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[1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS]
COUNCIL.THE CITY OF LEAGUE CITY, TEXAS WILL NOW COME TO ORDER IN A WORK SESSION ON JULY THE NINTH, 2024 AT 5 0 1.
LET'S TRY TO JOIN IN A MINUTE.
PUBLIC COMMENTS? THERE IS NOBODY SIGNED UP.
[3. PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN]
NUMBER THREE, PRESENTATION DISCUSSION REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN.IS THAT YOU, RICK? THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU HERE TONIGHT.
UH, WE, UH, HAVE ASSEMBLED, UH, HAD ASSEMBLED BACK IN JANUARY, A, UH, A COMMITTEE OF, UH, 10 INDIVIDUALS TO, UH, ASSIST US IN, IN DEVELOPING A STRATEGIC PLAN, A PLAN, A BLUEPRINT GOING FORWARD TO, UH, ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF OUR DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.
I HAVE WITH US THE CHAIR OF THAT COMMITTEE, UH, MR. RUSS BYNUM, AND HE'S GOING TO TAKE IT FROM HERE AS WELL AS, UH, UH, CHRISTOPHER SIMS. AND SO WE'LL TAKE IT TO THAT POINT.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING US TO BE HERE AND FORMALLY PRESENTING OUR, OUR PLAN AND VISION TONIGHT.
UM, AND, AND THANK YOU TO RICK AND, AND RON FOR, UH, REALLY KIND OF SPEARHEADING THIS EFFORT.
UH, THERE WAS A LOT OF US THAT PARTICIPATED, AND WE'LL KIND OF GO THROUGH THAT TONIGHT.
BUT I DO WANT TO, UH, INTRODUCE THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
IT IS MADE UP OF, OF 10 MEMBERS, LARGELY REPRESENTING MANY IN, IN OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES, UM, THE CITY STAFF, UH, CITY STAFF, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS.
SO YOU HAVE MYSELF AS THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE, AND I'M WITH HILLWOOD COMMUNITIES.
YOU'VE GOT CHRIS CARPENTER, WHO IS THE VICE CHAIR WHO YOU ALL KNOW, WHO'S THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, TOMMY CONES, WHO IS ON CITY COUNCIL.
YOU'VE GOT KEVIN HOLLAND WITH VE HOMES, CHRISTOPHER SIMS, WHO'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, RALPH BLANCO, WHO IS OUR CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL IN THE CITY.
YOU'VE GOT JEFF ALLEN, WHO'S ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF, FIRE MARSHAL, STEVE SHELDON, WHO IS HERE TONIGHT, UM, WITH DEC ENGINEERING, CANIS BROWN, WHO YOU MIGHT KNOW IS THE CITY AUDITOR.
AND THEN OF COURSE, LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, FRANK DOMINGUEZ, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING, UH, COMMISSION.
SO, AS YOU CAN TELL, UH, A GOOD GROUP OF FOLKS ASSEMBLED ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT REPRESENTED THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT FAIRLY WELL.
AND THEY ARE HERE REPRESENTED IN THE PACKET THAT YOU HAVE TONIGHT.
AND OF COURSE, HERE ON THE, UM, ON, ON THE PRESENTATION VIEWING, UM, RIGHT HERE, WE HAD, UH, A, A, A BIG PLAN PROCESS AS WE BEGAN TO DIVE INTO THIS WAY BACK IN JANUARY, LARGELY, UM, WE, UH, WE CAME UP WITH SEVERAL, UM, KEY ELEMENTS TO THE PLAN AND, AND WHAT WAS GOING TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
AND A BIG FOCUS OF THAT WAS OUR CUSTOMER BASED APPROACH THAT WAS GOING TO GIVE US AND THE CITY THE LARGEST BUY-IN AND ENGAGEMENT OF THE PLAN AND, AND, AND HOW WE WERE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD.
AND IN THAT, WE WERE GOING TO DO FIVE THINGS.
ONE, SET THE STAGE, REALLY, UH, PUT TOGETHER A TEAM OF FOLKS THAT WERE GOING TO GET IT DONE TO ACTIVELY LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CONCERNS ARE AND WHERE WE NEED TO FOCUS AND PRIORITIZE THAT.
THIRD WAS IDENTIFYING THE PRIORITIES, REALLY UNDERSTAND OF WHAT WE LISTENED TO, HOW WE WERE GOING TO PRIORITIZE WHAT WAS BEING HEARD AND THEN FORTH COMPOSED THE PLAN.
AND THEN, UM, AS WHAT WE WILL DO GOING FORWARD, REALLY RETURN AND REPORT ON A REGULAR BASIS BECAUSE THIS THING IS EVER EVOLVING AND REALLY EVER CHANGING AS WE CONTINUE TO REFINE IT GOING FORWARD.
AS PART OF THIS, THE TIMELINE WAS SUCH THAT IT, IT HAS OCCURRED OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
AND IN THAT ONE, WE SET THE STAGE, LIKE I SAID, FROM FEBRUARY TO APRIL, WE REALLY ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY BY LISTENING TO THEM, AND WE'LL GO THROUGH EXACTLY WHAT WE DID IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
THE THIRD THING WE DID IN APRIL IS REALLY IDENTIFY THOSE PRIORITIES,
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SETTING UP THOSE STRATEGIC DIRECTIVES, STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, AND UNDERSTANDING THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES.UM, FOURTH IN THE PLAN WAS REALLY COMPOSING THE PLAN BASED ON IDENTIFYING THOSE PRIORITIES.
AND THAT WAS DONE LARGELY IN APRIL AND MAY.
AND THEN IN JUNE, THE PLAN WAS COMPOSED, FORMALIZED, AND THEN PRESENTED TO YOU ALL.
AND HERE WE ARE AT THE FIRST PART OF JULY NOW FORMALLY PRESENTING THIS IN THE WORKSHOP.
SO I WANNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PARTICIPATION AND THE ENGAGEMENT THAT WE HAD WHEN WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VARIOUS GROUPS.
SO A LOT OF THOSE GROUPS INCLUDED LEAGUE CITY, CITIZENS, LARGE PART OF WHAT WE LEARNED.
THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT GETS A LOT OF, UM, UH, ACTIVITY AND INTEREST FROM JUST REGULAR CITIZENS, RENOVATING HOMES, BUILDING ADDITIONS, REMODELING, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
SO THEY WERE A KEY COMPONENT OF THIS.
SECOND LEAGUE CITY BUSINESS OWNERS AND OPERATORS, MANY OF THEM COMING INTO THE CITY OR EXPANDING THEIR FACILITIES.
OBVIOUSLY ENGAGING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE, UH, PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, GETTING AN UNDERSTANDING FROM CITY STAFF AND THE PROCESSES AND POLICIES, UH, OF HOW THEIR WORKFLOW HAPPENS.
AND THEN OF COURSE, ENGAGING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS, BUILDERS, DEVELOPERS, ENGINEERS AND CONTRACTORS.
AND THEN THE TRADES PROFESSIONALS THAT PHYSICALLY DO THE WORK ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS AND COME IN AND SUBMIT AND GET THOSE PERMITS.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, PEOPLE THAT ACTIVELY ENGAGE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES GROUP WANTED TO GO THROUGH A LITTLE BIT OF OUR PARTICIPATION STATISTICS.
WE REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED A LOT OF FOLKS.
UM, IN THE, IN THE TIME THAT WE HAD, WE DID A VARIETY OF THINGS TO SET UP HOW WE WERE GOING TO ENGAGE WITH THE PARTICIPANTS, AS WELL AS HOW WE WERE GOING TO COMMUNICATE REALLY DURING AND AFTER THE FACT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DID IS WE PUBLISHED A CITY MATTERS ARTICLE THAT WAS MAILED TO ALL THE CITY RESIDENTS.
WE ALSO HELD THREE SEPARATE WORKSHOPS AND HAD OVER 60 PARTICIPANTS ATTEND EACH ONE WHERE WE GARNERED OVER HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS.
WE ALSO HELD FOCUS GROUP MEETINGS WITH SPECIFIC, UH, PARTICIPANTS, AND WE HAD OVER 40 PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPATE THERE FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, THE BAY AREA COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE NETWORK, GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION, WHICH HAS OVER 1600 MEMBERS.
WE ALSO TALKED WITH FRANCHISE UTILITIES LIKE CENTERPOINT AND TEXAS NEW MEXICO POWER.
WE ALSO ENGAGED CITY STAFF AS PART OF THE PROCESS TOO.
WE ALSO DEVELOPED AND DELIVERED OVER 120 OR RATHER SURVEYS WHERE WE HAD OVER 120 RESPONSES RECEIVED.
AND THEN LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, IN LEAGUE CITY LISTENS, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ONGOING ENGAGEMENT THERE AS WELL.
SO YOU CAN SEE WE TOUCHED QUITE A FEW FOLKS THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND WE GARNERED HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMMENTS THROUGH THOSE AVENUES.
NOW, AS PART OF THE PLAN, IT BE, IT COMES DOWN TO REALLY FOUR UNIQUE PIECES.
ONE, SETTING THE PRIMARY DIRECTIVE.
AND THAT REALLY EXPLAINS WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO.
TWO, THE STRATEGIC DIRECTIVES WILL ANSWER WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
THREE, THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES EXPLAIN HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS OUR WHAT.
AND THEN FINALLY, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES, WHAT REPRESENTS THE WIN AND HOW IT WORKED.
AND THE UNIQUE PIECE ABOUT THIS IS THIS IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE CONSTANTLY REEVALUATE ON AN ONGOING EFFORT AS THINGS CONTINUE TO CHANGE.
AND I'LL START OFF BY TALKING ABOUT THE PRIMARY DIRECTIVE AND THEN I'LL HAND IT OFF TO CHRISTOPHER SIMS TO FINISH US OUT.
SO THE PRIMARY DIRECTIVE OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE IS THAT LEAGUE CITIES DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR CITIZENS BY HELPING TO ENSURE THE SAFEST AND HIGHEST QUALITY BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT POSSIBLE.
AND THEY INSPIRE THE TRUST OF CUSTOMERS BY BEING THE MOST PROFESSIONAL, RESPONSIVE, SOLUTION DRIVEN AND EFFICIENT PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THAT'S OUR PRIMARY DIRECTIVE, THAT'S OUR GOAL.
I'LL NOW ASK CHRISTOPHER SIMS TO COME UP AND DELIVER THE REST.
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HEY, GOOD EVENING.UM, KIND OF FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT RUSS WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE, UH, THE WAY I LIKE TO LOOK AT THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, UH, IS THE, THE WHY, THE WHAT, THE HOW, THE, WHEN I LIKE THOSE HELPS KEEP ME FOCUSED.
UH, RUSS JUST WENT OVER THE WHY.
I WANNA SPEND A FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE, UH, WHAT AND HOW.
SO THE WHAT BEING THE, UM, STRATEGIC DIRECTIVES, UM, EXCUSE ME, LEMME BACK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT.
THE STRATEGIC DIRECTIVES, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON.
UM, AND THEN THE HOW IT'S OUR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.
THAT'S HOW ARE WE GETTING TO THOSE FOCUS GROUPS? HOW ARE WE ACHIEVING THOSE? AND THEN LASTLY WOULD BE THE WHEN AND WE'LL, WE'LL GO OVER THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
UM, SO FOR THE WHAT, UM, OUR STRATEGIC AND, UH, DIRECTIVES, WE HAVE FIVE FOCUS AREAS THAT WE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.
WE CALLED THOSE THE CULTURE OF CARING, COMMUNICATION AND INCLUSION PROCESS, POLICIES AND PRACTICES, POWER TO EXCELLENCE AND ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT.
SO I'M GONNA SPEND A FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT EACH ONE.
UH, SO WITH STRATEGIC DIRECTIVE, CULTURE OF CARING, AND I APOLOGIZE, I'M JUST GONNA READ TO THE, TO THE LEFT, AND THEN WE WILL, WE'LL BRIEFLY HIT SOME OF THE, THE TALKING POINTS ON THE RIGHT.
SO THIS DIRECTIVE SPEAKS TO THE NEED TO SHOW OUR CUSTOMERS AND ALL THAT WE, UH, DO, THAT WE VALUE AND APPRECIATE THEIR INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S SHOWING THAT, UH, INCLUSIVITY TO THEIR TIMELINESS, THEIR COST, UH, HELPING THEM ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS IN OUR, IN OUR CITY.
SOME OF THE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THAT, JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT, UH, ENSURE THAT STAFF MEMBERS CONTINUE TO BRING HELPFUL SOLUTION ORIENTED APPROACHES TO MEETINGS AND OTHER INTERACTIONS WITH CUSTOMERS.
DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A QUALITY CONTROL AND ASSURANCE METHODOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ADMINISTER A SURVEY TO EVERY, UH, CUSTOMER AT THE END OF THEIR PROCESS.
THE SECOND DIRECTIVE, COMMUNICATION AND INCLUSION, IT'S US BEING RESPONSIVE, UH, BUT NOT JUST BEING RESPONSIVE TO QUESTIONS, BUT BEING RESPONSIVE WHEN CHANGES ARE, ARE ON THE FOREFRONT.
UH, SOME OF THE TOPICS THAT WE WOULD LOOK TO, UH, IN THIS, IN THIS INITIATIVE WOULD BE CONTINUE STAKEHOLDER BRAINSTORMING EXERCISES ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
UM, SEND QUARTERLY STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESS REPORTS TO PATRONS AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND ENSURE THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING TO ADD OR MODIFY EXISTING POLICIES, NEW POLICIES, THAT WE'RE GIVING ENOUGH TIME TO THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK BEFORE WE BRING IT TO COUNCIL, UH, FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
AND, AND ALSO TO TAKE THOSE, UH, THAT FEEDBACK INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE WE FINALIZE ANYTHING.
UH, THE THIRD ONE IS PROCESSES, POLICIES AND PRACTICES.
UH, THIS IS JUST STREAMLINING OUR, OUR PROCESS.
HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUALLY IMPROVING? HOW DO WE, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THOSE PROCESSES TO BETTER THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IN LEAGUE CITY? UH, WE'LL LOOK TO IMPROVE, AND WE'VE ALREADY STARTED DOING SOME OF THESE.
LOOK TO IMPROVE, UH, LOOK TO EMPLOY AN APPROVED AS NOTED TYPE DESIGNATION TO ELIMINATE SOME OF THE MORE, UM, I DON'T WANNA SAY PETTY, BUT SOME OF THE MORE LESSER TYPE COMMENTS THAT YOU GET.
MAYBE IT'S TYPOS, MAYBE IT'S, HEY, YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT, UH, DETAIL IN IT.
SOMETHING THAT COULD BE EASILY ADDED IN BY STAFF AS OPPOSED TO REQUIRING ANOTHER, UH, SUBMITTAL TAKE PLACE.
AND, AND ANOTHER FEE FOR THAT MATTER.
UH, BETTER UTILIZE OUR TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE WORKFLOW.
THAT'S INTER GOV BLUEBEAM, UH, WE NOTED PORTAL.
THAT'S OUR, OUR CITIZEN, UM, OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE PORTAL, BASICALLY.
SO RIGHT NOW, OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT, YOU CAN SUBMIT PERMIT APPLICATIONS THROUGH THE PORTAL.
OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT IS GOING THROUGH THEIR FINAL STAGES TO GET IT READY FOR THEIR STUFF.
AND THEN ENGINEERING WOULD BE THE LAST GROUP THAT STARTS THAT.
UM, AND THEN REGULARLY REVIEW OUR ORDINANCES TO FLAG OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICY IMPROVEMENT.
UH, WE'VE ALSO ALREADY STARTED THAT.
WE WOULD LOOK TO BRING SOMETHING TO COUNCIL PROBABLY EARLY FALL, MAYBE LATE, LATE SUMMER THERE.
UH, THE FOURTH DIRECTIVE IS EMPOWER TO EXCELLENCE.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THAT WORLD CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE? OR HOW DO WE GET TO THE WORLD CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE? UM, THAT THIS IS MORE OF A STAFF ORIENTED TYPE, STRATEGIC CONNECT INITIATIVE OR DIRECTIVE, EXCUSE ME.
SOME OF THE KEY INITIATIVES WOULD BE INTERNALLY, UH, AND REINFORCE OUR PROCESS IMPROVEMENT METHODOLOGIES.
I KNOW EARLIER THIS YEAR WE STARTED, UH, AN ELEVATE ACADEMY CITYWIDE, UM, THAT'S LOOKING AT WAYS TO IMPROVE PROCESSES,
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TO SAVE COSTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.SO WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF THAT, BUT ALSO MAKE SURE THAT BECOMES THE NORM FOR STAFF TO LOOK AT, AT METHODOLOGIES THAT WAY.
AND THEN HOLD, UH, QUARTERLY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF MEETINGS.
I, I THINK MYSELF AND, AND CHRIS AND RALPH ALL HOLD INDEPENDENT STAFF MEETINGS FOR BUILDING ENGINEERING AND, AND PLANNING RESPECTIVELY.
UH, WE WOULD WANT TO DO SOMETHING, UH, TOGETHER AND, AND REALLY RECOGNIZE EVERYONE AS A GROUP.
AND THE LAST ONE IS ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT.
SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY, I, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD ONE AND I'M JUST GONNA READ IT DIRECTLY.
IT SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO, TO THE NEED TO COMMUNICATE IN ALL THAT WE SAY AND DO.
OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR INVESTMENT, GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
POLICIES, PLANS, CONVERSATIONS, AND ATTITUDES SHOULD CONTINUALLY CONVEY OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND, AND PROJECTS THAT LIFT THE QUALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THINGS LIKE GREAT NEIGHBORHOODS, UH, BENEFICIAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, ANYTHING THAT BETTERS LEAGUE CITY AND OUR CITIZENS.
UM, WE WOULD WORK WITH COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO BRING SOME AWARENESS TO, TO THIS STRATEGIC PLAN AND HOW WE'RE GOING ABOUT IMPLEMENTING IT.
UM, AND THEN ENSURE THAT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM IS FULLY INTEGRATED INTO ALL OUR PRE-DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS.
WE'D ACTUALLY STARTED THAT PROCESS JUST BEFORE, UH, UM, WE IDENTIFIED THIS PARTICULAR INITIATIVE.
SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT WE WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE THERE.
UM, I WANNA SHIFT OVER TO THE, TO THE WIN.
UH, WHEN DO WE KNOW THAT WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL? HOW DO WE KNOW IT? UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THAT PARTICULAR PROCESS RIGHT NOW.
THE PLAN IS TO, YOU KNOW, FOR THE DIRECTORS TO WORK TOWARDS AN IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND THEN TO, UH, INTEGRATE STAFF INTO THAT.
SO BASICALLY ASSIGNING A STEWARD TO CHAMPION A CERTAIN INITIATIVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE INITIATIVES ARE GETTING IMPLEMENTED AND IMPLEMENTED AT A HIGH LEVEL.
UM, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE COMMITTEE.
UH, I THINK ON A YEARLY BASIS, MAYBE SEMI-ANNUAL BASIS ON EVALUATING HOW WE'RE GOING THROUGH EVERYTHING, REPORTING ON THE PLAN.
WE'LL BE PROVIDING COUNSEL AND UPDATE ON A YEARLY BASIS AS WELL.
UH, WE'LL ALSO, WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON, UH, INVISIO COMPONENT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS AND, AND CHECK AS WELL.
UM, WE EXPECT THIS, THIS PARTICULAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO HAVE A LIFESPAN OF SOMEWHERE IN THE THREE TO FIVE YEARS BEFORE WE WOULD NEED TO REVIEW AND KIND OF UPDATE.
UM, WITH THAT, I'M GONNA TURN IT BACK OVER TO RUSS FOR CLOSING.
WELL, FIRST OFF, THANK YOU GUYS FOR LETTING US COME HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATION TO YOU.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND IT TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL, ONGOING.
UM, I KNOW ANECDOTALLY, UM, I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE GHBA AND WHEN I LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING IN LEAGUE CITY, THAT THEY WERE WANTING INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FROM THE INDUSTRY, UH, THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.
THEY SAID, WHY AREN'T ALL CITIES DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS? AND SO I COMMEND YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT AND FORGOING THAT EXTRA MILE.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE DEVELOPERS OR THE BUILDERS OR WHOMEVER IS GOING TO GET EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT, AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IT DOES DO IS IT OPENS UP LINES OF COMMUNICATION.
IT LETS EVERYONE KNOW WHAT OUR PAIN POINTS MIGHT BE, INCLUDING WHAT Y'ALL, Y'ALL'S PAIN POINTS ARE.
AND IT ALLOWS US OPEN COMMUNICATION AND REALLY MORE TRUST.
AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH DOES, IS IT ALLOWS US BOTH TO TRUST ONE ANOTHER AND REALLY DETERMINE HOW WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER AND PARTNER AND MOVE FORWARD.
SO THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH, AND WE APPRECIATE IT, AND WE'LL OBVIOUSLY CONTINUE TO RETURN AND REPORT ALL OF THE, UH, EXPECTED OUTCOMES IN THIS PROCESS.
AND THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT.
I MEAN, I THINK ULTIMATELY THE GOAL SHOULD BE MUCH LIKE, UH, ME, PRO TEM JUST SAID, IT'S, IT'S A CUSTOMER SERVICE OR ORGANIZATION.
AND THE CUSTOMERS IN THIS CASE ARE, ARE NOT ONLY THE BUILDERS AND THE DEVELOPERS, BUT BUT OBVIOUSLY THE CITIZENS, RIGHT? AND IT'S BALANCING THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS OR THE, YOU KNOW, FOR, FOR HIGH QUALITY DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH AND WELFARE REASONS AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, WITH INDUSTRY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN PROCESS THIS EFFICIENTLY AND, UH, AND, AND GET GOOD DEVELOPMENT ON THE GROUND.
AND THEN ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE BUILD THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, ALL THAT THINGS.
AND WE BUILD THE FEES IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S NOT A PROFIT CENTER, BUT IT COVERS THE COST OF THOSE SERVICES INSIDE THE CITY.
SO AS WE GO AND KIND OF WEIGHT THOSE, WEIGHT,
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ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO MAKE OURSELVES EASIER TO WORK WITH AND AT LEAST BE CLEARER, MORE RESPONSIVE AND DELIVER THAT BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE, CHAD.RIGHT? I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THE, UH, INITIATIVES FROM THIS PACKET BEFORE WE TAKE OFF RUNNING WITH THEM.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF CHRIS, YOU MIGHT BE THE BEST ONE, OR RICK, WHOEVER IT IS.
UM, I'LL START, I'LL JUST GO IN ORDER.
THEREIN IN THE BOOK ON PAGE 11, UH, ONE INITIATIVE THAT GAVE ME A KNEE JERK, THAT'S A TERRIBLE IDEA OF WHEN I SAW IT WAS RECOGNIZED AND CELEBRATE ANNUALLY, COMMUNITY BUILDER OF THE YEAR.
UM, THAT ONE REALLY GIVES ME A LOT OF HEARTBURN.
UM, THAT'S ALMOST PUTTING A STAMP ON SAYING WE ENDORSE THIS BUILDER.
UM, WHICH MEANS WE OWN EVERY COMPLAINT THREE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
IF THAT'S THE BUILDER THAT HAS ALL THE MOLD, I, I DON'T WANNA BE ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
I, I DON'T SEE WHAT THAT DOES, UM, TO FIX OUR PROCESSES, UM, TO, TO, TO MEET ANY OF THE GOALS.
UM, THAT'S JUST ESSENTIALLY CITY PROVIDED ADVERTISING.
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THAT, SO I WANNA KNOW WHAT THE THINKING WAS ON THAT ONE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK I WAS MOST SURPRISED ABOUT DURING THIS ENTIRE PROCESS WAS REALLY THE EMOTIONAL NATURE OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE RECEIVED.
AND ALMOST UNIVERSALLY, I THINK THERE WAS, UH, EXPRESSED GENERALLY THE IDEA THAT, UH, THAT THOSE WHO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, DIDN'T FEEL, UH, ENTIRELY WELCOME.
THEIR PROJECTS WEREN'T WELCOME.
THIS DIDN'T JUST COME FROM LARGE DEVELOPERS, BUT IT CAME FROM A, A, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SIZES OF INVESTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, SO I THINK THIS INITIATIVE IS AN ATTEMPT TO CELEBRATE NOT JUST A BUILDER, A DEVELOPER, A CONTRACTOR, BUT IT COULD BE ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS MAKING OR HAS MADE A CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT IN TRYING TO ELEVATE THE QUALITY OF OUR, OF OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT.
SO, UH, IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN ADVERTISEMENT SO MUCH AS IT IS AN EXPRESSION, UH, THAT WE DO WELCOME, UH, INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING.
AND, UH, WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND WE, WE WANT TO, TO CELEBRATE THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT.
I, SO IT'S JUST A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.
I, I'VE NEVER GONE IN FOR ANYTHING DRIVEN BY EMOTIONAL REQUESTS.
UM, I'M NOT NOW I STILL DON'T LIKE IT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT ONE GOING.
UM, I THINK THE, THE WAY TO LET THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY KNOW THAT, THAT THEY'RE NOT FACING RESISTANCE IS BY THEM HAVING QUICK TURNAROUND OF THEIR APPLICATIONS BEING TREATED PROFESSIONALLY AND POLITELY.
UM, GETTING A CONSISTENT ANSWER FROM TIME TO TIME.
I THINK A LOT OF THE OTHER INITIATIVES GO FAR TO DO THAT.
SO I, I GUESS I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT ABOUT THE FREE ADVERTISEMENT, AND I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF THE PURPOSE OF IT, RIGHT? SO IF IN SOME WAY IF WE'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO DO CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE THE STANDARDS THAT MAY JUST COST MONEY AND, AND DON'T REALLY ADD TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE, THIS IS KIND OF A LOW COST WAY OF US PROVIDING SOME LEVEL OF INCENTIVE THAT THEN THEY CAN GO MONETIZE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THINGS THAT ARE, UH, THAT HELP THE COMMUNITY AND HELP US GET WHAT WE WANT OUT OF THE DEVELOPMENTS, AND THERE'S NOT REALLY A, UM, A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE FOR THEM, I THINK THIS PROVIDES SOME LEVEL OF INCENTIVE FOR THAT.
IF, IF IT'S REWORKED TO BE LIKE, CONTRIBUTOR OF THE YEAR BECAUSE THEY DID SOMETHING MORE FOR THE COMMUNITY THAN JUST BUILDING A BUNCH, I COULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT I WANNA SEE SOME PENCIL SHARPENED IN THAT REWORDED SO THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S FOR GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST FOR WE SLAPPED UP THE MOST HOUSES THIS YEAR.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE INTENTION WAS.
AND THEN JUST TWEAK THE WORDS, PLEASE.
UH, ON PAGE 13, UM, UNDER THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES, THE VERY FIRST BULLET, I DON'T IDENTIFY AS AN EXPECTED OUTCOME, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF PROPERLY COMPLETED APPLICATIONS.
UM, I THINK THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS IS GONNA VARY WITH THE GROWTH RATE.
UM, AND MAYBE THE, THE PERCENTAGE WILL GO UP.
UM, BUT THE, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER, I JUST DON'T, THAT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE OUR GOAL IS TO GET MORE, MORE APPLICATIONS,
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WHICH SAYS WE'RE TRYING TO SPUR DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS NOT, I THINK OUR INTENT.THE INTENT WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS THAT ARE SUBMITTED ARE, ARE CORRECT.
SO MAYBE AN INCREASE IN QUALITY AND THE PERCENTAGE OF PROPERLY COMPLETED APPLICATIONS WOULD BE A BETTER, BETTER WAY TO WORD IT THAN THE NUMBER.
UM, ON PAGE 15, UM, AND THESE ARE MORE OF A, A QUESTION ON THE, THE NEXT TO LAST INITIATIVE THERE, EXPLORE THE APPLICATION OF INCENTIVES ASSOCIATED WITH LOCAL BUYING AND CONTRACTING.
UH, WHAT ARE WE DOING THERE? UH, UM, I APOLOGIZE.
WHICH, WHICH SLIDE DID YOU SAY THIS IS UNDER? ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT AND WE HAVE A KEY STRATEGIC INITIATIVE, EXPLORE THE APPLICATION OF INCENTIVES ASSOCIATED WITH LOCAL BUYING AND CONTRACTING.
YEAH, SO, SO THIS OBVIOUSLY TIES IN WITH, WITH ECONOMIC INVESTMENT, RIGHT? IT, IT'S NOT INTENDED TO OVERSTEP, THAT'S CLEARLY IN, IN SCOTT'S PURVIEW, BUT IT'S TO MAKE SURE THAT INVESTORS WHEN THEY COME IN, OR, OR DEVELOPERS WHEN THEY COME IN, UNDERSTAND OUR POLICIES.
AND THEY'RE EXPLAINED, UM, VERY CLEARLY AT THOSE INITIAL MEETINGS THAT THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE INCENTIVES.
I I THINK IT WAS INTENDED TO MAXIMIZE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF EVERY PROJECT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE COMMITTEE INTENDED TO, TO SAY WITH THIS.
RUSS, DO YOU RECALL, SO WOULD THAT BE LIKE, HEY, YOU LOSE, YOU USE THE LOCAL MCCOYS TO GET YOUR LUMBER, WE'RE GONNA DISCOUNT A FEE SOMEWHERE.
IT'S, IT'S A WELL EXPLORED, UTILIZED, WELL TROD, UH, I GUESS, POLICY THAT A LOT OF CITIES HAVE UTILIZED IN ORDER AGAIN, TO MAXIMIZE THE INVESTMENT.
YEAH, WE, WITHOUT GIVING ME A GENERALIZATION, GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE.
SO, SO AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE JUST FOR, FOR HYPOTHETICAL DISCUSSION.
LET'S SAY A, A HOSPITAL WANTED TO BUILD ON THE FAR WEST SIDE.
AND WE SAID, WELL, THERE'S CONTRACTS FOR, UM, BED CLEANING SHEETS AND EVERYTHING.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE SUBBING OUT ALL THEIR LAUNDRY SERVICES.
UH, MAYBE THERE'S AN INCENTIVE FOR LOCAL LAUNDRY SERVICE USE VERSUS MORE OF A REGIONAL.
THAT WOULD BE ONE EXAMPLE IN THE BUILDING.
IT WOULD BE MY, MY CAUTION THERE, AND I DON'T MIND KEEPING THAT AS AN INITIATIVE, IS THAT WE'RE NOT GIVING UP MORE THAN WE'RE GETTING BACK BY DOING THAT.
AND THEN THE NEXT BULLET, RIGHT AFTER DEVELOP A PLAN TO FACILITATE BROADBAND ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CITY, WHEN DID THAT BECOME A CITY RESPONSIBILITY AND DO WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BROADBAND OVER THERE? WHY IS THIS IN HERE? SO, SO IT'S NOT NECESSARILY A, A, A PROBLEM, BUT WITH THE WEST SIDE BEING PRETTY MUCH OPEN AREA NOW, THERE, THERE ARE SOME, UH, POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES THAT COULD COME FROM PARTNERING AND, AND RUNNING THOSE CONDUIT AND NOW HAVING THE FIBER READY TO GO AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS, UH, BEING LOOKED AT AND FURTHER FLESHED OUT WITH OUR WEST SIDE MASTER PLANNING, UH, WOULD TELL YOU THAT WOULD BE, UH, IT'S NOT A, SO WHEN YOU SAY FACILITATE, YOU MEAN IF SOMEBODY NEEDS A RIGHT OF WAY TO RUN A DITCH THROUGH WE'LL, AND CITY PROPERTY, WE'LL GIVE IT TO 'EM.
IS THIS NOT THAT WE'RE PAYING TO RUN LINES FOR BUSINESSES? WELL, I THINK THERE'S ALSO A REIMBURSEMENT THROUGH THEIR INFRASTRUCTURES ACT WHERE WE HAVE TO HAVE SOME LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? YES, SIR.
YEAH, I THINK THAT NEW INFRASTRUCTURE ACT ON BROADBAND, I MEAN, YOU MEAN THE ONE I VOTED KNOW AGAINST ON THE BALLOT? THIS, YOU, THIS IS A FEDERAL LAW.
I DON'T THINK YOU WERE IN CONGRESS, NOT STATE, YEAH,
UM, I, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SHORTAGE OF, OF COMPANIES PUTTING IN BROADBAND.
IF I RECALL THE LAST SUBDIVISION THAT GOT A MUD OUT ON THE WEST SIDE HAD TWO COMPANIES ALREADY RUNNING BROADBAND THERE.
UM, AND WE DID NOT DENY THE NEW ONE.
UM, SO I, I HOPE THAT THE FACILITATION DOES NOT MEAN, UM, GIVING UP OF ANY RESOURCES.
THERE IS, UM, THERE IS A BELL CURVE ALMOST OF, OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CITIES HAVE DONE TO INSPIRE OR FACILITATE BROADBAND LOCATION.
AND SOME OF, UM, ONE EXTREMISTS, THEY GO INTO THE BUSINESS THEMSELVES, RIGHT? AND THEY, THEY, THEY, UH, ESTABLISH THEIR OWN, UH, UH, SERVICE, UH, AS IT WERE.
THAT'S NOT WHAT WE ARE SUGGESTING
[00:30:01]
OR AS, AS A MEANS OF FACILITATION.OTHERS HAVE BUILT HARDENED INFRASTRUCTURE THAT MAKES POSSIBLE THE PLACEMENT OF CONDUIT AS DEVELOPMENT OCCURS ON IN A CERTAIN PART OF TOWN.
UH, OTHERS HAVE SIMPLY FACILITATED THROUGH POLICIES AND, UH, OKAY.
WELL, WHILE WE'RE AT IT, CAN WE ALSO TAKE OUT WEST SIDE THERE AND INCLUDE REDEVELOPMENT ON THE EAST SIDE THAT WE FACILITATED THERE AS WELL? AND DON'T WANT ANYBODY THINKING THIS IS A TIME TO MOVE TO GET FASTER INTERNET.
THIS TOOLBOX PAGE, THOSE ARE THINGS YOU'RE NOT IMPLEMENTING AS INITIATIVES.
YOU'RE JUST DOCUMENTING THAT PEOPLE BROUGHT THESE UP.
THE TOOLBOX IS TO CAPTURE INITIATIVES THAT EITHER LIE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE OR CONTROL OF THE COMMITTEE.
UH, ARE OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF, OF THE PROJECT TO BEGIN WITH.
SO YES, THESE ARE JUST ISSUES THAT EMERGED THAT, UH, WE FELT LIKE YOU NEEDED TO BE AWARE OF, BUT THEY MAY ACTUALLY REQUIRE SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE A MORE CONCENTRATED, UH, EXAMINATION.
I'M WORRY ABOUT THOSE IF THEY COME UP.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS.
MR. MANN, HOW DO YOU, OR DO YOU CURRENTLY MEASURE CUSTOMER SERVICE OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION? I, I THINK THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY A VERY IMPORTANT POINT OF, OF THIS PARTICULAR, UH, EXERCISE WAS TO HOPEFULLY DEVELOP, UH, THAT METHODOLOGY.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE.
UH, RIGHT NOW, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
I KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN MECHANISMS THAT ARE BUILT INTO SYSTEMS LIKE INTER GOV THAT ALLOW YOU TO SURVEY PEOPLE.
BUT, UH, I THINK WE WANT TO FROM THIS POINT DEVELOP A, I WOULD SAY A, UH, A MORE COMPLETE METHODOLOGY FOR, UH, MEASURING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION.
BUT YOU, YOU DON'T DO IT CURRENTLY, DO YOU? UH, NOT TO ANY GREAT DEGREE, NO.
SO, AND YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE TOMMY WAS THE LOW LOAN COUNCILMAN ON THIS, UH, YEAH.
AND WHILE I LOVE TOMMY, HE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT DEVELOPMENT THAN SOME OF US ON THIS, ON THE DAIS HERE.
UM, BUT I AM COMPLETELY OPEN TO THE CONCEPT HAVING DEVELOPED MY OWN, YOU KNOW, MY, IN MY JOB, IT USED TO BE, UH, IF YOU WERE, IF YOU RAN AN IT DEPARTMENT, YOU BASICALLY WORKED UNTIL PEOPLE STOPPED SCREAMING.
AND THAT WAS YOUR, THAT WAS YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE GAUGE.
UM, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED AND THERE WAS A LOT OF SCREAMING.
AND THIS IS THE COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN FORMED FROM THE SCREAMING.
AND, UH, THAT'S WHAT I'M GUESSING HAS HAPPENED HERE.
UM, BUT I THINK YOU CAN SIMPLIFY A LOT OF YOUR PLAN BY SIMPLY COMING UP WITH AN INSTRUMENT TO MEASURE HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT IT.
NOW, I DO KNOW THERE'S THE, UH, ADDITIONAL, I DON'T KNOW, JUST IN MY HEARING, THE SCREAMING FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH Y'ALL'S DEPARTMENT, UH, AT TIMES IT DOES SEEM LIKE THERE'S NOT A LOT OF, UH, THAT IT'S BY THE BOOK, DEPENDING, REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE, REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
UM, AND SO I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A, THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE DEPARTMENT WHEN IT COMES TO BEING ABLE TO EMPOWER FRONTLINE WORKERS TO MAKE MORE COMMON SENSE DECISIONS.
UM, BUT THIS STRIKES ME AS A LOT MORE ENTHUSIASTIC, UH, THAN ANYTHING I'D BE WILLING TO VOTE FOR OR, OR APPROVE.
SO, UH, JUST MY 2 CENTS, IF YOU GUYS JUST GET TO A, AN INSTRUMENT WHEREBY YOU CAN OBJECTIVELY MEASURE, UH, YOUR CUSTOMER'S, YOU KNOW, YOUR CUSTOMER'S FEEDBACK, AND MAYBE JUST MAKE THOSE SMALL, UH, THOSE SMALL CHANGES, THEN I'M ALL ON BOARD.
I, I THINK IF YOU READ THE, UH, THE SUMMARY OF THE FEEDBACK, UH, IN THIS REPORT, I THINK IT AS ACCURATELY AS, UH, WE HAVE RIGHT NOW DEPICTS AND, AND, UH, DEMONSTRATES EXACTLY WHAT OUR, OUR PATRONS, OUR CLIENTELE RIGHT NOW FEEL ABOUT OUR SERVICE LEVEL.
I THINK IT'S A PRETTY GOOD GAUGE AND A PRETTY GOOD DESCRIPTION OF IT.
SO READ THAT, THAT PORTION, AND THANK YOU, ANDY.
I THINK ALSO I HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN QUALIFICATIONS IN THE BUILDING PROCESS AREA TOO.
I SPENT MY YEAR 42 YEARS IN CODE ENFORCEMENT AND BUILDING AND FIRE, OH, LORD.
BUT ANYWAY, I'D LIKE TO THANK RICK AND RON AND, AND RUSS FOR, AND CHRIS FOR ALL THEIR
[00:35:01]
HARD WORK.THIS COMMITTEE WAS REALLY A LISTENING COMMITTEE.
WE LISTENED TO THE FOCUS GROUPS, WE LISTENED TO THE CITIZENS AND THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO THE GROUPS TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THE PROCESS MUCH BETTER.
AND SOME OF THE PROCESS WAS THE FACT THAT WHEN THEY BRING IN AN APPLICATION TO THE CITY, IT TAKES TWO TO THREE WEEKS SOMETIMES TO GET COMPLETED.
AND THEY'RE, AND IT, IT COSTS PEOPLE MONEY, NOT ONLY JUST DEVELOPERS, BUT BUSINESSES THAT WANNA COME TO OUR CITY, EXISTING BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO COME TO OUR, OUR CITY OR STAY HERE.
IT COST A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEM TO GO THROUGH THIS TIME JUST IN, IN, IN, IN FINANCING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO THE COMMITTEE WAS MORE OF A LISTENING COMMITTEE, I THINK.
I, I KIND OF VIEWED IT AS THAT.
I, I DON'T THINK I HAD THAT MUCH INPUT IN THE, IN THE PROCESS OF WHAT WE NEEDED TO CHANGE.
I MADE MY COMMENTS, BUT NOT ALL OF THEM GOT ON THE PAGE.
BUT ANYWAY, WELL, I'M JUST KIND OF TELLING YOU SOME OF THE DEAL AND, AND WE WELCOMED ALL OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DO THE SURVEY, AND I THINK THERE WAS TWO THAT RESPONDED MAYBE.
UH, SO MAYBE THREE AT THE LAST DEAL.
BUT I, I WILL SAY THAT GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS, IT WAS NOT A LOT OF THE DEVELOPMENT WORLD.
IT WAS THE PROCESS AND BUILDING PERMITS FOR CONTRACTORS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE? AND I THINK THEY HIT IT ON THE, ON THE, UH, NAIL ON THE HEAD WHEN, WHEN THEY WERE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WHEN WE PASS, UH, CODES AND PROCEDURES AND POLICIES, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM DO AFFECT EXISTING BUSINESSES.
AND, AND YES, I GET A LOT OF CALLS FROM, FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO BUILD IN LAKE CITY, BUT THEY'RE ALSO OFF A, A LOT OF EXISTING, UH, BUSINESSES THAT ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PROCESS.
THE ONE THAT, THE ONE THAT CHAD BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE INCREASE IN NUMBER OF PERCENTAGE OF PROPERLY COMPLETED APPLICATION THAT WAS BROUGHT UP BY A CONTRACTOR, I BELIEVE, WHO, UM, WHO WAS BRINGING HIS APPLICATION THAT KEPT GETTING KICKED OUT.
AND IT GOT KICKED OUT FOR A NU UH, NUMEROUS UH, REASONS.
BUT I THINK ON THE COMMITTEE'S ASPECT, THEY WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO STREAMLINE THAT LESS, GET MORE COMPLETED APPLICATIONS FROM THE DEVELOPERS AND FROM THE BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO KICK 'EM BACK.
THAT WAS THE MAIN THING OF, OF WHAT WAS GOING ON THERE.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE ALL YOUR HARD WORK, RICK.
UH, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT COMMITTEE.
I I THOUGHT EVERYBODY HAD DONE A LOT OF, A LOT OF GOOD WORK AND, UH, UH, SO I DO APPRECIATE IT.
JUST EXCUSE ME, JUST REAL QUICK.
UM, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY FOR US, YOU KNOW, CODE, THE CODES ARE A LIVING DOCUMENT, AND SO HAVING A PROCESS LIKE THIS HELPS US BETTER UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, FRANKLY, AND THE STAFF TOO.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR GOAL IS TO PROCESS DOCUMENTS EFFICIENTLY AND, YOU KNOW, AND EFFECTIVELY HAVE OUR CODE BE AS CLEAR AND CONCISE.
I'D LIKE TO SAY IT WAS EASY AND ALL BLACK AND WHITE, BUT IT'S A LOT OF, IF THIS, THEN THIS AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FROM A PROCESS AND PROCESS MAPPING, I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY VALUABLE.
OF COURSE, WE DON'T NEED A ADOPTED PLAN FOR THAT, BUT AS WE LOOK FORWARD, AS WE LOOK FORWARD, AS YOU KNOW, THE, THE TRUTH IS IN WHAT WE DO WITH IT FROM HERE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, AN EXAMPLE WE USE, AND I THINK IT'S RELEVANT TODAY, IS TODAY WE HAVE A REQUIREMENT THAT SAYS IF YOU ADD MORE THAN 25% ONTO YOUR BUILDING, THEN YOU NEED TO BRING YOUR FACILITY UP TO CURRENT STANDARDS RELATIVE TO PARKING, LANDSCAPING, AND OTHER THINGS.
AND SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY, THAT'S A BIT ONEROUS.
IF YOU HAVE A 1500 SQUARE FOOT OFFICE AND YOU WANT TO ADD SOMETHING TO IT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER 25% OF THAT NUMBER IS, IT'S PRETTY SMALL NUMBER.
MAYBE THAT NUMBER SHOULD BE BIGGER.
IF YOU HAVE A SMALLER BUILDING, MAYBE IT'S A HUNDRED PERCENT BEFORE YOU TRIGGER THE WHOLE NEW CODE.
OBVIOUSLY THAT NEEDS TO BE A REFLECTION ON WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS, AS, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE CODES PASSED BY THE COUNCIL, IF YOU HAVE A 50,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING, MAYBE 25% IS THE RIGHT NUMBER, THAT'S 10,000 OR 12,000 MORE SQUARE FEET.
AND SO THAT'S KIND OF AN EXAMPLE OF MAYBE SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD BROUGHT UP.
WE'VE HEARD IT BROUGHT UP IN THE LAST YEAR, THREE OR FOUR TIMES.
AND SO MAYBE THAT'S A CODE RECOMMENDATION OR A CODE CONSIDERATION.
WE'LL BRING BACK TO COUNCIL TO LOOK AT THAT.
BUT IT PROVIDES US A ROADMAP OF KIND OF HOW, WHAT, WHAT TO LOOK AT AND HOW WE MOVE THAT FORWARD.
I THINK THE INTEGRATED PROCESS WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY, WITH THE ENGINEERS THAT USE THE PROCESS, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GOT THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T WORK.
[00:40:01]
THINK EVERYBODY HAS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING WHY WE ASK THE QUESTIONS WE DO, AND THE DOCUMENTATION FOR A COMPLETED APPLICATION AND STUFF.SO, YOU KNOW, FOR US IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING IN A ROADMAP.
AND I, AND I THINK IT'S, IM IMPORTANT WITH OR WITHOUT IT, WE'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING OUR PROCESS AS EFFICIENT AND AS EFFECTIVE AS WE CAN.
SO I KINDA LOOK AT THIS AS A, AS A MINDSET CHANGE MAYBE, UH, INSTEAD OF A, YOU KNOW, A MINDSET AND PROCESS CHANGE RATHER THAN CHANGING CODE.
I'M NOT REALLY FOR WATERING DOWN THE CODE OR, OR BRINGING DOWN THE STANDARDS IN ANY WAY, BUT IF YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO FRUSTRATION IN THE BUILDING COMMUNITY, UH, ONE PART OF IT ADDS VALUE TO THE CITIZENS.
AND, AND ONE PART DOESN'T, RIGHT? SO IF IT'S THE CODE AND YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CODE AND WE DON'T LIKE FOLLOWING THE CODE, WELL THAT'S, THAT'S TOUGH, RIGHT? I DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT ONE.
THAT ADDS VALUE, UH, TO THE CITIZENS.
IF IT'S, IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON AND IT TAKES FOREVER, YEAH.
THAT'S NOT ADDING ANY VALUE TO THE CITIZENS.
THAT'S JUST CREATING KIND OF A BOTTLENECK AND IT DOESN'T REALLY HELP ANYBODY.
SO I'M ALL FOR FIXING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE ASPECT OF IT, NOT NECESSARILY WATERING DOWN THE CODES.
LET'S LOOK AT WHAT MAKES SENSE.
BUT I, SO THAT'S WHY I KIND OF LOOK AT THIS AS A REFRESH IN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE ASPECT, NOT JUST A WATERING DOWN OF THE CODES.
SO, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, WE'VE ASKED FOR CONSIDERATION OF IT TONIGHT.
IF WE'RE NOT READY TO DO THAT, WE WILL TAKE THE SUGGESTIONS AND COME BACK AT A LATER MEETING.
AND SO WHAT WE'RE REALLY THOUGH, I MEAN, WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT, THIS, IT'S MORE LIKE WE'RE TAKING THIS AS A WHOLE, AS A WAY OF REFRESHING THIS.
WE'RE NOT GONNA SAY, THESE DON'T HAVE ANY KIND OF CODE CHANGES.
THOSE WILL ALL COME BACK LATER AND WE'LL YELL AT EACH OTHER ABOUT THAT AT A DIFFERENT MEETING, UH, AT A DIFFERENT WORKSHOP AND REALLY HASH ALL THOSE OUT, RIGHT? E EXACTLY.
AND WE, I COULD NOT HAVE REALLY ARTICULATED IT BETTER.
THIS IS A RESET ON A PARADIGM.
THIS IS, UH, AND NOT JUST ON OUR STAFF'S PARTNER OR NOT OUR SIDE, BUT WE BELIEVE THIS WILL RESET THE RELATIONSHIP AS WE GO FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTING THIS, UH, PLAN WITH OUR PATRONS.
UH, WHICH BY THE WAY, IS NOT JUST THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY.
IT COULD BE ANY CITIZEN THAT NEEDS A PERMIT IN THE FUTURE.
SO WE WANT TO CHANGE THE PARADIGM ON BOTH SIDES.
WE CANNOT ELEVATE TRUST UNLESS WE DEMONSTRATE THAT WE HERD UNDERSTAND, AND THAT WE'RE WILLING TO DELIVER ON THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE NEED.
AND SO WE'RE HOPING FOR A PARADIGM SHIFT INTERNALLY.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR ONE EXTERNALLY AND AN, AND GENERALLY AN ELEVATION OF TRUST BETWEEN US AND, UH, THOSE THAT WE SERVE.
UH, I WILL MAKE SURE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER THAT YOUR CHANGES ARE, ARE IMPLEMENTED.
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THE VERSION THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR BAG RIGHT NOW IS SOMEWHAT, UH, CHANGEABLE IN THAT IT'S NOT A
UH, SO WE WILL MAKE SURE THOSE, THOSE EDITS ARE MADE IF YOU'RE WILLING TO GO FORWARD WITH, UH, THE ADOPTION OF THIS PLAN AS OUR OFFICIAL BLUEPRINT.
WE HAVE PLANS TO, WE HAVE ALREADY BEGUN IMPLEMENTATION OF SEVERAL INITIATIVES, NONE THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP, UH, HERE TONIGHT, UH, PER SE.
UH, AND WE'RE WILLING TO MOVE FORWARD IMMEDIATELY IN IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN.
I WILL SAY IN THE ALMOST 20 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING IN THIS, UH, THIS KIND OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, UH, WORLD, UH, MY GENERAL FEELING IS THAT IF WE CAN IMPLEMENT 85% OF THESE INITIATIVES, SUCH WILL BE TRANSFORMATIVE.
UH, GENERALLY I'VE NEVER SEEN, UH, A HUNDRED PERCENT IMPLEMENTATION BECAUSE THE WORLD CHANGES, RIGHT? IN THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
THERE ARE RE LOTS OF REASONS WHY WE CAN'T DO EVERY ONE OF 'EM.
AND WE FIND OUT LATER, AS MAYBE HAS ALREADY BEEN DISCOVERED HERE, HEY, I'M NOT SURE THAT ONE'S GOING TO WORK, OR, OR FOR WHATEVER REASON.
WHAT I AM SURE OF IS WE WILL KEEP OUR COMMUNITY OF, OF THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ENGAGED IN EVALUATING AND REPORTING THIS.
AND WE ARE EAGER TO COME BACK TO YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE, PROBABLY IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND, UH, GIVE YOU A REPORT.
PROBABLY NOT HERE, WILL PROBABLY BE A WRITTEN REPORT OUT OF RESPECT FOR YOUR TIME.
AND, UH, IF YOU WOULD INDULGE ME, I WOULD LOVE TO, UH, EXPRESS SOME APPRECIATION TO THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON, ON THIS AND MAYBE EVEN GET A PICTURE IF, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT LITTLE POLAROID WHO DID THAT SLIDE DECK.
THAT IS SOME, THAT IS SOME SWEET POWERPOINT RIGHT THERE.
FIRST, UH, WANT TO SAY, UH, AND IF WE COULD HAVE THESE FOLKS COME FORWARD, UH, MR. RUSS BYNUM, COME FORWARD.
THANK YOU, SIR, FOR BEING OUR CHAIR AND REMAINING OUR CHAIR OF OUR, OUR COMMITTEE.
A LITTLE EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION FOR YOU.
[00:45:01]
DO YOU THINK ANNIE JUST WANTED SINGLE MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE? IS THAT WHAT THIS IS ABOUT? JEALOUSY, ABOUT THE BAG.
A SINGLE MEMBER OF OUR COMMITTEE THAT DID NOT GIVE HIS OR HER ENTIRE HEART AND SOUL TO THIS PROJECT.
AND, UH, TOMMY WAS NO DIFFERENT.
THANK YOU, MR. STEVE SHELDON, COME ON IN.
STEVE, OUR LOAN ENGINEER, UH, ON THE COMMITTEE.
THE HEART, THE SOUL, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND.
DID YOU LOSE YOUR PE YOUR PE STAMP? KEEP GOING BACK AND FORTH.
I'M, WE'RE IN A GROOVE IN THE FLOOR.
UH, MR. RALPH BLANCO, BUILDING OFFICIAL EXTRAORDINAIRE.
OUR LONE ROSE AMONG THE THORNS.
CANDACE
LIKE IT IS, APPRECIATE YOU, YOU CAN HAVE IT.
AND, UH, OUR FIRE MARSHAL JEFF ALLEN, COME ON UP AND WE WILL SAVE, UH, UH, KEVIN HOLLANDS AND JEFF AND CHRIS'S, UH, GOODY BAG LATER.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO HAVE ALL OF YOU COME UP AND DO A PHOTO? AND MAYOR AND JOHN, IF YOU COUNCIL ANY MEMBER OF SPECIAL
WE'D APPRECIATE THAT YOU GET THE PICTURE.
YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS IF YOU'LL SIT IN THE BACKGROUND.
WELL, WHILE YOU'RE ASSEMBLING, I DO WANNA RECOGNIZE OUR STAFF MEMBERS THAT SUPPORTED THIS.
OF COURSE, MY FELLOW FACILITATOR, RAM MITA AND SARAH OSBORNE, AMBER PETTIGO.
AND WHO WORKED HARDER THAN JUST ABOUT ANYONE.
WHY DON'T YOU POINT THEM OVER HERE.
INDIAN STYLE IN THE FRONT, THEN SLOW DOWN.
AND AT FIVE 50 THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.