May 28, 2024 Regular Meetings

YEAH,

[00:00:01]

I WON'T BE HERE NEXT WEEK.

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

THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF LEAKIER, TEXAS, WILL NOW COME TO ORDER IN A REGULAR MEETING ON MAY 28TH, 2024 AT 6:00 PM ROLL CALL.

UH, AMY MANN.

HE'S HERE.

HE IS GONNA BE A MINUTE LATE.

TOMMY CONES HERE.

TOM CRUISE? HERE.

COURTNEY CHADWELL? HERE.

JUSTIN HICKS.

HERE.

CHAD TRESSLER.

HERE.

SEAN SAUNDERS HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, WE'LL DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND IFICATION.

I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE PASTOR JOHN CAGLE WITH MERCY GATE CHURCH, WHO WILL BE OUR INVOCATION SPEAKER THIS EVENING.

PASTOR, GOOD EVENING.

MY FAMILY AND I ARE NEW RESIDENTS HERE.

WE'RE VERY PRIVILEGED TO BE HERE.

JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO, I, WE MOVED IN HERE FROM POLAND AND, UH, AND, UH, YEAH, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE HOSTED, UM, THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES.

AND, UH, IT WAS A VERY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE TO AWAKEN AND FIND YOURSELF FEELING UNSAFE IN A WORLD WHERE YOU FELT SAFE.

AND, UH, IT HAS CAUSED US TO APPRECIATE WHAT IT IS TO BE SAFE AND WHAT IT IS TO BE FREE.

AND I JUST WANTED TO TELL YOU, AND, AND THE CITY, WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR LEADERS THAT ARE ENGAGED AND THAT ARE CARING FOR THEIR CITY, AND THAT ARE MAINTAINING OUR FREEDOMS AND OUR SAFETY.

AND WE JUST APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU.

AND WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT OUR CHURCH IS PRAYING FOR YOU, NOT JUST TONIGHT, BUT AT EVERY TIME OF PERSONAL DEVOTION AND CORPORATE DEVOTION.

YOU'RE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND MINDS AND PRAYERS IF YOU WOULD BOW YOUR HEADS AND PRAY WITH ME.

HEAVENLY FATHER, THANK YOU FOR OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY AND FOR THE PRIVILEGE YOU HAVE GIVEN US TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS THE MAYOR, THE CITY COUNCIL TODAY, THE POLICE OFFICERS, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND EVERYONE THAT IS INVOLVED IN CARING FOR THIS CITY.

BUT PARTICULARLY TONIGHT, WE ASK FOR THE COUNCIL.

WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM WISDOM AND COURAGE.

THE WISDOM TO MAKE RIGHT DECISIONS, AND THE COURAGE TO CARRY THROUGH WITH THOSE DECISIONS.

WE ASK FOR YOUR HAND OF PROTECTION AND MERCY TO BE OVER US, HERE AND OVER OUR FAMILIES, OUR CITY IN THE COMING MONTHS AND THE COMING DAYS, BUT ALSO TONIGHT WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD USE US FOR YOUR HONOR AND GLORY.

IN JESUS' NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

AND GOD BLESS YOU.

AMEN.

THANK YOU.

PASTOR PLEDGE, THE AMERICAN FLAG PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL TEXAS.

FLAG, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG OF PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE INDIVISIBLE.

[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

THREE A MAY 14TH, 2024.

COUNCIL MEETING.

THREE B MAY 14TH, 2024.

REGULAR MEETING IF THERE ARE ANY.

CORRECT.

IF THERE ARE NO CORRECTIONS, THESE MINUTES STAND APPROVED.

ALRIGHT, NOW WE'LL GO TO NUMBER FIVE.

PUBLIC COMMENTS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL.

THERE ARE NONE.

ALRIGHT.

UH,

[6. CONSENT AGENDA]

MR. MAYOR, I'LL MOVE TO APPROVE THE, UH, ENTIRE BALANCE.

SECOND.

ALRIGHT, I MOTION TO WHICH MAYOR, I'D LIKE A COUPLE PULLED MOTION.

DO I NEED TO MAKE A MOTION TO PULL OR DO I JUST, THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.

WHICH ONE? WHAT, WHAT'S YOUR AMENDED MOTION? MY AMENDED MOTION IS I MOVE NOT TO BACK, NOT TO PUT THEM ALL TOGETHER AND TO, NO, WE'LL JUST PULL 'EM ALL SEPARATELY IN THIS CASE.

SO MAKE SURE I GET THE WORDING RIGHT.

OKAY.

SO THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO PULL EVERY SINGLE, UH, ITEM OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

THAT'S THE OKAY.

JUST FOR CLARITY.

AND GO EACH ONE, ONE BY ONE, CORRECT? WELL, I'M HAPPY TO, TO JUST GO.

I MEAN, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE SIX A SIX D, BUT WE JUST PULLED THAT ONE.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SIX HV, SIX I AND SIX J.

OKAY.

SO YOU MADE THE MOTION TO AMEND, LET'S VOTE ON THE MOTION TO AMEND.

WAS IT, WAS IT SECOND? OH, IT DIDN'T HAVE A SECOND.

ALRIGHT.

MOTION DIES.

WE'LL GO WITH THE ORIGINAL MOTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

MICHELLE? YES, SIR.

CAN THIS MOTION FAIL? CAN THIS HAPPEN PASSES SEVEN TO ONE THAT WE, THAT WE DON'T BRING UP? WE'RE,

[00:05:01]

UM, IT FAILED FOR THAT.

IN THE PAST WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE PULL IT OFF, BUT IF IT WAS MADE IN A FORM OF A MOTION AND IT WASN'T SECONDED AND PROCEDURALLY IT HAS TO HAVE A SECOND IN THAT CASE, YOU MEAN GOING FORWARD WE COULD HAVE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL THING ON HERE AND IF FIVE UP HERE JUST SAY, HEY, WE'RE NOT GONNA PULL IT, THEN, UM, IT JUST GOES THROUGH, UH, MAJORITY VOTES OR MAJORITY RULES ON THAT CASE.

SO HYPOTHETICALLY, YES, THAT IS POSSIBLE.

OKAY.

SO JUST UNDER THIS SCENARIO, I'M KEEP WALKING HAD THE, LIKE THE LIBRARY ISSUE COME UP UNDER THIS KIND OF MENTALITY UP IT DOESN'T IN ORDINANCE OF COURSE.

AND SO THAT WOULDN'T COME UNDER THE CONSENT AGENDA.

BUT BRINGING UP THINGS LIKE THE, THE THREE 40, UM, LIKE THE THREE 40 B TO WHERE IT'S, OKAY, I JUST THINK THAT, THAT MR. LONG'S KIND OF SHORTSIGHTED ON THIS ONE.

NO, BECAUSE I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND WATCH YOU PULL EVERY SINGLE ITEM, BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, YOU HAVEN'T READ THE PACKET.

IT IS, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT IS SUCH A BUNCH OF CRAP.

IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T READ THE PACKET.

IT'S, WE WANNA TALK ABOUT, HEY, WATCH YOUR MOUTH.

DID YOU KNOW THIS IS COMING FROM THE GUY THAT SITS HERE AND ROLLS HIS EYES AND ACTS LIKE A LITTLE SMART BECAUSE HE'S GOT FIVE PEOPLE THAT JUST VOTE HOWEVER HE WANTS.

SEEMS LIKE SEVEN PEOPLE.

BUT NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE OLD BUSINESS, CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON THE ORDINANCE.

SO IF WE WERE TO COME BACK, YOU LOST THE LOOK, THE THREE 40, NOT SIX.

IS THIS NOT THE SAME INSURANCE THAT YOU SOLD TO THE GALVESTON? AND SO THAT, THIS WAY HERE, THIS POLICY IS EXACTLY GOING TO NOT HELP OUR EMPLOYEES, BUT COULD ACTUALLY COST THEM NOT TO BE ABLE TO DO INSURANCE.

BUT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANNA PULL IT UP.

THAT WAS PULLED, OF COURSE, AND IT'S NOT THE SAME.

BUT THAT IS ALSO GOT PULLED OFF THE CONSENT AGENDA.

BUT WE'LL MOVE ON TO OLD BUSINESS.

[8A. 24-0238 Consider and take action on Ordinance 2024-08 creating Article V, entitled "Mitigation Rates - for Emergency and Non-Emergency Services" of Chapter 46 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of League City to authorize mitigation rates for Fire Department Services - First Reading (Fire Chief)]

FIRST READING, UH, MR. MAYOR, I'M GONNA MOVE TO APPROVE ORDINANCE 2024 DASH OH EIGHT AND THEN UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE FIRST READING ONLY.

WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES, THE CITY MANAGER SHALL BE GIVEN AUTHORITY TO MAKE AND AMEND APPROPRIATE BILLING LOGISTICS ONLY AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT SERVICE, TECHNICAL RESCUE SERVICE, WATER INCIDENT SERVICE, BACKCOUNTRY SPECIAL RESCUE SERVICES SHALL BE ADDED.

I'M SORRY, I'M SPEAKING SO FAST TO THE LIST OF SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR BILLING.

AND, UH, RECKLESS BEHAVIORS SHALL BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF BEHAVIORS THAT TRIGGER VIOLENCE BILLING, AS LONG AS IT IS WELL-DEFINED.

AND, UM, ALL BUSINESSES SHOULD BE BALANCED BILL, REGARDLESS OF, UM, EMPLOYEE SIZE.

SECOND.

AND SO THAT BASICALLY TAKES IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL, WHICH IS AT YOUR DESK.

YOU WANT ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS? IF YOU PUSH THE BUTTON, WELL, THERE YOU GO.

I'M GOOD, MR. CRUZ.

THIS TO ME IS JUST, ONCE AGAIN, IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO DISGUISE ATTACKS ON PEOPLE.

SO I'M ABSOLUTELY AGAINST THIS, AND I DON'T, IT'S LIKE WE, WE KEEP BRAGGING THAT WE'RE CUTTING EVERYBODY'S TAXES, BUT WE END UP HAVING SLICE AND DICES HERE WHERE PEOPLE PAY SMALL AMOUNTS AND THEN IT ENDS UP ADDING UP TO BE BIGGER AMOUNTS, ADJUST, UH, THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE HAVE A COST THAT COST HAS TO BE PAID ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

UM, I PREFER A SYSTEM OF FEES WHEREBY THE BENEFICIARY OF THE SERVICE IS THE ONE WHO'S, UM, ABSORBING THE COST.

UM, I UNDERSTAND IF WE TRIED TO DO THAT WITH THE SUM TOTAL OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES, THAT WOULD BE, UM, RATHER, UM, LARGE OF A BURDEN ON AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WOULD FALL UNDER A CATEGORY I'D CALL KICKING THE DOG WHEN THEY'RE DOWN.

UM, HAVING SAID THAT, IN THIS CASE, UM, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PASSING THE, THE COSTS ON TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES, UM, TO ABSORB SOME OF THE BURDEN OFF OF OUR TAXPAYERS.

UM, SO WHILE YES, YOU CAN SAY IT IS A TAX INCREASE, UM, IT'S A TAX INCREASE THAT PREVENTS A TAX INCREASE THAT WE ALL BEAR

[00:10:01]

YEAH, I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.

AND IT'S, IT'S REAL SIMPLE.

IT, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT FREE.

I MEAN, THERE'S NO INFINITE MONEY TREE TO JUST GO PULL THE MONEY OFF, UH, TO GO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES.

SO YOU'RE, I GUESS, MISUNDERSTANDING WHAT A TAX IS ONCE AGAIN.

SO ACTUALLY WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS WE HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE A FIBER COMPANY CAME IN AND JUST STARTED, UH, CUTTING GAS LINES ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF LEAGUE CITY.

THEY WERE CUTTING HOW MANY A DAY? AT SOME 0.2 OR THREE, TWO OR THREE A DAY, WE'RE ROLLING FIRE TRUCKS TO A GUY WHO KEEPS CUTTING THEM OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THAT MEANS THE CITIZENS OF LEAGUE CITY HEAD TO ROLL THOSE FIRE TRUCKS OUT, PAY FOR THE FIRE CREWS, PAY FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO IT.

THE PENALTY FOR THEM DOING IT WAS AT THE TIME, NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

SO WE PAID FOR IT.

THEY HAD NO INCENTIVE TO STOP THE BAD BEHAVIOR, WHICH IS NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, RECKLESS, BUT IT'S IR YOU KNOW, IRRESPONSIBLE.

IT'S TURNING OFF GAS LINES, IT'S DANGEROUS, AND IT'S COSTING US A TON OF MONEY TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM.

NOW WE'LL HAVE THE MECHANISM IN WHICH TO GO COLLECT THAT MONEY BACK FOR THEIR BAD BEHAVIOR.

HOWEVER, WHAT I THINK WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN IS THEY PROBABLY WILL JUST STOP DRILLING RIGHT THROUGH THE GAS LINES AND THEY'LL PROBABLY FOLLOW THE PROPER PROCEDURE AND NOT JUST CUT THEM WILLY-NILLY.

SO IT'S, IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT, DO YOU EITHER WANT THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY TO PAY OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO SOCIALIZE THE LOSSES TO THE REST OF THE CITY? THERE'S NO FREE LUNCH.

SOMEBODY'S GONNA HAVE TO PAY.

IT'S MAKING THE RESPONSIBLE PERSON PAY OR STRAIGHT UP SOCIALISM AND HAVE THE GOVERNMENT COVER THE BILL.

AND SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, RESPONSIBLE PARTIES SHOULD PAY WHEN THEY DO SOMETHING IRRESPONSIBLE.

MR. MANN, CHIEF, COULD YOU, UH, GO OVER ONCE AGAIN, UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS WOULD A CITIZEN, A REGULAR CITIZEN GET A BILL? BECAUSE WHEN THIS WAS, WHEN THIS WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, IT WAS, HEY, WE GOT THIS NEW REVENUE STREAM THAT'S ESSENTIALLY THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

I, I LOVED IT.

AND THEN YOU HEAR, WELL, THERE'S, THERE'S A COUPLE OF SITUATIONS WHERE WE, WE MIGHT ACTUALLY SEND A BILL TO, TO A CITIZEN.

AND AGAIN, THE SCENARIO THAT NICK LAYS OUT THAT HAPPENED IN MAGNOLIA CREEK, UH, I'M, IT WAS, IT WOULD'VE BEEN A PERFECT SITUATION TO, UH, ALLOCATE THOSE COSTS TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO CAUSED A PROBLEM.

UH, WHAT I DON'T WANT AND WHAT I'M NOT READY FOR IS, YOU KNOW, THE BILL TO THE CITIZEN WHO HAD THEIR HOUSE BURNED OUT.

UM, AND HOPEFULLY THAT'S BEEN WORKED OUT.

THANK YOU.

YES.

TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE ONLY TIME A CITIZEN WOULD ACTUALLY BE BILLED IS IF AN INCIDENT, LIKE A STRUCTURE FIRE, IF THEY KNOWINGLY OR INTENTIONALLY CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN.

SO IN CASES OF ARSON WHERE IT WAS INTENTIONALLY SET, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, RESIDENTS SHOULD NEVER SEE A BILL AT ALL.

IT ONLY GOES TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

WHATEVER THE INSURANCE COMPANY DOESN'T PAY, THERE IS NO BALANCE BILLING.

THAT'S ALL WE RECEIVE.

OKAY.

SO THERE'S GONNA BE A FELONY ASSOCIATED WITH CORRECT.

ALL RIGHT.

POTENTIALLY, YES.

WE'D BE FILING FOR IT IF IT WAS ARSON, AND HOPEFULLY THERE WAS.

YES.

CHIEF, CAN YOU KEEP GOING? WHERE WE SEE ACTUALLY THE, WHERE YOU BROKE IT DOWN BY COMMERCIAL AND THIS WAS, IT'S JUST A, A SLIDE OR TWO FURTHER.

AGAIN, IT'S ON THE, IT'S THAT LIKE AN EXCEL WORKSHEET.

THERE YOU GO.

I JUST, ONE WORD OF CAUTION AS, AS YOU DO GO THROUGH THIS, SOME OF THE, THE STUFF IN THE MOTION DID ALTER SOME OF THE STUFF IN THESE CHARTS, SO WOW.

SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO GET UP HERE AND, AND MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS WHEN THINGS ARE CHANGING.

AND THEN I GET A CHANGED MOTION WHILE I'M UP HERE.

SO THAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU THREE WEEKS AGO.

SO ONCE AGAIN, YOU DIDN'T READ THE PACKET? NO.

SO HERE'S, SO IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT, IF YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT EVERYTHING THAT'S CHANGED, THEN WHY DID MR. TRESSLER JUST SAY THAT? WHAT'S ON THERE? IT WENT TO THE ORIGINAL MOTION, THE ONE THAT WAS PRESENTED THREE WEEKS AGO.

OKAY.

SO BRING BACK UP WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE I APPRECIATE MR. TRESSLER, UH, INPUT, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE CONFUSING.

AND I AND MR. LONG, I DO READ THE PACKET.

I PROBABLY READ IT A LOT MORE THAN YOU DO.

THE, THE THING IS, I ACTUALLY HAVE QUESTIONS.

I

[00:15:01]

PLEASE ASK YOUR QUESTION.

STOP WRESTLING.

YEAH.

OKAY.

UH, CHIEF, COULD YOU BRING THAT BACK UP? NOT, NOT THIS, THE ONE WHERE, THE ONE THAT, WHERE IT'S, I'VE BEEN INFORMED THAT IT IS NOT THE SAME.

SO RIGHT HERE, ALL THE COMMERCIALS IS A YES.

SO ALL BUSINESSES IN HERE WHO ACTUALLY STILL PAY TAXES.

SO LEAGUE CITY BUSINESSES WHO PAY TAXES ALONG WITH LEAGUE CITY RESIDENTS YEP.

WHO DO PAY TAXES TOO.

AND WHILE YOU MAY COME BACK AND SAY, HEY, THEIR IN, THEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ONLY GONNA BILL THEIR INSURANCE, WELL THEIR INSURANCE WILL GO UP.

AND SO IN THAT WAY IT IS A BACKSIDE TAX THE WAY I LOOK AT IT.

SO WE'RE END UP COMING BACK, WE'RE BILLING THEIR INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND THEN ONCE THESE GET BACK OUT, THE INSURANCE RATES ARE GONNA GO UP, ESPECIALLY ON THE COMMERCIAL PIECE.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE WAS A SLIDE SAYING HOW THEY CALCULATE, UM, INSURANCE AND IT HAD CREDIT REPORTS AND ALL THAT, BUT IT ALSO IS GOING TO INCLUDE THE FACT THAT WE NOW HAVE A CHANGE TO WHAT THEY CAN BE BILLED FOR.

SO THAT'S THE REASON I'M SAYING THAT IT'S A TAX.

SO YOU'D PREFER THAT CITIZENS PAY FOR THE COMMERCIAL? I'D SAY THAT THE CITIZENS ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR IT THROUGH THEIR TAXES.

SO WE SHOULD PAY FOR PEOPLE'S RECKLESS BEHAVIOR.

NO, THAT'S NOT, YOU ARE, THE INCIDENT YOU GAVE ABOUT THE, ABOUT THE CABLE CUTTING HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VAST MAJORITY OF THIS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT SERVICE.

MM-HMM.

, HOW IS THAT HELICOPTER LANDING PREP ZONE VEHICLE FIRE SERVICE, EXTRACTION SERVICE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DESCRIBE.

THAT'S NOT SAYING, HEY, WE'RE OUT THERE JUST BEING RECKLESS.

THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE, THIS IS WHY PEOPLE PAY TAXES.

THIS IS BASIC CITY SERVICES THAT PEOPLE ALREADY PAY FOR.

ISN'T THAT THE RATES YOU'RE BILLING TO INSURANCE COMPANY? THE INSURANCE COMPANY? CORRECT.

OKAY.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THERE'S TWO THINGS I LEFT OUT OF THE, UH, ITEMS WHERE RESIDENTS WOULDN'T BE BILLED.

UM, I APOLOGIZE.

IT WAS RECKLESS BEHAVIOR, SO INTENTIONALLY RECKLESS BEHAVIOR.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS IF THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, IF THEY DON'T HAVE VEHICLE INSURANCE, HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE, THEY WOULD BE BILLED IN THOSE INSTANCES.

BUT THERE WOULD BE AN APPELLATE PROCESS.

LIKE SO SINCE THE CITY MANAGER ACTUALLY HAS THE FINAL SAY ON WHO GETS CHARGED.

YES.

IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE, UH, LIKE SAY A NEW HOMEOWNER, UH, DOES A, HAS A, KEEPS A FAUCET ON AND RUNS A $500 BILL.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S IRRESPONSIBLE AND UH, BUT THERE IS AN APPELLATE PROCESS THAT YOU CAN GO THROUGH.

CORRECT.

THE WAY THE ORDINANCE IS CURRENTLY WRITTEN, THE CITY MANAGER, THE WAY THIS ORDINANCE IS CURRENTLY, HOW IT WAS PASSED ON FIRST READING IS HE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO WAIVE ANY BALANCE BILLING SCENARIOS FOR RESIDENTS, NOT FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.

SO HE HAS THAT.

IT'S, HE HAS THAT AUTHORITY.

THAT'S COOL.

IT'S LIMITED.

THAT'S THE WAY I WANT IT.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT A CITIZEN TO GET A BILL AND THAT'S JUST THE BOTTOM LINE.

I MEAN, IF YOU DON'T HAVE INSURANCE, YOU'RE ONCE AGAIN BREAKING THE LAW AND DOING SOMETHING THAT IS RECKLESS.

BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE COULD BE SITUATIONS THEN WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.

AND IF THAT SITUATION, ANY CITIZENS LISTENING, UH, IF THAT SITUATION OCCURS, SEND ME THE BILL AND I'LL TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER.

SO ANY OF US WOULD MR. CHADWELL.

YEAH.

JUST, JUST FOR CLARITY, THE MENTAL CULPABILITY PIECE OF THIS ORDINANCE, THAT IS THE, THE KNOWLEDGE, THE INTENT, AND THE RECKLESS BEHAVIOR, THAT'S ALL TIED TO TEXA PENAL CODE 6.03 FOR DEFINITION, CORRECT? YES, SIR.

OKAY.

MR. HICKS.

YEAH, I JUST, YOU GUYS UP HERE REMIND YOU THAT THIS, THIS IS A FIRST READING AND THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME IF YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH SOMETHING TO EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS.

I WOULD THINK, UM, IN PRINCIPLE, UH, I'VE KIND OF AGREED WITH THIS.

UH, BUT I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS MAYBE TO CLARIFY TO RESIDENTS THROUGH MIKE.

SO LET ME THROW TWO EXAMPLES OUT THERE.

I HAVE A FRIEND IN, UH, LEAGUE CITY WHO, UM, WENT UP TO THAW HIS PIPES DURING THE LAST FREEZE THAT WE HAD ACCIDENTALLY CAUGHT HIS, UH, INSULATION ON FIRE.

BAD DAY.

UH, DON'T THINK IT WAS INTENTIONAL.

WOULD SOMEONE RECEIVE A BILL UNDER THAT? POTENTIALLY, YES.

THEY WOULD GET THEIR INSURANCE BILLED? OH, UH, NO.

I MEAN, A BALANCE BILL, I ALREADY UNDERSTAND THE INSURANCE PIECE.

HONESTLY, WITH THOSE TYPES OF SITUATIONS I'D BE GETTING WITH LEGAL FIRST, SO THAT WAY WE COULD DETERMINE THAT.

'CAUSE THAT'S MORE OF A LEGAL OKAY.

SOMEBODY HAS TO ACTUALLY PROVE THAT IT WAS INTENTIONALLY, THE STANDARD THAT WE USE RECKLESSLY DONE IS THE SAME STANDARD THAT

[00:20:01]

AND SO IT IS A LEVEL OF SUBJECTIVITY BUILT INTO THE STATUTE.

IT'S UNAVOIDABLE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU EVALUATE IT, ULTIMATELY THE CITY MANAGER WOULD MAKE THOSE CALLS AND WE WOULD LOOK AT CERTAINLY THE TOTALITY OF THE, OF THE EXPERIENCE.

AND IF WE'RE IN A CRISIS SITUATION, SOMEONE IS JUST TRYING TO GET BY.

I THINK ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THEY DON'T WANNA PENALIZE SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A BAD DAY.

WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THAT, RIGHT? YEAH.

THAT, THAT'S KIND OF SOMETHING THAT LEAVES MY LEVEL OF COMFORT A LITTLE BIT HIGHER IS THAT IF, IF WE DO MAINTAIN THAT PHRASE, WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO RECEIVE A BILL FOR A BAD DAY, OBVIOUSLY ARSON, UH, YOU KNOW, INTENTIONAL.

BUT YEAH, BILL 'EM AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO.

I'M GOOD WITH IT.

YOU KNOW, WE DIRECTLY SHOOT FIREWORKS AT SOMEONE'S HOUSE.

YEAH, GO FOR IT.

UM, ONE MORE EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY SOMEBODY WAS COOKING SOME HAMBURGERS ON MEMORIAL DAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

LET'S SAY YOU, UH, CATCH A GREASE FIRE AND MAYBE IT CATCHES YOUR AWNING OR SOMETHING ON FIRE ON YOUR PORCH OR SOMETHING AND FIRE SERVICE HAS TO COME OUT.

DOES THAT RECEIVE A BALANCE BILL? NO.

THAT'D BE CONSIDERED CLASSIFIED ACCIDENTAL ON THAT INSTANCE, SO, NO.

RIGHT.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, PERFECT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES 7 4 1 AGAINST

[9A. 24-0243 Consider and take action on a resolution supporting a No Wake Zone in and around the League City Clear Lake area on Friday, June 21, 2024 for the Texas Outlaw Challenge (Mayor Long)]

CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A NO WIG ZONE IN AND AROUND LEAGUE CITY, CLEAR LAKE AREA ON FRIDAY 20, THE 21ST, 2024 FOR TEXAS OUTLAW CHALLENGE.

MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND.

ALRIGHT, PLEASE VOTE.

YEP.

MOTION PASSES.

EIGHT FOUR, NONE AGAINST

[9B. 24-0267 Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing a variance to Chapter 10 of the City of League City Code of Ordinances to allow for a liquor store at 4550 W. League City Parkway, League City, Texas, Suite #240, that is less than 300 feet from the property line of a daycare (City Secretary)]

WHOA.

LAKE CITY, TEXAS, SUITE TWO 40, THAT IS LESS THAN 300 FEET FROM THE PROPERTY LINE OF A DAYCARE.

IS THAT A NEW TRICK? WHAT IS THAT? MOVE TO PROOF FOR DISCUSSION.

I'LL SECOND FOR A SECOND DISCUSSION.

AND I WAS FIRST ON THE QUEUE.

, THAT WAS FUNNY.

.

MR. MANN.

UH, THE, UH, THE INFORMAL FACEBOOK POLL IN THE MAG CREEK, UH, COMMUNITY HAS THIS A SOLID 140 NOS AND THREE YESES.

SO, UH, I'LL BE VOTING NO ON THIS AND I'D BESEECH MY COLLEAGUES TO ALSO VOTE NO ON THIS.

THANK YOU MR. HICKS.

GET THE MICROPHONE.

YEAH, I'M, I'M GONNA GO NO ON THIS, UH, TONIGHT AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, UH, I, I ACTUALLY DEFERRED TO OUR, UH, ESTEEMED COLLEAGUE WHO LIVES IN THE AREA BECAUSE HE SHOULD KNOW HIS CONSTITUENCY BETTER THAN THE REST OF US.

AND APPARENTLY, UH, THEY DO NOT HAVE, UH, SO MUCH OF A PARTY VIBE IN THAT THEY NEED A LIQUOR STORE DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET BETWEEN A DAYCARE AND AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, UH, TO GET THEIR MARGARITA SUPPLIES.

IT WAS LIKE TWO 20.

IT'S NOT IN BETWEEN.

ALRIGHT, KIND.

OKAY.

SEMANTICS, SEMANTICS, SEMANTIC.

UM, SO, UH, ANYWAYS, I THINK FOR THAT REASON, I FEEL LIKE THE BUILDER, UH, I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO JAM YOU UP.

UM, I THINK THAT THERE'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME FOR HIM TO, UH, FIGURE OUT, UH, MAYBE ANOTHER LESSEE, UM, OTHER THAN A LIQUOR STORE BETWEEN THESE TWO FACILITIES.

SO THANK YOU MS. TRUSLER.

UM, I DON'T FEEL WE SUFFER FOR A SHORTAGE OF LIQUOR STORES IN LEAGUE CITY.

UM, AND I'LL VOTE NO TONIGHT JUST BECAUSE I DON'T SEE ANY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AT PLAY HERE, UM, WHERE, WHERE A DIFFERENT LOCATION CAN'T BE SOUGHT.

HAVING SAID THAT, UM, I'M NOT A POPULIST AND I THINK SOMETIMES IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE HARD CHOICES BETWEEN VARYING PRIORITIES, UM, WHERE ONE GROUP OF FOLKS MAY HAVE ONE PRIORITY AND ONE MAY HAVE ANOTHER.

IF THIS WAS A SCENARIO WHERE WHAT WAS ON THE TABLE IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, BROUGHT A GREAT BENEFIT TO THE CITY LIQUOR STORE IS NOT AT, UM, I'M NOT GOING TO VOTE BASED ON AN INFORMAL OPINION POLL ON FACEBOOK.

UM, AND I WILL CAUTION THE FOLKS, UM, IN MAG CREEK AND OTHER COMMUNITIES WHO THINK THAT, UM, EXPRESSING OPPOSITION TO SUCH THINGS WILL,

[00:25:01]

UM, THAT SOMETIMES THE END RESULT IS GOING TO BE WORSE THAN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING NO TO RIGHT NOW.

UM, THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT IF YOU DON'T GET A LIQUOR STORE IN THIS LOCATION, YOU END UP WITH A TATTOO PARLOR OR A VAPE SHOP OR SOMETHING ELSE YOU DON'T WANT THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO MEET THE 300 FOOT RULE.

UM, SO MATTRESS STORE, NAIL SALON, WHATEVER IT IS.

UM, I HOPE Y'ALL ENJOY IT.

UM, BUT WE DO HAVE A RULE.

I SEE NO SPECIAL REASON TO WAIVE THE RULE HERE.

ALRIGHT.

PLEASE VOTE.

YOU POPPED UP.

NO, YOU'RE FINE.

I WAS GONNA TAKE ANOTHER DIG, BUT I'LL JUST TAKE MY WIN.

MOTION PASSES 0 4 8 AGAINST MOTION FAILS.

A MOTION FAILS 0 4 8 AGAINST, SORRY.

[10A. 24-0244 Consider and take action on an ordinance amending the City of League City, Texas, Governmental, Proprietary, and Capital Funds Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 by amending Ordinance No. 2023-28, Ordinance 2023-33, Ordinance 2023-47, Ordinance 2023-48, Ordinance 2023-49, & Ordinance 2024-12 to adjust the operating and capital budget for actual and projected expenditures (Assistant City Manager - CFO) Staff requests approval on first and final reading.]

CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF LEAGUE CITY, TEXAS GOVERNMENTAL PROPRIETARY AND CAPITAL FUNDS BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 BY AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 28, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 33, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 47, ORDINANCE NUMBER 2023 DASH 48, ORDINANCE 2023 DASH 49, ORDINANCE 2024 DASH 12 TO ADJUST THE OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE ACTUAL AND PROJECTED EXPENDITURES.

MOVE TO APPROVE.

SECOND, A QUESTION.

OF COURSE.

GO FOR IT.

CAN YOU SEE THE LIST OF MODIFICATION? I DON'T HAVE AN COM AH, COMPLETE.

I DO.

IT'S ALMOST, IT'S, UH, IN YOUR PACK.

SOME HEADS SLIPPED IN THERE.

WE MIGHT NOT WANT DO TWO A PARTICULAR LET'S DO, I'M SORRY.

WERE YOU ASKING WHAT, WHAT EXACTLY WERE YOU ASKING ME? I'M NOT SURE I HEARD YOUR QUESTION.

OVERALL, RIGHT THERE.

DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANY OF THESE.

HOWEVER, THERE WAS ONE.

SWITCH IS A SINGLE ENGINEERING POSITION.

YES.

YOU'RE SPLITTING INTO TWO.

YES.

BEFORE I ASSIGN MOTIVATION, OR WE CAN, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE DESCRIBE TO ME WHAT THESE CHANGES ARE? YES, ABSOLUTELY.

SORRY, WHEN YOU SAID LIST, I THOUGHT YOU MEANT A LIST OF EVERY SINGLE CHANGE AND I DIDN'T HAVE IT ON ONE SLIDE.

LET ME GO BACK.

OKAY.

SO THIS IS THE SECOND HALF OF THE SLIDE THAT'S ON THE SCREEN.

SO THERE IS A REQUEST FOR AN ADDITIONAL FTE FULL-TIME POSITION IN ENGINEERING.

UM, CURRENTLY WE HAVE A CI CIVIL ENGINEER POSITION THAT HAS BEEN VACANT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES HAS REQUESTED THAT WE CONVERT THAT TO TWO FULL-TIME ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS THAT'S BASED ON THE CURRENT WORKLOAD AND IT WOULD MEET ADDITIONAL DEMANDS FROM INCREASED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY.

SO TODAY THE CIVIL ENGINEER HAS BEEN RECLASSED TO AN ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN THAT IS A LOWER PAY GRADE, AND WE'RE ASKING THE COUNCIL'S PERMISSION TO INCREASE THE FTE TO ADD THE SECOND POSITION.

SO IN ESSENCE, HE WOULD GAIN ONE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEE, BOTH OF WHICH ARE ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO FILL THAT CIVIL ENGINEERING POSITION THAT'S BEEN VACANT AND THAT IS, OKAY.

SO THAT CIVIL ENGINEER POSITION WAS VACANT FOR HOW LONG THAT CIVIL ENGINEERING POSITION WAS VACANT FOR HOW LONG? I DON'T KNOW SPECIFICALLY MR. BAUMGARTNER.

DO YOU KNOW, AND THAT FTP WAS FTE WAS FUNDED AT HOW MUCH, WHAT WAS IT? 2, 2 57 MONTHS? WAS IT A WAS IT A NEW POSITION LAST YEAR? SO IT'S, IT'S X'S IT'S AN EXISTING POSITION.

HEY, GOOD EVENING.

IT'S AN EXISTING POSITION THAT WE'VE HAD, UH, FILLED TWICE.

UM, ONE OF THE DRAWBACKS THAT WE SEE WITH THAT POSITION IS YOU'RE GETTING, UM, A, A JUNIOR ENGINEER THAT THEY TEND TO GET EXPERIENCE AND LEAVE THE CITY, UH, GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

UH, WHICH PUTS US IN A CONSTANT TRAINING MOTION WITH THAT POSITION THAT WE'VE SEEN.

UH, THE PREVIOUS ENGINEER LEFT APPROXIMATELY SEVEN MONTHS AGO.

UH, WE HAVEN'T HAD A STRONG POOL OF ENGINEERING CANDIDATES APPLY FOR THE JOB WHEN WE'VE POSTED IT.

WE POSTED IT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS.

UM, WE DO HAVE A STRONG POOL OF EXPERIENCED PLAN TECHS, UM, HIGHER LEVEL MAYBE CONSTRUCTION INSPECTORS THAT AREN'T NECESSARILY, UM, COMPUTER

[00:30:01]

SO WE WANTED TO TAP THAT POOL, UH, TO GET SOME SOME GOOD QUALITY EXPERIENCE IN, IN THAT POSITION.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET? HAVE YOU REQUESTED ANY ADDITIONAL HEADS IN THAT BUDGET? NOT IN ENGINEERING, NO, SIR.

SO THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE I, YOU KNOW, JOHN AND I HAVE TALKED OCCASIONALLY ABOUT STAFFING AND HOW WOULD YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A, IF YOU HAVE A POSITION THAT IS NOT, UH, PRICED CORRECTLY, OKAY, BUT YOU GO EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS, MAYBE A YEAR WITHOUT, WITHOUT SOMEONE IN THAT POSITION, THE QUESTION BECOMES CAN YOU JUST ELIMINATE THE POSITION? ALL RIGHT.

AND I WOULD BE WILLING TO INCENTIVIZE IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS A FORMER BUREAUCRAT, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S NO INCENTIVE FOR YOU TO REDUCE YOUR HEADCOUNT.

OKAY.

IT THERE ISN'T COULD WE, IT, DUDE, YOU GOT CUT, PLEASE STOP.

WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO, YOU KNOW, INCENTIVIZE YOU, LIKE IN THIS SITUATION, COULD WE PROVIDE A BONUS OR SOMETHING TO THE TEAM, TO THE ENTIRE TEAM IN LIEU OF THAT FTE THAT IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THEY'RE NOT NEEDED? ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU'VE GONE THIS LONG WITH, WITHOUT 'EM, AND I'M JUST GONNA THROW THAT OUT THERE BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE A THEME ALL THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.

OKAY.

WE'VE GOTTA FIND A WAY, YOU KNOW, TO PAVE OUR, EVERYONE WHO'S WORKING HERE WELL, BUT WHEN THERE ARE HEADS THAT CAN BE SACRIFICED OR WHEN THEY'RE JUST NOT NEEDED, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO INCENTIVIZE MANAGEMENT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THOSE, THOSE FTES OUT AND MAYBE ROLL THAT INTO INCREASES FOR THEIR TEAMS. AND THAT'S ALL I'M TRYING TO GET AT.

I KNOW THAT FROM A BUREAUCRACY STANDPOINT, AND AGAIN, WORKING AT THE DISTRICT FOR YEARS, I JUST NEEDED MORE HEADS AND THERE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WAS NO INCENTIVE FOR ME TO EVER DECREASE MY HEAD COUNT.

AND I REALLY WANNA GET TO THAT.

UM, THANK YOU.

AND YOU'RE SAYING TO AN INCENTIVIZE EFFICIENCY MORE WITH LESS, RIGHT? RIGHT.

WELL, AND AND INCENTIVIZE THE MANAGERS SURE.

BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES YOU WHO ARE GONNA, ARE REQUESTING THE HEADS.

AND THIS WILL BE A GREAT DISCUSSION TO HAVE, I THINK MAYBE PRE-BUDGET, MAYBE A PRE-BUDGET WORKSHOP ABOUT IDEAS AND ABOUT THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK WE COULD, WE SHOULD DEFINITELY CONTINUE IT CLOSER TO BUDGET TIME.

MS. TRESSLER.

YEAH.

UM, I FRANKLY I'M OFFENDED, UM, BY WHAT YOU JUST SAID, ANDY.

UM, THERE IS, UM, A MYTH THAT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THAT THEY ARE BUREAUCRATS THAT ARE SELF LOOKING ICE CREAM CONES THAT SEEK TO HELP THEMSELVES EXIST, TO CONTINUE TO HELP THEMSELVES EXIST.

AND THAT PART OF THAT IS GROWING A DEPARTMENT.

WE'RE A CITY THAT'S EXPERIENCING RAPID GROWTH.

WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING RAPID GROWTH FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

OUR STAFF HAS NOT GROWN, UM, ALONG WITH THE CITY, IT'S SHRUNK PROPORTIONALLY EVERY YEAR, WHICH IN EFFECT IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR MORE WITH LESS.

UM, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR STAFF, WE HAVE ENOUGH INTERACTION WITH THEM, OR WE SHOULD, IF WE'RE DOING OUR JOBS, TO HAVE A SENSE OF WHETHER THEY HAVE TOO MANY IN A DEPARTMENT OR TOO LITTLE.

AND ONE THING THAT WE CONSTANTLY HEAR ABOUT, IN FACT, WE HAVE A SPECIAL COMMITTEE LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS SMOOTHER AND CUT THE RED TAPE AND MOVE THINGS FASTER.

I HAVE HEARD FROM MULTIPLE FOLKS, WHICH IS WEIRD BECAUSE I TEND NOT TO GET THOSE PHONE CALLS WHO HAVE HAD PROJECTS GET JAMMED UP, HELD UP IN THE REVIEW PROCESS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE PEOPLE TO PROCESS THE REVIEWS FAST ENOUGH.

SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IS A, A DIRECTOR WHO'S LOOKED AT THEIR STAFF AND SAID, MAYBE I DON'T NEED THIS BECAUSE I SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WITH IT VACANT, AND WE'RE ESSENTIALLY SERVING AS A FREE TRAINEE AGENCY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO END UP COMING BACK AS CONSULTANTS.

AND HE SAID, WELL, BUT WHERE DO WE HAVE WORK GETTING HELD UP? AND LET'S REPLACE THAT ONE POSITION WITH THESE TWO, UM, THAT IS RESPONSIBLE

[00:35:01]

AND IT'S RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP THAT'S NOT TAKING A BUMPER STICKER MANTRA OF BUREAUCRATS ARE BAD AND ONLY SEE TO GROW.

UM, IT'S ONE THAT'S ACTUALLY TAILORED TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED.

UM, SO I'M, I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF DOING THIS.

CAN I RESPOND TO THAT, NICK? YES.

BUT CAN WE KEEP IT SHORTENED, BUT TRY TO KEEP IT TO THIS BUDGET DISCUSSION TO THIS ITEM? YEAH.

WELL, NO, I MEAN, ALL I WOULD SAY IS THAT FUNDAMENTALS OF ECONOMICS QUESTION, UH, THE, THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION IS MOTIVATION.

NO ONE IN THIS ORGANIZATION, A MANAGEMENT STAND AT A, AT A MANAGEMENT LEVEL IS NECESSARILY INCENTIVIZED TO REDUCE HEAD COUNT.

AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

ALL RIGHT.

IF WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ONE, IF THESE TWO CIVIL ENGINEERS ARE EXACTLY WHAT THE, WHAT Y'ALL'S TEAM SAYS, OH JESUS, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED, THEN FINE.

BUT I'M GONNA KEEP HARPING ON IT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A BUMPER STICKER.

THIS IS FUNDAMENTALS OF ECONOMICS.

YOU HAVE TO INCENTIVIZE THE BEHAVIOR THAT YOU WANT TO SEE AND WE WANT TO SEE INCREASED.

WE WANT INCREASED SALARIES FOR THE PEOPLE WORKING HERE AND A REDUCTION OF FTS FTES.

WERE POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU.

TOMMY, DID YOU GUYS DROP OFF? YEAH, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND MAKE IT REAL QUICK.

YOU KNOW, BEING PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT, STRATEGIC PLANNING, UM, GROUP THAT WE HAVE, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE COME OUT, UH, FRANKLY, AND I'M, I'M HOPING THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT VERY SOON.

BUT PART OF IT IS THE TIMING OF A LOT OF OUR PROJECTS COMING INTO THIS CITY IS TAKING SO LONG.

I THINK IN THIS SITUATION HERE WHERE CHRIS HAS TAKEN A CIVIL ENGINEER AND DROPPED IT DOWN TO TWO FULL-TIME POSITIONS WITH ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS MAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE SENSE.

'CAUSE THE ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS WILL DO MORE OF THE WORK THAN THE CIVIL ENGINEER WILL DO SITTING IN THE OFFICE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS HIS INTENT.

UM, I TOO WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ADEQUATE EMPLOYEES, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO WATCH THE GROWTH OF EMPLOYEES ALSO SO THAT WE'RE JUST NOT SITTING AROUND DOING NOTHING.

I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, PLANNING ENGINEERING, UM, IN EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE SEEN THROUGH THE GROUPS AND THROUGH THE FOCUS GROUPS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER, A LOT OF IT HAS BEEN, UM, THAT IT TAKES TOO LONG FOR PROJECTS TO GET THROUGH THE CITY.

AND MUCH OF THAT IS BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING CITY CIP PROJECTS AND, AND GRANTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WHICH I'LL TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

BUT I, I DO BELIEVE THIS IS PROBABLY WARRANTED THIS TIME.

DID I SEND YOU, DID I SEND YOU OFF MR. CRUZ? YES.

.

THANK YOU.

CHRIS, DO MOST OF YOUR, DOES MOST OF YOUR STAFF OR THE SALARY OR THE HOURLY IT'S SPLIT RIGHT NOW I HAVE, UH, THE OPEN POSITION, WHICH IS SALARY.

THE, THE ENGINEERING, IT WOULD GO TO HOURLY WITH THE TWO.

UM, I HAVE FOUR OTHERS THAT ARE SALARIED AND EVERYONE ELSE IS, UH, HOURLY.

SO BY FILLING, IF ONCE WE, ONCE WE DOWNGRADE THIS POSITION TO, TO THE TWO ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS, HOW IS THIS GOING TO, WOULD THIS AFFECT THE HOURLY STAFF OR ONLY THE SALARY STAFF? RIGHT NOW I HAVE IDENTIFIED, UM, SALARY STAFF THAT HAS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OVERTIME.

UM, THIS ALLOWS SOME OF THAT OFFSET.

AND SO ABOUT HOW MUCH OVERTIME WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE SALARIED STAFF IS WORKING RIGHT NOW? THE SALARIED STAFF? UM, WE'RE PROBABLY, I HAVE TWO THAT ARE PROBABLY AVERAGING FIVE HOURS EXTRA A WEEK, FIVE TO SEVEN HOURS EXTRA A WEEK, AND THEN TWO THAT ARE PROBABLY DOUBLE THAT.

SO I THINK THAT, THAT THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NEEDED.

YOU'RE GONNA END UP OVERWORKING THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE VACANT POSITIONS.

SO I'M ABSOLUTELY IN FAVOR OF THIS.

YES, SIR.

MR. HICKS? YES.

YES SIR.

UM, DO YOU FEEL THAT THESE TWO FTES WITH, UH, THE ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS, AND I DON'T, I DON'T THINK WE EVER SAW LIKE, UH, FULL JOB SCOPE THAT YOU PLAN ON PROVIDING THEM, BUT, UM, I GUESS THE DIRECT QUESTION IS, DO YOU FEEL THAT THESE TWO, OKAY, I'M NOT GONNA START OVER.

DO YOU FEEL THAT THESE TWO, UH, FTES ARE GOING TO PLAY WELL INTO THE, UH, PLAN THAT WE'VE BEEN BUILDING THROUGH THIS, UH, BUILDING PROCESS COMMITTEE THROUGH THE EFFICIENCIES THAT WERE IN THE RED TAPE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CUT AND HELP US BASICALLY DELIVER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES QUICKER? I DO.

YOU DO?

[00:40:01]

AND THEN I WAS JUST GONNA MAKE A GENERAL COMMENT BETWEEN WHAT ANDY AND CHAD WAS SAYING.

I I, I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT THEY WERE SAYING TOO MUCH DIFFERENT IS THAT, UM, REALLY IN ALL HONESTY, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD COMPENSATE OUR EMPLOYEES WELL SO THEY STAY FOR THE LONG HAUL AND WHILE WATCHING HEADCOUNT, BECAUSE IF WE HAVE MORE EFFICIENT, HIGHER QUALITY EMPLOYEES, THEN WE WON'T HAVE TO INCREASE HEADCOUNT.

WHICH, UM, WELL THAT'S, I I WAS I YOU CAN BUTT IN ON ME.

IT'S OKAY.

NO, I MEAN LISTEN, YOU, YOU ACT LIKE YOU COULDN'T CONTRACT THIS LABOR OUT FOR SURGES.

UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE ONE THING ONE COULD DO OR SO I THINK THIS ALL NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.

YOU CAN BUTT INTO, I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED, BUT THIS IS NOT LIKE A THEORETICAL DISCUSSION.

THIS IS LIKE THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS.

YOU STILL GOING? UM, WILL YOU, AFTER THIS MEETING, WILL YOU PRODUCE US, UH, LIKE A SCOPE OF WHAT YOU INTEND FOR THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS TO BE? YES SIR.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND LET IT FLY TONIGHT, BUT I WANNA SEE.

THANK YOU COURTNEY.

YEAH, QUICK QUESTION.

UH, THE UH, CIVIL ENGINEERING POSITION IN THE JOB DESCRIPTION IS A PE A REQUIREMENT.

SO WOULD YOU BE GIVING UP A PE STAMP FOR TWO ETS? I WOULD.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, SO LET'S VOTE.

AND THEN I THINK WE HEARD PRETTY GOOD CONSENSUS TO EVENTUALLY HAVE A WORK SHOP, UH, FOR BEFORE BUDGET ABOUT STAFFING AND, AND THE THEORY BEHIND THAT.

I'M VOTING YES FOR THE COPS.

WITH ALL THAT YOU COULDN'T EVEN VOTE NO ON IT.

LOTS OF DISCUSSION, BUT EIGHT FOUR, NONE AGAINST.

I MOVE FOR FIRST AND FINAL.

I'LL SECOND.

ALRIGHT, PLEASE VOTE.

MOTION PASSES.

EIGHT FOUR.

NONE AGAINST, THERE ARE NO ITEMS AFTER ELECTRONIC AGENDA REPORTS FROM STAFF MEMBERS.

I YIELD MY TIME REPORTS FROM

[13. COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTS/REPORTS]

YEAH, I THINK WE JUST RECEIVED A, OR TOMMY AND STAFF RECEIVED A VERY BIG $15 MILLION CHECK FOR DRAINAGE FROM HGAC.

SO I DID WANT TO GIVE STAFF AND TOMMY THEIR APPRECIATION AND ENGAGEMENT AND ALL THAT HARD WORK WITH THE, UH, APPLICATIONS TO GET THAT.

I MEAN IT'S 15 MILLION, THAT'S NOTHING TO SNIFF AT.

AND THEN ALSO THANKS TO THE STAFF, AMERICAN LEGION AND THE MAYOR FOR PUTTING ON THE, UH, MEMORIAL DAY THING YESTERDAY.

ALRIGHT.

YEP.

TOM COUNTS.

YEAH, IF YOU COULD THROW THE PICTURE UP THERE FOR THE AUDIENCE REAL QUICK.

THERE IT IS.

ALRIGHT.

I WANNA, YEAH, I HAD THE EASY, I HAD THE EASY JOB OF COLLECTING THE, THE CHECK AT HGAC, BUT I REALLY WANT TO GIVE PASS THAT.

I TRIED BUT THEY WOULDN'T DO IT.

.

UH, BUT I WANT TO GIVE A GOOD ACCOLADE OUT TO THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, CHRIS SIMS, UM, FOR PLACING THIS APPLICATION TO HGAC FOR THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

HE APPLIED BACK IN JANUARY THE SIXTH OF 2023.

SO THAT CAN TELL YOU HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET THESE GRANTS.

BUT WE WERE THE LARGEST, UH, CITY OR THE CITY THAT RECEIVED THE LARGEST FUNDS FROM HGAC IN THE TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE.

UH, THIS IS DR.

UH, DAWN BUCKINGHAM WHO GAVE US THE CHECK.

AND SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE STAFF FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

UH, I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GRANT, BUT PICKED UP THE CHECK.

SO EVERYTHING AND ALL OF THE, UH, ACCOLADES GO TO THE CITY STAFF.

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR GRANTS AND, UM, TRYING TO GET MONEY FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHRIS FOR YOUR STAFF'S WORK ON THIS GRANT.

THANK YOU TOM CRUISE.

THANK YOU.

UM, TONIGHT I SAW SOMETHING HAPPEN THAT I THINK IS TERRIBLE FOR THE CITY.

UM, WE HAVE NOW FOUND A WAY TO AVOID DEBATE ON, ON IDOLS ALL.

AND SO SINCE WE CAN'T PULL THEM, I DON'T EVEN THINK SEE HOW THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE.

UH, ANYTHING ELSE WE'D HAVE TO CALL A QUEST, YOU KNOW, WE'D HAVE TO CALL THE QUESTION AFTER SO MUCH DEBATE.

BUT THE FACT THAT WE CAN JUST GO BY AND NOT EVEN OPEN DEBATE FOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS IS, IS UNACCEPTABLE, REALLY.

UM, I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY WHO'S LOOKING NEW TO COME ON TO COUNCIL HERE WITH ELECTIONS COMING ON.

AND I THINK THAT ANY OF THIS SHOULD ACTUALLY LEAVE FEAR TO CITIZENS, THAT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT ONTO THIS THAT JUST CAN ESCAPE ANY KIND OF A SCRUTINY

[00:45:01]

AND IT'S BECAUSE WE HAVE, I GUESS, PEOPLE THAT ARE AFRAID, AFRAID OF DEBATE OR JUST THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME, THEY JUST WANNA GO HOME.

THANK YOU.

SO I'LL ACTUALLY TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT SO YOU CAN DO IT RIGHT NEXT TIME.

SO ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS PUSH THIS REQUEST TO SPEAK BUTTON AND THEN REQUEST TO SPEAK.

YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO JUST PULL EVERY SINGLE ITEM, BUT YOU COULD HAVE REQUESTED TO SPEAK ON THE ENTIRE DEAL JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER ITEM THAT YOU DID TONIGHT.

SO IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK ON ALL THE ITEMS, YOU PUSH THIS BUTTON, IT GOES UP THERE AND THEN YOU CAN SPEAK INSTEAD YOU DID THE PROCEDURE WRONG BECAUSE YOU NEVER TAKE THE TIME TO LEARN THE PROCEDURES.

SEE, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO DO IT, THAT'S HOW YOU COULD DO IT IN THE FUTURE.

SO, ALRIGHT, SO NOW WE'LL GO TO ACCORDING CHAPTER.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN MY TIME CONDESCENDING JUDGE JERK WHO DOESN'T REALLY DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING BUT WHO TRIES TO HIDE BEHIND THIS STUFF AND MAKE SOMEBODY SEEM LIKE THEY'RE SMALL.

IT'S NO WONDER PEOPLE DON'T WANNA RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF YOU, YOU JUDGE YOU LIKE SPEAK IN THE FUTURE.

IT'S PUSH THE BUTTON JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER ITEM.

I PUSHED THE BUTTON AND I DID ASK TO HAVE THE THINGS PULLED, WHICH IS NOT JUST TO TALK TO, BUT YOU HAVE, OKAY, YOU MADE THE INCORRECT MOTION, YOU LEARN FROM IT, YOU'RE GETTING NEXT TIME.

ALRIGHT CHAD.

ALRIGHT, SO IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR.

UM, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.

I WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS, ALL THE GRADUATES, UM, IN THIS AREA.

BUT I ALSO WANNA PUT OUT A REMINDER TO THE PARENTS.

UM, EVERY YEAR IN THE NEWS FOLLOWING GRADUATION, WE HEAR A STORY ABOUT A YOUNG MAN OR YOUNG WOMAN, UM, AT THE LAUNCHING POINT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE WHO WON'T BE EXPERIENCING THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

UM, BECAUSE THEY MADE SOME BAD CHOICES ONE NIGHT.

UH, THIS ISN'T THE NIGHT TO BE YOUR FRIEND OF YOUR KID, YOU'RE STILL THE PARENT.

PLEASE KEEP THE KIDS SAFE THIS YEAR AND MAKE SURE THEY GET TO ENJOY, UM, THE FRUITS OF ALL THAT WORK THAT THEY PUT IN.

THANKS SEAN SAUNDERS YIELD MY TIME.

ANY MA'AM? YOU KNOW, NOT THE, NOT DIRECTING MY COMMENTS AT ANYONE IN PARTICULAR, BUT, UH, SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL CHAD WE'RE, WE'RE NOT DEBATING 'CAUSE HE'S SEEMED LIKE HE'S KICKING MY ASS TONIGHT.

SO THERE'S SOME DEBATE GOING ON THERE DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S SOME DEBATE GOING ON HERE.

UM, BUT ALSO THE THANKS FOR THE VOTE ON MAG CREEK.

YEAH, ON THE MAG CREEK AND, UH, FOR THE CITIZENS.