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Clock. Alright, well welcome everyone. It's 6:00 pm

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on february 10th, 2026 for the special college city council meeting. City council when

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work winning winter work. Oh my gosh. Winter workshop,

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training room session. So, uh, let's start with the, uh, moment of silence, of with

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the prayer. Would you pray with me? Mm-hmm . Gracious, loving god. We give you thanks for

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glorious day and for a wonderful opportunity to be in service to our community and a wonderful community that we live

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in. We, uh, ask for a special blessing upon mike brinkman as he starts his venture with the

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city of burn over the utilities department. We ask for a smooth transition between him and

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his staff, and, uh, continues success and, and blessings upon that entire

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department in the city of burn. Continue to guide us this evening, guide our hearts and

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our minds and our decision making as we have discussions tonight about, uh, not only where we

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see you leading us in this community, but where you see this community and its needs and how we fulfill

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those, uh, to the best of this council's building and for the betterment of this entire community overall

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in your precious systems. And we pray. Amen. Would you join me in

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the pledge of ance and the texas flag?

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my pgi flag, united states and america,

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and two republic, which stands, one nation under god,

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indivisible, with liberty and justice, overall honor,

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texas flag. I pledge, pledge allegiance to be texas,

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one state under god, one and indivisible. Thank

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you. You may be seated. We will move on to agenda item number

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two, public comments. No one you signed up to speak, but I will give the opportunity

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if somebody wants to come forward somewhere in the room and stand and podium,

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wherever that might be. No. Okay.

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no further comments. Alright, we're gonna move on to agenda item number three. And at that time,

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I'm gonna turn the rest of the meeting over to, uh, city manager, ben, tha ben, thank

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you mayor and members of the council. Appreciate you being here tonight. Uh,

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love this time, this part of the year every year where we, we pause,

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take a moment to step back and talk about strategic policy conversations,

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topics that are important for you to, to think about at, especially as

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we gear up and get ready to go into our budget season. Believe it

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or not, we look at sarah next week. I believe we

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start internally with staff on some trainings and some kickoffs. And this week we're doing some

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trainings, so that'll be really heavily upon us here, uh, before

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we know what, and you guys understand how that process works. But this is the fun part.

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this is where we really get guidance and what are our key,

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uh, objectives for the upcoming budget season. We'll throw out some things for

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you to consider appreciate, uh, what we're doing here

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and your, your patience with us. Uh, we, you know, we have some presentations, but we're also

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gonna have a very facilitated, kind of brainstorming strategic visioning

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exercise. And so we needed to, we thought, well, maybe we try a different setup here where you

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can see that wall, but also see these presentations here.

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uh, so we sh we won't go more than 90 minutes. There's good

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chance we might be even done before that, depending on your conversation. With that last part,

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we'll start off by hearing director carroll, jeff carroll, um, giving us an

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update on our safe streets for all initiative and, uh,

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what's been taking place so far there and what's on the horizon. Then after

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director carroll, director bloo will come up and give us a sneak

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peek on the budget calendar and a couple things that are already on our radar that

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we want you to be aware of. So with that director carol will

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come on up

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and you do have these presentations in your folder if you want to take notes on it for you.

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so, evening mar and council, uh, here has been mentioned. We're here to talk

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about the safe streets for all, or, uh, we commonly say ss four a engineers

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like acronyms. Um, this kind of ties back in this

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s four a program obviously ties into safety and security and investing in maintaining

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our high quality infrastructure and advancing master plan recommendations.

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safe streets for all is a federal program that's been around for many,

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many years. It's had some different names over the years, but in the current five parts,

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five partisan infrastructure bill, there's actually $5 billion

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out there for the safe streets for all program over five fiscal years.

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we're actually entering into the fifth fiscal year of the program. Um, but it's

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a nationwide program trying to increase safety for roadways, but

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really for bikes and pedestrians in particular, but roadways all around.

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um, this is something that a lot of cities and text out are all kind of really looking into

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the safe street program and it ties back into, if you remember, um, several years

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ago we kind of did a, a vision zero program. Again, trying to get zero

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deaths in, in a, in a year. It's kind of a goal.

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we are in the planning and demonstration grant phase. The, the grant

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actually has two separate grant programs. We applied

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and got a a planning grant, and that's what we're working on now.

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um, for some of you might remember, we actually several years ago applied for implementation

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grant. We heard some rumors that everyone was planning for

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applying for planning and no one was applying for implementation. And the buckets were very segregated.

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so we, we tried to gamble of trying to apply for that implementation,

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didn't get it. And one of the feedbacks is that you really need to do the two step process that

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we've defined. Okay, we do that. Um, so we we're doing that now we're working through the

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planning grant. Um, so we had a, got the grant,

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we had to go then do a special federal rfq, get an

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engineer to help us on the grant. We have to go through a very specific federal requirement

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phase. We've been working on the planning grant. Um, one of the

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big things that they have in there is called a safety action plan.

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uh, when we started our mobility plan a couple years back,

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we actually worked through several the items that the state requires in a safety action

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plan, but we were missing some of the federal items. Um, so this eight components

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are the things that are required in a federal safety action plan.

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so we're working through those. We kind of, as part of this grant continuing all the

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parts that we were missing that we didn't complete with our mobility plan.

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um, just kind of quick history, um, april in 23 is

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when we adopted and kickstarted the ss four a

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planning. Um, I'm sorry, that was when we got the mobility master plan

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adopted and we kind of started this process. March of 24 is when we applied for this

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grant. December of 24 is when we got the grant application awarded to us. April

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22 is when we got the consultant picked for us. And then may 29

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of 25 is when we kind of got the actual kickoff meeting and got this process rolled. So

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it's several years in the works that we've been working on this one particular project.

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so what have we've been doing exactly? Um, we've been working kind of the

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section number three, the safety analysis. What we've been doing, um, and chief

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perez knows this as well, the, anytime that there's an accident, whether it's

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burn pd or sheriff's office or it's troopers, it goes into a tech

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stop chris accident reporting system. Um, and so what we did is

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we got all the data for the last handful of years, the last five years of crash data

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for in the city limits. And we did a lot of deep diving into those crash records.

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um, I'll talk more, but we established a high injury network of our roadways

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and we did a lot of effort on our downtown pedestrians. That's one thing that from citizen

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surveys and just talking from a lot of our engagement activities, we get a lot of

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feedback on how to make downtown safer. We've been working on

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community impact assessment. Uh, this is a, a fancy way

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of like what parts of town do we really think are the more areas

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of pedestrian and bicycle safety are most important. Um, so one of the

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things we kind of identified through our task force is kind of the downtown corridor, but also by

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the schools and by some of the parks. We've had a lot of community

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and stakeholder engagement. I'll talk through those. But we've had surveys.

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we've had a booth at a at the market days. We have task force meetings

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and I'll explain those more. And then we've kind of gone through and defined strategy

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and kind of project selection terms as we go through this process.

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as I mentioned, uh, we did a deep dive into crash records. In those five

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years, we have 2,342 crashes in the city of burn

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proper. Of those 36 of 'em are fatal and serious injury, and 24

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of those were pedestrian and bike related crashes. Um, so we have those kind of the bar

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charts. It's kind of interesting. If you remember, 2020 is kind of covid year

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and not a whole lot of people were driving the first half of the year. Uh, but then 21

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and 22 was t stop was still finishing the bridges. There was a lot of accidents kind

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of up on the bridges of, while tdot was doing their work. So it was looking good in 23

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and then 24 kind of spiked up again. So it's just something we'll continue to watch

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as we go through the crash records, as we can progress through years.

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this is, again, we, we pulled all the records in that chris database that tells

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you everything of how that accident occurred. And so we were really looking

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at what could be the triggers that's causing accidents at specific lo locations

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using all of those crashes. Those 2300 crashes, 49%

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of 'em were at intersections, 80% of them were on

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the txdot system, which as you know, most of our major roads in town,

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main street, river, east bandera over, sorry, west bandera over

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by heb blanco, those are all t stop roads. So 80%

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of our crashes occurred on those t stop roads and 1% of those 2300

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crashes was a bike and pedestrian. Now, if we look

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at just all of those crash records, if we look at

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just the fatal and serious injury crashes, we get that

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the 39% of 'em are at the intersection. So actually, actually decreased. 83%

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of 'em are at the, on the textile system. So that increased the overall system, but really what jumped

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out to us is 25% of the serious

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and fatal injuries happened with bikes and pedestrians. So that kind of shows

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you that that number of, um, they're, they're kind of a a v vulnerable group. They're

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getting hit by big cars as opposed to cars running into each other. It's kind of just an obvious safety

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factor. And that ties into

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all of these crash records. We take all those records, we analyze 'em on a

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map, and it's a federal term. We're called a high injury network.

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um, I can talk a lot about it, but really it's just defining a map of where

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most of these injuries are occurring. Um, when we get into

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federal grants and federal opportunities, that's a specific thing is, is this

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project on a high injury network. Um, so that's something that we'll look at for future

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grant opportunities that now that we have this defined. So

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here it is, here is our bernie high injury network.

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so if you look at these roads, 73% of

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those 2300 crashes occurred on these roadways. Um,

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so there's some interesting ones I thought, um, that didn't jump out

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initially as much as some of the others. I mean, we all kind of think main river

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blanket 46. Uh, but using, looking back at all the

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crash records, there's other roads on there that get to that 73%. Um, and

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so of that roadway, these roadways are 15 and this was counting the

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city and the tout roads. These roads account for 15%

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of our city roads in the city. Again, that's 73%

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of the crashes are happening. So that's kind of an interesting mindset that 73%

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of the crashes are happening on 15% of our roads. Now it

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obviously makes sense here, like kind of local neighborhood road people aren't

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necessarily getting in crashes on your neighborhood roads. Um, but

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it's, it's an interesting fact. And so now as we move forward with future grant opportunities, that'll

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be a, a box of check is, is herf road on the high injury network? Yes, it is.

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um, so that's something that we can look at as those federal grants progress.

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I mentioned that we did a lot of engagement activities. Um, we had

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a safety task force meeting that we specifically set up for this grant.

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um, we had three meetings in this very room and we had a very diverse group

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of people in there. We actually had two county commissioners, uh, chapman and mccall.

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we had mayor pro, tim willison. We had planning and zoning chair band wolff.

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we had chief perez and fire marshal lee who joined us. We had three

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citizens that joined us on the committee. Uh, and that included two that were specifically kind of picked

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as downtown business owners. Uh, we had tech set representatives from both the area

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office and kerrville and the district offices down in san antonio. And we

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had bernie, isd staff and school board members attended all of this and as well as city staff.

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um, so we met in this room. We talked through the crash records, but we also had,

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you can see this picture here from the last meeting where we had roll maps where we really spent a lot of time

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looking at downtown main street, downtown river road, the plaza,

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and several of the other areas that we did a lot of comments about pedestrian safety.

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as I mentioned, we went to one of the market days. We rented one of the

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stalls. We had a little popup. We sat there all day, uh, listening to people tell us what

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their versions of safety on pedestrians and bikes and got a lot of good data

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for that. We had our own standalone community survey for the

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ssa four program. And, uh, we worked with communications that got sent out. Um,

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we had that, we had a separate intersection safety assessment that we had

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representatives from bernie pd, bernie fire, myself, our

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consultant. We actually went and looked at several of our intersections,

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uh, in person, sat there 30 minutes watching traffic and just even just standing

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there, you can see some common things that are occurring. Like we watched a

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river, or sorry, main and bandera and that's if anyone's gone through, that's the dual left. That

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seems like a lot of people can't grab cat grasp that dual left concept there.

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um, and we saw as we're standing there with six of us with yellow safety vests, we

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saw near accidents of people almost running into each other. And then also

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as part of this, we've created a bernie safety dashboard that has all of this crash

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record data that's on online portal right now that, uh, and we've sent citizens. It's

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to those that portal specifically

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as we mentioned downtown particularly that's one that kept coming up

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in our community engagement and the surveys and everything is how we're gonna make downtown

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safer as part of this. Um, so we spent a lot of time talking about that in particular.

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and going back and looking at all of the crash records,

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69% of the pedestrian crashes occurred on this corridor

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of main street and river road. Um, so that kind of ties back into

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where our, our places that we need to be putting our most effort into looking how

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we can mixed up safer. Um, but this really kind of opens up a conversation

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and this is kind of a, a policy conversation as we, as part of this

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grant program, we're gonna come up with concepts of safety projects.

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um, and these safety projects more than likely will cause a

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reduction of parking on the downtown, uh, corridor

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separately. Those of you that have kind of heard, I've heard it said multiple times, hey, we need

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to prioritize and improve and maximize our existing roadways

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without working on new roadways. I've seen, I've seen

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schematics that txdot and others have put together removing parking.

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'cause that's, if you're going to maximize these roadways, removing parking is

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one of the options to really reduce congestion, reduce issues with that. So

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reducing parking and we're adding safety factors

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could all potentially have parking implementation implications.

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so that's something we need to talk through as a policy decision of what it do we

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want for downtown to look like. And there's many examples out there that

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I can provide of cities that have put, whether it's medians or it's

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planters or decorative fences or other type items. I know we've talked in the past about

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our jaywalking issues that we have downtown. Uh, there's many ways that

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you can put objects in to kind of help prevent and try to focus people

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to a safe location that we can do a better crosswalk

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or a better with signals or lights, signs. There are all sorts of stuff we can do,

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but right now it's kind of a free for all for pedestrians. For the most part. People are just crossing

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wherever they want to and it's not very safe at all.

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and then this, we did, we had a couple years we had the, the fatality there across

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from kowski, uh, as well. So this in this downtown area,

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um, we spent a lot of time and effort looking at that.

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really this was a targeted approach. We looked at intersections, we're

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looking at corridors, we're looking at systemic type con concepts that we can do that

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improve safety all throughout our city. These

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particular intersections are the ones that all of the crash records really

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pointed to. Um, I don't think many people will be caught by

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surprise on any of these, but, uh, river and plant, uh, there's lots of rear ending

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accidents that occur at that location. Uh, that traffic is congested there

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pretty frequently. Perkin river road, we know all about that intersection.

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uh, main street and river road, uh, that's one that has lots of crashes. We've

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had some pet issues, pedestrian issues there. Uh, main and school street, that's five

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points. We've done several schematics and talked with tdot about that location over the years.

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main street and bandera, that's the two left turn lane I was just

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talking about. Interestingly enough though, is the esser and the bernie

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high school driveway. Uh, and this is one that we've been having conversations with the

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school district. Uh, there's a lot of new drivers that are using that

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location. Uh, and that's something I know chief perez and I have had many meetings with txdot

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and the school district on that particular location as well

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as casca and scenic loop down at the bottom, uh, main and k gronkowski

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that we talked about in johns school, which was interesting to me as we're working through

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this project using data separately. We've already been

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talking about many of these intersections just from, we just knew so that several of these

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intersections needed issues and had to look at. But it is nice to have the data to

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back it up that these are our most critical intersections and

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in particular these corridors. So the west bandera section

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along heb and all of the kind of retail in that area, but

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as well as downtown. So on the plaza on the section of main

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street downtown and on river road. So these are our targeted corridor

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areas that we're gonna study further as part of the corridor and what projects we could potentially

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do to improve safety and some of our systemic safety count

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measures, uh, that we're gonna look and recommend as well. Um, noticed

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around town tdot's already doing some of these things. So tdot's been replacing some

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of our traffic signals with flashing yellow arrow signal

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heads. Um, so you'll see some in the town are having this signal head, um,

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instead of a green light that you yield to make a left turn, it's a yellow flashing

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arrow. Um, so that's considered a lot safer. They've been putting the reflective back

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plates, kind the yellow back plate behind the traffic signals.

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um, so that's something tdot's been working on already. Um, one of the other things

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that is in our safety from the state and the federal guidelines

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is looking at rumble strips on the edge of lanes, but also using wider

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edge lines. If you notice when txdot retried main street last year, they went from

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a four-inch strike to six inch strike. We've started following that new txdot

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spec as well in our re striping efforts. But just having wider lines,

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data is showing as being safer. And then on a pedestrian and bicycle front,

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um, one of the things we're talking about is working with tdot on the traffic signals

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at a couple key traffic signals. It's called bleeding pedestrian interval.

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if you've ever been sitting at the traffic signal, let's say you're driving on blanco and you wanna make a left onto

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main street, when that left green arrow turns on, that's

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also the exact same time that the walkers will start walking. You can

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program the signal that will let the walkers, the pedestrians start first and

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have kind of a head start to get out into the intersection. So when the drivers start,

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they'll see the, the people hopefully, hopefully .

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but right now, that's something that's a common occurrence. I see it almost daily

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that people are making the left turn without seeing the people, the pedestrians

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coming out. The issue with this, and again, it kind of goes back,

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there's always a pro and con this makes it safer for the pedestrians, but

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in theory it's taking away seconds that the traveling vehicles can go

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through that intersection. You only have so many seconds in that, that cycle of the intersection.

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so we might take away five seconds from the overall cycle, but it helps allow

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the pedestrians to be safer because that'd be something that a couple key intersections

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like blanco and maine or some of the others that we see a lot of pedestrian

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activity, crosswalk visibility enhancements. That's what we've been talking

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through. There's a lot of signage, there's other things we can do. There's, um,

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ways that we can improve the crosswalk striping itself or other things.

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and one of the things they're really in the federal guidelines and state guidelines is really going

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to six foot is the absolute minimum sidewalk. And so that's

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something we have lots of three foot four foot. The city was doing five foot

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sidewalks for several years. We've gone to six, eight, and 10 sidewalks more

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recently. Um, but improving sidewalks and blanco is a perfect

302
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example there. If anyone's tried to walk down blanco on those little three and four foot

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sidewalks and you have trucks zipping by you and you're right up on the curb, it's kind

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of a, a dangerous situation. So giving you that more there, more room on

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that extra sidewalk. So

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what are the next steps in this big grant process? Obviously today, I'm kind of giving you the overview.

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um, we will be back to counsel march 10th is our plan to

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present the draft of the safe streets for all safety action plan to you to

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comply with the federal guidelines. This is kind of the process that we have to go

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to say that we're following the process. Um, we're gonna present you the draft on march 10th.

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on march 24th. We're gonna put it online, um, available and

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we'll have a a way for public to comment on it. Then later in march

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we'll have, um,

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sorry I have a typo messed up here. So I have march 24, but then march 26th.

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so we have been told that the the next stage of

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the ss four a program is supposed to come out in in march. Um,

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so we're targeting that. So we're finishing up the planning grant and the whole schedule we're

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working for is to finish the project. So march the new

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opportunity comes out. So in may we'll finish and get the resolution approved.

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we'll publish it in online to the public, and then end

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of june we'll actually submit for that next final implementation

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phase of the grant if that's something that we want to do for. So this would basically, uh,

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potentially get us money to go build some of these things that we're coming

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up in the grant process.

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so that's really, we wanted to give you this just to go through that. You're going to see, and we're gonna

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talk to state streets for all a couple more times in the next couple months and kind of give you a heads up of the whole

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what we have been working on the past year and what we will be talking to you in the next couple months.

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really. Do you have any questions? So mayor proam

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is a member of that task force. I've already had smaller

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one-off conversations with each of you about the downtown parking situation. Of course, we're

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trying to focus on some efforts there. Uh, those

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of you that are on the, uh, downtown plaza

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park subcommittee, some of this will impact how we look at that project

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as well. So I just wanted the whole council to be aware of this as it comes

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down the down the lane. It'll have a lot of implications, not just

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for pedestrian safety, but our mobility plan, our park plan, a lot of different factors.

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and so it was important, uh, for you to see thatty. Did you have

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anything you want to, you have a perspective on from your task force involvement?

339
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I think the meetings were all, um, pretty great. I mean, everyone was

340
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really engaged and it's fun just getting on the maps and kind of

341
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everyone having different ideas. Um, even some very creative ideas for five points

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from txdot, from safety perspective, not necessarily making the traffic

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better, but making 'em safer. Um, um, I think tdot's

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not too key on doing the roundabout like we'd all want yet 'cause

345
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just 'cause it's such a massive project. But they had some good, um, safety

346
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ideas. So just for me, fun being a part of that process. I think the

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fact that we can possibly get some funding this way in conjunction with working with

348
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ampo. Um, again, all these getting things shovel

349
00:24:59,125 --> 00:25:02,965
ready, it's all, that's what it's all about now for funding. So, um, the more funding

350
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we can get to get things shovel ready, um, the better we are to

351
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get more funding. So that's what it's all about. Any

352
00:25:11,765 --> 00:25:15,755
questions? No, just comments. Um, I'm glad to see that blanco made

353
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that list because it, you know, worries me quite a bit when I see the high school track team

354
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and cross country team running at, you know, the sun

355
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sun's coming up. It's already hard to see along that high, uh, that sidewalk.

356
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um, talking about solutions in the task force, the things you actually have control over.

357
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one of the things the comments I would have is, um, I often had people

358
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tell me their biggest concern of traffic is during the rush hour traffics around

359
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bernie, which is the school drop off times, right? And they'll even make the follow up

360
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comment, I don't have this problem during spring break. I don't have this problem in in, uh,

361
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the summertime. Um, were there any conversations around, 'cause I know she had school

362
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board members on that task force around offsetting middle school and

363
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high school start times because that's something we could start like monday. It's not gonna be possible with

364
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busing. I can tell you with busing, that would be, it's impossible.

365
00:26:06,265 --> 00:26:10,205
you have to. So how do other places that do do that make it possible? They have, if you're a large enough

366
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school district that you're running three routes maybe, but we would have to,

367
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you would have to double the number of drivers because I feel like we run the buses 24 7

368
00:26:19,405 --> 00:26:23,405
anyways. They idle all day. Right. And then I look at like waste management when we went

369
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to them and saying, hey, is it possible to do single routes? And they said, we don't have the number

370
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of routes or the scale, the scope to do it for bernie, yet y'all aren't big enough. Then they did it. Right.

371
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so I just, you know, and part of what's possible in discussions, I didn't know if that ever came up.

372
00:26:36,505 --> 00:26:40,245
so it, it did come up in conversations. We had several and we purposely had school

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people there. Um, so that came up. One of the, the other conversations was even just the, the

374
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boundary lines between schools. There are some lines that potentially are causing

375
00:26:49,875 --> 00:26:53,765
traffic issues or causing more traffic to go to this particular school while

376
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this school might be closer. Um, so we, we've talked through that with them, um, as

377
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well and just other options that we could potentially do for the school

378
00:27:02,365 --> 00:27:06,345
districts. But you're absolutely right and in general, every city school rush hour is big.

379
00:27:07,065 --> 00:27:10,995
um, but our, it's even worse for us kind of because we have this

380
00:27:11,525 --> 00:27:15,445
district, there are some schools now that are outside the city limits, but the majority of the schools are in the

381
00:27:15,565 --> 00:27:18,925
city limits and all the people out of the city are coming into the city and then they're leaving.

382
00:27:19,785 --> 00:27:23,735
and that's something even with the conversations we've had with txdot, the river

383
00:27:24,155 --> 00:27:28,005
herf intersection, the on herf making the right turn

384
00:27:28,995 --> 00:27:32,935
onto river in the morning and the evening, 40% of the

385
00:27:33,055 --> 00:27:36,935
traffic are going to champion. Um, so they're going to champion dropping

386
00:27:37,075 --> 00:27:40,995
off kids at champion and they're turning around and coming back out of champion. So

387
00:27:41,215 --> 00:27:45,175
we're having cars that are going through that intersection twice just to get kids to

388
00:27:45,375 --> 00:27:49,295
and from champion. Yeah. And I, you know, again, wasn't part of the task force, so I don't know what was vetted

389
00:27:49,575 --> 00:27:53,575
out and what's possible. I'm not a logistics expert, I just know that transportation, there's a lot

390
00:27:53,655 --> 00:27:57,615
of people that that, so it's a good question. It's a fair question. There probably isn't a

391
00:27:57,735 --> 00:28:01,675
really legitimate reason why it can work or if it could, maybe it's this cost and

392
00:28:02,245 --> 00:28:06,095
well, and I just, I think one thing to, and we, I think we told rich this

393
00:28:06,375 --> 00:28:10,115
a couple of times. This really was focused on like pedestrian safety versus actual

394
00:28:10,535 --> 00:28:14,335
efficiency of browser correct timing. Right. So it was kind of two separate things. So that's still

395
00:28:14,575 --> 00:28:18,575
valid point, which we were talking about with text on in a separate meeting with frank mm-hmm . Where that

396
00:28:18,775 --> 00:28:22,235
did come up more. So this is really focused more on safety

397
00:28:23,095 --> 00:28:26,965
specific specifically. So that's why it didn't as much make on this list, but it did briefly come

398
00:28:27,255 --> 00:28:31,055
up from a kind of different perspective. But that's why it didn't as much for this, it makes sense.

399
00:28:31,275 --> 00:28:35,115
and that's also going into what can we do to improve safety.

400
00:28:35,595 --> 00:28:39,455
we, we heard feedback from families that didn't feel safe for their kids to

401
00:28:39,655 --> 00:28:43,575
walk to burning high school. Yes. And so they're driving their kids and they're too close to ride the

402
00:28:43,735 --> 00:28:47,655
bus. They're in that one mile range. So now we have families that are driving and picking

403
00:28:47,875 --> 00:28:51,695
up their kids and where they could be walking if potentially we could have

404
00:28:52,555 --> 00:28:56,495
the, the sidewalk system on the city side and on the bernie campus as well.

405
00:28:56,655 --> 00:29:00,615
just have it where it all kind of made it better where families would push the kids and make 'em walk instead

406
00:29:00,975 --> 00:29:04,895
of driving them. But also, I'll comment in general, at one point we had

407
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conversations with the school district as well. The percentage of bus riders for bernie

408
00:29:09,295 --> 00:29:13,255
isd is way low compared to other school districts. We just have a lot

409
00:29:13,335 --> 00:29:17,295
of kids that don't ride the bus for whatever reason, um, here in this, at the city as well.

410
00:29:19,125 --> 00:29:22,955
okay. Is the, the targeted grant amount, is

411
00:29:23,175 --> 00:29:27,175
that known? And if so, or is the targeted recommendations based off of the possible

412
00:29:27,295 --> 00:29:31,135
grant amount you would get? So the, the, our planning grant

413
00:29:31,455 --> 00:29:35,055
we have is set dollar amount. So we are working through concepts. I have concepts

414
00:29:35,615 --> 00:29:39,475
that I'll present to you at that next council meeting. And our consultant is

415
00:29:39,695 --> 00:29:43,605
preparing cost estimates for those. And so when we submit for that next grant,

416
00:29:43,985 --> 00:29:47,565
we will have a dollar amount, um, for consulting and

417
00:29:48,005 --> 00:29:51,965
construction and building, uh, these proposed projects. Yes. Do you know

418
00:29:52,085 --> 00:29:55,305
how much it's gonna be available come next month for?

419
00:29:57,245 --> 00:30:01,095
I don't remember the dollar off the top of my head. Sorry. No. Now, so quick

420
00:30:01,645 --> 00:30:05,605
question, what was the consensus then? Because I know some members of the committee

421
00:30:05,845 --> 00:30:09,565
don't wanna build the roads. I'm all aware of that. So what was the consensus about the

422
00:30:10,045 --> 00:30:13,885
solution? You talked about getting rid of all the parking on river and maine to make the

423
00:30:14,205 --> 00:30:17,565
ment safety. What, what is, what is the solution that you've come up with?

424
00:30:18,685 --> 00:30:22,605
I mean, what's the thought? I don't, I'm just asking, you mentioned that, so I'm just asking. Well, I think there

425
00:30:22,845 --> 00:30:26,705
was various things. I think there was, um, some ideas for

426
00:30:27,175 --> 00:30:31,175
additional ways for pedestrians to get across main street safer.

427
00:30:31,615 --> 00:30:34,925
right. Things like that. Um, I think jack mentioned some of the things,

428
00:30:35,625 --> 00:30:38,305
um, connected to traffic lights. Um,

429
00:30:40,825 --> 00:30:44,675
let us do that. Yeah. So there, there's some medians that we, we were looking at potentially some, some

430
00:30:45,035 --> 00:30:48,965
medians, uh, that we could put in. It'll allow center refuge points so people can

431
00:30:49,165 --> 00:30:53,165
only go halfway and then they can go all the way across, I think. Yeah, I think that would be more effective because I can tell you,

432
00:30:54,365 --> 00:30:58,365
I, you could pull the people that are jaywalking and it's not because the crosswalk wasn't painted bright

433
00:30:58,725 --> 00:31:02,605
white and it wasn't because it wasn't a light flashing. Tell 'em where to go. They know where to

434
00:31:02,765 --> 00:31:06,485
go. It's easier to cross convenient where they are. Exactly. Mm-hmm .

435
00:31:06,825 --> 00:31:10,425
so it's not about the signaling or the lights or, I mean those are all good things, but, and so our,

436
00:31:10,915 --> 00:31:14,765
this planning grant is, is looking at safety, pedestrian safety

437
00:31:15,085 --> 00:31:18,765
and other things. So we will have a percentage, a small percentage

438
00:31:19,285 --> 00:31:23,245
of parking spaces that would potentially lose to help improve safety. But it's that

439
00:31:23,405 --> 00:31:27,365
further conversation of congestion or other things that

440
00:31:27,525 --> 00:31:31,525
we potentially need to do to make downtown safer that could have potentially lose more. Because

441
00:31:31,685 --> 00:31:35,565
that's something even we really would be nice to have a left turn lane for southbound

442
00:31:36,005 --> 00:31:39,745
main street to turn left onto river road. How many people have been stuck by someone trying

443
00:31:40,165 --> 00:31:44,125
to turn left and you're stuck behind them? It'd be nice if they had their own left turn lane. We're adding left

444
00:31:44,365 --> 00:31:48,285
turn lanes like that, that's gonna wipe out a block of parking on both sides of the street.

445
00:31:48,465 --> 00:31:52,405
so that's a decision if we want to do that. And then also the other part of that

446
00:31:52,525 --> 00:31:56,315
as well, we start putting medians in. That's gonna reduce, some

447
00:31:56,605 --> 00:32:00,405
people might not have a left turn anymore. We might have some driveways or some even

448
00:32:00,645 --> 00:32:04,395
city streets that might lose their avail availability to have a left across main

449
00:32:04,685 --> 00:32:08,645
street. And so that'll be a decision as well. There's other cities out there that have put medians in

450
00:32:09,355 --> 00:32:13,285
that had businesses will not be happy when people can't make a left into their parking lot anymore.

451
00:32:14,505 --> 00:32:18,165
can I get a clar, uh, clarification? What is, we said 36 serious

452
00:32:19,525 --> 00:32:23,505
injuries or death. What qualifies a serious injury? Because then the follow up

453
00:32:23,725 --> 00:32:27,685
is 69% of those happened on main street. So what is a serious injury?

454
00:32:28,005 --> 00:32:31,925
broken bones or er visit basically an er visit. Broken

455
00:32:32,245 --> 00:32:36,145
bones chief, I don't know if you wanna describe yeah. Serious bone injuries could be all your stuff that usually is

456
00:32:36,365 --> 00:32:40,045
gonna require transport by ems to an emergency facility. Severe injuries.

457
00:32:40,435 --> 00:32:43,965
yeah, it was like a specific, I think that's all it was. Check.

458
00:32:45,185 --> 00:32:49,055
um, there, uh, one example joe too, which is was an interesting one, which

459
00:32:49,405 --> 00:32:53,335
was more of a tech stop one, which was the bandera over by heb. Right

460
00:32:53,685 --> 00:32:57,565
now it's a center lane for turning mm-hmm . And they'd like

461
00:32:57,745 --> 00:33:01,195
to change that to actual like a, a median with

462
00:33:02,365 --> 00:33:06,285
a more defined left turn. Planned turns. Planned turns. Mm-hmm . 'cause that would be

463
00:33:06,405 --> 00:33:10,365
safer. And that's, um, that's right. That right. Versus of the free for all. Correct.

464
00:33:10,605 --> 00:33:14,525
correct. Exactly. So that again, that, that one would honestly didn't

465
00:33:14,885 --> 00:33:18,325
even cross my mind, but that's just a data driven based on statistics

466
00:33:18,905 --> 00:33:22,725
off, um, accidents. Yeah. That's something they need to probably look at too. Also in 46

467
00:33:23,265 --> 00:33:27,125
too, like if you're going out 46 in the morning, you've got high school kids

468
00:33:27,365 --> 00:33:30,965
that are trying to come down the center turn lane. They're already at center turn lane by valero.

469
00:33:32,185 --> 00:33:35,955
you know, because they don't wanna get back up by traffic. I mean, I've been almost hit head

470
00:33:36,245 --> 00:33:40,205
on two or three times there already. So that's, I think, I mean I think right now the focus

471
00:33:40,365 --> 00:33:44,165
is more safety than anything to your point. Yeah. We kept,

472
00:33:44,555 --> 00:33:48,475
we'd always drift towards these other solutions, but really this program

473
00:33:49,295 --> 00:33:53,245
isn't for that. But I mean, right. No matter what you start drifting towards thinking of the

474
00:33:53,365 --> 00:33:57,165
other solutions. But I was in a previous half building the other where we

475
00:33:57,465 --> 00:34:01,395
did go and put, um, medians all up and down in main real fair, kind

476
00:34:01,685 --> 00:34:05,395
of like main street. It wasn't a state highway, but it was a farm to market road

477
00:34:05,785 --> 00:34:09,625
and a lot of screaming and gnashing teeth. You

478
00:34:09,875 --> 00:34:13,475
hurt my business. But the data, the safety data

479
00:34:13,905 --> 00:34:17,745
was so high for it. And then once we did it, uh, it

480
00:34:17,965 --> 00:34:21,455
had crashes came way down. Uh, businesses still

481
00:34:22,125 --> 00:34:26,105
survived. People just learn their behavior differently, right? And so, so

482
00:34:26,705 --> 00:34:30,625
hey, we're not here to say we're doing this next year. Right? We gotta, we

483
00:34:30,845 --> 00:34:34,755
gotta have these conversations. Little by little projects will, uh, will

484
00:34:35,045 --> 00:34:38,965
occur that will have some of this in it. So we just need to be aware in our community. And they used to know we're

485
00:34:39,245 --> 00:34:43,075
talking about this. I say other big positive is tech

486
00:34:43,475 --> 00:34:47,005
dots continue to be a part of these conversations and they used to not be.

487
00:34:47,605 --> 00:34:51,525
I think it's critical because it's good to be candid. This is great, but we all know

488
00:34:51,685 --> 00:34:55,655
this. To your point, if you ignore all the other elephants in the room, which

489
00:34:56,005 --> 00:34:59,795
are really, you can't solve the total problem use of kind expensive

490
00:35:00,405 --> 00:35:04,145
bandaids, put it that way. But then they're good ones. I'm not saying they're bad. Yeah, yeah. But,

491
00:35:05,185 --> 00:35:05,405
oh yeah.

492
00:35:09,765 --> 00:35:13,075
anything else? Okay. Thank you jeff. Alright,

493
00:35:16,125 --> 00:35:17,525
director . Let's talk budget.

494
00:35:32,875 --> 00:35:36,765
alright. My part of this workshop today

495
00:35:37,265 --> 00:35:41,055
is to talk about the deliberate approach that we take with our budget development process every

496
00:35:41,405 --> 00:35:44,645
year and how it fits into our overall organizational strategic group.

497
00:35:46,205 --> 00:35:50,125
starting with, of course, our strategy map, which almost any presentation

498
00:35:50,685 --> 00:35:54,325
that you see me do related to the budget will always have a big old circle around the whole

499
00:35:54,805 --> 00:35:58,525
strategy map. The budget pretty much hits every item on this.

500
00:36:01,005 --> 00:36:04,325
additionally, every quarter when I come up and give a, uh, financial presentation,

501
00:36:05,635 --> 00:36:09,215
I'll go over our strategic management system and budget cycle,

502
00:36:09,655 --> 00:36:12,795
which starts, of course takes off october 1st for our fiscal year.

503
00:36:13,865 --> 00:36:17,245
uh, right now we are in the second quarter we're here with the city council

504
00:36:17,925 --> 00:36:21,485
strategic workshop. And after this, the leadership team is gonna

505
00:36:22,075 --> 00:36:26,025
pull away for some key takeaways from the workshop tonight. And

506
00:36:26,245 --> 00:36:29,635
then we'll move into budget development and adoption later in the fiscal year.

507
00:36:33,865 --> 00:36:37,785
the budget process is just one component. You'll see it is that light green stripe

508
00:36:38,205 --> 00:36:41,885
right in the middle right here of the triangle of our overall

509
00:36:42,685 --> 00:36:46,685
strategic framework. Um, overall from the citizens at the very

510
00:36:46,845 --> 00:36:50,515
top that dictate our overall vision to the employees that support

511
00:36:51,185 --> 00:36:55,085
the foundation of our organization. We set our strategic priorities,

512
00:36:56,345 --> 00:36:58,485
we meet our priorities, and then we measure our results.

513
00:37:01,555 --> 00:37:05,225
it's important to know as we kick off the budget process that it's highly dictated by law,

514
00:37:05,635 --> 00:37:09,525
both under the local government chapter, um, 1 0 2, the property

515
00:37:09,825 --> 00:37:13,445
tax pay. And we, um, definitely adhere to those laws stringently.

516
00:37:15,085 --> 00:37:19,045
additionally, locally, we have some requirements under our home rule charter

517
00:37:20,085 --> 00:37:23,925
specifically, oh, specifically for a

518
00:37:24,165 --> 00:37:27,325
balanced budget. And what that means is that we only use current revenues

519
00:37:28,345 --> 00:37:32,225
to fund our operations. We don't dip into our fund balance to, uh,

520
00:37:32,555 --> 00:37:36,325
fund our current operations unless there's a specific plan for it or council

521
00:37:36,645 --> 00:37:37,325
gives us approval.

522
00:37:40,655 --> 00:37:44,605
these are our nine budget guiding principles. And by the end of the budget process, you'll be

523
00:37:44,835 --> 00:37:48,605
very, very familiar with them. But I do wanna review just

524
00:37:48,885 --> 00:37:52,285
a couple of them specifically. Um, we are very strategically

525
00:37:53,075 --> 00:37:56,805
aligned, the, the the thing forward.

526
00:37:57,545 --> 00:38:01,485
um, we're very strategically aligned with our master plans as we're developing our budget,

527
00:38:02,685 --> 00:38:06,445
specifically the 10 year rolling plan. And that does create, uh, continuity

528
00:38:07,045 --> 00:38:11,015
year over year in our priorities so that we're not shifting, um, we're

529
00:38:11,365 --> 00:38:15,325
keeping our eye on the longer term. Additionally, we talked

530
00:38:15,565 --> 00:38:19,485
about the, um, the budget being balanced. And so when we talk about

531
00:38:19,805 --> 00:38:23,805
structural balance, that's, that's what we're talking about. We do maintain an optimum

532
00:38:24,205 --> 00:38:28,045
fund balance that works for us per policy for our, um, our credit ratings

533
00:38:28,625 --> 00:38:32,405
and for continuing with operations. Additionally,

534
00:38:32,825 --> 00:38:36,305
at the city of bernie, we aspire to be an employer of choice. Um,

535
00:38:36,865 --> 00:38:40,805
we are a professional organization. We rely on a team

536
00:38:41,005 --> 00:38:44,985
of highly dedicated skilled professionals to come to work every day to

537
00:38:45,205 --> 00:38:47,125
provide high value services to our residents.

538
00:38:51,985 --> 00:38:55,845
our approach to the budget process, as I mentioned earlier, it's very structured and disciplined.

539
00:38:56,855 --> 00:39:00,625
first off, um, we're very committed to transparency from the very get

540
00:39:00,865 --> 00:39:04,565
go. We have a website that will list all of our meetings, past, present,

541
00:39:04,885 --> 00:39:08,885
future. The discussions that were had that anybody in the public can log on and

542
00:39:09,005 --> 00:39:12,485
look at our cola with, which is our cost of living adjustment.

543
00:39:13,225 --> 00:39:17,025
it is based on policy, it's based on an economic indicator. And

544
00:39:17,245 --> 00:39:21,085
so that again, creates consistency year over year. It's not, it's not a

545
00:39:21,415 --> 00:39:25,195
percentage that we just determine on an annual basis, zero

546
00:39:25,485 --> 00:39:29,345
based budgeting. I'll touch on in just a minute what that is exactly. And

547
00:39:29,565 --> 00:39:33,125
then we have a multi-year capital improvement plan that we adopt annually

548
00:39:33,685 --> 00:39:34,405
as part of the budget process.

549
00:39:40,235 --> 00:39:44,195
so zero based budgeting, what is that mean? It just means that, um, all

550
00:39:44,555 --> 00:39:48,455
the expenses have to be justified at the point of zero. You don't just carry over your

551
00:39:48,575 --> 00:39:52,375
budget for one year to another or assume that you had a certain departmental

552
00:39:52,935 --> 00:39:56,935
budget last year. So this year the budget continues. Um, we have to look

553
00:39:57,055 --> 00:40:00,655
at each component of the budget and justify all those expenses accordingly.

554
00:40:01,475 --> 00:40:05,215
so how that works operationally is we look at last year's

555
00:40:05,615 --> 00:40:09,615
budget and we remove all those one-time expenses. So if you got a

556
00:40:09,735 --> 00:40:13,535
piece of equipment last year, we'll take that cost out. You, you don't

557
00:40:13,815 --> 00:40:17,735
naturally just get to keep that cost rolling forward until the next year and then fund

558
00:40:17,975 --> 00:40:21,895
something else. You have to ask for that money. Um, this year specifically,

559
00:40:22,635 --> 00:40:26,505
we are not taking into account in inflationary factor the budgets. We'll

560
00:40:26,855 --> 00:40:29,895
start at a, what we call a baseline of 0% increase.

561
00:40:31,515 --> 00:40:35,515
um, of course we'll continue with the justification of recurring expenses. So

562
00:40:36,315 --> 00:40:40,055
we may ask for an additional review or additional detail on expenses that

563
00:40:40,455 --> 00:40:44,215
happened last year that are gonna recur, um, as not just be given that because

564
00:40:44,575 --> 00:40:48,295
it got budgeted last year, I'll get budgeted again this year. Something

565
00:40:48,615 --> 00:40:52,475
that's new is, um, we did analyze, uh,

566
00:40:52,695 --> 00:40:56,385
departmental budgets over a several year period and where

567
00:40:56,735 --> 00:41:00,535
there were, um, kind of historical over and under. So we're calling 'em budget variances.

568
00:41:01,795 --> 00:41:05,695
we may have adjusted the baseline accordingly, either up or down depending on

569
00:41:05,815 --> 00:41:09,595
what needed to be done. So that's, that's something new for this year where, um,

570
00:41:09,915 --> 00:41:13,895
the baselines we may have to, you know, reduce the line if it wasn't used.

571
00:41:14,595 --> 00:41:18,475
but then if the department feels that they still need that, they can always ask for it. And

572
00:41:18,695 --> 00:41:22,635
then of course, any new requests or increases, any new programs, any new

573
00:41:22,885 --> 00:41:26,455
cost delivery services, um, any new equipment

574
00:41:27,285 --> 00:41:31,175
will have to be requested specifically. And that goes through a challenge and

575
00:41:31,375 --> 00:41:32,575
ranking prioritization process.

576
00:41:36,825 --> 00:41:40,625
so some of the things, um, that we are going to

577
00:41:41,205 --> 00:41:44,605
consider this year and bring forward are, um, implementing

578
00:41:45,405 --> 00:41:48,685
an equipment replacement fund. And so what that is, is it systematically

579
00:41:49,695 --> 00:41:53,245
saves for your known equipment that you have in place

580
00:41:54,075 --> 00:41:57,605
over the period of the equipment's life, so that there's not this one time

581
00:41:58,315 --> 00:42:02,205
expense when that piece of equipment fails or, um, when you need

582
00:42:02,325 --> 00:42:06,125
to replace that piece of equipment, you're saving a little bit every year because you know you're gonna have to eventually

583
00:42:06,485 --> 00:42:10,005
replace it. So that's, um, that's what we want to look into.

584
00:42:11,405 --> 00:42:15,265
additionally, uh, we might have some de that we are bringing for

585
00:42:15,685 --> 00:42:19,605
consideration the remaining bond funding for adler road, depending on

586
00:42:19,745 --> 00:42:23,685
the progress of that project. And then the gas utility and the storm water utility

587
00:42:24,105 --> 00:42:27,945
do have some large capital projects that might be on the horizon. So we're looking at

588
00:42:28,165 --> 00:42:31,685
potential debt. Is there additionally

589
00:42:32,265 --> 00:42:35,995
the texas municipal retirement system, which is what we all pay into

590
00:42:36,825 --> 00:42:40,785
for our retirement. Um, oh,

591
00:42:41,005 --> 00:42:43,845
I thought, okay. Sorry, I keep doing that.

592
00:42:45,185 --> 00:42:49,005
the, uh, texas municipal retirement system, um, has given cities

593
00:42:49,465 --> 00:42:53,325
the option of funding 8% versus seven. So we have some analysis

594
00:42:53,565 --> 00:42:56,785
to do to see what the implications of that would be to the city. Um,

595
00:42:57,585 --> 00:43:01,445
and then we'll bring forward that whenever we look into it. And then we're

596
00:43:01,685 --> 00:43:05,455
hoping to have a new park, uh, the north side community park not hoping to have, we're

597
00:43:05,845 --> 00:43:08,755
gonna have a new park . Exactly.

598
00:43:09,865 --> 00:43:13,845
so, uh, we will have to look into the operational impact of that brand new park, which we're

599
00:43:14,085 --> 00:43:18,045
all very excited for. This is just

600
00:43:18,325 --> 00:43:22,325
a high level overview of the main, um, point to our calendar this

601
00:43:22,605 --> 00:43:26,565
year. The items with stars are those public meetings. That council

602
00:43:26,835 --> 00:43:30,685
will be part of january. We already started planning for the budget and we

603
00:43:30,965 --> 00:43:34,965
actually started planning the senior adopted the last one, but january was a

604
00:43:35,105 --> 00:43:39,035
big planning month for us. And then of course we're kicking off the, um, council

605
00:43:39,525 --> 00:43:43,365
winter workshop today, march and april are gonna be

606
00:43:43,675 --> 00:43:47,665
very busy with the budget development at the departmental levels. And

607
00:43:47,885 --> 00:43:51,285
then may we'll have all those one time items, those horse ranking and prioritization

608
00:43:51,925 --> 00:43:55,925
items that are gonna be looked at. And then starting in

609
00:43:56,125 --> 00:44:00,025
june, we'll be coming to council at least once a month with either, um, an

610
00:44:00,245 --> 00:44:04,115
update presentation or workshop. And then finally some

611
00:44:04,405 --> 00:44:08,085
of the, the legally mandated steps that come later in august. And then

612
00:44:08,525 --> 00:44:10,685
september 8th is when they're planning on adopting.

613
00:44:13,425 --> 00:44:17,175
so with all that in mind, now's a, now's a good time to think about

614
00:44:18,715 --> 00:44:22,685
last year, what went well, um, where are some areas that maybe we can improve upon this

615
00:44:22,845 --> 00:44:26,785
year. Um, is there any insight so far into this workshop or

616
00:44:27,005 --> 00:44:30,925
that you thought about this year that you may want us to consider in our budget

617
00:44:31,565 --> 00:44:35,465
approach? So yeah, last year, is

618
00:44:35,685 --> 00:44:39,525
there anything specific that you'd like, didn't like? And you don't have to gimme

619
00:44:39,805 --> 00:44:43,805
an answer tonight, but if there's anything you want to more for that process, now is the time

620
00:44:43,925 --> 00:44:47,635
for us to weave that in. Um, I will tell you that this next

621
00:44:47,995 --> 00:44:51,765
year, so the end of this fiscal year, the beginning of next fiscal year, we'll

622
00:44:52,085 --> 00:44:55,385
do a citizen survey update and an employee engagement survey update.

623
00:44:56,105 --> 00:44:59,765
the employee engagement survey's already budgeted. This year's budget citizen survey will be budgeted

624
00:45:00,125 --> 00:45:04,045
next year's. Um, but from a process standpoint, we, we had a

625
00:45:04,165 --> 00:45:08,125
lot more meetings last year. We documented things a lot more,

626
00:45:08,465 --> 00:45:12,285
um, transparently on, on our website. We had a dedicated budget

627
00:45:12,485 --> 00:45:16,485
website. We always had that stuff. We just more intentional about making sure everything

628
00:45:17,065 --> 00:45:20,145
was, uh, clear to the public. Um,

629
00:45:21,585 --> 00:45:25,485
so yeah, when do we do our, the one-on-ones or two on

630
00:45:25,685 --> 00:45:29,605
twos? What, what is that in the process again? I can't remember. You have that on

631
00:45:29,725 --> 00:45:33,585
that calendar is usually in june. It's not clearly outlined. The

632
00:45:33,945 --> 00:45:37,685
the, so, so that was new last year. I did it twice

633
00:45:38,465 --> 00:45:42,365
before. We always had it once and we kind of did that in july. I kind of did one

634
00:45:42,525 --> 00:45:46,325
at the beginning last year, at the beginning of june. Okay. Here's some more things we're we're

635
00:45:46,645 --> 00:45:50,565
seeing just, you know, any other insights you have. Then in july we do it again

636
00:45:50,855 --> 00:45:54,665
right before we, uh, propose the budget. If

637
00:45:54,885 --> 00:45:58,845
you guys are amenable to that, I suggest we keep that, that place that, that

638
00:45:59,005 --> 00:46:02,925
worked really well for me. Um, you know, I just started in may, right? And I had

639
00:46:03,285 --> 00:46:06,785
experience managing $500 million plus budgets before, but

640
00:46:07,725 --> 00:46:11,565
managing a city budget budget and a government budget with all the different departments and how they work

641
00:46:11,885 --> 00:46:15,885
together, um, you know, there is a learning curve and so I feel like, um, you did a

642
00:46:16,005 --> 00:46:19,525
great job taking time to come back and explain to us and council and I had clarification

643
00:46:20,445 --> 00:46:24,365
questions around just comparing apples to apples. Um, so thank you for that. And

644
00:46:24,565 --> 00:46:28,445
I just feel like heading into 2026, um, I'm gonna have a lot more

645
00:46:28,805 --> 00:46:32,805
familiarity with all the moving parts. So I'm looking forward to that. Um, but no, 2025 was great

646
00:46:33,245 --> 00:46:36,965
'cause you took that extra time to explain it and those one-on-ones or two by twos or whatever

647
00:46:37,315 --> 00:46:41,205
were very helpful. Yeah. So it's not clearly outlined here, but that is the intent to

648
00:46:41,365 --> 00:46:44,565
do that. Any other

649
00:46:45,765 --> 00:46:49,685
thoughts? It really comes down to how much money you had to spend. I mean, it comes, I

650
00:46:49,805 --> 00:46:53,525
may hate to say it, but we talk about projects and ideas. I mean, every time we meet,

651
00:46:53,925 --> 00:46:57,745
I mean, ty, you and I, this is our seventh or eighth time doing this and um,

652
00:46:58,585 --> 00:47:02,525
it comes down to what sarah tells us. She thinks the revenue's gonna be, but we

653
00:47:02,685 --> 00:47:06,685
know what the fixed costs are gonna be. I mean, we know what the overhead is for administration, police, fire to some

654
00:47:06,845 --> 00:47:10,805
degree. We know what your growth projections are gonna be for that. But, and we know what a lot

655
00:47:10,885 --> 00:47:14,885
of the projects are that are kind of sitting there. So I mean, I, I mean there's

656
00:47:15,125 --> 00:47:19,025
small things I guess I could think of. I can think of a number off the top of my head, which I won't go into, but

657
00:47:19,245 --> 00:47:23,225
I mean, big stuff. Well look, I'll commend you

658
00:47:23,445 --> 00:47:27,385
guys. I'll come in the staff, the system that we have balances all

659
00:47:27,605 --> 00:47:31,565
the things that we're in involved with. Growth, growth community. We have a lot

660
00:47:31,685 --> 00:47:35,425
of infrastructure needs. We're tackling them. We still got a lot more, um,

661
00:47:36,025 --> 00:47:38,945
we have, uh, growth

662
00:47:40,035 --> 00:47:43,685
development concerns, right? Was residential commercial, what's too much of what,

663
00:47:44,585 --> 00:47:48,365
um, what's that impact, right? We're we're measuring that. Are we having

664
00:47:48,665 --> 00:47:52,645
fiscal discipline from a departmental standpoint and how much we're growing. We know we got a,

665
00:47:52,765 --> 00:47:56,585
you know, a new fire station, uh, has an added cost, a new park has an added cost. We,

666
00:47:56,865 --> 00:48:00,745
we, we've been talking about that. We're doing that in a very measured, balanced way

667
00:48:00,965 --> 00:48:04,925
and I'm very appreciative of, of the staff for supporting that. But there's also

668
00:48:05,185 --> 00:48:09,125
the legislature, right? I know. And I'm already having those conversations and hearing about what

669
00:48:09,415 --> 00:48:12,925
might come down the pipe again this next session based on attempts,

670
00:48:13,435 --> 00:48:17,245
last session that failed and how are those gonna morph into what might be viable

671
00:48:17,515 --> 00:48:21,485
this next time around. Those are the things that keep me up at night on still how

672
00:48:21,685 --> 00:48:25,405
do we manage adding more infrastructure needs? Jeff darryl's

673
00:48:25,925 --> 00:48:29,845
stuff where I'd like to go do more roads. And we've talked, so you've talked to me about when's our next bond

674
00:48:30,125 --> 00:48:34,105
initiative, right? That'll be still be backed by community survey data and

675
00:48:34,325 --> 00:48:38,245
master plan data for sure. But that's a huge balancing act, right?

676
00:48:38,625 --> 00:48:42,625
and so I, I appreciate the system that we have in place really helps us manage

677
00:48:43,045 --> 00:48:46,365
that in a, in a more predictable manner. Process is perfect.

678
00:48:47,155 --> 00:48:51,085
well, and having a 10 year plan and adjusting every year is definitely important. I

679
00:48:51,205 --> 00:48:55,035
do think, you know, when you start thinking long-term planning and how property tax laws,

680
00:48:55,385 --> 00:48:59,325
the state level might impact city revenues, you know, at the tml conference, there are cities

681
00:48:59,525 --> 00:49:03,395
that have, you know, rely on entirely on property taxes. They

682
00:49:03,685 --> 00:49:07,685
don't have any other types of taxes to help their city run. And, you know, what happens if that changes? And so

683
00:49:08,285 --> 00:49:11,305
I do think long term there are things we need to think about. Um, infrastructure.

684
00:49:12,305 --> 00:49:16,185
you know, I don't think there's anyone that disagrees that growth is happening. It's just a matter of how

685
00:49:16,405 --> 00:49:20,205
we manage it. So growth is inevitable, but how does infrastructure keep up with it?

686
00:49:20,565 --> 00:49:24,385
right? Right. So I think those are some big blocks that have to be thought about. Um,

687
00:49:25,035 --> 00:49:28,755
it's important to have it out there. 'cause as I mentioned to you my comment, the friction between

688
00:49:29,245 --> 00:49:33,235
the public's desire for things to happen, parks, roads, parking

689
00:49:33,835 --> 00:49:37,725
lots, whatever. And the desire not to pay taxes or to have lower property

690
00:49:37,845 --> 00:49:41,765
taxes and property taxes is the only fundamental infrastructure revenue we have.

691
00:49:42,425 --> 00:49:46,165
and if the governor gets his way, I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I don't know what they're gonna place property taxes

692
00:49:46,435 --> 00:49:50,325
with if they get rid of property. I'm not sure where the revenue comes from. Be that as it may,

693
00:49:50,625 --> 00:49:54,605
that's what the public needs to understand. That's the friction. You want these things, they're not

694
00:49:54,765 --> 00:49:58,725
free. And right. I, I, now I'm gonna say, you know, what keeps

695
00:49:58,885 --> 00:50:02,845
me up at night is not the fact that a property taxes might go away, it's just the fact that the rules of

696
00:50:03,045 --> 00:50:06,525
the game will change, but change drastically. And so how do we morph and pivot,

697
00:50:07,175 --> 00:50:11,165
which we always do. Cities are resilient that way. And I think we, our community city

698
00:50:11,365 --> 00:50:14,805
of bernie should be, um, feel lucky and privileged that we have a diversity,

699
00:50:16,225 --> 00:50:19,885
uh, of assets, revenue streams, a great utility system.

700
00:50:20,815 --> 00:50:24,405
other aspects that we can, uh, we can lean on because joe's right council

701
00:50:24,925 --> 00:50:28,605
, there are cities that are completely a hundred percent property, residential

702
00:50:29,405 --> 00:50:33,285
property tax. They have no commercial base, don't have utility systems and things

703
00:50:33,525 --> 00:50:37,445
of that nature. So, uh, we just wanna be very, uh, deliberate and intentional as always

704
00:50:37,865 --> 00:50:41,565
in the way we do our business and strategic so that we can handle things when they, when they arise.

705
00:50:45,225 --> 00:50:49,005
any other thoughts or questions? Feel free. If you ha think of something

706
00:50:49,245 --> 00:50:53,015
else, let us know. Uh, again, we're gonna be working on this in the next couple weeks with, with leadership

707
00:50:53,685 --> 00:50:54,805
team. Thank you.

708
00:51:01,635 --> 00:51:05,165
alright, we're gonna go to the brainstorming session.

709
00:51:06,195 --> 00:51:10,195
it's a reflection exercise. Um, some

710
00:51:10,485 --> 00:51:13,455
of you have probably participated in swot analysis, brainstorm,

711
00:51:14,685 --> 00:51:17,765
unity, threats. We'll call 'em this a spot. I don't like the word weaknesses.

712
00:51:18,965 --> 00:51:22,485
I think there's problems, right? Uh, we, we are

713
00:51:23,325 --> 00:51:27,325
resilient by nature. As a municipal organization. We can address problems.

714
00:51:28,745 --> 00:51:32,225
we are strong in certain areas and we know how to work around what we're not strong yet.

715
00:51:33,315 --> 00:51:37,245
what opportunities do you identify? Can you see that we automate,

716
00:51:37,405 --> 00:51:40,525
pursue? And what are the risks and pressures

717
00:51:41,635 --> 00:51:45,445
that you're feeling maybe have hurt us? You know, talk about what we feel.

718
00:51:45,845 --> 00:51:49,285
I just mentioned a couple, but I really want you guys to take a moment

719
00:51:49,985 --> 00:51:53,985
and pause and we'll go, I'll facilitate this exercise to

720
00:51:54,205 --> 00:51:58,165
where you just give me all your thoughts. And I, and I think you guys have already, you saw

721
00:51:58,325 --> 00:52:02,145
my email last week to get you started thinking about this. Uh, danny and

722
00:52:02,365 --> 00:52:06,185
nick will help me here. I'll give you post-it notes and you can, I'll give you a couple minutes and

723
00:52:06,405 --> 00:52:10,285
I'll give you a question and you just, whatever comes to your mind. I want to

724
00:52:10,505 --> 00:52:14,445
stress that this is a, again, a reflection exercise. It's not a

725
00:52:14,565 --> 00:52:18,085
problem solving exercise. We're not trying to find solutions here.

726
00:52:19,135 --> 00:52:23,115
we're not gonna be evaluating staff or evaluating a department. This

727
00:52:23,405 --> 00:52:27,205
is as a city organization as a whole. Let's reflect

728
00:52:27,685 --> 00:52:31,645
on our performance as a city body. That includes you guys. You guys are part of the city

729
00:52:31,765 --> 00:52:35,685
organization as a whole as well. Um, so we're gonna look at governance. There

730
00:52:35,885 --> 00:52:39,765
might be aspects that relate to employees and organizational culture elements. That's,

731
00:52:39,965 --> 00:52:43,455
that's all fair game. I just wanted to throw that out there. There are no dumb ideas.

732
00:52:44,465 --> 00:52:48,365
no dumb thoughts, no stupid ideas. Uh, what we're

733
00:52:48,605 --> 00:52:52,445
gonna do, um, pass these out here and, and each

734
00:52:53,325 --> 00:52:57,285
quadrant up there is associated with a certain color. And I'll, I'll, I'll throw out a

735
00:52:57,605 --> 00:52:58,965
question and give you a couple minutes

736
00:53:01,675 --> 00:53:05,525
privately. Just jot out as many as you want. When you're done, let me know. Nick and daniel

737
00:53:05,725 --> 00:53:09,685
will come and grab those and they'll take 'em and they'll get everyone's ideas and they'll

738
00:53:09,925 --> 00:53:13,915
categorize them and themes, they'll probably a lot of like-minded areas here,

739
00:53:14,575 --> 00:53:18,465
areas. And then we'll post those up there. And then I'll go on to the next question and

740
00:53:18,685 --> 00:53:22,645
we'll go through that through all four. Once we get done with that, when we've done all

741
00:53:22,805 --> 00:53:26,725
four quadrants, we're all gonna go up and gravitate over there

742
00:53:27,145 --> 00:53:30,715
to the, to the wall, look and just see what

743
00:53:31,485 --> 00:53:35,445
resonates with you. What themes, what other ideas do you see?

744
00:53:35,605 --> 00:53:39,285
is there certain priorities that also mean more to you than maybe they didn't before?

745
00:53:39,665 --> 00:53:43,525
or just kinda see if there's things that that come to mind. And we're

746
00:53:43,725 --> 00:53:46,645
all gonna share. You guys will share at least one, one or two things

747
00:53:47,835 --> 00:53:51,165
because then that'll help seed or plant the, the conversation

748
00:53:52,115 --> 00:53:56,085
next on the agenda. And that is, we'll look at the strategy map and how is this

749
00:53:56,205 --> 00:54:00,195
working with what the exercise we just did. Okay.

750
00:54:01,385 --> 00:54:05,245
any questions before we jump in? You guys? Everyone got a pen?

751
00:54:08,425 --> 00:54:11,485
one, one thought per post-it? Yeah. One thought per post-it. Here,

752
00:54:14,105 --> 00:54:17,965
use it. You have another one? Use another postit. Okay. Separate. If you have separate,

753
00:54:19,185 --> 00:54:22,585
you can use small sentence. Yeah. 20 close, but,

754
00:54:23,265 --> 00:54:27,165
oh, okay. Multiple. Yeah. So the very first one,

755
00:54:27,325 --> 00:54:31,125
we're gonna look at kind of strengths. What are we good at? What do we naturally

756
00:54:31,665 --> 00:54:35,465
do? Well, blue. Blue, right? Yeah. We do the blue until the,

757
00:54:35,685 --> 00:54:36,075
the light blue.

758
00:54:39,705 --> 00:54:42,845
um, again, one thought per post-it note.

759
00:54:44,855 --> 00:54:47,645
where are we delivering? Well, as a city organization,

760
00:54:49,435 --> 00:54:52,685
what are we proud of? What are you proud of? What do you think we do? Really, really good.

761
00:54:53,465 --> 00:54:57,145
if you want to compare us to fair oaks and ville and fredericksburg as whatever, but

762
00:54:57,555 --> 00:55:01,445
what do you think we do really well at? What are you

763
00:55:01,565 --> 00:55:03,685
proud of? And I'll give you a couple minutes.

764
00:55:15,915 --> 00:55:19,685
it's not my phone. Print well enough that we can bring

765
00:55:20,625 --> 00:55:24,405
no scripts done there. No promises. It's just the, uh, city as a whole,

766
00:55:24,865 --> 00:55:27,665
as a city organization. Yeah. This is a governing entity.

767
00:55:44,645 --> 00:55:45,925
I need a another stack of postit notes numbers.

768
00:56:08,625 --> 00:56:12,285
you just, we'll combine them if we have multiple,

769
00:56:13,095 --> 00:56:13,565
there you go.

770
00:56:19,465 --> 00:56:19,685
go ahead.

771
00:56:27,545 --> 00:56:29,325
you gave a prescription for adderall.

772
00:56:32,375 --> 00:56:32,375
don't

773
00:57:12,185 --> 00:57:16,075
if you, if you're good, you can, you're done. Move your tube into

774
00:57:16,365 --> 00:57:20,205
the side and that way I know you're, you're done. You still have some more time if you

775
00:57:20,435 --> 00:57:24,195
keep going, done

776
00:57:32,955 --> 00:57:32,955
messing.

777
00:57:44,875 --> 00:57:46,085
it's michelen. Se

778
00:57:51,155 --> 00:57:55,005
it's h-o-o-t-e-r-s in a different

779
00:57:55,245 --> 00:57:55,245
ways.

780
00:58:12,665 --> 00:58:16,565
what's that? If you have one? No, no. I'll give you about 10

781
00:58:16,685 --> 00:58:18,645
more seconds. Okay. Just he'll pose the question.

782
00:58:25,195 --> 00:58:29,165
okay. Um, you know, so when our, we did our

783
00:58:29,285 --> 00:58:33,185
leadership summit last october, november, we did a similar exercise, not

784
00:58:33,405 --> 00:58:36,605
the same swot analysis. We need a different type of analysis.

785
00:58:37,665 --> 00:58:41,195
we have post-it notes all over the place. It's fine. Alright.

786
00:58:41,955 --> 00:58:43,345
pull out your purple.

787
00:58:46,915 --> 00:58:50,405
alright. Problems. Where do you see strength?

788
00:58:52,335 --> 00:58:55,725
where do you see friction? Where do you see reoccurring concerns?

789
00:58:56,835 --> 00:58:58,985
what are people talking to you about a lot?

790
00:59:05,495 --> 00:59:09,365
don't just write my name on there. Not supposed to.

791
00:59:42,745 --> 00:59:42,965
oh, okay.

792
00:59:57,795 --> 01:00:00,125
brain's got a file. Hopefully the library.

793
01:00:02,635 --> 01:00:06,445
library. I should have been in blue guys. I didn't say it. I forgot that. I forgot

794
01:00:06,685 --> 01:00:10,685
it. I'm sorry. You're right. What did you doing? I really

795
01:00:10,825 --> 01:00:14,805
was counting. Sorry, I was really counting on you. I didn't even say it

796
01:00:14,925 --> 01:00:16,645
out loud. I thought I didn't even have say it.

797
01:00:19,325 --> 01:00:20,565
I think that was, you can't add that.

798
01:00:38,865 --> 01:00:41,725
am I the or separate? No, no, we're separate. Okay. Just making sure.

799
01:02:33,115 --> 01:02:35,245
alright. Maybe 15 more seconds.

800
01:03:09,555 --> 01:03:13,155
okay. Alright.

801
01:03:13,995 --> 01:03:16,775
just to give a little pause so we can group some these. Let's,

802
01:03:18,095 --> 01:03:20,645
we're gonna highlight really quickly kind of the themes of the strengths.

803
01:03:22,675 --> 01:03:26,335
have you guys ever do that for me? Yep. So over here we've

804
01:03:26,685 --> 01:03:29,665
got, these are public safety, fire, police, um,

805
01:03:30,875 --> 01:03:34,725
emergency services, first responders, um, in this

806
01:03:34,925 --> 01:03:38,905
kind of category. All of these you've gotta see, these are,

807
01:03:39,185 --> 01:03:43,005
um, kind of policy, udc, lid, uh, bouncing,

808
01:03:43,945 --> 01:03:47,285
uh, strict development with pro business tree ordinance,

809
01:03:48,445 --> 01:03:51,265
bouncing growth with community identity, um,

810
01:03:53,675 --> 01:03:57,545
municipal utilities and city services. All of these, um,

811
01:03:57,825 --> 01:04:01,755
two rows here. These are all quality of life. So these are parts, open

812
01:04:02,055 --> 01:04:05,955
space, uh, focus on quality of life, town spirit, recreation, library,

813
01:04:07,105 --> 01:04:10,765
um, they here in the culture and roots. Events, community events,

814
01:04:11,155 --> 01:04:14,605
main street, community engagement, all quality of life here.

815
01:04:15,535 --> 01:04:18,925
staff development and leadership. Uh, more utilities.

816
01:04:19,585 --> 01:04:23,405
so we had a couple right here that got separated.

817
01:04:27,115 --> 01:04:30,265
utilities, uh, communication, transparency, effort,

818
01:04:31,345 --> 01:04:35,215
uh, to improve at communication here. Governance

819
01:04:36,085 --> 01:04:39,975
structure, fiscal responsibility. These kind of meet together. Model

820
01:04:40,355 --> 01:04:44,325
city governance, uh, council administration and strong

821
01:04:44,725 --> 01:04:48,305
schools. That really kind of falls into quality of life too.

822
01:04:50,595 --> 01:04:54,475
okay. Alright. Pull

823
01:04:54,785 --> 01:04:57,675
out your yellow, your green, yellow, green stat.

824
01:04:58,895 --> 01:05:02,725
these are our opportunities. What do you think deserves more attention

825
01:05:05,635 --> 01:05:09,525
over the next few years? There's something that we haven't quite been able

826
01:05:09,725 --> 01:05:13,725
to go after, just because we have a lot on our plates. Or maybe the time isn't right.

827
01:05:14,235 --> 01:05:18,205
what do you think we ought to pursue out in the, in the short term?

828
01:05:18,365 --> 01:05:20,125
let's say maybe in the next three years or so.

829
01:05:23,745 --> 01:05:26,325
not defined with anyone's counsel term. That's not that.

830
01:05:53,905 --> 01:05:56,805
no, these are,

831
01:06:31,915 --> 01:06:32,485
what are these ones?

832
01:08:27,785 --> 01:08:29,005
new mayor. Yeah, new mayor.

833
01:08:34,825 --> 01:08:36,485
put that right there. New mayor.

834
01:08:40,115 --> 01:08:40,725
it's just one replacement.

835
01:08:45,065 --> 01:08:45,065
new.

836
01:08:49,835 --> 01:08:52,715
alright, looks like we're kind of down here. Take

837
01:08:54,325 --> 01:08:54,325
.

838
01:09:00,025 --> 01:09:00,605
oh, ers.

839
01:09:05,555 --> 01:09:09,435
this is the mon man. That was the month. Hand

840
01:09:09,725 --> 01:09:13,205
that over there. Natalie. One more. You have more for me. Yeah, right there.

841
01:09:13,855 --> 01:09:17,845
thank you sir. You're doing great.

842
01:09:18,045 --> 01:09:21,835
natalie, where am I supposed to put this one? . Quality of life. Tell

843
01:09:22,125 --> 01:09:25,075
me. Quality of life. Things have gone way down. Quality.

844
01:09:26,225 --> 01:09:30,205
you know, it's, if you look at this,

845
01:09:30,415 --> 01:09:34,225
we're still trying to figure out the problem. We, we know problems. We all

846
01:09:34,545 --> 01:09:38,405
are quick to, to identify what we think is wrong. It's all

847
01:09:38,685 --> 01:09:42,045
district one and district five. . Thank you very much.

848
01:09:43,565 --> 01:09:47,395
I know several people in the county. Yeah. Alright,

849
01:09:48,215 --> 01:09:51,075
let's go to the last one while there're still processing you. Me to start. You good? Yeah.

850
01:09:53,225 --> 01:09:56,905
here's the things for the problem areas. So over here we've got really kind of environmental issues

851
01:09:57,425 --> 01:10:01,375
on this far left side. So this is trees, oak will, um, water

852
01:10:01,725 --> 01:10:05,285
and river road park, uh, water conservation, water issues.

853
01:10:06,645 --> 01:10:10,605
this second row here are traffic related issues. I was really surprised we didn't have more of those, but I

854
01:10:10,725 --> 01:10:14,685
think everybody just understands that one. Um, these are

855
01:10:14,885 --> 01:10:18,845
growth, uh, all all related to growth and dealing

856
01:10:19,045 --> 01:10:22,965
with all those problems related to growth. Uh, these are all development inter

857
01:10:23,425 --> 01:10:26,815
or these are governmental. So all of the interlocal

858
01:10:27,485 --> 01:10:31,235
agreements, city, county relations, erosion of city, county relations,

859
01:10:31,865 --> 01:10:35,505
all of those political, uh, issues here in the middle. Um,

860
01:10:40,175 --> 01:10:44,145
these are kind of structural quality of life. So this, uh,

861
01:10:44,365 --> 01:10:47,845
community activities and facilities lacking public, uh, arts and theater,

862
01:10:48,515 --> 01:10:52,345
lacking recreation, uh, facility, indoor pickleball, uh,

863
01:10:52,565 --> 01:10:55,885
not enough parks. These are all parking and pedestrian related.

864
01:10:57,065 --> 01:11:00,985
so either, um, sidewalk or pedestrian related, um, issues.

865
01:11:01,935 --> 01:11:05,865
these are all code. And, uh, udc, uh, either

866
01:11:06,285 --> 01:11:09,965
were too strict, not strict enough. We're both strict and strict. Not strict enough

867
01:11:10,385 --> 01:11:14,205
at the same time. Depending on which side of the strictness. Wrong enough on

868
01:11:14,445 --> 01:11:18,395
everyone else. Purpose depends

869
01:11:18,885 --> 01:11:22,805
on those. Um, these are kind of social media perception, public

870
01:11:23,205 --> 01:11:27,205
perception, uh, lack of, of, of, uh, restraint. I want,

871
01:11:27,485 --> 01:11:31,125
I want. Uh, and then a small, uh, fire department,

872
01:11:31,685 --> 01:11:35,685
petty crime, public safety issues. There was one that

873
01:11:35,845 --> 01:11:39,645
said the fire department is too small. Chief, I don't know how you got up here. Yeah, honestly,

874
01:11:41,635 --> 01:11:45,395
only. We were building a second fire station. Guys, it's

875
01:11:45,685 --> 01:11:48,925
just you to bring you that the best we can

876
01:11:50,505 --> 01:11:54,115
ask tomorrow. Alright,

877
01:11:54,735 --> 01:11:58,565
let's pull out the, pull out the, uh, your last stack

878
01:11:58,885 --> 01:12:01,165
there. Last post of good stack. We're gonna look at our threats.

879
01:12:03,475 --> 01:12:07,425
what do you think could materially hinder our

880
01:12:07,645 --> 01:12:08,235
long term success?

881
01:12:12,595 --> 01:12:16,565
what could materially hinder our ability

882
01:12:16,905 --> 01:12:18,565
to perform the way we have in the past

883
01:13:21,185 --> 01:13:21,405
new scott?

884
01:13:31,515 --> 01:13:33,765
there's gotta be an aggie here somewhere. How many people

885
01:13:40,725 --> 01:13:44,325
involved in this? Yeah, you could, you could, you can sort us out, you know.

886
01:14:54,315 --> 01:14:54,315
okay.

887
01:15:00,955 --> 01:15:01,525
what else? We got

888
01:15:20,545 --> 01:15:23,445
all opportunity there. Get a few more that are coming up here.

889
01:15:25,665 --> 01:15:28,845
I'm bigger step or what?

890
01:15:31,585 --> 01:15:35,275
that's not, that's not, okay. Same, same, same thing twice. Okay.

891
01:15:35,925 --> 01:15:38,965
. Alright. Yeah. Danny. Sheriff's, the kind of the themes on the opportunities.

892
01:15:40,105 --> 01:15:43,855
so these are on these opportunities. These are gonna be traffic. So new roads,

893
01:15:44,505 --> 01:15:47,905
um, repave and stripe, esser, um, infrastructure,

894
01:15:49,235 --> 01:15:51,635
road grid, road diet, roundabouts,

895
01:15:53,585 --> 01:15:57,565
all of their opportunities for kind of road, uh, potential

896
01:15:58,125 --> 01:16:01,865
bonds grants. So this is all money funding, uh, manage

897
01:16:02,285 --> 01:16:06,035
commercial, um, for options, funding, city

898
01:16:06,685 --> 01:16:10,105
services, operational efficiency, vehicles and buildings. Fiscal

899
01:16:11,005 --> 01:16:14,905
responsibilities in this second column. Third column is,

900
01:16:15,265 --> 01:16:17,265
uh, traffic, traffic issues, transportation,

901
01:16:21,315 --> 01:16:25,005
cars and people ampo projects. I'm getting shorter,

902
01:16:25,445 --> 01:16:29,005
I think. Uh, this next row here, downtown walkability,

903
01:16:29,925 --> 01:16:33,485
sidewalks, downtown plaza, fire trucks, patrol officers,

904
01:16:34,235 --> 01:16:38,125
kind of safety related, uh, quality of live

905
01:16:38,365 --> 01:16:41,515
trails and parks. Uh, unified culture and arts plan.

906
01:16:42,865 --> 01:16:46,835
pocket parks, uh, big events. Driven destination,

907
01:16:47,835 --> 01:16:51,625
destination town, uh, strength, our strengthen our community, uh,

908
01:16:52,275 --> 01:16:52,275
involvement.

909
01:16:57,025 --> 01:17:00,475
and here we got commercial development hotels, limited,

910
01:17:01,515 --> 01:17:03,325
limited vape shops. ,

911
01:17:07,325 --> 01:17:10,485
downtown parking and parking lot. Always attacking,

912
01:17:12,465 --> 01:17:16,265
uh, planning related, uh, planning department. Expand

913
01:17:16,685 --> 01:17:18,325
enforcement of the udc.

914
01:17:20,985 --> 01:17:24,105
I'm not gonna try to read that one. It's okay. Expand

915
01:17:25,895 --> 01:17:28,445
waste water utility with portable water.

916
01:17:33,045 --> 01:17:36,335
a tap, maybe a tap pump, water up ri ridge up river.

917
01:17:37,925 --> 01:17:41,165
I think a river road park, I'm assuming. Uh, discussion here.

918
01:17:42,425 --> 01:17:46,005
and then partnerships with local businesses. Build relations with county,

919
01:17:47,505 --> 01:17:50,285
uh, combined resources with businesses and county

920
01:17:52,085 --> 01:17:55,165
engaging our youth and bisd more. And then

921
01:17:56,225 --> 01:17:59,685
animal shelter upgrade. Those are the ones on our,

922
01:18:00,635 --> 01:18:04,485
yeah, opportunities. Okay. So as they're processing the threats, I would like

923
01:18:04,725 --> 01:18:06,485
you to pull out the strategy map in your folder.

924
01:18:10,545 --> 01:18:14,525
and based off the things that you just heard or just going through this

925
01:18:15,045 --> 01:18:18,785
exercise, take a minute or two to look at this map. You've

926
01:18:19,205 --> 01:18:23,065
seen it in, in, in you, in utilization. I'm gonna tell you, the

927
01:18:23,365 --> 01:18:27,165
last couple years have been, I think, phenomenal for us because we've had this resource.

928
01:18:28,315 --> 01:18:32,125
it's been so helpful to communicate to new employees, to onboard new

929
01:18:32,645 --> 01:18:35,725
directors, new council members. I think it's a communication, great, fantastic

930
01:18:37,045 --> 01:18:40,845
communication tool to the public. And so you guys know, we, we lean on

931
01:18:41,365 --> 01:18:45,245
this heavily. A department head cannot make a budget

932
01:18:45,485 --> 01:18:49,405
request without aligning it to somewhere here. So I want you to really

933
01:18:49,955 --> 01:18:53,785
reflect on this. And it's, and you'll notice it's kind of vague in

934
01:18:54,005 --> 01:18:57,805
certain, it's not so precise that it locks us down, but it does

935
01:18:58,375 --> 01:19:01,985
guide us in different areas and themes. So

936
01:19:02,465 --> 01:19:06,285
we, we don't need to figure this out tonight, but I want to get feedback. If you think we need

937
01:19:06,485 --> 01:19:10,405
to maybe pivot somewhere. Somewhere. Do we need to add something? Do we need

938
01:19:10,605 --> 01:19:14,365
to wordsmith something? Do we need to open something up even greater, do account for something

939
01:19:14,645 --> 01:19:18,645
else? And so, uh, my question to you is, how well do you

940
01:19:18,845 --> 01:19:22,665
think this is working for us? You

941
01:19:22,885 --> 01:19:26,245
don't need to answer now. Just reflect on it while we finish up these, these, uh, threats.

942
01:19:27,045 --> 01:19:30,885
I would say, I thought this was one of the things I really liked when I got on council. Starting everything like that,

943
01:19:31,425 --> 01:19:35,345
you could see it made it easier being new to see that alignment. I feel it

944
01:19:35,565 --> 01:19:39,525
was a great tool. Um, is this on our website or found to be

945
01:19:39,645 --> 01:19:43,605
aware? Think it's internal. Chris, is there strategy map on the website that is the

946
01:19:43,725 --> 01:19:47,685
goal for this year? Yes. Okay. So it is a, a fundamental part of, yeah, right? 'cause I think

947
01:19:47,805 --> 01:19:51,725
this is something that community should be aware of as well. And I know we use it to focus

948
01:19:51,925 --> 01:19:55,645
ourselves, but we do have a couple of elements on our website

949
01:19:56,045 --> 01:19:59,985
about our strategic philosophy, right? I have talked with chris about how

950
01:20:00,205 --> 01:20:04,085
do we, uh, do a better job of communicating who we are. I think this is a core piece of

951
01:20:04,305 --> 01:20:08,245
our governance structure for council and for the city leadership team. And you're right,

952
01:20:08,985 --> 01:20:12,825
the public and the community of large need, not danny and I, christie, we

953
01:20:13,045 --> 01:20:16,705
often are asked to speak about this piece across

954
01:20:17,185 --> 01:20:20,965
the state. Larry had me speak to, um, to, uh, a bunch of visitors

955
01:20:21,225 --> 01:20:24,845
center and directors and stuff about our, this system and whatnot.

956
01:20:25,635 --> 01:20:29,465
it's really unique to a lot of folks across the state. It

957
01:20:29,685 --> 01:20:33,445
is in the budget document section with several places in the budget, but not as

958
01:20:34,525 --> 01:20:35,905
promised. Standalone really dropped to.

959
01:20:38,715 --> 01:20:40,615
alright, danny,

960
01:20:44,475 --> 01:20:48,445
tell us what you got from, from the threats perspective. So interesting with the threads here, they a

961
01:20:48,565 --> 01:20:52,405
lot more spread out. Not as much grouping here. Well, and most

962
01:20:52,605 --> 01:20:55,745
of the other ones we had, you know, some really big groups, uh, and themes. So,

963
01:20:57,105 --> 01:20:57,105
um,

964
01:21:01,305 --> 01:21:04,725
strong civic political leadership, uh, lead the community.

965
01:21:06,225 --> 01:21:09,245
um, and then ta wilson. I don't know ty, you put that one or

966
01:21:14,585 --> 01:21:18,295
you notice I said staff council was fair game, right?

967
01:21:19,695 --> 01:21:22,845
knock it off. Right. Well, tammy needs to be open on mondays.

968
01:21:24,915 --> 01:21:25,805
work seven days a week.

969
01:21:30,545 --> 01:21:34,375
dr. Mackey has one about weather issues, but there's a word up the top today. Hundred percent unforeseen

970
01:21:35,045 --> 01:21:38,845
weather issues. Um, threat of running outta water, natural disasters,

971
01:21:39,465 --> 01:21:43,355
uh, prolonged drought, all threats that we know. Cost of living, cost

972
01:21:43,645 --> 01:21:47,605
of everything, uh, but really water. Uh, and then

973
01:21:47,725 --> 01:21:50,845
down here, state regulation, uh, tax revenue, state legislation,

974
01:21:51,955 --> 01:21:55,165
legislation, uh, at the state level,

975
01:21:56,265 --> 01:21:59,995
uh, county, county relationship, county court, lack

976
01:22:00,285 --> 01:22:04,205
of, uh, cooperation with the county and bisd. Uh, failure

977
01:22:04,745 --> 01:22:08,265
to maintain the budget. Um, lack of, uh,

978
01:22:08,995 --> 01:22:12,145
funding, cybersecurity, economic, uh,

979
01:22:13,245 --> 01:22:16,245
economic down, downturn misinformed. Public

980
01:22:17,265 --> 01:22:20,135
strong, public distrust. Um, bipartisan

981
01:22:25,525 --> 01:22:29,275
business retention. Oh, business division, bipartisan now I'm just making up words. . Well,

982
01:22:30,005 --> 01:22:31,245
business retention. That's, you don't have the dyslexic

983
01:22:34,085 --> 01:22:37,165
oriented job industry. Uh, we need lucrative professions and job opportunities.

984
01:22:38,665 --> 01:22:42,025
uh, development loopholes. Decreasing approvals of

985
01:22:44,255 --> 01:22:47,685
decreasing approvals of bisd equals less. People choosing

986
01:22:49,635 --> 01:22:53,045
schools. Schools to build life and burning. Okay, failure. Failure

987
01:22:53,785 --> 01:22:54,065
to adhere

988
01:23:00,325 --> 01:23:03,045
mobility. Oh, solutions to mobility. That's the one you can tell me.

989
01:23:04,395 --> 01:23:08,385
federal government, uh, turmoil discussion in, uh, in

990
01:23:08,605 --> 01:23:11,565
the council or division in the council. Uh, failure to achieve

991
01:23:17,275 --> 01:23:20,595
from, uh, public, what's the last name? Biden. Elector.

992
01:23:23,825 --> 01:23:27,285
uh, big and outside. Uh, influences on local politics and policy.

993
01:23:29,625 --> 01:23:33,485
so let me, uh, lemme invite you guys up up here. So you can just take a look

994
01:23:34,185 --> 01:23:38,165
at this and um, just see if there's

995
01:23:38,445 --> 01:23:42,315
any other priorities. Uh, you all have your priorities in your mind. Is there anything else that,

996
01:23:43,835 --> 01:23:46,865
that you, that you see jump out at you? If you look at

997
01:24:26,475 --> 01:24:30,195
what, uh, any thoughts or observations from

998
01:24:30,485 --> 01:24:33,685
any one of you going through this exercise? Anything you want to share?

999
01:24:36,465 --> 01:24:40,405
say that again, frank, out loud. I said I think these two go hand in hand. I said

1000
01:24:40,565 --> 01:24:44,565
because what we see, what I've seen a lot of these problems are, are opportunities that we're

1001
01:24:44,885 --> 01:24:47,605
looking at trying to address already. That true.

1002
01:24:52,745 --> 01:24:55,125
any other kind of observations going through this

1003
01:24:56,805 --> 01:25:00,665
exercise? I think it's cool to see the continuity of us in

1004
01:25:00,885 --> 01:25:04,645
general, right? Well, all of us come from different backgrounds, but still generally

1005
01:25:05,245 --> 01:25:09,065
thinking the same, same way in threats. You think there'd be differences anyway

1006
01:25:09,485 --> 01:25:13,305
because I think those just generally kind of different anyway. But for

1007
01:25:13,525 --> 01:25:17,405
the three that there would be similarities. That shows

1008
01:25:17,565 --> 01:25:21,525
that there are, yeah, that I like the strengths and

1009
01:25:21,645 --> 01:25:25,525
opportunities was very the same. Like I thought we had really strong parks, but I also

1010
01:25:25,725 --> 01:25:29,685
think we can improve our park. So I think this, I think some

1011
01:25:29,925 --> 01:25:33,465
things on our strength also be brought opportunities. Yeah, I think, uh,

1012
01:25:33,965 --> 01:25:37,885
I think our staff does a phenomenal job providing good resources in that area. But we

1013
01:25:38,005 --> 01:25:41,885
also know the demand is still a lot, the appetite's a lot greater,

1014
01:25:42,125 --> 01:25:46,045
right? We talked about that a year ago. The same workshop. I think the

1015
01:25:46,205 --> 01:25:49,445
scope of some of these opportunities or problems, you know, could be

1016
01:25:51,305 --> 01:25:55,015
10 timeframe. So how do you, how do you manage that, right?

1017
01:25:55,665 --> 01:25:59,305
is there loading up for quick wins that can be, that can be achieved and,

1018
01:26:07,035 --> 01:26:11,005
alright, so what we're gonna do, um, what I'll do is, we'll I'll

1019
01:26:11,205 --> 01:26:15,165
transcribe this and uh, and I'll send it back out to you guys so we have,

1020
01:26:15,335 --> 01:26:19,205
we'll document it. Then when we go into our budget kickoff of directors,

1021
01:26:19,445 --> 01:26:23,305
they'll have it as well. And so as they can start processing their budget and

1022
01:26:23,525 --> 01:26:27,365
their department of work plans for the next year, they'll, they'll identify, hey, I think we can do something

1023
01:26:27,605 --> 01:26:31,545
that this is low hanging fruit or wait, this might be something we gotta process in

1024
01:26:31,765 --> 01:26:34,845
a master plan or cip or whatever.

1025
01:26:36,905 --> 01:26:40,525
and so we'll handle that, uh, through the budget process. And so I'll keep you apprised

1026
01:26:40,925 --> 01:26:42,435
of how that goes. Alright,

1027
01:26:45,175 --> 01:26:49,115
appreciate you guys, your help, your involvement in this and your preparation coming into

1028
01:26:49,405 --> 01:26:53,325
this. Typically a lot of cities will hire a consultant to come in and this will be an

1029
01:26:53,445 --> 01:26:57,445
all day endeavor. Y'all did it for like 20 minutes. So thank you for being physically conservative

1030
01:26:57,985 --> 01:26:58,895
man and not waste us money.

1031
01:27:02,675 --> 01:27:06,505
alright, the last item I do is that strategy map. Is

1032
01:27:06,725 --> 01:27:10,565
there any feedback you have for me now, again, you can email me later, we can bring this

1033
01:27:10,765 --> 01:27:14,725
back in a, in a work session conversation in a regular council meeting once we have all this process.

1034
01:27:15,465 --> 01:27:18,945
but is there anything that you think we ought to look at? Dr. Mack,

1035
01:27:20,635 --> 01:27:24,415
when you say environmental responsibility is one of the four major

1036
01:27:24,795 --> 01:27:28,375
tenants, I don't see anywhere in the four subclasses

1037
01:27:29,115 --> 01:27:32,725
that it actually says anything about that we're assuming it says that.

1038
01:27:33,705 --> 01:27:37,705
and I think part of the public and certainly my interest is we

1039
01:27:37,925 --> 01:27:41,835
mentioned oakwell, we mentioned water supply, we mentioned a lot of things about code

1040
01:27:42,125 --> 01:27:45,965
enforcement. Somehow that should be worked in here to reflect

1041
01:27:46,555 --> 01:27:50,485
that because I think the public thinks many people in the public, either through

1042
01:27:50,685 --> 01:27:54,565
ignorance or or misinformation that we're not. And we

1043
01:27:54,725 --> 01:27:58,605
are, for example, tree ordinance, very strict tree ordinance. I get complaints about

1044
01:27:59,225 --> 01:28:03,145
the baptist hospital, which we don't even have control over, get complaints about the

1045
01:28:03,415 --> 01:28:07,365
aviso development, which was actually approved in 2007. So it's going forward.

1046
01:28:07,785 --> 01:28:11,645
so I mean, this is something we need. Yeah. You know. Okay. So I would tell

1047
01:28:11,885 --> 01:28:15,485
you, um, and also strengths, a lot of udc, a lot of other development

1048
01:28:16,005 --> 01:28:19,705
regulation. Maybe there's something that's well went in. Again, you don't wanna be so

1049
01:28:20,565 --> 01:28:23,715
specific that you're locked down into a very particular niche area.

1050
01:28:24,665 --> 01:28:28,285
uh, but you also want to make sure you're covering a lot of things. So that's, that's good.

1051
01:28:29,315 --> 01:28:33,165
just a reminder that these strategy map, these four quadrants are, hey, what

1052
01:28:33,405 --> 01:28:37,015
are your customer centric objectives? What are your business process objectives?

1053
01:28:37,685 --> 01:28:41,585
what are your financial objectives? What are your employee objectives? And

1054
01:28:41,805 --> 01:28:45,645
those four tenants above are kind of the key focus areas. We, we, we want a community that's

1055
01:28:45,885 --> 01:28:49,285
safe and secure, that's fiscally strong and excellent,

1056
01:28:50,215 --> 01:28:54,085
great community charm. We hear that everywhere. We want to protect that. There's not a whole lot

1057
01:28:54,245 --> 01:28:57,875
in those objectives below that about unique community charm, but we know we're gonna have business processes

1058
01:28:58,585 --> 01:29:02,125
and, and fiscal and employee stuff dedicated to that. So we could even open

1059
01:29:02,605 --> 01:29:06,605
a lot of that as well. That's a good comment. What else? Any other

1060
01:29:09,305 --> 01:29:13,205
things you think that, that we ought to look at? I mean, I think it's good. I mean it's,

1061
01:29:13,365 --> 01:29:17,125
it is a good overview. It's a good place to start. It's a good baseline. You know, if you start

1062
01:29:17,425 --> 01:29:21,165
trying to nitpick it and get too centralized on it, like you were saying,

1063
01:29:21,755 --> 01:29:25,445
then you're gonna have 10 or 12 line items under each one of those. That's the

1064
01:29:25,925 --> 01:29:29,665
directors s other thing. You don't want to, but we could have six objectives under each one if we want. And

1065
01:29:29,985 --> 01:29:33,885
I'm not opposed to that. But you don't wanna have so many things and so many values and so many,

1066
01:29:34,105 --> 01:29:37,965
you know, long mission statements that people are, don't understand the core of

1067
01:29:38,125 --> 01:29:39,665
who we really want to strive to be. So.

1068
01:29:44,035 --> 01:29:47,845
okay. I appreciate it. Again, the feedback is good. I'm glad. I appreciate

1069
01:29:48,245 --> 01:29:52,125
my directors, uh, team here to listen. Um, we will process

1070
01:29:52,555 --> 01:29:56,225
this. We write it up and send it back out. We'll have a follow up

1071
01:29:57,525 --> 01:30:01,395
thoughts about councilman al's. Um, comment.

1072
01:30:02,305 --> 01:30:05,875
are you open to me maybe looking at some sort of objective that constitutes

1073
01:30:06,835 --> 01:30:10,835
more environmental, maybe some other development regulatory okay.

1074
01:30:11,565 --> 01:30:15,525
included to serving our customers, our customers in public. Yeah, I would like to

1075
01:30:15,685 --> 01:30:19,475
see the, the summary of this, how this all boils down and then kind of layer that into

1076
01:30:19,765 --> 01:30:23,525
the strategy map. I think it's great that we have a strategy map 'cause you do need to have a plan and directional,

1077
01:30:24,585 --> 01:30:28,405
you know, guideline of where you want to go. Um, but, you know, taking

1078
01:30:28,635 --> 01:30:32,505
some of these common problems and strengths and we all have pretty much the same things on

1079
01:30:32,725 --> 01:30:36,445
here. So I think if we layer that in on top of this, it would reinforce this

1080
01:30:36,875 --> 01:30:40,845
code, code those to, you know, cf do whatever possible.

1081
01:30:40,925 --> 01:30:44,725
so what we'll do is we'll process this, get it to you, we'll do another prep. We'll have another

1082
01:30:45,045 --> 01:30:48,285
item, maybe, maybe the first meeting of march.

1083
01:30:49,105 --> 01:30:52,845
we can come back and say any, any thoughts here. We, we'll, we'll wrap

1084
01:30:53,125 --> 01:30:57,045
it up. Does that sound good? Mm-hmm . Excellent. Excellent

1085
01:30:57,285 --> 01:31:01,285
job. Okay. I said no more than 90 minutes. If we quote the mayor,

1086
01:31:01,475 --> 01:31:04,745
I'll give the form back to you. So you asked me not to ask council for

1087
01:31:08,155 --> 01:31:11,545
talk, joe not allowed to talk. No.

1088
01:31:12,425 --> 01:31:15,645
any comments from council? Great exercise.

1089
01:31:19,425 --> 01:31:22,925
you comments from council? No. Alright. Uh, great job guys, city staff. Appreciate

1090
01:31:23,565 --> 01:31:27,505
it. Uh, man, everybody, lori, uh, great job as always. Thank you guys for your time and for

1091
01:31:27,725 --> 01:31:31,525
everybody from the community was here. Appreciate your engagement. Uh, meeting adjourned

1092
01:31:32,225 --> 01:31:33,845
at six, or sorry, 7 31.