Sep 08, 2026 City Council Regular Meeting

VERY GOOD SELECTION.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, UH, WE WILL BE RECOGNIZING THERESA MCNEIL, UH, FOR 23 YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.

LINDSEY, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

TONIGHT I HAVE THE HONOR OF RECOGNIZING CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONER THERESA MCNEIL FOR MORE THAN 23 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE FIRST RESPONDERS OF THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE.

DURING HER TIME ON THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, THERESA HAS SERVED IN EVERY CAPACITY, INCLUDING COMMISSIONER, VICE CHAIR, AND CHAIR.

HER DEDICATION AND LEADERSHIP HAVE MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON BOTH THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

THERESA, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MANY YEARS OF DISSERVICE AND DEDICATION.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THERESA UP TO THE FRONT SO WE CAN PRESENT HER WITH THE AWARD AND TAKE A PHOTO.

ABSOLUTELY.

[00:05:30]

SLIDE DOWN THIS WAY.

WHILE THEY'RE SITTING BACK DOWN, I JUST WANNA SAY, ON BEHALF OF ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS IN TOWN, THERESA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR 23 YEARS.

I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH YOU.

UM, YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD AN OPEN MIND AND, UM, CONSIDERED ALL THINGS AND, UH, DID A REALLY GREAT JOB ON THE COMMISSION.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE HONOR.

UH, TO RECOGNIZE JOHN HAMILTON.

NEXT UP, SANDY.

UH, WE WILL RECOGNIZE JOHN HAMILTON FOR 12 YEARS SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF THE WAXAHATCHEE PARTNERSHIP, MAYOR AND COUNCILMAN.

I'M HERE TO REPRESENT THE ENTIRE GROUP OF THE WASATCH PARTNERSHIP INC.

UH, IT'S GONNA BE HARD FOR ME TO FIT THIS IN FOR, UH, ONLY ONE MINUTE, BUT I CAN DO IT.

UH, BACK IN 2000, IF YOU GUYS REMEMBER, THE CITY BROUGHT A GROUP OF, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS TOGETHER, AND THEY CREATED THIS, IT WAS A COMMUNITY MASTER PLAN.

UH, 26 YEARS AGO, THEY PUT THIS TOGETHER.

PART OF IT, UH, HAD 35 DIFFERENT GOALS IN IT.

AND PART OF THAT, THOSE GOALS WAS, UH, TO REVISE THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

UM, THE VERY FIRST, UH, GOAL ON THAT LIST WAS TO GET OUR DOWNTOWN ACCREDITED, NATIONALLY ACCREDITED.

UM, SO OUR DEAR MISS HILDA CHAPMAN ACTUALLY BROUGHT HER TEAM OF SOLDIERS TOGETHER.

AND, UH, THEY WENT TO WORK ON THAT IMMEDIATELY.

THEY WERE CALLED THE DOWNTOWN CORE GROUP.

UH, THEY MOVED SWIFTLY AND CREATED 18 STRATEGIES OF THEIR OWN.

UH, AND WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THAT, EARNED OUR NATIONAL ACCREDITATION AS A DOWNTOWN.

UH, JOHN HAMILTON WAS ALONGSIDE IN THAT ROOM FROM DAY ONE FOR 10 YEARS, HE WORKED ALONGSIDE HILDA AND THE REST OF THE GROUP, UH, HELPING TO NOT ONLY EARN THAT ACCREDITATION, BUT TO, UH, BUILD THE WAXAHATCHEE PARTNERSHIP INC.

UM, EVEN THOUGH EVERY ORGANIZATION HAS SOME QUIETER YEARS, UH, WE HAVE HAD SOME QUIETER YEARS.

IN 20, IN 2012, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, HILDA FELL SICK AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TURNED TO JOHN AND ASKED FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.

HE STEPPED IN AS THE HONORARY PRESIDENT IN HER, UH, IN HER PLACE, UH, FOR TWO YEARS.

UH, WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY.

HE THEN, UH, IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT IN 2014.

AND HE HAS SERVED THAT POSITION EVER SINCE.

UM, UH, LIKE I SAID, THERE ARE QUIETER SEASONS, AND THEY'VE HAD SOME OVER THE YEARS, BUT THROUGH ALL OF IT, JOHN HAS KEPT THIS GROUP TOGETHER.

UH, HE KEPT SHOWING UP, AND HE KEPT INSPIRING THE OTHERS TO SHOW UP.

HI, KEVIN .

UM, UM, BUT THROUGH IT ALL.

ANYWAY, HE KEEP THE GROUP TOGETHER AND WHAT I THINK MATTERS THE MOST, WHAT I REALLY WANTED JOHN TO HEAR TONIGHT IS THIS, THAT HE DIDN'T JUST LEAD.

HE KNEW WHEN IT WAS TIME TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW.

UH, AND OVER THIS PAST YEAR, JOHN HAS LED WPI THROUGH A FULL BYLAWS UPDATE, UH, RESTRUCTURED THE BOARD, OPENED UP TWO NEW LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, UH, AND BROUGHT IN SOME NEW LEADERSHIP AND BUILT, UH, WPI SPECIFICALLY SO THAT NEW PEOPLE WITH NEW ENERGY COULD STEP IN THIS YEAR, UH, AS HE, UH, ROLLS OFF THE BOARD.

AND THAT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO DO AFTER 20 SOMETHING YEARS OF SERVICE HANDING OVER, UH, HIS BABY THAT HE'S POURED HIS LIFE INTO.

AND, UH, IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF COURAGE AND WE, WE RESPECT THAT.

SO, ON BEHALF OF WPI, UH, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA SEE A LOT OF NEW THINGS WITH WPI, NEW VOICES, NEW IDEAS, NEW ENERGY FOR DOWNTOWN.

UH, BUT IT ALL EXISTS BECAUSE JOHN MADE ROOM FOR IT.

SO, UH, THAT IS HIS LEGACY.

AND, UH, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT JOHN IS GONNA DO IN HIS, IN HIS DAYS.

I'M SURE HE'LL BE AROUND HELPING, LIKE HE ALWAYS HAS.

BUT JOHN, ON BEHALF OF ALL OF WPI, UH, THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP WHEN HILDA NEEDED YOU, WHEN THE BOARD NEEDED YOU, AND FOR STAYING ALL THESE YEARS, 26 YEARS TOTAL, UH, AND FOR KNOWING EXACTLY WHEN IT WAS TIME TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR WHAT COMES NEXT.

UH, SO WE WOULD LIKE THE ENTIRE WPI THAT IS HERE, COME FORWARD AND LET'S PRESENT A PLAQUE TO MR. JOHN AND TAKE A PHOTO WITH THE COUNCIL.

THANK, GO AHEAD.

[00:11:10]

IF YOU EVER WONDER WHY THIS PLACE IS SO SPECIAL, UH, THERE'S SO MUCH RICH HISTORY HERE.

UH, SO MUCH HARD WORK AND DEDICATION BY MANY, UH, THAT HAS MADE THIS PLACE THE, UH, SPECIAL CITY THAT IT IS.

AND TONIGHT, UH, TWO OF THOSE PEOPLE WERE RECOGNIZED.

THAT BRINGS US TO, UH, PRESENT A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

AND I'LL READ THAT PROCLAMATION.

WHEREAS OVARIAN CANCER IS A SERIOUS DISEASE THAT AFFECTS THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND FAMILIES EACH YEAR.

AND RAISING AWARENESS IS ESSENTIAL TO APPRO, IMPROVING EARLY RECOGNITION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND OUTCOMES.

AND WHEREAS OVARIAN CANCER CAN BE DIFFICULT TO DETECT IN ITS EARLY STAGES, BECAUSE ITS SYMPTOMS MAY BE SEPTAL AND MISTAKEN FOR OTHER HEALTH CONDITIONS.

AND WHEREAS INCREASED AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAN ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL SYMPTOMS, DISCUSS CONCERNS WITH THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND LEARN ABOUT RISK FACTORS AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES, WHEREAS FAMILIES, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS, RESEARCHERS, ADVOCATES, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WORK TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY OVARIAN CANCER AND ADVANCED RESEARCH TOWARD IMPROVED PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND TREATMENT.

WHEREAS THE CITY OF WOK HATCH RECOGNIZES THE COURAGE OF THOSE LIVING WITH OVARIAN CANCER HONORS THOSE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES TO THE DISEASE AND EXTENDS ITS SUPPORT TO THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES.

WHEREAS NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE WAXAHATCHEE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE AWARENESS, PROMOTE EDUCATION, ENCOURAGE SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED, AND RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTINUED RESEARCH.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, BILLY WALLACE, MAYOR CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE, TEXAS, ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, DO HEREBY RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER AS NATIONAL OVARIAN CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO INCREASE THEIR AWARENESS OF OVARIAN CANCER, SUPPORT THOSE AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE, AND PARTICIPATE IN EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND HOPE.

PROCLAIM THIS EIGHTH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026.

MAYOR BILLY WALLACE.

IS THERE SOMEONE HERE THAT WE CAN ISSUE THIS TO? WOULD YOU COME ON UP? LET'S, UH, WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE UP HERE IF WE CAN.

ALL RIGHT.

[5. Public Comments]

THAT BRINGS US TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.

NUMBER FIVE, PERSONS MAY ADDRESS THE

[00:15:01]

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 5 5 1 0 4 2 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

WE HAD ONE PERSON SIGN UP TO SPEAK CHRIS DAVIS, PLEASE GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE CITY SECRETARY.

THAT BRINGS US TO THE, UH, CONSENT AGENDA.

CHRIS DAVIS, 4 0 1 NORTH ROGERS.

UM, I KNOW THE ALLIANCE PARK HAS BEEN MOVED FROM THIS AGENDA TO, UH, TO A WORK SESSION, UH, IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

AND, OH, FIRST OF ALL, UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR COUNCIL.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

UM, I'VE SERVED, UH, ON THE PARKS BOARD FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I'VE BEEN THE CHAIR FOR THE PAST YEAR.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU UNDERSTOOD THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT THE KIMLEY HORNE LIONS PARK, UH, DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT THE CITY COMMISSIONED AT A COST OF OVER $600,000 PLAN WAS DEVELOPED.

UH, BASED ON THE INPUT FROM THE BOARD, STAFF, PARK PROFESSIONALS, THESE CONSULTANTS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, RESIDENTS, UH, KIMLEY HORN PLAN WOULD PROVIDE A MULTI-USE DESTINATION PARK THAT PROVIDES, UH, DOZEN PRACTICE FIELDS, CONNECTIVITY TO THE HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL, TO THE NATURE TRAIL, SOME FAMILY FRIENDLY AMENITIES AND FUTURE SPACE TO ADD THINGS LIKE PICKLEBALL OR, UH, SKATE OR WHEELED ACTION PARK OR, UH, MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS.

THE CONCEPT, UH, FOR ADDING JUST TURF PRACTICE FIELDS, UH, TO LIONS PARK WAS NEVER PRESENTED TO THE PARKS BOARD.

AND THE PARKS BOARD HAS NEVER VOTED TO SUPPORT THAT CONCEPT.

UH, TO MAKE THIS PIVOT NOW SEEMS ABRUPT AND A BIT SHORTSIGHTED.

THE PROJECT, UH, AS IT WAS SHOWN TO US OR THE CONCEPT, UH, IT HASN'T BEEN DEVELOPED, AND WE WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT TO BE DEVELOPED.

UH, ONLY INCLUDES SIX SYNTHETIC TURF PRACTICE FIELDS, UH, AND OTHER CITIES REALLY AREN'T DOING THAT.

I WANT, WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND A FEW THINGS ABOUT TURF.

TURF WORKS.

SYNTHETIC TURF WORKS REALLY WELL IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT LIKE SCHOOL OR SPORTS COMPLEX WHERE YOU CAN SCHEDULE AND MONITOR THE UC USAGE.

EVERY DAY, TURF GETS REALLY HOT.

I HAVE TURF IN MY BACKYARD.

I'VE MEASURED IT AT 150 DEGREES, 150 DEGREES FOR 8-YEAR-OLD SOCCER.

UH, IT'S HOTTER THAN AN ASPHALT ROAD.

YOU KNOW, IT MAKES THE TURF UNUSABLE BETWEEN PROBABLY 10 AND FOUR MOST DAYS.

IF YOU LOOK AT A 30 YEAR SPAN, THERE'S REALLY NO COST DIFFERENCE.

THE MAINTENANCE OF TURF IS, IS, UH, ALMOST AS COSTLY AS GRASS.

THE LAST THING I'D SAY IS THE, THE TURF IS BASICALLY BUILT ON A ROAD, AND WE'RE ADDING ALL SORTS OF SYNTHETIC PLASTIC, CARBON BASED AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN A WATERSHED THAT, UH, FLOWS DIRECTLY INTO WAXAHATCHEE CREEK.

I'M NOT SURE WE NEED A MORE MICROPLASTICS IN OUR WATER.

THAT'S ABOUT ALL I GOT.

THANKS.

THANK YOU, MR. DAVIS.

ALRIGHT,

[6. Consent Agenda]

ALL MATTERS LISTED UNDER ITEM SIX OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL, WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION.

THERE WILL NOT BE SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS. APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA AUTHORIZES THE MAYOR OR CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL MATTERS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT EACH ITEM.

ANY ITEM MAY BE REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION BY ANY MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL.

THIS IS FOR ITEMS A THROUGH G COUNSEL, MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO WITHDRAW OR PULL ITEM G FOR SEPARATE DISCUSSION.

DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR THE OTHER ITEMS? I MOVE TO APPROVE ALL OTHER ITEMS. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

I GOT YOU DOWN THERE.

UH, COUNCILMAN SUITOR.

[6.g. Construction contract award for the Waxahachie Creek Erosion Repair at Getzendaner Project in the amount of $3,652,692 ]

WRIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE REASON I ASK IS

[00:20:01]

JUST BEING CONSISTENT.

ANYTIME THERE'S ANYTHING IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE CONSENT AGENDA, I ALWAYS PULL IT OUT.

JAMES, COULD YOU COME UP AND JUST GIVE US A LITTLE OVERVIEW ON WHAT WE'RE GETTING FOR OUR THREE AND A HALF MILLION AND WHEN THEY'RE GONNA START AND HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE? SURE.

SO THIS PROJECT'S FOR THE W HITCHY EROSION, UH, ISSUE WE HAVING OVER THERE WHERE IT IS ACTUALLY ERODING UNDERNEATH THE TRAIL.

WE HAD TO PUT THAT FENCE UP THERE TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE SOME OF THAT, UH, TRAIL BECAUSE OF THE EROSION.

SO THIS IS TO BE ABLE TO, UH, INSTALL THE EROSION ALONG 1,500 FEET, WHICH BASICALLY IS THE, THE WHOLE SECTION OF LIKE THE CREEK ALONG THE KITCHEN, DANA PARK.

AND SO RIGHT THERE, WHERE THE TRAIL GOES OFF TO COME TOWARDS DOWNTOWN, THAT'S WHERE IT'S GOING TO START ALL THE WAY TO, UH, PASS UP THAT BRIDGE THAT IS OUT THERE.

AND SO, BUT ALSO WE HAVE, UH, ALTERNATIVES, UH, AS WELL BECAUSE WE, FOR COMMON SCALE, THERE'S, UH, TWO OTHER SPOTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ALSO DEALING WITH EROSION ALONG THE, THE TRAIL ONE'S OVER THERE BY THE CEMETERY, AND THE OTHER ONE'S OVER BY THAT, UH, PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, UH, CLOSER TO THE, THE UC, UH, THE UC, UH, BRIDGE.

AND SO, AND ALSO LIKE, UH, DOING SOME, UH, GROUTING ON THE ROCKS THAT WE DID UNDERNEATH THE UC BRIDGE AS WELL.

SO WITH THIS PROJECT, UH, WE'RE WELL UNDERNEATH THE, THE, THE BUDGET.

AND SO, UH, SO THE, THE, THE LOWEST BID, OR WITH THE AD BIDS, UH, WAS $3,652,692.

AND SO, UH, SINCE THIS WAS A, UH, A BUDGETED PROJECT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL, THAT'S WHAT WE HAD IN THE CONSENT AGENDA.

BUT, UH, I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO EXPLAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE TIMEFRAME.

TIMEFRAME.

SO WE'RE LOOKING ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF TO BE ABLE TO, UH, DO THIS PROJECT.

SO, UH, BASICALLY FROM THE TIME THAT WE ACTUALLY EXECUTE THE CONTRACT, WHICH GONNA BE A MONTH TO A MONTH AND A HALF FROM NOW.

SO A YEAR AND A HALF FROM THERE.

UM, SO THIS INCLUDES THE AREA THAT WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR A WHILE IN GATSON DANA PARK, WHERE THE TRAIL HAS BEEN BLOCKED OFF FOR A WHILE.

CORRECT.

SO I'M EXCITED TO, TO SEE THAT OPEN BACK UP SAFE.

I KNOW WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS FOR, FOR A WHILE.

YES.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MONTHS IT MAY EVEN BE.

A COUPLE OF YEARS.

YEARS BEEN YEARS, YES.

UH, SO THAT'S EXCITING TO HEAR THAT WE'RE FINALLY GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH, WITH, UH, MAKING THAT SAFE AND, UH, OPENING THAT BACK UP.

UH, DEFINITELY.

AND I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL'S, UH, SUPPORT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS PROJECT RIGHT HERE.

I'M EXCITED TO GET IT DONE.

AND SO THE TEAM, YOU KNOW, UH, HAS BEEN REALLY EXCITED.

ELIZABETH, ELIZABETH, UH, QUILLY HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON THIS AND GUERRO AS WELL.

SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE IN THIS PROJECT.

SO IF THERE'S ANY FUNDS LEFT OVER, UH, ONCE THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE FUNDS? SO WE'RE, WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING AT ANOTHER PROJECT WHERE THERE'S EROSION ALONG SATCH CREEK, AND WE'RE GONNA BE BRINGING THAT FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL, UH, WHEN WE GET TO THAT POINT.

MM-HMM .

SO WE'RE, UM, BASICALLY IT'S A LOCATION WHERE WE, IT'S ALONG THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRAIL, BUT ALONG SATCH CREEK, BUT TO PROTECT ALSO SOME, UH, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.

UH, SO THAT'S, UH, ONE OF OTHER PROJECTS WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT GETTING THAT, UH, PROPOSAL, REVIEW IT, BRING IT FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL, AND, UH, SEE IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH DOING THAT PROJECT.

VERY GOOD.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE ITEM G ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED AND AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER AND OR MAYOR TO EXECUTE ON THIS SIR.

DOCUMENTS.

ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, A PUBLIC HEARING ON A REQUEST 70 20 WALKS THE HATCHEE LP FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT, A SUP FOR HEAVY MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT RENTAL SALES OR STORAGE USE WITHIN A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL ONE ZONING DISTRICT LOCATED AT 70 20 NORTH INTERSTATE 35.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

AND THANK YOU STAFF.

[7. Public Hearing on a request 7020 Waxahachie LP, for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for Heavy Machinery and Equipment, Rental, Sales or Storage use within a Light Industrial-1 zoning district located at 7020 N Interstate 35 (Property ID 185396) - Owner: Waxahachie LLC (ZDC-64-2026)]

OWNER IS WAXAHATCHEE, LLC.

THIS IS ZDC 64.

2026 TRENTON.

CONSIDER PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPROVING ZDC 64 20 26.

THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED AT 70 20 NORTHEAST HIGHWAY, UH, INTERSTATE I 35.

UM, WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING TO DO IS TO ALLOW FOR OUTDOOR STORAGE AS WELL AS, UM, HEAVY EQUIPMENT PER OUR ZONING REGULATIONS WITHIN THE LI ONE DISTRICT.

UH, THIS PROPOSED USE WOULD REQUIRE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.

UM, GOING THROUGH THIS, UH, PROPERTY, A MAJORITY OF THE AREA IS SURROUNDED, UH, IS SIMILARLY JUST ZONED AROUND THIS PROPERTY, UH, TO THE WEST, TO THE SOUTH.

YOU BOTH HAVE LI ONE DISTRICTS A VERY SIMILAR USES IN

[00:25:01]

THIS AREA.

THIS AREA HAS BEEN, UH, KNOWN TO HAVE, UM, CONSTRUCTION TYPE FACILITIES UP AND DOWN THE I 35 CORRIDOR, ESPECIALLY ON THE EASTERN PORTION.

UH, WHAT THEY ARE, UH, PROPOSING AS PART OF THE SPECIFIC USE PERMIT IS A ONE STORY STRUCTURE, APPROXIMATELY 6,000 SQUARE FEET THAT IS EXISTING.

UM, THEY'RE PROPOSING HOURS OF OPERATION 24 7 30 EMPLOYEES.

UM, THE MACHINERY, THE HEAVY MACHINERY WILL BE REQUIRED TO BE A SCREEN OR, AND, UM, AND OR LOCATING THE REAR OF THE STRUCTURE.

UM, THE DISPLAY OF STORAGE OR HEAVY EQUIPMENT VEHICLES, UH, WILL BE ALONG THE FRONT.

HOWEVER, THERE IS EXISTING VEGETATION LANDSCAPING ALONG THE FRONT, UM, THAT IS ON THE PROPERTY.

UH, PER THE ORDINANCE.

WE ARE REQUESTING THAT IF FOR SOME REASON, 'CAUSE RIGHT NOW THE LANDSCAPING IS JUST OUTSIDE THE PROPERTY IN THE RIGHT OF, IN THE DEDICATED RIGHT OF WAY.

UM, INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM TEAR UP THAT, UM, LANDSCAPING THAT WAS DESIGNED FOR THAT SITE, UH, SPECIFICALLY WE'VE PUT IN THE ORDINANCE A REGULATION CONDITION THAT IF THAT LANDSCAPING WERE EVER TO GO AWAY BECAUSE OF RIGHT OF WAY EXPANSION, THAT THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THAT WITH SIMILAR LANDSCAPING ON THEIR PRO, UH, WITHIN THEIR PROPERTY LIMITS.

UM, WHEN THIS ONE BEFORE THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION, THE PLAN ZONING COMMISSION DID MAKE A RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL AS PART OF THE REQUEST.

THEY DID PUT A CONDITION ON THIS, ON THE SUP, THAT IT GOES WITH THE TENANT OF THE PROPERTY, MEANING IF THE TENANT DOES CHANGE, THAT IT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR A NEW SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.

UH, THERE'S A LAW OF DISCUSSION AT THE, UH, THE ZONING COMMISSION, MEANING REGARDING THAT.

UM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PROPOSED TENANT, UM, THIS DEVELOPMENT IS FOR, IS A, IS IT GOOD AFTER THEY'VE, THEY'VE WORKED WELL WITH THE CITY.

UM, WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, WHO THE NEXT POTENTIAL USER FOR THAT SITE IS, AND THE POTENTIAL USE ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY.

AND THAT'S WHY THE, UH, COMMISSION DID PUT A, A, THAT ADDITIONAL CONDITION ON THE, ON THE SUP.

UM, ALSO SOME HISTORY ON THIS PROPERTY.

UM, THEY'RE, THEY ARE ASKING FOR A VARIANCE WITHIN THE SCP.

UM, PART OF THAT VARIANCE IS OUR DRIVE DEPTH OF HOW MANY FEET IT HAS TO HAVE COMING FROM THE ENTRANCE INTO THE PROPERTY.

UM, THEY ARE SHORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR REGULATIONS.

HOWEVER, THIS PROPERTY IN THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE A LONG TIME.

UM, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THIS.

UM, AND WE FEEL THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE CONTRARY TO THE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE IN CAUSING ANY SORT OF, UM, POTENTIAL HARM FOR, UH, OTHER MOTORISTS OR VEHICLES.

UM, ADDITIONALLY, UM, WHEN CODE WENT OUT THERE, IT WAS A PERMIT.

THERE WAS WORK DONE TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE STRUCTURE WITHOUT, UH, IT WAS MORE AESTHETICS.

UH, BUT IT DID REQUIRE PERMITS.

AS SOON AS THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED PERMITS FOR THAT TYPE OF WORK, THEY IMMEDIATELY CAME INTO, UH, THE CITY APPLIED.

THOSE APPLIED FOR THOSE APPLICABLE PERMITS.

THEY DID APPLY FOR ALL NECESSARY PERMITS FOR THE CIVIL, UM, DEVELOPMENT ON THE SITE.

AND, UM, ONCE THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WRAPS IT UP, WE DID SOUND NOTICE THAT ALL PROPERTY HAS BEEN 200 FEET ZERO, CAME BACK IN FAVOR ZERO, CAME BACK IN OPPOSITION, AND I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.

CORRECT.

THANK YOU, TRENTON.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM, SO WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

UH, COUNSEL ANY DISCUSSION, UH, BEFORE I CALL FOR A MOTION? OKAY.

MOVE

[8. Consider proposed Ordinance approving ZDC-64-2026]

TO ITEM EIGHT.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE ZDC 64 DASH 2026.

A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A HEAVY MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT RENTAL SALES AND STOR OR STORAGE SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS OF THE STAFF REPORT AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND OR MAYOR TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

SECOND, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

A PUBLIC HEARING ON A REQUEST BY MATT LUCAS.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

ITEM NUMBER NINE IS

[9. Public Hearing on a request by Matt Lucas, Kimley-Horn, for a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for a Pole Sign use within a Planned Development-Mixed Use Nonresidential (PD-MUNR) zoning district located on the northeast corner of Gridiron Drive and Blue Star Drive (Property ID 303980) – Owner(s): 289 BSL Waxahachie, LLC (ZDC-79-2026)]

KIMLEY HORN FOR A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A POLL SIGN USE WITHIN A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT, MIXED USE NON-RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT LOCATED ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF GRAD DRIVE AND BLUE STAR DRIVE.

OWNERS ARE 2 8 9 BSL WAXAHATCHEE, LLC TRENTON.

THIS ORIGINAL PD FOR BLUE STAR DEVELOPMENT WAS DESI, UH, WAS DEVELOPED AND APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL, THE INTENT AND DESIGN OF THIS PD WAS TO MA WAS FOR THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT BEING IN THIS AREA.

THIS IS FOR, UH, UM, THIS PROPOSED SEP IS FOR, UH, UNIFIED SIGN DEVELOPMENT.

UH, WHAT THEY'RE REQUESTING IS, UH, FOR A SIGN, UH, FOR A SIGN AS WELL AS SOME SITE DESIGN.

UH, FOR THIS SPECIFIC USE PERMIT.

UH, THE PROPOSED USE IS FOR A RESTAURANT.

UM, SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW IT, TEXAS ROADHOUSE, UM, HEARD IT'S PRETTY POPULAR.

UM, THE PROPERTY IS SIMILAR TO ZONED, UH, IT'S SURROUNDING THIS AREA.

WHEN

[00:30:01]

SO THE PROPOSED USE, PROPOSED SIGNAGE IS CONSISTENT WITH THE APPROVED PD THAT WAS, THAT WAS ENVISIONED HERE.

UM, WHEN THIS WENT BEFORE THE PLANNING ZONING COMMISSION, UH, THE PLAIN ZONING COMMISSION DID RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED 149 SQUARE FOOT SIGN.

UM, IT DOES MEET, UH, OUR STEP, OUR STEPBACK REQUIREMENT.

UH, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE SURROUNDING AREA, ESPECIALLY BEING ON A LOWER SPOT ON I 35.

UM, WITH THAT, UH, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE DISCLOSURE REQUEST.

HERE'S THE PROPOSED SIGN.

UM, HOWEVER, ONE THING THAT WE DID PUSH THEM WHEN THEY DID AGREE TO, IS TO WRAP THE POLE SIGN TO BE MASONRY MATERIAL.

SOMETHING THAT, UM, WE FOUND IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA WHERE WE'RE MAKING MORE MONUMENT SIGNS DUE.

UM, AND OTHER SIMILAR POLE SIGNS IS BE ABLE TO WRAP IT.

THERE WAS A BILLBOARD APPROVED JUST SOUTH OF HERE, UM, ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND WHICH IS A SIMILAR DESIGN OF WRAPPING THE ENTIRE POLE WITH MAINSTREAM MATERIAL, UH, AND HAVE A BETTER AESTHETICS ON THE, UM, ON THE DEVELOPMENT.

UM, ADDITION, AS PART OF THIS REQUEST, STAFF IS RECOMMENDING AN ADDED CONDITION THAT YOU WON'T SEE IN YOUR REPORT, BUT WE'RE WE'RE REQUESTING IT TONIGHT.

UM, THAT THE LANDSCAPING ALONG BLUE STAR DRIVE, THAT IS NOT DIRECTLY ON THE PROPERTY, BUT IN THE RIGHT OF WAY, THAT'S PART OF THE PD BE REQUIRED TO BE, UM, PLANTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PRIOR TO A CO BEING ISSUED.

UM, I CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS LAST TIME.

THANK YOU, TRENT.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.

WE DIDN'T HA WE, WE DID NOT HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK, UH, DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING.

SO I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

COUNSEL,

[10. Consider proposed Ordinance approving ZDC-79-2026]

ANY DISCUSSION BEFORE WE MOVE TO ITEM 10? CONSIDER PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPROVING ZDC 79 20 26.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE ZDC 79 20 26.

A SPECIFIC USE PERMIT FOR A 24 FOOT POLE SIGN.

USE ADJACENT TO THE INTERSECTION OF GRID, IRON DRIVE, AND BLUE START DRIVE, SUBJECT TO THE DEVIATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS OF THE STAFF REPORT AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND OR MAYOR TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM NUMBER 11.

THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

[11. Consider proposed ordinance approving revised budget figures for fiscal year 2025-2026 and adopting the budget for fiscal year 2026-2027]

CONSIDER PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPROVING REVISED BUDGET FIGURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26, AND ADOPTING THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 26, 20 27, CHAD.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.

SO THE NEXT FOUR ITEMS ARE RELATED TO THE CITY BUDGET, WHICH OF COURSE WILL GO INTO EFFECT WITH THE NEW FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1ST.

UH, THERE'S TWO PARTS TO THIS ITEM.

THE FIRST THAT AMENDS THE CURRENT BUDGET TO REFLECT, UH, THE YEAR END ESTIMATE, WHICH INCLUDES SOME SAVINGS AND SOME OF IN VARIOUS ACCOUNTS.

UH, AND, AND ALSO ACCOUNTS FOR ENCUMBERED FUNDS THAT ARE BEING CARRIED FORWARD INTO THE NEXT YEAR.

UH, THE SECOND, UH, PORTION OF THIS, IT ADOPTS THE BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, FISCAL YEAR 2027.

UM, AS YOU KNOW, THIS BUDGET IS, UH, THE RESULT OF NUMEROUS STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS WITH STAFF, WITH, UM, UH, WORK SESSIONS WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, AS WELL AS WE'VE HAD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS, UM, ONE ON THE TAX RATE AND ONE ON THE BUDGET.

UM, AND STAFFER DOES RECOMMEND APPROVAL FOR THIS ITEM.

I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE, COUNSEL, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF CHAD MOTION WHEN YOU'RE READY.

IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON, OH, GO AHEAD.

SORRY.

I'M SORRY, MAYOR.

THAT'S OKAY.

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON, AND THIS APPLIES TO 1113 AND 14.

UM, I HAVE, AND CHAD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU DO, AND THIS ISN'T ANYTHING THAT'S INDICATIVE OF THAT WORK.

UM, I HAVE TWO ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO THE BUDGET, AND ONE OF THEM DEALS WITH THOSE THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION OUT THERE, WHETHER TRUE OR NOT, AS IT RELATES TO POSSIBILITY OF THINGS BEING MOVED TO WCDC THAT WOULD REQUIRE A BUDGET CHANGE.

UM, UM, I KNOW THAT THERE'S NOTHING DEFINITIVE.

THERE'S JUST BEEN SOME TALK, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS FROM THOSE ON WCDC, HOW THAT WOULD IMPACT THEM LONG TERM.

SECONDLY, IN THE BUDGET, IT PROVIDES FOR AN INCREASE IN WHAT, UH, COUNCIL RECEIVES EFFECTIVELY ON A MONTHLY OR PER DIEM BASIS, WHICH I'VE SAID ALL ALONG THAT I WOULDN'T AGREE WITH.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO, TWO ISSUES

[00:35:01]

THAT I WANTED TO RAISE AS IT RELATES TO THOSE SPECIFIC THINGS.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SUITER.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT? OKAY.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

UH, MADAM MAYOR, A COMMENT, AND THEN THE MOTION BEING, UH, THE COMMENT BEING THAT WAITING TILL THE 11TH HOUR TO VOICE LITERALLY ANYTHING IN OPPOSITION, UM, IS BEING USED AS FODDER IN MY OPINION.

BUT I MOVE TO APPROVE REVISED BUDGET FIGURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 25, 20 26, AND ADOPT THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27 AS PRESENTED.

THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN.

ITEM NUMBER 12, CONSIDER PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDING WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES AND FEES, AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

[12. Consider proposed ordinance amending Water and Wastewater rates and fees and setting an effective date of October 1, 2026]

CHAD.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO AGAIN, THIS SET, THIS ITEM SETS THE RATES AND FEES FOR WATER AND SEWER SERVICE.

UM, AS DISCUSSED AT THE BUDGET WORK SESSIONS, UH, A 4% INCREASE IS INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER, UH, RATES, UM, TO KEEP UP WITH GROWTH TO ADDRESS INFLATIONARY COST INCREASES, AND PREPARE FOR FUTURE, UH, CAPITAL NEEDS.

UM, ALSO INCLUDED, UH, IS THE RATE FOR THE SOCO WATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH IS, UH, THE CALCULATED RATE FOR CONSUMPTION CHARGE TO THE CITY AND ROCKET UTILITY DISTRICT TO OPERATE THAT PLANT.

THE TOTAL IMPACT OF THAT 4% INCREASE, UH, TO THE COMBINED WATER AND WASTEWATER BILL IS JUST OVER $2 PER MONTH.

EITHER CURRENTLY IN PLACE OR COMING UP.

CHAD, I KNOW WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, UH, IN OUR WORKSHOPS AND STUFF, BUT HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO OTHER CITIES OF OUR SIMILAR SIZE? YEAH, SO RIGHT NOW WE'RE TOWARD THE LOWER TO MID LEVEL AS FAR AS, UH, WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR COMP CITIES OF WHAT WE CHARGE ON WATER AND SEWER, IT'S, IT'S NOT EXACTLY COMPARABLE BECAUSE SOME, UH, UM, CITIES OWN THEIR WATER UTILITY, SOME, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH A DIFFERENT, UM, LIKE A-A-T-R-A OR ANOTHER DISTRICT TO GET THEIR WATER.

UM, BUT, UH, THAT ONE, THAT IS ONE THING THAT WE LOOK LIKE TO LOOK AT EACH YEAR AND BE COGNIZANT OF.

UM, I'VE, I'VE MENTIONED THIS BEFORE AND WE'RE ABOUT 80% THERE WITH A RATE STUDY THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

WE HAVE SOME CONSULTANTS THAT ARE REALLY LOOKING AT OUR RATES, LOOKING AT WHAT PROJECTS WE HAVE COMING UP.

AND WE, THEY'RE EXPERTS AT THIS.

AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IF WE DO COME FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS, THAT, UM, WE'RE PREPARED TO, UM, LOOK AT THOSE RATES.

WE'LL PROVIDE MORE OF THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.

UM, BUT YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, UH, KIND OF BETWEEN THE LOWER TO TO MID LEVEL, SO NOT MID TO HIGHER.

RIGHT.

OTHER THAN OTHER SIMILAR SIZE CITIES THAN AS WAXAHATCHEE.

RIGHT.

AND I KNOW, AND EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT DUE TO INFLATION, THAT NOTHING THIS YEAR IS THE SAME PRICE AS IT WAS LAST YEAR.

IS THIS A RESULT OF THAT, CHAD? IT IS.

I MEAN, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE LAST, I WENT BACK AND LOOKED BACK TO 2020, AND FOR THOSE THAT, YOU KNOW, FALL THE, THE ECONOMICS OF INFLATION AND WHAT'S HAPPENED, IT'S REALLY TAKEN, TAKEN OFF SINCE, SINCE, UH, SINCE 2020 COMING OUT OF THE, UH, COVID RESPONSE.

AND WE SAW AN INFLATE, WE'VE SEEN AN INFLATION GROWTH RATE OF ABOUT 4.3% FROM, UM, FROM 2020 THROUGH, UH, THROUGH NOW.

UM, AND RIGHT NOW OUR RATE INCREASES FOR THOSE SAME PERIODS IS RIGHT AT 3.1%.

SO WE'RE ACTUALLY, OUR RATE INCREASES HAVE BEEN UNDER INFLATION, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE WANTING TO LOOK AT AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING THIS RATE STUDY.

UM, BUT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE, PUT US PUT OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE WE'RE NOT RAISING RATES TOO QUICKLY, BUT WE'RE ALSO ABLE TO COVER FOR OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS.

NOW WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT THOSE FUTURE NEEDS, THOSE EXPANSION PROJECTS, UM, AND WANNA MAKE SURE WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE GOING FORWARD.

AND WOULD YOU SAY, CHAD, THAT THE STAFF HERE FOR THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE IS WELL AWARE OF COUNCIL'S CONCERNS FOR RAISING THESE RATES, WHETHER IT BE THESE RATES OR ANY OTHER RATES, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE WILL OF ANY OF OURS TO COST ANYONE ANOTHER CENT THAN WHAT WE ALL THAT LIVE HERE HAVE TO PAY.

IS THAT SAFE TO SAY, CHAD? THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN, I'M, I'M A RESIDENT OF WAXAHATCHEE AS WELL, SO I'M COGNIZANT OF IT MYSELF AND, UH, WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE JUST TAKING CARE OF THOSE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE AND MAKING SURE THAT, UH, WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO PAY OUR DEBT SERVICE, UH, FOR THESE LARGE WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS THAT WE HAVE

[00:40:01]

AND IN THIS STUDY, CHAD, AREN'T WE ALSO LOOKING AT POSSIBLY, UH, FINDING WAYS TO MAYBE GIVE OUR SENIORS SOME TYPE OF A DISCOUNT, THOSE THAT WOULD QUALIFY, THOSE THAT NEED THE ASSISTANCE? NOT SAYING THAT WE ARE DEFINITELY GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THAT, BUT IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT WE, WE ARE LOOKING INTO BEING ABLE TO POSSIBLY DO THAT? YEAH, THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE TALKED TO OUR RATE CONSULTANT ABOUT, AND UH, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE'LL BRING FORWARD TO YOU AT, UH, THIS NEXT WORK SESSION.

WE'RE HOPING IN OCTOBER MM-HMM .

THAT WE WILL, UM, COME TO YOU OCTOBER, NOVEMBER TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THOSE TO YOU.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

ANY OTHER COUNSEL? NO, MA'AM.

BUT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT, AT WATER AND WASTEWATER, IT'S NOT JUST THE ACTUAL WATER ITSELF.

I MEAN, MONTH AND A HALF AGO WE GOT HIT WITH A NEW, UH, RATE INCREASE FOR THE HAUL OFF OF WHAT COMES OUT OF THE WASTEWATER PLANT.

UM, I MEAN THOSE, THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR ALSO, RIGHT? UM, SO CHAD, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOUR TEAM AND STAFF BALANCE ALL OF THAT IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE.

AND STILL FINDING WAYS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY SAVE THOSE ON FIXED INCOME, UM, I THINK IT'S HUGE.

ANYONE ELSE? MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE SETTING WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES AND FEES, AND SETTING AN EFFECTIVE DATE OF OCTOBER 1ST, 2026.

13 CON, CONSIDER PROPOSED ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 26.

THANK YOU COUNSEL.

ITEM

[13. Consider proposed ordinance adopting the Tax Rate for fiscal year 2026-2027]

2027.

ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO AGAIN, THIS ITEM IS THE ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED TAX RATE INCLUDED THE BUDGET.

UM, WE HELD A HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 1ST AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AS PRESENTED THEN.

AND NOW THE PROPOSED RATE, UM, IS 61 CENTS.

IT'S UNCHANGED FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS.

UH, THIS IS BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO COMPONENTS, THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION, UH, RATE.

AND THAT'S AGAIN, TO FUND THE BASIC CITY SERVICES THAT, UH, THAT WE ALL ARE AWARE OF, SUCH AS POLICE, FIRE, STREET, MAINTENANCE, PARKS, PUBLIC WORKS, AND OTHER CRUCIAL FUNCTIONS.

UH, THE SECOND COMPONENT OF THE TAX RATE IS THE INTEREST IN SINKING RATE.

UH, THIS IS, UH, THE RATE THAT, UH, IN PLACE TO SERVICE THE CITY'S DEBT AND BOND OBLIGATIONS.

UM, AND THIS ITEM DOES REQUIRE A RECORD VOTE.

I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, COUNSEL, HAVE ANYTHING ON THIS ONE? I, I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THIS ONE.

I, I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT MAINTAINING AND NOT INCREASING OUR TAX RATE.

THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.

UH, IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST AS HIGH AS 68 CENTS, MAYBE EVEN MORE BEFORE MY TIME, UH, HERE ON COUNCIL.

UH, SO TO REMAIN AT 61 CENTS, UH, FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, IF THIS BUDGET PASSES, SPEAKS VOLUMES, UH, TO OUR STAFF AND COUNCIL WORKING TOGETHER TO, UH, TRY TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE NEED, NEED, UH, WITH THE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE, UH, CONSIDERING INFLATION, UH, AND WHAT INFLATION HAS DONE TO ALL OF OUR POCKETBOOKS.

AND, UM, I, I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT CHAD AND YOUR TEAM AND, UH, THE REST OF STAFF AND KNOWING THAT IT IS THE WILL OF THIS COUNCIL TO, TO, UH, NOT RAISE THE TAX RATE AND TO, IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, TO WORK WITHIN THE, UH, THE, UH, MONIES THAT IS ALREADY TAKEN, UH, FROM FAMILIES, INCLUDING US.

'CAUSE MANY OF US LIVE RIGHT HERE IN WAXAHATCHEE.

WE PAY TAXES HERE TOO.

WE PAY ALL THESE SAME RATES.

AND TO, TO JUST KNOW THAT Y'ALL KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE TAX RATE AS LOW AS WE CAN KEEP IT IS HUGE.

SO THANK YOU.

I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE.

MADAM MAYOR, FIRST, I JUST HAVE A QUESTION.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE FROM REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN HARRISON'S OFFICE? ANYONE? MR. HARRISON, ARE YOU HERE? DO I DIDN'T THINK SO.

STILL A COWARD.

AND I WILL READ THE MOTION AS REQUIRED WITH THE VERBIAGE FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

NOW, UM, I MOVE THAT THE PROPERTY TAX RATE BE

[00:45:01]

INCREASED BY THE ADOPTION OF A TAX RATE OF 61 CENTS WITH AN OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE RATE OF 39.06 CENTS, AND AN INTEREST IN SINKING RATE OF 21.94 CENTS, WHICH IS EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE A STATE MAKES US SAY THAT A 4.7%, UH, INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE.

OH, YEAH.

WE'LL TAKE A RECORD VOTE.

SO, UH, WE'LL TAKE A INDIVIDUAL, UH, VOTE, UH, FROM EACH COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'LL START TO MY RIGHT.

UH, MOTION CARRIES THREE TO TWO.

[14. Consider a motion to ratify the property tax revenue increase reflected in the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget in accordance with the Texas Local Government Code]

ALL RIGHT.

NEXT ITEM IS 14.

CONSIDER A MOTION TO RATIFY THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 26, 20 27 BUDGET IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER, UH, STATE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT.

UH, THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT STATES THAT IF A CITY PROPOSES A BUDGET THAT WILL COLLECT MORE PROPERTY TAXES THAN THE PRIOR YEAR, EVEN IF IT'S $1 MORE, UH, THE CITY MUST VOTE TO RATIFY THAT INCREASE.

OKAY, COUNSEL, ANY DISCUSSION? SAME QUESTION.

MAD MAYOR.

IS ANYONE HERE FROM REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN HARRISON'S OFFICE? MR. HARRISON, ARE YOU HERE? I DON'T THINK SO.

STILL NOT HERE.

UH, WITH THAT MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO RAT THE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE INCREASE REFLECTED IN THE FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27.

BUDGET.

15, CONSIDER AND ACT UPON AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE, TEXAS APPROVING THE 20 26 20 27 ANNUAL SERVICE PLAN.

THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES AGAIN, THREE TO TWO.

ITEM

[15. Consider and act upon an ordinance of the City of Waxahachie, Texas, approving the 2026- 2027 annual service plan update to the Service and Assessment Plan for the North Grove Public Improvement District and providing an effective date]

UPDATE TO THE SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR THE NORTH GROVE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT IN PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

MY NAME IS TANNER SEAGER.

I WORK WITH UNICAP, THE PIT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE CITY OF WAX.

AND TODAY WE ARE GONNA REVIEW THE ANNUAL SERVICE PLAN UPDATE FOR THE PIT NORTH GROVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 3 7 2 OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.

OKAY, NEXT SLIDE PLEASE.

NEXT SLIDE.

THERE WE GO.

UM, SO WHAT IS THE ANNUAL SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN UPDATE? UM, ESSENTIALLY GO OVER AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT ANY AUTHORIZED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE IMPROVEMENT BUDGET.

SO THIS IS GONNA BE IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE APPLIED TO THE PI.

UM, WE'RE MAINLY GONNA BE LOOKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE PID UPDATES TO THE SERVICE DEBT SERVICE.

UM, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO GONNA BE LOOKING AT UPDATES TO ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, CHANGES TO ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY, AND THEN PARCEL SUBDIVISIONS AND CONSOLIDATIONS WITHIN EACH IMPROVEMENT AREA OF THE DISTRICT.

AND THEN PRE-PAYMENTS, AND THEN NEXT STEPS MOVING FORWARD FOR THE ANNUAL SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN UPDATE.

SO FIRST, REVIEWING THE AUTHORIZED IMPROVEMENTS.

SO AT THE MOMENT, ALL THE AUTHORIZED IMPROVEMENTS FOR IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER ONE ARE COMPLETED.

UM, THIS WAS COMPLETED AS OF 2018 IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

SO IN THIS BUDGET, IT IS A COMPLETE BUDGET AND THERE ARE GONNA BE NO CHANGES.

ONE'S GONNA STAY RELATIVELY FLAT WITH A SMALL DECREASE IN THE ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS, BUT OVERALL THE BUDGET'S GONNA STAY CLOSELY DISSIMILAR.

WITH IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER TWO.

ALSO GONNA BE LOOKING THE SAME AS LAST YEAR AS THIS IS ALSO ANOTHER COMPLETED IMPROVEMENT AREA WITHIN THE DISTRICT.

THIS ONE WAS COMPLETED SECOND QUARTER OF 2022.

AND THEN IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER THREE, ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THE LAST IMPROVEMENT AREA OF THE DISTRICT.

AND AUTHORIZED IMPROVEMENTS FOR THIS DISTRICT HAVE ALSO BEEN COMPLETED AS A SECOND QUARTER FOR 2023.

SO, MOVING FORWARD TO THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR IMPROVEMENT.

AREA NUMBER ONE, AS WE SEE THERE IS GONNA BE A BIT OF AN INCREASE WITHIN THE ANNUAL INSTALLMENT, BUT THIS IS MAINLY DUE TO THE INCREASE IN PAYMENT TO PRINCIPAL AS FOLLOWED BY THE DEBT SERVICE SCHEDULE.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, EVERYTHING ELSE HAS STAYED RELATIVELY THE SAME.

UM, ACROSS THE BUDGET FOR IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER TWO, WE'RE NOT GONNA SEE MUCH OF A CHANGE.

UM, LAST YEAR WE HAD AN ADMINISTRATIVE, UM, CREDIT TO THE ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS, BUT THIS YEAR, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO APPLY A RESERVE FUND CREDIT, BUT OUTSIDE OF THAT, THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ANY MAJOR CHANGES.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS GONNA STAY RELATIVELY THE SAME.

AND THEN LASTLY, IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER THREE.

ONCE AGAIN, THIS

[00:50:01]

UH, AS FOR CHANGES TO THE ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES AT THIS TIME.

AND THEN PARCEL SUBDIVISIONS, SO WE HAD OUR FINAL PARCEL SUBDIVISION WITHIN IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER THREE OF THE PIT.

UM, THE SUBDIVISION WAS 171 RESIDENTIAL LOTS.

WITH THAT, CONCLUDING THE 618 LOTS WITHIN IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER THREE AND ALL WILL BE BILLED AS OF TAX YEAR 2026.

AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE PREPAYMENTS.

SO WE HAD MULTIPLE PREPAYMENTS ACROSS THE YEAR.

SO IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER ONE.

WE HAD ONE MORE PREPAYMENT FROM THE PRIOR YEAR WITH IMPROVEMENT.

AREA NUMBER TWO, WE HAD OUR FIRST PREPAYMENT.

AND THEN WITH IMPROVEMENT AREA NUMBER THREE, THERE WERE TWO MORE PREPAYMENTS OF THEIR ASSESSMENTS.

SO FROM HERE, NEXT STEPS, UM, UPON APPROVAL OF THE 20 26, 27 ANNUAL SAP UPDATE, THE APPROVED AMOUNTS FOR EACH PARCEL WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE ELLIS COUNTY TAX OFFICE.

AND THE ORDINANCE IF APPROVED, WILL BE FILED WITHIN SEVEN DAYS WITH THE COUNTY.

AND THEN ALSO THE SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN UPDATE WILL BE POSTED TO THE CITY WEBSITE WITHIN THE SEVEN DAYS AS WELL.

COUNSEL, HAVE ANYTHING QUESTION, ARE Y'ALL REQUIRED TO, UH, DISTRIBUTE ANY OF THIS TO THE RESIDENTS WITHIN THE BID EACH YEAR? SO WITH THE TEXAS LOCAL CHAPTER 3 72, UM, ESSENTIALLY SENATE BILL 1106, THAT WAS WHAT ALLOWED US THAT, THAT CREATED THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE, UM, ESSENTIALLY FOR US TO POST THIS SAP UPDATE ON THE CITY WEBSITE TO HELP PROVIDE MORE TRANSPARENCY ACROSS THE BOARD.

UM, NOW WITH US, UM, ESSENTIALLY ANY RESIDENTS WITHIN THE P WE ARE A DIRECT CONTACT FOR THEM.

SO IF THEY REQUEST ANY INFORMATION SURROUNDING THEIR PARCEL, THEN WE ARE OPENLY ABLE TO PROVIDE IT.

COULD WE REQUIRE, UM, PROBABLY NOT REQUIRE, SINCE THERE'S A SENATE BILL THAT ADDRESSES IT, COULD WE REQUEST ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION OUTSIDE OF THAT? I WOULD REQUEST, UH, ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION.

IN WHAT SENSE? I MEAN, I'M, I'M NOT EXPECTING Y'ALL TO GO DOOR TO DOOR AND KNOCK ON EVERY DOOR, BUT, UM, I MEAN, THERE'S COMMUNITY MAILBOXES.

UH, CAN WE HAVE A DROP MAILER THAT'S JUST A SINGLE POSTCARD PUT IN EVERY BOX GIVEN TO THE POSTMASTER TYPE OF THING? AS FAR AS I KNOW, UH, WE WOULD NEED TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE RESEARCH ON THAT.

BUT IN TERMS OF, UM, ESSENTIALLY SHOWING TRANSPARENCY ON THE PI, UM, AT THE MOMENT OF PURCHASE, EVERY PERSON IS REQUIRED TO BE SHOWN A HOME BUYER DISCLOSURE.

UM, AND IF IT'S NOT, I'M, I'M JUST, YEAH, I'M IN REAL ESTATE ALSO, AND AGENTS DON'T KNOW THIS, UH, THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THE BIDS WORK.

HOME BUYERS DON'T KNOW HOW BIDS WORK.

UM, I'M NOT ASKING TO RELEASE ALL OF THE INFORMATION IN A SINGLE POSTCARD MM-HMM .

BUT EVEN IF THE POSTCARD JUST HAS A QR CODE THAT SAYS, UH, THE SERVICE PLAN HAS BEEN UPDATED, SCANNED THIS TO GO READ, READ, READ MORE ABOUT IT TYPE OF THING, UM, SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.

I MEAN, YOU'RE AT LIKE 74 CENTS A HOUSE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

COULD, COULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD, UH, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING I HAVE TO NOTE AND WE WOULD'VE TO LOOK INTO.

THERE'S NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

I ENTERTAIN A MOTION MATTER MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE APPROVING THE 20 26 20 27 ANNUAL UPDATE OF THE SERVICE AND ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR THE NORTH GROVE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT NUMBER ONE, AND PROVIDING AN INFECTED DATE.

16, AMBER, DISCUSS AND CONSIDER RESOLUTION DESIGNATING AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER AND AN ALTERNATE ADVERTISING SOURCE FOR THE CITY OF WASATCH FOR FISCAL YEAR 26 27.

[16. Discuss and consider Resolution designating an official newspaper and an alternate advertising source for the City of Waxahachie for Fiscal Year 26-27]

UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

AS PART OF THE ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS, WE BRING FORTH TO YOU THIS RESOLUTION, UH, ALLOWING COUNCIL TO DESIGNATE AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR THE CITY AND ALTERNATE SOURCES IF THEY'D LIKE.

LAST YEAR, UM, THE COUNCIL SELECTED, UH, WA DAILY LIGHT AS THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER AND THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS.

ELLIS COUNTY PRESS, THE MIDLETON MAYOR AND THE WA SUN AS ALL ALTERNATE NEWSPAPERS.

UM, SO WE'VE GOT THE ORDINANCE BEFORE

[00:55:01]

YOU AND WE JUST ASK FOR COUNSEL CONSIDERATION AND PLUGGING IN ANY NAMES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE AS THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER AND THEN ALTERNATE SOURCES.

AMBER.

DISCUSSION BY COUNSEL.

MADAM MAYOR, I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

UM, I KNOW WE STRIVE TO, TO, UH, USE AS OUR VENDORS, THOSE THAT ARE LOCAL, OTHER THAN THE SUN.

DOES ANY OF THESE OTHERS HAVE AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL PRESENCE WITHIN THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE? I DON'T KNOW AS FAR AS THE CENTRAL OFFICE HERE IN WACHEE, NO, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

UM, OR ANY TYPE OF OFFICE, NOT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

OUR LOCAL CONTACT FOR THE DAY OF THE LIGHT HAS BEEN CHRIS ROURKE, UM, WHEN WE'VE HAD ANY, UM, WHEN NEEDED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.

MM-HMM .

I DO HAVE A QUESTION.

UH, AMBER, ARE THERE ANY COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW IT WAS LAST YEAR WITH WHO WE USED? SO WE DID HAVE SOME CHALLENGES THIS PAST YEAR, UM, COMMUNICATION ISSUES, AND I THINK IT DOES MAKE A CHALLENGING ISSUE WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE.

UM, WE HAD A, UM, INSTANCE WHERE WE HAD, UH, DIFFICULTY GETTING LEGAL AFFIDAVITS FOR OUR BOND COUNSEL THAT LASTED OVER A MONTH.

BUT FORTUNATELY CHRIS WORK WAS ABLE TO COME IN AND ACTUALLY FILL OUT THOSE FORMS FOR US AND GET THOSE TO US.

BUT WE'VE KIND OF JUST WORKED THROUGH THOSE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE COME UP THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

SO HAVE WE HAD OTHER CHALLENGES WITH OTHER NEWSPAPERS IN THE PAST? UM, NOT FREQUENT THAT I'M AWARE OF.

I MEAN, EVERY NOW AND THEN WE'D HAVE AN ISSUE, UH, WITH THE MISSED PUBLICATION, BUT THAT WASN'T OFTEN.

SO, SO, SO THERE'S NONE THAT WE, WE HAVEN'T HAD A NEWSPAPER THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY ISSUES.

CORRECT.

THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN AN ISSUE OF SOME SORT.

I MEAN, NOT REPETITIVE, BUT YES.

DOES THE DAILY LIGHT HAVE ANYONE OTHER THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF? OTHER THAN CHRIS ROARK? SO IF HE GOT HIT BY A BUS, WE'RE UP THE CREEK.

UM, WE'VE SPOKE TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT OFFICES, BUT WE HAVE NOT, UM, WE DON'T HAVE A PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT, NO.

DO YOU HAVE A NAME FOR A PERFECT ONE? NO.

TOO MUCH TO ASK, RIGHT? YES.

YES.

WELL, I'D LIKE TO SAY I AGREE WITH THE COUNCILMAN SUITER.

OF COURSE.

WHY DON'T YOU ACT LIKE A MAYOR PRO TEM? I'D LIKE TO AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN SUITER THAT WE SHOULD GO LOCAL WHEN WE CAN, WHICH MR. SMITH, YOU'VE BROUGHT UP MORE THAN ONCE THAT WE SHOULD GO LOCAL WHENEVER WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? UH, JUST THAT WHEN YOU ADD THE ALTERNATE NEWSPAPERS, IT'S, IT OPENS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLISH THOSE IN ANY OF THE, ANY OF THOSE NAMED, UH, THE PAPER OF RECORD.

UH, USED TO HAVE SOME, I GUESS, WEIGHT TO IT.

UM, BUT WITH THE ABILITY TO NAME ALL OF THE PAP, ANY OF THE PAPERS OF RECORD AND THE ALTERNATES, IT'S REALLY A NON-FACTOR.

SO ANYTHING THAT OUTSIDE OF THAT IS, UH, AGAIN, FODDER FOR POLITICAL REASONS.

UH, THE DAILY LIGHT'S BEEN HERE SINCE THE 18 HUNDREDS, SO, UH, I HAVE A MOTION WHEN YOU'RE READY.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION BY COUNSEL? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MAD MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE WAXAHATCHEE DAILY LIGHT AS THE OFFICIAL CITY NEWSPAPER AND THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS.

THE ELLIS COUNTY PRESS, UH, THE WAXAHATCHEE SUN, THE MIDLOTHIAN MIRROR IN THE FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM, UH, AS ALTERNATE NEWSPAPERS AS PRESENTED.

IS THAT MOTION OKAY, AMBER, TO HAVE SEVERAL AS ALTERNATES? YES.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE SEVERAL AS ALTERNATES.

GREAT.

THOSE OPPOSED? SAME SIGN.

ITEM NUMBER 17, AGAIN, AMBER CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

COUNSEL.

[17. Consider appointments to Boards and Commissions]

SO THE NEXT ITEM IS, UM, A LIST OF PROPOSED, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS.

UH, THE CITY COUNCIL HELD A WORK SESSION ON AUGUST 25TH.

UM, SO THESE NAMES PRESENTED ARE, UM, NAMES FOR COUNCIL DIS TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER AND MAKE ANY CHANGES AS NECESSARY.

[01:00:01]

I'M AVAILABLE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COUNSEL, ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? I DO.

I'VE GOT SOME COMMENTS.

NUMBER ONE, ONCE WE CHANGED THE SYSTEM IN WHICH WE DID THIS, WE CREATED WHERE THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE A MEETING AND ALL MEET AND DECIDE ON THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONS.

THAT WAY, WHEN WE CAME TO THIS MEETING, WE WOULD PRETTY MUCH BE DECIDED ON WHAT IT'S GONNA BE.

UH, THE LIST THAT I RECEIVED IN THIS, THIS PACKET, NOT THE SAME AS TO WHAT WAS ROUTE WAS AT THAT MEETING.

AND I, I HONESTLY DIDN'T APPRECIATE GETTING AN EMAIL A COUPLE OF DAYS OR THREE DAYS OR WHENEVER IT WAS.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN A COUPLE HOURS.

I DON'T REMEMBER CHANGING, TAKING SOMEONE'S A SITTING BOARD MEMBER OFF OF WCDC SAYING THAT THE PERSON WAS, UH, A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHEN THE PERSON'S BEEN ON THE BOARD DOING THEIR JOB.

REAPPLIED FOR THE POSITION.

I KNOW WE TAKE PEOPLE OFF, BUT IN OUR MEETING, IT WAS AGREED UPON ON WHO WE WERE GONNA HAVE ON THESE POSITIONS.

AND THEN WE GET AN EMAIL SAYING THAT THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM DECIDED THAT THIS PERSON WAS NO LONGER, UH, QUALIFIED.

AND THAT CAME THROUGH AN EMAIL.

UH, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE THAT THIS LIST'S HAVING CHANGED MORE THAN ONCE.

THAT IF WE'RE GONNA GO WITH THE, THE MANNER IN WHICH YOU GUYS DECIDED YOU WANT TO DO IT WHEN WE CHANGED IT, THAT WE REMEET AND COME UP WITH A QUALIFIED SLATE BEFORE WE BROKE.

BUT WE GET UP HERE AND VOTE ON IT.

NOW, IF YOU WANNA GO INDIVIDUAL, PERSON, PERSON BY PERSON ON HERE TONIGHT, WE CAN, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO.

SO I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS, BUT I WILL OPEN IT UP TO THE REST OF COUNCIL.

MADAM MAYOR, IF I MAY.

THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN SUITER.

GO AHEAD.

UM, SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING, BECAUSE OF MY ILLNESS, I WAS NOT ABLE TO BE AT THE MEETING THAT Y'ALL HAD.

UM, AND, UH, I, UH, WAS MADE AWARE OF PRELIMINARY CHOICES THAT I SHARED WITH, UH, CHIEF BOYD AND YOU, AND APPRECIATE FOR THOSE THAT, THAT I SERVE AS A COUNCIL LIAISON, THAT YOU TOOK THOSE INTO ACCOUNT AND, UH, AND FOLLOWED MY RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE ONLY ISSUE, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE RAISED WITH BOTH YOU AND CHIEF BOYD, IS THAT FOR THE PURPOSES OF W-C-D-C-T AND, UH, P AND Z, THAT I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IT.

THAT THERE'S NOT A, A PERSON THAT SERVES ON ONE THAT SERVES ON ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE THREE, THAT WE HAVE AN ENTIRELY INDEPENDENT SLATE FOR THOSE THREE, JUST SO, UH, THAT IT DEMONSTRATES TRANSPARENCY IN THE EVENT THAT SOMEBODY'S ON ONE AND THEN IT GOES TO ANOTHER.

AND IT WOULD POSSIBLY LEAVE US OPEN TO JUST CLAIMS AS IT RELATES TO SOME TYPE OF INTERNAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST.

AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYBODY IN PARTICULAR, I'M TALKING ABOUT NOW GOING FORWARD, THAT WE JUST TRY TO KEEP EACH ONE OF THESE SEPARATE WHERE THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON THAT THAT SERVES ON MORE THAN ONE.

UM, SO, AND IF, IF WE DO SO, OF COURSE, THAT THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE ON THOSE PARTICULAR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS ARE QUALIFIED TO DO SO.

AGAIN, NOT SAYING THAT THE PERSON OR ANYBODY ON THIS LIST IS NOT QUALIFIED.

I JUST WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A PURELY, UM, INDEPENDENT BOARD FOR THOSE PARTICULAR THREE.

PAT, I WOULD, I WOULD SUPPORT YOU IN THAT WITH ANY BOARDS THAT OVERSEE A BUDGET.

UM, I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, I, I THINK PNZ HAS BEEN GIVEN A LOT, HAS BEEN GIVEN A LOT MORE WEIGHT THAN IT SHOULD, UM, JUST IN PUBLIC PERCEPTION.

UM, IT'S A BOARD OF RECOMMENDATIONS SOLELY.

THEY DON'T MAKE ANY LEGISLATIVE DECISIONS, ANY, ANY BUDGETARY DECISIONS.

BUT TO YOUR POINT OF POTENTIALS FOR CROSSOVER ISSUES, WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETS OR APPROVING FUNDING, UM, ANY, ANY OF THOSE, I WOULD, I WOULD A HUNDRED PERCENT AGREE WITH YOU ON.

AND, AND THANK YOU FOR, SO TO ADD TO THAT LIST WOULD BE THE, THE, UM, CULTURAL ARTS.

UM, THEY, THEY, THEY HAVE A BUDGET AS WELL.

UM, SO TO THOSE POINTS, I'M A HUNDRED PERCENT BEHIND YOU ON THAT.

I WOULD ADD THAT AS WELL.

I JUST, AGAIN, FOR THE, THE MAJOR BIG TICKET ITEMS THAT COME BEFORE, IT JUST WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT WE WOULD, THAT WE WOULD, UH, KEEP THAT AUTONOMY AND, AND ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS ANYTHING DEALING WITH FINANCE THAT'S TIED BACK TO IT.

[01:05:01]

AND I, I TEND TO AGREE WITH THAT.

UM, HOWEVER, WE DO HAVE, UH, RULES IN PLACE AT THIS TIME.

UH, AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AMBER, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THAT PEOPLE CAN SERVE UP TO, UH, THREE, UH, SERVE ON UP TO THREE BOARDS, IS THE RULE THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE.

AND THERE'S NO RULE CURRENTLY IN PLACE THAT SAYS THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULDN'T SERVE ON THIS IF THAT AND THIS AND THAT.

SO IF THAT'S THE WILL OF COUNSEL, I CAN CERTAINLY GET BEHIND THAT AND MOVING FORWARD, UH, WE CAN CERTAINLY PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

UH, HOWEVER, THE RULES THAT WE WENT BY THIS TIME ARE THE RULES THAT ARE IN PLACE.

SO IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL WANTS TO CHANGE, SOUNDS PERFECTLY FINE TO ME.

I DO WANNA, UH, SPEAK ON, UH, THE, UM, THE STATEMENTS THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN WRIGHT MADE, UM, AND NOT MENTION ANY NAMES, UH, AS HE DIDN'T, UH, I DON'T BELIEVE IN.

I APPRECIATE THAT I, BUT THE ONE, UM, PERSON SERVING ON A PARTICULAR BOARD, UH, THAT IS, UH, BEING REMOVED FROM THAT BOARD, UM, NOT REMOVED, NOT IT'S NOT REMOVED.

I, UM, SPOKE TO THAT PERSON, UM, AND TOLD HIM EXACTLY, YOU KNOW, UH, WHAT THE POSITION WAS, UH, WHAT THE, UH, POTENTIAL, UH, APPEARANCE OF A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WAS.

AND HE AGREED, UH, THAT IT TO HIM COULD LOOK LIKE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AS WELL.

AND STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BE MOVED TO A DIFFERENT BOARD.

AND I PERSONALLY TOLD HIM THAT WE COULD DO THAT.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT THAT, THAT I APPRECIATED HIS YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE BOARD ON SEVERAL BOARDS, AND THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE HIM ON A DIFFERENT BOARD.

AND IT WAS SEVERAL DAYS LATER THAT THIS PARTICULAR, UH, INDIVIDUAL CALLED BACK AND SAID HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND THAT HE DIDN'T WANNA GO SERVE ON A DIFFERENT BOARD, THAT HE WANTED TO STAY ON THIS BOARD.

WELL, WE HAD ALREADY MOVED PAST AND MADE SOME OTHER CHANGES, BUT WHAT INITIATED SOME OF THESE CHANGES IS BECAUSE COUNCILMAN SUITER CALLED ME WITH SOME VALID POINTS.

WE HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION.

AND WITH THAT CONVERSATION, I, I COULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT HE WAS SAYING.

AND I GRANTED THE, THE TWO POSITIONS, UH, THE TWO PERSONS BEING MOVED BACK TO THOSE BOARDS.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL PEOPLE, EVERYONE IS NOT GOING TO AGREE IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

AND IF IT DOES HAPPEN THAT WAY THEN SOMEBODY'S NOT BEING TRUTHFUL.

AND PRIOR TO ME BECOMING THE MAYOR COUNCIL, THE REST OF COUNCIL NEVER HAD A SAY ON WHO WOULD BE ON THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

IT WASN'T UNTIL I BECAME THE MAYOR THAT I INCLUDED ALL OF COUNCIL IN THESE DECISIONS.

AND ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THE DAY OF TALKING AND DISCUSSING EVERY ONE OF THESE BOARDS, ANY DECISIONS OUTSIDE OF THAT ONE DAY IS DECIDED BY THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR PRO TEM.

THAT HAPPENED WHENEVER COUNCILMAN WRIGHT WAS MY MAYOR, PRO TEM.

THERE WASN'T ANY ISSUES THEN.

IT WAS THAT WAY WHEN COUNCILMAN SUITER WAS MY MAYOR PRO TEM.

THERE WASN'T ANY ISSUES THEN.

IT'S THAT WAY TODAY.

NOW WE DON'T WANNA DO IT THAT WAY, I'M SORRY UNTIL THE RULES CHANGE, WE'RE GONNA DO IT THE WAY THE RULES SAY TO DO IT.

I TRY TO MAKE EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER INCLUSIVE ON EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE.

BUT NOT EVERY TIME EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER IS GONNA BE HAPPY.

I WISH WE WERE, THAT'S HOW WE CAME TO THE, THE CONCLUSION THAT WE DID ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THE WRITTEN RULE THAT SAYS THE MAYOR AND THE MAYOR PRO TIM CAN TAKE WHOEVER THEY WANT.

COUNCILMAN WRIGHT, YOU OPERATED IN THAT SAME MANNER WHEN YOU WERE THE MAYOR PRO.

WE NEVER TOOK ANYBODY OFF A BOARD AND COMMISSION WHEN I WAS THE MAYOR OF APPROACH.

TIM DID NOT.

HELL YOU DIDN'T.

WE DID.

WE DID NOT MAKE A, WE MADE CHANGES.

AND YOU FOUGHT AGAINST THE INDIVIDUAL THAT YOU'RE, WE DID FIGHTING FOR NOW TO BE ON THE VOTED BOARD THAT HE'S, THAT HE'S EVEN ON.

ALRIGHT, LET'S GET BACK TO THE,

[01:10:01]

TO THE TOPIC HERE.

AND ONE OTHER COMMENT THAT WAS MADE THAT IS NOT CORRECT, IT'S INCORRECT.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, SAYING THAT ANYBODY SAID THAT THIS PERSON THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE BOARD WAS NOT QUALIFIED.

THAT WAS NEVER SAID.

I DIDN'T SAY QUALIFIED.

YOU SAID QUALIFIED.

YOU DID NOT SAY QUALIFIED.

I SAID OKAY.

THAT IN THE POSITION THAT HE WAS, OKAY, I WROTE IT DOWN.

I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID.

KNOW IT WROTE DOWN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WHAT YOU WROTE DOWN.

ALRIGHT.

SO THE CHANGE THAT WAS MADE, AND I'LL GO AHEAD AND SAY IT, IS REMOVING ERIC TEST FROM WC FROM WC DC, WHICH IS OUR FOUR B BOARD.

AND THAT DECISION WASN'T TO REMOVE ERIC TEST.

IT IS TO NOT REAPPOINT.

THAT IS BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE THAT COUNCILMAN SUITER JUST BROUGHT UP OF OVERSEEING MULTIPLE BUDGETS.

WCDC IS A, IS A, IS AT A PIVOTAL POINT RIGHT NOW TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT ON SEVERAL BIG TICKET THINGS.

FOUR B BOARD CAN DO A LOT MORE THAN A FOUR A BOARD THAN A FOUR A CAN.

THAT BEING SAID, A FOUR B CAN PURCHASE THINGS LIKE APPARATUS FOR FIRST RESPONSE.

A FOUR B CAN FUND INFRASTRUCTURE A FOUR B CAN FUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND THESE ARE ALL LAID OUT BY THE STATE, NOT BY US.

A FOUR B CAN FUND ANIMAL SHELTERS.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THOSE AND THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE OF THOSE, THEY CAN'T FUND THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE OR THE OPERATIONS OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.

SO DON'T LET SOMEBODY TRY AND MISCONSTRUE THAT BECAUSE THEY WILL, BUT THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

THEY CAN MAKE A ONE-TIME PURCHASE.

HOWEVER, OUR FOUR B AS IT CURRENTLY SITS HAS FOCUSED ON PARKS, WHICH IS GREAT CIVIC CENTER.

FANTASTIC.

LOVE IT.

SPORTS COMPLEX.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

LOVE IT.

BUT THEY'VE ALSO BEEN USED BY PREVIOUS CITY MANAGEMENT TO PURCHASE THINGS LIKE DOWNTOWN TRASH CANS.

WHEN IS THAT DOWNTOWN TRASH CAN EVER GONNA POUR BACK INTO THAT FOUR B? IT WON'T.

NOW, IS IT SOMETHING THAT'S NEEDED? YES.

SHOULD IT HAVE COME FROM FOUR B? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I'M SPEAKING FROM TERMS NOT COUNCILMAN WRIGHT.

I'M SPEAKING.

WELL, IF YOU'RE GONNA TALK COUNCILMAN WRIGHT, I'M SPEAKING.

YOU I'M GONNA TALK, LET YOU STOP ONE AT A TIME.

LET FINISH AND THEN YOU CAN TELL ANOTHER ONE.

HOW ABOUT THAT? THE FOUR B HAS BEEN USED AS A SLUSH IN THE PAST.

IT HAS BEEN USED TO FUND THINGS THAT IT'S NOT DESIGNED FOR, BUT THAT WERE APPLICABLE BY LAW.

THAT'S FAIR.

THERE'S BEEN NO LAWS BROKEN BY THE FUNDING THAT'S BEEN USED.

F FROM THE FOUR B.

THE DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MADE CANNOT HAVE SOMEONE IN PLACE WITH A POTENTIAL TO HAVE A CONFLICT FROM ANOTHER TAXING ENTITY MAKING THE SAME DECISIONS.

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT PARTNERING WITH THE COUNTY ON ANYTHING, ANIMAL SERVICES ON ANYTHING FIRST RESPONSE ON ANYTHING DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGE.

PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOME, OF SOMETHING, OF SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY IN PLACE AND USED PRIMARILY BY THE COUNTY AND AND EMPLOYEES OF THE COUNTY WHO SERVE AT THE COUNTY COURTS FOUR B IS CURRENTLY FUNDING THOSE THINGS WHEN SOMEONE IS SO, SO NEAR TO THE COUNTY BUDGET AND MOVING THOSE DOLLARS AROUND TO SAVE A TO SAVE A JOB.

WE CAN'T HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THAT ALSO MAKING DECISIONS WITH THE CITY SIDE OF THE SAME FUNDING SOURCE HORSE.

AND IF THAT'S NOT A POTENTIAL FOR A CONFLICT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS, IS THAT GENTLEMAN ON RECORD OFFICIAL? WHEN, WHEN, WHEN ERIC TESS.

I'VE, I'VE ALREADY, I'VE ALREADY NAMED HIM.

DOES THAT GENTLEMAN HAVE A VOTE? DOES THAT MATTER? GENTLEMAN, HAVE ANY VOTE ON THE BUDGET FOR THE COUNTY? IRRELEVANT TO ANY DECISION.

HE'S AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY.

HE'S NOT, HE'S APPOINTED OF THE COUNTY JUDGE.

IRRELEVANT.

AND HE AND PRESENT DECISION MAKER FOR THE COUNTY AND PRESENTS THE BUDGET.

WHEN HE WAS PUT IN THAT PLACE, HE WAS WITH PURCHASING, NOT WORKING IN THE COUNTY JUDGE'S OFFICE.

COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

COUNCILMAN WRIGHT.

AND AT THAT TIME, AT THAT TIME, YOU WANTED HIM REMOVED FROM PNZ AND GONE COMPLETELY AND FOUGHT AGAINST EVEN PUTTING HIM ON WCDC.

SO NOW YOU'RE DOING IT SOLELY FOR POLITICAL FODDER AND GAIN AND IT IS TIRESOME.

YOU'RE GONNA GO MAKE ANOTHER VIDEO ABOUT THIS AND SAY, I TRIED,

[01:15:01]

I TRIED, I TRIED.

WELL, YOU ALSO VOTED AGAINST OUR CITY EMPLOYEES THAT YOU PRETEND TO PRAISE BY NOT APPROVING THE BUDGET.

NO, I DIDN'T.

YES, YOU DID.

THREE TWO VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER.

I DIGRESS THERE BY SAYING I HAVE A MOTION WHEN YOU'RE READY.

MAD MAYOR.

UNLESS I AM CALLED, UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO THE BOARD AND COMMISSION.

JUST BEFORE WE, BEFORE WE MAKE THAT MOTION, EVERYBODY'S HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK, SO I MIGHT AS WELL TAKE MY TURN.

ALRIGHT.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I AGREE WITH COUNCILMAN SUITOR.

IF WE WANT, IF WE WANNA SET PROVISIONS TO HANDLE THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHO HANDLE BUDGETS, I SUPPORT THAT A HUNDRED PERCENT.

THE THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THOUGH, IS THAT WE, WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY COUNCILMAN SER COULD COULDN'T BE THERE.

I WISH, I WISH I WISH THAT HE WAS.

I I I TOOK TO HEART EVERY SINGLE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS PLACED IN FRONT OF US AND WHO HE AND WHO HE WANTED TO SEE THERE.

AND I, I, I CAN'T, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBERS, BUT IT, WE, WE WERE, HE AND I WERE IN AGREEMENT ON ALMOST ALL OF THEM.

UH, LASTLY, WE'RE MISSING ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE BEAUTIFUL ASPECTS OF, OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

YOU KNOW, ALL I EVER HEAR IS, IS BACK IN THE DAY WE WERE STRUGGLING JUST TO GET ENOUGH PEOPLE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, AND NOW WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN WE HAVE SPOTS FOR.

SO HALLELUJAH TO THAT.

AND I HOPE IT CONTINUES.

HAVE NO ISSUES WITH SOMEONE SITTING ON, UH, SOMEONE BEING ABLE TO SIT ON MULTIPLE BOARDS OR NOT SIT ON MULTIPLE BOARDS.

ALL I ASK IS THAT IF WE DO CHANGE THE RULES, IF WE DO REMOVE THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE ON MULTIPLE BOARDS, WHAT DO WE DO WHEN THAT PENDULUM SWINGS BACK THE OTHER DIRECTION? I HOPE IT DOESN'T, BUT IF IT DOES, ARE WE GONNA CHANGE THE RULES AGAIN SO THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS? AND WITH THAT, I'LL, I'LL YIELD BACK.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AS PRESENTED.

NUMBER 18, CONSIDER APPROVAL TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR A TYPE THREE FIRE APPARATUS IDENTIFIED AS 4 2 4 4 DASH BME INTERNATIONAL HV 5 0 7.

THOSE OPPOSED, SAME SIGN.

MOTION CARRIES AGAIN.

[18. Consider approval to enter into a contract for a Type 3 fire apparatus identified as 4244- BME-International HV 507-Type 3 for $673,590 with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, LLC]

TYPE THREE FOR $673,590.

WITH SIDDONS MARTIN EMERGENCY GROUP, LLC, CHIEF MADAM MAYOR.

COUNSEL, GOOD EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

UH, IF YOU RECALL FROM PREVIOUS BUDGET CONVERSATIONS IS OUR TYPE THREE APPARATUS KIND OF FILLS A VOID IN OUR RESPONSE MODEL RIGHT NOW, PREPARING AS OUR COMMUNITY MOVES INTO THAT WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE AREA.

UH, WHAT WE'VE DID DONE, EXCUSE ME, WORKING WITH SIDS MARTIN GROUP IS FOUND A TRUCK IN THEIR ASSEMBLY LINE THAT WILL ARRIVE THREE YEARS EARLIER THAN IF WE BUILT IT OURSELVES.

SO WE WENT AHEAD AND HAD THEM DROP A CONTRACT FOR US.

AND IN DOING SO BY PURCHASING THIS TRUCK, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO REALIZE A SAVINGS OF $26,286, WHICH I THINK IS HUGE.

AND IF YOU ALSO REMEMBER FROM OUR PREVIOUS BUDGET CONVERSATIONS, THIS IS ALSO A DEPLOYABLE ASSET.

THEY'LL FIT INTO OUR TIF MIS RESPONSE THAT CAN NOT ONLY FUND ITSELF, BUT WILL ALSO BE FUNDED THROUGH OUR DEPLOYMENT REIMBURSEMENTS.

AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS BY COUNSEL? WHAT FISCAL YEAR IS THIS? UH, FUNDING COMING FROM FISCAL YEAR 27.

GOOD JOB CHIEF, JUST TO BE CLEAR THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE APPROVING, IF, IF YOU DO APPROVE THIS CONTRACT, IT WON'T BE PAID FOR UNTIL AFTER OCTOBER 1ST WHEN THE BUDGET GOES INTO EFFECT.

DO WE NEED TO INCLUDE THAT LANGUAGE IN THE MOTION, ROBERT, ABOUT THE, THE BUDGET YEAR? MM-HMM .

YOU CAN CERTAINLY ADD IT IN THERE.

YOU WANT IT TO BE A STIPULATION I CHIEF? YES, SIR.

THE, DID WE GET THE OTHER ONE YET? IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE LIKE THIS WEEK.

TRUCK, BUT THE OTHER BRUSH TRUCK.

NOT SAME

[01:20:01]

AND EXCITING APPARATUS NEWS.

WE RECEIVED A BOOSTER TWO, WHICH WAS ORDERED OVER TWO YEARS AGO, AND THEN ALSO OUR BLOCK OR TWO, WHICH Y'ALL APPROVED BACK IN OCTOBER.

SO THANK YOU.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY FUN AND EXCITING WEEK.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FOR CHIEF SAFFORD? IF NOT, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE HGAC CONTRACT WITH DENS MARTIN EMERGENCY GROUP LLC, FOR THE PURCHASE OF A BME INTERNATIONAL TYPE THREE APPARATUS IN THE AMOUNT, IN THE AMOUNT OF $673,590 FROM FISCAL YEAR 20 27, 28, AND AUTHORIZE THE CI CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO, UH, COMMENTS BY MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU, COUNSEL.

[21. Comments by Mayor, City Council, City Attorney and City Management]

I'LL START TO MY RIGHT, UH, DOWN THERE.

UM, THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME, UH, SIT IN.

IT'S BEEN A, I'VE GOT HOW SPIRITED Y'ALL'S DISCUSSIONS WORK, AND IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO SIT AT THE LEFT ARM OF THIS MAN OVER HERE.

AND I'M, THIS NOVEMBER I'VE BEEN PRACTICING LAW 30 YEARS AND HE WAS THE CITY ATTORNEY OF THIS CITY FOR 15 YEARS, .

SO I'M JUST HOPING SOME OF THIS OSMOSIS CAN RUB OFF ON ME, BUT IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE FORTH WITH YOU AGAIN.

FOLKS, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.

COUNCILMAN WRIGHT.

FIRST I WANNA SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO STEVE AND THANK YOU FOR COMING AND WE'LL HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE NEXT ONE SO WE CAN GIVE YOU THE CERTIFICATION.

THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.

UH, THERESA MCNEIL FOR A GREAT JOB IN MANY, MANY YEARS DEDICATED TO THE CITY.

SHE'S AN EXAMPLE, A PERFECT EXAMPLE, JOHN HAMILTON AS WELL.

AND, UH, HE GOES EVERY FRIDAY MORNING TO THE ROTARY BREAKFAST AT CANCUN.

SO HE'S STILL UP AND AROUND AND KICKING.

HE'S JUST, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY, REALLY LONG AND HARD AT THIS.

I WANNA THANK CHAD AND MARIANA AND YOUR STAFF FOR ALL THE HARD WORK AND ALL THE, EVERYTHING YOU PUT INTO AS WELL, AS WELL AS ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS AND ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE TO GATHER AND BRING FORWARD TO WORK ON A BUDGET AND, AND GET THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD, JAMES, FOR TELLING US ABOUT THE WAXAHATCHEE CREEK.

ALL OF Y'ALL THAT KNOW THAT THE, THE IN THE PARK THAT'S JUST BEEN SO BAD FOR SO LONG AND IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT.

AND THEY'RE GONNA BE PUTTING THAT BLOCK WITH THE FENCING OVER IT SO THAT IT DOESN'T FALL APART.

I SEE JEN GRAFFS OVER, SO I WANNA MENTION HER FROM THE LIBRARY.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING THEIR CARD THING THIS MONTH, SO WE'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO GO TO THE LIBRARY AND GET A LIBRARY CARD IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE.

AND, AND AS FOR THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO ADDRESS ANY OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WERE THERE.

Y'ALL DON'T NEED OUR ARGUMENTS IN THE AFTERMATH.

WCDC WHO WAS INSTRUCTED TO, FOR SEVERAL OF THEIR MEMBERS TO CONTACT ME ON THE AFTERNOON OF AUGUST 31ST AS I WAS DRIVING TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET SURGERY AND, UM, RAISING SOME OF THE CONCERNS.

AND TO MY LEFT, UH, DOWN THERE.

COUNCILMAN SUITER.

THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.

UH, AGAIN, MR. CHAPMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

YOU MEAN SO MUCH FOR NOT JUST THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE, BUT ELLIS COUNTY.

UM, I, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF, OF MEETING MR. CHAPMAN WHEN HIS SON JIM, WOULD TAKE OVER THEIR LAW OFFICE FOR US TO HOLD OUR FANTASY BASEBALL DRAFT.

AND HE PUT UP WITH HIS THEN, AND THEN PUT UP WITH, WITH ME ASKING HIM QUESTIONS AND, AND JUST HIM PROVIDING SAGE ADVICE.

SO, MR. CHAPMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.

UM, THERESA MCNEIL HAS ALWAYS BEEN, AND JOHN HAMILTON HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUT THERE, UH, TO FURTHER, UM, ALL THINGS WAXAHATCHEE, WHETHER IT IT'S, UH, NONPROFITS OR THINGS TO, UH, UH, BRING BENEFIT TO THE CITY.

UM, AND, UH, I'VE BEEN HAD THE PLEASURE OF BEING THE LIAISON WORKING NEXT TO, TO JOHN FOR MANY YEARS, INCLUDING BACK BEFORE I WAS THE LIAISON FOR THE, FOR THE COUNCIL.

I WAS A LIAISON FOR HWI ON, ON WPI.

AND, UH, AS SANDY ALLUDED TO, WE GOT A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS.

WE, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE CHANGED THE DIRECTION AND OUR FOCUS AND EVERYBODY'S EXCITED, ADDED A COUPLE OF NEW PEOPLE TO IT.

SO, UM, APPRECIATE ALL THAT THEY'VE DONE AND SANDY, WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN MAKING THAT HAPPEN.

UM, AND THEN FINALLY, ON THE LAST THING AS TO, AS IT RELATES TO MY COMMENTS, AND THEY WEREN'T INTENDED TO BE 11TH HOUR, I, I, I DO WANT TO JUST ADDRESS THAT.

UH, FIRST OFF, I, I CONSISTENTLY SAID THAT I DID NOT WANT TO RAISE COMPENSATION.

I I JUST STUCK TO THAT AS IT RELATED TO, UH, AS Y'ALL COULD SEE, WC SUB WCDC BEING A HOT TOPIC.

I ACTUALLY GOT A CALL FROM SOMEBODY ON

[01:25:01]

NOTHING THAT WAS NEFARIOUS OR WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, IT'S JUST THAT THEY HAD CONSUM CONCERNS.

UM, AND I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A CHANCE NOR FELT LIKE IT TO LOOK INTO IT UNTIL THE LAST, THE LATTER PART OF LAST WEEK.

SO, UH, NOTHING WAS MEANT TO BE ANY 11TH HOUR TYPE OF, OF DRAMATICS.

IT'S JUST THAT THAT'S WHEN I HAD IT ABLE TO AT LEAST BRING UP WHAT THE CONCERNS WERE.

UH, CHAD, AS I MENTIONED IN MY CONVERSATION, WHAT I SAID DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO.

WE HAVE THE BEST STAFF AROUND, AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

I KNOW IT'S A, IT'S A MOVING TARGET THAT Y'ALL HAVE TO GET TO BASED UPON WHAT THE STATE DOES AND WHAT'S NEEDED HERE.

AND YOU FIND A WAY TO SQUEEZE EVERY PENNY OUT.

SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU AND YOUR STAFF.

PLEASE CONVEY THAT FOR ME.

UM, AND AND LASTLY, MADAM MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR THE CONVERSATION THAT YOU GAVE ME.

UM, I'VE PROVIDED YOU AND CHIEF BOY MY CONCERNS AND, AND YOU TOOK IT TO HEART AND ADDRESSED THOSE THAT, THAT WERE IN RELATION TO THOSE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT I WAS ASSOCIATED WITH.

SO THANK YOU MUCH FOR DOING THAT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

SEAN, COUNCILMAN SMITH.

UH, JUST QUICKLY TO PAT, UH, GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE.

AND I MEAN THAT, THANK YOU.

I MEAN, I AM, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

IT'S AWKWARD TO TURN THIS FAR BACK TO LOOK AND SEE YOU.

AND I'M NOT JUST LIKE LEAN FORWARD.

UM, I THINK WE LEARNED A LESSON ON THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS WHEN SOMEONE IS NOT THERE.

UM, THERE WERE SEVERAL THAT YOU RECOMMENDED THAT MIGHT BE GREAT.

NOBODY KNEW WHO THEY WERE OTHER THAN A NAME.

SO I THINK WE'VE LEARNED THAT LESSON THE HARD WAY OF MAYBE A LITTLE JUSTIFICATION AS TO WHY IN THE FUTURE IF YOU CAN'T BE THERE.

UM, AND ALSO THAT I, I DO THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT PROCESS SOME, SOMEHOW, SOME WAY TO WHERE IT'S NOT JUST WE GET TO THAT WORKSHOP AND MAKE A DECISION BASED ON WHAT, RIGHT? UM, MAYBE WE REQUIRE EACH OF OUR, EACH, EACH BOARD AND COMMISSION THAT WE'RE APPOINTED TO, THAT WE PROVIDE THE JUSTIFICATION OR RECOMMENDATION IN WRITING, UH, TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL BEFOREHAND.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT ANSWER IS, BUT, UM, ANYTHING TO HELP MAKE THAT MORE COHESIVE.

I, I I, I WOULD BE IN, I WOULD BE IN SUPPORT OF, UM, THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM REPRESENTATIVE.

HARRISON, ARE YOU HERE? IS ANYBODY FROM MR. HARRISON'S OFFICE HERE? WE DISCUSSED THE TAX RATE GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.

SOLD.

OKAY, JUST CHECKING.

UM, PREPARE FOR THAT.

UM, OTHER THAN THAT MAD MAYOR, I HAVE NOTHING EXCEPT THAT IT'S, UH, REAL HARD TO JUSTIFY VOTING AGAINST A BUDGET, AGAINST A TAX RATE AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT FUNDS THE BUDGET AND THEN TO VOTE TO USE FUNDS FROM SAID BUDGET.

ALBEIT PAT VOICED HIS DISPLEASURE WITH ONE SINGULAR ITEM IN THE BUDGET, BUT TO WHICH I'M ACKNOWLEDGING.

UM, BUT TO VOTE AGAINST ALL OF THAT AND OUR STAFF AND THEIR TIME.

'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

WHETHER YOU REALLY AGREE WITH IT OR NOT, THAT THREE, TWO VOTE, AND I'VE LEARNED THIS THE HARD WAY MY FIRST YEAR ON THE COUNCIL, THAT THREE, TWO VOTE AGAINST IS A THREE TWO VOTE AGAINST OUR STAFF.

IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW YOU CUT THAT UP, HOW YOU PRETEND IT'S VIEWED HOW YOU WANT TO PERCEIVE IT.

THE WORK OF OUR STAFF SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR POLITICAL FODDER, FOR SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, FOR ANY OF THAT, ANY OF THAT KIND OF CRAP, TO BE HONEST.

AND I LEARNED IT THE HARD WAY.

THEY WORK THEIR TAILS OFF TO PUT THIS TOGETHER ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS.

AND IT IS.

SO I CUSSED THE LAST TIME AND MARY GOT ONTO ME, SO I WON'T DO IT THIS TIME, BUT I'M GONNA DEFEND OUR STAFF

[01:30:01]

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH, AND THAT HURTS ME, SO I KNOW IT HURTS THEM.

COUNCILMAN ATKINS? WELL, UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, MR. CHAPMAN, I, I DON'T RECALL A TIME IN MY LIFE THAT YOU WEREN'T IN IT.

I'VE ALWAYS SEEN YOU AROUND TOWN, UP ON THE D AT MY RESTAURANT.

IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU HERE.

AND COUNCILMAN WRIGHT, YOU BEAT ME TO IT.

I WISH I'D HAVE THOUGHT OF IT FIRST, BUT WE GOT YOU HERE.

AND THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT.

UH, SECONDLY, UH, MS. MCNEIL, HER SERVICE IS JUST, IT'S, WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE THAT JUST POUR IT OUT AND IT, IT, IT, IT MAKES ME SMILE EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT IT.

MR. HAMILTON, HE, HE, I MEAN, THE GUY'S JUST A, HE'S JUST A, A SERVICE ANIMAL.

SO, UM, ON A DIFFERENT NOTE, UM, THANK YOU FOR, TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE HAD A, UH, AN ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL THAT, UH, DECIDED TO FACE PLANT IN OUR PARKING LOT TODAY.

UM, I THINK THE RESPONSE TIME BRINGS DOWN YOUR AVERAGE CONSIDERABLY .

THEY WALK OVER, NO, THEY BROUGHT THE TRUCK .

UM, COUNCILMAN SUGER AS SOMEONE WHO'S HAD MY OWN, YOU KNOW, BOUTS WITH MY HEALTH.

IT'S REALLY GOOD TO SEE YOU HERE, MAN.

THANK YOU, SIR.

I CANNOT BEGIN TO TELL YOU, UH, SOON AS I FOUND OUT, IT JUST, YOU'VE BEEN ON MY MIND.

I'M NOT, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I'M NOT GONNA BUG YOU, BUT, WELL, I APPRECIATE IT.

GLAD, GLAD TO SEE YOUR FACE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

CITY MANAGER, RICKY BOYD.

YEAH, AGAIN, OVER 90 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CITY, ABOUT THREE INDIVIDUALS RECOGNIZING THAT STEVE AND, UH, THERESA AND JOHN, AND, AND WE THINK ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS THAT SERVE THIS CITY.

UH, ONE I POINT OUT THAT YOU APPROVED A TONIGHT TO BE THE NEW, UH, CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSIONER, STEVE KIRKENDALL STANDING, UH, SITTING THERE IN THE BACK.

UH, STEVE'S DAD, AL WAS MY VERY FIRST OFFICER IN THE FIRE SERVICE IN LANCASTER IN 1984, UM, LONG TIME AGO.

GREAT MAN.

AND, AND I, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE SERVICE THAT STEVE WILL PROVIDE THIS CITY.

UM, GOOD INSIGHT AND WISDOM.

UM, BUT AGAIN, UH, YOU'RE NOT REPLACING THERESA BE HARD.

IT'D BE HARD TO DO SO.

UM, BUT I THANK YOU FOR STEPPING UP AND NOT ONLY YOU, BUT ALL THE ONES THAT SERVE IN OUR DIFFERENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

AND YES, I DO PRAISE OUR STAFF WORKING SO HARD, SO HARD ON THE BUDGET.

OF COURSE, THE FINANCE OFFICE, UM, CARRIES A BIG BRUNT OF THAT, BUT EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR HAS A HAND IN THAT, THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

AND CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SAVE AND OR MAKE MONEY AS THE FIRE CHIEF HAS AND, AND, UM, BRINGING THINGS FORWARD THAT, UM, HELP US GET THE BEST BANG FOR A BUCK IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS.

AND SO, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE OF THIS SEASON.