[00:00:04]
[1. CALL TO ORDER AND CERTIFICATION OF A QUORUM]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING, UH, TO ORDER.TODAY IS AUGUST 12TH, 2025, AND IT IS 7:00 PM AND CAN WE GET A CERTIFICATION OF A QUORUM? MAYOR TRAVIS MELO, PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNNY SIMPSON.
PRESENT, COUNCIL MEMBER SEAN HOLT.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT SCHRADER.
HERE, COUNCIL MEMBER BILL SCHICK HERE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KEVIN EDMONDS HERE.
ALL RIGHT, UM, NEXT WE WILL, UH, INVITE FATHER RICK OF, UH, THE SHRINE OF THE TRUE CROSS TO GIVE OUR INVOCATION.
AND THEN IF EVERYONE COULD ALSO PLEASE STAND AND THEN FOLLOW ALONG, UH, WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALMIGHTY GOD, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY, GRATEFUL FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE, COMMUNITY, AND THE FREEDOM TO SERVE.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS YOU HAVE POURED UPON THE CITY OF DICKINSON.
ITS PEOPLE, ITS FAMILIES, ITS SCHOOLS, ITS BUSINESSES, AND ALL THOSE WHO WORK FOR THE COMMON GOOD GRAND.
YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE TO OUR MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL WHO SERVE IN LEADERSHIP, GIVE THEM DISCERNING MINDS, JUST HEARTS AND THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, EVEN WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT.
MAY EVERY DECISION THEY MAKE, BE MARD BY INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, AND A DESIRE TO PROMOTE JUSTICE AND PEACE.
BLESS OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR EDUCATORS, AND EVERY CITIZEN, THAT TOGETHER WE MAY WORK TO BUILD A COMMUNITY WHERE ALL ARE RESPECTED, WHERE FAMILIES FLOURISH, AND WHERE FUTURE GENERATIONS MAY THRIVE.
WE ASK FOR YOUR PROTECTION OVER OUR CITY, AND WE ENTRUST ALL WE DO TO YOUR CARE.
MAY YOUR LIGHT GUIDE OUR PATH AND YOUR TRUTH.
BE THE FOUNDATION OF ALL OUR ENDEAVORS.
WE PRAY THIS IN YOUR HOLY NAME.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR SUSTAIN ONE NATION, NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
ALL THE TEXAS PLEDGE UNDER THE TEXAS FLAG.
I PLEDGE TO AGENCY TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, UNDER GOD ONE IN.
AND THEN ONCE AGAIN, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FATHER RICK.
AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, HE TOLD ME SOMETHING PRETTY, UH, INTERESTING.
UM, THE SHRINE OF THE TRUE CROSS IS GONNA CELEBRATE, YOU SAID THE 80TH YEAR, UH, NEXT YEAR, THE SCHOOL, THE, YEP.
THE SCHOOL WILL BE, UH, BE, IT'LL BE HIS 80TH YEAR, SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A PRETTY BIG GALA.
SO, UH, BE READY FOR THAT INFORMATION.
ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT WE'LL GET INTO ANNOUNCEMENTS,
[3. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS]
UH, AND PRESENTATIONS.SO, UH, COUNCIL WILL GO AHEAD AND START FROM MY LEFT AND MOVE TO OUR RIGHT.
SO WE'LL GO WITH, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EDMONDS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO START.
UH, THIS PAST WEEK I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH CHASE AND, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM LINEBARGER, WHO IS OUR DELINQUENT TAX AND, UM, AND SUPPORT COURT COLLECTION AGENCY.
AND WE DISCUSSED, UH, THE DESIRE TO PURSUE COLLECTIONS ON OUR CO COMPLIANCE LIENS, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
UM, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT, UH, SCHOOL IS BACK IN SESSION ON THURSDAY, SO BE MINDFUL OF SCHOOL ZONES, UH, OUT THERE.
AND, UH, WE ARE ENTERING THE PEAK OF HURRICANE SEASON.
AND, UH, SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY THAT IF YOU HADN'T MADE A PLAN, NOW'S THE TIME TO DO SO.
AND, UH, START GATHERING YOUR SUPPLIES.
THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT SHOWED UP, UH, TONIGHT AND LISTENING ONLINE.
UH, LAST, UH, TWO WEEKS AGO, I VISITED LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH, UH, THE EDCS, KAITLYN.
WE, UH, WE JUST COLD CALL ON BUSINESSES AND GET TO KNOW THEM.
UH, IT'S A GOOD PROGRAM THAT KAITLYN'S PUT TOGETHER AND, UH, ANYBODY ON THE COUNCIL'S WELCOME TO TO GO WITH HER TO DO THAT.
UH, ATTENDED COFFEE WITH COPS AT THE NEW BUSINESS ACTION BUGGIES ON THE NORTHBOUND FEEDER ROAD.
JUST AS YOU COME INTO DICKINSON.
UH, ATTENDED THE BAY TRAN TRANSPORTATION MEETING AT LAKEWOOD.
THE TXDOT REGIONAL DIRECTOR WAS THERE, GAVE A TALK, ATTENDED THE HGAC TRANSPORTATION MEETING IN TEXAS CITY, WHICH WAS VERY INTERESTING.
TALKED ABOUT WHAT WAS COMING IN OUR AREA, UH,
[00:05:01]
ATTENDED THE DICKINSON BAYOU WATERSHED COMMITTEE, UH, MEETING AND THE BAYAN REGIONAL DRAINAGE MEETING.UH, IT LOOKS LIKE WE GOT SOME POSITIVE THINGS COMING OUR WAY.
WELCOME EVERYONE HERE AND ONLINE.
I JUST, I'M GONNA BE MARKED TO THIS.
I'M REMINDING YOU, I DO KNOW WE HAVE SOME BOARD APPOINTMENTS THAT NEED TO BE, UH, REDONE, REPLACED, RENEWED.
SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SERVING, UH, PLEASE GO TO THE CITY WEBSITE AND SIGN UP FOR THAT.
WELCOME, EVERYBODY THAT'S HERE TONIGHT.
UH, REITERATE WHAT SAID SOME OF THE SCHOOLS START TOMORROW.
THE, THERE'S A TWO OR THREE OF 'EM THAT'S GOT SOME CLASSES THAT START TOMORROW.
SO AGAIN, WATCH OUT FOR THE KIDS.
WELCOME EVERYBODY, BOTH IN PERSON, PERSON AND ONLINE.
ALRIGHT, UM, JUST GOT A COUPLE THINGS TO ADD.
UH, I ACTUALLY ATTENDED, UH, FIRST, UH, THE NEW EMPLOYEE LUNCHEON FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS WELL AS CONVOCATION.
UM, I'LL TELL YOU, IF YOU EVER GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO CHECK OUT CONVOCATION, UH, IT'S ONE HECK OF A SHOW.
AND, UH, I KNOW DR. BROWN HAS THAT, UH, SCHOOL DISTRICT GOING PRETTY, UH, PRETTY HARD RIGHT NOW.
UM, ANOTHER, SOME PEOPLE I MET, UH, WITH AS WELL OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS I MET WITH, UM, DR. BREWER.
UM, SOME OF YOU MIGHT, MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE SEEN SOME THINGS THAT WERE SAID OR NOT SAID.
UM, HOWEVER, HER AND I HAD A VERY GOOD MEETING FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS.
UM, GOT TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW IS I LET HER KNOW.
IT'S JUST LIKE SHE LET ME KNOW WE HAVE OUR PRIORITIES, RIGHT? MINE IS THE CITY OF DICKINSON, MY CITIZENS, HERS IS CALM.
UM, HOWEVER, WE BOTH AGREE WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER 'CAUSE WE'RE IN IT TOGETHER, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, RIGHT? SO, UM, IT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE.
UH, IT WAS A VERY GOOD CONVERSATION.
SO, UH, WE ARE GONNA TRY TO HAVE A LONGSTANDING, UM, MEETING JUST SO THAT HER AND I CAN BE ON SOMEWHAT OF THE SAME PAGE.
UM, NOW THE NEXT ONE IS THE REPRESENTATIVE, UH, DENNIS PAUL.
HE'S RUNNING FOR TEXAS STATE SENATE AS WELL.
UM, HANK DOOGIE, COMMISSIONER HANK DOOGIE, UH, GOT ME IN TOUCH WITH HIM.
UM, GOT TO ASK HIM A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
UH, KIND OF SEE WHAT HE'S RUNNING FOR.
HE WILL MOST LIKELY BE REPRESENTING US, UH, AS SENATE OR OUR SENATE REPRESENTATIVE AS WELL, BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING UNOPPOSED.
UM, BUT HE HAS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS WHEN IT COMES TO DRAINAGE.
UH, HE WAS A BIG CHAMPION FOR THE, UH, BARRIER, UH, FOR GAL, THE GALVESTON BAY.
SO, UM, HE KNOW, HE UNDERSTANDS OUR PROBLEMS AND I GOT TO TELL HIM WHAT ALL OF OUR CHALLENGES ARE, SO, UH, HE UNDERSTANDS IT.
SO, UM, THAT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE AS WELL.
OTHER THAN THAT, UM, I KNOW WE HAVE THE MI LEWIS GALA, RIGHT? UM, THIS FRIDAY.
SO WHOEVER IS GOING, PLEASE GET YOUR CHECKBOOKS OUT.
UH, OTHER THAN THAT CITY MANAGER, WHAT YOU GOT FOR ME? YES, SIR.
COUNCIL CITIZENS OF OUR GREAT COMMUNITY.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO INVITE MR. JOHNNY FLORES AND, UH, MRS. SHARON GRIBBLE UP.
I INVITED THEM BOTH THIS EVENING TO THE, UH, TO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
I MEANT TO HAVE A PROCLAMATION DONE, BUT I DIDN'T GET TO IT IN TIME.
MR. FLORES PUT TOGETHER THE FUNDRAISING EVENT THIS PAST WEEKEND, RECEIVING DONATIONS FOR KIRK COUNTY.
AND MRS. GRIBBLE SOLD HER AWESOME CAKES AND RAISED MONEY AS DONATIONS AS WELL.
COUNCILMAN EDMONDS MATCHED HER FUNDS.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THEM UP AND TAKE A PICTURE.
WE COULD ALL TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEM AND JUST, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, RECOGNIZE THEM THIS EVENING.
ON 3 1 2 ALREADY TOOK A BUNCH.
[00:10:02]
YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT, HELPING YOUR NEIGHBORS IN TIME OF NEED.AND I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE HELPED OUT THE CITY OF KEAH WHEN THEY TOOK IN DONATIONS.
UH, MR. CAESAR GARCIA SET THAT UP.
A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS DONATED TO THAT CAUSE AS WELL.
UH, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS IS WHAT TEXAS IS ALL ABOUT.
AND WE PROVE THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
I JUST PRAY WE DON'T HAVE TO PROVE IT AGAIN.
THIS HURRICANE CAESAR, UH, SO HUGHES ROAD UPDATE.
WE ARE CURRENTLY 30% COMPLETE.
UH, I KNOW TRAFFIC IS TERRIBLE.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE TO STAY OFF OF HUGHES ROAD.
THERE'S NO REASON TO TAKE A JOY RIDE AND LOOK AT THE CONSTRUCTION NOW, ESPECIALLY TOMORROW MORNING.
AS SCHOOL STARTS, MY WIFE AND I WILL BE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT FOR THE LITTLE GATOR ORIENTATION AT HUGHES ROAD ELEMENTARY.
SO, MY DAUGHTER, CARLY, STARTS HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL TOMORROW.
SO WE DO HAVE A LANE FOR OVERFLOW FOR STACKING.
UH, THERE WILL BE A SIGN INDICATING THAT THIS LANE IS RESERVED FOR THE PICK OFF PICKUP AND DROP OFF LANES AT HUGHES ROAD ELEMENTARY.
UH, WE WILL ALSO HAVE AN OFFICER OUT THERE SITTING.
SO BASICALLY AT THE END OF SYCAMORE, THERE WILL BE NO OVERFLOW LANE.
WE WILL ONLY HAVE TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC.
SO YOU CANNOT SIT AND STACK PAST SYCAMORE.
UH, I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MR. BOONE FROM THE ISD, KEEPING THEM IN THE LOOP.
WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH TEXAS CITY PD, THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OUR PD WILL BE OUT THERE TOING TRAFFIC.
SO, UH, PLEASE DO NOT COME EARLY.
PLEASE DO NOT SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
UH, I WANT TO THANK DR. BROWN, MR. BOONE, MR. RUBECK, FOR THEIR COOPERATION AND PATIENCE WITH THIS PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING FOR ALL OF US AND WE ARE DOING OUR BEST WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE, AS I DO WITH ALL CITY BUSINESS.
SO, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
LAST WEEK WE MET WITH DR, NOT DR.
MR. JEFF KININ, THE DIRECTOR OF E EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FOR THE, FOR DICKINSON ISD.
I'VE KNOWN MR. KININ FOR 30 YEARS.
UH, I, I JUST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE HIS TIME FOR VI TAKING HIS TIME TO VISIT WITH US, LENDING HIS EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE TO ASSIST THE CITY OF DICKINSON.
HE HAS SAVED THE ISD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN ENERGY SAVINGS OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS.
AND WE CAN DO THE SAME HERE WITH THE CITY.
THIS PROGRAM WE WILL BE PUSHING OUT COULD SAVE OUR CITY UP TO 30% LITERALLY IN SAVINGS MOVING FORWARD.
AND THAT, THAT EXCITES ME, OBVIOUSLY.
'CAUSE AS BUDGET SEASON, YOU KNOW, THIS TOPIC GOES HAND IN HAND WITH BUDGET.
BY NEXT YEAR, I EXPECT TO SEE SAVINGS IN OUR UTILITIES LINE ITEMS FOR ALL OUR DEPARTMENTS.
WE WILL BE CONDUCTING A BUILDING AUDIT WITH MR. KININ AND OUR ENERGY SOFTWARE PROVIDER, WHICH WE ALREADY HAVE A CONTRACT WITH.
SO WE'RE BASICALLY NOT UTILIZING SERVICES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN UTILIZING FOR YEARS, MAKING CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR THE CITY.
ONE OF MY GOALS IS TO CLEAN UP OUR CITY.
I HAVE WATCHED THE CITY I LOVE DETERIORATE OVER THE PAST DECADES, ESPECIALLY THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN WHERE I GREW UP.
AND IT'S TIME WE START CLEANING IT UP.
IF YOU HAVE CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES, HIGH WEEDS AND GRASS FRONT YARD THAT LOOKS LIKE A JUNK YARD, OR YOU OPERATE A BUSINESS WITH JUNK VEHICLES IN IT, YOU CAN EXPECT TO HEAR FROM ME.
I HAVE DIRECTED MY STAFF TO START CONTACTING EVERY RESIDENT AND BUSINESS OWNER WHO HAS CODE ENFORCEMENT ISSUES.
I'M ASKING EVERYONE NOW TO START CLEANING UP YOUR PROPERTIES AND BUSINESSES NOW.
'CAUSE IF YOU DO NOT, 'CAUSE YOU WILL BE HEARING FROM ME AND MY TEAM, AS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY HAVE.
AS WE ALL KNOW, OUR CITY IS ALREADY A DUMPING GROUND FOR STORM WATER IN OUR REGION.
WE ARE NOT A LANDFILL FOR YOUR JUNK.
I HAVE SEEN IT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE I GREW UP.
MY DAD'S NEIGHBORHOOD NOW, OUR COUNCILMAN'S NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER OUR CITY AND IT STOPS NOW.
I'VE BEEN FOCUSING MY EFFORTS ON CITY HALL, CLEANING UP OUR OPERATIONS, OUR FINANCES, REGAINING OUR BOND RATING, RESTRUCTURING OUR ORGANIZATION.
BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO START CLEANING UP OUR CITY.
THE MAYOR ALREADY MENTIONED THE DIS, THE MI LEWIS GALA.
MY WIFE AND I WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT THIS EXCELLENT FOUNDATION FRIDAY.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MS. ANGELICA A SHOUT OUT.
WE APPRECIATE ALL HER EFFORTS.
[00:15:01]
I DO NOT HAVE A DEPARTMENTAL UPDATE THIS EVENING.I FOR THE INTEREST OF TIME, WE NEED TO KEEP THIS MOVING, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEES, MR. MARIO GONZALEZ.
HE IS OUR CYBERSECURITY OFFICER.
MR. GONZALEZ HAS A, A BUSINESS, HE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CYBERSECURITY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS IN SAN ANTONIO.
HE HAS TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE, HAS AN INFORMATION SECURITY ENGINEER WITH THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE.
HE'S MANAGED CYBERSECURITY TRAINING AND COMPUTER ACCESS FOR OVER FOUR 40,000 EMPLOYEES.
SUPPORTED CRITICAL CYBERSECURITY ISSUES REGARDING RESEARCH, FIREFIGHTING DISPATCH, LAW ENFORCEMENT, JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, LAW ONLINE CRIMINALS, HACK INTO GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, SOFTWARE, HOLD HOSTAGE YOUR INFORMATION AND MAKE DEMANDS FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS JUST TO RELEASE YOUR OWN INFORMATION BACK TO YOU, WHICH IS TERRIBLE.
IT HAS OCCURRED AND IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY AND WE ARE TAKING IT SERIOUS.
I THINK, UH, I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE WE HAVE THE RIGHT PERSON, UH, SITTING IN THE CHAIR OVER THERE.
BECAUSE I HEARD THEY WERE PUTTING IN THE BLACKTOP FOR THE, THE PARKING.
ON THE EAST SIDE, WHEN YOU COME OUT OF THE, THE BUSES GO IN THAT EAST SIDE, PICK UP IN THE BACK AND THEY COME OUT.
WHEN THEY GO TO MAKE THAT RIGHT HAND TURN, GOING BACK TO HIGHWAY THREE MM-HMM
ONE IN BARRICADES IS RIGHT THERE ON THE CORNER.
ARE THEY GONNA GIVE 'EM ENOUGH ROOM TO SO THEY DON'T CATCH THEIR BACK TIRES ON IT? YEAH, I MEAN WE WILL OPEN IT UP AS MUCH AS THEY NEED.
MIGHT CHECK THAT ONE PLACE BECAUSE WHEN THEM BUSES COME OUT THERE TO GO EAST, IF THERE'S SOMEBODY COMING YES SIR.
SO THEY DON'T HANG UP ON THAT ON THAT ONE.
IF IT CAN BE MOVED BACK A LITTLE BIT.
BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S GONNA CATCH A FENDER OR SOMETHING.
I'LL CALL 'EM FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND TAKE CARE OF IT.
IT'S A CONCERN OF OUR MAKE SURE THEY GOT AN, YOU'RE SAYING THEY NEED A WIDER TURN RIGHT THERE FOR THE BUSES.
THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE TO ME WHEN I DROVE BY THERE THIS AFTERNOON.
[4. PUBLIC COMMENTS]
UH, NUMBER FOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO GIVE COMMENTS AT THIS TIME, LASTING NOT LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES.
COMMENTS MAY BE GENERAL IN NATURE OR MAY ADDRESS A SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEM AND SHOULD BE DIRECTED AT THE ENTIRE COUNCIL.
NOT INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF COUNCIL OR STAFF.
ANY SPEAKER MAKING PERSONAL ATTACKS OR USING VULGAR OR PROFANE LANGUAGE SHALL FORFEIT HIS OR HER REMAINING TIME AND SHALL BE SEATED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.
THE CITY COUNCIL MAY NOT DELIBERATE.
UH, FIRST ON GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
I GOT MR, IS IT MR. TIM BLACK? I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT A FOLLOW UP.
I THINK TR I THINK TRAVIS DID THAT ON PURPOSE.
BUT LOOK, I'M HERE BECAUSE OF 5,002, 5,004 FM FIVE 17, UM, WHICH I OWNED HERE, I GUESS A YEAR OR SO AGO.
I SOLD IT TO THE GENTLEMAN ACROSS THE STREET AND I MANAGED IT FOR, I MEAN, WE HAD A DUPLEX ON THE CORNER THERE HERE LAST YEAR WHERE WE WERE TRYING TO DO A MINISTRY WHERE WE WERE HELPING SOME OF THE HOMELESS PEOPLE AROUND HERE STAY AND TRY TO GET 'EM OFF THE STREET.
SEMI COORDINATED WITH THE POLICE.
THEY KNEW WE WERE, ANYWAY, MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, ONE OF THE LADIES SET IT ON FIRE, MADE IT BECAME A PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY.
THEY, THEY ASKED US TO TEAR IT DOWN OR, OR 'CAUSE THE BUILDING WAS NOT IN PERFECT REPAIR, WHICH WE DID.
HAVING SAID THAT, THERE'S A LITTLE OVER THREE ACRES THERE AND THERE'S ANOTHER DWELLING ON THE, UH, 5,022, WHICH IS PART OF THAT PROPERTY.
AND THERE'S FOUR SETS OF STEPS THERE THAT ARE LESS THAN 30 INCHES HIGH.
THEY DON'T REQUIRE A, A GUARDRAIL.
THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOR 83 YEARS.
WE TORE DOWN THE BUILDING ON TIME, UH, AND AFTER WE GOT ALL THAT DONE, WE, WE, WE REDID THE SEWER, FIXED IT LIKE THEY WANTED, DID EVERYTHING, GOT IT CLEANED UP.
AND THEY CAME BACK WITH ME AND TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO REMOVE THE STEPS AND THE, THE THA THE, THE, THE, THE STEPS THAT ARE LEFT.
AND I TOLD 'EM, I SAID, LOOK, WE'RE WANTING TO, WHEN THE TIME COMES, WE'RE GONNA, WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN THAT PROPERTY UP.
WE'RE GONNA BUILD A A, AN OFFICE WAREHOUSE THERE.
AND WE'D LIKE TO REUSE THE STEPS MAYBE IN THE BACK.
THEY'RE, IT COSTS TWO OR THREE GRAND TO GET A CRANE OVER THERE AND PICK 'EM UP AND MOVE 'EM OUTTA THE WAY.
AND THE SAD PART IS, IS I'M ALLOWED TO TAKE 'EM AND PICK 'EM UP AND MOVE THEM ON THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR AND STORE 'EM.
'CAUSE THAT DWELLING'S STILL THERE, WHICH WOULD BE AN EYESORE IF YOU DID THAT.
OR CURRENTLY I'M JUST ASKING, CAN WE JUST LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY'VE BEEN FOR 83 YEARS AS NOT AN EYESORE? THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT A-A-A-A-A HAZARD.
THEY'RE THE DEFINITION OF NOT A HAZARD.
THAT'S WHAT MADE THE BUILDING SAFE
[00:20:01]
TO START WITH, TO GET IN AND OUT.YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? AND THEY'RE JUST SITTING THERE.
I HAVE PICTURES ON MY PHONE OF IT.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO, TO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD IN THIS CITY AGAIN.
AND SO WOULD THE, THE GENTLEMAN ACROSS THE STREET THAT BOUGHT THE TAXI COAST STATION, UH, I OWNED THE PROPERTY ACROSS THE STREET ON THE OTHER SIDE, WHICH WE SOLD RECENTLY TOO.
AND THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING A KIND OF A MINISTRY THERE TOO, TRYING TO HELP, UH, HIGH SCHOOL KIDS AND, AND, AND TEENAGERS AND SOME, SOME YOUNG ADULTS WITH, WITH, YOU KNOW, COPING SCHOOLS.
HOW TO, HOW TO LIVE IS WHAT THEY'RE GONNA TEACH 'EM THERE IN SOME OF THOSE HOUSES.
THERE IS WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO AND CLEANING IT UP, TRYING TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR THE COMMUNITY.
WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW ACROSS THE STREET WHEN IT COMES.
AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I, I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS TO THE, THE BUILDING CODE IN WHICH HE ORIGINALLY TOLD ME I HAD TO TEAR HIM UP WITH, HE COULDN'T FIND A REASON FOR ME TO TEAR HIM UP.
SO HE WENT TO A 2018 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, WHICH HE'S HIGHLIGHTED ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.
AND THE ONLY THING HE COULD COME UP WITH IS A PORTION THEREOF AS AN AT ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE OR A HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC.
SO IT EITHER IT'S EITHER UGLY OR IT'S A, OR OR IT'S DANGEROUS AND IT'S NOT DANGEROUS.
IT'S STEPS THEY'VE BEEN THERE AND, AND IF IT'S UGLY, THEY'VE BEEN THERE 83 YEARS.
AND, AND THE STRUCTURE THAT YOU WOULD SEE ARE GONE NOW.
THEY'RE NOT, YOU CAN BARELY SEE 'EM.
YOU HAVE TO BE LOOKING FOR 'EM.
AND PLUS THEY'RE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
AND I HAD THE, HE, HE TOLD ME IT'S OKAY TO PICK 'EM UP AND MOVE THEM AND PUT 'EM ON THE PROPERTY NEXT DOOR BECAUSE IT MAKES IT LEGAL.
IF I HADN'T HAVE TORN THE DWELLING DOWN, BUT THE DWELLING NEEDED TO GO, MY DAD WAS THE KING OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE.
HE WOULD'VE TOLD YOU THAT HAD HE STILL BEEN HERE, BUT HE'S NOT.
HAVING SAID THAT, MAN, I, I'M HERE BECAUSE I, I, I TRULY WISH TO BUILD HERE AGAIN.
AND WE'RE TRYING, AND I'M TRYING TO, I'M DOING THIS ALSO FOR THE TEXACO GUY.
'CAUSE THEY GOT A BAD TASTE IN THEIR MOUTH TOO.
YOU KNOW, THEY GOT SOME STUFF IN FRONT OF THEIR PLACE, WHICH I KNOW IT'S TEXDOT, THAT THEY'VE GOT PERMITS PULLED ON, BUT THEY'VE GOT AN OPEN HOLE ON THE, ON THE DRY, ON THE SIDEWALK OUT THERE WITH THE ORANGE MESH FENCE AROUND IT.
IT'S BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST A YEAR NOW.
A WIDER, THEY DON'T, NOBODY SEEMS TO GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THAT, OR DARN PARDON THE LANGUAGE.
AND, AND, AND, UH, I, I'M JUST HERE BECAUSE I JUST, I'M REALLY FOR ONE, WE DON'T WANNA SPEND THE TWO OR THREE GRAND TO MOVE HIM TO MAKE IT WORSE.
'CAUSE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO, NOW HE TOLD ME TONIGHT THAT I HAD TO ELIMINATE 'EM, WHICH SOUNDS, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT, WHY I WOULD'VE TO ELIMINATE 'EM.
THEY'RE CA THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM.
AND UH, WHEN THE TIME COMES AND WE GO TO USE 'EM, IF SOMETHING DON'T FIT RIGHT, THEN WE'LL ELIMINATE 'EM THEN, I GUESS.
BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THEY, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, YES SIR.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY MR. BLACK, SIR, YOU'RE, YEAH.
HEY, I HAVE, I'LL GET YOUR CELL PHONE NUMBER THAT'S I'LL CALL YOU GUYS.
WE HAVE CONVERSATION, BUT THAT'S WHY I'M HERE MAN.
I JUST DON'T WANT TO, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO OR GET OVER ON ANYBODY.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO DO ANY OF THAT.
WE'RE JUST TRYING NOT TO SPEND MONEY THAT'S UNNECESSARY TO DO SOMETHING THAT I DON'T SEE IT TO BE UN SILENTLY AND OR DANGEROUS.
MATTER OF FACT, IT'S BEEN THERE 83 YEARS.
HOW CAN IT BE UNSIGHTLY NOW, NOW THERE IS SOME UNSIGHTLY STUFF IN DICKINSON.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO CLEAN IT UP TOO, SO LET LET US KNOW.
UH, AND THANK YOU SIR FOR THAT, UH, UH, MR. GARLAND COPELAND START.
MY NAME'S GARLAND COPELAND, UH, 37 17 KILNER DICKINSON.
I GOT A COUPLE THINGS I'D LIKE TO MENTION TONIGHT.
UH, FIRST IS, UH, I ASSUME THAT, UH, EACH AND ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE ANY KIND OF CONTACT WITH THE STATE DOT OR ANY OF THEIR PEOPLE, YOU ALWAYS MENTION THE PROBLEM ON FIVE 17.
SECOND ITEM, UM, WE'RE APPROACHING ONE OF THE MAGIC DATES IN THE UDC UNIFORM DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH IS AUGUST THE, UH, 14TH, WHICH IS THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW.
AND THAT'S THE DATE THAT ALL OF THE, UH, NON-CON FLYING PROPERTIES WILL HAVE TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED OR REGISTERED WITH THE CITY.
AND APPARENTLY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE TO THE ADMINISTRATOR.
I'VE GOT KNOW SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND, AND THEY WERE KIND OF GIVEN THE BRUSH OFF.
SO MY QUESTION IS, UH, WHO'S IN CHARGE OF MAINTAINING THE REGISTER FOR THE NON-CON CONFORMING, UH, PROPERTY THAT'S
[00:25:01]
GOING TO BE A PERMANENT RECORD.AND DOWN THE ROAD IF SOMEBODY HAS A PROBLEM, IT SHIFTS THE BURDEN OF PROOF OF PROVING THAT IT'S OKAY.
THAT IT'S THE WAY THE LANGUAGE SHIFTS THAT OVER TO THE, UH, HOMEOWNER OR THE PROPERTY OWNER.
SO, UM, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THERE'S BETTER COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO THAT SO THAT PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE A PROBLEM KNOW THAT THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING NOW IF THIS STAYS INTO EFFECT.
MR. COPELAND, I DO NOT KNOW OF ANYBODY THAT HAS REACHED OUT TO ME WITH, UH, NONCONFORMING UH, ISSUES.
UH, I KNOW THIS DEADLINE'S COMING UP.
WE DO, UH, WE ARE GONNA MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE P AND C TO DO AWAY WITH THAT DEADLINE WITH THAT, THAT TIMELINE.
UH, SO THAT'S ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE UDC THAT I'VE SPOKEN ABOUT.
SO, UH, IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEBODY WHO HAS AN ISSUE, PLEASE GIVE IT TO ME, MR. MAG ANGELINO, AND WE'LL CONTACT THEM.
WELL, THE, UM, I'M NOT, I'M NOT, DO YOU MIND, DO YOU MIND IF I MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS SIR? EXCLUSIVELY, I I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT WITH THAT DATE ALSO, THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME FORM OF ENFORCEMENT AND THE CITY IS NOT TAKING A STANCE OF ENFORCEMENT ON THAT DATE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO PUSH THAT DATE TO THE RIGHT.
THAT DATE WAS QUITE AMBITIOUS WHEN THEY CREATED THE UDC.
AND I SAY THEY BECAUSE, UM, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IT.
SO THERE IS NOT GONNA BE ANY ENFORCEMENT ACTION TAKEN ON THAT DATE AND THAT DEADLINE.
AND YOU WILL HEAR MORE IN THE FUTURE.
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT BOTHERS ME IS IT SHIFTS THE BURDEN.
AND THAT'S KINDA LIKE IF YOU'VE EVER DEALT WITH THE IRS, YOU KNOW THAT, UH, WHAT SHIFTING THE BURDEN MEANS YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT YOU'RE RIGHT.
UM, AND SO WE HAVE UH, A COUPLE INDIVIDUALS FOR UM, SPECIFIC AGENDA ITEMS. SO I'VE ALREADY NOTED IT SO I WON'T FORGET THIS TIME.
[5. CONSENT AGENDA]
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION.THERE WILL NOT BE A SEPARATE DISCUSSION ON THESE ITEMS UNLESS A COUNCIL MEMBER REQUEST.
IN WHICH EVENT THE ITEM WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA AND DISCUSSED AFTER THE CONSENT AGENDA.
ALL RIGHT, SO, UM, SO THEN I JUST GOTTA READ YOU ALL OF THEM.
NOW WE HAVE TO DO A MOTION ON ALL OF THEM NOW.
SINCE C HAS BEEN PULLED, YOU WOULD NOT DO ONE MOTION FOR A AND B.
ALRIGHT, WELL THEN DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR THE CONSENT? WE TO APPROVE A AND B.
ALRIGHT, GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE A AND B.
UH, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION PASSED ALL.
[5.C ORDINANCE NO. XXX-2025 - Consideration and possible action to approve an ordinance to amend the official zoning map from MIXED-USE (MU) zoning district to AUTO-CENTRIC COMMERCIAL (AC) on approximately 8.813 acres of property located at three registered addresses (3401 Gulf Fwy, 3429 Gulf Fwy, 3535 Gulf Fwy) with a total of four registered parcel ID's (163214, 163340, 163366, 163371) (2nd Reading)]
FIVE C.UH, CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP FROM MIXED USE ZONING DISTRICT TO AUTOCENTRIC COMMERCIAL ON APPROXIMATELY 8.813 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT THREE REGISTERED ADDRESSES.
3 4 0 1 GULF FREEWAY, 3 4 2 9 GULF FREEWAY.
THREE FIVE GULF FREE WITH A TOTAL OF FOUR REGISTERED PARCELS IDS.
I GOT A, WE GOT A, GOT A QUESTION.
UH, I DON'T THINK WE ASKED THIS THE LAST, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS ASKED AT THE LAST MEETING.
I UNDERSTAND WHY HE NEEDS TO HAVE IT REZONED, BUT CONSIDERING, I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IT'S GRANDFATHERED.
SO HE CAN'T PUT ANY NEW TENANTS IN WITHOUT THIS.
UH, THERE WAS CERTAIN TENANTS THAT, UH, THAT HE COULD NOT PUT IN.
BUT SINCE IT WAS ALREADY A NON-CONFORMING UNDER THE NEW ONE AND IT'S GRANDFATHERED TO STAY WHAT IT IS, HE COULDN'T PUT 'EM IN THEM EMPTY BUILDING THEM EMPTY SPOTS ANYWAY.
SO THE EMPTY ONES, THEY WOULD NOT, UH, QUALIFY FOR THE NON-CONFORMING.
THEY WOULD'VE HAD TO HAVE A USE WITHIN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
SO THE GRANDFATHER WOULDN'T WORK ON THOSE, RIGHT? NOT FOR THE EMPTY ONES.
WE'RE REFERRING TO DOES ANY UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ALRIGHT.
[00:30:01]
AYE.[6.A Presentation and discussion concerning the FY2025-2026 Budget for the City of Dickinson.]
BUSINESS SIX A PRESENTATION.DISCUSS DISCUSSION CONCERNING THE FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO 2026 BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF DICKINSON.
SO IT IS MY HONOR TO PRESENT A PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET AND A PLAN OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1 25, ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 26TH.
THIS BUDGET REFLECTS OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES THAT EACH OF YOU, OUR COUNCILMEN HAVE REQUESTED AND IT DIRECTLY RESPONDS TO THE PRIORITIES EXPRESSED BY THIS COUNCIL, MAINTAINING THE CURRENT TAX RATE, PRESERVING DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE LEVELS, REDUCING WASTE, AND ACHIEVING A BALANCED BUDGET.
KEY PRIORITIES IN THIS 25 26 BUDGET, MAINTAINING THE CURRENT PROPERTY TAX RATE, STRENGTHENING THE FUND BALANCE, ENHANCING EFFICIENCY AND REDUCING WASTE.
WE'VE IDENTIFIED INEFFICIENCIES IN OUR ELIMINATING REDUNDANCIES ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.
AS I SPOKE TO EARLIER, WE'RE LAUNCHING AN ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO REDUCE ELECTRICAL WASTE AND LOWER OUR UTILITY COST.
AS DISCUSSED PRIOR, IF I'M GOING TO PREACH ABOUT BEING EFFICIENT IN OPERATIONS, WE BETTER BE EFFICIENT IN ENERGY AND OUR WATER USAGE FOR OUR CITY.
WE HAVE REPOSITIONED AND RESTRUCTURED OUR STAFF TO BETTER REFLECT SERVICE DEMANDS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION TO SAVE MONEY.
AND WE ARE DOING MORE WITH LESS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.
INVESTING IN THE DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, FLOOD MITIGATION REMAINS A PRIORITY.
THIS BUDGET ALLOCATES SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO IMPROVE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AND REDUCE FLOOD RISK THROUGH PROJECTS ACCOUNTING FOR LOCAL MATCHES, NOT PREVIOUSLY ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
REVITALIZING NEIGHBORHOODS AND ADDRESSING BLIGHT.
WE'VE INCREASED FUNDING FOR DI DEMOLITIONS BY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT DEMOLITIONS PROPERTY CLEANUP REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS.
THESE INVESTMENTS WILL HELP RESTORE PRIDE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL ENHANCING EMERGENCY OPERATIONS.
WE'RE MAKING A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTMENT IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AND EMERGENCY RESPONSES THROUGHOUT.
CAPTAIN ROBERT ROBBINS HAS BEEN APPOINTED THE INTERIM EMS DIRECTOR TO LEAD OUR ORGANIZATIONAL RESTRUCTURE.
WE'RE ALIGNING THE COMPENSATION WITH OUR NEIGHBORING AGENCIES.
WE'VE INCREASED TRAINING, PERFORMANCE MONITORING.
WE'VE ALSO INCREASED FUNDING FOR THE DICKSON VOLUNTEER FIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT BY A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.
INCREASED OUR PD BUDGET BY $800,000 FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR, PROVIDING A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR EMPLOYEES TO SUPPORT OUR DEDICATED EMPLOYEES.
THIS BUDGET INCLUDES A 6% COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT THAT'S BUILT IN.
THIS REFLECTS OUR COMMITMENT TO RETAINING TALENT AND ENSURING FAIR COMPENSATION AND LIGHT OF RISING COST OF LIVING.
PROPER USE OF THE STREET MAINTENANCE SALES TAX IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW.
THIS TAX NEEDS TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY, EXCLUSIVELY ON EXISTING STREET REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE TO REDUCE THE RELIANCE ON GENERAL PUBLIC WORK STREETS AND DRAINAGE OPERATIONS.
WE ARE STRATEGICALLY UTILIZING THE DMD AS A SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING SOURCE.
WE HAVE TRANSFERRED ITEMS THAT CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW AS COMMUNICATIONS, UTILITIES, LANDFILL, DEBRIS REMOVAL OUT OF THE STREET MAINTENANCE FUND.
SO WE HAVE ALREADY TAKEN INITIATIVE TO GET IT OUT.
HOWEVER, THIS TRANSITION WILL BE GRADUAL AND CAREFULLY PLANNED OVER MULTIPLE BUDGET CYCLES.
THIS WILL NOT OCCUR OVERNIGHT, BUT WE ARE TAKING THE STEPS FORWARD TO UTILIZING THIS TAX CORRECTLY AND IMPROVING OUR EXISTING STREETS.
JUST A REMINDER, WE HAVE AROUND 105 MILES OF STREETS, CONCRETE AND ASPHALT IN OUR CITY.
ACCORDING TO A 2022 CONDITION ASSESSMENT, IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $192 MILLION TO IMPROVE ALL THESE ROADS.
84 MILLION FOR THE WORST STREETS IN OUR CITY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT WAS A NUMBER FROM 2022.
SO IT'S 2025 NOW WITH INFLATION THAT NUMBER'S EVEN HIGHER.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S SERIOUS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT HOW TO INVEST IN THE STREETS GOING FORWARD IN OUR FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY PROPERTY TAXES.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING OUR PROPERTY TAX RATE A LITTLE LATER THIS EVENING.
WE WILL NEED TO PROPOSE A TAX RATE SO WE CAN SEND TO MRS. CHERYL JOHNSON'S OFFICE.
THIS PER, THIS IS A PROPOSED TAX RATE
'CAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS APPROVE A LOWER RATE.
I RECOMMEND WE KEEP THE PROPERTY TAX RATE THE SAME, BUT THAT IS, THAT IS Y'ALL'S CALL.
[00:35:02]
SO AGAIN, AN OVERVIEW.THIS BUDGET HAS A 6% COLA BUILT INTO ITS BUDGET.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE GIVE OUR CIVILIAN STAFF, INCLUDING OUR TELECOMMUNICATORS, OUR DISPATCH COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS.
IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE THE STAFF HAVE BEEN HAVE RECEIVED A RAISE.
WE HAVE A TOTAL OF $995,000 OF CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PURCHASES REQUESTED FROM THE D AND D BUILT INTO THIS BUDGET.
CITYWIDE SERVICES, I HAVE INCREASED THE FUNDING FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BY A HUNDRED THOUSAND.
AS I SPOKE TO EARLIER, IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OUR FIREFIGHTERS.
THEY PROVIDE CRITICAL FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I'M PROUD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.
CHIEF MORGAN, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, OUR COUNCILMAN.
UH, WE HAVE TRANSFERRED $338,000 INTO OUR DISASTER CONTINGENCY FUND.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, SARAH.
WE CAN ADD UP TO 2% EACH YEAR, BUT WE SHALL NOT EXCEED 7% OF THE TOTAL ANNUAL BUDGET.
THIS FUND CAN BE CARRIED OVER FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
CITY COUNCIL MUST APPROVE ALL THE EXPENDITURES.
THIS FUND IS IN THE EVENT OF A, UH, DISASTER DECLARED BY THE MAYOR.
AS I STATED EARLIER, THE GOAL OF MINE IS TO RELIEVE THE BURDEN OF THE STREET MAINTENANCE FUND.
WE HAVE TO UTILIZE THIS CORRECTLY.
I HAVE TRANSFERRED ITEMS OUT OF IT THAT DO NOT HAVE ANY, ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE STREETS.
AGAIN, MY GOAL IS TO DO MORE WITH LESS BEING EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT IN OPERATIONS IN OUR ENERGY USE USAGE FOR THE CITY.
ULTIMATELY SAVING ALL OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.
I AM DEMANDING A LOT OF OUR STAFF MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
WE HAVE LOYAL AND DEDICATED STAFF MEMBERS WHO GENUINELY CARE ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY AND I'M PROUD OF THEM.
ULTIMATELY, MY GOAL WAS TO LOWER THE FI THIS FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET AS COMPARED TO THE PRIOR YEAR'S BUDGET OF 24 25.
FOR EXAMPLE, I REDUCED THE ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT REQUEST BY $480,000 FROM PREVIOUS YEAR'S REQUEST.
IF YOU CAN SEE THE SPREADSHEET FOR REFERENCE, IT SHOULD BE IN YOUR, OKAY, THIS YEAR'S REQUEST FY 25 26 IS $188,000 LESS THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR OF 24 25.
AND THAT INCLUDES A 6% COLA INCREASE FOR OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
THAT'S HOW MUCH WAS CUT OUT OF IT.
I HAVE ALSO ASKED OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR, DR. PAUL FINE, WHO IS A RESIDENT OF DICKINSON TO ATTEND THIS EVENING.
SO WE CAN INTRODUCE HIM TO THE COMMUNITY AND HE CAN GIVE REMARKS ON THE EMS DEPARTMENT.
MR. FINE, YOU CAN COME TAKE A SEAT BY MR. MAGNO IF YOU LIKE.
JUST WANNA INTRODUCE YOU, SIR.
AGAIN, THIS BUDGET IS MORE THAN A FINANCIAL DOCUMENT.
IT'S A REFLECTION OF OUR SHARED VALUES AND VISION FOR THE CITY OF DICKINSON.
WITH CONTINUED SUPPORT OF COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY, I'M CONFIDENT WE CAN MAKE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ON THESE PRIORITIES AND BUILD A PROUD, RESILIENT CITY FOR ALL.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT THIS BUDGET IN A WAY THAT SERVES EVERY RESIDENT OF DICKINSON.
I'M NOW GONNA ASK MS. CLARK TO REVIEW OUR BUDGET SCHEDULE FOR THE FOLLOWING MONTH TO ENSURE WE STAY ON TRACK WITH THE BUDGET AND THEN WE CAN GO INTO DISCUSSION FROM THERE.
MS. CLARK, UM, IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER LAST YEAR, WE RAN INTO A TIME CRUNCH TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.
SO WE DON'T WANNA HAVE THAT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
UM, SO TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO PROPOSE A NEW TAX RATE.
UM, AUGUST 26TH WILL BE THE BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING, UM, FIRST READING OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE, UM, SEPTEMBER 9TH, THE TAX RATE PUBLIC HEARING, SECOND READING OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCE, UM, RATIFICATION TO VOTE TO ADOPT THE BUDGET AND ADOPT THE TAX RATES.
THERE IS SOME ROOM, UM, IF WE NEED TO HAVE MORE BUDGET WORKSHOPS OR IF WE NEED TO PUSH SOMETHING OFF.
BUT THIS, AS OF RIGHT NOW, THIS IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO FOLLOW SO WE CAN HAVE THE BUDGET APPROVED BY SEPTEMBER 9TH.
AND UH, I'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN IT UP TO ANY COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HAS, UH, QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT, UH, AFTER, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE ALL HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW IT.
MS. CLARK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPEAK TO THE PROPOSED TAX RATE AS WELL? UM, SURE.
SO THE PROPOSED TAX RATE, IT IS THE SAME.
UM, YOU GUYS ALL GOT AN EMAIL WITH ALL OF THE DOCUMENTATION FROM CHERYL JOHNSON'S OFFICE.
AS LONG AS MY, AS WELL AS MY SPREADSHEET, UM, ANALYZING IF WE KEPT THE CURRENT TAX RATE INCREASED IT 1 CENT.
UM, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT.
[00:40:01]
AND UM, SO I GUESS I'LL START, IT WANTS TO, SO I KNOW I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH UH, UM, OUR CITY MANAGER, UH, GOING OVER THIS QUITE A BIT.THINGS THAT I WANNA SEE, UM, THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO CUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
UM, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT I LOOKED IN THE BUDGET IS, UM, NECESSITY VERSUS WANT, UH, AKA TRAVELING.
IF IT IS NOT A COMPLETE REQUIREMENT FOR US TO DO, TO DO A CERTIFICATION, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE TRAVELING AT ALL.
UM, WE SHOULD NOT BE PAYING FOR ANY TYPE OF TRAVEL UNLESS IT IS A REQUIREMENT.
THAT'S MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION ON IT.
UM, BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER SPEND THAT MONEY ON TRAINING SOMEONE HERE AS IN LIKE MY POLICE OFFICERS.
UM, THEY'RE TRAINING BUDGET HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY SCALPED FOR THE LAST PROBABLY FIVE YEARS MM-HMM
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE FOCUS ON WHAT'S NEED, WHAT NEEDS ARE AND WHAT ONCE ARE.
AND SEPARATE THE TWO BECAUSE LUXURY ITEMS DON'T EXIST WHEN WE'RE IN A BUDGET CRUNCH, RIGHT? SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO VEGAS FOR AN EDC CONFERENCE.
WE'RE NOT GOING LIKE, WE DON'T NEED TO SEND 10 PEOPLE TO MM-HMM
UH, YOU KNOW, A CONFERENCE IN DALLAS LIKE THAT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
UM, NOW IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN BENEFIT FROM, FOR INSTANCE, OUR FIRE MARSHAL HAS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS MM-HMM
CERTAIN SHE CAN PROVIDE A BETTER LEVEL OF SERVICE IF SHE GETS TRAINING.
THAT IS SOMETHING I'M ALL FOR, RIGHT? YES SIR.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IF WE'RE DOING ANY TYPE OF TRAINING OR TRAVELING, IT'S FOR A SPECIFIC TRAINING EVENT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE.
AND LIKE I SAID, THAT'S EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAVE BASICALLY CUT DOWN TO THE BARE BONES.
LIKE YOU, Y'ALL HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
SO, UM, THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT MORE THAT I HAD TO SAY ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'LL GET INTO EACH INDIVIDUAL, YOU KNOW, LATER ON, BUT YES SIR.
YEAH, NO, WE'VE WENT THROUGH MOST OF THE CONFERENCES.
I'VE CUT OUT THREE OR FOUR CONFERENCES MM-HMM
THAT PREVIOUSLY FOLKS WOULD GO TO.
UH, THERE ARE REQUIREMENTS, AS YOU SAID FOR CITY ATTORNEY FOR CERTAIN, UH, UH, DEPARTMENT HEADS TO GO FOR THEIR CONTINUING EDUCA MM-HMM.
SO, UH, I, THAT'S WHY I'M VERY CAREFUL AS TO CER CUTS CERTAIN, UH, YOU KNOW, TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL, UH, I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO TO CERTAIN CONFERENCES TO HAVE A PRESENCE FOR OUR, YOU KNOW, TO, TO ESTABLISH THESE RELATIONSHIPS.
OBVIOUSLY, BUT NO, I AGREE WITH YOU.
WE HAVE CUT OUT FROM THE PREVIOUS BUDGET THAT WE SENT TO YOU LAST MONTH, WE'VE ALREADY CUT OUT AROUND 20 GRAND YEP.
SO, UH, YEAH, WE'RE STILL DIGGING INTO IT NOW AND, UH, WE CAN SEE WHAT ELSE WE CAN COME UP WITH.
WELL, AND THAT'S, I THINK EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA RUN THIS LIKE A BUSINESS AND BUSINESSES DON'T LEAVE ANY, ANY DOLLARS UP.
I DON'T CARE HOW BIG OR SMALL IT IS AND WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT.
SO IF Y'ALL FIND LITERALLY ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO CUT, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S 10 CENTS, $10 OR $10,000, IT, IT, IT, IT STARTS TO SNOWBALL.
SO THIS IS HOW, LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S GONNA TAKE A FEW YEARS, BUT WE'RE GONNA GET THERE.
WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY UH, OUTTA LUCK YET.
ANY OTHER, UH, COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, FOR WHAT WE SEE UP TO THIS POINT UNDER THE VEHICLE ACQUISITION? YES, SIR.
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS GETTING FOUR, CORRECT? CORRECT.
IT GIVES 'EM THE FOUR VEHICLES HE ASKED FOR, CORRECT? YES SIR.
AND THAT IS, IT'S SHOWN IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET TECHNICALLY CAPITAL EXPENSES, CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
AND THAT IS, WE HAVE THAT IN DMDS CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.
SO THOSE EXPENDITURES WOULD BE PULLED OUT TECHNICALLY CORRECT SIR? YES.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING GO TO THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND.
UM, AND THE DMD REVENUE WILL GO THERE AS WELL.
IT'S PART OF THAT 995,000 THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER.
SO THE, UM, AND I KNOW THIS MIGHT KIND OF BE PUTTING YOU ON THE SPOT AND I DON'T, WE DON'T, DON'T NEED AN ANSWER RIGHT THIS SECOND, BUT HAVE WE DONE THIS WAS BASICALLY ON EQUIPMENT, RIGHT? SO Y'ALL TALKED ABOUT TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED ANYMORE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT LIQUIDATING THAT COULD, WE COULD LITERALLY DUMP THAT MONEY RIGHT INTO THE GENERAL FUND BALANCE.
IS THI THIS BUDGET DOES NOT HAVE ANY OF THAT ALLOCATED IN THERE.
'CAUSE MY BIG THING IS HAVE WE DONE AN ANALYSIS OF ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT THAT WE CAN LIQUIDATE BECAUSE NO SIR.
LET, LET, LET'S, LET'S START A DANG FIRE SALE IN MY OPINION.
LIKE IF WE DON'T NEED IT, GET RID OF IT.
UM, IT'S JUST MORE MAINTENANCE.
SO YEAH, THAT, WHEN Y'ALL TOLD ME ABOUT THAT EARLIER TODAY, THAT WAS AMAZING.
SO MS. CLARK, I'VE GOT A QUESTION, UH, ON FRANCHISE FEES.
I SEE WHERE VERIZON IS LISTED HERE, BUT I DON'T SEE FRONTIER.
DO THEY NOT PAY A FRANCHISE FEE? THEY DO NOT.
HOW DID THEY GET EXEMPT FROM IT? LET ME SEE.
I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I'LL HAVE TO GO IN HERE.
WE DO GET ONE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.
I REMEMBER GETTING A $40,000 CHECK FROM THEM LAST YEAR, SO THEY SHOULD BE IN THERE UNLESS IT SLIPS IT SOMEWHERE ELSE.
[00:45:05]
BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE COMCAST IS UH, OKAY.I WAS GONNA SAY, I'M THINKING THAT THEY OUGHT TO BE AT LEAST HALF THAT.
WHO'S THAT? FRONTIER? FRONTIER.
SO THAT NEXT QUESTION AND UH, WHICH THING WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IS THE MOBILE HOME PARK LICENSE THAT GOT ELIMINATED.
WE NEED TO INSTITUTE THAT AGAIN.
PUT IT BACK IN THERE IF I'M NOT A MISTAKEN.
THAT WAS A PART OF THE UDC RIGHT? TRAVIS? CORRECT? YES, CORRECT.
THAT CAN BE PART OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS.
IF WE WANNA IMPLEMENT THAT, WE CAN IN SOME FORM.
I'D LIKE TO DO IT AS SOON AS WE CAN.
AND THEN, UM, LET'S SEE, ONE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, I KNOW WE HAVE SOME SPOTS OPEN, RIGHT? SOME, UH, UH, PERSONNEL TO FIT POTENTIALLY FILL IN THE FUTURE.
DOES THIS HAVE OUR CURRENT STAFF OR DOES THIS THIS HAVE TO ADD ANY? SO LIKE I KNOW I WAS AT, UM, UH, BAYOU ANIMAL SERVICES, UH, MY DAUGHTER MADE ME GO WALK DOGS, WHICH BY THE WAY, THAT'S A GREAT PROGRAM.
GO PLAY WITH THE DOGS, THEY'RE FANTASTIC.
UM, BUT UM, I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A COUPLE PEOPLE SHORT.
IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S BUDGETED FOR STAFF OR IS IT OUR CURRENT STAFF? DO WE HAVE ANY ROOM? NO, SIR.
WHAT'S THAT? SO THERE'S FTE PAGES ON.
OKAY, SO THE FT THAT'S SO ALL OF THE F ARE ACCOUNTED FOR.
WE USE POSITION BUDGETING FOR THE FIRST TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY POSITION FOR THAT WE AS REQUESTED IS ACCOUNTED FOR.
SO, AND THEN IF WE DON'T FULFILL THOSE ROLES, THAT'S ALL JUST POSITIVE, CORRECT? RIGHT.
THAT'S JUST MONEY WE GET TO HOLD BACK.
I REMEMBER WHAT THE OTHER ONE IS.
IS THE FOOD TRUCK PERMIT LISTED UNDER PEDALER OR VENDOR PERMITS OR IS IT NOT INCLUDED IN HERE? ARE, ARE WE COLLECTING FOR THE FOOD TRUCKS? I KNOW WE DO NOT HAVE AN ACCOUNT NAMED FOOD TRUCK PERMITS, SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE, WHAT JAIL ACCOUNT IT'S SET UP IN AND MYGOV.
I DON'T KNOW THAT TRAVIS CAN TELL THAT OFF THE BAT EITHER, BUT
SO I'LL HAVE THAT NEXT MEETING.
SO I DO KNOW ONE THING THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT PREVIOUSLY IS A LOT OF THESE FOOD TRUCKS, THEY'RE NOT PAYING SALES TAX, OBVIOUSLY YOU PAY CASH, YOU JUST GET A, IF WE FORCE THEM TO GO THROUGH THE MERCHANT THROUGH THE GAS STATION TO GO THROUGH THEIR MERCHANT CODE, THEY WILL PAY SALES TAX IN LAMAR.
PREVIOUSLY BEFORE I CAME HERE, WE FORCED ALL THESE SALES TRACK THE, THE FOOD TRUCKS TO GO THROUGH THE GAS STATIONS SO WE CAN, UH, ENSURE THAT THEY'RE PAYING SALES TAX AND UH, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD PROBABLY, UH, LOOK TO, TO DO HERE.
I DON'T KNOW TRAVIS, HAVE YOU, WE SPOKE ABOUT THAT PREVIOUSLY, BUT THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO AND I, I I CAN'T, YEAH, I, I RECALL THAT CONVERSATION.
I, WE TALKED MULTIPLE TIMES KIND OF THAT WE NEED TO REVAMP OUR FOOD TRUCK ORDINANCE, UH, FOR CURRENT TIMES.
THEY SKATE BY WITHOUT, I MEAN THAT, THAT HAPPENS ALL OVER COUNCILMAN AND IT'S A, IT'S AN ISSUE FOR SURE, BUT IF WE CAN GET THEM THROUGH OUR ORDINANCES TO FORCE THEM TO GO THROUGH THE MERCHANTS IN THE GAS STATIONS, WE CAN COLLECT.
SO, SO IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE BRICK AND MORTAR PEOPLE NO, NOT AT ALL.
I GUESS I GOT A, I GOT A FOLLOW UP QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
AND YOU'RE SAYING THAT LAMAR, WHAT WOULD DO IS LIKE IF SOMEBODY PARKS A PAR A FOOD TRUCK AT THE SHELL YES SIR.
LIKE RIGHT OFF OF CORRECT HIGHWAY THREE AND FIVE 17, YOU WOULD MAKE THEM HAVE TO PAY FOR IT IN THE GAS STATION? YES, SIR.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE OWNER OF THE FOOD TRUCK IS SEPARATE FROM THE OWNER OF THE GAS STATION AND THEY'RE JUST LEASING THE SPACE? CORRECT.
THEY HAVE TO COME UP TO SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT.
LITERALLY, UH, WE'VE, WE LITERALLY, I LITERALLY WORKED ON THAT BEFORE WE, BEFORE I CAME BACK HOME TO WORK AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE, AND IT, AND IT HELPED WE EVEN, UH, TESTED MANY OF THEM TO SEE IF THEY WERE TRULY, UH, FOLLOWING THE RULES.
SO, UH, YEAH, THEY WOULD'VE, WE HAVE TO WORK OUT SOME TYPE OF AGREEMENT THROUGH THEIR, UH, THROUGH THE COMPENSATION, THE REVENUE THAT'S GENERATED WITH THE BUSINESS OWNER IF THEY ARE SEPARATE, IF THEY DON'T OWN THAT FOOD TRUCK.
[00:50:02]
MR. CAREY? YES SIR.WHEN, WHEN THE FOOD TRUCK GOES AND GETS A PERMIT TO SET UP OPERATION, DO THEY NOT PROVIDE A COPY OF A SALES TAX CERTIFICATE ALLOWING THEM TO, OR LICENSING OR PERMITTING THEM TO COLLECT SALES STACK? TRAVIS, THAT WAS A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, THAT'S A GOOD, GOOD QUESTION.
COUNCILMAN MONDS ALWAYS ASK GOOD QUESTIONS,
SO YEAH, THEY ARE, THE TAX CERTIFICATE IS INCLUDED IN THE PERMIT APPLICATION.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A CONCERN OF MINE THAT THE FOOD TRUCK VENDOR DOESN'T MM-HMM
AS MUCH AS THE BRICK AND MORTAR AND IT IS UNFAIR TO THE BRICK AND MORTAR STRUCTURE.
AGREE TO CIRCLE BACK ON MR. SCHICK'S QUESTION ABOUT VERIZON.
THAT IS UNDER, UM, FRONTIER IS UNDER VERIZON.
IT'S THE MAJORITY OF THAT ACCOUNT.
THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCOUNT.
2 0 7 IS VERIZON AND MOST OF IT WAS FRONTIER.
OH, IT'S FRONTIER'S UNDER VERIZON.
SO IS THAT POSSIBLE TO JUST KIND OF SPLIT THOSE TWO APART, LIKE THE VERIZON AND THE FRONTIER? JUST, WELL, IT REALLY SHOULD JUST BE NAMED TELECOMMUNICATIONS.
EITHER WAY, JUST TO KIND OF, SO YEAH, I, I WILL PROB I'LL TAKE VERIZON OFF.
'CAUSE IT SAYS VERIZON AND TELECOM GOT IT.
AND THEN, UM, I KNOW, UH, YOU DID, Y'ALL DID A PRETTY THOROUGH STUDY ON EMS. UM, IS THERE GO, IS THIS BUDGET FOCUSED ON THOSE SAVINGS OR IS THIS NET NOT TOUCH THAT EVEN YET? RIGHT.
SO MR. MR. OR IS THERE ANY SAVINGS THAT WE CAN DO WITH THAT EVALUATION YOU MADE? IT'S NOT VERY REFLECTIVE OKAY.
I WISH I COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND HAVE PROVIDED THAT ASSESSMENT TWO MONTHS EARLIER AND WE'D BE SITTING IN A PRETTIER PLACE RIGHT NOW.
SO, MR. MAGNO, WHY DON'T WE START OVER AND TELL EVERYBODY WHAT WE'RE REFERRING TO? YEAH, YEAH.
SO THAT, THAT'S WHAT I WAS KIND OF GIVING YOU A HEADS UP, LIKE A KIND OF A, Y'ALL CAN EXPLAIN WHAT WHAT HAPPENED.
SO, UM, WE, WE BASICALLY GOT DMD TO FUND $7,500 FOR US TO PAY FOR A THIRD PARTY NON-OBJECTIVE PROFESSIONAL TO GIVE US AN A TO Z ASSESSMENT OF OUR EMS STRUCTURE.
THAT'S FROM HIRING, ONBOARDING, TRAINING, OPERATIONS, REVENUE SERVICES, ALL OF IT LEADERSHIP TOOK THAT REPORT AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.
SOME OF THAT STUFF HAS ALREADY BEEN ACTIONABLE.
UM, WITH RESPECT TO SOME THE LEADERSHIP, UM, AS YOU KNOW, MR. HUNT IS RETIRED.
HE'S ON VACATION NOW, BUT HE'LL BE RETIRING SOON.
UM, WE HAVE LEARNED SOME THINGS THAT WE, THAT I WISH THAT WE HAD KNOWN LAST BUDGET YEAR, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL TRUE COST OF AN AMBULANCE SERVICE TO RUN A SECOND AMBULANCE.
THERE WAS A MISNOMER THAT PERHAPS WE COULD RUN A SECOND AMBULANCE AND SAVE IN MUTUAL AID COSTS AND THAT IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL.
A SE AN AMBULANCE COSTS US SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 1.1 AND $1.3 MILLION TO OPERATE, TO INCLUDE THE PERSONNEL AND EVERYTHING IN IT.
SO TO RUN A SECOND AMBULANCE, YOU JUST MULTIPLY THAT BY TWO TWO, IT'S FAR CHEAPER FOR US TO KEEP PAYING OUR MUTUAL AID COSTS.
SO ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE TO CONTINUE THE STATUS QUO THAT WE HAVE NOW, WHICH IS ONE AMBULANCE AND STAFF A SECOND ONE WHEN WE CAN, PERHAPS A SECOND SHIFT OF PART-TIME EMPLOYEES THAT'S MORE RIGID DURING OUR PEAK HOURS MAY ACTUALLY HELP REDUCE SOME COSTS, BUT THE COST OF MUTUAL AID IS ABSOLUTELY CHEAPER THAN THE COST OF RUNNING A SECOND AMBULANCE.
UM, WE ARE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF RESTRUCTURING, UM, THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, BUT I DON'T HAVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU QUITE YET.
AS A PART OF THIS PROCESS, WE SAT DOWN WITH DR.
FINE, WHO, UM, HAS HELPED US WITH THIS, WHO'S SITTING RIGHT HERE TO MY RIGHT.
AND I'M CERTAIN THAT HE'LL HAVE SOME, UH, COMMENTS AND WE DO NEED TO INCREASE SOME COSTS.
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER IS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR EMPLOYEES,
[00:55:01]
OUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES GET A 10 TO 15% PAY RAISE TO GET THEM TO WHERE THEY'RE EQUIVALENT TO OUR ADJACENT AGENCIES.THEY'RE ANYWHERE FROM, THEY'RE ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 15% LOWER.
IF WE FACTOR IN THE 6% COLA ACROSS THE BOARD, I'M ONLY GONNA ASK FOR AN ADDITIONAL, PROBABLY 4% FOR JUST THOSE FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES, WHICH IS NOT GONNA BE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER, BUT IT'LL GET US MUCH CLOSER TO COMPETITIVE AT LEAST IN THE NEXT YEAR, SO THAT WE CAN RECCO WE CAN ACTUALLY RECRUIT AND RETAIN SOME EMPLOYEES TO BEGIN WITH.
SO THAT'LL BE PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION.
IT'S JUST NOT CONSTRUCTED YET AND I'M NOT PREPARED TO SPEAK ON IT AND I APOLOGIZE, BUT WE STARTED THIS A LITTLE LATER THAN I WOULD'VE LIKED TO.
BUT, UH, WITH THAT I THINK NOW'S A GOOD TIME TO GO AHEAD AND PASS THE MIC OVER TO DR.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
I'VE, UH, HAVE THE PROUD DISTINCTION OF SERVING AS THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF DICKINSON.
I'M A CITIZEN OF DICKINSON FOR 44 YEARS.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SERVICE FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND PRE-HOSPITAL CARE, WHICH IS EMS, HAS COME A LONG WAY.
IN THE OLD DAYS IT WAS LOAD AND GO.
NOW EACH AMBULANCE HAS OVER 50 MEDICATIONS, MANY OF WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN GIVEN ONCE THEY ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 10 MINUTE RESPONSE TIME AND A 30 MINUTE RESPONSE TIME COULD BE LIFESAVING.
NEARLY 25% OF OUR CITIZENS ARE OVER AGE 60.
REPEAT, IT'S LIKE 23% OF OUR CITIZENS ARE OVER AGE 60.
AND THE AVERAGE PERSON OVER AGE 60 IS ON FOUR PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE ABLE TO AT LEAST FUNCTION THE SECOND AMBULANCE UNIT DURING PEAK TIMES.
WE HAVE DIFFICULTY RECRUITING PARAMEDICS AND OTHER EMS PERSONNEL BECAUSE OF THE PAY DISPARITY WITH NEIGHBORING CITIES.
AND I KNOW FIRSTHAND BECAUSE I'M ALSO THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR TEXAS CITY, LAMAR, TIKI ISLAND AND DICKINSON VOLUNTEER.
UH, WE NEED TO BRING THE PAY UP TO WHERE WE CAN RECRUIT MORE PART-TIME AND RETAIN OUR FULL-TIME PEOPLE.
UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT, UH, RESPONSE TIMES ARE, UH, IMPROVED.
WE ALSO, LIKE ANY CITY, DICKINSON HAS SOME FREQUENT FLYERS WHO SOMETIMES USE THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AS A TAXI TO THE HOSPITAL.
AND WE'RE LOOKING INTO WAYS TO MITIGATE THAT, UH, AND AND LOWER THE COST.
MAYBE TAXI IN TEXAS CITY YEARS AGO WE DID TAXI VOUCHERS.
NOW WE HAVE UBER AND OTHER THINGS.
BUT, UH, ONCE A UNIT IS TIED UP IN AN UNNECESSARY CALL THAT UNIT'S OUT OF SERVICE, MUTUAL AID CERTAINLY HELPS.
BUT AGAIN, THE, OUR NEIGHBORING CITIES ARE ALSO STRAPPED FOR PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF RUNS OF THEIR OWN THAT ARE 9 1 1 CALLS.
SO EVEN WITH MUTUAL AID, WE MIGHT NOT GET A GOOD RESPONSE TIME.
SO THERE, THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO CITIZENS THAN GOOD HEALTHCARE.
AND EMS IS BASICALLY, UH, A PRE-HOSPITAL.
UH, THEY CAN, IF YOU HAVE A CARDIAC EVENT OR A STROKE MINUTES COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
SO I WOULD, I KNOW MONEY IS TIGHT.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO LOOK IN TERMS OF UH, ALLOWING US TO INCREASE STAFFING, KEEP OUR EXPERIENCED PEOPLE AND IMPROVE OUR PRE-HOSPITAL CARE FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
DO ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS? I DO HAVE ONE AND THIS
WE'RE BEING CHARGED BY GALVES COUNTY EMS FOR COMING OVER HERE SOMEWHERE AROUND $1,200 A CALL, MORE OR LESS.
HAVE WE TALKED TO LEAGUE CITY ABOUT PUTTING THEM BACK ON THE ROTATION ALSO, SINCE THEY'RE CLOSER AND THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT CHEAPER?
[01:00:01]
YES, WE HAVE NOT, WE HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THAT SPECIFICALLY.WERE YOU, WERE YOU POINTING AT DR.
FINE IS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ROBERT? OH, ASKING, UH, CAPTAIN ROBBINS, ROBERT AND BACK.
I WILL TELL YOU THAT'LL BE A PART OF OUR PROPOSAL SOON AND I'LL LET HIM SPEAK.
I ALSO FEEL LIKE I'M DOING A GRAVE DISSERVICE TO OUR EMPLOYEES BY LEAVING THIS OUT.
AS A PART OF THAT ASSESSMENT, THERE WAS FAR MORE POSITIVE THINGS THAT CAME FROM IT THAN NEGATIVE.
AND ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT CAME FROM IT IS YOU HAVE A GREAT EMS DEPARTMENT AND A LOT OF REALLY GOOD EMPLOYEES WITH SOME RESTRUCTURING, SOME NEW LEADERSHIP AND A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT THE MONEY THAT WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR IS GONNA BE A WHOLE LOT TO GET THEM UP TO WHERE THEY REALLY NEED TO BE.
UM, WE, WE WE'RE GONNA BE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT LET ME HAND THIS OFF TO, UH, CAPTAIN ROBBINS.
YEAH, I GUESS THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE GOING TO TRY TO PUT THEM BACK INTO ROTATION WITH EVERYBODY ELSE? YES, SIR.
WE ARE LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE TO READ THE DISTRICT, THE MAP TO SEE WHERE THE BEST SERVICE WOULD BE.
LEAGUE CITY IS A THOUSAND, SO IT WOULD BE A $200 SAVINGS PER RUN.
SO I'VE BEEN LOOKING INTO THAT, AND THAT'S ONE OF MY PROJECTS THAT I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT A WEEK OR TWO AGO.
I KNOW Y'ALL BEEN BUSY WITH ALL THE, WITH ALL THE TURMOIL, SO I WAS WONDERING IF WE'D DONE ANYTHING ON THAT END YET.
I'VE TALKED TO DISPATCH ALREADY ABOUT IT.
I JUST HAD TO GET IT FIGURED OUT AND DRAWN UP TO SEE WHAT AREA WOULD BE BEST SERVED BY DOING THAT.
ALSO, SAVING TIME FOR OUR CITIZENS BY GETTING LEAGUE CITY INVOLVED.
SO THE BIGGEST DEAL IS MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITIZENS FOR ME, HAS THE CARE THEY NEED WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER.
CAPTAIN ROBBINS, WHY DON'T YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF, SIR
UH, I'VE BEEN WITH CITY OF DICKINSON FOR A LITTLE BIT OVER EIGHT YEARS.
UH, WAS PROMOTED CAPTAIN ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.
UH, WAS JUST ENTERED, UH, INTERIM DIRECTOR.
I CAME, EXCUSE ME, I MOVED AWAY TO KANSAS FOR A LITTLE BIT.
I WAS EMS DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR UP IN KANSAS FOR NINE YEARS.
MY, UH, WIFE'S HAS, UH, FAMILY.
HER DAD LIVES IN SANTA FE, SO WE HAD TO COME BACK HOME JUST FOR TAKING CARE OF FAMILY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO HOW ABOUT YOUR ASSOCIATES? I DO HAVE AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE IN EMS MANAGEMENT.
I ALSO HAVE, EXCUSE ME, I'M THE EMS INSTRUCTOR.
BEEN IN INSTRUCTING FOR, UH, PART-TIME FOR GALVESTON COLLEGE FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
WELL, CONGRAT OR WELCOME TO THE, TO THE NEW ROLE, I GUESS, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S NOT NEWTON DICKINSON.
UM, AND I THINK I COULD, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THIS IS JUST IN MY HEAD, IF WE HIRE MORE EMPLOYEES FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME, WE STILL HAVE THE SAME NUMBER OF SHIFTS.
SO REALLY THE THE COST WOULD DROP BECAUSE WE PAY LESS OVERTIME.
SO YEAH, THE ONE COST THAT WOULD GO UP WOULD BE THEIR BENEFITS IF THEY'RE FULL-TIME, BUT IF THEY'RE PART-TIME, THEY DON'T GET BENEFITS.
SO WOULDN'T THAT BE A POSITIVE RIGHT.
TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE, EVEN IF WE RAISE PAY? WE'RE NOT, WE'RE PAYING LESS DOUBLE OR OVERTIME.
IT'S GONNA BE, IT'S GONNA BE MINIMAL RAISE.
IT'S, I JUST DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER.
IT IS, IT'S INDIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL.
BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU'RE GETTING TIME AND A HALF FOR THE SAME SHIFT IF SOMEONE'S JUST GETTING PAID TIME.
SO DOES LAKE CITY HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HELP US OUT? YES, SIR.
THEY CAN STILL HELP US OUT AND THEY'RE WILLING TO HELP US OUT.
WHEN WE HAVE TWO TRUCKS UP, WE'LL RESPOND TO ANOTHER SERVICE.
SO WE RESPOND EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE TO LEAGUE CITY OR TO GYMS OR TEXAS CITY.
UM, THEY'RE ALL WILLING TO HELP.
AND PART OF THIS READ, UM, LOOKING AT THE MAP IS THERE ARE CERTAIN AREAS THAT TEXAS CITY COULD RESPOND TO THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY CALLING GYMS FOR, THAT IT TAKES LONGER FOR THEM TO GET THERE SINCE THEY, TEXAS CITY OPENED THE NEW STATION OVER BY LAMAR.
SO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY, THEY CAN GET TO FASTER THAN GYMS WOULD BE ABLE TO, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
ALSO, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, IN THE, UH, REPORT FROM THE CONSULTANT, OUR RESPONSE TIME WAS MUCH FASTER COMING FROM OUR OWN, UH, CITY PERSONNEL, OUR OWN AMBULANCES THAN GALVESTON COUNTY BY A LONG SHOT.
I HA I HAVEN'T SAW THE CONSULTATION DEAL, SO I'M NOT FOR SURE ON THAT.
THAT'S, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO.
WE SHOULD ALSO NOTE THAT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO DOWN THE CAUSEWAY TO UTMB.
[01:05:02]
IS A LEVEL TWO, SOON TO BE LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CENTER.AND WE HAVE VICTORY LAKES, UH, MEDICAL COMPLEX.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO TRAVEL AS FAR AS WE USED TO, WHICH IS GOOD.
SO SPECIFICALLY THE REPORT ACTUALLY SAYS, UH, AND I'LL JUST QUOTE IT RIGHT HERE.
IT SAYS THAT, UM, RESPONSE TIMES FOR DICKINSON EMS ARE VERY GOOD WITH AN AVERAGE TIME OF SEVEN MINUTES FROM DISPATCH TO ON SCENE.
SO IF WE HAVE A BUS IN SERVICE THAT'S NOT BEING USED, WE'RE, WE'RE DOING VERY WELL.
THE STRUGGLE IS WHEN WE HAVE TWO TIED UP AND, UH, AND WE HAVE TO GET A, YOU KNOW, A THIRD GOING.
BUT, UH, THIS COMPARES WELL WITH OTHER MUNICIPAL EMS SYSTEM AND FALLS WITHIN GENERALLY EXPECTED TIMEFRAMES FOR ALL EMERGENCY RESPONSES.
AND THE MAIN REASON I, I MEAN, ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT THE STUDY AS WELL, IS TO LET YOU KNOW, EVERYONE KIND OF PUT THAT IN THE BACK OF THEIR HEAD THAT THESE NUMBERS COULD FLUCTUATE UP OR DOWN.
THEY COULD BE BETTER OR WORSE BECAUSE WE STILL HAVE THAT, BUT WE'RE DOING IT TO BECOME MORE EFFICIENT RIGHT.
BUT THESE ARE NON-NEGOTIABLES, RIGHT? THESE ARE INFRASTRUCTURE ITEMS. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EMS POLICE, FIRE, UM, THAT'S JUST AS, THAT'S JUST AS VALUABLE AS YOUR STREETS ARE, RIGHT? SO, YES, SIR.
I DO BELIEVE WITH THE NEW LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THAT WE WILL IMPROVE 100% TENFOLD.
CAPTAIN ROBBINS, UH, HE'S WELL AWARE.
WE HAVE 100% FAITH IN YOU, CAPTAIN ROBINSON.
I WANT YOU TO HEAR THAT FROM ME.
WE KNOW WE CAN TURN THIS AROUND, LITERALLY.
AND I, AND WE ARE, IT NOW CONCUR.
SO CON I CONCUR, AND I WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY AS MEDICAL DIRECTOR, I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY.
ALL THE MEDICAL CARE IN DICKINSON RENDERED BY OUR EMS FOLKS IS UNDER MY MEDICAL LICENSE.
SO I TAKE IT VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY AND I WILL BE HAPPY AND TO WORK WITH DR. ROBINSON.
AND, AND I REVIEW MANY OF THE RUNS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK ON ONLINE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE POSTED ON A WEBSITE THAT I HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO I, I'LL BE KIND OF HOVERING OVER THEM ALSO.
YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE SOME, UH, FREQUENT FLYERS, I THINK YOU REFERRED TO AS.
HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THOSE WITHOUT PUTTING OURSELF IN LIABILITY? WELL, WE, WE HAVE, THE FREQUENT FLYERS ARE WELL KNOWN TO US AS FAR AS OUR MEDICAL HISTORY.
AND, UH, ONE EXAMPLE IS A GENTLEMAN THAT, UH, IN HIS LATE THIRTIES THAT HAS HEADACHES AND BEFORE HE CALLS, HE'S KNOWN TO CALL AROUND TO THE LOCAL HOSPITALS TO SEE WHICH DOCTOR IS IN THE ER THAT WILL GIVE HIM HIS IV BENADRYL.
SO THE PARAMEDICS ARE WELL TRAINED.
WE WE'RE LUCKY IN THAT OUR PARAMEDICS ARE VERY WELL TRAINED, VERY EXPERIENCED, AND HAVE GOOD JUDGMENT.
AND IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT ABOUT A PARTICULAR CALL, THEY CAN REACH ME TWENTY FOUR SEVEN ON MY CELL PHONE AND I'LL GIVE THEM DIRECTION.
SO WE'RE LOOKING INTO, WE, WE CERTAINLY DON'T WANNA DENY SERVICES AND WE WANT TO BE CAREFUL TO PROTECT THE CITY FROM A MEDICAL LEGAL POINT OF VIEW, AS WELL AS MY MEDICAL LICENSE.
SO WE'RE NOT GONNA REFUSE SERVICES, BUT, UH, WE CAN IDENTIFY THESE FREQUENT FLYERS AND PERHAPS DO A PROGRAM TO, UH, OFFER THEM, UH, ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT RUNNING AN AMBULANCE.
FINE, I WANT TO, UH, SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
I THINK WE MET, WHAT, TWO WEEKS AGO? WE SAT DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS SINCE THAT DAY.
AND, UH, I, I JUST, I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S, UH, EMS SERVICES IS CRITICAL, CRITICAL.
I MEAN, MY GRANDMOTHER IS STILL ALIVE, THANK GOD.
AND, AND, AND I EXPECT WHEN THEY, SHE NEEDS ASSISTANCE, WE'RE GONNA BE THERE ON TIME TO HELP HER.
WELL, MY WIFE, LAST YEAR WE CALLED EMS TO OUR HOUSE.
SHE HAD COVID RELATED SEPTIC SHOCK, AND THE CAREGIVING WAS SUPERB.
AND AS I'VE TOLD YOU, UH, I SEMI-RETIRED IN 2017 AT PROFESSOR EMERITUS AT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.
BUT I RUN A FREE MEDICAL CLINIC FOR FIRST RESPONDERS IN DICKINSON, TEXAS CITY, LAMAR, TIKI ISLAND, WHERE THESE FIRST RESPONDERS CAN COME IN FREE OF CHARGE AND SEE ME.
AND IF I'M NOT IN THE OFFICE, THEY HAVE MY CELL PHONE.
[01:10:01]
FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS FROM BOTH, BOTH PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND I'M HAPPY TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF DICKINSON.THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT Y'ALL HAVE DONE ON THIS, UH, EMS, UH, SITUATION.
UM, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR YEAH, OUR EMS? I HAVE ONE THING.
UH, HAVE YOU CONTACTED THE LEAGUE, CITY, CITY MANAGER UP THERE TO SEE IF THEY'RE GONNA HONOR? I HAVE NOT.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO, THAT WAS, I THINK CHASE KNOWS THAT THAT RATE WAS SIGNED SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
I THINK CHRIS HEARD AND THE CITY MANAGER SIGNED IT.
YOU MIGHT WANNA CALL THEM AND SEE IF THEY'RE STILL ON BOARD, IF THEY'RE GONNA RAISE THEIR RATES JUST TO GIVE US A HEADS UP ON IT.
WE'RE, WE'RE PREPARING FOR THAT CONVERSATION.
AND NONE, I KNOW I ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SECOND BOX.
BUT, UH, FOR EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE AND THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING IT HOME, IF WE PUT A SECOND BOX ON WHETHER WE DO OR NOT, THERE'S STILL GONNA BE MUTUAL AID BECAUSE WE GO TO CALLS WHERE WE HAVE TWO BOXES TIED UP AND WE HAVE TO CALL ANOTHER ONE.
SO WE KNOW THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE HAVE TO CALL TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT ONES.
SAT OVER THERE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE WE HAD A BOX ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET WITH THE CREW, ONE ON ANOTHER SIDE, THEN WE HAD TO LEAD TO GO ON THIS SIDE OF THE BIO.
SO EVEN HAVING TWO BOXES IS NOT GOING TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF HAVING TO CALL MUTUAL AID, BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE THREE OR FOUR AT THE SAME TIME.
JUST THE, JUST THE WAY THE BALL BOUNCES.
I KNOW, UH, JUST THREE TO FOUR WEEKS AGO WE HAD FOUR CALLS DROP BACK TO BACK, SO THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.
YOU CAN, SOMETIMES WE GET TWO BEFORE WE CAN GET OUTTA THE DRIVEWAY.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE GENTLEMEN? NOPE.
WELL, I THINK WE, Y'ALL GO AHEAD AND SIT DOWN AND GET COMFORTABLE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUDGET? UM, I MEAN, WE'RE JUST KIND OF, WE, WE HAVE THE SCHEDULE NOW, SO WE'RE NOT REALLY VOTING ON ANYTHING FOR THIS ONE.
ARE WE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER MEETING SO WE CAN TAKE THIS ON? GET YES, SIR.
FINE, YOU'RE WILLING TO SIT HERE WITH US, BUT YOU CAN, YOU CAN GO HOME IF YOU'D LIKE.
SIR
[7.A Consideration and possible action to acknowledge the submission by the Finance Director of a No-New Revenue Tax Rate of $0.357721 per $100 Valuation and a Voter-Approval Tax Rate of $3.060547 per $100 valuation for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2025, and ending September 30, 2026.]
TO NUMBER SEVEN, NEW BUSINESS SEVEN.A CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUBMISSION BY THE FINANCE DIRECTOR OF A NO NEW REVENUE, NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE OF 0.3 5 7 7 2 1 PER $100 VALUATION.
AND A VOTER APPROVAL TAX RATE OF $3 IS 0.0 6 0 5 4 7 PER $100.
VALUATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026.
GOT A SECOND FROM COUNCIL MEMBER SCHICK.
UM, THE NEXT THING WE, WHAT WE DO HAVE IS WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND FOR SEVEN A, WE HAVE, UM, MR. JOHN HARRIS, IF YOU'D LIKE TO COME MAKE YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UH, JOHN HARRIS, 37 11 ROUND DRIVE.
LET ME JUST SAY TO QUALIFY MY COMMENTS WITH, I TOTALLY SUPPORT THAT THE, THE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF DICKINSON RECEIVE A COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT.
I THINK, UM, THESE FOLKS WORK HARD.
THEY HAVE TO BUY THE SAME THINGS THAT THE REST OF US DO TO, TO LIVE WITH.
THAT SAID, AND I DON'T WANNA SPEAK THE DOCTOR'S NUMBERS, BUT MY, MY RESEARCH SHOWED THAT 12 POINT, A LITTLE OVER 12% OF THE POPULATION IS 65 OR OLDER IN DICKINSON, WHICH WOULD SUPPOSEDLY TELL YOU THAT OUR TAXES ARE FROZEN.
AND I, AND I'VE BEEN PROTESTING MY TAXES FOR 30 YEARS AT THE CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT.
SO I'M A LITTLE BIT OF A, HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IT.
AND EVERY YEAR I GO IN THERE AND THEY SAY, WHY ARE YOU HERE? BECAUSE YOU'RE OVER 65 AND YOUR TAXES ARE FROZEN.
WELL, LET'S ALL FINE AND GOOD, EXCEPT THAT WHEN THE TAX ENTITIES RAISE THE TAX EVALUATION AND OR THE EVALUATION CREEP, OR WHAT I CALL EVALUATION CREEP, WHEN THEY REEVALUATE YOUR PROPERTY EVERY YEAR, AND THAT PROPERTY IS HIGHER THAN YOU PAY HIGHER TAXES.
AND MANY OF US, OR MOST OF US THAT ARE OVER 65 ARE ON FIXED INCOMES.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY WAY TO, UH, INCREASE
[01:15:01]
OUR, WHAT WE CAN DO IS CUT OUR COSTS.THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONLY SOLUTION WE HAVE.
CAN'T GO OUT AND WORK ANOTHER JOB OR WORK ANOTHER SHIFT OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE TO TRY TO PAY THOSE TAXES.
SO, WITH THAT SAID, I HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN MR. CAREY'S ABILITY TO SQUEEZE EVERY PENNY OUTTA THIS BUDGET.
BUT I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU DO, THERE ARE OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS AND THE OTHER TAXPAYERS.
I MEAN, NOT JUST, UH, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE AGE IS 33.8 YEARS IN DICKINSON.
AND THOSE NUMBERS MAY OR MAY NOT BE RIGHT.
BUT THAT'S WHAT I CAME UP WITH.
SO, UH, JUST SO YOU KNOW, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU TRY TO KEEP THOSE NUMBERS WHERE THEY ARE, IF YOU CAN.
ANY DISCUSSION FOR, UH, SEVEN A? ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? ALL RIGHT.
I THINK I HAD IT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, SO I ASK YOU AGAIN.
UM, BECAUSE FIRST TIME I SEEN THIS AT $3, THIS IS PART OF THE STATE, THE WAY THE STATE MAKES YOU DO THIS, CORRECT? YES.
SO FOR THOSE OUT THERE, I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO RAISE YOUR TAXES FROM 35 CENTS TO $3 AND 6 CENTS.
THAT COMES FROM, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, AND THAT COMES DIRECTLY FROM GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS, CHERYL JOHNSON'S OFFICE AND THE APPRAIS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE SPOT, BUT ONE THING I WOULD, MY, UH, THOUGHT PROCESS IS WE DON'T CHANGE IT AT ALL.
WE DON'T, WE KEEP IT EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS IN 2025.
WE GO RIGHT INTO 2026 WITH THE EXACT SAME PERCENTAGE, EXACT SAME RATE.
UM, THE VALUATIONS OF OUR CITY WENT UP, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE 'EM PAY A HIGHER PERCENTAGE.
OR A HIGHER CENT TAX IS MY THOUGHT BEHIND IT.
UM, WE STILL HAVE OUR OWN COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE.
UM, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS DO MORE WITH LESS LIKE WHAT MR. CARE YOU'VE ALREADY BEEN DOING.
UM, I DON'T SEE A REASON TO RAISE TAXES EVEN A SINGLE PENNY, PERSONALLY.
ANY OTHER, UH, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE AMOUNT THAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR TAXES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RATE THAT YOU'RE PAYING.
SO THE RATE, I DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE THE CENT RATE AT ALL FROM LAST YEAR'S, UH, RATE.
NOW THE IDEA, RIGHT? I KNOW, UH, INDIVIDUALS WANT US TO DROP IT, RIGHT? AND REDUCE IT, BUT THEN THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO ASK FOR MORE SERVICES.
SO THERE'S A COST WITH DROPPING THE TAX RATE.
NOW, IF WE ARE AT A SITUATION, WE'RE IN A FINANCIAL GOOD SITUATION, WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, THEN YES, WE CAN TALK ABOUT CUTTING TAXES.
'CAUSE I DON'T LIKE PAYING TAXES JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE DOES.
UM, I PAY WAY TOO MUCH IN TAXES.
UH, HOWEVER, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE FAIR TO OUR CITY, WE HAVE TO BE FAIR TO OUR EMPLOYEES THAT WE CAN RAISE THEIR, THEIR, UH, THEIR PAY TO WHERE WE CAN KEEP HIGH QUALITY, UM, STAFF.
RIGHT? WE CAN'T RUN THIS PLACE.
GOOGLE DOESN'T GO AND HIRE THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
THEY GET THE BEST OF THE BEST 'CAUSE THEY PAY THE BEST.
RIGHT? THE REASON WHY EVERYBODY WANTS TO GO WORK AT AMAZON, AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL IS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY CAN GET.
NO ONE, YOU KNOW, NO ONE'S BANGING DOWN OUR DOOR RIGHT NOW WANTING TO PAY TO WORK FOR US BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A COMFORTABLE PAY STRUCTURE.
I, I PROMISE THAT THAT WON'T BE THE CASE YEP.
SO PEOPLE WILL BE, THERE'RE WE'RE GONNA GET WANTING TO WORK HERE, I PROMISE YOU FOR SURE.
I I'M JUST SAYING, I I, WE GOTTA TAKE CARE OF THEM.
RIGHT? AND IF WE CAN NOT RAISE TAXES AT ALL AND STILL BE ABLE TO ADD A 6% COLA, I DON'T, I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S A, UM, A NEGATIVE THING.
UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'LL SAY, OH, THAT'S WAY TOO MUCH, BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONES MAKING THE MONEY.
THAT IT'S EASY TO SAY WHEN YOU'RE EITHER SOMEONE THAT WORKS AND MAKES A LOT MORE MONEY, OR IF YOU'RE RETIRED OR IF YOU'RE A STUDENT, IT'S VERY EASY TO SAY, OH, DON'T GIVE 'EM ANY RAISES.
RIGHT? EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU FEEL THE PAIN WHEN YOU'RE ON A SET SALARY.
LIKE, LIKE THE GENTLEMAN SAID, COMING UP HERE AND SAID, WE'RE ON SOCIAL SECURITY.
I, I TALK ABOUT THIS ON A DAILY BASIS.
UM, HOWEVER, PEOPLE THAT WORK IN GOVERNMENT ARE, ARE ALSO ON SET SALARIES.
THEY DON'T GET TO DO ANY OF THAT STUFF.
SO IF WE DON'T RAISE THEIR PAY, THEY LEAVE, WE'VE LOST EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THERE'S BETTER PAY OUT THERE.
SO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WITH DROPPING RATES.
SO WE JUST NEED THE PROPOSED RATE THAT WE WANT TO SEND MR. DOME
[01:20:01]
OFFICE, CORRECT? UH, YES.AND BY THAT I MEAN WHEN WE GET TO THE NEXT ITEM, 70 IS THE NEXT ONE.
SO THIS IS THE, JUST, UH, THIS ONE IS REALLY JUST ACKNOWLEDGING THE STATE LAW REQUIREMENT THAT THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FILE WITH THE GOVERNING BODY.
THOSE TWO, UH, STATE MANDATED, UH, RATES THAT WE HAVE THE STATE FORMULAS TO CALCULATE.
SO WE CAN, NO MORE REALLY COMMENTS NEED TO BE MADE WITH THIS ONE.
SO ALL IN, UH, IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENTS, WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT ONE.
[7.B Consideration and possible action on a proposed tax rate for FY2025-2026 and set the date for the Public Hearing on the FY2025-2026 Budget]
CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26.AND SET THE DATE FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING OF, OR ON THE FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? WELL, ACTUALLY WE CAN, WE'RE GONNA NEED TO THE COUNCIL, WE NEED TO WAIT AND HEAR FROM THE FINANCE DIRECTOR.
REGARDING WHAT, UH, I GUESS HER RECOMMENDATION MIGHT BE FOR A PROPOSED RATE.
SO THAT RATE CAN BE INCORPORATED INTO THE MOTION TO PROPOSE THE RATE.
I AGREE WITH THE MAYOR, UM, THAT KEEPING THE TAX RATE THE SAME WILL NOT AFFECT US GREATLY.
THE, THE, UM, TAXABLE VALUES DID GO UP.
SO YOU WILL SEE A SMALL INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX.
SO I ALSO, UM, RECOMMEND KEEPING THE, THE CURRENT RATE.
UM, OF COURSE, IF YOU WANTED TO RAISE IT SLIGHTLY, THAT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL.
BUT I, I AGREE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT US TO KEEP THE TAX RATE THE SAME.
IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, IF YOU GO THE LOWER RATE, YOU CAN'T GO UP, BUT IF YOU GO AT THE HIGHER RATE, YOU CAN GO DOWN, CORRECT? CORRECT.
AND I DIDN'T GET IT LAST TIME.
SO, AND, AND LIKE YOU SAID, SO CAN YOU GIMME THE EXACT NUMBER JUST SO THAT WHOEVER HAS IT IN THE MOTION KNOWS IT? WHAT'S THE IT'S THE, WHAT'S THE EXACT, THE FULL NUMBER OF THE TAX RATE? YEAH, OUR CURRENT TAX RATE.
OUR CURRENT ONE IS, UM, 3 6 8 2 OH.
SO 36.20 CENTS HERE IS 3 7 8 2 OH, THAT'S WHAT THE 1 CENT INCREASE? YES.
IF WE GO WITH 3, 6, 8, 2, YOU CAN'T GO UP MM-HMM
BUT IF YOU GO WITH THE 3 7, 8 2, YOU CAN GO DOWN.
AND THAT GIVES YOU A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM, WHICH AIN'T VERY MUCH.
AND, AND THEN YOU CAN ELECT ANY RATE BELOW AT OR BELOW 3 7 8 2.
AND THEN THE SECOND PART OF THAT IS YOU GOTTA CALL A BUDGET HEARING, CORRECT? YES, SIR.
ANYTHING ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A HEARING.
SO IF YOU GO WITH THE SEVEN, THE 3, 7, 8 2, DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE, UH, HEARING, PUBLIC HEARING? YES.
BECAUSE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS 3 5 5 3 5 7 7 2 1 7 7 2 1.
DO WHAT NOW? YEAH, SO IF IT, THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE IS 3 5, 7 7 2 1.
SO IF IT'S ANYTHING ABOVE THAT, WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MY MEMORY ESCAPES ME, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'VE HAD THE HEARING EVEN WHEN WE DID NO NEW REVENUE.
WAS THAT A COUNCIL MEETING ANYWAY? YEAH.
WE HAD TO HAVE THE HEARING AND THEN WE HAD TO HAVE THE ROLL CALL VOTE AND ALL OF THAT, NO MATTER WHAT RATE WE CHOSE.
WELL, IF WE PICK SOMETHING, IF THEY, I MEAN, I GUESS IF IN THE PAST Y'ALL ALWAYS PICKED SOMETHING HIGHER, RIGHT? EVEN THOUGH YOU WENT WITH NO, NO, WE'VE HAD SOME NO NEW REVENUE YEARS.
YOU DID, YOU'RE JUST RIGHT AWAY.
SOME CLOSED AND SOME NO NEW REVENUE YEARS.
SO BY LOOKING AT THIS NUMBER, YOU GOT THE 3 7, 8 2.
AND IF YOU GO DOWN THE COLUMN BELOW IT, IT'S 3 5, 7, 7 2, 1 THAT Y'ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT THE REAL NUMBER IS EITHER THE FIRST 1, 3, 6, 8, 2, OR THE SECOND NUMBER THREE.
WHEN WOULD BE THE PUBLIC HEARING? NO, MO I GUESS THERE'S NO, WE NOVEMBER.
UH, YEAH, IT WOULD BE THE NEXT MEETING.
CAN'T, WELL, YOU'LL HAVE TO AMEND IT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS, 26TH WOULD BE THE PUBLIC HEARING ADD.
LET'S MAKE A MOTION TO GO WITH THE 3, 7, 8 2.
WELL, WE HAVE A MOTION, SO WE HAVE TO GIVE EITHER THAT OR SUSPENDED OR GET RID OF IT, OR HE NEEDS TO PUT THAT NUMBER IN IT.
[01:25:01]
RE, CAN I AMEND MY MOTION TO PROPOSE A TAX RATE OF POINT, I GUESS 0.38 CENTS.RIGHT? AND, AND SET A HEARING DATE FOR AUGUST THE 26TH.
SO WE GOT A MOTION TO, UH, PROPOSE THE TAX RATE AT 0.3782, CORRECT? YEAH.
UH, AND THEN SET THE, UM, THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 26TH.
UH, ANY MORE QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS? REMEMBER WE'RE GONNA HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT ALL AT THAT WONDERFUL DAY THAT THAT HAPPENS.
ALL IN FAVOR, ACTUALLY, UH, MAYOR? YEP.
UH, THIS WOULD NEED TO BE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
AND SO THE CITY SECRETARY WILL, UH, WILL, WILL CALL OUT THE NAMES.
SO SET A DATE FOR ANOTHER BUDGET HEARING WHILE WE'RE ON THIS, OR WE GONNA DO IT LATER? WE CAN SET THE DATE NOW.
YOU MEAN A BUDGET WORKSHOP OR A BUDGET HEARING? YES.
YOU WANT ME DO THE ROLL CALL VOTE.
AND YEAH, I GUESS JUST SO I'M CLEAR, 'CAUSE UH, FOR DISCUSSION PURPOSES, WE'RE NOT PICKING THE RATE RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE JUST PICKING OUR OPTIONS TO PICK FROM CORRECT.
WHEN WE PICK THE RATE RIGHT RANGE OF, OF TAX RATES WE CAN USE.
SO WE CANNOT GO PROPOSED RATE IS THE ABSOLUTE CEILING.
SO LET'S GET THAT ROLL CALL VOTE.
COUNCIL MEMBER JOHNNY SIMPSON.
COUNCIL MEMBER SCOTT SCHRADER.
COUNCIL MEMBER BILL SCHICK AYE.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KEVIN EDMONDS.
[7.C ORDINANCE NO. XXX-2025 - Consideration and possible action to approve an Ordinance of the City of Dickinson to appoint a Charter Review Commission Consisting of five (5) citizens of the City, state the commission's duties, and provide for a term of office and an effective date. ]
C CONSIDERATION AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DICKENSON TO APPOINT A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION CONSISTING OF FIVE CITIZENS OF THE CITY, UH, STATE THE COMMISSION'S DUTIES AND PROVIDE FOR A TERM OF OFFICE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.GOT A MOTION? DO I HAVE A SECOND? DO I HAVE A SECOND? OH, I'LL SECOND IT.
YEAH, NO, UH, IT'S GOT A SECOND.
UM, AND I, I HAVE A FEW MEMBERS TO COME UP AND TALK ABOUT THIS ITEM.
SO FIRST ONE IS MR. GARLAND COPELAND.
MY NAME IS GARLAND COPELAND, LIVE IN DICKINSON.
UM, I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS RELATED TO THIS.
UM, AT WHAT POINT IN THIS PROCESS WILL THESE PEOPLE BE IDENTIFIED THAT WILL BE APPOINTED TO THIS COMMISSION? IS ONE OF MY QUESTIONS.
MY SECOND QUESTION IS, UH, IF ONCE THIS IS VOTED FOR AND PUT IN PLACE, UH, WILL THIS COMMISSION BE SUBJECT TO ALL OF THE RULES RELATED TO OPEN MEETINGS? THE SAME AS ANY OTHER DELIBERATIVE BODY WITH THE CITY, MEANING NOTICE OF AGENDAS, UM, RECORDS, UH, QUORUMS AND WALKING QUORUM AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF? SO, AS TO YOUR FIRST QUESTION, UM, I WOULD, UH, EXPECT AND HOPE THAT THE FIVE CITIZENS WOULD BE IDENTIFIED, UH, AS PART OF THIS ORDINANCE THAT IS CREATING THE COMMISSION AND APPOINTING THOSE MEMBERS.
UH, THEN AS TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION REGARDING, AND THAT WOULD BE TONIGHT, UH, YES SIR.
IF THE COUNCIL, UH, ACTUALLY TAKES ACTION TO, TO APPROVE IT ON FIRST READING TONIGHT.
AND THEN AS TO YOUR SECOND QUESTION, UH, REGARDING THE APPLICABILITY OF TOOMA TO THIS BODY, UH, THE ANSWER IS NO, IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO THE BODY.
THAT BODY WOULD NOT BE A GOVERNMENTAL BODY.
ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT ONE WE GOT IS MR. JOHN HARRIS.
SO WHEN I SAW THIS ON THE AGENDA, MY FIRST QUESTION WAS, WHO REQUESTED THIS? I KNOW THE CHARTER SAYS THAT EVERY 10 YEARS YOU MUST REVIEW, DOESN'T SAY YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE CHARTER.
SO MY, MY FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT COUNCILMAN OR THE MAYOR
[01:30:01]
OR SOMEBODY FROM THE CITY REQUESTED THIS, THIS AGENDA ITEM? SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT'S THE MOTIVATION? WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGING? AND LAST, UH, UM, WHAT IS IT, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? BECAUSE WE JUST DID THIS IN 2019 AND, AND ACTUALLY SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE WERE ON THAT CHARTER GROUP THAT, THAT MADE THOSE, WAS IT 21 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE VOTED ON? SO MIKE, YOU KNOW, MY INTEREST IS PEAKED ABOUT WHY THIS, WHY THIS IS HAPPENING NOW, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE NEED FOR IT? IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT AWARE OF? AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, I'M NOT SURE YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS TONIGHT.SO, SO THAT NO ONE'S BLINDSIDED, I'LL JUST LET YOU KNOW THAT I DID A FOIA OR PIA REQUEST BEFORE I CAME UP HERE WITH THE SAME QUESTIONS IN IT.
SO, UH, IF YOU CAN'T ANSWER OR WON'T ANSWER, THEN WE'LL DO IT THE LEGAL WAY.
AT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, I MADE THIS RECOMMENDATION FOR THIS AGENDA.
AND IN MY OPINION, THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN THE CHARTER THAT NEED TO BE CLEANED UP.
ONE OF THE ONES THAT STICK OUT TO ME THE MOST IS, UH, TERM CONTRACTS FOR CITY MANAGEMENT OR CITY MANAGERS ACCORDING TO OUR CHARTER, THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED, BUT THEY HAD BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY.
NOT THE LAST ONE EXACTLY, BUT THE ONE PRIOR TO THAT, UH, THEY WERE IN THERE.
AND IT IS THE CONSENSUS OF A MANY THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A CITY MANAGER TO COME IN HERE TO WORK IN THE CITY OF DICKINSON WITHOUT A TERM CONTRACT.
SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO PERMIT A TERM TO BE ALLOWED FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S APPOINTMENT.
UM, AND THEN THE CLARIFICATION OF A QUORUM FOR THE CITY COUNCIL CHARTER SAYS IT'S FIVE.
I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT REDUCING THE REQUIREMENT OF A QUORUM TO FOUR IS JUST ONE OF MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, IN THERE IT IS A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL, UH, AND THE CHARTER SPEAKS TO THE WORD MAJORITY, UH, WHEN AFFECTING BUSINESS AND TRANSACTING BUSINESS OF THE CITY.
SO THOSE WERE MY FIRST TWO MOTIVATIONS FOR THIS, IF I MAY.
UM, OKAY, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL LEAVE, LEAVE IT WITH THAT.
UH, HE'S SATISFIED MY REQUEST.
SO, UH, IF THERE'S NO NEED TO FORMALLY ANSWER THAT, UNLESS YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO, WELL, WE DON'T THAT YOUR REQUEST WOULD'VE SOUGHT RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS.
WE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DOCUMENTS OTHER THAN THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING.
'CAUSE THAT REQUEST WAS MADE DURING THE OPEN MEETING.
SO IT WASN'T LIKE IT WAS AN EMAIL THAT WAS SENT, IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
NO, WHAT I MEAN IS THE REQUEST FOR THIS ITEM WASN'T SENT AS AN EMAIL SUCH THAT THAT EMAIL WOULD BE PRODUCED IN RESPONSE TO YOUR PIR.
THE REQUEST WAS STATED VERBALLY AT AN OPEN MEETING LAST TIME.
SO THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION THAT WE COULD HAVE PRODUCED IN RESPONSE TO YOUR PIR WELL, I WENT BACK AND REVIEWED THE MINUTES AND I DID NOT SEE WHAT COUNCILMAN EDMONDS JUST STATED.
I REVIEWED 'EM, DID NOT SEE IT.
MAYBE IT WAS IN CLOSED SESSION, I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DIDN'T SEE IT IN THE MINUTES.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT WAS DONE AT THE END WHERE IT SAYS FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, OTHER ITEMS TO BE PUT ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
ALL HE DID WAS SAY, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE THE CHARTER ON THERE.
THERE WAS NO, THERE WAS NO MEETINGS OR ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IT'S THE SAME THING THAT'LL HAPPEN ON, UH, NUMBER 10, ITEM 10 TONIGHT.
IT'LL SAY FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. AND THAT'S WHERE HE SAID IT AT THE LAST MEETING THAT HE WANTED THAT ON THIS MEETING.
THOSE, THOSE ITEMS, THOSE THINGS THAT'S LIKE, THAT ARE NOT LISTED THERE, UH, I DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S SAYING HE DIDN'T SAY, HE JUST SAID HE WANTED IT ON THE AGENDA.
HE DIDN'T SAY WHY, BUT IT'S NOT LISTED IN THE MINUTES.
IS WHAT SAYING THAT'S 'CAUSE HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
HE JUST SAID THAT HE WANTED IT ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
IT'S SAY WHAT HIS REASON FOR AND IT'S NOT IN THE MINUTES BECAUSE THERE'S NO DELIBERATION ABOUT IT.
CERTAINLY GOING TO BE NO ACTION ON IT.
IT WAS, HEY, PUT THIS ON THE NEXT AGENDA.
AND SO IN THIS MEETING MINUTES, YOU CAN REST ASSURED THERE'LL BE PLENTY OF DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.
IT SAYS AUTOMATE FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS AND IT SAYS, COUNCIL MEMBER EVANS SUGGESTED CONSIDERING ASSEMBLING A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE FOR THE MAY 26TH BALLOT.
SO, OR IT'S ALL MINE ANYWAY, SO IT BE, I OVERLOOKED IT.
BUT I, I DID GO BACK AND REVIEW AND LOOK FOR IT.
SO MAYBE I, MAYBE I MISSED IT.
I'LL BE THE FIRST ONE WITH YOU
WELL, BUT MR. HARRIS, I'M WILLING TO MAKE MYSELF
[01:35:01]
AVAILABLE TO YOU FOR A DISCUSSION EITHER ON YOUR FRONT PORCH, IN YOUR LIVING ROOM, IN MY LIVING ROOM, OR AT A COFFEE SHOP.I JUST WANTED TO KNOW THE MOTIVATION CAPTAIN.
AND WHAT, WHAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED? I I'M AVAILABLE TO YOU.
I KNOW YOUR, I KNOW WHERE TO FIND YOU AND I KNOW YOUR EMAIL.
SO, UM, WHAT DISCUSSIONS DO WE HAVE? WHAT COMMENTS? WE GOT A MOTION.
SO LET'S GET INTO THE, THE FUN STUFF.
UM, GUESS IF YOU WANT TO, YOU WANNA JUST KIND OF CHAMPION THIS ONE, MR. WELL, I THINK I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION FIRST.
UM, MR. COPELAND ASKED IF PEOPLE COULD BE APPOINTED TO THIS BOARD TONIGHT IF COUNSEL CHOOSES.
I THINK THAT WAS WHAT YOUR STATEMENT WAS, THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION TO DO IT.
IT WAS NOT MY INTENT TO DO IT TONIGHT BECAUSE WE HADN'T RECEIVED ANY APPLICATIONS FOR BOARD YET, BECAUSE WE HADN'T OPENED IT UP.
BUT, UM, AND SO IF, IF SOMEBODY HAD A RECOMMENDATION FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ON THAT BOARD, COULD WE ACTUALLY TAKE ACTION ON IT? BECAUSE I DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE'D BE DOING SO.
UH, AND, AND YOU DON'T NEED TO HAVE RECEIVED BOARD APPLICATIONS OR, OR ANYTHING.
IT COULD JUST BE DONE BY CONSENSUS, UH, OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, BECAUSE THAT IS PART OF THE ACTION OF FORMING THIS COMMISSION, IS IDENTIFYING THE FIVE CITIZENS THAT WILL FORM THE COMMISSION.
YEAH, I, I WAS, I WAS ALSO UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE BOARD WOULD BE PICKED LATER.
UM, BUT IF WE'RE JUST THROWING NAMES OUT THERE, I FEEL LIKE BOTH, UH, HARRISON COPELAND SEEMED TO HAVE A VERY VESTED INTEREST IN IT.
UM, AND I KNOW WE'RE NOT GETTING INTO RECOMMENDATIONS, BUT I REMEMBER BEING ON THIS, UH, COMMISSION LAST TIME.
I THINK IT'S ODD WHEN SEVEN PICKS FIVE.
UM, SO MAYBE WE LOOK AT THAT NEXT TIME.
SO ARE WE GOING TO ASK FOR, ARE WE GONNA ASK FOR APP APPLICATIONS OR ARE WE GOING TO BRING BACK SOME NAMES TO NOMINATE FROM THE COUNCIL AT THE NEXT MEETING? MAYOR, IT'S MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE MAKE APPOINTMENTS AT NO EARLIER THAN THE NEXT MEETING.
AND THEN MY OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, SINCE UH, SERVICE STARTS AT A SIX MONTH START AT SIX MONTHS, MY QUESTION WOULD BE A SIX MONTH TERM.
COULD, COULD THE TERM RUN LONGER THAN THE DEADLINE FOR RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNSEL, IF ANY, AND OR COULD THE TERM OF OFFICE THAT'S VACANT START TODAY AND TO RUN SIX MONTHS AND TO BE FILLED NEXT WEEK BEFORE, BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY APPOINT A SINGLE MEMBER? THE TERM OF OFFICE FOR THIS CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION WILL COMMENCE WHEN THE COMMISSION IS FORMED AND THE COMMISSION IS FORMED WHEN YOU HAVE THE FIVE, UH, FOLKS APPOINTED, UH, TO IT.
UH, THAT TERM OF OFFICE CANNOT BE EXTENDED.
IT IS A SIX MONTH TERM PER THE CHARTER.
SO THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THE COMMISSION ITSELF CAN LOOK AT AS WELL.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE CHART, THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN, IT'S, UH, CAPPED AT A SIX MONTH TERM.
BUT REALLY EFFECTIVELY, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE, THE CALENDAR, MY UNDERSTANDING, UM, COUNCILMAN EDMONDS IS THAT YOU ARE HOPING TO HAVE WHATEVER PROPOSED AMENDMENTS HAVE THEM READY FOR THE ELECTION IN MAY OF 2026.
SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, UH, ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE, THE DEADLINE TO CALL THE ELECTION FOR THE MAY 2ND, 2026, GENERAL ELECTION DATE IS GOING TO BE FEBRUARY 13TH.
SO THAT ACTUALLY IS LESS THAN, SLIGHTLY LESS THAN, UH, SIX MONTHS AWAY FROM THE AUGUST 26TH MEETING IF THAT IS WHEN THE SECOND READING OF THIS ORDINANCE IS.
AND SO, UM, SO FOR, FOR THIS ITERATION OF A COMMISSION, THE SIX MONTH TERM IS NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO, THAT COMMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE DONE WITH THE WORK.
UH, SO THE COUNCIL CAN CALL THE SPECIAL ELECTION, UH, FOR, FOR THE, UH, CHARTER OF AMENDMENTS.
SO MY QUESTION IS, IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IF THIS IS A, AN ORDEAL TO, LIKE YOU SAID, UM, CLEAN IT UP, RIGHT? SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME CONFLICTING DATA.
DO WE NEED IT IF WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY CHANGING ANYTHING? WE'RE JUST CHANGING TERMINOLOGIES IN THE CHARTER.
[01:40:01]
IF HE, IF WE FIND INSUFFICIENCIES OR WE SEE THAT THIS IS CONFLICTING DATA, DO WE REALLY NEED TO GO THROUGH A FULL CHARTER REVIEW? OR ARE WE ALLOWED, IF WE'RE NOT CHANGING THE SUBSTANTIAL INFORMATION IN THE CHARTER, WE'RE JUST CHA CHANGING THE VERBIAGE.DOES THAT NEED A VOTE? AND, AND I'M LITERALLY ASKING JUST SO WE'RE NOT WASTING A BUNCH OF PEOPLE'S TIME FOR NO REASON, BUT IF WE HAVE TO DO IT, THEN LET'S, WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO DO IT.
I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT IS OUR REQUIREMENT WHEN IT COMES TO CHARTER CHANGES? LIKE IF WE CHANGE A DOT OR AN I DO, WE HAVE TO GET A VOTE.
AND WHEN YOU SAY A VOTE, YOU MEAN LIKE GO TO THE ELECTION, BUT YOU SAID WE HAVE TO PUT IT TO THE ELECTION, RIGHT? YOU SAID CORRECT.
SO IT HAS TO GO TO THE ELECTION.
NOW, IF IT'S, UH, CHANGING LIKE MISSPELLINGS OR, YOU KNOW, PUNCTUATION, YOU DON'T, THERE'S A PROVISION THAT ALLOWS FOR THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THE, THE TOPICS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN KICKED AROUND, UH, ARE, ARE GOING TO FIT UNDER THAT.
I MEAN, CHANGING QUORUM FROM FIVE OF TO FOUR OF THE COUNCIL, ANY OF THOSE KINDS OF CHANGES NO, NO, NO.
THAT, THAT CERTAINLY BIG DEAL ARE GOING GONNA BE SUBSTANTIVE.
SO HIM AND I ACTUALLY HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
AND THIS, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE TO.
SO IS THE THING IS, IS ARE WE EVEN ALLOWED TO DO THAT, CHANGE IT FROM FIVE TO FOUR? UH, YES SIR.
OKAY, WE CAN IF YOU ARE, BECAUSE ABSOLUTELY.
SO I THINK WHAT HE WAS TELLING ME IS HOME RULE, THE CHARTER CAN SAY FOUR.
SO FOR YOU TO CHANGE THE CHARTER, YOU JUST HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE VOTERS, THE CHARTER AMENDMENT PROCESS, WHICH REQUIRES PUTTING IT, UH, ON A BALLOT AND HAVING THE, UH, THE ELECTION ON IT.
IT DOES NOT REQUIRE, UM, THE FORMATION OF A CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION.
THAT IS WHEN YOU WOULD WANT JUST THE, THE CITIZENS TO HAVE A CHANCE TO KIND OF KICK THINGS AROUND AND DECIDE WHAT IT IS THEY THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT THEIR, THEIR, YOU KNOW, GOVERNING DOCUMENT, THE CHARTER TO SAY.
BUT IF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THEMSELVES HAVE IDEAS OF CHANGES THAT THEY BELIEVE NEED TO BE MADE, YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE TO USE A COMMISSION.
YOU GUYS CAN CERTAINLY JUST DIRECT A CITY ATTORNEY TO DRAFT UP SOME PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN, THEN Y'ALL KICK IT AROUND, ORDER A SPECIAL ELECTION AND THEN PUT ON THE BALLOT.
'CAUSE NO MATTER WHAT, THE VOTERS HAVE TO VOTE ON IT ANYWAYS.
AND SO I GUESS THAT'S THE WHOLE THING IS I'M, I'M JUST MAKING SURE WE'RE NOT BEING INEFFICIENT WITH IT IF THERE, BUT LIKE FOR THE, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I WANNA MAKE SURE IS WE'RE DOING IT BY THE BOOK.
'CAUSE I DON'T WANNA SCREW, WE DON'T WANNA SCREW THIS UP WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH THE CHARTER.
UM, SO, OKAY, SO WE'RE GONNA PUT, WE'RE GONNA BASICALLY MOVE THIS TO WHERE WE'RE GONNA ALL COME UP WITH APPOINTEES, RIGHT? SO I'D SAY, UH, I THINK I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FORMATION, THE FORMATION OF A CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE, AND THEN NEXT MEETING I WOULD SUGGEST COMING UP WITH THE NAMES.
I GOT, I THINK I, LET'S GET, UH, MR. DEZ, MR. WALLY DEETS, GO AHEAD AND COME ON UP, SIR.
AS SOMEONE THAT'S BEEN, UH, WELL INVOLVED WITH THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT SIGNING UP.
BUT, UH, ONE THING YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IF YOU DO FORM THIS, UH, COMMISSION IS THAT IN THE PREVIOUS ONE, WHICH AS YOU KNOW, IT PRODUCED 2122, UH, CHARTER AMENDMENTS, UH, WE HAD, WE HAD, AT THAT TIME, WE HAD TO PAY FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO SIT IN ON THOSE MEETINGS WITH THE COMMISSION.
AND THAT ENABLED THEM TO NOT WASTE ANY TIME GOING DOWN A RABBIT HOLE IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAW.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, HAVING OUR ATTORNEY, UH, SIT IN ON THOSE MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, THEY'RE NOT PROPOSING ANYTHING AND SPENDING A BUNCH OF DISCUSSION TIME ON THINGS THAT ARE IN CONFLICT.
JUST TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, THE CITY SECRETARY WAS ALSO IN THOSE MEETINGS.
AND, UH, THEY WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
THERE WERE AGENDAS POSTED AND RIGHT.
I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT REQUIRED, IT WAS DONE THOUGH.
WELL, I WAS GONNA SAY, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN THIS CONFERENCE ROOM, IT WASN'T VERY WELL ATTENDED.
BUT IF THE PUBLIC WANTED TO PARTICIPATE, THEY WERE, THEY WERE ABLE TO.
BUT, UH, WE DID HAVE THAT DURING THE LAST PROCESS.
AND THE OTHER THING OF COURSE IS WHEN THE, UH, THE PROPOSED CHANGES COME BEFORE COUNCIL, AND THEN THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER DISCUSSION ON WHETHER YOU VOTE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
WELL, SO Y'ALL, THAT COUNCIL CHANGED A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT THE CHARTER COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED ANYWAY DURING THAT COUNCIL MEETING, SO THEY COULD HAVE IT ON THE, ON THE BALLOT THAT NIGHT ALSO.
Y'ALL HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THAT.
WELL, THE DISCUSSION, THE FIGHT, I HEARD DISCUSSION I REMEMBER WAS ALL AROUND, UH, THERE WERE SOME ON COUNCIL THAT DIDN'T EVEN WANNA PUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BALLOT.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE, UH, THE WINNING ARGUMENT, IF YOU WILL, WAS, LOOK, WE, WE HAD
[01:45:01]
A BLUE REMID COMMITTEE THAT CAME UP WITH THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AND UH, WE OWE IT TO THE VOTERS TO BE ABLE TO VOTE IT UP OR DOWN ON ALL OF THEM.SO, AND WELL, SORRY, MAY I DOUBLE DIPPING? BUT, UM, ONE OTHER THING TOO, THE REASON I THINK IT WAS SO HIGH IS WE WERE ACTUALLY CHANGING THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
SOT DON'T, THIS IS NOT GONNA BE ANYTHING LIKE FORESEE US CHANGING THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT AGAIN.
SO THE ONE THING IS, I THINK WE'RE DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY.
UH, COUNCIL MEMBER EDMUNDS BROUGHT IT UP PLENTY TIME, GIVE US PLENTY OF TIME TO KIND OF GET THIS THING ROLLING.
SO WE DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE TO MAKE A DE DECISION TO TONIGHT, RIGHT.
UM, BUT BECAUSE OF, LIKE I SAID, THAT THE ONLY QUESTION I HAD IS WHAT ARE WE LEGALLY EVEN ALLOWED TO CHANGE IN THE CHARTER? SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, WE NEED TO DO THIS BECAUSE, UM, I DO AGREE WITH THEM.
THERE IS SOME THINGS IN THERE THAT, UH, I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND.
SO IF I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, YOUR AVERAGE CITIZEN PROBABLY ALSO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IT.
'CAUSE I'VE HAD TO SIT HERE AND READ TEXAS LEGISLATION.
SO I WANT IT TO BE AN EASIER DOCUMENT TO READ, UM, AND A LITTLE BIT CLEARER TO UNDERSTAND.
SO, UM, YEAH, I THINK THIS IS A GOOD, GOOD IDEA.
WE JUST NEED TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND TAKE OUR TIME.
ARE THERE ANY PROVISIONS IN OUR CHARTER NOW THAT CONFLICT WITH STATE LAW? I MEAN, LAST TIME THAT WE SAID FOUR OR FIVE THAT WE HAD TO CHANGE? SO THAT WAS MY QUESTION ABOUT THE QUORUM SITUATION.
'CAUSE I KNOW TEXAS IS TWO THIRDS THE STATE, THE STATE'S TWO THIRDS, BUT, UH, BUT NO, WHAT I'M ACCUSTOMED TO ACTUALLY SEEING IN CITY CHARTERS IS A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
SO I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO SEE IT WAS FIVE OR SEVEN FOR, FOR DICKINSON.
AND THAT'S BEEN, THAT'S FROM THE ORIGINAL CHARTER THAT IT WAS THAT WAY.
SO IT WASN'T CHANGED IN 2005 AND IT WASN'T CHANGED IN 21, 22 OR WHATEVER THAT YEAR.
THE TWO CHANGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO THE CHARTER SINCE IT WAS ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN PAST, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN FIVE CALL FOR A VOTE.
[7.D ORDINANCE NO. XXX-2025 - an Ordinance of the City of Dickinson, Texas, to Amend Chapter 2, Administration, of the City of Dickinson Code of Ordinances, by amending Section 2-27 entitled “Council Meetings”, providing a severability clause, a repealer clause, and an effective date.]
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DICKINSON, TEXAS TO AMEND CHAPTER TWO, ADMINISTRATION OF THE CITY OF DICKINSON, CODE OF ORDINANCE BY AMENDING SECTION TWO DASH 27 ENTITLED COUNCIL MEETINGS PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, UH, A REPEAL CLAUSE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.SEVERABILITY DO I HAVE MOTION? AND I HAVE NO ONE TO SPEAK ON THIS, SO ANY MOTION? DO I HAVE ANY, LIKE, ANYTHING TO GO WITH OF WHAT THIS IS ABOUT? UH, YES SIR.
UH, SO I PREPARED THIS, UH, ORDINANCE, UH, ALSO AT THE REQUEST OF, WELL, ACTUALLY IT WAS YOU MAYOR.
THAT, THAT MADE THE REQUEST TO, UH, TO CHANGE THE RULES REGARDING, OKAY.
SORRY, I FORGOT TO, SO WE'RE GONNA PULL THIS.
'CAUSE UM, LIKE I SAID, LAST TIME I WAS LOOKING AT DOING TWO, UM, TWO PEOPLE TO ENDORSE.
SORRY, I, THAT IS NOT WHAT I EXPECTED TO SEE.
BUT ANYWAYS, UM, I GUESS I CAN'T MAKE A MOTION, BUT WE DON'T NEED TO DO THAT 'CAUSE WE DON'T NEED TWO PEOPLE TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
UM, THE ONLY THING I WOULD RECOMMEND, UM, IS WE PUT ON EVERY, UH, AGENDA ITEM WHO ENDORSED IT, WHETHER IT BE STAFF OR A COUNCIL MEMBER OR MYSELF.
UM, THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD HELP SIGNIFICANTLY.
LIKE FOR SOMETHING TONIGHT, IF I WOULD'VE SEEN THAT, I WAS LIKE, OH, THAT'S WHAT I PUT.
BUT I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU GUYS, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I TOLD SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS TO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
[8. EXECUTIVE (CLOSED) SESSION(S)]
CLOSE SESSION AT 8 49, UH, FOR EIGHT A.ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE BACK AT NINE 15.
UH, SO NINE ACTION ITEMS FROM EXECUTIVE CLOSED SESSION NINE A.
UM, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND, UM, PULL THAT.
THERE'S NO, UH, ACTION TO BE DONE TONIGHT.
UM, I GUESS WE WILL, UH, I CAN, I'LL JUST GO TALK TO THE CITY.
I'LL TAKE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY ABOUT WHAT WE, UM, SO WE WILL BE REQUESTING A DOCUMENT, BUT IT'S A LIKE A BLANK STATEMENT THING FROM TML, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THERE'S NOTHING TO DO FOR NINE.
[10. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
NEW AGENDA ITEMS, WHAT YOU GOT, FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS, ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT WE WANT TO THROW FOR THE NEXT MEETING THAT POPPED UP IN YOUR HEAD? YEAH.[01:50:01]
WANNA GO AHEAD AND PUT THAT PERSONNEL POLICY BACK ON IT? I KNOW IT WASSO GET ON WITH THAT AND SET A DATE, I GUESS NEXT WEEK SO WE CAN START HAVING A BUDGET WORKSHOP AND GET THIS OVER WITH SO WE CAN SIT DOWN AND JUST ROUND TABLE AND GET IT OVER WITH.
I WANT TO REACH OUT TO DR. HOLT.
HE'S MISSED BOTH OF THE BUDGET WORKSHOPS, SO I WANNA SET A DATE WHERE HE'LL, WE CAN BE SURE TO BE HERE AS WELL.
UM, AND THEN, UH, THIS ISN'T AN AGENDA ITEM, BUT UM, UM, CITY SECRETARY, IF WE COULD JUST PUT ON EVERY AGENDA ITEM WHO PROPOSED IT.
SO WE'RE JUST GONNA ADD THAT TO OUR AGENDA ITEMS. EVERY, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, WHETHER IT'S STAFF.
SO IF Y'ALL PRESENT SOMETHING, JUST PUT STAFF, UM, IF IT'S A COUNCIL MEMBER OR MYSELF, BUT, BUT JUST PUT OUR NAMES.
WELL CAN WE, I KNOW YOU WANT TO TALK TO DR. HOLT, BUT I THINK WE MISSED THE OTHER ONE.
I THINK I KNOW WHY HE IS NOT HERE TONIGHT, BUT CAN WE SHOOT AND HE'S STILL ON VACATION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I THINK SO.
I KNOW HE, HE OPERATES ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.
SO CAN WE SHOOT FOR LIKE MAYBE NEXT MONDAY NIGHT AND YES SIR.
SEE IF WE CAN NOT, IF THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY, WE CAN GO OVER TO NEW DOCUMENTS AND OF COURSE EDC NIGHT.
ED C'S A MEET IN THAT CONFERENCE ROOM BACK THERE.
BUT YOU MAY HAVE PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE IN BOTH MEETINGS.
THEY CAN MEET IN THAT CONFERENCE ROOM BACK THERE.
WELL, LET'S, LET'S SEE WHERE, UH, WHAT DR.
HOLT'S, UH, SCHEDULE LOOKS LIKE BEFORE WE START, YOU KNOW, MAKING OTHER PEOPLE MAD.
THERE'S A MEETING UP HERE EVERY, THERE'S A MEETING UP HERE ALMOST EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK.
COULD I REQUEST, UH, ABSOLUTELY ITEM TO CONSIDER REPEALING THE LANGUAGE OF THE UDC, WHICH REQUIRES REPORTING OF EXISTING NON-CONFORMING PROPERTY AND, UH, THE ENFORCEMENT PRESCRIBED THEREIN TO GET ALL THAT, UH, CITY SECRETARY.
SAY THAT AGAIN, COUNCILMAN, PLEASE REPEAT SIR.
CONSIDERATION OF REPEALING THE LANGUAGE OF THE UDC, WHICH REQUIRES REPORTING EXISTING NON-CONFORMANCE, NON-CONFORMING PROPERTIES AND THE ENFORCEMENTS PER AND THE ENFORCEMENT PRESCRIBED, WHICH WAS WHAT WE WERE KIND OF DISCUSSING ABOUT THE AUGUST SUBJECT MATTER, AUGUST CARLENE COPELAND BROUGHT UP TODAY.
JUST, ALRIGHT, YOU GOT THAT NAME? YES SIR.
WHEN IS THAT? IS THAT GOING BACK TO P AND Z? YES.
UH, MR. MOORE HAS THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM MR. MAG ANGELINO, MYSELF, THE CITY, AND HE'S, HE SHOULD BE REPORTING, WE WILL BE, UH, SENDING THOSE BACK TO PNZ FOR THEM TO DELIBERATE TO THEM.
TO MAKE A DECISION TO, UH, TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.
ANYTHING ELSE? MY RE MY REQUEST IS JUST FOR CONSIDERATION TO REPEAL THAT SPECIFIC LANGUAGE IN THE UDC.
UH, APPOINTMENT EX COMMITTERS TO THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND TO PNZ EX OFFICIO MEMBERS TO DMD.
I THINK I ASKED FOR THAT LAST TIME.
YOU, YOU DID ASK FOR THE, UH, EXOFFICIO OR THE NON-VOTING BOARD MEMBERS, UH, TO BE APPOINTED TO DMD, BUT ACTUALLY THERE'S A PROVISION IN CHAPTER 38 53 THAT SPECIFIES THAT THE BOARD, UH, MAY APPOINT NON-VOTING MEMBERS, BUT IT DOESN'T NAME ANYBODY ELSE AS BEING ABLE TO DO IT.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE.
DMD BOARD, I, I GUESS JUST OUTTA CURIOSITY, 'CAUSE THAT WAS A PRACTICE OF CITY COUNCIL TO APPOINT EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS TO BOARDS PRIOR TO THIS AND IT, IT STOPPED IN DMD AND EDC WHEN COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ON BOTH.
SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO ANYMORE? THAT'S CORRECT.
AND, AND BECAUSE I WAS NOT AROUND FOR, WHEN THERE WERE EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS, I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW THAT WORKED.
THE TERM EXOFFICIO MEANS BY VIRTUE OF YOUR OFFICE UHHUH.
SO IT'S REALLY NOT EVEN AN APPOINTMENT, UH, EXOFFICIO IT IS.
UM, IF YOU OCCUPY A PARTICULAR OFFICE, THEN BY VIRTUE OF HAVING THAT OFFICE, YOU MIGHT BE AN EXOFFICIO IN THIS OTHER ORGANIZATION ON THIS OTHER BOARD.
SO IN THE CHAPTER THAT CREATES, UH, THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR, AND THERE WILL BE TWO EX ONE EX-OFFICIAL MEMBER WHO IS THE MAYOR OF THE, OF THE CITY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEN THAT, THAT WAY ANYONE WHO IS OCCUPIES THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR THEN BY VIRTUE OF THAT OFFICE IS AN EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE DMD BOARD.
THERE IS NO SUCH PROVISION, UH, IN THAT CHAPTER.
[01:55:01]
THERE IS NO PROVISION IN THAT CHAPTER FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF NON-VOTING BOARD MEMBERS, EXCEPT BY THE DMD BOARD ITSELF.SO, BUT THE P AND Z THOUGH, WE CAN DO THAT ONE RIGHT? WE CAN DO THE MANAGEMENT JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THERE JUST TO PROHIBIT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT HOW THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS, UH, AND, AND THOSE PROVISIONS ARE SET UP.
THEY ARE SET UP AS LIKE AUTHORIZATIONS TO DO THINGS SO THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF THOSE PROVISIONS, IT CAN'T BE DONE.
I I, I'LL I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THE PROVISION THAT SAYS THAT THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT CAN CONTRACT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.
UM, THAT IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WELL, WHY IS THAT IN THERE? BECAUSE IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT THEN THE ASSUMPTION IS THEY CAN'T DO IT.
AND SO THE WAY THAT THAT CHAPTER IS SET UP IS IT SPECIFIES ALL THE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE WITH THE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
IF IT'S NOT NAMED, IT'S NOT THERE.
IF IT'S NOT NAMED IT, IT'S NOT ABLE TO BE DONE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS WHEN THAT DMD WAS WRITTEN, I KNOW THE TWO PEOPLE WORD IT DID IT, ONE OF 'EM TOLD ME SPECIFICALLY IT WAS WRITTEN THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN BECAUSE THEY HAD WATCHED WHAT COUNCIL HAD DONE TO THE EDC BOARD AND IT HAD BECAME POLITICAL AND THEY WOULD WIPE A WHOLE BOARD OUT IF THEY DIDN'T, IF THE COUNCIL DIDN'T AGREE WITH WHAT THEY WERE DOING, THEY WOULD WIPE THE WHOLE BOARD OUT AND THEY WOULD START FROM SCRATCH.
AND THEY WROTE THAT LAW UNBEKNOWNST TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ON COUNCIL THE WAY THEY DID, AND THEY PROTECTED THAT MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
SO COUNCIL COULDN'T MESS WITH IT LIKE THEY DID THE EDC BOARD AND THAT'S WHY YOU GOT A LAW TODAY LIKE IT IS.
SO IF YOU WANT ANYTHING CHANGED, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO THROUGH YOUR STATE LEGISLATURE AND GET IT CHANGED IN AUSTIN IN TWO YEARS BECAUSE COUNCIL CAN'T CHANGE IT.
FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IT WAS SET UP BY THE STATE FOR DICKINSON, TEXAS ONLY.
SO IF YOU WANT ANYTHING CHANGED, YOU HAVE TO GO TO AUSTIN IN, IN A YEAR AND A HALF.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY MEET AGAIN.
I, I, WELL WE PROBABLY HAVE AN OFFLINE CONVERSATION, BUT I, I DO KNOW WHEN THEY WERE APPOINTING EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS TO BOARDS, IT WAS ABOUT FOSTERING COMMUNICATION, UM, SO THAT COUNCIL CAN KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AT PMZ, WHAT WAS GOING ON IN MM-HMM
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT AND AT AND, AND AT SOME POINT EVEN GENERATING REPORTS AND, AND SENDING THEM IN.
I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE IN THAT LACK OF COMMUNICATION PERIOD ANYMORE.
WELL WE CAN, LET'S, UM, I THINK WE COULD HASH THIS ONE OUT.
WE MIGHT STILL BE ABLE TO STILL CONSIDER PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA.
HOWEVER, WE'LL HAVE A OFF SOME OFFLINE CONVERSATIONS AND THEN WE CAN HAVE THIS FULL DISCUSSION WHEN IT'S ON THE AGENDA ITEM RATHER THAN RIGHT NOW.
SO, UM, BUT I, IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, LIKE, ONCE AGAIN, COMMUNICATION IS EVERYTHING.
I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO COMMUNICATE MORE AND HAVING MORE EYES ON CERTAIN, UM, DOCUMENTS AND, OR, UH, BOARDS AND SEATS.
OTHER THAN THAT, ANYTHING ELSE, IF NOT, NUMBER 11.
ADJOURNMENT MEETING ADJOURNED.