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It's 7 p.m. We're going to get the meeting started, caught over the regular meeting, August regular meeting of the

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District of Village City Council. City Secretaries are quorum. Yes, sir. And first we have the

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invocation and pledge by a student pastor of the Church of Jersey Village just to

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Johnson.

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Let's pray. Father, thank you for this moment in time to get the

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gather together and discuss the important issues in the city or we know that you care about

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the City of Jersey Village we know that you care about this meeting and I just

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pray to you with bless the efforts of all involved and we find common ground

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Lord and may you just you bless this city going forward since you used to name

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my praying amen. I just do a pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States

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of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God

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indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

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We're going to move right into the fun stuff today, the 2026, 2027 municipal budget and tax rates.

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Adam, see one to Jennifer Brown.

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Thank you, Mayor. Sorry. My computer is not responding. I'm trying to get the item pulled up.

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So the first item on the agenda is receiving the 2026 calculations from the tax assessor collector for the no new revenue tax rate

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and the voter approval tax rate.

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If we could do public comments before.

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I'm sorry.

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Thank you for a much.

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Yes.

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It's not.

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Yep.

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No, it's got to be before this.

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I was just going down the list.

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And also, it's fine to do them after if there was a public hearing

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for the because the budget public hearing was last time.

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Yeah, we're taking actions.

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They're going to have to be.

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And there's only one.

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Kimberly Annale.

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Thank you, Tony.

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My name is Kimberly Annale and I live at 1-5-601

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Singapore Lane. As my 59th installment on tourist village, it may feel heroic to say no more

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taxes, but then what happens to your community, the activities and camaraderie to secure because

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there is no funding for services that make it such a wonderful place to live. Not many employees

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who would want to risk losing quality career development, nor employee loyalty based on the

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chance of a sharp and tinsel putting them out of a job. And not just in the job, specialty

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roles that misguided by the roles and laws of the Texas legislature, because a city secretary

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is not just a secretary. To help offset the need of county appraisal district-based property

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taxes, the revenue from shopping and eating in Jersey Village first can be the cure.

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There are approximately 200 places to shop and eat within the City Limits of Jersey

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Village.

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If you are not too sure, you can check the address on Google Maps or hk.org to make sure

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you are patronizing locally.

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The minimum combined 2026 sales tax rate for Jersey Village Texas is 8.25%.

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This is the total of state, county, and city sales tax rates.

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The Texas Cells Tax Rate is currently 6.25%.

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The Jersey Village City Cells Tax Rate is 1%,

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plus the Jersey Village Crime Control District's half percent,

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and the Jersey Village Fire Control Prevention and Emergency Services District's half percent.

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There are calculators that show how much your purchase is divided

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from state and local tax amounts.

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This may even help with the decision of where to buy from and have delivered to.

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Enter the price without tax such as $50 times 2.8.25 total tax equals 53.13 of which

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state taxes, $3.13.

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There is villages 50 cents, crime control district is 25 cents, and fire control district is 25 cents.

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When we speculate that with all the cars for sale parking lots we have, why isn't that helping?

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Texas taxes, vehicle sales separately from general sales tax.

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The motor vehicle sales tax rate is a flat 6.25%.

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Only the state portion with no local city, county, or transit authority add-ons.

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The total is the same whether you bind Houston, Dallas, Austin, or Jersey Village.

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With the advent of online shopping, the delivery location is typically where the cell's tax money is received.

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The cell's, the tax rate applies to your order will be the combined state and local tax rates of the address where your order is delivered to or fulfilled from.

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These factors can change between the time you place in order or when your shipment is complete

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as making sure what needs to be sent from where and where to as finalized.

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In addition to the tax revenue distribution, shopping and eating with

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interest village also increases the livelihood of these businesses,

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making them more inclined to remain within our little town.

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So although it may be more convenient to stop at a pharmacy and

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pharmacy in your work, we have two close to home.

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Even if there are several chain stores and eateries along your Saturday errands route, stop into our storefronts first.

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It is quite nice when you become a regular at locations.

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The employees begin to notice and remember you.

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It really increases that small town vibe that we all love about your civilage.

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Thank you.

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Thank you.

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Now we can move to the budgets.

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See one discussion consideration resolution 2026-37 and the

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calculations of the no new revenue rate Jennifer Brown.

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So earlier this month we received the no new revenue tax rate and

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voter approval tax rate calculations from the Harris County

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tax assessor collector who is our designated

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tax assessor for record and for actual collections.

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So part of the section 26.04 of the tax code,

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City Council needs to formally receive these

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calculations from the tax assessor.

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Included as part of the agenda item is the actual worksheet

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That determines the calculation of these tax rates as well as the notices that are published in association with these calculations.

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The resolution before you, 26-26-37 is simply just recognize that you have received these calculations from the tax assessor.

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We've also included the certified estimate from the Harris County

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Harris Central Prasal District.

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They have not certified values yet.

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They anticipate doing that in September.

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And so we are conducting these calculations using

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the certified estimates of value,

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which is an acceptable substitute for the certified values.

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And that would be happy to answer any questions.

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So to clarify tonight, for this item in particular, this is not Council deciding on anything

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we're just receiving it.

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This is simply receiving, noting the fact that you have received these calculations from

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the tax assessor.

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Jennifer, just for purposes of explanation, could you explain what the no-new revenue tax

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rate is and what the voter approval tax rate is, just in a general sense.

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Absolutely. The no new revenue tax rate is the tax rate that levies the same amount of revenue as last year's tax rate on properties that were taxed in both years.

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So basically it excludes any new value. It also adjusts for any lawsuits that settled in during the tax year 2025 or prior your refund.

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And so what we had quite a few, and so that is all taken into account in the voter, in the

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no new revenue tax rate.

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The voter approval tax rate is you take the no new revenue maintenance and operations

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rate and you are allowed to grow that by three and a half percent and then you add the rate

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that is required to service your debt for the following year and then that becomes your voter

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approval rate.

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I

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feel like this form has gotten a whole lot longer. Maybe we have a motion.

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It has. I'll motion to a pervolution 2026-37.

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All second. A motion that's second. All those in favor. All those against.

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Brian, there's a little bit of delay, I think. That was in favor, right?

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Yes, approve.

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Motion passes unanimously moving on to C2 discussion and consideration of ordinance

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2026-21 adopting the annual budget city manager awescent lease.

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Mayor and councilors before you is a proposed budget that we've modified since the last

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time council looked at it.

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After the July budget meeting, council director has to look at it to add some items into

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there.

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They want to see some pay adjustments for some positions.

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Staffings analysis as well.

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So I reviewed the salary adjustment

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mouth says you remember from the budget book

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that was tentatively had barely finished

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compiling the information.

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So tonight we're recommending three positions

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for adjustment, court administrator,

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parks and recommender and public works manager.

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Court administrators, it's 15,000 below public works

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measures 13 and parks and recommender is 6,000.

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Those total $34,000.

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The six positions not addressed this year would remain consideration for next year.

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Two of the employees were hired within the last six months and compensation adjustments at this stage of their tenure.

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I think we can probably hold off on.

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There are many four positions ranked among the top 12 highest compensated employees in the prior calendar year.

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So I think we can look at those in future years as well.

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We're also proposing to change in health insurance plans.

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the bulk of that is later on in the agenda, but we'll save about $82,000 of Council approves

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those changes there.

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We believe we can complete the fire department sewer line project in this current fiscal

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year, so that reduces the line by $75,000.

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We currently have one position open for building maintenance.

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We're proposing to not fill that for six months with savings of $31,000.

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We remove some intern wages, and we've also authorized the over time and the streets department.

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So all of those are approximately $200,000.

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So the budget tonight still has a fund balanced

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drawdown of approximately $7.86 million

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for the city campus project,

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which is a state-of-council priority.

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The fund balances have been built up over the years

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as a facility reserved for the construction

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slash renovation of public facilities owned and operated

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by the city of Jersey Village

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as per resolution in 2007-46.

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The city's fund balance policy requires a minimum reserve

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equal to 90 days of annual recurring expenditures.

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for fiscal $27, that threshold is $3. just under $3.8 million. The projected fiscal

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$27 opening fund balance is just under $12.6 million. The proposed budget has a draw

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down of $7.86 million, which would reduce the fund balance to $4.726 million. Of that

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$85,000 is designated for the compensated absences, leaving an undesignated balance above

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all required reserve amounts of approximately $846,000. So the plan drawdown keeps us

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above the 90 day policy floor by approximately 931,000 with the undezing

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aid imbalance plus the 85,000 compensated absences set aside.

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So the final budget here is based on proposed

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out, AdValorum tax rate of 0.817625, which is 0.003

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higher than the tax rate for fiscal 26.

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For the average homeowner, with the valuation of home with

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$342,000, your estimated tax increase would be $20 and 48 cents

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for the year for an over $65 that's $17.

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I head to fiscal 28. We anticipate that that service rate to be decreasing by about .03 or 3 cents, which would bring our total tax rate below 80 cents for fiscal 28.

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When the pool bond is put out for a vote and the voters approved that last fall, we estimated the increase in property taxes for this year would be about $75 for a homeowner with the residential exemption in 45 for anything over 65.

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So we're saying well below those projections.

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Public hearing was held on this back on July 21st.

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Several changes, all of those are listed in the report here below.

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The combined income statements are attached as well.

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Final line item allocation report is in the packet for council's review.

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Total budget, 97.56 million excluding interfund transfers,

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with 58.67 million in capital projects and 38.93 million in operating expenditures.

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Funding sources include 71.5 and 9 million revenues and 25.97 from fund balances, which is

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for capital projects and capital replacement funded from existing funds, including the

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bond proceeds and fund balances.

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With that, happy to answer any questions the council might have on this proposed budget.

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Also, you talked about the pool bond, and looking back

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away from prior year projections, basically it was the as a result of passing the pool bond.

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The debt service rate would basically generate or cost the residents anywhere between $64,

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$177 per year.

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So, we're raising, we are raising the tax rate by a very small increment, but not enough to cover the school bond.

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I'm sorry, school bond. The pool bond.

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Can you talk about that for a second?

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Yeah, and Jennifer might have to jump in a little bit. She knows these are a little bit better than I do.

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But we have not yet sold that pool bond, and we don't anticipate selling that pool bond until the next fiscal year,

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So that we'll have the some rolling off parse and another piece of the debt service rate that we're proposing is

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the bulk of our debt service will be from utility expenses, water and sewer lines.

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And so we're proposing to use a little bit of the fund balance from the utility fund to covers the

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to cover debt service fund balance requirements by policy.

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And then, in looking through the information presented, specifically pages 30 through 32,

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you had the proposed budget numbers, and then you had changes in the proposed budget

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as presented this evening.

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So, the items you mentioned are some of the things that you looked at, but looking at those pages, there are a lot of other things that you went back into the budget and kind of revise.

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Is that correct?

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For instance, on page 30, general fund, increase, add back file file, add decrease, adjust allocation to FCP.

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No, I'm sorry, that was the same.

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Did you make any other adjustments in the other funds other than the things that you mentioned?

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And if you could, could you talk about those a little bit?

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So we did make some adjustments mainly in the debt service funds and the utility funds.

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We, since we received the updated estimates from our financial advisor, we incorporated the

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more accurate debt service payments and transfers between the debt service fund or the utility

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fund to the debt service fund. And then we also adjusted the tax revenues in the debt service

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fund and the transfer in from the park bond. Are the pool bonds, sorry, into the debt

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percent. Did you make any other adjustments on light item, for instance,

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or are they pretty

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much as proposed? Pretty much as proposed. We did adjust a couple of line items in the

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capital replacement fund. We added replacing the generators at the water plants, which

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was not included in the initial proposed budget. And then we reconciled our contributions

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to the capital or a placement fund based on our vehicle and equipment replacement plan.

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And so that there were some adjustments based on that.

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Those didn't get included, didn't get entered into the system

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and the initial filed budgets they didn't get captured.

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And then we also reallocated some expenses to the fire control district

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and to the crime control district from the general fund.

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And so that's basically drawing down on those fun balances a little bit.

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Yes.

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I will say, as a matter of exercise, I like a little stress on the budget because I think

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and I talked to Austin about it, I liked the department heads, I like the city to really

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look at the budget critically and say these things we really need.

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So I know it's, I know it's hell on you guys to go through that, but I think that exercise

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as worthwhile. And I appreciate the work that you guys put into it to make it happen.

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But I do like that a little stress on it. I think it produces good results.

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I was just going to say as compared to, you know, year over year, you may recall that

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a meeting or two ago we had a discussion regarding the over 65 of exemption and potentially

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adjusting that. And as a result of that discussion, we decided to take no action to leave

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it where it is. And at that time, we also discussed, and I mentioned, well, I would be comfortable

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leaving it where it is, as long as the tax rate stays flat. In the course of, since May, we've

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had discussions about the funding of the phase one, and going all the way back to December, January

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of last year after the voters in November did not support the $21.6 million bond. As we're

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deciding how to move forward, I was of the mindset and through this summer, it was of the

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mindset that rather than using all of the reserve's access of the required reserve in the general

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fund that we should look at perhaps using only a part of it and allowing the voters to vote on

244
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a bond for phase one, because without additional funds, we would certainly need a bond

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for phase two.

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Notwithstanding those discussions, the consensus among Council was that because of the funds

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available, approximately 8 million excess of the required reserve in the general fund, that

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we would move forward with a budget that uses those funds and doesn't require a bond while

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that's not personally what I would prefer to do. I recognize and respect that that's the

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decision of other Council members moving more towards the pay as you go. I will say that as

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a result of the budget meeting, which we had several weeks ago, the first lengthy one here,

252
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and then discussions that followed including discussions between Austin and individual Council members,

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recognising the residents concern over, for example, the having four firefighters available

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on a fire truck that considerable efforts were made to make adjustments to the budget,

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to try to do our best to minimize any increase in the tax rate. But at the same time, provide the level

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services that are being provided. And I think that Jennifer, you and Austin have done a very

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admirable job in making those adjustments. And I think that that dialogue has been very

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good. One thing just as a matter of comparing last year to this year that I would advocate for

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is before going into the budget season next year. We really try to cover a lot in that budget

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session. And it's really difficult because there are so many departments, so many particulars,

261
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And you don't really have an opportunity to delve into the real details.

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And it might be an idea.

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I'm just throwing this out as a suggestion, not as an action item.

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But it might be an idea that before going into budget season, maybe in Q2, or I guess

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Q1, I'm not in the first quarter of 2027 or early in the second quarter, to have maybe some

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workshop sessions where we would take some individual departments and talk about what they anticipate.

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the budget is going to be so we could have a more robust discussion over those issues.

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But breaking it up, not trying to do it all at once, in that way, when we actually get

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to the budget session, as we had just recently, I think we can cover more ground, because

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we will have addressed a lot of it.

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But at any rate, I just wanted to provide that as a recap, say that I thought that the

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budget process this year went well.

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Well, I understand a lot of residents' concerns about we don't want the tax rate to increase.

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There is a very slight increase here.

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We do have to remember that the pool bond that, you know, that's something that the voters voted on

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and that will increase the debt service.

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We also have to remember that we're living in a world where everything costs a little more than it did yesterday

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and we're doing our best as a city to address and compensate people and pay all the expenses

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and provide the level of services while still being cognizant of how that may stress taxpayers.

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So I just wanted to say that and primarily thank you Austin and Jennifer for the work that you did on the budget.

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I

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do have a question.

283
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I was going to say, thank you.

284
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That was actually, I agree with a lot of what you just said.

285
00:25:42,580 --> 00:25:44,820
Just a question, and I feel like we talked about this,

286
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and I just don't remember.

287
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How many interns do we have?

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Right now we have two.

289
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We're looking to probably add another one next year,

290
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but we found a partnership that we can utilize

291
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with the University of Houston where they would pay them,

292
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rather than us having to pay them, which would be very helpful.

293
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So there would be like three total, one, the city doesn't pay, and then the other two.

294
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So the 40 that's listed in here is split between the two interns.

295
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Correct.

296
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It's more our base if we can get somebody to work a little few more hours every year than

297
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that's kind of where that comes from.

298
00:26:33,740 --> 00:26:39,360
question, I'm just kind of bringing it up, but I think this is something, I think it's too

299
00:26:39,360 --> 00:26:46,000
laid, this is already passed, but there was discussion about adding a line item each month for

300
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citizens to pay directly for trash collection and recycling fee. And I do want to say, pick you back

301
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enough what Simon said. You know, I think Austin and Jennifer, you guys did a really great job

302
00:27:01,420 --> 00:27:03,120
and working on the budget.

303
00:27:03,460 --> 00:27:05,280
So I would say great job, Cudos.

304
00:27:05,520 --> 00:27:06,700
I wish we could have got all the way there

305
00:27:06,700 --> 00:27:08,400
in terms of not having to increase the rate at all,

306
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because I made a commitment not to do that.

307
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But my thought is if on top of that,

308
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we also added that additional fee for trash collection,

309
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which, I don't know what the amount was,

310
00:27:20,020 --> 00:27:22,500
I was thinking it was kind of maybe say $20 a month,

311
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or something along those lines.

312
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My impression would be that would have been enough

313
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to close the gaps.

314
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I wanted to see if you guys agreed with that,

315
00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:31,880
had any comments there.

316
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My experience with this and I'm only gonna speak for my

317
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experience. When you start messing with people's trash and their water you might

318
00:27:48,890 --> 00:27:57,720
end up with a lot more or many more impacts to that than than the savings but I

319
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understand the I understand where you're going with that but I because I

320
00:28:10,970 --> 00:28:10,970
thought

321
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I think trust fees are a good revenue source at some point, but like I said earlier, I like a little stress on the budget.

322
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I think it forces staff to look at the expenditure side before they look at the revenue side.

323
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So I think we still have some room on the expenditure side.

324
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That if we need at some point in the future, if we need to balance a budget and we need to cut expenditures, I think there is still room there.

325
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So, you know, the Oak Creek cliche, we don't have a revenue problem, we've got spending problem, we don't have any problems, but I like the exercise of looking at the expenses first.

326
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Another thing, you know, at our last meeting we did all have a consensus that we wanted the tax rate to be the same.

327
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Knowing that the tax rates comprised of two components, the M&O component and the debt service component,

328
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with our debt service component increasing with a flat tax rate, it necessarily means that the

329
00:29:08,190 --> 00:29:15,410
M&O rate will decrease. So we would expect staff to do more with less. So I did have some

330
00:29:15,410 --> 00:29:21,330
discussions with Austin and we may have gotten there, but what I proposed was a flat M&O rate,

331
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M&O rate this year as it was last year, and then increased the debt service rate to whatever the

332
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that service is. And again, with Austin said, there was a, a $6.5 million bond that was approved by the voters.

333
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There was a cost to that. And that will hit that debt service rate. So, a general question I didn't have time to look at it.

334
00:29:42,050 --> 00:29:49,690
But is our M&O rate this year the same as last year? And is it more or less?

335
00:29:57,620 --> 00:29:59,920
And what, how is our debt service rate as compared to last?

336
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:00,780
Last year.

337
00:30:06,390 --> 00:30:24,090
Well, if you don't have it available, that's okay. I mean, but we've got to recognize that increasing debt. If we don't change the tax rate, it will necessarily decrease the M&O rate, which will decrease the operating expenses basically.

338
00:30:24,090 --> 00:30:29,390
Sorry, I had the wrong version of my worksheet open so I was trying to open the correct one.

339
00:30:30,330 --> 00:30:39,450
So what we're proposing is a slight increase on the MNO rate compared to the 2025 tax rate

340
00:30:39,450 --> 00:30:43,790
and it is a slight decrease on the debt service component.

341
00:30:44,530 --> 00:30:52,830
We are using some additional utility revenues to fund the fund balance policy and the debt service fund,

342
00:30:52,830 --> 00:30:59,790
which by right, you know, more than half the debt service and that in that fund is going to be utility debt.

343
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So it makes sense to have the utility fund contribute.

344
00:31:03,550 --> 00:31:06,370
And so because of that, we were able to lower the debt service rate slightly.

345
00:31:07,330 --> 00:31:11,290
Okay, so what deal we're all is 0.033, which is one third of one cent.

346
00:31:11,610 --> 00:31:12,030
Is that correct?

347
00:31:13,590 --> 00:31:20,470
So given in 2018, given debt service, given all the factors that you guys are dealing with, I think it's fairly commendable.

348
00:31:24,530 --> 00:31:37,870
Jennifer, one other question with respect to the schedule of death service on page 43 because this obviously goes to the in part to the death service calculation or the death service rate rather.

349
00:31:38,790 --> 00:31:46,190
So the 2027 rate that's calculated does that include the drawdown on the six and a half million dollar pool bond.

350
00:31:46,190 --> 00:31:51,550
It does not. So because we have not sold that debt yet, we are not allowed to love the

351
00:31:51,550 --> 00:31:57,650
attacks for it. So we are planning to sell that debt at a premium with some capitalized

352
00:31:57,650 --> 00:32:02,690
interest that would cover the first year's interest payment. We would not actually be making

353
00:32:02,690 --> 00:32:10,290
principal payments on that debt until fiscal year 2028. And because we are paying off the 2016

354
00:32:10,290 --> 00:32:18,050
refunding bonds. This 2027 is our last year of debt service. So that is naturally falling off and we will

355
00:32:18,050 --> 00:32:24,190
actually see a decrease in the debt service rate because of that even with adding the pull bond

356
00:32:24,190 --> 00:32:32,810
in next year. So just those top two figures, the the 2027 debt service is 3.4 million and the 2028

357
00:32:32,810 --> 00:32:39,990
with the drop-off is 2.5 out of 5 million. That'll be increased because of the pool bond,

358
00:32:40,410 --> 00:32:45,970
but it's not going to increase it back to what the 2027 rate is. Is that a fair statement?

359
00:32:46,090 --> 00:32:48,610
That's correct. Okay. Thank you.

360
00:32:53,660 --> 00:32:59,860
Just one other comment. When Simon was talking, we were talking. He talked about phase one,

361
00:33:00,220 --> 00:33:05,840
the project, and his desire to have a bond. I'd like to point out one thing,

362
00:33:05,840 --> 00:33:14,900
that the money for the money of the budget for phase one is essentially coming from a facility

363
00:33:14,900 --> 00:33:19,200
replacement fund. Years ago that fund was set up for this very purpose.

364
00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:22,780
So we're not

365
00:33:22,780 --> 00:33:28,220
drawing down on our 90 day reserve. We have plenty of excess money to handle emergencies.

366
00:33:28,220 --> 00:33:36,780
But just to kind of reiterate that the money that will be used on phase 1, it's a city hall

367
00:33:36,780 --> 00:33:42,800
was coming from a facility replacement fund and that was set up for this very purpose.

368
00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:46,440
So that it wasn't necessary to issue debt that we could pay for

369
00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:48,200
at a fund balance.

370
00:33:48,480 --> 00:33:51,340
So it is by design.

371
00:34:05,270 --> 00:34:16,630
And also when I looked because you said it was a it's 0.003 so for I think I read was a 342, the house, the taxable that.

372
00:34:20,580 --> 00:34:24,200
I had all these page numbers written down and then I lost them, I don't know what I did.

373
00:34:26,810 --> 00:34:28,270
342 pages 24.

374
00:34:33,450 --> 00:34:34,150
Okay, so

375
00:34:36,550 --> 00:34:41,710
there's a paragraph in there where you described that.

376
00:34:41,710 --> 00:34:50,890
And I think, annually, that it was like $20 or something, the difference or whatever.

377
00:34:50,930 --> 00:34:51,750
$20 and $40.

378
00:34:51,950 --> 00:34:53,870
So, what I did

379
00:34:56,590 --> 00:35:03,650
was I looked at my house and I looked at the taxable value because that's

380
00:35:03,650 --> 00:35:05,430
what it's measure on.

381
00:35:05,430 --> 00:35:12,490
And I looked at, I did the formula, double-checked it and saw what we spent in taxes.

382
00:35:15,210 --> 00:35:25,150
This year and then I took the same value and went ahead and put the new tax rate or the proposed tax rate that's in the packet.

383
00:35:26,250 --> 00:35:32,310
And the difference was maybe like $8. I think the increase is going to be $8 annually.

384
00:35:32,310 --> 00:35:35,710
does that sound remotely close to you, Jennifer,

385
00:35:36,010 --> 00:35:37,310
since you're the numbers person?

386
00:35:39,710 --> 00:35:41,490
I'm sorry, can you repeat that?

387
00:35:42,470 --> 00:35:45,790
My home, my taxable value, it's a little under 300.

388
00:35:46,930 --> 00:35:50,790
So I went in and I took the current tax rate

389
00:35:50,790 --> 00:35:56,330
and then the proposed tax rate, which is 0.003 above what we have now.

390
00:35:56,870 --> 00:36:01,090
And when I calculated it, I had to do it a couple times

391
00:36:01,090 --> 00:36:05,110
because it was only like an $8 difference annually.

392
00:36:06,510 --> 00:36:08,010
So I'm just sad, like I did it right,

393
00:36:08,190 --> 00:36:10,370
you think that that's sensible or okay, yes.

394
00:36:17,320 --> 00:36:20,040
To answer your question, Greg,

395
00:36:20,480 --> 00:36:23,440
you're asking about the 300's of a cent,

396
00:36:23,860 --> 00:36:27,680
the split out between that service

397
00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:29,220
and maintenance operations.

398
00:36:30,220 --> 00:36:37,080
It's in c.7 on pages 184, 185 where it breaks it out.

399
00:36:37,300 --> 00:36:44,400
and explains it. And then to your other point, talking about the facilities replacement fund,

400
00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:52,660
that was a resolution 2007-46 that was specifically designated for, as you described, what

401
00:36:52,660 --> 00:36:55,120
we're experiencing now with this new facility.

402
00:37:11,240 --> 00:37:12,040
Any further discussion?

403
00:37:20,370 --> 00:37:23,610
And there's a specific motion for this item.

404
00:37:29,910 --> 00:37:31,150
In the packet, but it's

405
00:37:31,150 --> 00:37:38,130
approved ordinance, 2026, 21 of the City of Jersey Village Texas stopping the annual budget for fiscal year beginning October 1,

406
00:37:38,190 --> 00:37:47,650
2026 ending September 30, 2027, appropriateing the sums set forth their end in authorizing expenditure funds in accordance with the adopted budget.

407
00:37:53,010 --> 00:37:54,650
Someone to make that motion is second.

408
00:37:54,970 --> 00:37:59,630
I'll make a motion to approve ordinance number 2226-21.

409
00:38:00,210 --> 00:38:01,630
I'll second.

410
00:38:02,330 --> 00:38:08,670
I have a motion as second. I'll now call Pointing to Council Member by name to take a record vote once your name is called answer

411
00:38:08,670 --> 00:38:13,690
I signify your approval of the motion or need to signify your disapproval.

412
00:38:16,040 --> 00:38:29,060
Council Member Britain. Council Member. Council Member Hughes. Council Member Holden. Council Member Rossi. Council Member McColley.

413
00:38:32,360 --> 00:38:43,600
Let the record reflect on motion carried if that is the case in motion carries, now we're

414
00:38:43,600 --> 00:38:49,740
going to move on to C3 conduct, a separate vote to ratify the property tax increase

415
00:38:49,740 --> 00:38:53,900
to reflect on the 2026 to 2027 budget adopted today.

416
00:38:54,260 --> 00:38:54,860
Jennifer Brown.

417
00:38:55,700 --> 00:38:56,100
Thank you, Mayor.

418
00:38:56,100 --> 00:39:04,740
So, because this budget will raise more property taxes than last year's budget in total,

419
00:39:05,500 --> 00:39:20,100
by $98,805 or 0.28. 0.82% and of that, 24,836 is tax revenue to be raised from new property,

420
00:39:20,100 --> 00:39:27,480
added to the tax roll this year. Texas local government code section 102.007

421
00:39:27,480 --> 00:39:32,880
requires that we hold a separate vote apart from the budget and apart from the tax rate

422
00:39:32,880 --> 00:39:37,860
adoption to ratify that tax revenue increase and so that's what this item is doing.

423
00:39:44,260 --> 00:39:46,140
It doesn't have to be a record vote just as simple.

424
00:39:46,220 --> 00:39:46,660
Yep.

425
00:39:46,660 --> 00:39:47,300
ratify it.

426
00:39:47,300 --> 00:39:50,620
Recommended motion is in the fact that

427
00:40:01,820 --> 00:40:06,000
I'm moved to ratify the property tax increase

428
00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:10,520
Reflected in a fiscal year, 2026, 2027, budget has adopted.

429
00:40:12,540 --> 00:40:13,820
Have a motion news, second.

430
00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:15,240
I'll second.

431
00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,000
Motion is second, all those in favor.

432
00:40:19,580 --> 00:40:20,680
All those opposed.

433
00:40:22,380 --> 00:40:22,980
Naked.

434
00:40:23,840 --> 00:40:24,760
Motion passes.

435
00:40:25,520 --> 00:40:27,340
Moving on to item C4,

436
00:40:27,460 --> 00:40:30,880
conducted public hearing on the proposed 2026 tax rate.

437
00:40:47,460 --> 00:40:49,940
Now, call to order this public hearing on the tax.

438
00:40:49,940 --> 00:40:54,060
Tax rate increase everyone's desire to speak of the Syrian should complete a public hearing

439
00:40:54,060 --> 00:40:58,020
comic crime present at the sea secretary. The purpose of this public hearing is to give all interested

440
00:40:58,020 --> 00:41:10,320
part of persons the right to express support for or opposition to the proposed tax rate of 0.821375 per 100

441
00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:14,460
of rate that is not greater than the voter approval tax rate. As a result,

442
00:41:14,620 --> 00:41:18,380
Georgia village does not require to hold an election at which voters may accept or reject

443
00:41:18,380 --> 00:41:23,320
proposed tax rate. This means the City of Jersey village is proposing to increase taxes for the

444
00:41:23,320 --> 00:41:29,480
2026 tax year. I would now like to request the City Finance Secretary Jennifer Brown,

445
00:41:29,560 --> 00:41:31,700
summarized the subject of this public hearing.

446
00:41:34,400 --> 00:41:39,560
Thank you. So we are because the city is proposing

447
00:41:39,560 --> 00:41:46,220
at tax rate. The published proposed tax rate was what you all voted on on July 21st,

448
00:41:46,220 --> 00:41:55,240
the 0.821-375. That is what we're having the public hearing on. You can adopt anything

449
00:41:55,240 --> 00:42:01,780
up to that tax rate this evening. Since that tax rate is above the no new revenue tax rate

450
00:42:01,780 --> 00:42:12,500
of 0.00558, we are required to hold a public hearing. The notice was published in the August

451
00:42:13,100 --> 00:42:21,700
11, or you remember what day, Courtney, that was the week before it was, it was the Friday

452
00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:25,620
before August 11, I can't remember, the 7th, sorry.

453
00:42:26,360 --> 00:42:30,360
We didn't get our calculations in time to publish when we normally publish, so it was published

454
00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:38,240
on Friday, August 7th, in the Houston Chronicle, the notice of the public hearing and of

455
00:42:38,240 --> 00:42:45,300
proposed tax rate, and at this time, at this meeting, after you receive and hear all persons

456
00:42:45,300 --> 00:42:51,100
wishing to speak on the tax rate, then you may vote to consider the tax rate after the

457
00:42:51,100 --> 00:42:58,080
public hearing. And if you do not adopt the tax rate at this meeting, then you'll need to state

458
00:42:58,080 --> 00:43:00,760
the date time and place for action on the tax rate.

459
00:43:04,100 --> 00:43:06,860
Thank you. Now you all do your best, but

460
00:43:06,860 --> 00:43:10,520
County does wait till the last possible moment to get you the information.

461
00:43:12,420 --> 00:43:17,860
Anyone else, desire to speak during this public hearing for the tax rate increase.

462
00:43:19,120 --> 00:43:23,800
Seeing anyone else desire to speak, I close this public hearing on the tax rate increase.

463
00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:32,680
And we move to item C5 to discuss, consider approval, the motion to set the tax rate for debt service for tax year 26.

464
00:43:32,680 --> 00:43:34,260
general for real.

465
00:43:43,440 --> 00:43:47,640
We have the next two items are to propose the two components

466
00:43:47,640 --> 00:43:53,860
of the tax rate. By law we have to adopt the tax rate in two pieces. The maintenance

467
00:43:53,860 --> 00:43:59,140
and operations rate and the debt service tax rate. The debt service tax rate

468
00:43:59,140 --> 00:44:07,700
recommended to fund the budget that you just adopted is .152647 per $100 of

469
00:44:16,120 --> 00:44:19,720
a

470
00:44:19,720 --> 00:44:22,940
service tax rate go down from last year.

471
00:44:25,210 --> 00:44:31,850
So part of that is the fact that we are shifting those funds over from the utility fund

472
00:44:31,850 --> 00:44:40,010
to support the fund balance in the debt service fund and because of that we were able to

473
00:44:40,010 --> 00:44:42,350
not love the as much on the debt service side.

474
00:44:43,190 --> 00:44:45,390
It's about $300,000.

475
00:44:45,390 --> 00:44:55,610
I understand that correctly, a balance that exists in the utility fund was moved from the utility fund into the debt service fund,

476
00:44:56,170 --> 00:44:59,910
which, and routinely, there's money moved from the utility fund into the debt server.

477
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:02,000
And as far as the movement of the funds from the U.S. Fund, because...

478
00:45:02,540 --> 00:45:07,780
Yes, so the debt service fund is supporting debt that we issued on behalf of the utility fund.

479
00:45:08,400 --> 00:45:14,220
We have a fund balance policy equal to 10 percent of the following year's debt service,

480
00:45:14,960 --> 00:45:22,080
so including the new debt that we're about to sell that component of the debt service

481
00:45:22,080 --> 00:45:26,220
causes that required fund balance to go up.

482
00:45:26,820 --> 00:45:32,340
And as far as the movement of the funds from the utility fund into the debt service fund,

483
00:45:33,140 --> 00:45:37,180
that didn't cause the utility fund to go below the required reserved it.

484
00:45:37,500 --> 00:45:38,040
Not at all.

485
00:45:38,200 --> 00:45:38,980
I didn't think it would.

486
00:45:39,140 --> 00:45:40,140
Thank you.

487
00:45:46,300 --> 00:45:47,600
Any other discussion or the motion?

488
00:45:48,640 --> 00:45:57,320
Make a motion to adopt a debt service tax component of the tax rate of .152.647 per hundred dollars taxable value for the tax year.

489
00:45:58,020 --> 00:45:58,540
2026.

490
00:46:00,000 --> 00:46:07,340
I'll second, have a motion in the second, all of those in favor, motion passes unanimously.

491
00:46:08,920 --> 00:46:14,560
We go on to item C6, discussing considerable approval of the motion to set the tax rate

492
00:46:14,560 --> 00:46:18,660
for the maintenance and operation for tax year 2026, Jennifer Brown.

493
00:46:19,580 --> 00:46:28,500
So this item is to adopt or make a motion on the actual value for the maintenance and operations tax rate.

494
00:46:29,840 --> 00:46:35,580
And so in order to fund the budget that you just adopted as recommended by the City Manager,

495
00:46:36,020 --> 00:46:43,220
a maintenance and operations tax rate of 0.664978 is needed to fund that budget.

496
00:46:45,720 --> 00:46:53,380
And I believe that I did not update the rest of this agenda item correctly, so I'm going to ignore that no new revenue,

497
00:46:53,380 --> 00:46:55,180
M&O rates, that's not correct.

498
00:46:56,560 --> 00:47:01,220
So you are not permitted to set a rate higher than 0.712332.

499
00:47:02,660 --> 00:47:05,320
And so we're not recommending anything about that.

500
00:47:06,180 --> 00:47:11,220
This motion would be for the M&O rate of 0.664978.

501
00:47:17,270 --> 00:47:22,310
What do you think is pushing that M&O in your personal opinion of?

502
00:47:26,100 --> 00:47:31,140
Is it just like the cost of benefits or increasing like things like that like little examples here and there?

503
00:47:31,860 --> 00:47:40,100
So I mean, overall you all saw the increases that were in the budget this year. We are seeing cost of salary and benefits increasing.

504
00:47:40,400 --> 00:47:46,980
We are seeing fuel costs increased and just in general things are more expensive today than they were last year.

505
00:48:14,780 --> 00:48:24,640
move to adopt maintenance and operations rate at 0.6649-78 per hundred dollars of taxable value for 20 for the tax year 2026.

506
00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:26,260
I'll start again.

507
00:48:28,300 --> 00:48:32,680
The motion is second. All those in favor? All those against?

508
00:48:34,280 --> 00:48:34,300
Nay.

509
00:48:35,600 --> 00:48:36,500
Motion carries.

510
00:48:37,920 --> 00:48:45,220
We're going to item C7 discussion consideration ordinance 2026-22 providing the levying collection of ad dorm taxes,

511
00:48:45,220 --> 00:48:46,860
Jennifer Brown.

512
00:48:51,680 --> 00:48:58,240
So this I keep thinking this is a touch screen it's not sorry. So this

513
00:48:58,240 --> 00:49:03,040
is the ordinance to adopt the tax rate based on the two components that you all

514
00:49:03,040 --> 00:49:12,960
just voted on with this 0.664978 for maintenance and operations and 0.152647 that

515
00:49:12,960 --> 00:49:26,240
gives us a total tax rate of 0.817625, which as we discussed earlier was a 0.3 cent in 0.003 increase

516
00:49:26,240 --> 00:49:34,040
on the tax rate. It is above the known revenue rate, but below the voter approval rate.

517
00:49:34,800 --> 00:49:40,020
There is a specific motion that needs to be made in adoption of this tax rate and it is

518
00:49:40,020 --> 00:49:52,320
I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.817625 which is effectively a 2.13% increase in the tax rate.

519
00:49:52,520 --> 00:49:56,500
So however, makes that motion that would need to be stated that way.

520
00:49:57,640 --> 00:50:04,260
In addition, we have statements included on the ordinance in the ordinance adopting the tax rate.

521
00:50:04,260 --> 00:50:11,500
that says that the tax rate for maintenance and operations is effectively being raised by a 1.54%

522
00:50:11,500 --> 00:50:18,280
and that that piece of the tax rate will raise taxes for maintenance and operations on a $100,000

523
00:50:18,280 --> 00:50:22,600
home by approximately $8.49 compared to last year.

524
00:50:25,150 --> 00:50:28,610
And so our recommendation is for you all to

525
00:50:28,610 --> 00:50:37,790
adopt ordinance number 2026-22 to that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption

526
00:50:37,790 --> 00:50:46,290
of a tax rate of .817625, which is effectively a 2.13% increase in the tax rate consisting

527
00:50:46,290 --> 00:50:54,030
of a maintenance and operations rate of .664978 per $100 a taxable value and an interest

528
00:50:54,030 --> 00:50:59,170
and thinking fund tax rate, a point one, five, two, six, four, seven per one hundred

529
00:50:59,170 --> 00:51:00,290
of taxable value.

530
00:51:08,100 --> 00:51:13,940
Common clarification says I move that the property tax rate

531
00:51:13,940 --> 00:51:20,500
being increased by adoption of 0.8176, which is effectively a 2.13% increase.

532
00:51:24,340 --> 00:51:27,140
It's not a 2.13%

533
00:51:27,140 --> 00:51:30,900
increase. It is in some world that the state, man.

534
00:51:30,900 --> 00:51:38,880
Yes, compared to the no new revenue tax rate. Yeah, but but basically we're raising it one third of one cent

535
00:51:38,880 --> 00:51:40,940
Which is

536
00:51:41,460 --> 00:51:45,020
Much less than two point two point so I

537
00:51:46,020 --> 00:51:48,720
Don't know if you can speak to I

538
00:51:48,720 --> 00:51:53,580
Again begin to understand most of the stuff that's a state sends down. I understand what the end result is

539
00:51:54,240 --> 00:51:59,400
But all that to say that we're not having a 2.1% increase in our tax rate

540
00:52:01,240 --> 00:52:08,440
It's this language is mandate by the state and really nothing we can do about it and I don't know if you care to explain that or not classroom we can't.

541
00:52:10,040 --> 00:52:11,980
So I just ran the calculation real quick.

542
00:52:12,320 --> 00:52:19,400
The actual tax rate compared to last year's tax rate is going up 0.368 to 7%.

543
00:52:19,400 --> 00:52:25,560
But because we have to follow the truth in taxation this is the way the statement has to read.

544
00:52:25,560 --> 00:52:32,720
it's all based on the no new revenue tax rate calculation, which I confused myself in the previous

545
00:52:32,720 --> 00:52:44,800
item regarding the M&O tax rate and the actual M&O tax rate, the no new revenue rate is 0.654883.

546
00:52:45,040 --> 00:52:55,340
That's where it's getting the increase on the M&O piece, but the overall is based on an 80 cent

547
00:52:56,320 --> 00:53:00,800
tax rate, which is, I don't know, I didn't help me much, but thank you.

548
00:53:00,920 --> 00:53:01,240
I know.

549
00:53:01,600 --> 00:53:04,740
It's very confusing and I've been doing this for a long time.

550
00:53:09,860 --> 00:53:12,240
Far call when a lot is put down the state.

551
00:53:12,940 --> 00:53:15,340
They basically don't want you to get any new revenue,

552
00:53:15,740 --> 00:53:20,320
and the only way to not have a tax increase

553
00:53:20,320 --> 00:53:23,080
is cutting services, cutting expenses,

554
00:53:23,540 --> 00:53:26,680
because the real world, those prices go up.

555
00:53:26,680 --> 00:53:31,320
And you can say you're going to keep things flat.

556
00:53:31,400 --> 00:53:32,560
You're not going to have an increase.

557
00:53:33,760 --> 00:53:35,960
But their calculations are basically

558
00:53:35,960 --> 00:53:39,360
it's based off of what we would have brought in last year.

559
00:53:40,500 --> 00:53:45,440
And the rate goes down because the praises go up.

560
00:53:46,000 --> 00:53:50,200
And there's absolutely no way to get around the word increase

561
00:53:50,200 --> 00:53:53,340
unless you start cutting core services.

562
00:53:54,280 --> 00:53:55,420
That is correct.

563
00:53:55,420 --> 00:54:00,500
You raise one penny of new revenue, then you're raising taxes according to the state.

564
00:54:02,900 --> 00:54:10,740
The way I summed it up is that basically our SES value is relatively flat across as an aggregate,

565
00:54:11,460 --> 00:54:18,960
and their tax rate is essentially flat. So flat assess value and flat tax rate essentially, statistically.

566
00:54:27,370 --> 00:54:28,550
Anybody have the motion?

567
00:54:29,490 --> 00:54:37,290
I'll make a motion to adopt ordinance number 2026-22 for the property value tax rate being

568
00:54:37,290 --> 00:54:42,930
increased by the adoption of the tax rate of 0.817625.

569
00:54:45,050 --> 00:54:48,290
So, unfortunately, I can't take that one.

570
00:54:48,770 --> 00:54:50,470
I mean, that has to be worded by a red.

571
00:54:50,750 --> 00:54:51,070
Sorry.

572
00:54:51,630 --> 00:54:56,470
You have to read that big number that Greg was just, he did read the number, but he missed

573
00:54:56,470 --> 00:55:03,170
the percentage increase. Read that statement. Okay. I'm moved at the property tax rate being

574
00:55:03,170 --> 00:55:13,610
increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.18765, which is effectively a 2.13% increase

575
00:55:13,610 --> 00:55:19,150
in the tax rate. Thank you. You have a motion. Now, call upon each member.

576
00:55:19,150 --> 00:55:27,150
on a clarity there was a miss that was misread slightly said 0.187 it was 0.817.

577
00:55:27,670 --> 00:55:29,270
Oh, thank you for the important.

578
00:55:30,250 --> 00:55:31,340
All right, we're in get there.

579
00:55:33,130 --> 00:55:42,850
I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of 0.817625,

580
00:55:42,850 --> 00:55:47,950
which is effectively a 2.13% increase in the tax rate.

581
00:55:50,740 --> 00:55:52,740
and I'll second that motion.

582
00:55:53,140 --> 00:55:54,700
But motion and seconds.

583
00:55:56,240 --> 00:55:58,040
Now call upon each member for record vote,

584
00:55:58,200 --> 00:55:59,880
which name is called, answer I,

585
00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:01,160
to signify your approval,

586
00:56:01,280 --> 00:56:02,600
the motion or native signify

587
00:56:02,600 --> 00:56:04,380
to disapproval, council member Britain.

588
00:56:08,980 --> 00:56:10,560
Council member Hughes, aye.

589
00:56:11,360 --> 00:56:12,720
Council member Holden, aye.

590
00:56:13,380 --> 00:56:14,300
Council member Rossi.

591
00:56:15,140 --> 00:56:15,160
Aye.

592
00:56:15,780 --> 00:56:16,620
Council member McColley.

593
00:56:17,840 --> 00:56:18,060
Nay.

594
00:56:20,530 --> 00:56:21,310
Motion carries.

595
00:56:21,910 --> 00:56:27,050
We now move on to City Manager's report, Austin Blix.

596
00:56:29,260 --> 00:56:31,860
Mayor and councillors, the report is in front of you.

597
00:56:32,140 --> 00:56:34,880
Tonight, happy to answer any questions that you might have.

598
00:56:35,360 --> 00:56:38,400
One thing that you won't see in the City Manager report,

599
00:56:38,700 --> 00:56:41,900
but we would do want to talk council about slightly sadness

600
00:56:41,900 --> 00:56:46,580
but to yesterday fire chief Mark Bitz announced his retirement

601
00:56:46,580 --> 00:56:48,540
in January of 27.

602
00:56:49,400 --> 00:56:56,160
We have a few moments with them. We'll have a transition coming here shortly, but I did want to make a council aware of his impending retirement.

603
00:57:08,380 --> 00:57:12,240
I'm happy for you. I'm really sad for us.

604
00:57:13,650 --> 00:57:15,530
Do we have to accept it?

605
00:57:16,530 --> 00:57:18,330
That doesn't take constant action. Sorry.

606
00:57:22,700 --> 00:57:26,560
So the police department, you highlighted your sergeants. So I thought that was...

607
00:57:27,400 --> 00:57:30,080
I thought you did a good job in that. That was really good.

608
00:57:30,960 --> 00:57:34,960
there's a tremendous amount of experience and specialized training in that group of residents.

609
00:57:35,820 --> 00:57:38,910
Don't realize that or some don't, so I'm glad that you put that in there.

610
00:57:40,580 --> 00:57:46,060
Public works. So this came up. I was sent an email about

611
00:57:46,820 --> 00:57:57,060
It was kind of cute, but the water, the village drive, the water plant on village was shut down.

612
00:58:01,140 --> 00:58:06,260
And we had a new resident, which I'm so glad it was such a good question, so I figured I'd mention it.

613
00:58:06,260 --> 00:58:16,580
So we have three water plants to our working and supplying our water.

614
00:58:17,890 --> 00:58:20,100
On Seattle and on West.

615
00:58:21,360 --> 00:58:25,920
So I just thought if anyone was wondering where our water is coming from, we do have

616
00:58:25,920 --> 00:58:27,280
other water.

617
00:58:27,400 --> 00:58:32,380
But anyway, so I'm really glad that she reached out and when you have questions like that,

618
00:58:32,380 --> 00:58:36,060
If something isn't clear, please feel free to reach out to us.

619
00:58:36,200 --> 00:58:38,460
We're happy to find those answers for you.

620
00:58:38,980 --> 00:58:45,580
Also, with this recently, is it selenium, selenium,

621
00:58:45,800 --> 00:58:49,800
exceedants in that village water treatment plant?

622
00:58:51,900 --> 00:58:55,220
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services is coming out.

623
00:58:55,260 --> 00:58:58,620
Can you give us a little bit more information about that?

624
00:59:01,250 --> 00:59:02,330
We know they're coming.

625
00:59:02,410 --> 00:59:03,010
They're going to help us out.

626
00:59:03,010 --> 00:59:08,570
going to do some investigations with us. I don't have the specifics at this point in time.

627
00:59:09,730 --> 00:59:11,350
And does that cost the city anything?

628
00:59:11,670 --> 00:59:15,270
No, that's a free service that they offer to communities around the state.

629
00:59:16,070 --> 00:59:20,610
So they've got a lot of expertise, the whole educational program up there about that.

630
00:59:21,350 --> 00:59:27,070
They help cities out, so everybody can get a little real-world experience and help cities in a

631
00:59:27,070 --> 00:59:34,570
effective way? Well, I was really glad to see that. This is happening. I also wanted to

632
00:59:34,570 --> 00:59:40,610
recognize another strongment at Jersey Meadow. The reports that the course has generated

633
00:59:40,610 --> 00:59:47,990
3.5 million in gross. So, basically any remainder, I'm sorry, revenue for the remainder of

634
00:59:47,990 --> 00:59:54,790
the year is net profit correct. I read that right. Okay, I'm just saying that's kind of cool.

635
00:59:55,490 --> 00:59:59,570
and I saw her report on the Milky Way camps.

636
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:06,840
It's really a place to see that it was a success. So glad to see that. Also, I want to thank, sorry.

637
01:00:08,100 --> 01:00:12,140
I would say the camps made a profit of $6,000.

638
01:00:16,220 --> 01:00:24,180
Thank you. And Park crews, you're doing a lot of work, and if just want you to know, and what

639
01:00:24,180 --> 01:00:30,600
I know that you guys are doing a lot of work on the scenes and we really appreciate all that.

640
01:00:30,620 --> 01:00:35,180
I'll let you put into our city and I

641
01:00:37,740 --> 01:00:39,880
also want to say that I appreciate the outreach

642
01:00:39,880 --> 01:00:48,880
to prospective businesses and existing businesses looking to expand along with the restaurant week campaign.

643
01:00:49,360 --> 01:00:54,140
So thank you to staff for actively working to bring outside dollars into our local businesses.

644
01:01:00,190 --> 01:01:04,530
I think also the city manager report will move to the consent agenda.

645
01:01:06,190 --> 01:01:10,970
The motion to consider the approval of the minutes from last meeting.

646
01:01:11,810 --> 01:01:13,670
I'll make a motion.

647
01:01:13,950 --> 01:01:14,530
I'll second.

648
01:01:14,750 --> 01:01:15,870
The motion is second.

649
01:01:16,170 --> 01:01:17,170
All is in favor.

650
01:01:19,430 --> 01:01:20,010
Passes.

651
01:01:20,010 --> 01:01:21,490
We want to regular agenda.

652
01:01:21,990 --> 01:01:24,970
Discussion and consideration and resolution in 2638.

653
01:01:24,970 --> 01:01:30,450
accepting the proposal of group health benefit services and authorizing the city manager to

654
01:01:30,450 --> 01:01:35,110
enter into an agreement with SIGNA for medical dental and physician, Lori Capps.

655
01:01:36,210 --> 01:01:40,770
Good afternoon, Council. So in order to remain competitive with the boy group health benefits,

656
01:01:41,110 --> 01:01:46,670
we recently solicited silk proposals from vendors for group health benefits for medical dental

657
01:01:46,670 --> 01:01:51,990
and vision. Currently, we're with the United Health Care for these services, but due to

658
01:01:52,830 --> 01:01:57,670
fluctuation and rate to city opted to solicit cell proposals for qualified vendors.

659
01:01:58,490 --> 01:02:06,210
We did this in similar process in 2003, where we got RFPs for help benefit consultants and help care vendors.

660
01:02:07,750 --> 01:02:16,790
Our benefit consultant hub was responsible for these vendors, and then we got the following companies that responded to the RFP.

661
01:02:17,910 --> 01:02:24,370
So, once these RFEs are with the submissions, we're brought in, we evaluated those based

662
01:02:24,370 --> 01:02:31,630
on evaluations criteria, and then after those we are recommending to change medical to

663
01:02:31,630 --> 01:02:34,570
envision to seeing that from your own health care.

664
01:02:35,510 --> 01:02:39,610
I'm in addition to these changes, we recommend transitioning from a single medical plan,

665
01:02:39,730 --> 01:02:44,910
so currently we have one, we want transition to a dual offering, like is an invoice flexibility,

666
01:02:46,190 --> 01:02:48,950
to choose plans that meets their health care and on their needs.

667
01:02:50,290 --> 01:02:53,150
So we have two recommended plans, one is they sing a PPO plan

668
01:02:53,150 --> 01:02:55,790
and then the other one is a hadaductible plan.

669
01:02:57,370 --> 01:03:01,170
Offering both of these, it aligns to the benefits that packages with current

670
01:03:01,170 --> 01:03:05,090
market trends and it also gives employees flexibility and

671
01:03:05,090 --> 01:03:05,830
select and coverage.

672
01:03:07,130 --> 01:03:10,070
The recommendation dual option, it will help increase total

673
01:03:12,830 --> 01:03:19,150
premiums. But approximately 6.4% compared to 29.2, renewal increase proposed by United Health Care.

674
01:03:20,730 --> 01:03:25,190
So we're also recommending to change dental and vision insurance to United Health Care as well.

675
01:03:26,750 --> 01:03:35,770
Dental had a approximately 3% increase. Vision was a 22% decrease. In addition to this,

676
01:03:35,770 --> 01:03:40,870
is off, so offering $10,000 in wellness dollars to the city, and also the $5,000

677
01:03:40,870 --> 01:03:44,530
technology and communication allowance as well, which will help cover some of those costs.

678
01:03:45,830 --> 01:03:50,630
Overall, we'll save approximately $82,000 dollars across all funds for the upcoming fiscal

679
01:03:50,630 --> 01:03:51,050
year.

680
01:03:52,490 --> 01:03:57,890
Based upon this, based upon the review, the staff and hub, international, up-and-fifth consultant,

681
01:03:58,950 --> 01:04:03,930
the SINGA proposal provides the best overall value balancing competitive benefits, employee

682
01:04:03,930 --> 01:04:06,950
each voice provider access and long-term financial stability.

683
01:04:07,970 --> 01:04:09,790
If you have any questions, please let me know.

684
01:04:10,530 --> 01:04:13,550
Really quick before we get into it.

685
01:04:14,110 --> 01:04:17,330
On the resolution, on page 330,

686
01:04:19,650 --> 01:04:23,010
so where it says staff recommends that the proposal from

687
01:04:23,010 --> 01:04:27,270
United Health Care has that been updated to say Signa,

688
01:04:32,000 --> 01:04:32,800
I'll look at it right now.

689
01:04:32,880 --> 01:04:33,660
I'll make sure it's correct.

690
01:04:36,300 --> 01:04:42,420
And just to clarify, that's just the wear as clause, that the section 1 and section 2 does say signify.

691
01:04:43,720 --> 01:04:45,460
Am I looking at the wrong one?

692
01:04:46,000 --> 01:04:50,220
No, the wear as does incorrectly reverence hub.

693
01:04:51,240 --> 01:04:54,200
Okay, I just want to make sure we have the right one that's signing.

694
01:04:57,850 --> 01:05:05,970
And Austin, in this packet on the healthcare, isn't that one of the adjustments that you made to reduce?

695
01:05:06,870 --> 01:05:07,410
Yes, sir.

696
01:05:11,370 --> 01:05:22,770
What's our total premium cost for health if you have health insurance and dental and stuff on the health insurance side? Do you have an annual cost?

697
01:05:23,130 --> 01:05:27,370
Total like with employee contribution in city contribution or

698
01:05:28,130 --> 01:05:32,390
Just total premiums regardless of where we're.

699
01:05:32,670 --> 01:05:33,930
I can put that real quick for

700
01:05:41,060 --> 01:05:42,300
you. Maybe.

701
01:05:53,340 --> 01:06:00,180
So total health insurance is about 1.7 million for just the health insurance.

702
01:06:06,200 --> 01:06:11,520
Let me employ you, so we just at 120, roughly 115 approximately.

703
01:06:11,780 --> 01:06:12,400
But 115.

704
01:06:20,420 --> 01:06:21,800
Did you have to shop around for that?

705
01:06:22,100 --> 01:06:24,280
Were you the one shopping around for the health insurance?

706
01:06:24,300 --> 01:06:25,000
How does that go?

707
01:06:25,140 --> 01:06:26,580
Our benefit consultant does.

708
01:06:27,040 --> 01:06:30,120
So the process is we sent out for RFP.

709
01:06:30,240 --> 01:06:31,220
Those results come back.

710
01:06:31,360 --> 01:06:34,160
We evaluate and then based on what they send us,

711
01:06:34,160 --> 01:06:38,140
go back out and negotiate and that's how we get our final rates.

712
01:06:39,940 --> 01:06:43,840
Now this is really probably you've done question, but is it similar where you have to go

713
01:06:43,840 --> 01:06:49,800
for like a lowest bitter type of thing or is this something that you kind of go side-by-side

714
01:06:49,800 --> 01:06:51,700
with all of them and then this is your recommendation.

715
01:07:06,470 --> 01:07:07,690
How long have we been with United

716
01:07:07,690 --> 01:07:12,950
Health Care? Two years. Have we had sign up during your term? No sir.

717
01:07:20,390 --> 01:07:21,430
Is all of it a two-year

718
01:07:21,430 --> 01:07:26,250
guarantee. No, so our medical rates will be a one year and then our vision

719
01:07:26,250 --> 01:07:29,330
and dental is a two year term.

720
01:07:41,630 --> 01:07:45,670
Austin, I'm sorry. this has a, has you

721
01:07:45,670 --> 01:07:54,260
united cheer, premium loss ratio with us at all, and what were we? We were, I

722
01:07:54,260 --> 01:07:58,100
have to look it up, but it was over a hundred, and a hundred and a-one. Don't

723
01:07:58,100 --> 01:08:02,140
forget me on that exact, but it was, we have a high loss ratio. I'm sorry, a hundred

724
01:08:02,140 --> 01:08:06,300
18. Don't put me on that exact number. It was over 100. I can look at it. But it's

725
01:08:06,300 --> 01:08:10,220
we have a high loss ratio. So we're probably experiencing some market conditions

726
01:08:10,220 --> 01:08:14,120
and some plan or some census conditions as well.

727
01:08:28,580 --> 01:08:30,620
Yes. Okay. There's another discussion on your motion.

728
01:08:33,430 --> 01:08:39,170
I'll make a motion to approve resolution 2026-38.

729
01:08:40,930 --> 01:08:42,570
Oh, second. Have a motion.

730
01:08:42,570 --> 01:08:46,730
in a second, all those in favor, most of the classes.

731
01:08:47,510 --> 01:08:49,630
We've got a regular agenda item G2,

732
01:08:49,630 --> 01:08:53,490
discussion and possible action regarding public

733
01:08:53,490 --> 01:08:55,110
open meetings act.

734
01:08:55,390 --> 01:08:56,670
The text is what it means act.

735
01:08:57,030 --> 01:08:58,150
Council member Rossi.

736
01:08:58,610 --> 01:09:00,210
OK, give me a second when you get to it.

737
01:09:10,690 --> 01:09:11,010
OK.

738
01:09:20,120 --> 01:09:21,740
So I'll go and read it, I guess.

739
01:09:21,880 --> 01:09:22,720
Do you guys need me read it?

740
01:09:22,840 --> 01:09:23,160
Or do you do?

741
01:09:23,840 --> 01:09:24,940
OK, I'll just read it.

742
01:09:25,120 --> 01:09:25,500
All right.

743
01:09:25,500 --> 01:09:34,860
Texas government code establishes the requirements governing meetings, do you have a summary?

744
01:09:35,400 --> 01:09:37,640
Yeah, that would be even better, thank you.

745
01:09:38,300 --> 01:09:42,940
Okay, so I request these exhibits because Tom affects how all of us conduct city business,

746
01:09:42,980 --> 01:09:47,700
rather than relying on anyone's interpretation, including mine, I thought it would be helpful to

747
01:09:47,700 --> 01:09:55,140
have the actual law and guidance in the records, so council and the public can see what the rules are.

748
01:09:55,500 --> 01:09:56,500
So,

749
01:09:58,700 --> 01:10:27,270
so what I did was I submitted exhibits to Tommy, our city attorney, he looked over it and to make sure that everything was accurate and over to Courtney, so I don't know how you want me to

750
01:10:27,270 --> 01:10:33,590
everything. What I try to do is, and I'm a former teacher, so I try to look at things

751
01:10:33,590 --> 01:10:38,710
how, how is it that I would want to receive information, how would anyone want to receive information.

752
01:10:39,370 --> 01:10:47,090
So first I put in a little overview of it. I understand that we all signed a certificate if you

753
01:10:47,090 --> 01:10:57,250
would say, hey, we did the training, we understand Toma, and what I realized talking to

754
01:10:57,250 --> 01:11:03,830
since I've been on council talking to people in the community and hearing a lot of questions.

755
01:11:04,450 --> 01:11:10,370
I realize that a lot of people don't know why we do things the way we do up here.

756
01:11:11,350 --> 01:11:14,170
And so, and a lot of it has to do with the Texas Open Meetings Act.

757
01:11:14,650 --> 01:11:19,430
And so, I thought it was only fitting to put it on the agenda because that way we can all talk about it.

758
01:11:19,430 --> 01:11:22,430
And I also put like frequently asked questions,

759
01:11:22,590 --> 01:11:25,730
so things have heard people ask me in there.

760
01:11:26,050 --> 01:11:28,510
And a little reference guide, if you want to look them up,

761
01:11:29,330 --> 01:11:32,670
and TML, which is text-manusmalade guidance,

762
01:11:33,550 --> 01:11:38,270
is sort of, once it's where I go to get a lot of information,

763
01:11:38,490 --> 01:11:42,370
we receive emails from them, we go to things with them.

764
01:11:42,570 --> 01:11:43,790
So anyway,

765
01:11:47,580 --> 01:11:50,340
I just think that it's never a bad thing

766
01:11:50,340 --> 01:11:57,700
to be reminded what we're doing and why we're doing things in general.

767
01:12:00,140 --> 01:12:00,520
Yeah, coming.

768
01:12:00,600 --> 01:12:01,640
I think it's good information.

769
01:12:02,840 --> 01:12:07,700
And I think the public, the more information we can get, the public, is very beneficial.

770
01:12:08,000 --> 01:12:13,960
Because sometimes it looks like we do things haphazardly, very unorthodox.

771
01:12:15,120 --> 01:12:20,340
We're somewhat dismissive, we're all those things that we know we aren't.

772
01:12:20,340 --> 01:12:39,000
But perhaps, I think there's two things I think I'd like you to address, however, I'd also like to say, perhaps this handout, this exhibit B, at a few city council meetings so that people understand what we're doing and how we're doing it.

773
01:12:39,000 --> 01:12:44,020
And since they've frequently asked questions about the council meetings, it'd be a great

774
01:12:44,020 --> 01:12:48,760
handout along with the agenda perhaps at the next couple meetings so that people have

775
01:12:48,760 --> 01:12:49,160
a reference.

776
01:12:50,580 --> 01:12:56,080
But one of the criticisms we hear a lot about is executive session and public comment.

777
01:12:56,500 --> 01:13:00,300
People will stand up and ask questions and we don't answer.

778
01:13:00,940 --> 01:13:06,640
Or we go in an executive session for a specific reason, do you want to talk about that at all?

779
01:13:06,900 --> 01:13:07,700
Or do you want?

780
01:13:07,700 --> 01:13:10,720
Well, Tommy is definitely an expert, so.

781
01:13:13,620 --> 01:13:20,220
So I can, I mean, maybe it's easier just someone's signal when I should stop talking about

782
01:13:20,220 --> 01:13:20,820
open meetings.

783
01:13:23,020 --> 01:13:29,120
And this, going back to the budget item, you know, this is the time of year where I

784
01:13:29,120 --> 01:13:34,140
sit in a lot of meetings and I apologize on behalf of the legislature for making your

785
01:13:34,140 --> 01:13:41,020
ridiculous things that happen. I mentioned also like the problem in that statement is the word

786
01:13:41,020 --> 01:13:46,560
rate because it's not a rate to rate percent increase and there's a lot of problems in

787
01:13:46,560 --> 01:13:55,380
health calculated but open meetings is another one of those issues where in addressing, I mean,

788
01:13:55,560 --> 01:14:03,220
transparency, open meetings is incredibly important but in addressing it, the great irony

789
01:14:03,220 --> 01:14:06,480
is, the legislature has made it very difficult

790
01:14:06,480 --> 01:14:11,160
if not practically impossible to do what a lot of folks expect,

791
01:14:11,200 --> 01:14:14,140
which is, I'm going to show up at a city council meeting.

792
01:14:14,220 --> 01:14:15,180
I'm going to ask a question.

793
01:14:17,110 --> 01:14:18,270
I want that question to be answered.

794
01:14:19,770 --> 01:14:23,030
And 90% of the meetings I sit in, the people that are up

795
01:14:23,030 --> 01:14:25,610
on the dice, they want more than anything to answer

796
01:14:25,610 --> 01:14:28,070
that question right there on the spot and they can't.

797
01:14:28,330 --> 01:14:30,430
And it's open meetings that prevent some from doing that,

798
01:14:30,990 --> 01:14:34,050
because because in the past there have been abuses of them.

799
01:14:34,050 --> 01:14:39,710
And so they require you list the specific subject matter on the agenda before you discuss it.

800
01:14:40,350 --> 01:14:46,490
And that makes procedurally the public comment thing extremely difficult.

801
01:14:48,050 --> 01:14:50,990
And, you know, coincidentally there have even been situations, I was one recently,

802
01:14:52,890 --> 01:14:58,230
where when some members of the public were asking questions and one council member said,

803
01:14:58,490 --> 01:14:59,070
well, you know what?

804
01:15:00,210 --> 01:15:08,110
Take off my council member had, and I'm going to put all my public comment hat, and I'm going to go out and I'm going to make a statement under public comment as a member of the public.

805
01:15:08,310 --> 01:15:24,050
And answer all those questions. And the court said, no, you can't do that. You don't get just like a judge. Can't take off their robe. They're always a judge. Same thing with city council members. You don't get to pick and choose. Otherwise it'd be super easy to frustrate the whole purpose of the open meeting, exact.

806
01:15:25,670 --> 01:15:27,610
What was the other executive session?

807
01:15:28,230 --> 01:15:30,510
I mean, generally speaking, executive session,

808
01:15:30,650 --> 01:15:35,430
the kind of the high level basis for all of the exceptions,

809
01:15:38,360 --> 01:15:40,320
is, well, there's one, there's protection

810
01:15:40,320 --> 01:15:41,420
of attorney client privilege.

811
01:15:42,320 --> 01:15:45,900
And it's important to realize, you know, everyone thinks,

812
01:15:46,120 --> 01:15:48,900
well, that's protecting a council member,

813
01:15:49,360 --> 01:15:53,700
or a person's privilege, like it's an individual thing.

814
01:15:53,700 --> 01:15:58,880
that's protecting the city's privilege because in protecting the city's privilege you protect

815
01:15:58,880 --> 01:16:04,680
the taxpayers taxes that get paid to the city and that's that comes directly from the Texas

816
01:16:04,680 --> 01:16:12,720
Supreme Court which is why not just they not just put a high premium on the importance of

817
01:16:12,720 --> 01:16:17,920
attorney client privilege on anything I mean that's that's goes back 200 years in case of

818
01:16:17,920 --> 01:16:25,580
But in the government context, it has an even more sacrosanct premium attached to it, because

819
01:16:25,580 --> 01:16:30,860
the government's privilege is the taxpayers' privilege, and that means it's every citizen's

820
01:16:30,860 --> 01:16:31,200
privilege.

821
01:16:32,900 --> 01:16:37,500
So that's the, you know, when we're in an executive session under attorney client, that's

822
01:16:37,500 --> 01:16:38,480
the basis for that.

823
01:16:39,160 --> 01:16:44,760
There's a basis for personnel, which is to protect public officials and employees.

824
01:16:46,380 --> 01:16:58,700
And that's for the public official or employee, just, you know, it's a public official or employee that's being discussed as the discussion whether they want to bring it out in the open or let them do it in the executive session.

825
01:16:58,880 --> 01:17:02,240
It's actually not councils privilege to exercise.

826
01:17:04,360 --> 01:17:13,900
And so it's that when they're in executive session under that, that's why they're there because the person that's being discussed would rather, you know, whatever the issue is not be aired.

827
01:17:13,900 --> 01:17:19,520
all the other privileges generally relate to negotiations.

828
01:17:20,540 --> 01:17:27,900
So there's economic development negotiations, there is real property negotiations, and

829
01:17:27,900 --> 01:17:34,420
that same purpose with, that I mentioned with what gets attached to attorney client,

830
01:17:34,480 --> 01:17:40,330
because it protects the interest of the taxpayers, protecting the city's position in

831
01:17:40,330 --> 01:17:45,630
association protects the taxpayer dollars that are used ultimately in that negotiation.

832
01:17:46,490 --> 01:17:49,130
And so that's kind of the source for all of the, you know, really three categories,

833
01:17:49,730 --> 01:17:51,330
personnel attorney client, negotiations.

834
01:17:52,430 --> 01:17:57,630
So we use executive session if we're negotiating a real estate transaction and we're talking

835
01:17:57,630 --> 01:18:03,110
about terms and price and the details of that transaction, if there's a lawsuit and we're

836
01:18:03,110 --> 01:18:07,270
discussing a settlement that needs to be confidential, that's an executive session.

837
01:18:07,270 --> 01:18:14,290
So, it's not a desire not to be transparent, it's kind of to what time it says, it's to protect the city's interest.

838
01:18:15,510 --> 01:18:17,510
So, but I think those are very good points.

839
01:18:17,750 --> 01:18:30,990
I have for what it's worth, I've had situations where we've had a one entity that insisted on doing the RFP scoring process in a public meeting.

840
01:18:30,990 --> 01:18:38,050
And because they did it in a public meeting, it made the negotiation, they just completely

841
01:18:38,050 --> 01:18:39,410
frustrated it.

842
01:18:39,670 --> 01:18:46,550
I mean, they had every bid, had every other bidders, number, against it, they had all

843
01:18:46,550 --> 01:18:49,890
their weaknesses, strong suits, and so when they finally selected someone, it was, and

844
01:18:49,890 --> 01:18:58,110
that's one reason they could have arguably done that in an executive session because of

845
01:18:58,110 --> 01:18:58,830
what was being discussed.

846
01:18:58,830 --> 01:19:07,190
they feel comfortable with it, and that is the purpose, it's there they end up selecting a really

847
01:19:07,190 --> 01:19:10,110
good contractor for an extremely high price.

848
01:19:12,860 --> 01:19:16,100
So that also just to add to the council members

849
01:19:16,100 --> 01:19:23,520
or anyone really for that matter, excuse me, in the executive session is not to discuss those

850
01:19:23,520 --> 01:19:29,220
matters outside of executive session. Yeah, in fact that's the highest penalty in open meetings,

851
01:19:29,220 --> 01:19:31,640
It's revealing the contents of executive session.

852
01:19:31,840 --> 01:19:35,160
It's a class B, misdemeanor, I think.

853
01:19:36,860 --> 01:19:39,620
That's the, it's the highest criminal penalty attached.

854
01:19:39,760 --> 01:19:46,260
And I say this all the time, because we can talk about what

855
01:19:46,260 --> 01:19:47,480
the fine levels are.

856
01:19:47,620 --> 01:19:50,540
I'm up to five years in prison or something like that.

857
01:19:51,020 --> 01:19:53,180
No one is ever gone to jail for open meetings, violations.

858
01:19:53,940 --> 01:19:56,060
There are some that probably should have.

859
01:19:56,060 --> 01:20:01,140
But all generally it is a hefty fine.

860
01:20:01,260 --> 01:20:03,960
I don't know if anyone that wouldn't gladly pay

861
01:20:03,960 --> 01:20:06,980
every last dollar of that fine to avoid the news article

862
01:20:06,980 --> 01:20:09,920
that comes out the day those charges are announced

863
01:20:09,920 --> 01:20:15,280
because that article is always written

864
01:20:15,980 --> 01:20:19,360
not from a, it was just a technical violation of the open meeting

865
01:20:19,360 --> 01:20:22,060
that it is written as, this is public corruption

866
01:20:22,060 --> 01:20:24,100
at its finest regardless of what was happened

867
01:20:24,100 --> 01:20:29,080
And half the time those issues are not rampant corruption.

868
01:20:29,420 --> 01:20:36,380
They are people just being ignorant of maybe a specific requirement under open meetings or a little bit loose with some of the processes.

869
01:20:37,580 --> 01:20:44,580
So it's that the news article is what I always worry about the most, because that's the most unforgiving thing.

870
01:20:48,630 --> 01:20:50,430
What was the other one you had? Was that the one?

871
01:20:52,730 --> 01:20:53,530
Okay,

872
01:20:55,610 --> 01:21:03,970
so I have the first question here is why are council meeting, why are council meeting agendas posted?

873
01:21:05,170 --> 01:21:10,650
And I gave an answer and that kind of also sort of falls into that as well.

874
01:21:12,210 --> 01:21:21,610
The quorum piece could you kind of give an overview about what that agendas for all the things about the agendas so we can all

875
01:21:21,610 --> 01:21:31,810
Yeah, so basically open meetings requires you, the simplest way to put it is the legislature

876
01:21:31,810 --> 01:21:37,490
requires that you tell people when you're going to meet, what you're going to talk about

877
01:21:37,490 --> 01:21:41,730
and then when you meet, they want you to only talk about those things.

878
01:21:42,030 --> 01:21:44,730
That's time, place, subject matter, discussion.

879
01:21:45,530 --> 01:21:47,510
That's all that's required to be on the agenda.

880
01:21:50,230 --> 01:21:57,570
But that is a lot, and the reason, of course, the purpose is, it's not a lot, it's

881
01:21:57,570 --> 01:22:00,190
three, you know, time-place subject matter.

882
01:22:00,530 --> 01:22:07,810
But the purpose for all of that is because the citizens have a right to know, the subject

883
01:22:07,810 --> 01:22:11,360
matter that's being discussed, before it's being discussed, and the legislature has put the

884
01:22:11,360 --> 01:22:19,700
I already on the right to know rather than the right to answer questions and resolve issues

885
01:22:19,700 --> 01:22:24,480
quickly, which is that's the tension that we come into with the, you know, we have a question

886
01:22:24,480 --> 01:22:25,240
in public comment.

887
01:22:25,440 --> 01:22:29,500
We really want to answer, it's not posted on the agenda, it's not, it's not being answered

888
01:22:30,600 --> 01:22:34,620
because the city can't, it's not being answered because the legislature says the city

889
01:22:35,440 --> 01:22:35,920
can't.

890
01:22:35,920 --> 01:22:37,500
At least not in that meeting.

891
01:22:39,080 --> 01:22:40,200
We should do a pretty good job.

892
01:22:41,280 --> 01:22:42,440
Our generous are very detailed.

893
01:22:42,820 --> 01:22:46,760
They describe exactly what we are interested in doing.

894
01:22:49,220 --> 01:22:56,100
No secret of a fan of efficiency and is having a goal and a direction we're headed.

895
01:22:56,980 --> 01:22:57,660
I read this agenda.

896
01:22:57,860 --> 01:23:03,680
I done a chat a little bit with Connie and have a direction that I think going ahead with it.

897
01:23:04,420 --> 01:23:09,440
There's nothing on the item that says that we are going to adopt a resolution tonight.

898
01:23:09,940 --> 01:23:11,600
So we're not going to be adopting a resolution.

899
01:23:12,380 --> 01:23:22,740
I have a draft for us to discuss and then it will be next month's agenda to actually adopt it.

900
01:23:22,920 --> 01:23:29,740
Because I don't want to characterize why you brought this up because I think it was for a lot of different reasons in talking with you.

901
01:23:31,060 --> 01:23:37,360
And, but a big part of it was recently the town hall event, which, you know, you

902
01:23:37,360 --> 01:23:44,250
know, I discussed not trying to rehash at all how the agenda was or wasn't posted.

903
01:23:45,790 --> 01:23:51,970
But it brought up some consideration of how do we go forward and addressing the matter.

904
01:23:52,470 --> 01:23:57,710
Even when you cancel my argument, he's not here, this is not at all for a specific council member.

905
01:23:57,710 --> 01:24:05,910
it just brought up a fact that a council member can reserve a space using their position

906
01:24:05,910 --> 01:24:12,610
at no cost to them. And that space could be used for a lot of different things. It's supposed

907
01:24:12,610 --> 01:24:22,270
to be for their purposes and elected official. They can also choose to pay for it and use it

908
01:24:22,270 --> 01:24:26,530
or campaign purpose, or even city purpose, they just pay for it.

909
01:24:28,210 --> 01:24:33,090
But I wrote up a resolution that you've gotten for you to summarize it.

910
01:24:33,210 --> 01:24:39,510
It basically has a narrowly focused trigger that when using the position of elected official

911
01:24:39,510 --> 01:24:45,870
to rent a space, such as the Civic Center or the golf course or somewhere, and the event

912
01:24:45,870 --> 01:24:50,950
is open to the public, then it is the responsibility of the Council Mayor to initiate a public

913
01:24:50,950 --> 01:24:59,170
posting the event through the city secretary that meeting must be posted so that everyone can

914
01:24:59,170 --> 01:25:09,190
attend. The problem right now is if you have an event but you don't post that event on the

915
01:25:09,190 --> 01:25:15,630
city's website, on the city's building, then you are prohibiting member other members of the council

916
01:25:15,630 --> 01:25:21,890
from attending that meeting and hearing comments from the citizens and so if we're going to try

917
01:25:21,890 --> 01:25:30,130
to promote the best transparency and open communication and hearing everyone then everyone should be

918
01:25:30,130 --> 01:25:37,310
allowed to attend. This does not exempt or preclude any requirement of the Texas Meet Open Meetings Act

919
01:25:37,310 --> 01:25:43,350
and if a council member wanted to they could just pay the reservation and not post as long as

920
01:25:43,350 --> 01:25:45,830
there's no violation of the Texas meeting act,

921
01:25:45,870 --> 01:25:46,750
which is what occurred.

922
01:25:47,550 --> 01:25:49,590
And there was no violation of the Texas

923
01:25:49,590 --> 01:25:51,230
of the meeting act at all,

924
01:25:51,810 --> 01:25:54,410
but thinking future councils down the road,

925
01:25:54,610 --> 01:25:56,270
what's good policy to have,

926
01:25:56,550 --> 01:25:59,190
good policy would be that if you're using your position,

927
01:25:59,430 --> 01:26:02,270
you post it so that everyone can be there.

928
01:26:05,290 --> 01:26:08,290
So, and I've just read this,

929
01:26:08,970 --> 01:26:11,690
but it would still have to go through your review, though.

930
01:26:11,750 --> 01:26:13,070
You don't, well, I just say,

931
01:26:13,070 --> 01:26:15,010
we're not, I don't have any issue with this.

932
01:26:15,010 --> 01:26:19,810
And one, I think, it's generally just a good policy.

933
01:26:21,170 --> 01:26:24,970
Any open meetings question that I ever get that's like, should we post an agenda?

934
01:26:25,770 --> 01:26:26,570
There are certain times.

935
01:26:26,730 --> 01:26:30,030
I've been like, no, you don't need to post an agenda for a Super Bowl party.

936
01:26:30,550 --> 01:26:31,350
And I've gotten that question.

937
01:26:31,490 --> 01:26:34,810
I've gotten that question this year, not for anyone.

938
01:26:38,190 --> 01:26:41,110
But the answer is almost always, why not?

939
01:26:41,290 --> 01:26:43,830
It's right up there with like, do I need to take the oath of office?

940
01:26:43,830 --> 01:26:45,170
Like, yeah, why not?

941
01:26:45,490 --> 01:26:47,670
It's you don't ever get in trouble for too much notice,

942
01:26:47,830 --> 01:26:49,650
and you don't ever get in trouble for too many others.

943
01:26:52,330 --> 01:26:58,570
And it covers the posted agenda, covers it all issues.

944
01:27:00,130 --> 01:27:01,970
And which is something I know there's a lot of confusion

945
01:27:01,970 --> 01:27:03,750
about, like notice of possible quorum,

946
01:27:03,790 --> 01:27:05,110
and things like that to get posted.

947
01:27:05,750 --> 01:27:08,370
It's only the agenda that covers all issues.

948
01:27:09,310 --> 01:27:12,050
So if you know that there may be a quorum,

949
01:27:12,370 --> 01:27:13,570
and you're going to be discussing this in business,

950
01:27:13,570 --> 01:27:14,770
I think it's just good practice.

951
01:27:15,910 --> 01:27:22,450
I don't, for what it's worth, I absolutely don't think any of that was what was going on

952
01:27:22,450 --> 01:27:29,870
with that brought all this up. In fact, and I will say, the gathering issue related to open meetings

953
01:27:29,870 --> 01:27:35,690
is one of the most confusing issues with open meetings, because no one believes it, but it's

954
01:27:35,690 --> 01:27:40,010
like just listening to counts. Like you've done at little all council members could just

955
01:27:40,010 --> 01:27:47,410
it in the same room quietly, not saying anything, anyone and have a third party talk at them.

956
01:27:47,650 --> 01:27:48,250
And that counts.

957
01:27:48,330 --> 01:27:53,050
And the reason is, because when the issue, the legislature was trying to address when they

958
01:27:53,050 --> 01:27:59,910
wrote it, was staff briefings, and that's why they wrote this language, and again, one of

959
01:27:59,910 --> 01:28:06,470
those issues where they fixed one problem and made a whole bunch of other problems, or at least

960
01:28:06,470 --> 01:28:09,970
issues that were harder to navigate because now we're

961
01:28:09,970 --> 01:28:11,950
roping on a whole bunch of stuff.

962
01:28:13,030 --> 01:28:15,990
But the primary issue is that if it's city hall,

963
01:28:16,690 --> 01:28:18,810
that's kind of when you can trigger more easily

964
01:28:18,810 --> 01:28:20,750
the gatherings definition.

965
01:28:21,970 --> 01:28:25,510
And so just essentially the way I read this is,

966
01:28:27,160 --> 01:28:29,820
if we're going to reserve space, let's city secretary

967
01:28:29,820 --> 01:28:32,500
know so we can post notice and we're all going to go.

968
01:28:33,260 --> 01:28:44,660
So, for example, if I wanted to have a gathering here and I posted could I just put on the agenda

969
01:28:45,940 --> 01:28:52,420
discussion regarding Jersey Village, like how specific or not specific does the item need to be?

970
01:28:52,900 --> 01:28:56,300
I don't think you can put, I don't think in a gen item can be.

971
01:28:56,360 --> 01:29:00,400
I mean there are some people that take the view that the word budget means you can talk about anything

972
01:29:00,400 --> 01:29:09,180
that the city does. And I know there is some validity to that. It's anything related to the

973
01:29:09,180 --> 01:29:14,820
budget that the city does. But the idea being, yeah, the agenda item is city that is any

974
01:29:14,820 --> 01:29:20,180
in all Jersey Village city business. But is that specifically detailed enough to satisfy the subject

975
01:29:20,180 --> 01:29:28,600
matter, description requirement? I don't think it is. But I have language I put on other types of events

976
01:29:29,040 --> 01:29:31,160
where you just, I mean, what are the questions?

977
01:29:31,240 --> 01:29:33,280
Everyone knows what questions get brought up the most.

978
01:29:34,700 --> 01:29:37,760
And you can put those in a, in a notice that says,

979
01:29:37,780 --> 01:29:39,640
these are the types of topics that are going to be,

980
01:29:39,680 --> 01:29:40,580
and you may get a nod ball.

981
01:29:40,740 --> 01:29:42,640
It's not on that list.

982
01:29:43,240 --> 01:29:45,080
And if that comes up, like, you know,

983
01:29:45,780 --> 01:29:47,100
that's a unposting subject matter.

984
01:29:47,860 --> 01:29:49,060
So you have a half a pass on that,

985
01:29:49,380 --> 01:29:51,440
but you can cover 99% of them.

986
01:29:52,300 --> 01:29:53,960
And for what it's worth, there are some cities

987
01:29:53,960 --> 01:29:59,880
to have a policy, Austin is one and granted.

988
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:09,280
This is, this may be a little bit of, you know, a perfect example of, like, a government

989
01:30:09,280 --> 01:30:14,520
entity, like, well, we need to put a process in place that just completely beats the whole thing

990
01:30:14,520 --> 01:30:25,940
down. But it definitely satisfies the open meetings. Anyone that wants to attend a council gathering

991
01:30:25,940 --> 01:30:33,830
where they're going to ask questions is required email essentially an RSVP to the city one week

992
01:30:35,050 --> 01:30:39,490
before and the question that they're going to ask and then the city when they post the agenda

993
01:30:39,490 --> 01:30:45,570
they go the agenda is and then they attach every email that they receive as the subject

994
01:30:45,570 --> 01:30:51,430
matter of what's going to be discussed and so people show up and that's how they satisfy

995
01:30:51,430 --> 01:30:53,210
Open meetings.

996
01:30:53,670 --> 01:30:58,890
Well, and they just pass legislation last year, I think, on the timing when that agenda

997
01:30:58,890 --> 01:31:01,190
posts, Courtney, what is the timing?

998
01:31:01,990 --> 01:31:05,170
It's three business days before the meeting.

999
01:31:06,350 --> 01:31:09,910
So to calculate that today, we meet on Tuesday.

1000
01:31:10,670 --> 01:31:14,090
The three business days are Monday, Friday, Thursday.

1001
01:31:14,590 --> 01:31:17,110
So we have to post no later than Wednesday.

1002
01:31:17,110 --> 01:31:19,850
because you have to have those three business days

1003
01:31:19,850 --> 01:31:21,610
between your posting and the meeting.

1004
01:31:23,110 --> 01:31:25,830
A week's note, a week's note is for that.

1005
01:31:26,270 --> 01:31:27,230
You mentioned gatherings,

1006
01:31:27,770 --> 01:31:29,870
I mentioned it in here as well in my questions.

1007
01:31:31,770 --> 01:31:35,230
If all council ends up at a July 4th celebration,

1008
01:31:35,790 --> 01:31:37,970
that's not the same, that does not require any.

1009
01:31:38,330 --> 01:31:39,370
It's absolutely not the same.

1010
01:31:39,570 --> 01:31:41,370
And that's, there's a whole bunch of exceptions,

1011
01:31:42,710 --> 01:31:46,630
educational seminars, we all used to go to Barbie Freeman

1012
01:31:46,630 --> 01:31:56,190
House for Republican events every quarter, the entire council attended because it was a county

1013
01:31:56,190 --> 01:31:57,630
event that happened often.

1014
01:31:57,790 --> 01:31:58,370
And that's the thing.

1015
01:31:58,450 --> 01:32:04,930
If the event is being held by someone else and whatever city business is brought up is incidental

1016
01:32:04,930 --> 01:32:05,430
to the event.

1017
01:32:06,230 --> 01:32:08,830
That's the key word is incidental to the event.

1018
01:32:08,930 --> 01:32:12,850
The event is not being held for the core purpose of discussing whatever was brought up.

1019
01:32:12,850 --> 01:32:17,210
then it is not covered by open meetings.

1020
01:32:17,990 --> 01:32:20,830
Now that doesn't mean you can make it covered by open meetings

1021
01:32:20,830 --> 01:32:23,450
by entering into a huge discussion on that incidental

1022
01:32:23,450 --> 01:32:25,050
comment when it gets brought up.

1023
01:32:25,530 --> 01:32:28,830
But that's the trigger word is incidental to the event.

1024
01:32:31,310 --> 01:32:34,350
You mentioned a agenda versus posting a core may meet.

1025
01:32:35,410 --> 01:32:38,990
There's not my intent with this to cause them to post a full agenda.

1026
01:32:43,010 --> 01:32:46,210
Do you want my general thoughts on notice a core possible core?

1027
01:32:46,210 --> 01:32:51,550
And so one thing that you said there was we're certainly

1028
01:32:51,550 --> 01:32:54,150
under the impression that it counts in our holds and event,

1029
01:32:55,630 --> 01:32:58,810
that if a quorum appeared, they're talking about city business,

1030
01:32:58,930 --> 01:33:00,510
that city business had to stop.

1031
01:33:03,130 --> 01:33:07,910
Can we just posting counsel that a quorum may meet enough?

1032
01:33:09,210 --> 01:33:12,070
And the practice, and this is one of those, you know,

1033
01:33:12,290 --> 01:33:14,950
when the law changes under open meetings,

1034
01:33:14,950 --> 01:33:21,050
There are certain practices everyone keeps in place and they still do and I don't know this for a fact

1035
01:33:21,050 --> 01:33:30,110
I'm guessing a little bit the the walking quorum language in open meetings used to be as a as one appellate or as the

1036
01:33:30,530 --> 01:33:32,050
Court of Criminal Appeal said

1037
01:33:33,190 --> 01:33:36,070
Hopelessly unconstitutionally vague and

1038
01:33:36,070 --> 01:33:42,070
It the language was you can't conspire to circumvent the open meetings act, which is like

1039
01:33:42,070 --> 01:33:44,690
Just it's just very very broad

1040
01:33:46,210 --> 01:33:52,990
And the idea was, if we post a notice of course possible quorum, it's very hard to argue

1041
01:33:52,990 --> 01:33:57,830
that we're conspiring to circumvent the act, if we're posting a notice that we all may

1042
01:33:57,830 --> 01:34:00,350
be in the same place and we accidentally talk about something.

1043
01:34:00,930 --> 01:34:06,270
I'm guessing that's kind of why that it bullet proofs the old language of walking quorum

1044
01:34:06,270 --> 01:34:06,750
a little bit.

1045
01:34:06,990 --> 01:34:12,470
Walking quorum has completely been redone and it doesn't, it wouldn't really address any

1046
01:34:12,470 --> 01:34:19,790
that. But I still have never recommended that anyone's stopped doing it and no one actually wants

1047
01:34:19,790 --> 01:34:25,530
to stop doing it because it just adds another layer of transparency just to let everyone know

1048
01:34:25,530 --> 01:34:29,770
that there's going to be, you know, and frankly it's helpful to the council members, the council

1049
01:34:29,770 --> 01:34:33,090
would may find out, oh, there's going to be some other council members here, we need to make sure

1050
01:34:33,090 --> 01:34:33,890
that

1051
01:34:36,160 --> 01:34:40,200
I'm posting this as helpful to the public because we all have our little niches of people that

1052
01:34:40,200 --> 01:34:42,820
we know, but everyone knows the city website.

1053
01:34:43,760 --> 01:34:47,040
And so by posting it, gets it out to more people.

1054
01:34:48,770 --> 01:34:51,290
So you mentioned walking quorum.

1055
01:34:51,630 --> 01:34:54,490
There's a lot of great area there, in my opinion.

1056
01:34:56,350 --> 01:34:59,110
But two council members simply talking to each other

1057
01:34:59,110 --> 01:35:01,250
is not considered a walking quorum.

1058
01:35:03,110 --> 01:35:04,290
OK, I just want to.

1059
01:35:05,470 --> 01:35:06,290
A walking quorum.

1060
01:35:06,430 --> 01:35:08,590
Give us some examples of walking quorum.

1061
01:35:08,590 --> 01:35:14,330
I'm walking, so we'll start off with two council members talking together and walking

1062
01:35:14,330 --> 01:35:18,370
corpsmen to open meetings was essentially redefined after it was held to be hopelessly

1063
01:35:18,370 --> 01:35:18,830
vague.

1064
01:35:19,030 --> 01:35:25,830
It was redefined to add more specificity to each of the steps and so it is a communication

1065
01:35:25,830 --> 01:35:31,950
between one council member intentionally communicating with another council member knowingly

1066
01:35:32,780 --> 01:35:35,430
that that communication will result in a corps.

1067
01:35:35,430 --> 01:35:39,110
So, two council members talking, no issue.

1068
01:35:40,470 --> 01:35:44,130
One council member then goes to a third person

1069
01:35:45,010 --> 01:35:47,710
and talks to that third person about the issue.

1070
01:35:48,870 --> 01:35:52,070
The open meetings violation, I mean, of course,

1071
01:35:52,870 --> 01:35:58,260
backing up open meetings means what the DA thinks it means.

1072
01:35:58,600 --> 01:36:01,840
That's kind of the, I don't know if it's an old joke,

1073
01:36:01,840 --> 01:36:04,740
But it's certain, and that's true.

1074
01:36:05,060 --> 01:36:08,040
Like they may take a really broad interpretation and say,

1075
01:36:08,960 --> 01:36:13,100
well, it's the second and third people that both violate it.

1076
01:36:13,320 --> 01:36:14,680
I think strictly reading the act,

1077
01:36:14,880 --> 01:36:17,240
it's only the second person, assuming the third person

1078
01:36:17,240 --> 01:36:19,760
doesn't know that number one has been talked to.

1079
01:36:19,760 --> 01:36:21,740
The third person knows number one has been talked to you.

1080
01:36:22,300 --> 01:36:25,860
Then it would be two and three is the problem.

1081
01:36:26,420 --> 01:36:28,700
It wouldn't be a problem for one under the old language.

1082
01:36:28,700 --> 01:36:37,120
One would still be an issue because there isn't that knowing intent that was attached to it.

1083
01:36:37,620 --> 01:36:40,860
And so that, and that was the largest issue that the legislature cleaned up.

1084
01:36:41,680 --> 01:36:50,720
But essentially it's a series of individual communications that results in a quorum walking quorum amongst body.

1085
01:36:52,900 --> 01:36:54,340
You know, the foul thoughts coming.

1086
01:36:56,160 --> 01:37:03,260
The most famous example, of course, being the, the, I keep thinking it's the Mayor in San Antonio,

1087
01:37:03,500 --> 01:37:07,100
and I feel terrible if it's not because it's, because at this point I pretty much bad

1088
01:37:07,100 --> 01:37:07,900
and I'll say it in Antonio.

1089
01:37:09,440 --> 01:37:14,420
But I want to say it's, it's a city was a city in Barric County for sure.

1090
01:37:15,380 --> 01:37:43,880
But, essentially, there was seven or eight members on council camera and, you know, the mayor was sitting in the office said, all right, three of you first three come in and said, all right, here's what we're going to do this, this, this and this, what are your, what are your opinions, what are your votes, and they said, okay, all right, all right, number three and he was going into a council positions one, two, three, all right, number three,

1091
01:37:44,480 --> 01:37:47,780
you're out, Council Member Four come in, explain that.

1092
01:37:48,020 --> 01:37:49,680
All right, Council Member's one and two, you're out,

1093
01:37:50,000 --> 01:37:50,760
Council Member Lee come in.

1094
01:37:50,960 --> 01:37:52,720
So there's never a war, there's never a quorum in the room

1095
01:37:52,720 --> 01:37:54,660
at the same time, and of course the quorum was like,

1096
01:37:56,360 --> 01:37:58,400
that's, you know, like, thank goodness for bad criminals

1097
01:37:58,900 --> 01:38:01,960
that it was that easy to identify,

1098
01:38:02,180 --> 01:38:05,380
but that's kind of the, that was the first big case on it.

1099
01:38:09,860 --> 01:38:12,260
And, and all community, all forms of communication count,

1100
01:38:12,560 --> 01:38:16,640
texting, emailing, does not, it can be the same chat room,

1101
01:38:16,640 --> 01:38:22,980
say, anything, which in the context of the internet, there's a whole bunch of endless questions

1102
01:38:22,980 --> 01:38:29,400
about what constitutes communication. I still don't like the idea of if someone even makes

1103
01:38:29,400 --> 01:38:36,140
a post on Facebook, just liking it. Because if someone says, well, I think we should do this,

1104
01:38:36,860 --> 01:38:43,400
and then two people like that, I mean, do we have a walking corner? Again, again, depends

1105
01:38:43,400 --> 01:38:50,340
what the DA thinks. But that's the, that would be the risk. I, I, I, I don't have any

1106
01:38:50,340 --> 01:38:55,020
issue with end open meetings allows for some communication online, but you can imagine

1107
01:38:55,020 --> 01:38:59,660
the legislature wrote that language when message boards were really big. If you've ever

1108
01:38:59,660 --> 01:39:05,380
followed college football recruiting, BBS boards, that's basically what's written into the code

1109
01:39:05,380 --> 01:39:10,100
is the permissible form of communication amongst council members on the internet is the city

1110
01:39:10,100 --> 01:39:12,000
You can set up a...

1111
01:39:12,000 --> 01:39:13,860
Well, it's important for you.

1112
01:39:14,540 --> 01:39:15,700
Because we're in the 80s.

1113
01:39:16,420 --> 01:39:16,480
All right.

1114
01:39:16,800 --> 01:39:20,680
Connie, your motion recommended actions give direction to staff.

1115
01:39:20,940 --> 01:39:25,080
I provided some possible action or possible direction towards staff.

1116
01:39:25,220 --> 01:39:27,340
I think staff would prefer anything to be in writing.

1117
01:39:28,020 --> 01:39:31,980
Is there any specific action that you're looking to make here?

1118
01:39:32,460 --> 01:39:32,780
No.

1119
01:39:33,060 --> 01:39:34,160
I actually wasn't playing.

1120
01:39:34,300 --> 01:39:36,360
I just put that in the item just in case.

1121
01:39:36,780 --> 01:39:37,180
I don't know.

1122
01:39:37,180 --> 01:39:40,200
just because I'm used to putting that kind of language together.

1123
01:39:40,880 --> 01:39:45,740
But I just wanted to make sure that we all understand,

1124
01:39:47,360 --> 01:39:49,680
especially the public comments which we were talking about earlier,

1125
01:39:50,560 --> 01:39:54,900
we're not trying to avoid anyone or when things come up,

1126
01:39:54,920 --> 01:39:55,900
that we're not trying to answer,

1127
01:39:56,020 --> 01:39:59,620
we're not up here, trying to not answer questions,

1128
01:39:59,640 --> 01:40:02,120
or not engage, that if it is not on the agenda,

1129
01:40:02,420 --> 01:40:03,600
we cannot discuss it.

1130
01:40:04,420 --> 01:40:06,640
And so, and it's becoming up a lot

1131
01:40:06,640 --> 01:40:13,200
with since I've been on council and I just wanted to, I just think that things like this

1132
01:40:13,200 --> 01:40:22,540
never hurts to just have a little refresher and I'm happy to share what if you share it,

1133
01:40:22,600 --> 01:40:27,760
we can put it out, the questions, the Q&A or whatever, it's fine with me, that's really all that

1134
01:40:27,760 --> 01:40:36,580
it was. If you guys wanted to do resolution, I will say if, like let's say Austin is contacted maybe,

1135
01:40:38,140 --> 01:40:44,860
about possibly having one of us having or any of us having an event here that is that we're

1136
01:40:44,860 --> 01:40:51,140
not paying for that maybe Austin communicate that with Courtney immediately or have all

1137
01:40:51,140 --> 01:40:55,620
of us copy Courtney on something like that so that where she's aware it just in case an agenda

1138
01:40:55,620 --> 01:40:56,740
does have to be posted.

1139
01:40:57,060 --> 01:41:01,580
We need any council member using their position should be going to the city manager to book

1140
01:41:01,580 --> 01:41:06,120
it but the resolution I put the responsibility on the council member.

1141
01:41:07,160 --> 01:41:11,120
And I use the term council member the same way as the charter it includes me.

1142
01:41:12,240 --> 01:41:13,540
I think that's reasonable.

1143
01:41:14,320 --> 01:41:17,260
Does anybody have any comments or objection to anything here?

1144
01:41:18,200 --> 01:41:22,920
Well then I will, I've already said that the court will pass that through the review.

1145
01:41:23,120 --> 01:41:24,000
Come back next month.

1146
01:41:24,640 --> 01:41:28,200
And now we're going to move on to Mayor and council comments.

1147
01:41:29,380 --> 01:41:31,120
And so we'll start off.

1148
01:41:31,120 --> 01:41:34,380
I think we've started off down there.

1149
01:41:34,580 --> 01:41:36,580
Councillor McCrey, McCulley.

1150
01:41:38,980 --> 01:41:39,940
Hey, appreciate it.

1151
01:41:40,080 --> 01:41:41,940
Sorry, I could not be there in person today.

1152
01:41:42,900 --> 01:41:46,920
I do want to reiterate to the public and to council as well.

1153
01:41:47,100 --> 01:41:52,980
I really do appreciate the work that Austin has done on this budget.

1154
01:41:53,900 --> 01:41:56,320
I know I voted against it, but I really wanted to.

1155
01:41:56,540 --> 01:41:57,920
And I made a commitment that I wouldn't.

1156
01:41:58,700 --> 01:41:59,700
So I didn't want to go back on that.

1157
01:42:00,320 --> 01:42:03,340
but the fact that the taxes are only getting raised

1158
01:42:03,340 --> 01:42:05,740
at a very small amount is I think pretty impressive

1159
01:42:05,740 --> 01:42:06,820
to the work that you guys did,

1160
01:42:06,960 --> 01:42:08,460
so I really do appreciate that.

1161
01:42:10,300 --> 01:42:14,960
With that being said, in terms of overall impact to citizens,

1162
01:42:15,580 --> 01:42:18,060
there's some also some really big stuff coming up,

1163
01:42:18,240 --> 01:42:19,520
not only in the school district,

1164
01:42:20,680 --> 01:42:22,200
but Harris County as well,

1165
01:42:22,520 --> 01:42:25,700
so those are gonna have in terms of real dollar spent,

1166
01:42:25,780 --> 01:42:27,080
a much bigger impact

1167
01:42:27,080 --> 01:42:28,960
and what we're talking about here.

1168
01:42:29,860 --> 01:42:33,520
So my request is all of this in really pay attention

1169
01:42:33,520 --> 01:42:35,660
to that that's something that's coming up here

1170
01:42:35,660 --> 01:42:37,520
that's going to have a really big impact on your lives.

1171
01:42:38,220 --> 01:42:40,200
So thank you.

1172
01:42:40,800 --> 01:42:42,200
Councilman Rossi.

1173
01:42:43,360 --> 01:42:47,820
Well, I do want to thank staff and everyone

1174
01:42:47,820 --> 01:42:54,080
who did take the time to, you guys worked really hard on this.

1175
01:42:54,160 --> 01:42:55,140
So I appreciate it.

1176
01:42:55,140 --> 01:43:00,000
I spoke with you about it, Austin, so I appreciate that.

1177
01:43:00,700 --> 01:43:03,280
I still want to thank, when I was going through everything,

1178
01:43:03,620 --> 01:43:06,940
I want to thank Congressman, Wesley Hunts Office, again,

1179
01:43:07,560 --> 01:43:10,440
for the $1 million federal funding to JB.

1180
01:43:11,260 --> 01:43:12,740
I think that is wonderful.

1181
01:43:13,600 --> 01:43:16,180
Also, our fire department was busy.

1182
01:43:16,980 --> 01:43:19,420
They stopped by the high school, saw the post,

1183
01:43:19,700 --> 01:43:21,420
and you were doing your inspections.

1184
01:43:22,000 --> 01:43:24,060
I didn't know there was something called Wet the Band.

1185
01:43:24,060 --> 01:43:30,080
I thought that was kind of cute, so I think that's kind of, you know, I just want to say thank you for that and don't forget

1186
01:43:30,080 --> 01:43:40,520
Dueling Piano is coming up Friday. There's a lot happening in our city and it's a good reminder that even when we don't agree on every issue

1187
01:43:40,520 --> 01:43:49,540
We share the same community. It's great to see so many people engaged and invested in our community and I look forward to all of us continuing to work together

1188
01:43:49,540 --> 01:43:54,540
to keep JV a great place to call home.

1189
01:43:55,240 --> 01:43:56,340
Councillor Ritten.

1190
01:44:00,100 --> 01:44:04,000
I want to also reiterate the appreciation for the staff.

1191
01:44:05,320 --> 01:44:08,800
Being able to work through the challenges that we had.

1192
01:44:09,360 --> 01:44:10,040
Pretty impressive.

1193
01:44:12,240 --> 01:44:19,760
I want to note the positivity of our golf course and the management that make that happen.

1194
01:44:19,760 --> 01:44:22,920
so amazing.

1195
01:44:25,340 --> 01:44:35,160
Chief Bits, I just got to say I was thinking about it and I think that was

1196
01:44:35,160 --> 01:44:42,360
really the first volunteer work that I probably have ever done. It's 2008.

1197
01:44:42,880 --> 01:44:47,540
My wife and I just moved into Jersey Village. There's this packet to be a volunteer

1198
01:44:48,080 --> 01:44:52,720
fire department. I actually thought it was for cooking for the firefighters or maybe

1199
01:44:52,720 --> 01:44:58,900
getting to wash their fire trucks. I don't think we were here a week or two and I'd

1200
01:44:58,900 --> 01:44:59,780
already filled up the packet.

1201
01:45:00,050 --> 01:45:10,610
And I actually met with you and Frank Mar, who's no longer here, Curtis and Rob Missle.

1202
01:45:12,310 --> 01:45:16,910
So, I've only been in the neighborhood for two, three weeks, possibly.

1203
01:45:17,290 --> 01:45:23,370
What was the third week was my first day as a volunteer firefighter with the Jersey Village Fire Department.

1204
01:45:23,370 --> 01:45:26,750
that was Hurricane Ike.

1205
01:45:27,570 --> 01:45:32,250
So, watching what you've done with this fire department

1206
01:45:33,350 --> 01:45:37,130
and leading the men and women of the fire department

1207
01:45:37,130 --> 01:45:42,290
and our city and the programs that you have overseen

1208
01:45:42,290 --> 01:45:46,650
and developed, I cannot say enough,

1209
01:45:47,030 --> 01:45:48,930
and you will truly be missed.

1210
01:45:49,650 --> 01:45:50,930
Thank you for all that you've done.

1211
01:45:52,660 --> 01:46:08,740
Councilor Hughes, just want to thank everybody who stayed and either viewed the council meeting in person or over the video, appreciate your participation, the comments, the emails that have come.

1212
01:46:09,300 --> 01:46:16,640
Just a quick correction. Council member Britain, you said Frank Moore is no longer here. He's actually no longer in the room.

1213
01:46:18,800 --> 01:46:21,720
Man, lots of clear, just a point of play, right?

1214
01:46:24,400 --> 01:46:31,760
Chief Bits, just saddened to hear that you're leaving, but hopefully it's your opportunities

1215
01:46:31,760 --> 01:46:34,800
or what you're doing, retiring, whatever.

1216
01:46:35,280 --> 01:46:37,280
I'm sure we'll learn more in any event.

1217
01:46:38,300 --> 01:46:42,640
And I know you're here for a while, but anyway, deeply, I'm saddened that you're leaving.

1218
01:46:43,460 --> 01:46:45,780
But always wishing you the best, appreciate your service.

1219
01:46:45,780 --> 01:46:50,320
appreciate all the service of the police and of our department. Thank you.

1220
01:46:52,460 --> 01:46:57,280
I'd like to revisit the budget, tax rates, moment meeting questions, and I'm just kidding.

1221
01:46:59,400 --> 01:47:04,080
Staff, thank you for your hard work on the budget. I'm always the

1222
01:47:04,080 --> 01:47:10,380
standard at the breadth of knowledge that you have. We find the most hidden question you guys always

1223
01:47:10,380 --> 01:47:15,400
have an answer, and that's very commendable. So thank you for the work. It doesn't go unnoticed.

1224
01:47:15,400 --> 01:47:19,320
You guys, the whole staff, you guys do a fantastic job.

1225
01:47:20,020 --> 01:47:26,280
Mark Bitz, we're going to see if we can make your last four months as difficult as possible.

1226
01:47:28,880 --> 01:47:29,760
I'm stuck.

1227
01:47:31,980 --> 01:47:35,800
You've been a main stage of your as a village and you will be a mess and congratulations

1228
01:47:35,800 --> 01:47:36,720
on your retirement.

1229
01:47:37,020 --> 01:47:41,660
I can tell you that I can speak very highly of retirement so far so good.

1230
01:47:42,100 --> 01:47:45,540
So I hope you enjoy it and thank you for your service to the city.

1231
01:47:50,390 --> 01:47:54,730
If staff did a very good job with the budget, I appreciate all your hard work, Austin,

1232
01:47:54,930 --> 01:47:56,790
Jennifer, everyone that helped you.

1233
01:48:01,300 --> 01:48:08,220
Chief, I remember you called me as going home from the police academy and say,

1234
01:48:08,360 --> 01:48:10,600
hey, can you stop by the office on your way home?

1235
01:48:10,680 --> 01:48:15,240
This is my 21st birthday and you started my career off.

1236
01:48:16,680 --> 01:48:26,440
And if amount of mentorship and time you put into me and those first several years, I greatly appreciate.

1237
01:48:30,260 --> 01:48:32,780
Thank you very much for all you've done for the city.

1238
01:48:33,920 --> 01:48:41,220
A little sad here that you're deciding to retire, but it is very well deserved.

1239
01:48:42,820 --> 01:48:45,720
And it looks forward to seeing what happens next.

1240
01:48:46,760 --> 01:48:49,720
I hear retirement's great thanks, so.

1241
01:48:53,620 --> 01:48:56,400
Remind everybody that schools back in session,

1242
01:48:56,540 --> 01:48:58,500
you can certainly feel it in the traffic,

1243
01:48:59,880 --> 01:49:03,460
but keep an eye out for kids moving around bus stops and schools

1244
01:49:05,380 --> 01:49:08,580
and come out to doing pianos on Friday night,

1245
01:49:08,800 --> 01:49:09,700
should be a great show.

1246
01:49:09,840 --> 01:49:12,700
It has been every year, so thank you very much.

1247
01:49:12,700 --> 01:49:15,340
And that's the end of the meeting, 848.

1248
01:49:19,260 --> 01:49:19,900
Thank you.