[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:05]
MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. TODAY'S DATES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24TH 2023 TODAY WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME STUDENTS FROM ST ANTHONY'S BASILICA SCHOOL ALONG WITH THEIR TEACHERS. THESE STUDENTS WILL LEAD US IN THE INVOCATION PLEDGE AND WILL GRACE US WITH A SONG. AT THIS TIME. IF THESE STUDENTS WOULD PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND EVERYONE IF YOU WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR PHONES. AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ARE GATHERED HERE TO GIVE THANKS FOR YOUR MANY BLESSINGS UPON EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. WE THANK YOU FOR THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LIFE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL DAY TO CONTINUE TO PRAISE AND GLORIFY YOU. LET ME FATHER WE ASKED TO BE YOU TO BE WITH EACH AND EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER GUIDE THEIR MINDS AND MOVE THEIR HEARTS AS THEY HEAR AND MAKE DECISIONS TODAY TO BENEFIT OUR CITY OF BEAUMONT AND THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. WE SEEK YOU FIRST IN ALL WE DO AND CONFESS THAT WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT YOU. WE ASK ALL THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD. AMEN IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. I PLEASURE LEECHES. UNITED STATES SEVEN THERE AND IT'S YOUR STANDS IN RELATION.
TO ASK FOR GOD'S BLESSING UPON OUR COUNTRY, OUR NATION AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. LEFT LEST MAN, ERICA.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO GATHER UP HERE. WE CAN GET A PICTURE WITH ALL OF US. SCOOP. PLEASE DON'T MEAN SOMETHING. YOU LIKE THAT. I KNOW. LOOK, HOPEFULLY NOBODY GOT THAT VIDEO.
[00:05:16]
YEAH. EVERYBODY YOU CAN LOOK RIGHT OVER HERE.MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MAYOR WEST PRESIDENT TURNER ABSENT. COUNCIL MEMBER DORIO PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBER GETS COUNCIL MEMBER PHIL SHAW PRESIDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS SAMUEL
[PROCLAMATIONS]
COUNCIL MEMBER, NEIL THANK YOU TODAY WE HAVE ONE PROCLAMATION. COUNCILMAN CHRIS DURIO WILL READ THE PROCLAMATION. AFTER IT IS RED WILL ANNOUNCE YOUR NAME SO YOU AND MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP CAN COME TO THE PODIUM AND THEN SHAKE HANDS WITH COUNSEL AND TAKE PICTURES AS WELL. UH, COUNCILMAN DORIA. THANK YOU. WHEREAS THE BEAUMONT PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, LOCAL 3 99 EXEMPLIFY THE MOST TIME HONORED AMERICAN IDEALS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND SACRIFICE.PROTECTING THE CITIZENS OF OUR COMMUNITY FROM TRAGEDY ON THE HOME FRONT, AND WHEREAS MEMBERS OF LOCAL 3 99, OR HIGHLY TRAINED AND DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WHO DEMONSTRATE DAILY AND EXTRAORDINARY CALIBER OF CHARACTER AND COURAGE IN THE FACE OF DANGER, AND WHEREAS MEMBERS OF LOCAL 3 99 UNSELFISHLY DONATE THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO SUPPORTING THE BATTLE AGAINST MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY BY FEELING THE BOOT EACH YEAR FOR THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION AND WHEREAS IN THE PAST YEARS THE BEAUMONT FIREFIGHTERS, LOCAL 3 99 HAS RAISED FUNDS FOR THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION THROUGH ANNUAL FEEL THE BOOT CAMPAIGN. AND WHEREAS THE BO MY FIREFIGHTERS ENDLESS SERVICE TO M D, A HAS GIVEN SO MUCH HOPE FOR FAMILIES FIGHTING NEURO MUSCULAR DISEASES NOW THEREFORE ROY WEST, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NOVEMBER 3RD THROUGH THE 5TH 2023, BEAUMONT FIREFIGHTERS, LOCAL 3 99 FILL THE BOOT DAYS AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO SUPPORT THIS WORTHWHILE CAMPAIGN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY. ACCORDINGLY THE MAYOR HAS HERE ON TO SET HIS HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT TO BE A FIXED SIGN MIRROR. ROY WEST OCTOBER 24TH 2023. AND ACCEPTING WILL BE CAPTAIN DAVID CARPENTER WITH THE INTERNATIONAL FIREFIGHTERS, LOCAL NUMBER 3 99 AND ANYBODY WITH YOU, AND I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT COUNCILMAN CHRIS DURIO IS A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER HERE IN BEAUMONT. I'M CAPTAIN DAVID CARPENTER BONE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. LOCAL 3 99 WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL AND CHRIS DURIO. HE COLLECTED FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS AND WE GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS. THE I F F HAS COLLECTED CRITICAL FUNDS IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1950 FOR $1 AT A TIME AS PART OF THE FIELD OF BOOT PROGRAM FOR THE N D, A PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. LOCAL 3 99 HAS PARTICIPATED IN THIS EVENT FOR 20 YEARS AND WILL CONTINUE THIS LONGSTANDING TRADITION AS ITS MEMBERS KICK OFF THE ANNUAL PROGRAM RAISING FUNDS TO SUPPORT INDIA'S VISION TO ACCELERATE RESEARCH. ADVANCED CARE IN ADVANCE ADVOCATE AND POWER FAMILIES LIVING WITH THE M D A PARTICULAR DYSTROPHY LS LUGERS DISEASE. AND RELATED NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES IN SUPPORT OF THE FAMILIES WITH NBA SERVERS. DEDICATED FIREFIGHTERS FROM LOCAL 3 99 WILL BE A MAJOR INTERSECTIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY WITH BOOTS AND HAND OVER PEDESTRIANS, MOTORISTS AND CUSTOMERS AND OTHER PASSERSBY TO DONATE TO M D A ON NOVEMBER 4TH 5TH AND 6TH 2023. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN INDIA AND I F F BEGAN IN 1954. WHEN THE I F SUNDAY PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING MBIA IS HIS CHARITY OF CHOICE, INVITING TO CONTINUE RAISING AWARENESS AND FUNDS UNTIL CURES CAN BE FOUND. TODAY. OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, THE CITIZENS
[00:10:01]
OF ALMOST CONTRIBUTE OVER $150,000, AND WE'RE HOPING THIS YEAR WILL BE THE BEST YEAR YET AND NOW I HAVE MISCARRIED DALTON WITH INDIA. SHE'D LIKE TO SAY SOME THINGS AS WELL. THANK YOU.GET AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY TO GIVE THANKS TO BEAUMONT, A CITY THAT DEFINITELY HAS A BIG HEART. UM N B A, LIKE, DAVID SAID, IS THE NUMBER ONE VOLUNTARY HEALTH ORGANIZATION, THE UNITED STATES WHERE PEOPLE LIVING WITH MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, ALES AND OTHER RELATED NOR MUSCULAR DISEASES. UM FOR OVER 70 YEARS, INDIA HAS LED THE WAY IN ACCELERATING RESEARCH, ADVANCING CARE AND ADVOCATING FOR THE SUPPORT OF OUR FAMILIES, AND OUR MISSION IS IT IS TO EMPOWER THE PEOPLE WE SERVE TO LIVE LONGER, MORE INDEPENDENT LIVES. AND GRATEFULLY. THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE BEEN WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. UM THROUGH FILL THE BOOTS, A STRONG FIREFIGHTER TRADITION, GIVING FAMILIES LIVING WITH MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY HOPE FOR A FUTURE BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, SUPPORT FOR TODAY. AND BECAUSE OF THIS, YOUR SUPPORT. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 28, FDA APPROVED TREATMENTS AND NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE. THIS IS IT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A HUGE NUMBER, BUT REALLY IS. I'VE BEEN WITH NBA FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND WHEN I STARTED, THERE WERE NONE. THERE WASN'T ONE TREATMENT AND FOR, YOU KNOW, TWO DECADES AND TRAVELING AROUND THE FIREFIGHTERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR FILL IN THE BOOT YOUR YOU KNOW, OUT IN THE HOT SUN. IT'S REALLY ADDING UP. IT TOOK A LOT OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO GET WHERE WE ARE TODAY. BUT NOW THE MOMENT UM IS THERE. UM LAST YEAR WHEN I WAS HERE, THERE WERE 18 TODAY. I CAN SAY THAT THERE ARE 28 WHICH IS SIGNIFICANT. IT REALLY IS LIFE CHANGING. IT'S A GAME CHANGER BECAUSE NOW IT'S IN THE GENETIC MEDICINE. BECAUSE THERE ARE TREATMENTS WE CAN NOW HAVE. THERE'S 43 DIFFERENT KINDS OF MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY. AND NOW THAT THERE ARE TREATMENTS WE CAN ADVOCATE TO BE ON THE NEWBORN SCREENING TEST FOR THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF THE DISEASE THAT WE NOW HAVE TREATMENTS FOR. SO NOW WE HAVE BABIES THAT MAY HAVE NOT MADE IT TO TWO OR THREE YEARS OLD, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE IT NOW AND WILL NEVER EVEN KNOW OR I HAVE THE SYMPTOMS, WHICH IS TRULY AMAZING, SO I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, TWO DECADES IN AND THIS IS WHY I'M HERE. SO I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHERE THIS ALL IS HARD WORK IS GOING FOR, BUT OF COURSE, IT'S GOING TO KIDS AT CAMP. IT'S GOING TO THE CARE CENTERS, AND ALL OF THIS IS PROVIDED TO THE FAMILIES AT AT NO COST TO THEM BECAUSE OF OUR SUPPORTERS THAT HELP US THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. SO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE THIS MONEY IS GOING. IT IS GOING TO SAVING LIVES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. UM YOU KNOW, IT WOULD NOT BE DONE WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AND THE CITIZENS WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES LIKE BEAUMONT. IT REALLY TAKES A TRUE PARTNERSHIP. AND SO WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT. OF COURSE, I WANT TO THANK OUR FILL THE BOOT COORDINATOR FOR LEADING THE CHARGE. DAVID CARPENTER, OF COURSE, LOCAL 3, 99 AND ALL THE CITIZENS OF BEAUMONT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD SHAKE EVERYBODY'S HAND AND.
YEAH. G. YEAH, YOU OUGHT TO BE IN THE MIDDLE. ALREADY ALL YOU CAN LOOK RIGHT HERE AND ONE TWO AND THREE WILL TAKE ONE MORE 12. THREE. EXCELLENT JOB, Y'ALL THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. FOR THOSE THAT ARE HERE FOR THE PROCLAMATION, AND WE'D LIKE TO LEAVE. NOW IS THE TIME TO DO SO. AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING. THANK YOU STUDENTS. IN SAINT ANTHONY'S BASILICA.
[00:15:17]
THANK YOU.[PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT]
NOW IS THE TIME FOR ANY CITIZEN WHO WISHES TO SPEAK. YOU MAY MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AND REGULAR AGENDA ITEM NUMBER ONE. THE CITY CLERK WILL CALL YOUR NAME WHEN IT'S YOUR TIME TO SPEAK WHEN YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM, PLEASE SAY YOUR ADDRESS YOUR CITY AND STATE. WE WOULD WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP IT TO THREE MINUTES. THE GREEN LIGHT WILL COME ON. AS YOU APPROACH THE PODIUM IN THE RED LIGHT WILL COME ON WHEN YOUR TIME IS, UH AND THERE'S A CHAOS IN THE BACK TO HAVE REGISTERED IF YOU IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE SO. BARBARA WILL TURNER PUBLIC COMMENTS. IS IT VERY. I'M SORRY. YEAH, BRIANNA WILL TURNER? YES. HELLO GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS BRIANNA WALL. TURNER AND ADDRESS IS 29 50 HUBERT STRAIGHT. SO TODAY I'M HERE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MY GRANDMOTHER, IN A SENSE, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU GUYS HAVE HAD OTHER PEOPLE COME IN AND TALK ABOUT THE WATER BILL ISSUE. I'VE SEEN A FEW ARTICLES ABOUT IT. UM BUT TO BEGIN SO MY GRANDMOTHER SHE HAS DEMENTIA. IN ABOUT MID LAST YEAR. SHE CAN'T LIVE ALONE ANYMORE. SO SHE MOVED TO DALLAS WITH MY AUNT. AND, UH, SO SINCE SHE LIVES IN DALLAS, NO ONE LIVES IN HER HOME, AND I'VE BEEN PAYING HER ELECTRIC AND HER WATER BILL EVER SINCE. AND NORMALLY HER BILL IS ABOUT LIKE 50. EVERY SO OFTEN I'LL GET ONE THAT'S AROUND LIKE 75 $80. BUT LAST MONTH I RECEIVED A BILL THAT WAS $1700. AND KEEP IN MIND . NO ONE LIVES IN THE HOUSE, SO I FELT LIKE IT WAS EXTREMELY UNREASONABLE AMOUNT, SO I CONTACTED THE CITY OF BEAUMONT WATER COMPANY, THE BUILDING PART AND I TALKED TO THEM. I WILL SAY THAT THAT HASN'T BEEN THE BEST. THERE'S BEEN TIMES TO WHERE THEY WERE NOT SO FRIENDLY AND A FEW TIMES ACTUALLY HUNG UP ON ME. BUT THEY KEPT SAYING THAT THERE'S A LEAK IN THE HOUSE. AND SO I HAD A PLUMBER COME OUT, AND WE DID THE WHOLE WATER TEST WHERE YOU TURN THE FAUCET ON AND YOU GO LOOK AT THEM EITHER AND SEE IF IT'S TURNING AND IT WAS TURNING. AND SO WHEN WE TURN THE FAUCET OFF THEM EITHER WAS NO LONGER TURNING. AND I HAD THE CITY OF BEAUMONT MAINTENANCE COME OUT AS WELL AND SEARCH THE WHOLE ENTIRE PROPERTY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE AND MADE DETECTIVE NO LEAK, EITHER. SO THERE'S NOT A LEAK, AND WE'RE WE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEIR BILL IS THE AMOUNT THAT IT IS. IT IS. CURRENTLY SO THEY PULLED THEM EITHER BECAUSE WE'RE STILL TRYING TO DECIDE. SO THE BILL HASN'T BEEN PAID YET, UM SO THEY PULLED THEM EITHER WHENEVER THEY CAME AND PULLED THEM EITHER, LIKE THE WATER WHERE THE METER IS AT STILL RUNNING THROUGH IT. THEY CAME YESTERDAY, AND I GUESS THE PERSON WHO PULLED IT AND TURN IT OFF ALL THE WAY, BUT THE MILLER BOX THEY JUST THREW IN THE DITCH AS WELL. UM AND WE HAVE PICTURES AND VIDEOS OF IT, TOO. BUT MY MAIN PURPOSE TODAY WAS COMING BECAUSE, LIKE I MEAN, IF MY GRANDMOTHER WAS LIVING IN HER HOUSE BY HERSELF, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE THAT'S EXTREMELY UNREASONABLE AND IF SHE DIDN'T HAVE LIKE HER FAMILY TO HELP HER WITH THAT, UM THEN I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE HER HAVING TO DEAL WITH IT ON HER OWN. BUT LIKE I SAID, I AM THE ONE WHO PAYS HER BILLS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND LIKE I HAVE A FRIEND WHO JUST RECENTLY HAD A POOL AND IT'S A NICE SIZED POOL INSTALLED, AND THEIR BILL WASN'T EVEN HALF THAT PRICE. SO MY MAIN CONCERN TODAY WAS IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN THAT YOU GUYS CAN DO TO PROVIDE ANSWERS AS TO WHY THE BILL IS THE AMOUNT THAT IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. RONALD KELLY PUBLIC COMMENTS.WATER BILL. I GOT BOTH OF MY WATER BILLS HERE AS WELL LAST MONTH. IT WAS $49. AND NOW THIS MONTH, IT IS 108. AND SO WHAT I HAVE RESIGNED TO DO IS TO TURN THE METER ON AND OFF AS I NEED
[00:20:01]
WATER. UNTIL WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. WOW. I GO AND LOOK AT THE METER. YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO STARE AT IT. TO DETECT ANY MOVEMENT IS NOT DOING? THIS IS TWITCHING. IT'S GOT TO BE A PROBLEM. IT'S GOT TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE METER. WE WENT ALL OVER THE HOUSE, CHECKING EVERYTHING WE CAN CHECK TOILETS SINKS, YOU NAME IT, NOTHING IS HAPPENING. WITH REGARD TO THE, UH BUILDING. WE NEED BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FRIENDLY AT ALL. THEY'RE NOT FRIENDLY AT ALL. AH! I SAID IN THIS COUNCIL MEETING. HMM. AND. COUNCILMAN GETS DRILLED TODD ON WHY WE ARE HAVING TO WRITE OFF DEBT. AND THAT FROM THE WATER DEPARTMENT. WELL ONE THING THAT WE'RE DOING IS WE GOT BILLS IN THE HOLE. AS I GOT THIS BILL HERE DOESN'T BILL SITTING IN THE WHOLE RIGHT NOW. SO THAT MAKES IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO WALK OFF AND LEAVE WATER BILLS. WHY WE CAN'T GET 30 DAY WATER BILL CYCLE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. IF THE IF THE ENERGY CAN DO IT, IF THE CREDIT CARD PEOPLE CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T I? UTILITY WATER UTILITIES DO IT AS WELL. AND THEN WHEN YOU GO AND ASK HIM WELL, WHAT'S THE WHAT'S THE CURRENT READING? I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T SEE IT. I CAN'T FIND IT WHEN YOU READ IT ON OCTOBER 18TH . YOU DON'T HAVE THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE CURRENT METER READING. AND THEN FINALLY THEY DID LOCATE MINE. BUT I'M TRYING TO HELP A NEIGHBOR OF MINE WHO IS LIMITED WITH HIS ENGLISH. THEY DIDN'T WANT ME THERE WITH HIM. I SAID HE'S GIVING YOU ALL PERMISSION TO TALK TO HIM WITH ME STANDING HERE WITH NO SIR, YOU HAVE TO GO SIT OVER THERE. IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. WE GOT TO GET BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE. WE GOTTA GET THIS WATER THING TAKEN CARE OF AND WORKED OUT. IS CAUSING YOUR CITIZENS MONEY. IT'S COSTING THE CITY MONEY WHEN YOU ALL RIGHT OFF THAT DEBT, ALL OF US ARE PAYING IT. SO WE BASICALLY ALL OF US ARE PAYING OTHER FOLKS WATER BILLS THAT HAVE WALKED AWAY. BUT WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU KEEP A BILL SITTING IN THE HOLE. NOW MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YOU ALL HAVE TOLD THEM TO CORRECT THAT.SAID. YOU TOLD HIM BACK IN AUGUST. WELL WE'RE NOT. WE'RE NOT THERE YET. WE'RE NOT. WE'RE NOT. WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN IT DONE YET. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL DON'T KNOW IF THEY GAVE YOU ALL THE TIME LINE OR IF YOU ALL GAVE THEM A TIMELINE. BUT IT'S NOT THERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR KELLY. MHM. SCOTT INTERESTS. OR WITH MY PERSON. HONORED TO MEET YOU. LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
I WAS AT REMOVED THOMAS HERE. SHE LIVES IN THE WHOLE TIME. ATTENTIVELY WHAT CITY COUNCIL WAS TOO BUSY ARGUING ABOUT THE BOMA ENTERPRISE AND LOCAL TV STATIONS, NOT GETTING A MEETING ON TIME. THE US NAVY COMBAT BET. THERE'S 49 OTHER STATES OTHER THAN TEXAS. I'M FROM LOUISIANA.
MY DAD DID TWO TOURS IN GERMANY TO TOWARDS VIETNAM. I'LL SEE THAT EAGLE PROUD TO SAY I'M AMERICAN, BUT YET I HAD A BITE TO TRAFFIC ALL THE WAY HERE ALMOST GOT RUN OVER, BUT HE DID IT TO DRIVE LIKE POOLS. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO SAVE MY LIFE MATTERS JUST AS EVERYBODY ELSE.
I'M NOT WHITE CREOLE. I SERVED THE NAVY 39 YEARS I DIDN'T START OFF STORE OPENS A BUBBLE HEAD AND I WAS STUPID. I BECAME A SELF MURDER. I WANT TO CORONADO. RING A BELL? I'M NOT G I JANE.
MY NAME IS SCOTT JAMES. BUT I RESPECT AUTHORITY. I'M NOT JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP. BEAUMONT B A, WHICH IS NARCISSISTIC. WE DON'T HAVE A KIOSK IN LOUISIANA. GO GET MY CHILD, P SAID TO MOM. PUT MY BURNS EYE ON. HOW DO YOU KNOW? BUT YET YOU'VE GOT THESE FOOLS THESE BOMBS ON THE FACTORY GOTTFRIED AND WALK IN THERE AND TAKE STUFF FROM ME. I GOT BANNED FROM THERE BECAUSE NYPD SHOT THE GUY TRIED TO SHAKE ME. THEY GAVE ME A TRANSPLANT ONE. WHAT KIND OF JUSTICE IS THAT? WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE FOR MORE PERFECT UNION PLAYS, RIGHT. LOWER YOUR VOICE A LITTLE BIT BY MY BOYS TRAPPED ALL I'VE BEEN THROUGH TESTICULAR CANCER SOMEWHERE. POW I'M GLAD TO BE AMERICAN. I CANNOT TELL THE BOY MY VOICE WILL CATCH SOMEONE'S ATTENTION WHISPERER. ALL PROTECTED BY THE PRIVACY ACT OF 17 74. TYPE IN THIS COUNTRY. THIS WAS NOT A COMA IN ASIA. WHEN THEY PUT THE PLUG ON ME, I VOMITED RESPIRATOR. MY FIANCE WAS SITTING WITH GERMANY'S SHE THOUGHT I WAS DEAD. ADOPTED DORA THAILAND HAVE NOT SEEN JUST 9 11. WHY THE PROCESS? I GOT ATTACKED BY A GUY NAMED KEITH MEMORY OVER THE TRAVEL IN HIS CRACKHOUSE ENDS. HE SAID ON THE STAIRS THREE DAYS FOR MY OPINION ARRESTED HIM. SO I DO APOLOGIZE IF I GOT LOUD PROBABLY HAD TO BE AMERICAN. AT LEAST I KNOW I'M FREE. MAN I ADMIRE MOST IS NOT HERE. HE'S GONNA BE HERE. I WORK WITH WOUNDED WATER PROJECT. MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION. I GOT TWO NEPHEWS. GREAT NEPHEW, AUTISTIC.
[00:25:04]
DO A MOVIE WATER PROJECT FOR EVERYONE. CLAIBORNE PORK. AFTER 11 11 BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW GENTLEMEN, EVERY 11 11. VETERANS DAY. AND HOW MANY MUCH NEXT YOU HAVE 29 DAYS, ALL OF THEM? OLYMPICS I'M NOT BRUCE. JEREMY. I PROMISE YOU. I WANT TO GOLD MEDAL THERE. COUNCIL. I DO APOLOGIZE. THAT YOU MAYOR WEST. PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, SIR. I DID NOT GET THE CAMPAIGN. I'M GLAD YOU LISTENED. I DO APOLOGIZE, BUT I WAS TOO LOUD. WE'VE GOT BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I'M LEONARD THOMAS.SIR, IF YOU GO TO THE IF YOU'LL STEP UP TO THE MIC YES, SIR. YES. ALSO TYING YOU 49 I KNOW WHAT WE GOTTA DO. THIS INFRASTRUCTURE TOGETHER. BE CRACKING. YEAH, HE WAS HE? YEAH, HE WHAT HE ON YOU. SIMPLE SOLUTION. IT'S NOT ABOUT BILLS IS A BIGGER PICTURE. MAKES HIS FOUNDATION BUILD UP. IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GO. I UNDERSTAND. SO FAR, JUST.
THANK YOU. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE MIRROR. ALRIGHT IS THERE A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR THE
[CONSENT AGENDA]
APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA MOVED TO APPROVE. SECOND THERE'S BEEN A MOTION IN A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ANY DISCUSSION ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING CONSIDERS AGENDA.PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING, AYE AH OPPOSED THE MOTION IS CARRIED MR CITY MANAGER. MAY WE HAVE THE
[REGULAR AGENDA]
READING OF ADAM? NUMBER ONE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. MAYOR COUNCIL , CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER ATTENDANT ENTER INTO AN INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT. WHAT THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL FOR LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGES AND I'M GOING TO ASK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER JUNE ELLIS TO PRESENT THIS ITEM. TO YOU, UH, AS WE COME FORWARD, AND WE HAD TALKED WITH COUNCIL ABOUT LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS TO ONE CHIEF SAVINGS BUT ALSO LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY HAVING NOW. THANK YOU, MR CITY MANAGER. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. UM THIS IS A PROJECT THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS SINCE FEBRUARY. I WANTED TO LOOK AT, UM WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE CITY BY JOINING THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL CURRENTLY FOR THE CITY'S LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE. WE ARE CONSIDERED SELF INSURED RIGHT NOW WE SIMPLY PAY OUT OF POCKET. MANY CITIES ARE MEMBERS OF THE RISK POOL THAT'S DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. SO FOR THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS I AND ALONG WITH SOME CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING, UM WITH MEMBERS OF THE RISK POOL TO, UH REALLY DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT ADVANTAGE TO OPT INTO THE RISK POOL. SO THIS AFTERNOON, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION. A SHORT PRESENTATION TO GIVE TO COUNSEL WITH US TODAY IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE RISK FOR MR JEFF BRINKER. HE IS THE RISK MANAGER RISK MANAGEMENT RISK SERVICES MANAGER WITH THE RISK FULL. HE DROVE IN FROM LUFKIN. TO PRESENT TO CITY COUNCIL. HE WILL PRESENT HALF OF THE, UH, POWER POINT PRESENTATION OUT AND I WILL WRAP UP WITH THE SECOND HALF OF THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MR ALICE. GOOD AFTERNOON MAYOR AND COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JEFF DRINKER. AS MR ELLIS SAID, I'M A RISK SERVICES MANAGER WITH THE TML RISK POOL. I'VE BEEN WITH THE POOL FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS. AND THEN FOR EIGHT YEARS PRIOR TO THAT I WORKED FOR CITIES IN TEXAS WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE RISK POOL AND GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE RISK POOL IS. WHAT OUR VALUES ARE. IF THERE WAS ONE THING I WANTED YOU ALL TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS PRESENTATION TODAY, IT'S THE RISK POOL IS NOT AN INSURANCE COMPANY. WE ARE A PARTNER. WE ARE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY JUST LIKE YOURSELVES, AND WE EXIST TO[00:30:06]
PROVIDE RISK MANAGEMENT SERVICES TO CITIES, PRIMARILY CITIES, BUT ALSO OTHER GOVERNMENT ENTITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF TEXAS. AND PARTNERSHIP IS REALLY THE THING THAT WE FOCUS ON. UM YOU KNOW, WE DON'T VIEW YOU AS A CUSTOMER. WE VIEW YOU AS A PARTNER, AND WE, UH WE LOOK AT THAT RELATIONSHIP IS A PARTNERSHIP RATHER THAN, UH, VENDOR. UM CUSTOMERS SORT OF RELATIONSHIP. UM IF YOU LOOK AT THE, UM OUR LOGO, YOU'LL SEE WHAT ARE PORTER. VALUES ARE AND THOSE ARE INTEGRITY, PUBLIC SERVICE. FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE. THERE'S CORE VALUES ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE CORE VALUES OF MANY CITIES AS WELL. UM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE RISK POOL. WE BEGAN IN 1974 WITH ABOUT 100 MEMBERS. THE REASON THE POOL STARTED WAS BECAUSE IN THE SEVENTIES, THERE WAS BASICALLY A VERY HARD INSURANCE MARKET, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS, UM, IT WAS EITHER VERY DIFFICULT. UM IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, IN SOME CASES TO FIND INSURANCE, UM, AND WHEN IT WAS AVAILABLE, IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND THE TERMS WERE NOT FAVORABLE. UM COINCIDENTALLY, WERE IN ANOTHER VERY, VERY HARD MARKET RIGHT NOW, UM, TEXAS IS, UM NOT EXACTLY AT THE TOP OF THE LIST OF PLACES WHERE INSURANCE COMPANIES WANT TO DO BUSINESS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIABILITY HERE. UM BUT LIABILITY, UM, IS HIGH IN TEXAS ON THE PROPERTY SIDE. WE HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERY KIND OF WEATHER PHENOMENON YOU CAN IMAGINE, WHICH MAKES WRITING INSURANCE IN TEXAS DIFFICULT, SO WE WERE AT LEAST DIFFICULT TO MAKE A PROFIT ON SO WE WERE CREATED, UM, TO SORT OF TAKE THAT PROFIT. UM INCENTIVE OUT OF THE. PICTURE SO THAT WE COULD FOCUS ON STABILITY, PRICE AND RATE STABILITY FOR OUR MEMBERS.AND AS UM WE HAVE GROWN OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE ADDED MORE LINES OF COVERAGE. UM SO YOU KNOW, WE, UM HAVE WORKERS COMP NOW WE HAVE LIABILITY PROPERTY. THE BIG THING THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON NOW IS CYBER LIABILITY, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE THING THAT WE ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT FOR OUR CITIES WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS DUE TO ALL THE CYBER ATTACKS, AND THOSE CYBER ATTACKS CAN BE AS CATASTROPHIC AS HURRICANE CAN BE IN TERMS OF LOSING SERVICES. UM SO WE HAVE GROWN OVER THE YEARS, UM TO THE POINT NOW WHERE WE HAVE ABOUT BETWEEN 27 AND 2800 MEMBERS. UM THOSE ARE LOCAL ENTITIES OF ALL TYPES, SO THOSE INCLUDE CITIES PRIMARILY BUT ALSO HOUSING AUTHORITIES, APPRAISAL DISTRICTS, WATER DISTRICTS, THAT SORT OF THING. UM AND PART OF THAT BUILD UP IS THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED A LOT OF, UM, ANCILLARY SERVICES IN ADDITION TO JUST THE COVERAGE, SO WE PROVIDE ROBUST LOSS PREVENTION AND TRAINING RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN TRY AND PREVENT CLAIMS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE, OR IF THEY DO HAPPEN TO LESSEN THEIR SEVERITY.
SO THE POOR OF WHAT WE PROVIDE IS LIABILITY PROPERTY AND WORKERS COMPENSATION, BUT BECAUSE WE'RE FOCUSED ON MUNICIPALITIES, PRIMARILY, WE ALSO OFFER SOME VERY SPECIALIZED SERVICES BASED ON THE NEEDS OF CITIES, SO EXAMPLES OF THAT WOULD BE, UH, IN MORTALITY COVERAGE FOR CANINE UNITS. AH SPECIAL EVENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE FINE ARTS. MANY CITIES HAVE FINE ARTS AND PARKS OR IN BUILDINGS WE COVER. THOSE DRONES ARE USED NOW BY VARIETY OF CITY. UM DEPARTMENTS. AND AS I MENTIONED CYBERSECURITY IS A HUGE AND GROWING CONCERN. WE PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR OUR MEMBERS, UM AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROPERTY, UM, THAT WE COVER ABOUT 52 BILLION IN PROPERTY VALUES WE COVER ABOUT 88,000 AUTOMOBILES AND ABOUT 6.7 BILLION IN PAYROLL ON THE WORKERS COMP SIDE. WE ARE GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF TRUSTEES. AND THAT IS, UM. BASICALLY COMPOSED OF FOLKS LIKE YOU. WE'VE GOT MAYORS, CITY MANAGERS, CITY ATTORNEY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ON OUR BOARD, SO THEY ARE THE ONES WHO MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR THE POOL. THEY ARE
[00:35:06]
THE ONES WHO DECIDE THE RATES AND BECAUSE THEY ARE IN POSITIONS WHERE THEY'RE HAVING TO WRESTLE WITH BUDGETS EVERY YEAR. THEY UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO TRY AND MAINTAIN RATE STABILITY. SO THE OTHER THING WORTH MENTIONING HERE TOO, IS WE HAVE ALSO THE BOARD IS SUCH THAT CITIES WILL ALWAYS HAVE A MAJORITY ON THE BOARD. SO, UM THIS IS TRULY A MUNICIPALLY ORIENTED ORGANIZATION. SO WE HAVE A LOT OF CITIES, UM, INVOLVED ABOUT 1100 BEAUMONT DID WITHDRAW IN 2006. THERE ARE A LIST OF CITIES HERE. UM IT'S ACTUALLY EASIER TO TELL YOU WHO'S WHAT CITIES ARE NOT PART OF THE POOL OF ANY SIGNIFICANT SIZE. THAT WOULD BE BEAUMONT.AND TYLER, AND THAT'S ABOUT IT. EVERY OTHER CITY FOR THE MOST PART IS AFFILIATED WITH THE POOL TO SOME DEGREE WITH SOME LINE OF COVERAGE OR ANOTHER. UM BUT LOCALLY, BAYTOWN PORT ARTHUR PORT NECHES, NETHERLANDS. UM PRETTY MUCH ALL THE CITIES IN THIS IMMEDIATE AREA ARE MEMBERS OF THE POOL. THROUGHOUT THE STATE. UM SOME OF THE BIGGER CITIES THAT ARE COMPARABLE IN SIZE AND COMPLEXITY TO BEAUMONT ARE GOING TO BE PERIL AND MISSOURI CITY ROUND ROCK LEAGUE CITY, SUGARLAND, UM, PASADENA. WOODLANDS BEL AIR, KATIE CITIES, YOU'VE ALL HEARD OF BIG, YOU KNOW, CITIES OF HAVE A LOT GOING ON. HAVE A LOT OF UM, COMPLEXITY WE HANDLE ALL THOSE, UM, WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH MUNICIPAL NEEDS, AND WE'RE VERY CONFIDENT THAT BEAUMONT JOINING THE POOR WOULD BE OF BENEFIT TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT AS WELL AS THE RISK POOL. SO THE PURPOSE UM OF THE POOL. ALL ULTIMATELY IS TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC VALUE FOR OUR MEMBERS. UM THE LONG TERM COSTS. UM THE GOAL IS FOR THOSE TO BE LESS THAN THE COMMERCIAL MARKET. UM THE MEMBERS EQUITY THAT YOU WOULD PAY INTO THE POOL AND CONTRIBUTIONS. WOULD REMAIN WITH THE POOL SO THAT THIS IS ANOTHER DIFFERENCE WITH THE POOL AS OPPOSED TO BEING WITH AN INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MONEY YOU SEND TO US STAYS IN TEXAS FOR USE BY OTHER TEXAS GOVERNMENT ENTITIES. IT'S NOT GOING TO CONNECTICUT. IT'S NOT GOING TO SHAREHOLDERS. YOU'RE NOT PAYING TAXES ON IT. IT'S SPECIFICALLY USED IN MEMBER EQUITY. FOR THE NEEDS OF TEXAS CITIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. AND LONG TERM. OUR GOAL IS TO KEEP COSTS DOWN, HAVE RATES THAT ARE FLATTER IN TERMS OF CHANGES, THEN YOU WOULD SEE IN THE COMMERCIAL MARKET. UM BUILD, UM AND MAINTAINED LONG, MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS IS ONE OF THE KEY AREAS WHERE WE'RE DIFFERENT. UM WE'RE NOT HERE TO UM, SELL YOU SOMETHING, COLLECT THE MONEY AND THEN YOU NEVER HEAR FROM US AGAIN. UM WE WILL ASSIGN. AND MR ELLIS WILL DISCUSS THIS IN MORE DETAIL, BUT WE WILL ASSIGN A SERVICE TEAM TO YOU. THAT WILL BE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT YOU'LL WORK WITH ON A REGULAR BASIS. SO IT'S NOT A SITUATION WHERE YOU CALL THE CLAIM NUMBER AND WHOEVER HAPPENS TO BE WORKING THAT DAY IS WHO YOU GET. YOU WILL HAVE A TEAM THAT WILL GET TO KNOW THE CITY OF BEAUMONT OVER TIME AND WHAT YOUR NEEDS, UM AND PAIN PART. PAIN POINTS ARE WE WILL ALSO HELP YOU WITH VARIOUS COMPLEX ISSUES THAT YOU WILL ENCOUNTER AS A CITY. UM THOSE CAN BE LAWSUITS. UM, LEGISLATION THAT IS RELATED TO YOUR COVERAGE. UM, WE UH, HIRED SOMEBODY FROM THE MAIN TML ORGANIZATION TO BE A LEGISLATIVE LIAISON FOR US. SO UM, HE WAS WORKING VERY DILIGENTLY DURING THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON THOSE ISSUES THAT WOULD BE RELEVANT TO CITIES. AND THEN.
FINALLY WE REALLY DO STRIVE TO FOCUS ON OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WHICH IS TO OFFER AND PROVIDE TEXAS MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT WITH STABLE, UM, AND THAT ECONOMIC SOURCE OF RISK FINANCE AND LOSS PREVENTION. SO UM NON MONETARY BENEFITS MR ELLIS WILL DISCUSS BUT I REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT YOU IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU PAY FOR THE COVERAGE ITSELF, YOU WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A HUGE AMOUNT OF TRAINING. UM RESOURCES IN PERSON ONLINE, AND THERE'S A
[00:40:05]
LOT OF VALUE ADDED, UM, IF YOU WERE TO JOIN THE POOL THAT I DON'T THINK YOU IT. TO ACCESS NOW, YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY EXTRA FOR WHICH YOU WOULD NOT BE DOING WITH US. AND AT THIS POINT I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MR ELLIS. BUT I WILL BE HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR ONCE AGAIN, UM SO I'M GOING TO KIND OF GET INTO THE KIND OF MEAT OF WHY WE'RE HERE AND WHAT OUR COVERAGE IS. PROPOSED COVERAGES ARE SO WE WANT TO FOCUS ON VARIOUS LINES OF LIABILITY. GENERAL LIABILITY, AUTOMOBILE ABILITY. LAW ENFORCEMENT LIABILITY. PUBLIC OFFICIALS. THERE IS AN OMISSIONS , LIABILITY AND CYBER LIABILITY AND, UH, DATA BREACH. THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT WE FEEL BASED ON LOOKING AT. THE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF THE DOLLARS THAT AT THIS TIME IS BEST FOR US TO BUYING COVERAGE WITH THE POOL BECAUSE, UH, FINANCIALLY, IT MAKES SENSE AND THAT WILL BE ON THE ON THE NEXT SLIDE, BUT THE RISK POOL THEY PROVIDE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT. THEY HAVE SPECIALISTS WHO NO ONE UNDERSTAND IMMUNITIES AND TORQUE CAPS APPLICABLE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. AS MR TRINKET MENTIONED THEY HAVE BROAD COVERAGE IS DESIGNED FOR THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. THEY ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF THEIR COVERAGES. WE HAVE ERRORS AND OMISSIONS COVERAGE, WHICH INCLUDES EMPLOYMENT RELATED CLAIMS, SUCH AS DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT THAT WOULD BE COVERED AS WELL. BUT IN ONE OF THE MAJOR ONES THAT WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE IS CYBER LIABILITY AND DATA BREACH, AS MR TREMPER MENTIONED, THAT IS A REAL, UH RISK FOR MOST CITIES. IT'S A CRITICAL ISSUE THAT WE ALL NEED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY. WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT DATA BREACHES AND CITIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES. SO UM, BY BINDING COVERAGE WITH THE RISK POOL NOVEMBER 1, WE WOULD HAVE CYBER LIABILITY COVERAGE.
SO IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THE COST DIFFERENTIAL FOR THESE LINES OF LIABILITY COVERAGE, GENERAL LIABILITY LAW ENFORCEMENT ERRORS AND OMISSIONS , AUTOMOBILE AND CYBER. WE LOOKED AT THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE 44 OF THESE ALL EXCEPT CYBER LIABILITY BECAUSE WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE CYBER LIABILITY. AND THE COST THAT WE'VE PAID THE ANNUAL COST FROM AVERAGING FIVE YEARS WORTH OF PAYMENTS THE CITY HAS MADE BEING SELF INSURED IS 758,172. WHEREAS IF WE BOUND COVERAGE WITH THE RISK POOL TODAY TO BEGIN NOVEMBER 1 THAT COST WOULD BE 758,266. SO A DIFFERENCE OF $94 TO BUY AND COVERAGE WITH THE RISK POOL. UH, THE FIVE YEAR AVERAGE FOR A LOT OF LITIGATION COSTS BEING SELF INSURED WHEN LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS TO LITIGATE CERTAIN CLAIMS THEY HAVE TO USE OUTSIDE LEGAL SERVICES OR OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL, UH, THEY SPEND ABOUT $160,000 BUT BY BINDING COVERAGE WITH RISK POOL WE COULD SAVE $100,000 OF THAT $160,000 THAT IS CURRENTLY PAID OUT. BASED ON OUR CURRENT COVERAGE OF SELF IT BEING SELF INSURED. ALSO ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF BEING PART OF THE RISK POOL. IF WE PAY, UH, ALL OF THE ANNUAL PREMIUM UPFRONT. THEY OFFER A 2% PREPAID DISCOUNT. THAT'S AN ADDITIONAL $15,165. SO JUST AT MINIMUM, THE CITY COULD SEE $115,000 BY BINDING COVERAGE WITH THE RISK POOL. NEXT ONE. ONE OF THE NOTABLE CHANGES FROM BEING SELF INSURED TO BE UNCOVERED THROUGH THE RISK POOL IS THAT CITY COUNCIL WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO APPROVE THE GENERAL LIABILITY AND AUTO LIABILITY CLAIMS OVER $10,000 THAT YOU CURRENTLY APPROVED. THESE WILL BE COVERED THROUGH OUR PREMIUMS THAT WE PAY TO THE RISK POOL. UH OUR DEDUCTIBLE IS SET AT 10,000. SO ANYTHING OVER THAT WOULD BE UM BORN BY THE BY THE RISK FULL AND NOT THE CITY, SO THOSE APPROVALS WILL NO LONGER BE NEEDED.
THERE'S GREATER LONG TERM FISCAL SAVINGS AND STABILITY BY BEING IN THE RISK POOL, UH, THEIR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR LOSS PREVENTION TOWARDS REDUCING CLAIMS PAID BY THE CITY AS WELL AS, UH, TRAINING THAT MR DRINKER MENTIONED. THEY PROVIDE SEAT DRIVING TRAINING. WE'RE NOT
[00:45:08]
PROPOSING TODAY TO BUYING COVERAGE FOR WORKERS COMP. I LOOKED AT THOSE NUMBERS AND, UH, FOR THE CITY. IT'S MORE BENEFICIAL FOR US TO REMAIN SELF INSURED THROUGH WORKER'S COMP, BUT, UH, WITH ALL OF THE TRAININGS THAT THAT'S PROVIDED BY THE RISK POOL. UM WE CAN OFFSET SOME OF OUR WORKERS COMP COSTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A EMPLOYEE. GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT. I MEAN, THEY'RE THEY'RE POSSIBLE, POSSIBLY THREE CLAIMS WITH WITH THAT THERE COULD BE AN AUTO LIABILITY CLAIM WHERE WE MAY HAVE TO OH, DUE TO DAMAGE TO ANOTHER THIRD PARTY VEHICLE OR BODILY DAMAGE, WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE COST OF OUR VEHICLE AND THERE COULD BE A WORKER'S COMP CLAIM. SO BY UTILIZING THE TRAINING OFFERED BY THE RISK POOL, ESPECIALLY SAFE DRIVING TRAINING. WE COULD POTENTIALLY ELIMINATE 33 CLAIMS BY ELIMINATING AN ACCIDENT. IT ALLOWS THE CITY'S ILLEGAL DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO INCREASE THEIR FOCUS ON SAFETY AND ENSURING A SAFE AND HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENT. NEXT ONE. SO THESE ARE SOME OF THE NON FINANCIAL BENEFITS OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE RISK POOL. ONE IS PARTNERING. THE RISK POOL HAS BEEN PARTYING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR 50 YEARS AND PROVIDING A STABLE AND ECONOMIC SOURCE FOR RISK FINANCING AND LOSS PREVENTION SERVICES. I'VE WORKED FOR FIVE OTHER TEXAS CITIES, AND WHEN I WAS THERE THEY WERE MEMBERS OF THE RISK POOL, AND THEY'RE CURRENTLY MEMBERS OF THE RISK POOL. UM AND AS MR TRINKA MENTIONED, THERE'S OVER 1100 CITIES THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE RISK FOR THEY HAVE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS WHO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND IMMUNITIES AND TORQUE. CAPS OF APPLICABLE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT RECOVERY MANAGEMENT AND DISASTER RECOVERY SERVICE. SERVICES THROUGH SYNERGY IN THE S THAT'S MORE RELATED TO PROPERTY COVERAGE WILL BE COMING BACK TO CITY COUNCIL WITH A, UH, PROPOSAL FOR COVERAGE FOR PROPERTY AT A LATER POINT IN TIME, BUT BUT THERE ARE BENEFITS. UH, IN THE RISK POOL FOR THOSE SERVICES TO EXPEDITE, UH RECOVERY NEEDS DURING A CATASTROPHIC EVENT. AND AS MR TRIGGER MENTIONED, THEY HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM THAT'S ASSIGNED TO HELP MEMBERS. UH MANAGE RISK.SO THESE WILL BE, UH, PEOPLE THAT ARE ASSIGNED TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. THEY WON'T BE SOMEONE AT THE CALL CENTER THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHEN YOU PLACE A CALL, SO THE RISK MANAGEMENT ADVISOR SAFETY AND LOST CONTROL SPECIALISTS AND UNDERWRITER BUILDING SPECIALISTS WILL SPECIFICALLY BE ASSIGNED TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT FOR US TO CONTACT AT ANY TIME. NEXT. SO WHETHER NONFINANCIAL BENEFITS FREQUENT MEETINGS WITH THESE, UH VARIOUS STAFF, THE RISK MANAGEMENT ADVISORS, SAFETY AND LOST CONTROL AND ANY OTHER STAFF OF THE RISK POOL. TO DISCUSS OUR ANNUAL RENEWAL'S LOST HISTORY, YEARLY GOALS. ANY OTHER CITY CONCERNS THEY MEET IN PERSON AS MR DRINKER DROVE DOWN TODAY TO MEET WITH THIS OTHER CITIES I'VE WORKED FOR. IF YOU NEED THEM TO COME ON SITE AND MEET, THEY'LL SET UP A MEETING TO COME AND MEET WITH YOU IN PERSON. I'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH WITH THEM REGARDING MEETING WITH WITH ANY CITY STAFF. WE HAVE EXCESS ACCESS TO THE RISK POOL ONLINE TRAINING PLATFORM. THERE ARE. IT'S CALLED LOCAL GOV VIEW AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TRAINING COURSES THAT ARE PROVIDED THEY ARE FREE, UH IN PERSON TRAINING.
SOME OF THE TRAININGS INCLUDE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS. AND SOME JUST A FEW EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE TRAININGS OFFERED INCLUDE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS, SUPERVISORY AND SAFETY, TRAINING BACK INJURY PREVENTION DRIVING TRAINING. ALL AGAIN FREE OF CHARGE. S SPECIALIZED RESOURCE IS, UH ON THE POOLS WEBSITE. THESE ARE RELATED TO POLICE AND FIRE BEST PRACTICES, ESTABLISHING AND EFFECTIVE RETURN TO WORK PROGRAM. CALLED BEFORE YOU FIRE PROGRAM OR EVEN CALLED BEFORE YOU DISCIPLINE PROGRAM IS OFFERED BY THE RISK POOL, UM AND AS WELL AS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. THEY HAVE SPECIALIZED PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING AQUATICS, EVACUATION DOCUMENTS, FIREWORKS SAFETY. AND THEY HAVE OVER 600 VIDEOS OF A WIDE, BROAD VARIETY FOR SAFETY AND OTHER LIABILITY TOPICS. THEY PROVIDE LOSS PREVENTION TIPS. ONE, SHE INFORMATIONAL TIPS THAT
[00:50:06]
CITY STAFF WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS SO THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF HOW TO LOWER RISK WITHIN EACH DEPARTMENT. NEXT LINE, PLEASE. UH THIS IS THE FINAL PAGE ON THE NONFINANCIAL BENEFITS, BUT THEY THE CITY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THEIR INTERNAL LEGAL TEAM FOR ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, AS WELL AS TML AND THEIR LEGISLATIVE EXPERTS. THE RISK POOL PARTNERS WITH THE TEXAS POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES, INCLUDING THEIR VINCE A BLE TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICER DEBTS.THEY ALSO PARTNERED WITH THE TEXAS FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION BEST PRACTICES RECOGNITION PROGRAM. THE POOL WILL PROVIDE DEFENSE COUNSEL FOR ARE COVERED CLAIMS SO EACH CLAIM THAT WE ENTER WITH THE RISK POOL. THEY WILL PROVIDE THOSE EVENTS COVERAGE IS, UH, THROUGH THEIR LITIGATION AND ONE OF THE OTHER KEY ITEMS OR BENEFITS IS ACCESS TO THE ONLINE MEMBER PORTAL WERE MEMBERS CAN GENERATE LOST REPORTS THEY CAN FILE CLAIMS THEY CAN ACCESS COVERAGE DOCUMENTS, UH, AUDIT SCHEDULES. THEY CAN DO THIS 24 7 WILL HAVE ACCESS TO, UM, MEMBERS OF THE CLAIMS DEPARTMENT. WHENEVER WE NEED THEM, UM. AND ALSO AND FINALLY, THE LAST BULLET, WHICH IS REALLY KEY SUBRA GATIEN SERVICES. THIS IS TO HELP THE CITY RECRUIT FUNDING FROM DAMAGES TO OUR PROPERTY. SO I'VE SOMEONE DAMAGES OUR PROPERTY AND CLAIM IS PAID BY THE RISK POOL.
THEY ACTUALLY PROVIDE THOSE SEGREGATION SERVICES, WHICH FREES UP CITY STAFF. FROM HAVING TO GO AFTER OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES OR ATTORNEYS. UM UM. IN ORDER TO RECOUP OUR DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID. SO THE NEXT STEP IN THIS PROCESS IS WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL TO GRANT THE CITY MANAGER THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO AN INNER LOCAL WITH THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL UPON RECEIPT OF THE INTER LOCAL AGREEMENT, THE RISK POOL WILL BUY AND COVERAGE WITH WITH THE CITY TO BE EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 1ST EXPIRING OR RENEWING AFTER SEPTEMBER 30TH 2020 FOR, UM AND ALSO BY BINDING COVERAGE, THE RISK POOL WILL BEGIN WORKING WITH THIS TO PREPARE QUOTES FOR PROPERTY COVERAGE, INCLUDING FLOOD AND WIND STORM THAT EXPIRES MAY 1ST. SO WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THE RISK FULL BETWEEN NOW AND THEY FIRST TO GET QUOTES FOR THOSE COVERAGES TO BRING BACK TO CITY COUNCIL PRIOR TO THE MAY 1ST DEADLINE. SO THAT WRAPS UP MY PRESENTATION. I JUST WANT TO ASK IF STAFF BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED WITH SOME STAFFING. MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING I MISSED OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD. TODAY. THE QUESTION. MAYBE WE'LL GET TO THE QUESTIONS JUST KIND OF WANTED TO ADD SOME OF THE VALUE FOR THE SUBJUGATION SERVICES. SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A PROGRAM CALLED CLAIM SEARCH COSTS. IT WOULD COST THE CITY ABOUT $14,000 A YEAR TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PROGRAM. UM ESSENTIALLY WHAT THAT PROGRAM DOES THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO SEE IF SOMEONE WHO IS FILING A CLAIM IS A PERSON WHO COMMONLY FOLLOWS CLAIMS AND IT'S A FRAUDULENT CLAIM. UM OR IF THEY ACTUALLY FILED A HEALTH CLAIM OR ANOTHER INJURY CLAIM AT THEIR JOB, AND THEN YOU KNOW, SOMEHOW THEY GET HURT AT THE CITY, AND THEY FOLLOW CLAIM HERE AS WELL. SO WE DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO CHECK INTO THAT AT THIS TIME WITH GOING TO TML. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT, UM, THAT THEY USE AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PULL UP AND SEE THE HISTORY THAT THIS PERSON HAS. UM BEHIND THEIR CLAIMS. FALLING TENDENCIES. SO UM NOT ONLY WOULD THEY HELP WITH THE SEGREGATION SERVICES, BUT IT WOULD ALSO SAVE US FROM HAVING TO PAY THAT $14,000 A YEAR IN ORDER TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT PROGRAM. ALRIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION? UM OR NOT THERE YET. OH QUESTIONS I THOUGHT THERE WAS A PRESENCE. THERE WAS A PRESENTATION SO THAT THE COUNCIL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS AS A RELEASE TO THE PRESENTATION. DON'T WE ASK QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT, COUNCILMAN TURNER THREE QUESTIONS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I HEARD IT QUICK CORRECTLY IN THE TERM OF CORPORATE FOR A
[00:55:03]
LIVING MONTHS, AND WHAT IF SO WIDE THAT ONLY 11 MONTHS. YEAH WELL, THE REASON IS THAT WE MISSED OCTOBER 1 OF ITS THIS CURRENT MONTH. WE WANTED IT TO BE FOR 12 MONTHS. BUT AGAIN, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH THE RISK FOR QUITE A BIT AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE YOU KNOW WE HAD EVERYTHING IN PLACE BEFORE COMING TO COUNCIL TO BUYING COVERAGE. SO AFTER AFTER SEPTEMBER 30TH, THEN IT WILL BE ON A ON A FISCAL YEAR, 12 MONTH BASIS. OKAY YEAH, THAT MAKES SENSE. THEN I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS THAT. THE SECOND THING IS, WE SAY EXPEDITED. I LIKE EXPEDITED, BUT I'M REAL BIG ON SPECIFICS. DO WE HAVE ANY COMPARISONS OF MAYBE WHAT THE RISK POOL CAN DO IN THE EXPEDITED WAY COMPARED TO WHAT WE'RE CURRENTLY DOING? WITH SOME OF THE CLAIMS AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU SAY EXPEDITED JUST ANY COMPARISONS. CAN YOU KIND OF EXPLAIN IT A LITTLE BIT MORE? WHEN YOU FILE A CLAIM, THERE'S A CHECKBOX, UM, TO DESIGNATED AS EXPEDITED. THOSE ARE TYPICALLY USED WHEN THERE IS A SPECIFIC UM , DEADLINE FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF CLAIMS, USUALLY LAWSUITS OR E E O C CLAIMS. UM MUST BE RESPONDED TO WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT, UM, DESIGNATING IT THAT THAT WAY HELPS US TO BE ABLE TO MEET THOSE DEADLINES, SO ONE OF THE CLAIM IS UM, FILE. THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST THING THAT SORT OF LOOKED AT IS, WHAT ARE THE DEADLINES HERE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT? AND DO WE NEED TO EXPEDITE THAT SO THAT THE COURT GETS OR THE OC OR WHOEVER IS INVOLVED GETS WHAT THEY NEED BY THE DEADLINE. GOTCHA MAKES SENSE IN MY LAST QUESTION IS, UH, WILL THIS CHANGE AFFECT SOME NEW RECENT CHANGES WE MADE FINANCIALLY WITH OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT. IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE WE'VE DONE VERY WELL WITH REDUCING CLAIMS IN COMPARISON TO HOW WE WERE DOING OVER THE PAST YEARS, AND LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB, SO WILL THIS AFFECT ANYTHING? OR WILL THIS BE AN ASSET TO WHAT WE ALREADY CREATED ? SO ESSENTIALLY, THE ONLY PROCESS THAT THIS WILL WILL DO IS OUR OFFICE WILL STILL HANDLE CLAIMS THAT ARE UNDER $10,000. IT WOULD BE THOSE CLAIMS THAT ARE IN EXCESS OF THAT. WOULD NOW BE ESSENTIALLY PROCESSED IN LITIGATED OUTSIDE OF MY OFFICE.UM WE WOULD STILL FOCUS OUR OFFICE. MY OFFICE IS CURRENTLY FOCUSED HEAVY BEYOND, UM, BEING PROACTIVE IN OUR SAFETY PROGRAM AS WELL AS COMING UP WITH ADDITIONAL TOOLS TO PUT IN PLACE TO AUDIT EXISTING PROGRAMS FOR SAFETY. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THAT. UM IN A NEGATIVE WAY AS MISSION IN THEIR PRESENTATION. THEY DO HAVE TOOLS THAT OUR OFFICE CAN USE TO SUPPLEMENT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING. BUT THE ONLY MAJOR CHANGES AT MY OFFICE WILL NO LONGER LITIGATE THOSE CLAIMS. THANK YOU, MEDICINE. ALL RIGHT. ONE THING I WANTED CLARITY OWNERS. THE IS THE ANNUALIZED PREMIUM WAS THAT AT 11 MONTHS OR YOU KNOW, THE YEAH, THAT'S ACTUALLY 12 MONTHS, SO ACTUALLY, WE'RE GONNA REALIZE THAT BIGGER SAVINGS THAT I GOT MONTH SAVINGS. ALRIGHT THANK YOU FOR THAT. YES, COUNCILMAN DURIO, MISS. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T HERE. BUT DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHY I PULLED OUT OF THIS IN 2006 AT THE TIME. UM IT WAS JUST FORECAST THAT WE WERE BASICALLY LIKE ANY INSURANCE YOU PAY, BUT YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY RECEIVING THAT LARGER COVERAGE, SO THE COVERAGE IS SO CLOSE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE TIME DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE, UM MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO BE SELF INSURED THEM TO PAY INTO THE RISK POOL. THAT WAS MY QUESTION IS WILL MAKE OKAY? YES COUNCILMAN FELL SHOW. THANK YOU.
I HAD TWO QUESTIONS. THAT WAS ONE OF THEM. WHY WE PULLED OUT. THE SECOND ONE IS YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB AT TELLING US THE UPSIDE. UH IS THERE A DOWNSIDE TO THIS? AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD THAT BE? SO THERE'S NOT IT AND IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON HOW COUNCIL MUSIC BECAUSE MY OFFICE NO LONGER LITIGATE THOSE CLAIMS THAT ARE IN EXCESS OF $10,000, AND THOSE CLAIMS DON'T NO LONGER COMES TO THE COUNCIL COUNCIL NO LONGER HAS A, I GUESS A SAY OR HAND AND WHETHER OR NOT THOSE CLAIMS GET LITIGATED OR SETTLED THAT NOW RESTS WITH THE RISK POOL. SO THE PROCESS THAT WE WOULD DO INTERNALLY IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THEY WOULD NOW DO AT THE RISK POOL. THEY WOULD MANAGE THAT RISK IN DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT IT WAS MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO SETTLE OR COST EFFECTIVE TO PURSUE LITIGATION. SO THE PROCESS OF JOHN TYPICALLY DO WOULD NOT BE DONE WITH INTERNALLY WITH THEIR BOARDS. BUT WE WOULD MONITOR THAT BEING YOUR OFFICE. NO SO IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S NOT THE SAME AS IF I IF I WERE TO HIRE OUTSIDE COUNSEL, SO THIS IS NOT A SITUATION WHERE, UM, YOU'RE SAYING WE WANT YOU TO JUST FOCUS ON DOING ONE THING, AND WE WANT YOU TO HIRE A FIRM
[01:00:01]
TO LITIGATE. IN THAT CASE, MY OFFICE WAS STILL MANAGE, UM, THAT OUTSIDE FIRM AND THEY WOULD STILL NEED TO COME TO ME FOR APPROVAL TO GET EXPERTS AND APPROVAL TO SETTLE AND SO FORTH WORD WHEN YOU GO WITH THE RISK POOL, YOU ESSENTIALLY ALLOWED THEM TO NOW ASSUME WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A CASE TO LITIGATE A CASE TO SETTLE AND THEY DO SO, WITH THEIR WITH THEIR BOARD.THEY GIVE US A YEARLY REPORT ON WHAT THEY DID OR YES. SO I THINK WE, UH, I THINK THAT'S A BETTER QUESTION FOR HIM TO ANSWER, BUT YES, WE WERE ABLE TO ACCESS HER. OUR CLAIMS ARE PROCESSED AND HANDLED. UM, BUT WE'RE JUST NOT ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THAT PROCESS. VERY GOOD QUESTION. UM THE DOWNSIDE IS PROBABLY LACK. YOU DO LOSE SOME CONTROL OVER THE CLAIMS WITH US. I WILL SAY THAT WE DO. UM. MISS REED IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THAT PART OF THE INTER LOCAL AS YOU ARE TURNING THE CLAIMS OVER, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT ONCE YOU TURN A CLAIM IN THAT WE DON'T COMMUNICATE WITH YOU ANYMORE. WE WILL COMMUNICATE WITH YOU ABOUT THE CLAIM SETTLEMENT STRATEGIES, THINGS LIKE THAT. WE ALSO DO ANNUAL REVIEWS, UM, WITH WHOEVER YOU DOESN'T DESIGNATE AS THE FUND. I HAVE TO STAY THAT SAY THAT VERY CAREFULLY BECAUSE EVERYONE ALWAYS THINKS I'M SAYING FUN CONTACT, AND, UM, BUT THE FUND CONTACT WILL HAVE AN ANNUAL REVIEW. AND SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL LOOK AT THE LOST TRENDS. UM THE HIGH DOLLAR CLAIMS. UM WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MAY BE MOVING AND, UH, DIRECTION. BEING WOULD PREFER YOU DON'T GO IN VERSUS WHERE YOU'RE IMPROVING. SO UM, YOU'LL HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THAT LOSS INFORMATION ALL YEAR LONG, BUT, UM, YOU CAN ALSO REQUEST UM VARIOUS UPDATES FROM US AND REPORTS. THE OTHER THING YOU WOULD GET TWO IS QUARTERLY LOSS RUNS WITH UPDATED, UM, LOSS RATIOS AS WELL AS THE FINANCIALS RELATED TO EACH CLAIM. SO THE SHORT ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION, SIR, IS THERE IS SOME LOSS OF CONTROL OVER CLAIMS. UM BUT THERE ARE CONVENIENCE IS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT AS WELL.
THANK YOU BEAR. YES, COUNCILMAN SAMUEL. WELL SINCE WE KNOW WE HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE TREND WAS PRIOR TO 2006 WHEN THE CITY PULLED AWAY. UH SO AND WE NOW HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THE TREND AS IT WAS FROM 2006 UNTIL NOW. AND THEN WE LOOK AT A COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO OVER A SIMILAR TIME SPAN, I THINK ARE A RANGE WAS FIVE YEARS, OKAY? AND THAT WAS JUST BECAUSE RECORDS AND IN AVAILABILITY OF DATA THAT WAS AVAILABLE AND ALSO JUST FOR A MORE EQUAL COMPARISON. UM PRIOR TO WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO LOOK AT PRIOR TO 2006 TO SEE WHAT THE TREND WAS MOVING BACKWARDS BEFORE THE CITY RECENT DECISION TO WITHDRAW SO WE JUST REALLY FOCUS ON WHERE WE WERE NOW TO SEE IF IT WAS MORE COST EFFECTIVE, MOVING FORWARD AS OPPOSED TO WHERE WE WERE THEN.
ABSOLUTELY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. AS I MENTIONED WORKERS COMP, YOU KNOW THE NUMBERS BENEFIT US ON THE FINANCE SIDE A LITTLE MORE THAN GOING TO THE RISK POOL. BUT UM, NEXT YEAR, THE YEAR AFTER WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK TO SEE IF THERE IS SOME ADVANTAGE TO IT AND THE FUTURE TO MOVE. THE CITY UNDER THE RISK POOL FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION, SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ANNUALLY. AND WE HAVE SEEN A TREND THAT'S STARTING TO TRAIN IN THE DIRECTION WE WANTED TO GO. AM I CORRECT? YES, SIR. BUT, UM THOSE THOSE TRENDS ARE ROLLERCOASTERS.
SO YEAH, WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF IMPLEMENTING SAFETY PROGRAMS AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES TO ASSIST IN REDUCING OUR CLAIMS. UM BUT WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION TODAY. YEAH AND SO YOU KNOW, I DON'T IT'S YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S WE'RE ALWAYS EXCITED TO REPORT TO COUNCIL THAT YOU KNOW, WE WHEN WE'RE DOING WELL, AND I, AND I THINK THAT SOMETIMES IT'S EASY TO KIND OF GET CAUGHT UP THINKING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WELL, BUT IT'S COUNSELING WILL KNOWS YOU HAVE A SAFETY RECORD QUICKLY GOES FROM, YOU KNOW, A BIG NUMBER TWO BACK DOWN TO ZERO WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH A MINOR UM, THE MINOR MISTAKE THAT CAN LEAD TO MAJOR IMPLICATIONS. SO RIGHT NOW, YES, WE ARE IN A IN A GOOD PLACE, AND WE'VE SEEN A GOOD TREND IN TERMS OF IN CLAIMS, BUT THAT THAT IS A SOMETIMES SHORT LIVED. I THE ONE THING I COULD ADD ABOUT. THAT IS WHEN YOU SUBMITTED YOUR APPLICATION TO THE POOR, WE GENERATED WHAT'S CALLED AN EXPERIENCE MODIFIER BASED ON YOUR LOSSES. THE BASELINE IS A 1.0 YOU ALL ARE 0.95. WHICH IS. NOT HIGH, BUT, UM, WE COULD DEFINITELY SEE YOU A LOT LOWER BECAUSE YOU COULD GET DOWN TO POINT NICE. IT'S
[01:05:05]
HIGH. IT'S A LITTLE HIGHER THAN ITS HIGH. IT'S HIGH HIGHER THAN OTHER CITIES A LITTLE BIT BY YOU CAN GO FROM 0.952 0.30, AND THAT'S A MULTIPLIER SO YOU WOULD BE SAVING ALMOST 70% IF YOU COULD GET YOUR LOSSES DOWN IN TERMS OF WHAT SHE WOULD PAY, SO THERE'S A BIG BENEFIT MONETARILY . IF YOU CAN GET THOSE LOSSES DOWN, YOU COULD SEE YOU COULD REALIZE A VERY SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. SO WITH THAT, I GUESS IT'S MY LAST QUESTION. IF WE WERE TO GO BACK TO THE TML RISK RISK POOL. WOULD WE STILL BE ABLE TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE OVER RECENT YEARS TO LOWER THOSE LIABILITIES THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED. WE LOSE CONTROL OF THAT. ALSO SO WHAT WE WHAT I DO INTERNALLY WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED BY THE RISK POOL. UM THE BIG THE BIG THING THAT YOU'RE LOSING IN TERMS OF CONTROL WOULD BE FOR CASES AND CLAIMS OVER $10,000 THOSE NOW GO DIRECTLY INTO THE RISK POOL. UM AND WE CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE WANT TO GO IF YOU WANT TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, SLIGHTLY OVER 10,000. IT'S 12,000. SO I DON'T I DON'T WANT TO PLAY WANTED TO FOLLOW MY INSURANCE. I WANT TO PAY THAT INTERNALLY. THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DISCUSS WITH THEM AS WELL AS ALWAYS. AN OPTION. IF YOU WANT TO TAKE ON OUR ASSUME MORE RISK, THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING. THAT COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO DO AND TO MAINTAIN TO KEEP SOME KIND OF CONTROL. OVER THOSE CLAIMS, BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR MAJOR BIG PROFILE CLAIMS. UM STILL HAVE THE SAME WE WERE, WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, BRING THAT TO YOU AND TELL YOU THEY WERE TRANSFERRING THAT TO THE RISK FOR, UM, THAT I CAN TELL YOU THAT SOME OF THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS THAT THEY USE ARE SOME OF THE SAME ONES THAT WE USE. UM, SO THEY ARE WORKING WITH GOOD LAWYERS. UM AND THEY DO HAVE YOU KNOW EXCEPTIONAL REPRESENTATION, SO THAT'S NOT A CONCERN THAT I HAVE, BUT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN IN THE PAST, AND WHAT WHAT MY OFFICE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON TO REDUCE SOME OF OUR OUR LIABILITY IN HOUSE WILL REMAIN THE SAME. SO WE'RE DID YOU WANT TO SAY IS JUST GOING TO ADD THAT THE TOOLS THAT THEY WILL PROVIDE FOR SAFETY WILL KIND OF A LINE WITH WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE CITY AS FAR AS BRINGING CLAIMS DOWN AND TRAINING THE EMPLOYEES TO HELP REDUCE THE RISK THAT WE HAVE OF DAMAGING OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY AND INJURING PEOPLE AND INJURING OURSELVES. SO UM, THE TOOLS THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR US WILL ALIGN WITH HELPING US BRING THOSE DOWN, WHICH IS OUR GOAL. RIGHT NOW. WE'RE WORKING ON DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE ABLE TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CLAIMS AND INJURIES AND ALL OF THAT, SO AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE VERY HELPFUL IN THAT WAY. SO THIS IS NOT UNLIKE MOST, THERE'S A BENEFIT AND A BURDEN. THE BENEFIT IS WE WOULD HAVE TO DO LESS. UH, WE WOULD HAVE TO WE CAN REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF MAN HOURS. IN DEALING WITH CLAIMS LESS THAN $10,000.SO BASICALLY CONTROL FOR IS A REORGANIZATION OF MY OFFICERS TO FOCUS MORE ON, UM SOME INTERNAL THINGS BOTH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY MY OPPORTUNITY SPLIT BETWEEN OUR SAFETY IN THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS AT THE CITY HAS THERE'S SOME SOME BIG, AMBITIOUS GOALS AT COUNCIL ONCE HAS IT AS IT RELATES TO, UM, YOU KNOW, RESTRUCTURING DOWNTOWN. OBVIOUSLY THAT COMES WITH MORE CONTRACTS IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW SOME OF THE DOWNTOWN IMPACTS THE COUNCIL EXPRESSED THEY WANT TO MAKE, SO THERE'S GOING TO FREE UP SOME LAWYERS, UM OPPOSITE. DO THAT, AS OPPOSED TO I'M GENERAL LITIGATION SO WE WOULD STILL LIKE I SAID, FOCUS ON THE CLAIMS THAT WERE LOWER DOESN'T MEAN THAT THOSE CLAIMS SETTLE. SOME OF THOSE CLAIMS DO GO TO TRIAL. IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF COUNCIL.
UM SO IT'LL. IT'LL REQUIRE REORGANIZATION AND A REFOCUSING AND THAT'S A THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHANGE OR IMPACT TO MOUTH. COUNCILMAN TURNER WITH ONE LAST QUESTION. BASED ON WHAT I HEARD WHAT HAPPENS IN THE INSTANCE IF WE'RE LOSE CONTROL AND WE SEE MORE CASES BEING SETTLED THAT WE WOULDN'T LIKE TO ACTUALLY BE SETTLED. WE'D LIKE TO SEE THEM ACTUALLY. SEE IF WE CAN ACTUALLY NOT SET UP SOME OF THOSE CASES AND THEY'RE GOING OUR FAVOR. I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE DISCUSSIONS WOULD COME IN. AND ULTIMATELY, UM, THE POOL WOULD STILL HAVE THE ULTIMATE CALL ON THAT. BUT WE WOULD TAKE YOUR, UM YOUR FEEDBACK AND CONCERNS AND TO CONSIDERATION, UM. DID YOU TELL ME? I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THAT? YEAH. SO I MEAN ALL THE SETTLEMENT STRATEGY ULTIMATELY ALWAYS BOILS DOWN TO IS IT GOING TO BE CHEAPER TO SETTLE FOR SOME VERY SMALL AMOUNT OR RISK GOING
[01:10:06]
TO TRIAL? UM WHEN, UM. THE COURT SYSTEM IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY UNPREDICTABLE. IN TERMS OF WHAT THINGS CAN COST AND DEFENSE COSTS AND ALL THOSE THINGS, SO IT'S A KIND OF A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS. WHAT I WILL SAY THOUGH, SIR, IS WE ARE VERY JUDICIOUS IN THE USE OF TRYING TO GET THINGS THROWN OUT BECAUSE OF YOUR GOVERNMENTAL IMMUNITY BEFORE THEY EVEN HAVE A CHANCE TO UM, TURN INTO ANYTHING. SO THAT'S GONNA BE ALWAYS THE FIRST THING WE DO IS WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AND SEE IF YOUR SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A CLAIM THROWN OUT, AND IF NOT, THEN, UM, YOU KNOW OUTSIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, LIBRARY, BUILT LIABILITY AND AIRS AND EMISSIONS . THERE ARE TORQUE CAPS IN PLACE IN THE TEXAS COURTS THAT WILL LIMIT WITH THE DAMAGES ARE. AND COUNCILMAN NEIL. THANK YOU. I WAS JUST GONNA SAY KATHRYN TURNER. I THINK THAT YOUR CONCERN IS ACTUALLY I MEAN, IN MY OPINION MORE OF A BENEFIT BECAUSE IT TAKES THE OPINIONS AND EMOTIONS OF COUNCIL OUT OF THE EQUATION UNLESS THE PEOPLE THAT DEAL WITH THIS DAY IN AND DAY OUT FOR A LIVING MAKE THOSE DECISIONS FOR US. THE OTHER BIG BENEFIT THAT I SEE IS IT ESTABLISHES A COST THAT THE CITY CAN USE MOVING FORWARD VERSUS RIGHT NOW. WE DON'T KNOW. I MEAN , WHAT IT'S GONNA BE FROM YEAR TO YEAR. OBVIOUSLY, THE PREMIUMS COULD CHANGE, BUT THEY SHOULD BE. FAIRLY CONSISTENT. ESPECIALLY IF WE CONTINUE ON THE TRACK OF TRYING TO GET THESE WRECKS AND OTHER THINGS BROUGHT DOWN AND GET THAT EMR RATING LOWERED. AND ONE OTHER THING I WANT TO ADD, IS THAT THIS DOESN'T BIND US INTO A LONG TERM CONTRACT. WE WERE YOU KNOW, IF WE PAY MAKE THIS PAYMENT IT'LL BE FOR ONE YEAR AFTER THREE OR FOUR YEARS OR HOWEVER LONG WE CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO THE BEING SELF INSURED, SO THAT'S THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND.COUNCILMAN I MEAN, CITY MANAGER PROMOTION. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UH THINK COUNCIL MEMBER, NEIL MAKES A GOOD POINT AND WHAT HE JUST EXPLAINED TO COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER ABOUT YOU KNOW HOW THIS WORKS, YOU KNOW? I'VE DEALT WITH THEM FOR YEARS, AND EVEN WHEN THEY DO SETTLE HIGH CLAIMS THAT WASN'T IN THE TIME THAT THEY DID NOT COME AND SIT DOWN AND CONSULT WITH US TO SAY IT'S JUST OKAY. YOU WOULD YOU COUNSEL FOR US TO SELL THIS CASE? NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS THEIR AUTHORITY, BUT THEY STILL HAD THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FEEDBACK THAT WE WANTED TO PROVIDE. PROVIDE. UH, WITH THEM. UH YOU KNOW, SHERRY AND I TALKED A BIT ABOUT THIS ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE OFFICE BEFORE THIS, SO WE WANTED TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE. WE DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT HER OFFICE. SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, IT WORKS WELL WITH HER OFFICE AND HER EXISTENCE SERVICES BASIC. UH BASED UPON US , LOOKING AT A NEW SERVICE ALSO SIMPLY PUT THIS PUTS YOU ON THE NEXT LEVEL OF SERVICE. THIS. THIS IS TAKING VIEW TO OUR HIGH LEVEL OF SERVICE MUCH HIGHER THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW WHAT WE HAVE NOW AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE NEGATIVES. CUMBERSOME, IT'S DIFFICULT. YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON CASES STAFF IN A LOT OF TIME ON CASES, AND THEY WILL HAVE PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE DOING THIS. AND THEY DON'T TAKE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES LIGHTLY.
THEY'RE NOT JUST GONNA SIT THERE. LIKE YOU SAID THEY'RE GONNA USE LOOK AT ME IMMUNITY, SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY, AND THEY'RE GONNA DISALLOW A LOT OF THINGS. AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT. PERSONALLY YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PERSONALITIES OF PEOPLE YOU KNOW, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU'VE GOT PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE DEALING WITH THAT, BUT IT'S UH, I THINK IT REALLY PUTS WHAT THE CITY IS OFTEN IN THIS TYPE OF COVERAGE IS IN A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL.
SERVICE THAN WE'RE DELIVERING RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? BEFORE WE. SO I BELIEVE NOW IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO ASK FOR A MOTION MOVED TO PROOF. THERE'S BEEN A MOTION IN A SECOND. NOW. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE AH OPPOSED. THE MOTION IS CARRIED. AT THE CLOSE THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE COUNCIL WILL HOLD EXECUTIVE SESSION TO CONSIDER MATTERS RELATED TO CONTEMPLATED OR PENDING LITIGATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 551.071 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE, THE CLAIM OF STELLA DI BLAH, THE CLAIM OF TIFFANY SIMPSON. WE ARE NOW DONE
[DISCUSSION ITEM]
[01:15:04]
WITH OUR REGULAR AGENDA, ADAMS, AND AT THIS TIME WE WILL GO INTO OUR DISCUSSION ITEM DISCUSSION OF THE NAMING POLICY ORDINANCE AND I BELIEVE CITY ATTORNEY SHERRY READ WILL LEAD THIS DISCUSSION AT HIM ON YOUR DAY IS YOU HAD A COPY OF THE, UH, ORDINANCE PROPOSED ORDINANCE IN ITS FINAL FORM. I'M CIRCULATING A COPY OF THAT SAME EXACT ORDINANCE, BUT WITH THE RED LINE CHANGES SO YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY WHAT WAS CHANGED. THE BIGGEST CHANGE TO THE ORDINANCES THAT WE WERE MOVED THE STREETS AS A COVERED PRODUCTS. UH A COVERED PROPERTY UNDER THIS PROCESS, UM, THEIR REMAINING THERE, RENAMING OF STREETS PRESENTS A UNIQUE SET OF CHALLENGES AND CONSIDERATIONS THAT ARE ALREADY EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS WITH EXISTING STREET NAMING POLICY. UM WHEN WE CONSULTED WITH STAFF, IT WAS A TERM IN THAT CHANGE THAT PROCESS. UM PROVIDE A HARDSHIP TO CITIZENS. UM, AND SO WE JUST DID. WE WERE MOVED THAT ONE. SO THAT'S A BAKE A BIG CHANGE.THERE WERE ALSO SOME SLIGHT JAP DRAFTING CHANGES TO IMPROVE CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING FOR THE PROPOSED REVIEW PROCESS AND PROCEDURES. UM. WE ALSO INCLUDED A PROVISION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE DONOR TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT. IF THE. BEECHER THE NAMING WAS DAMAGED.
AND SO WE JUST KIND OF JUMP RIGHT INTO IT. THE RENAMING, UH, PROCESS FOR A NEW PROPERTY. UM THE CITY WOULD PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR NAMING RIGHTS. UM, THE REQUESTED WAS OBVIOUSLY SUBMITTED BAIT. THAT'S NO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE HAVE NOW. UM AS A PART OF THE REQUIREMENT, WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY BRING THAT TO COUNCIL. UM TAKES THAT THAT PROPOSAL, IF WE BRING SOME AND THEN, UM THE PROCEDURE WOULD START. SO YOU GUYS, WE WOULD STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO REJECT OR ACCEPT THIS, SAME AS THE PROCESS THAT WE HAVE NOW IN THE PROCESS FOR AN EXISTING PROPERTY , UM, WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. THE REQUESTER WAS SENT A LETTER TO THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND THAT, UM, WOULD BE FORWARDED TO, UM, THE CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL. WILL BE SET ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE, UM, COUNCIL MEETING FOR CONSIDERATION OF EITHER FORWARDING THAT TO AN EXISTING COMMITTEE OR CREATING AD HOC PITY. SO THE CRITERIA FOR WHETHER OR NOT YOU WOULD CREATE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE VERSUS UM, SENDING THAT TO AN EXISTING BOARD OR COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW. WE ALREADY HAVE A PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD. SO IF THE REQUEST WAS TO RENAME A PARK, IT WOULD BE FITTING TO JUST SEND IT TO THE PARK SPORT AS AS OPPOSED TO CREATING AN AD HOC COMMITTEE. AFTER THE COUNCIL OF IT WAS SOMETHING NEW A NEW FACILITY, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THAT WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND WE CREATED AN AD HOC COMMITTEE FOR THAT, UM, COUNCIL WITH OBVIOUSLY ALLOW FOR THAT COMMITTEE TO MEET . I'M SORRY. CREATE THAT COMMITTEE ALLOW THAT COMMUNITY TO MEET THEY WOULD BRING THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS BACK TO COUNCIL COUNCIL ALSO HAS THE ABILITY TO JUST SENATOR DEPARTMENT OR STAFF. IF THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU WANTED TO DO. FOR EXAMPLE, IF SOMEONE WANTED TO WE NAMED THE LAKESIDE CENTER WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, STAFF THAT MANAGES THAT BUILDING THAT MIGHT WANNA HAVE SOME INPUT, SO THAT WOULD ALSO BE AN OPTION. BUT AFTER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STAFF AFTER THAT MEETING CONCLUDED THAT WOULD BE PUT ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE AGENDA FOR COUNSEL TO REVIEW. UM OBVIOUSLY, THE COMMITTEE OR STAFF, WHATEVER. UM . INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED THAT, UM, REQUESTS I WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE CRITERIA THAT'S ESTABLISHED IN THE ORDER ORDINANCE FOR WHETHER OR NOT THAT NAME REQUEST MEETS THAT CRITERIA, THEN THEY WOULD GO TO COUNCIL ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE COUNCIL MEETING COUNCIL HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THE NAME REQUEST FOR ANY REASON, DESPITE WHETHER OR NOT IT MET THE REPORT. APPROVALS OF COUNCIL STILL HAS THE FINAL SAY SO IN THE NAME ME A PROPERTY. AND THOSE ARE THE MAJOR CHANGES IN THE PROCESS. UM LIKE I SAID, IT HAS BEEN FILTERED THROUGH, UM, THE DEPARTMENTS VIRTUAL EFFECTS, AND I DON'T THINK WE HAD ANY ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK FROM THOSE GENTLEMEN. THEY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW A PRIORITIZED SUBMITTED IT TO YOU. SO THAT IS THE FINAL BECAUSE OF THE CLEAN COPY THAT YOU HAVE IS THE FINAL THE FINAL PROPOSED PROCESS. NOT WELL HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL HAS.
COUNCILMAN GUESTS. I'M SORRY, SO THIS WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO US FOR ABOUT AT SOME POINT IF THAT'S THE DESIRE OF COUNCIL. YES, SIR. COUNCILMAN PHIL SHAW. LOOKING AROUND, SEE IF ANYBODY
[01:20:02]
ELSE HAS GOT THEIR HAND. I TRIED TO GO THROUGH THIS AS QUICKLY AS I COULD TO TRY TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS, SO I DON'T HAVE TO ASK THEM, BUT IT MAY BE IN HERE. LET'S SAY WE'RE GONNA NAME A PARK AFTER SOMEONE WOULD THE WOULD THERE BE PUBLIC INPUT WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD IN REGARDS TO THAT NAMING A NEW PARK OR AN EXISTING PART? YEAH. EASY WITH YOUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT.AH I WANT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION THOROUGHLY. OKAY IF IT WAS, IF IT WAS A NEW PART, IT WAS SOMETHING NEW THAT WE WERE ESTABLISHING AND COUNCIL WANTED TO PUT IT OUT FOR A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. UM THEN OBVIOUSLY WOULD BE FROM BIDDERS. IF IT'S AN EXISTING PARK COUNCIL WOULD HAVE COULD DO IT ONE OR TWO WAYS THEY COULD SEND THAT. UM THAT NAME REQUEST TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE BOARD FOR THEM TO MAKE HER RECOMMENDATION. THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WHO LIVED THERE OR COUNCIL COULD CREATE AN AD HOC COMMITTEE OF JUST INDIVIDUALS FROM THAT SINGULAR NEIGHBORHOOD. IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY CHOSE TO DO, CAN A CAN A NAME BE USED OF A LIVING? INDIVIDUAL OR IS IT ONLY AFTER THEY'VE PASSED? WE DIDN'T CHANGE THAT. SO THERE'S A CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE IS STILL THE SAME. THAT WASN'T CHANGED UNLESS IT'S A DESIRE OF COUNCIL AS WELL. THE PROPOSED THAT WE PUT TOGETHER ISN'T ITS FINAL FORM. SO OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT EXPECTING COUNCIL TO THERE'S NO ACTION REQUIRED TODAY. THE COUNCILS ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW IT IN ITS ENTIRETY. AND IF THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU WANT TO PUT, UM BRING FORTH AND MAKE CHANGES TO IT. OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN SEND THOSE TO MY OFFICE, AND WHEN IT'S PUT BACK ON COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL, WE CAN GO OVER THOSE CHANGES FOR THE FOR THE BODY OF IT. IF THAT'S OKAY. IS THERE SOMETHING IN THERE THAT TALKS ABOUT IF A NAME IS GOING TO BE CHOSEN? WE SEEK A RECOMMENDATION OF THAT FAMILY. SO THAT NAME BECAUSE SOMETIMES FAMILY HAVE INFORMATION THAT WE DON'T HAVE. OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T PUT SOMEONE'S NAME ON THE BUILDING. YOU KNOW IF IT'S SOMEONE YOU KNOW, LIVING THE DAY THAT YOU CAN'T PUT IT ON WITH THAT OTHER PERMISSIONS ARE NAMED, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S JUST SOME LEGAL CRITERIA FOR THAT. BUT THAT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY SPENT ON OUR ORDINANCE, BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S LEGAL. BUT IF I JUST PUT ON COUNCILMAN BECAUSE HE SITS CLOSER TO ME IF HE WANTED TO, UH, SOMEONE WANTED TO PROPOSE IN HIS FAMILY THAT I BUILD AND BE NAMED AFTER HIS FAMILY. OBVIOUSLY, HE WOULD HAVE TO ACCUSE AND STUFF FROM THAT PROCESS. BUT UM, THERE WILL BE NOTHING THAT PREVENTED HIM FROM SAYING MY FAMILY IS IN SUPPORT OF THAT. RIGHT UM, IF SOMEONE FROM THE PUBLIC WANTED TO DO THAT BE NOTHING AS HIM BEING A SPOKESPERSON ON BEHALF OF 15 LEASING. YEAH, WE APPROVED THAT. BUT HE OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, COULDN'T COULDN'T PUT ON THAT.
RIGHT SO THAT THE OTHER BIG THINGS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER COUNCIL TO CONSIDER. IS THAT THE CRITERIA THAT WOULD BE YOU KNOW SOMETHING THAT'S YOU KNOW, GOOD, MORE OPPORTUNE. WE MIGHT NOT WANT TO PUT UM YOU KNOW, A TOBACCO, THE NAME OF THE TOBACCO PRODUCT ON A PLAYGROUND. ANOTHER SOMETHING IN HER THAT ADDRESSES THE COST AND ENDOWMENT TO MAINTAIN IF IT'S SOMEBODY DOES THAT IS THERE A LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF TIME LIKE THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN IT FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS? 30 YEARS OR IS IT AN ENDED SO THAT WOULD GO TOWARDS HOW LONG YOU ARE GOING TO ALLOW THE NAMING RIGHTS FOR? SO IF YOU DID A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL WAS TO HAVE THE NAME OF THE CIVIC CENTER, UM BE, YOU KNOW, PUT UP. YOU COULD SAY YOU WANTED TO DO IT FOR 10 YEARS WHERE YOU WANT TO DO IT FOR 20 YEARS. AND SO THAT WOULD BE HOW LONG THE MAINTENANCE OF REQUIRE, UM IF SOMEONE WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW FOR NAMING RIGHTS FOR LESS THAN YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS BECAUSE I HAVE TO CHANGE THE NAME SO OFTEN WOULD BE COST PROHIBITIVE. UM SO THAT THAT WOULD BE KIND OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS THAT THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING SOME TYPE OF ENDOWMENT FOR THAT PERIOD. OKAY.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. COUNCILMAN NEIL. THANK YOU. ON THE SECOND PAGE. UM THERE'S ONE ITEM ON THERE SAYS, REQUESTING NAME INDIVIDUAL FEATURES, WITH THE VALUE OF LESS THAN $5000 SHALL BE REFERRED TO APPROPRIATE CITY STAFF AND SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL. I DON'T I KNOW ABOUT LIKE THAT. IT'S OPEN TO CHANGE. WHAT'S UP. IT'S AVAILABLE TO BE CHANGED THIS PARTICULAR, UM, ORDINANCE AGAIN. WHEN WE ESPECIALLY, WE DROPPED NEW ORDINANCE. WE JUST KIND OF LOOK TO, UM, SEE WHAT HAS WORKED WITH HIS WORKING IN OTHER CITIES, BUT IT'S NOT.
YOU'RE NOT BOUND BY THAT. SECOND PAGE. A CIRCLE THAT I'M I DON'T MEAN TO TAKE YOUR TIME, COUNCILMAN. BUT CAN YOU CLARIFY HIS QUESTION TO IT SAYS REQUEST THE NAME INDIVIDUAL FEATURES.
WITH THE VALUE OF LESS THAN 5000 . SO IT'S ANYTHING THE FEATURE ITSELF THAT YOU'RE NAMING IS LESS THAN 5000 CORRECT. CORRECT. SO IT'S NOT ADDRESSING THE SIGNAGE ITSELF. LIKE YOU'RE GONNA PUT A PLAQUE ON SOMETHING. YOU DON'T BRING THAT BEFORE COUNCIL FOR US TO APPROVE A PLAQUE. WE WOULDN'T BUT IF YOU WOULD PREFER THAT WE COULD PLEASE DON'T OKAY NEXT TO THAT.
YEAH IT'S IT WAS. IT WAS A COUNT IT SAYS COUNCIL ADOPTION, AND THEN IT GOES DOWN TO E REQUESTS
[01:25:03]
TO NAME INDIVIDUAL FEATURES, WITH A VALUE OF LESS THAN 5000 SHALL BE REFERRED TO APPROPRIATE CITY STAFF AND SHALL NOT REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF CITY OF COUNCIL. AGAIN. WE CAN CHANGE THAT. SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT DOING PLAQUES CORRECT. NO, THANK YOU. YES I JUST WANT TO ADD TO THAT.IN THE PAST, WE'VE DONE THINGS LIKE PARK BENCHES AND TREES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I THINK THAT'S THAT'S WHERE THAT THRESHOLD UM, COMES IN AT AND THEN I WILL COMMENT ON COUNCILMAN NEIL'S QUESTION. OR THE QUESTION EARLIER ABOUT MAYBE NOTIFYING MEMBERS. YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT COMMON, BUT THE STREET RENAMING PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO THIS. AND SO WHENEVER WE HAVE AN APPLICATION FOR A STREET RENAMING, OF COURSE, WE ASK THAT THE APPLICANT PROVIDE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE RENAMING AND THEN PART OF STAFF. RESPONSIBILITY IS TO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO RESEARCH THE HISTORY OF WHY THAT STREET WAS NAMED THAT WAY. AND AGAIN NOTIFICATION AND SO AGAIN AS YOU GO THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS FOR WHATEVER THE ISSUE THE WHETHER IT'S A PARK OR STRUCTURE . WHAT HAVE YOU AS YOU GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS? YOU KNOW, YOU CAN EXPAND THAT, TO THE EXTENT THAT THAT WE WOULD WANT TO IN TERMS OF RESEARCH OR NOTIFY AND OR NOTIFICATION INTO MR 18 BOOMS POINT WHERE WE TRY TO DO IS MEMORIALIZED WHAT WE WERE ALREADY DOING AND PUT IT INTO A POLICY. WE DECIDED TO PULL STREETS OUT BECAUSE THEY WERE ALREADY MENTIONED. THAT'S ALREADY A PROCESS IN PLACE THAT WORKS WELL, AND WE DIDN'T WANT TO, UM TO MUDDLE IT WITH THIS PROCESS, BUT A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT ARE THAT WE ALREADY DO KIND OF MEMORIALIZED NOW IN THIS POLICY, BUT IT TO COUNCILMAN BILL SHOWS POINT IF YOU WANT TO NAME THE TREES, AND THE BENCHES WERE HAPPY TO ALLOW YOU TO DO THAT, YOU KNOW. OKAY? IF THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS LIKE I SAID THAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL JUST KIND OF REVIEW IT LOSER. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE MOST OF THE CHANGES THE RED LINES OR, UM OR THE STRIKEOUTS ARE IN RED. THAT'S WHAT WE TOOK OUT. UM ADD ADDITIONS ARE IN BLUE. THAT'S WHAT WE INCLUDED IN JUST FOR CLARIFICATION PURPOSES BUT WOULD ENCOURAGE COUNCIL TO REVIEW IT AND UM, JUST FOLLOW THE NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR ADDING IT BACK TO THE AGENDA AS A DISCUSS EITHER A ACTION ITEM OR DISCUSSION ITEM. WHATEVER THE PLEASURE. THANK YOU. OKAY AT THIS POINT, UH,
[COUNCIL COMMENTS]
WELL COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS AND I WILL START WITH COUNCILMAN DURIO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS ONE. I HOPE WE HAVE SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THESE WATER BILLS. I MEAN, A $1700 WATER BILL FOR HOUSES NOT OCCUPIED IS IN AND IT'S BEEN CHECKED AND HAS NO LEAK. THERE'S DEFINITELY A PROBLEM SOMEWHERE AND WE WERE TELLING FOLKS MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE NO LEAK AND CHECK BUT THAT WE KNOW WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN HAVE THAT ADDRESSED. YOU KNOW THE NET YESTERDAY? UH, WENT TO B I S D. STADIUM MEMORIAL DEDICATION. THEY HAVE A MEMORIAL UP THERE WITH ALL THE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT HAD EVER BEEN A PART OF THE I S D OR SOUTH PARK. I S D WAS PRETTY NICE. UM IT WAS PRETTY NICE PRESENTATION MIRROR AND I WENT WE HAD REPRESENTATIVE FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY HIGH SCHOOL EXCEPT FOR BEAUMONT HIGH. HAVE ANYBODY THERE FROM BEAUMONT HIGH. BUT YEAH, BUT IT WAS IT WAS A IT WAS A NICE, UM, CEREMONY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE IN HERE. COUNCILMAN GETS. I ECHO YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT CHECKING INTO SOME OF THESE WATER BILLS.I'VE HAD A LOT OF CITIZENS CONTACT ME WITH EXTREMELY HIGH WATER BILLS. SO YOU KNOW, I'M TOLD THAT THE WATER DEPARTMENT GOES OUT CHECKS THE METERS AND BUT THEY PHIL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THE METERS ARE READING THE CORRECT USAGE. STILL. THERE'S A LOT OF BILLS THAT ARE EXTRAORDINARILY HIGH. UH BASED ON WHAT? HISTORICALLY THEY HAVE READ, SO I'M JUST WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT SOMETHING STRANGE GOING ON THERE . AH LAMAR HAS A BIG FOOTBALL GAME THIS WEEKEND. YOU KNOW LAMAR'S SITTING ON TOP OF THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE RIGHTS RIGHT NOW, AND, UH, I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOUR BODY TO GO OUT AND SUPPORT YOUR HOMETOWN UNIVERSITY LAMAR THIS SATURDAY AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL GOOD CARDINALS TO WIN, NOT THE
[01:30:04]
BAD CARDINALS TO WIN. THAT'S ALL I HAVE IN THERE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GATS COUNCILMAN TURNER. JUST ALONG THE LINES OF THE WATER CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE WAS A CONCERN OF MINE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, OFTEN THERE'S ALWAYS TWO SIDES TO THE STORY. BUT YOU KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CITIZENS COME UP AND SAY THEY'VE BEEN HUNG UP ON AND THEY WERE BEING RUDE TO THAT.THAT'S NOT A GOOD COMBINATION ON TOP OF ALREADY HIGH BILL THAT THEY HAD A CONCERN ABOUT SO I KNOW WE SAY WE CONFIDENT BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE NEXT THING IS, I WANTED TO SEE IF THE COUNCIL CAN GET AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE ARE WITH BEING YOURSELF. OR THE RAILROAD WITHOUT RIVERFRONT PROJECT. I KNOW WE RAN INTO SOME OBSTACLES WITH THEIR RAILROAD CROSSING IN THE FRONT, BUT I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT WE PROBABLY SEE WHAT WE ARE AT WITH THAT AT THIS TIME. AH! I KNOW WE WERE WORKING ON THE CROSSING, BUT SOMETHING'S TOOK PLACE AND WE JUST NEED TO GET AN UPDATE ON WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT THE RIVERFRONT QUITE THE RAILROAD CROSSING IN THE FRONT. THE SECOND THING WAS NOTHING NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETING ON LAST NIGHT. ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THEY WERE DISCUSSING WAS THEY HAVE A HUGE CONCERN WITH THE SIDEWALKS AT JONES, CLARK AND MARTIN ELEMENTARY. BOTH OF THOSE SCHOOLS ON THE NORTH END AND THEY KNOW WE ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR SIDEWALKS, SO THEY WANTED TO SEE IF THERE COULD BE A FIRST TOP PRIORITY. THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN THE NORTH END WITH THAT FUNDING WILL WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE NORTH END. THE SECOND THING THEY ASKED ABOUT WAS MAGNOLIA PARK. THEY SAID. WE HAVE BENCHES BENCHES THROUGHOUT THE PARK. BUT THERE'S NO CEMENT LEADING TO THE BENCHES IN THE PAVILION. SO YOU KNOW, BASICALLY , CITIZENS HAVE TO WALK THROUGH THE GRASS, AND IF IT'S RAINING, YOU HAD LITERALLY WALKED TO THE GRASS AND THE FOLLOWING DAY TO JUST SIT AND HAVE A NICE DAY AT THE PARK, SO THEY WANT TO LOOK INTO THAT. UH THE NEXT THING I WANT TO ASK ABOUT IF WE HAD A WORKSHOP WITH CORONA CORONA GAVE THE CITY OF BEAUMONT SEVERAL THINGS THAT THEY THOUGHT WE NEEDED TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE I WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WITH FLOWING PROPERLY. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN GET AN UPDATE TO THE COUNCIL AS A WHOLE ON WHERE STAFF IS AND AS FAR AS MAKING PROGRESS ON THAT CORONA UPDATE. AND THE LAST THING IS, WE REQUESTED THAT THE PARKS AND RICK COMMITTEE BE SEPARATED. BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE OPERATING DEPARTMENTS WITH THE NEW STRUCTURE OF THE CITY. WE STILL HAVE THEM COMBINED AS PARKS AND RICKS. I THINK IT CAUSES CONFLICT. WHEN WE KIND OF SIT IN THOSE MEETINGS, AND WE TRY TO MIX THE BOTH FROM THAT TO SEPARATING DEPARTMENTS. A LOT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY VOICED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT SEPARATING THOSE TWO WITH THE APPOINTMENT, SO I JUST LIKE TO SEE IT HAPPEN. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN. TURNER COUNCILMAN FELL. SHAW COUNCILMAN SAMUEL I'M GOOD. I'M OK. I'M COMING. COUNCILMAN NEIL. THE ONLY THING I'D LIKE TO ADD KIND OF PIGGYBACKING OFF OF CUSTOMER DURIO ON THE WATER. UM IF WE COULD TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO THAT, BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE ALL DAY EVERY DAY. THAT'S THE PHONE CALLS WE GET IS FROM CITIZENS WITH THE WATER BILLS ON CONCERNS. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE CITY'S TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THIS, BUT IF WE COULD JUST GET SOME ANSWERS FROM COUNCIL ON THIS ON WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING, AND HOW DO WE GET OUT OF THIS? WHAT WHAT'S SCARY ABOUT THAT IS THE BIG DEAL IS THE ONE THAT'S COMING. IT'S NOT EVEN HERE YET. SO JUST SOMETHING FOR US TO KEEP DIGGING INTO. FOR CLARITY. COUNCILMAN NIELD IS THE ONE THAT SAID THAT IF YOU NEED TO FOLLOW UP WITH ANYBODY ON THAT, YES. COUNCILMAN SAMUEL WELL, I, TOO, AGREE THAT, UH, WE HAVE TO GET ON TOP OF THE ISSUE WITH WATER BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE GET MOST OF THE CONCERNS. BUT MOST. DISTURBING THING TO ME IS, UH, NO. WE'VE ALWAYS TAKEN PRIDE IN GOOD CUSTOMER SERVANTS. BUT YOU KNOW, UM. GOTTEN MORE COMPLAINTS. ABOUT THE WATER DEPARTMENT. AH IN RECENT MONTHS. I KNOW I'VE HAD IT AT LEAST. THREE OR FOUR. IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. UM. I KNOW MANY TIMES WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH WATER THAT ISSUE, UH THE CUSTOMERS CAN BE SOMEWHERE ASSERTIVE AND BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIVES. WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S IMPACTED THEM, AND WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE REMAIN CUSTOMER FRIENDLY. UH WE'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT CONCERN, BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW, IN THE TIMES THAT WE'RE IN, UM AND I'M SAYING THAT AND IT'S NOT AS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT'S BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IN MY PRACTICE AS
[01:35:08]
WELL AS WHAT I'M SEEING EVERY DAY. WE'RE SEEING AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING MENTAL OR EMOTIONAL ISSUES. AND WE CAN EITHER CALM THAT DOWN A WEAKENED ESCALATED. MANY TIMES.WE ARE NOT AWARE OF WHO'S AT THAT END. SO THESE ARE SPECIAL TIMES THAT WE HAVE TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE RESPOND TO CITIZENS. AND SO THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS. UH OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TO HELP OR WHAT WE'RE DOING TO, UH, INCREASE THE . POSSIBILITY THAT THERE WOULD BE EPISODES IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS. I'VE HAD THREE ENCOUNTERS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN REAL BAD AND IT WAS BY PUBLIC ENTITIES. AND I BELIEVE FROM MY ASSESSMENT. UH THE ENTITIES IN WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING THAT CATEGORY OF PEOPLE. THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ESCALATED IT, SO I CAN'T ALWAYS SAY IT'S THE PERSON. WE HAVE TO BE MORE SENSITIVE TOWARDS THE TIMES THAT WE'RE IN. THAT'S ALL I'M COUNSELING. ONE MORE THING, UH, KIND OF ECHOING ON THE CUSTOMER SERVICE ASPECT OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT. I'M BEING TOLD THAT FREQUENTLY. PEOPLE CALLED IN. AND BE TOLD THAT THEY'RE WHITE TIME BEFORE THEY CAN TALK TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE IS IN EXCESS OF ONE HOUR. NOW I DON'T KNOW IF. OUR SYSTEM HAS THE ABILITY LIKE SOME OTHER UTILITIES, SO THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN A CUBE THAT IS GOING TO BE LAW. YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF SAYING YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND GETTING A CALL BACK. AS OPPOSED TO WAITING ON HOLD. REALLY RESORTING EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF TIME. DO WE HAVE BETTER ABILITY WHERE YOU CAN JUST GET A CALL BACK? YES AND YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR PLACE IN LINE, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST SIT THERE ON THE PHONE. I DON'T HAVE THAT. MAYBE THAT'S SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT OTHER YOU TELL THE COMPANIES HAVE THAT CAPABILITY. THANK YOU.
TALISMAN DORIA. UH JUST NEXT MANAGED. DO WE HAVE ANY TYPE OF CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING IN PLACE BECAUSE I'M GETTING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON ON SPECIFIC PEOPLE AND NOT THE WHOLE WATER DEPARTMENT, BUT THE WATER BILLING DEPARTMENT. WAS THERE SOME OF THE FOLKS I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST NOT FRIENDLY. YOU KNOW, AND WHEN YOU CALL UP THERE WITH A $1700 WATER BILL, MAN.
WELL I'M NOT GOING TO BE FRIENDLY EITHER, BUT I GOT A REASON THE PERSON THAT'S IN THERE, THOUGH THEY HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO BE VERY HELPFUL AND THEY CAN'T GET THEM. I DON'T CARE. THAT'S YOUR JOB. DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE HAVING A BAD DAY OR NOT. CUSTOMERS SHOULDN'T KNOW THAT YOU'RE HAVING A BAD DAY. THEY SHOULD FEEL THAT THAT THEY'RE THERE TO HELP THEM. AND TO GET THAT PROBLEM SOLVED. YEAH. CUSTOMER SERVICES IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT WE DO IS THEN PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE. YOU KNOW, WHEN I GOT HERE, ONE OF THE THINGS IDENTIFIED ONE OF OUR BIGGEST ISSUES I THOUGHT WAS WE COULD IMPROVE ON CUSTOMER SERVICE. AND WE DID. WE HAD ALL IN EVERY EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF ROME AND GO THROUGH A CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING. NOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE CHANGE AND POSITIONS AND POSITIONS CHANGE OVER THE YEARS AND IT'S JUST TIME FOR MORE COMPREHENSIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING. BUT THERE'S NO. EXCUSE POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. YOU KNOW, YOU HEARD A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN DO, YOU MIGHT NOT CAN GET TO A WATER LINE AT A CERTAIN TIME OR WHATEVER, BUT THERE'S NO EXCUSE TO BE RUDE TO PEOPLE. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE'LL WORK ON AND DEFINITELY WILL WORK ON THEM. IF WE HAVE AN ISSUES WITH THAT, WE WILL CERTAINLY CORRECT FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ISSUES. AND MAYOR IF I'M A COUNCILMAN, DARIO WEEK AND A HALF AGO, I DID ASK ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE TRAINING, UH, DOWNSTAIRS HERE AND THEY DID IDENTIFY SOME FUNDING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. UH AND THEY WILL BE IMPLEMENTING SOME SOME TRAINING TO STAFF FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. GOING TO BE OUTSIDE.
OUTSIDE TRAINING, CORRECT BECAUSE WE DID DO INTERNALLY. I THINK THAT'S THE MEANING THAT WE DIDN'T WE DIDN'T INTERNALLY SO EVERY TIME THERE. DO IT OUTSIDE. ALRIGHT, MISS CITY ATTORNEY HAVE
[01:40:08]
NOTHING THERE. PARK. THE BNSF CROSSING. I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING WE WERE LOOKING FOR. THE CITY DID TRY TO TIE THAT TO A SPUR THAT BEING SF WAS PUTTING IN. THEY CAME BACK TO COUNCIL AND ASKED TO BE LET OUT OF THAT REQUIREMENT IN COUNCIL AGREED TO THAT, SO WE DON'T HAVE A APPROVED PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT THIS TIME, IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE HAVE TO WORK ON AND GET BNSF TO AGREE TO, UM, WHEREVER WE DECIDE TO PUT IT IN, HOWEVER, WE DECIDED TO PUT IT IN WHETHER IT'S ELEVATED OR OR AT GRADE, SO THAT'LL BE SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO WORK ON IN THE FUTURE. AND I KNOW ALSO, THEY SAID THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO POSSIBLY ASSIST, POSSIBLY ASSIST WITH FUNDING BECAUSE OF THAT, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON TOP DID BUT NONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY BROUGHT UP THAT DAY. QUITE HONESTLY WERE YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY PERTAINING TO AN ELEVATED CROSSING, THEY KEPT MENTIONING AN ELEVATED CROSSING AND ELEVATED CROSSING HAS TO BE A D A COMPLIANT HAS TO HAVE AN ELEVATOR ON BOTH SIDES OF IT.YOU'RE TALKING GREAT DEAL OF MONEY FOR THAT. SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING WE WANT TO DO, WILL HAVE TO TRY TO FIND FUNDING AND PURSUE THAT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING LOCKED IN IT AT THIS TIME ON THAT JUST WANT TO STAY ON TOP OF IT, BECAUSE I KNOW WE MOVING, SO I JUST WANT TO STAY ON TOP OF IT IN ADVANCE. NOTHING THERE. THANKS. JUST FOLLOW UP ON SOME THINGS. UH BUT TO LET ME SAY CUSTOMER, YOU KNOW, WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM THIS DIFFICULT? IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF YOUR MORE DIFFICULT DEPARTMENTS TO WORK IN DEALING WITH CITIZENS BECAUSE THEY ARE PEOPLE ARE UPSET, SO I DO WANT TO GIVE STAFF OF BENEFITED DOWN IN SOME SITUATIONS. THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE REALLY COMING, TREAT THEM BADLY. BUT WE JUST WE EVEN NO NEED TO TEACH OUR PEOPLE HOW TO HANDLE THOSE SITUATIONS, SO I JUST WANT TO ADD THAT FOR CLARITY. UH WELL, WELL, WELL RESEARCHED THIS WATER ISSUE, WANT TO BUILD AN ASIAN WILL COME BACK TO COUNCIL WITH THE REPORT.
WHAT WE'RE ABOUT FINDINGS WHAT WE FIND OUT THE OFFENSE. I DON'T KNOW, BILLING OR JUST THE FACT THAT WE WENT THROUGH A DROUGHT AND PEOPLE WERE USING WATER. THEY HAVE LEAKS OR OURSELVES FAR. IT'S NOT WORKING RIGHT, WELL RESEARCHING AND COME BACK WITH THE REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL.
ON THAT. AND THE PARKS AND WORK COMMITTEE. UH I HAVE A DRAFT MEMO ON MY DESK FOR THAT AGENDA ITEM FOR NEXT TIME ALREADY WAS GIVEN TO ME BY CINEMATIC CHRIS BOONE LAST TIME AND I'LL BE REVIEWING THAT. AND SO THAT'S PREPARED TO COME TO COUNCIL. I THINK IT'S NEXT MEETING. IS IT NEXT MEETING, CHRIS SO WE ARE WORKING ON ON THAT ISSUE. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. YES SIR. THANK YOU. UH FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT IT WAS A PLEASURE TO HAVE ST ANTHONY'S BASILICA SCHOOL HERE TODAY AND THAT MADE THE MEETING GET OFF STARTED ON THE BEST BEST POSSIBLE STEP, AND , UH, AND COUNCILMAN DURIO AND I ARE BOTH BEING AT B. I S D UNVEILING OF THE MONUMENT WAS VERY NICE AND THIS FRIDAY NIGHT IS THE BEAUMONT BOWL, SO WESTBROOK ARE BEAUMONT UNITED WILL GET A WIN. AND, UH AND WE SUPPORT THAT. I DON'T MEAN ANYTHING BY THAT. I LIKE TO REMIND PEOPLE ON THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO RESPOND AT THAT TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS WHEN THEY'RE MADE, SO IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE NOT IGNORING YOU. IT'S JUST THAT, UH, WE AREN'T ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT TIME AND CERTAINLY ON THE WATER BILLS. MUCH HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT IT. ONE THING I WANTED TO THROW MY UNDERSTANDING WAS PEOPLE COULD LEAVE A MESSAGE. BUT I'M NOT. I HADN'T PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THAT. AND I TRUST THAT WE CAN'T BUT, YOU KNOW, OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU CALL IN SOMETIMES THEY TELL YOU THAT YOUR CALL IS GOING TO BE RECORDED FOR TRAINING PURPOSES, AND PERHAPS THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ADD. UH I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE COST IS, AND OBVIOUSLY, BUT THAT WOULD BE A WAY BECAUSE CERTAINLY WE'VE ALL EXPERIENCED CALLS WHERE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING VERY REASONABLE AND THEIR REQUEST AND, UH OTHERS MAY NOT FEEL THE SAME. AND CLEARLY IF SOMEBODY NEEDS ADDITIONAL TRAINING, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY PROVIDED. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION MEETINGS. WE IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ATTEND. IF YOU'RE ABLE TO. I JUST WANT TO MENTION THAT WE DO HAVE THEM ACROSS THE CITY. YOU GET A LOT OF, UH, GOOD INFORMATION THERE IS THEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOWS UP AT ALL OF THEM, GIVEN THE LOCAL STATS, AND THOSE ARE POSTED ON
[01:45:05]
OUR WEBSITE AND ALSO ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE TO GET THAT INFORMATION OUT. AND THIS SUNDAY , UH, SUPERINTENDENT SHANNON, ALAN AND MYSELF WILL BE AT MOTHER OF MERCY TALKING ABOUT[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
VOLUNTEERING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND AT THIS POINT* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.