[1. Call to Order]
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TO ORDER, UH, WILL YOU ALL PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVITATION? TERESA BOW WITH ME PLEASE.
HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY WITH GRATEFUL HEARTS AND ASK FOR YOUR GUIDANCE.
AS WE GATHER FOR THIS COUNCIL MEETING, GRANT US WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND PATIENCE AS WE DISCUSS THE MATTERS BEFORE US.
HELP US TO LISTEN RESPECTFULLY TO ONE ANOTHER, TO SPEAK WITH HONEST AND KINDNESS, AND TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
GIVE US THE COURAGE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT, THE HUMILITY TO CONSIDER DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND THE UNITY TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.
BLESS EACH PERSON GATHERED HERE AND GUIDE OUR THOUGHTS, OUR DISCUSSIONS, AND OUR DECISIONS.
THE PLEDGES I PLEDGE PLEAD TO THE FLAG OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC.
VOICE STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, OR LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL HONOR THE TAKES FLAG.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO BE TEXAS, ONE STATE UNDER GOD, ONE AND INDI.
[4. Public Comments]
RIGHT.THAT TAKES US TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THESE PERSONS MAY ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON ANY, 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.
THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE SPEAKERS MUST OBSERVE THE THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
UH, WE DID HAVE ONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK, UH, MR. MEYER, DEAN MEYER, 6 0 5 BROOKSIDE.
ONE IS, I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL REALIZE THAT I DIDN'T FIND OUT UNTIL FACEBOOK A WHILE AGO, BUT I THINK TODAY IS COUNCILMAN WRIGHT'S BIRTHDAY.
UH, SECONDLY, THE, UH, I HAVE ONE ITEM THAT I'D LIKE FOR THE CITY TO PUT ON THEIR NOTES TO LOOK AT, AND THAT'S BROOKSIDE ROAD, UH, WHICH I LIVE ON, UM, IN THE MORNINGS.
NOW THAT SCHOOL IS BACK IN AND IN THE AFTERNOONS, IT REALLY BACKS UP FROM MAIN STREET ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE BRIDGE SOMETIMES.
AND WITH THE NEW FIRE STATION THERE, IT BECOMES A REALLY A HAZARD FOR THEM TO GET ALL THEIR CALLS, GO ACROSS BROOKSIDE AND GET ON MAIN AND DIVERT OUT USUALLY.
SO, UH, IT REALLY, WE NEED A, WE NEED A LEFT TURN, RIGHT TURN LANE THAT DEAD ENDS THERE AT MAIN STREET AT THE CITY.
SINCE THAT'S A CITY STREET, IT'S SOMETHING THAT Y'ALL WOULD HAVE TO DO FOR US TO KIND OF GET SOME OF THAT TRAFFIC DOWN.
I WAITED THIS MORNING, GOING TO WORK AT, AT AT 10 0 8, AND I WAS STOPPED BEFORE THE BRIDGE, THE, THE CREEK, YOU KNOW, OVER THE CREEK THERE.
SO THAT FIRETRUCK'S GOTTA COME DOWN.
ALL THESE CARS ARE TRYING TO GO THIS WAY.
THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A, A DITCH TO GET OFF INTO, TO GET OUTTA THE TRUCK'S WAY.
I MEAN, IT'S, IT COULD BE A REAL PROBLEM.
SO IF, IF SOMEBODY COULD LOOK INTO THAT, UH, FOR THE CITY, THAT WOULD REALLY BE HELPFUL FOR A SAFETY THING AND JUST TO HELP SPEED UP.
BUT JUST WHAT HAPPENS, THOSE PEOPLE GET ON BROOKSIDE AND SO MANY OF 'EM NEED TO TURN LEFT TO GO OUT TOWARDS THE HIGH SCHOOL AND STUFF THAT IT JUST TANKS UP BECAUSE MAIN STREET IS JUST CONSTANT TRAFFIC.
SO I KNOW WE WOULD NEVER GET A LIGHT THERE UNTIL THEY DO THE MENTAL THING, PROBABLY.
BUT UNTIL THEN, IF WE COULD GET AT LEAST THE DESIGNATIONS FOR PEOPLE TO TURN RIGHT TO KIND OF FEED OFF OF SOME OF THAT.
SO THE OTHER THING, AND I KNOW I'M PROBABLY GONNA RUN OUTTA TIME, BUT UM, AGAIN, WITH THE, WITH THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN SEEING ON THE, UM, SOCIAL MEDIA, I JUST, I JUST WANNA ADDRESS SOMETHING THAT'S CONCERNING ME AND IT'S PROBABLY CONCERNING A LOT OF CITIZENS.
I'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT'S, THAT'S THIS BACK AND FORTH TO DO WITH SOME OF THIS AMBULANCE STUFF THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE COUNCIL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND A LOT ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST IMPLORE THE COUNCIL TO AT LEAST GET SOMETHING.
IF, IF WE WANNA LOOK AT DOING AMBULANCES FOR THE WHOLE CITY, THAT WE CAN GET IN THERE AS A GROUP AND AS A CITIZENRY TO COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THIS BEFORE ANYTHING IS JUST STRAPPED ON US CITIZENS AT A FOUR OR 5 CENTS TAX INCREASE WITH NO INPUT AND ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I KNOW THE ONE DOCUMENT THAT WAS POSTED THIS EMS TIMELINE, UM, JUST SOME OF
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THE THINGS THAT WERE, THAT KIND OF I HIGHLIGHTED WAS, YOU KNOW, IT SAYS NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, FORMER AMBULANCE COMMITTEE AND ORDER AMBULANCES.YOU KNOW, SURELY TO GOODNESS, THAT'S NOT REALLY GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY APPROVED ANY OF THAT.
BUT JUST THE THOUGHT OF ALL THIS KIND OF GOING IN AND US BEING MADE AWARE OF IT IN A, IN A KIND OF A BACKWARDS KIND OF WAY.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY, AND I KNOW I RESPECT ALL YOU GUYS, Y'ALL DO GREAT WORK AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ARGUMENTS AND A LOT OF FIGHTING SINCE I HAD THREE TOPICS.
DO I GET A LITTLE MORE TIME
BUT NO, REALLY JUST, YOU KNOW, INVOLVE THE CITIZENS IN IN THAT, THAT'S GONNA BE A BIG THING.
AND I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND WHEN IT COMES UP, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IT MORE.
AND, YOU KNOW, AS A FELLOW FIRE, UH, POLICE OFFICER HERE IN TOWN, I UNDERSTAND HOW THE AMBULANCES WORK.
I REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO DO OUR OIL THIS BACK IN THE DAY.
SO ANYWAY, JUST, I JUST IMPLORE YOU GUYS TO, TO BRING IT FORWARD AND LET US, LET US HAVE SOME INPUT INTO IT BEFORE ANYTHING IS, IS MOVED FORWARD WITH IT.
[5. Public Hearing on the proposed Tax Rate for fiscal year 2026-2027 and announce the date, time, and place for adoption]
US TO, UM, ITEM FIVE, WHICH WOULD BE OUR PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27, AND ANNOUNCED THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE FOR ADOPTION.UH, CHAD, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR PRO TEM COUNSEL, UH, CHAD TUSSEN, FINANCE DIRECTOR, I'LL, I'LL BE BRIEF.
UM, THE, UH, THIS PUBLIC HEARING TODAY, UH, HELPS US COMPLY WITH CHAPTER 26 OF THE, UH, TEXAS, UH, PROPERTY TAX CODE TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPERTY TAX RATE.
SO THE, THE PROPOSED TAX RATE OF 61 CENTS, UH, REMAINS UNCHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS TO HELP CONTINUE TO FUND, UH, INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN THE CITY AS WELL AS, UH, CONTINUED OPERATIONS IN OUR DIFFERENT, UH, AREAS OF SERVICE.
UM, AND, UH, SO I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE AT THE END OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MAYOR, IF YOU COULD, THERE DOESN'T NEED TO BE A VOTE TAKEN, BUT IF YOU CAN JUST ANNOUNCE THE, UH, TIME, PLACE, AND LOCATION OF THE VOTE, WHICH WOULD TAKE PLACE ON THE EIGHTH AND IT SHOULD BE IN THERE, HONOR.
AND WE DID HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGN UP TO SPEAK MS. MEYER.
WELL, I REALLY WANT THE NEXT ONE.
WELL THEN I'LL GO AHEAD AND ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAD NO ONE SIGN UP TO SPEAK THEN FOR THIS ITEM.
UM, WITH THAT, WE DO NOT NEED A MOTION.
UM, SO THE VOTE ON THE PROPOSED TAX RATE WILL TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 AT 7:00 PM AT THE WAXAHATCHEE CIVIC CENTER RIGHT HERE,
[6. Public Hearing on the City of Waxahachie proposed Budget for fiscal year 2026-2027 and vote to set the date, time, and place for adoption]
TEXAS TWO ITEM SIX, PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY OF WAXAHATCHEE.PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27, AND VOTE TO SET THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE FOR ADOPTION.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, WE STARTED THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
I THINK OUR FIRST MEETING WAS ON FEBRUARY 2ND, OUR FIRST WORKSHOP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL, WHERE WE ASKED FOR DIRECTION.
WE WENT OVER THE BUDGET CALENDAR AND, AND TALKED ABOUT THIS PROCESS GOING FORWARD.
WE'VE HELD A COUPLE OF OTHER WORK SESSIONS SINCE THAT TIME.
UM, TO GET TO THIS POINT, UH, WE, WE, UM, WENT AHEAD AND POSTED THE PROPOSED BUDGET ONLINE ON AUGUST 7TH.
UM, SO THAT'S AVAILABLE TO BE ABLE TO, UH, TO REVIEW AND TO LOOK AT.
UM, AND SO THIS WOULD, THIS AGAIN IS, UH, COMPLYING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE, UH, 1 0 2 0.007 TO HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING ON, ON THE BUDGET.
I DO WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE YOU CAN MAKE CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED BUDGET, ONE THING THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING IS SINCE WE DID POST THE BUDGET ON, UM, AUGUST 7TH, UH, THERE IS ONE CHANGE.
UM, ONE THING WE TRIED TO DO AS PART TO BE MORE EFFICIENT IS MOVE THE BUDGETS FOR FLEET MAINTENANCE FROM THE INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS TO OUR FLEET MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT.
THERE WAS NO CHANGE TO THE BOTTOM LINE.
UM, WHEN WE DID THAT ON AUGUST 7TH, THERE'S A COUPLE DEPARTMENTS THAT, UH, THAT WE MISSED.
AND SO WE'RE JUST MOVING THOSE BUDGETS FROM THOSE DEPARTMENTS TO THE FLEET SERVICES, UH, BUDGET.
SO I JUST WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT THAT.
BUT AGAIN, NO BOTTOM LINE CHANGE AT ALL TO, UM, TO THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS.
WE DID HAVE ONE INDIVIDUAL SIGN UP TO SPEAK, UH, MR. MEYER, DEAN MEYER, AGAIN, 6 0 5 BROOKSIDE.
THIS IS KINDA THE FIRST TIME I REALLY LOOKED INTO THE BUDGET.
I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, AS, AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I HAD TO FOLLOW BUDGETS, BUT I
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NEVER REALLY LOOKED INTO CITY BUDGETS TO SEE WHAT THEY KIND OF DO.I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT ANYWAY, I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S NEW AND IT IS JUST A QUICK ANSWER, BUT THERE'S A GENERAL ITEM THAT SAYS VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND IS $2 MILLION.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, WHAT, WHAT DOES THAT ENCOMPASS LIKE, 'CAUSE ALL THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE REPLACING TRUCKS, REPLACING THIS OR ADDING THAT, THERE'S LIGHT ITEMS FOR THOSE, BUT THEN THERE'S JUST THIS KIND OF, THIS ONE STANDALONE ITEM FOR 2 MILLION.
AND I JUST, JUST EXPLAIN TO ME AS A, YOU KNOW, A FIFTH GRADER, WHAT, WHAT THAT IS.
I COULD GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT TO THE EXPERT ON THE BUDGET.
YEAH, YEAH, NO, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, THAT WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND UH, THIS IS AN INITIATIVE KIND OF WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET TO, IS, UM, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE BEEN REPLACING, UH, VEHICLES OF AS THEY, UM, NEED TO BE REPLACED.
AND USUALLY, UH, WHEN WE DO THAT, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, LARGE PURCHASES ONE YEAR, MAYBE IT GOES DOWN THE NEXT, AND THEN WE HAVE A HUGE, UM, PURCHASE OF, YOU KNOW, VEHICLES THE NEXT YEAR.
AND, AND TO HELP NORMALIZE THOSE PURCHASES, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS, UH, HAVE A VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND.
AND, UM, SO YOU KIND OF NORMALIZE THOSE PURCHASES.
IT ALSO HELP US PLAN BETTER, UH, BE MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE NOT LETTING OUR VEHICLES, UM, KIND OF GO INTO DISREPAIR OR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T REPLACE THEM.
SO WE'RE GONNA SET THIS $2 MILLION ASIDE IN A SEPARATE FUND.
AND OF COURSE, IT'S ACCOUNTED FOR AND IT'S TRANSPARENT AND THIS MAKES IT EVEN MORE TRANSPARENT.
SETTING ASIDE THIS $2 MILLION THIS YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO, WE HAVE IN THE GENERAL FUND TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THOSE VEHICLES OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND AND THEN HAVE THIS $2 MILLION THERE.
AS WE'RE PREPARING FOR THE 2028 BUDGET, WE WON'T BE REPLACING VEHICLES OUT OF THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
WE WOULD BE REPLACING THOSE OUT OF THE VEHICLE REPLACEMENT FUND AND, UM, CREATE THIS INTERNAL SERVICES FUND, WHICH WOULD ALLOW US TO AGAIN, NORMALIZE, UH, THE PURCHASES AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE BEING TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT KIND OF FUNDS WE HAVE AVAILABLE TO AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE FUNDS AVAILABLE IN FUTURE YEARS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO REPLACE THOSE.
SO IT'S NOT, UH, IT'S NOT GOING TO ANY ONE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT.
IT HELPS REPLACE VEHICLES FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, STREETS DEPARTMENT, UM, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, ALL OF THOSE.
CHAD, NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT WOULD THAT IN ANY WAY HELP US FROM A BUYING PERSPECTIVE TO GET BETTER PRICING BY BEING, BY BUYING THIS WAY? I THINK SO.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS, UM, WITH, UH, MICHAEL COLE, LUCA COMING ON AS OUR FLEET MANAGER.
HE'S DONE A GREAT JOB, UH, BEING HERE FOR A LITTLE WHILE NOW.
AND WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE MEETINGS WHERE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS NEW PROCESS THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE GOING FORWARD.
I THINK IN THE PAST WE'VE HAD DEPARTMENTS KIND OF TRY TO FIGURE OUT, DO I NEED TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE OR NOT? UM, AND THAT STANDARDS IS, IS DIFFERENT ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS, UH, WITH WHAT THIS FLEET REPLACEMENT WILL DO.
AND WHAT, UH, MICHAEL'S DEPARTMENT WILL DO FOR FLEET SERVICES IS ALL VEHICLE REPLACEMENTS WILL GO THROUGH, THROUGH HIS SHOP.
UM, HE'LL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
UM, UH, WE'VE ALSO ADDED SOME SOFTWARE IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO REPLACE OR TO BE ABLE TO TRACK WHAT THOSE PURCHASES ARE.
SO WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE SMARTER PURCHASES AND MORE STANDARD PURCHASES ACROSS THE BOARD.
AND IT, IT WILL BECOME MORE OF AN ARBITRARY DECISION ON WHETHER A, WHETHER A VEHICLE HAS REACHED ITS LIMIT OR NOT.
AND, AND ALSO JUST, AND IF THE NEED FITS, UH, IF THE VEHICLE FITS THE ACTUAL NEED THAT THE DEPARTMENT, UH, NEEDS OUT IN THE FIELD.
IS THIS, IS THIS FUND ONLY FOR LIKE, THE SMALLER VEHICLES LIKE THE CHIEF'S ENGINE OR THE CHIEF'S TRUCKS AND THE, THE POLICE CHIEF'S CAR AND ALL THAT? DOESN'T INCLUDE LIKE DUMP TRUCKS AND RIGHT NOW WE, WE ARE GONNA STICK TO JUST THE, THE SMALLER VEHICLES AND TRUCKS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.
'CAUSE YOU COULD HAVE AN EXCAVATOR OR DUMP TRUCK BE HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING BECAUSE THE FIRE TRUCKS, WHAT A MILLION BUCKS NOWADAYS? YES, WE TREAT THOSE SEPARATELY.
UM, YOU KNOW, EITHER BOND THOSE OR USE, UH, CASH BALANCE AND OUR GENERAL FUND OR SOMETHING TO PAY FOR THOSE.
SO ESSENTIALLY THIS IS, UH, KIND OF A TWOFOLD APPROACH.
ONE BEING, UH, WE STARTED AT ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, NINE YEARS AGO, UM, WITH THE STREETS FUND WHERE WE SET ASIDE A SET AMOUNT EACH YEAR TO ADDRESS STREETS.
UM, NOW WE'RE ABLE TO ROLL IT OVER TOWARDS THE VEHICLE SIDE OF THINGS TO HAVE A SET AMOUNT EACH, BLESS YOU, UM, SET AMOUNT EACH YEAR THAT WE KNOW THAT WE COULD, WE, WE COULD SPEND THAT, THAT WE COULD SPEND BELOW THAT AND THEN IT ROLL OVER.
BUT THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE INTO, UM, INTO THAT GARAGE, RIGHT? I MEAN, NOW WE HAVE
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A CAR GUY OVERSEEING CARS.UM, AND ROLLING ALL OF THOSE COSTS, LIKE CHAD SAID, OF REPAIRS INTO THE SHOP.
UM, THEY'RE DOING ALL OF THE ORDERS.
SO WE DON'T HAVE PUBLIC WORKS AND STREETS AND PARKS TRYING TO, OR ORDER THE AIR FILTERS FROM THEIR BUDGET FOR CARS OR FOR TRUCKS.
UH, WE'VE GOT ONE, ONE BUDGET THAT'S DOING THAT NOW.
SO IT'S A, IN THE LONG TERM, IT SHOULD, SHOULD IN THEORY PROVE AS A COST SAVINGS.
ALL RIGHT, COUNSEL, ANYTHING ELSE ON THIS ONE? YOU READY FOR A MOTION? I WOULD ENTERTAIN ONE.
I MOVE TO CONSIDER AND HOLD A RECORD VOTE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE PHYSICAL YEAR 20 26, 20 27 BUDGET AT THE NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 AT 7:00 PM AT THE WAXAHATCHEE CIVIC CENTER.
I HAVE A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND.
ALRIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED UNANIMOUSLY CARRIES.
[7. Comments by Mayor, City Council, City Attorney and City Management ]
THAT BRINGS US TO ITEM SEVEN COMMENTS BY MAYOR WHO IS NOT HERE.UM, SHE IS WITH HER FAMILY, UM, CITY COUNCIL, CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGEMENT.
TO MY RIGHT, COUNCILMAN WRIGHT, FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL YOU GUYS THAT SHOWED UP FOR A, A MEETING THAT ONLY HAD TWO THINGS ON THE AGENDA.
WE DO APPRECIATE ANY AND ALL INPUT AND, AND PARTICIPATION.
AND I WOULD, I WOULD DEFINITELY INVITE YOU TO COME TO NEXT MONTH, NEXT TUESDAY'S MEETING ON THE EIGHTH WHEN WE ACTUALLY GET INTO THE MEAT OF THE BUDGET.
UH, HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE EVERYBODY THEN.
UM, COUNCILMAN SUITER HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE HE WAS ON VACATION AND HAD TO HAVE SURGERY TODAY AND HE JUST GOT OUT OF THE, OUT OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM OR OUT OF THE SURGERY.
UH, THE DAMAGE WAS WORSE THAN WHAT THEY THOUGHT, BUT IT WENT WELL.
APPARENTLY HE HAD TO GET EIGHT STAPLES IN HIS BACK WHEN THEY WERE DONE INSTEAD OF TWO.
SO HE THINKS AT LAST TIME I TALKED TO HIM, HE SAID HE HOPED HE'D BE ABLE TO BE HERE FOR THE SEPTEMBER THE EIGHTH MEETING.
HE, HE DOESN'T WANT IT TO BE A LONG ONE 'CAUSE HE DON'T WANNA HAVE TO SIT HERE VERY LONG, BUT
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THAT'S, THAT'S ALL I REALLY HAD TODAY.
THANK YOU, UH, TO MY LEFT, CHRIS.
OH, I THOUGHT THEY WERE, THEY BOTH DECLINED.
WELL, UM, I JUST, I I WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT, UM, AN EARLIER, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT JUST TO SAY THAT I'M AVAILABLE ANYTIME YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I'M, I'M EASY TO FIND AND AND THERE'S A LOT, THERE'S A LOT TO THAT UNPACKING THAT.
AND I CAN ASSURE YOU JUST LIKE THAT BUDGET THAT WE JUST ANNOUNCED IS, IS ONLINE.
I, I VENTURE TO GUESS IF YOU LOOK IN THERE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SEE AMBULANCES ON ORDER THAT, THAT DOCUMENT WAS, WAS, UH, IT WAS A WORKSHOP EXERCISE AND WE, WE ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT IT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
UM, WHICH IS, IS OUR JOB IS TO FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO MAKE THIS COMMUNITY BETTER.
UM, AND WITH THAT, I I I WANNA ASK, UH, THAT EVERYONE PRAY FOR COUNCILMAN SUITOR.
UM, HE'S, IT'S SURGERY'S NO FUN.
WE, WE ALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH 'EM AND HE'S NO DIFFERENT.
SO WITH THAT, THAT'S ALL, THAT'S ALL I GOT.
YEAH, AGAIN, UM, I DO WANT TO EXPRESS, UH, CONCERN FROM, UH, COUNCILMAN SUITER.
HE DID, UH, WANT ME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT, UM, HE HATES THAT HE IS MISSING THIS MEETING.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT MEETINGS, UH, ANYTIME THAT WE'RE, EVERY MEETING'S IMPORTANT, BUT ANYTIME WE'RE DEALING WITH THE BUDGET, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
UM, SO HOPEFULLY HE'LL HAVE A FAST RECOVERY.
UM, WE WILL LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO, TO MAKE A TEMPORARY FIX TO BROOKSIDE ROAD ON THE RIGHT AND LEFT TURN LANES.
YOU'RE RIGHT, UH, WE CAN'T PUT IN A RED LIGHT NOW, BUT AS, AS YOU KIND OF MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, THE MENTO DEVELOPMENT THAT'S COMING IN IS GONNA WIDEN THE ROAD PRO, PROVIDE LEFT TURN LANES AND A RED LIGHT, UH, FOR THE THREE WAYS.
AND SO THAT'LL BE A GREAT DEVELOPMENT THAT'LL COME ALONG.
AND ALSO TO YOUR POINT IS, UH, COUNCILMAN ATKINS SAID THE, THE AMBULANCE, UH, CONSIDERATION.
WE, WE ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT
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WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICE TO OUR CITIZENS AND BEING PHYSICALLY, UH, RESPONSIBLE AT THE SAME TIME.MY HAT, UH, TIP MY HAT TO CHAD AND HIS TEAM.
UM, THEY ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING FOR WAYS TO, UH, IMPROVE OUR SERVICES AND KEEP US PHYSICALLY RESPONSIBLE.
UH, WE HAVE A HEALTHY FUND BALANCE.
UH, WE HAVE SAVED OFF SOME $70 MILLION IN BONDS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT WILL SAVE US OVER $111 MILLION IN PAYMENTS OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS.
AND WHILE THERE IS A TIMELINE OUT, IT IS JUST A PROJECTION, JUST A THEORY OF WHEN THINGS COULD HAPPEN AND MAKE PLANS.
WE MAKE PLANS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
WE HAVE A FIVE YEAR CIP THAT IS PRODUCED EVERY SINGLE YEAR BY BASICALLY EVERY DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY.
AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO EXACTLY THIS PROJECT IN FY 29.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S A PLAN.
IT'S THINGS ON THE A HORIZON THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT AND CONSIDER.
AND THERE ARE PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S GONNA HAPPEN EXACTLY IN THAT YEAR.
THOSE DECISIONS ARE MADE BY EACH COUNCIL.
COUNCILS CANNOT SET BUDGETS FOR FY 28, FY 29 FY 30.
THEY CAN MAKE, THEY CAN PRODUCE A BUDGET THIS YEAR FOR FY 27, AND THAT'S THEIR LIMITATION.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE PLANS IN PLACE AND IN ORDER TO KNOW WHAT IS ON THE, A HORIZON AND WHAT COULD BE.
SO WHILE THOSE, UH, THAT TIMELINE IN PARTICULAR, JUST LIKE ALL TIMELINES THAT HAVE DATES ON IT AND SO FORTH, UH, NONE OF THAT'S BEEN SET IN STONE AND NOR COULD WE, WITHOUT DOING THAT IN PUBLIC.
WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT HAVING PUBLIC VOTES ON THOSE THINGS.
AND SO I APPRECIATE GREATLY THE CONCERN OVER THAT.
UH, BUT REST ASSURED, THIS COUNCIL, THIS STAFF, OUR CITY ATTORNEY, UH, WE TAKE GREAT EFFORTS IN MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE NOT VIOLATING ANY LAWS.
AND WE DO WANT THE PUBLIC'S INPUT ON THINGS.
UM, BUT WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE DO DO DISCUSSIONS TO JUST GET DIRECTION AND SO FORTH.
AND WHAT THE COUNCIL'S WILL IS, UH, WE'LL HAVE A WORKSHOP ON THE 16TH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS AND MANY OTHER THINGS.
UM, BUT IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, UH, JUST LIKE ANY WORKSHOP IS.
AND, UH, WE'LL SOON BE POSTING THAT AGENDA AND THAT'LL JUST BE ONE OF THE MANY TOPICS THAT WE DISCUSS.
OUR BUDGET TEAM, OUR FINANCE TEAM WILL, I APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORTS THAT THEY PUT FORTH AND, UM, WE SIMPLY COULDN'T OPERATE WITHOUT THEM.
AND, UM, I HAVE A GREAT STAFF ON THIS, UM, THIS CITY AND I APPRECIATE 'EM VERY MUCH.
UM, ECHOING THAT, UH, GIVING CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT TO WHAT HAS GONE WRONG AND WHAT HAS CAUSED THE DISCOURSE THAT'S LED TO SOME DISTRUST, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, I, I THINK IT'S COME BACK TO JUST A CHANGE IN APPROACH FROM WHAT OUR COMMUNITY'S USED TO, UM, FROM THE COUNCIL AND THE STAFF UP, UP HERE, UM, AND OUT THERE, UM, IT'S PROACTIVENESS AND PROACTIVE CAN LEAD TO UNCOMFORTABILITY BECAUSE WE ARE PROJECTING, WHEN YOU'RE PROJECTING YOU'RE, YOU'RE, YOU'RE HOPING YOU CAN GET THERE.
UM, BUT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN.
UH, WE CAN, WE CAN PROJECT EXPENSES, WE CAN, WE CAN PUT TOGETHER THE BEST PLAN AND THEN ONE SMALL CHANGE CAN UNDO ALL OF IT.
UM, AND WE ARE LEFT TO, I MEAN, WE ARE LEFT TO DEAL WITH THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE IN AUSTIN, UM, AND HOW THOSE, HOW THE TRICKLE DOWN THERE AFFECTS US, HOW THE UNFUNDED MANDATES AFFECT, AFFECT US AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S ALL THE SAME.
UM, SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT, OKAY, IF WE DO NEED TO BRING SOMETHING IN HOUSE, LIKE THE AMBULANCE SERVICES, WHAT DOES THAT COST AND HOW DO WE GET THERE? UH, WE'VE LEARNED OVER THE PAST THREE OR FOUR YEARS JUST HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET A LADDER TRUCK.
UM, AND WE'RE OVER A YEAR, RIGHT? I MEAN, IT'S 18 MONTHS, UH, NO MORE LIKE THREE OR FOUR YEARS.
SO I MEAN, WE, IT'S, IT'S, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THESE THINGS, YOU CAN'T JUST GO BUY AN A BOX
THEY DON'T JUST SELL 'EM AT THE CAR LOT UP THE STREET.
UM, SO TO GET THOSE MANUFACTURED, TO GET THE SPECS OUT, TO GET WHAT, WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THOSE, YOU DO HAVE TO PLAN AND PROJECT AND THEN HOPE THAT THE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT.
AND THANKFULLY WE'VE GOT A DANG GOOD FINANCE TEAM THAT NAILS IT.
UM, SO DEAN, TO, TO YOUR REQUEST,
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WHEN THERE IS A PLAN, IF THERE IS A PLAN, IF THERE'S EVEN AN OPTION ON DIFFERENT PLANS, THOSE WILL BE PRESENTED.UM, IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE HAD, WHEN YOU HAVE A CONTRACT IN PLACE, YOU DON'T WANNA UPSET THE OTHER PARTY.
UM, IF THEY LEAVE YOU HIGH AND DRY, THEY LEAVE YOU HIGH AND DRY AND THEN WE'RE IN TROUBLE.
UM, SO THERE, THOSE ARE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAD TO WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS.
UM, BUT I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHETHER YOU SEE DISCOURSE ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR NOT, NINE TIMES OUTTA 10, THE CURRENT SITTING SIT, THE CURRENT SITTING CITY COUNCIL HAS COME TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF OUR TOWN.
UM, WE'VE PUT, WE'VE, WE'VE, WE'VE PUT HARD FEELINGS TO BED, UM, AND MADE VOTES.
THAT MIGHT, MIGHT NOT BE WHAT WE WANTED THAT NIGHT, BUT WE KNEW IT WAS BEST FOR WAXAHATCHEE.
UM, AND I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
UM, WITH THAT SAID, UH, I WILL ADJOURN THIS MEETING AT 5:59 PM.