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I call this meeting of the richardson city council to order at 6:45 pm

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I would like to invite council member justice to give the invocation and lead the pledges.

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thank you. Uh, seeing as we are having our final meeting, uh, of the year

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and starting a new year soon, I am going to, uh, share with your

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words of dr. Martin luther king jr. About renewal. Join

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me as you're, uh, comfortable. Join with earth and each other

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to bring new life to the land, to restore the waters, to refresh the air,

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to renew the forest. To care for the plants, for the plants, to protect the

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creatures. Protect the creatures. To celebrate the seas, the sea, to rejoice in sunlight and sunlight.

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to sing the song of the stars, to recall our destiny, to

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renew our spirits, to invigorate our bodies, to recreate the

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human community, to promote justice and peace, to love our

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children, and to love one another. To join together as many and diverse

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expressions of one loving mystery for the healing of the earth in the renewal

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of all life. Amen. Amen. Amen. The us pledge,

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of united states america, america

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to the republic. For which, which it stands. Stands one nation, nation under god,

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indi indivisible. With liberty. Liberty and justices, the texas flag.

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honor the texas flag. I pledge allegiance to the texas

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one state under god. One. Indivisible, indivisible,

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all. I would be looking for a motion for the minutes

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of the december 8th, 2025, special called meeting. And the december 8th, 2025

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meeting. Council member han,

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I put a motion to approve the meeting minutes as written as stated.

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and council member corcoran. I second. Okay.

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we have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please signify anyone opposed?

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okay. That passes six to nothing with council member. Barrios out

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ill this evening. Thank you. Okay, we'll move into public

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comments on agenda items and visitors forum. Mr. Magner. Uh, thank you, mayor. We're

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not in receipt of any cards in advance of the 5:00 pm deadline, and I don't think we have

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anyone signed to speak. No cards. Thank you. Anyone wish

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to speak tonight? Okay. We'll move on then to

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item five, which is review and discuss the 2026 board program

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development. Mr. Magner, uh, thank you mayor council, uh, very excited to,

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uh, be bringing this, uh, presentation before you tonight. It's the culmination of, uh,

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as you know, five weeks of deep dives, uh, several, uh, introductory

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and kickoff briefings, uh, starting back to the budget re, uh, budget retreat and

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budget development process this summer. Um, as, uh, as we

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begin this process and really start to talk, talk about the particulars, uh,

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of our, uh, recommendation to you, we, we do wanna acknowledge, uh, a lot of important stakeholders,

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uh, that have been part of this process. Uh, very importantly, our, our boards

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and commissions, uh, our hoa presidents, uh, uh, many homeowners, neighborhood

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association medias meetings, um, our institutional partners, um,

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that, uh, uh, we've, uh, worked with, uh, particularly on the transportation and

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mobility, uh, our business and development community, uh, business and, uh, um,

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uh, development community. Then of course, many of the internal studies and

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assessments we've done, as well as, uh, some external assessments and studies, uh, that

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we've been, uh, fortunate to partner with, uh, with the likes of tech dot, for instance. Uh,

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as we, uh, uh, get to this important briefing tonight, uh, as I

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mentioned, uh, you've spent hours now, um, um, hearing the deep dives

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of transportation, mobility, parks and rec, including aquatic drainage, uh,

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streets, alleys, and sidewalks. And then last week, uh, facilities, uh, we do

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have several meetings reserved as we move forward, uh, if, uh, if they're needed,

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uh, to refine, uh, the, uh, propositions that'll be presented to you tonight.

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uh, before we get to that, I want to do, I do want to, uh, talk about our capacity and

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some of the modeling that, uh, kent and his team has have done. Um, as you, uh,

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recall from past briefings and, and really many years, um, we

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take a very conservative approach to our debt modeling. Um,

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as you see, the property tax value growth is, assumptions

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are that they'll remain flat for fy 27 and 28,

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a very modest 1% growth from fy 29 through 34, and then 0%

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growth thereafter. We continue to, uh, use interest rates, uh,

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between four and a half, uh, mean 4.75 and 5.25%, um,

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for future, future issuances when in reality, uh,

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even, uh, this last series, uh, kent, which I believe was the highest we've had, um, in

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many years, was, uh, was well below that a half point, uh, below the low end of that

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assumption. Um, as, uh, we, we, uh, considering factors,

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um, this conservative modeling, um, most of the capacity

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that we'll talk about tonight is actually being created through the good work of kent and

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his team as we, um, uh, pay off the old debt, uh, much,

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uh, sooner in a much more timely way than than, than it's sold. Um, this

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does, uh, this modeling does assume a five year serial sale, uh, for this

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geo bond program with one asterisk, and I'll come back to that. Of course, it is a no tax rate

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increase, uh, as, as the last two bond programs been, uh, and it does leave some room for

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supplemental issuance in the future. Um, while we say we have a

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capacity of $200 million for the next five years, uh, again, the asterisk will be

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the $23.5 million for the construction of fire station seven that

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we talk about in quote, year six, or potentially year one of,

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of our next bond program. Uh, not withstanding even the 23, uh, the

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$223 million number, uh, we still have about 25,

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uh, to $30 million of capacity, uh, for, um, other needs that

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might arise. Um, as we, uh, have shared with you previously and have drilled

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down on the refinement of the propositions, um, our guiding principles

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continue to be first and foremost as the project help achieve or further one of your goals.

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um, uh, very, very importantly as well, uh, min, that there

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needs to be minimal additional operating costs associated with the project. Uh, obviously,

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uh, you're gonna hear, um, uh, the second part of our next briefing is gonna talk

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about why that is so important. Um, of course, we wanna build on

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and execute, uh, on, um, uh, previous master planning efforts.

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uh, many of the discussions that you had in particularly the parts realm where about

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that. And, uh, and then we wanna continue to build on prior projects by,

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uh, further completing, uh, or, or, um, uh,

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um, adding to, uh, those plans, those planned improvements that have already taken place.

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and then we look for projects that are catalytic or transformational in nature. I have the potential to

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be, um, in terms of considerations, we're always mindful of what needs to

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be done, uh, immediately. Um, and, and, and this is kind of the worst first

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kind of mentality, uh, but we're also always trying to figure out if projects completely

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implemented in phases. This is particularly important in the realms of drainage.

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um, we've talked many times about some, how some of the drainage projects for some of the, uh,

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uh, basins, uh, often come to 35 to $40 million,

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and even through a bond program. Um, that's not, uh, that's not always possible.

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um, and then we look for, uh, ways, obviously to limit disruption to

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our operations and services to citizens. Um, and then, as I mentioned, importantly,

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uh, we we're always, um, mindful of, um, there are gonna be projects

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that are on the cutting room floor at the end of this in every proposition. So how do we go about,

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um, both in the immediate term, addressing those high priority projects, but, uh,

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over the long haul, uh, making sure that we're able to progress

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the, uh, prop, the recommendation I have for you tonight is, uh, is again about a, it's a

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$223.4 million recommendation. Um, I, I'm not gonna go through

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this, um, because we're gonna do a little bit of a deep dive into each one of the propositions.

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uh, you can see a little bit of difference in transportation, mobility, street sidewalk,

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drainage, uh, public buildings and, and parks, all a little bit different than what we initially

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proposed to you in the blocking exercise. And we'll talk a little bit about why.

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so, uh, first we'll go to transportation and mobility. Um, we're happy, um, to,

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to, uh, recommend, uh, all of the traffic signal rebuilds at $9.5 million.

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uh, in addition to, um, the two new traffic signal rebuilds of renter

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and sharp and beltline and weathered for $1.3 million. Um, importantly,

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I think replacing all school's own flashers and speed feedback signs, as

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well as completing all of the a da compliance upgrades

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that we had identified. And then for the active transportation plan, um, uh,

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the owens trail upgrades that we covered in the street crossing upgrades, again here,

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the, uh, $1.3 million of new traffic signals and the additional

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$1.3 million to complete all of the a da compliance upgrades, rather

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than the 50% that were initially discussed or the differences, um,

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that, uh, that we bring to you tonight in terms of streets and alleys, this is very exciting,

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uh, for, for me in anyway, $114 million

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in street projects and alley projects. Uh, you see the collectors of waterview

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drive from arapahoe to campbell, androse from australia to providence town, neighborhood collectors

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of mosa from melrose to arapo, south weather from downing to beltline, uh,

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commercial, the presidential drive from roundabout to 1220 presidential, um,

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many, many residential streets to the tune of $27 million, uh, 15

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alley segments that I'll show you on a map here. And then $25 million

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for, uh, the concrete replacement. Um, uh, uh, mayor hu,

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we took, uh, a lot of, uh, uh, thoughtful feedback, uh, from you that night and

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the rest of the council, and really contemplated our strategy. Um, and, and I feel

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confident in recommending, um, this would amount to two and a half

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times a full depth concrete replacement. Um, then

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we're averaging over the last, uh, five to six years, uh, through the

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pego program, um, uh, that's, uh, really going to excel,

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uh, the amount of work that we can do. And if we are able to maintain that in the pego,

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um, it's going to, uh, really allow us to start quote catching up

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if for some reason, and, and it is a possibility. Again, these two briefings that are on

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here tonight are not by coincidence, as we'll talk about if we needed to tweak the

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pego, uh, transfer out four streets, um, we know

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we still have here, um, essentially, uh, 4 million do, uh, I'm

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sorry, $5 million a a year. Again, two and a half times what we've

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averaged through the pego to handle these localized repairs. And you see here,

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um, a map that's been updated to include on the left hand side, all

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of the streets and alley segments. You see a nice distribution throughout the community, and

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then the concrete repair, uh, segments. Uh, and, um,

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I'm, I, I feel, uh, uh, confident that we could actually probably, uh,

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exceed this with the $25 million, as I believe, if I recall right, charles, the,

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the, uh, uh, the actual estimate was, uh, based around, uh, probably about

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a $4 million a year, uh, um, sale, particularly if we, if we continue to

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invest, um, through the pego. Now, the other option, rather than just

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reducing the pego, would be to use that $2 million for other purposes.

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uh, and recall, our recommendation to you is that as we get into early

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next year, and we have some, uh, briefings around things like, uh, the

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use of asphalt, uh, for overlay purposes, um, that

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pego, those paygo dollars being released because we now have these bond program dollars dedicated

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to that could very well be an important consideration, uh, for you

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on sidewalks here. Uh, the only difference is, uh, really listening to you and

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some of the public feedback, increasing the amount of funding to address the

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sidewalk gaps from, uh, what was originally four and a half million dollars now to $6 million.

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you can see on the left hand side, the two residential zones and, um,

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commercial zones for the sidewalk, uh, repair and replacement building on,

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uh, several bond programs worth of work now, uh, but allowing, uh, really for

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the, um, gaps, uh, in the sidewalk, uh, uh, the sidewalk

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gap, uh, um, program to be really elevated, uh, by, again,

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another million and a half dollars recall. My recommendation to you previously was not to be too

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prescriptive, uh, in, in this, uh, proposition. Um, we would bring

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you an annual work plan back for consideration as we sell

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these, uh, $6 million over the course of several series. Um, and

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so, uh, that would allow us to be flexible. Uh, hopefully some of these are taken care

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of through new development, through redevelopment, through grants, and so allow

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us for maximum flexibility on the drainage, uh, recommending to you

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a lowest branch, phase one and two. This is an important highland terrace project that,

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um, has, uh, been on the, um, discussion for, uh, several bond programs.

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now, um, you can see the phase one is from lowest from is

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the lowest branch channel improvements, essentially 600, uh, feet downstream

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of spring valley to about 200 downstream of pitman. Phase two would be a

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continuation of that from pitman to highland. You see the benefits here, and, and, and

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they might initially say, wow, that's, that, that maybe is a little bit a modest for an $11.5 million

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project, but recall this was phases one of two and three of three and four,

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really, we've got to get, we've got to launch on this project in some way, shape, or form,

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to eventually, um, have it, um, have it completed and really

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start to see the benefits come through in phases three and four. And so, um,

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this is an important project. Again, miss has missed several bond programs. Um,

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the other, the other, uh, note here is the addition of $1.5 million,

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uh, for, uh, potential gian, uh, wall or erosion projects.

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this allowing us to get a little bit deeper into that priority list, and probably starting,

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um, to get deep enough into that list that we may start addressing some of the more high

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profile, uh, situations that have been brought to the council's attention, attention

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recently, um, around, uh, for instance, the, uh, maybe the tam

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shanter area where, uh, that previously wasn't, um, wasn't probably gonna make

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it as a result of, uh, just the priority list, uh, facilities. Uh, you

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know this very well. It's the apparatus building for, uh, fire just north of fire

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station five for $8 million, $2.1 million to, uh, renovate, uh, fire

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station six, uh, and a small addition there. And then the design

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for fire station seven in the form of $2.4 million.

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and you see her fire station seven construction. So what this bond

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program would be doing is asking for the authorization to eventually issue the

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$23.5 million that would be needed, uh, for the construction. However, the

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actual sale of that debt would not be scheduled to fy 32, which again, would be this quote

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year six or year one of the next bond program. But I, I feel like

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the council's feedback was clear that you wanted to have the authorization to move

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on the construction of this project before we would invest two and a half million dollars,

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um, in, in its design. And so that's why it's, uh, it's situated that way.

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um, in terms of parks and, and recreation, uh, and let's start with the aquatics.

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there's $11.5 million set aside for the cottonwood pool removal. And in

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addition of a spray ground at 2.7 million, the canyon creek pool renovation project at 2.3 million.

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and then for breckenridge at the complex b spray, ground restroom, and parking lot

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at $5.6 million. Uh, I'm happy to, to report to

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you that we're recommending all of the playgrounds. I recall you had some curiosity

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around, um, I think there were four playgrounds that were kind of right on the border

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there in terms of the, uh, timeline. This, uh, takes away all that, um,

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um, kind of uncertainty and includes all of the, uh, the playground, uh, rebuilds,

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allowing us to keep on our, our rhythm, um, that we described for you previously.

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um, and then that is definitely not correct on part development.

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um, let me, uh, yeah, I apologize for that. Um, um, what

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we're recommending here is actually to, uh, further execute the breckenridge,

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uh, strategic improvement plan. Uh, this was a plan that was, uh, developed around

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2020, and then ultimately finalized in 21 and includes seven, uh, projects,

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uh, loop trail completion of the pedestrian bridge, uh, playground league relocation,

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which was accomplished with the 21 bond program, uh, signage that we haven't executed

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on yet. Uh, the ballpark parking resurfacing, uh, a maintenance

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facility, um, upgrade. Uh, this is kind of in the pit, if you will, which

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you've probably heard previously. There has been significant work there completed, but not all.

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um, and then some erosion control at the existing bridge. And so what we're execute, what we're

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recommending here for the $5 million, and again, I apologize for this, uh, this is

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100% on me, um, is, um, the loop trail and

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the pedestrian bridge that you see pictured here on the bottom right hand side, um, of

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the project. And again, uh, with, in the spirit of, uh, of, of one of our

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guiding principles, which, which was to build on projects and plans that have

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been launched. Um, that's, uh, that's my recommendation to you.

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um, so how does this recommended bond program, uh, compare, uh,

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to prior, uh, uh, pro programs in terms of the percentage you'll

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see here, again, uh, growing to the highest percentage ever, um, dedicated

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to streets? Now recall, when we actually take this to the public, both transportation,

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mobility and street projects will all be lumped into a street proposition that has been our

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practice. Uh, public buildings, again, a $36 million, but in the

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five year window, um, uh, just, uh, um, just a fraction

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of that because the $23.5 million, uh, will again, remain,

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uh, authorized but not executed into fy 32 parks

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is at 22.2 million sidewalks, 16.5 million, and then drainage at

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16.5 million for a total of $223.4 million.

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now, you may ask, don, you presented an awful lot

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more need than that, and so how are we going to address the remaining projects, particularly

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those projects that were identified, um, as, uh, needing

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immediate attention? And I really want to harken back to the facilities discussion, because that's

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where you saw the most. Um, one thing I'll tell you is, is

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that, um, as we look out beyond, uh, year five here to

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year, uh, six and 10, uh, there remains, uh, um, uh,

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a lot of capacity that'll come back online. And so for some of the bigger projects like,

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uh, the lowest, uh, uh, lowest drainage projects, three and four, for

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instance, we have future capacity. Um, and so that's always,

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that's always an option, uh, our annual maintenance strategies. And so some of the smaller

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parks, some of the smaller, um, uh, facilities, projects can be wrapped into

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our annual maintenance strategies, uh, far and few between

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nowadays, uh, compared to latter, uh, years. But, uh, federal infrastructure

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programs and grants, as well as county grants for things like open space, uh,

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uh, mobility projects are still available. They're, they're just not as plentiful.

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uh, and then our special maintenance reserve, um, that, uh, you have helped, um,

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with your support build over the years, uh, is a, is an option.

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and then, of course, um, you know, the, the better we can do,

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uh, with favorable bids and project savings, the more we can turn their sa savings

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into, uh, additional projects. And so, um, what I've got for you here is

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a recommendation. Uh, again, you'll hear a little bit about how we have achieved

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this yearend savings, uh, for fy 25, but I wanna recommend to you that,

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uh, as, as bob presents in just a second, that we consider using $2 million

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of our, uh, f ffy 25 year end savings to facilitate

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the service center fuel island pro island project. Likewise, uh,

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h hvacs, uh, of, of high priority here at five, really important,

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um, uh, facilities. And I, I propose we use an, an additional $2 million,

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the yearend savings, uh, for those projects. I wanna go back to

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our special project initiative funding, which is existing funding, uh, available today,

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uh, with your approval. And I proposed to you that we address the roofs

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and the, uh, building envelope, um, um, at, uh,

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at the, uh, four locations you see here with $1.6 million of

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special project initiative funding, and then also facilitate the detention

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center, uh, cell renovation project. Um, as you're gonna see from bob

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here in just a second, we have about $700,000 in year end savings from

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in our solid waste fund. I wanna propose using, uh, 500 of those,

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uh, 500,000 of those dollars to, uh, facilitate the dump,

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re the dumpster location, uh, and site prep preparation,

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uh, work that would be needed to relocate the dumpsters from north of fire station five over

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to lookout by the transfer station, thereby freeing up, uh, that half a

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million dollars from the apparatus project in the bond program. Recall, the number was actually

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8.5 that I shared with you previously. Uh, this number is eight,

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uh, as a result of this strategy, if that wouldn't be something that you would find, um,

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acceptable, then we would, we would need to increase the eight, the number, the eight, $8 million

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number to $8.5 million. Um, but I believe this is, this is an

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effective strategy. So as I wrap up here, I'm anxious to hear your feedback

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and, and any, um, questions that you may have. Um, we

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do, as I mentioned, we have a january 5th meeting, uh, available to us if, if necessary.

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um, one important step that we wanna mention to you here is, as, as you finalize

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the proposition, kent needs to get with our bond counsel and make sure,

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uh, confirm that the final propositions, uh, are gonna be acceptable and

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in the eyes of, um, of, of the attorney general and, and, and others. And

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so that's a step that we still need to build into the process. And then, of course, uh, you'll need to

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call this election and your charter amendment election by february the ninth. Uh,

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once you do that, we, uh, we exit the preparation, uh,

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mode and, and start the education, uh, effort, uh, through, uh, may 2nd,

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which is election day. Mr. Mayor, thank you for, uh, the time to present tonight,

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and I, uh, look forward to any feedback and discussion you'd like to have. Thank you, mr.

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magner, councilwoman justice. Thank you. Um, I think this is really

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responsive, uh, and balances well. Um,

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all of the feedback we gave you, , I know some people are not gonna get everything they want on here, but I think

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this really addresses some important needs. The drainage in particular, you

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know, it's not sort of the flashiest, but it's super, super important that we do it, and

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that we're really putting a lot of effort behind that. Um, thank you

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for, uh, the aquatics and the breckenridge, um, um, uh,

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enhancements. Uh, I appreciate that. A question on the, um,

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fire station, you said it's either year six or year one of the next bond program. Can we

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be clear about what that means? We are gonna send that out to the voters

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now, right? That would be the intention. The authorization will be provided

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via this bond program through the 26 bond program. But we, um, everything from our

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fire master plan that we presented to you, to just our own, um,

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uh, confidence and, and, and around and security around

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when we would wanna sell that additional $23 million, we're committing

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here publicly not to sell that before what we're calling year

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six, um, of, of which is the sixth year from the launch of this bond

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program. But the reason I said it could be a year one is if, if, again, for, if

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it's a no tax rate increase, kind of a bond program, and you continue on with

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the rhythm, it would actually be year one of the next bond program. Got, yeah. So,

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um, the authorization, and again, I was queuing off of what I think I heard from

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the council, which was, we're not interested in spending two and a half million dollars to design something

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that's not been yet authorized. And so, um, our plan moving

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forward through the education portion of this bond program would

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be to, to say that, you know, we're committing that the 23 5 would be,

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um, at the earliest, the sixth year from, uh, the bond program passing

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sixth year of this program. If you wanna think of like that first year of the next, whichever. Yeah, no, that, that's really

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helpful. I just wanna make, make clear that the voters would have, you know, we call this, the voters would be voting

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on this particular thing. But for year six, I think, you know, I know

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it's important to me, it's important to you. I think we, you know, that, that we make sure that

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we may not be on the council then. Um, so we wanna make sure that this is something that, that we,

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uh, get funded. It's, it's really needed. So, uh, thank you for clarifying that. Otherwise,

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I, I think it's really great, and I think you've done a good job of balancing. Thank you. Thank you.

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council member corcoran. Uh, thank you, mr. Mayor. So,

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I, uh, just due to the timing of the bond program presentations,

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we were actually presented the parks program before the parks commission

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was, and so I just wanted to relay, um, a lot of their

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feedback to the council from that commission. Just what, I

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mean, the, the proposal, there's some things in here that are very aligned with the feedback

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and some things that aren't. Uh, again, uh, council member justice,

346
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you made a great point. We're not all gonna get everything we want out of this.

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I certainly wanted tam o shanter done for drainage. It's not in this package.

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I know others probably had projects they wanted, the parks commission didn't get everything they wanted, but

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I think the feedback is still really important. So, you know, with

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that, I mean, some things that we're doing that the parks commission is very aligned with.

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um, you know, they said the gallatin fountain is not necessarily a priority over some

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of these other projects. Uh, they also were very aligned with keeping the canyon

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creek pool open instead of converting that to a spray ground and turning

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conwood into a spray ground. Um, they just said that the numbers, the numbers

355
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to the parks commission were very indisputable on the usage. Um,

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you know, some things that they, that

357
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were gonna be proposing in this package that they didn't necessarily agree with was the timing of

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the items in breckenridge park, um, you know, specifically with the bridge.

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but that said, um, you know, they did,

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they did understand that, uh, I think their, they thought was

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with the soccer fields, specifically with, you know, the apollo phase two.

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they really wanted to take some of the pressure off of that and felt that the

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difficult decision between breckenridge park and those, and with those, they would've

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preferred the soccer fields. Um, and then, you know, finally,

365
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just in the light and sort of the, the discussion at breckenridge park, uh,

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one member, greg k in particular said, you know, you made a good point. At some point,

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we do need to make a long-term decision on what is happening at breck breckenridge,

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vis-a-vis whether like a full blown aquatic center is gonna be there or in the south. And with every

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decision we make at breckenridge, we have to also consider that that is a

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huge decision we have to make for that park. And it's coming up, um, you know,

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in the next decade or so. And then just finally, uh, our chair,

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nancy crow was also, um, she had a very individual concern about not adding pickleball

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courts. And so, you know, there's, like I said, I mean, this

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is, this is a lot of money and there are a lot of projects that a lot of people wanted.

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and so, um, I just felt like I would need to relay those discussion

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points from the parks commission to the rest of the council.

377
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thank you. Council member shem schul. Thank you, mr. Mayor

378
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proam, and, and, uh, don for,

379
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you know, bringing these things with, uh, I think this is probably the

380
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best possible, definitely way to address the limited budget. Uh,

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you know, I hope that the missing thing that we have on the list,

382
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we can get it slowly, eventually. Uh, I'm also very happy that,

383
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uh, some of the street that was, that is on the list now.

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it did finally, it is finally made, made in the list, especially some

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of the road like martha manor. Uh, you know, you

386
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know, if I, if we had that budget, definitely, I'm sure that we would've addressed that many years ago.

387
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uh, I feel really bad going out there driving, but I'm glad

388
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that it's on the, it's on the list right now. Uh, and

389
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also the drainage project that you have for the louis branch, uh, project.

390
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I'm glad that finally we are doing it. Uh, we did not, it

391
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did not make the list previously, but again, if you know that,

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you know, the more you go forward, the odds are gonna be very high. Something

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happened. So we did not have that much, uh, flood issue

394
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so far, uh, in a sense that, you know, if we have that kind of rain and flood,

395
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this would get, uh, not only the property get flooded, but

396
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also it's danger to the public when they drive over those street.

397
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so I think, I think, you know, I feel really good that,

398
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you know, this is on the list. Uh, and, uh,

399
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and other than that, you know, I thought that we're gonna be looking at, I guess, uh, council member

400
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joe corker mentioned about the cotton note park, uh, pool that, uh, the park department

401
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agree with that. Um, uh, I had some feedback from the neighborhood

402
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also that saying that they would like to have the pool, but,

403
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uh, you know, removing versus, um,

404
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keeping it cost. Uh, I don't know if that, if the cost is not that

405
00:28:44,825 --> 00:28:48,675
much, I think keeping it probably the safest route still,

406
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I would say, because when you have a service and you take the service out, sometimes

407
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that's, uh, that's very discomforting.

408
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so, um, bless you. But otherwise, I think so far, I

409
00:29:01,955 --> 00:29:05,835
see that it's really good budget, uh, good program, bond program that we have.

410
00:29:06,675 --> 00:29:09,945
I think still we're gonna be needing bond program moving down the road, sometimes

411
00:29:11,125 --> 00:29:14,815
maybe four, five years. But I think we are addressing, um,

412
00:29:15,655 --> 00:29:19,555
our issue very fast, uh, compared to, you know,

413
00:29:19,745 --> 00:29:23,685
what we have done in the past. Uh, you know, um, finally, we're

414
00:29:24,155 --> 00:29:27,845
catching up. I think we're, we're in the right direction. Thank you. Mayor

415
00:29:28,195 --> 00:29:31,935
or moore? Uh, thank you, mayor. I just wanted to,

416
00:29:32,415 --> 00:29:36,275
uh, kind of second some of what I'm hearing. I think this is super responsive. I do appreciate,

417
00:29:37,015 --> 00:29:40,755
uh, don and the team, your work on this. Um, and I,

418
00:29:41,085 --> 00:29:44,925
I appreciate also kind of the focus on making sure that we're not adding too much on opex

419
00:29:45,435 --> 00:29:49,285
side, especially with so much unknown, uh, uh, that

420
00:29:49,485 --> 00:29:53,125
could be coming in the next year or so, uh, from, uh, from austin.

421
00:29:53,665 --> 00:29:57,445
so, um, and I think finally, the, the continued emphasis

422
00:29:57,685 --> 00:30:01,545
on infrastructure is really gonna give us our really best chance to

423
00:30:01,765 --> 00:30:05,605
finally make just big inroads. Um, I know it was a concern

424
00:30:05,845 --> 00:30:09,585
that was brought up, uh, uh, a few meetings ago, but, uh, seeing

425
00:30:10,395 --> 00:30:14,205
this level of, of focus on especially streets and alleys, I think is really

426
00:30:14,445 --> 00:30:18,305
gonna move the needle and, and the additional element that we added, uh,

427
00:30:18,545 --> 00:30:22,545
for concrete repairs, also gonna do a big, a big, make a big difference. So,

428
00:30:23,055 --> 00:30:26,665
thank you, uh, for, for everything you did here to be responsive to the requests, and,

429
00:30:27,265 --> 00:30:31,115
uh, I think it's a pretty good balance. Council

430
00:30:31,605 --> 00:30:35,575
member, doria, thank you. Um, thank you, mayor.

431
00:30:36,325 --> 00:30:40,325
I, um, wanted to also kind of reiterate the same thing. I, I wanna thank everyone for

432
00:30:40,485 --> 00:30:44,195
all their input. I know everyone's worked very hard to establish, you know, what

433
00:30:44,705 --> 00:30:47,705
is, uh, the most important items to, to, uh,

434
00:30:49,795 --> 00:30:53,085
work on over the next few years. And, you know, a lot of, a lot of

435
00:30:53,805 --> 00:30:57,685
feedback I got from our constituents and our residents is, you know, streets and

436
00:30:57,885 --> 00:31:01,245
alleys. I think streets and alleys are always the number one, uh, part of our infrastructure.

437
00:31:02,025 --> 00:31:05,905
and as I've always said in many other meetings prior, that we have to, we

438
00:31:06,125 --> 00:31:09,965
have to address our infrastructure first before we start building on top of that. So I really

439
00:31:10,165 --> 00:31:14,145
like the allocations here and the direction of how we're, uh, moving

440
00:31:14,595 --> 00:31:18,485
that needle. And, uh, also for the, uh, the lowest, uh, branch,

441
00:31:19,105 --> 00:31:22,945
uh, phase one and two, I think I've heard a lot of people, uh, you know, comment on

442
00:31:23,165 --> 00:31:27,085
that. I think that we're gonna make a lot of people happy, so real happy with the

443
00:31:27,245 --> 00:31:31,245
direction of this and, um, looking forward to implementation. Thank you.

444
00:31:32,275 --> 00:31:36,205
council member corcoran. Hey, thank you, mr. Mayor. I just had one, sorry. I saw

445
00:31:36,365 --> 00:31:40,265
one more note on here that I think is really important for context to the

446
00:31:40,485 --> 00:31:44,285
parks commission's, um, deliberations, and just, just the comment

447
00:31:44,515 --> 00:31:48,435
that, and I'll add my spin on this at the end. Um, the comment that with

448
00:31:49,595 --> 00:31:53,565
improving soccer fields, there's a citywide benefit versus, versus with breckenridge,

449
00:31:54,085 --> 00:31:57,965
there's always gonna be the narrow benefit in the panhandle as far as

450
00:31:58,135 --> 00:32:01,745
usage was their opinion. Now, my spin on that is

451
00:32:02,965 --> 00:32:06,965
I agree with that, but also I understand if we take that approach every single bond program in perpetuity,

452
00:32:08,115 --> 00:32:12,105
then the infrastructure projects at breckenridge will just never get done. Right? And

453
00:32:12,605 --> 00:32:16,485
I think that's the point, both council member justice and mr. Mayor you both made

454
00:32:16,765 --> 00:32:20,765
when we had that discussion. And so I think that's a very understandable position.

455
00:32:21,265 --> 00:32:25,195
um, that's, that's all I wanted to say. And then just, just a quick clarification, it's

456
00:32:26,395 --> 00:32:30,235
just for anyone who's maybe listening or taking, taking notes, I mean, it's

457
00:32:31,105 --> 00:32:35,105
ma um, council member samsel, you said parks department, it's parks commission, park parks, right? The

458
00:32:35,325 --> 00:32:39,125
department has been very, very neutral throughout this whole process. , thank, thanks

459
00:32:39,365 --> 00:32:43,325
for that. I, I was thinking, did I say commission or department? Yes. Um, uh, yes. I'm glad

460
00:32:43,445 --> 00:32:46,105
you clarified that. Thank you. Um,

461
00:32:47,875 --> 00:32:51,765
just to add on, um, one thing that I'll mention very quickly, because we talked a

462
00:32:51,885 --> 00:32:55,515
lot about it, um, coming up in the, um, consent

463
00:32:56,005 --> 00:32:59,925
agenda, we're going to be talking about the, um, gallatin fountain. So I

464
00:33:00,045 --> 00:33:03,765
won't steal your thunder, but I'll just say that is that discussion is coming up in that section.

465
00:33:04,225 --> 00:33:08,105
so if anyone's curious as to what's going to occur, you'll have an answer. Um,

466
00:33:08,685 --> 00:33:12,645
I just wanna add on my, my, my thoughts as well. I th I think that, um, this is extremely

467
00:33:13,445 --> 00:33:17,405
balanced. Um, feel like that we've, we've, um, everyone's voice

468
00:33:17,585 --> 00:33:21,305
has been heard, and you've done a great job, as usual, um, mr. Magner

469
00:33:21,725 --> 00:33:25,605
with putting this all together. So just wanna thank you and, and each of the departments,

470
00:33:26,005 --> 00:33:29,785
I know there was a lot of work from each of the departments to pull all of this together. And

471
00:33:30,025 --> 00:33:33,675
so, um, thank you so much for, for being responsive

472
00:33:34,195 --> 00:33:37,835
to our thoughts, taking aback, having departments work on it, putting it all together.

473
00:33:38,255 --> 00:33:41,875
it, um, sometimes sausage is a little messy, but it does

474
00:33:42,315 --> 00:33:46,245
ultimately come out in a very good way. And I think that's what we have here. So thank

475
00:33:46,595 --> 00:33:50,135
you very much. If no other comments, then we'll move on to, um,

476
00:33:50,735 --> 00:33:54,705
we will now review and discuss the year yearend financial financial report for fiscal year

477
00:33:54,995 --> 00:33:58,875
20 20, 20 24, 20 25 operating budget.

478
00:33:59,535 --> 00:34:03,335
mr. Magnum, uh, thank you, mayor. Our, uh, budget officer bob kleier is here tonight to

479
00:34:03,555 --> 00:34:07,395
present this, uh, very important fourth quarter report. Uh, as we wrap up, uh, fy

480
00:34:07,715 --> 00:34:11,465
25, um, you'll hear, uh, some of, uh, bob's comments will

481
00:34:11,755 --> 00:34:15,635
be responsive to, uh, what we just presented with respect to the year end savings in general

482
00:34:15,795 --> 00:34:19,435
foot and solid waste. Uh, and then mayor, uh, as, uh, as we conclude this

483
00:34:19,915 --> 00:34:23,575
briefing, uh, tonight, uh, bob's gonna hand it back over to me. And, um,

484
00:34:24,015 --> 00:34:27,755
I'd like to just, uh, at this point in time, take a little bit, um, of a preview

485
00:34:28,575 --> 00:34:32,275
of, um, some modeling work that we've done, um, and explain

486
00:34:33,015 --> 00:34:36,915
one, why we're doing it, uh, but two more importantly, um, I think how we

487
00:34:37,075 --> 00:34:40,915
need to go into the new year, being responsive to, uh, and, and just

488
00:34:41,355 --> 00:34:45,075
continuously aware of some of the dynamics, uh, uh, merril mar mentioned,

489
00:34:45,615 --> 00:34:49,555
uh, uh, the legislation, uh, that's, uh, been passed in recent

490
00:34:49,805 --> 00:34:53,295
years and, and, and the legislation that's, um, uh,

491
00:34:53,975 --> 00:34:57,775
on the, on the tip of the tongue of many of the, uh, highest elected officials in

492
00:34:57,995 --> 00:35:01,815
the state at this point in time. Uh, these things have real, uh, implications for

493
00:35:02,035 --> 00:35:05,835
municipal governments. And I'd like to conclude the presentation by sharing some of those thoughts

494
00:35:06,115 --> 00:35:09,915
with you, and, uh, really setting the tone for, um, uh, our city

495
00:35:10,195 --> 00:35:14,135
staff as we embark, uh, as we come back from the holiday. Quickly embark on

496
00:35:14,375 --> 00:35:18,235
the budget development process of our fly, uh, 27. So bob, thanks so much for

497
00:35:18,395 --> 00:35:22,215
putting all this, uh, good information together. I'll turn it over to you. Alright, uh, good evening, uh,

498
00:35:22,465 --> 00:35:26,395
counsel. Uh, as don mentioned, the purpose of tonight's, uh, briefing

499
00:35:26,555 --> 00:35:30,555
is to provide you with an update on the year end, uh, performance of our five main

500
00:35:30,835 --> 00:35:34,795
operating funds as of the end of fy 25. Uh, the first

501
00:35:34,955 --> 00:35:38,565
fund we'll discuss is the general fund, our largest fund, uh, total revenue

502
00:35:39,065 --> 00:35:41,645
of $183.6 million is $2.9 million

503
00:35:43,295 --> 00:35:47,285
above the original budget of 180.7. And you can see two of the variances

504
00:35:47,765 --> 00:35:51,765
there with, uh, two of our largest revenue sources, property taxes and sales

505
00:35:51,985 --> 00:35:55,885
tax, property tax, uh, end of the year, 3.2 million, um, below

506
00:35:56,165 --> 00:35:59,985
the original budget. Um, the largest subcategory of that is,

507
00:36:00,745 --> 00:36:03,765
uh, the, uh, current year taxes, which ended the year 3.5 million

508
00:36:04,765 --> 00:36:08,665
below the original budget. This is the, uh, category that, uh, was impacted by

509
00:36:08,885 --> 00:36:12,505
the two, uh, situations we discussed earlier this year. Um,

510
00:36:13,785 --> 00:36:17,765
the, uh, large abatement that was left off the certified role by, uh, ca

511
00:36:18,225 --> 00:36:22,125
as well as the change in the taxable status of the, uh, residential portion

512
00:36:22,625 --> 00:36:26,405
of the utd, uh, northside development. The prior year, taxes and penalty

513
00:36:26,665 --> 00:36:30,665
and interest make up the remainder of that, but to finish about 215,000 above the

514
00:36:31,085 --> 00:36:35,045
original budget sales tax, uh, three points, uh, sales and other business

515
00:36:35,165 --> 00:36:37,765
taxes, 3.7 million above the original budget of 53.2.

516
00:36:39,185 --> 00:36:42,845
the largest category is the traditional 1 cent sales tax. Everybody

517
00:36:43,285 --> 00:36:47,285
thinks about, uh, that finished 3.7 million above the original budget of, uh, 52.4 million.

518
00:36:48,985 --> 00:36:52,785
as a reminder going into the fy 25 budget, uh,

519
00:36:53,145 --> 00:36:57,125
we, we decided, or we were determined to stay conservative in our, uh, development

520
00:36:57,685 --> 00:37:01,635
of the, uh, budget for this category as a result of the, uh, decline

521
00:37:02,125 --> 00:37:05,845
we saw in fy 24. And I think that, uh, that actually, uh, helped

522
00:37:06,145 --> 00:37:09,845
out this year with the decline in in property taxes. Uh, license

523
00:37:10,225 --> 00:37:13,965
and permits finished the year eight, uh, 684,000 above the original budget.

524
00:37:14,435 --> 00:37:18,085
largest, uh, part of that is building permits, which finished at, uh, $2.4 million,

525
00:37:19,825 --> 00:37:23,555
uh, or, um, 582,000 above its original budget, roughly

526
00:37:24,095 --> 00:37:27,635
350,000 of that as a result of the timing of a, a large multifamily

527
00:37:28,445 --> 00:37:32,425
permit that we anticipated receiving by the end of fy 24, but

528
00:37:32,865 --> 00:37:36,685
was received in the first quarter of fy 25. And then again, this was another area

529
00:37:36,975 --> 00:37:40,645
where we took a conservative approach to the development of the revenue, uh, estimate

530
00:37:41,225 --> 00:37:44,785
as a result of the high interest rates and with the uncertainty of what that was gonna do to, uh,

531
00:37:45,325 --> 00:37:49,325
construction activities. The remaining subcategories finished 101,000 above the

532
00:37:49,685 --> 00:37:53,565
original budget, stronger than anticipated revenues and construction inspection and other

533
00:37:53,915 --> 00:37:57,725
license and permits. And then, uh, the animal, uh, revenue from the animal

534
00:37:58,005 --> 00:38:01,845
shelter and, uh, animal licenses was down slightly and was impacted slightly by the,

535
00:38:02,065 --> 00:38:05,985
the remodel out at the, uh, animal shelter. Other revenues, uh,

536
00:38:06,305 --> 00:38:10,245
1.1 million above the original budget of 5.8 million. Uh, the miscellaneous

537
00:38:11,285 --> 00:38:14,925
category is the largest of those, um, finished at 2.9

538
00:38:15,585 --> 00:38:19,485
or $2.2 million, or 1.4 million above the original budget. This is

539
00:38:19,605 --> 00:38:23,425
where we recorded about $1 million in a repayment of, uh, an

540
00:38:23,885 --> 00:38:27,685
economic development agreement related to that northside property. Uh, as a result

541
00:38:27,925 --> 00:38:31,525
of the change in taxable status, it also, uh, includes 359,000

542
00:38:32,605 --> 00:38:36,445
related to city, uh, damage to city property and insurance settlements. This is a

543
00:38:36,805 --> 00:38:40,725
category that we, we don't budget very high. We, you know, it's a very

544
00:38:40,885 --> 00:38:44,745
unreliable revenue source. We try to take into some historical levels on

545
00:38:44,965 --> 00:38:48,685
that, but 359,000 above our base level ambulance revenues

546
00:38:49,245 --> 00:38:53,245
finished, uh, 694 below a thousand below the original budget. And then intergovernmental

547
00:38:53,925 --> 00:38:57,725
revenues finished, uh, 492 at four nine 2000 or 391,000

548
00:38:58,845 --> 00:39:02,665
above the original budget. It was, again, another category that we budget on the low end. Uh,

549
00:39:03,105 --> 00:39:06,925
we only budget for things we know are gonna come, uh, this year, this past year,

550
00:39:07,425 --> 00:39:11,405
uh, we received state reimbursements for statewide assistance related to

551
00:39:12,005 --> 00:39:15,855
wildfires and flooding, uh, in south texas. Um, those

552
00:39:16,315 --> 00:39:20,205
kind of go to offset some of the equipment use and over time that our departments,

553
00:39:20,785 --> 00:39:24,325
uh, in, uh, incur because of those, uh, statewide deployments.

554
00:39:25,015 --> 00:39:28,885
total expenditures of five, uh, $5.7 million below the original budget of 180.3 million.

555
00:39:31,225 --> 00:39:35,005
um, one of the largest, uh, areas of savings is personnel

556
00:39:35,465 --> 00:39:39,405
2.5 million below the original budget. This budget did include about 5%

557
00:39:40,045 --> 00:39:43,565
savings from non-public safety vacancies. Uh, on average

558
00:39:44,145 --> 00:39:48,125
we average about 11% vacancies, so about a little over twice the amount that

559
00:39:48,325 --> 00:39:52,285
we anticipated. That's also impacted by public safety vacancies that were not

560
00:39:52,485 --> 00:39:56,305
part of that. Um, initial assumption. Professional services finished 1 million

561
00:39:56,775 --> 00:40:00,705
below the original budget of 16.1 million. Uh, part of this, uh,

562
00:40:01,025 --> 00:40:04,905
is related to timing. 637,000 is related to, uh,

563
00:40:05,125 --> 00:40:08,925
an economic development agreement that was planned for and budgeted for an fy 24,

564
00:40:09,345 --> 00:40:13,325
but was paid an fy 24. It was planned for 25,

565
00:40:13,825 --> 00:40:16,605
but was recorded in fy 24, and then 349,000

566
00:40:18,065 --> 00:40:22,005
was related to the northside development. That was not paid due to the change

567
00:40:22,285 --> 00:40:26,265
in taxable status applies of miscellaneous, uh, finished the year $2.6 million

568
00:40:27,365 --> 00:40:31,305
below the original budget. The original budget for this category did include, uh,

569
00:40:31,785 --> 00:40:35,785
$1 million for mid-year restorations, but it was not reactivated due

570
00:40:36,005 --> 00:40:39,985
to some concerns about the, uh, property tax revenue. And I'll touch on that in, in, uh,

571
00:40:40,265 --> 00:40:43,725
in a second on, on that $1 million, uh, and does include 383,000

572
00:40:45,125 --> 00:40:48,805
from planned sales tax. Um, uh, based economic development agreements.

573
00:40:49,535 --> 00:40:53,345
these are tied directly to sales tax receipts that we receive, and

574
00:40:53,565 --> 00:40:57,385
we're adjusted to match that. Uh, as a result of some work done by,

575
00:40:57,745 --> 00:41:01,605
uh, the, our, uh, police department, we were able to get a federal grant that's covering our

576
00:41:01,795 --> 00:41:05,635
9 1 1 service fees through january, uh, 2026. That

577
00:41:05,925 --> 00:41:09,625
saved, uh, the general fund about $206,000 electric, uh,

578
00:41:10,125 --> 00:41:13,865
expenses finished 159,000 159,000 below the original budget, mainly

579
00:41:14,305 --> 00:41:18,205
as a result of adjusting to this new space that we're in currently. And then fuel costs

580
00:41:18,485 --> 00:41:22,445
were overestimated by 524,000. All of the transfers

581
00:41:22,725 --> 00:41:26,365
out for our maintenance initiatives, street and alley rehab, parks, facility maintenance

582
00:41:26,805 --> 00:41:30,775
and economic development, uh, end of the year as budgeted. And then there was 779,000

583
00:41:32,385 --> 00:41:36,365
across the fund that's still encumbered and will roll into the new year. Uh, this will be

584
00:41:36,485 --> 00:41:40,165
covered by a reserve of fund balance, which is removed from the, the minimum,

585
00:41:40,745 --> 00:41:44,565
uh, fund balance calculation, uh, as a result of the same

586
00:41:44,785 --> 00:41:48,435
two, uh, property tax issues that the general fund faced. This, the general

587
00:41:48,925 --> 00:41:52,165
debt service fund faces the same, uh, issues. Roughly 99.7%

588
00:41:53,525 --> 00:41:57,385
of all revenue in that fund is sales tax or property tax related. Uh,

589
00:41:57,625 --> 00:42:01,585
so that was gonna require a $2.3 million infusion to

590
00:42:01,805 --> 00:42:05,675
meet the minimum fund balance in that, uh, fund. And then, uh, after meeting

591
00:42:06,165 --> 00:42:10,105
the 90 day requirements, that leaves roughly $6 million, uh, for,

592
00:42:10,625 --> 00:42:14,405
uh, special initiatives. Uh, part of that is $1 million being transferred

593
00:42:14,885 --> 00:42:18,295
to the insurance fund to help insulate, uh, that fund from increasing healthcare

594
00:42:19,015 --> 00:42:22,745
costs. Uh, that million dollar reserve we had in the su, uh,

595
00:42:23,165 --> 00:42:26,235
supplies of miscellaneous category, one of the first liens on that was this

596
00:42:27,365 --> 00:42:31,285
transfer. We were just waiting till the end of the year to do that. And then, uh, after meeting that

597
00:42:31,525 --> 00:42:35,345
fund bounce or, uh, after that, there's roughly 5 million, which don

598
00:42:35,565 --> 00:42:38,975
covered. Uh, the 4 million of that is going to, uh, cover,

599
00:42:39,945 --> 00:42:43,805
uh, facility improvements that most likely won't make the, the final, uh, bond program

600
00:42:44,195 --> 00:42:47,715
list. But a million dollars of that will be added to the, uh, reserve

601
00:42:48,225 --> 00:42:52,205
for the emergency response, uh, would bring the total reserve for emergency response,

602
00:42:52,465 --> 00:42:56,365
uh, to $2 million. With that, uh, the general fund finishes at

603
00:42:56,525 --> 00:43:00,485
54.6 million or 90.99 days, which is above the minimum

604
00:43:00,685 --> 00:43:04,365
policy of 90 days. Uh, the water and sewer fund,

605
00:43:04,865 --> 00:43:08,405
uh, it's our, uh, largest utility fund. Uh, total revenue

606
00:43:09,085 --> 00:43:11,565
finished 2.8 million below the original budget of 113.5 million.

607
00:43:13,465 --> 00:43:16,825
and you see there, the, the almost entirely due to, uh,

608
00:43:17,665 --> 00:43:21,355
uh, decreased, uh, a decrease in water sales. Um, through

609
00:43:21,845 --> 00:43:25,655
the first, I guess, uh, nine months of the year, we were actually tracking slightly above

610
00:43:26,065 --> 00:43:29,795
our targeted sales with declines coming, uh, starting in july,

611
00:43:30,085 --> 00:43:33,655
august and september. Majority of that's related to, uh, irrigation,

612
00:43:34,505 --> 00:43:38,405
and it's not necessarily how much it rains, but the timing of that rain. And, uh,

613
00:43:38,605 --> 00:43:41,935
from the information we can see that majority of that decline is related to irrigation.

614
00:43:42,975 --> 00:43:46,585
there was some decline as well, though in, in some of the other categories, but mostly

615
00:43:47,015 --> 00:43:50,905
irrigation related. How does that relate to revenue? You'll

616
00:43:51,325 --> 00:43:55,285
see through june, we are actually up roughly about 900,000. And in the last

617
00:43:55,485 --> 00:43:58,445
three months of the year, uh, we missed our target by roughly 3.9 million.

618
00:43:59,975 --> 00:44:03,825
again, related to the actual water sales, uh, uh,

619
00:44:04,215 --> 00:44:08,125
sewer sales is a little bit, uh, more constant though. We did see a, a slight decline

620
00:44:08,565 --> 00:44:12,325
there in september, mostly on the commercial side. Uh, it's total revenue

621
00:44:12,795 --> 00:44:16,735
from, uh, sewer sales, about 181,000 above our target, um, which,

622
00:44:17,425 --> 00:44:20,805
uh, uh, helps a little bit there. Total, um, expenditures

623
00:44:21,605 --> 00:44:25,545
3.9 million below the original budget of 111.2 million, uh,

624
00:44:25,795 --> 00:44:29,245
with savings pretty much across all categories. Personnel savings of 1.1 million.

625
00:44:30,075 --> 00:44:33,585
this fund was budgeted at full staffing. Average, uh, uh,

626
00:44:34,085 --> 00:44:37,965
vacancy rate was roughly 18% in this fund. Um, now some of that was

627
00:44:38,125 --> 00:44:42,125
used to cover overtime, but as you can see, we did have significant savings as a result.

628
00:44:42,785 --> 00:44:46,485
uh, professional services finished 1.2 million below the original budget of five or 4.7 million.

629
00:44:47,945 --> 00:44:51,035
uh, 1.5 is still encumbered at year end, so roughly,

630
00:44:52,025 --> 00:44:55,905
uh, even with budget. And then the capital category six, 9,000 is

631
00:44:56,125 --> 00:44:59,885
611 below the original budget, but that, again, is a result of an encumbrance

632
00:45:00,405 --> 00:45:04,385
for a hydro excavating vehicle that is ordered, but just hasn't been received yet.

633
00:45:05,705 --> 00:45:09,625
um, contracts, this was a little bit of a, a mixed bag for

634
00:45:09,845 --> 00:45:13,805
us. Uh, total contracts finished 533 below the original budget of

635
00:45:13,965 --> 00:45:17,305
71.5 million. Uh, you'll see there in the, um,

636
00:45:18,425 --> 00:45:22,365
uh, table there. Uh, we had about $2 million in savings from the water

637
00:45:22,965 --> 00:45:26,445
contract, uh, through our development process. In the summer, we receive a preliminary

638
00:45:27,325 --> 00:45:31,245
estimate from the, uh, uh, appra, uh, water district, and then

639
00:45:31,405 --> 00:45:35,135
we receive the final number, uh, later, which happened to be 1.7 below

640
00:45:35,635 --> 00:45:39,245
what they gave us that summer. That number's received after the budget's finalized,

641
00:45:40,145 --> 00:45:43,635
uh, and that's why you'll see that variance there. Now, we did have, uh, increased

642
00:45:44,515 --> 00:45:47,905
cost on the sewer side. A lot of that is a result of, um,

643
00:45:48,535 --> 00:45:51,935
north texas, um, underestimating the sewer flows

644
00:45:52,605 --> 00:45:56,395
specifically on the, uh, manufacturing side of things. Uh, but total with

645
00:45:56,685 --> 00:46:00,525
during those, uh, four or five items, $630,000 in savings,

646
00:46:01,825 --> 00:46:05,525
uh, with that, uh, total fund balance of 30.7 million, it's, uh,

647
00:46:05,905 --> 00:46:09,805
104.39 days, which is above our target of 90.

648
00:46:10,585 --> 00:46:14,525
as we discussed this summer, we're planning on leaving that excess fund balance in the

649
00:46:14,645 --> 00:46:18,385
fund to help cover the rate increase or to help buffer

650
00:46:18,905 --> 00:46:22,125
the rate increase, uh, that was gonna be needed in fy 26.

651
00:46:23,265 --> 00:46:27,065
uh, this provides a kind of a two year approach to

652
00:46:27,285 --> 00:46:30,595
that, that rate need, uh, solid waste fund, 411,000

653
00:46:31,725 --> 00:46:34,685
above its original budget, uh, uh, revenue budget of 19.4 million.

654
00:46:36,105 --> 00:46:40,065
uh, most of that is due to the strength of our compactor, um, uh,

655
00:46:40,685 --> 00:46:44,685
category as well as, uh, from temporary open tops. Again, that's a category we don't try to

656
00:46:44,805 --> 00:46:48,785
overheat because it's, as it says, temporary. And we, we don't want to, uh,

657
00:46:49,005 --> 00:46:52,485
balance the budget on that. Other revenue categories I saw higher than anticipated

658
00:46:53,165 --> 00:46:57,125
revenues from the re the sale of retired containers. Uh, those containers are taken

659
00:46:57,285 --> 00:47:01,245
outta service we then sell, and that actually got us a lot more revenue than we anticipated.

660
00:47:02,145 --> 00:47:06,025
and then the trans or the, uh, transfer in from the water fund for, uh,

661
00:47:06,305 --> 00:47:10,155
for the baic program, uh, it is indexed to half of the total cost

662
00:47:10,505 --> 00:47:14,365
of the baic program, the solid waste fund. Uh, so we saw a reduction of 92,000

663
00:47:15,435 --> 00:47:19,235
with baic seeing, uh, savings from vacancies as well as lower than

664
00:47:20,165 --> 00:47:24,165
expected. Uh, composting costs, uh, total expenditures of savings, 121,000.

665
00:47:25,705 --> 00:47:28,565
uh, we saw savings in the personnel services about 50,000.

666
00:47:29,715 --> 00:47:33,505
this fund averaged about 12% vacancies. A lot of that, uh,

667
00:47:33,725 --> 00:47:37,205
savings was, uh, needed to, uh, cover contractual services,

668
00:47:37,905 --> 00:47:41,525
uh, contractual labor to, uh, help cover that minimum staffing on our vehicles.

669
00:47:42,305 --> 00:47:45,805
um, uh, so the total savings, there was $50,000. Professional

670
00:47:46,805 --> 00:47:49,765
services finished 68,000 below the original budget of, uh, 939,000.

671
00:47:51,255 --> 00:47:55,245
again, savings from, uh, insurance premiums and the cost of, uh, processing recyclable

672
00:47:55,965 --> 00:47:59,965
materials. And then 90 days, uh, was the target. And we achieved

673
00:48:00,125 --> 00:48:03,825
that and still allowed 706,000 to be transferred to our, uh,

674
00:48:04,235 --> 00:48:08,005
special projects fund or capital reserve fund. Uh, this is an increase of 453,000

675
00:48:09,375 --> 00:48:13,365
above the plan. 254,000. This is where don mentioned the

676
00:48:13,525 --> 00:48:17,245
$500,000 for the relocation of the salt waste container staging

677
00:48:17,605 --> 00:48:21,325
area. Uh, and it will be covered from this, the re remainder, that 254,000

678
00:48:22,515 --> 00:48:26,355
remainder or 206,000 remainder, uh, will just

679
00:48:26,645 --> 00:48:30,565
be reserved for, uh, the results of the, uh, salt waste master plan and support of

680
00:48:30,685 --> 00:48:33,845
the salt waste master plan. Uh, total, uh, fund balance, 90.99

681
00:48:34,845 --> 00:48:38,785
days or 4.8 million, again, exceeds our target of 90 days. Uh,

682
00:48:39,025 --> 00:48:42,755
so it's finishing in, in good shape there. Uh, golf fund,

683
00:48:43,265 --> 00:48:46,775
uh, 196,000 above, uh, in revenue above

684
00:48:47,385 --> 00:48:51,295
its target of 3.3 million. Uh, this fund, uh, did anticipate

685
00:48:51,965 --> 00:48:55,665
an earlier o reopening, of course two, but even with that, um,

686
00:48:56,035 --> 00:48:59,865
delayed reopening, we were able to exceed the targeted rounds by about 10,000,

687
00:49:00,905 --> 00:49:04,905
uh, each of the year, each of the months. That was, uh, with course two open, we

688
00:49:05,445 --> 00:49:09,325
exceeded significantly, as you can see there, with the blue bar above the target

689
00:49:09,625 --> 00:49:13,565
for those, uh, months. So ronnie's group is really killing it out

690
00:49:13,725 --> 00:49:17,075
there right now. That's cheryl park, uh, total expenditures, uh, 77,000

691
00:49:18,165 --> 00:49:22,085
above the original budget of roughly $3 million. A lot of that had to

692
00:49:22,205 --> 00:49:25,885
do with the reopening, of course, too, and some of the extra overtime required,

693
00:49:26,505 --> 00:49:30,485
uh, to, uh, support that. Um, but with that, we still were able to

694
00:49:31,035 --> 00:49:34,825
achieve our target of, um, 30 days building to 60. Uh,

695
00:49:35,195 --> 00:49:37,725
with that, we're still able to transfer out $550,000,

696
00:49:39,625 --> 00:49:43,425
uh, to the gulf capital reserve fund in support of equipment and, uh,

697
00:49:43,925 --> 00:49:47,735
facility improvement needs out there. Uh, hotel motel

698
00:49:48,085 --> 00:49:51,965
fund, $1.5 million in revenue below the target, uh, original

699
00:49:52,125 --> 00:49:56,085
budget of 9.8 million. You'll see there, uh, taxes finished, uh, 376,000,

700
00:49:57,565 --> 00:50:01,485
blow its original budget of 5.3 million. We did see kind of a

701
00:50:01,605 --> 00:50:05,605
slowdown across the board, as well as some closures for some remodel, as well

702
00:50:05,765 --> 00:50:09,595
as, um, some repairs. Uh, we did see the biggest part

703
00:50:09,885 --> 00:50:13,885
there is the eisman center revenue finish a million dollars off of our, um, target of $3.8 million.

704
00:50:16,225 --> 00:50:20,065
uh, here you'll see the, uh, the, the trend for our hotel, uh,

705
00:50:20,285 --> 00:50:23,965
occupancy taxes. This should tie off, I believe it's page 28

706
00:50:24,665 --> 00:50:28,505
of your fund summary packet that you received received, where you'll see the detail by

707
00:50:28,815 --> 00:50:32,725
hotel, uh, for the year in comparison to the budget, as well as the

708
00:50:33,045 --> 00:50:36,925
previous year. Uh, total eisman center operations revenue declined

709
00:50:37,085 --> 00:50:41,085
388,000 from the original budget of 2.2 million. And then eisman center presents

710
00:50:41,645 --> 00:50:45,415
revenue, uh, missed its target by 612,000. Again,

711
00:50:45,885 --> 00:50:49,635
as we discussed this summer, uh, the, uh, the assumptions

712
00:50:50,345 --> 00:50:53,415
for fy 25 for the revenue in this fund was overtly optimistic

713
00:50:54,425 --> 00:50:58,315
and has been right sized for fy 26, uh, and will continue to monitor that

714
00:50:58,605 --> 00:51:01,965
as the year goes on. Uh, total expenditures, a reduction of 584,000

715
00:51:04,625 --> 00:51:08,125
eisman center operations finished 327,000 below the original budget, 4.6 million.

716
00:51:09,895 --> 00:51:13,825
again, the, as a result of the reduced revenue there, the eisman center did

717
00:51:14,045 --> 00:51:18,045
the best they could to, um, reign in their costs where they could. Uh, they

718
00:51:18,205 --> 00:51:21,825
kept a lot of positions open with the savings, about $211,000 to

719
00:51:22,325 --> 00:51:26,085
help offset that lower revenue eisen center presents finished, uh, at 2.1 million

720
00:51:27,185 --> 00:51:30,805
or 1.2 million 369,000 below the original budget.

721
00:51:31,545 --> 00:51:35,445
and then the, uh, capital expenditures of 276,000 was actually related to a prior year

722
00:51:35,685 --> 00:51:39,645
encumbrance, and was covered by a reserve of fund balance, uh, total fund

723
00:51:39,925 --> 00:51:43,205
balance in this fund, 4.5 million. There is not an official fund balance policy,

724
00:51:44,105 --> 00:51:48,085
uh, but it, it is continuing to, to maintain its strong position.

725
00:51:48,825 --> 00:51:52,705
uh, so before we throw it back to don for that additional discussion, uh,

726
00:51:52,955 --> 00:51:54,925
open it up for some questions. If anybody had anything.

727
00:51:59,135 --> 00:52:01,835
you did a great job budget, bob. I appreciate it. Thanks, sir.

728
00:52:03,935 --> 00:52:07,475
do we need to bring this back to you? Uh, yes, please. Thank you, bob.

729
00:52:08,175 --> 00:52:11,995
uh, well, uh, again, bob, thanks very much for that presentation. Um, I feel

730
00:52:12,195 --> 00:52:16,115
like, uh, it's, uh, very, uh, important context as we head into, I think you, sir,

731
00:52:16,585 --> 00:52:20,555
head into this, uh, next discussion. As I mentioned to you, uh, mayor and council, what we're really trying

732
00:52:20,835 --> 00:52:24,205
to do tonight, um, is uh, lay an important foundation,

733
00:52:25,615 --> 00:52:29,415
um, uh, for our, uh, fy uh, 27 budget

734
00:52:29,925 --> 00:52:33,815
discussion. Um, let me just provide a little bit of context. Uh, some of this is, is

735
00:52:34,035 --> 00:52:37,915
old news, but it's important context. Recall, sb two or senate bill

736
00:52:38,175 --> 00:52:41,795
two, officially known as the texas property tax reform and transparency act of 2019,

737
00:52:42,815 --> 00:52:46,475
uh, was enacted in june of, of, of 19, uh, sb two,

738
00:52:46,975 --> 00:52:50,795
uh, effectively reduced the maximum amount. Uh, a local government or local

739
00:52:50,995 --> 00:52:54,955
taxing unit could increase the property tax revenue by annually without a

740
00:52:55,155 --> 00:52:58,735
voter approval to 3.5, uh, percent. Prior to,

741
00:52:59,575 --> 00:53:03,455
um, um, sb two, that rate was 8%. Um,

742
00:53:04,195 --> 00:53:08,055
sb two mandates, uh, that if a city council wants to adopt, uh,

743
00:53:08,355 --> 00:53:11,835
a tax rate greater than three point a half percent, that, uh, it must go to voters,

744
00:53:12,695 --> 00:53:16,635
um, and be offered on, uh, the november uniform election date.

745
00:53:17,535 --> 00:53:21,395
uh, sb two also required things like, uh, property tax notices and rate information

746
00:53:21,835 --> 00:53:25,725
be posted online, expanded disclosure requirements, and also required

747
00:53:26,075 --> 00:53:29,285
appraisal districts to maintain databases, uh, of property tax information.

748
00:53:30,425 --> 00:53:34,265
um, and so other transparency related things. But the main thing I wanna focus on

749
00:53:34,485 --> 00:53:38,445
is the reduction of the property tax cap from effectively 8% to

750
00:53:38,525 --> 00:53:42,525
3.5%. Um, the majority of sb twos provisions took

751
00:53:42,805 --> 00:53:46,785
effect in january of 2020. Therefore, the first year, um,

752
00:53:47,275 --> 00:53:51,245
that, uh, first budget year that, uh, we really saw the impact of that was fy 21.

753
00:53:52,425 --> 00:53:56,375
um, after six years of sb two, what we have

754
00:53:56,575 --> 00:54:00,495
seen across texas and what we are seeing here locally, um, is what

755
00:54:00,735 --> 00:54:04,535
I've called, uh, six years, six consecutive years of a compounding

756
00:54:04,975 --> 00:54:08,275
effect of this three and a half per this, uh, three and a half percent cap.

757
00:54:09,035 --> 00:54:12,775
um, that I think, without being too dramatic, has fundamentally changed municipal

758
00:54:13,255 --> 00:54:16,855
finance in texas, but here locally has fundamentally altered

759
00:54:17,295 --> 00:54:21,255
our long-term budget outlook. Um, and let me show you just a couple of

760
00:54:21,415 --> 00:54:25,095
examples why, um, if this is on the left hand side of the chart.

761
00:54:25,755 --> 00:54:29,755
uh, on of the slide is a chart. Uh, looking at the six years prior to

762
00:54:30,135 --> 00:54:33,735
sb two and the six years subsequent, uh, uh, to, uh, sb two being enacted,

763
00:54:34,395 --> 00:54:37,585
you can see on average, uh, the six years prior,

764
00:54:38,515 --> 00:54:42,335
on average, uh, the city was generating about $4.7 million of new

765
00:54:42,555 --> 00:54:46,295
tax revenue, of new property tax revenue each year. So, on average,

766
00:54:47,105 --> 00:54:49,955
since sb two's been enacted, that number has dropped to 2.35%.

767
00:54:51,755 --> 00:54:54,855
now, what's ironic about this is that inflation was at its lowest,

768
00:54:55,875 --> 00:54:59,815
uh, prior to covid. And at its highest subsequent, or subsequent to

769
00:54:59,935 --> 00:55:03,015
covid recall, we were experiencing inflation to the tune of 8%

770
00:55:04,165 --> 00:55:07,975
back in 22 and 23. Um, but what about the

771
00:55:08,455 --> 00:55:12,415
compounding effect that I mentioned? The chart on the right, uh, is a comparison

772
00:55:13,235 --> 00:55:16,905
of what the city, essentially, the revenue the city has lost since

773
00:55:17,495 --> 00:55:21,415
sb two is enacted, and the 3.5% cap became the new standard. So you

774
00:55:21,535 --> 00:55:25,315
see there in the first year, had we been able to maximize that under the old,

775
00:55:25,875 --> 00:55:29,855
uh, rollback rate of 8%, we would've generated $2.7 million more.

776
00:55:30,355 --> 00:55:33,695
but in six years, we have, uh, essentially lost $21 million

777
00:55:35,235 --> 00:55:38,595
of new revenue, uh, as a result of sb two.

778
00:55:40,355 --> 00:55:44,125
um, this compounding effect is impacting

779
00:55:45,005 --> 00:55:48,935
different cities at different times. There's a lot of factors that go into this compounding effect.

780
00:55:49,715 --> 00:55:53,055
um, but we are at a, I believe, richardson's at a crossroads,

781
00:55:53,775 --> 00:55:57,095
and I wanna demonstrate why, uh, the modeling you see here.

782
00:55:57,915 --> 00:56:01,755
um, and, and I'm gonna come back to this, why this modeling is so important, uh,

783
00:56:01,995 --> 00:56:05,985
not only to us, but I think potentially to, to, to maybe

784
00:56:06,365 --> 00:56:10,315
impacting sb two. Uh, but these assumptions in this model, um,

785
00:56:10,755 --> 00:56:14,695
on the revenue side, we've taken very aggressive assumptions. For instance,

786
00:56:15,155 --> 00:56:18,895
you see here, we have assumed year after year that we maximize

787
00:56:19,515 --> 00:56:22,725
the three and a half percent, um, property tax revenue.

788
00:56:23,585 --> 00:56:27,345
so it's not possible for us in that first column to

789
00:56:27,765 --> 00:56:31,625
generate more revenue year over year for six straight years. In this model. In

790
00:56:31,845 --> 00:56:35,725
the second or third column from the left, we've estimated that we

791
00:56:35,925 --> 00:56:39,465
would bring on $200 million of new construction, which we recall. New

792
00:56:39,965 --> 00:56:43,785
construction does not count against your cap. $200 million of new

793
00:56:44,325 --> 00:56:47,915
construction year over year is the assumption here. And then we've estimated

794
00:56:48,985 --> 00:56:52,845
2% growth in sales tax year over year, not to be

795
00:56:53,165 --> 00:56:56,915
redundant, but these are gr these are gr uh, very aggressive revenue assumptions.

796
00:56:58,025 --> 00:57:01,675
on the flip side, on the expenditure side, we've, uh, estimated

797
00:57:02,315 --> 00:57:05,355
very conservative assumptions. We've only assumed

798
00:57:06,485 --> 00:57:10,325
a 2% increase, um, uh, across the board for

799
00:57:10,765 --> 00:57:14,735
employees year after year. We haven't done a 2% increase in probably seven

800
00:57:15,085 --> 00:57:18,885
or eight years because of how competitive this, this market is, plus public safety

801
00:57:19,255 --> 00:57:22,965
steps. So that would assume, for instance, compared to this year, general

802
00:57:23,725 --> 00:57:27,565
employees would've received a half percent less public safety would would've received

803
00:57:27,745 --> 00:57:31,525
2.5% less. Just as an example, we have included the cost of indexing,

804
00:57:32,505 --> 00:57:36,395
uh, on the, um, transfer out. So that's your alleys, your streets, your,

805
00:57:37,025 --> 00:57:40,845
um, parks, maintenance facility maintenance, because we know infrastructure's important to you.

806
00:57:41,185 --> 00:57:44,685
and then for all other expenditures, all non staffing expenditures

807
00:57:45,745 --> 00:57:49,605
and the general fund, we've only assumed a 2% increase for

808
00:57:49,805 --> 00:57:53,565
inflationary pressures. Uh, again, inflationary pressures, even

809
00:57:53,845 --> 00:57:57,125
today when inflation is at its lowest since, uh, since covid

810
00:57:57,865 --> 00:58:01,725
is double that, it's actually four 4.2 to 4.3%. So again,

811
00:58:01,965 --> 00:58:05,765
we're assuming half the per percent, half the increase that we would really need in inflationary

812
00:58:06,685 --> 00:58:10,605
pressures. If you, and, and, and by the way, we're assuming no change in

813
00:58:10,725 --> 00:58:14,325
the property tax rate, and we're assuming that you don't increase the senior tax exemption

814
00:58:15,635 --> 00:58:19,515
year after year. If you do, if you, if you take those very basic assumptions,

815
00:58:20,515 --> 00:58:24,165
what the right hand column shows you is how much net new revenue

816
00:58:24,665 --> 00:58:28,385
the city would have to work with for things like new programs or new

817
00:58:28,845 --> 00:58:32,645
services. So you can see not even a million dollars all the way

818
00:58:32,925 --> 00:58:36,565
out to fy 23. Now, what we, what I wanna do for you is I wanna layer

819
00:58:36,995 --> 00:58:39,205
just one consideration, consideration, consideration.

820
00:58:43,185 --> 00:58:45,385
I said I wouldn't be dramatic. .

821
00:58:48,385 --> 00:58:52,205
I wanna layer one consideration for you, um, into this model. And

822
00:58:52,425 --> 00:58:56,345
that is just the fire master plan. Now, I'm not gonna go through this because

823
00:58:56,675 --> 00:59:00,625
we've been through this several times, but this is the fire master plan, and you see how we take

824
00:59:00,745 --> 00:59:04,665
it out through 2032. So in every year, at the

825
00:59:04,825 --> 00:59:08,785
bottom of this fire master plan, there's an operations impact. So what I've done is I've plugged

826
00:59:08,945 --> 00:59:12,805
that operation impact into this model. And so you can see the

827
00:59:13,025 --> 00:59:16,925
third column from the left is the net new revenue under three, the

828
00:59:17,145 --> 00:59:20,265
3.5% cap. So that was your far right column on the prior chart,

829
00:59:21,275 --> 00:59:24,725
what you see is the cost of what I've called the first liens or the restoration

830
00:59:25,475 --> 00:59:29,085
year by year recall, we still have and have had now for two years,

831
00:59:29,505 --> 00:59:33,365
26 frozen positions. So unless we're ready to eliminate the, eliminate

832
00:59:33,925 --> 00:59:37,545
those positions, which there are operation impacts to that, um,

833
00:59:37,945 --> 00:59:41,945
we eventually need to restore that. So the cost of that restoration right now is

834
00:59:42,165 --> 00:59:46,045
$1.1 million. So, for instance, if that was the only thing we added next year

835
00:59:46,205 --> 00:59:50,085
in fy 27, we would be at a deficit. We would, we would have a deficit

836
00:59:50,345 --> 00:59:54,045
budget of $300,000. The next year is the fire master

837
00:59:54,355 --> 00:59:58,275
plan. The year after that is permanently restoring the million dollars to the general fund.

838
00:59:58,905 --> 01:00:02,845
for that. We've, um, uh, used as a balancing tool each of the last

839
01:00:03,005 --> 01:00:06,845
three years, the million, million dollar transfer from core plan, and then three consecutive

840
01:00:07,445 --> 01:00:11,345
years of fire master plan. The main point here is this, between now

841
01:00:11,565 --> 01:00:14,245
and the end of fy or, but now in the end and fy 32,

842
01:00:15,745 --> 01:00:19,565
we will, we will have almost a $3 million deficit that we

843
01:00:19,765 --> 01:00:23,685
will be trying to work with. And that's, again, with adding no new programs or

844
01:00:24,045 --> 01:00:28,005
services, not one new dollar for a new program or service, uh, in this

845
01:00:28,405 --> 01:00:31,955
modeling. In light of that, there's several, several,

846
01:00:32,445 --> 01:00:36,425
several considerations I'd like to share with you. Um, one is

847
01:00:36,915 --> 01:00:40,015
that, um, it's incumbent upon us, internally staff,

848
01:00:40,925 --> 01:00:44,765
I believe, to, to conduct a comprehensive review of our current programs and

849
01:00:45,165 --> 01:00:49,035
policies and current, uh, programs and services, excuse me. Um, and have you confirm

850
01:00:49,545 --> 01:00:53,325
for us that the scope of those programs and services, uh, are aligned

851
01:00:53,885 --> 01:00:57,365
with your current priorities as well as the, the, the expenditures,

852
01:00:58,585 --> 01:01:02,565
um, that are currently assigned to, to that scope. And so this is everything

853
01:01:03,075 --> 01:01:06,905
from community events, um, to, uh, um,

854
01:01:07,345 --> 01:01:11,145
uh, recreation programs. Um, really it

855
01:01:11,365 --> 01:01:15,325
runs the gamut. And that's why if you go back to the

856
01:01:15,725 --> 01:01:19,705
tactics that I presented to you, um, back in, in, uh, early, mid,

857
01:01:19,935 --> 01:01:23,755
early to mid-september, every one of these are a tactics that will

858
01:01:24,065 --> 01:01:27,935
get to that goal that I just, that first bullet that I just described to you, every

859
01:01:28,345 --> 01:01:32,155
one of these tactics has some, will have some

860
01:01:32,625 --> 01:01:36,565
impact, uh, on the, um, on the, on that first consideration.

861
01:01:37,305 --> 01:01:41,285
the second consideration is, as, as the mayor mentioned it, uh, I think, uh, councilman corcoran

862
01:01:41,605 --> 01:01:44,765
mentioned it earlier, given the ongoing state level discussions about taxes,

863
01:01:45,625 --> 01:01:49,085
and all you have to do is turn it on your phone or look on online. Right now,

864
01:01:49,655 --> 01:01:53,175
there are the, the highest leaders in this state are talking about additional

865
01:01:53,845 --> 01:01:57,045
taxes. We need to prepare for the very probable effect

866
01:01:57,875 --> 01:02:01,765
that there are going to be new revenue and or new expenditure limits that

867
01:02:02,045 --> 01:02:05,965
are gonna be placed on us, as well as there could be new mandates as there

868
01:02:06,165 --> 01:02:09,685
have been both in the 88th and 89th and the 88th legislative sessions.

869
01:02:11,065 --> 01:02:14,795
um, so let me just take that modeling one step further. Let's just

870
01:02:15,145 --> 01:02:18,965
assume that the three and a 5% tax cap was reduced

871
01:02:19,285 --> 01:02:23,205
to two point a half percent. Now, recall on the 89th session, there was legislation to

872
01:02:23,325 --> 01:02:27,245
reduce it to 1%, but let's just assume we only reduce it by

873
01:02:27,445 --> 01:02:31,445
1% to 2.5%. We will, if that goes into effect, and fy 29

874
01:02:31,805 --> 01:02:35,605
would be the first year, it would be, uh, possible coming outta the next legisl legislative session

875
01:02:36,035 --> 01:02:39,925
with these very robust revenue assumptions and these very modest

876
01:02:40,315 --> 01:02:44,145
expenditure assumptions, we will run a deficit, um,

877
01:02:44,585 --> 01:02:48,265
in, in fy 28. Now, it's not a huge deficit, but again, that's

878
01:02:48,685 --> 01:02:52,525
not assuming an awful lot of things, like not increasing, uh, the senior

879
01:02:52,705 --> 01:02:56,455
tax exemption, not changing the tax rate, uh, not adding any additional

880
01:02:57,145 --> 01:03:01,025
new programs or services between now and then. So any year we

881
01:03:01,245 --> 01:03:04,685
add, even if we add one program between now and then, that number increases

882
01:03:05,305 --> 01:03:09,045
and it increases and will continue to increase, um, all the way out through

883
01:03:09,325 --> 01:03:12,695
fy 32. So where are we at? Um,

884
01:03:13,675 --> 01:03:17,535
I believe this is a really important statement, not only for city staff and

885
01:03:17,755 --> 01:03:21,715
for the council, but also for the community to understand. If we believe that

886
01:03:21,915 --> 01:03:25,395
our core missions and responsibilities, uh, public safety infrastructure,

887
01:03:26,495 --> 01:03:30,025
for instance, are our, are our highest priority, then

888
01:03:30,755 --> 01:03:34,635
I strongly believe that proposals for expanded programs and new

889
01:03:34,835 --> 01:03:38,525
initiatives in the future are gonna have to be evaluated with a clear value

890
01:03:38,905 --> 01:03:42,315
proposition framework. And what I mean by that, we're gonna have to look at the benefits,

891
01:03:42,975 --> 01:03:46,305
the cost, but more importantly, we're gonna have to look at the trade-offs because

892
01:03:47,255 --> 01:03:50,995
in my opinion, the new sb two reality is this. To introduce a new program

893
01:03:51,415 --> 01:03:55,375
or service in the future with modeling we just described, uh, we

894
01:03:55,595 --> 01:03:59,275
will need to either identify new revenue sources or we're going to have to

895
01:03:59,735 --> 01:04:03,505
reduce funding for existing programs or services. And this

896
01:04:03,795 --> 01:04:07,795
is just simple math. That's, that's all it is. Now, you may say, so what are

897
01:04:07,955 --> 01:04:11,715
you doing about this? Um, I also wanna, I also wanna share just

898
01:04:11,995 --> 01:04:15,825
a little bit about how this modeling began and how we got to this point. Um, I've

899
01:04:16,115 --> 01:04:20,035
been, uh, been, been, uh, um, honored again, I, I

900
01:04:20,155 --> 01:04:24,135
guess you'd say , uh, I guess, I guess, um, and, and have been asked to, uh, uh,

901
01:04:24,355 --> 01:04:28,115
co-chair with, uh, uh, uh, dallas county judge clay jenkins, the north texas

902
01:04:28,395 --> 01:04:32,385
commission's, uh, local government policy task force. And this

903
01:04:32,955 --> 01:04:36,655
modeling, um, is, uh, one of the very first things that we did, uh,

904
01:04:36,985 --> 01:04:40,595
when we reconvened this task force in advance of the 90th legislative session.

905
01:04:41,345 --> 01:04:45,255
this modeling replicated across dozens, if

906
01:04:45,475 --> 01:04:49,275
not hopefully, hundreds of cities, will hopefully paint a picture

907
01:04:50,095 --> 01:04:53,975
for the state legislators that cannot be ignored. Um,

908
01:04:54,195 --> 01:04:58,095
because we believe one of the things that we haven't done a really, um,

909
01:04:58,315 --> 01:05:02,095
effective job on previously is showing, um, the

910
01:05:02,625 --> 01:05:06,555
real impact of these property tax, of the, of the property

911
01:05:06,675 --> 01:05:10,105
tax cap. Um, but more importantly, we've gotta show

912
01:05:10,905 --> 01:05:14,855
what would happen if they even take it farther, because that is, that is

913
01:05:15,135 --> 01:05:19,005
on the mines. I mean, I don't know if there's anyone on this council that doesn't believe that that's a rea that's a real

914
01:05:19,205 --> 01:05:23,115
possibility in the 90th session. And if it is, those red numbers grow,

915
01:05:24,065 --> 01:05:28,005
um, and it becomes more and more difficult for you to set policy and for us

916
01:05:28,305 --> 01:05:32,285
as staff to implement that policy that's responsive to the unique needs of this

917
01:05:32,405 --> 01:05:36,355
community. And that's at the crux of what this is really about. It's

918
01:05:36,645 --> 01:05:40,605
about our local control being every session taken more and more away

919
01:05:40,845 --> 01:05:44,265
from us. And so I appreciate the, the chance to

920
01:05:45,215 --> 01:05:49,085
share this, um, this, this information with you. Um, I,

921
01:05:49,565 --> 01:05:53,225
I hope the community's paying attention, um, because this has,

922
01:05:54,225 --> 01:05:57,965
has the potential to have real impact on the way that we have to do

923
01:05:58,245 --> 01:06:02,125
business moving forward. And so, mayor, I again, appreciate the chance to share this with you as

924
01:06:02,325 --> 01:06:06,125
we wrap up our fourth quarter budget report. Um, I can promise you this,

925
01:06:06,835 --> 01:06:10,665
this message has been thoroughly communicated internally to our team. And

926
01:06:10,885 --> 01:06:14,405
as we come back from the holiday and we launch on the fy 20,

927
01:06:15,265 --> 01:06:19,125
um, seven budget process, this will be at the forefront of everything that we

928
01:06:19,325 --> 01:06:23,005
do. And I, I hope you can be at the forefront of, of every stakeholder

929
01:06:23,525 --> 01:06:27,275
in our community. Thank mayor. Thank you, council

930
01:06:27,765 --> 01:06:31,325
member justice. Thank you. Um, thank you for the presentation.

931
01:06:32,045 --> 01:06:36,045
I think it's really important for our community to hear. We've talked a lot about sb two since it

932
01:06:36,205 --> 01:06:40,165
passed. Uh, everybody wondered if it would be the sort of boogeyman that they, that

933
01:06:40,445 --> 01:06:44,165
we thought it would be, and it's turned out to be. Um, and I would like to

934
01:06:44,715 --> 01:06:48,445
just sort of reiterate for the community. This isn't a richardson issue. If you can pull up a lot of

935
01:06:48,845 --> 01:06:52,605
headlines, plano just had to increase their tax rate. 2 cents. Uh, arlington, I think, increased

936
01:06:52,965 --> 01:06:56,785
theirs 3 cents. Mesquite went out to its voters recently to increase theirs. Um,

937
01:06:57,265 --> 01:07:00,935
so, so this is a, a regionwide statewide, um, issue,

938
01:07:01,465 --> 01:07:05,285
uh, that is impacting municipalities. And we're finally seeing the trending of, of what that looks

939
01:07:05,525 --> 01:07:09,525
like. Um, as you recall, our budget this year was, you know, our general fund went

940
01:07:09,725 --> 01:07:13,605
up by 0.67%. That's, it's, we're really seeing the impact of what

941
01:07:13,805 --> 01:07:17,645
this is doing. Um, and, and again, this isn't, uh, a richardson

942
01:07:18,205 --> 01:07:21,885
issue. This is, this is the result of lazy governance. Quite frankly, our state legislators

943
01:07:22,745 --> 01:07:26,425
wanted to be able to check a box and tell you all that they gave you property tax relief.

944
01:07:26,905 --> 01:07:30,765
and that's not what really happened here. What they've done is they've got the cities that you choose

945
01:07:31,025 --> 01:07:34,445
to live in. Um, there are many ways that they could have passed better legislation

946
01:07:35,085 --> 01:07:38,965
here. They could have done a public safety carve out, they could have done an infrastructure carve out, they

947
01:07:39,165 --> 01:07:42,965
could have made this applicable to only commercial properties, but instead, they just passed something that

948
01:07:43,185 --> 01:07:47,165
had a flashy headline and a good title, um, to try and tell you that they gave you property

949
01:07:47,285 --> 01:07:50,965
tax relief. So I encourage everyone who's listening to go talk to their state legislators.

950
01:07:51,625 --> 01:07:55,325
if somebody is running for a state seat, go talk to them. It is important. It impacts

951
01:07:55,785 --> 01:07:59,685
you. Some of the programs that you love could be impacted, or we may have to make hard

952
01:08:00,005 --> 01:08:03,485
decisions to do away with them because of what your state legislators are doing.

953
01:08:04,355 --> 01:08:08,285
this is very, very important that, that you really focus on, uh, what's happening at

954
01:08:08,485 --> 01:08:12,165
the state level. Uh, 'cause as you just heard tonight, it's, it's not just three and half percent.

955
01:08:12,545 --> 01:08:16,525
now, it could be two and half percent or 1%, and we're just not gonna be able to

956
01:08:16,605 --> 01:08:20,365
be the richardson that you've all come to love. And again, it's not anything that your council

957
01:08:20,785 --> 01:08:24,785
or that your city management is doing. It is a result, uh, really of,

958
01:08:25,025 --> 01:08:28,845
of what your state legislators have done to be able to sort of, uh, give you a, a superficial

959
01:08:29,365 --> 01:08:32,885
win on property tax. It's lazy governance, and you should go tell 'em as much.

960
01:08:35,135 --> 01:08:39,015
thank you. Council member corcoran. Uh, thank you, mr. Mayor.

961
01:08:40,145 --> 01:08:44,085
you know, I think something that I was going through my mind on when we were

962
01:08:44,165 --> 01:08:48,065
going, you're going through these, these slides, was sort of, you

963
01:08:48,285 --> 01:08:52,165
know, when, 'cause I'm sure this is a question you'll be asked, is sort of, hey,

964
01:08:52,365 --> 01:08:56,305
well, when does it end? Right, richardson, when are you guys totally built out,

965
01:08:56,825 --> 01:09:00,705
not hiring new staff, not, um, you

966
01:09:00,925 --> 01:09:04,765
know, not doing anything else besides just maintaining roads and, and increasing comp, right?

967
01:09:05,745 --> 01:09:09,725
and I thought through some answers that if I were in your shoes, I would answer that

968
01:09:10,045 --> 01:09:13,915
question with looking at the net new revenue. So I just wanted to ask you a couple questions just

969
01:09:14,205 --> 01:09:17,365
to give more context, right? So for the upgrades on the status system

970
01:09:18,415 --> 01:09:22,285
after the water quality issue, we had, um, af you

971
01:09:22,485 --> 01:09:26,365
know, how much did those upgrades cost and the staff that we need to sort of

972
01:09:26,835 --> 01:09:30,825
beef up and keep that system under control. How much did all of that cost? Ballpark, it,

973
01:09:31,045 --> 01:09:34,965
it was about $650,000. So that would be almost everything. I

974
01:09:35,085 --> 01:09:38,245
mean, that's the, the lowest number on here for this net new revenue fy 20 27, 798.

975
01:09:40,205 --> 01:09:43,825
mm-hmm . That's almost all of that, right? Right. That's a, um, and what about moving

976
01:09:44,265 --> 01:09:48,105
ms. Bell's house from one place to another? That was a couple hundred, right? Yes.

977
01:09:48,545 --> 01:09:52,445
yes. Okay. Yes. So a couple of hundred times, maybe two and a half

978
01:09:52,765 --> 01:09:56,685
. Oh, I see. Okay. , well, proves my point even more, right?

979
01:09:56,845 --> 01:10:00,525
right. Absolutely. Sort of one issue can wipe out almost

980
01:10:00,985 --> 01:10:04,835
all of the new revenue in one year, right? Right. Accounting for essentially

981
01:10:05,525 --> 01:10:09,375
under market raises for our staff. I mean, quite frankly, right?

982
01:10:09,785 --> 01:10:13,165
and so, I don't know. I mean, I think from the audit committee perspective,

983
01:10:13,865 --> 01:10:17,815
the scariest part to me is if we lose very specific staff

984
01:10:19,145 --> 01:10:22,785
in our finance departments, right, who have very specialized skills because we

985
01:10:23,325 --> 01:10:27,245
continue to just give them the 2% raises, well then that just puts us more at

986
01:10:27,365 --> 01:10:31,365
risk of being behind on the audit, which then puts us at that sort of

987
01:10:31,725 --> 01:10:35,585
mandatory, no new revenue rate, right? If we don't get that done, as we've seen, the attorney general is

988
01:10:35,815 --> 01:10:39,765
being exceptionally proactive in enforcing that too. I mean, I think over a hundred cities

989
01:10:40,065 --> 01:10:43,755
now, he's tried to issue some sort of warning to, um, outside

990
01:10:44,245 --> 01:10:47,795
of just the original three. I mean, it's, it's pretty crazy. So, you know, just,

991
01:10:48,365 --> 01:10:52,305
I just wanted to go through that to kind of mention some of the, put

992
01:10:52,525 --> 01:10:56,425
some real life context in some of the situations that could happen. Yes. And

993
01:10:56,645 --> 01:11:00,605
then also, you know, you, you'd mentioned my name and I, I, I, you and I had said, maybe said something in

994
01:11:00,765 --> 01:11:04,725
like one of our one-on-ones about this. Um, you know, I, I

995
01:11:04,845 --> 01:11:08,835
don't know. I mean, I think that with 2027 kind

996
01:11:09,125 --> 01:11:11,845
of coming up quickly, I don't know. I mean,

997
01:11:13,585 --> 01:11:17,565
it may be we, we've had over a decade of no tax increase on the

998
01:11:17,845 --> 01:11:21,765
property tax side. Maybe it's something we consider just

999
01:11:22,125 --> 01:11:26,055
proactively doing, just in case. I don't know.

1000
01:11:26,135 --> 01:11:29,695
I mean, I feel like we've played by the rules this whole time and it hasn't really gotten us anywhere.

1001
01:11:33,895 --> 01:11:37,805
council member sho. Thank you, mr. Mayor. Proton.

1002
01:11:39,085 --> 01:11:43,025
uh, now, you know,

1003
01:11:43,165 --> 01:11:47,165
we all talk about this asb two and all this, uh, these are coming, you

1004
01:11:47,385 --> 01:11:51,165
know, unfortunately, the reality is that this is there and, uh,

1005
01:11:51,765 --> 01:11:55,425
it is very important that we do our homework and we do update

1006
01:11:55,785 --> 01:11:59,605
our homework on constant basis. And I'm, I'm happy that, uh,

1007
01:11:59,845 --> 01:12:03,765
you brought, uh, the first homework today, the model. And,

1008
01:12:04,085 --> 01:12:06,965
uh, this is, this is important. Uh, and,

1009
01:12:08,405 --> 01:12:12,345
you know, for multiple region, that when we have our own finance, personal finance,

1010
01:12:13,125 --> 01:12:17,085
we do manage this thing, projecting the budget moving

1011
01:12:17,505 --> 01:12:21,125
forward five years, 10 years. I don't know if everybody does that, but

1012
01:12:22,225 --> 01:12:25,345
I do have to manage my ma money, you know, like in the past, even to the dollar.

1013
01:12:26,565 --> 01:12:30,015
uh, so, and this is also important

1014
01:12:30,655 --> 01:12:34,615
that so that we communicate with our residents business. This

1015
01:12:34,905 --> 01:12:38,785
is what's coming. And, uh, we are doing our best. I think

1016
01:12:39,125 --> 01:12:42,705
not only just show them that we are doing our best, we really do our best.

1017
01:12:43,525 --> 01:12:47,005
and I believe that we are doing our best. You are doing your best, uh,

1018
01:12:47,625 --> 01:12:51,505
managing the budget. We don't, uh, I don't see we are wasting money anywhere.

1019
01:12:52,605 --> 01:12:56,095
so this is something that we need to keep up, uh, with

1020
01:12:57,065 --> 01:13:00,625
everyone so that everyone know that where we are going,

1021
01:13:01,085 --> 01:13:05,025
how we are going, and why these are happening, uh, I think

1022
01:13:05,525 --> 01:13:09,015
that's important next, uh, until we see some other picture.

1023
01:13:10,565 --> 01:13:14,405
but, uh, sometimes cutting text is very easy, way,

1024
01:13:15,155 --> 01:13:19,115
quick, cheap way. Get some, uh, score, some political score.

1025
01:13:20,125 --> 01:13:23,985
but, you know, just, uh, blindly taking out things

1026
01:13:24,295 --> 01:13:27,985
from, you know, from the text is, is not responsible things.

1027
01:13:28,885 --> 01:13:30,545
uh, but this is what's happening.

1028
01:13:33,025 --> 01:13:36,805
so, uh, so I think this is, I think we have taken the first

1029
01:13:37,385 --> 01:13:41,325
in important step today. I think we need to just keep it up moving forward. Thank you.

1030
01:13:41,405 --> 01:13:43,955
thank you, mayor omar.

1031
01:13:46,155 --> 01:13:50,045
yeah, thank you, mayor. I, I, I'll just kind of reiterate

1032
01:13:50,405 --> 01:13:54,285
what everyone else is talking about. I mean, this really needs to be all hands on deck. And I,

1033
01:13:54,565 --> 01:13:58,165
I, first and foremost wanna say, you know, thank you for don for his continued

1034
01:13:58,765 --> 01:14:02,725
leadership from a regional perspective, and in this case, uh, a

1035
01:14:02,845 --> 01:14:06,585
problem for all of texas as opposed to just a regional problem. Uh, so I'm

1036
01:14:06,925 --> 01:14:10,925
thrilled, um, that, that you're taking the lead. I really like your approach,

1037
01:14:11,085 --> 01:14:14,925
approach here in terms of the way you're showing real life examples, the way you're

1038
01:14:15,205 --> 01:14:19,205
layering in, uh, you know, what happens with inflation and how that impacts

1039
01:14:19,645 --> 01:14:23,435
things. Um, all all of that just really helps crystallize

1040
01:14:24,715 --> 01:14:28,465
what an incredibly awful, uh, uh, policy

1041
01:14:28,995 --> 01:14:32,805
this has been by, by the state. And, uh, I know as I get an opportunity

1042
01:14:33,305 --> 01:14:37,195
to visit with other mayors, um, more and more, they're very,

1043
01:14:37,485 --> 01:14:40,485
very focused on this as well. Um, this is not something,

1044
01:14:41,535 --> 01:14:45,275
there are very few cities that this does not impact. Obviously, cities that

1045
01:14:45,565 --> 01:14:49,495
have plenty of green space and continue to expand out those

1046
01:14:49,845 --> 01:14:53,685
ones, I guess, uh, don't have the same problem. Uh, but there are not that

1047
01:14:53,925 --> 01:14:57,885
many of those cities out there relative to the rest. So all that said,

1048
01:14:58,165 --> 01:15:01,645
thank you, don. Uh, and, and for all of us, and I think, I think,

1049
01:15:02,225 --> 01:15:06,155
uh, many of you already spoken. I think the best thing we can do is when

1050
01:15:06,645 --> 01:15:10,445
we get opportunities to speak to residents, but also when we get opportunities

1051
01:15:11,065 --> 01:15:14,925
to speak to our fellow cohorts in other, uh, cities

1052
01:15:15,505 --> 01:15:19,445
around texas, we all need to be encouraging each other to fight the good fight,

1053
01:15:19,865 --> 01:15:23,525
um, so that this voice is as loud as possible, uh, at the statewide

1054
01:15:24,005 --> 01:15:27,845
level. So, again, thank you, don, for the presentation and, and for your continued

1055
01:15:28,325 --> 01:15:31,925
leadership. Thank you, mayor

1056
01:15:32,375 --> 01:15:36,335
mar. Um, I'd just like to tag onto that as well. I think number one, don,

1057
01:15:36,555 --> 01:15:40,475
thank you for all of your great work, um, on this. I, I think

1058
01:15:41,295 --> 01:15:45,075
my two thoughts are is number one, I'll, I'll make my request

1059
01:15:45,355 --> 01:15:48,465
that I've made a couple of times, would love to get our state reps

1060
01:15:49,655 --> 01:15:52,835
in this dais and, and show this, show them this information.

1061
01:15:53,775 --> 01:15:57,595
um, hopefully we could do that early next year and show them what the effects

1062
01:15:58,035 --> 01:16:02,035
that we are having. And, and I guess I would also ask, and I know this is, you know, 'cause

1063
01:16:02,115 --> 01:16:05,975
we, we would all have thoughts as to what we would have to cut, but if you could just give us, you

1064
01:16:06,195 --> 01:16:09,795
know, top 20 things that, you know,

1065
01:16:10,495 --> 01:16:14,435
we would really have to take a really hard look at. I mean, I'm not, I'm not asking

1066
01:16:14,635 --> 01:16:18,625
you to make a recommendation list. Just something that we could have, you know, from a meat

1067
01:16:18,915 --> 01:16:22,755
perspective, that we could say to our constituents too when we talk

1068
01:16:23,055 --> 01:16:26,865
to state reps. Um, you know, look, we're

1069
01:16:27,145 --> 01:16:30,975
not, we're not talking about, you know, uh, real what

1070
01:16:31,265 --> 01:16:35,125
I would consider, you know, or maybe someone else would consider very lightweight things. We,

1071
01:16:35,345 --> 01:16:39,345
we start to get into really the, you know, we go past the fat,

1072
01:16:39,545 --> 01:16:43,545
we get, we start to get into the muscle, if you will, of the city as we, we walk through

1073
01:16:43,745 --> 01:16:47,745
these things from just some of the conversations that we've all had. And so I think it'd

1074
01:16:47,905 --> 01:16:51,085
be very helpful if we could have, you know, a top, top 20 list things of

1075
01:16:51,965 --> 01:16:55,845
not necessarily what we would you would propose, but just we'd have to look at these top

1076
01:16:56,065 --> 01:16:59,525
20 things. Something that we could, we could really put into their hands and say,

1077
01:17:00,085 --> 01:17:03,965
is this really what you would want us to do from a state perspective at

1078
01:17:04,185 --> 01:17:07,545
the city level? And, and be able to do that. So those are just my thoughts.

1079
01:17:09,345 --> 01:17:12,955
any other thoughts on this? Okay, great.

1080
01:17:13,835 --> 01:17:17,765
we'll now move into our consent agenda. Before I ask for a motion, I'm gonna ask, um,

1081
01:17:18,165 --> 01:17:22,085
mr. Magner to, to talk just a moment about, um, its

1082
01:17:22,335 --> 01:17:26,265
item b on the consent agenda. Uh, thank you, mayor. Well, um, as you may

1083
01:17:26,465 --> 01:17:30,255
recall, when, uh, yvonne, uh, f fgo director of parks and recreation presented

1084
01:17:30,865 --> 01:17:34,545
the deep dive for the bond program, there was some consideration around the gallatin

1085
01:17:35,185 --> 01:17:38,805
fountain. And we were at that time waiting on an assessment. Um, um,

1086
01:17:39,195 --> 01:17:42,905
there was a, uh, one path forward was going to be, um, to really

1087
01:17:43,215 --> 01:17:47,105
need to completely replace all the mechanical equipment, essentially build the

1088
01:17:47,385 --> 01:17:51,205
fountain anew. The other was going to be able to have a repair strategy. And, uh,

1089
01:17:51,425 --> 01:17:55,105
what you see, uh, thankfully on the agenda is that repair strategy as well as

1090
01:17:55,545 --> 01:17:59,535
a, uh, maintenance agreement that we believe will result in, uh, more

1091
01:18:00,105 --> 01:18:04,095
frequent preventative maintenance. Um, it will, will help us get on a regular routine

1092
01:18:04,655 --> 01:18:08,585
that, um, after we make the improvements, uh, to really, um, get the

1093
01:18:09,025 --> 01:18:12,995
fountain back operating, uh, in a really efficient and effective way, we'll

1094
01:18:13,345 --> 01:18:17,305
be able to maintain that. And so this is great news, uh, from the standpoint of not needing

1095
01:18:17,705 --> 01:18:21,465
to burden the bond program with it. Um, and so that's your one action item tonight.

1096
01:18:24,115 --> 01:18:27,775
great. Any questions on that? Okay, perfect. Then

1097
01:18:28,125 --> 01:18:30,385
I'd ask for a motion for the consent agenda.

1098
01:18:32,565 --> 01:18:36,465
and councilman dorian. Thank you, mayor. I'd like to make a motion

1099
01:18:37,125 --> 01:18:40,545
to approve the consent agenda as noted. Thank you. And councilman

1100
01:18:41,185 --> 01:18:45,165
justice. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All those in favor say

1101
01:18:45,485 --> 01:18:49,265
aye. All those opposed? Alright, that passes six to zero with councilman

1102
01:18:50,295 --> 01:18:54,205
barrios out. Ill alright, we'll move into report on items of

1103
01:18:54,425 --> 01:18:58,285
community interest. I didn't see whose light went on first, so did

1104
01:18:58,505 --> 01:19:02,185
yours. Okay. I don't, I don't know, but I'm claiming it. Okay, go right ahead. Councilman

1105
01:19:02,625 --> 01:19:05,665
justice. There was a very exciting citywide

1106
01:19:07,585 --> 01:19:11,185
announcement that needs to be made. I, I agree a hundred percent ,

1107
01:19:12,125 --> 01:19:15,995
our very own councilman corcoran got engaged on friday night,

1108
01:19:16,565 --> 01:19:20,545
and it was just honestly the most beautiful celebration. It should have just been their wedding

1109
01:19:20,705 --> 01:19:24,465
because it was stunning and she was surprised and lovely, and just

1110
01:19:24,765 --> 01:19:28,545
the whole thing was wonderful. It was a surprise engagement for her all, you know, family, friends,

1111
01:19:28,945 --> 01:19:32,765
sister in from france. I mean, he just did it up really right? And it

1112
01:19:32,985 --> 01:19:36,865
was just so, so special to be invited and be a part of that moment in your life. Um, and she's

1113
01:19:37,185 --> 01:19:40,705
lovely and I'm so excited for both of you. Yeah, thank you.

1114
01:19:46,235 --> 01:19:49,975
councilman corland, would you like to ? Yeah, I mean, obviously,

1115
01:19:50,845 --> 01:19:54,185
you know, it has been just so wonderful over the years introducing

1116
01:19:54,885 --> 01:19:58,445
thelma, who's just so, so important to me, to all of y'all. Um,

1117
01:19:59,245 --> 01:20:03,245
you guys don't know how much of an impact you've made in both of our lives and how really

1118
01:20:03,665 --> 01:20:07,575
just important it is to me that y'all love her and get to know

1119
01:20:07,735 --> 01:20:11,185
her. And, and you guys have all done that so much. And I think what's so special about

1120
01:20:12,405 --> 01:20:16,375
this city government is just how, no matter what disagreements we

1121
01:20:16,535 --> 01:20:20,415
have up here, we all show up for each other. And at the end of the day,

1122
01:20:20,575 --> 01:20:24,535
like, we're all there for each other and y'all have just been there for us. And this friday

1123
01:20:24,775 --> 01:20:28,735
night was no exception and it was very special to thelma. Very special to me.

1124
01:20:28,895 --> 01:20:32,635
and I just can't tell you how much we both really appreciate all of y'all. Um,

1125
01:20:32,995 --> 01:20:34,615
my colleagues are the best. So thank you guys.

1126
01:20:37,455 --> 01:20:41,455
anything else that you wanted to? Yeah, the chamber had a, uh, grand opening on thursday

1127
01:20:41,575 --> 01:20:45,255
night. It was really wonderful. Uh, the chamber looks awesome

1128
01:20:45,915 --> 01:20:49,835
and it, it was a really special party there too. Um, you

1129
01:20:50,055 --> 01:20:53,855
know, I think it, it is a huge upgrade and I know they put a lot of work into

1130
01:20:54,095 --> 01:20:57,995
it and we're honored to be invited to support them. Yeah. Excellent. Um,

1131
01:20:58,405 --> 01:21:02,035
council member a and . Thank you mr. We

1132
01:21:02,425 --> 01:21:05,945
proam. Uh, well, I mean, councilman

1133
01:21:06,635 --> 01:21:10,495
uh, jennifer justice, you know, she, she explained,

1134
01:21:11,015 --> 01:21:14,715
she tells very clearly nicely, uh, I don't know if I can beat that, but

1135
01:21:15,495 --> 01:21:19,255
I can't really stop saying congratulations to joe. This is,

1136
01:21:19,595 --> 01:21:23,595
uh, council member joe . Um, you

1137
01:21:23,815 --> 01:21:27,715
know, I was very, very excited seeing that not, you

1138
01:21:27,935 --> 01:21:31,555
know, he was happy. Uh, thelma was happy, but also, uh,

1139
01:21:32,155 --> 01:21:36,055
you know, their family was, were they, they're all genuinely happy.

1140
01:21:36,375 --> 01:21:39,075
I saw the excitement everywhere. So, uh,

1141
01:21:40,395 --> 01:21:44,395
it was, it was really, you know, wonderful experience and thank you for including me

1142
01:21:44,615 --> 01:21:48,215
with that, uh, uh, with your special moment, memorable

1143
01:21:48,695 --> 01:21:52,485
moment. And, um, definitely I'll be, I'll

1144
01:21:52,775 --> 01:21:56,495
be praying for your, uh, next journey and it'll be

1145
01:21:56,975 --> 01:22:00,815
exciting. Uh, you know, no matter what, it's going to be exciting

1146
01:22:01,275 --> 01:22:03,375
the rest of your life. .

1147
01:22:07,485 --> 01:22:11,455
alright. Uh, what's that? Leave that alone. I'm, I'm, I'm going to

1148
01:22:12,605 --> 01:22:16,395
council member dorian. Thank you, mayor. Yeah, I, I just want, you

1149
01:22:16,615 --> 01:22:20,615
know, I, I'm gonna just tag onto that as well. I think you said something

1150
01:22:21,165 --> 01:22:25,125
that was important, joe, about our councilman, uh, corcoran. And that

1151
01:22:25,415 --> 01:22:29,245
is that this is fine. It's, I think, uh, you're right when, when

1152
01:22:29,535 --> 01:22:32,795
it's, when the council and has to come together and

1153
01:22:33,955 --> 01:22:37,895
be, you know, standards one and support one another, I think we do a very

1154
01:22:38,015 --> 01:22:41,655
good job doing that. All of us do, including staff and council and mayor.

1155
01:22:42,315 --> 01:22:46,245
so I appreciate that, and I'm really happy for you, and I'm, I'm happy that you made

1156
01:22:46,535 --> 01:22:50,335
us a part of this, uh, new commitment and your new journey. So thank you very much.

1157
01:22:51,935 --> 01:22:55,915
I also want to say in addition to, uh, the,

1158
01:22:56,155 --> 01:23:00,035
uh, chamber, which is a beautiful, um, I had the opportunity of,

1159
01:23:00,795 --> 01:23:04,335
uh, sort of sharing some time with the dallas,

1160
01:23:04,985 --> 01:23:08,505
uh, chinese community center on saturday morning. Um,

1161
01:23:09,075 --> 01:23:12,505
this is an event. I actually, even before I was, uh, elected, um,

1162
01:23:13,545 --> 01:23:17,485
uh, I went to this event and I was able to see the children.

1163
01:23:18,115 --> 01:23:21,755
it's nice because they have, uh, they have this ages like,

1164
01:23:22,265 --> 01:23:26,205
you know, from like eight all the way up to teenage years, but they have calli

1165
01:23:26,675 --> 01:23:30,565
calligraphy courses and awards, and it's not just part

1166
01:23:30,845 --> 01:23:34,725
of the chinese and asian community, but is part, it's a lot of different, uh, cultures

1167
01:23:35,205 --> 01:23:38,905
there. So it's just really good to see them and how excited they are. So

1168
01:23:39,425 --> 01:23:42,945
one of the girls came up to me as I was getting ready to hand her her

1169
01:23:43,605 --> 01:23:47,385
certificate, and before we even shook can, she just came up and gave me a big hug. And

1170
01:23:47,645 --> 01:23:51,625
I just thought, wow. And it kind of got, you know, kind of touches you in a certain way. But,

1171
01:23:52,105 --> 01:23:55,845
um, they were very happy and, um, it was a very nice event. And of course, they always

1172
01:23:56,165 --> 01:24:00,075
have a luncheon afterwards, which they, they prepare all this food. It's,

1173
01:24:00,485 --> 01:24:04,485
it's enormous and it's always, uh, delicious. But I just wanna say, uh, that is

1174
01:24:04,645 --> 01:24:08,645
a great community and, and I, and I love supporting it. Thank you. Thank you,

1175
01:24:09,385 --> 01:24:13,295
merril. Mark, uh, gosh, I,

1176
01:24:13,535 --> 01:24:17,455
I, I'll, I'll just for the sake of, of repeating, although I hate, uh, uh, doing

1177
01:24:17,735 --> 01:24:21,495
too much, repeating on, on items, community interest, couldn't be more thrilled,

1178
01:24:21,835 --> 01:24:25,715
uh, for councilman corcoran and, uh, thelma. Just, it was,

1179
01:24:26,235 --> 01:24:29,915
uh, there, there's, I don't know that anyone else can beat, uh,

1180
01:24:30,325 --> 01:24:34,035
what that presentation of a, uh, proposal and

1181
01:24:34,785 --> 01:24:38,355
party afterwards that was just, uh, amazing and beautiful and, and

1182
01:24:38,835 --> 01:24:42,535
job well done. Uh, uh, I, I've never seen it done that well before,

1183
01:24:42,875 --> 01:24:46,735
and I don't think I ever will. Um, we had a really busy week

1184
01:24:47,015 --> 01:24:50,955
last week. Um, so I just want to hit on a couple things. Um, uh,

1185
01:24:51,445 --> 01:24:55,315
both, uh, city manager, uh, dom magner and I had an opportunity, uh,

1186
01:24:55,775 --> 01:24:59,495
I guess twice last week to do some, uh, uh, double teaming

1187
01:25:00,115 --> 01:25:03,925
one at hexa with a delegation out of the uk that

1188
01:25:04,215 --> 01:25:07,995
had a bunch of small businesses, uh, that were here, um, uh,

1189
01:25:08,695 --> 01:25:12,265
pitching, uh, uh, their stuff, uh, uh, pitching their, their,

1190
01:25:12,795 --> 01:25:16,695
uh, innovations and what they're doing as a company. And we got to pitch our city

1191
01:25:17,005 --> 01:25:20,955
back, which was, uh, really fantastic. Um, we

1192
01:25:21,405 --> 01:25:25,305
also had an opportunity, uh, to, uh, do a,

1193
01:25:25,485 --> 01:25:29,275
um, uh, uh, I believe it's called let's

1194
01:25:29,625 --> 01:25:33,275
work inclusively, which was, um, the dallas disability

1195
01:25:34,065 --> 01:25:37,945
chamber had a, uh, video podcast, uh, that we

1196
01:25:38,105 --> 01:25:42,025
got a chance to record together, which was kind of a neat experience and, and we

1197
01:25:42,185 --> 01:25:46,145
hope something that we can share or I can share in the next, uh, few days whenever

1198
01:25:46,225 --> 01:25:50,025
they finally go to, uh, go public with that. Uh, we also had just

1199
01:25:50,365 --> 01:25:54,345
an, a wonderful, um, annual, uh, christmas party that gets

1200
01:25:54,605 --> 01:25:58,185
to, um, you know, celebrate a lot of the folks that work in our city,

1201
01:25:58,725 --> 01:26:02,105
uh, as well as kind of other players that we don't recognize in other ways.

1202
01:26:02,885 --> 01:26:06,725
uh, this last week, I, I was just, couldn't have been more impressed

1203
01:26:07,045 --> 01:26:11,005
with what city staff did to, um, make the room that you guys are in

1204
01:26:11,165 --> 01:26:15,005
right now. Uh, one of the most festive rooms I've seen in some time.

1205
01:26:15,665 --> 01:26:19,665
uh, so for that, I just wanna say, uh, thank you very much, the entire team. And

1206
01:26:19,885 --> 01:26:23,445
then finally, uh, although there were, gosh, so many different,

1207
01:26:24,025 --> 01:26:27,925
uh, uh, christmas parties and gatherings, uh, I did want

1208
01:26:28,225 --> 01:26:31,865
to, um, give a shout out to intellichoice. Um, they are

1209
01:26:32,625 --> 01:26:36,525
an organization that really focuses on, uh, math training to the underprivileged.

1210
01:26:37,625 --> 01:26:41,405
um, I got an opportunity to keynote, uh, for them yesterday evening,

1211
01:26:42,145 --> 01:26:45,925
uh, there at the ut dallas campus. Um, they gave

1212
01:26:46,165 --> 01:26:49,985
away something like 60 scholarships, $30,000, uh,

1213
01:26:50,345 --> 01:26:54,245
to students, uh, hoping to encourage them to go to either two year or

1214
01:26:54,365 --> 01:26:58,115
four year, uh, schools. Uh, but just amazing work done

1215
01:26:58,585 --> 01:27:02,105
by a dr. Gil lee, who is a professor there, and, um,

1216
01:27:02,665 --> 01:27:06,605
has been doing this now for 30 years. So, uh, just a, a, a wonderful

1217
01:27:06,965 --> 01:27:10,865
honor and, and a and a great opportunity to be able to, to celebrate with them and

1218
01:27:11,085 --> 01:27:15,005
to help them, uh, raise a little bit of money for, for that worthy cause. That's all I've got

1219
01:27:15,125 --> 01:27:18,505
for that. Thank you, mayor. Well, I'll just wrap up.

1220
01:27:20,265 --> 01:27:24,065
joe con, congratulations. There's, there's no other way to say

1221
01:27:24,285 --> 01:27:27,385
it. Congratulations. So happy for you and thelma. Um,

1222
01:27:28,315 --> 01:27:31,785
it's wonderful when two people, two people come together and,

1223
01:27:32,465 --> 01:27:35,965
and like y'all have, and so just congratulations.

1224
01:27:37,545 --> 01:27:41,345
um, on that note, I also had the opportunity on

1225
01:27:41,565 --> 01:27:45,245
friday to be the keynote speaker at the graduation for colin college.

1226
01:27:45,745 --> 01:27:49,745
and I just wanna say so many times, you know, we turn on the evening news or we, we

1227
01:27:49,965 --> 01:27:53,885
come in this room and we talk about different things. And, you know,

1228
01:27:53,975 --> 01:27:57,835
oftentimes, especially on the evening news, all we ever hear about

1229
01:27:58,055 --> 01:28:02,015
is the, the bad and, you know, where, where are we headed, et cetera, et

1230
01:28:02,235 --> 01:28:06,215
cetera. Said in the, it was the, in the allen field house where the, the hockey is.

1231
01:28:06,435 --> 01:28:10,155
and it was completely, it was over 760 graduates, um, with all of their family's

1232
01:28:10,595 --> 01:28:14,455
friends and everyone. And I'll tell you what, it, it, it

1233
01:28:14,675 --> 01:28:18,615
gave me so much hope for the future of our, of

1234
01:28:18,835 --> 01:28:22,695
our community, for our state, for our country, and for our world. Seeing

1235
01:28:23,215 --> 01:28:26,995
all of those graduates come across the stage in many cases, first time,

1236
01:28:27,655 --> 01:28:30,935
um, college graduates, first time, um,

1237
01:28:31,735 --> 01:28:35,515
um, being, being a part of something like that,

1238
01:28:36,095 --> 01:28:40,075
um, where they're able to graduate and, and move forward. And it was just, it was an

1239
01:28:40,235 --> 01:28:43,675
incredibly moving, um, experience. So I just wanna say congratulations

1240
01:28:44,355 --> 01:28:47,815
to everyone who graduated, um, from college

1241
01:28:48,385 --> 01:28:52,145
colin college. It was agra, it was their largest baccalaureate graduation

1242
01:28:52,825 --> 01:28:56,575
class so far. Um, and I'm gonna say so far, 'cause I think they'll

1243
01:28:57,495 --> 01:29:01,405
thoroughly eclipse it, um, over the next several years. I also wanna,

1244
01:29:01,655 --> 01:29:05,125
since this is the, the final, uh, meeting for the year, I wanna wish

1245
01:29:05,765 --> 01:29:09,165
everyone very, very happy holidays. Happy hanukkah,

1246
01:29:09,855 --> 01:29:13,785
merry christmas, um, and a happy new year. And

1247
01:29:14,005 --> 01:29:17,735
my greatest wish for all of us is peace

1248
01:29:18,185 --> 01:29:21,935
on earth and goodwill to all with

1249
01:29:22,225 --> 01:29:25,815
that, if there's nothing else with no further business,

1250
01:29:26,245 --> 01:29:30,015
this meeting is adjourned at eight 14. Thank you so much.

1251
01:29:32,485 --> 01:29:32,485
okay.