[00:00:05]
[A. CALL TO ORDER]
AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR AUGUST 15TH TOWN COUNCIL WORK SESSION TONIGHT.IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN ME IN STANDING FOR THE INVOCATION.
LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE THANKS TO THIS DAY AND THE PEOPLE IN OUR LIVES THAT WE SHARE OUR MOMENTS WITH.
AS WE COME TOGETHER TO WORK TONIGHT, LET'S REFLECT ON THE TIME AND COMMITMENT OUR STAFF GAVE IN MAKING OUR COMMUNITY THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE.
LET'S CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND RESPECT OUR DIFFERENCES AND OPINION.
>> THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE, TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
>> WELL, GOOD EVENING TONIGHT. WE'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS MEETING IS GOING TO LAST TONIGHT, BUT WE ARE HERE TO DISCUSS OUR ANNUAL BUDGET FOR 2024, '25.
THIS SESSION WILL ALLOW OUR COUNCIL TO REVIEW THE BUDGET, TO SEE HOW IT ADDRESSES THE COUNCIL AND THE RESIDENTS' PRIORITIES, AND HOW IT ALIGNS WITH OUR STRATEGIC GOALS.
THIS IS THE TIME WHERE THE COUNCIL MAY DIRECT STAFF TO CHANGE OR MODIFY THE PROPOSED BUDGET TO BETTER ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR TOWN.
WE'LL REVIEW THE PROPOSED DECISION PACKAGES AND THE COUNCIL MAY DIRECT STAFF TO CHANGE, MODIFY, OR REMOVE ANYTHING THAT THEY DEEM APPROPRIATE.
TONIGHT, ANY COUNCIL RECOMMENDS, CHANGES, OR MODIFICATIONS WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE PUBLIC HEARING THAT WE HAVE FOLLOWING THIS MEETING, AND THAT WILL BE POSTED.
TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO BRING UP ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE MAY WANT TO ALSO ADD IS HOW THIS BUDGET IS AFFECTED BY OUR SB 2.
JAMES WILL TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE WANT TO SEE HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR TAX RATE, AND ULTIMATELY, OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND HOW THIS AFFECTS ISSUING DEBT, AND HOW TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS BASED ON THIS HOUSE BILL, OR STATE BILL.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO SAY? WE HAVE TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU.
GET AHEAD OF MYSELF. BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING AND START THIS MEETING, DOES ANYBODY HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT? DO WE HAVE ANY? I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY, [OVERLAPPING] WE DO NOT.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON IN THIS WORK SESSION.
[C. WORK SESSION ITEM]
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND HAND IT OVER TO JAMES.>> THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPRECIATE IT, AND GOOD EVENING TO YOU AND THE REST OF THE COUNCIL, AND RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE WE JUST HAVE STAFF IN THE AUDIENCE, BUT GOOD EVENING TO ANYBODY WHO'S WATCHING FROM HOME.
I'M GOING TO DO A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW BEFORE WE TURN IT OVER TO MEG AND GET US STARTED.
THIS LIKE OUR SUPER BOWL, I GUESS, IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS A BIG NIGHT BECAUSE IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT AND HAVE ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU ALL AS A COUNCIL IN REGARDS TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR '25.
I SAY THIS EVERY YEAR, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO EMPHASIZE THIS IS THAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK, THE PROPOSED BUDGET WENT OUT.
THAT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF MY BUDGET AS THE TOWN MANAGER AND WORKING WITH OUR STAFF.
TAKING THE FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AS WELL AS OUR STRATEGIC PLAN IN FORMING IT, IS WHAT I FELT WAS REFLECTIVE OF THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE AS AN ORGANIZATION.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART, THIS STARTS THAT PROCESS OF MAKING YOUR BUDGET, AND THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT'S ADOPTED.
REALLY, THERE'S A LOT OF DOLLAR SIGNS AND COMMAS AND DECIMAL POINTS IN HERE, BUT THE ANNUAL BUDGET IS A POLICY DOCUMENT.
IT SHOULD REFLECT WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO DO, WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE GOING INTO THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.
THERE'S A FEW THINGS I WANT TO FRAME UP BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO MEG TO START US ON OUR PRESENTATION.
THIS IS THE THIRD BUDGET THAT WE'VE DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON BOARD AS TOWN MANAGER.
[00:05:02]
IN THAT FIRST YEAR, IT WAS JUST I WAS BRAND NEW.WE WERE COMING OUT OF A PANDEMIC.
THERE WAS A LOT OF UNKNOWNS, AND WE TRIED TO BE VERY CONSERVATIVE AND WE KEPT OUR CARTS CLOSE TO THE VEST IN THAT FIRST YEAR.
THE SECOND BUDGET IN FY '24, THE ONE THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY WRAPPING UP RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CERTAINTY ON THINGS ARE GOING, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE IS WE STARTED TO PUT THAT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE ORGANIZATION TOGETHER, AND I THINK THAT'S AWFULLY IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE OUR STRATEGIC GOALS OVER ON THE OTHER WALL HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND THAT INFORMS GREATLY WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER HERE TODAY AND WHAT WE'RE ULTIMATELY STRIVING FOR WITH THIS PARTICULAR BUDGET.
IF I CAN FRAME THE FY '25 BUDGET THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TONIGHT, IT'S A ONE OF CHANGE OR REVOLUTION, AND I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A BETTER TERM FOR IT BECAUSE OF TWO REASONS, AND I'LL TOUCH ON THE ONE THAT THE MAYOR REFERENCED.
IN 2019, SENATE BILL 2 CAME OUT AND THAT PUT THE 3.5% REVENUE CAP ON MUNICIPALITIES.
DURING THAT, THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS THE FALLLOUT AND WHAT'S THE IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE REVENUE CAPS.
ONE OF THE BYPRODUCTS IS THAT IT PUTS MUNICIPALITIES IN A POSITION TO WHERE WE HAVE TO TAKE AND MOVE AS MUCH OF OUR OPERATING EXPENSES OFF THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SIDE OF OUR TAX RATE TO THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE OF THE TAX RATE.
THIS REPRESENTS OUR SHIFT STRATEGICALLY TO THAT MODEL, AND WHAT'S BEEN PUT TOGETHER IS REFLECTIVE OF US TRYING TO PUSH AS MANY OF THOSE EXPENSES OVER TO THE DEBT SERVICE SIDE OF OUR TAX RATE TO FREE UP THAT CAPACITY, BECAUSE THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS THAT THAT 3.5% REVENUE CAP THAT WE HAVE MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATIONARY FACTORS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN OUR SERVICE LEVEL.
ADDITIONALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO THAT DEBT SERVICE SIDE OR RATE, ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS WE STARTED HAVING WITH YOU ALL, A YEAR-AND-A-HALF AGO OR SO, IS THE REALITY THAT WE HAVE A HOST OF CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING ON THE HORIZON THAT WE CAN'T CASH FUND LIKE WE'VE HISTORICALLY BEEN ABLE TO.
ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT FLOWER MOUND, WE'VE BEEN IN A TREMENDOUS POSITION WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CASH FUND A LOT OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU HAVE FIRE STATIONS AND OTHER BIG CAPITAL ITEMS LIKE THAT, YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CASH IN HAND TO FUND THOSE.
YOU ALL PUT TOGETHER A BOND COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO START THEIR WORK HERE TOWARDS THE END OF THIS MONTH, CONTEMPLATE A POTENTIAL BOND PROGRAM IN THE SPRING.
WE'RE ALSO LOOKING TO ISSUE SOME CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION FOR NEW STATION 6.
THAT ALSO INFORMS THIS BUDGET GREATLY IN A WAY THAT WE'VE STRUCTURED IT TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN ISSUE THIS DEBT WHILE MAINTAINING OUR CURRENT TAX RATE, AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT OUR FOCUS IS IN THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
BUT BESIDES THAT, THE OTHER PIECE TOO IS IS THAT THIS YEAR IS A CHANGE OF HOW WE PRESENT THE BUDGET.
FISCAL TRANSPARENCY IS AWFULLY IMPORTANT TO ME.
WE WANT TO TRY TO FIND A WAY TO ALLOW MORE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE OUR BUDGET, HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF IT, AND THIS YEAR, WE HAVE PRESENTED OUR BUDGET DIGITALLY ON A PLATFORM CALLED CLEARGOV.
WE DON'T HAVE THE STATIC PDF BOOK THAT WE HAD IN YEARS PAST.
IF YOU GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND YOU LOOK AT OUR PROPOSED BUDGET, IT'S ALL DIGITAL, AND I THINK IT'S PRETTY INTUITIVE.
THE GREAT THING ABOUT IT IS WE'RE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO TWEAK IT AND IMPROVE IT AND GET INFORMATION OUT THERE.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE PUBLIC TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE, ENGAGE WITH OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE WANT PEOPLE GETTING IN THERE, SEEING THESE NUMBERS, UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON, BEING A PART OF THIS PROCESS, BE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING OR TALKING TO YOU ALL AS THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THIS PROCESS.
THAT REPRESENTS A CHANGE FOR US TOO.
THE LAST THING I'LL SAY BEFORE I TURN IT OVER IS IS THAT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
THIS BUDGET HAS A LOT OF FTES IN IT, AND FTES FOR THE UNINITIATED ARE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS, IS HOW WE ACCOUNT FOR FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, AND SEASONAL EMPLOYEES.
THIS BUDGET HAS 23 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS IN THERE, IF I CAN TALK.
THAT'S A BIG NUMBER. THAT'S ALMOST DOUBLE THE NUMBER WE HAD LAST YEAR.
THAT ISN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT WE JUST THREW OUT THERE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF THROWING IT OUT THERE.
AGAIN, WE FELT LIKE MANY OF THOSE TIED TO THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE MOVING FORWARD.
WITH THAT BEING SAID, AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, WE'RE READY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
AS YOU GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, YOU VET IT, YOU ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, GET OUR THOUGHTS ON DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND WAYS THAT WE CAN GO WITH THIS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK AND THERE'S A FEW PEOPLE THAT I DO WANT TO SINGLE OUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED, IS THAT WITH BOTH JOHN ZAGURSKI AND MEG JAKUBIK, OUR CFO AND BUDGET DIRECTOR, RESPECTFULLY, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HERE SIX MONTHS YET, AND THEY JUMPED IN AND SAID, LET'S PUT THE BUDGET TOGETHER.
THEY HAD A TALL TASK OF JUST LEARNING THE OPERATIONS, LEARNING THE PLAYERS AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT PIECES, BUT THEY'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB OF PUTTING A GREAT BUDGET TOGETHER. THIS IS THEIR SHOW.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO THEM SHORTLY, BUT I WANT TO THANK THEM.
IN ADDITION TO THE REST OF OUR FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT,
[00:10:03]
AND MANY OF OUR DIRECTORS ARE IN THE ROOM HERE TODAY, AND WE WORKED VERY HARD STARTING THIS PAST MARCH OF STARTING THIS PROCESS.IN MAY WE WERE IN THIS ROOM, AND I WAS ASKING ALL THE TOUGH QUESTIONS OF OUR DIRECTORS AND VETTING THESE DECISION PACKAGES THAT YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU, BUT EVERYBODY CAME TOGETHER TO PUT TOGETHER WHAT I THINK IS A GREAT BUDGET.
BUT AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS THE PROCESS TO MAKE IT YOUR BUDGET, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
WITH THAT, MEG, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
SHE'S GOING TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE PRESENTATION, AND SHE'S GOING TO ESSENTIALLY SERVE AS THE MC FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT AND INTRODUCE THE OTHER SPEAKERS THAT WE HAVE DURING THE COURSE OF THE PRESENTATION.
WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, MEG.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
AS JAMES ALLUDED, THIS BUDGET DOES NOT GET PUT TOGETHER IN A ONE-MAN SHOP.
FINANCE MAY WORK TOGETHER FOR PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER, BUT WE ABSOLUTELY RELY ON AND NEED THE INPUT OF OUR DEPARTMENTS TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THEIR OPERATIONS, HELP US UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS, AND THEN COME BACK AND PUZZLE EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
THAT BRINGS US TO YOU TONIGHT, AND WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO GET YOUR FEEDBACK, YOUR QUESTIONS, AND AS JAMES SAID, FOR YOU TO TRULY MAKE THIS BUDGET YOUR OWN AND ENSURE THAT IT DOES MEET THE NEEDS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM YOUR RESIDENTS, FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, AND HELPS MOVE THE TOWN FORWARD.
WITH THAT, I DO TEND TO START TALKING REALLY FAST WHEN I GET ON A ROLL.
PLEASE TELL ME IF I NEED TO SLOW DOWN.
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, IT'S A WORK SESSION, SO PLEASE DON'T HOLD ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW, SO WE CAN ADDRESS IT AND SO THAT WE DON'T FORGET THEM, AND WE CAN MAKE SURE WE GET EVERYTHING ANSWERED FOR YOU.
WHAT IS THE BUDGET? IT IS A TOOL.
IT IS A POLICY DOCUMENT, IT'S A PLAN.
WHAT DO WE FIND IMPORTANT, AND WHERE ARE WE PUTTING OUR DOLLARS TO ACCOMPLISH THAT? IT'S A BLUEPRINT FOR IMPROVEMENTS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT BALANCING REVENUES TO EXPENDITURES, THAT CAN MEAN USING SOME OF OUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT FOR THOSE EXPENDITURES.
BALANCED BUDGET, YOU WANT YOUR OPERATING REVENUES TO MATCH YOUR OPERATING EXPENDITURES.
STATE LAW ALLOWS US TO USE OUR CASH RESERVES, AND IT STILL BE CONSIDERED A BALANCED BUDGET.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY ON THE PHASES OF THE BUDGET CYCLE.
YOU USUALLY HAVE PREVIOUSLY SEEN THIS AS A CALENDAR.
THERE'S GOING TO BE LOTS OF CHANGE TONIGHT, BECAUSE WE WANT TO CHANGE THE CONVERSATION TO THE STRATEGIC FOCUS.
SOME OF THIS WON'T LOOK QUITE THE SAME, BUT THE INFORMATION IS STILL VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'RE USED TO SEEING.
BUT I WANT TO BRING HOME, BUDGET REALLY NEVER STOPS.
EVEN ONCE WE GET THROUGH THAT ONE BUBBLE OF BUDGET ADOPTION, WE'RE IMMEDIATELY STARTING THE PLANNING AND LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
THROUGH HEARING WHAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE TO SAY, FROM THE INPUT FROM COUNCIL, IT'S STARTING EVEN THEN, EVEN RIGHT AFTER ADOPTION TO START PLANNING FOR THE NEXT PROCESS.
IT TRULY NEVER DOES, AND IT JUST GETS A LITTLE BIT BUSIER FOR CERTAIN TIMES OF THE YEAR.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF OPERATING BUDGET.
SOME OF THIS I KNOW YOU ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH, BUT OF COURSE, WE MAY HAVE RESIDENTS LISTENING WHO DON'T KNOW, SO WE DO WANT TO INCLUDE THAT EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND AND HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY'RE READING ONLINE.
WE HAVE OUR OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH IS OUR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS.
IT'S PAYING OUR PEOPLE, BUYING OUR SUPPLIES, PROVIDING OUR SERVICES.
AS PROPOSED, THIS IS WHAT DEPARTMENTS HAVE REQUESTED.
JAMES HAS DONE HIS REVIEW AND HAS RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING AND INCLUDING WITH THE REVENUES WE HAVE AVAILABLE.
ONCE IT'S ADOPTED, THEN IT BECOMES THE OPERATIONAL PLAN AND POLICY DOCUMENT FOR THE TOWN.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
THIS IS USUALLY DONE IN A MUCH LONGER TERM, GENERALLY, AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN HOW THIS BUDGET IS PRESENTED, BECAUSE CAPITAL PROJECTS DON'T FIT NEATLY IN OUR FISCAL YEAR BOX.
THEY OFTENTIMES ARE 2, 3, 4-YEAR PROJECTS, AND SO WHILE FUNDING MAY HAVE BEEN APPROVED IN A PRIOR YEAR, THE PROJECT ISN'T COMPLETE.
THERE'S STILL MONEY THAT HAS BEEN RECEIVED TO SPEND THROUGH WHATEVER FUNDING SOURCE WAS IDENTIFIED AND EXPENSES THAT NEED TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE PROJECT CLOSES OUT.
YOU'LL SEE IN THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET, WE HAVE THE BUDGET AUTHORIZATION SO THAT COUNCIL CAN BLESS THAT THERE ARE PRIOR APPROVED CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT STILL HAVE SPENDING GOING ON.
IT'S GOING TO LOOK BIGGER THAN THE NUMBERS YOU'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.
IT'S NOT A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN SPENDING.
[00:15:01]
IT'S USING THE AUTHORIZATION THAT'S STILL REMAINING ON THOSE PROJECTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN CLOSED OUT.LOOKING MORE CLOSELY AT THE OPERATION BUDGET STRUCTURE, FLOWER MOUND DOES DIVIDE IT INTO THREE DIFFERENT REQUEST BUCKETS, IF YOU WILL.
WE HAVE THE BASE BUDGET, WHICH IS THE PERSONNEL THAT ARE INCLUDED, WHATEVER THEIR PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR BUDGET WAS FOR OPERATIONS MINUS ANY ONE-TIME PURCHASES, AND THEY CAN ALLOCATE THAT AROUND IF THERE'S SOME CHANGING IN THEIR NEEDS.
WE HAVE NON-DISCRETIONARY PACKAGES.
THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE INFLATIONARY COST INCREASES, PERHAPS UNFUNDED LEGISLATIVE MANDATES, CONTRACTUAL INCREASES THAT WERE BUILT INTO APPROVED CONTRACTS.
THESE ARE THE PIECES THAT ARE STILL RELATED TO OUR BASE OPERATIONS, AND WE DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER WHETHER OR NOT WE FUND THEM.
THEN WE HAVE DECISION PACKAGES, AND THOSE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEPARTMENTS TO REQUEST NEW PROGRAMS, NEW STAFF, NEW EQUIPMENT.
CASH, CIP PROJECTS CAN THROW INTO THERE.
THESE ARE THE SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS THAT DEPARTMENTS WOULD LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED TO MOVE THEIR OPERATIONS FORWARD IN THE NEXT YEAR.
>> I JUST GOING TO PUT A FEW THINGS JUST IN PERSPECTIVE.
THESE ARE OUR IDENTIFIED BENCHMARK CITIES.
WE LOOK AT WHAT ARE THEY DOING COMPARED TO OUR OPERATIONS.
THIS IS LOOKING AT THEIR MOST RECENT ACFR.
SOMETIMES THESE NUMBERS WON'T NECESSARILY JIVE WITH WHERE IT'S PUBLISHED IN OTHER PLACES, AND THAT JUST HAS TO DO WITH WHAT DATA SETS BEING USED.
GENERALLY SPEAKING, YOU'LL SEE SOME SOURCING ON THERE AND YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE THE ACFR REFERENCE.
POPULATION WISE, WE'RE SITTING THERE PRETTY MUCH RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
IF WE LOOK AT OUR TOTAL TAX RATE, WE'RE IN THE BOTTOM THIRD AMONGST OUR BENCHMARK CITIES.
THIS IS A NEW SLIDE THAT WE'VE ADDED THIS YEAR, THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH A REQUEST TO ADD THE FTES.
WHERE DO WE LOOK IN COMPARISON TO OUR BENCHMARKS? NOW, I WILL CAUTION, THIS IS NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES.
EACH CITY, TOWN DETERMINES HOW THEY OFFER THEIR SERVICES, AND SO WHERE ONE CITY MIGHT HAVE EMPLOYEES OFFERING, FOR INSTANCE, IT SERVICES, ANOTHER COMMUNITY MAY CHOSE THAT IT'S IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO OUTSOURCE THAT, AND SO IT WOULD BE A CONTRACTUAL SERVICE VERSUS AN FTE.
TAKE THIS WITH A GRAIN OF SALT, BUT YOU CAN SEE WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HOW MANY CITIZENS ARE SERVED PER FTE THAT WE HAVE AUTHORIZED.
AGAIN, WE DO WANT TO SET THE STAGE, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE A LARGE PERSONNEL REQUEST THIS YEAR.
HOW HAVE WE BEEN GROWING OVER THE YEARS? YOU CAN SEE THE CHART ON THE LEFT HAS THE BARS OF OUR FTES AND THE POPULATION ABOVE IT.
YOU CAN SEE THERE'S BEEN A PRETTY MEASURED GROWTH WHERE WE'VE ADDED FTES, AND OFTENTIMES, IT'S CORRELATING WITH POPULATION INCREASES SO IT INCREASED DEMAND FOR SERVICES.
THEN YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEARLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CITIZENS PER FTE OVER TIME, WHERE THOSE SPIKES, AND THEN WHERE WE'VE JUMPED UP WITH ADDITIONAL FTES, AGAIN, DUE TO INCREASED DEMAND ON SERVICES.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK HERE, FINANCIAL OVERVIEW.
THIS IS ONE OF MY FEW HEAVY NUMBER SLIDES.
I DON'T REALLY LIKE THEM, WHICH SOUNDS STRANGE FOR A BUDGET PRESENTATION.
BUT PULLING OUT FOR YOU OUR PRIMARY OPERATING FUNDS, YOU CAN SEE, YES, WE ARE USING FUND BALANCE.
WE ARE DRAWING DOWN IN SOME OF OUR OPERATIONAL ACCOUNTS.
WE ARE DRAWING DOWN FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS BUT EVEN WITH THOSE DRAWDOWNS, YOU CAN SEE THOSE ENDING FUND BALANCES.
WE ARE BY NO MEANS JUST ROBIN THROUGH THE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS THAT WE HAVE.
WE'RE USING THEM STRATEGICALLY FOR OPERATIONAL NECESSITIES OR FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING COMPLETED.
THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE PRIMARILY SEEING IN THOSE CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS.
IT'S MONEY WE'VE RECEIVED PREVIOUSLY, PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL IN PROCESS.
>> MEG, I GO ONE COMMENT TO THIS.
>> [NOISE] YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF DRAWDOWN OF FUND BALANCE ACROSS THERE AND THOSE NET DIFFERENCES IS, OVERALL, THE TOTAL NET DRAWDOWN FOR OPERATIONS IS $4.8 MILLION ACROSS ALL OF OUR OPERATIONAL FUNDS.
THE BIGGEST DRAWDOWNS YOU'RE ACTUALLY SEEING IS FOR CAPITAL AND CAPITAL SPENDING, AND THAT'S VERY TYPICAL BECAUSE YOU GET YOUR FUNDING SOURCE PRIOR TO CAPITAL PROJECT SPENDING.
>> IF I FLIPPED BY NOTE PAGES, I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO THAT NOTE.
>> MEG, YOU WERE SAYING THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXPENDITURES AND THE REVENUES, WHICH ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE HIGHER ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, AND WE GET QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, HOW CAN YOU HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET?
[00:20:01]
I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO ARTICULATE THAT.YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF WE HAVE IN OUR BUDGET, ANY CAPITAL EXPENSE THIS YEAR, BUT IT TAKES US THREE YEARS, NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME EXPENSE IN OUR BUDGET AGAIN, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T HAVE A REVENUE OFFSETTING IT?
>> YES. THEORETICALLY, PROJECT STARTED, THE AMOUNT WOULD BE LESS BECAUSE YOU WOULD DECREASE OR CUT OFF ANYTHING WE'VE ALREADY SPENT.
IF THE PROJECT AUTHORIZATION WAS IN YEAR 1 FOR $50 MILLION, WE GET KICKED IT OFF, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THROUGH $15 MILLION IN YEAR 1.
COME YEAR 2, IT WOULD BE, NOW I'M MAKING MYSELF DO MATH IN MY HEAD, BUT $35 MILLION WOULD BE THE BUDGET AUTHORIZATION IN YEAR 2.
THERE WOULD NOT BE A REVENUE IN YEAR 2 BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY RECEIVED IT.
>> THIS DRAWDOWN FROM, SAY, THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND DOES NOT SHOW AS REVENUE IN THIS BUDGET?
>> NO, BECAUSE IT'S PROCEEDS WE'VE RECEIVED PREVIOUSLY.
>> WE CAN ONLY SHOW REVENUE THE YEAR THAT WE GET THE REVENUE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE SAME EXPENSE EVERY YEAR THAT WE HAVE THAT PROJECT BUDGET, EVEN IF WE DON'T NECESSARILY GET TO THE WORK?
>> DOES THAT EXPLAIN WHY, EVERY YEAR, IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE EXPENSE THAN REVENUE?
BUT EACH FUND HAS A SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
IT HAS A FUND BALANCE, AND IT'S GOOD FINANCIAL PRACTICE TO HAVE THAT MONEY IN CASE, FROM AN OPERATING PERSPECTIVE, SALES TAX TANKS, SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS TO ONE OF OUR REVENUE SOURCES.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK.
>> THIS QUESTION COMES UP. PEOPLE LOOK AT THE BUDGET AND THEY SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THAT NUMBER, I THINK ONE OF THE CANDIDATES LAST YEAR SAID THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET. IT'S RIGHT IN YOUR OWN BUDGET.
I THINK THIS IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARTICULATE THIS CLEARLY, AND PROBABLY IF IT'S OKAY, WE SHOULD PROBABLY COVER THIS AGAIN AT THE REGULAR MEETING.
>> I HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PUBLIC IN ATTENDANCE.
>> WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SLIDES WHERE WE ACTUALLY SHOW THAT AS WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FROM A REVENUE STANDPOINT.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP YOU A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT EXPLANATION TOO.
>> LET'S SPEAK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT, AND WE HAVE A CHART HERE.
THIS IS LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT THE GENERAL FUND AND EXPENDITURES AND REVENUES AND SO THE TEAL BAR IS ONGOING, WHETHER IT'S ONGOING REVENUE, ONGOING EXPENDITURES.
THEN ON THE VERY END OF THE BAR, YOU CAN SEE A SLIVER OF GOLD.
ON THE REVENUE SIDE, THAT ONE TIME REVENUE THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO IS THAT USE OF FUND BALANCE.
WE ARE WELL ABOVE OUR POLICY THAT SAYS HOW MUCH MONEY WE SHOULD KEEP IN THE BANK.
THIS IS A USE OF THAT FUNDS FOR ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES AND YOU CAN SEE THE BAR FOR THE ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES IS LARGER THAN THE BAR FOR THE ONE-TIME REVENUE WE'RE UTILIZING.
THAT IS WHERE STATE LAW DOES CLEARLY SAY THAT THE USE OF FUND BALANCE DOES ALLOW FOR A BALANCED BUDGET.
THAT IS SPELLED OUT IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A BALANCED BUDGET.
THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE USE, AND MEETS THE DEFINITION.
NOW, I WANT TO CAUTION YOU, THESE NUMBERS ARE SOLELY LOOKING AT OUR OPERATING ACCOUNTS.
THIS IS NOT ANY OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDS.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE BOND PROCEEDS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE WILL COVER CAPITAL LATER, BUT THIS IS NARROWING IN ON THOSE OPERATING ACCOUNTS.
WHAT WE SEE HERE IS ACTUALLY A DIVERSIFIED REVENUE SOURCE STREAM AND THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE, BECAUSE THIS MEANS WE ARE NOT SOLELY RELIANT ON PROPERTY TAXES TO FUND OUR OPERATIONS.
WE HAVE OUR SALES TAXES, WE HAVE OTHER TAXES THAT IS FRANCHISE, MIXED BEVERAGE, THAT HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IS GOING TO FALL INTO THAT OTHER TAX CATEGORY.
CHARGES FOR SERVICES WOULD BE OUR AMBULANCE BILLING, ALL OF OUR REC FEES, ANYTHING THAT WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES, AND COLLECTING A FEE FOR THAT.
TECHNICALLY, WATER CHARGES, SEWER CHARGES ARE ALSO CHARGES FOR SERVICES, BUT IF WE MIX THEM ALL TOGETHER, IT PRESENTS AN UNREALISTIC UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT CATEGORY IS SO WE DO CALL THOSE OUT SEPARATELY.
THAT'S TICKET REVENUE, THAT'S LICENSE REVENUE PERMITS, ANY TYPE OF FORFEITURE, ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THAT CATEGORY AND YOU CAN SEE THAT'S A VERY SMALL PIECE THERE.
MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE CAN BE ANYTHING FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE WE'RE RECEIVING, SUCH AS FROM LEWISVILLE ISD FOR OUR SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS OR ANY OTHER INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WHERE WE HAVE SHARED SERVICES.
WE DO HAVE TRANSFERS IN FROM THE VARIOUS FUNDS.
[00:25:02]
THEN WE DID THROW THE CATEGORIES IN HERE WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE SPLIT OUT OF THE OPERATING SIDE, WHICH DOES INCLUDE THAT WEIRD CATEGORIZATION.STREET SALES MAINTENANCE IS CONSIDERED AN OPERATING ACCOUNT EVEN THOUGH THE EXPENDITURES ARE PRIMARILY CAPITAL.
YOU SEE HERE, WE'RE SHOWING YOU THAT USE OF FUND BALANCE FROM OUR RESPECTIVE FUNDS.
ON THE OPERATING SIDE, IT'S RIGHT AT THAT 4.9 MILLION, ON THE CAPITAL SIDE, 20.9 MILLION SO WE ARE NOT JUST ROBBING THE BANK TO PAY FOR OUR EXPENDITURES HERE.
WE ARE VERY STRATEGICALLY UTILIZING THEM AS IS APPROPRIATE, BASED ON WHATEVER REVENUE SOURCE WE'VE IDENTIFIED.
THE OPERATING DRAWDOWN ALSO INCLUDES ANY FUND BALANCE WE'RE USING IN OUR CRIME DISTRICT FUND AND OUR FIRE DISTRICT FUND AND FIRE DISTRICT OF NOTE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT, BUT DOES INCLUDE AN AMBULANCE.
THAT'S WHAT'S IN THAT 4.9 MILLION.
IT'S ONE-TIME EXPENDITURES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
THEN IF WE FLIP TO THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE IT'S PRETTY WELL SPLIT.
THE LARGEST CHUNK IS PERSONNEL.
THE TOWN SERVICE DELIVERY IS PEOPLE SO THAT IS WHERE A GOOD BULK OF OUR EXPENDITURES COME FROM.
WE HAVE OUR SUPPLIES, MAINTENANCE, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
AGAIN, WHOLESALE WATER FALLS INTO THAT CATEGORY AS WELL, BUT IS NOT SOMETHING THE TOWN CAN CONTROL, SO WE SPLIT THAT OUT AND YOU ARE SEEING THE CAPITAL OUTLAY HERE, THAT WOULD BE THE PURCHASES FOR VEHICLES THROUGH OUR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT FUND.
I SAID, THE AMBULANCE, AND THEN ANY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN OUR SALES TAX FUNDS, OTHERWISE, THAT MAYBE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, BUT ARE AN OPERATING FUND ACCOUNT.
DEBT SERVICE, AND THEN WE DO HAVE AN INTERNAL SERVICE FUND WITH OUR HEALTHCARE FLEX FUND. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? JUST TO POINT OUT HERE, WE HAVE OUR FINANCIAL GOALS.
THIS IS REVIEWED WITH OUR AUDIT, SO YOU'RE SEEING THROUGH LAST YEAR'S AUDIT NUMBERS.
WE HAVE POLICY GOALS THAT WE WANT TO MEET TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ON A FINANCIALLY SOUND FOOTING.
YOU'LL SEE HERE, IT'S HARD TO READ IN SOME WAYS, DID WE MEET IT? DID WE NOT? THE FIVE YEARS WE HAVE IN THIS VIEW, WE HAVE MET THE FINANCIAL POLICIES AS STATED.
YOU'LL SEE THEY ARE ALL GREEN.
WE ARE ESTIMATING TO END THE FUND BALANCE THIS YEAR AT ABOUT 34%.
WE DID HAVE A DRAWDOWN SPEND PLAN, WE TRANSFERRED SOME CASH TO AN ASSET WITH SOME PURCHASE OF LAND, AND SO IT WILL AFFECT OUR FUND BALANCE.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE STILL WELL ABOVE THE THRESHOLDS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED.
>> SORRY. YES, IT'S ASSESSED VALUATION.
>> I THINK WE'VE HEARD THAT THE RATING AGENCIES LIKE TO SEE A CERTAIN FUND BALANCE TO SECURE THAT AAA BOND RATING.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT ONE.
>> FIRST OFF, THEY WANT TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE A FUND BALANCE POLICY, THAT YOU STATE WHAT YOUR FUND BALANCE IS, AND THEN HOW YOU'RE GOING TO USE EXCESS FUND BALANCE.
A LOT OF IT IS THAT, YOU SET A RESERVE LIMIT AND THAT YOU ARE MAINTAINING IT.
US HAVING 20% FUND BALANCE IS MEETING THAT STANDARD, 30% ACTUALLY GIVES US A LOT OF CUSHION IN CASE WE HAVE SOME ONE-TIME SPENDING THAT WE DO NEED TO DRAWDOWN.
WHEN WE GOT UP CLOSE TO 40 OR 50%, AND THAT'S WHEN WE NEEDED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT COULD WE STRATEGICALLY DO WITH THOSE RESOURCES, AND PURCHASING LAND WAS ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD DECISION FROM STANDPOINT, BECAUSE IT'S HOLDING AN ASSET THAT LAND ALWAYS GOES UP IN VALUE.
>> GOLD STANDARD. THAT'S YOUR BEST.
IT'S NOT GOING TO INCREASE YOUR BOND RATING OR ANYTHING, BUT MAINTAINING ANYTHING HIGHER THAN THAT COULD INDICATE WHY ARE YOU BUILDING UP ALL OF THIS? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH IT? YOU'RE MAINTAINING A GOOD FUND BALANCE AND A GOOD FUND BALANCE POLICY.
>> THIS IS WHERE THINGS WILL START TO DEVIATE FROM YOU'RE FAMILIAR IN THE PAST.
BUT IT'S A CRUCIAL CONVERSATION, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE BUDGET, IF THE SERVICES THAT THE TOWN IS PROVIDING YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH, AND YOU HAVE NO DESIRE TO CHANGE, TO ADDRESS WHATEVER NEEDS YOU'RE SEEING, THEN 78% OF THE BUDGET IS SET.
THAT'S THE BASE BUDGET PLUS THE NON-DISCRETIONARY.
THOSE ARE THE COSTS THAT IT TAKES TO RUN THE TOWN AT THE SERVICE LEVEL WE HAVE ESTABLISHED.
FROM THERE, WE REALLY ONLY HAVE 22% OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT IS LOOKING AT
[00:30:03]
JAMES RECOMMENDATIONS AND STAFF'S SUGGESTIONS ON HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ENHANCE THE BUDGET TO MOVE THE TOWN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES THAT COUNCIL HAS SET.THAT'S 2% FOR THE DECISION PACKAGES, AND 20% FOR ANY PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS, WHICH OFTENTIMES, ARE STILL JUST IMPROVING AND REPLACING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE, BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVEN'T YET BEEN AUTHORIZED AND BLESSED TO MOVE FORWARD.
AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS THAT YOU, AS COUNSEL, HAVE SET.
THESE ARE STAFF'S GUIDE POSTS ON HOW CAN WE HELP YOU REACH YOUR GOALS.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE, SUPERIOR QUALITY OF LIFE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT WE MAINTAIN THAT ENVIRONMENT AND COUNTRY FEEL, FINANCIAL STABILITY AND OPERATIONAL SOUNDNESS, AND PARKS AND RECREATION.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT 2% DECISION PACKAGE OR THAT $11.4 MILLION, THIS IS WHERE THOSE BREAK DOWN IN ALIGNMENT WITH YOUR GOALS.
YOU CAN SEE THE LARGEST PORTION TO FINANCIAL STABILITY AND OPERATIONAL SOUNDNESS.
THE NEXT LARGEST INFRASTRUCTURE, WE'LL GO THROUGH WHICH REQUESTS ARE SPECIFICALLY IN EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES.
>> STARTING WITH FINANCIAL STABILITY AND OPERATIONAL SOUNDNESS, THIS IS TAKING CARE OF OUR PEOPLE.
THIS IS OUR PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS.
WE HAVE OUR 3% MERIT, WHICH IS EITHER ADMINISTERED THROUGH AN INCREASE WITH OUR EMPLOYEES OR A STEP IN THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARENA.
IF SOMEONE IS AT THE TOP OF THEIR PAY PLAN, THEY WOULD RECEIVE IT AS A LUMP SUM.
ADDITIONALLY, HR HAS CONDUCTED A MARKET COMPENSATION STUDY TO ENSURE THAT OUR POSITIONS ARE AT THAT 65% OF MARKET, SO THAT WE REMAIN COMPETITIVE, WE'RE RETAINING EMPLOYEES, RETAINING THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SO THEY CAN CONTINUE DELIVERING OUR SERVICES.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS YEAR, LOOKING AT OUR BENCHMARK CITIES, LOOKING AT REQUESTS FROM OUR EMPLOYEES, WE ARE PROPOSING TO DO A SMALL CHANGE DESIGN TO OUR TMRS PLAN, WHICH IS OUR RETIREMENT PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES.
WE ARE PROPOSING TO GO TO A 30% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT ON OUR PAYMENTS.
WE'RE STILL NOT QUITE WHERE SOME OF OUR BENCHMARK CITIES IS, BUT IT'S A STEPBACK INTO THE POOL, WHICH GIVES THE BEST IMPACT WE CAN WITH THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF THE DOLLARS TO GO INTO THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS WITH TMRS.
>> BEFORE WE GO ON, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE CALL OUT.
IT'S NOT THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING A 30% INCREASE?
>> LET'S JUST MAKE SURE EVERYONE AT HOME KNOWS IT'S 30% OF WHATEVER THE PERCENT COST OF LIVING IS.
>> A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE, IF A RETIREE IS RECEIVING $100 A MONTH AS THE RETIREMENT, AND THERE IS 10% INCREASE IN INFLATION, THEY WOULD RECEIVE A 3% INCREASE TO THAT, SO $103.
WHEREAS OVERALL, WE USED TO HAVE A COLA UP TO 70% PRIOR TO 2008.
THIS, AGAIN, AS MEG SAID, IS BRINGING US INTO MARKET COMPETITION WITH OUR SURROUNDING CITIES.
THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER IN OUR MARKET GROUP THAT DOES NOT HAVE A COLA.
THIS PUTS US COMPETITIVE IN LINE WITH A LOT OF OUR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.
IT DOES GO ALL THE WAY UP TO 70%, BUT THAT'S JUST NOT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN ONE YEAR.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK IT DOES WORK TOWARD OUR RECRUIT AND RETAIN EXCELLENT STAFF.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT THIS IS REALLY NECESSARY, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME OF OUR RETIREES WHO JUST THEY'RE NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE COST OF INFLATION.
I THINK THIS IS A NICE WAY TO APPROACH IT STEPPING INTO IT. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THIS NEXT PART MIXES THROUGH THE REST OF THEM AS WELL, BUT WE'LL TAKE A PAUSE REAL QUICK JUST TO LOOK AT THE FTES.
THIS BUDGET DOES PROPOSE 729 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENTS.
YOU CAN SEE THE BREAKDOWN BY FUND, ON THE LEFT, THE BREAKDOWN BY DEPARTMENT, ON THE RIGHT.
THE NEXT SLIDE, WE'LL GO OVER THE EXACT LIST THAT'S BEING PROPOSED TO BE ADDED.
WHEN WE GET THERE, YOU CAN SEE IT TRULY IS GETTING SPREAD AMONGST THE DEPARTMENTS.
TWENTY-THREE TOTAL, 15 OF THOSE ARE IN THE GENERAL FUND, FOUR IN THE UTILITY FUND, ONE IN STORM WATER, AND THREE IN THE FIRE DISTRICT.
YOU CAN SEE THE FIREFIGHTERS WERE SPLITTING THREE INTO GENERAL FUND AND THREE INTO FIRE DISTRICT, IS HOW THAT IS APPROACHED FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT.
[00:35:01]
ANY QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW ON THE PERSONNEL? WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK TO SPECIFIC REQUESTS AS WELL.>> MEG, IF I CAN, AND JUST FOR THOSE WATCHING AND THE UNINITIATED, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS THAT THE SIX FIRE FTES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH US ADDING A FOURTH AMBULANCE TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE NEED TWO PEOPLE TO STAFF THAT FOR THE THREE SHIFTS THAT WE HAVE.
THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT CONCENTRATION OF FIRE.
IT'S ONE OPERATIONAL MOVE OF ADDING FOURTH MEDIC AT STATION 6 OUT WEST, BUT THAT PERSONNEL ASSOCIATED WITH IT IS SIX FOLKS.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTOOD WHAT IS DRIVING THAT NUMBER SIX FTES IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE TOTALITY HERE, THIS 23 FTES, IS JUST A 3% INCREASE IN OUR EMPLOYEE POOL.
IT IS STILL A VERY MEASURED INCREASE BASED ON SERVICE DEMANDS.
>> AS THE SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER, YOU HAD TWO FTES IN OR?
>> THE SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM HAS TWO FTES.
IT'S THE SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER AND THE RECREATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR TOGETHER.
THE NEXT STRATEGIC FOCUS AREA IS INFRASTRUCTURE, AND YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE HAVE A MYRIAD OF ITEMS. SOME OF THEM ARE PEOPLE, SOME OF THEM ARE INVESTMENTS IN OUR EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE OR THINGS TO MAKE THINGS EASIER, SO MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.
THIS IS A MIX OF ITEMS IN THIS REQUEST.
CERTAINLY, IF COUNSEL HAS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC ONES, WE CAN EITHER WAIT TILL THE END AND GO OVER ALL YOUR QUESTIONS OR IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM AS WE GET TO A SLIDE, I'M HAPPY TO GO WHICHEVER WAY YOU PREFER. KEEP HOLD ON.
WHEN WE GET TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY, IT'S THE TWO POLICE OFFICERS.
THOSE ARE BOTH SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.
THERE IS ALSO A HALF-TIME PROPERTY ROOM TECHNICIAN THAT'S BEING.
THEN THEY'VE GOT SEVERAL EQUIPMENT ENHANCEMENTS, INCLUDING TASERS, BRIGADE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, AND GLOCK DUTY WEAPONS.
ON THE FIRE SIDE, IT IS THAT SIX FTE.
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH FIRE AND SHIFTS FOR PARITY, IT'S JUST MORE BODIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A SERVICE ADDITION IN THE FOURTH MEDIC.
IT DOES ALSO INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL AMBULANCE FOR STATION 6, UNLESS I'M MISSPEAKING.
WE HAVE THE SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM THAT IS A MANAGER AND A PROGRAM COORDINATOR.
THEN THE FALL EVENT, AS WE'VE UNDERSTOOD THE REQUEST FROM COUNSEL TO PUT IN SOMETHING OF SIMILAR SCALE AND SCOPE TO INDEPENDENCE FEST, IT IS BUDGETED THAT WAY, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT'S INDEPENDENCE FEST 2.0.
IT WAS JUST THE SCALING AND CONSIDERATION.
THERE'S STILL TIME TO DEVELOP WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.
>> THE INDEPENDENT OR THE FALL FEST, WHEN WE HAD OUR MEETING, I ASKED ABOUT MAYBE SCALING IT TO SOMETHING MORE OF A CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL WHEN COMPARING THE BUDGETS.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE A BREAKOUT OF THOSE COMPARISONS?
DID YOU WANT TO COME SPEAK TO THAT?
>> OR IF IT'S LATER, WE CAN DISCUSS LATER.
>> WHICHEVER WAY YOU PREFER, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
>> WASN'T THAT GOING TO BE DISCUSSED IN A LATER PART OF THE PROGRAM?
>> WE'LL BE PREPARED. I THINK JUST A MATTER, WE'LL DEFER TO HOW YOU WANT TO DO IT.
CHUCK IS PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT SCALING.
IF WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE GO THROUGH THE PRESENTATION TO DO THAT, WE CAN DO IT NOW.
BUT EITHER WAY, WE CAN START TALKING ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD WAIT JUST SO WE CAN GET INTO THOSE NIT PICKY AREAS LATER TO GET THE OVERVIEW.
>> WE'LL BE READY TO DIVE IN A LITTLE BIT DEEPER ON THAT ONE.
>> YES. WE ARE PREPARED, AND CERTAINLY, SHOULD THAT BE COUNSEL'S WISH, THERE IS SCALABLE OPTIONS WITH THAT PROGRAM.
UNDER SUPERIOR QUALITY OF LIFE, WE DO HAVE THE ADDITION OF A SENIOR PROPERTY STANDARD SPECIALIST JUST SO WE CAN ENSURE THAT OUR CO-COMPLIANCE EFFORTS ARE STILL REACHING THEIR INTENDED LEVELS.
AS THE HOUSING STOCK AGES, MORE PERSONNEL ARE NEEDED TO ADDRESS AND ENSURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING THOSE STANDARDS.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST, THIS WOULD BE A PERSON THAT WOULD HELP IN OUR TWO MAIN SHOP.
THE PRIMARY FOCUS BEING BUSINESS RETENTION.
MAKING SURE WE'VE GOT SOMEONE DEDICATED TO THAT SO THAT WE ARE WORKING TO ENHANCE AND MAINTAIN OUR TAX BASE.
FOR YOUR STRATEGIC FOCUS AREA OF ENVIRONMENT AND COUNTRY FEEL,
[00:40:03]
THE TREE PRESERVATION FUND DOES HAVE $30,000 FOR A TREE PLANTING PROJECT, SO WE CAN CONTINUE THOSE EFFORTS.>> ARE WE DOING ANYTHING FOR OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
BESIDES JUST THE TREE PLANTING, DO WE HAVE ANYTHING IN OUR BUDGET FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, SUCH AS ANIMAL PRESERVATION, HELPING PROTECT THEM?
>> I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN THERE WHEN I WAS LOOKING.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY THINGS CALLED OUT.
>> I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT FOR THE TREES AND PRESERVATION FOR THAT, BUT AS FAR AS ANIMALS [OVERLAPPING].
>> I THINK IT'S PRESENTING THAT WAYS, BECAUSE THAT REPRESENTS A SERVICE ENHANCEMENT.
I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT, WE DO HAVE A HOST OF THINGS THAT WE ALREADY BUDGET FOR.
THE SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, YOU WILL PROBABLY SPILL OVER INTO ANIMAL SERVICES OVER NPD, BUT SPECIFICALLY AS FAR AS NEW SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS, THE TREE PLANNING PROJECT IS THE ONE IN OUR DECISION PACKAGE THAT FITS THAT CATEGORY, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY BREAK DOWN WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING AT THE MOMENT.
>> I CAN SEE THAT LIKE. WHAT WE'RE DOING BESIDES TREE PLANTING, BUT LOOKING AT OUR WASTEWATER, THE ANIMALS, BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENT, HOW ARE WE DOING WITH HELPING WITH THAT?
>> I MEAN, PUBLIC WORKS DOES HAVE THEIR REUSE PROJECT, SO THAT WE'RE TRYING TO RECAPTURE THE WATER SIDE.
I MEAN, THAT HAS A LONG-TERM HELP WITH US ON OPERATIONS, BUT IT IS STILL A REUSE OF WATER, SO THAT WE'RE CONSERVING WHERE POSSIBLE.
BUT YES, WE'D HAVE TO BREAK DOWN INTO, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I'M STILL GETTING UP TO SPEED THAT I CAN, OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, GIVE YOU EXAMPLES.
GIVE ME A COUPLE OF YEARS THAT I PROBABLY COULD.
>> I MEAN, WE DO SOME AIR QUALITY CHECKS IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE GAS WELLS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE CAN PULL TOGETHER, MANDY SHOP DO A HOST OF THINGS ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE.
BUT AGAIN, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY REFLECTED.
IT'S IN THAT OTHER 78% THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS IN THIS 2% THAT WE'VE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
AS FAR AS SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS, NOT SO MUCH, BUT WE DO A HOST OF THINGS THAT SUPPORT THAT ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE OF OUR SERVICES.
>> WE'VE GOT AN EMAIL FROM THE PUBLIC ASKING FOR US TO FUND SOME ADDITIONAL EXAMINATION, BUT IT'S HARD TO BRING FORWARD A DECISION PACKAGE UNTIL WE HAVE CLARITY ON WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING ALREADY.
I THINK IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING WE NEED TO PUT A PIN IN, MAYBE.
I KNOW THE EMAIL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, AND THAT'S WHY I REFERENCE THIS, BECAUSE WE DO PAY ATTENTION TO THE EMAILS THAT WE GET, AND THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL WANTED US TO FUND, HOWEVER, IT'S HARD TO SAY THAT UNTIL YOU HAVE SOME QUANTITATIVE INFORMATION ON THAT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD ON THE ANIMAL SERVICES.
WE DO HAVE $40,000 PROJECTED FOR THE '25 BUDGET AS OPPOSED TO 29.5 IN THE 2024 BUDGET.
IT'S A 35% INCREASE, BUT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT IS FOR DOMESTICATED ANIMALS SURRENDERED AND LOST OR FOUND.
I DON'T THINK WE DO REALLY MUCH WITH WILD ANIMAL WILDLIFE FOR THAT.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M REFERRING TO. [BACKGROUND]
>> ONE OTHER PROGRAM I'LL MENTION IS AN UNFUNDED ITEM THAT WE MAY REVISIT LATER IS THE SEPTIC REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
THAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AND COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE FUND OUT OF OUR STORM DRAINAGE ACCOUNT.
>> DEFINITELY HAVE THAT ON MY LIST.
>> NEXT THE LAST STRATEGIC FOCUS AREA THAT WE HAVE DECISION PACKAGES DIRECTLY TIED TO, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST SOFTWARE, WHICH WILL HELP TOWN SECRETARY'S OFFICE, WILL ALSO HELP PD WITH RECORDS MANAGEMENT AND MAKING IT EASIER TO RESPOND TO THOSE REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE EXPENSES WITH THE PROPOSED BOND ELECTION THAT WE ARE EXPECTING TO HOLD NEXT MAY.
I WANT TO TALK A COUPLE OF OTHER JUST ODD REVENUE POINTS, SO JUST THINGS THAT WE WILL BE SEEKING COUNCIL DIRECTION ON AND CONFIRMATION OF.
WE DO HAVE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THIS YEAR.
WE HAVE OUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, WHICH FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS, HAS PRIMARILY BEEN GONE INTO BEING REBATED WITH OUR 380 AGREEMENT WITH THE HOTEL.
THAT 380 AGREEMENT HAS NOW SUNSET, WHICH OPENS UP THAT FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TO OPTIONS FOR COUNCIL.
STAFF HAS NOT RECOMMENDED ANY DECISION PACKAGES INTO THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, BECAUSE WE AND HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH COUNSEL ON HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE FUNDS USED.
THERE ARE VERY PRETTY STRICT RESTRICTIONS FROM THE STATE THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE GOVERNANCE OF THESE FUNDS.
BUT WE'VE LISTED UP HERE, WE ANTICIPATE HAVING ABOUT $600,000 IN REVENUE THIS YEAR FOR THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY PACKS.
[00:45:08]
THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE MONEY THAT IS IN FUND BALANCE, BECAUSE EVEN WITH THE REBATE, WE STILL HAVE BEEN ACCUMULATING FUNDS OVER TIME.WE'VE LISTED UP HERE JUST A COUPLE OF POSSIBLE OPTIONS OF PERMITTED USES FOR THESE FUNDS.
PUBLIC ART, HISTORICAL PRESERVATION, CULTURAL ARTS, MULTI-DAY EVENTS.
HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX, YOU'LL HEAR THE PHRASE OVER AND OVER.
IT'S PRIMARILY FOR USES THAT WILL PUT HEADS IN BEDS.
THINGS THAT WILL BRING PEOPLE TO FLOWER MOUND, TO STAY IN OUR HOTELS, AND BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE OUR FESTIVALS AND FUN THAT WE'RE DOING TO DRAW OUR OUTSIDERS INTO OUR TOWN.
>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN, JUST SO PEOPLE KNOW, WHAT THIS HOT TAX DOES NOT PAY FOR SPECIFICALLY? BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A FEW THINGS IT FALLS LIKE OUR EMERGENCY SERVICES [OVERLAPPING] WE CAN PUT IT TOWARDS THAT FOR NOW.
>> THESE ARE PRETTY MUCH ONLY TYPES OF THINGS THAT CAN PAY FOR.
IT'S NOT ANYTHING WE CAN MOVE INTO OUR OPERATIONS, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT HAS TO BE PUT CONVENTIONS AND VISITOR BUREAUS.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE DIDN'T LIST UP THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT RELEVANT TO OPTIONS FOR OUR OPERATIONS AT THIS POINT.
>> I JUST WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW TO UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> MEG, DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF HOW MUCH WE'LL BE GETTING IN FUTURE YEARS?
>> THAT'S REALLY GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW HOTELS DEVELOP.
AT THIS POINT, I WOULD SAY PROBABLY WITH MY LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT'S GOING IN, IT WILL STAY PRETTY INCREMENTAL OFF OF THE 600,000 UNTIL WE HAVE ADDITIONAL HOTELS OPEN, AND THAT'S WHEN WE WOULD START SEEING MORE SIGNIFICANT BUMPS IN WHAT THAT REVENUE NUMBER IS.
>> SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND A YEAR AND THE NEXT YEAR, AND THE NEXT YEAR, UNTIL THE NEXT HOTEL OPENS, AND THEN IT WILL GO UP.
YOU SAID THERE'S ALSO FUND BALANCE?
>> THERE IS. IT'S RIGHT AT ABOUT 600,000.
>> IF WE KNOW THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY BASE, YOU'RE DOING A PREDICTION OR YOU'RE PROJECTING, IF WE DID THE EVENTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FALL FESTIVAL, HOW MUCH WILL THAT INCREASE THAT HOT TAX? DO YOU THINK, IF WE DID A FESTIVAL, WOULD THAT SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THAT FUND?
MAYBE QUITE OFF ON IT, BUT IT'S A FAIRLY SMALL ON TOP OF THE HOTEL STAY COST.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING THAT AN EVENTS GOING TO CREATE THIS DIRECTLY.
WE WOULD EXPECT TO SEE INCREASES BECAUSE WE HOPE THAT IT'S BRINGING PEOPLE IN AND FILLING UP THE HOTELS, BUT NOT AT A POINT WHERE I COULD GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE OF HOW THAT'S GOING TO GROW.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'LL ASK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR SUBJECT, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY GET INTO GREATER DETAIL A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION IS JUST THE FACT THAT, TO YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMAN SHISHTO, JUST ABOUT HOW IS IT GOING TO GROW? WE HAVE ABOUT THREE HOTELS THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT ARE IN THE QUEUE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY OPEN OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OR SO.
AT A CERTAIN POINT, WE SHOULD BE GENERATING OVER $1 MILLION IN REVENUE IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.
BUT THE THINGS WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF AS WE MOVE FORWARD IS THAT, THERE ARE SOME BIGGER PROJECTS THAT WE'RE CONTEMPLATING AND POTENTIALLY COMING DOWN TO HORIZON THAT HOT TAXES COULD BE LEVERAGED TO HELP DO OPERATING COSTS SPECIFICALLY IF WE DO OPT TO GO IN DIRECTION OF A CULTURAL ARTS VENUE.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I JUST WANT TO KEEP IN MIND AS WE START TRYING TO STRATEGIZE HOW TO LEVERAGE THESE FUNDS.
WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IS, PUT OURSELVES IN A SITUATION WHERE SOMETHING COMES DOWN TO QUEUE AT A CERTAIN POINT WHERE WE'RE LIKE, MAN, I WISH WE HAD HOT FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE.
I THINK THERE'S A BALANCING ACT THAT GOES IN THERE.
WE'RE CERTAINLY PREPARED TO DO, BUT IT'S GOING TO GROW FOR SURE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF SOME OF THE OTHER OPERATING PIECES THAT MAY COME DOWN THE LINE THAT WE WANT TO LEVERAGE THOSE FUNDS FOR.
>> ARE THERE ANY COMPLICATIONS FOR KEEPING A BALANCE IN THAT FUND AND LETTING IT GROW OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS?
>> GOOD. GOOD TO KNOW. WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND IT IF WE DON'T WANT TO RIGHT NOW?
>> REGARDING A POTENTIAL CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, COULD WE USE THIS FUND TO HIRE PERSONNEL OR FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THAT VENUE?
WE'LL ALSO TO WATCH AND MAKE SURE WE'RE WITHIN THE LINES, BUT THERE IS OPTIONS FOR PERSONNEL FOR SCHEDULING FOR EVENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN RELATIONS TO SOME TYPE OF A CONVENTION OR EVENT CENTER.
>> THANK YOU. I THINK WE'RE STEPPING IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY FOR FLOWER MOUND.
WE HAVE NOT HAD HOT TAXES AS A DISCUSSION IN OUR HISTORY TO THIS POINT, AND I THINK THAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO COMMIT SOME TIME AND SOME ENERGY BECAUSE MEG JUST SCRATCHED A SURF.
THERE ARE A LOT OF NUANCES TO THE LAW.
SPECIFIC TO COUNTY SIZE, DIFFERENT OPERATIONS.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL AS WE STEP FORWARD THAT WE UNDERSTAND ALL THOSE NUANCES, SO WE DON'T SAY, OH, WE CAN DO ALL THIS WITH IT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WE CAN'T OR WE HAVE TO
[00:50:02]
GO GET SOME TYPE OF LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT WE'RE CONTEMPLATING.AS WE STEP IN THIS FALL, WE'LL TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AND I THINK IT'S RIGHT FOR A FUTURE DISCUSSION AT A WORK SESSION TO START TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE NUANCES THAT ARE IN PLAY BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A WAY THAT WE CONTEMPLATE USING IT.
WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO, BUT IT'S A LEGISLATIVE ACTION THAT WE HAVE TO DO AT A FUTURE LEGISLATURE THAT ALLOWS US TO DO THAT.
AGAIN, WE'RE BABIES IN THE HOT TAX GAMES.
WE'VE GOT SOME GROWING TO DO, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE FUNKY NUANCES IN THIS THAT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE AWARE OF MOVING FORWARD AND WE CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL AWARE OF THEM.
>> JAMES, I DON'T WANT TO WAIT TOO LONG BECAUSE THE COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES IN THIS BUDGET LIKE THE FALL FESTIVAL, THE PUBLIC ART THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT.
THIS IS THE PERFECT USE BECAUSE THIS PUTS MONEY BACK IN THE GENERAL FUND.
TO CHRIS'S POINT ABOUT HOW BIG SHOULD THIS FALL FESTIVAL BE, WELL, IT CAN BE I THINK COMMIT A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT IF WE'RE USING HOT TAX BECAUSE WE'RE NOT DIPPING INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
NOW MILL CHALLENGE ON CHUCK BECAUSE IT BECOMES A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT TYPE OF EVENT TO QUALIFY, BUT WE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION NOW SO THAT WE CAN TRY TO GET IT INTO THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR.
>> LET ME CLARIFY WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WE HAVE ONE TIME FUNDS, IN PARTICULAR, LIKE A PUBLIC ART, WE ALREADY HAVE $600,000 IN FUND BALANCE THAT WE COULD LEVERAGE FOR THAT.
THE ONLY THING THAT I'M ALLUDING TO IS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND I'LL USE THE EVENT AS A REFERENCE POINT.
IF WE DO SOMETHING TO THE SCALE OF AN INDEPENDENCE FEST, YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY TAKING HALF OF YOUR HOT REVENUE OFF THE BOARD WITH THAT ONE EVENT.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO.
BUT AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO CAUTION THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, IF WE'RE GOING TO EFFECTIVELY TAKE OUT HALF OF OUR REVENUE, THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT PRESENTS ITSELF DOWN THE LINE.
BECAUSE IN ESSENCE, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS WE'RE GOING TO START MOVING OTHER EXPENSES THAT COULD OTHERWISE BE IN A HOT TO THE GENERAL FUND.
THE NET IMPACT ON YOUR BUDGET IS GOING TO BE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME.
IT'S JUST WHAT POTS THAT YOUR FUNDING GET OUT OF.
BY NO MEANS AM I SAYING WE SHOULDN'T EXPLORE THIS OR WE SHOULDN'T DO ANYTHING, I'M JUST SIMPLY SAYING AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE JUST NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF HOW WE ALLOCATE THAT.
I'M JUST GOING TO CUT TO THE CHASE IS THAT I THINK THAT WHEN WE DO GET TO THE POINT WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT SCALING IT, PROBABLY THE BEST APPROACH MAY BE IS PULLING BACK WHILE ALSO USING THOSE HOT FUNDS, IF YOU MAKE SENSE, THAT MAYBE WE START ON A SMALLER SCALE WHILE LEVERAGING THE HOT FUNDS, ALLOW THAT FESTIVAL EVENT TO GROW, AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW IT AS WE ASSESS THINGS.
BY NO MEANS I'M SAYING THAT WE SHOULDN'T LEVERAGE HOT, BUT I AM VERY CAUTIOUS TO SAY THAT IF WE'RE GENERATING 600,000 IN REVENUE, WE'RE GOING TO ALLOCATE TO SOMETHING IN THEORY THAT'S GOING TO COST $275,000.
WE'RE CUTTING THAT REVENUE SOURCE IN HALF AS SOON AS WE GET IT.
THERE'S A LOT OF PLAY AND SOME NUANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AND CHUCK WILL BE READY TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN SCALE IT AND GROW IT.
I THINK WE CAN DO BOTH THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.
>> MY OPINION IS IF WE'RE GOING TO SPEND THE 275 FROM THE GENERAL FUND, BUT WE CAN USE THE HOT TAX.
IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY AT ALL AND HERE COMES THE HOT TAX, WELL, THAT'S A BIT OF A DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.
FRANKLY, I WOULDN'T MIND PULLING THE PUBLIC ART BACK INTO THE BUDGET IF WE CAN USE THIS FUNDING SOURCE.
I DON'T WANT TO USE THE GENERAL FUND FOR IT, BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER COMMITMENTS.
BUT IF WE CAN USE THIS, THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT COME BACK.
>> UNDERSTOOD. WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT AND WE START TALKING ABOUT A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECT, I THINK WE'LL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE LAND.
BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S YOUR DECISION, BUT I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY, I'M JUST GOING TO FORECAST WHAT MY THOUGHT IS, IS THAT GOING TO A MULTI-DAY EVENT, THERE'S A PART OF ME THAT JUST WANTS TO SCALE AND GROW INTO IT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING FROM 0-150 TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
I THINK THERE'S A WAY THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO ENOUGH TO WHERE WE SCALE THAT NUMBER BACK A LITTLE BIT AND GROW WHILE STILL LEVERAGING THOSE HIGH TAXES.
>> ONE THING I'LL MENTION ABOUT THIS, AND THIS IS RIGHT BEFORE COMING HERE, I HAD WORKED IN PRIME MUNICIPALITY.
YOU GET 7% HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX.
THE STATE ACTUALLY GETS ANOTHER 2% AND IT GOES TO THEM.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES WRITTEN WITHIN THE LEGISLATION TO GET THAT ADDITIONAL 2% THAT THE STATE GETS AND RECAPTURE THAT AND BRING THAT IN FOR SPECIFIC USES.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF CAVEATS IN THERE.
THIS COULD BE A WAY OF INCREASING YOUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX IF YOU CAN GET IT FOR ONE OF THOSE DEDICATED USES.
NORMALLY, IT REQUIRES AN ELECTION AND EVERYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT, BUT THE CITY OF DALLAS DID IT FOR FAIR PARK, AND THAT WAS A VERY SPECIFIC ONE.
BUT THERE ARE A FEW OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE COULD HAVE IN THERE TO EVEN GROW THIS REVENUE SOURCE, EVEN WITH THE SAME HOTEL THAT WE HAVE, WE GET DEDICATED TO ONE OF THOSE SPECIFIC USES.
>> THIS NEXT ONE, YOU NORMALLY WOULD SEE AT AN EARLIER PART OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
OF COURSE, THE CALENDAR DIDN'T COOPERATE WITH US THIS YEAR.
BUT WE DID WANT TO SHOW YOU WE WENT THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY SUPPORT REQUESTS.
[00:55:04]
AS MY UNDERSTANDING, THE PROCESS HAS EVOLVED.STAFF HAVE REVIEWED THOSE REQUESTS AND MADE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THOSE QUESTIONS, AND WE'VE PROVIDED HERE WHAT WE WOULD PROPOSE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT IF COUNCIL IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE NUMBERS AND AGREES WITH STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS, WE'LL HAVE A MINOR ADJUSTMENT IN WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET NOW.
THERE'S JUST THAT PLACEHOLDER OF WHAT WAS LAST YEAR'S BUDGET NUMBER, AND WE'LL GET THAT SHORT UP TO WHAT WOULD BE APPROVED BEFORE WE GO TO FINAL ADOPTED BUDGET.
BUT YOU CAN SEE WHAT OUR ORGANIZATIONS REQUESTED AND WHAT STAFF IS RECOMMENDING.
IN MOST CASES, IF THE REQUESTS WERE AN INCREMENTAL INCREASE, WE AGREED WITH THEM, IF THEY WERE A MORE DRASTIC INCREASE, WE SCALED IT BACK TO A MORE INCREMENTAL JUST TO SHOW THAT IN LINE.
YOU SEE A COUPLE OF MAJOR ONES, CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER OF NORTH TEXAS.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A FORMULA ON HOW MUCH THEY ASK FOR US BASED ON THEIR SERVICES.
STAFF UNDERSTOOD THAT AND JUST APPROVED AND AGREED WITH THEIR FORMULA CALCULATION.
I'M HAPPY IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF ANYTHING YOU GUYS SEE SPECIFICALLY.
>> YOU SAID WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THIS IN GREATER DEPTH.
>> WE CAN DO IT. HOWEVER, I CAN SEND YOU THE PROPOSALS SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.
>> I THINK IN THE PAST, WE RECEIVED THE PROPOSALS SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT EACH ONE AND ALSO THE PERCENT INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR.
>> THIS ONE FELL BY THE WAYSIDE WITH THE CANCELLATION OF THE JUNE WORK SESSION.
I'LL ADMIT IT FELL OFF THE RADAR FOR A MINUTE.
WE CAN CERTAINLY GET YOU THOSE REQUESTS FOR YOUR REVIEW.
>> DO YOU MIND TAKING JUST A QUICK MINUTE TO EXPLAIN ALSO THE BIG INCREASE FOR THE DENTON COUNTY OF FRIENDS OF THE FAMILY FROM 8,000 HISTORICALLY TO 20,000?
>> THAT ONE REALLY WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS BASED MORE ON SERVICES RENDERED AND A REQUEST BASED ON A FORMULA.
>> ANYTHING ELSE. WE WILL GET YOU THOSE PROPOSALS SO THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE CAN BE PREPARED TO GET THOSE ANSWERED.
TAKING A STEP BACK FROM THE OPERATING SIDE, WE'RE GOING TO TURN OVER JUST OUR LOOK TO THE CAPITAL SIDE.
YOU CAN SEE HERE, AGAIN, JUST GOING TO REMIND BECAUSE THE BUDGET NUMBERS LOOK VERY DIFFERENT AND THEY ARE SHOCKINGLY DIFFERENT FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE USED TO READING OUR BUDGET.
WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THE 70.1 MILLION THAT'S BEING REQUESTED FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECTS TO BE APPROVED.
THE NEXT SLIDE WE'LL GO OVER WHERE THE FUNDING COMES FROM FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
BUT IN ADDITION IN THE BUDGET NUMBERS TO ENSURE THAT STAFF HAS THE AUTHORIZATION TO CONTINUE SPENDING ON PROJECTS THAT ARE STILL ONGOING, THERE IS 75 MILLION FOR THOSE PRIOR APPROVED CAPITAL PROJECTS IN YOUR BUDGET NUMBERS.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT FUNDING FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, SO THAT CAPITAL DRAWDOWN IS THOSE PRIOR BOND FUNDS OR CASH OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND ARE APPROPRIATE ON THOSE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
YOU SEE THE BOND PROCEEDS, WE DO HAVE SOME PLANS FOR ISSUANCES OF DEBT, PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ON SOME OF THOSE OPTIONS.
WE'VE GOT SOME INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVENUE WITH AGREEMENTS WE HAVE WITH DENTON COUNTY AND WITH OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, THE SALES TAX FUNDS FOR STREET MAINTENANCE.
THEN WE'VE GOT IMPACT FEES AND JUST SOME OF THE TRANSFERS.
JUST THOSE GENERAL ACCOUNTING REASONS, WHERE WE'RE MOVING AND STRATEGICALLY PAYING FOR THINGS IN CASH WHERE WE CAN.
JAMES, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT HERE TO START GOING THROUGH QUESTIONS AND ADDITIONAL BEFORE WE MOVE INTO TAX RATE?
>> I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR [NOISE] CHUCK IF YOU'RE READY BECAUSE THIS IS AN ITEM THAT WE RECOGNIZE THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WITH THE FALL OF EVENT, SCALABILITY WAS THE THING THAT WE WROTE ON THIS IN THE SENSE THAT WHAT WE DID IS WE USED INDEPENDENCE FAST AS AN ANALOG, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY SAYING THAT WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO THE SCALE OF INDEPENDENCE FANS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF NUANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
BECAUSE IT'S A PART OF THIS BROADER DISCUSSION OF HOW WE WANT TO LEVERAGE POTENTIALLY HOT FUNDS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT CHUCK GIVE YOU A SENSE OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND HOW WE CAN APPROACH THIS BECAUSE AGAIN, IT'S EASIER WHEN WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH SOMETHING.
CHUCK IS PREPARED TO SAY, YOU HAVE INDEPENDENCE FEST AT THIS LEVEL, BUT THEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT WHAT WE HAVE FOR THE CHRISTMAS PARADE OR SOMETHING AS SMALL AS WHAT WE DO IN ART IN A PART TO GIVE YOU A SCALE OF THE APPROACHES THAT WE CAN TAKE WITH THIS PARTICULAR EVENT.
I THINK THE OTHER PIECE THAT WE HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF TOO IS THAT IN THIS BUDGET,
[01:00:03]
THAT SPECIAL EVENTS TEAM ARE TWO INDIVIDUALS.DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND THE SCALE OF THE EVENT IS GOING TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE NEED BOTH THOSE BODIES.
SUFFICE TO SAY THAT IF WE DO A SMALLER EVENT IN THE FALL, WE MAY BE ABLE TO GET AWAY JUST WITH THE MANAGER, THAT THEY CAN TAKE THE BURDEN OFF OF THE STAFF THAT CURRENTLY DOES INDEPENDENCE FEST, AND THEY CAN TAKE THAT OVER.
BUT IF WE DO A SUBSTANTIVE EVENT IN THE FALL, IT'S ALMOST A NECESSITY TO HAVE BOTH THE MANAGER AND THE COORDINATOR.
THERE'S A FTE COMPONENT THAT'S ALSO IN THIS CONVERSATION.
I THINK IF WE DO SOMETHING ON A LARGER SCALE IN THE FALL, WE NEED BOTH POSITIONS.
BUT IF WE DO SCALE IT BACK, WE CAN GET AWAY WITH JUST THE MANAGER AT THIS TIME.
I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO APPROACH IT CHUCK, IF YOU CAN JUST GIVE THEM A SENSE OF WHAT THE DOLLAR AMOUNT GETS.
WE KNOW AT 271 BASICALLY GETS YOU INDEPENDENCE FEST, BUT IF WE WERE TO SCALE IT BACK CHUCK, GIVE THEM A SENSE OF WHAT THOSE OFFERINGS WOULD BE FOR A SMALLER SCALE EVENT FOR THE FALL EVENT.
>> THANK YOU, JAMES. REAL QUICK I'LL GO OVER WHAT THE BUDGET THE 269 PROVIDES.
GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT WE PUT TOGETHER, AND THAT'S TO DO A FULL DAY EVENT BASICALLY FROM 10:00 AM TO 10:00 PM.
IT WOULD BE HELD SOMETIME IN OCTOBER.
WE'LL TRY TO NAIL THAT DATE DOWN IF WE GET APPROVED FUNDING FOR THAT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IT AT BAKERSFIELD, THEMING WITH A THEME TO CELEBRATE THE HARVEST.
IS A FALL FESTIVAL, A NAME THAT WE CAME UP WITH WAS FALLING TO FLOWER MOUND.
LIKE I SAID, ALLOWS FOR A FULL DAY WITH MULTIPLE BANDS, AND WE LOOKED AT ENDING WITH A TOP TIER DFW PARTY BAND.
IT WOULD HAVE A ROBUST KID ZONE.
WE LOOK TO DO BEER AND WINE SALES AGAIN.
WE'LL HAVE ARTS AND CRAFT FAIR, PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAN EXPLORE TO BRING OTHER PEOPLE IN TO HELP RUN CERTAIN AREAS OF THE FESTIVAL.
WE'LL HAVE AMPLE CONCESSIONS TARGETING WITH OUR FOOD VENDORS TRYING TO TARGET HARVEST, INSPIRED REFRESHMENTS, AND IN COURSE, DOING DIFFERENT DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND HAVING COMMUNITY GROUPS ALSO PERFORM ON THE MAIN STAGE.
NOW WE COULD HAVE PUMPKIN CARVING DEMONSTRATIONS, DANCE GROUPS, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT AS WELL.
SOME OTHER UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT, POSSIBLY DOING WAS HAVING A DRONE SHOW AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, BIG HAY MAIZE, STRAW OR PUMPKIN SCULPTURES, PETTING ZOOS.
WE COULD DO PUMPKIN CATAPULTS FOR A FEE, PUMPKIN PATCH, POTENTIALLY.
WE COULD LOOK TO MAYBE HAVE A FARMERS MARKET AT THIS EVENT AS WELL AND PONY RIDES.
WE KNOW HOW TO DO FESTIVALS AT BAKERSFIELD PARK.
IT'S GOT LOTS OF CLOSE PARKING WITH THE SCHOOL RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.
THIS EVENT I COULD SEE IS ACTUALLY HAVING SOME MORE ONSITE PARKING, AND WE CAN DO OBVIOUSLY SHUTTLING FROM LOCATIONS PRETTY CLOSE BY.
THE TOTAL BUDGET YOU SAW WAS 269 PLUS THE ADDITIONAL STAFF COSTS THAT IT WOULD TAKE TO RUN THE FULL DAY EVENT.
THEN WE COULD OBVIOUSLY WITH FESTIVALS THIS SIZE, WE WOULD HAVE SPONSORSHIPS, WE'D HAVE VENDOR FEES, WE COULD HAVE CERTAIN REVENUE SHARING THINGS, LIKE I MENTIONED WITH SHOOTING THE PUMPKINS OR BEER AND WINE SALES, WE USUALLY GET 25% OF THE TOTAL REVENUE FOR THAT.
NOW, IF WE WANT TO SCALE IT DOWN, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE WE MIGHT WANT TO DO OR IF WE WANT TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS REGARDING THE HOT TAX, WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THOSE AS WELL.
WE'LL NEED TO GET YOU GUYS THOUGHTS ON THAT AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
BUT WE COULD DO IT MORE LIKE THE ART FESTIVAL.
THAT'S A REALLY SMALL FESTIVAL THAT WE DO AT HERITAGE PARK.
A LOT OF IT IS RUN BY STAFF, AND THEN WE HAVE ALL OF OUR ART VENDORS THAT COME IN AND A LOT OF COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT DO THE ENTERTAINMENT FOR THAT.
SOME FOLKS COME IN, WHETHER IT'S A BAND OR THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THAT AS WELL.
WE USUALLY SPEND, I THINK OUR BUDGET AT AROUND 15,000 FOR THAT EVENT.
IT'S PRETTY SMALL. WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A MAIN STAGE OUT THERE AND THE SOUND AND EQUIPMENT IS VERY MINOR, IS NOT TO THE LEVEL THAT YOU SEE AT EVEN THE CHRISTMAS PARADE.
>> WE'RE PROBABLY ATTRACTING MOSTLY PEOPLE FROM THE AREA OR FLOWERMOUND AREA.
YOUR CHRISTMAS PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING EVENT, WE SPENT AROUND 105,000 FOR THAT.
THAT DOES INCLUDE THE COST OF THE TREE, AS WELL AS THE BARRICADES THAT WE DO WITH ALL THE BICYCLE RACKS UP AND DOWN THE PARADE.
THAT STAGE IS ALL COMMUNITY GROUPS, WHETHER IT'S HIGH SCHOOLS, OR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, IT'S ALL FREE ON THAT STAGE.
WE'RE NOT PAYING FOR ANY ENTERTAINMENT OTHER THAN THE ACTIVITIES THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE FOR KIDDOS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. WE DO PAY FOR THAT.
[01:05:04]
LIKE I SAID, WE SPENT ABOUT 105,000 FOR THAT ONE.THEN THE INDEPENDENCE FEST, YOU GUYS ALL KNOW THAT.
WE JUST HAD IT VERY SUCCESSFUL, THAT'S A HALF-DAY EVENT FOR THE EVENING PROGRAM.
THEN WE HAVE THE CHILDREN'S PARADE IN THE MORNING, AND WE SPEND AROUND 370,000 FOR THAT EVENT.
THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE STAFF COSTS.
IT DOES INCLUDE THE FIREWORKS AND SHUTTLE COST FOR ALL THE BUSES THAT WE HAVE THERE, 22 PLUS BUSES THAT WE PAY FOR.
SCALING IT DOWN, SOME THINGS WE COULD LOOK AT, WE COULD LOOK AT MOVING IT TO A HALF-DAY EVENT AND NOT A FULL DAY THAT WILL CUT DOWN ON STAFF COSTS.
I'M ESTIMATING MAYBE 15,000 OFF OF THAT 50,000 THAT WE HAD IN THERE.
THEN EVENT COSTS WILL PROBABLY WE WOULDN'T HAVE AS MUCH ENTERTAINMENT.
THERE'S SOME THINGS WE CAN SCALE BACK AND PROBABLY SAVE ANOTHER 15,000 THERE.
YOU'RE LOOKING ABOUT 30,000 SAVINGS THERE.
IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO DO THE DRONE SHOW, I THINK WE HAVE 30,000 FOR THAT.
NOW YOU'RE ABOUT 60,000 LESS, BUT YOU ARE LESSING THE EVENT AS WELL.
YOU WANT TO DRAW PEOPLE IN, YOU NEED THINGS TO DRAW THEM IN, THAT THEY WANT TO COME FORWARD AND THEY WANT TO SEE.
IF YOU'RE TAKING AWAY A LOT OF THESE COOL THINGS, WHAT'S THE DRAW GOING TO BE TO COME TO THIS EVENT? WE DID THE WILD ABOUT FLOWERMOUND EVENT.
THAT WAS A DAY-AND-A-HALF EVENT.
WE STARTED WITH THAT WAY BACK IN THE DAY.
I THINK WE DID TWO YEARS OF THAT.
IT WAS A FRIDAY STARTING AT 6:00 AND GOING TILL 10:00 AND THEN ALL DAY, SATURDAY.
I THINK IT WAS IN THE MAY TIME PERIOD, MAYBE JUNE.
I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER EXACTLY.
IT WAS NOT DURING A HOLIDAY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
LITTLE BIT SLOW, AND I THINK THAT'S WHY WE DECIDED TO MOVE THAT FUNDING AND DO A BIGGER INDEPENDENCE FARCE AND HAVE A NATIONAL ACT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE TOOK THAT FUNDING AND ENHANCED INDEPENDENCE FARCE WITH IT.
I THINK HAVING THINGS TO DRAW PEOPLE IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT IN THEMING IT AND REALLY DRIVING THAT HOME TO EVERYONE THAT MAKING IT EXTRA SPECIAL WITH THEMING AND ADDING THESE EXTRA THINGS TO BRING IN THE FOLKS TO MAKE IT EXTRA FUN.
THOSE ARE SOME DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S REALLY WHAT YOU GUYS WOULD WANT TO SEE US TAKE AWAY FROM IT OR WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WERE AND HOW WE COULD LOOK TO.
IF WE DON'T DO ALCOHOL, I DON'T HAVE TO FENCE THE WHOLE FESTIVAL, THAT'S A COST AS WELL, OR WE COULD LOOK TO DO JUST A LITTLE BEER GARDEN AREA, I MIGHT SAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
WE'LL HAVE LESS GATES THAT POLICE HAVE TO MAN AND BE THERE, OR STAFF, SECURITY, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO CUT DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THAT.
IT'S HARD TO GIVE YOU THE EXACT NUMBER WITHOUT DIVE IT INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> CHUCK, I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO CONSTRAIN THE EVENT BY PICKING AN ARBITRARY BUDGET NUMBER TODAY.
I'M INCLINED TO LEAVE IT WHERE YOU HAVE IT, AND THEN WE CAN FINE-TUNE THE EVENT.
MAYBE THE COST JUST COMES DOWN ORGANICALLY BECAUSE WE CHANGE SOME OF THE PARAMETERS.
BUT WHAT IF WE'RE GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION AND WE WANT TO USE THE HOT TEXT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT HAS TO BE A DAY-AND-A-HALF EVENT AGAIN?
>> LIKE I MENTIONED, COULD DO THE MODEL THAT WE USE FOR WILD ABOUT FLOWERMOUND.
OF COURSE, IT'S GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE MONEY BECAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR A BIGGER BAND ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
WHETHER OR NOT WE DO FIREWORKS ONE NIGHT, DRONE SHOW ONE NIGHT, YOU COULD LOOK AT DOING THAT AS WELL.
YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT INCREASING THAT.
I COULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME DOLLAR FIGURES ON THAT.
ROUGHLY WITHOUT ADDING IN I GUESS YOU'D ADD ANOTHER 30 ROUGHLY TO IT IF WE DID A FIREWORK SHOW ON ONE NIGHT AND DRONE SHOW ON THE OTHER NIGHT.
BUT THAT WAS AROUND ANOTHER 75,000, 25,000 FOR STAFF AND ANOTHER 50,000 FOR THE EVENTS.
THEN ADD THE 30,000 IF WE DO A FIREWORKS THAT NIGHT AS WELL.
WE COULD JUST DO THE BAND AND HAVE THE BIG DRONE SHOW OR FIREWORKS SHOW THE NEXT NIGHT.
>> WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS EVENT, SOME OF THE SYNERGIES THAT I SAW THAT I THOUGHT COULD BE BENEFICIAL WAS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE RIVERWALK, TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO THE RIVERWALK, BRINGING IT TO A MORE CENTRAL LOCATION.
MAYBE WHERE WE DON'T NEED SHUTTLES AND THAT SORT OF THING.
IS THERE A WAY TO MAKE THIS FIT INTO THE RIVERWALK?
>> I THINK THE THING WE DID EXPLORE THE RIVERWALK A LITTLE BIT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE CONCERNED WITH WAS LONG TERM AND THE AMOUNT OF SPACE THAT AN EVENT LIKE THIS WOULD TAKE UP.
RIGHT NOW, YEAH, ON THAT PROMENADE.
WE COULD LOOK TO DO SOMETHING THERE, BUT THE NEXT YEAR, THERE COULD BE SOMEONE THAT BUYS IT AND WANTS TO BUILD SOMETHING ON IT, AND THEN THAT GOES AWAY.
THEY ALSO HAVE A LOT MORE HOMES IN CLOSER PROXIMITY.
IF WE'RE HAVING FOOD VENDORS AND WE'RE SHUTTING DOWN ROADS.
WHAT IS THAT GOING TO DO TO THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE THERE? YOU START WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS AND MAYBE THE ART FESTIVAL COULD MOVE THERE AS AN OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THAT'S MUCH SMALLER SCALE, AND WE COULD LOOK TO BRING OTHER THINGS THERE.
[01:10:03]
I DON'T KNOW IF A EVENT IF WE'RE LOOKING TO MAKE IT INDEPENDENCE VEST SIZE WOULD FIT IN THAT LOCATION.>> THEY DO HAVE THEIR OWN FESTIVALS.
IN FACT, THEY CAME TO US AND ASKED FOR MORE FESTIVAL PERMISSION.
THEY DO SHUT THE ROADS DOWN AND I THINK THE RESIDENTS TOLERATE IT PRETTY WELL BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S AN ENHANCEMENT TO THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE THERE.
BUT THE THING THAT I WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THINKING ABOUT OCTOBER IS FOOTBALL SEASON, AND ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND THE BAND KIDS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AND THE PARENTS, THEY'RE COMMITTED ON FRIDAY NIGHTS, AND EVEN A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE COMMITTED TO SATURDAY MORNING SPORTS.
I'M THINKING MAYBE HALF-DAY ON SATURDAY MIGHT SUIT WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS AND THEIR AVAILABILITY AS WELL AS MAKING IT A SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
BUT THE OTHER QUESTION I WANTED TO KNOW IS WHEN WE MADE THAT SWITCH FROM WILD ABOUT FLOWERMOUND TO INDEPENDENCE FEST, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE FIRST YEARS OF ENGAGEMENT FOR COMMUNITY NUMBERS? I KNOW WE'RE NOW WELL OVER 20,000 PRETTY CONSISTENTLY.
BUT WHAT WERE THOSE FIRST DAYS LIKE? BEFORE IT HAD A REPUTATION AND BEFORE PEOPLE DEFINITELY [INAUDIBLE]
>> I THINK THE FIRST YEAR WHERE WE ENHANCED THE INDEPENDENCE FEST.
WE BASICALLY HAD THE STAGE ON THE PARKING LOT WHERE WE HAD THE VIP PARKING NOW FILLED THAT AREA UP WITH PEOPLE AND WE PARKED ON THE FIVE ACRES WHERE WE DO MOST OF OUR STUFF NOW, THAT WAS EXTRA PARKING.
IT REALLY ALL JUST HAPPENED THERE.
YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT BEFORE 5,000 PEOPLE AT THAT TIME.
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WAS THROWN OFF TOO BECAUSE GRAPEVINE IT'S HARD TO TELL.
IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS A BIGGER EVENT THIS YEAR AT INDEPENDENCE FEST BECAUSE GRAPEVINE DIDN'T HAVE THEIR FIREWORKS. CORRECT?
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT. BUT I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT AN EVENT IN ITS FIRST YEAR BEFORE IT GAINS THE REPUTATION AND THE TRACTION THAT IT NEEDS.
I MEAN, IF WE'VE GONE FROM ABOUT 5,000 TO 20 PLUS, THAT TAKES SEVERAL YEARS.
I WOULD BE AFRAID TO COMMIT THE RESOURCES AND THE TIME AND THE MONEY FOR A 20,000-PERSON EVENT AND GET 5,000 PEOPLE, MAYBE.
>> LIKE WHAT HAPPENED WITH WILD ABOUT FLOWERMOUND.
>> YEAH. I AM THINKING A LITTLE BIT SCALED BACK LIKE MAYBE A HALF DAY SATURDAY AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING.
I REALLY THINK THE DRONE SHOW IS SUPER COOL, AND IT WOULD BE SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN INDEPENDENCE FEST WITH THE TRADITIONAL FIREWORKS.
I LIKE INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS THE PERFORMANCES GO, BUT YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF BAND KITS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN COMPETITION IN OCTOBER SATURDAYS, TOO.
>> ONE DOWNSIDE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED, ALL THE SPORTS ACTIVITIES.
WE'LL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A HIT TO THE FOLKS AT BAKERSFIELD WITH THEIR LEAGUES AS WELL.
THEY COUNT ON SATURDAYS, SO THAT IS A DOWNSIDE TO DOING IT AT BAKERSFIELD.
>> WOULD WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY DISPLACE THEM?
>> WE WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE. IF WE STARTED BLACKOUT DATE.
>> WE WOULD. BUT WE'D KNOW FAR ENOUGH IN ADVANCE, WHERE IT COULD BE A BY WEEK FOR THEM.
>> YEAH, THEY'RE USED TO GETTING BLACKOUT DAYS FOR WHATEVER REASON.
>> THEN THERE'S ALSO POTENTIAL WEATHER. HURRICANE [INAUDIBLE]
>> THIS MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE OF THE RIVERWALK BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BUILT-IN AUDIENCE THAT'S RIGHT THERE.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT MORE POPULATION DENSITY IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.
IF WE CAN MAKE IT FIT, IT'S ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE WITH THIS SCALE DOWN.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A CULTURAL ARTS CENTER THERE IN THE FUTURE, MAYBE, WHICH WOULD HAVE AN OUTDOOR STAGE WHERE THAT WOULD FACILITATE THIS WOULD GET PEOPLE USED TO BEING IN THAT LOCATION.
>> IT WOULD BE MUCH MORE SCALED DOWN.
>> YEAH, MUCH MORE SCALED BUT I THINK THAT WAS THE INTENTION ALL ALONG, WASN'T IT, ANN?
>> I THINK SO. I DIDN'T HAVE AS GRAND A PRODUCTION AS INDEPENDENCE FEST IN MIND WHEN I WAS STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THIS CONCEPT.
I WAS THINKING MORE LIKE A FOUNDERS DAY, WHICH OF COURSE, FEBRUARY IS OUT OF THE QUESTION BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER.
BUT MORE OF A HERITAGE THING WHERE PEOPLE CELEBRATE THE THINGS WE HAVE IN COMMON AND THE THINGS THAT ARE SPECIAL THAT MAKE US DIFFERENT.
IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
I LIKE THE FALL THING, I THINK THE HAY MAZE AND THE PUMPKIN PATCH, ESPECIALLY THE PUMPKIN PATCH BECAUSE WE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE ONE ANYMORE, ARE WE? THAT'S GONE AWAY AND WE'RE NOT HAVING IT AND PEOPLE REALLY MISS THE PUMPKIN PATCH.
BUT THAT WOULD BE A MULTI-DAY EVENT ACTUALLY.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY THE THING I WORRY ABOUT GOING A FOUR-HOUR EVENT IS IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO DO A PUMPKIN PATCH WITH THAT.
I THINK YOU'D WANT TO HAVE SOMEONE HELP US FACILITATE THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT A LONGER.
>> IF WE CAME TO AN AGREEMENT WITH VACANT PROPERTY CURRENTLY ON THE RIVERWALK FOR A PUMPKIN PATCH, WOULD THAT QUALIFY AS FOR THE MULTI-DAY EVENT TO USE THE HOT TAX?
>> IF WE MAKE IT PART OF THIS FESTIVAL AS FAR AS IT MAYBE OPENS ON FRIDAY AND CLOSES ON SUNDAY.
>> YEAH, THE WHOLE WEEK BEFORE, WE RUN THE LITTLE PUMPKIN PATCH AND THE HAY MAZE IS THERE, SO LITTLE KIDS CAN COME, AND THEN IT CULMINATES THAT SATURDAY NIGHT, THE BIG EVENT.
>> I WOULD THINK SO. I LIKE THAT IDEA.
BECAUSE I SHARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE SATURDAYS IN OCTOBER.
[01:15:03]
THAT'S ONE NICE THING ABOUT INDEPENDENCE FEST IS IT'S A HOLIDAY.NO ONE HAS ANYTHING ELSE TO DO.
THEY'RE NOT AT WORK. THEY DON'T HAVE KIDS ACTIVITIES, WHETHER IT'S SPORTS OR BAND OR ANYTHING ELSE.
THEY'RE COLLEGE FOOTBALL TO CONTEND WITH.
THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THOSE COMPETING ITEMS, WHEREAS IN OCTOBER, WE DO, REALLY LIKE ANN YOUR IDEA WHERE IF WE COULD SPREAD THAT OUT OVER MULTIPLE DAYS, HAVE PARTS OF IT.
BUILDING UP TO A BIG COMBINATION EVENT ON SATURDAY NIGHT WITH A DRONE SHOW AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
I THINK THAT GIVES MORE THE COMMUNITY THE ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE AND ALSO STILL HAVE THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY FESTIVAL FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN ATTEND ON SATURDAY.
>> I LIKE THAT TOO. IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD LOOK AT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE CONSIDERED THIS A SPORTING EVENT WITH THAT, WHETHER IT BE A WALK OR A RUN OR A CYCLING EVENT BECAUSE I KNOW A LOT OF TOWNS DO THESE CYCLING EVENTS OR RUNS, AND IT HELPS TO OFFSET SOME OF THE COST WHILE IT ALSO ENGAGES PEOPLE ESSENTIALLY.
>> CURRENTLY WE HAVE THE [INAUDIBLE]
>> EARLY NOVEMBER TO BRING THAT INTO AND BE PART OF THAT, AND WE BUMP IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> MAYBE SWITCH IT TO A CYCLING RIDE OR SOMETHING INSTEAD.
>> I THINK WE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ENJOY DOING THE 5K.
>> YEAH, WELL, YEAH, THAT WOULD BE BACK-TO-BACK.
>> I'LL JUST SAY CHECK IF I KNOW WE'VE SETTLED IN IN OCTOBER, BUT I WAS HOPING THAT WE COULD ALIGN THIS WITH DOROTHY'S DASH WITH VETERANS DAY.
MAYBE EARLY NOVEMBER IS STILL CAN BE A POINT OF DISCUSSION.
WE CAN USE ALL THOSE OTHER EVENTS WE'RE ALSO DOING, COMBINE THEM INTO THIS PATRIOTIC FESTIVAL PERHAPS.
I DON'T WANT TO SOLVE THESE THINGS TODAY.
I LIKE THE DIRECTION THE CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING.
IT SEEMS CLOSER TO WHAT I HAD IN MIND MONTHS AGO THAN JUST INDEPENDENCE FEST TOO, NOT TO SAY THAT THERE WOULD BE ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
BUT IF WE COULD RIGHT SIZE IT, GET INTO THE RIVERWALK, AND MAKE IT A MULTI-DAY SO IT'S HOT TAX ELIGIBLE, I THINK IT'LL BE A BIG SUCCESS.
I JUST THINK YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THAT AREA THAT ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO TRAVEL BY BUS TO GET THERE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG AUDIENCE.
>> I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THE FESTIVAL IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN EARLY NOVEMBER, COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL THEY WANT TO DO THERE, HOW THAT GOES.
>> WELL, THAT'LL BE THIS YEAR, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS FESTIVAL IN 2025.
>> THAT'S WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR.
>> THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TEST. YEAH.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THEY PLANNED TO DO ANNUALLY OR NOT.
>> I KNOW THAT THEY ASKED FOR MANY MORE FESTIVAL-TYPE PERMISSIONS LIKE PERMITTED BY RIGHT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> LET ME IF I CAN, LET ME SHARE WHAT I'M HEARING AND MAYBE A POTENTIAL APPROACH MOVING FORWARD.
COUNSEL MICHIO, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING IS THAT THERE'S A UNIQUE CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO DESIGN AN EVENT ON THE FLY DURING THE BUDGET WORKSHOP.
THAT'S NOT THE BEST PLACE TO NECESSARILY DO IT, BUT WHAT I HEAR IS THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONSENSUS OF LET'S TRY TO FIND A WAY TO DEVELOP A MULTI-DAY EVENT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW US TO LEVERAGE THOSE HOT TAXES.
LET'S NOT NECESSARILY COMMIT TO A DOLLAR AMOUNT AT THIS TIME.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE CAN TAKE THAT 271 POTENTIALLY AND JUST UNDERSTAND IT.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HIT THAT NUMBER.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO FORMULATE AN EVENT THAT CAN CHECK THE BOXES OF THE MULTI-DAY EVENT, TRYING TO LEVERAGE, POTENTIALLY SPACE IN A RIVERWALK TO BRING FOLKS DOWN THERE AND WE CAN START WORKING ON THAT.
THE THING THAT I DO WANT TO CLARIFY TO A LOT OF FOLKS IS THAT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING IN OCTOBER OF THIS YEAR.
THE TARGET IS OCTOBER '25, SO WE HAVE A YEAR PLUS TO BE ABLE TO PLAN THIS OUT.
I HEAR CONSENSUS ABOUT TRYING TO GET IT TO THE MULTI-DAY LEVEL TO WHERE WE CAN LEVERAGE THE HOT.
AT THIS POINT, WE WON'T COMMIT NECESSARILY TO A DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT COUNSEL DOES NOT HAVE ANY INTENT TO NECESSARILY SPEND 275,000, BUT TRY TO BE ABLE TO GET THE RIGHT LOCATION, GET IT TO A MULTI-DAY EVENT, SEE IF WE CAN LEVERAGE THOSE HOT FUNDS.
IT'LL GIVE US THE ABILITY TO START WORKING ON SCOPING THAT AND WE CAN KEEP ALL A PRIZE OF WHAT WE ULTIMATELY COME UP WITH.
THE TRICKY PART ABOUT THIS IS THAT FORGIVE ME FOR MY LACK OF A BETTER WORD IS SQUISHY RIGHT NOW.
IT'S HARD TO COMMIT TO SOMETHING VERY HARD, BUT I THINK I GOT ENOUGH FROM YOU GUYS TO KNOW HOW WE CAN POTENTIALLY PROCEED WITH THIS PARTICULAR PACKAGE.
WE WON'T MESS WITH THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, BUT OUR TARGET WILL BE FOR A MULTI-DAY EVENT, LEVERAGING THOSE HOT TAXES, POTENTIALLY.
>> I'M JUST LOOKING FOR HEAD NODS TO SEE IF THERE'S AGREEMENT WITH THAT.
>> YES. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY TOO ON THE TWO FTES.
WOULD WE BE THEN LOOKING AT ONE, LIKELY, BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT? [LAUGHTER]
>> I THOUGHT THAT WOULD CUT IT.
>> I'VE BEEN WANTING THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND WE HAVE SO MANY EVENTS AND THEY KEEP GROWING.
WE TALK ABOUT HOW INDEPENDENCE FEST GREW FROM 4000-20 WHATEVER THOUSAND WE HAVE NOW,
[01:20:06]
SO EVERYTHING KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AND WE KEEP ADDING STUFF HERE AND THERE.>> IF I CAN, LET ME JUST ADD TO IT TO CHUCKS.
WHAT WE'RE MISSING NECESSARILY IN SCALE, WE'RE MAKING UP FOR COMPLEXITY NOW, AND, GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO A POTENTIAL MULTI-DAY EVENT WITH A LOT OF DYNAMIC PIECES IN IT AND PULLING SOME OTHER THINGS IN, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE IF WE WANT TO GO THIS DIRECTION, WE PROBABLY SHOULD KEEP BOTH FTES IN.
THAT'S MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION ON IT.
>> MOVING THE FUNDING FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO THE HUT TAX, THIS MAKE MORE SENSE TO ME.
>> IT HELPS. BUT, THE FTE, DID SOMEONE SAY EARLIER, IT COULD BE FUNDED FROM THE HUT TAX? WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT.
>> THOSE PROBABLY ONES WOULDN'T.
>> BUT THAT COULD BE MORE THE GENERAL FUND. SO ONE.
>> BUT THE 275 FALLS OFF THE GENERAL FUND GOES TO THE HUT TAX.
I GUESS THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER TO SWALLOW THE PILL.
>> IT PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE THAT MUCH REALLY IF WE SCALE IT DOWN.
>> I'D HOPE THAT IT WOULD BE LESS.
I'D LIKE IT TO BE SCALED DOWN AT LEAST FOR THIS FIRST YEAR, TO ALL POINTS EARLIER, I'D HATE TO SPEND A QUARTER OF $1 MILLION ON EVENT THAT 5,000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO.
I WOULDN'T MIND RUN THROWING A TRIBAL LOAN OUT THIS YEAR OR NEXT YEAR, SEE HOW IT WORKS AND SPEND A LESSER AMOUNT WITH THE INTENT TO GROW IT AND SCALE OVER THE NEXT PERIOD OF TIME, BUT NOT JUST GO ALL IN ON ONE YEAR AND POTENTIALLY WASTE A LOT OF MONEY.
>> I THINK THIS HAS BEEN GREAT FEEDBACK, SO WE ALL GET TOGETHER AND WE'LL START PUTTING PENCIL TO PAPER AND FIGURE ON THAT.
>> ONE THING I'M CONFIDENT OF IS WHAT YOU ALL COME UP WITH WILL BE FANTASTIC.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, DREW, I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE WE MAYBE LEAVE THIS PARTICULAR DISCUSSION AND MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY FEEDBACK OR INPUT.
>> NO, I AGREE WITH SCALING IT.
I THINK THE FIRST YEAR, WE SHOULDN'T DO SOMETHING AS BIG AS INDEPENDENCE FEST, BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE GOING TO GET THE ATTENTION THAT INDEPENDENCE FEST DOES.
I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF DOING THE RIVER WALK, BUT I ALSO WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COST OF DOING THE RIVER WALK IS, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY PROPERTY THERE YET.
>> I'VE GOT ONE QUESTION. THE ARTS.
COUNCILMAN [INAUDIBLE], YOU MENTIONED, BASICALLY, THAT WAS AN UNFUNDED ITEM.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO MOVE INTO THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY FUND TAX? IS THERE A CONSENSUS ON COUNCIL ON THAT ITEM?
>> THE PUBLIC ART IS SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL DISCUSSED IN A WORK SESSION.
I THOUGHT THERE WAS CONSENSUS AT THAT TIME.
I REALIZED IT DIDN'T MAKE THE BUDGET, AND I'M OKAY WITH THAT AS A GENERAL FUND ITEM, BUT AS A HUT TAX ITEM.
IT MAKES MORE SENSE TO ME TO BRING IT BACK AND I THINK IT'S BASED ON A PERCENTAGE, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> THERE IS A 15% LIMIT IN STATE LAW ON THE ARTS.
>> SINCE WE'RE CAPPED ON HOW MUCH WE CAN SPEND, WHATEVER THAT CAP IS.
>> I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW THEY DEFINE THAT 15%, BUT, WE ABSOLUTELY COULD PUT IN A BUDGET AMOUNT UP TO WHATEVER THAT CAP WOULD BE ALLOWABLE AT.
>> SINCE WE'RE SPENDING MONEY POTENTIALLY FROM THE HUT FUND ON THE FESTIVAL, I'D PROPOSE THAT WE HOLD OFF ON THE PUBLIC ART FOR A YEAR, LET THAT FUND BALANCE GROW SOME MORE TO JAMES' POINT, SO WE'RE NOT SPENDING IT ALL AT ONCE, AND THEN, WE CAN KEEP OUR POWDER DRY FOR WHAT WE MIGHT HAVE NEEDED IN.
I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY.
IF YOU SAY WE'RE SPENDING 100K, WE'VE GOT 15K FOR THE ARTS, BUT WE DON'T SPEND.
>> BUT YOU CAN KEEP THAT FUND RAISING. BUT IT CAN'T GROW.
>> FORGIVE ME, I'M NOT ENTIRELY UP TO SPEED ON THE EXACT LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE ON HOW THAT CALCULATES.
IF YOU CAN LET US GO BACK AND INVESTIGATE, WE CAN GET YOU A BETTER ANSWER THAT WE'RE MORE COMFORTABLE ENSURING THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO RUN A FOUL OF ANYTHING IN THE LAW WITH THAT.
>> WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY ASKING IS CORRECT.
IT'S 15% OF THE MONEY GENERATED EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
ANY OF IT UNUSED CAN BE USED IN A FUTURE YEAR.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T USE IT THIS YEAR, THAT 15% BASICALLY ROLLS ANY OF IT STILL REMAINING IN FUND BALANCE, YOU CAN BASICALLY USE ANY OF THAT PRIOR BANK AMOUNT IN A FUTURE YEAR.
>> TO THE EXTENT THERE'S DISAGREEMENT, I WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF USING OUR 15% THIS YEAR, AND BRINGING THAT BACK INTO THE BUDGET AT WHATEVER LEVEL WE'RE ALLOWED TO.
IT'S ALL WE CAN SPEND. THERE'S A CAP ON HOW MUCH WE CAN SPEND.
I WOULD BRING IT BACK INTO THE BUDGET.
>> I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT IT.
I THINK I'M A LITTLE LUKEWARM ON THE PUBLIC ART JUST BECAUSE IT IS SO SUBJECTIVE, AND I DON'T WANT TO END UP WITH ANOTHER CHOMPY STATUTE.
SORRY. I'M OKAY DELAYING IT TO BRIAN'S POINT, AND IF IT CAN COMPOUND 15, 15, 15, WE MIGHT GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE CAN HAVE A BETTER PIECE OF SCULPTURAL ART THAT IS MORE EXPENSIVE,
[01:25:02]
BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY EXPENSIVE.>> I DEFINITELY THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE OF OPINIONS ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO.
MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST PUSH THIS OUT ON MORE SPECIFICS ON OUR MONDAY MEETING.
>> WHERE WE CAN GIVE MORE INFORMATION.
>> I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT CHRIS HAS TO SAY AS WELL.
>> I'M CONFUSED. WHAT ARE WE SAYING WE'RE DOING?
>> WE'RE TRYING TO GET MORE SPECIFIC OF WHAT TYPE OF ART.
>> CHRIS, THERE WAS A BUDGET ITEM FOR 100K FOR PUBLIC ART.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THAT WORK SESSION, BUT IT DIDN'T MAKE IT AS A DECISION PACKAGE. IT WAS UNFUNDED.
THE HUT TAX, A PORTION OF IT CAN BE USED FOR PUBLIC ART.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL THAT BACK IN AS A DECISION PACKAGE, BUT FUNDING IT VIA HUT TAX, WHICH WAS NOT CONTEMPLATED UNTIL NOW.
WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING WAS BRINGING THE PUBLIC ART ITEM BACK IN, BUT ONLY FUNDING IT TO THE LEVEL THAT THE HUT TAX WOULD ALLOW, WHICH IS 15% OF WHATEVER WE SPENT.
IT'D BE LIKE $40,000 OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
>> I'M SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. I THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT.
WE GET A LOT OF COMPLIMENTS ABOUT SOME OF THE ART THAT WE HAVE IN OUR TOWN.
TO GO ON YOUR CONCERN, I FEEL WE CAN REVIEW WHAT WE'RE PUTTING IN.
>> CAN WE REVIEW IT AND VOTE ON IT IF WE?
>> HERE'S MY THOUGHTS. I THINK I SAID WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY AT THAT WORK SESSION WHERE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
IS THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK THAT WE SERIOUSLY NEED TO CONTEMPLATE IN THE FUTURE, AND I KNOW WE GET INUNDATED WITH PLANS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT, THE THING THAT I WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF AND I'VE SEEN THIS IN MY CAREER IS THAT, SOMETIMES WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A STRATEGY DEPLOYING PUBLIC ART, YOU JUST GET INUNDATED WITH THE SAME THING AND EVERYBODY GETS MAD.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID IS THAT THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD INTRODUCTORY COMPONENT TO WHERE WE CAN ESSENTIALLY PILOT SOME PUBLIC ART, GET IN A LOCATION AND THEN DEVELOP A LONG RANGE PLAN ABOUT HOW DO WE WANT TO DEPLOY, HOW WE WANT TO SPIN, WHAT TYPES, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THAT GOES INTO IT, SO PERSONALLY, I FEEL THAT THE USE OF FUND BALANCE FOR THIS IS OKAY.
IT'S MORE THE ONGOING, IS WHAT I HAVE CONCERN WITH WITH THE HAT, AND SO WE DO HAVE AROUND 600,000 IN FUND BALANCE AT THE MOMENT THAT WE COULD LEVERAGE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE SOME PUBLIC ART AT A HIGH LEVEL.
USE THIS AS PILOT TO SEE HOW THINGS WORK, BUT I WOULD ULTIMATELY ENCOURAGE US TO HAVE A BROADER CONVERSATION, TO SEE WHAT IS OUR PLAN FOR PUBLIC ART? HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEPLOY IT? WHAT LOCATIONS? THINGS OF THAT NATURE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S AWFULLY IMPORTANT.
I LOVE ABILENE, BUT IT HAS SO MANY STORYBOOK STATUES IN DOWNTOWN ABILENE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO PLAN.
YOU JUST START THROWING STUFF UP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT'S JUST ART EVERYWHERE.
I'M NOT NOT KNOCKING, I LOVE ABILENE AND THE STATUTES THERE, BUT, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN AS A CAUTIONARY TALE THAT HAVING SOME FORETHOUGHT GOES A LONG WAY.
I THINK THAT WE COULD TREAT THIS YEAR AS A PILOT TO PICK THAT IDEAL LOCATION, GET IT OUT THERE, SEE HOW IT WORKS, SEE THE MAINTENANCE AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS AND WE CAN DEVELOP A LONG RANGE STRATEGY FOR HOW WE WANT TO DEPLOY ADDITIONAL ART IN THE FUTURE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS TOO. I THINK WHEN YOU HAD THAT WORK SESSION, THE FIRST LOCATION WOULD HAVE BEEN PETER'S COLONY MEMORIAL PARK.
WE HAVE A SPOT THERE FOR ARTWORK, AND IF WE HAD THE FUNDS TO DO THAT, IT WOULD GO THROUGH THE CULTURAL ARTS COMMISSION.
FOR THEM, WE'D HAVE A CALL FOR ART.
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO LOOK AT WHAT'S GOING IN THAT PARK AND COME UP WITH SOME IDEAS.
THEN, BEFORE WE WOULD MOVE FORWARD WITH IT, IT WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH YOU GUYS FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
>> I LIKE THAT IDEA. IT'S GOOD.
>> JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
WHAT I'M HEARING AND UNDERSTANDING IS WE DO WANT TO PUT A BUDGET AUTHORIZATION IN FOR THE 100K FOR PUBLIC ART.
IS THAT THE NUMBER WE WANT TO GO WITH? DO WE WANT A LESSER NUMBER?
>> I THINK THAT IF THE HUT TAX WILL SUPPORT 100K, BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT IT WILL BASED ON.
>> THAT COULD CHANGE BASED ON WHATEVER.
>> WHATEVER PUBLIC ART NUMBER WE WOULD BE ALLOWABLE WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THE RULES WITHIN THE FUNDS, AND THEN WE'LL PUT THE BUDGET AUTHORIZATION JUST AT THE 269 AS A PLACEHOLDER IN THE HUT FUNDS FOR THIS YEAR, KNOWING THAT THERE ARE STILL MANY CONVERSATIONS TO BE HEARD, AND WHAT ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO BE DESIGNED AND CARRIED OUT.
DOES THAT SOUND LIKE WHERE EVERYONE IS AT FOR THAT? I KNOW WHERE WE'RE MAKING ADJUSTMENTS.
>> JUST AS A OF WHERE WE ARE IN THE PRESENTATION.
WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FALL EVENT, AND WE'RE ABOUT TO START GOING TO THE TAX RATE.
BUT, WHAT PROBABLY BE APPROPRIATE BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT THE TAX RATE, IS THAT, I KNOW SEVERAL OF YOU HAD QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS AND FEEDBACK ABOUT SPECIFIC DECISION PACKAGES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
IS PROBABLY BE THE BEST TIME TO START
[01:30:02]
HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE THEY COULD POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE CONVERSATION IN REGARDS TO THE TAX RATE.I THINK THIS WILL BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN THE FLOOR UP FOR JUST ANY THOUGHTS, IDEAS, CONCERNS WITH DECISION PACKAGES AND CERTAIN ITEMS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SHOWING AS FUNDED AS DECISION PACKAGES.
>> I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE SIGNS AND MARKINGS FTES AND [INAUDIBLE].
>> I WILL. LET CLAY COME UP TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. MAKE SURE I DON'T MISS SPEAK
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL.
>> CLAY, THIS ITEM SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED THOSE RUBBER REFLECTIVE STRIPS ON EVERY CURVE AND THE NUMBER OF THEM AND HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE THEY REQUIRE.
IT SAID THAT IN 2015, THE COUNCIL HAD MADE A DECISION TO INSTALL THESE THINGS ALL OVER TOWN AND NOW WE NEED FOUR FTES TO MAINTAIN THEM.
CAN WE REVISIT THAT DECISION TO PUT THOSE OUT THERE? OTHER TOWNS DON'T HAVE THEM.
WHY DO WE NEED TO HIRE TWO FTES TO MAINTAIN.
THEY'RE OF MARGINAL BENEFIT ANYWAY.
I HAVE MATT HERE TOO, HE CAN PROBABLY STEP IN IF WE NEED TO.
BUT, BASICALLY, THAT STARTED WITH THE VALLEY CREEK CHURCH.
THEIR NIGHTTIME ACTIVITIES AS THEY WERE TURNING OUT ON 2499, I GUESS THEY'RE HITTING MEDIANS AND POPPING TIRES AND THINGS.
IT STARTED THERE. I STARTED ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
THEN IT GREW IN POPULARITY, WE GOT A LOT OF REQUESTS FOR THEM.
IT WASN'T NECESSARILY COUNCIL DECISION TO GO JUST PUT THEM EVERYWHERE.
IT WAS PUT THEM OUT THERE AND THEN THE PROGRAM JUST GREW OVER ALL OF THE DESIRE TO HAVE IT.
BUT, ALSO, THE FOUR FTES IS SPLIT AMONG THAT GROUP BETWEEN SIGNS, MEDIAN ALERTS, AND MARKINGS.
THIS ACTUAL REQUEST WAS ACTUALLY A SPLIT BETWEEN, WE HAVE A SIGN NEED AND WE HAVE THE MEDIAN ALERT NEED, SO IT WASN'T JUST MEDIAN ALERTS.
>> HOW DOES THIS IMPACT SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY? WILL THIS HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT?
>> I THINK SO. HONESTLY, JUST PERSONALLY, ESPECIALLY WITH OUR AGING POPULATION, THE VISIBILITY OF THOSE MEDIANS IS VERY CHALLENGING.
PARTICULARLY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE STREET LIGHT COVERAGE IN EVERY AREA OF TOWN, SOME ARE QUITE DARK AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE THEM AT NIGHT.
>> WELL, THE CONCERN I HAVE IS BECAUSE WE'RE DOING MORE OF A DARK SKY AS WELL, HAVING THOSE REFLECTORS.
I HAVE VIEWPOINTS ON BOTH SIDES.
>> I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY A BENEFIT.
THEY HAD SOME THAT WERE REPLACED JUST IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OUT BY ME, AND IT WAS A STARK CONTRAST.
I'D GOTTEN USED TO NOT SEEING IT AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, AND THEN THERE SO AFTER I DROVE BY AND THEY WERE REPLACED, AND IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
IT'S SO MUCH EASIER TO SEE, SO I'M ALL FOR IT.
>> IT'S ACTUALLY BETTER THAN HAVING STREET LIGHT BECAUSE IT'S REFLECTIVE.
IF THERE'S NO LIGHT SOURCE, THERE IS NO REFLECTION OF A LIGHT SOURCE, SO IT'S BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, I WOULD THINK.
THE ONLY CONCERN I DO HAVE OCCASIONALLY IS IN THE MAINTENANCE AREA BECAUSE THEY CAN BECOME A TRIP AND FALL HAZARD AS THEY LOOSEN UP FROM THE CONCRETE CURVE.
ALSO SOME OF THE PLACEMENT PUTS THEM ABOVE GRADE, SO YOU HAVE TO STEP OVER IT.
I WISH THERE WERE BETTER TECHNOLOGY, BUT I THINK I'VE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WITH SOMEONE BEFORE.
IT'S LIKE, "NO, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING BETTER RIGHT NOW." IS THAT STILL TRUE?
>> HOW OFTEN DID THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED?
>> IT DEPENDS ON THE WEAR AND TEAR.
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'D SAY THE WEAR AND TEAR IS A LOT OF TIMES JUST TRUCKS AND VEHICLES RUNNING OVER THE CURB UP AND DOWN.
>> I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF THE VEHICLES RUNNING OVER THEM, THERE'S ALSO THE [INAUDIBLE] OR THE MEDIAN NOSES THAT DAMAGE THEM.
WE PROBABLY REPLACE THEM, I THINK WE'RE SAYING OUR LIFESPAN RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT FOUR YEARS OR SO.
BUT THERE'S A BUNCH OF THEM OUT THERE.
>> IS THERE ANY OPPORTUNITY TO USE LIKE A REFLECTIVE PAINT OR ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAT MIGHT BE MORE RESILIENT OVER TIME, OR EASIER TO INSTALL AND KEEP UP?
>> PAINT TAKES A LOT OF MAN HOURS TO MAINTAIN BECAUSE THEY'LL STILL GET HIT BY CARS AND THEY'LL GET DARK BY THE TIRE MARKS AND, THIS ONE, I THINK IS A BETTER AS FAR AS OUR MAINTENANCE BECAUSE YOU COULD BE POTENTIALLY OUT THERE EVERY OTHER MONTH OUT THERE TRYING TO REPAINT THESE NOSES BECAUSE THEY GET HIT.
PAINT IS NOT REALLY NECESSARILY WHERE WE WANT TO GO.
>> WHENEVER WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS, WE ACTUALLY EXPLORED THE OPTION OF PAINT VERSUS THE MEDIAN MARKINGS, AND THE MEDIAN MARKINGS WERE THE BETTER SOLUTION.
>> WHAT ARE OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES USING, BECAUSE LEWISVILLE DOESN'T HAVE THESE.
THEY PAINT OCCASIONALLY, AND THEN GRAPEVINE HAS SOME MEDIAN ALERT.
>> HOWLAND VILLAGE, ARE THEY USING THESE?
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY'RE BIG ENOUGH TO EVEN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN MEDIAN.
[01:35:01]
>> I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY DIVIDED ROADS THEY HAVE.
>> COULD WE BE MORE SURGICAL ON WHERE WE PUT THESE JUST IN AREAS THAT MAYBE NEED THEM?
>> RIGHT NOW, WHERE WE PUT THEM AND STAY UP HERE BUT, GO AHEAD.
>> I WAS JUST GETTING AWAY FROM THE MICROPHONE FOR YOU.
>> WHERE WE PUT THEM RIGHT NOW IS ON OUR FM ROADS, OUR ARTERIAL, MAJOR ARTERIALS, AND MINOR ARTERIALS AND COLLECTORS.
IF WE WANTED TO SCALE IT BACK, WE SAY, WELL, LET'S NOT MAINTAIN THOSE COLLECTORS, AND WHAT WE COULD DO IS WE CAN SAY, IF AS THEY FAIL, THEN WE JUST WON'T REPLACE THEM, OR WE ALSO SPEND A LOT OF TIME DOING INSPECTIONS.
MAYBE WE BACK OFF ON OUR INSPECTIONS AND GO BACK TO WHERE WE'LL RESPOND TO RESIDENT COMPLAINTS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. WE HAVE THEM MOSTLY ON ALL THE FM ROADS.
IF YOU SEE A MAP, BUT IT ALMOST MAPS OUT OUR THOUGH FARE PLAN.
BUT THERE ARE A FEW THAT ARE IN SOME SMALLER NEIGHBORHOOD ENTRIES, BUT THOSE ARE VERY FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.
>> I'D RATHER NOT SCALE BACK WHAT WE'RE DOING, I THINK IT'S A LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT DIFFERENT CHASE US FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES AND I'D LIKE TO KEEP THAT.
>> I FIND THEY HAVE ZERO PURPOSE AND USE WHATSOEVER, OTHER THAN MAKING YOU TRIP OVER IT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO CROSS.
>> WAIT TILL YOU GET OLDER AND YOU CAN'T SEE AS WELL AT NIGHT WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING.
>> WE ACTUALLY DO GET QUITE A FEW INQUIRIES FROM OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ABOUT THEM.
ALL THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE GENERALLY RECEIVED FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS BEEN VERY GOOD WITH THEM.
IF WE WERE TO SCALE THEM BACK WOULD WE EVEN BE ABLE TO REDUCE ONE OF THAT FTES?
>> ULTIMATELY, WE'RE JUST HAPPY WITH THE FACT THAT IT'S EVEN A DISCUSSION POINT UP HERE TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO HAVE IS WE HAVE A BACKLOG IN OUR SIGNS AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO WE NEED TO PUT A BIG EFFORT INTO GETTING OUR BACKLOG AND SIGNS.
WE HAVE ABOUT 15,000 SIGNS THAT WE MAINTAIN, AND SO WE'RE ON ABOUT A 10 YEAR CYCLE, SO WE'RE TRYING TO REPLACE ABOUT 1,500 SIGNS A YEAR.
>> ONE THING THAT I'LL JUST ACKNOWLEDGE, AND THIS GOT LOST IN THE COMMUNICATION BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL HEARSE WAS FOR TWO CREWS, FOUR PEOPLE TOTAL.
I SCALED IT BACK AND WHAT HAPPENED IS THOSE TWO FUNCTIONS WERE INVOLVED IN IT.
I THINK I AND CLAY, YOU MAY HAVE JUST BEEN SPEAKING TO IT, IS THIS A CONCEPT? ARE THEY DOING ALL OR NOTHING OF THE TWO FUNCTIONS OR CAN THEY DO BOTH FUNCTIONS? BECAUSE AGAIN, THE ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR FOUR PEOPLE TWO VEHICLES, TWO CREWS THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE MEDIAN ALERTS AND THEN TO THE SIGNS, AND I SCALED IT BACK JUST TO ONE CREW.
>> YES. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH JUST AS JAMES SAID.
IT IS A MIX OUR INITIAL IDEA WAS TWO FOLKS DEDICATED TO SIGNS, TWO FOLKS DEDICATED TO MEDIAN ALERTS AND SO IF WE ONLY HAD TWO, THEN WE WOULD SPLIT THAT UP.
>> WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO ON THIS?
>> WHAT? CHRIS, HOW DO YOU FEEL?
>> I'M OKAY WITH SCALING IT BACK A LITTLE BIT IF WE CAN.
>> BUT IF WE DON'T THINK THAT BY SCALING THAT BACK, WE CAN REDUCE IT ONE FTE, THEN I THINK THERE'S NO REAL POINT.
>> IS IT REQUIRED TO HAVE A CREW, OR CAN ONE FTE DO THE JOB?
>> THE PROBLEM WITH ONE, ESPECIALLY ON THE MEDIAN ALERT SIDE, YOU HAVE THEM OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A 50 MILE AN HOUR ROADWAY.
IT'S USUALLY THE ONE PERSON IS DOING THE MEDIAN ALERT, AND THE OTHER ONE'S KEEPING THE EYE ON THE 50 MILE AN HOUR TRAFFIC TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T GET HIT.
>> AGAIN, THE MEDIAN ALERTS ARE PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK JUST TO WORK ON THEM.
>> SIGNS ARE SIMILAR, YOU STILL CAN HAVE A SIGN ON A 40 MILE AN HOUR ROADWAY THAT YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BE WITHIN A COUPLE OF FEET OF THE ROADWAY.
>> I'D SAY MOST OF OUR WORK IS PROBABLY IN A ROADWAY.
>> IT REQUIRES TWO OR IT'S EITHER ZERO OR TWO? I GUESS THAT'S THE QUESTION. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, IS ONE ENOUGH TO EVEN.
>> WHAT ARE DOING NOW? DO WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE ASSIGNED WHEN WE NEED TO DO MAINTENANCE ON THESE NOW?
>> WHENEVER THEY DO NOW, THEY DO TWO.
>> OKAY. COMPARING WHAT WE'RE SPENDING NOW, TO WHAT WE PROPOSE IN THE FUTURE, IS IT A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE? WE NEED TWO DEDICATED PEOPLE BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET IT ALL DONE RIGHT NOW?
>> WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT KEEPING UP WITH BOTH SIGNS AND THE MEDIAN ALERT AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.
>> I WAS GOING TO SAY ESSENTIALLY IF WE WERE TO SCALE BACK, WE WOULD SCALE BACK ON THE MAINTENANCE OF THE MEDIAN ALERTS AND FOCUS MORE ON SIGN.
>> ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC GOALS IS SAFETY,
[01:40:01]
THIS IS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.>> CLAY, WITH THE REQUEST FOR TWO FTES AND THE TRUCK, THAT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO KEEP UP WITH THE SIGNS THAT YOU NEEDED WITHIN THAT SAME GROUP.
WOULD THAT HELP WITH THAT ONE CREW WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE MEDIAN ALERTS AND THE INCREASE IN SIGN PRODUCTION THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP UP ALSO?
>> IT WOULD DEFINITELY HELP, BUT WE WOULD SHIFT MOST OF THAT FOCUS TO THE SIGNS, AND THEY COULD ALSO HELP WITH MEDIAN ALERTS, BUT IF WE DID SCALE BACK ON MEDIAN ALERTS, THEN WE COULD PROBABLY GET CAUGHT UP ON SIGNS.
>> OKAY. BUT BETWEEN THE TWO FTES AND THE TRUCK, WE'D BE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO FOR A LEVEL OF SERVICE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE NOT MAINTAINING SOME OF THE SMALLER ROADWAY MEDIAN ALERTS AND GOING OUT AND REPLACING THEM, BUT KEEPING UP WITH THE ARTERIAL STREETS AT LEAST.
>> HAS ANYONE LOOKED AT THE COST OF SUBCONTRACTING THAT OUT FOR THE MEDIAN MAINTENANCE TO SEE WHAT THE COST BENEFIT WOULD BE OF THAT UNDER TEMPORARY BASIS AS NEEDED?
>> I THINK IT'S A LOT OF REQUESTS AND INSPECTION, SO THE CREWS THAT DO IT ARE OUT THERE INSPECTING AND INSTALLING AT THE SAME TIME WHILE THEY'RE OUT THERE.
IT ISN'T SO MUCH A LIST THAT'S KEPT AS IT IS, AS CREWS THAT ARE CONSTANTLY OUT LOOKING AT IT ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS.
>> CAN WE REALLY HONE THAT DOWN TO, WE DO ONE INSPECTION AND THEN WE HAVE THE LIST LIKE WE HAVE THE ROADWAY SERVICE SCORES, AND THEN WE KNOW AHEAD OF TIME WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED WHEN?
>> IN ORDER TO CONTRACT IT OUT OR AS A STRATEGY A LITTLE BIT LESS STAFF TO DO IT THAN WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW?
>> JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, IT'S GOING TO COST MORE TO CONTRACT IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT A LOT OF EQUIPMENT OR TIME.
WHENEVER I'M LOOKING AT STREETS, WHETHER DO I NEED A FULL CREW OR CAN WE CONTRACT THAT OUT? CERTAIN THINGS JUST MAKE SENSE TO CONTRACT OUT.
THIS WOULD BE ONE THAT I WOULD SAY, CONTRACTING OUT IS PROBABLY GOING TO COST US A LOT MORE.
>> THEN FTES AND EQUIVALENT IN HEALTHCARE AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO FTES.
>> WELL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY'RE ABLE TO DO SIGNS AS WELL.
I THINK STAFF AND JAMES HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE WITH THE BUDGET, THE REQUEST WAS FOR FOUR AND TWO TRUCKS.
WE'VE CUT THAT IN HALF SO I THINK I'M SATISFIED WE'RE BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WITH THIS MONEY.
I THINK THIS MAINTAINS A SAFETY, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR STRATEGIC GOALS, AND I REALLY DON'T WANT TO CUT THE LEVEL OF SERVICE ON THIS.
>> WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE EVEN IF WE DECIDE TO ABANDON THE MEDIAN MARKERS, WE STILL NEED A SIGN CREW, SO I GUESS THAT WE STILL NEED A SIGN CREW.
>> CHRIS, ARE YOU GOOD WITH THAT?
>> YEAH, WE'RE NOT GETTING ANYTHING BY.
>> I HAVE MORE. DO WE WANT TO KEEP GOING?
>> I WAS COMING UP TO SEE WHAT WE WERE GOING TO NEXT.
>> LET'S JUST COVER THE EASY ONE HERE.
THE BIG PICTURE IN THIS BUDGET, THE WAY I SEE IT IS THAT WE'RE INVESTING HEAVILY IN COMPENSATION, FTES, COLA.
WE HAVE A FEW OTHER ITEMS LIKE THE AMBULANCE IS A BIG ONE, AND WE'VE GOT A COUPLE COUNCIL PRIORITIES, LIKE THE FALL FESTIVAL, THE TRAFFIC SYSTEM, THE TREES.
ANYTHING ELSE IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IN MY OPINION.
LET'S START WITH THE ROBOT FLOOR CLEANER AND THE WATER TRUCK.
THEN CHIEF COOL, I HAVE A COUPLE THAT I WANT TO DISCUSS WITH YOU.
THE WATER TRUCK AND THE FLOOR CLEANER SEEMED A LITTLE BIT NICE TO HAVE.
>> NOW THE WATER TRUCK IS ON THE UNFUNDED LIST.
IS IT ON THE END? THE DOCUMENTS WERE INTERSPERSED.
>> NO, I UNDERSTAND AND WE WILL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THAT FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> OKAY. LET'S JUST KNOCK OUT THE ROBOT FLOOR CLEANER.
>> OKAY. I WILL LET JOHN HANDLE THAT ONE.
>> SINCE FACILITIES FALLS UNDER MY PURVIEW, THE ROBOT FLOOR CLEANER, THIS IS A TEST RUN OF THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S A PILOT ONE AND IF IT DOES WORK OUT, THIS COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE US FUTURE FACILITIES PEOPLE.
THIS IS ONE WAY THAT WE CAN SEE IT.
WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS WORK UP OUR FACILITIES GROUP GUYS AND FOCUS THEM ON HVAC REPAIR OR ELECTRICAL OR ANY OF THESE OTHER THINGS.
SOME OF THESE LOWER LEVEL THINGS LIKE MAINTENANCE AND LOWER THINGS, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE PULLING THEM LESS OFF OF.
THIS MIGHT OFFER US THE ABILITY TO NOT HAVE TO PAY SOMEONE TO DO SOME OF THESE THINGS AND IT IS JUST A TEST PROGRAM, SO THAT'S WHY WE PUT IT IN THE BUDGET.
>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF OFFSETTING THOSE LABOR COSTS, BUT IF IT'S SUCCESSFUL, HOW MANY OF THESE THINGS ARE WE GOING TO BUY?
>> WHEN THEY DO A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS AT THAT POINT BUT I HAD THIS ONE ON MY LIST ALSO.
BUT MY SUGGESTION WAS CALL UP THREE VENDORS AND INVITE THEM TO LET THEM DEMO THEIR PRODUCT FOR YOU FOR A TRIAL PERIOD.
I DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR IT, THEY SHOULD BRING THEIR PRODUCT AND MAKE THEIR PITCH.
[01:45:01]
>> YES, I AGREE. THAT WAS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
>> UNDERSTOOD. WITH THAT, SO THE GENERAL IDEA IS SCRAP IT, HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, SEE IF WE HAVE THAT DATA, AND MAYBE REINTRODUCE IT NEXT YEAR.
>> I'M OKAY WITH YOU MOVING FORWARD IF YOU CAN GET VENDORS TO GIVE YOU THEIR PRODUCT TO TRIAL.
I DON'T WANT TO WAIT TO BUY ONE AND SAY, WE DON'T LIKE THIS ONE.
NO, BRING THREE VENDORS IN, SAY YOU HAVE 60 DAYS, 30 DAYS, WHATEVER, TO LET US TRY YOUR PRODUCT OUT.
>> OKAY. I THINK THE WAY IT CAN MANIFEST IS THAT IF IT'S APPROVED, I GUESS, TECHNICALLY, WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL PUT A THEME, BECAUSE MY SIGNING AUTHORITY AT THIS POINT, IT WOULDN'T COME TO YOU, IT WOULD COME TO ME, BUT WHAT WE WOULD DO IS THAT IF THIS IS IN THE BUDGET BEFORE WE TAKE ANY ACTION TO PROCURE ANYTHING, WE WILL BRING THE DATA AND THE FEEDBACK JUST FOR YOU TO SEE THE IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH.
>> THEN IN THAT, I WANT TO KNOW THE HOURS THAT IT SAVES AND THEN THE FTE EQUIVALENT, SO WE CAN DO THE COST BENEFIT.
>> YEAH, I AGREE WITH THEM. IT HELPS TO SEE THE OFFSET COST AND A COMMITMENT THAT THERE IS THAT REDUCTION.
>> THE QUALITY OF THE CLEAN AS WELL, SO I WANT THAT COMPONENT ANALYZED, IF YOU WOULD.
>> CHIEF, I JUST WANTED TO GO OVER A COUPLE OF ITEMS FROM YOUR LIST.
NO ISSUES WITH THE FTE REQUESTS.
I DID WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SRO PATROL VEHICLE, THE ONE THAT WAS MORE OF THE FULLY OUTFITTED PATROL VEHICLE THAT SEEMED A LITTLE UNNECESSARY FOR AN SRO.
WE DON'T PUT ALL THE STUFF IN A REGULAR SRO CAR, MOSTLY IT'S ELECTRONICS THAT WE LEAVE OUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE A OFFICE.
THE SRO FOR THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS ARE ROAMING SROS SO THAT'S THEIR OFFICE, SO WE PUT EVERYTHING IN IT.
THEY ALSO EVERY SINGLE DAY WILL NOT BE AT THE SAME LOCATION ALL DAY LONG, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING AROUND THE WHOLE TOWN.
IT IS AN EXPECTATION THAT IF YOU HEAR A CALL, YOU WILL GO TO IT AND YOU WILL ANSWER IT.
THEY WILL BE MAKING ARREST, THEY WILL BE WORKING ACCIDENTS THAT THEY ROLL UP ON.
WE HAVE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT NEED CITATIONS IN THIS TOWN AND FROM GOING TO ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A FULLY OUTFITTED CAR.
THAT IS TRUE THAT NORMALLY, LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOL SROS AND STUFF, THEY DON'T HAVE ALL THE STUFF IN THE CAR.
BOTH THESE POSITIONS ARE ROAMING POSITIONS.
>> OKAY. THAT EXPLAINS IT. THE LACK OF AN OFFICE, I THINK IS A DIFFERENTIATOR.
THE HANDGUN REQUEST, HOW LONG HAVE WE HAD THE CURRENT?
>> OKAY. IS THAT TYPICAL? WHAT'S THE TYPICAL LIFESPAN?
>> THEY CAN TYPICALLY LAST LONGER.
THE ISSUE IT'S REALLY NEW TO ME WHEN I GOT HERE AND THE REQUEST WAS TRYING TO PUT IT IN A NICE WAY.
THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE DOZEN LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST THE CURRENT GUN WE HAVE.
OVER 80 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT WHILE THE GUN WAS IN THE HOLSTER AND THEY DIDN'T PULL THE TRIGGER.
SINCE THE BUDGET REQUEST HAS BEEN TURNED IN, THERE HAS ACTUALLY STARTED BEING AWARDS GIVEN TO THOSE PEOPLE FOR THE HANDGUN.
THEY STARTED LOOKING AT THE HANDGUN BECAUSE THEY STARTED HEARING IT WAS UNSAFE.
THEY WANT TO TRANSITION BACK TO THE GUN THAT ALMOST ALL THE REST OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS CARRYING, WHICH IS TRIED AND TRUE, IT'S PROVEN, IT'S CHEAPER, WE FIND PARTS, SERVICE, EVERYTHING FOR IT.
I WOULD EXPECT 10-15 YEARS EASY.
IF YOU'RE A GUN NUT, YOU KNOW THAT IT'S ABOUT EVERY 10,000 ROUNDS YOU WANT TO REPLACE THE HANDGUN.
FOR MOST OF OUR TEAM, THAT'S ABOUT 15 YEARS.
>> OKAY. THAT MAKES SENSE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SAFETY CONCERN, BUT GIVEN THE INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING IN FTES, VEHICLES, HANDGUNS, CAN WE DELAY THE TASER REQUEST FOR ANOTHER YEAR SO THAT WE CONTINUE THE PROCESS WE HAVE TODAY?
>> WE'VE BEEN DELAYING OUTFITTING ALL THE OFFICERS WITH TASER FOR YEARS AND SO THAT IS THE ONLY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT A FULLY OUTFITTED POLICE OFFICER DOESN'T HAVE ISSUE TO THEM.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS, WHEN WE HAVE A MAJOR EVENT, WE START CALLING PEOPLE IN IF THERE'S A PROBLEM, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OFFICERS SHOW UP THAT AREN'T FULLY EQUIPPED.
THE TASER IS THE NUMBER ONE WEAPON FOR POLICING.
THAT'S THE WEAPON THAT WE USE THE MOST.
THAT'S THE WEAPON ALL POLICE USE THE MOST, AND THAT'S THE WEAPON THAT THEY WANT EVERY POLICE OFFICER TO HAVE THE MOST, JUST BECAUSE IT REDUCES SO MUCH INJURY.
IF WE DON'T HAVE ALL OUR OFFICERS WITH THAT, EVEN THIS WON'T GIVE ALL OUR OFFICERS TASERS.
IT JUST GIVES MOST OF THEM A TASER, IT'S JUST BASIC POLICING EQUIPMENT AT THIS POINT.
>> AM I READING RIGHT THAT IT'S $1,000 PER TASER PER YEAR?
>> IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. OUR MOST EXPENSIVE PIECE BY FAR, THE RADIOS ARE 6,7 TIMES MORE.
BUT IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A HANDGUN.
[01:50:03]
>> WHAT ARE THE OFFICERS DOING TODAY? THEY'RE CHECKING IT OUT AND CHECKING IT IN AT THE END OF THE.
>> IT'S A MIX, WE'VE BEEN ADDING SOME EVERY YEAR TO ISSUE TO THE OFFICER INDIVIDUALLY.
OTHERWISE, THEY HAVE TO COME IN AND THEY SHARE A TASER.
>> THOSE TASERS, IF YOU GO IN THE ROOM, YOU'LL LOOK AND SEE THAT THEY'RE PRETTY WORN OUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T TAKE AS GOOD A CARE OF THEM, BECAUSE THERE'S NOT AS MUCH BUY IN TO TAKE CARE OF THE EQUIPMENT.
THEN EVERY SINGLE TIME, THEY CHECK IT OUT, THEY'RE TESTING IT, THEY'RE RUNNING THE BATTERIES DOWN BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S BEEN.
HAVING ALL YOUR OWN STUFF JUST INCREASES THE LIFE OF IT AND ALSO MAKES THEM MORE CONFIDENT IN THE WEAPON.
>> GIVEN THAT THERE'S AN ONGOING ANNUAL COST, DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE LIKE A WARRANTY OR A MAINTENANCE PROGRAM?
>> YEAH. WE DO A LEASE WITH A WARRANTY AND A SERVICE AND THEY SEND ALL THE CARTRIDGES EVERY YEAR THAT WE HAVE TO GET CERTIFIED IN BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TEST EVERY YEAR IN IT.
IT IS A VERY EXPENSIVE SYSTEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S JUST NO COMPETITION.
>> DOES THAT COST INCLUDE THAT MAINTENANCE?
>> THAT YOU'RE PUTTING DOWN HERE. OKAY.
>> MAYOR MAYBE YOU CAN SEE IT OR MAYBE MEGS DOES, IS CRIME DISTRICT PAYING FOR THE TASERS AND THE HANDGUNS?
>> THE HANDGUNS, YES, THE TASERS, NO.
NOT AT THIS POINT, JOHN CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT IT WOULD BE AN ALLOWABLE YOU SET A CRIME DISTRICT IT IS SOMETHING WE COULD MOVE OVER THERE.
>> IS IT SOMETHING WE CAN MOVE OVER? I THINK IT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE IF THE SALES TAX PAYS FOR IT.
>> YES. THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN MOVE OVER, THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS, IS THERE A HEAVY ONGOING COST WITH THIS ONE MEG?
>> IT'S AN ANNUAL COST FOR THE ENTIRE LIFE WHICH HAS BEEN AN ONGOING BUDGET.
>> EACH PIECE THAT WE TAKE UP OVER HERE OF THIS IS LESS PEOPLE THAT WE CAN PUT THERE IN THE FUTURE.
BUT YES, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING THAT WE COULD SHIFT OVER THERE.
>> OKAY. THANK YOU, CHIEF. APPRECIATE IT.
>> THAT WAS EVERYTHING I HAD, MAYOR. THANK YOU.
>> DO WE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS ON DECISION PACKAGES?
>> YEAH. I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FTES.
THE GIS TECHNICIAN AND WHAT WAS THE ONE? THE SENIOR PROPERTY STANDARDS SPECIALIST AND THEN THERE WAS THE DISCUSSION OF REMOVING A TRAFFIC LIGHT ANALYST.
JAMES, WE HAD THIS IN OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION, BUT I FELT LIKE THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ANALYST, IF THE INTENTION WAS TO ANALYZE ALL THE DATA WE'RE GETTING FOR THESE NEW ANALYSIS SYSTEMS WE'RE ADDING TO THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS, BETTER ALIGNS WITH OUR STRATEGIC PLAN.
>> OKAY. WE'VE GOT THE TWO ITEMS THAT WERE RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING, THE GIS TECHNICIAN, THE SENIORS PROPERTY STANDARD SPECIALIST AND THEN THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL ANALYST, I MAY BE WRONG ON THE EXACT TITLE, BUT THAT'S ON THE UNFUNDED LIST.
YOU'D LIKE DISCUSSION ON THAT. DO I GET EVERYTHING?
>> YEAH. I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS IF THOSE TWO ARE PRIORITIES OR IF WE SHOULD BRING IN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ANALYST AS A REPLACEMENT FOR ONE OF THEM.
>> OKAY. START WITH THE GIS, JOSE.
>> HI THERE. ABSOLUTELY, CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE GIS TECHNICIAN.
THIS IS JUST BRINGING US UP TO PRE 2020 LEVELS.
CURRENTLY, OUR GIS TEAM IS THREE INDIVIDUALS, ONE MANAGER AND TWO SENIOR GIS ANALYSTS.
THIS FOURTH ONE WOULD BRING THE TEAM WHOLE AND IS AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION, SO IT'S NOT EVEN A GIS ANALYST.
IT IS SOMEONE WHO WE CAN BRING IN AND TEACH AND WILL HELP US WITH SUCCESSION PLANNING.
RIGHT NOW, GIS IS HELPING PARKS AND REC, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, AND VARIOUS OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO ADOPT CITY WORKS, AS WELL AS TAKE ON SOME OF THE OTHER TASKS FROM PUBLIC WORKS IN THE UNFILLED ASSET MANAGEMENT POSITION.
THIS IS JUST LEVERAGING OUR CURRENT CAPABILITIES WITH GIS AND ALLOWING US TO BE MORE INNOVATIVE BY SPREADING THE LOAD WITHIN FOUR PEOPLE.
>> GIVEN YOU ALL BEEN WITH FOR IMPROVEMENTS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT NOW, IT'S A LOT OF MAINTENANCE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR OTHER BENCHMARK CITIES, THEY HAVE MORE GIS STAFF AND ARE ABLE TO NOT ONLY MAINTAIN, BUT INNOVATE AND BRING DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS AND SO THIS WOULD OFFLOAD SOME OF THAT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO HELP OUT OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
>> WHAT DOES THE GIS TECHNICIAN DO?
>> FOR US, THEY WOULD BE THAT STARTING POINT.
THEY WOULD TAKE IN THE REQUESTS FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, HELP ADOPT CITY WORKS, MAPPING DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS, TRIAGE IT,
[01:55:02]
AND THEN ESCALATE IT TO OUR SENIOR GIS ANALYST, AS WELL AS BRING IN DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR GIS MANAGER TO EITHER SPEND MORE TIME ON OR TO DEDICATE DIFFERENT RESOURCES ON.>> CHRIS, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT?
>> NO, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE THREE POSITIONS AND JUST MAKE SURE WE'RE ALIGNED AND WHICH ONE SHOULD TAKE PRIORITY.
I SHOULD GET TO THE END, BUT IS THE ANALYTICS POSITION, IS THAT FOCUSED ON TRAFFIC AND ANALYZING THAT DATA? I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD FROM MY DISCUSSION WITH YOU ALL.
>> THIS POSITION IS BASICALLY IN OUR TRAFFIC GROUP, WE HAVE OUR ATMS ROOM, WHICH IS BASICALLY WHERE ALL OF THE CAMERA FEEDS ARE.
IF THERE'S ANY ISSUE WITH THE DETECTION OR WHATEVER THEY CAN MAKE ADJUSTMENTS RIGHT THERE ON THE FLY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WHENEVER JAMES ASKED ME, WHAT'S A PRIORITY, FOR INSTANCE, WITH THE SIGN POSITIONS AND THE SIGNAL OPERATOR.
AS I'D SAY RIGHT NOW WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH OUR CURRENT CAPABILITIES, BUT WE DID HAVE A BACKLOG IN OUR SIGNS AND THE MEDIAN MARKINGS.
THAT'S WHY I SAID, SIGNS WOULD TAKE A PRIORITY OVER THAT.
I GUESS THE SHORT VERSION IS, THIS IS A NEEDED POSITION.
HOWEVER, WHEN MAKING THAT CHOICE, I THOUGHT THAT WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF HANDLING WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
>> BUT I GUESS WHAT WOULD THEIR FOCUS BE WAS THE QUESTION.
>> THEIR FOCUS WOULD BE BASICALLY THAT DOING ON THE FLY ADJUSTMENTS TO SIGNAL OPERATIONS AND ALSO TAKING THAT DATA AND MAKING DECISIONS BASED OFF THAT DATA.
>> THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT THIS UP.
I FELT LIKE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I GET A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT IS TRAFFIC, WE ALWAYS DO AND WE'RE ADDING A LOT OF ANALYTICS SYSTEMS TO OUR TRAFFIC.
WE'VE INVESTED A LOT, AND THIS SEEMS LIKE A WORTHWHILE FTE TO ME AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO BRING UP THESE THREE AND DISCUSS PRIORITIES. APPRECIATE YOU DOING THAT.
>> I WOULD SUBMIT IT IF IT IS SOMETHING WE ARE ASKED FOR IN THE FUTURE.
>> WE DO HAVE ONE CLAY? THIS IS A SECOND.
>> YEAH. THIS IS A SECOND AND CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, HE DOES A GOOD JOB, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT AS THINGS ARE GROWING, PARTICULARLY OUT WEST AND AS WE GET MORE OF THIS ANALYTICS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED IT, AND IT ALSO SERVE AS A BACKUP FOR HIM.
BUT AGAIN, IF I HAD TO PRIORITIZE BASED ON THE WORKLOAD OF THE GROUP, WHERE WE HAVE THE BACKLOG IS WHERE THE BIGGER NEED WAS.
>> OKAY. YOU THINK IF WE DID ADD THIS POSITION, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO DO MORE ANALYTICS AND UTILIZE THAT DATA MORE OFTEN AND IMPROVE TRAFFIC BETTER?
>> I'M GOING TO LET MATT GET UP HERE AND TALK A LITTLE BIT TO THAT.
>> THE SYSTEMS OPERATOR, THEY DID THAT, THEY LOOK AT THE DATA.
WE'RE GOING TO GET MORE AND MORE DATA THAT'S COMING INTO THE SYSTEM.
RIGHT NOW, THE SYSTEM OPERATOR DOES WHAT CLAY WAS TALKING ABOUT, THEY LOOK AT THE DETECTION, AND THEY GET ALL THIS OTHER THAT PIECE OF IT DONE.
THEY DEPLOY THEIR TIMING PLANS OUT TO CONTROLLERS, THEY DO INVENTORY FOR US.
THEY LOOK AT THE AUTOMATED TRAFFIC SIGNAL PERFORMANCE MEASURES, AND THEN THEY TRY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO SOME OF THAT.
AS WE GET MORE AND MORE INUNDATED BY BIG DATA, THEY WOULD LOOK AT MORE AND MORE OF THOSE ITEMS. RIGHT NOW THE SYSTEM OPERATOR, HE DOES A GOOD JOB BUT NOT ONLY DOES HE DO SOME OF HIS JOB, BUT THE SIGNAL SUPERVISOR DOES SOME OF HIS JOB AND THE MANAGER HIMSELF ALSO DOES A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HIS JOB IS.
THAT'S HOW WE'RE MANAGING IT NOW, I THINK IF WE HAD ONE, IT COULD HELP BRING IT BACK DOWN TO THAT LEVEL.
>> MATT, WE HAVE ANOTHER $250,000 INVESTMENT IN THIS BUDGET FOR SIGNAL PREEMPTION UPGRADE FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL ANALYTICS.
IS THERE A POINT WHERE THE WORKLOAD BECOMES TOO MUCH FOR ONE PERSON TO HANDLE AND DO YOU THINK WE CAN WAIT ANOTHER YEAR BEFORE WE HAVE TO FILL THIS POSITION, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS INVESTMENT?
>> AS CLAY SAID, I THINK IF IT'S THE CHOICE BETWEEN THE TWO, YES, WE CAN WAIT ONE MORE YEAR.
>> IT'S NOT GOING TO COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OR THE TRAFFIC FLOW DRAMATICALLY IF WE DON'T DO THAT, OR IT WILL?
>> WE WOULD CONTINUE AS WE ARE TODAY, AND I THINK WE'RE MAKING IT WORK.
>> I AGREE WITH CHRIS IN THE SENSE THAT THIS IS VERY REAL TO ME.
I WOULD SEE THE BENEFIT FROM THIS IMMEDIATELY AS A DRIVER AND I THINK MOST RESIDENTS WOULD GIS TECHNICIAN.
[02:00:04]
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A GIS TECHNICIAN DOES, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ABSTRACT.I DON'T QUITE SEE THE VALUE IN THAT POSITION JUST BECAUSE I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A CLEAR WAY YOU CAN ARTICULATE WHY WE NEED A GIS TECHNICIAN.
>> WELL, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT SAYING THE GIS TECHNICIAN IS THE ONE I WANT TO CUT.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO JUST DISCUSS THE SENIOR PROPERTY STANDARDS POSITION AS WELL AND SEE WHICH TWO MAKE THE MOST SENSE.
>> I DON'T WANT US TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T DIRECTLY AFFECT ME, BUT I WILL SAY GIS TECHNICIAN, THAT'S BASICALLY OUR GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEM AND SO THAT'S ALL OF OUR ONLINE MAPPING, THAT'S ALL OF OUR DATABASE OF ALL OF OUR ASSETS.
WHENEVER WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS, BASED ON HOW WE DO IT, WE HEAVILY RELY ON GIS AND THAT GROUP.
>> LET ME GIVE THIS A SHY JP AND YOU CAN HELP OUT.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES THAT I GAVE TO YOU ALL WITH SOMEBODY, WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PIECE AND JOSE TOUCHED ON IT.
WE'RE ABOUT HITTING OUR BANDWIDTH WITH OUR THREE RIGHT NOW AND SO IT PUTS US IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO LEVERAGE OUR GIS AND SPECIFICALLY THE ER SUITE TO DO THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND IMPACTFUL THINGS.
I THINK WHAT THIS POSITION PROVIDES IS IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO GO INTO ER SUITE AND DO THINGS THAT ARE BESIDES MAPPING.
THE EXAMPLE THAT I GAVE YOU IS THAT IN IRVING, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID WHEN I WAS THERE IS THAT WE USED ER TO CREATE A CLICK C FIX TYPE COMPONENT FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO USE THE ER TOOLS TO BE ABLE TO CLICK A CODE ISSUE OR A POTHOLE OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT THEN CITY SERVICES RESPONDED TO.
THOSE ARE THE SUITES THAT I THINK THE ADDITIONAL OF A PERSON GIVES US THE CAPABILITY TO START GOING IN THOSE MORE INNOVATIVE SPACES IN GIS.
AGAIN, IT'S REALLY WE'RE AT A BANDWIDTH THING, AND WE'RE ACTUALLY HAVE LESS FTES THAN WE DID A FEW YEARS BACK AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT TOUCHES ON WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY, JP, BUT THAT IS THE EXAMPLE THAT I SHARED WITH SOME OF YOU WHEN I MET AND DISCUSSED THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
>> JUST TO ADD A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE IT DOES HIT ON IT.
GIS ARE MAPPING, YOU CAN ALSO THINK OF ALL THE TOOLS THAT THEY CREATE.
REALLY, GIS IS ABOUT VISUALIZING DATA AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.
THEY'RE TRYING TO EVEN WITH MAPS, VISUALIZE, HOW DO YOU GET TO A PLACE.
IT'S GOING TO GROW AND GROW AND GROW.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH IT, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT TOO, HOW MUCH YOU CAN GROW BECAUSE YOU CAN BASICALLY ATTACH ALL YOUR DATA TO AN ADDRESS POINT AND SO THAT'S HOW WE USE IT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN PUBLIC WORKS, ESRI IS OUR GIS OR GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM, BUT IT'S HOOKED INTO CITY WORKS, WHICH IS REALLY AWESOME BECAUSE WHAT YOU CAN START DOING IS THAT'S WHERE ALL THEIR WORK ORDERS ARE.
THAT'S WHERE EVERYTHING THEY DO ARE, SO WE CAN START VISUALIZING THOSE THINGS.
WITH THE GIS DEPARTMENT, AS YOU MAKE ALL THESE MAPS, YOU MAKE ALL THESE COOL TOOLS THAT YOU WANT TO USE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY AWESOME ABOUT GIS AS THEY INNOVATE AND CREATE.
THE PROBLEM IS WHEN YOU INNOVATE AND CREATE, YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN WHAT YOU INNOVATE AND CREATE.
WE'RE AT A POINT WHERE WE'VE BUILT SO MUCH THAT MOST OF THEIR TIME IS GOING INTO MAINTAINING WHAT HAS BEEN BUILT AND THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH TIME OPEN FOR ALL THE INNOVATIVE STUFF THAT WE COULD BE DOING IN THE FUTURE.
GIS STOPPED WHAT THEY WERE DOING TO HOP INTO DEBRIS, TO CREATE A SOLUTION THAT WE COULD VISUALIZE.
EVEN LOOKING FORWARD AS AN AFTER ACTION, THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE COULD EVEN PUT THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THE RESIDENTS WHERE THEY COULD FILL OUT SOME OF THAT INFORMATION FOR US.
WE ACTUALLY MET WITH OUR ESRI REP TODAY WITH THE GIS TEAM, AND WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS DURING OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING DISCUSSIONS, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT 311, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXACTLY WHAT JAMES WAS HITTING ON.
WHAT WE REALIZE IS WE COULD DO IT INTERNALLY.
INSTEAD OF GOING OUT AND DOING WHAT OTHER CITIES DO, AND THEY BUY ALREADY MADE TOOL FOR A LOT OF MONEY.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN BUILD IT IN ESRI WITH PEOPLE.
WE WON'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING EXTRA, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR THAT TOOL.
WHAT IT WOULD BE IS TIME AND EFFORT AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD DO IN HOUSE.
THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AND THEN ONE MORE THING IS THIS USED TO BE A FOUR PERSON DEPARTMENT.
IN 2018, IT WAS BASICALLY IT WENT TO A THREE PERSON DEPARTMENT.
NOW WE'RE FINALLY AT THE POINT WHERE MAINTENANCE AND ALL THE DIFFERENT STUFF THAT I BLAME PUBLIC WORKS AND FIRE OVER HERE.
WE'RE DOING ANOTHER ONE, FIRE HYDRANTS BETWEEN BOTH OF THEM.
WHERE THEY'RE BOTH IN PUTTING INFORMATION ONTO A MAP THAT THEY CAN SEE.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT GIS HELPS US DO AND THAT HOPEFULLY WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT EXPLANATION.
[02:05:02]
I THINK JOSE GAVE A GREAT ONE.JUST TRYING TO DIVE IN AND GIVE YOU SOME SPECIFIC EXAMPLES.
>> I LIKE HOW THAT HELPS WITH THE INTERCOMMUNICATION.
DOES THAT HELP WITH RESPONSE TIME THEN FOR INCIDENTS THAT HAPPEN WITH PUBLIC WORKS, FOR INSTANCE, SO WE'RE NOT WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO CALL IN AND COMPLAIN ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON, BUT IT GIVES YOU THE SIGNAL TO GET SOMETHING AND EXPEDITE IT SO THAT THE COMMUNITY ISN'T HAVING ISSUES?
>> THAT IS TRUE. IT REALLY WORKS VERY WELL WITH CITY WORKS BECAUSE ESRI AND CITY WORKS ARE CONNECTED AND SO THAT IS AWESOME.
FOR EXAMPLE, ALL OF OUR DEPARTMENTS WORK ON DIFFERENT SYSTEMS. WELL, THIS IS A VERY LARGE SYSTEM, AND YOU CAN SEE TONIGHT A LOT OF OUR FUNDING IS GOING INTO INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEY'RE CONNECTED, SO WE CAN VISUALIZE ALL OF THEIR DATA.
>> WE'RE NOW WORKING IN PARKS, WHERE WE'RE NOW GOING TO PUT ALL OF OUR PARK INFORMATION INTO IT.
WHAT THIS DOES IS, FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, CLAY'S TEAM WITH PUBLIC WORKS WENT FROM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS PEN AND PAPER, BUT NOW THEY HAVE A IPAD IN CITY WORKS WHERE THEY'RE INPUTTING DATA ON THE SPOT.
YOU GO OUT THERE, YOU'RE DOING A FIX.
YOU CAN ACTUALLY PINPOINT THE FIX, DO EVERYTHING RIGHT THERE IN TIME.
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS, GET THAT ABILITY OVER TO PARKS TO DO THAT, AND THEN WASTEWATER AS WELL AS ANOTHER PROJECT WE WANT TO DO.
THIS PERSON WOULD HELP US EXPAND THAT INTO PARKS AND WASTEWATER.
>> I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL.
THANK YOU. YOU ALL ARE GOOD WITH THAT?
>> YOU HAD THE SENIOR PROPERTY STANDARDS QUESTION?
>> REGARDING THE REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL PROPERTY STANDARD SPECIALIST, THE REASON PINE THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT JAMES WAS REFERENCING.
WE'VE LOST ALL BANDWIDTH, AND WE'RE RUNNING BACK LOGS NOW.
YOU CURRENTLY HAVE FIVE CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND THAT'S BEEN THE NUMBER THAT WE'VE HAD ON OUR TEAM SINCE 2008.
WE HAVEN'T ADDED A CODE OFFICER IN 17 YEARS.
IN THAT TIMELINE, USING 2008 AS OUR ANCHOR POINT, BETWEEN NOW AND THEN, WE'VE ADDED MORE THAN 5,000 PARCELS.
BASICALLY, THAT'S MORE THAN WHAT ONE CODE OFFICER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR BACK IN 2008.
IS JUST BECAUSE OUR WORKLOAD HAS INCREASED IN THE NUMBER OF PARCELS TO PATROL.
ADDITIONALLY, THE PIECE ABOUT OUR JOB THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY SEE, AND IS INVISIBLE TO A LOT OF THE PUBLIC IS THE RESEARCH ASPECT.
YOUR CODE OFFICER HAS TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING ABOUT PDS.
WE NOW HAVE MULTIFAMILY ZONING OR MIXED USE ZONING.
WE'VE GOT AN INCREASE IN PERMIT TYPES.
WE DO A LOT OF OVERLAPPING REGULATION WITH PUBLIC WORKS, FLOODPLAIN, ETC, SO IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT LONGER FOR THEM TO DO THOSE MORE COMPLICATED CASES.
AS WELL AS WITH THE INCREASE IN TECHNOLOGY, PEOPLE HAVE INCREASED COMMUNICATION EXPECTATIONS FOR US TO MEET.
WE ARE DEFINITELY AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE OUT OF BANDWIDTH, AND WE'VE COMMUNICATED TO SENIOR MANAGEMENT.
WE CANNOT ACCEPT ANY FURTHER ASSIGNMENTS AT THIS TIME WITHOUT TAKING SOMETHING ON OUR PLATE.
>> CHRIS, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I HAVE THAT CIRCLED ON MY LIST AS WELL.
I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO MY PREVIOUS STATEMENT WITH EXPEDITING OUR RESIDENT'S NEEDS.
THIS WOULD ACTUALLY EXPEDITE THAT.
WE GET A LOT OF EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS WHO ARE HAVING CODE RELATED ISSUES THAT I CERTAINLY CANNOT DO DRAINAGE ISSUES.
I'M NOT A PROFESSIONAL ON THAT.
SOME OF THESE CODE COMPLIANCE ISSUES ARE NOT REALLY MY STRONG POINT.
WHEREAS IF YOU HAVE THAT EXTRA PERSON, IT'S SOMEBODY WHO CAN GET AHEAD OF IT BEFORE IT COMES TO US AS A PROBLEM, YOU GET AHEAD OF THAT SNOWBALL EFFECT OF ISSUES?
>> EXACTLY. OUR GOAL, AND WE'RE IN LINE WITH BEST STANDARDS, IS TO BE PROACTIVE PER TOWN REQUIREMENTS.
OUR PRO-ACTIVITY GOAL IS 65%, BECAUSE THAT WAY WE CAN ENFORCE THE CODE FAIRLY, IDENTIFY ITEMS WHILE THEY MORE MINOR, LESS EXPENSIVE TO FIX, THAT THING.
CURRENTLY, WE ARE AT 58% FOR THE YEAR.
PART OF THAT IS THAT, WE NEED MORE HELP.
PART OF THAT WAS PUBLIC WORKS TOOK A BIG HIT DURING THE SPRING STORMS.
[02:10:04]
>> CHRIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> NO. I MEAN, ALL THREE POSITIONS SEEM LIKE THEY'RE NEEDED.
I MEAN, I'M ALMOST LEANING TOWARDS JUST KEEPING IT AS IT IS.
I JUST WANTED TO HAVE THAT DISCUSSION, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REST OF THE COUNCIL THINKS.
I THINK IT WAS VERY HELPFUL, AND IT MADE A GOOD BUSINESS CASE. I'M GOOD WITH ALL OF THEM.
>> WE DON'T HAVE THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING, BUT AS A REMINDER, YOU HAVE REMOVED $306,000 FROM GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
IF IT'S COUNSEL'S CONSENSUS, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ADDED BACK IN.
>> I ALSO HAD A QUESTION ABOUT ONE THAT WAS NOT DECIDED TO FUND, AND THAT WAS THE FIRE CAPTAIN AND WHAT ALL WENT INTO THAT DECISION.
>> GOOD EVENING, COUNCIL, MAYOR.
WE ASKED FOR A FIRE TRAINING CAPTAIN AND LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR/RECRUITER.
IN ADMIN OR IN FIRE, WE FOCUS A LOT ON RESPONSE.
MOST OF THE ASSETS ARE IN RESPONSE.
WHEN I GOT HERE, WE WERE SHORT A FEW ADMIN FOLKS, INCLUDING CHIEFS WORKING WITH THE TOWN MANAGER.
WE GOT SOME OF THOSE FILLED AND BEEFED UP THE ADMIN PORTION.
WE HAVE 148 NOW FIREFIGHTERS, IF THIS BUDGET PASSES, THAT WE HAVE TO TRAIN, GET COMPLIANCE ON.
OUR TRAINING CHIEF, AND BY THE WAY, HE WAS AWARDED TODAY, THE IFC TRAINING CHIEF OF THE YEAR.
THAT'S PRETTY ALSO FOR FLOWER MOUND.
BUT HE FOCUSES ON CREDENTIALING AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY FIREFIGHTER MEETS THEIR TEXAS COMMISSION, HOURS THAT THEY HAVE TO GET, THEIR DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES ON THE AMBULANCE, ALL THOSE HOURS THEY HAVE TO GET.
HE'S MAKING THOSE DECISIONS AT THE STRATEGIC LEVEL, MAKING SURE THEY GET THE HOURS OF TRAINING.
WE HAVE REALLY NO ONE DELIVERING THE HANDS-ON TRAINING OUTSIDE OF COMPANY TRAINING THAT THE CAPTAINS DO, THAT YOU SEE THEM OUT THERE DOING.
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS, THERE'S NO CONSISTENCY.
CAPTAIN ON A SHIFT IS TRAINING THIS WAY, CAPTAIN ON B SHIFT IS TRAINING THIS WAY, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MEET THE STANDARDS, BUT AT DIFFERENT WAYS.
THE TRAINING CAPTAIN POSITION WE FELT NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT CONSISTENCY IN OPERATION ACROSS ALL THREE SHIFTS, AND ALSO CHECKING SKILL SETS OF NOT ONLY CORE COMPETENCIES, BUT OUR SPECIAL TECHNICAL RESCUE COMPETENCIES AS WELL.
THOSE ARE SOME PRETTY SERIOUS COMPETENCES THAT YOU HAVE TO CHECK.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, I'M A VERY PASSIONATE BELIEVER IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION, AND WHAT I CALL EDUTAINMENT, AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, BUT EDUCATING OUR YOUTH, OUR SENIOR CITIZENS ON WAYS TO SAY SAFE.
COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR STRATEGIC MEETING, WITH THAT LIFE SAFETY EDUCATOR, WE CAN THEN COORDINATE LIFE SAFETY EDUCATING PROGRAMS. IT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH THAT TRAINING, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST NOW JUST TRAINING A DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE.
THIS OFFICER WOULD NOT NECESSARILY DO ALL THAT TRAINING, BUT HELP COORDINATE THAT TRAINING WITHIN SCHOOLS, WITHIN BUSINESSES, WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS.
THEN LASTLY, MAKING SURE WE ARE KEEPING EDGE ON RECRUITING, HITTING THE COLLEGES, AND DOING SOME THINGS.
THAT PERSON'S TIME WOULD BE SHARED AMONG THOSE THREE BIG ACTIVITIES.
THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE REQUEST.
>> BY NOT HAVING THAT POSITION CREATED, I GUESS, THAT WE JUST MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO.
IS THAT WHAT I UNDERSTAND OR WE'RE JUST NOT ABLE TO ENHANCE THAT AND ENHANCE THE EDUCAMENT?
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE OUR PREVENTION OFFICE WHICH HANDLES ALL THE INSPECTIONS, OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THEY ALSO DO THE ENFORCING OF FIRE CODE AND FIRE VIOLATIONS AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, THE FIRE MARSHAL DOING ALL THE PLAN REVIEWS, AND AGAIN, DOING EVERY COMMERCIAL INSPECTION IN THE TOWN.
WE DO RECRUITING AS TIME PERMITS.
WE DO THE LIFE SAFETY EDUCATING AS TIME PERMITS.
WE ALL JUMP IN TO DO YOUTH FIRE ACADEMY, CITIZENS FIRE ACADEMY, AND ALL THE THINGS THAT WE PUT ON.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANYBODY DEDICATED TO DO THAT.
RIGHT NOW, THE TRAINING THAT WE DO IS, WE'RE TRYING TO INNOVATE WITH TECHNOLOGY AND MAKE SURE, THIS IS THE NFPA 1410 STANDARD WE WANT YOU TO HIT.
WE'RE RELYING ON THE CREWS INDIVIDUALLY TO DO THAT WITHOUT THE CHECKS AND BALANCES.
SOMETIMES YOU SEE IT MANIFEST ON EMERGENCY SCENE WHERE IF YOU'VE GOT INTERMIX OF CREWS
[02:15:01]
THAT MAYBE ONE CREW DOES THAT A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THAT INCIDENT COMMANDER IS USED TO OR WHATEVER, SO I'M TRYING TO GET CONSISTENCY ACROSS ALL THREE SHIFTS.ALL THREE ARE GREAT, BUT WE WANT TO GET THEM VERY COHESIVE IN THE WAY WE SPEAK, HOW WE SPEAK ON EMERGENCY SCENE, BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT JUST LEADS TO A SAFER FIRE GROUND IN EMERGENCY SCENE.
>> I ALSO THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD DO THIS IN THE FUTURE OR WHAT WAS THE THOUGHT ABOUT NOT TRYING TO INCLUDE THAT THIS YEAR?
>> THE BEST WAY I COULD DESCRIBE IT.
I THINK, I MENTIONED THIS TO SOME OF YOU ALL, JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING WASN'T FUNDED, DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT IMPORTANT.
IT'S JUST YOU CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH IN A GIVEN YEAR.
I JOKINGLY SAID THAT I FUNDED A BIG ASK AND REQUEST OF THE CHIEF, SO YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT.
BUT I MEAN, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, A LOT OF THESE ITEMS THAT WEREN'T FUNDED, YOU CAN EXPECT TO BE FUNDED IN FUTURE YEARS.
THEY'RE THAT IMPORTANT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE POSITIONS.
BUT AGAIN, JUST LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT WE HAD AN ENTIRE SHIFT IN A NEW AMBULANCE, I JUST HAD TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING IN THIS TOTALITY.
I WOULD SAY THAT IF THIS ISN'T FUNDED THIS YEAR, I KNOW THE CHIEF WILL BRING IT BACK, AND IT'LL BE SOMETHING THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT, AND PRIORITIZE IN FUTURE YEARS.
>> DO YOU WANT ME TO GO NOW? CHRIS, YOU WERE DONE WITH YOUR QUESTIONS? YOU'RE DONE?
>> FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MEG AND JOHN FOR ALL THE TIME THEY SPENT WITH ME AS WE WENT THROUGH THE OLD FASHIONED BOOK WITH ALL MY HANDWRITTEN NOTES AND STICKY NOTES.
I HAD THE GREAT BULK OF MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THOSE MEETINGS THAT WE HAD.
BUT I DID WANT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO A COUPLE OF ITEMS, PRIMARILY ONES THAT WERE NOT FUNDED, SO WE'LL BE IN THAT AREA AS WELL.
ONE OF THE ONES IS ACTUALLY FOR POLICE SERVICES.
MY EYEBALLS WENT, WOW, WHEN I SAW IT WAS $900,000 IN THE FIRST YEAR, 500 IN THE SECOND, AND THEN ONGOING OF A LITTLE MORE THAN A QUARTER MILLION.
IT WAS FOR THE COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH AND RMS SYSTEM.
I IMMEDIATELY WAS LIKE, WELL, HOW DIRE IS THIS? I THOUGHT, PROBABLY NOT SUPER DIRE BECAUSE YOU SAID, NO.
I HAD ASKED ABOUT THE EXPECTED [OVERLAPPING]
>> IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I HAD THE SAME QUESTION TO THAT. YES, I DID.
>> FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WE'RE ABOUT 1-2 YEARS OUT FROM ACTUALLY REALLY SUPER NEEDING THIS.
BUT I WANTED TO START TALKING ABOUT IT NOW, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
>> THIS IS BASICALLY ALL OF OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM INSIDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S THE COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH FOR THE DISPATCHERS.
IT'S ALL THE RECORDS MANAGEMENT FOR ALL CASE MANAGEMENT.
IT'S THE JAIL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.
IT ALL TIES TOGETHER WITH THE STATE SYSTEMS FOR US DOING RECORDS CHECKS, ARRESTING PEOPLE, GETTING WARRANTS.
IT'S THE BIGGEST SYSTEM WE HAVE.
AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, WE HAVE TO START GETTING READY TO REPLACE IT.
THE LONGER WE WAITED, OF COURSE, GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE EVERY YEAR.
BUT WE REALLY WANTED TO AT LEAST GET THIS ON YOUR PLATE THAT THIS IS COMING UP, AND THAT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO PUT IT OFF FOREVER.
IT'S MORE OF A SMALLER LOCAL SYSTEM.
IT'S NOT ONE OF THE BIG NAME BRANDS.
THESE SYSTEMS TEND TO ALL BE DATED BY THE TIME YOU GET THEM.
THEY'RE JUST HUGE SOFTWARE SUITES.
MAINLY, WE JUST WANTED TO GET EVERYONE TO START TALKING ABOUT THIS.
IT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST STRESSOR TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY EVER HAVE SWITCHING TO A NEW SYSTEM.
IT'S ABOUT A TWO-YEAR PROCESS.
THE WHOLE THING IS CUSTOM MADE FOR THE AGENCY.
IT TAKES ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE THEY'RE EVEN READY TO START TALKING ABOUT INSTALLING IT, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH CODING BEHIND THE SCENES.
>> WE'LL BE BRINGING IT FORWARD AGAIN AS A HIGHER PRIORITY NEXT YEAR [OVERLAPPING].
>> IT'S GOING TO KEEP BEING A HIGHER PRIORITY.
I'M HERE NOW. I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF MONTHS, SO I'M SO CATCHING UP ON A LOT OF STUFF.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I SAW THAT WE DIDN'T RECOMMEND FUNDING IT.
IT'S ON MY PLATE THIS YEAR TO GET A WAY BETTER GRASP OF THE SITUATION.
>> GOOD. ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT TOO WAS WORKING IN CONCERT WITH THEN CALL 911 TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE ON THEIR HORIZON FOR THEIR DISPATCH AND THEIR COMMUNICATIONS, JUST TO SEE IF WE CAN GET ANY BUMP FROM COORDINATING OUR TWO RMS SYSTEMS.
>> IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT SOFTWARE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS MORE ON THE BACK END FOR ALL THE PHONE, AND OURS IS MORE LIKE.
>> THE COMPATIBILITY IS NOT [OVERLAPPING].
>> OUR IS MORE LIKE A RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AS PART OF IT.
EVERY POLICE REPORT IS IN HERE. ALL OF THEM.
EVERY TIME WE RUN SOMEBODY, EVERY CALL FOR SERVICE IS IN HERE.
[02:20:01]
WHEN YOU SEE ALL THOSE PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS, THIS IS WHERE MOST OF IT'S COMING FROM.>> DO WE HAVE CURRENTLY ANY METRICS THAT SHOW FAILURE RATES OR DELAYS IN GETTING INFORMATION OUT? SOMETHING SO WE CAN MEASURE WHAT'S THE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE TODAY, AND THEN HOW WOULD IT BE DEGRADED OVER TIME TO ELEVATE IT AS A PRIORITY?
>> IT'S MORE ABOUT END OF LIFE SOFTWARE.
THEY STOP SUPPORTING A SOFTWARE AT SOME POINT, AND NOW WHEN IT BREAKS, THIS IS BROKEN.
>> WE KNOW WHAT THAT END POINT IS?
>> I DON'T. I HAVE TO GET A BETTER IDEA ON THAT, I'M SORRY.
>> OH, NO, NO. IT'S OKAY. I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT FOR BACKWARD PLANNING, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET TO THAT DATE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU SAID IT TAKES A YEAR, AND IT'S ALL CUSTOM MADE.
I WANT TO KNOW TWO YEARS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OR THE SUNSET OF THAT, AT LEAST.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S LIKE THE HARD DATE THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO ANYTHING.
>> I ALWAYS APPRECIATE, BECAUSE I REMEMBER, CHIEF HENLEY, ONE TIME, YOU'RE LIKE, THE BAD NEWS IS, IT'S GOING TO BE THIS MUCH. NO, IT'S NOT BAD NEWS.
IT'S GOOD NEWS TO KNOW AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WE CAN PLAN FOR IT, AND WHEN THE TIME COMES, WE'RE READY.
I LIKE TO SEE STUFF LIKE THIS IN THE BUDGET.
>> BECAUSE FIRE USES CAD AS WELL.
THE DISPATCH IS TELLING US WHERE TO GO.
THEY'RE PUNCHING THAT IN. THAT'S HOW WE GET THE DATA THAT WE GET TO KNOW WHERE TO GO.
CAD IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BOTH AGENCIES.
RESPONSE TIME BEING CRITICAL, ESPECIALLY HOW THE HIGH ACUITY CALLS.
FOR A PERFECT EXAMPLE, WE WANT TO DO WHAT'S CALLED CLOSEST TO DISPATCH.
THAT CLOSEST UNIT GOES, THAT MAKES SENSE, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE CLOSEST UNIT.
I DON'T WANT TO MENTION THE VENDOR THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE NOW, BUT THE MAINTENANCE AND THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS IS NOT VERY GOOD LATELY, AND IT HAS IT NOT BEEN, FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, OF COURSE, I KNOW IT'S IN THE PD, THEY'VE LOOKED AT IT.
THEY'RE CAPTAIN OVER THAT PART OF THE HOUSE HAS LOOKED AT IT.
THERE ARE LOCAL NORTH TEXAS VENDOR, BUT SERVICE HAS BEEN DECLINING AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN GET THAT PIECE CLOSEST TO WORKING UNTIL RECENTLY.
IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR SURE TO THE GUYS OUT IN THE FIELD.
THEY'RE CHANGE IN THE SOFTWARE, THEY MAKE THIS EDIT, AND NOW SYSTEMS ARE BREAKING AND THEN THEY HAVE TO COME BACK, AND IT'S TOUGH TO GET THEM TO COME BACK.
THEY KNOW IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO MOVE AWAY FROM A SOFTWARE OF THIS SIZE AND THEN IMPLEMENT A NEW TOTAL SYSTEM.
THEY KNOW THAT, BUT THEY ARE LOSING SOME BIG NAME CLIENTS AS WELL, JUST BECAUSE OF THE THINGS I JUST MENTIONED.
WE ARE ROLLING ALONG AS BEST WE CAN WITH IT, BUT IT WILL COME FORWARD.
WE'LL NEED TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING THAT WORKS NOT ONLY FOR PD, BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE THAT BIG SGS AND RECORD MANAGEMENT SIDE.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENT RECORD MANAGEMENT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME COMPLIANCE ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE WITH IT.
BUT FOR THE CAD ITSELF, I MEAN, WE POPULATE THAT WITH WHERE ARE THESE LOCATIONS, AGAIN, USING JS AND SOME OTHER THINGS TO SAY, THIS 21/21 CROSS TIMBERS, THIS IS THE CLOSEST UNIT TO THAT.
THIS IS THE RUNNING ORDER IF THERE'S THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT THERE OR THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT THERE.
OUR RUNNING ORDERS ARE A LITTLE MORE DETAILED THAN PDS, BECAUSE YOU GOT TO KNOW WHERE IT'S AT, WHO WE'RE GOING TO SEND, WHAT THE EMERGENCY IS, DEPENDS ON WHO WE'RE GOING TO SEND.
IT'S VERY INTRICATE DOWN AND SCALED.
THAT'S WHAT TAKES SO LONG TO BUILD AND IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM OF THIS SCALE.
>> I WILL SAY TOO THAT MY MEMORY WAS JOGGED.
THIS COMPANY THAT WE HAVE GOT BOUGHT OUT BY A COMPETITOR WITH THEIR OWN PRODUCT.
THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO SUPPORT IT, BUT I'M NERVOUS.
>> YOU'RE NERVOUS, I'M NERVOUS.
>> WE WILL WORK ON THAT MORE THIS YEAR AND GET BETTER.
THESE ARE THE DATES WE REALLY HAVE TO MOVE ON SOMETHING.
IT'S A FORMAL BID PROCESS, SO IT'S A VERY LONG PROCESS.
> THE ONE THING THAT I'LL SAY IN CLOSING IS, THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK IN REGARDS TO RADIOS AND SCBA FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE JUST WANT YOU TO SEE THE TRAIN COMING FROM A WHILE AWAY AND I GET CAUGHT OFF GUARD WITH IT.
YOU CAN ANTICIPATE SOME DISCUSSION OUTSIDE OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET DISCUSSION.
WE'LL USE SOME WORK SESSIONS TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE.
I'LL JUST TENTATIVELY SAY, ONCE WE HAVE THAT MARCH OF 2025 INITIAL BUDGET DISCUSSION, THAT MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHERE WE'RE AT AND WHAT WE ANTICIPATE THE PRICE BEING, AND WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO DO IT IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
WE'LL KEEP YOU IN A LOOP ON THIS FOR SURE.
>> A VERY GOOD PLAN. I HAVE A FEW MORE.
CHIEF HENLEY, IT'S YOUR TURN AGAIN.
YOU HAD ASKED FOR SOMETHING, IT'S CALLED OTHER EQUIPMENT, BUT ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIRE TOOLS, AND THE AMOUNT WAS $11,500, ONGOING 1,500.
[02:25:02]
THIS IS TO HELP REDUCE THE RISK IN RESPONDING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE ACCIDENTS, AND IT HAD TO DO WITH THE TEMPERATURE AND THE BURNING, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE TO ADD THIS BACK IN.I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY PUT IT THROUGH THE FIRE SALES TAX, IS THAT RIGHT? TO ME, IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT I THINK THE BENEFIT COULD BE SUBSTANTIAL, AND I WOULD ALWAYS WANT TO EQUIP OUR FIREFIGHTERS WITH WHAT THEY NEED, ESPECIALLY KNOWING WE HAVE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE RETAILER COMING INTO TOWN, AND MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS NOW DRIVE THEM.
I THINK THE INCIDENTS WILL BE COMING.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. TO JAMES' POINT, THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDING THAT HE HAS TO SORT THROUGH, AND TOWN HAS TO SORT THROUGH.
I RESPECT ALL THE NEEDS OF ALL THE DEPARTMENTS AND WHERE WE FALL IN LINE.
I GOT TO GIVE PROPS TO THE CFO AND THEN THE BUDGET DIRECTOR AS WELL.
THEY'VE REALLY FREED US UP A LOT IN OUR BUDGET FROM PRIOR YEARS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
I THINK WE NOW, AS DIRECTORS, HAVE MORE SAY, AND HOW WE CAN CROSS-POLLINATE WITH SOME THINGS.
THEY LET ME REORGANIZE MY BUDGET IN A WAY THAT HELPS ME DO A BETTER JOB OF MONITORING OF THE BUDGET IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE SPENDING.
I THINK ANYTHING THAT'S NOT FUNDED, WE'LL FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR SURE.
OF COURSE, WE WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT THAT IT IS FUNDED, BUT IF NOT, WE'RE GOING TO FALL BACK TO SOME OTHER SAFETY THINGS TO MAKE SURE.
THE BIG ASS THERE WAS FOR THOSE PLUGS THAT GO IN THAT SHUT THE CHARGING OFF.
IF WE ARE WORKING THERE, THEN WE KNOW IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO LUNGE FORWARD AND HURT SOMEBODY.
FOR THE FIRES THAT DO BURN HOTTER, THAT'S WHAT THE BLANKETS AND THINGS WERE FOR.
BUT AGAIN, WE'LL ADAPT AND OVERCOME IF WE NEED TO, FOR SURE.
BUT I WAS GOING TO ASK WHAT THE OPPORTUNITY WAS FOR DONATIONS AND TO MAYBE GO TO THIS COMPANY THAT'S COMING IN, AND SAY, HEY, COULD WE HAVE SOME OF THESE AND TO TURN THESE OFF? THAT MIGHT BE A WAY THAT WE FUND THE BULK OF THIS WITHOUT HAVING TO USE THE GENERAL FUND.
WE WERE GOING TO MAYBE LOOK FOR SOME ALTERNATIVE METHODS.
>> GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE I KNOW YOU LOOK REALLY HARD AT ALL THE NUMBERS, AND YOU HAVE CUT BACK ON SOME THINGS AND SAVED, AND SO GOES LONG WAY.
ALONG THOSE SAME LINES, APPARATUS FOR THE QUINT.
I UNDERSTAND THAT COULD BE A HIGHER PRIORITY FOR NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IT YET. BUT WE WANT TO PLAN.
IT'S ANOTHER GET IT ON YOUR RADAR THING, AND IT WAS ABOUT $45,000, BUT WE GOT TO HAVE.
THAT'S EQUIPMENT THAT GOES WITH THE VEHICLE. QUICK SIP OF WATER.
ONE MORE THING, AND I DO FEEL REALLY STRONGLY ABOUT THIS.
IT HAS TO DO WITH FIRE MARSHALS AND CODE ENFORCEMENTS, AND I REALLY WANT TO GET THEM THE TICKET WRITERS.
I DON'T THINK, HOW CAN WE SEND THEM OUT TO DO A JOB AND ASK THEM TO ENFORCE, AND NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY WRITE THE TICKET IN THE MOMENT WHEN THEY SEE THE VIOLATION?
>> SINCE THAT CAME FORWARD, WE DID SOME GREAT WORK WITH STRATEGIC SERVICES AND OUR PD.
RIGHT NOW, THE PD AND CHIEF, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THEY CAN NOW DO IT ON A CELL PHONE AND THE TICKET WRITER CAN BE ON A CELL PHONE.
WHEN WE PUT THIS FORWARD AXION, THE SAME TASER PEOPLE, YOU HAD TO DO A PRINTER AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
MY HOPE IS, WE'RE TRYING TO REFINE THIS EVEN MORE.
MAYBE IF WE CAN HAVE THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE TURN IN THEIR CELL PHONE AND/OR THAT ALLOWANCE, AND GIVE THEM A PHONE WITH THIS ON IT, WORKING WITH PD, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALE ON WHAT THEY BUY.
ONLY NEED ONE OR TWO OF THEM FOR MY GUYS.
BUT MAYBE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO DRIVE THAT COST DOWN.
WE WORK WITH STRATEGIC SERVICES AND IT TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT.
THAT'S WHERE WE CAME DOWN TO THIS $5,000 NUMBER TO TRY TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO.
AGAIN, THE SAME WITH THE OTHERS, WE WANT TO TRY TO LEVERAGE WHAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING, FIND SOME ECONOMIES OF SCALE WITH OUR PD, AND SEE IF WE COULD TRY ONE OUT, AND MAKE SURE NOTHING BUGS ME MORE THAN PEOPLE IN THE FIRE LANES.
RIGHT NOW, IT'S, HEY, WE NEED YOU TO MOVE, AND THEY DO, BUT WE DON'T ACTIVELY HAVE THE MECHANISMS TO DO THAT OUTSIDE OF PAPER.
WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE MUNICIPAL COURT THEY DON'T LIKE THAT PAPER SYSTEM FOR US.
THAT'S WHY THE TICKET WRITERS CAME UP, BUT I DON'T NEED EVERYONE TO HAVE ONE.
I THINK JUST A FEW OF THEM IN THE OFFICE IF THEY HAD ONE WOULD WORK, BUT I THINK WE CAN FIND A WAY TO WORK WITH PD TO TRY IT OUT THIS YEAR, SEE HOW IT WORKS, AND THEN REPORT BACK IF WE NEED MORE IN THE FUTURE BUDGET YEAR.
>> I'M SOLD. I HAD ONE MORE THING, AND LET ME JUST SKIP OVER HERE.
THIS IS ACTUALLY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES. THANK YOU.
[02:30:07]
JOHN MENTIONED THIS EARLIER TODAY, AND THAT WAS ABOUT THE ON-SITE SEWAGE FACILITY REPLACEMENT PROGRAM.I THINK WE WANT THAT ELEVATED THIS YEAR.
I MEAN, WE HAD BEEN THROUGH THIS. WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
I THINK WE CAN MOVE IT OVER AND RECOUP IT FROM THE STORM DRAINAGE FUND.
ALSO THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT, THIS IS A REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM.
IT'S NOT A GIFT BY ANY STRETCH.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE US TO GET THAT BACK IN THE PROGRAM.
IT'S $50,000 WOULD BE BUDGETED, BUT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF RESIDENTS WOULD NECESSARILY COME FORWARD ANNUALLY TO REQUEST THAT MONEY, BUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT'S CORRECT. WE'RE NOT GETTING INUNDATED WITH REQUESTS FROM BANKS ALL OVER THE YEARS, AND IT WOULD PROVIDE THAT TOOL TO FUND THEM.
IT WOULD BE TO SEED IT, AND UTILIZE THE STORE MORE UTILITY FUND AND KEEP THOSE EXPENSES.
>> I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME PARAMETERS, OBVIOUSLY, WOULD HAVE TO BE OWNER OCCUPIED PROPERTY AND THEN SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE SPECIFIED FOR THEM TO QUALIFY.
>> BUT WE DID TALK ABOUT THIS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT BACK AND MAKE SURE IT MAKES IT IN.
>> SURE. WE COULD ESTABLISH THAT CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY.
>> WE ALSO DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT THE RESIDENTIAL REHAB PROGRAM COULD POSSIBLY ACT AS A GRANT IN SOME OF THESE CASES. IS THAT ALSO AN OPTION?
>> IT COULD, BUT THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS THERE.
YOU CAN'T HAVE AN AREA WITH THAT'S INUNDATED BY A FLOODPLAIN, WHICH WE WOULD WANT TO BE CORRECTED, OBVIOUSLY, IF IT'S A FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEM.
THERE ARE A FEW LIMITATIONS WITH THE RESIDENTIAL REHAB PROGRAM THAT I THINK THIS COULD ADDRESS.
>> THIS IS PROBABLY REVENUE NEUTRAL BECAUSE THEY GET BACK FILL JUST LIKE THE SIDEWALK PROGRAM.
THE SIDEWALK PROGRAM HAS A BUDGET ITEM, EVEN THOUGH, IS IT FROM THE UTILITY SIDE?
>> GOT THIS ONE, MEG. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ONES THAT WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BILL THROUGH UTILITY BILL.
THEY DO GET TRASH, AND THEY DO HAVE STORM DRAINAGE.
BUT THIS WOULD BE ONE THAT WE'D ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD FOR A PARTNERSHIP PROBABLY WITH OUR COLLECTION AGENCY SO THEY CAN BILL ONCE ANNUALLY.
BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT PARAMETERS, AND WE WOULD BASICALLY BE SURE RECUPERATING OF COSTS BY PUTTING IN A LIEN ON THEM.
>> WELL, YES, OVERALL OF THE REVENUE NEUTRAL, IT MAY NOT BE WITHIN THE SAME FISCAL YEAR.
THAT'S WHERE WE STILL WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE MONEY AUTHORIZED FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF IT.
THEN YES, EVENTUALLY THROUGH WHATEVER PROCESS, WHETHER THE HOME SALE OR THROUGH THE REIMBURSEMENT, WE WOULD BE PAID BACK.
>> SINCE YOU ALL HAD OTHER THINGS ON YOUR LIST THAT I HAD ON MY LIST, I THINK I'M DONE.
THANK YOU. BRIAN, DO YOU HAVE A LIST?
>> I'LL MENTIONED A COUPLE, AND THEN THE REST WERE ALREADY COVERED.
>> OH, MOST OF THE STUFF YOU GUYS HAVE MENTIONED.
I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THE, OH, THERE'S ONE. HOLD ON.
LEFT. I THINK IT WAS THE LIBRARY FTE, THE LIBRARY ASSISTANT PART-TIME.
IS THAT BECAUSE OF INCREASED VOLUME THERE?
>> GOOD EVENING. YES. IN THE LAST YEAR AND SINCE WE'VE OPENED THE SPACE, WE'VE BEEN INCREASING IN USAGE EVERY WEEK.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT OPEN AT THE SAME OPERATING HOURS AS THE LIBRARY IS, AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO OPEN MORE IN THE EVENINGS AND HAVE MORE WEEKEND HOURS.
>> BECAUSE THE VOLUME SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED, BUT THAT'S ONLY 0.5 FTE TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE LATER HOURS?
>> I THINK THE PROPERTY ROOM TECHNICIAN, DID WE COVER THAT?
I MEAN, IT IS ON THE RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING LIST, AND WE CAN HAVE CHIEF KOLON IF YOU'VE GOT SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
>> WHAT IS THAT, THOUGH, EXACTLY, FOR THE PROPERTY ROOM TECH? I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
>> ALL THE EVIDENCE WE COLLECT, THAT'S THE PROPERTY ROOM.
IT GOES INTO THE ACTUAL PROPERTY ROOM.
THE ISSUE NOW IS, WE COLLECT SO MUCH DIGITAL EVIDENCE, WE'RE UNABLE TO PROCESS AT ALL, AND WE HAVE A BACKLOG.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO DO OUR PURGING TO GET RID OF THE OLD STUFF THAT WE CAN.
WE JUST KEEP GROWING THIS HUGE AMOUNT OF DIGITAL EVIDENCE, THEN WE'RE LEGALLY ABLE TO GET RID OF SOME OF IT, AND WE NEED SOME HELP TO GET THAT DONE.
WE CAN ONLY SPEND ABOUT 5% OF OUR TIME CURRENTLY WORKING ON
[02:35:02]
THAT JUST BECAUSE WE'RE BUSY WITH WHAT WE HAVE.THIS POSITION WILL MOSTLY WORK ON THE BACKLOG OF ALL THAT DIGITAL EVIDENCE.
>> NOBODY ELSE IS AVAILABLE TO DO THAT.
THAT'S A NECESSARY THING TO GET CONTROL?
>> YOU GUYS ARE OKAY WITH THAT. NOW, MOST OF THE OTHER STUFF. EVERYTHING ELSE? HOWARD.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR.
WE'VE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE UNFUNDED OF THERE, CAN I GET CONFIRMATION FROM YOU IN A CONSENSUS ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ADJUST AND ADD BACK IN BEFORE WE GO TO ADOPTION NUMBERS.
I BELIEVE I'VE HEARD THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNICIAN.
THERE WAS QUESTIONS ON THE FIRE CAPTAIN, SO I WASN'T SURE WHERE COUNSEL WAS LANDING ON THAT.
I'M SKIPPING THE ONES THAT WERE LISTED AS BEING A FUTURE JUST ON THE RADAR.
THE TICKET WRITERS AND THE OSSF REPLACEMENT OUT OF STORM WATER.
>> ALL I HAD WAS THOSE LAST THREE.
>> I JUST WANT TO CONFIRM. I KNOW COUNCILMAN DREW HAD HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECH AND COUNCIL MEMBER TAYLOR ABOUT THE FIRE CAPTAIN.
ARE WE WANTING TO CONSIDER ADDING THEM OR WE ARE GOOD AT THIS TIME WITH THEM STAYING FOR NOW ON THE UNFUNDED LIST?
>> I'M OKAY WITH THE FIRE CAPTAIN STAYING UNFUNDED IF WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON THAT FOR NEXT YEAR.
>> ABSOLUTELY. NO FTE CHANGES, BUT I'M HEARING POTENTIALLY ADDING THE BUDGET BACK FOR THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE TOOLS, FOR THE TICKET WRITERS.
BOTH OF THOSE WOULD BE GENERAL FUND ITEMS, AND THEN THE OSSF REPLACEMENT SEED MONEY IN STORM WATER.
>> REMOVE IT TO FIRE. OUT OF FIRE.
JUST MAKING SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.
WAS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? I THINK EVERYTHING ELSE WAS THE DISCUSSIONS AND QUESTIONS ON FUNDED ITEMS, AND I DID NOT SEE ANY CONSENSUS THAT WE WANTED TO CHANGE DECISIONS ON THOSE OTHER THAN THE ONES WE'VE ALREADY SHIFTED OFF.
>> THE ROBOT FLOOR CLEANER WAS GOING IN.
>> THE FLOOR CLEANER IS IN THE TAX NOTE, AND WE HAVE THE NOTE.
OBVIOUSLY, NOTHING WILL BE FINALIZED UNTIL WE HAD ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION CONTRACT WITH YOU.
>> AREN'T WE GOING TO DO THE CONTRACT ON THAT? THE VENDOR'S CONTRACT. [OVERLAPPING]
>> RIGHT NOW WE'LL LEAVE THE AUTHORIZATION IN THERE.
IT'S IN THE TAX NOTE, IT'S NOT IN GENERAL FUND.
BUT OBVIOUSLY, NOTHING WILL BE PURCHASED UNTIL.
>> WE WILL COME TO YOU BEFORE WE EXECUTE ANY PURCHASES WITH DATA AND FEEDBACK ABOUT HOW IT WORKS.
WE WON'T WE WON'T EXECUTE THE PURCHASE UNTIL WE WRITE IT BY YOU GUYS.
>> WELL, THE TICKET WRITER ONE.
I GUESS I MISUNDERSTOOD THE DISCUSSION WITH THE CHIEF.
I THOUGHT WE HAD A GOOD WAY TO WORK AROUND IT THIS YEAR AND SEE IF WORKING WITH POLICE TO USE THOSE TICKET WRITERS.
>> I BELIEVE THE 5,000 WAS THE WORKING WITH POLICE.
THAT'S A SEED MONEY THEY NEED TO START A PILOT PROGRAM WITH THE PHONE-BASED TICKET WRITERS.
>> WE DID JUST DEPLOY 14 NEW IPHONE 14 TICKET WRITERS, SO IT IS AVAILABLE TO USE ON IOS DEVICES.
WE HAVE ADDITIONAL LICENSES WHERE WE CAN RE-PURPOSE SOME OF THOSE OTHER PHONES.
WE'RE BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THOSE PHONES AND RE-PURPOSING THOSE DEVICES.
I BELIEVE FIRE IS GOING TO BEGIN TO USE THOSE.
>> THAT'S A FUNDING REQUEST TO DO THAT.
>> THEN WE WILL JUST PUT THE FUNDING FOR THE ELECTRONIC VEHICLE TOOLS IN THE FIRE DISTRICT FUND AND THE OSSF REPLACEMENT IN STORM WATER.
>> WELL, AS LONG AS THE TICKET RIDER PROBLEM IS SOLVED?
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, ANYTHING ELSE ON DECISION PACKAGES BEFORE WE START DIVING INTO TAX RATES? MAKE SURE I'VE GOT MY NOTES HERE.
>> YEAH, WE CAN. IT'S 8:41 RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK UNTIL LET'S COME BACK AT 10 TILL THE HOUR.
>> HE HAS IT ON. IT IS 8:50 RIGHT NOW.
WE WILL RESUME OUR WORK SESSION FOR THIS EVENING.
I THINK MEG, YOU'RE CONTINUING ON TAXES?
>> YES. WE WILL GET BACK INTO IT.
WE'RE NEARING THE END OF THE GENERAL BUDGET PORTION AND THEN JUST A PREVIEW, WE DO HAVE OUR UTILITY RATE CONSULTANT HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR UTILITY RATES, OR STORM WATER RATES.
[02:40:01]
WE'LL TURN OVER TO THEM. THEN WE HAVE OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS TEAMS SO THEY CAN GO OVER AND ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS.JUST SO YOU HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AND THAT NORMAL OVERVIEW YOU'RE USED TO.
WE DO HAVE OUR PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RATE, AS YOU KNOW, THIS IS A CALCULATION THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.
IT'S A MULTI PAGE WORKSHEET TO GET TO THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE STATE WITH VARIOUS RULES.
BUT REALLY WHAT IT'S BOILING DOWN TO IS WE CALCULATE A RATE, AND WE'LL GET ONTO THAT JUST A MINUTE, BUT TO LOOK AT COMPARISON OF VALUES AND HOW VALUES HAVE CHANGED.
WE'RE LOOKING AT REVENUE BASED ON THE VALUE OF PROPERTIES.
WE DO NOT SET THE VALUES OF PROPERTIES, THAT IS THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICTS.
WHETHER YOU LIVE IN DENTON OR YOU LIVE IN TARRANT COUNTY, THAT RESPECTIVE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT IS WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING YOUR VALUES.
JUST AS A COUPLE OF REMINDERS FOR THINGS, COUNCIL DID INCREASE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FROM THE 12.5%-15% AS PART OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
IF A HOMEOWNER IS OVER 65 ARE DISABLED, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL EXEMPTION OF 150,000 AVAILABLE TO THEM.
THE TAX RATE, AS WE KNOW, IS MADE UP OF TWO COMPONENTS, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS, THAT'S OUR GENERAL FUND PORTION, AND THAT IS ONE PART OF THE RATE AND THEN INTEREST IN SWINKING, WHICH WE MORE COMMONLY REFER TO AS THE DEBT SERVICE RATE.
JUST REMINDING BACK ON HOW TAX RATES WORK.
EVERY YEAR WE CALCULATE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
THAT IS THE RATE THAT'S LOOKING AT A PROPERTY, WHAT THE VALUE CHANGES AND PROPERTIES THAT WAS ON THE ROLE IN BOTH YEARS.
THERE'S THE STEPS DONE IN THE CALCULATION TO TRY TO MAKE AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON, TO SAY, OKAY, YOU HAD THESE PROPERTIES, THEY'RE STILL ON THE ROLE, WHAT'S THE VALUE CHANGE? NOW LET'S CALCULATE A RATE THAT WOULD BRING IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE.
IT IS AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP.
AS PROPERTY VALUES GO UP, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE WILL GO DOWN.
THAT IS THE HIGHEST RATE THAT A COUNCIL CAN ADOPT WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC HEARING OR ANY OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS TO REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE TAX RATE BEFORE IT'S ADOPTED.
THEN WE HAVE THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE.
THIS IS THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE THAT CAN BE ADOPTED BY A COUNCIL WITHOUT REQUIRING A VOTE OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT OF REVENUE PLUS A 3.5% INCREASE.
IF WE WANTED TO EXCEED IT, WE WOULD HAVE TO HOLD AN ELECTION.
HONESTLY, WE'D ALREADY EVEN BE TOO LATE TO TRY TO GO DOWN THAT ROUTE.
THE RATE THAT WE WILL CONSIDER AS YOUR MAXIMUM TAX RATE EQUALS THE VOTER APPROVAL RATE, THAT'S WHAT WILL BE ADOPTED ON MONDAY NIGHT.
THAT IS THE 0.387278 PER $100 VALUATION, WHICH IS WHAT IS RECOMMENDED FOR FUNDING IN THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
LOOKING AT OUR STRATEGY, THIS IS THE TAX RATE FOR LAST YEAR, SO YOU SEE THE M&O PORTION AND THE INS PORTION.
WHEN WE CALCULATE THIS YEAR, YOU SEE A SHIFT.
OUR PROPERTY VALUES HAVE GONE UP, SO THE M&O SIDE HAS GONE DOWN.
JOHN HAS WORKED WITH JULIE AND WITH OUR BOND TEAM TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN STRUCTURE SOME OF OUR DEBT.
I BELIEVE WE'VE GOT SOME REFUNDINGS THAT ARE GOING INTO THE INS.
THEN ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE OF THE COMING BOND PROPOSAL, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN MAINTAIN CAPACITY TO ALLOW COUNCIL TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO MAKE THE DECISIONS BASED ON THE OUTCOME OF THE BOND ELECTION.
WE ARE INCLUDING A $2.5 MILLION TAX NOTE IN OUR DEBT RATE FOR THIS YEAR THAT WILL ENABLE US TO PRESERVE SOME CAPACITY.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS SLIDE BEFORE.
THIS WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD IS WE'VE BEEN CONSIDERING WHAT IS THE BEST MOVE FORWARD TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDRESSING OUR NEEDS, WHAT ARE THE BEST FUNDING SOURCES AND LOOKING AT WHAT WE SEE IN THE SHIFTING AND PROPERTY VALUES AND IN DEBT RATE AND WHAT OUR CAPACITY WILL BE MOVING FORWARD TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE FUNDING SOURCES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS COMING FOR THE TOWN.
BY INCLUDING THAT TAX RATE IN THIS YEAR'S CALCULATION, IT'S ALLOWING US TO ADDRESS SOME ONE TIME CAPITAL NEEDS, SOME ADDITIONAL PROJECTS AND PRESERVING THAT CAPACITY SO THAT THE FLEXIBILITY REMAINS IN COUNCIL'S PURVIEW AS WE MOVE FORWARD, DEPENDING WHATEVER THAT OUTCOME MIGHT BE.
>> MEG I'M GOING TO GET YOU HOLD RIGHT THERE.
>> PRIOR TO 2019, SENATE BILL 2, WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MY MOVE FOR THIS, WOULD HAVE SAID, WE COULD ACTUALLY GO UP TO 8%.
[02:45:03]
BEFORE THEN, IT WAS CALLED, THE ROLLBACK RATE.WE'D HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO 8%.
IF WE NEEDED $2.5 MILLION LAWYERS, I WOULD HAVE SAID, WE DON'T NEED TO TAKE OUT DEBT.
HERE'S THE OPERATIONAL FUNDING THAT WE HAD AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO LOOK AT A DEBT INSTRUMENT.
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD THAT WITHIN OUR OPERATIONAL RATE FOR THOSE NEEDS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT I WOULD HAVE DONE THIS DIFFERENTLY PRE SB2.
THIS TAX NOTE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THAT, BUT ONE OF THE NEAT THINGS ABOUT THIS TAX NOTE IS THIS IS PAYING INTEREST ONE TIME AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE RATE SINCE IT'S A VERY SHORT TERM DEBT.
IF WE ARE GOING TO TAKE OUT DEBT, THIS IS THE CHEAPEST DEBT WE CAN POSSIBLY GET.
WHAT IS RAISING OUR INS RATE IS THE REFUNDING THAT YOU GUYS APPROVED IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
THAT WILL SAVE OUR VOTERS AND RESIDENTS OVER $400,000 OR CLOSE ALMOST HALF- A MILLION DOLLARS WITH THAT REFINANCING AND INTEREST COST.
IT'S A TRADE THERE, BUT ALL OF THIS IS JUST TO BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT TAX RATE SO THAT IF THEY APPROVE THE BOND ELECTION, YOU CAN SAY THEY CAN DO IT WITHOUT RAISING THE TOTAL TAX RATE.
>> I WANTED TO ALSO JUST BRING THIS UP.
THIS IS A LOOK AT OUR TAX RATE REVENUE, BUT THE PROPORTIONAL SPLIT BETWEEN OPERATIONS AND DEBT OVER THE LAST TEN OR SO YEARS.
YOU CAN SEE BACK IN 2016 WHERE THE SPLIT WAS BETWEEN THE M&O AND THE DEBT RATE.
AS WE'VE MOVED ALONG, YOU LOOK INTO 22-23, THAT AMOUNT HAS COMPRESSED ON HOW MUCH WE'RE INCLUDING OVER ON THE DEBT SIDE.
SOME OF THESE MOVES ARE STARTING TO BRING THAT BACK INTO THAT PROPORTION WE SAW PREVIOUSLY.
AGAIN, MORE SUSTAINABLE OPERATION AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN OUR ABILITY TO MEET OUR NEEDS.
BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR RESIDENT? THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WE KNOW IS OF CONCERN AND MAKE SURE WE WANT TO POINT OUT.
YOU CAN SEE HERE, THIS IS AN ACTUAL HOME THAT WE'VE TRACKED HOW THE ASSESSED VALUATION HAS CHANGED OVER TIME.
STARTING BACK IN 2016, THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY WAS WORTH $230,373.
YOU CAN SEE WHAT THEIR TAX RATE WAS, OF COURSE, AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS NO HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND WE HAD THE LOWER OVER 65 EXEMPTION.
IF YOU GO ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 2025 AND YOU CAN WATCH IT, BUT THAT HOME IS NOW VALUED AT $449,000 AS SET BY THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
AT THE TAX RATE WE'VE PROPOSED.
WE NOW HAVE THE OPTION FOR A 15% HOMESTEAD FOR OWNER OCCUPIED PROPERTIES.
IF THE OWNER IS OVER 65 OR DISABLED, THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO REQUEST THAT ADDITIONAL $150,000 EXEMPTION.
BUT THE TAX BILL WOULD BE $1,739, THAT IS AN ANNUAL AMOUNT FOR THEIR CITY PORTION OF TAXES WITH NO EXEMPTIONS.
THAT'S WHAT THAT HOMEOWNER WILL BE LOOKING AT.
IF THEY'RE HOMESTEAD, BUT UNDER 65, THEY WOULD PAY $1,478, OR IF THEY QUALIFY FOR BOTH, $984.
YOU CAN SEE THAT COMPARED TO A PROPERTY WITHOUT ANY EXEMPTIONS, THEY'RE SAVING $261 AS A HOMESTEADED PROPERTY, AND AS A HOMESTEADED PLUS 65, THEY'RE SAVING $755 BASED ON THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED TAX RATE.
BUT WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN IN THE SCOPE OF CITY SERVICES? LET'S LOOK AT THAT COST BREAKDOWN.
WE'LL ASSUME WE A $449,000 PROPERTY.
THEY QUALIFY FOR THE 15% HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, SO THE ANNUAL COST IS 1478 OR $123 A MONTH.
FOR MOST OF YOU, THAT MAY EVEN BE LESS THAN YOUR INTERNET BILL OR YOUR CABLE BILL FOR ALL OF THE CITY SERVICES THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU.
WHAT DOES IT BREAKDOWN A MONTH? $2.99 FOR THE LIBRARY. I LOVE THAT ONE.
MONTHLY 123 BUCKS A MONTH, AND YOU CAN READ EVERY BOOK IN THAT LIBRARY IF YOU HAVE TIME AND CAN GO CHECK IT OUT AND CHECK IT BACK IN, $2.19 A MONTH, $27 A MONTH TO ENSURE POLICE OFFICERS ARE HELPING KEEP YOUR COMMUNITY SAFE, $29 A MONTH, TO ENSURE THAT ON THE WORST DAY OF YOUR LIFE, A FIREFIGHTER WILL BE AVAILABLE TO RESPOND.
THEN YOU HAVE ALL THE OTHER COSTS, 925, THAT IS LOOKING AT THE STREET SIDE OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THAT'S NOT ON OF THE UTILITY COSTS.
THESE ARE JUST A BREAKDOWN OF GENERAL FUND COSTS PLUS DEBT SERVICE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING HERE ON THIS MONTHLY COST BREAKDOWN.
THEN YOU HAVE THE OTHER EXPENSES,
[02:50:02]
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, THAT'S IT, THAT'S HR.THOSE ARE THE COSTS YOU NEVER WOULD SEE ON YOUR CABLE BILL BECAUSE IT'S ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD.
BUT ALL OF THESE COSTS GO INTO RUNNING OUR TOWN SERVICES.
TRANSFERS, NON DEPARTMENTAL, JUST THOSE ANCILLARY COSTS OR LEGAL COSTS, THINGS LIKE THAT THAT ARE BAKED INTO THOSE NUMBERS.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT IS TOWN MANAGER'S OFFICE, TOWN SECRETARY'S OFFICE, COMMUNICATIONS.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH ARE PLANNING SERVICES, BUILDING INSPECTIONS, FINANCE AND MUNICIPAL COURT, PARKS AND RECREATION.
I WOULD SAY ON THE WHOLE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT THAT WAY, YOU GET A PRETTY GOOD DEAL FOR WHAT YOU'RE PAYING INTO THE CITY.
BUT WE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE COSTS AND YOU'RE WANTING TO BALANCE ALL OF THAT.
JOHN DID SOME MATH ON, IF WE HAD SOME REDUCTIONS ON THE TAX RATE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ON THE TOWN'S BUDGET SIDE AND WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO THE HOMEOWNER? YOU CAN SEE ONE, I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW MANY THAT OUT.
WE SAVE $169 AND THE HOME OWNER WILL SEE NO SAVINGS, GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO TRULY SEE IMPACT TO THE HOMEOWNER'S AMOUNT, YOU SEE A $0.10, IT WILL SAVE $450 TO THE HOMEOWNER, BUT A COST OF ALMOST 17 MILLION TO THE TOWN ON A $450,000 HOUSE.
WE DID WANT TO SHOW WE UNDERSTAND, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT FRACTIONS OF ASSENT WILL DO, IT DOES REQUIRE SOME DECISIONS ON WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO CHANGE IN THE FUNDING MODEL, AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT THE IMPACT WOULD GET THEN FOR THE HOMEOWNER.
ONE MORE, JUST LOOK AT TAXES AND OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO REDUCE THE BURDEN OF TAXES ON THE RESIDENTIAL AND THE HOME OWNER.
THESE CHARTS HERE ARE JUST LOOKING AT HOW MUCH OF OUR PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS COMING FROM RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES, HOW MUCH FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, AND HOW MUCH FROM SALES TAX.
NOW, FLOWER MOUND THERE IS AN OPTION WHERE YOU CAN DO A SALES TAX CONVERSION TO PROPERTY TAX TO REDUCE YOUR PROPERTY TAX RATE.
BUT GROWTH OF SALES TAXES DOES HELP US AFFORD OTHER SERVICES, WHICH ALLOWS US TO HAVE LESS RELIANCE ON THE PROPERTY TAX.
WE HAVE IT IN THE MIX, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THE CALCULATION.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT WHEREVER WE CAN IMPROVE OUR TAX BASE ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, IMPROVE OUR RETAIL SIDE THROUGH SALES TAX, WE CAN LESSEN WHAT THE RATIO IS THEN THAT WE'RE RELYING ON FROM THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
>> COUNCILMAN CHRIS, YOU ACTUALLY ASKED US FOR THIS ONE.
I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE IT AND GIVE YOU TWO WAYS OF LOOKING AT THIS.
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THIS IS ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT PROPERTY TAX RELIEF IS COMMERCIAL AND SALES TAX IS A WAY OF OFFSETTING THE BURDEN OF COST OF SERVICES ON RESIDENTS.
>> THERE WAS A SLIDE AT THE VERY BEGINNING, MEG THAT HAD TOTAL PROPERTY TAX COLLECTIONS AT 67.4 MILLION AND SALES TAX COLLECTIONS AT 39.3 MILLION.
I WAS A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT THE SALES TAX WAS SO LARGE PROPORTIONATELY TO THE PROPERTY TAX.
BUT I GUESS WHEN WE LOOK AT IT HERE, WE CAN SEE THAT IT'S MOVED A LITTLE, BUT IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT EVEN GOING BACK ALL THE WAY TO 2015.
WE'RE ALMOST RIGHT WHERE WE WERE AT 2015, ALTHOUGH THE COMMERCIAL PORTION HAS GROWN A LITTLE BIT, WHICH IS GOOD.
THAT MEANS OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IS PAYING OFF.
THAT MEANS THAT ALL THE PROMISES OF TAKING THE BURDEN OFF THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNER IN EXCHANGE FOR ALL THE DEVELOPMENT IS FINALLY STARTING TO BE REALIZED AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT.
THIS IS A REALLY HELPFUL SLIDE. I APPRECIATE IT.
>> MEG, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT PROPERTY TAX BILL REAL QUICK?
>> THIS SLIDE, THIS IS ACTUALLY, AGAIN, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT YOU ACTUALLY ASKED FOR AND ONE OF THE ONES THAT WE SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME GOING OUT, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE IMPACT THAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY MAKING ON A HOMEOWNER OR RESIDENT.
THEIR TOTAL APPRAISED VALUE HAS INCREASED ALMOST 100% IN THAT 10 YEAR WINDOW.
BUT THEIR TAXABLE VALUE OR THEIR TAX BILL IS ONLY INCREASED 50%, AND THAT WOULDN'T HAVE OCCURRED IF YOU WOULDN'T BE DROPPING THE TAX RATE AND INCREASING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
WITH THE TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE, YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE IMPACT ACT OF THIS BY 50%.
OVERALL, THIS RESIDENT WILL FEEL A $7 INCREASE TO THEIR PROPERTY TAX BILL UNDER THE CURRENT TAX RATE.
I LIKE THIS SLIDE BECAUSE SOMETIMES I THINK WE PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF A SHELL GAME WHERE WE TRY TO SAY, WELL, YOUR APPRAISAL WENT UP, BUT THE TAX RATE WENT DOWN SO DON'T TALK TO US, TALK TO THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT BUT THIS PUTS IT IN TERMS OF REAL DOLLARS, WHICH IS ALL THAT REALLY MATTERS AT THE END OF THE DAY.
I THINK I'M LOOKING AT THE GROWTH HERE AND THE WAY THAT IT HAS BEEN
[02:55:01]
ARRESTED SINCE 2019 WHEN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FIRST STARTED BEING IMPLEMENTED.WE'VE HIT A MORE OF A HIGHER INFLATIONARY PERIOD NOW.
THERE IS SOME INFLATION HERE, BUT THIS IS REALLY GOOD TO SEE.
I THINK KEEPING THE REAL DOLLARS AS CONSISTENT AS POSSIBLE OVER TIME IS DOING RIGHT BY THE TAXPAYER.
I APPRECIATE THE SLIDE VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.
>> THAT REALLY IS JUST THE OVERVIEW.
OF COURSE, WE HAVE OTHER STATUTORY REQUIRED.
WE'LL SETTING THE MAXIMUM TAX RATE, CALLING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE AND ON THE BUDGET ON MONDAY NIGHT.
WE'LL HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION ON SEPTEMBER 16TH, WHICH WILL ALSO BE THE NIGHT WE ADOPT.
BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE HAD GONE OVER THE TAX RATE, THE REVIEW WHERE WE WERE COMING FROM AND MAKING SURE WE HAD ADDRESSED YOUR QUESTIONS AND PUT THINGS IN SOME OTHER PERSPECTIVES SO WE COULD HELP WITH EDUCATING OUR RESIDENTS ON WHAT THE TOOLS YOU HAVE DONE, WHAT STAFF HAS DONE WITH WORKING WITH OUR BUDGET NUMBERS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE BEING AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE WITH WHAT WE'RE ENTRUSTED WITH.
UNLESS THERE ARE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON TAX RATE INFORMATION OR ANYTHING YOU NEED CLARIFICATION ON AND WHAT WE PRESENTED, THEN I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND TURN IT OVER TO CHRIS ECKERT, WHO IS WITH NEW GEN STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS AND IS OUR RATE CONSULTANT FOR UTILITY RATES.
GET ALL MY STUFF OUT OF YOUR WAY.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, CHRIS ECKERT WITH NUGENT STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS.
PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.
I KNOW YOU'VE ALREADY HAD A LONG EVENING, SO I WILL TRY AND MOVE THROUGH THIS AS EFFICIENTLY AS I CAN.
PLEASE STOP ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS.
AS WE TALK ABOUT THE WATER, WASTEWATER, AND DRAINAGE FUND TONIGHT, I'LL REMIND YOU AGAIN, THESE ARE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, ALSO KNOWN AS PROPRIETARY FUNDS.
THESE ARE MEANT TO BE SELF SUPPORTING.
THEY'RE RESERVED FOR BUSINESS TYPE ACTIVITIES OF GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THESE FUNDS IN THAT WAY.
IDEALLY, WE WANT THESE FUNDS TO BE REVENUE SUFFICIENT.
MEANING, WE WANT THE REVENUES TO MATCH OR EXCEED THE EXPENSES COMING INTO THE FUND.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT TO MONITOR THE RESERVES IN THE FUND.
IN THE WATER BUSINESS, WE LITERALLY HAVE TO PLAN FOR A RAINY DAY.
WHEN IT STARTS RAINING, PEOPLE USE LESS WATER, OUR CASH FLOWS FALL.
WE HAVE TO WATCH THOSE RESERVES.
THIRD THING WE HAVE TO DO IS WE HAVE TO REINVEST IN THAT BUSINESS.
YOU'VE HAD LOTS OF DISCUSSION THIS EVENING ABOUT CAPITAL.
WE HAVE CAPITAL REINVESTMENT THAT ALSO HAS TO HAPPEN WITHIN OUR UTILITIES AS WELL.
I'M GOING TO START WITH WATER AND WASTEWATER NIGHT, THEN MOVE ON TO DRAINAGE.
AGAIN, RELATIVE TO WATER AND WASTEWATER, WE ARE MONITORING THOSE RESERVE FUNDS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE MAINTAINING AT LEAST 60 DAYS IN THE FUND.
IF WE GET OVER 90, THEN THAT GIVES US MONEY THAT WE ULTIMATELY PUT INTO THE CAPITAL FUND.
WE'RE MONITORING THAT WITHIN OUR RATE ANALYSIS.
THE OTHER ELEMENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITHIN OUR RATE ANALYSIS IS DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PAY OUR DEBT AND STILL HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CUSHION, A LITTLE BIT OF MARGIN THERE TO PAY THAT DEBT.
AGAIN, THIS IS WHAT THE DEBT RATING AGENCIES ARE LOOKING AT WHEN YOU GO TO THE DEBT MARKETS.
THIS IS WHAT ALLOWS YOU TO MAINTAIN YOUR DEBT RATING.
BY FOLLOWING YOUR FINANCIAL POLICIES, IT GIVES YOU A BETTER DEBT RATING.
THE HIGHER THE DEBT RATING, THE LOWER YOUR BORROWING COST.
AGAIN, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW THESE FINANCIAL POLICIES.
YOU DID HAVE ORDINANCE 44-22 THAT ESTABLISHED A THREE YEAR RATE PLAN GOING THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 25, SO THIS UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR.
WITHIN THAT ORDINANCE, IT SPECIFIES A 4.5% OVERALL REVENUE INCREASE FOR THE FUND GOING FORWARD.
KEY DRIVERS BEHIND THAT RECOMMENDATION HAD TO DO WITH THE CAPITAL PLAN, AS WELL AS INCREASING COSTS FROM YOUR WHOLESALE PROVIDERS.
I WANT TO START WITH THAT CAPITAL PLAN THIS EVENING.
AGAIN, YOU SEE THAT FORECAST ON THE SCREEN, $138.5 MILLION NEEDED OVER THE NEXT FIVE-YEAR PERIOD.
WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE FUNDING IN THE WATER AND WASTEWATER FUND FOR NEXT YEAR.
YOU SAW THOSE NUMBERS EARLIER IN TERMS OF WATER AND WASTEWATER, AND YOU SEE HOW THAT BREAKS OUT BETWEEN THE VARIOUS FUNDING SOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE UTILITY.
BUT THE OTHER KEY DRIVER I WANT TO VISIT WITH YOU ABOUT THIS EVENING IS YOUR WHOLESALE EXPENSE.
THIS COMES FROM YOUR WHOLESALE PROVIDERS.
A LITTLE BIT FROM DALLAS WATER UTILITIES, MOST OF THIS IS COMING FROM UPPER TRINITY REGIONAL WATER DISTRICT.
ON THE WATER SIDE, LOOKING AT THE WATER FUND, 66% OF YOUR OVERALL EXPENSE IN THAT FUND COMES FROM YOUR WHOLESALE PROVIDERS.
I'LL NOTE THE PERCENTAGE RIGHT ABOVE THAT.
YOU'RE SEEING AN OVERALL 7% YEAR OVER YEAR INCREASE IN THE COST FROM THOSE WHOLESALE PROVIDERS.
IF YOU TAKE 66% OF YOUR COST AND IT GOES UP 7% OVERALL,
[03:00:02]
WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU NEED A REVENUE INCREASE OF 4.6% JUST TO PASS THROUGH THAT COST INCREASE.YOU HEARD ME SAY EARLIER, WE WANT TO MANAGE THIS FUND LIKE A BUSINESS.
WELL, IF I'VE GOT 7% INCREASE IN MY COST OF GOODS SOLD, THAT REQUIRES A PRICING INCREASE OF 4.6% JUST TO PASS THAT THROUGH.
THAT DOESN'T PROVIDE YOU ANY OTHER RESOURCES TO MAINTAIN YOUR OWN SYSTEM, TO MAKE THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.
BECAUSE OF THAT, WHAT I'M RECOMMENDING TO YOU TONIGHT AS YOU SEE IN THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER, INSTEAD OF 4.5%, I'M RECOMMENDING THAT YOU CONSIDER A 5.25% OVERALL INCREASE IN THE RATE GOING INTO FISCAL YEAR '25.
AGAIN, THE BULK OF THAT REALLY IS ASSOCIATED WITH PASSING THROUGH THE COST INCREASES THAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING TO YOUR BUSINESS.
WHAT DOES THIS ULTIMATELY MEAN TO A CUSTOMER? WE USE AN EXAMPLE CUSTOMER HERE, 15,000 GALLONS OF WATER, 8,000 GALLONS OF WASTEWATER FLOW.
RIGHT NOW THAT BILL IS 165.77 FOR THAT AMOUNT OF USE.
UNDER A 5.25% INCREASE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, WHAT THAT WOULD DO IS RAISE THAT MONTHLY BILL $8.66.
THAT WOULD BE THE INCREASE IN THE BILL.
SOME QUICK MATH, IF WE GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE 4.5% INCREASE.
IF WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THAT, THE INCREASE STILL WOULD HAVE BEEN $7.54.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 4.5% AND 5.25% IS $1.12 FOR YOUR AVERAGE CUSTOMER PER MONTH.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE YOU'RE LOOKING AT HERE.
BUT AGAIN, THAT 5.25% WILL ALLOW YOU TO PASS THROUGH THOSE COST INCREASES, FUND YOUR CAPITAL PLAN, MAKE SURE YOU'RE MAINTAINING THOSE FINANCIAL POLICIES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.
WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SOME COMPARISONS TONIGHT AND MEG USED THE PHRASE, THIS IS NOT APPLES TO APPLES, AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SLIDE HERE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.
THIS IS NOT AN APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
BUT WHAT YOU SEE HERE IS THAT AVERAGE RESIDENTIAL BILL, 15,000 GALLONS OF WATER, 8,000 GALLONS OF WASTEWATER, AND YOU SEE WHERE YOU FALL HERE ON THIS CHART.
THAT BILL RIGHT NOW, 165.77 RECOMMENDED TO GO TO 174.43.
I WILL REMIND YOU WHEN I SHOW YOU YOUR PROPOSED BILL HERE FOR NEXT YEAR AT THAT INCREASE.
I'M COMPARING YOU TO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE'S BILLS ARE TODAY.
I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE CITIES ON THIS LIST RIGHT NOW THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME DISCUSSION BOTH ABOVE YOU AND BELOW YOU BECAUSE I'VE BEEN IN FRONT OF THEIR COUNCILS IN THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
COMMUNITIES WILL BE MOVING ON THIS LIST.
IF WE RE-RUN THIS IN OCTOBER, IF WE RE-RUN IT IN JANUARY, IT WILL LOOK DIFFERENT.
PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND RELATIVE TO WHERE I'M SHOWING YOU MOVE HERE ON THIS CHART.
AGAIN, OUR RECOMMENDATION, 5.25% GOING INTO NEXT YEAR INSTEAD OF 4.5%.
IF I CAN, LET ME STOP HERE AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ON WATER AND WASTEWATER BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO DRAINAGE.
>> IS THAT RECOMMEND GOING INTO FIVE AND A QUARTER? IS THAT FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS, OR IS THAT JUST FOR THIS ONE YEAR?
>> AGAIN, THE ORDINANCE RIGHT NOW ONLY GOES THROUGH FISCAL YEAR '25, SO THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION FOR NEXT YEAR.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, AS WE LOOK OUT INTO THE FUTURE, WE'RE ESTIMATING YOU WILL NEED THAT LEVEL OF INCREASE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT ORDINANCE IS GOING TO BE PUT IN FRONT OF YOU AT THIS POINT.
OBVIOUSLY, WE WILL COME BACK, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO UPDATE THIS PLAN YEAR OVER YEAR.
BUT I'M SEEING RIGHT NOW BASED ON WHAT'S OUT THERE, 5.25% GOING FORWARD.
>> BASICALLY, WE WOULD AMEND THE CURRENT ORDINANCE TO TAKE US THROUGH THE NEXT YEAR, THE THIRD YEAR.
>> THEN WOULD ADDRESS A NEW ORDINANCE FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. NEXT YEAR?
>> TRADITIONALLY, WE'VE DONE THE ORDINANCES FOR THREE YEAR PERIODS AND THE RATES WE HAD LAST YEAR, WE DIDN'T REDO OUR ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT WAS FOR 4.5, 4.5, AND 4.5.
THE ORDINANCE NOW WOULD BE GOING INTO THE THIRD YEAR.
WE'LL REPLACE THE ORDINANCE, AND AS LONG AS JOHN'S GOOD WITH IT, WE'LL CONTINUE THAT THREE YEAR ORDINANCE.
NEXT YEAR, IF IT'S JUST 5.25%, HOPEFULLY OR LESS, WE'LL REVISE IT AND GO FORWARD AT THAT POINT WHEN HE COMES FORWARD.
I'LL PROBABLY BRING THE ORDINANCE THE SECOND MEETING IN SEPTEMBER WITH YOUR APPROVAL.
>> WHY YOU'RE UP HERE, JULIE. CAN YOU REFRESH MY MEMORY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE PURCHASE WATER IN A CONTRACTUAL WAY SO THAT WE HAVE TO STATE HOW MUCH WE'RE GOING TO BE USING, WE PREDICT THAT, AND THEN OUR BILL IS ACTUALLY BASED ON THAT PREDICTION VERSUS ON THE ACTUAL UTILIZATION.
[03:05:01]
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY CENTRAL TO AT ONE POINT WE ESTIMATED TOO HIGH.>> NOW THOUGH, OUR UTILIZATION IS STARTING TO CATCH UP.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH UPPER TRINITY, THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS TO THE BILL.
THERE'S WHAT'S CALLED A DEMAND CHARGE, AND THEN THERE'S A VOLUME METRIC COMPONENT.
SIMILAR TO YOUR RETAIL BILL WHERE THERE'S A MINIMUM BILL, THERE'S A FIXED CHARGE AND A VARIABLE CHARGE.
THIS IS JUST THAT ON A GRANDER SCALE.
BUT WHAT THE TOWN HAS TO DO IS ULTIMATELY SUBSCRIBE TO CAPACITY.
YOU HAVE TO COME IN AND TELL UPPER TRINITY, WE WANT X AMOUNT OF CAPACITY IN MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
THAT TAKES CAREFUL PLANNING TO COME UP WITH WHAT THAT NUMBER LOOKS LIKE.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS CONTRACTUAL STRUCTURE, YOU ARE MAKING AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT THAT CAPACITY IS THAT YOU NEED.
YOU NEED TO HAVE ENOUGH TO MEET YOUR NEEDS, BUT YOU DON'T WANT SO MUCH THAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR CAPACITY THAT IS UNUSED, AND THAT'S THE CAREFUL BALANCE YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW HERE ON THESE WHOLESALE CONTRACTS.
>> BUT WE'RE MUCH BETTER NOW THAN WE WERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHERE WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT TOO HIGH AND WE'RE PAYING MORE BECAUSE, AND WE WEREN'T REALLY USING IT, BUT NOW WE ARE GETTING CLOSER.
>> YES. SO ESSENTIALLY BACK IN THE DAY, I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO MUCH INTO THE STORY, BUT BACK IN THE DAY WE WERE ON WATER WELLS AND THE WELLS STARTED DRYING UP DUE TO THE UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH, AND SO THE CHARGE THE STAFF HAD WAS GO OUT, SUBSCRIBE SO WE'D NEVER HAVE THIS SITUATION AGAIN.
WELL, THE SUBSCRIPTION WAS ESSENTIALLY TO BUILD OUT.
OBVIOUSLY, THAT WAS SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE WE EVER GOT THERE.
NOW WE'RE GETTING THERE WHERE WHAT WE'RE SUBSCRIBED TO IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING OUR USAGE.
NOW WE'RE UNDER IT, BUT WE HAVE A HEALTHY GAP.
>> A GOOD CUSHION, BUT NOT TOO MUCH CUSHION.
WHEN YOU SAY IT WAS TO BUILD OUT, LIKE ULTIMATE BUILD OUT 125,000 RESIDENTS?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROJECTION WAS AT THAT TIME, BUT YEAH.
>> BECAUSE IT'S STILL BE A WHILE BEFORE WE HIT THAT NUMBER.
>> WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING THE OPPORTUNITY TO ABOUT DELIVERING WATER OUT WASTE AND THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITIES AND FOR ANYTHING GOES OUT THERE, WE MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THAT'S AVAILABLE.
>> AND THEN WE DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RENEGOTIATE THOSE CONTRACTS VERY OFTEN, DO WE?
>> WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RENEGOTIATE THEM.
IN FACT, WHENEVER I FIRST WENT OVER TO PUBLIC WORKS, THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE LOOKED AT WAS DO WE NEED TO NEGOTIATE THAT DOWN.
LOOKING AT THE WATER USAGE AND OUR WATER USE HAS ONLY GONE UP SINCE THEN, THAT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO.
IT WAS LIKE NO, WE'RE IN A GOOD HEALTHY SPOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.
>> WHEN CLAY AND I GOT OVER THERE, THE CONTRACT WAS ABOUT EXACTLY WHERE WE WOULD WANT IT TO BE.
>> REALLY GOOD. THAT'S GREAT NEWS. THANK YOU.
>> BUT FOR ALL THE YEARS, AND I'M COMING UP ON 20 YEARS, ALL THE YEARS PRIOR TO, WE WERE PAYING MORE SUBSCRIPTION THAN WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEEDED BECAUSE OF THAT INITIAL CONTRACT NEGOTIATION.
THAT CHART THAT SHOWED AT OUR PEER CITIES, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY NEGOTIATED SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WHY IT'S NOT REALLY APPLES TO APPLES BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T REALLY KNOW.
>> EXACTLY RIGHT. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT CAPACITY LOOKS LIKE.
WHERE THEY MAY HAVE ACCESS CAPACITY OR WHERE YOU MAY SEE ACTUALLY THEN HAVE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MORE CAPACITY IN THE FUTURE.
ALSO, AS YOU LOOK AT THAT CHART, YOU'VE GOT OTHER COMMUNITIES ON HERE THAT TAKE FROM OTHER DIFFERENT WHOLESALE PROVIDERS.
YOU HAVE DIFFERENT WHOLESALE WATER SOURCES.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR WHOLESALE PROVIDERS.
WE'VE GOT TWO OF THEM, UPPER TRINITY AND NORTH TEXAS THAT HAVE BEEN BUILDING RESERVOIRS.
WE'RE TALKING MULTI MILLION IF NOT BILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS HERE.
AGAIN, JUST AS YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN YOUR OWN CAPITAL, YOUR WHOLESALE PROVIDERS ARE ALSO INVESTING IN THEIR CAPITAL AS WELL, PUTTING INTO THEIR SYSTEMS AND SO ALL OF THAT DRIVES UP COSTS.
>> AS WE LOOK AT INCREASING RATES, I DON'T THINK THE HOMEOWNER IS GOING TO TOTALLY GO CRAZY ABOUT RATES.
THEY KNOW THINGS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE.
BUT I THINK ON THE SAME SIDE, MAYBE WE COULD HELP WITH MORE EDUCATIONAL STUFF.
I KNOW WE ALREADY DO A LOT ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION, HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT OVER USING AND MAYBE WE COULD JUST PUT A FOOTNOTE ON THAT.
>> SO ONE OTHER THING I'D ACTUALLY THINK WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT IS SOME OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WE'RE DOING WITH REUSE.
THAT'S BIG ABOUT SUPPLEMENTING AND GIVING US A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROL OVER BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE WATER FROM A DIFFERENT SOURCE.
THOSE REUSE PROJECTS ARE BIG BECAUSE IT BASICALLY RECYCLES CRAVE WATER IRRIGATION.
>> BUT THAT'LL BE OUR WATER THAT'S GETTING REUSED, NOT THE TYPICAL HOMEOWNER THAT WOULD SEE IT REFLECTED IN BILL REDUCTION.
>> CORRECT. WHAT THE REUSE IS GOING TO DO IS ALLOW US TO NOT HAVE TO GO BACK FOR THAT SUBSCRIPTION.
THE MORE ASK FOR MORE WATER, THE REUSE WILL HELP KNOCK DOWN THOSE PEAKS, WHICH MEANS THAT WE CAN STAY WITHIN OUR CURRENT SUBSCRIPTION FOR A MUCH LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
[03:10:01]
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT OVERESTIMATING THE USE.>> CORRECT, OR PAYING FOR WATER THAT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY NEEDING EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE PEAK DAY IN THE SUMMER.
>> DID I HEAR YOU SAY THAT THE CURRENT 4.5% ANNUAL INCREASE IS ENOUGH TO COVER THE INCREASE IN OUR WHOLESALE COSTS?
>> THE INCREASE IN YOUR WHOLESALE WATER COSTS WILL BE 4.6%.
THE 4.5 DOES NOT FULLY COVER THAT.
>> DID YOU ALSO SAY THAT THE CURRENT ORDINANCE EXPIRES NEXT YEAR?
>> THE CURRENT ORDINANCE, YOU ALREADY HAVE 4.5% ON THE BOOKS FOR FISCAL YEAR '25.
BUT BEYOND THAT, YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING AT THE MOMENT.
>> I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION.
WE'VE ASKED THE RATE PAYERS TO OBSERVE A LOT OF COST DECREASE AND THERE'S A LOT MORE COMING.
I THINK I NEED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHY THIS DELTA MAKES SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE THIS YEAR.
OTHERWISE, I JUST LET THE CURRENT ONE EXPIRE COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND THEN ADOPT THE HIGHER ORDINANCE.
>> AGAIN, YOU CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU WILL BE DRAWING OUT OF RESERVES RATHER THAN PUTTING INTO RESERVES AND FUNDING CAPITAL FOR ONE YEAR.
>> I JUST NEED MORE INFORMATION.
I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE. ADOPTING AN ORDINANCE BASED ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN SHOWN AT THIS POINT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT?
>> DID SOME OF THESE SLIDES SHOW YOU'LL HAVE TO GO BACK THE COST OF THE WATER VERSUS ALSO WHAT WE PUT INTO MAINTENANCE? YOU HAD SOMETHING ON THAT, DIDN'T YOU?
>> AGAIN, I'VE GOT SUMMARY LEVEL SLIDES FOR YOU.
I DO NOT HAVE DETAILED SPREADSHEETS FOR YOU THIS EVENING.
WE CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE THAT.
WE HAVE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, I'M TRYING TO KEEP THIS AT A HIERGRAPHICAL LEVEL.
>> IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE CERTAINLY ADAM?
>> WE CAN PROVIDE YOU THE DETAILS.
>> I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE.
>> A SLIDE THAT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ON 27 MILLION IN DEBT DOESN'T REALLY GIVE US A LOT OF OPTIONS OR FLEXIBILITY.
WHAT IS THAT? WHAT CAN BE DEFERRED? DO WE HAVE TO DO IT ALL THIS YEAR? THERE'S SO MUCH CONTEXT THERE THAT'S MISSING THAT I JUST CAN'T SAY, WELL, LET'S JUST ADOPT A HIGHER RATE BECAUSE EVERYTHING, THIS BIG NUMBER IS GOING TO BE ACCURATE.
I DON'T KNOW. I'VE LOOKED AT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT LIST AND IT'S A LOT OF DEBT THAT'S COMING.
>> HE IS GOING TO COME UP IN A BIT AND TALK ABOUT THE CAPITAL PROJECT.
I THOUGHT MAYBE THAT MIGHT HELP.
>> I THINK ONE OTHER THING TO ADD WOULD BE THAT, JULIE, THE INCREASE IN WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS, OUR COSTS FOR THEM ARE WHOLESALE COSTS, WE DON'T GET THAT INCREASE OVER THE PERIOD OF THE YEARS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE INCREASE WILL BE NEXT YEAR.
WHEN WE DO LOOK AT THOSE THREE YEAR WINDOWS, WE'RE OFTEN NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THOSE WHOLESALE COSTS ARE GOING TO BE BECAUSE THEY VARY ON WHAT THEIR INCREASES AND THEN WITH OUR TWO PROVIDERS, EVEN THEY VARY BETWEEN EACH OTHER.
>> I BELIEVE THAT CHRIS HAS A 5%, JUST AN AVERAGE PLAN DWU.
>> AS YOU LOOK AT THE INCREASES HERE FOR OPPORTUNITY GOING FORWARD, THIS IS BASED ON WHAT OPPORTUNITY HAS DONE HISTORICALLY.
I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT THERE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT THEY HAVE IN THE FUTURE THAT IS GOING TO DRIVE THAT PERCENT.
AGAIN, THERE ARE ASSUMPTIONS THAT GO INTO THE ANALYSIS WHEN WE DID THIS THREE YEARS AGO, THE ASSUMPTION WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT IT IS TODAY.
THERE AT THE TIME, 4.5% LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO WORK.
BUT AGAIN, HAPPY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.
>> SOMETHING I MAY TRY TO BRING BACK IN THE FUTURE IF WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THIS AGAIN IS COUNCIL MEMBER, ADAM SCHIESTEL OR ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT THIS AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FUND BALANCE A LOT HERE LATELY, BUT ONE OF THE UNIQUE THINGS THE UTILITY FUND IS THEY HAVE A SWEEP.
ANYTIME WE GET OVER THAT RESERVE LEVEL THAT HE MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING.
ANYTIME WE HIT OVER THAT, THAT MONEY IS TAKEN OUT AT THE NEXT YEAR AND PUSHED OVER INTO WATER CAPITAL AND SEWER UTILITY CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THAT MONEY GOES SPECIFICALLY TO ENSURE THAT IF WE HAVE CASH AVAILABLE, WE DON'T TAKE OUT THAT DEBT.
WE ALWAYS USE THE CASH FIRST AND LOWER THAT DEBT.
THIS IS OUR ESTIMATE OF WHAT THE DEBT WILL BE.
IF AT THE END OF THE YEAR WE'RE SWEEPING BASED ON THOSE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WE GET MORE IN, WE ACTUALLY MAY TAKE OUT LESS DEBT, AND SO WE MAY FIND SOME SAVINGS THERE.
>> BUT IF WE ADOPT A HIGHER RATE, THE RATE IS THE RATE, REALLY AFFECTED BY THAT ONE.
I WOULD IF YOU CAME TO US AT A LATER DATE AND SAID, HEY, IF WE DIDN'T GET WHERE WE THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET, WE HAVE TO JUSTIFY A HIGHER RATE THAT MAKES MORE SENSE TO ME THAN SAYING, LET'S JUST ADOPT A HIGHER RATE.
THE RATE PAYERS ARE PAYING IT, AND THEN THINGS WORKED OUT BETTER, BUT THE RATE PAYERS DON'T SEE ANY BENEFIT FROM THAT.
I WOULD RATHER STICK TO THE CURRENT ORDINANCE AND THEN IN ONE YEAR WHEN IT EXPIRES, EVALUATE WITH BETTER DATA AND THEN DETERMINE WHAT THE CORRECT RATE IS AT THAT TIME.
>> IS THE GAP MORE THAN THREE MILLION DOLLARS? IS WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW, BECAUSE THE 2024 BUDGET HAD
[03:15:02]
THE ENDING FUND BALANCE FOR UTILITIES AT 15.9 MILLION, BUT THE 2025 PROPOSE IS 18.6 MILLION.WOULD THAT HELP YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH LESS WILL THE FUND BALANCE BE IF WE HAVE TO DIP INTO IT TO OFFSET THE INCREASING RATE?
>> WHAT I HEARD WAS 0.1%, 4.5 VERSUS 4.6.
IT DOESN'T SOUND THAT SIGNIFICANT TO ME.
AGAIN I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE COMING IN FROM A VERY CONSERVATIVE PERSPECTIVE, BUT I'M LOOKING AT SOMEBODY GOING FROM $160 A MONTH TO $220 A MONTH IN A PRETTY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND PEOPLE ARE ALREADY LOOKING AT THEIR BILL EVERY MONTH, WONDERING WHY WATER BILLS SO HIGH.
NOW, THE GRAPHIC YOU SHOW OF OUR BENCHMARKS IS HELPFUL, BUT WATER BILLS HAVE INCREASED A LOT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, AND WE WANT TO TRY TO HOLD THAT INCREASE BACK AS MUCH AS WE CAN WHILE MAINTAINING OUR QUALITY.
I'M A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO ADOPT A HIGHER RATE.
>> IF I COULD CLARIFY MY 4.6%.
AGAIN, THE 4.6% IS JUST NEEDED TO PASS THROUGH THE INCREMENTAL DIFFERENCE IN YOUR WHOLESALE COST.
IF YOU DID THE 4.6%, ALL YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS PASS THROUGH THAT COST.
THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY OTHER COST INCREASES ON THE TOWN SIDE OF THE LEDGER.
THAT DOESN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY INCREASES IN O&M.
IT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY CHANGES IN CAPITAL.
I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND YOUR POSITION AND I'M HAPPY TO GET YOU BETTER NUMBERS.
READY FOR A DRAINAGE DISCUSSION, RIGHT, QUICK?
>> AS WE LOOK AT THE DRAINAGE FUND, WE WERE ORIGINALLY BROUGHT IN BACK IN 2023 TO BEGIN TO EVALUATE POTENTIAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DRAINAGE FUND, LOOKING AT SMALL ADJUSTMENTS OVER THE YEARS.
AGAIN, THIS IS DRIVEN BY CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
BACK IN 2023, IT WAS $3.8 MILLION OVERALL NEEDED IN STORM WATER CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
THE FUND DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT.
RIGHT NOW, THIS SHOWS WHAT YOUR CURRENT DRAINAGE CHARGE LOOKS LIKE.
AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT DIFFERENT CLASSES HERE FOCUSING MOSTLY ON THAT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SIDE, 92% OF YOUR CUSTOMERS FALL AT THAT $4.69 LEVEL RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, 92% OF YOUR CUSTOMERS ARE AT THAT LEVEL.
HOWEVER, WHEN WE LOOK AT DRAINAGE CHARGES, THIS IS GOVERNED BY CHAPTER 552 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
BASICALLY, IT SAYS, WHEN WE COME UP WITH DRAINAGE CHARGES, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AN INVENTORY OF LOTS AND TRACKS.
BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT INVENTORY, IT DOES ALLOW US TO CONSIDER THE LAND USE OF THAT PROPERTY.
MOST CITIES IN THE AREA AND REALLY NATIONWIDE ARE STARTING TO GO TO A METHOD OF CHARGING THAT IS BASED ON WHAT WE CALL IMPERVIOUS AREA.
WHAT IMPERVIOUS AREA MEANS IS IF YOU WERE FLYING OVER IN AN AIRPLANE AND YOU LOOKED DOWN FROM THAT AIRPLANE, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ARTIFICIAL STRUCTURES, ANYTHING COVERED BY WATER RESISTANT MATERIAL.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONCRETE, ASPHALT, BRICK, STONE, ROOFING MATERIAL.
ULTIMATELY, CITIES ARE COMING IN AND ESTABLISHING CHARGING METHODS BASED ON THAT IMPERVIOUS AREA, SUCH THAT YOU WOULD CHARGE RESIDENTS A FEE, EITHER BASED ON THAT OR CHARGE THEM A FLAT FEE.
BUT THEN IN TERMS OF YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES, WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS YOU WOULD LOOK AT THESE BIG BOX STORES, YOU WOULD LOOK AT THEIR ROOF LINE, YOU WOULD LOOK AT THEIR PARKING LOT, AND YOU WOULD BEGIN TO ASSESS A FEE BASED ON THAT IMPERVIOUS COVER, THAT IMPERVIOUS AREA.
THIS IS A DATA INTENSIVE PROCESS TO GO THROUGH.
ULTIMATELY, WE USED APPRAISAL DISTRICT DATA, WE USE SATELLITE PHOTOGRAPHY.
WE USE MACHINE LEARNING TO COME IN AND BEGIN TO IDENTIFY WHAT THAT IMPERVIOUS AREA IS BY PROPERTY.
RIGHT NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION TO YOU IS THAT YOU BEGIN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THAT TYPE OF CHARGING SYSTEM.
AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO DEVELOP.
BUT IN THE INTERIM, WE STILL HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE FUND.
BASED ON THE WORK WE DID BACK IN 2023, LOOKING AT THAT THIS YEAR, LOOKING AT WHAT THE STORM WATER NEEDS TO STAY SOLVENT, BUT ALSO TO EMPLOY CAPITAL.
WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT YOU CONSIDER AN INCREASE TO THAT STORM WATER FEE.
UNDER THE CURRENT CHARGE, YOU SEE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW.
AGAIN, 92% OF YOUR CUSTOMERS FALL AT THAT $4.69 LEVEL.
IT'S OUR RECOMMENDATION YOU CONSIDER AN INCREASE TO SIX DOLLARS FOR THAT FEE.
AGAIN, WE HAVE COMMENSURATE INCREASES WITH OTHER LEVELS HERE.
WHAT THIS ALLOWS YOU TO DO IS TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE IN THE FUND, TO MAINTAIN THE SOLVENCY OF THE FUND,
[03:20:02]
TO BEGIN TO MAKE SOME CAPITAL INVESTMENT WHILE YOU COME IN AND POTENTIALLY CONSIDER A CHANGE IN THE OVERALL STRUCTURE AND HOW YOU ASSESS THAT FEE.I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEAS OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE HERE.
AGAIN, OUR COMPARISON THAT WE HAVE.
YOU SEE ALL OF YOUR COMPARATOR CITIES HERE, YOU SEE THOSE DIFFERENT TIERS, AND YOU SEE WHERE THOSE TIERS FALL HERE ON THIS LIST.
AS WE MOVE AND GO TO THE POTENTIAL ADJUSTMENT HERE, YOU SEE WHERE YOU MOVE ON THIS LIST.
BUT THE IDEA HERE IS THAT IF YOU WERE TO AMEND THE CHARGE IN THE FUTURE, AGAIN, THIS IS A STOPGAP MEASURE IS MY BEST DESCRIPTION OF IT, BUT GOING TO AN IMPERVIOUS CHARGE SYSTEM IS GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO BETTER TIE THE FEE STRUCTURE WITH THOSE THAT ARE CAUSING YOU TO INCUR THE COST.
ULTIMATELY, THOSE THAT ARE CAUSING RUNOFF WOULD HAVE A HIGHER BILL IF YOU MOVE TOWARDS AN IMPERVIOUS AREA STRUCTURE.
NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRED, BUT IT'S SOMETHING I WOULD RECOMMEND YOU CONSIDER.
>> I THINK THAT'S A BIG ASK BECAUSE WE'RE NOW SELLING SOMEONE, WELL, WE'RE CHANGING EVERYTHING NOW AND NOW YOU OWE US THIS MUCH MORE BECAUSE YOU HAVE A HUGE PARKING LOT AND YOU HAVE A BIG FLAT ROOF, AND THINGS YOU CAN'T EASILY CHANGE NOW, BUT YOU'RE JUST GOING TO PAY US MORE MONEY.
I'M NOT 100% OPPOSED TO THINKING ABOUT THAT APPROACH, BUT I DON'T WANT TO JUST SPRING IT ON OUR BUSINESSES AND EVEN OUR RESIDENTS, WHICH YOU SAID IS AN OPTION FOR RESIDENTIAL AS WELL.
>> POTENTIALLY. THIS WOULD BE AT LEAST A YEAR LONG PROCESS TO EVEN LOOK AT IT.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT. I THINK IT SEEMS INTENSIVE FROM THE INPUT SIDE.
THE OTHER THING TOO IS THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW MAYBE WE ARE ENCOURAGING BUSINESSES TO USE PERMEABLE PARKING LOT STRUCTURES.
ARE WE SUGGESTING THAT? ARE WE GIVING ANY ALLOWANCES OR ANY INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE THEIR OWN DRAINAGE AND STORM WATER RUNOFF, BETTER CONTROL OF IT?
>> WE'VE GOT A COUPLE EXAMPLES THAT HAVE BEEN USED.
FOR THE MOST PART, THOSE FACILITIES, WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE FIRE LANE BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH DATA THAT I'M AWARE OF THAT HAS SHOWN THAT THEY CAN WITHSTAND THE WEIGHT OF OUR FIRE TRUCKS.
I THINK THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN USED HAVE HAD MIXED RESULTS.
THERE WERE SOME USED AT HOME DEPOT, NOT TOO LONG.
WELL, MAYBE IT'S BEEN A WHILE.
I THINK THEY FOUND SOME PROBLEMS WITH A SUB BASE ON THAT AND THEY EVENTUALLY REMOVED IT.
BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN A HUGE DESIRE FROM IT FROM THE MARKET PERSPECTIVE, WE'RE NOT OPPOSED TO IT.
WE JUST GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT MEETS THE TOWN STANDARDS IN TERMS OF FIRE EMS RESPONSE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> SURE. WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT IT?
>> I WOULD BE OKAY WITH THAT APPROACH FOR LARGE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AS A WAY TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO SOME PERMEABLE SURFACES, BUT FOR RESIDENTIAL UNDER AN ACRE.
>> I AGREE. I WOULDN'T WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE HORIZON.
>> WE DID A STUDY AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S REALLY MEMORY SERVES.
IT WAS IN 2016 AND IT TALKED ABOUT THE VALUE OF PLANTING TREES AND ACTUALLY THE COMPARISON THAT A TREED AREA CAN ABSORB SO MUCH MORE STORM WATER RUNOFF.
DOES ANYONE REMEMBER THAT? I'D HAVE TO LOOK IT UP TO KNOW FOR SURE.
BUT, I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAD NUMBERS THAT SHOWED THE BENEFIT IN STORM WATER RUNOFF REDUCTION.
>> WE'LL CHECK INTO. I DON'T RECALL ANYTHING COMMISSIONED BY THE TOWN PER SE.
I'VE HEARD ANECDOTAL STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE, I'VE HEARD ABOUT THEM.
WE CAN CERTAINLY LOOK INTO IT AND SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.
>> I JUST DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE MOVE TO THIS IN ONE FELL SWOOP.
>> I'M NOT PROPOSING THAT THIS EVENING.
ALL WE'RE PROPOSING IS THAT YOU CONSIDER POTENTIALLY AMENDING THE STRUCTURE.
THERE ARE A MYRIAD OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO DO THIS.
IF I COULD EMPHASIZE REALLY THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT THE FUND NEEDS MORE MONEY. THAT'S THE BIG THING.
EVEN IF YOU DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING IN TERMS OF HOW YOU CHARGE, I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING IS ULTIMATELY COMING UP WITH SOME TYPE OF REVENUE INCREASE REVENUE ADJUSTMENT HERE SO THAT YOU CAN MAINTAIN THE SOLVENCY OF THE FUND AND FUND YOUR CAPITAL PLAN.
>> AM I LOOKING AT THIS, CORRECT? CURRENTLY, A SINGLE FAMILY HOME 469.
THE MULTI-FAMILY COMMERCIAL, 35.32.
>> SO LONG AS LESS THAN 25,000 SQUARE FEET, YES, SIR.
>> RIGHT. BUT THEN IF IT GOES THE BIGGEST YOU'RE GOING TO ABOVE 50,000 SQUARE FEET, THEN YOU'RE AT 61.
BUT YOU CAN HAVE A HUGE COMPANY FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ONLY PAYS A LITTLE MORE THAN 10 TIME,
[03:25:02]
15 TIMES WHERE THE RESIDENTIAL PAYS.>> BUT THEY COULD GENERATE 100 TIMES MORE WASTEWATER OR RUNOFF.
POTENTIALLY. THAT'S THE GENESIS OF WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TO SHIFT THAT BURDEN TO THOSE COMMERCIAL RESIDENTS INSTEAD OF OUR HOMEOWNER.
>> IN MY EXPERIENCE, THEY ARE NOT.
YOUR RESIDENTIAL RATES, I WOULD SAY, ARE TYPICAL, ESPECIALLY AS YOU COME IN AND LOOK AT THE COMPARISON HERE.
THESE COMMERCIAL RATES, IN MY OPINION, ARE LOW.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN FIX?
>> YES, SIR. THAT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN FIX.
>> IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN FIX EASILY WITHOUT DOING THE GIS STUDY?
>> IT COMES DOWN. I HAVE TO HAVE A RATIONAL NEXUS BETWEEN THE FEE CHARGED AND THE BENEFIT RECEIVED, AND IT'S ESTABLISHING THAT RATIONAL NEXUS.
>> IF WE GO TO FROM $4.69-6, IT'S 28% INCREASE.
THAT'S A HUGE PERCENT INCREASE YEAR OVER YEAR, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT EVEN A CUP OF COFFEE, BUT STILL.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO SAY IS, THE RECENT STORM THAT WE HAD IN THE DEBRIS PICKUP, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START PAYING THAT OUT OF.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO START PREPARING FOR DOING THAT OUT OF THE STORM DRAINAGE FUND.
THAT'S WHERE THIS IS GOING TO COME FROM.
IT DOESN'T IMPACT YOUR GENERAL FUND.
YOU'RE DOING THIS ALL OVER, BUT, MOST OF THAT WILL IMPACT DRAINAGE, AND SO THIS IS THE PLACE THAT WE'RE CHOOSING TO PAY FOR THAT OUT OF.
>> ONE THING THAT I'LL ADD AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT CHRIS STEERED US THERE, IS THAT, REALLY THE FOCUS IS THAT THE STOPGAP MEASURE, AND LOOKING AT IT OVERALL BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I NOTICED WHEN I CAME ON BOARDS.
WHEN I SAW STORMWATER I WAS LIKE, "GOOD LORD, THAT'S VERY LOW." DURING MY TIME IN ABILENE, WE WENT THROUGH A SIMILAR TRANSITION OF GOING TO IMPERVIOUS SURFACE.
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT EXPAND NOW.
IT'S A LITTLE DUSTY. I GOT TO KNOCK THE COBWEBS.
I'VE TO REMEMBER THAT PROCESS, BUT, IT PUTS YOU IN A BETTER POSITION FOR BETTER EQUITY THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
AS CHRIS TOUCHED ON, IT IS JUST THE FACT THAT THE REALITY SITUATION IS OUR COMMERCIAL USERS AND THEIR PURPOSE SO THEY'RE NOT CARRYING THEIR FREIGHT, SO TO SPEAK.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT, AND SO AGAIN, JUST MAKING THAT INTERMEDIATE STEP, WE CAN CERTAINLY STUDY UP AND RE-ENGAGE YOU AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE SEEING AS FAR AS PLAN DESIGN THAT IS GOING FORWARD.
BUT, AGAIN, ULTIMATELY, THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS IS MORE OF AN EQUITY ISSUE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT TRULY HAVE THE IMPERVIOUS SERVICE THAT'S LEADING TO THE DRAINAGE ISSUES, ARE PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT, AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU DON'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENCE TO REALIZE THOSE ARE USUALLY GOING TO BE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES WITH LARGE PARKING LOTS AND LARGE SURFACE AREAS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
LOOK AT THAT, IS THAT, YOU HAD THAT INTERMEDIATE STEP, BUT WE CAN CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO ENGAGE YOU ON THE STRUCTURE OF ANY TYPE OF LONG-TERM CHANGES THAT WE MAKE TO THE STRUCTURE.
BUT, AGAIN, I'M NOT AN EXPERT LIKE CLAY AND TIFFANY IN THIS SPACE, BUT WHEN I GOT HERE, IT STOOD OUT THE FACT THAT OUR STORMWATER RATES WERE EXTREMELY LOW.
WHAT ABOUT THE CLAY'S OTHER YOUR NAME? JOHN, HAD MENTIONED, IS THAT, AGAIN, MY CONCERN IS THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE REQUISITE FUND TO CARRY THE FUNCTIONS WE SHOULD BE CARRYING OUT IN OUR STORMWATER FUND.
>> WE HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE IN THIS ANALYSIS OF THE PEER CITIES.
IS IT CLOSER APPLES TO APPLES THAN SOME OF THE OTHER ONES WE'VE DISCUSSED?
>> YOU ACTUALLY HAVE SOME COMMUNITIES ON THIS LIST THAT HAVE BEEN IN FRONT OF THAT ARE INCREASING.
THERE'S AT LEAST ONE ON HERE THAT'S AT LEAST $1 TOO LOW. I CAN TELL YOU THAT.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS AND I WANT SOME ESTIMATES.
BECAUSE THE LAST THING I WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IS FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE CONSIDERING COMING HERE, SAYING, "OH, THAT'S ONE MORE THING ABOUT FLOWER MOUND.
LOOK AT HOW MUCH MORE I HAVE TO PAY, AND LOOK AT ALL THESE REGULATIONS ABOUT IMPERVIOUS STRUCTURES AND ALL THIS." I DON'T KNOW IF WE NEED TO HAVE RAY INVOLVED, AND JUST HAVE HIM GO OVER SOME OF THE ANALYSIS.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE WITH ALMOST ALL LARGE CITIES.
IMPACT FEES IN GENERAL ARE COMING BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO BURDEN BASICALLY YOUR GENERAL FUND.
>> WELL, WE DID INCREASE OUR IMPACT FEES A FEW YEARS AGO, SO THAT THEY WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, BECAUSE MANY YEARS THEY WERE DEEPLY LIKE,, 90% DISCOUNTED.
WE HAVE BROUGHT THAT UP, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT MAKING IT SO PROHIBITIVE TO BE NON-COMPETITIVE.
>> YOURS MEANING PRIMARILY ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE, RIGHT?
>> WELL, YES. I JUST WANT TO KNOW BEFORE WE MAKE ANY CHANGES, WHAT ARE ALL THE IMPACTS AND THE OUTCOMES; INTENDED AND UNINTENDED, AS BEST WE CAN PREDICT.
>> THAT IS ON WITH THE PERVIOUS SURFACE OR DOING THE PERVIOUS SURFACE STUDY, RIGHT?
>> CHARGING BASED ON THAT, WHICH IS A DEPARTURE FROM THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT.
>> NOW MOVING TO IMPERVIOUS AREA, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO IS WE ACTUALLY BRING SAMPLE BILLS FOR BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY.
>> SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE WHAT THAT DOES.
[03:30:02]
WE EVEN HAVE THESE CHARTS HERE RIGHT NOW FOR COMMERCIAL.I DON'T HAVE THEM WITH ME TONIGHT, BUT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS SAME CHART RIGHT NOW FOR COMMERCIAL, COMMERCIAL IS ALL AT THE BOTTOM COMPARED TO YOUR OTHER CITIES.
AGAIN, WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION TO YOU, BUT AGAIN, THE BIG FOCUS IS, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY AS A STOPGAP TO MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, NOT IN TERMS OF HOW YOU CHARGE, BUT JUST THE OVERALL FEE LEVEL?
>> I WANT TO SEE THE SAME SLIDE FOR COMMERCIAL, AND I WANT TO SEE AN ADJUSTMENT THAT GETS COMMERCIAL CLOSER TO WHEREVER THEY SHOULD BE.
>> TO DO THAT, THAT'S THE IMPERVIOUS ANALYSIS TO DRAW THAT RATIONAL NEXUS AND GET COMMERCIAL TO WHERE IT NEEDS.
>> WELL, PERHAPS, BUT YOU HAVE A SLIDE WITH TIER 1, TIER 2, TIER 3 FOR RESIDENTIAL.
THERE'S ALSO A COMMERCIAL TIER 1, TIER 2, TIER 3.
CAN YOU NOT MAKE THIS EXACT SAME SLIDE FOR COMMERCIAL?
>> I CAN MAKE THAT EXACT SAME SLIDE, BUT IF YOU COME IN AND START MAKING FEE RECOMMENDATIONS ON COMPARATIVE CITIES, YOU'RE NOT DRAWING A RATIONAL NEXUS.
YOU'RE NOT MAINTAINING EQUITY AT THAT POINT.
YOU'RE DRAWING A CONCLUSION BASED ON A NON APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON.
TO ME, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO MAINTAIN EQUITY AND YOU'RE CHARGING, YOU WOULD COME IN AND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS CHART, YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DEVELOP A CHARGE BASED ON PER SQUARE FOOT OF IMPERVIOUS AREA.
THAT'S, TO ME, HOW YOU'RE GOING TO MAINTAIN EQUITY.
BUT, AGAIN, I CAN GET THOSE OTHER CHARTS TO YOU SO YOU CAN SEE THOSE.
>> IN THE LONG-TERM, I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT IN THE SHORT-TERM, IT SEEMS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT OUR COMPARATOR CITIES ARE CHARGING FOR ROUGHLY THE SAME UNDER 25,000 SQUARE FEET, AND SO FORTH.
THEN ALSO WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THIS RATE WAS CHANGED?
>> WE DID NOT CHANGE IT LAST YEAR, SO IT'S AT LEAST BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE YOU'VE ADJUSTED THIS RATE.
>> HISTORY WOULD BE NICE AS WELL.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL MOVE ON TO WRAP UP TONIGHT.
>> MA'AM, JUST ONE SECOND. FOR TRANSITION OUT.
CAN WE HAVE A FEW CONCLUSIVE ITEMS ON THIS? THE REASON WHY WE DON'T NEED TRUE FINAL DECISIONS, BUT WE DO NEED TO WORK SOME OF THESE INTO THE BUDGET NUMBERS IS TO GET IT READY FOR ADOPTION LATER.
WE DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF MEETINGS DUE TO THE MEETING SCHEDULE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, SO HOW WE PROCEED WITH THE BUDGET FORWARD IS BASED ON YOUR DIRECTION TONIGHT.
ARE THESE THE UTILITY RATES AND THE STORMWATER RATES? ARE THESE THINGS THAT YOU'RE COMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH, WITH A FINAL DATE TO REVISIT THEM ON THE NIGHT OF THE BUDGET ADOPTION?
>> I DON'T THINK I'D BE READY TO VOTE FOR THOSE INCREASES UNTIL I HAVE MORE INFORMATION.
>> WE WANT TO BRING THAT FORWARD TO THE NEXT MEETING FOR MORE INFORMATION. IS THAT ENOUGH TIME?
>> THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE IS OUR NEXT MEETINGS IN THREE OR FOUR DAYS? I DON'T THINK IT HAS BEEN TURNED AROUND, BUT I THINK REALISTICALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS, IS THAT IF WE CAN PULL THAT DATA THERE, WE CAN POTENTIALLY SHARE IT WITH YOU IN ADVANCE, BUT WE COULD HAVE THE PUBLIC DISCUSSION AT THE 16TH TO BE ABLE TO LAND ON THAT.
THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY LANDING SPOT WE HAVE SHORT OF CALLING A SPECIAL MEETING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS REQUISITE OF THIS NECESSARILY.
BUT THE KEYS IS WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KNOW WHAT Y'ALL NEED TO GET TO THAT DECISION POINT BECAUSE, AS JOHN MENTIONED, WE GOT TO BAKE THIS IN TO THE CAKE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET DONE.
>> WHAT DO YOU WANT ON THAT LIST?
>> FOR THE STORMWATER IS EASIER.
I WANT TO SEE A RATE FOR COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT'S MORE COMMENSURATE WITH OUR BENCHMARK CITIES, AND THEN THAT WOULD HOPEFULLY HELP OFFSET THE RESIDENTIAL A LITTLE BIT.
I CAN GET COMFORTABLE WITH THAT ONE.
FOR THE SECOND RATE, I WOULD PREFER WE STAY WITH OUR CURRENT RATE FOR NEXT YEAR, THE RATE INCREASE OF 4.5%.
WE NEED TO DO A MINOR ADJUSTMENT, WHATEVER THE MINIMUM THAT WE NEED TO DO.
I GUESS I JUST NEED TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT MORE AT THE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THAT WE'RE MAKING, TO SEE IF, ARE WE DOING THE BEST WE CAN DO? I'M NOT QUITE CONFIDENT THAT WE'RE DOING THE BEST WE CAN DO TO GET THE LOWEST POSSIBLE RATE.
>> I'M NOT COMFORTABLE WITH 4.5% WHEN OUR WHOLESALE COST IS 4.6.
WHEN WE KNOW THAT DEFINITIVELY.
I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING, "WE DON'T WANT TO INCREASE THAT." WE KNOW CAN'T PASS THAT THROUGH AT 4.5, AND THEN THAT LEAVES US NO MONEY FOR M&O, OR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
I FEEL AN INCREASE IS JUSTIFIED, BUT TO YOUR POINT, I WOULD WANT TO STUDY IT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN DEPTH, JUST TO MAKE SURE HOW MUCH MORE.
[03:35:02]
I DON'T WANT IT TO STAY AT 4.5, WE NEED TO PASS THAT THROUGH.THAT'S APPROPRIATE AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S UNEXPECTED BY RESIDENTS.
>> I DO THINK WE NEED TO, AT A MINIMUM, RECOUP OUR COST.
WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE COST INCREASES ON THE TOWN SIDE.
I THINK HAVING THAT LITTLE BIT MORE DATA TO EITHER JUSTIFY THE FIVE AND A QUARTER OR SAY, "HEY, MAYBE WE COULD DO FIVE AND AN EIGHTH, OR FIVE FLAT," WHATEVER THAT NUMBER MAY BE, I TRUST WHAT THE PROFESSIONALS ARE TELLING US.
BUT IF WE COULD PEEK BEHIND THAT CURTAIN AND SEE THE DATA THAT GOES INTO THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE US ALL MORE COMFORTABLE.
>> RATHER THAN SET IT FOR THREE YEARS, MAYBE A COMPROMISE WOULD BE WE COULD SET IT FOR ONE YEAR.
>> ONE OR TWO. THAT WILL BE PRESENTED MORE ON THAT SEPTEMBER MEETING?
>> YES. THE HESITANCE THAT DID YOU SEE, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE REQUISITE AMOUNT OF RUNWAY TO GET THIS STUFF DONE.
ONE THING I DON'T WANT TO DO IS GO TO THE 16TH, AND BASICALLY TELL YOU WE GOT TO DO THIS OR ELSE.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR THE 19TH IS JUST PUTTING A CONTINUATION DISCUSSION HERE JUST IN CASE IF COUNCILWOMAN WARNER IS BACK AND HAS SOME THINGS THAT SHE WANTS TO SHARE THAT PROCESS, SHE GET'S THE ABILITY TO DO THAT ON MONDAY.
IF WE HAVE SOME SUBSTANTIVE UPDATES, WE CAN ALSO USE THIS SPACE TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
I'D LIKE TO HAVE THIS BUTTON UP AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE GOING INTO 16 SEPTEMBER.
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK THERE'S JUST SOME HOMEWORK THAT WE NEED TO DO COLLECTIVELY AS A GROUP, AND THEN WE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH YOU IF WE'RE GOING TO NEED SOME ADDITIONAL TIMES AND/OR AN ADDITIONAL MEETING, MAYBE TO VET THIS STUFF OUT.
I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE AT THIS POINT AND I'LL DEFER TO THE STAFF IF WE CAN CREDIBLY BE RESPONSIVE TO SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS IN PARTICULAR, GOING TO ONE YEAR MODEL.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN, IS THAT, IF WE GO LOWER, IT'S JUST GOING TO CAUSE A HIGHER JUMP AT A LATER DATE.
WE'RE PROVERBIAL KICKING A CAN.
I WANT TO VET THAT OUT JUST TO MAKE SURE IF WE MAKE THAT DECISION, WE'RE NOT, A COUPLE OF YEARS DOWN THE LINE, HAVING TO DO A 7% INCREASE OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, AND SO I LIKE TO BE ABLE TO STUDY THAT UP TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE FULLY INFORMED BEFORE YOU MAKE THAT DECISION.
I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE NEED TO GO ON AND DO THAT.
WE'LL HUDDLE UP AND FIGURE THAT PART OUT, AND AT THE VERY MINIMUM, IF WE'RE READY TO DO THAT ON A 19TH WE CAN DO THAT AT THAT POINT.
>> GOOD. WHO ELSE? WHO'S NEXT PRESENTING? [LAUGHTER] WE HAVE A WHOLE SLEW OF PEOPLE.
BRIAN WALTENBERG, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING.
I'M GOING TO TRY AND GO THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICK, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
BUT IF YOU GUYS HAVE QUESTIONS AND SPECIFIC PROJECTS, STOP ME.
I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.
THIS IS THE OVERVIEW OF THE STREETS.
THIS IS JUST OUR CAPITAL PLAN, JUST THE 2024, '25 YEAR.
THIS IS WHAT WAS SHOWN IN THE BUDGET FOR OUR STREETS' SIGNALS.
IN EACH ONE OF THESE PROJECTS, I'M GOING TO GO THROUGH INDIVIDUALLY, SO LIKE I SAID, I'LL GO PRETTY QUICK.
WE'VE GOT THE FACILITY PROJECTS, PARKS, WATER, STORMWATER, WASTEWATER.
HERE WE GO. ADA TRANSITION PLAN.
YOU GUYS HAVE SEEN THIS A COUPLE OF FEW YEARS.
$150,000 ANNUALLY HELPS US UPDATE OR CORRECT ANY DEFICIENCIES WE HAVE IN OUR TOWN THROUGH THE ADA.
IT'S A STATE AND FEDERAL REQUIREMENT, AND WE SPEND THIS MONEY AS SOON AS WE GET IT.
WELL, IT'S A TXDOT PROJECT, BUT OUR PORTION OF IT IS FUNDING DESIGN OR ANY AESTHETIC IMPROVE SIGNAL POLL SIGNAL POLLS.
WE HAVE THE GREEN SIGNAL POLLS VERSUS THE GALVANIZED.
THAT'S WHAT THIS WOULD GO FOR.
GO THROUGH THE AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS OF WHAT TXDOT WON'T COVER, PAID FOR BY PROJECT SAVINGS. IMPACT FEE STUDY.
IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE WE DID THE LAST ONE.
WE'LL DO OUR ROADWAY IMPACT FEE STUDY, STATE LAW.
WE HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY FIVE YEARS.
ROADWAY AMENITIES. THIS IS ANOTHER ANNUAL PROJECT.
IT'S FOR TXDOT COUNTY COORDINATION, PROJECT ENHANCEMENTS, SOME EXAMPLES, GREEN RIBBON PROJECTS, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE 377 BRIDGE, AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS, THOSE PROJECTS.
THIS IS ANNUAL, $90,000 PAID FOR PROJECT SAVINGS.
WE SHOW FUTURE FUNDING AS DEBT.
IT TYPICALLY WE'LL SHOW IT AS DEBT UNTIL WE FIND SOME OTHER SOURCE,
[03:40:01]
AND IF WE HAVE THE OTHER SOURCE, WE'LL USE IT. SCENIC ROAD.THIS WILL GO IN WITH TOWN LAKE DEVELOPMENT.
THE COST RIGHT THERE IS THE NUMBER AND THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THE PREVIOUS COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RIGHT OF WAY.
THE 2024, '25 COSTS IS THE AMOUNT IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT.
THIS IS ANNUAL PROJECT FOR TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONNECTIVITY OF PROJECTS.
THEY ACTUALLY HAD THEIR MEETING ON TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK AND I THINK THERE WAS THREE RECOMMENDATIONS.
WE'LL FOCUS ON THOSE, FUNDED WITH PROJECT SAVINGS.
STREET LIGHT IMPROVEMENTS IS THE SAME.
THEY RECOMMEND CERTAIN LOCATIONS FOR STREET LIGHTS, TOTAL PROJECT COST, 115,000 ANNUALLY, WHICH WE DO SPEND, AND THERE'S A LONG LIST OF PROJECTS THAT WE CAN DO.
WALSINGHAM, THIS IS THE SECOND SECTION.
THIS IS THE CONNECTION FROM SCENIC TO THE EXISTING END OF WALSINGHAM.
THAT 1.2 MILLION IS THE NUMBER IN THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT, AND YOU CAN SEE IMPACT FEES AND PROJECT SAVINGS FUNDING THOSE.
THE 407TXDOT SIGNAL EQUIPMENT, WE HAVE A TEXTILE AGREEMENT TO MAINTAIN SIGNALS ON 407, SO THEIR SIGNALS WE MAINTAIN THEM, WILL BE REIMBURSED THIS AMOUNT.
THIS WILL BE LAKESIDE ENTERPRISE.
THIS WILL GO IN WITH THE LAKESIDE CAPACITY PROJECT.
LAKESIDE PEDESTRIAN HOCK SIGNAL.
THIS IS A SIGNAL FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSING MID BLOCK BETWEEN TWO SIGNALS.
I HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEDESTRIAN CROSSING.
THIS IS A LOCATION PAID FOR BY INTER-LOCAL GRANT FUNDS AND PROJECT SAVINGS.
LAKESIDE SILVERON, SAME THING.
IT WILL GO WITH THE LAKESIDE PROJECT.
THIS IS TRAFFIC SIGNALS TO CONNECTED VEHICLES UPGRADE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE TRAFFIC INITIATIVES.
>> THANK YOU THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FUNDING FOR TRAFFIC EFFICIENCY, IT WILL HELP CARS WITH CERTAIN COMMUNICATION ABILITIES TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR SIGNALS.
THIS IS THE DECISION PACKAGE PROJECT.
THIS IS TO REPLACEMENT OF THE DETECTION EQUIPMENT.
IT'S FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SUSTAINABILITY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THIS PREVIOUSLY, MATT PROVIDED SOME BACKGROUND ON THIS ONE.
BUT IT BASICALLY IS THAT SOFTWARE THAT HELPS, I GUESS, TAKE ALL THE INFORMATION AND ALL THE DATA THAT WE'RE GETTING AND HELP US MAKE REAL-TIME DECISIONS.
>> BRIAN, CAN YOU GO BACK TO THE COMMUNICATING WITH THE CARS?
>> CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS ONE?
>> I'LL LET MATT DO THAT. HE'S THE EXPERT ON THIS ONE.
>> MATT, IS THIS THE ONE WE TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES AND RECENTLY WHERE YOU SAID THEY TURNED OVER AND SWITCHED THE SYSTEM AND I WOULDN'T GET THE SIGNAL IN MY CAR?
>> VERY SIMILAR. THE ONE THAT GOES TO YOUR CAR IS THROUGH TTS.
THIS IS ONE THAT CAN ACTUALLY GET OUT TO ANYBODY, NOT JUST CERTAIN BRANDS OF CARS, AND IT'LL COMMUNICATE TO THE CAR.
SOME OEMS HAVE IT IN THEIR CAR AND THEN THE ONES THAT DON'T HAVE IT IN THEIR CAR, YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE AN APP TO MAKE THE CONNECTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT'LL DO IS IT'LL ACTUALLY GIVE YOU THE HEADS UP FOR WHEN THE LIGHT IS READY TO CHANGE.
YOU SET A GEOFENCE AROUND THAT SIGNAL, IT KNOWS WHICH APPROACH YOU'RE COMING UP ON AND THEN BASICALLY AS THE LIGHTS TURN YELLOW, IT'S TELLING YOU THROUGH YOUR CAR SYSTEM THAT THE LIGHT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE, SO YOU CAN GET OFF YOUR PHONE.
>> WHAT CARS HAVE THIS CAPABILITY? THERE'S AN AUDI IS ONE.
BMW HAS IT, I THINK VOLKSWAGEN, AND I THINK THE DOMESTIC ONE THEY ARE SOME OF THE NEWER FORD VEHICLES.
>> I CAN TELL YOU IT COULD BE USER ERROR ON MY PART.
I DON'T GET ANY VALUE OUT OF IT BECAUSE MY EYES ARE ON THE LIGHT AND WHEN IT CHANGES, IT CHANGES AND KNOWING IT'S GOING TO CHANGE IN 10 SECONDS, NINE SECONDS, IT DOESN'T CHANGE MY BEHAVIOR AT ALL.
I DON'T KNOW WHO BENEFITS AND HOW.
>> I WAS EXPECTING TO ARGUE WITH YOU ABOUT WHY WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS AND YOU WERE GOING TO TELL ME HOW AWESOME IT IS.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT BENEFITS A VERY SMALL POPULATION OF DRIVERS FOR DEBT.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I WANT TO TAKE ON DEBT.
I GUESS, SELL ME ON THIS, MAN.
WE'VE TESTED IT OUT. IT DOES WORK.
PART OF IT, ONE OF THEM IS YOU CAN DO IT.
[03:45:03]
WE HAVE ONE SCHOOL ZONE THAT HAS IT ON IT ONE OF THE RFP BY YOU, BY MORRIS HAS IT IN IT.SOMEBODY ACTIVATES THAT, THAT'LL WARN YOU IN YOUR CART AS WELL.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE NOT DOING IT WITH THIS PROJECT YET, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IT CAN DO IS IF YOU CAN'T HEAR THE FIRE TRUCK COMING, IT'LL WARN YOU THAT IT'S COMING UP BEHIND YOU OR IT'S APPROACHING YOU.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING IT DOES. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IT DOES FOR US IS IT GIVES US A REDUNDANT COMMUNICATION TO THE SIGNAL.
IF OUR WIRELESS SYSTEM, FOR WHATEVER REASON, SOMETHING HAPPENS TO IT, IT'LL GIVE US A SECONDARY REDUNDANT WAY TO GET INTO THE SIGNAL.
>> THAT'S A BENEFIT. I THINK THAT'S A BENEFIT.
BUT FOR ME AS A USER, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL TO ME.
>> WELL, AND IT GOES BACK TO WHAT ADAM WAS SAYING, IF IT'S A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE AND WE'RE TAKING ON THIS MUCH DEBT.
>> EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE IT, AND I DON'T KNOW, AM I JUST BEING NOT SMART ABOUT IT? I DON'T CHANGE MY DRIVING KNOWING WHEN THE LIGHT IS GOING TO CHANGE BECAUSE I'M WATCHING AND WHEN IT CHANGES, IT CHANGES.
>> THE TTS VERSION IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT JUST BECAUSE IT GOES FROM OUR SIGNALS HERE THROUGH TOWN HALL, THROUGH JOSE'S EQUIPMENT, TO THE CLOUD, TO TTS, AND THEN BACK TO YOU.
>> BUT HOW IS IT SUPPOSED TO BENEFIT ME? I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW AM I GOING TO CHANGE MY DRIVING BEHAVIOR WATCHING THIS THING ON MY DASHBOARD OR ON MY PHONE, WHICH I SHOULDN'T BE WATCHING MY PHONE WHEN I'M DRIVING, I SHOULD BE WATCHING THE ROAD.
>> I THINK THE BIGGER BENEFIT IS ONCE YOU GET IN ENOUGH OF THE OEMS OUT THERE THAT HASN'T BUILT INTO THAT SO THAT THERE'S A MORE MAJORITY SO YOU DON'T HAVE THAT ONE CAR THAT SITS THERE AND WASTES HOWEVER MUCH TIME TO GET THROUGH THAT.
>> NOBODY IS SITTING WASTING, THEY'RE GOING.
[LAUGHTER] SOMETIMES THEY'RE GOING WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T BE GOING.
THAT'S A WHOLE ANOTHER DISCUSSION FOR CHIEF COULON.
>> MATT, IF YOU HAD $200,000 AND YOU WEREN'T BEING TOLD HOW TO SPEND IT, WHAT WOULD YOU SPEND IT ON?
>> IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS PROJECT BUT YOU HAD THIS FUNDING SOURCE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS IMPORTANT? WOULD YOU PUT IT INTO ADAPTIVE OR SIGNAL DETECTION OR THE FTE THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ON THERE? TO ME, ALL OF THOSE SEEM MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS.
>> I WOULD EITHER PUT IT INTO THE EITHER THE ANALYTICS OR THE OTHER ONE THAT I DON'T THINK HE'S MENTIONED IT IS THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES ONE THAT GIVES US BETTER DATA THAT ALLOWS US TO MAKE BETTER CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM.
>> I GUESS MY GUIDANCE OR MY RESPONSE TO STAFF WOULD BE THAT I THINK THERE'S A BETTER USE OF THIS FUNDING THAN THIS, WHICH SEEMS TO BENEFIT A VERY SMALL POPULATION OF DRIVERS.
>> OR NOT. I DON'T EVEN GET ANY BENEFIT.
IF YOU WANT TO SPEND $200,000 AND YOU CAN GET A BIGGER BANG FOR YOUR BUCK SOMEWHERE ELSE, I DON'T WANT TO SAY, YOU CAN'T HAVE THE 200K.
PUT IT WHERE YOU REALLY NEED IT AND WANT IT RATHER THAN THIS, BETTER PRIORITY.
>> I THINK THIS IS GETTING CLOSER TO THE BLEEDING EDGE THAN IN THE CUTTING EDGE.
>> YES. I THINK BRIAN IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES AND WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
PROBABLY THROWING IT HERE, WE GET BETTER BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.
ARE YOU SUGGESTING THAT YOU WANT TO TAKE THE 200,000, PUT IT INTO THIS? IS IT?
>> OVER THIS PROJECT, BRIAN, AND THEN LET MATT TALK ABOUT WHETHER ADDING FUNDING TO THIS PROJECT WOULD BE A BETTER OPTION FOR THAT 200,000.
>> NO, I THINK I HIT ON THIS ONE BEFORE WE WENT BACK, BUT IT IS THAT SIGNAL SOFTWARE THAT TAKES ALL THE DATA AND COLLECTS IT AND ANALYZES IT AND HELPS YOU MAKE THAT REAL-TIME DECISION BASED ON ALL THAT NEW DATA THAT WE'RE GETTING FROM THE SIGNALS.
>> THIS IS AMAZING AND I THINK WE NEED TO SEE A DEMO OF THIS AGAIN.
I THINK WE SAW ONE A COUPLE YEARS AGO, BUT I'D LIKE TO GO OUT THERE AND SEE IT.
>> THIS IS MORE FOR ADAPTIVE SIGNALING.
>> LET ME TAKE A STAB AT IT. ALL THE TRAFFIC INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GETTING BASED ON ALL THE NEW ANALYTIC CAMERAS AND ALL THE DATA THAT WE'RE GETTING, THIS SOFTWARE TAKES IT AND AGGREGATES IT AND HELPS US MAKE REAL-TIME DECISIONS INSTEAD OF SOMEONE SORTING THROUGH ALL THE DATA INDIVIDUALLY.
>> WHERE YOU SET TIMING, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT WITH THIS?
>> YOU STILL HAVE TO SET TIMING, BUT THIS ONE HERE, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'LL TAKE IT, ANALYZE IT FOR YOU AND GIVE YOU SUGGESTIONS FOR SIGNALS.
THIS ONE ALSO TELLS YOU IF YOU HAVE A DETECTION CAMERA THAT'S STARTING TO FLAKE OUT, IT TELLS YOU IF YOU HAVE PEDESTRIAN BUTTONS THAT ARE STARTING TO, FOR WHATEVER REASON, ARE STARTING TO GET STUCK, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NOTICE IT.
BUT WHEN YOU COME IN AND YOU LOOK AT YOUR REPORT, YOU'LL SAY, HEY, THIS LOCATION, YOU'RE HAVING ISSUES, SYSTEM OPERATOR, GO CHECK THIS OUT.
[03:50:01]
>> MATT, YOU'VE GOT 30 TRAFFIC SIGNALS ON HERE FOR 250,000.
IF YOU WERE GIVEN THE 200,000, IT WAS MOVED TO THIS PROJECT, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO DO MORE SIGNALS? WOULD THAT BE A BETTER USE FOR THOSE FUNDS?
IT'S THE COST PER LOCATION IS PRETTY MUCH [OVERLAPPING].
>> YOU WOULD HAVE CAPABILITY TO DO MORE, SO IF THAT FUNDING WAS MOVED IN HERE, WE COULD BUMP UP THAT 30 AND DO MORE.
>> WE COULD GET PRETTY CLOSE TO IMPLEMENT IT.
WE COULD GET PRETTY CLOSE TO DOING THE WHOLE NETWORK.
>> IT SEEMS LIKE A REASONABLE PRICE FOR 30 TRAFFIC SIGNALS, I WOULD THINK.
IT'S A HIGH PRICE TAG, BUT IT'S 30 TRAFFIC SIGNALS, WHICH IS PRETTY EXTENSIVE.
>> YES. THIS ONE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT VENDORS OUT THERE THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT AND WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE THEM COME BACK AGAIN TO GIVE US THEIR BEST PITCH TO SHOW US EXACTLY WHAT ALL THEY CAN DO WITH IT.
BUT I THINK THIS IS A GREAT USE OF THIS.
>> IF WE DID WHAT TIFFANY WAS SAYING, TOOK THE OTHER 200, IT'S GOING TO GIVE YOU $450,000, THAT'S NEARLY EVERYONE.
HOW MUCH MORE WOULD IT BE TO DO ALL OF THEM IN ONE FELL SWOOP?
>> YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT 200,000 BONUS.
>> TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 70 SIGNALS IN OUR SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
WITH BASICALLY THAT 200,000, WE COULD GET 50-60 SIGNALS.
>> SOME OF THEM ALREADY HAVE IT?
>> THIS IS NEW. THEY HAVE THE CAMERAS AND THEY HAVE THE ABILITY.
ONCE WE GET THE CAMERAS AND EVERYTHING ONTO EVERYTHING, WE CAN DO THIS.
>> THE TWO NEW SIGNALS, DEPENDING ON WHAT WE HAVE LEFT WHEN THE PROJECT FINISHES, WE WERE CONSIDERING PUTTING ON THOSE TWO NEW SIGNALS THAT CAME IN.
>> WOULD THE DIRECTION BE TO GET RID OF THE OTHER PROJECT OR PUT IT OFF UNTIL IT WAS MORE BENEFICIAL BECAUSE MORE VEHICLES ARE ON IT, SO DELAY THAT PROJECT BUT MOVE THE FUNDING FROM THAT PROJECT TO THIS ONE [OVERLAPPING] IS WHAT I'M HEARING?
>> IF IT BECAME STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN EVERY VEHICLE, THEN IT WOULD MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE.
>> I THINK WE KEEP IT. MATT THINKS IT'S IMPORTANT.
I THINK WE KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT, BUT HE TRACKS HOW MANY VEHICLES HAVE IT SO WE BRING IT FORWARD WHEN IT WILL GIVE US MORE DATA THAN WE GET AS IT IS NOW.
>> GOOD. COMPLETELY AGREE. I ALSO THINK WE STILL WANT TO STAY PROACTIVE ON THAT, EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT DOING IT THIS YEAR AND DON'T GET US INTO A POSITION WHERE WE'RE REACTIVE AND THAT TECHNOLOGY IS MORE FULLY EVOLVED AND MORE READILY AVAILABLE, AND IT CAN MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT AND THEN WE'RE HAVING TO CATCH UP AND DO IT ALL AT ONCE.
>> THIS IS THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL PREEMPTION UPGRADE, INFRASTRUCTURE SUSTAINABILITY, LINE OF SITE ISSUES.
IT'S A TOTAL PROJECT COST OF 450,000.
THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL ANALYTICS CAMERAS, $150,000.
THIS IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT HELPS US WE ADD THESE TO THE SIGNALS THAT PROVIDES US ALL THE DATA THAT WE CAN FEED INTO THAT SOFTWARE.
STREET RECONSTRUCTION, WE HAVE THREE, PROSPECT DRIVE.
THESE ARE ALL CONDITION ASSESSMENTS AND ALL FUNDED WITH DEDICATED SALES TAX.
WE'VE GOT PROSPECT DRIVE, TIMBER VALLEY, AND FAIRFIELD, WHICH IS ANOTHER PROJECT, AND THEN WICHITA TRAILS DOWN ON THE END BY THE BEND BY CARDINAL.
FACILITY PROJECTS ARE PROPOSING ONE, FIRE STATION 6, FIRE LEVEL OF SERVICE, AND THERE'S A PIECE OF PROPERTY, DENTON CREEK BOULEVARD AND CANYON FALLS DRIVE.
IT'S ESTIMATED AT 20 MILLION AT THIS POINT.
PARK PROJECTS. I'LL GO THROUGH THESE CHUCKS HERE, IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
WE GOT A PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT AT NORTHSHORE AND RUSTIC TIMBERS PARK, 16-YEARS-OLD AND OF LIFESPAN.
GERAULT PARK IMPROVEMENTS, BALLFIELD, LED LIGHT FIXTURES.
THE FIXTURES ARE GOING ON 30-YEARS-OLD AND IT'S ALSO A MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATION.
IT'S A MOBILE LED SCREEN THAT PARKS WILL USE IT TO ENHANCE SPONSORSHIP, ALSO BE ABLE TO USE FOR DISASTER EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS.
LEONARD & HELEN JOHNS COMMUNITY PARK.
WE'RE DOING THE MASTER PLAN NOW.
THIS WOULD BE FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION.
IT WOULD BE MASTER PLAN FOR THE OAKBRIDGE DEVELOPMENT PARK DEDICATION FOR PARKLAND THAT WE GOT.
THE TOTAL ESTIMATE WOULD BE 1.3 MILLION AND WE'D BE ASKING FOR THE 50,000 JUST FOR THE MASTER PLANNING PORTION.
[03:55:02]
THE ANNUAL PROJECT TO ADD AMENITIES TO THE TRAIL SYSTEM, 75,000.THERE'S SOME OLD AGING AMENITIES AT THAT PARK.
IT'S A MASTER PLAN IMPROVEMENT AND WE'LL BE REPLACING THOSE AMENITIES. POST OAK.
THIS WILL BE A DESIGN OF SOME IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING RESTROOM, SOME TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS, POND IMPROVEMENTS, AND THEN UPGRADING THE PLAYGROUND AND LIGHT FIXTURES.
IT'S BASED ALSO ON THE MASTER PLAN.
TRAILS MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
THIS IS A PROJECT FUNDED FROM THE TRAILS MASTER PLAN PROJECT AND IT'S THE TIMBER CREEK FEASIBILITY STUDY.
WELL, IT WOULD INCLUDE THINGS LIKE THE TIMBER CREEK FEASIBILITY STUDY.
THIS IS THAT ANNUAL PROJECTS WE CAN BANK DOLLARS TO PUT TOWARD BIGGER TRAIL PROJECTS.
THE TROTTER PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS WILL BE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE TROTTER PARK THAT WAS RECENTLY APPROVED, TOTAL PROJECT COST, THE 9.7 MILLION.
THIS IS A DESIGN PHASE OF 750,000.
WILKERSON LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS IS REPLACING THE BALLFIELD WITH THE LED FIXTURES.
THESE FIXTURES ARE ALSO 25-YEARS-OLD AND DEDICATED SALES TAX.
JUMP INTO WATER PROJECTS, DENTON CREEK REUSE.
WE TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT.
THIS IS OUT ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
IT'S FOR DESIGN PHASE OF THE REUSE SYSTEM.
BASICALLY, THE REASON FOR REUSE IS YOU'RE TAKING THE WASTEWATER, YOU'RE TREATING THAT WASTEWATER, INSTEAD OF DUMPING INTO THE CREEK, YOU'RE COLLECTING IT AND USING IT FOR IRRIGATION.
BASICALLY, LIKE TIFFANY HAD MENTIONED, IT TAKES THAT PEAK OFF SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET MORE SUBSCRIPTION OR RENEW YOUR CONTRACT OR RENEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT AT A POSSIBLY HIGHER RATE.
THE TOTAL PROJECT COST ON THIS ONE IS THE PUMP STATION AND GROUND STORAGE TANK IS 15 MILLION, BUT FOR DESIGN, IT WOULD BE ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS PAID FOR WITH IMPACT FEES.
THEN AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, YOU HAVE THE PUMP STATION AND GROUND STORAGE TANK, BUT YOU HAVE TO SET THAT INITIAL LINE TO GET IT TO A POINT SO WHEN THE DEVELOPERS COME IN, THEY CAN HOOK ONTO IT AND UTILIZE IT.
IT'S ALSO NEAR WHERE OUR PARK WILL BE DUNHAM RANCH OR WHATEVER THE NAME WILL BE, BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO UTILIZE IT IMMEDIATELY TO WATER THE PARKS AS AN INITIAL USE.
IMPACT FEE STUDY AND WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN UPDATE.
THIS IS THE WATER PORTION OF THE IMPACT FEE UPDATE.
>> THEN OUR LAKESIDE REUSE, IS THE LAKESIDE SYSTEM THAT WE UTILIZE THE FLOWS FROM OUR OWN WASTE ARCH PLANT.
THIS IS BASED ON THE LAKESIDE MASTER PLAN.
WE'RE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN, I THINK WE'RE ABOUT 80% DESIGN RIGHT NOW, AND SO WE'RE LOOKING AT CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR.
THE TOTAL COST FOR NEXT YEAR IS 8.3 MILLION UTILIZING PROJECT SAVINGS AND UTILITY DEBT.
THEN PART OF THAT PROJECT AGAIN, IS THE REUSE WATERLINE, SO THAT WOULD BE PHASE I AND THE ORANGE.
PHASE I, THE MAJORITY OF IT WOULD BE OUR OWN PARKS AND WITH A LITTLE BIT OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OR INDUSTRIAL.
THIS IS A WESTERN PUMP STATION.
IT WAS INSTALLED ABOUT 10, 15 YEARS AGO.
WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE NEED TO DO THE SECOND PHASE TO INCREASE CAPACITY OF THE PUMP STATION.
THIS ONE WE WOULD BE ADDING THE SECOND TANK.
YOU CAN SEE IN RED ON THE RIGHT HERE, WE'RE ADDING THAT SECOND TANK AND WE'RE ADDING A FOURTH PUMP.
THE LAST PHASE IN THE FUTURE WOULD BE ADDING A FIFTH.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DESIGNING NEXT YEAR CONSTRUCTION IN 25-26.
STONEHILL PUMP STATION MOTOR REPLACEMENT.
THIS IS THE STONEHILL STATION.
IT'S TIME FOR SOME UPGRADES TO THE MOTOR SOFT STARTERS AND VFD, SO VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES.
CONDITION, AGE, COST OF FAILURE, THESE ARE ALL DRIVERS FOR THIS PROJECT.
IT'S JUST TIME TO GET THOSE UPGRADED.
THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE UNAVAILABLE.
IF SOMETHING GOES DOWN, IT'S PRETTY MUCH IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ANYTHING FIXED.
WE'RE CURRENTLY FINALIZING DESIGN AND NEXT YEAR, WE'RE LOOKING AT CONSTRUCTION.
TIMBER VALLEY, FAIRFIELD LANE WATER LINE REPLACEMENT.
[04:00:03]
THIS IS JUST THE WATER LINE PORTION OF THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING.WHEN WE DO OUR RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, IF IT'S OLD, WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE IT, SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AFTER THE FACT.
UTILITY ASSET MANAGEMENT AND UTILITY REPLACEMENT.
THIS IS OUR ANNUAL PROJECT, $150,000.
HELPS WITH CONDITION ASSESSMENTS FOR UTILITIES, ALSO HELPS MAP WITH THE GIS SYSTEM.
WE WORK WITH GIS TO GET EVERYTHING MAPPED PROPERLY.
THIS HELPS US INFORM ON FUTURE PROJECTS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
THIS IS A WATER LINE ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEW WALSINGHAM DRIVE GOING IN WITH TOWN LAKE.
THE DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT COST WAS $30,000.
THAT ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT IMPACT FEES, CREDITS, THOSE THINGS.
WATER SYSTEM LEAK DETECTION AND REPAIR.
THIS IS ANOTHER ANNUAL PROJECT.
THIS GOES OUT AND RUNS OUR SMART TECHNOLOGIES.
THERE SATELLITE OR THESE BALLS THAT GO INSIDE THE WATER LINES OR THIS CONTRAPTION HERE.
GO INSIDE, IT'LL LOCATE LEAKS THAT MAYBE PINHOLE LEAKS OR SOMETHING YOU'RE AWARE OF, SO YOU CAN GET OUT THERE AND ADDRESS IT BEFORE IT BECOMES A BIGGER ISSUE.
WE DO A $50,000 ANNUALLY AND DEPLOY THESE TO HELP INFORM FUTURE PROJECTS.
WE UPDATE THE PROJECT BASED ON ALL THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURES THE INSTALLED.
ANY DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE COME IN, WE BASICALLY UPDATE THE MODEL AT THIS COST.
THIS HELPS US MAKE SURE THAT THE MODEL IS ACCURATE WHEN NEW DEVELOPMENT COMES ON BOARD.
WATER SYSTEM SECURITY IMPLEMENTATION.
THIS IS OUR EPA MANDATE, RISK AND RESILIENCE BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENT.
IT'S ANNUAL PROJECT OF $150,000 AND IT'S A FEDERAL REQUIREMENT.
WICHITA TRAIL WATER LINE REPLACEMENT.
THIS IS THE WATER PORTION OF THE STREET RECONSTRUCTION THAT WE'RE DOING ON A WICHITA TRAIL.
OUR STORMWATER PROJECTS. WE HAVE ONE.
THIS IS THE DISCHARGE OF OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHERE IT DISCHARGES INTO THE CREEK.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT BEFORE IT BECOMES A BIGGER ISSUE.
WASTEWATER PROJECTS. WE'VE GOT AN IMPACT FEE STUDY FOR OUR WASTEWATER.
SAME THING AS THE WATER AND ROADWAY.
WE GO IN, WE DO SMOKE TESTING, WHICH IS A PICTURE ON THAT BOTTOM RIGHT THERE.
THEY BASICALLY PUMP SMOKE INTO IN THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM AND IT WILL COME OUT WHEREVER YOU HAVE A LEAK OR AN OPENING OR SOMETHING SO YOU CAN IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE LEAKS ARE.
ONCE YOU IDENTIFY WHERE THE LEAKS ARE, YOU CAN GO IN AND REPAIR IT.
WE'RE DOING PROJECTS LIKE MANHOLE REHAB PROJECTS WHERE THE LID IS CRACKED AND YOU HAVE JUST A GOOD SPOT FOR RAIN TO GET IN THERE.
YOU DON'T WANT THE WATER TO GET IN BECAUSE IT INCREASES YOUR COSTS OF TREATMENT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO TREAT STORMWATER.
>> BRIAN JUST REAL QUICK BEFORE YOU GO ON WITH THIS, AND THEN YOU ALSO HAD THE LEAK DETECTION, WHAT THE SMART BALLS AND THE OTHER SATELLITE.
IT'S AN ANNUAL PROGRAM, FIXED AMOUNT EVERY YEAR.
IS THAT AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO KEEP WHAT YOU'RE DOING OR TO KEEP THE PROCESS EFFECTIVE AND CATCHING THESE THINGS AND DOING THE REHAB ON A TIMELY BASIS OR COULD YOU USE MORE? IS IT OVERKILL OR WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
>> I WOULD SAY THAT I&I IS PROBABLY WHERE WE NEED IT TO BE.
WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOME PROJECT AND MANHOLE REHABS AND SMOKE TESTING.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE SMART TECHNOLOGIES ARE PRETTY EXPENSIVE.
CLAY PROBABLY TALKED MORE TO THAT.
BUT I KNOW THIS IS A PROJECT WHERE SOMETIMES WE CAN BANK IT AND THEN MAYBE DO IT EVERY OTHER YEAR THING.
BUT CLAY CAN TALK MORE TO THE SMART TECHNOLOGY.
>> AS FAR AS THIS ONE GOES, I&I, SO ESSENTIALLY AS THAT WATER GETS INTO YOUR COLLECTION SYSTEM, THEN IT'S GOING TO OUR PLANT AND WE'RE BASICALLY PAYING TO TREAT JUST RAINWATER.
THEN IT CAUSES ALL ISSUES WHERE SEWER LINES COULD BACK UP.
YES, WE HAVE 28 DIFFERENT SEWER SUB BASINS, AND EACH YEAR, WE PICK THOSE SUB BASINS AND THEN WE GO AND DO AN I&I ASSESSMENT ON THEM.
THEN BASED ON WHAT WE FIND, THE NEXT YEAR'S FUNDING MAY GO TOWARD REPAIRING THOSE. IT JUST DEPENDS.
BUT WE BASICALLY HIT THE OLDER AREAS FIRST BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST.
>> THEN LIKE YOU SAID, CLAY, IF THERE'S LEFTOVER FUNDS IN ONE YEAR BUDGET, IT'S USED TOWARDS PROJECTS ALSO.
IT ISN'T ALWAYS USED JUST FOR SMOKE TESTING.
IF THERE IS FUNDING IN THERE, IT GOES TOWARDS A PROJECT LIKE THE MANHOLE REHAB.
>> FOR FOR INSTANCE, THE LAST ROUND THAT WE DID,
[04:05:01]
WE DID SMOKE TESTING, WE IDENTIFIED SO MANY THAT THE NEXT YEAR'S FUNDING BASICALLY PAID FOR ALL THE REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE DONE.LEAK DETECTION DOES GET VERY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE BASICALLY TRYING TO GET A CONDITION ASSESSMENT ON A WATER LINE THAT YOU CAN'T TAKE OUT OF SERVICE.
IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE, BUT RIGHT NOW WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A GOOD SPOT WITH OUR FUNDING.
OTHERWISE, WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR MORE.
ON THE WATER REUSE PROJECT, WHAT IS THAT WATER USED FOR?
>> IF WE HAVE EXTRA FUNDING, ARE WE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CONTAMINATION TO NATURE? WE TALKED ABOUT THIS EARLIER.
IS THERE ANYTHING TIED INTO THAT? I KNOW THIS TYPICALLY DOESN'T, BUT IF WE HAVE FUNDING, WHAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT IS ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT.
>> SURE. NO I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT.
THAT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
THERE'S CERTAIN TYPES OF REUSE QUALITY THAT ARE DEFINED BY THE TCEQ? OUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT CAN PRODUCE A CERTAIN TYPE OF REUSE THAT WE WOULD COLLECT, AND THEN WE WOULD TREAT IT EVEN FURTHER WITH CHLORINE, AND THEN YOU CAN IRRIGATE WITH IT.
IT'S APPROVED TCEQ, IT'S SAFE.
AS FAR AS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AREN'T REALLY ANY, IT'S VERY COMMON.
I SAY MOST MUNICIPALITIES UTILIZE A RE USE WATER FOR IRRIGATION.
>> IS THAT WATER RIGHT NOW GOES IN THE CREEK?
>> IT'S SAFE TO GO IN THE CREEK, IT'S GOING TO BE FINE FOR IRRIGATION WITH A LITTLE BIT OF.
>> WHY DO WE USE DEBT FOR A PROGRAM LIKE THIS?
>> WELL, YOU COULD USE UTILITY.
I THINK BASICALLY IT COMES FROM THE SAME PLACE.
>> BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH CASH.
IF WE COULD RAISE THE UTILITY ESSENTIALLY TO DO IT WITHOUT DEBT, WE'D HAVE TO RAISE RATES ENOUGH TO GENERATE THAT MUCH CASH OVER TIME OR IN ONE YEAR.
BASICALLY THAT'S USUALLY NOT HOW THAT'S DONE.
>> IT DOESN'T SEEM SMART TO PAY INTEREST ON A PROGRAM.
THIS ISN'T REALLY A CAPITAL EXPENSE.
THIS IS LIKE AN OPERATIONAL PROGRAM.
>> NO, IT'S A CAPITAL INTENSIVE PROGRAM.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GOES TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. PIPING.
>> SORRY, A LITTLE TIRED. I THOUGHT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE REUSE. SORRY.
>> MY APOLOGIES. I GOT COMPLETELY CONFUSED.
>> I WOULD SAY ON THIS ONE, THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT OF CAPITAL FOR REHAB REPLACEMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE'LL GO IN AND WE'LL DO SMOKE TESTING, WHICH IS A PLANNING PHASE OF ANY PROJECTS THAT WE DO, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE ISSUES ARE, AND THEN ONCE WE IDENTIFY THE ISSUES, WE GO OUT AND WE REPAIR THEM OR REPLACE THEM WITH A CAPITAL PROJECT.
>> I GUESS GETTING BACK TO OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE RATES.
UNDERSTANDING HOW MUCH DEBT SERVICE WE'RE PAYING MIGHT HELP.
IF WE'RE TAKING ON DEBT FOR SOMETHING LIKE A SMOKE TEST AND PAYING DEBT SERVICE ON IT, THAT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A VERY GOOD REUSE.
>> THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THOSE PLACES WHERE THE CASH FROM THAT SMOKE WE'D PRIORITIZE THAT FIRST, LIKE OPERATIONAL THINGS.
ANY OF THAT MONEY THAT GETS OVER THAT FUND BALANCE NUMBER, LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE GENERAL FUND.
BASICALLY ANYTHING OVER THAT THRESHOLD, WE SWEEP ALL THAT CASH INTO UTILITY CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THEN WE'LL PRIORITIZE THE USE OF THAT CASH FIRST, AND THEN WHATEVER THE CASH DOESN'T PAY FOR, THEN WE GO UP FOR DEBT.
ALWAYS WE'RE ESTIMATING THE MOST DEBT THAT WE THINK WE'D HAVE TO TAKE ON BASED ON NOT HAVING TO MOVE ANY MONEY OVER, BUT IF WE DO MOVE MONEY OVER, THEN WE TAKE OUT LESS.
>> I SEE. SO NOT NECESSARILY DEBT. IT COULD VARY WELL.
>> IT'S IN THAT FUND, WHERE WE TYPICALLY DROP DEBT.
>> I WOULD SAY THIS IS A LOT MORE THAN WHAT MY OPERATIONAL BUDGET IS.
>> THIS IS THE SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT FOR TIMBER VALLEY FAIRFIELD.
THIS IS RELATED TO THE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
IT'S ALSO PRETTY OLD AND THE CONDITION ASSESSMENT WAS POOR.
UTILITY ASSET MANAGEMENT, [NOISE] THIS IS THE SAME FOR THE WASTEWATER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE LEVEL OF SERVICE.
WE HAVE THE SIMILAR ONE FOR WATER, BUT IT DETERMINES FOR HIGH RISK INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAPPING ON THE GIS PROJECTS.
THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM MODEL UPDATE, THIS IS SIMILAR TO OUR WATER SYSTEM.
WE'LL UPDATE THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM BASED ON ALL THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT HAS COME ONLINE IN THE LAST YEAR.
[04:10:02]
YOU HAVE A RISK AND RESILIENCY ASSESSMENT FOR WASTEWATER AS WELL.IT'S FOR YOUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLAN OR ALL THE LIFT STATIONS TO PROVE THE WASTEWATER SECURITY AT THOSE LOCATIONS.
IN THE LAST TWO, WE HAVE AN EFFLUENT FILTER REHABILITATION PROJECT.
THE EFFLUENT FILTER IS THAT BEFORE THE EFFLUENT GOES INTO THE CREEK, IT GOES THROUGH A FILTER ONE LAST TIME TO CATCH ALL THE PARTICULAR MATTER, ANYTHING BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE CREEK.
THOSE ARE OLD BASED ON THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATION.
THIS IS THE PRIORITY PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED.
WE'RE CURRENTLY IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW AND PLAN ON DOING THE CONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR.
THEN THE SECOND SECOND PRIORITY PROJECT FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT MASTER PLAN WAS THE PRIMARY TREATMENT AREA IMPROVEMENTS.
IT TALKS ABOUT STEP SCREEN REPLACEMENTS.
THIS IS ONE WE'VE HAD PLANNED AND RECENTLY, I WOULD SAY WITHIN THE LAST MONTH, WE'VE HAD SOME EMERGENCY REPAIRS ON IT.
IT'S DEFINITELY TIME TO GET THIS THING REPLACED AND READY FOR THE FUTURE FLOWS TO THE SYSTEM.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE. DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR THOSE? PERFECT. THANK YOU.
>> THAT IS EVERYTHING WE'VE HAD PREPARED FOR TONIGHT.
CERTAINLY IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM.
BUT JUST AS A REMINDER, WE DO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE CRIME DISTRICT AND FIRE DISTRICT ON MONDAY NIGHT.
THEN YOU'LL BE DOING YOUR OTHER PROCEDURAL VOTES MONDAY NIGHT TO PREPARE FOR THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING BUDGET ADOPTION, TAX RATE ADOPTION ON SEPTEMBER 16.
WE'LL BE SENDING YOU THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN REQUESTED, LIKE THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT APPLICATIONS, SO JUST YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE.
I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO PUT A GENERAL ITEM ON MONDAY NIGHT'S MEETING SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSIONS THAT COME UP AS YOU MARINATE ON EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING WE'VE PUT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> I THINK YOU GUYS DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB.
I THINK ALL STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, THERE'S SOME AMAZING WORK YOU GUYS PUT IN, AND I HEARD THAT YOU WERE UP TILL MIDNIGHT, AT LEAST FOR MANY NIGHTS.
>> THANK YOU, EVERYONE BECAUSE THIS IS A REFLECTION OF THE WORK ALL OF YOU DID AND TO COME UP AND ANSWER ALL THESE QUESTIONS THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WE'RE GOING TO ASK, BUT YOU'RE ALSO WELL PREPARED AND HAVE MADE VERY GOOD BUSINESS CASES. THANK YOU.
>> I AGREE WITH BOTH OF THOSE, AND THEN ALSO I LIKE TO ADD, I LOVE THE NEW FORMAT OF HOW YOU'RE PRESENTING THE BUDGET.
IT TOOK ME A LITTLE BIT GETTING USED TO.
BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT IMPROVEMENT AND JOB WELL DONE ON A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
>> ANYBODY ELSE? WITH THAT, IT'S ONLY 10:24, AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
[NOISE]
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.