1
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:10,700
That's right. All right. Welcome, everybody. Good evening. And welcome to the June 15, 2026

2
00:00:10,700 --> 00:00:17,200
meeting of the city council of the city of Bel Air. And as I look around, I can happy to

3
00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:22,100
announce that not only do I call this meeting to order, but I announce that we have a full

4
00:00:22,100 --> 00:00:28,760
quorum with all members of council present. And so as we always do, as you all know,

5
00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:33,640
we have our inspirational reading and or invocation and the honor this meeting

6
00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:38,280
goes to council member Brian Witt. Thank you very much I want to thank everyone

7
00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,660
for coming out tonight especially Julie and baby Jack in the background I

8
00:00:42,660 --> 00:00:44,740
thought at one point we're gonna have to have a boat.

9
00:00:47,060 --> 00:00:47,960
Tonight I want to talk

10
00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:52,760
about two things one two events that are happening this weekend one as you

11
00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:57,060
might have noticed is Father's Day is coming up and we'll get to the

12
00:00:57,060 --> 00:00:58,680
other one in a second, but Father's Day.

13
00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:01,500
Father's Day is a chance to honor the men

14
00:01:01,500 --> 00:01:03,020
who have helped shaped our lives,

15
00:01:03,180 --> 00:01:05,380
not only the fathers, but also the grandfathers,

16
00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:08,600
step fathers, uncles, mentors, coaches, teachers,

17
00:01:09,060 --> 00:01:11,060
and friends who have helped stepped into a role

18
00:01:11,060 --> 00:01:12,040
when it was needed most.

19
00:01:12,940 --> 00:01:14,340
Many of us can think of lessons

20
00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:16,660
that we learned from our father or father figures.

21
00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:18,080
Some were taught with words,

22
00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,080
but many were taught through examples.

23
00:01:21,940 --> 00:01:23,600
We learned the importance of showing up,

24
00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:30,560
up, keeping our commitments, treating people with respect, and doing the right thing even

25
00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:31,500
when no one was looking.

26
00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:37,120
The qualities we admire most in fathers are the same qualities that help build a strong

27
00:01:37,120 --> 00:01:37,600
community.

28
00:01:38,660 --> 00:01:45,320
Responsibility, service, patience, sacrifice, and the willing to put others before ourselves.

29
00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:51,600
Fatherhood reminds us that leadership is often found in small everyday moments.

30
00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:54,680
It's helping with homework after a long day at work.

31
00:01:55,260 --> 00:01:57,820
It's attending a game or recital or an event.

32
00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,140
It's teaching a child how to ride a bike to drive a car.

33
00:02:02,380 --> 00:02:03,780
That's actually coming up, by the way.

34
00:02:04,660 --> 00:02:05,360
Not with this one.

35
00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:11,200
Balance a checkbook or simply navigating life's challenges.

36
00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:16,260
These moments may seem ordinary at the time, but they can leave a lasting impact.

37
00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:18,340
Leave a lasting impact.

38
00:02:22,660 --> 00:02:31,780
As members of this community, we benefit every day from fathers and father figures who invest their time, energy and love into raising the next generation.

39
00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:38,180
Their influence extends far beyond their own families and help shape the character and future of our city.

40
00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:45,840
Sorry, for those not on the camera, there's a little distraction in the background.

41
00:02:47,060 --> 00:02:51,580
But the other thing I want to bring up is something, a new holiday for the city, which is Juneteenth.

42
00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,820
Juneteenth is a holiday that has deep Texas roots.

43
00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:03,980
It was this week in 1865, the word of emancipation proclamation reached Texas, almost two years

44
00:03:03,980 --> 00:03:04,740
after the fact.

45
00:03:05,740 --> 00:03:10,160
Juneteenth has become a time for communities to come together through celebrations and

46
00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:18,600
music and food and fellowship, it reminds us that understanding our history helps

47
00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:24,140
us appreciate how far we've come and inspire us to continue building communities where

48
00:03:24,140 --> 00:03:29,520
everyone has the opportunity to thrive. I think it's fitting that both of these observance

49
00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:34,680
fall so closely together because in their own way they're both about legacy. They're

50
00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:39,320
both about passing knowledge down to future generations. Whether it's lessons we learn

51
00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:44,140
from our father or the hard-earned freedoms and opportunities secured by those who

52
00:03:44,140 --> 00:03:49,160
came before us, we all benefit from the efforts of previous generations. So this

53
00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:53,860
week, I hope everyone gets to spend some time with their family, enjoy a good meal,

54
00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,860
maybe enjoy a few grown, morally father's day jokes, and for me I hope I get a nap.

55
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,260
But I also hope we get a chance to reflect on the people and events that

56
00:04:03,260 --> 00:04:08,080
helped shape our community. With that, happy Father's Day, happy Juneteenth. Please

57
00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:09,040
Please join me in the Pledge of

58
00:04:11,830 --> 00:04:16,710
Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America

59
00:04:17,150 --> 00:04:23,570
and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and

60
00:04:23,570 --> 00:04:24,510
justice for all.

61
00:04:26,580 --> 00:04:33,140
The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States, one nation under God, one indivisible.

62
00:04:44,180 --> 00:04:45,220
That isn't a distraction.

63
00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:46,420
No question about that.

64
00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:49,160
What a handsome fellow.

65
00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:57,000
Well, thank you, Brian, and congratulations will be another special Father's Day for you.

66
00:04:57,280 --> 00:04:58,960
And the driving thing, good luck.

67
00:05:02,050 --> 00:05:08,900
So we move along on our agenda to the recognition of proclamations, and we have a proclamation

68
00:05:08,900 --> 00:05:17,040
this evening with regard to National Park and Recreation Month in the city, in recognition

69
00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:21,680
recognition of the benefits derived from Parks and Recreation resources and encouraging all

70
00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,880
residents to get out this month and enjoy them.

71
00:05:25,860 --> 00:05:31,320
Whereas Parks and Recreation is an integral part of communities throughout this country,

72
00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:36,700
including the city of Bel Air, and whereas Parks and Recreation promotes health and

73
00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:40,680
wellness, improving the physical and mental health of people who live near parks, and

74
00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:46,080
whereas Parks and Recreation encourages physical activities by providing space for

75
00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:51,900
popular sports, hiking trails, swimming pools, and many other activities designed to promote

76
00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:53,700
active lifestyles.

77
00:05:54,180 --> 00:05:59,160
And whereas parks and recreation is fundamental to the environmental well-being of our community,

78
00:05:59,740 --> 00:06:05,220
and whereas the U.S. House of Representatives has designated July as National Parks and

79
00:06:05,220 --> 00:06:10,160
Recreation Month, now, therefore, I guess, Pappas, Mayor of the City of Bel Air, Texas,

80
00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:16,260
do hereby proclaim the month of July 2026 as National Park and Recreation Month in the City

81
00:06:16,260 --> 00:06:21,800
of Bel Air, Texas, in recognition of the benefits derived from parks and recreation resources and

82
00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:27,360
encourage all residents to get out this month and enjoy them and witness wherever I have here

83
00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:32,640
them to set my hand and cause the seal of the City of Bel Air, Texas to be affixed this 15th

84
00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:46,520
day of June 2026. And as most of you all know, the next time we meet, July and Parks and Recreation

85
00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:52,240
Month will have already started and we will have given it a big welcome with our July 4th

86
00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:58,160
grade and so any further way we do this in anticipation of July. So come forward.

87
00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:45,520
All

88
00:07:52,750 --> 00:07:56,110
right, next on our agenda is the approval of the minutes.

89
00:07:56,510 --> 00:08:04,010
We have the minutes from the City Council of April 13th and April 20th.

90
00:08:04,250 --> 00:08:10,130
And so is anybody on Council have any comments, corrections, suggestions, what have you?

91
00:08:10,350 --> 00:08:10,690
Okay, good.

92
00:08:10,890 --> 00:08:14,170
So by virtue of a nod of a head, I will consider those approved.

93
00:08:14,390 --> 00:08:14,750
Very well.

94
00:08:15,270 --> 00:08:15,530
Okay.

95
00:08:15,730 --> 00:08:16,930
Thank you all for that.

96
00:08:17,250 --> 00:08:17,990
Tracy, as always.

97
00:08:20,630 --> 00:08:21,610
Moving right down.

98
00:08:21,830 --> 00:08:24,130
And we move on to personal audience comments.

99
00:08:24,710 --> 00:08:32,050
I noticed that we do have one written comment, but I think we also – Mr. Tran, are you

100
00:08:32,050 --> 00:08:32,230
there?

101
00:08:33,070 --> 00:08:33,370
Okay.

102
00:08:33,710 --> 00:08:38,110
I knew that you were thinking about coming and speaking to us about that matter of interest

103
00:08:38,110 --> 00:08:38,590
to you.

104
00:08:38,910 --> 00:08:43,230
And even though you've made a written comment, by all means please come forward

105
00:08:43,230 --> 00:08:43,650
and speak.

106
00:08:44,370 --> 00:08:48,690
You've got five minutes and we'll tell you to stop when it's ready, okay?

107
00:11:07,450 --> 00:11:07,810
Well,

108
00:11:13,230 --> 00:11:18,090
thank you so much. I can assure you it is problematic. I go by it every single day,

109
00:11:18,110 --> 00:11:22,830
but so I'm not sure what we can do about it, but we certainly will take it up. So thank

110
00:11:22,830 --> 00:11:30,790
you. And Mr. Strang, you've given us a written comment is that we'll make it a part of the

111
00:11:30,790 --> 00:11:35,590
record but I presume that I haven't read it entirely yet but I presume everything

112
00:11:35,590 --> 00:11:39,030
that you said in here you've shared with us okay

113
00:11:43,250 --> 00:11:45,590
absolutely well thank you so

114
00:11:45,590 --> 00:11:45,830
much

115
00:11:48,420 --> 00:11:52,440
is there I don't think there's anybody else I don't think we either have

116
00:11:52,440 --> 00:11:56,180
any other written comments and I don't think anyone else is signed up is

117
00:11:56,180 --> 00:12:00,180
anybody else want to speak please of course I

118
00:12:13,300 --> 00:12:14,800
think that's I think that's

119
00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:28,100
your pet peeve. Laura Zito, longtime resident, longtime commenter. So I know tonight there's

120
00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:36,080
something on the agenda about a logo and I know years ago when we were in the other building

121
00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:48,020
that the logo was a topic of hot contention. And it was also, or Tracy got lots and lots

122
00:12:48,020 --> 00:12:54,780
of emails because people were directed to her with comments regarding the proposed logo

123
00:12:55,340 --> 00:13:01,960
after a study was done. At that time, lots of people on social media, on Nextdoor

124
00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:07,440
in particular, voiced a lot of opinions about the logo that

125
00:13:07,440 --> 00:13:08,420
was being proposed.

126
00:13:09,780 --> 00:13:11,860
And I see that we've come full circle,

127
00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,040
and we're back here discussing it again.

128
00:13:16,620 --> 00:13:21,380
I would have thought that with the interest in the logo

129
00:13:22,100 --> 00:13:26,040
from people years ago that that might be something that

130
00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,720
would have been put out more so to residents

131
00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:33,960
It's a comment to weigh in on, you know, and I didn't see anything.

132
00:13:34,260 --> 00:13:40,960
I happened in on the cultural art board meeting where they were voting on the top three, maybe

133
00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:46,140
it ended up being four logo designs that they came up with.

134
00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:54,100
All looked interesting, but I just wondered why this is being put forth to council today

135
00:13:54,100 --> 00:14:01,760
with a singular design being presented and yet I haven't seen anything in the

136
00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:08,220
community to get others to be able to be a part of at least voice their opinion.

137
00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:10,700
So that was a concern of mine.

138
00:14:12,740 --> 00:14:20,320
Then moving on to the banners that in the

139
00:14:20,320 --> 00:14:27,420
In the past, there was concern about the cost, and previous counsel did not fund that.

140
00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:29,540
They've now been funded.

141
00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:35,360
I had the opportunity to see them in place as I drove this weekend through Bel Air on

142
00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:36,180
Bel Air Boulevard.

143
00:14:36,920 --> 00:14:37,820
They look nice.

144
00:14:38,660 --> 00:14:46,640
They look nice, and especially coming along with the 250th anniversary of the founding

145
00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:47,220
of America.

146
00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:48,620
I think it's timely.

147
00:14:48,620 --> 00:14:57,520
Finally, on my drive downtown to work, the city of Houston has some banners up as well.

148
00:14:57,520 --> 00:14:59,960
And one thing I noticed that

149
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:06,500
That when there was a tree whose limbs interfered with being able to see the banner, they simply

150
00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:09,020
didn't put it up, even though there was a post for it.

151
00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:21,020
And one thing I did notice was a banner that we have up that is being obstructed by tree

152
00:15:21,020 --> 00:15:21,340
limbs.

153
00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:28,420
And so we've gone to the effort to purchase these and to have them in place.

154
00:15:28,420 --> 00:15:35,320
I think they all need to be seen. So if there's something that can be done, I'm not sure

155
00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:44,960
if it's a residence or a commercial property, but there are tree branches that interfere with that banner being seen.

156
00:15:45,020 --> 00:15:46,040
So I'm wondering if

157
00:15:46,740 --> 00:15:53,460
somehow someone at the city can go and make sure that these are all visible, highly visible, and

158
00:15:53,460 --> 00:15:54,760
would ask that

159
00:15:55,380 --> 00:15:57,480
that be done. Thank you.

160
00:15:58,420 --> 00:16:06,380
Well, thank you, Laura. Appreciate it. Is there anyone else that wants to speak? Okay.

161
00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:14,680
Well, then we will then move on to our reports and presentations, and we start generally with

162
00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:17,600
our city manager, and tonight is no different. So, Sharon?

163
00:16:18,140 --> 00:16:22,840
Good evening. I'm pleased Mayor and Council to present tonight's city manager report.

164
00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,580
We wanted to start with a note about the weather. Of course, it's been raining for

165
00:16:26,580 --> 00:16:28,720
or anybody who's been outside, inside listening,

166
00:16:29,200 --> 00:16:30,680
you can tell that there's a lot of rainfall

167
00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:32,580
that's already come and that's predicted to come.

168
00:16:32,740 --> 00:16:34,920
So we wanted to assure you in the community

169
00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:36,620
that our emergency management team

170
00:16:36,620 --> 00:16:37,960
is watching the weather closely.

171
00:16:38,660 --> 00:16:42,420
We are receiving updates daily and more often than that

172
00:16:42,780 --> 00:16:44,440
to make sure we stay on top of that.

173
00:16:44,820 --> 00:16:47,320
And we are prepared to respond if needed.

174
00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:49,580
We wanted to remind the community to drive

175
00:16:49,580 --> 00:16:52,420
with caution, never drive in high water,

176
00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,680
flooded roadways, turn around, don't drown.

177
00:16:55,420 --> 00:17:00,820
Part vehicles in your driveway or in your garage and bring in small items that

178
00:17:00,820 --> 00:17:04,400
could blow away in strong winds and stay tuned to your local media for updated

179
00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:09,620
forecasts. So we will be sharing information and the best way for you to

180
00:17:09,620 --> 00:17:13,080
receive information from the city of course is to stay updated through all

181
00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:18,220
of our media. You can sign up for Prepare Bel Air and notify me alerts.

182
00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:22,060
You can check our website for current information and you can follow our

183
00:17:22,060 --> 00:17:25,880
social media platforms on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Nextdoor.

184
00:17:28,340 --> 00:17:31,480
We wanted to welcome a couple new staff members.

185
00:17:31,740 --> 00:17:35,700
We have Mario Scott, who's our equipment operator with our Public Work Solid Waste Division.

186
00:17:36,260 --> 00:17:40,320
We also have Jessica Lerma, a project manager with our Capital Projects Group, so we're

187
00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:41,300
really happy to have them.

188
00:17:41,940 --> 00:17:46,300
We also wanted to share with you information about a couple of our staff members who

189
00:17:46,300 --> 00:17:47,720
received certifications recently.

190
00:17:48,260 --> 00:17:54,940
Carl Netzel, our fire captain, obtained his Fire Instructor 3 certification from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

191
00:17:55,760 --> 00:18:01,720
And Austin Wilson received his credentials as a paramedic. It's advanced paramedic credentials.

192
00:18:02,260 --> 00:18:05,140
From the city's medical director, he's one of our firefighter paramedics.

193
00:18:05,220 --> 00:18:08,860
So we wanted to acknowledge that because those folks are the ones who keep us safe.

194
00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:16,340
And those credentials mean that we are prepared to provide that high level of service to this community that they expect and deserve and that we want to deliver.

195
00:18:17,860 --> 00:18:22,820
A few upcoming events to share with you, of course, you mentioned Juneteenth. We will

196
00:18:22,820 --> 00:18:27,980
be closed on Juneteenth, that's June 19th, and Friday, July 3rd, both for Independence

197
00:18:27,980 --> 00:18:34,600
Day. City offices will be closed, no solid waste or recycling pickup. Bel Air City Library

198
00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:40,100
will be closed, but the Bel Air Recreation Center will be open on both holidays. Celebration

199
00:18:40,100 --> 00:18:44,920
of Independence Parade and Festival on Saturday, July 4th, 9 a.m. to noon. The parade

200
00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:48,280
The parade starts at 9 a.m. at South Rice and Valerie, that's the same location that

201
00:18:48,280 --> 00:18:51,620
we have been in the last several years, and ends at South Rice and Linden.

202
00:18:52,180 --> 00:18:56,660
The festival begins after the parade at the Great Lawn and Lofton Park, and for more

203
00:18:56,660 --> 00:18:59,200
information you can contact our Recreation Center.

204
00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:06,140
Also upcoming, we have our dive-in movie night on Thursday, August 6th at 7 p.m. at

205
00:19:06,140 --> 00:19:08,040
the Bellaire Town Square Family Aquatic Center.

206
00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,920
The featured movie this year is How to Train Your Dragon.

207
00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:14,860
You can bring your family friends, towels and get ready for an unforgettable night.

208
00:19:14,980 --> 00:19:17,200
Those are really fun events for you and your family.

209
00:19:17,780 --> 00:19:21,600
Tickets are coming soon. You can visit LRParks.org for more information.

210
00:19:22,380 --> 00:19:26,420
Also, another really fun event for families are cardboard boat regatta and duck derby.

211
00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:27,580
This year they'll be combined.

212
00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:31,740
That occurs on Saturday, August 22nd from 9 a.m.

213
00:19:31,840 --> 00:19:35,740
and that's when the boat regatta begins and at 10 a.m. the duck derby.

214
00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:40,200
Both will take place at Evergreen Pool at 4500 Evergreen Street

215
00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,000
And anyone can participate in the cardboard boat regatta.

216
00:19:44,140 --> 00:19:45,860
All you need is some cardboard and duct tape.

217
00:19:46,260 --> 00:19:48,200
And the duct tape might even be optional, I'm not sure,

218
00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:49,060
but definitely cardboard.

219
00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,200
You can purchase your ducks at wearevergreen.org

220
00:19:53,220 --> 00:19:53,620
backslashduckderby.

221
00:19:53,980 --> 00:19:55,960
And you can also contact the Bel Air Rec Center

222
00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:56,920
for more information.

223
00:19:58,540 --> 00:20:01,240
So some agenda items that we're prepared to bring to you,

224
00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:03,220
and these may make the July 6th agenda.

225
00:20:03,660 --> 00:20:05,680
We are still working on them, so if they don't,

226
00:20:05,820 --> 00:20:07,520
they'll just have to go pushback.

227
00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:13,660
But we've got an appropriation of metro funds for streets maintenance to bring that into the current budget of public works

228
00:20:13,660 --> 00:20:19,880
Some amendments to chapter 2 article 7 for boards and commissions related to our workshop that we had last week and

229
00:20:20,500 --> 00:20:25,320
also citation authority for our fire code violations seeking permission to

230
00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:30,060
Authorize our fire marshal to issue citations for non-compliance with the code

231
00:20:30,660 --> 00:20:34,320
Then on June 13th. We'll be doing a workshop regarding user fees

232
00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:39,180
These are our non-enterprise fees for our other services that we provide through Parks of Rec and

233
00:20:39,180 --> 00:20:44,460
through development services. We have a consultant, Will Dan, who also prepared our enterprise fees

234
00:20:44,460 --> 00:20:49,400
a few years back. You may remember them. They'll be here on the 13th to provide that information.

235
00:20:50,860 --> 00:20:55,960
Then looking ahead on July 20th, we'll be presenting the fiscal year 2027 proposed budget.

236
00:20:56,360 --> 00:21:00,900
We'll also have a public hearing called for fiscal year 2027 proposed budget,

237
00:21:00,900 --> 00:21:05,380
the truth and taxation information, as well as an agreement with Harris Galveston

238
00:21:05,380 --> 00:21:09,360
Subsidence District for the groundwater credits that we do annually and Board

239
00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:13,900
and Commission appointments. And so with that, that concludes my report and I'm

240
00:21:13,900 --> 00:21:17,940
happy to take any questions you may have. All right, does anybody have any

241
00:21:17,940 --> 00:21:19,100
questions for the city manager?

242
00:21:22,410 --> 00:21:26,750
None. Wow, look at you. Ross, I feel it

243
00:21:26,750 --> 00:21:31,870
coming. Yeah, and I would just note in regard to our speaker's question on

244
00:21:31,870 --> 00:21:38,070
On the intersection of Fornes and South Rice, folks should be aware that as part of the proposed

245
00:21:38,070 --> 00:21:43,410
development of that location, the developer was working with the city of Houston to try

246
00:21:43,410 --> 00:21:48,530
and widen South Rice at that location, moving street lights and so on.

247
00:21:48,930 --> 00:21:54,070
The actual widening has not happened yet, but as the mayor said, we're very aware

248
00:21:54,070 --> 00:21:55,330
of how narrow that street is.

249
00:21:55,330 --> 00:22:01,490
What's very interesting there is that north of Fornes is City of Houston.

250
00:22:02,110 --> 00:22:07,270
And so it's taken a lot of effort from multiple parties to start the process of trying to

251
00:22:07,270 --> 00:22:07,910
get that fixed.

252
00:22:08,170 --> 00:22:14,790
But I don't know if you had any updates on where that stands, beyond that it's still

253
00:22:14,790 --> 00:22:15,590
working its way through.

254
00:22:15,830 --> 00:22:18,870
No, I think you're right, Council Member Gordon, that is a complicated project.

255
00:22:19,050 --> 00:22:23,130
But now that I have that information, we'll take that back to both our public works

256
00:22:23,130 --> 00:22:28,770
folks as well as our development services folks to understand kind of that the relationship

257
00:22:28,770 --> 00:22:33,250
with Houston and the developer and who's responsible for what to make sure that we if we have a

258
00:22:33,250 --> 00:22:38,070
safety out there that issue that we can address as a city that we address it or if it's Houston's

259
00:22:38,070 --> 00:22:41,550
issue to address that we follow up with them and try to stay diligent. So we appreciate

260
00:22:41,550 --> 00:22:46,850
you bringing that forward. If I may. Yes. Council member. I would also add that

261
00:22:46,850 --> 00:22:52,190
yes you're right. The curves here are fairly recent because fairly recently I think

262
00:22:52,190 --> 00:22:59,810
They updated the traffic signals, they were working on that box, and they also were working

263
00:22:59,810 --> 00:23:04,850
on the wheelchair access, but yeah, it's been done very recently.

264
00:23:05,510 --> 00:23:10,090
But it is city of Houston, that intersection, that part, that belongs to the city of Houston.

265
00:23:10,770 --> 00:23:15,030
We were told years ago that the city of Houston right away is all the way to the

266
00:23:15,030 --> 00:23:18,550
other side of that sidewalk on the east side.

267
00:23:20,770 --> 00:23:26,670
So that's why City of Bel Air is not doing any major construction out there.

268
00:23:26,850 --> 00:23:27,410
It would be lovely.

269
00:23:27,670 --> 00:23:28,490
I did advise.

270
00:23:28,750 --> 00:23:35,730
I did ask the Public Works Director if he would at least notify City of Houston that there is an issue.

271
00:23:37,870 --> 00:23:43,970
Yeah, I think the curb is constantly being repaired based on everything I can see as I go.

272
00:23:44,890 --> 00:23:52,750
Yeah, it's very obvious because all the trucks, particularly with those big huge trailers on them are going right over it.

273
00:23:52,990 --> 00:23:56,350
And that's why you see all the tire tracks there because every day that happens.

274
00:23:56,530 --> 00:24:01,490
I sit in that left turn lane and cringe just, you know, please don't.

275
00:24:02,770 --> 00:24:08,290
I'm even thinking about just moving in my mirrors just so, you know, anyway.

276
00:24:08,290 --> 00:24:14,530
No, it's a problem and the development does require there to be some expanded lanes over

277
00:24:14,530 --> 00:24:16,250
there if they ultimately get to that point.

278
00:24:16,470 --> 00:24:19,190
So maybe there'll be some relief then, but thanks so much.

279
00:24:19,770 --> 00:24:20,870
We'll say what we can.

280
00:24:21,670 --> 00:24:26,870
I recently got a request for somebody that should be in Bel Air, but they're not.

281
00:24:27,030 --> 00:24:31,390
They're in the city of Houston, and they wanted some help on some speed bumps, and

282
00:24:31,390 --> 00:24:38,990
And unfortunately, we really couldn't do much about it, although, you know, we can advise

283
00:24:38,990 --> 00:24:44,950
or we can make a recommendation or we can ask for some help, but oftentimes they've got

284
00:24:44,950 --> 00:24:50,690
their own agenda and timetable and budgets that dictate their actions.

285
00:24:51,070 --> 00:24:51,650
So any of that.

286
00:24:51,730 --> 00:24:53,630
But thank you for bringing that up and we'll do what we can.

287
00:24:54,970 --> 00:24:56,130
Can I bring something up?

288
00:24:56,510 --> 00:24:56,730
Of course.

289
00:24:56,870 --> 00:25:00,010
I don't know if this is the appropriate time, but something that's been happening

290
00:25:00,010 --> 00:25:04,710
in our neighborhood, and I just came to my mind, so I just want to ask if this is common.

291
00:25:05,590 --> 00:25:13,970
We have been seeing a lot of squirrels that are dead. Yeah, it's in a cat. And so some weird

292
00:25:13,970 --> 00:25:18,590
things have been happening enough that the neighbors are commenting on the chat. So

293
00:25:19,090 --> 00:25:24,610
is that something? We are having a lot of construction. Is that something that commonly

294
00:25:24,610 --> 00:25:29,070
happens when construction is going on, or do you think that someone is poisoning these

295
00:25:29,070 --> 00:25:36,310
Poor little animals or how do we go about finding out what's going on because it's like six or seven. Hmm. It's a lot

296
00:25:38,290 --> 00:25:39,690
We do have Hawks

297
00:25:40,930 --> 00:25:46,570
I mean, I have no idea. Okay. Are they falling from trees? I mean is it

298
00:25:47,230 --> 00:25:50,730
People are just finding them. Yeah finding them. Yeah, I have a comment

299
00:25:50,730 --> 00:25:56,870
Okay, I do know this associate with a construction site. I beg my neighbor not to put out

300
00:25:56,870 --> 00:26:00,610
rat poison. She didn't like the dumpsters. They throw their food in the

301
00:26:00,610 --> 00:26:05,210
dumpsters as well as everything else and had a rat problem. I begged her not to

302
00:26:05,210 --> 00:26:10,790
put out the rat poison and unfortunately I had a cat who liked to eat the rats.

303
00:26:11,470 --> 00:26:16,310
So he's gone. He was an older cat so I don't blame her. He could have

304
00:26:16,310 --> 00:26:22,210
had kidney failure for all I know but yeah it's very likely that someone

305
00:26:22,210 --> 00:26:26,370
put out poison and if they put out poison for the rats then the cat

306
00:26:26,370 --> 00:26:31,710
we'll get it. I also think there's just been a boon of squirrels. I know in my

307
00:26:31,710 --> 00:26:35,870
yard now I have eight that live in my front yard and they've started sitting

308
00:26:35,870 --> 00:26:41,230
on my porch swing like there's so many of them. Yeah they talk to me too but I

309
00:26:41,230 --> 00:26:45,190
think it's also possible just that we had a boom of animals because

310
00:26:45,190 --> 00:26:48,250
yeah it's I've never seen as many squirrels as I've seen on our block

311
00:26:48,250 --> 00:26:53,510
in years. Well when the wind blows the possums fall out of the trees and so

312
00:26:53,510 --> 00:26:55,610
you see them in the streets as well at that point.

313
00:26:56,890 --> 00:26:57,910
No, that's a real thing.

314
00:26:58,450 --> 00:26:59,070
That's a real thing.

315
00:27:03,070 --> 00:27:05,130
Sad, true, but that's a real thing.

316
00:27:06,070 --> 00:27:07,310
Now, we're just playing with the jacket.

317
00:27:07,610 --> 00:27:08,510
None of that's good enough.

318
00:27:18,980 --> 00:27:22,500
So anything else by anybody for the city manager?

319
00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:30,660
Okay. I know that we've got our July 4th parade coming and I know that all of us will be involved

320
00:27:30,660 --> 00:27:37,140
in that to the extent that we're here. I know that we have a time capsule and Cheryl tells

321
00:27:37,140 --> 00:27:40,860
me that time has not been good to the capsule.

322
00:27:43,780 --> 00:27:48,860
But we did find it. We found it. So anyway,

323
00:27:48,860 --> 00:27:54,100
way, we're working on that. We're working on that. With regard to, you know, with regard

324
00:27:54,100 --> 00:28:01,040
to Laura's comment about the signs there, yeah, it'd be nice if all of them were seen.

325
00:28:01,260 --> 00:28:06,040
I mean, I guess it's something that I'm not sure exactly. Laura, if you could pass along

326
00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:11,560
where you saw, where you saw that you couldn't see it, you know, to give that to Sharon

327
00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:17,140
or somebody and maybe they can go take a look at it, or Cheryl. Cheryl. So, okay,

328
00:28:17,140 --> 00:28:19,020
Okay, thank you for letting us on that.

329
00:28:20,520 --> 00:28:22,300
All right, anything else?

330
00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:25,760
Well, great, then we will move on.

331
00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:30,980
I think that's it for reports on the agenda tonight.

332
00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:32,600
We'll move into our consent agenda,

333
00:28:33,140 --> 00:28:36,080
and we've only got one item on our consent agenda,

334
00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:37,140
and as all of y'all know,

335
00:28:38,740 --> 00:28:40,720
it seems kind of silly with one item,

336
00:28:40,820 --> 00:28:45,320
but anyway, we don't really debate this one.

337
00:28:45,320 --> 00:28:49,580
It's just simply an up or down vote unless somebody else wants to say, hey, let's discuss

338
00:28:49,580 --> 00:28:50,680
it and vote on this one.

339
00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:59,540
But it's a recommendation from Capital Projects to award bid number 26-006 bonds for better

340
00:28:59,540 --> 00:29:09,880
Bel Air 216 Group A Phase III water and wastewater improvements project to ISJ Underground Utilities

341
00:29:09,880 --> 00:29:10,480
LLC.

342
00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:20,300
Could we do more of that in an effort not to exceed 3,941,163, and on the adoption of

343
00:29:20,300 --> 00:29:25,200
an ordinance authorizing City Manager to execute a construction agreement with ISJ Underground

344
00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:31,400
Utilities LLC for the replacement of existing water distribution lines with approximately

345
00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:38,940
24,120 linear feet of new water lines in the size ranges of 2 inch to 12 inch in diameter

346
00:29:38,940 --> 00:29:44,700
along with fire hydrants, valve services, and all labor equipment materials and incidentals

347
00:29:44,700 --> 00:29:50,480
required for the project in an amount not to exceed $3,941,163.

348
00:29:51,260 --> 00:29:53,840
So does anybody want to separately discuss that item?

349
00:29:55,520 --> 00:29:55,680
No?

350
00:29:56,100 --> 00:29:56,880
All right.

351
00:29:56,880 --> 00:29:59,680
than all those in favor of our loan consent.

352
00:30:01,740 --> 00:30:06,780
Please signify by raising your right hand. Thank you very much. It passes unanimously.

353
00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:10,920
I would just say there are big things to city staff. You guys put together a fantastic packet

354
00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:15,040
of information on the whole procurement process and bidding. It was really excellent, so thank you.

355
00:30:16,620 --> 00:30:24,380
Right. I think you did send out, Tracy, you did send out a little notification on that that we went with regard to picking the lowest bid on that as well.

356
00:30:24,380 --> 00:30:29,340
so thank you for that as well. Okay, we move on to number two, adoption of

357
00:30:29,340 --> 00:30:35,260
ordinances and resolutions, but before we do that, or do any of y'all have a

358
00:30:35,260 --> 00:30:41,980
problem if we move up the local discussion before? Okay, it's set on

359
00:30:41,980 --> 00:30:47,000
number three in the A, items for individual consideration, but let's

360
00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:51,880
let's go ahead and move that one up and we'll take that one first out of

361
00:30:51,880 --> 00:30:56,480
turn and with that, what we're talking about is a presentation, discussion, and possible

362
00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:02,560
action on a recommendation by the Beller Culture and Arts Board for a conceptual design of

363
00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:03,340
a city logo.

364
00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:05,780
So anyway, hi Cheryl.

365
00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:06,380
Hi.

366
00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:07,160
Okay.

367
00:31:07,260 --> 00:31:07,620
Cheryl Bright.

368
00:31:07,900 --> 00:31:08,500
Tell us about this.

369
00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:10,400
Yeah, Community Relations Administrator.

370
00:31:10,940 --> 00:31:15,320
And I'm here to introduce Gay May you, the chair of the Culture and Arts Board and

371
00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:22,880
Christy Coffey who will be presenting the conceptual logo to you and asking for feedback

372
00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:23,780
and direction.

373
00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:26,380
So, here they are.

374
00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:29,120
Oh, and it will also be available for questions after.

375
00:31:31,980 --> 00:31:32,220
Hello.

376
00:31:33,200 --> 00:31:35,060
I got to get organized here.

377
00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:38,060
Let me just make room for Christy.

378
00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:39,180
You want to come over here?

379
00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:46,900
I don't think that one is working.

380
00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:48,880
Good

381
00:31:54,770 --> 00:31:55,370
evening.

382
00:31:55,710 --> 00:31:58,130
Mayor Pappas, city council, city staff.

383
00:31:58,130 --> 00:32:02,950
I will tell you I'm thrilled to be here and I know Christy is too. This is something we've worked on for a while

384
00:32:02,950 --> 00:32:07,830
I know the city has worked on it for a while and so we're thrilled to be here to make this presentation

385
00:32:08,350 --> 00:32:15,630
Now Christy is one of our board members, but she's also one of our creative people her creativity and dedication

386
00:32:16,830 --> 00:32:19,810
Have been instrumental in creating this logo concept

387
00:32:19,810 --> 00:32:24,430
And this is a concept of the logo and that's what we're presenting is the concept of logo

388
00:32:24,430 --> 00:32:25,790
We have a ways to go yet

389
00:32:25,790 --> 00:32:35,850
Tonight we're not simply discussing a logo, we're discussing how Bel Air presents itself to residents, visitors, and future generations.

390
00:32:45,060 --> 00:32:50,360
So purpose of today's discussion, the purpose of our discussion is pretty straightforward.

391
00:32:51,040 --> 00:33:01,400
We want to share the logo concept that we've developed, explain why we believe it reflects Bel Air's identity, and receive feedback on the proposed path forward.

392
00:33:01,400 --> 00:33:09,200
The recommendation is a result of research, discussions, lots of discussions, and thoughtful consideration by the culture and arts board.

393
00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:19,620
Our goal is to create a symbol that honors Belair's history, but also representing the community we are today and the future we hope to build.

394
00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:24,620
I'll get this right in a minute. There you go.

395
00:33:24,620 --> 00:33:46,460
Yeah. So why does the city need a logo? A city logo is more than a graphic. It serves as a recognizable visual identity or the community. It creates consistency across city communications. It helps residents and visitors instantly recognize Belair and reinforces our community pride.

396
00:33:47,300 --> 00:33:51,900
Many cities have logos, and they've come inseparable from their identity.

397
00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:56,340
San Francisco has its cable cars, New Orleans has its street cars.

398
00:33:57,020 --> 00:34:03,840
Belair has a story of its own, and we believe that story deserves a symbol that is uniquely ours.

399
00:34:04,780 --> 00:34:08,700
With that in mind, I'm going to turn it over, turn the presentation over to Christie,

400
00:34:09,100 --> 00:34:14,600
who's going to discuss what a city logo should represent and how we arrived at our recommendation.

401
00:34:14,600 --> 00:34:15,520
This

402
00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:23,880
is the top button, right? That's what I've been hinting.

403
00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:27,260
Thank you. They're the creative part in the tech.

404
00:34:29,280 --> 00:34:30,760
Okay, all righty.

405
00:34:31,080 --> 00:34:33,880
So what should Bel Air's logo represent?

406
00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:36,080
Simply put, it should tell our story.

407
00:34:36,240 --> 00:34:39,520
It should tell the story of our history and the qualities of our city

408
00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:41,380
that our residents value the most.

409
00:34:41,940 --> 00:34:43,460
It should be memorable.

410
00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:44,460
It should be unique.

411
00:34:45,180 --> 00:34:47,040
It should be simple to appoint.

412
00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:53,940
It should be appropriate for municipality and it should be a visual symbol that incites a sense of pride amongst our residents.

413
00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:58,140
And as we began this process, we asked ourselves a few questions.

414
00:34:58,500 --> 00:35:02,680
How can we capture some of these elements in a single identity? That is a challenge.

415
00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:09,400
So we have our history and our heritage, our trees and green space that residents really value, our community character,

416
00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:15,480
and also something that while including history is a forward-looking vision for the city of Bel Air.

417
00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:20,720
And as our city continues to involve what visual symbol can be a constant and really

418
00:35:20,720 --> 00:35:25,300
stand the test of time, so we're not back up here every 10 years or so revisiting this.

419
00:35:25,860 --> 00:35:31,560
So to be a good steward of public funds, the Culture and Arts Board, instead of recommending

420
00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:37,060
commissioning news research around this, we looked to some of the research conducted

421
00:35:37,060 --> 00:35:39,340
by residents as part of prior initiatives.

422
00:35:39,940 --> 00:35:45,300
Many of you remember in 2016, there was a visioning Bel Air study as part of a beautification

423
00:35:45,300 --> 00:35:53,880
effort conducted by Terrain Studio, 2017-2018 rebranding initiative conducted by Design

424
00:35:53,880 --> 00:35:54,420
By Principal.

425
00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:55,200
Sorry.

426
00:35:57,100 --> 00:35:57,740
Oh, thank you.

427
00:35:58,020 --> 00:35:58,320
Thank you.

428
00:35:58,740 --> 00:36:04,450
Design By Principal, 2023, there was a community survey done as part of the research for

429
00:36:04,450 --> 00:36:10,710
the Comprehensive Plan, and then in 2024, a citizen survey.

430
00:36:11,270 --> 00:36:14,230
So some consistent themes emerged.

431
00:36:14,810 --> 00:36:16,590
Residents repeatedly described Bel Air

432
00:36:16,590 --> 00:36:18,890
as a true small-town community in the heart of Houston,

433
00:36:19,470 --> 00:36:21,330
a city with beautiful tree-lined streets

434
00:36:21,330 --> 00:36:24,570
and iconic live oak arches, a community known

435
00:36:24,570 --> 00:36:26,990
for safety, strong neighborhoods, and civic pride,

436
00:36:27,730 --> 00:36:30,610
a place with a strong sense of history and identity.

437
00:36:31,410 --> 00:36:34,050
It was interesting, the 2024 Citizen Engagement Survey

438
00:36:34,050 --> 00:36:36,270
They found that 78% of Bel Air residents

439
00:36:36,750 --> 00:36:39,170
believe that Bel Air is better than surrounding communities.

440
00:36:39,270 --> 00:36:41,110
And I think that's meaningful because it's not just saying

441
00:36:41,110 --> 00:36:43,930
that 78% of people are satisfied to live here.

442
00:36:44,210 --> 00:36:46,610
They truly believe that Bel Air is superior

443
00:36:46,610 --> 00:36:47,730
to surrounding communities.

444
00:36:47,890 --> 00:36:48,770
They chose to live here.

445
00:36:49,350 --> 00:36:51,650
They continue to choose to make a home here.

446
00:36:51,910 --> 00:36:54,970
And so that alone shows this overwhelming sense

447
00:36:54,970 --> 00:36:55,770
of civic pride.

448
00:36:56,290 --> 00:36:57,830
We looked at neighborhoods like Westview

449
00:36:57,830 --> 00:37:00,490
or Southside Place that do have visual representations

450
00:37:00,490 --> 00:37:01,750
and a seal or logo.

451
00:37:01,750 --> 00:37:09,510
And there's been some things like state loyal local campaign where we've had a city of Bel Air up here next to those and we've just had a typography

452
00:37:09,510 --> 00:37:14,910
So I'm overjoyed that you all have asked the arts board trees to revisit this and

453
00:37:15,910 --> 00:37:22,650
So let's see practical design considerations. Oh, no, I'm sorry. I was just showing in the logo. Oh, sorry

454
00:37:22,650 --> 00:37:29,210
I'm sorry. Okay. Okay. So practical design considerations and these are really important as far as

455
00:37:29,210 --> 00:37:34,250
the logo is not just being an attractive visual identity, but are they effective, are they

456
00:37:34,250 --> 00:37:38,270
functional, are they cost effective for the city? And I think there's probably no better

457
00:37:38,270 --> 00:37:43,270
space than this building because you will see, you know, a logo would be on an agenda,

458
00:37:43,530 --> 00:37:50,750
business cards, staff shirts, outdoor signage, vehicles. I mean, there's a million different

459
00:37:50,750 --> 00:37:55,430
applications just within this building alone of different ways the logo will need to

460
00:37:55,430 --> 00:37:59,470
represent itself. So it should be able to present them all in one color, have enough

461
00:37:59,470 --> 00:38:03,410
contrast, because one color is going to be a lot more cost-effective than four

462
00:38:03,410 --> 00:38:07,290
color. And most of the time in printouts and things like that you will need a one color logo.

463
00:38:07,670 --> 00:38:11,450
So not too many gradients, not too many colors. Should work on

464
00:38:11,450 --> 00:38:15,610
the signage vehicles, embroidery, digital media, the website, city social media,

465
00:38:15,910 --> 00:38:18,770
city communications, our public works vehicles, anything like that.

466
00:38:19,430 --> 00:38:23,490
Must remain readable at small sizes. So if you're seeing a business card

467
00:38:23,490 --> 00:38:26,850
or a smaller piece of paper, social media icons,

468
00:38:27,150 --> 00:38:28,470
you should still be able to recognize

469
00:38:28,470 --> 00:38:32,510
the city of Bel Air logo and then avoid too much detail

470
00:38:32,510 --> 00:38:33,510
because that will make it harder

471
00:38:33,510 --> 00:38:35,010
and more expensive to reproduce.

472
00:38:35,230 --> 00:38:36,730
We want something that is cost-effective

473
00:38:36,730 --> 00:38:37,910
to reproduce at scale.

474
00:38:38,350 --> 00:38:39,610
And we don't want something that's too trendy

475
00:38:39,610 --> 00:38:42,170
that we are revisiting it every few years.

476
00:38:43,070 --> 00:38:43,650
All right, now we can,

477
00:38:44,130 --> 00:38:46,990
the next one, did you want to go over that?

478
00:38:46,990 --> 00:38:47,410
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

479
00:38:47,730 --> 00:38:50,130
Okay, so I actually hadn't seen some of these before.

480
00:38:50,430 --> 00:38:52,250
Cheryl showed them in our last

481
00:38:52,250 --> 00:38:53,330
Coltern Arts Board meeting.

482
00:38:53,330 --> 00:38:58,690
I'd seen the prior city logo and some of the things we looked at when we were conducting research on the cookbook

483
00:38:58,690 --> 00:39:04,510
And many of these former seals I have not seen before and it's kind of interesting to look at them because from farther away

484
00:39:04,510 --> 00:39:07,130
There's certain elements that you really can't make out

485
00:39:07,130 --> 00:39:14,830
I mean or that are not unique to the city of Bel Air and they some of them have common elements of municipalities such as people trees buildings

486
00:39:15,810 --> 00:39:17,750
places of worship and

487
00:39:17,750 --> 00:39:20,330
And then some of them it's really honestly hard to tell

488
00:39:21,330 --> 00:39:26,950
what's there at all. So it's a good time to kind of revisit this project. So we

489
00:39:27,490 --> 00:39:31,610
were thinking, as a board, what symbol is more unique to Bel Air? What kind of sets

490
00:39:31,610 --> 00:39:37,110
us apart in the Houston region? And so one symbol that's unique to

491
00:39:37,110 --> 00:39:42,010
Bel Air that we found within all of the past studies I mentioned on the

492
00:39:42,010 --> 00:39:46,810
earlier slide is the trolley. The trolley, for the most part, made it

493
00:39:46,810 --> 00:39:52,430
possible for us to connect to greater downtown to grow as a community for our

494
00:39:52,430 --> 00:39:56,370
businesses to grow. When William Wright Ball when established Bell Air 1908

495
00:39:56,370 --> 00:39:59,910
the trolley connected it connected residents to downtown and help support

496
00:39:59,910 --> 00:40:03,130
the growth of Bell Air which is one of Houston's earliest planned residential

497
00:40:03,130 --> 00:40:09,310
communities. And so now we're gonna go forward to the next slide which I will

498
00:40:09,310 --> 00:40:10,090
Just the top button.

499
00:40:10,250 --> 00:40:10,710
Top button.

500
00:40:11,150 --> 00:40:11,490
Thank you.

501
00:40:12,010 --> 00:40:12,470
Okay.

502
00:40:13,370 --> 00:40:13,730
All right.

503
00:40:13,990 --> 00:40:20,330
So we worked on probably 50, I mean at least a minimum of logo concepts.

504
00:40:20,750 --> 00:40:25,770
We are asked to come forward with one concept, not a final logo, a concept as far as what

505
00:40:25,770 --> 00:40:28,270
elements we recommend be included in this logo.

506
00:40:29,250 --> 00:40:30,150
The trolley.

507
00:40:30,270 --> 00:40:35,750
That was, again, one of the most enduring elements and also an element that came up

508
00:40:35,750 --> 00:40:40,090
again and again and again in our past research. It really isn't just a decorative piece on

509
00:40:40,090 --> 00:40:45,710
Bel Air Boulevard. It kind of is why Bel Air exists today. The live oak arch is something

510
00:40:45,710 --> 00:40:51,130
that residents continue to identify as one of the most beautiful elements within our

511
00:40:51,130 --> 00:40:56,750
city. So we have the, and then how the trolley is enclosed to communicate a sense of safety

512
00:40:56,750 --> 00:41:02,210
because residents value safety and that's one of the top reasons that they love living

513
00:41:02,210 --> 00:41:05,250
in this city, the city does a tremendous job with public safety.

514
00:41:05,910 --> 00:41:13,350
So we recommended a main trolley element enclosed by a live oak arch with the city typography

515
00:41:13,350 --> 00:41:19,970
and year of establishment around as our primary, I'm sorry, a recommendation.

516
00:41:20,670 --> 00:41:23,750
And why we like it, we feel that it's unique to Bel Air.

517
00:41:23,890 --> 00:41:27,010
There's not many cities that have a trolley car in their logo.

518
00:41:27,210 --> 00:41:30,690
It's definitely different than any logo you would see in the surrounding area.

519
00:41:30,690 --> 00:41:39,430
It's distinctive, recognizable, it symbolizes connectivity, accessibility, community, and

520
00:41:39,430 --> 00:41:41,150
it's forward-facing progress.

521
00:41:41,770 --> 00:41:46,070
So it reflects really both our origins and our future, and it's something that is not

522
00:41:46,070 --> 00:41:46,630
going to change.

523
00:41:46,790 --> 00:41:53,710
This trolley car is as an element of really one of the founding distinctive icons of

524
00:41:53,710 --> 00:41:55,950
the city is something that will not change over time.

525
00:41:56,510 --> 00:42:02,110
So, it connects us to where we came from by providing a symbol of what moves us forward.

526
00:42:03,150 --> 00:42:06,610
And then, sorry, I keep forgetting that I'm doing this, I'm sorry.

527
00:42:07,130 --> 00:42:09,430
Well, I don't want to do it because I'm not sure when you're ready.

528
00:42:09,750 --> 00:42:10,530
No, no, no, you're good.

529
00:42:10,850 --> 00:42:12,990
Okay, so, Gay, thank you for putting this together.

530
00:42:13,070 --> 00:42:17,070
She put together a variety of mock-ups, if you will, because it's really important

531
00:42:17,070 --> 00:42:21,110
to see how a logo will look on different pieces of material.

532
00:42:21,270 --> 00:42:24,810
What I like to do is print a bunch of them side by side, hang them, look at

533
00:42:24,810 --> 00:42:28,630
them from far away because the farther back you move, you lose certain elements depending

534
00:42:28,630 --> 00:42:34,930
on how complex they are. So these, again, are just mock-ups of how this logo could look

535
00:42:34,930 --> 00:42:43,230
on items such as, you know, city hats, shirts, signage, website, all of that. So because,

536
00:42:43,450 --> 00:42:48,490
you know, Bel Air means so much to so many people who call it home, our visual identity

537
00:42:48,490 --> 00:42:52,930
really should be, you know, more of a logo. It should be a symbol that residents recognize

538
00:42:52,930 --> 00:42:55,250
and one that they are proud of.

539
00:42:56,130 --> 00:42:56,770
Thank you.

540
00:42:57,610 --> 00:42:58,010
Sorry.

541
00:42:58,830 --> 00:43:01,170
I do want to point out the shirt with the big one.

542
00:43:01,990 --> 00:43:04,770
We aren't saying that the logo should be that big on a shirt.

543
00:43:05,010 --> 00:43:06,450
I just want to make sure y'all knew that.

544
00:43:06,930 --> 00:43:10,250
And then the other thing I would like to point out on the lower right-hand corner,

545
00:43:10,470 --> 00:43:14,250
there's a logo and then there's also like a cutout.

546
00:43:14,890 --> 00:43:17,150
Those wouldn't be on the same sign,

547
00:43:17,150 --> 00:43:19,850
but you can see how the logo would look if it's the logo.

548
00:43:19,850 --> 00:43:23,630
And you can kind of see how it looked if it was just a cutout of a metal.

549
00:43:23,990 --> 00:43:26,950
So we just wanted you all to get an idea of how it would reproduce.

550
00:43:29,130 --> 00:43:37,630
Okay, so tonight what we're requesting, we're requesting approval to move forward with the logo design concept

551
00:43:37,630 --> 00:43:43,030
and to authorize funding of up to $25,000 for professional design services.

552
00:43:43,030 --> 00:43:50,730
After approval, we would hand this off, the implementation of the new logo to city staff.

553
00:43:50,970 --> 00:43:58,050
And based on your feedback, city staff may coordinate community engagement and gather stakeholder input.

554
00:43:59,150 --> 00:44:03,830
A professional brand designer would then refine the approved logo concept,

555
00:44:04,270 --> 00:44:11,050
translate it into a final design package suitable for implementation across city communications,

556
00:44:11,770 --> 00:44:13,870
signage and materials.

557
00:44:17,950 --> 00:44:20,490
So just, oh sorry, I got to press both of them. They aren't

558
00:44:20,490 --> 00:44:27,530
connected. All right. And these are just some closing thoughts. We chose, as

559
00:44:27,530 --> 00:44:32,750
Christy has already mentioned, we chose the trolley as a centerpiece for our

560
00:44:32,750 --> 00:44:39,430
logo because it did help connect Bel Air to opportunity and played a

561
00:44:39,430 --> 00:44:45,590
defining role in the city's early growth. By incorporating this historic symbol

562
00:44:45,590 --> 00:44:51,650
into our logo, we honor Belair's past, celebrate its unique identity, and create

563
00:44:51,650 --> 00:44:57,770
a timeless image that can represent our community for generations to come. And

564
00:44:57,770 --> 00:44:59,970
we are very keen on trying to

565
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:04,780
We're working on trying to come up with something that would be lasting. So, again, I mean, we

566
00:45:04,780 --> 00:45:09,560
hope 10 years from now, we still have the logo assuming it's the one that's adopted.

567
00:45:10,800 --> 00:45:14,560
So, thank you for your kind attention. Questions, feedback?

568
00:45:15,660 --> 00:45:19,280
All right. Well, thank you so much, Gaye Christie. Thank you for all the work that

569
00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:28,380
y'all put into this. I know that y'all came a few months back and had several different,

570
00:45:28,380 --> 00:45:32,860
a few different options similar but a few different options my first question

571
00:45:32,860 --> 00:45:37,380
right off the bat was was was this the color scheme and what have it was this

572
00:45:37,380 --> 00:45:41,780
one of them one of the ones that you'll showed to us okay how did you guys narrow

573
00:45:41,780 --> 00:45:45,160
it down and say hey this was the one we like versus some of the other ones that

574
00:45:45,160 --> 00:45:49,380
were there well we had a lot of discussions about it and we had all the

575
00:45:49,380 --> 00:45:52,500
ones we liked had the trolley in it let me just say that and there's lots

576
00:45:52,500 --> 00:45:56,160
of different ways to display the trolley we like this one because the

577
00:45:56,160 --> 00:45:59,440
trolleys going forward, which indicates progress.

578
00:45:59,700 --> 00:46:02,380
We wanted to show some progress, not just tie it to history,

579
00:46:02,720 --> 00:46:06,260
but tie it to what the city can become down the road.

580
00:46:07,680 --> 00:46:08,840
Would you like to add anything?

581
00:46:09,080 --> 00:46:10,740
We did try, Professor.

582
00:46:11,260 --> 00:46:13,260
We did lay out a bunch of other logos.

583
00:46:13,480 --> 00:46:15,100
Some had people, some had a water tower,

584
00:46:15,240 --> 00:46:18,020
some had gazebo, and when you would lay them all out

585
00:46:18,020 --> 00:46:19,920
next to each other and kind of move farther back

586
00:46:19,920 --> 00:46:22,720
and then also muck them up on various materials,

587
00:46:23,160 --> 00:46:25,460
some of them became almost a little too busy

588
00:46:25,460 --> 00:46:31,180
to reproduce, well, and you kind of almost lost the local center, in a sense.

589
00:46:32,020 --> 00:46:35,880
So the trolley, again, and we went back through the research and it showed that, you know,

590
00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:41,860
the trolley was really something that people identified with historically, sense of pride,

591
00:46:42,140 --> 00:46:43,540
and then the live vote canopy.

592
00:46:44,420 --> 00:46:49,920
And adding park elements, green space elements that people also really enjoyed, did make

593
00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:50,460
it too busy.

594
00:46:51,200 --> 00:46:58,560
the people, I think there is an issue, potentially in the last logo, about having a four-person

595
00:46:58,560 --> 00:47:04,680
family or different family types, not necessarily representing all of Bel Air. So this is how

596
00:47:04,680 --> 00:47:05,380
we ended up with this.

597
00:47:06,580 --> 00:47:14,040
Go back, if you wouldn't mind, to your process or what you're asking us. There you go.

598
00:47:14,040 --> 00:47:15,720
We're going to process the next step.

599
00:47:16,000 --> 00:47:26,540
So tonight, are you asking us for the actually approve this or just simply say go to the

600
00:47:26,540 --> 00:47:27,220
next step?

601
00:47:28,240 --> 00:47:30,780
Well, I think going to the next step would indicate approval.

602
00:47:31,000 --> 00:47:31,680
That's what we're saying.

603
00:47:31,900 --> 00:47:36,240
We don't feel like we can go to the next step until we have some type of direction

604
00:47:36,240 --> 00:47:37,200
from City Council.

605
00:47:37,420 --> 00:47:42,060
Well, the reason I ask is that, and I get that, and that makes perfect sense, but

606
00:47:42,060 --> 00:47:45,740
But you've got community workshop and stakeholder input on the third line.

607
00:47:46,000 --> 00:47:51,080
So my question would be, what are you looking to accomplish through that process?

608
00:47:51,560 --> 00:47:57,580
So the way this works or the way I was explained, the way they explained it to me, is that

609
00:47:57,580 --> 00:48:00,440
our job was simply to put forth a recommendation.

610
00:48:01,060 --> 00:48:05,740
From that point over, city staff would take over and they would do the implementation.

611
00:48:06,220 --> 00:48:10,880
Part of that implementation could be a community workshop or stakeholder input.

612
00:48:10,880 --> 00:48:15,520
So that would come after we agree on something to present to them.

613
00:48:16,240 --> 00:48:22,660
And overall, it's a kind of overall direction on the concept, not a final logo.

614
00:48:22,980 --> 00:48:25,300
So we're not necessarily looking for city council approval.

615
00:48:25,740 --> 00:48:27,580
This is going to be the city of Bel Air logo.

616
00:48:28,200 --> 00:48:34,860
This, we're looking for like feedback on the concept as far as the trolley, the canopy,

617
00:48:35,080 --> 00:48:39,200
which then after this point, we're also looking for approval for funds

618
00:48:39,200 --> 00:48:44,400
that the city would manage as far as going to a graphic designer who would then develop

619
00:48:44,400 --> 00:48:49,540
iterations of this logo. Then those iterations would come to the community in the workshop

620
00:48:49,540 --> 00:48:52,580
period as a final logo is selected during that part.

621
00:48:52,740 --> 00:48:59,000
And I appreciate that. It seems to me just having been part of this historically and

622
00:48:59,000 --> 00:49:06,880
particularly some of the efforts in the past, there was a fair amount of work that was

623
00:49:06,880 --> 00:49:12,380
done with regard to the issue of replication, how would it appear on trucks, what it would

624
00:49:12,380 --> 00:49:18,220
look like. It seems like there had to be a little bit of work involved in those to determine

625
00:49:18,220 --> 00:49:22,700
whether or not this could work. And so it sounds to me like, and I want to be clear

626
00:49:22,700 --> 00:49:29,380
because I think it's important for us, is if we said, okay, we like this well enough

627
00:49:29,380 --> 00:49:36,840
to where go forward make all that possible to see if we could even if we

628
00:49:36,840 --> 00:49:41,180
could even actually implement it. That's what I'm hearing and then at the same

629
00:49:41,180 --> 00:49:46,300
point time after you get all of that input then of course if it works

630
00:49:46,300 --> 00:49:52,100
ultimately then that would come back to us and say yes let's do it. Does that

631
00:49:52,100 --> 00:49:56,180
make sense? Yes, but I just wanted to add we did show this to a professional

632
00:49:56,180 --> 00:50:03,280
a professional graphics person who does logos and a lot of different like for, I mean, like

633
00:50:03,280 --> 00:50:05,240
HEB and some Coca-Cola.

634
00:50:05,760 --> 00:50:10,740
And we showed it to her and she said that this should be very easy to replicate.

635
00:50:11,200 --> 00:50:16,300
We didn't go so far as to get her to do anything because we didn't want to extend any funds

636
00:50:16,300 --> 00:50:19,200
until we knew this is the direction we wanted to go in.

637
00:50:19,640 --> 00:50:23,080
And again, you know, when you get a professional involved in that, maybe the colors are

638
00:50:23,080 --> 00:50:25,680
a little different, maybe things are a little different, whatever.

639
00:50:25,680 --> 00:50:28,760
but like Christy's saying, this is the concept.

640
00:50:29,000 --> 00:50:31,100
These are the features that we want to have in it,

641
00:50:31,100 --> 00:50:33,200
which is the trolley and the trees.

642
00:50:33,900 --> 00:50:38,120
And the amount we're proposing that we've asked for

643
00:50:38,120 --> 00:50:41,160
would go towards development of a brand standards guide.

644
00:50:41,300 --> 00:50:44,080
So all the pieces you referenced, Mayor,

645
00:50:44,560 --> 00:50:45,760
and those would be part of that.

646
00:50:45,880 --> 00:50:48,840
So they would, the designer, once they refine the logo,

647
00:50:49,060 --> 00:50:50,300
and we've heard from the community,

648
00:50:50,700 --> 00:50:53,460
this is a final logo, that final logo would then be taken

649
00:50:53,460 --> 00:50:57,420
And it would be put into a pamphlet, a PDF document of,

650
00:50:57,720 --> 00:51:00,720
here's exactly how it's going to look on a city t-shirt,

651
00:51:00,920 --> 00:51:02,720
on city vehicles, what scale,

652
00:51:03,920 --> 00:51:05,280
the exact pantone colors,

653
00:51:05,860 --> 00:51:07,920
the space that it should reproduce

654
00:51:07,920 --> 00:51:09,680
so you don't get too close to the edge.

655
00:51:09,940 --> 00:51:12,240
All of those things will be part of a brand standards guide

656
00:51:12,240 --> 00:51:15,260
which is very typical of what any city would undertake

657
00:51:16,040 --> 00:51:18,160
when adopting a logo or any kind of branding.

658
00:51:18,320 --> 00:51:22,440
So that fee, the 25,000, that would cover all of that.

659
00:51:22,440 --> 00:51:30,340
Oh, yeah, that's the amount we have in mind is up to $25,000 would we need a budget amendment for that?

660
00:51:30,420 --> 00:51:35,860
Or what what is where do we stand on that? I know we apportioned some certain amounts of money

661
00:51:37,400 --> 00:51:44,240
Toward the signage and sort of the entrance way markers and things such as that is would this be within that

662
00:51:44,240 --> 00:51:49,300
I think staff has been discussing that in conjunction with knowing this project was coming and with the budget preparation

663
00:51:49,300 --> 00:51:54,260
under way. We were going to tentatively schedule into the budget so that the funds would be

664
00:51:54,260 --> 00:52:00,260
there on October 1st, some to cover this graphic designer. So depending on the direction, just

665
00:52:00,260 --> 00:52:06,620
as the art board said, if council is agrees to the concept and the features of the logo,

666
00:52:06,780 --> 00:52:12,680
then we can advance that come October 1st. And I don't know where all the public engagement

667
00:52:13,260 --> 00:52:16,280
depending on the direction of council and what that might look like, but we could

668
00:52:16,280 --> 00:52:19,680
be undertaking some activities before them, but that was our thought.

669
00:52:19,880 --> 00:52:23,840
Of course, if Council decided they wanted to go ahead and move, it is June now.

670
00:52:24,100 --> 00:52:27,680
We couldn't move that, you know, it would take, we would get a couple months' jump,

671
00:52:27,880 --> 00:52:29,740
but we could always amend the budget now.

672
00:52:30,200 --> 00:52:31,120
If we needed to.

673
00:52:31,220 --> 00:52:32,220
If you would like to, correct?

674
00:52:32,260 --> 00:52:32,440
Okay.

675
00:52:32,960 --> 00:52:33,640
Okay, gotcha.

676
00:52:34,040 --> 00:52:35,040
Council Member Gordon.

677
00:52:36,160 --> 00:52:39,660
Well, first off, I think you guys said the most important word, which is pride.

678
00:52:40,560 --> 00:52:45,200
And I am very, very proud of you guys, of the work that the Culture and Arts Board

679
00:52:45,200 --> 00:52:51,760
did. It was a community effort by the community, for the community, and I just really couldn't

680
00:52:51,760 --> 00:52:56,240
be more impressed with the process you guys employed, the ideas you came up with, and

681
00:52:56,240 --> 00:53:01,920
the recommendation that you have. And I go back to pride. When you see something like

682
00:53:01,920 --> 00:53:07,880
that, it makes you proud to be in Bel Air. It makes you excited to be in Bel Air. I

683
00:53:07,880 --> 00:53:13,260
think we run in fear from our logo for too long instead of embracing something that

684
00:53:13,260 --> 00:53:18,280
That is modern, that is beautiful, that is crisp, that is simple, that's forward looking.

685
00:53:18,980 --> 00:53:20,260
So I'm just really pumped.

686
00:53:20,360 --> 00:53:22,760
I think this is a fantastic step in the right direction.

687
00:53:23,600 --> 00:53:27,580
I for one think the decided upon logo is great.

688
00:53:28,300 --> 00:53:36,940
I do have concerns with a design by community approach because it's really hard to please

689
00:53:36,940 --> 00:53:40,200
every single person and if you take a hundred elements from a hundred different people

690
00:53:40,200 --> 00:53:45,120
and try and merge them together, it becomes a nightmare and so I think what you guys have

691
00:53:45,120 --> 00:53:50,640
done is given us such a big head start. You've synthesized it all. You've got us somewhere

692
00:53:50,640 --> 00:53:55,520
that I think the community can really step behind it and have that pride in it and

693
00:53:55,520 --> 00:53:58,900
so I'm just very excited. I don't have a lot of comments. I think it's beautiful.

694
00:53:59,340 --> 00:54:04,700
I think it reproduces and wayfinding, all this stuff. It's something that if I were

695
00:54:04,700 --> 00:54:09,500
driving down the street and I entered Bel Air and saw that on a pedestal, I'd

696
00:54:09,500 --> 00:54:11,520
be like, man, our city is on top of it.

697
00:54:11,740 --> 00:54:13,060
We are a great place to live.

698
00:54:13,300 --> 00:54:14,360
And it's just very exciting.

699
00:54:14,640 --> 00:54:16,540
So I'm really pumped about it.

700
00:54:16,740 --> 00:54:18,440
I think it's time for us to do this.

701
00:54:19,260 --> 00:54:22,880
I think you see that community pride across the board.

702
00:54:23,060 --> 00:54:26,660
Our banners, like we talked about, we're in Bel Air now.

703
00:54:26,820 --> 00:54:27,880
You see you're in Bel Air.

704
00:54:27,980 --> 00:54:29,060
You feel you're in Bel Air.

705
00:54:29,160 --> 00:54:30,480
You have pride to be in Bel Air.

706
00:54:30,960 --> 00:54:32,340
I think this just continues that piece.

707
00:54:33,400 --> 00:54:35,340
For me, I think that number one,

708
00:54:35,340 --> 00:54:42,180
I think the hiring of a professional, very important, you know, it's easy to try, number

709
00:54:42,180 --> 00:54:45,180
one we should say thank you Christy for all the work that you've done.

710
00:54:45,480 --> 00:54:50,940
You've done so much pro bono work for this, but that being said I think hiring somebody

711
00:54:50,940 --> 00:54:54,740
to make sure that we have the right brand guidelines that everything works out perfectly

712
00:54:54,740 --> 00:54:57,140
that the implementation is seamless is really important.

713
00:54:57,360 --> 00:55:01,400
So it seems like a lot of money but it's really worth it because it'll be there

714
00:55:01,400 --> 00:55:02,560
across everything we do.

715
00:55:02,560 --> 00:55:07,740
So I support the money as far as the process goes. I really like the way that we laid this out

716
00:55:08,240 --> 00:55:09,980
I think we do need to give

717
00:55:10,820 --> 00:55:17,400
The opportunity for feedback what I don't necessarily want to do is open up for a let's start from scratch again

718
00:55:18,200 --> 00:55:20,880
Because you know, I think we're really heading in the right direction

719
00:55:20,880 --> 00:55:26,120
So at this point I think you know having an opportunity to be able to see it people to comment on it

720
00:55:26,120 --> 00:55:29,540
You know if we have feedback that pushes us in a different direction

721
00:55:30,160 --> 00:55:36,540
So be it, you know, but we've got a guiding light here that I think is perfect and I'm just really excited. So thank you guys

722
00:55:36,540 --> 00:55:38,280
I'm really really excited. We're excited to

723
00:55:41,020 --> 00:55:43,220
Councilmember Lewis and then I'll go over there. Oh

724
00:55:43,220 --> 00:55:47,200
Well, thank you. Councilmember Gordon. Well said very much. Well said

725
00:55:47,200 --> 00:55:54,680
I do like the logo as it stands as it is and I speak from the position a unique position here

726
00:55:54,680 --> 00:56:01,220
I have a BFA in studio arts and graphic design, and I am not nearly as talented as you are.

727
00:56:01,920 --> 00:56:08,860
You have done, I couldn't conceive, I mean my training was how to design logos, and

728
00:56:08,860 --> 00:56:10,200
I couldn't do this.

729
00:56:10,600 --> 00:56:11,580
This is terrific.

730
00:56:12,520 --> 00:56:16,080
I am a little bit leery about the professional brand designer.

731
00:56:16,220 --> 00:56:17,920
I don't want to see this thing redesigned.

732
00:56:18,880 --> 00:56:20,100
I like it.

733
00:56:20,100 --> 00:56:27,000
Now, you know, if colors works, the stitching, you know, as far as the stitching on shirts

734
00:56:27,000 --> 00:56:32,460
and all, that's another issue, but I like it.

735
00:56:32,980 --> 00:56:39,800
And again, yes, I agree, yeah, we want to present this very well to the community, but

736
00:56:39,800 --> 00:56:41,320
I'm not putting it out there.

737
00:56:41,420 --> 00:56:45,800
We have been through years of talking about bringing back the old logo.

738
00:56:46,340 --> 00:56:53,480
and the thing is that you know there was a church and there was a bungalow house

739
00:56:53,480 --> 00:57:01,020
which many people don't live in bungalow houses anymore some of us do and what

740
00:57:01,020 --> 00:57:06,440
and then the small family you know and it's different now Bella it's just it's

741
00:57:06,440 --> 00:57:11,320
just better and I like I like the concept I like what it looks like I like

742
00:57:11,320 --> 00:57:16,340
the trolley, the connection to history, I like the way you presented it, and hang on

743
00:57:16,340 --> 00:57:22,340
to that. We're not going to sell that out. A professional can do whatever he has to do

744
00:57:22,340 --> 00:57:27,300
to make it reproducible, but I wouldn't change it. And no, I wouldn't go back to the – I

745
00:57:27,300 --> 00:57:31,500
would rather present it to the community and say, this has council's endorsement,

746
00:57:32,100 --> 00:57:37,760
this is our history, and this is our green canopy, just as you presented it to us.

747
00:57:37,760 --> 00:57:43,680
And I wouldn't open it up like you like councilmember Gordon said I wouldn't open it up to

748
00:57:45,000 --> 00:57:49,020
People who want to bungle a house or you know something else on there

749
00:57:49,020 --> 00:57:50,840
Thank you

750
00:57:50,840 --> 00:57:56,160
Well, I love it. I and I can even tell by the way you're talking about it

751
00:57:56,160 --> 00:58:00,420
I see you know what you're talking about the terminology you're using like I'm like well

752
00:58:00,420 --> 00:58:04,880
I could I just could hear every word you said and I was like just so amazed by it

753
00:58:04,880 --> 00:58:08,260
But I think you are nailing,

754
00:58:08,520 --> 00:58:10,020
you're hitting the nail on the head

755
00:58:10,020 --> 00:58:12,480
because one thing that keeps coming up

756
00:58:12,480 --> 00:58:15,180
even from like people from my industry

757
00:58:15,180 --> 00:58:17,560
that live in this city, they'll call me,

758
00:58:17,680 --> 00:58:19,800
they'll say, the trolley has a broken window.

759
00:58:20,280 --> 00:58:23,760
Can we repaint the trolley like it's important to people

760
00:58:24,360 --> 00:58:25,740
that the trolley looks good?

761
00:58:25,940 --> 00:58:27,480
I personally wanna bring the trolley back.

762
00:58:27,660 --> 00:58:28,200
Sharon knows that.

763
00:58:28,300 --> 00:58:31,340
I want it to like transport people between our businesses.

764
00:58:31,900 --> 00:58:32,720
Go to the 401.

765
00:58:32,720 --> 00:58:35,600
One, if you get drunk, the trolley will take you home.

766
00:58:35,800 --> 00:58:38,000
I mean, that's what I want to see happen.

767
00:58:38,860 --> 00:58:41,180
But I also totally agree.

768
00:58:41,180 --> 00:58:42,140
They never over-serve.

769
00:58:42,360 --> 00:58:43,100
What are you talking about?

770
00:58:44,000 --> 00:58:44,360
Right?

771
00:58:44,680 --> 00:58:45,980
Have you ever been there with the winnings?

772
00:58:46,000 --> 00:58:46,300
I'm sorry.

773
00:58:48,000 --> 00:58:53,200
OK, so I also agree on the community.

774
00:58:53,380 --> 00:58:56,600
I feel like you guys did your homework.

775
00:58:57,380 --> 00:58:59,160
We've done this 1,000 times.

776
00:58:59,420 --> 00:59:01,100
We keep going back to the community.

777
00:59:01,100 --> 00:59:05,620
The one thing that keeps coming back up is the trolley, the trees, the green space.

778
00:59:06,040 --> 00:59:08,020
I'm not saying don't take it to the community.

779
00:59:08,940 --> 00:59:09,920
Laura, I agree.

780
00:59:10,400 --> 00:59:14,820
We can do it in a way, but we've kind of taken it to the community,

781
00:59:15,060 --> 00:59:18,560
and we're trying to take that information and do something with it.

782
00:59:19,080 --> 00:59:25,100
We will get lost in a thousand opinions if we try to get too many people's thoughts on this.

783
00:59:25,400 --> 00:59:27,260
And I feel like you are the expert.

784
00:59:28,260 --> 00:59:34,740
You guys yeah, you're hardly experts you're taking it one level up to say like let's take it to one more expert

785
00:59:34,740 --> 00:59:42,600
And it may not be the full $25,000 but personally, I know I'm gonna I'm gonna say give you the money because I want to see

786
00:59:42,600 --> 00:59:47,780
This happen. I also love it as an entry point. I really like the metal

787
00:59:48,740 --> 00:59:56,120
Carby whatever that's called like on a on something like that that looks so good

788
00:59:56,120 --> 00:59:59,980
So, I am 100% supportive and I

789
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:04,820
I'm even supportive of giving you guys money, so thank you guys. Y'all did a great job, really.

790
01:00:05,220 --> 01:00:10,600
Mayor Broadtem. Thank you, Your Honor. So last week in our

791
01:00:11,500 --> 01:00:17,720
board meeting for this group, I think I told each one of them how awfully pride, proud I

792
01:00:17,720 --> 01:00:24,400
was of them. That board consists of some very, very talented people who, if you looked

793
01:00:24,400 --> 01:00:29,120
at their CVs, you would be impressed at the people who are on that board. It's amazing

794
01:00:29,120 --> 01:00:31,400
what their professional lives are.

795
01:00:32,040 --> 01:00:35,780
This is a job that you guys spent a lot of time working on.

796
01:00:36,140 --> 01:00:38,360
You didn't just walk up here to council meeting,

797
01:00:39,080 --> 01:00:40,880
oh, let's do something Monday night.

798
01:00:41,000 --> 01:00:44,540
No, you guys spent a lot of time working on this, a lot.

799
01:00:45,080 --> 01:00:46,640
You looked at the history of our city,

800
01:00:46,880 --> 01:00:48,480
you looked at what has been done in the past.

801
01:00:49,680 --> 01:00:52,820
I'm just very proud of what you've come to the council with.

802
01:00:53,480 --> 01:00:56,260
And I think when our residents see the plan,

803
01:00:56,260 --> 01:01:02,660
It's not found, there are some other steps that I know you've clearly articulated, but

804
01:01:02,660 --> 01:01:05,640
at least you've come up with a plan that really looks good.

805
01:01:05,980 --> 01:01:08,240
And it's a result of a lot of hard work.

806
01:01:09,160 --> 01:01:18,160
In between the cultural arts board doing the cookbooks and doing our last show in the

807
01:01:18,160 --> 01:01:23,700
Presale Park and working on another one, I tell you what, this is amazing what you

808
01:01:23,700 --> 01:01:24,400
guys have accomplished.

809
01:01:24,620 --> 01:01:25,240
Well done.

810
01:01:25,680 --> 01:01:26,400
Thank you, Your Honor.

811
01:01:27,460 --> 01:01:28,000
Thank you.

812
01:01:29,220 --> 01:01:33,600
No, I just hope you all just take a minute and just appreciate the feedback you're hearing.

813
01:01:33,720 --> 01:01:37,000
I mean, I know, like you've heard, this is not something that happened in one night.

814
01:01:37,120 --> 01:01:38,540
It happened over a long period of time.

815
01:01:38,700 --> 01:01:43,220
But if you listen to what everyone's saying, including myself, I think this is phenomenal.

816
01:01:43,440 --> 01:01:48,580
And I think that when we submit it to the public, I mean, we have 100% of support.

817
01:01:48,800 --> 01:01:53,160
No, but I think there's a vast majority of people will appreciate what y'all have done

818
01:01:53,160 --> 01:01:56,800
and and how you've hit all the marks so I just say thank you and I hope you

819
01:01:56,800 --> 01:02:01,000
appreciate the goodwill that you're you're hearing from from up here you

820
01:02:01,000 --> 01:02:04,500
appreciate it thank you all so much yeah thank you and I'll make sure that the

821
01:02:04,500 --> 01:02:09,160
entire board hears all your comments so thank you councilmember Thurberman and

822
01:02:09,160 --> 01:02:14,060
I'm I agree with everybody so far the one thing again as a newcomer and I

823
01:02:14,060 --> 01:02:17,700
think this was important one of the things that you did Christy is a lot

824
01:02:17,700 --> 01:02:21,980
of times the public comments that you get are because the people don't

825
01:02:21,980 --> 01:02:26,300
residents or anybody don't know the history of it. I thought when you went

826
01:02:26,300 --> 01:02:30,260
through that again reminding these were the things that you've done work you

827
01:02:30,260 --> 01:02:34,000
looked at all these things I don't know how to get that out to the public because

828
01:02:34,000 --> 01:02:38,760
I agree is when you're at this point you don't go back to score one this is

829
01:02:38,760 --> 01:02:42,880
building off of everything and so half of it is just letting the public know

830
01:02:42,880 --> 01:02:46,580
that this is what we came up with this is what you looked at because yeah

831
01:02:46,580 --> 01:02:50,240
I was thinking about there's to me I can't imagine what else you would do

832
01:02:50,240 --> 01:02:54,420
for Bel Air. I mean, you're not going to put a, I mean, the water terrace nice, but

833
01:02:55,620 --> 01:03:01,420
this is something that is nicer. Yeah, this is unique. And this is something that is Bel

834
01:03:01,420 --> 01:03:05,860
Air. And actually, it's funny, it ties kind of to the city Houston's logo, too, with

835
01:03:05,860 --> 01:03:10,200
the trains. I mean, there's a little bit of history there, you know, regionally.

836
01:03:10,520 --> 01:03:14,700
And so this is important to me, but there's a way just to get that out in terms of

837
01:03:14,700 --> 01:03:17,600
the public community work and, you know, the input.

838
01:03:18,060 --> 01:03:22,840
If you just let them know what has been done up to the all,

839
01:03:23,020 --> 01:03:24,860
you know, throw out there a couple of the alternatives

840
01:03:24,860 --> 01:03:25,700
that you did have.

841
01:03:26,220 --> 01:03:29,620
And yes, the key is focus on this concept

842
01:03:30,140 --> 01:03:31,880
and now improve upon this concept.

843
01:03:32,120 --> 01:03:33,080
I think that's the key.

844
01:03:33,180 --> 01:03:34,080
So I agree.

845
01:03:34,280 --> 01:03:36,540
I mean, just watching this kind of from the periphery,

846
01:03:37,180 --> 01:03:39,400
this is the kind of process I love

847
01:03:39,400 --> 01:03:40,900
and because you did get input.

848
01:03:41,060 --> 01:03:42,660
And I think you've come up with something

849
01:03:42,660 --> 01:03:44,080
that's pretty cool and the good thing is

850
01:03:44,080 --> 01:03:51,180
It was done by residents so far though as far as I know very little dollars have been expended to this point

851
01:03:51,180 --> 01:03:56,520
Just to get to here. There was a lot of sweat equity in and that's important to me. So good job

852
01:03:58,120 --> 01:03:59,940
On the idea of

853
01:04:00,600 --> 01:04:02,500
Commit getting this out to the community sure

854
01:04:02,500 --> 01:04:06,100
I know you have lots of stuff to do but is this something that you have we have a

855
01:04:06,500 --> 01:04:10,580
Website said logo and like a little tab on our landing page that

856
01:04:11,580 --> 01:04:21,380
Well, not even but that too, but also to the point where the history will come up with a

857
01:04:21,380 --> 01:04:25,760
with a plan to put it out there. We can put it on the website. We can explain the history

858
01:04:25,760 --> 01:04:32,260
of it. We can figure out a way to receive community feedback, whether it be in a workshop

859
01:04:32,260 --> 01:04:39,020
or online. So we'll discuss that and work through it and move forward.

860
01:04:40,340 --> 01:04:50,040
I mean, I think what I'm hearing is that what y'all have presented is something that I think Council has found to be worthy of pushing it to the next step.

861
01:04:50,580 --> 01:04:59,880
And I think that's what you're asking for. I think to the extent that your recommendation is, look, we've done, we've taken it, we think that it makes sense.

862
01:04:59,880 --> 01:05:01,460
We think that it's going to translate.

863
01:05:01,680 --> 01:05:08,340
We think that it's going to be able to be reproducible in the forms that we need it,

864
01:05:08,500 --> 01:05:13,100
but we ultimately need it in such a way to where a professional needs to make sure that

865
01:05:13,100 --> 01:05:13,660
that happens.

866
01:05:13,760 --> 01:05:18,080
And I think that's what you're ultimately asking for, and then the rest of that.

867
01:05:18,300 --> 01:05:24,620
So I think you've heard from counsel that I think by general consent we can say – unless

868
01:05:24,620 --> 01:05:25,320
you have something –

869
01:05:25,320 --> 01:05:26,320
I just wanted to add, but go ahead.

870
01:05:26,360 --> 01:05:26,520
Sure.

871
01:05:26,520 --> 01:05:31,360
Well, all I was going to say is I think by general consent that we can tell you, yes,

872
01:05:31,440 --> 01:05:36,560
I think that we want to move forward with what you have presented in the manner in which

873
01:05:36,560 --> 01:05:39,880
you have presented in the process that you have suggested.

874
01:05:40,220 --> 01:05:46,120
And I'm comfortable that the money can either, depending upon the, I think, the timing

875
01:05:46,120 --> 01:05:50,480
of it all, I think we can either amend our budget or it'll be coming up in our

876
01:05:51,080 --> 01:05:52,880
budget starting on October 1st.

877
01:05:52,880 --> 01:05:56,920
And so it sounds like we'll be able to handle that one way or the other in that regard.

878
01:05:57,120 --> 01:05:57,760
Thank you.

879
01:05:57,920 --> 01:05:58,680
Thank you very much.

880
01:05:58,880 --> 01:05:59,080
Yeah.

881
01:05:59,320 --> 01:06:01,180
I was just speaking in terms of process and the same thing.

882
01:06:01,240 --> 01:06:03,560
I think we're at a good time as we're preparing the budget.

883
01:06:04,180 --> 01:06:09,560
Like October 1st is just not that far away in this, and so I think it lines up very

884
01:06:09,560 --> 01:06:13,620
well for us to plan for budgeting these funds in FY 27.

885
01:06:14,180 --> 01:06:18,360
That doesn't mean that Cheryl couldn't get a head start on notifying the community

886
01:06:18,360 --> 01:06:19,100
and so on.

887
01:06:20,540 --> 01:06:21,580
There's a lot of excitement.

888
01:06:21,580 --> 01:06:25,160
I mean, I'd love to see this on everything in the next two months, but you know what?

889
01:06:26,600 --> 01:06:28,400
It's okay for it to take a little bit of time.

890
01:06:28,540 --> 01:06:35,180
I think it's good for us to set some schedule expectations, which would be we'll have outreach

891
01:06:35,180 --> 01:06:42,040
and engagement over the next couple of months, we'll award a contract January 1st, we'll

892
01:06:42,040 --> 01:06:43,560
have final by March.

893
01:06:43,700 --> 01:06:48,880
By the end of FY 27, it's sealed, done, ready to implement or something like that.

894
01:06:48,880 --> 01:06:54,620
And we can debate the specifics of the timeline, but like I said, it's easy to say do it immediately

895
01:06:54,620 --> 01:06:56,720
or it's also easy to drag it out forever.

896
01:06:57,000 --> 01:07:01,420
I think we find the proper middle ground where we're doing it right, but we have schedule

897
01:07:01,420 --> 01:07:06,780
expectations and we can know that in about a year from now, you know, this process will

898
01:07:06,780 --> 01:07:08,040
be done and we're ready to move forward.

899
01:07:09,660 --> 01:07:10,340
All right.

900
01:07:11,080 --> 01:07:18,680
Is that, first of all, Cheryl, do you have enough and, again, Christie, do you

901
01:07:18,680 --> 01:07:21,180
We all have enough to be able to move forward.

902
01:07:22,360 --> 01:07:22,620
Okay.

903
01:07:23,140 --> 01:07:31,020
Alan, the agenda item said discussion, presentation discussion and possible action.

904
01:07:31,160 --> 01:07:36,260
I think our possible action doesn't mean approving that, means giving them the go-ahead to move

905
01:07:36,260 --> 01:07:36,660
forward.

906
01:07:36,920 --> 01:07:40,120
Is that from a legal perspective?

907
01:07:40,620 --> 01:07:42,200
Are we okay with that?

908
01:07:42,420 --> 01:07:42,780
Yes.

909
01:07:43,160 --> 01:07:43,520
Yes, we are.

910
01:07:44,100 --> 01:07:44,300
Okay.

911
01:07:44,300 --> 01:07:44,660
All right.

912
01:07:45,780 --> 01:07:46,160
Okay.

913
01:07:46,160 --> 01:07:48,160
Can't take a unanimous vote, that would be fun.

914
01:07:49,240 --> 01:07:51,820
Hey, all those in favor of moving forward,

915
01:07:51,920 --> 01:07:53,880
please signify by raising your right hand.

916
01:07:54,080 --> 01:07:55,040
Yes, there we go.

917
01:07:55,480 --> 01:07:55,820
Okay.

918
01:07:56,800 --> 01:07:57,640
Thank you.

919
01:07:57,920 --> 01:08:00,380
Thank you.

920
01:08:03,360 --> 01:08:06,200
I will tell y'all, I was the liaison

921
01:08:06,200 --> 01:08:08,600
for Culture and Arts back in 2014

922
01:08:09,380 --> 01:08:12,700
when that version first came up

923
01:08:12,700 --> 01:08:15,880
with a lot of work back in those days

924
01:08:15,880 --> 01:08:22,260
And then there was, as Christy said, there were several efforts that have come forward.

925
01:08:22,640 --> 01:08:25,240
And so I think the time is right for us to do something.

926
01:08:25,880 --> 01:08:31,560
I guess none of those were right, and that makes sense, but it seems like today is we're

927
01:08:31,560 --> 01:08:32,300
getting to that point.

928
01:08:32,440 --> 01:08:36,280
So thank you, Paul, for your comments and input, and also for the support you all

929
01:08:36,280 --> 01:08:37,500
showed at the Coulter and Arts Board.

930
01:08:39,200 --> 01:08:42,040
That gets them another 40 yards, I think, right there.

931
01:08:44,460 --> 01:08:55,920
Okay. We will go back on our agenda to where we left off at item number 2, H2, which would

932
01:08:55,920 --> 01:09:01,780
be an ordinance authorizing publication of a notice of intention to issue certificates

933
01:09:01,780 --> 01:09:06,900
of obligation, authorizing the preparation of a preliminary official statement, and

934
01:09:06,900 --> 01:09:10,960
notice of sale and providing for other matters incidental there, too.

935
01:09:12,320 --> 01:09:14,520
So with that, tell us about that.

936
01:09:15,320 --> 01:09:20,260
So before we start, Mayor, I wanted to mention we had a couple of errors on this item and

937
01:09:20,260 --> 01:09:23,660
the next item, and I wanted to take ownership and responsibility for that.

938
01:09:24,140 --> 01:09:29,960
We had uploaded some agenda materials that didn't really belong there, and staff will

939
01:09:29,960 --> 01:09:30,800
talk more in detail.

940
01:09:31,060 --> 01:09:34,460
We also had a couple of errors in the next item, and so I wanted to call that to

941
01:09:34,460 --> 01:09:34,840
your attention.

942
01:09:35,100 --> 01:09:35,980
Apologize for it.

943
01:09:35,980 --> 01:09:40,420
Let you know that we're working on improving our process to ensure that you don't see those again

944
01:09:40,420 --> 01:09:45,440
So with that I'm going to pass it over to Beth Jones and to Jim Harrison from finance

945
01:09:45,440 --> 01:09:47,880
But just to follow up on that

946
01:09:47,880 --> 01:09:53,880
There's nothing in in those in those errors that prohibited us from dealing with it and addressing it

947
01:09:53,880 --> 01:09:59,960
No, absolutely not. They were just typographical and just a poor craftsmanship on our part in getting that to you

948
01:09:59,960 --> 01:10:03,460
So I apologize. We appreciate we appreciate the the heads up

949
01:10:04,540 --> 01:10:06,460
and your attention to detail.

950
01:10:07,180 --> 01:10:07,880
Thank you.

951
01:10:08,280 --> 01:10:09,400
Good evening, Mayor and Council.

952
01:10:09,640 --> 01:10:12,000
Beth Jones, Assistant City Manager and City Engineer.

953
01:10:12,720 --> 01:10:15,180
And Jim Harrison, Assistant Director of Finance.

954
01:10:16,220 --> 01:10:18,260
Terence Beeman is unable to be here tonight,

955
01:10:18,360 --> 01:10:19,220
so you have the B team.

956
01:10:19,480 --> 01:10:19,840
I apologize.

957
01:10:21,040 --> 01:10:24,520
This agenda item is for the first step

958
01:10:24,520 --> 01:10:26,220
in issuing certificates of obligation.

959
01:10:26,960 --> 01:10:29,140
As you know, I updated you in April

960
01:10:29,140 --> 01:10:32,180
regarding our Glenmont property for public works.

961
01:10:33,800 --> 01:10:37,360
This certificate of obligation is for $8.7 million.

962
01:10:38,400 --> 01:10:42,280
When I spoke to you in April, I talked about the update of the process.

963
01:10:42,640 --> 01:10:44,500
Originally, we had talked about $7 million.

964
01:10:45,300 --> 01:10:48,820
And that was the original estimate as we went through the design process

965
01:10:48,820 --> 01:10:53,940
and landed the plane and made several decisions about what exactly would need to be there.

966
01:10:54,460 --> 01:10:57,080
The budget amount moved to $8.7 million.

967
01:10:57,080 --> 01:11:02,480
So this item is for that bond issuance, excuse me, the certificate of obligation.

968
01:11:03,360 --> 01:11:08,180
There were a few questions that were raised in the supporting documents by Councilman Gordon.

969
01:11:08,980 --> 01:11:12,620
A standard language of attachment A to the ordinance.

970
01:11:13,520 --> 01:11:20,520
If you'll go there, it was questioning about the reference to ad valorem taxes to pay for this,

971
01:11:20,520 --> 01:11:27,080
as well as the language that it specifies a building and related facilities for the public works department.

972
01:11:27,600 --> 01:11:33,140
There were two questions of the first one being how do we intend to pay for these certificates of obligation?

973
01:11:33,780 --> 01:11:39,580
And then the second question being that as I mentioned in April, it's not just a public works facility.

974
01:11:39,840 --> 01:11:42,100
There will be the police impound lot.

975
01:11:43,560 --> 01:11:46,680
Several divisions of the parks department will be there too.

976
01:11:46,680 --> 01:11:55,120
per Allen's guidance. Attachment A is more of a standardized language that when you issue

977
01:11:55,120 --> 01:12:02,020
the certificates of obligation and the sale of it, it's a very formulaic language. And

978
01:12:02,020 --> 01:12:07,000
so, yes, we could be more specific regarding what exactly will be there, but it's not

979
01:12:07,000 --> 01:12:13,960
necessary and there's not too much of a pro to it. But the recommendation from Allen

980
01:12:13,960 --> 01:12:20,620
was to keep the language more simple. As far as paying for it, the language, again, is a bit

981
01:12:20,620 --> 01:12:27,060
standard, but so that you understand, because there is a shared use between Enterprise and

982
01:12:27,060 --> 01:12:33,320
General Fund facilities there in our bookkeeping side of things, we're splitting those costs in

983
01:12:33,320 --> 01:12:42,760
a 60-40, 60% Enterprise, 40% General Fund. So we anticipate that utility rates and the

984
01:12:42,760 --> 01:12:48,960
enterprise fund would support 60% of that expense, and then the general fund, property

985
01:12:48,960 --> 01:12:55,020
tax and so forth, would support 40% of that. So that's the idea behind that. And then

986
01:12:55,020 --> 01:13:01,400
there was a question regarding the $12.5 million in bonds that we'll talk about next.

987
01:13:01,800 --> 01:13:07,420
Should that be an attachment B? And the answer from Council is no, we don't need to,

988
01:13:07,520 --> 01:13:12,080
because we're going to issue the certificates of obligation first. That will be sold

989
01:13:12,080 --> 01:13:16,700
in August and the general obligation bonds the water wastewater bonds will be

990
01:13:16,700 --> 01:13:23,480
sold in September. So this attachment is what exists today at the sale of these

991
01:13:23,480 --> 01:13:28,380
certificates of obligation. So I hope I've cleared up some questions and I'm

992
01:13:28,380 --> 01:13:32,280
happy to answer more and I really want to give Jim an opportunity to talk so

993
01:13:32,280 --> 01:13:33,580
ask something hard please.

994
01:13:36,370 --> 01:13:39,630
Any questions? Council Member Thurber.

995
01:13:42,140 --> 01:13:42,880
While you're

996
01:13:42,880 --> 01:13:48,320
not including the 12.5 are the other bond in here. You have considered those together

997
01:13:48,320 --> 01:13:54,920
from just a financial standpoint. So that was part of the reason we wanted to bring

998
01:13:54,920 --> 01:13:59,080
these two items on the same night so that you can look at it holistically and we can

999
01:13:59,080 --> 01:14:02,180
have a discussion about the two different kinds of debt that we're going to be issuing

1000
01:14:02,180 --> 01:14:08,420
almost at the same time and have a holistic view. So while it's not listed in Attachment

1001
01:14:08,420 --> 01:14:16,940
We did talk about the preliminary official statement that was erroneously attached to the agenda item.

1002
01:14:17,440 --> 01:14:22,280
That's a working document. That's what you're actually granting us permission to start working on.

1003
01:14:23,360 --> 01:14:27,600
That's where we'll really get into the meat of that information there.

1004
01:14:28,680 --> 01:14:35,460
I had another question just overall again to explain kind of for the public is kind

1005
01:14:35,460 --> 01:14:40,440
of the bond rate or tax rate and everything just I know they're again they're linked

1006
01:14:40,440 --> 01:14:47,220
together and it's a very general discussion right now but I want to make sure that that's

1007
01:14:47,220 --> 01:14:52,280
been looked at in terms of the rates and our debt overall.

1008
01:14:52,280 --> 01:14:57,560
So, Jim can speak to some specifics, but I can tell you that when Terrence and I worked

1009
01:14:57,560 --> 01:14:59,980
on this, he was worried about...

1010
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:04,220
You know, the tax rate and how it would hit our budget and so forth, and then I backed

1011
01:15:04,220 --> 01:15:07,860
in from the capital standpoint of when we needed money and how.

1012
01:15:08,480 --> 01:15:13,620
So we work together and the certificates of obligation are one thing that's kind of more

1013
01:15:13,620 --> 01:15:19,280
you issue it as you need it, but the general obligation bonds are a little bit different

1014
01:15:19,280 --> 01:15:22,940
and there are particular times of year that are more preferred to sell them.

1015
01:15:22,940 --> 01:15:27,600
and Terence and Jim can speak to it, but August,

1016
01:15:28,180 --> 01:15:31,840
that timeframe is the more preferred because of how it hits our tax rate.

1017
01:15:32,260 --> 01:15:34,820
So I worked on August, and I backed out those numbers.

1018
01:15:35,000 --> 01:15:36,520
Did you want to speak to what was paid?

1019
01:15:37,400 --> 01:15:40,100
Sure. I'm not sure I fully understand your question.

1020
01:15:40,580 --> 01:15:45,040
Is just without detail, our tax rate with it,

1021
01:15:45,280 --> 01:15:50,080
it's been considered for both of these, the CO and the GO bonds

1022
01:15:50,080 --> 01:15:58,420
bonds has been considered as with our overall tax rate and it's reasonable. I think it's

1023
01:15:58,420 --> 01:16:04,620
just that as you've evaluated that versus our overall debt of the city and so it's

1024
01:16:04,620 --> 01:16:08,100
without getting in the detail because that'll be coming later when you have more detail

1025
01:16:08,100 --> 01:16:14,420
on the bonds, but this is a general statement that to go and just have us to consider

1026
01:16:14,420 --> 01:16:18,700
these now. Y'all have looked at all the detail with the bond rating, the total

1027
01:16:18,700 --> 01:16:24,140
debt. Yeah, a bond rating is not going to be a problem. These will be triple A rated on positive.

1028
01:16:25,120 --> 01:16:30,460
You know, in 2019, I think we had almost $130 million worth of debt. We now have about $91

1029
01:16:30,460 --> 01:16:36,540
million. We were triple A then, and that was, I guess that was 2019. And that was in 2019

1030
01:16:36,540 --> 01:16:40,880
dollars. We've had a lot of inflation since. And I'm confident the bond rating is not going to be

1031
01:16:40,880 --> 01:16:45,800
an issue with this. Our tax rate does have two components. It's got the debt component

1032
01:16:45,800 --> 01:16:48,500
and the general fund operations and maintenance component.

1033
01:16:49,340 --> 01:16:50,880
There won't be a whole lot of this.

1034
01:16:51,040 --> 01:16:53,180
It's really going to be in the debt tax rate.

1035
01:16:53,600 --> 01:16:57,160
40% of the public works building we're allocating towards that.

1036
01:16:57,880 --> 01:17:01,160
The other 60% is going to be funded through the enterprise fund utility rates.

1037
01:17:02,060 --> 01:17:04,060
The $12.5 million that's all water and wastewater.

1038
01:17:04,520 --> 01:17:06,660
So that's going to be utility rates.

1039
01:17:06,720 --> 01:17:08,740
That's not going to be the tax rate either.

1040
01:17:09,060 --> 01:17:13,480
So we pay down about $8 million of principal every year on the bonds.

1041
01:17:13,480 --> 01:17:17,600
That almost takes care of the CO as far as the trade-off there last year we

1042
01:17:17,600 --> 01:17:22,060
issued 7 million of debt we paid off just over 7 millions of debt so the debt

1043
01:17:22,540 --> 01:17:25,920
didn't overall didn't change last year because of the timing of it so we do

1044
01:17:25,920 --> 01:17:30,440
manage to the extent we can the timing a lot of it's project-based but our

1045
01:17:30,440 --> 01:17:34,020
financial advisor is also always watching you know what's maturing and

1046
01:17:34,020 --> 01:17:39,420
when so we we do try to manage timing somewhat within the parameters of

1047
01:17:39,420 --> 01:17:43,060
the projects we need to get done in order to manage overall you know the

1048
01:17:43,060 --> 01:17:48,980
the debt load. So we do look at all that. The tax rate won't be super impacted by this

1049
01:17:48,980 --> 01:17:51,680
because most of this is going to be funded through utility rates.

1050
01:17:52,080 --> 01:17:53,220
Thank you, Jim. Thank you, Pat.

1051
01:17:55,420 --> 01:17:58,760
Any other questions? Council Member Lewis?

1052
01:18:00,000 --> 01:18:05,200
Yeah. I know this is going to come as a question from the public as they brought

1053
01:18:05,200 --> 01:18:11,100
it up before, but certificates of obligation, they have a certain purpose. I know my

1054
01:18:11,100 --> 01:18:17,620
understanding of it and what I would say to them but they'll say why didn't you

1055
01:18:17,620 --> 01:18:22,340
put this out to the voter for bonds and I figure shall I let you answer that?

1056
01:18:24,560 --> 01:18:29,720
Certificates of obligation are very limited in their nature and so the

1057
01:18:29,720 --> 01:18:34,680
state law has allowed for us to have very specific framework in which to

1058
01:18:34,680 --> 01:18:39,820
work in. It works well for purchase of properties and then the existing

1059
01:18:39,820 --> 01:18:42,760
construction of it or renovation of it.

1060
01:18:43,760 --> 01:18:50,020
So the most conservative answer is you could take it to the voters, however, we had a very

1061
01:18:50,020 --> 01:18:52,540
specific timeline that we needed to continue.

1062
01:18:53,700 --> 01:18:55,180
Ellen, did you want to speak more to that?

1063
01:18:55,540 --> 01:18:59,000
Just also that there is a notice process.

1064
01:18:59,920 --> 01:19:06,340
So the resolution you're authorizing today, if you authorize it, would be for us to

1065
01:19:06,340 --> 01:19:13,100
publish notice of our intent to issue these certificates in August and there's

1066
01:19:13,100 --> 01:19:19,100
a time period where we have to publish notice of that and in fact if sufficient

1067
01:19:19,100 --> 01:19:25,020
people were to file a petition protesting they could force an election so

1068
01:19:25,020 --> 01:19:31,120
there there is a sort of a backstop if the public were to be vehemently opposed

1069
01:19:32,400 --> 01:19:38,280
And my answer would be, what I understood about Certificates of Obligation is they are

1070
01:19:38,280 --> 01:19:40,700
for essential services for the city.

1071
01:19:41,140 --> 01:19:45,980
And I have told people before, you have to provide a place for these people to go to work.

1072
01:19:46,340 --> 01:19:50,860
You want your trash picked up, you want your streets repaired, you got to provide a place

1073
01:19:50,860 --> 01:19:56,080
for them to report to work, take their showers after they've been out on a hot,

1074
01:19:56,200 --> 01:19:59,640
sweaty day, and you have to provide this.

1075
01:19:59,640 --> 01:20:05,220
this is essential. And that was my understanding of certificates of obligation. It's for something

1076
01:20:05,220 --> 01:20:11,980
that is essential to the city. It was, well, we knew eventually we'd have to do something

1077
01:20:11,980 --> 01:20:18,200
about a public works building. And this was, on the radar, we were looking for a warehouse,

1078
01:20:18,920 --> 01:20:25,500
something industrial that was just outside the city of Bel Air, just outside the city

1079
01:20:25,500 --> 01:20:33,360
a bell-air where it's off of Houston's tax base, not off of ours, but that's my understanding

1080
01:20:33,360 --> 01:20:38,580
and that's what I also would tell them, because I know we're going to get some flack. We're

1081
01:20:38,580 --> 01:20:44,160
going to get flack about certificates of obligation. I just want to make sure publicly it's all

1082
01:20:44,160 --> 01:20:50,840
very clear this is a board, we're not doing something behind closed doors, and it is

1083
01:20:50,840 --> 01:20:55,500
essential. It's just essential. If you want your trash picked up, provide a place for

1084
01:20:55,500 --> 01:20:56,100
them to go to work.

1085
01:21:00,350 --> 01:21:00,750
Well,

1086
01:21:03,770 --> 01:21:07,410
first of all, we kind of lucked into this, right? I mean, we were so lucky that

1087
01:21:07,410 --> 01:21:12,290
it even showed up when it did. So that's one thing that I would say publicly also is

1088
01:21:12,930 --> 01:21:18,990
it was the perfect unicorn that we needed. And weren't we leasing, weren't we making

1089
01:21:18,990 --> 01:21:23,630
some money by leasing it also so there was some income coming from it that I

1090
01:21:23,630 --> 01:21:26,930
just want to make sure everybody understands that this isn't just about

1091
01:21:26,930 --> 01:21:32,050
how we're you know increasing any kind of debt which we have to anyway but that

1092
01:21:32,050 --> 01:21:37,350
there was income coming also. Yes we have a tenant until the end of July and

1093
01:21:37,350 --> 01:21:39,910
we've been receiving lease payments for that.

1094
01:21:43,480 --> 01:21:45,100
Mayor for attendance. Thank you

1095
01:21:45,100 --> 01:21:48,980
very much the honor. First of all thank you for the presentation. You

1096
01:21:48,980 --> 01:21:52,540
You mentioned you had consultable counsel, you meant legal counsel, right?

1097
01:21:52,940 --> 01:21:53,200
Yes.

1098
01:21:53,340 --> 01:21:53,680
Thank you.

1099
01:21:54,460 --> 01:21:58,700
The other, a couple of things, when does a 45-day notice trigger?

1100
01:21:59,700 --> 01:21:59,940
Is it?

1101
01:22:00,540 --> 01:22:07,540
It starts the first day of publication, which will be later this week, if approved.

1102
01:22:08,140 --> 01:22:08,380
Okay.

1103
01:22:09,100 --> 01:22:16,880
And you mentioned the uses of these types of the, I think, urgent repairs, utility

1104
01:22:16,880 --> 01:22:23,460
projects, public safety equipment, I think, or a couple of things, project, capital project

1105
01:22:23,460 --> 01:22:28,160
equipment, infrastructure. So these are the things that typically are city, and we are

1106
01:22:28,160 --> 01:22:32,600
one of them that will use certificates of obligation. Thank you, Your Honor.

1107
01:22:33,260 --> 01:22:34,040
Council Member Gordon.

1108
01:22:35,000 --> 01:22:39,880
No, I just wanted to say how excited I am for this facility. We had a great presentation

1109
01:22:39,880 --> 01:22:45,640
a few months ago on an update of the design. The fact that one facility can address

1110
01:22:45,640 --> 01:22:49,400
so many of our city-wide facility needs is just fantastic.

1111
01:22:50,060 --> 01:22:51,620
We really are in a good spot.

1112
01:22:52,460 --> 01:22:54,760
This building will fill so many needs.

1113
01:22:55,760 --> 01:22:58,960
And we're doing it in a way that absent all these other discussions.

1114
01:22:59,140 --> 01:23:00,920
It's also just very financially prudent.

1115
01:23:01,260 --> 01:23:06,360
Like, we're remodeling buildings, we're doing it in a way that we're trading land

1116
01:23:06,360 --> 01:23:09,500
that we can now use for drainage, for land elsewhere.

1117
01:23:10,180 --> 01:23:14,700
So the totality of this, I think, has just been a really well engineered arrangement

1118
01:23:14,700 --> 01:23:21,160
by city staff. And I'm just very proud of how we got here today. And I think it's a big step

1119
01:23:21,160 --> 01:23:27,840
to sell these certificates. And to our construction start date should be...

1120
01:23:29,040 --> 01:23:34,760
Well, I'll be back in, I believe, August to finalize our guaranteed maximum price with our

1121
01:23:34,760 --> 01:23:40,260
CMAR contractor. And that's when we'll have already sold these and be ready to go.

1122
01:23:40,580 --> 01:23:44,420
And hopefully we'll have our permits from Houston permitting. And so we're looking

1123
01:23:48,820 --> 01:23:54,440
We're looking for a groundbreaking this early fall is probably what we have going on.

1124
01:23:54,920 --> 01:23:56,740
So very exciting to have that happen.

1125
01:23:57,360 --> 01:24:04,440
And as always, we're very, very lucky to have Alan, our financial counsel and our whole team here,

1126
01:24:05,060 --> 01:24:09,140
Terence, Jim and everybody to take us through bond sales because they're the experts at it

1127
01:24:09,140 --> 01:24:10,020
and they know how to do it.

1128
01:24:10,360 --> 01:24:14,400
And we've been very lucky with how they've managed them in the last couple of years.

1129
01:24:14,400 --> 01:24:21,440
the past. So thank you guys very much. All right, Council Member Thurber. Just to follow up kind of

1130
01:24:21,440 --> 01:24:30,240
from Council Member Lewis though, we usually don't issue COs that often, correct? It is very rarely.

1131
01:24:30,740 --> 01:24:37,280
This is yeah the second time that okay so again for the public is that very seldom do you utilize

1132
01:24:37,280 --> 01:24:43,900
these things. Well there has not historically used it as a funding mechanism but it is very

1133
01:24:43,900 --> 01:24:48,960
common in other municipalities, especially when it comes to infrastructure and necessary

1134
01:24:48,960 --> 01:24:54,860
equipment. So it is a common tool. Belair has chosen not to use it very often.

1135
01:24:55,040 --> 01:24:59,900
And normally we go to the voters for a bottle of it. That's what I want to make sure of.

1136
01:25:00,440 --> 01:25:07,720
That's right. Just as we did with regard to the Cypress Ditch Project and just like

1137
01:25:07,720 --> 01:25:12,380
we did with regard to the wastewater treatment plant and the water pipes and the sewage

1138
01:25:12,380 --> 01:25:20,380
pipes and what have you. I also think that we've touched upon through some of your comments

1139
01:25:20,380 --> 01:25:27,440
that we've also been paying rent to house a public works building and it's been more

1140
01:25:27,440 --> 01:25:34,040
than a decade that we have been without. We'll be able to use all of the land within

1141
01:25:34,040 --> 01:25:39,360
the city for extremely necessary drainage purposes. It really touches on so many

1142
01:25:39,360 --> 01:25:43,820
different aspects, and then now with regard to the multiple use by crossing department

1143
01:25:43,820 --> 01:25:50,140
sizes as well, we'll also, I think it'll also improve, we'll have a lay down yard there.

1144
01:25:50,300 --> 01:25:53,880
We'll have the ability to house a lot of our vehicles and the maintenance will drop

1145
01:25:53,880 --> 01:25:56,180
because you've got such a big, big building.

1146
01:25:56,800 --> 01:26:02,540
So it provides so many different uses, plus because of the staging of some of the debt

1147
01:26:02,540 --> 01:26:06,880
that we've had, as you've noticed and Jim's outlined, you know, we were, we got down

1148
01:26:06,880 --> 01:26:11,500
about $92 million a couple of years ago, but we have done some significant improvements

1149
01:26:11,500 --> 01:26:16,140
from an infrastructure perspective in this city, and we're still at the same spot.

1150
01:26:16,660 --> 01:26:21,060
And next year we'll likely be close to the same spot because we also have $54 million

1151
01:26:21,060 --> 01:26:25,720
from the state from which to go off from with regard to our Cypress Stitch project,

1152
01:26:25,720 --> 01:26:28,320
which, of course, a lot of this is about timing.

1153
01:26:28,900 --> 01:26:35,280
And I think we have hit about as good a sweet spot as we can with regard to that.

1154
01:26:35,280 --> 01:26:40,700
But I agree with them, we were at $125 million, $130 million in debt, and we were still clicking

1155
01:26:40,700 --> 01:26:48,500
around at a AAA bond rating because of our per capita wealth that exists in this town.

1156
01:26:48,900 --> 01:26:50,320
And so I think we're good there.

1157
01:26:51,140 --> 01:26:55,940
I think your division of the 6040, I think it makes perfect sense and it's excellent.

1158
01:26:57,040 --> 01:26:59,140
I mean, I think it's about being smart.

1159
01:26:59,780 --> 01:27:01,560
I think the timing of this is necessary.

1160
01:27:01,560 --> 01:27:07,640
the certificate of obligation, our important tool in that regard, and I think we are being

1161
01:27:07,640 --> 01:27:08,660
good stewards of that.

1162
01:27:08,740 --> 01:27:13,600
I think, quite frankly, for things just like this, I think we have finally realized that

1163
01:27:13,600 --> 01:27:17,580
there are tools out there, and we should use them, and we have, when appropriate.

1164
01:27:18,360 --> 01:27:19,920
And I think this is one of those occasions.

1165
01:27:20,280 --> 01:27:24,520
So I do not think we have a motion unless anybody else has got anything to say.

1166
01:27:24,580 --> 01:27:28,720
I'll entertain a motion to approve of the ordinance authorizing publication of

1167
01:27:28,720 --> 01:27:31,380
notice of intention to issue a certificate of obligation,

1168
01:27:31,620 --> 01:27:35,060
authorizing the preparation of a preliminary official statement

1169
01:27:35,060 --> 01:27:38,900
and notice of sale and providing for the other matters

1170
01:27:38,900 --> 01:27:40,180
incidental there, too.

1171
01:27:41,080 --> 01:27:41,840
Do I have such a motion?

1172
01:27:42,460 --> 01:27:42,720
Some move.

1173
01:27:43,040 --> 01:27:46,020
Some move by Council Member Witt.

1174
01:27:46,340 --> 01:27:47,920
I was pointing at him, man.

1175
01:27:48,880 --> 01:27:49,920
But you get the second.

1176
01:27:50,240 --> 01:27:50,480
OK.

1177
01:27:50,900 --> 01:27:51,720
Todd's got the second.

1178
01:27:51,720 --> 01:27:52,980
Oh, Todd's got the second, too.

1179
01:27:53,360 --> 01:27:53,600
OK.

1180
01:27:54,600 --> 01:27:55,900
All right, Todd.

1181
01:27:56,340 --> 01:27:56,960
You got the second.

1182
01:27:56,960 --> 01:28:02,820
All right. All right. Is there any further discussion on this particular matter?

1183
01:28:05,300 --> 01:28:06,860
Anything further? All right. Thank you.

1184
01:28:07,040 --> 01:28:11,240
Well, then, all those in favor of the ordinance as so stated and moved and seconded,

1185
01:28:11,540 --> 01:28:13,380
please signify by raising your right hands.

1186
01:28:14,460 --> 01:28:16,260
Thank you very much. It passes unanimously.

1187
01:28:16,840 --> 01:28:17,600
Thank you, Beth.

1188
01:28:17,780 --> 01:28:18,700
All right. Good job, guys.

1189
01:28:18,920 --> 01:28:19,000
Thank you.

1190
01:28:19,160 --> 01:28:22,240
Excellent. Let's move forward.

1191
01:28:23,140 --> 01:28:24,180
Not going anywhere.

1192
01:28:24,980 --> 01:28:30,020
Okay, we've got one more item, I believe, on our agenda.

1193
01:28:30,240 --> 01:28:31,680
I've got so much stuff on here now.

1194
01:28:32,300 --> 01:28:32,600
Let's see.

1195
01:28:32,680 --> 01:28:37,320
I think it's direction to the city manager to proceed with Preparation 4

1196
01:28:37,320 --> 01:28:40,460
in the acceptance of a preliminary official statement in bond sale,

1197
01:28:41,240 --> 01:28:45,860
timetable for the sale of $12.5 million in general obligation bonds,

1198
01:28:46,280 --> 01:28:48,080
Series 2026.

1199
01:28:49,200 --> 01:28:49,680
All right.

1200
01:28:50,220 --> 01:28:52,540
Why don't you take that forward, please?

1201
01:28:53,520 --> 01:28:59,520
This item is for general obligation bonds for the sale of water and wastewater bonds.

1202
01:29:00,100 --> 01:29:05,460
As many of you recall, a couple of November's ago, we went to the voters with a referendum

1203
01:29:05,460 --> 01:29:11,400
for $30 million in water wastewater bonds and then $40 million in drainage bonds.

1204
01:29:12,240 --> 01:29:17,940
Luckily, we don't need those drainage bonds just yet, but we are going to need some of the water wastewater bonds.

1205
01:29:17,940 --> 01:29:22,440
And in the agenda statement, we discussed how we arrived at the $12.5 million.

1206
01:29:22,960 --> 01:29:32,640
It's worth noting that it's our intention to sell about exactly $12.5 million this August-September.

1207
01:29:33,120 --> 01:29:39,940
And then we intend to come back and do another sale in August of 2017 for an approximate

1208
01:29:39,940 --> 01:29:47,920
$13 million, but we'll know better how much we spend out of the first tranche as to

1209
01:29:47,920 --> 01:29:55,420
For this first tranche, how we plan on spending that is we're going to refund three work orders

1210
01:29:55,420 --> 01:30:00,000
that we previously issued for HDR work when we took that

1211
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:06,220
Allowing us that if we chose to in the future to repay ourselves with bond money, so that's

1212
01:30:06,220 --> 01:30:13,160
that first bullet. And then we also need to fund the engineering and professional services

1213
01:30:13,160 --> 01:30:19,040
for decommissioning of the wastewater treatment plant, the lift station and force main connection

1214
01:30:19,040 --> 01:30:26,720
to Houston, demolition of the public works lay down yard and buildings, and then some

1215
01:30:26,720 --> 01:30:34,620
smaller CIP projects for FY 27, including next steps in SCADA, water storage tank rehab,

1216
01:30:35,640 --> 01:30:40,900
alternative analysis for the Bel Air lift station, and the Feldpark water plant generator.

1217
01:30:41,620 --> 01:30:47,780
So these are just a few of our capital projects that we'll be rolling out in FY 27, but these

1218
01:30:47,780 --> 01:30:50,960
are the projects that we anticipate meeting bond funding for.

1219
01:30:54,100 --> 01:30:58,560
why don't we do this why don't we get a motion on the floor and then the second

1220
01:30:58,560 --> 01:31:07,360
and then we can discuss it make a motion so moved second you honor seconded by

1221
01:31:07,360 --> 01:31:17,540
the mayor see how easy that was amazing mayor all right councilman Gordon did

1222
01:31:17,540 --> 01:31:20,940
send over a few questions and if I may address those for and

1223
01:31:20,940 --> 01:31:26,960
others. Part of the question was the fiscal impact of this, because these are the water

1224
01:31:26,960 --> 01:31:33,860
wastewater bonds. Any impact would be seen in our rates. However, this issuance was not

1225
01:31:33,860 --> 01:31:39,840
originally incorporated into our current rate structure, so our enterprise fund will

1226
01:31:39,840 --> 01:31:44,560
handle it until we do an update of our rate study, which we anticipate doing in

1227
01:31:44,560 --> 01:31:50,500
a couple of years. So then that will be baked into that amount. But in this current

1228
01:31:50,500 --> 01:31:57,660
state, it'll be absorbed in the enterprise fund balance. And then, again, as I mentioned,

1229
01:31:57,880 --> 01:32:03,660
we'll probably do another sale in August of 27 for approximately the same amount, another

1230
01:32:03,660 --> 01:32:10,880
$13 million. And in that, we anticipate paying impact fees to Houston, among other capital

1231
01:32:10,880 --> 01:32:12,420
projects that we'll be moving forward.

1232
01:32:13,120 --> 01:32:16,420
All right. Questions? Councillor Berlis.

1233
01:32:16,600 --> 01:32:18,540
Were you trying to address one of my questions?

1234
01:32:18,540 --> 01:32:25,360
I believe you asked about drainage. Unfortunately, the agenda statement erroneously referenced

1235
01:32:25,360 --> 01:32:32,000
the drainage impact fee. These aren't going to be drainage bonds, so they will be funded

1236
01:32:32,000 --> 01:32:38,040
and paid from wastewater and enterprise funds. So when we do our rate study again, the water

1237
01:32:38,040 --> 01:32:40,480
wastewater rates will incorporate these bonds.

1238
01:32:41,180 --> 01:32:41,400
Okay.

1239
01:32:43,500 --> 01:32:44,820
All right. Anything else?

1240
01:32:47,200 --> 01:32:51,300
I would just say I know I appreciate the way this is presented. I appreciate the collection

1241
01:32:51,300 --> 01:32:55,240
of projects that we're looking at. We mentioned before these are all part of a lot of different

1242
01:32:55,240 --> 01:32:58,820
things coming together and making sure they're aligned at the right time. And so you see

1243
01:32:58,820 --> 01:33:03,220
you know demolition planning force mains and all that. That's all geared towards the

1244
01:33:03,220 --> 01:33:11,920
broader piece. I guess just a quick question, Alan, when we sell these bonds, they if

1245
01:33:11,920 --> 01:33:17,960
different water wastewater project comes up or we need to tweak something we can

1246
01:33:17,960 --> 01:33:22,420
reprogram inside the water wastewater world we're not specifically tied to

1247
01:33:22,420 --> 01:33:28,040
these dollar amounts or these projects if we need to adjust that that is correct

1248
01:33:28,040 --> 01:33:32,540
as long as we stay within the water wastewater category okay and I bring

1249
01:33:32,540 --> 01:33:35,720
that just because let's say for example the city of Houston demands impact

1250
01:33:35,720 --> 01:33:39,520
repayment earlier than we thought we could still do that here and then

1251
01:33:39,520 --> 01:33:44,020
shuffle on the back end and so on which is good flexibility to be able to handle

1252
01:33:44,020 --> 01:33:51,340
these changing demands. So no, I really appreciate the work and

1253
01:33:51,340 --> 01:33:56,860
it's good to get all these projects moving. This list was meant to just be

1254
01:33:56,860 --> 01:34:01,160
transparent with how we arrived at the 12.5 so that council knew and

1255
01:34:01,160 --> 01:34:04,800
understood where we got there. So it's not written in stone as you mentioned,

1256
01:34:04,800 --> 01:34:10,480
but it's it's how we got to the 12.5 and just quickly you said we were this

1257
01:34:10,480 --> 01:34:17,140
was going to be paid through the enterprise fund and we and we're in

1258
01:34:17,140 --> 01:34:22,480
good shape yes okay and I would just say that the biggest component of this is

1259
01:34:22,480 --> 01:34:25,840
the lift station and force main connection to the city of Houston which

1260
01:34:25,840 --> 01:34:29,680
that is our critical path towards all the things that we're doing because

1261
01:34:29,680 --> 01:34:33,340
that has to be done before we can decommission the wastewater plant and

1262
01:34:33,340 --> 01:34:37,540
that has to be done before we can build out the detention and so the most

1263
01:34:37,540 --> 01:34:40,880
important piece is is in here for funding so that's great.

1264
01:34:43,030 --> 01:34:45,390
Alright anything

1265
01:34:45,390 --> 01:34:52,690
further on this particular item? Okay we have a motion on the floor it's been

1266
01:34:52,690 --> 01:34:56,410
seconded we've had discussion on the item and so unless there's anything

1267
01:34:56,410 --> 01:35:00,530
further we'll have a vote on the direction to the city manager proceed

1268
01:35:00,530 --> 01:35:03,610
with the preparation for and the acceptance of a preliminary official

1269
01:35:03,610 --> 01:35:09,230
statement and bond sale timetable for the sale of $12.5 million in general obligation

1270
01:35:09,230 --> 01:35:15,130
bond series 2026. All those in favor please signify by raising your right hand. Thank

1271
01:35:15,130 --> 01:35:21,750
you. It passes unanimously. Thank you all very much for all the work that you've done

1272
01:35:21,750 --> 01:35:32,910
on that. All right, big moves folks in the city. I guess we are looking through

1273
01:35:32,910 --> 01:35:35,890
through all of this. I've scratched through a lot of things here, but I think we've come

1274
01:35:35,890 --> 01:35:40,970
to the end of our agenda. Anybody see anything we've missed? I think we're good, okay.

1275
01:35:42,050 --> 01:35:47,450
And so we come to community interest and items of the Mayor and City Council, and Council

1276
01:35:47,450 --> 01:35:52,750
Member Witt talked to us about Juneteenth and Fathers, and it just teared me up

1277
01:35:52,750 --> 01:35:59,750
and it did. It did. I think of my dad, and that always makes me smile and cry

1278
01:35:59,750 --> 01:36:04,470
at the same time. So, in any event, thanks for those wonderful words and we'll let you start

1279
01:36:04,470 --> 01:36:04,770
it off.

1280
01:36:05,310 --> 01:36:07,910
Man, after that, I don't know if I should just like walk away.

1281
01:36:08,430 --> 01:36:08,710
Yeah, exactly.

1282
01:36:09,270 --> 01:36:09,870
You're on a high?

1283
01:36:10,090 --> 01:36:14,390
Yeah, it's on a high. The last thing I will say is that it's hard to believe that we're

1284
01:36:14,390 --> 01:36:19,630
not going to meet until after July 4th. And it's 250 years for an experiment that

1285
01:36:19,630 --> 01:36:24,170
turns out has lasted. And I think the amazing thing about our country is that we are

1286
01:36:24,170 --> 01:36:29,490
not perfect, but it's our ability to change over time. I was looking for quotes

1287
01:36:29,490 --> 01:36:33,230
and one of the things that Winston Churchill – well, it's a tribute to him, but lots

1288
01:36:33,230 --> 01:36:38,070
of people may have said it before that – was democracy has been the – it has been said

1289
01:36:38,070 --> 01:36:41,310
that democracy is the worst form of government except for all the reforms that have been

1290
01:36:41,310 --> 01:36:46,250
tried from time to time. And, admittedly, we have a constitutional republic. I mean,

1291
01:36:46,310 --> 01:36:50,130
it's a little different. But I do think it's amazing that as we celebrate 250 years,

1292
01:36:50,230 --> 01:36:54,810
we have to celebrate that we are part of a country that knows that we're not

1293
01:36:54,810 --> 01:36:58,570
perfect and we can change over time. And that's, I think, what leads to us

1294
01:36:58,570 --> 01:37:04,770
being the country that we are. Yeah I love that. It's not perfect but it's the best step that's out

1295
01:37:04,770 --> 01:37:11,250
there. Okay I really just want to a couple things that are just I love that we're you know you mentioned

1296
01:37:11,250 --> 01:37:16,370
the appropriation of the metro funds for the street maintenance I mean I'm so glad we're doing that.

1297
01:37:16,830 --> 01:37:21,130
The culture and art boards I just want to again thank you guys so much like I can't believe

1298
01:37:21,770 --> 01:37:26,570
how much work you guys did and that is coming from our residents you know it's coming

1299
01:37:26,570 --> 01:37:31,350
from a board, like I just really appreciate what you guys did and we need it so bad.

1300
01:37:31,970 --> 01:37:37,630
And I also want to just again point out, and the mayor was making the point here, but the

1301
01:37:37,630 --> 01:37:45,790
holistic approach to the bonds for the public works, like I really want everybody to think

1302
01:37:45,790 --> 01:37:51,090
about that from a very high level financial point of view where we're not just increasing

1303
01:37:51,090 --> 01:37:51,450
debt.

1304
01:37:51,450 --> 01:37:56,510
we are increasing debt because we have to, but it's also because that was the perfect scenario

1305
01:37:56,510 --> 01:38:02,330
and we had to take advantage of it. But in addition to that, we have been increasing income

1306
01:38:02,330 --> 01:38:10,270
from this leasing to our tenant, and also we are decreasing expenses because we are

1307
01:38:11,030 --> 01:38:15,650
eliminating some costs that we have on our books. So everybody needs to think about it from that

1308
01:38:15,650 --> 01:38:20,290
perspective, don't get too caught up in the, you know, lose the force for the trees.

1309
01:38:20,690 --> 01:38:28,230
So, and then I love that we have worked so hard, our enterprise fund is healthy, and here

1310
01:38:28,230 --> 01:38:35,030
we are in a scenario where we need to, this project, to kick off the really big water

1311
01:38:35,030 --> 01:38:40,110
project that we've been trying to work on for so long, and we took steps early on

1312
01:38:40,110 --> 01:38:45,230
to make our enterprise fund, maybe not knowing what we would need that for, but

1313
01:38:45,230 --> 01:38:45,870
But here it is.

1314
01:38:46,070 --> 01:38:46,630
We need it.

1315
01:38:46,810 --> 01:38:49,350
So these are the things that make us solvent.

1316
01:38:49,570 --> 01:38:54,070
These are the things that make us a healthy, financially healthy for, you know, our government.

1317
01:38:54,550 --> 01:38:56,370
And so I hope everybody can appreciate that.

1318
01:38:56,590 --> 01:39:02,030
And, you know, as we get kind of, you know, pushed back on certain scenarios, this is

1319
01:39:02,030 --> 01:39:02,590
what we're doing.

1320
01:39:02,870 --> 01:39:04,370
It's a big picture perspective.

1321
01:39:05,250 --> 01:39:09,530
So I'm leaving for Greece in two days, so see you later.

1322
01:39:09,530 --> 01:39:12,690
but everybody enjoyed their summer.

1323
01:39:15,200 --> 01:39:16,040
Thank you.

1324
01:39:18,980 --> 01:39:20,080
Yeah, now she'll be back.

1325
01:39:20,540 --> 01:39:21,780
She'll be back.

1326
01:39:23,560 --> 01:39:26,300
First of all, I want to say comes from Whit.

1327
01:39:27,020 --> 01:39:28,140
I enjoyed your comments tonight.

1328
01:39:28,840 --> 01:39:31,780
Both about Father's Day and also about Juneteenth.

1329
01:39:32,720 --> 01:39:36,880
You know, two of the top eight Juneteenth celebrations

1330
01:39:36,880 --> 01:39:38,980
in our country are in the state of Texas,

1331
01:39:39,520 --> 01:39:41,020
the Galveston and the Houston area.

1332
01:39:41,020 --> 01:39:48,100
So it is a big deal for our state and thank you very much for bringing it up in your comments tonight along with Father's Day.

1333
01:39:48,320 --> 01:39:51,920
So happy Father's Day as you wish for all the fathers out there.

1334
01:39:52,840 --> 01:40:02,840
Secondly, I wanted to compliment our staff also a lot of a lot is happening between budgets and the presentations that they've made that they may give every council meeting.

1335
01:40:03,060 --> 01:40:03,780
It's a lot of work.

1336
01:40:03,780 --> 01:40:10,440
And clearly, we have a great team that's working well together and witness these documents.

1337
01:40:10,780 --> 01:40:16,400
If you read through these documents, I encourage our residents to take the time to go into the

1338
01:40:16,400 --> 01:40:16,900
files.

1339
01:40:17,480 --> 01:40:18,260
All of it's published.

1340
01:40:18,520 --> 01:40:22,120
You can read about it, but there's a lot of work that they've put into these.

1341
01:40:22,640 --> 01:40:27,800
It may take a few minutes to present, but it's days and weeks of preparation to get

1342
01:40:27,800 --> 01:40:28,560
to this point.

1343
01:40:29,360 --> 01:40:32,560
Thirdly, we had a meeting last week, Cheryl.

1344
01:40:32,560 --> 01:40:38,200
Cheryl, your community close-up meeting, where many organizations, your honor, came together

1345
01:40:38,900 --> 01:40:43,440
and listed all of the great things that they're doing almost for the next year.

1346
01:40:43,840 --> 01:40:48,280
I think that's a good thing because if you sit there and you witness, you see how much

1347
01:40:48,280 --> 01:40:49,320
is happening in our city.

1348
01:40:49,640 --> 01:40:52,720
We may only go to a couple of these things, but when you get to those meetings, you

1349
01:40:52,720 --> 01:40:55,820
realize every week there's something going on in our city.

1350
01:40:56,460 --> 01:40:59,940
We live in a great city between our schools and other organizations.

1351
01:41:00,220 --> 01:41:01,180
There's a lot going on.

1352
01:41:01,180 --> 01:41:03,440
So Cheryl, thank you for putting that together.

1353
01:41:05,000 --> 01:41:07,640
And finally, and I said it earlier,

1354
01:41:08,420 --> 01:41:11,300
but this board, the fabulous job you guys did,

1355
01:41:11,700 --> 01:41:13,880
a lot of work went to this, a lot.

1356
01:41:14,500 --> 01:41:16,360
Weeks and weeks of work and meetings,

1357
01:41:16,720 --> 01:41:20,320
and meeting even when you were not in board meeting,

1358
01:41:20,500 --> 01:41:22,460
I know you guys had sub-meetings

1359
01:41:22,460 --> 01:41:23,980
with individuals working at home,

1360
01:41:24,580 --> 01:41:25,800
a lot of work went to this.

1361
01:41:25,940 --> 01:41:28,180
And the reason you're on a mission at this time,

1362
01:41:28,220 --> 01:41:30,420
because obviously we're about to approach

1363
01:41:32,040 --> 01:41:33,700
assignments of boards and commissions.

1364
01:41:34,400 --> 01:41:37,980
And so these organizations, we witness what they present

1365
01:41:37,980 --> 01:41:40,720
tonight and what planning and zoning does.

1366
01:41:40,920 --> 01:41:45,540
What building standards of ESB, what the parts board,

1367
01:41:45,820 --> 01:41:49,160
every one of them does a lot to enhance our city

1368
01:41:49,630 --> 01:41:53,460
and witness tonight an example of why this board exists

1369
01:41:53,870 --> 01:41:57,900
in the type of effort it takes to put forth the work

1370
01:41:57,900 --> 01:41:58,300
to us.

1371
01:41:58,300 --> 01:42:03,080
So I want to thank everyone who does serve on the Board and Commission. We do take it seriously

1372
01:42:03,080 --> 01:42:07,960
And we're very happy to see our residents be a part of this. Thank you. Thank you

1373
01:42:07,960 --> 01:42:10,380
Councilmember Lewis. Okay with that

1374
01:42:10,380 --> 01:42:17,640
We do want to remind everyone that the deadline to apply for positions on the board and boards and commissions is

1375
01:42:18,340 --> 01:42:26,700
Friday June 26 at 5 p.m. And those are due either online or to Tracy herself

1376
01:42:27,560 --> 01:42:33,960
I believe there's a paper form if you live in the, if you're still living in a cave.

1377
01:42:34,720 --> 01:42:42,470
But anyway, well, anyway, we do hope to have a lot of applicants.

1378
01:42:42,810 --> 01:42:44,970
We've had, why do we have 32 so far?

1379
01:42:45,850 --> 01:42:46,450
Yeah, okay.

1380
01:42:47,190 --> 01:42:56,910
So also, just a note, is that summer solstice is next Sunday, June 21st at 3.25 a.m.

1381
01:42:56,910 --> 01:43:00,670
So technically, at that point, we're halfway through summer.

1382
01:43:01,730 --> 01:43:02,650
Wouldn't it be nice?

1383
01:43:03,310 --> 01:43:04,190
Wouldn't it be nice?

1384
01:43:04,310 --> 01:43:05,230
And happy Fourth of July.

1385
01:43:05,430 --> 01:43:06,790
And thank you for your work on the logo.

1386
01:43:09,240 --> 01:43:09,980
Hal's over, Gordon.

1387
01:43:10,260 --> 01:43:10,620
All right.

1388
01:43:11,160 --> 01:43:14,120
Well, as you can hear tonight, I'm just very excited by all

1389
01:43:14,120 --> 01:43:15,700
the things that we're working on and the progress

1390
01:43:15,700 --> 01:43:16,240
that we're making.

1391
01:43:16,860 --> 01:43:18,580
I think what's important is that it's not just about

1392
01:43:18,580 --> 01:43:21,320
tackling the problems of today and fixing the things that

1393
01:43:21,320 --> 01:43:22,840
come up at us here and there.

1394
01:43:23,260 --> 01:43:25,060
But it's really about chipping away

1395
01:43:25,060 --> 01:43:27,240
at our strategic long-term plans,

1396
01:43:27,240 --> 01:43:32,860
whether it's all the infrastructure things we are doing, or this logo is not just about the logo.

1397
01:43:33,380 --> 01:43:38,860
It's a broader initiative for placemaking, for sense of identity, for community pride.

1398
01:43:39,400 --> 01:43:44,560
It's one of many things that when we work at them together, at the end of the day we're going to be so proud of what we do.

1399
01:43:45,140 --> 01:43:51,260
And that takes great leadership from staff and this council for continuing to make sure that we have our eye on the big picture.

1400
01:43:51,260 --> 01:43:55,660
So I'm just very excited overall and thank you to the Culture and Arts Board for everything

1401
01:43:55,660 --> 01:43:56,580
tonight that was fantastic.

1402
01:43:57,480 --> 01:44:01,960
I did want to use this as a chance to give an update from the Environmental and Sustainability

1403
01:44:01,960 --> 01:44:04,640
Board where I'm the liaison, so I'll pass this out.

1404
01:44:05,340 --> 01:44:12,820
I did send you guys an email summarizing this, but what the Environmental and Sustainability

1405
01:44:12,820 --> 01:44:20,840
Board did at their last meeting was they passed a motion to recommend to staff

1406
01:44:20,840 --> 01:44:26,880
and council how to handle some of the events that have been best known for

1407
01:44:26,880 --> 01:44:32,340
ESB in the past. Part of the challenge that they're working through is how to

1408
01:44:32,340 --> 01:44:37,940
balance volunteer-led efforts versus institutionalized city-led efforts and

1409
01:44:38,420 --> 01:44:42,020
one of the things that they elected to do this year was to essentially try and

1410
01:44:42,020 --> 01:44:47,100
narrow a little bit the number of events that they're taking responsibility for, but as

1411
01:44:47,100 --> 01:44:51,880
part of that is to try and institutionalize those events inside city operations.

1412
01:44:51,880 --> 01:44:55,140
And I think it's a very smart way to try in a...

1413
01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:10,440
Inability in these events. One example, recycling day is an event that ESB, Brian, you've been involved in it, started, pushed forward, and so on.

1414
01:45:11,000 --> 01:45:18,880
And now, I think city staff runs it effectively. It's part of our planning. It's institutionalized.

1415
01:45:18,960 --> 01:45:27,640
It happens every year. It works. And it doesn't require a unique volunteer effort every year to get it done.

1416
01:45:27,640 --> 01:45:34,440
So, what ESB put in this motion, and you'll see here, is that they would like to institutionalize

1417
01:45:34,440 --> 01:45:38,900
the city's involvement in Recycling Day, as it is currently.

1418
01:45:39,620 --> 01:45:45,520
The Pumpkin Recycling Program has also been a high-demand, high-impact effort that they

1419
01:45:45,520 --> 01:45:50,500
would like us to see city staff take on the role of managing that program.

1420
01:45:50,980 --> 01:45:56,160
And the third one is participation at Earth Day, as kind of the showcase environmental

1421
01:45:56,160 --> 01:46:00,760
event for the city. An important note there is that Earth Day is an event that

1422
01:46:00,760 --> 01:46:06,740
actually Evelyn's Park hosts and that ESB has participated in, but the the ask

1423
01:46:06,740 --> 01:46:11,780
here is that we find a way for city staff to augment that and to help make

1424
01:46:11,780 --> 01:46:16,940
that more sustainable and easier. Not that ESB members can't volunteer and

1425
01:46:16,940 --> 01:46:21,200
help with it, but that it's a joint effort of the city to recognize the

1426
01:46:21,200 --> 01:46:24,060
importance of Earth Day and environmental sustainability.

1427
01:46:25,100 --> 01:46:28,960
So this is a recommendation from ESB.

1428
01:46:29,500 --> 01:46:32,060
We've talked about it in the board and Sharon's been there.

1429
01:46:32,440 --> 01:46:34,320
There may be budget implications to some of these.

1430
01:46:34,580 --> 01:46:39,180
When you go through this, institutionalizing it staff time, overtime, and so on.

1431
01:46:40,440 --> 01:46:46,040
And that ultimately, if there's costs associated with institutionalizing these events, that

1432
01:46:46,040 --> 01:46:50,180
will be up to us as part of the budgeting process to decide if we want to allocate

1433
01:46:50,180 --> 01:46:56,820
the resources to do that or not. And so this was really a transmittal from the board to

1434
01:46:56,820 --> 01:47:03,060
kind of tee up that future discussion both with staff and with council about trying to

1435
01:47:03,060 --> 01:47:08,680
clarify our commitment to these programs and work towards a sustainable long-term approach

1436
01:47:08,680 --> 01:47:14,800
to it. So with that, there's no action. I'm just providing it for updated information.

1437
01:47:14,800 --> 01:47:20,780
And if you guys have any questions, you can reach out to Giles or Patricia or anybody

1438
01:47:20,780 --> 01:47:23,340
on the Environmental and Sustainability Board.

1439
01:47:24,300 --> 01:47:29,080
But I wanted you guys to have this and wanted us to make sure that we were considering it

1440
01:47:29,080 --> 01:47:33,800
when we went into the budget cycle so that we could decide how best to support that

1441
01:47:33,800 --> 01:47:37,380
board in pushing forward the things that they think are important for the city.

1442
01:47:39,300 --> 01:47:40,420
So there you go.

1443
01:47:40,700 --> 01:47:41,140
Thank you.

1444
01:47:41,580 --> 01:47:41,880
Thank you.

1445
01:47:42,440 --> 01:47:46,580
Council Member Thurber. Since I'm last, I'm not going to add a whole lot more to

1446
01:47:46,580 --> 01:47:52,020
agree. Again, good comments. I did want to say Cheryl, Gaye, and Christy again.

1447
01:47:52,520 --> 01:47:56,940
Thank y'all because what you do see is the importance of again the residents

1448
01:47:56,940 --> 01:48:01,860
getting engaged in something and falling through and getting the input. Good

1449
01:48:01,860 --> 01:48:07,700
things happen so and because it really does relate to reminding again has

1450
01:48:07,700 --> 01:48:13,280
Councilmember Lewis you said again apply for the boards and commissions it is a

1451
01:48:13,280 --> 01:48:17,740
very important part of what we do as a city everybody up here is volunteers

1452
01:48:18,420 --> 01:48:23,660
everybody on the commissions are volunteers it's very important and you

1453
01:48:23,660 --> 01:48:28,380
do see good results when you get good public participation so thank you again

1454
01:48:28,380 --> 01:48:33,280
for everything thank you thank you all for your comments tonight especially

1455
01:48:33,280 --> 01:48:35,760
good. A couple of things.

1456
01:48:38,160 --> 01:48:41,880
So I guess you'll be gone for July 4, Jackie? Are you going to

1457
01:48:41,880 --> 01:48:46,660
be gone? You're going to be back. You're going to be gone? Gotcha. Okay. Well, I hope to see

1458
01:48:46,660 --> 01:48:52,460
everybody else here on that. That's going to be a wonderful day, particularly since

1459
01:48:52,460 --> 01:48:56,900
the country will be celebrating its 250th anniversary. And I think that's exactly

1460
01:48:56,900 --> 01:49:03,100
right. 250 years, we have pursued under a constitutional that in some instances was

1461
01:49:03,560 --> 01:49:08,640
aspirational and we were lagging a bit behind, but we constantly make an effort to make sure

1462
01:49:08,640 --> 01:49:13,000
that it becomes less and less aspirational as we go along, and I think that's a credit

1463
01:49:13,000 --> 01:49:13,660
to all of us.

1464
01:49:13,860 --> 01:49:17,980
And I hope that we do our part here in the city of Bel Air to make sure that that is

1465
01:49:18,600 --> 01:49:21,380
reality day into day out, and I think we do.

1466
01:49:23,680 --> 01:49:27,380
So as a part of that, I hope you guys are following the U.S. soccer team because they're

1467
01:49:27,380 --> 01:49:29,900
playing a really fantastic soccer at this point in time.

1468
01:49:29,900 --> 01:49:35,280
time, the world cup being here, you know, I know it's not affecting us all that much

1469
01:49:35,280 --> 01:49:41,760
hopefully although 610 may be packed from time to time as a result of that, but it is

1470
01:49:41,760 --> 01:49:45,740
pretty amazing to see the world here in that regard.

1471
01:49:45,940 --> 01:49:49,180
I think we're getting to see it up close because we're so close to energy.

1472
01:49:51,400 --> 01:49:57,020
As far as, and I appreciate you talking about the weather, you know, they were saying

1473
01:49:57,020 --> 01:50:01,080
maybe there's 10 to 14 inches of rain depending upon the timing of it, that can affect things,

1474
01:50:01,120 --> 01:50:05,200
but that's a constant reminder of why we're doing what we're doing, why we are doing

1475
01:50:05,200 --> 01:50:10,800
cyber-stitch, why we are pushing really, really, really hard on these things because when those

1476
01:50:10,800 --> 01:50:17,220
weather forecasts pop out and they say 10 to 14 inches of rain, we understand what that means

1477
01:50:17,220 --> 01:50:24,380
and particularly affects on certain parts of the city. And so I particularly am not bashful

1478
01:50:24,380 --> 01:50:25,620
about the things that we are doing.

1479
01:50:26,840 --> 01:50:30,040
I think we are doing everything we can within our power

1480
01:50:30,040 --> 01:50:32,060
to make sure to protect the city and keep it going

1481
01:50:32,060 --> 01:50:33,620
and keep our infrastructure strong.

1482
01:50:34,360 --> 01:50:37,340
One thing about Bel Air in local governments

1483
01:50:37,340 --> 01:50:39,400
are so many times people spend money,

1484
01:50:39,500 --> 01:50:41,360
cities spend money and they don't even know where it goes.

1485
01:50:41,540 --> 01:50:42,780
They can't see where it goes.

1486
01:50:43,520 --> 01:50:45,940
Our residents can see where our money is going

1487
01:50:45,940 --> 01:50:47,000
every single day.

1488
01:50:47,120 --> 01:50:49,400
They see it in the Dirk work.

1489
01:50:49,620 --> 01:50:50,780
They see it in the infrastructure.

1490
01:50:51,140 --> 01:50:53,020
They see it in the public works building.

1491
01:50:53,020 --> 01:50:56,780
building. They see it in these buildings. They'll see it in the detention ponds and Cypress

1492
01:50:56,780 --> 01:51:01,620
Stitch. They will see that is where our money is going. We are building the foundations of

1493
01:51:01,620 --> 01:51:06,200
our city house and as well as it should be.

1494
01:51:08,520 --> 01:51:16,790
As far as, you know, I think, look, I think,

1495
01:51:16,890 --> 01:51:23,490
you know, with regard to our boards and commissions throughout time, at least in my, you know,

1496
01:51:23,490 --> 01:51:29,870
I don't know 12 14 years of really being a part of the city. I have seen every single one of our boards and commissions excel

1497
01:51:30,790 --> 01:51:38,170
I've seen every single one of them excel in so many different ways even the stat story boards and then the ones that we've created here in

1498
01:51:38,170 --> 01:51:46,670
The city they have all done some really really fabulous things and bar none and right now you guys are at you guys are excelling

1499
01:51:47,370 --> 01:51:48,230
You guys

1500
01:51:48,730 --> 01:51:50,070
You're knocking out of the park

1501
01:51:50,070 --> 01:51:54,790
I mean, you did the banners, you did the arts and crafts, and you're continuing to expand that.

1502
01:51:55,250 --> 01:51:58,610
You did the cookbook to start out, fabulous, fabulous effort.

1503
01:51:59,150 --> 01:52:06,690
And now you've put forward something that really we haven't had this kind of jumpstart and enthusiasm for a long time.

1504
01:52:07,490 --> 01:52:10,030
And so you are a model, you really are.

1505
01:52:10,190 --> 01:52:15,310
And it's a model of dedication to just doing good, solid work, to volunteerism,

1506
01:52:16,950 --> 01:52:19,650
to you can accomplish really, really wonderful things

1507
01:52:19,650 --> 01:52:21,390
if you've gotten, you set your mind to it

1508
01:52:21,390 --> 01:52:23,230
and you keep the heart of the city

1509
01:52:23,230 --> 01:52:26,310
and what it really means at the forefront.

1510
01:52:26,710 --> 01:52:29,010
And so I think a lot of our boards

1511
01:52:29,010 --> 01:52:30,810
and commissions kind of look at that model

1512
01:52:30,810 --> 01:52:32,470
and I think y'all have done it in two ways.

1513
01:52:32,610 --> 01:52:34,630
You've done it because you've received input

1514
01:52:34,630 --> 01:52:37,370
in requests from city council and members of council

1515
01:52:37,370 --> 01:52:38,570
and on your own.

1516
01:52:38,750 --> 01:52:41,250
So you've organically made some of these decisions

1517
01:52:41,250 --> 01:52:43,530
yourself and have pushed these things forward.

1518
01:52:43,590 --> 01:52:44,910
So you've worked in both ways

1519
01:52:44,910 --> 01:52:51,850
But it's also something to help us as counsel to be a little bit better and we've had our conversations about boards and commissions to be a

1520
01:52:51,850 --> 01:52:54,370
Little bit better about maybe how we message things

1521
01:52:54,370 --> 01:53:01,310
What we expect of our boards and commissions what we want out of them and how we can help them help the city

1522
01:53:01,310 --> 01:53:05,790
And so you provide us with a lot of good input on that regard. So I thank you for that as well

1523
01:53:06,950 --> 01:53:08,810
But good job. Well done

1524
01:53:12,370 --> 01:53:17,350
You know, it still amazes me how many people in our city don't really know what's really

1525
01:53:17,350 --> 01:53:17,950
going on here.

1526
01:53:18,050 --> 01:53:21,870
Somebody came up to me the other day and they said, I saw this vehicle, it was really large,

1527
01:53:22,250 --> 01:53:25,110
and it had big huge tires on it, and he said, you mean our high-water vehicle?

1528
01:53:25,450 --> 01:53:28,390
And they go, yeah, is that what it is?

1529
01:53:28,470 --> 01:53:29,350
We have one of those?

1530
01:53:29,510 --> 01:53:31,410
I said, yeah, we got a high-water vehicle.

1531
01:53:32,730 --> 01:53:36,410
It really, really is amazing, and a lot of people don't even know about the events

1532
01:53:36,410 --> 01:53:42,750
that are going on over there with the detention ponds and in cyberstitch and so you know I

1533
01:53:42,750 --> 01:53:46,710
think it's just a function of function of us we're just kind of doing what we're doing

1534
01:53:46,710 --> 01:53:49,650
and we're doing what we're supposed to be doing and letting other people live their

1535
01:53:49,650 --> 01:53:53,430
lives and enjoy their lives the way they're supposed to and so that's what representative

1536
01:53:53,430 --> 01:54:06,390
government is all about so I I think that's a I think that's a good thing we've got

1537
01:54:06,390 --> 01:54:10,110
We'll be seeing all our folks for a board and interviews.

1538
01:54:10,510 --> 01:54:15,110
I think we've agreed to see them all, which is also a good thing, but I think we've got

1539
01:54:15,110 --> 01:54:18,330
a few messages with regard to how we want to do that and what we want out of it.

1540
01:54:19,450 --> 01:54:24,510
I look forward to seeing you guys on July 4th, and for those of you out of the city,

1541
01:54:24,610 --> 01:54:25,250
oh, one more thing.

1542
01:54:26,850 --> 01:54:27,950
For you, this can be good.

1543
01:54:28,370 --> 01:54:32,210
We're going to probably have to take our picture after you come back, because you'll

1544
01:54:32,210 --> 01:54:34,490
be gone in two days, and you'll be tan.

1545
01:54:34,770 --> 01:54:35,310
See, I know.

1546
01:54:35,310 --> 01:54:45,430
I know. It's all about you. I know. So, in any event, so Cheryl, we'll just, we'll get

1547
01:54:45,430 --> 01:54:52,210
it situated after Jackie comes back. Well, with that, I think that does it for the evening.

1548
01:54:52,210 --> 01:54:56,570
that at 755, we are adjourned. Thank you all.