IT IS A LOT OF WORK, YOU KNOW, GETTING USED TO A, A NEW SET OF REQUESTS.
UM, THEY DID A GREAT JOB OF GIVING US INFORMATION TIMELY.
UM, YOU KNOW, THEY NEEDED TO STAY LATE.
THEY STAY LATE AND, AND GOT US THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED.
SO JUST A, A SPECIAL THANKS TO THAT, TO THAT GROUP.
AND MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, UH, I, I'D LIKE TO DO THE SAME, UH, TO Y'ALL, GREG AND, AND STEVEN, UH, AND TO THERESA, ALL THE FINANCE TEAM AND THEN TO THE REST OF THE DIRECTORS AND, AND EMPLOYEES IN THE ORGANIZATION.
IF Y'ALL HEARD WHAT GREG WAS TALKING ABOUT, THIS, THE CITY HAS GONE THROUGH QUITE A BIT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS OF KIND OF RESETTING ON THE FINANCIAL POSITION.
UH, WE'VE MADE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS.
WE'VE WORKED TO, UM, REPOSITION WHERE WE ARE.
UH, IT IS PAYING OFF AND YOU'RE SEEING IT RIGHT HERE.
UH, PART OF THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS WITH FINANCE HAS LED TO, UH, UH, FIND A BETTER FINANCIAL STANDING FOR THE GENERAL FUND.
UH, AS Y'ALL KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PREVIOUS THINGS THAT THAT HAPPENED IN 2022, UH, AND BEFORE.
UM, AND ALL OF THAT IS FINALLY LINING UP.
UM, AND WITH EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM ON YOUR TEAMS, YOUR WORK HAS REALLY RESET WHERE WE, UH, WANT TO BE.
AND WE ARE COMING OUT OF THE WOODS AND IT LOOKS THAT WE'RE COMING OUT A LOT QUICKER THAN WE WERE EXPECTING.
AND, UM, THAT IS POSITIVE NEWS.
AND I APPRECIATE WEAVER AND WHAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE, UH, TO WORK WITH THEM.
I KNOW Y'ALL START AGAIN NEXT MONTH FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S AUDIT, UH, ALREADY.
AND, UH, THEY HAVE BEEN A STAPLE IN THE FINANCIAL, FINANCIAL, UH, DEPARTMENT'S WING FOR UH, UH, QUITE A FEW MONTHS NOW, SINCE DECEMBER.
AND THEY WILL BE WITH US FOR QUITE A FEW MORE MONTHS, STARTING AGAIN.
AND, UM, IT, IT TOOK ALL OF US TO GET HERE.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN INVOLVED THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND JASON, LIKE, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU, YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAS DONE.
I, AND THANK YOU FOR REALLY THIS.
AND, AND THE REAL BIG EYE TURN THERE WAS IN 2021, OUR GENERAL FUND WAS 48% AND GOT DOWN TO 21, 20 3% IN 2023.
AND IT'S JUMPED 5% SINCE IN 2024.
AND I FEEL WE'RE TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU CAN SEE SOME, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHY, WHY WE'VE HAD TO CUT SOME THINGS AND WHY WE'VE HAD TO ADD SOME ADDITIONAL FEES AND, AND BRING OUR FEES UP TO WHERE THEY ARE.
AND THOSE DECISIONS THAT WE'VE HAD TO MAKE SOME OF THOSE
[02:00:01]
IS BECAUSE THAT LITERALLY SHOWS WE, OUR GENERAL FUND WAS CUT IN HALF AND WE HAVE TO GET IT BACK TO WHERE IT WAS SO WE CAN, WE CAN HAVE THE THINGS AND, AND THE THE EXTRAS THAT WE, WE WERE ABLE TO DO BEFORE THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO.AND SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S HARD WORK, IF I MAY.
UM, BUT I THINK WE ALSO HAVE SEEN THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR, THERE'S ALSO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT WILL MAKE THE GENERAL FUND FLUCTUATE.
UM, WHEN WE HAD IT THAT HIGH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, PRIMARILY IT WAS, UM, STAFFING.
WE HAD, UH, THOUGHT WE NEEDED SO MUCH STAFFING AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE PANDEMIC CAME AND WE DIDN'T FILL A LOT OF THOSE SPOTS.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT MADE, UM, UH, THAT HIGH, UH, GENERAL FUND AMOUNT.
AND IT TOOK A DIVE BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE, UM, WE WENT BACK AND STARTED OPERATING, UM, IN THE NUMBERS THAT THERE SHOULD BE.
UM, AND, AND I THINK WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'RE, WE'RE ABOUT TO START BUDGET SEASON AGAIN.
AND, AND THERE'LL PROBABLY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE HEADACHES.
AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, JUST HANG IN THERE WITH US STAFF AND, UH, CITY ADMINISTRATION.
UM, I AGREE WE'RE, WE'RE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'RE MAKING THE CUTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE.
UM, BUT EVENTUALLY I THINK WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THE, THE POSITIVE NUMBERS.
[9. 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'RE, UM, NINE CONSENT AGENDA.WE WILL MOVE INTO CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS, AND TAKE ITEMS A THROUGH K.
UM, HOWEVER, WE WILL PULL ITEMS G, J, AND K AS NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AT THIS TIME.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WISH TO PULL ANY OTHER ITEM? OKAY, I NEED A MOTION.
MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS NINE A THROUGH, UM, K, WELL, A THROUGH I.
WELL, I WAS GONNA SAY A THROUGH K, EXCLUDING G, J AND K.
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER ONE FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE.
[a. Consider a resolution authorizing one (1) appointment to the Community Development Advisory Committee.]
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ONE APPOINTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY, UH, NOMINATION FOR THE AT LARGE POSITION REPLACING MR. RODRIGUEZ? YES, I HAVE A NOMINATION.
UH, I'M NOMINATING VIRGINIA DUBIOUS.
I CONTACTED HER THE OTHER DAY AND SHE IS INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THE THAT COMMITTEE.
ANY OTHER NOMINATIONS? OKAY, I NEED A MOTION.
OH NO, YOU MADE THE NOMINATION.
I I MOTION TO APPROVE VIRGINIA DUPAS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? NO.
[11. 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.]
REPORT.UH, I'D LIKE TO KICK THINGS OFF BY SPOTLIGHTING SEVERAL OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS, UH, OFFICERS LAMBERT THOMPSON SILLS, SPENCE RICHTER AND OBERLIN DEMONSTRATED REMARKABLE TEAMWORK AND COURAGE IN LOCATING AND APPREHENDING AN ARMED SUSPECT.
OFFICERS PERKINS RUDOLPH, UH, PERKINS AND RUDOLPH WENT ABOVE AND BEYOND OFFERING COMPASSION AND SUPPORT TO A CITIZEN WHO HAD JUST LOST THEIR SPOUSE OFFICERS BARRERA AND, UH, LAG SHOWED EXCEPTIONAL PROFESSIONALISM WHILE ASSISTING A CITIZEN INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, CORPORAL PARKER FOR DEMONSTRATING KINDNESS AND PROFESSIONALISM DURING HIS INTERACTION WITH A CITIZEN, LEAVING A PO POSITIVE IMPRESSION OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT.
SO STEVE, UH, PLEASE PASS THAT ON AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
UM, OUR VERY OWN BAYTOWN BREAKDOWN VIDEO SERIES RECENTLY WON FIRST PLACE AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATORS.
THEY ALSO RECEIVED AN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR THEIR 2025 BUDGET VIDEO.
UH, SO A HUGE CONGRATS TO OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM.
UH, I DIDN'T GET THE LITTLE TROPHY TO THIS SHOW.
AND TO OUR CITY CLERK'S OFFICE, UH, FOR WINNING THE TMCA ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE AWARD.
[02:05:01]
UP THE GREAT WORK.WHERE'S THAT HANGING AT, ANGIE? IS IT OKAY? WELL HANG IT UP HERE.
AND FINALLY, UM, WAYNE SPEAKS WITH PUBLIC WORKS.
I RECENTLY EARNED HIS, UM, EARNED HIS WASTEWATER OPERATOR CERTIFICATION.
SO GREAT JOB, UH, TO WAYNE AND KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK.
SO FRANK, PLEASE PASS THAT ON.
THANK SIR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO, AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND TO THE CITIZENS THAT SHOWED UP TONIGHT.
MAYOR COUNSEL, THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
[a. Receive a report from Council Member Mike Lester regarding projects, programs and events in District No. 6. ]
REPORT.UH, AND IT'S A PRETTY BRIEF REPORT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENTS, MALL DEVELOPMENTS GOING ON IN DISTRICT SIX.
SO I, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF PLANNING DEVELOPMENT AND, AND UH, KIND OF PUSH THOSE ALONG.
UM, THERE'S RENOVATIONS GOING ON AT THE E ECO SUITES THERE ON ALEXANDER THAT'S BEEN NEEDED FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
SO AS WE SEE THAT PROGRESS, I KNOW MY CONSTITUENTS ARE PLEASED TO SEE SOME POSITIVE ACTIVITY IN THAT LOCATION, SO I APPRECIATE THAT.
JUST KEEP 'EM, KEEP THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE AND KEEP PUSHING FORWARD WITH THAT.
UM, THE DISC GOLF, UM, DOWN ON EVERGREEN IS, UH, DOING WELL.
THEY SAY IT'S RATED, HOLDS UP 4.5 STAR RATING.
YEAH, SO, SO THAT'S A GREAT THING.
YOU KNOW, DISC GOLF HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR QUITE A BIT, BUT, SO IT'S GOOD TO KNOW THAT IT'S GETTING A LOT OF ACTIVITY.
AND THEN OUR EAST DISTRICT WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, PEOPLE SOMETIMES FORGET THAT WE HAVE THOSE.
UM, THEY'RE GETTING A NEW ADMIN BUILDING AND, AND STRUCTURAL WORK IS IN THE PHASE TWO.
AND, AND, UH, I KNOW IT'S, IT'S A NEEDED IMPROVEMENT AT THAT LOCATION AS WELL.
MAY I HAVE ONE ALIBI, IF YOU DON'T MIND? UH, I FORGOT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT BECAUSE, UH, MR. LUSTER MENTIONED, UH, EVERGREEN.
I WANNA RECOGNIZE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE TEAM THAT RESPONDED TO A FIRE OUT IN THAT AREA TODAY AND JUST SAY THANK YOU, UH, FOR, FOR THAT.
UH, AND UH, I KNOW IT WAS A QUICK RESPONSE AND WE'LL TRY TO GET EVERYTHING OUT AS QUICK AS WE CAN.
AND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN ALL THE AGENCIES, UH, MUTUAL AID PARTNERS.
I, I ALSO SKIPPED TDOT DID OPEN UP THE YES, THE BRIDGE AT FERRY ROAD.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T USED IT, IT'S, IT'S NICE GOING BOTH WAYS.
IT'S JUST, IF YOU TAKE THE FERRY ROAD TO GET ONTO 1 46 NOW YOU GOTTA CIRCLE BACK AROUND AND GO TO A STOP SIGN.
THERE'S THAT ENTRY RAMP THAT ACTUALLY HAVE TAKEN IT OUT.
SO IF YOU WANT TO GET ON BEFORE THE RAMP OR BEFORE THE OVERPASS, YOU GOTTA BASICALLY START AT ALEXANDER ON THE SERVICE ROAD, THEN GET ON AND GO.
BUT IT IT, IT EXPEDITES TRAFFIC CHIEF.
THE ONLY THING, I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT FOLKS, 'CAUSE THEY HAVE THE BARRIER, RIGHT AS YOU COME OFF THE BRIDGE AND PEOPLE NORMALLY TURN LEFT INTO THAT LITTLE SUBDIVISION.
NOW THEY GO AND THEY'RE USING SOME PRIVATE PROPERTY PARKING LOTS TO DO A QUICK U-TURN AROUND.
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE SOME MAJOR ACCIDENTS THERE IF WE DON'T CORRECT THAT BAD BEHAVIOR.
[13. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
WE WILL, IT IS NOW EIGHT 40 AND WE WILL RECESS INTO AND INTO AND CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 5 5 1 0.071 TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEYS REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION 5 5 1 0.087 TO DISCUSS REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND 5 5 1 0.074 TO DELIBERATE THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND DUTIES OF THE CITY MANAGER.HAVING EXHAUSTED EVERYTHING ON THIS AGENDA, I NOW ADJOURN THIS MEETING.
WAS THERE A LITTLE BIT SOFTER? YOU WANNA ADJOURN IT? 23.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS THROWING RIGHTS ON.