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I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH, 2025, 6:30 PM IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER CITY HALL, AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM AT 6:35 PM WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE PLEDGE AND INVOCATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER JACOB POWELL, DISTRICT NUMBER FIVE, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND I JUSTICE FOR ALL.
NOW THE TEXAS FLAG, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER.
DEAR GOD, WE JUST THANK YOU FOR TODAY AND WE THANK YOU THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO JUST GATHER AND TO DISCUSS HOW WE CAN, UH, JUST BUILD A BETTER BAYTOWN TOGETHER GOD.
AND WE PRAY THAT YOU DO JUST LEAD AND GUIDE US IN EACH OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE THIS EVENING, EACH OF THE DECISIONS WE MAKE.
GOD, I PRAY THAT ULTIMATELY EVERYTHING WE DO HERE THIS EVENING GLORIFIES YOU, LORD.
AND UM, GOD, I JUST, I THANK YOU FOR THIS SEASON THAT WE GET TO CELEBRATE, UM, THE COMING OF YOUR SON THAT WAS BORN ON THE EARTH AS A MAN, GOD, THAT HE WOULD, UM, YEARS DOWN THE ROAD GO TO A CROSS AND, AND GIVE US A WAY THAT WE COULD BE FORGIVEN OF OUR SINS AND, AND LIVE WITH YOU ETERNALLY GOD.
AND SO WE JUST THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT CHRISTMAS, UM, MEANS, LORD, AND WE PRAY ALL THESE THINGS IN, IN YOUR SON JESUS' NAME.
[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.]
OFF WITH CITIZEN COMMENT.WE HAVE A FEW CITIZENS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.
THE PURPOSE OF CITIZEN COMMENT IS TO GIVE ALL INTERESTED CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS.
EVERYONE DESIRING TO SPEAK SHOULD HAVE EITHER SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LIST IN THE FOUR YEAR OR EMAIL THE CITY CLERK PRIOR TO THE POSTED TIME OF THIS MEETING.
EACH CITIZEN SHALL GIVE HIS OR HER NAME AND ADDRESS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE 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 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 ITEMS FOR WHICH PUBLIC NOTICE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN ON THIS AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH MR. TROY WHITE NECK.
PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR RECORD.
TROY WHITE NICK, 9 9 4 6 BAYOU WOODS DRIVE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT 62 PEOPLE WALKED INTO A POLLING PLACE TRUSTING THE POLL WORKERS, TRUSTING THE CITY CLERK OF BAYTOWN, TRUSTING CITY COUNCIL AND UNKNOWINGLY TRUSTING, UH, HOUSTON CITY CLERK.
AND THEIR VOTES WERE DISENFRANCHISED.
AND WHO DID EVERYBODY BLAME FOR THAT? THEY BLAMED THE VOTERS THEMSELVES.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, YOU LOOKED AT THE VOTE IN YOUR WORKSHOP.
UH, THESE PEOPLE DESERVE A BIG APOLOGY FROM THE CITY.
PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR RECORD.
I'M JAMES KILBURN, 5,001 ASHWOOD DRIVE.
I HAD ASKED THE CITY CLERK TO DISTRIBUTE A COPY OF A POSTING THAT WAS MADE BY THE CITY OF BAYTOWN ON JANUARY 24TH, I BELIEVE IT WAS OF THIS YEAR, REFERENCING SIGNAGE THAT WAS TO BE PLACED AT THE RAILROAD, SEVERAL OF THE RAILROAD CROSSINGS.
UH, NOTHING'S BEEN DONE YET THIS PAST WEEK.
WE NEED TO SET THE TIMER FOR YOU.
OH NO, WE'RE NOT GOOD WITHOUT IT THOUGH.
YES, THIS PAST WEEK, TUESDAY COMING DOWN.
LET'S, THE CLERK IS NOW YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
THIS TUESDAY WHEN I WAS COMING DOWN DECKER DRIVE, I WAS PASSED BY A BAYTOWN AMBULANCE RUNNING LIGHTS AND SIREN.
HE WENT PAST THE THREE 30 OFF RAMP, CAME ROUND THE CURVE.
THERE'S A TRAIN BLOCKING THE TRACK.
GO BACK UP TO BAYWAY U-TURN AGAIN.
COME DOWN TO GET UP ONTO THREE 30.
GO DOWN TO ROLLING BROOK, GET OFF, MAKE THE U-TURN.
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BAKER AND TAKE A RIGHT TO GO TO THE AMBULANCE.THIS ENTIRE TIME HE'S RUNNING LIGHTS AND SIRENS.
FOLKS, CITY OF BAYTOWN POSTED THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE PLACED, THAT THESE SIGNS WERE GOING TO BE PUT INTO PLACE IN JANUARY.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY DIRT HAS BEEN TURNED ANYWHERE YET FOR IT, BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU, CAN WE PLEASE GET SOMETHING PUT UP TO WARN OF THESE TRAINS BLOCKING THE TRACK? OR COULD THE POLICE DEPARTMENT START ISSUING TICKETS WHEN THEY'RE SITTING THERE FOR AN HOUR AT A TIME? NONSTOP, OR I'M SORRY.
NEXT WE HAVE CRYSTAL SAR SARTO.
SHE IS ONE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM MANVILLE, TEXAS.
WHAT AM I DOING HERE FROM MANVILLE? WELL, I NEED YOUR ADDRESS FIRST.
SO MY NAME IS CRYSTAL DE DEO OR SARTO, AND MY ADDRESS IS 65 31.
SAM RAYBURN DRIVE, MANVILLE, TEXAS 7 7 5 7 8.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS LADY HAS A BEAUTIFUL SMILE.
SECONDLY, I'M HERE VISITING, UM, TO SAY THAT I AM YOUR CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS FOR THIS NEWLY REDRAWN DISTRICT MAP.
UM, I WANNA MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO MEET WITH WHOEVER WANTS TO MEET WITH ME.
I SENT AN EMAIL, UM, TO THE COUNCIL TO JUST ASK FOR COFFEE, HAVE A MEETING.
I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUES ARE THAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE, ARE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE FROM A FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO, UM, SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO COME AND JUST INTRODUCE MYSELF AND LET EVERYBODY HERE KNOW AS WELL AS THE CITIZENS OF BAYTOWN, THAT I WILL BE WORKING HARD TO EARN THE VOTE OF EVERY CITIZEN HERE.
NOT JUST TO 25% OF THE CITIZENS IN DISTRICT NINE, BUT THE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
AND SO I WOULD WELCOME A MEETING.
AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TIME.
KUDOS TO WHOEVER DECORATED OUTSIDE.
THANK YOU THERE BEING NO ONE ELSE DESIRING TO SPEAK.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR CITIZEN COMMENT PORTION OF THE AGENDA
[2. MINUTES]
TO A CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION IN MUNICIPAL DEV DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AND CITY COUNCIL REGULAR JOINT MEETING HELD ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2025.ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES RECOGNITIONS.
[a. Recognize City of Baytown Employees for their Years of Service.]
AND CITIZEN COMMENTS THREE A.WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE CITY OF BAYTOWN EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR YEARS OF SERVICE.
AND WE'RE GONNA RECOGNIZE SOME DECEMBER EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING THE HIGH MILESTONE OF ONE 40 YEAR EMPLOYEE THAT I THINK A LOT OF YOU, IF NOT ALL OF YOU WILL RECOGNIZE TIM LINCOLN, 25 YEARS PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING ASSOCIATE PROJECT MANAGER.
BEFORE JOINING THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TIM GRADUATED IN 1988 WITH A DEGREE IN JOURNALISM, AND IN 1990 ANSWERED A HIGHER CALL TO SERVE BY JOINING THE UNITED STATES ARMY.
HE DEPLOYED TO DESERT STORM SERVING IN SAUDI ARABIA, IRAQ, AND KUWAIT, WHERE HE EARNED A LETTER OF COMMENDATION FOR HIS DEDICATION AND PERFORMANCE UNDER PRESSURE.
IN NOVEMBER, 1995, HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY IN WATER DISTRIBUTION.
FROM THOSE EARLY DAYS IN THE TRENCHES, HE ADVANCED TO EQUIPMENT OPERATOR AND LATER SENIOR EQUIPMENT OPERATOR.
AFTER RESIGNING IN SEPTEMBER, 2000, FOLLOWING A DWI, HE MADE A LIFE-CHANGING DECISION.
HE QUIT DRINKING THAT CHRISTMAS JUST DAYS LATER.
ON DECEMBER 26TH, 2000, HE RETURNED TO THE CITY THIS TIME TO THE SUICIDE DETERMINED TO REBUILD, GROW, AND SERVE WITH RENEWED PURPOSE.
AND HIS CAREER PATH REFLECTS THAT COMMITMENT.
HE PROMOTED TO LIFT STATION OPERATOR IN 2006, BECAME THE CITY'S FIRST PRIVATE SEWER LINE INSPECTION SUPERVISOR IN 2007, SERVED AS CREW CHIEF OF WATER DISTRIBUTION IN 2011, UTILITY CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN IN 2013, AND ULTIMATELY UTILITY SUPERINTENDENT IN 2016.
IN 2023, HE BROUGHT HIS FIELD EXPERIENCE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO ENGINEERING WHERE HE NOW SERVES AS AN ASSOCIATE PROJECT MANAGER, TWO PLAN REVIEWER AND CONSULTANT.
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, HE HAS BEEN ON THE FRONT LINES DURING HURRICANES, FREEZES MAJOR WATER BREAKS AND EMERGENCIES OF EVERY KIND.
HE WORKED 24 HOURS STRAIGHT DURING HURRICANE RITA, DESPITE HAVING A BROKEN HAND PERFORMED LIFT STATION ROUNDS DURING HISTORIC STORMS AND MANAGED COUNTLESS HIGH RISK SEWER INCIDENTS, INCLUDING ONE THAT COST HIM PART OF HIS EAR.
HE RESPONDED TO MAJOR WATER MAIN RUPTURES, INCLUDING A 16 INCH BAYWAY BREAK THAT SENT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL.
NO MATTER THE CHALLENGE, HE SHOWED UP WITH DETERMINATION AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF BAYTOWN.
HIS PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS, HOWEVER, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT PEOPLE MENTORING CREWS, WORKING LAWN NIGHTS TO REPAIR
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LINES, TRACKING SEWER STOPPAGES, AND SUPPORTING TEAMS THROUGHOUT THE HARDEST CONDITIONS.AS SUPERINTENDENT, ONE OF HIS MOST MEANINGFUL TRADITIONS WAS HIS THURSDAY SMILEY HAPPY FACES MEETINGS CREATED TO REMIND HIS STAFF THAT THEY MATTERED IN THEIR WORK, HAD PURPOSE OUTSIDE OF HIS SERVICE TO THE CITY.
HE IS PROUD TO HAVE HIS NAME ON THE GLASS WALL AT THE TEXAN STADIUM AS AN ORIGINAL PERMANENT SEAT LICENSE HOLDER.
HE ALSO TREASURES HIS FAMILY LIFE, HAVING MARRIED HIS WONDERFUL WIFE, VICKI, IN MARCH, 2009.
FOR 25 YEARS OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE, DEDICATION, AND LEADERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
WES DOBBINS 25 YEARS FIRE EMS FIRE CAPTAIN.
WES BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH BAYTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT IN DECEMBER OF 2000.
AFTER COMPLETING HIS INITIAL TRAINING, HE WAS ASSIGNED TO STATION FIVE WHERE HE SERVED FOR 15 MONTHS BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO STATION FOUR.
IN 2004, BAYTOWN FIRE RECEIVED A NATIONAL GRANT TO ESTABLISH A 13 COUNTY REGIONAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS HAZMAT TEAM.
AND HE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF JOINING THE FIRST HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TECHNICIAN CLASS EVER HELD IN BAYTOWN.
THAT OPPORTUNITY LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR WHAT WOULD BECOME ONE OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL AND ENDURING ASPECTS OF HIS CAREER.
WES REMAINED AT STATION FOUR UNTIL HIS PROMOTION TO ENGINEER OPERATOR IN 2007.
FOLLOWING THE SHORT ASSIGNMENT AT STATION THREE, HE RETURNED TO STATION FOUR TO CONTINUE SERVING ALONGSIDE A TEAM HE DEEPLY RESPECTED.
WHEN STATION SEVEN OPENED IN MAY, 2013, THE ENTIRE CREW TRANSITIONED TOGETHER, BRINGING WITH THEM THEIR EXPERIENCE, PASSION, AND COMMITMENT TO THE HAZMAT PROGRAM.
HE WAS PROMOTED TO LIEUTENANT IN AUGUST OF 2017.
JUST TWO WEEKS BEFORE HURRICANE HARVEY STRUCK THE TEXAS GULF COAST LEADING THROUGH SUCH A HISTORIC DISASTER, TESTED IT IN WAYS HE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER, WHILE ALSO REINFORCING HIS DEDICATION TO BOTH THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY IT PROTECTS.
IN 2023 WEST WAS APPOINTED BAYTOWN FIRES HAZMAT COORDINATOR, A ROLE HE PROBABLY CONTINUES TO HOLD TODAY.
HE SERVES AS CAPTAIN AND HAZMAT COORDINATOR ON ENGINE SEVEN, WHERE HE FOCUSES ON TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, AND ENHANCING THE DEPARTMENT'S SPECIALIZED RESPONSE CAPABILITIES.
FOR 25 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITY, YOUR COMMITMENT, HEART, AND TIRELESS EFFORTS HAVE MADE OUR LASTING EFFORT IN THE LIVES OF THOSE YOU SERVE.
MIKE WILLS 30 YEARS FIRE AND EMS FIRE CAPTAIN.
CAPTAIN MIKE WILLS BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE BAYTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1995 AT STATION FIVE.
IN 1996, HE MARRIED HIS WIFE AMANDA, AND TOGETHER THEY LATER WELCOMED TWO CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN A STEADY SOURCE OF PRIDE THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.
IN 1997, MIKE TRANSFERRED GEST STATION ONE WHERE HE BECAME DEEPLY INVOLVED IN HIGH ANGLE RESCUE AND AUTO EXTRACTION.
OVER THE YEARS, HE CONTINUED TO BUILD SIGNIFICANT EXPERTISE IN THESE AREAS ALONG WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS OPERATIONS.
HIS TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND CALM APPROACH HAVE MADE HIM A DEPENDABLE RESOURCE FOR FIREFIGHTERS ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT.
AS A SUPERVISOR, HE'S KNOWN FOR HELPING DEVELOP THE FIREFIGHTERS UNDER HIS COMMAND.
MANY OF THEM HAVE GONE ON TO PROMOTE THROUGH THE RANKS, INCLUDING INTO CHIEF OFFICER POSITIONS.
HIS LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT TO TRAINING HAVE MADE STATION ONE A CONSISTENTLY SOUGHT AFTER ASSIGNMENT WITH FIREFIGHTERS OFTEN ASKING TO BE PLACED ON A LIST SHOULD ANY VACANCIES ARISE.
IN ADDITION TO HIS OPERATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS, MIKE HAS SUPPORTED COMMUNITY FOCUSED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ASSISTING WITH FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION THROUGH THE BEAT ALLEY PROGRAM SINCE 2017, HE HAS ALSO SERVED AS AN INSTRUCTOR AT THE SAN JUSTINO COLLEGE FIRE ACADEMY, WHERE HE TEACHES RECRUITS THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FIREFIGHTING PROFESSION.
A SIGNIFICANT MOMENT IN HIS CAREER CAME IN 2019 WHEN HE SERVED AS A KEY MEMBER OF THE RESCUE TEAM RESPONDING TO THE GREENPEACE PROTEST ON THE HARTMAN BRIDGE.
HIS EXPERTISE AND STEADY LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTED TO THE SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL RESOLUTION OF THAT INCIDENT.
FOR HIS ACTIONS, HE RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE RIBBON.
THAT SAME YEAR, HE WAS HONORED WITH THE FIRE CHIEF'S AWARD FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITIZENS OF BAYTOWN.
OUTSIDE OF WORK, MIKE VALUES TIME WITH HIS FAMILY.
HIS DAUGHTER, HALEY IS EXPECTING A CHILD, AND MIKE LOOKS FORWARD TO BECOMING A GRANDFATHER IN APRIL, 2026.
HIS FAMILY IS EXCITED TO CELEBRATE.
CAPTAIN WILLS, THANK YOU FOR 30 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE BAYTOWN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY OF BAYTOWN.
YOUR PROFESSIONALISM, EXPERIENCE, AND COMMITMENT HAVE MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR ORGANIZATION.
DAVID ALFORD, 40 YEARS POLICE ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF ASSISTANT CHIEF DAVID ALFORD STORY IS ONCE SHAPED BY SERVICE, PERSEVERANCE, AND A DEEP LOVE FOR HIS COMMUNITY.
HE GREW UP IN BAYTOWN AND ATTENDED ROSS S STERLING HIGH SCHOOL.
AFTER GRADUATION, HE ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
UPON COMPLETING HIS ACTIVE SERVICE, DAVID RETURNED HOME TO BAYTOWN AND JOINED THE BAYTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT WHERE HE WORKED PATROL, SERVED AS A FIELD TRAINING OFFICER AND BECAME A MEMBER OF THE SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS UNIT.
IN 1991, SERGEANT ALFORD ANSWERED THE CALL ONCE MORE AND REENTERED ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION DESERT STORM, BEFORE RETURNING YET AGAIN
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TO BAYTOWN TO CONTINUE PROTECTING AND SERVING THE CITIZENS HE LOVES.ACROSS THE COURSE OF HIS POLICING CAREER, DAVID EARNED NUMEROUS AWARDS AND ACCOMMODATIONS, INCLUDING TWICE BEING RECOGNIZED AS OFFICER OF THE MONTH.
HIS SERVICE WAS FURTHER HONORED WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION MEDAL FROM THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION VFW POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR, AND BAYTOWN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR.
UNDER THE DEPARTMENT'S MODERNIZED AWARD PROGRAM, HE RECEIVED THREE LIFESAVING MEDALS.
THE TASER INTERNATIONAL JOHN H COVER MEDAL FOR HEROISM, THE CHIEF'S COMMENDATION AWARD AND THE CHIEF'S UNIT CITATION MEDALS.
IT'S HARD FOR HIM TO BELIEVE 40 YEARS HAVE PASSED AND THOUGH NO PLACE PERSON OR PROFESSIONALIST PERFECT.
DAVID CONSIDERS HIMSELF PROFOUNDLY BLESSED TO HAVE SPENT HIS LIFE SERVING THE DEPARTMENT AND THIS CITY.
HIS CAREER MARKED WITH ACHIEVEMENT AND HONOR WAS ALSO TOUCHED BY DEEP PERSONAL LOSS.
WHEN HIS FIRST WIFE LESLIE PASSED AWAY IN TIME, HE WAS BLESSED TO FIND LOVE AGAIN AND REMARRIED.
HE AND HIS WIFE CINDY, SHARE FIVE CHILDREN AND AN ACTIVE LIFE OF FAITH.
DAVID PROFOUNDLY PROFESSES JESUS CHRIST AND SERVES AS A DEACON AT ROLLING BROOK FELLOWSHIP BAY TOWN'S FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
AFTER A TIME THAT HE PLANS TO CONTINUE SERVING AS A PEER SUPPORTER, A CALLING THAT HAS SHAPED HIS HEART AND WILL GUIDE HIS NEXT CHAPTER, HIS UNIFORM, MAY ONE DAY COME OFF FOR GOOD.
THANK YOU CHIEF ALFORD FOR 40 YEARS OF DEVOTED SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND FOR THE MANY WAYS YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE BAYTOWN A BETTER PLACE.
YOUR DEDICATION AND GENUINE CARE INSPIRE US ALL.
[b. Present a proclamation recognizing Lung Cancer Awareness Month.]
CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.HEAD DOWN HERE AND IF Y'ALL WANT TO BE IN A PHOTO AFTER THIS, FEEL FREE TO COME JOIN ME.
OH, YOU'RE GONNA ADVISE ME OPEN INVITATION.
YOU GONNA DO THIS WITH ME? YEAH.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR CHARLES JOHNSON, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
MY NAME IS ANISH CENTO AND I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN LUNG CANCER SCREENING INITIATIVE OR A-L-C-S-I, A NATIONAL NONPROFIT WORKING TO INCREASE AWARENESS AND ACCESS TO LIFESAVING LUNG CANCER SCREENING.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL IS TRULY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE THE LIVES OF OUR BAYTOWN CITIZENS.
TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO WE ARE, A-L-C-S-I IS A NATIONAL 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT FOCUS ENTIRELY ON RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT LUNG CANCER SCREENING.
OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, WE'VE HELD MORE THAN 1200 EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND SPOKEN WITH OVER 70,000 PEOPLE ACROSS OUR COUNTRY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION.
OUR ORGANIZATION BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 700 VOLUNTEERS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, STUDENTS LIKE ME, PHYSICIANS, SURVIVORS FAMILIES, AND ADVOCATES, ALL UNITED BY THE MISSION TO SAVE LIVES THROUGH EARLY DETECTION.
WE NOW HAVE OVER 130 CHAPTERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
EACH ONE WORKS CLOSELY WITH LOCAL HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, AND CITY LEADERS TO SPREAD AWARENESS AND EXPAND ACCESS TO SCREENING.
WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE, WHAT WHAT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY IN BAYTOWN IS PART OF A MUCH LARGER GROWING MOVEMENT.
A MOVEMENT BUILT ON COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AND THE BELIEF THAT HEALTH SHOULD NEVER DEPEND ON AWARENESS ALONE.
THROUGHOUT THIS EFFORT, WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF PARTNERING WITH MAYORS, GOVERNORS, AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO RECORD PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SPEAK DIRECTLY TO RESIDENTS.
WHEN TRUSTED LEADERS SPEAK UP ABOUT SCREENING, PEOPLE LISTEN AND TAKE ACTION.
THAT'S WHY PROCLAMATIONS LIKE THE ONE YOU'RE ISSUING TODAY, ARE SO MEANINGFUL.
THEY SPARK CONVERSATIONS AT KITCHEN TABLES IN WAITING ROOMS AND WITHIN FAMILIES WHO MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE HEARD ABOUT LUNG CANCER SCREENING.
SO FAR MORE THAN 625 PROCLAMATIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ACROSS ALL 50 STATES AND CANADA, RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF LUNG CANCER SCREENING.
WHEN BAYTOWN JOINS ITS EFFORT, IT DOESN'T JUST RAISE AWARENESS LOCALLY.
IT SENDS A NATIONAL CLEAR MESSAGE THAT OUR COMMUNITY VALUES EARLY DETECTION, PREVENTION, AND THE LIVES OF OUR RESIDENTS.
AND THIS TRULY MATTERS BECAUSE LUNG CANCER REMAINS THE LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER RELATED DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT CLAIMS MORE LIVES EACH YEAR THAN BREAST, COLORECTAL, AND CERVICAL CANCERS COMBINED.
THE HEARTBREAKING REALITY IS THAT MOST CANCERS ARE DISCOVERED LATE AT A POINT WHEN TREATMENT BECOMES FAR MORE DIFFICULT, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
SCREENING ALLOWS US TO CATCH LUNG CANCER EARLY, LONG BEFORE SYMPTOMS APPEAR, WHEN TREATMENT
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IS MOST EFFECTIVE, AND SURVIVAL RATES IMPROVE DRASTICALLY.NEARLY HALF OF LUNG CANCER CASES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE DIAGNOSED ONLY AFTER THE CANCER HAS SPREAD TO OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY.
AT THAT POINT, THE FIVE YEAR SURVIVAL DR RATE DROPS TO AROUND 7%.
BUT WHEN LUNG CANCER IS CAUGHT, EARLY LIVES ARE SAVED.
THAT'S WHY, THAT'S WHAT MAKES SCREENING SO POWERFUL HERE IN OUR OWN REGION.
THIS IMPACT IS DEEPLY FELT IN HARRIS COUNTY.
AN AVERAGE OF 2,509 RESIDENTS ARE DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG CANCER EACH YEAR.
AND ACROSS TEXAS, MORE THAN 13,500 PEOPLE FACE A LUNG CANCER DIAGNOSIS ANNUALLY.
THEY REPRESENT PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS.
THEY REMIND US WHY AWARENESS AND EARLY DETECTION MATTER RIGHT HERE IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE HAVE A SOLUTION AVAILABLE.
LUNG CANCER SCREENING USES A QUICK, PAINLESS, LOW DOSE CT SKIN COVERED BY INSURANCE.
FOR PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY JUST AS MAMMOGRAMS TRANSFORMED EARLY DETECTION FOR BREAST CANCER.
CT SCREENING IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS WE HAVE TO REDUCE DEATHS FROM LUNG CANCER LOWERING MORTALITY BY 20% OR MORE.
AND YET, DESPITE HOW EFFECTIVE THIS TEST IS, SCREENING RATES REMAIN INCREDIBLY LOW.
IN TEXAS, ONLY ABOUT 12% OF PEOPLE AT HIGH RISK ARE GETTING SCREENED.
THAT MEANS NEARLY NINE OUTTA 10 PEOPLE WHO QUALIFY FOR A LIFESAVING TEST ARE MISSING OUT OFTEN SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT.
THAT GAP IS WHERE AWARENESS, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
THERE ARE SEVERAL MEANING WAYS A COMMUNITY LIKE BAYTOWN CAN HELP CLOSE THAT GAP.
ONE IS BY HELPING US CONNECT WITH LOCAL GROUPS, SENIOR CENTERS, CIVIC CLUBS, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS WHERE WE CAN SHARE INFORMATION DIRECTLY WITH RESIDENTS.
EVEN A SHORT CONVERSATION CAN CHANGE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
CITIES CAN ALSO INCLUDE SCREENING INFORMATION IN NEWSLETTERS, WEBSITES, OR ME EMAIL UPDATES, REACHING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH JUST A FEW SENTENCES.
WE WOULD ALSO LOVE TO COLLABORATE WITH BEAN'S, PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS, CLINICS, AND HOSPITALS TO SPREAD ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT SCREENING.
PARTNERSHIP IS HOW WE MAKE ACCESS EASIER AND AWARENESS STRONGER.
ANOTHER INCREDIBLY MEANINGFUL ACTION COULD BE A BRIEF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT RECORDED BY THE MAYOR, ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO GET SCREENED.
A 32ND MESSAGE FROM A TRUSTED CITY LEADER CAN INFLUENCE MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY FLYER OR STATISTIC EVER COULD.
AND FINALLY, PROCLAMATIONS LIKE THE ONE BEING ISSUED TODAY, CARRY REAL IMPACT.
THEY RAISE AWARENESS, INSPIRE ACTION, AND HONOR THOSE AFFECTED BY LUNG CANCER.
SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO MAYOR CHARLES JOHNSON AND THE ENTIRE BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF LUNG CANCER SCREENING AND FOR CHOOSING TO BE A PART OF THIS NATIONAL EFFORT TO SAVE LIVES.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.
TOGETHER WE CAN ENSURE THAT MORE PEOPLE IN BAYTOWN HARRIS COUNTY, ACROSS TEXAS, ACROSS THE UNITED STATES GET THE LIFESAVING SCREENING THEY NEED.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
OKAY, ANY QUESTIONS? NOT AT THE TIME.
HOW OLD ARE YOU? YEAH, I'M 15 YEARS OLD.
THANK YOU FOR COMING UP JOB MAN.
ANY MORE QUESTIONS? OKAY, WELL, LET'S GET THIS DONE.
YOU WANNA READ THIS? THANK YOU.
PROCLAMATION, CITY OF BAYTOWN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, WHEREAS LUNG CANCER IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF CANCER DEATH AMONG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN BAYTOWN IN 2024, ACCOUNTING FOR MORE DEATHS THAN COLON CANCER, BREAST CANCER, AND PROSTATE CANCER COMBINED.
AND WHEREAS ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, THERE WERE 13,484 NEW LUNG CANCER CASES IN TEXAS BETWEEN 2017 AND 2021 AND 8,450 DEATHS DUE TO LUNG CANCER BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022.
AND WHEREAS SCREENING HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS FOR LUNG CANCER USING LOW DOSE COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY CAN LEAD TO THE EARLIER DETECTION AND SAVE LIVES, REDUCING MORTALITY BY 20% COMPARED TO CHEST X-RAY SCREENING IN THE NATIONAL LUNG ASSOCIATION SCREENING TRIAL AND REDUCING THE RISK OF DEATH AT 10 YEARS BY 24% IN MEN, AND 33% IN WOMEN AS DEMONSTRATED BY ANOTHER LARGE RANDOMIZED TRIAL.
AND WHEREAS FUNDING FOR LUNG CANCER RESEARCH CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND THAT OF MANY OTHER CANCERS.
AND INCREASED INVESTMENT IS URGENTLY NEEDED IN EARLY DIAGNOSIS.
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INCLUDING RESEARCH ON LUNG CANCER AFFECTING WOMEN AND LUNG CANCER HEALTH DISPARITIES.AND WHEREAS WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER LUNG CANCER ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE YOUNGER AND NEVER SMOKERS.
LUNG CANCER INCIDENTS IN MORTALITY RATES IN WOMEN ARE RISING RELATIVE TO MEN.
MORE WOMEN DIE FROM LUNG CANCER THAN FROM BREAST CANCER EACH YEAR.
AND BY 2035, IT IS PROJECTED THAT MORE WOMEN THAN MEN WILL DIE FROM LUNG CANCER.
AND WHEREAS AS THE LAST ONE, I PROMISE, ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITY, SUCH AS THE AMERICAN LUNG CANCER SCREENING INITIATIVE AND THE WOMEN'S LUNG CANCER FORUM ARE COMMITTED TO EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT LUNG CANCER AND LUNG CANCER SCREENING RATES IN BAYTOWN NOW, THEREFORE, OUR CHARLES JOHNSON MAYOR BAYTOWN DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER AS LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH IN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, AND RECOGNIZE THE ONGOING NEED FOR RESEARCH ON LUNG CANCER AFFECTING WOMEN AND LUNG CANCER HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO LEARN ABOUT LUNG CANCER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION THROUGH SCREENING.
I NEED EVERYBODY ELSE'S SQUEEZING.
DID YOU SEND IT TO YOURSELF? LONG DRIVE.
NOW WE'RE ONTO PUBLIC HEARINGS.
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 THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
EVERYONE DESIRING TO BE A PART OF TODAY'S PUBLIC HEARING SHOULD HAVE EITHER SIGNED THE APPROPRIATE LISTEN TO FOUR, 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 THESE HEARINGS.
THE RULES ALLOW EACH PERSON THREE MINUTES TO PRESENT INFORMATION.
HOWEVER, I DO 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 THE SPOKESPERSON TO PRESENT THE INFORMATION.
AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DIRECT THEM TO ME FOR A
[a. Conduct a public hearing and consider a request for a proposed text amendment to Chapter 111, Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) of the Baytown Code of Ordinances to revise Divisions 2.21, 2.31, 2.32, 2.33, 3.22, 3.42, 7.210 and 10.2 of the ULDC, regarding garage offsets, shipping containers, and general corrections in consistency with the previous code and the 2025 code.]
CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSED TEXT.AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 1 1 1, UNIFIED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OF THE BAYTOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES TO REVISE DIVISIONS 2.21, 2.31, 2.32, 2.33, 3.22, 3.42, 7.210, AND 10.2 OF THE ULDC REGARDING GARAGE OFFSETS, SHIPPING, CONTAINERS, AND GENERAL CORRECTIONS AND INCONSISTENCY WITH THE PREVIOUS CODE AND THE 2025 CODE.
IT IS NOW 7:04 PM AND I CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE REQUEST FOR THE PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 11, UNIFIED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OF THE BAYTOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES AND REVISED DIVISIONS.
2.21, 2.31, 2.32, 2.33, 3.22, 3.42, 7.210, AND 10.2 OF THE UL DCI FEEL LIKE I NEED TO PLAY THE LOTTERY NOW.
IT WAS EASIER THAN LISTING OUT ALL OF THE TITLES.
UM, FOR THE RECORD, MARTIN SCRIBNER PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
SO, UM, AS YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME UPDATES, UM, TWEAKS, AMENDMENTS TO THE ULDC THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY.
UH, BECAUSE WE'RE, WE'RE FINDING THAT THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT
[00:30:01]
EITHER DIDN'T CARRY OVER OR THINGS THAT WE'RE FINDING OUT AS WE USE THE CODE THAT THESE MAYBE DIDN'T WORK QUITE THE WAY THAT WE WANTED THEM TO.UM, AND, AND AGAIN, WE, WE HAVE SOME, UH, SOMETIMES IT'S MEMBERS OF THE, UH, BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY THAT COME TO US AND SAY, HEY, IS THERE ANY WAY WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THIS? SO I'M GONNA GO OVER SOME OF THOSE TONIGHT, BUT THAT, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT.
SOME OF THESE ARE HOUSEKEEPING.
OTHERS ARE THINGS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT BECAUSE OF, OF OUR, UM, UH, AGAIN, OUR PUBLIC COMING IN AND TALKING TO US.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE, UH, GOING TO SKIP TONIGHT IN THE TITLE OF THE ITEM IS SHIPPING CONTAINERS.
WE, UH, UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT COUNSEL WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A MORE IN DEPTH CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
SO WE WILL BRING THAT ONE ITEM BACK TO YOU IN JANUARY JUST FOR DISCUSSION.
SO TONIGHT, UM, STAFF IS REMOVING THAT FROM THE, UH, FROM THE AMENDMENT REQUEST.
SO FOR TONIGHT, WE'LL KINDA SKIP OVER THAT.
YOU'LL SEE A COUPLE OF OF SLIDES HERE.
I'M GONNA SKIP RIGHT PAST THOSE.
SO, UM, WE'LL START WITH, UM, ALSO IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, YOU'RE GONNA SEE THAT THESE ARE LISTED IN ORDER OF WHERE THEY LAND IN THE CODE.
I'M GONNA PRESENT THEM MORE ALONG THE LINES OF, THESE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE KIND OF SIMPLE, UM, HOUSEKEEPING THINGS.
AND THEN WE'LL GET TO THE VERY LAST ONE IS THE ONE THAT'S THE MOST COMPLICATED.
SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, IT MIGHT BE EASIEST TO STOP ME DURING THE PRESENTATION, UM, BECAUSE THERE'S QUITE A LOT HERE.
SO, UM, SO WE'LL START FIRST WITH, UH, DEVELOPMENT LANDSCAPING.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE THE FOUNDATION PLANNING REQUIREMENTS FROM A STATE RESIDENTIAL, SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL MIXED RESIDENTIAL AND ALTERNATIVE RE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
THAT IS, BECAUSE THAT TYPE OF A FOUNDATION PLANNING REQUIREMENT IS REALLY AIMED MORE TOWARDS COMMERCIAL AND APARTMENTS, IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THOSE, IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE, UM, FOR US TO TELL SOMEBODY WHO'S BUILDING A SINGLE FAMILY HOME THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE SO MUCH LANDSCAPING AT THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR HOME.
THAT'S, THAT'S JUST NOT, WE'RE, WE'RE NOT, WE DON'T WANT TO REGULATE THAT.
SO WE'D LIKE TO REMOVE THAT AND LEAVE IT FOR THE COMMERCIAL AND, UM, AND APARTMENTS.
UM, NEXT IS THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW TABLE.
UM, SO RIGHT NOW A RE PLAT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
SO SAY THERE'S A MINOR, UM, CHANGE TO A AN A PLAT THAT WAS ALREADY DONE AND APPROVED.
SO SAY THERE'S A LOT LINE MOVED OR THERE'S A LOT REMOVED, OR, UH, SOME OF THE AMENITIES, DETENTION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT CHANGES ON THE PLAT.
UH, THIS ORDINARILY RIGHT NOW WOULD GO THROUGH THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FOR APPROVAL.
MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE SEE THESE REPL REQUESTS, THEY'RE VERY, VERY MINOR.
AND SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS TO GIVE PLAN DIRECTOR AND STAFF TO APPROVE THESE ADMINISTRATIVELY, UH, RATHER THAN TAKE THEM TO P AND Z.
WE FEEL THAT THAT WOULD, UH, SAVE THEM SOME TIME.
IT, IT WOULD SOME CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION THAT IS CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS.
NOW, IF THE RA, THE REPL NEEDS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO IF THERE'S A, IF THERE'S A VARIANCE REQUEST OR THERE'S SOME SORT OF A PUBLIC UTILITY, UM, ISSUE, THEN THOSE WOULD STILL GO TO A PUBLIC HEARING IN FOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION FOR THEIR APPROVAL INSTEAD OF THE PLANNING DIRECTOR QUESTION.
IF, IF THE RE IF, IF THE RELA IS DENIED, WHAT'S THE APPEAL PROCESS? UM, IF THE RELA IS DENIED, THEN THEY WOULD TAKE, THEY COULD TAKE IT TO PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION AS A MATTER OF COURSE.
THERE STILL, IS THAT THAT RELEASE VALVE? YES.
NEXT, UM, IS WE WANTED TO ADD A COUPLE OF DEFINITIONS AND CLARIFY ANOTHER ONE.
SO RIGHT NOW THE DEFINITION OF TOWNHOUSE IS IN THE CODE, UH, AND DOES NOT CLARIFY THE NUMBER OF UNITS.
AND IT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT CONFUSING BECAUSE THERE'S ALSO, THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHER USES THAT DO LIST OUT THE NUMBER OF, OF UNITS.
SO WE'D LIKE TO JUST CLARIFY THAT IT'S SIX TO EIGHT UNITS IN THE, IN THE CODE.
UH, WE'D LIKE TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR MOBILE HOME.
UH, AS SOME OF YOU MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, WE HAVE A MANUFACTURED HOME.
AND THE, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MOBILE HOME AND A MANUFACTURED HOME LEGALLY.
AND THAT IS FROM A, UM, FROM A LEGISLATIVE ACT THAT HAPPENED IN 1972.
SO IF THE MOBILE HOME WAS, IF THE MANUFACTURED HOME WAS BUILT BEFORE 1972, THEN IT'S ACTUALLY CONSIDERED A MOBILE HOME.
AND THE REASON THAT IS EVEN RELEVANT IS BECAUSE THERE ARE DIFFERENT REGULATIONS FOR MOBILE HOMES ON A FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO, UM, SO WE'D LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT DEFINITIONS IN THERE.
THE OTHER DEFINITION WE'D LIKE TO HAVE IN THERE IS CONTAINER OR SHIPPING CONTAINER RIGHT NOW THAT, THAT YOU WON'T FIND ANYTHING ABOUT SHIPPING CONTAINERS IN THE CODE AT ALL.
AND SO THIS WAS THE BEGINNING.
[00:35:01]
EVERYTHING ELSE WE DISCUSSED THAT, THAT I MENTIONED THAT WE ARE, WE'RE TAKING OFF THE TABLE, I'D LIKE TO LEAVE THIS DEFINITION GOING IN.IT IS THE DEFINITION THAT WAS IN THE, THE 2014 ULDC CODE.
SO IT'S JUST TAKING THAT AND MOVING IT INTO OUR CURRENT CODE.
IT WON'T AFFECT HOW IT'S ADMINISTERED, IT JUST GIVES US A DEFINITION TO WORK FROM, UH, RESIDENCE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT DIMENSIONS.
SO, UH, LET'S SEE, DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS RIGHT NOW IN THE USE TABLE, THERE IS A, AND IN THE DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT USES THAT GET CONFUSED ALL THE TIME.
WE HAVE ONE THAT'S SINGLE UNIT ATTACHED USE, AND WE HAVE TOWNHOUSE TO STAFF.
AND SO WE, WE, WE HAD A BUNCH OF CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS WHEN THE ULDC WAS BEING FORMULATED BY THE CONSULTANT.
AND TO BE HONEST, WE'VE NOT SEEN THE NEED FOR SEPARATING THESE.
SO IN ORDER TO GET RID OF SOME OF THAT CONFUSION, WE'D LIKE TO REMOVE ANY REFERENCES TO SINGLE UNIT ATTACHED USE FROM THE CODE WHEREVER IT LIES.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS IN THIS, UM, TABLE 2.2, ONE DASH FOUR, UM, WHICH IS THE MIXED RESIDENTIAL DIMENSIONS.
UM, WE'D ALSO, IN THAT TABLE WE'D LIKE TO ADD, UH, JUST A CLARIFICATION ON LOT WIDTH.
UM, SO IF IT SAYS 20 FEET OF LOT WIDTH FOR TOWNHOUSES, WE'RE SAYING PER DWELLING UNIT.
SO IF IT'S SIX DWELLING UNITS, THEN IT'S 120 FEET.
RIGHT NOW, THE CODE DOES NOT SPECIFY THAT, BUT THAT, THAT IS HOW WE ADMINISTER IT.
AND THEN WE'D LIKE TO ADD SOME TABLE NOTES, UH, AT THE BOTTOM TO JUST CLARIFY LOT AREA CALCULATION AND THE, AGAIN, THE NUMBER OF UNITS FOR MULTIPLEX AND, UH, TOWNHOUSE, UH, CONSOLIDATED USE TABLE.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS THAT SINGLE UNIT ATTACHED USE.
WE'D LIKE TO JUST REMOVE ALL REFERENCES TO.
SO THAT IS WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING HERE TO JUST GET RID OF IT FROM THAT TABLE.
WE ALSO HAVE A SECTION IN THE CODE THAT IS STANDARDS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO A PARTICULAR USE.
SO THERE ARE, UH, UH, THERE, THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ONES IN THERE THAT WE HAVE KIND OF DEALT WITH.
UH, ONE IS VEHICLE AND BOAT SALES, RENTAL AND LEASING.
AND WE HAVE ALREADY, WE, IN OUR LAST UPDATE, WE CHANGED THAT.
UM, THE, THE WAY THE LIMITATIONS ARE, WE HAD A 13,000 POUND, YOU GUYS MAY REMEMBER WE HAD THIS 13,000 POUND LIMITATION.
AND THAT IS NEITHER REALISTIC OR ABLE TO BE MEASURED BY STAFF.
WE HAVE NO WAY TO ENFORCE THAT.
UM, WE WERE SHOWN A PICTURE A WHILE BACK OF TWO DIFFERENT TRAILERS THAT LOOKED IDENTICAL AND HE SAID ONE OF THOSE IS 8,000 POUNDS, THE OTHER ONE IS 15,000 POUNDS.
AND THE ONLY WAY HE COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE WAS BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF LUG NUTS ON THE WHEELS.
SO THAT HAVING THAT 13,000 POUND LIMITATION IN THERE DID NOT, DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.
SO WE'VE ALREADY CHANGED THE LANGUAGE UNDER VEHICLE AND BOAT SALES.
WE'D LIKE TO MIRROR THAT LANGUAGE UNDER TOOLS, RENTAL OF, EXCUSE ME, SALE OR RENTAL OF TOOLS, TRACTORS, OR EQUIPMENT SO THAT IT'S THE SAME LANGUAGE.
UM, IT, IT MEETS THE SAME PURPOSE.
UM, THE SECOND PIECE OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH SHIPPING CONTAINERS.
UM, THIS IS ALSO SHIPPING CONTAINER, SHIPPING CONTAINER AND SHIPPING CONTAINER.
OKAY, SO HERE'S THE ONE THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST COMPLICATED I'M GONNA SHOW YOU, I PROMISE I'M GONNA SHOW YOU SOME, SOME DRAWINGS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL, WILL HELP TO, TO CLARIFY THIS A LITTLE BIT.
SO THIS IS REGARDING GARAGE ORIENTATION, WHERE THE GARAGE DOORS ARE ALLOWED TO BE IN A NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOME ACCORDING TO WHERE THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS.
SO THE CURRENT ULDC, THIS WAS, AGAIN, THIS WAS NEW IN JANUARY, UM, SAYS THE GARAGE MUST BE AT LEAST FIVE FEET BEHIND THE FRONT HOUSE FACE.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS VERY, VERY SIMPLE DRAWING THAT SHOWS THE, THE GARAGE DOOR ITSELF AND THAT THE FACE OF THE HOUSE BEING OFFSET BY FIVE FEET.
REMEMBER THAT WE HAD A CONVERSATION DURING THE UL DC ADOPTION ABOUT KEEPING THE 25 FOOT GARAGE SETBACK.
IN ALL OF THE EXAMPLES I'M GONNA SHOW YOU TONIGHT, THE 25 FOOT GARAGE SETBACK IS IN PLACE.
WE'RE NOT PROPOSING TO CHANGE THAT AT ALL.
THE, THE SETBACK FOR THE FACE OF THE HOUSE IS 15 FEET.
SO IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU PLACE THE GARAGE AND HOW YOU WANT TO, TO MAKE THAT WORK.
SO, UH, THE PREVIOUS CODE BASICALLY ALLOWED, THERE WAS NO OFFSET REQUIREMENT.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, YOU COULD HAVE THE GARAGE
[00:40:01]
BE WAY OUT FRONT.AND THAT'S, THAT WAS ALLOWED BY THE CODE.
OUR CURRENT CODE DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THAT.
SO WE, UH, A FEW MONTHS AGO HAD SEVERAL LOCAL BUILDERS COME TO US AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR US.
UM, WE DO ONE OR TWO INFILL BUILDINGS, UH, BUILDING HOUSES, UH, PER YEAR, AND WE HAVE ONE OR TWO DIFFERENT, UM, FLOOR PLANS THAT WE USE.
AND THE, THE NEW CODE REGULATION CAUSES AN ISSUE FOR US.
AND SO WE LISTENED TO THEM AND WE SAID, OKAY, WELL WHAT WE ARE THINKING THEN IS A COMPROMISE.
AND SO THE COMPROMISE WOULD, AND I'M GONNA KIND OF COME BACK TO WHY THE, THE CODE IS THE WAY IT IS.
I'LL COME BACK TO THAT IN A SECOND.
THE COMPROMISE IS TO ALLOW THE GARAGE TO BE UP TO FIVE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE FRONT HOUSE FACE, AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS DRAWING.
SO IT DOES KIND OF LEND ITSELF TO BEING A LITTLE BIT GARAGE FORWARD, BUT NOT LIKE 25 FEET OUT FRONT WHERE YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND ALL YOU SEE ARE GARAGE DOORS.
SO, UM, STAFF BROUGHT THIS TO THE GROUP OF BUILDERS THAT WE SPOKE TO, AND THEY, UH, EXPLAINED TO US THAT THEY FELT THAT THAT ALLEVIATED ABOUT 95% OF THEIR CONCERNS.
SO STAFF FELT THAT THIS WAS A GOOD WAY TO, UH, TO COMPROMISE WITH THE BUILDERS.
UM, BUT IT'S ALSO A STEP FOR BAYTOWN WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE, UH, PARTICULAR ABOUT DESIGN, BUT THEN LISTENING TO THE LOCAL FOLKS AND SAYING, OKAY, WELL WE, WE CAN ADJUST THIS A LITTLE BIT.
SO WHY DID THE NEW CODE HAVE THIS FIVE FOOT OFFSET? IT REALLY IS ABOUT AESTHETICS MORE THAN ANYTHING.
UM, IF YOU'VE HEARD THE PHRASE SNOUT HOUSES, SO WHERE, WHERE BASICALLY THAT'S YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND ALL YOU SEE IS GARAGES, UH, LINED UP ALONG THAT STREET.
UM, THAT'S NOT CONSIDERED GREAT PLANNING.
UM, IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT REALLY HAS A GREAT VISUAL APPEAL OR, OR AESTHETICS WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET.
IT DOESN'T LEND ITSELF TO NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER.
UM, WE HAVE SOME NEIGHBORHOODS HERE IN BAYTOWN THAT, THAT HAVE THAT OR AT LEAST HAVE SOME OF THOSE.
AND SO, UH, KIND OF THROUGH ENCOURAGING SOME THOUGHTFUL DESIGN, UM, ENCOURAGING THAT TO, TO, UH, ENHANCE PROPERTY VALUES AND MARKET APPEAL, UH, PROMOTING THE WALKABILITY AND SAFETY STAFF FEELS THAT, THAT THAT, AND, AND THERE ARE OTHER CITIES AROUND TEXAS AND AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE THIS TYPE OF, OF, UH, OF REGULATION.
UH, WE DO FEEL THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT BRINGS VALUE TO THE CITY.
UM, SO I'LL GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES.
UM, THESE ARE HOUSES THAT EXIST HERE IN BAYTOWN CURRENTLY.
SO THIS IS WHAT THE CURRENT LOOKS LIKE.
IT'S FIVE FEET BEHIND THE HOUSE FACE.
THERE ARE BUILDERS THAT CAN DO IT AND, AND THEY DO IT.
SOME OF THE LARGER BUILDERS THAT HAVE LOTS AND LOTS OF DIFFERENT DESIGNS, THEY, THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING FIVE FOOT BEHIND THE HOUSE FACE AND IT CAN BE UP TO 20 FEET BEHIND THE FACE OF THE HOUSE.
UM, THIS IS ONLY FOR ATTACHED GARAGES.
THIS IS THE PREVIOUS, THIS IS WHAT I WAS KIND OF MENTIONING.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY, VERY GARAGE FORWARD.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE FRONT DOOR, YOU DRIVE DOWN THE STREET AND MAYBE ALL YOU SEE IS GARAGES.
THIS DOES NOT REALLY LEND ITSELF TO, UH, NEIGHBORLINESS.
AND, YOU KNOW, SAYING HI TO YOUR, HI TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOU'RE COMING OUT YOUR FRONT DOOR.
YOU DON'T USE YOUR FRONT DOOR.
AND SO I'VE GOT A QUESTION, MARTIN, IF YOU GO BACK TO THAT SLIDE, 'CAUSE I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW, SO ON THE, LET'S SAY IF ANY OF THESE ARE ANY OF YOUR HOUSES, I APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T TAKE THE PICTURE.
UM, SO LIKE ON THAT BOTTOM, THE BOTTOM RIGHT, UH, IS IT MEASURED TO THAT, TO THE ACTUAL FRONT DOOR OR TO THAT ROOF LINE WHERE IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A FRONT PORCH? I I'M GOING TO GUESS THAT THIS WAS PERMITTED UNDER THE OLD CODE.
AND SO IT'S A BIT OF A LOADED QUESTION, BUT IF I WERE MEASURING IT, I WOULD SAY ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE IT'S SO NARROW THAT IT'S TO THE FRONT DOOR.
THE NEW CODE, THE NEW CODE ALSO HAS A LIMITATION AS TO HOW WIDE THE GARAGE, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE THE GARAGE DOOR CAN TAKE UP.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS ONE TAKES UP ABOUT 80% OF THE, OF THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.
AND THE CURRENT CODE HAS, UM, HAS A 40% LIMITATION.
OKAY? SO WHEN YOU SAY, OKAY, I CAN ONLY PUT, SO LET'S SAY UNDER THE CURRENT CODE, I'VE GOTTA PUT THAT FRONT DOOR FIVE FEET IN FRONT OF THE FRONT, THE, WHERE THE GARAGE IS.
WELL, WHAT DO YOU HAVE DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A VERY NARROW LOT.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE DOWN THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE? YOU HAVE A, A HALLWAY THAT IS REALLY PRETTY MUCH WASTED SPACE FOR THE HOMEOWNER.
AND SO, AND IT, AND IT'S EXTRA COST IN TERMS OF BUILDING MATERIALS AND DESIGN.
SO THAT WAS REALLY, THAT WAS ONE OF THE, THE ISSUES THAT THE LOCAL BUILDERS BROUGHT UP WAS, YOU KNOW, IF WE DO THIS, NUMBER ONE, WE GOTTA REDESIGN OUR, OUR PLANS.
BUT NUMBER TWO, IT LEAVES US BECAUSE WE DO ALL THESE NARROW LOTS, IT
[00:45:01]
LEAVES US WITH THIS SPACE THAT WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH.SO IT MAKES IT, UH, DIFFICULT TO MARKET SOME OF THOSE HOMES.
SO ONE OF THE OTHER PIECES OF THIS IS TO REMOVE THAT 40% LIMITATION, EXCUSE ME.
AND WE, WE LOOK AT, AT, ON A CASE BY CASE BY THE WIDTH OF THE LOT AND THE DESIGN AND HOW TO, HOW TO MAKE THAT WORK.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? MM-HMM
SO THE PROPOSED IS UP TO FIVE FEET IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE FACE.
AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT, WE DIDN'T GO OUT AND MEASURE THESE, BUT BY EYEBALLING THESE, WE'RE FIGURING THESE ARE ALL ABOUT FIVE FOOT NOW.
THEY COULD BUILD IT, IT STILL ALLOWS THEM TO BUILD THE GARAGE BEHIND THE FRONT HOUSE FACE OR RIGHT UP TO IT.
THEY JUST CAN'T BUILD PAST THAT FIVE FOOT MARK IN FRONT OF IT.
SO THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
YOU STILL GET A LITTLE BIT OF A GARAGE FORWARD DESIGN, BUT IT DOESN'T CREATE THE, THE VISUAL BARRIER, UH, THAT HAVING THE GARAGES THAT THOSE SNOUT HOUSES REALLY, UH, PRESENTS.
SO, UM, ALL IN ALL, UM, STAFF AND PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, UH, WE, WE HAD THIS, UH, PUBLIC HEARING IN NOVEMBER AND, UH, THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, UH, VOTED TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO U-U-L-D-C.
UH, AND SO AGAIN, UH, IF YOU MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE TONIGHT, UH, STAFF WOULD ASK THAT YOU, THAT YOU, UH, SPECIFY, UH, THE CRITERIA BY SAYING WE'RE, WE'RE APPROVING EVERYTHING EXCEPT FOR ANYTHING, UH, THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS.
SO WITH THAT, UH, THAT'S MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? JUST A COMMENT FOR ME, MAYOR.
UM, I WAS ONE OF THE ONES THAT ASKED ABOUT WAITING ON THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS.
AND, UM, I KNOW ESPECIALLY WITHIN MY DISTRICT THAT I HAVE A LOT OF JUST EMPTY SLABS AND, UM, SOME NEW BUSINESSES THAT ARE OPENING UP AS SHIPPING CONTAINERS.
UM, I KNOW WE SAW SOME AT ICSC, THAT IS A NATIONAL BRAND THAT USES A SHIPPING CONTAINER, ACTUALLY USES TWO SHIPPING CONTAINERS STACKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER.
AND SO I, I DON'T WANT TO DISCOUNT THOSE.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT OR NEW BUSINESSES IN THE AREA WHERE A SHIPPING CONTAINER MAY BE A LITTLE LESS COSTLY FOR THEM TO SET UP SHOP.
SO I WANNA HAVE MORE CONVERSATION AROUND THAT, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WANTED TO, TO KIND OF WAIT ON THAT ONE.
BUT IF I COULD GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A HEADS UP ON KIND OF WHAT STAFF IS THINKING FOR THAT CONVERSATION.
WE ARE LOOKING AT COMING BACK IN JANUARY MM-HMM
BUT WE NEED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET SOME MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
UM, WE, I, WE DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO JUST ALLOW PEOPLE TO DROP SHIPPING CONTAINERS WHEREVER THEY WANT.
SO WHAT REGULATIONS DO WE NEED? WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT DOES ENFORCEMENT LOOK LIKE? WHAT ARE THE OTHER CITIES AROUND THE STATE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY DOING WITH THAT? WHAT ARE THE TRENDS? SO THAT'S THE, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING BACK TO YOU IN A WORK SESSION TO KIND OF TALK THROUGH.
AND THEN AFTER WE GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM COUNCIL, WE WILL COME BACK LATER WITH, UH, CHANGES TO THE CODE TO, TO REFLECT THAT.
AND BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WHEN COUNCIL MEMBER PRESLEY WAS HERE, HE TOOK US ON A TOUR, UH, TO A BUSINESS.
IT'S A RESTAURANT OUT AT, UM, WHAT WAS IT? DISCOVERY GREEN.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A SHIPPING CONTAINER.
UM, SO JUST WANTED TO KEEP THAT WINDOW OPEN FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SOMETHING TO ADD ON THAT AS WELL.
AND I'M, I'M ONE OF THOSE, I'M GONNA BE ADVOCATING FOR US TO BE LESS RESTRICTIVE WITH THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF IF, IF A PROPERTY, AS A PROPERTY OWNER, IF I WANT TO GO UP TO ONE OF THE LOCAL HARDWARE STORES AND PURCHASE A CORRUGATED METAL STORAGE BUILDING AND I CAN PUT IT ON MY LOT, WE NEED TO ALSO CONSIDER THAT SHIPPING CONTAINERS WOULD, COULD BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THE LIMIT IS THERE'S EIGHT FOOT WIDE AND IF YOU ONLY HAVE, IF YOU HAVE LESS THAN EIGHT FOOT ON THE SIDE OF YOUR HOUSE, YOU CAN'T GET A SHIPPING CONTAINER BACK INTO YOUR BACKYARD.
SO YOU WOULDN'T, YOU WOULD BE PRECLUDED FROM USING THAT.
BUT IF YOU GOT A HUNDRED FOOT WIDE LOT AND YOU WANT TO PUT A EIGHT BY 10 FOOT SHIPPING CONTAINER IN THE BACK AS A STORAGE SHED, IF A STORAGE SHED IS ALLOWED, WHY COULDN'T THEY USE THAT? SO I WANNA KEEP THAT PERSPECTIVE 'CAUSE IT'S A LOT MORE STRUCTURAL THAN, THAN A REGULAR DISC THING.
BUT THERE'S SOME, YOU KNOW, RESTRICTIONS TO IT.
'CAUSE IF YOU CAN'T GET IT PAST THE EDGE OF YOUR HOUSE, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT.
BUT IF YOU CAN AND YOU'RE ALLOWED TO HAVE ANOTHER,
[00:50:01]
YOU KNOW, STORAGE FACILITY, YOU KNOW, STORAGE BUILDING IN YOUR BACK, WE SHOULD LOOK AT THAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED.WE'RE REALLY TEMPTED TO GET INTO THE MEAT OF IT TONIGHT, BUT WE, WHEN WE STAFF BRINGS IT IN TO, TO DISCUSS WITH COUNCIL, WE ARE, WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING TO YOU GUYS FOR THAT DIRECTION, FOR THE CODE ITSELF.
SO IF THAT'S WHAT IS THE CONSENSUS, THEN WE'LL, WE'LL WORK THAT INTO IT.
BUT I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILMAN ALVARADO, THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN SHIPPING CONTAINERS ARE STARTING TO BE USED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, I, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF NEW HOUSING THAT'S BUILT.
THEY BRING SHIPPING CONTAINERS IN AND CONFIGURE 'EM AND THEN BUILD AROUND THEM AND THE HOUSES ARE HUGE AND BEAUTIFUL.
YOU'D NEVER KNOW AS SHIPPING CONTAINERS THAT YOU HADN'T SEEN THE CONSTRUCTION.
SO WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE, UH, WITH THOSE THINGS.
SO THAT, THAT'S MOM THE COMMENT BILL, ANYONE ELSE? NOW IS THIS FOUR B AT THE BOTTOM HERE? UM, LORD HAVE MERCY.
CECIL CC, DID ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON FOUR B AS IN BOY? OKAY.
WELL NOW WE KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE FROM B.
WELL, MARTIN, I APPRECIATE, UM, THE PRESENTATION.
[b. Consider an ordinance authorizing a request to amend Chapter 111, Unified Land Development Code (ULDC) of the Baytown Code of Ordinances to revise Divisions 2.21, 2.31, 2.32, 2.33, 3.22, 3.42, 7.210 and 10.2 of the ULDC, regarding garage offsets, shipping containers, and general corrections in consistency with the previous code and the 2025 code.]
CONSIDERING ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE REQUEST TO AMEND CHAPTER 1 1 1 UNIFIED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE ULDC OF THE BAYTOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES TO REVISE TWO.MR. MAYOR, WE HAVE A CLOSED FOUR A OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE RIGHT.
IT IS NOW 7 27 AND I CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING FOUR B CONSIDERING ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A REQUEST TO AMEND CHAPTER 1 1 1 UNIFIED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE ULDC OF THE BAYTOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES TO REVISE DIVISIONS 2.21, 2.31, 2.32, 2.33, 3.22, 3.42, 7.210, AND 10.2 OF THE ULDC REGARDING GARAGE OFFSETS, SHIPPING CONTAINERS, AND GENERAL CORRECTIONS IN CONSISTENCY WITH THE PREVIOUS CODE AND THE 2025 CODE.
ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON FOUR B? GOOD DEAL.
ALRIGHT, YOU HAD A COMMENT? NO.
MOTION TO ACCEPT ITEM FOUR B, UM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS, UH, AND ONLY THE DEFINITION.
NO, I HAVE IT WRITTEN YOUR NO, I HAVEN'T SAID SO, SCOTT.
I WAS DOING THIS, THAT'S WHY I WAS LIKE WAITING FOR
[c. Conduct a public hearing concerning a request to approve a Special Use Permit (SUP) to allow the short-term rental use within the Suburban Residential (SR) Zoning District, located at 5111 Ashwood Drive, Baytown, Texas 77521. ]
C CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING A REQUEST TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW SHORT TERM RENTAL USE WITHIN THE SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT.LOCATED AT 5 1 1 1 ASHWOOD DRIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 7 7 5 2 1.
IT IS NOW 7:28 PM AND I AM, I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE REQUEST TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW THE SHORT TERM RENTAL USE WITHIN THE SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT LOCATED AT 5 1 1 1 ASHWOOD DRIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 7 7 5 2 1.
I WOULD LIKE NOW TO REQUEST NOW TO SUMMARIZE THE SUBJECT OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
SO YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THIS ONE, UH, SINCE IT, IT CAME UP IN NOVEMBER AND ENDED UP GETTING TABLED, UH, AND SAYING WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE.
YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, SO, UM, THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING NEW FOR YOU AS A DECISION MAKING BODY.
SO WITH THAT, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN INTRODUCTION TO WHY IT'S HERE AND KINDA WHAT, WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
SO IN THE OLD CODE, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AIRBNB, VRBO, THINGS LIKE THAT, THEY WERE NOT PERMITTED.
THEY WERE INTERPRETED AS HOTELS, UH, WHICH OF COURSE ARE NOT PERMITTED IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT LEGALLY PROHIBITING PROHIBITING THEM ALL TOGETHER IS PROBABLY NOT GONNA FLY.
SO, UH, GIVEN THE CURRENT TRENDS AROUND THE STATE, AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE 2025 ULDC INCLUDES A PROVISION THAT DOES PERMIT SHORT-TERM RENTALS IN MOST RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS AS LONG AS THEY MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA.
SO ONE OF THEM, UH, BEING SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
SO THE FIRST ONE IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CLIP ON THE
[00:55:01]
SCREEN, THIS IS FROM THE ULDC.THE SUP IS REQUIRED ANYWHERE THAT THIS USE IS ALLOWED.
PLUS THERE ARE FIVE CONDITIONS THAT NEED TO BE MET AS WELL.
AND THAT IS THAT THEY, THEY DO HAVE TO PAY THE HOT TAX THAT THE, IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED SHORT TERM RENTAL, UH, THEY CAN ONLY BE RENTED FOR UP TO 28 DAYS.
THEY CANNOT USE AN ACCESSORY STRUCTURE AS A, UH, AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL.
THE PRINCIPAL USE OF THE HO OF THE BUILDING MUST BE, UH, SINGLE UNIT DWELLING.
AND THE USE HAS TO BE CONDUCTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER IS STILL WHAT IS ENJOYED BY THE, BY THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
AND THAT'S A LITTLE ON THE VAGUE SIDE, BUT THAT KIND OF DOES ALSO GIVE US SOME, SOME ROOM TO, UH, UH, TO SLIDE AROUND WITH THAT.
BUT BASICALLY IT HAS TO, IT'S A HOME.
IT HAS TO LOOK LIKE A HOME, SMELL, LIKE A HOME, ACT LIKE A HOME, EVEN THOUGH YOU'VE ONLY GOT PEOPLE IN THERE FOR SHORT TIMES.
BEFORE I GIVE YOU THE DETAILS OF THE REQUESTS TONIGHT, I DO WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE ALREADY QUITE A FEW SHORT TERM RENTALS OUT THERE THAT WE KNOW OF, PROBABLY 90 OR MORE AROUND THE CITY.
UM, SO WE DO EXPECT THERE TO BE A LOT MORE OF THESE COMING IN OVER TIME, UH, UNLESS I KNOW THAT WE DO PLAN ON HAVING ANOTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS AND HOW THEY'RE HANDLED.
UM, SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE UNTIL THEN, THIS IS THE PROCESS THAT IS DICTATED BY THE CODE.
SO ONE THING THAT NEEDS TO BE CLARIFIED RIGHT UP FRONT AND KEPT IN MIND, UM, MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DO HAVE DEED RESTRICTIONS AND COVENANTS THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS TYPE OF USE OR POTENTIALLY PREVENT THIS TYPE OF USE.
UH, SOME OF THOSE DEEDS DEED RESTRICTIONS AND COVENANTS ARE NOT SUPER CLEAR.
SOME OF THEM ARE A LITTLE ON THE VAGUE SIDE.
UM, CITY STAFF DOES NOT INTERPRET DEED RESTRICTIONS OR COVENANTS.
WE DON'T ACCOUNT FOR THOSE RESTRICTIONS.
UM, THE REASON IS WE DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY AS A CITY TO DO THAT.
THOSE ARE A PRIVATE AGREEMENT MM-HMM
BETWEEN THE, THE, THE HOA AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO OWN HOMES THERE.
UM, SO WE CAN'T CONSIDER THAT AS PART OF THIS SPECIAL USE PERMIT, AS AN ARGUMENT FOR OR AGAINST.
IT IS NOT IN OUR AUTHORITY AS THE CITY TO DO.
SO THAT MEANS YOU CAN'T CONSIDER IT AS PART OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET CAUGHT UP IN THAT ARGUMENT BECAUSE THAT IS A BIG PIECE OF WHY, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION SAID THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT.
AND I'LL GET MORE INTO THAT AS WELL.
UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF LEGAL ISSUES POTENTIALLY TO CONSIDER IN, IN THAT SORT OF A SITUATION.
UH, AND SO IT'S REALLY UP TO A JUDGE TO MAKE THAT CALL.
UM, AND, AND I WOULD, I'LL, I'LL ALWAYS LOOK TO OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, MR. LAMONT TO, TO BACK UP EVERYTHING I JUST SAID,
HIS SMILE MEANS THAT, THAT, UH, EVERYTHING I SAID WAS WAS AT LEAST ON THE FACE.
UH, MR. SCRIBING, AS HE MENTIONED A MOMENT AGO, UM, LEASING IS CONSIDERED TO BE A FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTY RIGHT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO BANNING THESE ALTOGETHER, UM, IS ALMOST CERTAINLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO REGULATE THEM.
I WILL SAY THAT THERE IS NO SUPREME COURT DECISION ON ON THESE.
THERE, THERE ARE APPELLATE COURT CASES.
SO WE HAVE LOOKED AT THIS ISSUE EXTENSIVELY.
UM, UM, THERE'S NO STATUTE THAT TELLS US WE CAN'T DO THIS OR HOW TO DO IT.
SO THIS IS NOT A FIELD THAT HAS BEEN PREEMPTED BY THE LEGISLATURE.
SO THEY HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THIS, UH, IN A WAY THAT WOULD PROHIBIT US FROM REGULATING SHORT TERM RENTALS.
I I DO KNOW OF SOME OTHER CITIES IN TEXAS, PARTICULARLY TOURISTY, UM, CITIES OUT IN WESTERN TEXAS, UH, THAT USE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT PROCESS FOR EXACTLY THIS, AND THEY'RE DOING A THOUSAND TO 1200 OF THOSE ACROSS THE CITY.
SO, UM, THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO DO A THOUSAND OF, BUT IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT HELPS US REGULATE AND HELPS US KEEP TRACK OF THEM, UM, AND KIND OF KEEPS THEM, UM, I, I THINK KEEPS THE, THE OPERATORS OF THE SHORT TERM RENTALS, UM, ACCOUNTABLE ON THEIR TOES, THEN, THEN I, THIS, THIS TO US DOES SPEAK TO THAT AND, AND SAY THAT, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE.
UM, THE OTHER PIECE THAT I WANT YOU TO KEEP, UH, IN CONSIDERATION IS THAT THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT TONIGHT IF IT GETS APPROVED, DOES NOT SUPERSEDE THE DEED RESTRICTIONS OR THE COVENANTS.
OKAY? SO WHAT HAPPENS TONIGHT, THOSE DEED RESTRICTIONS AND COVENANTS, IF THEY ARE ENFORCED BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTIES TO THEM, THOSE WOULD OVERRIDE THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.
[01:00:01]
MIND.THIS DOES NOT OVERRIDE THOSE DEED RESTRICTIONS OR COVENANTS.
MAYOR, CAN I ASK A QUESTION REAL QUICK? YEAH, GO AHEAD, MARTIN.
ON WHEN YOU SAY THE REGULATE THE, THE, IF THERE'S 90 AIRBNBS IN THE CITY AND COUNCIL DOESN'T WANNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH AN SUP FOR 90 DIFFERENT AIRBNBS, CAN THEY ASK STAFF TO PUT PROPOSED REGULATIONS IN PLACE TO CHANGE THE ULDC TO NOT BE A US U UH, SUP, BUT TO HAVE STIFF REGULATIONS THAT CAN BE ANNUALLY, UH, REVIEWED BY STAFF TO MEET THOSE REGULATIONS.
THAT WAY THEY'RE NOT COMING BACK TO COUNCIL EACH AND EVERY TIME.
AND THAT CAN ALSO BE CHECKED ON AND HAVE PROPER REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR THESE AIRBNBS OR SHORT TERM RENTALS.
AND, UM, SO THAT, YOU KNOW, MANY CITIES, AND I BELIEVE WE USE IT TO SOME EXTENT, AT LEAST FOR THE HOT TECHS, UM, KEEPING TRACK OF HOT TECHS.
MANY CITIES USE AN OUTSIDE SOURCE TO, TO, TO DO THAT, TO ENFORCE THE REGULATIONS, TO KEEP TRACK OF THEM, AND TO DO A REGULAR, UM, SEARCH FOR, YOU KNOW, THEY GO THROUGH ALL THE DIFFERENT SHORT-TERM RENTAL APPS TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE AND, AND THEN CHECK UP ON THOSE.
AND THEY, SO, UM, IF, IF WE WERE TO DO THAT, THEN WE WOULD PROBABLY LOOK AT SOME BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS NEXT YEAR TO CORRECT, DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
FROM OUR CONVERSATIONS AND FOR COUNCIL'S KNOWLEDGE, THERE ARE MANY PROCESSES TO, TO LOOK AT HERE.
WE'VE SEEN CITIES THAT CHARGE TWO TO $3,000 A YEAR TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL THAT PAYS FOR THE OUTSIDE COMPANY TO MONITOR, TO ALSO DO SECURITY FOR THESE, UH, VENUES.
UH, THEY HAVE HIGH INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR, IT, IT, IT'S A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS DON'T GET OUTTA CONTROL AT A SHORT TERM RENTAL, BECAUSE THE MORE PROBLEMS THAT YOU HAVE AT THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS, THE HIGHER THE INSURANCE COSTS ARE GONNA BE.
UM, AND SO IT'S A WAY TO KEEP SOME OF THESE THINGS IN CHECK, BUT IT OPENS UP A GAMBIT OF CONVERSATION FOR THE CITY COUNCIL WHEN IT, WE WOULDN'T BE DOING OUR DUTY IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THAT AVAILABLE TO YOU.
BUT THIS IS JUST THE FIRST SUP THAT HAS COME TO THIS CITY COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
SO WHAT I'D ASK YOU TO DO IS TO CONCENTRATE ON THE CRITERIA THAT'S IN YOUR STAFF REPORT TONIGHT TO MAKE YOUR DECISION.
THAT IS WHAT STAFF HAS, THAT'S WHAT THE CODE SAYS WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM, UH, SOME PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT, UH, THAT, THAT HAVE OTHER CONCERNS.
AND OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THAT AND TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT AS WELL.
BUT FROM STAFF'S STANDPOINT, THE CRITERIA ARE THE, THE PIECE THAT KIND OF SAYS, OKAY, THIS, EITHER, THIS EITHER MEETS OUR, OUR STANDARDS OR DOES NOT.
SO, UM, I WANNA GET INTO THE DETAILS OF THE APPLICATION THAT YOU'RE HEARING TONIGHT.
SO ALL THAT WAS GENERAL KNOWLEDGE STUFF.
NOW WE'RE GONNA GET INTO THE ACTUAL REQUEST.
SO THIS IS LOCATED AS A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 51 11 ASHWOOD DRIVE IN COUNTRY CLUB OAKS.
IT IS ZONED SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE.
UH, THAT'S A MID, A MID-SIZE LOT SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED.
UH, AS YOU CAN SEE, THAT WHOLE AREA IS ALSO ZONED, UH, SR.
UM, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU JUST A FEW PICTURES OF THE, THE, UM, THE PROPERTY ITSELF AND SOME OF THE OTHER NEARBY PROPERTIES.
SO YOU CAN SEE THIS IS WELL MAINTAINED HOME.
YOU CAN SEE THE WHITE ARROW POINTING AT THE ACTUAL HOUSE, UH, AT 51 11.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, YOUR KIND OF STANDARD SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, IT'S VERY NICE, UH, AGAIN, HERE IS THE HOUSE KIND OF LOOKING THE OTHER DIRECTION, LOOKING SOUTHEAST.
AND THEN THIS IS JUST LOOKING STRAIGHT ON TO THE PROPERTY, UH, IN THE REQUEST.
SO, UM, THIS WAS HEARD BY PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION IN NOVEMBER, OR EXCUSE ME, IN OCTOBER.
AND, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION HEARD, UM, LOTS OF FOLKS THAT, THAT WERE TESTIFYING FOR AND AGAINST, UH, THIS PROPERTY BECOMING, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
AND IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY KIND OF SPLIT.
UM, BUT THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION DID HAVE SOME PRETTY MAJOR CONCERNS.
AND SOME OF THEM WERE THINGS THAT THEY HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC.
SOME OF WERE ONES THAT THEY, THAT THEY ESPOUSED AT THE DEUS.
SO, UM, ONE COMMISSIONER, UH, TALKED ABOUT THE REQUIRED DISTANCE FOR PUBLIC NOTICE.
THEY WANTED THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD TO KNOW ABOUT THIS.
UM, WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT WE THAT REQUIREMENT IT IS MORE THAN WHAT THE STATE REQUIRES.
AND SO WE, WE DON'T GENERALLY GO OVER AND ABOVE THAT, UH, UNLESS THERE'S A CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCE.
UM, SOMEBODY MENTIONED THIS IS BASICALLY A BED AND BREAKFAST.
IT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE RESIDENTIAL NATURE OF A NEIGHBORHOOD, UH, THAT THERE ARE DIFFICULTIES WITH MONITORING THIS UNLESS THEY'RE BEING OBSERVED BY THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORS.
UH, THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS WAS BROUGHT UP AS A CONCERN.
UH, THE POTENTIAL FOR NEIGHBORHOOD NUISANCE WAS ALSO A BIG CONCERN.
[01:05:01]
UM, GROUP GATHERINGS, PARTIES, THINGS LIKE THAT.UM, THIS APPLICANT HAS AN AD, UH, FOR THE RENTAL THAT KIND OF MADE IT SOUND LIKE MAYBE THIS WAS A PLACE THAT THEY WOULD BE ENCOURAGING PARTIES OR ALLOWING PARTIES.
UM, THERE, SOMEBODY SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I WOULD HAVE CONCERN NOT KNOWING MY TENANTS.
ARE THERE CRIMINALS THAT LIVE THAT WOULD BE IN THERE DOING NEFARIOUS THINGS? OF COURSE, OF COURSE, THAT COULD BE ANYBODY, UH, IN ANY HOUSE.
BUT THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT WAS BROUGHT UP.
AND THEN AGAIN, LIKE I SAID, THAT POTENTIAL CONFLICT THAT'S CREATED BY THE SUP APPROVAL ITSELF WITH THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, UM, THAT WOULD REQUIRE THEM TO SUE THE HOMEOWNER, UM, TO JUST TO ENFORCE THAT HOA REGULATION OR RESTRICTION.
AGAIN, THAT WAS SOMETHING WE TOLD THEM MULTIPLE TIMES.
THIS IS NOT PART OF YOUR, OF YOUR PROCESS OF, OR IT'S NOT IN YOUR AUTHORITY TO MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THAT.
BUT THEY STILL, THEY DID VOICE THAT QUITE LOUDLY.
SO, UH, STAFF HAD RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED UNANIMOUSLY TO DENY THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT-TERM RENTAL AT 51 11 ASHWOOD DRIVE.
UM, THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
THE APPLICANT, UH, MR. DAHL IS ALSO HERE TONIGHT, AND I BELIEVE, UH, WOULD BE ADDRESSING YOU AS WELL, THE DALE, I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, CAN WE GO BACK ABOUT FOUR SLIDES? TWO MORE? ONE MORE RIGHT THERE.
UM, IT WAS FIVE NUMBER FIVE FIVE, UM,
THE USE SHALL BE CONDUCTED SO THAT IT DOES NOT UNREASONABLY INTERFERE WITH THE PEACE AND ENJOYMENT OF SURROUNDING HOMES AS PLACES OF RESIDENTS.
HOW ARE WE DEFINING PEACE AND ENJOYMENT? WELL, I CAN UNDERSTAND MUSIC, LOUD NOISE, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT, UM, I WOULD IMAGINE SOMEONE MAY COMPLAIN THAT THERE'S AN OBSCENE AMOUNT OF CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY OR ON THE ROAD, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE THAT GOING ON IN JUST ABOUT EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF WITH THAT FALL UNDER INTERFERING WITH THE PEACE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE SURROUNDING HOMES AS PLACES OF RESIDENCE, IT, IT COULD, UH, AS, AS WITH ANY NEIGHBORHOOD MM-HMM
THE ENFORCEMENT PROCESS IS GONNA BE THE SAME.
IF THERE'S A LOT OF LITTER AND DEBRIS, IF THERE'S NOISES, IF THERE'S CARS PARKED IN THE STREET, THEN MANY OF THOSE ARE GONNA BE CALLS TO THE POLICE FOR IMMEDIATE, HEY, COME ON OUT HERE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
WHICH SOMETIMES THEY CAN DO SOMETHING, SOMETIMES THEY CAN'T.
IF IT'S NOISE AGAIN, THAT'S, IF IT'S SIX O'CLOCK ON A WEDNESDAY, THERE'S PROBABLY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA DO MUCH ABOUT IT.
IF IT'S 11 O'CLOCK ON A SUNDAY, THAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT, THAT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT STORY.
UM, THIS, I BELIEVE, UM, WE OFTEN SAY THAT THE, UH, THE ULDC DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF COMMON SENSE STUFF IN IT.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE COMMON SENSE TYPE OF THINGS WHERE IF WE GET ENOUGH COMPLAINTS, THEN THAT'S SOMETHING WHERE WE CAN LOOK AT IT AND GO, OKAY, THIS NO LONGER SMELLS ACTS OR FEELS LIKE A HOUSE.
SO I DON'T, MR. LAMOND HAD SOMETHING.
SO, COUNSEL AND MR. MAYOR, TO GET BACK TO YOUR QUESTION, IF YOU RECALL THE COMMENT I MADE A MOMENT AGO THAT LEASING PROPERTY IS A FUNDAMENTAL, RIGHT? MM-HMM
SO IN TERMS OF THE USE, ALTHOUGH WE'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTALS, WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS THE USE, WHICH IS MM-HMM
TO LEASE YOUR HOME, WHICH IS FUNDAMENTAL.
SO THE ISSUES OF NOISE OR TOO MANY CARS OR TRASH, THOSE ARE THE SAME ISSUES THAT COME UP MM-HMM
WHEN YOUR NEIGHBORS SELL THEIR HOUSE TO SOMEBODY ELSE OR LEASE IT FOR A YEAR OR TWO YEARS.
SO IN THIS INSTANCE, WHAT WE'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT IS THE LEASE OF THE PROPERTY FOR 28 DAYS OR LESS.
AND, AND I THINK IN, IN, TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT MR. LOMAN JUST SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO HEARD ABOUT THIS WAS, DOES THIS NOT NOW BECOME A COMMERCIAL USE? DOES THIS NOT NOW BECOME A BUSINESS? AND THE ANSWER IS, FROM THE LAW'S PERSPECTIVE, FROM STANDING OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, WHETHER YOU LIVED THERE FOR A DAY OR FIVE DAYS OR FIVE YEARS, IT'S STILL A HOUSE BEING LIVED IN BY, YOU KNOW, X NUMBER OF PEOPLE.
SO THAT, THAT HAS TO BE, AGAIN, FIRST AND FOREMOST IN YOUR MIND, THIS DOES NOT BECOME A COMMERCIAL USE.
IT BECOMES, IT'S STILL A HOUSE.
[01:10:01]
STILL BEING USED AS A HOUSE.IT'S STILL BEING, HAVING PEOPLE LIVE THERE.
THEY'RE JUST NOT THERE AS LONG.
SO, UM, AGAIN, TO KIND OF PIGGYBACK ON, ON THE LEGAL, UM, SIDE OF THINGS, IT, IT, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
SO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GOING BACK TO THIS, THE, THE CHARACTER.
SO, UH, IT'S NOT, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING FORWARD THAT THEY WOULD MOST LIKELY BE A, YOU KNOW, THEY'D BE PAYING AN ANNUAL PERMIT, ANNUAL FEE TO MAINTAIN THIS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT'S NOT PART OF THAT.
LIKE, IF WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT DOING THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IF YOU'RE GETTING CONSTANT CALLS AND THIS IS HAPPENING, YOUR PERMIT IS REVOKED TO, TO OPERATE THAT PLACE.
WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN PLACE RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT.
IF THAT WAS IN PLACE, THIS WOULD BE A DIFFERENT SCENARIO THAT IS NOT IN PLACE YET.
SO THAT WAS MY FEEDBACK TO Y'ALL.
IT'S NOT IN, IT'S NOT IN PLACE YET.
SO I, THAT, UM, THAT EXACT THING.
AND I'M, I'M NOT TRYING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION HERE.
I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY TO Y'ALL.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE, BECAUSE IT'S BRAND NEW, IT'S, IT'S A NOVEL THING FOR THE COUNCIL.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THE COUNCIL CAN SAY, WE'RE TABLING THIS UNTIL THE REGULATIONS ARE PUT FORWARD BY THE PLANNING, UH, DEVELOPMENT TEAM THAT Y'ALL AGREE ON.
AND SO THAT IF, BECAUSE THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF WAYS TO, TO, TO LOOK AT THIS.
AND, UH, MR. FRANCO, TO YOUR POINT, SOME CITIES HAVE, IF YOU, YOU VIOLATE IT ONCE, YOU KNOW, SHAME ON YOU, IF YOU VIOLATE IT TWICE, YOU GET, YOU'RE SUSPENDED AFTER THE THIRD VIOLATION WITHIN A YEAR TIMEFRAME.
YOU ARE NO LONGER ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR, UH, A SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT FOR A YEAR.
AND SO THAT, THOSE ARE THE STEPS THAT ARE PUT IN BECAUSE TO MR. LAW'S POINT, YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T BAR THEM AS WE CURRENTLY SEE IT IN THE LAW.
UM, BUT YOU CAN REGULATE THEM AND THE REGULATIONS HAVEN'T BEEN PUT IN PLACE.
AND ONCE YOU DO THIS, SUP AS MR UH, SCRIBNER SAID, YOU WILL HAVE 89 MORE TO DO, UM, BECAUSE THE OTHER 89 BY THIS WOULD BE, UH, REQUIRED TO COME DO THIS SUP PROCESS.
'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT OPERATING LEGALLY HOW WE CURRENTLY HAVE IT SET UP RIGHT NOW.
THEY JUST HAVEN'T COME FORWARD.
AND, AND, UM, THIS PARTICULAR CASE WAS SPURRED BY A COMPLAINT THAT, UH, WE THEN WENT OUT TO FIGURE, YOU KNOW, FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WE SPOKE TO THE OWNER AND, AND WE SAID, OKAY, THIS IS THE PROCESS YOU GOTTA GO THROUGH.
AND, AND ONCE WE OPEN THAT BOX, EVERYBODY'S GONNA COME BEFORE WE PUT THE REGULATIONS IN.
I, I MEAN, IT'S ALREADY OPEN, TO BE HONEST.
AND RIGHT NOW, AS IT'S COMING IN, WE CAN KEEP THE TABLE AND MORE DENY 'EM UNTIL WE GET THE REGULATIONS IN THAT THAT IS YOUR PURVIEW.
UH, BOY, I HATE, I HATE REGULATIONS.
HOW QUICKLY
HOW QUICKLY COULD YOU AND YOUR STAFF BRING THAT FORWARD? MY, MY INITIAL RESPONSE WAS GONNA BE TWO YEARS JUST TO GET YOUR REACTION.
BUT I'M NOT SAYING THAT, UM, THAT QUICK
UM, SO ONCE WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE, WE WOULD HAVE TO DO SOME RESEARCH AGAIN, SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE.
I DON'T WANNA REINVENT THE WHEEL, SO I WANNA SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING.
UM, AND THEN WE COULD LIKELY LIFT SOME RIGS FROM ANOTHER CITY IF WE LIKE THEM.
AND THEN THE QUESTION, I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THAT, THAT, UH, LEAD INTO YOUR, YOUR TIMELINE QUESTION.
AND THAT IS, DO WE COME BACK HERE TO SAY, DO YOU LIKE THESE? 'CAUSE IF THEY'RE IN THE ULDC, I GOTTA GO BACK TO P AND Z WITH THOSE REGULATIONS BEFORE YOU DECIDE ON THEM.
SO IF YOU'RE SAYING STAFF, YOU KNOW WHAT WE WANT, GO FORWARD AND GET THIS DONE, THEN WE COULD HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF P AND Z IF NOT JANUARY, FEBRUARY, THEN, THEN WE COULD HAVE THOSE REGULATIONS TO YOU THE FIRST MEETING AFTER P AND Z, LET'S SAY FEBRUARY, LET'S SAY END OF FEBRUARY AT THIS POINT.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY CONCERN.
'CAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT, WE HAVE RULES AND REGULATIONS RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF US THAT WE SHOULD BE COMPLYING WITH AS A CITY.
SO IF WE SET 'EM AND SOMEBODY COMPLIES WITH 'EM, HERE WE ARE DRAGGING OUR FEET THAT WE DON'T WANNA COMPLY WITH THE RULES THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED.
THAT GETS A LITTLE MONOTONOUS.
YOU KNOW, AND, AND AGAIN, IT'S SOME OF THOSE, YOU KNOW, HINDSIGHT'S 2020, WE SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE APPROVED SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT IT'S HERE.
[01:15:01]
SO IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, DO YOUR RESEARCH.I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
OBVIOUSLY THERE'S CITIES THAT ARE DOING THIS NOW, GRAB WHAT THEY'VE GOT, CLEAN IT UP, BRING IT TO US, AND LET'S MOVE FORWARD.
I ALSO AGREE WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY THAT, THAT WE ARE GONNA GET IN LEGAL.
WE ARE TROUBLE REAL QUICK IF WE TRY TO PROHIBIT THIS.
AND WE MAY GET IN LEGAL TROUBLE ANYWAY BECAUSE WE HAVE RULES THAT SAYS THEY CAN DO THIS ACCORDING TO OUR RULES.
I, I ALSO, AS WE WERE STANDING HERE TALKING, IT, IT OCCURRED TO ME THERE IS A RELEASE FOR THAT AS WELL THAT'S BUILT IN.
AND THAT IS THAT RIGHT NOW, THE SUP SAYS, IF YOU DO NOT FOLLOW THESE CRITERIA, THE PLANNING DIRECTOR HAS THE ABILITY TO BASICALLY PULL YOUR SUP.
NOW THAT, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO TRUST ME TO, TO MAKE THAT CALL.
UM, BUT IT'S, IT IS BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS NOTHING AT ALL.
AND, AND I APPRECIATE THE RELIEF VALVE, BUT THAT PUTS YOU IN A PRECARIOUS SPOT.
AGAIN, NUMBER FIVE, RESIDENTIAL CHARACTER, IT'S NOT REAL CLEAR AS TO WHAT CAUSES THEM TO DEFAULT.
AND, AND THAT REALLY PUTS STAFF IN THE CITY IN THE POSITION THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE IN.
BUT THAT'S, THAT'S MY OVER, I WAS LEANING TOWARDS NOT NECESSARILY PROVING THE SUP TONIGHT, BUT AFTER HEARING SOME OF THIS STUFF, IT'S KIND OF, WE'RE REALLY IN A, IN A CATCH 22.
AND IF, AND IF YOU CAN TELL, IF YOU TELLING ME THAT WE COULD GET BACK IN THE NEXT 60, 90 DAYS, PREFERABLY CLOSER TO 60 DAYS, PUSHING IT TO HAVE APPROPRIATE REGULATIONS THAT WE CAN APPLY AND THEN BE ABLE TO REGULATE.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE 90 OF THESE THINGS IN FRONT OF ME EITHER.
I, I'M WILLING TO POSSIBLY TABLE IT FOR 60 DAYS AND LET'S PUSH THROUGH THIS THING THROUGH.
IF YOU'RE TELLING ME IT'S GONNA BE 90, 120, YOU KNOW, SIX MONTHS, I'M GONNA BE CAUGHT SAYING I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO WITH WHAT WE'VE GOT ON THE BOOKS BECAUSE WE PUT IT ON THE BOOKS.
AND, AND WE GET HAMMERED ALL THE TIME THAT WERE DIFFICULT TO WORK WITH AND THIS AND THAT.
AND PART OF THAT IS WE PUT STUFF DOWN ON PAPER AND THEN WE DON'T ADHERE TO IT.
I, I WOULD PUT, I MEAN, IT'S A TOUGH PLACE FOR US TO BE AS WELL TONIGHT.
I, I WOULD PUT ONE OTHER LITTLE CAVEAT TO THAT.
AND THAT IS THAT MR. REYNOLDS, UH, HAD MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE WERE TO USE A THIRD PARTY FOR THIS, THAT COULD END UP TAKING US A LITTLE BIT LONGER BECAUSE, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, I, I'M NOT SURE IF, IF WE HAD TO ENFORCE A WHOLE BUNCH OF THESE, I'M NOT SURE WE HAVE THE STAFF TIME TO DO THAT, TO ADD ON TO OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR MANTRA HAS BEEN TO TRY.
AND GALVESTON ISLAND DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB WITH THIS.
THEY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD PLAN ALREADY IN PLACE.
THEY USE THE PARKS BOARD BECAUSE THESE DO PAY TOWARDS TOURISM.
UH, THE HOT FUND AND ALL THE APPLICATIONS GO TO THE PARKS BOARD, PARKS AND TOURISM BOARD IN GALVESTON.
THOSE ARE APPROVED BY THEM AND REGULATED, UH, THROUGH THE CODE OFFICERS.
UH, THERE'S, THERE ARE NUMEROUS PROCESSES IN PLACE AND, UH, TO MARTIN'S POINT, WE DON'T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL.
THERE ARE A BUNCH OF PROCESSES ALREADY IN PLACE THAT COULD PROBABLY BE EXTRADITED.
I DUNNO HOW, BUT IT'S A FAIR POINT, MARTIN COMMENTING THAT, YEAH.
I, I IF, IF WE CAN SHORT TERM DELAY THIS AND MOVE WHERE, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE APPLICANT.
IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE, THE RESIDENTS TO, TO KEEP DRAGGING THIS OUT.
UM, BUT IF WE CAN, YOU DID SAY TWO YEARS WAS GOOD, RIGHT? I LIKE GETTING A PERMIT.
UM, BUT, UH, IF, IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING PRETTY EXPEDITIOUSLY, UM, OR IF WE JUST WANT TO, IF, IF WE APPROVE THIS NIGHT AND THEN WE BRING THOSE RULES FORWARD, WOULD IT BE RETROACTIVE TO THOSE THAT HAVE AN SUPI, LET'S SAY WE APPROVE THIS TONIGHT.
I THINK YOU COULD MAKE IT PART OF YOUR APPROVAL PROBABLY THEN, THEN WHEN WE COME UP AND WE DO AN ANNUAL PERMIT PROCESS, CAN WE GO BACK AND ADD THAT THE ONES THAT WE HAVE APPROVED TO THAT PERMIT PROCESS? I, I WOULD AGREE WITH MARTIN, IF THAT'S THE PLAN.
I WOULD SAY HAVE A CLAUSE IN THERE THAT, UM, THE SUP, UM, THAT, THAT ONE OF THE PROVISIONS TO BE COMPLIED WITH IS THAT, UH, WHEN AND IF NEW SUP ORDINANCES ARE ADOPTED, THAT, UH, THE, THE OWNER WILL COMPLY WITH THE NEW ORDINANCES.
UH, THE OWNER IS HERE TONIGHT.
SO, UM, YOU MIGHT, YOU MIGHT ASK THE OWNER THAT QUESTION IF HE'D BE WILLING TO, TO BE OKAY WITH THOSE, WITH THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT COMPROMISE.
UM, BUT I, I'LL LEAVE THAT TO HIM AND, YOU KNOW, I'M STILL GONNA STATE, YOU KNOW, GOING WITH FIVE THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S CHUCK DUCK, SO THAT IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY INTERFERE WITH THE PEACE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE SURROUNDING HOMES IN PLACE.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON ASHWOOD THAT SAYING IT'S NOT GONNA ENJOY, THEY'RE NOT GONNA, IT'S GONNA INTERFERE WITH
[01:20:01]
THEIR PEACE AND ENJOYMENT.SO THAT WE, WE HAVE THEM THAT HAVE ALREADY STATED THAT AND ALREADY TOLD US THAT.
SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL, UM, SPEAKERS.
SO, SO AGAIN, MR. DAHL IS HERE, AND SO I'D LIKE TO BRING HIM UP AND HAVE HIM KIND OF, HE HAS SOMETHING PREPARED FOR YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
MY NAME IS SANDEEP TAAL AND I'M A RESIDENT OF 2 4 3 2 ET LANE IN LEANDER, TEXAS 7 8 6 4 1.
UH, AND I'M THE OWNER OF 5 1 1 1 ASHWOOD DRIVE.
I WANT TO ADDRESS VALID, UH, SAFETY CONCERNS.
FIRST, I TAKE WEDDINGS SERIOUSLY.
MY AIRBNB, UH, LISTING REQUIRES GUESTS WHO HAVE POSITIVE REVIEWS.
AND THAT HAS BEEN, UH, BEING DONE BY AIRBNB ALMOST EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD IN THE SAME WAY.
BUT I HAVE ALSO SUBMITTED TO PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
ALL THE REJECTIONS I HAVE DONE AS AN EVIDENCE, JUST WHEN I SU I WAS SUSPICIOUS OF ANY PARTY OR ANY EVENT TAKING PLACE.
SO I HAVE SUBMITTED VARIOUS REJECTIONS, WHICH I DID, AND I, UH, REFUSED, UH, THOSE APPLICATIONS.
NOW, THERE ARE NEW TOOLS, WHICH I WOULD GO EVEN FURTHER THAN THESE FIVE PARAMETERS, WHICH YOU HAVE MENTIONED HERE.
THE SIXTH CAN BE LAST TIME SOMEBODY SAID, YOU KNOW, SEX OFFENDERS.
I SAID, THERE ARE IN, I USE A SOFTWARE CALLED HOSPITABLE TO MANAGE MY PROPERTY.
THAT SOFTWARE HAS ANOTHER, UH, THING CALLED AS ID VERIFICATION, AND ANOTHER ONE AS A $2 FOR SEX OFFENDER CHECK.
WE CAN ADD THAT AS INTO THIS AS SIX OR SEVEN IF NEEDED, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HALL HOSTS CHECK ALL THESE THINGS BEFORE APPROVING THE, UH, ANY BOOKING.
NOW, ANOTHER THING WHICH I WANTED TO MENTION HERE IS THAT ONE COUNCIL MEMBER LAST TIME SAID, UH, THAT THE GATHERING HOUSE ENGLISH IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE.
I SPEAK VERY WELL ENGLISH, BUT STILL, I THOUGHT GATHERING HOUSE, IN MY OPINION WAS PEOPLE MEET AS FAMILIES TOGETHER.
AND THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, FIVE BEDROOMS. I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL ENJOY TOGETHERNESS.
I HAVE REMOVED THAT NAME FROM THERE.
UH, THEN THE THIRD, SECOND THING, ANOTHER, UH, MEMBER SAID THAT, UH, I MUST HAVE DONE SOME MASSIVE PLUMING, UH, PROJECT TO MAKE IT AS A BIG PROJECT.
I HAVE NOT DONE ANY PLUMBING OR ANY SMALL OR BIG PROJECT ONTO THAT HOUSE.
IT IS, AS I BOUGHT IT, IS STILL AS THE SAME.
I WANT TO REQUEST YOU TO CONSIDER A REGULATION WITH THIS FIVE OR ANY ADDITIONAL, UH, REQUIREMENTS.
I WILL ABIDE BY ALL THE RULES.
I WOULD, UH, I HAVE ALSO PUT THIS HOUSE ON SALE RIGHT NOW IF I'M NOT ABLE TO MEET, UH, THIS THING BECAUSE MORTGAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR MYSELF AS WELL AS MY HOUSEKEEPER GETS, SHE'S A BAYTOWN PERSON.
I DON'T LIVE IN BAYTOWN, BUT SHE, MY CLEANER AND HOUSEKEEPER DEPEND THEIR LIVELIHOOD ON THIS, AND THEY WORK ON THAT.
AND THEN I THINK MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME ARE PROJECT PEOPLE, FAMILY PEOPLE.
THEY COME HERE FOR A WEEK, OR SOMEBODY WHO IS A TRAVEL NURSE.
THEY COME AND WORK IN THE, UH, MEDICAL OFFICES.
ANY QUESTIONS? OH, WELL, YOU WANT TO YIELD TIME? YEAH, I WANT TO EXTEND THIS TIME TO, OKAY.
I MOTION TO, I MOTION TO YIELD.
UH, ANY, ANY? SO I, I JUST WANTED YOU TO MAKE, MAKE SURE THAT WELL HOLD ON A SECOND.
SO I, I WOULD REQUEST YOU ALL TO PLEASE CONSIDER THE FULL ECONOMIC IMPACT, UH, LAST ON ME, BUT BY MY, UH, HOUSEKEEPER AS WELL AS ALL THESE FAMILIES AND PROFESSIONALS, LIKE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME AND STAYED WITH US ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, UH, SAY, UH, A PLUMBING LEAK IN THEIR HOUSE.
I GET SO MANY INQUIRIES FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE, UH, INSURANCE, UH, DISASTER IN THE HOUSE, OR SOMEBODY WHO IS TRAVELING, OR SOMEBODY WHO HAS A, UH, FAMILY EVENT AND THEY WANT TO LIVE WITH THEIR, UH, KIDS, UH, FOR SOME, UH, TAKING CARE OF THEIR GRANDKID OR SOMETHING.
SO THERE ARE CERTAIN FAMILIES WHO ARE MOVING ALSO IN THESE.
IT IS NOT ONLY FOR, UH, UH, AIRBNBS ARE NOT CONS ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTYING.
[01:25:01]
IF YOU GO TO SAY SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU'LL SEE ALL THOSE KIND OF THINGS.BUT THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING, UH, UH, FOR, AND THIS PROVIDES A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD, SAFE PLACE FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND, UH, ENJOY, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE COMMUNITY FEELING AND LIVE LIKE THEY'RE LIVING IN THEIR OWN HOMES.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THEIR OWN, UH, PURPOSE.
AND I WILL ABIDE BY ANY OF THESE OR ANY ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
AND I WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, SIR.
UM, AS THE CITY ATTORNEY MENTIONED, WOULD YOU BE WILLING IF WE ADDED A NUMBER SIX? YES.
I LIKE YOU TO ADD YOUR NUMBER SIX ON THERE AS FAR AS DOING THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
THAT'LL RELIEVE SOME CONCERNS.
BUT IF WE ADDED A NUMBER SEVEN THAT SAID THAT AS WE DEVELOP THE NEW REGULATIONS ON THIS, YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO COMPLY.
WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS, I WILL COMPLY WITH ALL REGULATIONS.
JAMES KILBURN, PLEASE STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR RECORD.
I LIVE AT 5,001 ASHWOOD, UH, BLOCK AND A HALF DOWN THE ROAD FROM THIS HOUSE.
UM, FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO THANK MR. DAHL FOR COMING AND WE'D APPRECIATE HIM BEING A SUPPORTING MEMBER OF OUR, UH, COUNTRY CLUB OAKS CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
WE ARE NOT AN HOA, UH, I HAVE CONCERNS OF ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC AND ARISE IS ONE HOUSE.
BUT WE HAVE A, WE HAVE PEOPLE NOW THAT GO DRIVING DOWN THESE ROADS VERY FAST.
AND WHILE THESE ROADS DON'T HAVE STOP SIGNS OR ANYTHING ON 'EM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE YOUNG CHILDREN OUT ON THE ROADS.
UH, I, I HAVE A CONCERN FOR THAT SAFETY FACTOR ON THERE.
WE HAD AN AIRBNB IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
UH, AS POLICE CHIEF MAY REMEMBER.
UH, SOME OF THE OFFICERS I THINK, WERE FREQUENT VISITORS, FREQUENT, HAD FREQUENT PARKING PERMITS IN THAT AREA BECAUSE THEY WERE THERE SO OFTEN.
UH, I THINK THERE WERE GUNSHOTS, LITTER, PARTYING, DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.
UM, AND I, I FOUND MR. SCRIBNER, AND I BELIEVE THE SOLICITOR MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT THIS NOT BEING CONSIDERED A BUSINESS.
AND YET I'M LOOKING AT THIS TABLES UP HERE, UM, SHORT TERM RENTAL NUMBER ONE HOTEL MOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TO BE COLLECTED.
IF NOT, I WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME WHY SHERIDAN OR MARRIOTT IS NOT CONSIDERED A BUSINESS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND APPRECIATE YOUR, CONSIDERING BOTH SIDES OF THIS.
IS THAT, UH, SCHULTZ, WHAT IS YOUR FIRST NAME? KEENAN.
IT'S KEENAN SCHULTZ, 5,008 ASHWOOD DRIVE.
AND OF COURSE, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID.
UM, BUT THE SAFETY AND THINGS, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD THERE, THIS IS A, IT'S A NICE ESTABLISHED AREA.
PEOPLE'VE BEEN AROUND THERE A LONG TIME.
A LOT OF OLD FAMILIES LIVE THERE.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, A LOT OF THOSE FAMILIES, THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE, THEY GET OLD, THEY PASS AWAY, THEY PASS DOWN TO THEIR CHILDREN.
THE HOUSES GET SOLD IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF HOMES THAT ARE BEING SOLD, RENOVATED.
I ACTUALLY LIVE IN A HOUSE THAT WAS SOLD AND RENOVATED.
I UNDER THAT SAME KIND OF CRITERIA.
UM, BUT IF YOU'RE STARTING PUTTING BMBS IN THERE OR AIRBNBS, WHAT HAPPENS IS, IS THAT WHERE DOES THE SLIPPERY SLOPE END THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE NICE AND ESTABLISHED AND HAVE FAMILIES, AND EVEN A FEW LEASES IN THERE WHERE THEY'RE LONG TERM AND THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE LEASING HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THAT AREA, AS OPPOSED TO LIKE AN AIRBNB WHERE IT'S ONLY WEEKS OR DAYS AT A TIME.
THEY HAVE A, AN INVESTMENT IN THAT PROPERTY.
AND MY CONCERN IS, IS BY PUTTING SOMETHING IN HERE AND ALLOWING THAT TO START PROPAGATING ITSELF, WHEN WILL THAT NEIGHBORHOOD NO LONGER BE A NICE FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD? AND THOSE ARE MY BIGGEST CONCERNS ON THAT.
I'VE BEEN LIVING THERE FOR 10 YEARS.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE ABOUT MY NEIGHBORHOOD IS THAT IT'S OLDER.
IT'S GOT A LOT OF NICE FAMILY FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED THERE.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S KEPT UP WELL AND, UH, I I LIKE TO KEEP IT, KEEP IT THAT WAY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
SO IF YOU WILL, PLEASE VOTE THIS DOWN.
[01:30:01]
THANK YOU.MARIE DKI, COUNTRY CLUB, OAK CIVIC ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, 47 0 5 BURNING TREE.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF COUNTRY CLUB OAK SUBDIVISION AND THE COUNTRY CLUB OAK CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
OUR DEED RESTRICTIONS SPECIFICALLY STATE THE LOTS COUNTRY CLUB OAK SHALL BE USED FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENT PURPOSES ONLY, AND NO BUSINESS.
AS WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN, A HOTEL TRADE OR ACTIVITY OF ANY KIND SHALL BE CARRIED ON UPON ANY OF THE LOTS IN THIS SUBDIVISION.
NOR SHALL ANYTHING BE DONE, WHICH MAY BE OR BECOME AN ANNOYANCE TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
FOR THESE REASONS, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU DENY THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO OPERATE AN AIRBNB OR ANY OTHER SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTY WITHIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
A NEIGHBORHOOD IS MORE THAN A CLUSTER OF HOUSES.
IT IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE KNOW ONE ANOTHER, FORM LASTING RELATIONSHIPS, WATCH OUT FOR EACH OTHER AND TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR HOMES.
IT'S WHERE A NEIGHBOR WATERS YOUR PLANTS OR FEEDS YOUR PETS WHEN YOU'RE AWAY.
THAT IS THE SPIRIT THAT HAS ALWAYS DEFINED COUNTRY CLUB OAKS, ALLOWING A SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNDERMINES THAT SPIRIT.
A CONSTANT TURNOVER OF UNFAMILIAR VISITORS ELIMINATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD CONNECTIONS, ERODES STABILITY, AND WEAKENS THE SHARED SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT MAKES THE NEIGHBORHOOD STRONG.
THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS SUGGESTED THAT SHORT TERM RENTALS WILL BRING ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO BAYTOWN.
SHORT TERM GUESTS CONTRIBUTE VERY LITTLE, MAYBE A MEAL OR A FEW PURCHASES, BUT NOT THE CONSISTENT INVESTMENT AT FULL-TIME RESIDENTS PROVIDE FAMILIES WHO LIVE HERE YEAR ROUND SUPPORT OUR GROCERY STORES, BUY CLOTHING AND FURNITURE, PURCHASE SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND ELECTRONICS CONTRIBUTE IN COUNTLESS OTHER WAYS.
THEY INVEST IN BAYTOWN BECAUSE THEY BELONG TO BAYTOWN.
AND IMPORTANTLY, BAYTOWN ALREADY OFFERS EXCELLENT OPTIONS FOR TEMPORARY VISITORS.
THE HOTELS ALONG GARTH ROAD ARE WELL EQUIPPED FOR EXTENDED STAY GUESTS, INCLUDING PLANT WORKERS AND BUSINESS TRAVELERS.
THEY HAVE KITCHENS, BUSINESS CENTERS AND COMFORTABLE LIVING SPACES, AMENITIES THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOMES CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE.
THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS NOT DEMONSTRATED HOW A SHORT-TERM RENTAL WOULD BRING ANY MEANINGFUL BENEFIT TO COUNTRY CLUB OAKS BENEFITS THAT A LONG-TERM HOMEOWNER DOESN'T ALREADY OFFER.
INSTEAD, IT WOULD INTRODUCE INSTABILITY, UNEASE, AND A REVOLVING DOOR OF STRANGERS INTO A COMMUNITY THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A CLOSE KNIT AND STEADY.
SO TONIGHT I ASK YOU, MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO CONSIDER YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
WOULD YOU WANT A COMMERCIAL MINI HOTEL FUNCTIONING NEXT DOOR TO YOU, YOUR HOME, OR IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO YOUR HOME? I DON'T THINK YOU DO.
ON BEHALF OF THE RESIDENTS OF COUNTRY CLUB OAKS, I URGE YOU TO DENY THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT, PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY, PRESERVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, AND HELP KEEP COUNTRY CLUB OAKS THE KIND OF PLACE WE ARE PROUD TO CALL HOME.
WE'VE HAD, UH, PEOPLE COME HERE THE LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS CANCELED.
WE DO HAVE PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT FROM THE SUBDIVISION, AND I WISH YOU WOULD READ A COUPLE LETTERS THAT WERE EMAILED TO YOU ABOUT OTHER, UH, SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT WE HAD AND THE PROBLEMS THAT THOSE NEIGHBORS HAD.
AND I'M ASKING FOR AN EXTRA THAT YOU GAVE HIM AN EXTRA TIME.
THIS YOUR, LET ME GO THROUGH IT, BUT I'M JUST, I GOT LET YOU KNOW THAT'S YOUR TIME.
DO WE WANT, CAN MAKE A MOTION TO EXTEND OUR TIME BY TWO MINUTES.
ANY OPPOSED? YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.
COMMENTS WRITTEN, EMAILED TO YOU, AND I HOPE YOU READ THOSE COMMENTS THAT WERE EMAILED TO YOU BECAUSE THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED HAVING, UH, VBO RIGHT THERE THAT WE HAD EXPERIENCED WITH SEVERAL YEARS AGO THAT WE HAD TO HAVE CLOSED DOWN.
UM, WHY DESTROY ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THIS? IF YOU PUT ONE OF THESE IN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TWO.
COUNTRY CLUB HAS A LOT OF LARGE HOMES, AND THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THEM.
SOMEONE'S GONNA COME IN AND WANNA PUT VRBO.
AND LET'S FACE IT, MOST OF THE PEOPLE COMING IN HERE ARE COMING FROM THE PLANTS AND THEY'RE STAYING THERE.
UM, WHY NOT PUT SHORT TERM RENTALS OUTSIDE OF ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS? WHY RUIN YOUR ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOODS? COUNTRY CLUB, COUNTRY CLUB COVE, UM, LAKEWOOD, ALL OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE GOING TO START LOSING IF YOU START ALLOWING THESE THINGS HAPPENING.
[01:35:02]
KYLE RHODES, 51 11 GLENHAVEN.UH, FIRSTLY, I'D LIKE TO STATE THAT, UH, I DID NOT RECEIVE A MAILED LETTER THIS TIME ABOUT THIS BEING ON THE AGENDA.
I RECEIVED IT ON THE PRIOR NOTIFICATION.
UM, SO THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT.
MR. SCRIBNER, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY ADDRESSED.
UM, ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS THAT THERE ARE LACK OF REGULATIONS AND PEOPLE TO ENFORCE THESE REGULATIONS.
UH, I'M ALSO A LITTLE CONFUSED THAT YOU HAVE A COMMERCIAL USE, NOT A RESIDENTIAL USE, AND THAT WITH HOTEL TAX.
AND THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT A BUSINESS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS STARTED IN 1959.
THE AREA THIS IS IN IS A 100 BY 120 FOOT LOT.
UM, PARKING IS GONNA BE A CONCERN.
IT IS AN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD.
PRIOR TO THIS YEAR, IT WAS NOT ALLOWABLE BY THE CITY CODE TO DO THIS.
I UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER CITIES ARE DOING THIS, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE REGULATIONS NEEDED TO BE IN PLACE AHEAD OF TIME.
I URGE YOU NOT TO RETROACTIVELY DO THIS.
IF YOU HAVE 90 CASES ALREADY IN EXISTENCE OPERATING ILLEGALLY ACCORDING TO THE CODE, THOSE PERMITS SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO BE PULLED BY DEVELOPMENT AHEAD OF TIME AND NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR ONE YEAR.
MY ADVICE ON THIS IS GRADUATE STUDIES, ECONOMICS, GEOGRAPHY, AND THREE BACHELOR'S DEGREES, INCLUDING ACCOUNTING, MANAGEMENT, AND HISTORY.
I LIVE OVER IN THE, UH, RESIDENTIAL AREA OF COUNTRY CLUB, 5,009 COUNTRY, UH, INTERLOCHEN STREET.
UM, BASICALLY JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE HAD BROUGHT ATTENTION TO, ONE OF THE MAJOR THAT IT IS IN THAT AREA IS RESIDENTIAL.
RESIDENTIAL AND THE CHILDREN AND SO FORTH.
AND THE PEOPLE, THE FAMILIES THAT ARE THERE THAT, UH, HOW DO I PUT IT, UH, THAT LIVE THERE.
AND OF THE VALUES THAT THEY HAVE OF BEING THERE, BEING IN BAYTOWN, I GREW UP IN BAYTOWN.
I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH BAYTOWN.
I'VE, UH, GONE ON AND, UH, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE WENT TO, UH, CALIFORNIA, COME BACK TO CALIFORNIA, BEEN TO DIFFERENT STATES AROUND, BUT SOMETHING ALWAYS PULLED ME BACK TO BAYTOWN.
AND MY WIFE AND I, SHE WENT TO ONE HIGH SCHOOL AND I WENT TO THE OTHER ONE.
BUT TO SHORTEN THE STORY UP, THE MAIN CONCERN THAT WE DO HAVE, OR MYSELF AND MY, UH, FAMILY IS THAT, UH, FAMILY IS FAMILY.
WHEN WE START BRINGING BUSINESSES IN NEXT DOOR TO FAMILY, IT PRESENTS A PROBLEM.
IF YOU'RE PREPARED FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GO AND BUY A PROPERTY, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN A SENSE OF I'M GOING THERE TO GET RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, BUT IF I'M GOING COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
AND THIS IS ALL I ALL I KNOW TO SAY OR ASK IS THAT YOU WILL TAKE EVERYTHING INTO CONSIDERATION, PLEASE.
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? A COMMENT? YES, SIR.
[01:40:03]
IS THAT ALL THE SPEAKER? YES, THAT'S ALL THE SPEAKERS.SO WHEN, WHEN I INITIALLY CAME INTO THIS, I, I THOUGHT I KNEW WHAT DECISION I WAS GONNA MAKE, AND THEN I HEARD THE, THE LAWYER SAY THAT WORD, PROPERTY RIGHTS.
AND I HAD TO TAKE A STEP BACK.
AND THEN I HEARD ANOTHER TERM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BUSINESS.
AND, AND THEN I I, I HAD TO, I'D GET LOCKED BACK IN.
AND I GUESS THE ISSUE IS HERE IS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MODERN DAY ISSUE WITH, WITH THESE AIRBNBS.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, WE'RE 15, 20 YEARS FROM THIS.
AND WE'RE DEALING WITH, WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR FEDERAL LAWS AND OUR FEDERAL RIGHTS, AND WE'RE GRAPPLING WITH OUR ZONES.
I BELIEVE THIS IS A BUSINESS, OR IT'S OPERATING AS A BUSINESS.
AND I FEEL THAT IT'S BENEFITING FROM A LOOPHOLE, UM, TO OPERATE AS A BUSINESS IN NEIGHBORHOODS.
UM, IT, IT'S SUCH A, I I WOULD LIKE TO
AND, AND REALLY, I, I DON'T, I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE THE WORD REGULATIONS.
I DON'T LIKE THE WORD REGULATIONS.
I DON'T LIKE THE WORD TRAMPLING ON PEOPLE'S PROPERTY RIGHTS EITHER.
SO THE, THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.
AND, UM, IT, IT, IT'S IN MY MIND, THIS, THIS IS A BUSINESS.
WE'RE, WE'RE COLLECTING TOP PRO, UH, HOT TAXES FOR 'EM.
AND, AND, AND IT'S A BUSINESS.
IT'S NOT SOMEBODY'S, UM, UH, IT DOESN'T COME SOMEBODY'S HOME.
IT COMES A A, A PLACE OF BUSINESS AND COMMERCE FOR THEM.
SO, UM, I, I DON'T, DON'T SIR, I'M SORRY, SIR.
YEAH, I DON'T, I GUESS I WANNA HEAR FROM YOU LEGAL, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS, WOULDN'T THAT CONSTITUTE A BUSINESS? I THINK THAT'S A, A GREAT QUESTION AND, UH, I'M GONNA ANSWER IT FIRST BY SAYING UNDER THE CURRENT ULDC, THIS IS AN ALLOWED USE AND IT'S NOT DEFINED AS A COMMERCIAL USE.
I WILL ALSO SAY THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT COMMERCIAL.
SIR, SIR, SIR, WE WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE OUTBURST POINT OF ORDER, BUT IT SAYS RIGHT THERE, COMMERCIAL USE, DON'T TELL ME.
SO, AS I WAS SAYING, COUNSEL UNDER THE CURRENT ULDC, THIS IS A, UH, USE THAT IS ALLOWED.
UH, AND IT'S NOT DEFINED AS A COMMERCIAL USE.
UM, WHEN WE GO TO THE ISSUE OF FUNDAMENTAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, UM, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CASES THAT HAVE BEEN DECIDED BY BOTH THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT AND THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.
AND WHAT THEY HAVE SAID IS THAT IN THAT BUNDLE OF RIGHTS THAT YOU HAVE AS A LANDOWNER IS THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO LEASE YOUR PROPERTY.
WE ARE IN A NEW ERROR OF, UH, SHORT TERM RENTAL.
SOMETHING THAT HAS NOT BEEN CONTEMPLATED IN THE PAST, BUT THE COURTS HAVE BEEN TAKING UP THIS ISSUE.
AND ON THOSE OCCASIONS WHERE THEY'VE TAKEN UP THE ISSUE, THEY HAVE STATED FIRST THAT LEASING OF YOUR PROPERTY IS FUNDAMENTAL.
SO THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO BAN THESE TYPES OF USES OUTRIGHT.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS PLACE REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON THEM.
AND I KNOW THAT IT'S NOT A DEFINITIVE ANSWER, BUT IT'S THE BEST ANSWER THAT WE HAVE SITTING HERE AT THIS MOMENT.
AND OF COURSE, WE CAN GO BACK AND TALK, UH, MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT, UH, THE CONSTITUTIONAL CASES THAT, THAT SORT OF MAKE UP THIS NEW BODY OF LAW.
AND WE CAN CONSIDER ANY POTENTIAL REGULATIONS THAT STAFF COMES UP WITH.
UH, WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS UP AGAIN? BUT, UH, AT LEAST FOR THE PUBLIC SECTION, UH, AT THIS MOMENT, THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER I HAVE FOR YOU, MR. LAMOND.
I WOULD, I WOULD ALSO ADD THAT I'VE, I'VE WORKED IN OTHER STATES WHERE THIS TYPE OF USE, BASICALLY THE, THE STATE LEGISLATION TOOK IT UP AND SAID, THESE ARE NOW, NOW TEXAS HASN'T DONE THIS.
OKAY? SO LET ME REAL CLEAR, TEXAS HAS NOT MADE THIS DETERMINATION, BUT OTHER STATES HAVE MADE A DETERMINATION WHERE THEY'VE SAID, OKAY, NOW THEY'RE ALLOWED ANYWHERE, HOUSES AND CITIES, YOU CAN'T REGULATE THEM.
WOULD TEXAS DO THAT? IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO, TO HAVE IN YOUR BRAIN.
[01:45:02]
AND I, I, YES SIR.I'M SITTING HERE THINKING, TALKING ABOUT SHORT TERM RENTAL.
THERE'S NO OPPOSITION TO LONG-TERM RENTAL.
AND I'M SITTING HERE THINKING I CHUCKLED 'CAUSE I'VE GOT TWO PERSONAL FRIENDS THAT OWN 20 OR 30 RENT HOUSES.
AND LET ME TELL YOU, THAT'S A BUSINESS.
SO LONG-TERM RENTAL VERSUS SHORT-TERM RENTAL.
THERE'S NOT AN INVESTMENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD 'CAUSE THEY'RE THERE SHORT TERM.
BUT, BUT LONG-TERM RENTALS, ONE YEAR, TWO YEAR LEASES, IT'S A BUSINESS AS WELL.
IT'S, I I MEAN, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT IT FROM A RENTALS PERSPECTIVE, 'CAUSE AGAIN, I GOT ONE FRIEND THAT'S GOT 20 HOUSES HERE IN BAYTOWN, AND THEY DO WELL, INCOME.
SO AGAIN, IT GOES DOWN TO THE, THE ULTIMATE PROPERTY RIGHTS SHORT TERM.
I MEAN, SHORT TERM RENTALS WEREN'T EVEN DISCUSSED 15, 20 YEARS AGO OR, OR WHATEVER.
IF, IF WE'RE ALLOWED TO REGULATE IT AND BUILD IN SOME SUVS AND, AND BUILD SOME SAFEGUARDS THAT IF IT STARTS TO BE A NUISANCE OR WHATEVER, THEN THEN WE CAN SUSPEND OR, OR, YOU KNOW, PUNISH THE, THE VIOLATORS A LITTLE BIT.
THAT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GO WITH IT.
BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT I'M HEARING IS WE WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO JUST SAY NO.
BUT THE DEBT, I CHUCKLED THAT AGAIN, MY FRIENDS THAT OWN LOTS OF RENTAL PROPERTY IN TOWN, THEY DO LONG TERM RENTALS BUSINESS, BUT IT'S A BUSINESS TO THEM AND THEY RUN IT AS A BUSINESS.
SO, AND I KNOW WE CAN'T REGULATE THAT.
I, I HAVE A COUNTER QUESTION OF THAT IS WE DON'T, WE DON'T COLLECT HOT TAXES ON LONG-TERM RENTALS.
BUT WE, BUT WE CAN OFFER POTENTIALLY COULD.
I THINK, UM, THE, THE HOT TAXES SET UP SPECIFICALLY TO CAPTURE 30 DAYS AND IT'S SHORTER.
AND WE DO HAVE DEFINITIONS OF HOTEL AND EXTENDED STAY AND, AND SO FORTH IN THE CURRENT ULDC MM-HMM
SO I'M NOT SUGGESTING THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO REGULATE THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT AS IT SITS HERE TODAY, THIS IS NOT A COMMERCIAL USE.
REMEMBER TOO, THAT AS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT REQUEST, IF YOU THINK THERE'S SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO THIS PROPERTY THAT MAKES IT MORE SENSITIVE IN CERTAIN WAYS, YOU CAN ADD CONDITIONS TO IT THAT ARE REASONABLE.
SO I'LL JUST THROW THAT ON THE TABLE AS WELL.
THAT THAT WOULD BE WITH EVERY SINGLE SUP THAT COMES IN, YOU CAN ADD CONDITIONS TO IT IF YOU'VE DEEMED THAT THAT'S NECESSARY.
IF, IF WE ADD ANY CONDITIONS, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD.
I WOULD NOT BE DOING, UM, LIKE FOR INDIVIDUAL CASES.
WE, I, I MEAN I HAVE SEVERAL AIRBNBS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND I WOULD LUMP MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN WITH AN ESTABLISHED NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I MEAN THEY WERE THERE IN THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS.
AND SO WE'RE VERY ESTABLISHED AND WE HAVE SHORT TERM RENTALS.
WE DO HAVE AIRBNBS, AND MOST OF 'EM ARE FOR THE PLANT WORKERS.
UM, SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN CALLED TO ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE STACKS OF WHO ARE WORKING AT THE PLANTS AND THERE'S TONS OF CARS.
UM, SO WHOEVER CALLED IT TO THEIR ATTENTION OR WHATEVER MAY HAVE HAPPENED, IT IS NO LONGER HAPPENING.
UM, I MEAN, I, I DID GO BACK AND LOOK AT ALL THE AIRBNBS IN BAYTOWN WHEN THIS FIRST CAME UP.
AND, AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF, UM, UM, I AM CAUTIOUS AS WELL TO, TO JUST DO A BLANKET.
WOULD I RATHER JUST NOT DO ANYTHING AND, AND JUST LET THE AIRBNBS OPERATE AS THEY DO NOW WITH NO RESTRICTIONS? PROBABLY NOT.
I MEAN, IF WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADD RESTRICTIONS AND TO ADD GUIDELINES, AND I WOULD RATHER DO THAT.
UM, BUT WHAT I AM WORRIED ABOUT IS THE REGULATION PORTION OF IT AND, AND THE STAFF THAT WOULD BE DOING THIS AND THE TIME THAT'S ALLOWED.
AND I DO UNDERSTAND, UM, MR. CITY MANAGER, YOU SAID THAT IT WOULD FALL UNDER POSSIBLY THE PARKS AND REC BOARD.
AND SO WHAT KIND OF, I MEAN, THESE ARE VOLUNTEERS, THESE ARE CONSTITUENTS AS WELL THEMSELVES.
AND SO WHAT WOULD THEY BE RUNNING INTO? I WAS JUST SAYING THAT GALVESTON RUNS IT THAT WAY.
YOU JUST DID THAT AS AN EXAMPLE.
BUT FOR ME, THESE ARE JUST VOLUNTEERS
[01:50:01]
AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WHAT WOULD THEY FACE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY FROM THOSE THAT FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU DIDN'T REGULATE THIS ONE.WHY DID YOU ALLOW THIS ONE AND, AND NOT THAT ONE.
AND SO I'M KIND OF CAUTIOUS ABOUT THAT.
I THINK I WANNA GIVE IT SOME MORE TIME.
I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE WHO HAS COME OUT TO SPEAK AND, AND, UM, VOICE THEIR CONCERNS.
I DID READ THROUGH, UH, THE LIST OF ITEMS, UM, THAT WERE PRESENTED AND NOT KNOWING, YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD BE MOVING IN.
UM, I HAVE A HOUSE FOR SALE DOWN THE STREET.
I, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA MOVE IN THERE.
I HOPE IT'S SOMEONE GOOD, BUT ULTIMATELY I'M NOT GONNA KNOW WHO'S GONNA MOVE INTO THAT HOME.
UM, AND I DID GO THROUGH AND READ ALL OF THE LETTERS AND EVERYTHING THAT WAS SENT TO US.
UM, AND SO I WANNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME JUST SO WE FIGURE OUT ALL OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SET UP.
I KNOW WE'VE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSING THIS FOR, THIS IS PROBABLY THE SECOND MEETING AND Y'ALL HAVE HAD IT AT P AND Z EVEN BEFORE THAT.
UM, SO LIKE MIKE, I, I DON'T WANNA TAKE TOO MUCH MORE TIME.
UM, BUT LEANING ON WHAT STATE LAW HAS SAID IN TERMS OF PROPERTY RIGHTS, I JUST WANNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME REVIEWING THE REGULATIONS.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FROM THE COUNTRY CLUB WHO CAME OUT TO SPEAK AND, AND, AND I'M, I'M GONNA GO BACK TO AGAIN FIVE, IT DOES NOT UNREASONABLY INTERFERE WITH PEACE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE SURROUNDING OF THE HOMES AS PLACES, RESIDENTS.
THAT'S A PART OF THE SEP MM-HMM
IT'S ONE OF OUR CRITERIA MM-HMM
AND WE'VE CLEARLY HEARD IT'S GONNA INTERFERE WITH THE PEACE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE SURROUNDING HOMES.
AND THAT IS WHY I'LL BE VOTING NO.
AND, AND HONESTLY, WHEN IT FIRST CAME UP, IF THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAME TO US, I WOULD'VE SAID DROP IT.
IT'S NOT OUR PURVIEW BECAUSE THE DEED RESTRICTIONS DON'T ALLOW IT.
AND I, I WOULDN'T HAVE EVEN SEEN IT HERE.
I WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO SEE IT HERE BECAUSE THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS WOULD, WOULD NOT, UM, WOULD NOT ALLOW THIS TYPE OF USE.
AND SO, UM, I WANNA TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO REVIEW.
SO YEAH, I ALSO, TO THAT POINT, I, WELL, LET ME CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND WE'LL COME BACK AND, AND DO THAT.
I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
IT IS NOW 8:28 PM AND THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
YOU CAN STILL HAVE YOUR COMMENT.
BUT YEAH, WE'RE GONNA GO TO D GOTCHA.
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT ON AN APPROXIMATELY POINT OR 0.28 ACRE PARCEL, LOCATED AT 5 1 1 ASHWOOD DRIVE, BAYTOWN, TEXAS 7 7 5 2 1 TO ALLOW SHORT TERM RENTAL USE IN THE SUBURBAN RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
UH, BECAUSE KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGE NOT YET WE CAN HAVE COMMENTS STILL.
RIGHT? WE TYPICALLY DO TAKE THE MOTION FIRST, BUT WE'RE STILL OKAY.
SO I GUESS IN, IN THE SPIRIT OF JUST ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF DEED RESTRICTIONS, AS STATED BEFORE, THE CITY DOESN'T ENFORCE DEED RESTRICTIONS.
WE DO NOT ENFORCE DE RESTRICTION.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE TOUGH THING IS WITH PLACES LIKE, OR NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE COUNTRY CLUB AND LAKEWOOD, WHICH THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR LAKEWOOD, IS THEY DON'T HAVE A GOVERNING HOA TO HOLD, UM, THEIR RESIDENTS ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR DEED RESTRICTIONS.
UM, THIS MEANS THAT THEY, THEY TRY TO LOOK AT THE CITY DO THAT, WE CANNOT DO THAT.
I WANTED TO STRESS THAT TO, UM, THOSE WHO CAME UP HERE.
BUT UNDERSTAND, YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE NOT FOR THE CITY TO ENFORCE.
IT IS FOR YOUR LCA OR HOA TO ENFORCE CIVILLY, UM, UH, WITH, WITH THE PRIVATE CITIZEN.
SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO, TO THINK ABOUT EVEN MOVING FORWARD IN OTHER ISSUES, IS THAT YOUR DEED RESTRICTIONS ARE, ARE, ARE CIVIL AGREEMENTS WITH THOSE WHO MOVED INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, UM, TO, TO ENFORCE CIVILLY IN A, IN A CIVIL COURT, UM, IF NEEDED.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
[01:55:01]
EVERYTHING, JACOB, OH, I'M SORRY, MEGAN.I, UM, NO,
I MEAN, THIS, THIS FOR ME, I MEAN, YOU'VE HEARD ME ON, ON PREVIOUS ITEMS. UM, I TAKE EVERYTHING BACK TO, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHTS OF THE PROPERTY OWNER MM-HMM
UM, AS MUCH AS WE CAN WITHIN ESTABLISHED ORDINANCES, RIGHT? WITHIN ESTABLISHED CODE, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
UM, IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE A PROCESS.
WE HAVE A, A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IF THERE ARE CERTAIN ITEMS THAT ARE FOLLOWED.
UM, AND IT APPEARS IN THIS CASE THAT THEY ARE BEING FOLLOWED.
UM, AND SO I, I MEAN, FOR THAT REASON, I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO APPROVE THIS, UH, AS THEY'RE, AS THEY ARE, AS HE'S FOLLOWING THE OWNERS, FOLLOWING THE ESTABLISHED, UM, REGULATIONS AS THEY CURRENTLY ARE.
NOW, I DO THINK THOUGH, IF WE CAN WITHIN 60 TO 90 DAYS SHORE THAT UP A LITTLE BIT, ADD SOME, ADD ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS, UM, I THINK THAT MAY, MAY BE, UM, THE BEST CASE.
UM, AND I, I, I DO HEAR, I, I, I MEAN I APPRECIATE ALL OF Y'ALL THAT CAME OUT AND SPOKE.
UM, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WERE MENTIONED, TRAFFIC, STREET, PARKING, WHATEVER IT MAY GUN, I THINK GUNFIRE, I MENTIONED LOUD MUSIC.
UM, THOSE AREN'T REALLY ZONING ISSUES OR SPECIAL USE PERMIT ISSUES.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT WE HAVE REGARDLESS.
WE HAVE ENFORCEMENT THROUGH OTHER MEANS TO ADDRESS ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
UM, AND SO THESE AREN'T INTRODUCING ANYTHING NEW THAT WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE ENFORCEMENT FOR.
UM, AND I KNOW ONE THING WAS SAID, CONSIDER IF THIS WERE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
UM, I HAD A RENTAL RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME.
UM, WE HAD A RENTER NEXT DOOR.
THEY, THEY HAD FOLKS OVER ALL THE TIME.
UM, AND SO, YEAH, I MEAN,
UH, BUT I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF, IS THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE CARE OF THAT? UM, 'CAUSE IF, I MEAN, IF WE DO THAT IN THIS CASE, THEN WHERE DOES IT STOP? UM, I MEAN, YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THE PAINT COLOR YOUR NEIGHBOR CHOOSES.
UM, SOME NEIGHBORHOODS PUT RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE ON THAT.
YOU'VE GOTTA GET YOUR PAINT COLORS APPROVED.
UM, BUT THAT IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD DECIDING THOSE THINGS.
IT'S NOT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, AND SO I JUST THINK I UNDERSTAND ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS.
TO ME, IT'S JUST, IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY, IS THIS AN ITEM THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO RESTRICT? UM, AND, AND IN THIS CASE, I THINK IT'S NOT, UM, I THINK WE'RE ALLOWED TO PUT SOME REGULATIONS, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO TO, TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THAT.
BUT I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST OUTRIGHT, YOU KNOW, DENY IT AT THIS POINT SAID YES, SIR.
MAYOR, I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU, IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
UM, UH, I'M JUST LOOKING AT THIS, I'M, I'M HEARING THE MESSAGE, WHICH IS WE DO WANNA SHORE UP THE REGULATIONS.
WE DO WANNA COME BACK AND HAVE ANOTHER CONVERSATION ON THIS TO MAKE THINGS MORE CLEAR SO THAT THIS PROCESS CAN GO, CAN EITHER CHANGE DIRECTIONS OR CAN GO EASIER IN THE FUTURE.
SO, UM, MY INTENT WOULD BE TO BRING BACK A COUPLE OF OPTIONS IF ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS INCLUDED NOT HAVING AN SUP PROCESS AS PART OF THIS, BUT INCLUDING SOME MORE HARDCORE REGULATIONS IN TERMS OF LIKE, WE REALLY LIST THINGS OUT AND THEN WE JUST GO THROUGH THE NORMAL ENFORCEMENT PROCESS.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE AN OPTION? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE WILLING TO, TO LOOK AT? OR SHOULD WE FOCUS ON KEEPING THE SUP AND THE ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS? WELL, LET ME MAKE MY COMMENTS AND THEN WE CAN ANSWER THAT.
UM, I THOUGHT I HAD MY MIND MADE UP COMING HERE.
AND I'VE SAID THIS PLENTY OF TIMES, I'VE CHANGED MY MIND AT THIS DAIS.
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY WOULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY TIMES I'VE CHANGED MY MIND AFTER HEARING FROM MY COLLEAGUES, UM, PROPERTY OWNER RIGHTS, LONG TERM, SHORT TERM.
THE ONE THING, THE TWO THINGS THAT ARE REALLY STICKING WITH ME, PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY DON'T WANT THE GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN THEIR BUSINESS.
AND WE HAVE PEOPLE ASKING US TO GET INVOLVED IN PEOPLE'S BUSINESS.
AND, UM, CASE LAW, WHAT YOU TALKED ABOUT WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS, HOW THEY'VE RULED ON THESE THINGS.
AND THE ONE THING THAT I DO NOT WANT TO DO IS SET US UP TO WHERE WE'RE BEING SUED BECAUSE WE'RE
[02:00:01]
NOT FOLLOWING LAW.OKAY? UM, I HAVE, I ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF, I HAD AN AIRBNB ACROSS THE STREET, COUNTER CORNER, CADDY CORNER FROM ME.
AND THEY WERE BETTER NEIGHBORS TO ME THAN THE PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN THERE NEXT TO ME FOR 10 YEARS.
THE, THE, UM, THE LANDLORD WAS VERY RESPONSIVE.
HE LISTENED TO WHEN PEOPLE CALLED AND HAD CONCERNS AS FAR AS TRAFFIC FLOW.
UM, IF WE GOT PEOPLE COMING IN AND STAYING PURCHASING A NEW HOME OR A LONG-TERM RENTAL, AND THEY HAVE FIVE KIDS LIKE I DO, AND EVERYBODY HAS A CAR, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TRAFFIC FLOW ISSUES FOR A LONG TIME.
BELIEVE THAT, UM, THIS, THIS IS TOUGH.
BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY WE HEAR YOU, WE HEAR YOUR CONCERNS.
BUT I GOTTA ECHO WHAT YOU JUST SAID, JACOB.
A LOT OF THESE CONCERNS ARE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE.
A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH REGARDLESS.
I'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH GUNSHOTS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD RECENTLY, AND CHIEF HAD SOME OFFICERS COME OUT, KEN CAME OUT, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT.
AND THAT WAS FROM SOMEONE THAT STAYED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LONG TERM.
I'M GONNA SIDE WITH REGULATIONS TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO SAY DO IT IN A HURRY.
I'M GONNA SAY, TAKE YOUR TIME SO THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING TO COME BACK AND MAKE AMENDMENTS TO WHAT WE DECIDED IN ORDINANCE.
IF IT'S GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN 60 DAYS, I DON'T MIND.
I JUST WANT US TO GET IT RIGHT.
BRING SOMETHING BACK TO US THAT WE CAN PASS.
BECAUSE IF WE BRING IT BACK IN 60 DAYS AND THERE'S SOME THINGS WE DON'T AGREE WITH, GUESS WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? YOU'RE GOING BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO TAKE CARE OF IT AGAIN ANYWAY.
BUT IF WE CAN REGULATE IT, WE CAN HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE AND WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A, UH, THE BEST DECISION FOR YOU ALL AND, AND SATISFY YOUR CONCERNS.
THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA LEAN TOWARDS.
THAT'S, I, AND I'D BE MORE THAN WILLING TO TRY TO PIECE IT TOGETHER.
LET'S GO THE MOVE THAT WE APPROVED THE SUP BASED ON THE ORIGINAL FIVE REQUIREMENTS, PLUS TWO ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
NUMBER SIX WOULD BE THE BACKGROUND SLASH SEX OFFENDER SCREENING.
THE OWNER INDICATED HE'D BE WILLING TO DO THAT, AND SEVEN WOULD BE THAT THIS SUP WOULD COMPLY WITH FUTURE REGULATIONS AS THEY'RE DEVELOPED.
NO, I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE BACKGROUND CHECK.
HE SAID HE USES A, AN, AN EXTERNAL PROGRAM TO DO THAT BUT WHEN THEY DO THE BACKGROUND CHECK EVERY NEW RENTER, ARE WE GONNA REQUIRE THEM TO BRING, SHOW PROOF OF THAT BACKGROUND CHECK TO US TO MAKE SURE IT'S HAPPENING? NO.
OR ARE WE JUST GONNA TAKE THEIR WORD ON IT? YOUR THIRD PARTY? THAT'LL BE PART OF THE NEW REGULATION THAT THEY COME UP WITH.
SO WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN PLACE RIGHT NOW, SO, OKAY.
I THINK WE HAVE, HAVE TO GO ON HONOR SYSTEM.
HE ALREADY DOES AN INITIAL SCREENING, BUT HE'D BE WILLING FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE TO DO THE SEX OFFENDER SCREENING.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT IT IS.
OPTION I I DON'T NEED TO SEE THAT.
BUT IF IT'S CHALLENGED OR THERE'S AN ISSUE IT NEEDS, THEN HE WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE IT.
BUT THEN THE, THE SEVENTH ONE WOULD BE TO, TO WHATEVER, BECOME COMPLIANT WITH ANY NEW REGULATIONS THAT ARE DEVELOPED.
AND I'LL SAY OVER THE NEXT 90, I DON'T WANT TO PUT A TIMEFRAME, IT IS WHATEVER NEW REGULATIONS DEVELOP THAT ALSO AS MY COUNCIL, UH, COLLEAGUE INDICATED, IF WE HAVE ANOTHER SUV COMES UP, THEN THOSE SEVEN WOULD ALSO APPLY.
AND, AND ANY NEW SUP WOULD HAVE TO ALSO COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH ANY NEW REGULATIONS AS WE DEVELOP 'EM.
THANK YOU RESIDENTS FOR SHOWING UP AND VOICING YOUR CONCERNS.
[a. Consider an ordinance authorizing a Chapter 212 Agreement between the City of Baytown and Wal-Mart Stores East, LP, including provisions for payments to the City.]
EIGHT PROPOSED ORDINANCES.CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A CHAPTER TWO 12 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN AND WALMART STORES, EAST LP, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENTS TO THE CITY.
HEY, UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, BRIAN MORAN, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
UM, THE BAYTOWN FORD TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON CLOSELY WITH WALMART, UM, TO RENEW THEIR EXISTING INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT AGREEMENT AND TRANS TRANSITIONING INTO A LONGER TERM, UM, CHAPTER TWO 12 AGREEMENT.
UM, WE BELIEVE THAT, UH, THIS AGREEMENT REALLY REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN SECURING, UH,
[02:05:01]
LONG-TERM, UM, STABLE GROWTH AND CONTINUED INVESTMENT, UM, FOR THE CITY, WHILE ALSO SERVING AND CONTINUING TO SERVE AS A STRATEGIC HUB, UH, FOR WALMART'S CONTINUED OPERATIONS.UM, THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT IS A 45 YEAR TERM, UM, EXTENDING THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2070.
AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT, UM, WALMART WILL BE PROVIDING AN ANNUAL PAYMENT TO THE CITY OF APPROXIMATELY ONE POINT, UH, SIX 4 MILLION.
UM, OVER THE LIFE OF THIS, UM, AGREEMENT, UM, THE CITY WILL RECEIVE, UM, APPROXIMATELY 74.2 MILLION, UM, TO THE GENERAL FUND.
UM, WALMART IS ONE OF BAY TOWN'S, UM, MAJOR EMPLOYERS.
UM, THEIR OPERATIONS IN CEDAR PORT INDUSTRIAL PARK, UH, CURRENTLY EMPLOYEES, UH, ROUGHLY 1300 EMPLOYEES ANNUALLY, UM, CONTRIBUTING SIGNIFICANTLY TO OUR, UH, WORKFORCE AND CONSUMER SPENDING IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, TONIGHT, UH, WE DO HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES.
UM, MR. RONNIE JIMENEZ, WHO IS THE SITE, UH, GENERAL MANAGER, AS WELL AS MR. UM, TED.
SO, UM, FROM WALMART'S CORPORATE OFFICE.
AND THEY'RE HERE TO HAVE ANY, UM, COUPLE BRIEF REMARKS, UH, FOR YOU.
ALL RIGHT, UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. MAYOR AND, UH, CITY STAFF.
MY NAME IS TED, SO, AND I'M HERE WITH RONNIE JIMENEZ, UH, FROM OUR IMPORT DISTRIBUTION CENTER.
UH, WE APPRECIATE, UH, YOU GIVING US, UH, THE TIME ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
UH, WALMART HAS BEEN PART OF THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITIES FOR MANY YEARS, AND WE VALUE THE RELATIONSHIP WE'VE BUILT WITH THE CITY.
UH, WE WANT TO CONTINUE BEING A GREAT PARTNER, UH, WITH THE COMMUNITY AND ALONGSIDE BAYTOWN AS THE COMMUNITY GROWS.
SO WE'RE GRATEFUL, UH, TO BE HERE WITH YOU.
UM, TONIGHT, I ALSO WANNA THANK, UH, TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK, UH, BRIAN MORIN.
UM, BRIAN'S, BRIAN APPROACHED US EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS AND HAS BEEN GREAT TO WORK WITH.
UH, SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND, UH, COMMITMENT TO REACHING OUT AND, UH, CONTINUING THE PARTNERSHIP.
UH, WE'VE BUILT OVER THE YEARS, UM, LIKE MR. BROWN HAD SAID, UH, THIS AGREEMENT, UH, BETWEEN BAYTOWN AND WALMART IS PART OF A LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE BEING A GREAT PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY.
UH, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TONIGHT.
I'M, UH, THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE, UH, THE IMPORT DISTRIBUTION CENTER HERE IN, UH, BAYTOWN, TEXAS.
UH, WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UH, I MYSELF HAVE BEEN IN THE, UH, LEADING ROLE FOR A VERY LONG TIME AS WELL, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO DO BUSINESS HERE.
UH, WE VALUE BAYTOWN, UH, IN THE PAST WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER, UH, AND WE HAVE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP, SO WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, DOING THAT.
UM, AS, UH, MR. MORAN INDICATED, WE DO EMPLOY ABOUT 1300 ASSOCIATES, UH, AND WE CONTINUE TO INVEST INTO OUR COMMUNITY, SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
WELL, MR. MORAN, I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
YOU SAY WE EMPLOY, YOU ALL EMPLOY 1300 EMPLOYEES? THAT'S CORRECT, SIR.
I ACTUALLY HAVE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT THEY WORK AT WALMART, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS 1300.
YEAH, THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER ALONE EMPLOYS 1300, UH, ASSOCIATES AND UH, OBVIOUSLY THAT'S OUTSIDE OF THE STORES, RIGHT? SO THIS IS ONE OF THE DISTRIBUTION CENTER.
AND THEN, UH, NEXT YEAR WE'RE ALSO BRING IN THE SAM'S CLUB TO BAYTOWN, WHICH YOU ALREADY KNOW, UH, IS GONNA BE.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE THERE SUPPORTING THAT AS WELL, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT AS WELL.
I WANT TO CLARIFY, I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER THAT I'VE LEARNED TO ASK THE QUESTION.
UM, THE 1.64 MILLION APPROXIMATELY A YEAR THAT'S BASED ON THE MINIMUM VALUE THAT'S STATED IN THE CONTRACT, THAT IS CORRECT.
AS THAT VALUE GOES UP, AND I WOULD HOPE FOR EVERYBODY'S SAKE THAT IT DOES, I MEAN, IT'S WOULD BE GREAT FOR Y'ALL, IT'S GREAT FOR US, THEN THAT ANNUAL PAYMENT ALSO INCREASES.
WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT SOUNDS.
SOME HAPPY
[a. Consider a resolution to resolve by settlement CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric, LLC's application for authorization to enter into a new Temporary Emergency Electric Energy Facilities ("TEEEF") lease.]
SIX A CONSIDER[02:10:01]
A RESOLUTION TO RESOLVE BY SETTLEMENT CENTER POINT ENERGY, HOUSTON ELECTRIC LLCS APPLICATION FOR AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A NEW TEMPORARY EMERGENCY ELECTRIC ENERGY FACILITY.MR. LAMONT COUNSEL, THIS IS A RESOLUTION THAT, UH, ASKS FOR AUTHORIZATION TO SETTLE A MATTER WITH CENTER POINT.
UH, THIS WAS BROUGHT TO US, AGAIN BY THE TEXAS COAST UTILITIES COALITIONS OF CITIES, UH, OF WHICH WE ARE A MEMBER.
UH, IT INVOLVES A MAY 27TH, 2025 APPLICATION BY CENTER POINT TO AUTHORIZE IT TO ENTER INTO THE LEASES OF SMALL MOWER GENERATION FACILITIES, WHICH ARE ALSO KNOWN AS TEMPORARY EMERGENCY ELECTRIC ENERGY FACILITIES.
SO I, WE'LL BE REFERRING TO THOSE AS TES FROM THIS POINT FORWARD IN THAT APPLICATION.
UH, CENTER POINT ASSERTED THAT, UH, THE TE ARE NECESSARY TO RESTORE POWER TO THE COMPANY'S CUSTOMERS WHENEVER THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT POWER OUTAGE.
HOWEVER, IN THAT APPLICATION, CENTERPOINT NEVER STATED HOW MUCH THESE FACILITIES WILL COST OR THE IMPACT OF ADDING THESE LEASED FACILITIES MAY HAVE ON CUSTOMERS MONTHLY BILLS.
UH, POINT ALSO ASSERTED THAT THIS IS NOT A RATE MAKING PROCEEDING BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION AND THEREFORE PARTICIPATING CITIES LIKE BAYMONT, UH, BAYTOWN ARE NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR CHALLENGING, UH, CENTER POINT'S ACTIONS.
NEVERTHELESS, UH, TCUC INTERVENED IN THE MATTER AND WAS ABLE TO COME TO A PROPOSED RESOLUTION WITH CENTER POINT.
THE RESOLUTION, UH, INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING CENTER POINT WILL MAINTAIN RECORDS THAT PRE-IDENTIFY LOCATIONS THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR THE DEPLOYMENT OF TIFS.
UH, CENTER POINT, UH, FOLLOWING ANY EVENT THAT NECESSITATES THE DEPLOYMENT OF TIFS WILL UPON REQUEST, PROVIDE DETAILS REGARDING THE TYPES OF CUSTOMERS AND CUSTOMER FACILITIES WHERE TESS WERE DEPLOYED, AND THE TYPES OF CUSTOMERS AND LOCATIONS IN WHICH TES WERE NOT DEPLOYED DUE TO DESIGN CUSTOMER FACILITY LIMITATIONS, ELECTRICAL OR OTHER DEPLOYMENT RELATED REASONS.
CENTER POINT WILL ALSO, UH, WHEN THE DEPLOYMENT OF TS BECOME REASONABLY FORESEEABLE PROVIDE UPON REQUEST, UH, DETAILS REGARDING THE TYPES OF CUSTOMERS AND CUSTOMER FACILITIES WHERE CENTER POINT, UH, IS PROPOSING TO DEPLOY THE TEETH AND IF KNOWN, THE TYPES OF CUSTOMERS AND LOCATIONS WHERE CENTER POINT PROPOSES IT WILL NOT DEPLOY TEETH FACILITIES AND THAT IT WILL PROVIDE THE REASONS FOR NOT, UH, DEPLOYING THOSE TEETH FACILITIES CENTER POINT WILL CONSULT WITH CITY AND COUNTY OFFICES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN ANY EFFECTIVE AREAS ON THE PRIOR PRIORITIZATION OF TE F DEPLOYMENT.
WHEN THE DEPLOYMENT OF TE FACILITIES BECOMES REASONABLY FORESEEABLE, UH, DURING SIGNIFICANT POWER OUTAGE EVENTS.
CENTER POINT WILL COORDINATE WITH CRITICAL LOAD CUSTOMERS, UH, CRITICAL LOAD CUSTOMERS, MEANING RESIDENTIAL PUBLIC SAFETY OR INDUSTRIAL CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE ESSENTIAL NEEDS SUCH AS LIFE SUPPORT, UH, PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES OR CRITICAL INDUSTRY PROCESSES, UH, WHICH WOULD, UH, DEPEND HEAVILY UPON, UH, A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF ELECTRICITY.
UM, AND WHILE THIS DOES NOT GUARANTEE UNINTERRUPTED POWER, IT DOES, UH, MANDATE OR, OR IT DOES, UH, CENTER POINT WOULD, UH, PROVIDE SPECIAL NOTIFICATIONS AND PRIORITY RESTORATION DURING, UH, POWER OUTAGES.
SO THAT'S WHAT WOULD BE WHEN WE, UH, REFER TO CRITICAL LOAD CUSTOMERS.
SO CENTERPOINT WILL COORDINATE WITH CRITICAL LOAD CUSTOMERS WHEN THERE IS A POTENTIAL NEED FOR DEPLOYMENT OF THE T FACILITIES WHEN THEY BECOME REASONABLY FORESEEABLE TO, UH, RESTORE SERVICE TO THE CRITICAL LOAD CUSTOMERS, UH, DURING SIGNIFICANT POWER OUTAGES.
AND FINALLY, CENTER POINT WILL NOTIFY THE COALITION OF CITIES
[02:15:01]
AND COMMISSION STAFF, UH, IF IT PLANS TO RENEW ANY OF THESE TF LEASE AGREEMENTS.WE RECOMMEND, UH, APPROVAL UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, HAVE THESE LOCATIONS BEEN IDENTIFIED? NOT YET.
THAT WAS PART OF THE, UM, CRITICISM THAT THE COALITION HAD WITH THIS APPLICATION.
SO AS PART OF THE SETTLEMENT, UM, BEFORE, UH, TS ARE DEPLOYED, ONCE IT BECOMES REASONABLY NECESSARY TO DO SO, THEN CENTER POINT WILL START COORDINATING WITH, UH, THE CITIES, THE COUNTIES, AND CRITICAL LOAD CUSTOMERS.
AND THEN FOLLOWING THE EVENT, UH, THEY WILL PROVIDE UPON REQUEST, UH, LIST OF CUSTOMERS TO WHOM, UH, T WERE DEPLOYED CUSTOMERS TO WHOM THEY WERE NOT DEPLOYED AND THE REASONS WHY.
SO DO WE HAVE A TIMEFRAME ON WHEN WE MAY KNOW THESE THINGS? WELL, AND I'M ASKING BECAUSE WE NORMALLY GET A HARD FREEZE NOW SOMETIME IN JANUARY.
WELL, THE, THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, THE COALITION IS ASKING, UH, ITS MEMBERS TO APPROVE THE SETTLEMENT, THEN THERE WILL BE A FINAL SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATED IN THE PUC PROCEEDING.
UH, AND IT'LL BECOME EFFECTIVE WHEN THAT IS.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I WOULD SAY WITHIN THE NEXT 30 DAYS PERHAPS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? COMMENTS? I NEED A MOTION.
[b. Consider a resolution accepting a petition for the establishment of the Bay Creek Public Improvement District No. 2 and setting a public hearing regarding the advisability of the proposed improvements. ]
AND SEVEN A HAVE BEEN[a. Receive and discuss a presentation on the proposed second phase of the Bay Creek residential development.]
PUSHED THE NEXT MEETING AT THE REQUEST OF THE DEVELOPER.[b. Receive and discuss a presentation regarding the Cost Recovery Permit Fee Model.]
TO SEVEN B, RECEIVE AND DISCUSS A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE COST RECOVERY PERMIT FEE MODEL, MR. SCRIBNER.ALL RIGHT, SO AFTER THAT LAST HOUR OR SO, I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO SOMETHING REALLY FUN AND WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT FEE INCREASES.
SO, AS YOU KNOW, WE DID JUST GO UNDERGO A RECENT UPDATE OF THE DEVELOPMENT FEES.
THIS DID NOT INCLUDE BILLING PERMITS OR ANY OTHER KIND OF PERMITS.
IT WAS JUST THINGS LIKE REZONES AND VARIANCES AND, UH, SUBDIVISION PLATS, THINGS THAT WERE RELATED TO LARGER DEVELOPMENT.
UH, THE LAST CHANGE WE DID TO THE ACTUAL PERMIT FEES WAS BACK IN 2019.
AND WHAT, UH, WE, WE HAD, UH, UH, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, UH, BRENT GARY HAD GIVEN, UH, CITY COUNCIL A QUICK PRESENTATION ON, UH, THE POSSIBILITY OF MOVING FORWARD WITH A COST RECOVERY, UH, MODEL OF FEE INCREASES, UH, OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, UH, AT YOUR JUNE 8TH, UH, EXCUSE ME, JUNE 27TH, UM, WORK SESSION.
SO SOME OF THIS YOU'LL SEE SHOULD LOOK FAMILIAR.
UM, AGAIN, WE'RE INCLUDING TONIGHT, UH, SOME COMPARABLE CITIES AND WHAT THEIR FEES LOOK LIKE AND HOW WE RANK WITHIN THOSE CITIES.
AND THEN, UH, AGAIN, THE GOAL HERE IS AN 80% COST RECOVERY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE NUMBERS THAT WAS THROWN OUT WHEN WE DID THE, UPDATED THE DEVELOPMENT FEES BACK IN, I THINK JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.
UH, AND THIS WOULD BE PROPOSED AS AN INCREMENTAL RAMP UP OVER FIVE YEARS.
SO AGAIN, THIS IS THE, UH, THIS IS THE SLIDE THAT MR. GARY SHOWED YOU BACK IN JUNE.
UH, AGAIN, THIS KIND OF SHOWS THE REVENUES VERSUS EXPENDITURES ON HOW THOSE ARE CURRENTLY WEIGHTED AND HOW THEY WOULD END UP, UH, AGAIN, OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE YEARS, GETTING UP TO AROUND THAT 80% POINT.
SO ANY THAT, THAT'S BASICALLY THE COSTS OF THE PLANNING DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
UM, WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COST OF OUR EFFORTS COVERED BY ABOUT 80% BY FEES THEMSELVES.
CURRENTLY IT'S MORE LIKE 45, 40 6%.
SO WHERE DO WE RANK? UM, THIS SHOWS JUST, UH, UH, EXAMPLES OF, SO THERE'S FOUR DIFFERENT KINDS OF PERMIT THAT WERE USED TO MAKE THIS CHART.
SO YOU GOT DEVELOPMENT TYPE PERMITS, UH, COMMERCIAL PERMITS, RESIDENTIAL PERMITS, AND THEN INSPECTIONS, WHICH IS, IS PART OF THAT AS WELL.
UM, WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS THAT ALL THE WAY OVER ON THE LEFT, UH, AND THESE ARE RANKED LOWEST TO HIGHEST, LOWEST BEING A ONE HIGHEST BEING A SEVEN.
SO THE LOWER THAT BAR IS ON THE CHART, THE LOWER IT RANKS, UH, WITHIN THIS, WITHIN THOSE SEVEN CATEGORIES.
AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS BAYTOWN, CURRENT, BAYTOWN PROPOSED,
[02:20:01]
AND THEN FIVE OTHER CITIES.YOU'LL SEE PEARLAND, LEAGUE CITY, GALVESTON, MISSOURI CITY, AND SUGARLAND.
THESE ARE THE SAME CITIES WE SHOWED YOU WITH THE DEVELOPMENT FEES EARLIER THIS YEAR.
SO, UM, AS YOU CAN SEE CURRENTLY, UH, WE CONSISTENTLY RANK AS THE LOWEST FEES OUT OF ALL OF THE, THE COMPARABLE CITIES.
WHAT WE ARE PROPOSING, UH, TO DO WITH THIS OVER THE NEXT, UH, YOU WOULD SEE THIS IN JANUARY, UH, IS TO BE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE.
UM, AGAIN, WE WANT TO GET TO THAT 80% MARK OVER FIVE YEARS.
AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HERE WOULD BE, UH, THAT WE WOULD BE LOOKING AT NEXT YEAR.
WE FEES WOULD BE COMPARABLE IN SOME AREAS, A LITTLE HIGHER IN OTHER AREAS, A LITTLE LOWER IN SOME, BUT NEVER THE HIGHEST OUT OF ALL OF THE CITIES THAT WE HAVE, UH, MARCH OR TONIGHT.
AND WITH THAT, WE SHOW, WE COMBINED AND DID AVERAGES, UH, ACROSS SEVERAL OF THE LARGER, UH, PERMIT CATEGORIES.
AND WHAT AGAIN, WHAT YOU SEE IS RANKED LOWEST TO HIGHEST.
AND YOU CAN SEE LEFT TO RIGHT, THE CURRENT, OUR CURRENT PERMITS ON AVERAGE ARE ABOUT THE LOWEST OUT OF THE COMPARABLE CITIES.
AND WHAT WE'RE SHOWING WITH THE INCREASE WOULD BE RIGHT ABOUT THE MIDDLE.
SO WE'D BE FOURTH FROM THE TOP.
UH, AND THAT IS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE AND THE YELLOW.
UM, A FEW EXAMPLES, AGAIN, THIS IS JUST A SMATTERING.
THE, THE NUMBER OF PERMITS WE HAVE IS PAGES LONG.
SO I DIDN'T WANNA SHOW YOU ALL THAT TONIGHT.
SO WE TOOK SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE HAVE THE MOST APPLICATIONS FOR ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
THESE NUMBERS ARE BASED OFF OF LAST FISCAL YEAR.
UH, SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS YOU'LL, YOU SEE SOME OF THE TRADE PERMITS THAT WE GET QUITE A FEW OF, BUT THE, THE, THE PERMIT RATE, UH, THE FEE RATE IS, IS VERY LOW.
AND SO YOU'LL SEE, UM, A, A CONTRAST BETWEEN THAT AND SAY NEW COMMERCIAL BUILDS, WE HAVE A HIGH, A HIGH FEE, BUT YOU GET LESS OF THEM.
SO AGAIN, YOU HAD 832 ELECTRICAL RESIDENTIAL PERMITS, THEN IT'S, IT'S MORE ABOUT, UH, UH, THE, THE QUANTITY THAN, THAN HOW MUCH WE CHARGE PER.
BUT ANYWAY, YOU, YOU GET THE IDEA.
SO, UM, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING THERE IS AGAIN, KIND OF SOME OF OUR, OUR METHOD IN, IN MAKING THESE DETERMINATIONS.
AND WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS JUST ABOUT A 12% INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD.
UH, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MR. GARY HAD MENTIONED, UH, BACK IN JUNE WAS THAT SOME OF THE LESSER USED AND SOME OF THE, UH, APPLICATIONS THAT DON'T, THAT DON'T GET APPLIED FOR A LOT.
OR ALSO ONES THAT ARE, SAY A HOMEOWNER WANTS TO COME IN AND, AND GET A, UM, I DON'T KNOW, A, A A A PLUMBING OR, UH, NOT EMPLOYMENT.
THAT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD ONE, BUT, UH, LIKE A SWIMMING POOL OR A FENCE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THINGS THAT WE DON'T SEE A TON OF.
THEN WE TRIED TO KEEP THOSE, UM, INCREASES LOW AND OFFSET IT WITH SOME OF THE HIGHER COST, HIGHER NUMBERS ONES.
SO COMMERCIAL WE MIGHT'VE BUMPED A LITTLE BIT MORE TO KIND OF MAKE UP FOR THAT.
WE DON'T WANT THE BURDEN TO BE ON OUR, OUR HOMEOWNERS WHO WERE DOING SMALL JOBS AND REMODELS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE WANNA PUT THE, THE, THE BURDEN OF, OF AT LEAST SOME OF THE BURDEN ON SOME OF THOSE BIGGER PROJECTS.
DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? MM-HMM
AND THAT'S NOT ACROSS THE BOARD.
THERE WAS SOME JUDGMENT CALLS IN THERE TO SAY THAT THESE ARE LOWER NUMBERS AND AGAIN, UM, ISSUES THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO HIT YOUR SORT OF EVERYDAY HOMEOWNER.
SO, UM, WHAT AGAIN, WE, WE LOOKED AT THIS FIVE YEAR GOAL TO ACHIEVE AN 80% COST RECOVERY.
UH, FOR THE AVERAGE INCREASE WE'RE LOOKING AT ABOUT 12% PER YEAR, ROUGHLY.
UM, WE WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERING A, AN ANNUAL IN, UH, INFLATION RATE TO GO WITH THAT.
UH, AGAIN, OVER 20 AS FISCAL YEAR 27 TO 30, WE WOULD BE SEEING AROUND 12 TO 15% ANNUALLY.
WE WOULD WANT TO CONSIDER THOSE FEE INCREASES AS PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TONIGHT IS, UH, A SORT OF A GENERAL DIRECTION FROM COUNCIL THAT SAYS, YES, WE LIKE THIS METHOD AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO ACHIEVE.
UH, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC INPUT MEETING SCHEDULED ON JANUARY 13TH IN THIS ROOM TO GET, UH, ANY INPUT THAT WE MIGHT GET FROM THE FOLKS THAT THIS DOES AFFECT.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL BRING THAT INFORMATION, UH, BACK TO YOU FOR AN ADOPTION OF THE NEW FEE SCHEDULE ON JANUARY 26TH WITH AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE PROPOSING FOR APRIL 1ST, IF THERE ARE DELAY, WE WANT TO GIVE EVERYBODY A LITTLE BIT OF A CHANCE TO GET USED TO THE NEW FEES.
UH, AND WE ALSO, WE NEED TIME.
UH, THIS WOULD BE A CONSIDERABLE CHANGE TO OUR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM.
SO WE NEED SOME TIME TO MAKE SURE WE NOT ONLY GET THE NUMBERS IN, BUT UH, CHECK IT FOR BUGS AND MAKE SURE WE GOT EVERYTHING CORRECT.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS THERE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT AT LEAST APRIL 1ST.
IF FOR SOME REASON ADOPTION GETS MOVED BACK, WE WOULD LOOK TO MOVE THAT EFFECTIVE DATE BACK AS WELL, NOT ONLY FOR THE, UH, FOR THE APPLICANTS, BUT ALSO FOR STAFF.
AND WITH THAT, UH, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
[02:25:01]
MM-HMMUM, IF THIS ENDS UP, YOU KNOW, THIS EFFECTIVE DATE IS APRIL 1ST, OR EVEN SLIDES PAST THAT, WOULD YOU BE LOOKING, I KNOW YOU HAVEN'T HERE, IT'LL BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS.
SO WOULD THE GOAL BE GOING FORWARD THAT IT WOULD ALWAYS JUST OCCUR ON OCTOBER 1ST WHEN WE HIT THE NEW BUDGET CYCLE? UM, YES.
AND MAYBE IF WE'RE, IF WE'RE ENACTING IT LATER THAN APRIL 1ST, MAYBE WE'RE PUSHING THE ENTIRE PROGRAM BACK TO OCTOBER 1ST TO SAY, OKAY, THIS WON'T BECOME A EFFECTIVE, YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN DO AN ANNUAL RIGHT.
UM, BUT YOU WOULD SEE THOSE ANTICIPATED FEES OR PROPOSED FEES AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
SO YOU WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO REVIEW AND ASK QUESTIONS.
I, AND, AND YOU, I THINK YOU UNDERSTOOD WHERE I WAS GOING WITH THAT.
I MEAN, IF THIS SLIDE'S TOO FAR PAST APRIL, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'D WANT TO INCREASE IT.
AND THEN IMMEDIATELY TURN AROUND AND DO IT ON OCTOBER 1ST.
BUT WE CAN SEE WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO GET THESE EFFECTIVE AND THEN WHERE WE ARE IN BUDGET PLANNING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
YEAH, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT.
ANY MORE COMMENTS OR I GUESS THE INPUT YOU WERE LOOKING FOR WAS, I AGREE WITH THE DIRECTION YOU'RE GOING.
JUST A GENERAL THUMBS UP ACROSS.
I'M GONNA SAY THAT THE, UM, SECOND PLACE, GOING BACK TO THE SLIDE WITH THE FEES.
THAT'S NOT MUCH AT ALL, HONESTLY.
JUST LOOKING AT, JUST LOOKING AT 'EM, I REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE A LOT MORE ON THE INCREASE ON EACH THAN WHAT IT IS.
SO, UM, I THINK WE'RE GONNA BE IN THE, IN THE RIGHT POSITION.
IT, IT, IT'S OBVIOUSLY GONNA DEPEND, UM, THE HIGHER THE VALUE OF A, LIKE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA TAKE THE BIGGEST HIT ARE THE, THE BIG COMMERCIAL PRO PROJECTS MM-HMM
THE HIGHER THE VALUE, THE HIGHER THE FEE.
THAT IS HOW WE AND MOST CITIES AROUND US GAUGE WHAT THE FEE IS FOR THE PERMIT REVIEW.
SO, AND I'LL, AND I'LL GIVE YOU AN IDEA.
THE PERMIT REVIEW FEES FOR SAY SAN JACINTO MARKETPLACE ARE IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
SO IT, IT CAN HAVE A, A PRETTY BIG EFFECT ON PARTICULAR PROJECTS WHEN THEY HEAD THAT DIRECTION.
BUT THAT SAID, ACROSS THE BOARD, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THOSE.
SO THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN WORK WITH, I THINK, AND WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK AT THOSE BIGGER PROJECTS AND, AND SET, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING SPECIFIC FOR THEM.
WELL, YEAH, IT DOES SOUND GOOD.
I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT WE LIKE, RIGHT? I'M GOOD.
NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO CONSENT
[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.]
AGENDA, UM, ITEMS A THROUGH Z.DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING THEY'D LIKE TO PULL? YOU DO? NO.
'CAUSE I JOKED WITH KENNY EARLIER, HE'S LIKE, IF YOU PULL IT, I'LL KILL YOU.
MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS EIGHT A THROUGH PROCEED.
[a. Consider two (2) City Manager appointments to the Civil Service Commission.]
CONSIDER TWO, APPOINT TWO CITY MANAGER APPOINTMENTS TO THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.MAYOR COUNSEL, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION, UH, IS TO APPOINT DAVE GERALDS TO THE COMMISSION BOARD FOR ANOTHER TERM.
MR. GERALDS HAS BEEN CONSISTENT IN ATTENDANCE AND MENTOR TO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS AND IS RESPECTED BY THE FIRE AND POLICE EMPLOYEE GROUPS.
UH, FOR THE VACANCY, THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPOINT, UH, KAITLYN POWELL TO FULFILL THE, UH, REMAINING TERM PERIOD THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2027.
UH, KAITLYN WAS THE ONLY APPLICATION RECEIVED FOR THE BOARD DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS.
SHE WAS GIVEN AN OVERVIEW OF THE DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION AND INTERVIEWED FOR THE VACANCY.
MS. POWELL IS ZIEGER AND WILLING TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE, AND WE BELIEVE SHE WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION.
APPROVE THE ADDITION OF MS. CAITLYN POWELL AND, UM, REAPPOINT.
[b. Consider a resolution authorizing five (5) appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission.]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FIVE APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.WHAT'S THAT? AN ANGIE LOOKED AT ME.
SO LIKE YOU GUYS HAVEN'T SEEN ENOUGH OF ME TONIGHT.
UM, I, I, I THINK THAT I DON'T HAVE 'EM UP ON THE SCREEN, BUT I I DO KNOW THAT THREE OF YOUR, YOUR CURRENT MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE.
UM, AND YOU HAVE, UM, MR. CHAPPA WHO HAS ACTUALLY SAID THAT HE, MR. CHAPPA SAID THAT HE, HE
[02:30:01]
WOULD LIKE TO, UM, SERVE THE CITY, BUT HE ALSO UNDERSTANDS THAT HE'S BEEN MISSING A LOT OF THE MEETINGS AND HE HAS NOT.HE HAS TOLD US HE'S NOT LOOKING TO BE REAPPOINTED.
UM, AND THEN, UM, MR. HARLOW, UM, HE HAS ALSO MISSED SEVERAL MEETINGS BECAUSE OF HIS, UH, BUSINESS LIFE AND HIS TRAVEL.
UM, HE WOULD, WE BELIEVE HE WOULD LIKE TO STAY ON, BUT AGAIN, WE DO KNOW THAT HE'S, UM, HE HAS QUITE A LOT OF SCHEDULING CONFLICTS.
SO, UM, MS. SCOTT, UH, MR. LAREDO MM-HMM
AND MS. WHEELER, THEY DO ALL SEEK REAPPOINTMENT AND STAFF IS, UH, RECOMMENDING THAT.
SO WE WANT TO TAKE ALL THESE AT ONCE OR ONE AT A TIME BECAUSE I ONE AT A TIME.
WELL, FROM MY APPOINTMENT, I DO WANT TO REAPPOINT MS. SCOTT.
NEXT WE HAVE AT LARGE MR. OSCAR'S POSITION, AND WE HAVE TWO APPLICATIONS HERE RECORDING.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OSCAR FOR EVERYTHING HE'S DONE.
HE'S BEEN A GREAT, HIM AND, AND HIS WIFE.
UH, I KNOW THERE'S, HE'S BUSY.
IT HAS TO BE AN ETJ APPOINTMENT ON THE, AT LARGE.
APPARENTLY THAT IT RECENTLY CHANGED TO IT.
CAN WE GO THROUGH THE OTHER AND THEN YES.
UM, I KNOW MS. WHEELER SEEKS REAPPOINTMENT.
UM, I'VE REPORTED HER, UH, NOT DURING MY FIRST TERM, HOWEVER, UH, THIS TIME AROUND I WANTED TO TAKE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION AND REPLACE HER WITH, UH, JEFF WALTERS.
AND, UM, DISTRICT FIVE AT LARGE.
UH, I'M GONNA HAVE, I, I KNOW YOU SAID YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO CONTACT MR. HARLOW AND I, I KNOW HE IS MISSED A MEETING, SO I'M GONNA HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HIM AND JUST SEE IF HE'S ABLE TO IMPROVE HIS ATTENDANCE IN THE NEXT, UH, YEAR.
IF NOT, UM, I'LL, I'LL WORK TO GET SOME ADDITIONAL OKAY.
JANUARY, LIKE A ONE MORE TIME ON THAT ONE.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE REAPPOINTED.
UM, WE ARE NOW ON TO NINE POINT OF CLARIFICATION.
ON THE DISTRICT THREE APPOINTMENT, THEN IF THERE'S NOT ANOTHER APPOINTMENT, UM, NOMINEE, THEN UM, MS. WHEELER WOULD STAY IN PLACE UNTIL THAT IS A YES.
AND WHEN CAN WE EXPRESS A CLARIFICATION ON MR. CHAPPA? I'LL LOOK AT THAT.
YEAH, I THINK IT JUST CHANGED.
SO IS THERE NO APPOINTMENT RENEWAL ON MRS. ON, ON MY APPOINTMENT? I MEAN, SO I MEAN, WHAT HAPPENS NOW? DOES SHE SHE'S A HOLDOVER.
SHE'S, SHE, SHE'S HOLDOVER UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE CAN, YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION TO, TO REAPPOINT IF YOU WANTED TO.
OR YOU CAN WAIT AND LOOK FOR ANOTHER, UH, APPLICANT.
I WANNA ASK COUNSEL, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE RESERVES WITH MY APPOINTMENT? ME.
YOU HAD ANOTHER DISTRICT THREE APPOINTEE? I WOULD, I WOULD, WELL, IT, IT'S, IT'S NOT DISTRICT SPECIFIC.
BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US REPRESENT OUR PEOPLE, REPRESENT FROM OUR DISTRICTS COUNSEL.
I WOULD ASK THAT IF YOU'RE GONNA GO INTO SPECIFICS ABOUT ANY CANDIDATE THAT WE CONSIDER THAT A, UH, PERSONNEL MATTER TO DISCUSS AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[02:35:01]
SENSE.UNLESS THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS THAT IT BE DISCUSSED IN PUBLIC SESSION.
[c. Consider a resolution authorizing six (6) appointments to the Community Development Advisory Committee.]
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SIX APPOINTMENTS TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.WE'RE GONNA TAKE THESE INDIVIDUALLY AND WE'RE GONNA START WITH DISTRICT ONE.
UM, I AM NOT READY AT THIS TIME.
I'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. OSA AND HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE NEW PEOPLE AND WE DIDN'T GET ANY APPLICANTS FOR MY DISTRICT.
AND SO WE'RE GONNA HAVE A CONVERSATION THERE.
HE'S STILL WILLING TO SERVE, BUT HE ALSO WANTS TO ENTERTAIN GETTING SOME NEW PEOPLE IN THERE.
SO, SO HE'S GONNA BE A HOLDOVER FOR NOW.
HE'S GONNA BE A HOLDOVER FOR NOW.
UM, DISTRICT TWO, UM, SHE'S NOT HERE SO WE'RE GONNA YEAH, WE'RE GONNA HOLD OVER ON THAT DISTRICT THREE, DISTRICT THREE MISSED MEETING.
OH, I'M GOING TO REAPPOINT ANY OF THE NICHOLS, IF THAT'S WITH EVERYBODY.
SHE'S, UH, THIS IS HER FIRST TERM, SO SHE'LL BE GOING TO WITH HER SECOND TERM ON THIS ONE.
SO, UH, KIND OF GIVE HER ANOTHER CHANCE ON THAT.
SHE HASN'T MISSED ANY MEETINGS AND, UH, BUT THAT SHE'S BEEN ABLE TO, THAT UH, SHE'S BEEN CALLED TO.
I'M GONNA REQUEST SOME ADDITIONAL TIME ON THIS ONE AS WELL.
ON, UM, THE AT LARGE POSITION, I WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE ROTOR BROWN APPLICATIONS.
YEAH, IT WAS WRITTEN BACKWARDS THERE.
SO THAT'S BROWN RHODA? YEAH, BROWN
MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN INDICATED YES.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE WHO ARE APPOINTED TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
[d. Consider the Mayor's appointment of one (1) representative and one (1) alternate to the 2026 Transportation Policy Council and one (1) representative and one (1) alternate to the 2026 Technical Advisory Committee.]
MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF ONE REPRESENTATIVE AND ONE ALTERNATE TO THE TRANSPORTATION POLICY COUNCIL AND ONE REPRESENTATIVE, AND ONE ALTERNATE TO THE 2026 TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.UM, WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I THINK Y'ALL ARE DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB.
I ACTUALLY MADE A PHONE CALL IN TO, UM, HGAC AND EVERYTHING'S LOOKING GOOD.
TPC, I'VE SPOKE WITH EVERYONE AND I'M GOING TO THANK MR. JACOB FOR HIS SERVICE.
UM, AND MR. REYNOLDS FOR HIS SERVICE ALSO ON TPC, BUT I AM CHOMPING AT THE BITS TO GET BACK INVOLVED WITH THAT.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST COMMITTEES I WAS APPOINTED TO WHEN I WAS ON COUNCIL.
AND, UM, I'M GONNA NOMINATE MYSELF AND MR. GRIFFITH.
MAN, I FORGOT YOUR NAME FOR A MINUTE.
UM, CUT THAT FORGETTABLE NAME YOURSELF FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE.
AND MR. GRIFFITH SAYS THAT HE THINKS HE'S READY TO SERVE IN A MUCH, IN A MORE OF A CAPACITY REPRESENTING COUNSEL.
AND, UM, SO THOSE ARE MY TWO NOMINATIONS.
ME AS THE POINT PERSON AND HIM AS THE, UM, ALTERNATE.
CONGRATULATIONS MR. GRIFFITH AND MR. JOHNSON.
[e. Consider a resolution casting the City of Baytown's ballot for the election of a representative to serve on the Board of Directors of the Harris Central Appraisal District.]
CONSIDER A RESOLUTION CASTING THE CITY OF BAY TOWN'S BALLOT FOR THE ELECTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT.UM, IF YOU RECALL, WE HAD THE, UH, UH, NOMINATIONS FOR THE APPRAISAL DISTRICTS BEFORE YOU AT, UH, ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS.
AND YOU HAD ASKED FOR SOME ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THE CANDIDATES.
WE DID RECEIVE SOME INFORMATION FROM, UH, BOTH THE HARRIS CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT AS WELL AS CHAMBERS COUNTY, WHICH WILL BE THE NEXT ITEM.
AND WE PROVIDED THOSE, UH, RESUMES THAT WERE AVAILABLE TO YOU, ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE EITHER DISTRICT PROVIDED,
[02:40:01]
UH, RESUMES ON A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE CANDIDATES.BUT, UH, THEY BOTH TOLD US THEY DON'T NORMALLY, UH, KEEP THOSE TYPES OF RECORDS.
SO THEY, THEY KIND OF DID A SOLID GOOD DEAL.
SO WE TABLED THIS, WE BROUGHT IT BACK.
ARE WE READY TO MAKE THIS VOTE? GOOD DEAL.
I NEED A MOTION, MOTION TO CONSIDER THE SIX VOTES, UM, AS PRESENTED FOR HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
WELL, WE HAVE TO, YEAH, WE'RE GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHERE, HOW WE'RE GONNA DISTRIBUTE THOSE VOTES.
SO IT CAN'T JUST BE A A IT'S NOT MOTION ACROSS THE BOARD.
WE NEED TO, WELL, I BELIEVE WE HAVE SIX VOTES.
AND WE NEED TO DISTRIBUTE THEM ACROSS.
I MEAN, SO WHO WE WOULD, LIKE ONE CANDIDATE CAN GET ALL SIX.
WE CAN DISTRIBUTE THEM ACROSS THE VARIOUS CANDIDATES.
SO, WELL, I'D LIKE TO, THE ONLY PERSON I REALLY KNOW, AND I DID LOOK THROUGH ALL THE APPLICATIONS MM-HMM
UM, I WOULD BE OKAY MOVING FORWARD WITH MS. MELISSA NORIEGA.
UM, I KNOW SHE WAS PRESENTED AS A NOMINEE IN SEPTEMBER.
UM, WE WERE MISSING SOME RESUMES AND BIO, UH MM-HMM
BIOS, UM, AND I CANNOT REMEMBER WHICH ONES THOSE WERE.
ISN'T THERE TWO OF 'EM? WELL, WE HAVE TWO.
I MEAN, WE SHOW THAT WE NOT, THERE WERE TWO NOMINATED MARTINA, LAMONT DIXON AND MELISSA NORIEGA.
BUT MELISSA IS NOT ON THE BALLOT THAT CAME BACK TO US, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT YEAH, WHAT THAT MEANS.
IF THERE WERE SOME THRESHOLD OF NOMINATIONS OR THERE'S A JOEY NORIEGA.
I, I THINK THAT IS A TYPO BECAUSE ON THE BALLOT.
BECAUSE THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT WAS THAT IT WAS IN FACT MELISSA WHO ON THE, THE BALLOT AND SHE'S A RETURNING OR, OR SHE'S A CURRENT MEMBER OF THE BOARD WHO, UH, IS LOOKING TO HAVE HER APPOINTMENT EXTENDED OR, OR RENEWED.
WELL, I GUESS WE'RE DISCUSSING IT.
I MEAN, I WOULD BE OKAY SPLITTING OUR SIX VOTES.
THREE AND THREE BETWEEN THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS.
MARTINA, LAMONT, DIXON, AND, UH, MELISSA NORIEGA.
UM, THE ONLY THING I DISCUSSED IS THAT I WISH WE WOULD GET SOMEONE THAT WAS EITHER FROM BAYTOWN MM-HMM
UM, BUT THESE, ONE OF THEM IS CONNECTED TO BAYTOWN.
BUT EITHER WAY, UM, I AM OKAY DOING THE SPLIT.
MOTION TO DO A THREE AND THREE SPLIT BETWEEN THE TWO PRESENTED, UH, NOMINEES, MS. MARTINEZ, LEMON DIXON, AND MELISSA NORIEGA.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THOSE TWO AND F CONSIDER A
[f. Consider a resolution casting the City of Baytown's ballot for the election of a representative to serve on the Board of Directors of the Chambers County Appraisal District. ]
RESOLUTION CASTING THE CITY OF BAY TOWN'S BALLOT FOR THE ELECTION OF A REPRESENTATIVE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CHAMBERS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.MR. LAMONT, UH, COUNSEL, THIS IS A COMPANION RESOLUTION.
THIS ONE IS FOR CHAMBERS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
UH, AS STATED BEFORE, WE DID RECEIVE, UH, INFORMATION FROM THE DISTRICT REGARDING THE, THE NOMINEES FOR APPOINTMENT.
I'LL SAY THESE, UH, THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED FROM THIS DISTRICT WAS PROBABLY LESS INCLUSIVE THAN THE INFORMATION WE GOT FROM HARRIS COUNTY.
UM, BUT WITH SIX NAMES AND SIX VOTES WITHOUT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, I MEAN, WE GOT WHAT WE ASKED FOR.
WE JUST SPREAD OUR VOTES, UH, EVENLY ACROSS THE SIX INDIVIDUALS.
CAN I GET YOU TO AMEND THAT? BECAUSE I,
[02:45:01]
I BELIEVE I KNOW MR. TAN WILLIAMS AND, UH, HE, HE, HE WOULD REPRESENT US WELL IN CHAMBERS COUNTY.ARE YOU OKAY SPLITTING IT SIX WAYS OR? I'D LIKE TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE MORE LEAN THAN THAT.
WE WANNA DO IT SIX WAYS THAN WE CAN WE GIVE HIM ALL SIX? I MEAN, WE COULD GIVE HIM ALL SIX.
I READ THROUGH THE INFO AND I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING.
BUT I THINK ALL SIX, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, ALL SIX ARE CURRENTLY SERVING.
IS THAT RIGHT? IT LOOKED LIKE AT LEAST THE, THE MAJORITY OF 'EM WERE, I THINK THEY'RE, I, YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M NOT SURE.
LET ME SEE IF I HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
THEY ALL APPEAR TO BE CURRENTLY SERVING GIVES LIVE ON 10 LEAVES.
OR WE CAN JUST, AGAIN, THERE'S SIX CANDIDATES.
WE CAN GIVE 'EM ALL ONE, BUT THAT JUST KIND OF YEAH, NO, THAT'S DILUTES IT DOWN.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO GO OFF OF.
SO I, I'D TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.
JUST TRYING TO LOOK LIKE SANTA CLAUS AND WE'LL TRUST YOU.
SO WHAT ARE WE DOING? WE'RE GONNA SPREAD 'EM.
WE'RE GONNA GIVE HIM ONE MORE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE ONE FROM SOMEBODY.
RIGHT? SO IF YOU CAN DO IT, SEE 'EM ALL SAFE.
COUNSEL, I DO HAVE THE LIST OF CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS, UH, JOE CRUMPLER, WHO'S ALSO, UH, LISTED IN THE RESOLUTION.
ALICIA TURNER, UH, WHO'S ALSO THERE.
JOEY PRESNA AL WHO'S ALSO ON OUR RESOLUTION.
EVERETT WILLIAMS. UH, TAN WILLIAMS WHO WE JUST DISCUSSED.
LORI PEYTON, WHO IS HERE AS WELL.
SO YES, THEY'RE ALL CURRENT MEMBERS.
WE JUST KEEP ON, JUST KEEP FOLLOW UP I GUESS WITH THAT.
IF THEY'RE ALL CURRENT MEMBERS, THIS SPLITTER VOTE 26.
ANY OPPOSED? YOU TRIED TO KEEP IT SIMPLE.
[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.]
MAYOR, COUNSEL, I HAVE A FEW THINGS FOR YOU.FIRST, UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED AT THE 2025 SOUTHEAST TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARDS FOR IT.
STRONG COMMITMENT TO TRAFFIC SAFETY.
BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 24 AND SEPTEMBER 25, OUR OFFICERS MADE 342 DWI.
ARRESTS BEEN BUSY ON THE STREETS.
DID UH, OFFICER ERIC SWASH, UH, SCHWA RECEIVED THE MAD ENFORCEMENT HERO AWARD FOR LEADING THE DEPARTMENT WITH 131 DWI ARREST.
UH, IN HONOR, HE HAS EARNED ALMOST EVERY SINGLE YEAR, SO A THIRD OF THE YEAR, HE'S, UH, GETTING SOMEBODY FOR DWI.
THAT'S OUR, ARE DOING WELL, IT'S LOT.
WELL, UM, OFFICER CHRISTOPHER CALHOUN RECEIVED THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD FOR HIS WORK IN DWI ENFORCEMENT AND PREVENTION WITH 52 D-W-I-R-S WHILE MAINTAINING A FULL PATROL SCHEDULE.
HE IS ALSO ONE OF ONLY 60 DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERTS IN THE STATE AND SERVES AS A DRE INSTRUCTOR HELPING TRAIN OFFICERS STATEWIDE.
DID YOU KNOW THAT JOHN? YES, SIR.
UH, THE 77TH ANNUAL BAYTOWN CHRISTMAS PARADE WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 4TH WITH THE THEME BOOTS, BELLS AND HOLIDAY YELLS.
DESPITE THE CHANCES OF BAD WEATHER, THE PARADE WAS A GREAT SUCCESS FEATURING 121 TOTAL ENTRIES, 226 VEHICLES AND 1,735 WALKERS.
WE EXTEND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL CITY DEPARTMENTS AND PARTNERS WHO SUPPORT WAS ESSENTIAL IN MAKING THIS YEAR'S PARADE SAFE, SMOOTH, AND TRULY MEMORABLE AND BIG THANK YOU TO CLIFF AND HIS TEAM, UH, AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN, UH, FANTASTIC.
EVERY SINGLE YEAR, UH, THE 2025 BAYO, UH, BAYO BAYTOWN GEO TOUR COMMUNITY CELEBRATION DEMONSTRATED GEOCACHING VALUE AS A TOURISM DRIVER FOR BAYTOWN.
THIS TRAVEL BASED HOBBY BRINGS PARTICIPANTS INTO THE CITY TO EXPLORE PARKS, LANDMARKS, AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.
AS PART OF THE GEO TOUR EXPERIENCE, THE BRUNSON VISITOR CENTER WAS FILLED WITH GEO CASHERS FROM CITIES LIKE COLLEGE STATION, SPRING CLEAR, LAKE ORANGE, MISSOURI CITY, AND MANY MORE SPECIAL THANKS TO BAYTOWN BURT FOR CO-HOSTING AND FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE TO THE TOURISM TEAM.
ARE YOUR KIDS AT HOME WITH NOTHING TO DO? DO YOU HAVE LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY SHOPPING? THIS IS, UH, AN ADVERTISEMENT DOING MY BEST RADIO VOICE IF POSSIBLE.
UH, THEN SHELF YOUR ELF, JASON, YOUR KIDS GET A DAY OF FUN AND YOU GET A DAY TO GET THINGS DONE.
THE EDDIE V GRAY WETLAND CENTER STAFF AND EPIC CLUB MEMBERS ARE HOSTING TWO PARENTS DAY OUT EVENTS AT THE WETLAND CENTER ON DECEMBER 22ND AND 23RD FROM 10:00 AM TO 4:00 PM EACH DAY.
THE COST PER CHILD PER DAY IS $30.
ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, CRAFTS, AND HOLIDAY THEMES.
STEM GAMES REGISTRATION CLOSES ON DECEMBER 18TH, NEXT THURSDAY.
AND FINALLY THIS YEAR MARKED THE 26TH YEAR OF THE CITY'S BAYTOWN, UH, BAY TOWN'S ANGEL TREE AND THE SPIRIT OF GIVING, UH, SHOWN BRIGHTER THAN EVER.
TOGETHER WE'VE PROVIDED 152 GIFTS TO CHILDREN FROM OUR FOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, A CHILDCARE CENTER THAT SUPPORTS LOW-INCOME
[02:50:01]
FAMILIES AND AT-RISK STUDENTS IN G-C-T-I-S-D JUNIOR HIGHS AND HIGH SCHOOLS.THE KINDNESS OF STAFF ACROSS THE CITY MADE ALL OF THIS POSSIBLE, BRINGING JOY, COMFORT AND SENSE AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO CHILDREN WHO NEEDED IT MOST.
A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED AND MADE THIS A GREAT SUCCESS.
MARTIN, TO YOUR TEAM, SHARON, STEPHANIE REALLY PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, MAYOR, COUNCIL CITIZENS, IF Y'ALL COULD HAVE SEEN IT TODAY, THIS PLACE WAS FULL OF GIFTS.
UM, AND IT'S PRETTY SPECTACULAR.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REGISTRATION LIST, YOU HAVE MULTIPLE EMPLOYEES, UH, FROM BAYTOWN THAT, THAT SPONSORED FOUR OR FIVE, SIX KIDS IN SOME INSTANCES, AND, UH, REALLY GETTING PEOPLE INVOLVED.
SO A BIG THANK YOU FOR, FOR SPEARHEADING THAT AND TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT TOOK PART AND HELPED A, A CHILD IN NEED AND TO THEIR, AND HELPED THOSE FAMILIES.
SO MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
[a. Receive a report from Council Member Jacob Powell regarding projects, programs and events in District No. 5. ]
REPORT, DISTRICT FIVE, MR. JACOB POWELL.UH, WE'RE SEEING SOME EX EXCITING PROGRESS ON SEVERAL NEW BUSINESSES IN DISTRICT FIVE.
I'LL JUST RUN THROUGH THESE QUICKLY.
UH, OUT ON 1 46, WE HAVE A NEW MILANO NAIL SPA.
UH, THERE'S ALSO THE SWIFT 1 46 FUEL STATION.
THEY'RE ALSO BUILDING THE SWIFT SHO LANDER AND I 10.
I ALSO HAVE THE NEW APARTMENT SOUTH ON 1 46 AS WELL.
THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE, UH, K AND M DEVELOPMENT.
YOU KNOW, THE, THE STARBUCKS IS OPEN THERE NOW.
UH, COMMUNITY RESOURCE WILL BE PUTTING A NEW CREDIT UNION IN THERE.
SO THAT AREA WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP.
UM, PLAZA SHOPS AT BAYTOWN ON NORTH.
UH, BAYTOWN 10 COMMERCE CENTER OUT ON I 10.
UH, STREET REHABILITATION PROJECT ON SHOSHONE STREET IS MOVING ALONG, UH, MOVING ALONG WELL AND IS NEARING COMPLETION.
THAT'S IN, UM, IN PINEHURST, UH, THE PRIVATE LIFT STATION THAT WAS LOCATED AT THE TEXACO LOCATION'S.
BEEN TAKEN OFFLINE WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE CHAMBER'S COMMON LIFT STATION.
SO THAT'S THE SAME AREA OUT THERE ON 1 46.
UM, WE HAVE THE NEW LARGER LIFT STATION THAT'S REALLY GONNA HELP THE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUE IN THAT AREA.
UH, CONTRACTORS ARE WORKING ON A SCADA PROJECT.
UH, AND THAT'S ALL RELATED TO, UM, VARIOUS LIFT STATIONS AS WELL.
UM, NOT THE MOST GLAMOROUS THING, BUT WE'VE GOTTA HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE HAD THE 2025 TURKEY TROTT TOOK PLACE ON NOVEMBER 22ND AT JENKINS PARK.
UM, EVEN WITH THE RAINY WEATHER, WE HAD NEARLY 400 PARTICIPANTS IN THE ONE K AND 5K RUNS.
JOINED BY SEVERAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDING GOOSE CREEK, ISD, LIGHT FIBER, PIRATES, BAY FITNESS CONNECTION, AND TOM'S TRAVELING COFFEE.
UM, SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED MAKE THAT EVENT A SUCCESS.
UM, AND ONE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION.
I DON'T SEE THOMAS STILL IN THE ROOM, BUT, UM, I WAS ABLE TO TO SIT IN ON A MEETING.
HE HAS QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH UNION PACIFIC AND I'VE HEARD A LOT RECENTLY, UH, IN DISTRICT FIVE AS AS WELL I, I KNOW OTHERS HERE ABOUT TRAIN ISSUES.
UM, BUT DISTRICT FIVE'S GOT A FEW ROUGH CROSSINGS.
UM, AND WE SEEM TO HAVE ISSUES WITH, WITH TRAINS BLOCKING CROSSINGS, UM, SEEM TO HAVE PICKED UP RECENTLY AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD MEETING WITH, WITH UNION PACIFIC THIS WEEK.
UH, LIKE I SAID, THOMAS HAS THOSE QUARTERLY, UM, BUT SAT IN ON IT AND, AND THEY RECENTLY MADE SOME CHANGES TO JUST OPERATIONALLY TO TRY TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THAT.
UM, THEY'RE GONNA SEND US SOME VERBIAGE OVER THAT PUBLIC AFFAIRS CAN PUT OUT.
I WON'T ATTEMPT TO SUMMARIZE WHAT ALL WAS SAID IN THAT MEETING 'CAUSE I KNOW I'LL BUTCHER IT.
BUT, UM, HOPING TO SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT WITH JUST LIMITING THE NUMBER OF BLOCKED CROSSINGS THERE THROUGH D FIVE.
UM, AND SO, UH, THAT IS ALL I HAVE.
I GUESS, UH, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MEETING THE REST OF THE YEAR, EVERYONE HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS GO ARMY.
[12. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
TO AND CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION SESSION EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 5 5 1 0.071 TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF THE CITY'S ATTORNEY REGARDING PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION AND OR 5 5 1 0.087 TO DELIBERATE REGARDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND 5 5 1 0.072 TO DELIBERATE REGARDING REAL PROPERTY.I NOW RECONVENE OUR OPEN MEETING OF THE BAYTOWN CITY COUNCIL AND ANNOUNCED THAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 5 5 1 0.102 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
HAVING EXHAUSTED EVERYTHING ON THIS AGENDA, I ADJOURNED THIS MEETING AT 1208 P AM EARLY.