* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL OF BAYTOWN AND BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT JOINT MEETING ON THURSDAY, JULY 24TH, 2025, AND THE COUNCIL'S CHAMBER, CITY HALL, BAYTOWN, TEXAS, AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM AT 6:34 PM WE WILL NOW HAVE A PLEDGE AND INVOCATION GIVEN BY COUNCIL MEMBER SARAH BROWN, DISTRICT TWO. PLEASE JOIN ME. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. FOR HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD. ONE INDIVIDUAL, YOU JOIN ME IN PRAYER. EXCUSE ME. GOD, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US TOGETHER TO SERVE BAYTOWN. WE ASK FOR WISDOM AND CLARITY AS WE MAKE DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY. TONIGHT, WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR EVERYONE THAT WAS IMPACTED BY THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY, FLOODS, AND OTHERS ACROSS OUR STATE. PLEASE BRING PEACE, HEALING, AND PROTECTION WHERE IT'S NEEDED. PLEASE WATCH OVER ALL OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, POLICE AND FIRE, AND ALL THEIR MEDICAL TEAMS. WATCH OVER OUR MILITARY AS THEY SERVE OUR COUNTRY AROUND THE WORLD. KEEP THEM SAFE AS THEY WORK TO PROTECT AND SERVE EACH ONE OF US. PROVIDE FOR THOSE IN NEED, AND BLESS ALL THOSE WHO ARE HELPING THEM. AS WE GO INTO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS EVENING, PLEASE HELP US LEAD IN A WAY THAT REFLECTS YOUR LOVE AND GRACE. MAKE BAYTOWN A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE FEELS VALUED, INCLUDED, AND PART OF SHAPING OUR FUTURE. YOUR WORD SAYS IN JAMES ONE, FIVE, IF ANY OF YOU LACKED WISDOM, ASK GOD AND IT WILL BE GIVEN. I ASK OF YOU THAT NOW. IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME. AMEN. AMEN. START OFF WITH CITIZEN [1. CITIZEN COMMENTS Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, prohibits the City Council from discussing, deliberating, or considering, subjects for which public notice has not been given on the agenda. Issues that cannot be referred to the administration for action may be placed on the agenda of a future City Council Session.] COMMENT, AND I KNOW FOR A FACT WE HAVE SOME CITIZENS HERE TO SPEAK BECAUSE THEY CAUGHT ME IN A FOREIGN AND SAID THEY WERE SPEAKING. SO THE PURPOSE OF CITIZEN COMMENT IS TO GIVE ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. EVERYONE DESIRING TO SPEAK SHOULD HAVE THEIR SIGN, HAVE SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE FOUR YEAR, OR EMAILED THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE POSTED TIME OF THIS MEETING. EACH CITIZEN SHALL GIVE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PROPER RECORD OF THESE COMMENTS. THE RULES ALLOW EACH PERSON ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK. A CITIZEN MAY PASS HIS OR HER TIME TO ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAS REQUESTED TO ADDRESS COUNSEL. HOWEVER, NO CITIZEN'S REMARKS SHALL EXCEED THREE MINUTES IN TOTAL. EITHER THE ONE MINUTE OR THE THREE MINUTE LIMIT MAY BE EXTENDED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF COUNSEL. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE AS BRIEF AND TO THE POINT AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND COUNSEL CANNOT DISCUSS OR DELIBERATE ON ITEMS FOR WHICH PUBLIC NOTICE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN ON THIS AGENDA. WE WILL START WITH MS. DESTINY MORALES, AND SHE'S HAD TIME CONCEDED TO HER FROM MR. ISAIAH MORALES. AND MS. IS THIS MALIA? MALIA MORALES. SO MS. DESTINY MORALES, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, AND WOULD YOU PLEASE APPROACH AND GIVE YOUR ADDRESS? YES, MA'AM. MY ADDRESS IS CURRENTLY AT 200 HARVEY AVENUE IN BAYTOWN, 7 7 5 2 0. I AM APPROACHING Y'ALL TODAY IN REGARDS ON BEHALF OF STOP SIGNS. DUE TO THE FACT, I AM A MOTHER WITH FOUR CHILDREN, ONE WHO IS HIGH FUNCTIONING DISABLED, WHO HAS A HANDICAP PASS. EVEN MY NEIGHBORS, EVEN NEXT DOOR HAVE FIVE AND UNDER CHILDREN WHO ARE AUTISTIC THEMSELVES. AND UNFORTUNATELY BETWEEN HARVEY AND HARVARD STREET, THERE IS NO STOP SIGNS. AND AS A MOTHER, I'VE HAD TO WATCH MY DAUGHTER GET INTO A VEHICLE AND WITNESS PRACTICALLY ALMOST GETTING HIT ABOUT A MONTH AGO. IF IT WASN'T FOR ME AND MY HUSBAND BEING OUTSIDE, WHEN THAT OCCURRED, MY DAUGHTER WOULD'VE BEEN HIT BECAUSE THERE'S NO STOP SIGNS WHATSOEVER. I'VE BEEN MARRIED TO THIS MAN FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS, THEIR FATHER, BACK IN 2005, THERE WAS STOP SIGNS TO MY KNOWLEDGE FROM 2008 AND ON. I CANNOT TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE WAS PRIOR MILITARY. WE DID NOT LIVE HERE. WE LIVED IN HAWAII. BEING A DISABLED PARENT, STOP SIGNS WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE, IF MY OLD YOUNGEST COULD STAND UP, ALEXANDER, STAND UP BABY. HE'S ONLY 13 YEARS OLD, BUT HE IS PERMANENTLY DISABLED WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN PEOPLE COME OVER, THEY DON'T LIKE TO PULL INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, SO THEY JUST PULL UP TO THE SIDE AND NOT BE IN A PUBLIC ROAD. HE LIGHT DOES NOT LIKE TO TALK TO PEOPLE THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HE WANTS TO GO AROUND AND TALK TO THEM ON THE PASSENGER [00:05:01] SIDE. SO THAT'S WHY SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS TO BE OUT THERE AT ALL TIMES WITH HIM. EVEN DURING HIS BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR FOR A WATER SLIDE, WHO THOUGHT HAD TO BE UP FRONT BECAUSE OF OUR POOL IN THE BACK, SOMEONE HAD TO BE UP THERE WITH HIM BECAUSE HE'S THE TYPE OF CHILD WHO DOES NOT UNDERSTAND STRANGER DANGER. AND UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF HIS DISABILITY, HIS COMPREHENSION, THAT PUTS IN MY DANGER, SO DOES MY NEIGHBORS NEXT DOOR. THEIR CHILDREN ARE FIVE AND UNDER, AND THEY HAVE AN AUTISTIC CHILD WHO IS FOUR AND JUST BURNS OFF. I HAD TO RUN OUT INTO THE STREET THE OTHER DAY TO HELP THAT MOM GET HER CHILD BACK INTO THEIR HOME BECAUSE HE JUST BURNED OFF ON THE, ON THE MOM WHEN SHE WAS TRYING TO PLACE ALL HER KIDS INTO THE VEHICLE. BEING MOMS WITHOUT OUR SPOUSES AROUND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TAKE CARE OF A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD AND FOR THE SAFETY ABOUT HAVING A STOP SIGN, HAVING CAMERAS IN TODAY'S GENERATION IS OKAY. WELL, UH, WE LOVE OUR CHILDREN. UH, PLEASE SLOW DOWN. TODAY'S GENERATION WILL NOT SLOW DOWN AT AT LEAST THERE'S A STOP SIGN. THERE'S PROOF TO WHERE IF THEY GET A TICKET, COPS CAN COME BACK AND CHECK CAMERAS. IF THERE'S A STOP SIGN, THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN FIGHT IT BECAUSE IT'S PART OF STATE LAW. THERE'S A STOP SIGN. YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO STOP AT ALL TIMES FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE AROUND YOU. THAT'S WHY I'VE EVEN HAD TO MOVE MY CHILDREN FROM STERLING'S DISTRICT OVER AT LEE HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY WERE WALKING TWO STREETS PRIOR FROM WILLIAMS AVENUE ALL THE WAY TO HARVEY STREET BECAUSE THERE'S NO STOP SIGNS IF YOU LOOK AT THAT POINT OF VIEW. BUT AT LEE HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE LEE HIGH SCHOOL STOPS, THERE'S TWO STOP SIGNS AND THERE'S PEOPLE STOPPING. BUT FROM HARVARD TO HARVEY ALL THE WAY TO SCOTT STREETS, TO WILLIAMS, THERE'S NO STOP SIGNS UNLESS YOU'RE TURNING ON WILLIAMS ITSELF. SO FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN, I WOULD REALLY GREATLY APPRECIATE IF I COULD GET STOP SIGNS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT WE HAVE MS. AZA SPREADER. PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. THANK YOU. HI, I LIVE AT 9 0 1 SOUTH MAINE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 7 7 5 2 0. I WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FOR SUCH WONDERFUL EVENTS THAT THEY HAVE ORGANIZED OVER THE SUMMER. AS A BORN AND RAISED BATIAN, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM PELLEY PARK ALL MY LIFE, AND I CAN ATTEST TO THE GREAT EFFORTS THAT OUR PARKS AND DEPARTMENT PUT INTO MAINTAINING AND BEAUTIFYING OUR CITY PARKS. ON THE RECREATION SIDE, I HAVE COUNTLESS MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD ACTIVITIES SUCH AS DANCE CLASSES, AS WELL AS CONTINUED EXERCISE CLASSES AS YOGA INTO MY ADULT LIFE. ALL PROGRAMS THROUGH BAYTOWN PARKS AND REC, MY FAMILY SUMMER HAS BEEN ENRICHED BY EVENTS SUCH AS TACO NIGHT JUNETEENTH, AND THE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS AND TRIPS TO THE WETLANDS CENTER. WHENEVER I WONDER WHAT THERE IS TO DO IN BAYTOWN, I GO TO THE PARKS AND REC WEBSITE. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT PARKS THAT BAYTOWN PARKS AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE ESSENTIAL OR AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT TO BAYTOWN LIFE. BAYTOWN WOULD NOT BE THE SAME WITHOUT 'EM, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO MY PART TO ENSURE THAT OUR PARKS AND EVENTS CAN BE ENJOYED BY FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK. I NOW CLOSE THIS PART OF THE AGENDA FOR CITIZEN COMMENT. MOVING ON TO, [2. CITY COUNCIL ITEMS - MINUTES] TO, WE WILL TAKE ITEMS TWO A THROUGH TWO C TOGETHER AND CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES OF MDD AND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR JOINT MEETING HELD ON APRIL 24TH, 2025, AND THE CITY COUNCIL WORKS SESSION HELD ON JUNE 12TH, 2025 AND MDD AND COUNCIL REGULAR JOINT MEETING HELD ON JUNE 12TH, 2025. I NEED A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? ANY OPPOSED? GOOD DEAL. SPECIAL DISTRICT'S BUDGET FOR PHYSICAL YEAR PUBLIC HEARING. THE, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS TODAY ARE BEING HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING ALL INTERESTED PERSONS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS REGARDING THE SUBJECT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING. EVERYONE DESIRING TO BE A PART OF TODAY'S HEARING 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 COUNSEL ON THE SAME SUBJECT, PLEASE ELECT A SPOKESPERSON TO PRESENT INFORMATION. IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO ME. WE ARE NOW GOING TO CONDUCT [a. Conduct a public hearing concerning the Baytown Crime Prevention District's Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Proposed Budget.] A PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING BAYTOWN CROWN PREVENTION DISTRICT'S PHYSICAL, PHYSICAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26 BUDGET. IT IS NOW 6:44 PM AND I CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE BAYTOWN CROWN PREVENTION DISTRICT'S FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26, PROPOSED BUDGET. [00:10:01] I WOULD LIKE NOW TO REQUEST STAFF TO MEMORIZE THE SUBJECT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING. MS. MCKENZIE, UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNSEL. UM, THE BUDGET YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU HASN'T CHANGED FROM WHEN YOU RECEIVED IT. UM, WE ARE PRESENTING 2.5 MILLION IN REVENUES AND 2.7 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES LEAVING, UM, A ENDING WORKING CAPITAL OF ZERO, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I HAVE A, I HAVE A QUESTION. YES, SIR. UM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TIME TO BRING IT UP, BUT I WAS, UH, IN RELATION TO, I SEE WE SPEND, WE'RE SPENDING 184,000 HERE ON FLOCK, AND I KNOW WE'RE PAYING THAT A YEAR. UM, I'M HEARING THAT FLOCK IS ISSUING GRANTS TO CITIES FOR THESE CAMERAS TO EXPAND THEIR FLOCK CAMERAS. IS THAT SOMETHING WE'VE EVER LOOKED INTO? I WOULD NEED TO CHEAT TO. NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF, BUT WE CERTAINLY CAN. YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING, I MEAN, I'M JUST WANNA SAY I'M NOT SURELY SOLD ON FLOCK, BUT IF WE COULD GET THAT FUNDED THROUGH A SOURCE THAT JUST TRYING TO, WANTED TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THAT UP. UH, ALSO, UM, IN LIGHT OF OUR, UM, LISTENING TOUR, UM, STILL WANTING TO RECEIVE SOME OF THAT IN, UH, EVERYDAY DATA ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE, THOSE CAMERAS. SO I KIND OF WANNA GET THAT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. BUT, UM, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE COULD BENEFIT FOR SOME OF THOSE GRANT PROGRAMS IF WE COULD GET AHOLD OF THEM. WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT. THAT'S ALL. I GOT IT. ANYONE ELSE? YES, MA'AM. JUST FOR, FOR THOSE THAT ARE NOT FAMILIAR, UM, THE, THESE, THIS BUDGET AND THE NEXT ONE THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT, UM, THOSE WERE ACTUALLY PART OF A COMMITTEE. SO WE HAD SEPARATE CITIZENS THAT, THAT ARE ON THAT COMMITTEE MM-HMM . AND THEY GO THROUGH THE BUDGET, THEY ASK ALL THE QUESTIONS, AND SO IT STILL GOES THROUGH A, A CITIZEN REVIEW. AND SO I APPRECIATE ALL OF THEM. I, I BELIEVE NICK IS THE, UH, THE CHAIRMAN NICK RICE, AND SO I THINK THEY'VE ALL BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB, SO APPRECIATE THEIR INPUT ON THE BUDGET. EXCELLENT. IS THAT IT? THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK ON NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:46 PM CONCERNING THE BAYTOWN CRIME PREVENTION DISTRICT, FISCAL 20 25, 20 26. PROPOSED BUDGET THREE [b. Conduct a public hearing concerning the Baytown Fire Control, Prevention and EMS District Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Proposed Budget.] B THANK YOU. OH, YOU GONNA HANG OUT FOR WITH US? UH, YES, SIR. GOOD DEAL. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE BAYTOWN FIRE CONTROL PREVENTION AND EMS DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26 PROPOSED BUDGET. IT IS NOW 6:47 PM AND I CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE BAYTOWN FIRE CONTROL PREVENTION AND EMS DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26 BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE NOW TO ASK STAFF TO SUMMARIZE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. MS. MCKENZIE. UM, UH, GOOD EVENING. AGAIN, THIS, UH, BUDGET HAS NOT CHANGED AS WELL. WE HAVE 2.7 MILLION IN REVENUES AND 3.9 IN EXPENDITURES LEAVING AN ENDING WORKING CAPITAL OF 1.6 MILLION. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? GOOD DEAL. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK. I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 6:48 PM CONCERNING THE BAYTOWN FIRE CONTROL PREVENTION AND EMS DIS DISTRICT FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26. PROPOSED BUDGET. THANK YOU, MS. MCKENZIE. ARE YOU HANGING OUT AGAIN? OKAY, NOW WE'RE ON TO [a. Receive the City Manager's Proposed Municipal Budget and budget message for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.] FOUR A. RECEIVE THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUDGET MESSAGE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025. 2026. MS. MCKENZIE. OKAY, SO, UM, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, I'M HAPPY TO PRESENT THE FY 26 PROPOSED BUDGET. BEFORE I HIGHLIGHT THE SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF FY 26, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO MENTION THE PROJECTIONS OF FY 25, THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET. WE ARE PROJECTING A STRONGER FINANCIAL POSITION AND ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED KEY REVENUE DRIVERS, INCLUDING HIGHER THAN EXPECTED SALES AND FRANCHISE TAX COLLECTIONS, STRONG INVESTMENT EARNINGS AND INCREASE IN GOVERNMENTAL EARNING REVENUE HAVE PUSHED THE FY 25 GENERAL FUND ESTIMATES TO 143 MILLION, EXCEEDING THE ADOPTED BUDGET OF 138 MILLION BY $5.2 MILLION. ADDITIONALLY, EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS OF APPROXIMATELY 4 MILLION, LARGELY DUE TO PERSONNEL SAVINGS FOR VACANCIES AND CONSERVATIVE DEPARTMENTAL SPENDING HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO AN IMPROVED OUTLOOK. [00:15:01] THESE POSITIVE TRENDS SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DAYS OPERATING RESERVES TO 78 DAYS UP FROM THE 61 DAYS OF THE ADOPTED BUDGET. SO FOR THE FY 26 PROPOSED BUDGET, WE HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES IN STRENGTHENING OUR FINANCIAL POSITION. THE TOTAL PROPOSED GENERAL FUND BUDGET REFLECTS 143 MILLION IN REVENUE AND 142.4 MILLION IN EXPENDITURES, WHICH INCLUDES SIX NEW FIREFIGHTERS ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY AND SERVICE CAPACITY. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS, WE'RE ABLE TO FUND SUPPLEMENTALS OR ONE-TIME EXPENSES TOTALING $5.5 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDE ESSENTIAL VEHICLES, MACHINERY, AND EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES ON THE WATER AND SEWER SIDE. THE FY 26 PROPOSED BUDGET INCLUDES 7.8% OF IN UTILITY RATE INCREASE BASED ON THE WATER RATE STUDY TO SUPPORT OUR ONGOING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS. THE BUDGET REFLECTS NOT ONLY SOUND FINANCIAL PLANNING, BUT ALSO THE DEPARTMENT'S INCREDIBLE EFFORTS TO MAKE STRATEGIC REDUCTIONS. CITY DEPARTMENTS HAVE COLLECTIVELY MADE OVER $3 MILLION IN CUTS DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT IMPACT OPERATIONS AND RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OR REDUCTION OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. THIS ALSO INCLUDES THE ELIMINATION OF 6.5 VACANT POSITIONS. DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS FINANCIALLY SOUNDING BALANCED WITH REVENUES OVER EXPENDITURES AND AN ESTIMATED ENDING FUND BALANCE OF 30.2 MILLION, WHICH IS 80 DAYS OF OPERATING. SO LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICLY THANK ALL THE DIRECTORS AND THEIR STAFF FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD. YES, SIR. OH, WE DID PRETTY GOOD. AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO DOING PRETTY GOOD. YES, SIR. EXCELLENT. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? WE DO HAVE SOME PHOTOS SIGNED. YEAH, I WAS, YEAH, WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP. ONE IS GIVING THEIR TIME TO MS. JUNE STANSKI. MS. RHONDA LOPEZ IS GIVING HER TIME TO MS. JUNE STANSKI. SO, UM, MS. STANSKI, IF YOU DON'T MIND APPROACHING AND GIVING US YOUR ADDRESS FOR RECORD. JUNE STANSKI 46 0 1 DRIFTWOOD DRIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 7 7 5 2 1. UM, I'M A LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER. I PAY TAXES AND I DON'T GET PAID VACATIONS. UM, I'VE BEEN VERY UPSET, UH, TO SEE THE CITY'S BUDGET HAVING PROPOSED CUTS FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, UH, GIVING THE EXPLANATION OF, OH, WE HAVE TO MAKE CUTS, BUT YET WE HAVE A CITY MANAGER WHO IS BUSY MAKING THESE BUDGETS, GETTING A RAISE, AND 10 WEEKS OF PAID VACATIONS NOT GOOD. UM, LOOKING AT THE GENERAL FUND OVERHEAD BUDGET, PAGE 25, I SEE WHERE THE 24 25 BUDGET IS AT $4,965,230, AND HE'S REQUESTING AN INCREASE FOR HIS DEPARTMENT FOR 73 92 5 258. THAT'S AN INCREASE OF OVER 2,427,000. AND YET WE HAVE TO CUT BUS ROUTES FOR THE NEED PEOPLE AND FOR THE DISABLED PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, HAVING A 2 MILLION, $2.4 MILLION INCREASE IN SOMEBODY WHO'S GETTING A RAISE AND HIS DEPARTMENT, WHEN THEY'RE SET, GIVING US BUDGETS THAT CUT ESSENTIAL SERVICES. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING OUT FESTIVALS. THAT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT BAYTOWN, IS OUR CITY FESTIVALS. THEY USED TO BE SOME OF THEM 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL AND JUNETEENTH, THEY USED TO BE TWO DAYS LONG AND THE BUDGETS HAVE BEEN CUT SO THEY CAN HAVE ONLY ONE DAY. AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POSSIBLY ELIMINATING JUNETEENTH AND THEO FESTIVAL. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. I, AS A TAXPAYER, DO NOT ACCEPT YOU RUINING OUR CITY BY TRYING TO CUT WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT IT SO THAT SOME PEOPLE CAN GET RAISES 10 DAYS OF PAID VACATION AND FEDERAL HOLIDAYS. THAT MEANS YOU ONLY WORK 80% OF THE YEAR. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IN THIS [00:20:01] ROOM GETS 10, 10 WEEKS OF PAID VACATION. IT'D BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT. I DON'T CARE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE PAYING THEIR PEOPLE. THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, PAYING PEOPLE. WE NEED TO STOP THIS. I KNOW YOU VOTED TO GIVE THEM A RAISE AND TO, AND TO KEEP US, UM, INCREASE HIS OR CONTINUOUS CONTRACT. NOT GOOD. WE, WE HAD SO MANY PARKS, DEPARTMENTS, PROJECTS CUT BECAUSE OF A $1.6 MILLION MISTAKE IN AN INSURANCE QUOTE. AND THEY HAD TO TAKE MONEY OUT OF PARKS, DEPARTMENT'S, PROJECTS SO THAT THEY COULD MAKE THE BUDGET TO PAY THE INSURANCE THAT WAS MISQUOTED. NOT, THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL. PEOPLE THAT MAKE THOSE KIND OF MISTAKES SHOULD NOT BE GETTING RAISES, SHOULD NOT BE GETTING EXTENSION CONTRACTS. MS. DESK, I'M TAKING LINDA, UM, RHONDA'S. NO, I, I'M OKAY. RHONDA'S, THREE MINUTES. GO AHEAD. SO I, I JUST DO NOT SEE WHERE THIS WHOLE COUNCIL COULD VOTE TO DO THESE THINGS. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY IN WHAT, TWO, MAYBE FOUR WEEKS TO LOOK AT THE BUDGETS. YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH 300, OVER 300 PAGES OF BUDGETS. AND AS I SAID, ON LINE 25, ON PAGE 25, I FOUND THE INCREASES IN HIS BUDGET. NOT GOOD. NOT GOOD AT ALL. WATCH FOR THE PEOPLE. WATCH FOR THE LITTLE GUYS. THEY'RE THE ONES THAT NEED THE HELP FROM THE CITY, NOT THE BIG GUYS. I MEAN, I JUST HATE TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS PROJECT VECTOR WHERE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TAKING DOWN BUILDINGS AND LIBRARIES AND, AND, AND LEE COLLEGE PROPERTIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I MEAN, WE NEED TO BE MORE FISCALLY SOUND THAN TO START SPENDING MONEY CARELESSLY ON PROJECTS THAT EXXON IS LOANING US THEIR TAX MONEY. I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT EVEN GONNA BE PAYING BUILDING TAXES BECAUSE THEY KNOCKED DOWN THEIR BUILDING. NO. WE NEED TO BE MORE FISCALLY SOUND. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS? MM-HMM. THEY GAVE TIME. OH, WE DO. OH LORD. WM AILING ING, I'M SORRY. ACCEPTED MISPRONUNCIATIONS. THAT NAME'S ALWAYS ASKING FOR IT. IS IT ING AIG? AIG. TEMPTATION TO STICK AN N IN THERE, BUT IT'S NOT THERE. GOT YOU. WILLIAM HOLLIS, AIG 6 0 7 SCENIC, UH, A SUB PORTION OF THE LAST PRESENTATION. MY CONCERN IS THE CONTINUING BUDGET FOR THE EVENTS AT BICENTENNIAL PARK AND TOWN SQUARE, PARTICULARLY JUNETEENTH AND GRITO FEST. I MOVED TO BAYTOWN IN 1962, ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THE CENTENNIAL OF, UH, OF EMAN OF EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION JUST A MONTH BEFORE THAT OCCURRED. I'VE LIVED HERE MORE YEARS THAN NOT SINCE I WAS AT BICENTENNIAL PARK IN 1976, THE YEAR IT OPENED, CELEBRATING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. I'VE BEEN AT THE PARK PLENTY OF TIME SINCE. AS WE APPROACH THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION, WE FACE THE SAME OUTSTANDING WORDS WHEN IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS, IT BECOMES NECESSARY. JEFFERSON OUTDID HIMSELF ON THAT ONE. WE MUST ALL DEAL WITH ALL THE WORDS OF THAT DOCUMENT FOR, FOR WHICH MANY SIGNERS DID OFFER THEIR LIVES, THEIR FORTUNES, AND FOR WHICH THEY ALL PLEDGE THEIR SACRED HONOR. AMONG THE WORDS, WHAT LINCOLN CALLED THE PROPOSITION THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL. THIS COUNTRY STRUGGLED FOR 25 DECADES TO FULFILL SUCH WORDS. WE MAY BE GETTING CLOSER. JUNETEENTH WAS PART OF THAT STRUGGLE ON THAT DAY IN GALVESTON, IN TEXAS, AND IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY. [00:25:02] I PROPOSED THAT PEOPLE ALREADY KNEW THE BASIC CONTENTS OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION. WHAT THE PEOPLE OF GALVESTON LEARNED ON THAT DAY WAS WHETHER OR NOT THE UNITED STATES WOULD HONOR LINCOLN'S WORDS OF 30 MONTHS BEFORE LET US CONTINUE TO HONOR ALL THESE WORDS. AND TO HONOR EACH OTHER THIS YEAR AND THE YEARS TO COME REGARDING SUCH AS RITO FEST, IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT THAT THE SAME THOMAS JEFFERSON ENCOURAGED HIS PEERS, AND I WOULD SAY US AS WELL, TO LEARN SPANISH, THE LANGUAGE WE SHARE WITH THE PEOPLES OF THESE CONTINENTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? LIKE I SAID, A CLARIFICATION SIX FIREFIGHTERS CHIEF, THOSE ARE FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS, CORRECT? YES, MA'AM. AND IT'S TO BRING ON ANOTHER AMBULANCE? YES, SIR. PERFECT. I JUST WANNA BE REAL CLEAR. , UM, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS KNOW THAT, THAT'S WHY 'CAUSE WE'LL GET THE QUESTION. YOU BRING ON SIX FIREFIGHTERS. IT'S, IT'S, WE'RE BRINGING ON FIREFIGHTER PARAMEDICS NEW POSITION AND A NEW UNIT THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY CORRECT. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES, MA'AM. I JUST, FOR THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, UM, AS WE'VE MOVED FORWARD WITH SEVERAL BUDGETS, UM, I WANTED TO THANK THE STAFF, UM, AND MY COLLEAGUES THAT HAVE BEEN UP HERE THROUGH THIS BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF VERY CHALLENGING DECISIONS. UM, SOME OF THE THINGS HAVE BEEN UNANIMOUS AND SOME HAVE NOT. BUT, UM, I'M, I WAS VERY GLAD TO HEAR THE WORDS, UM, MS. MCKENZIE, THAT WE HA ARE LOOKING AT 80 DAYS OF OPERATING, UM, SOUND AND BALANCED. THE FACT WE WERE STILL ABLE TO, TO, UM, LEND SOME POSITIONS TO FIRE. TH THIS ALL SOUNDS VERY GOOD. I KNOW THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE, BUT THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO EVERYONE AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND EVERYONE SITTING UP HERE FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS. UM, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THIS BUDGET. IT'S BEEN TWO AND A HALF YEARS OF ALL OF THIS. SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT, UM, SOME OF THESE PRACTICES THAT WE HAVE COME TOGETHER AND FOUND COMPROMISES ON ARE STARTING TO, UM, REAP THE HARVEST. EXCELLENT. ANYONE ELSE? UM, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I KNOW THAT EMAIL WASN'T CONFIDENTIAL. AND SO AS WE LOOK INTO REVIEWING THE BUDGET, UM, I KNOW THERE WERE, UH, SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WERE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY DOING CUTS TO OUR PARKS, UH, EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING, UH, AS IT RELATES TO THE THREE EVENTS THAT WERE SPOKEN TODAY. AND SO I I JUST WANT US TO, TO HAVE AN OPEN MIND AS WE GO THROUGH THAT. YES, WE KNOW CUTS HAVE TO BE MADE, BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS, UH, THAT WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT. AND IT'S, UM, OUR CITIZENS AND THEIR WELLBEING. AND A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO HAVE MENTIONED THAT. AND, AND WE HEARD THAT FROM MR. AZALEA. THIS IS WHERE SHE GOES TO OUR EVENTS. WE HAVE AWARD-WINNING EVENTS. AND SO ALTHOUGH I APPRECIATED THE INPUT THAT THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS PROVIDED AND WAS SHARED TO US BY OUR, OUR CITY MANAGER, UM, UH, I DON'T WANT US TO RUSH INTO ANYTHING. AND SO I DID ASK, UH, THE DATA THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, UH, FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS IS WHAT I REQUESTED. UM, AND YOU'LL HAVE A TIME TO REVIEW THAT AS WE, YOU KNOW, GO INTO THE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. BUT, UM, UH, AGAIN, I JUST WANT Y'ALL TO CONSIDER THAT, UH, IT, IT'S NOT EASY CUTTING THINGS. IT'S NOT, WE'VE HEARD FROM SOME OF OUR RESIDENTS TODAY ABOUT SOME CUTS THAT DO IMPACT, UH, SOME OTHER AREAS. AND SO, UM, I JUST WANT US TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT. AND, UM, I'LL GO BACK TO MY INITIAL COMMENT THAT I MADE BEFORE. IF, IF YOU DON'T GO TO THE EVENTS, THAT'S FINE. UH, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT STILL DO. AND, UH, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THOSE INITIATIVES AS WELL. GOOD DEAL. THANK YOU. YES, SIR. [00:30:03] UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU TO THE FINANCE, UH, DEPARTMENT AND, AND THE CITY FOR, UM, GETTING THIS BUDGET PREPARED FOR US TO LOOK AT. UM, I DON'T KNOW. I, I THINK IT, THERE SEEMS TO BE A MISCONCEPTION THAT, YOU KNOW, A CUT TO SOME OF THESE BUDGETS MEANS THAT WE CAN'T HAVE, UM, A QUALITY EVENT THAT, UM, WE CAN'T, IT WON'T BE THE SAME UNLESS, YOU KNOW, THE CITY DOES, UH, 100% FUNDING OF THESE PROJECTS. AND IF THESE PROJECTS ARE GENERATING THE INTEREST THAT THEY ARE, MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT POSSIBLY, YOU KNOW, GETTING PRIVATE, UM, PRIVATE ENTITIES INVOLVED AND HELPING SUPPLEMENT AND FUND SOME OF THESE EVENTS TO WHERE IT'S NOT SUCH A, A BURDEN. UM, NOT, NOT TO USE THE WORD BURDEN, BUT, UM, UH, IT COST ON, ON THE CITY. AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD, I WANT ALL OF US TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON, YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE WAYS IT'S GET A CAT. UM, NOT A, NOT JUST NOT A, A STAB AGAINST CAT, BUT FOR THE CAT PEOPLE OUT THERE. BUT, UM, THAT , WE, UH, WE, WE REALLY KEEP AN OPEN PERSPECTIVE ON HOW WE COULD, YOU KNOW, FUND THIS AND EVEN GET SOME OF OUR LOCAL, UM, BUSINESSES INVOLVED AND REALLY HELPING MAKING THESE EVENTS, UM, UH, KEEP GOING FOR OUR CITIZENS. SO YES, MA'AM. I KNOW I ALREADY SPOKE, BUT I I'M ACTUALLY SO GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP. UM, SO ABOUT, UH, I THINK ABOUT NINE MONTHS AGO, I HAVE A, A GOOD FRIEND THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR DR. PEPPER AND SHE ACTUALLY APPROACHED ME, UM, AND TOLD ME THAT SHE WOULD, DR. PEPPER ACTUALLY SPONSORED SOME OTHER BIG EVENTS IN HOUSTON AND SHE APPROACHED AND WANTED TO SPEAK WITH THE CITY AND ACTUALLY MADE A CONNECTION WITH PARKS AND REC. AND, UM, IT HASN'T BEEN SHARED WITH ANYBODY OPENLY YET. THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE. UM, NOTHING IS SOLIDIFIED. AND WHEN YOU GET LARGE SPONSORSHIPS LIKE DR. PEPPER, OTHER BIG COMPANIES, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS LEGALLY THAT GO INTO THIS. BUT I, I DO WANT TO SHARE WITH Y'ALL, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN WORKING ON, UM, WITH PARKS AND REC. AND SO WE ARE ALREADY, I, I AGREE WITH YOU. UM, ALTHOUGH, UM, I DIDN'T KNOW HOW DEEP WE WERE GONNA GET INTO THIS TODAY 'CAUSE WE ARE ONLY RECEIVING THE BUDGET AND THERE'S GONNA BE, UH, TO CITIZENS, THERE'S GONNA BE PLENTY OF OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO, TO DISCUSS ALL OF THESE. BUT I, I, I ACTUALLY JUST, JUST TO SAY NOW I WANT TO KEEP ALL THE EVENTS. UM, I'M NOT INTO DEFUNDING ANY OF THEM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, UM, SOME PRIVATE SPONSORS START SUPPLEMENTING THEM SO THEY CAN GET BETTER. UM, BUT I, I THINK MOVING FORWARD THAT, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. UM, I, I KNOW MS. ALVARADO ALSO, UM, I, WHAT DID WE CALL THE, THE ROOM THAT LEE COLLEGE LET US USE. THE, THE COOLING CENTER, THE, I, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WORD WAS GIVEN TO IT, BUT SHE JUMPED ON BOARD NOT EVEN KNOWING THIS WAS GOING TO, UM, REALLY BE A TOPIC AND STARTED LOOKING AT SOME OTHER VERY LARGE COMPANIES TO SEE IF THEY WOULD SPONSOR, UM, JUST ONE OF THESE COOLING ROOMS, NOT KNOWING THAT COUNCIL WOULD MAYBE BE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, BROADER, UM, SPONSORSHIPS. SO KUDOS, I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT TRACK TO GO DOWN AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN COME, UH, TO FRUITION WITH, WITH WHAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN WORKING ON FOR NINE MONTHS. SO, ANYONE ELSE? ARE THERE ANY SERVICES THE COUNCIL WOULD LIKE STAFF TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT BUDGET MEETING OF THE STUFF THAT Y'ALL LOOKED AT? JUST TO GIVE US TIME TO PREPARE, TO MAKE THE USE OF MOST, THE MOST USE OF THE TIME THAT WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR THESE BUDGET MEETINGS? I DON'T KNOW THAT, HAS EVERYONE ACTUALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A DEEP DIVE INTO THIS YET? I GOT, I JUST GOT EMAIL WITH THIS YESTERDAY, SO YEAH, AS FAR AS TIME, MY EYE, MY EYES ARE REALLY LAYING RIGHT ON. UM, I DID DO A HIGH LEVEL, UM, I DIDN'T GET DEEP INTO IT, BUT YOU AND I HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE TRANSIT, UM, AND HOW EVEN THOUGH WE ARE RATIFYING AT A CERTAIN AMOUNT, UH, THAT WE ARE STILL LOOKING AT HOW ELSE WE CAN SUPPLEMENT THAT, WHETHER IT BE ADDITIONAL GRANTS, UH, THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE OR, UH, ADDITIONAL MONIES THAT, UH, HARRIS COUNTY THEMSELVES CAN ALLOCATE TO THIS. UM, THIS MORNING I WAS ALSO, UM, IN COMMUNICATIONS, UM, UH, IN A MEETING THIS MORNING, MAYOR MM-HMM . UH, AND, UM, HE, AND THAT, I DON'T WANNA STEAL ANY OF REWARDS, BUT, UH, THERE'S ALSO HIGHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MAYBE WHAT EITHER HGAC, WHICH IS HARRIS COUNTY, UM, UH, [00:35:01] HARRIS COUNTY, GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL CAN POSSIBLY SUPPORT. BUT THERE'S ALSO A SURVEY RIGHT NOW HAPPENING AND IT'S WAS SENT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA IF WE PERHAPS CAN, UH, CAN SHARE IT THROUGH THE CITY'S FACEBOOK PAGE. THEY ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON REVAMPING THE ENTIRE TRANSPORTATION, UH, SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THE, UH, HGAC TERRITORIES. UM, I PARTICIPATED IN THE ONE FROM THE CHAMBERS COUNTY AREA. THEY HAD A REALLY GREAT TURNOUT. UM, I WILL TELL YOU FOR THAT AREA, UH, THERE WAS LOW RESPONSE WHEN IT CAME TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. UM, WE ALL KNOW THAT FROM EVEN OUR, OUR OWN TRANSPORTATION, UM, THERE'S NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE WHO USE THE BUS SERVICE IN THAT AREA. THAT'S NOT ONE OF THEIR PRIORITIES. BUT HARRIS COUNTY WILL BE HAVING THEIR OWN MEETING ON JULY 31ST. UM, THERE'S A SURVEY AND THEN THERE'S ALSO, UH, UH, YOU CAN JOIN ONLINE IF YOU CAN'T GO IN PERSON. AND SINCE HARRIS COUNTY IS SO BIG, THEIR MEETING IS AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS ON TIMMINS, WHICH A LOT OF OUR FOLKS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND MM-HMM . BUT THEY CAN PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY. AND, UM, YOU CAN GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK THROUGH THE SURVEY, YOU CAN CHIME IN, UM, IN THE MEETING AND IF, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, THEN WE NEED TO GET THOSE SURVEYS IN. AND SO I APPRECIATE HGAC DOING THAT FOR THE ENTIRE REGION. AND THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD ONCE AGAIN FOR, UH, ALL THE WAY THROUGH 2050. SO IF WE CAN GET THAT SHARED, THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. UNDERSTOOD. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK. UM, BUDGET. THE, THESE SESSIONS ARE NOT TAKEN LIGHTLY. UM, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT FOUR MORE SESSIONS GOING THREE TO FOUR MORE SESSIONS GOING FORWARD, AND IT COULD POSSIBLY EVEN BE EVEN MORE THAN THAT. AND IF YOU WANT YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD, YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS MANY TIMES, TEXT, CALL, EMAIL, FAX, SEND SMOKE SIGNALS. DO WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, MYSELF, AND TAKE NOTE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN FOUR B. WRITE THESE DATES AND THESE TIMES DOWN AND SHOW UP TO THE LOCATIONS AND ALLOW YOUR VOICE TO BE HEARD. WE'RE HERE TO SERVE YOU ALL. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL. SO THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE YOUR INPUT ON THE, ON THIS, ON OUR BUDGET FOR 20 25, 20 26. MOVING ON TO [b. Consider a resolution setting the dates for the budget work sessions to discuss the Proposed Municipal Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.] FOUR B, CONSIDER OUR RESOLUTION SETTING THE DATES FOR THE BUDGET WORK SESSION TO DISCUSS PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26. WHAT WE HAVE HERE, WE HAVE A BUDGET WORK SESSION THAT WILL BE HELD ON AUGUST THE FIFTH AT 4:00 PM AT THE FIRE TRAINING FIELD LOCATED AT 7 0 2 2 BAYWAY DRIVE. UM, THEY SAY IF NEEDED, AND I'M GONNA SAY WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA NEED IT AUGUST THE SIXTH AT 4:00 PM ALSO, SAME LOCATION. AND IF NEEDED, WE PLAN ON HOLDING ADDITIONAL SESSIONS THAT WILL BE HELD BETWEEN AUGUST THE 14TH AND AUGUST THE 28TH WITH THE TIMES AND LOCATIONS TO BE DETERMINED. I NEED A MOTION. MOTION. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. C [c. Consider an ordinance setting the date, time and place for a public hearing regarding the Proposed Municipal Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.] CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE SETTING THE DATE, TIME, AND PLACE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH, 2025, 6:30 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER. LOCATED WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW. I NEED A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND QUICK QUESTION ABOUT THIS. IF WE NEED TO CHANGE THIS DATE, WHAT WOULD, HOW WOULD WE DO THAT? WHAT WOULD GO INTO IT? JUST BRINGING IT BACK ON ANOTHER AGENDA AND UPDATE IT. YES SIR. WE'D ALSO HAVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES BECAUSE OF THE, UH, SIX MONTH RULE IN BETWEEN ITEMS. YOU CAN'T BRING SOMETHING BACK VERSUS IS VOTED ON. YEAH. OKAY. GOOD DEAL. WHEN DO WE HAVE TO HAVE THIS BUDGET RECTIFIED BY? WE DON'T HAVE TO APPROVE THE BUDGET. WE HAVEN'T THROUGH SEPTEMBER TO APPROVE THE BUDGET. OKAY. BUT WE DON'T WANT TO. IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE FINISHED. YEAH. WE DON'T WANT TO CUT IT CLOSE. YEAH. GOOD DEAL. WE GOT A FIRST. WE GOT A MOTION IN THE SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? FIVE [a. Consider an ordinance authorizing a new Industrial District Agreement between the City of Baytown and Sumika Semiconductors.] A CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A NEW INDUSTRIAL AGREEMENT, [00:40:01] AN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN AND IKA SEMICONDUCTORS, MR. REYNOLDS. OKAY. UM, YES, , UH, THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE IN A PAUSE. MAYOR . UH, SO THIS IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING, UH, THIS IS $130 MILLION IDA AGREEMENT, UH, WITH IKA, UH, SEMICONDUCTORS, UH, THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR AT LEAST THREE YEARS. UH, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE, UH, EDF AND, UM, UH, AND OUR OTHER INDUSTRY PARTNERS GETTING THIS READY TO GO AND I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT THIS IS, UH, THIS IS ACTUALLY ON THE AGENDA. AND SO THIS WILL BE FOR TAX YEARS, 2026 THROUGH 2040. AND, UM, UH, THEY'LL BE TREATED LIKE THE OTHER IDAS THAT WE HAVE WHERE THEY GET, UH, SIX 66% OF THE TAX RATE THAT THEY'RE PAYING, UH, FOR THE IDAS. THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT, MAYOR. ALRIGHT, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I NEED A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. FIVE B. [b. Consider an ordinance for the first reading of the proposed voluntary annexation of approximately 19.86 acres at 5401 Interstate Highway 10 (IH 10), located on the north side of IH 10, approximately 1,925 feet east of Garth Road.] CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE FOR THE FIRST READING OF THE PROPOSED VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY 19.86 ACRES AT 5 5 4 0 1 INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 10, LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 10 APPROXIMATE APPRO CLOSE TO 1,925 FEET EAST OF GARTH ROAD. I GOT IT THE FIRST TIME, BUT COULDN'T GET IT THE SECOND TIME. I NEED A MOTION. WELL, MR. SCRIBNER, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UH, THIS IS THE ITEM. THIS IS THE, JUST LESS THAN 20 ACRES, UM, REGARDING THE PULTE, UH, LAND. THEY'RE ADDING THIS TO THE 30 ACRES THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE INSIDE THE CITY. UM, WE'VE KIND OF GONE OVER THIS A COUPLE TIMES, SO THIS IS JUST THE FIRST READING OF THAT ORDINANCE. YOU'LL HAVE A SECOND READING IN FRONT OF YOU NEXT MONTH, AND THEN SOMETIME AFTER THAT YOU'LL HAVE THEIR, UH, ZONING AMENDMENT IN FRONT OF YOU AS WELL FOR THE EN FOR THE ENTIRE 50 ACRES PANEL. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? A NEED A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE FIVE B. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? A. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? FIVE [c. Consider an ordinance adding limited purpose annexed property generally described as approximately 356.99 acres, located generally South of East Wallisville Road and East of Garth Road to a Council District.] C. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE ADDING LIMITED PURPOSE ANNEX PROPERTY GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS APPROXIMATELY 356.99 ACRES LOCATED GENERALLY SOUTH OF EAST VILLE ROAD AND EAST OF GARTH ROAD TO A COUNCIL DISTRICT. MR. MAYOR, WE'D ASK THAT COUNCIL PASS ON THIS ITEM. MM-HMM . AND TAKE NO ACTION. IT'S NOT READY AT THIS TIME. GOOD DEAL. WELL, WE WILL MOVE ON. THANK YOU. ONE MORE. DO WE NEED TO TABLE IT? WE NEED MOTION. WE JUST MOVE ON. TAKE NO ACTION PLEASE. SIX A CONSIDER [6. PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS] A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2025 THROUGH 2029 CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM. MR. SCRIBNER? UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM, THIS IS, SO LAST, UH, MONTH, YOU SAW THE PUBLIC, WE HAD THE PUBLIC HEARING, YOU SAW THE PRESENTATION BY THE CONSULTANT, UM, REGARDING THE THREE ITEMS THAT ARE ALL KIND OF LINKED. THIS IS SIX A, B, AND C, UM, WHICH IS THE CITIZEN PART PARTICIPATION PLAN PLAN FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, AS WELL AS THE, UM, FIVE YEAR CONSOLIDATED PLAN. THESE ARE REQUIRED ITEMS, UM, FOR OUR HUD GRANTS AS WELL AS THE, UH, CDAC RECOMMENDED. UM, BASICALLY THE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR AND HOW THE, THE, THE AWARDED FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE USED. SO AGAIN, NOTHING'S CHANGED SINCE THAT, UM, SINCE THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS. UM, WE HAVE SOME SLIDES PREPARED IN CASE ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS. AND SHARON IS, UH, HAS GRACIOUSLY VOLUNTEERED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR ME. . UH, SO, UM, THAT SAID, UM, IF YOU HAVE THE QUESTIONS, WE CAN GO THROUGH THE SLIDES, OTHERWISE WE ASK THAT, UH, COUNSEL APPROVE ALL THREE ITEMS TONIGHT. ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY. I NEED A MOTION. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? FIVE B. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPT. I'M SORRY, SIX. WE COULD HAVE TAKEN THEM TOGETHER, RIGHT? IF YOU'D LIKE. YES. YEAH, SORRY, I WAS MOTIONING FOR ALL THREE, BUT SCOTT, I MESSED UP . UH, SIX A C SOMEWHERE. WERE TO MAKE A MOTION TO DO THAT. YOU CERTAINLY COULD. [00:45:01] YEAH, I, I THOUGHT I HAD, BUT I DIDN'T SPECIFY THAT IT WAS FOR SIX A, SIX A, B, C. SO WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY. WE'LL GO AHEAD. SO I NEED TO AMEND MY MOTION, UM, TO ACCEPT ITEMS SIX A THROUGH C. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THANK YOU MR. SCRIBNER. ON TO SEVEN A. REPORTS [a. Receive the 2025 Certified Ad Valorem Anticipated Collection Rate and the Certified Excess Debt Collections from the City of Baytown Tax Assessor/Collector.] RECEIVE 2025 CERTIFIED ADV RUM ANTICIPATED TAX COLLECTION RATE AND THE CERTIFIED EXCESS DEBT COLLECTIONS FROM THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TAX ASSESSOR COLLECTOR. MS. MCKENZIE, UM, THIS IS A HIGH, I'M SO SORRY, A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO BRING TO YOU EACH YEAR BEFORE WE DO OUR PROPERTY TAX CALCULATION. AND SO THE CALCULATION THIS YEAR IS 102%. UM, THAT WAS OUR CALCULATE, UH, COLLECTION RATE AND THAT WILL BE THE RATE WE'RE USING IN OUR PROPERTY TAX CALCULATION. AND THEN WE HAD AN XX COLLECTION OF 1.2 MILLION. AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. GOOD DEAL. WELL WE WILL CONSIDER THAT RECEIVED. THANK YOU. NOW WE'RE ON [8. 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.] TO CONSENT AGENDA, BUT WE HAVE SOMEONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON EIGHT A AND EIGHT B. SO WE ARE GONNA NEED TO PULL THOSE TWO ITEMS, TAKE THEM SEPARATELY. CAN I GET A MOTION FOR EVERYTHING FOR THE REST OF THEM? MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS. CONSENT ITEMS C THROUGH K. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NOW WE WILL [a. Consider an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, authorizing Amendment No. 18 to the Interlocal Agreement with Harris County for Public Transportation Services in the City of Baytown.] GO WITH EIGHT A CONSIDERING ORDINANCE OF CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS AUTHORIZING AMENDMENT NUMBER 18 TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. MR. LAMONT COUNSEL, IF YOU RECALL, UH, WHEN WE SPOKE A COUPLE MEETINGS AGO ABOUT THE HARRIS COUNTY TRANSIT INTERLOCAL, YOU INITIALLY APPROVED FUNDING FOR THAT ITEM, UH, BUT SUBSEQUENT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE FUNDING ITEMS, YOU DID NOT APPROVE THE INTERLOCAL WITH HARRIS COUNTY AND ASKED FOR SOME CHANGES TO BE MADE. SO WE'VE MADE THOSE CHANGES TO THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO RE REPEAL AND REPLACE THE ORDINANCE AND THE RESOLUTION BETWEEN THE CITY AND MDD FOR THE FUNDING TO ACCOUNT FOR THE DECREASED AMOUNT. THANK YOU. UM, BEFORE MS. MOEN COMES UP, I DO HAVE A QUESTION. THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME DISCREPANCY ON OTHER CONTRACTS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TIED TO THIS AGREEMENT. DID WE GET ANY CLARIFICATION ON THOSE WITH SIDEWALKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT? THOSE ARE SEPARATE AGREEMENTS. UM, THIS IS STRICTLY FOR THE BUS SERVICE. MM-HMM . SO THE ROUTES, UM, THERE ARE OTHER AGREEMENTS THAT DEAL WITH, UH, SIDEWALKS AND DEAL WITH THE BUS SHELTERS. OKAY. BUT THOSE ARE NOT BEFORE YOU RIGHT NOW. OKAY. MS. MOLEMAN? UH, YEAH. DO YOU WANNA DO BOTH TOGETHER OR DO YOU WANT TO DO OKAY, THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO. WOULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS? 2201 TUSCAN LANE BAYTOWN 7 7 5 2 0. THANK YOU COUNSEL AND MAYOR. THE FIRST LESSON OF ECONOMICS 1 0 1 TEACHES THAT THERE ARE LIMITED RESOURCES AND UNLIMITED DEMANDS. THEREFORE, CHOICES MUST BE MADE, EVALUATING, WANTS INTO CATEGORIES OF NEED, MUST HAVE OR LIKE TO HAVE. I WAS SO PROUD OF THE MORE THAN 50 BAYTON WHO ATTENDED THE BUDGET WORKSHOP ON JUNE 27TH, WATCHING THE VIDEO OF THE BUDGET DISCUSSION LATER THAT DAY. I APPRECIATED KEN HARRIS COUNTY TRANSIT INFORMATIVE PRESENTATION AND WAS DISGUSTED AT OTHERS' BEHAVIOR. IT APPEARED TO ME SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE MUSK WANNABES DESTROY THINGS IN THE NAME OF EFFICIENCY NO MATTER WHO GETS BURNED. NO ONE CURRENTLY ON CITY COUNCIL PARTICIPATED IN THE WORK 20 YEARS AGO THAT RESULTED IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR CITIZENS. IT TOOK MORE THAN TWO YEARS OF MONTHLY MEETINGS AFTER THE UNITED WAY OF GREATER BAYTOWN AREA, AND CHAMBERS COUNTY [00:50:02] RECEIVED A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FROM RICE UNIVERSITY THAT DETERMINED THAT THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN BAYTOWN WAS NO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. I WAS ENCOURAGED WHEN THE CITY MANAGER, JASON REYNOLDS, BEGAN THE BUDGET WORKSHOP WITH A POSITIVE BALANCE OF $103 MILLION IN REVENUES AND 102, UH, $142 MILLION IN EXPENSES. ALL BUDGETS ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS. THE LENGTHY DISCUSSION MADE NO SENSE TO ME BETWEEN THE $400,000 VERSUS CUTTING FUNDS FOR THE HARRIS COUNTY TRANSIT WHEN THERE IS A SURPLUS OF A MILLION DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. I NOTICED WHEN KEN FIAS TOLD THE COUNCIL A REDUCTION OF $150,000 WOULD RESULT IN ONE ROUTE BEING ELIMINATED AND ASKED COUNSEL TO CHOOSE ONE. IT BECAME SUDDENLY EERILY QUIET. FIAS WENT ON TO OFFER ELIMINATING THE SATURDAY SCHEDULE AND REDUCING MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ROUTES TO 7:00 AM TO 6:00 PM FOR SIMILAR SAVINGS. REDUCING THE FIRST HOUR OF MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TRANSPORTATION WILL EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATE THE ABILITY TO COLLECT, CONNECT WITH THE PARK AND RIDE SERVICE TO HOUSTON. IS THIS DRACONIAN REDUCTION TO THE LIFELINE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? THAT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROVIDES OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS WORTH THE SAVINGS OF 0.1% OF THE TOTAL BUDGET. BAY TOWN'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS NOT ONLY AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPONENT, IT IS ALSO AN INTEGRAL PART OF PUBLIC SAFETY. ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 30TH, I MET A YOUNG LEE COLLEGE STUDENT AT THE PARK AND RIDE BUS STOP TO TAKE THE FIVE 12, WHICH IS THE LAST BUS BACK TO HOUSTON. SHE WAS SO PROUD OF HER BUS PASS, SHE SHOWED IT TO ME. SHE HAD OBTAINED IT FROM LEE COLLEGE SO THAT SHE COULD ATTEND CLASSES AND LOGISTICS. SHE CANNOT AFFORD A PERSONAL VEHICLE AND INSURANCE WHILE ALSO ATTENDING COLLEGE. YET SHE IS DETERMINED TO FINISH HER DEGREE. SHE IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF AN EXTRAORDINARY DETERMINED IAN WHOSE ECONOMIC TRAJECTORY WILL BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY A REDUCTION IN THE LIFELINE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT. RELIABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS IS A MUST HAVE. PARKS ARE NICE, EVENTS ARE NICE, AND I'M SO HAPPY TO LIVE IN BAYTOWN AND WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE WONDERFUL THINGS. WHILE I APPRECIATED JASON REYNOLDS COMMENT THAT BAYTOWN AND HARRIS COUNTY TRANSIT ARE GOOD PARTNERS, WHAT I SAW IN THE VIDEO WAS MOST DISRESPECTFUL BY SEVERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS. I SENT THESE REMARKS TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS VIA EMAIL, BUT I ONLY RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM TWO AND I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. I DO HOPE THAT COUNCIL WILL FIND THE, UH, HAVE THE POLITICAL WILL AND FIND THE FUNDS TO PART, TO FULLY FUND OUR, UH, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES DO DEPEND ON HAVING ACCESS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. QUICK QUESTION. UM, WE MAKE THIS AMENDMENT AND WE DECIDE THAT WE WANT TO FULLY FUNDED IT BACK AT 400,000. WHAT WOULD THAT TAKE WITH WE HAVE TO COME BACK AND AMEND IT AGAIN? WELL, YOU CAN, IF YOU WANTED TO MAINTAIN THE FUNDING AT $400,000, THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO TAKE ANY ACTION. MM-HMM . ON EIGHT A OR THE COMPANION FOR THE MDD RESOLUTION. OKAY. BUT MY QUESTION IS, IF WE, WE STILL HAVE TO RENEW THE CONTRACT. YEAH, THAT'S, THAT'S CORRECT. WE DID NOT RENEW THE CONTRACT, UH, AT THAT PREVIOUS MEETING. SO YOU WOULD STILL NEED TO TAKE ACTION ON THE CONTRACT TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S REQUIRED. THIS AMENDMENT IS FOR THE $250,000 LEVEL OF SERVICE FOR 2026 MM-HMM . BECAUSE HOW HARRIS COUNTY IS SET UP, IT'S SET UP OFF, OFF KILTER, SO TO SPEAK. AND SO WHILE THE BUDGET IS NOT APP IS NOT EFFECTIVE UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST, THE [00:55:01] MONEY THAT IS FOR, UM, OUR BUDGET WILL BE APPROVED IN AUGUST. IT WON'T BE EFFECTIVE UNTIL OCTOBER 1ST. HOWEVER, THE CONTRACT IS AFFECTED NOW. AND SO WE JUST DON'T, WE PAY EVERYTHING OCTOBER 1ST, UH, TO HARRIS COUNTY. AND SO GETTING ALL THAT FINISHED RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHAT THEY NEED TO PREPARE THEIR BUDGET SO THEY KNOW THE AMOUNT'S COMING IN EFFECTIVELY. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IF WE'D COME BACK AND DO THIS EXACT SAME THING, AMENDING THE CONTRACT AND MAKING IT FROM TWO 50 TO 400,000. BUT HOW IT'S SET UP BASED ON Y'ALL'S FEEDBACK AT THE LAST MEETING IS WE ARE WORKING WITH HARRIS COUNTY TO REDESIGN EVERYTHING AT A LEVEL OF 250 AND SPENDING THE YEAR TO STUDY WHICH ROUTES WE NEED TO ADDRESS. AND THAT WON'T BE IMPACTED BY THE CONTRACT. IT'S JUST THE MONEY THAT'S ACTUAL PART OF THE CONTRACT RIGHT NOW. HOW SOON BEFORE WE WOULD KNOW WHAT ROUTES WOULD BE AFFECTED, WE ARE SPENDING THE YEAR MAYOR, WE'RE NOT. SO TO COUNCIL MEMBER ALVARADO'S POINT, THEY'RE DOING A STUDY, I BELIEVE IT'S TOMORROW, UH, OR THEY'RE DOING A, A MEETING, UH, TOMORROW. 31ST. 31ST, SORRY, NEXT WEEK. UM, AND, UH, THAT IS ONGOING WITH HJAC. SO THERE ARE, THERE ARE MOVING PIECES RIGHT NOW THAT MARTIN AND BRAND ARE WORKING ON WITH HARRIS COUNTY. UM, WE ARE TRYING TO LET THEM DO THEIR ANALYSIS BECAUSE, UH, IANS MAY NOT KNOW THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THEIR DATA. RIGHT. LIKE AND THAT WAS THE POINT OF COUNSEL SAYING YOU NEED TO DETERMINE IS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THEIR DATA MM-HMM. WE DON'T CONTROL THEIR STUFF. MM-HMM. AND SO WE'RE WAITING ON THEM TO DO A SYNOPSIS OF WHAT ARE THE LEASE, UH, UM, UTILIZE STOPS AND SO THAT THEY CAN THEN SAY, HEY, IS IT FEASIBLE FOR SOMEBODY TO WALK FROM THIS STOP TO THIS STOP IF WE STOP, IF WE STOP GOING ON THIS AREA AND REDO THEIR ROUTE. SO ALL THAT, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE A TIMELINE BECAUSE WE DON'T CONTROL THAT AND IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE FOR ME TO GIVE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. OKAY. NOW MY OTHER QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO THINK UP, UM, THE CONTRACT START DATE AND OUR FUNDING FOR IT? I, I WILL SAY THAT THAT'S BEEN ON AN ONGOING CONVERSATION. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANNA COMMENT ON THAT, SCOTT. I NO DIRECT CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN, UH, THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. MM-HMM . UM, BUT IT WOULD REQUIRE A DIFFERENT, UH, AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT BECAUSE TIMEFRAMES ARE SET OUT IN THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT. WE JUST HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT MM-HMM . AND SEE WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO DO THAT. OKAY. UM, YEAH, GO AHEAD, MAYOR. UM, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AND I'M GONNA, I KNOW WE WERE ALL THERE WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS MM-HMM . UM, AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING. UM, BUT I'M GONNA PUT THIS BACK ON HARRIS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AND IN AN EFFORT TO NOT REVISIT THE OVERLY DISCUSSED ITEM LAST TIME MM-HMM . UM, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION'S IMPORTANT, BUT SO IS BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND MAKING SURE THAT SINCE WE ARE DEALING WITH THE BAY TOWN'S TAX DOLLARS AND BAY TOWN'S MONEY AND HOW IT'S INVOLVED WITH HARRIS COUNTY TRANSIT, I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WORKING UNDER THE SAME CONSENSUS THAT WE ALREADY HAD AT THE MAX OF $250,000 IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT HARRIS COUNTY TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDING ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT 18 CONTRACTS AGO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE PROVIDED UNDERNEATH THAT INCREASING BUDGET THAT REACHED $400,000. AND I'M GOING TO REVISIT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SAID JUST FOR EVERYONE'S MEMORY. I MENTIONED SOME OF THE ITEMS SUCH AS THE BUS STOPS, THE CONCRETE, UM, AND IN AN EFFORT TO, TO NOT QUOTE ME, EVERYBODY CAN GO BACK AND WATCH IT. WHEN I ASKED THE GENTLEMAN THAT WAS SPEAKING, UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THOSE ITEMS, HE SAID, WELL, WE NEVER RECEIVED, UM, INVOICES. INVOICES. MM-HMM . THANK YOU FOR A LOSS OF WORDS. INVOICES. I THINK THAT WE NEED TO GET HARRIS COUNTY ALIGNED WITH THE CONTRACT AND ALL THAT AND KEEP OUR, OUR AMOUNT WHERE IT'S AT. AND THEN I DON'T KNOW ANYONE UP HERE THAT'S WANTING TO DO AWAY WITH TRANSPORTATION ALTOGETHER OR TO HINDER OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THE CONTRACT IS SERVING THE CITIZENS CORRECTLY. AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE EMPOWERED WITH A CONSENSUS LAST TIME BY SETTING THAT LIMIT OF 250,000 AND, AND LET THE STAFF AND, AND LEGAL AND, YOU KNOW, GO TO IT AND GET THE JOB DONE. AND THEN WE CAN REVISIT IN MORE DETAIL WHEN WE GET TO ALL OF THE, THE, THE STUDIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT I'M NOT ASKING THE QUESTIONS TO CHANGE OUR, TO CHANGE WHAT THE CONSENSUS WAS. [01:00:01] OKAY. I'M ASKING THE QUESTION FOR UNDERSTANDING. I DON'T THINK I, I BELIEVE THAT THE CONTRACT FUNDING AND THE CONTRACT DATE SHOULD RUN CONCURRENTLY. MM-HMM . THAT MAKES SENSE. MM-HMM . IT SHOULDN'T BE. WE ARE DOING THIS NOW, BUT STUDIES AND THINGS NEED TO BE DONE. WE DON'T HAVE A TIMEFRAME ON IT. THE START DATE SHOULD BE ONE DATE. THE FUNDING SHOULD BE THE SAME DATE AS THE START DATE. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS. I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS EVER OVERLY DISCUSSED WHEN WE ARE ALLOWING CITIZENS TO COME IN AND HAVE COMMENT ON THESE THINGS. WE WERE ELECTED HERE TO LISTEN TO THAT. NOW MY APOLOGIES IF Y'ALL ARE THINKING THAT I'M ASKING FOR US TO CHANGE WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT. THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING. I'M ASKING TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION BECAUSE I'M HEARING AGAIN THAT THE CONTRACT DATE AND THE FUNDING DATE AREN'T THE SAME. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT BE THE SAME. AND I'M ASKING WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO BE THE SAME. AND THEN IF WE HEAR CITIZENS COME BACK, OR LET'S SAY THE STUDY SHOWS THAT IT'S NOT FEASIBLE, WHAT WE ASKED, WE SHOULD HAVE SOME TYPE OF ACTION PLAN, SOME TYPE OF BACKUP PLAN TO SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT MAY NOT, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT AT TWO 50. WE MAY NEED TO GO AT 300. WE MAY NEED TO GO AT 400. IF WE DON'T HAVE A BACKUP PLAN FOR THAT, WE'RE GONNA BE WASTING MORE TIME TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. AGAIN. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THE QUESTION SO THAT WE ARE NOT REVISITING THIS OVER AND OVER AND NOT HAVING A PLAN TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES GOING FORWARD. YES, MA'AM. AND, AND I DO AGREE WITH YOU AND I AND IF WE CAN GET THEM BALANCED EVEN BETTER. AND I, I DID SPEAK TO ONE OF THE, UH, COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES LAST WEEK AND SHE WAS GOING TO WORK WITH, UM, HARRIS COUNTY TRANSITS DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT OTHER STUDIES, EVEN BEFORE THE HGAC ONE COMES OUT BECAUSE HGAC IS GONNA TAKE A LITTLE WHILE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEVERAL COUNTIES, UH, WITHIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO DISSUADE ANYBODY FROM PROVIDING INPUT RIGHT NOW. WE NEED THE INPUT. WE NEED Y'ALL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU PROVIDE YOUR INPUT, GO TO THE MEETINGS, UM, AND SUBMIT YOUR SURVEYS. BUT, UM, SHE WAS GOING TO LOOK AT WHAT ELSE, UM, HARRIS COUNTY CAN DO, UH, IN THE MEANTIME TO, UH, TRY TO GET MORE CITIZEN INPUT THROUGH SURVEYS OR LOOKING BACK AT THEIR DATA. AND SO I HAVEN'T FOLLOWED UP WITH HER YET, BUT I HAD JUST SPOKEN WITH HER LAST WEDNESDAY. UH, MR. LAMONT, YOU WERE GONNA SAY SOMETHING? WELL, YES AND COUNSEL, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, AND I'M NOT SPEAKING WITH ANY SORT OF KNOWLEDGE OR AUTHORITY. I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S NOT NECESSARILY UNUSUAL THAT, UH, THE START DATE OF A CONTRACT DOESN'T, UH, RUN WITH ITS FUNDING DATE. THERE MIGHT BE OPERATIONAL ISSUES, THERE MIGHT BE, UH, ISSUES WITH THE FEDERAL GRANT THAT REQUIRES IT TO BE THAT WAY. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TRUE IN THIS CASE 'CAUSE I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO IT, BUT, UM, AND I'M CERTAINLY, UH, HAPPY TO TALK WITH MY COUNTERPOINT AT THE COUNTY ABOUT WHY THAT MIGHT BE. BUT, UH, I DON'T WANT YOU ALL TO, UH, NECESSARILY GET, UH, NERVOUS OR UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN YOU SEE CONTRACTS THAT COME BEFORE YOU WITH MULTIPLE DATES FOR THINGS THAT MUST HAPPEN. IT'S, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL. OKAY. UM, MAYOR, I, I DUNNO IF WE GOT AN ANSWER TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION. SO IF WE RATIFY THIS TODAY, AND LET'S SAY HARRIS COUNTY JUMPS ON DOING, UH, FURTHER STUDIES FOR THEIR ASSESSMENTS AND THEY COME BACK AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HEY, WE CAN ACTUALLY GET THIS DONE AT 300, 3 50, WHATEVER. UM, IS THERE ANOTHER POINT AFTER IT'S RATIFIED THAT IT CAN COME BACK TO US, UM, TO SEEK ADDITIONAL FUNDING? WE, OR DO WE NEED TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT FISCAL WE'LL BRING ANOTHER AMENDMENT JUST LIKE THIS BACK OKAY. TO THE COUNCIL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. YES, MA'AM. I, I NEED TO CLARIFY BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID BACK TO ME, I DIDN'T MEAN THAT IT WAS OVERLY DISCUSSED BY THE CITIZENS. OKAY. I WAS SPECIFICALLY MEANING WHEN WE DISCUSSED IT AS COUNSEL AT THE WORK SESSION, I WOULD NEVER NOT WANT CITIZENS TO COME SPEAK. YEAH. I WANNA BE VERY CLEAR BECAUSE THAT COULD BE MISCONSTRUED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO I NEED A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? EIGHT B, CONSIDER [b. Consider an ordinance repealing and replacing Ordinance No. 16,180 authorizing an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Baytown and Baytown Municipal Development District to fund transportation services performed by Harris County Transit within the City of Baytown.] AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING ORDINANCE NUMBERS ONE 16,180 [01:05:02] AUTHORIZING AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN AND BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO FUND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PERFORMED BY HARRIS COUNTY TRANSIT WITHIN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. COUNSEL. THIS IS THE COUNCIL ITEM THAT AUTHORIZES THE FUNDING FOR THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH HARRIS COUNTY. UH, THIS IS AN INTERLOCAL BETWEEN, UH, THE CITY OF BAYTOWN AND THE MDD, UH, IN WHICH YOU ACCEPT THE FUNDING AND PROMISE TO PAY IT, UH, ON BEHALF OF THE TRANSIT SERVICES. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I NEED A MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE ARE NOW ON [a. Consider a resolution authorizing six (6) appointments to the Board of Adjustment.] TO NINE A APPOINTMENTS. UM, WE DON'T MR. MAYOR? YES, SIR. I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN EIGHT CI THINK THE ONLY NO, WE, OH, MY APOLOGIES. YEAH. THANK YOU. SO NOW WE'RE ON TO NINE A CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SIX APPOINTMENTS TO THE BOARD OF ADJUSTMENTS. WE CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE ANY APPLICATIONS FILED FOR THIS BOARD, UM, OTHER THAN MR I'M GONNA MESS THIS NAME UP. THAT'S HOW YOU, THAT'S HOW YOU PRONOUNCE IT, MR. RY. HE CANNOT BE CONTACTED. DON'T WANT TO SINK REAPPOINTMENT. I WOULD PROPOSE THAT WE TAKE EVERYONE ELSE, UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANY OBJECTIONS TO THAT. TAKE EVERYONE ELSE UNDER A MOTION AND THEN WE COME BACK AT A LATER DATE WHEN WE GET AN APPLICATION TO FILL THIS, UM, VACANCY. NEED A MOTION? I'LL MAKE A MOTION. WE REAPPOINT. UM, THE FIVE MEMBERS WHO ARE, ARE SEEKING REAPPOINTMENT. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WOW. THIS IS RECORD TIME HERE. . WE ARE NOW [10. 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.] ONTO THE MANAGER'S MANAGER'S REPORT. MR. REYNOLDS MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UM, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING UPDATES AND SHOUT OUTS FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. UH, FIRST UP WE HAVE ASSISTANT CHIEF ALFRED HAS BEEN ASKED TO SUPPORT PEER SUPPORT AND CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT EFFORTS, UH, FOR FIRST RESPONDERS WORKING IN THE FLOODED AREAS OF THE HILL COUNTRY. HE'LL BE THERE THROUGH NEXT WEEK OFFERING MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TO ALL FIRST RESPONDERS ON THE SCENE. SO, UM, BEARS WITH EVERYBODY OUT THERE AND THANK HIM. JOHN, UH, HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE DO HAVE A NEW CALL TYPE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS INTRODUCED TO HELP TRACK PATROL LEVEL INTERACTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC DURING THIS REPORTING PERIOD. PATROL UNITS RECORDED 36 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONTACTS. THESE REPRESENT INTENTIONAL, MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MEMBERS, AND ARE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE AND ACKNOWLEDGE, ACKNOWLEDGE THE EFFORTS OF FRONTLINE OFFICERS IN STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY TIES. I APPRECIATE THAT AND, UH, THE EFFORTS GOING INTO THAT. OFFICERS RECENTLY RESPONDED TO A CALL INVOLVING FOUR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PULLING ON DOOR HANDLES AND, UH, LOOKING IN VEHICLES. SERGEANT BROWN LOCATED THE INDIVIDUALS AND REQUESTED BACKUP. THREE OF THE FOUR SUSPECTS WERE FOUND TO BE ARMED AND WERE SUCCESSFULLY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. THANKS TO THIS ARREST. OUR STREETS ARE A LITTLE SAFER TODAY. AND APPRECIATE SERGEANT BROWN, JOHN GLEN ROY. GLEN ROY JACK AND OPERATOR IN TRAINING AND CERTIFIED UTILITY MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST WITH PWE, UH, RECENTLY PASSED HIS CLASS C GROUNDWATER OPERATION EXAM. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO GLEN ROY. AND, UH, GREAT PHOTO THERE. SO GOOD STUFF. THANKS. PASS THAT ON. FRANK. THE ANNUAL BACK SCHOOL EVENT IS SET, UH, FOR SATURDAY AUGUST 9TH FROM 8:00 AM TO 12:00 PM AT THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER. UH, THANKS TO HELP FROM CITY STAFF, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOL LOCAL NONPROFITS AND SPONSORS LIKE EXXON AND CALPINE. OUR VOLUNTEER NEEDS ARE FULLY COVERED. WHILE NO EXTRA VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED, WE, WE DO INVITE CITY STAFF, DIRECTORS, AND OFFICIALS TO STOP BY YOUR PRESENCE, MEANS A LOT AND SHOW SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY. THIS YEAR'S EVENT WILL ALSO FEATURE FREE WATER, UH, PROVIDED BY NA NIAGARA EYE SCREENINGS FROM THE LIONS CLUB LEAD TESTING BY HARRIS COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH KIDS, IDS FROM BAYTOWN, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT, LAPTOP GIVEAWAYS FROM TELEMUNDO, FREE HAIRCUTS BY LOCAL STYLISTS AND BARBERS. AND LOOKS LIKE A FANTASTIC EVENT, UH, THAT LOOKS LIKE A, UM, PRETTY LARGE CROWD THERE. SO, GREAT PHOTO. THANKS FOR PUTTING THAT UP THERE. SO LOOK FORWARD TO IT. Y'ALL. UM, SORRY I GOT DISTRACTED. SQUIRREL. UH, THE ANNUAL SCHOOL SHOES, UH, SCHOOL SHOES GIVEAWAY WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 28TH AND 29TH. SO FAR, 388 CHILDREN ARE SIGNED UP TO RECEIVE BRAND NEW SHOES THROUGH THIS EVENT, WHICH IS PROUDLY FUNDED BY OUR CDBG PROGRAM. [01:10:01] AND SHARON HAS ALREADY LEFT. MARTIN, UH, THANK YOU, UM, TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT IS PROUD TO NOW HAVE THREE, UH, NRPA CERTIFIED PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTORS ON STAFF. ABEL, JOSHUA, AND BLAKE. UH, RECENT, RECENTLY COMPLETED THE CPSI COURSE AND PASSED THE NATIONAL CERTIFICATION EXAM DEMONSTRATING THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND, UH, PLAYGROUND SAFETY STANDARDS, RISK MANAGEMENT, AND BEST PRACTICES. SO, BIG CONGRATS TO ALL THREE. AND ANOTHER GREAT PHOTO, MA'AM. DAMN, WE GET WE'RE RACKING 'EM UP THERE. GOOD STUFF. AND FINALLY, UH, BAYTOWN SUMMER TRACK PROGRAM HAD A STRONG SHOWING AT THE, UH, TAF REGIONAL MEET. OVER 500 YOUTH, UH, OVER 500 YOUTH FROM AROUND THE HOUSTON REGION. COMPETED IN 20 PLUS EVENTS AND 24 ATHLETES. UH, BAYTOWN ATHLETES QUALIFIED FOR THE STATE, UM, TAKING PLACE JULY 31ST TO AUGUST 3RD IN, UH, COLLEGE STATION. SO BAYTOWN IS PROUD OF ALL THE ATHLETES ADVANCING AND REPRESENTING THE CITY AT THE STATE LEVEL. AWESOME. GREAT STUFF. AND, UH, WE DO HAVE A FEW DATES THAT WE WANNA PUT OUT THERE. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT 'EM AT THE MEETING, BUT AUGUST 5TH WE HAD THE BUDGET WORK SESSION, AND THEN AUGUST 14TH AND 28TH, THE WORK SESSION WORK SESSIONS FOR THE BUDGET. UH, POSSIBLY MORE IN BETWEEN AS WELL. THAT'S ALL I HAVE, MAYOR NOW. THOSE KIDS DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THEY EVEN BROKE A SWEAT, I'M TELLING YOU OUT THERE. UM, YEAH, IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS ABOUT 75 DEGREES. RIGHT NOW WE ARE ON TO, [a. Receive a report from Council Member Sarah Graham regarding projects, programs and events in District No. 2. ] UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT REPORT PRESENTED BY MS. COUNCIL MEMBER SARAH GRAHAM, DISTRICT TWO. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMAN GRIFFIN, THANK YOU FOR SWITCHING WITH ME LAST TIME. I APPRECIATE THAT PROBLEM. UM, SO I ALWAYS START OFF THE DISTRICT REPORT WITH, UM, HONORING SOMEONE FROM DISTRICT TWO AS A DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN. AND I DECIDED, UM, THIS TIME THAT, UM, IT SHOULD GO TO AN ENTIRE GROUP. AND I'M NOT SURE BEFORE I, I READ ABOUT THIS. IS THERE ANYONE HERE THAT'S FROM THE HILL REST CEMETERY. OKAY, GREAT. UM, IF YOU'LL JOIN ME UP HERE. ARE YOU, UH, ROBERT? YEAH. OKAY. IT'S ACTUALLY MY FIRST TIME MEETING HIM, BUT I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT, UM, AND, AND I'LL HURRY 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'RE GOING FOR RECORD TIME, BUT I WANTED TO HONOR THE HILL ARREST CEMETERY, UM, ALL THE SUPPORT AND THE VOLUNTEERS. AND I THINK NOW Y'ALL GO BY THE NAME BAYTOWN, UM, CEMETERY GROUP. YES, MA'AM. INCORPORATED. UM, AND I'LL COME DOWN THERE WITH YOU, BUT I'M GONNA SHARE A LITTLE BIT FROM DOWN THERE ABOUT YOUR GROUP. WHO DO YOU KNOW WITH YOU, ROBERT? JUST MY WIFE CONNIE. SHE'S ALSO ON THE BOARD. IF Y'ALL JUST KIND OF STAND HERE AND LOOK PRETTY AND I WANT TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY WHAT'S GOING ON. UM, IF YOU'VE GONE DOWN MARKET STREET RIGHT ACROSS FROM LEE HIGH SCHOOL, THERE'S THE HILL OF WEST CEMETERY THAT'S BEEN THERE A VERY, VERY LONG TIME. UM, I NOTICED MANY, MANY YEARS AGO BEFORE I WAS EVER ON COUNCIL THAT, UM, THE GRASS GOT VERY HIGH. IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE, UM, IT WAS BEING KEPT UP LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WHEN I BECAME COUNCIL. WE'VE GOTTEN SEVERAL PHONE CALLS. IT'S HONESTLY BEEN KIND OF A THORN IN THE CITY SIDE BECAUSE WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT, UM, HOW TO GET THAT CEMETERY TAKEN CARE OF AND HONORED. I MEAN, THERE'S A, THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES, UM, AND THEIR PEOPLE THAT ARE BURIED THERE. AND SO FEEL FREE TO SHARE AT ANY TIME. BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THAT. THERE'S A LADY NAMED PAM JOHNSON THAT IN 2022, SHE HAD A FAMILY MEMBER BURIED THERE AND THAT'S WHEN SHE REALIZED IT WASN'T A PERPETUAL CEMETERY MEETING. THERE WEREN'T FUNDS PUT AWAY TO CARE FOR THE CEMETERY AS A WHOLE. AND, UM, ANYWAY, SO SHE STARTED PUTTING MONEY AND TIME INTO TAKING CARE OF IT. BUT SHE IS IN HER SEVENTIES. SHE WENT DOWN THERE AND STARTED MOWING AND I THINK WHEN SHE STARTED MOWING, SHE RAN INTO ROBERT AND HIS FAMILY. UH, ROBERT AND HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW HAD TAKEN CARE OF BABY LAND, RIGHT? YEAH. FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. UM, AND THEN PAM AND ROBERT, THEY FORMED A GROUP. NOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN NAMED TED MURRAY THAT WAS PART OF THE BAYTOWN CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE THAT WAS ALSO DOING A QUARTERLY SERVICE PROJECT BY TAKING CARE OF THE CEMETERY. UM, ALSO, AND UH, BASICALLY A BUNCH OF PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER, GOOD OLD BAYTOWN FOLKS, AND THEY STARTED LOOKING AT THE WHOLE CEMETERY AS A WHOLE. UM, I THINK THE CHINGA PENN SCHOOLS EVEN BEEN INVOLVED OVER THE YEARS. UM, THERE'S A WOMAN NAMED BECKY GONZALEZ WHO HAS A FAMILY BURIED IN SECTION A. SHE STARTED TAKING CARE OF SECTION A. I DID WANT ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TO COME HERE, BUT, UH, IT WAS, IT WAS DONE LAST MINUTE. I'M SO GLAD, MA'AM, THAT YOU, THAT YOU JOINED US. UM, BUT THIS IS SIX ACRES AND IT GETS REALLY HOT AND IT'S A LOT TO TAKE CARE OF. AND THE REASON THAT I WANTED TO GIVE YOUR ENTIRE GROUP, UM, THIS DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD IS BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT BAY ALL ABOUT. THIS IS WHAT COMMUNITY IS ABOUT. YOU ARE HONORING, UM, EVEN OUR PAST CITIZENS, YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF AN AREA THAT NOW HAS A HISTORICAL MARKER ON IT. YES. UM, AND SO I JUST THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART AND I ALSO WANNA MAKE A LITTLE PLUG. THERE IS J AND R LAWN, WHO IS UM, HAS WON A BID TO MO FOR THE SUMMER DURING THE HEAT, BUT THEY WOULD APPRECIATE, UM, ANY, ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME LEND VOLUNTEER HOURS OR HELP OUT, UM, WITH FUTURE LAWN MAINTENANCE THAT'S NEEDED. BUT THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEART AND WE APPRECIATE YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [01:15:01] UM, WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR ALL THE DONATIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN TO OUR GROUP. ALSO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE COME OUT TO HELP US AND WE'RE TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF IT FOR NOW THROUGHOUT THE FUTURE. SO WE MANAGED TO GET, UH, CONTRACTS TO GET IT MOWED, LIKE YOU SAID, DURING THE SUMMER AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE DOING THAT. IF NOT, WE'LL STILL MEET EVERY SATURDAY, THE LAST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. AND ANYBODY'S WELCOME TO COME HELP WHEN WE RESUME DOING LAWN CARE AGAIN. AND IF YOU ARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THEY DO HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE, THE HILL ARREST VOLUNTEER GROUP. SO FEEL FREE TO GO JOIN IT. AND THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PLEASE TELL EVERYBODY ELSE MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU. Y'ALL ARE THE DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS FOR DISTRICT TWO. THANK YOU SIR. ALRIGHT, SO MOVING ALONG, LET'S CELEBRATE SOME OF THE NEW THINGS BEING BUILT. UM, THE BRAND NEW, BRAND NEW WENDY'S IS COMING ALONG RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF DECKER AND GARTH. UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A NEW NIGHTCLUB AND BAR RIGHT ON WEST TEXAS AVENUE, 2 0 4 WEST TEXAS, THE CREAMERY OFFICE BUILDING AT ONE 18 SOUTH MAINE. SOMEBODY MAY NEED TO HELP ME WITH THIS. THEY, THAT'S ALL IT SAYS, THE CREAMERY BUILDING. SO IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL GOING ON WITH THE CREAMERY BUILDING? OKAY, IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION. OKAY. UM, THERE IS THE BIG BROTHER LIQUOR STORE COMING TO 2200 NORTH MAIN STREET AND LEE COLLEGE'S COSMETOLOGY LAB IS BEING RENOVATED. UM, LOTS OF, I, I'VE ACTUALLY WENT OVER THERE TO SEE THAT. I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT, UH, LEE COLLEGE, GETTING THOSE RENOVATIONS DONE. UM, AND THEN THE GOLDEN CHICK DOWN ON 23 NORTH MAIN STREET IS FINALLY GETTING THEIR INTERIOR BUILT OUT. UM, THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WEST TEXAS, UH, DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT'S GOING ON. UM, I KNOW WE'VE HAD CITIZENS, UM, THE PAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS THAT HAVE COME TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT. UM, SABRINA, IF YOU'LL PUT THE SLIDE UP FOR JUST A SECOND, IF YOU, IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE AREA I'M TALKING ABOUT, IT'S, IT'S RIGHT THERE ON THE SLIDE. UM, I ASKED FOR SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS. UM, I DRIVE BY IT EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WHAT I WANTED TO SAY IS THEY ARE MOVING ALONG AND PROGRESSING, BUT IT IS A, IT'S A BIG, BIG, BIG PROJECT AND, UM, THERE ARE SEVERAL PHASES TO IT. I THINK WE ARE ENTERING INTO PHASE THREE AND, UM, THE PROJECTION RIGHT NOW, THE, THE BIG QUESTION THAT WE GET IS WHEN IS IT GONNA BE DONE? WHEN IS THE STREET GONNA BE OPENED BACK UP? UM, THE PROJECTED FINISH DATE IS SPRING OF 2026, SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL BLINK AND HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE DONE. BUT, YOU KNOW, WEATHER AND ALL OF THAT PERMITTING. RIGHT. UM, AND I THINK WE'RE ENTERING INTO PHASE THREE. I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE AT. UM, YES. AND WE'RE ABOUT TO MOVE ON TO THE WHITING PRUITT SIDE. SO, UM, WE'RE GONNA SEE EXISTING LIGHT POLES ARE GONNA BE REMOVED AND SOME NEW FOUNDATIONS SET IN. ALRIGHT. MOVING RIGHT ALONG. THE VIRTUAL SCAVENGER HUNT HAS MADE ITS WAY TO PELLY PARK THIS MONTH. PARTICIPANTS CAN USE THE AGENTS OF DISCOVERY APP TO COMPLETE INTERACTIVE CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE PARK. THE FINAL CLUES WILL LEAD YOU TO A MINIATURE GRILL PROP WITH A QR CODE. UM, YOU CAN SCAN, I THINK THAT STUFF'S, UM, ONLINE SOCIAL MEDIA. AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, PARKS AND REC, IT'S GONE THROUGH SEVERAL PARKS. RIGHT. SO WE'RE IN DISTRICT TWO PLY PARK RIGHT NOW. ALL RIGHT. UM, OUR PARKS AND REC BEAUTIFICATION TEAM HAS BEEN VERY BUSY. THEY'VE REFRESHED THE FLOWER BEDS AT THE LIBRARY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO COMPLIMENT THE NEW WALKWAY IMPROVEMENTS. AND THEY'RE ALSO REPLANTING AREAS DOWN ON TOWN SQUARE, UM, TO KEEP IT LOOKING GREAT. UM, AFTER THE SEVERAL HIGH TRAFFIC EVENTS, THE CENTER RECENTLY HELD THE WADE IN. OH, THE WETLAND CENTER RECENTLY HELD ALL OF THEIR WELL WADE INTO WETLAND SUMMER SCIENCE CAMPS. UH, THE CAMPERS HAD HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES, EXPERIENCES, LEARNING ABOUT EGG LAYING ANIMALS LIKE BIRDS, BUTTERFLIES AND REPTILES. AND THEN ALSO, UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY STUDENTS IN THIS AREA THAT ARE IN HIGH SCHOOL, UM, THERE IS A CLUB CALLED THE EPIC CLUB OVER AT THE WETLAND CENTER. IT STANDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTORS INITIATING CHANGE. AND THEY DO MEET EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 3 45 TO 4 45. AND IT IS A HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE CLUB FOCUSING ON SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, RAISING AWARENESS, AND BUILDING LEADERSHIP SKILLS. UM, AND SO YOU CAN GO OVER THERE AND VISIT ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I HAVE BEEN ATTENDING, UH, CERT TRAINING THAT STANDS FOR COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM. I WAS INVITED BY MY COLLEAGUE, UM, MS. ALVARADO OVER HERE. WE DO HOLD CERT TRAININGS HERE IN BAYTOWN, BUT, UM, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY'RE USUALLY DURING THE WORKDAY DURING THURSDAY. OH, THUR, OH, THERE YOU GO. DURING THURSDAY DURING COUNCIL. UM, SO HOPEFULLY I CAN GET SOME MORE INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH DISTRICT TWO AND, AND EVERYONE ELSE. BUT I DID ATTEND OVER IN GALENA PARK. UM, IT, IT'S A VERY NEAT PROGRAM. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GET INVOLVED. UM, IT TEACHES YOU, UH, TRIAGE, JUST ASSESSING ANY KIND OF DAMAGE AFTER ANY KIND OF EMERGENCY, ANYTHING FROM TORNADOES TO FLOODING, UM, [01:20:01] AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. SO, UM, THAT, THAT'S BEEN A VERY GOOD EXPERIENCE AND, AND I WAS ABLE TO EVEN BRING MY TEENAGE SON WITH ME AND HE WAS ABLE TO GARNER SOME NEW SKILLS. UH, LAST THING I WANTED TO, UM, TELL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, UM, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CALLS FROM CITIZENS IN DISTRICT TWO OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS WITH SOME CONCERNS SPECIFICALLY, UM, IN THE TOWN SQUARE AREA, EVEN BUSINESS OWNERS UP AND ALONG COMMERCE AND MAIN STREET. AND I JUST WANTED TO REPORT TO EVERYONE THAT RIGHT NOW IN DISTRICT TWO, UM, VIOLENT CRIMES ARE DOWN BY 12% AND PROPERTY CRIMES, WHICH IS WHAT I GET MOST OF THE, THE CONCERN CALLS ABOUT IS DOWN, UM, ALMOST 35%. OKAY. IT'S 34 POINT A 5%. UM, AND INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, I KNOW THAT FLOCK CAMERAS HAVE BEEN, UM, A TOPIC FOR ALL OF US UP HERE. AND I JUST, WHEN I WAS LOOKING THROUGH THE REPORT, UM, THERE WAS A STOLEN VEHICLE THAT WAS RECOVERED EXTREMELY QUICKLY DUE TO THE LPR READERS. AND THEN ONE OF THE, THE MOST EYE-OPENING THINGS IS THERE WAS, UH, SOME ASSAULT FAMILY VIOLENCE THAT WENT ON. AND THE, THE PERSON ACCUSED OF THAT, UM, WAS ABLE TO BE CAPTURED PRETTY QUICKLY DUE TO THE LPR FLOCK CAMERAS. SO THANK YOU FOR UTILIZING THAT TECHNOLOGY. BUT MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE RESPONSIVENESS, UM, THAT'S BEEN GOING ON. I'VE SEEN IT WITH MY OWN EYES. AND THAT IS THE END OF DISTRICT TWO'S REPORT. WELL, I WILL SAY THIS, I WENT TO AN EVENT DISTRICT TWO, UM, THE ICE CREAM AT THE PARK. OH, YOU WENT? OH YEAH, I DID A WHOLE FACEBOOK. I THOUGHT THAT LAST MINUTE AND DIDN'T KNOW. OKAY. THAT WAS, THAT WAS VERY WELL ATTENDED. THEY HAD PEOPLE FROM BEAUMONT OUT HERE AT THE PARK. THIS IS THE ONE BY KSBJ, CORRECT? YES. YEAH. I ACTUALLY, THANKS FOR MENTIONING THAT. SO YOU HAD A GOOD TIME OUT THERE. GREAT TIME. YEAH. WHAT I WAS ENCOURAGED TO SEE WAS THAT RESIDENTS ACTUALLY WALKED TO THAT PARK TO PARTICIPATE. THERE WERE PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER WALKING IN AND THEY SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME OUT THERE. AND, UM, I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT MULCH WAS BEING REPLACED AT THAT PLAYGROUND. UM, MR. DON AKEY CHAMPIONS THAT CAUSE HE DOES. YEAH. YES HE DOES. AND IT WAS GOOD TO SEE THAT WE HAD WOOD CHIP MULCH OUT THERE BEING REPLACED. BUT THAT WAS THANKS MAYOR FOR MENTION. YEAH, THAT WAS, THAT WAS, THAT WAS A, IT WAS ABOUT A HUNDRED PEOPLE OUT THERE. I WAS SHOCKED. IT WAS INTERESTING BECAUSE KSVJ JUST PICKED THAT PARK. MM-HMM . AND I, AND AGAIN, I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT FOR THE LAST MINUTE, BUT VERY NEAT. AND I HEARD THEY HAD A GOOD TURNOUT. YEAH. ON NOW [a. Consider approving the minutes of the Municipal Development District and City Council Regular Joint Meeting held on April 24, 2025] [b. Consider approving the minutes of the Municipal Development District and City Council Regular Joint Meeting held on June 12, 2025.] TO 12 A, WE'RE GONNA TAKE 12 A AND B TOGETHER. UH, CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR JOINT MEETING HELD ON APRIL 24, FOURTH, 2025 AND THE MINUTES FROM THE MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR JOINT MEETING HELD ON JUNE 12TH, 2025. I NEED A MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? NOW WE'RE GONNA BEGIN A PUBLIC HEARING. THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY IS BEING HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING ALL INTERESTED PERSONS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS REGARDING THE SUBJECT OF THE PUBLIC HEARING. EVERYONE DESIRING TO BE A PART OF TODAY'S HEARING SHOULD HAVE EITHER SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE FOUR YEAR OR EMAILED THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE POSTED TIME OF THIS MEETING. EACH PARTICIPANT SHALL GIVE HIS OR NA HER NAME AND ADDRESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A PROPER RECORD OF THIS HEARING. THE RULES ALLOW EACH PERSON THREE MINUTES TO PRESENT INFORMATION. HOWEVER, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE AS BRIEF AND TO THE POINT AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE A GROUP OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS COUNSEL ON THE SAME SUBJECT, PLEASE SELECT A SPOKESPERSON TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION. AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO ME. 12 [c. Conduct a public hearing concerning the Baytown Municipal Development District's Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Proposed Budget.] C, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT'S FISCAL YEAR 2025. 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET. IT IS NOW 7:58 PM AND I CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT'S FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26. PROPOSED BUDGET. I WOULD LIKE NOW TO REQUEST STAFF TO SUMMARIZE THE SUBJECT OF THIS HEARING. MS. MCKENZIE, UH, MAYOR AND COUNSEL, UH, THE MDD BUDGET HAS NOT CHANGED AS WELL. WE'RE PRESENTING 9.2 MILLION IN REVENUE, UH, 9.3 IN EXPENDITURES AND AN ENDING INDIAN WORKING CAPITAL OF 2.2 MILLION. HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, SIR. NONE AT ALL. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NONE. THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK. I NOW CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:59 PM CONCERNING THE BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT'S FISCAL YEAR 2025. 2026. PROPOSED BUDGET 12 D [d. Consider a resolution adopting the Baytown Municipal Development District Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Budget.] CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE MUNICIPAL [01:25:01] DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT'S FISCAL YEAR 2025. 2026. PROPOSED BUDGET. I NEED A MOTION. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR, A. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. 12 E CONSIDER A [e. Consider a resolution repealing and replacing Municipal Development District Resolution No. 497 authorizing an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Baytown and Baytown Municipal Development District to fund transportation services performed by Harris County Transit within the City of Baytown.] RESOLUTION REPEALING AND REPLACING MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT RESOLUTION NUMBER 4 97 AUTHORIZING AN INTER-LOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN AND BAYTOWN MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT TO FUND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES PERFORMED BY HARRIS COUNTY TRANSIT WITHIN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. COUNSEL. THIS IS THE MDD ITEM TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION FOR FUNDING. UH, THIS AGREEMENT UH, AUTHORIZES THE MDD TO PAY FOR THOSE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO THE CITY, UH, AFTER WHICH THE CITY WILL THEN, UH, PAY THE FUNDS TO THE COUNTY FOR THE BUS SERVICE. GOOD DEAL QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE AMOUNT WAS CLEAR. GOOD DEAL. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I NEED A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THERE BEING NOTHING. OH. MOTION CARRIES. THERE BEING NOTHING ELSE ON THIS AGENDA. I ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT MADAM. WE MISSED IT BY ONE MINUTE. AT 8:01 PM. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.