Jul 11, 2025 City Council Special Meeting

[00:00:03]

MEETING.

[1. Call to Order]

I AM MAYOR BILLY WALLACE.

IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVOCATION.

GRACIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU AT THIS TIME TO THANK YOU AND TO PRAISE YOU.

AND TO HONOR YOU, LORD, JUST BE WITH US TODAY AS WE MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS AS WE LEAD THIS CITY.

AND LORD, JUST HELP US TO ALWAYS KEEP YOU BEFORE US.

IN EVERY DECISION THAT WE MAKE AND EVERY DECISION WE MAKE THAT IT HONOR YOU.

WE ASK THIS IN YOUR HOLY SON'S NAME, AMEN.

IF YOU WOULD JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE, 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 THE TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD ONE.

INVIS, THANK YOU.

MAY BE SEATED.

[4. Public Comments: Persons may address the City Council on any issues. This is the appropriate time for citizens to address the Council on any concern whether on this agenda or not. In accordance with the State of Texas Open Meetings Act, the Council may not comment or deliberate such statements during this period, except as authorized by Section 551.042, Texas Government Code. Speakers must observe the five (5) minute time limit.]

THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON ANY CONCERN WHETHER ON THIS AGENDA OR NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

THE COUNCIL MAY NOT COMMENT OR DELIBERATE SUCH STATEMENTS DURING THIS PERIOD EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 5 5 1 0 4 2 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THIS TIME, PLEASE COME TO THE PODIUM AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE CITY SECRETARY.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, CITY STAFF.

MY NAME IS CRYSTAL STRICKLAND AND I LIVE AT THREE 10 EAST MARVIN AVENUE.

I'M HERE AS A CITIZEN AND MY VIEWS AND OBSERVATIONS ON MY OWN.

I'M NO TOASTMASTER AND MY HUSBAND WILL TELL YOU THAT I'M THE QUEEN OF MAKING A SHORT STORY LONG.

SO I BROUGHT SOME BULLET POINTS TO KEEP ME ON TRACK.

I'D LIKE TO SPEND MY TIME HERE TALKING ABOUT MICHAEL SCOTT.

I WON'T TALK ABOUT HIS COUNTLESS CONTRIBUTIONS OR ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING HIS 23 YEARS HERE AT THE CITY BECAUSE THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TO LOOK AND THINK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THIS CITY TO SEE HIS EFFORTS AND INFLUENCE.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES TALKING ABOUT IS THE KIND OF PERSON THAT MICHAEL SCOTT IS.

I STAND HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE CITY STAFF, AND FOR MICHAEL.

I LOVE A GOOD QUOTE AND I FOUND THIS ONE TO BE PARTICULARLY FITTING.

TO QUOTE PARLES, WHAT YOU LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT WHAT IS ENGRAVED IN STONE MONUMENTS, BUT WHAT IS WOVEN INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS.

THE PAST FEW DAYS I'VE BEEN FLOODED WITH CALLS AND VISITS FROM CITY STAFF.

EACH ONE COMMISERATING WITH ME AND REGALING ME WITH STORIES OF HOW MICHAEL MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.

MICHAEL'S MORE THAN JUST A BOSS.

HE'S A GOOD LEADER AND A LOYAL FRIEND TO MANY.

HE'S THOUGHTFUL AND INTENTIONAL IN A WAY YOU DON'T SEE EVERY DAY.

HE PAYS ATTENTION TO PEOPLE AND HOW THEY MOVE THROUGH THEIR DAYS.

HE CAN HAVE A MILLION THINGS ON HIS MIND AND IF YOU KNOW MICHAEL, HIS BIG BRAIN LITERALLY NEVER SHUTS OFF.

BUT HE COULD BE GOING IN A BILLION DIRECTIONS AND IF HE NOTICED THAT YOU WERE OUT OF SORTS, HE'D REACH OUT AND MAKE SURE YOU WERE OKAY AND ASK IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU NEEDED.

SOMETHING THAT IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED ME ABOUT MICHAEL, IF YOU HAD A MEETING WITH HIM, HE GAVE YOU 100% OF HIS ATTENTION.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THE CITY MANAGER'S PHONE IS ALWAYS RINGING, BUT WHEN MICHAEL WAS WITH YOU, HE WAS FULLY ENGAGED BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO SHOW YOU THAT HE CARED ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.

THAT KIND OF RESPECT IS IN SHORT DEMAND THESE DAYS.

MICHAEL'S A GENEROUS PERSON, THE TYPE OF LEADER WHO IS ALWAYS WILLING TO GIVE YOU HIS TIME.

IN FACT, WE USED TO JOKE THAT EVEN THOUGH HE CAME INTO THE OFFICE AT 8:00 AM HIS DAY DIDN'T ACTUALLY START UNTIL FIVE, THAT'S WHEN HE ACTUALLY GOT A CHANCE TO REPLY BACK TO TEXTS AND EMAILS AND CONDUCT THE BUSINESS THAT HE HAD.

HE WAS EITHER IN PLANNED OR EVEN IMPROMPTU MEETINGS ALL DAY LONG.

MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, HE WAS AT WORK LONG AFTER MOST OF US HAS HAD GONE HOME.

IT WASN'T UNCOMMON FOR HIM TO STAY AFTER WORK TO TALK TO A RESIDENT, A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OR ONE OF HIS STAFF TO PROVIDE

[00:05:01]

I'VE NOW WORKED FOR THREE CITIES WITH TWO OF THOSE CITIES.

TRYING TO SPEAK TO THE CITY MANAGER WAS MUCH LIKE ATTEMPTING TO MEET WITH THE WIZARD OF OZ.

YOU MUST HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AND GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

MICHAEL KNOWS THE VALUE OF TIME AND HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY QUALMS ABOUT GIVING IT TO THOSE IN NEED APPOINTMENT OR NOT.

MICHAEL WAS ALSO THE MASTER OF SETTING THE STAGE AND THEN TRUSTING AND EMPOWERING HIS FOLKS TO MOVE FORWARD.

HE VALUED EVERYONE ON HIS TEAM.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HIM NOT TO MISS OUT ON THE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPRESS HIS GRATITUDE, WHICH HE DID DAILY.

ANYONE WHO KNOWS MICHAEL KNOWS HOW PASSIONATE HE IS ABOUT PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE.

DIDN'T MATTER WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY.

HE DIDN'T JUST EXPECT IT FROM EVERYONE.

HE EMBODIED IT.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO HIM THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL WAS HEARD AND THAT THEY WERE PROVIDED A FAIR RESOLUTION.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE AND I THINK EVERYONE IN HERE WOULD AGREE THAT YOU CANNOT PLEASE A HUNDRED PER PERCENT OF PEOPLE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME.

BUT THAT NEVER STOPPED MICHAEL FROM TRYING.

I COULD LITERALLY DO THIS ALL DAY.

THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF STORIES, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALL MINE TO TELL MOST FOLKS.

AND I WOULD ALMOST SAY EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THIS ROOM HAS A GOOD ONE.

MICHAEL'S THE REASON THAT A LOT OF US ARE HERE TODAY AND WHY WE WILL BE HERE TOMORROW.

MICHAEL LEAVES BEHIND A GREAT LEGACY THAT IS COMPRISED OF MORE THAN JUST ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WHAT HE LEAVES BEHIND WILL BE APPRECIATED AND FELT FOR YEARS TO COME AND THE STORIES WILL NOT STOP.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, SCENE NONE.

WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.

[5. Convene into Executive Session to deliberate the appointment of an Interim City Manager as permitted by Texas Government Code, Section 551.074, and consultation with the City Attorney regarding legal issues related to the city manager transition, as permitted by Texas Government Code, Section 551.071, and all matters incident and related thereto]

YOU'RE FREE TO STAY HERE OR COME BACK.

UH, WHATEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING.

AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE ARE BACK IN SESSION IF

[6. Reconvene and take any necessary action]

DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

THAT MOVES

[7. Comments by Mayor, City Council, City Attorney and City Manager]

I'LL START TO MY LEFT THIS TIME.

COUNCILMAN SMITH.

UM, I HAVE A FEELING WE WOULD ALL SAY THE SAME THING, SO I'M JUST GONNA DEFER, UH, TO THE MAYOR.

COUNCILMAN ATKINS, I'M GONNA DEFER AS WELL.

ALBERT, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING? NO, AND TO MY RIGHT.

UH, COUNCILMAN WRIGHT.

I SAID TO MY RIGHT COUNCILMAN, YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS GOT SOMETHING TO SAY.

GO AHEAD.

I JUST WANNA SAY NONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE, IN THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF HAVE BEEN EASY.

IT'S BEEN HARD, BUT WE, WE GOTTA WORK REALLY HARD AND LOOK OUT FOR ALL THE DECISIONS THAT WE DO THAT WE THINK ARE GONNA BE BEST FOR, FOR THE CITIZENS OF WAXAHATCHEE.

UH, IT WASN'T EASY AND AS A GROUP WE DON'T ALWAYS AGREE A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE TIME, BUT WHEN WE DO AND WE SPEAK IT ALL OUT AND DISCUSS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND CAN AND ARE ABLE TO DO THAT, WE, WE USUALLY COME TO A CONSISTENT CONSENSUS.

AND THAT'S THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU CHIEF BOYD, MAYOR PRO TIMM.

I'M GONNA SAY ONE THING AND THEN DEFER TO YOU, BUT IT, I JUST WANNA SAY TODAY, THIS PROCESS JUST FURTHER EXEMPLIFIES WHAT GREAT PEOPLE WE HAVE WORKING FOR US AND THAT THAT LEADS PARTS OF OUR CITY GOVERNMENT HERE.

AND AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE EVERYBODY ACROSS THE BOARD, BUT THIS IS, THIS IS IS HARD, BUT IT, WHEN IT'S HARD, IT MEANS YOU HAVE GOOD PEOPLE.

RIGHT.

ALRIGHT, UM, I I JUST WANNA WRAP UP BY THANKING THE FOUR

[00:10:01]

THIS WAS A VERY, VERY TOUGH DECISION FOR US TO MAKE.

UH, IT'S BEEN A, A TOUGH SEVERAL FEW DAYS.

UH, WE ALL FEEL SURE THAT THIS IS, UH, THE RIGHT DECISION AND THE DECISION THAT WE WANT TO GO INTO, UH, MOVING FORWARD.

UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE FOUR CANDIDATES.

UH, ALL FOUR OF 'EM DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND, UH, IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY TOUGH DECISION.

AND LAST, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THIS COUNCIL.

UH, THE, UH, LEADERSHIP THAT'S BEEN SHOWN IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND TONIGHT, TODAY, UH, IS REALLY BEEN PROFOUND.

I'M SO PROUD OF THIS TEAM THAT I WORK WITH.

AND, UM, IF I HAD A CHOICE TO PICK ANYBODY ELSE TO SERVE ALONGSIDE ON THIS COUNCIL, I WOULD PICK THESE GENTLEMEN RIGHT HERE.

UM, SO THANK YOU COUNCIL.

I REALLY APPRECIATE, UM, YOUR LEADERSHIP AND, UM, MAKING THE TOUGH DECISIONS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND, UH, YOU'VE REALLY OUT SHOWN YOURSELF.

SO THANK YOU.

AND, UH, WITH THAT, UH, WE WILL CLOSE THE MEETING.