Jan 07, 2025 City Council

[CALL TO ORDER]

[00:00:07]

WELCOME TO TODAY'S MEETING OF CITY HALL. TODAY'S DATE IS TUESDAY, JANUARY 7TH, 2025.

TODAY'S INVOCATION WILL BE GIVEN BY MINISTER CHARLENE ROAN OF THE GREATER MACEDONIA MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH. IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE SILENCE YOUR CELL PHONE. AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE, PLEASE STAND AND REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. WOULD EVERYONE BOW YOUR HEADS? LORD, WE COME BEFORE YOU WITH GRATEFULNESS. WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT YOU NEVER LEAVE US, NOR DO YOU EVER FORSAKE US. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE GRACE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO POUR OUT UPON US. WE THANK YOU FOR MAKING EACH OF US HERE, EVERY PERSON THAT WE MEET, EVERY CITIZEN OF THIS CITY AND EVERY CITY IN YOUR OWN IMAGE WITH DIGNITY AND INFINITE WORTH. WE THANK YOU FOR THE CALLING THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN EACH ONE OF US TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OVER YOUR CREATION, AND TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBORS AS WE LOVE OURSELVES. WE THANK YOU FOR THESE SERVANTS, OUR MAYOR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR CITY STAFF, AS WELL AS OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE WAY OF SERVICE THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO TAKE UP ON BEHALF OF EACH CITIZEN, BECAUSE WE KNOW YOU ARE OMNISCIENT. YOU KNOW EVERYTHING. YOU KNOW THAT SOME OF US HERE TODAY IN THIS MEETING ARE CARRYING BURDENS. WE'RE CARRYING JOY. WE'RE CARRYING HOPE. WE'RE TRUSTING THAT YOU AND YOU ALONE CAN HOLD US TOGETHER IN YOUR LOVE AND YOUR PEACE. SO, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU TEACH US HOW TO TRUST YOU MORE. MORE THAN OUR FEARS. TRUST YOU MORE THAN OUR WOUNDS AND EVEN OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. TEACH US TO TRUST YOU MORE. YOU'VE INSTRUCTED US THROUGH YOUR WORD TO TRUST YOU IN ALL OF OUR HEART, AND TO LEAN NOT UNTO OUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. AND IN ALL OF OUR WAYS, EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE AND EVERY STEP THAT WE TAKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, AND THAT YOU WOULD THEN DIRECT OUR PATHS. SO YOU'VE ALSO INSTRUCTED US NOT TO TRUST IN OUR OWN WISDOM, BUT TO FEAR AND TO RESPECT YOU. SO TEACH US GOD TO TRUST YOU MORE.

LORD, REMIND US THAT THOSE IN AUTHORITY ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST YOUR SERVANTS, THAT HONORING YOU AND DOING YOUR WILL IS OUR HIGHEST PURPOSE, THAT ANY PORTION OF POWER ANY OF US ENJOY IS GIVEN TO US BY YOU, FOR YOU, AND CAN BE TAKEN AWAY BY YOU. AND SO WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BE GLORIFIED THROUGH THE DECISIONS OF OUR CITY COUNCIL. WE PRAY THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE EYES TO SEE HOW OUR LIVES ALL ARE CONNECTED, AND HOW OUR COMMON FAITH IS UPHELD. WHEN WE LISTEN AND RESPOND TO THOSE MOST VULNERABLE AMONG US. WE PRAY THAT YOUR KINGDOM WOULD COME IN BEAUMONT AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, THROUGH YOUR POWER WORKING IN EACH OF OUR LEADERS, WHICH ARE YOUR SERVANTS. MAY YOUR TRUTH BE REVEALED. MAY YOUR LIGHT SHINE BRIGHTER. MAY THE VOICES OF THOSE MOST SILENCED BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR. DEFEND THEIR CAUSE. LORD, THROUGH THIS GOVERNING BODY, WE PRAY FOR WISDOM, STRENGTH, COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD FOR ALL CITIZENS OF OUR AREA. MAY THE INTEREST OF OTHERS BE PLACED ABOVE OUR OWN AGENDAS. MAY WE ACT WITH LOVE FOR THE COMMON GOOD. MAY WE BE GOOD NEIGHBORS. RECOGNIZING YOUR IMAGE IN EVERY PERSON. WE THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS COUNCIL, OUR MAYOR, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY STAFF, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR HOSPITAL STAFF, AND ALL OF THOSE WHO WORK TO MAKE THIS PLACE THAT WE CALL HOME A GREAT CITY. IT IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS. WE DO PRAY. AMEN. AMEN. 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. MAY I HAVE ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MAYOR WEST. PRESENT. MAYOR PRO TEM NEAL. COUNCILMEMBER DARIO HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER GETS PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. TURNER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SHAW. PRESENT AND COUNCIL MEMBER. SAMUEL. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. TODAY WE HAVE ONE PRESENTATION FROM THE

[PRESENTATIONS]

[00:05:03]

[00:10:05]

[00:15:04]

SO I MAKE PUBLIC ART, YOU KNOW, MY JOB AND I DO IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT. SO I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO BRING THE VERY HIGHEST CALIBER OF WORK TO THE CITY, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM BEAUMONT MAYBE CAN'T TRAVEL ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT WE TRY TO BRING THE WORLD TO BEAUMONT AND THE BEST WE CAN. SO I THINK WE HAVE A LITTLE PRESENTATION WITH SOME SAMPLES OF THE ARTISTS, AND WE PULL THAT UP, PLEASE. YEAH. AND JUST BEAR IN MIND THE PORTFOLIOS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE. THEY'RE NOT DESIGNS PLANNED FOR THE CIVIC CENTER OR BEAUMONT PARTICULARLY. THEY'RE JUST PORTFOLIO OF THE ARTIST'S WORK, PAST WORK AND JUST SHOWING THE CALIBER OF THE WORK, THEIR STYLES, WHERE THEY'RE FROM, AND JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM. YEAH. BUT WHILE WE'RE PULLING THAT UP, I'LL SHOW YOU THIS. SO THIS IS A SAMPLE OF THE MOSAIC LIKE BEN WAS TALKING ABOUT.

MIGHT NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH RIGHT NOW. UP CLOSE, IT'S JUST LITTLE GLASS SQUARES OF TILE. KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU MIGHT SEE IN A SWIMMING POOL OR A SPA. BUT IT CAN LIVE OUTDOORS. AND IT'S ONE OF THE MOST ACCESSIBLE ART FORMS. LIKE BEN MENTIONED, WE WANT TO DO THIS WITH THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES COMMUNITIES OF BEAUMONT. I THINK ONE OF THE MOST, THE BEST HIGHLIGHTS OF PAST YEARS IS, YOU KNOW, A MURAL LIKE WITH INES ALVIDREZ, THE LOCAL BEAUMONT MURALIST. LIKE WHEN KIDS CAN COME AND HELP PAINT THOSE MURALS AND EVERYTHING, BUT IT CAN GET A LITTLE MESSY. SO THE BEAUTY OF THE MOSAIC IS THAT THERE ARE GLASS SQUARES. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SPILL PAINT ON THE GROUND OR ANYTHING, SO WE CAN DO IT ANYWHERE, MAYBE INSIDE THE CIVIC CENTER. AND THEN AT THAT POINT WHEN WE ASSEMBLE ALL THE SQUARES TOGETHER, IT WILL CREATE THIS MONUMENTAL PIECE THAT ALSO LASTS FOREVER. BECAUSE UNLIKE MURAL PAINTING, WHICH WILL FADE OVER TIME, YOU KNOW, MOSAICS LAST A LIFETIME. SO. YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. YEAH, YEAH. YEAH.

WE'RE HAVING TROUBLE. WE CAN JUST. IT'S ON OUR SCREENS. MAYBE I COULD LOOK ON. THE COUNCIL.

WEIRD FOR. AND I CAN PEEK ON ONE OF YOUR SCREENS. OKAY. SORRY ABOUT THAT. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

[00:20:12]

YOU WANT TO. YOU THINK MORE TIME WILL GET YOU LINED OUT, AND WE CAN COME BACK AFTER IF I CAN SEE WHAT SLIDE. I MEAN, I CAN AT LEAST TALK TO YOU. I WISH EVERYBODY COULD SEE THE WORLD CLASS ARTIST LINEUP. BEAUMONT 2025. OKAY, SO THERE'S 13 ARTISTS THERE. YEAH.

INTERESTING. OH, PERFECT. YEAH, THAT'S ALL I NEED. I JUST NEED A CUE POINT. OKAY. EVERYBODY'S ZOOM IN ON THAT ONE. OKAY, SO IT'S A BIT FEWER ARTISTS THAN PREVIOUS YEARS. WE'VE USUALLY HAD ABOUT 16 ARTISTS. THIS YEAR WE HAVE 12, 13, MYSELF INCLUDED, FOR THE MOSAIC ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. ABOUT HALF OF WHOM ARE BASED HERE IN THE US. AND THEN SOME WHO WILL BE TRAVELING FROM ELSEWHERE. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE FOR Y'ALL. YEAH. OKAY. SO BUBBLE GUM FROM SPAIN. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE ARTISTS, SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWINGS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. I MEAN, THEY'RE POPULAR FOR A REASON BECAUSE THEY YIELD SPRAY PAINT AND BRUSHES IS SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD. HIS IS A VERY ORNAMENTAL STYLE. HE CAN DO WILDLIFE PORTRAITURE. HE INTEGRATES WITH ARCHITECTURE QUITE WELL, WHICH MAY BE A GOOD CHOICE FOR THE CIVIC CENTER. WE CAN GO TO THE NEXT. YEAH, JUST MORE OF HIS WORK. LET ME GO TO THE NEXT ONE. OKAY. LADONNA.

SHE'S FROM COLOMBIA. VERY VIBRANT, COLORFUL CELEBRATIONS OF NATURE, OF FEMININITY. REALLY COMPLEX COMPOSITIONS THAT ADD JUST JOY AND VIBRANCE TO ANY, ANY BUILDING AND ANY LOCALE.

OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. AND YOU CAN SEE THE SCALE OF SOME OF THE WORK, YOU KNOW, BEING 4 OR 5, TEN STORIES TALL. SO, YOU KNOW, THE SCALE OF THE CIVIC CENTER BEING 2 OR 3 STORIES AND WHATEVER ELSE WE CAN FIND IS ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM FOR THESE ARTISTS TO COMPLETE WITHIN A WEEK. NEXT SLIDE. JAMES BULLOUGH. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HIM BEING ON BOARD BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY RUNS AND HOSTS THE PREEMINENT MURAL AND STREET ART PODCAST IN THE WORLD. HE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR ABOUT THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS. HE'S HAD OVER 200 GUESTS ON HIS PODCAST, AND HE HAS AGREED INTEREST TO HOST SOME INTERVIEWS HERE IN BEAUMONT. SO WHAT THAT'LL DO IS IT'LL SPREAD EVEN FURTHER THE REACH THAT YOU'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, TOURISTS TO COME IN. YES. AND SEE THE MURALS PHYSICALLY, BUT THEN YOU'RE GETTING PEOPLE TO HEAR ABOUT BEAUMONT THROUGH THESE INTERVIEWS THAT HE'S GOING TO BE HOSTING LIVE AT THE FESTIVAL. AND HE'S AN AMAZING ARTIST. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. FIGURATIVE HANDS REALISM IS UNMATCHED. SO IT JUST ADDS BEAUTY AND GRACE TO ANY, ANY SCENARIO. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. CHELSEA SAARINEN SHE'S OUT OF DC. MUCH LIKE LIZA FISHBONE WHO PAINTED THE I THINK IT WAS THE SALAD SHOP I FORGET. YEAH. VERY FLORAL, VERY COLORFUL. FUN. KIDS LOVE IT. FAMILIES LOVE IT. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. YEAH. MORE OF HER WORK THERE. NEXT SLIDE. SHOWS OUT OF MEXICO. AGAIN, ANOTHER SORT OF SIDE NOTE TO THE CURATION IS BRINGING PEOPLE HERE WHO CAN SORT OF SPREAD THE BEAUMONT MESSAGE. AND AS YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, ESPECIALLY SINCE MURAL FEST STARTED, LOTS OF OTHER ARTISTS IN TOWN HAVE BEEN GETTING COMMISSIONED TO DO WORKS IN RESTAURANTS AND PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND SUCH. GETTING ART SHOWS. SO CHOSE ACTUALLY RUNS A MURAL FESTIVAL OUTSIDE OF MEXICO CITY, AND THEY INVITE 80 ARTISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD EVERY YEAR TO GO PAINT. SO MY THINKING IS, YOU KNOW, AS HE'S AN ARTIST AS WELL, IF HE COMES AND PARTICIPATES IN BEAUMONT FESTIVAL, HE CAN BRING ARTISTS DOWN TO MEXICO NEXT YEAR FROM BEAUMONT. SO AGAIN, FURTHERING THIS INTERNATIONAL CONNECTION. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. YEP. NEXT SLIDE. OKAY. KEYA TAMA HE'S A SOUTH AFRICAN ARTIST. HE'S ACTUALLY A YOUNGER UP AND COMER BUT WITH A VERY STRIKING AND TIMELESS FEEL. AGAIN A BRUSH PAINTER. THAT STYLIZES THINGS FOR PLACE, VERY SITE SPECIFIC.

AND AGAIN, I THINK HE MIGHT ALSO BE A GOOD CHOICE FOR WORKS ON THE CIVIC CENTER. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. AND YOU CAN SEE THE SCALE OF IT THERE BEING SIX AND SEVEN STORIES TALL. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE.

KRISTIE MCCARTHY. I FORGET ACTUALLY WHERE SHE HAILS FROM, BUT SHE IS VERY MUCH A SOCIAL PRACTICE ARTIST, SO SHE PUTS A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY INTO HER WORK, DOES A LOT WITH SCHOOL AND CHILDREN AND JUST VERY COLORFUL. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. OKAY. YOU CAN SEE THE QUALITY OF THE WORK THERE. JUST JUST BEAUTIFUL STUFF. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. METADATA. THIS IS ARTIST OUT OF AUSTIN. HE'S A REALIST PAINTER, BUT HE ACTUALLY DOES THIS WITH SPRAY PAINT. AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, SORT OF CARICATURE LIKE. NEXT SLIDE PLEASE. AND THERE YOU GO. YOU CAN SEE SOME CLASSICS LIKE FROM THE DAYS OF THE CONFUSED MOVIE, OR THERE'S A HOUSTON MONUMENT TO A FALLEN VETERAN THAT HE PAINTED TWO YEARS AGO. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. HE'S ANOTHER ARTIST OUT OF MEXICO. HE'S BEEN

[00:25:04]

THAT'S A PICTURE FROM HIS MURAL IN THE MOODY CENTER IN AUSTIN. NEXT SLIDE. HE'S ALSO PAINTED THE YMCA AND VARIOUS OTHER COMMUNITY CENTERS. NEXT SLIDE. SAMARA BARKS. SHE'S A BLACK ARTIST WHO IS ALSO AN ILLUSTRATOR AND ALSO A SCULPTOR. SHE BRINGS AGAIN, SORT OF A VIBRANCE AND AN ILLUSTRATIVE QUALITY TO HER WORK. AND I THINK WE'LL JUST AGAIN, TRYING TO BRING THINK ABOUT DIVERSITY FOR MALE AND FEMALE, FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT RACES AND CULTURES TO COME TOGETHER AND EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN BEAUMONT AS A REFLECTION OF THE COMMUNITY THAT'S ALREADY HERE. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. YEP. NEXT SLIDE. YASMINE. SHE'S OUT OF SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE. VERY SOFT AND FEMININE TOUCH AGAIN WITH PORTRAITURE. LOTS OF NATURALIST TONES. LOOKS VERY GOOD WITH THE EARTH ENVIRONMENT. SO I THINK MAYBE ALONG THE WATERFRONT, HER COLOR CHOICES WOULD BE VERY APPROPRIATE. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. YOU SEE MORE OF HER WORK THERE.

NEXT SLIDE. AND FINALLY THEY PUT ME IN THEIR THEY THROW ME IN THE MIX DOING A MOSAIC HOPEFULLY DOING A MOSAIC THIS YEAR. AND AGAIN JUST TO REITERATE THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE THAT'S HANDS ON WITH. LOTS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN PARTICIPATE IN THAT WILL THEN HOPEFULLY BE DISPLAYED SOMEWHERE PUBLICLY FOR EVERYBODY TO ENJOY. AND ALSO A LITTLE SIDE NOTE BENEFIT. I'M ACTUALLY ON THE TEXAS COMMISSION OF THE ARTS APPROVED TOURING ROSTER, WHICH MEANS HALF OF THE MOSAIC WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE PAID FOR BY THE STATE OF TEXAS TEXAS COMMISSION ON THE ARTS FUND. SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY A SMALL BUDGET ITEM FOR, I THINK, A BIG IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY. OKAY. NEXT SLIDE. JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF MY PAST WORK. NEXT SLIDE. AND I DON'T KNOW IF I GUESS WE DON'T HAVE THE VIDEO. THERE'S A LITTLE VIDEO I WANTED TO PLAY RECAP LAST YEAR'S EPIC FESTIVAL. BUT IF WE DON'T HAVE THAT IT'S ALL GOOD. SO SORRY THAT EVERYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE COULDN'T SEE THAT, BUT HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS CAN. YEAH. SO I GUESS, YEAH. ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? AS YOU SEE, WE HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE WALLS THAT OUR GOAL WAS TO PAINT, THREE OF THEM BEING DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ENTRANCE OF THE CIVIC CENTER, AND ALSO THE LONG FOYER WALL THAT'S DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CONCESSION STAND. WE HAVE TWO WALLS PICKED OUT ON THE ENTRANCE SIDE, AND OUR GOAL IS TO SPLIT THIS UP TO TWO YEARS. TOUCH ALL THE SECTIONS THAT POSSIBLY WON'T BE DEVELOPED.

WHEN YOU GUYS DO PLAN ON DEVELOPING WITH THE HOTEL, SO WE'LL COORDINATE WITH IT. AND I JUST WANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE. THESE ARTISTS ARE ALL THAT HAVE COME ON BOARD. THEY WANT HAVE ALREADY ALLOCATED THEIR TIME FOR THE FESTIVAL. JUST NEEDING US TO LET THEM KNOW IF WE HAVE APPROVAL TO USE THE BUILDING. AND ALSO, THIS YEAR'S IS ALSO THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE HAVE A NATIONAL SPONSOR THAT'S ALREADY ON BOARD, AND MONSTER ENERGY HAS ALREADY APPROVED SPONSORSHIP FOR THE FESTIVAL, AS THEY HAVE HEARD THE NEWS THROUGH THE LAST FEW YEARS. THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. THEY WANT TO BRING THEIR NATIONAL PRESENCE TO BEAUMONT. AND AGAIN, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALLOWING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO POSSIBLY HOST IT HERE. WE'RE HOPING WE CAN CONTINUE THE GROWTH OF. THE MURAL FEST. AND THE GOAL WAS NOT JUST COMMUNITY, AND CITY HAS GIVEN A LOT FOR THE FESTIVAL, AND THIS IS OUR WAY OF GIVING BACK TO THE CITY. WELL, THANK YOU, AND I'M SORRY EVERYBODY WASN'T ABLE TO SEE THE OTHER THAN THROUGH OUR CITY ATTORNEY'S SCREEN THERE. BUT DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I KNOW MURAL FEST HAS BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS AND CERTAINLY APPRECIATE. ARE WE BACK? OKAY, SO AND SO, COUNCILMAN, COUNCILMAN TURNER, YOU GOT US MIXED UP. WELL, HIS HAND WENT UP, TOO, I THINK. WELL, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR BRINGING SOMETHING CONSISTENTLY TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. YOU KNOW, OFTEN WE SEE THINGS COME AND GO, BUT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT IN, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO DO POSITIVE THINGS FOR THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, NOT JUST DOWNTOWN BUT THROUGHOUT THE CITY. WITH WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU GUYS ARE WAITING ON US TO APPROVE, JUST SPECIFICALLY, I UNDERSTAND WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCESS ALMOST EVERY YEAR, BUT EXACTLY WHAT ARE Y'ALL WAITING ON AND LOOKING FOR US TO DO, FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD? ARE WE GOING TO GET A FURTHER PRESENTATION FROM STAFF OR WHAT'S NEXT? STEPS. CAN ANYBODY ASSIST ME WITH THAT? YOU'RE MY

[00:30:02]

SORRY. SCROLL THROUGH. YEAH, WE'VE DONE THAT. YEAH. SO ANY INPUT, COUNCILMAN, WERE YOU ABOUT TO SPEAK? YOU NEED TO TURN YOUR MIC. YES. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR GETTING MY NAME RIGHT. I WAS JUST WONDERING IF IT WOULDN'T TAKE TOO LONG. Y'ALL DON'T WANT TO RUN THROUGH IT SO THE CITIZENS CAN SEE IT. THAT'S HERE. WE CAN POST IT ALSO. WE CAN POST IT ON THE CITY WEBSITE IF Y'ALL WANT. ALSO, IT'S UP TO YOU, RIGHT? NOW. I THINK SHARING IT ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE WOULD BE GREAT. IT JUST WASN'T DIDN'T GET TO SEE IT. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER INPUT OR HOW DOES EVERYBODY FEEL ABOUT SEEING THE DRAWINGS FOR THE EXTERIOR OF THE BUILDING AND THE INTERIOR? WELL, I SAY THEY PREPARED THIS THEIR OPINION, FOLKS, THAT PUT TIME AND EFFORT INTO IT JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A MISFUNCTION. I THINK THEY DESERVE THE RIGHT TO ALLOW THOSE THAT ARE HERE TO SEE. IT'S NOTHING BUT TIME. ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO IT THEN. THAT'S FINE WITH ME. I GOT A NAP BEFORE THE MEETING TODAY, WILL. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO? THEY WANT TO SHOW IT. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I'VE HAD MANY COMMENTS OF FOLKS COMING INTO BEAUMONT, AND THEY'VE SEEN THE MURALS THAT ARE THERE NOW. AND, YOU KNOW, EACH TIME I PASS, I TEND TO GET CHILLS EVERY NOW AND THEN. AND LOOKING AT HOW PROFOUND SOME OF THE PAINTINGS ARE. SO THIS HAS BEEN GOOD. IT CAN ONLY GET BETTER. AND SO I THANK YOU AND EVERYONE THAT'S ASSOCIATED WITH IT FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND THEIR TIME. AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING BEAUMONT THE CHOICE TO DO THIS.

SO THANK YOU. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. OKAY. JUST SCROLL THROUGH IT OKAY. AND I WANTED TO ADD WHILE YOU GUYS ARE TAKING A LOOK AT THIS, THE REASON WE'RE ASKING IS I WANT THE CITY'S BLESSING AND BEING A PARTNER OF THE FESTIVAL TO GIVE US PERMISSION ON SUCH AN ICONIC BUILDING THAT HOSTS, LIKE I SAID, EVERYTHING THAT IS BEAUMONT. AND OUR GOAL IS TO GO FORWARD. IF WE HAVE YOUR BLESSING, THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE. WE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC TOPICS THAT WE GAVE THESE ARTISTS, SUCH AS THE NECHES RIVER, THE RIVERFRONT DEVELOPMENT, TRAVIS LANDING, THE HISTORY OF BEAUMONT. THOSE WERE THE FOUR GUIDELINES THAT THESE ARTISTS WERE GIVEN. AND THESE ARTISTS KNOW THAT. SO OVER THE YEARS, NORMALLY THEY WERE ALLOWED TO PAINT REALLY WHAT THEY WANTED TO WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTIONS. WE'RE STILL NOT GIVING THEM RESTRICTIONS, BUT WE'RE GIVING THEM SPECIFIC TOPICS THAT THEY NEED TO STICK TO, SINCE IT IS A CITY OWNED BUILDING AND WE OPERATE OUT OF THAT BUILDING. SO I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT THAT WE DID SET GUIDELINES FOR WHAT THEY NEED TO PROPOSE IN THEIR ARTWORK. AND LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PAY THESE ARTISTS TO PROVIDE THE DESIGNS. THAT CAN ABSOLUTELY BE TWEAKS AND ADJUSTMENTS IF NEEDED. AND OUR GOAL IS IF EVERYTHING'S OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD, HAVE THEM PRODUCE THE DESIGNS, COME BACK, GET THE APPROVAL, AND THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE ASKED YOU TO SEE. SO EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON. THE BUILDING. UNLIKE UNLIKE A MYSTERY LIKE PREVIOUS YEARS, WHERE NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THE PAINTING. SO COUNCILMAN SAMUEL, SO WHEN WE SAW THE BLANK WALLS IN THE PRESENTATION, THE INSIDE OF THE CIVIC CENTER, THAT'S WHERE YOU ARE CONTEMPLATING THE.

YEAH. SO FOR THIS EXAMPLE, OUR GOAL IS TO THREE SEPARATE FOYER DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ENTRY.

[00:35:01]

OUR GOAL IS TO USE THESE AS THE FIRST PHASE. AND ONCE EVERYBODY SEES WHAT WE'RE PUTTING ON, THEN WE CONTINUE THE SECOND PHASE, WHICH WILL FINISH OFF THE REST OF THE BUILDING. THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE TOUCHED BY DEMO. IF YOU GUYS DO DEMO WITH THE ATTACHMENT ADD ON. SO WE ARE PLANNING WITH KNOWING THAT POSSIBLY YOU GUYS WILL BE ADDING A HOTEL TO THE CIVIC CENTER.

OKAY, I WOULD TAKE FROM I THINK EVERYBODY I'M NOT HEARING ANY IDEAS THAT THIS ISN'T A GOOD IDEA. SO WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT AND THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY, TIME AND THE TALENT THAT YOU'VE BROUGHT IN OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. AND IT'S CONSISTENTLY GROWN. BUT AS YOU SAY, AFTER THE FESTIVAL LEAVES, WE STILL HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN. YES, SIR.

THANK YOU GUYS. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. AT THIS POINT WE'RE

[PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA/CONSENT]

THIS LOCATION, JUST FOUR BLOCKS FROM THE RIVER, IS VISITED BY MANY OF OUR BEAUMONT CITIZENS DURING SPECIAL EVENTS OR OTHER OUTINGS. IT IS ALSO EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE EVENT CENTER IS THE SITE OF A FORMER RAIL YARD, AND IS ALSO LOCATED JUST ONE BLOCK SOUTH OF THE FORMER RAIL LINES OF THE TEXAS AND NEW ORLEANS RAILROAD, WHICH ADDITIONALLY HEADLINED SERVICING THE MANY LUMBER MILLS UP AND DOWN THE NECHES RIVER, MAKING THIS A PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE LOCATION FOR THE LUMBER MILL CITY OF THE 19TH CENTURY.

MARKER. WHILE THE SITE OF NOAH AND NANCY TEVIS'S HOME ON THE BLUFF OVERLOOKING BEAUMONT HAS NEVER BEEN ACCURATELY DETERMINED, THE LOCATION OF THE CURRENT EVENT CENTER AT JEFFERSON AND WALL STREETS IS WITHIN THE ORIGINAL BEAUMONT LAND GRANT, OF WHICH NANCY TEVIS WAS ONE OF THE DONORS. THE EVENT CENTER IS THEREFORE ALSO QUITE SUITABLE AS A LOCATION FOR THE NANCY TEVIS MARKER. FOLLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF THE RELOCATION OF THESE TWO

[00:40:02]

GOOD AFTERNOON. I LIVE AT 5650 JACKIE LANE. MY ZIP IS 77713. I'M REALLY NOT SURE IF I'M AT THE RIGHT FORUM TO ADDRESS MY PROBLEM. I'VE TRIED TO GET IT RESOLVED. I CALL THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, FIRST, TALKED TO SOMEONE AND THEY SAID, OH WELL, WE'VE HEARD THE SAME ISSUE PRESENTED AND I'LL TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT IT. THE THIRD TIME I CALLED, THE LADY SAID, OH, YOU CALL THE WRONG OFFICE, YOU NEED TO TALK TO THE DOT. I CALLED THAT OFFICE, TALKED TO SOMEONE.

SHE SAID, WELL, YOU'RE AT THE RIGHT PLACE. I'LL GIVE YOU THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. I TALKED TO THE MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR. THE ISSUE IS THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEFACING THE WALLS OF THE INTERSTATE THAT SUPPORT THE OVERPASSES. AND THERE'S A NAME ON THERE PUTTING NAMES ON IT.

AND I JUST DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S NAME SHOULD BE ON IT, NOT EVEN MINE. BUT ANYWAY, I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF. BUT IT WAS, I GUESS, PRESSURE WASHED ON THE ON THE INTERSTATE, BUT I WOULD I HOPE THIS IS THE LAST STOP AND THAT YOU CAN RESOLVE MY PROBLEM. IF NOT, YOU CAN REFER ME TO SOMEONE WHO CAN. THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. LANDRY ROUNDTREE. YOU WANT TO. SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL YOU AND CITY STAFF. I'M HERE TODAY AS. FIGURATIVELY AS A POSTMAN, JUST DELIVERING A LETTER FROM A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE. AND DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON A COUPLE OF ISSUES I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS. ITEM NUMBER TEN IS FROM A FRIEND OF MINE BY MR. CURTIS ANDERSON AT 5150. LAUREL. AND HE ASKED ME TO COME BY REGION. HE ASKED ME, IS HE'S 79 YEARS OLD. HE FACES SEVERAL MEDICAL ISSUES, AND HE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HE'D BE ABLE TO STAND UP HERE. BUT BASICALLY HE'S BEEN, I THINK, AT THAT ADDRESS FOR ABOUT 54, 55 YEARS, AND HE REALIZES THERE'S AN ISSUE THERE THAT Y'ALL ARE ADDRESSING.

AND HE ASKED ME TO COME AND ASK IF HE COULD HAVE SOME MORE TIME TO RESOLVE IT. I THINK THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, BUT I THINK I FOUND KURT TO BE A MAN OF HIS WORD. AND HE SAID, IF Y'ALL COULD GIVE HIM TO ME FIRST TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES AT THIS RESIDENCE, HE I'VE OFFERED TO HELP HIM AND MY FAMILY HELP HIM. BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE OLDER PEOPLE ARE THEY WANT TO DO A LOT OF THINGS THEMSELVES. AND SO HE'S ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION, IF Y'ALL COULD, TO RESOLVE THIS AND GIVE HIM A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME. AND HE SAID IF YOU COULD, HE'D SURE APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SIR. JENNIFER TRENBERTH. JENNIFER TRENBERTH 999. CALDER 77701.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN. I'M COMING TO YOU TODAY. TODAY, AS A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS OWNER, INSTEAD OF WITH MY USUAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION HAT. KATE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB ALREADY ON THAT. I REALLY JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SHARE MY APPRECIATION FOR THE STAFF AT THE CITY. I THINK A LOT OF NEGATIVE TALK IS PERPETUATED, BUT IN OUR PROCESS, WHICH STARTED LAST APRIL IN OPENING THIS LIVE MUSIC VENUE AND RETAIL BUSINESS, THE STAFF AND THE PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN AMAZING TO WORK WITH. IT'S UNIQUE THAT THE STAFF WANTS TO BE A RESOURCE FOR BUSINESS COMING INTO TOWN, AS OPPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, JUST PEOPLE ANSWERING EMAILS BLINDLY BEHIND A DESK, WHICH IS WHAT YOU SEE IN A LOT OF OTHER CITIES. AND I JUST THOUGHT THAT EVERYBODY REALLY SHOULD KNOW HOW WONDERFUL THEY'RE DOING, HOW HARD THEY'RE WORKING, AND HOW EASY IT HAS MADE THE PROCESS. WE'RE THRILLED

[00:45:01]

HOWEVER, THEY ARE OFTEN TREATED AS CIVIL MATTERS AND ARE CLOSED. THIS MEANS THAT NO CASE IS OPEN.

NO REPORT IS FORWARDED TO THE DA'S OFFICE AND NO PATH TO PROSECUTION EXISTS, ALLOWING THE CYCLE TO CONTINUE. THIS LOOPHOLE HAS CAUSED FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY TO SUFFER WITH GROWING NUMBERS YEAR AFTER YEAR. AS A RESULT, OFFENDERS FACE NO CONSEQUENCES, LEAVING FAMILIES WITHOUT RECOURSE. THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING THIS COUNCIL TO AMEND CHAPTER 12 OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT'S CODE OF ORDINANCES, TO INTRODUCE A NEW SECTION THAT IMPOSES CIVIL PENALTIES FOR INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY, ALIGNING WITH THE PROVISIONS OF HOUSE BILL 969 PASSED BY THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IN THE LAST SESSION. THANK YOU, MAYOR WEST, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND CITY MANAGER FOR PROVIDING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO YOU TODAY. THANK YOU SIR. YOU'RE WELCOME. I'M DYLAN RICHARDSON. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL I WAS LEAVING KROGER'S YESTERDAY DRIVING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, AND I SPOTTED TWO GUTTED FISH LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF LONGHORN LIQUOR. IF YOU KEPT UP WITH THE NEWS REGARDING CANDIDACY ANNOUNCEMENTS, THEN YOU PROBABLY KNOW AN AT LARGE CANDIDATE HAPPENS TO OWN LONGHORN LIQUOR. AND WHILE I'M SURE THIS HAPPENED TO BE A MERE COINCIDENCE, I DO FANCY MYSELF A ROMANTIC, AS I DO TRY TO FIND THE MEANING BEHIND EVERYTHING. AND AS A MAN OF FAITH, I HAPPENED UPON THIS BEING A MESSAGE FROM GOD, A MESSAGE TO THE CANDIDATE INFORMING HIM OF HIS IMPENDING VICTORY THAT WILL LAUNCH HIM INTO THE SEA, WHICH THE FUTURE MAYOR NOW PRESENTLY HOLDS. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE LACK OF COUNCIL INFLUENCE, IT WILL ALSO INTRODUCE HIM TO A CITY HALL WHERE MUCH FISHY BUSINESS OCCURS. ONE MUST THINK THAT THERE IS SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT A MAYOR AND A FEW OF HIS PEERS VOTING TO APPROVE A CITY MANAGER'S RAISE AND EVEN INCREASES IN HIS RETIREMENT, SOMEHOW TURNING A BLIND EYE TO HIS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN BUDGET MANIPULATION. ONE MUST THINK THERE IS SOMETHING FISHY ABOUT ONE OF THE MAYOR'S PEERS BEING A MAN WHO HAS RUN HIS OWN WARD INTO THE GROUND OVER A 40 YEAR PERIOD, WHO NOW HAS THE TEMERITY TO VIE TO DO THE SAME

[00:50:02]

ONE HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN DIVINITY FROM SMU, AND THE OTHER IS LEAD PASTOR AND AT THE HELM OF ONE CITY CHURCH LOCATED OFF EAST TEXAS. THESE MEN BOTH SEEM TO HAVE SUBSCRIBED TO THE LESSON OF TURNING THE OTHER CHEEK. BUT I MUST SAY, ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE, CITY BUSINESS IS NO PLACE FOR THIS LESSON. THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IS TIRED OF BEING SLAPPED IN THE FACE BY GREEDY DEVELOPERS, A SELF-SERVING CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND A COUPLE OF GRANDSTANDING COUNCILMEN LED BY A HAUGHTY AND ALOOF MAYOR. I IMPLORE FOR AT LEAST FOUR OF YOU TO INSTEAD TURN TO A STORY OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE, AS JESUS'S DUTY WAS TO SERVE HIS FATHER GOD. A COUNCILMAN'S DUTY IS TO SERVE THEIR CITIZENS. A TEMPLE WAS CREATED TO HONOR GOD, AND A CITY HALL WAS CREATED TO HONORABLY CONDUCT CITY BUSINESS. IN BOTH INSTANCES, THE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN CORRUPTED, ENGULFED IN FISHY BUSINESS DEALINGS, WHILE LEADERS POISON THEIR POPULATION WITH MISINFORMATION AND FALSE PROMISES. SO MUCH SO THAT ONE MUST THINK THAT JESUS, OR EVEN FOUR OF YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD COME INTO THIS VERY HALL AND FLIP TABLES. CALL THIS PLACE A DEN OF THIEVES, AND INSTILL CHANGE. I IMPLORE THAT AT LEAST FOUR OF YOU START THE NEW YEAR OFF RIGHT, SENDING A MESSAGE TO ALL DEVELOPERS WHO BRING ABOUT URBAN BLIGHT AND THEN VICTIMIZE THEMSELVES IN HOPES OF ONE DAY PROFITING OFF PUBLIC MONIES. LET THAT MESSAGE DECLARE THAT IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO PRODUCE AN ENGINEER'S REPORT STATING THAT THE BUILDING IS STABLE, WHICH PROMOTES PUBLIC SAFETY, AND THEN ALSO MAKE EXCUSES REGARDING PROTRACTED DELAY, YOU WILL HAVE TO WIN IN COURT. LEADERS OF THE CITY TELL US THAT YOU WILL NO LONGER WASTE TIME ON DOING FAVORS FOR THOSE WHO DO. BEAUMONT. NONE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. MIKE WILLIAMS. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR COUNCIL, I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT AN EVENT THAT IS VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART AND THAT I'M AN ORGANIZER OF THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS WHISKEY FESTIVAL. THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR PUTTING THE EVENT ON. IN THE FIRST TWO YEARS, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, LOCAL AND SOME FROM OUT OF STATE AND OUT OF TOWN, HAVE TRAVELED TO BEAUMONT TO ATTEND TO ENJOY UNIQUE SPIRITS, WHISKEYS AND OTHER PRODUCTS. BUT THE EVENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHISKEY. IT'S ABOUT RAISING MONEY TO FIND A CURE FOR DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

IT'S A RARE AND DEVASTATING DISEASE THAT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, INCLUDING MY OWN. AND SO I'VE BROUGHT SOME TICKETS TODAY FOR YOU GUYS TO DISTRIBUTE AMONGST YOURSELVES AND COME OUT AND SEE SEE WHAT WE PUT ON. IT'S A GOOD TIME AND GOOD COMMUNITY EVENT. EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A DRINKER, THERE'S PLENTY OF OPTIONS GOOD FOOD, LIVE MUSIC.

IT'S RIGHT NEXT DOOR HERE AT THE CIVIC CENTER THIS SATURDAY. AND SO I'D INVITE YOU TO COME OUT AND SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. TYLER WHARTON. HE LEFT. I HAVE NOTHING, I HAVE NO ONE ELSE HERE. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE CLOSED. IS

[CONSENT AGENDA]

COUNCILMAN NEILL, THANK YOU. MAYOR ON F IS A IT'S A FIRE TRUCK THAT WE BOUGHT BACK IN 2021. AND I'M GONNA GET IT PULLED BACK UP REAL QUICK. MR. MANAGER, MY QUESTION IS THIS TYPICAL THAT UNDER WE PAID FOR THIS BACK IN OCTOBER, EVEN THOUGH WE ORDERED IT IN 2021 TO GO BACK AND REFUND OURSELVES. I'M DUNCAN MIGHT NOT KNOW. I MIGHT NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT. LET ME CHECK ON THAT COUNCIL MEMBER AND I'LL GET BACK WITH YOU IF THAT. CHIEF, DO YOU KNOW HOW THAT'S FUNDED? TRUCK IN QUESTION WAS JUST PUT IN SERVICE ENGINE SIX AND GO BACK AND IT'S REFINANCED THROUGH THE KANSAS BANK OVER A FIVE YEAR LEASE PERIOD. WE USUALLY TYPICALLY HAVE A COUPLE FIRE TRUCKS ON LEASE. A LEASE FALLS OUT AND A NEW ONE COMES ON. OKAY. SO MY

[00:55:02]

DO YOU KNOW IF WE DID THAT, MR. DUNCAN? NO, SIR. THIS THIS RESOLUTION WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY CHERYL RAY. SO I WAS NOT A PART OF THE FINANCING FROM THAT. BUT WE WERE CURIOUS ABOUT THAT AS WELL. SO IT IS APPARENTLY WE WERE TOLD THAT WE DO PAY FOR THE TRUCK UP FRONT AND THEN WE ARE REIMBURSED, AND THEN WE MAKE PAYMENTS TO THE TRUCK OVER THE YEARS. AND SO IN THE BUDGET BOOK, YOU'LL SEE THIS AS A NEW PAYMENT LISTED FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET. SO WE DO PAY FOR THE TRUCK UP FRONT. WE PROVIDE PROOF OF PAYMENT TO THE TO THE LENDER AND THEN THEY REIMBURSE US. AND THEN WE MAKE THOSE DEBT PAYMENTS OVER YEAR LIKE YOU NORMALLY WOULD. AND I DON'T DOUBT THAT THAT'S FINE. BUT WHENEVER YOU BORROW, WHENEVER YOU PAY FOR IT, IF YOU'RE GOING TO REIMBURSE YOURSELF, YOU STILL HAVE TO DO A REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION AT THE TIME OF DOING IT. YES, SIR. WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AND MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS. THANK YOU. IF IT PLEASE THE COUNCIL, WE CAN TABLE THIS AND BRING IT BACK FOR NEXT MEETING. AND THAT'S. YES IF YOU OKAY, COUNCILMAN NEIL, I DON'T MIND US PULLING THAT ITEM AND TABLE IT UNTIL WE GET FURTHER ACCURATE INFORMATION. WE CAN MAKE AN ACCURATE DECISION. AND I HAD ONE MORE QUESTION ON THAT, TOO. ON THE TWO DIFFERENT BANKS THAT BID IT, ONE WAS 5.7, ONE WAS 4.5. I SEE THAT YOU'RE KNOCKING OFF THE 4.5 SAYING THEY DIDN'T GIVE US SUFFICIENT INFORMATION. YOU KNOW WHAT WAS LACKING ON THAT? BECAUSE THAT ADDS UP OVER $1 MILLION. I THINK THIS WAS HELD BY CHERYL. SHE WOULD KNOW THE DETAILS IF WE COULD BRING IT BACK. WE CAN GET YOU THAT ANSWER. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO TABLE. ARE WE PULLING. YEAH. WE'LL TABLE F UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.

AND WITH THAT ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA MINUS F THAT WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO US. PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY

[REGULAR AGENDA]

AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER ONE? MOVE TO APPROVE. AND THERE'S A SECOND. IS THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER ONE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER ONE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TWO? COUNCIL, CONSIDER RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE. CHANGE ORDER NUMBER SIX TO THE CONTRACT WITH CALLON MARINE LIMITED FOR THE RIVERFRONT PARK RESTORATION PROJECT. AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER TWO? MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION. SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER TWO. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN TURNER, WITH THIS BEING CHANGED UNDER NUMBER SIX, IS IT STILL WITHIN THE ORIGINAL BUDGET? YES, SIR. WE'RE HAD THE FUNDING. WE HAD $1 MILLION CONTINGENCY FEE. AND SO WE'RE DEDUCTING THE AMOUNT FROM THAT CONTINGENCY. AND SO WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE MORE THAN ADEQUATE. SO THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT STILL IS NOT CHANGING. ONCE WE DEDUCT THAT FROM THE CONTINGENCY FEE. AND THIS IS STILL PRIMARILY FUNDED BY FEMA, TATUM AND THE T-C-E-Q. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? MAYOR, CAN I GET I'M SORRY I MISSED THE SECOND ON THE MOTION. COUNCILMAN DARIO, I BELIEVE. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER TWO, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER THREE? COUNCIL, CONSIDER

[01:00:02]

OF BEAUMONT FOR THE FANNIN STREET AND 11TH STREET STORM SEWER POINT REPAIR AND CAVITY REPAIR EMERGENCY PROJECT. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER THREE? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER THREE. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER THREE, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR? COUNCIL, CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO USE TRANSIT REVENUE VEHICLE SERVICES FOR EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS DURING NATURAL OR MAN MADE DISASTERS FOLLOWING AN IMMINENT THREAT OR AN EMERGENCY DECLARED BY THE PRESIDENT, GOVERNOR OR THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, OR IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS REQUIRING IMMEDIATE ACTION. AND IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR? MOVE TO APPROVE? IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND? ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER FOUR. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? COUNCILMAN TURNER? MR. MANAGER, I KNOW WE'VE EXPERIENCED THIS IN THE PAST. HAS STAFF HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF DEEP DIVE AND LOOK AT TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS AND THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OR ANYONE PLAY A ROLE IN US MAKING THIS DECISION ON TODAY. YES, SIR. SO WE MET WITH MISS NOBLE'S, OUR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, AND WE CAME UP WITH UTILIZING, FOR THIS INSTANCE, THE COLD WEATHER INCIDENTS THAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK TO USE TRANSIT STAFF AND ALSO OUR PARATRANSIT VANS TO OPERATE AT THE DURING THE NIGHT HOURS. AND I KNOW THAT SHE'S HERE AND SHE CAN, YOU KNOW, GIVE SOME MORE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR DETAILS IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THAT. YEAH, I KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, FURTHER DETAILS JUST TO MAKE SURE WE ARE KIND OF GOING WITH THE EXPERT WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING THESE TYPE OF DECISIONS AND THE REASONING BEHIND IT. SO JUST PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN EVEN UNDERSTAND AS WELL. GOOD AFTERNOON COUNCIL. GOOD AFTERNOON. SO THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARTICULAR OPERATION THAT'S GOING ON WITH BEAUMONT TRANSIT WAS TO USE THE TRANSIT SERVICES AS SOME MOBILE WARMING STATIONS. AND WE INITIALLY DID THIS PROGRAM ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. AND THIS IS BASICALLY A CONTINUATION OF THAT. AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT REACHED OUT BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WAS IN ALLIANCE WITH SOME CFR REGULATIONS FOR WHAT IT IS THAT WE WERE DOING. THE CURRENT OPERATION THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE'VE HAD ABOUT YOU MAY NEED TO HAVE THE MIC CLOSER. I'M SORRY. CAN Y'ALL HEAR ME BETTER NOW? OKAY. THANK YOU. MY VOICE IS A LITTLE. THE ALLERGIES HAVE BEEN GETTING TO ME, BUT ANYWAY, THEY'VE USED THIS SYSTEM THROUGHOUT THIS WEEK AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH DOING THAT, USING TRANSIT FOR THAT. AND WE'VE HAD TWO RIDERS EACH DAY, AND WE USE THIS FACILITY TO TAKE THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO THE SYSTEM. WE'VE TRIED TO MAKE THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF OUR RESOURCES IN DOING SUCH AN OPERATION, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'VE SWITCHED TO USING TRANSIT PERSONNEL AS WELL AS THEIR RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE THIS OPERATION. YEAH, THAT WAS JUST ONE OF MY CONCERNS, BECAUSE I KNOW LAST YEAR WE DIDN'T USE TRANSIT. AND I SEE YOU MADE THE SWITCH TO TRANSIT. CAN YOU KIND OF SPEAK TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS DONE TWO YEARS AGO WITH HOW WE OPERATED THIS PROGRAM VERSUS WHY YOU CHOSE TO MAKE THE DECISION TO MAKE THIS DECISION, TO SWITCH IT? YEAH. TWO YEARS AGO, WHENEVER WE DID IT, WE USED PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL TO OPERATE THOSE. AND AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, IT WAS JUST. A LOT TO PULL ON IT. WE WERE PULLING OFFICERS OFF THE STREET. WE WERE PULLING FIREMEN IN TO BASICALLY DRIVE THOSE. AND SO THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND THAT WAS TO USE TRANSIT PERSONNEL IN DOING THAT PARTICULAR DEAL. THEY DRIVE THE BUSSES ON A DAILY BASIS, AND IT JUST MADE MORE SENSE TO USE THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE TO US TO DO THAT. THANK YOU. MAYOR. YES. COUNCILMAN FALLSHAW. YEAH, I BELIEVE TWO YEARS AGO WE USED IT. WE USED VOLUNTEERS IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WASN'T TO DRIVE.

I MEAN, THEY MAY HAVE VOLUNTEERED THEIR SERVICES, BUT WE USED. HERE COMES THE CHIEF.

BUT I THOUGHT WE USED FIREFIGHTERS TWO YEARS AGO. EXCUSE ME. YEAH, WE DID. AND

[01:05:02]

WELL, BECAUSE CITY MANAGER, I KNOW WE SPOKE TO THE DAY AND I KNOW THAT TWO YEARS AGO WE HAD THE BANNERS ON THE SIDE THAT SAID WARMING STATION. AND I THINK IF WE COULD USE THOSE AGAIN TO IDENTIFY THOSE BUSSES AND WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY BEING USED FOR, IT WOULD HELP. BUT I CONTACTED ONE CITY CHURCH JUST A MOMENT AGO AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE BANNERS, SO I THOUGHT WE LEFT IT WITH THE CITY. BUT I UNDERSTAND FROM THE DIRECTOR THAT WE THAT I DIDN'T LEAVE IT WITH HER. BUT SO SOMEBODY HAS THOSE WARMING STATION BANNERS DO THE BEST WE CAN TO TRY TO LOCATE, BUT MAYBE WE CAN LOCATE THEM. I THOUGHT WE LEFT THEM AT THE BARN OR AT THE TRANSIT BUILDING, BUT EVIDENTLY WE DIDN'T. BUT I KNOW ONE CITY CHURCH DOESN'T HAVE THEM, SO.

BUT I THINK IDENTIFYING IT MIGHT HELP THE HOMELESS POPULATION TO KNOW THAT I CAN GET ON AND GET WARM AND GET BACK OFF. I DON'T HAVE TO BE TRANSPORTED SOMEWHERES. JUST THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR. JUST. YEAH, THAT'S THE INFORMATION THAT'S CONVEYED TO THE RIDERSHIP. IF THEY CHOOSE TO GET ON THERE, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO GET OFF ON THERE, WE JUST RUN IT BY THERE. AND SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO THE BANNERS, I TRIED TO LIKE STEER CLEAR OF THAT. AND SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE CREATED A ROUTE TO ALL THE KNOWN HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT SITES IN THE CITY.

AND IT THIS PARTICULAR RIGHT GOES ALL UP THERE. AND THOSE THEY WHEN THEY STOP AT EACH SITE, THEY TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, DO YOU WANT TO GET ON, DO YOU WANT TO GET OUT OF THE COLD AND ANY INSTANCES THAT WE'VE HAD. AND SO IT IS DIRECT COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION BETWEEN THE DIRECTORS OF BOTH THE SALVATION ARMY AND THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSIT TO MAKE SURE THAT RIDERSHIP KNOWS THAT THEY CAN GET ON, THEY CAN GET OFF. WE HAD AN INSTANCE THE FIRST NIGHT WHERE THERE WAS SOME MISCOMMUNICATION, INTERNAL COMMUNICATION WITH THE SALVATION ARMY. WE ALLOWED THEM TO GET BACK ON ONE WANTED TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND SO WE BROUGHT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHERE THEY WANT TO GO FOR THAT PARTICULAR SITE. SO THEY HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY AND THEIR FREEDOM TO GET ON AND GET OFF. YEAH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT. CHIEF O'CONNOR WAS IN COMMUNICATION WITH TRANSIT AUTHORITY FOR THEIR CELL PHONES TO CONNECT DIRECTLY TO THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER SAFETY STANDPOINT, BOTH FOR THE RIDERSHIP AND FOR THE DRIVERS. THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FOR ITEM NUMBER FOUR? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? COUNCILMAN TURNER, LAST QUESTION. WHEN WE DO THINGS LIKE THIS NORMALLY, HOW IS IT HANDLED AS FAR AS LIKE BUDGETING LIKE SOME SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE KIND OF UNPREDICTABLE. WELL IT DEPENDS YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE JUST ABSORB IT IN A PARTICULAR BUDGET. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T GO OUT AND SET UP AN ACCOUNT OR A FUND. IF IT'S A LARGE SCALE EVENT, DISASTER EVENT, WE SET UP FUNDS OR ACCOUNTS FOR IT. IF IT'S SOMETHING, IT'S THIS WILL DO THE OPERATION AND IF IT NEEDS SOME TYPE OF SPECIAL ACCOUNT, WE'LL SET IT UP. BUT WE TYPICALLY TRY TO ABSORB IT IN THE BUDGET. YEAH. SO LIKE THE FREEZE LIKE THAT WAS KIND OF LABELED AS A DISASTER. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN POSSIBLY REFUND IT FROM. BUT INSTANCES LIKE THIS THAT'S NOT LABELED AS A DISASTER, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE THE CITY JUST PROVIDING THAT SERVICE. YEAH. THERE'S NO DECLARATION OF ANY SORT FROM THE STATE AFFAIRS OR EVEN THE MAYOR, NO FORMAL DECLARATION. SO THERE'S NO WAY OF GETTING REIMBURSED AT THIS POINT. SO IT'S A SERVICE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING. WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE TRANSIT SYSTEM. YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LETTING US USE THEIR BUSSES AND DRIVERS. SO IT'S A PARTNERSHIP. AND WE DID IT AT MINIMAL COST AT THIS TIME. AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE OF VOLUNTEERED LAST TIME. BUT WE DID PAY POLICE AND FIRE PEOPLE TO WORK LAST TIME. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER FOUR,

[01:10:01]

COUNCIL, CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A DRINK PLACE IN A GCMD TWO, WHICH IS A GENERAL COMMERCIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLING, TWO DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3100 NORTH MESA DRIVE. BUILDING C, SUITE FIVE. AND IT WAS APPROVED BY PNC AND STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL WITH THE FOLLOWING. RECOMMENDATIONS ONE. THE ESTABLISHMENT AND PROPERTY PREMISES SHALL REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUILDING CODE. AM I READING SOMETHING? IT'S A DENIAL. RECOMMENDED. DENIED. OH OH I APOLOGIZE. DENIED FIVE OH. GET MY ATTENTION. BUT IF IT IS APPROVED, THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS APPLY. THE ESTABLISHMENT AND PROPERTY PREMISES SHALL REMAIN IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUILDING CODE, FIRE CODE, ZONING CODE, OFFENSES AND NUISANCE CODE, HEALTH AND SANITATION CODE AND ALL OTHER APPLICABLE CODES OF THE CITY. TWO CONSTRUCTION PLANS MUST MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER UTILITIES FOR WATER AND SANITARY SEWER SERVICES, INCLUDING ANY REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY'S BACKFLOW, PRETREATMENT, AND OR FOG PROGRAM. THREE SHALL ENROLL IN THE BEAUMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT'S REAL TIME CRIME CENTER PROGRAM AND MAINTAIN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS THEREAFTER, OR EMPLOY SECURITY PATROLS DURING OPERATING HOURS. THAT'S IT. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER SIX? I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO DENY THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT. SECOND, IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO DENY THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT ON ITEM NUMBER SIX. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? YES. COUNCILMAN TURNER, JUST FOR PEOPLE WATCHING AND PEOPLE WHO'S BEEN PAYING ATTENTION WHEN IT COMES TO BARS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, WE'VE KIND OF PROPOSING TO DO ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH. COUNCIL MEMBER GETS ON THAT BECAUSE WE PUT THESE BARS IN NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THE CITIZENS WHO PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AS A FIX THEM. SO WE REALLY NEED TO FIGURE OUT AS A CITY, WHAT WE WANT TO ALLOW THESE ESTABLISHMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE TASKED STAFF WITH. AND I JUST THINK WE NEED TO KIND OF REITERATE IT WHEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE BUSINESS OWNERS, WHERE THEY CAN BOTH BE SUCCESSFUL LONG TERM. COUNCILMAN GAETZ, I CONCUR WITH COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER. WE NEED TO TRY TO USE OUR MASTER PLAN TO FIND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICTS WHERE ESTABLISHMENTS LIKE THIS CAN BE LOCATED WITHOUT CAUSING AN UPROAR WITH THE NEARBY NEIGHBORS FROM NOISE, AND THAT THIS THIS WAS HOW MANY PEOPLE CAME OUT PROTESTING THIS MISS INGMAN? QUITE A FEW. QUITE FROM THE FAIRFIELD AND WESTCHASE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOODS. YES, MA'AM. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, ALL IN FAVOR OF DENYING ITEM NUMBER SIX, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. THE MOTION IS DENIED. MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, PLEASE? OKAY. I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT LAST ONE. MAYOR.

COUNCIL, CONSIDER REQUESTS FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITY IN A GCMD GENERAL COMMERCIAL MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLING DISTRICT FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 5525 COLE STREET AND A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2024, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED FIVE VOTE TO APPROVE WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS. THE APPLICANT SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ARTICLES 12 .06 AND 6.08 OF THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES. TWO THE APPLICANT

[01:15:05]

THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER EIGHT? COUNCIL, CONSIDER A REQUEST FOR AN AMENDED SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A RETAIL SHOPPING CENTER WITH RESTAURANTS, CLOTHING STORES, FOOD SHOPS, BEAUTY SALONS AND PROFESSIONAL OFFICES ON THE GCMD TWO, WHICH IS A GENERAL COMMERCIAL, MULTIPLE FAMILY DWELLING, TWO DISTRICT PORTION OF THE PROPERTY FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 3100 NORTH MAJOR DRIVE. EXCUSE ME. AT A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON DECEMBER 16TH, 2024, THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED FOUR ONE TO APPROVE WITH THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS. CONSTRUCTION PLANS SHALL COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE BUILDING AND FIRE CODE AND REQUIREMENTS. TWO. CONSTRUCTION PLANS MUST MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS BY WATER UTILITIES. EXCUSE ME. FOR WATER AND SANITARY SANITARY SEWER SERVICES, INCLUDING ANY REQUIREMENTS OF THE CITY'S BACKFLOW, PRETREATMENT AND A FAULT PROGRAM. THREE DIRECTIONAL LIGHTING SHALL BE INSTALLED TO REFLECT AWAY FROM THE RESIDENTS RESIDENCES. LOCATED OFF PHYLLIS DRIVE, SOUTH OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT. FOR THE FIVE FOOT WIDE SIDEWALK SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY ALONG THE FRONT PROPERTY LINE, UNLESS THE APPLICANT SUBMITS TO THE PLANNING OFFICER'S WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, ALLOWING THE SIDEWALK TO BE PLACED WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY, AND FIVE SHALL SUBMIT AN AMENDED PLAN TO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL, REFLECTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE THIRD DRIVEWAY. ALL RIGHT. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER EIGHT? MOVE TO APPROVE SECOND. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND, OKAY, THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NUMBER EIGHT. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WAS THAT WISH WITH CONDITIONS. WITH CONDITIONS AGREED. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER EIGHT? PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE

[PUBLIC HEARING]

[REGULAR AGENDA]

[01:20:05]

IS THE PROPERTY OWNER HERE PLANNING ON SPEAKING? I DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK.

ALL RIGHT. MR. FLANAGAN, ARE YOU PLANNING ON ADDRESSING COUNCIL AS NEEDED? YES. PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM, IF YOU WOULD. GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL, AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME. DO WE WANT TO TRY? NO, NOT GO. GO AHEAD. EXCUSE ME JUST ONE SECOND, PLEASE.

I BROUGHT OUR CURRENT SCHEDULE, OUR AMENDED SCHEDULE, AND I BROUGHT SOME PHOTOGRAPHS FOR YOU TO SEE. IS THAT THE SAME SCHEDULE WE HAVE HERE? I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU HAVE. IT'S BEEN AMENDED A COUPLE OF TIMES, MR. NEAL. MAYOR, REAL QUICKLY, IF I COULD JUST ADD TO THAT, AT THE TIME WE PRODUCED THE STAFF REPORT IN YOUR AGENDA, WE WERE OPERATING OFF THE OLD TIMELINE, WHICH PUT AGAIN, THE DEADLINE SET BY COUNCIL WAS JANUARY 10TH. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BACK HERE TODAY. AS OF YESTERDAY, WE RECEIVED AN UPDATED SCHEDULE. SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT'S REFLECTED IN WHAT'S BEING HANDED OUT TODAY. YEAH. GET THE WHOLE THING. SO I GUESS SINCE I'M TIME CONSTRAINED MAY I START? YES. GO AHEAD. I DIDN'T HAVE A LONG THING, BUT THERE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR. THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION FOR THE EXTENSION. AND I'M ASKING THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE RECOMMENDATION. AND JUST BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, WE PURCHASED THIS BUILDING FROM THE CITY. IT HAD BEEN VACANT FOR DECADES, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY INTENTION TO RENOVATE THE GILBERT BUILDING. BUT THINGS DOWNTOWN HAVE NOT MOVED VERY FAST, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST 20 YEARS OR SO. BUT WE HAVE WORKED VERY HARD SINCE ITS INCIDENT TO SAVE THIS ARCHITECTURAL TREASURE, AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS. IN ONE OF OUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS, THE LITTLE REVERB ON THIS THING, THE TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION STATED THAT A STRUCTURE OF THIS TYPE IS WORTHY OF SAVING. AND I THANK YOU FOR WORKING WITH US SO FAR ON THIS. STRUCTURES LIKE THIS GIVE US A VITAL LINK TO OUR HISTORY, OUR FOUNDERS, AND IN THE CASE OF THE GILBERT, BUILDING, A VITAL LINK TO ONE OF OUR CITY'S MOST IMPORTANT FOUNDERS, JOHN GILBERT, WHO WAS AN OILMAN AND INDUSTRIALIST, A RISK TAKER, A HARD WORKER, AND PEOPLE LIKE MR. GILBERT THAT I THINK WE NEED TO REMEMBER AND UPHOLD BECAUSE HE PEOPLE LIKE HIM GAVE US A REPUTATION AS BUILDERS, DREAMERS AND HARD WORKERS OF AN AREA THAT COULD DO DIFFICULT THINGS. THE HISTORICAL COMMISSION WENT ON TO SAY THAT A STRUCTURE OF THIS TYPE CAN SUSTAIN DAMAGE, AND WAS BUILT TO WITHSTAND INTERIOR DAMAGE THAT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE ENVELOPE STRUCTURE. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT YOU SEE BEFORE YOU NOW. A LOT HAS GONE INTO IT. PARTICULARLY, I'D LIKE TO MENTION ALLIANCE ENGINEERING THAT HAS DONE OUTSTANDING WORK FOR US. HONESTY, ENVIRONMENTAL, JTB, DEMOLITION CONTRACTORS. DESPITE DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, THEY HAVE WORKED VERY TIMELY AND DILIGENTLY WITH SAFETY AS OUR

[01:25:04]

MAYOR. COUNCILMAN GOETZ. I WOULD AGREE THAT YOU HAVE DONE SIGNIFICANT WORK TO STABILIZE THE BUILDING. HOWEVER, IT. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, IT'S STILL BEING DECLARED AS BEING IN IMMINENT DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. IS THAT CORRECT? THE PLAN BEFORE YOU WITH THE PROJECT SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEING RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL PRE-FIRE STRUCTURAL CAPACITY. SO PRE-FIRE IT WAS TAGGED FOR IMMINENT DANGER. SO IT WILL NEED TO COME INTO THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. SO MY QUESTION TO YOU, MR. FLANAGAN, IS, IS IT YOUR INTENT TO TRY TO RESTORE THE BUILDING TO THE WAY IT EXISTED BEFORE THE FIRE AND STOPPED THERE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME? OR DO YOU PLAN TO GO FURTHER AND ACTUALLY RESTORE THE BUILDING SO THAT IT HAS A VIABILITY AS A COMMERCIAL BUILDING? YES. WHAT KIND OF TIMETABLE WOULD WE BE LOOKING AT FOR THAT? WELL, WE ACTUALLY AS SOON AS WE FINISH THIS, WE'RE GOING TO DO THE NEIGHBORING BUILDING NEXT TO IT, THE MCFADDEN BUILDING. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO START ON THE OLD FIRST NATIONAL BANK. AS AS YOU MAY REMEMBER, WE CALL THAT OUR BOWIE STREET PROJECT. WE HAVE THREE BUILDINGS THAT WE WANT TO RESTORE AND THAT WHOLE STREET. I CAN'T GIVE YOU A TIMELINE ON

[01:30:02]

THERE'S 41 VACANT DOWNTOWN. OKAY. MY QUESTION, THOUGH, IS. EXCUSE ME, WITH THE WITH THE GILBERT BUILDING. YOU'RE SAYING THAT YOU CAN'T GIVE US A TIMELINE AS TO WHEN YOU WILL BEGIN RECONSTRUCTION ON THAT, TO RESTORE IT SO THAT IT CAN BE COMMERCIALLY VIABLE? WELL, THE SCHEDULE, IF YOU'LL LOOK AT IT IN FEBRUARY, WE HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISION TO DO THE STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENTS TO FURTHER STABILIZE IT. ONCE THAT'S DONE, THEN WE'LL SET OUR SIGHTS ON A PLAN FOR RENOVATION. BUT IT'S A 6 TO $8 MILLION PROJECT. BEYOND BEYOND WHAT WE'RE SPENDING NOW.

SO ARE YOU ASKING US TO GIVE YOU UNTIL FEBRUARY THE 10TH? AND AT THAT TIME, YOUR PLAN IS TO COME BACK AND TELL US YOU'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD. I MEAN, IT'S HARD FOR ME TO IMAGINE THAT YOU'VE SPENT HALF $1 MILLION WITHOUT A PLAN TO GO FORWARD. AND ARE YOU ASKING THAT YOU COME BACK ON FEBRUARY THE 10TH AND YOU'RE GOING TO TELL US? YES, I'VE DETERMINED THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO FORWARD AND MAKE THIS BUILDING NOT ONLY COMMERCIALLY VIABLE, BUT GIVE US A TIMELINE.

YES, THE DATE WOULD BE FEBRUARY 18TH. THAT WOULD BE THE FEBRUARY 18TH. THAT WAS THAT KIND OF FORMULA IN THESE MILESTONES WERE KIND OF HAVE BEEN IN SINCE THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS PUT FORWARD TO YOU. OKAY. IT'S NOTHING NEW. COUNCILMAN NEAL. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? I DO, MAYOR, I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY VOTING ON HERE. IF YOU GO BACK TO THE. ON AUGUST THE 20TH, WE VOTED ON AN ORDINANCE ORDINANCE THAT GAVE UNTIL JANUARY THE 10TH. ON JANUARY THE 7TH, WHICH IS TODAY, WE'RE VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT GIVES THEM UNTIL FEBRUARY THE 10TH TO BE COMPLETE WITH THE EXTERIOR WALLS, ROOF AND ELEVATED FLOORS SHALL BE RESTORED TO THEIR ORIGINAL STRUCTURAL CAPACITY, AS IDENTIFIED BY STRUCTURAL ENGINEER. AND THEN IT GOES ON A LITTLE FARTHER TO SAY HE'S COMING BACK ON FEBRUARY THE 18TH TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON, I GUESS AT THAT POINT, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A GO OR NO GO. NOT TO INTERRUPT, COUNCILMAN NEAL, BUT IF GOING BY THE NEW TIMELINE THAT WAS PROVIDED AGAIN, THE ORDINANCE AND THE MEMO WAS DRAFTED, WE DID FEBRUARY 10TH TO COMPLETE FEBRUARY 18TH FOR HIM TO APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL. BUT IF THE NEW TIMELINE REQUIRES THAT HE WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION UNTIL FEBRUARY 28TH, THEN COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER PUSHING THAT BACK TO MARCH 11TH, WHICH IS THE FIRST MEETING IN MARCH. BUT I'M JUST PUTTING OUT DATES SO THAT WE. BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO THAT IS THE STAFF REPORT IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. THE ORDINANCE THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PACKET IS RECOMMENDED DENIAL. SO I CAN'T FIGURE OUT. SO WHO'S RECOMMENDING WHAT THIS THIS ORDINANCE OR THIS REQUEST IS THE SAME AGENDA ITEM THAT CAME TO YOU GUYS IN AUGUST OF 2024. ON THOSE CONDITIONS THAT YOU ALL AFFIRMED, HE'S IT WAS A 150 DAY WORK PROGRAM. AND THEN IT SHOULD HE NEED AN EXTENSION OF TIME, HE HAD TO REQUEST FROM YOU ALL. SO THIS IS THE SAME AGENDA ITEM. HOWEVER, HE IS ASKING FOR THAT EXTENSION OF TIME BECAUSE OF. AND I'LL LET HIM EXPLAIN THE REASONING BECAUSE. BUT THAT THAT IS WHY IT'S PLACED BEFORE YOU. AND SO BECAUSE WE STAFF HAS OBSERVED HIM MAKING PROGRESS TO THE TO THE DEMOLITION PERMIT. AND AS IT RELATES TO THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, WE'RE RECOMMENDING ADDITIONAL TIME. NOW. THE 30 DAYS WAS PRIOR TO ME RECEIVING THE UPDATED PROJECT SCHEDULE, SO I DID NOT SEE, I BELIEVE IT'S FEBRUARY 26TH ON THERE, OR THE 28TH WHERE HE WOULD CHOOSE WHETHER HE'S GOING TO PROCEED OR NOT. THAT I HAD TO DUE TO INTERNAL DEADLINES TO MEET. I HAD TO POST THIS AGENDA AND I DID 30 DAYS. NOW IT SEEMS HE MAY NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME FOR REASONS THAT HE CAN EXPLAIN, BUT THAT THAT'S WHY THIS IS BEFORE YOU. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO THE ORDINANCE THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET WILL BE AMENDED TO NOW REFLECT. IT'S AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE THAT YOU ADOPTED ON BACK IN AUGUST. SO THAT WOULD BE ORDINANCE 20 4-043. SO THE ORDINANCE NEEDS TO BE CHANGED IN THE STAFF REPORT IS NOT ACCURATE. THE ORDINANCE WILL BE BASED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNCIL. SO IF

[01:35:01]

EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO START TILL LINE 22. WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN STRUCTURALLY FOR THE BUILDING, AND WE'RE DESIGNING A ROOF RIGHT NOW. I WOULD SAY.

THAT BY THE 28TH OF FEBRUARY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT PLAN TO YOU AS THE SCHEDULE CALLS FOR. THAT'S THAT'S FOR THE DESIGN. TOM, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY DOING WHAT YOU WHAT WE SAID, MIKE, IF YOU LOOK AT LINES 31 DOWN TO 36. CONSTRUCTION FINALIZED, CONTRACT, MOBILIZE THE SITE, PERFORM REINFORCEMENT, SCOPE CLEANUP. AND DEMOBILIZE. IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE YOU'RE SAYING THE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETE BY APRIL 23RD, 2025. THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S ABOUT. THAT'S PRETTY MUCH MARCH. APRIL FROM THE DECISION POINT. AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT NOW. AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SEEING, BASED ON WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME RIGHT NOW, IS THAT ON APRIL 23RD, 2025, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A BUILDING THAT IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND, AND IT'S GOING TO HAVE A ROOF ON IT. IT'S THE EXTERIOR WALLS. THE ROOF AND THE ELEVATED FLOORS WILL BE RESTORED TO THEIR ORIGINAL STRUCTURAL CAPACITY. THAT'S AND A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER WILL CERTIFY TO THAT. YES. AND LOOK, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WHY WOULD WE GO THROUGH HALF $1 MILLION PLUS OF EXPENSE IF WE HAD, IF WE WERE JUST PLAYING AROUND HERE, WOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT. THERE'S NO INSURANCE ON IT. IT'S ALL OUT OF POCKET. IT'S NOT EASY. WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE THE BUILDING. WE THINK IT'S WORTH IT. AND IN THE LONG RUN. AND WE HOPE WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE A FANTASTIC DOWNTOWN SOMEDAY. SO YOU'RE HOPING TO HAVE IT STRUCTURALLY SOUND AND WITH THE ROOF ON IT BY THAT APRIL 23RD DATE? YES, THAT'S THE CURRENT SCHEDULE. CAN I ADD SOMETHING, MAYOR? YEAH. COUNCILMAN NEAL. THEN COUNCILMAN FALLSHAW. OKAY, SO I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN PUT ALL THOSE SUBFLOORS BACK IN THERE AND PUT A ROOF ON THAT BUILDING IN FOUR WEEKS. WE'RE NOT PUTTING ALL THE SUBFLOORS BACK IN. I'M TELLING YOU WHAT THIS WHAT? THE DOCUMENT THAT WE HAVE SAYS. SHOW ME THAT. WE'RE GOING TO. IS THAT MY DOCUMENT? NO, IT'S THE CONDITIONS PROPOSED BY STAFF. THE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE REQUIRES THAT THE EXTERIOR WALLS, ROOF AND ELEVATED FLOORS SHALL BE RESTORED TO THEIR ORIGINAL STRUCTURAL CAPACITY. WE'RE GOING TO PUT STEEL STEEL GIRDER BEAMS ON THE 60 60 FOOT WIDE DIMENSION ON EACH FLOOR, AND THEN PUT THE ROOF OVER THE TOP OF THAT. BUT MR. FLANAGAN, WITH ALL DUE

[01:40:03]

WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO WORK WITH THE CITY STAFF AND THE COUNCIL. NUMBER ONE, I HOPE YOU NOTICED SOMETHING. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PICTURES, OUR NUMBER ONE GOAL IS SAFETY. I HEARD A NUMBER OF YOU SAY THAT. COUNCILMAN DARIO SAID THAT IN ONE OF OUR LAST MEETINGS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE AMOUNT OF TEMPORARY SHORING UP THAT WE'VE DONE THROUGH THIS TO PROTECT THE BUILDING, TO PROTECT WORKERS WE HAVE HAD SO FAR NO INJURIES OF ANY KIND, NO INCIDENTS OF ANY KIND. NOTICE NO MOVEMENT IN THE WALLS. SO WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WE'RE DRIVING TOWARD WHAT THE CITY WANTS AS FAST AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT AN EXPERT BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HAD TO DO A DEMOLITION LIKE THIS BEFORE, BUT I HAVE RESTORED A LOT OF BUILDINGS IN BAD SHAPE BEFORE. I DON'T THINK I ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION, THOUGH, COUNCILMAN DARIO, I THINK, HAD A QUESTION. YES, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. IS THE BUILDING I MEAN, ACCORDING TO THIS DEAL HERE, IT SAYS Y'ALL WAS ASKING US TO GET IT RAISED BECAUSE IT WAS A IMMINENT DANGER. IS IT AN IMMINENT DANGER RIGHT NOW? TODAY? YES IT IS. AND BASED ON THE HAVE WE SENT OUR FOLKS OUT THERE TO LOOK AT THAT? YES, SIR. BOYD MEYER, BUILDING OFFICIAL. HE CAN COME DOWN. HE'S BEEN WALKING THE SITE AND WORKING WITH MR. FLANAGAN TO ENSURE THAT THE PROJECT MOVES FORWARD. JUST FOR OUR PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE AND THE VIEWERS, WE DON'T THINK IT'S IMMINENT. MR. FLANAGAN, WE GOT TO GO BY WHAT OUR PEOPLE THINK. GIVEN THIS MANY EXTENSIONS, IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE NORMALLY DO FOR OTHER CITIZENS THAT COME BEFORE COUNCIL? I THINK THIS IS A UNIQUE SITUATION IN THE FACT THAT THE BUILDING WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BY FIRE, AND THE PROPERTY OWNER HAS REQUESTED AN EXTENSION. TYPICALLY, WE HAVE SITUATIONS WHERE THE BUILDING IS JUST COMPLETELY DESTROYED BY THE FIRE, AND THEN THE CITY DEMOLISHES AND PUTS A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY. SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INCIDENCES WHERE WE'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS. I WOULD SAY THAT THIS IS A PRETTY UNIQUE. THE LAST KNOWN PROPERTY WAS THE HOTEL. THAT WAS PARTIALLY BURNED. BUT THE OWNER WAS STILL USING, WAS STILL OCCUPIED, AND THE CITY HAD TO INTERVENE AND EVACUATE THE RESIDENCES. AND EVENTUALLY THE FIRE BURNED. THE BUILDING BURNED AGAIN. AND IT WAS. BUT I JUST WANTED TO KNOW. I WANT OTHER CITIZENS TO KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE FOLKS THAT COME UP HERE PERIODICALLY. AND GET EXTENSIONS. THIS IS NOT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK THAT WE'RE SHOWING ANY TYPE OF FAVORITISM. I WANT AND CAN YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION? BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE BEEN UP HERE LIKE WHEN WE'RE GETTING READY TO QUARTERLY, WHEN Y'ALL BRING BUILDINGS TO DEMOLISH. YES, SIR. IF THEY DEMONSTRATE NORMALLY THAT THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PROJECT OR THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE SOME KIND OF INTENT OR EFFORT TO INTENT, THEN Y'ALL NORMALLY DO GRANT A AN EXTENSION OF TIME. OKAY. AND MR. FLANAGAN, HAS HE SHOWN THIS? HE'S SHOWING PROGRESS AS IT RELATES TO THE BUILDING PERMIT THAT HE PULLED. WELL, CAN I HEAR FROM BOYD? GOOD AFTERNOON. MAYOR, COUNCIL MANAGER.

WILLIAMS. I'VE MADE PERIODIC INSPECTIONS DURING THIS PROCESS. EVERY TIME I'VE GONE THERE, MORE PROGRESS IS BEING MADE. EARLIER THIS WEEK, I WENT IN THERE, WENT TO THE THIRD FLOOR, WENT UP ON

[01:45:01]

AND THE ONE OF THEM, HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET TO IT ALL, AND THEN MAYBE 75 TO 80% OF THE OTHER WALL AS FAR AS THAT CORNER CLOSEST TO THE WEST WALL AND THEN PART OF THE WEST SIDE OF THE SOUTH, AND ALSO, I BELIEVE ON THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE NORTH WALL. HE STILL CANNOT GIVE A REPORT ON. SO HE'S WAITING TO DO IT ALL INCLUSIVE FOR ME TO WHERE WE CAN SEE A SHORING PACKAGE, REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE, AND WHAT ELSE ADDITIONAL IS GOING TO BE MADE BEFORE THEY CAN COME BACK WITH A PLAN TO BUILD BACK THE BUILDING, WHETHER IT BE THE ROOF, THE FLOORS, THE LATERAL SUPPORTS, NORTH SOUTH, EAST, WEST DIRECTION. SO ANYWAYS, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT I'VE GOT UP TO THIS POINT. SO IN THE WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT THE PLAN IS THAT WE GRANT THIS EXTENSION IN 30 DAYS. IT'S GOING TO COME BACK WITH THE PLAN, WITH THE REINFORCEMENT PLAN, OKAY.

NOT THE COMPLETE BUILD BACK. HE'S GOING TO NEED TO GET TO THAT POINT BEFORE HE CAN GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ON A COMPLETE BUILD BACK, BUT ON A REINFORCEMENT PLAN TO STABILIZE THE ENTIRE BUILDING. AND AT THAT POINT, IT WOULD NO LONGER BE AN IMMINENT DANGER AT THAT POINT.

AND AFTER THEY DO THE REINFORCEMENT PLAN, IT SHOULD NOT BE IN IMMINENT DANGER AFTER THAT. OKAY. ONE LAST QUESTION. IS THIS A REALISTIC TIMELINE, IN YOUR OPINION, FOR THE REINFORCEMENT PLAN? YES, BUT NOT FOR THIS. NOT FOR NOT ANYTHING FURTHER THAN THAT. NO, NOT AT THIS TIME. THERE'S TOO MANY. THERE'S STILL TOO MANY UNKNOWNS, IN MY OPINION. COUNCILMAN GOETZ AND THEN COUNCILMAN. OH. EXCUSE ME. YOU'LL GET YOUR TIME. YOU KNOW, IT TOOK FIVE YEARS TO REBUILD NOTRE DAME. THIS IS NOT NOTRE DAME, BUT I RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE A PERIOD OF TIME FOR YOU TO GET IT COMPLETELY FINISHED. I WANT TO APPLAUD YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE SO FAR. I, FOR ONE COUNCIL MEMBER, AM PREPARED TO GIVE YOU THE TIME NECESSARY TO GET TO THIS POINT IN APRIL WHERE YOU CAN HAVE IT RESTORED, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AND FROM WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU IS AT THAT POINT, IF EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDING TO WHAT MR. FLANAGAN IS SUGGESTING AT APRIL, ON APRIL 23RD, IT WILL NO LONGER BE IN IMMINENT DANGER. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME? THAT'S ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY'RE GIVING ME ON THEIR SCHEDULE. ALL RIGHT.

COUNCILMAN TURNER, I DO UNDERSTAND COUNCILMAN NEAL'S POINT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE ORIGINAL PORT REPORT SAYS IMMINENT DANGER, BUT IT ALSO IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR EXTENDING TIME. BUT THEN, ON THE FLIP SIDE, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU SAID, COUNCILMAN DARIO, WHEN WE GET THE DANGEROUS STRUCTURES AND WE STILL DO EXTENDED TIME. BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KIND OF SPEAK TO THAT BECAUSE I THINK CITIZENS WHO WATCH AND SEE THIS, THEY'RE VERY CONFUSED. IT KIND

[01:50:01]

BUT YES, THE BUILDING IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION REPRESENTS AN IMMINENT DANGER TO WHICH IT CAN, IF COUNCIL SO CHOOSES TO BE TORN DOWN. BUT WE JUST CAN'T TEAR DOWN BUILDINGS BECAUSE IT LOOKS BAD, RIGHT? SO THERE ARE BUILDINGS THAT ARE IN POOR CONDITION THAT DO NOT REPRESENT AN IMMINENT DANGER. AND THERE ARE BUILDINGS WHO ARE LOOK COMPLETELY FINE, BUT ARE STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND REPRESENT AN IMMINENT DANGER. SO THAT IS A TERM OF ART THAT IS USED. AND IF YOU WANT TO GET MORE TECHNICAL AS TO THE COMPONENTS OF THAT, I'M SURE OUR BUILDING A BUILDING OFFICIAL CAN GIVE YOU THAT, BUT THAT THOSE ARE JUST THOSE ARE JUST LEGAL TERMS. I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT MY CONCERN WAS MISS DEMI SAID PRIOR TO THIS, IT WAS AN IMMINENT DANGER PRIOR TO THE FIRE. SO THAT THAT WAS WHAT I WAS TAGGED FOR. IMMINENT DANGER. I HAVE SILAS, OUR DEMOLITION COORDINATOR. SILAS, CAN YOU GIVE A COUPLE REASONS WHY IT WAS TAGGED FOR THOSE REASONS? YOU'LL HAVE TO GIVE ME JUST A SECOND TO PULL IT UP. THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE WAS TAGGED IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS BEFORE I WAS HERE. CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO CHOO. AS I AS I RECALL, THERE WERE A LOT OF STRUCTURAL CONCERNS AND QUITE A LOT OF DEBRIS, BUT THE BUT THE DEMO COORDINATOR AT THE TIME HAD A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE ABOUT THE STRUCTURE BEING A, BEING A THREAT. AND THE FIRE OBVIOUSLY CHANGED CHANGED THAT QUITE A BIT. WHILE HE PULLS IT UP, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU SOME SOME BACKGROUND ON THE BUILDING. PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE BUILDING, THE CITY WAS PAYING FOR BARRICADES TO BE AROUND THE CITY, BE AROUND THE STRUCTURE BECAUSE IT HAD PARTS OF THE BUILDING WERE COLLAPSING, GLASS WAS FALLING FROM THE BUILDING. SO THAT WAS PART OF THE REASON FOR THE BUILDING BEING TAGGED, BECAUSE IT WAS ESSENTIALLY CRUMBLING. WHATEVER THE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FACADE IS, BUT THAT AND GLASS WERE FALLING FROM THE BUILDING. SO THAT WAS IT WAS BARRICADED IN THE SIDEWALK AROUND THE BUILDING WAS CLOSED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES. AND THERE WERE, I GUESS, UPON INSPECTION, ONCE WE INITIATED THE DOWNTOWN PLAN, UPON INSPECTION, THERE WERE OTHER STRUCTURAL ISSUES THAT WERE DETERMINED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. AGAIN, REGARDLESS OF WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE QUESTION NOW IS NOW THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER, MR. FLANAGAN, SAID, HEY, I'M WILLING TO PUT MONEY INTO THE BUILDING. I'M WILLING TO DO THESE THINGS AND GET IT, GET IT UP TO SPEED TO WHERE IT'S NO LONGER AN IMMINENT DANGER. THE QUESTION BEFORE COUNCIL IS, ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE AN ADDITIONAL EXTENSION OF TIME TO MAKE THOSE THINGS HAPPEN?

[01:55:03]

THERE ARE OTHER BUILDINGS THAT THERE ARE THINGS TO BE DONE. I'M NOT LIKE SOME SAYING, I DON'T THINK IT CAN BE DONE. THAT'S NOT MY DECISION. BUT MY QUESTION IS, ONCE THIS IS DONE, WILL THIS BE SET ASIDE FOR A TIME PERIOD OR ARE YOU GOING TO COMPLETION WITH THIS BEFORE MOVING FORWARD? IT'S GETTING 100% OF OUR ATTENTION. AS YOU KNOW, WE OWN ABOUT 18 BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN, AND ALL OF WHICH NEED ATTENTION, YOU KNOW. I HOPE YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW THE EASIEST THING FOR ME TO DO IS PROBABLY WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE DONE CUT AND RUN, LET THE CITY DEMOLISH IT. YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY HAVE I BEEN ACCUSED BY SOME OF BURNING MY OWN BUILDING DOWN, BUT ALSO I'M STEPPING UP AND TRYING TO SAVE IT. AND NOT JUST SAVE IT, BUT SAVE THE THREE BUILDINGS ON BOWIE STREET AND TO MAKE WHAT YOU MIGHT ARGUE IS THE UGLIEST STREET IN BEAUMONT, MAKE IT ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL. I LIKE A TURNAROUND, AND I SEE THAT, AND I HOPE SOMEDAY WE JOIN TOGETHER TO DO THAT. BUT WHAT YOU SEE ME DO, I'VE HEARD REFERENCE TO NOTRE DAME. I'M CATHOLIC AND I DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH COULDN'T EVEN AFFORD IT. THE RICHEST CHURCH IN THE WORLD. THEY TURNED IT OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE. THE GOVERNMENT'S DOING THAT. I HAVEN'T ASKED YOU GUYS FOR A PENNY. I'M JUST ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE. AND I'M LEARNING A LOT FROM YOUR STAFF. THEY'RE TEACHING ME THINGS, TOO. I'M LEARNING A LOT FROM THE ENGINEERS AND THE CONTRACTORS DOING THIS. IT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IS HARD AND EXPENSIVE AND THE MOST DIFFICULT PATH THAT I COULD TAKE. OKAY, I HOPE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT. AND IT'S DIFFICULT AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO STAND HERE, STAND WITH PEOPLE I RESPECT AND WORK WITH AND UNDERGO AN INQUISITION.

BUT THAT'S YOUR JOB AND THAT'S FINE. I UNDERSTAND, BUT IT'S NOT EASY. I UNDERSTAND NOW I HAVE NOT FINISHED YET, BUT. SO PLEASE ALLOW ME. I PUT MY CONFIDENCE IN OUR STAFF. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE TO DO. BUT AS YOU STAND, I'VE WATCHED YOU OVER THE YEARS. YOU'VE NEVER LIED TO ME. YOU'VE

[02:00:02]

OH, WELL, THE WORST THING I HAVE TO EXPERIENCE, AND I'VE HAD TO DO THIS BEFORE, IS TO WATCH A PERSON PUT THEIR INVESTMENT INTO SOMETHING, GET TO A POINT THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE, AND THEN WE HAVE TO TEAR IT DOWN. THAT'S NOT WHAT I LIKE. I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE NECESSARY, AND I BELIEVE THAT SO. AND THAT'S WHY MY FAITH IS IN WHAT STAFF SAYS. AND WHAT I WILL LOOK TO IS TO MAKE SURE THERE HAS BEEN REASONABLE PROGRESS TOWARD THAT END. THAT'S WHAT I LOOK FOR RIGHT NOW. I STAND WITH THE EXTENSION OF TIME. THANK YOU. BUT AT THAT POINT, IT'S ON YOU TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE DEDICATED TO THE PROJECT. AND THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. I'D BE HAPPY TO WALK ANYBODY THROUGH IT. OKAY. HATS AND SAFETY SHOES. COUNCILMAN. DARIO, YOU HAD ANOTHER STATEMENT. YEAH. BUT JUST SO I THINK WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE. IF YOU COULD COME BACK TO THE PODIUM SO THAT WE CAN CATCH HER IF GIVEN A 30 DAY EXTENSION AT THE END OF THE 30 DAYS, IT WILL NO LONGER BE A THREAT OR A DANGER. I'M GOING BY. I'M GOING BY THE DATES THAT'S ON HERE.

YOU'RE SAYING 30 DAYS? NO. WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE VOTING ON. GIVING A 30 DAY EXTENSION. YEAH. SO I DO WANT TO CLARIFY REAL QUICK. WHENEVER I WROTE THIS, THAT WAS ON DECEMBER 17TH, I RECEIVED THIS SCHEDULE AFTER THAT TIME. SO GOING OFF OF THE SCHEDULE REVISION C, I THINK THAT IT WAS FEBRUARY 6TH, WAS THE DECISION OR THE COMPLETION DATE ON THAT. SO THAT'S THE REASON I DID A 30 DAY EXTENSION AND REVISION C IS THE PROJECT SCHEDULE. IT SHOULD BE AN EXHIBIT IN YOUR PACKET. WE RECEIVED THIS POST POSTING THAT AGENDA ITEM. AND SO I THINK IT'S FAIR THAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AT THE AT HIS PROPOSED SCHEDULE AND MAKING A DECISION ACCORDING TO THAT. AND THAT'S THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE IS IN FRONT OF YOU. AND IT'S TITLED AT THE TOP, REVISION DE REVISION D, REVISION D IS THE LATEST. YEAH. AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT SAYS WEDNESDAY FOR 2325. YES, SIR. THAT'S GOING TO BE ON AT FOUR 2325 DATE THE LAST LINE ON THIS PAGE. THAT'S WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE. SO WE'RE NOT TILL APRIL. WE IN ORDER TO OFFICIALLY SAY THAT AND I'LL LET YOU I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE FAIR THAT AT THE COMPLETION OF THIS THAT MY STAFF IS ABLE TO MAKE A PROPER INSPECTION AND DETERMINE THAT WE COULDN'T WE COULDN'T DETERMINE THAT TODAY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. ASIDE FROM WHAT HE'S PUT ON HERE, I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO LAY EYES ON IT. I WILL BE LOOKING FOR DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO ME AS A BUILDING OFFICIAL ON FEBRUARY THE 28TH, FROM THE ENGINEER ON THAT REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE. AND THAT REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE IS GOING TO SHOW ME WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IN ORDER TO STABILIZE AFTER THE DEMOLITION IS DONE, TO STABILIZE ALL FOUR WALLS OF THAT STRUCTURE. AND THEN AFTER THAT, ON THE IN APRIL, AS FAR AS ONCE THEY CLEAN UP AND THEY DEMOBILIZE AS FAR AS THE BUILD BACK AFTER THAT. THIS IS THIS IS TO REINFORCE AND STABILIZE THAT STRUCTURE. AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A BUILD BACK PACKAGE WITH A SET OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL DRAWINGS AFTER THAT. SO BASICALLY IT'S IN PHASES OKAY. SO IF WE DO A 30 DAY EXTENSION AT THE END OF THE 30 DAYS, YOU'RE GOING TO BE BACK ASKING FOR ANOTHER EXTENSION. SO WE WOULD NEED TO BE LOOKING AT AT THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING AFTER THE FEBRUARY 28TH MEETING TO GET A REPORT AND AN UPDATE AT THAT POINT, BECAUSE WE KNOW IN 30 DAYS WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THAT ANSWER. AND I HEARD THE DEMOLITION GUY, HE MENTIONED ONE THING THAT CAUGHT MY MIND, CAUGHT MY ATTENTION. SOME OF THE THAT WHEN IT WAS ALREADY UP FOR DEMOLISH BEFORE THE FIRE, HE SAID IT DID NOT HAVE THE REQUIRED FIRE PROTECTION. CORRECT. MAY I ADDRESS THAT? OH COME COME ON. YOU DON'T MIND? SO. SO I COULDN'T GIVE YOU ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR VIOLATION WITHOUT DOING SOME, SOME FURTHER RESEARCH. I JUST WANT TO KNOW, WAS IT IN IN THE BUILDING OR NOT? FIRE PROTECTION? I DON'T KNOW WITHOUT DOING FURTHER RESEARCH. HE WASN'T HERE AND DIDN'T DO THAT. I'M ONLY GOING OFF WHAT WAS REPORTED AT THE TIME. I CAN SPEAK TO THAT. MAY I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOUR QUESTION AS SOON AS THEY GET FINISHED? YEAH. YEAH. THIS.

SO WHEN THE BUILDING WAS TAGGED, THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY TO IT, NO GAS TO IT OR ANYTHING. AND

[02:05:02]

SO IF NO WATER TO THE BUILDING AND THE FIRE PROTECTION WASN'T GOING TO WORK ANYWAY. CORRECT.

AND IF THEY HAD A FIRE PROTECTION TO THE BUILDING AND THEY HAD RAN WATER TO THE BUILDING, WE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE HERE DISCUSSING THIS TODAY. CHIEF. YEAH, I CAN'T ANSWER THAT. THAT'S WHY I ASKED CHIEF, I JUST JUST JUST FOR CLARITY. IF THEY HAVE FIRE PROTECTION IN THEIR BUILDING AND HAVE WATER TO IT, WOULD THAT HAVE PREVENTED THAT FIRE? YEAH, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN OUR PROTOCOL TO HOOK INTO THE STANDPIPE SYSTEM AND PUMP INTO IT TO IN ORDER TO TRY TO SAVE THE BUILDING AND PREVENT OUR PERSONNEL FROM HAVING TO GO AND RISK THEMSELVES? WE ALWAYS WANT FIRE ALARM SYSTEM, STANDPIPE SYSTEM, SPRINKLER SYSTEM FUNCTIONING IF POSSIBLE, AND THAT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER. ALL RIGHT. TO.

MAINTAIN ANY FIRE PROTECTION OR ANY PROTECTION SYSTEMS WHICH WE WOULD CONDUCT REGULAR INSPECTIONS. BUT IN THIS CASE IT WAS TAGGED AS A SUBSTANDARD STRUCTURE AND WAS IN PRETTY POOR SHAPE AT THE TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANK YOU. BOARD. MR. FLANAGAN. YEAH, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION ABOUT THAT. WHEN WE BOUGHT THE BUILDING FROM THE CITY, IT HAD NO ELECTRICITY, HAD NO SERVICES, HAD NO WATER, HAD NO FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM. OKAY. AND THE TERM IMMINENT DOMAIN OR IMMINENT DANGER, I'M LEARNING, DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IMMINENT DANGER. IT'S A LEGAL TERM. THE THINGS THAT IT WAS CITED FOR WERE REPEATED VANDALIZATION BROKEN WINDOWS. AT THAT TIME, WE HAD A HOMELESS INVASION AND A VANDAL INVASION OF DOWNTOWN. THOSE WERE THE THINGS. THE STRUCTURE WAS MAINTAINED STRONG AND THE DOWNSTAIRS WAS SECURE, BUT IT DID HAVE BROKEN WINDOWS. IT DID HAVE GRAFFITI AND IT DID HAVE SOME BUGS IN IT. BUT AS YOU MAKE A JUDGMENT ABOUT THIS, WE BOUGHT IT IN THE SAME CONDITION FROM THE CITY, WHO DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND A DIME ON IT, AND WE TOOK IT OFF THE CITY'S HANDS TO TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF IT. AND WE HAVEN'T GIVEN UP. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. FLANAGAN. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OF HIM? BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE SOME PUBLIC COMMENTS. I'M NOT SURE IF ANYBODY SIGNED UP. SO AT THIS POINT, WHAT'S BEFORE US? IS THERE NOT GOING TO BE RECEIVING ANY UPDATE UNTIL FEBRUARY 28TH? SO IT WOULD BE AFTER THAT DATE FOR THERE TO BE A REPORT TO COUNCIL. SO JUST FOR CLARITY, WE WOULD NEED TO EXTEND TO THAT DATE. YES, COUNCILMAN.

JUST ONE QUICK QUESTION. QUESTION, CITY MANAGER, WE PUT UP THE BARRICADES. I KNOW THERE WERE SOME EXPENSE FROM THE CITY. DID MR. FLANAGAN REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR THAT WORK DONE? I THINK THAT HE DID. YES, SIR. YES, THAT WAS THE CONDITION OF THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE. IN ORDER FOR IT TO FOR HIM TO ENTER THE WORK PROGRAM, HE HAD TO REIMBURSE THE CITY. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE HITTING THOSE BENCHMARKS AND THAT WE HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED FOR EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE. HE'S COMPLIED WITH ALL CONDITIONS OF THE PREVIOUS THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE. THANK YOU.

MAYOR. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MR. FLANAGAN. I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE COMMENTS? NO, SIR. OKAY. THANK YOU SIR. APPRECIATE YOU WORKING WITH US BEFORE YOU BEFORE THIS, YOU CALL FOR THE READING OF THE ITEM. I DO WANT TO POINT OUT TO WHEN COUNCIL DECIDES TO MAKE A MOTION. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS FOR 30 DAYS. COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER BASED ON THE REVISION. DE MAY BE EXTENDING THAT SO THAT THE EXTENSION WILL TAKE HIM TO THAT FEBRUARY 28TH DEADLINE TO COMPLETE THE WORK, AND THEN TO THE FIRST MEETING IN MARCH TO COME BACK AND REPORT TO COUNCIL REAL QUICK, THE FEBRUARY 28TH. YES. YEAH. JUST TO ADD ON TO WHAT THE CITY ATTORNEY WAS SAYING, MAYBE FOR THE SAKE OF CLARIFICATION, I THINK IF YOU WERE TO AMEND THE STATED RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE IN THE REPORT WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES THAT ITEM CONDITION NUMBER ONE, CHANGE THE DATE OF FEBRUARY 10TH TO APRIL 23RD, 2025. AND THAT WOULD THAT WOULD LINE UP WITH HIS PROPOSED WORK SCHEDULE AGAIN TO COMPLETE THE

[02:10:04]

COUNCILMAN NEELD OKAY. SO BY THE END OF APRIL 23RD, YOU'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE A BUILDING THAT HAS NO WINDOWS OR DOORS OR ANY OF THAT. SO WE STILL HAVE A BUILDING THAT'S IN VIOLATION OF THE DOWNTOWN CODE. IT WILL STILL BE TAGGED FOR PROPERTY MAINTENANCE. AND TO THAT END, I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT. WHY YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN ASKING THE QUESTION OF WHAT'S NEXT, WHAT'S TO COME AFTER THE STRUCTURAL RESTORATION, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT HAS TO COME FIRST IN ORDER TO MAKE ANY, ANY PROGRESS TO RESTORING THE ENTIRE BUILDING OR RENOVATING THE ENTIRE BUILDING.

OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, COUNCILMAN NEAL. YES, SIR. YES, MAYOR. CITY MANAGER, I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE TO CLOSE. CAN YOU CAN YOU OFFICIALLY CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES. WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. AT THIS TIME. DO WE HAVE TO SEE IF ANYBODY ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK? I DID OKAY, THANK YOU. YES. SO THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. AND IF WE COULD HAVE, SINCE THE AGENDA ITEM HAS CHANGED. COUNCILMAN GOETZ, YOU'VE BEEN MAKING NOTES OVER THERE. OKAY, SO I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE AN EXTENSION TO APRIL 23RD, 2025, AT WHICH TIME THE EXTERIOR WALLS, ROOF, AND ELEVATED FLOORS SHALL BE RESTORED TO THEIR ORIGINAL STRUCTURAL CAPACITY, AS IDENTIFIED BY STRUCTURAL ENGINEER REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. THE PROPERTY OWNER SHALL OBTAIN ALL APPLICABLE PERMITS. ADDITIONALLY, THAT WE APPROVE AN EXTENSION SO THAT THE PROPERTY OWNER SHALL APPEAR BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AT THE MARCH 11TH, 2025 MEETING TO REPORT ON THE PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT AND DISCLOSE INTENT, PLANS AND TIMELINE TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS TO BRING THE BUILDING INTO FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE. I'M SORRY, COUNCILMAN, CAN YOU MEETING IN MARCH. DID YOU SAY 11? 11? 1111? SO THAT IS THE MOTION. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT. THERE IS A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MOTION, COUNCILMAN NEILL OKAY. ALL RIGHT. SO JUST FOR CLARITY, WE'RE SAYING HE'S GOING TO HAVE A ROOF AND ALL THE SILL FLOORS IN THIS BUILDING BY APRIL THE 23RD, 2025. WELL, RIGHT NOW WE'RE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO GET A REPORT MADE MARCH 11TH. BUT IT IS POINTING TO THAT DATE. AND I UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERN. ALL RIGHT. AS A, AS SOMEONE CONSTRUCTION COUNCILMAN, IS THAT EVEN REALISTIC? NOT IN MY OPINION. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I'M

[02:15:05]

AND AGAIN, IF IT LOOKS LIKE THE APRIL IS NOT REALISTIC, AGAIN, WE COULD REVISIT THAT AT THE MARCH 11TH MEETING. BUT I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE COULD DO BOTH. IS THERE A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE TO THE MOTION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ADDED TO THE ORDINANCE? WELL, I MEAN, YOU CAN'T EVEN REALLY PUT A REAL CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE ON IT UNTIL YOU HAVE THE ENGINEERED REPORT DONE BECAUSE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO PHYSICALLY BE DOING TO, TO BUILD IT BACK. I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, I THINK IT WOULD ALMOST BE BETTER TO SAY WE'LL GIVE THEM TO THE 28TH TO TURN IN THE ENGINEERING REPORT AND THEN WE'LL MEET AGAIN. BUT, I MEAN, THIS IS THE SCHEDULE PORTION OF IT. IT'S NOT WORTH THE PAPER IT'S WRITTEN ON WHEN IT COMES TO THE CONSTRUCTION SIDE OF IT. SO, SO IT COULD SAY WHEREAS STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF AN EXTENSION. ARE YOU COUNCILMAN NILS OR COUNCILMAN GOETZ'S MOTION WITH EXTENSION TO FEBRUARY. I'M SORRY. APRIL 23RD. TO ALLOW THE PROPERTY OWNER TO COMPLY WITH ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS. ARE YOU ASKING FOR AN AMENDMENT FOR JUST APRIL 23RD FOR HIM TO PROVIDE AN UPDATED CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE? I MEAN, WE COULD PASS APRIL 23RD. I'M JUST TELLING YOU, HE'S NOT GOING TO MEET THAT DATE. RIGHT. AND, COUNCILMAN NEELD, I'M NOT IN CONSTRUCTION. I WOULD I SEE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DATE IS GETTING THE ENGINEER'S REPORT AND GETTING A REPORT BACK TO US ON THE MARCH 11TH MEETING TO SEE HOW THE HOW IT'S PROCEEDING. AND AT THAT POINT, WE COULD. BUT IT WOULD THIS WOULD BE GIVING THEM TILL APRIL 23RD. THAT IS CORRECT. ALL RIGHT. IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, EVERYBODY CLEAR ON THE MOTION. ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING MOTION NUMBER NINE? THAT'S BEEN MADE BY COUNCILMAN GOETZ AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN SAMUEL.

PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OPPOSED. AND THAT WILL DO A SHOW OF HANDS.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. ANY OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT. MOTION CARRIES.

ALL RIGHT. NOW, IF WE GO TO ITEM NUMBER TEN. ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING. NO, WE HAVE ANOTHER

[02:20:05]

THIS IS THE PROPERTY. YEAH. HAS HE MADE ANY ATTEMPT AT CLEANING THIS STUFF SINCE WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH IT? OR IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. NO, NOT NOT TO OUR KNOWLEDGE. HE HASN'T MADE ANY PROGRESS ON IT. COUNCILMAN FALLSHAW, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THIS, BUT DO YOU KNOW IF THIS GENTLEMAN HAS FAMILY LOCAL THAT CAN ASSIST HIM WITH THIS PROJECT? OR IS THIS AN ELDERLY MAN THAT IS BY HIMSELF AND HAS. NO. I'M UNSURE REGARDING THE FAMILY. I DO KNOW SINCE 2013 THERE'S BEEN 11 CASES FILED IN MUNICIPAL COURT, ONE JUNK MOTOR VEHICLE, SEVEN LITTER AND THREE WEEDS. SOME HAVE COME IN BACK INTO COMPLIANCE, SOME HAVE GONE TO MUNICIPAL COURT AND SOME HAVE ASSESSED FINES. SO THERE IS A BIT OF A HISTORY WITH THIS PROPERTY. COUNCILMAN GOETZ.

SO IF WE GO FORWARD AND DECLARE IT A PUBLIC NUISANCE TODAY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN TOMORROW WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND START CLEANING IT UP. THERE WILL BE A TIME PERIOD IN WHICH HE CAN STILL MOVE FORWARD TO ABATE THIS, AND IF HE DOES, SO WHAT HAPPENS? WE CAN DROP. HOW DOES THAT WORK? TO REMIND COUNCIL THE PROCESS IT GOES IT STARTED WITH WITH OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT AND IN IN THE MUNICIPAL COURT PROCESS. AND AS YOU'VE HEARD IT HAS SEVERAL CASES THERE. IT'S NOW MOVED TO PUBLIC HEALTH. ONCE PUBLIC HEALTH HAS IT PUBLIC HEALTH IF IT'S DECLARED A PUBLIC NUISANCE, GOES THROUGH THE PROCESS OF SENDING OUT A FORMAL NOTICE AND A FORMAL LETTER, AND THEN WORKING WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER TO GET THE PROPERTY CLEANED, I THINK IN THE PAST WE'VE EVEN HAD SUCCESS. BUT TO COUNCILMAN FISHER'S POINT, PEOPLE COMING TO OFFER TO VOLUNTEER TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY. AND SO WE DO TRY TO FIND THE MOST AMICABLE SOLUTION TO THAT. AND SO IF, IF, IF PROGRESS IS MADE OR IF SOMEONE COMES FORWARD, FAMILY OR SOCIAL OR CIVIC GROUP AND OFFERS TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY, THEN WE THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAN ALLOW WHATEVER EXTENSIONS AT THE HEALTH DIRECTOR'S DISCRETION. IF NOTHING IS DONE, WE USE THIS, THIS DECLARATION TO FILE A CIVIL SUIT TO GET THE PROPERTY CLEANED UP AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PROPERTY OWNER. THAT OBVIOUSLY GOES TO THE COURT SYSTEMS AND TAKES SOME TIME, WHICH IS WHY TYPICALLY THE HEALTH DIRECTOR AND HIS STAFF HAS TRIED TO FIND AMICABLE WAYS TO WORK WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER OR LOCAL GROUPS IN ORDER TO GET THE PROPERTY CLEANED. COUNCILMAN NEILL, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M ASSUMING YOU'RE GETTING QUITE A FEW PHONE CALLS FROM THE NEIGHBORS. YES, WE DO. AND IF YOU DECLARE IT TODAY, THEN WHAT HAPPENS IS WE REACH OUT BACK TO THE PROPERTY OWNER, AND THEY HAVE TEN DAYS TO EITHER CLEAN THE PROPERTY OR MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. THEN AFTER THAT, IF NO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, THEN WE REFER IT UP TO LEGAL. THEN IT GOES THROUGH THAT PROCESS. COUNCILMAN, CITY MANAGER I JUST AGAIN TO BRING

[02:25:09]

TYPICALLY OUR ORDERS SAY WITHIN 30 DAYS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR A JUDGMENT TO BECOME FINAL. SO THE PROPERTY OWNER CAN HAVE UP TO 30 DAYS TO CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY. WHEN THE JUDGMENT IS FINAL, WE GO OUT AND WE CLEAN UP THE PROPERTY, AND THEN WE FOLLOW IT UP WITH A LIEN. THE ORDER FROM THE JUDGE TYPICALLY SAYS THAT THE CITY IS REIMBURSED UP INTO THAT, THAT MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT WE SAID IT WOULD TAKE. SO IF WE SAY THIS PROPERTY IS GOING TO TAKE $6,800 TO CLEAN AND WE GET A BILL BACK FOR 7000, WE EAT THE COST OF THE EXTRA TWO, AND WE PUT A LIEN ON THE PROPERTY FOR THE 6800. BUT HE'S NOT EVICTED? NO. HE STAYS IN THE HOME UNTIL HE GETS READY TO SELL. SO THERE IS AN ARGUMENT THAT COULD BE MADE THAT WE ACTUALLY ARE HELPING THIS ELDERLY MAN BY CLEANING THIS UP. I MEAN, THERE IS A VIEWPOINT THERE THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT I UNDERSTAND, BUT THERE'S A LIEN PUT AGAINST THE PROPERTY. SO BUT WHEN THE PROPERTY IS SOLD, THEN THAT LANE HAS TO BE SETTLED. YES. OR SATISFIED. BUT HE IS NOT EVICTED FROM THE HOME. NO THANK YOU. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THANK YOU, MR. COHEN. ALL RIGHT. NOBODY HERE TO SPEAK ON THAT. IT'S. THE PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED. MR. CITY MANAGER, MAY WE HAVE THE READING OF ITEM NUMBER TEN? COUNCIL TO CONSIDER FINDING AND RATIFYING THE DETERMINATION OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR. THAT PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCES EXIST ON THE PROPERTY AT 5150 LAUREL AVENUE, WITH THE LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF MAPLEWOOD, TWO L 19 B7. IT COMES WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL. IS THERE A MOTION FOR ITEM NUMBER TEN? MOVE TO APPROVE. IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED FOR APPROVAL FOR ITEM NUMBER TEN. IS THERE ANY ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING ITEM NUMBER TEN, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THE MOTION IS CARRIED. MR. CITY MANAGER, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE

[WORK SESSION]

[02:30:03]

[02:35:05]

AND THEN WE'LL CLOSE BY SUMMARIZING TODAY'S PRESENTATION. SO THIS IS THIS IS NOT THERE WE GO. SO IN TERMS OF THE INTERIM FINANCE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE IN THE INTERIM, UNTIL WE DO FILL THAT POSITION PERMANENTLY, WE WILL FUNCTION AS IT SHOWS THERE ON THE SCREEN. I AS ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, I WILL PERFORM THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTION OF THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT. I WILL PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT. I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROVALS, IN PARTICULAR PERSONNEL RELATED APPROVALS OF FINANCE. MR. DUNCAN BROWN, JUNIOR ASSISTANT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, WILL SERVE IN AN OPERATIONS CAPACITY. HE WILL OVERSEE OPERATIONS ALONG WITH BRIDGET EVICT, BUT MR. BROWN WILL PRIMARILY IN THE INTERIM, BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BUDGET AND GENERAL OPERATIONS OF FINANCE. MISS BRIDGET EVICK, DEPUTY CONTROLLER, WILL ALSO SERVE IN A DUAL CAPACITY WITH MR. BROWN AS OVER OPERATIONS.

SHE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AUDIT AND ACCOUNTING. THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER FUNCTIONS OF FINANCE, BUT THESE ARE THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF FINANCE. OF COURSE, WE CUT INVOICES WEEKLY.

WE HANDLE PAYROLL. THOSE WILL FALL UNDER MR. BROWN AND MISS EVICK. IN TERMS OF THE FUND BALANCE OR DEFINITIONS, THIS IS WHERE I WILL GO OVER SOME OF THE DEFINITIONS THAT YOU WILL HEAR THROUGHOUT THIS PRESENTATION TODAY. AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'M SURE CITY COUNCIL HAS HEARD THESE DEFINITIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'VE HAD BUDGET WORK SESSIONS. SO I'LL START WITH FUND BALANCE. AND WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF FUND BALANCE? THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL FUND ASSETS AND LIABILITIES. FUND BALANCE POLICY. THAT'S A MINIMUM FUND BALANCE THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE KEPT IN RESERVE, AS DEFINED IN THE FINANCIAL POLICIES. FUND BALANCE IS OVER.

THE POLICY REQUIREMENT MAY BE APPROPRIATED IN THE BUDGET. YOU WILL HEAR GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES, WHAT WE CALL IN GOVERNMENTAL FINANCE AS GAAP UNIFORM MINIMUM STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES USED FOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING AS SET FORTH BY THE GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD. WE CALL THAT GATSBY DEFICIT EXCESS. THE EXCESS OF EXPENDITURES OVER REVENUES DURING AN ACCOUNTING PERIOD. BALANCED BUDGET REPRESENTS TOTAL PROPOSED EXPENDITURES NOT EXCEEDING TOTAL ANTICIPATED REVENUES AND AVAILABLE RESERVES ABOVE THE POLICY REQUIREMENT. BOND RATING A CREDIT RATING TO PROVIDE INVESTORS IN MUNICIPAL BONDS A WAY TO ASSESS CREDITWORTHINESS OF A STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

ISSUING THE BOND, AND ZERO BASED BUDGETING, WHICH IS A BUDGETING METHOD WHERE ALL EXPENSES IN THE BUDGET START FROM A ZERO BASE AND EVERY PROGRAM, SERVICE, OR FUNCTION WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION IS ANALYZED FOR ITS NEEDS AND COSTS. AND I WILL TOUCH ON ZERO BASED BUDGETING AS AS THE CITY MANAGER DID AS WELL. THIS IS THIS YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE IMPLEMENTED THIS BUDGET METHOD. AND IT'S A METHOD THAT'S USED THROUGHOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET. FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT USING ZERO BASED BUDGET, BUT OVER THE COURSE OF MONTHS THAT WE WENT THROUGH, WHEN WE PREPARED THE BUDGET, APRIL, MAY, JUNE AND JULY, DURING THAT TIME FRAME, WE IMPLEMENTED THIS BUDGET METHOD WHERE WHEN DEPARTMENTS SUBMITTED THEIR BUDGET OR BEFORE THEY SUBMITTED THEIR BUDGET, WE ZEROED OUT EVERY EXPENDITURE AND EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT, AND THEY HAD TO JUSTIFY WHY THEY NEED EVERY DOLLAR IN THEIR BUDGET. SO WE STARTED FROM ZERO.

[02:40:01]

AND WE WALK THROUGH EVERY LINE ITEM. WE PUT IT ON THE SCREEN AND THE CITY MANAGER'S CONFERENCE ROOM, AND WE GO THROUGH EVERY LINE ITEM, WHICH IS WHAT DEPARTMENTS DO INITIALLY ANYWAY, OR THEY SHOULD DO INITIALLY, AND WHAT WE HAD THEM DO BECAUSE WE ZEROED EVERYTHING OUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU NEED? AND THEY THEY PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION ALONG WITH THEIR DEPARTMENT HEAD OR DIVISION HEAD OR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, IN SOME CASES, WHERE I'VE MET WITH SOME OF MY DEPARTMENTS ON, ON THEIR BUDGET REQUEST. SO THAT'S ALL BEFORE WE HAVE THE REALLY LONG, ALL DAY MEETINGS WITH THE CITY MANAGER ANSWERED YOUR QUESTION. THANK YOU. SO IN TERMS OF COUNCIL'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, COUNCIL'S INVOLVEMENT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEEK GUIDANCE FROM CITY COUNCIL. WE WANT CITY COUNCIL'S KEY BUDGET ITEMS. WE WANT TO KNOW THOSE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES. AS AS YOU KNOW, AND AS YOU MAY RECALL, THE CITY MANAGER, THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN HERE, HE WOULD SIT THERE AND HE WOULD ASK, COUNCIL, WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES? AND HE WOULD GO DOWN THE DAIS TO RECEIVE FROM YOU YOUR PRIORITIES FOR THE BUDGET SO THAT WE CAN

[02:45:02]

MOST CITIES DO THAT. WE WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT. WE WANT TO GET COUNCIL'S FEEDBACK AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON THROUGHOUT THIS LONG SIX MONTH PROCESS. THE BUDGET IS REALLY TAKES SIX MONTHS. WE START IN APRIL AND END IN SEPTEMBER. IT'S NOT A ONE MONTH LONG PROCESS.

IT'S REALLY GRUELING. I'VE BEEN THROUGH MANY OF THEM, SO WE HOLD WORK SESSIONS WITH COUNCIL, AND COUNCIL IS WELL AWARE OF THOSE. SOME OF THOSE TAKE 4 TO 5 HOURS LONG, YOU KNOW, SOME WE'VE HAD TO CANCEL AND EXTEND TO ANOTHER DAY TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION THAT WE WANT TO SHARE WITH CITY COUNCIL. THE FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION IS THE CIP COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN. WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS DURING THAT WORK SESSION. THEN WE COME BACK WITH A SECOND WORK SESSION TO IDENTIFY KEY BUDGET ITEMS, ASK FOR CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES AS WE'RE PREPARING THE BUDGET. THEN THE THIRD BUDGET WORK SESSION IS A PRESENTATION OF THE DRAFT BUDGET. THAT'S THE PRESENTATION WHERE, AS YOU'RE AWARE, EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD COMES UP HERE TO THE PODIUM AND PRESENTS THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET. THAT'S NEAR THE END OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. THEN THE CITY MANAGER PRESENTS THE BUDGET AFTER ANY CHANGES ARE MADE. AFTER THAT THIRD BUDGET WORK SESSION, THE CITY MANAGER PRESENTS THE BUDGET TO CITY COUNCIL. THERE'S A RECORD VOTE ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET THAT'S HELD. WE ACTUALLY HAVE WE HAVE TO HAVE, BY LAW, PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE BUDGET, PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE TAX RATE AND ON THE CAPITAL PROGRAM. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE CITIZENS. SO THAT'S WHY STATE LAW REQUIRES THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS. THEN CITY COUNCIL ANNUALLY RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX RATE AND ULTIMATELY ADOPT THE BUDGET SO THAT THE CITY CAN FUNCTION FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. SO THAT'S DONE IN SEPTEMBER. THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINS IN OCTOBER, AND THAT'S STANDARD IN PROBABLY 90 PLUS PERCENT OF CITIES IN TEXAS. SO THIS IS A REVIEW OF POLICY CHANGES ON THE FUND BALANCE. SO AS WE LOOK BACK AT THE FUND BALANCE OVER JUST THE PAST FEW YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHANGES THAT I WANT TO COVER IN THIS PRESENTATION. SO IN FISCAL YEAR 2017 FOR THE GENERAL FUND, THE RESERVE POLICY WAS 10%, 10%, AND IT'S 20% NOW, BUT IT WAS 10% IN 2017. AND THE FINANCIAL POLICY STATED THE PROPOSED BUDGET EXPENDITURES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL ANTICIPATED REVENUES IN THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET. AND THE FUND BALANCE POLICY, STATED THE FUND BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND, WHICH EXCEEDS THE MINIMUM LEVELS ESTABLISHED FOR THAT FUND, MAY BE APPROPRIATED FOR NON-RECURRING CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS IN 2017. THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN 20. 18, STAFF WOULD HAVE PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET PROCESS A CHANGE FROM A RESERVE OF 10% TO 20%. THE FINANCIAL POLICIES STATED THE PROPOSED BUDGET. THE PROPOSED EXPENDITURE SHALL NOT EXCEED TOTAL ANTICIPATED REVENUES IN THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT IT WAS CHANGED. THE POLICY WAS CHANGED IN THAT YEAR AND IT STATES UNDER THIS POLICY, IT IS ALLOWABLE FOR TOTAL EXPENDITURES TO EXCEED REVENUES IN A GIVEN YEAR. IN 2022, THE FINANCIAL POLICY WAS STILL A RESERVE OF 20%, BUT THEN IT WAS CHANGED IN 2022 TO STATE THE TOTAL PROPOSED EXPENDITURES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL ANTICIPATED REVENUES AND AVAILABLE RESERVES IN THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT THE FUND BALANCE POLICY REMAINED THE SAME IN THAT YEAR. IN 2025, THIS BUDGET, WE IMPROVED IT FOR CLARITY TO STATE A BALANCED BUDGET REPRESENTS TOTAL PROPOSED EXPENDITURES NOT EXCEEDING TOTAL ANTICIPATED REVENUES AND

[02:50:04]

SO WE CHANGED THE POLICY BECAUSE WE ARE CONTINUING TO IMPROVE THIS BUDGET DOCUMENT. IT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN 1 OR 2 YEARS TO GET IT TO WHERE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH GFOA STANDARDS.

WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS THAT AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE TWO YEARS. IF IT TOOK 22 YEARS WHERE WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THIS AWARD THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. SO THEREFORE WE DID CHANGE IT TO CLEARLY STATE, AS REQUIRED BY GFOA, THAT A BALANCED BUDGET REPRESENTS BASICALLY WHAT WAS LISTED ABOVE IN 2022, TOTAL PROPOSED EXPENDITURES SHALL NOT EXCEED TOTAL ANTICIPATED. COUNCILMAN GETS. SO YOU ALREADY GAVE US A DEFINITION OF A BALANCED BUDGET. REPRESENTS TOTAL PROPOSED EXPENDITURES NOT EXCEEDING TOTAL ANTICIPATED REVENUES AND AVAILABLE RESERVES ABOVE THE POLICY REQUIREMENT. AND UNDERSTAND THAT MY QUESTION IS WHEN THESE FUND BALANCE POLICIES, WHEN THE FUND BALANCE POLICY CHANGED FROM 2017 TO 2018, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAD TO BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL, OR WAS THAT SOMETHING INTERNAL TO STAFF, THAT WERE STAFF? CHANGED THE POLICY? IT REQUIRES COUNCIL APPROVAL. EVERY YEAR. WE INCLUDE EVERY YEAR ALL THE CITIES I'VE WORKED FOR AND MOST CITIES, WE INCLUDE THE POLICY IN OUR BUDGET DOCUMENT. SO IT'S IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT. WHEN WE PRESENTED THE PROPOSED BUDGET DOCUMENT TO COUNCIL, THE POLICIES WERE IN THERE. WE HAD A TAB THAT SAYS FINANCIAL POLICIES. SO WHEN COUNCIL ADOPTED THE BUDGET YOU ADOPTED THE POLICY. BASICALLY YOU ADOPTED EVERYTHING IN THAT BINDER THAT WE PROVIDED TO YOU. SO IT COMES FROM STAFF BECAUSE WE AS STAFF, FOR EXAMPLE, MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, THERE ARE BEST PRACTICES. THESE ARE UPDATED EVERY YEAR. THEY MAY TELL US, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY SUGGEST, YOU KNOW, FUND BALANCE RESERVES SHOULD BE 30%. AND THEN AND THEN WE AS STAFF, WE DISCUSS THAT. AND IF WE FEEL WE CAN AFFORD IT, WE BRING IT TO COUNCIL. WE PUT IT IN THE POLICY IN TERMS OF BEST PRACTICES, THE FUND BALANCE POLICY AS IT EXISTED IN 2017 VERSUS THE WAY IT IS NOW. WHAT IS THE BEST PRACTICES, THE WAY IT IS NOW? AND WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE IT CLEARLY DEFINES IT CLEARLY DEFINES WHAT A BALANCED BUDGET IS. TOTAL PROPOSED EXPENDITURE NOT EXCEEDING ANTICIPATED REVENUES AND AVAILABLE RESERVES ABOVE THE POLICY REQUIREMENT.

THAT'S I'M SURE I WASN'T HERE THEN, BUT THAT'S WHY THEY LIKELY CHANGED IT FROM FISCAL YEAR 2018 TO 2022 TO SAY AVAILABLE RESERVES IN THE CITY MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET. SAY WHEN I'M LOOKING AT THE FUND BALANCE POLICY, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION TO ME THAN WHAT IS A BALANCED BUDGET, A BALANCED BUDGET, A FUND BALANCED POLICY IS US TRYING TO TELL YOU WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE AS A POLICY, AS THE MINIMUM AMOUNT TO HAVE IN OUR FUND BALANCE. I UNDERSTAND THE RESERVES BEING INCREASED AT 20%, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLICY AS IT WAS IN 2017, WE'RE SAYING THAT WE WANTED THE FUND BALANCE IN THE GENERAL FUND EXCEEDING THESE MINIMUM LEVELS OF 10% THAT'S ESTABLISHED FOR THAT FUND MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATED FOR NON-RECURRING CAPITAL, OR MAY BE APPROPRIATED FOR NON-RECURRING CAPITAL PROJECTS OR PROGRAMS. IT

[02:55:04]

WE'RE HAVING TO GO INTO OUR FUND BALANCE, AND THAT'S A BIG CONCERN FOR MYSELF. AND I KNOW SOME OF THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GOETZ. AND I DO HEAR YOU. BUT IN TERMS OF CITY'S BUDGET AND HAVING POLICIES IN PLACE AGAIN, THAT'S WHY GFOA TELLS US TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY WHAT A BALANCED BUDGET IS. AND ACTUALLY, WHEN I GOT HERE TWO YEARS AGO, I DID ASK THE CFO AT THAT TIME, WERE IN YOUR BUDGET, DOES IT STATE A BALANCED BUDGET? I ASKED HIM THAT, AND THE FINANCIAL POLICY FOR 2022 IS WHAT HE TOLD ME IS A BALANCED BUDGET. SO I SAID, WE NEED TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY BECAUSE I CAN'T KNOW WHERE IN THE DOCUMENT CAN I IDENTIFY WHAT MAKES A BALANCED BUDGET OR WHAT REPRESENTS A BALANCED BUDGET? AGAIN? SO IN ORDER TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT FIN ASSOCIATION BEST PRACTICES AND STANDARDS, WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT A BALANCED BUDGET IS. AND THIS ISN'T A I MEAN, THIS IS, TO ME, CLEARLY A GOOD DEFINITION OF A BALANCED BUDGET. AND OUR RESERVE PERCENTAGE IS A REASONABLE PERCENTAGE FOR A CITY OF OUR SIZE. SO NOTHING, NOTHING IS STRIKES ME AS, AS BEING UNREASONABLE IN IN THE FINANCIAL POLICY AND THE DEFINITION OF A BALANCED BUDGET. SO JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MAYBE TWO AND A HALF WEEKS AGO, WE REACHED OUT TO OUR AUDIT FIRM. WE HAVE AN AUDIT FIRM OUTSIDE AUDIT FIRM PATTILLO, BROWN AND HILL LLP, AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL POLICIES AND OUR BUDGET AND TELL US WHETHER OR NOT OUR BUDGET IS A BALANCED BUDGET. THIS IS THE QUOTE FROM OUR AUDITOR. WITH RESPECT TO A BALANCED BUDGET, I AGREE THAT THE BUDGET SATISFIES THE DEFINITION IN THE POLICY. AS COUNCILMAN PHIL SHAW AND COUNCILMAN NEAL, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER AND STAFF FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. THIS IS VERY INFORMATIVE AND IT IT HELPS A LOT BECAUSE GOVERNMENT FINANCING IS CAN BE CONVOLUTED. AND SO THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. I ALSO APPRECIATE CITY MANAGER THE FACT THAT UNDER YOUR ADMINISTRATION, YOU HAVE BROUGHT US INTO THE BUDGET PROCESS AND WE NEVER DID THAT BEFORE. SO THANK YOU. AND I LIKE THE IDEA OF A ZERO BASED BUDGETING TO WHERE EVERY DEPARTMENT HAS TO JUSTIFY THEIR EXPENDITURES. OF COURSE, I'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT MY CONCERN IS, HOWEVER WE WANT TO DEFINE IT, BUT MY CONCERN HAS BEEN THAT OUR EXPENDITURES EXCEED OUR REVENUE. IN ORDER TO BALANCE THAT, WE HAVE TO PULL IT OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. SO HERE HERE'S MY QUESTION RIGHT NOW. THE LAST REPORT I SAW WERE AT 37 MILLION. I BELIEVE THE 20% REQUIREMENT OF THE 167 IS AROUND 33 MILLION. SO LOOKING AT THE FIREFIGHTERS CONTRACT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO DO TO IMPACT OUR BUDGET, IF AND WHEN THAT NUMBER DROPS FROM 37 BELOW 33, WHAT DOES WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN AT THAT POINT AND HOW DOES THAT AFFECT OUR BOND RATING? WELL, JUST TO COMMENT ABOUT THE 37, I, I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT NUMBER. IT MAY BE SOME IT MAY. WHERE IS THAT NUMBER COMING FROM. BECAUSE IS IT THE REPORT I HAVE ON MY DESK? I JUST LOOKED AT IT A MOMENT AGO. THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL. YEAH, THE MONTHLY. AND WE DO HAVE MISS BRIDGET EVICT. THAT'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE MONTHLY FINANCIALS AND HOW THOSE NUMBERS ARE REPRESENTED COMPARED TO THE BUDGET. SO THAT'S MORE IN HER LANE. BUT BUT OUR OUR BUDGET AND OUR FUND BALANCE IS GOING TO PROBABLY BE ON THE VERY NEXT SLIDE WHERE I SHOW OUR BUDGETED FUND BALANCE, WHICH IS $46 MILLION ENDING IS 43 MILLION, WHICH IS ON A CASH BASIS. AND SHE'LL GET INTO THAT. BUT THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE USE FROM A BUDGET STANDPOINT. THERE ARE CERTAIN ACCOUNTING GUIDELINES AND PRINCIPLES THAT ARE USED IN ORDER TO REPRESENT THE FUND BALANCE THAT YOU SEE IN, IN THE MONTHLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. THEY'RE NOT INCORRECT, BUT IT'S JUST HOW THOSE NUMBERS HAVE TO BE PRESENTED IN OUR MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT VERSUS HOW THEY'RE PRESENTED IN THE BUDGET.

BUT BUT IN TERMS OF THE BUDGETED FUND BALANCE. AND AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE ON THE VERY NEXT SLIDE. AND ACTUALLY, SINCE I'M DONE WITH THIS SLIDE, IT'S A COUPLE OF SLIDES OVER. WELL IT'S

[03:00:04]

BUT WE SET ASIDE 43,407,000 IN THE BUDGET. SO WE ARE OVER AGAIN, GOING BACK TO THE REQUIREMENT WHERE OVER THE REQUIREMENT AND WE SATISFY THE DEFINITION THAT'S IN THE POLICY FOR BALANCED BUDGET. BUT WE HAVE $9.9 MILLION IN WHAT'S CALLED UNRESTRICTED FUNDS. THOSE ARE OVER THE POLICY THAT WAS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL, SAYING YOU MUST SET ASIDE 33 MILLION. BUT WE IN THE BUDGET SET ASIDE 43 MILLION, WHICH COMES TO THE 9.9 MILLION. SO THOSE UNRESTRICTED DOLLARS AND IN ACCOUNTING, UNRESTRICTED MEANS THAT YOU CAN USE THOSE DOLLARS. THEY'RE NOT RESTRICTED TO A CERTAIN USE OR LIMITATION. THOSE CAN BE USED IN ANY WAY BY THE GOVERNING BODY OR BY THE CITY. SO IN THE GENERAL FUND, WE HAVE $9.9 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS BUDGETED SOLID WASTE FUND. WE'RE OVER BUDGET AND HAVE $2.8 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS. WATER UTILITIES, $9.3 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS. CAN I ASK A QUESTION? YES. OKAY, SO BACK TO A QUESTION COUNCILMAN PHIL SHAW WAS ASKING. SO YOU GOT 9.8 MILLION ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THE FUND BALANCE. WE HAVE NOT SECURED THE CONTRACT WITH THE FIRE UNION YET. SO, I MEAN, PICK A NUMBER. I DON'T CARE WHAT IT WAS. IT IS I MEAN, SAY $5 MILLION. SO NOW YOU GOT $5 MILLION OUT OF THAT, ALMOST TEN LEFT GOING INTO BUDGET SEASON NEXT YEAR. YOUR YOUR EXPENSES ARE GOING TO INCREASE, WHICH MEANS YOUR 20% REQUIREMENT IS GOING TO INCREASE AS WELL. WHEN YOU ALREADY HAD THE POOL $3.6 MILLION OUT OF IT FOR LAST YEAR. THAT'S THE CONCERN WE HAVE. SO NOW YOU HAD THE TEN. YOU TAKE FIVE AWAY, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER FOUR OUT OF IT. SO NOW YOU'RE DOWN TO ONE. AND TO ADD ON TO THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED THAT OUR EXPENSES ARE GOING TO INCREASE, BUT OUR OUR PLAN IS FOR OUR REVENUES TO INCREASE AS WELL. SO THAT WILL OFFSET THAT $1 MILLION THAT YOU THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED. AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS. BUT WE DO HAVE A PLAN. OUR ADMINISTRATION, THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS A PLAN TO INCREASE REVENUES IN THE GENERAL FUND FOR NEXT YEAR, JUST LIKE WE DID THIS YEAR. SO THAT WILL OFFSET THAT AMOUNT, SIR. AND AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO INTERRUPT. IT'S 434. WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A TEN MINUTE RECESS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN AT THIS OVER IT'S STILL THERE, BUT MY GRANDSON WAS PLAYING WITH IT, SO I. AND I SUPPOSE WE DO. WE NEED TO HAVE A ROLL CALL AT THIS POINT. YES. MAYOR WEST PRESENT MAYOR PRO TEM NEIL, COUNCILMEMBER DARIO HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBER. GOETZ. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER. TURNER HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER. SHAW. PRESENT.

AND COUNCIL MEMBER. SAMUEL HERE. THANK YOU. CONTINUE. YES. PLEASE CONTINUE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

SO I'LL WRAP IT UP ON THIS SLIDE HERE. I'LL MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS THE GENERAL FUND FUND BALANCE FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. AND THIS IS HOW IN MOST OF OUR CITY FUNDS, WE REPRESENT THE BUDGET EACH FISCAL YEAR. BUT THIS SHOWS THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE. IT SHOWS THE BUDGETED $164 MILLION FOR REVENUES, BUDGETED EXPENSES 167,000,005 56. THAT NET OR THAT DIFFERENCE IS A -$3.546 MILLION.

SO OUR STARTING FUND BALANCE IS $46,954,000. THAT'S THE BUDGETED STARTING FUND BALANCE. OUR ENDING FUND BALANCE IS 43,000,407. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THAT 43 MILLION, THAT TAKES INTO

[03:05:06]

THE SECOND YEAR, THIRD YEAR, $7.8 MILLION POLICY REQUIREMENT IS WHAT WE NEEDED TO SET ASIDE IN THAT FUND. WE SET ASIDE 11.9 MILLION 22.7% FOURTH YEAR FISCAL YEAR 2023, $8.3 MILLION REQUIRED TO BE SET ASIDE. WE SET ASIDE 10.8 MILLION, WHICH IS A 19.6 FUND BALANCE, SO I WON'T TOUCH ON 24 BUT 25 THIS FISCAL YEAR, $9 MILLION REQUIREMENT AT 15%. WE'RE AT 30.5%. WE DOUBLE OUR POLICY IN THIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FOR THE WATER FUND AT $18.2 MILLION. YES, SIR. I HAVE A YEAH. THIS IS A THAT'S AN ENTERPRISE FUND. THIS IS. YES. THAT'S PRIMARILY WHERE WE GET INTEREST INCOME FROM MONEY THAT'S IN THE BANK. BUT IT'S PRIMARILY WATER BILLS, THE WATER AND SEWER RATES THAT ARE PAID. AND JUST FOR CLARITY, THIS THESE FUNDS CAN ONLY BE USED FOR WATER UTILITY FUND RELATED ITEMS PRIMARILY. BUT COUNCIL DOES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MOVE FUNDS AROUND AT ITS DISCRETION. SO ANY UNRESTRICTED FUNDS IN ANY FUND, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS THAT AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER THOSE FUNDS. BUT IF YOU HAVE THE IF YOU GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HAVE SO MUCH EXTRA MONEY IN YOUR WATER FUND THAT YOU'RE USING IT FOR OTHER STUFF, SHOULDN'T YOU LOOK AT LOWERING YOUR WATER RATE? IF WE HAVE THAT MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WE NEED, WE CAN ALSO LOOK AT USING THESE FUNDS FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND DOING MORE CAPITAL PROJECTS EVERY WEEK. IT APPEARS THAT WE GET CALLS ABOUT SEWER BACKUP, BACKUP AND THOSE TYPES OF ISSUES CITYWIDE. SO INSTEAD OF LOWERING THE RATES, WE COULD DIRECT THOSE FUNDS TO ADDITIONAL PROJECTS OF THE CITY.

QUESTION. COUNCILMAN TURNER, I KNOW IN THE PAST WE HAVE USED MONEY FROM THE GENERAL GENERAL FUND TO SHORE UP THINGS IN THE WATER FUND, TO MY UNDERSTANDING, AM I CORRECT? HAVE WE EVER MADE TRANSFERS LIKE FROM THE GENERAL FUND TO NOT SHORE UP, BUT TO DO PROJECTS, WATER RELATED PROJECTS? I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE THE TWO YEARS AND I DON'T RECALL THAT, BUT BUT AGAIN, THE CITY COUNCIL CAN TRANSFER MONEY. AS I SHOWED ON A SLIDE, A COUPLE OF, WELL, A COUPLE OF SLIDES AGO, THERE'S $22 MILLION IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS BETWEEN THE THREE FUNDS. IF COUNCIL CHOOSES, WE COULD TRANSFER THOSE FUNDS AS IT SEES FIT BETWEEN ANY FUND. SO LIKELY IT COULD HAVE BEEN. IT

[03:10:07]

I'VE THOUGHT OF IT AS AN ENTERPRISE FUND. THE FUNDS HAVE TO STAY IN THAT ENTERPRISE FUND.

THEY CAN'T BE USED FOR OTHER FUNDS. WE ACTUALLY TRANSFER. I THINK IT'S $10 MILLION TO THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THE GENERAL FUND, CITY MANAGER, H.R. WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE ENTERPRISE FUNDS, WATER UTILITY, YOU KNOW, HR SERVICES, CITY MANAGEMENT SERVICES. SO THEY CAN PAY BACK FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST. IT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE. YES. CITY COUNCIL CAN TRANSFER MONEY ACROSS FUNDS. YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT CITY MANAGER CAN'T I CAN'T TRANSFER MONEY ACROSS THE FUND. I CAN TRANSFER IT WITHIN A FUND. BUT ONLY CITY COUNCIL HAS AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER MONEY ACROSS THE FUND AND USE IT. COUNCILMAN, I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. JUMP FROM 24 TO 25. UP TO 30%. 18 MILLION. I'M. ARE WE? WHAT ARE WE CONTRIBUTING THAT TO? INCREASE OF WATER RATES THIS FISCAL YEAR? WE DID INCREASE LANDFILL RATES IN THE WATER UTILITY. YEAH THIS IS WATER UTILITY. SO YEAH WATER WATER RATE INCREASES AS YOU RECALL. YES. OUR WATER RATE CONSULTANT HDR CAME IN AND MADE A PRESENTATION TO CITY COUNCIL. THEY'VE DONE IT THE LAST TWO YEARS AND REALLY LET US KNOW THAT THAT WE NEED TO SHORE UP OUR FUND BALANCES, OUR BOND, OUR BOND RATING AGENCY EVEN TOLD US THAT OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WHEN WE MET WITH THEM IN JUNE AND JULY, THAT THE CITY OF BEAUMONT NEEDS TO SHORE UP ITS FUND BALANCE, WE LISTENED TO THE BOND RATING AGENCY AND OUR CONSULTANT, AND THAT'S PARTIALLY THE REASON WHY WE WERE AT 30%.

YEAH, AND I REMEMBER THEM TELLING US, RECOMMENDING THAT WE RAISE OUR RATES. I, I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS GOING TO HAVE THAT KIND OF AN IMPACT. AND AS COUNCILMAN TURNER, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, NEIL SAID, AT SOME POINT, IF IT KEEPS CLIMBING, I THINK IT BEGS THE QUESTION, DO WE NOT LOWER THE RATES? IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR WE'RE WELL, THAT'S NOT A FAIR QUESTION. WELL, AND I THINK TOO, WE NEED TO STAY ON THE INFORMATION THEY'RE GIVING US. I MEAN, A LOT OF THAT IS GOING TO BE POLICY THAT WE WILL FAIR ENOUGH. WE'LL DEAL WITH.

THAT'LL BE 18.2 AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. THAT'S NOT 18.2 NOW RIGHT. THAT'S 18.2 IN THE BUDGET. YEAH. AT THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR. YES. YEAH. AND ALSO SOME OF THIS MONEY IS USED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND TRANSFER TO CAPITAL RESERVE CAN BE FOR CAPITAL RESERVES AND THOSE TYPE OF THINGS. SO THE CIP THAT YOU APPROVE THIS HELPS FUND PART OF THAT CIP. SO IT'S THOSE DOLLARS GO IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. AND THIS IS HOW WHAT ACCUMULATES. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT.

NEXT SLIDE IS THIS IS A SOLID WASTE FUND. AND WHICH SHOWS A HISTORY AS WELL. FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS OUR POLICY IN SOLID WASTE IS 15%. AND IT HAS BEEN SINCE 20 I'M SURE WE DIDN'T LOOK BEYOND 20. I'M SURE IT GOES BACK, YOU KNOW, FURTHER THAN THAN FISCAL YEAR 2020. BUT IN 2020 WE EXCEEDED OUR FUND BALANCE POLICY. IT WAS 15%. WE CAME IN AT 15.5. BUDGET AND 2.1, 2.2 MILLION VERSUS WHERE WE NEEDED TO BE AT 2.1 THE SECOND YEAR, 15%. WE BUDGETED AT 15.4% FOR THE FUND BALANCE. THE THIRD YEAR, WHICH IS FISCAL YEAR 2022, FUND BALANCE POLICY 15%. WE ENDED UP BUDGETING AT 17.9%, A $2.2 MILLION IN THE FUND BALANCE. AND AS YOU CAN SEE IN FISCAL YEAR 2324, WE'VE BEEN IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR POLICY. BUT FISCAL YEAR 25, AGAIN, WE DOUBLE OUR FUND BALANCE REQUIREMENT IN THAT FUND. AND I STATED EARLIER THAT WE INCREASED OUR LANDFILL RATES IN THIS NEW BUDGET. THAT'S PARTLY THE REASON WHY THERE'S AN INCREASE THERE. THERE HAVE BEEN SAVINGS IN THAT DEPARTMENT IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. THERE ARE VACANCIES. SO VACANCIES TEND TO CONTRIBUTE TO A HIGHER FUND BALANCE. AGAIN THAT'S BUDGETED. YOU KNOW WE STILL NEED TO AUDIT THAT YEAR ONCE THIS FISCAL YEAR IS DONE. BUT BUT WE IN OUR BUDGET DOUBLE OUR FUND BALANCE IN OUR GENERAL FUND FROM 15% IN I'M SORRY, SOLID WASTE FUND FROM 15% TO 34 MORE THAN DOUBLE 34.6%. AND WE WERE ALSO INFORMED BY OUR SOLID WASTE OPERATIONS MANAGER, MR. BENJIE WILLIAMS,

[03:15:02]

WE'LL ADJUST OUR FOR YOUR GENERAL OPERATIONS. SO WE MIGHT BE RECOGNIZING REVENUE THAT WE'VE BUILT BUT HAVEN'T NECESSARILY RECEIVED. MAYBE ON THE AND ON THE BUDGET YOU'RE NOT AS YOU'RE YOU'RE YOU'RE SPEAKING MORE OR YOUR ACCOUNTING FOR THE ACTUAL DOLLARS IN DOLLARS OUT WITH YOUR MODIFIED ACCRUAL. YOU'RE IT'S NOT FULL ACCRUAL BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, SOME OF THOSE ADJUSTMENTS WE CAN ONLY MAKE ONCE A YEAR, SOME OF THEM WE ONLY HAVE THE INFORMATION TO MAKE ONCE A YEAR. THE BUT THAT'S THAT'S KIND OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO AND EACH OF THOSE. EVEN IF YOU START WITH THE SAME FUND BALANCE JUST BECAUSE OF THE DIFFERENT ENTRIES AND STUFF THAT GO BETWEEN THEM. NOW I CAN RECONCILE BETWEEN THE THREE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME AND THEY'RE ALL CORRECT. AND THAT'S ALL KEEPING US IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHAT GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS SAY THAT WE SHOULD BE. SO DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? BE HAPPY TO. YES. SO WHY DO YOU USE THE FINAL NUMBER ON YOUR ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE STARTING NUMBER OF YOUR BUDGET? WELL, WELL, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT WE KNOW THAT THAT'S A

[03:20:05]

RIGHT. YEAH. IT REALLY WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE TO DO IT OTHERWISE. BUT ON YOUR MONTHLY FINANCIALS, WITH THE MODIFIED ACCRUAL BASIS, WHAT'S YOUR WHAT I'M GATHERING FROM THIS AT LEAST IS THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A MOVING TARGET. YOU'RE JUST NEVER GOING TO REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE BECAUSE YOU'RE IT'S NOT A CASH BASIS. IT'S A MODIFIED ACCRUAL. AND THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS THAT YOU'RE NOT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT. IS THAT FAIR? SO THE MODIFIED ACCRUAL IS MORE SO YOU'RE IT'S LIKE WE'RE ADJUSTING YOUR COURT RECEIVABLES RIGHT. WE'RE ADJUSTING ALL THAT TO ACTUAL. SO IT'S NOT REALLY SO MUCH A MOVING TARGET AS THERE ARE SO MUCH AS IT IS. THERE ARE CERTAIN ACCOUNTS THAT WE HAVE READILY ACCESS TO REPORTS THAT WE CAN MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS IN A TIMELY MANNER. SO WE DO. SO IT'S NOT REALLY A MOVING TARGET. IT'S JUST MORE ACCOUNTS WE CAN SHORE UP AND WE CAN DO THAT. YOUR BUDGET'S JUST A I MEAN IT'S AN EDUCATED GUESS. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S A GUESS WHEN I SAY MOVING TARGET, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME TIMES WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE REPORTS, AND YOU CAN'T FACTOR THAT IN. I MEAN, THE REPORTS THAT WE DO ADJUST TO EVERY MONTH, WE PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS HAVE ACCESS TO.

OKAY. IT'S ONE OF THOSE REPORTS THAT WE ONLY ADJUST ANNUALLY THEN THAT WE WOULDN'T YOU WOULDN'T PROBABLY EVEN SEE THOSE ACCOUNTS ON THE FINANCIALS. THOSE WOULD BE BACKED OUT ESSENTIALLY TO GET BACK FROM YOUR FULL ACCRUAL TO YOUR MODIFIED CASH. RIGHT. FOR A MORE ACCURATE PICTURE FOR THE TIME BEING, UNTIL, YOU KNOW, WE GET TO YEAR END AND WE CAN USE THOSE ANNUAL REPORTS. COUNCILMAN, YOU HAD A QUESTION. YEAH. THANK YOU. MAYOR. WE USE THE ACCRUAL SYSTEM AT MY CHURCH, MY FINANCES. IT'S PROBABLY AS CONFUSING THERE AS IT IS HERE FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON, FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON. SO I UNDERSTAND IT A LITTLE BIT JUST BECAUSE I DEAL WITH IT ON A DAILY BASIS. BUT THE 37 MILLION AND THE FUND BALANCE LAST MONTH SNAPSHOT AT THAT MOMENT, IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT THAT THAT IS CASH ON HAND AT THAT MOMENT? NO, THAT'S NOT THAT'S NO FUND BALANCE IS YOUR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR TOTAL ASSETS AND YOUR LIABILITIES LIABILITY.

THAT'S IT MAY BE CLOSE TO CASH. IT MAY NOT. BUT THE TWO ARE NOT REALLY RELATED OKAY. OKAY. YOU CAN PROCEED OKAY. AND IF THAT'S I WAS AND IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DUNCAN TO ADDRESS ANYTHING ELSE. WELL, AND I THINK FOR CLARITY AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE, WE DO HAVE GOOD ANTICIPATIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR REVENUES ARE AND EXPENSES IN A BUDGET, AND WE CAN SEE IF WE ARE LESS REVENUE OR GREATER EXPENSES AS WELL. THE ACCRUAL BASIS, WHEN YOU GET INTO WHEN YOU GET INTO THE ADDITIONAL WRITE OFFS THAT YOU HAVE IN AN ACCRUAL BASIS, THAT MUDDIES THE WATER, BUT IT'S YOU DO THAT BECAUSE THAT IS THE ACCEPTED METHOD TO DO IT. YOU DON'T RECEIVE ALL YOUR MONEY IN TERMS OF YOUR SALES TAX, YOUR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. THERE'S TIMES THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE GREATER. BUT YOU YOU SO IT'S NOT GOING TO AVERAGE OUT TO 1/12 IN TERMS OF EXPENSES OR ONE TWELFTHS IN TERMS OF REVENUE. IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT EVERY MONTH. SO WHEN YOU'RE DOING AN ANNUAL PROJECTION YOU'RE DOING THAT. I MEAN, FROM MY EXPERIENCE DOING BUDGETS THERE, THERE ARE SEASONS THAT ARE MORE LEAN AND THERE ARE

[03:25:01]

BUT BUT TO WALK FROM IT EVERYTHING AGREES TO OUR ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. IT'S JUST DIFFERENT METHODS OF GETTING THERE RIGHT. AS IN YOU KNOW MODIFIED FULL ACCRUAL I MEAN AND WE MAY NOT MAKE THOSE ADJUSTMENTS TILL YEAR END, BUT IT ALL GOES BACK AND AGREES TO THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. IT HAS TO OR ELSE IT WOULD BE WRONG. RIGHT. WELL, AND LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION JUST FOR CLARITY, WHEN WE'RE WHEN WE WERE SPEAKING ABOUT THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUDGET AND, AND I FALL IN THE CATEGORY THAT WHAT IS IN EXCESS OF RESERVES IS AVAILABLE TO US TO SPEND. I UNDERSTAND WHEN IT'S BUT WHEN IT GETS FRAMED AS A DEFICIT. MY EXPERIENCE IS THIS IS THE RESIDENTS MONEY. SO WHEN THE RESIDENTS MONEY IS SITTING THERE NOT DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN SITTING IN THE BANK FOR US, WE CAN START, WE CAN START REDUCE SPENDING AT ANY POINT IF WE NEED TO WITH WITH CUTS THAT WOULD BE PROPOSED. BUT WHEN WE HAVE ACCESS TO EXCESS FUNDS SITTING IN OUR RESERVES, MY DEAL IS I THINK IT'S THE RESIDENTS MONEY FOR THEM TO RECEIVE BENEFIT OF IT. AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHO IS GETTING BENEFIT OF THAT. OF THAT ADDITIONAL 3.5 MILLION, HAD WE NOT, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN $3.5 MILLION LESS THAT THE CITIZENS WOULD BE GETTING, AND WE'D JUST BE INCREASING WHAT IS SITTING IN OUR RESERVE, WHICH IS WELL OVER OUR REQUIRED MINIMUM. SO INSTEAD OF SITTING AT 9.9 MILLION, WE'D BE SITTING AT 13.5 MILLION ABOVE THE RESERVES. AND FOR ME, JUST FOR CLARITY, THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH IT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN IN TERMS OF FUTURE, I THINK WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SUFFICIENT RESERVES, WHICH IS CERTAINLY SET FORTH BY THIS COUNCIL. AND EXCEEDING THOSE RESERVES IS CERTAINLY FINE. BUT I THINK THERE COMES A POINT WHERE YOU CAN HAVE TOO MUCH SITTING THERE, BECAUSE IT IS THE RESIDENTS MONEY. WE'RE COLLECTING THEIR TAXES AND WE'VE GOT LOTS OF SERVICES TO PROVIDE, AND I BELIEVE IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR US TO USE THE FUNDS IN THAT MANNER.

AND I DON'T THINK WE'RE PUTTING OUR CITY FROM WHAT I'M SEEING IS WE HAVE WELL IN EXCESS OF WHAT WE NEED AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF WHERE WE ARE IN A YEAR OR TWO YEARS, THREE YEARS, WE COULD CERTAINLY HAVE PROBLEMS. BEAUMONT'S GOT CHALLENGES, BUT ALSO WE'VE GOT OPPORTUNITIES AND WE CAN INCREASE OUR REVENUES AS WELL AS OUR EXPENSES, YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL KNOW WHERE WE ARE IN 26. BUT IN TERMS OF 25, WE ALSO KNOW WHERE WE ARE. AND I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE. AND I, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE MAKING THOSE IMPROVEMENTS AND THOSE ADVANCEMENTS IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING HERE IN THE COUNTY, WITH, WITH THE CITY ADMINISTRATION IN TERMS OF VACANT BUILDING, ENHANCED CODE ENFORCEMENT AND THE HOMELESS, AS WELL AS THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER, THOSE ARE REAL IMPROVEMENTS TO IMPROVING BEAUMONT. CAN I CAN I ADD TO THAT, MAYOR? SURE. AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. AND I THINK EVERYBODY UP HERE UNDERSTANDS THAT 20% IS THE MINIMUM THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN THERE FOR THE FUND BALANCE. ALL I WAS TRYING TO SAY IS, IS IF YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE OUT AND DON'T PUT IN IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, WE'RE GOING TO BE DOWN AT THE BARE MINIMUM. THERE'S NO DOUBT IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A ROLLING NUMBER THAT YOU NEED TO CONTINUE TO PAY ATTENTION TO. BUT I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT, FROM FROM MY STANDPOINT AND I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT ONE. I'M NOT GOING TO THROW A FLAG WHEN WE'RE HAVE THAT MUCH EXCESS AND SAY, BECAUSE WE COULD ALWAYS START AN AUSTERITY PROGRAM HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR. RIGHT. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST DIDN'T FEEL LIKE WE WERE TO THAT POINT. AND I STILL DON'T FEEL LIKE WE'RE TO THAT POINT. BUT I DO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE THE FUNDS, THE CITIZENS FUNDS TO BE SPENDING FOR THEM. IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING. YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE RECURRING EXPENSES. IT'S THE NON-RECURRING THAT WE, YOU KNOW, WE'D BE CUTTING IF WE CUT $3.5 MILLION. SO ANY MORE QUESTIONS? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. SO FOR MY PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION,

[03:30:10]

AND SO IN THIS SLIDE, WE'LL KIND OF SHOW YOU WHAT WE WERE TRANSFERRING OUT IN THE PAST BETWEEN 2010 AND 2025. AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT FROM THE YEAR 2010 TO 2025, OUR TRANSFERS INCREASE BETWEEN THE TWO YEARS BY $8.7 MILLION. AND SO IN 2010, WE HAD LARGELY JUST ONE TRANSFER TO MUNICIPAL TRANSIT, TYPICALLY AROUND $2 MILLION IN 2025, THE CITY HAS BUDGETED 10,000,000.7 IN TRANSFERS OUT TO TRANSIT, CAPITAL BENEFITS AND LIABILITY. AND THEN ALSO IN REVIEW OF BUDGETS. WE DID NOTICE THAT PRIOR ADMINISTRATIONS DID NOT BUDGET ALL THE TRANSFERS THEY EXPECTED TO TRANSFER OUT IN THE IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET, BUT THE PREVIOUS CFO DID TRY TO CORRECT ALL THE NEGATIVE BALANCES THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. SO WHEREAS IN THE PAST, WE MIGHT HAVE ONLY MADE OUR ANNUAL TRANSFER IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET OF $2 MILLION FOR MUNICIPAL TRANSIT IN THE PREVIOUS BUDGET WE JUST APPROVED BY COUNCIL, WE INCLUDED ALL THE TRANSFERS IN THERE. SO INSTEAD OF JUST ONLY DOING TEN AND COMING BACK IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER AND ASKING YOU TO MAKE AN AMENDMENT, WE PUT THEM ALL IN UP FRONT AND CLARITY, CLARITY ON THAT. HE'S SAYING THAT IN THE PAST, SOME OF THIS THIS WASN'T BUDGETED IN THE INITIAL PART OF THE BUDGET. IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS AMENDED INTO THE BUDGET LATER INTO THE YEAR, WHERE WE'RE PUTTING THIS UP FRONT IN THE BUDGET, THESE TRANSFERS. SO THEY'RE SHOWING UP FRONT. IN THE PAST, THEY WERE NOT. GO AHEAD. AND WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME NUMBERS IN TERMS OF HOW THE TRANSFERS HAVE CHANGED SINCE ESSENTIALLY 2022. SO SINCE 2022, WE'VE TRANSFERRED $21 MILLION TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF THIS TABLE, 10 TO 25, THERE WAS ONLY 25 MILLION TRANSFERRED TO EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. SO OF THAT, 25 MILLION TRANSFERRED THROUGH THE 15 YEARS, 20 OF THAT WAS DONE SINCE 2022. SO THE EXPENSES AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS FUND ARE GOING UP. THE SAME THING FOR CAPITAL RESERVE, 53% OF THE TRANSFERS TO CAPITAL RESERVE. I THINK IT SAYS THAT WE'VE TRANSFERRED 15 MILLION FROM 2010 TO 2025. 53% OF THAT HAS COME SINCE 2022. AND THEN THE SAME THING WITH GENERAL LIABILITY, I BELIEVE IT SAYS WE'VE TRANSFERRED, I THINK, 9.7.

THAT SAYS AND SO 56% OF THAT 9.7 HAS HAPPENED SINCE 2022. SO WE ARE FACING A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE NOW WITH TRANSFERS OUT, INCREASING OVER OUR TRANSFERS IN. AND SO UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION WE HAVE TAKEN SOME COST REDUCING OUR COST RECOVERY MEASURES TO TRY TO IMPROVE THE AMOUNT OF DOLLARS WE ARE TRANSFERRING OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. AND SO WE HAD CITY

[03:35:01]

OKAY. SO WE WILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE NUMBERS COME OUT IN JULY. AND THEN JUST TO CLARIFY, PROPERTIES ARE ASSESSED BY THE APPRAISAL DISTRICT. THE CITY DOES NOT ASSESS THE VALUE OF YOUR PROPERTY. AND BACK TO SALES TAX. SO WE HAD A INCREASE IN 15.3%, GOING FROM 45 MILLION TO 52 MILLION, AND THE ANNUALIZED GROWTH RATE FOR 18 TO 25 OF 2.04%. AND THEN SINCE 2021, WE'VE HAD AN ANNUALIZED GROWTH RATE OF 3.4%. AND YOU'LL SEE THAT WE'VE ONLY HAD DIPS IN SALES TAX RECEIPTS DURING THE PANDEMIC. AND THEN ALSO IN 2023, BUT BEFORE 2023, WE INCREASED BY 22% OVER 21 AND 22. SO YOU CAN ONLY INCREASE SO MUCH BEFORE YOU HAVE TO GO BACK DOWN. BUT WE DID BOUNCE BACK IN 2024 WITH ANOTHER INCREASE IN THIS LAST CHART.

HERE WE WILL HAVE A COMPARISON OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. AND THIS IS BASED ON CALENDAR YEAR FROM THE COMPTROLLER WEBSITE. AND SO WHAT THIS IS DOING IS SAYING IN 2023, THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IN 2024, THE CITY OF BEAUMONT INCREASED THEIR SALES TAX BY 3.5% FROM 2023. AND THEN IN 2024, THEIR SALES TAX INCREASE BY 1.8 MILLION OVER 2023. AND ALSO, IT SHOWS HOW WE COMPARE TO OUR SURROUNDING CITIES. BEAUMONT IS 6.09 PERCENTAGE POINTS HIGHER THAN THE OTHER AREA CITIES AROUND US THERE. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE LAST THREE SLIDES ARE AN INDICATION OF US AND HOW WE PROJECT FUTURE REVENUES, AND HOW WE LOOK AT FUTURE GROWTH AND BUDGETING. SO THE PICTURE FOR BEAUMONT IS NOT AS DIRE ECONOMICALLY AS FOR THE CITY AS PEOPLE THINK IT IS. YOU'VE HAD SOME GOOD STEADY SALES TAX GROWTH, WHICH IS BETTER THAN A SPIKE, AND THEN IT COMES BACK DOWN. YOU'VE HAD REALLY STEADY PROPERTY TAX EVALUATION GROWTH, STRONG GROWTH. IT ALMOST WAS 4 BILLION. YES, SIR. 4 BILLION ALMOST DOUBLED IN THOSE FROM 2016 TO 2025. THAT WAS TEN YEARS. SO. IT GIVES US IT GIVES US INFORMATION TO BUDGET WITH, TO ANTICIPATE AND SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH GROWTH. OKAY. COUNCILMAN, THERE'S BEEN TWO NUMBERS GIVEN TO US, 43,000,037 MILLION. 20% IS 33 MILLION FIREFIGHTERS. CONTRACT COULD BE SIX AND A HALF, 7 MILLION. WE DON'T KNOW AS A COUNCIL WHAT NUMBER DO WE WORK OFF OF? DO WE DO WE DO WE. HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT ISSUE? FIRE DEPARTMENT SIX. THAT'S OVER WHAT, FIVE YEARS? FOUR YEARS? FAIR ENOUGH. YEAH. FAIR ENOUGH. AND EVEN THAT'S A WILD GUESS BECAUSE WE'VE

[03:40:03]

[03:45:01]

IF IT'S GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT, IF IT'S WATER AND WASTEWATER DEBT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER FEES ANNUALLY. SO WE AS A CITY NEED TO AND WE WANT TO HAVE AS HIGH OF A BOND RATING AS, AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF BOND RATINGS. SO THE CITY WE UTILIZE TWO OF THE NATION'S MAJOR BOND RATING AGENCIES. THERE ARE TWO OF THE THREE. WE UTILIZE MOODY'S. WE UTILIZE STANDARD AND POOR'S. AND THE THIRD IS FITCH.

BUT WE DON'T UTILIZE FITCH TO RADAR BONDS. SO THIS PAST JUNE. SO WE HAVE TWO RATINGS. ONE IS FOR UTILITY DEBT. THAT'S THE WATER AND SEWER RELATED DEBT. AND THEN THE OTHER IS GENERAL OBLIGATION WHICH IS MONEY WE HAVE TO BORROW FOR FACILITIES OR STREET REPAIRS OR PARKS. SO THIS PAST JUNE, MOODY'S PROVIDED A RATING ANALYSIS AND THEY RATED THEY MAINTAINED THE CITY'S CURRENT RATING, WHICH IS A-1, WHICH IS A HIGH HIGH GRADE CREDIT RATING. AND SO THE FOLLOWING MONTH, THEY CAME BACK AND CONDUCTED A RATING OF THE CITY'S BONDS AND FINANCES. AND THEY MAINTAINED THE CITY'S AA3 WITH A STABLE OUTLOOK, WHICH IS. AND I'M GOING TO READ A QUOTE FROM OUR CITY'S FINANCIAL ADVISOR. YOU HE'S BEEN HERE BEFORE, AND Y'ALL MET HIM, MR. DUSTY TRAILER. AND HE WORKS FOR RBC CAPITAL MARKET. HE'S BEEN ADVISING THE CITY SINCE 2012.

AND SO I ASKED HIM JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO TO JUST GIVE ME HIS OPINION ON OUR BOND RATING FOR G.O. DEBT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONE HE AND I WERE TALKING OR REFERRING TO AT THE TIME. AND THIS IS HIS QUOTE. HE SAID THE CITY'S RATINGS ARE IN THE CAPITAL OR UPPERCASE LOWERCASE A SLASH, UPPERCASE AA CATEGORY, WHICH SIGNIFIES A VERY HIGH QUALITY DEBT INSTRUMENT AND VERY LOW CREDIT RISK RATINGS IN THIS CATEGORY INDICATE ISSUERS WITH A VERY STRONG CAPACITY TO MEET THEIR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. THIS IS THIS IS HIS HIS QUOTE. AND SO THROUGHOUT THE BOND RATING PROCESS, THE RATING AGENCIES CONTACT US AND THEY THEY MEET WITH THE FINANCE STAFF AND KEY FINANCE STAFF CFO. THEY ACTUALLY MEET WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND THEY MEET WITH ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS. ONCE THEY PROVIDE THEIR RATING. AND IN THE MOST RECENT MOODY'S RATING, THEY HIGHLIGHTED A COUPLE OF THINGS. ONE IS THEY HIGHLIGHTED THAT THE CITY'S LARGE, STABLE TAX BASE, AS WELL AS THE CITY'S NEW MANAGEMENT TEAM. THEY HIGHLIGHTED THOSE AS CREDIT STRENGTHS IN THEIR WRITTEN RATING. THEY ALSO INDICATED AN UPWARD AND SUSTAINED TREND IN AVAILABLE FUND BALANCES AND STRENGTHENED PROPERTY AND INCOME. WEALTH COULD LEAD TO A FUTURE UPGRADE, SO THEY TEND TO TELL US WHAT COULD UP UPGRADE OUR BOND RATINGS IN THE FUTURE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO INCREASE OUR RATINGS. AND THAT'S WHAT WE TRY TO FOCUS ON. SOME THINGS ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, SUCH AS INCOME, WEALTH. I MEAN, WE AS A CITY REALLY DON'T CONTROL THE CITY'S INCOME. WEALTH LIKE LIKE PER HOUSEHOLD.

BUT BUT THEY TELL US THAT IF THOSE THINGS INCREASE WITHIN THE CITY AND WITHIN THE AREA, THEN YOU COULD HAVE AN UPGRADE IN YOUR BOND RATING. SO THIS IS WITH REGARD TO UTILITY DEBT.

WHEN THEY RATED US IN THE MONTH OF JUNE OF 2024, THEY HIGHLIGHTED A FEW THINGS. THEY HIGHLIGHTED THE CITY'S SIZABLE SERVICE AREA, ANCHORED BY INSTITUTIONAL CUSTOMERS, AND THEY DISCUSSED THE RECENT ACTIONS TO IMPROVE REVENUES. SO THIS WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME, BECAUSE THEY WERE IMPRESSED BY THE FACT THAT WE STARTED CONDUCTING WATER AND SEWER RATE STUDIES. WE JUST STARTED CONDUCTING THOSE WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS. THEY HIGHLIGHTED THAT AS SOMETHING THAT WAS

[03:50:05]

MOODY'S RATING THEY THEY SAID ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR BEAUMONT IS FINANCIAL METRICS LAG BEHIND SIMILARLY SIMILARLY RELATED PEERS. AND THEY WERE MORE REFERRING TO THE AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME WITHIN THE AREA, NOT JUST BEAUMONT, BUT WITHIN THIS SOUTHEASTERN TEXAS AREA. AND THEY ALSO MENTIONED OR INCLUDED IN THEIR REPORT THAT FUTURE A FUTURE UPGRADE COULD INCREASE IF THERE IS A TREND OF SURPLUS OPERATIONS. SO AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR FINANCES, CREATE SURPLUSES AND HEALTHY FUND BALANCES IN THE FUTURE, WE COULD HAVE INCREASES IN OUR BOND RATING. SO SOME FUTURE REVENUE GENERATION PROPOSALS. SO WE ARE AS FINANCE PROFESSIONALS AS AS AN ADMINISTRATION, WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO THE CITY TO HELP LOWER THE COST TO THE TAXPAYERS AND THE RATE PAYERS. AND WE'LL BE BRINGING TO THE CITY COUNCIL. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN PRESENTATIONS TO THE COUNCIL ON THESE TOP TWO ITEMS, WATER AND WASTEWATER IMPACT FEES. WE PLAN TO, FOR THE FIRST TIME, INCLUDE THOSE IN OUR FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET TO HELP WITH THE WATER AND SEWER FUND, HELP OFFSET SOME OF THE COST IMPLEMENTATION OF PARK LAND DEVELOPMENT FEES AND PARKLAND IN LIEU OF FEES. OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE THAT IN THE UPCOMING BUDGET 2026. SOME ESTIMATE OF REVENUES FOR PARKLAND RELATED FEES AND CONTINUING THOSE FEES MOVING FORWARD. ANNUAL CITYWIDE REVIEW OF CITY ANNUAL REVIEW OF CITYWIDE REVENUES THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS. WE SHOULD ALWAYS LOOK AT TRYING TO IMPROVE OUR COST RECOVERY. THAT'S WHAT WE DO WITH THE WASTEWATER RATES.

THAT'S WHAT WE DID IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. WE HAD EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT LOOK AT ALL OF THEIR FEES. LOOK AT. THEIR REVENUE AMOUNTS, AND THEY REPORTED BACK. SO WE MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THIS YEAR, AND WE WILL HAVE AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF CITYWIDE REVENUES IN THIS NEW BUDGET TO GENERATE NEW REVENUE TO THE CITY AND THE GENERAL FUND AND THE WATER AND WASTEWATER FUND. WE PLAN TO HIRE A GRANTS COORDINATOR THAT WAS ADDED TO THE BUDGET IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. THAT MONEY IS BUDGETED FOR APRIL 1ST, SO WE PLAN TO HIRE GRANTS COORDINATOR TO INCREASE OUR FOCUS ON GRANTS TO HELP OFFSET COSTS OUT OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND, WATER FUND AND OTHER CITY FUNDS. GENERATION OF REVENUE. THIS IS THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR OF IMPLEMENTING THE

[03:55:06]

COUNCILMAN GOETZ AND COUNCILMAN TURNER, YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS AN AWARD THAT THE CITY HAD NEVER RECEIVED. MAYBE IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION AWARD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IS THAT THE ONE GFOA BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD? YES, GOVERNMENT BUDGET PRESENTATION AWARD. IS THAT AN AWARD A CITY HAS TO APPLY FOR IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE IT? OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT IS JUST GIVEN BY THE THAT ORGANIZATION TO ALL CITIES IF THEY MEET CERTAIN STANDARDS, THE CITY HAS TO APPLY FOR IT. THERE'S AN APPLICATION PROCESS AND MANY DIFFERENT CRITERIA THAT THAT A BUDGET DOCUMENT HAS TO MEET IN ORDER TO RECEIVE IT. SO DO YOU KNOW IF WE

[04:00:02]

SO IF LAST YEAR IT WAS 5.1 MILLION AND NOW IS PROJECTED 9.869 9,896,000, IS THAT A DEPLETION? IS THAT AN INCREASE GROWTH? OKAY. THE AMOUNT OF SURPLUS GREW BY APPROXIMATELY 4 MILLION, ALMOST $5 MILLION. YEAH. BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO LET ASHLEY ANSWER THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A QUESTION. I HAD ANOTHER ISSUE WE HAD WITHIN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT WHEN I FIRST GOT ON

[04:05:03]

YOU GOT TO HAVE IF CONSULTANTS COME IN AND GIVE US INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT'S BEST, WE HAVE TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THE PROFESSIONALS. AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE KIND OF ADOPTED THIS MENTALITY. IT'S ALSO JUST AS MUCH AS IMPORTANT THAT WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS TODAY, BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A BIG TOPIC AT HANDS IN THE CITY OF BEAUMONT. AND I AGREE WITH THIS. AND I'M OKAY WITH THE TRANSPARENCY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS OUT IN THE OPEN. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS ON THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING INTO CLOSING COMMENTS TO GIVE UP COUNCILMAN TURNER A SECOND ON THAT. I HAVE ONE QUESTION. WHEN WE DECIDE TO I GUESS IN THE LAST BUDGET AND WE DECIDED TO UP OUR FUND BALANCE BECAUSE THIS WAS A PERIOD THAT SOME FOLKS ON THE COUNCIL WANTED US TO DO. DO WE HAVE TO PULL ANY SERVICES TO THE CITIZENS OUT OF THE BUDGET BY DOING THAT? NONE THAT I'M AWARE OF, OF REDUCING OR NEGATIVELY IMPACTING ANY SERVICES? NO THEY DID. NO. NO, SIR. COUNCILMAN SAMUEL. YES. I JUST WANT TO COMMEND COUNCIL MEMBER TURNER FOR HIS RELENTLESS EFFORTS TO GET BUDGET INFORMATION TO CLARIFY SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE CIRCULATING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. HE'S BEEN VERY RELENTLESS ABOUT THAT, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR PUSHING THAT MOTION. ALL RIGHT. NOTHING ELSE FOR MR. ELLIS. THANK YOU, SIR. THANK YOU. AND WITH THAT, WE'RE GOING

[COUNCIL COMMENTS]

[04:10:02]

AND AGAIN, LET'S KIND OF BE SOLUTION DRIVEN AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO SOLVE SOME OF THESE THINGS AND GET INFORMATION OUT TO PEOPLE. I THINK WE GET ENOUGH NEGATIVE THINGS IN BEAUMONT. I JUST WANT US AS A BODY TO KIND OF LET'S FOCUS MORE ON THE POSITIVE. I THINK IF WE LOOK AT IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN GET A LOT MORE DONE AS A AS A BODY, AND I JUST HOPE WE CAN ADOPT THAT MENTALITY. MY SECOND THING IS WE HAD A CITIZEN, MISS MISS JACKSON CAME UP ABOUT OUR FREEWAYS AND INTERSECTIONS. I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT. YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT'S NAME ON THE FREEWAYS, AND I THINK IF WE NEED TO SET UP SOMETHING WITH MR. GONZALEZ, WITH TXDOT, I THINK THAT'S VERY NECESSARY BECAUSE SHE'S NOT THE FIRST ONE WHO BROUGHT THAT UP. ANOTHER THING IS, MR. DANIEL, HE'S CAME UP A FEW TIMES ABOUT A HOUSE BILL.

I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH IT, BUT MAYBE PUBLIC SAFETY CAN GET TOGETHER WITH STAFF, AND WE CAN SEE IF THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE EXPLORED. I APPRECIATE EVERYBODY COMMENTS, WHETHER IT BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE OR OR JUST THEIR OPINION, I APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE IF WE DON'T LISTEN TO EACH OTHER'S OPINIONS, WE CAN'T REALLY GET WHAT WE NEED TO GET DONE. SO THANK YOU GUYS. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN GOETZ. OH, COUNCILMAN. ALL RIGHT, COUNCILMAN GOETZ, GO AHEAD. YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LENGTHY DISCUSSION TODAY ABOUT WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO THE GILBERT BUILDING. AND I PRIDE MYSELF ON BEING A FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE COUNCILMAN. I DON'T THINK IT WOULD NECESSARILY BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE FOR COUNCIL TO VOTE TO GO FORWARD WITH DEMOLITION OF A BUILDING, WHICH WOULD COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN HALF A MILLION AND A MILLION OF YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS. WHEN WE HAVE A DEVELOPER THAT IS SITTING THERE SAYING, LOOK, I'M GOING TO TRY TO SAVE THIS HISTORIC BUILDING. YES, HE'S BEEN GIVEN A PASS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, BUT HE'S ALSO DEMONSTRATED THAT HE IS WILLING TO PUT SOME MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS AND HAS ACTUALLY STARTED DOING A LOT OF WORK ON THAT BUILDING. I CAN'T SEE HOW IT WOULD BE A SOUND, FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE MOVE TO OBLIGATE OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE THAT BUILDING DOWN. AND SO THAT'S WHY I VOTED THE WAY THAT I DID ON THAT WITH REGARD TO THE LITTLE WOODROSE INCIDENT, I APPLAUD OUR POLICE OFFICER FOR THE ACTIONS THAT HE TOOK TO TRY TO KEEP A DANGEROUS, INTOXICATED OR WHAT APPEARED TO HIM AT LEAST TO BE AN INTOXICATED PERSON OFF THE ROAD. WE SAW JUST, YOU KNOW, A FEW DAYS LATER HOW PEOPLE CAN BE ON THE ROAD AND DRIVE RECKLESSLY. AND TRAGIC RESULTS CAN HAPPEN. SO I AM CHAGRINED BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO RIDICULE THIS POLICE OFFICER FOR HIS ACTIONS AND FIND FAULT ON HIM FOR WHAT HE WAS DOING IN THAT MOMENT. IN THAT MOMENT, HE WAS DOING WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS RIGHT TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY, AND TO UPHOLD THE OATH THAT HE SWORE TO TAKE. AND YOU CAN SECOND GUESS OR THIRD GUESS. BUT IF YOU WEREN'T THERE AND YOU WERE NOT THERE IN THAT MOMENT, YOU REALLY SHOULD NOT BE SITTING THERE MAKING FUN OF HIM.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN DARIO. THANK YOU

[04:15:06]

SOME OF HIS SUCCESSES ARE THE REAL TIME CRIME CENTER TOURS, PARKS IMPROVEMENT, LOWER TAX RATES, STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION, THE STARTS OF PARKS MASTER PLAN, THE CREATION OF THE BEAUTIFICATION FUND, AND A FUND BALANCE OF $9 MILLION OVER THE REQUIREMENT. SOME OTHER STUFF HE ACCOMPLISHED. SIDEWALK REPAIR, FOURTH STREET REHABILITATION, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE, ROGERS STREET, ROGERS PARK DOG PARK, ROGERS PARK PAVILION, 555 MAIN.

THE HOMELESS CAMP ORDINANCE STABLE, BOND RATING AND PAY CLASSIFICATION IMPLEMENTED. AND THESE THESE ARE NOT THE END OF THE WINS BEAUMONT HAS EXPERIENCED UNDER MR. WILLIAMS. IN ADDITION TO GIVING HIM A RAISE, GIVING A RAISE, GIVING IN ADDITION TO HIM GIVING A RAISE TO OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES EVERY YEAR SINCE HE'S BEEN HERE, HE ALSO NEGOTIATED A SUCCESSFUL CONTRACT WITH THE POLICE UNION, ALL WHILE NEVER ASKING FOR A RAISE. HE MOVED HERE FROM LUFKIN AND LIVES IN BEAUMONT. HE WAS ALSO INTEGRAL INTEGRAL IN A WATER SEWER RATE STUDY FUNDING THE CHAMBER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY PLAN, STRATEGIC PLAN, SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT, TASERS, LICENSE PLATE READERS, VEHICLES FOR PD, AMBULANCES, FIRE TRUCKS, ETC. DITCHES PROGRAM. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. BEAUMONT IS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES HE'S BEEN ABLE TO TACKLE. HE HAS A VISION FOR OUR CITY THAT IS ATTAINABLE, AND HE IS WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK TO ATTAIN THAT VISION TO MAKE OUR CITY THE SHINING STAR. IT HAS POTENTIAL TO BE UNDER KENNETH'S MANAGEMENT. BEAUMONT CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND REACH NEW HEIGHTS FOR ITS FUTURE AND ITS RESIDENTS. KENNETH WAS INITIALLY HIRED TO BRING NEW IDEAS TO OUR OLD PROBLEMS AND COME UP WITH NEW SOLUTIONS, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS DONE. AS WE KNOW, BEAUMONT LEADERSHIP HAS SOMETIMES BEEN RESISTANT TO NEW IDEAS, BUT IT'S THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO WORK WITH THE MANAGER TO BRING NEW IDEAS TO FRUITION. IT IS THE ONLY WAY BEAUMONT CAN MOVE INTO THE FUTURE AND CONTINUE TO GROW AND PROSPER. SO FOR THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, OUR THE BAD THINGS THAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE CITY MANAGER, THAT'S MY RESPONSE TO IT. AND I HOPE COUNCIL AGREES WITH MY RESPONSE TO THE I MEAN, I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY HE WAS WORTHLESS AND ALL KINDS OF NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT OUR CITY MANAGER, AND THAT'S MY RESPONSE AND I HOPE COUNCIL WILL AGREE WITH IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN DARIO. MADAM CITY ATTORNEY, NO COMMENT. MA'AM. NO COMMENT. MAYOR, YOU'VE USED A LOT OF WORDS TODAY. YEAH. SECOND CITY, I JUST WANT TO GIVE OUR DEAR, SWEET DEAR MY CONDOLENCES TO HER AND HER FAMILY ON THE LOSS OF HER GRANDMOTHER. MR. CITY MANAGER, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MOLLY TO THE GROUP TODAY. THANKS, CHRIS. I'M CERTAINLY NOT IN THIS FOR THE ACCOLADES, BUT THANKS ANYWAY.

THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE THAT. I THANK OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR THIS, THE WORKSHOP AND WHAT THEY PUT TOGETHER TODAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND GETTING GOOD INFORMATION, AND I THINK IT LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW THAT THE CITY OF BEAUMONT IS NOT IN FINANCIAL

[04:20:06]

YOU HAVE PROGRAMS FUNDED. SO FOLKS IN BEAUMONT IS VERY FINANCIALLY SOUND FOR NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE. THANK YOU SIR. AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO ALSO THANK THE STAFF FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THE AND THE REST OF THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TODAY. THERE'S BEEN A LOT TO COVER, AND WE'VE BEEN HERE WHAT A LONG TIME. YEAH. ALMOST FIVE HOURS. SO AND ALSO KEEP THE OFFICER PFITZER IN OUR PRAYERS AS HE

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.