[00:00:01]
A, GRAB A CALL.ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY READY? DANIELLE, ARE YOU READY? ALRIGHT.
[ Call to order: City Hall Council Chamber ]
SO WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER.WE'RE A LITTLE BEHIND, NOT MUCH.
UH, CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:34 PM UH, WE WILL ASK REVEREND NATE, SPRINKLE FROM THE CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, IF YOU WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION AND THE PLEDGE TO OUR FLAG.
IF WE ARE READY, WOULD YOU BOW AND PRAY WITH ME THIS EVENING? HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU THIS EVENING AND BRING THIS PRAYER IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS, WHO WE CELEBRATE AT CHRISTMAS TIME.
WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.
FATHER, WE'RE THANKFUL FOR OUR COUNTRY.
WE'RE THANKFUL FOR OUR CITY AND WE'RE THANKFUL FOR OUR CITY COUNCIL AND EACH OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT SERVE ON IT AND GIVE SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME, UM, TO SERVE OUR CITY.
LORD, I JUST PRAY YOUR RICHEST BLESSINGS ON THEM AND ON THEIR FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
AND LORD, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THIS MEETING THIS EVENING.
LORD, GIVE THEM WISDOM, UM, GIVE 'EM DISCERNMENT AND GIVE 'EM JUST A, A DESIRE TO DO WHAT IS THE VERY BEST FOR THE CITIZENS OF ROSENBERG FATHER.
AND I JUST PRAY FOR THE CITIZENS OF ROSENBERG AS WELL, FOR EACH ONE OF US THAT WILL, UM, LIVE LIVES THAT HONOR AND UPLIFT YOU.
AND ESPECIALLY AT CHRISTMAS TIME.
FATHER, WE'RE MINDFUL OF THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US AND YOUR SON JESUS.
AS THE ANGEL IS RECORDED TO HAVE SAID TO JOSEPH, YOU SHALL CALL HIS NAME JESUS, FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.
FATHER, THAT IS THE GREATEST HOPE THAT ANY ONE OF US CAN HAVE AND ENJOY.
AND I PRAY THAT THAT IS TRUE OF EACH ONE OF US HERE THROUGHOUT THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE IN CHARGE AND THAT WE ASK THAT YOU JUST DIRECT THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING THIS EVENING AS IT IS THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING OF 2025.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANSWERING OUR PRAYER.
WOULD YOU PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES WITH ME? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
WE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR CONGREGATION ALL THE BEST.
GREAT CHRISTMAS AND SAFE AND PROSPEROUS.
ALRIGHT, SO BEFORE WE GET TO BUSINESS, WE HAVE UM, SOME THE IMAGE AWARDS AND THEN WE HAVE A, UH, PRESENTATION FROM GFL, WHICH THEY WISH TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE CITY AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
[ Presentation of the 2025 Home for the Holidays Decorating Contest Awards from the Rosenberg Image Committee. (William Benton, Mayor) ]
YOU ARE A MEMBER OF OUR IMAGE COMMITTEE BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, WOULD YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN PRESENTING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY AWARDS FOR THE CITY FROM THE CITY IMAGE COMMITTEE? UM, JOIN ME RIGHT DOWN HERE AND WALTER GEORGE, I'M GONNA TURN THE AIR DOWN.UH, FELIX AND GEORGE, PLEASE JOIN, JOIN AGAIN.
UH, WALTER, UH, HOW ABOUT ALRIGHT, THIS IS WALTER TOPPY.
HE IS A MEMBER OF OUR IMAGE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AND HE HAS BEEN WORKING LIKE A TROJAN.
OUR COMMITTEE'S BEEN WORKING LIKE A TROJAN, BUT WALTER'S BEEN WORKING LIKE TWO TROJANS.
[00:05:01]
UM, FROM, UH, FROM HONORABLE MENTION UP TO THE GRAND PRIZE AND I THINK Y'ALL WILL BE, I THINK Y'ALL WILL BE IMPRESSED.THERE WE GO AND GET ALL THE WAY DOWN HERE.
SO THIS FIRST ONE IS FOR HONORABLE MENTION AND THOSE ARE, UH, $50 GIFT CARDS, $50 GIFT CARD.
AND I KNOW IT AIN'T $500, BUT $50 BETTER THAN NOTHING, RIGHT.
ALRIGHT, LET ME, LET ME LOOK FOR THE, UH, CERTIFICATE HERE FOR WATER CREST PARK.
SO ARE THE FOLKS HERE FOR WATER? 1315 WATER CREST PARK.
ANYBODY HERE FOR THEM? HERE THEY ARE.
MICHAEL, ARE YOU HERE FOR YOUR $50? GOTTA BE PRESENT TO WIN.
ALRIGHT, WELL GUESS WHAT? WE'RE NOT GOING TO UH, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISAPPOINT HIM.
WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE HE GETS HIS $50 DEAL NOW.
BUT ANYWAY, THAT WAS LOVELY, WASN'T IT? HERE'S ONE IN TOWN CENTER.
CARLOS, ARE YOU HERE? THERE HE IS.
WITH THAT, WITH HIS CERTIFICATE.
AND THEN MR. CORTEZ, IF YOU'LL STAY UP HERE WITH US, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A GROUP PICTURE SHORTLY.
THERE'S UH, MR. CORTEZ'S BEAUTIFUL YARD.
KIND OF HARD TO GET A JUST FROM THAT PICTURE, BUT IT LOOKS VERY NICE.
OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO PARKWAY.
AND THIS IS IN, UH, CAMBRIDGE.
ARE WE HERE, JENNIFER FROM UH, 25 15 PARKWAY? NOT HERE, BUT WE'LL MAKE SURE SHE GETS HER 50 GIFT CARD AS WELL.
UH, CAMBRIDGE IS A REALLY GOOD NEIGHBORHOOD FOR DECORATION.
ANOTHER HONORABLE, ANOTHER HONORABLE MENTION.
CHECK YOUR, CHECK YOUR LIST THERE IF YOU DON'T MIND.
ARE THEY HERE? ANYBODY HERE FROM 27? ARE YOU HERE? WELL, COME ON DOWN.
OH MA'AM, WHAT'S YOUR NAME? NAME IS, UH, AT, UH, GEORGE.
OUR NEXT ONE IS, UH, 38 0 2 JUNKER.
RICKY, EVEN RICKY, EVAN EVAN'S ALSO FOR $50 IS A YEAR.
MR. EVAN HONORABLE MENTION AS WELL.
IF YOU'LL SEE, LET'S GO BACK TO THAT.
WE APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S EFFORTS.
OKAY, THIS IS IN THE, UH, GOT IT RIGHT HERE.
ANGELA, ARE YOU HERE? ANGELA? THIS IS IN, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THAT NEIGHBORHOOD? SEABORNE LANDING.
SEE THE, UH, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE GARAGE DOOR? THEY HAD A PROJECTOR, SO THAT WAS VERY NICE.
WELL, WE'LL GET THEM, GET THEM THEIR DEAL.
[00:10:01]
HERE? THERE HE IS.UH, WALTER, ONE OF OUR COUNCIL, TWO OTHER WOMEN PRESIDENT.
UH, WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD ARE YOU IN, SIR? MR. WAKEFIELD? IS IT SEABORNE LANDING.
ALRIGHT, WHAT, WHO IS NEXT? HONORABLE MENTION? OLD CREEK.
THIS IS GONNA BE GREENWOOD VILLAGE, I BELIEVE.
IS THAT YOU STANDING UP OR IS THAT SOMEBODY DIFFERENT? ALRIGHT, SO WE DON'T BELIEVE MELISSA GETS THIS MESSAGE.
WE WILL COME ON DOWN OR WE WILL MAIL YOU YOUR PHONE.
NOW WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO, THERE WE GO.
THIS IS FOR A HUNDRED DOLLARS.
ALRIGHT, WALTER, CONGRATULATIONS.
BROUGHT YOU A, UH, CHEERLEADERS.
WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE GONNA GET A PICTURE.
NOW WERE WE KIDDING? WERE WE KIDDING ON THAT ONE? YEP.
LET ME TAKE A SECOND TO TELL Y'ALL ABOUT THIS.
THIS HAD THE UH, WELL I WAS IMPRESSED.
UH, IT WAS THE FIRST THING WHEN I DROVE BY THIS HOUSE, I GOT OUT TO LOOK AT IT.
BUT THIS IS THE CASTILLOS AND THANK YOU CASTILLOS FOR NOT TAKING A SHOT AT ME.
'CAUSE IT WAS ABOUT NINE 30 AT NIGHT WHEN I WAS OUT THERE.
SO FIRST THING, I APPRECIATE THAT.
THEY HAD, YOU WERE PLAYING CHRISTMAS MUSIC, SO I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THAT.
THEN THEY HAD A LITTLE SIGN THAT WAS A COUNTDOWN TO THE NUMBER OF, YOU KNOW, NUMBER OF DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS UNIQUE BECAUSE, UM, IT JUST WASN'T GENERIC.
AND THIS IS, I THINK IF I RECALL SINCE SENDERO IS THAT RIGHT OFF COPELAND? SO MR. CASTILLO, COME ON DOWN.
AND JUST SO THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS, THAT DOESN'T COME LIGHT AROUND HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE BETTER GIVE YOU THE MONEY.
I GOT A FEELING IT'S GOING THERE ANYWAY.
[00:16:27]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.[ Presentation of a “Beautification Check” in the amount of $10,000 from GFL Environmental as part of the Keep Rosenberg Beautiful Program. (William Benton, Mayor) ]
GONNA DO, WE'RE GONNA INVITE ALL THE COUNCIL.GEORGE, YOU CAN TURN AROUND NOW.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A GROUP PICTURE IF Y'ALL, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WISH TO TAKE IT, GFL IS MAKING A DONATION TO THE CITY ON BEHALF OF GFL.
PRESENTATION OF A BEAUTIFICATION CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000.
FROM GFL ENVIRONMENTAL AS PART OF KEEP ROSENBERG BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM.
UM, DO I NEED TO READ? SAYS OKAY.
ALRIGHT, WELL WE, YEAH, MAKE SURE THEY SIGN IT.
THIS IS MY CHRISTMAS BONUS, RIGHT? I I DON'T WRITE, I DON'T SIGN CHECKS AROUND HERE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE REAL CHECK.
I GUESS, I GUESS THAT'S NOT THE CHECK ON ON THE WALL.
[ Announcements. ]
ALL RIGHT, LET'S MOVE ON TO THE, TO THE AGENDA.WE WILL TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.
CITY FACILITIES WILL BE CLOSED WEDNESDAY, A WEEK FROM TOMORROW, DECEMBER 24TH AND DECEMBER 25TH.
[00:20:01]
THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY, NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS WILL RESUME THE VERY NEXT DAY, FRIDAY, DECEMBER THE 26TH.GFL SPEAKING OF WHICH OF GFL, UH, THEY, THEY WILL NOT PICK UP TRASH ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
THEY WILL PICK UP TRASH CHRISTMAS EVE, BUT THEY ARE NOT ON ACTUAL CHRISTMAS DAY.
THURSDAY'S PICKUP WILL BE DEFERRED TO FRIDAY AND FRIDAY'S PICKUP WILL BE DEFERRED TO SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27TH.
AND WE'LL MOVE A WEEK, WEEK AHEAD.
UM, NEW YEAR'S DAY, HO HOLIDAY CLOSURE.
CITY HALL, CITY FACILITIES WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY, JANUARY THE FIRST, AND OBSERVANCE FOR NEW YEAR'S DAY HOLIDAY.
NORMAL HOURS WILL RESUME ON FRIDAY, JANUARY THE SECOND.
NO TRASH PICKUP ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 1ST.
THURSDAYS AGAIN WILL BE DEFERRED TO FRIDAY, JANUARY 2ND.
AND FRIDAYS OF COURSE WILL HAVE TO BE PUT BACK TO SATURDAY, JANUARY THE THIRD.
DOES THE COUNCIL HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? DOES THE ANIMAL SHELTER HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? ARE WE HAVING ANY EVENTS DOWNTOWN? ANY CITY EVENTS DOWNTOWN? ANYBODY.
DO YOU WANT TO ANNOUNCE JUDGE BAER'S MOTHER'S FUNERAL DAY? UM, SO JUDGE BAER'S MOTHER WAS, UM, SHE DOES HAVE A CELEBRATION OF LIFE COMING UP.
SHE WAS 79 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE PASSED.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT HER CELEBRATION OF LIFE WILL BE ON AT OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH IN ROSENBERG, TEXAS ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18TH, 2025.
THE ROSARY IS AT 10:00 AM AND THE MASS IS AT 10:30 AM SO I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME BY, UH, JUDGE CHRISTIAN BERA TO JOIN IN HER CELEBRATION OF LIFE.
OKAY? AND I HAVE ONE OTHER CLARIFICATION UNDER ANNOUNCEMENT, PLEASE NO ONE COMMENT OR ASK ANY QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION, UH, REGARDING THE EPICENTER CONTRACT THAT THE, THE VERBIAGE IN IT.
FIRST OF ALL, LEMME JUST SAY OCCASIONALLY WE USE HUMOR UP HERE AND WE JOKE AROUND A LOT ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.
I THINK THAT KIND OF HELPS US TO BREAK THE, THE ICE.
I THINK HUMOR'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU EXPECT FOLKS TO BE AT MEETINGS LIKE THIS FOR TWO OR THREE HOURS.
SO OCCASIONALLY WE JOKE AROUND, SOMETIMES THE PRESS PICKS UP ON IT WRONG.
THE OTHER DAY THEY DID WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THE COUNTY WILL PROVIDE THE CITY WITH UP TO 20 TICKETS TO THE EPICENTER.
LET ME REPEAT, THE COUNTY WILL PROVIDE THE CITY, NOT THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND I KNOW Y'ALL UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT APPARENTLY OTHERS DIDN'T WANNA POINT OUT THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S ALL I'M GONNA SAY ABOUT THAT.
AND THERE'S A, THIS IS DRAWN FROM THE DIRECT CONTRACT THAT THE COUNTY GAVE THE CITY.
IT WAS REVIEWED BY ATTORNEYS AND ATTORNEYS AND MORE ATTORNEYS.
OUR ATTORNEYS, THEIR ATTORNEY.
SO THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY ABOUT THAT.
WELL, I KNOW BILL, YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T WANT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, BUT I'M ALWAYS HERE TO GO AGAINST THE GRAIN.
BUT COULD WE JUST REJECT THAT PROVISION? JUST REJECT IT COMPLETELY? WELL, WE CAN'T EVEN DISCUSS, SO YEAH, WE, WE CAN'T DISCUSS IT UNTIL WE GET IT BACK ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL THINK ABOUT THAT.
BUT I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND LET'S GET GOING ON THE MEETING 'CAUSE IT'S ALREADY WHAT, 6 58? WE HAVE SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE SOMEONE, UH, SIGNED UP LAST WEEK FOR GENERAL COMMENTS.
ARE YOU HERE? DANIEL? BOWLING.
[ CONSENT AGENDA ]
LET'S TAKE A SECOND AND GO THROUGH, LET'S NOT JUST RUSH THROUGH THIS.UH, DO Y'ALL HAVE ANYTHING IN THE CONSENT AGENDA Y'ALL WANT TO TALK ABOUT? IT IS ON THE AGENDA.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TALK ABOUT.
WE CAN GET DETAILS, WE CAN ASK QUESTIONS.
MOSTLY A LOT OF, I THINK WE'RE A GOOD COUNSEL.
WE ASK QUESTIONS TO THINGS THAT JUST 'CAUSE WE KNOW THE ANSWER.
[00:25:01]
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? 'CAUSE IF NOT, WE NEED A, WE NEED TO CONSENT.
WE NEED TO APPROVE THAT CONSENT AGENDA FOR ME.
I'M HITTING THE BUTTON TO MAKE A MOTION.
OH, YEAH, SHE SAID THEY'RE NOT WORKING TONIGHT BECAUSE YOUR HAND.
I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
MOTION MADE BY JESSICA, UH, SECONDED BY HECTOR TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THERE'S ANYBODY OPPOSED? SAY NO.
NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE REGULAR
[2. Hear presentation by Larry Wilkinson, Chairman, regarding the Housing Authority of the City of Rosenberg Annual Report for Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2025. (Danyel Swint, City Secretary) ]
AGENDA.LARRY IS HERE WITH HIS ANNUAL REPORT, DR.
LARRY HERE, PRESENTATION BY DR. LARRY WILKINSON, CHAIRMAN REGARDING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF ROSENBERG ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDED, WHICH ENDED OF COURSE SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
UH, DANIELLE, DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT? IT'S GOT YOUR NAME THERE.
NO, I'LL LET DR. WILKINSON TAKE.
WELL, WHEN I FIRST STARTED DOING THIS A FEW YEARS AGO, THE DANIELLE SAYS I HAD A MAXIMUM OF 30 MINUTES.
I JUST, I JUST SET MY TIMER FOR FIVE.
UH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
THIS IS MORE OF AN IN INFORMATIVE, UH, PRESENTATION THAT I HAVE.
BOTTOM LINE OF THE CITY OF ROSENBERG DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY A CENT.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UH, MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF WHAT HUD DOES IN THE WAY OF, OF ASSISTING PEOPLE WITH HOUSING, BUT THERE ARE A FEW PROGRAMS THAT YOU MIGHT NOT BE AWARE OF.
UH, ONE IS DEDICATED TO VETERANS, JUST VETERANS WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON NEED A LITTLE ASSISTANCE.
WE HAVE ONE THAT'S CALLED MAINSTREAM, THAT'S FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE DISABLED UNDER 62.
AND THE ONE THAT BROKE MY HEART WHEN I REALIZED IT IS ONE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING OUT OF, UH, STATE PROTECTION, CHILD SERVICES, PROTECTIVE CHILD SERVICES, WHEN THEY TURNED 18 OF THE STATE DISPATCH.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE REST OF YOU FOLKS.
I WAS 18 WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR THEM.
UH, SO IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT WHAT IS NORMAL FOR HOUSING, BUT IT'S, IT'S WHAT WHAT HAS BECOME A NORMAL FOR US ALSO, I'D JUST LIKE TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF STORIES.
UH, I HAVEN'T DONE AS GOOD A JOB AS I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DO, AND THAT'S ON ME.
BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF WHAT I CONSIDER SUCCESS STORIES.
I SHOULD HAVE WRITTEN IT DOWN.
BUT ANYWAY, WHO, WHO WAS IN DIRE STRAITS HAD TWO CHILDREN AND WAS TRYING TO GO TO, TO INCREASE HER, HER EDUCATION AND SHE JUST DIDN'T HAVE A SOLID HOME LIFE OR HOME ENVIRONMENT.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAD A, HAD A HOME OR IF SHE JUST COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE HOME AND GO TO SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS SHE WENT TO SCHOOL, SHE BECAME A DENTAL HYGIENIST AND SHE VOLUNTARILY GOT OFF THE PROGRAM.
THAT'S WHAT I CONSIDER SUCCESS.
WE HAVE ONE MORE YOUNG MAN WHO WAS 18 YEARS OLD, MOVED OUTTA THE SYSTEM.
WE WERE ABLE TO SOLIDIFY HIS HOUSING.
HE THEN WAS ABLE TO GO OUT AND GET A PART-TIME JOB, COMPLETE HIS, HIS HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND HE'S MOVING ON WITH HAVING THE ABILITY TO HAVE PERMANENT HOUSING THAT WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR HIM.
THAT'S THE TYPE OF THINGS THAT MOST OF US WHO SERVE ON THE BOARD AND THOSE WHO WORK THERE, THAT'S WHY WE'RE THERE IS WE'RE THERE TO, TO HELP PEOPLE WHO JUST NEED A LITTLE EXTRA HAND.
THAT'S MY STORY AND I'M STICKING TO IT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION? THANK YOU DR.
IF YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, BUT THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING
[00:30:01]
THOSE SUCCESS STORIES.THESE ARE ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE FUNDS, UH, PROVIDE BENEFITS TO THE RECIPIENTS.
LARRY, DO YOU MIND IF I TELL THE PUBLIC, I THINK THE COUNCIL KNOWS ALREADY, BUT IT'S CALLED THE H ROSENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY, BUT WE DON'T ACTUALLY FUND ANY PART OF YOUR BUDGET.
NOT A PENNY, BUT THE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REQUIRES THAT YOU REPORT TO US.
UH, IT WAS SET UP ANNUAL REPORT.
WE HAVE A, HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF, OF UNDERSTANDING.
IT WAS STARTING OF SETTING IT UP WAS IN 75.
IT'S TOTALLY FUNDED BY HUD AND IT'S, IT'S FIRED OUT.
WE HAVE, I JUST WONDER WHY THEY HAVE YOU REPORT TO US.
NO, I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, GOOD INFORMATION, BUT THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS SET UP.
IF, AND WE ARE THE ONLY HOUSING AUTHORITY IN FORT BEND COUNTY.
A LITTLE B THAT I HAVE IS, IS FORT BEND COUNTY IS NOW, WHAT ABOUT A MILLION RESIDENTS? YEAH.
YOU GIVE OR TAKE, UH, HAVE THE TRUMP A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND.
HAVE THE TRUMP CUTS AFFECTED YOUR BUDGET? NOT YET.
UH, BUT ONE THING THAT I, UM, I'M A LITTLE GRUMPY ABOUT IS HARRIS COUNTY AS ANYWHERE FROM FOUR TO 6 MILLION DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU, OF THE NUMBERS YOU USE AND THEIR HOUSING, INCLUDING PERMANENT HOUSING, YOU KNOW, HOUSING UNITS RUN BY HHA, HOUSTON HOUSING AUTHORITY, UH, PASADENA, UH, HARRIS COUNTY HAS A HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IT'S BETWEEN 25 TO 30,000 UNITS AND WE HAVE LESS THAN A THOUSAND.
UH, IT AIN'T RIGHT, BUT IT IS, IT IS WHAT IT IS.
AND WE DO THE BEST WE CAN FOR GOD AND COUNTRY.
LARRY, UH, I, AND I DON'T, I THINK MOST COUNCIL KNOWS THAT YOU ARE A FORMER MAYOR.
AND YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE RDC AND YOU HELP 'EM OUT AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
SO WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THE CITY.
[3. Review and discuss the annual report regarding the status of collections for delinquent taxes, municipal court fines and fees, false alarm fees and liens/assessments for mowing, demolition and paving, and take action as necessary. (Luis Garza, Director of Finance) ]
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO.WANT GET GOING HERE? LEMME GET MY, ALRIGHT.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, REVIEW AND DISCUSS ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING THE STATUS OF COLLECTIONS FOR DELINQUENT TAXES, MUNICIPAL COURT, FINES AND FEES, FALSE ALARM FEES AND LIENS, ASSESSMENTS FOR MOWING, DEMOLITION AND PAVING.
BEFORE WE GET TO LEWIS, I'M GONNA ASK HECTOR IF HE WILL RUN THE MEETING.
I'VE GOTTA STEP OUT FOR A FEW MINUTES.
I'M NOT GOING FAR, BUT I JUST GOTTA STEP OUT.
SO, UM, LEWIS, HECTOR'S IN CHARGE.
THE CITY CURRENTLY CONTRACT WITH PURDUE, BRANDON, FIELDER, COLLINS AND MO FOR THE COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT TAXES, MUNICIPAL COURT FINES AND FEES, FALSE ALARM FEES AND LIENS, ASSESSMENTS FOR MOWING, DEMOLITION AND PAVING.
UH, MR. MIKE DARLOW WITH PURDUE.
BRANDON HAS PROVIDED AN ANNUAL REPORT WITH INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF COLLECTION EFFORTS FOR THE CONTRACTED SERVICES.
MR. DARLOW IS HERE TONIGHT AND WILL PRESENT, UH, THE INFORMATION, UH, AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND WE'LL DISCUSS ELECT COLLECTION EFFORTS.
THE ANNUAL REPORT IS PRESENTED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY, AND TO ALLOW MR. DAO TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COLLECTION PROCESS.
UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND HAND IT OVER TO MR. DAO FOR HIS PRESENTATION.
I WAS STANDING RIGHT HERE ONE YEAR AGO NOW, SO IF YOU COULD JUST REWIND THAT NIGHT.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE GOT TO SAY TONIGHT.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WITH YOU FOR A FEW MOMENTS TONIGHT AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE THE WRONG DIRECTION THERE.
I I DO WANT TO START JUST WITH A COMMENT ABOUT SOMETHING FOR YOU Y'ALL TO KNOW.
UM, IN NOVEMBER WHEN THEY HAD THE, UH, ELECTIONS, THERE WAS A MULTITUDE OF
[00:35:01]
CONSTITUTIONAL, UH, ITEMS ON THE BALLOT.ONE OF THEM DEALT WITH THE INCREASE IN THE EXEMPTION FOR BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY.
AND THE REASON I POINTED OUT IS, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY ROSENBERG HAS A LOT OF SMALL, UH, INDIVIDUALLY OWNED BUSINESSES IN TOWN.
AND FOR MANY OF THOSE COMPANIES, THEY'VE BEEN PAYING A BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX IF THE VALUE OF THEIR INVENTORY AND EQUIPMENT WAS $125,000 OR LESS.
SO BECAUSE THIS LAW, THIS, UH, UM, CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSED BEGINNING IN 2026, UH, ANY BUSINESS, THE FIRST $125,000 OF VALUE OF THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY WILL BE EXEMPT.
I'M NOT ABLE TO TELL YOU TONIGHT WHAT THE ACTUAL IMPACT TO THE CITY WILL BE.
UH, THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT IS CRUNCHING SOME NUMBERS ON THAT.
AND AS Y'ALL GET INTO YOUR BUDGET CYCLE IN 2026, THEY WILL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE YOU SOME INFORMATION, UH, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOTTA MAKE THAT UP, SO TO SPEAK.
UM, 'CAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE.
SO SOME OF THE ACCOUNTS THAT IN THE PAST WE MAY HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER FILED, A LAWSUIT HAD TO GO TRY TO COLLECT, WE WON'T BE DOING THAT IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE THEY WON'T BE ON THE TAX ROLL.
SO THAT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, UH, NEW INFORMATION TO SHARE.
UM, TONIGHT I'VE GOT THE INFORMATION TALKING ABOUT HOW MUCH IN BASE TAX WAS DUE TO THE CITY.
WHEN WE PREPARED THIS REPORT BACK IN NOVEMBER, IT WAS ROUGHLY $370,000 FOR ALL TAXES THROUGH THE 2024 TAX YEAR.
A COUPLE OF THE CATEGORIES I'LL POINT OUT FOR YOU, UM, IS THE DEFERRALS, 14% OF THE MONEY.
UH, IF YOU'RE OVER 65, IT'S YOUR HOMESTEAD, YOU CAN DEFER THE PAYMENT OF YOUR TAXES.
SO ALL THE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT DOLLAR, SOME DON'T GET A LETTER, A PHONE CALL, OR ANY ACTIVITY FROM US.
UH, WE CHECK THAT OUT AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR WITH THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY THAT'S RECEIVING THAT EXEMPTION IS ENTITLED TO IT.
SOMETIMES PEOPLE PASS AWAY, THE KIDS DON'T KNOW THAT WHILE THEY GOT A HOUSE FOR MOM OR DAD, UH, THAT THEY ALSO GOT A TAX LIABILITY BECAUSE THEY HAD HAD A DEFERRAL.
SO WE MONITOR THOSE AND THEN TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ONCE THAT DEFERRAL IS REMOVED.
UM, LITIGATION, I'LL POINT OUT, UH, 34% OF THE ROLE.
SO WHEN OUR LETTERS AND PHONE CALLS DON'T WORK, WE DO FILE LAWSUITS, UH, THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
MANY OF THEM GET PAID EITHER WHEN THE CONSTABLE SERVES THEM PAPERS OR WE SET A CASE FOR TRIAL, UH, OR WHEN WE HAVE TO POST PROPERTY FOR SALE.
UH, SOME OF YOU I'M SURE RECEIVE OUR UPDATE EVERY WEEK ON OUR TAX SALE NOTICES.
WE HAVE HAD SOME PROPERTIES IN THE CITY THIS YEAR THAT HAVE GONE ALL THE WAY TO SALE AND HAVE SOLD, UH, FOR THE TAXES THAT ARE OUTSTANDING, IN SOME CASES, EVEN MORE THAN WHAT WAS OWED.
UH, AND THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE FORMER OWNER TO EITHER BUY BACK THE PROPERTY OR TO MAKE A CLAIM FOR THOSE EXCESS PROCEEDS.
THE LAST THING I'LL NOTE ON THIS IS THE BANKRUPTCY.
AND I ONLY POINTED OUT BECAUSE IT'S SO SMALL.
SO, YOU KNOW, ONE SIGN OF HOW THINGS ARE ECONOMICALLY IS ARE WE SEEING AN INCREASE IN TAXPAYERS FILING BANKRUPTCY? AND SO FAR WE ARE NOT.
SO THAT'S A GOOD SIGN, UH, FOR THE CITY.
THIS GIVES YOU A BREAKDOWN BY TAX YEAR OF THE $370,000.
AND SINCE WE DID THIS REPORT, WE'VE CLOSED OUT THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, AND THE BALANCE OWE TO THE CITY RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT 340,000.
SO WE HAD A COUPLE OF ACCOUNTS THAT GOT PAID, UH, BETWEEN THE TIME WE PREPARED THIS REPORT, UH, AND THE END OF NOVEMBER.
BUT YOU CAN SEE, UH, THE BULK OF THE MONEY IS 2024, UH, IN 2023 TAXES.
THEY'RE NEWER DELINQUENCIES AND THE NEWER THEY ARE, THE MORE COLLECTIBLE THEY ARE.
OVER TIME, IT DOES GET HARDER.
AND YOU'LL NOTE THAT MANY OF THE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE IN THOSE OLDER YEARS ARE DEFERRALS OR ACCOUNTS THAT ARE NO LONGER COLLECTIBLE, MAINLY BUSINESSES THAT ARE NO LONGER HERE.
SO I'VE GIVEN YOU SOME HISTORICAL, UH, DATA AND I'M HAPPY TO GO THROUGH ANY ONE OF THESE.
BUT IN THE ESSENCE OF TIME, LET ME JUST TAKE YOU TO THE LAST COMPLETE YEAR.
SO WHEN I WAS HERE LAST YEAR, I WAS GIVING YOU AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE WERE ON 2023.
SO IN JULY OF 24, WE HAD $239,000 TURNED OVER TO US.
THAT REPRESENTS LESS THAN 2% OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF TAXES THAT THE CITY LEVIED.
WE LEVIED OVER $14 MILLION, UH, FOR 2023.
UH, THAT FIRST COLLECTION YEAR, WE COLLECTED JUST SHY OF 70%, AND THROUGH OCTOBER WE'RE OVER 77% COLLECTED OF THAT $239,000.
AND FOR THE YEAR 2024, WHICH WE BEGAN JULY 1ST, 2025, UH, YOU'LL NOTE THAT THE, UH, TOTAL OUTSTANDING BASE WAS 302,000.
YOU ALSO LEVIED TAXES OF, UH, ROUGHLY $14.5 MILLION.
SO THIS, AGAIN, LESS THAN 2%, UH, OF YOUR LEVY WAS LEFT TO US TO COLLECT.
AND THE, IN THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS COLLECTION CYCLE, WE'VE COLLECTED OVER 51%.
[00:40:01]
SO WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD START ON THE COLLECTION OF THE 2024 YEAR.UH, WITH THAT SAID, UH, BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE OTHER PORTIONS OF MY REPORT, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE TAX PORTION, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER IT FOR YOU.
WE, SO, I'M, I'M MOVING ON MAYOR
SO THE OTHER THING THAT WE DO FOR YOU, AS YOU KNOW, IS YOUR COURT FINDING FEE.
AND WE HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR COURT CLERK, WITH THE JUDGES, WITH THE STAFF IN DRIVING PEOPLE TO YOUR COURTS TO TRY TO GET THEM TO COME OUT.
UH, LAST YEAR I THINK I MENTIONED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ARE GETTING OUR TEXTING UP AND RUNNING.
UH, AND YOU'LL NOTE THAT WE'VE SENT OVER 38,000 TEXTS.
SO YOU MAY HAVE READ OVER TIME, UH, OR SEEN IN THE PAPER THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TEXTING SCAMS, ESPECIALLY IN THE TOLL ROAD BUSINESS.
SO OUR TECHS HAVE OUR LOGO ON IT, SO TRY TO MAKE IT, IF YOU WILL, WE KNOW IT'S AUTHENTIC, BUT FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S LOOKING AT IT, KNOW THAT IT'S A LEGITIMATE TEXT THAT THEY'RE GETTING, TRYING TO GET THEM TO CONTACT US OR REACH OUT TO THE COURT TO PAY.
I THINK WE'RE HAVING SOME REALLY GOOD, UH, RESPONSE TO THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, LETTERS ONLY GET YOU SO FAR.
UH, IF YOU OWE OTHER DEBTS TO PEOPLE, UH, OR YOU'RE JUST NOT A BIG FAN OF THE MAIL, WHEN THAT MAIL COMES TO YOUR HOUSE, THE ODDS ARE YOU'RE REALLY NOT GONNA LOOK AT OUR LETTER AND DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, PUSH IT WHERE IT BELONGS IN THE TRASH RECYCLE.
IT ACTUALLY WOULD BE A BETTER WAY TO, TO HANDLE IT.
UH, AND SO I THINK WE'RE SEEING A POSITIVE IMPACT FROM THAT.
I'VE PROVIDED YOU HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN TURNED OVER TO US OVER THE LIFE OF THE CONTRACT.
WHAT WE'VE COLLECTED IN CASH, NON-CASH, THE TOTAL AGGREGATE RESOLUTION RATE, UH, BOTH FOR THE FINE AND FEE FOR THE FALSE ALARMS AND FOR THE MOWING LIENS.
WE WORK CAREFULLY WITH, CLOSELY WITH LEWIS AND HIS STAFF IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO GET INFORMATION ON MOWING LIENS AND DEMO LIENS THAT THE, THAT THE CITY HAS.
UH, WHEN THOSE DO OCCUR, OFTENTIMES IT'S IN THE VENUE OF A DELINQUENT TAX SUIT AND WE'RE ABLE TO COLLECT THAT MONEY AT THAT TIME, UH, FOR THE CITY.
AND THEN I'VE GIVEN YOU A COUPLE OF MAPS.
LET'S JUST GO TO THE LAST ONE, WHICH I ALWAYS LIKE TO SHOW.
SO EVERY PIN REPRESENTS SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN THROUGH THE CITY, GOTTEN A TICKET, AND STILL OWES YOU MONEY.
SO YOU CAN SEE THE INHERENT CHALLENGE THAT THE COURTS FACE AND THAT US AS YOUR VENDOR FACE IN TRYING TO GET THE MONEY THAT'S OWED TO THE CITY COLLECTED.
UM, SO ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THE BULK, OF COURSE, IN TEXAS, UH, BUT WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY AGAIN WITH, WITH STAFF, UH, IN THE SPRING WILL BE A VERSION OF A WARRANT ROUNDUP PROGRAM THAT WE DO ON BEHALF OF ALL OUR CLIENTS.
WE'RE GONNA SEND OUT ROUGHLY HALF A MILLION POSTCARDS AROUND THE STATE OF TEXAS TO PEOPLE THAT OWE OUTSTANDING, UH, TICKETS TO VARIOUS COURTS.
WE'LL BE DOING PUBLICITY WITH IT, AND WE THINK IT'LL ALSO BE A GOOD DRIVER TO BRING IN, UH, MONEY FOR THE COURTS.
WITH THAT, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THIS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE'RE DOING ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE TEXT? HOW YOU CONTACT THEM BY TEXT? SO, THROUGH OUR RESEARCH, FIRST OF ALL, OFTENTIMES WHEN THEY GET A TICKET, UH, THE INFORMATION THAT THEY GIVE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS THEIR CELL PHONE ON IT.
UH, THAT INFORMATION GETS TRANSMITTED TO US AS PART OF THE UPDATES THAT WE GET ON ACCOUNTS TO COLLECT.
THEN WE RUN THOSE NAMES AND NUMBERS THROUGH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT SEARCH ENGINES, UH, TO TRY TO VERIFY THAT WE HAVE THE CORRECT, UH, CELL NUMBER AND AND OR EMAIL ADDRESS OF THE PERSON.
UH, AND THEN WE INPUT THAT INTO OUR SYSTEM AND GENERATE TEXTS.
WE DO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THEM, UH, EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK, UH, FOR VARIOUS CLIENTS.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY, UM, PUSHBACK BECAUSE YOU'RE SAYING TEXTS? 'CAUSE I MEAN, WITH THE WAY THE SCAMS ARE THESE DAYS, I I DON'T, I DON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE A TEXT.
AND THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED THAT WE PUT OUR LOGO ON IT.
WELL, THAT, I MEAN, NICK, TO TRY TO ADD WELL, TO JUST TRY TO ADD SOME AUTHENTICITY YEAH, YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF PUSHBACK.
BUT, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE'S ALMOST MORE TO GAIN WITH THE TEXTING AND THE EMAILING AND WE'LL, WE ALSO DO EMAILING CAMPAIGNS, UH, THAN JUST WITH, UM, UH, LETTERS.
AND, AND PHONE CALLS ARE HARD TOO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE A HOME PHONE ANYMORE.
UH, AND THEN THEIR CELL PHONES OFTENTIMES THEY HAVE IT BLOCKED AND THEY DON'T ANSWER IT.
SO IS THE TEXT AND THE EMAILS THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL? YEAH, I, I THINK WE'VE SEEN MORE INCREASED CONTACT.
AND AS YOU KNOW, OUR JOB IS TO DRIVE PEOPLE TO THE COURTS AND LET THE COURTS DECIDE.
WE DON'T MAKE PAYMENT AGREEMENTS.
WE DON'T NEGOTIATE ON BEHALF OF THE CITY.
SO I THINK IT'S DRIVEN MORE BUSINESS TO THE CITY TO TRY TO RESOLVE ACCOUNTS.
[00:45:02]
AND I SHOULD MENTION, MAYOR, JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO FOR YOU IS AT NO COST TO YOU.IT'S ALL BORN BY THE PEOPLE THAT OWE YOU THE MONEY.
UH, WELL, MORE OF A, CAN I MOVE THIS? THIS IS A LOVELY THING.
I'LL EAT IT LATER, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S BLOCKING MY EYEBALLS.
THANK Y'ALL FOR THESE LOVELY GIFTS HERE.
UM, SO, UH, TODAY, JUST TODAY I SAW A TERRIBLE STORY AND I HOPE THIS CITY NEVER DOES IT.
AND IF THEY DO IT, I HOPE I'M NOT MAYOR.
IF THEY, IF WHEN THEY DO IT
AND THAT IS, UM, UH, A CITY FORECLOSED ON A $300,000 HOUSE.
AND JOHN S STAAL'S REPORTER, I LIKE JOHN STOSSEL.
HE IS LIKE AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, USED TO BE WITH A BC NEWS 2020 WHEN THEY WERE STILL A PRETTY REPUTABLE BALANCED NETWORK.
UM, AND FOR $8 THEY FORECLOSED ON THIS $300,000 HOME.
SO WHEN THE GUY WENT TO TO PAY THE $8, UM, THEY DIDN'T, THEY DIDN'T LET HIM PAY IT.
OF COURSE, THEY DIDN'T WANT HIM TO PAY IT BECAUSE THEY WANTED THE $3,000 HOME, $300,000 HOME.
AND I HOPE THEY NEVER, EVER SAY ANYTHING LIKE THAT ABOUT US.
SO, UM, I'M NOT SURE TO WHAT EXTENT YOU HAVE AUTHORITY FROM THE CITY TO ENGAGE IN COLLECTIONS, BUT I WOULD HOPE SOMETHING LIKE ANY FORECLOSURE WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY, BEFORE THE CITY EVER DID ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WELL, THAT, THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN HERE.
THAT IS PROBABLY FROM A DIFFERENT STATE THAT HAVE DIFFERENT RULES.
IN TEXAS, YOU CANNOT JUST TAKE SOMEBODY'S HOME THAT WAY.
THEY'RE ENTITLED TO BE SERVED, THEY'RE ENTITLED TO DUE PROCESS.
THERE HAS TO BE A TRIAL, THERE HAS TO BE A JUDGMENT.
THEY THEN HAVE TO GET NOTICE, UH, FROM A CONSTABLE OF A TAX SALE.
UM, THERE IS THE SALE ITSELF, IF THE PROPERTY SELLS AT A TAX SALE AND WE DO SELL PROPERTY AT TAX SALES, THE OWNERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO REDEEM OR BUY BACK THE PROPERTY WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME.
UM, DEPENDING ON IF IT'S THEIR HOMESTEAD, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE TWO YEARS TO BUY IT BACK ROUGHLY FROM THE TIME OF THE SALE.
SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE PERSON THAT BOUGHT IT AT THE SALE WHAT WAS OWED.
PLUS IF THEY REDEEM IT IN THE FIRST YEAR, 25%.
IF THEY REDEEM IT IN YEAR TWO, 50% PENALTY ON TOP.
SO THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT SOMEBODY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO GET BACK THEIR PROPERTY.
I I WOULD ALSO TELL YOU, JUST AS A PRACTICAL MATTER, WE DON'T SUE PEOPLE FOR $8.
WELL, ARE ARE THESE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES THAT ARE GOVERNED BY THE DTPA? NO.
SO HOW, HOW ARE THEY CATEGORIZED? OUR, OUR GOVERN OUR PRACTICES ARE GOVERNED BY THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX CODE.
RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, UH, THOSE TYPE OF THINGS.
BUT THAT, SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT A DEBT, IT'S A DEBT COLLECTION, CORRECT? NO, IT IS NOT UNDER THE DT PA.
IT'S NOT UNDER THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION ACT EITHER.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S A GOVERNMENTAL DEBT THAT YOU'RE COLLECTING AND THOSE ARE NOT SUBJECTED.
SO THE MAJORITY OF THOSE TYPE OF DEBT GOVERNMENT IS DIFFERENT.
UNLESS IT'S A UTILITY, UTILITY IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT'S A, SO YOU'RE JUST TALKING, YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY'S MORTGAGE.
LIKE I THINK IN THIS EXAMPLE WAS A NON-GOVERNMENT DEBT, THE $8 ON THE HOUSE, I'M ASSUMING, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A GOVERNMENT DEBT OR A NON-GOVERNMENT DEBT.
SO THE ONLY PRACTICES, THE ONLY COLLECTION YOU'RE DOING IS ON GOVERNMENT DEBT? YES MA'AM.
THAT'S NOT REGULATED IN THE SAME WAY AS LIKE CONSUMER DEBT.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, OR SUGGESTIONS FOR, UH, FOR PURDUE? BRANDON COLLINS.
IT LOOKS LIKE, DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD WORK ON YOUR COLLECTION PROCESS.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
[4. Consideration of and action on Resolution No. R-3999, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rosenberg, Texas, designating a Representative and an Official Alternate to the Houston-Galveston Area Council General Assembly for the year 2026. (Danyel Swint, City Secretary) ]
OKEY DOKE.I GUESS WE'LL GO ON TO ITEM NUMBER.
UH, WHAT WAS IT? ITEM NUMBER FOUR, CONSIDERATION OF AN ACTION ON RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 39 99.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL SUBS, CITY OF ROSENBERG, TEXAS DESIGNATING A REPRESENTATIVE AND AN OFFICIAL ALTERNATE TO HGAC.
HOUSTON GALVESTON AREA COUNCIL GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR 2026.
THE HGAC HAS REQUESTED THE CITY'S APPOINTMENT OF A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE H G'S 2026 GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
[00:50:01]
BENTON CURRENTLY SERVES AS ROSENBERG'S REPRESENTATIVE AND MAYOR PROAM TREVINO SERVES AS THE OFFICIAL ALTERNATE.HGAC IS THE REGIONAL ORGANIZATION THROUGH WHICH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONSIDER ISSUES AND COOPERATE AND SOLVING AREA-WIDE PROBLEMS THROUGH HGAC.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ALSO INITIATE EFFORTS IN ANTICIPATING AND PREVENTING PROBLEMS SAVING PUBLIC FUNDS.
THE 13 COUNTY HGAC SERVICE REGION IS GROWING, BECOMING MORE DIVERSE AND CONSTANTLY CHANGING IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TO GUIDE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT WISELY AND MANAGE CHANGE CONSTRUCTIVELY.
H'S PROGRAMS ARE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE POLICY DIRECTION OF H'S.
LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS MADE UP OF THE REGION'S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THE BOARD IS MADE UP OF 37 ELECTED OFFICIALS REPRESENTING 13 COUNTIES, 107 CITIES AND 11 INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE REGION.
THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION NUMBER R 3 9 9 9 WILL DESIGNATE THE 2026 ROSENBERG REPRESENTATIVE AND OFFICIAL ALTERNATE TO SERVE IN THESE POSITIONS.
THE TERMS WILL BEGIN ON JANUARY 1ST, 2026, HGAC MEETS ON THE THIRD TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 10:00 AM IN HOUSTON.
WHAT, UH, I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, BUT FOR THE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY HERE, WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'M LOOKING FOR, UH, CITY COUNCIL TO NOMINATE A REPRESENTATIVE AND AN OFFICIAL ALTERNATE.
UM, THE ALTERNATE IS NOT MANDATORY, BUT WE DO NEED, UM, A REPRESENTATIVE.
LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY INTEREST.
OKAY, SO THIS BOARD MEETS, UH, ON THE SAME DAY AS THIS MEETING.
THE, THE, THE WHAT? THIS IS THE SEC? NO, THE THIRD TUESDAY.
THE MEETING OF THE MONTH AT 10:00 AM UM, IN HARRIS COUNTY AT HOUSTON.
IS THERE ANYBODY? AND IT'S DURING, IT'S 10:00 AM AND IT'S ON A WEEKDAY.
IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT'S ABLE TO GO TO THAT MEETING? CRICKETS.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE? ALRIGHT, SO NOW WHAT WE, WE NEED, WE COULD JUST REAPPOINT MYSELF AND HECTOR.
ANYBODY HAVE AN INTEREST IN TRYING TO GO? HECTOR, YOU MIND? I, I'LL SERVICE EVERYBODY AS A ALRIGHT, SO THAT'LL BE MY MOTION.
I MOVE THAT MYSELF AND HECTOR WILL BE, UH, THE DESIGNATE AND ALTERNATE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY, OH, WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU WANNA GO, RICHARD? I'M JUST KIDDING.
LISTEN, THE LAST TIME WE MADE A JOKE HERE, CHANNEL 13 INTERVIEWED ME, SO YOU KEEP JOKING.
SO, UM, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
THAT WAS, THAT WAS A PRETTY EASY ONE.
[5. Review and discuss proposed amendments to the City Charter, and take action as necessary to direct staff. (Brandon Morris, City Attorney) ]
ITEM NUMBER FIVE.DISCUSS, UH, REVIEW AND DISCUSS PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY CHARTER.
THIS ITEM PROVIDES CITY COUNCIL THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE PROPOSED CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS SUB SUBMITTED INDIVIDUALLY BY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS IN PREPARATION FOR A POTENTIAL CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION ON MAY 2ND, 2026.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS DISCUSSION IS TO REVIEW ALL SUGGESTED REVISIONS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION ON WHICH PROPOSALS SHOULD ADVANCE FOR FURTHER LEGAL REVIEW AND POSSIBLE INCLUSION.
THE PROPOSED CITY CHARTER AMENDMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED UNDER SEPARATE COVER FOR CITY COUNCIL'S REVIEW.
WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO BEGIN WITH THEIR SUGGESTED WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO DO 'EM IN ANY ORDER? DANIELLE, PUT 'EM IN IN ORDER THAT THEY'RE IN THE, THAT THEY ARE IN THE CHARTER.
UM, I THOUGHT WE'D GO FROM, FROM HAR FROM EASIER TO HARDER.
THE FIRST ONE, UM, IS, UH, IF Y'ALL RECALL, THERE'S AN ITEM IN THE CHARTER.
THIS WOULD JUST BE A HOUSEKEEPING ITEM TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE.
A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOESN'T MEAN THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN, BUT AS Y'ALL RECALL, IT IS REQUIRED NOW AS, AND IT'S NOT FUNDED EITHER.
SO IT'S AN UN IT'S AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.
UM, BUT, UH, UH, THIS LAST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE CITY WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET A GRANT.
YOU MAY NOT ALWAYS GET A GRANT.
SO, SO THIS IS NOT SO MUCH FOR OUR BENEFIT.
[00:55:01]
BENEFIT OF SOMEONE ELSE THAT'S HERE EIGHT OR 10 YEARS FROM NOW.UM, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO STRIKE THAT FROM THE, UM, FROM THE CHARTER MAYOR.
SO YOU DON'T WANT TO, YOU DON'T WANT THE CITY TO GET ANY MORE GRANTS? I THOUGHT THESE CONVERSATION PLANS WAS FOR THE CITY TO, SO THEY CAN APPLY FOR SOME GRANTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST, I'M I'M THROWING THAT OUT.
I DO WANT THE CITY TO GET GRANTS.
I I DON'T CARE IF YOU KNOW, IF THEY GET 'EM.
UM, I THINK SOME DEPENDS WHAT IT IS.
I DON'T THINK YOU NEED TO HAVE, UH, A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO GET A GRANT IN EVERY SITUATION.
AND IF YOU DID, THEN YOU COULD, YOU COULD UH, ORDER A COMP A A, LET'S SAY ON THE NINTH YEAR AFTER THE CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
YOU COULD ORDER, UH, YOU KNOW, A A MORE CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
UM, AS A COUNCIL, WE'VE NEVER FOLLOWED ANY OF THESE PLANS.
MAYBE THE STAFF HAS FOLLOWED AND CERTAINLY USED THEM FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS.
UM, THEY TALK ABOUT SOME OF THIS AT THESE HGAC MEETINGS, WHICH IS WHERE WE GOT THE FUNDING FOR THIS CURRENT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT THE CITY HAS THAT ALREADY BEEN PRESENTED.
JOYCE, THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PRESENTED TO WHAT? TO COUNCIL? NO SIR.
YOU GOT AN UPDATE ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
WE'RE ONLY ABOUT NINE MONTHS IN.
WELL THAT GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH WE'VE MISSED IT AND HOW, AND HOW USEFUL IT IS.
WELL THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING VERY HARD ON THAT.
ALRIGHT, SO MY SUGGESTION IS TO STRIKE IT FROM THE CHARTER.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO DO A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, BUT IT'S NOT FUNDED.
UM, AND I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE ELIMINATE IT AS A CLEANUP ITEM OUT OF THE CHARTER.
UH, RICHARD, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENT? I AGREE WITH THAT.
GEORGE, LEAVE IT OR LEAVE IT OR TAKE IT OUT OF THE CHARTER.
HELLO? I THINK WE CAN LEAVE IT.
JESSICA, YOU WANNA LEAVE IT OR TAKE IT OUT? IF WE, IF YOU'RE NOT SAYING THAT, WE WOULD DO AWAY WITH WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE I THINK WE ALREADY HAVE ONE IN PROCESS AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT.
SO WE'RE STILL GONNA PROCEED WITH THAT.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING JUST FOR THE FUTURE IT WON'T BE REQUIRED.
CORRECT? IT WOULDN'T BE REQUIRED.
IT DOESN'T MEAN THE CITY DOESN'T HAVE TO DO ONE.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S REQUIRED EVERY 10 YEARS.
BUT THE CURRENT ONE IS NOT GOING TO BE CANCELED.
THE CURRENT ONE HAS ALREADY BEEN FUNDED.
WE WOULD NOT CANCEL SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR.
SO THAT ONE WILL BE COMPLETED AND WE'LL GO FORWARD WITH THE ONE THAT'S ALREADY IN PROCESS.
BUT YOU'RE JUST SAYING FOR FUTURE YEARS THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
I'M SUGGESTING TO REMOVE IT FROM THE CHARTER TO NOT REQUIRE THE CITY.
'CAUSE THERE'S NO FUNDING MECHANISM FOR, I MEAN, YOU WANNA SPEND $250,000 FOR SOMETHING.
MAYBE YOU CAN USE, MAYBE YOU CAN'T USE.
WELL, TO ANSWER HECTOR'S QUESTION, UM, DO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT IN THE CHARTER IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GRANT? OR IS THAT JUST SOMETHING THAT WE COULD GET A GRANT FOR? WHETHER IT'S IN THE CHARTER OR NOT? LET ME ANSWER THIS.
IT, IT'S NOT REQUIRED TO GET A GRANT ANYWAY.
THE CITY GOT A GRANT FOR, FOR THE STUDY, FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
SO WAS THERE A COMPREHENSIVE AND I'M GONNA BE A LITTLE JOKEY HERE.
THIS ONE HOPEFULLY WILL BE HARMLESS.
DID WE DO A STUDY TO SEE IF WE NEEDED TO HAVE A STUDY TO GET A GRANT FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ANYWAY, IT'S JUST BUREAUCRACY.
IT'S ANOTHER UNFUNDED MANDATE IS WHAT IT'S, MY SUGGESTION IS TAKE IT OUT OF THE CHARTER, SAVE THE TAXPAYERS A FEW DOLLARS.
IF THE CITY NEEDS A STUDY TO, TO UH, APPLY FOR A GRANT, THEY CAN DO IT AT THAT TIME.
I ALWAYS SAVING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY ON THAT.
I ALWAYS SAVING THE TAXPAYERS MONEY.
IF IT'S, IF IT'S A GRANT THAT THEY GAVE US AND ALL THEY'RE DOING IS JUST APPLYING FOR IT.
I'M JUST, I'M JUST TRYING TO GET WHERE YOU'RE, WHERE YOU'RE GOING AT WITH THAT MAYOR.
WELL, BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT GET A GRANT NEXT TIME.
WELL, I DON'T THINK THE CITY WILL, UH, WILL GO SPEND MONEY IF THEY'RE GONNA, THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET A GRANT ON IT.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE GONNA GO.
BUT IT'S IN THE, THEY THEY HAVE TO IF IT'S IN THE CHARTER.
THAT'S, THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.
IF WE TAKE IT OUT OF THE CHARTER.
IF, IF WE TAKE IT OUT OF THE CHARTER, THEN THE FUTURE COUNCIL CAN SAY THEY WANT TO DO IT OR THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT AS LONG AS WE'RE NOT CANCELING THE CURRENT ONE.
'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
[01:00:01]
NOW AND THEN WE'LL HAVE IT RIGHT AND THEN THAT SHOULD LAST SEVERAL YEARS.THE CHARTER CURRENTLY JUST REQUIRES YOU TO UPDATE IT EVERY FIVE YEARS.
YEAH, BUT WITHIN FIVE YEARS THE CHARTER COULD GET CHANGED AGAIN.
THE DIS IF WE DON'T HAVE THIS IN THE CHARTER, WOULD'VE FED GETTING OTHER GRANTS.
THAT'S MY, I THINK THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN GIVES YOU OTHER MONEY FROM OTHER PLACES.
IF I'M, AM I WRONG OR I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS? I DON'T KNOW THAT IT BEING IN THE CHARTER MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
I THINK FROM WHAT I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, IT'S, IT'S THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, UM, THAT OPENS UP SOME GRANT FUNDING TO YOU.
'CAUSE THEY CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THE CITY'S GOING, WHAT THEY'RE PLANNING, THAT SORT OF THING.
UPDATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL TYPICALLY GIVE YOU MORE POINTS WHEN YOU'RE SUBMITTING OTHER TYPES OF GRANTS.
SO YOU, IT HELPS YOU IN THE RANKING, RANKING PROCESS.
'CAUSE IT GIVES YOU ADDITIONAL POINTS BASICALLY.
SO THEY'RE, THEY CAN GET MORE GRANTS.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT FUNDING THIS CONVERSATION PLAN.
I'M TALKING ABOUT FUTURE GRANTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE GENERATORS OR, OR, OR ANOTHER GRANT FOR, FOR SOMETHING ELSE.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT.
IF WE REMOVE THIS FROM THERE, LIKE JOYCE WAS SAYING, YOU, YOU GET RANKED LOWER NOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE PROBABLY THINKING, OH, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE USING THEIR MONEY SO WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE IT TO 'EM AND WHERE WE ARE.
BUT BEING IN THE CHARTER, IT MIGHT SAY YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW IT.
IT'S LIKE A AN SOP THERE'S A PROCEDURE THAT THEY HAVE TO DO SO THEY THINK, OH THESE GUYS ARE LEGIT.
WE CAN, WE CAN GIVE 'EM A GRANT 'CAUSE WE KNOW THEY'RE GONNA USE IT WISELY.
THAT'S WHERE I SEE THIS, THAT'S WHY I'M AGAINST HIM REMOVING IT ANYWAY.
ARE YOU FOR REMOVING IT OR LEAVING IT? I WOULD.
REMOVING OR KEEP, SO IS THIS GONNA UH, HANG ON, REMOVE OR KEEP, KEEP, UH, JESSICA REMOVE OR KEEP SO LONG AS WE GO FORWARD WITH THE ONE THAT'S ALREADY FUNDED? I WOULD BE OKAY WITH REMOVING AN A FUTURE REQUIREMENT.
HECTOR, YOU'RE YOU WANT TO KEEP, I WANNA KEEP STEVE, YOU WANT TO REMOVE OR KEEP, REMOVE FELIX REMOVE OR KEEP, UM, JUST ONE QUESTION.
SO THIS IS NOT GONNA SHOOT OURSELVES, WE'RE NOT GONNA SHOOT OURSELVES IN THE FOOT IF WE REMOVE IT, CORRECT? I MEAN, IT'S NOT GONNA HURT THE CITY FINANCIALLY.
I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO BE ON THIS DISCUSSION.
SO THE, THE, THE FUTURE, UM, COUNSEL CAN PUT IT BACK ON IF THEY WISH CORRECT IT.
IT'S NOT, THEY CAN, THEY CAN FUND A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN EVERY MEETING IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
BUT IF WE REMOVE IT, IT JUST WON'T BE REQUIRED THAT THEY DO IT.
THEY'RE BEING FORCED RIGHT NOW.
SO ARE YOU FOR REMOVING IT? YEAH, WE WE'RE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE EASIEST ONE.
WE'RE GONNA PUT THAT ON TO REMOVE IT.
NOW ANOTHER ONE IS PLANNING COMMISSION.
UH, WOULD ALLOW UP TO THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE AS WHAT ITEM IS THAT? MAYOR, SINCE YOU'RE I'M, I'M, I'M BRINGING IT UP FROM THE FLOOR.
WOULD ALLOW UP TO THREE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO SERVE AS MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
UM, UH, BRANDON, IS THAT ALLOWABLE OR NOT? LET ME FIND MY NOTES FROM THE ONES THAT WE REMOVED.
BUT I MEAN, YOU, YOU'VE GOT POTENTIAL DUAL OFFICE HOLDING ISSUES IF YOU'RE A VOTING MEMBER ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
DO YOU, DO YOU NOT RECOMMEND IT AS AN I DON'T RECOMMEND IT.
I, I WILL, I WILL ADHERE TO YOUR RECOMMENDATION.
YOU WOULD RUN THE RISK OF FORFEITING YOUR COUNSEL POSITION.
DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT? WITH WHAT THE ATTORNEY'S RECOMMENDATION IS? ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL SCRATCH THAT ONE.
UH, AND WE DISCUSS JOYCE CHANGING THE CITY'S FISCAL YEAR.
I MEAN FROM JANUARY 1ST, I'M SORRY, FROM SEPTEMBER.
YOU SAID THERE'S NO BENEFIT IN THAT, CORRECT? THAT'S CORRECT.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE AND YOU DON'T SUGGEST DOING THAT.
CORRECT? IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHEN, AND IT, IT WOULD NOT ASSIST YOU OR US ON THE BUDGETS.
ALRIGHT, SO IF Y'ALL ARE OKAY, WE WILL SCRATCH THAT ONE.
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT WOULD HELP, BUT IF YOU, YOU DON'T THINK IT WOULD ALRIGHT.
I I DON'T THINK IT'LL HELP HIM.
'CAUSE I THINK THE COUNTY STILL GOES BY THAT ONE.
RIGHT? SO IT DOESN'T YEAH, THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID.
UH, REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT FOR POTENTIAL PETITIONER TO HAVE TO FILE A LETTER OF INTENT WITH THE SECRETARY.
I BELIEVE THIS IS TOO RESTRICTIVE AND, UM, AND IT GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN AND IT DOES NOT ASSIST THE CITIZEN'S.
PETITIONER AGAIN, REPEAL THE REQUIREMENT.
UH, IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO PETITION
[01:05:01]
THE CITY, YOU HAVE TO GIVE A LETTER OF INTENT.RICHARD, WHAT DO YOU THINK? I DON'T, I THINK IT SHOULD GO BACK THE WAY IT WAS WHERE, UH, YOU KNOW, BEFORE YOU COULD JUST START A PETITION AND NOW.
GEORGE, WHAT DO YOU THINK? HUH? KEEP IT, KEEP WHAT? KEEP WHAT ON GEORGE, LISTEN TO THE QUESTION RIGHT NOW.
THEY REQUIRE THAT IF YOU DO A PETITION, YOU HAVE TO GIVE, LET THE CITY SECRETARY KNOW.
OKAY? WE THINK IT'S TOO RESTRICTIVE IF YOU DO A PETITION.
DO YOU THINK IT'S TOO RESTRICTIVE? YES OR NO? DO YOU THINK IT'S, IF YOU DO A PETITION, YOU CAN ABSTAIN IF YOU WANT TO.
YEAH, IT'S ALSO THAT YOU WANNA ABSTAIN.
ALRIGHT, JESSICA, WHAT DO YOU THINK? NO, I THINK, YOU KNOW, LESS HASSLE FOR THE CITIZEN IS BETTER.
ALRIGHT, HECTOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK? I THINK WE KEEP IT.
STEVE, WHAT DO YOU THINK? WHAT ADVANTAGE DO YOU GET FROM A LETTER OF INTENT? WHAT DOES WHO GET, WHAT WHAT ADVANTAGE DOES? WHO GET THE CITY THE THE CITY GET FOR A LETTER OF INTENT? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE CITY OR THE PETITIONER? WELL, I'M JUST ASKING A QUESTION.
ALRIGHT, SO I'M PROPOSING TO GET RID OF IT TO, TO PETITION.
I, I, I TOO, I JUST WANNA KNOW WHY THEY, THEY WANT TO HAVE A LETTER OF INTENT.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL SEE WHAT THE CITY SECRETARY HAS TO SAY.
SO, I MEAN, THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE CHARTER COMMITTEE CAME UP WITH.
I THINK IT WAS JUST TO GIVE THE CITY KIND OF A HEADS UP ON WHAT MIGHT BE COMING.
UH, I MEAN THAT'S, THAT'S THE BEST I CAN REMEMBER WHEN THEY WERE DISCUSSING PREVIOUSLY.
YEAH, I THINK IT WAS LIKE WE'RE, I WAS IN THE COMMITTEE, JUST SO EVERYBODY KNOWS.
I THINK IT WAS JUST TO MAKE SURE, HEY, THIS IS COMING UP JUST TO BE AWARE POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, IF, IF SOMETHING'S BEING PETITIONED AND IT, IT MIGHT HAVE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OR SOMETHING.
THAT WAY, YOU KNOW, THE CITY CAN GIVE US A HEADS UP.
IS THERE SOMETHING WE NEED TO BE LOOKING INTO? THAT SORT OF THING.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST TO GIVE YOU NOTICE OF WHAT'S COMING, I THINK WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT.
BUT BRANDON AREN'T THE STEPS STA UM, SPELLED OUT BY STATE LAW THAT ONCE YOU'RE GIVEN A PETITION, STATUTORILY THE CITY HAS A, UH, A NU A NUMBER OF DAYS TO RESPOND TO ANSWER IN THE ELECTIONS CODE.
THERE, THERE'S A TIMELINE THAT THAT'S LAID OUT FOR PETITIONS, FOR INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM AND BASIS.
SO WHY, SO WHY THE NEED TO PUT THE, UH, THE CITIZENS MAKE 'EM JUMP THROUGH HOOPS WHEN THEY'RE DOING A PETITION.
AGAIN, I THINK THIS STEP WAS JUST PUT THERE TO GIVE THE CITY A HEADS UP ON WHAT MIGHT BE COMING.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR DANIELLE.
I, I SEEM TO REMEMBER SOMETHING ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE BOXES TO WRITE IN AND, AND SOME, SOMETHING WAS WEIRD ABOUT IT THAT I HEARD.
I ACTUALLY HEARD A CITIZEN COMPLAINT ABOUT IT.
WAS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT HOLD IN HERE.
DO YOU REMEMBER SOMETHING ABOUT THAT? NO, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY ISSUES WITH THE, WITH THE FORM ON, ON THE PETITION FORM.
I THINK SHE CORRECTED IT THOUGH.
IT WAS THE, I THINK WE, WE BROUGHT IT BACK AND WE RE REDESIGNED IT.
STEVE, YOU WANNA GET RID OF THE LETTER OF INTENT? FELIX, HOW ABOUT YOU? YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THE LETTER OF INTENT? YEAH, LET'S GET RID OF IT.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA GET RID OF THE LE WE'RE GONNA PUT IT, WE CAN'T SAY GET RID OF IT, WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
ALRIGHT, WE HAVE TO BREAK THIS UP IN TONIGHT.
UH, THE NEXT ONE, DIRECT REPORTS.
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS SHOULD NOT EXCEED 12 MONTHS.
UM, CURRENTLY EVERYBODY THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY, UM, HAS A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
UM, NOT MAYOR, CAN YOU CLARIFY THAT? NOT EVERYONE THAT WORKS FOR CITY STATE.
PLEASE CLARIFY THAT, THAT THAT'S, THEY'LL CONFUSE EVERY YES.
UH, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.
I MEANT TO SAY DIRECT REPORTS AND THERE'S NOT BUT FIVE OF THEM PER THE CHARTER.
UM, NONE OF THEM HAVE A CONTRACT THAT EXCEED A YEAR.
YOU'RE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME, JOYCE, AS IF I'M WRONG.
IS THAT CORRECT? WHAT? DID YOU JUST SAY THAT? NO.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY THAT CURRENTLY HAS A CONTRACT LONGER THAN ONE YEAR? DIRECT REPORTS.
THE CONTRACTS Y'ALL APPROVED THIS YEAR HAVE NO END DATE.
SO IN THAT CASE, I WOULD, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE, UH, PUT A PROVISION IN THE CHARTER TO BE SPECIFIC.
AND THAT'S FOR PROTECTION FOR BOTH PARTIES THAT NO DIRECT EMPLOYMENTS SHALL EXCEED 12 MONTHS.
[01:10:01]
NO DIRECT REPORT, EMPLOY NO DIRECT REPORTS.EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT SHALL EXCEED 12 MONTH, 12 MONTHS.
AND IN THE PAST, I KNOW WE HAD ONE DIRECT REPORT IS NO LONGER WITH THE CITY, HAD A 24 MONTH, UH, CONTRACT.
AND, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S BENEFICIAL TO THE CITIZENS OR TO THE CITY.
UH, ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO COMMENT? I THOUGHT, UH, OUR DIRECT STAFF GETS REVIEWED EVERY 12 MONTHS.
SO BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING.
THEY GET REVIEWED EVERY 12 MONTHS.
BUT NO, WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE HAD, WHETHER THEY GET REVIEWED OR NOT, UH, I DON'T THINK ANY DIRECT REPORT SHOULD RECEIVE, YOU KNOW, A CONTRACT WHERE WE'RE CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED FOR LONGER THAN 12 MONTHS.
BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT HAD THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE LONGER THAN 12 MONTH CONTRACT, HE OR SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR OR EVERY SIX MONTHS OR EVERY THREE MONTHS.
I THINK EVERY, EVERY EVERY YEAR WAS BEING REVIEWED.
YOU CAN REVIEW 'EM ALL THEY WANT TO, BUT, UM, IF, IF YOU HAVE A CONTRACT AND YOU HAVE THAT, THAT OBLIGATION, UNLESS THERE'S SOME REASON UNDER THE CONTRACT THAT YOU CAN TERMINATE THE CONTRACT.
SO, UM, WHAT DO Y'ALL THINK? ANYBODY HAVE ANY COMMENTS, RICHARD? UM, THAT'S, I'M, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
SO YOU AGREE? NO DIRECT REPORT, UH, NO DIRECT REPORTS.
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS SHOULD EXCEED 12 MONTHS, YES OR NO? YES.
GEORGE, YES OR NO? YOU FOLLOW ME? BUT, BUT MAKE IT MORE SPECIFIC.
WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST? 12 MONTHS.
JESSICA, WHAT DO YOU THINK? SO HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE CURRENT CONTRACT? 'CAUSE OUR CURRENT CONTRACTS DON'T HAVE AN END DATE, UH, IN, IN ANY FUTURE, UH, CONTRACT WHERE, WHEN THESE CONTRACTS, UH, ARE RENEGOTIATED OR LET ME, LET ME LET THE ATTORNEY ANSWER THAT.
SO YEAH, IT WOULDN'T CHANGE EXISTING CONTRACTS.
UM, YOU KNOW, LEGISLATION TYPICALLY CAN'T CHANGE A CONTRACT THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE, RIGHT? SO IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT ANY CURRENT CONTRACTS.
IT WOULD JUST BE IF ANYBODY LEFT OR WAS FIRED AND WE'RE NEGOTIATING A NEW CONTRACT.
UM, AND I DON'T THINK, I MEAN, WELL I'M SURE NONE OF THE CONTRACTS HAVE A SPECIFIC TERM OF LONGER THAN A YEAR.
CURRENTLY, IT'S JUST THAT THEY TYPICALLY DON'T HAVE A TERM.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, UH, IT DOESN'T HAVE AN END DATE TO IT.
BUT ISN'T IT, THIS WAY WE'RE PUTTING A TERM ON IT.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF IF THIS WERE TO PASS THEN YOU KNOW, CONTRACTS WOULD BE FOR A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS, NOT LONGER.
SO YES, IT WOULD PUT A TERM ON IT ON THE CURRENT, BUT THEY BE SUBJECT TO RENEW ON CURRENT CONTRACTS.
IT PUTS A CURRENT, IT PUTS A TERM ON THE CURRENT CONTRACTS.
SO THE WAY WE'VE, THE WAY COUNSEL'S DONE IT THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IS FOR THE DIRECT REPORTS, THEIR CONTRACTS DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC TERM.
IT'S NOT FOR, YOU KNOW, A SET NUMBER OF YEARS.
FOR THE MOST PART IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE AN END DATE SPECIFIED.
AND THEN EACH YEAR THEY'RE RENEGOTIATED ANYWAY.
UH, THIS WOULD JUST MAKE IT TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO PER CHARTER, IT CANNOT BE LONGER THAN 12 MONTHS.
BUT I I GUESS YOU'RE SAYING IN PRACTICE WE STILL RENEGOTIATE THEM ANNUALLY.
SO REAL REALISTICALLY, IT'S NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE.
UH, BUT I MEAN, THE MAYOR IS RIGHT, THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE CONTRACT THAT HAD A TERM OF A SPEC SPECIFIED TERM OF TWO YEARS AND THIS WOULD PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.
SO IN THAT SITUATION, IF WE REVIEWED HIM AT 12 MONTHS, THAT PERSON, WE WOULD'VE DECIDE IF WE WOULD'VE DECIDED TO TERMINATE HIM, WE WOULD HAVE BE IN BREACH OF HIS CONTRACT.
WELL, IT DEPENDS ON THE REASON.
MAYBE WELL, WELL, WELL MM-HMM
IF WE JUST DECIDED ANY DIRECTION BUT PASSED, DIDN'T GET TERMINATED ANY TIME.
SO YOU'RE NOT GUARANTEED JUST BECAUSE OF THE CONTRACT, BECAUSE THERE'S OTHER PROVISIONS WHERE YOU CAN PROBABLY GET TERMINATED, BUT IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A PROVISION OKAY.
IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO BE TERMINATED AT ANY, AT ANY POINT, BUT YEAH.
ALRIGHT, SO THE QUESTION, JESSICA, WOULD YOU SUPPORT? 'CAUSE WE'RE TWO, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, WE KNOW SURVEYING EVERYBODY.
I MEAN, YOU'RE FINE WITH THE 12 MONTHS.
'CAUSE THEY CAN BE FIRED AT ANY TIME ANYWAY FOR, ALRIGHT.
UH, HECTOR, YOU OKAY WITH THE 12 MONTHS? I'M GONNA WAIT, SEE, WHAT ARE THE OTHER STAFF? STEVE, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE 12 MONTHS? I AM FELIX,
[01:15:01]
ARE YOU OKAY WITH THE 12 MONTHS? UM, I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION JUST TO CLARIFY.UM, SO YOU'RE TECHNICALLY, UH, BRANDON, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT THE CURRENT DIRECT REPORTS ARE KIND OF LIKE, UM, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, UH, GRANDFATHERED IN.
SO IS IT AFTER, YOU KNOW, ANY NEWCOMERS HAVE TO DO THE 12 MONTHS? SO IN EFFECT, YES.
LIKE IF THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE LAW ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UH, HOW A CONTRACT IS DONE, IF A CONTRACT WAS ALREADY IN PLACE BEFORE THAT, THAT CONTRACT DOESN'T CHANGE, BUT IN PRACTICE, UM, ALL OF THE DIRECT REPORTS ARE, ARE REVIEWED EVERY YEAR AND COUNCIL HAS ALWAYS RENEGOTIATED THEIR CONTRACTS OR, YOU KNOW, MADE TWEAKS TO IT EVERY YEAR.
SO, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIED TERM CURRENTLY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IN REALITY YOU WOULD JUST REVISIT IT AT THE SAME TIME YOU, YOU TYPICALLY WOULD EVERY OTHER YEAR.
SO IT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT MUCH.
THERE WOULDN'T BE AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT TO IT.
IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN, WHEN THE CONTRACTS COME UP OR YOU KNOW, WHEN THE, UH, DIRECT REPORTS COME UP WITH REVIEW AGAIN, YOU WOULD JUST LOOK AT IT AGAIN THEN.
BUT IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A, A SPECIFIED TERM OF 12 MONTHS, I MEAN IF YOU WERE TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW IS, MAKES YOU ELIGIBLE FOR TERMINATION, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE A CLAUSE TERMINATION FOR, FOR CAUSE OR, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT SPECIFIED REASONS.
THERE'S, THAT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE INCLUDED.
SO FELIX, ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST PUTTING THE PROVISION IN THE CHARTER WITH A 12 MONTH? YEAH.
UH, I'M NOT TO EXCEED 12 MONTHS.
UH, HECTOR, YOU WANNA GO BACK FOR THE RECORD? I MUST.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S THE SIX TO ONE ON THAT ONE.
ALRIGHT, NOW REQUIRE ON CURRENTLY THE CHARTER, AGAIN, THE CHARTER WAS CHANGED BEFORE THIS GROUP WAS ELECTED TO, UH, UH, REQUIRE ONLY, I'M SORRY, REQUIRE FIVE OUTTA SEVEN.
WELL, I'M NOT SURE ON WHICH DIRECT REPORTS, BUT CERTAINLY IT WAS FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S POSITION TO TERMINATE A DIRECT REPORT, IT REQUIRED A SUPER MAJORITY, WHICH IS FIVE OUTTA SEVEN.
UM, I THINK OUTTA FAIRNESS TO THE PUBLIC, WE ARE ELECTED BY SIMPLE MAJORITY.
I THINK THE SAME THING SHOULD APPLY TO DIRECT REPORTS.
I'M SUGGESTING THAT WE REMOVE THE FIVE OUTTA SEVEN, UH, REQUIREMENT AND BRING IT BACK DOWN TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE THE LAST CHARTER CHANGE.
BACK TO FOUR OUTTA SEVEN, WHICH IS A SIMPLE MAJORITY, WHICH IS WHAT IN A DEMOCRACY YOU GO BY.
RICHARD, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW? UM, ARE YOU, YOU FOUR, YOU WANNA LEAVE IT? HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN? YOU WANNA LEAVE IT FIVE OUTTA SEVEN OR YOU WANT FOUR OUTTA SEVEN HALF ONLY.
ALRIGHT, GEORGE, TO TERMINATE A DIRECT REPORT, DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE FIVE OUTTA SEVEN MEMBERS AS IT IS NOW? OR FOUR OUTTA SEVEN? YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT TO FOUR? CHANGE IT, BUT DIDN'T MAKE ANY CHANGES TO IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
OKAY, SO YOU WANT TO CHANGE IT FROM FIVE, I'M SUGGESTING CHANGE IT FROM FIVE TO FOUR.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO THOUGH? RIGHT NOW? IT TAKES FIVE PEOPLE TO FIRE ONLY ONE.
IT'S ONLY ONE POSITION, RIGHT? YEAH, IT, I, YEAH, IT'S ONLY ONE POSITION.
I, I GO AHEAD AND I THINK OUT OF FAIRNESS TO THE OTHER JURY REPORTS, IT SHOULD ALL BE THE SAME.
RICHARD, HAVE YOU I THAT'S, THAT'S MY THING.
UH, I WANT ALL TO BE THE SAME.
ALRIGHT, JESSICA? WELL THAT DOESN'T ANSWER YOUR QUESTION.
YOUR QUESTION WAS, SHOULD IT BE FIVE OR FOUR? AND WHAT THEY SAID IS IT SHOULD BE THE SAME FOR EVERY POSITION, BUT THEY DIDN'T SAY WHETHER IT SHOULD BE FIVE OR FOUR.
BUT, BUT THIS PARTICULAR, UH, THING RIGHT HERE IS FOR THE ONLY THE CITY MANAGER.
THAT MEANS WE WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE THE CHARTER TO EITHER MAKE HERS FOUR OR MAKE THE OTHER ONES FIVE.
WELL THEN I REJECT IT IF IT'S NOT UNIFORM WITH THE OTHER DIRECT REPORTS.
SO TO MAKE IT UNIFORM, WE'D HAVE TO, UH, CHANGE THE CITY MANAGERS DOWN TO FOUR.
WHICH IS, I MEAN, THAT'S WHICH, WHICH IS WHAT I'M SUGGESTING.
I MEAN, I'M NOT SUGGESTING GOING THE OTHER WAY.
YEAH, IT'S SO WHAT, WHAT DO YOU, WHAT, DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE? I WOULD THINK THAT ALL THE DIRECTOR REPORTS THAT IT SHOULD BE UNIFORM.
SO WE, WE EITHER MAKE IT ALL FIVE OR ALL FOUR, BUT I THINK THEY SHOULD BE THE SAME.
ALRIGHT, SO WHAT ALL FIVE? WHICH DO YOU WANT? DO YOU WANT TO, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE FIVE PEOPLE TO
[01:20:01]
TERMINATE OR FOUR TO TERMINATE? I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE TO UPSET FIVE OF US.ALRIGHT, HECTOR, WHICH, WHAT DO YOU WANT? FIVE TO TERMINATE OR FOUR TO TERMINATE? FIVE TO TERMINATE.
ALRIGHT, STEVE, WHAT DO YOU WANT? FIVE TO TERMINATE OR FOUR TO TERMINATE? FIVE.
FELIX, WHAT DO YOU WANT? YOU'RE GONNA BE THE TIE BREAKER.
UH, I WOULD SAY, UH, FIVE TO TERMINATE.
SO DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE THE OTHER FOLKS? YES.
FROM, FROM FOUR FOUR TO FIVE, FOUR? YES.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S, SIR, THAT'S, WE'LL CHANGE 'EM ALL.
AND MAYOR, JUST TO CLARIFY ONE MORE THING ON THAT.
SO THE CHARTER ACTUALLY SAYS, UH, YOU NEED A VOTE OF TWO THIRDS BOTH TO APPOINT AND TERMINATE FOR THE CITY MANAGER FOR, SO FOR, WELL WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TERMINATION.
SO I MEAN, IF YOU'RE SYNCING 'EM ALL UP IN TERMS OF TERMINATION, DO YOU WANNA DO THAT FOR APPOINTMENT AS WELL? NO, I WANNA DO WHAT, WHAT I, WHAT I BROUGHT UP AND THE GROUP WANTS TO CHANGE IT FROM FOUR TO FIVE TO EVERYONE, WHICH WILL BE FINE, WHICH WILL BE FINE UNTIL SOMEBODY WANTS TO TERMINATE SOMEBODY AROUND HERE, THEN THEY'LL WONDER WHAT THE HELL THEY DID.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE DIRECTION TONIGHT AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE'LL GO WITH.
ALRIGHT, HOW MANY MORE? FIVE FOR ALL.
ALRIGHT, COUNSEL MUST BE UNANIMOUS TO CONSENT.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THEY CHANGED.
UM, WHICH ONE? FROM A SIMPLE MAJORITY TO, UH, A CONSENT, UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
SO RIGHT NOW YOU ONLY NEED A MAJORITY.
IT WAS FUNNY THAT THEY CHANGED THAT.
UM, YOU CAN USED TO BE UNANIMOUS THAT YOU COULD, YOU YOU HAD TO HAVE UNANIMITY TO BORROW AND THEY GOT RID OF THAT AND MADE IT A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
BUT THEN THEY CHANGED THAT, UH, WE CHANGED IT IN NO, WE DIDN'T.
AND THEN, AND THEN THEY DID LEFT OFFICE, THEY CHANGED IT AND RIGHT.
SO THEY WANTED TO MAKE, MAKE IT HARDER TO TERMINATE A CITY MANAGER AND EASY TO, EASIER TO IN DEBT.
SO I'M TRYING TO REVERSE, WE'RE TRYING TO REVERSE THAT.
SO COUNSEL, I'M SUGGESTING THAT THE COUNCIL, IN ORDER TO BORROW MONEY, UNLESS YOU GO TO A BOND ELECTION NOW, WOULD, IS, WOULD THIS INCLUDE, IS THIS TO, FOR BOND ELECTION? UM, YEAH, THAT'S ONE UNANIMOUS.
SO IF, IF THERE'S A STATE LAW PROVISION THAT SAYS, HERE'S THE STEPS YOU HAVE TO GO TO FOR A BOND ELECTION, THAT'S GONNA TRUMP WHATEVER'S IN THE CHARTER.
WHAT DOES THE, WHAT DOES THE STATUTE SAY? SO FOR BONDS, WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE OUTTA MY WHEELHOUSE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'D BE A BETTER QUESTION FOR BOND COUNSEL.
UM, BUT OKAY, WE BETTER FIND OUT BEFORE WE ADDRESS THIS AND, AND WE WILL.
AND THAT, THAT WAS MY COMMENT, UH, THAT I INCLUDED ON HERE IS, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S SOMETHING IN STATE LAW THAT SAYS, YOU KNOW, VOTER APPROVALS REQUIRED, HERE'S THE STEPS TO DO X, Y, Z, THAT WOULD TRUMP THE CHARTER ANYWAY.
SO HOW COULD WE ADDRESS THIS TO TIGHTEN UP, UH, WHAT DOES OTHER CITIES HAVE? WELL, THEY'RE PROBABLY ALL OVER THE PLACE.
IT'S, YEAH, THERE'S, THERE'S JUST GONNA BE A MIXED BAG ON THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU WANT TO SAY BASICALLY WHAT YOU HAVE THERE AND WE'LL, WE WILL TIGHTEN UP THE LANGUAGE A LITTLE BIT, BUT TO BORROW MONEY MUST BE UNANIMOUS.
IS THAT WITH OR WITHOUT A BOND ELECTION? SO IF THE CHARTER SAYS IT'S GOTTA BE UNANIMOUS, THEN IT HAS TO BE UNANIMOUS UNLESS STATE LAW SAYS SOMETHING SPECIFIC ELSEWHERE.
SO LIKE FOR A BOND ELECTION, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOTTA GO TO THE VOTERS THAT HAS ITS OWN PROCESS.
SO THE CHARTER'S SAYING IT HAS TO BE UNANIMOUS WOULDN'T PREVENT THAT.
RICHARD, YOU GONNA SAY SOMETHING? I WAS JUST WONDERING IF IT WOULD HAVE TO BE UNANIMOUS HERE TO PUT IT UP AS A BOND.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK THAT, WELL, I THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S CHECKING.
AND, AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME, UM, THERE'S SOME PETITION PROCESS TOO, SO IT DOESN'T, IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAVE TO GO DIRECTLY THROUGH COUNSEL TO HAVE, UH, THAT DONE.
BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'D BE, UH, WE, WE CAN LOOK INTO IT, BUT IT'S UH, YOU KNOW, BOND STUFF'S TYPICALLY A LITTLE OUTTA MY WHEEL WHEELHOUSE.
WHY DON'T YOU PUT THIS ONE TO RESEARCH? WE CAN CERTAINLY GET AN ANSWER ON IT.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT ONE'S QUESTIONABLE.
SO WE'LL GO DOWN TO, ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S ALL WE GOT THERE.
OH, WOULD PROHIBIT CONSTRUCTION OF ANY NEW APARTMENTS OVER TWO STORY.
[01:25:01]
UH, AS ATTORNEY, DO YOU NOT RECOMMEND? I I THINK YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE CALLING OUT A SPECIFIC TYPE OF, OF RESIDENCE, YOU'RE OPENING YOURSELF UP TO AN EQUAL PROTECTION CLAIM.UM, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE DON'T HAVE GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY TOWARDS.
SO I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND HAVING THAT IN THE CHARTER AND WE'LL SKIP THAT ONE.
SO I'D LIKE TO TRY TO TAKE THE ADVICE OF OUR ATTORNEY.
THAT SAYS ATTORNEY DOESN'T RECOMMEND YOU CAN BLAME ME FOR SHOOTING IT DOWN HERE.
WELL, I'M GONNA RESEARCH, IF YOU DON'T MIND AND SEE WHAT OTHER CITIES DO THAT DON'T HAVE ZONING AND SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY NO DISTANCE.
CERTAINLY WELCOME TO, THERE'S UH, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF 'EM OUT THERE.
AND THIS IS NOT ON THE, IT'S NOT A SECOND OPINION.
IT'S JUST RESEARCH, RIGHT? WHAT'S THAT? WELL, THAT'S WHAT ASKING FOR HIM.
YOU'RE NO, I'M SAYING YOU'RE NOT ASKING TO GET FOR THE CITY TO GET OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR A SECOND OPINION.
I I'M JUST GOING TO OH, GO TO THE MASTER OF ALL RESEARCH INTERNET.
GOOGLE, NOT AI, RIGHT? WE'LL TALK AI.
WHO KNOWS, WHO KNOWS WHAT WE WHAT, WHO KNOWS WHAT WE'LL FIND THERE? SO THERE'S A PROFESSIONAL ANYWAYS.
OKAY, SO NOW WE CAN GO TO OH YEAH.
TO UH, UM, WHAT DID THEY SAY? OH, NEVERMIND.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK TO OUR ORIGINAL LIST.
ALRIGHT, WOULD ANYBODY WISH TO BEGIN ON, ON THE LEFTOVERS? ANYBODY WISH TO ADD ANYTHING ELSE? DISCOVER WHAT YOU SKIPPED.
OKAY, SO THIS NEXT ONE, FELIX, IT WAS, UH, IT'S GOT YOUR NAME ON IT.
DO YOU WISH TO MENTION THAT OR, UM, I JUST PUT IT UP THERE BECAUSE I HEARD EVERYBODY SPEAKING ABOUT THAT EVERYBODY WAS SAYING THAT.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SERVE INSTEAD OF JUST TRYING TO BE AVAILABLE AT SOME THINGS, BUT IF Y'ALL DON'T WANNA, UH, PROCEED WITH IT, WE CAN ALWAYS TAKE IT OFF.
SO YOU'RE TA YOU'RE TALKING, JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ARTICLE THREE, THE CITY COUNCIL SECTION 3.04 COMPENSATION.
SINCE EVERYBODY ELSE IS AWKWARD TO TALK ABOUT COMPENSATION.
UM, IT SAYS THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL FIX THE COMPENSATION TO PROCEED BY ITS MEMBERS PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NO COUNCIL MEMBERS SHALL RECEIVE MORE THAN $400 PER MONTH AND THE MAYOR SHALL NOT RECEIVE MORE THAN $500 PER MONTH.
SO I KNOW, LIKE WHAT FELIX SAID, THAT'S COME UP A LOT WHEN WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THIS IS A VOLUNTEER POSITION, WHICH EVEN THOUGH WE DO TECHNICALLY GET PAID, IT, IT IS LIKE VOLUNTEER.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU SPENT ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY ON YOUR CAMPAIGN.
IN MY CASE, I, I DON'T THINK I RECOUP THAT.
UM, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF US THINK THAT WE DON'T WANT OUR LEGACY TO BE THAT WE PROVIDED A RAISE TO OURSELVES.
OUR TERMS ARE ALMOST ENDING IN MAY.
SO WE WOULD ALL HAVE TO GET REELECTED PROBABLY TO BENEFIT FROM THIS PROVISION.
BUT ALSO, I SEE, I SEE THE POINT OF, YOU KNOW, WE DO THIS AS SERVICE, IT'S VOLUNTEER WORK.
BUT I ALSO SEE FELIX'S POINT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DO PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO IT.
WE DO TAKE A LOT OF HEAT FROM CITIZENS WHO DON'T REALIZE THAT WE DO THIS AFTER HOURS.
FOR EXAMPLE, TONIGHT I HAVE NOT EATEN DINNER.
THE LAST TIME I ATE WAS AT 10 IN THE MORNING AND I'M STARVING.
UM, SO JUST TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
SO I DON'T BLAME YOU FELIX, FOR PUTTING THAT THERE.
UM, I DO THINK IF IT WERE HIGHER, MORE HIGHER COMPENSATED THAT UM, IT GIVES EVERYBODY A FAIR CHANCE, IT WOULD BE MORE COMPETITION.
RIGHT NOW, THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO COME OUT FOR THIS ARE THE PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD TO DO IT.
YOU KNOW, IF, IF I HAD TO WORK OVERTIME OR IF I HAD A JOB THAT REQUIRED ME TO BE IN THE OFFICE MORE, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
SO I ACTUALLY THINK IF IT WAS MORE HIGHLY COMPENSATED, MORE PEOPLE WOULD RUN.
UM, IT WOULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE AND COMPETITION IS MAYBE GOOD, YOU KNOW? BUT I REALLY DON'T HAVE AN OPINION ON IT.
BUT JUST TO BE FAIR, UM, I DON'T, IT WOULDN'T IMPACT, I DON'T THINK IT WOULD IMPACT ANY OF US DIRECTLY BECAUSE OUR TERMS ARE EXPIRING IN MAY.
IT WOULDN'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION, RIGHT? SO, WELL, THIS ELECTION IS IN MAY, SO IT WOULDN'T, UH, BUT, UM, WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER SUGGESTION HERE, WHICH I THINK MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE
[01:30:01]
PREVALENT.JUST A SECOND IN WHICH IS COUNCIL MEMBERS.
UH, OR LET ME JUST SAY, I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE A, SO MUCH OF AN ISSUE WITH US.
UM, I THINK THEY, I THINK IT BEHOOVES THE PUBLIC THAT WE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THAT, THAT WE'RE, UH, CERTAINLY IN THE RIGHT STATE OF MIND.
BUT, UM, I DON'T THINK FOLKS WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM REGARDING US BEING FEELING BETTER, GOOD HEALTH THAT IN, IN THAT REGARD.
SO I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DISCUSSING, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS JOINING THIS.
I DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH, UM, RAISING THE COMPENSATION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
MY PREFERENCE IS THAT WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMPENSATION, UH, MONET MONETARILY.
I PREFER NOT TO MONETIZE THE, THE TERMS AND ABOLISH THAT ALTOGETHER, BUT LOOK INTO, UM, GIVEN THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THE ABILITY OR ACCESS TO THE CITY'S HEALTH INSURANCE, UH, PLAN.
BUT I WANT TO KNOW, WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT Y'ALL THINK.
WHAT'S THE COST FOR, FOR EMPLOYEE, FOR THE INSURANCE? JOYCE? I AM GONNA HAVE TO LOOK UP THE AMOUNT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL, IF Y'ALL, ARE Y'ALL TALKING ABOUT COVERING A COUNCIL MEMBER'S INSURANCE IN THE SAME MANNER, IN THE SAME PERCENTAGES THAT WE COVER CITY EMPLOYEE? I THINK THAT'S THAT.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT THAT'S, IS THAT WHAT WE'RE SAYING? I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE IT WOULD BE THE SAME, THE SAME PLAN.
AND I DON'T KNOW, ASSUMING, ASSUMING THAT THEY OPT IN, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE IT, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE HALF OF US MIGHT HAVE IT AND MAY NOT OPT IN.
SO COUNCIL MEMBERS ON CITY INSURANCE PLAN, I THINK, I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC, IF YOU THINK THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO, I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING ABOUT 10,000 A YEAR OR MORE.
AND THAT COULD BE MORE IF, IF YOU'RE ALSO TALKING FAMILY COVERAGE AT, AT THE SAME PERCENTAGE THAT WE COVER EMPLOYEES FAMILY, BUT PROBABLY ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 20 K.
BUT I'M, I'M GONNA TRY TO LOOK IT UP.
BUT THAT WOULD VARY EVERY TERM BECAUSE IF SOMEONE ALREADY HAS IT THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER OR THEIR SPOUSE.
'CAUSE REMEMBER HE'S OPTING THAT THIS IS A FREE PRO BONO SERVICE.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, PEOPLE ARE EITHER GONNA BE RETIRED OR INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY OR ALREADY WORKING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND THAT, THAT'S THE ISSUE I HAVE ABOUT THE COMPENSATION.
IT'S NOT THAT I WANT COMPENSATION, I'M ON THE SAME BOAT AS BILL.
THE $400 A MONTH DOESN'T IMPACT MY BUDGET.
BUT THE REALITY IS, IS THAT IT ONLY MAKES IT THIS POSITION AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE KIND OF INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY OR OR ELITIST KIND OF PEOPLE.
WHEN I CAN, I FEEL LIKE THIS POSITION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY IN THE CITY.
AND I'M NOT SURE WHO IT IS, BUT IT ISN'T IN, IN THEORY IT IS, BUT IN PRACTICE IT ISN'T.
BECAUSE WE TAKE A LOT OF TIME AWAY FROM WORK.
AND IF I WAS PAID BY THE HOUR AND IF I WAS STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET, I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SERVE THE WAY I DO.
WOULDN'T BE HERE RIGHT NOW TO ME.
I DON'T DON'T
NO, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.
I'M SAYING SHE'S SAYING YOU'RE WEALTHY.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING UP HERE, NO, I'M NOT SERVING, I'M NOT ANY RICH.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS IT, IT IT, I FEEL LIKE BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY PROPERLY COMPENSATED, IT REALLY ONLY INVITES A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC TO SERVE.
WHICH THAT'S WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH.
I WANT IT TO BE MORE IN PRACTICE AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.
LIKE EVEN IF YOU WORK OR YOU DON'T MAKE AS MUCH MONEY, IT, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULD IF YOU'RE MISSING TIME FROM WORK, IF YOU'RE TAKING TIME OFF, IF YOU'RE NOT WORKING OVERTIME SO THAT YOU CAN SERVE ON COUNCIL, IT NEEDS TO, IT NEEDS TO BALANCE OUT THESE TWO ITEMS PROVIDE A LOT OF INCENTIVE TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO PUT THEIR NAME IN THE HOUSE.
NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED THE $400.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE MORE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
AND, AND SO FOR ME, LIKE I WOULD FORFEIT THE $400 IF I NEEDED TO, BUT I, I THINK THE REASON THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAKING IT MORE HIGHLY COMPENSATED IS SO THAT MORE PEOPLE WOULD CONSIDER IT AND IT DOESN'T TAKE MONEY OUT OF THEIR POCKET TO SERVE PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AS, YOU KNOW, WEALTHY.
THE, THE INSURANCE COST IS $792 A MONTH.
SO THAT'S 9,500 A YEAR FOR JUST AN EMPLOYEE.
AND LIKE I SAID, THAT'S ASSUMING THAT PEOPLE DON'T ALREADY HAVE
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INSURANCE.FOR EXAMPLE, I ALREADY HAVE INSURANCE.
I WOULDN'T OPT IN IF IT WAS AVAILABLE.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO WE HAVE? ABOUT 300.
SO IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, THIS MIGHT BE JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET.
OH, IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS.
JUST COUNCIL TREVINO ASKED HOW MUCH? SO IT'S 9,500 YEAR.
WELL I JUST, THAT WAY THE PUBLIC KNOWS 'CAUSE DON'T WANT TO THINK THE PUBLIC IS FREE INSURANCE TO THE COUNCIL.
THEY NEED TO KNOW IT'S COMING FROM SOMEWHERE.
NO, SHE'S SAYING THAT'S THE CITY'S COST, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO IT IS A, A COST TO THE CITY, CORRECT? MM-HMM
BUT SOMETIMES, UM, WELL, LIKE I SAID, NOT EVERYBODY WOULD OPT IN.
I THINK THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT MIND US, UH, CONTINGENT THAT Y'ALL'S HEALTHCARE PLAN HAS, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS AND THESE OTHER CHECKUPS THAT, THAT MIGHT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF OUR HEALTH.
I THINK THE PUBLIC PROBABLY WOULD LIKE US TO, WOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH US BEING, YOU KNOW, HEALTHY SOME, AND, AND WOULD WISH US WELL WITH THAT.
I THINK MY FR UH, I HOPE MY FRIENDS WOULD WOULD AND OUR FRIENDS, UM, AND Y'ALL'S FRIENDS WOULD, WOULD WISH US WELL THERE.
UM, I THINK I'D RATHER HAVE THAT THAN, UH, COMPENSATION.
I WOULD, I WOULD JUST SAY THIS THING THOUGH, IF ANYBODY, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET RICHER OR OR SERVING FOR MONEY, YOU'RE DEFINITELY BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.
A LOT OF IT THANKLESS, A LOT OF IT.
UM, FOLKS THINK THAT WE, UH, WE HAVE AN OFFICE HERE.
THEY THINK I HAVE AN OFFICE HERE.
I HAVE AN OFFICE, BUT IT'S NOT HERE.
THEY THINK YOU'RE GONNA GET TICKETS FOR THE EPIC, EPIC CENTER.
PUT THAT IN, PUT THAT IN THERE TOO.
SO ANYWAYS, UM, BUT WE, WE, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS.
WE CAN LEAVE IT JUST THE SAME, WE CAN CHANGE IT.
UH, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PROPOSE RAISING IT, WE NEED TO PUT IT TO A VOTE AND THEN WE'LL SEE WHAT Y'ALL WANT TO DO ON THE INSURANCE.
AND MAYOR, IF I COULD ADD ONE THING ON THE INSURANCE WHEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, TAKING A LOOK TO MAKE SURE WE, WE COULD DO THIS, ALL THAT SORT OF THING.
SO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE ACTUALLY DOES DIRECTLY ADDRESS THAT.
UH, POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS CAN, CAN PROVIDE THE SAME HEALTH INSURANCE TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AS THEY DO EMPLOYEES OR RETIREES.
IT'S, IT'S SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED.
AND THERE ARE A DECENT NUMBER OF CITIES THAT HAVE THIS IN THEIR CHARTER SPECIFICALLY, UM, TO ALLOW IT FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL AS EMPLOYEES.
SO WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT JUST THINKING OUT OF THE BOX.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO DECIDE TONIGHT THEN, RIGHT? WE GOT TIME.
WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING ELSE TONIGHT.
WHY NOT? WHY DON'T WE DECIDE ON THIS? WELL, LET'S SEE.
WHO WANTS TO, WHO WANTS TO, WHAT DO Y'ALL WANT TO DO? LET'S DO THE COMPENSATION.
'CAUSE THE COMPENSATION IS A LITTLE MORE, I THINK I'M FEELING A LITTLE MORE CONTROVERSIAL HERE BECAUSE I, I SEE BOTH, BOTH ENDS OF THAT.
I JUST DON'T WANNA MONETIZE THESE POSITIONS.
BUT THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE MONEY AND
IT, IT JUST, I I THINK, I THINK THAT IT MAKES IT MORE FAIR.
I, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENS.
PEOPLE I LIVE NEXT TO BENTON ROAD, I DUNNO,
PEOPLE ALREADY FEEL LIKE, I MEAN, THE WAY SOMETIMES THEY, THEY TALK TO US, TALK TO ME OR SURE THEY DO Y'ALL THE SAME WAY.
I, I'VE, I HAVE HAD, I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE SCREAMING AT HECTOR OVER THE PHONE.
HIM AND I ARE STANDING AND THEY WERE CALLING HIM AND YELLING AT HIM.
THEY'VE CALLED ME AND YELL AT ME.
UH, AND THEY FEEL THAT BECAUSE YOU RECEIVED $2 THAT YOU'RE THEIR, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO, TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY TO, TO TREAT YOU VERY UGLY.
AND I THINK ANYTIME, AND I WOULD PREFER NOT TO MONETIZE THAT.
WELL, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT OUR, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE COMPENSATION WAS WHEN I DECIDED TO RUN.
UM, BUT I THINK THEY'RE GONNA TALK TO YOU LIKE THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU GET PAID OR NOT.
SOMEBODY ELSE SAID TO ME, YEAH, THAT'S WHAT SOMEONE ELSE SAID.
NO MATTER WHAT, HOW THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA TALK TO YOU LIKE THAT BECAUSE OUR FRIENDS IN NEVILLE, IN, IN RICHMOND THAT DON'T MAKE ANYTHING $5 A MONTH, UH, SAID THAT THEY, UH, THEY GET THE SAME TREATMENT.
IT'S A THANKLESS JOB WHETHER YOU GET $75,000 OR ZERO.
SO, BUT I WOULD ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO RUN AND, AND REALIZE THAT.
SO IT'S PUBLIC SERVICE, IT'S SERVICE.
BUT THE ONLY THING I WOULD SAY IS THAT
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I THINK JUST WITH IT BEING VERY LOWLY COMPENSATED OR LIKE AS YOU'RE PROPOSING NOT COMPENSATED AT ALL.I THINK THE ISSUE IS IT'S, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A CERTAIN INCOME BRACKET.
AND THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE I HAVE WITH IT.
I THINK THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND GET INVOLVED IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.
AND IF IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE TO NOT WORK AS MUCH OVERTIME OR, YOU KNOW, TAKE A DAY OFF HERE AND THERE, IT SHOULDN'T IMPACT THEIR LIVES IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO SERVE.
SO THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I SAY SO, BECAUSE I WANT MORE PEOPLE TO BE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS? UH, WITH THE INSURANCE? ANYBODY WANT TO PUT THAT? RICHARD, YOU WANT, WHAT DO YOU DO ON IT? IT'S THERE.
I MEAN, DO WE WANT IT? YOU WANT INSURANCE? I DO, I DO.
JESSICA, I'M NOT OPPOSED, BUT, BUT DO YOU, DO YOU I DON'T NEED INSURANCE, BUT I, SO I DON'T CARE.
BUT LIKE YOU SAID, YOU DON'T NEED THE WELL FOR, YOU DON'T NEED THE $400.
AND SO YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T CARE.
IT'S, IT'S, IF IF'S THERE, IT'S THERE.
HE HECTOR I'M OKAY WITH THE INSURANCE.
OKAY, STEVE? I'M GOOD WITH IT, FELIX.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'LL PUT THE, WE'LL PUT THE, THE INSURANCE ON THERE.
ALRIGHT, NOW JOYCE, DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, ARE LIKE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE INSURANCE? WHAT WE'RE, WHAT YOU'RE, THAT WHAT WE'RE SUGGESTING IS, I'M JUST SUGGESTING FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER, NOT THE COUNCIL MEMBER'S FAMILY.
WELL I DON'T THINK Y EARLIER SAID LIKE ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES.
THAT INCLUDES THE CITY PAYING 50% OF THE FAMILY.
ALRIGHT, LET'S SEE IT, LET'S SEE IF THAT'S WHAT THE WISHES OF THE COUNCIL IS THAT REAL? RICHARD, IS THAT YOUR WISHES? I WANT IT TO MIRROR THE CITY POLICY.
I DON'T HAVE A FAMILY SO IT DOESN'T APPLY TO ME, BUT THE NEXT PERSON.
SO I DON'T HAVE A FAMILY ON THE FOOT ON THIS.
SO IT HAS TO BE, IT HAS TO BE THE SAME.
WHAT? AND COULD YOU EVEN MAKE IT DIFFERENT? I MEAN, WOULD THERE BE DIFFERENT, IS THERE A WAY TO CHANGE, IS THERE ANYBODY HERE FROM OUR HUMAN RESOURCES? NO.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN MAKE IT DIFFERENT.
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN MAKE IT DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT WOULD BE IN THE SAME GROUP.
SO INSURANCES USUALLY GO OFF LIKE A POLICY AND A GROUP NUMBER.
SO IF YOU'RE IN THE SAME GROUP, I THINK EVERYBODY IN THE GROUP WOULD GET THE SAME BENEFITS.
'CAUSE OUR IS THAT THE WAY IT IS? FOR, FOR NO, NOT NO JOYCE, I'M TALKING TO YOU.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT HIM.
UM, I, I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO DO WE HAVE TO ALLOW THE FAMILY MEMBERS? NO, NO.
WHAT UH, HANG ON, IS THERE ANYBODY OUT HERE THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY THAT HAS HEALTH INSURANCE THAT DOES NOT APPLY TO YOUR FAMILY? YES SIR.
THE BUT THE EMPLOYEE MAKES THE DECISION UP HERE.
I THINK Y'ALL ARE TALKING ABOUT DO Y'ALL EVEN ARE, IS IT GONNA BE ALLOWED FOR Y'ALL TO MAKE THAT DECISION? BUT EVERY EMPLOYEE MAKES THAT DECISION.
SO THE HR SCHEDULE WOULD SAY EMPLOYEE, SOMETIMES THEY SAY EMPLOYEE IS FREE AND THEN IT'LL SAY EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE IS X.
RIGHT? IT'S, AND THEN IT'LL SAY EMPLOYEE PLUS FAMILY, WHICH RIGHT, THERE'S FOUR CHOICES.
THE QUESTION IS, IS, IS CAN OUR POLICY BE DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER PEOPLE? I'M NOT SURE THE ANSWER TO THAT.
THAT DON'T, IT CAN JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN THE SAME GROUP.
SO IF YOU HAVE CERTAIN POLICY IN THE, YOUR GROUP NUMBER, EVERYBODY IN THE GROUP IS GONNA BE UNIFORM BASED ON THE ELECTION THAT YOU MAKE.
WHETHER IT'S EMPLOYEE, EMPLOYEE PLUS SPOUSE.
ALRIGHT, WELL RICHARD IS SUGGESTING THAT TOTALLY MIRROR AND TO MAKE IT FOR SIMPLICITY SERVICES, UH, PURPOSES.
MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST MIRROR IT.
GEORGE, YOU OKAY WITH THE MIRROR MIRRORING IT? EVERYBODY ELSE OKAY WITH IT? ALRIGHT, I'M FINE WITH THAT.
THAT IS PROBABLY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN A COMPENSATION.
WELL THEN DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM? NO, BUT I'M JUST SAYING JUST BY THE WAY, THAT'S, THAT'S THE MORE BIG TICKET ITEM.
IT'S PROBABLY ALL GONNA BE EXPENSIVE.
ALRIGHT, NOW LET'S GET BACK TO THE COMPENSATION.
SO COUNSEL, SO COUNCILOR VARGAS SUGGESTED 2,500 FOR THE MAYOR IN 2000 PER MONTH FOR EACH COUNCIL.
IS THAT WHAT Y'ALL WANT TO DO? THAT'S NOT WHAT I WANT TO DO.
I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE EXTREME.
I THINK THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT, UH, I'M THERE THAT, THAT TO ME IT'D BE MORE LIKE A FULL-TIME JOB.
I THINK IT HAS NO CHANCE OF PASSING THE PUBLIC AND I WOULDN'T EVEN BRING IT UP.
WELL, THOSE, THOSE NUMBERS, RIGHT.
UM, SO I I I DID A CHAT GBT SEARCH OF THE AVERAGE OF ALL THE CITIES IN FORT BEND COUNTY EXCEPT HOUSTON.
[01:45:01]
AND UH, THE AVERAGE CAME OUT TO 1005, 1050 A MONTH.WERE THOSE CITIES THAT HAD A CITY MANAGER? YES.
AND AND IT INCLUDED CITIES LIKE SHORE AND NEVILLE THAT HAD ZERO.
AND THIS WAS ABOUT FOUR A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
AND UM, IT ALSO INCLUDED MISSOURI CITY AND, UM, SUGAR LAND.
BUT CITY, CITY, IT HAD NUMEROUS, IT HAD NUMEROUS CITIES ON THERE THAT WERE VERY LOW.
WELL I KNOW LIKE MEADOWS PLACE, THE, I THINK THEY'RE, THEY GET LIKE 1500.
BUT I I JUST IN DISCUSSION WITH SOME OF THEM, I THINK THEY MENTIONED 'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A CITY MANAGER, SO THEY HAVE MORE DUTIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, JOYCE DOES A LOT FOR US.
UM, FELIX, DO YOU THINK WE'D KNOCK IT DOWN TO A THOUSAND? YES.
I MEAN, I MEAN, I'M FINE WITH IT.
YEAH, WE CAN KNOCK IT DOWN TO A THOUSAND IF YOU WANT.
WHAT, WHAT DOES EVERYBODY ELSE THINK? I MEAN, I WOULD PERSONALLY, I WOULD KNOCK IT DOWN EVEN A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.
WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER? I WOULD SAY I THINK THE LAST INCREASE WAS ONLY $200.
SO I THINK BEFORE IT WAS AT 200 AND THEY BUMPED IT TO 400 AND THE LAST INCREASE.
UM, SO I WOULD BE MORE INTERESTED IN LIKE A GRADUAL INCREASE THAN A BIG THAN DOUBLING IT OR, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I WOULD OPPOSE IT.
BUT IF YOU WANT ANY CHANCE OF GETTING IT PASSED, MY SUGGESTION IS TAKE JESSICA'S ADVICE, DO IT INCREMENTALLY.
UM, UH, I I WOULD SUGGEST NO MORE THAN A HUNDRED DOLLARS IN EACH POSITION.
I'LL GO ON THE RECORD AS OPPOSING ANY INCREASE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY HOPE OF GETTING IT PASSED, THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.
AND I THINK THAT, DOES THAT SOUND COUNSEL? I THINK IT SOUNDS GOOD.
AND I THINK THE MAX INCREASE I WOULD CONSIDER IS MAYBE LIKE UP TO 600, YOU KNOW, UM, 600 FOR COUNCIL.
JUST, JUST A 200 INCREASE, YOU KNOW, 50 FOR MAYOR.
HE IS MORE OF LIKE A COST OF LIVING INCREASE, YOU KNOW, BUT I, 6 25 FOR ME LESS.
WELL IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THAT COULD PUT US ALL A HUNDRED UP ALMOST ROUNDED UP LIKE YOU'RE DOING ON WALMART WHEN YOU, WHEN THEY OWE YOU PENNIES.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT GOING TO, UH, I MEAN IT DEPENDS.
IT'S ONLY GONNA BENEFIT WHOEVER GETS ELECTED OR ROUND IT DOWN.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT GUARANTEED FOR ANYBODY, BUT, RIGHT.
SO MY POINT WAS THAT JUST INTER IN INCREMENTALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT A BIG, NOT A BIG JUMP.
WELL SOMEBODY SAY A NUMBER THAT'S ACCEPTABLE TO Y'ALL.
600 FOR WHICH? FOR COUNCIL? 700 FOR THE MAYOR? YEAH.
ALRIGHT, THAT'S, THAT'S THE NUMBER, UH, STEVE IS IS SAYS I'LL SECOND THAT.
700 FOR THE MAYOR FELIX? YEAH.
YEAH, I'M OKAY WITH THAT JESSICA.
I WANT THE RECORD TO REFLECT THAT.
ALRIGHT, SO IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE? NOPE.
ANYTHING ELSE? ALRIGHT, SO THAT WAS, THAT WAS THAT ONE.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM IF Y'ALL DON'T MIND.
[6. Consideration of and action on Resolution No. R-4010, a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rosenberg, Texas, authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute, for and on behalf of the City of Rosenberg, Texas, a Development Agreement regarding a 6.638-acre tract of land located within the City of Rosenberg Extraterritorial Jurisdiction, by and between the City of Rosenberg, Texas, and Klauke Investments LLC. (Mohamed Bireima, Director of Planning) ]
OKAY.AND THIS IS ITEM NUMBER SIX, CONSIDERATION OF AN ACTION ON RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 40 10.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF ROSENBERG, TEXAS.
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE FOR ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ROSENBERG, TEXAS.
A DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT REGARDING A 6.638 ACRE TRACK OF LAND LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF ROSENBERG, ET, EXTRA EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY, ROSENBERG, TEXAS, AND CLOCKY INVESTMENTS.
UH, MOHAMMED YOU WANT TO THANK YOU MAYOR.
UH, FOR CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION IS RESOLUTION NUMBER R DASH 410 AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF ROSENBERG, TEXAS, A DEVELOPMENT OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND CLOCK INVESTMENT.
THIS AGREEMENT IS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 6.638 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF STELLA ROAD AND BEMO ROAD WITHIN THE CITY'S EX TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION.
THE CITY TO MAP ON THE SCREEN FOR YOUR REVIEW.
AS PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED AT THE APRIL 22ND, 2025 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP AND MAY 6TH CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING, THE OWNER INTENDS TO DEVELOP THE TRACK FOR COMMERCIAL USES INCLUDING
[01:50:01]
A CONVENIENCE STORE, FUEL STATION, WITH OR WITHOUT A CAR WASH.THE DRAFT MAY ALSO BE DEVELOPED FOR NON-RESIDENTIAL UNITS FOR INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP, SUBJECT TO COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS ENFORCED BY A MANDATORY PROPERTY OWNER ASSOCIATION TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE OWNER FOR THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT.
THE OWNER SHALL CONSTRUCT EXTEND WATER AND SANHO LINES TO AND ACROSS THE TRACK AND SHALL PURCHASE WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER SERVICES FROM THE CITY.
CITY AGREES TO PROVIDE THE TRACK WITH WATER SUPPLY AND WASTEWATER SERVICES IN ORDER FOR THE OWNER TO DEVELOP THE TRACK WITHIN THE ETJ.
THE OWNER FURTHER AGREES TO ADHERE TO CITY CODES AND USE RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE AGREEMENT RELATED TO WHAT MAY BE BUILT ON THE TRACK.
IN ADDITION, THE OWNER AGREES TO ACQUIRE AND DEDICATE EASEMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE THE INSTALLATION OF THE WATER LINE AND SEND IT TO SHORE LINE EXTENSIONS ALONG BAY MOORE TO BAY MOORE ROAD.
TO SERVE THE TRACK STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION R DASH 410 AS PRESENTED.
ALRIGHT, THIS IS IN ETD BEHIND OF FORT BEND COUNTY.
OH, I WAS GONNA SAY WHAT DISTRICT'S IN IT? IT'S NO DISTRICT THIS, BUT IT WAS THE CLOSEST DISTRICT WOULD BE STEVE.
THIS GENTLEMAN IS A, HE'S NOT IN THE CITY BUT HE WANTS CITY WATER.
HE'LL PAY HOW MUCH CHOICE, UH, ON THE WATER RATES.
THE MAXIMUM BY LAW, WHICH IS, WELL IT'S NOT ONE AND A HALF TIMES THE CITY RATE IS WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR ORDINANCE.
IT'S NOT WHAT THOUGH? IT'S NOT THE MAXIMUM BY LAW.
IT'S WHAT YOU TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY.
I DID NOT TELL YOU IS MAXIMUM BY LAW.
YOU TOLD ME WE NEED TO MAKE IT THREE TIMES.
THAT'S NOT ALLOWED BY LAW BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE A REASONABLE AMOUNT.
WHAT IS THE AMOUNT MAXIMUM ABOUT BY LAW THEN? A REASONABLE AMOUNT.
WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT? 1.5, WHICH IS WHAT'S IN OUR ORDINANCE.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE TO ME THAT'S THE MAXIMUM BECAUSE JOYCE SAYS IT'S REASONABLE AND THE, ACCORDING TO THE LAW YOU HAVE TO BE REASONABLE.
ANYBODY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS AGREEMENT? 'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT IS BEING DISCUSS THIS.
THE ONE OVER THERE BEHIND THE FOUR.
UH, THEY DO THEY WANT TO COME TO THE CITY LIMITS IN THE FUTURE OR IS THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
THEY'RE NOT GONNA COME TO THE CITY LIMITS UNLESS THEY SUBMIT A PETITION.
BUT THE AGREEMENT DOESN'T FORCE THEM TO COME INTO THE CITY LIMITS.
WELL, UNLESS HE, HE SOLD IT TO SOMEONE ELSE THAT WOULD APPLY TO BE IN THE CITY.
BUT LUCKILY THE CITY CAN'T FORCE THEMSELVES AS IN THE PAST CITIES COULD DO, UH, FORCE THEMSELVES UPON PROPERTY OWNERS AND ANNEX THEM ANYWAYS.
SO, UH, HERE'S THE CHOICE, Y'ALL.
WE, WE DON'T HAVE TO APPROVE THIS.
AND IF WE DO, WE DON'T APPROVE IT.
HE WILL, WE HE HE WILL NOT BE A WATER CUSTOMER, RIGHT? WON'T BE A WATER CUSTOMER.
AT LEAST WE BASICALLY BE, RIGHT NOW YOU'RE PUTTING RESTRICTIONS THAT WE WE ARE PUTTING RESTRICTIONS, USE RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT CAN BE BUILT AND HE HAS TO PERMIT THROUGH THE CITY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S GONNA BE IN THE ETJ.
BUT THE AGREEMENT THAT WE HAVE NO VAPE SHOPS, NO MASSAGE PAR, NO VAPE SHOPS, NO MULTI-FAMILY, NO RESIDENTIAL.
UH, WE HAVE, WE'RE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT HE COULD BE.
I'M IF STAFF'S REC, I'M OKAY WITH IT THEN I'M OKAY WITH IT.
UM, YOU WANT ME TO MAKE A MOTION AS LONG? IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING.
FINALLY, THIS RESOLUTION INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
THIS ONE HERE IS PROBABLY GONNA BE A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED.
MAYOR, THIS ITEM'S TO BE TABLED TONIGHT.
WE'RE GONNA TABLE THIS ITEM TONIGHT.
I GUESS COUNSEL HAS TO TAKE OUT, I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE.
MOTION MADE BY WHO? WHO? SO IT CAN ONLY BE BROUGHT BACK IF FOUR PEOPLE WANT TO BRING IT BACK.
NO, UNLESS YOU SPECIFY A DATE TO BRING IT BACK.
THAT'S THEN YOU HAVE TO DO A POSTPONE.
RIGHT? WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT SPECIFYING A DAY, RIGHT? NO.
NO, IF YOU DON'T WANT A DAY, YOU GOTTA DO A POSTPONE.
IS THIS POSTPONED? SO IF YOU MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE IT, YOU EITHER HAVE TO SPECIFY THE TIME THAT IT'S GONNA COME BACK OR IT COMES BACK ON THE REQUEST REQUEST OF FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
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YOU COULD JUST TAKE NO ACTION TONIGHT AND THEN WE CAN JUST PUT IT ON THE NEXT I I SAY TABLE IT.WELL I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO TABLE IT.
HE SAID YOU DON'T HAVE TO PICK A DATE.
BUT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD HAVE TO, FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE TO REQUEST FOR IT TO COME BACK.
SO, SO THE, THE DEVELOPER AND THE ATTORNEY ARE REQUESTING, UM, THAT IT COME BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THERE'S JUST A FEW THINGS THAT CAME UP TODAY THAT NEED TO BE WORKED OUT.
WELL, WE'LL TABLE IT FOR NOW AND THEN WE'LL WHEN Y'ALL COME UP WITH THAT, WE'LL, WE'LL DO A POWWOW AND IF WE GET FOUR COUNCILS, WE'LL GET WE'LL, WE'LL GO BACK ON THOUGH.
SO, SO KEEP IN MIND CAN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL DISCUSSION OUTSIDE OF HERE.
NO, HE MEANT WHAT YOU'LL HAVE TO DO IS PUT TO RULES, PUT IT ON A WORKSHOP.
YOU'LL HAVE PURSUE IT TO THE RULES.
FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS PUT IT, REQUEST YOU ON A WORKSHOP.
SANTA'S WATCHING AFTER Y'ALL WORK OUT THE DETAILS, WE HAVE TO HAVE FORUM TO, TO DISCUSS.
WELL, WHAT HECTOR MEANT WAS THAT WE WOULD DO IT WITH ALL DUE REGARD FOR THE RULES.
[8. Hold Executive Session to deliberate the potential purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property pursuant to section 551.072; for economic development negotiations pursuant to Section 551.087 of the Texas Government Code; and, to consult with City Attorney to seek legal advice regarding pending or contemplated litigation related to Cause No. 25-CCV-076202 and Cause No. 24-CCV-074997 pursuant to Sec. 551.071 of the Texas Government Code. ]
NOW WE'RE GONNA GO IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, BUT WHEN WE DO BEFORE WE DO, WE'RE GOING, WE GO TO A COUPLE OF MINUTES, WE GO TO THE MEN'S ROOM.I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO GO TO SESSION WITH A 10 MINUTE BREAK IN BETWEEN.
[9. Adjourn Executive Session, reconvene Regular Session, and take action as necessary as a result of Executive Session. ]
ALRIGHT, WHAT'S THE, UH, WISHES OF THE COUNCIL? WE MOVE TO, ACTUALLY WE NEED TO TAKE SOME ACTION.ALLOW ME DO HAVE A LITTLE ACTION TO TAKE.
I MAKE A MOTION, I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THIS SETTLEMENT OF CAUSE NUMBER 25 CCV 0 7 6 2 0 2 AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO EXECUTE THE NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.
UH, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR INDICATE BY SAYING AYE.
IF YOU'RE OPPOSED, PLEASE SAY NO.
THE AYES HAVE IT AND I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER BUSINESS, JESSICA MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
EVERYBODY, PLEASE HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS.
GOD BLESS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYBODY.