* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:06] I NOW CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 22ND, 2026 AT 6:30 PM AND, AND THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CITY HALL ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUORUM AT 6:40 PM WE WILL NOW HAVE THE PLEDGE AND INVOCATION BY COUNCIL MEMBER LAURA ALVARADO, DISTRICT ONE LORD IN PLEDGE, PLEDGE, PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL OUR TEXAS FLAG, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG, OUR PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS. ONE STATE UNDER GOD. ONE AN INDIVISIBLE. PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRAYER. FATHER, WE GATHER BEFORE YOU AS STEWARDS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND OF YOUR WILL, WE ASK THAT YOU GRANT US THE WISDOM TO LISTEN WITH COMPASSION, SPEAK WITH KINDNESS, AND ACT WITH UNDERSTANDING. MAY YOU PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THIS NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. AND ALL THOSE THAT WORK TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE THROUGHOUT THIS WEATHER. UM, THE STORM, UM, IN YOUR NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. AMEN. WE [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.] WE'RE GONNA START OFF WITH CITIZEN COMMENT. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK? MOVING ON, MAYOR. OH, THAT'S RIGHT. GO AHEAD, SIR. CAN CAN I TAKE IT JUST A MINUTE, INTERRUPT. PRIVILEGE? YES, PLEASE. UM, I WAS INFORMED THIS MORNING THAT A, A FORMER MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, UH, WHO, WHO WAS A PARTNER TO AN SIGNIFICANT MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, THAT LUPE ARO HAS PASSED AWAY, AND THAT HER FUNERAL WAS ACTUALLY THIS MORNING AT ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. FOR THOSE OF US THAT KNEW MAYOR ARO AND LUPE, UM, SHE WILL, SHE WILL BE MISSED. AND MY CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY, THOSE TWO INDIVIDUALS, MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ME AS A STAFF MEMBER WITH THE CITY. AND I KNOW THAT THEY MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO MANY, MANY OTHERS IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND I JUST COULDN'T LET IT PASS WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGING HER PASSING AND CONDOLENCES TO HER FAMILY AS MAYOR. THANK YOU. UH, LET'S TAKE A, MAKE A POINT. GO AHEAD. KIND OF WANT TO ADD ON TO MR. LESTER'S COMMENTS. UM, GROWING UP HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND, AND IN THE NINETIES, SEEING THE ALFARO'S AND WHAT THEY DID FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND SHOWING A LOT OF PRIDE TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND SHOWING US LEADERSHIP AND VALUES THAT WE COULD LOOK UP TO AND MENTOR TO. AND, UH, I WOULDN'T PROBABLY NEVER RAN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE IF IT WAS NOT FOR THE ALFARO FAMILY. SO, UH, THEY'LL BE DEEPLY MISSED AND IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN DISTRICT FOUR. AND, UH, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO, TO REPRESENT THEM, UH, IN DISTRICT FOUR. THANK YOU. LET'S HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [a. Consider approving the meeting minutes of the Special City Council Meeting held on December 10, 2025 and City Council Work Session held on December 11, 2025.] OKAY. NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO TWO A CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES, THE MEETING MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2025 AND CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION HELD ON DECEMBER 11TH, 2025. I NEED A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION [a. Recognize City of Baytown Employees for their Years of Service.] CARRIES. NOW IT'S TIME FOR RECOGNITIONS AND CITIZEN COMMUNICATIONS. MR. LOPEZ. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WE HAVE, UH, ONE EMPLOYEE TO RECOGNIZE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, JOHNNY MALONE BAWA, 30 YEARS JOHNNY MALONE STARTED WITH THE CITY OF BAYTOWN AS A UTILITY MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST ON JANUARY 15TH, 1996. DURING HIS TIME AS A UMS, HE PERFORMED WATER AND SEWER SERVICE TAPS IN ADDITION TO WATERLINE REPAIRS. IN 1997, JOHNNY WAS PROMOTED TO THE MECHANICAL MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST AT BAWA, WHERE HE LEARNED THE WATER TREATMENT PROCESS AND THE SUBSEQUENT MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT. JOHNNY IS EXTREMELY DEPENDABLE AND HARDWORKING, EVEN WORKING THROUGH MULTIPLE HURRICANES, MOST NOTABLY HURRICANES, IKE AND RITA. DURING HIS 30 YEAR TENURE, JOHNNY HAS BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF MANY OF THE BAWA IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDE PLANT EXPANSION FROM 21 [00:05:01] TO 26 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY, SCADA INTEGRATION, SLUDGE COLLECTION UPGRADES, CHEMICAL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, NEW HIGH SERVICE PUMP STATION, VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UPGRADES AND BUA, EAST PLANT CONSTRUCTION, AND COMMISSIONING TO NAME A FEW. WHEN ASKED ABOUT HIS TIME AT THE CITY, JOHNNY SIMPLY RESPONDS, I AM VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND LOVE MY JOB. IN HIS SPARE TIME, JOHNNY ENJOYS HIS TIME AS A GROUP LEADER AT HIS CHURCH WHERE HE STRIVES TO TEACH OTHERS ABOUT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS READING HIS BIBLE WEIGHT TRAINING AND REFURBISHING GYM EQUIPMENT. JOHNNY HAS BEEN MARRIED TO HIS WIFE, MARISSA FOR 14 YEARS, CURRENTLY HAS ONE DAUGHTER, FIVE STEPCHILDREN, AND SIX GRANDCHILDREN. THANK YOU, JOHNNY. FOR 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENT SERVICE TO OUR GREAT CITY [a. Consider an ordinance amending chapter 90, “taxation,” article ii, “ad valorem taxes,” section 90-27, “exemptions,” to add a new subsection (f) entitled “child care facilities,” establishing an exemption from ad valorem taxes for qualifying child care facility properties; providing a repealer; containing a savings clause; and providing an effective date.] ORDINANCES, CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 90 TAXATION, ARTICLE TWO, ADV RUM TAXES SECTION 90 DASH 27 EXEMPTIONS TO ADD A NEW SUBSECTION ENTITLED CHILDCARE FACILITIES ESTABLISHING AN EXEMPT AND EXEMPTION FROM AVALARA, TAXES FOR QUALIFYING CHILDCARE FACILITY PROPERTIES, PROVIDING A REPEAL, CONTINUING CONTAINING A SAVING CLAUSE SAVINGS CLAUSE, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. MS. COUNCILWOMAN LAURA ALVARADO. MR. LAMONT COUNSEL, I'M HERE FOR QUESTIONS. OKAY. UM, COUNSEL, OH, I'LL SPEAK TO Y'ALL FROM HERE IF THAT'S OKAY. UM, SO WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND, UM, IN SPEAKING TO THOMAS, WHO THANK YOU THOMAS, FOR HELPING ME PUT THIS WORK TOGETHER, UM, WE WANTED TO TAKE A PAUSE BECAUSE AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS ENACTED, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR US TO REVIEW IT, UM, AND REALLY THINK ABOUT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE IMPACT TO BAYTOWN. AND SO A LOT OF THIS WORK ACTUALLY STARTED AT THE STATE, UM, AND BACK IN 2021, UM, THEY RECOGNIZED, UH, OVER A $9 BILLION LOSS, UM, DUE TO THE LACK OF CHILDCARE IN, YOU KNOW, FAMILIES SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T AFFORD CHILDCARE. AND SO FROM THAT POINT ON, STATE LEGISLATORS GOT TOGETHER TO, TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE, WHAT SUPPORT, UM, CAN BE, CAN BE DONE FOR THESE FAMILIES. AND THEN SINCE THEN, OF COURSE, ADDITIONAL STUDIES WERE DONE. UM, 'CAUSE AS WE KNOW, WE ALL LIKE DATA, UM, BEFORE WE MAKE ANY DECISIONS. AND SO IN TEXAS ALONE, THE AVERAGE COST OF INFANT CARE IS OVER $9,000 A YEAR. UM, WHICH IS MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, SOME IN CITY, UH, STATE COLLEGES. AND SO TAKING THAT FURTHER, THE TEXAS, UM, RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, AS WELL AS TEXAS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION EARLY MATTER, SEVERAL DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS GOT TOGETHER TO WORK ON POLICY IN TIME FOR THE 88 LEGISLATURE, UM, TO PASS SOME SORT OF, UM, COST SAVINGS TO CHILDCARE FACILITIES. AND SO IN 2023, UM, THEY, UH, PASSED A BIPARTISAN, UH, BILL THAT WENT TO ALL OF TEXAS VOTERS. UM, SO IT WASN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT THE TEXAS JUST, JUST BLESSED. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WENT OUT TO THE VOTERS, UM, THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS TO APPROVE A TAX EXEMPTION FOR A SET NUMBER OF CHILDCARE FACILITIES. AND I'LL TOUCH A LITTLE BIT, UM, ON THOSE. AND ONE OF THE, THE DATAS THAT THEY USED AS PART OF THE TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION IS THAT, UM, 60%, AND, AND THIS IS JUST ONE NUGGET, UM, BUT, UM, UH, 60% OF NON-WORKING PARENTS SAY CHILDCARE IS THE TOP REASON THAT THEY DON'T PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKFORCE. AND, UM, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT ARE IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS WHERE THEY STRUGGLE TO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE CALL OUT SICK BECAUSE THEIR CHILD IS SICK OR THEY COULDN'T GET CHILDCARE, ET CETERA. THERE'S JUST A NUMBER OF REASONS. AND SO, BUT THE, THE PRIMARY ONE WAS FOR THE LACK OF CHILDCARE. UM, AND SO FROM THEN ON, UM, THEY WORKED ON THIS, IT PASSED AT THE STATE LEVEL. AND SO WHAT THEY ENDED UP DOING IS PUTTING IT BACK ON COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES. UM, SO, UM, FROM THEM, THE MUNICIPAL, THE COUNTY LEVEL, [00:10:01] UM, THEY PASSED IT. HARRIS COUNTY UNANIMOUSLY PASSED IT TO WHERE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL, THESE CHILDCARE FACILITIES WOULD, WOULD BE ABLE TO GET, UM, TAX EXEMPTIONS. AND THEN FROM THAT POINT, EACH MUNICIPALITY WOULD THEN ALSO HAVE TO, UM, PASS A BILL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL OR AN ORDINANCE TO SAY, OKAY, YES, WE WANNA OFFER THESE, UM, UH, DAYCARES OR CHILDCARE FACILITIES, A TAX EXEMPTION AS WELL. UM, WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO OUT FOR VOTER APPROVAL BECAUSE AGAIN, IN 2023, THE STATE ALREADY DID THAT. UM, SO COUNTY OFFICIALS AS WHERE CITY OFFICIALS WOULD BE THE ONES DECIDING WITHIN THEIR OWN, UM, UH, BORDERS OR GUIDELINES, UM, WHETHER THEY WANNA PASS THEM OR NOT. UM, AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR, UM, THERE IS A RANGE, BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS A HUNDRED PERCENT TAX EXEMPTION. AND, UM, IN DOING OUR RESEARCH, WE FOUND REALLY ONLY A HANDFUL THAT WOULD QUALIFY. UM, WE PULLED A LIST OF 15, UH, FROM THOSE 15, WE DWINDLED IT DOWN AGAIN TO MAYBE 13. UM, BECAUSE WHAT'S REQUIRED IS THAT, UM, THERE PART OF THE TEXAS RISING STAR INITIATIVE, WHICH IS GOVERNED BY THE STATE AS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS. SO THEY HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN PARAMETERS TO, TO BE LIKE A TOP QUALITY CHILDCARE FACILITY. ASIDE FROM THAT 20% OF THEIR, UM, CHILDREN AND DAYCARE HAVE TO BE ACCEPTING SUBSIDIES. SO, UM, THAT'S THE BIGGEST. SO I MEAN, IF, IF THEY, THEY'RE NOT MEETING THOSE TWO BIG QUALIFIERS, THEN THEY WOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE EXEMPTIONS. UM, THIS DOES NOT, UM, COUNT HOME FACILITIES. SO IF YOU'RE A A HOME CHILDCARE CENTERS, THIS WOULD NOT APPLY. UM, IT'S ONLY FOR THE LI LICENSED CHILDCARE FACILITIES. THERE WAS ONE THAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO QUALIFY, BUT IT BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR, UM, UH, EDUCATIONAL PARTNERS, SO THEY WOULD NOT QUALIFY. SO WE STARTED WEEDING ALL OF THOSE OUT. UM, AND THE WAY THE EXEMPTION WOULD HAPPEN IS THAT THEY WOULD FILE AN APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION JUST AS THEY WOULD'VE DONE FOR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION. UM, SO THEY FILE IT WITH THE APPROPRIATE RE UM, ENTITY. THAT ENTITY WOULD THEN HAVE TO GO AND REVIEW THE APPLICATION, SEE IF THEY QUALIFY, DO THEY MEET ALL THE PARAMETERS, AND THEN AT THAT POINT THEY WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE EXEMPTION. UM, THERE ARE, UH, SOME ENTITIES, AND I'M TOLD THAT, UM, HARRIS COUNTY IS ONE OF THEM THAT GOES IN THERE AND CHECKS, UM, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE STILL QUALIFIED UNDER THOSE PARAMETERS. UM, BUT EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T, UM, WORKFORCE, TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTION ALREADY DOES THAT THROUGH THE TRS SYSTEM, WHICH IS THE TEXAS RISING STAR. UM, SO WHEN THAT FALLS OFF, THEY MAKE, IT MAKES THEM UNQUALIFIED, NOT JUST FOR THE TAX EXEMPTION, BUT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDING MECHANISMS THAT THEY USE FOR, WHETHER IT'S FEDERAL GRANTS AND WHATEVER THEY APPLY FOR. 'CAUSE A LOT OF 'EM HAVE THAT, UM, PARAMETER IN, IN EFFECT. UM, AND SO ONCE AGAIN, IT, IT'S JUST A HANDFUL, MAYBE 13 WITHIN THE, THE STATE OR WITHIN THE CITY. UM, NOW I, I WAS ASKED ALSO IF COULD OTHER, UM, CHILDCARE CENTERS APPLY AND, AND GET ON THIS? THEY COULD, HOWEVER, THEY STILL NEED TO MAKE THE, TO QUALIFY FOR THOSE PARAMETERS. SO IF THERE'S A BRAND NEW CHILDCARE FACILITY THAT OPENS UP, THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE QUALIFIED, OR THEY'RE CERTIFIED AS A TEXAS RISING STAR, AND ALSO, UM, HAVE THE 20% OF SUBSIDIES, UM, FOR THEIR, UM, UH, STUDENTS THAT, THAT GO TO THAT CHILDCARE CENTER OR, OR CHILDREN. UM, SO THEY STILL HAVE TO MEET THOSE PARAMETERS. BUT SO SINCE THIS WAS ENACTED IN 2024, UH, OF JANUARY 1ST SINCE THEN, UM, WHEN I PULLED THE RECORD, IT WAS STILL THE SAME AMOUNT BECAUSE WE PULLED IT BACK IN 2024 WHEN WE FIRST THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD DO THIS. AND IT'S REALLY THE SAME AMOUNT THAT ARE IN THERE. SO IT HASN'T IN, IT HASN'T INCREASED, EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THAT HARRIS COUNTY IS UTILIZING THOSE EXEMPTIONS. SO NO OTHER CHILDCARE FACILITY HAS, UM, GONE IN TO GET, UM, A TRS AND A 20% SUBSIDY, UM, SO THEY CAN GET ON THE EXEMPTIONS. UM, WE DID HAVE A GROUP THAT [00:15:01] OBVIOUSLY IS, IS SUPPORTING THIS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, UM, WHICH IS THE BABIES IN BAYTOWN GROUP. UM, THEY COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT. UM, A LOT OF 'EM DID NOT HAVE CHILDCARE , UM, TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE MEETING. OTHERS WERE JUST BUSY WITH, UM, THEIR OLDER KIDS' ACTIVITIES. UM, UM, SO THEY COULDN'T BE HERE. AND, UM, I, I'M OPENING THE FLOOR FOR ANY QUESTIONS, THOMAS. I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE MISSED ANYTHING. UM, BUT THAT IT'S REALLY JUST THE BULK OF IT. UM, WE DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, UM, ACT ON THIS LIGHTLY. AGAIN, WE TOOK OUR TIME TO ENSURE THAT, ONE, WE WOULD BE ABLE TO THE, TO THIS AT THE CITY LEVEL, UH, AND TWO, WHAT KIND OF ECONOMIC IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE, UM, ON OUR CITY. AND IT WAS VERY MINIMAL BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS JUST THE CITY PORTION OF THE TAXES, NOT LIKE GOOSE CREEK OR ANY OF THAT. AND ACTUALLY GOOSE CREEK WOULD, THEIR TAXES WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS EXEMPTION. IT'S ONLY THE COUNTY AND THE THE CITY LEVEL. EXCELLENT. SO, I'M, QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS? YES, SIR. COUPLE QUESTIONS. UH, AND, AND I'LL JUST START OFF. I, I LIKE TO, I WOULD'VE PREFERRED THIS TO GO THROUGH A WORK SESSION SO WE COULD REALLY HAVE SOME TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT. YEP. UM, WHO YOU SAY AN ENTITY MM-HMM . WHO IS GONNA REVIEW THE APPLICATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO EN ENSURE THAT THEY'RE COMPLIANT. THAT IS A TEXAS APPRAISAL OR HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL. THE SAME ONES, THE A THAT REVIEW, A DISTRICT DOES IT. THE SAME ONES THAT REVIEW YOUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION REVIEWS THE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS TYPE OF EXEMPTION. OKAY. AND WHAT'S THE ECONOMIC IMPACT TO THE CITY? GOSH, DID WE GET THE NUMBERS, THOMAS? IT WAS ONLY A HANDFUL. SHOULD WE PASS IT? UM, SO I, I THINK THE LAST TIME WE GOT THE NUMBERS, IT PROBABLY WASN'T EVEN LIKE A HUNDRED THOUSAND. NOT EVEN, IT COULD BE VERY MUCH LESS THAN THAT. AND I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HAVE THOSE NUMBERS WITH ME. YEAH, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE GET, WE GET BEAT UP OVER AN ISSUE RECENTLY IN BUDGET DISCUSSIONS. THAT WAS ONLY A HUNDRED THOUSAND MM-HMM . SO HERE WE'RE TAKING A HUNDRED THOUSAND OF OUR BUDGET, AND I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THIS. MM-HMM . I JUST WOULD'VE LIKED TO ADD SOME MORE TIME BEFORE I VOTE ON SOMETHING. MM-HMM . ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT'S GOING ON NATIONALLY RIGHT NOW, THAT AGAIN, AND WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT. THIS HAS BEEN WELL THOUGHT OUT AND, AND WELL PURSUED AND, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I KNOW YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK. YEAH, LAURA, YOU REALLY DO. UM, BUT THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE, THE QUESTIONS I HAD. SO HARRIS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT WOULD DO IT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS. SO WE'RE ASSURED SOMEBODY'S GONNA FOLLOW UP, SOMEBODY WILL BE FOLLOWING UP SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE WHAT'S GOING ON AT A NATIONAL LEVEL. YES. UM, AND, AND IT'S, AGAIN, I WON'T SAY MINIMAL IMPACT, BUT IT'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO THE BUDGET FORCE. SO THOSE, THOSE ARE MY TWO MAIN ISSUES. AND I WILL ADD THAT, UM, IT'S NOT JUST THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT, IT'S ALSO, UH, TEXAS WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT MONITOR THE TEXAS RISING STAR. AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE IN THE CHILDCARE BUSINESS, THAT'S NOT AN OVERNIGHT, YOU KNOW, CERTIFICATION. THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF HOOPS, A LOT OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES TO THEIR FACILITIES TO EVEN GET THE CERTIFICATION. ARE ARE THESE ENTITIES, IS IS THE IDEA THAT IF WE LOWER THEIR TAXES, ARE THEY GOING TO LOWER THEIR RATES? 'CAUSE I, YOUR COMMENT WAS PEOPLE, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DAYCARE. I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF DAYCARE, IT'S JUST EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. MM-HMM . NOT, AND IF IT'S GONNA IMPACT THAT, I'M ALL FOR IT. YEAH. SO THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DAYCARES THAT FALL UNDER THE GUIDELINES FOR THE EXEMPTION. YOU'RE RIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF DAYCARES, BUT NOT ALL OF 'EM ARE UNDER THE TRS SYSTEM AND NOT ALL OF THEM, EXCEPT MINIMUM 20% SUBSIDIES MM-HMM . UH, FOR THOSE THAT THEY SERVE. SO THOSE ARE THE KEY THINGS. AND, UM, IT, IT, IT'S, AGAIN, NOT AN OVERNIGHT THING. UM, WE'RE WANTING, THERE'S, THERE'S ACTUAL ALSO A TIMELINE BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, WITH YOUR TAXES, YOU HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO FILL OUT, UM, YOUR APPLICATIONS OR FIGHT YOUR TAXES. AND SO WE, WE NEED TO GET THIS IN THE BOOKS AND TIME FOR THEM. WE'RE HOPING BY APRIL 1ST BECAUSE THEY NEED TO START WORKING ON THOSE APPLICATIONS TO GET QUALIFIED BEFORE APRIL 30TH, WHICH IS THE APPRAISALS OFFICE, UM, DEADLINE FOR ANY EXEMPTION APPLICATIONS. I CAN SAY THAT [00:20:01] TEXAS RISING AND STARS, MY WIFE OWNS A HOME DAYCARE, SO SHE'S NOT GONNA QUALIFY FOR THIS. MM-HMM . BUT SHE RECENTLY WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS. AND TEXAS RISING AND STARS CAN POP IN ANYTIME UNANNOUNCED. THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THE LICENSING, UH, BRANCH, THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT MONITORS ALSO TEXAS RISING STARS. ACTUALLY, YOU HAVE YOUR, WHAT THEY CALL A MINIMUM STANDARD MM-HMM . THROUGH THE STATE OF TEXAS. TEXAS RISING STARS HAVE LEVELS ABOVE THAT, THAT IF YOU, IT, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. I WANNA SAY IT TOOK MY WIFE ALMOST SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS MM-HMM . TO QUALIFY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. AND YOU HAVE TO BE LITERALLY, YOU HAVE TO BE TEACHING THESE KIDS. IT'S NOT JUST SOME PEOPLE THINK DAYCARE, THEY THINK THEY'RE GONNA COME PLAY AND JUST DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. IT'S AN ADVANCED LEVEL OF CARE. YES. AND I'LL ASK, CAN I GET TO ONE OF OTHER MR. LESTER'S QUESTIONS REAL QUICK? I'M SO SORRY. SO, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN WITH THE SAVINGS, AND SO WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A SAVINGS BECAUSE THEY'LL BE EXEMPT FROM TAXES. AND BECAUSE THERE IS A HIGH COST RELATED TO OPERATING CHILDCARE FACILITIES THAT WOULD LESSEN THEIR BURDEN ON, ON THAT, UM, THEY COULD USE THAT FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR THEIR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. THEY COULD GIVE THEM RAISES BECAUSE THEY ARE SEVERELY UNDERPAID. UM, AND, UM, ALSO COULD ADD ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIES TO CHILDREN THAT MAY QUALIFY. UH, FIRST OF ALL, LAURA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO TRYING TO, UM, HELP THE COMMUNITY IN, IN, UM, VERY INNOVATIVE WAYS. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND DOING ALL THAT HOMEWORK OUTSIDE OF JUST COUNCIL MEETINGS, UM, YOU DID WHAT YOU SAID TO MIKE IS ACTUALLY WHAT I WAS GONNA ASK. UM, I WANT TO, TO THINK THAT THOSE SAVINGS WOULD BE PASSED ON, BUT I FEEL LIKE I NEED MORE DATA TO SHOW BECAUSE I, I DEFINITELY WANT TO HELP MOTHERS PARENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO, UM, GET CHILDCARE AT AN AFFORDABLE RATE. MM-HMM . I'M JUST, I DON'T, I NEED TO SEE MORE DATA IN HARRIS COUNTY ABOUT HOW THAT SAVINGS HAS BEEN PASSED ONTO THE FAMILIES. MM-HMM . BECAUSE I HAVE A HIGH CONCERN THAT THE SAVINGS WILL ONLY BE PASSED ON TO THE BUSINESS OWNER. MM-HMM . AND I KNOW THAT, UM, IN OUR OWN COMMUNITY, SOME OF THE ONES THAT QUALIFY ARE, UM, BASED UNDER NATIONAL COMPANIES MM-HMM . AND SO I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT THAT. AND SO I WAS WONDERING, I I KNOW THEY MENTIONED THE, THE WORK SESSION, UM, AND I, I DON'T WANT ANY WAY TO THINK THAT I DON'T SUPPORT THIS. 'CAUSE I, I DO ON, ON SO MANY LEVELS MM-HMM . BUT I, I WISH WE COULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE DATA TO SEE AND, AND, AND MAYBE EVEN, UM, A WAY TO SHOW WHERE THIS PROGRAM, UM, THIS TAX EXEMPTION, SOME PROOF THAT THE SAVINGS HAS OR THE TRAININGS, IT'S SOMEHOW HAS TRICKLED DOWN TO HELPING THE FAMILIES MM-HMM . NOT JUST THE BUSINESS OWNERS. YEAH. AND THAT'S FAIR. AND WE DID TRY TO GET SOME DATA FROM HARRIS COUNTY, BUT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO GO IN THERE AND REALLY DIG. AND THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WE, THAT THOMAS ACTUALLY REACHED OUT TO DIDN'T GET BACK TO US IN TIME FOR TODAY. UM, AND SO WE'RE, WE'RE FINE. UM, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST I AM THOMAS , UM, UH, I'M FINE TABLING THIS FOR THE FEBRUARY MEETING, BUT I, I JUST WANNA STICK TO THE DEADLINE TO ENSURE THAT THE PROVIDERS THAT DO GET THE EXEMPTION HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GO THROUGH THE APPLICATION AND EVERYTHING. NOW, WHEN THIS WAS FIRST ENACTED, THE STATE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT SAME THING. WELL, HOW DO WE KNOW? WELL, BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN, THE HIGH BURDEN, UH, IN COST OF OPERATING CHILDCARE CENTERS, THERE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE A GOOD MEASURE TO KNOW OTHER THAN CALLING THEM, LET'S LOOK AT YOUR FINANCES, ET CETERA. WHAT DID YOU USE THIS FOR? AND SO FOR THE ENTITY OF THE TAX APPRAISAL'S OFFICE THAT IS ALREADY OVERBURDENED, WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO DO THAT ASIDE FROM JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY QUALIFY FOR IT? AND SO EVEN IF IT PROVIDED THEM JUST THE ADDITIONAL COVER THAT THEY COULD PAY THE LIGHT BILL BY LUNCH FOR THE KIDS, PAY THE WATER BILL FOR THE, FOR THE BUILDING, THAT'S AT LEAST SOMETHING THAT THEY GET BECAUSE THEY'VE LOST A LOT OF MONEY. CHILDCARE IS ALL OVER, UH, BECAUSE OF CERTAIN FEDERAL FUNDING THAT'S GONE AWAY. UM, A LOT OF 'EM WERE BUILT, UM, DURING THE COVID ERA WHEN THERE WAS MONEY LEFT AND RIGHT FOR CHILDCARE FACILITIES. UM, AND THOSE WERE PUT IN AREAS THAT WERE COMPLETELY UNDERSERVED. AND SO NOW THEY'RE LEFT OPERATING AT MINIMUM LEVELS. AND SO, UM, WE CAN DEFINITELY FIND OUT IF THERE'S BEEN OTHER CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY TRACK HOW THE MONIES WERE USED. [00:25:01] AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO THAT BEFORE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. I DID HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION. YOU TALKED ABOUT, UM, TO BE UNDER, TO QUALIFY, THEY HAVE TO, THE, THE FAMILIES HAVE TO RECEIVE, YOU SAID 20% SUB OR NOT THE FAMILIES THEMSELVES. WELL, THE CHILDCARE CENTERS HAVE TO OFFER MINIMUM 20% IN SUBSIDIES. SO WHEN YOU SAY SUBSIDIES, CAN YOU TELL ME ONE OF THE, THE ENTITIES THAT, WOULD THAT BE LIKE WIC OR WELL, IT, NO, IT COULD BE THAT, UM, THEY ARE SPONSORING A CHILD, LIKE KIND OF A TUITION TYPE SITUATION WHERE A FAMILY CAN'T AFFORD THE FULL AMOUNT OF, YOU KNOW, UM, CHILDCARE EXPENSES TO SEND THEIR CHILD THERE. THEN THEY COULD EITHER GET FULL EXEMPTION OR THEY CAN GET PARTIAL COVERAGE. UM, THERE ARE SOME, AS YOU MAY KNOW, THAT OFFER A SLIDING SCALE MM-HMM . FOR SOME FAMILIES. UM, AND SO MAYBE A, A CERTAIN FAMILY IS LIKE $10 AWAY FROM MEETING THE FULL EXEMPTION AND THEY CAN APPLY THE $10 SO THEY MEET THE, THE EXEMPTION STATUS. SO IT DOESN'T GO DIRECTLY TO THE FAMILY. IT'S ACTUALLY COVERING THE COST OF TUITION FOR CHILDCARE. THAT'S THE SUBSIDY NOT, I MEAN, THIS MONEY COULD BE FOR THAT, UM, AND APPLIED FOR THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE SUBSIDY MEANS FOR THAT. THANK YOU. MM-HMM . YES, SIR. OH, I'M, I KIND OF AGREE. I THINK WE KIND OF NEED A TABLE AND KIND OF GO TO A WORK SESSION. I JUST, JUST TO GET A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON THAT. I MEAN, NOT SAYING THAT ANY BUSINESS HAS, BUT I KNOW A LOT OF BUSINESSES THAT WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE WILL HAVE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF A LOT OF THE COVID STUFF. MM-HMM . NOT ONLY IN DAYCARE AND IN EVERY SINGLE THING. AND THEN, YEAH. AND SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT IS GOING TO WHERE IT'S MEANT TO BE, NOT TO THE OWNER'S POCKET. MM-HMM . NO, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. AND I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'RE BRINGING IT THROUGH. AND, UM, AGAIN, I'M NOT IN A RUSH TO PASS IT AT RIGHT THIS MINUTE, . UM, BUT I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME SORT OF, YOU KNOW, UM, SUPPORT FOR OUR CHILDCARE FACILITIES WITHIN OUR, WITHIN OUR CITY. SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE. I MEAN, ARE WE GOOD? SO WE WANNA TABLE THIS. IS THERE A MOTION TO TABLE? WE HAVE MOTION. I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO SUSPEND TO THE FEBRUARY 12TH, WHICH IS THE NEXT MEETING TO SEE IF IT'S A PROBABLE TO PUT IT BOTH ON THE WORK SESSION AND THE COUNCIL AGENDA SO WE CAN DISCUSS IT A LITTLE MORE THOROUGHLY AND THEN TAKE ACTION ON 12TH. I I JUST QUICK OR YOU JUST WANT IT ON THE AGENDA? NO, I MEAN, THE WORK SESSION AND THE AGENDA IS FINE. I JUST WANT TO, STAFF DIDN'T PUT THIS TOGETHER, SO WE JUST WANT MAKE SURE I'M OKAY WITH THAT. OKAY. THAT YOU'RE OKAY. THAT'S, THAT'S THE NEXT MEETING. AND I THINK BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, IF WE GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, THAT'S GREAT. BUT YEAH, IF WE DO IT AT THE WORK SESSION, THEN WE HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO OPENLY TALK ABOUT IT. AND THEN CAN WE JUST PUT, PUT, WE ALSO ON THE AGENDA THAT NIGHT, SO THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND MAKE A DECISION. CAN WE JUST PUT BEFORE THE, UM, MARCH MEETING? YEAH. THAT WAY IF THE, IT GIVES US TIME TO GET THE INFORMATION IN. YES. OKAY. ALL AMEND TO BEFORE THE MARCH MEETING. THAT GIVES US POTENTIALLY TWO MEETINGS IN FEBRUARY. YEAH. OKAY. SECOND. SOON. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT THIS SOMETIME BEFORE THE MARCH MEETING. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. FOUR [b. Consider an ordinance awarding a construction contract to Tegrity Contractors, Inc. for the Fire Station 2 Replacement Project.] B, CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT. TWO TE CONTRACTORS, INC. FOR FIRE STATION TWO REPLACEMENT PROJECT. MR. SEMINO. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UM, THIS ITEM RELATES TO THE REPLACEMENT OF, OR THE CONSTRUCTION FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF FIRE STATION TWO. YOU SEE A, UH, RENDERING OF THE NEW FIRE STATION HERE ON YOUR SCREEN. UM, THE EXISTING STATION HAS, UH, SEVERAL ISSUES THAT, UH, REQUIRE IT TO BE REPLACED. IT'S AGING FACILITY THAT INCURS HIGH MAINTENANCE COSTS. UH, IT'S UNDERSIZED FOR MODERN USE AND THE LAYOUT DOES NOT PROTECT FIREFIGHTERS FROM, UH, CANCER RISKS. IN ADDITION TO BEING, UH, OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH A DA, UM, A MODERN STATION HAS BEEN DESIGNED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. UH, THE PROJECT WAS PROCURED THROUGH COMPETITIVE SEAL PROPOSALS. UH, NINE PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED, UM, AND RANGE FROM 10.7 MILLION TO 14 MILLION. AND INTEGRITY WAS SELECTED AS THE BEST VALUE WITH A COST OF $10,665,331. UH, INTEGRITY IS ALSO CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTING THE CITY'S, UH, WEST DISTRICT WASTEWATER TREATMENT, PLANT OPERATIONS BUILDING. AND, UM, WE'VE HAD, UH, GOOD EXPERIENCE WITH CONTRACTORS SO [00:30:01] FAR. SO, UM, STAFF RECOMMENDS, UH, SELECTION OF THIS CONTRACTOR. UH, THE PROJECT, UH, INCLUDES REPLACING PARKING SPACES THAT WILL BE, UH, REMOVED WITH THE PROJECT. SO, UH, THE BALANCE OF THE PARKING SPACES WILL BE ABOUT THE SAME. HOWEVER, UM, UH, HANDICAPPED PARKING AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER WILL BE IMPROVED. UH, THERE'LL BE SOME ADDITIONAL SPACES AND THAT THAT WHOLE LAYOUT WILL, WILL BE IMPROVED. UM, CONTRACT IS WITH WITHIN THE AVAILABLE BUDGET AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL. UH, QUICK QUESTION. WHEN IT COME, WHEN IT SAYS BEST VALUE, HOW WOULD YOU, HOW ARE WE DEFINING BEST VALUE? THAT IS NOT, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THIS WAS THE LOWEST BID, RIGHT? IT, IT HAPPENED TO BE THE LOWEST BID. UH, THERE IS, UH MM-HMM . DIFFERENT CRITERIA. MM-HMM . THAT DIFFERENT CRITERIA THAT WE GRADE THE CONTRACTORS ON. UH, PRICE IS ONE COMPONENT. THERE'S EXPERIENCE, UH, AS ANOTHER COMPONENT. UM, SO, UH, WE CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THE GRADING CRITERIA. IF, IF YOU'RE, WELL, I'M BRINGING IT UP BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT CHANGING IT TO WHERE WE WEREN'T JUST GOING FOR THE LOWEST BID ANYMORE. CORRECT. AND, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DOES. AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE THE CITIZENS TO HEAR. YES, SIR. AND, AND ALLOW, ALLOW THEM TO SEE THAT'S WHAT WAS, THAT'S WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE WITH RIGHT. WITH THIS PROJECT. YES, SIR. MR. MAYOR, IF I MIGHT COUNSEL, BEST VALUE IS A PROCUREMENT. IT'S, IT'S DEFINED IN OUR, OUR PURCHASING ACT. IT'S A, IT'S A TERM OF ART. MM-HMM . SO IT DOES NOT MEAN THE LOWEST MM-HMM . BID. IT, IT, IT TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION VARIOUS FACTORS. I CAN, UH, GET YOU A LAUNDRY LIST IF YOU WANT. I DON'T HAVE IT UP RIGHT NOW MM-HMM . BUT, UM, IT IS, UH, A, A WIDE RANGING DEFINITION THAT GIVES US SOME FLEXIBILITY. YEAH. LIKE I SAID, I JUST WANTED INDIVIDUALS TO REALIZE THAT THIS WAS NOT ABOUT THE LOWEST BID THAT WE HAD DISCUSSED CHANGING THAT PROCESS AND THAT NEW PROCESS WAS USED FOR THIS. YES, SIR. YES, SIR. GO AHEAD. UH, JUST KIND OF REAL QUICK, I'D LIKE TO, IT'S UNDER THE BUDGET, WHICH WAS GREAT, WHICH IS ANOTHER PROJECT WE SEE COMING UNDER BUDGET. AND THAT'S KIND OF THAT POINT THAT RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF STRU, THERE'S A LOT OF STRUGGLE WITH, WITH FINDING PROJECTS FOR THESE CONTRACTORS RIGHT NOW. SO YOU'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO GET LOW BIDS FOR A LITTLE BIT ON THESE. YOU CAN JUST START, KEEP SEEING THAT. AND I, I'LL GIVE YOU KIND OF CREDIT AND BRANTON THEN. WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, THERE WAS SOME, A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON THAT AND, AND Y'ALL WENT BACK AND, AND, AND CLARIFIED THAT TO GET THAT QUESTIONS. 'CAUSE THERE WAS SOME DISCREPANCIES ON THE BID NUMBERS, UH, WHEN I THINK WE HAD KINDA HAD TO TALK ABOUT THAT. AND THAT, THAT THIS IS, I'M GLAD THAT Y'ALL DID ALL Y'ALLS DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE Y'ALL HAD THE CORRECT VALUE AND THE CORRECT BUDGET FOR THE CORRECT BIDS COMING UNDER THIS PROJECT. Y'ALL DID A GREAT JOB ON THAT. YES, SIR. I DO HAVE THAT LAUNDRY LIST HERE. YEAH, LET'S HEAR IT. UH, BEST VALUE INCLUDES PRICE, UH, THE OFFER EXPERIENCE, REPUTATION, THE QUALITY OF GOODS OR SERVICES THAT ARE OFFERED, THE IMPACT ON THE ABILITY OF THE CITY TO COMPLY WITH RULES RELATING TO HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES. THE OFFER'S SAFETY RECORD, THE OFFER IS PROPOSED PERSONNEL, WHETHER THE OFFER IS FINANCIAL CAPABILITY, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE PROJECT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT FACTORS SPECIFICALLY LISTED IN THE REQUEST FOR BIDS THAT THE CITY PUTS OUT. THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE? GOOD DEAL. I NEED A MOTION. MOTION TO APPROVE. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION [5. 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.] CARRIES. WE ARE ON TO CONSENT AGENDA. UM, AND DOES ANYONE WISH TO PULL ANY ITEMS? OKAY, WELL, IF NOT, I NEED A MOTION FOR CONSENT. MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM FIVE A THROUGH JAMES SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE [10. EXECUTIVE SESSION] ARE GOING TO TAKE GOING TO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEMS 10 A, B, AND C OUT OF ORDER AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE IT UP HERE BEFORE SIX A. UM, SO WE ARE GOING TO RECESS INTO AND CONVENE AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0.074 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS PERSONAL PERSONNEL MATTERS CONCERNING AN EXTENSION OF LINE OF DUTY ILLNESS UNDER TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE 1 4 3 0.073. AND WE WILL ALSO RECESS INTO AND CONDUCT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT OF SECTION 5 5 1 0.087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGOTIATIONS AND RECESS INTO AND CONDUCT AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION [00:35:01] 5 5 1 0.074 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS REGARDING THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. SEVEN 15 ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 5 5 1 5 5 1 1 0 2 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION. [a. Consider a resolution of the City Council of the City of Baytown extending the Civil Service Line of Duty Injury Leave of Absence of Firefighter Justin Kennedy for a six-month period at full pay.] WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO SIX A PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, EXTENDING THE CIVIL SERVICE, LINE OF DUTY INJURY, LEAVE OF ABSENCE OF FIREFIGHTER JUSTIN KENNEDY FOR A SIX MONTH PERIOD AT FULL PAY. MR. LOPEZ. YES, THIS ITEM IS A STATE CODE PROVISION THAT ALLOWS COUNSEL THE GOVERNING BODY TO EXTEND THE LEAVE ENTRY ILLNESS FOR AN EMPLOYEE FIREFIGHTER JUSTIN KENNEDY. AND YOU HAVE THAT RESOLUTION BEFORE YOU TO MAKE THAT IF YOU'D LIKE. SO. GOOD DEAL. WE MAKE THE MOTION. YES SIR. MOVE TO APPROVE SIX A AS DISCUSSED IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION. SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [a. Consider a resolution authorizing the appointment of the Associate Municipal Court Judges for the term of office, which begins immediately, and ends on January 31, 2028.] WE ARE ON TO SEVEN A APPOINTMENTS. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGES FOR THE TERM OF OFFICE, WHICH BEGINS IMMEDIATELY AND ENDS ON JANUARY 31ST, 2028. WE HAVE THE FULL LIST. THEY ARE ALL SEEKING AND REAPPOINTMENT. I NEED A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE SEVEN A AS LISTED SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. [b. Consider the appointment of the Municipal Court Judge of the Municipal Court of Record in the City of Baytown, Texas.] SEVEN B, CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT OF THE COURT OF RECORD IN THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS. MS. SARAH GRAHAM AND MR. JOY LOPEZ OR COUNCILMAN SARAH GRAHAM AND MR. JOY LOPEZ, YOU WANNA START US OFF? DO WOULD, DO YOU WANT TO JUST YEAH, I'M GONNA IT. YEAH. YES, SIR. MS. SCH. MAYOR, BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THIS ITEM, COULD WE GO BACK TO THE TWO SEVEN A PLEASE? OKAY. UM, THIS ITEM DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THE ASSOCIATE JUDGES SPECIFIED. SO IF WE COULD AMEND THE MOTION, ACTUALLY RESCIND THE MOTION AND THE VOTE. OKAY. UH, AND TAKE A NEW MOTION AND VOTE TO APPOINT, UH, THE INDIVIDUALS SPECIFIED OR SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS AS ASSOCIATE JUDGES. OKAY. SO THE MOTION HAS TO BE MADE TO RESCIND THE LAST MOTION. THAT'S CORRECT. AND BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT MOVED ON TO SEVEN B, WE CAN, UH, CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED IN SEVEN A. OKAY. I THINK IT WAS YOU AND ME, I MOVE TO RESCIND MY MOTION. SECOND. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AND NEW MOTION? YES, SIR. WOULD BE TO APPROVE SEVEN A CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPOINTMENT OF THE ASSOCIATE MUNICIPAL JUDGES FOR THE TERM OF OFFICE, WHICH BEGINS IMMEDIATELY AND ENDS JANUARY 31ST, 2028. AND THAT IS EDDIE CALDERON FOR THE TERM OF, UH, WHAT IS IT, FEBRUARY 13TH, 25. YEAH, IT'S ALL FORMS. OKAY. SO I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THE TERMS. EDDIE CALDERON, LARRY BAILEY, KELLY BETIS AND MICHAEL MARK SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR A. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NOW CONSIDER THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORD AND THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS COUNCILWOMAN SARAH GRAHAM AND MR. JOY LOPEZ. UM, YES, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO TABLE THIS ITEM. SUSPEND IT OR WE'RE GONNA SUSPEND IT. OKAY. UNTIL THE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DATE DID, WHAT DATE DID WE DISCUSS? LET'S DO THE END. UM, SECOND MEETING IN SECOND. SECOND FOR MEETING IN FEBRUARY. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. UM, MOTION NO LATER THAN LATER. NO LATER THAN THE SECOND MEETING OF FEBRUARY. OKAY. UH, MOTION TO SUSPEND ITEM SEVEN B NO LATER THAN THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? A. AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. WE [8. 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.] ARE NOW ON TO THE MANAGER'S REPORT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL. UH, I'D LIKE TO BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT [00:40:01] FOR SEVERAL, SEVERAL RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. OFFICERS SUCCESSFULLY LOCATED IN APPREHENDED, A FELONY SUSPECT, UH, CONNECTED TO A DEER PARK PD EVADING CASE. UH, FOLLOWING A FLOCK ALERT, SERGEANT BROWN AND DETECTIVE VICE INITIATED AN INVESTIGATION THAT LED TO THE RECOVERY OF MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND RELATED STOLEN ITEMS. SO THANK YOU TO THEM. JOHN, PLEASE PASS THAT ON. OFFICER VEEK AND VEGA RESPONDED TO A RUNAWAY JUVENILE CALL AND QUICKLY IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM OF A, OF A RECENT SEXUAL ASSAULT THROUGH PROMPT INVESTIGATION, EVIDENCE, COLLECTION, AND COORDINATION WITH DETECTIVES IN THE CHILDREN'S ASSESSMENT CENTER. A SUSPECT WAS IDENTIFIED, ARRESTED, AND CONFESSED, UH, THE VICTIM AND OUR FAMILY. EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE DEPARTMENT. SWIFT RESPONSE, PROFESSIONALISM AND, UM, VICTIM CENTERED CARE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. AND THEN HAVE A FEW COMMUNITY SHOUTOUTS FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. OFFICER GARZA WAS RECOGNIZED BY A STRANDED MOTORIST AFTER PUSHING THEIR VEHICLE TO SAFETY AND, AND OBTAINING FUEL FOR THEM. OFFICER THOMPSON WAS COMMENDED BY A CRIME VICTIM FOR HER PROFESSIONALISM AND EMPATHY AND, AND HELPING THEM REGAIN ACCESS TO THEIR VEHICLE. OFFICER CALHOUN WAS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS COMPASSIONATE RESPONSE TO A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVOLVING AN ELDERLY MOTORIST. AND OFFICER FARRELL AND POLICE SERVICES REP KIM, UH, GATON WERE ALSO COMMENDED FOR PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THE STATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR OFFICERS AND STAFF FOR DI DIS DEMONSTRATING PROFESSIONALISM AND COMPASSION. SO THANK YOU. UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMBINED EFFORTS OF HR AND PD DURING THE RECENT RECRUITMENT. PLEASE LOOK AT THE SCREEN. UM, UH, RECENT RECRUITMENT AND CIVIL SERVICE TESTING. THERE WERE 138 TEST TAKERS, WHICH IS PRETTY EXTRAORDINARY. AND, UH, THESE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST NUMBERS THAT WE'VE SEEN SINCE 2013. SO, UH, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE. HELP MAKE THIS SUCCESS. IT WAS QUITE A FEW DEPARTMENTS COMING TOGETHER TO HELP COORDINATE ALL THIS. AND, UH, A BIG SHOUT OUT TO HR, UH, AND EVEN TO THE PEOPLE SHARPENING 500 PENCILS UP FRONT, JUST IN CASE THEY WERE NEEDED. SO A LOT OF, A LOT OF WENT INTO THIS AND PRETTY AMAZING TO SEE THAT MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY. LOOKS LIKE THAT GENTLEMAN WAS REALLY ENJOYING HIMSELF. YOU CAN BUY SHARPENED PENCILS. WE HAVE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE TO HAVE SPECIAL ERASERS AND THE PENCIL CAN ONLY BE SHARP IN THIS. I'M JUST KIDDING. , IT'S PERMIT PROCESS. ALRIGHT. ANTHONY COLLINS FROM PUBLIC WORKS EARNED HIS CTCQ GROUNDWATER OPERATOR LICENSE. CONGRATULATIONS, ANTHONY. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, FRANK, PLEASE PASS THAT ON. UH, STACY WISE FROM TOURISM, UM, RECENTLY, UH, CONTRIBUTED HER EXPERTISE TO THIS, UH, SIMMONS ENERGY TRAINING CONFERENCE AT THE HYATT. HER PROFESSIONALISM, PROFESSIONALISM AND CREATIVE TOUCH ENSURED A SEAMLESS EVENT AND SHOWCASED BAYTOWN AS A PREMIER HOST DESTINATION. AWESOME JOB, STACY. AND PLEASE PASS THAT ON. UH, OKAY, GRANT, PLEASE PASS THAT ON. ALRIGHT. THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM ALONGSIDE, UH, PUBLIC WORKS AND CONTRACTORS HAVE BEEN BUILDING THE NEW BRUNSON MULTIMEDIA STUDIO FUNDED BY PEG FUNDS, FUNDED BY PEG FUNDS, FUNDED BY PEG FUNDS. UH, THE STUDIO WILL SUPPORT NEW SOCIAL MEDIA AND CHANNEL 16 PROGRAMMING AND ALLOW PUBLIC PARTNERS TO CREATE BAYTOWN SPECIFIC CONTENT. THE GRAND OPENING IS EXPECTED IN FEBRUARY, AND I BELIEVE THAT WHAT YOU SEE ON THE RIGHT WITH THE BRICK WALLS IS A LIGHT PATTERN. AND THAT'S HOW IT'S, IT'S, YEAH, IT'S A LIGHT PATTERN. SO LIKE THAT'S SOME OF THE SPECIAL EFFECTS THAT ARE GOING IN THERE. THAT, UH, THE PUBLIC CONTENT, UH, ACCESSIBILITY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE. I THINK WE'RE PILOTING THAT WITH LEE COLLEGE, SO WE'RE ALREADY HAVING SOME GREAT PARTNERS, UH, SIGNED UP TO, TO DO THIS. SO EXCITED ABOUT HOW ALL THIS IS GONNA END UP. AND I KNOW RYAN IS BACK THERE, GEEKING OUT ABOUT NEW VIDEO EQUIPMENT, SO, BUT LOOKS FANTASTIC. ALRIGHT. UH, WE ARE FINALIZING THE PREPARATION FOR THE WINTER EVENT THIS WEEKEND. UH, OH, SORRY. THE GRAND OPENING IS FEBRUARY. I FORGOT THAT PART. SO THE GRAND OPENING IS IN FEBRUARY. LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. UH, WE ARE FINALIZING THE PREPARATION FOR THE WINTER EVENT THIS WEEKEND. FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE BEEN, UH, WINTERIZED STAND TO STAGE FOR THE ROADWAYS. THE OOC STRIKE TEAM IS IN PLACE AND READY. THE WARMING CENTER WILL BE LOCATED AT THE BAYTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, WITH A SHELTER TEAM STAFFED BY THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. I WAS TOLD BY THE MAYOR THAT, UM, SORRY, THE NAME OF THE CHURCH AGAIN. MAYOR. UM, OVER ON JOHN MARTIN ON THE NORTH SIDE. IT'S NOT CITY RAN? NO, IT'S, UH, ENCOURAGERS. OH, ENCOURAGERS CHURCH. MM-HMM . OKAY. UH, SO THEY WILL ALSO HAVE A WARMING CENTER, BUT THE CITY, UM, THE CITY COORDINATED ONE YES. IS HERE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, UH, WITH THE SHELTER TEAM STAFFED BY THE AMERICAN RED CROSS. IT WILL OPERATE FROM SATURDAY AT NOON UNTIL CLOSURE ON TUESDAY MORNING. WE'VE COORDINATED WITH ALL PARTNERS AND BELIEVE WE ARE READY TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITY. UH, RESIDENTS SHOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE CITY'S WEBSITE AND OFFICIAL SOCIAL SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS FOR UPDATES AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO SIGN UP FOR BAYTOWN ALERT, A FREE NOTIFICATION SERVICE THAT PROVIDES WEATHER AND EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION. SIGN UP AT BAYTOWN.ORG/ALERT. [00:45:01] AND THEN I WANT TO TAKE, UH, ONE MINUTE. THIS IS THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, UM, FOR TWO OF OUR LONG SERVING DIRECTORS. UH, UH, FRANK, UH, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE CITY OF BAYTOWN. UH, THE 10 YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HERE, HAVE MADE A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF PROGRESS FOR THE CITY AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. UM, UH, I APPRECIATE THE TEAM THAT YOU BUILT OVER THERE AND WHERE YOU PUT THE CITY AND LEFT OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WE WILL MISS YOU AND WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK, UH, IN YOUR NEXT ENDEAVOR. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE DONE. UH, TONY, UM, OUR HEALTH DIRECTOR, HE'S BEEN HERE FOR 24 YEARS AND, UH, APPARENTLY A FEW MINUTES TOO LONG BECAUSE HE IS NOT AT THE COUNCIL MEETING ANYMORE. . UM, WOW. AND, UH, SEAN, IF YOU DON'T MIND PASSING THIS ALONG, BUT, UH, JUST LIKE FRANK, TONY HAS BEEN ANOTHER EXCELLENT DIRECTOR AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THAT HE'S DONE AND SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS AND, UH, THE REST OF YOUR TEAM UP FOR SUCCESS. Y'ALL HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES AND WE, UH, WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DONE AND THE WORK THAT HE'S DONE. SO PLEASE PASS THAT ON AND, UH, WE WISH HIM GODSPEED AS WELL. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THAT'S ALL I HAVE. [a. Receive a report from Council Member Laura Alvarado regarding projects, programs and events in District No. 1. ] NOW, WE WILL RECEIVE A COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER LAURA ALVARADO REGARDING PROJECTS, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS IN DISTRICT NUMBER ONE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M GONNA FOREGO THE POWERPOINT . UM, SO IN TERMS OF DISTRICT ONE, OUR BAY BAY AREA HOMELESS SHELTER IS CONTINUING TO MOVE FORWARD, UM, WITH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND ARE CURRENTLY UNDER INSPECTION. SO THAT ONE'S AT 34 0 4 WISCONSIN. WE ALSO HAVE A BAYTOWN PRIMARY MEDICAL TOWER ON 28 0 2 GARTH, UM, AS WELL AS A NEW, UH, ROLAND BROOK CENTER FACILITY BUILDING. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE IN THERE YET. THEY'RE BUILDING OUT AND THEN GOING OUT FOR LEASING. SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO THERE. UM, THAT'S AT 1901 ROLLING BROOK, UH, MOUNT CALVER, MOUNT CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH. MM-HMM . MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH CONTINUES TO MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR CITY OF BAYTOWN TRAFFIC CONTROL BUILDING, WHICH IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET, UH, IS GOING THROUGH SOME, UH, RENOVATIONS AS WELL. UM, OUR SCADA PACKAGE OR SCADA, WHICH ACTUALLY MEASURES, UM, WHETHER OR NOT THE, UM, LIFT STATIONS OR WORKING PROPERLY, UH, THEY HAVE, UH, THEY'RE GETTING CONTROL PANELS AND SUPPORTING CONCRETE PADS. THEY'VE BEEN INSTALLED, UM, AT THE BIG MISSOURI, UH, BLAIR AND LITTLE MISSOURI LIFT STATIONS, AND THAT'S GONNA IMPROVE THE WASTE WATER SYSTEM RELIABILITY. UH, FIRE STATION TWO. THANK Y'ALL FOR TODAY. UH, CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE STATION TWO IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN FEBRUARY FOLLOWING THE AWARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT THAT WAS DONE TODAY. UM, PUBLIC WORK OPERATIONS IS CURRENTLY COMPLETING A STREET REPAIR ON SCENIC DRIVE. I KNOW THERE'LL BE MORE TO COME, UH, FOR THAT PARTICULAR AREA. SO THANK YOU, UH, PUBLIC WORKS FOR, FOR WORKING ON THAT. UM, AND OF COURSE LITTLE KNOWN FACT. WE HAVE A SEVEN FOOT TALL LANDMARK SIGN THAT SAYS BAYTOWN ON IT AT THE MARINA. I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNEW THAT , IT WAS. UM, IT'S BEEN ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA. I KNOW SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY USED IT AS, UM, PHOTO OPS AND, UM, SINCE THE INSTALLATION, WE'VE HAD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON 'EM. UM, THEY NOW HAVE PERMANENT ELECTRICITY TO IT. UH, UH, BACK LIGHTING, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. AND THEN PLANS ARE UNDERWAY FOR A VOLUNTEER UPKEEP PROGRAM AS WELL. AND FUTURE CONCRETE STANDING PAD. AND, UH, I KNOW THE MAYOR'S EXCITED ABOUT THIS. AND OF COURSE, ANYBODY ELSE WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THE DADDY AND ME GLOW DANCE, WHICH TAKES PLACE, UM, SATURDAY, JANUARY 31ST FROM TWO TO 8:00 PM IT IS A COME AND GO. UM, IT'LL BE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER FEATURING A GLOW DANCE FLOOR, MUSIC ACTIVITIES AND MORE. UM, SO THE TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH THE 29TH OR AT THE DOOR, UH, WITH REGISTRATION AVAILABLE AT BAYTOWN.ORG/EVENTS. UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, UM, CHAIR VOLLEYBALL IS NOW UNDERWAY AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. MM-HMM . I THOUGHT THAT WAS GONNA BE SUPER HARD, BUT THEY'RE MAKING IT LOOK LIKE MM-HMM . NOTHING. UM, SO IT, UH, THAT IS HELD, UM, EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 12 TO 2:00 PM [00:50:01] IN THE AUDITORIUM. UH, IT IS A FREE PROGRAM WHICH ENCOURAGES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, UM, SOCIAL CONNECTION AND ACCESSIBILITY WITH NO EQUIPMENT, UH, EQUIPMENT REQUIRED. UM, AND THEN JUST LASTLY, I JUST WANNA THANK Y'ALL FOR LISTENING TO THE CHILDCARE PRESENTATION AND WE'LL MAKE SURE TO HAVE, UH, MORE INFORMATION TO YOU, UM, BEFORE THE DESIGNATED TIMEFRAME THAT WAS GIVEN. SO REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. AND, UM, JUST A FEW WORDS FOR FRANK. UM, YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF THE, ALL OF YOUR TIME AND, AND EFFORT WITHIN THE CITY. YOU AND I'VE HAD HAD A LOT OF PROJECTS WITHIN DISTRICT ONE. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY OPEN, UM, TO RECEIVING FEEDBACK AND THEN CHANGES. AND, UH, I'D RATHER GO HERE. AND SO JUST THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING PROFESSIONAL AND JUST LETTING ME KNOW WHEN IT JUST CAN'T BE DONE. UM, BUT I I, I DO APPRECIATE YOU AND I WISH YOU THE BEST. AND, UM, SAME, SAME GOES, UM, FOR OUR HEALTH INSPECTOR AND, AND JUST, UH, WISH HIM THE BEST. SO, GOOD DEAL. WELL, UM, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS REAL QUICK. I'M NOT MONOLOGUING, I'M JUST GIVING INFORMATION AND IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR LIBRARY BEFORE I DO THAT MM-HMM . LINE DANCING IS GOING ON AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER ALSO. OKAY. AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN. THAT'S ALWAYS A HIT. IF I CAN LEARN TO LINE DANCE, ANYBODY CAN, 'CAUSE I HAVE NO RHYTHM. UM, I'M GONNA BE GIVEN JUST BRIEF UPDATES OF WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY SINCE I WALKED INTO AND, UM, PUT MYSELF IN A BIND BY NOT HAVING A LIBRARY CARD. DOES EVERYONE UP HERE HAVE A LIBRARY CARD? MM-HMM . YOU DIDN'T. OKAY. WELL, I DO. AND, UM, YOU DON'T. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO GET ONE. IT'S GONNA TAKE LESS THAN THREE MINUTES GUARANTEED. AND, UM, BUT OUCH. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY THE SECOND, 10:30 AM YOU HAVE BABY TIME, 5:00 PM YOU HAVE TWEEN, T-W-E-E-N, VALENTINE SONNY'S, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. AND THEN YOU HAVE, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO NEED A DATE, YOU HAVE A BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK. THAT'S WHEN IT STARTS. OKAY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ALL, ALL THAT ENTAILS. THAT'S REALLY FUN. TELL US MORE. LAURA . SO THE BLIND DATE REALLY IS THEY PUT COVERS ON BOOKS. SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT BOOK YOU'RE GONNA GET, AND THEN YOU'RE ASKED TO REVIEW IT, UM, AS WELL. AND, UM, YOU TURN THAT IN, I THINK THERE'S, UH, PRIZES AVAILABLE AS WELL. UM, SO IT'S LIKE YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET UNTIL YOU RIP OFF THE COVER. SO DON'T JUDGE A BOOK. BOX'S COVER, DON'T COVER, CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY COVER BOX COVER. OKAY. A BOX OF CHOCOLATES. THAT'S RIGHT. . WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET. GOOD DEAL TUESDAY, AND THIS IS GONNA BE EVERY TUESDAY, 10:30 AM PRE-K STORY TIME, 6:00 PM CROCHET CLUB, 6:00 PM EVEN EVENING STORY TIME. AND ALSO 6:00 PM TEEN CHESS NIGHT. THAT SEEMS LIKE IT IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE IN YOUR FAMILY ON TUESDAY NIGHT. SO PLEASE STOP BY WEDNESDAY AT 10:30 AM IS BILINGUAL STORY TIME. AND THURSDAY AT 10:30 AM FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, IT IS TODDLER TIME AND AT 5:00 PM IT IS CRAFT AFTERNOON PAPER QUILLING. WHAT IS THAT? UH, YOU TAKE PAPER AND YOU KIND OF MAKE DESIGNS WITH IT. REALLY? MM-HMM . OKAY. I'M GONNA HAVE TO CHECK, CHECK THAT OUT. UM, THEY'RE GONNA BE CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 9TH. AND THEN YOU HAVE EVERYTHING I MENTIONED THE PREVIOUS TUESDAY PLUS TEEN ART NIGHT WOVEN WATERCOLOR HEARTS. UM, ON THE 11TH, 10:30 AM BILINGUAL STORY TIME AT 5:00 PM 3D PRINTING WORKSHOP, 5:00 PM VIRTUAL REALITY NIGHT, AND AT 6:00 PM ROBOTICS FOR BEGINNERS. AND THEN ON FEBRUARY THE 12TH, 10:30 AM TODDLER TIME. THESE SOUND LIKE SOME VERY INTERESTING THINGS. THEY WEREN'T DOING THIS WHEN I WAS GOING TO A LIBRARY. I WAS JUST RENTING DISNEY VHS TAPES AND CHECKING OUT PAPERBACK BOOKS. SO, UM, I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO STOP BY, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY. THEY HAVE SOME FREQUENT FLYERS THERE. THEY SHOW UP FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. AND I'VE LEARNED MY LESSON. I WILL BE, I HAVE MY LIBRARY CARD. I MAY HAVE A DATE WITH THE BOOK, AND I THINK I'M TELLING LATOYA. HUH? I'M [00:55:01] TELLING LATOYA . IT IS WHAT IT IS. AND, UM, I'M, I THINK I MAY BE TRYING OUT THE VIRTUAL REALITY NIGHT AND SEEING WHAT THAT'S ALL ABOUT. OTHER THAN THAT, THANK YOU ALL FOR HANGING OUT AND HAVING EXHAUSTED EVERYTHING ON THIS AGENDA. I NOW ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 9:01 PM MA'AM. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.