[00:00:02]
[Call to Order]
THE TIME IS NOW 6:00 PM OUR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR FEBRUARY 20TH, 2024 IS NOW IN SESSION.FIRST ON THE AGENDA IS COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN WILL LEAD US WITH THE OPENING PRAYER AND THE PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAGS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF TEXAS.
THANK YOU FOR THE BOMBIES WE ENJOY IN OUR CITY.
HELP US AS THE LEADERS TO MAKE OUR DECISIONS IN THE HIGHEST INTEREST OF OUR CITIZENS AS WE DELIBERATE THE MANY CHALLENGES WE FACE WITH OUR LIMITS.
KNOW THAT WE LOOK TO YOU FOR GUIDANCE ALONG THE PROCESS.
OUR STAFF MAKES THE HARD WORK LOOK EASY, AND WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL EFFORTS AND KNOW THAT IT'S NOW IN OUR HANDS TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE BELIEVE THAT WITH YOUR HELP, WE CAN MAKE THE CHOICES THAT WE, WE WILL SEE IN THE FUTURE.
PLEDGE OF ELANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES, AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WIDGET STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THEE TEXAS.
ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDIVISIBLE.
[Presentations]
A PRESENTATION, UH, CODE ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, THE WEST CA CAST COMMUNITY AWARD SERVICE AWARD TO THE CITY ASSURES THE NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.MR. MAYOR, MR. WILLIAMS, WILL YOU COME DOWN? OH, COME DOWN.
FROM HEIGHT, FROM TELLES TO SHARK.
MR. WILLIAMS, UH, SHIRTZ NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES WAS PRESENTED WITH THE WEST CASTELLA COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD FROM THE CODE ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS, WHICH RECOGNIZES COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT.
LAST YEAR'S EVENT WAS HELD ON FEBRUARY 25TH, 2023, AND WAS HELD IN THE CILLO CREEK WATERSHED WITH JUST OVER 100 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ALONGSIDE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WITH BOOTS ON THE GROUND TEAMS FROM PUBLIC WORKS AND PARKS AND RECREATION, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING BEXAR COUNTY COMMISSIONER PRECINCT FOUR, TOMMY CALVERT'S OFFICE, BEXAR COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, BEXAR COUNTY SCORE, SHERIFF'S UNIT, SLO CREEK, MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY REPUBLIC SERVICES, AND THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER AUTHORITY.
THIS TEAM WORKED FOR TWO DAYS, REMOVING APPROXIMATELY AN AMAZING 31,000 POUNDS OF TRASH, DEBRIS, AND DISCARDED MATERIALS FROM THE SLO CREEK WATERSHED.
THE IMPACT OF THE CLEANUP WAS EVIDENT IMMEDIATELY WITH AN AMAZING REAPPEARANCE OF GREEN SPACE.
SO NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES HAS NOW, UH, FUNDED THIS EVENT ANNUALLY, AND OUR NEXT EVENT WILL BE THIS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH FROM EIGHT 30 TO 1130.
AND IF YOU WOULD JOIN US, YOU'LL GET A FREE BREAKFAST AND PICK UP SOME TRASH.
HERE'S SOME PHOTOS OF THE EVENT, THE BEFORE AND THE LEFT ON THE AFTER ON THE RIGHT.
UM, OUR EVENT IS THIS SATURDAY AT CUTOFF PARK.
AND WITH THAT, MR. MAYOR, MR. WILLIAMS, IF YOU PRESENT THAT TO OUR TEAM, OH, LET ME SAY A FEW WORDS HERE.
YOU KNOW, UH, CLEAN THE CREEK.
IT WAS JUST, UH, THE IMPACT THAT, UH, THE VOLUNTEERS MADE.
UH, BUT NOT ONLY THIS, BUT THE COMMUNITY GETTING INVOLVED.
UH, I THINK WE HAVE FILLED UP FOUR DIFFERENT ONES THAT WE HAD TO STOP 'CAUSE WE RAN OUTTA THE ROOM.
UH, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR, FOR MAKING THAT, UH, ARRANGING THAT.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO IT THIS SATURDAY.
I MIGHT BE A LITTLE SORE 'CAUSE I'M RUNNING OPERATION COMFORT, BUT I'LL BE THERE.
THANK YOU'ALL SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
NOT ONLY DO WE CLEAN THE CREEK, BUT IT ALSO ALLOWS THE WATER TO FLOW SO THAT WE DON'T GET FLOODED.
[00:05:05]
LOOKING FORWARD.I'LL PUT MY DIRTY SNEAKERS, GUYS.
[Proclamations]
NEXT ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PROCLAMATIONS.FIRST ONE IS THE ENGINEER'S WEEK, FEBRUARY 18TH THROUGH THE 24TH.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER HAYWARD WILL BE READING THE PROCLAMATION.
IF I CAN PLEASE HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVES UP HERE, PLEASE.
NATIONAL ENGINEERS APPRECIATION WEEK, FEBRUARY 18TH TO FEBRUARY 24TH, 2024.
WHEREAS ENGINEERS USE THEIR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO FULFILL SOCIETY'S NEEDS.
AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS FACE THE MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME FROM REBUILDING TOWNS DEVASTATED BY NATURAL DISASTERS, CLEANING UP THE ENVIRONMENT AND ASSURING SAFE, CLEAN, AND EFFICIENT SOURCES OF ENERGY TO DESIGNING INFORMATION SYSTEMS THAT WILL SPEED OUR COUNTRY INTO THE FUTURE.
AND WHEREAS ENGINEERS ARE ENCOURAGING OUR YOUNG MATH AND SCIENCE STUDENTS TO REALIZE THE PRACTICAL POWER OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE, AND WHEREAS WE LOOK MORE THAN EVER TO ENGINEERS AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY.
NOW, THEREFORE, ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR, RALPH GUTIERREZ, HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 18TH TO FEBRUARY 24TH, 2024.
AS NATIONAL ENGINEERS, WE, WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF SHIRTZ TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE COMMITMENT, DEDICATION, AND HARD WORK OF OUR WONDERFUL ENGINEERS STAFF THAT PROVIDES OUR GREAT CITY AND OUR CITIZENS.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE WORDS PLEASE? THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNSEL ON BEHALF OF THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
THIS WITH ME THIS EVENING IS TAMMY LAWRENCE, OUR ADMIN ASSISTANT, SAM LOPEZ, ONE OF OUR INSPECTORS, AND BRIAN TIMMONS, ONE OF OUR INSPECTORS ON BEHALF OF THE ENGINEERING TEAM AND ALL ENGINEERS.
THANK YOU FOR THIS RECOGNITION.
JUST LIKE TO THANK OUR ENGINEERING STAFF, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STREETS, THE DRAINAGE, ALL OF THAT IS, UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, UH, TO THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR CITY, AND THEY MAKE IT HELP, THEY MAKE IT HAPPEN, AND THEY MAKE SURE IT'S DONE RIGHT TOO.
NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS ANOTHER PROCLAMATION, AND THAT PROCLAMATION IS THE GEORGE WASHINGTON DAY.
UH, COUNCILMAN MSO WILL BE READING THAT IF I PLEASE HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVES.
I ALREADY SEE PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON DAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2024, WHEREAS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING THE WAR OF REVOLUTION FROM 1776 TO 1783, A WARWAR THROUGH THE BRILLIANT, COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP OF GEORGE WASHINGTON REVERED FATHER OF OUR NATION.
AND WHEREAS GEORGE WASHINGTON, WHO LIVED FROM 1732 TO 1799, MOBILIZED THE CONTINENTAL ARMY AND LED THE AMERICAN COLONIES AGAINST THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, FINALLY DEFEATING THE BRITISH AT THE FAMOUS BATTLE OF YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA.
AND WHEREAS THIS REVERED FOUNDER OF OUR NATION RESISTED THE EFFORTS OF MANY SUPPORTERS TO MAKE HIM A KING OR DICTATOR, INSTEAD USING HIS INFLUENCE AND POWER TO SUPPORT THE CREATION AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND WHEREAS GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS ELECTED AS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SERVING TWO TERMS OF OFFICE FROM 1789 TO 1797, AND THROUGH HIS DEVOTION, WISDOM, AND VISION BECAME THE EXEMPLAR OF DI DISTINGUISHED LEADER LEADERSHIP FOR ALL FUTURE PRESIDENTS.
AND WHEREAS THE WILLIAM HIGHTOWER CHAPTER OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WISHES TO ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THE ETHICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO OUR NATION BY CELEBRATING HIS BIRTH ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22ND, 2024.
[00:10:01]
I PAUL MSO ON BEHALF OF MAYOR RALPH GUTIERREZ, UH, UH, BY THE VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED OF THE CITY OF SHERIFFS, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 22ND, 2024, AS PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON TODAY.WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IF WE WOULD THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE WILLIAM HIGHTOWER CHAPTER OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
I DESCENDED FROM THE, MY SEVENTH GREAT GRANDFATHER WHO FOUGHT IN THE WAR, ALONG WITH 181 OTHER OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS.
UH, EVERYBODY'S LOOKING TODAY, THEY LOOK BACK ON OUR LEADERS AND TELL YOU WHAT THEY DID WRONG, AND JUST THINK HOW WE'RE GONNA BE VIEWED IN 200 YEARS OURSELVES.
ONE THING WE SHOULD REMEMBER WITH GEORGE WASHINGTON, HE WAS THE ONLY LEADER IN HISTORY TO WILLINGLY GIVE UP POWER.
HE WAS THE FIRST ONE TO DO IT.
AND IT'S SET OUR STANDARD IN THE UNITED STATES FROM TO THIS, TO THIS DAY.
HE COULD HAVE BEEN THE NEXT KING, BUT HE SAID, NO, WE SHOULD BE LEADERS.
UH, I AM A HISTORY BUFF AND I'VE BEEN TO MOUNT VERNON SEVERAL TIMES, AND, UH, VERY IMPRESSIVE.
ALSO, UH, AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, IN 250 YEARS, IN TWO YEARS, WE'LL COMPLETE 250 YEARS OF OUR NATION, UH, WITH THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, AND IT COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON AS OUR LEADER AT THAT TIME.
WE HAVE, UH, GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS WEEK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WESTBROOK WILL BE READING THE PROCLAMATION.
AND IF I CAN HAVE, UH, THE STAFF FROM THE GOVERNMENT
UH, WHEREAS THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONS IS TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND ENGAGE THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS ROBUST COMMUNICATION AND GOVERNMENT CREATES TRUST AND INSPIRES RESIDENTS TO TAKE ACTION AND BE INVOLVED, AND WHEREAS GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS CREATE RELATIONSHIPS AND CALLS TO ACTION, BUILD AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING THROUGH STORYTELLING, ENGAGE IN FOSTER ENGAGEMENT ON CIVIC ISSUES, AND USE ALL CHANNELS TO INCLUDE PEOPLE IN CRITICAL DECISIONS.
AND WHEREAS IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE STRONG COMMUNICATIONS IN GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT IS A FOUNDATIONAL ELEMENT OF LIVING IN A DEMOCRACY WHERE CITIZENS HAVE THE FREEDOM TO MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD.
AND WHEREAS CITY OF CHURCH IS PROUD AND HAS DEEP GRATITUDE AND RECOGNITION FOR GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATORS, PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION, HARD WORK, COMMITMENT, ENTHUSIASM, AND SACRIFICE.
NOW, THEREFORE, I RALPH GUTIERREZ, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHURCH, THE HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY 24TH, 2024, AS GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATORS, COMMUNICATORS DAY AND SHIRTZ, TEXAS, AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT TO HAVE DEDICATED THEIR CAREERS TO ENSURE THE CITY OF CHURCHS HAS EFFECTIVE, IMPACTFUL, AND SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES THAT RESONATE AND ARE RELEVANT.
MIKE, SHE THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M LINDA KLEBER, THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, AND THAT PEER WITH ME, I HAVE DEVIN CHRISTIANSEN, OUR COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, AND JENNA, OUR, UM, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST.
UM, AND THESE ARE THE LADIES THAT GET TO BRING YOU GUYS FUN, UM, INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS GOING ON THROUGH MULTIPLE DIFFERENT CHANNELS, WHETHER IT BE DIGITAL AND OR PRINT THROUGH OUR SHIRTS MAGAZINE.
UM, SO WE APPRECIATE RECOGNI RECOGNITION OF THIS DAY.
SO NOW COMMUNICATION IS VERY IMPORTANT.
IT'S HOW WE GET OUR MESSAGE OUT.
IT'S ALSO A WAY OF BEING TRANSPARENT, UH, WITH OUR, WITH OUR RESIDENTS.
[00:15:01]
HAVE ONE MORE, UH, PROCLAMATION.UH, IF I CAN HAVE THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE NATIONAL EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY.
A, THE CITY ASSURES PROCLAMATION, NATIONAL EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY, MARCH 1ST, 2024.
WHEREAS THE CITY ASSURES EMPLOYEES ARE DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO PERFORM THEIR JOBS AND WITH PROFESSIONALISM, COMPASSION, AND PRIDE.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF SHIRTS CURRENTLY HAS 426 EMPLOYEES WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING, PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH, CARING FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE ENFORCING LAWS, SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT, BUILDINGS MAIN, MAINTAINING ROADS, PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH, LICENSING PROFESSIONALS AND BUSINESSES, PRESERVING OUR NATIONAL, OUR HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.
WHEREAS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CHURCH RESIDENTS WHO BENEFIT FROM THE SERVICES PROVIDED EACH DAY BY THE CITY INSURED'S EMPLOYEES.
WHEREAS THE CITY INSURED'S EMPLOYEES SUPPORT THE STATE OF TEXAS GOVERNMENT BY SERVING THEIR RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS FOR THE TAXPAYER'S FUNDS AND JOINING IN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS AND ENHANCED SERVICE DELIVERIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE AGENCIES.
WHEREAS MANY CITY ASURS EMPLOYEES SUPPORT THE WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH ACTS OF VOLUNTARY CHARITY AND INCLUDING SUPPORTING THE MANY WORTHWHILE ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY ASURS.
WHEREAS THE CITY OF SHIRTZ HAS A STAFF APPRECIATION COMMITTEE WHOSE PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO OVERSEE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION EVENTS EACH MONTH, EVENTS THAT INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE CORN HALL COOKOUT TOURNAMENTS, WAFFLE BREAKFAST, FIESTA LUNCH, CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY ASSURANCES ALSO RECOGNIZES EVERY DEPARTMENT'S NATIONAL RECOGNITION DAY, WEEK, MONTH WITH A PROCLAMATION.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RALPH GUTIERREZ MAYORS WITH CITY ASSURANCES DO RECOGNIZE MARCH 1ST, 2024 AS NATIONAL EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY.
AND I ENCOURAGE ALL THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CHURCH TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION THAT OUR EMPLOYEES PROVIDE TO OUR GREAT CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, PLEASE A FEW WORDS.
UM, IT'S MY HONOR TO BE HERE TODAY AS A REPRESENTATIVE.
I AM, BUT ONE OF OF MANY, AS YOU MENTIONED, OUR EMPLOYEES ARE, ARE SO AMAZING.
WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE SUCH TALENT AND COMMITMENT FROM OUR EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE DEDICATED TO THE SERVICE OF THE CITY.
AND SO, UM, AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THE STAFF APPRECIATION COMMITTEE WHO WITHOUT OUR, OUR WONDERFUL EMPLOYEE EVENTS WOULDN'T BE POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
AS OUR CITY MANAGER STATED EARLIER, WE BUILD THIS CITY, BUT OUR STAFF ACTUALLY HELPED US BUILD THE CITY AND MAINTAIN THE CITY AND OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO ALL OF YOU.
[City Events and Announcements]
MOVE ON TO ANNOUNCEMENTS OF UPCOMING EVENTS.UM, SO FIRST TONIGHT WE HAVE INFORMATION ON THE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY.
THE REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN.
IT IS A NINE WEEK COURSE THAT WILL BEGIN ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH AND RUN EVERY THURSDAY FROM MAY 2ND OR THROUGH MAY 2ND FROM SIX TO 9:00 PM THIS IS THE FINAL CALL FOR APPLICATIONS AS THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD.
YOU CAN PICK UP AN APPLICATION AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR ONLINE AT SHIRTS.COM/CPS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD AND SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24TH.
THERE IS THE READ BEFORE BOOKSTORE BOOK SALE AT THE, UH, SHIRTS PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND THAT WILL BE FROM 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM ON BOTH DAYS, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED EARLIER ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH.
IT'LL BE THE SELMA SHIRTS SALUTE TO SERVICE MEMBERS, 5K.
THERE'S RACE DAY PACKET PICKUP, AND ONSITE REGISTRATION AT BLUEBONNET PALACE.
[00:20:01]
WILL BEGIN, UM, 6:45 AM AND I THINK RACE TIME STARTS AT EIGHT.UM, AS REBECCA MENTIONED EARLIER, THE GIVE WHERE YOU LIVE CLEAN THE CREEK EVENT WILL BE FROM EIGHT 30 TO 1130 AT CUTOFF PARK, AND THAT'S AT THE 700 BLOCK OF FM 1518.
UM, MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON SHARKS.COM ON SATURDAY, MARCH 2ND WILL BE THE KIT CANCER PEP RALLY AND 5K RUN 8:00 AM CHECK-IN 9:00 AM START AT PIT PARK.
AGAIN, MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND@SHORTZ.COM.
AND FINALLY, WE'LL BE BACK HERE FOR THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY, MARCH 5TH AT 6:00 PM THANK YOU.
NEXT ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS BY OUR CITY MANAGER, MR. WILLIAMS. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
WE DID HAVE A COUPLE OF PROMOTIONS THIS MONTH.
WILLIAM LEWIS WAS PROMOTED FROM DRAINAGE WORKER ONE TO WATER WASTEWATER WORKER, UH, ONE, AND TOMMY PEREZ WAS PROMOTED FROM UTILITY BILLING SPECIALIST TO SENIOR UTILITY BILLING SPECIALIST.
ALSO, WE HAVE CONGRATULATIONS.
IN ORDER FOR, FOR A FEW ITEMS, THE SHIRTZ PUBLIC LIBRARY WAS AWARDED THE FROM THE TEXAS MUNICIPAL LIBRARY DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION, THE 2023 ACHIEVEMENT OF EXCELLENCE IN LIBRARIES AWARD.
OF THE FIVE HUNDRED AND FOUR, FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEMS IN TEXAS, THE SHIRTZ LIBRARY IS ONE OF ONLY 84 THAT HAVE EARNED THIS AWARD.
WITH THIS HONOR, OUR LIBRARY IS NOW IN THE TOP 15% OF ALL PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE STATE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MELISSA HORNE, THE DIRECTOR AND HER TEAM OF DEDICATED STAFF WHO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ALSO, CONGRATULATIONS GOES OUT TO MERCEDES GUTIERREZ AND YOLANDA VALDEZ FOR THEIR EXCELLENT, THEIR EXCELLENT ACHIEVEMENT IN OBTAINING THEIR SHRM CP CREDENTIALS.
SO SHM IS THE SOCIETY FOR HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND IS THE LARGEST PRIMARY ASSOCIATION FOR HR PROFESSIONALS.
AND THE SHRM PC, UH, CP, EXCUSE ME, IS RECOGNIZED AND VALUED BY EMPLOYERS IN ALL INDUSTRIES AS THE PREMIER HUMAN RESOURCES CERTIFICATION.
THEY'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR MONTHS TO DO THIS, AND IT'S A, IT'S ESSENTIALLY A FOUR HOUR EXAM THAT THEY TOOK.
ALSO, KUDOS GOES OUT TO LINDA KLEPPER, DEVIN CHRISTIANSEN, AND JENNA KOCH, UH, OF OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS TEAM FOR, UM, FOR, UM, THE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE IN WORK IN COORDINATING THE PRODUCTION OF THE 2024 STATE OF THE CITY VIDEO, WHICH IS NOW POSTED ON YOUTUBE AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, A LINK IF YOU WANNA GO CHECK IT OUT.
ALSO, A BIG THANK YOU TO THE STARS OF THE VIDEO, KATHY WOODLEY, SCOTT WAYMAN, LAUREN FROMM, AND SARAH GONZALEZ.
UM, I'LL JUST SAY THEY DID A GREAT JOB PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN MAKING IT ALSO HAPPENING IN THE CITY.
THE SAN ANTONIO STOCK SHOW AND RODEO HAS BEGUN.
THE ANNUAL TRAIL RIDER LUNCH WAS HELD ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH AT PICKLER PICKWELL PARK.
AND, UH, THAT WAS TO WELCOME OUR TRAIL RIDERS TO SHIRTS ON THEIR WEEKLONG RIDE DOWN TO THE RODEO.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS BY THE MAYOR.
UH, THE, UH, WE DID HAVE THE STATE OF THE CITY, UH, VIDEO THAT WAS JUST RELEASED THIS AFTERNOON.
UH, I DO ENCOURAGE OUR RESIDENTS TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT, YOU HAVE A GOOD LAUGH, BUT ALSO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR CITY.
UH, THANK YOU TO ALL THE STARS THAT APPEARED ON ON THAT VIDEO.
AND ALSO, UH, WE HAD THE, UH, POLICE BANQUET AWARDS, UH, LAST WEEK.
AND, UH, THANK YOU TO, UH, TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR PROVIDING THE SAFETY AND SECURITY TO OUR RESIDENTS.
[Hearing of Residents]
HEARING THE RESIDENCE.THIS TIME IS SET ASIDE FOR ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL.
EACH PERSON IS LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES.
AND WE ASK BEFORE ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL FOR THE RECORD, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
NOW, AS I WANNA POINT, POINT OUT IS THERE IS TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT ARE ON OUR AGENDA, AND YOU HAVE AN OPTION YOU CAN SPEAK DURING THE HEARING OF RESIDENCE, OR YOU CAN WAIT AND SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, OR YOU CAN SPEAK AT BOTH.
THE CHOICE IS YOURS, MAYOR PRO TEMP, PLEASE CALL OUR FIRST, UH, SPEAKER DANIEL JAMESON.
I BRING BITTERSWEETS AND THAT IS THIS PAST SATURDAY, LATE A, UH, EARLY AFTERNOON WHEN RESPONSE WITH THE EMS SHIRTS THAT WAS FOUNDED BACK IN 1974 WITH MARY LOU MALONE AND HER HUSBAND, HANK MALONE.
THEY RESPONDED REALLY, REALLY SUPERLY QUICK FOR MY
[00:25:01]
DAD'S CARE.SO A CUJO TO OUR EMS SYSTEM AND THE WAY THEY RESPOND.
IN A TIME OF THIS SATURDAY AFTERNOON, I FOUND MY DAD DECEASED FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT COLONIAL FUNERAL HOME PUBLIC VISITATION MARCH THE SIXTH OF THE FUNERAL AT 5:00 PM AND IF ANYBODY WI WISHES TO ATTEND, YOU'RE WELCOME.
ALSO, THE FUNERAL SERVICES THEMSELVES WILL BE MARCH THE SEVENTH, STARTING AT 11 COLONIAL FUNERAL HOME WITH THE INTERNMENT OUT AT FORT SAM WITH MILITARY HONORS ONCE AGAIN FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO ATTEND, THOSE ARE THE DATES AND TIMES.
AND THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TERM RESIDENT OF SHIRTS FOR 50 PLUS YEARS.
AND SO IT'S A BITTERSWEET TO SEE.
AND AS MOST Y'ALL KNOW, THAT'S BEEN MY WORLD.
I TALKED TO THE DEPUTY CITY SECRETARY.
I GET A CALL FROM A MAYOR AND HIS WIFE SENDING THEIR CONDOLENCES.
SO STAFF COUNCIL KUGELS OUT TO OUR MAYOR AND HIS SUPPORT IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND MY HUMBLE GRATITUDE FOR YOU AND YOUR WIFE.
I CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOU'RE LOST.
[Consent Agenda Items]
AGENDA ITEMS ARE REQUIRED, ARE CONSIDERED SELF-EXPLANATORY, AND INFORMATION PACKETS ARE PROVIDED TO COUNCIL AND AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC VIEWING.THESE ITEMS REQUIRE NO SEPARATE DISCUSSION UNLESS REQUESTED BY COUNSEL.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, APPOINTMENT REAPPOINTMENTS FOR BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES.
ITEM NUMBER THREE, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 20.
ITEM NUMBER FOUR, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 21.
ITEM NUMBER FIVE, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 16.
ITEM NUMBER SIX, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 17.
ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 15.
ITEM NUMBER EIGHT, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 22.
ITEM NUMBER NINE, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 18.
ITEM NUMBER 10, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 10.
ITEM NUMBER 11, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 14.
AND ITEM NUMBER 12, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 13.
COUNSEL, DO ANY OF THESE NEED TO BE REMOVED FOR SEPARATE ACTION? IF NOT, IS THERE A MOTION TO CON, UH, TO APPROVE CONSENT AND AGENDA ITEMS ONE THROUGH 12, SO MOVED.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAYWARD.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WATSON.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COUNSEL, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE CAN PUBLISH THE VOTE, PLEASE.
WE HAVE SIX YAYS, NO OBJECTIONS.
[Discussion and Action Items]
13.AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN ER ENERGY EFFICIENT AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT OF APPLICATION AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE AWARDING AGENCY TO IMPROVE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENT RESIDENCE FLOOR IS YOURS.
GOOD EVENING MAYOR COUNCIL AND MR. WILLIAMS, E-E-C-B-G, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK RAMP NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.
REBECCA VERA, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES MANAGER.
AND I'M LISA LOCKIN, NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES SPECIALIST.
WHAT IS THE E-E-C-B-G? IT'S THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK RAMP.
THIS IS A FLEXIBLE FUNDING OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THAT OFFERS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FUNDING TO INVEST IN A VARIETY OF CLEAN ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENT PROJECTS.
SHIRTZ HAS A POTENTIAL ALLOCATION OF $76,400 IF APPROVED.
THE PROGRAM PROPOSAL WOULD BE USING A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TEMPLATE TITLED BUILDING EFFICIENCY AND ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES WOULD DEVELOP A PROGRAM FOR ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS THAT WOULD FOCUS ON LESS ENERGY CONSUMPTION
[00:30:01]
AND NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES.ALSO WOULD FACILITATE INSTALLATION OF APPROVED EFFICIENT ELECTRIC APPLIANCES OR HIGHLY RATED INSTALLATION.
THIS IS A TWO YEAR PROGRAM GOAL.
OUR FOCUS WOULD BE ON ASSISTING LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES WOULD ALSO COORDINATE WEATHERIZATION UPGRADES.
THE GOAL WOULD BE TO REPLACE OUTDATED, EFFICIENT, INEFFICIENT APPLIANCES.
BY DOING THIS, WE WOULD REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, LOWER ENERGY BILLS, AND IMPROVE COMFORT AND THE SAFETY OF SHIRT HOMES.
HERE'S JUST A PICTURE OF THE POTENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENT UPGRADES THAT COULD TAKE PLACE HERE IN SHIRTS.
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES HAS A PROPOSED PROGRAM.
FIRST, THE RESIDENTS WOULD SUBMIT COMPLETED APPLICATIONS INCLUDING ALL REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTATION.
THEN NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES STAFF WOULD REVIEW AND PERFORM PRELIMINARY INSPECTIONS AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATION TO THE EE CBG VOUCHER ADMINISTRATOR FOR APPROVAL.
THE APPROVED WORK IS THEN COMPLETED BY A PRE-APPROVED CONTRACTOR.
THE CONTRACTOR WOULD BE PAID FROM AN ACCOUNT THAT WE'RE CALLING THE REIMBURSABLE ADVANCE ACCOUNT.
PAID INVOICES COULD THEN BE SUBMITTED TO THE EE CBG VOUCHER ADMINISTRATIVE ADMINISTRATOR PORTAL.
THEN THE PAYMENTS WOULD COME BACK FROM THE DOE AND BE PLACED INTO THE REIMBURSABLE ADVANCE ACCOUNT.
THE VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT IS OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY IS HAS STREAMLINED APPLICATIONS, ELECTRONIC FILING.
THEREFORE ALL PAYMENTS ARE REIMBURSABLE A HUNDRED PERCENT.
IF COUNSEL APPROVES, THESE ARE THE KEY STEPS THAT NEED TO TAKE PLACE.
OUR REQUIRED DEADLINE IS APRIL 30TH, 2024.
FIRST, WE WOULD NEED TO REGISTER FOR THE AWARD MANAGEMENT AND THIS IS THE THREE WEEK PROCESSING TIME.
THEN WE WILL GO AHEAD AND REGISTER FOR FED CONNECT, PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION APPLY ON THE DOE PORTAL.
FINALLY, SOME KEY FACTS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, IF APPROVED, THIS PROGRAM WOULD SPAN TWO FISCAL YEARS.
THE GROUND AMOUNT IS $76,400 AND IT PROVIDES FOR 100% OF THE FUNDS THAT ARE REIMBURSABLE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
THE VOUCHER SYSTEM REQUIRES THE CITY OF SHIRTS TO SUBMIT FOR REIMBURSEMENT ON APPROVED PROJECTS AND HAS ZERO FISCAL IMPACT.
ALL APPROVED EXPENSES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE EE CBG VOUCHER ADMINISTRATOR FOR A FULL REIMBURSEMENT AS OF THE END OF JANUARY, 2024.
JUST A FEW CITIES IN TEXAS HAVE APPLIED AND RECEIVED ALLOCATION.
WE COULD PUT SHIRTS ON THE MAP.
ALRIGHT, COUNCIL FLOOR'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SHARE.
COUNCIL MEMBER WESTBROOK BROKE.
HEY, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, LISA.
UM, I THINK IN YOUR PRESENTATION IT MENTIONED THAT THIS OPTION WOULD BE OPEN TO LOW TO MODERATE INCOME SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE.
UM, WHAT IS THE, HOW DO YOU DEFINE LOW TO MEDIUM INCOME? LIKE WHAT IS, IS IT 50,000 A YEAR? 30,000 A YEAR? HOW DO YOU DEFINE ALL THAT IS SET FROM THE, UM, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES? UM, I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A CHART THAT I CAN CERTAINLY GET TO YOU.
UM, THERE'S AN ORGANIZATION IN TOWN CALLED ACOG AND THEY SERVICE VETERANS AND LOW TO MODERN INCOME
[00:35:01]
RESIDENTS.AND IF THIS WOULD BE APPROVED, WE WOULD BE USING THEIR GUIDELINES.
AND I GUESS THE FOLLOW UP, BUT I GUESS IT CAN BE SUBMITTED LATER AS SORT OF A ESTIMATED PERCENT OF COMMUNITY MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS.
SO JUST WHAT'S THE DEFINITION AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF SHIRTS WOULD ACTUALLY MEET THE LOAD TO IN LOW TO MODERATE INCOME STANDARDS? AND I GUESS IF WE SELECT, UH, IF WE SELECTED, WE WOULD, UH, HOW WOULD WE ADVERTISE IT? IT'S ON, I'M SORRY.
HOW WOULD WE, HOW, HOW WOULD IT BE ADVERTISED TO THE PUBLIC? OH, UH, WE'RE ALREADY KIND OF WORKING ON A WEBSITE WHERE JUST LIKE WE HAVE GRAFFITI ABATEMENT, WE'D, WE'D HAVE SOME WEATHERIZATION UPGRADE OR, UM, ENERGY EFFICIENT AND BLOCK GRANT SUBSIDIES THAT WE COULD HAND OUT.
SO WE'D HAVE ALL THAT WORKED UP.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAYWARD, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I LIKE THE IDEA AND THAT YOU'RE PARTNERING WITH ACCO TO GET THIS DONE.
'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF RESIDENTS AND I KNOW THEY DO A LOT OF GOOD THINGS AROUND THE AREA WITH RESIDENTS AND VETERANS.
I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM THAT YOU, YOU GUYS DECIDED TO, UM, PARTNER WITH AND I APPRECIATE THE THANK YOU.
COUNSEL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IS THERE MAKE A MOTION WE ACCEPT GO AHEAD.
I WAS MOTIONING THAT WE ACCEPT AND WE APPROVE THE, THE, THE FUND FOR THE GRANT FOR TO HELP EVERYBODY THAT'S NOT ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS AND ASK FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE HELP.
AND IF THEY NEED IT, IT'S, WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? RIGHT? THAT WAS SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER WATSON.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN.
ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? COUNCIL, IF YOU CAN PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UH, ITEM NUMBER 14.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 24 S ZERO ONE APPROVING AMENDMENTS TWO PART THREE OF THE CHURCH'S CODE OF ORDINANCES, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE UDC, ARTICLE FIVE ZONING DISTRICTS ARTICLE NINE, SITE DESIGN STANDARDS.
AND ARTICLE 14 TRANSPORTATION.
I BELIEVE THIS PASSED ON THE PREVIOUS ONE.
UH, COUNSEL DOES, UH, IS THERE RE IS THERE A REQUEST TO, UH, HAVE THE PRESENTATION? NO.
ANY QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, THAT WE APPROVE ORDINANCE 24 S ZERO.
WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAYWARD AND SECOND BY, I DIDN'T CATCH THAT.
WAS IT COUNCIL MEMBER DAVIS MACALUSO? WE BOTH.
COUNCIL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE CAN PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE CAN, UH, PUBLISH THE VOTE PLEASE AT SIX A'S NO OBJECTIONS.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 15.
ORDINANCE NUMBER 24 S ZERO TWO APPROVING A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT TO ALLOW AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND SERVICES MAJOR ON APPROXIMATELY 1.5 ACRES OF LAND LOCATED 250 FEET EAST OF THE INTERSECTION OF FM 30 0 9 AND BOR FIELD ROAD, ALSO KNOWN AS GUADALUPE COUNTY PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 1 2 9 9 4 9.
ALSO KNOWN AS 1205 BARNFIELD ROAD, CITY OF SHEZ, GUADALUPE, TEXAS.
COUNSEL, UH, THIS IS ALSO A SECOND READING AND WE DIDN'T HAVE A MAJORITY.
IS THERE A NEED TO, UM, HAVE THE PRESENTATION? NO, NO, NO.
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? UH, SECOND.
WE HAVE MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN.
SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAYWARD.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WE CAN PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE CAN PUBLISH THE VOTE, PLEASE.
WE HAVE SIX A'S NO OBJECTIONS.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 16, RESOLUTION NUMBER 24 R 24, AUTHORIZING THE MAIN STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THANK YOU MAYOR BRIAN JAMES, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF SHIRTZ.
I'VE GOT JOHN NOACK WITH OUR ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT HERE
[00:40:01]
WITH ME.UM, LET, LET ME SORT OF START, THERE ARE A FEW OTHER FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE WHO, WHO MAY STEP UP AND CORRECT ME WHEN I MISSPEAK, WHO MAY GET UP AND HELP ME AND AN REALLY ANSWER YOUR TOUGH QUESTIONS.
UH, WE'VE GOT THE TEAM FROM KIMLEY HORN, STEPHEN ANNUAL LEO O'BRIEN, AND CHANCE DICE.
UH, I'D ALSO BE REMISS IF NOT BEFORE GIVING THIS PRESENTATION, TALK ABOUT ALL THE HARD WORK RELATED TO MAIN STREET, UM, THAT SOME STAFF HAVE DONE.
OBVIOUSLY JOHN NOAC WITH A LOT OF THE ENGINEERING COMPONENTS.
SAM HAAS, WHO'S, WHO'S LEFT, UH, IMMEDIATELY AFTER, WHO'S DONE A LOT OF ORDINANCE UPDATES FROM MAIN STREET AND THEN IN OUR EDC DEPARTMENT, ASHLEY RICHIE, UH, WHO HAS BEEN HELPING WITH SOME OF THE MAIN STREET GRANT STUFF, INCLUDING A ROLLOUT OF A KIND OF A GLOSSIER, UH, BROCHURE ABOUT AN APPLICATION FORM TO STREAMLINE THAT AS WELL.
SO I THINK THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A TEAM EFFORT.
NOT TO MENTION, UH, THOSE ON COUNCIL, UH, DAVIS, HAYWARD BROWN AND THE MAYOR WHO'VE BEEN ON THE MAIN STREET COMMITTEE HELPING, HELPING MOVE THIS THING FORWARD.
SO, UH, WHAT WE ARE HERE FOR TONIGHT, REALLY AT THIS POINT IS TO SEEK YOUR BLESSING TO, TO PUSH FORWARD ON IT.
WE'VE BEEN AT IT FOR QUITE A WHILE.
WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THINGS, BUT I THINK A LOT OF YOU CAN SEE THE PROGRESS THAT'S BEEN DONE ON MAIN STREET.
UH, IF YOU GO DOWN TO MOVING ON MAINE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WAS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T HAVE A FEW YEARS AGO.
UH, SO WE'RE GETTING THESE ACTIVITIES.
IF YOU GO DOWN, UH, AFTER TONIGHT'S COUNCIL MEETING, EITHER TO GO, WHAT A GREAT COUNCIL MEETING OR, OH, THAT WAS A ROUGH COUNCIL MEETING, UH, MAYBE GET SOMETHING TO EAT OR DRINK.
YOU CAN DO THAT ON MAIN STREET NOW.
UH, SO WE'VE CERTAINLY, UH, SEEN THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR WITH IT.
UM, SO WITH THAT THOUGH, BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS ESSENTIALLY TO TELL YOU THIS IS THIS IS WHERE WE ARE IN TERMS OF, UH, THE PROGRAM, WHAT WE PLAN TO DO.
AND REALLY THE BIG THING IS THE COST.
UH, THIS STUFF IS ONLY GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE AND THIS CERTAINLY IS AS WELL.
UM, SO WE'LL COVER THE PROJECT RECAP.
WE'LL KIND OF COVER SOME OF THE ENGINEERING DESIGN CONCEPTS, THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONCEPTS, WHAT WE'RE SORT OF DOING WITH LIGHTING, SOME OF THE COORDINATION THAT OCCURS, REALLY WHAT THE PROJECT COSTS ARE, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR A BLESSING ON.
AND AGAIN, LIKELY WHAT YOU'LL SEE NEXT WEEK IF YOU'RE, IF YOU GIVE US THE GO AHEAD IS JOHN BACK UP HERE AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH THE AGREEMENT WITH GVC TO START THAT UNDERGROUNDING OF THE OVERHEAD UTILITIES, WHICH HAS A LONG LEAD TIME.
UM, BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IS THE, THE TEAM WITH KIMLEY HORN WORKING WITH JOHN HAS COMPLETED THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING TO DEVELOP THIS SORT OF INITIAL DESIGN CONCEPT.
WE'VE MULT A NUMBER, MET A NUMBER OF TIMES WITH THE MAIN STREET COMMITTEE AND OTHER FOLKS AND RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE AREA TO GATHER THEIR INPUT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 70% DESIGN DONE, WHICH WE FEEL LIKE IS ENOUGH.
AND I SAY THIS AS IT MAY COME BACK AND BITE ME THAT WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S OUT THERE, BUT AS YOU'VE HEARD JOHN TALK BEFORE WITH A LOT OF OLD INFRASTRUCTURE, SO YOU ACTUALLY GET IN IT, YOU, YOU FIND STUFF IN THE WAY.
BUT WE THINK WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD HANDLE ON A LOT OF THE ISSUES AND THAT'S REFLECTED HERE.
UM, AND THEN AGAIN, WE'VE ALSO, UH, BEEN COORDINATING THE TEAM HAS BEEN COORDINATING WITH THE UTILITIES THAT'LL BE IMPACTED BY THIS, UH, GOING FORWARD, INCLUDING THE UNDERGROUNDING OF THE OVERHEAD LINE AND THEN COORDINATING WITH TXDOT.
'CAUSE AGAIN, AS YOU KNOW, A PORTION OF THAT COMES AROUND AS TXDOT PROPERTY.
WE WOULD NEED THEIR SUPPORT AND APPROVAL.
UM, SO AGAIN, JUST THE OVERALL LAYOUT TO, TO GIVE YOU A, A FEEL FOR WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
AS YOU LOOK AT MAIN STREET FROM SORT OF LINDBERGH ON DOWN THROUGH FIRST STREET IN RANDOLPH, A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS, IS VISUAL SO THAT FOLKS UNDERSTAND IT LOOKS DIFFERENT, IT FEELS DIFFERENT.
UM, SO THERE IS SOME WORK DONE ON WINDBERG.
YOU'LL NOTICE WE'VE GOT SOME ANGLED PARKING THERE, WHICH IS SO CRITICAL FOR FOLKS IN THE AREA, GIVEN THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PARKING TO HELP OUT WITH THAT.
YOU'LL NOTICE WE'RE DOING MEDIAN WORK.
UH, YOU'LL NOTICE THE CROSSWALKS, THE DECORATIVE, UH, STAMPED COLORED CONCRETE.
UH, IF YOU LOOK AT RANDOLPH, THOSE ARE SORT OF STRUNG LIGHTS, UH, YOU KNOW, CRISSCROSS OVER TO ILLUMINATE THOSE KEY INTERSECTIONS BETTER AND CREATE THAT SENSE OF PLACE WE'RE SHOOTING FOR.
UM, YOU'LL ALSO SEE SOME NOTES FOR SOME ENTRY MARKERS THAT I'LL COVER MORE AS WELL.
SO REALLY WHAT WE WANT FOLKS TO KNOW IS WHEN YOU'RE DOWN THERE, WE WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU'RE IN MAIN STREET.
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU'RE AT THAT SORT OF HEART OF THE CITY THAT HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY, THAT I THINK AS THE COMMUNITY HAS GROWN AND AS SORT OF THE ECONOMIES OF THE CITY AND OF THE REGION HAVE CHANGED, UM, YOU KNOW, SORT OF LOST THAT SENSE OF PLACE AND THAT FOCAL POINT.
UH, AND WE'RE TRYING TO BRING THAT BACK.
SO WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE COME VISIT FROM OUT OF TOWN AND THEY SAY, HOW DO I GET A FEEL FOR WHAT SHIRTS IS THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS YOU WOULD TAKE THEM ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER GREAT, UH, FACILITIES IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR PARKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THE OVERALL LAYOUT, UM, AGAIN, HOW THIS PROJECT HAS CHANGED AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS IS, UH, IT'S A FULL DEPTH RECONSTRUCTION OF MAIN STREET, REALLY FROM LINDBERGH TO SHIRTZ PARKWAY.
UM, AND, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I'D BE REMISS TO TALK
[00:45:01]
ABOUT WHILE WE'RE DOING ALL OF THIS UNDER THE MAIN STREET UMBRELLA, WHETHER OR NOT YOU WERE SEEKING TO REVITALIZE MAIN STREET, YOU WOULD NEED TO GO IN AND DO A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THIS.IF YOU'VE BEEN DOWN THERE, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS JUST AGED.
UM, AND THAT WORK ON THE ROAD NEEDS TO BE DONE REGARDLESS.
JUST LIKE ALL OF THE OTHER STREETS AND AREAS WE'RE DOING IN OUR, IN THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO WANT TO TRY TO MAXIMIZE THE DEGREE WE CAN.
SOME OF THE ON STREET DRAINAGE.
NOW, I WANNA BE REALLY CLEAR, WE AREN'T GONNA FIX THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE.
SOME OF THAT AREAS IN THE FLOODPLAIN, IT'S REALLY FLAT.
IT'S HARD TO GET WATER TO MOVE.
BUT WHILE WE'RE OUT THERE DOING THIS, WE WOULD BE REMISS TO NOT TRY TO MAKE IT A BIT BETTER.
SO THE IDEA IS TO HAVE, UH, LESS OF THAT PONDING MOVE THE WATER A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN IT IS TODAY.
UH, BUT I DON'T WANT PEOPLE, WE'RE OUT THERE AT A BIG CELEBRATION, HOPEFULLY A FEW YEARS FROM NOW, AND IT'S POURING DOWN RAIN AND GOING, I THOUGHT YOU SAID WE WOULDN'T BE STEPPING IN PUDDLES.
YOU'LL STILL BE STEPPING IN SOME PUDDLES, BUT IT WON'T BE AS BAD AS IT IS.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS AN AREA WE HAVE TO TACKLE THOUGH.
WE ARE GONNA INCORPORATE DECORATIVE PAVEMENT AT KEY LOCATIONS.
NOW YOU'RE SORT OF SEEING THAT STUFF THROUGH PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, EVEN WITH TXDOT, AS YOU KNOW, ON THE COLUMNS.
WE'RE GETTING OUR LOGO PLACED ON THOSE.
WE'RE GETTING OUR NAME EMBEDDED.
SO THIS STUFF ISN'T NEW, YOU SEE IT IN COMMUNITIES AROUND US, BUT WE'RE OUT THERE WITH THE CONCRETE WORK.
WE'RE GONNA DO DECORATIVE COLORED SECTIONS WITH IT.
WE'RE GONNA INCORPORATE THOSE PATTERNS AT THE CROSSWALKS.
WE WANT IT TO BE MUCH MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY ON THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH MAIN STREET IS, IT'S PRETTY WIDE.
SO THIS IS, ALL OF THESE THINGS HELP KIND OF SLOW PEOPLE DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
HELP IT MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AND KIND OF ACCOMMODATE THINGS BETTER.
SO AGAIN, STAMPED COLORED CONCRETE IN LIEU OF THE TYPICAL PAVERS.
IF YOU TALK, AND I THINK OUR PUBLIC WORKS FOLKS ARE A LITTLE BIT BACK THERE, IF YOU NOTICE, WHENEVER THEY DO WORK ON SHIRTS, PARKWAY ON THE OTHER SIDE, THEY HAVE THOSE PAVERS THAT THEY HAVE TO SORT OF DEAL WITH ON THE EDGE OF THE SIDEWALK.
DON'T WANT TO GET INTO THAT AGAIN.
SO AGAIN, WE'RE DOING THE STAMP DECORATIVE COLORED CONCRETE.
AND THEN AGAIN, AS DEALING WITH SOME OF THAT DRAINAGE, AND I'LL SHOW YOU THIS IN A MINUTE, THERE'S SOME LITTLE RETAINING WALLS THAT NEED TO BE ADDED AS WELL.
SO A LOT OF THIS, WHERE YOU'RE GONNA SEE THE COST IS, IS REALLY WORK THAT JUST NEEDS TO BE DONE.
WHETHER YOU'RE TRYING TO REVITALIZE MAIN STREET OR NOT, IT'S JUST OLD INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND THAT DOESN'T COVER THE WATER IN THE SEWER.
THAT IF WE'RE GONNA TEAR THE STREET UP, WE'D BE REMISS AGAIN.
AGAIN, THE SIDEWALK ON SHEZ PARKWAY THAT'S CONSTANTLY BROKEN UP BECAUSE OF THE WATER LINE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO GO IN AND REDO A HUGE SECTION OF SIDEWALK AND MAKE IT ALL PRETTY AND NEW IF WE DON'T DEAL WITH THAT WATER LINE WITH THE BRAKES, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO AGAIN, HERE'S A TYPICAL CROSS SECTION THAT, THAT YOU CAN SORT OF SEE OF WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR THE STREET.
I KNOW THIS IS WHAT JOHN IS MOST EXCITED ABOUT.
JOHN, ANYTHING YOU WANNA MENTION, PARTICULARLY WITH THE CROSS SECTION? ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE IS, IS THE DRAINAGE.
AND TO MAKE THINGS WORK AS, AS WELL AS WE COULD, WE KIND OF HAVE TO TREAT THIS STREET A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN YOUR NORMAL.
INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING A CENTER CROWN WHERE EVERYTHING GOES TO THE GUTTER, WE'RE ACTUALLY PUTTING SOME VALLEY GUTTERS, SOME CONCRETE VALLEY GUTTERS, KIND OF ON THE EDGE OF WHERE THE PARKING WOULD BE.
NUMBER ONE, IT HELPS US MOVE THE WATER A LITTLE BIT BETTER.
AND AT SOME OF THE INTERSECTIONS WHERE WE'RE DOING A CURVE BULL BELTS TO SHORTEN THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING LENGTH AND ALSO, UM, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN, IS TRYING TO GET THE WATER TO FLOW OUT AND AROUND THAT BULB OUT IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT.
BUT BY DOING THIS WAY, WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THAT MAIN WATER PATH OUT AWAY FROM THE EDGE.
SO IT DOESN'T, WE CAN GO BY THE, THE BULB OUTS.
UM, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT CROSS-SECTION, BUT THIS IS KIND OF THE BEST THAT WE COULD COME UP WITH AND STILL KIND OF WORK WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK THAT WE HAVE.
WE ARE MAKING, UM, SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE GRADE.
'CAUSE THERE'S SOME PLACES OUT THERE WHERE IT'S DEAD FLAT AND OUR MINIMUM STANDARD IS HALF A PERCENT, WHICH ISN'T A WHOLE LOT AND WE CAN'T EVEN GET TO A FULL HALF PERCENT.
WE'RE GETTING TO JUST UNDERNEATH.
AND THAT'S ABOUT THE BEST WE CAN DO AND, AND STILL BE ABLE TO MATCH EVERYTHING.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THIS TO TRY TO BALANCE THINGS OUT AND TRY TO GET EVERYTHING TO FIT, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THE CURVE TOO.
WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF THAT.
AND SO THIS IS A, A DIFFERENT STREET SECTION THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE BECAUSE OF THAT.
AND AGAIN, PART OF THAT IS TO, AS JOHN SAID, TO GET AROUND THE BUMP OUTS.
PART OF THAT, THOSE, YOU KNOW, IS IF WATER STANDS ON OUR ROADS, THAT'S WHERE WE START GETTING THEM FALLING APART AND TEARING APART AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO AGAIN, A LOT OF THIS IS BASE CORE INFRASTRUCTURE STUFF UNIQUE TO KIND OF MAIN STREET AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE.
UM, AGAIN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE WANTED TO POINT OUT IS ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'VE GOT IS MAIN STREET IS A VERY WIDE ROAD.
WE HAVE FOLKS THAT PARK ON EITHER SIDE NOW THAT'S GONNA BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.
BUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS FRAME IT UP AGAIN.
ONE OF THE ISSUES WE'VE HAD IS PEOPLE PARK A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO THE INTERSECTION.
[00:50:01]
WITH SITE VISIBILITY.IT CREATES ISSUES WITH EMERGENCY VEHICLES KIND OF TURNING.
SO ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THOSE BUMP OUTS IS IT TELLS PEOPLE YOU CAN ONLY PARK ON THAT STREET UP TO THIS POINT.
YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE INTERSECTION FREE.
AND THEN AGAIN, IF YOU'RE A PEDESTRIAN, IT SHORTENS THAT DISTANCE WHEN YOU'RE STEPPING OUT INTO THE PAVEMENT OF THE ROAD TO MAKE IT MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY.
YOU'VE SEEN THIS IN SAN ANTONIO AND SPOTS, YOU'VE SEEN THIS IN SOME OF THE SURROUNDING NORTHEAST PARTNERSHIP COMMUNITIES AS THEY'VE, THEY'VE REDEVELOPED.
UH, BUT THAT STILL ALLOWS THOSE 12 FOOT DRIVE LANES.
SO AGAIN, WE HAVE TO MOVE TRAFFIC AND IT'LL CONTINUE TO MOVE TRAFFIC EFFICIENTLY.
AND THEN AGAIN, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING NOW AS WE MOVE INTO, WELL MOVING OUT OF THAT BASE STUFF THAT WE REALLY HAVE TO DO, WHAT ARE THE THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO DO TO HIGHLIGHT, UH, REALLY MAIN STREET IN THE COMMUNITY? AND SO A LOT OF THAT GOES TO THE LANDSCAPE AND IT GOES TO THE, UH, MONUMENTATION THAT WE'RE DOING.
IT'S A LONG SECTION OF ROAD OF MAIN STREET THAT WE'RE TALKING AND THOSE OF YOU WHO'VE BEEN OUT THERE ON MOVING ON MAIN AND YOU'VE WALKED THAT DISTANCE, IT'S A LOT LONGER THAN YOU INITIALLY THINK AND FEELS.
AND SO WE NEED SOME HEIGHT BECAUSE WE'RE TRYING TO CATCH THE ATTENTION OF DRIVERS, BUT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO HAVE SOMETHING COOL AND IMPRESSIVE FOR FOLKS, UM, GOING OUT THERE.
UM, AND SO, UM, THIS GIVES YOU A FEEL OF ONE OF THE LARGE ENTRY MONUMENTS THAT'S GONNA BE DOWN AT THE WEST END.
IT REALLY SORT OF SIGNALS THAT SENSE OF PLACE.
HEY, YOU'RE SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT.
YOU REALLY OUGHT TO STOP, SLOW DOWN, LOOK AROUND, CHECK EVERYTHING OUT.
UM, BUT AGAIN, WE'RE GOING IN AND WE'RE UPDATING THE, UH, LIGHTING WITH THE ORNAMENTAL LIGHTING THAT'S A BIT MORE EFFICIENT.
NOW AGAIN, WE'RE NOT GOING SORT OF GOLD PLATED TAJ MALL.
WE'RE GOING SOMETHING AESTHETICALLY PLEASING BUT VERY FUNCTIONAL, EASY TO MAINTAIN.
YOU'LL NOTICE WE'VE GOT ON THE POLLS, THE BRACKETS.
SO WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE BANNERS THAT FOLKS STILL LIKE TO SEE AT VERY EVENTS EITHER 4TH OF JULY OR AT HOLIDAY SEASONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
UH, THE OTHER THING IS WE'VE GOT SOME OF THE POLES THAT AT THOSE INTERSECTIONS THAT I MENTIONED ARE TALLER.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE AGAIN, WE'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO STRING THOSE LIGHTS ON A CRISSCROSS PATTERN TO KIND OF ILLUMINATE THE INTERSECTION BETTER, BUT JUST GET A COOL, NICE LOOK TO IT AGAIN, SENSE OF PLACE.
SO WE, A FEW OF THOSE THAT ARE TALLER COMING IN.
UM, THE OTHER BIG THING THAT WE'RE DOING THAT, AGAIN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE IDEA IS WHAT WE'VE LOOKED AROUND AND SEEN WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE, WHERE THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
IF WE'RE SPENDING SUCH A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY ON THAT BASE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE TO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SORT OF GETS IN THE WAY AND DOESN'T HELP OUR AESTHETICS DOWN THERE ARE THE OVERHEAD UTILITIES.
UM, AND SO THE IDEA IS TO FOCUS ON RELOCATING THE AERIAL FACILITIES UNDERGROUND WITHIN THE PROJECT LIMITS.
AND SO THAT SEEMS EASY, BUT THEN THE QUESTION IS, WELL WHERE DOES ALL THAT STUFF GO? AS IT SAYS, PART OF IT GOES UNDERGROUND, PART OF IT MOVES THE STREET BACK TO EXCHANGE TO TILE TO THE EXISTING LINE THERE.
UM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL SEE A COST WHEN WE COVER IN A MINUTE TO, TO MAKE THIS WORK BETTER FOR EVERYBODY AND MAKE IT WORK LONG TERM SO WE'RE NOT TEARING IT UP, IS IT'S TO INCLUDE, UH, USING A, A SHARED DUCT BANK.
SO THOSE UTILITY COMPANIES THAT ARE GOING FROM OVERHEAD TO UNDERGROUND NOW HAVE A PLACE TO DO WORK NOW HAVE A PLACE TO ADD ADDITIONAL, UM, UTILITIES THERE.
WE WILL HAVE TO DO SOME EASEMENT ACQUISITION GENERALLY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MAIN STREET.
UH, BUT OUR HOPE IS, IS THAT WE GET GOOD RESPONSE FROM THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT TAKING THEIR LAND, WE JUST NEED SOME EASEMENT.
AND A LOT OF THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS, AS YOU'VE SEEN, HAVE COME BEFORE YOU BEFORE AND ASKED FOR MAIN STREET GRANTS, RIGHT? SO THE CITY HAS HELPED THEM OUT BEFORE WE WOULD EXPECT AND THINK THAT WOULD BE RECIPROCATED.
THE OTHER IS THIS PROJECT IS TO BENEFIT THEM.
SO WE REALLY VIEW IT AS PARTNERSHIP.
THE CITY'S PUTTING A LOT OF SKIN IN THE GAME.
WE THINK THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS NEED TO DO THAT.
AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT FROM THEM.
UH, WHEN WE'VE DONE FESTIVALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU'VE SEEN THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS OUT THERE WITH BOOZE OUT THERE ENCOURAGING FOLKS.
AND SO WE'VE SEEN PARTICIPATION.
AND THEN AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, WE REALLY NEED TO UPGRADE THE SEWER AND WATER LINES THERE.
IF WE'RE GONNA RIP THE STREET UP, WE DON'T WANNA RIP THE STREET UP.
AND THEN A WEEK LATER IS, I THINK LARRY'S BACK THERE.
THEY'RE OUT THERE TEARING THE ROAD UP 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT A WATER LINE BREAK.
SO JOHN, YOU WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE GOT WITH REGARD TO WATER AND SEWER? RIGHT NOW, THE EXISTING WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE IS VERY OLD, AND SO IT'S AGED.
IT'S, UH, SUSCEPTIBLE TO LOTS OF PROBLEMS, MORE BREAKS THAN THE NEW MODERN MATERIALS, PARTICULARLY ON THE SEWER SIDE.
THE PIPE THAT'S OUT THERE IS IN ENGINEERING SPEAK, VITRIFIED CLAY, WHICH IS BASICALLY LIKE A CERAMIC PRODUCT.
AND WHILE IT WAS GOOD AND EFFECTIVE AND HIGHLY USED YEARS AGO, IT'S NOT USED AS MUCH ANYMORE BECAUSE WHEN IT STARTS TO FAIL, YOU HAVE PROBLEMS. AND WHEN WE TV THE LINES, THERE'S ACTUALLY SECTIONS HERE WHERE YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE TOP OF THE PIPE.
ALL THAT'S LEFT IS THE SOIL'S SURROUNDING THE PIPE.
AND, AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AND, AND BRING IT UP
[00:55:01]
TO, TO MORE MODERN STANDARDS.AND IT'LL ALSO HELP WITH SOME OF THE SEWER ISSUES THAT WE HAVE DOWN THERE.
YOU MAY HAVE HAVE SEEN, UH, NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE DOWN THERE.
WE HAD TO ACTUALLY REPLACE THE SECTION OF SEWER MAINE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT DID TO ADDRESS THAT SEWER BACKUP THAT OCCURRED.
AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO REPLACE THOSE SYSTEMS WITH A NEW PVC PIPE THAT'LL LAST A LOT LONGER.
AND THEN THE OTHER IS, AS JOHN AND, AND THE, UH, KIMLEY HORN FOLKS REACHED OUT TO THE UTILITY COMPANIES, UH, CENTER POINT GAS SAID, OH, IF YOU'RE DOING THAT, WE WANT TO JUMP ON BOARD.
WE'RE GONNA DO SOME LINE REPLACEMENT AT THE SAME TIME.
SO AGAIN, UH, I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS BECAUSE IT'S A BIG PROJECT, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COORDINATION, UH, THAT'S OCCURRED, WHICH IS POSITIVE.
AND THEN AGAIN, THE TEAM HAS REACHED OUT TO TXDOT.
A PORTION OF THAT IS IN THEIR PROJECT.
UH, WE'VE GOTTEN SOME GOOD FEEDBACK.
PART OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE SECTION IN THE SIDEWALK, PARTICULARLY FRONT DOWN AT THE END OF THOSE BUILDINGS, NEXT TO, UM, THE, THE, THE BANK, UM, INSURANCE BANK AND TRUST WHERE THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD GETTING AROUND TO THINGS.
WE'RE GONNA KIND OF DO SOME THINGS TO CLEAN THAT UP AS WELL.
UM, SO AGAIN, HERE'S THE BIG THING IN THE GAS.
THIS IS SORT OF WHY WE'RE HERE IS AND ALL OF THIS STUFF IS EXPENSIVE.
NOW I WILL SAY 12 OF THAT IS STUFF THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO EITHER WAY IT'S JUST OLD AGED INFRASTRUCTURE AS JOHN MENTIONED.
AND SOME OF YOU KNOW, WE HAD AN ISSUE, AND AGAIN, IT WAS SOMEBODY YOU ACTUALLY DRAINED INTO EXCHANGE, BUT THE, THE SEWER SYSTEM WAS PROBLEMATIC.
SO ABOUT HALF THAT COST IS JUST OLD INFRASTRUCTURE NEED TO BE REPAIRED AT, AT SOME 0.1 WAY OR ANOTHER, AND REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE HERE FAIRLY SOON.
THE OPTIONAL KIND OF REVITALIZATION STUFFS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WAYFINDING SIGNAGE, THE MONUMENTATION, THE LANDSCAPING, THE CLEANING UP, THE MEDIAN, ALL THAT LITTLE STUFF, IT'S ONLY ABOUT 5 MILLION.
NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IT, IT'S REALLY ONLY ABOUT 20% OF THE PROJECT COST.
AND THEN AGAIN, WE'RE UP ABOUT SEVEN AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO UNDER GRIND THOSE OVERHEAD UTILITIES.
SO THAT, AGAIN, AS WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO MAKE THAT INVESTMENT IN MAIN STREET, THEY DON'T HAVE THOSE CHALLENGES OF THE OVERHEAD UTILITIES, THE POLES THAT GET IN THE WAY, THE POLES THAT BLOCK SIDEWALK, THE POLES THAT LIMIT SOME OF THEIR REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I THINK WORKING WITH THE MAIN STREET COMMITTEE, LOOKING AT WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE DONE, UM, FOR THIS TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THE BENEFIT WE WANT IT, IT, WE JUST KIND OF NEED TO GO ALL IN IN STAFF'S OPINION.
AND I WILL SAY THIS WHILE WE TALK ABOUT IT MAIN STREET AND WE TALK ABOUT IT AS A BIT OF A MICROCOSM, MY ARGUMENT WOULD BE IS IF WE DON'T MAINTAIN THESE OLDER CORRIDORS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE SORT OF SEE THAT DECLINE SPILL OVER INTO THE SURROUNDING AREAS.
AND SO WHAT WE DON'T WANNA SEE IS SORT OF A DECLINING IN, UH, OCCUR NORTH.
THE OTHER THING WE'VE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, AND IT'S IT'S DOWN THE ROAD PROBABLY THE NEXT ONE IS 78, RIGHT? THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF 78.
WE'RE DOING SOME STREET REPAIR PROJECTS THERE, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN THE VITALITY OF 78 TO KEEP THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS HEALTHY.
AND SO WE THINK IT'S A GOOD BIG INVESTMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT THE CITY IS DOING.
WE CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN THE INVESTMENT THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE MADE ON MAIN STREET, AND THAT'S BEEN DONE WITH THE CHALLENGES, AS I HAVE SAID, A FLOODPLAIN.
BUT YOU'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF, OF BUILDINGS REDONE.
THE MAIN STREET COMMITTEE HAS HEARD THAT NOW BECAUSE PROPERTY VALUES HAVE GONE UP, WHICH IS GREAT.
UH, THAT CREATES ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES.
SO REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TONIGHT IS THE BLESSING OF COUNCIL TO SAY MOVE FORWARD WHEN WE COME FORWARD WITH OUR CIP.
WE'LL INCLUDE THE MAIN STREET PROJECT AS THE, AS THE FUNDING PLAN AS PART OF THAT, UH, TO DO THAT WE'LL, WE'LL GO THROUGH VARIOUS SOURCES.
WE'RE CERTAINLY GONNA PRESENT TO EDC THIS THURSDAY WHERE WE ARE ASSUMING COUNCIL'S GOOD WITH IT BECAUSE THEY'VE AGREED AT SOME POINT TO HELP OUT.
WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO KICK IN.
THEY'RE DOING A LOT IN SOME OTHER AREAS.
UM, AND THEN IDEALLY WHAT WE'D DO IS WE'D COME BACK AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH THAT AGREEMENT WITH GVC, WHICH HAS A LONG LEAD TIME.
AND THEN WHAT WE'LL DO IS STEP OUT AND WE'LL DO THE INPUT WITH THE STAKEHOLDERS ON MAIN STREET TO GO, HERE'S WHAT THE PLAN LOOKS LIKE, HERE'S THE ROUGH TIMELINE, HERE'S WHAT I NEED IN TERMS OF THE EASEMENTS, AND THEN LET'S NOT FORGET ALL THE OTHER STUFF WE WANT TO KEEP DOING TO, TO KEEP IT GOING FORWARD WITH THAT.
UM, SO WITH THAT, THAT'S THE GENERALLY THE, THE GIST OF IT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO OBTAIN COUNSEL APPROVAL.
WE DO HAVE A SECTION OF PLANS THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU MORE DETAIL AND SHOW YOU SOME OF THE OTHER ELEMENTS.
BUT I THINK SUFFICE IT TO SAY, IF WE DO THIS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WHEN YOU STAND OUT THERE AND, AND SHOW PEOPLE FROM OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT THIS'LL BE RIGHT UP THERE WITH ANY OTHER CITY THAT THEY GO TO AND SEE WITH WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.
AND I THINK, FRANKLY, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, COUNCIL DOES A LOT OF STUFF THAT AFFECTS THE, THE COMMUNITY DOWN THE ROAD.
THIS IS LIKELY THE MOST VISIBLE.
THIS IS THE THING THAT 20, 30 YEARS FROM NOW, SOMEBODY'S GONNA GO, GOD, WHEN DID THEY COME IN AND DO THIS? WAS IT NOT ALWAYS LIKE THIS? LEMME SAY NO, BACK IN 2024, COUNCIL PROVED AND KICKED THIS THING OFF AND WENT FORWARD WITH IT.
[01:00:01]
THINK THIS IS ONE THAT HAS A LASTING IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY AND REALLY FRANKLY, I THINK BRINGS THE OLDER PART OF OUR COMMUNITY BACK TO BEING THAT HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY.THE AREAS IN NORTHERN SHIRTS AND SOUTHERNS SHIRT ARE CERTAINLY IMPORTANT.
WE'RE MAKING INVESTMENT THERE WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL.
BUT IF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S, HOW DO YOU DEFINE SHIRTS OR GIMME SOMETHING THAT EXEMPLIFIES SHIRTS, WE THINK THIS PROJECT MAKES MAIN STREET THAT AND PUTS US ON THE MAP.
AND AGAIN, AS I SAID, IF YOU WERE AT THE CHAMBER OF LUNCHEON TODAY, CITY OF CIAU, WHICH HAS DONE A LOT ON THEIRS, THEY AGAIN HIGHLIGHTED CONTINUING WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING ON MAIN STREET.
YOU'VE SEEN WHAT UC HAS DONE, UH, CERTAINLY WITH THEIRS AND OTHERS.
UH, NEW BRAUNFELS, NOT AN EXAMPLE.
AND SO I THINK REALLY THIS IS ONE THAT WE NEED TO DO TO KIND OF KEEP UP BUT MAINTAIN THE VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT I'LL STOP TALKING AND ANSWER QUESTIONS AND CERTAINLY JOHN OR THE TEAM, UH, CAN ANSWER MORE SPECIFICS OR SHOW YOU SOME MORE OF THE GRAPHICS ON THINGS IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THEM.
COUNCIL FLOOR IS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR GOOD RECAP AND I'D LIKE TO, UH, UH, THANK COUNCILMAN DAVIS FOR KIND OF CHAIRING THIS COMMITTEE HERE FOR THE LAST, WHAT HAS IT BEEN FOUR YEARS NOW?
THIS, THIS HAS NOT, THIS HAS NOT BEEN A SHORT, SHORT TERM PROJECT.
AND WE'RE FINALLY AT THE POINT THERE, UH, UH, WHERE WE CAN START TO MOVE FORWARD AND ACTUALLY SEE SOME DIRT MOVE AND SOME PROGRESS.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE THE, THE, THE HUGE CHALLENGE OF THE FLOOD FLOOD PLAIN DOWN THERE.
IF WE COULD EVER GET OUR, UH, UH, STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES TO, TO FIGHT WITH FEMA A LITTLE BIT AND REDUCE SOME OF THAT, IT MIGHT HELP US, UH, GET THROUGH SOME OTHER STRUGGLES.
BUT, UH, YEAH, I THINK IT'S, I THINK IT'S TIME TO JUST, YOU KNOW, UH, QUIT TALKING ABOUT THINGS, TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF ACTION AND, AND MOVE FORWARD.
AND AGAIN, UH, THANKS TO EVERYBODY THAT'S PUT IN A LOT OF EFFORT, UH, OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES ALONG THE WAY, BUT I THINK IT'S, WE'RE, WE'RE RIGHT WHERE WE WANNA BE.
I THINK THIS IS WHERE THE FOCUS IS THAT EVERYBODY WE'VE TALKED TO, UH, HAS A, A LITTLE BIT OF A VISION AND WE'RE RIGHT, RIGHT, UH, AT THE THRESHOLD.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL MEMBER WESTBROOK.
I THINK THIS, UM, THIS COUPLED WITH THE UDC THAT WE APPROVED EARLIER, I THINK IS A VERY, I SAID, WELL, MORE THAN A FIRST STEP, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S INSTRUMENTAL.
SO YOU'RE GONNA BEAUTIFY THE CITY THROUGH THE 24 MILLION YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW.
AND THEN THE UDC WE ALREADY APPROVED ALLOWS FOR DIFFERENT TYPE OF BUSINESSES TO COME DOWN THERE.
SO THE NEXT STEP IS ESSENTIALLY, I THINK YOU ALLUDED TO IT ALREADY, WAS THE EDC COMES IN THERE TO SORT OF INCENTIVIZE.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL GO TALK TO EDC AGAIN.
IN THE PAST THEY'VE SAID THEY, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP SUPPORT THE FUNDING AGAIN, UNTIL THAT'S DONE, IT'S NOT DONE.
AND SO IT MAY ALL BE ON COUNCIL, BUT CERTAINLY I WILL SAY THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, PART OF IT IS, UM, WE, WE BRIEFED EDC, THEY HAVE HELPED FUND PART OF IT SO FAR.
SO WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ON BOARD WITH IT, UH, SEE WHAT ROLE THEY WANNA PLAY WITH IT.
AND THEN AGAIN, IT'S A BIG TEAM EFFORT FOR STAFF AS WELL.
THE ONLY REASON I BRING IT UP IS YOU DO ALL THE BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS, SO IT'S GREAT LOOKING.
BUT IF NOTHING DRIVES TRAFFIC DOWN THERE.
I'VE SPOKEN TO PEOPLE, YOU COULD, YOU COULD BEAUTIFY ALL THE DOWNTOWN YOU WANT, BUT IF NOTHING DRIVES TRAFFIC, NOBODY SEES IT.
NOW YOU'RE JUST RELYING ON WORD OF MOUTH AND WHICH WILL TAKE CONSIDERABLY MORE TIME.
YOU, YOU'RE PREACHING TO THE CHOIR.
I, I THINK WE AGREE WITH ENTIRE, JUST GOING AND MAKING AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS.
IT ISN'T GONNA DRIVE EVERYTHING ELSE.
SO AGAIN, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS, UM, KUDOS TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT FOR MOVING ON MAIN.
IT BECOMES A REASON THAT MAYBE FOLKS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY NEVER KNEW MAIN STREET WAS THERE, BUT WE HAVE THIS EVENT THAT DRAWS 'EM DOWN.
WE HAVE THE GRANT PROGRAM THAT COUNCIL'S BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF BOTH THE HISTORIC GRANT PROGRAM AND THE, UH, MAIN STREET LOCAL FLAVOR GRANT THAT WE'VE USED TO INCENT BUSINESSES AND MAINTAIN THOSE PROPERTIES AS WELL.
UM, AGAIN, ASHLEY RITCHIE FROM EDC STAFF SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS CAN LOOK BETTER, IT CAN BE PRETTIER, IT CAN BE JAZZIER, IT CAN RO YOU.
SO SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON THAT.
SO YEAH, I THINK THIS IS A TEAM EFFORT FROM A LOT OF DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY.
THE OTHER THING IS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE ART PROGRAM, SO AGAIN, THIS GETS BLESSED.
WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE SHIRTS AND THE ARTS AND THE STATUE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT, FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, IT, IT HAS TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, THE INVESTMENT PAYS OFF IN THE END.
YEAH, THIS HAS BEEN A LONG TIME COMING AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT GETTING GOING.
UH, AND KIMBERLY HORN TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE ALL THE ADJUSTMENTS IS THEY'VE BEEN TO THE, THE MAIN STREET MEETINGS AND DISCUSSION AND MAKING CHANGES TO TRY TO GET TO THIS POINT.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT AND APPRECIATE STAFF'S HELP IN WORKING HARD AND, AND TRYING TO GET THIS TO FRUITION.
AND I, AND I KNOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, AND I KNOW AS IT GETS GOING, WE WILL DO OTHER THINGS, BUT I KNOW IN TALKING WITH YOU, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO HAVE SITE MUSIC FESTIVALS DOWN THERE WHERE WE HAVE A STAGE ON ONE END PLAYING ONE KIND OF MUSIC AND YOU WALK DOWN
[01:05:01]
AND HAVE SOMETHING ELSE.SO WE START MAKING MAIN STREET A PLACE FOR FAMILIES WHERE THEY WANT TO BE THERE.
AND SO I THINK ONCE WE GET THAT, THEN PEOPLE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING FOR QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK AT THE PRICE TAG, BUT, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS CAN AKIN TO IT AS BEING YOU BUY AN OLD HOME BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE WAY IT LOOKS, AND THEN YOU GET IN THERE AND YOU THINK, OH, I'M GONNA DO ALL THESE THINGS.
AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS BEHIND THE WALL THAT HAS TO BE FIXED.
AND THEN SO YOUR BUDGET KIND OF SHRINKS FOR THE NICER THESE, SO YOU HAVE TO START SOMEPLACE.
AND IF I COULD CHIME IN ONE THING, SO LOOKOUT ROAD, RIGHT? WHICH, WHICH WE DON'T THINK OF AS A REALLY OLD ROAD, BUT WHAT'S THE BUDGET ESTIMATE ON THAT FOR THE COST ESTIMATE ON THAT NOW, ROUGHLY COMING IN THAT JUST UNDER $7 MILLION.
SO LOOKOUT ROAD, WHICH IS REALLY JUST A STREET REHAB JUST UNDER 7 MILLION.
SO IT'S NOT ALL THE STUFF WE'RE DOING HERE.
I THINK PART OF IT, COUNCILWOMAN TO CHIME IN IS THINGS ARE JUST MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEY USED TO BE.
HOUSING COSTS HAVE GONE UP, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE USED THIS EXAMPLE GOING TO WHATABURGER OR CHICK-FIL-A, IT'S 10 BUCKS EAT LUNCH NOW.
WHEREAS IT USED TO, SEEMS LIKE IT WAS FIVE BUCKS, STUFF IS JUST MORE EXPENSIVE.
COUNCIL MEMBER MACALUSO, HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO FINDING THE, UH, FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE PROJECT? YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S ABOUT REALLY JUST PRIORITIZING IT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT BOND CAPACITY, AND THAT'S WHERE IT WOULD BE ROLLING IT IN OUR CIP WE'RE FINISHING UP THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM.
UH, SO YEAH, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO FUND THE PROJECT.
IT'S JUST KNOWING THAT YOU WANT TO DO IT, THE PRICE TAG, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK.
AND SO WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU, UH, FOR THAT FIRST ACTION ON GVC, WE WILL PROVIDE YOU HOW WE ESTIMATE, HOW WE PLAN TO, TO PAY FOR IT.
SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE THAT, THAT'S COMING FROM.
YOU KNOW, THIS, AND, AND THANKS TO COUNCILMAN BROWN FOR CALLING ME OUT FOR ALL THE AGONIZING MEETINGS THAT WE'VE HAD OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
UH, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT JUST COUNCIL THOUGHT ABOUT AND SAID, LET'S DO THIS.
THIS CAME OUT OF OUR LAST COMPREHENSIVE PR, UH, PLAN WHERE THE PUBLIC, THROUGH THEIR INPUT, TALKED ABOUT MAKING DOWN DOWNTOWN MAIN STREET, A GATHERING PLACE.
UH, AND IT HAS BEEN A GATHERING PLACE FOR A LONG TIME BEYOND JUST MOVING ON MAINE.
IT'S WHERE, YOU KNOW, THE CENTER OF ACTIVITY FOR, FOR THE JUBILEE WITH THE PARADES.
IT'S, UH, IT'S GOT A KEY PART IN, IN THE FESTIVAL OF ANGELS OR THE HOLLY DAZZLE FUNCTIONS NOW, WHICH HAVE BEEN GROWING OVER THE YEARS.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS ITS ROOTS IN, IN OUR RESIDENCE OF WHAT THEY WANTED.
UM, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY APPROVED THE BOND INITIALLY TO START ALL THE PLANNING AND THE DESIGN WORK AND, AND, AND GET US TO THIS POINT.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT, IT DOES SEEM LIKE A LOT OF MONEY, BUT I THINK AS MR. JAMES POINTED OUT, UM, WE'RE GONNA SPEND HALF OR MORE OF THIS MONEY ANYWAY YEP.
TO REPLACE SEWER LINES, UM, REPLACE WATER LINES.
AND, AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF, I'D RATHER DO IT RIGHT THAN DO IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
AND, AND IT CERTAINLY MAKES NO SENSE TO ME TO TURN AROUND AND, AND TRY TO MAKE AESTHETIC IMPROVEMENTS ON MAIN STREET, UH, AND THEN JUST DIG IT UP TO DO IT AGAIN.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS IS, IS IT'S A GOOD PLAN.
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.
UH, IT'S GONNA TAKE SOME COORDINATION AND SOME TIME TO TAKE OUT PARTS OF THE STREET, DO WATER LINES, GAS LINES, SEWER LINES, THEN RESURFACE THE STREET.
SO, YOU KNOW, TO ME, THE GOOD THING IS, IS SOME OF THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO BE SPREAD OUT OVER TIME.
UM, AND THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT, AND I WAS, I WAS ADAMANT ABOUT WE HAVE TO KEEP ON KEEPING THIS AS A PERSPECTIVE.
UH, THIS IS ALL NOT JUST CITY TAX DOLLARS.
THIS IS STUFF THAT COMES OUT OF DIFFERENT RESERVE FUNDS FOR STUFF.
YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED THE ART PROGRAM, UH, THE ART PROGRAM, AND I'M SURE THE ATTORNEY WILL SLAP ME ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE ART PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT CAN COME OUT OF THE HOT FUNDS, UH, SO THAT IT, IT AIDS WITH OUR TOURISM.
UM, AND IT'S, IT, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE FENCED FUNDS THAT WE CAN ONLY USE FOR CERTAIN THINGS ANYWAY.
UH, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE STAFF HAS DONE AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF SCOPING THIS OUT AND BRACKETING THIS PLAN SO THAT WE CAN EFFECTIVELY GET IT DONE WITH USING THE RIGHT MONEY FROM THE RIGHT POTS OF MONEY, UM,
[01:10:02]
AND, AND, AND MAKE DOWNTOWN BRING IT UP TO CURRENT STANDARDS.YOU LOOK AT THE STANDARDS THAT WE HAVE IN THE REST OF OUR COMMUNITY, GO TO ANY NEW NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE'VE GOT SIDEWALKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE STREET, AND WE'VE GOT GOOD STREET LIGHTS AND, AND IT'S, IT'S, WE, WE HAVE WALKABLE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN YOU GO TO MAIN STREET, AND FOR THE LONGEST TIME, WE HAD A THIRD OF THE MAIN STREET HAD NO SIDEWALKS ON ONE SIDE.
UH, AND THIS IS, THIS IS THE HEART.
THIS IS THE CHARACTER OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, SO I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WELL WORTH INVESTING IN OVER TIME.
AND, AND AGAIN, IF WE'RE GONNA DO IT, I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT RIGHT.
COUNCIL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? UM, IT HAS BEEN QUITE SOME TIME.
I THINK IT'S BEEN, YOU KNOW, SINCE IT WAS FIRST PLACED ON THE BOND ISSUE, IT'S, I HAD, I WASN'T EVEN ON COUNCIL DURING THAT TIME.
BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, THANK, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE.
UH, THE COMMITTEE THAT HAS BROUGHT IT DOWN, DOWN TO THIS POINT WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, UH, AND, AND I JUST WANNA SAY, UH, LET'S, IT'S TIME TO MOVE FORWARD AND, AND WE HOPE TO SEE THIS ACCOMPLISHED IN, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND WE'LL HAVE MOVING ON MAIN THERE AND, YOU KNOW, OUR 4TH OF JULY PARADES AND OUR HOLLY DAZZLE PARADES AND, AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO JUST SHOW THE COMMUNITY OUR MAIN STREET.
SO, UH, WITH THAT, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE? SO MOVED.
WE HAVE MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAYWARD SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WATSON ANYMORE.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, IF YOU CAN PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE CAN PUBLISH THE VOTE, PLEASE.
WE HAVE SIX YAYS, NO OBJECTIONS.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 17.
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO SIGN A RESOLUTION FOR FROM THE NORTHEAST PARTNERSHIP, NORTHEAST PARTNERSHIP MAYORS NEP, EXPRESSING THE CONCERNS REGARDING THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF 185,000 CITIZENS LIVING IN THE NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METRO COM RELATED TO, TO THE PROPOSAL EXPANSION OF THE HEIDELBERG, UH, TEX ROCK CRUSHING QUARRY.
MR. JAMES, IF YOU CAN PLEASE SHOW THE COUNCIL OR PLEASE PROVIDE US SOME INPUT ON THAT
SO, SO REALLY WHAT, WHAT, UH, TO GIVE A BIT OF BACKGROUND IS, UM, THE CITY WAS APPROACHED BY, UH, I BELIEVE MAYOR OF GARDEN RIDGE, WHO IS ASKING THE NORTHEAST PARTNERSHIP GROUP, WHICH IS THE ORGANIZATION OF, UH, CITIES IN THIS AREA TO SIGN OFF ON A RESOLUTION, UH, OPPOSING THE, THE, THE BIG QUARRY EXPANSION UP IN THAT AREA, UH, SORT OF UP OFF 4 82 AND WHATNOT.
UM, AND OBVIOUSLY FOR THE MAYOR TO BE ABLE TO SIGN THAT, THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE FULL COUNT OR, OR WOULD REQUIRE THE MAJORITY OF COUNCIL TO SUPPORT THAT GOING FORWARD.
UH, A BIT OF BACKGROUND THAT I DISCUSSED IN THE STAFF REPORT, AS PEOPLE MAY HAVE READ THIS IN THE PAPER.
SO IT, IT, IT STARTED, UH, UH, A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO WHEN THERE WAS A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW ROCK CRUSHING FACILITY TIED TO THAT QUARRY.
SO THEY BRING IT OUT, THEY GOT A CRUSH THE ROCK DOWN THAT WAS GOING TO BE LOCATED IN THE CITY OF GARDEN RIDGE.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE REPORTS, THE ZONING ON THAT PROPERTY HAD A HEIGHT LIMITATION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE ROCK CRUSHING NEEDS ARE SOME, SOME TALL, UH, THINGS ABOUT 45 FEET TO, TO PROVIDE PRESSURE, DROP THINGS DOWN.
UM, AND WHEN THEY WENT FOR A WAIVER OF VARIANCE AT THEIR BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TO TRY TO GO A LITTLE BIT TALLER TO DO THAT, THAT WAS DENIED.
AND WHAT THAT MEANT THEN, IS THE COMPANY PROPOSING TO DO IT, SAID, ALL RIGHT, WELL IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA LET US DO IT, WE'LL MOVE SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND THEY MOVE TO AN AREA IN THE CITY OF SHEZ EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION OR ETJ.
WE DON'T HAVE ZONING IN THE ETJ, AS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T DO PERMITTING IN THE ETJ, SO THERE'S NOTHING WE COULD DO ABOUT IT.
SO THAT FACILITY IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO HAPPEN WHERE THE COMPANY INITIALLY WANTED TO IT, 'CAUSE GARDEN RIDGE SAID NO, THEY'VE COME INTO OUR ETJ.
I WILL TELL YOU DIDN'T RAISE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH US INITIALLY, BECAUSE THAT SORT OF UP IN OUR INDUSTRIAL AREA WHERE WE TEND TO HAVE OUR HEAVIER INDUSTRIAL USES, SOME ON COUNCIL WHO'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE, MAY REMEMBER THAT WE WERE APPROACHED BY A GENTLEMAN WHO WANTED US TO AMEND THE UDC TO DO THAT EARTH REMOVAL USE DOWN SOUTH.
AND WE SAID, NOPE, THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT PLACE FOR IT.
LET'S PUT IT UP WITH THE OTHER HEAVY AIR INDUSTRIAL USES.
AND KIND OF POINTED THEM UP IN THIS AREA WHERE WE HAD THE, THE HEAVY MANUFACTURING TWO DISTRICT.
AND SO AGAIN, NOT A HUGE ISSUE FOR US, THEN THERE WASN'T REALLY ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
THE OTHER PART OF THIS THAT AS WE UNDERSTAND IS THE QUARRY ITSELF IS LOOKING TO EXPAND
[01:15:01]
GENERALLY NORTHWARDS AND OUTWARDS.AND IF YOU GO BACK INTO GOOGLE EARTH, YOU'LL SEE THE QUARRY HAS EXPANDED OVER TIME.
NOW, THE OTHER THING THAT'S OCCURRED IS SOME OF THE COMMUNITIES AROUND, INCLUDING GARDEN RIDGE AND THEIR RESIDENTIAL USES HAVE EXPANDED OVER TIME, AND THEY'VE, THEY'VE GROWN CLOSER TOGETHER.
AND SO THEN YOU TEND TO HAVE CONFLICTS.
AND WE'VE CERTAINLY SEEN THAT BEFORE IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH AREAS.
AND SO, AS YOU KNOW, FOR US, THIS IS ON THE EDGE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
NOT ALL OF IT'S IN OUR CITY LIMITS.
IT'S ON OUR ETJ AND WE'VE DESIGNATED IT FOR INDUSTRIALS.
SO GENERALLY, I THINK THAT THE VIEW HERE HAS BEEN THAT'S, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'VE HAD PLANNED FOR YEARS ON THAT AREA AND WHERE WE HAVE HAD THINGS LIKE THAT GOING FORWARD.
BUT I THINK ONE THING THAT YOU'LL NOTED THAT HAPPENED IS WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES IN STATE LAW, THE ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT I BELIEVE THEY HAVE UNDER CONTRACT FOR THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, I, I LIKELY OUT OF CONCERN THAT, THAT CITIES WOULD TRY TO OPPOSE THIS THING.
THEY WENT AHEAD AND PROVIDED US NOTICE THAT THEY WERE POINTED OUT OF OUR ETJ.
AND AGAIN, IN CERTAIN AREAS WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO STOP THAT.
UM, AND SO THAT'S, WE, WE KIND OF HIGHLIGHT.
AND SO WE THINK IT'S UP IN THAT AREA THERE.
AND SO CERTAINLY I WILL SAY THIS, UH, I CAN APPRECIATE GARDEN RIDGE IS CONCERN.
I THINK PART OF WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS WE TRY TO PLAN FOR ALL OF THOSE USES.
AS YOU'VE SEEN WITH OUR COMP PLAN AND LAND USE CHANGES IN THE COMP PLAN EFFORT WE HAVE, WE TRY TO PROVIDE, UH, THOSE USES IN THE AREAS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
WHILE WE MAY LAMENT IT, I THINK WE CERTAINLY ALL TALK ABOUT IS THIS ITEM WE JUST PASSED, WHAT'S THE COST OF CONCRETE? WHERE IS THAT COMING FROM? AND WITH ALL THE GROWTH, IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED.
SO AGAIN, NOBODY LIKES HAVING IT, BUT IT'S ONE WE NEED.
AND AGAIN, WHERE WOULD IT GO SORT OF OTHERWISE.
AND SO AGAIN, UM, BUT THAT, THAT WAS THE REQUEST THAT CAME IS THAT WE SIGN OFF ON THIS.
UM, AND SO WE'RE BRINGING IT FORWARD, ALTHOUGH OUR COUNCIL HASN'T TRADITIONALLY KINDA WEIGHED IN ON SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OTHER COMMUNITIES, UH, OR AREAS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO, LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND, A LITTLE BIT OF COMMENTARY, BUT I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, UH, AS MR. JAMES INDICATED, I WAS APPROACHED AND BECAUSE IT IS PART OF OUR ETJ, IT WASN'T, UH, I REALLY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS, UH, MY POSITION TO MAKE THAT DECISION WITHOUT COUNSEL LOOKING INTO IT A LITTLE MORE.
AS, AS YOU MAY KNOW, THIS QUARRY HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1922.
UH, GARDEN RIDGE IS ALSO EXPANDING AND MOVED TO THE BOUNDARIES WHERE THIS IS LOCATED.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE CONFLICT IS OCCURRING.
UH, BUT I, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU UNDERSTOOD WHY IT WAS BROUGHT HERE AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, WE'RE FREE TO ANSWER, NO QUESTIONS AT ALL.
SURPRISE, CO COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN.
THIS, AS, AS MUCH AS I RESPECT AS POPULATION GROWTH AND EVERYTHING ELSE, WE'RE KIND OF DEPENDENT UPON THE PRODUCTS THAT COME FROM THAT LIMESTONE QUARRY.
AND I MEAN, NOT JUST, NOT JUST ROCK FACES ON YOUR, ON YOUR, UH, HOUSES, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING FROM AGRICULTURE TO, YOU KNOW, UH, SMELTING, STEEL AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I MEAN, LIMESTONE IS ONE OF THOSE REALLY, REALLY, UH, UH, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT? WIDE USE PRODUCTS, YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING, LIKE I SAY, FROM THE ROCK TO THE POWDER, UH, AGRICULTURE, ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT USES OUT THERE.
SO IT, IT'S, IT'S ALMOST ONE OF THOSE, YEAH.
IF WE WEREN'T GROWING, MAYBE WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT, BUT WE'RE GROWING AND WE KIND OF NEED IT AND, YOU KNOW, DO WE WANT TO TELL IT TO NOT GO THERE AND, AND NEED ALL THOSE PRODUCTS SO THAT THE PRICES GO UP? YOU KNOW? AND, AND I THINK THE OTHER ISSUE IS THEN IF, IF THEY DON'T GO THERE, WHERE DO THEY GO? AND IT'S, IT'S MAYBE NOT.
SO, LIKE I SAY, THE PRICES ARE GONNA GO UP.
YOU KNOW, UH, IT, IT'S, IT'S JUST A HORRIBLE CIRCLE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF PUT OURSELVES IN.
OH, LIKE I SAID, AS, AS MUCH AS I WOULD LIKE TO SAY, DON'T GROW THERE.
UH, BUT LIKE YOU SAID, THE, THE QUARRY'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1926.
AND PEOPLE HAVE BUILT HOMES WITHIN MILES OF IT, KNOWING FULL WELL THAT, YOU KNOW, DANGER BLASTING AND THEY STILL COMPLAIN.
UH, YOU KNOW, NO, AND I AGREE.
UH, YOU KNOW, UH, IT IS WHERE WE HAVE DESIGNED IT TO BE AS FAR AS OUR, UH, HOW WE SHAPE OUR CITY, WHERE RESIDENTIAL'S GONNA BE, WHERE THE INDUSTRIAL'S GONNA BE, AND THIS IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
IT JUST APPROACHED TOO WELL, THE, THE CITY MOVED TOO CLOSE TO WHERE THE QUARRY WAS, THE CITY OF RIDGE.
DID I, I THINK THAT'S A LOT OF IT.
I THINK THE OTHER THING I WILL JUST SAY THAT THAT HAS BEEN GENERALLY WHAT STAFF HAS PERCEIVED THE POSITION OF COUNCIL HAS BEEN IS LOOK, IF WE HAVE SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE HAVING SOME
[01:20:01]
NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS TO A USE, LET'S REACH OUT AND TRY TO FIND A SOLUTION.RIGHT? SO AGAIN, YOU MAY REMEMBER WHERE THE LANDFILL ACROSS 78 CAME AND THEY REACHED OUT TO US.
WHAT'S GOING ON? HAD THAT CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THE TRAFFIC AND THE TRUCK TRAFFIC UP IN THIS AREA HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.
OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT GOT CERTIFICATIONS TO DO THE INSPECTIONS.
THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE QUARRIES AND THE IDEA WAS, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE, IF WE WORK TOGETHER AT THIS, WE CAN, WE CAN KIND OF MAKE IT BETTER.
AND I THINK THE SAME THING WITH THE ACCESS AND CIRCULATION UP THERE, YOU KNOW, HAS GENERALLY BEEN THE APPROACH.
HOW DO WE MAKE IT AS GOOD AS IT CAN BE, AS OPPOSED TO TO SORT OF JUST SAYING NO AND GET STEAMROLLED A LITTLE BIT.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAWARD, UH, I WAS JUST A QUICK FOLLOW ON, UH, REFERENCE THAT, UH, DOESN'T TCEQ REGULATE THE, UH, UH, EMISSIONS, IF YOU WILL, THE DUST AND EVERYTHING ELSE THERE.
AND I'M SURE THAT WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY, IT'S BEEN REDUCED, YOU KNOW, MANY FOLD.
THEY GO THROUGH TCEQ FOR ALL THE PERMITTING.
AND AGAIN, SO THEY GO THROUGH A STATE AGENCY WHO LOOKS AT THAT.
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE STAFF ON HAND WHO UNDERSTAND OR KNOWS ABOUT OR IS ANY WAY QUALIFIED TO SORT OF DEAL WITH.
AND SO WE RELY ON THE STATE AGENCIES TO DO THAT COUNCIL MEMBER WIG.
SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I CONCUR WITH COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN, AND THEN I THINK BACK TO WHEN WE WERE IN VIRGINIA, IT WAS A NAVAL AIR STATION.
PEOPLE WERE MOVING THERE, THE AIR STATION WAS THERE BEFORE THEY WERE, AND THEN THEY WANT IT GONE.
THEY KNEW FULL WELL WHERE THEY WERE MOVING TO AND EXPANDING TO AND WHEN WE NEED THE PRODUCT, 'CAUSE WE'RE GROWING AND IF IT HAS TO GO SOMEPLACE ELSE, HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST OUR RESIDENTS WHEN WE'RE GROWING AND THINGS THAT WE NEED? AND SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF ONE OF THOSE WHERE I THINK IT'S A PROBABLY A TOUCHY SUBJECT, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S WHERE WE SAID IT NEEDED TO BE.
COUNCIL MEMBER HAYWARD BROUGHT UP AN INTERESTING POINT BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, AND AS A CITY WE CHOSE TO PRESERVE AND NOT JEOPARDIZE OR COMPROMISE THAT MISSION THERE.
AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE STRICT RESTRICTIONS ON THERE.
NO, BUT IF WE LOOK AT THIS RESOLUTION, IT ISN'T OUR ETJ.
DOES THIS HAVE ANY, IT'S JUST SAYING WE DON'T WANT YOU TO DO IT BASICALLY, ISN'T IT? UH, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING ENFORCING DON'T DO IT.
A AGAIN, I THINK WHAT THIS IS, IS, IS WELL THERE'S NO REAL TEETH TO THIS.
IT'S JUST PUBLICLY COMING OUT AND SAYING, WE DON'T WANT THE QUARRY TO EXPAND.
AND AGAIN, THE ONLY THING THAT STAFF TALKED ABOUT IS WE'RE NOT SURE THAT THAT'S SORT OF THE CASE, BECAUSE AGAIN, WE NEED THE PRODUCT.
THEY ALREADY HAVE A FACILITY, IT'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.
DO WE WANNA REALLY HAVE IT PICK UP, POTENTIALLY MOVE TO THE OTHER SIDE OF 35 NEAR OUR RESIDENTS? WE'LL WE'LL KNOW, BUT IT, IT'S KIND OF GOTTA GO SOMEWHERE.
SO I, I THINK IT IS A BIT OF A TOUCHY ONE.
UM, AND, BUT WHILE THERE'S NO TEETH TO IT, THE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS JUST DOES IT CHANGE THE IMPRESSION WE GIVE ABOUT HOW WE APPROACH THESE THINGS? BECAUSE GENERALLY WHAT WE'VE TRIED TO DO WHEN THERE'S A CONFLICT IS LET'S SEE IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FIND A SOLUTION THAT'S BETTER FOR EVERYBODY.
AND, AND IT'S HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO DO THAT IF YOU'RE JUST SAYING, I DON'T WANT YOU HERE AT ALL.
THE, THE OTHER ISSUE, AGAIN, I'LL SIMPLY SAY THIS, IS THAT'S WHERE WE'VE GENERALLY DESIGNATED OUR HEAVIER INDUSTRIAL USES BECAUSE OF THAT.
SO DID THEY BECOME PROBLEMATIC IN THE FUTURE AS WELL FOR OTHER FOLKS? I, I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW.
WELL, ANOTHER POINT I WANNA MAKE IS THAT THE NEP IS COMPRISED OF 13 DIFFERENT MAYORS, BUT IT REALLY ONLY AFFECTS THE CITY OF SHIRTZ AND THE CITY OF GARDEN RICH.
THE OTHER MAYORS REALLY DON'T HAVE, THEY'RE JUST SIGNING IT BECAUSE THERE, THERE'S REALLY NO EFFECT ON THEM TRYING TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
I'M NOT SURE THAT REALLY IT IS IN OUR CITY'S BEST INTEREST, FRANKLY, AS MUCH AS I CAN APPRECIATE AND RESPECT GARDNER RICH'S POSITION.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCIL MEMBER WATSON, HOW LONG
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF SIT DOWN CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM.
I'M SURE IF WE CALLED 'EM UP AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE CURIOUS, CAN YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING THIS PLANNING EFFORT, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR LONG-TERM GROWTH? I, I ASSUME THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO THE LANDFILL CERTAINLY DID, HAD THOSE MEETINGS AND WALKED US THROUGH.
[01:25:01]
MY ASSUMPTION THOUGH IS THEY ARE LOOKING VERY MUCH, TYPICALLY THESE BUSINESSES DO THEY LOOK WAY OUT, UM, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEIR ASSUMPTION IS THE REGION'S GONNA BE GROWING IN FIVE YEARS AND 10 YEARS AND 20 YEARS AND 30 YEARS AND, AND THERE'S A NEED FOR IT.UH, BUT WE DON'T KNOW E EXACTLY.
UM, BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE ISSUE THAT WE ULTIMATELY HAVE IS AS LONG AS THERE IS A NEED FOR THIS PRODUCT, THEY'RE GOING TO EITHER GROW IT OR A NEW FACILITY WILL POP UP TO, TO TRY TO FILL THAT NEED.
UM, AND AGAIN, I THINK STAFF'S VISION IS THEY'RE KIND OF GROWING IN THE AREA WHERE THEY'VE BEEN AND THAT WE'VE KIND OF PLANNED FOR AND PROVIDED, UH, COMPATIBLE USES AROUND IN THAT AREA.
SO IT, IT'S JUST NOT BEEN A REAL PROBLEM FOR US.
WE'VE WORKED WITH THEM ON SOME OF THE TANGENTIAL ISSUE IN TERMS OF TRUCK TRAFFIC AND WE'LL WORK WITH THEM ON THE ROAD MAINTENANCE.
AGAIN, WE'VE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH TXDOT AND THE, THE ALMO AREA METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION.
AND SO WOULD EXPECT AT SOME POINT WE'LL GO OUT THERE, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR THOROUGH FAIR PLAN, WE'LL LOOK AT HOW WE, UH, ALLOW THAT TRUCK TRAFFIC TO GET TO 35 MORE DIRECTLY PROBABLY, UM, AS IT GROWS.
WE, WE HAD SOME CONTENTIOUS, UH, ISSUES WITH GARDEN RIDGE BEFORE, UH, UH, WE DID, UH, WITH OUR, YOU KNOW, DO AND UH, DRIVE, UH, WHERE THEY WOULDN'T LET OUR TRUCKS GO THERE.
YEAH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE.
WE'VE GOT THIS INDUSTRIAL AREA DOER LANE GOES UP AND GARDEN RIDGE HAS SIMPLY SAID TO PROTECT WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE'RE NOT GONNA LET YOUR TRUCKS COME THROUGH THERE.
AND IT'S BEEN A NON-STARTER AND THAT CREATES ADDITIONAL ISSUES FOR US.
SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I THINK WHILE WE ALL WANNA WORK TOGETHER, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE OPPOSING VIEWS AT TIMES AND WE DON'T LET THAT, THAT KIND OF SOUR THE RELATIONSHIP, YOU KNOW, OUR INTERESTS AREN'T ALWAYS ENTIRELY ALIGNED.
AND THE DOER LANE IS A GOOD ONE THAT THEY'VE SAID, YEP, WE'RE NOT GONNA ALLOW THAT.
AND CHURCH, YOU JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT.
AND I HAD SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PREVIOUS MAYOR REGARDING THAT.
UH, AND, YOU KNOW, TICKETING, OUR TRUCKS PASSING THROUGH THEIR QUARTER MILE STRETCH OF ROAD LONG TIME AGO WE HAD AN ISSUE WITH OUR WATER, ELEVATED WATER, WATER TANK TANK OUT THERE.
AND, AND AGAIN, HAD SOME DELAYS TRYING TO REPAINT AT ONE TIME THAT CREATED SOME ISSUES.
NO, BUT, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER HEWARD, I WAS JUST GONNA, I WAS JUST GONNA BRING UP THE WATER TOWER BECAUSE I, I'VE HAD THE HISTORY LESSON ON IT AND WHEN IT GOT REPAINTED, THEY SUED US BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT SHIRT'S NAME ON IT AND SO CHURCH'S NAME ON IT.
SO A LOT OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED WITH GARDEN RIDGE AND I THINK SOMETIMES, AS YOU SAY, WE DON'T ALWAYS ALIGN WITH EACH OTHER.
AND TO ME, WHEN THIS IS IN OUR ETJ, THIS IS WHERE WE, WE PLAN FOR IT TO BE.
WE HAVE TO THINK WHAT'S BEST FOR THE CITY OF SHIRTS BECAUSE IT'S, GARDEN RIDGE WANTS US TO DO SOMETHING BECAUSE THEIR RESIDENTS EXPANDED CLO TOO CLOSE TO IT.
AND I THINK FOR US, WHEN WE NEED THE LIMESTONE THAT IS PROVIDED, WE SHOULD WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST DEAL THAT WE NEED.
AND, YOU KNOW, REALIZING GOING BACK THAT WATER TOWER, HE LEFT A FEW LETTERS UP THERE TO KIND OF
SO IT WAS AN INTERESTING STORY FROM WHAT I HEARD BACK IN THE DAY.
AND SO I'M LIKE, WE'VE ALWAYS HAD I GUESS THAT KIND OF ISSUE WITH GARDEN RIDGE.
THEY WANT US TO HELP THEM, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING FOR US WHEN IT'S NOT IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.
SO I THINK AT THIS TIME WE HAVE TO LOOK WHAT IS THE BEST INTEREST FOR SHIRTS.
I, IF I MIGHT MENTION, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REITERATE THAT THIS ONLY AFFECTS A VERY, VERY SMALL PART OF OUR ETJ AND WE WE'RE NOT ALLOWED TO REGULATE THE ETJ AS IT IS, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
AND, UH, I BELIEVE THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY TCEQ.
SO I, I THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
IT WOULD BE MORE OF A SYMBOLIC GESTURE.
IT IS TO SAY THAT WE OPPOSE IT AND IN THE FUTURE, UM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE MAP AND IT, IT WOULD BE QUITE A WHILE BEFORE IT ACTUALLY IMPACT OTHER PARTS OF OUR ETJ.
AND I'D LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL IF NO MOTION IS MADE, NO VOTE IS TAKEN.
AND THE MAYOR WENT, NOT SIGNED.
SO I WILL PAUSE ONE MINUTE AND SEE IF THERE'S A MOTION, A MOTION THAT WE DO NOT SIGN THE, UH, OR A MO YOU CAN MAKE A MOTION NOT TO SIGN A MOTION TO SIGN AND IT COULD GET DECLINED OR NOT MAKE A MOTION AND IT STILL DOESN'T EVEN SIGN.
I I WILL JUST BE QUIET IT DIE ON LET IT DIE.
[01:30:01]
YEP.SINCE THERE IS NO MOTION MADE, THEN NOW WE GO AHEAD AND JUST MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SUBJECT.
[Public Hearings]
ALL RIGHT.NEXT WE HAVE, UH, A COUPLE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS.
ITEM NUMBER 18, ORDINANCE NUMBER 24 H ZERO THREE, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER AMENDMENTS TO THE COURT OF ORDINANCES.
CHAPTER 34, HEALTH, ARTICLE ONE GENERAL AND ARTICLE TWO FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
THIS IS OUR FIRST READING FLOOR.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL, MR. WILLIAMS MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 34, PROPOSED UPDATE, AMANDA DU SANITARIAN.
BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT CHAPTER 34 UPDATE, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A QUICK DESCRIPTION OF A SANITARIANS JOB AND WHAT WE DO FOR THE CITY OF SHEZ.
WE ARE A PART OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES SANITARIAN, ALSO KNOWN AS HEALTH INSPECTOR, SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN VARIETY OF WAYS.
WE ENSURE THAT FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, MOBILE FOOD UNITS, TEMPORARY FOOD EVENTS, COMMERCIAL SWIMMING POOLS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES MEET SAFE AND SANITARY REQUIREMENTS.
OTHER ADDITIONAL DUTIES INCLUDE PLAN REVIEW FOR FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, RESPONDING TO COMPLAINTS AND REVIEW OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH NUISANCE CONCERNS.
WHERE ARE WE EXACTLY? WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, WE INSPECT RETAIL FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS FROM GARCIA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT TO YOUR WHATABURGERS CONVENIENCE STORES, WALMARTS AND SUVS.
ALTHOUGH SOME ESTABLISHMENTS MAY NOT COOK, WE ALSO INSPECT BARS, ICE CREAM PARLORS, AND DOLLAR GENERALS BECAUSE FOOD IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BE CONSUMED SUCH AS ICE BEVERAGES, ANYTHING FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, RIGHT.
PROPOSED CHAPTER 34 UPDATES ARE TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CURRENT STATE LAW.
FIRST WE HAVE SECTION 34 DASH 25 SHIRTS, FOOD HANDLER SANITATION COURSE TO MATCH STATE REQUIREMENTS, WHICH ENTAILS THAT A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT CAN TAKE ANY ACCREDITED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING COURSE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF HIRE.
NEXT, WE'LL BE ADDING LANGUAGE TO MATCH THE STATE TERMINOLOGY AND DEFINITIONS THROUGHOUT CHAPTER 34.
SUCH DEFINITIONS INCLUDE OUR FARMER'S MARKET HERE ALONG WITH FOOD ESTABLISHMENT AND OUR SELF-SERVICE FOOD MARKET.
MINOR UPDATES THAT WILL HAPPEN ARE IS OUR TEXAS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE UPDATED, WHICH IS TO SECTION NUMBER TWO, 17.65 TO TWO 17.45.
THERE WOULD BE AN ADDITION TO OUR HEALTH OFFICIAL QUALIFICATIONS, WHICH WOULD BE A REGISTERED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST.
WHAT THIS IS, IS JUST TO BE IN LINE WITH RECOGNITION WITH OTHER CERTIFICATIONS.
NEXT WILL BE ADDING, UH, PROPOSED ADDING THE REFERRALS TO THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHICH NOW WILL BE REFERRED TO AS THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH AND SERVICES, ALSO KNOWN AS DSHS.
THIS, THE PASSING OF IT REQUIRES REPORTING FROM JURISDICTIONS TO LET THE STATE KNOW WHERE WE DIFFER FROM THEM.
AND OUR MAIN, UH, DIFFERENCE THAT WE ARE FROM THE STATE IS THAT WE GIVE GRADING PLACARDS HERE.
SO AT THE END OF EVERY ROUTINE INSPECTION, WE GIVE THEM A GRADE ALONG WITH THE GRADING PLACARD.
SO THIS IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE THAT WE ARE FROM THE STATE.
OKAY, NEXT IS PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO THE MOBILE FOOD UNIT REQUIREMENTS.
FIRST, WE'LL HAVE, UM, MOBILE FOOD UNITS MAY BEND ON PRIVATE PROPERLY PROPERTY PROPERLY ZONED AND WITH WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PROPERTY OWNER SLASH AGENT GRANTING EMPLOYEES OF THE MOBILE FOOD UNIT, ACCESS TO APPROVED FLUSH TYPE TOILET FACILITIES CONNECTED TO AN APPROVED TYPE SEWAGE SYSTEM ON THE PRIVATE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY DURING HOURS OF OPERATION.
THIS WILL US TO CLARIFY WHERE A MOBILE FOOD UNIT CAN VENT SO THAT WAY IT KEEPS THEM FROM PARKING AT A VACANT LOT.
NEXT SECOND MOBILE FOOD UNIT SHALL BE PARKED ON A PAVED
[01:35:01]
SURFACE AND IN CLEAN SURROUNDINGS.NO MOBILE FOOD UNIT SHALL BE PARKED IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 2189 OF THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE.
HERE IS TO CLARIFY WHERE THEY CAN PARK NOT ON DIRT, NOT ON GRASS.
THIRD, THE TOTAL NOISE LEVEL OF ANY MOBILE FOOD UNIT SHALL COMPLY WITH SECTION 54 DASH 14 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.
AND THIS IS TO CLARIFY HOW THEY OPERATE.
THE, THE PROPOSED REVISIONS WILL BRING CODE OF ORDINANCES INTO BETTER ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE LAW.
SO THE FDA FOOD CODE IS UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
SO THIS MAY NOT BE THE LAST TIME YOU SEE ME.
IS THERE ANYONE IN ATTENDANCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS A COUNCIL IN REFERENCE TO THIS SUBJECT? GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.
RIGHT? PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
COUNCIL FLOOR'S OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER WARBERG? UH, YES MA'AM.
SO I THINK I SPOKE TO LISA, UH, WELL AT THE UM, COUNTRY BREAKFAST OR SOMETHING, WE HAVE RECIPROCITY.
THE CITY OF CHURCH HAS RECIPROCITY WITH SOME OF THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF MOBILE FOOD VENDING.
SO WE DO HAVE OUR MOBILE FOOD UNIT RECIPROCITY PROGRAM.
AND WHAT THAT IS, IS WE ACCEPT ANY, UH, WITHIN TEXAS, LIKE CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS, UH, SAN ANTONIO, AS LONG AS THEY PROVIDE A CERTAIN DOCUMENTATION, UM, SIX ITEMS. SO WHAT THEY CAN IS THEY CAN APPLY ON OUR CITYVIEW PORTAL AND UH, SUBMIT PROPER DOCUMENTS.
WE WILL REVIEW THEM AND IF ALL IS SUBMITTED APPROVAL LETTER, SO WHENEVER THEIR PERMIT EXPIRES WITH SAID CITY, THAT'S WHEN THE RECIPROCITY ENDS AND THEY'LL HAVE TO RENEW AGAIN.
SO THE 32 THAT WAS MENTIONED ON YOUR CHART, THAT'S JUST THE NUMBER OF MOBILE FOOD VENDORS THAT Y'ALL HAVE INSPECTED THAT ARE NOT, THAT ARE BOTH RECIPROCITY AND LICENSE SWEATSHIRT OF BOTH.
SO THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT WE HAVE AS OF NOW.
COUNCIL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS THERE? MOTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCES NUMBER 24 H ZERO THREE.
MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HAYWARD SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER WATSON.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YOU CAN PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
WE CAN PUBLISH THE VOTE PLEASE.
WE HAVE SIX YAYS, NO OBJECTIONS.
ALRIGHT, NEXT WE HAVE ITEM NUMBER 19, RESOLUTION NUMBER 2024 R ZERO SEVEN.
CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A PETITION FOR VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY SEVEN ACRES, A PORTION OF BEX COUNTY PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 3 3 9 2 8 6.
ALSO KNOWN AS 82 15 TRAINER HILL ROAD CITY ASSURES BEXAR COUNTY, TEXAS FLOOR IS YOURS.
GOOD EVENING RESOLUTION 24 R SEVEN, ACCEPTING A PETITION OF ANNEXATION OF APPROXIMATELY 7.7 ACRES.
SO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, UM, IS BEING DEVELOPED BY HLH DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR REQUESTING VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION INTO THE CITY OF SHIRTS.
UH, SO THEY CAN BE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS TO DEVELOP THE PROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL R ONE ZONING DISTRICT.
THEY'RE PROPOSING APPROXIMATELY 19 LOTS.
AND AS YOU CAN TELL, THIS UH, SUBJECT PROPERTY OUTLINE IN BLUE IS AT THE REAR OF THE EXISTING HALLEY'S COVE SUBDIVISION.
SO IT WOULD BE ADDED ONTO THAT.
AND THEN HERE IS THE PETITION FROM THE APPLICANT AGAIN STATING THAT THEY'RE GONNA PUT IN APPROXIMATELY 19 RESIDENTIAL LOTS, EXCEPT THIS TIME THEY'RE ASKING FOR STRAIGHT R ONE ZONING.
SO THE PROOF OF THE RESOLUTION 24 R SEVEN DOES NOT ANNEX THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.
IT ONLY ALLOWS FOR CITY COUNCIL TO ANNEX THE PROPERTY BY ORDINANCE IN THE FUTURE.
SO THE ANNEXATION AND ZONE CHANGE ORDINANCES ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD AT THE APRIL 2ND, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
AND THEN THE ZONING APPLICATION THAT ACCOMPANIES THIS ANNEXATION IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THE MARCH 6TH, 2024 PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.
SO AGAIN, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION 24 R SEVEN AND ACCEPTING THIS PETITION FOR VOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OF THE APPROXIMATELY 7.7 ACRES.
COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? THANK YOU.
ALRIGHT, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
IS THERE ANYONE IN ATTENDANCE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS COUNCIL IN REFERENCE TO THIS SUBJECT? GOING ONCE,
[01:40:01]
GOING TWICE.COUNCIL FLOORS OPEN FOR DISCUSSION.
COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN, I MAKE A RE RECOMMENDATION THAT WE, UH, UM, APPROVE RESOLUTION 24 R OH SEVEN.
SECOND SECOND, WE HAVE MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN AND SECOND BY, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER MACALUSO? YEAH, YOU GOT IT DAVIS? UH, I'M SORRY.
ALRIGHT, WE'LL PUT DAVIS ON THIS ONE.
ALRIGHT, COUNSEL, ANY OTHER COMMENTS? IF NOT, IF YOU CAN PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE.
[Workshop]
A WORKSHOP, THE SHIRTS, UH, PD T CODE, UH, 2023 RACIAL PROFILING REPORT, UH, UPON REQUEST THAT'S BEEN POSTPONED TILL MARCH 5TH.[Closed Session]
CLOSED SESSIONS.THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET IN CLOSED SECTION SESSION UNDER SECTION 5 5 1 0 7 4 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENTAL CODE PERSONNEL MATTERS TO DISCUSS THE PROCESS OF THE ANNUAL EVALUATION OF OUR CITY MANAGER, STEVE WILLIAMS, AND ALSO ITEM NUMBER 22 TO DISCUSS THE ANNUAL EVALUATION OF OUR CITY SECRETARY, MS. SHEILA EDMONDSON.
NOW, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER GIBSON REQUESTED THIS ITEM BE INCLUDED FOR DISCUSSION.
AND SINCE COUNCIL MEMBER GIBSON IS NOT AVAILABLE, IT'S UH, SHE GAVE MAYOR, SHE GAVE ME NOTES TO GIVE EVERYONE.
SO WITH, UH, IF COUNCIL STILL WANTS TO PROCEED, WE CAN.
WE WILL RECONVENE AFTER OUR CLOSED SESSION.