[1. Call to order]
[00:00:03]
GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO OUR AUGUST 6TH, 2024 SOUTHLAKE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, OUR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AFTER OUR JULY BREAK.FIRST UP, AS ALWAYS, IS PASTOR CLAYTON REED, OUR OFFICIAL CITY CHAPLAIN FROM SOUTHLAKE BAPTIST CHURCH WILL LEAD US IN PRAYER AND THEN IF YOU WOULD REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THE PLEDGE TO THE STATE OF TEXAS.
PASTOR REED, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
LORD, WE GIVE THANKS FOR THIS EVENING AND FOR THIS MEETING AND THE FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE AS AMERICAN CITIZENS TO CAST VOTES AND TO HAVE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND WE PRAY BLESSING ON THESE FRIENDS TONIGHT AS THEY MAKE DECISIONS AND THEY DELIBERATE ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF OUR CITY, WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM HOPE AND STRENGTH AND WISDOM AND INTEGRITY, AND THAT YOUR WILL WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THEIR TIME TOGETHER TONIGHT.
LORD, WE ALSO GIVE THANKS FOR DAVID CARPENTER AND HIS 30 YEARS OR MORE OF HELPING OUR CITY.
LORD WE ALSO LIFT UP CHIEF CASEY.
WE GIVE THANKS FOR HER APPOINTMENT AS THE POLICE CHIEF.
WE PRAY THAT YOU WOULD BLESS HER, HELP HER, GIVE HER STRENGTH.
AND WE JUST ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS HER.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US.
AND WE GIVE THANKS MOST OF ALL FOR JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON.
THANK YOU, PASTOR REED. AND NOW, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT 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.
[3. Honors & Recognition: Recognize David Carpenter's Service on Building Board of Appeals ]
BOARD OF APPEALS.AND FOR THIS, IT'S GOING TO BE CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL MIKE WHITE, WHO WILL SAY A FEW WORDS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
PLEASE JOIN ME IN ACKNOWLEDGING MR. DAVID CARPENTER, WHO HAS SERVED ON THE BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS FOR AN IMPRESSIVE 30 YEARS.
THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, DAVID HAS SERVED AS AN ALTERNATE ONE, AN ALTERNATE TWO, AND HE HAS ALSO SERVED AS PLACE TWO AND PLACE FOUR, AND FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS HE HAS SERVED AS CHAIR.
ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE AND THE ENTIRE BOARD, I WANT TO EXPRESS OUR DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO DAVID FOR HIS EXTRAORDINARY SERVICE, AND PRESENT HIM WITH AN APPRECIATION PLAQUE.
COME ON DOWN, MR. CARPENTER [APPLAUSE].
NOW, MR. CARPENTER, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS? IF YOU WANT TO. THAT'S GREAT.
IF NOT AFTER YOU'RE DONE, WE'D LIKE TO GET A PICTURE WITH THE COUNCIL AND YOU, IF THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S BEEN MY GREAT PLEASURE TO SERVE THE CITY WANTING IT TO BE A GREAT CITY FROM THE TIME WE MOVED HERE AND JUST DOING WHAT I COULD TO TO HELP ALONG THAT THAT WAY.
WELL THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU'VE DONE MORE THAN YOUR FAIR SHARE 30 YEARS.
THAT'S PROBABLY A RECORD HERE IN SOUTHLAKE.
SO YOUR WORK HAS BEEN MEANINGFUL AND IMPACTFUL, AND IT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS CITY SPECIAL.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE OVER 30 YEARS.
SO IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, CAN WE GET A PICTURE? YES. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL BE RIGHT DOWN.
[00:05:16]
MIC] I GOT A LITTLE AHEAD OF MYSELF.DID ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MR. CARPENTER BEFORE WE MOVE ON? ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 4 SOUTHLAKE BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT.
[4. Business Spotlight: Activate Southlake, 2717 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 180 ]
I'LL INTRODUCE DANIEL CORTEZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM, WHO'S GOING TO INTRODUCE ACTIVATE SOUTHLAKE.IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T BEEN OVER THERE, IT'S IN THAT SHOPPING CENTER WHERE CHRISTINA'S IS AT.
BUT IT THIS FACILITY, AS OPPOSED TO OTHER ENTERTAINMENT VENUES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN SOUTHLAKE, REALLY PROVIDES AN INTERACTIVE WAY FOR FOLKS TO REALLY ENGAGE AND ESSENTIALLY PLAY GAMES WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE OR EVEN INDEPENDENTLY.
SO REALLY UNIQUE BUSINESS THAT WE HAVE HERE IN TOWN AND ACTUALLY THE SECOND ONE IN DFW.
SO GO AHEAD AND LET JACKSON WORLEY TELL YOU GUYS ABOUT IT IN THIS MONTH'S BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT.
HELLO, MY NAME IS JACKSON I'M THE GENERAL MANAGER HERE AT ACTIVATE.
HERE AT ACTIVATE WE OFFER ACTIVE GAMING EXPERIENCE FOR GUESTS OF ALL AGES.
WE ALSO DO TEAM BUILDING EVENTS, BIRTHDAY PARTIES, AND LARGE GROUP OUTINGS.
SO HERE AT ACTIVATE, WE OFFER A LOT OF DIFFERENT GAMES AND ARENAS FOR OUR GUESTS.
WE DO BIG GROUP EVENTS, TEAM BUILDING, CORPORATE EVENTS FULLY PRIVATE EVENTS WHERE WE SHUT DOWN THE FACILITY AND YOU HAVE THE FULL FACILITY TO YOURSELF. WE ALSO HAVE GAMES SUCH AS, YOU KNOW, DODGING LASERS, STEPPING ON PRESSURE PADS TO LIGHT UP, SHOOTING BASKETBALLS, AS WELL AS VIRTUAL DODGEBALL AND MANY OTHER THINGS.
IT'S DEFINITELY A UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE TO BE IN, TO COME OUT AND EXPERIENCE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.
PUT THE SPIN ON A HYBRID BETWEEN AN ESCAPE ROOM AND AN ARCADE.
IT'S GOT MULTIPLE DIFFERENT ROOMS, LIKE AN ESCAPE ROOM THAT HAVE DIFFERENT PURPOSES IN EACH OF THEM, BUT IT'S LIKE AN ARCADE WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, LEVEL UP AND INCREASE YOUR SCORE AND STILL INTERACT AND HAVE AN OBJECTIVE TO COMPLETE.
SO IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ACTIVATE, WE WANT TO MAKE A BOOKING.
YOU CAN CONTACT US ON OUR WEBSITE WHERE IT WILL SHOW YOU ALL OF OUR AVAILABLE SLOTS.
THE LAST COUPLE OF THINGS I'LL SAY, MAYOR, ABOUT THIS IS THAT SUMMER'S NOT OVER.
GREAT PLACE TO TAKE THE FAMILY OR EVEN FOR FOR CORPORATE EVENTS.
AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DARK THOSE ROOMS REALLY GET.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO, JUST A COMMENT. THAT'S REALLY COOL.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE THE SECOND LOCATION.
AND THE BUSINESS IS DOING VERY WELL.
BUT WE WANT TO SEE CONTINUED SUCCESS THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR AS WELL.
I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT HOW DARK IT GETS IN THERE.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CORTEZ.
APPRECIATE IT. NEXT IS WORK SESSION ITEM NUMBER FIVE, A TRASH AND RECYCLING CONTRACT UPDATE.
[5. Trash and Recycling Contract Update]
AND I'LL BRING DOWN DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, LAUREN LANEAVE.ALL RIGHT, LAUREN, IT'S ALL YOURS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
TONIGHT I AM HERE TO PRESENT AN UPDATE ON THE RCWD CONTRACT.
[00:10:05]
FOR MANY OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN ON COUNCIL WHENEVER THIS WAS AWARDED OR YOU KNOW, SAW ALL THE RUCKUS LAST FALL.WE ARE NEARING END YEAR ONE OF OUR FIRST YEAR OF FIVE WITH CWD, SO TONIGHT I'M JOINED BY SOME EXECUTIVES FROM CWD, MR. GREG ROEMER AND MR. JASON ROEMER, WHO WILL PRESENT LATER ON IN THE PRESENTATION TO GO OVER SOME METRICS HOW THE TRANSITION IS GOING, AS WELL AS SOME OF OUR TARGETED COMMUNICATION ITEMS. SO JUST AS A SHORT REFRESHER, LAST FALL OR SORRY, LAST SPRING WE WERE NOTIFIED BY REPUBLIC SERVICES THAT THEY WERE GOING TO NOT RENEW OUR CONTRACT UNDER THE CURRENT TERMS. THE BIGGEST CHANGE THAT THEY WERE MAKING WAS SWITCHING THE CURRENT TRASH SYSTEM FROM MANUAL COLLECTIONS.
SO SIMILAR SYSTEM AS YOUR CURRENT RECYCLING.
AND SO LAST LAST SUMMER, COUNCIL FORMED A COMMITTEE TO REVIEW THE TRASH AND RECYCLING CONTRACT, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL PROPOSALS FROM OTHER VENDORS AND THE OTHER VENDOR THAT WE CONSIDERED WAS CWD, DUE TO THEIR CONTINUATION OF HAVING THAT MANUAL COLLECTION AS AN OPTION.
MANY OF THE LARGER VENDORS THROUGHOUT THE NATION ARE STARTING TO GET AWAY FROM THIS MODEL.
BUT CWD RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR THIS MODEL IN NORTH TEXAS SPECIFICALLY.
ON JUNE 19TH, COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO BEGIN DIRECTING BEGIN DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS WITH CWD, AND WE SPENT THE LATTER PART OF JUNE, JULY, AND BEGINNING OF AUGUST GETTING THAT CONTRACT FINALIZED.
AND IT WAS AWARDED IN AUGUST OF 2023.
HISTORICALLY, THAT'S A PRETTY QUICK TURNAROUND.
BUT DURING THAT TIME, WE REALLY WORKED CLOSELY WITH CWD ON RESIDENT COMMUNICATION, THE LOGISTICS, GETTING THOSE RECYCLING CARTS SWITCHED OUT, GETTING ALL THE BUSINESSES THEIR NEW CONTAINERS.
SO UNDER THE NEW CONTRACT, MANY OF THE TERMS REMAINED THE SAME.
AND SO YOU CAN SEE THOSE ITEMS IN GREEN ARE THOSE THAT REMAIN THE SAME.
ONE SLIGHT CHANGE WITH THIS WAS INSTEAD OF IN KIND OF WEEK OR THERE WASN'T EXACTLY A TURNAROUND, IT WAS GENERALLY ABOUT A WEEK TO CALL IT IN.
NOW IT IS ON A WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE.
BULK COLLECTION ALSO REMAINED THE SAME.
SO THIS IS YOUR CHAIRS, YOUR COUCHES, YOUR MATTRESSES THAT YOU PUT OUT WITH YOUR REGULAR HOUSEHOLD WASTE TWO CUBIC YARDS PER COLLECTION DAY, SO FOUR CUBIC YARDS PER WEEK OF COLLECTION.
SO THAT HAS REMAINED THE SAME.
AND THEN THESE ITEMS IN GOLD ARE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE GOT IN ADDITION WITH THIS NEW CONTRACT.
THE UNLIMITED BUNDLED BRUSH COLLECTION.
SO WE'VE GOT MONTHLY DROP OFFS AT CWDS TRANSFER STATION, THE ADDITION OF ADDITIONAL LEAF RECYCLING COLLECTION DAYS, ANNUAL CART CLEANING SERVICE, AND THEN A DISCOUNTED RATE FOR OUR RESIDENTS FOR ROLL OFF CONTAINERS.
UNDER THIS NEW CONTRACT, THE COMMERCIAL PROVISIONS REMAIN GENERALLY THE SAME.
SO THIS WAS THE SECOND AND THIRD BULLET, THE TRANSITION TO CARDBOARD ONLY ON THOSE FRONT LOAD CONTAINERS, AND THEN THE SINGLE STREAM RECYCLING VIA A 95 GALLON CART. SINCE I WOULD SAY SINCE DECEMBER, I'VE REALLY HEARD NOT MUCH FROM THE COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY.
[00:15:04]
INDUSTRY, THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL.A COUPLE OF OTHER CONTRACT PROVISIONS THAT I'LL TOUCH ON ARE THE LITTER CREW.
THIS IS IN ADDITION, UNDER THIS CONTRACT THAT IS VERY ATYPICAL TO OTHER GARBAGE CONTRACTS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'LL SEE ACROSS MANY OF THEM AND EVEN IN THE METROPLEX.
AND THIS INCLUDES 200 HOURS ANNUALLY OF LITTER CLEANUP.
SO CWD CREWS, WE LET THEM KNOW WHERE WE WANT TO TARGET LITTER CLEANUP.
THEY'LL BRING OUT THEIR CREWS, GET IT CLEANED UP.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, WE DID OUR FIRST ONE THIS PAST SATURDAY.
AND THE CWD CREWS SENT 5 TO 6 PEOPLE OUT ABOUT 56 HOURS TOTAL AND CLEANED UP 1,000 POUNDS OF TRASH THAT HAD ACCUMULATED BETWEEN WHITECHAPEL AND DOVE ON THOSE 114 MEDIANS.
SO AND THAT'S EVEN AFTER TXDOT CAME THROUGH AND DID THEIR CLEANUP SO THAT THEY COULD MOW.
SO IT'S A BIG, BIG ADDITION TO THE CONTRACT.
UNDER THIS MODEL AS WELL OR UNDER THIS CONTRACT WE HAVE A CHANGE TO THE ANNUAL RATE INCREASE.
CWD UTILIZES A COST ADJUSTMENT MODEL THAT IS BASED OFF OF A MATRIX OF INDICES.
CWD WILL PRESENT LATER ON IN THIS PRESENTATION MORE ABOUT THE RATE INCREASE FOR FY 25.
AND INCLUDE ADDITIONAL REPORTING, SOME PERFORMANCE PENALTIES, AND OTHER WAYS FOR STAFF TO REALLY HAVE SOME TEETH, TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AS A CONTRACTOR AND AS A PARTNER TO THE CITY.
SO THESE ARE SIMILAR PERFORMANCE MEASURES THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE REPUBLIC CONTRACT.
AND SO WHILE WE WOULD TYPICALLY REVIEW THESE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT BEFORE CONTRACT RENEWAL FELT LIKE IT WAS A GOOD REMINDER TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE'RE BASING OUR PERSPECTIVE OF CWDS PERFORMANCE ON.
THE ONE THAT THEY'VE EXCEEDED IS THE ACCEPTABLE WASTE COLLECTION.
SO FAILURE TO COLLECT ACCEPTABLE WASTE WITHIN 36 BUSINESS HOURS OF RECEIVING NOTIFICATION.
PRIMARILY, THIS IS AN ISSUE AT THE BEGINNING, THAT FIRST QUARTER OF THE TRANSITION.
WE SAW TEN OCCURRENCES TOTAL YEAR TO DATE.
SO WE'RE CONSISTENTLY WORKING WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A RESIDENT THAT MAYBE PUT THEIR BRUSH IN ONE SECTION AND THEIR TRASH IN ANOTHER SECTION AND THE DRIVER MISSED IT OR WHATEVER, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATION ON CWDS SIDE OR ON THE RESIDENT SIDE, THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AT CONTINUING TO WORK WITH US ON THOSE.
AS FOR THE OTHER ITEMS YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE MEETING OR EXCEEDING ALL OF THOSE PERFORMANCE MEASURES.
AND THEN GOING INTO THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, WE WILL WORK ON SOME FOCUSED COMMUNICATION INTERNALLY AND WITH CWD TO REALLY ENSURE THAT WE'RE TARGETING SOME OF THOSE STICKY ISSUES.
RIGHT. SO HISTORICALLY I'VE BEEN MANAGING THIS CONTRACT FOR WITH CWD AND WITH REPUBLIC FOR OVER SEVEN YEARS, AND THE BRUSH AND RECYCLING EDUCATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TRICKY THING, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE.
AND REALLY THE GOAL IS TO JUST GET THE TRASH OFF THE STREET.
THE OTHER TWO, THE REMAINDER OF THE ITEMS. SO WE HAVE OUR NEW HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE, CURBSIDE COLLECTION REALLY WORKING AND CONTINUING TO PROMOTE THAT.
AND THEN ON OUR SEASONAL COLLECTIONS, WE'LL BE PROMOTING THOSE AS WELL.
SO I'M GOING TO TRANSITION OVER TO MR.
[00:20:02]
JASON ROEMER, HE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT WHO WILL GIVE YOU GUYS AN OVERVIEW OF THEIR PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS SOME OF THE METRICS AND THEN MR. GREGORY WILL COME UP.ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT JASON, I THINK YOU'RE UP.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JASON ROEMER, I'M VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY WASTE DISPOSAL.
SEEN MANY OF YOU UP THERE WHEN WE WERE BACK PRESENTING AROUND THE TIME OF THE CONTRACT AWARD, AS WELL AS THE VETTING PROCESS BEFORE THAT, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO PRESENT TONIGHT CWDS 2023-2024 ANNUAL REVIEW.
SO I'LL COVER THIS SLIDE PRETTY QUICK HERE SINCE LAUREN DID A GREAT JOB COVERING THE SERVICES, BUT CWDS OFFERING TWICE A WEEK TRASH COLLECTION VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT RESIDENTS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO.
THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT IS WE'RE ACTUALLY RUNNING ADDITIONAL ROUTES ON THOSE THURSDAY -FRIDAY PICKUP DAYS, WITH THOSE SIX TRUCKS OFFERING HOPEFULLY EARLIER COMPLETION TIMES, MORE TIME TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY CLEAN.
WE OFFER ONCE A WEEK RECYCLING COLLECTION USING AN AUTOMATED SIDE LOAD TRUCK THERE ON THE TOP RIGHT.
AND THEN ON THE BOTTOM LEFT, THE BRUSH COLLECTION, WHICH IS ONCE PER MONTH ON YOUR DESIGNATED WEDNESDAY, IN WHICH CASE YOU WOULD CONTACT CWD THERE'S A SET WEDNESDAY FOR YOUR YOUR ZONE, IF YOU WILL.
AND THEN WE PUT YOU ON A SCHEDULE AND GET YOU PICKED UP ON THAT WEDNESDAY.
SO IN THE TOP LEFT, THAT'S ONE OF OUR BRAND NEW REAR LOAD TRUCKS THAT WE, WE HAVE PURCHASED.
IN THE FRONT OF IT IS A LITTLE SLOT WHERE AN UMBILICAL CORD PLUGS IN.
ADDITIONALLY, EACH TRUCK WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL TAG AXLES ON THEM.
SO YOUR TRADITIONAL TRASH TRUCK, SEE GO DOWN THE ROAD HAS THREE WHEELS.
TECHNICALLY, IF THAT TRUCK IS FULL, IT'S OVERWEIGHT.
IT'S PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON YOUR STREETS.
WE SPEND ABOUT 50 GRAND MORE TO PUT THOSE ON.
WHEN THE TRUCK IS FULL, THAT DROPS DOWN AND IT SPREADS THE WEIGHT OUT ACROSS THE VEHICLE, THUS PROLONGING THE CITY STREETS, VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU'D SEE ON A CONCRETE TRUCK GOING BY. ABOUT THE CWD FLEET, SO THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED ROUGHLY TWO AND A HALF MONTHS BEFORE SERVICE STARTED.
AT THAT TIME, WE PUT IN AN ORDER FOR 12 BRAND NEW VEHICLES TOTALING OVER $6 MILLION.
TODAY, 9 OF THOSE 12 BRAND NEW VEHICLES 2024 MODELS ARE RUNNING IN THE CITY.
THE REMAINING THREE WE EXPECT TO HAVE HERE IN Q4 OF THIS YEAR.
IF NOT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS OR SO.
SOUTHLAKE SOLID WASTE TONS PER MONTH.
SINCE OCTOBER, WE'VE COLLECTED OVER 13,000 TONS.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, SOUTHLAKE POUNDS PER HOME RANKS AT THE TOP OF ALL 34 COMMUNITIES WE SERVICE.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY SOMETHING BAD TO SAY BECAUSE IN RECYCLING YOU ALSO RANK AT THE VERY TOP.
SO THERE'S A LITTLE CAVEAT WITH THAT.
THE DOOR-SIDE HHW HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE AND USED ELECTRONICS COLLECTION.
SO AGAIN THIS COLLECTIONS ARE OFFERED TWICE A MONTH.
YOU CAN USE IT UP TO ONCE PER MONTH.
THESE ARE THE POUNDS THROUGHOUT THE THE DATES OF THE CONTRACT.
WE'VE RECEIVED OVER 575 COLLECTION REQUESTS.
WE MAIL YOU A KIT, YOU PACKAGE YOUR MATERIAL, THERE'S INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DO SO.
THERE'S LABELS FOR YOU TO PUT THAT ON THERE.
AND YOU LEAVE IT AT THE TOP OF YOUR DRIVEWAY AND WE GO PICK IT UP ON THAT DESIGNATED WEDNESDAY.
AND WE'VE GOT A GREAT PLETHORA OF PROGRAMS, ONE OF WHICH IS WE TAKE ALL THAT PAINT, WE SEPARATE IT BY LATEX AND OIL BASED, MIX IT TOGETHER, REPACKAGE IT IN A BRAND NEW PAIL AND GIVE IT BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE'VE GIVEN THAT OVER 15,000 GALLONS OVER THE YEARS SINCE WE STARTED THAT PROGRAM.
REALLY WHY THAT'S IMPORTANT IS IT'S NOT ASKED FOR.
[00:25:03]
TECHNICALLY IN TEXAS I CAN PUT THAT ON A TARP, LET IT DRY, ROLL IT UP AND PUT IT IN THE LANDFILL.WE TAKE THAT MATERIAL AND WE GIVE IT BACK TO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES THAT, YOU KNOW, ARE IN NEED.
IT COULD BE TO PAINT A PARK BENCH, IT COULD BE TO PAINT A HOME.
OF COURSE, A HOT TOPIC IN THIS AREA.
SO PART OF THE NEW CONTRACT THAT LAUREN ALLUDED TO ADDED TWO COLLECTION DAYS.
WE RUN HALF THE CITY ON WEDNESDAY AND HALF ON SATURDAY.
THAT WAS TO BETTER SET EXPECTATIONS AND ENSURE THAT WE ARE COMPLETING THE ROUTES THAT WE NEED.
SO HERE'S THE TONNAGE COLLECTED OVER LEAF SEASON FROM 2023 TO 2024.
BY STAFF STANDARDS, I THINK THE HISTORICAL TONNAGE WAS ABOUT 380 TONS DURING THE LEAF SEASON.
SO ONE QUESTION IS WHY CWD PICKING UP OR AT LEAST RECYCLING 70% MORE? AND I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SCHEDULE COLLECTIONS LINE, AND I THINK I CAN ANSWER THAT.
BY CONTRACT WE WERE SCHEDULED TO OFFER 12 RECYCLING COLLECTION DAYS.
THAT'S THE 6 BROKEN IN HALF, WE COMPLETED 22.
SO THE ADDITIONAL 10 OR WHAT CWD DID TO GO OUT AND PICK UP THE LEAVES THAT ARE ON THE GROUND, BECAUSE WE DON'T NECESSARILY CONTROL WHEN THOSE LEAVES FALL, FOR INSTANCE, A LOT OF THEM FELL RIGHT IN THAT PEAK HOLIDAY TWO WEEK PERIOD WHERE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S WERE BOTH ON ONE DAYS, AND TRASH INDUSTRY THAT MAKES YOUR WHOLE WEEK SLIDE THROUGH SATURDAY. SO WHAT DID WE DO? WE WENT OUT THERE AND WE DID ADDITIONAL COLLECTIONS BECAUSE WE HAD TO DO IT.
THE LEAVES ARE ON THE GROUND AND THEY NEED TO BE PICKED UP.
WAITING FOR A LEAF RECYCLING DAY DESIGNATED, YOU KNOW, SIMPLY WOULDN'T MAKE IT ALL OKAY.
YOU KNOW, THAT ALL BEING SAID LEAVES ARE OUR CHALLENGING SEASON, WE LEARNED A LOT.
YOU KNOW, IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHLAKE WHILE ALSO GETTING THROUGH THAT TRANSITION IN THOSE FIRST THREE MONTHS THAT WE'LL TAKE TO THIS COMING LEAVE SEASON, WE'VE BEEN WORKING CONSTANTLY WITH TOWN STAFF LAUREN AND ZANE AND OTHERS.
AND YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR WE'LL BE APPROACHING TWO HOLIDAYS THAT ARE ON WEDNESDAYS.
SO HOW ARE WE GOING TO SOLVE THAT? BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE DAYS, THOSE ASSETS THAT ARE NOT RUNNING IN SOUTHLAKE CAN HISTORICALLY BE USED.
SO THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS TO CONSIDER.
BUT I KNOW THAT IS ONE OF THE HOT TOPICS.
I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THE VOLUMES INCREASE THAT WERE RECYCLED.
AND HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THAT PROGRAM.
YES. JASON, A COUPLE QUESTIONS ON THAT.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY DURING THE TRANSITION, THERE'S GOING TO BE BUMPS AND THE DATA ON THAT SIDE THAT SHOWED THE 10 ISSUES OF MISSED PICKUPS OUTSIDE OF 36 HOURS, DROPPING ALL THE WAY TO TWO.
THAT'S PERFECT. THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.
SO THE QUESTION THEN WOULD BE WITH THE CHANGES YOU'RE MAKING FOR THIS UPCOMING LEAF SEASON, AS IF A RESIDENT IS COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS TO THE CYCLE AND ALL THAT, WHICH MANY WOULD BE, WHAT WOULD BE THE LONGEST PERIOD OF TIME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, 6 OR 8 BAGS OF LEAVES SITTING OUT UNTIL THE NEXT TRUCK WOULD COME BY AND GET IT. 6 OR 8 BAGS CAN USUALLY BE MANAGED WITHIN THE MONDAY, THURSDAY OR TUESDAY FRIDAY PICKUP.
OKAY. A LOT OF THE ISSUES COME WHEN THERE'S 100 BAGS.
GOT IT. AND WE'RE IN THAT UNSCHEDULED LEAVE PERIOD.
YOU KNOW, WE CAN POINT AT THE CONTRACT, SAY, WELL WE GOT TO PICK IT ALL UP.
BUT THEN THERE'S REALITY, WHEN VOLUME GOES UP 20% LIKE IT DID IN DECEMBER, YOU KNOW, THERE'S DIFFERENT THINGS WE CAN DO AND WE HAVE DONE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO TO MANAGE THAT. BUT I WOULD SAY THE LONGEST THEY WOULD WAIT IS TILL A WEDNESDAY OR SATURDAY, KIND OF APPLYING THAT ANSWER HOLISTICALLY BUT YEAH, YOU KNOW.
BUT PERHAPS THERE'S A WAY THAT WE CAN CRAFT LANGUAGE THAT IF YOU HAVE AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF LEAVES, YOU REACH A CERTAIN THRESHOLD, PERHAPS A PHONE CALL TO CWD, SOMETHING TO SAY. I'VE GOT AN EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.
ONE THING WE HEARD NOT INFREQUENTLY LAST YEAR WAS THERE WOULD BE RESIDENTS WHO WOULD HAVE 2 OR 3 BAGS OF JUST REGULAR YARD WASTE.
[00:30:06]
AND THE CUSTOMER SAYING, WELL, THEY'RE NOT LEAVES, THEY'RE JUST HAVING TO BE A BAG.HOW DO YOU, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THAT? IT'S A HARD ONE TO ADDRESS BECAUSE IT'S A CLOSED BAG.
SO HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS A LEAF AND WHAT IS GARBAGE.
THEY ONLY WEIGH ABOUT 10 POUNDS, RIGHT? YEAH. YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT A DRIVER OR A HELPER GOING BY CAN LOOK AT SOMETHING AND THINK, THOSE ARE LEAVES IN FACT, THEY'RE NOT.
I WOULD SAY THAT'S MORE OF A ONE OFF CASE.
WE DID LEARN A LOT IN THIS PROCESS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE WORKING WITH STAFF AND TAKING THE COMMENTS YOU'VE PROVIDED OF SHARED LAWN, WE WILL SIT DOWN AND KIND OF LOOK AT IT AGAIN. YOU KNOW, SOME OF THAT WAS THE DRIVERS WERE GOING THROUGH ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY GETTING ALL THE TRASH AND BULK.
YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, A CHAIR IS NOT LEAVE.
AGAIN KIND OF A ONE OFF CASE, BUT I WOULD SAY IF THEY LEFT A CHAIR OR NOTICEABLY BULK ITEMS IN A BAG, I MEAN, THAT WOULD BE A MISSED PICKUP AND THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD NEED TO. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU GUYS ARE AWARE OF IT AND AND WORKING TOWARDS.
YEAH. YEAH, IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT PERIOD.
YOU KNOW, DECEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS SEE WHEN THE LEAVES FALL THIS YEAR, THIS COULD BE JANUARY, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, THIS BELL CURVE COULD JUST LOOK THE OTHER WAY.
YOU KNOW, LEAVE VOLUME ALONE SPIKED 29% OVER TRASH VOLUME IN JUST JANUARY.
YOU KNOW, OUR BUSINESS IS BUILT ON POUNDS AT THE CURB.
POUNDS MEAN DISPOSAL COSTS POUNDS MEAN MORE LABOR, THEY MEAN MORE TRUCKS.
THEY MEAN MORE MEETINGS SOMETIMES TO HOW TO MANAGE THOSE POUNDS.
SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE AWARE OF AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH STAFF.
THANK YOU. REGARDING THE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE GRIEVANCES.
SO THIS IS KIND OF A GOOD SEGUE INTO TO A LOT OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH THE TRANSITION.
YOU KNOW THAT IS A MISSED TRASH PICKUP WHETHER PROVEN OR NOT.
AND WE REPORT THIS RELIGIOUSLY.
BECAUSE WHEN OUR NUMBERS GO UP, YOU'RE CERTAINLY GETTING MORE CALLS.
WE'RE GETTING MORE CALLS. AND WHEN OUR NUMBERS ARE DOWN, YOU SHOULD FEEL THE SAME.
AND IF THEY DON'T, THEN THE SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING.
WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM? WELL, IT'S REALLY THE UNOFFICIAL INDUSTRY AVERAGE.
BUT FOR REFERENCE, THE FORT WORTH CITY COUNCIL.
AND IT'S REALLY A METRIC TO GAUGE SERVICE LEVEL.
AT THAT TIME, FORT WORTH WAS HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THEIR PROVIDER IF YOU ARE OR NOT AWARE OF THAT, BUT THEY WERE AT 1.5 AND HERE WE ARE IN JUNE AT 0.24, AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT JULY WAS AT A 0.13.
AND AGAIN, IT'S THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY.
BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO TO SEE NUMBERS LIKE THIS AND HOPEFULLY YOU'RE FEELING THE SAME.
COMMUNITY EVENTS SO VERY QUICK ON THESE.
AND THESE ARE NOT CONTRACT OBLIGATIONS.
THIS IS THE CWD WAY WHICH IS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE PARTNER WITH.
WE WANT TO BE HERE 15, 25, 30 YEARS, WHEN I'M NICE, OLD AND GRAY.
AND TO DO THAT WE PARTNER WITH YOU KNOW, LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
SO THAT'S WHERE MEMBERS OF THE CHAMBER, WE'VE DONE EVENTS WITH THE SOUTHLAKE FOUNDATION.
WE DID A GREEN EVENT AT THE CELEBRATE SOUTHLAKE HAD A BOOTH ATTENDED DIWALI FEST AS WELL AS SPRING FESTIVAL, AND WE'RE HAPPY WE'RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH STAFF. I THINK IT'S VICTORIA AND MARK ON MAKING THIS YEAR'S OKTOBERFEST A GREEN EVENT WHERE WE'RE PROMOTING RECYCLING, ENCOURAGING THAT IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS BEING A GOOD PARTNER AND VISIBLE THROUGHOUT.
SO OKAY, A LITTLE BIT ON THE CWD MOBILE APP.
SO THIS IS AVAILABLE IN THE ANDROID AND APPLE STORE.
WE'VE GOT OVER 9000 DOWNLOADS TO DATE SINCE THAT WAS LAUNCHED ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO.
EVERYTHING YOU CAN DO ON A PHONE CALL OR AN EMAIL OR ONLINE, YOU CAN DO THROUGH THE MOBILE APP.
[00:35:03]
YOU CAN SUBMIT PICTURES, REQUEST A CART REPLACEMENT, THINGS LIKE THAT.WE ALSO HAVE THE GREAT VIEW MY SCHEDULE SEARCH TOOL.
SO IT GETS KIND OF A FRUSTRATING SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE LIKE, YOU'RE THE THIRD WEDNESDAY OF THE ODD MONTH OF THE LUNAR CYCLE, AND SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT DATE THAT'S GOING TO BE. WELL, YOU CAN GO ON CWDS WEBSITE, TYPE IN YOUR ADDRESS, AND IT'LL SPIT OUT THE THIRD WEDNESDAY, WHICH IS SATURDAY, YOU KNOW, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO IT'S A GREAT LITTLE TOOL TO, TO HELP PEOPLE OUT WHEN THEY NEED A SERVICE.
AND I WILL NOW PASS IT OFF TO GREG ROEMER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR COUNCIL MY NAME IS GREG ROEMER, PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY WASTE DISPOSAL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU THIS EVENING ABOUT YOUR ANNUAL COST ADJUSTMENT.
SO IN OUR BUSINESS, WHEN WE QUOTED YOU A RATE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, WE HAD A TARGETED RETURN ON INVESTMENT OR A SMALL PROFIT THAT WE HOPED TO MAKE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
BUT WE KNOW THAT OVER A PERIOD, THE PERIOD OF THE CONTRACT, FIVE YEARS COSTS WILL CHANGE.
IN SOME CASES, COSTS WILL GO UP AND IN SOME CASES COSTS WILL GO DOWN.
AND WE APPLY THOSE TO AN ANNUAL COST ADJUSTMENT.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CPI, DFW, ALL URBAN LESS ENERGY WENT UP BY 4.6% IN THE PERIOD THAT THE CONTRACT SPECIFIES TO LOOK AT.
FUEL WENT DOWN 4.1% AND DISPOSAL WENT UP 5.22%.
SO THE NEXT BOX BELOW THAT YOU CAN SEE WE TAKE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF BUSINESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE'LL JUST LOOK AT SAY THE RESIDENTIAL TRASH.
AND WE TAKE 70% OF THE CHARGE AND APPLY THE CPI CHANGE 5% OF THE CHARGE, THE FUEL CHANGE AND 25% OF THE CHARGE, THE DISPOSAL CHANGE.
SO IN THIS CASE HERE, THE RESIDENTIAL TRASH RATE WILL BE CHANGING BY 4.32%.
WHAT IS GOOD TO KNOW IS THIS ANNUAL COST ADJUSTMENT MODEL, I BELIEVE OVER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS WE'VE LOOKED AT PRODUCES A LOWER INCREASE THAN THE DFW, CPI OR THE NATIONAL CPI.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY A MORE CONSERVATIVE, LESS AGGRESSIVE APPROACH ON THE ANNUAL COST ADJUSTMENT.
IS THERE ANY QUESTIONS I COULD ANSWER ON THAT? ANY QUESTIONS? I'M GOOD.
SO HOW DOES YOUR RATES LOOK AFTER WE APPLY THIS COST ADJUSTMENT? THIS IS THE RESIDENTIAL TRASH RATE.
SO CURRENTLY IT'S $13.98 WITH THE 4.32% RATE ADJUSTMENT.
THAT WILL TAKE IT TO WHAT'S ACTUALLY 4.29% ON THIS CHART TO $14.58 A MONTH, THE RECYCLING WILL BE $4.59 A MONTH AND THE HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE CURBSIDE COLLECTION GOES UP $0.03 TO $0.83 PER MONTH.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE FOR SAVING FOR RECYCLING 2400 TONS FROM OCTOBER TO JUNE.
SAVING 40,000 TREES 900,000 GALLONS OF OIL, 17 MILLION GALLONS OF WATER, 7800 YARDS OF LANDFILL SPACE, AND ALMOST 10,000,000 KILOWATT HOURS OF ELECTRICITY HAS BEEN SAVED.
AS A WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR CUSTOMERS, WE SHOW YOU SOME OF THE FABULOUS LETTERS THAT WE'VE GOTTEN OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, SOME BIRTHDAY PARTIES THAT WE'VE TAKEN PART IN, AND IT'S BEEN OUR PLEASURE TO BE A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
WE'D LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITY, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO YOU TWO BRAND NEW ARTISAN CHAIRS MADE OF OUT OF 100% PLASTIC RECYCLED MATERIALS.
WITH ANY LUCK, ONE OF YOUR BOTTLES FROM YOUR TOWN IS IN THESE CHAIRS.
THEY'LL PROBABLY OUTLAST ALL OF US.
AND I THINK YOU'LL BE VERY PROUD TO PLACE THEM SOMEWHERE IN YOUR CITY.
SO THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
AND IF THERE ARE MORE QUESTIONS, WE WOULD LOVE TO ANSWER THEM.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SIR. WE APPRECIATE THE THE DATA AND THE INSIGHTS.
[00:40:01]
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL? I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, MR. ROEMER ON THE TRANSFER STATION BENEFIT OF THIS CONTRACT FOR RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE TRANSFER STATION AND DROP OFF.FOR ANYBODY THAT'S WATCHING OR WHO MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT DOES THAT FEEL LIKE? IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO THAT, IS IT AN EASY PROCESS? IS IT COMPLICATED? DO YOU JUST LOAD UP STUFF AND THEY'RE JUST GOING TO POINT AND SAY, DUMP IT OVER THERE ON THAT PILE? OR DO YOU GO IN A BUILDING? WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DO THAT? OUR OUR FACILITY IS AT 2010 CALIFORNIA CROSSINGS.
SO OUR FACILITIES THERE IS 23 ACRES, A TRANSFER STATION ON IT.
IT HAS SECURITY GATES THAT COME IN AND OUT.
SO YOU'D PULL IN WITH YOUR TRAILER OR YOUR PICKUP TRUCK, YOU WOULD PASS THROUGH A GATE.
YOU WOULD NEVER BE OFF A PAVED SURFACE.
YOU WOULD PULL AROUND INTO A BUILDING, A CONCRETE FLOOR.
YOU WOULD EMPTY YOUR MATERIAL OUT ON THE CONCRETE FLOOR AND YOU WOULD DEPART.
OKAY. SO IT'S IT'S A MUCH CLEANER, MORE RECEPTIVE ATMOSPHERE THAN GOING TO THE LANDFILL.
AND IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A LANDFILL, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
AND WHAT WOULD THEY NEED TO BRING AS FAR AS IDENTIFICATION TO SHOW THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DROP THERE.
AT THE VERY MOST JUST ANY IDENTIFICATION THAT THEY'RE A SOUTHLAKE RESIDENT.
WELL, I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN ON THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER SINCE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.
RANDY AND I WERE ON THE THE GARBAGE CONTRACT COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER WE CALLED IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE'VE SHARED WITH YOU AND, YOU KNOW, THIS, THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR AN APPLES TO APPLES SERVICE PROVIDER TO HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE HAD BEFORE. AND YOU GUYS OFFERED THAT, WHICH WAS VERY INTERESTING TO US BECAUSE WE KNEW OUR RESIDENTS EXPECTED A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SERVICE.
AND YOU GUYS DELIVERED ON THE ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP DURING THE TRANSITION.
SO JUST KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED WORK IN THAT REGARD.
THANK YOU. WE APPRECIATE THE BUSINESS.
[6. Discuss all items on tonight's agenda. No action will be taken and each item will be considered during the Regular Session.]
NEXT IS WORK SESSION ITEM NUMBER SIX.AND THIS WILL BE OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
AND I'LL TURN THAT OVER TO DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KATHY TALLEY TO WALK US THROUGH THE CONSENT AGENDA.
THANK YOU MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO OFFER THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR CONSIDERATION.
ITEM FOUR A APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE JUNE 18TH, 2024 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
ITEM FOUR B RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-022 AMENDING THE SOUTHLAKE PARKS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BYLAWS.
ITEM FOUR C RESOLUTION NUMBER 24-024 AMENDING THE ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BYLAWS.
ITEM FOUR D APPROVING A CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH CIGNA FOR EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH, DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE BENEFITS FOR THE PLAN YEAR OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
ITEM FOUR E APPROVING A CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH STANDARD INSURANCE COMPANY TO PROVIDE AN EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND EMPLOYEE LONG TERM DISABILITY LIFE AND ACCIDENTAL DEATH AND DISMEMBERMENT INSURANCE FOR THE PLAN YEAR OCTOBER 1ST, 2024 TO SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2025.
ITEM FOUR F APPROVING A CONTRACT WITH GRAIL INC.
FOR CANCER SCREENINGS FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $62,000.
ITEM FOUR G APPROVING THE RATIFICATION OF THE FY 2024 FUNDING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL WELLNESS PHYSICALS WITH FRONTLINE MOBILE HEALTH, PLLC TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL $45,050 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL WELLNESS PHYSICALS IN A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $97,050. ITEM FOUR H APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN SERVICES RELATED TO PHASE TWO OF THE GREEN RIBBON PROJECT ALONG THE STATE HIGHWAY 114 CORRIDOR IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $76,000. NOTING THAT ITEM FOUR I AND FOUR J WERE TABLED AT THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST TO THE AUGUST 20TH, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
MEETINGS ON AUGUST 8TH AND AUGUST 22ND, 2024.
ALL RIGHT THAT'S OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[00:45:01]
JACOBSON AT 1218 WOODSEY COURT HERE IN SOUTHLAKE INDICATED HE WOULD SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.WE'LL HOLD THAT UNTIL AUGUST 20TH.
AND ALSO ON ITEMS FOUR I AND FOUR J.
STACY KELLER AT 1220 WOODSEY COURT SAY THAT SHE WOULD SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF OF THOSE ITEMS. AND WE'LL AGAIN HOLD THAT COMMENT CARD FOR AUGUST 20TH.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE'D LIKE TO CONSIDER FOR CONSENT AGENDA? YES, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND MOVING ITEM EIGHT A RESOLUTION.
NUMBER 24-023 APPOINTING MEMBER OR MEMBERS TO FILL A VACANCY OR VACANCIES IN THE LIBRARY BOARD.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE APPOINT DAVID TREICHLER TO THE VACANT PLACE THREE, WE STILL HAVE ALL THE UPCOMING APPOINTMENTS INTERVIEWS AND SO FORTH COMING UP AT FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
SO I'D LIKE TO HOLD ON THE REST OF THE LIBRARY BOARD APPOINTMENTS.
BUT THE LIBRARY BOARD HAS BEEN STRUGGLING WITH QUORUMS. AND I MET MR. TREICHLER IN JUNE DURING THAT PROCESS, AND HE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST, AND I THINK HE'D BE A GREAT FIT FOR THE LIBRARY BOARD.
ALL RIGHT. AGREED. ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THAT APPOINTMENT TO THE LIBRARY BOARD? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM TALLEY.
SO WE WILL VOTE ON THAT DURING OUR REGULAR SESSION.
[1. Call to order. ]
SO NOW I'LL CALL OUR REGULAR SESSION TO ORDER.[ 2.A. Executive Session]
AND THE FIRST ITEM IN OUR REGULAR SESSION IS TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.AND AS MAYOR, I HEREBY ADVISE YOU THAT WE'RE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 551.071, TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER, ALISON ORTOWSKI, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK WE'LL BE? ABOUT ONE HOUR. SO WE'LL BE BACK QUARTER AFTER SEVEN.
I'LL CALL OUR REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER.
[2.B. Reconvene]
IS THERE ANY ACTION NEEDED OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION? NO, MAYOR. ALL RIGHT.THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM TALLEY.
NEXT UP IS THE MAYOR'S REPORT.
[ 3.A. Mayor’s Report]
TWO QUICK ITEMS. I'M SURE MOST PEOPLE WERE FOLLOWING OUR SOUTHLAKE OLYMPIAN SAM WATSON, WHO SET A WORLD RECORD THIS MORNING, I THINK AROUND 6 A.M.WHEN HE WAS COMPETING IN THE SPEED WALL CLIMBING.
SO HE'S ADVANCED TO THE NEXT ROUND, THAT WAS LIKE THE QUALIFYING ROUND.
SO HE'LL BE COMPETING AGAIN EARLY ON THURSDAY MORNING, I THINK AROUND 5:30 OR 6 A.M..
WE'RE WORKING ON A [INAUDIBLE].
I THINK HE WAS REALLY WELL DESCRIBED AS LOOKING LIKE SPIDER-MAN.
SO MORE TO FOLLOW JUST BECAUSE IT'S SO EARLY AND FINDING THE RIGHT SPACE AND ALL THAT.
AND THEN A WEEK OR SO AGO WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING OF OUR VETERANS MEMORIAL TASK FORCE THAT'S LOOKING AT POSSIBLE LOCATIONS AND POSSIBLE THINGS TO PUT IN OUR VETERANS MEMORIAL HERE IN SOUTHLAKE.
COUNCIL MEMBER RANDY WILLIAMSON WAS THERE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION AND GREAT IDEAS COMING OUT OF THAT FIRST MEETING.
BUT THAT'S ALL FOR THE MAYOR'S REPORT.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO ALISON ORTOWSKI FOR THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT.
[ 3.B. City Manager’s Report]
THANK YOU MAYOR.THEY'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THE THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPENED OVER THE SUMMER WITH OUR SUMMER LIBRARY PROGRAMS. COUNCIL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT.
THE SOUTHLAKE SUMMER READING PROGRAM IS A LITERACY BASED PROGRAM DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR KIDS, SCHOOL AGE AND TEENS, AND THIS IS TO ENHANCE THEIR SUMMER LEARNING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GO TO SCHOOL READY FOR SUCCESS.
THE PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES PRESCHOOLS TOO TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SCHOOL FOR SCHOOL READINESS.
AND THEN I'M GOING TO SHOW A QUICK VIDEO.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, CAN WE TURN THAT DOWN.
[VIDEO] THIS YEAR'S THEME WAS ADVENTURES BEGIN AT YOUR LIBRARY.
AND THE PROGRAM RAN FOR EIGHT WEEKS FROM MAY 20TH 4TH TO JULY 19TH.
AND THE PROGRAM RECOGNIZED ACHIEVEMENT FOR PRESCHOOLERS WHO READ FIVE BOOKS FOR UP TO 25 BOOKS, AND THEN KIDS AND TEENS FOR FIVE HOURS. THEY WOULD READ UP TO 25 HOURS, AND THEY EARNED SMALL PRIZES.
[00:50:01]
THEME PARK. AND THEY ALSO EARNED DRAWING SLIPS FOR EVERY FIVE BOOKS OR FIVE HOURS READ.AND THIS YEAR, KIDS EARN 6912 PRIZES, INCLUDING 55 GRAND PRIZES.
AND THESE ARE SOME OF OUR WINNERS RIGHT HERE.
AND THEY'RE SUPER HAPPY. LOOK AT THOSE SMILES.
IN ADDITION TO THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, THE LIBRARY OFFERED 35 UNIQUE PROGRAMS PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR COMMUNITY.
OKAY, NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SUMMER BY THE NUMBERS, AND YOU SHOULD HAVE AN INFOGRAPHIC IN YOUR PACKET THAT HAS MORE DETAILS ON SOME OF THE GREAT THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE LIBRARY.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF THOSE THINGS.
AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR OBJECTIVES AND HOW THEY'RE CORRELATED WITH THESE NUMBERS.
THE FIRST OBJECTIVE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS THAT OUR GOAL WAS TO CREATE AN ENGAGING PUBLIC SPACE, AND WE DID THAT WITH SOME DYNAMIC VISUALS, WITH DISPLAYS THAT ENCOURAGED OR ASSISTED WITH THE SELECTION PROCESS AND WITH SOME WEEKLY CHALLENGES, READING CHALLENGES, SCAVENGER HUNTS THAT MADE THE LIBRARY AN INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU VISITED WITH US.
AND THROUGHOUT THE EIGHT WEEKS OF THE SUMMER READING PROGRAM, WE HAD 27,802 VISITORS TO THE LIBRARY.
OUR NEXT OBJECTIVE IS TO PROMOTE LITERACY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, ENCOURAGE ONGOING ONGOING LEARNING TO OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR ADULTS TO PROMOTE FAMILY READING.
WE WANTED TO ALSO OFFER ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL FAMILY PROGRAMING THAT BRINGS FAMILIES BACK TO THE LIBRARY OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND GIVES THEM A QUALITY EXPERIENCE TO SHARE TOGETHER.
ANOTHER OBJECTIVE WE HAD WAS TO CONNECT TEENS WITH THE LIBRARY THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE.
WE EXPANDED OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM TO OFFER FOUR SHIFTS FOR EVERY TWO HOURS THAT THE LIBRARY WAS OPEN, AND WE CREATED A SUMMER AMBASSADOR ROLE FOR OUR MORE ADVANCED VOLUNTEERS TO REALLY WORK WITH STUDENTS AND PROMOTE LITERACY AND HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE OF WORKING IN A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND CARRYING A REAL ROLE THAT THEY KNEW MATTERED.
AND FINALLY, WE WANTED TO PROMOTE LIBRARY SERVICES.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE ONGOING LEARNING FOR ALL AGES.
WE WANTED TO PROMOTE USE OF THE COLLECTION.
AND THROUGHOUT THAT PERIOD, WE SAW 76,571 MATERIAL CHECKOUTS, WHICH ACCOUNTS TO ABOUT 20% OF OUR ANNUAL CIRCULATION FOR THE LIBRARY.
THIS YEAR, WE OFFERED THE FIRST JUNIOR WRITERS CAMP, WHICH WAS A TWO WEEK CAMP AVAILABLE FOR AGES 8 TO 12, AND IT WAS TWO HOURS A DAY FOR MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FOR THOSE TWO WEEKS.
AND THE PARTICIPANTS GOT TO WORK WITH AUTHOR, LIBRARIAN AND TEACHER JENNY MARTIN.
JENNY MARTIN IS AN AUTHOR OF A TEEN ADVENTURE SERIES, AND SHE WORKED WITH THE THE KIDS TO TEACH THEM HOW TO CRAFT CREATIVE STORIES. THROUGHOUT THE TWO WEEK PERIOD, SHE WENT THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT GENRES IDEAS HOW TO TELL A GOOD STORY VERSUS A BORING STORY, AND ALLOWED THEM TO CRAFT THEIR OWN AND GET THE CRITIQUE EXPERIENCE.
IN YOUR PACKAGE, YOU WILL FIND THAT WE HAVE A JUNIOR LITERARY MAGAZINE THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER FROM THE STORIES THAT THE KIDS CRAFTED THROUGHOUT THAT TWO WEEK PERIOD, AND ALL OF THE ART THROUGHOUT IT WAS ALSO THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE FROM THE STUDENTS AS WELL.
AND FINALLY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT OUR VISIT FROM BESTSELLING AUTHOR JAMES PONTI.
JAMES WAS BROUGHT IN AGAIN WITH THE HELP OF THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION TO COME AND OFFER TWO UNIQUE WRITING WORKSHOPS AS WELL AS A BOOK TALK ABOUT HIS STORIES, BUT ALSO HIS STORY AS A WRITER AND HOW HE CAME FROM A KID WHO WAS CONSIDERED NOT SMART AND
[00:55:02]
TOLD HE WAS NOT SMART IN SCHOOL, AND WHO DID NOT LIKE READING OR BOOKS, AND TO BECOMING A WRITER FOR NETWORKS LIKE NICKELODEON AND DISNEY, AND THEN FINALLY A BEST SELLING AUTHOR OF THREE KIDS, THREE MIDDLE GRADE ADVENTURE SERIES.IT WAS REALLY AN INSPIRING STORY AND A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GET TIPS FROM SOMEONE LIKE THEM AND TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ANYONE WHO HAS A PASSION FOR A STORY CAN FIND THAT WAY.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
IT FROM BEING ON COUNCIL FOR SO MANY YEARS.
EVERY YEAR YOU SEEM TO COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND NEW WAYS TO BRING PEOPLE IN OF ALL AGES.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE CREATIVITY.
SO THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COUNCIL.
THANK YOU. THIS IS A THIS PROGRAM AND PROGRAMS LIKE THIS MEAN A LOT TO ME.
IT'S AMAZING. IT ALWAYS AMAZED ME.
EVERY YEAR WE'VE BEEN IN SOUTHLAKE TO SEE HOW MANY KIDS ARE IN THERE DAILY.
AND IF YOU'RE IN THERE MULTIPLE DAYS A WEEK, YOU'RE LIKE, WOW, THIS IS EVERY DAY DURING THE SUMMER.
SO SEEING THAT FIGURE 27,000 IS JUST INCREDIBLE.
SO THANKS FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO.
NEXT WE'LL GO BACK TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
[CONSENT AGENDA]
AND WE WENT OVER THE LIST OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS DURING OUR WORK SESSION.AND I THINK WE ALSO MOVED AN ITEM FROM REGULAR TO CONSENT.
CORRECT. THANK YOU. MAYOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AND TO INCLUDE ITEM EIGHT A, WHICH IS APPOINTING DAVID TREICHLER TO PLACE THREE ON THE LIBRARY BOARD AND NOTING THAT ITEMS FOUR A FOUR I AND FOUR J WERE TABLED AT THE APPLICANT'S REQUEST TO THE AUGUST 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
AND JUST TO CLARIFY, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM ON MR. TREICHLER'S APPOINTMENT.
WOULD THAT BE A TERM EXPIRING OCTOBER 2025? CORRECT. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR POINTING THAT OUT.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION AND WE NEED A SECOND.
NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER FIVE, OUR PUBLIC FORUM.
[5. PublicForum.]
THIS IS INTENDED TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS ITEMS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING.IS THERE ANYONE HERE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING OUR PUBLIC FORUM? COME ON DOWN. I THINK I HAVE A COMMENT CARD.
TARA EDDINS FROM 3131 BRIER LANE.
IT'S LIT RED RIGHT NOW, BUT IT WILL TURN GREEN AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TARA EDDINS I LIVE AT 3131 BRIER LANE IN SOUTHLAKE.
MY FAMILY, WE'VE LIVED HERE FOR 17 YEARS IN THIS COMING NOVEMBER.
I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE SOUTHLAKE TENNIS CENTER.
IN GENERAL, ALL OF THE FACILITIES IN SOUTHLAKE ARE INCREDIBLE.
WE HAVE THE NEW PICKLEBALL FACILITY, THE MARK.
BUT GOING BACK TO THE SOUTHLAKE TENNIS CENTER, AN AMAZING FACILITY.
WE'RE REALLY LANDLOCKED BETWEEN DALLAS AND FORT WORTH.
FORT WORTH HAS COUNTRY CLUB TENNIS.
AND DALLAS HAS A MUCH LARGER, LARGER, YOU KNOW, SWATH OF DIFFERENT TENNIS THAT IT CAN PROVIDE.
THE SOUTHLAKE TENNIS CENTER IS GROSSLY MISMANAGED.
AND I'M COMING TO YOU TODAY AS A FAMILY.
WE ARE A TENNIS FAMILY, AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER FAMILIES IN SOUTHLAKE THAT SHARE THIS VIEW.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, MIA PORTMAN, WHO IS THE WIFE OF STEPHEN PORTMAN, WHO RUNS THE CENTER.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, IT IS NOT STEPHEN PORTMAN WHO WAS RUNNING THAT.
IT IS HIS WIFE, MIA GORDON PORTMAN, AND THAT IS WHO I TAKE ISSUE WITH, AND MANY OTHERS.
SHE RUNS IT INTO THE GROUND SPECIFICALLY.
[01:00:02]
SHE ONLY HIRES PEOPLE THAT ARE ON A WORK VISA ONLY.AND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S JUST PART OF SOUTHLAKE.
IT'S IT'S ALWAYS THE SAME THING.
MIA PORTMAN IS INFAMOUS FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.
IT'S OH, THEY'RE STILL IN CHARGE OVER THERE.
OH, THAT'S SUCH YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT A BUMMER.
THE SAME THREE MEN THAT TRAINED MY HUSBAND WHEN HE WAS 14 OR 15.
THOSE MEN ARE STILL AT THE SAME CLUB AT BROOKHAVEN WHERE MY SONS TRAINED 30 YEARS LATER.
AND SO BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT SHE HIRES.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS SHE WILL THEY WILL DO THE JOB.
THEY WILL TRAIN THE STUDENTS OR THE LADIES DURING THE DAY OR AFTER SCHOOL.
AND WHAT CAN THEY DO? THEY HAVE NO RECOURSE. THEY ARE NOT CITIZENS.
A LOT OF TIMES THEIR FIRST LANGUAGE IS NOT ENGLISH AND SHE IS A PREDATOR.
AND IT'S JUST A REAL, IT'S A REAL, IT'S A REAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE DELVED INTO.
WE ARE A REALLY GREAT CITY AND THE PEOPLE RUNNING THAT TENNIS CENTER, I RAN INTO A LADY THAT USED TO LIVE IN SOUTHLAKE, HER NAME IS NABILA NADEEMBA.
SHE HAS A SON THAT'S OUT OF COLLEGE, ONE IN COLLEGE AND ONE THAT'S 13.
AND I JUST RAN INTO HER AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW THAT WOMAN? SHE'S A WICKED WOMAN.
THE LIGHTS THE LANDSCAPING, EVERYTHING IS PAID FOR BY THE CITY.
THEY ARE [INAUDIBLE] ALL OF THAT IS THAT THE MONEY THAT COMES THROUGH THAT IS THERE.
AND I HAVE A YES, JUST STEP IN.
I THINK OUR TIMING OR THE MICROPHONE THING ISN'T WORKING BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GO FROM GREEN TO RED.
SO YOU'VE USED YOUR THREE MINUTES.
YES. JUST TO IN CLOSING MYSELF, MY FAMILY AND A LOT OF OTHER FAMILIES IN SOUTHLAKE AND ALSO PEOPLE OUT OF SOUTHLAKE THAT USE THE SOUTHLAKE TENNIS CENTER. IT'S JUST IT'S A TRAVESTY THAT SHE'S EXPLOITING THESE EMPLOYEES THAT THAT WORK AND COME TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT THE TENNIS CENTER IS NOT BEING FULLY UTILIZED. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING OUR PUBLIC FORUM? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC FORUM.
AND NEXT UP IS ITEM NUMBER SIX A.
[6.A. Ordinance No. 1285, authorizing the issuance of Tax and Waterworks and Sewer System Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2024 PUBLIC HEARING]
AND LET'S SEE.MR. DELGADO FROM HILLTOP SECURITIES IS GOING TO BE SPEAKING.
WELCOME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING, SIR.
IF YOU COULD STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND THEN GO AHEAD AND GET INTO ITEM SIX A ORDINANCE NUMBER 1285 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF TAX AND WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
MAYOR COUNCIL, GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS JORGE DELGADO I'M A REPRESENTATIVE OF HILLTOP SECURITIES.
I'M PART OF THE TEAM THAT REPRESENTS SOUTHLAKE AS YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISORY TEAM.
YOU MAY BE USED TO JIM SABONIS WHO IS HERE MORE OFTEN THAN THAN ME.
HE IS ON A WELL-DESERVED VACATION BACK ON MONDAY, HAVING SAID THAT, I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF REPRESENTING HILL SOUTHLAKE AS WELL FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS AND WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU IS A VERY STRONG RESULT ON YOUR DEBT ISSUANCE.
BACK IN MAY, WE WERE HERE WALKING YOU THROUGH A PLAN OF FINANCE, AT WHICH POINT YOU DIRECTED US TO GO AHEAD AND IMPLEMENT TO FUND A NUMBER OF UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY, A WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS, PUMP STATION IMPROVEMENTS, LIFT STATION IMPROVEMENTS, AND A UTILITY RELATED IMPROVEMENTS TO YOUR MUNICIPAL SERVICE CENTER EXPANSION. EVER SINCE YOU GOT, YOU GAVE US THE GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED.
WE GOT TO WORK. WE WENT THROUGH A RATING PROCESS WITH YOUR CITY MANAGER AND YOUR CFO.
GOING BACK TO THE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION AGAIN, THIS IS FUNDING $10,870,000 OF UTILITY RELATED IMPROVEMENTS, ALL OF WHICH ARE REPAID BY THE CITY'S WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM NET REVENUES, NOT THE PROPERTY TAXES OF THE CITY REPAID BY REVENUES.
SURPLUS REVENUES OF YOUR UTILITY SYSTEM.
THERE IS NO EXPECTED IMPACT TO YOUR RATE STRUCTURE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT AMPLE COVERAGE ON THAT.
AND I'LL GET INTO THE CASH FLOWS HERE SHORTLY IF YOU NEED ME TO.
[01:05:04]
ALL OF YOUR DEBT IS REPAID RAPIDLY.SO I'LL MAKE A SIDE COMMENT WHEN WE GOT THE PHONE CALL FROM STANDARD AND POOR'S AFTER YOU DID YOUR REVIEW, THEY SAID THIS IS THE EASIEST AFFIRMATION WE'VE EVER HAD TO GIVE IN OUR CAREERS. SO CONGRATULATIONS KUDOS TO YOU.
THIS IS WHAT ALLOWED YOU TO GET STRONG BIDS TODAY.
SHOULD YOU LOCK THAT IN TODAY FOR THE REPAYMENT OF THE CERTIFICATES, THE CERTIFICATES ARE A 15 YEAR AMORTIZATION, SO A 3.21 IS A VERY ATTRACTIVE RATE FOR A 15 YEAR DEBT ISSUANCE.
BUT EVEN WITH TAKE THAT CUSHION OUT, YOU'RE WELL UNDER THE BUDGET.
IF WE WERE TO SEE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE COVER BID AS COMPARED TO THE NUMBER ONE BID, THEN WE START QUESTIONING IS THIS A MARKET BID? BUT THIS IS CERTAINLY AN EFFICIENT MARKET BID.
FIDELITY HAS WORKED WITH YOU IN THE PAST.
SO WE THINK THIS IS A STRONG BID AND A STRONG RESULT FOR THE CITY.
FROM A FROM A PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WE DISCUSSED WITH YOU IN MAY WAS THIS COMES IN $416,000 LOWER OVER THE LIFE OF THE CERTIFICATES. ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, IT'S AROUND $27,700 LOWER ANNUALLY OF IN TERMS OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST, SO WELL UNDER BUDGET. GET TO THE CASH FLOWS.
THIS IS JUST FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE MATHEMATICALLY INCLINED, WANT TO GET INTO THE NUMBERS? HERE'S HOW THE TRANSACTION LOOKS LIKE.
15 YEAR AMORTIZATION LEVEL, INTEREST PAYMENTS, LEVEL PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.
AGAIN, REPAYMENT SOURCE IS THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUES OF YOUR CITY.
SHOULD YOU APPROVE THE BID TODAY AS YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.
JIM ANDRE AND MYSELF JIM SABONIS WE WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU APPROVE THIS BID.
IT'S UNDER THE BUDGET THAT YOU DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD BID.
AND YOU'RE ABLE TO FUND AT A VERY EFFICIENT INTEREST RATE.
TODAY'S INTEREST RATE ENVIRONMENT AND WHAT I'LL SAY IS SOUTHLAKE GOT THE BENEFIT.
WHILE THE STOCK MARKETS ARE IN DISARRAY, THERE'S A FLIGHT TO QUALITY RESPONSE.
A TRIPLE-A TEXAS CITY IS A LOT OF QUALITY.
AND HAD WE PRICED THESE BONDS LAST WEEK ON A TUESDAY, YOU'D BE 30 BASIS POINTS HIGHER.
WE GOT THE BENEFIT OF 30 BASIS POINTS OVER A THREE DAY.
WHILE THE STOCK MARKETS WERE A LITTLE BIT VOLATILE.
THE BOND MARKETS ARE EFFICIENT FOR HIGH RATED TEXAS PAPERS SUCH AS SOUTHLAKE.
SO WE'RE WE'RE VERY PLEASED THAT YOU GOT THIS RESULT.
I HOPE YOU ARE, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO ADDRESS THOSE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. IF YOU'D STICK AROUND, WE MAY HAVE QUESTIONS FOR YOU LATER, BUT WE HAVE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, SO I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON ITEM SIX.
A, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD WISH TO SPEAK ON ITEM SIX A ORDINANCE NUMBER 1285? SEEING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCIL ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM BEFORE WE VOTE? ALL RIGHT. SEEING AND HEARING NONE.
WE'LL TAKE A MOTION ON ITEM SIX A.
YES, MAYOR AND COUNCIL I'LL MOVE THAT WE APPROVE ITEM SIX A ORDINANCE NUMBER 1285 AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF TAX AND WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION SERIES 2024.
ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ALL RIGHT.
CAST YOUR VOTES. AND THAT MOTION CARRIES SIX ZERO.
THANK YOU. ITEM EIGHT A WE ALREADY TOOK CARE OF ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA.
SO NEXT UP WILL BE ITEM TEN A CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL ON OUR TAX RATE.
[10.A. Consider a proposal to adopt a tax increase and set a public hearing on the tax rate for August 20, 2024, and September 3, 2024, regular City Council meetings]
AND TO SET UP PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TAX RATE FOR AUGUST 20TH AND SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2024 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS.AND ALISON ORTOWSKI IS GOING TO LEAD US OFF ON THIS ONE.
THANK YOU MAYOR. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
YOU ARE ALL VERY WELL AWARE THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF BUDGET SEASON.
WORKING TOWARDS THE CHARTER REQUIRED FILING DATE NEXT WEEK OF AUGUST 15TH.
PRIOR TO FINALIZING WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE OF COUNCIL'S DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX RATE.
[01:10:07]
POTENTIAL TAX RATE OPTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.ONE OF THE OPTIONS, ALTHOUGH IT IS A REDUCTION FROM THE CURRENT TAX RATE, IS ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE THAT PROMPTS CONSIDERATION WITH THIS ITEM, SO THAT WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH STATE STATUTE AND TRUTH AND TAXATION REQUIREMENTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IF THIS ITEM IS APPROVED, IT'S NOT SETTING THE FINAL TAX RATE, IT'S JUST ESTABLISHING A CEILING FOR THE TAX RATE CONSIDERATIONS GOING THROUGH THE THE BUDGET PROCESS, INCLUDING FUTURE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
SO WITH THAT, I WILL TURN THINGS OVER TO OUR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
THE CITY MANAGER WILL FILE THE BUDGET NEXT WEEK ON THE 15TH, AS WELL AS THE FIRST BUDGET WORK SESSION WILL BE ON YOUR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL THE 20TH, AND THEN THE ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET WILL BE THE FIRST AND SECOND READING, WHICH WILL OCCUR IN SEPTEMBER.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I WANTED TO TOUCH ON OUR FINANCIAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES, THAT HAS BEEN THE CORE POLICY FOUNDATION WITH ALL THE BUDGETS HISTORICALLY THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED AND ALSO GOES INTO THE TRIPLE A RATING YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT.
SOME BACKGROUND REGARDING TRUTH IN TAXATION THAT THE CITY MANAGER HAS ALREADY TOUCHED ON IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, IT ESTABLISHES THE REQUIREMENTS THAT A MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT MUST MUST FOLLOW TO ADOPT A TAX RATE THAT'S ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
AS WE'VE DISCUSSED HISTORICALLY, THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE IS THE TAX RATE THAT'S REQUIRED TO COLLECT THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE ON PROPERTIES THAT WERE ON THE GROUND A YEAR AGO.
SO IN PART OF THAT TRUTH IN TAXATION, AGAIN, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE SETS OUT THOSE REQUIREMENTS.
THE GOVERNING BODY IS REQUIRED TO PUT AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA TO NOTIFY THE THE PUBLIC THAT YOU'RE CONSIDERING A TAX RATE ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, AND HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME OUT AND DISCUSS ANY FEEDBACK THAT THEY MAY HAVE ON THAT TAX RATE PROPOSAL.
BECAUSE THE TAX RATE, THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS THE LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
OF THOSE TWO, THAT CONSISTS OF 85% OF THE OPERATING REVENUE THAT GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUND.
THE SECOND LARGEST IS THE HISTORICAL SALES TAX.
IN THE SHADED BOX, YOU SEE A LARGE INCREASE FOR FISCAL YEAR 21, 22, AND 23.
THAT LARGE INCREASE IS DUE TO VARIOUS THINGS, IT WAS A CHANGE IN THE STATUTE, EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 2021, WHICH IS RELATED TO THE POINT OF SALE BEING THE DESTINATION IDENTIFIED AS THE FINAL DESTINATION OF GOODS RELATED TO WEBSITE SALES ANY INTERNET SALES.
SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE A LARGE INCREASE BEGINNING IN 2021 WAS THE RESULT OF THAT CHANGE IN STATUTE AS WELL AS WE'VE HAD LARGE ONE TIME AUDIT ADJUSTMENTS, WHICH IS A ONE TIME REVENUE STREAM.
THE COST OF LIVING AS THE COST OF GOODS GO UP, SO WILL THE SALES TAX THAT WE THAT WE WILL COLLECT.
NOTED ON THIS SLIDE, YOU CAN SEE A REDUCTION IN THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR 2024, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN A SLOW REDUCTION IN SALES TAX YEAR TO DATE, WE ARE TRENDING ABOUT 2% LESS THAN WHAT WE COLLECTED FOR THE SAME PERIOD IN THE PRIOR YEAR, AND THAT IS REFLECTED HERE ON THAT CHART.
AS ONE OF OUR FINANCIAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES IS TAXPAYER RELIEF.
AND AS CAN BE SEEN ON THIS CHART, IN THE LAST 13 YEARS, WE HAVE PROVIDED ON THIS CHART, WE'VE PROVIDED 13 TAXPAYER RELIEF WHERE WE STARTED OFF WITH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AND THEN WE HIT THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED BY THE STATE STATUTE OF 20%.
WE HIT THAT BACK IN 2018, AND THAT'S WHEN WE STRATEGICALLY STARTED REDUCING THE TAX RATE.
[01:15:05]
FOR THE AVERAGE TAXABLE HOME.AS INDICATED HERE ASSESSED VALUE TAXABLE VALUE HAS INCREASED, BUT WITH OUR 20% HOMESTEAD HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, AS WELL AS THE TAXPAYER RELIEF WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PRETTY MUCH KEEP THE ANNUAL TAX BILL PRETTY STEADY OVERALL WHEN YOU CONSIDER FROM YEAR TO YEAR.
THIS GIVES YOU A DEPICTION OF THE BREAKOUT.
THERE'S FIVE TAX ENTITIES ON AN ANNUAL BILL, AS SHOWN HERE.
NEXT, TO MOVE OVER TO THE EXPENDITURE SIDE AS RELATES TO THE GENERAL FUND.
AS INDICATED HERE ON THE EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURE SIDE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 THE LARGEST USE OF THE FUNDS IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. AND THEN YOU SEE PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE TWO OTHER LARGE AREAS THAT HOW WE SPEND THE MONEY IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE GENERAL FUND IS THE FUND IS THE FUND THAT COVERS THE GENERAL OPERATION OF THE CITY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY, STREETS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, TO NAME A FEW.
OF THE GENERAL FUND BECAUSE THE CITY IS A SERVICE ORGANIZATION, THE LARGEST CATEGORY OF THE GENERAL FUND EXPENSES ARE THE PEOPLE IS PERSONNEL BECAUSE WE ARE A SERVICE ORGANIZATION, AND THIS INDICATED ON THIS SLIDE, THAT REPRESENTS OVER 70% OF THE GENERAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES IN THE GENERAL FUND.
AS WELL AS COVERING THE GENERAL OPERATIONS OF THE CITY, THE GENERAL FUND ALSO HAS THE THE FUNDING SOURCE TO MAINTAIN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, TECHNOLOGY, OUR FACILITIES, STREETS, AS WELL AS STORMWATER ARE SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE USE.
THE GENERAL FUND IS ALSO A FUNDING SOURCE TO MAINTAIN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
ON THIS SLIDE GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF THE WIDE RANGE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AS A FUNDING SOURCE FROM THE GENERAL FUND, OVER 200 MILES OF STREETS, ROADWAY SYSTEM, OVER A HALF $1 MILLION IN GOVERNMENT ASSETS, AND THAT'S ROADWAY IN THE STORMWATER SYSTEM AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGY, AS WE ALL CAN AGREE THAT TECHNOLOGY WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
STORM WATER WE HAVE OVER 100 MILES OF STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND AS WELL FOR OUR CITY FACILITIES WE HAVE OVER 880,000FT² OF FACILITIES THAT WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN.
ONE OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES IS MANAGED EXPENDITURE GROWTH.
THIS GIVES YOU A TEN YEAR LOOK FROM 2014 TO 2023.
SO THESE ARE ACTUAL RESULTS AND NOT BUDGETED NUMBERS.
THE DFW, CPI FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS GROWTH HAS ON AVERAGE IS 3.1%.
SO IT'S ANOTHER INDICATOR TO SHOW THAT WE ARE MANAGING OUR EXPENDITURE GROWTH COMPARABLE TO THE CPI.
AND AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF OUR GUIDING FINANCIAL PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE SERVED US WELL.
NOW TO DIVE INTO THE TAX RATE CONSIDERATIONS OF WHAT IS BEFORE US THIS EVENING.
IN JULY JULY 25TH IS WHEN APPRAISAL DISTRICT SENDS THE CERTIFIED ROLL.
AND THIS YEARS ROLL OUR AVERAGE HOME VALUE IS JUST OVER $1 MILLION.
WE DID SEE A 6.7% INCREASE IN OUR APPRAISED VALUES OF $14.9 BILLION.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE TAXABLE VALUE OF A HOME, IT'S $883,000.
IT'S THE AVERAGE VALUE, WHICH IS A 6.4% INCREASE WHEN COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE VALUE LAST YEAR.
76% WAS RESIDENTIAL, WITH 24% COMMERCIAL OF THE GROWTH FROM YEAR FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
NOW, TO GIVE A PREVIEW OR AN OVERVIEW OF A GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF TAX RELIEF.
[01:20:06]
HOWEVER, A COMBINATION OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO PROVIDE THAT TAXPAYER RELIEF, THE LIMITED NEW REVENUE WHICH IS ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, BUT LESS THAN THE CURRENT TAX RATE OF 3.19.THE LIMITED NEW REVENUE TAX RELIEF WOULD BE A TAX RATE OF 3.150, WHICH IS A FORCE, [INAUDIBLE] JUST UNDER A HALF A CENT TAX RATE REDUCTION BELOW THE 3.19 TAX RATE THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
THE TOTAL PROJECTED REVENUE, THE TOTAL REVENUE REDUCTION IS JUST UNDER HALF A MILLION $451,000 WHEN YOU INCLUDE THIS TAX RATE PROPOSAL, COUPLED WITH OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, WHICH IS A 20% REDUCTION OFF OF THEIR TAXABLE, THEIR APPRAISED VALUE, THAT EQUATES TO A 6.8 CENTS TAX RATE REDUCTION OVERALL WITH THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
AND THIS PROPOSAL OF JUST UNDER A HALF A PENNY TAX RATE REDUCTION.
THAT WILL EQUATE TO AN AVERAGE ANNUAL TAX BILL OF $2,781, WHICH IS OVER $100 HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT TAX BILL THAT THE AVERAGE HOME BUYER WOULD HAVE TO SPEND.
LOOKING AT THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RELIEF, THAT TAX RATE IS 306, WHICH IS A 1.3 CENT TAX RATE REDUCTION BELOW THE CURRENT TAX RATE OF 3.9.
THAT TOTAL REDUCTION IS JUST OVER $1.5 MILLION TO THE CITY OF SOUTHLAKE, WHEN YOU COUPLE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PLUS THIS TAX RATE RELIEF, THAT THAT EQUATES TO AN EQUIVALENT TAX RATE DECREASE OF 7.7 CENTS.
THE ANNUAL TAX BILL IS $2,702 UNDER THIS OPTION, GIVE YOU THE ANNUAL DIFFERENCE OF BETWEEN THE TWO OF THE TOTAL REVENUE REDUCTION BETWEEN THE TWO OPTIONS IS $1.1 MILLION, JUST UNDER A PENNY DIFFERENCE.
THE ANNUAL IMPACT TO THE AVERAGE HOME IS $79.
I WILL STATE THAT 43% OF THE HOMES IN SOUTHLAKE ARE $1.22 MILLION AND ABOVE, BUT THIS WILL GIVE YOU A VIEW OF SOME OF THE OTHER VALUED HOMES. FOR A VALUED HOME OF $750,000, THAT NET DIFFERENCE IS $54 A YEAR BETWEEN THE LIMITED NEW REVENUE TAX RELIEF AND THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RELIEF.
FOR A VALUED HOME OF $1.2 MILLION, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO WOULD BE $86 A YEAR.
AND THEN FOR A HOME THAT'S VALUED OVER $2.5 MILLION, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PROPOSALS IS $180 ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BETWEEN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO TAX RATE PROPOSALS BEFORE YOU.
NOW TO LOOK AT SOME OTHER FINANCIAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
WE'LL DISCUSS THAT LATER IN A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.
BUT THE CURRENT FIVE YEAR CIP THAT WAS ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY INCLUDED A PROJECTION OF ABOUT $16 MILLION IN CIP PROJECTS FOR 2025. UNDER THE LIMITED NEW REVENUE, $4.5 MILLION WOULD BE CASH FUNDED AND POTENTIALLY $11.5 MILLION OF DEBT THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GET TO THAT $60 MILLION.
THE FACILITY MAINTENANCE TRANSFER WILL BE $1.5 MILLION.
THE FACILITY, THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT OF $3 MILLION, LEAVING TECHNOLOGY FUND TRANSFER OF A MILLION.
AND THIS WILL ADDRESS THE OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT I MENTIONED.
THAT IS ANOTHER REQUIREMENT FOR THE GENERAL FUND TO MAINTAIN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
FACILITY MAINTENANCE TRANSFER WOULD ALL BE THE SAME UNDER BOTH SCENARIOS.
AND NOTHING CHANGES WITH THE OTHER TRANSFERS.
[01:25:02]
SO WHENEVER WE DEVELOP A BUDGET, IT'S MORE THAN JUST DEVELOPING THE BUDGET IN THAT CURRENT YEAR WE'LL LOOK OUT TO THE FUTURE BECAUSE AS WE'VE DISCUSSED NUMEROUS TIMES, DECISIONS WE MAKE TODAY IMPACT OUR FUTURE AND FUTURE DECISIONS.UNDER THIS SCENARIO, I SHOWED THE 2024 ADOPTED BUDGET JUST FOR A POINT OF REFERENCE.
UNDER THE NO NEW REVENUE, THE CASH FUNDING WILL BE $3.5 MILLION.
REDUCED TO $2 MILLION IN 2026, A MILLION IN 2027 AND A MILLION IN 2028, WHICH IN TURN EQUATES TO A CORRESPONDING CIP.
AND THEN YOU CAN TAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT WAS APPROVED VERSUS THE CASH FUNDING, THAT BALANCE WOULD REQUIRE DEBT TO FUND THAT INFRASTRUCTURE, OR COUNCIL COULD MAKE THE DECISION TO DELAY SOME OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUT IT'S A DECISION CASH FUND OR WITH THE BALANCE WOULD REQUIRE DEBT OR FORGO THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO A LATER DATE.
BASED ON THE FIVE, THE CURRENT FIVE YEAR CIP AND ONE THING I WILL NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ALL COMPREHENSIVE FIVE YEAR PLAN TO PUT IN FOR A GREAT EXAMPLE WOULD BE BRUMLOW, THE CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF THAT WERE ESTIMATED $25 TO $30 MILLION, BUT IT'S STILL NOT DESIGNED.
AND THAT IS NOT REFLECTED IN THESE NUMBERS HERE.
BUT JUST AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE IMPACT FOR CASH FUNDING AND THE APPROVED CIP.
IT IS SIMPLY A DECISION ON WHETHER TO MOVE FORWARD ON DIRECTION FOR THE CITY MANAGER PRIOR TO FILING THE BUDGET ON THE 15TH, AS WELL AS IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION AT A LATER MEETING.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR JACKSON.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES AND ALL THAT.
SO I REALLY WANT TO COMMEND STAFF, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ALONG THE WAY ABOUT HOW DO WE BALANCE ALL THESE THINGS THAT ARE OUR PRIORITIES AND POLICIES AND THINGS WE LIVE BY IN MANAGING THE CITY'S BUDGET.
SO I KNOW A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO BALANCING THESE THINGS AND TAKING A HARD LOOK AT HOW WE MANAGE THOSE COSTS, GIVEN THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL, LIKE THE INFLATIONARY COSTS THAT DRIVE THE COST OF HEALTH INSURANCE AND CONCRETE AND GASOLINE.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN'T REALLY CONTROL.
AND YOU KNOW, SOME YEARS ARE PRETTY EASY.
THIS YEAR IS NOT AN EASY YEAR TO MANAGE ALL THESE THINGS.
SO REALLY, KUDOS TO YOU ALL FOR REALLY DIGGING DEEP THIS YEAR.
AND WE ALSO HAD A YEAR WHERE, FOR WHATEVER REASONS THE APPRAISED VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, THE GROWTH WAS NOT WHAT IT WAS IN YEARS PAST WHERE WE WERE DEALING WITH, YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, IF WE DO A NO NEW REVENUE RATE TAX RATE, IT'S ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS OF LOST REVENUE.
IN OTHER YEARS, IT'S BEEN LIKE $4.5 MILLION.
IN THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR IT WAS FOUR AND A HALF.
SO THERE JUST HASN'T BEEN THAT GROWTH IN THE APPRAISED VALUES THAT WE SAW IN YEARS PAST.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT'S A FACTOR THAT WE DON'T REALLY WE DON'T CONTROL.
BUT WE HAVE TO JUGGLE WHEN WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER THIS BUDGET.
SO REALLY CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO THE STAFF.
I'M SURE YOU'RE READY TO FILE IT AND BE DONE WITH IT, BUT I REALLY THANK YOU TO DIRECTOR JACKSON AND ALISON AND EVERYONE ON THE TEAM, ALL THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS WAS A LOT OF WORK, MORE THAN USUAL.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THAT.
ONE OTHER THING I SHOULD NOTE.
[01:30:04]
AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN CONTROL EITHER.SO A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL, BUT WE HAVE TO MANAGE.
AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB IN HAVING THESE TWO PROPOSALS BEFORE US TONIGHT.
SO THANK YOU, DIRECTOR JACKSON.
RIGHT NOW, I GUESS I'LL OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FROM US ON WITH AN EYE TOWARDS FILING THE BUDGET ON AUGUST 15TH WHETHER WE GO WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE OR THE OTHER REDUCED TAX RATE.
THAT'S CORRECT. AND AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED, THE THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS TO REALLY SET THE CEILING FOR THE TAX RATE THAT YOU WANT TO ESTABLISH AS YOU DISCUSS AND CONSIDER THE BUDGET PROPOSAL GOING FORWARD.
SO IF IF YOU WERE TO APPROVE THIS ITEM TONIGHT, IT DOES NOT IS NOT THE FINAL ACTION ON THE TAX RATE.
OKAY. EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, I THINK, THAN YEARS PAST, BUT.
IT IS. THIS IS IT'S THE TRUTH IN TAXATION PROVISION SAYS THAT IF THE CITY COUNCIL IS CONSIDERING ANY TAX RATE ABOVE THE NO NEW REVENUE TAX RATE, THEN YOU HAVE TO DISCUSS PLACING THE TAX RATE CONSIDERATION ON A FUTURE AGENDA ITEM AND HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND WE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS YEARS AGO.
I THINK RANDY AND I WERE ON COUNCIL WHERE WE WERE.
SO I THINK THAT'S WHERE THAT TERMINOLOGY IS COMING FROM.
BUT LET'S LET'S DISCUSS, I GUESS, WHICH WAY WE WANT TO GO.
BUT COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMSON, DO YOU WANT TO GO FIRST? YES. YOU KNOW, I WAS JUST GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT TAGGING ON TO WHAT YOU HAD STATED.
AND, AND THAT IS IT IS DIFFICULT.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S AN EPIPHANY TO ANYBODY IN, IN SOUTHLAKE OR IN NORTH TEXAS.
AND I THINK AS THE BODY THAT'S ASKED TO BE THE FINANCIAL FIDUCIARIES OF THE CITY AND OF OUR RESIDENTS TAX DOLLARS, WE JUST HAVE TO REALIZE WE'RE NOT IMMUNE TO THAT. WE'RE NOT IMMUNE TO THIS AS A CITY OR AS A CITY COUNCIL.
WE'RE VERY BLESSED BECAUSE WE'VE CONTINUED TO THRIVE AND DO WELL AS A CITY FINANCIALLY.
BUT WITHOUT A DOUBT, THERE ARE COMMUNITIES ALL AROUND US, VERY CLOSE COMMUNITIES TO US, AND THOSE ALL ACROSS NORTH TEXAS THAT ARE STRUGGLING IN THE SAME MEETING WE'RE HAVING TONIGHT.
THEY MAY BE HAVING THE VERY SAME CONVERSATION, BUT IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.
IT'S IT'S AROUND INCREASING TAXES AND YET STILL HAVING TO CUT SERVICES.
AND SO I TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF FIRST TAX RELIEF TO THE RESIDENTS.
AND THAT'S WHY I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF A OF A NO NEW REVENUE RATE THIS YEAR.
BUT I DO THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK VERY CLOSELY IN FUTURE YEARS FROM NOW.
I KNOW THE MAYOR WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT AS WELL BECAUSE WHEN YOU CONSIDER ON PAPER THE FACT THAT TO THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER, THIS THIS, YOU KNOW, ENDS UP BEING 6 OR $8 PER MONTH OF TAX RELIEF THAT THEY RECEIVE, BECAUSE WE'RE A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THEIR TAX BILL THAT THEY GET FROM TAD.
YOU KNOW, THE CISD IS THE PRIMARY, ALMOST 60% OF THAT.
AND SO I HAVE TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, IN FUTURE YEARS IS 6 OR $8 A MONTH TO EACH HOMEOWNER WORTH IN THIS IN THE CASE OF THIS YEAR, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, DIRECTOR JACKSON, BUT IT WAS WELL IN EXCESS OF $1 MILLION THAT THAT DOES NOT GO TO THE CITY TO PROVIDE THOSE GRADE A SERVICES THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE ACCUSTOMED TO.
SO I THINK THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY GOING FORWARD IS HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO BE ABSOLUTE HAWKS FOR TAX RELIEF, BUT NOT PUT AT RISK THE QUALITY AND THE SERVICES THAT OUR RESIDENTS MOVE TO SOUTHLAKE FOR? BUT I'M IN SUPPORT THIS YEAR, AS I HAVE BEEN SINCE 2013.
I LOOKED BACK AT THAT SLIDE AND I JOINED IN 2013, AND SO HAVE THOSE 12 YEARS I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE, 11 OF THOSE 12 I'VE VOTED FOR TAX RELIEF, AND THE ONE THAT WAS NOT WAS JUST TAX.
WE STAYED FLAT. WE DIDN'T INCREASE OR DECREASE, WE WERE FLAT.
SO I'M PROUD OF THAT RECORD AND I INTEND TO CONTINUE THAT AT LEAST TONIGHT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR PRO TEM WILLIAMSON.
[01:35:04]
BE THE LAST YEAR THAT WE CAN DO A NO NEW REVENUE RATE.WE'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF PENNIES AT SOME POINT.
YOU KNOW, WE KEEP GOING BELOW $0.30 PER $100 OF ASSESSED VALUE OR APPRAISED VALUE.
AT SOME POINT WE'LL RUN OUT OF PENNIES.
AND SO I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT'S A YEAR TO YEAR BASIS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YEAR.
NEXT YEAR WE'LL START WORKING ON THAT ONE TOMORROW.
RIGHT ALISON. COUNCIL MEMBER SMITH.
I GUESS I HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
I KEEP SAYING I DON'T WANT TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
I GET, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE BUDGET WE'RE LOOKING AT IS RIGHT NOW.
I JUST DON'T HAVE THE SQUEAMISHNESS.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, THIS IS A MATURING CITY AND THERE'S THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO THERE'S NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS TO BE HAD IN THIS COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY WITH REGARD TO THIS COUNCIL.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO KICK THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD.
I AM IN AGREEMENT WITH BOTH YOU AND COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMSON ABOUT WANTING TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THE NO NEW TAX REVENUE RATE.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND CITY FOR FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.
I MEAN, YOU'VE REALLY SINCE 2020.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S A CITIZEN OUT THERE THAT DOESN'T REALIZE COST OF EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP, AND THE COST OF THIS CITY HAS GONE UP IMMENSELY AND YET YOU'VE MAINTAINED A CONSISTENT REVENUE.
WE'RE LANDLOCKED ALMOST AT THIS POINT.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE CITIZENS AS WE GO FORWARD.
WHERE DO WE GET MONEY GOING FORWARD? IT'S EITHER GOING TO COME FROM TAX OR IT'S GOING TO COME FROM DEVELOPMENT OR IT'S GOING TO COME FROM BUSINESS RECRUITMENT.
SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE, AND WE HAVE TO BE AGGRESSIVE AS A CITY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.
I THINK THAT THAT CITIZENS DESERVE TO KEEP AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN IN THEIR POCKETS.
I THINK THAT CITIZENS HAVE TO START REALIZING THAT YOU CAN'T DO IT EVERY YEAR.
THE CITY IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING.
AND IF YOU KEEP CUTTING US, IF YOU KEEP CUTTING THE CITY, THEN SERVICES HAVE TO BE HAVE TO BE CUT.
AND I DON'T THINK ANY CITIZEN WANTS THAT IN SOUTHLAKE.
AND SO THIS IS A TOUGH ONE FOR ME.
I DON'T THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S REALLY GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BUT I THINK WE WILL GIVE THE CITIZENS AS MUCH MONEY AS WE CAN THIS YEAR AND THEN TRY TO TRY TO SHARPEN THE PENCIL AND START TO LOOK AT WHAT'S BEFORE US IN THE NEXT, YOU KNOW, 6 TO 9 MONTHS FROM A DEVELOPMENT STANDPOINT AND SEE IF WE CAN'T FIND A WAY TO TO DELIVER MORE REVENUE TO THE CITY OUTSIDE OF THAT.
DEPUTY MAYOR PRO TEM KATHY TALLEY.
I DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING RIGHT.
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I CAN SAY WE'RE ALL FOR LOWER TAXES ALL THE TIME.
IT'S A GREAT PHILOSOPHY TO HAVE, AND IT SUPPORTS OUR RESIDENTS AND US AND EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY DOES, EVERYTHING OUR STAFF DOES TO MAKE THIS THE MOST GREATEST, THE GREATEST PLACE TO LIVE.
AND I COULD SUPPORT EITHER ONE.
THIS THIS KIND OF HIT HOME FOR ME.
I WAS I TOOK A FRIEND TO LUNCH FOR HER BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK, AND THE BILL WAS $77 FOR TWO PEOPLE.
AND SO I SAT THERE AND I AND I IMMEDIATELY I'D BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS ANYWAY, BUT I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF THIS, AND I THOUGHT, I MEAN, I COULD NOT GO TO LUNCH ONCE IN A YEAR, AND I'D BE OKAY IF IT MEANS WE DON'T HAVE TO CUT CITY SERVICES IN SOME WAY GOING FORWARD.
AND SO I THINK TO YOUR POINT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT AND IT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY SOON.
SO I THINK FOR ONE MORE TIME, I'M, I'M OKAY WITH GOING WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT.
RIGHT. AND TO SOMEBODY, I THINK YOUR POINT, HOW MANY OTHER CITIES EVEN HAVE THAT, THOSE TWO OPTIONS.
[01:40:02]
RIGHT. SO I'M OKAY WITH IT.I'M JUST NERVOUS BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
THAT COULD DIRECTLY AFFECT SALES TAX.
AND THE MONEY COMING INTO THE CITY, HOPEFULLY NOT.
BUT I DO THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EXERCISE CAUTION GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU FOR THAT. GREAT COMMENTS.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I AGREE WITH EVERYONE'S SENTIMENTS ABOUT YEAH, OUR BIG PRIORITIES.
IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN SINCE I CAME ON COUNCIL IN 2015.
AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ELECTION THIS NOVEMBER WILL HOLD.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STOCK MARKET WILL DO.
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT INTEREST RATES AND INFLATION WILL DO.
SO I GET IT. IT MAY BE A VERY DIFFERENT DISCUSSION NEXT YEAR, BUT I'M I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE MILLION AND A HALF HIT TO OUR REVENUE TO GIVE THAT MONEY BACK TO OUR, OUR TAXPAYERS THIS YEAR AND TO BE CONTINUED NEXT YEAR, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
I'M NOT SAYING IT HAS TO BE NO NEW REVENUE EVERY YEAR, BUT I'M COMFORTABLE DOING IT THIS YEAR.
SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ON THAT OR CITY MANAGER NEED ANYTHING ELSE FROM US ON HOW WE DO THAT? SO IS THERE NO ACTION THEN? NO ACTION. WE'RE JUST PROVIDING DIRECTION.
OKAY. BECAUSE WE'RE GOING WITH THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE.
WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE THE MOTION TO GO THROUGH ALL THOSE STATE LAW LOGISTICS.
RIGHT. IF YOU'RE DOING THE NO NEW REVENUE RATE, THERE'S NO ACTION REQUIRED.
THE ACTION WILL BE ON THE ACTUAL RATE WHEN YOU VOTE ON THE TAX RATE IN SEPTEMBER.
ALL RIGHT. THAT WAS OUR LAST ITEM.
MEETING ADJOURNED. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.