May 14, 2024 Regular Meetings

[00:00:05]

ALRIGHT.

CITY COUNCIL OF THE

[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS]

ANNIE MANN.

HERE.

TOM MCCOMBS? HERE.

TOM CRUISE.

HERE.

COURTNEY CHADWELL.

HERE.

JUSTIN HICKS.

YES, SIR.

CHAD TRESSLER.

HERE.

SEAN SAUNDERS.

HERE I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE PASTOR ROB BAILEY WITH SOUTHLAKE CHURCH, WHO WILL BE OUR INVOCATION SPEAKER THIS EVENING IN HONOR TO SERVE OUR COUNCIL TONIGHT.

YEAH.

MY NAME IS PASTOR ROB BAILEY OF SOUTHLAKE CHURCH HERE IN THE GREAT CITY OF LEAGUE, LEAGUE CITY.

AND IT'S JUST A BLESSING TO BE WITH YOU.

NOW WHEN I PRAY, I PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS, BUT I UNDERSTAND MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDINGS AND THOUGHTS OF WHO GOD IS.

SO AS I PRAY, I WELCOME YOU TO TAKE A MOMENT TO JUST MEDITATE IN PRAYER AS I DO HEAVENLY FATHERS, WE JUST COME BEFORE YOU ON THIS BEAUTIFUL, YET NOW HUMID JUNE DAY WE GATHERED TO TALK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS, THE PLANNINGS OF OUR CITY.

LORD, I ASK FOR YOUR SPIRIT TO BE UPON US THIS EVENING, BOTH TO CALM AND REFLECT ON CONVERSATIONS, BUT AGAIN, A CHANCE TO LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS TO SAY.

AND AS IS ALSO NATIONAL POLICE WEEK, LORD, WE BRING BEFORE YOU ALL THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE AND PROTECT OUR GREAT CITY AS WE CONTINUE TO LEAD TOGETHER AND BE WHO WE ARE.

IN JESUS' NAME.

AMEN.

AMEN.

IT FEELS LIKE JUNE, BUT IT'S NOT QUITE JUNE YET.

.

OH YEAH, IT'S ME.

TO THE PLEDGE OF THE UNITED STATES FLAG, I PLEDGE ALL ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC WHO WISHES STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN WITH LIBERTY JUSTICE ALL PLEDGE THE TEXAS FLAG HUNDRED TEXAS FLAG.

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER NINE, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.

THANK YOU PASTOR.

AN APPROVAL OF MINUTES

[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES ]

COUNCIL MEETING, OUR COUNCIL WORK SESSION THREE B APRIL 23RD, 2024.

REGULAR MEETING.

THERE'S NO CORRECTIONS.

THESE MINUTES.

STAND APPROVED.

THERE IS NO PROCLAMATIONS.

MOVING ON TO PUBLIC

[5. PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL]

ALRIGHT, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO GIVE COMMENTS AT THIS TIME LASTING NO LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES.

COMMENTS MAY BE GENERAL IN NATURE OR MAY ADDRESS A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM.

KEEP IN MIND THIS IS A BUSINESS MEETING AND WE WILL, UH, ACT AS SUCH.

FIRST PERSON UP IS WILL PAY.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL.

UH, I WANNA SPEAK ON TWO ITEMS BRIEFLY.

THE FIRST ONE IS RELATED TO THE, UH, PROPOSED ORDINANCE ON THE, UH, THE FEEDING OF WILDLIFE.

UH, OVERALL, I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

UH, ONE THING I'D BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS POTENTIAL UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OR THE CRIMINALIZATION OF OTHERWISE, UM, UH, BEHAVIOR THAT REALLY HAS NO NEGATIVE IMPACT, SUCH AS SPECIFICALLY, UM, SQUIRREL FEEDERS.

I HATE SQUIRRELS, BUT I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE LOVE THEM AND THEY GO OUT AND THEY BUY SQUIRREL FEEDERS, PUT 'EM UP IN THEIR YARDS, UH, SO THEY CAN WATCH THE SQUIRRELS.

THE WAY I SEE THAT, AT LEAST THE ORIGINAL DRAFT WORDED IS THAT IT WOULD PROHIBIT THE, UH, THE USE OF OR THE INSTALLATION OF SQUIRREL FEEDERS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY, WHICH WOULD MAKE MY GRANDMOTHER UPSET.

I, IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME, BUT JUST SO YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT.

UH, SECOND ITEM IS RELATED TO THE FIREWORKS.

UM, SO AGAIN, I'M TOO CHEAP TO BUY FIREWORKS.

MY KIDS LIKE TO WATCH AND WE COME OUT AND WE WATCH THE BIG LEAGUE CITY DISPLAY EVERY YEAR.

UM, ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A PROHIBITION, THEY'RE POPPING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

I, UH, FLEW MY DRONE UP ON, UH, NEW YEAR'S EVE RIGHT AFTER MIDNIGHT, AND IT WAS A GLORIOUS DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS.

UH, SO THAT'S JUST HOW EFFECTIVE OUR PROHIBITION IS AS IT CURRENTLY SITS TODAY.

UH, NOT EFFECTIVE.

UH, AND IN MY OPINION, EITHER YOU HAVE AN ORDINANCE AND YOU ENFORCE IT OR YOU GET RID OF THE PROHIBITION.

AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE ORDINANCE AS IT'S WRITTEN, UM, IS NOT ABLE TO BE ENFORCED.

UH, I DON'T THINK WE EVEN HAVE ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREETS, UH, FIRE MARSHALS ON THE STREETS TO BE ABLE TO OFFER ANY KIND OF ACTUAL ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY THERE.

UH, I UNDERSTAND IT CREATES NOISE.

I THINK THE FIRE HAZARD THAT IS PRESENTED IS NOT SIGNIFICANT, ESPECIALLY WITH MOST, UH, COMMERCIAL FIREWORKS THAT YOU'D BUY ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

SO I DON'T SEE IT BEING A REALLY A SIGNIFICANT FIRE SAFETY ISSUE.

I WOULD LEAN OR I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE, UH, COUNCIL TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE ORDINANCE REMOVING THAT PROHIBITION.

UH, I WOULD EVEN ASK YOU TO MAYBE TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER AND REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT FOR A PERMIT.

UH, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY YOU WOULD BE CHANGING

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YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO ENFORCE A PERMIT.

UH, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I MEAN, WE'RE ADULTS.

WE DON'T NEED THE GOVERNMENT BABYSITTING US, TELLING US WHAT'S GONNA KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE, WHAT'S GONNA KEEP OUR PROPERTY SAFE.

UM, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WITHIN MAYBE SOME SPECIFIC GUIDELINES THAT ARE PUT IN PLACE.

UH, BUT A, A PROHIBITION AS IT CURRENTLY SITS IS NOT EFFECTIVE.

AND A PERMIT, ALTHOUGH A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, UH, I DON'T THINK IS NECESSARILY GONNA CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

SO, THANK YOU ALL.

MIRANDA KOOPMAN.

HELLO.

BRING THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

UM, I AM HERE TO BASICALLY, UM, TALK ABOUT AGREEING WITH DEFEATING WILDLIFE PROHIBITION, PROHIBITION.

UM, WE HAVE A LITTLE NEIGHBOR THAT IS IN OUR SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS FED SEAGULLS FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND, UM, THIS HAS CREATED A DISRUPTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND ALL THE NEIGHBORS SURROUNDING US.

AND SO I THINK THAT SEAGULLS WOULD BE CONSIDERED WILDLIFE, MAYBE NOT DUCKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, BUT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH NOISE.

UM, CLEANLINESS ON YOUR STREETS, YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY, VEHICLES, YOUR ROOF, YOUR HOUSE.

I THINK IT'S, IT'S A GOOD THING.

I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT.

UM, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE IN A SAL INFESTATION, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE.

I'VE SEEN THE VIDEOS.

YEAH.

.

IT'S ROUGH.

.

IT'S INSANE, ACTUALLY.

I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

YEAH.

YEAH.

, I LOOK, I WISH IT WASN'T TRUE.

.

THANK YOU.

THANKS, MAURICE LEY.

HELLO, UH, I'M HERE TO EXPRESS MY FULL SUPPORT FOR A SENSIBLE UPDATE TO OUR FIREWORKS ORDINANCE, UH, PERMITTING FIREWORKS ON JUST TWO DAYS A YEAR.

THE 4TH OF JULY NEW YEAR'S IS THE ONLY RATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE FESTIVE SPIRIT EVIDENT ON THESE OCCASIONS.

SIMPLY STEP OUTSIDE AND GLANCE OVER THE SKY ON THOSE NIGHTS AND IT BECOMES INDISPUTABLE WITH THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY DESIRE.

IT'S TRULY REMARKABLE THAT IT'S TAKEN THIS LONG FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER TO RECOGNIZE THIS AND TAKE ACTION.

GOVERNMENT ISN'T HERE TO DICTATE, IT'S MEANT TO REFLECT THE WISHES OF OUR CITIZENS.

AND THE MAJORITY OF US PREFER TO CELEBRATE THESE HOLIDAYS RESPONSIBLY AT OUR OWN HOUSES.

AND THE CURRENT FIREWORKS REGULATIONS ARE SIMPLY INADEQUATE.

THIS IS LONG OVERDUE AND I URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS NECESSARY CHANGE.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, UH, CONSENT

[6. CONSENT AGENDA ]

OH, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVAL.

ALL SECOND.

DID SIX I CHANGE? YEAH, I'LL PULL SIX.

I WE DON'T HAVE TO PULL THAT.

NO, I'LL, I'M JUST CURIOUS IF THE NOPE, I'LL PULL SIX.

I ALRIGHT, .

OKAY.

WELL THEN I CHANGED MY MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE MINUS THREE.

I SECOND.

THAT WAS REALLY LOUD.

I'M SORRY.

THAT WAS .

ALRIGHT, UH, CONSENT TO AGENDA PULLING SIX.

I MOTION PASSES.

8 4 0 AGAINST, SORRY.

USUALLY LOOK AT THAT ONE BACKWARDS TONIGHT.

UH, SIX.

[6I. 24-0094 Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with Clark Condon Associates for design, bid and award, and construction phase services related to the Kilgore-Davis Tract Parkland Trail Project (PK2205) in an amount not to exceed $511,864.50 (Executive Director of Capital Projects) ]

SO THAT I CAN HEAR THE DISCUSSION.

I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE.

YEAH, I'LL SECOND THAT.

ANYBODY ON THE QUEUE? IF NOT, I'LL GO.

UM, OKAY.

SO IN GENERAL, I SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KILGORE PARK.

I THINK IT, IT'S, UH, IT'LL BE A GREAT ADDITION, A GREAT PARK TO, TO PUT KIND OF IN, IN A MORE PASSIVE KIND OF NATURE BASED, UH, ENJOY THE CREEK TYPE PARK.

HOWEVER, I JUST HAVE A, A HEARTBURN BEWILDERMENT OVER THE COST.

UH, HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN, IN DESIGN COST IS, IS A LOT, RIGHT? AND THEN 3 MILLION PLUS IN CONSTRUCTION COSTS, UH, IS IS EVEN MORE.

SO I THINK WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS TO PUSH THIS BACK A LITTLE BIT, AND I KNOW THE REASON THIS GOT SO EXPENSIVE, JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN UNDERSTAND, IS THAT IT'S TO BUILD A BOARDWALK AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE PARK.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S GONNA BE IN THE WATER OR NEAR THE WATER AND DOING ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES WATER IN A, YOU KNOW, IN A FLOODWAY,

[00:10:01]

SO I WOULD PREFER TO SEE MAYBE LET'S, LET'S RE REDESIGN THIS A LITTLE BIT.

UH, PUT TRAILS KIND OF THROUGH THE FOREST, REPLICATE A LITTLE BIT MORE WHAT WE SEE AT THE DUNDEE NATURE CENTER.

SO IT'S, UH, SO IT'S DUNDEE NATURE CENTER, SORRY.

UH, SO IT'S GOING THROUGH, YOU KNOW, TRAILS THROUGHOUT AND THEN A COUPLE OF OUTCROPPINGS THAT GO TO THE WATER.

UH, AND, AND IN AN, IN AN EFFORT TO JUST REDUCE THE OVERALL, UH, PRICE OF BOTH THE ENGINEERING AND THE COST.

TOM, CAN WE SEE WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? I MEAN, SO OTHER PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND.

YEAH.

SO IT WOULD BE, IF YOU LOOK AT THAT, THAT RED LINE THROUGH THERE, AND PARTICULARLY IN THE K AND H AREA, THAT'S OVER THE WATER, AND THEN EVEN THE J AREA, RIGHT? AND, AND U IS STILL, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL WET THERE.

AND SO I WOULD PROPOSE MORE OF, OF SOFT TRAIL KIND OF GOING THROUGH WITH MAYBE A COUPLE OF OUTCROPPINGS TO JUST DRASTICALLY REDUCE THE COST.

SO I WOULD MAKE THE MOTION TO POSTPONE THIS, UH, UNTIL SUCH TIME STAFF FEELS THAT THEY HAVE SOME OTHER OPTIONS, POSSIBLY BRING BACK THOSE OTHER OPTIONS FOR A WORK SESSION IF, UH, STAFF FEELS NECESSARY.

SECOND, CAN, CAN I SPEAK TO THE, UH, CAN I SPEAK TO THAT? ABSOLUTELY.

I, YOU KNOW, I'LL VOTE AGAINST THIS OF THE AMENDMENT TO PUSH THIS BACK.

FIRST OFF, CHEN, I'M SORRY THAT I BROUGHT THIS ONE UP.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN AWESOME PARK AT THIS LOCATION I HAVE FOR A DECADE OR MORE DRIVEN OUT THERE BY MYSELF AND JUST SAT AT THE END OF THE CEMETERY AND WAITED FOR THIS THING TO HAPPEN.

SO I'LL VOTE AGAINST THE MAYOR'S AMENDMENT AND I, BUT I WILL OFFER THAT, UH, IF THIS, IF IT FAILS THAT PERHAPS WE COULD DO SOMETHING ON THE BACKEND THAT WE COULD OFFER AN AMENDMENT THAT'S, THAT, UH, REDUCES THE OVERALL COST OF THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION.

YEAH.

AND I THINK THE PURPOSE OF MY AMENDMENT IS TO JUST GIVE US MORE TIME TO TALK THROUGH THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND KIND OF GET A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF WHAT THESE WILL COST AND GO FROM THERE.

I MEAN, IT JUST, IT'S JUST A PRETTY EXPENSIVE PARK WHEN WE ARE FACING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PARK NEEDS IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

SO I'D LIKE TO SEE A COUPLE MORE WAYS TO LOWER THIS.

AND I GUESS THAT DOES OFFER ANOTHER QUESTION THAT, I'M SORRY, CHAD, DO YOU WANNA GO? NO, I'M SORRY.

AND THAT IS, UH, THE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THIS WOULD BE CURRENTLY THE DESIGNS COMING OUTTA PARK DEDICATION FEES.

UM, WHEN WE GET TO CONSTRUCTION, THERE'LL BE, UM, UM, WE WILL TAP INTO GRANT OPPORTUNITIES ALSO AS FAR AS MATCHING STARTS.

I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

UM, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS SET UP HERE AND YOU'VE WATCHED, UH, DESIGN CONTRACT AFTER DESIGN CONTRACT IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, AND IT'S TENS OF MILLIONS, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND NO ONE HAS EVER REALLY ASKED, I DON'T THINK, WHY DON'T WE JUST STAND UP OUR OWN DESIGN TEAM? IS, IS THERE SOME ACCOUNTING REASON OR IS THERE SOME CITY MUNICIPAL REASON, OR IS THIS JUST THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN DONE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU, I CAN'T IMA I, SINCE THERE ARE CA SINCE THEY'RE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES, YOU KIND OF JUST LET IT GO.

OH, IT'S 500,000 HERE, IT'S 2 MILLION THERE.

AND IT, IT DAWNED ON ME THE OTHER DAY.

I WAS LIKE, THIS, THE DESIGN PORTION IS COSTING SO MUCH.

HOW MUCH WOULD IT COST TO JUST CREATE WITHIN THE DEPART WITHIN THE CITY? NOW ONE DAY, THOSE DESIGN CON, YOU KNOW, THE DESIGN CONTRACTS WILL END WHEN THE CITY'S BUILT OUT.

AND THOSE PEOPLE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE TO FIND WORK.

I MEAN, BUT THAT COULD BE 10 YEARS, 15 YEARS.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN WORKED WITH A NUMBER OF MUNICIPALITIES.

DOES ANYONE BROACHED THAT EVER, OR, WELL, THE DESIGN HAS BECOME A LOT MORE COMPLICATED.

LET'S JUST USE THIS PROJECT AS AN EXAMPLE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A SERVING COMPANY.

WE HAVE TO HAVE DRAFTERS, WE HAVE TO HAVE DESIGNERS, AND THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALISTS TO, TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT.

THEN WE HAVE TO DO THE HYDRAULIC AND HYDROLOGY.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CITY HAS TO HIRE AND CONTINUE CONTINUOUSLY GIVEN WORK OR HAVE ENOUGH WORK TO KEEP THEM BUSY.

SO OVER THE YEARS, AS DESIGN HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE COMPLEX AND COMPLICATED, CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE TURNED TO

[00:15:01]

SO WE BE BASICALLY CITY STAFF BECOMES PROGRAM MANAGERS OR PROJECT MANAGERS.

RIGHT? I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT'S HOW IT'S EVOLVED, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, IN IT SIMILAR SITUATION THAT YOU HAVE A CORE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND THEY OUTSOURCE PORTIONS OF IT.

BUT I, I GUESS IN OUR INDUSTRY, WE'RE ACTUALLY PULLING MORE STUFF BACK IN BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T, JUST BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE.

WHEN YOU ACTUALLY PUT PAPER TO PEN, IT'S ACTUALLY CHEAPER TO PULL THIS STUFF BACK IN.

AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.

YEAH.

RIGHT.

IS THAT IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT, AND I KNOW THIS IS A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE WAY THE CITY WORKS, RIGHT? BUT I, I THINK IF, IF A STAFF OF 20 PEOPLE WENT OUT THERE AND WE JUST TRIED TO EYEBALL THAT WE COULDN'T MAKE AS MANY MISTAKES AS YOU COULD JUSTIFY IN A, YOU KNOW, $500,000 CONTRACT THAT YOU SEE WHAT I'M SAYING? IT JUST, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

BUT I'LL STOP THERE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF OTHER THINGS TO ARGUE ABOUT TONIGHT.

YEAH.

UM, BUT, BUT CHEN DON'T, EVEN IF WE, IF THIS FAILS HERE AND WE HAVE TO BRING IT BACK IN TWO WEEKS, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THIS PARK.

I IMAGINE THE OLD TOWN, UH, CITIZENS WILL LOVE IT.

I KNOW PERSONALLY, I'VE ALWAYS WANTED A PARK THERE, SO THANK YOU.

I'M GONNA LET JOHN GO REAL QUICK, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND.

YEAH.

JUST A FEW COMMENTS RELATIVE TO STANDING UP A DESIGN TEAM.

SO, INTERESTING ENOUGH, MY FIRST JOB OUTTA COLLEGE WAS A DESIGN ENGINEER FOR THE CITY OF JUNEAU.

AND WE HAD OUR OWN DESIGN TEAM.

AND I THINK IF YOU WERE TO STAND ONE UP AND LOOK AT THE PROJECTS THAT MAKE SENSE TO DO, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GONNA HAVE THE FLOODPLAIN EXPERT THAT CAN RUN THE MODELS? NO, PROBABLY NOT.

BUT COULD WE DESIGN PROJECTS LIKE THE REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ROADWAYS AND THE SIDEWALKS AND THE WATER AND SEWER LINES AND CONTRACT OUT THE SURVEYING OR HIRE IF WE COULD EVEN FIND A SURVEY CREW TO WORK FOR US.

SO LET US LOOK AT THAT AND, YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOME SORT OF HYBRID OUT THERE TO START THAT? I MEAN, YOU WOULDN'T START, WE'RE GONNA DESIGN EVERYTHING IN AN EXPERT EVERYWHERE, BUT START WITH SOME LEVEL OF THAT AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSED THE, THE ISSUE BACK AND FORTH AND JUST REALLY HADN'T COME TO A CONCLUSION.

SO LET US LOOK AT THAT A LITTLE BIT HARDER AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH A, A DESIGN TEAM TO START THAT.

WE KIND OF HAVE THAT SAME CONVERSATION RELATIVE TO SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT AND CONCRETE REPLACEMENT, WHERE WE LOOK TO CONTRACTORS TO DO ALL THAT FOR US AND WHAT WOULD IT COST TO DO THAT OURSELVES.

AND SO WE DO LOOK AT THOSE QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY.

WE JUST HAVEN'T EVER PULLED THE TRIGGER ON DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

SO THANK YOU.

YOU KNOW, OCCASIONALLY WHEN I ASK A QUESTION LIKE THIS, I THINK SOMEONE'S GONNA GO, NO, YOU DUMMY, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

SO I APPRECIATE YOU AT LEAST PRETENDING THAT THERE WAS, THAT WAS A RATIONAL QUESTION.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY FIRST, MY FIRST JOB OUTTA COLLEGE DESIGN ENGINEER JUNO, ALASKA.

YEAH.

HE'LL WAIT.

AND SAY THAT BEHIND YOUR BACK LATER, CHAD.

YEAH.

UH, KNOW YOU DUMMY .

UM, UM, I ACTUALLY HAD A, A SIMILAR THOUGHT ABOUT, PARTICULARLY WITH PARKS DESIGN.

I THINK THERE'S SPECIALTIES THAT GET PULLED IN THAT WE MAY STILL NEED TO OUTSOURCE, BUT YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAIN BULK OF IT, WE COULD PROBABLY PULL IN THE HOUSE AND KEEP AT LEAST SOME OF THOSE ROLES BUSY.

UM, I THINK ABOUT THE PARK THAT MADE ME THINK ABOUT IT WAS, UH, LOBIT PARK WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT CONVERTING A CONCRETE SLAB THAT USED TO BE TENNIS COURTS INTO PICKLEBALL COURTS.

ADDING ONE PAVILION, TAKING TWO AREAS THAT ARE ALREADY CLEARED AND MAKING THEM MULTI-USE SPORTS FIELDS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE REALLY TRULY NEED ALL THESE DIFFERENT SPECIALISTS THAT THE CONSULTANT IS GONNA THROW AT IT, UM, JUST TO DO THAT.

UM, WE TALKED TO HYDROLOGY, UH, MAYBE WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IF WE CROWN THE FIELDS, HOW MUCH DIRT WE BRING IN.

UM, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WE COULD ANSWER IN HOUSE.

PRETTY SIMPLE.

UM, AND, AND IF WE DON'T GET IT PERFECT, UM, IF THE, THE IRRIGATION DESIGN IS NOT FLAWLESS.

IT'S A MULTI-USE SPORTS FIELD.

THE, THE LACROSSE GUYS ARE NOT GONNA BE UPSET ABOUT A LITTLE BIT OF MUD EVERY NOW AND THEN.

UM, SO I DO LIKE THAT IDEA.

NOW, AS FOR THE DELAY ON THIS ONE, UM, IF YOU WERE TO GIVE US A COUPLE OPTIONS AT, AT, SAY DIFFERENT PRICING TIERS TO, TO COME BACK WHERE MAYBE WE MOVE MORE OF THE WALKWAY, UM, A LITTLE AWAY FROM THE WATER AND PUT SOME PIERS JUTTING OUT INSTEAD OF THE, THE THING ALONG THE CREEK, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD TAKE YOU TO BRING BACK? UH, WELL, I DID LOOK AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS AND IF YOU PULL THE ENTIRE TRAIL PROJECT TRAIL ALIGNMENT ONTO GROUND, YOU CAN ACTUALLY REDUCE THE PROJECT TO BE LESS THAN A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION? NO, JUST CONSTRUCTION, OF COURSE THE ENGINEERING.

SO, SO

[00:20:01]

THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING.

RIGHT? THIS, WHAT YOU SEE OVER THERE IS BASED ON CLEAR CREEK.

YEAH.

SO MY QUESTION IS HOW LONG TILL YOU CAN COME BACK AND SHOW US THOSE CONCEPTS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE A DECISION? PROBABLY ABOUT A MONTH.

OKAY, PERFECT.

SO AS LONG AS IT DELAYS ONLY A MONTH, I'M GOOD WITH POSTPONING.

IF IT WAS GONNA BE ANOTHER YEAR TILL WE GET ANOTHER ROUGH SKETCH AND COME BACK, IT WAS GONNA SAY NO, BUT, UM, IF YOU CAN DO THAT IN A MONTH, I'M, I'M OFF.

YEAH, PROBABLY SECOND MEETING IN JUNE, BUT MAYBE AS SOON AS THE FIRST MEETING IN JUNE.

I MEAN, $2 MILLION A MONTH, JUNE SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.

YEAH, SEEMS PRETTY GOOD.

COURTNEY, JUST QUESTION'S FOR EITHER JOHN OR, OR CHEN, WHOEVER CAN GIMME THE BEST ANSWER.

SO WITH THE, THE WETLANDS WORKING AGAINST YOU AND THEN THE FACT THAT THIS USED TO BE A LANDFILL ABOUT 50, 60 YEARS AGO, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S YOUR CONFIDENCE LEVEL, THE ACHIEVABILITY OF THIS IS THE FINAL PRODUCT, IF THIS IS THE BEST VALUE? SO AS BEST AS WE CAN TELL, AREA W IS WHERE THE LANDFILL WAS.

SO WE'VE INTENTIONALLY TRIED TO WORK AROUND WHERE WE KNOW THERE WAS LANDFILL.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, OUR BEST RECOLLECTION PLUS WHAT WE CAN FIND ON AERIALS KIND OF INDICATES THAT.

AND SO WE DID SOME, UH, SOIL BORINGS TO HELP AND WE DON'T THINK WE'RE IN THE LANDFILL AREA, SO WE THINK WE CAN BRING IT FORWARD.

OBVIOUSLY THE CONSTRUCTION ALONG THE CREEK, THE ELEVATED PI INVOLVE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY CONTROL THE REVIEW TIME AND APPROVAL TIME.

SO AS WE BRING IT AWAY FROM THE CREEK, AWAY FROM THE WETLANDS, OBVIOUSLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT IMPLEMENTED QUICKER IMPROVES, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE, TO BRING IT IN, IN TOWARDS THE MORE FIRM LAND AND THEN TO HAVE PEERS THAT PERHAPS GET ADDRESSED YEAH.

IN, EVEN IN THAT CONVERSATION, IF WE THINK ABOUT IT CORRECTLY, WE COULD BUILD THE MAIN TRAIL AND THEN HAVE A SECOND PROJECT AND ADD THE PI AS THOSE APPROVALS COME FORWARD.

SO THAT MAKES SENSE.

THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME BENEFIT FROM A TIMELINE TO GET SOME TRAIL BUILT OUT THERE IF WE BRING IT INLAND A LITTLE BIT.

JOHN, I BELIEVE THAT THE, THE CURRENT DESIGN, WE'VE DONE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ABOUT A HUNDRED FEET AROUND THE PERIMETER.

SO THERE'S NO CURRENT ISSUES WITH THE PROPOSED CURRENT PROPOSED DESIGN.

UH, BUT IF WE LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES, THE TRAIL, IF WE DO IT ON THE INSIDE, WE CAN ALWAYS DO A PER PARTICULAR TRAIL OUT TO THE WATER.

CORRECT.

AND THOSE APPROVALS YOU NEED FROM THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS? UH, YES.

AND THE GLO COULD BE, COULD BE CORPS OF ENGINEER, COULD BE THE GLO.

THERE'S THE FLOODPLAIN IMPLICATIONS.

WE JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT MODELS WHEN YOU BRING A YEAH.

FLAT GRADE TRAIL IN AND YOU KNOW, I THINK AN EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SPEEDING UP DESIGN, SO THE MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS THAT WE'RE DOING OVER AT, UM, LING POND PARK, YOU KNOW WHAT WE'VE DONE THERE IS WALK 'EM, LAY 'EM OUT, AND JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST EARTH AND CLEAR 'EM OUT, AND JODY'S FOLKS HAVE BEEN DOING THAT.

SO IT'S REALLY, BUT IT'S NO CAPITAL INVESTMENT.

THERE'S NO CONCRETE, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WALK, WALK AN AREA AND CLEAR IT AND EVERYBODY SO CAN WE.

FANTASTIC.

TRY TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE ADAPTABLE.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE A MOTION TO POSTPONE UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT STAFF BRINGS IT BACK.

UH, I'LL GIVE THEM THE FLEXIBILITY FOR WHEN THEY'RE READY TO DO THAT.

ALRIGHT, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES.

EIGHT FOUR.

NONE AGAINST .

I KNEW I HAD YOU, UH, PUBLIC HEARING ACTION ITEMS FROM PUBLIC HEARING SEVEN A AND B HAVE BEEN PULLED.

SEVEN C HOLD

[7C. 24-0231 Hold a public hearing to receive testimony regarding the removal of Commissioner Jacqueline Irwin from the Planning and Zoning Commission (Council Member Tressler and Mayor Pro Tem Hicks)]

UH, WE'LL OPEN THIS HEARING AT 6 24.

FIRST PERSON IS, UH, CHRISTINE THOMAS.

HELLO.

UM, I'M HERE TO SPEAK, UH, FOR A WOMAN WHOSE VOICE I HAVE COME TO RESPECT JACQUELINE IRWIN.

IRWIN HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS BY SERVING ON THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

I BELIEVE IN THE GOOD ADVICE I WAS GIVEN LONG AGO, PERHAPS BY HOMELAND HOMELAND SECURITY.

I DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY, BUT IT WAS, IF YOU SMELL SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, AND SOMETHING SMELLS BAD ABOUT THIS EFFORT TO REMOVE MS. IRVIN

[00:25:02]

SOMETHING SMELLS STRONG AND OFFENSIVE ODOR.

PERHAPS IT'S RETALIATION VENGEANCE.

I DON'T KNOW HER ACCUSERS.

I'VE HAD COMMUNICATIONS WITH MR. TRESSLER THAT MY FRIENDS FOUND HIGHLY OFFENSIVE AND DOWNRIGHT DEMEANING.

BUT MY DAD TAUGHT ME THAT THICK SKIN IS A GIFT FROM GOD AND THAT BEING EASILY OFFENDED CAST ONE AS THE BIBLICAL WEAKER BROTHER.

SO I DID NOT ACCEPT IT AS A PERSONAL INSULT, BUT RATHER A REFLECTION OF THE AUTHOR'S STYLE AND VALUES, AND YET THE ODOR LINGERS.

AND IF THIS WOMAN IS REMOVED FROM HER POSITION, NOT ONLY WILL THE CITY AND ITS CITIZENS LOSE A VALUABLE AND EXPERIENCED VOICE, NO DEODORANT, NO CLONE, NO ROOM SPRAY WILL BE ABLE TO COVER IT.

I ALSO HAVE HERE FROM A FRIEND COMMUNICATION THAT WASN'T ABOUT MS. IRWIN, BUT THE RESPONSE FROM MR. TRESSLER ENDED UP BEING MOSTLY ABOUT MR. IRWIN IRWIN WITH SOME CHARGES THAT WERE NOTHING THAT THE ORIGINAL EMAIL HAD ADDRESSED.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THOSE TO SOMEONE WHO CAN PUT THEM IN THE RECORD.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

I JACQUELINE IRWIN A GOOD EVENING.

I WASN'T NOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS REMOVAL OR THE HEARING.

I UNDERSTAND IT MAY NOT BE REQUIRED, BUT ONE WOULD'VE EXPECTED.

I'VE BEEN ON THE COMMISSION SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2023.

I ATTENDED ALMOST ALL THE MEETINGS SINCE THEN.

I HAVE HAD AN ALMOST IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO EMAIL WHEN THEY REQUEST AVAILABILITY.

I'M ALWAYS PREPARED FOR MEETINGS AND I'M THOUGHTFUL IN MY QUESTIONS TO ENSURE THAT I'M DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF LEAGUE CITY.

THIS HEARING AND AGENDA ITEM COINCIDES QUESTIONABLY WITH MY ETHICS COMPLAINT.

I FILED ON MR. TRESSLER ON APRIL 30TH.

THE CITY RESPONDED TO ME ON MAY 1ST, AND MR. PRESLER POSTED THAT AGENDA ITEM ALSO ON MAY 1ST.

AND ONE WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S CONSIDERED RETALIATION.

THE RESPONSE FROM THE CITY I FOUND TO BE QUESTIONABLE CONDUCTING ONESELF ETHICALLY IS MERELY A GUIDANCE IN THE ETHIC CODES.

APPARENTLY DEFAMING AND LIBELING A CITIZEN TO ANOTHER SITTING IS NOT A VIOLATION ACCORDING TO THE CITY.

I REALLY HAD NO OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE A STATEMENT AND I WILL HAVE NO REBUTTAL OPPORTUNITY DUE TO THE PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD PRIOR TO MR. TRESSLER SPEAKING.

HOWEVER, MR. TRESSLER REASONS WERE PROVIDED TO ME VIA CONVERSATION WITH MR. RAJAN OF THE GALVESTON DAILY NEWS YESTERDAY.

HE STATED, MY POSTS ARE NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH COUNCIL'S AGENDA.

HE STATES, MY VOTES ARE NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH COUNCIL'S PRIORITIES.

THIS COMMISSION EXISTS TO PROVIDE INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT ON COUNCIL DECISIONS.

SO WHAT MR. TRESSLER IS THEN SAYING IS THAT I SHOULD BE VOTING AS THE COUNCIL WANTS ME TO VOTE.

SO WHAT AT THE POINT IS THIS COMMISSION? WHY DID THEY EXIST? I WAS NOT ALONE IN MY VOTES.

AND IN ONE PARTICULAR INSTANCE, THE THE COUNCIL, THE COMMISSION VOTED UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST A PROPOSITION.

AND THE CITY COUNCIL NEVER EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED, UM, ANYTHING THAT THE, THE COMMISSION SAID IN THAT PARTICULAR MEETING.

I HAVE CONCERNS THAT IT'S THE INTENTION OF CERTAIN COUNCIL MEMBERS TO REMOVE ANYBODY WHO'S NOT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THEIR AGENDA.

I'M NOT GONNA GET INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT CHRIS DOTSON, BUT HE WAS RECENTLY REMOVED, EVEN THOUGH HE TOLD HE WAS TOLD HIS POSITION WAS RETAINED.

MR. CHESTER ALSO ADVISED ME THAT I WAS NO LONGER HELD IN FAVOR WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

IT WAS MY OPINION THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS SERVE AT THE APPROVAL OF THE VOTERS, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

WE DON'T PAY HOMAGE TO PEOPLE WHO SIT ON THE DAES UP THERE, AND I DON'T FIND IT ACCEPTABLE FOR MEMBERS TO HANDPICK COMMISSIONERS TO SUIT THEIR OWN AGENDAS INSTEAD OF HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INDEPENDENT REVIEW LEAGUE CITY CITIZENS.

TAKE NOTICE.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, THE PUBLIC MEETING CLOSES AT 6 29 7 D

[7D. 24-0232 Discussion and possible action to remove Commissioner Jacqueline Irwin from the Planning and Zoning Commission (Council Member Tressler and Mayor Pro Tem Hicks) ]

MR. CHRIS.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THIS ONE REALLY CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD AS WELL.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS COULD HAPPEN.

UM, I HAD REACHED OUT TO MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.

I HAD ORIGINALLY ASSUMED THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE, UM, THAT SHE HAD POOR, THAT MS. IRWIN HAD POOR, UH, POOR ATTENDANCE OR WAS NOT A TEAM PLAYER, OR WAS JUST A, A DIFFICULT PERSON TO,

[00:30:01]

AND THE RESPONSE I GOT WAS NOT THAT, UM, SHE VERY OPINIONATED, VERY LONG-WINDED.

THAT WAS KIND OF THE APPROACH I GOT BACK.

BUT THE MEMBERS THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS A GOOD FIT.

UH, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.

UM, SO I'M VERY INTERESTED IF, AND I'M HOPING THAT MR. TRESSLER AND, AND MR. HICKS WILL SPEAK TO IT, UH, IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO.

BUT THIS CAN KIND OF LEAD US DOWN A PATH TO WHERE WE'RE NOT REALLY HAVING THE INDEPENDENT BOARDS, UH, JUST PEOPLE FEELING THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY KIND OF VOICE THEIR OPINIONS.

SO I, I'M VERY INTERESTED.

I IF, IF THERE'S NOT A REALLY GOOD SOLID REASON, IT'D HAVE TO BE REALLY GOOD.

I'M GONNA VOTE, UH, NO ON THIS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT WERE REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES THAT WERE REMOVED OFF.

UM, BUT YOU KNOW, AT WHEN YOUR TERM EXPIRES, IT'S, IT'S EASY TERM TO JUST KIND OF GO, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD DO HOLDOVERS, BUT I'M KIND OF DIGRESSING NOW.

BUT, UM, I'M VERY CURIOUS ABOUT WHY WE'RE DOING THIS.

THANK YOU, MS. STRESSOR.

UM, I'LL BE VERY BRIEF.

I DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE AND, AND PUBLICLY, UM, TALK ABOUT A CITIZEN.

UM, THE FACT IS, THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARDS AND THE COMMITTEES, WHILE THEY ARE THERE TO REPRESENT, UM, THE INTERESTS AND THOUGHTS OF THE CITIZENS THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE, UM, OURSELVES AS COUNCIL MEMBERS.

UM, THE FACT IS THEY SERVE AT THE WILL OF THE COUNCIL.

UM, I SAID, AS MS. IRMAN STATED TO THE PAPER, UH, THAT SHE DOES NOT, UM, UH, VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT THIS COUNCIL HAS CLEARLY STATED ARE OUR PRIORITIES.

UM, SPECIFICALLY, UM, SHE HAS OPPOSED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THINGS THAT PRIORITIZE PROPERTY RIGHTS, UM, AND ARE INTENDED TO ATTRACT COMMERCIAL GROWTH IN THIS CITY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE HEAR ALL THE TIME FROM VOTERS ABOUT IS THAT THE THREE ISSUES THAT THEY CARE THE MOST ABOUT ARE TRAFFIC, DRAINAGE, AND TAXES.

TRAFFIC AND DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS COST MONEY, WHICH MEANS THERE'S GOING TO BE TAXES.

HOW DO WE GET THE BURDEN FOR THE TAXES OFF OF THE RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNERS TO ENCOURAGE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT? UM, REPEATED NO VOTES AT PLANNING AND ZONING HAS LED TO DELAYS ON THOSE ISSUES.

UM, AND THEN THERE HAS BEEN A USE OF, UM, THE PLATFORM AND SPEAKING AS A MEMBER OF IT TO STIR UP, UM, UNREST, UM, AND IMPLY THAT THE, THE COUNCIL IS NOT ACTING IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.

UM, AND BECAUSE OF THAT, UM, I DON'T FEEL SHE'S A GOOD FIT FOR THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE, AND THAT'S WHY I'VE ASKED TO REMOVE HER.

MR. CHRIS, THANK YOU.

AND, AND THANK YOU CHAD.

I, I REALLY, THAT THAT DOES HELP.

UM, AND I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT THIS CONSERVATIVE IS A CAUTION THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THESE COUNCILS, THEY REALLY ARE JUST KIND OF, UH, OF AN INPUT.

EVERYTHING IS REALLY DECIDED HERE.

BUT IF WE WANT CITIZENS TO COME UP, AND IF, IF IN THIS CASE, MS. IRWIN WANTED TO BE COMPLETELY AGAINST COMMERCIAL GROWTH, THEN OKAY, LET'S LISTEN TO WHY SHE HAS IT.

LET'S BE ABLE TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.

AND WHEN IT COMES UP HERE, IF, IF NOTHING ELSE, WE COULD JUST, YOU KNOW, WE COULD JUST SAY, OH, WOW, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS KIND OF A, A SILLY THING THAT GOES AGAINST US, BUT I DON'T THINK SILENCING ANYBODY, UM, FOR, FOR THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION.

AND IT'S A LITTLE, IT'S JUST KIND OF, UH, AMONG THE OPPOSITE KIND OF SIDE, ME AND RESSLER, UH, OR USUALLY KIND OF SEE EYE TO EYE ON THINGS.

SO THIS WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BUT, UM, BUT THANK YOU CHAD.

ALRIGHT, SEEING NOBODY ELSE ON THE QUEUE, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES 7 4 1 AGAINST, UH, NEW

[9A. 24-0233 Consider and take action on appointments and reappointments to City boards and commissions (Mayor Long) ]

CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON APPOINTMENTS REAPPOINTMENTS TO CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

[00:35:01]

POSITION SEVEN FOR AN UNEXPIRED TERM, 12 31 24.

I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND.

ALRIGHT, SEEING NOBODY PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES.

EIGHT FOUR NONE AGAINST FIRST

[10A. 24-0223 Consider and take action on an ordinance amending Section 46-153 of the Code of Ordinances for the City 24-0223 of League City to allow limited fireworks during the New Year's Holiday and Independence Day Holiday (Councilmembers Tressler, Crews and Saunders) ]

CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION FOUR SIX DASH 1 53 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, THE CITY OF LEAGUE CITY TO ALLOW FIREWORKS DURING NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY AND INDEPENDENCE DAY.

NO, THIS IS THE FIRST READING I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES.

UH, THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENT MOVES FROM 25 TO 50 FEET.

THE ORDINANCE WILL BE SUNSETTED AND REPEALED ON THE 6TH OF JULY THIS YEAR, SO THAT WE CAN EVALUATE THE, UH, HOW IT WENT.

SO THEREFORE THE ORDINANCE WILL NOT BE CODIFIED AT THIS TIME.

AND STAFF WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE TO THE COUNCIL, UH, REGARDING A LIST OF METRICS TO INCLUDE, UH, NUMBER OF CALLS, NUMBER OF FIRES, UH, NUMBER OF INJURIES.

UM, AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THE ONE MORE CHANGE THAT'S NOT ON THIS SHEET, UH, TO SET THE CUTOFF TIME FOR THE FIREWORKS.

THE 4TH OF JULY THIS YEAR IS WHAT DAY OF WEEK? THURSDAY, THUR.

THURSDAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO SET IT AT, UH, 10:00 PM FOR THIS ONE.

SORRY FOR THE LENGTH MOTION.

I'LL SECOND THAT.

OKAY.

SO ARE WE, NOW WE'RE DISCUSSING THE ONE SECOND.

SO WE'RE DISCUSSING THE ORDINANCE AS AMENDED, OR IT'S THE ORDINANCE AS A WHOLE.

THE MORE THE ORDINANCE AS MADE SUBJECT TO THOSE CONDITIONS.

FLOOD 10:00 PM SO I SUNSET.

SO WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND ENTERTAIN IS THE REASON WHY WE WANT TO KEEP THE, THE PERMIT.

IT SEEMS LIKE MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE REALLY AGAINST THIS, WHERE THOUGHT OF IT AS A GOVERNMENT OVERREACH BY REQUIRING THE PERMIT.

I WOULD THINK THAT IF WE COULD, UM, AMEND YOUR MOTION TO, TO SUSPEND THIS, UH, PERMIT AS WELL.

IF, AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT YOUR, UM, IF YOU COULD KIND OF BREAK, BREAK DOWN WHAT YOUR, UM, WHAT YOUR MOTION IS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT PIECES IN THERE THAT IT'S KIND OF HARD FOR ME TO TRACK WITHOUT HAVING IT LIKE WRITTEN DOWN.

ALRIGHT.

JUSTIN HICKS.

YEAH, I, I TELL YOU WHAT, I REALLY, YOU GOTTA TURN, SORRY, I'LL START OVER.

I, UH, REALLY STRUGGLED WITH THIS ONE BACK AND FORTH, AND THAT IS A COMPLETELY HONEST ANSWER.

YOU KNOW, UH, I I WANNA SAY THAT I, I DO TRUST THE CITIZENS OF LEAGUE CITY AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UH, AMENDMENTS THAT CHAD HAS, UH, PUT FORWARD.

I THINK IT DOES MAKE IT MUCH BETTER.

UH, HOWEVER, OVER THE LAST 24 HOURS, THERE WAS A POINT THAT WAS BROUGHT UP TO ME IS THAT, WELL, YOU KNOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A STATISTIC OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THAT A CONCERN THAT I DON'T THINK THAT WE HAVE COVERED IS WHAT IF OTHER PEOPLE FROM OTHER CITIES COME INSIDE AND SET 'EM OFF? AND LIKE I SAID, I TRUST THE CITIZENS OF LEAGUE CITY, BUT YOU KNOW, THE ONES AROUND US, I, I, I JUST DON'T KNOW.

AND, AND UNTIL WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO MITIGATE THAT, WE MAY HAVE TO DO IT ANOTHER WAY.

ANYWAYS, CHAD, I, LIKE I SAID, I REALLY APPRECIATE THOSE MOTIONS, BUT WHEN THAT GOT BROUGHT UP, IT, IT KIND OF SANK IN AND PUT ME ON THAT OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.

TOMMY COLLINS.

YEAH, MAYOR, THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU TO JEFF AND CHIEF FOR BEING UP THERE.

LET ME, MINES ARE GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT LENGTHY, BUT YOU KNOW, I'VE SERVED AS A FIREFIGHTER AND POLICE OFFICER FOR 42 YEARS FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON, CITY OF LAKE CITY.

AND I CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT I THINK THIS IDEAL IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST LUDICROUS, UH, CITY ORDINANCE I'VE EVER SEEN COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL FOR MANY REASONS.

YOU KNOW, I'VE WATCHED, I'VE RODE AMBULANCES, I'VE, UH, PICKED UP CHILDREN WHO GOT HIT IN THE HEAD, HIT IN THE EYE, BURNED FINGERS, BURNED BODIES, UM, YOU KNOW, FINGERS BLOWN OFF.

SO I'VE SEEN THE, THE FRONT LINE OF WHAT FIREWORKS DO.

I LOVE FIREWORKS.

[00:40:01]

AND THAT'S NOT INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS OF LAKE CITY.

IF YOU WANNA SHOOT FIREWORKS, YOU SHOULD GO TO, UH, THE COUNTY OR SOME AREA THAT WHERE IT'S LEGAL.

UH, BUT I WANTED TO READ TO YOU A FEW THINGS THAT I FELT WAS IMPORTANT.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS PAPER I HAVE IN FRONT OF ME IS FROM THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION AGENCY THAT IS THE LARGEST AGENCY WHO DEVELOPS CODES, TURNOUT, STATISTICS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

JUST READ A COUPLE OF THINGS FROM THEIR WEBSITE.

IT SAYS, THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO VIEW FIREWORKS IS TO ATTEND A PROFESSIONAL SHOW, WHICH WE, WE HAVE EVERY JULY THE THIRD.

IT COST US ABOUT $25,000 FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT FIREWORKS ARE NOT SAFE IN THE HAND OF CONSUMERS.

NOW, I'M NOT SAYING EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE UNSAFE, BUT THERE'S MANY OF PEOPLE AND IT SAYS FIREWORKS CAUSE THOUSANDS OF INJURIES EACH YEAR.

IN FACT, THEY CAUSE THEY CAUSE MORE THAN NINE.

UH, 19,500 REPORTED FIRES ANNUALLY DURING FIREWORK SEASON SEASONS.

THEY BURN APPROXIMATELY 44% OF CHILDREN.

HALF OF THE FIREWORKS INJURIES ARE SEEN OF THE EMERGENCY ROOMS OR HANDS, FINGERS, LEGS, ONE THIRD OF THEM OR, OR BURNS ONE, THE OTHER THIRD, OR INJURIES TO THE HEAD.

CHILDREN'S AGES ARE 10 TO 14, HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF FIRE, FIRE, UH, FIREWORKS INJURIES.

36% OF THE VICTIMS OF FIREWORKS INJURIES UNDER THE AGE OF 15 SPARKLERS, IF YOU DON'T KNOW, ARE 1200 DEGREES WHEN THEY'RE LIT.

SECOND THING I WANT TO KIND OF TELL YOU IS EACH YEAR, OR EACH, I GUESS WHAT, FIVE YEARS OR 10 YEARS, WE DO AN ISO STUDY FOR THE CITY.

THAT'S THE ISO STANDS FOR INSURANCE SERVICE OFFICE.

WHAT IT DOES, IT RATES YOUR INSURANCE FOR YOUR HOUSE AND FOR COMMERCIAL, WE GET A RATING FOR SEVERAL THINGS.

THIS IS THE PACKAGE.

IT'S ABOUT 73 PAGES.

YOU'RE GRADED BY MANY OF THE THINGS INSIDE THIS PACKAGE BY THE INSURANCE SERVICE OFFICE.

ONE OF THEM IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A FIRE ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO FIREWORKS.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A FIREWORKS ORDINANCE TO GET A COUPLE OF POINTS.

IF WE TAKE THAT FIREWORKS ORDINANCE AND DELETE IT, I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT TWO POINTS WILL GO AWAY.

THAT ISO RATING WILL NOW BECOME FROM A ONE TO A TWO, WHICH IS ABOUT A HUNDRED TO $200 SAVINGS EACH YEAR JUST ON YOUR INSURANCE PREMIUM FOR RESIDENTIAL, MUCH MORE FOR, FOR COMMERCIAL.

WE HAVE A CITY ORDINANCE, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, A A YEAH, CITY ORDINANCE THAT ADOPTED THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE.

WE USE THAT EVERY DAY IN THE FIRE SERVICE WHEN PEOPLE COME IN TO BUILD FOR LAKE CITY CHAPTER 56, SECTION 56 0 1 3 FIREWORKS.

IT SAYS VERY CLEARLY, THE POSSESSION, MANUFACTURING, STORAGE, CELL HANDLING, AND USE OF FIREWORKS ARE PROHIBITED BY OUR FIRE CODE THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS PASSED UP HERE.

ANOTHER REASON WHY WE SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN, I TALKED TO THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE TODAY.

I ASKED HIM A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS UNDER THE COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION THAT WE, UM, HAVE FOR THE CITY.

THAT'S THE ISO.

IF WE DO IN FACT PASS THIS ORDINANCE, THE QUESTION I ASKED HIM WAS, WILL IT AFFECT OUR ISO RATING? AND HOW WILL THAT HAPPEN? HE SAID, LEGALIZING, THIS IS HIS WORDS.

LEGALIZING FIREWORKS WOULD REDUCE THE POINTS BY TWO.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT A 90 POINT, IS IT ONE CHIEF ABOUT A 91.3 91.3.

THAT MEANS FROM 90 TO A HUNDRED WE'RE A ISO ONE.

IF WE LOSE TWO POINTS, WE'RE GONNA BE UNDER A 90, WHICH NOW BECOMES A, A RATING OF A TWO, WHICH OUR INSURANCE RATES WILL GO UP.

IT SAYS, IT'S VERY, VERY CLEARLY IN THE, IN THE ISO UM, REQUIREMENTS, IT SAYS THE JURISDICTION MUST ADOPT ORDINANCES GOVERNING FIRE LANES, FIREWORKS, HAZARDOUS MATERIAL ROUTES, BARBECUE GRILLS, WEEDS, AND TRASH.

SAYS IT VERY CLEARLY.

YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME I LOOK AT A, A CITY ORDINANCE, EXCUSE ME, I TRIED TO LOOK AT THE PROS AND CONS OF THAT CITY ORDINANCE AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE CITY AND WHAT WILL, WHAT WILL IT DO TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I

[00:45:01]

UH, ALSO SAID THAT AS, AS MR. HICKS SAID, YOU KNOW, I ENFORCED FIREWORKS FOR ONLY OVER 40 YEARS HERE IN THE CITY AND OTHER CITIES.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE ALWAYS ASKED US WAS, WHERE'S IT LEGAL TO POP FIREWORKS? AND WE USED TO TELL 'EM IN THE COUNTY, THEY HAVE NO LAW.

SO NOW FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, PEOPLE ARE GONNA SAY, GO TO LEAGUE CITY.

IT'S LEGAL THERE.

'CAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING A, IF YOU'RE NOT OBEYING THE LAW NOW, YOU'RE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO GET A PERMIT.

YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS ORDINANCE WILL AFFECT OUR VETERANS WHO SUFFER FROM PTSD.

IT WILL HARM OUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AND ADULTS WHO HAVE MENTAL DISORDERS.

IT WILL CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF PUBLIC INFIGHTING AND NEIGHBORHOOD ARGUMENTS.

I'VE SEEN THAT MANY A TIMES ENFORCING THE, ENFORCING THE ORDINANCE.

IT WILL CREATE A PUBLIC SAFETY NIGHTMARE FOR OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, INCLUDING FIRE, EMS AND POLICE.

IT WILL OVERWHELM OUR CITY DISPATCHERS AND CALL TAKERS.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT YOU NEED TO TRY TO WORK IT ONE NIGHT, ONE OF THE FIRE MARSHALS AND SEE HOW MANY CALLS THE DISPATCHERS ARE GETTING, THE FIRE MARSHALS AND POLICE WILL STILL NEED TO ENFORCE THE VIOLATORS.

JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A PERMIT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THE PERMIT.

IT WILL INCREASE THE WORKLOAD OF THE FIRE MARSHAL STAFF BY REVIEWING THE APPLICATION SO THEY CAN ISSUE THE PERMITS TAKEN AWAY FROM OTHER IMPORTANT DUTIES.

IT INCREASES THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURIES OR DEATH TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS.

IF YOU HAVE A STRUCTURAL FIRE, OBVIOUSLY EVERY STRUCTURE FIRE YOU GO INTO, YOU'RE TAKING A RISK AS A FIREFIGHTER.

I SPOKE WITH MY INSURANCE AGENT TODAY WHO ALSO TOLD ME THAT MOST LIKELY YOUR RATES WILL GO UP NO MATTER IF THE ISO DOESN'T BECAUSE OF THE RISK ANALYSIS COMPARISON THAT INCREASES THE RATES FOR YOUR INSURANCE COMPANIES ONCE THEY FIND OUT THAT WE PASS THE CITY ORDINANCE LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, AS I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS THE MOST IRRESPONSIBLE ORDINANCE THAT I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY REGARDING THE ADOPTION OF THIS ORDINANCE.

IT'S A DANGER TO OUR COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES.