[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:06] Thank you for your patience. We're going to go ahead and call this regular meeting of the Lockhart City Council to order at 630. We have rescheduled this meeting because of the national night out. So we will begin with our work session, which will be held to receive briefings and to initially discuss all items contained on the agenda posted for 7 30 p.m. Generally, this work session is to simplify issues as it relates to agenda items. No vote will be taken on any issues.
[0:35] She's discussed her review during work session except to the extent specified specifically
[0:41] authorized under the Texas Open Meetings Act.
[0:44] We're going to begin our meeting tonight with two proclamations, one for National Debesic
[0:51] Violence Awareness Month and the second for Manufacturing Month.
[0:56] So,
[1:14] again, actually, it's been up here so many times to support for our organization.
[1:23] We should put her on the payroll.
[1:26] Okay.
[1:27] Oh, welcome.
[1:28] Thank you.
[1:29] Okay.
[1:29] And we have Ms. Karen Jones who is on the board for the domestic, for the, okay.
[1:36] Well, in recognition of this occasion, we've prepared this proclamation, which reads whereas
[1:43] the crime of domestic violence violates the basic human rights of safety and dignity.
[1:49] And 205 Texans were killed in an intimate partner homicide, including 179 women and 26 men.
[1:59] And whereas the problem of domestic violence is not confined to any group of people but
[2:04] cut across all economic, racial, gender, and societal barriers, and whereas the impact
[2:10] of domestic violence and teen dating violence directly affects individuals and communities
[2:16] when society ignores or tolerates violence in relationships.
[2:21] And whereas last year, HCWC provided face-to-face services to over 1,165 local victims of domestic
[2:30] domestic violence and provided 6,693 days of shelter and whereas last year HCWC provided
[2:40] these direct services to 68 victims from the City of Lockhart. So now therefore I,
[2:47] Lew, I buy the virtue of the authority vested in me as the mayor of the City of Lockhart,
[2:52] Texas to hereby proclaim the month of October the 20, 2025 as National Domestic Violence
[2:58] Awareness Month and call upon the people of Lockhart to work together with HCWC and local partners
[3:05] to bring in to domestic violence. Let me hand you that. Hello. My name is Ashley Rios. I am one
[3:14] of the program directors over at HCWC and we provide free confidential services to all adults
[3:21] adolescents or children impacted by domestic violence. All of our services again are free.
[3:26] We have a satellite office here in Lockhart where we can come and see clients here in their
[3:32] own community.
[3:33] So we appreciate all the supports.
[3:38] Good evening.
[3:39] I'm Karen Larson-Gens, and I'm a board member of HCWC, happened for several years.
[3:46] And we just are thrilled to have the city support.
[3:51] And please look for our fundraisers.
[3:53] We need every dime to do the wonderful work through this organization.
[3:58] thank you. Thank you all for coming up. I'll
[4:14] see you in a couple of months.
[4:19] We have, we have,
[4:23] here we go, and she's already told me your name and it's like a steel trap. It went out
[4:29] the way other door. Thank you for coming tonight. Yes, please, thank you. We have a lady here from
[4:34] school district who is in charge of career and technical education. Very good.
[4:42] Thank you for coming
[4:43] tonight and in recognition of this occasion we have Ms. Holly Malish who is our
[4:48] economic development coordinator here with us as well. We prepared this
[4:53] proclamation which reads whereas the manufacturing industry is a vital
[4:56] component of our economy contributing significantly to economic growth
[5:01] innovation and job creation and whereas manufacturing employees millions of
[5:07] workers across the nation providing high wage high skill jobs and serving as a
[5:12] foundation for community prosperity and whereas there are 456 people employed across 17 businesses
[5:21] in the manufacturing industry in Lockhart, Texas with an average wage of $60,000 that produce
[5:27] a diverse range of products used utilizing advanced technologies and sustainable practices making
[5:35] our region a leader in innovation and quality production. Whereas manufacturing month provides
[5:40] and opportunity to showcase the contributions of the manufacturing sector and the importance
[5:46] of investing in the future workforce through education, training, and collaboration.
[5:51] And whereas manufacturing month encourages students, parents, educators, and community leaders
[5:57] to learn more about modern manufacturing, including career paths, technological advancements,
[6:04] and the critical role of skilled workers.
[6:06] and whereas by supporting the manufacturing industry, we promote economic growth,
[6:12] environmental sustainability, and a higher quality of life for all residents.
[6:18] Now therefore, I, Lou, I, by the authority vested in me as the mayor of the City of
[6:22] Lockhart, Texas, do hereby proclaim October 2025 as manufacturing month. Okay,
[6:30] wonderful. Thank you for joining us. I'm going to pass the baton and y'all.
[6:38] I did not have anything prepared, but I just want to say thank you.
[6:44] Yeah, manufacturer something, thank you for having us here.
[6:47] Thank you for just the support from the community.
[6:51] We definitely with the school district cannot do it without y'all's support.
[6:55] So I just want to say thank you, we do offer some manufacturing.
[6:59] We are increasing our STEM offerings.
[7:00] We're also really excited about ACC coming in the near future.
[7:04] So I just want to say in you know echo about manufacturing we're continue to grow our our base here diversifying and
[7:15] Manufacturing is very important because of the high capital investment and the number of jobs and those are known as primary businesses
[7:21] And then the secondary and tertiary businesses like retail come because of manufacturing. So it's very important
[7:27] Very good. Very good. Well, thank you for coming up tonight
[8:07] We're going to item C which is a presentation and discussion of a law enforcement agreement
[8:13] with flock, group, ink or fixed automated license plate reader cameras.
[8:20] And before we get started, I'll explain how we're going to do this.
[8:24] The chief has a presentation along with a virtual presentation from representative flock
[8:30] who is out of state and we have several people who want to make public comments about this so we
[8:38] will say those comments until after we've heard the presentation and had a chance for Council to
[8:45] ask their questions. Go ahead Chief. Good evening Mayor and Council Police Chief Gary Williamson.
[8:52] The Lockhart Police Department is requesting City Council approval of a law enforcement agreement
[8:57] with Flock Group Incorporated, otherwise known as Flock Safety for the use of automated license plate reader technology.
[9:05] Flock Safety provides fixed license plate reader cameras designed to enhance public safety by assisting law enforcement in the identification and investigation of criminal activity including stolen vehicles, one in persons, and other public safety alerts.
[9:23] The proposed system will consist of seven strategically located cameras at key ingress and egress points to the city.
[9:32] These cameras will capture vehicle license plates and related vehicle characteristics transmitting real-time alerts to law enforcement for vehicles of interest.
[9:43] This technology will serve as an additional tool to help officers respond quickly and effectively to public safety concerns.
[9:51] The proposed agreement with flock group incorporated provides a 12-month initial subscription with subsequent automatic annual renewals to the flock safety platform at an annual cost of $21,000, which includes system access maintenance and real-time learning features with professional service fees waived.
[10:13] The system includes advanced capabilities such as vehicle fingerprinting and CIC, TCIC
[10:19] database integration in a 30-day data retention period.
[10:25] To ensure proper use and compliance, the Lockhart Police Department has developed a draft
[10:30] departmental policy to establish procedures for the lawful operation of license plate reader
[10:36] technology.
[10:37] The policy defines access levels, outlines auditing, and training requirements, and safeguards
[10:43] against misuse or impermissible uses.
[10:47] It also affirms that all data collection is owned by the Lockhart Police Department
[10:51] and retained only for 30 days unless tied to an investigation.
[10:56] If the agreement with FLOG Group Incorporated is approved, this policy will be formally adopted
[11:02] and implemented.
[11:04] The implementation of license plate technology is a proven force multiplier that provides
[11:09] real-time intelligence to law enforcement, enhancing both crime prevention and investigation
[11:14] capabilities.
[11:16] Several surrounding jurisdictions have successfully adopted flock safety systems, further demonstrating
[11:22] the effectiveness of the technology in modern policing.
[11:27] Supporting materials from flock safety also highlight benefits such as improved officer
[11:32] officer safety, efficiency, faster case clearance, and enhanced community safety.
[11:38] Staff recommends approval of a flock safety agreement with authorization for the
[11:43] city manager to execute the necessary documents. I'd also like to add one of
[11:51] our main crimes in town since I got here, burglary of motor vehicles, and flock
[11:59] A lot of cameras have proven in other jurisdictions to help develop leads to help with such crimes to solve them.
[12:08] Now I think it's no secret that PDE is understaffed, so we see these cameras, which would be operating 24-7 as a force multiplier, so we'd be leveraging technology to our advantage.
[12:23] We all know the city is growing, which typically brings increased crime.
[12:27] Now the PD will have a license plate reader policy in place that would regulate who we
[12:32] share with and who we will not share information with.
[12:37] There will be no sharing with federal agencies and it will not be used for illegal immigration.
[12:44] Only for wanted vehicles and crimes.
[12:47] In my opinion, I think there's a lot of misinformation out there and that's why we brought the flock
[12:52] representative in to help answer some questions.
[12:54] and so I'd like to turn it over to Brandon Williams and Trevor Chandler with flock.
[13:03] Thank you, Chief.
[13:04] I really appreciate everybody allowing us the opportunity to be at the meeting tonight.
[13:10] I'm going to walk through a presentation that shows a high level overview of flock safety
[13:15] and what our intended partnership looks like with the City of Lockhart in the police department.
[13:21] But before I get into my presentation and an overview of flock,
[13:24] I do want to take a quick second to address the elephant in the room.
[13:28] I think when it comes to technology like this, there's a very real and legitimate concern
[13:34] around privacy and data sharing.
[13:37] And at the end of the day, we are all civilians here.
[13:40] And I think that we do have one common goal when it's all said and done.
[13:44] And that's one to keep the community safe, but also making sure that we're upholding individual
[13:49] privacy.
[13:51] Because, like Chief mentioned, when it does come to technology like this that is used by
[13:55] law enforcement, there is a lot of misconceptions.
[13:59] So my hope by the end of the presentation is that it's very clear on how the technology
[14:04] works, what the intended use cases are in art, what kind of data is being captured and not
[14:11] being captured, as well as how the data is shared, who it's shared with and who it's not
[14:16] shared with.
[14:17] And then my last hope is that regardless of what kind of decision is made tonight, is that at least the decision is made with clarity and facts.
[14:27] So with that being said, flocks safety at its core, we are a technology company.
[14:33] We provide all sorts of different types of solutions, but today like Chief mentioned is going to be centered around our license plate reader cameras.
[14:40] We work with law enforcement, we work with private businesses, and we work with neighborhoods and
[14:47] homeowner's associations, all again with one goal to keep the community safe.
[14:53] And today we're protecting over 1,500 businesses nationwide, over 2,800 crimes.
[15:00] We are actually solved with the help of flock, which makes up about 15% of overall reported crimes across the country. And we're protecting over 6,000 communities to date.
[15:13] And like Chief mentioned, most agencies are understaffed, which is the case for Lockhart PD. The applicant pool when it comes to law enforcement has almost evaporated and retention is also a big issue. And then crime is up across the country. And so what more and more agencies are actually having
[15:31] to do is turn to technology like this to help fill that gap.
[15:37] So at the end of the day, our sole intention is to help current officers do more with
[15:43] less.
[15:44] We want to maximize their efficiency.
[15:47] We want to improve their safety and ultimately help the PD solve cases quicker and reduce
[15:54] overall crime.
[15:58] And when it comes to who we work with, there's a lot of agencies, cities, towns and counties
[16:02] just in your backyard that are currently utilizing the flock cameras.
[16:07] Colwell County, which is you always county the sheriff's office.
[16:11] Colwell County Council's office, San Marcos PD,
[16:15] Según PD, Kyle, Buddha, Taylor, Sunset Valley,
[16:21] Mustang Ridge, Bastrop, Luling, New Braunfels,
[16:26] Hays County, Bastard County, Guadalupe County, Manor PD and then Texas Department of Public Safety came on board with us about three months ago and they're going to be putting up about 1500 cameras all across the state.
[16:42] So today across the state of Texas we've got over 250 cities, counties and towns that are utilizing a wide variety of our different types of solutions.
[16:52] and to point out, speaking of Cullwell County,
[16:54] they recently had a very successful use case
[16:57] with our flock cameras, where they were actually able to
[17:01] track down and arrest a child abuse suspect
[17:04] with the help of their LPR cameras.
[17:07] I'm not sure if you were aware of this,
[17:09] but just recently there was a five-person homicide
[17:12] at a casino down by the border.
[17:14] The suspect fled all the way up the stockdale,
[17:19] which is about an hour from Lockhart.
[17:22] And with the help of these LPR cameras,
[17:24] multiple agencies were able to track down the suspect
[17:27] and ultimately apprehend the suspect.
[17:30] And in addition to that,
[17:31] Flock has helped return over 3,000 missing children
[17:34] over the last about three years or so
[17:37] with the direct integration with the amber alert database.
[17:40] And especially in Texas with human trafficking
[17:44] as prevalent as it is,
[17:46] There's a lot more use cases to flock than just tracking down stolen vehicles.
[17:54] And so all of this is really just intended to show that by no means will you all be stepping
[17:59] out on a limb, being a guinea pig with this.
[18:02] And if the chief and the police department does choose to share their data with these other
[18:07] neighboring agencies, they'll be able to seamlessly work together to solve cases quicker and be
[18:13] more efficient.
[18:16] And so as far as the LPR cameras are concerned, you can see a visual of what they look like.
[18:23] We're going on all the major entrances of the city of Lockhart.
[18:27] And what they're doing, there's two sides to this. There's an investigative piece
[18:32] where the data that's collected by the LPR cameras can be used in open investigations.
[18:37] And then the other side is that the direct integration with the amber alert database, NCIC-TCCIC,
[18:45] as well as the PD having the ability to create their own hot list of vehicles of interest.
[18:49] Any time these vehicles are picked up by the cameras, an alert will go out in real time.
[18:54] So one, we know about it.
[18:56] And then two, it gives the PD a fighting chance to actually position themselves and do something
[19:01] about it.
[19:02] So again, they're able to solve cases a lot quicker.
[19:05] And then as far as what kind of data is being collected by these LPR cameras, it's simply
[19:11] a still image of the vehicle and a still image of the license plate.
[19:16] There's no live video, there's no facial recognition, and there's absolutely no personal data
[19:23] that's being collected.
[19:25] And so, Flot cannot tie a registration to a license plate.
[19:30] It is simply just the make-in-the-model of the vehicle and the tag.
[19:37] And so at the end of the day, I'm going to transition this over to Trevor to talk about
[19:42] our proactive privacy measures that we're taking to make sure that we're not overstepping
[19:47] civilian privacy and that we're making sure that we're being responsible when it comes
[19:52] to data sharing.
[19:56] Hi, everyone.
[19:57] My name is Trevor.
[19:58] I am the Director of Public Affairs here at FLOC.
[20:00] So, an important thing to know is that our privacy, transparency and accountability measures
[20:06] aren't by accident, they're by design, and they're also lead the industry in how we are
[20:13] continually investing in advancing these guardrails and accountability measures.
[20:19] A couple items we really want to stress.
[20:22] First, as your chief mentioned, the data and images that are collected by your flat cameras
[20:28] are 100% owned by you.
[20:31] Flock does not own them.
[20:33] Flock does not sell them.
[20:34] Flock does not sell data period.
[20:36] And that's very important to note.
[20:38] And no federal agencies will have access here data
[20:41] unless your community chooses to share it with them.
[20:44] Flock will make no decision to share your data period.
[20:48] We will, Flock will never share your data.
[20:50] Flock will never sell your data.
[20:51] That is your data for you to decide what to do with.
[20:56] We also have the automatic deletion date.
[20:59] This is about the balance of privacy and public safety.
[21:02] You know, the cameras serve a very important immediate alert purpose as well as an investigatory
[21:09] purpose.
[21:09] There are many crimes that don't get reported for potentially weeks at a time, specifically
[21:13] sex crimes and other crimes that may not get reported for weeks.
[21:18] And by having a 30-day retention period, this is what we found with law enforcement agencies
[21:24] across the country is the best practice so that you're not continually collecting a massive amount
[21:28] of images of your community, but you are providing your law enforcement with the tools to do
[21:34] an important investigatory work. And as was just stated, no personal information is being collected.
[21:40] FOX does not have access to the DMV records. We do not have access to any personally identifiable
[21:45] information. These cameras are being positioned to take photos to have the rear of a vehicle to get
[21:51] the best photo of the license plate. And just very important to note, license plates are
[21:56] public documents owned by the statement for public display on public roadways. So this
[22:00] is not personally identifiable information. A flock cannot connect these license plates to any
[22:07] people, as you just heard. These are, these are focused on license plates in the vehicles.
[22:12] And again, you can say this many times, only your agency gets to choose who you decide to share
[22:18] your images with, if at all.
[22:22] And you all have, as was just mentioned by your chief,
[22:25] very strict policy that's been put in place.
[22:27] And about keeping this data safe on this side,
[22:31] you'll see there is all the encryption standards
[22:34] that we uphold.
[22:35] The most important one is the FBIC, just standards.
[22:38] That's the criminal justice information services standards.
[22:42] So we are FBI certified to handle public safety data.
[22:46] And then we have all SOC 2 types you auditing to ensure our systems are to date ISO 2700,
[22:52] a HIPAA FERPA.
[22:53] What's really important to note here is that this is a level of security encryption that
[22:58] most cities and governments put around their most sensitive information, social security
[23:03] numbers, register our deeds, what you have there at City Hall.
[23:06] This rivals, if not in some cases, surpasses the encryption for this incredibly sensitive
[23:11] personal data.
[23:12] Now, even though we are taking pictures of non-sensitive public data, which are license
[23:17] ways, we still treated with the highest level of encryption standards and security to make
[23:22] sure that it is fully safe and secure.
[23:27] So next slide.
[23:31] And this, again, we believe that community safety should never have to come at the expense
[23:35] of community values.
[23:36] So, we have several items that have put us on the cutting edge of compliance features
[23:43] in the public safety technology space.
[23:47] If you prefer, we have search filters that will prevent anyone, including outside agencies
[23:51] you're sharing with, from searching for anything related to immigration or reproductive health
[23:56] care.
[23:56] And so, you can opt into that at your request, and we're happy to provide those filters
[24:01] for you.
[24:01] Again, no federal access to statewide or national lookup.
[24:06] You would have to make the conscious decision, deliberate decision, to share with a federal
[24:12] agency if you chose to or not.
[24:14] You block will never make that decision.
[24:18] While the images are deleted after 30 days, the ones that aren't being used for investigations,
[24:23] the audit logs are permanent.
[24:24] From the very first day, this system starts in the very first search that is made.
[24:28] your community and your agency can run an audit at any point in time so you can always make sure
[24:35] that the system is being utilized in a way that aligns with your community values in that audit
[24:40] log is permanent. And also with legal response, if Flock receives a subpoena for an image of
[24:48] that your cameras have collected, we are contractually obligated to redirect that subpoena request to you
[24:55] as you are the owners of the data, so your legal counsel can make a decision on how you
[25:00] want to respond in line with your local laws and values.
[25:08] And we also provide a bunch of transparency features, which are very important.
[25:12] If you would like, we offer a transparency portal free of charge.
[25:15] We host it, so you don't have to put it on, you don't have to build your own web page.
[25:19] But we can build it for you, and you can have it posted on your website showing what your
[25:26] policy is what's allowed and what's not allowed, you know, what agencies you're, what other
[25:31] agencies you've chosen to share with, if at all, the number of scams, we can customize
[25:36] this for anything that you might be interested in. And every search, again, that is covered
[25:42] under the audit, requires a registered ID with either a search reason or a case number. So
[25:48] every single search has to have either one, both will have your registered ID with either
[25:53] the research reason or case number.
[25:55] If you'd like, we can actually require both
[25:58] a search reason and a case number
[25:59] to be included in any search.
[26:01] We have the permanent audit trail
[26:02] and we very much encourage regular audits.
[26:05] Some agencies do it once a year, once a quarter,
[26:09] once a month, once a week.
[26:10] You can do it as often as you want.
[26:13] And pretty soon we have additional compliance features
[26:16] coming out where we actually have proactive auditing
[26:18] where if they're the algorithm
[26:21] them that we're in the machine learning, we're putting together to detect some odd searches,
[26:27] say you have an officer searching at very odd times of the day when they're not working,
[26:31] when they're off hours, or certain types of searching for the same license plate multiple,
[26:36] multiple times, even though it's not connected with a crime or case number. The things like that
[26:41] will provide an automatic alert to your system administrator, so you don't have to wait until an audit
[26:46] that is run to identify potential misuse in the system.
[26:56] And would that be inside that RAPSAR presentation?
[26:59] And again, at the end of the day, this is intended to just help the PD do more with less and
[27:04] only be used for the intent of when crimes occur to give a fighting chance for
[27:08] the PD to do something about it and prevent them and solve those cases quickly.
[27:12] Thank you for you all's time today, tonight.
[27:20] So Council, do you have questions while they're on the online?
[27:24] I guess I have one question at what level are y'all interacting with the looing PD?
[27:31] With looing PD? Yeah, it was on the list of
[27:35] Cities that they work with I guess as far as flock. Yes. I think up up until this point
[27:42] Nothing nothing. Okay. I mean I communicate with chief
[27:47] Being down there, but we not flock. Okay, they were on the list
[27:51] I believe they're getting the technology or they either just got it.
[27:58] So I have a question, go ahead, Mr. Mayor.
[28:00] Can the representatives address the instances of problems that they've had with this as
[28:10] far as misuse or unauthorized access or complaints or lawsuits about unauthorized access to the
[28:19] data?
[28:24] We are going to initiate this meeting and while we're navigating this technical challenge
[28:30] here we could perhaps receive comments from either council related to chief or of audience
[28:38] questions here while we get our representatives back up.
[28:40] Mary.
[28:42] Okay.
[28:42] Moot point.
[28:43] I guess we're back up and running.
[28:45] I was like wow, they really didn't like us.
[28:51] So I heard the question about addressing the complaints or issues of misuse.
[28:58] And so we take this extremely seriously.
[29:02] Any instance of misuse is unacceptable and anyone that does misuse the system should
[29:08] be held accountable to their laws and regulation.
[29:11] And to that effect, what we have done, and it's, you know, it's one of the issues where we
[29:16] you built such a transparent and accountable system where, again, you might see a news article
[29:20] about an officer here or an officer there potentially misusing it, it's incredibly rare.
[29:28] But in the instances you do read about it, it's because of the transparency and accountability
[29:33] features.
[29:34] It's because that person was caught because we have the permanent audit logs, the fact that
[29:38] we do have these transparency features and we have these accountability features that allow
[29:43] robust and comprehensive oversight to hold that after is accountable.
[29:48] And so, as I said, we're continuing to innovate and be a industry leader in those compliance
[29:54] features so that compliance, both at an individual level, so people make sure they're not
[30:00] They're stakingly breaking their policy, or, you know, at a level of intentional misuse that those people are caught so they can have to be educated on how you all are running your program, or they can be admonished in alignment with your local and state laws and regulations.
[30:24] So I've had a lot of comments from my constituents, and the main thing is they're concerned about is privacy.
[30:35] The rules on Lockhart Police Department on how we share the data could change at any time.
[30:44] So we're not feeling that there's a guarantee that this data won't be shared at a later
[30:50] date, or for that matter as you spoke to subpoenaed, you all can't be subpoenaed, but we can
[30:56] be sipping it for this information.
[30:59] So the overreach on invasion of privacy is a huge concern for my constituents.
[31:09] Yes.
[31:10] And you know, those are valid and real.
[31:12] And so a couple of instances regarding that.
[31:15] So that is true of all the data and all the information that the city in your law enforcement
[31:21] collects.
[31:21] So this would not be unique to any other of that information.
[31:26] What differentiates this in our view is that this first, unlike any of the other data
[31:36] mostly that the city or law enforcement holds on to, gets deleted after 30 days.
[31:42] So whereas if the federal or state administration decided to come in and
[31:48] and subpoena voting records or any number of things that the city holds on to.
[31:54] Those are all permanent and they can access those at any time whenever they want to submit a subpoena for if they have the legal rationale.
[32:01] The benefit of the way this system is balanced again, balancing community safety and community values, privacy and public safety is that 30-day sweet spot where after 30 days these are hard to leave it, they cannot be retrieved period.
[32:13] And so that allows a level of comfort to make sure that you know that, you know, an entity
[32:19] might not want subpoenaing your data because it's coming at any moment and do that.
[32:24] Second, compared to items say, like your registrar of deeds or any item like that, that provides
[32:32] very specific location data based on the individual's address where they've lived, all these things.
[32:39] the by the time say even in a week or two weeks this data for reasons other than you
[32:47] know solving specific crimes gets less and less useful as every week goes on so
[32:53] let's say it's two weeks in you get a subpoena for a particular item by the time
[33:00] you respond to that subpoena and that works this way through the court you're
[33:03] already passed the 30-day mark so compared to all the other information that the
[33:07] The city is already holding on to that, you know, might be sensitive to a level of subpoena.
[33:12] This system differentiates itself in providing a privacy safeguard with both the nature of
[33:19] the images that's collecting, which is a license plate, which is, again, this is identifying
[33:24] vehicles, not people.
[33:25] So just because it's a license plate doesn't mean we don't know who's driving the car.
[33:29] That's for your investigators to identify.
[33:31] But it's also a matter of the nature and whether it actually be beneficial.
[33:38] So compared to everything else the city is holding on to, this likely has some of the most stringent and comprehensive safeguards to prevent that sort of thing from happening.
[33:46] So I don't want to get too technical into this, but talking about the subpoena issue.
[33:51] So something comes up and it were two weeks in, it automatically deletes in 30 days.
[33:56] days. But if we were subpoenaed and they said, do not delete any information, then that
[34:03] process could be stopped, correct? And it could be stopped for 30 days, 60 days, 90 days,
[34:08] three years.
[34:10] Well, it's possible, again, this is a hypothetical legal situation, but they may demand you
[34:14] at least download that information. But again, by the time that, even if you download it,
[34:20] refuse to hand it over while the court goes through, it's subpoenaed process, by the time
[34:25] When the subpoena process is done and you either move to quash or any other number of motions,
[34:32] months down the line, that image for the most part is relatively useless.
[34:36] And so it's a matter of, again, there's risk, there's inherent risk in everything and
[34:42] we take that very seriously, and that's why we so strongly believe the balance of both privacy and
[34:47] public safety is better in this system than likely in the other system that you're law enforcement.
[34:53] or even the city and county itself are using.
[34:58] Right, so one more time.
[34:59] So if we were ordered as a city,
[35:01] not to delete our information,
[35:03] if we got a subpoena,
[35:05] the system doesn't automatically delete.
[35:07] There is a mechanism where we would be able
[35:10] to hold that information
[35:11] for an indefinite amount of time,
[35:13] pursuant to whatever we're being asked to do, is that correct?
[35:17] Yes, so you would download it similar
[35:18] to your law enforcement downloading it for an investigation.
[35:23] So any image that is not downloaded before the 30-day deletion date is hard deleted.
[35:29] So if there was a legal mandate saying we want you to download all of this and
[35:34] you say no, but they say you have to do it anyways while we work through the real process,
[35:38] you would be able to download those specific images in compliance with the courts.
[35:43] Okay. One more question. Has your system ever been breached and has information, personal information
[35:53] been breached about the people who have been tracked on your system?
[35:59] No. It has not. There has been some misstatements in the press that there have been breaches.
[36:05] What those were referring to were people that they had made a sharing decision to share with
[36:10] another entity in some cases, other members of the government might not have realized they made that decision to share and that's where some confusion came in, but there's never been a breach of flock system and again, the benefit of flock system because we do not have any access to personally identifiable information is there is no personally identifiable information to be leaked.
[36:32] These are images of license plates that are not connected to a DMV record or anything within our system.
[36:38] So that is the answer, there is, no, we have not had a breach, and we have never had a leak or a breach of personal information, because we do not collect personal information.
[36:48] Okay, thank you.
[36:50] Mr. Williams, first and foremost, thank you for your time in the presentation, and I appreciate the fact that you started off with, let's discuss the elephant in the room, and that is very important.
[37:01] And of course, you know, the citizens' personal information is very personal and very private.
[37:11] My question is a few phone calls and one of the comments was, the cameras that are used
[37:22] are very high-intense cameras.
[37:24] They will tell you that it's only going to capture the license plate number and it's only
[37:33] going to capture the make and model and color of the car.
[37:39] But because these cameras are so intense, these cameras can actually pick up other information
[37:46] or other details in the vehicle.
[37:49] So my question is the use of these cameras, what is their intensity, can they pick up on all that or are the cameras just focused on the license plate number that make a model of the vehicle?
[38:09] Yeah, so the cameras will pick up whatever is in range, but it's important to note.
[38:13] So, if the camera is triggered because of their motion sensor, it drives by, and there's maybe an individual walking in the crosswalk, there could be a picture of that individual is included in that image.
[38:27] However, it's important to note the system cannot be searched for human characteristics.
[38:32] If your officer tried to put in someone with brown hair, six foot one, and facial hair, it wouldn't be possible.
[38:39] The system can only be searched for vehicles.
[38:43] There is no facial recognition because it only searches for vehicles.
[38:47] It can search for vehicles and vehicle characteristics.
[38:51] So I'm going to use myself as an example because it's just easier.
[38:54] If Angie Gonzalez-Sanche's vehicle, the program actually hones into my license plate,
[39:04] the information that's going to be put into the system will be
[39:10] Angie Gonzalez, the license plate number.
[39:14] It'll be the model and make of the vehicle.
[39:18] What other information will be input into this data system?
[39:24] Will there be an address information?
[39:27] Will there be phone number?
[39:28] And I know, you know, I may be thinking outside of the box, but that's okay because I know
[39:35] people are asking these, you know, they're wondering about these questions.
[39:38] Well, their date of birth information beyond there, where their social security number
[39:42] beyond there will, you know, this information have place of employment.
[39:49] So basically, what's the basic information that is going to be captured and actually recorded
[39:58] on this, you know, on the flock program.
[40:01] Thank you so much for asking that question,
[40:04] and that's what we're here for.
[40:05] Is all that will be, is your license plate
[40:08] in the vehicle characteristics?
[40:10] Your name will never be in our,
[40:11] we don't have your name in our system.
[40:13] We don't have DMV records in our system.
[40:15] We don't have any employer information in our system.
[40:18] We have no address items in our system, period.
[40:23] All of these images are collecting
[40:24] are the time and location as well as the features of the vehicle, including the license plate.
[40:31] That is it. There is no social security number, no DMV records, no personally identifying
[40:36] information that is collected on these cameras at all.
[40:40] Okay, and thank you. The information that's collected, where is it stored?
[40:48] Yes, thank you for that. We use servers on the AWS Guv Cloud. These are the same servers
[40:54] that many municipalities use. They are heavily encrypted. They have all of those
[40:58] encryption that I previously talked about, including the Sieges, the Criminal Justice Information
[41:02] Services certification that is required by the FBI to hold on to any data for public safety
[41:09] purposes. And so, we utilize the AWS Gov Club. And we know that technology is, you know, it is,
[41:17] it's here, and it's very useful with some of our jobs and what we do. But we also know that
[41:23] there with technology, their hackers out there. So my question to you is if the database was hacked
[41:32] in by a hacker because that is a strong possibility. We hope that it wouldn't happen. But it can't
[41:38] happen. If a hacker were to come in, how is that information protected? How is that information
[41:46] protected to where it's not going to go into the hands of the wrong individuals or just bad people?
[41:54] Yeah, I mean, it's a totally valid question and concern.
[41:59] And so what we can say is AWS cloud has never been hacked to our knowledge and has never been breached.
[42:07] There was one instance where someone mistakenly as an administrator to the gub cloud, not on us.
[42:14] But this was the only case that I could find because I look into this as well.
[42:18] mistakenly provided access within their system, and that was a whole nother thing, but there was never been a hat.
[42:24] And again, this is very important to assess risks when you're dealing with any sort of situation.
[42:29] And that's why we take it so seriously, and we're continually innovating in encryption.
[42:33] And we're continually innovating and rotating in encryption keys.
[42:37] So you don't have to have one key that we cold on to, like I say, it actually changes.
[42:41] So if someone might try to steal it, then it goes stale and no longer works later.
[42:45] So we take that threat extremely seriously and that's why we've invested in and continue to invest in innovating some of the most robust encryption standards.
[42:54] So in your presentation, you indicated that the information that the Lockhart Police Department will gather, it's going to be up to the discretion of our police department on what law enforcement entities to share that information with.
[43:09] So, again, I'm using myself as an example, I get stopped, the license plate reader comes
[43:15] on, and there is a warrant out for Angie Gonzalez-Sunches for burglary.
[43:20] So at that point, the officers are going to do what they have to do, because there is
[43:25] a warrant out for my arrest.
[43:28] But let's, and again, I may be thinking out the box, but that's okay.
[43:31] Okay, let's say the burglary that I committed wasn't in Colwell County, it was in Harris or Travis.
[43:42] So how can, and I know this information will be helpful for Colwell County and the City of Law Cart.
[43:49] But how is that information going to be helpful for the counties that are actually looking for me because there's a warrant out for my arrest?
[43:58] Great question. And again, that comes down to your community's decision on who to share with.
[44:03] It's a two-way street, right? Because crime knows no borders if you're in Caldwell or Harris counties.
[44:09] And so, you know, some people choose to share with the entire state.
[44:12] So if someone that they're looking for, who committed a crime in their county,
[44:18] happens to be in another end of the state, that they'll get that alert.
[44:20] And that county's police will be able to respond to that as well.
[44:23] So that's the decision that you all make during your, as you're deciding who to share with.
[44:29] There is incredible benefit to sharing with neighboring counties and cities and even throughout the state.
[44:35] But we also realize that there's also a values decision, community values decision that has to be made.
[44:40] So as you limit your sharing, you're also limiting the potential ability to catch wanted criminals,
[44:47] both from your own community and criminals that have committed crimes in other parts of the state.
[44:52] So if that information were to come out as you can all the Sanchez award out for her as for burglary will that
[45:00] Information, always be on the database, or is it going to go away after the 30-day period? That information state, you would remain on the hot list as they call it that your law enforcement chooses to upload until they choose to take it off. But if Angie Gonzalez Sanchez were stopped and the license plate reader is read and there's nothing comes up on Angie Gonzalez Sanchez, then 30 days, Angie Gonzalez's information is off, correct?
[45:29] Correct.
[45:30] Correct.
[45:30] Okay.
[45:31] And thank you Council for bearing with me with all these questions.
[45:35] And I don't know if this question can be answered, but in the event, if we were to participate
[45:42] in this program, where would the location of cameras go to?
[45:48] I mean, are we targeting the main door fairs that are coming into the city of Lockhart?
[45:54] Correct.
[45:54] That's what we're discussing right now.
[45:56] Now they wouldn't go into any neighborhoods just to see entrances and possibly exits to town.
[46:02] Usually you put them at the entrances of that way if you can alert our officers have time in town to catch up and locate the suspect.
[46:09] Okay, and thank you for answering that question.
[46:12] But the sites have not been formalized but the discussion has been the main thoroughfare.
[46:17] Okay, so Mr. Williams, you indicated that Lockhart Police Department would have, we would
[46:27] have that information, we would decide whether or not we want to share that information.
[46:32] This is all scenario-based.
[46:35] In the event that we were to go with your program, everything that you have listed that cannot
[46:42] not happen will that be part of the contract to ensure our security that you know this information
[46:51] isn't going to go anywhere at the event that and again just scenarios like I like thinking
[46:57] outside that box if you know your company gets sold how will we as an entity and as a city are we going
[47:06] Are we going to be secured that the contract that's in place is still going to be valid even though it's going to another company because when that happens, I mean anything and everything can happen.
[47:21] No, so our contract is a legally binding document, and it does have severance clauses in it.
[47:28] So if flock were to do anything that goes against city or state law, anything like that you all would have caused
[47:35] through our contract to terminate, and there's other severance clauses there as well too.
[47:41] So if regardless of whether we are bought or not, the contract that you, the county and us signed is still a valid legally binding contract.
[47:52] with all the clauses to shut it off,
[47:56] or if some exceptional circumstance happened to resay.
[47:59] Nope, it's just not worth the risk.
[48:01] There are options within the contract
[48:03] to end the relationship and have the cameras turned off.
[48:07] And my last question, and it is another elephant
[48:12] in the room, so to speak.
[48:15] Is this a tool, and I know it's a very sensitive subject,
[48:19] But it has to be asked, is this a tool or a form to be used for deportation?
[48:29] A tool for a form?
[48:33] Okay, because right now, I mean immigration status, deportation, it's a really big issue.
[48:39] And people's opinions are, they're all over the place.
[48:43] Well, I will tell you, in the policy draft policy I have, we would only share if we shared,
[48:48] would be stayed in local and it would not be used to share with federal for any
[48:55] purpose federal or especially illegal immigration.
[48:59] Okay, and we've also, as we mentioned in the presentation, at the county's
[49:04] request, we could actually provide an additional layer of protection in that
[49:08] regard. We've spearheaded new search filters for both reproductive health and
[49:14] immigration. So if anyone that you are sharing data with or within your own
[49:18] agency attempts to search under any number of parameters related to immigration, they would
[49:24] not be able to search the system. And so we could absolutely provide that service and
[49:30] those search filters to the county.
[49:32] Gentlemen, I think those are all my questions unless something else comes up. Thank you for
[49:35] your time.
[49:37] I've got questions.
[49:40] Somebody cut me off. Can you hear me?
[49:42] We can hear you.
[49:43] It's red.
[49:45] I think all of ours are red now.
[49:46] So when you say the information is deleted in 30 days, what's it deleted from?
[49:55] The Amazon Web Server GovCloud. So is it still somewhere in your files?
[50:05] Nope, it only exists in your section of the cloud that is utilized for your services
[50:11] is to get into more technical terms, there's actually a severe sanitation is what they call
[50:17] it, data sanitization that is used, that's the same level of data sanitization that is
[50:23] used for sensitive government documents.
[50:26] Okay, so I'll ask another elephant portion.
[50:31] You make
[50:37] this sound good, but why are so many cities that already have it, but are not
[50:43] not to add more to it.
[50:47] Yeah, this is a very individual decision based on a community's balance of public safety
[50:52] and values.
[50:53] I can tell you, I just looked at the numbers today.
[50:56] We are in over 5,512, probably more as of this hour, law enforcement agencies across
[51:04] the country.
[51:04] There's always going to be a select few that, for any reasons, whether it's budgetary,
[51:09] or, you know, again, talking about that balance between public safety and privacy.
[51:15] This is a net, as Brandon said at the beginning of this presentation, the balance of privacy and public safety
[51:20] is a very nuanced and tough discussion that varies from not only year to year, but sometimes month to month lately.
[51:28] And as communities are having this discussion, that's what we're seeing a lot of, but actually not even a lot of.
[51:34] because I would say only about this year, I would say six communities. I know you also
[51:42] have San Marcus in the neighborhood that still maintains their cameras and, you know,
[51:48] we're in conversations with other municipalities around the state and country, but less than 10 is
[51:55] not what we want to make sure we maintain as many of our customers and as many of the agencies
[52:00] is utilizing us as possible, we understand there's always going to be changes in priorities
[52:04] and budgets that result in losing some customers just naturally every year.
[52:21] If you're talking,
[52:21] I cannot hear you.
[52:29] If you are talking, I cannot hear you. I can't either.
[52:54] We were doing so well.
[52:56] would the tech do
[53:54] you know sign language right
[58:41] are we back
[1:03:00] We have audio.
[1:03:44] Some of them are quiet.
[1:12:41] If the city were to
[1:12:59] look outside and see what's going
[1:13:03] on here, we're mass secret police are rounding up our neighbors and military.
[1:13:09] I think we probably all understand this is not being done in fifth, eighth, or public safety. In fact, it's making us less safe. Due process is evaporating before our eyes. And we're no longer innocent, self-proving guilty, we're guilty, self-proving innocent. The law that was supposed to apply in the government from impenching on our freedom has been inverted to where people now have
[1:13:30] their freedoms impinged upon and they have to prove privacy,
[1:13:49] yes, but if you trade away
[1:13:51] all of your privacy to gain security, you end up with neither.
[1:13:54] So there's now a mountain of evidence about the abuse of ALPR systems like flock.
[1:13:59] In Austin, they had a seven day retention policy, the most strict policy in the country.
[1:14:04] And they found that up to 20% of searches were not justifiable.
[1:14:09] And I just want to end by reading a quote directly from a flock employee this week in 404
[1:14:14] they said as much as Flock tries to be good stewards of the powerful tech we sell it shows it is really up to the users to serve their communities in good faith
[1:14:21] Selling to law enforcement is tricky because we assume they will use our tech to do good and then just have hope that
[1:14:27] They're right even a flock took a stance on permitted use cases a motivated user could simply lie about why they're performing a search
[1:14:34] We can never know 100% how or why our tools are being used
[1:15:00] I am a resident of San Marcos, but I also am the communications director for Ground Game Texas. And I wanted to read a statement on behalf of Kaylee Baskett who is a resident of Lockhart. Her address is 542 Bright Road. She was not able to be here tonight. Mayor councilmembers, neighbors, thank you for the time. I'm here because the proposal to adopt flock automated license plate readers isn't a routine technology purchase.
[1:15:28] It's a decision about whether we normalize mass vehicle tracking in a small town that
[1:15:34] prides itself on trust and accountability.
[1:15:36] First, look at the pattern elsewhere.
[1:15:38] Major cities are now in winding these deals because of privacy, legality, and misuse concerns.
[1:15:44] Denver City Council voted unanimously not to extend its flock contract this spring, citing
[1:15:49] data sharing and surveillance risks.
[1:15:51] Evanson, Illinois, deactivated all 19 FOC cameras and issued a termination notice after
[1:15:57] a state audit raised serious compliance issues.
[1:16:01] Oak Park followed.
[1:16:02] If larger cities with deep resources are stepping back, that should give a small community like
[1:16:06] RS Paws.
[1:16:07] Second, recent incidents show how easily the system can be misused across jurisdictions.
[1:16:13] This summer, investigative reporting field, a Texas sheriff's office used FOC's national
[1:16:18] look up to query more than eight, sorry, 83,000 cameras across the country while searching
[1:16:25] for a woman suspected of a self-managed abortion reaching into states where that conduct
[1:16:29] is legal. Members of Congress have since demanded answers from flock about this tool in its
[1:16:34] safeguards. This is not a hypothetical concern, it already happened. In response to mounting
[1:16:39] scrutiny, flocked to submitted pilots with federal agencies such as Customs of Border
[1:16:44] Protection and Homeland Security Investigations, and restricted parts of its national
[1:16:48] we'll look at featuring some states.
[1:16:50] Those moves were admissions that guardrails were inadequate.
[1:16:53] When a vendor has to hit the brakes mid-flight,
[1:16:56] it's a signal that localities like ours
[1:16:57] shouldn't be the next test case.
[1:17:00] Third, data sharing can violate local policy and state law,
[1:17:04] even if our police act in good faith.
[1:17:06] In Richmond, Virginia, Federal agents access the city's
[1:17:09] flock network for immigration,
[1:17:11] look at contrary to local policy,
[1:17:13] the police chief cut off that access
[1:17:15] only after it was discovered.
[1:17:16] Illinois Secretary of State launched an investigation after suburban departments shared
[1:17:21] plate data use and abortion and immigration searches barred by state law.
[1:17:25] If bigger departments are tripping these wires, it's naive to think we'll never face
[1:17:29] similar exposure.
[1:17:31] Fourth, errors in overreliance create safety and liability risks.
[1:17:35] National outlets have documented wrongful stops triggered by plate reader hits or simple
[1:17:40] data entry to mistakes.
[1:17:41] People who are put over at gunpoint because the system or an operator got it wrong.
[1:17:45] That's the interest for residents and costly for taxpayers.
[1:17:49] Technology that's right most of the time isn't good enough when the consequence of error is again point stop on our streets.
[1:17:55] Thank you.
[1:18:17] I believe these are active again, so if you just want to tap your microphone.
[1:18:26] Good evening Council, my name is Sam Bonavivas.
[1:18:30] I live in San Marcos, and I know some of us feel about that, but I work here in Lockhart.
[1:18:36] Our office is just down the road right across from the courthouse.
[1:18:39] And I'm here because I'm really, really concerned about the growing presence of automated
[1:18:47] license plate readers across our region.
[1:18:50] I've been speaking out before multiple lawmaking bodies the last few months, first in San
[1:18:56] Marcos, where as you all know, our city council voted against expansion of the flock cameras
[1:19:02] because they understand that we are living in a new political reality and they just know
[1:19:09] the risk that comes with it, both privacy and immigration and protecting our neighbors.
[1:19:16] Also, in Kyle, residents are speaking out in Hayes County, as y'all mentioned, people
[1:19:21] are speaking out and now here. But it's really concerning how quickly this tool of mass
[1:19:29] surveillance is coming to our region. And I just want to share with you why I'm so concerned
[1:19:34] just to give you some additional perspective ahead of this critical vote tonight. So, of
[1:19:38] course immigration concerns, right? So what I'm going to read is an excerpt from the
[1:19:45] calls will counties data sharing agreement with DPS. So section A2 says the user agency,
[1:19:57] so calls will county sheriff's office and this is their data sharing agreement. User agency
[1:20:01] shall allow Texas DPS to share the user agency's data contributed to the LPR database with
[1:20:07] with other authorized criminal justice
[1:20:10] or law enforcement agencies.
[1:20:12] And I say that because I'm not sure if you all know
[1:20:14] but DPS and ICE work very closely together.
[1:20:18] A lot of times DPS will pull someone over
[1:20:20] and ICE is like five minutes away
[1:20:22] and that's how a lot of the deportations are happening.
[1:20:24] It's not even jailed to deportation pipeline.
[1:20:27] It's right, you know, ticket to deportation pipeline.
[1:20:30] And so we know that DPS works very closely with ICE.
[1:20:34] So that's one thing that I would really urge you to take a look at
[1:20:36] is law-cart sharing data with DPS because, you know,
[1:20:40] flocks are going to say, we're not working with ICE.
[1:20:42] Law-cart police departments are going to say, we're not working with ICE.
[1:20:44] Are they working with DPS?
[1:20:46] Is a question that I think is very paramount.
[1:20:51] I'm also really concerned about the targeting of political descendants.
[1:20:55] As someone who has been very outspoken,
[1:20:57] I am seeing the attacks on free speech.
[1:21:00] I don't think anyone in this room, despite where you fall in the political spectrum,
[1:21:04] can argue that we are not living in a new political reality where free speech is being suppressed
[1:21:10] and punished in a text of state. We just had a professor who was fired. There have been times,
[1:21:18] is that my time? Damn, I'm out of lumber to say. Yeah, there's a lot more notes that I had, but I just,
[1:21:27] I really like Taylor's comment to, you know, be leaders. I understand there's
[1:21:31] FOMO, if you're missing out, and I would encourage you to be leaders in this fight.
[1:21:37] Thank you.
[1:21:49] Mayor Council, we do have our audio-visual system back up, however, due to the sensitive nature
[1:21:55] of it at this time.
[1:21:56] We're recommending that we do not add the flock representatives back by Zoom tonight.
[1:22:02] That way we can navigate the rest of the agenda, however.
[1:22:05] Council, if you like, this item could be tabled after receiving citizen comments.
[1:22:09] If you decide to move forward with the discussion.
[1:22:11] if not, the different action can be taken.
[1:22:38] I do have a quick question, excuse me,
[1:22:40] before you get started.
[1:22:42] So we're not going to speak with the representatives,
[1:22:46] again, this evening.
[1:22:49] That is correct.
[1:22:50] Yes, now what we can do is ask them to join us in person
[1:22:54] at a future meeting to get additional information
[1:22:56] and follow up to the questions asked tonight
[1:22:59] if that's the direction of council.
[1:23:00] And what's the reasoning for that?
[1:23:03] It's the audiovisual system not having the full capacity to handle a live zoom stream.
[1:23:10] Okay.
[1:23:10] That is the reason we had an outage previously.
[1:23:12] Okay, so we just don't have the technology we'll support the continuance of the zoom.
[1:23:16] Correct, it's very fickle right now.
[1:23:19] Thank you.
[1:23:19] Thank you.
[1:23:20] Okay, so Bonnie Marshall, I live on Montevista, I've lived in Lockhart for 45 plus years.
[1:23:27] and before I start with my intended remarks, I fact-checked the presenters in the time they
[1:23:41] were speaking with my security software expert. And he says that there's a group that's curated
[1:23:52] funded by an industry consortium funded by NIST and there's something called CVEs which
[1:24:00] are vulnerability and people, programmers, check to see if systems are secure.
[1:24:08] I can forward you this information but it is definitely not secure.
[1:24:13] I went to the site and there was a long list of vulnerabilities.
[1:24:17] The other thing is, the man said that they've never been breached.
[1:24:22] The beginning of September,
[1:24:26] the immigration authorities, the federal immigration authorities
[1:24:30] breached all of the Illinois flock cameras in, there he is, in an attempt to look at immigrants.
[1:24:43] It was stopped and the company said something like this was a pilot program and we're not
[1:24:51] using it anymore.
[1:24:53] So that was just spontaneous research I was doing while I was listening to other comments
[1:25:01] and questions and you've asked some good ones.
[1:25:04] The Institute of Justice is a nonprofit public interest law firm whose mission is to end widespread
[1:25:12] abuses of government power and secure the constitutional rights for all Americans.
[1:25:19] I'm assuming that all of you have taken oath to abide by the Constitution when you were
[1:25:25] sworn in your office.
[1:25:27] This law firm has established a program called the Plate Privacy Project.
[1:25:33] This nationwide campaign's purpose is to push back against the arbitrary and unrestricted
[1:25:39] use of automatic license plate readers.
[1:25:43] The group filed a lawsuit against the city of Norfolk, Virginia, last October, 2024.
[1:25:53] The Fourth Amendment does not allow the government to establish a surveillance state, or in this
[1:25:59] case, a city.
[1:26:01] In the past year, there have been seven legal actions in this case.
[1:26:06] It's still ongoing.
[1:26:08] going. The last court action was a reply to the city's attempt to dismiss the case.
[1:26:16] Okay. We didn't spend money for to oppose the dump. The council decided it didn't want
[1:26:25] to get into legal action. The council did not accept the marijuana proposal that was passed
[1:26:36] because you didn't, you feared legal action with Ken Paxton and you were
[1:26:41] right. This will get you into the problem of litigation. I do have one more
[1:26:48] thing that I'd like to share. I'm going to ask you for 34 seconds. I think this
[1:26:52] is important. Last week, September 29th, the newly appointed U.S. Attorney Lindsay
[1:26:59] Hallehand, the former senior associate staff secretary for Trump and newly
[1:27:04] assigned chief prosecutor for the James Cayme and now the Tisha James case submitted a
[1:27:11] statement of interest in this case. She stated the federal government argues that no
[1:27:17] American can reasonably expect privacy on public roads and that tracking citizens without
[1:27:24] warrant is constitutional. I think that's a red flag.
[1:27:46] Good evening. My name is Martin Gamblebeck. I live at 100 trailside drive. I'd like to start
[1:27:51] by addressing the privacy concerns. Mr. Shan learned Williams laid out some good points
[1:27:55] about the F-60 of these cameras, but none of what they laid out can account for the
[1:27:58] potential for misuse of these systems represent. Those who have spoken before me have already
[1:28:02] outlined the many violations already committed in the infant stages of this technology. Who
[1:28:06] knows where to go from there. Furthermore, these systems come equipped with high intensity
[1:28:12] speakers and flashing lights that are extremely disruptive to people in their vicinity when
[1:28:16] activated. So anyone from a man enjoying his day in the park to a field children playing
[1:28:21] outside can easily be here asked all from the comfort of some office building 20 miles
[1:28:25] away.
[1:28:26] Mr. Larson also brought up that data from these systems can be subpoenaed.
[1:28:30] Meaning it can only be defended from ICE and the state or federal government for as long
[1:28:34] as they choose to ignore it.
[1:28:36] The worst case scenario is a federal agency having 24-hour surveillance of our community
[1:28:40] to watch whomever they want, whenever they want.
[1:28:43] I'm not trying to disparage the moral character of our police department or anyone who will
[1:28:46] of access to these systems, but these cameras are gistening at all in our community is a
[1:28:50] massive risk to our community's privacy and safety as Mr. Schandler himself admitted.
[1:28:57] In terms of cost, $50,000 is a substantial amount given the rather thin balance between
[1:29:03] our revenue and expenses. A further $21,000 a year would be equally impactful long-term. In
[1:29:09] terms of crying prevention, there are far more effective programs we can invest that money
[1:29:12] For example, the study conducted in 2024 showed that for every $1 spent on providing
[1:29:17] contraceptives to the public saved $7 in crime prevention and prosecution down the line.
[1:29:22] Increases in funding for food stamps, food banks, and other social safety nets show similar
[1:29:26] ratios of success.
[1:29:28] So it would relieve pressure on the public, on the police department, more to stop crime
[1:29:34] in the first place than to catch people after the fact.
[1:29:37] Lastly, these systems are tall, bulky, and imposing.
[1:29:40] They are meant to be so, and frankly, I don't think anyone in this town wants to be looking over their shoulder constantly wondering who might be watching them.
[1:29:47] Thank you very much.
[1:30:05] Good evening, Pat Stroka, 1204, Sierra Vistico. There's been a lot of talk about elephants in the room this evening, so I just kind of want to continue on that.
[1:30:17] I think we all know the trend of what's happening with our police officers in Lockhart is that we train up some good officers and we lose them primarily to Hayes County. So I'm really kind of a first things first guy on this.
[1:30:34] I know I think it's kind of common sense that if we don't have good veteran
[1:30:41] officers out on our streets it really hurts our community. Councilman Castillo
[1:30:47] kind of talked about trust earlier and I kind of grabbed a hold of that. Having
[1:30:52] veteran officers who live here, who are going to retire here, that's when the
[1:30:57] community gets trust. I mean we hired a police officer recently that everybody
[1:31:00] knew and was glad to see him back. Those are the kind of folks that we need.
[1:31:06] But for us to get,
[1:31:08] so for us to get a handle on, I'm sorry, so first I'd like for us to get a handle on police
[1:31:16] retention before we spend this other kind of money on a camera. We at least need to be in the ballpark,
[1:31:23] in the ballpark of what other counties offer to be able to keep our police officers here.
[1:31:30] So, I'm a first things first guy, let's utilize this money that we would spend this $21,000
[1:31:37] in some way for police retention first.
[1:31:42] Down the road when we have this solved and we're a big enough community that we can handle
[1:31:47] it, then entertaining other things from whoever that might help our law enforcement agency,
[1:31:53] that's a great idea of that.
[1:31:55] Thank you.
[1:31:55] Okay.
[1:32:17] Technology is finished.
[1:32:19] Thank you.
[1:32:19] Go ahead.
[1:32:21] Good evening.
[1:32:22] And thanks for the opportunity.
[1:32:23] Thank you all for your critical questions on this issue too.
[1:32:25] I really appreciate that you're taking it very seriously.
[1:32:29] My name is Steve Anderson.
[1:32:30] I live at 1308 Aspen.
[1:32:35] I'm sorry if I missed anything in the first little bit.
[1:32:39] The gentleman on the telepresence is asking us for a lot of trust.
[1:32:43] And it seems to me that in recent years we've got constant
[1:32:46] Reminders that companies can't be counted on for their moral leadership or accountability.
[1:32:53] Mr. Chandler represents a four-profit company and he's very interested in us and our opinions
[1:33:00] and values right now.
[1:33:03] Any contract we sign, suddenly the loudest voice in his ear will be the investors in his company,
[1:33:10] possibly other bad actors in government at higher levels regulators who can put
[1:33:20] pressure on this company to provide data covertly or improperly. If there's
[1:33:27] any trouble Mr. Chandler will almost certainly put his business ahead of our
[1:33:32] interests.
[1:33:34] There's also a lot large trend in the federal government these days of
[1:33:39] using data for targeting public and private citizens.
[1:33:44] We know, for instance, that the director of federal housing
[1:33:47] and finance agency has been accusing other members
[1:33:52] of the government of taking out multiple mortgages
[1:33:57] going through public data and kind of a dragnet.
[1:34:00] So one of the comments earlier was
[1:34:03] that we can draw a circle around this data
[1:34:06] and limit how far it goes that we can say
[1:34:10] we want it to be limited to the city
[1:34:12] or we want it to be limited to the state.
[1:34:14] But it was also mentioned that once that goes beyond
[1:34:19] a certain point, we don't know who's gonna be using
[1:34:21] that data anymore.
[1:34:23] I personally don't take a lot of comfort in the idea
[1:34:26] that anything is gonna stop at the state line of Texas.
[1:34:31] I find it difficult to believe that if our state government
[1:34:35] it was pressed for data regarding immigration,
[1:34:39] individual citizens' rights that they would put up a strong resistance to that.
[1:34:45] And I really encourage everyone to consider how hard they're willing to fight to keep this data private.
[1:34:52] I'm only to stipulate that our local law enforcement is a paragon of virtue that their current leadership has nothing but
[1:34:59] But the best intentions, they may face pressure from state agencies, federal agencies.
[1:35:08] There's a potential for a lot of great areas, I'll wrap up.
[1:35:14] You know, Warren Sirtricky, Warren Sir Slippery, they could be pressured by another nearby
[1:35:22] precinct.
[1:35:22] They could be pressured by another level of government.
[1:35:25] So I hope that law enforcement will consider that it might be prudent for them to not have
[1:35:30] this information as well just because not having it is probably the best way to keep it secure.
[1:35:35] Thank you, sir.
[1:35:41] Jessica Rutland.
[1:35:49] Jessica Rutland, 1600 Shenandoah. I sometimes write you guys
[1:35:53] super long annoying emails. You're so welcome. Just to start things off as dramatically as possible.
[1:36:00] So I first read 1984 as a kid and I couldn't figure out how anyone could let it happen this dystopian
[1:36:07] world where we're watched by a network of automated cameras, surveil and identify and create
[1:36:14] a permanent state's witness.
[1:36:16] And everyone knows that they're being watched all the time, and they used to think that
[1:36:20] to let it happen, you had to be stupid or evil, but the truth is the way that it happens
[1:36:24] is that really smart, ruminating people let it happen a little bit at a time.
[1:36:31] And the way that it happens is the watchers tell you how easy it's going to make your life,
[1:36:36] But I want you to ask how easy it really is.
[1:36:39] When they tell you how cost effective it is, I want you to ask how cost effective it
[1:36:43] was for Aurora, Colorado, when they paid out a $2 million settlement when an AI license
[1:36:48] plate reader misidentified a vehicle is stolen and resulted in a bad stop.
[1:36:53] I want you to think about the cities paying the cost of lawsuits, Norfolk, West Hartford,
[1:36:59] Richmond, Portsmouth, New Canaan, Darien, so many more.
[1:37:03] When they tell you that your officers are going to save time with the leads that the
[1:37:07] system is going to find for you, I want you to consider Oak Park, Illinois, where 40%
[1:37:11] of stops from flock data were mistakes.
[1:37:15] And ask if it's a good use of officers' time to harass innocent people because sometimes
[1:37:19] their cameras read sevens as two.
[1:37:22] When they promise you that you're in control of the data, I want you to consider that Austin
[1:37:26] City Council made sure that their contracts said that data had to be deleted within a week.
[1:37:31] and then an independent audit found that flock was actually retaining worldwide usage rights in
[1:37:36] perpetuity for plate data that they were scanning. My dad was a Reagan Republican who was also a
[1:37:44] founding father nerd who had me quoting Patrick Henry by the age of 10 and he lived by a lot of
[1:37:50] principles. One of them being that if you are willing to sacrifice liberty for safety you don't
[1:37:56] or either. This big tech surveillance stuff would have him rolling in his grave if we hadn't
[1:38:02] had him cremated. So the end of the thing that even if none of my concerns were valid
[1:38:09] and all the systems did was provide an easier way to do policing, it still comes at the cost
[1:38:14] of our constitutional right to be protected by warrantless search. And I know the community
[1:38:21] to be pleasing with limited resources and limited personnel is hard and that this might
[1:38:26] offer an easier way, and I'm going to ask, let's do it the hard way anyway, because
[1:38:33] I really hope I play that each of you believes that we are worth doing hard things.
[1:38:40] I especially hope that anyone who aspires to where the badge believes that we are worth doing
[1:38:45] hard things.
[1:38:46] And I don't want you to sell the fourth amendment rights of everyone in this room because
[1:38:50] It's easy and I certainly don't want you to sub mine because I'm still using them. Thank you
[1:38:55] Mr.
[1:39:02] Jimmy Bertram you
[1:39:10] get two minutes
[1:39:16] Jimmy Bertram 1021 Bowie
[1:39:20] As you all know everybody here knows, but I'm just gonna repeat it because of what I'm gonna say former mayor of the city of Lockhart
[1:39:28] When we take these positions, when we swear in, we swear in to defend the Constitution
[1:39:38] and the rights of the people against foreign and domestic actors that would violate those rights.
[1:39:49] Our rights are currently being chipped away just little by little on the federal government,
[1:39:55] on the federal level, the state level, I never ever thought that our city, our local government,
[1:40:03] would even be considering something like this. If you can't see it as a violation, just because
[1:40:11] the courts have ruled that it's not a violation of our rights doesn't mean it's not a violation.
[1:40:17] It is still a violation. Court rulings are turned over all the time and this one certainly will be too.
[1:40:24] I ask you all to please do what your first call to do and that is defend my
[1:40:32] rights, defend my grandchildren's rights, defend all of these people's rights
[1:40:38] first. Them cameras ain't worth that. They're not worth it. If we had a issue with
[1:40:45] crime rising, which we do not, our crime rate is staying pretty steady. In fact,
[1:40:53] it's dropping a little bit in some areas. What is the need for it? We do not need them.
[1:41:00] We don't need them at the cost of violating everybody's rights. When I watched the gentleman's
[1:41:07] presentation, he said that the City of Luling had dealings with flock. They don't have the cameras.
[1:41:14] They do not. Hayes County currently has it on their agenda for the 14th to shut all of those
[1:41:22] cameras off and cancel their contract. The City of San Marcus voted against expanding
[1:41:30] it and to later consider canceling it all together. That is the truth about the thing. Those
[1:41:38] cameras are a huge liability to the city, a huge liability. Flock won't be on the hook for
[1:41:45] when we get sued. It'll be us. It'll come straight out of our pocket. TML will help with
[1:41:53] the defense, but the citizens are going to pay for it. We will pay for it. I've sent
[1:42:00] you all the information that I considered important. I'm sorry, Mr. Larson, that I did not
[1:42:07] send it to you. I didn't have your number, but I've communicated with the rest of y'all.
[1:42:11] You know how I feel about it. Please vote against this and never consider something like this again.
[1:42:18] Thanks, sir.
[1:42:23] And Mr. Bob Cole,
[1:42:34] Cole, 1704 Paintbrush, here in Lockhart. I guess I'm into minority, but my dad used to be a cop,
[1:42:41] a city cop, a deputy sheriff.
[1:42:44] He doesn't public safety for a lot of years in the fire department, but I think it's a good idea,
[1:42:50] because I just got locked out on my stupid thing.
[1:42:55] Okay, as I've read over the, I think 14 pages
[1:43:01] at the end of the agenda sent out by the city clerk
[1:43:07] and it had a lot of information.
[1:43:10] Like as the chief said, they don't take pictures
[1:43:15] of the people on the vehicles.
[1:43:17] It's just the license plate, bumper stickers,
[1:43:20] windows stickers that we identified it kind of makes a fingerprint of that
[1:43:26] vehicle.
[1:43:28] As far as amber alerts, silver alerts, all-point bulletins from other
[1:43:37] local jurisdictions. If they've got a color and description of the vehicle and
[1:43:43] sometimes some, oh yeah, and it had this bumper sticker or something on it. It goes
[1:43:48] in there and it would pick that up. As I understand it I don't know how big a package of those
[1:43:57] 14 pages the city's looking at but as I read it any gunshots things like that the cameras pick it
[1:44:05] up they can kind of pinpoint it get people started every
[1:44:14] 30 days the stored information is automatically
[1:44:24] I believe it's up to the local, I may have read that wrong, the local officials to decide
[1:44:32] what's used and how and for the guidance.
[1:44:39] Years ago my dad has gotten kind of dementia and he disappeared after dropping his wife
[1:44:46] off at the hospital for surgery and never came back the next day to get her.
[1:44:51] Ten days later he was found hundreds of miles away where he finally ran out of gas
[1:44:56] in the middle of nowhere.
[1:45:00] And picked up a slices plate, it would have saved a whole lot of anxiety for the family and all. But I think it's a good idea. When we lived in Kyle years ago, they're kind of a small city, and then they started growing kind
[1:45:18] of crazy apartments and housing and all like we got. And we were getting gangs down from Austin that were coming into the neighborhoods and ripping stuff out off cars and breaking
[1:45:32] into houses and then they take off back up to Austin, they had I-35, 16, 26 and all that.
[1:45:41] But if they'd had the readers, every once in a while the police adjacent up to Austin
[1:45:46] turned it over to Travis County and then they'd lose them.
[1:45:51] And I think this would be real beneficial for keeping that down.
[1:45:54] We've got 130 right here, 142 and they can go any directions and I just think it'd be
[1:45:59] hopeful to have the cameras. Thank you. Thank you sir. Are you coming? Is there anyone else who
[1:46:06] would like to address this one particular issue?
[1:46:13] So we had a recommendation from staff to
[1:46:16] table this until we can arrange an in-person presentation from the block company.
[1:46:24] Does that need to be put into a motion? Well this is work session to do so if that's the feeling of
[1:46:32] the council. That's the action we'll take in the regular session.
[1:46:36] I feel like I received enough information from Bob tonight.
[1:46:47] I will take that up in the regular meeting.
[1:46:52] I mean, we don't need direction right now. We'll take a vote up when we take the
[1:46:56] regular meeting.
[1:47:06] Okay, let's take about a 10-minute break then.
[1:47:15] Okay, now. Okay, so at this time we're going to go ahead and go into the regular
[1:47:20] meeting and continue on with the meeting in lieu of the works that continue in the work
[1:47:26] session.
[1:47:26] Would you please rise for the invocation?
[1:47:29] Let's believe it.
[1:47:33] Dear Lord, please watch over us.
[1:47:37] Give us the vision, the wisdom, the patience to continue to listen to the concerns of the
[1:47:46] the citizens as we continue on in our duty to serve our community, please give us the
[1:47:57] strength to make the best decisions that will be for the benefit of our town in your
[1:48:04] name we pray.
[1:48:05] I mean to
[1:48:10] the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which stands one nation under God
[1:48:18] Indivisible with liberty justice for all
[1:48:27] Welcome
[1:48:32] everyone to the night's council meeting
[1:48:36] Appreciate everybody's patience as we went through a that long item
[1:48:44] At this time, we will go to public comments.
[1:48:48] Is there anyone else here who would like to address council on issues that are or are not on the agenda?
[1:48:58] Seeing none, then we will go to item 4A, approve the councilman's from the October 15, 2024, and November 7, 2024 meetings.
[1:49:10] Here are motion.
[1:49:15] Here are motion.
[1:49:16] Motion from Councilman Mickelson to hear a second.
[1:49:18] Second.
[1:49:19] Second from Councilman Castillo and the other discussion.
[1:49:23] All in favor, please raise your hand.
[1:49:25] Opposed? Motion passes.
[1:49:27] Item 4B approved the terms of a new lease agreement with Toshiba, America Business Solutions
[1:49:33] Inc., for copier equipment in the city facilities and authorized the city manager to excuse
[1:49:38] the lease agreement.
[1:49:43] Evening Council, Keely Finance Director.
[1:49:47] The city's current copier lease agreement with Toshiba America Business Solutions has expired.
[1:49:53] The existing copiers, now 8 to 10 years old, require frequent maintenance and are increasingly incompatible with software and security updates.
[1:50:01] Staff has worked with Toshiba to develop a proposal that meets the current and future needs of the city departments.
[1:50:07] The new 60-month lease agreement provides for the replacement of 10 existing copiers in the addition of one new machine.
[1:50:14] The monthly lease payment of $2,163 includes toner, replacement parts, and labor and also upgrades equipment from black and white to color.
[1:50:25] In addition, the new copiers will feature enhanced technology including software upgrades that allow wireless and mobile printing, improving accessibility and efficiency.
[1:50:35] Toshiba participates in the Texas Department of Information Resources purchasing program which meets city procurement requirements.
[1:50:43] Approval of the proposed terms will ensure reliable copier equipment across the city facilities,
[1:50:49] maintain compatibility with security and system updates and provide modern technology to better support departmental operations.
[1:50:57] Any questions?
[1:51:01] Yes, sir?
[1:51:06] Any other questions or discussion?
[1:51:08] And you'll hear a motion.
[1:51:11] Make a motion to approve, Mayor.
[1:51:13] I have a motion from Councilman Castillo to hear a second.
[1:51:16] Second.
[1:51:16] Second from Councilman Westmoreland, any other discussion?
[1:51:20] All in favor, please raise your hand.
[1:51:22] Those motion passes 7-0.
[1:51:24] Thank you, Keely.
[1:51:26] Go to item 5A, discussion and action regarding law enforcement
[1:51:30] agreement with Block Group for the fixed automated license plate
[1:51:36] We've had a long presentation and a long discussion and we've heard comments from many concerned citizens.
[1:51:48] Yes, Mayor.
[1:51:49] I'd like to make a motion not to approve.
[1:51:51] Let me finish just a minute.
[1:51:55] So we've had the discussion.
[1:51:56] discussion. It was interrupted by AV problems. There is a recommendation that we bring the
[1:52:03] flock representative from Atlanta. That went in for another meeting. We've had a lot
[1:52:13] of comments about things going on in other communities that might give us an opportunity
[1:52:18] to do some research and see what's actually going on in these other communities about what
[1:52:25] their experiences are about why they're changing their commitments might give us a little
[1:52:30] bit better background on making a decision. So what is the feeling of the council?
[1:52:41] Okay. All right.
[1:52:45] I'd like to make a motion to not to go forward with the flat cameras due
[1:52:51] to the community outpour of how negative they can impact our community and have them not
[1:52:59] come back for another presentation.
[1:53:02] Okay.
[1:53:03] We have a motion in a second not to move forward with the flock contract.
[1:53:08] But let's go back here.
[1:53:10] I know the motions are on the floor but it's either way or just totally drop it.
[1:53:19] Is that correct?
[1:53:20] That's what it is. Any other discussion or questions? All in favor of the motion,
[1:53:28] ready to hand.
[1:53:32] Motion passes 6-1. Okay, so we will not proceed. All right. Thank y'all,
[1:53:41] thank y'all for your input. Thank you for coming tonight. We're going to kind of skip around
[1:53:47] here because we've had a lot of people waiting here. Let's see. Well, let's just go on to a discussion or action regarding the city appointment for the representative to the Coal County Homeless Coalition Board of Directors.
[1:54:02] We had a, I think we had a recommendation from Councilman Larson to a point.
[1:54:14] Yes.
[1:54:14] That's past your Fisher to we're supposed to give nominations or did he just give that name?
[1:54:22] I'm sorry.
[1:54:22] Were we all supposed to give nominations or did he just give that name?
[1:54:25] No, not necessarily.
[1:54:26] Unless you have somebody you want to consider.
[1:54:33] Floor is open for nominations.
[1:54:37] Is that coalition board, does it have enough members of me to conduct business and what
[1:54:46] not?
[1:54:47] you know so good day my understanding is on this coalition the counties
[1:54:55] represented Louling represented we have a let's write them yeah I'll chill
[1:55:01] come on up them don't
[1:55:08] all right good evening mayor and council my name is
[1:55:13] Lee Russ and I am the chairman of the Caldwell County Homeless Coalition.
[1:55:19] We are a team environment should you nominate Pastor Jared, who has been with us since
[1:55:28] early on since the formation.
[1:55:30] This month is actually, we're going on two years that the coalition has been working.
[1:55:35] our coalition was the first coalition in the county to officially count our
[1:55:42] homeless in January of this year and so we plan we will start counting in
[1:55:48] January of next year. Part of that is we realized early on this year the board
[1:55:56] did and then we added the governing body appointment director positions and in
[1:56:02] that, as Will has said earlier, the county made an appointment, the City of Luling made
[1:56:08] an appointment, and the City of Martindale recently made their appointment. That is a voting
[1:56:15] member to determine the direction of this organization, this nonprofit. We do have our field
[1:56:23] office here in Lockhart, the majority of those that we serve, I was looking at the numbers
[1:56:32] this morning, the majority of those that we serve are in the Lockhart area.
[1:56:38] And so the two representatives that the board put before you in your packet, one was Miss
[1:56:48] Tina Ramsey. She apologizes that she couldn't be here tonight. She's in training in San
[1:56:52] Antonio for you guys. I don't know if we're cheap. But in the other gentleman, Pastor
[1:57:01] Jared, Pastor Jay is another one of those that have been with us since the beginning. They
[1:57:05] get along together. We've seen them get along together. They come to our meetings. They've
[1:57:09] been coming to our board meetings, sitting in either one of those individuals would make
[1:57:15] make an excellent addition to the coalitions, so.
[1:57:19] Mr. Rusk, if I'm sorry, Mayor, if I may, you indicated that your coalition was housed out of Blackjack
[1:57:26] and just for the record, just to let people know that are listening, and you know, from the comfort of their homes, is the location that your house that is the new thrift store here that's in lock heart.
[1:57:40] Am I correct in saying that?
[1:57:41] That you are, but the we team dealt with another local nonprofit delivering hope.
[1:57:47] And they have recently, they are getting ready to have a grand opening at their new facility,
[1:57:51] the old connection center.
[1:57:54] Okay.
[1:57:55] Their office is, their administration office is very similar to what we use our field office for.
[1:58:00] We'll stay at the 1205 Blackjack with us.
[1:58:04] our field office is available 24-7 whether there's a VAC officer needing to work
[1:58:12] with someone whether we have volunteers bringing someone in whether they
[1:58:16] recently incarcerated or someone passing through the community that just ran
[1:58:22] across hard times got stranded here we worked we worked very well with the Lockhart
[1:58:28] We appreciate this appointment will just allow us to work more together in an official capacity.
[1:58:37] Similar to what we do in other cities in the county.
[1:58:40] Mr. Russ, most of your meetings are conducted during the day.
[1:58:46] Is there any opportunity to conduct the meeting in the evening?
[1:58:49] So as working folks can attend.
[1:58:53] Yes, sir. Yes, sir. So I'm assuming the meetings you're talking about are some of the public meetings that we hold.
[1:59:01] On general, we hold between five and seven public meetings a month.
[1:59:06] We try and we've been jumping between the two libraries, two major libraries.
[1:59:11] We'll start hopefully in the future. We'll jump to Martin Del Library.
[1:59:16] During the day, the professionals in the communities that deal with the homeless population that we have here,
[1:59:25] we put that out to them on a routine basis saying, hey, when's the best time?
[1:59:30] Because you're dealing, we want to back them up, and we want to, you know, when is the best time for them?
[1:59:34] But yes, sir, we, I hear you loud and clear, yes, sir.
[1:59:40] Any other questions?
[1:59:40] Mayor, are we voting for Tina also?
[1:59:43] I think Tina will be involved whether she's on the board
[1:59:45] because she's on the board.
[1:59:47] Mr. Russ, if you'll tell us what Tina is currently doing,
[1:59:52] and her position that she has, ma'am.
[2:00:03] A good example is when our volunteers provide transportation outside the county in certain circumstances.
[2:00:15] One of the four classifications of homelessness is fleeing domestic violence.
[2:00:21] And so early on we built a good relationship, our volunteer, we got close to 40 volunteers
[2:00:26] spread out the VACs, whether it's at the county level or the DA's office or the municipality
[2:00:33] office. Transportation answer your question. Sir, it's a big one because they're sometimes
[2:00:38] unable to transport to, let's say, a Georgetown facility. If you've got a single mother with
[2:00:44] two kids, it's not in your wheelhouse, no different than any other municipality to provide
[2:00:52] that transportation so yeah transportation so is one of the yeah no and that's
[2:00:59] pardon me I know Tina's title is changed I can't say what her title official
[2:01:06] title is victim services coordinator okay she'll be actively involved anyway
[2:01:12] well I just want to add Mr. Russ thank you for passing on the information but I
[2:01:17] do more able to make it today spoke to him earlier and I was just telling and
[2:01:21] committing him and the group for helping those citizens
[2:01:25] that somehow get written off and get lost in the cracks.
[2:01:29] And we want to help everybody kind of get back on the same
[2:01:32] path because unfortunately, we're fortunate enough,
[2:01:35] but fortunately, these people still have a chance
[2:01:41] at getting back on their feet.
[2:01:43] And it's groups like these that can help them get them
[2:01:47] in the going in the right direction.
[2:01:48] And it's been a long time coming because homelessness has been an occurring issue.
[2:01:56] We just didn't have a place to kind of send them or direct them, you know.
[2:01:59] So I'm glad that y'all are following up with this and continue success and have a week
[2:02:05] and help.
[2:02:06] Just reach out to us so we can do that and create an opportunity to do that.
[2:02:11] Do you have a, you may not know, top of your head, what that number is?
[2:02:16] Yeah, as of this morning, it's over 300
[2:02:19] I'm on card or in the attorney in the no in in law card year-to-date
[2:02:25] So for this year since we did our pick count in January
[2:02:29] That's the number that we can certify that meet one of those qualifications as set up by HUD for is meeting
[2:02:36] The homelessness definition. Yeah, so I kind of figured you might ask that question tonight
[2:02:41] So I had our we have a great board secretary
[2:02:46] members here tonight. We have Dr. Fisher who's on our board and hopefully based off how you vote
[2:02:55] tonight. Also here tonight for any questions.
[2:03:01] One thing that in the other appointments, the
[2:03:07] governing body appointments, what you can expect at your discretion is a report on
[2:03:16] state of homelessness in Caldwell County and then state of homelessness
[2:03:21] specifically in the city limit.
[2:03:24] Thank that's number again in the city limit.
[2:03:27] State that number again.
[2:03:29] 300 300 yes sir yes sir over 300 or 300 it's over 300 in the city
[2:03:35] limit yes and we say over year year today individual each one of those is an
[2:03:41] individual so we're not counting the same individual twice so we
[2:03:45] Visits through your visits through your office or the ones that volunteers
[2:03:53] trained volunteers have surveyed and based off those survey questions and they
[2:04:00] confirm what we can confirm all right they meet one of the qualifications of
[2:04:05] homelessness because those 300 people are currently in the city of New York's year
[2:04:11] to date. Are those the ones that you have identified here today, but that doesn't mean
[2:04:16] that there's 300 people. That's correct. Yes. So when we did, when we set off to most
[2:04:25] coalitions, they just partake in the pit counts that happened in January. That data, those
[2:04:34] counts in January 2025 shook a lot of us that did that and realized that instead of
[2:04:42] waiting till January 2026 to find out did that number go down and that number go
[2:04:49] up. Our coalition the board is a body decided that we're going to count
[2:04:54] monthly because we want to see how many school age kids, how many veterans, how
[2:05:01] many adults and so we wanted to continue doing that.
[2:05:08] So we don't know what that
[2:05:10] number is today we just that's it. It's kind of I'm guessing it's pretty hard
[2:05:16] to know what day it was over 300. No I know for the year but I'm saying like some
[2:05:32] I can get you that number and as the city of Lockhart having a governing body director,
[2:05:46] that director will be able to provide you those detailed information at your
[2:05:52] discretion. So I know some of the question is, what percentage of the homeless
[2:05:57] in law park are trans people? Less than 10% year-to-date, which is on par with the
[2:06:04] surrounding communities, believe it or not. Most, you know, it's easy to assume that
[2:06:09] maybe these are you know a larger percentage of those are just moving through
[2:06:15] and that's not always the case. When we when we generate a case a homeless
[2:06:20] case on a on a single mother with two small children we follow them through
[2:06:26] that system. We do everything we can at the local level to to assist in
[2:06:31] getting off that classification list and and we put together some really good
[2:06:36] SOPs, we run a very tight ship, we are self-funded, we're not coming here tonight to ask for funding,
[2:06:46] we're coming here to ask for a representative that represents this body in the city to
[2:06:52] be able to determine the future of this organization.
[2:06:55] So when you get those updated actual figures, please pass those on and please forward your
[2:07:03] criteria for being judged so much.
[2:07:06] Of course, we use HUD definitions, the four categories that's, yes sir, who can be happy to.
[2:07:11] I'm sorry, but I just have one last question for you, if I may, sir.
[2:07:15] And it's very unfortunate that we do have individuals that fall into this category.
[2:07:21] But I'm curious out of the individuals that you have helped,
[2:07:25] have you had any individuals who have been violent or have become violent?
[2:07:29] We have not.
[2:07:31] We have not.
[2:07:33] Okay.
[2:07:33] Knock on wood, yes, sir.
[2:07:34] Okay.
[2:07:34] Thank you.
[2:07:35] We have not.
[2:07:36] Thank you, sir.
[2:07:37] Do you have success stories of people that have gotten out of the homeless category?
[2:07:42] Of course.
[2:07:43] Of course.
[2:07:44] Connecting with family.
[2:07:46] Whether that's, you know, whether that's San Antonio, we had a story just about two weeks ago.
[2:07:53] Two volunteers gave a local individual that was living on the streets in Lockhart.
[2:08:00] We brought him in, we worked through, we got him into, you know, we got him temporarily
[2:08:04] housed, we got him food, and then he had the opportunity to see our board doctor, Dr.
[2:08:11] Fisher of course, and as during the survey process, you know, asking about family and found
[2:08:20] the volunteers were able to find an aunt in San Antonio that had just lost touch with
[2:08:28] this individual and the reason it comes to mind is because the volunteers tell
[2:08:33] when they pulled when they pulled up they had him had him set up when they
[2:08:39] pulled up to the house she comes running out of the house and hugs the
[2:08:43] volunteers don't know them they talked on the phone a few times right hugs the
[2:08:47] volunteers before she hugs her nephew and she promised you know that she
[2:08:55] We would keep an eye on him.
[2:08:56] In that case, he's moved off the category list,
[2:09:00] but we still, we have volunteers that make routine phone calls.
[2:09:06] So he would be, he'd get a phone call every couple of weeks.
[2:09:09] Hey, how are you doing?
[2:09:10] We would connect them with a coalition in their area
[2:09:13] where we transport them to,
[2:09:15] and we really communicate across county lines.
[2:09:20] We, most coalitions out of the 33 currently
[2:09:24] in the state of Texas most coalitions when we did our research early on right most coalitions
[2:09:30] make it six months and this month is our two two year mark so we are as a forward and the
[2:09:37] volume you know the hopefully they're after tonight 13 board members and you know 40 volunteers
[2:09:43] out in the field spread out across the county on behalf of them you know we appreciate you even
[2:09:50] consider it. Congratulations, sir. Thank you for what you do and I see that
[2:09:55] Pastor Fisher is here.
[2:10:00] I'm
[2:10:03] excited about the possibility of being on this
[2:10:06] coalition representing the city.
[2:10:11] Partly because I know a little bit about you
[2:10:13] and I know you're a good person and also your affiliation with the churches here
[2:10:18] in town. You're the preacher of Grace Lutheran, and I would love to see a coalition of our
[2:10:26] churches come back together through this agency, through your coalition, and I think there's
[2:10:32] a great possibility that that could happen to help further the cause. So, there's a lot
[2:10:36] of positive vibes out there.
[2:10:45] I didn't go to church on that. I made a sermon.
[2:10:49] Yeah, so actually, just on something you just said, Council Member, the Lockhart
[2:10:55] Ministry of Alliance does exist. So I guess before my time, they cease
[2:10:59] functioning during COVID that they've since gotten back. We've probably given 15
[2:11:04] nights of stay for people that are either escaping just domestic violence or
[2:11:10] homelessness. That's our policy because we, with our funding locally, we don't have
[2:11:14] lot, so we're able to give someone a free night at the Lockhart Inn. We have a great partnership
[2:11:18] with them. And so that's still happening. That's happened since I've been here. And then,
[2:11:25] you know, where that organization is going to go from there is really up to the members
[2:11:28] of that organization. I'm just one of them. We don't have any type of hierarchy or chairman
[2:11:31] or anything like that at this point. So, and that's kind of how we got involved. Well,
[2:11:36] how I got involved with Lee was that, you know, that's a direct connection with what
[2:11:41] we were trying to do as a committee.
[2:11:43] And they're just better, you know, six pastors,
[2:11:48] four of them being part-time and on the area.
[2:11:50] Don't have the resources or time or man-fowards
[2:11:52] be able to accomplish what the coalition does.
[2:11:55] Right.
[2:11:55] And so if I'm working with them,
[2:11:56] it just made a lot of sense and they do a really great work.
[2:12:00] Good.
[2:12:00] Thank you, Patrick.
[2:12:02] So I think we have a motion and a second to appoint everyone.
[2:12:06] Oh, make the motion.
[2:12:07] I thought we already had one.
[2:12:10] Okay, well, you want to make the motion?
[2:12:13] I will make the motion.
[2:12:13] We have a second motion.
[2:12:15] I have a second from Mayor Pro Tem Gonzalo Sanchez to a point
[2:12:18] Reverend Fisher to this homeless board.
[2:12:21] Any other discussion?
[2:12:23] All in favor, please, raise your hand.
[2:12:25] Opposed?
[2:12:26] Motion passes.
[2:12:27] Thank you.
[2:12:27] Thank you very much.
[2:12:28] And we'll get you back, Lee, for a formal presentation at some point in time.
[2:12:34] Thank you.
[2:12:40] All right, I've got one other thing and one other board.
[2:12:42] and then we've got to get back to our regular business here, item C, discussion or action
[2:12:51] to consider the appointment of the steering committee for the design of the indoor recreation
[2:12:55] center. Travis. Good evening council, Mayor. I'm Travis
[2:13:00] using the director of parks and recreation. This agenda item is to consider the appointment
[2:13:05] of the steering committee to provide input and guidance in the design of the indoor recreation
[2:13:11] this during committees intended to ensure that a wide variety of proposed current and future
[2:13:14] uses are thoughtfully considered, reflecting the needs and priorities of a broad spectrum of
[2:13:19] potential users.
[2:13:22] This committee will be comprised of representatives from city boards,
[2:13:25] Caldwell County, Lockhart ISD, and community members at large bringing forward perspectives
[2:13:30] for parks planning, education, regional partnerships, and the community at large.
[2:13:35] This balanced composition will help guide the design of a multi-purpose facility that serves
[2:13:40] current residents and supports growth, evolving recreational needs, and long-term community needs.
[2:13:46] The proposed steering committee members, there are eight of them that we have identified.
[2:13:53] Two of them presented by the park's board, Carlisay and Melinda Kirst.
[2:13:57] Lockhart ISD representative, Jeremiah Chapman.
[2:14:01] Calwell County Commissioner's Court Representative, B.J. Westmoreland.
[2:14:04] and four citizens who have specific interests in recreation and also expertise.
[2:14:10] Those are Chris St. Ledger, Sarah Partridge, Lynn Gabay, and Tim Torres.
[2:14:15] So tonight we're asking that you approve of this steering committee's formation with this
[2:14:19] group of appointees.
[2:14:23] And somewhere here tonight if you'd like them to stand.
[2:14:28] Yes, very much so.
[2:14:30] Thank you.
[2:14:30] Thank y'all for coming tonight.
[2:14:32] Thank you for agreeing to serve.
[2:14:34] Councilor, are y'all comfortable with this makeup here?
[2:14:37] I think it's a good broad spectrum, and this is-
[2:14:40] I'll make a motion for they can set a meeting and start this process.
[2:14:44] No second, Mayor.
[2:14:45] All right, we have a motion and a second to appoint the recommended people for this steering committee.
[2:14:54] Mayor, can we nominate a couple of members, one member from the-
[2:15:00] Just to get the youth involved, to get a good idea with the youth they're looking forward in, in a rec center and so forth. You have a name. I don't have a name, but I'm just thanking board members from each organization that deal with the youth on a daily. I think we have the parks board people represented. We have the school district represented. I think any of those people are surely welcome to attend the meetings and provide input. But I think
[2:15:29] I think everybody's rare and to go.
[2:15:32] We do have a part-sport member that represents the Youth Soccer Association.
[2:15:37] Okay.
[2:15:37] Okay.
[2:15:38] And I'll have to commend you on your list.
[2:15:40] This is a great group of people to do so.
[2:15:43] I think it'll be a very productive group.
[2:15:45] Okay.
[2:15:46] We have a motion in the second pin.
[2:15:47] Any other discussion?
[2:15:49] All in favor, please raise your hand.
[2:15:51] Opposed?
[2:15:52] Motion passes 7-0.
[2:15:53] Thank you.
[2:15:54] Thank you very much.
[2:15:55] And thank you committee members.
[2:15:59] Okay, let's go back to item 5D, discussion and action regarding request by Charlie Thomas
[2:16:09] of Gloria Group Partners LP for a determination of eligibility for a tax abatement pursuant
[2:16:16] to chapter 28 historic districts and landmarks division 2 tax abatement of the Lockhart Code
[2:16:24] of ordinances for various exterior and interior improvements to a building in the historic district
[2:16:29] located at 119 West San Antonio Street. All right good evening mayor and city council members
[2:16:36] just want to give you a brief presentation for the tax abatement proposal for Mr. Charlie Thomas.
[2:16:42] And so I just have a few slides here I'd like to present to you just an overview of the property.
[2:16:49] So if you see this on the screen I have the vicinity map
[2:16:52] Showing the property at the Northeast location of San Antonio Street and church street. There's not on the screen on the screen.
[2:16:59] Okay. Here we go.
[2:17:02] Oh, I do something.
[2:17:17] Here we go.
[2:17:33] He's been here since 630. Let's.
[2:17:36] All right.
[2:17:41] Right there.
[2:17:43] Yep, so you saw the map and of course everybody knows where this is, the Joe Massour building.
[2:17:48] And so here's an aerial photo,
[2:17:53] and Google Earth View, this is just looking to the east
[2:17:55] with the property roughly in the center of the image there, just 3D model.
[2:18:00] And just a couple pictures that I took about a week or two ago, this is a picture of the
[2:18:05] building with the completed improvements looking from San Antonio Street,
[2:18:11] and looking to the
[2:18:12] east from Church Street at the west side.
[2:18:18] And this was a photo that was submitted by the property owner, just showing a night view
[2:18:22] from San Antonio Street
[2:18:27] and just you're probably familiar the summary of the proposed improvements
[2:18:32] which have actually already been completed. First floor windows replaced with energy
[2:18:38] efficient windows windows on second and third stories refinished and repainted initially the windows
[2:18:44] on the second and third floors were planned to be replaced but they ultimately decided to rehabilitate
[2:18:49] those windows. Replacement of doors on three building facades. Door and window
[2:18:55] location swap on the east end of the north facade. The historic awnings have
[2:19:01] been replaced on the church street and San Antonio street sides. A new fire
[2:19:06] escape from the third story to the roof level to bring the fire escape from the
[2:19:10] main floor up to the roof. A new siding paints and roofing material on the roof top
[2:19:16] structure and the restoration of those skylights which are in the sidewalks along the church
[2:19:23] street as well as the San Antonio street sides. For the interior there was also interior
[2:19:29] work done. Structural interior includes a new elevator extending up to the roof deck as
[2:19:36] well as interior floor reinforcement.
[2:19:59] Okay so for the financial components the total
[2:20:03] amount spent on the project improvements was $2.8 million, $2.801,983.78 cents. The total
[2:20:12] estimated property value according to the applicant is $2.3 million. For as far as the work
[2:20:19] already completed, it began January 1st, 2024, and was completed July 31st of 2025.
[2:20:31] And you
[2:20:33] if the abatement is approved, what have no assessed value for city taxes for the first five years.
[2:20:39] After a reappraisal, it would be reassessed that a 50% rate for an additional five years
[2:20:44] for total of 10 years. And the total tax abatement may not exceed the owners out of pocket cost
[2:20:50] of the approved enhancements. And so the work that's been done is mentioned was about just over 2.8
[2:20:56] million, and if you add up the total tax abatement over that 10-year period comes
[2:21:01] out to about $51,000. And
[2:21:10] so as for the historical preservation commissions
[2:21:12] recommendation, they did recommend approval to the City Council at their September
[2:21:17] 3, 2025 meeting. Certificates of alteration were required to be approved along
[2:21:24] with the tax abatement, and the commission did approve those on July 5, 2023, as
[2:21:31] well as one on September 4th, 2024, and February 5th of 2025.
[2:21:40] And that's all that I have unless there's any questions.
[2:21:43] Would you repeat the total amount of the tax abatement over this 10-year period?
[2:21:50] It was roughly, I don't have the exact figure with me, but it was about $51,000, about $51,500.
[2:21:58] That's using the 2024 assessed value for city taxes.
[2:22:17] They did a fantastic job in there. I mean, it was the top notch. They did it right.
[2:22:23] May I make a motion to approve and thank the owner for doing what he did.
[2:22:32] Motion in a second to approve the tax abatement. Any other discussion? All in favor, then please raise your hand.
[2:22:37] The post, motion passes 7-0, thank you sir, thank you.
[2:22:44] And your building was beautiful.
[2:22:56] Item E, discussion, interaction on the updated agreement with LCRA and McCoy's tree service
[2:23:03] for tree trimming in the right of way.
[2:23:06] Ladies and gentlemen, the Council on Electric Superintendent Bob Laos, the purpose of being
[2:23:11] here is to seek Council approval to bring back the McCoy's tree trimmer through the LCR
[2:23:16] R.A. We've used McCoy's for a few years now and they've done a very good job of clearing
[2:23:21] out our high voltage lines. If approved, our tree tremors could be here in the middle
[2:23:27] of next month, middle of November, about a month from now or so. Are there any questions
[2:23:33] about this tree tremor issue?
[2:23:36] Bobbi, are we going to make sure we take that precautionary measure that we're not going
[2:23:42] to have the issue that we had not too long ago where citizens were very upset that how
[2:23:50] their trees were trimmed?
[2:23:52] Well, they're going to trim our policy states 10 feet.
[2:23:55] They have to trim the proper length of the trees according to NSC and all the other entities
[2:24:00] City of Austin, different cities and entities.
[2:24:05] What we can do is take all the precautions we can, such as banning our lambs, leaving notices
[2:24:11] This is ahead of time to all the customers before they arrive, that kind of thing.
[2:24:17] I know that we did get with the Marbers a year or two ago and they told us the best time
[2:24:22] to trim is the hottest part of the summer, the coldest part of winter, either one or both.
[2:24:28] And that applies to the oak trees.
[2:24:30] That doesn't apply to Hagueberry trees, doesn't apply to pecans or anything else.
[2:24:34] It's simply the oak trees that you have to be careful with.
[2:24:37] Okay.
[2:24:37] Thank you, Bob.
[2:24:38] Appreciate you.
[2:24:38] Yes ma'am. Any other questions?
[2:24:41] So what are some of the streets I guess that are they're going to have the tree trimming?
[2:24:48] We're going to start on our LK20 circuit which is on the east port of town.
[2:24:53] We're going to start the intersection of FM20 east and poncho.
[2:24:57] And work our way through the east side following that line around.
[2:25:00] We'll be poncho street, chihuahua street, rea street,
[2:25:10] We're going to move them to East Market Street and continue following our okay at the 20th Circuit.
[2:25:16] Okay.
[2:25:16] Thank you.
[2:25:17] Yes, sir.
[2:25:18] Any other questions or discussion?
[2:25:22] Thank you, Bob.
[2:25:24] You can skip the Bean Street.
[2:25:25] I'll make a motion to approve.
[2:25:27] I have a motion to approve.
[2:25:29] Here's a second.
[2:25:30] Second.
[2:25:30] Thank you.
[2:25:31] Any other discussion?
[2:25:33] All in favor, please raise your hand.
[2:25:35] Opposed?
[2:25:36] Motion passed to 7-0.
[2:25:37] Thank you, Bob.
[2:25:38] Thank you.
[2:25:39] We're going to go back to the work session because we were with a discussion item on there
[2:25:45] on regarding lighted stop signs in the downtown area.
[2:25:49] All right.
[2:25:51] Any mayor and council, Sean Kelly, public works director.
[2:25:54] Thank you, Julie.
[2:25:54] He's going to pull that up for us.
[2:26:01] I'm going to start on this last slide, actually, just because it explains it a little bit better.
[2:26:06] But as part of the downtown revitalization project, several new stop signs were recently installed downtown.
[2:26:12] This is to increase pedestrian safety and calm traffic in historic downtown.
[2:26:18] With these additions, there's now 36 stop signs downtown.
[2:26:22] And you can kind of see we made a little exhibit kind of showing where they're at.
[2:26:26] I believe we installed six new ones, primarily around the courthouse and so.
[2:26:32] So the agenda is going to provide an opportunity to kind of get some feedback from you all.
[2:26:37] I know there's been some discussion about LED stop signs or some kind of enhancement
[2:26:41] to increase visibility.
[2:26:45] So I'm going to kind of go through some options and kind of get some feedback from you all.
[2:26:50] Sean, every highlighted stop sign is going to be, I don't know, lighted?
[2:26:56] No, this is just a demonstration of all the stop signs in the downtown area.
[2:27:01] And I just took the nine block area that we did for the revitalization project
[2:27:04] to kind of just give you an idea of how many stop signs we have downtown.
[2:27:08] Now, we don't have the yield sign or the areas downtown where they had the right way anymore.
[2:27:14] All right, so that's kind of just shows you just as a topic of discussion for tonight.
[2:27:18] Will there be arrows directing the traffic flow?
[2:27:22] I just have to say because I'm still getting people coming from the wrong direction.
[2:27:28] I'll touch on some of that at the end of the presentation tonight.
[2:27:31] I'm sorry, Sean.
[2:27:32] John, what did you say?
[2:27:33] If they could do arrows in the city, town, because I'm still seeing people going in front of First Lock Art National Bank.
[2:27:42] I think instead of going the other way.
[2:27:46] Yeah, no, it's fine.
[2:27:48] Okay.
[2:27:49] I also have a city engineer who can help answer some follow-up questions, should there
[2:27:52] be any?
[2:27:54] But first, we're just going to discuss options, the potential things we could do.
[2:27:58] So this is an image of some LED stop signs, you would probably see these in certain areas.
[2:28:03] I think the only place we have in town right now is off of 130 at Maple Street.
[2:28:07] Yes.
[2:28:08] That's where we text out as we included some of those.
[2:28:11] So, these lot of stop signs are not really commonly installed unless they're at high-risk
[2:28:16] intersections.
[2:28:18] So, these would be areas where there would be limited visibility, like I said, high-risk
[2:28:22] intersections where there was a history of collisions, adverse weather conditions.
[2:28:27] This could be a foggy area where you're coming in to a blind bend where you may not notice
[2:28:32] the stop sign.
[2:28:34] So, you know, we're discussing this with textile.
[2:28:36] They were not really in favor of using these type of things.
[2:28:39] these are generally based on traffic warrants, they would need this type of option and they would
[2:28:44] like to see other options preferred for such as rumble strips or stop-a-head signs when we had
[2:28:49] that conversation with text. But I just thought it was important. We kind of looked at this just to
[2:28:54] kind of give you all an option. These are about $1200 a piece to purchase. So it could get quite expensive
[2:28:59] should we try to install some of these downtown. $1200 the whole sign? Yeah, the whole sign and they are
[2:29:05] solar power. So you're you're talking around the square and all the four way stops on the
[2:29:09] floor. Yeah, I mean, if we were to look at that option, like, but like I said, textile was
[2:29:13] not really in favor of this option. They would like to seek other options first.
[2:29:19] Here's
[2:29:20] another kind of option. It's a little kind of less invasive, I guess. It's just a beacon
[2:29:25] light. They're also solar powered. Kind of has the same thing, but instead of directing
[2:29:30] your focus around the stop sign where their lights are lighting, it kind of, it's above the
[2:29:36] stop sign, so that's a little bit different.
[2:29:38] Like I said, we kind of looked at different options
[2:29:42] and talking with city engineer and architect.
[2:29:44] One of the concerns we had was the aesthetics of this
[2:29:48] and putting these downtown.
[2:29:49] We'd have a lot of blinking lights in an area
[2:29:51] and it may cause driver confusion.
[2:29:53] They may kind of distract.
[2:30:00] Good pedestrian. So we had some in-link conversations about these kind of options as we discussed this.
[2:30:07] And another option that we actually started using in town, the image to the left is in vintage springs. So we reflective tape on the stop signs. And this kind of just adds another visual element to the stop sign, bringing your focus up to the top of the word stop. We also had our own reflective tape. We put some in the summer side neighborhood towards 1322 to kind of see how it worked. And we just got an image of an illuminated
[2:30:31] version of this. This is a very co-effective option. Should we need to get some more visibility
[2:30:36] on our stop signs? And we're like, well, this is a pretty good start. Should we want
[2:30:40] to do anything? With that being said, I do want to give you some updates to kind of what's
[2:30:45] going on downtown. So it'll help us when we're making this decision. So we are adding additional
[2:30:52] lights downtown. We added eight new pedestrian lights around the courthouse. Those are not
[2:30:58] I'm glowing at this time, but I can't update you
[2:31:00] that tonight on San Antonio Street,
[2:31:02] the large lights that are in that median
[2:31:04] on San Antonio are all lit tonight.
[2:31:06] So those are being reintroduced.
[2:31:08] And those are glowing adverts right now.
[2:31:11] So I encourage y'all to go that way on the way home,
[2:31:13] kind of see how illuminated it is.
[2:31:16] I had Mr. Kane, the street supervisor out there,
[2:31:18] and it looks really bright.
[2:31:20] It's really increased visibility out there.
[2:31:22] So you're talking about the lamppost?
[2:31:24] Yeah, those large lampposts are lit up.
[2:31:26] But that being said, for the project, they had to remove and relocate six lamp posts
[2:31:31] at Medians Downtown.
[2:31:33] To do that, we had to take down the electricity.
[2:31:35] These are like daisy-chained lights.
[2:31:37] So for the allow the contractor to work, they had to be taken out of service.
[2:31:41] That's why it's so dark downtown right now.
[2:31:43] But this first introduction of lights on San Antonio Street, there's going to be more lights
[2:31:47] to come.
[2:31:48] The next sections will be main street and market street.
[2:31:52] Those will come on in about the next week.
[2:31:54] and then Commerce Street is looking to come on the week after that.
[2:31:57] We're going to have to do some troubleshooting on these lights,
[2:31:59] make sure they're all wired correctly,
[2:32:01] and we're also doing pedestals in the median.
[2:32:04] So we've got to make sure that those are all secured.
[2:32:06] We don't want to turn on the power there
[2:32:08] and not have those some secure in place.
[2:32:10] So those are just items we're kind of working on.
[2:32:12] But in the next couple of weeks,
[2:32:13] it's going to be really laid downtown.
[2:32:15] So I wanted to bring that to you all's attention.
[2:32:17] Are the brick structures staying around the trees downtown?
[2:32:20] No, they'll be removed and an additional pony wall will be installed to prevent, to protect
[2:32:28] the roots.
[2:32:30] So I'll also, another consideration I want you all to take is we're going to be doing final
[2:32:35] striping downtown.
[2:32:36] So this is thermal plastic striping.
[2:32:39] It includes glass beads in the striping, which is going to make it highly reflective.
[2:32:43] So it's going to add a whole another element.
[2:32:45] So adding to your question are there going to be arrows and stuff?
[2:32:47] I don't know if there will be arrows, but there will be at some of the intersections dotted lines that will direct traffic the correct way through intersections, and there will be a lot of yellow stripe center turning out of center lines.
[2:32:59] So this is going to delineate the traffic from one another, and it's going to make it a lot more visible.
[2:33:05] So once we get those yellow striping in, we're going to get the parking spaces marked correctly with the parallel parking and angle parking is going to really increase visibility downtown.
[2:33:14] That's just going to be another element is like you're going to see the reflective striping the
[2:33:18] stop signs in itself are reflective and then the new lighting is going to be
[2:33:22] implemented over the next two weeks where we have stop bars on the streets you
[2:33:26] will get stop bars and there'll be crosswalks marked at all the major intersections
[2:33:30] where the new pedestrian ramps are we were just finalizing the striping plan as
[2:33:35] we've made some modifications in parking so we just got we're going to get that
[2:33:38] to the contractors tomorrow and then striping should begin on perially church
[2:33:43] Walnut and the two north segments of Maine and Commerce mid-next week so when I say stop bar
[2:33:49] There's just applying one that goes across and there's also the one that actually says stop
[2:33:54] Yes, I at this time we don't have it indicated in our plan to put the word stop on there
[2:33:59] What would you as it may be? I mean you were showing the the stop signs that would have been did this and that the other
[2:34:07] See how it goes, but if we start having little thinner vendors on those that may be
[2:34:11] so great. I mean that's something we could you know maybe we try out mayor and
[2:34:18] council I hate to break in but we're just posted to talk about lighted stop
[2:34:21] signs in the downtown area so we're getting a little bit off of the posted
[2:34:26] topic what I was gonna add was with some of the concerns about stop signs being
[2:34:37] added. We also contacted the police department to see if there were any accidents that occurred
[2:34:44] since the SOC signs have been put up on San Antonio and none have occurred today.
[2:34:50] That's good news.
[2:34:52] Very good.
[2:34:53] Okay.
[2:34:55] I'll just get off topic a little bit but I'm not a great suggestion and we'll look into
[2:34:58] that but we just wanted to bring this kind of to your attention and give you some updates
[2:35:01] on the downtown project and just get a little bit feedback from you all tonight.
[2:35:04] I think once it's done, all the lighting's up and all the painting's done, I think it's
[2:35:13] going to be a completely different downtown and people are going to understand more of
[2:35:18] what to do.
[2:35:18] Everybody's still confused with stop signs and lights because it's not done yet in
[2:35:26] my
[2:35:26] so wise.
[2:35:30] And there's those lights that you showed around the stop sign I'd vote
[2:35:37] against that every day all day because that just that would make it worse. Yeah. Oh 36 light.
[2:35:48] I'm just curious on the stop light. I know that you're showing the LED lights that are going
[2:35:54] around the stop sign did by chance that you look into just the red little flashing light
[2:36:01] on top of the beacon yeah yeah that's just a LED beacon here we also discussed that
[2:36:09] with that big I thought it was smaller I thought they were smaller yeah yeah that would
[2:36:14] be like a blinking light because we have the LED lights that are going to show up tonight
[2:36:21] We're not doing them well no I prefer the red tape but not to include I mean to include everywhere in town
[2:36:29] Where we have stop sign runners. I guess I think that'd be more visible for people. I mean it's all over town
[2:36:35] Not just downtown, but you know, we've just spent eight million dollars
[2:36:40] Redoing downtown. Let's don't tack you it up and put
[2:36:45] Red tape on these. Let's wait and see what this looks like when we're done
[2:36:49] and before we start adding things to it.
[2:36:53] Like the science is, yeah, I mean,
[2:36:57] the science is just, it's an educated training thing
[2:37:02] for the people driving through there
[2:37:03] because they're still running the stop signs.
[2:37:06] Yes, sir.
[2:37:07] They're still running the stop signs.
[2:37:09] And even if we just did it on a temporary basis
[2:37:11] and I agree, I think getting some little blinking lights
[2:37:14] around there somewhere, not something honkers like that,
[2:37:17] but whatever we can come up with.
[2:37:22] So I'm not seeing where they've done not the entire poll,
[2:37:26] but just like a strip, a strip of just three,
[2:37:29] and it looks clean, it looks nice,
[2:37:32] and at night it also catches, it's reflected,
[2:37:34] and it catches your attention.
[2:37:35] Did you all look at anything like that?
[2:37:37] If you go to the one we did in Summerside at 1322,
[2:37:40] that's we just put two stop bars,
[2:37:42] I mean, reflective tapes on there.
[2:37:44] We can do the whole poll.
[2:37:46] it's just, you know, doing the whole poll is just more
[2:37:48] that we'll get damaged because they will get,
[2:37:50] they can get cut, they can, they will fade,
[2:37:52] they will crack, you know, it's like a couple of
[2:37:53] a.m.s on them, if, if we decide to do that,
[2:37:56] it would look nicer to Jeffery's point,
[2:37:58] not, not, uh, overdo it.
[2:38:01] Not so wait, don't do anything until we're done.
[2:38:04] All right, we got,
[2:38:06] so what you want to do, wait till it's finished,
[2:38:09] or you want to put something up now?
[2:38:11] Man, just wait.
[2:38:12] Oh, wait, I'm okay, wait.
[2:38:13] All right.
[2:38:14] We haven't had any right.
[2:38:15] Right.
[2:38:16] Thanks for checking in.
[2:38:17] It's only what like it is.
[2:38:19] We're now.
[2:38:21] Thank you Sean.
[2:38:22] Thank you Sean.
[2:38:24] That's it.
[2:38:25] All right.
[2:38:26] Item F.
[2:38:28] Discussion or action authorizing resolution 2025-33.
[2:38:33] No, I'm the downtown business.
[2:38:36] Oh yes.
[2:38:37] I'm sure.
[2:38:37] Where was I here?
[2:38:39] This is a big one.
[2:38:41] That's another discussion item, wouldn't it?
[2:38:44] Good evening, Holly Mollish, the Economic Development Director.
[2:38:47] Okay.
[2:38:49] Wanted to talk to you guys about business support programs for downtown.
[2:38:58] And just to kind of, you know, this was just sort of a brainstorm.
[2:39:02] Some of them we can do, some of them we can, you know, we won't do.
[2:39:06] It's, you know, like I said, it's open for discussion.
[2:39:09] and just kind of an overview and summary,
[2:39:12] the things that we came up with,
[2:39:13] business spotlight, holiday storytelling,
[2:39:16] really utilizing the power of social media.
[2:39:20] Working with our trade partners,
[2:39:22] there's like a downtown passport program,
[2:39:25] photo hashtag challenge, some deemed holiday events,
[2:39:28] and a 10% off coupon.
[2:39:32] I'll start with the first one.
[2:39:34] And before I start, you know, I just wanna say
[2:39:35] that these are marketing initiatives
[2:39:37] that really help local business
[2:39:39] by increasing their visibility traffic and awareness.
[2:39:42] You know, those are the three really most important things
[2:39:44] for a business.
[2:39:46] And that, you know, these programs that we put out,
[2:39:49] they're designed to build an ecosystem.
[2:39:52] And so this type of approach really highlights, you know,
[2:39:57] fairness and long-term sustainability.
[2:40:00] So the business spotlights, you know,
[2:40:02] we can do short video clips.
[2:40:04] This is something we can do in-house with our iPhone and CapCut
[2:40:07] taking short video clips of businesses where they share maybe their favorite
[2:40:11] holiday tradition or maybe they show some type of product that they have on
[2:40:17] the shelf that's on sale or or lend itself to Christmas.
[2:40:24] Talking about our trade
[2:40:25] partners you know it's really important to you know the best way to help us
[2:40:31] struggling business is to help you know their customers find them and I think by
[2:40:35] utilizing the trade partners, you know, particularly like with the paper and the radio and the podcast.
[2:40:42] You know, we can utilize them to help us spread the word about some of these marketing programs.
[2:40:52] You know, I have put this together and then I actually saw in the newspaper that I guess I think it's the law card
[2:40:59] newspaper that is doing something very similar to this and I, you know, just wanted to comment and say that, you know,
[2:41:06] economic development is strongest when the private sector kicks in and it shows
[2:41:11] that you know the policies and programs that we put in place work because then
[2:41:15] the like I said the private sector kicks in and they also have initiative and
[2:41:21] so yeah I don't know if we're going to continue with this like I said we saw the
[2:41:25] the one of the Lockhart Post Register was doing going back to photo spots and
[2:41:33] hashtag challenge, you know, I looked at, you know, like big, life-size ornaments and
[2:41:39] those are run from $3,000 to $5,000 each, but, you know, I thought that easily we could
[2:41:45] build one of these boards and paint them, utilizing, you know, local people or artists and set
[2:41:52] up sort of a photo spot. People can hashtag, again, utilizing the power of social media.
[2:41:59] And,
[2:42:00] you know, we can put this downtown somewhere,
[2:42:05] theme holiday events, you know, we can, you
[2:42:08] know, tours them. It's a big thing about gift guides. We can do gift guided tours,
[2:42:14] guided walks, highlighting local gifts that kind of goes back to the storytelling. Partner
[2:42:19] with the Christians too, remember, really utilize that.
[2:42:25] You know, most of all, all these things
[2:42:27] or these items or marketing initiatives that we're doing, we're creating the conditions
[2:42:31] for success for establishing policies and programs to help drive traffic.
[2:42:38] And then lastly, and I have not discussed this with a single business, but it was just an idea 10% off coupon with the code.
[2:42:45] You would get with each business to see if they wanted to offer that.
[2:42:49] And we could determine how useful it was by, you know, going forward in a couple of months,
[2:42:56] we can utilize and track sales tax data over the course of a period to see if it worked.
[2:43:07] So that's the end of my presentation.
[2:43:10] Like I said, the goal isn't to really fix things overnight and to sort of build on the
[2:43:15] momentum of creating the conditions for success.
[2:43:18] And this is a good time to get started because the downtown project is coming to an end.
[2:43:23] And so that's something to celebrate, and Disney may have any questions.
[2:43:29] So thank you.
[2:43:30] I think you have a lot of great ideas there.
[2:43:32] I'm looking at the 10% and the world I came out of a few years ago at the outlet centers.
[2:43:39] We learned we couldn't get anybody in there for less than $20.
[2:43:44] So if we could come up with maybe some sort of a gift card program, a giveaway on gift cards
[2:43:50] or come down and register for something.
[2:43:53] There's a million ways to do it.
[2:43:55] But, you know, we could set X amount of dollars as high for that.
[2:43:59] I think that could generate significant foot traffic down there.
[2:44:04] And the other thing is I think we had a conversation,
[2:44:07] not during council, but we talked about maybe some way finding signs
[2:44:12] or some of the merchants down there wanted a billboard, 183,
[2:44:17] to get through the holiday season.
[2:44:19] I mean, it's something we'd have to do pretty quick.
[2:44:22] But it's my understanding that, you know, from them,
[2:44:25] that there are several that are just saying
[2:44:27] the foot traffic's not there, there's confusion
[2:44:29] with the construction, all that, which you can't help,
[2:44:31] it's always going to be there.
[2:44:33] But, you know, if we could really help promote,
[2:44:35] we're open, we're ready for business,
[2:44:37] we've got great Christmas deals,
[2:44:38] but, you know, whatever the messaging is,
[2:44:40] but in all of this, the only messaging I really see
[2:44:43] is the social media.
[2:44:45] And I do like that.
[2:44:46] And I, you know, lock and tear up.
[2:44:49] Have you ever seen what they're doing?
[2:44:50] They do these cute little quick videos on there.
[2:44:53] And it's their staff, and they say something funny.
[2:44:56] And I just...
[2:45:01] I have to check it out. I think there's some really creative ideas, but we got to move quickly because we're mid-October. Yes. There were also some, yes, may have been highway banners, you know, lock art squares open for business. I think that's a great idea. If we get on 183 and, you know, where people are coming into town, San Antonio, I think that's where we hit them. Yeah, I have to get with public works to kind of see where we can hang that, you know,
[2:45:29] with sign permits and kind of figure that out.
[2:45:35] I think these are all some great suggestions
[2:45:37] where do we go from here?
[2:45:40] Well, this item tonight, Mayor Council,
[2:45:41] it's just received general direction
[2:45:44] on specific action items we can take
[2:45:47] and what I'm hearing is to incorporate,
[2:45:50] build on the social media component
[2:45:52] and then also evaluate some sort of physical sign component
[2:45:55] be it banners or billboards, something to that effect.
[2:46:00] If that's the direction of council,
[2:46:01] what staff and I will do is elaborate further on those concepts and can provide an update on something tangible to act on.
[2:46:08] Can we add to that some sort of like the gift card program, some sort of financial give away for people that, you know, in the cards that we get it, all of the downtown stores or whatever.
[2:46:20] Are you saying for us the pay for this? I give cards.
[2:46:25] So I just want to clarify you're seeing the gift cards will go like for instance here on the passport program
[2:46:32] I have like people can enter a raffle for like a law card lovers holiday basket
[2:46:37] Is is that something that you mean or do you mean the gift cards go to the businesses?
[2:46:43] I would like the gift cards to be able to be spent on any of the businesses how they get the gift card is is what we
[2:46:49] Which okay understand is it how do you get it? You know, oh if I go down and register if I go down do this or
[2:46:56] Even on social media. Oh, you know if I do this I get a gift card. Well, yeah, like the first 50 people that sign up or something like that or some little
[2:47:04] Puzzle, you know, there's a many things that they do out there, but those drive people down there
[2:47:09] So you know whatever dollar amount we you know if the council wants to do that we pick X amount of dollars X amount of gift cards and
[2:47:19] Okay. Well, let me get with the team. Now that you know, I have some direction and we'll
[2:47:27] come back with something a little bit more follow the any suggestions for some form
[2:47:32] of direct economic stimulus, something like a monetary value, a $20 gift card or some
[2:47:38] of the gift card of value, that's going to take some additional time to work through with
[2:47:42] city attorney to make sure that that's a permissible use of city funds. So that may take
[2:47:47] a little bit more time in the constraints that we have to work in. What we could do
[2:47:51] is maybe do a multi-phase where we take action on maybe some of the physical components,
[2:47:56] the social media and the physical signs, and then we can continue to evaluate any sort
[2:48:00] of... I'd like to ask that question because I can't see that they're, in my opinion, I can't
[2:48:04] see that there would be that much of a difficulty allocating money for that out of some part
[2:48:09] of our budget that should be legally done.
[2:48:11] Oh, sure.
[2:48:12] The quantity of money, I wouldn't be the challenge
[2:48:15] to be more so, is this viewed as a gift?
[2:48:17] Yeah, I get what you're saying, but it's marketing
[2:48:21] for the city, basically, is what it is.
[2:48:22] It would be more color-based.
[2:48:25] We can definitely incorporate that into our follow-up items.
[2:48:29] Yes, I'm going to go ahead with the advertising.
[2:48:31] Let's have the city attorney work through the notion
[2:48:34] of whether we can do the gift card idea.
[2:48:37] but the digital advertising, maybe the manner idea, whatever you come up with.
[2:48:47] Okay.
[2:48:47] Let's go ahead and get started on something as I say, we're on a short time line.
[2:48:51] Thank you, appreciate it.
[2:48:52] All right, thank you.
[2:48:54] We'll do.
[2:48:55] Thank you very much.
[2:48:55] Thank you very much.
[2:48:57] We'll go back to item F, discussion interaction, authorizing the resolution, 2025-33, determining
[2:49:07] that a public necessity exists for the acquisition of a permanent sanitary sewer and temporary construction easements located on real property which are required for the construction of the Lockhart Economic Development Administration sewer project, America Rescue Plan Project 08-79-05656 to construct a sanitary sewer utility infrastructure.
[2:49:35] Thank you, authorizing the city manager to make offers for the acquisition of easements
[2:49:46] required in the project and to expand an accurate amount, not to exceed $50,000 to acquire
[2:49:52] set easements, establishing certain procedures for acquisition and authorizing city manager
[2:49:57] that's queued in the documents in connection there with.
[2:50:02] Thank you for that, Mayor.
[2:50:03] This is the first of two resolutions related to a grant from the Economic Development Administration to construct wastewater utilities along the railroad tracks on the West Side of Lockhart.
[2:50:15] This project is oriented along the Union Pacific Railroad and it begins at Tank Street ending at the Wendrich Sew Division.
[2:50:22] The project is a 100% design and all the necessary easements have been obtained except the wastewater utility and construction easements across two parcels of one property owner.
[2:50:32] The acquisition of the permanent utility easement will prevent the city to access, maintain, operate, and take care of the utility that's going to be located in this easement.
[2:50:42] The resolution would authorize the city manager to pay just compensation to the owner for the acquisition of the easement.
[2:50:49] Staff recommends approval of resolution 2025-33.
[2:50:54] three.
[2:50:56] Okay. It's just 33. Yes. It's not this. This one. Okay.
[2:51:04] Any
[2:51:04] had any questions?
[2:51:08] And do I hear a motion? I have a motion to approve to hear a
[2:51:11] second. Second. Second from Councilman Castile. Any other discussion? All in favor please
[2:51:17] raise your hand. Motion passes 7-0. Go to item G discussion interaction regarding
[2:51:23] in Resolution 2025-34, finding that one sanitary sewer easement and one temporary construction
[2:51:32] easement located on property listed are addressed as 1600s on the Valley Road Lockhart,
[2:51:39] Awalk County, Texas, are necessary for the construction of the Lockhart Economic Development
[2:51:43] Administration sewer project, American Rescue Plan Act project number 0-8-79-56-56, to
[2:51:53] We construct sanitary sewer utility infrastructure and authorizing the use of eminent domain to condemn the easement interest pursuant to government code
[2:52:05] 2206-053.
[2:52:07] Thank you again Mayor.
[2:52:08] This second resolution is regarding the same wastewater project.
[2:52:11] Staff and contract land services continue to negotiate with the owner.
[2:52:16] However, they have not been able to reach an agreement with the property owner for the remaining easement interest.
[2:52:20] just. Therefore, the city believes it is prudent to authorize the use of eminent domain for
[2:52:24] the easements located at 1600 Silent Valley Road. Just compensation was determined by appraisal
[2:52:33] and the city through contract land services made initial offer on July 3, 2025 for their
[2:52:39] praised amount. Contract land services was able to contact the property owner to discuss
[2:52:44] the offer. The owner did not accept the initial offer. However, despite good faith invocations
[2:52:49] and agreement could not be reached.
[2:52:51] After a final offer was made on August 19th, 2025,
[2:52:56] we are here tonight.
[2:52:57] So resolution 20, 25-34 authorize the use
[2:53:02] of eminent domain for projects remaining,
[2:53:04] even as it's recommended for approval.
[2:53:06] Okay.
[2:53:08] Anybody have any questions?
[2:53:10] Then will somebody read this motion?
[2:53:14] I will.
[2:53:14] I move that the city of law card approve resolution number 2025,
[2:53:18] that's 34 and authorize the use of imminent domain to acquire a permanent
[2:53:23] sanitary sewer easement and a temporary construction easement located on the
[2:53:27] two properties both being necessary for the construction of the lock art
[2:53:30] economic development administration sewer project the permanent sanitary sewer
[2:53:35] easement being legally described as being a 15 foot wide 30,758 square foot
[2:53:41] tract of land and the temporary construction easement legally described as being a
[2:53:45] 15 foot wide, 30,810 square foot tract of land, both situated in the City of
[2:53:51] La Carte, Caldwell County, Texas, and being also a part of the Cornelius
[2:53:55] Crinshall Survey, A-68, and being also a part of a tract of land designated as
[2:54:02] exhibit B, called 21.584 acres, and part of a tract of land designated as
[2:54:08] exhibit C, tract 1, called 35.97 acres, and conveyed to Spillman
[2:54:14] properties LTD by deed recorded in volume 586 paid to 112 of the official public records of
[2:54:22] Caldwell County, Texas.
[2:54:24] Okay, we have a motion by Councilman Larson to hear a second.
[2:54:27] Second.
[2:54:27] Second by Councilman Castillo.
[2:54:29] Any other discussion?
[2:54:31] All the favor, please, raise your hand.
[2:54:33] Opposed, motion passes 7-0.
[2:54:37] Thank you.
[2:54:38] Any other discussion?
[2:54:40] All the favor, please, raise your hand.
[2:54:42] Opposed, motion passes 7-0.
[2:54:42] Thank you.
[2:54:43] Thank you.
[2:54:43] Mayor. The first item tonight is regarding the Cold War County road projects and late September
[2:54:51] staff participated in a utility stakeholder meeting for the county road bond 2024 road bond projects.
[2:54:58] Designed for these projects and commencement of the corridor study is anticipated to begin in the
[2:55:04] first quarter of 2026. Staff will continue to participate in the stakeholder engagement meetings to
[2:55:10] sure that we're represented as these construction projects continue.
[2:55:14] Very good.
[2:55:14] Making progress.
[2:55:17] An update on the Gateway Monument Signs.
[2:55:20] Contractors began site work for the Signs in September.
[2:55:23] As a reminder, there will be three Gateway Monument Signs placed along
[2:55:27] SH-130 and 183.
[2:55:30] SH-142 at SH-130 and SH-130 near Maple Street.
[2:55:36] The contractors will begin additional work on the signage cabinets next week
[2:55:41] And the goal is to have these signs substantially complete by the end of October so again
[2:55:46] We're making great progress on that project as well
[2:55:51] As you all are well aware national night out was this past Tuesday. We had a great turnout
[2:55:56] We had nine neighborhoods sign up to participate
[2:56:00] Staff and counsel. I know I made the rounds at these events and it was great to see community involvement and engagement with our public safety
[2:56:06] Personnel and our first responders. So this is always a great annual community building event
[2:56:10] Okay,
[2:56:13] and then the last item for tonight is a quick reminder that these splash pads will be closing for the season
[2:56:18] on Sunday October 26th
[2:56:21] So I think we'll have the weather to continue using them until that point
[2:56:24] But just a quick reminder
[2:56:28] Council come in
[2:56:31] I'd like to thank Lockhart cross country voice team. They won the 20
[2:56:36] I mean, they won District 2558 cross-country meet and this is like number 33 for the cross-country team.
[2:56:44] So, congratulations to Coach Hipster and his boys.
[2:56:49] Mayor's program.
[2:56:50] Yes, Mayor and Council, all I have is just a special thank you to all of the hosts that
[2:56:55] plan and hosted their neighborhood, National Nide House, and get together.
[2:56:59] So, thank you very much and it's greatly appreciated.
[2:57:02] That's all I have, sir.
[2:57:02] I've got two quick items. I just want to say thank you to Hayes Coldwell Women's Center.
[2:57:08] I know they received a proclamation tonight. I hope everybody realizes what they do and the services they provide for our community.
[2:57:16] They do a lot for us that maybe a lot of us don't realize. So they're a great organization and I'm proud to be a part of them.
[2:57:26] second thing I'll just say kind of what Angie said about National Night Out.
[2:57:31] Thank you for all the people but participated in that and especially the
[2:57:35] Law Court Police Department, EMS and Fire Departments. I know they came by my house
[2:57:40] and the kids loved it and it was a very fun night with a great turnout. So thank
[2:57:46] you to the city. Yeah just want to congratulate everybody on the National Night Out.
[2:57:51] It had a good meeting with neighbors here in that handsford use of divisions on in my district
[2:57:58] Thanks to organizers had a good meeting a turnout. I also want to say thanks to Sean and
[2:58:04] City manager Joseph were meeting with me talking about an upcoming project at the expansion of
[2:58:11] 142 in Mockingbird and
[2:58:14] Thanks to staff and
[2:58:15] That said, we're starting a new year, I mean fiscal year, so we'll see how we can do
[2:58:22] to tackle some of these upcoming issues and thanks to my council members and mayor.
[2:58:29] We're still moving ahead, we're trying to get through the growing pains of what we're
[2:58:35] experiencing at this time, but that said, I think we've got a good team put together right
[2:58:39] right now and we'll see how we can continue to make our car better.
[2:58:48] Thank all the participants were national night out, it was great seeing a lot of people
[2:58:56] out in their neighborhoods and visiting.
[2:59:02] And then, Joseph, can we may not be able to do this, but on the splash pad, if it's still
[2:59:08] No warm in November. Is it possible to extend that for a bit or is that Sunday
[2:59:17] drop dead? I can certainly review that with our parks director and view what
[2:59:23] are options. I've already had people ask, you know, if it stays warmer like
[2:59:30] it is right now, can we extend that for a bit? We can certainly explore that, yes.
[2:59:36] Thank you.
[2:59:40] We received a very nice thank you letter from Steve Lewis for the reception and the gifts
[2:59:48] and the honor that he had to work in the community and wish us all well.
[2:59:55] Well, I'm...
[3:00:00] He's traveling over to Giddings tomorrow morning. There's going to be a rural health care program put on by a sense in, in Giddings. And so I'm going to be traveling to Houston. So I'm going to stop and listen to that for a while. And that's about all I have tonight. We're going to go into executive session in accordance with provisions of the government.
[3:00:26] Code type 5, sub chapter D, section 551.087 to deliberate or discussion regarding commercial
[3:00:35] or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect
[3:00:41] that the governmental body seeks to have locates stay or expand in or near the territory of
[3:00:47] the governmental body and with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations
[3:00:53] or to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business project.
[3:01:00] Item A, discussion regarding economic development negotiations with projects.
[3:01:06] CA237 and CA246.
[3:01:09] We are in executive section at 945.
[3:01:13] Yeah,
[3:01:15] it's a really.