[00:00:01]
WE WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER,
[1. Call to Order ]
UH, AT 7:02 PM ON MONDAY, MAY 18TH.UH, IF YOU ALL STAND, PAT COUNCILMAN SUITER.
DEAR WISE AND LOVING, FATHER, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF ALL WHO ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR MANY AND ABUNDANT BLESSINGS AND FOR THE MEASURE OF HEALTH THAT WE NEED TO FULFILL OUR CALLINGS FOR SUSTENANCE AND FOR FRIENDSHIP.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THE ABILITY TO BE INVOLVED IN USEFUL WORK AND FOR THE HONOR OF BEARING APPROPRIATE RESPONSIBILITIES.
LET US BE SAFE AND CONTINUE TO OVERSEE US IN ALL OF OUR DAILY ACTIVITIES.
BELIEVE THE FLAG, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND DO REPUBLIC ELIMINATION UNDER GOD IN JUSTICE, HONOR THE TEXAS FLAG PLEDGE, TEXAS ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AN INDIVIDUAL.
[4. Announcements/Presentations ]
RIGHT, THIS TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PRESENTATIONS.UH, COUNCILMAN SUITER, DO YOU HAVE ANY? DON'T HAVE ONE FOR THIS MEETING.
UM, SO IT GETS US TO ITEM B, UH, THE PRO PROCLAMATION, RECOGNIZING MAY 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD.
2026 IS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK COUNCILMAN WRIGHT, WHEREAS PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS FOCUS ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES AND SERVICES THAT ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELLBEING OF THE RESIDENTS OF WAXAHATCHEE TEXAS.
AND WHEREAS THESE INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES, AND SERVICES COULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REBUILDING, IMPROVING, AND PROTECTING OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, WATER SUPPLY, WATER TREATMENT, WASTEWATER COLLECTION, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CITIZENS.
AND WHEREAS IT IS THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR THE CITIZENS, CIVIC LEADERS AND CHILDREN IN WAXAHATCHEE, TEXAS TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF AND MAINTAIN AN ONGOING INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAM PROGRAMS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.
AND WHEREAS THE YEAR 2026 MARKS THE 66TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC'S WORKS WEEK, SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT TRAVIS SMITH, MAYOR PRO TEM OF THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE, ALONG WITH THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL TO HEREBY DESIGNATE THE WEEK, MAY 17TH THROUGH THE 23RD, 2026 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CITY PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITY DEPARTMENTS IN ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND CEREMONIES, DESIGNED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITY PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THAT MAKE TO PROTECTING OUR NATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ADVANCING QUALITY OF LIFE.
PROCLAIM THIS 18TH DAY OF MAY, 2026.
[5. Public Comments]
ALL RIGHT.THAT MOVES ON TO 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 DELIBERATE SUCH STATEMENTS DURING THIS PERIOD, EXCEPT AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 5 5 1 0.042 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
[00:05:01]
FIVE SIGN UP TO SPEAK DURING THIS SESSION, SO LEAD IT OFF WITH SANDY EMMONDS.HI, I'M SANDY MONDS, AND I LIVE AT 1310 EAST MARVIN.
SO REPRESENTING THE EAST SIDE HERE WITH WHAT I'M ABOUT TO SAY.
UM, WE, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SITUATION IN WAXAHATCHEE WITH ANIMALS THAT ARE EITHER ABANDONED OR ARE OUT AND ABOUT OR SO MANY THINGS THAT HAPPEN WITH THESE DOGS AND CATS AND OTHER ANIMALS THAT ARE OUTSIDE.
UM, I KNOW THAT CURRENTLY WE HAVE SOMEBODY THAT'S WONDERFUL THAT'S RUNNING OUR SHELTER, BUT THAT SHELTER IS NOT ADEQUATE INDUSTRY STANDARDS SUCH AS GUIDELINES PROVIDED BY THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES ESTIMATE THAT THE ANNUAL SHELTER INTAKE IS ABOUT 3% OF THE HUMAN POPULATION IN THAT CITY.
SO IF YOU HAVE 50,000 PEOPLE, YOU CAN EXPECT AROUND 1500 INTAKES PER YEAR.
THE AVERAGE DAILY POPULATION, THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS PHYSICALLY IN THE SHELTER DAILY, DEPENDS HEAVILY ON THE LENGTH OF STAY.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT TO DO, BUT YOU NEED AT LEAST 30 TO 60 DOGS, YOU KNOW, 30, 30 SHEL, YOU KNOW, 30, UH, KENNELS TO 60 KENNELS.
AND THAT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDING CATS.
UM, WHY I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS BECAUSE I ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED IT TWO YEARS AGO IN THE WINTER THERE WAS A BOXER THAT WAS OUT.
HE HAD BEEN ABANDONED, I BELIEVE, BY A NEIGHBOR, AND MY NEIGHBORS TOOK HIM IN, BUT THEY COULDN'T TAKE HIM IN IN BECAUSE THEIR LANDLORD DID NOT ALLOW PETS.
SO WE TRIED TO ALL KEEP HIM WARM AND SHELTERED THROUGHOUT THE WINTER OUTSIDE.
AND THE REASON WE HAD TO DO THAT IS 'CAUSE WHEN WE CALLED OUR SHELTER, AS NICE AS EVERYBODY IS, THEY COULDN'T COME AND TAKE HIM, OR THEY, WE COULDN'T COME TAKE HIM TO THEM BECAUSE THEY HAD NO ROOM FOR HIM.
AND, UM, IT WAS JUST A SAD SITUATION.
MY OTHER PERSONAL, AND I KNOW IT'S THREE MINUTES, SO I'M GONNA HURRY IT UP, BUT I WAS PERSONALLY IMPACTED BY A PACK OF DOGS.
I HAD MULTIPLE HENS THAT WERE KILLED IN MY BACKYARD, IN MY OWN BACKYARD.
UM, AND IT SHOULD BE A CRIME TO KILL DOLLY PARTON, JUNE CARTER CASH AND
AND UH, AND I KNOW THAT'S FUNNY, BUT IT WASN'T FUNNY AT THE TIME.
AND IT WAS BECAUSE TWO PIT BULLS, NOT ONLY DID THEY ATTACK, BUT THEY ATTACKED THE SHELTER, OUR, MY SHELTER, MY MY CHICKEN COOP.
AND THEY LITERALLY TORE THROUGH IT AND GOT TO THE CHICKENS.
AND THE REASON I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE IT WAS CHICKENS, BUT WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN A 3-YEAR-OLD OR A 10-YEAR-OLD, OR A 90-YEAR-OLD? 'CAUSE AT THE TIME, MY MOTHER WAS LIVING AND SHE WAS LIVING BY US, AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN HER THAT WAS ATTACKED.
SO BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPPENED WITH OUR SHELTER.
ALRIGHT, NEXT UP WE HAVE DARLENE MILLER.
HELLO, I'M DARLENE MILLER, UH, TWO 40 PARK SCHOOL HOUSE ROAD NUMBER ONE 14 WAXAHATCHEE, TEXAS.
AND I SIGNED UP BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE HOW TO USE THIS FORM NOW, BUT ALSO, UH, JUST TO SAY A FEW THINGS.
I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE STAFF THAT YOU HAVE NOW WITH THE WAXAHATCHEE ANIMAL SERVICES.
THEY'RE DOING A GREAT JOB, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE SPACE AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT WE NEED HERE IN THE CITY.
UH, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT I SEE AND HEAR, AND I GET A LOT OF CALLS THIS WHOLE WEEKEND.
I WAS WORKING ON TRYING TO HELP FIVE STRAY DOGS.
TWO OF THEM, ONE'S BEEN STRAY FOR ABOUT A YEAR.
UH, THE OTHER ONE JUST SHOWED UP RECENTLY.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO SEE WHAT WE COULD DO WITH THEM.
THE OTHER WAS A MAMA PIT BULL WITH TWO BABIES.
AND SO IT TOOK ME ALL WEEKEND TO TRY TO FIND SOME HELP FOR THEM, UM, BECAUSE OUR SHELTER'S CLOSED ON THE WEEKENDS.
AND WHEN, UH, THE CALL WAS MADE BY THE FINDER, UH, SHE WAS TOLD THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR SHELTER'S FULL.
UM, ANOTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION IS THERE'S SO MUCH ON FACEBOOK AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY MAD AT THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE 'CAUSE IT'S AFFECTING A LOT OF OTHER CITIES TOO, WHERE, UH, PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO SNEAK IN ANIMALS FROM WAXAHATCHEE TO OTHER SHELTERS.
[00:10:01]
SOMEBODY TOOK TWO PIT BULLS, TWO TRI-CITY SHELTER, AND, UH, THE OWNER WAS LOOKING FOR THEM.BY THE TIME SHE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE 30 MINUTES AWAY, THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN EUTHANIZED AND SHE'S GRIEVING DEEPLY, HER AND HER WHOLE FAMILY, HER ONE, UH, CHILD TWO, SHE'S GOT TWO CHILDREN AND ONE IS SPECIAL NEEDS AND IS BLIND.
AND THOSE DOGS WERE HER EVERYTHING.
SO, UM, THIS KIND OF THING IS HAPPENING A LOT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THESE PIT BULLS WITH THE BABIES, THE LADY SAID, WELL, I KNEW I COULDN'T GET 'EM IN.
I'M GONNA TRY TO GET 'EM INTO THE SHELTER IN DUNCANVILLE.
I CALLED, THEY SAID THEY HAD ROOM, BUT WHEN I SAID WAXAHATCHEE, THEY SAID NO.
SHE SAID, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND PRETEND THAT, UM, I GOT THEM OVER THERE BY THAT SHELTER.
AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING.
SO OTHER PEOPLE'S TAX DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR OUR DOGS THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING ABANDONED HERE OR WHATEVER OTHER ISSUES.
AND I KNOW MY 30 MINUTES IS ABOUT UP, SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND FINISH RIGHT THERE.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU BECAUSE YOU GUYS HAVE INCREASED SOME BUDGET FOR THE TRANSPORT VAN, WHICH IS NOW IN AND IS BEAUTIFUL.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE DOING ALL THESE ADOPTION EVENTS WITH WAXAHATCHEE ANIMAL SERVICES.
THEY'RE GONNA LET ME VOLUNTEER AND OTHER PEOPLE VOLUNTEER AT THE EVENTS.
AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, YOU INCREASE THE STAFF BY ONE, UH, THAT WAS BUDGETED IN AND PLUS THE 50,000 FOR SPAY AND NEUTER, AND YOU'RE HELPING SOME LOW INCOME FAMILIES WITH THAT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR THOSE THINGS.
UH, NEXT UP WE HAVE BRIAN LITTLE.
I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THIS TIME TO SPEAK TODAY.
I HAVE BEEN A CITIZEN OF WAXAHATCHEE SINCE 1989.
I AM A W EDGE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE 2003, ALSO A NAVY VETERAN, 2006 2010 USS PEARL HARBOR, LSD 52 OUTTA SAN DIEGO.
AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE MILITARY, I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AND GOT ON MY GA BILL AND BECAME AN EDUCATOR.
I'VE BEEN TEACHING MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES FOR 12 YEARS, CURRENTLY AT HOWARD JUNIOR HIGH.
AND IN MY SPARE TIME WHEN I CAN AS HARD AS A TEACHER, I AM A VOLUNTEER WITH THE FRIENDS OF GLEN HEIGHTS ANIMAL RESCUE AND ALSO WITH THE PET COALITION OF ELLIS COUNTY.
I DO WHAT I CAN WHERE I CAN, AND I KNOW I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR EVERY SINGLE TESTIMONY OF THIS TIME, BUT I CAN SHARE ONE.
AND HIS NAME WAS MARTY, UH, STAFFY, UH, PIT BULL MIX.
UM, WAS GIVEN THREE HOURS TO LIVE AND, UH, WENT AND PICKED HIM UP, FOUND OUT QUICKLY HE WAS AN ESCAPE ARTIST.
AND, UH, FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR, WE FOSTERED HIM UNTIL FINALLY A TRANSPORT WAS PUT TOGETHER TO TAKE HIM UP NORTH WHERE THE MARKET IS SUBSTANTIALLY BETTER FOR THESE DOGS TO HAVE A CHANCE AT LIFE AND, UH, UPGRADE.
AND WHEN I GOT HIM THERE, LESLIE SAID, AND I QUOTE, HELPING THESE DOGS IN THIS TOWN FEELS LIKE TAKING A SPOON AND TRYING TO TAKE WATER OFF THE TITANIC.
AND JUST LIKE THE SPEAKERS BEFORE TONIGHT, UM, WE'RE PASSIONATE, BUT I STAND BEFORE YOU INSTEAD OF NOT JUST MARTY, BUT STAND BEFORE YOU AS A FAILURE BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING THE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS OF ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT, UH, FACILITIES.
WE'RE TRYING, WE'RE TIRED, WE ARE ROLLING UP OUR SLEEVES AND GETTING IN THE TRENCHES, AND OUR HEARTS ARE SHATTERED FOR SO MANY THAT DID NOT RECEIVE THE SAME FATE AS MARTY, AND BY NO FAULT TO THEIR OWN.
AND THAT'S NOT TO SHAKE A FINGER AT ANYBODY HERE AT THE PANEL.
THIS IS LIKE YOU JUST HEARD, THIS IS A, THIS IS THE HAND THAT WAXAHATCHEE HAS BEEN DEALT IN OTHER SURROUNDING AREAS.
SO I'M JUST ASKING, AND MAYBE THERE'S A CHANCE THAT POSSIBLE MAYBE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS BETWEEN NOT ONLY THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO OVERSEE, BUT MAYBE EVEN OUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WHERE THERE CAN BE AT LEAST SOME BLUEPRINTS MADE TO WHERE WE CAN LOOK TOWARDS SOME BETTER FACILITIES IN SOME COURT WHERE WE CAN HAVE MORE SUCCESS STORIES LIKE MARTY.
AND I'M ALREADY THANKFUL SO MUCH FOR GENTLEMEN LIKE DUSTIN DEAL, WHO HAVE ALREADY GIVEN A LISTENING EAR.
AND FOR MS. DARLENE WHO IS A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS, I'M JUST ASKING THAT YOU LOCK ARMS WITH US AND COME ALONG WITH US AS WE CONTINUE FOR MORE MARTY'S AND MORE SUCCESSES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRAYERS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
VERY WELL SAID MR. LITTLE, UH, MICHELLE SLA.
WAS THAT CORRECT, ZLA? YES, THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, SO MY NAME IS MICHELLE ZLA AND MY ADDRESS IS SIX 13 HIGHLAND AVENUE.
TODAY, I HAVE BROUGHT YOU A PICTURE OF FRIDA ON MAY 5TH OF THIS YEAR.
I SAW HER FOR THE FIRST TIME OUTSIDE OF MY LIVING ROOM WINDOW.
UM, HER FUR WAS MATTED AND HER HUNG, HER HEAD HUNG IN DEFEAT AS SHE WAS JUST LAYING THERE.
WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW AT THE TIME IS THAT SHE'D BEEN ABANDONED IN A HOUSE WHEN HER OWNER HAD BEEN EVICTED WITH HER SHEER WILL TO SURVIVE.
FRIDA HAD TO BREAK THROUGH A GLASS WINDOW TO ESCAPE.
NO ONE KNOWS HOW LONG SHE WAS LEFT IN THE HOUSE FOR.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN WEEKS OR LONGER.
FRIDA DIDN'T ASK TO BE ABANDONED, BUT SHE DID ASK FOR HELP.
I WAS MET WITH KINDNESS AND COMPASSION, BUT A SENTIMENT THAT IS BECOMING ALL TOO COMMON IN WAXAHATCHEE.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY OPEN KENNELS.
DID YOU KNOW THAT WAXAHATCHEE ANIMAL SERVICES HAS 15 KENNELS, SIX OF WHICH ARE QUARANTINED FOR A POPULATION
[00:15:01]
OF 50,000 PEOPLE.ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS WANTED TO HELP, BUT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF FRIDA AND THE COUNTLESS ABANDONED, ABUSED, DUMPED, AND NEGLECTED ANIMALS THAT FILL THE STREETS OF WAXAHATCHEE.
OUR SHELTER NEEDS A BETTER FACILITY TO CONTINUE TO SERVE THE LEAST OF THESE AND RESOURCES TO CONTINUE THE JOB THAT THEY DO WITH COMPASSION AND CARE.
IF OUR DESIRE IS TRULY TO KEEP WAXAHATCHEE BEAUTIFUL, WE NEED TO START WHERE IT MATTERS MOST.
WITH DOGS LIKE FRIDA, THE CURRENT SHELTER IS INADEQUATE TO SERVE OUR GROWING POPULATION.
AS FOR FRIDA, A KENNEL FINALLY OPENED.
SHE WAS TRAPPED, AND SHE'S RECEIVING THE CARE AND LOVE THAT SHE DESERVES AS SHE HOPEFULLY AWAITS HER FOREVER FAMILY.
SHE IS AT THE WAXAHATCHEE ANIMAL SHELTER.
PLEASE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER DOING EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO ADVOCATE FOR A BETTER SHELTER FACILITY AND MORE RESOURCES FOR DOGS LIKE FRIDA.
HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE, SIR.
WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE MOVED.
I LIVE ON 1 0 9 ROSA STREET IN WAXAHATCHEE.
MY CONCERN IS THIS, UH, CRYSTALLIZED SILICA.
IT'S AN NOSHA GRADE HAZARD ON THE DUST, YOU KNOW, THAT CAN GET INTO THE LUNGS, WHICH, UH, THE DUST IS WHAT IS CUT WITH THE SAWS ON ANYTHING LIKE CEMENT, INCLUDING HARDY BOARD.
IT CUTS MAKE THE DUST AS FINE AS AS RECORDED, UH, 100 TIMES SMALLER THAN A GRAIN OF SAND WHEN IT PRODUCES.
THAT'S HOW IT GETS INTO THE LUNGS OF THE FINE DUST IT CREATES.
YOUR COLD ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY JURISDICTION.
JURISDICTION AND COVERING THE, UH, SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING ZONES IN THE LIVE COMMUNITY AREAS WHEN THEY'RE WORKING ON WHERE THEY LAY OUT, UH, UH, CONCRETE FORMS, YOU KNOW, PATIOS, AND THEN THEY GO BUILDING A HOUSE, BUT THEN SOMETIMES THEY CUT CEMENT.
THEY NEED TO CONTROL THAT DUST.
I'M ASKING FOR THAT CONTROL RIGHT THERE.
ALSO, WHEN THEY HAVE A HARDY BOARD, THEY'RE CUTTING IT HARDY BOARD.
IT ALSO THROWS A CLOUD TOO, AND IT TRAVELS ACROSS YARDS.
THE DUST IS FINE, REAL FINE DUST.
AND SO WHEN THIS DOES, WE GOT PREVENTIONS THAT VACUUM CLEANERS SHEAR, ELECTRIC SHEARERS STRIKERS THAT CAN ACTUALLY STRIKE A FEW FIVE OR SIX TIMES.
AND IT CRACKS, IT BREAKS IT OVER IN A SNAP POSITION.
WE DON'T HAVE TO JUST USE THE BLADE AND STIR IT UP, DUST THEIR PREVENTIONS.
I'M ASKING THE CITY, THE CODE ENFORCEMENT THAT THE COUNCIL MEMBERS CAN HELP AND, AND PLANNING AND ZONING ON.
UH, WHO I'VE BEEN TALKING TO, MR. SEAN BROOKS, IS A HELP ON THIS ITEM HERE ON WHERE YOU GOT ACTION THAT YOU CAN TAKE ON THIS AS A HAZARD AND NOT AS A OSHA ISSUE.
I'M LOOKING AT IT AS A HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC COMMUNITY.
I WANT WARNING SIGNS PUT UP FOR THE IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE WHERE THEY'RE DOING THIS KIND OF WORK WITH THESE KIND OF MATERIAL TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW AS WELL THAT THERE'S A DANGER WHAT THE SILICONE DOES.
THAT'LL HELP THESE NEIGHBORS BE AWARE AND BRING THEIR ATTENTION TO IT.
BUT I ALSO WANT CODE ENFORCEMENT TO GO AHEAD IN THE CITY TO RECOGNIZE IT AS A HAZARD, NOT AS A, YOU KNOW, AN OSHA HAZARD OR SOMETHING TO DO WITH OSHA.
ANYWAY, I HOPE I WAS UNDERSTOOD ON WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
THAT MOVES US TO THE CONSENT AGENDA.
[6. Consent Agenda]
UH, ALL MATTERS LISTED UNDER ITEM SIX.THE CONSENTED THE CONSENT AGENDA ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ROUTINE BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND WILL BE ENACTED BY ONE MOTION.
THERE WILL NOT BE, THERE WILL NOT BE SEPARATE DISCUSSION OF THESE ITEMS, APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA.
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR AND OR CITY COUNCIL 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 THE COUNCIL.
REMOVE TO APPROVE ALL ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER AND OR MERIT EXECUTE ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTS.
ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[7. Receive Fiscal Year 2026 2nd Quarter Financial Report]
SEVEN, WE'RE GONNA RECEIVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2026, SECOND QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORT FROM DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, CHAD HUTCHINSON.ALRIGHT, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM.
UH, COUNSEL, UH, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO HEAR THIS PRESENTATION.
SO, OF COURSE, THIS IS THE SECOND QUARTER, UH, FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR.
THIS COVERS FROM OCTOBER, 2025 THROUGH MARCH, 2026.
UM, UH, THE REPORT OF, OF COURSE IS IN YOUR, IN YOUR PACKET ON THE, IN THE AGENDA.
AND IT'S, IT'S ALSO ONLINE FOR THOSE WATCHING.
UH, THEY CAN ALSO REFER, REFER TO THAT AS WELL.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA HIT ON A FEW HIGHLIGHTS, BUT BEFORE I DO, I'LL JUST, UH, WANNA TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, WHY WE DO THIS REPORT.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY DO OUR ANNUAL REPORT
[00:20:01]
AND AUDIT, UM, AND PRESENT THAT TO THE CITY COUNCIL AS WELL AS DEVELOPED OUR, OUR BUDGET ANNUALLY.UM, UM, BUT WE ALSO DO THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE TO BRING TRANSPARENCY TO, UM, TO OUR, UH, OUR FINANCIALS AS WE GO THROUGH THOSE, UH, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
IT ALSO HELPS US IDENTIFY, UM, ISSUES AND TRENDS THAT WE MIGHT SEE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
FREQUENTLY WE SEE THINGS ARE CODED WRONG EITHER ON THE REVENUE OR EXPENDITURE SIDE.
SO IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, CORRECT THOSE.
IT ALSO HELPS US MANAGE TRENDS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T, WE'VE BEEN, UH, UH, FORTUNATE WITH OUR SALES TAX COLLECTIONS AND OTHER THINGS.
UM, BUT, UH, IT HELPS US IDENTIFY WHERE WE MAY BE HAVING SOME SHORTFALLS.
UM, IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT, UH, NOT MANY, UH, FOLKS THINK ABOUT, BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT OUR OUTSIDE STAKEHOLDERS, UM, THAT WE DON'T NORMALLY DON'T THINK ABOUT, THAT THEY'RE LOOKING IN TO THINK MAKING SURE WE'RE DOING THAT.
OUR RATING AGENCIES, OUR BOND HOLDERS, UM, THEY, WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE BOND ISSUANCE PROCESS, THEY'LL FREQUENTLY, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THEY ASK, ARE YOU DOING THESE REPORTS AND ARE YOU, UM, GETTING THEM TO THE CITY COUNCIL? SO THESE ARE THINGS THAT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO TOUCH BASE AGAIN AND, AND KIND OF LET Y'ALL KNOW WHY, WHY WE GO AHEAD AND DO THIS REPORT.
BUT IN SUMMARY, OVERALL, UH, REVENUES ARE, UM, HAVE PERFORMED SLIGHTLY BETTER THAN ANTICIPATED.
UM, AND OUR EXPENSES ARE WITHIN BUDGET ON THE, UH, OUR LARGEST PROPERTY, UH, OUR LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE, OF COURSE, IS PROPERTY TAX.
AND THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER, UM, IN THE GENERAL FUND, UH, WE'VE COLLECTED 27.7 MILLION.
SO, AS A REMINDER, MOST OF THE SALES TAX COLLECTIONS COME IN, UH, DECEMBER, JANUARY, AND FEBRUARY.
AND THEN WE GET SOME, UH, KIND OF TRICKLE IN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THIS IS ONE, MAYBE WE'RE WATCHING A LITTLE BIT.
UM, USUALLY WE'RE AT ABOUT 98% THROUGH SIX MONTHS, AND WE'RE AT 97% NOW.
UM, SO, UH, YOU KNOW, 1% MAY NOT SEEM LIKE MUCH, BUT WITH OUR BUDGET THAT THAT COULD BE ABOUT $250,000 THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SO, UM, WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT WE'RE, UM, ON TOP OF THAT, ALSO MENTION ON, UH, SALES TAX, AGAIN, AS OUR SECOND LARGEST REVENUE SOURCE THAT ACCOUNTS FOR 34% OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND, UM, THROUGH THE SECOND QUARTER, UM, COLLECTIONS TOTAL, UH, $12.1 MILLION OR 51% OF THE BUDGET.
UM, LAST YEAR, JUST TO GIVE YOU A REFERENCE, WE HAD COLLECTED 48%, UM, OF OUR TOTAL COLLECTIONS BY THIS POINT.
UM, AS A REMINDER, THE BUDGET, WHEN WE DEVELOPED THE BUDGET IN THE FALL OF LAST YEAR, UM, WE DEVELOPED IT WITH A PROJECTED INCREASE IN SALES TAX OF TWO AND A HALF PERCENT OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.
AND, UM, THROUGH, UH, THROUGH THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS.
ACTUAL COLLECTIONS ARE AT 6.4% OVER LAST YEAR AND TRACKING 3.8% OVER THE BUDGET.
SO THAT'S A, THAT'S A GREAT THING TO SEE.
THAT PERCENTAGE WISE, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, THAT'S ABOUT $450,000 OVER BUDGET THAT WE'VE COLLECTED THROUGH THE, THROUGH THE FIRST SIX MONTHS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A GOOD TRAJECTORY THAT, THAT WE'RE OF COURSE, ALWAYS WATCHING AND, AND THAT THINGS CAN CHANGE QUICKLY.
BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.
UH, MOST OF THE REVENUES ARE, UH, TRACKING IN LINE.
I'LL MENTION BUILDING PERMITS.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR LARGER REVENUE SOURCES AS WELL.
THAT'S, UM, UH, CONTINUES TO BE A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, SLIGHTLY STRONGER THAN WE ANTICIPATED.
AND OF COURSE, THAT ALL DEPENDS ON TIMING OF PROJECTS AND WHEN THINGS ARE COMING IN.
ALSO MENTION, UM, THE, UH, ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE FOR THE GENERAL FUND, UM, WE ARE AT 44% OF THE BUDGET.
WE'RE KINDA LAGGING ON THE EXPENSES, AND THAT REALLY JUST HAS TO DO WITH THIS YEAR.
WE'VE HAD SOME LARGER, UM, EXPEND, UM, BUDGETED EXPENDITURES THAT, UM, MAYBE THEY'VE BEEN ENCUMBERED, BUT THEY HAVEN'T BEEN, UH, EXPENSED YET.
SO MAYBE WE, WE, FOR A LOT OF THESE, WE HAVE A CONTRACT IN PLACE, BUT WE JUST HAVEN'T STARTED SPENDING THE MONEY YET.
UM, AND SO WE'LL START TO SEE THAT AS WE GET INTO THE THIRD QUARTER OR FOURTH QUARTER, THOSE DOLLARS BEING, UH, BEING SPENT AND SHOWING UP IN THE REPORT FOR OUR OTHER FUNDS.
UM, UH, YOU KNOW, NO SURPRISES IN OUR WATER AND WASTEWATER FUND.
OF COURSE, OUR WCDC, OUR W HASHI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UH, FUND, THEY TRACK THE SAME SALES TAX AS WE DO.
THEY'RE ABOUT 90, 90, OVER 90% OF THEIR BUDGET IS, UH, IS BUILT OFF OF SALES TAX.
AND THAT, UH, ADDITIONAL COLLECTION IS ABOUT $150,000 TO THE GOOD FOR THEIR, FOR THEIR FUND.
AND THEN I'LL JUST MENTION, UH, THE HOTEL MOTEL, THE TAX FUND, UM, UH, THAT'S IN LINE.
WE'RE COLLECTING A LITTLE BIT MORE REVENUE THAN LAST YEAR.
OCCUPANCY RATE IS UP OVER THE SAME TIMEFRAME LAST YEAR, UH, LAST YEAR WE WERE AVERAGING UP THROUGH THE SIX MONTHS, ABOUT 73% OCCUPANCY RATE, AND WE'RE AT 77%.
SO THAT JUST TRANSLATES INTO ADDITIONAL REVENUE.
WE ALSO HAVE RESIDENTS IN THAT JUST OPENED AND WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF ACTIVITY ON OUR MARCH REPORT AND, UH, HOPE TO SEE THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THAT FUND AS WELL.
[00:25:01]
I'LL JUST AS A REMINDER, I'LL MENTION THAT WE ARE, UH, CURRENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR, OUR BUDGET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AND, UM, AND, UH, ON TRACK TO PRESENT THAT TO THE COUNCIL ON JUNE, UH, DRAFT BUDGET TO THE COUNCIL ON JUNE 22ND.UM, I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
I HAVE ONE QUICK QUESTION ABOUT SALES TAX.
YOU SAID WE'RE TRENDING AT 51% AT THE MOMENT.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IN THE CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE GOING FORWARD, IS THERE, IS THERE ANY MONEY FROM BJ'S IN THAT BUDGET FOR THE NEXT TWO QUARTERS? NO.
SO WHATEVER'S COMING IN FROM BJ'S WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE SALES TAX, CORRECT.
THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN HIT WITH YET.
IF THOSE COME THROUGH THE WAY, IT'S WAY IT'S EXPECTED, IS THAT GONNA CAUSE ANY TYPE OF SIGNIFICANT CONCERN OR IS IT STILL JUST TRENDING THE WAY THAT THE BUDGET, IT JUST, THEY JUST HAVEN'T HIT BECAUSE THEY'RE TRAILING, THEY JUST HAVEN'T HIT? UM, WE BUDGETED FOR THOSE.
SO IN THAT 44%, LET'S SAY IF WE SPLIT IT UP INTO SIX MONTHS, 50%, THAT'S 6% THAT'S ACCOUNTED FOR.
WE'RE, WE'RE PLANNING ON, IN FACT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WORK IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT WITH CITY MANAGEMENT, MAKE SURE WE'RE TRYING TO SPEND THOSE DOLLARS AS FAST AS WE CAN.
UM, IF THEY ARE BUDGETED, WE DON'T WANNA LEAVE, LEAVE IT OUT THERE AND, UH, HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, WE DON'T WANNA LIKE, HAVE TO CARRY FORWARD MONEY FROM YEAR TO YEAR TO YEAR.
WE WANNA GET THOSE, THOSE, THOSE DOLLARS SPENT.
SO, BUT YEAH, WE ON TRACK AND DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY ISSUES AT THIS TIME.
IS THERE ANY ONE ISSUE THAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT OR IS EVERYTHING AS ROSY AS YOU SAID IT WAS? YEAH, NO, THAT'S, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, YOU KNOW, UH, FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, I DON'T HAVE REALLY HAVE ANY, UH, CONCERNS.
UM, I THINK GOING INTO, UH, FUTURE YEARS, OF COURSE, JUST, YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE AND KINDA WHAT THEY MIGHT DO AT THE CITY LEVEL.
UM, OF COURSE, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT NOW OF OUR, UM, OF OUR UTILITY RATE STUDY MM-HMM
AND, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE WORKING WITH CONSULTANTS ON TO HELP THEM HELP US DEVELOP, HEY, WHAT, WHAT DO WE, WHAT DO THE RATES NEED TO BE? BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THIS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME UP AT NIGHT THINKING ABOUT HOW WE MIGHT FUND THAT.
SO THOSE ARE THINGS WE'RE THINKING OF.
UM, OF COURSE WE WILL COME TO YOU IN JUNE, HOPEFULLY WITH SOME OTHER ITEMS, UM, THAT WILL IMPACT THE BUDGET, UH, WE CAN GET SOME DIRECTION ON.
BUT THIS YEAR I THINK WE'RE, I THINK WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR STAFF, EVERYBODY AT THE CITY FOR KEEPING US IN LINE WITH, I MEAN, NOT ONLY THE PROJECTIONS THAT YOU CAME UP WITH, BUT ACTUALLY EXCEEDING THOSE PROJECTIONS.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR DOING THAT.
ANYTHING ELSE, CHAD? THANK YOU.
UH, YOU RATTLE OFF THOSE NUMBERS, UH, AWFULLY QUICKLY FOR SOME FOLKS, BUT I THINK I HAVE 'EM ALL DOWN.
IT WAS, IT WAS A TEST OF MY HANDWRITING, BUT, UM, THANK YOU FOR THAT AND I THANKS YOU.
THAT'LL MOVE US TO ITEM EIGHT.
[8. Consider proposed Resolution executing matters related to approving and authorizing an agreement for the construction and funding of authorized improvements and reimbursement of advances for the Waxahachie PID No. 1]
UH, CONSIDER PROPOSED RESOLUTION, EXECUTING MATTERS RELATED TO APPROVING AND, AND AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND FUNDING OF IZED IMPROVEMENTS AND REIMBURSEMENT OF ADVANCES FOR THE WAXAHATCHEE PI.UH, IT'S GONNA GO TO ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER SEAN BROOKS.
UH, BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING IS A REQUEST BY THE DEVELOPER.
UH, THIS IS PROCEDURAL IN MOTION.
UH, THIS IS KIND OF TYPICAL FOR WHAT WE'VE SEEN FOR THE PREVIOUS PHASES.
THIS IS PHASE FIVE OF THE, UH, SADDLEBROOK PIT, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2007.
UM, THIS IS A REQUEST TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE, THE AGREEMENT FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THOSE PI FUNDS THROUGH THE BOND SALES, WHICH WILL OCCUR ON, UH, JANUARY, I MEAN, SORRY, JULY 6TH OF THIS YEAR.
SO, UH, JUST A, A, A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT, UH, THE AGREEMENT, UH, TO REIMBURSE THOSE, THOSE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE NEARING COMPLETION.
AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
AND THE APPLICANTS ARE HERE, UH, COUNCILMAN WRIGHT SUITER.
ANY, ANY QUESTIONS IF I'M LOOKING AT THIS RIGHT? THE PI RATE'S 17 CENTS? YES, SIR.
THE, THE PI RATE DOESN'T CHANGE, UH, FOR THE, FOR THE PI, NO.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I WILL MOVE TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION, AUTHOR, APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND FUNDING OF AUTHORIZED IMPROVEMENTS AND REIMBURSEMENT OF ADVANCES FOR WAXAHATCHEE PI.
NUMBER ONE, EXECUTING OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT.
SECOND, WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[00:30:03]
AND SEEING AS WE HAVE NO BUSINESS TO, TO CONVENE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOUR, UM, THAT TAKES US TO[11. Comments by Mayor, City Council, City Attorney and City Management]
COMMENTS BY EVERY, EVERYONE UP HERE.SO WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? TERRY? NOTHING.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT GOT UP AND SPOKE.
AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN A PROPONENT FROM DAY ONE OF YOU COMING UP AND SPEAKING AND KEEPING IT IN FRONT OF US ABOUT THE ANIMAL SHELTER.
WE ARE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, THE COUNTY.
WE DO HAVE PEOPLE THERE THAT ARE ACTUALLY THIS TIME REALLY INTERESTED IN TEAMING UP WITH US.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL GO SOMEWHERE.
YOU KNOW, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO WHAT IT'S GONNA COST AND HOW WE'RE GONNA PAY FOR IT.
SO WE'RE GONNA WORK ON IT DILIGENTLY.
MR. TIM PENNY'S GREAT TO SEE YOU BACK.
WE REALLY WERE WORRIED ABOUT YOU 'CAUSE WE HADN'T SEEN YOU IN A WHILE.
AND CHAD AND YOUR GUYS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU ALWAYS DO SUCH A GREAT JOB AND KEEPING US INFORMED AND REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
NO SIR, TR YOU GIVE TO SILENCE.
UM, AGAIN, WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY AT FINANCE AND, AND I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF WORK AND, UM, JUST Y'ALL ALWAYS DO A TREMENDOUS JOB OF, OF SQUEEZING THOSE, UH, PENNIES OUT WHERE NEEDED.
UM, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THAT THE PROJECTIONS THAT Y'ALL COME UP WITH ARE ALWAYS SPOT ON.
SO THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
UM, TO FOLLOW UP WITH WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN WRIGHT SAID, UM, I'VE ALWAYS ENCOURAGED THE FOLKS TO COME AND SPEAK, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH THE, UH, VARIOUS ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS, UM, CONTRIBUTED TIME, MONEY IN, IN FURTHERING THOSE EFFORTS.
AND I KNOW THAT YOU SEE THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHERE PEOPLE ARE CRITICAL.
JUST PLEASE REALIZE THAT YOUR VOICE IS HEARD.
UM, ALSO WANT TO THANK DUSTIN AND KENZIE AND THE STAFF, UH, IN, IN DEALING WITH ANIMAL SERVICES BECAUSE I KNOW THAT Y'ALL ARE ON THE FRONT LINE AND Y'ALL HAVE TO HAVE TO SEE IT ON A DAILY BASIS SEPARATE FROM THOSE PEOPLE SEEING ANIMALS RUNNING DOWN THE STREET.
Y'ALL HAVE TO LOOK AT THE, LOOK AT THE FACE OF THOSE ANIMALS THAT COME IN AND THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE THAT CAN TEAR YOUR HEART THAN OUT THAN LOOKING AT THAT.
SO, UM, TRUSTED, WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING IF IT'S THE LAST THING WE DO, THAT WE'RE GONNA DO SOMETHING SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
UM, AS COUNCILMAN WRIGHT MENTIONED, UM, THE COUNTY NOW HAS, UH, UM, I THINK THAT WE HAVE A GROUP THERE THAT IS REALLY LISTENING TO US.
UM, COUNCILMAN WRIGHT AND MYSELF ATTENDED A COMMISSIONER'S MEETING, UM, AND THEN FOLLOWED UP WITH MEETING WITH VARIOUS, UH, SOMEBODY FROM THE COUNTY ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THAT THAT, THAT THEY CAN DO.
SO, UM, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THERE.
SO, BUT PLUS Y'ALL FOR WHAT Y'ALL DO FOR NOT ONLY THE, THE ANIMALS, BUT THE, BUT THE COMMUNITY WITH THAT MR. MAYOR PRO TEM, I'M THROUGH CITY MANAGER BOYD.
THE ONLY THING I'D HAD IS, UH, THANK YOU TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
UH, DO APPRECIATE ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND IT'S GOOD TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
IT'S ALSO JUSTIN STOKER'S 50TH BIRTHDAY TODAY, BUT HE SNUCK OUT BEFORE YOU GOT TO SEE HIM.
YEAH, WE DO APPRECIATE HIM AND HIS TEAM, SO THANK YOU.
AND WITH THAT, UH, I'LL JUST QUICKLY ADD, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS SHOWING UP TO THE FOLKS WHO WERE FIGHTING FOR THE ANIMALS.
UM, TO THAT SAME POINT, JUST JUST KNOW THAT THERE ARE FIVE OF US UP HERE AND WE CAN'T ALL FIVE ADDRESS EVERYTHING.
UM, THERE ARE SOME ON THIS COUNCIL WHO ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OTHER PROJECTS MORE THAN SOME, THAN, THAN THEY ARE SOMEWHERE ELSE, BUT THAT'S WHERE WE LEAN ON THOSE AND THEIR PASSION AND THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BRING TO A WORK SESSION.
UM, I THINK COUNCILMAN SUITER NOW, I THINK I KNOW HE'S BEEN ON THIS FOR CLOSE TO THREE YEARS NOW, UM, LONG TIME LEADING THE CHARGE ON THIS.
SO SOMETIMES SOME OF US ARE ASKED ABOUT THINGS AND I, AT THE END OF THE DAY, I'M GONNA REFER, I'M GOING TO DEFER TO SOMEONE THAT'S PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT, UM, AND WOULD EXPECT THE SAME ON A PASSION PROJECT THAT I MIGHT HAVE.
SO, DON'T EVER THINK THAT IF A MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL ISN'T AS PASSIONATE AS THE OTHER ONE ABOUT A TOPIC THAT WE DON'T CARE, IT'S THAT WE KNOW HOW TO DELEGATE AND WE TRUST WHO'S UP HERE.
UM, AND TO THAT POINT, I, I, AGAIN, I, I DO THINK THIS GROUP FOR CONTINUING TO SHOW UP
[00:35:01]
AND BE A VOICE.